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teecupangel · 10 days ago

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(sorry in advance, I've been stewing over this for so long that this will be a long one xd)

I was re-reading your fics on ao3 again (sue me, im starved for desmond time travel content) and whilst reading Eagle of Alamut's description i realised '...wait a damn minute, it is true! all of Desmond's knowledge on past is from his ancestors!' (not everyone is as big of a nerd as shaun). Cue weeks of relentless daydreaming over Desmond in Reneisance Italy trying his damnest to lay low... but: 1) he does not know what is socially acceptable at the time (clothe and behaviour wise)

2) the animus likely shielded it's users from the more... er.. unsaviory historical accuracy (child marriage, smell, violence and mistreatment towards the poor, women, disabled)

3) politics, culinary arts, medicine and money value from that era are not common knowledge (or even fully known to todays historians)

4) Ezio was not known for his subtility...

...so while desmond may know who to strike in order to protect Ezios family from getting executed, what places he may know to avoid if he wants to avoid attention from the italian brotherhood.

He does not know what he was getting himself in to when he decided to travel back in time.

I can just imagine him thinking that he can finally retire and live his life, but then BOOM here comes the shock of sociatal injustices! religious violence! inequality! horrendous mistreatment of beggars and disabled people! and as a good man raised in the 21st century he obviously can't, in his right conciousness, just turn his back on these issues, on these people.

So here he is, in Rome of all places, doing his best to atleast stay hidden from the Auditore's, and consequesntly, the Italian brotherhood's, detection, as he stalks the bright rooftops of Roma as histories (probably) very first assasin turned vigiliante!

I can just picture him at one point or another, getting mistaken for a Spanish assasin and his only attempt at 'confirming' (read: encouraging misleading rumours), is to use the very little languistic knowledge the American education system has bestowed upon him. cue him very awkwardly trying to immitate a Spanish accent/ speak in Spanish. or just, you know, say the only words every student knows, 'Feliz Navidad'.

It would be so funny if Desmond’s Spanish are based on:

1) what little remains of Ezio’s Spanish (maybe on par or even worse than his French)

2) Basic Spanish that he learned on the Farm

3) Spanish songs he heard

So people think that Desmond is eccentric.

And Rich.

Because Desmond wants to help people but he doesn’t want to be seen as an Assassin so…

He becomes a supposed rich Spanish (Arabic would have sent a red flag to the Brotherhood) noble who came to Rome to live a life away from his ‘family’.

Why is he ‘rich’?

Well, killing nobles and other ‘evil doers’ will flag the Brotherhood as well so it would be better to just…

Leave certain incriminating evidence in the doors of their enemies and let them duke it out. Hey, if some things go missing while they’re too busy with their enemies, that’s just collateral damage.

Also…

Sometimes, things go missing when some people get into accidents.

It’s easy to buy the impoverish area in Rome. It’s a bit challenging to get doctors to treat them.

Until Desmond flashed the right amount of money, of course.

Desmond manages to stay under the radar by being part of the upper echelon.

An eccentric foreigner who helps the poor and sick out of the goodness of his heart.

Or… because he apparently believes that the way to heaven is through good will and not… paying the clergy.

Desmond knows that being seen as completely good is a bad thing as well so he lets rumors spread that he’s an opportunist who heals the sick and protects the weak to receive their loyalty. He gives them salary to become his guards (not that he needs any) and people whisper how loyal the poor are to someone who gives them bread.

And to hammer in that “no, Ezio, I am absolutely not connected to the Templars BUT I’m also not going to be a good ally, just leave me alone!” plan he has, he becomes a patron of the art.

Sexually progressive art.

The church hates him but tolerates him because Desmond does ‘donate’ (jokes on them, he donates what he stole from the church) and the artists love him because he commissions stuff with the same thing over and over again “whatever you want to paint/sculpt/work on but I want the Borgia men getting fucked in the ass while Lucrezia Borgia watches”

He’s not rich enough to actually be a threat (especially after Ezio starts wrecking shit up) and he keeps to himself most of the time.

But, of course, life always has it out for Desmond and he comes face to face with a wounded recruit at the edge of his property and…

Well…

He only wanted to heal him then send him on his merry way.

He didn’t expect Ezio to come barging in thinking said recruit has been kidnapped by the eccentric ‘possibly sexual deviant’ Lord Miles.

#assassin's creed #desmond miles #ezio auditore #ask and answer #teecup writes/has a plot #fic idea: assassin's creed

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mcufan72 · 10 months ago

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Hello everyone!

After writer's block and some changes in my life (mostly good ones), I'm finally able to write again. I can't believe that the last lines I wrote for my Loki fics were in July/August 2023. Unbelievable.

Here is my new multi-part fic!

It's a modern AU, I will use MCU characters and facts incorrectly and Loki will be as I want him to be. The Multiverse is open and I do what I want. Those who have read my other stuff know what I mean. So if you don't like it, don't read it. This story will contain morally grey stuff (or not, I don't know. What exactly is morally grey? But nothing too bad happens here or without consent. It's still a love story), fluff, angst and eventually smut…so 18+ only, please!

I also use random names/characters, they have nothing to do with the MCU, they're a product of my fantasy. They are inspired by real-life people and also the plot might be inspired by real-life experiences (not every part of the plot, please keep that in mind). So please don't steal my stuff, use your own experiences and let them inspire you. I also did some research but without a guarantee of completeness and accuracy.

Here is the first chapter of my new fic. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy writing it. 💚

Sugar and Cinnamon

Loki x female reader / 18+

Chapter 1

Preview here

Warnings: none so far, contains fluff, angst, and smut (eventually), it's a slow-burn love story.

“I leave."

"Yeah, good. Go home and get some rest. I don't know when I'll be back. Might be late. “

“That's not what I meant.”

“Then explain.”

“I leave the company…and you!”

“It's just a phase, darling. Take a few days off and then everything will be fine again.”

“You really don't get it, do you? It's not a phase.”

“No one screws things up with me! Not even you! ...you have six months.”

3 months later

Damn! Just damn! You were late, like always. You were permanently struggling with keeping places in time and today it wasn't any different. It was pouring rain since you had left your apartment and you were nearly completely drenched from head to toe and of course, you had forgotten your umbrella. The only protection from the rain was the high collar and the hood of your coat. You hurried through the streets of Manhattan, melding into the people who crowded the sidewalks. The city's smells and noises were engulfing you, uncountable different languages and accents were hitting your ears. On every street corner was music, played by street entertainers who tried to grab some money from the people passing by. Car horns were honking, and brakes were squeaking, the sirens of ambulances or police cars drowning out any other sounds. The whole city was buzzing and glowing, a permanent noise filling ears and streets, echoing between amazing skyscrapers. But you loved it, this was your hometown and you have been living here for five years now. You wouldn't stay here forever, surely not, but for now you would stay.

On your way to your appointment this afternoon you accidentally bumped into someone because you held your head down to keep the rain away from your face. “Hey, watch it, girl!” a manly voice scolded you. You apologized with a hasty: “Sorry”, and continued your way unimpressed. Somehow you managed to cruise fluently through the masses of people and cars and reached the building you wanted to go to right in time. You passed the doorman, who gave you a friendly smile, and the security men in their black suits in the reception area, who greeted you with a short nod. They looked much too good for your liking but you couldn't deny your attraction to tall men with broad shoulders in black suits. You had a soft spot for this kind of man. The rainwater that was dripping from your coat was wetting the floor of the entrance hall and with an apologetic shoulder shrug and a heartwarming smile on your face towards the security men, you headed for the lift.

*****************

How much Loki hated the weather today. Fortunately, he had his umbrella with him so he was protected from heaven's water. The pouring rain, the crowded sidewalks and streets, the deafening noise. He was living here in New York for over twelve years now but it seemed to some things he would never get used to. He surely wouldn't stay here forever but for now, he still had to. Normally he wouldn't go out on the streets when it was raining like this. No one would go out voluntarily in such weather. But he got a call from a negotiating partner, who asked him to meet him at a café in the early afternoon to inform him about a few details. And some conversations were better made personally than by phone. The meeting wasn't a long one and his conversation partner Mr.Miller had already left but Loki was still sitting in the café, sipping on his espresso. “Damn it!”, he murmured under his breath, annoyed about what Mr. Miller had asked of him.

