#Transparent hose

[levil-zhang]

PFA Bellows Please contact me for a quote if required. Henan Sixfluorine Chemical Co.,Ltd WhatsApp/Telegram:+(86)15038852660 Mail：levil@sixfluorine.com

[cremsie]

Deep apologies for commissioners rn because I may be a bit slow this month

If only because literally everything in our apartment is breaking this week and my weekend has just been full of repairmen and figuring things out

[softquietsteadylove]

Gil watches Thena train with Olympia and is very impressed and happy to see the deeply bond between rider and horse. For the dressage au

Thena groaned as she hit the ground flat on her back. It happened to the best of anyone--falls happened, it was part of the sport. But it had been a long time since she had fallen. She blinked up at the sky.

Olympia whinnied loudly, rearing up on her back legs and trotting around in a full circle to check on her rider.

"I'm okay, I'm okay," Thena attempted to assure the mare making an embarrassing amount of fuss over the very small incident. She sat herself up, patting Olympia's massive snout nosing her cheek. "Hey, it's fine, easy."

Olympia cantered on the spot, not convinced.

Thena sighed. Before Olympia started braying like a mule and drawing a crowd, she picked herself up, dusting off her backside first. "Hey, look at me."

Olympia finally calmed, letting Thena hold her nose and somewhat cross her eyes to try and see her. She nudged Thena again, letting her lips and tongue assess her well being in their own way.

Thena laughed, leaning away from Olympia's affection. "I suppose you're fine, then. It is a rather high jump."

They both cast a glance over at the hurdle that had resulted in the fall for both of them. Olympia looked back at her, her tail twitching in response to the implication that she couldn't handle it.

She smiled; her mare was stubborn, and proud. Olympia didn't stop when she was training for something. She was of the same mind, of course, but neither of them were as young as they once were. She ran her hand over Olympia's side, looking for signs of pain. "You're sure?"

Olympia bobbed her head, already shifting in her position to try and get Thena up in the saddle again.

"Yes, yes, you impatient thing," Thena shook her head as she got her foot up first and then launched herself up again. The insides of her thighs were aching. "Last run today, girl."

Olympia immediately trotted back over to her starting position.

Thena eyed the hurdle. Olympia wasn't going to let up, and in all honesty, she wanted to prove to themselves that they could do it, too. She patted the side of Olympia's neck. "Ready."

Olympia took off in a run. She was hungry for it, and nothing would stop her.

Thena breathed evenly, leaning forward and gripping the reins. "That's my girl."

Olympia took the jump head on, launching herself up and over the bar. Her back legs soared over this time, her hooves nowhere near clipping it again. She startled a little upon landing, but she proudly continued on, shaking her head with glee.

"That's my girl!" Thena cheered for her, hugging Olympia's neck from atop her back as they circled the ring. She buried her nose in the soft white hair of her mane, inhaling, horse-smell and all.

Olympia strutted, oozing pride. She whinnied, all but laughing at anyone watching in a taunt for them to try what she had just accomplished.

"Okay, you," Thena laughed, running her hands over Olympia's fur. She gave her sides a squeeze with her thighs, "let's get you home."

Olympia happily slowed to a stop back at the mount, settling in soon enough.

Thena dismounted, sighing as soon as she was on her feet again. Her legs were aching and she was definitely going to have to do some stretching. She ran her hands down Olympia's mane again. "You did great. You know that."

She did; the horse shook her head, her ears flicking. She knew very well.

Thena bent her head to Olympia's, closing her eyes the way she had done all Olympia's life since she was a foal. "That's my girl."

If Olympia could speak, she would surely be returning the sentiment, bending her neck in the semblance of embracing Thena in return.

"Come on," she said gently, stepping down and preparing to lead Olympia back to the stables. She startled, turning and seeing Gil walking over to them, clapping. She blushed.

"I wasn't sure you were gonna make that last jump, but wow!" he beamed at them as he put his hands on his hips. "You were right, she could do it."

Olympia neighed at him loudly. Of course she could!

"I know, girl, I know, I shouldn't have doubted you," he appeased his favourite mare's ego. He looked back at Thena, holding out his hand like a gentleman to a princess.

She laughed at it, but her fatigue convinced her of it and she accepted his hand down the steps. Her other hand held Olympia's reins. "How long have you been-"

"Since your fall," he confessed with a wince. She pursed her lips but he rushed to explain. "I was worried! I was going to go out and help but, well, you and Olympia seemed to have it under control."

She had to smile at that. It was gallant of him to run out to help her, of course, and she would expect nothing less from the sweet Gilgamesh. But he was right, she had it in hand, and Olympia likely would have denied him, anyway.

Unruly and impetuous and at times immature, she could be, but Olympia was nothing if not protective of Thena ever since growing bigger than her.

"Are you okay?" he asked anyway, frowning and eyeing her dragging her feet.

"I'll be fine after a hot bath, or a cold one," she sighed, and he nodded his understanding. Horses were hard work in any form of their care. She tilted her head at him. "It's a little late for you to be here, isn't it?"

"Well," he shrugged, but she kept staring. He offered a sheepish - guilty - smile. "I heard you were still at it, so I didn't wanna close everything up until you were done--just in case!"

She sighed again. He really was far, far too sweet. "I appreciate that, Gil, but you have a long enough day already, do you not?"

He shrugged again.

She was ready to argue with him more, but Olympia tugged at her. They were at her stall already.

"Oh, s-sorry, girl," Thena blinked, letting go of the reins and reaching to remove the bridle from her girl's mouth. "You've earned quite a spa treatment."

Gil lingered at the entrance. "I can give you a hand, if you like. At least get you some buckets, the brushes and stuff?"

Thena looked at Olympia. Usually her 'spa treatments' after a tough day of training were their thing--a girls' night, in a way. But Olympia was nothing if not fond of the club caretaker. She was beginning to think Olympia had somewhat of a crush on dear Gil. "Well?"

Olympia bobbed her head happily, her tail whipping around behind her.

Thena looked over her shoulder at Gil in his overalls. His t-shirt under them was liable to get positively soaked from Olympia's 'shower'. "Are you certain you want to take part in this?"

He laughed, though, leaning off the gate. "I'll get her manicure set!"

Referring to the care kit he would use to scrub and clean her hooves.

Thena looked back at Olympia, who she could swear was eyeing her a certain kind of way. She pursed her lips at her young mare, "I am beginning to think you prefer his company to mine."

Whatever Olympia had to say was lost in her way of laughing at her rider.

[oflgtfol]

like i still dont know if i feel anything romantic for him but like i guess at this point it’s not really platonic either since like we’re kissing and holding hands but like. idk. i guess i just dont know what romantic feelings… feel like? in my mind it’s still just hanging out just like, different 😭😭😭 like i know everyone always says ur partner should be ur friend first but like. we’re literally just hanging out. like it doesn’t feel any deeper or anything like that, it just feels. different. bc we are doing different things with different expectations. so even though i mean like well i have a. God i cant even say the word rn. even though im dating someone now i still feel incredibly aromantic about it. and luckily he knows and he took it well and he knew it from the get go so it’s fine but i also can’t help but feel like ahhh i’m aromantic though

[hoshifighting]

New in the Suburbs – New Neighboor! Joshua

— WARNINGS: Smut, fingering, pussy eating, penetrative sex, unprotected sex, lots of flirting and dirty talk, hair pulling, clit stimulation, g'spot stimulation, overstimulation, oversensitivity, good first impression (both). — WC: 4.5k

On a bright and sunny day, you found yourself outside your house, taking advantage of the weather to give your car a well-deserved wash. The gentle breeze carried the scent of soap and water as you stood there, hose in hand, working diligently to make your car shine. The vehicle was parked just outside the garage, basking in the warmth of the sun.

The water gushed from the hose, soaking both you and the car. You leaned casually on the hood, propping your feet up on the tall tire to ensure you reached every nook and cranny with the rinse. Your skin glistened under the sun, creating a glow that seemed to catch the attention of anyone passing by. 

As you immerse yourself in the task, a voice interrupted your thoughts. Glancing over your shoulder, you spotted Dokyeom, Jihoon, and a new face you had never seen before. The unfamiliar guy wore khaki shorts and a crisp white buttoned shirt, adorned with the subtle elegance of the ARMANI logo. He radiated a captivating charm that caught you off guard.

To his eyes, you likely appeared enchanting—looking like the movie cover of a hot summer full of tanned, toned people. Your white tank top clung to your form, its transparency accentuated by the water, and your shorts molded against your body, creating a silhouette that seemed straight out of a summer fantasy. With your wet hair tousled from the refreshing shower you gave yourself, the trio approached, curious and captivated.

Dokyeom, noticing the enchantment in Joshua's gaze, decided to take the initiative and introduce his friend to you. With a playful smile, he nudged Joshua and gestured towards you.

"Y/N, meet Joshua," Dokyeom announced, his tone carrying a hint of mischief. "He just moved into the neighborhood."

You turned your attention to Joshua, and your eyes met his. There was a warmth in his gaze, and you couldn't help but return his friendly smile. "Nice to meet you, Joshua," 

He extended his hand, shaking yours with a firm grip that lingered longer than the usual greeting. A subtle connection sparked in that moment as you exchanged smiles.

 "The pleasure is all mine, Y/N. I must say, Dokyeom has been singing the praises of this neighborhood, but meeting you adds a whole new level of charm."

Dokyeom chuckled, nudging Joshua playfully. "Told you it's a great place. And Y/N here is one of the reasons why."

Feeling a playful embarrassment, you couldn't help but blush as you lightly hit Dokyeom's chest in response to his teasing. He laughed, clearly enjoying the lighthearted moment.

"Alright, alright, I see what's going on here," Dokyeom teased, exchanging knowing glances with Joshua. "We'll leave you to do your car wash duties. But Joshua, make sure you get settled in properly, alright?"

Joshua nodded with a smile, still holding a lingering gaze that didn't go unnoticed. "Absolutely. Thanks for the warm welcome, Y/N. I'll catch you around."

As they turned to leave, you bid them farewell with a wave. "Sure thing! Nice meeting you, Joshua. And Dokyeom, don't you dare make this a neighborhood gossip!"

Dokyeom laughed, raising his hands in mock surrender. "I won't say a word! Have fun, Y/N."

As you resumed attending to the car, thoughts swirled in your mind. You wondered what it was about Joshua that made him so captivating. While you couldn't quite put a finger on it, there was a magnetic draw to his presence.

As the day went by, you continued your routine, occasionally stealing glances toward the house where Joshua had moved in. The encounter replayed in your memory, leaving you curious to see him again.

The next day, as you lounged in your backyard, basking in the sunshine while you wore your bikinis, a familiar figure caught your eye. Joshua, his athletic frame glistening with a touch of sweat, ran past your house.

