#a lot of things I thought might be passing fancies have ended up that way honestly

[victorluvsalice]

Helo yes, I just want to say that I found your Forgotten Vows verse again, and also your Secundus verse, because of @thesatiricaldemon 's "Beneath A Broken Sky" and all I have to say is:

... how dare you both, now I have two AU fic ideas that sprouted from them because of inspiration! [Positive] (Actually three, but that one is just an afterthought)

*snrrrk* How very dare we XD But hey, I'm glad that both my fics and SatiricalDemon's have been inspiring to you! Love to know more about what percolating in your head! (And hey, don't dismiss that "afterthought" idea -- my ORIGINAL idea for an Alice: Madness Returns / Corpse Bride crossover after the release of the former was for them to meet after Alice killed Dr. Bumby and Victor had gone through both the "corpse bride" incident and its aftermath, but while I was sorting out that, I had a stray thought of "but what if Victor's parents hadn't believed him and instead sent him to Dr. Bumby to force him to forget the whole thing...and we see where THAT ended up. XD)

[melliemell]

Pairing: Dazai x reader

Contents: SFW, sleep deprivation, CW for hints at depression, best way to get someone to sleep is the tried and true method of forced couch cuddling, Approx 800 words

You held your breath, trying to be as still as possible while Dazai’s unconscious body shifted, his weight nestling even closer against your chest. 

You counted in your mind, the seconds going by as Dazai slowly relaxed back into your embrace, face nuzzling right into the warmth of your neck. He was such a light sleeper usually, you weren’t going to take any risks now. Especially with how hard it was to get him here in the first place.

In retrospect, Dazai was such a good liar. 

You beat yourself up for not noticing sooner; letting him flail about through the week like it was his average Sunday when he was only functioning on pure stubbornness and blank stares alone. He was practically one stairway misstep away from ending up in a fucking ER.

You swallowed hard, turning to your side to leave a gentle kiss against his forehead. You pulled Dazai closer, your hands firm around his shoulders as you tried to shove those thoughts away. Dazai being bad at caring for himself was as bright as day, the self-preservation instincts carelessly discarded in favour of whatever crossed his fancy at the time.

Which includes and is not limited to forgetting basic human needs. Like fucking sleeping.

It was hardly ideal now, lying on a couch in the only spare room at the Agency. An hour of rest, tops. It was the best you managed, dragging Dazai away as he whined through the whole ordeal.

It bugged you a lot. Dazai was never the type to complain about slacking off, which was exactly what you were up to now. At least Atsushi was covering for you, hopefully keeping Kunikida’s strict presence away from your hiding spot. 

Pulling out any info about…this was just as fruitless; a sort of absent shrug accompanied by the most dramatic whine the only explanation Dazai provided. You could only purse your lips as you pulled him down, annoyance swirling in your chest while you made him lay beside you. Free will his ass. He was getting what he deserved and if you had to force it down his throat–so be it.

Until he rested his head on your shoulder, looking off in the distance with a face you hardly ever managed to see on him. Not when Dazai was so good at playing the jester, not a care in the world as he joked and teased away any worry you might have had for him.

And he fell asleep like this, quietly, after he gave up on playing it off against your unimpressed stares. Dazai’s eyes fluttered shut and he was out soon after. You wanted to grab at his jacket, shake him until he spilled his soul out. But your hands only trailed up, pulling him flush against you as you brushed his hair away from his face. 

You didn’t dare move after that, letting him melt into your embrace as the minutes went by. An hour passed and still no one came to look for you. Nor did Dazai move–out like a light. You could feel his warm breath tickle against your skin, even and calm. He was an absolute princess, always wanting as much attention as he could exhort from you.

But moments like those were… quiet. Sweet in the peace they provided, the gentle warmth of your bodies against each other. It made your heart ache.

Your hand trailed up to Dazai's jawline, cradling it as you pulled slightly to gaze at his face. He looked so innocent now, face serene in its rest. You hoped he wasn’t dreaming anything; Dazai’s the type to appreciate the absence of thought when he could. It was almost like deleting himself from existence, and he found comfort in it. 

Damn it. 

You needed to talk. Yes. Talking helped, right? Of course it did, you knew that from experience. But forcing it out of someone was a whole different beast. And Dazai never talked. Not really. He prattled and rattled on, yes, but not about the important things. Not seriously at least.

You closed your eyes, pressing your forehead to his. “I… you know I love you, you damn idiot?” you whispered against his lips. “Just… be okay. You’re okay, alright?”

Dazai didn’t move, oblivious to the world. Your thumb brushed against his cheek, the touch gentle. You stayed like that, face to face, temple to temple.

Let him rest now. You’d deal with whatever came when you had to. Now… 

Not now.

[chem1cali]

POLAROIDS

masterlist

18+ MINORS DNI

theodore nott x fem!reader

synopsis: you've never been particularly confident in yourself, which is why you decide to take some flattering polaroids of your body. but what happens when they end up in the wrong hands?

warnings: SMUT, slight dubcon, p in v sex, masturbation (m receiving), jacking off over photos, body worship, oral (f receiving), breeding kink kinda, theo is a desperate little slut, reader is a perv (theo is also kind of a perv)

wordcount: 3.9k

a/n: this is the first time i've written smut in like two years, so i hope this does me justice as i try and get back into the swing of things again!

"Shit, shit, shit!" You curse, rifling through your drawers. "They're gone. They're gone, Pans!"

Pansy walks up beside you, staring into your drawer of clothes with confusion. "What's gone, exactly? All you told me was that you did something special."

You tip your head back, staring at the ceiling.

"The polaroids." You groan. "Where the fuck are they?"

"You took polaroids?" Pansy asks, her voice seeming intrigued now. "What of?"

"Me." You say, spinning to face her. "Me with... not a whole lot of clothes on."

Pansy's mouth pops open, shock and delight colouring her features. "Oh my god. You naughty thing!"

You purse your lips at her. "Thank you, but not the point right now. They're missing, which means someone has them, or I've lost them and someone will find them, or-"

"Woah, woah." Pansy's hands come up to grasp your shoulders. "Relax, okay? We'll figure out where they are. There's every chance you've misplaced them somewhere in here, which means if someone does find them, it'll only be one of us girls. We're the only ones that come in here."

The blood drains from your face. "And Theo."

Pansy cocks her head. "What?"

You swallow harshly. "Theo comes in here to hang out with me sometimes. What if he sees them?"

Pansy raises an eyebrow. "Trust me, I don't think he'd be complaining."

You squint at her. "What's that supposed to- nevermind. Not the point. The point is, they're in here somewhere, and we have to find them before someone else does."

Pansy rolls her eyes. "Fine, we can talk about Theo's burning love for you later."

Your cheeks flame. Burning love? "I don't know what you're talking about, he's my best friend."

"First of all," Pansy scowls. "I'm offended that I'm not your best friend. Second of all, if you think that man is just friends with you, you're delusional."

You frown back at her, choosing to ignore her words entirely and resume hunting for the elusive pieces of film. You tear through the piles of clothes while Pansy rifles through your desk and piles of parchment.

"Why did you take polaroids of yourself like that anyway?" She asks, some time later while you're still searching. "Who are they for?"

You look over at her from your cross legged position on the floor. You were on your final drawer in your tall-boy, with still no sign of the pictures.

"For myself." You mumble. "You know I've had... issues with my confidence. I thought this might help."

Pansy nods, no hint of judgement on her face. "Makes sense, I buy myself fancy lingerie for the same reason. Makes me feel beautiful and powerful."

You exhale softly, relieved at the understanding that has passed between the two of you. "That's what the polaroids did for me. Made me feel pretty."

She nods. "I should hope so, you are pretty."

Your cheeks glow at the compliment and you duck your head.

"Thanks." You mutter.

A few minutes later, Pansy groans. "I don't think we're going to find them."

Panic bubbles in your chest.

"We have to find them." You gasp. "They can't- they can't have gone missing. If anyone sees them- god, I'll be a fucking laughing stock, Pans!"

Pansy is up out of her chair and crouching beside you in seconds.

"Hey." Her hands find their way to your shoulders. "Breathe, Y/N. We'll figure it out. No one has been in this room since you took them, right? Which means they're still here somewhere. We'll find them, we can just take a break for a bit, though. Okay?"

You force your lungs to expand and contract at a normal pace, waiting for your heart to stop racing. Still slightly panicky and trembling, you look at Pansy and give her a weak smile in thanks.

She smooths a hand over your hair. "Why don't you go and find Theo? Take your mind off things for a bit."

That sounded like a good idea, but the devious wink Pansy gave you made it clear exactly what taking your mind off things meant in her eyes.

"Hilarious." You mutter. "I will go and see Theo, though. And not for the reasons you're implying."

Pansy rolls her eyes. "One day, the two of you will just fuck and I'll be able to say I told you so."

You make a face, and stand up, dragging her to the door with you. "Okay, that's enough of you. I'm leaving, so are you. I'll see you at supper, yeah?"

Pansy giggles as she's pushed out of your dorm. "Yeah, I'll see you at dinner, but I imagine you'll be too full to want to eat anything."

"Pansy!" You yell, as she flits down the corridor away from you, still laughing. Sighing, you drag a hand down your face and head in the opposite direction towards Theo's dorm.

Once there, you lift your hand to knock, but a muffled groan stops you. You pause, and listen. There it is again, a soft groan coupled with the wet sounds of moving skin.

You scrunch your nose. You were no stranger to Theo's popularity with the female population at Hogwarts, but you'd never actually stumbled on the evidence of said popularity. You shake your head in exasperation and turn to leave when a quiet pant of your name sounds from behind the door.

You freeze, staring in disbelief at the door, wondering if maybe you'd heard wrong or-

Nope. There it was again. Your own name, said with Theo's unmistakeable voice. Was he...?

No. There was no way. The best thing to do right now, would be to walk away, or to at least knock and give him time to sort himself out before answering the door.

But as your hand inches towards the door handle, a small twisted part of you decides that you want to catch him unawares.

Before you can think too hard about it, you crack the door open slightly, thankful for Theo's tendency to keep it unlocked and the hinges oiled.

His dorm room is quite dark, lit only by a single candle on his bedside, so it takes a moment for your eyes to adjust to the gloom.

When they do, however, the sight has your body freezing and your lips parting in shock and... something else you weren't brave enough to name.

Theo is propped up on his pillows, the soft candlelight brushing his bare skin with a golden hue, highlighting the sheen of sweat covering him. His face is tense, eyes shut and mouth slightly agape, head tilted back just enough to show the pale expanse of his throat. His chest is bare, abdominal muscles flexing as his hand...

You press further against the crack in the door, your eyes wide. Theo's hand grips his cock, tugging at the length with furious haste, his hips lifting to meet each pull as his other hand grips his bedsheets tightly, veins popping out along his forearm from the strain.

You can't see much, due to your unorthodox vantage point and the dim light of the candle, but you can see enough to know that he is... sizeable.

As in, how the fuck is that supposed to fit anywhere, sizeable.

Your eyes trail lower down, until they catch on a glint of laminated paper resting on his bare thighs, just above where his pants are bunched halfway down his legs.

Your blood runs cold. Oh god, were those...?

In an effort to see better, you push closer, widening the gap of the door. What you don't account for, however, is Theo's innate messiness. His broom must have been leaning against the door, and it is sent clattering to the floor as the door opens wider.

Theo jolts upright, his eyes flying open as he grabs his wand and casts a hasty Lumos, illuminating his room, and himself, in a much brighter light than before.

And, unfortunately, illuminating you standing in his doorway.

"Y/N?" He asks breathlessly, his chest heaving and cheeks flushed with leftover exertion. He hasn't covered himself, and the light from his wand reveals more of his skin to you, including the flushed and stiff weight of his cock as it bobs against his stomach.

Theo notices the object of your attention and flushes deeper, scrambling to cover himself while muttering embarrassed apologies. In his haste, Theo knocks the pictures to the ground, and with the new light from his wand, you can see your familiar, half naked form decorating the polaroids.

Theo falls silent, staring helplessly at the fallen pictures as his mouth opens and shuts with no words coming out.

"I..." He begins finally. "Look, I can explain-"

"Were you touching yourself over photos of me?" You cut him off, incredulously, looking back up at him. Your brow furrows. "How did you even get a hold of them, they were in my dorm?"

Theo shifts uncomfortably, hands cupped over his still obvious erection. "I uh... went to look for you earlier. I went to your dorm and... they were just there. On your bed. I couldn't help myself. I'm sorry, god I'm so sorry."

Your cheeks heat. He'd just seen them? Taken them? Your cheeks burned brighter. Thought they were good enough to touch himself over? A heat of a different kind erupted low in your stomach, but you berated yourself. This wasn't a smut scene in one of your books, this was real life, and it was weird, and creepy, and-

"It's fine." You breathe instead, despite your warring thoughts. Your body's reaction was winning this battle, tingles erupting along your spine and your toes curling in your shoes.

Theo blinked. "What...?"

You laughed awkwardly. "I mean, it's weird, don't get me wrong, but I also just spent the last few minutes spying on you so it's not exactly any weirder than that."

Theo choked, staring up at you with wide eyes. "You what? You were watching me?"

You glanced between him and his various possessions as you struggled to find your words. "I mean, yes? It's makes us both even, I suppose. You were weird enough to steal lewd photos of me to wank over, I was weird enough to stand here and watch you, enjoy watching you. It makes us both even and we never have to speak about it again, right?"

Theo goes to open his mouth to reply, but a choked moan escapes his lips instead. You glance back down at his lap, finding his hand wrapped back around his cock, his thumb flicking over the flushed and sensitive tip.

"You enjoyed watching me?" He rasps, his eyes focused on you, wand forgotten but still glowing beside him on the bed.

You stand there, transfixed at the sight before you, before nodding slowly.

"Yeah." You breathe. "I enjoyed it."

Glancing back up at his face, you see his bottom lip caught between his teeth, and his eyes flare with heat. So much heat.

"Are you still enjoying it?" He asks quietly, leaning back on his other hand so that the expanse of his torso and throbbing length was in clear view for you to see. The rhythmic movements of his hand stroking himself back and forth was hypnotising to you, and you almost forget his question until you catch his lips curl into a self-satisfied smirk at your blatant ogling.

"I'll take that as a yes." He murmurs, clenching his fist tighter and exhaling sharply.

"This... this isn't right, Theo." You breathe, but your traitorous body is trembling with anticipation.

"It's just me, tesoro." He says softly. "Just you and me. Come in to the room properly, close the door."

You body acts without hesitation, following his gentle instruction. You step further into his dormroom, shutting the door behind you and leaning against the cool wood.

