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#Reflecting by the Riverbank
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This is my Last Serenade and Other Poems
By Alex Guffey This is My Last Serenade Floating in the span of space, hearing the hymn of my swan song. This is the infinite sadness of song, sung on a moment’s notice, sealed on a permanent staccato. I feel you as you fall away. I hear you say you want to stay. This is my last serenade, singing my heart out, all for you. From yourself you cannot run away, I grab your hand, keep you at bay. A…
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malioli · 11 months
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"Sunrise by river Korana"
This photo has been selected for Explore by Flickr on October 21, 2023.
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Winter Landscape
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mileschaserjohn · 10 months
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Riverbank Reflections
Along a calm riverbank, I reveled in the tranquility of the scene. Trees and clouds were mirrored perfectly in the water's surface, creating a surreal sense of symmetry. The rhythmic sound of the flowing water became a soothing backdrop to my run.
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rodmajorart · 2 years
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Swans on the Great Stour, Chartham, Kent. December 2020. (11 x 14 ins). #chartham #greatstour #kent #canterbury #oilpainting #painting #swans #pleinair #impressionism #reflections #riverscene #riverbank (at Chartham) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqI8ypBId-f/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
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lunarburdened · 3 months
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that being said, tag dump 1/??. ooc edition.
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leefernsphotos · 6 months
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Down by our place on the Vaal river for a few days so I thought I would drive down and take a few pics by the water. The river was so calm I couldn’t help but take a “reflections” photo. I enjoy times like this where one can disconnect from the day to day hustle and bustle.
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danielflemingart · 1 year
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Artifact I.
11x14"
Acrylic and water on canvas.
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mellowwillowy · 2 months
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Being a livestock for a vampire has never sounded good until you were kidnapped by a vampire as his spouse.
TW: Yandere, NSFW, SH, and massacre
The vampire was intrigued by the puny human he ran into when he was walking around the river in the morning, testing his new potion and spell that would keep him immune to sunlight.
What was once a plan to kidnap you as one of his livestock turned into a moment where you had to nurse him because he suddenly dropped his whole weight onto you, face blistered from the sunlight.
“You are awake now.”
Your voice stirred him awake more than ever. His once droopy eyes were wide opened in shock. He didn't remember having anyone in his manor.
Your eyes were locked with his Emerald ones and he defensively squinted his eyes. You raised both of your hands, “You passed out right behind me and I had to drag you all the way from the riverbank to my cottage.”
The curtain was drawn close suspiciously, not allowing any light to filter inside the bedroom. Did you know he was a vampire already?
“Was it an allergic reaction?”
“Huh?” he asked, baffled.
“Your face was blistered because it was the only part of you that was exposed. Nonetheless, you healed really fast so there was no need for any extensive care from my herbs. You were only out for a day.”
He started to feel his face, aside from patches here and there, there was nothing wrong with it.
“Ah yes, let me get the hand mirror for you—”
Just before you could stand up, his hand grabbed yours and held you on the spot immediately. If you were to realize he had no reflection.
“Can you help me stand and get me to the kitchen instead? I'm quite thirsty since I haven't drunk in a day.”
You stared at his eyes and glanced at his pale hand. It took you seconds before you agreed to him and supported him by slinging his arm over your shoulder and walked toward the kitchen downstairs.
His eyes scanned through your cottage, it was mainly dominated by white, ornaments, furniture, trinkets, and even flowers.
“You must have really loved white, considering even having flowers that can't grow in this land.” Yulian glanced at the potted flowers. Lilies of the Valley, daisies, baby’s breath, and lilies.
At that, you only hummed and sat him down on one of the chairs. You placed a cup of water for him and returned to the sink to prepare him what he assumed to be breakfast, judging from how bright it was outside the window.
Mindlessly staring into the window, he accidentally hissed from the sunlight reaching his bare-handed hand, alerting you of his discomfort.
“Oh dear, what happened?”
Yulian flinched at the endearment term you spoke before he regained his composure.
“Nothing, I just accidentally bit my tongue.” he lied as he tried to cover his blistered hand. You nodded and turned your focus back to the breakfast you were preparing.
“Are you allergic to dairies?” you asked him. “No.”
“Thought you were one unlucky man, it seems like you are not immune to light or something like an albino. I'm assuming Your skin is very sensitive to light since you were so covered.”
He only mumbled a few incoherent words before you snapped him out of his trance with a clap of your hands, “So what's your name dear?”
“Alan-” instinctively, the man shut his mouth and took a few seconds of silence before answering you.
“Yulian. My name is Yulian.” “Nice to meet you,” you served him a plate of sandwiches, “I’m the local physician here, you’ll be staying here with me for rehabilitation.”
Yulian raised both of his eyebrows, “But I am not wounded terribly in any way.” “Perhaps not, but this is how I work. Could it be that you are not a local?”
Yulian shook his head.
“Where’s your house? Do you need to go back home to your family immediately? I can stay in your place for a few days to make sure there are no more anomalies.”
Yulian frowned, what a persistent human. It was almost annoying, breaching people’s boundaries just to sate their own curiosities. He could read you that much.
But he agreed to stay in your cottage nonetheless.
𝑰𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒃𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆.
But you had always been attentive, drawing the curtain for him when he walked out of his bedroom. Offering to hold the umbrella for him when he wanted to walk.
What was once a plain bedroom was slowly adorned by flowers, mainly baby’s breath.
The food you made or bought was also not bad. They were decent for a human but not a vampire. Sometimes he had to mask his distaste to any food that consisted of onions.
It was not easy to sneak out of the cottage since you were sometimes awake and roamed around the cottage.
But it was a rather peaceful life. There was bustling sounds and noises from the cottage, unlike his dead and dark manor.
It was bright in your cottage but it didn't hurt him in the slightest bit. Was it because it was a ‘White House’?
𝑯𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒔 𝒂𝒔 𝒔𝒐𝒇𝒕 𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒔.
If there was something he disliked from you then it had to be your silver ring. Whenever you touched him with your hand ring, you would sometimes graze his skin with your ring.
He tried not to hiss but there were occasions when it was unbearable, just like when you were compressing him and felt his temperature.
Unlike in a few cases where he could hide his blisters, it was visible that his forehead was bleeding from the contact.
It was alarming for both of you, paranoia and fear downed him as he suspected you were testing him while shock and suspicion flashed onto your face.
There was a rift but Yulian was a great reader, he knew you did not mean anything bad and decided to lie his way out again. Alas, it's harder this time.
Another thing he didn't like about you was how you could be ignoring him for a whole day sometimes. It could be something interesting that got your whole attention or another patient coming.
Perhaps he was simply unamused by the idea of a lesser being taking away your attention from him.
𝑬𝒚𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒔 𝒃𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒆𝒔.
You often strolled around the riverbank and forest, collecting herbs and wildflowers, sometimes walking down toward the village to buy daily necessities.
You didn't allow him to follow you at first, making him have to secretly follow you out of boredom and partial curiosity.
But upon week later, Yulian started to show you his interest in going out with you. It took him lots of convincing that he wouldn't fall sick from this and you reluctantly agreed to it.
For the first time, he could finally walk side by side with you instead of following you from the dark. It almost felt like his still heart was beating from excitement.
Apparently, all the villagers recognized you as a talented physician. They were all friendly to you and would do anything to help you as well.
It made something within him sting. Was it envy that he wasn't treated just as nice?
𝑽𝒐𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒂𝒔 𝒔𝒐𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒔 𝒃𝒂𝒃𝒚’𝒔 𝒃𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉.
Sometimes the two of you would sing under the moonlight as a pastime. Sometimes you would come to his bedroom at night and converse with him until he pretended to fall asleep.
Sometimes you would diagnose him. Sometimes you would tell him stories of your life. Sometimes you would ask him questions about his life. Sometimes you would cry in your bedroom.
He couldn't help but wonder what sorrowed your frail heart.
Sometimes he would enter your bedroom and observe your patterned breathing while you were asleep. It was almost as if the role was reversed. He was observing you out of curiosity and perhaps, adoration.
A human’s lifespan is as short as a stick. Not only couldn't they live long, but they were also vulnerable to almost everything.
Yulian brought his hand to cup your cheek, squeezing it just a bit before his fingers traced down toward your neck, feeling your jugular vein pulsating in rhythm with your heart. You were alive but he wasn't. You were loved but he wasn't. You were adored but he wasn't.
Was it envy that brought his fangs close to your neck? Was he envious of your life? Or was he simply being unreasonable? You stirred awake from your sleep, eyes adjusting to the moonlight that lit your bedroom. No one was in sight and the water you placed on your nightstand remained warm despite the chilling temperature.
