#also almost half the set non existent for me :(

[josephtrohman]

now that the starry eyes of just happy to have fob are gone i do feel a bit robbed. i AM still glad it happened at all but i’m sad at how much we had to miss and how much of a shit show it truly was. at least we got fame < infamy tho

[guubiiz]

heartslabyul would be named my favorite dorm if i didn’t despise riddle.

[coraniaid]

It's true that the Buffy writers' answers to the closely related questions "is there a meaningful distinction between a vampire and the human being who was sired to create them?" and "when you get down to it, are vampires basically people?" clearly undergo something of a shift in the second half of the show.

This is a transformation that starts with Buffy's reluctance to stake Willow's vampire alter ego in Season 3's Doppelgangland and continues at pace with the gang's collective reaction to finding out that Harmony has "become" a vampire in Season 4. It's a process that continues as long as Harmony remains a recurring character on the show, until, by mid-Season 5, Buffy (and Buffy) has essentially undergone a complete switch in its view of vampirism. The later seasons handling of vampires are very hard to square with the speeches made by Buffy in Lie To Me ("you die, and a demon sets up a shop in your old house [...] but it's not you") or Giles to Xander [about the late and largely unlamented Jesse] in The Harvest ("you're not looking at your friend: you're looking at the thing that killed him"). Whether this is a change for the better or not is a matter for debate, but that it is a real change that happens is pretty hard to dispute.

It's also true that the writers are obviously increasingly reluctant to show their show's protagonist, the titular vampire slayer, actually going around killing vampires. At least any vampires who've had a chance to establish some sort of personality. How many of the dozen or so named, recurring vampire characters does Buffy actually kill over the course of the show? Not very many.

I make it two in Season 1 (if you're generous and count Luke as a recurring character), one in Season 2 (if you're similarly generous and count Buffy sending Angel to hell for almost three whole episodes as killing him) and ... that's it, right? Somebody other than Buffy kills Darla [=Angel], and Colin the Anointed One [=Spike], and Dalton [=the Judge], and Mr Trick [=Faith], and vamp!Willow [=wishverse!Oz, twice] and Sunday's only-named-in-the script henchvamp Tom [=the Initiative], and Sandy [=Riley], and Spike[=... well, Spike, ultimately, I guess]. Nobody ever kills Drusilla or Lyle Gorch or Harmony, all of whom make multiple appearances on the show and (un)live to the end of the series. And Angel and Spike (and even Darla, eventually and temporarily) all come back after apparently being killed.

Buffy might have a sacred calling to slay vampires, but the show is very uncomfortable about her killing non-human characters who've had a chance to establish themselves as people. Perhaps that's why the show stops having vampiric Big Bads completely after Season 2, and why Season 7 tries to introduce a whole new category of personality-free, definitely-not-people monsters to replace its existing vampires. (Perhaps not entirely succesfully, if we're being diplomatic.)

It's certainly true that the show does not have a consistent take to offer on vampire lore. Like everything supernatural in Buffy, vampires are essentially walking metaphors: and the things that they exist to represent and comment on change and evolve throughout the show's run. Buffy's worldbuilding is not very deep or rigorous.

But what's not true at all, and what I wish people would stop claiming, is the idea that Angel's awkward "well, actually..." when Buffy assures Willow in Doppelgangland that "a vampire's personality has nothing to do with the person it was" represents some sort of big departure from the show's established or implied lore up to that point. It does not. At all.

In fact, it's Buffy's claim that is at odds with everything that the show has been saying up this point. A vampire's personality has always, always been something that the show wants us to believe is informed by the personality of the person who died to create them, This goes all the way back to Season 1.

In Angel, Giles does tell Buffy flat out that "a vampire isn't a person at all", but he also says that a vampire may have "the memories, even the personality of the person that it took over". In the part of her speech from Lie To Me that I elided earlier, Buffy admits that if you're turned the resulting vampire "walks, and it talks, and it remembers your life" [and the clear implication here is that the vampire walks and talks like the original person did, otherwise what is this supposed to be saying?].

If the show's original position was that a vampire's personality had nothing to do with who they were in life, why would Giles have felt the need to tell Buffy (in Season 1's Never Kill A Boy On The First Date) that Andrew Borba had been on the run for a suspected double murder the night he died and rose as a vampire? Why would he have told her in Season 2's Bad Eggs that the Gorch brothers "massacred a village" before they were vampires? Why would he warn her in Season 3's Helpess that Zachary Kralik was a "criminally insane" serial killer even before being sired as a vampire? If the show -- or even just Giles himself -- really did have the position that a vampire's personality has nothing to do with the person they were before death, as Buffy claims in Doppelgangland (and some fans apparently believe), how would any of this make sense?

If we weren't supposed to think vampires inherited at least some part of their personality from their host then why, in The Harvest, would vampire!Jesse still be obsessed with pursuing Cordelia Chase? Why would Drusilla still be driven mad as a vampire as a result of the pyschological tortures that Angel inflicted on "her" when she was a mortal? In Halloween, why would Buffy be trying to find out more about the sort of person Angel was as a human? Why would Willow and Xander still be together in the world of The Wish?

The idea that a vampire inherits the personality of the person whose body they take over [or who they were before "becoming" a vampire, in the later seasons' parlance] isn't any kind of retcon. It's one of the few consistent takes on vampires the show had from beginning to end. Continuity of self; moral standing as a person; capacity for self-reflection and personal growth, whether or not vampires can breathe ... these are the things about vampires the show changes its stance on. But a vampire's personality was always informed by who they were in life, right from the very first pair of episodes.

(Spike and Drusilla being capable of at least some kind of romantic love and mutual jealousy in Season 2 is also not a retcon, incidentally. We saw that with Darla and Angel in Season 1 as well. And even the Master clearly felt emotions and had some sort of affection for his favorites among the vampires that worked for him. Spike and Dru do represent a significant -- and welcome! --change in the tone of the show, but they aren't somehow a walking refutation of what Giles has been telling Buffy (and through her, us) about vampires for the past year.)

I mean, I don't really have a big point to work to here, it's just that I keep seeing takes on my dash about how this particular scene represents a big change in the show's lore about vampires. And that .. just isn't true?

[breathlesswinds]

(Devlog) What We Learned Making A Trans Dating Game

Hello, Amelia here, the writer for Breathless Winds. It's been 250,000+ words, countless revisions, and three years since this game entered development, and I wanted to talk about what I've learned leading up to release.

The concept for Breathless Winds was actually sort of a joke between friends. I was talking with Doris about how there should be a dating game where you play as a trans woman and your dating options revolve around certain ‘tropes’ we’d both seen in trans fiction-- the totally accepting cishet guy who falls in love with the trans heroine before she even knows she’s a woman, the cool trans woman who the heroine doesn’t know if she wants to date or wants to be, and so on.

Doris wound up suggesting we make this game ourselves. We both like visual novels and want to tell LGBT stories. Still half-jokingly and half-seriously, we started fleshing out what the romance options would be and coming up with a setting-- and soon, we were fully committed to making this game real.

I was a fan of visual novels but had only ever written prose. I knew which visual novels I liked and which scenes stood out, but I didn’t know why they did or how to make my own. 

I read some great advice from visual novel developers, but a good amount of my knowledge came from just working on Breathless Winds. As our first project, this game has grown a lot with us and we’ve learned a lot while making it.

Learning How to Write Visual Novels

A bad habit I had to break out of was only using the ‘novel’ part of the game and not the ‘visual’ part. I would sometimes write “He smiled” or lines like that, and Doris informed me that we can convey this much more simply with a sprite change.

It sounds obvious in retrospect, but lines like that are often pretty invisible when you’re reading a non-visual novel. These lines change the sprite of the character inside your head (if that makes sense, haha). I realized that I’m so used to them being ‘invisible’ that I didn’t notice their absence in visual novels I liked, so I would accidentally include them while writing. 

I was also writing these routes in a word processor, so I didn’t have the visual portion to reference, myself. I wound up making a lot of ‘tone’ notes like, “Lantana should be smug here” so that the meaning would carry when revising and implementing these into Ren’py. 

So, while visual novels share a lot with prose, they’re an entirely different medium. On the subject of representing things visually, I’ve struggled trying to figure out how much can be visually represented and how much should be written. 

Every asset in the game has to be drawn by Doris, so if I want the characters to go to a new location for a scene, I have to keep in mind that’s another background that Doris has to draw. If I want a new character to show up, that’s another sprite she has to draw. I don’t want to overload her, but if I’m trying to avoid this entirely, characters sometimes wind up standing in one room talking for ages without anything significant changing on-screen.

I’ve learned that it’s recommended for something to almost always be changing on-screen, though, so sometimes I just have to ask Doris to make a new asset for a certain scene. I still try to stick to locations/characters that already exist more often than not.

Every single thing in a visual novel is deliberate. Another thing I’ve had to learn that I never even considered before is how to write each line so it fits in the text box. It sounds obvious, but when I’m playing a visual novel, I don’t usually think about how each line has to be carefully constructed so it doesn’t need to be split up into two or more text boxes. In my mind, if a visual novel is well-created, there’s not much that breaks a reader’s immersion.

Planning & Outlining

The previous section might sound really weird to some people, so let me elaborate.  I’m a lifelong ‘write by the seat of your pants’-er, so the biggest trial-and-error of creating Breathless Winds for me was planning out the game.

Initially, I created outlines for each of the four routes, and we agreed ahead of time on which CGs each route would have. That way, Doris could draw the necessary backgrounds and CGs while I was in the long process of drafting this game.  My original outlines weren’t great. I know a lot of people have different experiences with writing, but for me personally, a story is always shaping itself in my mind. When I started making the outlines for Breathless Winds, I knew the concepts we wanted to convey, but I didn’t know what each route (and the game as a whole) was really about yet. This might sound weird and unprofessional, but sometimes, I don’t know what a story is about until I finish the first draft.

So while I was writing, I would look at my outlines and I would think, “this doesn’t actually make sense, he wouldn’t say that” or “this plot point would work better if moved to this other section” or “there’s a plot hole here I didn’t notice”. The story wound up changing a lot in this way as I learned what it’s really ‘about’. 

And even after I finished the first draft, I’d get feedback from Doris and/or my editor and they would suggest fixes to problems that even I hadn’t noticed, and then I would revise the route some more, and later on I’d come back and need to redo part of the route to comply with something I wrote in a later route-- I haven’t really felt ‘finished’ with Breathless Winds at any point, and I think I’ll still feel this way after the game is released.

This means that sometimes, a background was created but would go unused because there was no space for the scene that would use it, or we’d need a new CG last-minute, or so on. 

When I’m figuring things out as I go while writing a non-VN, the only person that I can adversely affect is my own self… so I’m eternally grateful for all of Doris’s patience with me on this matter. I think Breathless Winds has come out a much better game for all the re-plotting and revision. 

I redid the outlines several times as I went. I think I’ve understood how to create outlines that personally work for me-- ‘living’ outlines that hit all the main points, but leave wiggle room for moments when a character does something unexpected, work the best for me.

