#Star flower pendant

[twistedkittyart]

Carnelian star-flower pendant necklace on a cotton cord. The perfect gift for any witchy cottagecore people out there. Also available wrapped in pure copper.

[heartnosekid]

thequirkycupcollective on ig

[ericaerlan]

Looking for the perfect gift for your special someone for Valentine’s Day?

Check out my numerous items on sale with no minimum order.

https://floralnaturedesigns.etsy.com

[sadatmirza]

Powder Room in Albuquerque Example of a beach style mosaic tile floor and blue floor powder room design with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, blue walls, a vessel sink, wood countertops and brown countertops

[whowantshota]

DADDY'S HOME —— kim mingyu

in which your husband comes home late on valentines. but it's okay, he has his ways of making it up to you.

warnings ☆ MATURE CONTENT AHEAD. smut, husband!mingyu, somno, gyu is pussy whipped, kim mingyu x afab!reader

i get off work late today :/ 

c u ltr, ok?

You frown at the texts, irritability rubbing your thumb against your temples. 

This is not the first time your husband has texted you that he’d be late from work, oh of course not. You understand—-sometimes, his schedule is tight and that makes work the temporary number one priority. You obviously mean more to Mingyu than his paycheck.

Or so you thought. You groan, flopping back onto the couch miserably. Mingyu has come late at night at least twice a week for the past month now, so it should be a normal occurrence. At least, if tonight wasn’t Valentine's.

Yes, today was the commercial holiday that pisses about off half the world. And funnily enough, Mingyu had only sworn to you three major things in his life. One, good dick. Two loving you. And three, that he’d never miss Valentine's day. 

While the last one was mostly a long inside joke from before you got married, you’re still glancing worriedly at the clock. 9:30 and you’re still holed up alone in your apartment, a box of chocolates with his name on it set on top of the kitchen table. 

Mingyu hadn’t promised you a dinner date at a restaurant tonight —you both knew that wouldn't fit with his schedule. But he had promised to cook you something romantic, pour you a glass of wine, and then fuck you till you see stars. 

And being very honest, you think you would’ve loved that much more than a night out. Loved it so much, by the way you’re sneaking your hand into your panties. Pushing one, two fingers in; but it's never good enough—it'll never be Mingyu. 

So you quit early, stand up because you're tired of waiting around. He’ll be home tomorrow. You can wash up now, clean up and see him later. It’ll be fine. You can celebrate then, right?

★ . *- .

Mingyu didn’t think he’d be making up Valentines like this. When he thought about it on the way home, he had pictured at dinner out at your favorite restaurant, or flowers and an even bigger gift basket than the ones he had already bought for you. 

But, you didn’t hear the crack of the door, or the creek of the apartment floors when he walked in. You didn’t even hear when the loud thunk! when his work bag hit the floor. Or when he sets down the heart shaped pendant Joshua had picked out on top of a pink gift basket he had planned to give you much earlier.

He realized then, that you would not be waking up for a while. You were tired, basically passed out. He does feel bad for making you wait so long, but shit, he swears his cock never throbbed as hard as it did when he caught the sight of your sleeping figure curled up in bed. Only in a small tee and new pair of panties he got you a couple of weeks ago. Fuck, you look perfect.

So he went, took a shower and got dressed before laying next to you in bed. You murmur something when his arm wraps around you, snuggling into him. But you don’t wake up.

“Pretty,” he mumbles, slowly running his thumb over the skin of your cheek. He pokes you a couple of times with a finger. You look so cute—eyes shut with your mouth partially open. You might’ve been drooling even. 

His hand dips down to your torso, rests on your hip. He was nearly starting to fall asleep too, blinking in a poor attempt to keep himself up too. And right then, you just had to shuffle, pushing back against him. A small noise slips past his lips when the curve of your ass pressed against his clothed, semi-hard cock.

Poor Gyu, stuck in bed while you’re sound asleep. How’s he supposed to take care of that? He feels his cock twitch again, grip on your hip tightening just barely.

It wouldn’t be a problem if he just helped himself, right? Inhaling, his hand moves a bit further, hooking around the bottom of your panties. He prods against the warmth of your entrance pushing a finger in.

Fuck, you’re so wet. He can hear the sound of your slick when he presses another finger inside. It’s almost as if your cunt is begging for him to fuck you. And it’s only right that what his lovely wife and her pretty cunt wants, they get. 

Mingyu pulls his fingers out, sucks on it. Moving slowly, he climbs until he’s hovering over your still figure. There’s a tight feeling in his core, dick hard as pulls the crotch of your panties to the side. He pulls the waistband of his sweats down, groaning when cold air hits his cock. He spreads your legs a little wider, teases himself against your pussy.

Mingyu sees Heaven when the tip slips past your entrance. Swears he could cum on the spot. You’re so warm, so soft. It’s not his fault, you’re the one who lured him into this trap.

He can do a little more than the tip. You haven’t moved yet, still partially twisted one way with your legs spread wide for him. You were just made to take his cock, weren’t you?

He should have been making up Valentines with a picnic date in the park. Should have been thinking about what he’ll cook you for breakfast tomorrow morning, if he’ll deliver it to you with a card and a rose.

Instead, he’s got you trapped under him on the mattress, seemingly so passive and docile as you sleep, not conscious of the fact that he’s got you stuffed with his fat cock. He wonders if you’re dreaming about it now. You’re not necessarily a deep sleeper, so he’s surprised you don’t wake up when he bottoms out.

He doesn’t know what to say, can’t even speak. You feel so good, too good. Cunt wrapped around him, clenching. He’d kiss you if you were awake right now, but you’re not so he’ll settle with what he has. He fucks a soft thrust into you, watching for your reaction. Your breath catches, but you don’t do more than that.

“Perfect. You’re just perfect, baby.” He groans, pulling out until the tip before he forces himself back in. You let out a moan, arching so slightly. Mingyu thumbs your nipple through your shirt, speeding up the pace of his strokes.

He dips his head to press a kiss to your sternum, lips skimming and peppering kisses along your collarbone next. 

You twist just barely under his hold, eyes fluttering open. You’re still coming to, blurry eyes barely making out the sight of Mingyu’s body caging over you. Whining, you bite your down on your lip when you feel the stupidly fat cock slowly fucking into your cunt.

“Hey baby,” Mingyu murmurs, now kissing the side of your neck. Your whimpers get louder, and you move one arm and snake your it over his shoulder. He groans when you clench on him, sucking harder on your skin. “Don’t worry baby, daddy’s home.”

Tiredly, you rub your eyes with your free hand. There’s pleasure building in your stomach rapidly, and you start to force yourself to sink deeper onto his cock. “Gyu– daddy, please.” You cry, fucking back on him. 

You hear him hum in response, but you can’t answer. Not when he’s picking up the pace of his strokes, pushing hard, deep thrusts into your tight cunt. “Yeah baby? Come on, tell daddy what you need.” He teases, pushing your legs back before moving to grope your ass cheeks with his big hands.

Now that you’re awake, Mingyu tightens his grip, fucking into you harder. “Need Daddy to help you cum, hm?” He says, voice playful. As if he wasn’t the one whimpering and fucking himself into your pussy moments ago. 