"I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw those pictures lying on your bed." Theo continues to speak, his Italian accent rolling over the syllables with an unfairly seductive purr. "How many months I've longed to see you without your robes and sweaters and skirts, and it was like my wishes had been granted to me."

Heat prickles over your skin, leaving goosebumps in his wake. You're silent, but so attentive to his words of praise. You'd felt confident and proud of yourself taking the photos, but it was nothing compared to seeing your best friend push himself to the brink of ecstasy over them.

"And it was better than anything I could have imagined." Theo's gentle voice is interspersed with soft grunts and pants as his hand movements grow harsher. "But I can't help but imagine if the real thing could be even better."

You blink in surprise. "You mean...?."

"Yeah." He pants. "Wanna see you, baby."

Your spine locks as pleasure tingles straight to your core. Before you can overthink it, you're shrugging off your school robes, already setting on unbuttoning your blouse beneath. Theo just stares at you, eyes locked on your hands as they bare more and more skin to his view. His breath hitches as you finally remove your shirt and set to removing your skirt, shoes and socks.

When you're finally left in just your underthings, he glances between you and the polaroids on the floor. "You... you're wearing the same..."

You nod shyly, fighting the urge to cover yourself with your hands. "I only took them earlier this morning."

Theo's eyes connect with yours, and you're stunned by the turbulent emotions swirling through them. There's lust, of course, but also a little left over fear and embarrassment, as well as something softer... warmer, that you can't quite name.

"Come closer." He whispers. "Please."

You do as he says, coming closer until his free hand reaches up to wrap around the back of one of your thighs, pulling you closer.

"So soft." He breathes, glancing up at you from his seated position. His hand skates up the side of your leg, cupping and squeezing your ass briefly before trailing over your hip and up the side of your ribs. "So beautiful."

His hand rests finally on the underside of your breast, fingers twitching with the urge to grope and grab at your body. "Please let me touch."

You nod, and he groans. "Words, tesoro. I need your words."

"Yes. Yes, Theo, you can touch me."

Shocking you entirely, he releases his cock and grips your waist with both hands, laying you flat on your back on the bed. He settles his weight on top of you, his mouth sealing itself to the sensitive skin at the crook of your neck. You gasp as he sucks and bites along the skin, writhing under the warm, solid weight of him. He bucks his hips against yours, the velvety hardness of his cock brushing against your sex over the lace of your panties.

An embarrassing mewl escapes your lips as your legs tighten around his waist, and he does it again, harder this time.

"Can I taste you?" He whispers against your neck. "I've been dreaming of this for so long, love. You've gotta let me taste you. Let me make you feel good - I promise it'll feel good."

You're nodding while you still have this wave of confidence motivating you, and make a noise of disappointment as he raises himself off you. Your disappointment doesn't last for long, however, before he's situating himself between your legs and staring at the apex of your thighs like a starving man faced with his first meal in months.

He presses a kiss to your inner thigh, looking up at you through his lashes. His mouth slides higher, and you can feel his lips twist into a grin against your skin as your breath quickens and your body shifts with impatience.

Finally, he presses an open-mouthed kiss to your clothed cunt, letting out a soft groan as his tongue laves over the lace of your underwear. His fingers hook into the fabric and he moves his mouth just long enough to tug them down and over your hips before his lips are back on you.

Your back arches and you let out a startled moan at the bare contact. Theo wastes no time, diving into you like a man possessed. The first lick of his tongue across your slit has you gasping, and your hand flies down to tangle in his brunette curls. He sets himself on you with even more intensity, trading between suckling at your clit, kissing and nipping at your inner thighs, and plunging his tongue straight into your entrance, licking up every drop of your arousal. Every movement makes the tension in your stomach coil tighter and tighter until you're not sure you can handle anymore.

"Theo." You gasp out. "I can't- I'm not sure if I can-"

"Shhh." He croons against your skin. "Let it go, baby. I've got you."

He sucks harder on your clit, pairing it with a sharp nip that has you crying out his name, and the tension in your body snaps like an elastic band. Pleasure zaps through you, electrifying every nerve under your skin and making your vision blur. You're vaguely aware of Theo licking you through the aftershocks, lapping up the evidence of your orgasm as he rocks his hips against the mattress, whimpering softly.

When you begin to push his head away once the oversensitivity kicks in, he pulls away, his face wet from you; lips swollen and pupils dilated. He crawls up your body, pressing his lips to yours. You gasp as you taste yourself on his tongue, pulling him closer with a hand on the back of his neck as you yearn for more.

"How was that, tesoro?" He pants out. "Did I make you feel good?"

You nod frantically.

"More." You gasp. "I want more."

"More?" He punctuates his words with a harsh grind of his erection against your core. "You sure you can handle more?"

You nod frantically. "I can do it. I wanna do it."

He dives back in for another kiss, tangling his tongue with yours as he reaches down you free his cock fully from his pants. He moans softly into your mouth as the tip of his cock presses against your clit, and you shudder against him. He guides himself to your entrance, pulling back to look you in the eye.

"Gonna fill you up, yeah? Make you feel so good, baby. Split you apart on my cock. You want that, yeah?"

You arch further into him, raising one of your legs to wrap around his hip, opening yourself further to him.

His eyes roll back as he begins to press into you, stuttered groans escaping his lips as he pushes further, inch by inch of him being enveloped by your tight heat. You wince at the uncomfortable stretch, but lock your other leg around his hip as well, drawing him closer to you and forcing him to bottom out inside you.

"Need a second." He chokes out. "God, you're so tight. So hot and wet and perfect."

You moan your approval, giving yourself a second to adjust to his size. He's larger than anyone you've ever taken before. While he also adjusts, he reaches a hand behind your back to unclasp your bra, peeling the fabric from your body.

His eyes lock on to your chest, before he dips down and sucks a nipple into his mouth. You gasp, your body tensing with pleasure. He moans against your chest, a deep, masculine sound that has your cunt tightening around him. He switches his attention between your breasts, lavishing sucks and nips equally across both, sucking the skin so hard that you know you'll wake up with purplish marks tomorrow.

Finally, after what seems to be an eternity, Theo begins to shift his hips, and the friction send bolts of heat racing through you. He eases you into it with shallow, gentle thrusts, but it isn't long before he's reaching the edge of his control, and his hips beginning to slap against yours, your tits bouncing with the force of his movements.

He lifts his gaze to yours, watching you with parted lips.

"So gorgeous, tesoro." He murmurs. "I wish I could stay inside this pussy forever, it's like you were made for my cock."

You hum your agreement, lifting your hips slightly to meet his thrusts, your mouth dropping open in a silent moan as the new angle allows him to reach deeper, more sensitive spots inside you.

"Gonna come, Theo." You gasp out, barely able to stop your eyes from rolling into the back of your head.

"Me too, love. Can I come inside you? Pump you full?" He asks, his tone almost begging as his movements lose their steady rhythm and instead slam into you with reckless abandon.

"Yeah." You whimper. "Need you to stay inside me, please."

Theo buries his head in your neck, shuddering as his body tenses and his hips stutter. Sudden warmth coats your insides, and the sheer foreignness of the feeling catapults you straight to your second orgasm, your body shaking as it forces you through your pleasure. You squirm under Theo as he fights to keep moving, just to help work you through your climax, but before long his arms give out and he slumps on top of you, his softening cock still deep inside of you.

You allow him a moment of rest before you're pushing at his shoulders.

"Can't... breathe." You choke out, fighting to inhale against the weight of him on your chest.

Theo groans and shifts to collapse next to you, his head still resting on your sweat-slicked chest and an arm wrapped around your waist.

You stare up at the ceiling, your mind going a million miles an hour as you wince at the sudden empty feeling. Your heart is racing, and no longer just with the aftershocks of the frankly mind-blowing sex. You had just crossed a line in your friendship. A major one. One you couldn't come back from.

"Relax." Theo murmurs sleepily from beside you. "I can practically feel you overthinking."

You're silent for a moment, before speaking. "What does this mean, Theo? For us?"

He ponders your question, lifting off your chest to prop his head on his hand as he lies on his side, facing you.

"I don't know." He says honestly. "But I really liked what we just did. And I really like you, so we will work it out."

You blink at him. "You like me?"

He rolls his eyes, pressing a soft kiss to your lips. "Of course I like you, idiot. Have done for years."

You're speechless for a while, coming into terms with this new information. "Well."

Theo laughs, a rich, affectionate sound that tugs at your heart.

"We'll figure something out, tesoro, don't stress. For now, I'm exhausted, and your tits are the perfect pillow. We'll talk about it later, okay?"

You sigh out a soft laugh, and nod, wrapping your arms around his shoulders as he settles back on top of you.

And later, when Pansy gives you a knowing look as you walk into the great hall together, Theo's arm wrapped securely around your waist, all you do is smile.

She did in fact tell you so.

[omaano]

SW Hades AU February Update

Some links and previous updates: May - June - July - August - September - October/November - December - January - everything else in this AU

I was honestly worried that I won't have anything to share as a February update (and wouldn't that be a new low for me, wow) because even despite the very generous help from @queenjiru I still cannot wrangle Sabine into a proper sketch. But then the new Hades 2 update came out ! And the art to go with it - Ares looming over Melinoe with his bloody hand staining her shoulder like that just took a hold of me body and soul, and so I have something to present to you all:

A redraw of that image with pre-Sarlacc Boba and a smol and angy Omega!

And some progress details and ramblings under the cut, as it is tradition for these update posts ->

First things first and for the sake of transparency the original image here:

You can see that it is very much just a redraw. I felt very exhausted this month, and all I wanted was something simple and straightforward. Plus the original composition was so perfect, it was a huge reason why I wanted to redraw it so bad. I'm not even going to try to deny that Ares is one of my favourites (I've never truly grown out of that edgy teen I had been way too many years ago), and the fact that in my Hades (the first) game based AU project Boba is cast for Ares - if you really want to categorize the Star Wars characters in some manner - it really was just perfect.

Ares just looked too perfect, and I'd been itching to redraw Boba in this style in another version of him, and I really just had to!

At first blush I wasn't 100% sure how I wanted to go about this redraw, so I sketched out the initial composition, and Omega with her energy bow. I wanted both Boba and Omega to be different from their original first designs, and since Omega leaned more into her teenage TBB s3 self, I wanted to draw her more like she was in s2. Season 1 Omega would have been too tiny, oh god.

And Boba... well. You might find a note in the mess above that I want to do something with his hair to make him look at least a little less like Ares (because even their face structure could match up, ohmygod I'm in distress!) but uh. It didn't really pass muster. I just love this hairstyle for a younger, pre-Sarlacc Boba too much TT^TT So I had to swallow my pride and accept that this will indeed be very much a simple redraw, nothing fancy to see or do here...

I also didn't like how hunched and balled up Omega's pose was in the initial sketch. It made her look too scared and way too vulnerable - so I had to swallow some more of that pride and non-existent ambition yet again, and accept that the way through was to stick a lot closer with Melinoe's original pose.

And because I somehow still proved to be a far more prideful person than previously thought I still made a few alternate sketches with different weapons for Omega. If it was a game, she would likely have all of them, but for the "cover" she was still stuck with Din's spear. I'm pretty sure I even copy-pasted the updated spear from Din's character art so that the head is the right size and shape and all.

The only one I don't like all that much from this collection is the middle one where Omega is holding Crosshair's rifle. I quite like most of the others, but ultimately the spear won out. The original was too good of a composition, what can I say?

Yes, I also draw little red hearts in the corners of the winning thumbnails :P

I also like the landscape format of this composition. I couldn't make up my mind about whose hand I would want it to be to loom over them though so I didn't even try to push working out that concept.

And for the very end a wip closeup of Omega. She is small and lonely and angry (and she's just ran into the worst of her brothers, and the one that's least likely to help her, what will she do?) . She's got massive vambraces with a communicator, Hunter's knife strapped to her thigh, a short kama with pockets and CF 99's skull motifs on her. And the jewel she had on her forehead in season 1 around her neck.

I really love this drawing, but for the time being I have no idea how to move on from here. I very very badly wanted to show it off though (that's why I've been writing this post for a solid 2 weeks if not more lmao) so please enjoy! <3

Taglist of anyone who wants to be pinged once a month for these updates <3 If you want to be added to the list send me a message, or just reply to this post (a 👀 would do, nothing fancy required ;))

@elwinged @yeehawgeek @velsayshi @lionsaint @hastalavistabyebye

If you want to be taken off the list just message me and I’ll take you off, no hard feelings :)

[writingnightmare]

hi! Would you be kind enough to do the sfw alphabet for chuuya. I'd be interested to get your take on his character

Of course! Thank you for the request, I had a lot of fun doing this. Found many things I hadn’t thought about yet with Chuuya, I might need to do one for everyone. ♡

ᴵ’ᵐ ˢˡᶦᵍʰᵗˡʸ ⁿᵉʳᵛᵒᵘˢ ᵗᵒ ᵗʰʳᵒʷ ᵗʰᶦˢ ᶦⁿᵗᵒ ᵗʰᵉ ᵗᵘᵐᵇˡʳ ᵛᵒᶦᵈ ᵇᵘᵗ ʰᵉʳᵉ ʷᵉ ᵍᵒ

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

𝒞𝒽𝒶𝓇𝒶𝒸𝓉𝑒𝓇/𝓈: Chuuya Nakahara

𝒞𝑜𝓃𝓉𝑒𝓃𝓉: SFW

𝒲𝒶𝓇𝓃𝒾𝓃𝑔𝓈: None!

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

SFW Alphabet - Chuuya Nakahara ⫘⫘⫘

𝒜 = 𝒜𝒻𝒻𝑒𝒸𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃 (𝐻𝑜𝓌 𝒶𝒻𝒻𝑒𝒸𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃𝒶𝓉𝑒 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓎? 𝐻𝑜𝓌 𝒹𝑜 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓎 𝓈𝒽𝑜𝓌 𝒶𝒻𝒻𝑒𝒸𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃?)

I think Chuuya is a pretty affectionate partner in private, he’s not one to hide his emotions if he doesn’t have to, so why should he? At least when he’s in public, he’s slightly more on the reserved end of things. A soft touch to the small of your back is more than enough for him, or taking your hand in his to keep you close. When he’s working however, don’t expect anything from him, he has a job to do after all, and part of that is keeping his partner at a safe distance.

𝐵 = 𝐵𝑒𝓈𝓉 𝒻𝓇𝒾𝑒𝓃𝒹 (𝒲𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓌𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓎 𝒷𝑒 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒 𝒶𝓈 𝒶 𝒷𝑒𝓈𝓉 𝒻𝓇𝒾𝑒𝓃𝒹? 𝐻𝑜𝓌 𝓌𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒻𝓇𝒾𝑒𝓃𝒹𝓈𝒽𝒾𝓅 𝓈𝓉𝒶𝓇𝓉?)