Perhaps the envy in him was never directed at you.
𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕, 𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒚𝒆𝒕 𝒑𝒐𝒊𝒔𝒐𝒏𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒍𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒚.
The only reason why Yulian was still resting in your cottage was because of his self-sabotaging. You were a physician and he was a patient, unless he had a logical reason to stay in your cottage then he had to excuse himself.
It started with how Yulian started to fake food poisoning, burn himself from the sunlight, fake an anemic, and wound himself with the silver ornaments you had in the cottage.
But Yulian understood it was only a matter of time before your dense self realized that something was wrong and chased him out of your cottage.
Would you scream at him in fury, fear, or disappointment? He thought he was used to rejection already but something changed within him with the time spent living with you.
And he didn't want to betray your trust. You trusted him with your little secret. The secret that you were actually the village's 'Witch'.
Yulian sighed audibly as he walked toward your bedroom, observing it from corner to corner for any anomalies. It had always been a paranoid habit of his. He wanted to make sure nothing dangerous was inside your bedroom or, to be frank, your surroundings.
Yulian walked toward your dressing table and gazed into the mirror. There was not a single reflection of himself, a reminder that he was never supposed to let you live in the first place.
Yet your touch never failed to soothe his stoned heart, it never failed to make him melt under your touch. And your existence did not hunger him in any way unlike the others would.
He had learned to co-exist with you before he realized it, it was too late for him to undo this dependence and bond, let alone feed on you.
Yulian walked out and waited for you to come back from your visit to the local church. As much as he wanted to join you, he couldn't risk getting caught by them.
Hours passed and the sun sank, the moon lit the dark sky and yet not even a single sound of your footsteps approaching the cottage was heard. Yulian dissipated into thin air and teleported to where you were supposed to be but you were nowhere in sight.
The church was eerily silent to human ears but not to an otherworldly being like him. He could hear an ominous chant beneath him. He could smell the sickeningly sweet incense lit beneath him. And he could feel the mark he left on your neck that night beneath him.
The 'Witch' play ends tonight.
-
You woke up in someone's embrace, the night was lit by the moonlight above you yet there was an unbearable heat nearby.
"You are awake now."
His voice stirred you awake more than ever. Your once droopy eyes were wide opened in shock. You didn't remember seeing him.
Your eyes were locked with his Emerald ones and you stared at his eyes. He smiled at you, “You passed out amidst the fire and I had to carry you all the way from the village.”
You looked behind his back and saw a huge fire consume the village, the villagers' cries were audible despite the distance. You clutched his black robe, "Wait, no! The villagers, they need me! I need to save them!"
"May I know why?" "Because I'm a Witch, the protector of this village!"
Yulian chortled at your remarks before he smirked, "And yet you let an outsider reside in your cottage for months."
All colors were drained from your face, and your heart sank down; "What do you mean?"
Yulian sat you down on one of the rocks and knelt in front of you, his gloved hand brought your hand ring, "Observe this."
He took off his glove and pressed your ring finger to his palm, the skin blistered from the contact and you instinctively pulled away, "What was that?!"
There was a tale of vampires and you wished he would deny it.
"It was troublesome for me having to avoid the mirrors in your cottage and anything that would reflect." Hand mirror.
"I never really like the dishes you made with onions but I stomach it all because I just couldn't muster the courage to see your sullen face," Onions.
"I really hate strolling when the sun is still up because I have to carry an umbrella with me all the time." Sun.
"Though I must say I don't mind being touched by you with your ring hand because it was worth the pain and trouble." Silver.
You backed away from him and just before your back could hit the grassy ground, his arm prevented you from tumbling back, "And I must say, it took me lots of time to properly mark and make you submit to a contract with me."
Contract?
Yulian cradled your confused body into his chest, the warmth you felt was not emitted from his skin but instead, the fire that devoured all the villagers who had been deceiving you.
All of the shock that weighed upon made you succumb to unconsciousness again, mainly from stress and trauma. Yulian frowned at your limp figure as he stood up and continued walking deep into the forest to his manor.
𝑳𝒐𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒆𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒅 𝒂 𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒕-𝒄𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒔𝒌𝒊𝒓𝒕𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒚, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 '𝑾𝒉𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝑯𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒆' 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒓𝒖𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒃𝒆 𝒗𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒗𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒕 𝒊𝒕.
Yulian did not like the hostility that you showed him at all. The ongoing stress and trauma drowned you in the hysteria that would also make you harm yourself. It pained him that he was one of the causes of your hysteria, a hypothetical scenario would sometimes flash across his mind. What if he had not appeared in your life? Then perhaps your heart wouldn't sorrow to this extent.
Yulian tried his best to help you adapt. The once dark and grim manor slowly turned white. The exteriors and interiors were white before you could remember how it originally looked like. Flowers were blooming in the garden to your liking and a potted white flowers near you for you to adore.
While Yulian had the patience to make you warm up to him and face the reality of your life, he did not have the heart to see you suffer for so long. And as much as he wanted to change you into a vampire just like him, he'd rather not have it done unwillingly.
But time was not so kind for your age. The longer he delayed it, the older and frailer you would be.
Alas, luck was on his side when he secluded himself in his room for a long time for the first time you came here. He didn't expect you to find his presence soothing for you.
It appeared that all his efforts had made you think that his action of kidnapping you was just an attempt to save you from the villagers who tricked you into thinking that you were a 'Witch'.
You looked for him, calmly at first then frantically when you suffered from a panic attack. He didn't mean to test you but he knew well deep inside he was hurting you.
Even for a selfish and cold-blooded creature like him, he had to steel his heart before he could see you again. Everything he was feeling after he met you was his first. You brought colors to his monochrome life. You taught him that the smell of a morning was calming. You taught him how to spend his time with pastimes.
He could not find it in his heart to leave your side. It was his first time to feel alive and he was greedy, wanting more of it.
You stood in front of his chamber, waiting for him to open his door instead of avoiding you altogether.
--
"The servants took great care of you while I was away right, dear?"
Yulian never found the charm in terms of endearment, but whenever you called him 'dear', incomprehensible emotion and feeling surged into him. He still remembered the day you first called him that, it was foreign and weird to him but he didn't find it that bad at all.
You squirmed under his touch, squeezing yourself closer and deeper into his embrace while your hands clenched on the bedsheet. That was not the only thing you were clenching though, for his fingers were knuckle deep inside you.
You tried to form a coherent answer but what came out was simply a blubbering. Tears dripped down from your cheek from the way he curled his fingers, feeling your spot until your toes were curled.
You didn't know that even vampires could feel this much stimulation from sex. You assumed they just reproduced while feeling only half of the pleasure humans could have because of how cold-blooded they were.
You thought they only did it out of curiosity or memories of their past lives, or perhaps from the mood itself instead of doing it for pleasure as well.
Yulian brought his lip to yours, nibbling your lower lip why urging you to open your mouth, allowing his tongue to roam inside you while his fingers did not stop even one bit, drawing multiple orgasms out of you.
You really loved every bit of the man who once tried to kill you. The way his soft fangs felt your skin, pricking it playfully instead of sinking it deep inside your jugular vein and killing you on the spot.
You loved it when he caressed your cheek, you loved how gentle he was when he wiped the tears from your eyelashes.
You loved it when he was inside of you, you loved it when he knew every inch of your body so well to the point he could make you cry out of pleasure effortlessly.
You loved to see his cute face from how fast he came inside you but he never stopped his hip. You loved it when he kissed your face. You loved it when he intertwined both of your hands.
You loved it when he made your insides feel warm and full.
You loved him for severing the illusion of the 'Witch' inside of you. It was undeniable that Yuliad had saved you from the villagers' torturing you for accepting an outsider into your cottage for the first time.
You were simply curious of his condition and yet you were punished terribly for not keeping the said tradition. Yulian knew there was never a tradition, it simply was a doctrine for you who was a prodigy of a physician to save everyone from your village.
You were exiled deep in the forest so that you couldn't learn the life beyond the forest and village.
Yulian knew just as much when he first joined you on your stroll to the village. Everyone treated you differently as though you were a deity and you considered it to be something normal.
It looked normal to him considering they believed in the 'Witch' but Yulian knew better. You were just a human and all of these were just a doctrine from the church. To ensure the prodigy never left the village and was forever loyal to the church.
Spies were sent and he knew the church had probably noticed him as not only a weird outsider but also a vampire. It was unfortunate of you to be dragged into the church's underground and interrogated, forced to drag him to the church and had him staked to death. But you were persistent, you didn't trust them.
Just before Yulian was about to save you, you made a grave mistake of swearing on your name to make a promise with the devil to save you and your companion which was him. He knew you had always been so kind but wasn't that sort of naivety a little bit too much for a stranger like him? Perhaps this was the reason why the church wanted to force a much stronger doctrine onto you.