Mr. Miller was an extremely old-fashioned, elderly man and he told Loki for his next event, a business dinner, he would like to see him with a female companion. Every other guest would bring their significant others too, there wouldn't be just the dinner, there would also be some dancing afterwards and how sad it would be if he were there alone.

“Please, bring your significant other, too. I don't accept a no!” Mr. Miller insisted.

Loki knew exactly when it was better to not discuss a negotiation partner's wishes and so he agreed. Sometimes you have to make concessions if you want something to be successful. Now a solution had to be found. Loki didn't have any female friend he could take with him on such a date. It must be someone trustworthy, someone who could be silent as a grave, someone who could keep secrets. In the best case, someone who did it professionally. He would never ask any of his former affairs, not to talk about that his last affair was some time ago. He pulled out his mobile phone and did some research. Over the years he'd learned to appreciate his phone as a daily companion. Using apps on your mobile phone made your life easier and finding a solution for nearly every problem was easier with it as well.

Shortly after starting scrolling through several websites, he found it. The solution to his problem ‘how to attend a date with a female companion’: an escort agency. Professionally escorted by a well-educated woman, intelligent, sophisticated and with perfect manners, professionally obliged to keep silent. That was it, the ultimate solution to his problem. Of course, he had to meet the woman he wanted to book for that upcoming event, first. He had to ensure that she was the right one and if she was suitable for such an event. He had no other choice so he gave it a try. He called the agency he had chosen and described what he wanted and what was required in every detail to the polite and friendly lady he was talking to. It sounded like she was smiling on the other end of the phone and it gave him the good feeling of having made the right decision.

“Okay, Sir. I'm pretty sure I already have the right lady for you. Have you heard of the ‘Vivian's Velvet’ nightclub?”

“Yes, I did."

“Fine. Then you'll meet her there at the bar at 8 pm sharp. She'll be waiting there for you.”

“How will I recognise her? I mean…”

“She'll know who you are. Please send me a photo of you and then I can forward the image to her. Please don't get me wrong, Sir but we handle it this way because we want to guarantee our ladies a way out in case they want to refuse a meeting for whatever reason and at any time. Even if they are already at the nightclub. It's for the safety of our ladies. I hope you understand.”

“I do. It's what your ladies deserve and I respect that.”

“I'm glad to hear that, Sir. Thank you for understanding. Would you please give me your name so our lady can address you correctly?”

Loki hesitated for a second. In his business sometimes it was advantageous to use an alias and he would hold on to this tradition here.

“My name is Luke Larsson.”

“Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Larsson. If you have any questions or if the lady I've chosen for you is not for your liking, please don't hesitate and let me know. I'll look for a new lady for you then. We aim to satisfy you completely at any time. And please don't forget to send me your photo, Mr. Larsson.”

“I'll send it immediately.”

“Of course, Mr. Larsson and I wish you an enjoyable evening. Thank you for choosing and calling us. Goodbye, Sir.”

“Goodbye, Ma'am and thank you for your excellent service.”

“You're welcome” and with that, the call ended.

He did what was required of him and he sent the agency a photo of himself. To book a lady at an escort agency was an expensive matter but money was no object. He had called the best escort agency in the city and only the best was what he needed.

He paid his bill and left the café. The streets were still crowded, rain was still flooding the streets and slightly ruining his leather shoes and his slacks. On his way back home a hood-wearing person with a lowered head, drenching wet from the rain, bumped into him. Why couldn't people watch their way, he thought angrily.

“Hey, watch it, girl!“ he scolded. He wasn't sure if it was a woman, he just assumed it. He barely heard the apology of the person and he immediately regretted his harsh words. He turned around to apologize as well. But the person who ran into him had almost completely disappeared in the crowd. He could just catch a short glimpse of the shoes the person was wearing. ‘Nice colour’, he thought and disappeared into the crowd himself. In a few hours, he would meet the escort lady who probably would accompany him to his next business dinner.

***************

With a ping, the lift's door opened on the 25th floor where the agency had its office. The word REA was written in large, finely curved golden letters on the big white, opaque glass door, right above the golden door knob. REA was the acronym for Rhea's Escort Agency and you had to ring a doorbell to get in. The interior was simple but very elegant, bright and inviting at the same time. Smooth jazz music played in the background and created a comfortable atmosphere. A large white leather couch was invitingly positioned close to the floor-to-ceiling windows, framed by exotic green plants and a coffee table. Behind the front desk sat Rhea, the owner of the agency, on the phone, talking to one of the other escorts. She beckoned you with her hand getting over to her. After you approached her desk, she opened her mouth with a soundless dismay when she saw you in your dripping wet state. You could just smile at her with a shoulder shrug. You took off your drenched coat and hung it on the coat rack. Shortly after, she ended the call and rounded her desk to hug you.

“Jeez, girl…look at you. What happened , dear? Did you take a swim and forgot your towel?”

“Kind of.” you answered and laughed.

“Sit down, lovely. You must be freezing. I'll get you a towel and a hot drink. Some Tea?”

“Yes, I'd fancy a cuppa“, you said with a sigh of relief and you were glad to drink something warm now and to dry the front part of your hair with a towel.

“Here, darling “, Rhea said when she came back from the restroom and kitchenette which were both located at the back of the office, invisible to clients.

“That's much needed now, thanks, Rhea. You're my saviour.“ you answered with a thankful smile and took a sip of your tea before you began to dry your hair. You immediately felt much better. Rhea sat down again in her chair opposite you and opened the appointment calendar on her laptop.

“I'm glad that you made it to the office, y/n. The weather is really horrible today but I needed to see you personally.”

“Did something happen? Did a client complain? “ you asked concernedly. You hoped not, you needed this job and you always gave your best.

“No no, don't worry, darling. Everything is fine and that's what I wanted to tell you. Every client you have escorted so far has been happy and satisfied. You're booked up for this week except for the weekend, as you wished. So based on your successful dating and our clients’ satisfaction, I can offer you a higher hourly rate.”

“Oh, really? Oh thank you so much, Rhea, that really means a lot to me. I need every dollar I can earn.” You meant it, it was the undeniable truth.

“I know, dear and you know you could increase your income further by being booked for the weekends as well.” Rhea reminded you.

“Yeah, I know but I need the weekends for personal matters. Those are important too, I'm sorry.”

“Don't be sorry. Your personal matters are surely important and I know it's none of my business. But please let me know whenever I can do something for you, okay?” she said softly.

“No one can help me, I'm afraid. But thank you for your kind offer, I appreciate it,” you replied, well aware regardless of how much you'd work, even if you worked 24/7 you still wouldn't earn enough money to solve your problems. But you had to try and that was what kept you going.

“Okay…so…are you spontaneous, dear?” Rhea asked you while looking for her work mobile phone on her desk.

“Ahmm…yes”, you answered hesitantly.

“Good, because I got a request 30 minutes ago and already made an appointment …and based on the requirements of our potential new client I think you perfectly fit him.”

“Okay, where will I meet him and when?”

“At 8 pm sharp at ‘Vivian's Velvet’. Walker will drive you like always. It is more a casual meeting with our client to get to know each other so please dress appropriately but not too chic. Classy will do…a black cocktail dress would be fine.”

“Yeah, no problem. How does he look like and what's his name?”

“Waaaiiit…ah now…sent you a photo “, Rhea explained and a second later your phone vibrated with an incoming message.

“He's eye candy, a jackpot, a real cherry on top, the icing on the cake…and his voice…he could read the phone book to me. But the most important thing, he sounded nice. Maybe a bit arrogant but nice.” Rhea gushed.

“A jackpot you say? Let me see…” and with these words on your lips, you opened the file. You nearly dropped your phone. Black mid-length curly hair, a beautiful blade of a nose, a chiselled jaw, prominent cheekbones and a mouth you just wanted to kiss. But the most impressive were his piercing blue eyes which seemed to look deep into your soul.