It would certainly be an interesting friendship. Filled with late night texts, ranting about how someone fucked up at work, without giving too much away. He’s hard to catch in person, but when you did meet up to catch up, it would be impromptu, between meetings.

It takes a while for Chuuya to open up and trust people, so it would take a while to get to that point. In the beginning, you probably struck up conversation when you met at a bar. His colleagues were all too willing to allow you to deal with the drunken mess of a man, who was incessant on calling Dazai to tell him off. For what, you didn’t know.

𝒞 = 𝒞𝓊𝒹𝒹𝓁𝑒𝓈 (𝒟𝑜 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓎 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒 𝓉𝑜 𝒸𝓊𝒹𝒹𝓁𝑒? 𝐻𝑜𝓌 𝓌𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓎 𝒸𝓊𝒹𝒹𝓁𝑒?)

Chuuya is a great person to cuddle with; if he’s asleep. This man has so much pent up energy from his daily life, he can’t sit still until he passes out.

𝒟 = 𝒟𝑜𝓂𝑒𝓈𝓉𝒾𝒸 (𝒟𝑜 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓎 𝓌𝒶𝓃𝓉 𝓉𝑜 𝓈𝑒𝓉𝓉𝓁𝑒 𝒹𝑜𝓌𝓃? 𝐻𝑜𝓌 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓎 𝒶𝓉 𝒸𝑜𝑜𝓀𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒸𝓁𝑒𝒶𝓃𝒾𝓃𝑔?)

In a few years he might settle down with the right person, but it depends. He is loyal to the Port Mafia to a fault. So don’t expect him to give up his job. He’s decent at cooking, but terrible at cleaning. The first time you asked him to help you clean the windows one of them ended up smashed when Dazai called him.

𝐸 = 𝐸𝓃𝒹𝒾𝓃𝑔 (𝐼𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓎 𝒽𝒶𝒹 𝓉𝑜 𝒷𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓀 𝓊𝓅 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝒾𝓇 𝓅𝒶𝓇𝓉𝓃𝑒𝓇, 𝒽𝑜𝓌 𝓌𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓎 𝒹𝑜 𝒾𝓉?)

100% in person and privately. There is no way this man would be caught dead breaking up with someone over text. After all, he loved them at some point, they deserve respect at the very least.

𝐹 = 𝐹𝒾𝒶𝓃𝒸𝑒(𝑒) (𝐻𝑜𝓌 𝒹𝑜 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓎 𝒻𝑒𝑒𝓁 𝒶𝒷𝑜𝓊𝓉 𝒸𝑜𝓂𝓂𝒾𝓉𝓂𝑒𝓃𝓉? 𝐻𝑜𝓌 𝓆𝓊𝒾𝒸𝓀 𝓌𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓎 𝓌𝒶𝓃𝓉 𝓉𝑜 𝑔𝑒𝓉 𝓂𝒶𝓇𝓇𝒾𝑒𝒹?)

He doesn’t really like the fancy titles of it all, but if you want him to put a ring on it, he definitely will. He’s not one for casual dating, his life doesn’t really allow for that long term and it brings a lot of risk with his occupation. So long as his partner is understanding, and just as loyal as he is, he’s happy either way.

𝒢 = 𝒢𝑒𝓃𝓉𝓁𝑒 (𝐻𝑜𝓌 𝑔𝑒𝓃𝓉𝓁𝑒 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓎, 𝒷𝑜𝓉𝒽 𝓅𝒽𝓎𝓈𝒾𝒸𝒶𝓁𝓁𝓎 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝑒𝓂𝑜𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃𝒶𝓁𝓁𝓎?)

Chuuya is physically very gentle. He’s aware that with his ability, he can cause a lot of damage, lord forbid he do that to you. Emotionally, he’s somewhere in between. He’s a passionate man and a smooth talker, he won’t hide that, but he’s surprisingly good at managing his emotions. When he’s tired, you get glimpses of his most gentle words, expressions of affection you mightn’t hear otherwise. When he’s fired up however, every so often he will boil over and express his anger.

𝐻 = 𝐻𝓊𝑔𝓈 (𝒟𝑜 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓎 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒 𝒽𝓊𝑔𝓈? 𝐻𝑜𝓌 𝑜𝒻𝓉𝑒𝓃 𝒹𝑜 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓎 𝒹𝑜 𝒾𝓉? 𝒲𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝒾𝓇 𝒽𝓊𝑔𝓈 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒?)

Please hug this man. He hugs softly, but firm, like he’s trying to wrap you up and away from the rest of the world. He finds it relaxing when he comes home, his head resting in the crook of your neck, a few moments where nothing is expected of him.

𝐼 = 𝐼 𝓁𝑜𝓋𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊 (𝐻𝑜𝓌 𝒻𝒶𝓈𝓉 𝒹𝑜 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓎 𝓈𝒶𝓎 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝐿-𝓌𝑜𝓇𝒹?)

If this man is anything, he’s stubborn. His childhood lacked loved once he was taken, he had to learn how to use the word again. He hesitates to say it, fearing the weight of the word, but also your reaction. He wants to be sure.

𝒥 = 𝒥𝑒𝒶𝓁𝑜𝓊𝓈𝓎 (𝐻𝑜𝓌 𝒿𝑒𝒶𝓁𝑜𝓊𝓈 𝒹𝑜 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓎 𝑔𝑒𝓉? 𝒲𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝒹𝑜 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓎 𝒹𝑜 𝓌𝒽𝑒𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓎’𝓇𝑒 𝒿𝑒𝒶𝓁𝑜𝓊𝓈?)

Chuuya is a confident man, and his faith in you is immeasurable. That being said, the bartender who touched your hand as he passed your drink over, well he was another matter. He doesn’t get jealous at flirting, more often than not it’s those who touch you. It’s an intimate thing for him, so you’d best believe he will be moving over, pressing a kiss to your cheek as he guides you away.

𝒦 = 𝒦𝒾𝓈𝓈𝑒𝓈 (𝒲𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝒾𝓇 𝓀𝒾𝓈𝓈𝑒𝓈 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒? 𝒲𝒽𝑒𝓇𝑒 𝒹𝑜 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓎 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒 𝓉𝑜 𝓀𝒾𝓈𝓈 𝓎𝑜𝓊? 𝒲𝒽𝑒𝓇𝑒 𝒹𝑜 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓎 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒 𝓉𝑜 𝒷𝑒 𝓀𝒾𝓈𝓈𝑒𝒹?)

He loves to kiss your knuckles, brush his lips against your cheek, and he does enjoy a nose kiss where your nose brush against each others. For him, he loves when your lips brush his jaw, or when you press a kiss into his scar on his wrist. It’s something that people barely notice about him, but the fact that you pay so much attention to what makes him who he is, it makes it that much more special.

𝐿 = 𝐿𝒾𝓉𝓉𝓁𝑒 𝑜𝓃𝑒𝓈 (𝐻𝑜𝓌 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓎 𝒶𝓇𝑜𝓊𝓃𝒹 𝒸𝒽𝒾𝓁𝒹𝓇𝑒𝓃?)

Chuuya is great with kids, much to his own surprise. One time a small child ran up to him, clinging to his leg with a broken smile, and he just about melted. He crouched down and took his hat off, asking what chaos he was making, until his parents came rushing over to profusely apologise for the muddy hand prints on his black slacks. He didn’t mind though, messy kids are happy kids.

𝑀 = 𝑀𝑜𝓇𝓃𝒾𝓃𝑔 (𝐻𝑜𝓌 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝓂𝑜𝓇𝓃𝒾𝓃𝑔𝓈 𝓈𝓅𝑒𝓃𝓉 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓂?)

Sleeping. This man is sleep deprived, to put it bluntly. He comes home late, if he can at all, the Port Mafia does rule the night in Yokohama after all. He’s normally coming home at 3am, so by the time 7am rolls around, he’s still out to it.

𝒩 = 𝒩𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉 (𝐻𝑜𝓌 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝓃𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉𝓈 𝓈𝓅𝑒𝓃𝓉 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓂?)

The nights that he does get to spend away from work, he wants you to be the centre of his world. A quiet night in, cooking with you before watching a movie on the couch, or a night out drinking or at a fancy restaurant to spoil you, he doesn’t mind. A good mix of both would be ideal for him, letting him recover from his exhausting work, as well as making new memories with you. So long as you’re there, he’s more than content.

𝒪 = 𝒪𝓅𝑒𝓃 (𝒲𝒽𝑒𝓃 𝓌𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓎 𝓈𝓉𝒶𝓇𝓉 𝓇𝑒𝓋𝑒𝒶𝓁𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔𝓈 𝒶𝒷𝑜𝓊𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓂𝓈𝑒𝓁𝓋𝑒𝓈? 𝒟𝑜 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓎 𝓈𝒶𝓎 𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇𝓎𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝒶𝓉 𝑜𝓃𝒸𝑒 𝑜𝓇 𝓌𝒶𝒾𝓉 𝒶 𝓌𝒽𝒾𝓁𝑒 𝓉𝑜 𝓇𝑒𝓋𝑒𝒶𝓁 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔𝓈 𝓈𝓁𝑜𝓌𝓁𝓎?)

It takes this man a long time to open up, and somethings he may never tell you at all, they’re just too difficult to think about. After a few months, he’ll let small things slip, but it isn’t until about 6 months in that the floodgates burst. Suddenly you’re finding out everything about this man at once. Did you know he writes poetry in his spare time? Or how he’s too nervous to ever choose a tattoo, no matter how cool he thinks they look.

𝒫 = 𝒫𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑒𝓃𝒸𝑒 (𝐻𝑜𝓌 𝑒𝒶𝓈𝒾𝓁𝓎 𝒶𝓃𝑔𝑒𝓇𝑒𝒹 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓎?)

Depends. With how hectic his work is, the minor inconveniences build up, and suddenly he’s six glasses in ranting about Akutagawa’s recklessness to Kōyo. With you, he’s easily frustrated, but makes a point to never be easily angered with you.

𝒬 = 𝒬𝓊𝒾𝓏𝓏𝑒𝓈 (𝐻𝑜𝓌 𝓂𝓊𝒸𝒽 𝓌𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓎 𝓇𝑒𝓂𝑒𝓂𝒷𝑒𝓇 𝒶𝒷𝑜𝓊𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊? 𝒟𝑜 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓎 𝓇𝑒𝓂𝑒𝓂𝒷𝑒𝓇 𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇𝓎 𝓁𝒾𝓉𝓉𝓁𝑒 𝒹𝑒𝓉𝒶𝒾𝓁 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓂𝑒𝓃𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃 𝒾𝓃 𝓅𝒶𝓈𝓈𝒾𝓃𝑔, 𝑜𝓇 𝒹𝑜 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓎 𝓀𝒾𝓃𝒹 𝑜𝒻 𝒻𝑜𝓇𝑔𝑒𝓉 𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇𝓎𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔?)

He makes it a point to remember as much as he can about people who are important to him. His phone is full of birthday alerts, three days early so he never misses one. Gifts are pre-planned throughout the year whenever he has time, and you best believe he will have your favourite type of cake in the fridge for your birthday, even if he was called into work that morning. He tries his best to remember as much as he can, and he does pretty damn good.

𝑅 = 𝑅𝑒𝓂𝑒𝓂𝒷𝑒𝓇 (𝒲𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝒾𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝒾𝓇 𝒻𝒶𝓋𝑜𝓇𝒾𝓉𝑒 𝓂𝑜𝓂𝑒𝓃𝓉 𝒾𝓃 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝓇𝑒𝓁𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃𝓈𝒽𝒾𝓅?)

The first night you spent the night at his apartment. It wasn’t the happiest moment, or the funniest, but it cemented in his mind that he wanted to spend as much time with you as he could. He half (totally) expected you to be gone in the morning for work after dragging him home drunk, yet when he woke up, there you were. Painkillers and water sat on his side table, you stood in his kitchen, greeting him with a smile and a quip about how sure you were he gave himself alcohol poisoning the night before. It gave him a level of trust he hadn’t experienced before, not like this.

𝒮 = 𝒮𝑒𝒸𝓊𝓇𝒾𝓉𝓎 (𝐻𝑜𝓌 𝓅𝓇𝑜𝓉𝑒𝒸𝓉𝒾𝓋𝑒 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓎? 𝐻𝑜𝓌 𝓌𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓎 𝓅𝓇𝑜𝓉𝑒𝒸𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊? 𝐻𝑜𝓌 𝓌𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓎 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒 𝓉𝑜 𝒷𝑒 𝓅𝓇𝑜𝓉𝑒𝒸𝓉𝑒𝒹?)

He is incredibly protective. He knows he has enemies, and you certainly do too. He will shield you from the outside world as much as he can, but after a while, the cat will be out of the bag. In the beginning he was with you everywhere, until he realised he was likely just drawing attention to you more. Instead, he will settle for one of his subordinates accompanying you if tensions are high.

If you tried to protect him, he would be torn. He’s more than strong enough to protect himself, everyone knows that, but it isn’t often someone would willingly step into the line of fire for him. In the end, he wouldn’t want you too, much preferring he be in the fire line than you.

𝒯 = 𝒯𝓇𝓎 (𝐻𝑜𝓌 𝓂𝓊𝒸𝒽 𝑒𝒻𝒻𝑜𝓇𝓉 𝓌𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓎 𝓅𝓊𝓉 𝒾𝓃𝓉𝑜 𝒹𝒶𝓉𝑒𝓈, 𝒶𝓃𝓃𝒾𝓋𝑒𝓇𝓈𝒶𝓇𝒾𝑒𝓈, 𝑔𝒾𝒻𝓉𝓈, 𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇𝓎𝒹𝒶𝓎 𝓉𝒶𝓈𝓀𝓈?)

Dates, gifts, anniversaries, and birthdays are when he shines. He doesn’t get much time to put his effort into everyday tasks, but you give him a set date and he is putting his all into it. Weeks in advance he is booking restaurants, buying gifts, and getting time off work.

𝒰 = 𝒰𝑔𝓁𝓎 (𝒲𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓌𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝒷𝑒 𝓈𝑜𝓂𝑒 𝒷𝒶𝒹 𝒽𝒶𝒷𝒾𝓉𝓈 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝒾𝓇𝓈?)

Beyond going to bed at 4am, and smoking, this man bites his pen when he’s stressed and thinking. He never realises that he does it, until someone asks to borrow a pen, and there’s teeth marks all over the end of it. Paperwork never was his favourite pastime. At least he’ll buy a new pen when he sees the marks.