Scope Creep

So, originally, each route was meant to be 40,000 words. “With four routes, that’s only 160,000 words!” I thought. “And some of my favorite visual novels are about that long, so I can write that much, too!” ← clueless

This is the most infamous mistake that new creators make, and I walked right into it. I should have known better since I’ve bitten off more than I can chew with past non-VN writing projects before, but I was starry-eyed and didn’t realize how much work it is to make a VN. Some of those favorite visual novels I referenced were made by much larger teams, writers whose full-time job was writing (I wrote all of these routes on the side while working at a day job). 

If I could have done it again, I would have asked Doris to start out with a really short VN. But, I don’t regret making Breathless Winds at all. It’s brought Doris and I a lot closer, for one. Every time I thought I wanted to give up on this, Doris would motivate me to continue. Without the two of us both and our strong friendship, Breathless Winds wouldn’t exist, and I think that’s beautiful. 

No matter what, we’re going to see it through to the end. (I hope people like it, though…)

Anyway, here I am talking about how much 40,000 words is. Each route now is about 60k to 70k words. The problem with having evolving outlines is that they can often evolve into double their original size.

We came up with the idea of the poachers really early in development, and then not addressing the poachers felt like a failing, but by that point it was too late to remove the poachers entirely… and so the game wound up a lot longer dealing with the poachers. 

I think that if we had an editor sooner on in the game’s development, then we might have had someone to tell us, “do you really need all of this in the game? Does this plot point really need to be there? Will you be able to write all of this in a reasonable amount of time?”, haha. But Doris and I were really excited about the possibilities of this game when we started creating it, and without anyone to reel us back in, we wound up coming up with more and more things we wanted to put in the game.

Did you know there was going to be an island full of talking rats who say things like “the big cheese” and stuff all the time in Breathless Winds? Yeah. 

The Core Design Philosophy of Breathless Winds

So, for anyone who’s read this far but doesn’t know yet-- the premise of Breathless Winds is that you play as a trans woman who doesn’t know she’s trans yet, and she finds love with one of four love interests as she discovers her gender identity. 

In real life, it can be a lot messier for a person to date when discovering their gender identity. To put it briefly and mildly, a trans person’s life and sense of personal identity can rapidly change during a gender crisis and the early stages of transition. 

However, we wanted to make this game a ‘wish-fulfillment’ type story-- a trans fantasy about acceptance, community, and love. During a gender crisis, it can be easy to feel as if one has lost touch with themselves and become isolated from others. A sincere wish shared by many trans people is to be accepted, loved, and even celebrated as their true gender, not just tolerated. 

Since many trans people don’t get love and acceptance in real life, especially with the ongoing transphobic moral panic, we wanted to create a game that would bring this feeling of trans joy and celebration to trans audiences. 

We also hope that cis players will still enjoy the story and characters, and maybe come away from the game with a new understanding about being transgender and other aspects of LGBT identity (although we never intended this game to be ‘educational’).

Making Characters that Celebrate Trans Identity

Although we went through several revisions, the core identities of each character stayed the same since the game was first ‘jokingly’ pitched. In another post, I discussed how each character is themed around a change in seasons. (I also wound up theming them around the four humors when I was initially concepting them-- I really wanted to avoid too much ‘overlap’ in the LI’s personalities, haha). 

Ultimately, characters are created to serve a role. The LIs in Breathless Winds were designed to be love interests, of course-- characters who would appeal to the hypothetical trans femme audience. As mentioned earlier, we modeled them after other trans fiction tropes because these types of characters have a certain tried-and-true appeal, but this left plenty of flexibility to put our own spin on it. 

A trans woman being loved as a woman by a cishet guy can feel like a high form of ‘passing’, ‘fitting in’ to the female gender role, and being validated by his orientation. He only likes women, and he likes you, so you’re undoubtedly a woman. As a cishet guy, he represents a sort of acceptance into a societal norm that trans women can desire to live to. (Lantana, as a cis lesbian, represents the sapphic counterpoint to this-- although there is of course a big gap between the ‘normalcy’ of a cishet man and a cis lesbian woman, and I don’t mean to say those two are equivalent.) 

But not all trans women want to live to that (cis) societal norm. Rue and Valerian, as a trans woman and a trans man respectively, are the t4t options. 

Rue’s route represents that trans/sapphic ‘envy’ (“do I want her or do I want to be her?”) as well as finding power in community aside from what society considers ‘normal’. We’ve always been pretty clear about what we wanted to do with Rue’s route.

We went back and forth a lot more on Valerian’s route. Initially, we were unsure if he should be trans. He and Rue are the two less-friendly love interests (at least initially), so I was afraid it would come across that t4t is a more hostile option, which is not true at all. But it also felt like a mistake to not have a trans man in the game-- but making Gallardia trans would have required a big overhaul of what we had in mind for him and his route. (Although, childhood friends t4t is a really good idea...)

Beyond that, Valerian takes a villainous role in any route that isn't his own. We were worried that it would be wrong to have a trans antagonist who represents unjust power. However, Breathless Winds is a queer game with other positive trans characters, and we've always approached Valerian as a hot anti-villain man that you can't help but like.

In the end, Valerian’s route is about breaking generational cycles and what it is that makes you a man, and I also managed to sneak in a scene where they dance at a ball in the royal palace, so in the end I think it all worked out great.

Wish Fulfillment and Catharsis

Doris and I both agreed that we wouldn’t depict on-screen transphobia in Breathless Winds. Poppy worries about not being accepted, but fear of acceptance can come with any change in identity. Rue was rejected by her family for being trans, but this doesn’t take place ‘on screen’ in the game. There exist certain metaphorical parallels for transness and transphobia, but every route has a happy ending. 

Following up on this-- it can be difficult to write about discovery of gender identity without writing about transphobia, considering how many trans people suffer from internalized transphobia during their period of repression.

Sometimes, repressed/closeted transgender people ‘hyper-perform’ their assigned gender as a form of denial. A trans woman might grow out a beard and join a gym, while a trans man might become very interested in makeup and feminine clothing. 

In Breathless Winds, Poppy often struggles with ‘strength’ and what it means to be a man. In several routes, she tries to prove her strength under the assumption that being stronger would make her happy. Afraid the world would reject her if she became who she really is, she preemptively rejects herself.

Not every trans person suffers from prolonged denial, internalized transphobia, or even gender dysphoria. I don’t think it’s impossible to tell a purely-positive story about trans joy. 

While Poppy never gets rejected for being trans, faces transphobia, gets called a slur, etc, she faces both internal and external (metaphorical) obstacles to realizing and accepting her identity. 

Gallardia represents a societal norm that Poppy can’t live up to herself as a man.

Lantana suffers from certain aspects of her identity as a woman, which makes Poppy feel guilt for wanting to be a girl.

Rue is isolated from town at the start of her route, a ‘punishment’ for breaking this societal norm.

Valerian has to hyper-conform to his masculine gender role at first in toxic ways before finding acceptance from within and from his loved ones.

These struggles are real to a lot of people, but instead of pretending they don’t exist, I hoped to tell a story about catharsis. Poppy is able to live up to her truth as a woman and finds love with Gallardia, Poppy and Lantana redefine what being a woman should and does mean to them, Rue and Poppy find community in others who don’t fit the norm, Poppy and Valerian stop seeking gender validation from a society that was never made to serve them. 

Although these powerful forces of oppression exist, loving yourself as a trans person- and loving those around you, protecting the natural world, and standing up for what you believe in- can save the day. That’s the kind of story we wanted to tell.

Wrap-up

There’s a lot more I could write, but this has already gotten really long (sorry!) so I’ll wrap it up here. 

Learning how to write a visual novel in terms of technical skill (how to depict events on-screen, how long each line should be) as well as in terms of writing skill (how to outline the game, how to plan visual assets) has been a massive undertaking for me. 

Writing Breathless Winds has been a big challenge but also deeply rewarding, and all of your support has made the experience even more wonderful. Thank you for reading and thank you for supporting the game!

[icarusredwings]

Yeah, everyone always talks about what if Wade won't eat but what if Logan won't eat?

"Peanut! I got dinner!" He says, busting into the room holding a box that said texas road house.

But suddenly, the man who he was used to sitting up and begging for his box doesn't move. He's curled up in the bed, holding Wade's hoodie, and is just.. staring.. He's not crying, but Wade could tell that if someone said just one wrong thing, he would start.

"Wolvie?? Did you hear me? I got STEAK!!" He says, knowing this was one of Logan's favorite meals, but he doesn't budge. He just turns to look at him through the corner of his eye before looking back to the wall.

Wade thinks. Okay- got food. Check. Mansged to get home unscaved. Check. Logan's special order, warm and ready to eat. Check. so.. what was wrong? "Oh! I know!" He says running off, plating it fancily with a sprig of parsley and a garnish line of ketchup smeared on the side, roll and potatos complimenting the dish.

"TADAA!!" He says, loud and playfully entering the room, bringing it over with a fork stabbed into the meat. "All ready and pretty for my little pillow princess! 💞" He somehow says the emoji out loud, but Logan still doesn't move. He just.. lays there, rubbing his hands.

Wade pouts. "Loooaaggiiee!! Steak!.... here boy!" He whistles even, only earning another glance and soft, sad grin. Watching him lay his head back down, Wade's small pout goes full, concerned frown.

He sets the plate to the side, sitting on the edge of the bed and rubbed his back, using his nails to scratch across the flannel. "...You deserve to eat, Logan.."

He shakes his head, tears finally falling.

"Yes, you do. If I of all people deserve food, then you do too."

Logan is quiet, letting out a whine of protest, not wanting to eat at all. "...You can have it.."

"Logan James Wilson Howlett, if you don't eat this steak, im going to throw it away"

His head comes up, giving Wade a look of big, dopey puppy eyes. "...you wouldn't."

"I will. So you eat it." He tells him, shifting to put the plate infront of him, leaning down to kiss his cheek, wiping his tears "And don't you dare even think about giving it to puppins."

"There's onions and garlic.."

"Exactly. Now be a good dog daddy and eat your steak so puppins dosnt get sick from eating it out of the trash later. Mkay? There's a good boy." He says, pushing some of his hair back with a fond smile.

"Do you want me to eat with you, or do you want to eat alone?" He whispers, hand still trailing his scalp.

"....Don't leave me.. but also don't watch me.."

"You make it sound like you're about to cheat on me with a steak, baby."

Logan smiles a bit, sitting up, bringing the plate into his lap. "I might depending on how good it is.."

Wade chuckles, taking his place at the edge of the bed, away from Logan as he eats from his box, letting Logan gaurd his plate with his back to him as much as he pleased.

"And thats what I told her I was like 'Ma'am look I know you're a fan and all but I'm married now, I can't sleep with you' and she had the nerve to say that I was being creepy, tch! As if you aren't the one stalking me throughout the supermarket!" Wade says, a piece of steak on the end of his fork.

With a clean plate, Logan was sat, happy to hear the ranting story of his day, but his eyes followed the steak like a street dog in Bali.

Wade stops, testing this out, moving the fork back and forth, his non existsnt eye brows scrunching. "Are you even litsening to me?"

He nods, sat upright. "Uh huh." He's a liar.

"Roll over and ill give it to you." Wade says.