Just as he passed by, he suddenly stopped and turned towards you, leaning against the fence that separated your yards. His eyes widened slightly, as if he hadn't expected to find you there in such a relaxed state. A warm smile spread across his face as he gave you a friendly wave.

Joshua leaned against the fence, his breath slightly labored from the run. He looked at you and grinned. "Well, this is a pleasant surprise. You look absolutely glowing in the sun."

You chuckled softly, a slight blush creeping up your cheeks. "Thanks, I suppose the sun has a way of bringing out the best in everyone, including you. Running, I see. You always this energetic in the mornings?"

Joshua shrugged playfully, raking a hand through his sweat-soaked hair.

 "Ah, you know it's part of my morning routine. Gotta get the blood pumping before the day begins. But I must say, the sight of you basking in the sun has added a few extra beats to my heart."

You grinned, a mix of surprise and amusement dancing in your eyes. "Is this your way of flirting with me, Mr. Energetic? Or are those "extra beats" just from your run?"

Joshua chuckled, a playful glint in his gaze. "Ah, you caught me. It's a bit of both, I suppose. Can you blame me for being flirty when faced with such a captivating view?"

As you walked toward him swaying your hips, Joshua's eyes tracked you as you approached, his smile widening in response. Once you reached the fence and leaned against it, Joshua's eyes flicked up to meet yours.

"You know, it's the second day and you're already flirting with me? My friends will surely enjoy hearing about this!" you taunted, your voice laced with a hint of teasing challenge.

Joshua's eyes tracked you as you approached, his smile widening in response. Once you reached the fence and leaned against it, he responded with a teasing tone.

"Oh, am I making such a strong impression already?" He teased, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "If my flirting is that obvious, I guess I can't keep it a secret from your friends for long. They'll find out real quick that I can't help but flirt with the beautiful girl next door."

A soft laugh escaped your lips, enjoying the light-hearted banter between you. You leaned in a little closer, keeping your gaze locked with his. "Well, I'll make sure to let them know. But don't worry, I won't tell them how eagerly you've been eyeing me in my bikinis."

Joshua's cheeks flushed slightly, a hint of embarrassment creeping onto his face. He quickly regained his composure and grinned. "Fair enough. I'll keep it subtle, or at least I'll try to. No promises, though."

You couldn't help but smile at his response. The chemistry between you was palpable, leaving a flutter in your chest. Leaning back a bit, you teased, "Well, if you can't resist your eyes wandering, I might have to start wearing something more... revealing. I'm sure you wouldn't mind that, right?"

Joshua's eyes widened, a blush deepening on his cheeks. He stuttered slightly before mustering a playful reply. "Ah, now you're just doing it to torment me, aren't you? But you won't hear any complaints from me."

Your smirk widened, enjoying his flustered reaction. "Oh, not tormenting, just giving you a little taste."

Joshua's eyes glimmered with anticipation as he played along. "Just a taste? I'm starting to think you're a master of teasing." He paused for a moment, his gaze shifting to your lips before meeting your eyes again. "But I can play that game too."

Joshua took a step closer, his body nearly against yours. His eyes held a mixture of playfulness and desire. You looked back at him, a hint of a smile on your face. "Can you?"

He nods, his voice low and husky. "Oh, I definitely can."

You stepped back, creating a small gap between you, and glanced back at him with a sultry gaze. You turned back around and laid back on the lounger, giving him a teasing look over your shoulder.

Joshua paused for a moment, his gaze roving over you before leaving a casual comment. "You know, I might have to run near your house more often if this is the view I get." He chuckled softly, his eyes meeting yours one more time before he started to walk back towards his house.

You watched him leave, the events of the conversation replaying in your mind. The chemistry between you was undeniable, leaving you curious about what the future might hold.

As the week progressed, you observed the hustle and bustle next door, catching glimpses of Joshua moving into his new home. From time to time, you would spot him jogging past your house during his morning runs. The sight of him sent a flutter in your chest, and you couldn't help but wonder if he was intentionally passing by your place on his runs.

[...]

Today was Friday, and after a long day at work, you stepped out of the shower and wrapped yourself in a fluffy towel. As you padded into the kitchen, there was a sudden knock on the door. Surprised, you hesitated for a moment, wondering who could be visiting at this hour.

You approached the door and peered through the peephole, curiosity piqued. To your surprise, you saw Joshua standing there, wearing a casual outfit and a friendly smile.

You widened your eyes slightly, a mix of surprise and excitement flooding your senses. Quickly, you adjusted your towel and took a breath to compose yourself. Opening the door, you greeted Joshua with a warm smile, quickly running a hand through your damp hair

"Hey there, Joshua. What brings you there?" You asked, leaning against the doorframe.

Joshua's smile widened as he saw you, taking in the sight of you in your towel. his eyes momentarily flickering down before returning to meet yours. He ran a hand through his hair in a casual gesture.

"Ah, I hope I’m not catching you at a bad time," he stuttered slightly, clearly trying to keep his mind from wandering to the sight of you in a towel.

You chuckled softly, not missing the momentary distraction in his eyes.

"Not at all. You just caught me right after a shower."

"I noticed you just got home a while ago, so I thought I'd drop by to see how your day was and maybe..." he hesitated for a moment, a playful glint in his gaze. "Maybe invite you to hang out tonight. If you're not too tired, that is."

"I just wanted to invite you to my housewarming party tonight. It's nothing grand, just some friends chilling and having a good time."

You nodded with a small smile, appreciative of the invite, but feeling slightly embarrassed in your impromptu outfit.

"Sure, that sounds great! Let me just change real quick and I’ll be right over."

Joshua’s expression turned playfully sulky as he responded with a touch of disappointment. “Ah, do you really have to change? I quite liked the sight of you in that towel.”

As his sulky expression intensified, you couldn't help but tease him a bit. You laughed playfully, a mischievous glint in your eyes.

"Ah, now you really want me to wear just a towel?” You teased, a smirk tugging at the corner of your lips. “Well, I suppose I could give everyone a treat, but then again, where's the fun in having me all to yourself if there's a crowd?"

Joshua's disappointment melted away, replaced by a sly smile that matched your own. He took a step closer, the distance between you growing increasingly intimate.

"You're right," he mused, his voice low and suggestive. "Crowds are overrated, especially when there's a chance to have you all to myself." His gaze fixated on your lips, a hint of desire in his eyes.

As he stepped inside, the air thick with tension and desire, you found yourself leaning against the wall for support. His closeness sent a shiver down your spine, and as he closed the door, the moment grew even more intimate.

Your breath hitched slightly, and your eyes widened, meeting his intense gaze. You could feel the wetness between your legs growing, and the desire within you intensifying, despite your best attempts to hide it.

"You sure' you want to change?" 

Your breath hitched as his mouth hovered near your lips, anticipating a kiss. But instead, Joshua planted a kiss on your neck, gently nibbling and sending a bolt of electricity through you. A moan escaped your lips, the sensation causing your chest to heave.

His body pressed against yours, and he pressed his lips into your skin, trailing a path of kisses down your neck and collarbone.

"You've been on my mind all week, you know that? Every time I ran past your house, it took every ounce of restraint not to come knock on your door and finish what I started that first day." His mouth then traveled up to your earlobe, nibbling it gently.

As his hands gripped your waist, you were flush against the wall and his body, the towel doing little to shield you from the heat of his touch. His breath mingled with yours, warm and tantalizing. You parted your lips just as his caressed yours in a soft tease.

Joshua took advantage of your parted lips, gently coaxing his tongue into your mouth, deepening the kiss. His other hand found its way under the towel, tracing the curve of your ass possessively. You gasped softly, the pleasure intensifying.

His hand caressing your breast was both gentle and masterful, with a slight shift in movement, the knot of the towel gave way, and you gasped against his mouth. He took the opportunity to pull you closer and explore further.

With you even more exposed, the feel of your bodies pressed together without barriers intensified the sensations. Joshua kissed his way down your jaw and neck, leaving a trail of heated kisses in their wake. You could feel his arousal pressing into you, a delicious friction that made you ache for more. The sound of your moans and heavy breathing filled the air, adding to the wanton atmosphere.

He guided you to the dining table, the surface cool against your heated skin. You sat on its edge, the cool sensation only adding to the contrast of sensations. As he pushed your legs apart, exposing your wet dripping pussy to him.

His attention and touch on your thighs were both possessive and admiring, leaving behind a trail of shivers with every caress. He whispered words of praise, telling you how much enjoyed the sight of you like this, vulnerable and naked before him.

His thumb brushed against your sensitive bundle of nerves, and your back arched in response. You gasped as jolts of pleasure shot through you, leaving you breathless. 

''Joshua! Hmm…"

"Oh, that's right. Say my name, sweetheart. Let me hear how much you want me," he whispered against your skin, his voice low and seductive. You gasped, arching further under the ministrations of his touch.

"Joshua..." You moaned softly, your body shivering with pleasure. "Yes..." he murmured, his thumb circling your sensitive clit.

Joshua continued with his thumb moving in slow circles, driving you closer to the edge. "You sound so lovely when you’re all needy." 

You let him do with you what he pleased, lying back on the table, with chest rising and falling fast, you arch your back as he continued to tease you. His touch grew more insistent, determined to bring you to the brink. 

Joshua penetrates two of his fingers inside your pussy, your cunt swallowing his fingers eagerly continued their work, stroking and gently rubbing, while his other hand moved up to caress your belly and chest.

You moaned softly, a desperate edge to your voice. "I’m close," you murmur, every syllable quivering with pleasure. He picked up on your need, his breath warm against your ear. "I know," he whispered, a teasing lilt in his tone. "I can feel how close you are." His touch against you intensified, determined to take you over the edge.

He worked you to the brink of ecstasy, his touch and whispers driving you wild. Your body arched and trembled under his ministrations. "Let go," he murmured, his voice rough with desire. "Cum for me."

You grabbed onto his forearm, holding on tight as you came undone. Your body tensed and arched, a strangled scream escaping your lips as waves of pleasure washed over you. His hand continued to move gently as you rode it out, coaxing every last spasm from your trembling body.

Even as you began to come down from the high, Joshua continued his ministrations, not giving you a moment reprieve. You writhed and squirmed on the table, oversensitive and breathless. "Wait," you stuttered, your voice strained. "I can't take it anymore."

"Shh," he whispered, his hand cupping your cheek. "Just let me take care of you." His touch gently persisted, pushing you to another edge.

Your gasp was followed by a plea, his name falling from your lips like a desperate refrain. The pleasure was overwhelming, verging on the edge of pain, and the knot tightened in your belly, the sensations building again. "Joshua," you gasped again, tears welling in your eyes as he continued to coax you towards your second climax.

Joshua kneeled down between your thighs, his gaze darkened with desire. The proximity of his mouth to your sensitive clit was enough to drive you wild, even before he touched you. And when he did, you let out a sharp cry, the heat of his tongue adding to the intense sensations.