𝒱 = 𝒱𝒶𝓃𝒾𝓉𝓎 (𝐻𝑜𝓌 𝒸𝑜𝓃𝒸𝑒𝓇𝓃𝑒𝒹 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓎 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝒾𝓇 𝓁𝑜𝑜𝓀𝓈?)

Chuuya is handsome, and he knows it. He is pretty meticulous about his appearance. He takes pride in dressing well, and in dressing as he views a Port Mafia executive should. He makes sure he looks classy, but anything he wears, he needs to be able to fight in.

𝒲 = 𝒲𝒽𝑜𝓁𝑒 (𝒲𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓎 𝒻𝑒𝑒𝓁 𝒾𝓃𝒸𝑜𝓂𝓅𝓁𝑒𝓉𝑒 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓊𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊?)

Chuuya has struggled with his humanity the majority of his life. He would certainly miss you, however he knows by now that he is perfectly fine in of himself. He doesn’t need a partner to complete him.

𝒳 = 𝒳𝓉𝓇𝒶 (𝒜 𝓇𝒶𝓃𝒹𝑜𝓂 𝒽𝑒𝒶𝒹𝒸𝒶𝓃𝑜𝓃 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓂.)

Do not let this man near an animal shelter. He will absolutely spend all day with the dogs, loving on them, critiquing their names (Patch is such a basic name, Chūya insists the pup would far prefer being called Merlot).

𝒴 = 𝒴𝓊𝒸𝓀 (𝒲𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝓈𝑜𝓂𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓎 𝓌𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹𝓃’𝓉 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒, 𝑒𝒾𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝒾𝓃 𝑔𝑒𝓃𝑒𝓇𝒶𝓁 𝑜𝓇 𝒾𝓃 𝒶 𝓅𝒶𝓇𝓉𝓃𝑒𝓇?)

Poor hygiene, strong no. He also hates strong perfumes/colognes, it gives him a migraine. Manipulative behaviour from a friend or a partner is immediately a no. Someone who is very loyal, and see’s the inherent value of human lives is important, even if they might not hesitate to take them nonetheless.

𝒵 = 𝒵𝓏𝓏 (𝒲𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝒾𝓈 𝒶 𝓈𝓁𝑒𝑒𝓅 𝒽𝒶𝒷𝒾𝓉𝓈 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝒾𝓇𝓈?)

He sleeps like a starfish, and snores in your ear. It feels like no matter which way you turn, he’s right there, snoring right in your ear. Unless you’ve got him locked into a cuddle, I hope for your sake that you’re a heavy sleeper.

[topherwrites]

FIC RECS: TOP GUN: MAVERICK - 2!

Okay, so there was shit I forgot in my year in review rec list. I posted it and a minimum of about 10 other fics immediately came to mind. so, part 2! I also didn't put many WIPs on the first one, but I think currently in progress fics should get some love too. I'll be marking them with an asterisk.

If I made a little comment about every single fic or series here, it would be inhumanely long, so I've refrained from doing so and have just put the summaries for each.

I hope that anyone who reads this list finds something that they love on it just as much as I do! Happy reading!

P.S. If I missed anyone, I'm sorry, there was a lot to sort through!

(P.S.S. reblog the fics you like, it makes writers happy.)

part 1, if you missed it.

SOME OF THESE ARE 18+, PLEASE HEED THE INDIVIDUAL WARNINGS!

JAKE SERESIN

Parking Lots and Matcha Lattes by @withahappyrefrain

In an attempt to get coffee, you meet a grade A asshole whose head you want to rip off. Meanwhile, Jake Seresin is pretty certain he just met his future wife in the parking lot of a coffee shop. AKA Jake Seresin likes mean women, pass it on.

The Hangman Special by @hangmanssunnies

On a night out with your friends at a fancy cocktail bar, you are just trying to keep your head down and ignore the girl that your ex cheated on you with. The night only seems like it's going to get worse when you are dared to kiss a stranger at the bar. However, it seems like the odds might finally be in your favor when you notice a familiar set of broad shoulders. If you can be convincing, you think you might just be able to get your brother's friend Jake "Hangman" Seresin to help you out with your little problem.

*she is both hellfire and holy water by @chemistryread

you should take it as a compliment, that I'm talking to everyone here but you.

Birds Away by @wombtotombx

You’d known Jake since you were kids, bonding over the shared experience of being military brats overseas. You were the perfect pair - he was reckless, you followed the rules; he didn’t care what others thought, you were a people-pleaser. You both became the best of the best in your field - he through sheer talent and skill, you from demonstrated grit and determination. For over two decades, everyone around you - parents, friends, even teachers - had assumed you’d both end up together, despite the fact that somehow, you never did. The Navy always had its way of keeping you two apart. Whatever possibilities there might have been, it was just never in the cards. Until you got to Fallon.

*The Backup by @ereardon

No strings attached sex never works, right? You and Jake Seresin have fallen into a bad pattern of seeking each other out for sex after dates go awry, but a year of being friends with benefits with Jake hasn’t been good for your dating life. Especially when the two of you are hiding your antics from your lifelong best friend Coyote and the rest of your tightly knit friend group. But what happens when you decide to take a step back and end the cycle with Jake to focus on your dating life? And why is it that all of the sudden Jake looks more irresistible than ever when you know he’s off limits? 

Take Care of Business by @honkytonk-hangman

The last time you met Lieutenant Jake Seresin, the war was still ongoing and you’d been in a floundering engagement. Back then you’d seen the possibility for more in his eyes, and now? Well, now you could explore it.

When Jake Met Polly by @/honkytonk-hangman

Jake likes to flirt with his Air Traffic Controller or Jake Seresin has never seen When Harry Met Sally.

How It's Done (Oneshot Version) by @/honkytonk-hangman

“Like me? I didn’t even think you wanted me as a squadmate, let alone–” you stop speaking, but only because Hangman cuts his eyes sharply away from you to glare out at the ocean. “Well, I do.” He says kind of indignantly, all things considered, and eyes you almost sourly. “You can just say no if you don’t–” “–No, I do!” you quickly cut him off, because at the end of it all, you’re a little too much of a hopeless romantic to let this moment pass you by.

Twenty-Five Going on Forty-Seven by @sehnsuchts-trunken

Flirting with the guy who fixed your car turns out to lead to much, much more when you find out he’s actually not just some random guy, but your new neighbour and father’s new best friend, Jake Seresin.

BRADLEY BRADSHAW

*fever pitch by @greenorangevioletgrass

Arsenal and USMNT captain Bradley Bradshaw attends the mononymous music sensation Y/N's concert with a friendship bracelet and a dream. Little did he know that they soon embark on an epic love story fit for pop royalty...

This Love Came Back to Me by @beyondthesefourwalls

You and Bradley hadn’t ended on bad terms; really, you stopped before the two of you could even truly begin. Still, in the last seven months, you had never completely left his mind. So when you suddenly appeared in front of him at the bar, asking for a favor and pulling him into a kiss, he thought maybe it was the perfect opportunity to see if this time, things could be different. But what neither of you realized was that there’s more going on than just rekindling a lost romance, and it might not be as easy as simply just wanting it.

I Like Your Cinema by @sometimesanalice

Bradley wasn’t sure why you wanted to see the movie again, especially when neither one of you had particularly liked it the first time you’d seen it together. But when you’re tugging down his zipper, things start to make a lot more sense.

‘cause no one breaks my heart like you by @heartsofminds

“Last times always make him uneasy. He thinks that he should be used to it by now from his track record of being abandoned (willfully or “out of their control” situations alike). None of this should hurt him as deeply anymore.” or Bradley Bradshaw is terrified of commitment and he decides to stop being selfish (even though it’s hard to see).

the periphery by @youvebeenlivingfictional

You’d met Bradley a few times before the happy couple had announced their nuptials, and you’d always gotten a pretty good vibe from him. He was sweet, he was easy to talk to—and it helped that he was easy on the eyes. In fact, as soon as you’d been told that Bradley Bradshaw was going to be the Best Man, you were well on your way to having a crush on the guy.

*Hotter Than Texas by @tongue-like-a-razor

Bradley Bradshaw is tasked with transporting a not-so-delicate package in the form of Jake Seresin’s baby sister, who turns out to be Bradley’s dream girl worst nightmare.

*flight risk by @ofstoriesandstardust

In which you and Rooster got married while at UVA for the military benefits. What started out as a mutually beneficial deal between friends years ago turns into a point of interest for Maverick, causing Rooster to have to haul you out to Fightertown to get him to shut up. While Maverick’s fussing over a marriage he didn’t know existed, Rooster’s focused on getting the ball rolling on divorce papers because really, the Navy does not need to be calling some poor girl from his college that he’s died in a horrendous accident. It’s proving to be more difficult than he expected, especially when Hangman and Phoenix take it upon themselves to encourage a friendship to become more. 

How You Play the Game by @roosterforme

Bradley always loved October because of the World Series. He never expected a mix-up with the ticket he won to bring something as spectacular as you into his life. But time is fleeting, and now baseball is the last thing on his mind.

*The Intern by @/roosterforme

You barely have a minute to yourself after graduating at the top of your Ivy League class before your father insists you find an internship. Your days of lounging by the pool and partying are numbered as he has an endless parade of his colleagues visiting the house. But one of them is familiar to you in a way that warms your skin just like the San Diego sun. And it turns out, Bradley Bradshaw may just have the answers to all your problems. And those answers might be waiting for you on a yacht in the Mediterranean Sea.

there was something 'bout you by @bussyslayer333

bradley bradshaw didn’t fall in love, especially not with uptight girls in his english lit class and especially not the ones being forced into tutoring him.

*Ultraviolence by @babyonboard

You and Bradley loved each other, and Jake was just your old friend from high school who you tried to pay no mind to. At least that's how it used to be.

All Too Well by @bradleyfuckingbradshaw

You’re at dinner with your boyfriend and some of his colleagues at a restaurant he chose when you look over the menu and realize there’s no vegetarian option, but he’s too busy with his friends to realize that. Bradley isn’t.

October 3rd Promptober by @familyvideostevie

you go to a tailgate with your friend bradley.

If You Met Me First by @tip-top-cloud-surfer

Rooster confessed to Echo that he was in love with her before the mission. One minor problem: she has a boyfriend.

Home for the Holidays by @mothdruid

Bradley might have lied about having a girlfriend. His best friend, you, decide to help him out and go home for the holidays with him. As the trip unfolds, so does your and Bradley’s feelings for one another.

BOB FLOYD

*I bet this would look beautiful on film by @coridotmp3

Honey desperately needs a photographer, and Bob desperately needs a break.

Robert from Next Door by @attapullman

You've lucked out with the perfect neighbor, a kind and overly helpful WSO. He puts up Christmas lights, lends his lawn mower, and grabs your morning paper. But what happens when he's out of peppermint tea one night?

If Only the Neighbors Knew by @/attapullman

A month of stolen kisses culminates in Robert hosting the HOA meeting and getting you on his couch. The ladies of the neighborhood may make him blush, but only you can make your sweet neighbor weak in the knees.

*Golden Hour by @/ereardon

Willow, Georgia. Barely even a town, just a speck on a map that you tried to wipe off, mistaking it for a crumb. You’re the outsider: a fancy New York doctor, fresh out of a failed engagement, with zero primary care experience. You’re also the new town doctor, taking over for a recent retiree who was beloved. His son, Bob Floyd, is the other physician at the practice, and takes an immediate dislike to you. But you were looking for a fresh start, and Willow doesn’t seem all that bad if you can get past the fact that there's only one restaurant in town. It helps that you've caught the eye of Bradley Bradshaw, the town attorney, despite the fact that you vowed to take a break from dating. How long until you start to make friends in a town where social circles have been set in stone since elementary school? And what will it take to make Bob Floyd see you’re not as bad as he wants to believe you are?

Ruin the Friendship by @withahappyrefrain

The night before Bob leaves for Boot Camp, he’s learned no one has gone down on his best friend. He’s determined to fix that.

International Bob Floyd Fucks Month Masterlist

a january writing event hosted by @/attapullman

Bob from Stats by @/attapullman

College is a wild time, but absolutely nothing could prepare you for the quiet guy from Stats riding around campus as a cowboy. Or what a good kisser he is.

[black-amortentia]

Under the Mistletoe with Remus

Professor Lupin x Professor!Reader

--

Christmas was in the air, and the preferred way of older students to celebrate was snogging under mistletoe. Teachers took points and handed out detentions when things got too heated, but you were much more lenient. As a newly appointed professor, and romantic at heart, you didn't want to interfere unless a couple was truly out of line.

This was how your classroom came to house a rather large and elaborate sprig of mistletoe. A safe haven for secret snogging, it hung just inside the doorway. You had long grown used to the sight of it, to the point you forgot it was there most of the time.

A knock on the open door drew your attention from the essays you were marking. You looked up to find the friendly Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher standing in your doorway. He seldom visited your classroom like this.

"Remus! Something you need?"

You stood up from your desk, stretching. You'd been at it for hours, with no end in sight.

Remus held up a book as he stepped through the doorway. "You left this in my office yesterday. Thought I might return it."

"Oh, thank you. I was wondering where that had gotten to." Funny, you were certain you had it in your hand when you left his office yesterday.

You visited Remus a lot lately. Subtle flirting was the nature of your growing relationship ever since the start of term. The two of you danced around whatever was forming between you, little touches, and affectionate words amounting to nothing outright.

Remus's fingers brushed yours as you took the book. Your cheeks grew pink at the contact.

Looking at him now, seeing the mistletoe hanging from the stone above him, thoughts of kissing him kept bubbling to the surface of your mind.

"Quite an impressive display." Remus thumbed at the mistletoe behind him, catching you looking at it.

"You can thank my students for that," you told him, laughing. "I made the mistake of letting slip that I think kissing under the mistletoe is a romantic tradition. They think it gives them a free pass."

Remus chuckled, glancing away. "Yes, well…"

"Something on your mind, Remus? You seem a little distracted today."

"Yes, there is something on my mind, actually." He cleared his throat awkwardly. "You."

You faltered, setting the book on a nearby table. "Me?"

"Yes, you." He took a step closer, closing the distance between you.

"You're so beautiful, intelligent, kind…" He reached up to touch your face, fingers grazing your flushed cheek. "I have a hard time finding the right words."

You leaned towards his touch, closing your eyes at the sensation. "Those words sounded like a good start."

Remus's eyes locked on yours, your faces tilting closer. There was a pause just before your lips touched, the moment of anticipation hanging in the air.

Then Remus bent forward to kiss you.

His lips were soft and warm, mustache brushing against your skin with a whisper. You kissed him back softly, lips parting.

You'd thought about this moment, but the reality of Remus's lips on yours, surpassed every fantasy you've had.

