#aargh! such is life.

[muirneach]

when so many people make such gorgeous inventive and unique art and i feel like i draw the most normal boring things possible 😵‍💫😵‍💫

[soap-ify]

nsfw mdni

okay but imagine being the teacher of single dad!soap's son! you teach in a nice, well-kept kindergarten — well liked by all the students, teachers and parents. how could they not? you were such a sweetheart. good with kids too, even if you initially thought you would be stiff around them.

relationships with students' parents was something you never gave yourself the luxury to even think of. it just seemed so unprofessional.

that all changed until you met one of your scottish student's parent on the parent-teacher meeting day. tall and nicely muscular, a nicely cut short mohawk on his head, royal blue eyes that just seemed so damn sweet and a big bright smile on his lips — john mactavish. he was like the sun, bright and powerful and the way he would call his son his 'wee bairn' — it was dangerously adorable.

he was so attentive to you, eyes sizing you up, carefully listening to each of your words. his child was doing great in this kindergarten, but his mind had soon drifted away from that. distracted by you. how could he not? he had just been so lonely ever since his kid's mother had left them, leaving him all alone to raise a kid at his own young age of twenty three.

now twenty-seven with a five year old son, he had even resigned from his military duties to focus on his son. but he was a bit tired, always alone and eager for some company despite already having lots of friends!

you were just so sweet to his child, a perfect teacher and a potentially perfect parent. that's why he made it his personal mission to get to know you better! for his kid, of course, definitely not for himself.

he had started accidentally bumping into you outside of the kindergarten, your meetings with him going outside the parent-teacher conferences. luckily you were single, and that just encouraged him more and more to go after you. not that he would let any man look at you anyways. he even offered you to tutor his son, despite the child already being nicely skilled. it was just an excuse so johnny could get to know you better.

tutoring sessions would turn into late night stays while johnny would tuck his son in bed before somehow convincing you to stay one more hour with him. he took full advantage of those nights, gently holding your hand and brushing his shoulder with yours. chaste little touches.

one particular afternoon, johnny invited you over to his house. apparently, he had dropped his son off to an uncle's house. finally, a full day alone with you.

it was all innocent at first, just casual talks about the everyday stuff. he even watched a movie with you! a sappy rom-com that made you cringe and laugh due to how hilarious it was. though he hadn't really been watching it, royal blue eyes solely focused on your reactions.

you didn't even notice how the time had passed by and the end credits had started rolling on the telly. but before you could get up from the couch, he had already grabbed your waist with his hands and pulled you closer.

"bonnie wee thing... i ain't lettin' ye get up. please say, pretty please?" he pouted, those pleading puppy eyes convincing you to stay with him on the couch. he had pulled you closer, strong arms keeping you tightly pressed with him. "cuddles?" he grinned.

an hour had passed into the cuddling session, your back flushed against his chest. all this time, you had felt his clothed cock rubbing against your plush ass through the fabric of your pants. you had tried to reason yourself, wanting to protest that you were his kid's teacher for god's sake. but you didn't. it felt nice. you knew how he looked at you, and you knew how fucking sweet he was to you. no one had been so caring towards you like him — cooking for you and even bringing you flowers whenever he came to pick his child up from school.

once you had gained some courage to nuzzle the back of your head against his neck, a switch on his brain just turned on and he was quick to turn you around, smashing his lips against yours. smothering your face and neck up with kisses, all while cooing sweet words into your ears.

"sweet thing. ye are perfect for my wee lad. wanna wife ye up so bad, keep ye in my house..."

all you could do was let out soft whimpers and moans, his hands effortlessly undressing you.

and before you knew it, he had fucked you full the whole afternoon and evening, thick cock filling up your hole, stuffing you full of his cum. might come handy later. leaving you as a tired, flushed mess. and the aftercare was godly. he cleaned you up with a wet towel, all while pressing kisses on your trembling thighs, your body so weak after all the orgasms he had pulled out of you. eight, or was it nine...? you couldn't remember.

he had used his tongue to clean up your fluttering, sore hole, though it was an excuse to somehow make you cum again. and oh, you did.

the night was spent in his arms, your exhausted body all snuggled up into him, a victorious grin on his lips. hopefully you didn't find him creepy, or a bit perverted. probably not, right?

the whole night he stared at you, thinking of more ways to make you fall in love with him, to somehow convince you to marry him. his son already liked you well enough, and so did he. it was perfect.

[yenshui]

maxley brainrot human maxley brainrotttttttt

[lexalovesbooks]

Okay! Here’s my Chorus of Dragons playlist, I started it a few months ago and mayyyybe I’ll add more songs later but I’m pretty happy with what I’ve got now + the order :) Songs are all listed under the cut

Songs:

The Same as I - Dirt Poor Robins

We Forgot We Were Human - Dirt Poor Robins

Sparks - The Family Crest

The Kids Aren’t Alright - Fall Out Boy

Dear Wormwood - The Oh Hellos

Achilles Come Down - Gang of Youths

The Bird Is in the Birdcage - Dirt Poor Robins

You Are the Beginning - The Family Crest

I Promise - Ramin Djawadi

Inkpot Gods - The Amazing Devil

[redstone-sun]

god i wish i could watch streams just like. in general

it is so hard for me to Sit Down and Watch A Stream like even if its still live and not just the vod like i cant pay attention and its hard for me to engage with it

and this all fucking SUCKS bc i wanna watch the qsmp stuff so bad bc i took 7ish years of spanish in middle and high school and wanna brush up(i love language) but noooo its all streams

[ranpazz]

CHOKE ME BITE ME!!

cw ; sub!dazai, fem!reader, choking, p in v sex, unprotected sex (stay safe), slight degradation(she calls him a freak and a slut), not proofread

a/n ; no I didn't write this to distract from wicked games idk what ur talking abt.

Dazai hates pain. At least that's what he tells everyone, but you knew otherwise. Well, if the way he was writhing with your hand around his throat had anything to do with it.

“mmfph! Baby I– hngh– need more– c’mon, please-” he begged, bucking his hips up into your sweet cunt, desperate for more friction that you refused to offer. You clicked your tongue, applying more pressure to his throat, cutting off his oxygen.

“You're a freak, Osamu– getting off to this?” You questioned, emphasizing your point by wrapping your other hand around his pretty neck. His cock twitched against your cervix at the action, tossing his head back with a choked moan. “Yes– please– haah– I need more, please move–”

You'd be lying if you said that having a man like Dazai plead beneath you didn't flip a switch. A satisfied hum bubbled in the back of your throat as you raised your hips enough to his tip before slamming down on him.

“Aargh! Fuck! Don't– don't stop, please-” He cried, his jaw clenching from pleasure. You wish you had your phone to take a picture, he looked breathtaking. His eyes were rolled to the back of his head, hair matted to his forehead, and your lipstick smeared all over his lips. Maybe another time.

“Don't you– fuck– dare cum ‘til I say so, y'damn slut.” You breathed, chasing your release as the coil in your tummy tightened. His hands were holding onto your hips for dear life, there will definitely be marks there tomorrow. You could feel his Adam's apple bob beneath your fingers, a reminder of your previous actions.

Dazai whined for another minute or so, his rambles coming to an end. He was trying not to give away the fact his orgasm was creeping up on him. You could have laughed if he wasn't rearranging your guts right now. However, he still needed too–

“Please, lemme cum– needa– fuuuck– cum inside you, baby–” How could you resist when he asked so nicely? You swallowed thickly as you grew closer to the edge, giving him a brief nod before sinking your teeth into his pale shoulder and grasping his neck tighter than before.

He planted his feet on the bed, thrusting up into you to meet your hips, tearing a moan from your throat. His length slid against your gooey walls, hitting your sweet spots with easy precision. "'samu–! 'm gonna cum– fuck!"

"F-fuck, feels s'good– y'er pussy– haah– feels s'good, so tight, shit!" He cried out, your back arching as his thumb found your clit and drew tight circles on the bud. Your back arched, a broken moan slipping past your lips. "C'mon, cum with me– hnngh– please-"

He always ended up getting his way. It wasn't even a minute later that he was filling your cunt with his hot load, his own orgasm triggering your own. "Osamu– haah fuck!" Your hands finally freed his throat and your jaw fell slack as you reached your release.

Black spots clouded your vision for a moment before you fell limp on his chest, panting heavily as the afterglow settled. His breathing could be heard over your own, a telltale of his need for oxygen. You glanced up at him, his cheeks red and eyes closed as he caught his breath.

"'samu, I didn't–" "No, you didn't go overboard, 'donna." He cut you off, his voice a bit hoarse from your precious endeavors. Those pretty brown eyes of his fluttered open, meeting yours with a soft yet rare look. "I promise."

You took the reassurance with a smile, however, you were suddenly flipped over by Dazai, a hungry look in his eyes. "Now, let's see how much power you have with me on top this time."

[thesassypadawan]

Spring Has Sprung (Master Anakin x FemPadawanReader)

Summary: This isn’t how you imagined your first time would be like. You thought it would be romantic, loving. That all changed though when your master was infected by a sex pollen during a mission. Taking what he’s always wanted, whether you like it or not, and…showing you a side of yourself that you never knew.

Warnings: 18+ (minors dni), because of all the lovely smut. Sex pollen, hair pulling, rough sex, age gap implied (20 years), and Ani’s big dick. Padawan Reader is of age.

Notes: Happy First Day of Spring, lovelies!

“I’m sorry, angel… So sorry… I promise to make this up to you… To give you the moment you deserve…”

Despite his compassionate words, Anakin’s voice was low. Filled with lust, laced with darkness. A darkness that sent a chill down your spine, straight to your soaking core.

You let out a small whine as he slid in and out of you. Slow, teasing; pushing you further to your limit each time his hips pressed against yours.