You grasped onto his hair, needing something to anchor you, as the pleasure built with each movement of his tongue. Your vision blurred at the edges, the world starting to lose focus as the climax approached again. Joshua's groaned against you, the sound reverberating through your body and sending more waves of pleasure through you.

In the aftermath of your climax, you lay on the table, your body boneless and breathless. Joshua ran his hands gently over your trembling form, coaxing you back from the heights of pleasure.

"You okay, sweetheart?" He murmured, his voice soft and tender.

You nodded, your gaze hazy and satisfied. Joshua continued to caress your skin, his touch light and soothing.

As he tended to you, Joshua's kisses and caresses became increasingly needy. His mouth on your neck, biting and nibbling, while his hands roamed your body possessively. 

You could feel the hardness of his cock pressing against you, the contact sending a wave of heat through you. Despite your recent climax, his touch reignited your desire and set your nerves aflame.

His mouth moved lower, trailing down your chest to reach your sensitive nipples. He teased, his tongue swirling around each hard bud. You gasped at the sensitivity of it, your hand grasping at his hair.

His tongue flicking against them teasingly, as he looks at you.

As Joshua's lips continued to explore your body and his actions grew more intense, you couldn't help but notice the evident bulge in his pants. His control, usually so steadfast, seemed to falter slightly, the desire between you overwhelming his restraint.

"J-Joshua," you managed to gasp out, your voice thick with desire. "You're... so hard." 

He lifted his head, meeting your gaze, his eyes darkened with need.

Joshua's gaze darkened further as you mentioned his arousal, the words only serving to heighten his desire. "Can you feel what you did to me?" he managed to say, his voice strained with restraint. 

He shifted slightly, his body pressing more firmly against yours, letting you feel the full extent of his need. Heat pulsed between you, leaving no room for doubt about how much he wanted you.

You responded to his words with an ardent sigh, the sound dripping with need. "I want– " you gasped as his mouth found your neck again, planting a hot kiss. "I want to feel you. All of you." Your words were barely above a whisper, but their meaning, clear.

His control slipped further, the hunger in his gaze deepening as he looked up at you. "You'll have me," he promised, his voice filled with desire. "Every inch."

As your hand strayed down your belly, your fingers teasing your throbbing clit, Joshua watched in awe and desire. The sight was almost too much, his breath catching in his throat as he tried to resist the urge to take control.

He tried to focus on breathing as he watched your actions, his own desire straining against the confines of his pants. Your eyes met his, and he could do nothing to resist his lust. He quickly unstrapped his belt, tossing it on the ground.

As you caressed yourself, Joshua's control shattered. His pants hit the floor moments before he closed the distance between you, his hands finding your wrists, gently drawing them away from your body.

"No," he said breathlessly. "Let me."

In that moment, all rational thought faded away, replaced only by sensation and heat. The feeling of him pressing his cock against your slit, sent shivers through your body, your breath catching in your throat as you waited for him to fully enter you.

"Eyes on me, sweetheart." Joshua commands.

You tried to focus on his gaze as he entered you, but the sensation of his size stretching you was overwhelming. Your eyes rolled back slightly, the pleasure and slight twinge of pain sending your mind to another multiverse.

With every slow and sharp rock of his hips, your whole body trembled, the sensations overwhelming. Joshua's moans echoed through the room as he held your gaze, the heat between you intensifying with each moment. Feeling him fight to hold back, to prolong the moment, ignited a fire within you.

As you clenched and unclenched around him, his expression grew more and more strained, the struggle to hold back evident in his gritted teeth and sweaty face.

"Is it good Joshua?" You ask between gasps and thrusts.

You watched as his eyes closed, his expression contorting with the effort to hold on for you, a tortured groan escaping his throat.

"Yes–," he managed to gasp out, the word leaving his lips in a rush of breath. "It's so good, so good. I can't–"

You knew the pleasure he was experiencing was immense, his body trembling as he fought to maintain control for your sake.

Each time you clenched around him, his body tensed in response, the feeling of him inside you driving him closer and closer to the edge.

Joshua's eyes met yours as you felt a sudden surge of moisture between your folds, his expression shifting from a mixture of ecstasy to amazement. "You're so wet," he gasped, his voice dripping with desire. 

He increased his pace, his gaze never leaving yours, his hands finding purchase on your hips. His grip was firm, as if pulling you closer only deepened the pleasure. 

The sounds of flesh against flesh echoing in the room, as your hands roamed over his chest, needing something to anchor you in the waves of sensation. 

His thumb finds your sensitive bud again, a wave of pleasure washes over you, making your entire body convulse beneath him. You curse, writhing helplessly as he continues to tease and caress you, pushing you closer to the edge. Your voice is a breathy mix of pleasure and desire, the only words leaving your lips a pleading, "Don't stop."

With a swift move, he turns you, your body now braced against the table, and then, he thrust into you again, the table scraping against the floor as he pulls your hair roughly. 

Joshua's grip on your hair tightened as he pulled your head back, exposing your neck to his kisses. 

A strangled moan escaped your lips as your breath came in pants, the intensity building with each passing moment, as if you could feel him deeper from this angle.

His cock finds the spot, and you sobbed, the sensation almost overwhelming, and he chuckled softly against your skin, his voice filled with satisfaction. "Is this it?" he whispered, his words husky and seductive. "I think I found it." 

Each time he repeated the motion, you could only gasp out a choked, "Yes!"

You felt him hit against that sensitive spot again and again, each time eliciting a sharp gasp or moan from your parted lips. He knew exactly where to touch you, his touch teasing and expert.

With each hit of that spot, your legs trembled, threatening to give out completely and your body went limp. A mixture of pleasure and pain surged through you, your tears mixing with the sensations as he roughly grasped your hair. "Don't hold back," he muttered, his voice low and full of need. "Let me hear you."

"Joshua," you gasped between sobs and moans, his name a broken plea on your lips. your body had lost all control, helpless against the torrent of sensations and his masterful touch. "J-Joshua," you gasped, your voice breaking. "Please... I can't... I'm going to..."

Your words ended in a strangled groan, the intensity of the pleasure too much. You felt yourself clench around him, your body beginning to unravel, pushed over the edge by his relentless pace. "Oh god–" you managed to gasp out, your nails digging into the table.

And then it hits you, waves of ecstasy crashing over you like a tidal wave, drowning out all coherent thought. You arched your back, head thrown back as you cried out, the intensity overwhelming. 

Your pussy tightened around him, drawing him closer to cum as well.

Through it all, Joshua held you, one hand steadying your hips while the other still gripped your hair, grounding you through the storm of pleasure. He rode out the waves with you, his own breath growing ragged as he fought to hold back his own release.

The tears fell faster now, blurring your vision as you lost yourself to the raw lust and desire. Your body convulsed and trembled as you whispered, "Fuck, fuck, fuck..."

He loosened his grip on your hair as you sagged against the table, and you nearly fell forward onto the table face-first. Joshua steadied you quickly, supporting you with one strong arm while he turned you to sit on the table. He gathered you, holding you close in a soothing embrace, allowing you to catch your breath.

''Take your time. I've got you." he murmured softly as he caressed your scalp.

You finally managed to find your voice, albeit somewhat raspy and breathless. "Joshua," you whispered, lifting your head from his shoulder to meet his gaze. "You know your friends will be wondering what's taking so long."

"Let them wonder," he replied, his voice carrying a hint of humor. He brushed a stray lock of hair from your forehead, his touch gentle. "I'm in no rush to leave. Besides, I'm far more interested in tending to your needs than worrying about them."

You chuckle.

Joshua chuckled softly, still holding you close. "They'll be fine," he said, "What's a few more minutes?" 

As if on cue, a sudden knock sounded on your door, followed by the sound of a familiar voice. "Joshua? You in there, man?"

[anyroads]

How to actually support small businesses on Etsy

With Christmas approaching and people starting to look for gifts, I thought it might be useful to let people know how to best support Etsy sellers, since we get a lot of sales this time of year! Etsy has a lot of policies that affect sellers which they don't really disclose to customers, and often there's a communication gap that can be damaging to sellers without customers intending them to. Hopefully this post helps more people avoid this kind of thing.

A while ago Etsy implemented the Star Seller program. When you go to an Etsy store, you can see badges at the top of the page, denoting if the seller has done well in three main categories:

Speedy replies

On time dispatch with tracking

Good reviews

If you clear the bar for all three as a seller, you're a Star Seller. This is an important badge for sellers, which I'll get to in a bit. Etsy evaluates your stats monthly, and bases them on three months' worth of data:

Each has specific determining factors, which also advantage large operations like dropshippers over small businesses, but we'll get to that too:

As you can see, the criteria is really demanding. You have to respond to 95% of first messages (ie. the first time someone contacts you) within 24 hours or you lose your Star Seller status. This can be really damaging to a small store.

You also have to dispatch 95% of orders on time, ie. within the set timeline you've chosen for an item listed, and you have to give tracking info. This, by the way, is frustrating and disingenuous; I ship my product in envelopes because they're small and thin, but the mail service in my country doesn't offer tracking for envelopes. I'm not going to spend up to 3x as much on shipping just to have a tracking number (shipping would cost half the price of my product if I did), but if I don't include tracking info I don't get a Star Seller badge even if I ship all my orders on time. I get around this by writing "unavailable" in the field where tracking info goes, but this still poses a transparency issue to customers and rightly so. I end up compensating by issuing a lot of replacements for delayed orders, which I can recoup costs of through my mail service which is a lot of extra work and time.

You also must have an average of 4.8 star reviews or higher. There are no adjustments made for small stores, and this is a big one where dropshippers have an advantage.

As you can see in my stats here, I had 11 reviews in 3 months. That means if just one person gives me a 4 or 3 star review, I lose my Star Seller status for 3 months unless I get a ton more reviews quickly. A dropshipper who makes hundreds of sales a week won't be affected by one middling review. And you'd be surprised how often people who leave 3 or 4 star reviews actually meant to leave better ones but clicked the wrong button without noticing, or just don't understand how the system works.

Because Etsy doesn't explain this to customers. So people will leave a damaging review in perfectly good faith. The number of times I've gotten an "excellent product, would buy again!" review with 3 stars is astounding. I always message customers to ask what I could do better and explain the system, and the response is almost always that there was nothing wrong, they just usually don't give anything higher than 3 out of 5 stars unless the product radically improved their lives or was transformative (and to their credit, most customers change their reviews after this exchange but again, it takes time and effort).

3 stars is average, and what customers rate is their experience receiving and using a product. What Etsy uses these ratings to gauge, however, is whether a customer was satisfied dispatch timelines, craftsmanship, and if a product met the expectations set in the listing.