“Wow” was the only thing you were able to say.

“I told you” Rhea laughed, fully getting your reaction towards the beauty of this man. “His name is Luke Larsson. I'm sure you won't miss him.”

“Absolutely not. How could someone miss this handsome man? Luke Larsson…is he Norwegian? “

“I don't know…his accent sounded more British. So you're willing to meet him? “

“Oh yes, I'm looking forward to it. I'll be at ‘Vivian's' at 7.30 pm so I can wait for him there.” you confirmed.

“Fine, dear. He booked you for two hours. When I get the drinks bill from the bar, your hourly rate and your share of the drinks will be transferred to your bank account…as usual. Enjoy the evening, dear. And tell me how it went, okay?” Rhea asked you.

“Of course, I'll let you know.”

After this enjoyable talk, you headed back home quickly. You had less than two hours left to get prepared for the meeting with Mr. Luke Larsson.

In less than 20 minutes Walker would arrive at your apartment to drive you to ‘Vivian's Velvet ‘. Walker was your chauffeur and was responsible for driving you safely to a dating location and back home again afterwards. In case you would spend intimate hours with a client, he would wait in front of the hotel. For your safety and to drive you home after the intimate encounter. Walker was 56 years old, a rock of a man with a buzz cut and a beard. He was an imposing figure, always dressed in a formal suit. But he had a heart of gold and you always felt safe when he was around. Knowing he was always close by when you had an appointment with a man, made you feel even safer. You knew he had a soft spot for you and he would always be there for you, no matter what. Somehow you were like a daughter to him but if you were his daughter he would never allow you to work as an escort.

You were almost ready. You were wearing a simple but elegant black, midi cocktail dress with sleeves in black lace and black high heels. With your hair parted in the middle and pulled back into a sleek tight bun, which sat deep in your neck, you created an illusion of long straight hair. You grabbed your purse from the wardrobe and after a final inspection of your appearance in your large mirror, you left your apartment.

“Good evening, y/n. You look wonderful tonight “. Walker was waiting for you in front of your house and opened the door of the black limousine with tinted windows for you and you let yourself slide into the backseat of the car.

“Thank you, Walker and good evening.“ you replied with a smile on your lips.

Walker closed the door, entered the driver's seat and drove you to ‘Vivian's Velvet’. It was one of the most exclusive and most expensive nightclubs in Manhattan with a luxurious interior in black and purple.

It was close to 8 pm and you were waiting for your date. You were excited about how he would be if he really looked that good and if you would fit his expectations. You ordered a glass of champagne to calm down your nerves a little bit but it would be your only drink tonight. As always, because you must remain in control of your senses. It was a golden rule. The men you dated were supposed to drink alcohol, lots of it, not you. It brought additional money to the hourly rate of an escort. The more they drank the more you got. The only thing that brought the most additional money was having sex with them. But it wasn't a must and you weren't interested, not in the slightest. But the day might come when you had no other choice and maybe one day you would feel a carnal desire again that needed to be satisfied. But you wouldn't do it with everyone. It had to be a special man with a special aura and he must give you kind of a feeling that you were safe with him.

A few minutes later, at 8 pm sharp, you felt someone standing behind and then next to you. A hint of a delicious scent hit your nostrils and a sizzling energy filled the air, making your skin tingle.

***********

When Loki entered the nightclub, there were already four women sitting at the bar, their backs turned towards him. Two of them were in the company of a man, two were sitting there alone so one of them was supposed to be his date, he assumed. Because he didn't know what the woman he had booked looked like, he went over to the bar and ordered a drink, the most expensive Scottish whisky the club had to offer. Next to him to his right side sat a woman on a stool, dressed in an elegant black cocktail dress and black high heels, her hair in a tight hair bun. For now, she ignored him and he wasn't sure if she was his date or not. She looked stunning as far as he could see it. He didn't want to stare at her. But he hoped she was the woman he had an appointment with. She was very lovely to look at. In the corner of his eyes, he saw her sipping at her glass of champagne.

“Good evening, Mr.Larsson. Nice to meet you,” you addressed him with a calm, velvety voice and smiled at him.

“Good evening, Miss… I'm sorry but I don't know your name yet,” he answered softly but dryly.

“How would you like to call me, Mr. Larsson?” You asked him mischievously, a smile curving your lips.

“I don't think I am in the position to give you a name.”

“You're very polite and well-mannered, aren't you?”

You had difficulties maintaining your facade. He looked extremely good in that photo but in reality, this man was beyond beautiful. Inky black hair you wanted to rake your fingers through, broad shoulders, lean muscles, slender waist and endless long legs. All of this gorgeousness was wrapped in an exquisite black suit and a crisp white shirt, the top three buttons undone. You could see a hint of his chest hair which peaked out of the V of his shirt. You felt your mouth watering. He was devastatingly sexy. Now that he was reassured that you were his date he moved a little closer to you. His smell was enchanting. An indescribable mixture of fresh cotton, sandalwood, orange blossom and something spicy you weren't able to specify.

The way he leaned against the bar, his big veiny hand with long, perfectly manicured fingers holding the whisky tumbler, his other hand in his trouser pocket, had something indecent about it. You wanted to rip his shirt open and watch the buttons scatter down to the floor. You should better stop salivating over him and begin entertaining him. That was your job and he was the client you had to convince of you because you wanted him to book your service. You had to focus on your job.

“What kind of escort service do you need from me? How can I be of help?”, you asked him kindly.

He took a sip of his whisky and you of your champagne before he gave you an answer, making eye contact with you and holding your gaze. It made you inwardly shiver.

“I need a companion who escorts me regularly to functions. I'm not interested in flirting with you. I need someone I can have an actual conversation with. Nothing annoys me more than some people and their boring talk. It also should be someone who is discreet and can keep secrets. Someone who doesn't want more afterwards,” he explained, his voice dark and raspy.

“Even if you would want more afterwards I won't give it to you. I'm an escort, not a luxury call girl. I just offer you simple accompaniment, nothing more and nothing less,” you stated kindly but firmly. Good-looking or not, you would never give him the chance to get between your legs.

“I'm well aware of that, Miss”, he replied dryly. “You're an escort lady and this is what I want and what I need. And don't worry, I don't believe in love or anything related to it!”

Loki took a sip of his whisky, his gaze still fixed on you. How pretty you were. Your big bright eyes, your cute nose and your rosy lips were just perfect. Your body was perfectly hugged by your black cocktail dress and your legs with those beautiful high heels at your feet were tempting and he suddenly thought about how good it must feel if they were wrapped around his waist. Loki quickly pushed that thought aside. He wasn't here to live out his lust with you. Also, his past was dark and blood-drenched. And you definitely deserved a better man than him. Regardless of his indecent thoughts, he liked your attitude and your behaviour. A little bit of sassiness, a lot of passion and somewhere hidden deep inside of you, vulnerability and a kind of sadness. Now that he has gotten to know you he wondered how and why you had ended up in the escort agency. You didn't seem to belong there.

“Me neither, Mr. Larsson! I'm glad we see it the same way. I've sworn off men entirely. I'm not interested in a love affair with you.”

“Well, I guess we got a deal, then.”

“Absolutely, Mr. Larsson, we got a deal”.

You smiled at him and you took another sip of your champagne. He gave you clearly and precisely all the information you needed to know so you could get an idea of the business dinner he wanted you to escort him to and you agreed with the conditions. Time flew by so quickly and before you even knew it your appointment with him was over.

“So we'll meet next week? “ Loki asked you.

“Of course, Mr Larsson. Call the agency and make the appointment. It was a pleasure to meet you. I'm glad that I could satisfy you and I'm pleased that I meet your expectations “. You smiled brightly at him. You were still captivated by his incredible aura.

“The pleasure is all mine. But there's one last thing…” You looked quizzically at him.

“I still don't know your name. What should I call you? “

“Sugar. You can call me Sugar.”