"Really?" His eyes are almost hopeful, but semi upset, as if surprised Wade would ask him to perform tasks like this.

"NO not really! You idiot! Here. You don't need to do anything to deserve to eat. You deserve to eat just by existing. And I know im a huge hypocrite for saying this but you humans are pretty fragile."

"Who are you talking to?" Logan asks, half a steak in his mouth with a happy growl.

"Shhh- Daddy's talking to the depressed gay people. That's you." 🫵

[orpheus-whore]

BIG WILD LIFE FINALE SPOILERS!!!!

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

ive been thinking ab joel's final death sm since i watched his episode and im gonna get tism about it

Disclaimer that i DID realise some of this from another post but i cannot for the life of me remember who it was from aaa

SO! Lets look at all the other winners' deaths first. and lets take the context of minecraft out of this, esp for when we get to joel's Grian - Jumped off a cliff. Simple and effective, but also quick considering he was low health and had no armour. In a real life version, he probably would have broken his neck and died instantly Scott - Struck by lightning. I know technically it was the Watchers, but 'divine intervention' isn't exactly an IRL cause of death, nor are 'kill commands' from a non-story pov, so we'll stick with the lightning. ANYWAY, yes, lightning. In terms of death, it stops the heart. So, pretty fast, but definitely painful Pearl - Exploded. Once again, technically that's not her actual C.O.D but once again, soulmates do not exist (in the same capacity as DL, at the very least) in real life, so we're going with this. Because of how close Pearl was to Scott when he set off the TNT, she likely would've died from internal organ damage, possibly even having her heart muscle walls rupture, plus any additional damage from the schrapnel that no doubt wouldve hit her (although she definitely would've already been dead by that point). Alternatively, you could say she died of 'Heartbreak' (because her soulbound died), which I'd probably compare to a heart attack. While you can't say for certain how long the explosion death wouldve taken because of the variables, a heart attack has an upper limit, so to speak, of about 3-4 hours. Unless we're talking about Sudden Cardiac Death which is, as you might expect, instantaneous suspension of heart activity. It's pretty interesting that both of Pearl's death possibilities link back to her heart in some way in DL, but I digress Martyn - Same as Scott's lmao Scar - He's actually the only one, to my knowledge, who did not die. Which, again, is very interesting when you tie it back to his Earth (? i think? i forget lmao) association. hes not allowed to die

NOW we look at joel. Teleportation is, naturally, not a thing we can do irl (at least currently lmfaoo), so there's not an easy way to compare it like with the others. BUT that doesnt mean we can't do our damn best first, teleportation is what kept Joel alive for so long during part of the session. The fact that he uses the very thing that saved his life for so long to end it is just beautifully symbollic. not to mention the way he was laughing and making fun of his literal hunters as there were at least 5 or 6 people trying to kill him at any given point despite the fact that the entire episode he was nervous and worried about dying last minute is so painfully joel. but lets look at the actual contents of his death for a minute. Joel dies from fall damage after repeatedly throwing enderpearls into the air. He does not remove his armour for this and is at almost full health. He is, effectively, torturing himself. In minecraft, you can throw an enderpearl directly up into the air about 30 blocks. since he was throwing them forwards, as well, we'll say its only going up 25. that would still be 25 square metres, and almost 270,00 feet. but, obviously, we're taking liberties here because it's minecraft, so lets just say its 25 feet. Still, that is an insane number. That is half the length of a basketball court, the width of about four cars (on average) and four fridges (again, on average) stacked on top of eachother. And he does this (by my count) seven times in a row before dying. Everyone else died instantly in game, and more-or-less instantly from a real life standpoint, as well If that doesn't put in perspective how violent Joel's death was, i dunno what could

big fan of the angst potential here chat

[improvapocalyps]

Stale blood caked Cleo's armor as she dragged herself through paradise. Gods below that sucked, she thought, that really sucked. They ignored the colorful birds that swooped overhead, disregarding the cloudless sky and brilliant sun that cast down gentle rays upon her green skin. What was the point of indulging in something that didn't exist?

Dust, Flesh, and Bones, by @pattonscribe

“Death!” she called, a hoarse quality to her voice, clutching tighter onto Etho’s body as their army of the dead went onwards to protect them. “You— this wasn't what I wanted!”

before we lose the sound of our own mouths calling mine, mine, mine., by @kanda-franca

In participation of MCYTblr AU Fest Summer 2024 hosted by @mcytblraufest!

I feel incredibly lucky and honored that two(2) writers decided to pick up my niche af AU pitch! They knocked it out of the park with their fics, please check them out !!

[Some behind-the-scenes ramble and close-ups under cut]

My AU's ao3 equivalent tag is "Alternate Universe - Gods & Goddesses", specifically drawing inspiration from Khelren's Godsend TTRPG setting (though you do not need any knowledge of the ttrpg to enjoy the fics):

In Godsend you roam the lands as the avatar of your god, cursing mere mortals and presenting gifts to the chosen ones. Your memories are numerous, made of the lives of your predecessors, your power is almost limitless. Will you use it to fulfil the will of your god? Or, as the end times draw near, will you try to save the world? 　(from the itch.io page)

I had my heart set on making Clethubs AU (to no surprise of anyone's i'm sure) so that's the main characters/ avatars settled- but who shall be the gods?

There are 6 domains in the Godsend setting: Death, Justice, Knowledge, Nature, Trickery, and War.

To me, it was obvious to put Bdouble "moss" O100 under the Nature domain, and Zombie "zombie" Cleo under Death. Then after some comtemplation Etho "free glass" sLab was slotted underneath Trickery.

What remains is to find the Hermist/ Traffic-lifers that are 1) connected to the domains 2) related to the avatars.

(fyi i drew all those feather strokes manually by hand with my lineart brush) (why? well,)

Grian came to mind immediately when I thought of "Trickery" (Though Cub, Scar, and a couple of other Hermits also fit). I wanted to build the god-avatar relationship on the Etho-Grian dynamic specifically.

Scar was chosen based on his S9 theme (wood elf) and his history with Bdubs (S7 mayor race). Baiscally the concept of King maker/ Second-in-command Bdubs was stuck in my brain. (Sorry Stress :[ )

Death was a trickier one. While it would be funny to have Grian-Scar-Mumbo to be (half of) the pantheon, Mumbo fit the Knowledge domain better. (ignoring his Peace, Love, and Plants deal for a sec; even then I think that's more Nature-aligned) so I went with the classic option of Zedeath.

Beyond this point (until "===") is me overanalysing/ blue-curtaining the black & white piece. You have been warned (/silly)

This piece's composition used a circle/three-parter as its base, witih the circle centred on the castle/city in the middle of the map. Etho was fully isolated in Grian/Trickery's third of the space, but Nature crossed over into Death's space easily the two domains are closely related imo. It was natural for things to end (death), and endings fueled the next cycle of nature life.

It seemed that all the gods are looking at the world/map, however since their pupils are obscured (non-existent in Scar's case) it was difficult to say for certain. Though you might be able to tell where their interest lie, if you look at the distance between the deities and the mortal realm and where their hands rest.

Death carefully rested his elbow on the line separating him and Nature, but his left hand was dangerously close to Bdubs. And it looked like it was ready to come down and press direcly onto the corner of the map, tilting or even flipping the chessboard over. In his right hand held the scythe, posed to swing. The edge of his scythe faced Cleo, pointing towards them like he could harvest their life whenever at his whim.

He also looked at the world from directly above (though you could say he was biased towards Cleo's point of view since he's not centered+ he was positioned behind them), meaning that he saw all lives as "equal", or have an especially detached but not uncaring view regarding the world (like a scientist looking microorganisms in his petri dish).

In contrast, Grian/Trickery leaned in close to the world, lowering his head so his eye level was almost at the ground level of the world. Like he was looking through the mortals' point of view, understanding the state of affairs through humans' moralities and values (through Etho, even, since Grian was positioned behind him).

His eyes were wide in anticipation. While he carefully kept his hands close, they were also touching the world directly; which was a thing no other god did in the piece. It was like he was waiting for the right moment to reach out and disrupt whatever that's happening on stage. As we all know, no matter how much Grian tries to restrain himself, he will press the button.

Scar is the most... detached/ distanced from the world as a whole? He reclined backwards, his visible hand resting on his knee. He might be looking at the world, or he might be looking at Grian, or was his attention on bdubs? Even with the signature :J smile on his face, he got this air of indifference. Maybe Nature believed that everything will run their fated courses without his influence.

The flowers on Scar's clothes were sunflowers (sides of his corset), roses (back of corset and forearm), and a very specific lilac brush I had to download. Flowers that were closely related to a certain series :3c

Shoutout to w4r (War for Rayuba) for the chessboard map idea. ily octs It's really funny that Bdubs, Cleo & Etho all start/ were currently standing on black tiles (<- did not count the tiles and only realised that after i started to fill in the black)

Let's talk (more) about body language and outfits and black-white ratio (I am Reaching here) (not that I wasn't in the previous part) (but I am Reaching even further)

Etho has a very clear cut B&W shading with minimal grey/cross-hatch areas. He is the least ink-blocked. He knows what his beliefs are and the lines that he will/won't cross.

He has a semi-relaxed stance, tilting back slightly. He has one hand on his hip but the other by his side remain open-palmed. He isn't not listening to new proposals, but he is considering (and judging) them carefully.

Bdubs' moss cloak and boots has a clear divide in b&w, but not his outfit (pants)/headband. Both the cloak and boots are nature-aligned: cloak is, well, made of moss; and boots to walk the earth, the only thing separating him and the dirt (though at the same time, supporting him).

Nature is clear in what it wants. While there may be bright parts mixed in shadows, and flecks of shade within the "light", Nature holds a firm stance based on layers and layers of understanding.

Bdubs is also reaching out with an open palm. He is open for dialogue, perhaps preaching/ prompting others to communicate as well.

Cleo is the darkest/ most shaded among the three. She has highlights on the edges of her armour, but overall her armour is mainly shades of grey. Unlike Etho/Bdubs whose outfits' base color is largely white/empty, the visible parts underneath her armour (gloves and pants) are solid dark. She is dressed for blood and combat. It also gives the impression that she has this fierce determination/ conviction (darker tones being more "serious").

Her posture- legs wide, slouched/ leaning forward- makes her look aggressive/ stressed. Her hands are balled up into fists, one of them holding onto the flag/banner (of Death). Even then, the way she holds the banner isn't one that says it's for morale. She holds it like a spear, like a weapon.

There's also something about fabric/ extra fabric on the characters.

Etho has the least fabric on him but he has this shawl wrapped around himself. And the shawl itself is very still/ motionless. Bdubs' outfit is very round and gives like a grounded/soft vibe while the ribbon around his head drags behind him. but Cleo has neither of those, the only fabric that waves in the air is her banner which is outside of her body/not connected to her.

=== === ===

The composition of my 2nd piece aimed to imitate the playbook's cover art (illustrated by Vash Taylor), with the slightly faded background and wispy banner. The path of the smoke meant to mimick Cleo's face stitches (as how I usually draw them), where it crawls up her right cheek, crosses her nose bridge and passes through her eye.