With your ass high in the air, Ani kept his steady pace. Brushing your cervix with his tip, making you whimper…causing him to growl.

From the way his grip on your hips begins to tighten and how his thrusts grew more forceful. You could tell that what little of his self-control was quickly slipping away. That he would no longer be able to hold back. “Don’t be scared.”

This isn’t how you imagined your first time would be like. You had always pictured, had always hoped that it would be gentle…loving…the most romantic moment of your life. Instead it was being stolen away; stripped and reformed into something entirely different. Something more twisted and ugly. All thanks to the pollen…the pollen that had infected your master.

Well, at least one piece of your dream had come true…

He grabbed the back of your neck. Squeezing hard, enough to cause you to gasp out in pain and terror. “Do you know how many times I’ve fantasized about this?”

Organic hand moved higher, burying itself into your hair. “About the way you’d look beneath me.”

Pulling harshly, he yanked your head up. Hips now moving at a brutal speed. Length slamming into you over and over while you whined helplessly. “The feel of you clenching around my cock.”

Mecho hand slapped your ass painfully and you cried out. A small flame of pleasure igniting inside of you. “The sounds you’d make as I break in your tight, virgin pussy.”

A moan spilled from your lips. “Yes…please, yes.” That broke off in a high pitched mewl as his cold fingers brushed your clit.

You can practically hear the smirk in Anakin’s voice. “Please, huh? Please, what?” He pulled your hair roughly, the burn on your scalp sending shivers down your spine.

He pinched at your sensitive bud, swirling around it. Your walls fluttered in response and a gasp flew from your mouth. “Master! Please, master! Break me in and make me yours!”

“Better,” he grunted, tugging even harder. “Now tell me, who does this pussy belong to?”

Tears pricked at the corners of your eyes, the sting so overwhelmingly good. “You. It belongs to you.”

Removing his fingers, he lands another powerful smack on your ass. Pulling you up higher by your hair, he forces himself deeper. “What was that, padawan of mine? Couldn’t hear you.”

No words, all you manage to do is squeal in delight. Ani’s fingers were toying with your clit once more, his hips thrusting frantically. The sound of your obscene slapping only spurred you on, clinging to every inch of his rock-hard length,

Not answering him properly earned you a low, warning growl. Then a sharp tug, your neck snapping back. “Aargh! You, my pussy belongs to you!”

You felt his hot breath on your neck, followed by his teeth sinking into your shoulder. “That’s right, only your master’s. To cum and ruin whenever he pleases.”

No longer fighting your torn emotions, you let yourself get swept up in Anakin’s words. Your whole-body trembles, you clamp down hard. Fingers dig into the mattress and your toes curled. “Maaa…Master!” You wailed, your orgasm ripping though you.

Spent; you begin to fall forward, but are yanked back up. “Not yet! I’m not finished with you yet!”

His hand slid to your hip, squeezing it with a durasteel grip. He pounds into you without remorse. Bruising and abusing your poor cervix, while he chases after his own release.

It’s all too much, you’re so overstimulated. Tears stream down your face as the pain sets in. As the realization hits you…that you’re being used as nothing more than his personal cocksleeve. And maker help you, you have never been more aroused. “Cum! Cum, please! Want it! Need it!”

A loud groan filled the air. “Take it! Don’t you dare waste a single drop!” With one last forceful pull, he buried himself to the hilt. Cock twitching, shooting rope after thick rope deep inside of you. Filling you to the absolute brim.

Both panting, the hand in your hair slackened. Now gently massaging your poor overtaxed scalp. “I-I wasn’t too rough; was I, hatari?”

Anakin’s actions… His words… The pollen must have worn off...

Head tipping forward, you laughed softly. Relief with a hint of disappointment washing over you. “Nothing I-I couldn’t handle.”

Peace had fallen… Your Ani had returned to you… It was finally…

His grip began to tighten, hips slowly started to rock. And that voice; that voice filled with lust, laced with darkness muttered. “Good then you’ll be able to take much MUCH more.”

Tag List: @espinathena-17, @myheartwillgoon2022, @cacti5539, @wifeofasith, @princessswifie

[piratecaptainscaptainpirates]

Ed: >:(

Stede:

Ed: >:(

Stede: do you want to talk about it

Ed: no

Stede: because it's okay to feel upset after we've had a major disappointment

Ed: it was an online "what kind of wings would you have" quiz, Stede

Stede: and you're clearly not very happy with your results -

Ed: I would not have raven wings!!!!

Stede: okay. see. this is what I'm talking about. Not that it matters, Ed, but aren't ravens pretty cool?

Ed: I guess >:(

Stede: just not what you wanted, huh

Ed: when you think of people who have raven wings, it's like - y'know, they're prolly like really scary or something. A guy who'll go, like, 'aargh, look at me, don't wanna mess with me!'

Stede: that kinda used to be your vibe. in the past.

Ed: :(

Stede: but it doesn't really suit you at all, does it?

Ed: what kind of wings do you think I would have?

Stede, absolutely zero hesitation: albatross :)

Ed, who knows fuckall about birds: yeah?

Stede: yeah! they spend years at sea, you know, but they come back to land to be with their partners. they mate for life. plus they have really nice eyeliner

Ed: oooh

Ed: you'd have. uh. hummingbird wings

Stede, deeply offended: no, I'd be - a majestic toucan

Ed: hummingbird :)

[otsutsukifavs]

　[ 𝓞tsutsuki Indra relationship headcannons . ]

pairing : indra otsutsuki x gn!reader headcannons . cw: this was before the successor of ninshu thing, protective indra, literally just fluff, mention of petnames, ooc maybe not sure

﹒now, where do i start . . . . he would probably hide the fact he has a lover for a really long time . The only person that would probably catch him w/ his s/o would either be his dad or ashura and even so indra would be VERY embarrassed ( 😭 )

﹒ sucker for forehead kisses TRUST ME!! his s/o would gently kiss his forehead and would pretend he didn't like it and keep a straight face (he is blushing and giggling internally)

﹒personally i don't think he would have a form of PDA, especially he does not want to get caught with a lover in PUBLIC . however in private he's a total lovebug :3

﹒when cuddling he likes to be the big spoon . again i headcannon he has a cold body so when cuddling indra keeps them close to his as a source of warmth

﹒ he loves to play w his s/o's hair, short or long does not matter to him he will learn how to do different hairstyles and try them on his lover all the time

﹒silly pet names like "darling" and "my love"

﹒he loves and cares for his s/o a LOT . he may not show it but he shows his affection though small actions like making dinner, preparing a bath, caring for them when their sick and so on

﹒if he caught or found out that a creep is trying to hit on you indra would most definitely end that persons life . No one is allowed to put their hands on his s/o .

﹒I feel like he secretly has hobbies like reading ( mainly books about ninshu ) and baking w his s/o . The both would try to bake all sorts of delicacies or read together under the stars !

requests : open ! Im so sorry this is ultra short i ran out of ideas AARGH (this was made at midnight i have half a braincell left help me.) I hate that man (affectionate) anways justice for indra he always gets portrayed negatively 😭 Thank you 4 reading this, reblogs r appreciated <3

otsutsukifavs . do not copy / repost / translate

[anonymousewrites]

Nature of the Human Soul (Book 1) Chapter Six

Platonic! Hazbin Hotel x Teen! Reader

Father Figure! Alastor x Teen! Reader

Chapter Six: Memories of Life and Death

Summary: Everyone says the wrong thing, and (Y/N)'s mental health pays the price.

            (Y/N) closed their eyes and put their hands over their ears as Angel’s show-and-tell video played. It was, of course, nothing short of one of his acting scenes with more of him than (Y/N) ever wanted or needed to see.

            “Ya know, this performance won me a ‘Sex-x-x-i’ award,” said Angel proudly.

            “It’s, uh, very…honest?” Charlie averted her face.

            “Ew,” said Vaggie. “Okay, enough of that! Angel, what the fuck?”

            “What? You said it was Show n’ Tell day!” said Angel. “I’m showin’ you my best film, and I’m tellin’ you that it scored me a win over that bitch, Tiffany Titfucker.”

            “Ya know, that’s not a very convincing interrogation scene,” said Husk from the bar as he cleaned glasses.

            “Alright, dickhead, what makes you think you have any right to insult my work to my fuckin’ face?” said Angel.

            “You’re really gonna sit there and act like these scripts ain’t hot garbage?” said Husk, raising a brow.

            “Fuck you,” said Angel. “This is classy art!” He pointed at the screen on an incredibly inappropriate scene.

            Pentious covered his eyes with his head flaps, and Niffty grinned happily as she watched.

            “That’s bullshit,” said Husk. “You get drunk and bitch about them all the time. Everyone likes to bitch to the bartender. I know everything about you and these motherfuckers at this point.” Angel rolled his eyes, and Husk decided to make a point. “That one.” He pointed at Pentious. “That one is an insecure buffoon whose lonely ass watches you idiots sleep. Princess is a bleeding heart who wants to solve everyone else’s problems ‘cept her own.”

            “What? No, I—Pfft, no, no,” denied Charlie nervously.

            Husk just continued on to Vaggie. “This one judges everyone and everything because she hates herself.”

            “Aargh!” Vaggie hated how accurate it was.

            “That one.” Husk moved on to (Y/N), whose flowers flinched nervously. “Is sick and tired of being thought of as some innocent kid by everyone here and might go crazy if anyone tries to put that role onto them.”

            (Y/N) smiled sheepishly. Unfortunately, they really did feel like that.

            “And Niffty.” Husk made a face. “You don’t even wanna know what her deal is.”

            Angel cackled. “You weren’t kidding. Haha, wow! Kitten’s got claws! Meow~” He grabbed Husk’s face teasingly.

            “And you!” Husk pushed Angel back. “Don’t get me started. I see right through you and all this bullshit and how fake you are.”