He held the kiss, grasping at your waist to pull you closer. A hand ran up the back of your neck, cradling your head, fingers curling in your hair.

Your hands found his hips, your hold light and steadying. The kiss was sweet and tender and dizzying, and when Remus finally pulled away, you weren't sure which way was up.

Breathless, Remus touched his forehead to yours. "Then again, maybe words are overrated."

Remus's voice was soft, his breath ghosting over your cheeks.

You smiled up at him. "Maybe they are."

A noise in the hall startled you both, evicting you from the little world of your own you'd fallen into. Remus reluctantly let you go, stepping back.

You peered outside your classroom and into the hallway, finding two Hufflepuff girls, whispering and peeking around the corner. They were both in your class and fancied themselves a couple of matchmakers.

You folded your arms in front of your chest. "Miss Woodhouse? Miss Fairfax? Shouldn't you be packing for your holiday?"

Remus touched your shoulder as he moved past you into the hall. "We'll speak later?"

You answered him with a smile and a nod. The Hufflepuff girls erupted into giggles, looking pleased with themselves.

"Five points," you announced, and they fell silent. "To Hufflepuff. For getting into the Christmas spirit. Now, off with you."

The girls took off in another direction, while your eyes remained fixed on Remus. Feeling you staring, he threw you one more smile over his shoulder.

It was going to be a very happy Christmas.

[dumbassaimee]

Hii!! I love your writing soo much, your last Noel fic had me literally gigling and twirling my hair 😭❤️

I wanna resquest an imagine where reader is the guitarist of a rock band that is just as big as Oasis and Noel ends up meeting her and he is totally swooned by her talent and stuff... Also, Liam having a laugh out of Noel's face whenever he goes :0 when he sees reader passing by with her guitar lollll

“You rearrange my mind”

See what I did there? Little miles Kane reference for ya

————————————————————————

It was so surreal, I had become the next big thing in Britain’s new music.

My band “Everlast” had gained so much attention, and among all that attention was Noel.

I had a feeling he might fancy me as in an interview he was asked about my band.

“Thoughts on ‘Everlast’?”

“‘S alright, haven’t really listened to much of their stuff but they aren’t terrible.”

“What about the frontwoman?”

Noel had paused for a moment—“don’t have a proper opinion on ‘er but she’s a pretty bird.”

That interview itself made me overthink too hard.

Maybe I was just running on pure delusion, anywho—today there was a festival being held, Everlast was lucky enough to get a spot.

It was a massive stadium, heads left and right, the roadies and backstage crew running around trying to get their job’s done perfectly.

And we can’t forget the stuck up musicians cruising around like they own the place.

It had then been time for my band to go up, taking ahold of my guitar as I made my way backstage I stumble across the infamous Noel Gallagher.

“‘S that yours?” He asked me gesturing to the wine red strat in my hands.

“That’s right” I nodded.

He didn’t say anything just scanned every little detail about me, his blue eyes making sure to memorize everything.

“You’re up right now?”

“Uh huh—I kind of need to go..” I confirmed, quickly making my way out of that awkward exchange.

My bandmate Dave had seen what happened and had a smirk plastered onto his face “A Gallagher huh?”

“What? Fuck no.” I shook my head, stepping up on stage, my eyes settled on the screaming crowd of people right in front of me.

Strumming the first strings to a song, Everlast filled the festival with their music.

Little did I know, Noel was watching the band play from backstage.

His eyes haven’t left me at all he was smitten.

As Liam saw his brother not moving at all just staring at the band playing, made a bee line towards him.

He didn’t speak until he followed his gaze and saw exactly what he was looking at.

Letting out a teasing chuckle he spoke up “her?…never thought the day would come”

“Fuck off”

“Nah..nah, this is class—our kid letting a pretty bird get to him” he teased his older brother more.

“You don’t even know ‘er mate.” He added.

“I need to get to know ‘er.” Noel muttered.

“Yeah? Gonna charm her by starin’?”

“No you cunt, I’ll ask her out when she’s done.”

“Like hell you are.” Liam snorted.

“I am, just—fuck off”

“right, just let me know when she rejects you” he grinned and legged off.

As the hour passed, I got off of stage, letting the guitar roadie take my equipment.

Then grabbing an ice cold water that was offered to all four of us.

People kept getting my attention, my mouth just running about responding to questions and small talks.

Among that small chaos I feel a tap on my shoulder, turning my head around I see Noel again.

“Hi love—er…was wondering if I can talk to ya?”

“Uhm..yeah what about?” I asked cautiously.

“Just wanted to talk that ‘s all” he shrugged.

Who would say ‘no’ to this guy? So I walked around with him to do the so-called ‘talking’.

He seemed nervous, her kept twisting the golden ring on his finger.

Taking a lot of sips of the bottle of beer he held.

He probably noticed that I was growing bored of just walking in silence, so in a panic he spoke up.

“You were great up there” he blurted out.

Getting a compliment from Noel Gallagher isn’t an every day achievement so I took it at heart.

“You think so?”

He gave me a small nod “proper good with the guitar.”

A smile casted onto my face—“thank you Noel, means a lot”

“Yeah…hey erm…I got a question for ya” he turned to me, finally he stopped walking which was my cue to stop walking as well.

“What is it?”

“Fuck..listen—are you free tomorrow?” Finally his blue eyes found mine.

I hesitated an answer, but finally I nodded.

“Yeah I’m free.”

“Fancy gettin’ a drink with me?” His hands tugged on his jumper.

“That’ll be nice” I smiled

“Yeah..?”

“Mhm” I confirmed.

And as a rare sight he smiled.

We stood in comfortable silence as it got interrupted by a very loud accent.

“Our kid! You tell her you fancy her then?” He practically yelled getting attention from some individuals.

Obviously embarrassing Noel—gosh hurts the arrogant ego.

“Fuckin’ hell” Noel whispered under his breath, looking back at me.

“Sorry love, see you tomorrow yeah? Gotta deal with him” taking my hand and kissing the back of it, with a grin on his face he made his way out.

Like I said…surreal.

Not only am I getting more and more famous each day, but the Noel Gallagher had asked me out on a date.

Since when could I do that?

————————————————————————

[mistysgardenn]

i was randomly thinking. what would the ushers be like on your birthday (imagine you’re their friend or s/o or something)

perry: sorry you’re getting a designated orgy. he means well and at least he would try to be sweet…! he’d probably end up getting distracted by the party though. i’d like to think he’d make extra time for you on your birthday of all days but it’s a 50/50 chance i fear. he’d definitely apologize and try to make it up to you. if he does remember, he’d invite you over to his apartment for dinner and tv with some friends

camille: this woman is not acknowledging it at all. however, when you go to your desk, there’s a cute little cake and a gift she picked out for you (it was something you’d mentioned wanting in passing; she remembered). when you go to ask her about it and thank her, she threatens to sue you for breaching some random clause on some random nda. as you leave the room you catch a glimpse of her smiling though… she’s a softie deep down and i’m dying on that hill

leo: i can see him being thoughtful and caring when the day comes around. he understands what it’s like to be overlooked so he’d make sure to throw a huge party for you and make you the star of the show. i already know he’s inviting all your friends and family. the only downside to all this is that there would be a ton of drugs, which is on brand for him. he’d probably get hella stoned but hey at least it’ll be a fun party!

victorine: she’s too busy at work to do anything really special. i can see her maybe calling to wish you happy birthday; she’d definitely get you a gift and a cake, though. after she gets off work you two might have a nice dinner but she’d mostly talk about her day and complain about clinical trial guidelines, but you’re used to it by now…

tamerlane: surprisingly, she’d be really sweet about it. yes she’d be intense, but her usual energy would translate perfectly into a passion for making sure you have a great birthday. you’d do a variety of activities together and she’d probably show you off to anyone she could find. still, she’d be extremely sharp-tongued with anyone who gets in the way of your birthday dinner (those poor waiters…)

frederick: there’s a lot to unpack here. we know he cared a lot for his family before everything went downhill, so honestly he’d probably devote a lot of time to your birthday festivities. he’d get you a super fancy cake and decorate his (insanely big) house with a lot of decorations! honestly he’s a really sweet guy who got corrupted by… a lot of things. but he does care as long as you don’t betray his trust

madeline: i think she would be fairly normal. you’d get a call or text wishing you well, and you’d find a cake and gift delivered to your home. she’d invite you out for a nice, private candlelit dinner, but that’s the extent of the festivities. i can’t see her wanting to do anything flashy; she’d like you to herself and to make sure everything around the two of you is under her control

roderick: the bare minimum. the only reason he’d go out of his way to give you a cake or anything is to make himself look good in the public eye… if it’d make a good news story, expect the most expensive cake money can buy. otherwise you’d get a text if you’re lucky. a birthday dinner is stretching it but maybe if he’s in a good mood he’d take you somewhere nice

not technically an usher but i love her too much to exclude her so here’s a bonus

verna: a birthday spent with verna would undoubtedly be the best you’ve ever had. like… she’s been everywhere and done everything. she’d know exactly what you’d like and make sure to tailor it to your preferences. quite literally, the sky is the limit. but, at the end of the day, you’d get to spend some quality time with her doing whatever you enjoy—maybe a cozy dinner or something along those lines

[darksigns-exe]

it's just you and me now - nicholas ruffilo x jolly karlsson

warnings: swearing, anal sex (m receiving), a lot of feelings

word count: 3.2k

masterlist | Part 1 | taglist sign-up

They’ve been home for almost three days and Nick still hasn’t been able to stop thinking about her. It doesn’t help that they’ve been texting basically non-stop. 

He doesn’t know why it’s so different this time. He’s sure that it wasn’t jealousy - maybe it is in a weirdly twisted way because he never wanted to get involved with it as much as that night. 

Nick had very quickly figured out that he liked to watch Jolly with other people, but that he didn't necessarily need to get involved. He’s more than fine with watching Jolly. And then they’d picked her up, and now everything feels different. Nick doesn’t quite know what this is going to be. All he knows is that he feels his chest warm just a little bit when her name pops up on the screen of his phone. 

He’s kept himself busy working on his art, trying his hardest to avoid the conversation they should probably have. It’s not that he doesn’t want to have it, or that he’s afraid of it. It’s rather that he knows that it’ll change things, and Nick isn’t sure that he could deal with that kind of change. The fear that it this could bring the end of them lingers somewhere in the back of his mind, no matter how genuinely irrational it is. 

He successfully manages to hide away in his little office for another hour, before a knock sounds on the door. Nick can’t bring himself to reply. Another knock. 

“Nick?” he hears Jolly ask from the other side of the door, “Can I come in, darling?” 

The pet name always makes him shudder a little. 

“Door’s open.”

Jolly pushes into the room, a steaming cup of something in hand. 

“Thought you might want a coffee?” He places the cup on the desk in front of him, before he places his hands firmly on Nick’s shoulders, “What’re you working on?”

He’d been smart enough to slam his sketchbook shut before Jolly had entered. Nick doesn’t need to know that the visual of him hovering over their pretty little bed guest had burned itself into his mind. 

“Nothing important.” he replies quickly, fully knowing that Jolly won’t let it go that easily. 

“Everything you do is important.” Jolly presses a kiss to his cheek, “I won’t force you, though.” 

Nick feels his arms slide down, as Jolly leans on top of him a little more comfortably. The weight of him settles the anxious mess of nerves in his belly a little bit. 

“Are you still going back to Noah’s later?” Nick asks, hoping that he’ll say no. 

“Already been. You’ve been hiding away in here all day, Nick. It’s almost four.”

He’s suddenly so very aware of the ache in his back, the oncoming cramp in his hand. He hadn’t even noticed how much time had passed. 

“Alright.” Jolly tightens his grip around him a little more, “Enough work for you. You’re coming with me.” 

Another kiss is pressed to his cheek. Jolly detaches himself from him. Nick knows that he can’t worm his way out of this, and so he shuts down the computer. He doesn’t know why he’s so hesitant to let Jolly see what he’s been working on. 

Jolly waits patiently for him, wraps his arm around his middle when Nick tries to pass him. 

“Do you want to go out for dinner? We haven’t been on a real date in ages.” Jolly says as he walks him into the kitchen. 

They’ve gone out, sure, but it’s been a while since one of their outings was actually marketed as a date. 

“Doesn’t have to be fancy, either. We can just go to the Italian around the corner?” 

It’ll be nice to get out of the house for a couple of hours. 

They’d found this particular restaurant not long after they’d moved here. A cosy little spot just down the street from the apartment. 

Things had somehow just fallen into place. The romantic side of their relationship had always felt like a natural progression. And the decision to find a place to share had been easy. Finding a good place on the other hand had been a struggle. 

In the end, Nick thinks that he couldn’t have made a better choice. It’s a comparatively small neighbourhood, a good thirty minutes from where Noah lives. They have their regular places where people know their names, their orders, and really that’s all he could ask for. 

They’re not even through the door when they’re asked if they want their usual orders. Jolly leads the way to their favourite little spot. A seat in a quiet corner, perfect for long talks. It’s nice to have time for each other like this. 

“How was the studio?” Nick asks, while they wait for their orders. 

“Good. We got everything on the plan done.” It’s a surprisingly curt answer, “You wanna tell me what’s been eating at you? You’ve been quiet since we got 

back.” Jolly’s hand finds its way on top of his, all warm and comforting, “I know we haven’t had a lot of time to talk about all of that.”

Nick turns their joined hands over so that he can entangle their fingers. Jolly lets him manipulate their hands to his heart's content. At least for a while. 

“Nick?” he finally asks, “You know that you can tell me everything, right? I just need you to talk to me.” 

He’s silent for a moment longer, before he finds the courage to will the words past his lips.

“I’m still thinking about it.” 

“Her?”

“That entire night.” 

Jolly nods in a familiarly solemn way, “She was different. It didn’t feel like the other times. Not just because you joined us.”

“You just looked so good together. I couldn’t help myself.” Nick feels himself smile around the words. 

“Is that the only reason you came over? Nick, I know you. You never get involved with it, it’s okay if it made you feel —”

“I’m not jealous.” He snaps before Jolly gets a chance to say it. 

“I wasn’t going to suggest that.” Jolly replies calmly, “All I was going to say is that it’s fine if it made you feel different this time. Even if that’s jealous. You’ll always be my number one.” 

Nick doesn’t think that it’s jealousy in the traditional sense. It’s more akin to regret. He wishes that he’d allowed himself to join them sooner. At the same time, Jolly seemed to enjoy his time with her alone just fine. Nick knows that he’s the one who said that he’d be fine with just watching. He hadn’t really expected that he’d ever change his mind on that. 