As an added bonus, Etsy hoses money off sellers by offering to advertise for them. The way this works is that if a seller opts in, Etsy will advertise their store in relevant searches on search engines like Google, and in exchange they take a percentage from any sales made from clicks on these links. And then some. Because if a customer clicked an advertising link once, then Etsy will keep taking that cut from any further purchases from that IP address. So if you click a Google link to an Etsy store and then purchase from that store, and then bookmark that store and go back six months later to get another item, Etsy will keep taking their advertising cut with each purchase you make.

Depending on whether or not you opt in to advertising, Etsy can take up to 30% of your earnings in fees alone. That means if I sell, say, bookmarks for $10, I only get to keep $7. Hopefully that covers my operating costs, but if I charge more for an item that takes me a lot of time and work to make, I have to factor in that Etsy offers free shipping on orders over $35 whether or not sellers agree to give it. So if I sell a product that costs $35, not only do I only get to keep $24.50 of what I was paid after Etsy takes fees, I also have to cover the cost of shipping. And if I'm selling a product for that much, it's likely shipping will cost $5-10, so now my profit is down to $15-20 for an item I sold for $35.

Why is the Star Seller status so important? Because it's the main way the average Etsy store gets onto the algorithm and has visibility, and without visibility you don't have sales. Drop shippers can afford to purchase advertising space, so they'll always show up in searches. They can also afford to have a variety of products, high-end professional photos of their products, and because they have a lot of sales, the occasional bad review or delayed shipment won't cause a blip on their rating system. In comparison, the average Etsy store who makes, let's say, 50 sales a month (and that's a small store that's doing well), is going to feel the impact of a handful of 4 star reviews and one day of delayed orders/message replies due to a family emergency. If you contact Etsy customer service to explain your legitimate reason for having a delay, they're unable to intervene. They can't give you back your Star Seller status, which means you're dropped from the algorithm for the three months it takes for those delays to stop counting towards your averages, and you then have to work your way back up into the algorithm once that time passes, which is even harder to do. (And while you can put up an auto-reply, there's a time limit on how long it'll be up, which is usually 24-48 hours. Which may not work if you have a personal emergency that the average small business would understand and give you time off for in ways Etsy refuses to accommodate.)

So what can you do to support Etsy sellers?

- Give good reviews. If you have problems with a product, message the seller and give them the opportunity to fix the problem or send a replacement/refund. Unless you feel the need to leave a scathing 1 star review, don't leave one unless it's a 5 star. Etsy counts anything under 5 stars the same as it does one star. (This goes for Amazon, Uber, Deliveroo, etc. too. Review kindly.)

- Message sellers during the week. It's harder to get to messages during the weekend, and not everyone remembers to put on their auto-reply.

- Don't click advertising links. If someone promos their Etsy store on their own social media account, it's fine. So if you click a link from an instagram profile or a tumblr post, that's fine. But if you see a link on Google or in a dedicated advertising space, even if it's a sponsored spot on Etsy, don't click on it. Instead, search the shop name on Etsy and go to it through that search. This way the seller won't lose more fees to Etsy.

[creepa-b0t-inc]

EMERGENCY COMMISSIONS

i am poor and jobless so sknfkalhflshnklf ALSO I JUST UPDATED THE PRICES

[image id: An image of @creepa-b0t-inc on tumblr's emergency commission sheet. All text is in the deltarune/undertale font. Each section end is marked with a white line connecting the white border that outlines the entire image. The background is transparent.

The first section reads "HI! I have built up the courage to open emergency COMMISIONS!!! I mainly work in Deltarune/Undertale style art. HERE ARE MY PRICES!!!! [It would be greatly preferred if you could provide any ideas or concepts for designs, because I am sadly not that good at design. I will try my best though!]" with a note off to the right side reading "!!! I SOMETIMES TAKE A LONG WHILE!!" and "!!BE PREPARED TO WAIT!!". All text is white, except for the 'HI!' which is yellow, and 'emergency' and the side note, which are in red.

The second section lists off examples and prices for commissions. The top left has white text stating "OVERWORLD SPRITES (next line) $20-$80 PER CHARACTER (next line) [depends on how many sprites you want]" with a side note in red that says "+$20 FOR ANIMATION". Below and to the side of this, there are 5 examples:

An image of Jockington from Deltarune from four different angles, front, left side, right side, and behind view.

An image of Starlight Glimmer from My Little Pony standing on her hind legs and curled around herself like a worm, covering her mouth with her hoof and smiling, looking at the viewer mockingly.

An image of a cockroach sitting on a bench reading a newspaper. it has a brown fedora and looks unimpressed.

An image of BIGSHOT.ex from Puredawns, with his left hand on his hip, smiling. He is wearing pink and black boots, black pants, and a pink suit top with a yellow tie. He has a purple and black cape and there are yellow rings around his wrists and knees.

A collection of 16 walking sprites of Noelle from Puredawns. She is wearing a long white hooded coat with icy blue accent marks, icy blue wings, and the hood down. Her color palette is much colder than usual.

The top right has white text stating "UNDERTALE STYLE BATTLE SPRITES (next line) $40-$100 PER CHARACTER (next line) [depends on how many sprites you want]" with a side note in red that says "+$20 FOR ANIMATION". Below and to the side of this, there are 4 examples:

An image of Exposition Guy made by Kevin Temmer Tunes holding a spoon in black and white.

An image of Spider Guy by Jaiden Animations in black in white, except for the pupil of its eyes which are red.

An image of Jaiden Animations in black and white. She is wearing a white hoodie with black accent marks and black sleeves.

A black and white image of an aimkid style dog character wearing socks, gloves, and armor with its left hand on its hip and its right hand holding a giant meat cleaver with a bumpy end, like a comb.

The bottom left has white text saying "DELTARUNE STYLE BATTLE SPRITES (next line) $40-$100 PER CHARACTER (next line) [depends on how many sprites you want]" with a side note in red that says "+$20 FOR ANIMATION". Below and to the side of this, there are 4 examples:

An image of Pibby from Learning with Pibby, a small light blue character with pink/light purple hair buns.

An image of a large sky-blue computer with a control panel and 2 rocket engines propelling itself into the air, along with two colder-blue speakers on the computer's left and right sides, also being propelled by their own respective rocket engines. The circle part of the speakers are alternative white and black circles and the computer screen is black except for a green outline of Queen from Deltarune.

An image of an angry looking robot character. it is a dull blue with light yellow accent marks and purple wires sticking out of its back. it's face is a pixelated red screen. It has thick, blue vent-hose like legs with 2 large blue, metal feet. They are accented with a caution pattern in light yellow.

A collection of 5 sprites of Night in the Woods characters-from left to right: Mae, Gregg, Bea, Angus, and Germ-all looking angry except for Germ and Mae. Mae is holding a baseball bat with two hands behind herself, Gregg is holding a crossbow with his right hand, Bea is smoking and holding a pickaxe with both hands, Angus has his hands on his hips, and Germ has his hands in his pockets with a possum on his head.

The bottom right has white text saying "DIALOGUE EXPRESSIONS (next line) $20-$60 PER CHARACTER (next line) [depends on how many sprites you want]". Below and to the side of this there are 4 examples:

A colored image of Flowey from Undertale's head.

A collection of 6 images of Rouxls Kaard from Deltarune's face, each expressing a different emotion. From left to right, the expressions go: smiling with teeth, open mouth smiling, open mouth smiling with wide eyes, smiling with teeth and wide eyes, smiling with teeth and winking, and smiling with teeth and both eyes closed.

A collection of 7 images of an ice cap (with sunglasses) from Undertale's face, each expressing a different emotion. From left to right, the expressions go: neutral with tired eyes, neutral with wide eyes, surprised, angry, maniacal laughing, evilly grinning, and nervous/looking off to the side, sweating.

A collection of 3 images, each containing a different expression portrayed by op's oc. the oc is a reddish-pink flower with a green stem and its petals behind its face with a loose strand, as if it is hair. The expressions portrayed, from left to right, go: smiling, smugly grinning, and angrily yelling.

The third sections begins with white text saying "DELTARUNE BATTLE MOCKUP (next line) $200 (next line) [This could take me a while to finish, so I'll only take on ONE of these at a time.]" Below this is two example images:

An image of a Deltarune-style battle scene with Night in the Woods characters. There is a red bar on the left side of the screen that has white text next to it vertically reading "TP 0%" and a menu with a text box on the bottom containing Mae and Gregg, Mae with 150/150 HP and Gregg with 170/170.Mae's icon is in light blue and Gregg's is in orange. It appears as if the user is selecting what to do with Mae's turn, hovering over the fight button. In the text box below, there is white text that reads "* The cultists strike back!". The fight setting is in a grassy area in front of a red, sunken furnace with bricks surrounding it. On the left towards the top, Mae is holding a baseball bat behind herself with both hands, and below her Gregg is holding a crossbow with his right hand, his left hand in front of him, looking angry. On the right, there are two identical looking cuktists in brown, hooded robes and boots holding shotguns.

An image of a Deltarune-style battle scene with Night in the Woods characters. There is a red bar on the left side of the screen that has white text next to it vertically reading "TP 0%" and a menu with a text box on the bottom containing Mae with 150/150 HP. It appears as if the user is selecting what to do with Mae's turn, hovering over the fight button. Mae's icon is light blue. In the text box below, there is text that reads "* CASEY awaits your first move." The text is shakey, and all white except for 'CASEY', which is blue with glitching text behind it. The fight setting is in a starry sky area, with the head of the Sky Cat watching Mae. On the left is Mae in a blue color pallette entirely except for her pupils, which are red. She is holding a baseball bat behind her with two hands. On the right is Casey, a shadowy cat figure whearing a long coat. He has glowing white eyes and facial features with a glowing blue outline.

The fourth section begins with red text that states "THINGS I WILL NOT DRAW:" with a lower opacity, larger 'NOT' behind the main text to create an echoey effect. Below this is a bulleted list in white text containing "NSFW, RACIST/BIGOTED THINGS, NFTS, (and) ANYTHING I DON'T WANT TO". Beneath this is a bit of text that says "SO, feel free to message me on either Tumblr or my Discord, @creepabotinc." with '@creepabotinc' in yellow text. /end id.]

[forlovvers]

( your fault! )

pair: sunghoon x f!reader | genre: fluff, just a tad suggestive, e2??? | warning(s): a soaked white shirt, one swear word lol | wc: 1k ish | synopsis: in which you and sunghoon are very late for school.

lynne’s notez 🗒️ : another consistent post .. who am i

something about you gets under park sunghoon’s skin. normally, he’s calm and collected, but whenever you enter the room it’s like you make it your life’s goal to annoy him to ends meet. you’re constantly poking at him and making small remarks about the way he pushes his hair back or the way his handwriting wasn’t perfect. 