            “Oh, me? Fake?” challenged Angel. “Wow. I had no idea. Guess that’s why I’m an actor. Dumbass. And—” His phone went off, and Angel’s face fell before he grabbed it. “Hold that thought.” He walked a few paces away. “Hello? Uh, yeah, I’m-I’m…” His entire attitude had changed, growing nervous and hesitant, completely unlike the usual Angel Dust the hotel dealt with. “No, no, I just, I—No, I’m not, but, uh, yeah…I’ll be right there.”

            He turned off his phone and looked back at the group. (Y/N) furrowed their brow in concern as they saw a familiarly fake smile spread across his face. They had worn that smile themself. It had weighed more than a thousand tons on their shoulders.

            “Well, uh, looks like Val needs me for an, uh, emergency shoot,” said Angel, trying to seem excited and eager.

            “Uhuh, sure,” said Husk, seeing through it.

            “You know what?” snapped Angel. “Fuck you! I don’t give a shit what a drunk ass bartender thinks a’ me! So why don’t you just crawl back to whatever cave you came out of, porn critic.” He gave Husk the middle finger and walked towards the door.

            “Angel, you can’t leave yet!” said Charlie. “We haven’t finished our exercises for the day.”

            “I’m sure you’ll manage without me,” said Angel.

            I don’t think he can say no to Valentino, thought (Y/N), frowning.

            They knew Angel had a contract with Valentino, and they saw the exhaustion in him whenever he returned to the hotel. They knew that if he could, Angel would rest more often. But he couldn’t. And (Y/N) really wished they could do something about it. After all, if there was one thing they despised more than anything else in this whole Hell and Heaven and Earth and everything, it was those that took advantage of others. The very thought summoned a murderous rage (Y/N).

            They knew what it felt like to be used and abused.

            The roses on (Y/N)’s head quivered and wilted as they felt themself on the verge of really, truly remembering (reliving) what they had gone through in life, and (Y/N)’s chest tightened.

            “There isn’t much time left for the hotel to prove itself,” said Charlie, her words drawing (Y/N) out of their mind successfully.

            “Dollface, it’s my job,” said Angel forcefully. “I know you want to fix everything, but unless you can fix my boss, there’s nothing you can do.” He slammed the door shut and was gone.

            “Uuuuugh, why is this so haaaard?” groaned Charlie, curling up in front of the door. “What am I doing wrong?”

            “I don’t think Valentino wants Angel to be redeemed, even if it’s possible,” said (Y/N), frowning.

            “But I do,” said Charlie. “And I really believe in him! But he always has to go to work and can never really commit…What do I do?”

            “Well, I mean, you’re the princess of Hell,” said Vaggie.

            “So?” said Charlie.

            “So, you don’t really use the power that comes with that, which I love about you, but maybe you can…I don’t know, command a little more authority?” suggested Vaggie, smiling encouragingly.

            “But that’s so mean!” said Charlie.

            “I don’t know much about the Vees, but I’m sure they’d deserve it,” said (Y/N), and Husk nodded in firm agreement.

            “It’s not mean, exactly,” said Vaggie, trying to get through to Charlie in a way she’d understand. “It’s, uh, aggressive kindness!”

            Wow. (Y/N) and Husk looked at each other, unimpressed by that “persuasion.”

            “Okay!” Charlie brightened, apparently having been convinced by the idea of “aggressive kindness.” “I could be so aggressively kind to Angel’s boss that I convince to let Angel spend more time at the hotel!”

            “Sure, whatever gets you there, babe,” said Vaggie, smiling at Charlie as she walked out the door happily.

            “Is killing Overlords not on the table?” murmured (Y/N).

            “No,” said Husk. “At least, not for you.”

            “Fine, fine. I’ll do it another time,” said (Y/N).

            Husk shrugged. “As long as you know you’ll win, go for it.” He didn’t care if Valentino got what was coming to him.

            “Do not encourage them to kill people!” said Vaggie.

            “It’s not people. It would be Valentino,” said Husk, and (Y/N) nodded in agreement.

            Vaggie sighed, but she couldn’t disagree.

l

            When Angel returned, (Y/N)’s anger returned full force. He was clearly exhausted and uncomfortable, and whatever he had to film, it was long and, possibly (likely), painful.

            “Eugh, I need a drink,” said Angel, slumping across the bar counter. “The hardest you can make.”

            “Hm. You look like shit,” said Husk, putting a glass down and pouring a drink.

            Angel straightened and put on his overconfident act. “Pfft. Not possible. Just a long shoot, nothin’ new.”

            “Are you alright, Angel?” asked (Y/N), frowning.

            “Of course!” said Angel, but he quickly chugged the drink Husk had made him. He slammed the glass down. “I said a strong one.”

            “Excuse me,” scoffed Husk. “Didn’t realize this was a ‘drinking to forget’ kind of night.”

            “Oh, I forgot. You’re the wise old bartender who’s seen it all!” Angel spoke confidently, but the look on his face was clearly not. “Get the fuck over yourself and pour me a real drink.”

            “Look, if you got a problem, you’re not going to find the solution at the bottom of a bottle,” said Husk. “I should know, I’ve been looking there a long time.”

            “Oh, sure, and where should I look, huh?” said Angel, scoffing. He wiggled his eyebrows. “In your bedroom, maybe? Under the covers? Maybe we can go and look together.”

            “Angel, we’re actually worried,” said (Y/N), walking over. “We want to make sure you’re okay and take care of yourself.”

            “I’m fine,” snapped Angel. “I don’t need any help.”

            “Cut the act,” said Husk. “We can both see through it. You’re just lying to yourself and being fake.”

            “Call me a fake one more time, motherfuckers!” Angel snapped, leaning forward towards (Y/N) and Husk angrily.

            “Angel—” began (Y/N), reaching out slightly.

            “Just leave me alone!” snapped Angel. He slapped their hand away. “Ya know what?! Ya’re all fucking lucky to be talkin’ to me! And you—” he glared at Husk “—would be lucky to fuck me! Ya know how much I’m worth?!” He was clearly spiraling. “Ya know how many people would kill to have Angel Dust come onto them?! Fuck you!” He spun on (Y/N), who flinched back. “And you! Just leave me alone! Stop trying the nice act on me! Acting like you’re innocent and nice when you’re just as much a sinner as us! Just fucking stop!”

            (Y/N) flinched back as Angel stormed out. Their chest constricted, and they were overwhelmed as words from their past came to the surface. (Y/N) stumbled back even as Vaggie came around the corner. They could vaguely hear Vaggie asking Husk what had happened, but everything was faraway, like (Y/N) was underwater.

            (Y/N) pulled away from the group, and as the edges of their vision blurred, they stumbled away, farther into the hotel.

            Away. Need to get away.

            (Y/N) collapsed in a darkened corner of the hotel.

            “Don’t act innocent. You’re a filthy sinner, and if you don’t start obeying me, you’re going straight to Hell.”

            (Y/N) curled up, putting their hands around their knees. Unbidden, roses and briars bloomed around them, creating a protective barrier that couldn’t hide (Y/N) from the words echoing in their mind.

            “I saw you in Church. You weren’t paying attention. Can’t you do anything right? Do you want to burn for all eternity?”

            (Y/N) squeezed their eyes shut and put their hands over their ears, but nothing could block out their memories.

            “You’ve brought this on yourself. You refuse to atone for your sins, so I must deliver you from yourself.”

            (Y/N) flinched, and phantom pain blossomed on their back.

            “You are a sinner! You bring sin into this household! You must atone!”

            (Y/N) curled farther in on themself.

            I’m fine. I’m free. None of them can hurt me again. I’m fine. I’m fine. I’m fine.

            “I’m fine. They can’t hurt me. I won. I won. I won.”

            “Sinner. Filthy. Dirty.”

            “No, no, no, you were the filthy one. You hurt me.” (Y/N) murmured. “They hurt me, and I punished them.”

            “Wrong. Mistake. Abomination.”

            “I did the right thing. I did the right thing. I did the right thing.”

            “You have to atone.”

            “Can’t hurt me. Can’t hurt me. Can’t hurt me.”

            (Y/N) tried to breathe as their entire body ran hot, lungs too tight, the air too stuffy.

            And then something cool wrapped around them. (Y/N) tensed, but they were too exhausted to open their eyes, too scared to see the people they were so desperately trying to block out. So they just let the comforting temperature wrap around them, settling around them. It stilled their thoughts, delivering them from their own mental hell.

            (Y/N) let out a tired breath and held themself tightly. Whatever was settling around them felt like no enemy, and (Y/N) would take any bit of comfort they could find.

            They had never gotten any before.

l

            Alastor lurked within the shadows of the hotel, gazing over (Y/N)’s small, protective barrier. He loomed above, perfectly able to act as he wished, ready as ever to drive fear into all. Instead, Alastor let the shadows rise and settle around (Y/N)’s shoulders. Their breathing calmed, and Alastor pulled back farther into the shadows, satisfied.

            He could’ve frightened them. He could’ve driven them farther into their own madness. He could’ve pushed them and their magic to the brink to see if they had the strength to survive.

            But Alastor hadn’t. He’d heard the same words he’d spoken to himself so, so long ago. And he’d done what, perhaps, a different, faint version of himself would have wanted.

            Perhaps (Y/N) and he were not as different as he assumed.

            Instantly, Alastor retreated into the shadows. He would prefer to think over that new realization on his own. It presented quite a few considerations Alastor had so far avoided in his life.

l

            Much, much later in the evening, (Y/N) braved a return to the lobby to attempt to steal a drink before retreating to their room again.

            “Hey, kid?”

            (Y/N) froze and turned. Angel was standing across from them, rubbing his arm nervously.

            “Oh. Uh, hi.”