Their mistake was to not sense the danger that was him earlier. Your flaw was that you were too kind-hearted.
It gave him more reasons to seclude you from the world beyond the White House. His paranoia and obsession growing stronger with each day never seemed to unnerve you who were just a bright soul with a kind heart. A kind heart that was a contrast to his stoned heart.
That alone justified his paranoia of losing you. Surely you understood him right?
Author's Note: Thank you for reading this half-hearted work, I was so motivated to write a damn vampire fic but got writer's block mid-way smh. Happy 7th Anniversary to LIfE Project and 5k to this blog!
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eufezco · 3 months
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THE MUSE
Benedict needs to practice female form. Naked female form. And who better to help him than his lifelong friend?
Benedict x fem!reader (smut with plot, friends to lovers) + no use of y/n. english isn't my first language (!)
Benedict didn't know how to ask you.
You had been friends for a long time, your families were practically one. Always so united, your mamas took walks every afternoon, gossiping about the ton and your fathers had been friends since childhood. You and Benedict were bound to meet.
You and he grew up together. You were friends with his siblings, you had held sleepovers with his sisters and won cricket matches against his brothers. Lady Violet Bridgerton loved you like a daughter and your mother loved Benedict like a son.
But your friendship with him had always been special.
When you were twelve, you ran away together to camp on the riverbank, just because Benedict wanted to draw the moon reflecting in the water at night. The following year, despite the scolding you received for your river adventure, you and Benedict sneaked onto private land just to pluck a few petals from the summer sunflowers to get him the perfect shade of yellow.
You and Benedict were very close. Of course, there had always been rumors about what kind of relationship you two had and that Lady Whistledown had only added more fuel to the fire writing about you two in her pamphlets. You and him never cared about that, and neither your families but it was true that you two have had to face some uncomfortable conversations with them about it.
That's why Benedict didn't know how to ask you. You had a lot of trust in each other, you had always supported his artistic vocation but perhaps this was too much.
—Oh, thank God you've come. I am in need of a model —. It was the first thing Benedict said to you when you entered his studio. The maid closed the door behind you, leaving you alone with him. Thank goodness the Bridgertons' service was very discreet, if anyone found out that you and him were alone in a room it would cause quite a scandal.
—Good evening to you too, Benedict.
—My apologies. Good evening —. He leaned to kiss your cheek.— I need a model —. He let you know one more time.
—How have you been? Very stressed from what I can tell —. You tried to have a normal conversation with him before you paid attention to what he required.
—Indeed.
You sighed. —Well, what is it? I thought we were going for a walk.
He nodded. —We can go outside later. But I need to get this done by tomorrow and I feel like I'm losing my mind.
—And...?
—I need practice female form.
You slowly nodded. You were aware that Benedict had been recently attending this art academy, you were happy that he was finally able to pursue his passion and you couldn't deny that within the characteristic desperation of the artists, he looked very attractive. Benedict's hair was a mess, his white shirt was half-open, his sleeves were rolled up. He would never have allowed himself be seen in society like that and you were grateful because otherwise he would have all the girls after him.
—And you want me to...?
—Pose for me.
You weren't quite sure how to do it but it seemed easy and fun. All the times he had drawn you, he had done it when you were distracted, reading, having tea with his sisters... The pencil moved effortlessly across the paper when he saw you laughing with Daphne or playing with the cards that Colin had brought back from his trip to Spain. He was already too embarrassed to admit each time he drew you and Anthony teased him by saying that if he didn't propose to you, he would show you his drawings, and Benedict's heart skipped a beat because he knew that his older brother was not known for being a joker.
Benedict still didn't know how he was going to ask you, maybe it was better to just let it out.
—And what shall I do? Just stand here? Like this? —You laughed and made a dramatic pose like the ones you saw in the paintings in the gallery you visited together.
—I need you to ...
Benedict swallowed nervously. He looked down at your dress and then directly into your eyes. You raised your eyebrows, waiting for him to finish. You also looked at your dress to see if there was something wrong with it.
—Benedict I don't think I understand what you are trying to say—
—I need to practice naked female form.
Benedict immediately noticed your horrified face. He wanted to go back seconds ago when he hadn't even asked but if it wasn't you, who would it be? —I will not draw your face. No one will know it is you. It will be purely professional, I just need a few minutes.
You bit the inside of your cheeks and decided to trust him when he said that it would be for professional purposes only. The unfinished nude sketches that made your cheeks burn when you saw them as you entered his studio showed you that Benedict found no inspiration in the bodies of the academy models. After a nervous swallowing, you nodded and Benedict's face lit up. He hugged you but you didn't have time to hug him back because he quickly went to prepare the canvas.
—Is the door locked? —You asked him as you shed the little jacket that covered your shoulders along with your gloves. Benedict rushed off to lock it and before he returned to his position behind the canvas. You called his name and gulped, your hands failing in their attempts to unzip your own dress. —May I please get some help?
—Oh, yes, of course. My apologies.
Benedict stood behind you, his fingers brushing the skin on your back as he began to slowly unzip it until the dress slid down your body and fell at your feet. Benedict felt like he had to look away, as if in a few seconds you would not be completely exposed to his eyes. He offered you his hand to help you get up on a small pedestal that he had in his studio. Once you got rid of your underwear, you felt vulnerable but not as vulnerable as when Benedict ran his eyes over your body from his position and with the paintbrush already in his hand.
He let out all the air he had in his lungs, he couldn't take his eyes off you. Benedict could not deny that he had imagined it on many occasions, but reality far surpassed his imagination.
—What... What should I do, Benedict? —You hugged yourself.
—Put your arms down and stand like that. You look perfect, darling.
Your cheeks burned after that. You did as he said. His brow was slightly furrowed in concentration as his eyes went from the canvas to you and back to the canvas. Benedict asked you to turn around and he squeezed his eyes tightly after seeing your bare ass. Purely professional, this was purely professional, he had to remind himself.
Benedict grabbed a wooden chair and walked over to you. Your heart skipped a beat once he was so close to your naked body and he felt the exact same. He placed the chair next to you and invited you to sit on it. He nodded slowly when you did, focusing on the new position of your body. Benedict went back behind the canvas and made a few sketches.
He cleared his throat. —Would it be possible if you... Could you spread your legs?
Your cheeks grew hot and you squeezed your thighs together.
The knot you had in your stomach got tighter and you felt your chest rise and fall slowly thanks to your deep breathing. You straightened your back in the chair and you did as Benedict asked. You felt the air of the room caressing you in that warm and wet area and he held his breath, his chest puffing out as your legs slowly opened for him.
—You are beautiful, darling. Do not be ashamed —. Every new inch he discovered of your body made you look more perfect in his eyes. It was as nice to see you as it was to paint you.
Your cheeks grew even hotter but this time it wasn't just your cheeks, your whole body was in flames starting with the area between your legs that was so exposed to his eyes.
—Could we try another position?
You nodded, relieved, you were sure it was painfully obvious the way you had gotten wet and you just hoped he was busy enough to not notice.
He dropped the paintbrush and got up from the stool on which he was sitting. Benedict felt the knot in his stomach grow tighter with each step he took closer to your naked body. You moved in the chair out of nervousness. Benedict leaned slightly over you. —May I? —He asked before touching your leg. His voice made you shiver, he was so close, you felt his hand brush against the skin of your thigh. You nodded and looked up at him while he repositioned your leg. Benedict's eyes meet yours, so helpless, his lifelong friend, was that innocence in your eyes, or was that...?
Lust.
Your hand grabbed the back of Benedict's head and pressed his lips against yours. His eyes widened in surprise but immediately after, his hands went to cup your cheeks as he fell to his knees in front of you. You opened your legs so he could place himself between them and be closer to you. The shameless hands of your friend traveled down your neck until they reached your breasts. You moaned against his mouth once he gave them a gentle squeeze, the soft palm of his hand brushing against your nipples.
Benedict left a trail of soft kisses from your cheeks to your collarbones and your breasts. He took one in his mouth as his hand played with the other, his tongue moving in circles around your nipple and sucking on it at the same time. Your breathing quickened and your lips parted to let out soft moans when Benedict's teeth brushed your sensitive nipple.
He let go with a pop sound and watched you gasp for air. Benedict placed his hands on the inside of your thighs and caressed your skin there before he slowly pushed them to open even further. His hands prepared you for him, his eyes asked for your permission. You nodded and Benedict flashed you a smile, that was all he needed. He peppered your thighs with kisses, taking small bites and kissing your sore skin afterwards. Your breathing deepened as his mouth got closer to where you needed him the most. He was so close he could smell you and oh Lord, his dick got hard as a rock at that moment.