“I can’t read your thoughts, darling. You’ll have to say what’s on your mind if you want me to do something about it.” 

“When you said she felt different. Did she — was it better than —”

A wave of sudden realisation that washes over Jolly’s face, “Oh god no. I know this all went different from how it normally does, but that doesn’t change anything about us. Whatever we do with her going forward is a decision we make together. If you don’t feel comfortable with it, it doesn’t have to happen again. No hard feelings extends to us too. I want you to feel good about this. If you can’t in good conscience say that you want us to meet her again, we don’t have to.” 

Nick doesn’t get to say much more as the waiter arrives with their orders, and really he doesn’t need everyone to know that he likes to watch his boyfriend fuck other people from time to time. 

He mulls over the whole thing while they eat. Tries to figure out how he can adequately express that he wants to see her again and that his misplaced jealousy doesn’t come from them doing this, but rather from him not getting to feel as much of her as he had wanted. 

Their little date had turned into a little stroll around the neighbourhood, into a few drinks with friends, and when they fall back through the door it’s almost ten. He’s tired, but not so tired that he doesn’t feel a little restless. 

He can’t wipe the image of them from his mind, and he needs something else to replace it with. Something that’ll take his mind off it entirely. 

Nick finds Jolly in the kitchen, typing away at his phone. He contemplates his approach for a moment before deciding to unceremoniously drape himself over the other's back. 

“I’ll be with you in a moment. Just let me text Ma-”

“No.”

Jolly stops abruptly, thumbs hovering over the screen, “No?”

“Now.”

He places his phone on the counter, stands still for a breath before he turns around to face Nick. 

“Demanding. Alright.” His hands find their way to the sides of Nick’s face, “What do you need from me? Talk to me, my love.”

“I think I just need to know that I’m yours.” Nick admits, sounding a little more meek than he’d hoped. 

Jolly pulls him in for a kiss, all soft and gentle. 

“You’re always mine. But I’ll gladly give you a reminder.” His voice is so soft, so tender. 

Nick loves when he sounds likes that. That tone always sinks into the cracks of his mind. It settles in between the parts of him that doubt and binds them back together. Jolly has always been good at solving his issues. He picked up on Nick’s insecurities early on and did whatever he could to diminish them. Nick knows that he can’t rely on him to solve all of his problems, but when Jolly tends to him like that, he swears that all of his troubles disappear. 

Jolly guides him into their bedroom, hands still interlinked. 

Nick sinks down on the mattress, Jolly towering in front of him. He’s captured in another searing kiss. He shifts further up the bed, Jolly chasing after him so that they won’t be apart for long. The weight of his body is comforting against Nicks. He’s warm and broad and when he slots himself between Nick’s thighs like this, he couldn’t ask for more. Jolly shoves his t-shirt upwards somewhat unceremoniously. As soon as his skin is bared, the others hands drift up his sides. Lips soon find his neck, and he gasps when Jolly leaves his first mark on his skin. 

He feels dizzy with it already. 

Nick sighs when the tip of his tongue flicks across his nipple. 

“You always sound so pretty for me.” He hears Jolly say, but the words feel warped and distorted by the time they reach his ears. 

Between his hands and lips, Nick doesn’t know what he’s supposed to focus on first. He settles on the way his fingers feel so light and tender when they descend towards the waistband of his jeans. He squirms when Jolly’s fingers brush along his sides. 

Another bruise is sucked into the skin just below his ribs. Nick can’t possibly keep his eyes open when Jolly treats him so well. 

“Lift your hips for me, love.” 

He follows quickly and allows Jolly to remove the garments from his body. Nick sighs when he feels his hands drift along his thighs, down his calves. The attention Jolly gives him is unlike anything he’s experienced before. It’s almost overwhelming at times. 

“Get comfortable for me, I’ll be right back with you.” 

Jolly places a barely there kiss against his cheek, before he pulls away and begins to strip his own clothes down. Nick watches as he moves across the room, gathering a few things, before he’s back in front of him. 

Jolly lowers himself across his body, and Nick feels the room dim behind him. His vision narrows down on the man in front of him. He’s not sure that he’ll ever get used to this. 

Nick feels one of Jolly’s large hands skating across the inside of his thigh again. Jolly makes space for himself here. 

“You wanna get on your knees for me, love?” 

He doesn’t have to be asked twice. When he sits up to move, Jolly pulls him in for a quick kiss. Hands cover his hips, adjusting his position until he’s exactly where Jolly wants him. 

“Gonna be cold for a second.” he warns, before he feels a lube slicked finger brush against him.

He’s somewhat used to this by now, but the first push of his thick finger still makes him shiver. He whines at the feeling, the stretch of it. Jolly always takes his time with him, always makes sure that he’s sufficiently prepared for the next step. It’s still a lot. Especially tonight. Nick knows that he won’t last long, but he also knows that Jolly won’t stop until he’s reduced to a whining mess. 

By the time Jolly works a second finger into him, Nick is unable to hold himself up and lets his body sag against the pillow. He whines so unashamed when Jolly’s fingers curl into him just right. 

“You should see yourself.” Jolly says, sounding almost a little cruel, “You’re a mess already, and we’ve barely started. Looks like you really need this, huh?” 

Nick only gives a whine of his name in reply, already struggling to keep his composure up. 

“I want you to cum like this first. Can you do that for me, love?” 

Nick tries to turn his head so that he can catch a glimpse of him, “Yes. Please.” 

“Do you need more than this, or are my fingers enough?” 

“More — I need more.” 

Without further question, Jolly’s hand leaves his waist and wraps around his already leaking cock. The touch is too light, too gentle for what he really needs, but he can’t bring himself to be bratty about it tonight. Jolly knows how to switch his brain off entirely, and he’ll trust him with this, even if it means that he won’t get what he wants immediately. It really doesn’t take much for him to spill his release on to the duvet below. He curses when it hits him. The warmth that blooms through him is so very comforting.

The hand around his cock disappears all too soon, and he barely registers Jolly humming contently behind him. Nick winces, shifts uncomfortably when Jolly goes to remove his fingers from him again. 

“I know.” he soothes, “It’s a lot — fuck I love how sensitive you are. Do you need a moment?” 

Nick shifts his hips back against him, trying to get back into contact. 

“Don’t stop.” he whines, feeling not an ounce of shame for the desperation in his voice, “Please don’t stop.” 

A gentle kiss is pressed to his shoulder, before Jolly adjusts his position behind him. Despite what comes next, Jolly is always so gentle and careful with him when he presses inside. He takes his time, reacting to the sounds Nick makes and stilling when he feels him tense around his cock. He pauses for a moment when his waist presses against Nick’s backside. 

The hand on his waist drifts along his back and over his shoulder. For now, it remains there, as Jolly begins his slow and steady rhythm. Every thrust into him unravels a little more of that knot in his tummy. 

“God you feel so fucking good.” Jolly groans above him, “You’re always so good for me.” 

His pace picks up rather quickly. The harsh thrusts push Nick further into the pillows. The constant stream of whines that falls from his lips is muffled by the fabric below. Jolly’s hand grips into his waist, pulling back against him over and over again. It’s all so much. 

“I’m the only one who gets to have you like this.” Jolly sounds a little worn down already, but that commanding edge is this so very present, “You love being all mine, don’t you?”

Nick can only whine in response, unable to find the right words. He feels spread thin in the best way possible. The ends of his nerves feel frayed and raw. Every thrust Jolly gives into him sends him closer and closer to the edge. It’s dizzying. Above him, Jolly continues to whisper the sweetest filth to him. The words wrap around his mind, unravelling whatever bit of anxiety still had a grip on him. Nick feels himself falling apart faster than he had hoped. His release hits him before he’s really ready for it again. The desperate whines that fall from his lips rise in pitch and frequency as Jolly works him through his orgasm. Just when Nick thinks that he can’t take more of it, he feels Jolly spill inside of him. He rests himself against Nick’s back, his chest warm and heaving as he rides out the final waves of his own climax. Warm breath spills against the side of Nick’s neck, before he feels lips pressing against his skin. 

“You’ll always be mine, Nick. Always. Nothing and no one can change that.” another kiss, nearer to the edge of his jaw this time, “I love you.”

Nick barely manages to return the words, still feeling so utterly breathless. 

After an indulgently long shower, Nick finds himself curled up in front of Jolly. The comforting weight of his arm around his middle soothes the last shreds of worry. He knows that Jolly would never leave him for someone else just like that, and by now he isn’t even sure that that was what he had actually agonised over. 

Since they had left the hotel that morning, Nick had wondered what her hands would feel like on his body, how she would feel around him. He’d always gravitated more towards men, but he can’t deny that she’d wrapped herself around his mind entirely after just one night. And he hadn’t even been involved with the goings-on. He can’t imagine what it’d be like if he actually gets to feel her touch on his skin. 

“We’ll talk in the morning, okay?” Jolly asks quietly, “Try to get some sleep.” 

Nick turns the thought over in his head a few times. He isn’t entirely sure how he’s supposed to breach that conversation. It feels impossibly big, and he knows that it’ll change so much about them. 

He decides that he’ll leave the page from his sketchbook in a place where Jolly is guaranteed to find it within the next few minutes. And he’s barely back in his little office when he hears Jolly approaching. He doesn’t knock this time and instead pushes into the room, thought the ajar door. 

“So that’s what it looked like from your angle?” Jolly asks, and Nick doesn’t have to turn around to know that he has that amused smile plastered across his face. 

“I told you that it looked good.” Nick finds himself sounding awfully quiet. 

Out of the corner of his vision, he sees Jolly come towards him. He squats down next to Nick’s chair. 

“Look at me, will you?” there’s a trace of concern in his voice that stings just a little bit, “Nick, you know that it’s okay if it affected you, right? It’s perfectly fine if you’re curious about her. Just because it hasn’t happened before doesn’t mean that it’s not okay.” 

“I just can’t stop thinking about her.”

“I know. I don’t know what it is about that one either.” Jolly takes Nick’s hands into his, “We’ll figure this out too. This doesn’t have to become anything at all. It can just be a once in a while thing, if that’s what we all want. Whatever it ends up being, we’ll be just fine.” Nick’s hands flex around Jolly’s, “Promise?” 

Jolly presses a gentle kiss to the back of his hands, “Promise.”

taglist: @deathblacksmoke @circle-with-me @sitkowski @ladyveronikawrites @baddestomens

@malice-ov-mercy @chels3a-smile @ferduttini @somebodyels3 @itsafullmoon

@shilohrosechicken

[voltaspistol]

Hey everyone, it's your friendly neighborhood gold star mental patient here with secondhand therapist advice.

For those of us with a lot of anxiety who tend to get "stuck" trying to take in ALL of the information because your brain is desperately looking for the "AHA!" moment that will make the brain gremlins go away?

That information ain't out there as of the evening of November 6th.

At least not yet.

And if your brain is operating in crisis mode, you will be tempted to say and do things that might hamper rather than help.

Now might be a good time to look through your game and movie backlog to find a title that will help you "come up for air", so to speak. Something that will allow your brain to stop making cortisol & adrenaline, because right now? Your ego is basically doing that I Love Lucy bit where she works in a chocolate factory. That shit is not good for your brain, not good for your body, not good for whatever we have left that passes for a soul.

It doesn't free you from the obligation of getting involved in your community.

It just gives your brain some time to process some things in the back of your mind while your conscious mind takes a break. Here's some suggestions to start: ✅ Lord of the Rings (Not the recent show, the ones from the early 2000s) - The obvious choice which I think a lot of people will be gravitating towards on their own. ✅ Tank Girl (Movie, 1995)- If you need your story of overthrowing tyranny to be filled with swear words, sexual innuendo, and high levels of camp along with a decent 90s soundtrack, this might get you pumped enough to organize. ✅ Amelie (Movie, 2001) - A comfort watch if you feel alone and isolated. If you are too scared or too shy to run headlong into a formal political action group, this french film documents how small, creative acts of kindness and justice can make the world just a little bit better. It will renew your faith in humanity a bit. ✅ Disco Elysium (video game 2019) - A sprawling choose-your-own adventure set in a post-war capitalist dystopia alternate reality. Soothing for those of us who have made apology tours after losing our shit, illuminating for those of us who struggle with intrusive thoughts, and compelling for everyone who likes those stories where reality and unreality are a bit wobbly and elements of the fantastical seep through in unexpected ways. It doesn't have much to do with current events, but maybe that's what you need right now. ✅ Hades (game, 2020) - A game all about being stuck in hell, and fighting to get out, and although you get help from allies along the way, you're the one who has to do the dirty work. If you need some lessons on resilience and a compelling story besides with lots of interesting characters (including non-cis romance options!) and you want to get revenge on an oppressive father figure, try it on for size. ✅ Superliminal (2020) - If you need a high-end creative physics-based puzzle game that is light on story and operates on dream logic that relies heavily on linear perception just to distract you? This one is short but will have you distracted long enough to let your brain breathe a bit. ✅ The Room (2014) - For low-end systems and mobile devices, this is basically an elaborate digital puzzlebox, like one of those fancy desks with lots of hidden drawers. Atmospheric but not scary.

Also, don't discount the obvious ones: Cat videos, re-watching beloved old shows, guilty pleasure music etc.

You are not helping anyone, not even yourself, by doomscrolling until something goes --SNAP!-- in your brain.

Come up for air, give your brain metabolize the nasties, and THEN you will be able to strategize. Though for obvious reasons, now is not a good time to go back to old addictions like World of Warcraft. The idea is to take a break, NOT to drown in old waters. This list is not comprehensive, obviously, please add your own in reblogs

[kdogreads]

Your imagine of being chibs old lady is the cutest, sweetest, loviest thing I’ve ever read 😭😭😭😭. Could I pretty please have more? Maybe when they meet or the early days of the relationship

Thank you so much, sweet anon💕 I’ve been traveling a lot for work so I haven’t had time to turn this into as long of a fic as I would have liked. Part 2 will dive deeper into the early days of this sweet relationship. :)

I hope you enjoy nonetheless!

Very Soon

Summer, early 1990s, Charming, CA

You’d lived in Charming your whole life and worked at the same damn diner since you were 16. Until very recently, that is, you started working at St. Thomas Hospital.

The Sons were familiar to you, and you to them, most of them calling you by your first name when you’d cross paths. They’d come in to your little diner regularly over the years and you’d built a friendly relationship with the club. They were the only mechanics in town you trusted to do good work for a fair price, so when you blew a tire just down the road from the shop, you started walking that way.

You walked around to the garage where the guys were working on all kinds of bikes and cars. Tig was the first one to spot you and headed your way. He shouted your name with his normal enthusiast demeanor.