“why’s your jacket unbuttoned? tryna impress someone, park?” you’d say, drawing his name out. and he’d intentionally roll his eyes, making sure you saw it. while thinking of a snotty comeback, sunghoon would slyly button up his jacket (the unbuttoned thing was suggested by niki, why sunghoon took the younger’s advice is beyond him). maybe he was upset because you were right or the fact that the person who he was trying to impress didn’t give him a second glance. either way, park sunghoon wasn’t very happy that day. 

and of course, you were the one person he bumped into while being late to school. sunghoon had decided that maybe he’d treat himself to some coffee before his classes, but the new barista was very clumsy and had to remake his favorite drink twice! so much that it didn’t even taste like his favorite drink anymore. 

while turning the last corner to school, you just had to be in the way. it was almost like the heavens above were punishing him for skipping that one skating practice in eighth grade. 

when the two of you collide, sunghoon’s drink goes flying from his hands and because the new barista doesn’t know how to put on the top properly, the contents of his iced mocha land across your white button-up and it immediately soaks through the light material. 

“park! are you serious!” you yell suddenly, your hands flying up in frustration. you were already having the worst day. firstly, your alarm was set to 7pm instead of 7am and all of your school blazers had not been done drying since you put them in the washing machine last night. on top of all this you just had to run to into park sunghoon and his stupid iced mocha. 

the coffee stains your shirt and you can feel it bleed through the thin fabric, leaving a big black mark across your chest and the unmistakable smell of strong coffee mixing with your perfume. you swear under your breath, reaching up to try and wipe it off with no luck. 

you spot a hose attached to the side of a local fish shop, you were sure the owner wouldn’t mind if you used it. without a second thought, you walk over and detach the hose and grab a bucket from the stack nearby (hopefully it hadn’t been filled with fishes beforehand). 

sunghoon watches you dumbly as you continue to fill up the bucket. “what are you doing?” he asks and walks over to you to get a closer look. you’ve already pulled your hair to the side as you hand him the bucket. 

“you want me to do the ice bucket challenge on you?” sunghoon’s eyes widen at the odd request and you want to strangle him. this was no time for jokes. 

“are you an idiot? just pour a little on my shirt to get the stain out. i can’t show up to class an hour late and dirty clothes.” you say irritatingly. you tug on the shirt to get it as far from your skin as possible and pray sunghoon doesn’t get any water on your pants. 

“doesn’t this need soap?” sunghoon hesitantly raises the bucket up. although he might hate your guts, dowsing you in fish shop water didn’t seem the most appropriate way to go about this. 

“just do it.”

“okay nike,” sunghoon gently pours the water over the stain, careful to not let too much spill out. the more he pours, the more he realizes how close the two of you are and how your shirt seems to become more and more transparent. 

your shirt is practically see-through and sunghoon really does try to polite about it without spilling water all over you, but it’s quite hard to contain the water without properly looking at you. there’s a pink that dusts his cheeks and he can’t help but want to bang his head onto a wall. 

deciding he’s had enough, sunghoon abruptly drops the bucket to the floor and starts to shrug off his own blazer. he was a gentleman, of course. “wear this.” is all he says, dropping it into your hands. 

you eye him suspiciously but take it any way with a small nod of thanks. “this is all your fault yknow?” you say, buttoning his blazer up. it was a bigger than your own, but you should be able to still get away with it at school. 

“my fault?” sunghoon says in disbelief. he can’t believe he just gave you his blazer (which he might get written up for for not having) just for you to say that. “it’s not my fault you have a shit sense of direction.” he defends himself surely.

“whatever you say, park.” the nickname rolls off your tongue smoothly and the more you use it, the sweeter it sounds to sunghoon. once you finish putting on the blazer, you reach for your previously discarded backpack, but sunghoon beats you to it.

“what are you doing?” you throw him a confused look as he pulls the straps of your bag over his shoulder. 

“it’s the least i could do, i mean it’s my fault, right?” a boyish grin tugs at sunghoon’s lips and he starts walking ahead, forcing you to catch up.

you aren’t sure if it’s his teasing tone, his rolled up sleeves exposing his arms or his stupid smile, but you begin to see sunghoon in a different light.

[elisegravesbondageliberation]

Transparent Rubber Stress Relief We are living in some seriously stressful times - and Elise is starting to feel the pressure. Fortunately, she has identified an extremely effective self soothing activity that reduces stress. Collecting all her favorite transparent rubber items, Elise sits on the edge of her beg and enjoys the experience of slipping into rubber. Dressing for her own pleasure. She begins by sucking deeply on the dildo in her rubber dildo panties, preparing for insertion into her pussy. Next, she takes care to lube up her feet and legs before slipping into transparent rubber stockings. After slipping a sexy rubber apron on, and securing it in the back, Elise is ready for the main piece - the inflatable ball hood. The sensory deprivation of sight and sound that this hood provides allows Elise to immerse herself in what is to come next. Attaching a long rubber hose and rebreather bag to the hood enables Elise to play with her own breath. She seems to make love to that bag as it swells with her trapped breath. All of this rubber is a major turn on, and thus Elise gets busy vibing her stuffed pussy while controlling her access to air. She deserves some stress relief. After satisfying herself with the vibrator, Elise then handcuffs herself to the bed for some solo relaxation time. To be continued :)

[gabgabwrites]

LOLITA | Patrick Zweig

1 -> PEACHY

summary ⇝ it’s a hot and sweltering day out by the trailer park and a visit from your furry friend gives you the idea to bring peaches to your new neighbour.

warnings ⇝ language

You got brought up to believe that you should treat thy neighbours as you'd want to be treated, and that's what you planned to do.

Growing up in a trailer park wasn't all bad, it was small and cozy and calm for the most part. You had a small garden you would often mend and often bad neighbourhood cats pass by.

Not only did the cats love you, but so did your neighbours, everyone knew each other, that was until the trailer a few rows down got a new tenant.

You didn't hear much about him, and it wasn't that you cared, just intrigued. But as of right now you paid no mind as you were propped up against the trailer, sat on the plush grass while you flipped through your book, Jane Eyre, momentarily having to flatten your cotton sundress when it would lift in the wind.

The sun beamed down, Warm on your shoulders and on your exposed calves, it however made it difficult to read when the pale pages were hard to look at when it was too bright for your eyes, forcing you to squint.

It was quiet, except for a few birds chirping in the distance and the sounds of pages flipping. A much more harsh gust of wind blew by, sending your hair into a frenzy while you tried to take the flyaways, it was then when you felt a wetness seep into your dress, you frowned and looked down, seeing that the watering can tipped.

You sighed, and gently shut your book before straightening the watering can and standing up.

The wetness on the sundress made it more transparent, and it stuck to your frame, giving a nice view to the eye. It was getting warmer, and the sun wasn't getting any less brighter, so you began to wonder how badly the garden must be craving water. It wasn't hard to carry the watering can, and it's not like you mind a little sweat on your brow.

You looked around and spotted the small path that lead to your garden, though it was more like a flower and fruit patch in a small spot no one claimed, and no one minded that you made it your own, happy when you'd bring them fruits or a small bouquet.

You figured it was a sign, that if it was this hot out, your plants would be thirsty.

So, you tucked the book under your arm and grabbed the watering can. Quickly you took it to the hose and filled it up before trekking over to the plants before letting the water rain down.

The plants were parched, and even the smallest flower looked like it was gasping for water. You took extra care to douse as much water as you can into the plants, not wanting to miss a single patch. It was then that you could feel a pair of eyes burning into the back of your neck as you bend down to reach the plants.

You ignored it, and chose to pluck out the weeds, carefully pulling out the invasive plants.

The eyes burn like a pair of hot coals, following every curve of yours as you bent over. They were locked onto your form the entire time, taking in those exposed legs, the way that sundress fit your every curve.

You flipped your one plait of hair over your shoulder as you peeked behind you, not being able to see if anyone was there. Deciding not to dwell on it, you chucked the unwanted weeds off to the side before grabbing your belongings and walking off.

Hurriedly you went back inside, skin itching to change out of your dress.

You entered the trailer quickly, shutting the door behind you. It would have been a shame if you accidentally flashed someone, your dress was clinging to you so much that a strong enough wind might just peel it right off.

You walked over to the mirror, looking at the reflection, how your skin shone from the sweat and the water on your dress stuck to your skin, clinging to your frame.

You shook the thought away as you made your way to your room to change.

"Hm, what to wear, what to wear..." You trailed off as you threw open your cupboard, seeing a lot of winter stuff while your more summery outfits were in the hamper, you groaned before your eyes landed on your denim shorts and bikini, everyone was at work, and so no one should be able to see and thing anything of you wearing a bikini top.

You quickly picked the pair of shorts and changed into them. They were loose and comfortable, making it easy to move around. You then looked at the bikini top, a soft sigh leaving your lips because you didn't want to be in a sweaty bra. So, with a little hesitation, you took off your current top and put on the bikini top, feeling a tad bit too exposed, but it was so boiling, and your skin felt so hot and humid.

You chewed on your bottom lip, contemplating your next move. Then stood by the mirror, checking yourself out in the shorts and the bikini top. It was so comfortable, but the thought of someone seeing you in such an exposed state made heat rise in your cheeks. But, you told yourself that no one was going to be home, and it was so damn hot outside, you needed to cool off.

Deciding not to dwell on it, you walked out your room. You passed by the fridge and grabbed yourself a chilled bottle of water before going back outside, this time deciding to sit on your porch.

Walking outside, you immediately felt the heat as the sun beamed down. It made your skin buzz, and your cheeks flush.

But, the shorts and the bikini top made moving around in this heat feel more bearable. The water was already getting cold in your hands, so you took a seat onto the comfy chair. You stretched your legs out, noticing how much cooler the chair felt against your sweaty legs.

You closed your eyes, enjoying the serenity of it all when you felt something soft brush your legs. Your eyes cracked open as you looked down, seeing the orange and white tabby look up at you, a grin splitting your lips.

Smiling happily, you bent over and stroked the cat's head as it rubbed against you, letting out a soft mewl as it climbed into your lap. You chuckled and continued petting it, fingers sinking into the soft fur. The cat purred and let out more meows as it settled in your lap. "Aw, sweet girl, I missed you too." You said, feeling the cat nuzzle into your palm.

The cat stretched and rubbed against you more, purring and arching her back.

She let out a soft meow when your fingers scratched just that right spot on she wanted. It was so calm and soothing, sitting there and petting the cat that you adored so much.

The cat rolled over in your lap, asking you to rub her stomach. You smiled and did just that, your fingers gently rubbing the soft stomach, earning yourself more purrs from the tabby. Her soft fur felt nice against your hands, and the weight on your legs was like a warm blanket.

You sighed, eyes shifting up while your fingers were still in her fur, gaze landing on the trailer that was in the shade, it's lawn unkempt and wild, that was where the new tenant was. You wondered if they worked, and your question got answered when you saw a shadow flicker in the window.

You stared at the other trailer, watching as the shadow moved behind the curtains. It made your heart beat faster, your fingers stopping for a moment on the cat. It was like there was something inside the trailer, something watching you. Someone.