You took a sharp breath when he licked from your entrance to your clit and savored your juices in his mouth. The image was completely sinful, his blue eyes were locked on you while his lips sucked on your bundle of nerves, his hands forced your legs to stay open for him. Your head was thrown back, your mouth was open in a perfect "O" form, your fingers digging into his scalp. Once he noticed the desperation in the way your hips rolled against his mouth, two of his fingers entered you easily. You stifled a loud moan, throwing a hand over your mouth.
Benedict hummed, sending vibrations to your clit.
—Talk to me. How does this feel? —He required.
—So good. It feels... —You bit down your lower lip, his fingers sank deeper. —It feels like heaven.
He was satisfied with your answer.
Benedict fucked you with his fingers until you had to grab his wrist to get him to stop, it was too much. Your legs closed around his head but his lips were still attached to your clit and he didn't stop until he heard how your moans turned into whines and cries, not until he noticed how your back arched off the chair and your chest rose and fell uncontrolled thanks to your panting. Benedict didn't stop, not until he felt how your pussy was clenching so hard that almost pushed his fingers out of you and he heard you moan his name one last time as your grip on his hair tightened.
He gave you all the time you needed to catch your breath, kissing your legs and intertwining his fingers with yours while you came down from your high. Benedict's blue eyes were locked on you making every effort to later recall every single part of you.
—How are you feeling, darling? —Benedict stood on his feet and held your hands so that you would stand up as well. Before you could answer his question, you both realized how your legs were shaking and laughed. At the same time, you felt Benedict's grip on your hands grow stronger to keep you from falling.
Benedict leaned in and kissed your lips in the sweetest possible way. The tickling sensation in your body that you felt when you were naked in front of him had turned into a different kind of tickling, now focused on your stomach. It was so familiar, you had felt it so many times when you looked at him but now, with his lips on yours and his hands treating you with so much affection and care, it was different.
You could confirm that it was not only lust but also love.
You hummed against his lips. —Wait, did you finish your drawing?
Benedict shook his head. —But, please, do not worry about that. I will help you get dressed —. You frowned confused and he gave a quick kiss to your lips so, as he had told you, you would not worry. —I can finish later. There's no way I'm forgetting your body, my dear.
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Such is the astonishing reflectivity of water, a parameter that increases exponentially once the angle of incidence of light exceeds the Brewster’s Angle of 53 degrees, that it has no trouble literally converting itself into a silver mirror that provides now such a bright, brilliant and burnished background as to guarantee the supernal, superlative silhouette, as witness these beautifully silhouetted beach birds standing stock-still on the riverbank of the Gosthani. The effect is enhanced by the fact that the electric vector of any electromagnetic wave - light being one - can be resolved into both a horizontal component and a vertical component, and that for substantial stretches of degrees both above and below the Brewster’s Angle the horizontal component is fully absorbed by the water; which means that predominantly pure polarized light, now exclusively polarized in the vertical direction, enters the camera. As any professional photographer knows the astonishing glare and catoptric reflectivity of polarized light can vastly increase the sharpness and darkness of a silhouette, water itself performing the function of a polarizer here. We find that the lustrous, light-lit littoral is a magisterial metaphysical mirror that outlines both forms and philosophies.  
May 10, 2010, Gosthani River confluence, Bheemili, Andhra Pradesh.
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popamolly · 7 months
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‘ DANCE WITH THE DEVIL ’ ALASTOR
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summary. a bit heartbroken by last night’s events, you tried to move forward and entertain more suitors, a string still pulling on your heart since it was hard to forget alastor.
PART ONE | PART TWO | PART THREE
warnings. human!alastor x fem!reader, eventual smut, mature themes, age gap! youre 20 while alastor is in his early 30s, alastor is a serial killer, alastor stalks you, dark romance, angst, gore, death, blood kink, not a happy ending
author’s note. thank you for all the love this story is getting!
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The next morning arrived with the sunlight streaming through the window and painting the room in a soft warm glow. You stirred awake from a restless sleep, the events of the previous night hung heavy in the air but before you could get lost in your thoughts a gentle knock on the door interrupted your thoughts, and your mother entered with a tray of your favorite breakfast.
"Good morning," she greeted sharply, setting the tray on the bedside table.
The atmosphere in the room felt charged with tension and you felt as though if you made a sudden move you might die from the suffocation of it all. Your mother's stern expression hinted at the lingering disapproval from the night before. As she sat down, her eyes bore into yours, her words measured and direct.
"I hope you've had a chance to reflect on your behavior last night. Venturing into such places is unbecoming of a lady, especially a Duvalier, I will not have you tarnishing your father's name." she chided, her tone laced with disapproval.
Your attempts to explain were met with a dismissive wave of her hand. "Enough. We won't dwell on the mistakes of yesterday. However, I must insist that you put this Alastor nonsense out of your mind."
The mention of Alastor brought a rush of emotions that you had to swallow down. Now your mother’s instructions became more of a command rather than a suggestion. Though when have her words ever been a suggestion.
"Forget about him, my dear. You need to focus on the suitors who are genuinely interested in you. Now, get dressed. We have guests arriving and you must present yourself with grace and composure," she instructed sharply.
The weight of your mother's insistence felt like shackles but you complied, suppressing your emotions. As you prepared for the day, the memories of the jazz club and Alastor were pushed to the back of your mind, replaced by the formalities and expectations you were to upheld.
The morning, which had begun with the soft glow of sunlight, now unfolded in a harsh contrast. As you descended the grand staircase to meet the suitors, a silent determination set in.
The night before had been replaced by the reality of the courting season, and in this world of scripted dances and polished conversations, the echoes of the jazz club was nothing but a forbidden memory.
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"And your favorite hobby?" The man next to you asked as you both walked along the side of the riverbank with your mother in tow behind you as a chaperone.
"Cooking, sewing, cleaning..." You listed everything your mother practiced you to say since you were sixteen with a bored expression, "It's hard to choose really. Especially when my new hobby would be doing all those things and taking care of man who can't take care of himself."
The gentleman's expression shifted from mild curiosity to genuine offense as your response veered off the expected path for traditional domestic roles. He struggled to conceal his surprise, his facial features contorting into disbelief.
"Taking care of a man who can't take care of himself?" he repeated, his tone carrying a touch of annoyance. "Well, I must say, I wasn't expecting such... candidness. A woman's role is to support and enhance her husband's life, not to suggest he's incapable."
Your mother, who had been following as a discreet chaperone, discreetly cleared her throat, offering a subtle reminder of the expected decorum during such conversations. The gentleman, however, appeared unamused by your deviation from the conventional script.
"I believe in partnership and mutual support," you continued, maintaining your composure despite the tension in the air. "In my view, a successful marriage is built on shared responsibilities and understanding, don't you think so? Or is your brain too small minded?"
The gentleman's offense transformed into outright displeasure, and his face reddened with anger. He took a step back, as if distancing himself from the perceived audacity of your words.
"I never expected such impertinence," he huffed, his voice dripping with disdain before turning to your mother. "If this is the kind of woman your daughter has become, madam, perhaps a lesson in decorum is in order."
Your mother, taken aback by the abrupt turn of events, attempted to diffuse the tension. "I assure you, she is a capable and respectful young woman."
The gentleman scoffed, "Respectful? A woman's place is to support her husband, not challenge societal norms. If you want to see your daughter married perhaps you should tape her mouth first."
With those final words, he turned on his heel, storming off along the riverbank, leaving an air of tension in his wake. Your mother, left momentarily speechless, could only watch as he disappeared from view.
Your mother, though caught off guard by the gentleman's departure, turned her attention towards you with a stern expression, the air thick with disapproval.
"I cannot believe you would speak so boldly, especially to such a promising young man. Do you even know who his father is?" she scolded, her voice low. "You'd be lucky if he doesn't spread a rumor about you and your outspoken views, who will marry you then?"
You bit your lip, a mix of frustration and defiance bubbling within you. The stifling expectations of the season seemed to constrict, and the encounter had exposed the deep-seated clash between tradition and your desire for an equal partnership.
"But Mother, I only spoke the truth. I want a marriage built on partnership," you argued, your voice carrying a hint of rebellion, "I want love."
Your mother's gaze remained unwavering, and she sighed in exasperation. "Love? My dearest child, it was one night of sweet nothings you must forget that man. You must understand that your words have consequences, and you must learn to navigate these social situations with more finesse."
The scolding continued, a lecture on the importance of being a mere trophy without thoughts. As the words from your mother lingered, you couldn't help but feel a twinge of resentment. The courting season proved to be more of a challenge than you had anticipated.