Shoutout to "google search: zombie hands" stock photos and silhouette images, they saved my life when I was struggling with the foreground.

If you read through all this, I thank you from the bottom of my heart and hope everything will be going splendid for you in the month of August!! Even if you didn't and just swiped past after realising there's too many words behind the read more I wish you the same :D

Once again, please check the fics if you are interested in the AU!! Dust, Flesh, and Bones is a multi-chaptered long fic and before we lose the sound of our own mouths calling mine, mine, mine. is a 9k one-shot! They are both so dear to me I hold them close to me heart,,

[vicsnook]

Moving Everywhere But On | Jake Seresin x Reader

word count: 1659

warnings: SMUT, MINORS DNI, 18+

notes: Hey y’all! Happy New Year 🎆! Hope everyone is doing well and that your holidays were amazing!! I will try this year to regularly post Jake on Sundays as previously promised. Hope you enjoy this one and as always please don’t forget to like & reblog 🫶🏼

Moving was something you absolutely dreaded despite having done it your whole childhood due to your father’s navy career. However you thought you’d put those days behind you when you decided to date a doctor instead of a certain navy pilot. But oh how wrong you were as you watched your father and best friend load the boxes onto the truck from the house you’d once shared with your now ex-fiancé, Tom.

Setting down the key on the kitchen counter, you took one last look around what you once thought would be your future. Inevitably replaying the image of your neighbor and Tom fucking on the living room couch. Thankfully the horn of the moving truck snapped you out of the painful memory as you made your way out of the house and shut the door to that chapter, forever.

“You ready to do this, darlin’?” Jake asks quietly as you shut the truck door and settle into the seat, his hand reaching over to squeeze yours reassuringly as you weakly nod in response. A feeling of relief overtakes you as you catch sight of your dad in the moving truck following close behind you both.

—

The rest of the drive was uneventful, except for Jake’s attempts to cheer you up by singing off key. Your new apartment was small but to you it was exactly what you needed, a new beginning. Jake and your father set up your bed while you unpacked the living room which unsurprisingly didn’t take long since you’d sold a lot of your old things. All that was left to unpack was your kitchen, office, and the rest of your bedroom which you’d probably tackle tomorrow.

You waved your dad goodbye as he pulled out of the parking lot and joined Jake back up at the apartment. His back was to you and you watched quietly as he set up your nightstand, carefully putting your lamp and books in the same spot you had them before. You felt a tinge of regret for having turned him down all those years ago all because you didn’t want to deal with the Navy life and craved stability.

You’d loved Jake since the moment he sat next to you in Spanish class in high school and yet you gave it all up, just for everything to blow up in your face in the end. He must’ve sensed you looking since he turned towards you and shot you one of his signature half smiles making your heart flutter.

“You’re just gonna keep staring or are you going to help me out here?” He teases as you lend him a hand to help him up. The distance between your bodies becoming almost non-existent now. Backing up you stuttered out that you were going to shower, hurrying for the bathroom.

Leaning against the closed bathroom door you willed your heart to slow-down. 4 years was not enough to stop loving Jake Seresin and you were overcome with that currently. The hot water did little to soothe your thoughts about wanting to feel Jake’s lips on yours.

The cold air had you shivering for your towel as soon as you stepped out of the shower, only to realize you didn’t grab one. “Jake! Could you bring me a towel please?” You holler, but get no response. Peeking your head out the door you don’t see him either.

Figuring maybe he stepped out you have the lousy idea to make a run for the hall towel closet, only to stumble into Jake as soon as you open the door, his hand holding the towel you called for. Your eyes lock with his and you can feel your cheeks growing red with embarrassment as you take the towel from his outstretched hand and wrap yourself around it.

“Why didn’t you answer when I called for you?” You ask, trying to hide the nerves in your voice. Reminding yourself that it’s just Jake, which also seems to be the problem, that it is just Jake. “Sorry I wasn't thinking straight.” He shrugs, to which you nod and he puts one hand on the back of his neck which he only does when he’s nervous. The awkward silence growing thicker by the second but you can’t seem to snap out of it.

“Well, I should shower too, I left my phone in the living room so you can doordash us some food. You know the code.” He says, finally breaking the silence and turning around to go grab a towel before you can answer. The feeling of awkwardness was not something that you were familiar with around him but you try to shrug it off as you grab his phone to order food.

It’s not until Jake comes out of the bathroom with only a towel hanging around his waist that you realize you’re also still only wearing a towel. You can’t help but stare at his toned chest and muscular arms, longing to feel them under your hands and as he makes his way towards you, your breath catching in your throat.

“Be a doll and pass me my bag, sweetheart?” He asks coming to stand in front of you. His waist lining up to your face as you mentally curse yourself for choosing what feels like a very low couch. “Honey?” He takes your chin between his thumb and finger and turns your head up to look at him.

His gorgeous forest green eyes stare into yours and you can’t seem to form any coherent words. But at once you’re saved by the doorbell. Snapping back into reality you spring up from the couch, nearly falling over if it wasn’t for Jake catching you and steadying you in his arms. But you have no time to ponder about the action as the doorbell rings again.

You open the door and are grateful that the driver is now down the hall and had left your food on the doorstep. Jake’s still standing by the couch as you set the food down on the table, his eyes watching your every move. “Are you just gonna keep staring, Lieutenant?” You say playfully, hoping thebpet name still has the same effect it once did. His face turns up into that cocky smirk as he smoothly replies. “I thought you knew what happens when you play with fire, dolly.” Your flace flushes as you walk towards him, not stopping until you’re once again face to face with him.

Trying to seem confident you step impossibly closer to him, putting one hand on his chest before replying “Why don’t you teach me, Hangman?”

His hand grabs onto your waist and you know there’s no turning back. Maybe this is exactly what you need. “I don’t want to be just some rebound to you” He whispers, your lips nearly touching at the action. “You could never be a rebound Jacob, not when I never stopped loving you.” You reply, and you’ve never been more sure of anything as you close the space between you both.

His lips were softer than you remembered as he kissed you softly like you could break at any moment. You tugged on his hair causing him to grunt, granting your tongue access into his mouth. His hands squeezed your ass while you bit his bottom lip and you could feel yourself getting wetter as he pushed you against the wall.

You could see the hunger in his eyes as you pulled away and he went for that spot right under your ear that drove you crazy. The sound of his name leaving your lips was enough to make him lift you up and have you wrap your legs around him.

He carefully walks over to the couch and sits down with you still on top of him and you rock back and forth on his cock as he swirls his tongue around your nipple. The friction of his cock on your clit feels heavenly but you want more, you need more.

“Jake, more, please,” You beg into his ear, his eyes gleaming at your request. “Are you still on birth control, baby?” He asks, as you continue to rock against his cock. “Mhmm” You moan in response and that’s all it takes for him to lift you up and line himself with your entrance.

He slowly leads you down, letting you get adjusted to his length. The feeling of him stretching you open is almost enough to send you over the edge. “You’re taking my cock so good, doll.” He praises, his accent making you swoon as you reach the hilt of his cock.

You dig your nails into his biceps as he begins to thrust up into you making you lean forward into him. “Fa-a-s-te-r” You manage to utter as his thumb presses on to your clit and his pace starts to increase.

Pleasure is washing over you, and you can feel your legs start to shake as he thrusts faster and harder into you. Moans and groans fill your apartment as you both reach for that high. “God baby you’re so tight, are you gonna cum for me?”

His words are enough to push you over the edge. Hunching forward onto his neck as he continues to thrust into you seeking his own release. “Fuck baby, you feel so good,” he grunts, you lift your head slightly and kiss his neck in response. No one could ever send you over the edge this quickly.

His legs trembled as he sloppily thrusted and reached his own high. Pulling back you caught his lips on yours, tenderly kissing him until you both pulled away for air. “It’s always been you Seresin, I’m sorry I was too stupid to accept that.” You whisper against his neck, he hugs you tighter to him before responding, “Nothing to be sorry for darlin’. We’ve got a lot of time left to make up for it. But how about we start by cleaning ourselves up and eating?”

“Absolutely. And how about round two after?” You answer cheekily, earning yourself a smack to the ass from the man you’re glad to never have moved on from.

taglist: @harperdoodle , @weirdothatwritess , @rosiahills22

[djarins-cyare]

✭ Series Masterlist ✭

Languishing in a dull and lonely existence on the forest moon of Endor after travelling there to help salvage Death Star wreckage, a nearly fatal encounter with a mysterious bounty hunter out in the forest heralds an opportunity to utilise long-forgotten skills and develop something more profound than you ever thought possible.

Second person POV, present tense. Set post-season 2, diverges from Canon events before TBoBF and season 3. This is a novel-length, exceptionally slow burn with an original plot, worldbuilding, and fully-developed characterisation. SWU concepts and lore are accurately researched.

WORDS: 406,690

PAIRING: Din Djarin x Female Reader/You

RATING: Explicit (18+)

CHARACTERS: Din Djarin, Reader/You/Female OC, Original Non-Human Character(s), Original Human Characters, Greef Karga, Cara Dune, Leia Organa, Luke Skywalker, Grogu, Peli Motto

TAGS: Slow Burn, Slow Build, Romance, Love, Sexual Tension, Eventual Smut, Smut, Sex, Sexual Content, Explicit Sexual Content, Fluff, Fluff and Smut, Fluff and Angst, Light Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Relationships, Healthy Relationships, Canon-Typical Violence, Blood and Injury, Dark Past, Additional Warnings In Author's Notes, Bounty Hunter Din Djarin, Soft Din Djarin, Touch-Starved Din Djarin, Din Djarin Needs a Hug, Smart Din Djarin, Soft Dominant Din Djarin, Ewok Species, Mandalorian Culture, Mando'a Language, New Razor Crest, Thoroughly Researched, Worldbuilding, No use of y/n.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: This took me almost a year to write and four months to edit/proof. Each chapter is prefaced with specific tags and (where necessary) warnings, plus word counts. End notes contain translations and comments… this baby is thoroughly researched, so I’m sharing context where appropriate. I’ve also added definitions of in-universe terms so people less familiar with the franchise won’t be left wondering what the hell certain words or references mean. This is a slow burn (adult themes), and although the explicit content only occurs in the latter half, when it does, it warrants the ‘E’ rating. Basically, the first half is a love story, and the second half gets spicy. I hope you enjoy it!

READ THE COMPLETE STORY ON AO3:

(Chapters containing explicit content marked †)

Chapter 1: The Obstacle

Chapter 2: The Interrogation

Chapter 3: The Covenant

Chapter 4: The Snare

Chapter 5: The Strike

Chapter 6: The Groundwork

Chapter 7: The Genesis

Chapter 8: The Progression

Chapter 9: The Hide

Chapter 10: The Beast

Chapter 11: The Adjustment

Chapter 12: The Storm

Chapter 13: The Broadside

Chapter 14: The Intercourse

Chapter 15: The Village

Chapter 16: The Confession

Chapter 17: The Reprieve

Chapter 18: The Fortification

Chapter 19: The Ambush

Chapter 20: The Meridian

Chapter 21: The Homestretch

Chapter 22: The Union †

Chapter 23: The Overture

Chapter 24: The Crescendo

Chapter 25: The Harmony †

Chapter 26: The Cadence †

Chapter 27: The Ride †

Chapter 28: The Veneration †

Chapter 29: The Spree †

Chapter 30: The Tribute †

Chapter 31: The Courage

Chapter 32: The Feast

Chapter 33: The Exhibition †

Chapter 34: The Reward

Chapter 35: The Binding †

Chapter 36: The Synergy †

Chapter 37: The Match †

Chapter 38: The Flag †

Chapter 39: The Foundling †

Chapter 40: The Future †

✨Additional Media✨

@burntheedges has written a spectacular little drabble detailing what Din was up to during the paragraph break near the end of chapter 1 (*SPOILERS* you don’t find this out until chapter 27).