You swallowed hard, the feeling of someone watching you as the cat meowed in protest and batted at your hand, demanding more pets. You quickly obliged, trying to push the uneasy feeling away, focusing on the tabby.

"You wanna come with me to see who's there? Maybe they'll want fruit, huh?" You idly spoke to the cat.

The cat simply meowed back, the little paw still batting at your hand. You chuckled and petted the tabby, scratching that sweet spot on her neck that she loved. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to pay a visit. It was a good excuse, bringing fruit to the new tenant. You picked up the purring cat, holding her against your chest as you got up.

You went inside and grabbed your fruit basked before making your way to your fruit patch, placing the cat down. You eyed all the fruit and most weren't ripe enough, except for the peach tree.

While some fruits were still small and green, the peach tree was bursting with juicy peaches. You hummed and walked over to the tree, lifting a peach in your hand. It was ripe and perfect, a few more days and they'd be overripe. Smiling, you picked a few peaches and placed them into the basket, making sure not to bruise the soft skin.

"Come on now, girl. Time to say hi." You bickered for the cat to follow, while you were off to be a good neighbour, being the nice girl you were brought up to be.

The cat trotted after you obediently, meowing softly as you walked along the trailers, holding the basket with a few peaches in it. Some of the trailers were empty, their owners working, and some simply had their windows shut, like no one was home. As you walked towards the new trailer, your heart thumped in your chest, the basket feeling heavier each step.

What if it was a grumpy grouch who'd shew you off like you were a pest? Or some snobby hillbilly who'd chase you down with a double barrelled shotgun?

All these thoughts of who could possibly live here swarmed your head while you climbed steps. Your mind was racing a million miles per hour, thinking up all the things that could happen. You had no doubt that a shotgun wouldn't be the worst of those things. You took a deep breath as you stood in front of the door, hesitating for a moment to knock. You gave a brief glance behind your shoulder back at your trailer, and the tabby was sitting there watching you quietly.

Letting out a breath, your knuckles rapped against the thin door, which let out a hollow thud, and you waited for an answer. For a few moments there was silence, no movement inside the trailer and no indication it was being answered.

Feeling foolish, you were about to turn away when the sound of footsteps made you freeze.

The footsteps grew louder as the door handle twisted and creaked, and your heart beat faster and faster as the door slowly opened, the rusty hinges letting out a screech. In the dim light of the trailer, a figure appeared.

And that's when you saw him.

Standing in the doorway was a man. He was tall, looming over you even though he wasn't taking a single step forward.

He had messy brown hair and intense brown eyes that seemed to burn into your skin. A stained, white vest hung over his wide shoulders and a pair of worn jeans that were torn at the knees.

You could smell the stench of cigarettes and alcohol with hints of cheap cologne come from the trailer, an uncomfortable tension filling the air.

Your back straightened as you clutched your basket closer to yourself. "Hello, sir."

The man's expression didn't change as he looked down at you with steely eyes, scanning your form. He took a drag of his cigarette before exhaling a cloud of smoke, tilting his head to the side as he said in a raspy voice;

"What do you want?"

You swallowed, clearly this man wasn't in a pleasant mood. "I live at number 04, just over there. I heard you moved in a few days ago and wanted to say 'hi', give you a nice welcome, so l picked peaches for you," you lifted up the basket. "Fresh from my own tree."

The man raised an eyebrow, looking at the basket in your hand. He took another long drag of his cigarette and exhaled another cloud of smoke before saying in a gruff tone.

"Ah, so you're the one with the little patch of plants? I've seen it from the window. Don't look like much."

Your brow twitched. "Yes, and there is just enough, thank you."

A hint of a sneer tugged at the corner of the man's mouth, like he knew he was getting a reaction out of you. He puffed out another cloud of smoke and huffed out a chuckle, leaning casually against the doorframe. "Don't be so defensive, girl, just makin' an observation."

You wet your lips, tasting your fruity chapstick. "Right, well, don't be afraid to come knocking if you need anything, my Pa and I are happy to help you with anything, and, here's the peaches." You raised the basket in his direction.

The man's eyes flicked between your face and the basket, an expression of subtle irritation on his face like he didn't want the peaches. He took another drag of his cigarette before snatching the basket out of your hand. "I don't need your damned peaches. I can take good care of myself, I'm a grown ass man."

Your lips pinched together. "Well okay, I can see you're a warm abundance. I was only trying to be nice." You scoffed.

The man's expression darkened, his eyes narrowing as he flicked the ash off his cigarette, his voice turning cold.

"Watch your tone, girl. You might be all sweetness and sunshine now, but that won't get you very far in this world. Life ain't some rosy fairytale where a man's gonna shower you with nice gestures and flowers. Men like me, we're not looking for damn peaches."

A loud, abrupt scoff left your lips. You were done trying your best to be nice. "You don't have to be such an asshole."

The man's jaw clicked, his eyes lighting up in annoyance at your words. He stepped closer to you, towering over you with a menacing aura. "Don't act all huffy with me, girl. You don't know anything about my life and what l've been through. I don't owe you, or anyone, anything. Least of all kindness."

You stared up at the man with a steely glare, refusing to back down. Your voice was firm as you spoke, your hands clenching by your sides.

"You may have had a hard life, but that doesn't give you the right to be an ass. All I wanted to do was be nice, and instead you snap at me like a guard dog. You think you're some tough bad guy, but all you're doing is making yourself look like a bitter old man."

The man grinned at you, though there was nothing friendly about it. He chuckled, a sinister gleam in his eyes as he took a slow drag of his cigarette. He looked down at you, his lips curving into a smirk. "You've got some fire in you, darling. Feisty thing you are."

"And a pathetic thing you are," you spun around. "Have a nice life being some mediocre crank."

You tried to walk away, your chest rising and falling with your quick, angered breaths. But before you could manage more than two steps away, the man's voice cut through the air like a whip.

"You little brat," he snapped, his words filled with anger. "You think you can talk to me like that and walk away? I ain't some meek, soft-spoken pushover you can just insult."

You didn't turn back, and instead rose a hand in the air and shot him the finger, marching off back to your humble abode.

The man's face twisted into a scowl, looking at your hand and then your back as you walked away, your middle finger held high. He clenched his jaw, his eyes flashing with anger. He muttered under his breath, watching as you walked further and further away. "Damn attitude, goddamn brat."

With one last bellow of his cigarette, he chucked the butt of it onto his porch and turned on his axis and back into his home, shutting the door behind him

You made your way back to your trailer, fists clenched tightly as you walked up the steps and into your home. Your chest was heaving with angered breaths, your heart beating fast.

You were angry, angry at the man's rude and cold attitude, and angry at yourself for not biting your tongue and walking away sooner.

You dropped the basket of peaches on the kitchen counter, the fruit jostling around with a soft thump. You let out a loud, annoyed sigh, your heart still racing faster than it should as you slumped down onto the couch.

Your mind was filled with thoughts of the man's rough voice, his cold eyes, and that aggravating smirk he had on his face. You couldn't understand why he had to be so mean.

As your breaths began to calm, you felt a soft presence against your legs. You looked down, seeing the tabby cat had jumped up on the couch, rubbing against your leg and purring in a silent comforting gesture.

You glanced back at the door, seeing you hadn't shut it and the creature meandered inside. You opted on not kicking it out, instead you picked it up and buried your face in her fur. "It's fine, girl. You won't have to see him again."

The tabby meowed softly, nuzzling against you as you held her close. Her soft fur felt nice against your skin, and despite the calming presence of the cat, you couldn't help but still feel a pang of anger and irritation at the man's words and attitude. It was as if you could still hear his scoffing and see the way he had looked down at you.

The rest of the day you spent trying to forget your rude neighbour, and by the time the sun dipped below the horizon, your father walked in. He worked as a landscaper which is where you most likely picked up your passion for the outdoors even if on a different spectrum.

Your father was a hardworking man, his face was sun-baked and tanned, and there were always a slight smudge of dirt or mud somewhere on his clothes. He was currently covered in sweat, exhaustion from a day's work. As he walked in and spotted you sitting and holding the tabby cat, he let out a deep, tired sigh.

"Hey, kiddo," he said gruffly. "How was your day?"

You say up from where you were on the small sofa. "Hi Pa, my day was good, spent it outside."

Your father nodded, running a hand through his messy hair. He made his way over to the kitchen counter, looking at the basket of peaches you had brought."I see you've been picking peaches. Got a good haul from the tree, hm?"

Your shoulders sunk. "Yeah, um, they were for the new tenant by 14."

Your father raised an eyebrow, looking from the basket of peaches to you, then back at the basket. "For the new tenant, eh? You were kind enough to give him a welcome basket? That's real nice of you, kiddo."

"Well...I tried to give it to him, guess he wasn't a fan." You shrugged, sitting up on the couch as you played with the frayed edges of your shorts.

Your father's expression shifted when you mentioned the man's reaction, a look of surprise and mild confusion on his face. "He wasn't a fan of your welcome basket? You're kidding, right? Who wouldn't want a basket full of fruit? That doesn't make sense."

You looked over at him. "I don't know, he just wasn't the friendliest but it's alright."

Your father frowned and crossed his arms over his chest, giving you a firm look. "Not the friendliest, huh? What do you mean by that, kiddo? What did he do?"

"U-Uhm," you didn't want trouble, you knew the lengths your dad would go for you. "Nothing, it's nothing."

Despite your attempt to brush it off, your father wasn't convinced. He knew you too well, and he could tell something was off. "No, you can't just say 'it's nothing!' You're avoiding telling me something, kid. Tell me exactly what happened between you and this new tenant."

You shook your head, standing up and going to your dad before you threw your arms around him. "Really, Pa, it was fine. I handled myself."

Even though your father was tired and dirty from work, he wrapped his arms around you in a tight embrace, giving you a firm but loving squeeze.

"I know you're strong, I know you can handle things on your own," he said, ruffling your hair with his calloused hands. "But you know I just worry about you, kiddo. Especially when strangers are around."

You let yourself get lost in his warm and welcoming embrace. "I know, Pa," you sighed. "I love you."

Your father chuckled, pulling you close and planting a messy kiss on the top of your head, messing up your hair even more as he ruffled it.

"And I love you, kid. More than anything in the world."

You gave him a sweet kiss on the cheek before untangling your arms. "I'm gonna go shower then sleep, don't stay up too late. Lord knows your old bones can't take it."

Your dad let out a scoff and rolled his eyes, swatting your arm playfully.

"Ha, ha, smart mouth. I may be old, but I'm just as spry as ever, you watch your tongue."

You giggled before turning the corner and going to your room where you grabbed your sleep wear, cotton shorts and an oversized shirt before heading to the shower.

Once you were in the small bathroom, you set your sleep clothes on the counter and turned on the shower, letting the water heat up. The room filled with steam, and when you were satisfied, you undressed and stepped into the warm spray.