            “Listen, kid.” Angel stepped forward. “I’m, uh, I’m sorry. For earlier. I shouldn’t’ve said what I did. I was being stupid. You’re a good kid. And even if you’re in Hell, you’re betta than most of the sinners in the Hellhole.”

            “It’s okay,” said (Y/N), shifting uneasily. “You weren’t feeling well. I’m sorry for pushing.”

            “You, uh, cared,” said Angel. “It was nice of you. So thanks.”

            “You’re welcome.”

            Angel smiled slightly. “Are we okay?”

            (Y/N) nodded. “We are.” Angel wasn’t who (Y/N) had escaped. He was their friend.

            And whoever had helped them was their friend, too.

Taglist:

@kyalov

@pandaquick

@boredwithlifeatthispoint

@jaytheaceenby

@paastaboi

@bettybabys

@gxdoesstuff

@grippleback-galaxy

@just-here-reading

@dmitrytherat

@a-small-tyrant

@marxo5

@rory-cakes

@andsoigotabutterfly

@theblueslytherin

@romyoia

@ray-rook

@thereeallink

@pandaquick

@funkyexistence

@theyaremorethanjustfictional

@lanxianschoenheit

@justyourfriendlyneighbourhood1

@ringsofpersonti

@futureittomainn

@enderpearltv

@oo0lady-mad0oo

[starshipsofstarlord]

Sleep Through It All

kai parker works other tvd works main masterlist

Summary -> Y/N and Kai had a brunch and coffee date planned, however Kai doesn’t keep to their schedule, frustrating his pregnant girlfriend, and thus when he finally wakes up, he has to make it up to her (1k)

Warnings -> sleepy!kai, fluff, slight angst, mentions of torture & Kai’s past, pregnancy, siphoning, mentions of sex

He had been reliving the same day over and over in the prison world, it was his endless punishment to never experience all the things life had to offer. Whilst many people didn’t see it that way, Kai was also a victim under your pretences, his father isolated and abused him all because he was born a siphon - an abomination as others had described him as. And now he was a free man, also a heretic, not to mention your life partner.

When you had first met Kai Parker he was curious, not just about the modern world he had escaped back into, but you too. All of your friends had warned you of his newspaper worthy past and all the cruel antics that he was forcing them to endure, however you couldn’t relate to the personal and individual pain that he had caused them, it was odd but he never laid harm onto you. He seemed sweet when you were by yourselves, it appeared when it was only the two of you by your lonesomes that he was an ordinary man. He would smile and laugh without the sociopathic demeanour behind his amusement, it was innocent and endearing to the point where you had started to fall for him; the him that was deep down and that nobody else saw.

And now there were no ongoing qualms; nothing to fight other than the stumps that came along in ordinary life, such as attempting to awake Kai on the other side of your bed. He was plagued with an abyss of sleep, snoring into his pillow that his face was adorably mushed into, as the one cheek that you could see was upturned in a calm smile. But it didn’t matter how many hours it had been since he had tiredly crashed upon the mattress, there was apparently no such thing as too much sleep for the one and only Kai Parker. Again you pried at his uncovered shoulder, huffing when you once again received no response! It had been all his idea to take you out late morning for something to eat alongside a steaming cup of the best coffee money could buy in Mystic Falls. Another groan surpassed your lips as you realised that there was little to no chance that your boyfriend was going to open his eyes before noon.

“I guess it’s just me and you.” Your hand gently laid over your stomach as you moves away from the bed; you were already dressed for the day you thought was ahead of you, in a nice flowy shirt that hid your small bump which was forming on your body, and a pair of jeans that you had struggled to get into. When you shortly reached the kitchen you headed straight for the cupboard, stealing Kai’s pork rinds as payback for his laziness. It took little time for you to finish eating the remains of the packet as you settled on the couch, distracting yourself with a movie and unbuttoning your tight jeans as you did your best to avoid looking at the passing time. Your hands once again found placement on your belly, soothing yourself by rubbing the babies through the layers of tissue and flesh and blood that separated you from them.

Everything appeared normal as you hoped to feel them kick for your attention, that was until a red glow bloomed around their home and your loving hands. And then you felt it, the shrivelling of strength as they drank from the power that was contained in your witch blood. It was how you had gotten impregnated in the first place; during the act of intimacy, Kai had somehow siphoned out the magic from his vampire side temporarily, therefore making your body susceptible to growing his Gemini seed. “Aargh.” The heave made your throat dry, you attempted to reach Kai, but as you stood you tumbled to the carpeted floor, your eyes fluttering closed as your consciousness slipped away and out of your control.

As you awoke, you could hear the muttering of a spell, each phrase desperately surpassing Kai’s trembling lips. There were bags drawn boldly beneath his eyes, and a scared craze within them as he looked into your own. The heretic had been terrified when he had surpassed the drowse that had riddled every inch of his body, mind and soul, or there lack of. He had found you drained of magic, much like he had been when he instinctively cuddled you in the night. “What happened?” Your voice was hoarse, and he felt guilty for being powerless in the situation. He should have heard your scream, and realised the obvious truth much much sooner.

“Our babies…” Kai trailed off, thinking this to be all his faulty. “They’re like me… siphons…” You should have realised it before all of this - Kai would never forget about a date, he never had before. They had been feeding from him as well, much earlier than he had when he was a baby, at least his powers and abilities had been patient until he had gotten out of the womb of his mother. “It’s okay baby,” he stroked your face, brushing the hair out of its frame as he cast you a sweet and calming smile despite his nerves. “We will find a way, or a spell, or an artefact that you can drain. We’ll do this one step at a time, together, for our babies.” He pressed a kiss upon your damp forehead as he helped you up, pulling out his phone so that he could order you both coffee and food to the door of your apartment. His eyebrows scrunched together as his eyes lingered on the coffee table before his eyes finally returned to you. “Did you eat my pork rinds?” It was a fair price you had to say for him knocking you up with his siphon spawn, but you still loved the twins you were carrying, and the man who remained by your side through it all.

[beestalesofarcadia]

Could I request some reactions from Draal, Blinky and Aargh on a teen human(gender neutral reader pls!) Who has the same personality as Marcy from Amphibia, showing them a bunch of video games they love please? Especially some being more gruesome then others, would love to read it! :D

Heck yeah dude!! I absolutely love Marcy <3 BTW this started off simple but I went off the rails completely lmao so sorry about that TwT

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

You are a close friend of Jim and Toby, having grown up with them on the same block. You became a trio: inseparable. You were with Jim as he picked up the amulet, you were running beside Toby as Bular hunted you three down, and you were beside the two as you graced the grounds of Trollmarket. Your mind is completely blown by it. You were already off running around: taking notes in your math notebook of what you saw, the types of trolls that were around, facts Blinky spewed out, and even that big blue grumpy one that threatened Jim in front of you!

While your intellect proves to be insightful on the battlefield, your clumsiness also poses a potential threat to yourself and others. Regardless, you’re a valued member of the Trollhunters and have garnered respect from most of Trollmarket (and even Vendel himself). You have helped countless times, and even put your life on the line for others. Now… here are the thoughts of some specific residents of Trollmarket! >:]

Draal

Before the duel with Jim, your optimism confuses him, if not annoys him. He legit just threatened to kill your best friend, and all you can do is stare at him with stars in your eyes. Great to have admirers, he supposes. Even if they are some imposter, wannabe Trollhunter’s ally. As you walk away with the group, he can’t help but guffaw as you trip over your feet. If these were the Trollhunter’s allies- the supposed saviors of man and trollkind- then the world truly was doomed.

After getting humbled by Jim, his attitude begins to shift more. Yes, there are moments of annoyance (especially when you ask to measure his horns or teeth and ramble about things he doesn’t understand), but overall you’re strange, and it’s amusing. You are easily impressed by nearby anything he does, and that’s fine. It’ll start to fuel his ego again.

You start to hang around Jim’s more often than not and Draal enjoys having you around. The majority of the time you’re taking notes, and when you’re not, you’re geeking out about some vampire books and other fixations. He tells you he’s met a few, and when you ask if they’re anything like in the shows you watch (attractive, seductive), he hits you with a hard “no” and laughs at your disappointment. Human’s obsession with vampires was so strange.

Draal teases you a lot, and even if it’s mean-spirited you just go along with it the majority of the time. If you do mention something, he’ll back down from it. But it doesn’t stop him from occasionally knocking that new novel you got from the library out of your hand.

Video games are rather confusing to him. Not that he hates them of course! But he doesn’t quite enjoy them as much as Arrrgh does. Of course, he’ll play the more violent games you have, but he doesn’t care for the shooters. He’d much rather tear them apart with his bare hands, thank you very much. There was one time when you had to beg Draal to not destroy your TV the first time you introduced him to Skyrim.

Table-top games on the other hand? Absolutely! He loves playing DnD with you. He likes having more interaction and freedom with the choices he makes when compared to video games where you have to follow the plot. Blinky or Toby often narrates when you have game nights with the group. Out of everyone, you and Draal are the most competitive. You two both get into character and often come up with strategies. Sometimes a little too much for everyone’s liking. The table often gets crushed, and there have been times when you both were at each other’s throats. 

You’re now his little sibling. No questions asked. You jokingly mention something along the lines of a “found-family” trope, and after a brief explanation of it, he just subtly agrees with that being your relationship with him. Prepare for a protective big brother, even if you know your way around trouble. 

Arrrgh

You both are automatically besties. That’s it, I don’t make the rules. There’s no doubt about it that you’re all over him when you first get to meet Arrrgh. While Jim is stressed about trolls in his home and Toby is freaking out, you’re bombarding the giant, green ball of moss with millions of questions. He thinks it's adorable and while slightly overwhelmed, he doesn’t mind responding to them. His answers are short and vague though, and Blinky ends up intervening and answers with more detail. 