🌹🥂🌃🌹🥂🌃🌹🥂🌃🌹🥂🌃🌹🥂🌃

Taglist: (please let me know if you want to be added or removed)

@lokisprettygirl @fictive-sl0th @stupidthoughtsinwriting @fandxmslxt69 @chantsdemarins @justjoanne242 @lovingchoices14 @huntress-artemiss @smolvenger @lokixryss @anukulee @wheredafandomat

#loki x female reader #loki x reader fluff #loki x reader fic #loki x reader angst #loki x reader smut #loki x you #loki laufeyson #loki x reader #loki #loki x female reader fluff #loki x female reader angst #loki x female reader smut #loki x fem!reader #loki au fics

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gothic-thoughts · 1 year ago

Text

Is It A Crime?

(Finallyyy 😩🥵😩🥴)

Nanami Kento x Black Fem Reader Smut

Divorced CoupleAU, DomesticAU, MDNI

CW: afab parts, tame words (not too vulgar), fingering, 😻-eating, implied smashing, feral Nanami (cuz it's a want, a need, and a must omg 😩🥴)

Word Count: 1035 (give or take)

A/n: any Japanese is confirmed via DeepL and written in romaji so you can pronounce it

I should’ve left an hour ago; he asked me to come over for a drink or two and to talk but I didn’t think the night would end with me sat between his legs with his thick fingers curled inside me, grinding against my spot. The other massive hand was wrapped around my neck, pulling my head back to his shoulder so he could place wet kisses on my neck. I know I divorced him about 2 years ago, but I couldn’t help but give in when he hugged me from behind when I was about to leave.

That hug held so much emotion and regret from the man that towered over me that it gave me butterflies. I’m ashamed I let his accent and the seduction in his voice get to me, but without it, I wouldn’t be on his couch with him with my thighs trembling and slowly shutting from the stimulation.

“Did I not say to keep them open?" He whispers in my ear, shoving them back apart, “Why do I have to keep reminding you?”

"I can't, 'm sorry. Jus' can't anymore.”

"I don’t care, you said I could play with her one last time." The middle and ring fingers sink deeper, "So let me."

"But I came so much already~"

"Wakatteiruyo (I'm aware); 3 times, to be exact."

I hate him so much. I have no idea how many times I reached the edge and I didn’t know when he intended to stop. Hell, I don’t even know if he was even planning on stopping. He seemed to never have enough time for anything but his work, and all of a sudden he has time for a drink with me. I watch as his hand slides from out my pants and underwear to his lips right next to my face. I hear soft moans from him.

“I've been keeping track of every single one.” He chuckles, sucking his fingers, “I just don't care.”

“Now you wanna focus on m-me?”

“I rarely saw you because I was focused on you.” He says shoving his fingers back inside.

“Shit.”

“Now I wanna focus on you?” He mocked, speeding up, “I’m always focused on you. I focused on our future together ‘cuz I wanted it to be as safe as possible.”

“Ken~”

“Just like I’m focusing on you now, making sure you’re walking funny when you leave my house. So cum again.”

My head was so fuzzy and light and he knew it, leading him to speak mostly in Japanese to keep me that way. Nanami’s canines grazed my neck with each nibble while his fingers curl and thrust deep, the accuracy on my spot making me arch my back off his chest. I grasped at the armrest of the couch with one hand and the back of his neck with the other as I shook from my 4th orgasm.

He chuckled into my collarbone but didn’t stop his hand, causing me to shiver from the aftershocks as I fell into another orgasm and shrieked from overstimulation. Nanami stood up and picked me up effortlessly before sitting me on his shoulders, leaving my legs to dangle down his back. I look down at his brown eyes as his large hands pressed against my lower back and pulled me to his waiting mouth.

“Fuck, st-stop~”

"I've been playing with my food so long,” he groans, lapping at me slowly, “I almost forgot to taste it.”

I try to push his head away, "Ken, ngh~ why are you--"

He smacks my hand away, "Shizukesa (hush)."

"I s-said you could play with it. N-not- ah~”

"The taste from my fingers wasn't enough. Chotto mattekure. (Just give me a minute)."

I squeal in shock as his tongue begins to flick and caress my sensitive bud, my hips jerking forward every time he grazes it. I feel his plump lips close around it, suckling on it until I begin humping with desperation, chanting his name over and over until he makes me cum another time. I feel him groan against me, slurping every drop of nectar that spread on his tongue.

The amount of pleasure buzzing through my body was dizzying, so I thread my fingers into his messy blonde locks to pull him away from me before he drowns. He doesn’t budge or get the memo, opting to moan at the feeling. My legs shake on his shoulders as I scream and use his head to push myself up and away from his hungry mouth when he slaps my ass firmly.

“Doko he ikunda (where are you going)?" He mumbles, "Hm? Doko he ikummorida (where do you think you are going)?”

“Ken...can’t an'more.”

“Shizukesa.”

He holds me tighter against his face as he pushes his tongue inside my clenching hole, moaning at the full flavor he missed from only licking and sucking. His slurps were louder now and so were my sounds, both of them echoing against his apartment’s walls and ceilings. I shiver over him, moaning as his tongue flicks in and out with loud gulps. I tug at his hair and throw my head back, hitting it lightly against the wall with a soft thud.

“Mmh, make...a...mess.”

"Yes, y-yes just-- hnngh, fuck!"

He grabs both of my hips and slides me across his tongue faster than my brain could process until I scream. I grab his wrist in a last attempt to stop him but, almost in retaliation, Nanami shakes his head from side to side. It wasn’t long until I was choking on moans when he groans again.

He continued until I was jolting and whining from the aftershocks before grabbing my hips and moving my quivering form to his waist. I gasp, grasping his shoulders at the feeling of him stretching my entrance as it pushes inside. He curses in Japanese as he sinks deeper, the sensation making him press my back against the nearest wall.

“Need....break~”

“I know, angel, I’ll break you good. We have to do something with all that sweetness, right? It’d be such a waste if I don't.”

“Where was this eagerness when we were together?”

“Don't remind me; that’s why you’re getting it all tonight.”

“We’re...divorced.”

“Yeah.”

#nanami kento #nanami x reader #nanami smut #jjk nanami #jujutsu kaisen x black reader #jujitsu kaisen #x black reader #black reader #black writers #kento nanami #nanami jjk #jujutsu kaisen nanami #jujutsu kaisen #nanami kento smut #nanami kento x reader #kento nanami x reader

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nwaluva-200 · 10 months ago

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Bumping into Konig smoking on the streets of New York City.

It’s a blisteringly hot summer day, the kind where it’s so hot that the streets are sparse, air-conditioned cafes are always packed, and ice-cream is a girl's best friend. You amble mindlessly down the street, icecream in hand - when all of a sudden, a searing burn strikes your arm. You double-down, holding your arm, and putting pressure on where the cigarette butt hit you. Your ice-cream drops to the ground, splattering everywhere.

“Ah, oWW -oh my god!”

You look around, confused. Where the hell did a cigarette come flying from?

“Oh mein gott - are you okay, miss?”

A large man towered over you, holding your arm gently in his sweaty hand. Looking up, you see a strange kind of mask, like a beekeeper's mask. His biceps bulge as he tenses, worried about how his cigarette he flicked onto the street hit you directly.

“Hey! Watch where you throw those things!” You turn the pain into anger, directing it at your would-be assailant. His face seems to squish together under the mask, or maybe you’re just seeing things. His eyes are sparkling.

“I-I’m so sorry, that’s never happened before.” He seems kinda cute, and just the right amount of apologetic, you think. You tuck some loose hair behind your ear, smiling up at him.

“Oh, I’m sure it has. You have some excellent accuracy, Mister…” You ask for his name.

“.. it’s Konig.” He offers his hand for you to shake. “Nice to meet you, even in these, ahh… less than fortunate circumstances. You are ..?”

You give him your name, and shake his hand.

“Y’know, I could press charges” You joke, wanting to keep the conversation going.

“Would you settle for a coffee? I know a place nearby” Konig picks up what you put down, and it’s obvious that he’s into you.

You two sit opposite each other at an outside table at a cute bistro. After your coffees arrive, Konig moves to light another cigarette.

“Hey watch it, you’re gonna give me PTSD” You giggle and lean over so he can light your cigarette too.