The journey back home was quiet, the echoes of the encounters with potential suitors lingering in the air. Your grand estate, once a symbol of opulence and refinement, now felt like a gilded cage . A cage that you unfortunately had to be stuck in for the rest of your life.
As you and your mother entered the stately home, servants helped you take your coats off at the door. Tonight had only proved that the majority of suitors were mostly ignorant and entitled. Men who expected the traditional gender roles only stifled your desire for a more equal partnership.
You follow your mother into drawing-room where tea awaited, sitting down on one of the elegant couches after pouring yourself a cup. You mentally prepared yourself as your mother sat across from you, dropping two sugar cubes into her own teacup with a discerning gaze, ready address the events of the afternoon.
"Do you understand that I want only the best for you? It is hard but you must find content with your situation, as I did. The suitors today were from respected families, and their opinions carry weight in our social circles," she advised, her tone a mix of caution and motherly concern, "Don't be foolish to throw this all way because you want a fairytale marriage."
You sighed, feeling her slowly start to crush your spirit. "Mother, I cannot fake enthusiasm for these men. I want a marriage based on love and mutual respect, is that so bad?"
Your mother's expression hardened, a sign of her struggle between the desire for your happiness and keeping your father's legacy alive. "The world we live in demands certain sacrifices for the sake of reputation."
The conversation continued, a delicate dance between generations, aspirations, and tradition. The walls of the grand estate seemed to close in, threatening suffocate every ounce of a dream you had left.
"We will talk more about this later, now go and freshen up for dinner." Your mother turns from you to get the daily mail that sat onto a silver plater one of our servants held. Her thoughts now occupied with whatever was in those letters addressed to her.
The mention of dinner provided you temporary relief, a chance to gather your thoughts in the privacy of your room.
As you reached the upper landing and walked down the corridor towards your room, a familiar sense of fatigue settled in. The idea of facing another evening filled with polite conversation and forced smiles only wished to drain you more than you already were. With a sigh, you opened the door to your room, hoping to somehow muster enough strength to make through dinner with your mother.
Upon entering, the room was bathed in the soft glow of the evening sun. The space offered little comfort compared to the storm brewing within your mind. You moved towards the patio doors, intending to draw the heavy curtains and shut out the world for a brief moment.
However, as you approached the doors, a gasp caught in your throat. There, at the patio, stood Alastor, his tan skin bathed in the warm hues of the setting sun. He held a bouquet of flowers in hand, with that grin that would be bone-chilling if you were in another world.
Had he climbed up to your patio? Your heart skipped a beat, startled by his unexpected presence. Alastor turned, his eyes locking onto yours with an intensity that mirrored the electrifying encounter at the jazz club.
"Forgive the intrusion," Alastor spoke, a charming smile playing on his lips. "I couldn't resist the opportunity to see you again, (Y/N).”
You found yourself at a loss for words, the sight of him standing there, outside your room, both thrilling and a little scary. The flowers he held seemed to highlight the spontaneity of the night that had captured your heart.
As you stood there, Alastor's gaze held a question, an unspoken invitation to step into the realm of the unexpected once more. You couldn’t, you thought, you shouldn’t. The decision lay before you – to embrace the conventional path or to follow the allure of something more unpredictable and genuine.
A surge of conflicting emotions washed over you at the sight of Alastor. The initial surprise and excitement gradually gave way to a simmering anger that had lingered since the day before. Memories of his sudden departure, leaving you alone in the crowd, resurfaced to only fuel the flames of anger.
You composed yourself, maintaining a veneer of poise, as you faced Alastor at the patio doors. "Alastor," you greeted, your tone betraying a subtle undercurrent of tension.
He smiled, seemingly oblivious to the storm brewing beneath the surface. "I hoped to catch you before dinner. These are for you, my dear," he said, extending the bouquet of flowers towards you.
You accepted the flowers with a forced smile, your gaze sharpening as you met his eyes. "How kind of you. But if this is your way of an apology for leaving me the night before then you are not forgiven," you remarked, your words laced with a hint of reproach.
Alastor's expression faltered for a moment, a flicker of remorse crossing his features. "I apologize if my departure caused you any distress. It wasn't my intention."
You couldn't help but feel a surge of frustration at his nonchalant response. "Intentions or not, it was thoughtless. All this is challenging enough without being abandoned in the middle of a crowded club."
Alastor's gaze dropped ever so slightly, "You're right, and I regret not explaining myself that night." The man before you was unable to meet your eyes, "Something came up and I had to tend to it right away, I had hoped to invite you to dinner to properly apologize."
"Dinner?" You looked back at the clock hanging from your wall, knowing that your mother was expecting you in less than an hour to join her, "I can't tonight."
"Tomorrow then?" Alastor persisted, his eyes searching for a glimpse of agreement.
"Tomorrow." you agreed, the magnetic charm that surrounded him softening your resolve. A sense of anticipation lingered, a silent acknowledgment of the romance weaving through the conversation.
As Alastor pressed a tender kiss to your knuckles, a shiver ran down your spine, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still. His gesture, reminiscent of the forbidden knight in shining armor that came to save your dress that fateful day.
"I will see you tomorrow," you responded, your words breathless, caught in the enchantment of the moment. The courtyard, bathed in the soft hues of the setting sun, transformed into a canvas for the unfolding romance between you two. Was this foolish yes? But when you are smitten and swooped off your feet by the person who you think could be the one, it didn’t seem so foolish. Everything surrounding Alastor made perfect sense even when nothing about him made sense at all.
"I can't wait to reveal to you my world, my dear," Alastor's voice carried a mysterious undertone, his words dancing on the edge of menacing. Unbeknownst to you, the promise held a duality, a blend of charm and an underlying darkness that eluded your naive perception.
As Alastor departed, leaving you in the fading light of the terrance, the echoes of his words lingered. The anticipation of the mysterious dinner date took root in your heart, overshadowed by the allure of a world yet to be unveiled. Little did you know, that this romantic endeavor concealed layers of foreshadowing pain and death.
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© POPAMOLLY 2024 all fanfics belong to me, do not copy, translate, or repost on any other social media.
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persicipen · 20 days
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chiffon made of moonlight ノ jiaoqiu . moze
ꕤ ₊ ˙ ⊹ . sort of prequel to my three of cups fic suggested by @bibilovedit ノ you sneak out of the camp at night to clean the wounds you’ve been hiding in fear of losing your reputation as a reliable advisor. your senses dull once again as you fail to notice two other general’s counsellors following your steps near the riverbank.
ৎ୭ ₊ ˙ ⊹ . 1.6k ノ gn reader — vague mentions of being involved in a military campaign ノ suggestive touches . yearning ノ licking the wound . treating the injury ノ brief descriptions of partial nudity ノ the beginning of an unspecified polyamorous relationship ノ flirty but caring characters :3
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A problem, worst of the worsts you’ve experienced during your brief stay with the army continuing the campaign, drives you to the edge of reason. It begins as a mere itch, a trivial wound taken during a skirmish that you dismiss with the arrogance of youth. Yet now, beneath the starlit heavens and the expanse of the violet-tinted skies, that same wound threatens to unravel everything you’ve worked so fiercely to maintain.
The inlet is a silent witness to your bitterness, glowing faintly from the moonlight and the flickering stars, constellations mirrored in the depths. You watch their languid dance, their pale light casting strange shadows across the smooth stones lining the sand. The trees bordering the river are twisted, leaning to kiss their own reflections, their leaves rustling softly in the balmy breeze.
You walk until the water reaches around your thighs, trembling fingers reaching for the surface. It’s colder than you expected, sending a shock through your weary body as you dip a hardened from blood yet still sticky cloth into the current.
The sound of the waves, soft and relentless, lulls you into a dangerous calm. You don’t notice the subtle rustling of the barely audible footfalls that follow your path from the camp. Only the faintest breeze alerts you of their presence — Moze and Jiaoqiu, emerging from the dark like spirits drawn to your suffering, dipping in the waters to join you in the shallow cool.
“With a wound like that, you shouldn’t delay a visit to my tent.” The foxian murmurs, the concern in his voice a mellow duvet enveloping your tense shoulders. He nears beside you, his deft hands already reaching for your hurting back, a healer’s instinct overcoming any protest you might offer. “I know this type of injury. I could get you checked right away. Why didn’t you report that earlier?”
This is no ordinary wound; it festers with the poison of your own pride. To reveal it would be to admit failure — to lose the trust and the respect of your comrades. And so you hide it, beneath layers of cloth and pretense, beneath the weight of your responsibilities.
“Embarrassing…“
“What?”