@roughdaysandart has sketched a fantastic study of chapter 33 and it’s absolutely perfect (*SPOILERS* cliffhanger ending for the chapter).

@djarin-desires has created some awesome images of a few scenes using Midjourney.

I spent a stupid amount of money on the Hot Toys official Din Djarin action figure, simply so I could photograph him in poses from my fic 🤷🏼‍♀️ This is just a taster of what’s to come, but here he is offering to help Reader climb onto the speeder in chapter 8.

🧡💚 Thank you for reading! 💚🧡

➤ MAIN MASTERLIST

Dividers by @samspenandsword

[butwhyduh]

Another Year’s End

Summary: New Year’s Eve was never boring. This is told through multiple perspectives. Cuts between each individual. The only warning is fire.

Jason x reader

It was honestly hard to believe that you were currently living in a penthouse overlooking the glittering side of Gotham. You had moved out of a lace that should have probably been condemned with a broken heater and leaky windows and non-existent air conditioner in summer.

It had been an interesting year, as you were learning all of them were being connected to the bat family. Jason was currently asleep on the couch nursing a broken arm in a new sling Alfred had fashioned only a few days previous. You had practically forced him to take pain medication this morning because he was almost in tears while trying to cook.

Now you could get ready in peace. You could never get used to turning on the bathroom heater while walking comfortably on heated marble floors before stepping into a massive shower bigger than your old bathroom. You had a row of soaps and could turn without knocking a single one over. It was an everything shower so upon leaving the bathroom hours later, you felt like a new person.

Jason was up and moving in the bedroom. He was pulling clothing out of the fancy side of his closet. You also now had a fancy side of the closet. Jason had no less than 5 different ties laying in front of him and 2 different jackets.

“Which one for tonight. These are the pants and shoes,” Jason said without turning. You could never be silent enough to trick him.

“This jacket and one of these two ties,” you said after a minute. You held both ties up to his chest. Jason had a silly little half smile on his face as you looked at them both. “This one. Brings out your eyes.”

“Were you just using that as an excuse to stare into my eyes?” He teased.

“Of course.”

“We’ve got about an hour before we go. I’ve still got to shave and probably shower-“

“Definitely shower,” you corrected. “Do you need help covering your cast?”

“How about joining me and helping me wash my back,” he said with a glimmer in his eyes.

“Not even close. I just dried my hair,” you replied. “After the party,” you added with a wink.

“Hmm,” he replied before going to the bathroom.

You moved to the fancy side of your closet and looked at the clothing Jason had bought you over the past year. He didn’t tell you how he got paid so much more and you didn’t ask. You paused for a second. Were you basically a mob wife just enjoying the money brought in from nefarious activities without a thought?

Jason singing from the bathroom broke your thoughts and you continued on getting dressed. No, he wasn’t working as a crime lord anymore. (Your parents would probably love to hear that one.) not to mention you had a thought that Bruce was giving Jason anything he wanted to have a better relationship.

“The red one,” Jason said and you jumped. He stuck his head around the corner of the bathroom. “Please?”

“Sure. Finish your shower and don’t get the floor all wet,” you chuffed. He grinned before going back in the bathroom. It was only a few minutes later that he came out dressed in only a towel. You tried to ignore how ridiculously fit he was, it really didn’t matter how many times you saw it, he was distracting.

“Zip me up?” You asked. He nodded and kissed the back of your neck before slowly pulling the zipper up your spine. You could feel goosebumps forming. That was before he comically grabbed your ass. “Jay!”

He shrugged before tossing you your jacket. “Couldn’t resist.”

———————————

Dick x reader (different character)

Dick was running late. His fiancé was all dressed and he was running out the doors of the precinct to the Porsche.

“No, no, no,” he gasped as he saw the yellow boot on a tire. Yeah, he double parked but he was just dropping something off. Dick looked around and saw no one. It wasn’t his proudest moment but he pulled out a set of lock picks and took the boot off. That took him 5 more minutes behind.

He drove like he stole it while haphazardly throwing off his normal jacket to put on his fancy evening jacket. Trying to put a tie on one handed while speeding on the highway was not easy. You called him as he passed a cop car.

“Fuck!” He said.

“Excuse me?” You answered.

“No, I’m getting pulled over,” he said as the familiar red and blue lights shines behind him.

“Wow. We were supposed to leave 15 minutes ago,” you reminded him. He cringed.

“Yeah, give me like 10 minutes and I’ll be there,” he promised. You hummed a reply before hanging up.

A cop came up to the window and Dick answered with his badge out. “Sorry officer. GCPD business.”

The cop stared at his badge uncomfortably long before nodding. “Be safe.”

Dick showed up to the apartment a little frazzled but otherwise okay. You met him at the car. You took one look at his tie before reaching over to fix it. It was atrocious. You also fussed with his hair a bit.

The drive over wasn’t bad. It was dry and the roads had been cleared of snow recently. And Wayne manor was as glittery and fancy as always. Other people had long since arrived and you both avoided the crowds by coming in the serving entrance.

“Oh hi,” you said to Jason and his girlfriend who were coming in at the same time. “I’m glad we’re not the only ones a little late.”

“Fashionably late,” Jason replied. “Jesus, Dick. What did you do to your collar?” Jason reached over and straightened it.

“I came straight from work. Alright now?”

“Yeah you’re fine. Have you seen Tim?”

“Didn’t see his car,” Dick replied. The ballroom was packed as usual with Gotham’s richest and most influential. The colors this year were rose gold and bright diamond. In fact, there was a display of some of Gotham Museum’s finest diamonds to one side. They were donated for the night after Bruce’s ridiculously high yearly donation. On the opposite side sat a huge Christmas tree decorated with what looked like more glittering gold and diamonds.

Security was posted all around but to Dick, there was far too many people for the few guards. Bruce was to the side of the display with Selina. They were quite the pair with her long black dress with an impossibly high slit and his perfectly tailored suit. He seemed happy and relaxed but Dick knew that could be an act.

“I found Damian,” you called. Damian was sitting with his date at a table towards a back corner. He was wearing a turtleneck with a blazer and his date wore a nice sweater over her dress. They looked cute and more importantly warm, you thought. You wished that you had thought to wear a jacket. You weaved your way to the pair.

“Hey!” Dick said to Damian before forcing the boy into a hug. “How are you?” He hugged Damian’s girlfriend as well.

“There isn’t enough security. I told Father,” Damian replied. Secretly Dick agreed.

“You worry too much. Have you seen Tim?”

“Not yet,” Damian replied. “I don’t know why we insist on having balls here.”

“Preaching to the choir, kid. Let’s go get some drinks,” Jason said to his date.

“You can’t have alcohol with pain meds,” she reminded him and he grumbled while pulling on his cast.

Dick grinned at you while mouthing ‘good luck.’ Telling Jason no was like it’s own extreme sport. You sat next to Dick and grabbed a pair of champagne glasses from the waiter carrying a tray. Dick looked at his watch with a frown.

“You haven’t heard anything from Tim? He’s usually timely,” Dick asked Damian.

“He mentioned something about checking out a case before the gala. I’m not my brother’s keeper,” he replied.

“That’s what Cain said about Abel after he killed him,” Dick replied dryly. You smacked his arm at the snark.

“I didn’t kill him if that’s what you mean,” Damian replied.

“I wasn’t-“

“I would have done it long ago if I wanted to. He probably forgot about the gala with how wrapped up in the case he was,” Damian replied. Dick sighed.

“I’m sure you’re right. Want to dance?” he asked you. You took his arm and let him lead you to the dance floor. Dick was a fantastic dancer. The song was slow and he pulled you close to sway with the music.

———————————

Tim x reader (different reader)

“Timothy Drake please answer the damn phone,” you grumbled as it once again went to voicemail. You had called him 5 times and texted him many more than that. You had gone from mad that he was running late to concerned something happened. Dick’s girlfriend had texted you asking where you both were. You hadn’t responded.

You heard a clattering in the bathroom and you ran to see Tim dressed in his Red Robin suit slide into the window on fall to the floor.

“Tim!” You gasped and tan over to him. He yanked his hood off. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah just late,” he said before standing up too quickly and swaying. You grabbed him to steady him. He started walking to the bedroom. He grabbed a suit and started stripping off his costume. He had a fresh red bruise forming on his side.

“Were you really fighting right before a gala?”

“There’s a case. I’ve almost got it. Met some thugs. Nothing to worry about,” he said while moving to jump in the shower. Normally Tim was much more private than this. It was weird.

“Are you hurt? That bruise looks painful.”

“I’ll be fine. You want to drive?” He asked. He quickly showered and brushed his hair and threw on the suit in record time with practiced ease.

“I guess I can drive,” you said after a minute.

Ten minutes later you parked by the side entrance to a party in full swing. There’s something very intimidating about going to a fancy party in Gotham. You’ve always gotten the vibe that anything could happen at anytime and danger was one step off. Tonight the thought was even greater.

Tim just wasn’t himself as he pulled you into the building. He was a little less refined and a little clumsier.

“Tim, what is going on?” You asked.

“Nothing. We’re just late,” he said.

“Well maybe don’t drag me around when I’m in heels. I almost fell down,” you chided. He sighed.

“Okay, I’m sorry. Let’s go inside, okay?”

“Yeah,” you replied softer.

The glittering gold and diamonds were blinding and the building was incredibly full of people. You weaved through the crowd. You held Tim’s hand tightly in fear of losing him.

“Let’s dance,” he said and that’s when you knew something was wrong. He usually needed at least a full glass of champagne before dancing. You let him guide you to the dance floor. He was sloppy and you had to pull him back a few times as he almost hit people with his wild movements. He looked drunk and seemed to be less coordinated by the minute.

You saw Dick and his fiancé dancing and steered Tim towards them. They were dancing beautifully and you regretted interrupting them.

“Dick!” You called out. He turned to see you and Tim dancing. He smiled.

“Already a glass deep, I see,” he teased Tim.

“No, he’s not,” you said, worried. Dick’s brow furrowed.

“I’m fine,” Tim replied but Dick had already seen the sloppy movement and slower reaction timing.

“Why don’t we get a seat,” Dick replied. He mouth a ‘sorry’ to his date. The four of you moved to a table. “Buddy have you had anything to drink tonight?”

“No and I don’t like the accusation that I have,” Tim replied.

“Okay I believe you,” Dick said. He asked you a bunch of questions and tried to ask Tim who was becoming less coherent by the minute.