“I’ll be careful..” He speaks with a slight accent. It’s kinda attractive how mysterious he is, with the mask and all.

“So, what’s with the mask?” You attempt to ask nonchalantly.

“Protects my identity” He gruffly replies.

“Oh..” You don’t really know what to say, a little startled by his sudden icy demeanour.

The conversation picks up after you leave the topic of his mask alone. The peeks you get of his jaw and mouth as he drinks his coffee lets you see he’s a handsome guy, and so your type. You do everything you can to flirt your way into getting his number, but he’s so thick-headed he doesn’t get that you aren’t just being friendly - by asking to feel his biceps, or even going so far as to feed him some of the cake he bought you from your fork.

What was meant to be a quick stop for coffee turns into a 2 hour date, and even as you stand up to leave, he still hasn’t asked for your number!

“Hey so, I don’t usually do this often, so you should feel pretty great about yourself after this. I’m gonna give you my number..”

You try to confidently write out your number on a napkin, but you can’t stop your hand from shaking. You could never forgive yourself for messing up the opportunity to go out with the hottest guy you’d ever met. You kiss the napkin before handing it to Konig, leaving a pretty lipstick mark in the shape of your lips. Konig holds the napkin in his large hand, looking up at you, then down at the napkin about 5 times in shock, before stuttering. “T-Thank you, I will call you..later?” He asks, making sure that’s what you want.

“Mhm.” You nod your head, slide your purse onto your arm, then walk away, taking extra care to move your hips. You can’t help but look back, wanting to see whether he’s still looking at you. He isn’t. He’s staring at the napkin, holding it so gently, but just before you turn back around, he looks straight at you. It’s startling, and you turn around and walk out of the cafe immediately. ‘Damn, that would’ve been so cool if I didn't look back..’ you think to yourself as you walk back home, a light blush on your cheeks.

#konig #konig cod #konig x reader #konig x y/n #konig x you #Call of duty #call of duty fic #konig call of duty #konig mw2

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grailfinders · 4 months ago

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Grailfinders #346: James Moriarty (Ruler)

today on grailfinders we’re building for the very first time James Moriarty, because even FGO got tired of that true name-hiding bullshit. also because archer of shinjuku (ruler) just sounds ridiculous. anyways, Jim-boy is still a Mastermind Rogue to mastermind some roguishness, but he’s also a Lore Bard now to play his part to perfection.

check out his build breakdown below the cut, or his character sheet over here!

next up: how many times do we have to teach you this lesson, old man?

Ancestry & Background

as before, Moriarty is a Human, but he’s a fictional human, so he gets +1 Dexterity and Charisma, as well as proficiency in Sleight of Hand and the Martial Adept feat. with this, your slide rule can slide to any length, letting you perform one Lunging (extra reach) or Sweeping (multiple targets) attack per short rest.

I hope this isn’t shocking, but James Moriarty is a Criminal. if that is, I guess that’s his Deception and Stealth at work.

Ability Scores

Moriarty’s highest score is Charisma. he’s real great at lying, and playing to his character. after that is his Intelligence. we don’t really need it for this build, but moriarty is one smart cookie. wait sorry, wrong gacha. third is his Dexterity. that’ll help you slap people with a ruler and also multiclass! your Constitution is also positive since you need to live to the ripe old age of Archer, so your Strength is just kind of meh. turns out professors are not bodybuilders. except for that one guy, but I don’t think Frankenstein counts. this all means we’re dumping Wisdom. playing the perfect villain is your biggest strength and weakness- you’ll always succeed right up to the last step, but then you need to take a fall. that sounds a lot like being hypnotized, so your wisdom saves are trash now- we’ll patch up the abilities as we go.

Class Levels

1. Rogue 1: starting off as a rogue lets us get started on that right away, giving you proficiency in Insight, Perception, Performance, and Persuasion, as well as Dexterity and Intelligence saves. if that cool +2 isn’t enough for you, you can also get Expertise in two skills, doubling your proficiency bonus in them for a nice +4 to Deception and Persuasion.

rogues also get a Sneak Attack once per turn, adding 1d6 to your damage if you hit someone with a ranged or dexterity-based attack, and you either have an accomplice nearby, or advantage on the attack roll.

also you know Thieves’ Cant now, it’s a language that thieves can learn!

2. Rogue 2: second level rogues have a Cunning Action they can use as a bonus action, letting you dash, disengage, or hide without wasting your chance to stab someone this turn.

3. Rogue 3: if you’d rather waste every other part of your turn to stab really well, you can use your Steady Aim to get advantage on an attack at the cost of not moving that turn. but you’re also a Mastermind now, making you a Master of Intrigue. with this you learn even more languages, as well as proficiency with the disguise and forgery kits. also, if you listen to someone speak for a least one minute you can copy their accent. that’s why you don’t sound british.

if you were hoping for something even remotely combat-based, you can at least check out your Master of Tactics, which lets you help as a bonus action, giving someone else advantage on an attack, with an expanded range to boot!

4. Rogue 4: use your first Ability Score Improvement to bump up your Dexterity! that’ll improve your AC, your attack damage, and your accuracy!

5. Rogue 5: fifth level rogues get an Uncanny Dodge, so if you’re hit by an attack you can react to halve the incoming damage. as a ruler your damage should always be halved, but we’re only level five, we’ll get there when we get there.

6. Bard 1: now you’re definitely villainous, but are you an antagonist? we’ll sure try to make you one! as a bard you get another skill proficiency, and while I don’t think you’re great at Medicine you’re definitely better than a -1, so now you’re proficient.

as a bard, you can use Bardic Inspiration to inspire your henchmen to new heights, maybe even making them a villain of the week! right now it just means a d6 on their next check or attack, but still!

you also learn Spells which you can cast using your Charisma. with Blade Ward you take half damage from all physical attack types, and Prestidigitation is just the kind of bullshit spell you give someone who needs to be ready for anything. with Bane you can give your enemies “protagonist in a cutscene” syndrom, reducing all their attacks and saves by 1d4 for up to a minute. if you really need to mess someone up, Silvery Barbs basically gives them disadvantage on an attack check or save, and an ally of yours advantage on their next one!

also you’re a rogue, so Disguise Self and Distort Value. you could probably do both of those already, but now you have magic to do it for you!

7. Bard 2: second level bards are Jacks of All Trades, so all your checks are made with at least half your proficiency bonus. also you have a Song of Rest which marginally helps heal during short rests, and your Magical Inspiration lets your minions add your inspiration to their magical healing or damage. I bet Arjuna Alter would make a great minion, he seems easy to manipulate.

speaking of, you can cast Command now, to force a creature to villainy! but it has to be a one-word command, and also they have to fail a wisdom save first. again, we’re starting out.

8. Bard 3: at third level you become a Lore bard, giving you three more proficiencies in Animal Handling, Survival, and Intimidation, filling out all your wisdom- and charisma-based skills. if that wasn’t enough, you also get another round of Expertise, doubling down on Sleight of Hand and Intimidation. clowns are scary in america, and sherlock gets really rattled when you show up in traum. it’s not the best reason for expertise but you’ve got so many skills I’m kind of grasping at straws here.

you can also cast Suggestion now, convincing a creature to commit crimes with a sentence or two. you can’t get them to do obviously harmful acts, so “hey, punch that tarrasque” is off the table. you can also set the condition to trigger remotely, giving you sleeper agents in the field!

one last thing- lore bards get Cutting Words, letting you use your reaction and inspiration to weaken an attack or check from an enemy.

9. Bard 4: bump up your Charisma for stronger bonds with your minions. and by bonds I of course mean mind control.

for even more weakening, the cantrip Vicious Mockery deals psychic damage and forces disadvantage on the target’s next attack roll! dying is a major obstacle, so just don’t do it. if there’s any other obstacles in your way that you somehow don’t have a proficiency to deal with, Borrowed Knowledge can help out, giving you another proficiency for an hour.

10. Bard 5: the fifth level is huge for bards, growing your inspiration dice to d8s and making you a Font of Inspiration, so it recharges on short rests. also you learn third level spells, like Enemies Abound. this arguably doesn’t make a creature evil, but as long as they’re attacking the good guys it’s close enough for horseshoes.