“Couldn’t help it, you looked so good.” He murmurs. His hips are starting to buck into your sloppily, You mewl, nodding. Pretty sure you might even be drooling but you couldn’t give a fuck. Everything feels too good, and you’ve got no idea what’s going on. Mingyu says something you can’t hear, kisses along your jawline before he presses his lips to yours.

You can barely make out the “Happy Valentines.” he whispers, cumming too hard. Your cunt clenching around his dick, mouth falling open. He wants to spit in it, call you a slut, but he can’t when he feels you pulse around his cock. 

Gyu’s eyes roll back, and he lets out a low hiss, warm cum filling up your cunt. His body flops over yours, sweaty chest pressing to the front of your shirt. You run a hand through his hair, kiss his nape softly. “Someones late,” you joke, voice breathy.

“I know. ‘M sorry.” he says, moving down so that his head lies on your chest. He loves the feeling of you tugging on his hair slightly, ruffling his hair.

He looks up suddenly, disheveled but handsome as ever. “I’ll make it up. Wine and spa?” 

You laugh, seeing the way he pouts. He looks like a giant puppy, cuddled up into you. You love it, love it so much you’re not even remotely bothered by the mess on cum or the fact that he still hasn’t pulled out. Pushing his hair back with a hand, you kiss him on the forehead once more. “Sure. Happy Valentines.”

didn't realize that even tho it's still valentines in my country, it's late in other places :( happy valentines! not beta read

[starmocha]

Bride of the Dragon King :: Prelude

[Sylus/Reader ★ 465 words  ★ Masterlist ★ Series Index ★ AO3] Tonight, the wine tasted so sweet. A/N: I yapped on my tumblr about how I wanted a dragon!Sylus AU…so I willed it into existence. 😊 This is the prelude to a technically 3-part story. The main story will be a 20K+ word one-shot, so I feel justified in a shorter intro. I am still finalizing the main story, so I want to give people time to read the prelude first. While the prelude is SFW, the main story and epilogue will contain explicit adult themes, so it's best for MDNI. Influenced to varying degree by the Vietnamese origin myth, Lạc Long Quân and Âu Cơ, and the C-drama, Miss the Dragon…and probably a whole slew of other period C-dramas I watched in the past. Recommended Playlist Love and Deepspace - Wander In Wonder Shuang Sheng - 流转莹回 ☆ I can do a tag list for the main story once it's up. Just let me know in the replies, and I'll keep a list handy. ☆

Distantly, in the Celestial Realm where the immortals resided, the vast kingdom of the Dragon King was shrouded in nighttime for all of eternity, stuck within an eternal spring. Pink petals from the ever-blooming flowers of the magnolia trees were carried away in the warm breeze across the palace courtyard.

Sylus, the Dragon King, lazed under a grand magnolia tree with red blossoms overlooking a large koi pond, his solemn gaze lingering on the reflection of the full moon in the still water. He poured wine from a crimson porcelain bottle into the matching cup, and he took a swig of his drink, sighing.

The moon is lovely tonight… he thought, The wine tastes so sweet…

Red magnolia blossoms drifted down from the tree, landing in the water and startling the fish beneath, the immediate ripples distorted the reflection of the moon. Sylus kept his own crimson eyes on the floating flowers.

Little Snake, this is not much, but you are welcome to stay with me for as long as you would like!

He huffed in amusement, eyes drifting to a different flower.

You are so shameless. How can you ask a maiden to bathe with you?

He poured another drink, chuckling, but there was little joy in his laughter.

You are not allowed to get hurt! …Promise me you won’t get hurt again...

His cup lingered at his lips momentarily, a look of guilt flashed across his features before he tossed the drink back, sighing heavily.

Sylus…I don’t want you to leave…

He leaned back against the tree, eyes wandering to the moon. On the ground next to him was a necklace, its pendant pure gold with a jade border. Engraved on one side was the image of a dragon with wisps of cloud beneath it. When Sylus picked it up, his fingers caressed the other side, tracing the characters that formed the word, “Beloved.”

Another flower drifted into the pond, spinning slowly before it floated away.

…Who are you?

He closed his eyes, his hand tightening into a fist around the pendant as he made his decision.

He was going to rewrite their story. The red thread that tethered them together was going to unravel and lead her back to him.

All of it was going to be undone, and a new ending was going to replace all of the tragedies that were and were to be.

For her…

Heaven and Hell were going to bend to his will, he vowed.

For us…

As Sylus finished the wine, a white mist enveloped him, swirling before scattering and leaving nothing in its place beneath this red magnolia tree. In the night sky, among the millions of stars, a white dragon flew away, his scales shimmered in the moonlight before he disappeared into the horizon.

[bookwormjust]

Gifts for a new family (established relationship with Azriel)

As you walk through the lively streets of Velaris, the city sparkles with the magic of the approaching Solstice. Snow gently falls, dusting your dark curls as you move from stall to stall, gathering thoughtful gifts for each person you hold dear. The vibrant energy of the city surrounds you—laughter, chatter, and music drifting through the air—but you’re focused, determined to find the perfect gift for each individual.

The Archeron sisters, your dearest friends, are at the top of your list. For Nesta, something elegant but practical—a sword charm, small yet intricately carved, reminding her of strength and grace. For Elain, a collection of rare seeds wrapped in delicate ribbon, the kind that will bloom into the most beautiful flowers in the gardens she adores.

Then, there’s Lucien. The idea of him being alone during Solstice tugs at your heart, especially with Elain’s rejection lingering in the air. No one seems to have thought of buying him anything, but you do. After a few moments of wandering, your eyes fall on a beautifully bound book on rare herbs and healing remedies—a subtle but kind offering, something that speaks to his knowledge and appreciation of the natural world. You smile softly, hoping it will be a small comfort to him.

And for Azriel—your shadowsinger. Your heart flutters as you think of him, the way his shadows dance around him like they know you. You’ve spent hours pondering the perfect gift, wanting to show him how much you care, how much he means to you. You finally settle on something simple yet deeply personal—a custom-made leather sheath for Truth-Teller, engraved with symbols of protection and strength, paired with a small silver pendant representing hope, something light for him to carry, always close to his heart.

Azriel’s mother, though you’ve never met her, is also on your mind. After all, she’s an important part of him, and you want to honor that. In a small shop tucked away in a quieter corner of the city, you find a delicate silver bracelet adorned with small, shimmering crystals that catch the light just right. It’s a token of kindness and respect, a gesture to show you’re thinking of her even before your paths have crossed.

With your arms full of gifts, you make your way through the bustling streets, feeling the warmth of the season and the love you have for everyone in your heart.

As you continue through the vibrant streets of Velaris, you think about the gifts for Feyre, Rhysand, and Cassian, wanting each of them to feel the thought and care you’ve put into their Solstice presents.

For **Feyre**, you know how much she values art and expression, how it centers her and allows her to find peace in times of chaos. You eventually come across a beautiful set of high-quality paints from an artisan's stall. The pigments are vibrant, and there’s an array of colors Feyre could use to bring life to her next masterpiece. Alongside the paints, you pick up a small, hand-crafted sketchbook with a leather cover embossed with Velaris' iconic skyline, a symbol of home and her new beginnings.