—————————

Damian x reader

“Sorry, I am in a poor mood. I just haven’t slept in 31 hours,” Damian admitted after you grew angry at his attitude.

“Why not?” You asked.

“There’s a case that I have been helping Drake with. We’ve been taking turns with surveillance. I didn’t have time to take a nap. I’ll be fine. A few hours shouldn’t be a problem,” he said confidently.

“We don’t have to stay at this party,” you replied. “Seriously if you need to sleep.”

“No Father needs me here. He needs someone watching after him,” Damian replied while looking around the room.

“Don’t you ever get tired of it, caring for everyone?” You asked gently. “Are you going to watch after your father forever?”

Damian suddenly stopped his surveillance and looked over at you. “I’m sorry. This case is getting to me. There’s… a lot on the line.”

“Like what?”

“Drake thinks there’s trafficking involved. A new drug to low inhibition,” he practically whispered. “I can’t really talk about it.”

“Take the night off. It’ll be there tomorrow,” you retorted with a smile. Damian nodded. “Do you want to get some snacks?”

“Sure,” he replied before grabbing your hand and pulling you through the crowd. As Damian walked towards the drink station, his relatively new height afforded him the ability to see over many guests. He spotted Dick fussing over Tim. Damian immediately pulled you towards them.

Just as Damian was arriving at the table, down from them around the Christmas tree, a group of older men lit cigars as they talked business. Jason and his girlfriend happened to be nearby. Jason wanted to quit smoking, he really did. But the fact that they were lighting up as he was quite stressed about the event was hard to ignore. He pulled his cigarettes from his jacket pocket despite his partners protest.

“Can I get a light?” He asked.

At the tables Tim was becoming angry at the concern the others had for him. He suddenly stood up and stormed off towards the tree. His arms swinging wildly as his balance was compromised. And fate for Bruce Wayne had never been kind. Because just as Jason was lighting a match to light up his cigarette, Tim Drake crashed straight into him and directly into the Christmas tree.

Jason jumped back with a yell in pain as his injured arm was jostled but the damage had been done. The tree that Alfred had bought a month previous and had painstakingly decorated with glittering bobbles and dried flowers went up in flames. The tree was incredible flammable.

Tim froze as he looked at the sudden bonfire. Jason dragged him away as the heat seared the air. Screaming could be heard all around and the mass of bodies scrambled for the exits. You froze in fear as the flames tickled the streamers hung from the ceiling.

“We need to leave,” Dick said. “Go to that exit,” he pointed. “I’m going to help them.”

“I’ll come too,” Damian said.

“No, get them out,” Dick commanded. Dimly they could hear Bruce announce something over the loud speakers. Chaos ensued especially around the diamond display. Damian grabbed your hand and you grabbed Dick’s fiancés hand who grabbed Tim’s girlfriend’s hand and the four of you made towards the exit. Bodies pressed all around as people panicked. Your ears rang from the screaming your lungs began to burn from the smoke.

Across the room Dick had just barely made it to Tim and Jason and Jason’s girlfriend. The pair were trying to drag Tim towards an exit with no luck. Jason was furious that he couldn’t use one arm. Dick simply scooped Tim up fireman style before marching towards an exit.

The sprinkler system finally kicked in. The fire remained on the tree but any spread was quickly stopped.

You shivered in the cold Gotham air outside the ballroom. People ran to their cars or stood watching as the tree continued to burn. Damian pulled off his jacket to wrap around your shoulders.

“Thanks,” you replied and he pulled you into a hug.

Tim’s girlfriend paced and stared at the exits hoping they would come out soon. “I don’t understand what is going on with him. Tim was not himself.”

“They’ll be out soon,” Dick’s fiancé replied. She looked terrified. Jason was injured and Tim was altered and there were so many civilians. Dick would try to get everyone out.

Fire trucks sounded in the distance as they raced towards the manor. Black smoke billowed out the doors and obscured any view. Inside was chaos as the sprinklers flooded the room. Dick finally made it to an exit and all but tossed Tim on the lawn before running back in to help others.

“I see Tim!” You cried and his girlfriend ran over to him. Visibly uninjured but very altered Tim sat on the grass in a daze.

“Are you okay?” His girlfriend asked and before he could respond, he vomited on the grass. It was electric green and Tim seemed to sag in relief.

“That’s something,” you replied.

“Yes, I think it’s our mysterious substance from the case,” Damian replied.

The last of the people had filtered out of the building and the fire had dimmed down. The firefighters quickly put it out. Dick and Jason and his girlfriend came out finally. Alfred found the group and sighed in relief.

“Thank heavens,” he said. “Let’s get you lot inside.”

They walked to the opposite side of the manor that wasn’t damaged by the smoke and moved into an informal den. Bruce and Selina soon joined them.

“There’s a problem,” Bruce started.

“Other than the fire,” Dick asked.

“And Tim?” Jason added.

“Yes, someone stole about 100 million dollars in diamonds tonight and the drug you were tracing made it’s way into the party tonight. This is now an open investigation,” Bruce said.

“Happy New Years,” Tim said from the couch as the clock struck midnight.

Part 1

[bonny-kookoo]

Jungkook

𝓘 𝓛𝓲𝓴𝓮 𝓨𝓸𝓾 (say it back) [𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄𝐑]

He's the introvert tall guy dressed in black who always picks you up from work, makes sure you drink enough water, and that you stay out of trouble. In a way, some might think it must be tiring to have a partner that's just so different than yourself- but he wouldn't have it any other way.

Tags/Warnings: Girly!Reader, Introvert!Jungkook, non-idol AU, opposites attract AU?, established relationship, Angst, Major Fluff, some drama, Slice of Life (like Good Girl AU for example), mc is kook's biggest simp, kook is kind of overwhelmed by her love sometimes, but it's fine they both cute

Length: No chapter limit set. Story will simply update randomly and focus on asks/requests.

━━━━━━━━━━.~°♡°~.━━━━━━━━━━━

You run into the bedroom where Jungkook is currently playing his video game, barely covered by a towel, hair up in a bun that's pretty much held together only by hopes and wishes.

"Jungkook!" You call out excitedly, and he pauses his game in a well used-to manner, making space so you can hop onto his lap, his controller falling onto the floor as he looses grip on it- more so concerned with holding you on his legs as you wiggle around. "Shower with me." You demand, and he sighs, looking over to his TV screen, inner battle hard to decide. "Jungkookie, please!" You whine, and he plays with his lip piercing.

"You know what happened last time." He worries. "You almost hit your head when you slipped-" He reminds you, but you just roll your eyes.

"There's nothing in it anyways-" You start jokingly, but he instead flicks his fingers against your forehead scoldingly, reminding you that he's not too fond of your own demeaning jokes against yourself, even if you don't out any honesty in those words. "-Kookie please, you've been at it for hours and I wanna have some quality time with my hot sexy anime boyfriend!" You huff, and he frowns a bit at that, confused.

"I'm your what now?" He wonders, and you laugh, running your fingers through his by now pretty long hair. He himself doesn't really know what you see in him- but he knows you love both him, and his appearance a lot, no matter if he just woke up, if he's sick, or if he's looking his best.

'You're like, my biggest boy-crush, ever!', he remembers you confessing to him one night in his apartment as you had shared pizza- just after he'd opened the glass bottle of strawberry ramune for you with one hand. 'like, please crush me with those hands, mister!' you had dramatically whined, and back then, he had taken it as nothing but playful joking.

Oh how dense he'd been.

"No really! You kind of look like Miyamura Izumi from Horimiya-" You tell him, pink sparkling acrylics combing over his scalp in a way that would make him purr, if he was a cat. "-a bit more buff and with more tattoos, but still. We gotta watch that show by the way, it's so cute!" You giggle, and he swallows down his own shyness creeping up. Even after half a year of dating you, he's not yet used to your boldness when it comes to complimenting him. He's not really used to it. Maybe never will.

But then again, he also thought of you as nothing but a hollow barbie doll come to life, in the beginning. Come to discover, you're not at all empty inside- but filled to the brim with color, by now having started to paint his life and even himself in more hues than he's ever really thought existed.

"Please.!" You try again, attempting your best puppydog eyes- though he's a little distracted by your cleavage dangerously exposed, towel hardly holding on. "Oh! I bought a new brand of body-scrub, by the way! Strawberry sugar, the one you said you liked when I first came over?" You remember, and he nods, sharing the excitement a lot more subtly than you, who's buzzing just at the thought of your new purchase.

"I remember that. It smelled really nice- but I thought it was discontinued?" He wonders, pulling out the hairtie from your bun to make a proper one for you.

"Oh it is! It's a different brand this time, but it smells pretty much the same.. and the container is like, bio-something, like, it's not plastic-"

"Biodegradable?" He asks with a smile, and you snap your fingers at him.

"So smart, those glasses really aren't just to look good." You praise, and he chuckles. "Anyway I'll scrub your pretty skin down top to bottom if you shower with me and maybe give me a handjob?" You ask, and he sighs a bit bashful. Sex is a big part of your relationship- you're very open with it, show your love in a more physical way than he does. He's never really been a cuddler, or someone to hold hands with- even kissing in public had been nothing but a myth to him prior to dating you.

These days? He can't seem to escape you- and he doesn't want to, either.

Sex has turned from something.. well, somewhat enjoyable to him, to something exciting and even romantic, even during the most messy encounters. It's like he's gotten a unique craving just for the taste of your way of love him- a craving only you can really satisfy.

"I'll even suck you off-" You start again, and at that he averts his eyes, shaking his head with a laugh and red ears, showing clearly that he's caving in, making you laugh as you get up- towel dropping, leaving you completely naked as you run into the bathroom, only turning around for a second to peek around the doorway into the bathroom, bare chest clearly visible as you see him pick up the towel. "oops." You tease, and at that, he suddenly dashes towards you-

easily catching your naked body in his arms as he closes the bathroom door behind him.

[i-heart-hxh]

Is there really a married couple dynamic between Killua and Gon? If so, any examples of similarities to other couples in the anime?

The director of the 2011 anime thinks so!

I agree with what he said, although of course there's a limited degree to which this comparison applies because we are talking about two young boys (who aren't even in an actual romantic relationship yet), after all. :p The ways they resemble a married couple in my opinion include, but are certainly not limited to:

Extreme trust between and reliance on one another

Being synchronized in their actions and thoughts in many cases (as if they've been together a long time)

They have a good understanding of each other and insight into how the other thinks

They bicker over silly things, but quickly go back to getting along after disputes

They essentially lived together in the around two years they were together. They were with each other almost constantly during that time, and there's a degree of domesticity and closeness/comfort to their relationship as a result

They talk to each other almost non-stop, to a point where we see them chattering away in the background frequently

They work together towards common goals by default and generally only compete for fun

To quote Hiroshi Koujina (from the post linked above), "Gon is the free-spirited husband, and Killua is the wife who silently supports him" <- I think this is a good summary of their dynamic within this context, LOL

It's hard to compare them to many couples in the series because honestly, HxH doesn't have many actual romantic couples to begin with. Togashi tends to kill one half or more of the romantic couples he sets up, often before they get to have a good life together. Think Squala and Eliza, Pokkle and Ponzu...