“Hey, darlin’. How ya doing? Are you alright?”

“I’m okay, thanks, but I hit a pothole or something just around the corner, tore my tire and rim all up. You guys got time for a tow?” You asked him in defeat, slugging your bag over your shoulder.

“Oh, anything for you, sweetheart. I’ll pull the truck around,” He waved for the chestnut-haired Scotsman who was working away on a Harley, “You need a lift? Got somewhere to be?” Tig put a hand on your shoulder gently, careful to keep the interaction light, respectful.

“Nowhere to be but here,” You teased back, punching him in the shoulder playfully.

“Good thing Chibs here has a clear schedule then to keep you company, darlin’,” He patted the Scot on the back, a grin spread wide across his face.

Tig gave you a wink and a turned around to go pick up your incapacitated car. Chibs smiled and extended his arm out, pointing you in the direction of the clubhouse. You’d never been inside before, but you’ve apparently been around enough now to be invited in. You’d always been friendly with Chibs, not unlike the other guys, but there’d always been an extra sense of flirtation with him, his eyes lingered a bit longer on you after every interaction.

He held the door open for you as you stepped into the dimly-lit barroom. The smell of cigarettes, weed and booze invaded your senses. A few heads turned when you walked through the door, but as soon as they spotted Chibs behind you, they just nodded your way. A blush suddenly crept onto your cheeks knowing you were only allowed in because you were being escorted by a member.

“Fancy a drink, sweetheart?” You nodded with a smile, and Chibs handed you a cold beer before leading you to the end of the bar top where two barstools sat empty.

“Thank you, Chibs,” You chirped as you slung back a swig of the icy liquid.

He muttered something you didn’t quite catch, so you raised an eyebrow his way. Playfully questioning his words.

“It’s Filip,” He spoke nonchalantly between sips, “Figure someone oughtta use it.”

You smiled at his openness towards you. The only interactions you’d really had with him before now had been in passing at the diner or when he’d been patching up your car, but there was always something in the way he spoke. A certain lilt in his tone that always made your heart flutter. You thought it might just be his accent, but you were happy to learn you might be wrong about that.

“Alright, Filip,” You spoke, just a hint of flirtation in your voice, “However will you entertain me for the next several hours?” You leaned an elbow on the counter top and smiled up at him.

He looked around playfully, nodding his head towards the other side of the room.

“Know how ta play, lass?” He motioned towards the worn pool table, the hint of a smile tugging one side of his mouth.

“Yeah, kinda. Haven’t played for a long time, but I’m sure you can remind me,” You took a sharp breath in before setting your beer down and hopping off your barstool.

When you stood up, Filip didn’t move at first, so you extended your hand to him, a playful, “come on,” dancing from your lips. That was all it took to lift him to his feet, his gaze drifting to the floor momentarily, probably to disguise the blush flooding his scarred cheeks.

He took this new job of teaching you how to be a star pool player very seriously. He’d squint his eyes and get down level with the velvet tabletop, explaining something about the angles and torque needed to get the ball where you wanted it to go. You kept up as best as you could, all of his strategy and technique basically just flowing in one ear and straight out the other.

Sensing your patience thinning, Filip decided it was time to show you how to properly shoot the ball. It was exactly as you’d seen it in the movies. He planted himself firmly behind you, each of his broad arms in line with your thinner ones.

“Nice ‘n’ easy, now,” He spoke quietly, his breath close enough to tickle the hairs flowing over your shoulder, “No’ too much force, righ’ there on the far side o’ the ball.”

You tried not to react to his close proximity, but you couldn’t stop the shiver that shot up your spine. A shaky breath fell from your lips.

“Nervous, lass?” Filip’s lips almost brushed against your ear this time. He knew exactly what he was doing.

“Not at all, Filip,” You popped the “p” a bit more than necessary, turning your head slightly to meet his deep brown gaze for a beat before sinking two balls into the corner hole.

“Aye, s’pose no’ then,” He growls with an amused look on his face.

You turn to face him, comfortably trapped between the old wooden table and Filip’s broad body, his arms resting on the oak on either side of you. He takes a deep breath and sinks down so you are face-to-face. You just stare into each other’s gazes for a moment, both of you thinking about your next move.

“Yer beautiful, lass, always thought so,” Filip whispered, his hand raising to gently tuck a strand of hair behind your ear.

A blush crept up your chest and spilled onto cheeks. His gaze was not demanding, but invasive. He filled all of your senses like a rushing waterfall, waves breaking above your head over and over again without giving you a moment to breathe.

“Can I —,” You began, knees feeling like they could buckle at any moment under the weight of his presence, “Can I kiss you, Filip?

He didn’t respond for a beat, a smile daring to creep onto his face. He lifted his other hand from the table behind you and cupped both sides of your face, leaning his body into yours. His lips were softer than you expected as he pressed them to your own, planting a sweet peck onto them.

“Aye, lass, only if I can kiss you back,” His words sparking a smile to spread across your face. You leaned back into him and kissed him again, deeper this time. Your lips crashing together and apart time after time. Filip’s tongue licked a swipe across your bottom lip, sliding into your mouth to explore each part of it. You were so lost in the feeling of tongues melding together that you must have missed the recognizable squeak of the heavy clubhouse door.

“Uh, hey,” An amused Tig began, you straightened up quickly with an embarrassed giggle rising in your throat, “If you’re done sticking your tongue down Chibby’s throat, sweetheart, you car is ready to roll.”

You let the laughter spill out of your mouth as you leaned your head down to rest on Filip’s chest. He wrapped one arm around your waist as the other pretended to shield you from Tig’s view, a chuckle escaping Chibs’ cheeky smile, too. You nodded at Tig with a smile still on your face. He turned around to head back out the door shaking his head and laughing.

“I guess ya better be on yer way then, darlin’,” Chibs smiles to you, his hands still planted firmly on your waist. You only nodded up at him before leaning back into his chest and snaking your arms around his broad torso. His strong arms wrapped around you again as he planted a kiss on the top of your head. The two of you stayed there a moment, wrapped up in nothing but each other before you pulled away from him.

“I’ll be seeing you soon then, Filip?” You asked as you a stepped towards the bar top to grab your bag. Before you could register it, your hand was caught in Chibs’ tight grasp. You spun your head around with a confused look on your face.

“Aye, lass,” He brought your hand to his lips and pressed a soft kiss into your knuckles, “Very soon.”

Part two here 🥰🤪

[strawberijasper]

I talked about this on my Twitter but I’m STILL thinking about it so I’m gonna talk my shit again.

Just a heads up for the anime only’s however, this post will contain heavy spoilers!

Hot take, I don’t think Deku should get his quirk back. I know I know— HEAR ME OUT BEFORE YOU BOO ME OFF THE STAYE THO!!

I know a lot of people would be upset if he stays quirkless, and I fully understand why, but think about it. Bakugou passing the embers of OFA that remain in him onto Deku, while it’s cool in theory and I do think would be an interesting plot, it feels like a cop out to me? Narratively Deku losing his quirk and simply not getting it back is poetic in a way and I think for the kind of story that MHA is, works much better.

Deku starts the story quirkless. He’s this boy with all these goals and ambitions, he wants to be a hero despite everyone telling him he can’t. He’s quirkless it’s just not possible right? But he believes so wholeheartedly that he can, even his childhood best friend turned bully can’t discourage him. He had the drive to be a hero even when powerless.

Then All Might comes, gave him the opportunity he never thought he’d have. Not just to be a hero but to have equal footing with the rest of society. To be a hero who isn’t doubted or looked down on because he’s different. And All Might passes the torch, and in doing so, he unknowingly was passing the job of defeating AFO onto Deku. It was now his job to defeat the world’s greatest evil, because that’s what OFA was cultivated to do. It’s purpose was always to defeat it’s creator. And Deku did just that (or at least had a hand in it I’m aware he had help, the power of homosexuality can defeat all great evils ofc ofc).

AFO is defeated, OFA’s main purpose has been fulfilled. The war is over, the users can finally be laid to rest (because remember part of them remained in the quirk in order to help the next users, even in death they fought). Deku doesn’t have a quirk anymore but that doesn’t mean he CAN’T still be a hero. It doesn’t mean he’ll be forced to leave UA (which is what I’ve seen a lot of people say). First of all, UA wouldn’t do that, we know they wouldn’t because we are explicitly told in the first episode that UA changed the rules on quirkless people being in the hero course, Deku explicitly tells us this. So we know for a fact they wouldn’t do that.

The school also knows that Deku CAN fight, he’s fully capable of fighting because he’s been training for over a year, he’s improved a lot and that’s not just his skills fighting with a quirk, that’s overall skill. He has more work to do and needs to learn how to fight without relying on a quirk but they know he’d be able to do it. He’s a quick learner and even without a quirk he’s strong.

We also know now for certain that there are ways for a quirkless person to hold their own in a fight, they have a real chance at being a hero (All Might in the war arc, WHICH I’VE BEEN SAYING THIS FOR YEARS AND NO ONE BELIEVED ME!!). Deku could easily iron man it, he doesn’t NEED a quirk when this is a world where support gear exists specifically to help heroes. There are plenty of heroes that fight virtually quirkless, take Aizawa for example, or Shinsou. They have quirks that help in battle but they fight without any power, it’s not impossible to be a hero without a fancy quirk.

The cycle ends with Deku, and now he’s been given the chance to do what he always believed he was capable of doing. He can prove to a world who doubted him and put him down, that you can be a hero without a quirk. Not only would he be the new symbol of peace, but he would be the symbol of change. He would be the one to really start the conversation around quirkless rights, and isn’t that beautiful?

It’s one thing for Deku to fight for quirkless rights while being a hero with a quirk, but it’s another to be the face of a movement. Narratively this works a lot more in my opinion.

I could be wrong and Deku could end up getting his quirk back and if that’s the case I won’t be upset, but in my opinion I’d much rather he stay quirkless. If Deku says goodbye to OFA for good, gets to be the reason the past users finally get to rest in peace, then that would be beautiful. Genuinely I would love that as an ending so much, and I hope there are people who agree because I can’t be the only one who sees this. Please tell me I’m not the only one T-T

[walkingstackofbooks]

Trying to decide what I want to work on right now and so to procrastinate I thought it'd be fun to share my current WIPs with you all (omg how did I get so manyyyyy)

Feel free to shout encouragement at me if there's any that particularly pique your interest! :P

Anyway, in order of how recently I've worked on them:

1. Prompt - what if Kukulaka got broken and Garak repaired him?

Coming soon? 80% it'll be done in the next week: I'm hoping to just bash it out at some point, but even though it's short and self-contained, it's hardddd...

2. Unexpected Chapter 2 of Imprisoned. Absolute Sloanshir rot: Sloan provides Julian with more "help", Julian gets increasingly confused/grateful/flustered/fucked

Coming soon? Almost 100% you're gonna see it next week - I am hype and should should should get to the end once I have an evening to myself ;)

3. Prompt - "I don't trust myself to be good to myself right now, but I need someone to be good to me." Conversations between Miles and Julian at various points in the series when they've hit rock bottom and need pulling out.

Coming soon? No... I've written one post-DBIP scene but I'd at least want the post-Argrathi scene and the rest of the DBIP stuff to be done before I put anything up, if not the whole thing... It's definitely a long fic I'll be returning to in fits and bursts. (sorry, prompter...)

4. Prompt - Garak and Julian's first conversation post-IPS/BIL.

Coming soon? It's a strong contender for next week - I was super hype for it when I started but then work interceded and I just haven't got back to it yet. It is a priority, though!

5. Pre-DBIP: a few moments where Julian's unspoken issues with his parents cause friction for him but go unnoticed by his friends. Post-DBIP a similar moment happens and is recognised for what it is. Featuring Julian + beets.

Coming soon? I really don't know. I've got a strong vision for it and scene one (of four) is done, but it's kind of stuttered since then.

6. Julian starts to neglect his self-care, leading to him passing out in the infirmary. Sisko would like to know what the hell happened.

Coming soon? It's already on tumblr in a rough and ready form, so editing to put on AO3 might well happen in the next week - and I'd say a 50% chance of something extra with that?

7. Chapter 2 of At Their Mercy. Alpha!Garak takes over with Omega!Julian where Kira left off... 😉😉😉

Coming soon? Gahhh, I have written this several times over in my brain, but getting the start of this chapter has been proving difficult. Definitely not until after the Imprisoned chapter is done.

8. Why Leeta Kept Kukulaka And How Julian Did Try To Ask For Him Back. Just cute, fluffy gap-filling; I love both of them.

Coming soon? Probably not. Only the outline has been written tbh and this hasn't caught my fancy in a while.

9. "Acts of God": A runabout crashes on a planet where medical intervention is outlawed. Unable to help his injured friends and forbidden from alleviating the suffering he sees around him, Julian has a very bad time...

Coming soon? No, I think this is probably going to be an after-VIsion-Awry project rather than a can-i-get-it-done-first one.

10. "Sloan's planet": Sloan is Julian's s31 handler, sending him out on all sorts of missions... but the missions are fake, Sloan using the holosuite to manipulate Julian pretty much any way he wants...

Coming soon? Possibly. This has more of a series vibe maybe with a few distinct one-shots, so if I get a short idea I might bash it out 🤷‍♀️ Sloanshir's often just so easy to fall into.. 🤣

11. Keiko + Molly + Julian + drawing post-DBIP. Julian's not very good at it, and it's a bit feels but a lot of fluff.

Coming soon? Well I haven't touched it since April but I do smile whenever I remember it exists (and looking at the file, more was written than I remember!)

Welp - and that's not even counting the myriad other ideas floating around my tumblr/ in my head! Or the fact that I have probably another 15-20k of Vision Awry to go... Well, here's looking forward to my August of writing!

(Which I'll definitely have... if I stop procrastinating! :P)

[inariporkka]

The New English Art Club Annual Exhibition 2024 is online right now (link here), so I wanted to go through it and share my picks with you guys.

The online exhibition is set up mainly to sell art, so there is very little information about the works on the website. There are no descriptions or artist's statements, so we are going purely on my vibes here. The selection and arrangement is also mine, so this post is in essence a mini-exhibition curated for you by me. I'm gonna call it:

State of the Art

A Curated Selection from The New English Art Club Annual Exhibition 2024

(Image descriptions in alt-texts.)

We start with my absolute favourite, "Natural History Museum, Oxford" by T. F. Ashley. (Link)

Pro-tip for any aspiring curators: you always lead with the strongest piece. If this was a physical exhibition, this would be on the poster, this would be hanging on the main wall of the space.