11. Bard 6: at sixth level bards get Countercharm but enough about that, you also get Additional Magical Secrets! scientists are still hard at work to figure out what they’re additional to, but we don’t need to worry about that.

now you can use Fireball to finally use your NP! its kind of weird how much more difficult one of your skills is compared to your NP, but sometimes these things happen. speaking of, while “flip target’s alignment” probably isn’t in Bestow Curse’s wheelhouse, there’s nothing saying you can’t use it for that, so why not.

also for your normal spell you get Dispel Magic to break through any magical obstacles between you and world domination.

12. Rogue 6: sixth level of rogue isn’t as flashy, but the Expertise in Stealth and Insight are still very much appreciated.

13. Rogue 7: seventh level rogues have 4d6 sneak attacks, but they also get Evasion! now every failed dex save is a success, and every success is like you never fell into your own fireball in the first place. I mean, obviously you would never, right?

14. Rogue 8: at eighth level, you get another ASI, so bump up your Dexterity again to really wallop people with that slide rule.

15. Rogue 9: a ninth level mastermind is an Insightful Manipulator, so spending one minute with any creature can score you insight into its soft stats or its backstory! the villain always seems to suss out the hero way faster than the other way around, right?.

16. Rogue 10: use your tenth level ASI to max out your Charisma for the strongest magic you can get- plot armor.

17. Rogue 11: by eleventh level rogues have a Reliable Talent, which means any checks you make with proficiency always score at least a 10 on the roll. that means no more critical failures, and even with negative wisdom every wisdom-based check is at least a 15.

18. Bard 7: Bouncing back to bard gives you access to fourth level spells like Charm Monster. if you make someone friendly to you, they’ll be hostile to good, which makes them evil!

19. Bard 8: use your last ASI on the Tough feat for a bonus 38 HP now and another two at level 20. rulers can take a beating, and now you’re no exception.

20. Bard 9: ninth level bards get fifth level spells, and we can finally get the best evilmaking spell in the game, Dominate Person. if they fail a wisdom save they’re charmed for up to a minute, during which they’ll obey any command you give them, and you can even control them directly if you so wish. if you want evil done well, you have to do it yourself.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

reliable talent plus your ungodly number of skills means you’re really good at skill checks of all kinds. even if you need to do something physical, you can slap down a borrowed knowledge and power your way through that locked door or over that wall.

you’re almost always in control of a situation, with plenty of ways to turn a situation with your advantage with a bit of creativity. you can empower yourself or your allies, weaken your enemies, talk people into things they wouldn’t do otherwise, and worst case scenario just literally take control of someone to make them do what you want.

we didn’t give a lot of focus on your slide rule in the build itself, but you shouldn’t underestimate a weapon with extra length on command. that added flexibility can mean the difference between attacking someone this turn or giving them an extra turn to escape.

Cons:

you only get one lunging or sweeping attack per short rest, and your bardic inspirations also don’t recharge until the day’s done until level 10, so actually using all your cool abilities saddles you with some time off for most of the build.

speaking of time off, everything but your main action is super crowded, with your bonus action helping your mobility, stealth, spells, inspiration, help, and aiming, while your reaction can block damage, deal damage, and use silvery barbs. so there’s a lot of off time when you don’t want it, and no off time when you do.

while we made your wisdom skills stronger, your wisdom saves are still absolutely terrible, especially considering you’d’ve gotten proficiency in them if you were just a regular rogue. as you very well know from your own toolkit, failing a wisdom save can be a serious issue for your party to deal with.

#fgo #fate grand order #D&D 5e #DND #James Moriarty #wakamori #rogue #bard

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stepmarchen · 6 months ago

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first off my apologies for this as i feel it's an overrated thing for the ASM fandom, but i would love your take on the historical fashion shown in the manhwa, the references to real life and the anachronistic choices to boot. i hope you're not too bothered by this! also love your thoughts on asm lol

no worries at all! i'm not the greatest history buff so i'm going to have to say sorry in advance too

anyway, i just looooove the historical world building/fashion in ASM! I think it's one of the best period-inspired comics in the "historical" genre despite it being inspired by multiple different historical time periods. get ready because... i have a lot to say.

now i wouldn't call myself a huge stickler for historical accuracy but personally, i like to feel totally transported to another time when i'm reading a period piece. And a lot of "princess" manhwa often take loose inspiration from history given that they're also in the fantasy YA genre.

here's what i mean.

the isekai genre inherently caters towards young women and selling "the fantasy" that is "we want to make you feel like a princess". While historical accuracy is super cool, there's a certain amount of modernization needed to appeal to the modern audience.

Changes might include: modern hollywood curls over a powdered wig with ringlet curls, the hourglass silhoutte over the historically accurate higher waister silhouette, or stylish stilettos over buckled mules (you get it)

a huge percentage of isekai/fantasy manga/manhwa do this (even to the extreme) and most of the time, it works (some examples below).

The problem is when it isn't intentional. ie: Artists going for the "historically accurate" route and fail to use props that suit the intended setting (not going to show examples, sorry)

ASM does a wonderful job at keeping to the historically accurate theme with the 19th century inspired fashion. And the only real anachronistic choice is the "anime hair" (which I think we can all stand by).

In particular, this panel of Theo trying on his new outfit for the gala really surprised me. It's the first time I've seen a male character wearing century accurate justacorps, breeches, and heels.

Something else I love is the style preferences between different characters, in relation to their age, status, and personality. It's even mentioned vocally by the characters! ie: Rachel wishing she could wear a bustle like Shuri, Shuri opting for "younger styles" now that she has been reborn, and Nora/Jeremy dressing freely (because boys will be boys).

The Empress (and Heidi) wear larger, more extravagant silhouettes, politically symbolic jewelry, and updos fitting of their high status. You can really feel the weight and layers that they're wearing, making them clear figures of power. It's an excellent design choice while staying true to the time period.

Meanwhile, Shuri often wears lighter dresses with less volume and simple accents as opposed to the flair of the royals or the youthful embellishments (like ribbbons or bows) of younger unmarried girls like Ohara.

HOWEVER! I have a growing theory that ORKA likes to use dresses as a narrative device. I think that ORKA styles Shuri in ribbons and "younger" styles instead of her common looks during romantic scenes to remind us readers that she really is just a girl inside, not anyone's mother.

I'm super eager to see how the fashion evolves as we move through Season 3! In the latest chapters, Shuri is starting to wear narrower silhouettes, suggestive of the coming turn of the century.

Also, with the characters growing up, we will probably get different male outfits (as opposed to Jeremy's typical knights training uniform and Nora's basic look).

Thanks for listening to my rant!

#a stepmother's marchen #the fantasie of a stepmother #stepyapping #askstepmarchen #young johannes also had some great looks

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escherstrange-ffxiv · 2 months ago

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#18: Hackneyed

Good entertainment in Ishgard is so hard to find! Last week Lady Chassaigne hired a fortune teller to entertain her guests and I felt utterly sorry for that poor girl. Not only did she look like she learned to read her deck a week before the event, but she had no grace nor practice. Her delivery was stiff, and don't even get me started on her fortunes! "Today fortune smiles on you," as opposed to what? She could have thrown her cards up in the air and it would have been more interesting than her dull, hackneyed lines.

The problem is that everyone loves a good fortune teller - why else do we still tolerate that buffoon heading the Astrologicum - but finding one who balances accuracy and showmanship, ah, there lies the rub. The ones who are all spectacle embellish their lies with sparkles and ribbons; the ones who can see distress all with their plain speech. And don't get me started on the 'Echo-blessed' adventurers; not a single one possessing the slightest etiquette, like the one who called Baron Serrurier a Lord. Fury, everyone felt the mortification that night.