However, Meruem and Komugi are parallels to Gon and Killua, and that's essentially undeniable with how many layers of parallel/similarity exist between the two pairs. That's a topic for a whole other post (I could go on and on, and it's hard to summarize), but the way Meruem and Komugi's relationship develops is also telling of Gon and Killua's dynamic because the two are intended to exist in comparison with each other and reflect each other.

One of Komugi's final lines to Meruem was essentially an old-fashioned way to accept a marriage proposal ("I may not be much, but please, let me accompany you"), and Meruem and Komugi complete a lovers suicide (like Killua was considering doing with Gon). Obviously these character pairs are separate, and it's not as though I think Gon and Killua will suffer the same fate, but I do think it's very meaningful (especially in conjunction with the loads of other subtext present in the series) that Togashi chose another pair with obvious romantic subtext to mirror Gon and Killua, and that that relationship ended with "marriage" in an abstract sense.

Even Komugi's phrase I mentioned above has similarities with Gon and Killua, with Killua's, "Gon. You are light. Sometimes you shine so brightly, I must look away. But even so, is it still okay if I stay at your side?" It's essentially saying the same thing as Komugi's phrase.

I'd argue there's also some degree of parallels with Ging and Kite, Knuckle and Shoot, Kacho and Fugetsu, Kurapika and Pairo, and most likely others, though of course those aren't romantic in nature. I do think the fact that there are so many points of comparison is interesting, though, it reinforces the themes of the series that Gon and Killua exemplify.

Also, just a silly little sidenote, but Nagareboshi Kirari from the 2011 anime does have wedding bells in it. Take that as you will!

I hope that's helpful!

[sofasoap]

Little Beard

Pairing: Johnny “Soap” MacTavish x F!Reader

Summary: After being apart from your wonderful boyfriend for six months, he comes back with a surprise.

Warning : M themed. Suggestive. hints of smut. Not beta'ed. Semi crack. A/N: I am sure all of us who loves Soap also love his wonderful beard from his OG days. At least I do.

Part 4 of Little Bear series Masterlist

“JOHN……ny???”

Two men turned around. If it wasn’t for the almost non-existing mohawk, you probably would have mistaken your boyfriend for Captain Price. 

“Bonnie bear!!” Striding towards you before scoping you up into his arms into a bear hug. “You made it!” 

“I wouldn’t miss it in the world… but.. What the hell is this??!!” you gaped, while caressing his full mutton chop. 

Six months. It’s the longest time both of you have been apart since the start of the relationship. Oh how you missed him. There was minimal contact. The only reason you knew him and the team was still alive was through Laswell ( Only because Johnny begged her and she has a soft spot for the youngsters of the team ). You don’t know how you would have coped without her constant update and reassurances. While you are glad to have them safe back in your arm, you begin to wonder what has happened during the mission. 

“You like it?” Nuzzling his face in the crook of your neck, he whispered. “I thought something different, for a change.” 

“Are you sure you boys haven’t been on the set of ‘Cast Away’ instead of a save-the-world mission??”  You laughed as you felt the tickle of his beard on your neck. “Oh! You are growing a rat tail too..” 

Glancing over his shoulder, you see Gaz sporting a not quite a full unkempt beard and equally messy curly hair, although you couldn’t see Simon’s face, a few strands of overgrown hair is peeking out from both eye holes and the back of his balaclava, and somehow Price has magically kept his mutton chop immaculate. You almost wonder if he has signed a secret pact with an unknown entity to keep his facial hair in tiptop shape and keep the boys alive during the missions. 

Pulling away a little, he gives you a playful smacking kiss on the lip, “Falling head over heels for me again?” 

You laughed as you lightly slapped his chest, you have to admit on more than one occasion you have imagined what it will be like for Johnny to have a full grown mutton chop, how it will feel when he goes down on….

“What are you thinking now little teddy bear? I can hear your brain churning.” Leaning back into you as he dropped into a whisper, “You having naughty thoughts?” Damn, he knows you too well. 

“Don’t worry, once we get back to the accommodation.. I will make up for all the lost time by taking care of ya…” he smirked. He proceeded to yell towards the boys, “Hey, I think we will give tonight’s gathering a miss, I have important business to take care of.” 

“You mean taking care of your girlfriend’s needs?” Simon perked up all of sudden.

“Oh my gosh Simon!!” You swear if someone put a kettle on top of your head now, you can boil the water in an instant. Of all people, you did not expect it from him. You seriously need to have a talk with Mini to reign her husband’s mouth. 

“You know it! See you tomorrow instead!” Soap replied, unashamed about what his plan with you for the evening was to be, while waving goodbye to his teammates and half dragging you towards the car, eagerly. And sure enough, he proceed to you the best head in your life. As always. With his new mutton chop. Again, and again. the overgrown hair made it easy to grab onto too.

“.. Had a good time? UGH!”

“ Gaz. Behave. And you too SIMON. Don't you DARE open your mouth” 

I am a firm believer Price has made a pact with the devil to keep his mutton chop immaculate at all time.

@a-small-writer-in-a-big-world

@kaplerrr

@homicidal-slvt

@floral-force @okayyadriana @deadbranch @cumikering @siilvan

@random-thot-generator

@random0lover @devcica @jynxmirage @nrdmssgs

[bloodpen-to-paper]

QSMP Awards 2024 Summarized

-The audio was scuffed for the first half. I don't mean a little crispy. I don't mean with a slight echo. It was fucked in every way imaginable. The audio sounded like it was going through a blender. Then it kept getting too loud, then too quiet (so much so we couldn't hear), all while being way too crispy. Charlie Slimecicle monologued to the audience while the team was trying to fix it but since the audio was both too crispy and too quiet we couldn't actually understand anything he was saying. This carried on for about 7 minutes with him holding two microphones, neither of which was working, before the stream crashed (again)

-All the staff are apparently Cucurucho, with one of them being a "main Cucurucho"

-Missa wore a "Quackity my beloved" shirt. I could not explain to you what the blazer over it was supposed to be.

-Everyone else at the ceremony was shown through discord call. I'm convinced Charlie has never seen German or Lenay's faces cause he did not know it was them until Quackity said their names

-The screen was supposed to switch between showing all the people on the discord and it kept switching between the same four people. If I have to hear Q, Charlie and Missa chant "Foolish" or "Pol" ever again-

-Mariana showed up and Charlie immediately went into bitter ex mode. He also hit on Mariana. Multiple times.

-We got a patented Ironmouse "coño" and chat lost their shit over Luzu existing, as expected

-Mariana looked like Michael Jackson, Bad's background could've been the set of Breaking Bad, Roier had a ski mask, lots of people learned what Lenay, German and Vegetta's looked like for the first time, and Mike had a kawaii filter

-Somehow Bad didn't even get nominated for Best Cucurucho Jumpscare, showing that even non-red carpet events can produce award snubs (congrats to Bagi!)

-Though I yearned for Maximus getting nominated for his Eh Vegetta prank, we all knew the win had to go to Vegetta for the mines

-The audio eventually became bearable but the echo never fully left. At some point there were like three or four overlaps of Vegetta giving his acceptance speech

-Acau won for Best Death from getting killed by an enderman (in my heart Foolish's accidental death by Pomme's sniper that got him eliminated from the elections won, but we did get Quackity dying to a fly as a nom so I feel complete. Also congrats to Acau!)

-The Qsmp shop is officially open! We got eggie merch :]

-Quackity forgot to roll clips for the Best Purgatory 2 Moment nominees and almost read out the winner before we got the montage (Wuant won! It was the clip of him being told he lost and he accidentally did a flip. They weren't able to get the acceptance speech on stream so we saw it from Quackity's phone)

-Funniest QSMP Moment nominees were all fucking hilarious, its hard to pick just one but Maxo winning for when he respawned after a lore-heavy moment in Pierre's bed to his own moans being remixed into a song absolutely deserved the win

-Saddest QSMP Moment was unnecessary and the admins will be hearing from my lawyers for making me relive Dapper's first lost life, Dia de los Muertos and the end of Purgatory 1 (Jaiden and Roier saying bye to Bobby won, Roier changed his screen to black and white and held up what looked like a mini Cucurucho being used as a cross)

-Best QSMP Original Song was played prematurely when the category was Best Language Exchange, and we got a spoiler for the winner (YD and Hugo's exchange won and YD's audio was muted so we just saw her Vtuber model getting excited)

-The aforementioned Best Qsmp Original Song had Gordinho Gostosinho looping aggressively over Charlie singing the Juanaflippa song, which I hope to god gets clipped cause it was hilarious (I'm glad the Roier and Cucurucho rap got nominated). Charlie was very confused why they had him announce his own win.

-Best PVP unsurprisingly went to Etoiles for his colosseum Code fight, after all he is the Best🔥 (the other noms were great too, we had Philza vs Tubbo in Purgatory, Bad and Maxo eliminating El Quackity from the elections, and a cute sparring session between Pac and Richas)

-Best Qsmp Fails went to Fit for that time Pac's internet cut out during their date (of course he bragged about his Brasilian boyfriend after learning he won for best loser)(also if it was up to me Quackity's fly deaths would've been added to this category just sayin')

-The audio problems were revealed to have been roleplay the entire time. Yep. All part of the lore.

-Speaking of, most of the winners who were in the discord call could not be heard so they had to give speeches through Quackity holding his phone up to the mic

-Best Roleplayer went to Roier for his Doied arc (the screen prematurely showed him before they could read the announcement, and his speech was him kissing the camera)

-Worst Server House went to Mariana accompanied with the classic clip of him reacting to the admins roasting his started base; Mariana was part of the discord call but left at some point so he couldn't give a speech, to which Charlie jumped on the opportunity to roast his absence like a shark smelling blood (they rightfully nominated Quackity for his clip of Acau reacting to his failure of a starter house, and apparently Carre's base is just his bed on a dirt plot)

-Most Iconic Clip went to Pac for stealing the Qsmp Logo (the other lovely noms included Foolish and co. accidentally closing their house door after a creeper came in an attempt to shut it out, and Tina reacting to a mob giving Felps a blowjob)

-The Most Bankrupt Islander went to Niki for being broke, we stan (during the nom montage we got a passa tudo mention)

-The Creator Who Spent the Most Time on the Server Award went to Bad, which was shocking to no one, although they did use his Barbie Girl clip for the nom montage (they also used Fit wearing a wig for his clip)

-The Qsmp cake for the one year anniversary had the text "FELICIDADES ALBERTO". We do not know who Alberto is. Pol was losing it.

-Tubbo won for The Creator With the Most Deaths (106), while The Creator With Fewest Deaths went to Philza (he only had 1!). Philza was able to be heard through stream but the hosts didn't know this so they would hear him from Quackity's phone and repeat what he was saying even though we could hear him

-Everytime the camera cut back to the hosts Charlie, Quackity and Missa had more cake on their faces

-Most Distance Traveled (in Minecraft) went to Etoiles (6,000+ km jfc)

-Creator With the Most Mob Kills went to Pierre (162,960 mob kills. what the fuck.)