For **Rhysand**, the High Lord of the Night Court and someone whose burdens are heavy, you want to offer him something that will remind him to find moments of rest and joy, despite his responsibilities. After wandering a bit longer, you find an elegant silver cuff with an intricate, celestial design that mirrors the night sky—the stars and moons delicately engraved into the metal. It's imbued with a subtle magic that encourages calm and relaxation when worn. A small but meaningful reminder that he, too, deserves peace.

And then, there’s **Cassian**. His boundless energy, laughter, and warrior spirit make you smile as you think of him. You search for something that speaks to his strength but also shows that you understand the heart beneath his brash exterior. After much deliberation, you find the perfect gift—a beautifully crafted pair of leather vambraces, sturdy but detailed with intricate patterns of wings and flame, symbolic of both his Illyrian heritage and the inner fire he carries. There’s also a bottle of rare Illyrian whiskey from one of his favorite distilleries, a little something extra to bring him joy on Solstice night.

With every gift now carefully chosen, you feel a warm sense of satisfaction. Each present carries a piece of you, a reflection of how much these people mean to you, and you can already imagine their reactions as they unwrap their gifts. The Solstice, after all, is about connection, love, and light—something you’re more than happy to share with those you call family.

As you stand on the bustling street, snowflakes dusting your shoulders and your arms full of carefully chosen gifts, the weight of the bags starts to pull at you. You smile softly, thinking how wonderful it would be to have Azriel here to help carry them—and to see him, of course. Through the bond, you can feel his steady, quiet presence, a warm pulse of calm beneath your skin.

You reach out gently, letting your thoughts drift toward him. *Azriel?* you send, a soft, playful nudge through the bond. *I may have gotten a bit carried away with the Solstice shopping...* You glance down at the many bags you're struggling to hold. *If you're not too busy, do you think you could come rescue me?*

For a moment, there's silence, then you feel a ripple of amusement from him, his presence wrapping around your mind like a comforting shadow.

*Rescue, hmm?* he responds, his voice a deep, smooth caress in your mind. *I’ll be there in a moment, love.*

A warmth floods your chest at his words. Within minutes, you catch sight of his familiar form gliding effortlessly through the crowd, his wings tucked close to avoid the bustling shoppers. As he approaches, his shadows swirling gently at his sides, his hazel eyes lock onto yours, a soft smile tugging at his lips.

Azriel takes in the sight of you, arms full of bags, and chuckles quietly. “Looks like you’ve been busy,” he says, his tone warm as he reaches for the bags, easily lifting them from your hands as if they weigh nothing. His fingers brush yours as he does, sending a shiver of warmth through you.

“Just a bit,” you reply, smiling up at him. “I didn’t realize how much I was carrying until I tried to walk back.”

Azriel shakes his head, his shadows whispering around you both as if they’re pleased to see you together. “Good thing I’m here, then,” he murmurs, his eyes softening as they linger on you. “Shall we?”

With his strong arm around you, you feel a sense of lightness, knowing that together you can face the chaotic streets and the busy holiday, each gift chosen with care and love for your new family. You walk side by side through Velaris, the snow falling softly around you, as Azriel quietly and effortlessly carries the weight that had become too much for you—just as he always does.

[madridfangirl]

Star crossed lovers (Jude Bellingham fic)

Chapter 9

(Series Link)

Jude * female reader. Mature Language in parts.

Synopsis: A chance encounter in a tiny Madrid cafe with the newest superstar of her fav club. The two couldn't be more different, yet both feel the pull toward the other. Would this girl be the one he finally falls for? Or would life come in the way of these star-crossed lovers?

…………………………………………………………..

After the whirlwind first week, Jude & Ananya started settling into their relationship over the next few weeks. Discovering deeper layers of each others’ personality and moods.

Both had super hectic schedules, and work always remained top priority. But whatever free time they got, they tried to spend it together.

Jude loved how much she loved and understood football. Not just the glitz and glamour of it but real passion for the game. Like he had. Watching old matches, discussing / debating milestone events & players, even some tactics - everything was so easy with her. Often she got the better of him in trivia, especially regarding Madrid, which she rubbed in his face gleefully. He would pretend to be annoyed, but secretly, he admired that too. She even watched Jobe’s matches with him.

And while he understood very little of her work, he respected her drive & ambition. Never complaining when plans were cancelled last minute, even if that was the only mutually free slot they had in days. Work was work, and it was always sacrosanct.

In fact, when she whipped out terms like ‘leveraged buy-out’ and ‘nominal inflation rate’, dressed in her impeccable well-fitted formals, he found it sexy. A smart young woman, working her way up the corporate ladder of power, influence and success, in a man’s world. It was hot.

Ananya was grateful for his understanding. And his constant curiosity to grasp the intricacies of her job. She loved talking about her day with him, even if it had been a torrid onslaught of one thing after the other. The way his brows furrowed as he concentrated extra hard to keep up with her words, nodding to show he was following the conversation. After a while, she learned to keep it simple, just sharing the essence without getting into technical terms. Much like he did with her for football.

But she wondered how long his understanding would last for. Her own mother and some of her closest friends had been skeptical when she picked this line of investment banking, calling it an impractical career choice for women in the long term. She had followed her passion nonetheless, and no one had really tried to stop her, knowing how strong-minded she was. But the thought often crossed her mind as to when Jude would start expecting his work & schedule to start taking precedence over hers. Start expecting her to act like the other WAGs, always available and around for their men. She constantly looked for signs, but hadn’t found any so far.

The weeks also saw many firsts in their relationship.

She realised how Jude was really a romantic at heart, but didn’t have much experience in expressing his feelings, having never been in a proper adult relationship before. So he did what he thought was supposed to be done. Sending her flowers every Monday before the workweek started, planning elaborate meals for her in her favourite cuisines (executed by his housekeeper of course; Jude couldn’t cook to save his life), offering to pick her up / drop her around the city (via Agnes, coz the boy still couldn’t drive), and buying her gifts.

The rest she appreciated, it was the thought that counted. But the gift had led to their first real argument.

‘You don’t like it?’

His face fell, looking at her sombre expression as she held the sheer crystal pendant in her hand. He saw it at one of the airport shops and had been so sure it would suit her taste.

‘It’s very pretty. But it looks expensive, Jude.’

‘It’s not.’

Jude didn’t understand the reaction. It wasn’t as if he had bought her a diamond. And even if he did, so what?

‘Not to you.’

She said softly, hoping he would understand. But Jude took it as a rejection, like she was pushing him away.

‘So I can’t get you gifts then?’

She scooted closer and stroked his face with the back of her fingers.

‘I love the flowers. The cards. But nothing too expensive, please? Not yet, at least.’

He wanted to scream ‘why not?’ and ‘what would be the right time, then?’ but realised it was a lost cause.

‘Fine, I’ll return it.’

He didn’t say much, sulking in silence. She let him have his space, sorry to see him like that. Realising that such layers of emotional complexities he hadn’t dealt with earlier. He was used to caring for his family & friends, showering them with stuff wholeheartedly. So this refusal would be hard for him to process. But she couldn’t help feeling uncomfortable with expensive gifts and just had to let him know.

There were many happy firsts too, which they both remembered fondly. Like the first time she had stayed the night at his house.

They hadn’t seen each other most of the week and when they finally met that Friday evening, few hours together were simply not enough. They cuddled on the couch, tucked under the same blanket, his arm around her shoulders, her head resting on his chest.