However! The servants have been whispering about the Losstarots, word has it the elder brother can bring the dead back to life! I knew you'd agree that would be quite a show. There were other rumours that he can scry into one's darkest secrets, but that would be too scandalous, of course. Naturally I was curious and as my luck turned out, I found the brothers walking along the Crozier. The elder lord really is as handsome as they say, even moreso in person with those piercing green eyes- anyway. I invited him to dinner and offered an introduction to some people who would be interested in his services, and you would not guess what happened. Why, his brother, that brat of a lordling, stood between us and said:

"If you seek entertainment for your guests milady, I'm certain any hunter can fetch you a cage of trained opo-opos for a very affordable sum. I assure you they will be classier than your crass as hells invitation. Good day."

And then he just pulled his brother away without letting him have a word! Who taught him to speak like that to his betters?! I certainly would not be surprised if that one was an impostor, what with that odd lilt in his accent, trying to pretend to have an Ishgardian accent, no doubt! Anyway, I found a lovely string quartet for the evening and nothing of value was lost.

Honestly, I don't know what the Aubemarles see in them.

#ffxivwrite #ffxivwrite2024 #isillud losstarot #joshua losstarot #ishgardian noble NPC no.364 #lady i think you got off easy getting Joshua

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foxfables · 3 months ago

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The Space Between Heart

A/N: This is Just the Plot Bunnies I Couldn’t Shake. Please Don’t Expect Any Kind of Medical Accuracy. This is inspired by House MD & a Film Called Fathers & Daughter (Loosely).

The Space Between Us.

Pairing: Spencer Reid x Aubrey Hurst.

Warnings: Talk of Death

Part 1. Part 2. Part 3.

The bell above the door chimed softly, the sound barely cutting through the low hum of conversation and the sizzle of a griddle from the back. As Spencer stepped into the diner, the scent of warm coffee and freshly cooked breakfast food enveloped him. The place had a retro charm, with faded red vinyl booths, checkered floors, and chrome accents that gleamed under the soft yellow light. A jukebox sat in the corner, quietly playing old tunes, adding to the atmosphere of comfort and nostalgia.

Spencer’s eyes scanned the room, passing over a few regulars perched at the counter, their attention focused on their newspapers and mugs of coffee. His gaze eventually settled on Aubrey, sitting alone in a booth by the large front window. The early morning sunlight streamed in, casting a golden glow over her. She sat with her back against the booth, her posture relaxed but alert. A steaming cup of coffee rested between her hands, her fingers tracing the rim absentmindedly as she stared out the window, lost in thought.

The moment her eyes caught his, her face lit up with a warm, welcoming smile. She waved him over, her eyes brightening with recognition. There was something softer about her today, less guarded than before. Spencer hesitated for a second, struck by the calm aura she radiated in the otherwise bustling diner.

As he walked over, his footsteps muffled by the checkered tile floor, Aubrey’s smile grew a little wider. She seemed genuinely pleased to see him. Spencer felt a sense of ease wash over him, the usual tension in his shoulders loosening just a bit. He slid into the booth across from her, the vinyl squeaking under him as he settled in.

The moment he sat down, Aubrey tilted her head slightly, her gaze meeting his in a way that made the rest of the diner fade into the background. It was just the two of them now, as though the world had momentarily narrowed to the small booth they occupied.

“Glad you made it,” Aubrey said softly, her voice carrying the warmth of her smile. Spencer couldn’t help but return the gesture.

The waitress approached them, her presence quiet and efficient. Spencer ordered a black coffee, the routine comfort of it grounding him in the moment. As the waitress left, the ambient sounds of the diner swirled around them—murmured conversations, the clatter of dishes being cleared, and the steady whir of the coffee machine.

Yet, despite the noise, there was a stillness between Spencer and Aubrey, as though something unsaid lingered in the air. Aubrey seemed more at ease than the last time they had met, but the gravity of her expression told Spencer that something important was still weighing on her mind, waiting for the right moment to be spoken.

Aubrey smiled apologetically, her fingers tracing the rim of her coffee cup. “I’m sorry for being so dramatic about the tie,” she said, a soft laugh escaping her. “I didn’t realize in the moment how mysterious I was being.”

Spencer watched Aubrey as she fidgeted slightly, her fingers tracing the edge of her coffee cup. Her initial smile had faded into something more contemplative. He could tell she was about to open up, and he leaned in a little closer, ready to listen.

“It’s okay,” Spencer said softly, trying to ease her into what she wanted to share.

Aubrey glanced up at him briefly, then her eyes settled on the tie between them. “I promised you a story about this tie,” she began, her voice dropping to a quieter, more vulnerable tone.

“When I was 16,” she started, “I went to this pond with some friends. It was summer, and I had just graduated from college.” Aubrey let out a soft, almost bittersweet laugh. “I kind of hated being a child in college, honestly."

Spencer nodded. he said quietly. “I was in a similar situation.”

She offered him a small, knowing smile, before continuing. “Anyway, I went swimming in this pond, and I caught an infection from the water. I didn’t think much of it at first, but it triggered a genetic heart condition I didn’t know I had.”

Spencer’s brow furrowed.

“How did they figure it out?”

Aubrey sighed. “That’s the thing. I was in the hospital for weeks, feeling worse and worse. I was reading every medical textbook and article I could get my hands on. I was convinced I had this heart condition—everything lined up—but no one would listen to me. Teenage girls diagnosing themselves with rare conditions? Yeah, doctors weren’t exactly rushing to hear what I had to say.”

Spencer winced in sympathy.

“They dismissed you.”

“Exactly,” Aubrey said, her voice tinged with frustration. “By the time they realized I was right, it was too late. My heart… it was done. They told me I needed a transplant, and for six days and eight hours, I was pretty sure I wasn’t going to make it to my 18th birthday.”

Spencer’s heart tightened as he listened. He couldn’t imagine what it must have been like for her, a teenager facing something so catastrophic. “That must have been terrifying,” he said gently.

Aubrey nodded, her gaze distant as she recalled the memories. “I was so angry,” she admitted. “Angry at the doctors, angry at the world, and even at myself. I was so young, but I felt like everything had been taken away from me.”

Spencer remained silent, letting her speak, but his mind whirred with empathy for her situation.

“Then, obviously, I got a new heart,” Aubrey continued, offering a small smile, though her eyes still held the weight of the experience. “The transplant saved my life. But what was strange was what happened afterward.”

Spencer’s curiosity piqued. “What do you mean?”

“A couple of days after the surgery,” Aubrey said, her voice softening, “I woke up, and there was this man sitting in my hospital room. I didn’t recognize him, and he didn’t stay long. He just told me, ‘Be brave,’ and then disappeared. I thought maybe I was dreaming at first.”

Spencer tilted his head slightly, intrigued. “Who was he? Did you ever find out?”

Aubrey smiled faintly. “Not right away. It wasn’t until a few years later, in med school. There was this used bookstore I loved to visit when I needed a break from studying. One day, I found this book—Fading Into Tomorrow—and there he was. James Herron. The same man who told me to be brave.”

Spencer’s eyes widened. “James Herron? The author?”

Aubrey nodded. “Yes. I was so surprised. I sent him an email, not really expecting a response, but I just had to know. And it turns out… I have his sister’s heart.”

Spencer sat back for a moment, absorbing the significance of what she had just told him. “That’s incredible,” he said softly, his mind racing as he tried to connect the dots.

Before Aubrey could continue, the waitress appeared at their table, breaking the intensity of the moment. She smiled warmly, holding a pot of coffee. “Everything okay here? Can I top you off?”

Aubrey glanced at her nearly empty cup and nodded. “Yes, please.”

Spencer waved off the offer, his coffee untouched as his mind remained focused on Aubrey’s story. The waitress refilled Aubrey’s cup, then quietly slipped away, sensing the gravity of their conversation.

Once the waitress was gone, Spencer leaned in again. “What happened after that?” he asked gently. “With James, I mean.”

Aubrey smiled, though there was a hint of sadness in her eyes. “We become friends, it strange really like he was a mentor of sorts he taught a lot about life. He taught me how to be brave—not fearless, not reckless, just brave enough to face what came next.”

Spencer nodded, understanding how that experience had shaped her. He could see now how she hadn’t dismissed his intuition about his migraines, how her own experience of not being listened to had influenced her as a doctor. She had learned to trust in the power of someone’s intuition because she knew firsthand what it was like to have her own dismissed.