I am the kind of person who prioritises drawing over everything else in art. I don't mean drawing as a medium (though that is important to me too), but as an element of art. And this piece - while obviously being made in a drawing medium - also manifests the kind of drawing that I think is important. To me that kind of drawing is almost like thinking with a pencil in hand, making a thought process visual, visible.

This piece also has that elusive quality of looking tactile. I live a very digital life, and I have chased that vibe of "digital image that looks like you are touching it" for a long time - and this image nails it.

I am also drawn to this image for its content, as I work in a museum so the picture is relevant to my professional interests, too.

Rest of it is under the cut, because I am considerate of y'alls dashboards.

Landscapes

First we will have a landscapes section. Landscapes are not usually particularly divisive, so it's a safe choice to lead into an exhibition with them. They also have the power to be familiar: the viewers of the exhibition might know the place depicted in the works. Or, since a lot of places on Earth have similar vibes, a place might remind someone of a different place.

Melissa Scott-Miller: "Waterside Cafe, Little Venice" (Link)

For example this painting reminds me of Coventry, where I used to live, because Coventry has a river running through it, and the river has these kinds of narrow houseboats on it. I never had the opportunity to visit one, so this painting makes me feel some kind of a nostalgic longing or remembering a missed opportunity.

It leads us to the next painting: "Boating Central Park" by Ruth Stage. (Link)

This painting is done in egg tempera, which is not an easy technique, and knowing that appeals to me - I enjoy examples of humans being good at doing difficult things. The image is also beautiful. It doesn't look like anything I have ever seen. Like, I can get vibes of influences, but it doesn't feel like I have seen paintings like this a lot in my life. Also grey is my favourite colour.

Next we will have another unique-looking landscape, "Estate - The End of the Affair" by Andrew Torr. (Link)

The geometric shapes and planes of colour are approaching abstraction without crossing over to it. I also really enjoy mundane things being given the art treatment, because making a painting does elevate its subject, still. The area depicted in the image looks like somewhere people like me might live, in a way that "fancy" places don't, because I'm not rich or fancy.

Taidg O'Malley: "Piazza del Campo Rooftops, Siena" (Link)

Another landscape approaching abstraction, with the additional layer of an unusual point of view. I just really really love this, it is so inventive, and especially when "Siena" is the name of a place but also the word for the colour that is the most prominent in the image. The artist is using the medium of the painting to pass on that insight they have had about the association between the name of the place and the name of the colour, and it feels fantastic to be receiving that insight. For my personal art practice sharing insights and pointing out things I have noticed in the world are central motivations for me, so all sorts of synapses are firing for me right now.

And lets pair another high up view point with the painting above:

John Duffin: "W1A - BBC and All Souls Church, Langham Place" (Link)

This is an etching, which is a kind of print where you scrape the image onto a metal plate with a needle. I love a fine line and you don't get much finer lines than with etching. I also really love all printmaking. The mood in the image is also top notch, very dramatic and powerful, even ominous. The light is almost like a frozen explosion, and the tall buildings make me think of Batman the Animated Series. I also really like the use of the postal code in the title. Not sure why, but it's cool, interesting, I like codes.

We will continue the fine lines and meticulous details idea here, with Neil Pittaway's "Brunel City". (Link)

Something about the colours and the details done in white hark back also to the egg tempera painting of Central Park, but this one is a drawing done with pen, ink, watercolour, and "body colour" (???) The image is delightfully Inception-esque, and I really jive with this way of depicting a city.

We follow it up with "Wiener Jugedstil Palast" by the same artist. (Link)

More of this incredibly enjoyable line work depicting the kind of architecture I (and a bunch of other people here on Tumblr) like.

Portraits

It leads us neatly to our next segment: Portraits. Portraits are also nice and friendly for viewers, because we are humans and we know how to look at pictures of other humans. Of course the depiction of humans does bring in the possibility of viewer (and artist! and curator!) bias, bigotry, and sense of propriety (what if someone is naked? what is appropriate? where do we draw the lines?) so we run a slightly bigger risk by introducing the human element to our exhibition.

We start with Frederick Jones and "Hidden" (Link), as it carries a similar visual language as the above drawing.

This wood engraving might not be a portrait in the strictest sense, considering the person is obscured, but I don't subscribe to the idea that we can be identified only by our faces. Also the Rene Magritte vibe is strong here, and who doesn't like a good Magritte.

Michelle Maddox: "Self Portrait in the Studio" (Link)

Another portrait with an obscured subject, with nice geometric-ish surfaces of colour (check out those circles and semicircles on the twigs in the vase!), which this time add to the Magritte vibes.

Charlotte Sorapure's "The Lepidopterist's Dream" (Link) introduces another layer of surrealist inspiration with the trope of the reflection in a mirror reaching out. The vase with plants connects this one to the previous painting too.

The objects in front of and reflected in the mirror seem normal enough until you hang on a moment exploring the image and begin to notice that some of the butterflies have alighted onto mirrored images of flowers.

Then we use the profusion of flowers and butterflies as our link to the next painting, where the background has a profusion of organic elements.

Julie Held: Self Portrait (Link)

Something about the strangeness of the composition appeals to me. My eyes explore the background, trying to figure out what is going on (is it upside down?) before returning to the awkward, sketch-like figure in the corner.

Next up is Barbara Leidl's "Dominic (and Bird)". (Link) We continue the theme of limited palettes.

I love earth tones, and the bird on the figure's shoulder is absolutely perfect. The use of outline with minimal shading works so wonderfully well here. It's the drawing again.

Paul Gildea: "Boy with Necklace" (Link)

A slightly impressionistic treatment, which is an enduring trend in contemporary painting, but the subject punches it above the mass. It makes me slightly uncomfortable, because the subject seems so beautiful but vulnerable and uncomfortable too. My sense of propriety doesn't quite know what to do with this image.

Maxim Langford: "Arnold" (Link)

The shifts in value, light and line work in this one are incredibly satisfying to see, they scratch some kind of an itch for me. Also I am very partial to profiles, I just think profile portraits are the most interesting and beautiful.

Shadi Vahabzadeh: "The Daughter of the Sun" (Link)

We are once again nearing abstraction, and here I particularly like those pattern fills on the skirt and the vase, and the lighter area in the background. They connect well to the way the shirt and hair of the previous drawing were also only sketched out as shapes.

Shanti Panchal: "The Book of Revelation" (Link)

This one combines together a lot of elements that I find particularly enjoyable: the profile view, the combination of line art and subtle shading, surrealist influences, and even the combination of the yellow sofa and the grey background is right up my alley (because I run an aesthetic blog for the colour grey called @grey-in-color and my friend does one for yellow called @marigoldserenity and one year Pantone chose grey and yellow as the colour combo of the year).

And we close the portrait section with a painting that is only dubiously a portrait (though every foot fetishist worth their salt will tell you that you can recognise a person from their feet).

Sharron Astbury-Petit: "Reclining with Venus". (Link)

It connects to the above painting in several subtle ways: the style of line art and shading is similar, there are nude figures in both; but also the contrast between the flat grey background of "The Book of Revelation" and the profusion of colours and organic shapes in "Reclining with Venus" - which one might expect to find in a painting inspired by Indian miniatures. I also really enjoy the subtle touch of the bird tattoo on the ankle, which matches the busy vibe of the background.

Still Life

The next segment is paintings of objects, still lifes. We'll start with William Pierce's "Trainers" (Link), which carries us nicely over from the previous image of feet.

Here too the vibe is nearing abstraction and sort of impressionistic-ish, but what can I say, a trainer (sneaker, running shoe, tennis shoe, whatever you call it) is such an iconic object that it just always works.

Jason Line's "Bric-a-brac" (Link) also has shoes in it, and a similar sketchy feel.

I also find this perspective kind of strange and interesting, looking at things from above, as if they are laid on the floor. Like logically I reckon that is a table, but to me the feeling is of floor for some reason.

The next painting by the same artist continues the floor vibes: "Still Life with Shell" (Link)

But here more than the weird perspective vibe, I love the colours. Look at all that amazing grey, which is accentuated by the pink shell and the blue bottle (it's called "@grey-in-color" for a reason).

Claire Venables: Recreating the By-Product (Link)

Similar vibe here, with the way the shapes work, and with the colours. This is aesthetic manna for me. Also blue is my wife's favourite colour, so I do pay more attention to it due that. The subject is also fascinating, it is not common to see science as the subject in visual arts, especially in traditional mediums like painting.

Agata Smolska: Arrangement in Yellow (Link)

And here we have grey and yellow meeting again! But I just really find any and all colours in the same image with grey to be really compelling. Everything goes great with grey. The subject is also another great example of elevating the mundane, with paper cups and napkins (and a lemon for some reason? What are they serving?)

Misc

We finish this exhibition with a grab bag of paintings that don't quite fit any of the above categories. Which I think is important, you always need to have space for things (and people!) that don't fit into your neat little labels.

First we have "Not Forgotten" by Aidan Potts (Link) which could be a still life, or a portrait of a flower. That's actually something I have thought about a lot, plant portraiture.

By now you know my thing well enough to see it right away: I am here for the grey and the colours. I also love the challenge of the title, because a plant growing in a crack in the sidewalk is pretty near to being forgotten, despite still fighting. Which reminds me: Free Palestine.

Toby Ward: Bike Repair Station (Link)

Here again appears my beloved line art with lively flat areas of colour, and the elevation of the mundane. But I also love the subject matter, because bicycles have been important to me throughout my life.

And last, "The Bar at The Bull" by the same artist (Link).

We finish with a painting that I can't quite explain what it is I like about it, because it just goes straight into my feelings without passing Go. It reminds me of something that I don't have anymore, even though I never had it. This one for me connects to Harpo Marx and how important he is to my life, but the connection is too convoluted to try to explain. But what is more useful to explain is the fact that this connection exists and is the reason I am drawn to this painting. Because there's no way the artist was making this painting thinking that I would connect to it through some convoluted Harpo Marx connection.

Instead this painting being the finisher in my little online exhibition is an illustration of the fact that we see in art what we bring to it as much as what the artist and the subject bring into it. We mix it all together in our brains and get some sort of experience out of it. And that's pretty much all there is to art. It is a form of communication you cannot achieve with any other form.

-

Thank you for reading/looking, I know that was a lot and I did it mainly for myself, but I'm glad you were here along for the ride.

[atonalginger]

WIP Wednesday

Ho-ho-ho to all who celebrate and happy Wednesday to those who don't. It's a day and I do have something I'm pretty sure I haven't shared that doesn't spoil anything and so why not share, right?

I've hit a rut where my brain just decided it didn't know what I was talking about when I asked it to focus on writing. I still have story left to go but somehow it's very overwhelmed. At this point I don't know...maybe it's holiday stress manifesting as writer's block. Maybe it's imposter syndrome shitting shit down. Could be any number of things.

Part of me feels like I've been 'sitting on this one' too long but I didn't want to start posting chapters until it was done because I need to do a start to finish edit pass and...Gods it's a long fucking road still to the end.

anyway...I had a snippet....Fox's POV and it's with all the adults at the Liberated's HQ which is set in a creation club house on Cassiopeia I with a ... fancy secret room. You'll see sort of in the read more below:

“Is this what it would look like?” Bella asked.

“It’s a one to one replica,” Jay sidestepped closer, “right down to the twinkling lights.”

“Sort of reminds me of the buried temple,” Sam said as he walked down the carved stone steps to rejoin the group, “only much, much shinier.”

“And it is weird that there is caelumite deposits,” Fox added.

“But it doesn’t appear to do anything,” Jay said quickly, “might be once upon a time a starborn decided to build themselves a palace, fancied themselves a princess and everything, and then one day got bored and abandoned this place.”

“You really don’t think it does anything?” Del asked.

“We could always try hitting it with something,” Fox said with a shrug, “but no…I don’t think it does a damn thing other than look cool.”

“Mierda,” Del grumbled and kicked at one of the grooves in the platform, “knew I shouldn’t have got my hopes up.”

“It was worth trying,” Rokov said as he leaned against one of the metal pillars, “and now we all know this room is here.”

“Yes, we do,” Bella looked back at Delgado, “do not keep secrets like this from me again.”

He stared back at her, oscillating between defense and defeat. He was the boss. The one who decided what was important, what was shared, and when. And yet he knew there was no winning with her.

“I don’t see what Del did being that wrong,” Sam said as he ran his fingers through his hair, “he ran enough tests to know it wasn’t an active threat and locked it down so no one could fuck with it. We’ve known security around this place was tight, so any threats this might have attracted were going to be met with a hell of a lot of resistance, and it’s not like you and the kids lived here full time. This isn’t much different from when Solomon found the Empty Nest.”

“The what?” Bella spun around with furrowed brows, “Solomon found weird starborn shit?”

“Apparently,” Sam shrugged and chuckled, “not that he knew what he found. It was a cave a stone’s throw from where he ended up building a home. What began Akila City. He called it that because he found that none of the wildlife would go near it. It was a perfect nest but completely empty. He never told anyone much more about what he found and I never thought a thing about it until the Lodge started seriously hunting the artifacts.”

“His notes were on point too,” Jay noted, “not even ashta would mess with the cave or the surrounding area…until I pulled the plate. Shaw was so busy fending off a curious pack that she didn’t notice us leaving with our prize.”

Bella took another look around the chamber before dropping her hands to her sides and marching toward the door, “we’re locking this back up. We’re adding more locks. No one is messing with this. As far as I’m concerned it does not fucking exist.”

“That was my original plan, mi amor,” Del said as he followed close behind, “I only brought it up I thought maybe they might know more…”

“They’re going to be that way for a while,” Rokov said with a sigh, “I should go find the little ones. Maybe see if they want to go for a swim.”

“I can help with that,” Sam tipped his hat and joined Rokov as he walked out of the chamber.

With only the twins remaining Fox walked over to the armillary and watched as the rings spun around. It really was just like the ones they found in the temples. Even the engravings matched. But it was inert; no energy resonated from the plates, no song tugged at their soul. It was a forgery.

“I can’t shake the feeling that the artifacts are somehow related to whatever was going on with that grav-jumping star station,” Jay said, her voice barely a whisper, “Frost never would have given her those notes had he known it could lead her into danger…right?”

“He would never intentionally put his Bookworm in danger,” Fox hugged his twin close, “and those two aren’t helpless. Remember that incident out on Cassiopeia IV-c? Or the story Manny shared about getting jumped during a supply run? Those two are tough and whatever is happening I believe they can handle it.”

“I want to share your confidence,” Jay buried her face in his shoulder as she fought back tears, “I very much want to believe you.”

Fox hugged her tighter and shared the belief that kept him sane, “Together nothing in the starfield could stop them.”