It was also the same night when she first felt his weight on top of her. They were jostling for the remote after a silly argument over a show, and Jude was using his height advantage plus long arms to keep it out of her reach, giggling at her meek efforts. When she moved across his body to grab the remote, she slipped, lost her balance, bringing him down on top of her. They jostled for a few seconds more, before the moment dawned on them. Jude balanced himself on his arms on either side of her, to spread his weight, as she breathed heavily underneath him, drawing attention to her mouth & chest, looking deliciously edible in that tight cream sweater. Too tempting for him. Resulting in an intense, wet make-out session.

Later that night, when she changed into his beige t-shirt over her black tights, he nearly had a heart attack.

‘I look like a homeless person.’

Ananya poked at the formless garment, which was ridiculously big on her.

Jude was on her in a flash, grabbing her ass, lifting her up and pressing her against the nearest wall.

‘I must be massively into homeless people then.’

He smashed his lips onto hers, pressing her further into the wall, making out till she felt light-headed and went limp in his arms. Her neck all shades of purple & blue with his marks.

She stayed in the guest room that night. Talking to him on the phone till they both drifted off to sleep.

The first time they slept in the same bed was a week later.

Madrid had lost 3-1 to Atletico, a brutal derby loss at the Wanda. They were thoroughly outplayed the whole match, worst performance of the season by a mile. And Jude had been invisible the entire game. Fans were displeased, jeers were heard on the ground.

Ananya received a distress call 30 min after the game. It was 12:30 am.

‘Can I come over?’

She wasn’t expecting that. His mom was in town.

‘Sure.’

Jude came to her straight from the Wanda, didn’t even board the team bus back. He knew the building code now and she had left the apartment gate unlocked.

He walked into the dim light of her bedroom, finding her already in bed. She turned, their eyes met, but he quickly looked away. Threw his bag on the desk. Busied himself with getting rid of the Madrid tracksuit. Stripped to his briefs, put on a pair of shorts. All while keeping his back to her.

She could decipher his sadness from his silence / frenzied movements, and opened her arms for him when he finally got into bed. He slid into them quietly, nestling his head into her neck and chest, finding a comfortable spot as she wrapped one arm around his shoulder and stroked his head with the other hand.

The silence prolonged, along with his laboured breathing.

‘How bad did it look?’

Jude hated pity and embellishment when it was thoroughly undeserved. So she gave it to him straight.

‘Quite bad.’

‘Felt much worse.’

‘I know.’

He raised his head agitatedly, sitting up, and she saw his stormy moist eyes for the first time tonight. His accent became even more pronounced, as it did under any extreme emotion.

‘You can’t know. No one can. You weren’t there. You didn’t hear the fans. You didn’t hear the ringing defeat in the dressing room.’

Ananya approached him slowly while he ranted, reaching for his arms, holding them gently.

‘You are right. I can’t know what it really felt like. I just meant, as a fan I can feel the pain too. But of course, being at the centre of it is another thing altogether.’

With a little peck to both his cheeks, she pulled him back down. He let her, drawing comfort from her warmth.

‘Why are your knuckles swollen?’

He didn’t respond at first.

‘JUDE.’

She urged again.

‘It’s nothing. I am fine.’

He said curtly, irritation seeping into his tone. She thought of letting it go, but his anger was his worst enemy at times.

‘How would you help the team or make up to the fans if you are out with injury?’

‘Jeez if I wanted to hear a lecture then I would have just gone home.’

She dropped her arms from around him, leaving him cold and empty.

‘Pardon me for caring. Go kick some doors as well while you are at it.’

She turned away, letting his face drop to the bed.

Jude stayed still for a few minutes, then tugged at her tank top, mumbling softly behind her.

‘M sorry.’

He turned her by the waist, lifted her arms and wrapped them around himself again. She didn’t resist, his pain still gnawing at her heart.

‘How about some hot chocolate?’

‘M not allowed.’

‘Half a cup. I won’t tell Pintus. Take some extra laps in training tomorrow.’

‘Ok.’

‘Gimme a minute.’

Jude gulped it down in two sips, licking his lips for good measure. Strangely, it helped. He was still in a pissy mood but he didn’t feel like burning that stadium down anymore.

As they both settled back into bed, resuming their previous positions, he pulled her in for a kiss, conveying his gratitude.

‘I’d leave in a bit.’

‘It’s ok. You can stay the night.’

‘Sure?’

‘Yup. But won’t your mom wonder where you are?’

‘She’s used to me not coming back or coming late on some nights.’

Ofcourse. So his mom was aware of his night-time activities. Ananya should have guessed so, given Denise spent half her time in Madrid.

‘So…she would think you are with…one of…someone…’

“Yes.’

Ananya shuddered, feeling cheap suddenly.

‘And she doesn’t say anything?’

‘So long as I don’t get anyone pregnant, she ignores this side of my life.’

Jude pulled her closer, moulding her body to his, limbs intertwined, and drifted off to a restless sleep. She stayed awake for a while, looking over his sleeping form.

The first time Jude discussed his relationship at home, it didn’t go down too well.

He told Jobe in a long call one night.

‘I knew it.’

‘No, you guessed it.’

‘Well, I guessed right. You are too easy to read.’

‘Shut up. M not.’

‘Whatever. Does Mum know?’

‘No. Unless she’s guessed it too. She said something to you?’

‘No. How come I knew sitting here & she doesn’t have any wind of it?’

‘Coz you’re nosy.’

‘You mean smart. M smart.’

‘No, I mean nosy.’

‘Bro, you sure you’re ready for this?’

His voice suddenly turned serious. Big brotherly. He was doing that more & more lately. Those who called Jude mature for his age didn’t know what Jobe could be like at times.

‘I want this.’

‘Those are two different things.’

‘I’ll make it happen if I want it. You know that.’

‘If you say so.’

Jude didn’t like the skepticism in his brother’s voice. There was nothing he couldn’t achieve once he set his mind to it. No one thought he’ll have the record setting season with Birmingham at 16. Or the record breaking move to Dortmund at 17. Or the galactico signing to Madrid at 20. Or being a starter in the national team as quickly as he did. Proving people wrong was not new for him, he liked the challenge. Even if the person knew him as well as Jobe did.

Sure he’ll have to give up aspects of his lifestyle. The thrill of being with new women, the rush of making them fall for him, the adrenaline of being their first pick, the excitement of first times, the satisfaction of the impact he had on them, leaving them coming back for more, never having enough of him, the ease of no ties / commitments. It all worked for him at this stage of his life.

But something had consistently drawn him towards this girl from the moment they first met. He couldn’t stand letting her get away. She was a lot more than someone he just wanted to ravish (he wanted that too, desperately). She was a friend, a confidante, an advisor. Someone he sought after anything good or bad. A different kind of intimacy - real, deeper, sweeter, maybe even more satisfying at times - something he was fast getting addicted to. She was comfort. She was warmth. She was peace. She was fun. She was his girlfriend.

His girlfriend.

Why hadn’t they said that to each other yet? It had to be rectified immediately.

Jude called her right away. She woke up with a jump.

‘What happened? All ok?’

‘Just wanted to hear my girlfriend’s voice.’