“And the tie?” Spencer asked, his gaze dropping to the fabric again.

Aubrey’s smile grew softer. “Two weeks ago, James passed away. I went to his funeral, and afterward, his wife gave me this tie. It was one of his favorites. He wore it all the time—something of a symbol of resilience to him. His publisher kept wanting him to wear a plain blue. But he preferred something more colourful.”

She paused, her eyes meeting Spencer’s. “I wasn’t even supposed to be at the hospital the day we met. But I had to sign something for one of my patients. And then there you were, sitting in that room.”

You’re Olive,” Spencer said softly, noting the similarities between Aubrey and the character from his favorite book, The Space Between Hearts.

Aubrey smiled, a playful spark in her eyes. “Well, there are some differences, so don’t hold it against me.”

“When you told me that The Space Between Hearts was your favourite book, and I saw how worn your copy was… I just knew I had to give you this tie. I don’t know why, but it felt like the right”

He finally looked back up at Aubrey, his voice quiet but filled with gratitude. “Thank you,” he said softly. “For trusting me with this.”

Aubrey smiled, her eyes warm. “You’re welcome, Spencer. I think James would’ve wanted you to have it.”

As they continued to talk, Spencer couldn’t help but marvel at the strange, invisible threads that had brought them together. Aubrey’s story had not only deepened his understanding of her but also of the resilience it takes to survive—and thrive—through life’s most challenging moments.

#dr spencer reid #criminal minds #CM #Spencer Reid #Aubrey Hurst #Spencer x Aubrey #The Space Between Hearts

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gemsofgreece · 6 months ago

Text

Man of God: A review

After three years since its release (time flies 😳) I decided to finally watch Man of God and see for myself what all the praise and all the criticism were about. For those who don’t know, Man of God is a Greek - Russian movie about the life of Saint Nektarios of Aegina island.

The information around the reception of the movie has been jarring with most believers speaking of a rare masterpiece while most atheists spoke of one of the most terrible movies full of propaganda they had ever seen etc

Much to my dismay, this was another reminder that in this country atheists / agnostics are not any more reliable than fiercely religious people.

The truth of course is somewhere in between. The film is decent, in no way a masterpiece and in no way the worst movie you will ever see. It can actually keep your attention well until the end. But you must KNOW why you watch it. Atheists complaining for the money they wasted on it, on a movie that was very obviously about a man supposed to have reached sainthood and be venerated as such, I am sorry but it is their problem if they could not figure out they would not be interested in the content.

I could even recommend watching this movie but only if you know why you watch it and only after I will briefly give you its pros and cons.

Pros:

The acting is pretty good. Some people criticised it, however the problem they saw and perhaps misinterpreted as bad acting was different and I will mention it promptly. In any case, the acting is good, the casting is mostly good, Ares Servetalis is generally well chosen as the main character. I also enjoyed Loulis, Karabeti and a very theatrical Stankoglou in their short roles. Mickey Rourke is the international star who makes a very short cameo here and he is also good.

This film is particularly good for the images and insight into Christian Orthodoxy it provides. There is complete accuracy regarding the vestments, the way both a solemn and true but also a deceitful priest typically act, the way the Synod, Ecclesiastical schools, the monasteries operate and so on. From this perspective, it was interesting to watch.

The make up is great. Saint Nektarios starts as a man in his early 40s and we see all the stages as he ages and his health deteriorates significantly very accurately. This is actually where Servetalis’ acting shines the most, too.

The cinematography is nice, it has pretty imagery from rural Greece and a few nice settings in religious buildings. It is nowhere near the level of views Greece can naturally and even religiously offer but it was overall aesthetically pleasing.

Despite its several flaws, the film was able to move me and cause me (suitable) discomfort in certain parts.

Cons:

This movie would be unanimously considered a lot better, had it not been for the frankly crazy idea to be filmed in English. So, you have a Greek movie with Greek actors playing Greek characters in a Greek setting in 19th-20th century Greece speaking English to each other. Even worse is the choice to sprinkle with a little Greek here and there, for example priests speak in English but chant in Greek, Nektarios visits a Greek woman and speaks to her in English but then immediately afterwards speaks to the maid in Greek (???what the hell), a drunken man sings in Greek and then addresses the priest in English. It’s frankly lunatic and I can’t believe how everyone - director, producers, screenwriters, actors - thought that just because the movie would have an international release, this was a justifiable decision.

Like I said, some people accused the movie of bad acting. Here’s the problem: the actors tried their best and mostly were very good, however they gave so much emphasis on the struggle to pronounce English as well as possible (it is a known fact that Greek speakers struggle with the English accents), that this was making their dialogues slow and very cautious which was obviously making dialogue heavy scenes seem very unnatural. It does not help at all that the protagonist has clearly one of the weakest English accents in the cast. Servetalis is furthermore naturally very soft spoken but while it is beautiful in Greek, in his weak English it just sounds weird. Heads up for Loulis though - his English was freaking amazing in my humble opinion. And in general, if you knew how much Greek speakers often struggle with English accents, you’d understand that most of the actors really outdid themselves. Hence, the acting is good.

The pacing and the script of the movie are just bad. The movie starts without giving the main character’s background at all and without giving any insight into how the animosity against him was developed amongst the other bishops of Alexandria. Then it’s mostly dialogue heavy and it’s through the dialogues that we explore the main character and so many people may feel they remain emotionally detached from him. In fact, Servetalis also interprets the character in a somewhat detached, suppressed, “hovering above the ground” way and although I totally understand this approach, it is not assisted with that poor script and the out of place English to make the audience feel connected to him more. The English script is also very unnatural, most of the responses are like “Yes, I will” and “No, I do not” as if we are back to English A1 Class.

I already said the settings were okay, however there was room for improvement. I hoped a Russian director would not follow the same typical preference of Greek directors for narrow frames and a lot of close ups but apparently not. Neither the rich Church funding this nor even Russia could help with the budget and finally get a Greek movie with big sets and wide camera shots?! lol 🥲 I will open a champagne the day we get such a movie.

There are some goofs, i.e Nektarios ages so much and everyone else remains in the same age XD

Regarding the Propaganda claim:

I suppose this came only by biased atheists because, no, there is actually no propaganda in the film. It is a Christian movie made for Christian and Christian-tolerant audiences, who either accept or are open to the established belief that Nektarios had performed miracles in his lifetime. And in fact, the reference to his miracles is surprisingly fleeting for a movie that is funded by the Church. It’s just one small scene and then one very short mention and that’s all. There is also nothing else that would make this movie eligible for propaganda accusations - Nektarios is firm in his faith of course and especially in his Jesus-like selflessness, other people around him express doubt or prefer pure reason. Some are good people and question religion. Some are evil people and question religion. But most importantly, many are priests and are straightforwardly portrayed as foul deceivers, traitors, liars etc. Not only do I not see propaganda in this but I was personally impressed by the Church’s admission of what kind of people often infest it (of course it helps that all these people lived 1-2 centuries ago lol). Of course, the movie does accept that he performed miracles and thus was holy. But it is a Christian movie about an established venerated Christian saint… right? If for example I watched a movie made about a religious figure by the believers of this - any - religion, should I not expect that the figure would be presented as admirable or even holy? I hope you get my point. If you know what you are watching and why you are watching it, there is no case you will find anything problematic in it.

Anyway, these were my thoughts regarding the movie. The general score it gets in IMDb, produced as the median from the extremely high and low ratings of believers and atheists respectively, is fairly accurate and what I feel would be my personal score as well: 7.

So if you are a Christian or a Christian Orthodox and considered watching this (all these three years before I came around to watch it 😅), sure go ahead!

Saint Nektarios of Aegina island

Scene from the movie

#greece #movies #Christianity #Christian orthodoxy #movie review #Greek movies #Greek cinema #Greco Russian movie #Saint Nektarios of Aegina #tw religion #Greek history #Greek culture #Aegina #saronic islands #Sterea Hellas #central greece #Greek islands #autocorrect changing saronic into satanic and then into sardonic SHUT UP 😂

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