It honestly doesn’t take a lot for him to grow attached to you. He finds your energy very endearing, and you manage to light up the room with it even during the most hopeless times. You surprisingly don’t get as overwhelmed compared to everyone else in the group, though it doesn’t stop Arrrgh from checking up on you. You might wanna write down how much of a good comfort buddy he is.

Speaking of which! If you are down, he won’t hesitate to do what he can to comfort you. If you need to vent, he is all ears. He isn’t much of a talker, but by God, he is a good listener. His advice is short and simple: usually straight to the point. Regardless, it doesn’t undermine how sweet and thoughtful his words are. Most of the time you talk about how overwhelming your parents are, and often he assures you that only wants the best for you but doesn’t know how to show it. A part of you thinks otherwise, but you know that they do mean well. 

When you visit Toby’s house, the three of you have movie nights. A pillow fort is made in Toby’s room and you both bring all the movies you can. There’s finally the night when you manage to convince the two (mainly Toby) to binge-watch Twilight. You get so giddy it was hard not to laugh at your reaction for Arrrgh. He doesn’t understand the plot, but he’s interested in it. As much as Toby wanted to hate it, he couldn’t help but rant about Bella’s decisions with you and listening how she could’ve bettered herself. Arrrgh just nods, having been seated between the two of you and not able to escape the conversation. 

This troll is pretty protective of you. You’re very capable of yourself, there’s no doubt about it. But again, your clumsiness is what gets you into trouble the majority of the time. There have been instances where you indirectly killed a goblin leader. Taking them head-on during their frenzied state is near impossible, but for Arrrgh, he’s more than willing to take it as a means of defending you. Thankfully, you are pretty witty, so you do find ways to drive them away from you.

As seen in the show, Arrrgh does love video games! You have a considerable amount of video games, ranging from violent ones like Mortal Combat to non-violent ones like Animal Crossing (one of Arrrgh’s favs). Knowing his past, you tend to stray away from the more mature games and settle for the “kiddie” stuff. Arrrgh loves Cooking Mama and Little Friends. Just remind him to be gentle with your switch- sometimes he forgets his strength.

Blinky:

Blinky would not hesitate to admit it, but it’s nice having someone who shares the same enthusiasm as he does! Especially when it comes to learning. While the troll cares deeply for Jim, he can admit that when it comes to their lessons, his less than enthusiastic attitude towards it can be drab. If not, a bit discouraging. With you, however, it’s a complete 180. He always sees you taking notes, commenting on their cultures with genuine intellect, and your analysis is always endearing to listen to. Although you still have much to learn, you are on the right track.

Besides that, you’re always a delight to be around with! He can’t help but admire your charming nature, even if at times you are ditzy. He knows you always mean well, so he can’t hold it against you. He’s most definitely “Marcy-proofed” his library; AKA, he’s put his more “delicate” items in safer places, and the potentially dangerous ones are hidden away.

While Blinky teaches you all the ropes of troll culture, you return the favor by explaining human culture to him. It’s honestly a mix of easy, and difficult. It’s not that Blinky’s dumb (no, far from that actually) or that you’re a bad teacher, it’s just the fact that he’s misinterpreted human customs and inventions for so many years. 

When he turns human, you are most definitely the one teaching him how to drive… which was, all in all, a terrible idea. You knew how to drive. You had just gotten your permit for Pete’s sake! Blinky on the other hand? He’s a wild rider. You lost track of how many times you both almost crashed into a divider just because he assumed you were able to drive on it, or how many times you prayed he wouldn’t take the yellow light. When he finally stopped driving, you insisted you could both walk home.

Video games aren't his forte. The concept of them is interesting, especially with how much they are able to fit into a small disk! But alas, they are but treats to the normal troll. Although it doesn't stop him from being interested in what you have to show. The gruesome games intrigue him. Do humans really like violence that much? It doesn't really shock him that much. They haven't changed much even after centuries, have they?

Like Arrrgh, he’s a good listener. His advice is genuine too, especially when you run away to Trollmarket when things aren’t going well at home. You’ve come there an alarming amount of times to a point the conditions of your home were concerning him. Especially when you break in front of him, wailing about the pressures and stress you feel from your parents and the potential of moving out of Arcadia. At home, you feel unloved if you don’t achieve your parents' goals. They have given you so much, yet you feel you give so little in return. You love your parents, but being with them is draining.

Although Troll's culture is different when it comes to humans, he knows the burdens of expectations are all the same. That pressure of knowing that your best isn’t enough… he’s felt that. He assures you that you are doing your best, more than others could. He assures you that your tears are not a sign of weakness, but a glimpse of your strength. He assures you that you are enough. It surprises him when you suddenly hug him, though it doesn’t stop him from embracing you as well.

[satureja13]

New Year's Eve already!

Jack calls the others for dinner.

Saiwa: "I wonder if we can stay sit and eat again - like on Winterfest?" But the others all damped his excitement. They are sure that was a one-time winterfest wonder.

And just a few seconds later... Vlad: "Aargh! I really tried but I need to stand up!" Jack: "Gods - I feel it too! Try to resist - there must be a way! I'll make a quick search!"

But it was futile... Saiwa: "At least we tried. And four of us are still sitting at least. Let's eat." (Editor's Note: This is really beyond me. On Winterfest we even had deco, place mats and mugs on the table and they all ate while staying sit! I didn't even decorate the table this time. And why do the others sit and eat and Vlad and Jack got up?)

Then they gathered in front of the TV. Because no way they are going to watch a three hour movie while sitting -.- (And here they all stood up - except Vlad ... )

Like last year, they are watching the Bollywood Classic 'Happy New Year' together.

A few minutes to midnight, they turned off the lights and gathered for the fireworks. Jack: "Can I light the first one?" Saiwa: " 'Course you can. After the sparklers." Kiyoshi: "Are you sure it's save to light fireworks in the indoors?"

Little Goat: 'Get ready for the show!'

Malfoy took Kumo away from the others. He's not as adventurous as the Little Goats. Malfoy: 'You should be save here.' Kumo: 'Thanks, Mal.'

Jack: "See, it's perfectly save." Kiyoshi: "I don't know..."

Jeb: "How beautiful!"

Well, Kioyshi was right. As soon as they lit the fireworks, they started to burn...

Jack: "Oh come on!" (Ji Ho thinks Kiyoshi is so brave and cool ^^')

Jack: "It's New Year's Eve - the tradition demands we have to make noise to chase the evil spirits away!" Saiwa: "I have to agree with Jack. We need every good luck we can possibly get. Let's try the battery." Kiyoshi: "Guys..."

Nice try - now they're all burned...

Saiwa: "Ach, dammit! How are we supposed to find the tin can and the meteorites when we can't even have a proper firework?"

Skully had the idea of saving. He turned his record player on and played loudly the theme song from the movie they'd watched. Skully: "That should do!"

'Yoon toh seedhe bade. Kabhi chahe toh haathon se lete lakeerein chura O humko parwah nahi. Joh bhi kehta hai kehne de jag yeh bhala ya bura Jaisi bhi marzi ho hamari.Karte hai aisi hoshyari Par dil se yaar joh le pukaar toh jaan nisaar kar daale'

'Usually we're very simple But if we want we can steal the lines from one's palms We don't care what the world says about us, good or bad Whatever we desire we attain that by using our smartness But if someone calls from their heart then we'll sacrifice our life for them'

India Waale - Happy New Year OST

That was enough excitement for one day. The Boys decided to share their New Years hugs and kisses and then head to their quarters and take a shower...

Jack: "Happy New Year, mate." Kiyoshi: "Tch."

Jack: "A New Year's kiss for your mate?" Kiyoshi: "Tch."

Jack: "Hey, just for good luck, hm?" Kiyoshi: "Tch." Sai and Jeb are already sharing the second kiss - just for good measure :3

Jack: "Hey, where are you going?"

Jack: "Oh..."

Little Goat: 'What a show!'

From the Beginning 🔱 Underwater Love 🔱 Latest

Current Chapter 'Goats in Space': starts ▶️ here Last Chapter: 'Piglets in Space' from the beginning ▶️ here

📚 Previous Chapters: Chapters: 1-6 ~ 7-12 ~ 13-16 ~ 23-29

[enniyart]

Trollhunter!Nomura AU (part 1)

This AU was made by me and @elegantjellyfishwerewolf (check her account to find more information about it).

Now I want to tell you the beginning of this story.

At this AU Strickler begin to date Barbara two months before the main events. Their relationship got started because of Jim's lack of sleep and lateness at school. As a result, Strickler and Barbara become very close to each other and Jim Jim begins to subconsciously perceive Strickler as his father.

//two months later//

After Kanjigar’s death Strickler gives an order to Nomura to check the canal and take the amulet before it will choose another trollhunter. As Nomura came to the canal the amulet calls out her name and she realizes that it’s not good to her. Because of fear that Bular and Janus Order will kill her as soon as she would open the bridge, she doesn’t go to Strickler.

Instead of it Nomura goes to hide in her apartments where Blinky and Aargh visit her and say that she is new trollhunter now. They quickly understand that she is changeling, Nomura runs from them at the panic and trolls go chasing her. At the same time Toby goes out from dentist and notices three running creatures at twilight. He feels a bit scared but at the same time curious and decides to follow them on a bike. After a “jogging” trolls and changeling come to a temporary truce because Blinky and Aargh realize that Nomura isn’t interested at opening the bridge and Nomura doesn’t see aggression towards herself in their behavior. Toby hears their entire conversation, but reveals his presence with some noise. Nomura notices him and is going to kill him as witness, but Blinky stops her from that and they let Domzalski go on the condition that he does not tell anyone what he saw.