“It was embarrassing to get hurt so early on here… I didn’t want—” your voice falters, the excuse dying in your throat as Moze approaches, his expression softening in a way you’ve seldom seen.
“You didn’t want us to worry,” he finishes for you, his tone gentler than you expected, as if he understands the turmoil that rages within you. “But we’ve been worried for days.”
“You’re an advisor, not a warrior!” Cuts in Jiaoqiu, finally opening his eyes, honeyed gold shimmering in the night like little embers to guide lost moths and lure them into the light. “There’s no shame in caring for your health nor in admitting that the guards back then irresponsibly let the enemies cross into the safe zone.”
The vocal statement stings more than the pain of your wound, and you look away, shame burning hotter than the fever that has taken hold of your back.
With a gentle caress of his fingers, the medic coaxes you to tilt your head and expose your neck to his cautious gaze. His irises paled to a platinum shine when reflecting the moonlight — something that caught Moze’s attention and caused him to think that the other man is quite handsome, despite the unpleasantness his constant commentary can provoke.
There weren’t any damages present on your nape, so the sudden curiosity around that place made you uncomfortable. Why would this foxian healer focus on a healthy part of your body then?
The stream of thoughts gets cut with the first shy lick of his tongue along the strained tendon. Like a lightning, it shoots through your entire nervous system, inducing a heated wave from the tips of your nerves. Despite the unexpected yelp and the squirming, he doesn’t let you out of his embrace — an embrace you thought would be gentle but is firm enough to keep you in place.
“Excuse my boldness… But before we return to where I can treat you to a proper nutritious meal, there are other ways of helping with the pain-related stress.”
“What about me?” asks the other man, almost as if scared he’s getting forgotten despite standing just as close.
“You? You have the entire front before you, have you not?” And then Jiaoqiu whispers into your ear, not breaking eye contact with Moze. “He may not be skilled with his words, but surely those lips of his must hide a secret of two to grant pleasure…“
There is something breathtaking about the moment when the resistance collapses under the strain of another kiss that strikes across your exposed skin, leaving you vulnerable and weak to their soft touches. One pair of hands holds you close while the other wanders in all the right places, igniting fires on the places it rests.
“No more fighting against us or hiding your pain.” The foxian murmurs, soothing you with that gentle voice. “Just let us take care of you.”
You know they can feel your body melting into theirs, moulding to their influence like fresh clay, your muscles relaxing as tension melts away from your bones. Even your breath evens out and you sway softly, entrusting your weight to their arms. It feels like surrender, a part of you admits — surrender in its sweetest form.
“You’re so warm…” you mutter into the sky, pressed carefully against the exposed part of Jiaoqiu’s chest, his inhales and exhales soothing you into tranquillity. “It helps.”
His tail swishes ‘round your thigh, its tip dipped accidentally in the waters. Its silky texture provides another point of contact, a heightened sensation of fitting perfectly against him, and he nibbles on your earlobe.
“And what about this? Does it feel good too?” He teases.
You gasp when feeling a second grip slip near your waist. Moze’s fingers are long and dexterous, exploring with care every single inch of skin. There is something thrilling in this approach, something forbidden, something exciting, like touching a stranger’s palm in the dark to seek an affirmation that you’re not alone in the vastness of the night. It sends a rush of adrenaline through your veins and you tremble from the weight of expectations as much as from the fact that it has been quite some time since anyone held you like this.
There is no need to speak the words out loud — you are at their mercy, naked and melting beneath the tender attention they pay to every part of your body. Before you’re able to decipher that mysterious expression on Jiaoqiu’s face, he disappears from your field of view, sliding just a tad lower to swipe his tongue across the numb wound on your back, his gesture making you remember that it exists — now without aching both on your skin and mind.
And Moze, daring to witness the entire process with his very own eyes, can’t help but widen his eyes at the tender eroticism of his companion’s actions, sending heat straight to his groin as the latter’s gentle licks move across the flared area hoping to work the healing wonders in some time.
“How are you feeling?” The foxian asks, hot breath tickling your neck.
“Better. Warmer.” You pant, lips slightly parted as the silver-haired man presses a peck to your jawline, the feeling of his hands sliding up your sides making you shiver with anticipation. “B-but… I’m not sure why all of this is happening…? It’s just a lot to— you know.“
“Perhaps it would be best to just work on your injury tonight, hmm,” Jiaoqiu suggests, smiling against your spine.
Unable to turn back to him, you make eye contact with Moze in front of you. He tilts his head in confusion, before a more thoughtful look crosses his features and he hesitantly responds, “let’s get out of the water and have you dry before going back.”
Relief and disappointment mingle together inside you, swirling into a frustrating concoction as you rise from the water, grateful for the tepid night air. The river wouldn’t do much good against the poisonous mixture of shame and arousal coursing through your body. The remaining rationality in your head did the right thing. Too fast and you three could be discovered in an unfavourable situation — whatever happened between you until now was already difficult enough to explain.
While you try to put on your tunic, thankful that the material is light and thus won’t aggravate the wound, two men quickly jump into their remaining layers of clothing, taken off not to wet them when entering the river after you. A sort of relief washes over you at the brief glance where you spot their pants bulging; glad you’re not the only one feeling hot and declining only out of a mingle of bashfulness and logic.
“We can go, yes? Time to put some proper ointment and bandage over your back. And, most preferably, a hearty soup would also be welcome.” The healer mentions, stretching into the air as if wishing to catch the faint scent of burning incense that flutters over the camp in the night.
You have no choice but to agree.
“Thank you… for not making a mess out of this situation…” you mumble out under your nose, slightly puzzled by the weird tension still lingering somewhere between you and other advisors. “I’m sorry I got in such a condition.”
Jiaoqiu shrugs his shoulders, while Moze merely narrows his eyes, stepping closer to wrap an arm around your waist. The pressure is not meant to be hurtful, yet it startles you as he leads you towards the tents.
“We can continue this conversation once you get better.”
“Continue…?!” You repeat after him in surprise, cheeks hot as the words echo in your head, ricocheting like the restlessness of a furious swarm of bees, stinging into your skin.
“Hehe…”
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premetheus · 2 years
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Taken Friday October 21st 2022 at 1:36 PM. #River #Water #RiverWater #Riverbank #FlowingWater #WideRiver #MovingWater #WaterInMotion #Tree #Trees #Branch #Branches #TreeBranch #TreeBranches #Leaf #Leaves #Reflection #Fall #Autumn #FallWeather #AutumnWeather #PureMichigan #MichiganAwesome #Michigan https://www.instagram.com/p/CkBO0xDrWhd/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
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luveline · 5 months
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Missing my zombie!steve husband 🫶🏻
quiet day at the camp… hope something bad isn’t brewing… zombie apocalypse au <3 fem, 2k
Steve loves the sound of the river, but he only allows himself a moment to lay down on the riverbank during laundry hours. 
You stand knee deep in the water with your pants and sleeves rolled up, the corrugated metal of an old shed roof that’s been repurposed into a washing board held to your chest. It was pointless to roll your sleeves up, you’re soaked to the bone, even your hair, but the summer sun keeps you warm. 
“Don’t get too hot!” you call. 
“I’m fine,” he says, unwilling to shout. 
“He’s fine!” Robin shouts from beside him. “Numbskull.” 
Steve stares at you, locking you in, so to speak, the nice shape of your hip and stomach, the mess of your wet hair. Tonight, he’ll help you fix it, but there’s no rush and no hurry to dry off while the sun is out, and the fences are up. He turns onto his stomach. Grass tickles his cheeks. 
“You sure you’re okay?” Robin asks quietly. 
“Fine. Can you tell me if she needs help?” 
“Sure.” He listens to the sounds of her moving, likely pulling the slim lengths of her legs against her chest to hug herself, the tan leaves of a book spread out just in front of her. 
Steve could really go for a cigarette. You swapped the last box you found for toothpaste, isn’t that how it always goes? You and Robin found a cheat code in the apocalypse, nicotine with a capital ‘N’. You swap Arctic chewable for socks without holes and boxes of Marlboro’s for the bathroom essentials. Everybody wants them, and you’re great at finding them. Steve never thought he’d crave a cigarette again considering he wasn’t addicted, having smoked for a couple of months in high school to feel cool with his friends, stopping when his mom asked him to. He doesn’t remember why. She’d asked, and he’d listened, as he used to do. Swim team, cross country, basketball, lifeguard training, mowing the lawn, not upsetting his father, taking out the trash, vacuuming, no drinking and driving; task after task after task. Some of it was easy. He liked doing the dishes, and he loved taking care of his mom even if she didn’t feel the same. 
Not that it matters now. Does it matter now? He’s never gonna see her again. She’s a memory. She’s a bad memory, most of the time. 