The water felt nice on your skin, rinsing off the faint scent of outside sweat from your skin. The water felt almost soothing as it fell over you, and the steam that surrounded you began to clear your mind and ease your worries.

And you couldn't shake off the remembrance of your new neighbour.

As you were washing your hair with the shampoo, your mind started to wander, and thoughts of the man living a few trailers over filled your mind again. You remembered the rough and cold tone of his voice, the way his lips curled, and the mocking gleam in his eyes.

You recalled the way he had looked down at you, towering over you with his intense gaze and intimidating aura. And despite your attempts to shake the thoughts off, you couldn't help but think about how different the man was from anyone you had met before, both physically and personality-wise.

The man's sharp attitude and lack of manners had left a bad taste in your mouth. You had tried to be friendly and give him a welcome gift, but he had snapped at you and been nothing but cold and dismissive. It made you wonder what his problem was, why he had to be so damn rude.

His words were bitter and had a razor sharp edge to them, how he belittled you, and what else he could say. That's what bothered you, you wondered how much more rude he could be, and then, you felt it.

A strange sensation starting to stir within you. It was a feeling you hadn't expected, a mixture of frustration and curiosity, tinged with something else that you couldn't quite pinpoint.

Why was this man having such an effect on you? The way he spoke, the way he looked at you, it was infuriating but at the same time, it was making your heart race. You gasped, eyes shooting open when you felt a sore buzz between your legs.

You cursed, you weren't innocent, and you were far from it, but you knew this was wrong.

Oh so very, very wrong.

[ NEXT ]

[icu-fetish]

Girl in ICU

The girl ended up in a coma. Her body was severely damaged, and doctors decided to connect her to an artificial device to keep her alive. Now she lies in the hospital, helpless and connected to tubes and hoses, her mind remaining transparent in this world between reality and dream.

Dr. Cohen was standing by the bed where the girl was lying. Her eyes were closed, but she could feel the doctor's presence. The artificial device that kept her alive hummed quietly nearby.

Dr. Cohen began, “I know you can hear me. Your body may be helpless, but your mind is not.”

The girl did not move, but her consciousness was on guard. She tried to open her eyes but couldn't. Only darkness.

"This is not just a coma. You are in a special state. Your mind is a window to another world.”

The girl felt her heart swell with emotion. She wanted to say something, but she couldn't. The tubes in her throat prevented her from speaking.

“I'll be here to help you. We will find a way to get you out of this state.” - said Dr. Cohen.

The girl felt tears running down her cheeks. She could not move, but her mind was alive.

Days passed, and the girl remained in a coma. Dr. Cohen researched her condition by reviewing medical studies and reports. She believed that the answer to the riddle lay deeper than just physiological processes.

One day, when the window near the bed was open, the girl felt a breath of wind. He brought the smell of flowers and fresh rain. She felt her hand tremble slightly.

The girl tried to answer, but the words did not come out. She concentrated on the warmth of the wind, on the smell of flowers, on the voice of the doctor. Her mind was bright and sensitive, as if it opened new horizons. The girl felt her heart pound with hope. She could not move, but she believed. She believed that Dr. Cohen would do everything possible to save her and that she would be able to feel the sunlight and the wind on her face again.

This is how the girl's unusual journey began - a journey into a world where the boundaries between reality and dreams were blurred, where words had power and hope was her wings.

[brighids-blunders]

MC: [is using their wand to cast aguamenti like a garden hose in the greenhouses]

Sebastian: [enters behind them a bit quieter than intended] Ah, I thought I might find you in he-

MC: [shrieks in surprise as they whip around, still casting aguamenti and hosing down the intruder]

Sebastian: AUGH! MC! It’s me!!

MC, now mortified: Sebastian! I'm so sorry, I didn't see you! I...

Sebastian: [removes and shakes out his robe, left only in a white button down shirt that is now soaked to transparency] Are you quite alright?

MC: [blushing furiously] Just peachy! Absolutely nothing wrong! Sorry again! [they swiftly cast a drying charm on him as they rush past him] I-I'll see you in class!

Sebastian: [completely oblivious] What in Merlin's name...

[crevicedwelling]

I've seen vids of your worms enveloping and slorping up a squishy earthworm but how do these guys eat something a little more armoured like that bullet ant? It looks practically untouched, do they make a hole somehow and slurp out the delicious insides? (also that snoot face on the flatworm made my day adhfgt)

looks like I got rid of the video I took of this, but these Anisorhynchodemus probably feed similarly to the one in Costa Rica. when they catch prey, they kill it with toxins and then find a joint in its exoskeleton. presumably they’ll digest the membrane between the segments and insert their pharynx to feed.

the video was very blurry but funny—because the emptied isopod was so transparent, you could barely see the white pharynx snaking around like a rubber hose vacuuming up the digested isopod soup.

edit: oh, I put it on Twitter, if you don’t mind viewing it there

https://twitter.com/crevicedwelling/status/1647014746531430400?s=46&t=XAFBMRYtXdJp-BIKevyyBA

[stesierra]

Okay! Since people are asking, here's some of my writing. I'm not used to sharing because on Twitter no one really cared... 🥺 Please let me know if you're interested in learning more about this book or being added to a tag list for my stuff! I love questions about my stuff too... This is new adult fantasy even though publishing says new adult isn't real.

(please excuse my MC's attitude because she is depressed! We've all been there when we released a plague of skeletons.)

The Bone Queen

Chapter 1

When I fell in love with Aubrey, I never thought I'd dream of killing him one day. Why would I? He was already dead.

Now, two years after he’d won my heart with lies, we stood alone in my dimly lit parlor, between its lion-footed couches all in pine green and gold and blood red, Queen Idony’s colors. The golden tapestries that thickly coated the walls depicted Bandrum Palace as seen from the streets of Asteraxe: a many-floored edifice that sprawled across the top of a hill, half hidden behind a mighty wall.

The enormous skirts of my dress weighed me down like I was dragging my own casket around. The bodice hugged my ribs and the corset I didn't need, embellished with lace and embroidered birds, and the sleeves poofed around my skinny arms. It left my scrawny shoulders bare, and even with the fire that crackled in my fireplace, the winter air inside the palace chilled me.

The dress was ivory. The same ivory as my fiancé’s bones.

He clenched my hand, his icy finger bones pinching my skin, and his touch revolted me. But I didn't draw away. I'd learned by now that there was no escape. What point was there in trying? Besides, I deserved this unhappiness. I'd brought it upon myself. Upon the entire kingdom of Sweelough.

When I'd met Aubrey, he'd been nothing but a handsome ghost on Lake Langlyn’s shores. But since I'd freed him—freed them all—he’d become something more. Not alive, even Queen Idony couldn't do that, but she'd given him back his skeleton with which to wield swords and write notes and touch my vulnerable skin. His ghost hadn't gone anywhere; it wrapped around his skeleton like transparent flesh around bones. Now, when I looked into his face, I saw both sharp gray eyes and yawning sockets, both a full, cleanshaven mouth and a skull’s grinning teeth. And the clothes his ghost wore echoed the very real doublet and hose he'd pulled over his bones. Green and red and gold, of course. He honored the queen in everything he did.

He bent close to me, brushing the top of my fashionable tower of hair with his jawbone. He stank of potpourri and dust. “Tell me you love me, Elise.”

I said nothing, just breathed and thought about hitting his bones over and over again with a hammer. In my mind, he crumbled into bits, nothing but ashes in a grave. Of course, it was a fantasy; no one could kill someone who was already dead. I knew because so many people had died trying. Because I had hit him with an axe down on the shore of Lake Langlyn, and it had only torn his clothes.

He said again, “We are to marry in a month. Tell me you love me. Smile at me and say my name, the way you used to.”

“Aubrey,” I said. I didn't love him, but what good would it do to tell him again, when he would only yell at me? It was pointless. Everything was pointless.

His ghostly eyes narrowed, and he crushed my hands in his. “Smile, Elise. Thank me for taking you to wife. For when we met, you were nothing but a serf too stupid to write her own name. Now look at you. Aren't you grateful?”

Tears stung my eyes. When I'd met him, at sixteen, I'd been happy. I'd had parents and four brothers who loved me, and it hadn't mattered that none of us knew how to read or write. What did farmers need letters for? Now, two years later, life was meaningless, and it didn't matter that the tutors he'd forced on me had taught me to scribble my name and read a handful of poems.

Aubrey sighed and leaned down to kiss the back of my hand. For a horrifying second, his lips passed through me, and his teeth brushed my skin. “I'm sorry, Elise. I know I push you too hard. You'll be a good wife. Docile and obedient. Quiet. A good mother to my children.”

If I was docile and quiet, it was only because I'd given up. But his last sentence made me whip my head up. “Children? What do you mean, children?”

He smiled up at me, his spectral mouth matching the grinning teeth of his skull. “Why, Elise, didn't you think I would want a heir?”

“Why would you?” I cried. “Lady Kinburg tells everyone how she had no choice but to hang her descendents when she came back, because they wouldn't return her lands. The dead don't want heirs. You're planning to rule forever. Aren't you?”

“Of course,” my fiancé agreed, straightening up. “But I would still want children. Offspring who will love and admire me, just as you do.”

Unless they inherited my ability to see and hear ghosts, all the children would see was a skeleton that couldn't even talk to them. They wouldn't admire him. They'd fear him, just like I did. Somehow, that didn't matter, not when there was a bigger issue. “Aubrey, you're dead. You can't sire children. It's impossible. Are you planning to have some living man bed me?”

He scoffed, reaching up to seize my chin. “I'll kill any man who lays a finger on you. You're mine. Forever.”

I ripped my face out of his grip. “If we adopt children, they won't be able to see you.” No other living person in Asteraxe, the capital of Sweelough, saw and heard the dead like I did. They just saw skeletons, awful and deadly. It was my gift and my curse to see more. A curse that had doomed me and all of Sweelough.

He let me retreat to sit upon one of the couches. “But children born of your body will, my love. And it's not impossible. Do you have so little faith in the queen? In one month, on the day of our wedding, she will cast spells upon me to give me the ability to lie with you. With her magic, she'll quicken my seed in your belly. And nine months later, you'll bear me a perfect son.”

Aubrey was going to have sex with me. He was going to force me to bear his child. My thoughts ran in terrified, anguished circles. My limbs grew weak, and I sank into my couch. I wanted to vomit all over his pointed shoes. If I could've, I'd have bolted out into the halls of the palace and straight out the front doors. Running for my life had never sounded more appealing.

But the queen's magic brand wrapped my ankle like a jagged red tattoo, and even now I felt it burning against my skin. She'd promised me, when she enchanted me two years ago, that if I ever tried to escape, it would punish me. And Aubrey had stood beside her, smiling because I could never leave him.

“You look faint, my love,” Aubrey said, stepping up close to me. “Come to dinner tonight. Sit at my side and display your beauty to all the court.”