At the same time at the Lake house Strickler proposed to Barbara to get married at dinner and she accepts it. Some later at the same evening he gets an information from goblins that the new trollhuner is Nomura now and it makes him nervous because she knows EVERYTHING about their plans. He sends an urgent order to send NotEnrique on the surface to replace by him Nomura’s place and go by himself to get Angor Rot from his prison because he isn’t sure in Bular’s powers. He wants to destroy the new trollhunter as soon as possible.Strickler brings Angor to Arcadia the very next day. As in canon, Angor doesn’t trust to changeling words that his soul will be free again and preparing a trap to him. At some critical moment Strickler barks at his slave saying something like “Do anything!” and at the next moment Angor cuts off part of left hand on which he was wearing Inferno Copula. Angor takes back his soul but let Strickler go.

Walter gets to the hospital and Barbara is very shocked at the way he looks like. After an attempt was made on Strickler's life while he was in the ward, the fact is that the Order of Janus, specifically Otto, found out about Walt's offer about marriage and decided that their leader had softened. There is an explosion in the hospital as a result of which Strickler survives, but Barbara....does not. At this time Angor decides to redeem himself and therefore comes to the Trollmarket to take on the duties of an absent trollhunter. At first, trolls don’t trust him and a bit afraid of killer, but Vendel because of rumors that the new trollhunter might be a human or changeling decides to accept Angor’s proposal. Draal initially perceives this decision of the elder negatively and challenges Angor to a duel during which he loses (the fight was not public, so Draal did not lose his honor), but Angor decides not to kill him and so they both begin to respond to the calls that were intended for the hunter.

While Nomura moves from her apartments to motel, Strickler replaces the missing part of his arm with a prosthesis (a metal prosthesis with hidden golden claws) and finds out who organized the attempt on him (it was Otto). He comes to the Order of Janus and demonstratively kills Otto (who has already managed to proclaim himself the new head) in front of other changelings, as if saying that he should not be discounted. The changelings recognize Strickler's power and he becomes the leader of the order again.

Enrique is substituted, but NotEnrique verysoon reveals his essence to Claire and she threatens the changeling and asks him to take her to her brother, but Neenrique decides to bring her to the entrance to the Trollmarket in the hope that by penetrating there she will be eaten and he will get rid of the witness. Claire enters the Trollmarket and getting found by Angor. Nunez, impressed by the magic of Angor Rot, asks him to start training her to prepare before going to the Darklands and saving her brother. Angor initially refuses, but Claire is too persistent and determined in her desire to save her brother, so Angor reluctantly agrees, hoping that she will leave after a couple of grueling training sessions or die in the course of training.Nomura understands that the influence of Janus order is growing and it would be better for her to go to Trollmarket, but she also understands that the trolls most likely will not accept her until she proves that she can be trusted. Therefore, she, along with Blinky, Aaarrgh and Toby, who has followed them, come up with a plan to kill Bular. Everything is going according to plan and Nomura, along with Bular's head, goes to the troll market to finally take her place as a trollhunter.

Part 2 here

[winternet-s]

MISUNDERSTOOD ( slam dunk )

summary : After moving to Japan over a year ago, [Name] faces the challenges of xenophobia, cultural barriers, and fitting into a society that sees her as an outsider. As she struggles with isolation, an unexpected encounter with Hanamichi Sakuragi, the school's notorious red-haired delinquent, throws her life into even more chaos. Between harsh whispers in the hallways and the surprising friendships she forms, [Name] is about to discover that fitting in means more than just blending into the background.

notes : hey...🧍🏿‍♀️how you doing LMAOOO MY BAD Y’ALL I WAS UNMOTIVATED SO I HOPE YOU ENJOY THE READING 🎀 ! lowkey wanna make a hanamichi x reader but aargh idkk, karin is the bully’s name btw in case you forgot

wc : around 3k

MASTERLIST

III. THE DUAL

— Her gaze fell on Hanamichi, sharp and desperate, the kind of look that screamed, Why must you always make things harder? Her lips parted slightly as if words might follow, but none came, only a long, exasperated sigh that said it all. There was no need for explanation—the message was clear in the weight of her stare, a silent plea for him to stop whatever ridiculous scheme he was plotting before it spiraled completely out of control.

You pressed your palm to your forehead, inhaling sharply.

“Really? Didn’t I just say not to do anything stupid?” Your voice carried a tone of sheer exasperation, as though this situation had drained the last bit of patience she had left.

You glanced at Haruko, who was frozen in the doorway, her hands clutched tightly in front of her. The disbelief on Haruko's face was palpable, her wide eyes reflecting the shock of witnessing such a chaotic scene. Slowly, her expression shifted less startled and more... disappointed.

“You weren’t like this in my mind, Sakuragi-kun…” Haruko’s voice trailed off, her words soft yet firm, as though realizing that the image she'd built of him was crumbling.

You sighed heavily, already bracing yourself for the mess that would undoubtedly follow. You gave Hanamichi a sideways glance, your expression torn between irritation and resignation. "Great. Just great. Now she thinks you’re a lunatic," you muttered under your breath, crossing your arms as you waited for him to save what little he could of the moment.

Haruko who was standing frozen for a moment, her wide eyes locked on the crimson streak trickling down Rukawa’s forehead. Her heart pounded, not from admiration this time, but from a surge of worry she couldn't suppress. Her fists clenched tightly at her sides, her nails digging into her palms as she bit her lip.

"Sakuragi-kun..Everybody said that Sakuragi-kun was very bad and scary but I thought you weren’t that kind of person and wouldn’t do that sort of thing.."

You stand awkwardly near Hanamichi's gang, the air thick with a mix of tension and something else—an odd kind of awkwardness that’s hard to place. Your eyes drift to Rukawa, who remains utterly unfazed, the blood trickling from his forehead seemingly irrelevant to him. His expression is cool, detached, as though none of this concerns him. In contrast, Hanamichi is stiff beside you, his face flushed—not with anger, but with the unmistakable embarrassment of being in Haruko’s presence.

Caught in the awkward stillness, unsure whether to speak or stay silent. The tension feels like a rubber band stretched to its limit, but it’s not just about the fight anymore—it’s the quiet clash of emotions, embarrassment, and indifference that keeps everyone rooted in place.

“I misjudged you Sakuragi-kun !!” The young girl exclaimed before darting off in the opposite direction of Rukawa, leaving Sakuragi behind, wailing with exaggerated, almost comical tears streaming down his face.

You stared at the scene, completely lost. Everyone around you spoke so fast that the words blended together into an overwhelming blur. You furrowed your brow, glancing between the group and the direction the girl had run, trying to make sense of the chaos.

“Y-you guys speak too fast,” you muttered, sweat-dropping as you rubbed the back of your neck awkwardly. “I don’t fully understand what’s going on now...”

Sakuragi’s gang barely seemed to notice your confusion, too busy trying to calm their bawling leader, while Haruko was already a speck in the distance. You sighed, feeling more out of place than ever, the cultural gap yawning wide in moments like these. 

“I really need to catch up.”

–

A day had passed, and it didn’t take much to notice the strange shift in the redhead’s demeanor. Sakuragi, usually bursting with his trademark energy and overconfidence, seemed oddly down, his shoulders slumped as if carrying the weight of the world. There was a gloomy air about him that felt completely out of place. But the strangest part was his reaction to basketballs.

Whenever he passed by someone playing, his entire demeanor shifted. His jaw would tighten, and his eyes would narrow with an intensity that felt almost out of character. If the sound of dribbling reached his ears, his mood soured instantly.

And when his gaze fell on the players themselves laughing, shooting, and passing the ball it was as if a switch flipped.

Lost in his cloudy thoughts, Sakuragi’s foggy eyes barely registered the world around him. He didn’t even noticed the basketball hurtling toward him until it was too late. The impact was sharp and unforgiving, square on his face, sending him stumbling back slightly. Blood trickled from his nose, but to everyone’s shock, Sakuragi didn’t explode in his usual fiery rage.

The gang froze, wide-eyed, waiting for the inevitable outburst. But it never came. Instead, Sakuragi simply stood there, eerily calm. His hand reached up to touch his nose briefly, smearing the blood before his gaze dropped to the ball at his feet. Slowly, he crouched, picking it up in silence.

You could feel the tension in the air, thick and heavy. The two responsible for the accident stood a few feet away, shaking like leaves in a storm. They knew all too well the redhead’s reputation as a hotheaded delinquent, and his uncharacteristic calm only made their fear worse.

From where you stood, you had seen everything unfold in real-time. Your jaw dropped, your mouth hanging open in disbelief. It wasn’t just the hit or the blood that caught you off guard—it was his reaction. Sakuragi was unpredictable, sure, but this? This was something entirely new, and it left you just as stunned as everyone else around him.

Quickening your pace toward the group, your thoughts raced just as fast. The hold Haruko has on him is insane, you mused, barely able to process the scene before you.

Everything escalated in the blink of an eye. Sakuragi, ball still in hand, suddenly lunged at the two boys responsible. They yelped out hurried apologies, but it didn’t stop him. His gang tried to intervene, only to be met with his infamous headbutts as he powered through anyone in his way. Caught in the whirlwind of chaos, you felt compelled to speak. “Hanamichi, r-remem…” you stuttered, the unfamiliar word catching on your tongue. You paused, frustration bubbling. “Man, how do you even pronounce that…?”

At the sound of your voice, Sakuragi froze mid-motion, turning to look at you. His expression softened just slightly, and, to your surprise, he actually answered. “Remember!” he said, enunciating the word with exaggerated clarity. “R-re... remem-ber?” you said hesitantly, your accent dragging the word into unfamiliar territory.

Sakuragi’s jaw dropped, his expression torn between disbelief and agony. “No! That’s not even close! Are you even trying?!” He threw his arms into the air, groaning dramatically. Your eyes narrowed, a flicker of irritation bubbling up in your chest. “I am trying! You’re just not explaining it well!” you shot back, your voice defensive.