She missed the context in her grogginess.

‘It’s 2 am. I have to get up at 7 am. Are you fucking nuts?’

‘Is my girlfriend mad at me?’

‘YES. Your girlfriend is LIVID….’

She paused. He waited for it to dawn on her, what was just said.

‘Don’t leave your boyfriend hanging, dove.’

He heard the little gasp she let out at the other end.

‘M coming over. Wanna hear these noises in person.’

‘Ok.’

Next morning, as she got ready for work, she had to apply a ton of makeup to cover his marks on her neck and shoulders. While he remained sprawled on the bed, enjoying the scene, commenting when she missed a spot, ignoring the daggers she was throwing his way coz of getting late.

After that night in his house, Jude had never really attempted to get inside her clothes again. Letting her set the pace on it. He had understood that the path to her body was via her heart. And also her mind. Jude wanted all of her. Everything. Not just the pleasures of her alluring body but also to rule her heart and enchant her mind. Win over all her senses.

But that didn’t stop him from looking. Or touching. Or flirting. Or talking dirty to her.

The feel of her melting in his arms, the taste of her skin - he craved it like a madman. And he indulged freely. Loving how she responded to his closeness. The effect he always had on her - flushed cheeks, fumbling lips, fluttering eyes, shaky breaths, trembling hands. The little noises she made for him, he was cataloguing them all in his mind. Revisiting them in his private moments of need.

It started with passionate make-outs - on the kitchen counter, pool table, dining table, the desk in her bedroom - basically anywhere he could put her on a higher surface, bodies pressed together. Hands roaming her form unabashedly, while hers clutched his shirt or biceps.

Gradually expanding to suggestive exchanges while he was away. They were mostly one-sided, except when he was insistent, but the fact she was there at the other end listening to his fantasies still turned him on.

While the hot & heavy stuff was intensely satisfying, he had started to enjoy their cozy moments too. Comforting cuddles, smiling against her skin as she tried to untangle herself from his hold, gazing into her deep (sometimes wandering) eyes, watching mindless reels with her, taking goofy selfies together, binge-watching shows, talking about their childhood & teenage years, all the little squabbles which seemed pointless in hindsight but seemed super important in that moment.

One such sore point was her consistent fondness for Cama. How she always went all ‘awww’ for him. Jude finally reached his breaking point one night & voiced his annoyance.

‘But he’s so cute & sweet, like sunshine.’

She said simply, waving her hand. The casualness pissed him off even more.

‘Cuter than me?’

‘It’s different. You are sexy cute. He’s cute cute.’

‘Maybe you should check out how many women call me cute cute on social media.’

She pinched his cheeks in response, like he was a 5 year old throwing a tantrum. He pulled away, irritation rising by the second.

‘Ofcourse they do. And you are.’

‘But?’

She smiled. As if he wouldn’t catch the but from a mile.

‘But he’s just like…pure, you know? That vibe.’

‘Pure? PURE? What does that even mean? He’s a person, not a brand of milk.’

She laughed for a good full minute, rolling over the bed, while he figured out what she subconsciously meant, smiling viciously at the realisation. His tone changed, making her take notice.

‘You think he’s some saint, don’t you? Doesn’t INDULGE in things I have indulged in? Just a cute little button, right?’

He didn’t need a response. Just one look at her suddenly sober face and he knew he had hit the nail on the head.

‘Oh baby. Sweet little baby. Let me tell you a few stories then.’

‘Jude, NO.’

She warned, not wanting this ruined in her head. He grabbed her wrists and pulled her closer.

‘He’s a FREAK. Maybe more than me. The stuff he’s into, the stuff HE INTRODUCED ME TO, the stuff on his phone…’

‘FINE. FINE, YOU WIN, OK? JUST STOP, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD! I won’t talk about him EVER, just STOP.’

‘Good girl.’

She hated how such praises, laced with mockery & a sense of domination, sent chills down her back. She hated how she was rapidly losing control of her sanity when it came to him. The power that he held over her, that she was giving to him, made her jittery. She had been there before, it didn’t end well. But she could feel the control slipping away again. The fall steeper & faster this time.

The thing was, Jude was simply impossible to resist. He had invaded all her senses, all at once. Barging into her heart with his effortless charm. Sweeping her off her feet with his endless attention. Chipping away at her defences with the sheer force of his smile. Numbing her doubts with his sincerity. Earning her respect with his passion, excellence and work ethic on & off the pitch. Showing her that he meant business.

Every little moment with him she remembered fondly. Counting days when she would see him next. Looking forward to his calls when he was out for away games / other work commitments. Sharing his highs and lows after the matches. Missing his silly jokes & goofy expressions randomly in the middle of work.

And then, it was the fact that he was mind-numbingly gorgeous.

So much, that it was unfair. The looks, the personality, the attitude, the confidence, the success, the physique, the softness, the kindness, even the cockiness - it was all too sexy. Her body tingled every time he was around, anticipating his touch. Or a cheeky whisper in her ear. His kisses were a drug. His bear hugs healing. His presence soothing. Every time he carried her effortlessly in his arms, her heart skipped a beat. His weight on top of her left her wanting more. The allure in his voice called out to the very depths of her being.

Jude had bewitched her - mind, body & soul.

With him, what you see is what you get. She would often catch him checking her out, and he made no qualms about it.

‘Can you not be so obvious?’

She was fixing her collection of novels on the shelf above her desk, while feeling the heat of his gaze on her butt.

‘Why?’

He leaned back against the pillow, enjoying the view. Responding in a playful, sing-song voice.

‘Because it’s distracting.’

‘Why?’

‘Because I know what you’re thinking.’

‘Yeah, and what’s that?’

Ananya turned midway and cocked her head at him. He repeated the gesture, smirking all the way. She gave up. That’s how most of these interactions ended.

Jude’s touch was often firm & insistent, but never pushy. The restraint evident in how he always pulled back when things got too heated; very rarely did she need to intervene. He was giving her time, but she could see the question starting to form in his guileless eyes, more & more, with each passing week of them not taking the final step.

It came to surface one night, when he returned pissed drunk after a teammate’s birthday. Leaning heavily on Agnes, as the older man tried his best to not let his boss trip and fall on his face or ass. As soon as Jude saw her in his living room, he threw both arms around her, his body weight almost making her tumble backwards.

‘Bayyyy-beeeeeeee.’

The angelic Agnes again intervened in time, helping her drag Jude to his room, while that horrid accent hurt her ears. Once inside, Agnes looked at her, as if saying ‘he’s your problem now’ and left swiftly.

Jude plopped down on the edge of the bed, as Ananya started to rid him of his alcohol stained clothes, while he puckered his lips and kept trying to land them on her mouth. She could smell at least 4 different types of liquor on him, evidence of a crazy night.

‘Tryna get me naked? I’ll help ya.’

And he did. Quickly. So quickly, that she had to slap his hand away when it went to the waistband of his briefs, the last remaining piece of clothing on him.

She helped him settle on the pillows, then moved away to go to the guest room but he pulled her down, making her land on top of him.

‘Jude you’re drunk…’

‘Why don’t you want me like I want you?’

She froze. Words instantly dying in her throat. Not expecting such a heavy question in a moment like this.