The more he reflects on it, he decides. She was a bit shitty, but she’s his mom, and she’s likely gone, so he’ll try to remember the cookies they made together and the way she’d smile at him after she tied his shoelaces before school. And also the mean fucking bitch she’d turn into when she drank two glasses of wine. 
“What are you thinking about?” Robin asks.
“That’s the wrong soap,” you say from the river. Your voice floats over the breeze. 
“Fuck off, soap is soap,” Eddie says, your not-so-new friend, Steve’s sworn enemy. 
“I’m just saying,” you laugh. “Look, I’ll wash, you rinse.” 
“I’m thinking about that time,” Steve begins, holding his hand out toward her, open but not expectant, “when my mom and dad came home early from his business trip in Missouri and found us sleeping together.” 
“I’d never heard your dad laugh before,” Robin says. 
“My mom really didn’t like you after that.” He smiles as she takes his hand. They were a lot more touchy, pre-apocalypse. He misses that sometimes. 
“I don’t even think she thought we were dating.” 
“She was disgusted.” 
“She said we were being weird teenagers.”
“I guess we were. I never had a friend like you before so maybe I can’t blame her,” he says. He has something special with you, you’re a best friend because you’re half of his heart, but Robin was his first proper best friend, and remains it. “I missed you a lot when we were stuck in Indiana. There were a ton of times where shit would go wrong and I would get mad at you because I knew you’d know how to fix it, but you weren’t there.” 
“You’d get mad at me?” Robin asks, squeezing his hand. “You jerk. Be mad at yourself.” 
“Can you wait for me next time?” he asks.
Robin’s quiet, then she laughs, “I’m nodding but you can’t see.” 
He wonders how she’s feeling. He admits to not doing that much in the past. Not that he didn’t think about how he made others feel, he was always worrying about that after Nancy, but he can’t say he thought of it in the moment. Steve forces himself to sit up and offer his arms for a hug, which Robin gladly accepts, her frazzled laugh on his neck as he pats her back. 
“Are you okay?” she asks. 
“You know Y/N says I’m possessive?” 
Robin leans away, fingers curled around his elbow. “You’re fighting?” 
“No, just. She says I’m possessive, that I get mad about, you know, my people.” 
“Right. Isn’t everybody?” 
“I never thought I did. I’m not, like, too proud most of the time.” 
“Steve, this is super introspective,” she says, frowning, smiling, a weird expression somewhere melding in the middle of happy and concerned. “Are you sure you’re okay? It’s fine if you’re not.” She laughs shrilly. “I woke up the other day and cried and then ten minutes later I felt fine. I’m far from okay.” 
Steve glances past Robin’s head to watch you in the river. You’re sitting down amongst the stones. It really isn’t too deep, water to your ribcage washing suds down to Munson, who’s smiling at you kindly, not smarmy or flirting, just smiling. 
“Why did you cry?” he asks quietly. 
“I missed my cousin, I think.” 
Steve curls his arm behind her head and encourages her in for a fiercer hug. 
“Think we should probably go help them,” she mumbles. 
He takes it for the brush off that it is; sincerity is too much to take, sometimes. If she wants to be evasive about it that’s okay, she already took the leap and admitted to getting upset. 
“I cried thinking about Y/N’s hands the other day,” he says. 
“Steve.” Robin rubs her eye with the heel of her hand. “I don’t even know what to tell you.” 
“What? I’m trying to show you I’m pathetic so you don’t feel bad.” 
“I know you’re pathetic, and I don’t feel bad.” She climbs off of the ground and brushes broken grass off of her legs. Steve climbs up next to her, nudging her with his elbow. “You’re mucho pathetic. It’s kind of crazy.” 
“I think I might try and drown him,” he says conversationally. 
“Why now?” 
“Why do you think?” Steve asks, toeing off his shoes and peeling off his socks, nearly pitching forward on the wet bank closer to the river.
You and Eddie look up as they approach from different spots of the water. Your smile at seeing him winds him for the thousandth time, just so happy to see him, so in love with you he doesn’t even know what to do for a few seconds. “Hey, honey,” he says, “can I help?” 
“Now you wanna help?” you ask, gesturing to your soaked front. 
You’re messing with him, and he doesn’t care anyways, you can talk to him like crap if you want to. He shuffles down from the mud of the riverbank and into the water, cold and wet like a shock against his ankles, softer as it climbs to his knees. You’re sitting where it’s more shallow, opposed to Eddie on his knees and almost drowning further down. He puts his hand on your wet shoulder and kneels down in the water beside you. “Wanna hug?” you tease. 
Steve hugs you. Doesn’t care that you’re soaking or that the water is freezing against his crown jewels, though he shivers by your ear, prompting your laugh like bubbles in his own. “It’s cold,” he says. 
“Freezing!” 
Not to be a freak, but he can feel your chest pressed to him, and he knows you get achy in the cold. He wraps his arms doubly behind your back and rubs at your sides. “How much laundry’s left?” he asks. “We’re gonna get hypothermia. Again.” 
“You didn’t get hypothermia,” you remind him, folding into his space. “Steve… is everything okay?” 
“Do I look mopey today? Robin just asked me the same thing.” 
“You don’t look mopey, but you’re being touchy. You’re cuddling.” 
“How am I not supposed to cuddle you, dummy? I’m keeping you warm enough to function right now. Without me you’d be an ice cube floating down the river.” He leans back to hold your face in one hand, your cheek under his thumb, water racing down his wrists and your neck. 
You push against his hand gently with your cheek. 
“Sorry,” he says. 
“What for?” 
For lots of things. “I didn’t realise how cold the water was. I would’ve come to help you.” 
“It’s fine. I scrub everything and then Eddie catches it. We’ve only lost one pair of underwear,” you say. “The river’s like a long washing machine.” 
“How much do you have left?” he asks. 
“Nothing. I was just about to get out.” 
“Couldn’t have told me that before I came to get you?” 
“No,” you say, lifting your chin. Not challenging, but close. It’s an offer, Steve decides, kiss me or don’t kiss me. You don’t seem to realise he doesn’t decide, he needs you. If you always wanted to kiss him, you’d always be kissing, all the time, everywhere. 
Steve gives you a quick peck. “Come on, let’s go set up the line.” 
You somehow, together, make your way back to the tents without freezing to death after throwing your clothes on a drying line between trees. It’s warm enough that stripping down to your skivvies is mildly pleasant (away from the eyes of the other campers). You get dressed in the softest clothes you own upon Steve’s insistence, sweatpants and a dark hoodie, three pairs of socks and the tent door left open, before he lays you down on the sleeping bag, and settles between your legs, his full weight bearing down on you, his face nestled in the damp crook of your neck. 
“I couldn’t kiss you the right way,” he confesses. 
“Why?” You pull mildly at the ends of his hair. 
“‘Cos I always want more than one kiss.” 
“That’s a strangely romantic way to say you wanted to make out with me,” you whisper. 
“It’s not like that,” he insists, even though he does want to, and he did in the river, and he does all the time.
“You’re getting kinda heavy, Steve,” you mumble. 
“What?” 
“It’s a good thing.” 
“How dare you.” 
“We got sorta frail for a bit.” You wrap an arm around his head, tip of your nose to his forehead. 
“Yeah. Lucky we’re in camp Eddie now,” Steve says. 
“I never thought I’d hear you say that,” you murmur, so close to sleeping Steve can tell. You just need a feeling of security to nudge you over the edge. 
“Lucky we’re together.” He climbs off of you slowly so as not to rouse you too much, kissing your slack cheek as he settles on your shoulder. “You and me. I don’t care where we are.”
He ends up falling asleep not long after you, lulled by the rhythm of your light snore. 
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sluttysanemi · 2 months
Text
ʚɞ ⁺˖ ⸝⸝
GENYA SHINAZUGAWA
a/n: ok this is sort of clunky ‘n all over the place but whatevaa. indulge in genya bein’ the teenage boy he is:((
c/w: non-sexual nudity, brief description of injury.
You and Genya travel together through the barren woods, beneath the moonlit sky. The trees are twisted and gnarled, with branches resembling skeletal fingers. The air is dense with the aroma of moist earth and decay, contributing to the forest's ominous aura. 
The air periodically whistles about, among the distant chirping of crickets.
Upon concluding your session of patrol, you revert to your allocated, shared cabin. 
However, as consequence of your negligence within combat, a fresh, piercing wound emerged across your stomach, concealed beneath your palm. Blood seeps through your fingertips and coats your apparel in a rich crimson. 
You reflect serenely on your circumstance. You are reluctant, and perhaps humiliated to share your condition, but you consider it as the best approach. Overlooking the wound may result in infection. 