Sakuragi spun around, clutching his head like he was on the verge of losing his mind. “How hard can it be?! It’s one word!” Your cheeks burned, more from frustration than embarrassment, as you planted your hands on your hips. “Maybe if you stopped yelling at me, I’d actually get it!”

“Yelling?!” He whirled back to face you, his expression almost comically offended. “This isn’t yelling! I’m motivating you!”

You huffed, your lips tightening into a line as you fought to keep your composure. But your patience snapped when he mimicked you, his exaggerated pronunciation making your blood boil. “Motivating? You’re just being loud!” you snapped before switching to French, the words spilling out in a frustrated flurry. “Franchement, t’es insupportable! Tu crois que c’est comme ça qu’on apprend?!”*

Sakuragi blinked, his mouth slightly agape as he stared at you like you’d just grown a second head. “Huh? What—what did you just say?!”

“I said you’re impossible!” you shot back, still in French, crossing your arms as you glared at him. “Et franchement, j’en ai marre de tes crises!”*

His confusion deepened, his brow furrowing as he tried—and failed—to decipher your words. “What’s that supposed to mean?! Are you making fun of me?!”

You couldn’t help but smirk at his bewildered expression. “Peut-être,”* you teased, your tone light but your eyes glinting mischievously.

“That’s it!” Sakuragi threw his hands up in the air, his face turning redder by the second. “You’re doing it on purpose! Stop speaking in... in whatever that is!”

“It’s French, idiot,” you said with a sigh, shaking your head as you rolled your eyes. “And if you don’t like it, maybe try being less i-nsuf— whatever…” You trailed off, still fumbling with the word. The tension thickened in the air as you struggled to pronounce it, and the frustration in your voice only made it worse.

Sakuragi, standing just a few steps away, couldn’t help himself. He let out a loud, mocking laugh, throwing his head back dramatically. “Insufferable?!” he repeated, his voice ringing with disbelief, practically gasping in exaggerated horror. “You can’t even say it right!”

You bit your lip, doing your best to keep your composure, though it was hard to ignore the heat creeping up your neck. You spun around quickly, your back facing him now as you muttered, “It’s not my fault you’re so annoying.” The last word slipped out a little too loudly, but you didn’t care anymore.

But you knew him well enough to understand that he wasn’t about to let it go. “And by the way,” you continued, your voice a little softer now, tinged with a hint of exasperation, “Haruko hates you right now.”

Sakuragi froze mid-laugh, his hand still outstretched in the air, his posture suddenly rigid. His face contorted for a moment, the usual cocky grin vanishing as reality hit him harder than any of your words could. His eyes flickered away from you, and his lips pressed into a thin line, a flicker of something vulnerable—something you hadn’t seen often—crossing his features. It was rare for him to drop the facade.

“You don’t have to remind me...” he muttered, his voice softer now, barely audible. The usual bravado that defined him faltered, leaving behind only the weight of his own frustration.

Your stance softened too, feeling an unexpected pang of sympathy. But you couldn't let him off the hook entirely. “Hey, it’s not like you’re entirely innocent,” you said, teasing lightly, though the tone didn’t come out quite as playful as you’d intended.

Suddenly, the familiar cockiness was back. Sakuragi’s shoulders tensed, his hands balling into fists as his voice cracked in a way you hadn't expected. “And how could I not?!” he added, his tone switching to one of genuine exasperation, his earlier nonchalance giving way to something more raw. “It’s because of basketball that Haruko-chan h-hates me!”

The moment hung in the air, his declaration louder and more serious than his usual bluster. His words, tinged with frustration and self-pity, rang in your ears long after they were spoken. The atmosphere shifted as you stood there, sweat-dropping, your mind spinning in confusion.

You glanced around quickly, seeing the gang recovering from the earlier chaos, clearly used to Sakuragi’s wild antics. But as you observed him, caught somewhere between self-doubt and irritation, it was hard to reconcile the blustering fool with the person standing before you now.

Meanwhile, the absurdity of it all settled into the moment. How could things go from ridiculous to awkward so quickly? The gang wondered, as you were about to apologize a new figure came into view. A tall, broad-shouldered man stepped forward, his presence immediately shifting the atmosphere. He wore a simple T-shirt, tucked neatly into his sport pants, the fabric stretching slightly over his muscular build. His posture was upright, exuding a quiet confidence, while his serious expression and sharp eyes made it clear that he wasn’t someone to be trifled with as he moved closer, the group instinctively quieted, sensing the weight of his authority, even though they had no idea who he was just yet.

Without a word, he reached forward, gripping Hanamichi's collar with surprising strength and pulling him back. 

“Not another fight, please…” you pleaded, your hands pressed together as you stepped forward. Your voice was a mix of frustration and hope, hoping to stop things before they got out of hand again. You looked around at the others, but no one seemed ready to intervene—everyone was too caught up in the tension, and it was clear they all expected things to get worse.

Mito and the others were caught off guard by the new arrival’s towering height and his clear, undeniable strength. You couldn’t help but stare as he scolded his teammates, the sharp knock he gave one of them on the top of their head showing just how much authority he carried. The tension in the air seemed to thicken, but before anyone could fully react, things shifted in a way none of you could have expected.

Out of nowhere, Hanamichi—of all people—stepped right in front of the new captain, his head tilted to the side, brows furrowed like he was trying to figure something out. And then, in true Hanamichi fashion, he slapped the basketball right into the captain’s face, with an unceremonious thwack that echoed across the school courtyard.

The group—you included—froze in a collective panic, watching as the captain stood there, completely unphased.

“Bastard!! WHAT CAPTAIN!? WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL?!” Hanamichi shouted, still oblivious to the gravity of the situation. His voice rang out, causing everyone to flinch as he thrashed in the grip of his friends, who were now trying their best to keep him from causing even more chaos.

“Hanamichi!!” someone yelled in desperation, their voice tinged with panic.

“Stop! The opponent isn’t human!!” Nozomi cried, clearly trying to make Hanamichi realize just how serious this was. The shock and urgency in his tone made it clear: this wasn’t just another schoolyard scuffle.

"I HATE THE BASKETBALL TEAM THE MOST!! WHAT'S SO GREAT ABOUT SUCH A CRAPPY GAME!?" Hanamichi shouted, his frustration reaching its peak. As you observed the scene, you could feel the tension mounting between him and the basketball team. The team captain’s demeanor changed almost instantly, his expression hardening as his anger flared.

“A crappy game?” The captain’s voice dropped, becoming much deeper, colder. His knuckles cracked ominously as he prepared to charge at Hanamichi. “YOU SAID IT WAS A CRAPPY GAME!! YOU FOOL, LET’S GO!” He shouted, his fury matching Hanamichi’s. But his teammates quickly intervened, grabbing him in an attempt to hold him back, knowing full well the potential chaos this confrontation could lead to.

Still, the captain was blinded by rage, just as Hanamichi was, neither of them willing to back down. It was as if the world had narrowed down to just them and their burning resentment.

“They are draining…” you muttered out loud, a sigh escaping you as you took in the scene. The gang, still holding onto Hanamichi to prevent him from charging again, couldn’t help but agree with you, their faces showing clear signs of exhaustion from the escalating situation.

And just then, the captain’s face morphed into something almost frightening. His expression darkened, his eyes narrowing in a way that sent a cold shiver down your spine. The intensity in his glare made it clear that this wasn’t just about a basketball game anymore—it was personal.

—

The idea of the year—a basketball duel. It seemed simple enough, but so far, Hanamichi looked less like the fiery challenger everyone expected and more like a sad puppy. His hands trembled, his wide eyes glistening as if on the verge of overflowing.

As Akagi, the team captain, sternly explained the rules, Hanamichi's composure completely crumbled. A single tear rolled down his cheek, quickly followed by another, until the tears were streaming freely. He didn’t even bother wiping them away, standing there looking utterly defeated before the game had even begun.

You could only sigh, crossing your arms as you shook your head. “Really?” you muttered under your breath.

The sight was equal parts pitiful and ridiculous, and yet, entirely in character for Hanamichi. You sighed again, wondering what on earth was going through his head. Was he really scared, or was this some sort of elaborate act?

Before you could dwell on it too long, his demeanor shifted in the blink of an eye. The tears vanished as if they’d never been there, replaced by a familiar, cocky grin. His chest puffed out, and he crossed his arms with exaggerated confidence.

“HAA DON’T UNDERESTIMATE ME!” he barked, his voice loud enough to echo across the school grounds. “I’ll steal your ball soon!” You blinked, baffled by the sudden change. One second, he was a teary mess, and now he was acting like he’d already won the match. The sheer audacity of it left you speechless, though you couldn’t help but chuckle. 

You stand near the edge of the court, eyes fixed on Hanamichi as he stumbles through the game. It’s not basketball; it’s a circus. But it’s his circus, and he’s putting on a show for everyone, due to the fact that his way of playing was...special.

The crowd watches with varying reactions: cheers, laughter, and, of course, the sharp-edged commentary from Karin and her group just a few feet away.

“Is he even trying?” Karin scoffs, her voice loud enough to carry. “Looks like he’s auditioning for a clown show.” A couple of her friends giggle, nudging each other. You glance at them, irritation bubbling up.

“At least he’s doing something,” you say, your voice steady despite your growing annoyance. “Unlike people who just talk and do nothing.” Karin’s head tilts, a mocking smile curling on her lips. “Oh, sorry, what was that? Can someone translate? I don’t speak... whatever she’s saying.”

Nozomi, Karin’s friend, was standing slightly apart from the group, doesn’t laugh. She crosses her arms and glances away, as if disinterested in the whole scene. Before you can respond, a familiar voice chimes in.

“Want a translation?” Yohei says, sauntering over with Hanamichi’s gang in tow. He throws a lazy grin at Karin’s group. “She said... at... least... he’s... got... guts,” he says, drawing each word out painfully slow, like he’s speaking to a child.