His vision was blurry but his deep eyes still spoke volumes. A window to his vulnerability.

‘Do you still love him? Is that why you don’t wanna be mine?’

She stared at him dumbfounded, body burning up as a thousand different emotions hit her simultaneously.

He knew very little about her one serious relationship, she had evaded any deep discussion there. But clearly he had gathered more than she gave him credit for, displaying a degree of emotional intelligence she didn’t realise he possessed.

Did she love her ex? No. Did she still have some residual feelings? May have been true when she first met Jude but not so much anymore. Had she completely forgotten him? Well, it wasn’t possible to ever fully forget your first love, at least that’s what she felt.

But his love wasn’t what’s coming in between her and Jude. It was the scars of his love. She hadn’t used her head while walking into that relationship. At some level she always knew it won’t work out; they were too different. And he’d easily move on, like guys always do.

It petrified her that she was following the same pattern here. When Jude was 10 times more different than her compared to her ex. And this was 100 times more complicated than anything she had ever dealt with. So, a part of her was fighting to not cede control to her heart. But looking at his peaceful sleeping face, she wondered if the battle was already lost.

Kissing his cheeks, she whispered into his ear.

‘I do want you. But I am scared, Jude. What do I do?’

It was almost like he heard her in his sleep. Coz his arms wrapped around her body, squeezing it tightly, offering her the security of his embrace. She snuggled closer, kissed his bare chest and drifted off to sleep. Both stayed like that all night.

Roma had been her voice of reason through this tribulation.

She was the one who convinced Ananya to go on that first date. And since she had hung out with Jude more over the past few weeks, she was more #TeamJude than ever before. The Madrid goodies he always brought for her had very little to do with her unwavering support of him, at least that’s what she vehemently claimed.

‘You say you have made peace with his prior lifestyle. But you haven’t. You are still judging him. That’s what’s holding you back.’

Ananya had bared her heart to her about the drunken night. This had been her immediate response.

‘Do you judge me too?’

‘WHAT?’

‘I’ve been with a ton of guys before I met Chris. My philosophy was not too different from Jude’s, I was only looking to explore. And have some fun. Would you judge me for it?’

‘Ofcourse not.’

‘Why? Coz I am a girl and he’s a guy?’

Ananya was stunned into silence, unable to digest the harsh truth of her friend’s words.

‘It’s not the same. He…he…’

Even she didn’t know what all he had done. He had offered to answer any & every question, but she didn’t want to go down that road. Not knowing the details seemed better for her peace of mind.

‘Ofcourse it’s not the same. Coz our situations are not the same.’

It didn’t surprise Ananya that Roma was jumping to his defence. Roma and Jude were similar personalities. Spontaneous, easygoing, jovial, doers rather than excessive thinkers. With an open outlook towards life.

The three of them had hung out a few times by now, and got along like a house on fire. Jude often teased her in front of Roma, pulling her into his lap or resting his hands on her butt. Enjoying her fluster from the open PDA. Once Roma had walked in on Jude feeling her up in the kitchen, while she fixed him a snack after training. Ananya was horrified, but those two laughed it off, uniting to then laugh at her misery.

Frankly, the final frontier, which had been her mind, had started to give up too. She was fast running out of reasons for keeping him at bay.

Moments apart started becoming harder to bear, for both. The ongoing international break was a harsh reminder of it. It was only 3 days in and already felt like a week, despite video calls every morning and every night.

On one such night, when Jude called her late evening, he wasn’t prepared for what hit him.

She was dressed in a shimmery silver sari, long matching danglers & delicate bangles, with a halter neck blouse. The exquisite garment hugging her curves deliciously, accentuating her round full butt & her natural shapely sides.

Jude practically drooled over his phone.

‘Umm….what’s going on?’

‘An impromptu ethnic party in the office. We closed two massive transactions and the HR wanted to do something whacky.’

‘Uh-huh.’

When he didn’t say anything else for the next few moments, just stared blankly, she started to get anxious. And looked over her attire again.

‘You don’t like it?’

‘I love it. You’re fucking beautiful, my god!’

She preened under his heartfelt praise. But there was something else in his eyes she couldn’t decipher yet.

‘Where are you lost?’

‘You’d be mad if I say it.’

‘Don’t be silly. What is it?’

He pondered for a few seconds, then just blurted it out.

‘Don’t kill me. But it’s too sexy. You’d be there without me and….people will see you….guys will see you…..swaying & frolicking in that sinful attire and….they will imagine things. There, I said it.’

He didn’t even wanna think about some asshole actually approaching her tonight. It made him wanna take a private jet back immediately.

He was also half-prepared for her not receiving it well or in the spirit that he intended. Or for her to throw something like ‘what about all your thirst traps?’ at him.

She didn’t do anything of the sort. Her expression stayed balanced, understanding.

‘I’d be wearing a coat over this most of the time. Roma would be with me throughout. And I can’t even drink too much, am down. So there won’t be much ‘frolicking’ as you say. I’ll call you in a few hours when I get back. Ok?’

‘Uh-huh.’

‘C’monn now, gimme a smile before I go.’

‘Gimme a spin first.’

She obliged gladly, twirling for him, giving him a 360* view.

‘Happy?’

Jude shifted uncomfortably on the bed, his body catching up with his wandering thoughts, responding to the temptation that was this seductress.

‘Send me a few photos. From all angles.’

The rosy colour brightened her cheeks, as she understood his real meaning & nodded in response.

‘And you’ll wear this for me when I get back.’

She nodded again, biting her lower lip. Jude was ready to combust.

‘Come back to me soon. I’m waiting.’

Something about the way she said it felt monumentally different to him. But he didn’t fully catch the drift & didn’t want to keep her from her party, so he let it go.

‘Just 4 days more, dove. Then it’s you & me.’

‘You & me.’

‘Have fun. Ciao. I’ll wait for your call.’

They kissed the screen together at the same time, giggling at their silliness, before hanging up. She missed him already, within seconds - concrete proof that she was far too gone.

It was probably time, she could feel it in her bones. She’d talk to him as soon as he’s back.

But, the universe had other plans. And something drastic happened in the meantime that could put their whole dynamic at jeopardy even before it was fully solidified.

…………………………………………………………..

Apologies for the long long wait & thanks for your patience. But I finally got back to these two :)

The next chapter is clear too - it will be heaviest one yet (angst plus smut) 😊

As always, would love to hear your thoughts on this one.

Some folks asked to be tagged but I hv lost track. So if you wanna be added to the tag list pls let me know.

[the-greatest-magic-of-all]

With such a God-focused season, one day, once Junior Year is finished and I have both the time and energy to do it, I want to make a Fantasy High God AU zine. It'd be from the pov of a mythologist/theologian in Spyre who's found strange links between minor deities throughout different regions' pantheons.

Half-Elves have a God of Dance and Flames who has been said to have defeated a Tiefling vagabond (and tamed his Hellhound mount) and charmed Fire itself with only a dance and his silk battle sheet. And if you look deep enough into his history there are rare depictions of him wearing an oddly shaped pendant and riding into battle with a sling-wielding Goblin peeking out of his rucksack. Interestingly enough, there's a minor Goblin God of Justice and Mysteries, the son of a Goblin Folk Hero and the Goblin Goddess of Knowledge, Laws, and Justice, who famously wields his father's enchanted sling. Though he and his father are often shown with angelic wings. So, why would he dally with a God so closely associated with Fiends?