“I'm not hungry,” I said, and it was true. I was never hungry, and after the horrible news he’d just dropped on me, I might never be hungry again. If I accompanied Aubrey to the Great Hall, where the nobility gathered over feasts of roast beef and fish and fresh fruit, I would only sit uneating in front of plenty, just like all the dead who wanted to pretend that they were still alive. Aubrey couldn't eat, being nothing but bones. I had a stomach and all the equipment needed, but I'd lost my appetite with my family, and now that he’d threatened to impregnate me, it was doubly gone.

He took my hand and kissed it again. “Very well. I will send your maids in to tend to you. But after dinner, I will come fetch you. Queen Idony wishes to speak with you.”

My stomach dropped, and I tore my hand out of his. “What? Why? I haven't done anything wrong.”

He patted my cheek, and his bones were so cold that surely they'd never belonged to a living man. “Fear not, Elise. She doesn't want to punish you. She merely wishes to tell you your new duties in the days ahead.”

“Duties? What duties?” Dread constricted my throat. Duties, whatever they were, would take me away from my rooms and safety. They'd put me in the eyes of the living nobles, and all of them hated me. Not because I was a peasant pretending to be one of them. Because it was my fault they had to bow to a dead queen. I didn't blame them. I hated me too.

Aubrey beamed at me. “Great events are on the horizon. Do you remember that the queen made overtures to our wealthy neighbor to the west?”

Only one county bordered Sweelough to the west. “Ahheleisa. But you said nothing would come of it. That the living were too superstitious to see a gift when the queen offered it.”

He waved a hand. “The living are cretins. But in this case, I was wrong.”

“I’m still alive, Aubrey,” I reminded him. For now. Every other night, I woke from nightmares that the queen had stripped me down to nothing but a ghost and dry old bones.

“Yes, yes. That doesn't matter. We have news now that an ambassador and his party are coming here to Asteraxe. In fact, they are nearly upon us. And so Queen Idony has plans for you. But she’ll tell you the details tonight, I am sure.” He patted my leg through my layers of skirts and petticoats. “Now, promise me you'll eat something.”

“I'll eat something,” I lied. But after he'd left and sent my maids in to check on me, I tilted my head back and closed my eyes and tried to think of nothing. Thoughts kept sneaking in of a dead man's touch and a dead man's children, and I had no peace at all.

[christinaseas]

I recently worked on an assignment with the goal of creating a new compisition of existing images. Beyond that it was fairly open-ended. A couple weeks ago I (accidentally) purchased transparent sticker paper that wasn't waterproof, and I've been trying to come up with a way to prevent them going to waste. I got the idea to print the images on the sticker paper and use that to make a collage and then leaning into the distortion that could be caused by liquid and how it would vary

depending on how I layered the cutouts. That got linked up in my head with some cyanotype/sunprinting I've been doing, and after that it felt really natural to create a compistion of clouds, distort them with rain, then develop them in the sun.

I started out just collecting a bunch of pictures of clouds that were both the centerpiece and the background of pictures I've taken over the years. I cut out the clouds and converted to greyscale as I went, so I could get a sense of how they'd look in that format, but here is a re-collection of some of the (still cropped) originals for the sake of ~visuals~

I had six sheets of the sticker paper, so I arranged the clouds and resized them to fill them out, then cut them out! Was this partially an excuse to use a new toy? Maybe.

I didn’t follow a particularly precise plan with placing the stickers beyond being sure to keep some of the small ones fully covered so they would stay in tact, and putting two very large ones on as a sort of base, but otherwise, I just went off instinct. When I thought I was done, I snapped a quick pick and re-inverted to get a sense of what it might look like.

The next thing I needed was the rain. We’ve been getting regular evening storms, so I didn’t think I’d have to worry about the need to have some rain followed by lots of sun. This would have been a great time to have saved a screenshot of forecasts with nonstop clear skies followed by non-stop rain through Sunday. Or the banner saying to expect dry conditions. Of the radar of storms skirting around my area (by a long bit, but at the scale of the storm, it felt close). 

Artistic rendering:

(on a related note, today it was so humid the windows kept fogging)

I didn’t even have much humidity to work with, but I found myself trying to force it using ice packs and cling wrap. I felt determined to keep it true to natural-ish influences, so I didn’t want to just use the hose sprayer. As I was attempting to do this, a drizzle started, and I jumped on the opportunity.

I didn’t end up getting as dramatic an effect as I’d hoped to achieve with a proper rainfall or even a heavy misting, but there were some droplets visible and a bit of smudging that occurred during the dash around trying to catch droplets. 

The rain was short-lived, so I didn’t have to wait nearly at all until the sun shone again for me to be able to use it to develop. I started out using pretreated cyanotype fabric sheets, and held it all in place using the picture frame I’d stolen the glass from, and it was finally time to develop!

That process went as usual (will save result for the end), and I was itching to try more things, so I decided to see what would happen if I tried applying the solarfast dye to the pretreated fabric. Both were Jacquard brand so I thought maybe they would be compatible. 

Going through development cycle, I had a bit of a surprise that I hadn’t considered. The moisture from the dye achieved what I was unable to with the tiny bit of rain - lots of smudging!

Lastly I decided to try an exposure with just the solarfast dye on plain fabric. The previous round pretty well destroyed many of the stickers, but fortunately I hadn’t used quite all of them during the first round, so I rinsed off the dye, peeled off the totally cleared stickers, and applied the leftovers. Did one last quick exposure just as the clouds started to roll in and not let up. I didn't take pictures of this step, oops.

Anyway after lots of rinsing and washing and literally watching them dry, it was time for the final result!

This was the first one and you can see the clouds fairly easily, made easier by the blue of the cyanotype. You have to zoom in to see the speckling and smudges created by the rain.

The next one is probably my favorite, but next time I might want to do a multi-step process. I think the solarfast dye acted as a resist for the cyanotype so most of it is pretty underexposed, but I want to experiment with letting the dye dry first or exposing the cyanotype and then over-dyeing with the solarfast.

I don't really have any details I want to draw attention to, but Ijust love the texture and I've had a lot of people point out shapes/figures they've seen, which feels really reminiscent of looking for shapes in the clouds, so it feels very full circle.

Lastly there's the plain solarfast which I think is cool visually, but I don't love how the colors turned out.

And that's that!

[cherrynwinesk]

As u Sleep pt.2 ~ Cellbit

Story g: horror (no love), not safe

Language: English/Inglés

⚠️: supernatural creatures, blood, murders, horror. This is too violent, minors or sensitive people do not read, NOT SAFE, ONLY +18, (no sex, only violence)

CC's: Cellbit, Pac mention

Reader g: Neutral reader

📝: All the content is fictitious and an attempt is made to adapt the PUBLIC personality of the cc's, that is, the personality that is shown in front of cameras, I do not know the true personality and any resemblance to reality is mere coincidence.

🍒: Hello, writing requests are always open, if you want something in particular, ask without fear. I clarify that English is not my main language, I apologize for any error and accept corrections to improve the quality of the content

Pt.1

Master List

Cellbit was putting a body into a metal fridge

"Ugh, this one spilled a lot of blood" you said in greeting.

"Yes, he just arrived, he has been dead for a very short time so his circulation was still running very fast, you would have seen the first cut I made on him" he turned around and showed you his suit where there was a mark of blood from his stomach to his right shoulder. As if he had been wet with a small but powerful hose.

"Where does all the blood and organs you take from them go?"

"I put it in a thousand plastic bags with a biological waste label and the hospital takes care of throwing them away"

"In fact, Dr. Cellbit, there is not much waste at the end of the day even though up to 4 bodies arrive every day," the cleaner spoke behind you.

"Yes, I end up cleaning most of the blood with paper and absorbent towels, since it all remains on the metal tables when doing necropsies, and what remains is removed with the aspiration tube directly from the blood vessels," Cellbit replied to the man. I'm done, shall we go?"

Cellbit took his things from his desk and you left the morgue, you went to the nearest supermarket, there you stocked your pantry, laundry detergents, for general cleaning of the department or staff.

Once back home you began to put all the products in their place, some in the pantry, the refrigerator. You also found some of Cellbit's personal things, he had already gone to his room, so you decided to go take him. You knocked on the door to his room but he didn't answer, you knocked again a little louder and waited, when you didn't receive a response you assumed that Cellbit had some headphones on and couldn't hear, so you opened the door to enter. You had never entered his room, yet you believed that both of you were in considerable confidence to allow yourself to enter his room and he yours.

You entered and the place was very cold, almost to the point of matching the temperature of the morgue, you imagined that Cellbit had no problem with the cold and that he must be used to it. The place was dark and the door to his balcony was open, the only thing that illuminated the room was the moonlight and the reflection of the public light from the streets. Before fully entering the room you could see Cellbit outside, as you had thought, he had his headphones on and was browsing his cell phone so he was very distracted.

You decided to turn on the light so that he would realize your presence, the moment you turned on the light you could see what was inside the room, it looked much more like a smaller morgue. There was a metal table that apparently was used as a desk, on this table you could see a hand and in the process of decomposition, what terrified you the most was the refrigerator with a transparent door that was next to the closet. Inside the refrigerator you could see frozen organs, hanging from clothespins like socks drying in the sun. You were paralyzed, it shouldn't have surprised you much, you knew perfectly well that this was what Cellbit was looking at all the time. The lowest part of the refrigerator contained a metal tray where you could find bags of blood that are normally found in blood banks. Some bags were already in the trash can.

The moment Cellbit realized your presence he rushed to get you out of the room.

"What the fuck Cellbit? What's that all about?"

"It's work stuff"

Cellbit just closed the door in your face, you returned to your bedroom and tried to call your coworker who was your only friend after Cellbit.

With your trembling voice you tried to tell her what was happening, everything you had seen, your friend reassured you by telling you that she would help you investigate what was happening and that you should go to sleep tonight. You calmed down and immediately lay down on your bed and spent some time tossing and turning trying to fall asleep.

You woke up due to an immense pain in your stomach, the first thing you saw was how your best friend Cellbit stabbed you in the stomach and began to bite your neck, the pain began to decrease thanks to fear and adrenaline, you fought for that man who used to be your friend will let you go, but your sight was gradually lost until you couldn't see anything, didn't feel strength and couldn't move.

Cellbit had been listening to your panicked calls. He left you on your bed, stained wine red, your mouth communicated pain and your eyes open fear. Your nails who tried to attack your murderer in self-defense, broken.

Cellbit wiped the corner of her mouth with the crook of his arm, returning to his bedroom looking for a note and pen. In the dining room, he left a note as if it were another person, talking about how the coroner Cellbit had been kidnapped to be tortured for being the one who helps in criminal investigations, while his friend had had to die for being close to him.

Cellbit left the apartment in absolute silence, once on the street he took off the latex gloves he was wearing and set them on fire, then disappeared for at least a generation and returned when no one recognized him.