You spoke. 
“Sorry, I– bruised myself.”, you murmured. “Is there a river we could stop by? Jus’ to clean it.”
Genya seems troubled, frowning towards you. His eyes narrow as he evaluates your statement. 
“What? Yeah… we can. There’s a riverbank, just over there.” He countered, diverting their path to a nearby stream.
– 
As you drew near, the gurgle of running water broke the calm of the woodland.
Genya sits upon a smooth, broad stone near to the river's side.
You observe the crystal-like stream. The water rushes slowly across polished boulders, reflecting the moonlight in a vibrant array of colours.
Your fingers curl to your uniform, gradually lifting it upwards. You reveal the slender, freshly carved wound across your abdomen. Blood trickles along your flesh.
Genya averts his vision, appearing bashful and flustered as he observes the delicate skin of your abdomen. Attempting to preserve his composure. 
Eventually, he perceives the long, newly formed injury. He grimaces
“Shit…”, he cursed, his brows furrowing. “How’d you get that?”
You direct your glance to him, flushing faintly in shame. 
“...I sort of slacked. That’s all.”, You declared, attempting to explain yourself.
A brief pause.
“It’s… probably best if I undress.”, you began slowly. “Jus’ to let it clear beneath the stream. D’you mind if I?--”
Genya hesitates, biting his tongue. He senses his complexion reddening at the thought, but he encourages himself to remain composed.
“..yeah… sure… Go ahead," he grumbled quietly. 
Your back to him, you cautiously unclothe, discarding the blood-stained uniform from your body. As you let the fabric fall to the ground, an easing sense of relief pours over you.
 You steadily descend beneath the water, the scrape gradually clearing within the stream. The water envelopes you in its dark grasp. 
Genya glances elsewhere awkwardly, attempting to preserve a stern demeanour. His body stiffens as numerous beads of sweat fall along the surface of his skin. His breath caught in his throat.
“Is… the water cold?”, he asks hestitantly, swallowing dryly. 
You cast a glimpse at him, over your shoulder. “Slightly, but it is bearable.”, you reply quietly. “Almost soothing.”
You contemplate a proposal whilst listening to the night's critters. You remarked once more.
“Maybe you’d… like to join me?”, You inquired, peering intently towards him. 
He blinks, his cheeks developing an ominous red. His fingers twitch faintly. 
“...Are– Are you sure?”, He struggles with his speech. He lingers before swallowing, beginning to undress. He folds his uniform and lays it upon a nearby rock. A crisp breeze glides against his exposed skin.
“There’s a small bottle of disinfectant in the pocket of my uniform.”, you briskly recall. “I had bought it just in case. Could you bring it with you?”  , 
“...Yeah,” He responded gently, stepping over to your clothing and retrieving a miniature glass bottle from the pocket.
He approaches you, seating near the shore of the river. The container is in his hand. He glances at you, somewhat hesitant and shy. 
You peer between the glass and his expression. Your cheeks flushed once more. 
“You… wouldn’t mind…”, you whisper, attempting to gather your sentence. “It’s just– if I do it, i’ll be too gentle with myself, ‘n won’t clear it properly.”
His cheeks heat with your query, and the notion of his hands contacting your flesh... His mind is conflicted, yearning to sustain his calm. 
“Y–Yeah… I can do it…”, He responds, seizing the bottle and unscrewing its lid. 
You situate yourself on the river's ledge, exhibiting your wound. The expanse of water below mirrors the moon's fragile light, creating an atmosphere of tranquilly. 
Your fingers tread and trail through the greenery as you observe the firebugs dancing inelegantly. The flickering insects illuminate the gloom, culminating in a captivating show of lucency and movement. The crickets croak idly. 
Genya's gaze is fixed on the wound, staring to it. He raises up the container and spills a small bit of the transparent liquid over his fingertips. The fluid feels frigid on his skin. 
He slowly draws closer to you, shuddering slightly as a cold runs up his spine.
“..This might sting,"  he announced gently. He lays his hand upon your stomach, meticulously caressing and examining the injury. His touch is assertive, his demeanour attentive.
Exhale a hefty, pained breath through your lips, attempting to attain a sense of serenity.
 Your hand skimmed along his bicep. A pleasant warmth brushes against your fingertips.
He feels your touch to his arm, and he promptly peers to your visage, his expression beaming scarlet. Your proximity ignited a surge of emotions in him.   
He’s swift to shift his focus back to the wound, ignoring the sensation of her grasp upon his body. The warmth of your contact lingered on his flesh. 
“Sorry,” He murmurs, as he pours an additional portion of the disinfectant, carefully cleaning the incision. The fragrance of antiseptic permeates the space, merging with the metallic tinge of blood.
Your fingertips trace easing patterns on his back in a bid to divert your focus.
“...’S alright. Thanks for doin’ this.”, you spoke tenderly. 
He bites into his tongue once more, an almost strangled sound emerges from his lips. He tries to retain his poise, but your fingers sketching soft lines upon his body's surface renders it strenuous. His breathing quickens, his chest rising and sinking, putting out a considerable lot of effort to ignore your touch. 
“...Yeah.”, he replied lowly, his voice almost strained. 
Your fingertips continue to trace the crevices of his muscles, brushing his scars. You feel the coarse texture of his skin beneath your fingertips, your expression compassionate.
Genya shudders as your hands skim the ridges  on his skin. He attempts to breathe steadily, but he can feel his composure sliding with each stroke of your fingers. His face is flushed with a deep scarlet, and his eyes are adhered to your open flesh, willfully avoiding your glance.
 He finishes cleansing the wound, gently puncturing the region surrounding the injury. His expression almost relieved. 
Your thumbs glide to his hair, caressing the dark curls. The delicate strands flow through your fingers, and you can feel the warmth of his temple beneath your touch.
“...’S it lookin’ okay?”, You enquire, your chest heaving. 
Genya's gaze flickers to you momentarily before reverting to the body of water.
“Yeah… it’s lookin’ alright.”, he replied, his tone breathier. He took a deep breath, wiping sweat from his brow.
“You got a bandage then? Don’ wanna ruin your work.”, you continued. Your hands lay idly on your lap. 
He nods, reaching over to his pile of garments. “..Yeah, I’ve got one.”, he says, rummaging through his uniform, before retrieving  an unopened roll of fabric bandages. 
You observe quietly, grateful for his attentive care. His presence exudes an appeasing warmth, his mannerisms unusually delicate.
Your gaze trailing to the crystalline ripples of the stream, savouring the serenity of the sight. The calm murmuring of the river soothes every sense.
Genya returns to you, unravelling the roll of gauze and gently encasing it around the wound. His fingers work carefully, taking care not to overtighten the fabric while still ensuring that it stays in place. His knuckles periodically brush against your skin, and his breathing is slow and deliberate, his heart thundering in his chest. The tension between them is apparent, an unspoken connection humming beneath the surface.
As he laboured, you renewed your focus on the numerous scars that adorned his body. The jagged lines and faded marks stood in sharp contrast to the compassion with which he now cared for your wound, exhibiting an element of tenderness that he rarely exhibited.
“..You’re too rough on yourself, y’know. You’ve got too many scars.”, you remarked, sympathetically. 
He pauses for awhile following your comment, his gaze flickering up to your face. He exhales dryly as he continues to carefully wrap the bandage around the wound, his fingers working slower than before. The vicinity is filled with strained silence, punctuated by the erratic sound of fabric being pulled taut.
"..I'm fine.." is all he can say, his voice subdued and raspy.
You pause, observing him keenly. You grasp his hand and trace the scuffed skin. 
“You promise?”, you persisted. 
His breath jerks, your delicate touch renders it onerous to express himself clearly.
 He swallows dryly and nods slightly, his cheeks flushing as he struggles to regulate his heartbeat, which is striking against his chest. He attempts to gather his words.
“Yeah… yeah, I promise…” He replies, his voice slightly hoarse.
You nod, acknowledging his words. “Okay.”, you whispered, glaring to his flustered expression.
As he concludes wrapping his bandage over your injuries, a sense of serenity emerges. Under the silvery sky, you appreciate the beauty of the present. The subtle rustling of foliage and distant chirping of crickets create an oasis of peace, allowing you to temporarily forget about the discomfort. 
“...Genya?”
His gaze meets yours. He nods subtly, as he listens intently. 
“...I meant what I said. This meant a lot to me.”, you said truthfully.
Genya pauses, his breath caught in his throat. His face rose a deeper shade of red, his entire body trembled and tensed. He briefly looks to you before hurriedly glancing aside and murmuring a response.
“...Y-Yeah..”, he chokes out, before clearing his throat. “...I-I’m glad I could help…”
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