Tieflings have a trickster Goddess of Music, Rebellion, and Devotion. The daughter of an Archdevil and a Wood Elven Goddess of Archery & the Wilderness. She's said to be a paramour of a Half-Phoenix Pirate Goddess of Wizardry and Knowledge and once toured the lands, performing with a Half-Orc companion. A lot of artistic recreations of that tour depict the Half-Orc companion with flower motifs that correspond with a Gnomish/Half-Orcish God of Tinkering and Rage. One that once outwitted a Sphynx and regained his spurned Saytr paramour's love by speaking to/reaching the stars with the help of a band of Tinkerer Gnomes.

There are tales of a Twice Risen Goddess who was once the chosen one of the Demigod Helio, but took one look at him and thought she could do better. With the wisdom to raise Gods from the dead and remove unholy rites without any divine power other than her own, this God-Saint of Doubt travels across Spyre not to spread her own religion but to inquire about others. This deep curiosity is probably how she ended up in some Fallinel depictions of the First Elven Oracle, who upon death ascended to becoming the Goddess of Sight, Intelligence and Righteous Fury. There are even short hymns written about the Oracle foreseeing the God-Saint's rise (against the Elven Moon Goddess' wishes) and of the God-Saint banishing some dark entity from possessing the Oracle with only a profane curse of its name.

And even more stuff connecting them all. Like the fact that all of them have tales of them defeating an Ancient Red Dragon. Or the tales of The Festival of the Crab King: a strange, delirious story of mortals witnessing a euphoric revelry of the deific kind that involved all these Gods from different pantheons.

[lesbianfakir]

a story that never ends is a sad fate

[ID: a digital painting mimicking a scene of a stained glass window depicting the four Princess Tutu main characters as their roles in the story. In the foreground, the silhouettes of Fakir and Rue sit on the ground beneath their stained glass depictions. Behind Fakir is a stained glass cog showing Drosselmeyer’s grave. Behind Rue a stained glass cog depicts the talon moon centerpiece of the swan lake. Duck in her duck form sits apart from them, gazing up at the stained glass Tutu.

On the left side of the window is a side profile of Fakir as the Knight. His head is bowed and he holds his sword. Red roses creep up his back, mimicking his birthmark. He is surrounded by more roses and pages from a book.

In the center of the window Princess Tutu reaches up in a ballet pose. In front of her is Duck in her girl form. Both Tutu and Duck have their heads bowed and their eyes closed. Above them, at the top of the window is the clocktower of Goldkrone Town against a sky of stars.

Below them, a white swan and a black swan bend their necks into a heart shape, encircling Tutu’s pendant. The black swan’s wing stretches to the left, cutting across Fakir while the white swan’s wing cuts across Rue to the right.

At the very bottom of the window we see Mytho’s bare arms and chest. He is doing the ballet mime for love. His head is cut off by a stained glass shape depicting the shattering of his heart with the Prince’s Sword.

Finally, to the right of the window is a stained glass depiction of Kraehe in profile with her head bent up to the sky. She is crying and she holds her hands to her chest in a pose mimicking the Willi maidens from Giselle. She is wrapped in black thorns and surrounded by black roses.

The window is decorated with stained glass flowers and various geometric shapes.

end ID]

PLEASE click for better quality!! this. took. FOREVER omg but I love how it came out

[project-sekai-facts]

what about plushies and aliens and inanimate objects? I'm curious now

there's more than I can fit in one post, but here's some examples

the figurines on the desk in this card represent honami, ichika, shiho, and saki, in that order.

leo/need also quite often have each others instruments as keyrings or some sort of model in each others' cards. shiho's dlf card has their actual instruments instead of miniatures. bonus points to their zodiac signs + colors in honami's card above.

the red shooting stars in this card represent honami in her new role as L/n's leader.

the ORS cards all have VBS-colored gems, and Akito's has the vivids and bad dogs ones paired together.

and there's MMJ colored gemstones in the step by step cards (plus minori & haruka colored bows in minori's card)

the anniversary cards from this year all have references to the other characters in each unit. shiho has the keyrings and mentioned above, airi has colored clovers, toya has lilies with vbs-colored stamen (an's on the left, kohane's on the right, he's holding akito's), nene has mozaic arts with wxs-colored canaries (plus the one she's holding that has green feathers), and ena has paints and paintings (clockwise from the top: mafuyu, kanade, ena, mizuki)

i've seen some people theorising that the aliens tsukasa is holding in this card are meant to represent saki and toya based on the colors, and i think it's pretty likely. also the alien nene has matches emu's species instead of her own unlike the other cards in the set which all have the character interacting with the same species as them. also emu/nene/rui colored aliens + a star alien for tsukasa in emu's card.

the pegasus here possibly represents saki (it might represent himself, but it was the tenma siblings event so i think saki is pretty likely).

much like vbs and mmj, wxs also has gemstones in this card

the lights in rui's star of the story card have a gold star for tsukasa, pink heart for emu, green music notes for nene, and a purple spanner for himself.

really really obvious, but tsukasa and emu robots! also the cat plushie that shows up in a few of rui's cards represents himself (it's a plot point in wonder halloween). oh and bonus tsukasa balloon. there's also wxs colored animal toys in len's amidst a dream card.

the crystal apple pendant in the sayonara persona cards represents mafuyu. kanade is embracing it, ena is reaching out to it, and mizuki is comforting it, referencing their roles in mafuyu's story.

there's n25-colored flowers on the bench next to mafuyu in her our escape for survival card.

and i should've put this in the animals one but i forgot. akito dragonsona.

[twistedkittyart]

This month's birthstone is Opal, to make my birthstone jewellery affordable I use Opalite as an alternative.

Pictured is one of my birthstone star-flower pendants.

Opalite is a man made 'stone' made from glass resin to give the appearance of Opal.

[notitlesapply]

hi!! all your wips are so intriguing, could I know a little bit about Soulmate Subversion?

*clenches fist* This fic haunts me greatly... Anyway it's a Codywan soulmate AU but with a twist. Codywan are NOT soulmates. Cody doesn't have one (no clone does due to decommissioning) and Obi-Wan's soulmate is Jango.

Jango's hangups considering the Jedi and his shitty attitude in general cause him and Obi-Wan to have a terrible relationship, even before Obi-Wan finds out about the clones. They are often compelled to come together because soulmates but the relationship is...rocky. Obi-Wan however does hold out hope for Jango. Jango isn't a complete lost cause and they have to be soulmates for a reason right?

Cody and Obi-Wan on the other hand, click very well. They have similar views on duty, similar (sassy) senses of humor, and work well together. They've saved each other multiple times and actually respect each other. They genuinely like and love each other, no destiny required.

Soulmates take the form of some sort of mark, similar to a tattoo, but unlike a tattoo, a soulmate mark moves. For example, Obi-Wan has a mark from his wrist to his elbow consisting of wheat from Concord Dawn, golden star flowers, and thin golden chains with pendants made of beskar and kyber dangling from them.

Anyway, the story deals with Cody and Obi-Wan dealing with their feelings for each other, destiny vs free will, a VERY jealous, possessive and alive Jango, and all the bs of the clone wars.