Ōkusu leans in, hands on his hips. “Uuunnlike... youuuuuu,” he adds with exaggerated enunciation. Karin’s friends exchange awkward looks, clearly unsure how to react. Karin glares at Yohei but doesn’t respond.

Noma takes it a step further, mimicking her tone. “What’s that? Didn’t catch it? Should we slow it down more?” You bite back a smile, watching as their mockery turns the tables. Even Nozomi’s lips twitch, though she quickly hides it by looking away.

Karin huffs, rolling her eyes. “Whatever. You’re all idiots,” she snaps before stalking off, her friends scrambling to follow. “Good riddance,” Yohei says, flashing you a grin. “Don’t let them get to you.” 

A small, genuine smile forms on your lips, and you give them a quick, thankful glance.

"Thanks, guys," you say, your voice steadier now. The tension eases, and for the first time in what feels like hours, you feel a spark of warmth in their camaraderie. And they were quick to go back into teasing their red head.

MASTERLIST

–

FRENCH DICTIONARAY

1.“Franchement, t’es insupportable! Tu crois que c’est comme ça qu’on apprend?!”* : to be honest you're annoying ! You think that’s how we learn?!"

2. “Et franchement, j’en ai marre de tes crises": and frankly, I’m sick of your tantrums.

3."Peut-être,”*: maybe

—

Winnies notes : im french so it’s sm easier for me to write in these type of scenes 😔🫶🏾

[blueiscoool]

Steve Silver stands inside his 5,000-square-foot loft in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. Silver, a painter, moved into the loft in 1979.

A Look Inside New York’s Historic Artist Lofts

The Last of Their Kind.

They used to be printing shops, garment factories and flophouses. Now they’re some of the coolest artist spaces you’ll ever see.

These unique, expansive lofts, rarely seen by the public, are all over New York City.

For decades, they’ve been occupied by painters, sculptors and other artists who moved in when manufacturers started leaving the city in the second half of the 20th century.

“When people think of New York City as a cultural epicenter, these are the artists that they’re envisioning,” said Joshua Charow, a photographer and filmmaker who has spent the past few years documenting the artists and their studios for his book “Loft Law: The Last of New York City’s Original Artist Lofts.”

Artist Claire Ferguson moved into her loft in the city’s Tribeca neighborhood in 1981. At the time, the building in Lower Manhattan had a mix of artists and industrial tenants. “The floor below me was a paintbrush factory,” she told photographer and filmmaker Joshua Charow. “The floor above me put lines on paper before they had offset printing, and they had these huge machines. They had a guillotine that cut through the reams of paper every morning. At 6 a.m., they would turn it on, and it was this noise, aargh!”

JG Thirlwell’s loft in Brooklyn’s Dumbo neighborhood doubles as his home recording studio. “Loft living is not for everyone,” he told Charow. “You’re responsible for everything in here, and not everyone wants a life like that.”

A cat rests inside the Tribeca loft of Ken and Flo Jacobs, experimental filmmakers who moved into the space in 1965. At the time, the monthly rent for the 2,000-square-foot loft was just $70.

For the first half of the 20th century, New York City was a major manufacturing center. Factories were all over, producing everything from ice cream to torpedoes.

But when companies started finding it profitable to move their operations to other parts of the country and the world, many buildings were abandoned. By the 1960s and ‘70s, industrial neighborhoods, including those we now know as SoHo and Tribeca in Lower Manhattan, were largely deserted.

Landlords were desperate to find tenants. A big problem, however, was that the buildings were not zoned for residential use. Many of them didn’t have kitchens or showers, or even electricity or heat.

“The only people that would rent the space were artists,” Charow said. “And that’s because (the buildings) had tall ceilings, so they could make big work. They had big windows to let in lots of light. The spaces were completely raw, in many circumstances.”

Anne Mason sits in front of one of her late husband’s paintings in the loft they lived in together in the Little Italy neighborhood of Lower Manhattan. Frank Mason died in 2009, but his wife preserved his studio and his paintings.

Plants thrive in the natural light of the Midtown loft Bob Petrucci and Ray Bailey call home. It’s on the 16th floor of a building previously used as a necktie factory.

Artists would move into the empty factories and warehouses and make them more livable spaces. It was technically illegal, of course, but everyone was benefiting and the once-abandoned neighborhoods started to thrive again.

By the end of the ’70s, however, loft living had become quite fashionable and some landlords were looking to cash in, pushing out the artists for a wealthier clientele.

The artists pushed back, and in 1982 state lawmakers enacted Article 7-C of the New York Multiple Dwelling Law, which is commonly known as the 1982 Loft Law. This legislation gave protection and rent stabilization to people who had been living in these spaces. It also required landlords to bring the units up to residential code.

When the law was enacted, Charow says in his book, there were tens of thousands of artists living in lofts across the city. Now just a few hundred remain.

Noah Jemison moved to his Williamsburg loft in 1980. He remembers his neighborhood not having as much traffic as it does now. “You could walk down the streets and see nobody,” he told Charow. “It was a place where you could hear yourself think. It was perfect for artists.”

A scan of a 1913 blueprint shows one of the Manhattan buildings Charow photographed. New York City was a major manufacturing center for the first half of the 20th century.

Painter Betsy Kaufman walks inside her Tribeca loft. She uses the front half as her studio. It still has its original wooden floors.

Legislation enacted in 1982 allowed loft residents in New York to establish legal residence and have their living spaces brought up to code. It also stabilized their rent and protected them from eviction.

Charow wanted to document these artists — and their extraordinary lofts — before their numbers dwindled even more. He found a map of the remaining protected buildings and went door to door to see whether their tenants would be willing to share their story with him.

He was often rejected at first. But over time, more doors started to open up as people he met would introduce him to others.

Over the past three years, Charow has photographed 75 artists — 30 of whom are in his book.

“My life has been greatly enriched by meeting some of these artists and learning about their lives and their stories,” Charow said. “It’s had a big impact on just my life, and I can’t imagine how much of an impact this group of people has had on the city as a whole.”

Art created by Carolyn Oberst and Jeff Way adorn the walls of the loft they share in Tribeca. They live on the top two floors of a building they started renting in 1975. “I won’t tell you what it cost, but it was very cheap. We’ll just leave it at that,” Way told Charow. “But that was an incentive to fix it up. It was sweat equity, they called it.”

Ellen Christine makes new hats and restores old ones. She’s one of the last milliners in New York City. “In the 1930s, you could walk down any street, and there would be at least 30 milliners,” she said. “It was just (that) everybody wore hats, you see… So they needed new ones all the time.”

Curtis Mitchell remembers when he first walked into his loft in the Dumbo neighborhood of Brooklyn. The building used to be an ice cream factory. “It looked just like a dream,” he said. “To me, it still is a dream. It’s a fantastic place. Cold as hell in the winter and hot as hell in the summer, but I don’t care.”

One of Charow’s favorite spaces was the Bowery loft of Carmen Cicero, who is now 97 years old but moves with the energy of someone much younger, Charow said. Cicero lives in the loft with his wife, the art historian Mary Abell. Filling the space are hundreds of Cicero’s paintings, some bigger than he is.

“When you dream of what a painter in their loft in New York would be like, it’s Carmen,” Charow said. “And he’s filled with incredible stories. He has such phenomenal stories of his time as an artist here.”

Cicero’s work can be found in the permanent collections of the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Museum of Modern Art and the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

He told Charow the story of how he got his big break: “I had a lot of friends who thought I was a really remarkable painter. One day, they said, ‘Carmen, you’re going to a gallery.’ And they had two guys grab my feet, and two guys grab my arms — they threw me in the car and said, ‘We’re going.’ We went to four or five galleries, and almost every one of them wanted my work — I was lucky.”

Carmen Cicero lives in the Bowery, which has one of the highest concentration of Loft Law-protected buildings in the city. The painter moved to New York in 1971, after his home studio in New Jersey went up in flames

Charow says it has been a thrill to meet these artists and listen to their stories.

“The spaces are beautiful and interesting and historic in their own ways. But without the artists, these spaces lose the significance and the interest to me,” he said. “The artists are the ones who are giving the spaces meaning. Their decades of life and working there is what makes these spaces sort of a sacred thing.”

Through June 29, Charow’s photos are being exhibited at Westwood Gallery NYC, alongside the art of many of the people he photographed.

“I’m really excited that people get to see the paintings and sculptures and and see where they’re made,” he said.

Filmmakers Ken and Flo Jacobs have lived in their top-floor Tribeca loft for more than 50 years. “Once, we staged a live shadow play with a stretched curtain in the loft. Our audience consisted of just two people: Yoko Ono and John Lennon,” Ken told Charow.

Sculptor Marsha Pels lives in what used to be a glass factory in Brooklyn’s Greenpoint neighborhood.

Even though the book is already published, Charow’s project will continue. After he began sharing his photos and videos, more artists started reaching out to him so that they could tell their story.

He now has a list of artists to photograph over the next few months.

“This isn’t just a thing of New York’s past. This is the present,” Charow said. “You can walk down the street and look at a window and you might see (an artist), and they’re still working and they’re still making their paintings and sculptures.

“I think it’s a beautiful part of our city, that this exists. It took a lot of resilience and ingenuity to stay in these spaces.”

Kimiko Fujimura, a painter, moved from Tokyo to New York City more than 50 years ago. She has lived in this Chinatown loft since 1979. It was the top floor of a former bow-and-ribbon factory.

The Lower Manhattan skyline is seen from a loft in Brooklyn.

Joshua Charow’s book, “Loft Law: The Last of New York City’s Original Artist Lofts,” is published by Damiani Books. The exhibition at Westwood Gallery NYCis taking place through July 13.

Photographs by Joshua Charow. Story by Kyle Almond. Published June 16, 2024