(It might also deal with post O66 angst, and Jango coming to terms with holy shit he is a terrible person, but not before more horrible shit happens.)

[ririka-ilios]

Eidolon art "blueprint"

I've been looking over Eidolons in Star Rail today and thought it'd be fun to try and figure out how exactly the art on them works (i.e. what is the principle behind it, what they have in common between different characters, that sort of stuff).

There will be 1 (ONE) 2.1 story spoiler in here, so beware!

I haven't seen anyone else discuss this, so I've taken it upon myself to write an essay on it! This is relatively small and based entirely on my observations of the art. Feel free to use this as a basis for designing eidolons for your OCs if you want.

There will be example(s) for each part to help visualise the point I'm making as well as descriptions for the ones I'll use (some of the descriptions are much more detailed than others).

Eidolon 1

Shows view of the character from the back 3/4th to the left, up to their shoulders.

Eidolon 2

A close up of either of the character's eyes, showing off the details.

Eidolon 3

The view is entirely unique: the perspective, pose, and focus of the composition is meant to showcase an aspect of the character's personality.

Examples:

● Dan Heng. Back view, focus on his earphones as well as the maple leaf in his hand;

● Silver Wolf. Front view, focus on the game console in her hands;

● Himeko. Front view, focus on her facial expression and the pen in her hand.

Eidolon 4

Gives view of the character mostly from the front (either full-on or at an angle) or with them facing the camera in some way, up to their shoulders. Often has characters establish eye contact with the camera, but not necessary. Another showcase of their personality possibly might even represent how they interact with others.

Examples:

● March 7th. Back view with her head turned to look at the camera, making a peace sign. She's the only real outlier I've found so far, but it fits her personality fully;

● Aventurine. Front facing the camera, tipping (pulling down?) his hat and hiding one eye behind his hand as a result, obscuring his face;

● Bronya. Front, turned to the right, has a serious listening expression, one hand one her chest, closer to the heart. Perhaps a show of sincerity and dedication.

Eidolon 5

A close-up of the character's neck/collarbone area (despite the popular belief, it doesn't actually focus on their chest). The angle varies, as does the amount of character's expression shown, but generally, most of it is obscured (even in fuller pictures).

Examples:

● Herta. 3/4th angle, focus on the key hanging from her choker. The only part of her expression we see is her typical smug little smile;

(This Herta is one of many puppet avatars so the key might be a play on that. She also has a keyhole on the front of her outfit, though they're different sizes. There's also a key on a book cover in her splash art. Another fun fact, her upgrade materials are "Keys" as she is one of the first Erudition characters)

● Dr. Ratio. Focus on the pendant/decoration on his collarbones (maybe the Intelligentsia Guild insignia?), he has that "lips in a thin line" sort of expression;

● Black Swan. Focus on the heart decoration on her collarbones (reference to the stained glass in her ultimate, which in itself, loosely, calls back to Fuli, the Remembrance). She has her slight enigmatic smile.

Eidolon 6

Like E3, the view is entirely unique. The only consistent thing is that it ends at about the middle of a character's chest. The character is naked, showing them at their most vulnerable.

Examples:

● Misha. View from the side, his body turned in on itself as he hugs some sort of glowing orb. As a result, he's only illuminated at the points of contact. His expression is relaxed, but there's an interesting amount of seriousness in it, as if he's soothing/protecting the object;

● Sparkle. 3/4th to the left, has her hands up to her chest, one holding onto the other. A red string is tied into a four-petal flower shape around her pinkie finger, which sticks out from the rest of her fingers. Her expression is fully relaxed, her mouth is even slightly open, but the face paint is still on, and her hair is tied up;

● Acheron. View from the front, though her body is slightly turned to the left. She's in her self-annihilator state: hair white, the red thorn-like tattoos surround her lower neck and collarbones. There are red flowers outlined in white, either blooming on or flowing near her, some on her shoulders, some covering her left eye, others flying off. Interestingly, the flowers are placed loosely on a diagonal, bottom left to top right. Her expression is fully relaxed, mouth open slightly, and her hair is flowing to the side. That, paired with the flowers, makes it seem like there's a breeze passing by.

The conclusion I came to, upon finishing this analysis, is that Eidolons can be interpreted as the layers to characters' personality. With E1 being what anyone in the crowd could see – their back, no face, nothing to truly identify them by, and E6 is them at their most relaxed, most open point.

[captain-krow-drozdov]

Behold! Siffrin Hat!

Featuring White Rose/Chrysanthemum Pattern Fabric And An Iridescent Silver Ribbon With A Loop For Any Flowers You Might Find

And Iridescent Sparkle Black Fabric With Painted On Stars

And Bonus Bell Pendant Necklace!

[mistress-violence]

Prompt: Sunflowers from @into-the-jeggyverse (September 5)

Word count: 483 words

Pairing: Jegulus (modern highschool AU)

⚠️ Warnings: none

Every week since the start of the new semester, James found a bouquet of sunflowers and a poem all around school. The first time was in his locker after the football practice. The second time was before English class, on his usual chair. The third time was in the library, while he was studying. He went to the bathroom for 5 minutes and when he came back, the flowers were there.

Every time they are exactly four sunflowers in the bouquet and a poem written on a piece of black paper with gold ink. The secret poet calls James "the sunflower boy": "the sunflower boy with golden stars in his eyes"; "the sunflower boy with that glowing moon smile"; "the sunflower boy with the summer kissed face".

At first, James believed that it was one of those groupie girls in school. After the second poem, he knew it wasn't just a random person. The secret poet was somebody who watched James for a long time. After the third one, James really started to think who can be this mysterious person. They are very good at writing, because the poems were wonderful. They are also very subtle and they can go somewhere without being noticed. Last, they are probably too shy or too scared to confess directly.

James couldn't stop thinking about this for days. Especially in English class, he was to absorbed in his own thoughts. He was so happy when the bell rang that he almost hit someone on his way out.

"Ah, I'm so sorry!" James apologized.

"Be careful, Potter, we're not on the football field."

Regulus' voice was deep and very sharp. He looked really annoyed and James wanted to apologize again when he saw something.

"Is that a poetry book?" James asked, winning a death glare from Regulus.

"Yes, Potter, it is in fact a poetry book. Some of us read for pleasure, not just for homework. You can try sometimes, maybe you can start with the "Good Manners" and learn not to bump into people".

Without any more mean comments, Regulus looked at his pocket watch and then walked away. For a second, James saw the celestial ornaments engraved on the case and the star pendant. He followed the younger boy with his eyes until Regulus got lost in a sea of students.

"Prongs, are you ok?" Sirius asked, appearing from nowhere.

"Yeah, Pads, I'm fine." James paused for a few second before asking out of the blue. "Your family is obsessed with astrology, am I right?"

"Kinda, it's more of a tradition to be named after constellations and stars, but we have some books at home".

"How many stars are in the Regulus constellation?"

"I think four, but why? It's about my brother, did he do something to you?".

Four... James paused for more seconds, before shaking his head in disbelief.

"No... He didn't do anything bad..."

Off fic note: The sunflower boy was born, I actually like it so much I will probably write more with this. I think I want to transform this in a series, a oneshot or even a bigger fanfiction.