-They accidentally read the award for Creator With the Most Damage Taken (Foolish) during the Best Builder announcement, confusing the shit out of everyone, especially cause the screen showed Mike instead of Foolish. I am still unclear who won Best Builder

-Creator With the Most Blocks Placed went to Mike!!! (MIKE WIN VAMBORAAAAAAAAAAA🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷)

-We had to uncomfortably sit through Missa feeding Charlie cake (and just Charlie in general)

-There was an In Memorium segment of the passed eggs (Quackity shat on a grieiving Charlie for Flippa only lasting 11 days, but in Charlie's words, "to you it was 11 days; to her it was a lifetime"). Charlie commentated and had nothing to say about Trump because he didn't know jack shit about Trump (though he did make a wall joke which is exactly what Maxo would have wanted godbless🙏)

-The stream ended with the discord people saying goodbye, while Roier was holding up the mini Cucuruchos and didn't move the entire time. I know he wasn't frozen because he blinked.

-Maxo sent in his acceptance speech video last minute and Quackity hyped it up as a mysterious final entry but Charlie guessed it was Maxo and spoiled it on accident

-Speaking of, Maxo's entry was him walking around heaven looking for Trump </3

-Charlie gave a heartfelt speech about the people he met through the Qsmp, all while looking like ate out frosty the snowman <3. Missa simpy thanked Alberto (we still do not know who Alberto is)

-Tubbo wasn't present in the discord call because he thought him streaming meant he couldn't join. After the stream Quackity called and Tubbo realized he was allowed to join the whole time

-We ended on a montage of various moments, with a message of excitement looking forward to the next year!

And of course, here are the screenies I managed to nab of the hosts slowly deteriorating into cake

[duskandcobalt]

Everywhere, Everything: Chapter Two

Chapter Summary: One thing leads to another when Azriel and Elain find themselves alone for the first time in months.

Word Count: 6K

Warnings: Smut, 18+ please

Missed the first chapter? You can find the masterlist for this fic here 🥰

A/N: Thank you so much for all the love and support on the first chapter of this fic. It means the world to me and I am SO excited to share this next chapter with you 💕

ENJOY XX

Read on AO3

Elain Archeron had always had excellent intuition. 

It was Elain that had glanced between Nesta and Cassian the first time they had all met and quietly told her older sister that she’d end up marrying Cassian one day. At the time, Nesta had scoffed - claiming that Rhys’ loud, overconfident friend was the opposite of her type and she’d rather stick pins in her eyes than entertain the idea of going on even one date with him. Two years to the day later, Nesta had shown up to dinner with a glittering diamond on her ring finger. 

It was also Elain that had tilted her head, her mouth skewed up in a mischievous half smile as she surveyed Feyre one morning and whispered “you’re pregnant” to her younger sister who much like Nesta, had scoffed and said that there was absolutely no way. Nyx arrived thirty four weeks later. 

It was that same intuition that had left with her with an ominous feeling in the weeks leading up to her father’s death. That darkness had lingered around her for so long that Elain had finally decided to give up and ignore it - a decision that she’d come to regret just a few days later when she’d slipped out of her then-boyfriend’s bed to see the countless number of missed calls and texts lighting up her phone screen.

But while her intuition seemed to always be right on the money when it came to other people in her life, it was all but non-existent when it came to her own. Otherwise, she might’ve immediately known that when Azriel had greeted her earlier this evening with one of his rare smiles and an “I missed you” muttered into her hair for only her to hear, they’d end the night alone in his kitchen - flickering candlelight and his hands on her thighs. 

Azriel’s house had been bustling with activity for the past few hours. Festive music was on, the fireplace was lit, the warm lights of the Christmas tree glittered along with the numerous candles that he’d lit and carefully placed around his kitchen and living room so that they were well out of reach of small hands. Drinks had been poured, food had been devoured, gifts had been opened and only now were things finally quieting down. 

Rhys and Feyre swayed together in time to whatever song was playing, wrapped up in each other’s arms as their toddler desperately tried to pry his way in between their bodies. Nesta was sprawled out on Azriel’s couch, long legs draped over Cassian’s lap. Elain watched them all, a small smile on her lips, from where she sat on the floor next to Shadow’s bed - one hand softly stroking over the chest of Azriel’s greyhound as she dozed with her long snout resting on Elain’s lap. 

She had been nervous to come back home after being away for the last six months, afraid of what feelings might come rushing to the surface when she returned to this small town that had been the setting for all the best and worst moments of her life. She’d felt unprecedented anxiety on the entire flight over and then again on the drive to Azriel’s house for Christmas dinner. But her heart had immediately eased when she’d spotted the paw prints imprinted into the walkway when she strolled up to the front door earlier and now that she was here, cross legged on the floor of a house that had come to feel like a second home, she was perfectly content. 

Even her nerves around seeing Azriel had dissipated into nothing when he’d opened the door and given her one of those rare, dazzling smiles that made her heart ache. He’d pulled her into his arms, placed a chaste kiss to her cheek, and she’d almost cried from the relief of being back here with him. At how natural it felt to be held by him again. She’d missed him to the point of pain, even if he was part of the reason she’d packed up and moved halfway across the country in the first place. 

It wasn’t that she hadn’t seen him in the eight or so months that she’d been away. They’d still spoken, still exchanged the occasional call and text to check in with each other. They’d even caught up the last time she’d been in town for a friend’s wedding that Autumn but she’d insisted on meeting him in a café - somewhere public and busy where she wouldn’t have to deal with that simmering temptation that seemed to plague her each and every time she looked at him a little too long. 

Elain lifted her eyes to sneak another look at him now, just as she’d been doing since she’d stepped foot into his house earlier this evening. He was as beautiful as ever, sitting on the floor across from her, his back against the couch Nesta and Cassian occupied, long legs stretched out in front of him. His head was tipped up and to the side. The small gold hoop that hugged his earlobe caught the light of the fireplace and drew her eye there, to the strong cut of his jaw and the cheekbones that were on perfect display as he exchanged quiet words with her older sister. 

The sweater he wore was a green so dark it almost looked black in the dim light and it fit him in a way that emphasised the breadth of his chest and shoulders.  The memory of him pushing up the sleeves of that sweater while he bustled around the kitchen earlier resurfaced before she could stop it and Elain had to drag her eyes away from him, her cheeks heating at the way she’d been unable to look away from the dark ink of the tattoos scattered on his golden skin and the way they had subtly danced with each flex of his forearms.

…

Nesta and Feyre both decided to head home as the clock ticked closer to 1AM. Nyx had fallen asleep on Azriel’s couch an hour ago.  Feyre was well past drunk, her entire body slumped against Rhys who held her up with a firm arm around her waist. Nesta was steering an also far from sober Cassian into the passenger side of their car. 

“I’ll stay and help tidy up,” Elain told Rhys as she helped get Nyx in his carseat while Rhys wrangled his wife into the front seat. “Feyre gave me a key earlier, I’ll let myself in.” 

“Az could probably drive you back, he’s only had a couple.” He replied, sighing as he carefully shut the passenger door. 

Rhys followed her as she made her way back up the path to Azriel’s house. She didn’t miss the slight raise of Azriel’s brows as she said goodbye to Rhys and brushed past him, heading back inside the house instead of leaving with her sisters. She kept moving, not bothering to stand around as Rhys lowered his voice and spoke to Azriel. 

She was in the kitchen, putting away leftovers and wiping down the benchtop when Azriel sauntered back in. 

“You didn’t need to stay and help,” he said softly, bottom lip pulled between his teeth as he watched her. 

“And you didn’t need to host us all tonight, but you did.” Elain gave him a pointed look before she looked away from those piercing hazel eyes. “Besides, I haven’t seen you in a while. I thought it’d be nice to stay back for a bit… catch up, just the two of us.”

“Just like old times,” he said, softly.

She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye just in time to see the way those full lips of his tilted upwards. 

“Just like old times,” she nodded.

And just like all those other late nights, the conversation came easily. There was no awkwardness between them. None of the resentment that she had feared he may hold for her. It was just as it had always been - whispered words and quiet laughter. The gentle skim of fingers over shoulders and waists as they effortlessly maneuvered around each other, taking entirely too long to clean up because they were so distracted by falling straight back into their old routine.

But while things had been going better than she could’ve hoped, that temptation was still there. She still felt the heat course through her every time his hand pressed to the small of her back. She’d hoped that it had been a fluke. That putting distance between them would temper the overwhelming desire that she had for him. Being alone with him now, even despite the ease and the comfort, she couldn’t help but wonder how she’d deluded herself into thinking there was any way that she could just resort back to friendly feelings when her feelings towards him had always skewed to a little more than just platonic. 

“Want a slice of pie?” Azriel asked, looking at her over his shoulder as he opened the fridge and peered inside. 

“It’s late, Az. I should probably head back home, you must be tired.” Elain said, draining the last bit of red wine from the glass that Azriel had refilled not once, but twice, in the last hour or so. She was a little bit tipsy, her eyes the tiniest bit bleary - although whether that was because of the wine or the lack of sleep, she couldn’t be too sure. 

“Just one slice, Lain.” Azriel pulled a plate of pumpkin pie and a can of whipped cream out of the fridge before using his elbow to shut the refrigerator door. “One slice and then I’ll call you a cab.”

Elain bit the inside of her cheek, a coy smile forming on her lips. She’d take any excuse for a few more minutes with him. “I’ll just have a bite of yours.”

Elain hoisted herself up on the counter and watched as Azriel nodded, carefully cutting a slice and setting it on the plate before making his way back to her. He gathered a piece on the singular fork he’d brought with him and held it out to her, his other hand cupped under it to catch any stray crumbs. Prickles of heat crept from her chest up her neck as she leant forward, all too aware of the way Azriel’s eyes were glued to her mouth as she wrapped her lips around the fork. That heat only intensified as she watched him take the next bite, his own lips sliding over where hers had just been.

“You forgot the cream,”  she swallowed down whatever feeling was coursing through her and looked away from him, hands extending out to reach for the canister of whipped cream. 

Azriel took it from her, a devious look on his face as he gently gripped her chin and tipped her head back, filling her mouth with the cream.

“Stop!” She laughed, pressing her foot into his thigh to push him back as she snatched back the can and attempted to gracefully swallow the copious amount of cream. 

“My turn,” he stepped forward, his eyes on her face even as he slotted himself in between her knees. Elain didn’t dare look down to see how high her dress had ridden up her legs. She just raised the can, shaking it a few times as he tilted his own head back and parted his lips.

She went easy on him, taking her finger off the lever as soon as he had a good mouthful. 

Elain watched as he swallowed, his eyes shining with amusement. She watched as his tongue collected what remained on his lips and then her focus went to that little bit of whipped cream that remained right at the corner of his mouth. 

She felt light headed, a little bit out of her body. She was only vaguely aware of her own movements as her hands landed on Azriel’s shoulders. She only just caught the look of surprise in his wide hazel eyes before she pressed her lips to the corner of his, collecting that lingering cream into her own mouth. 

Elain pulled back quickly, suddenly painfully aware of what she’d just done, of the line she’d just crossed. An unspoken and admittedly blurry line, but one that had been firmly in place between them for the past decade. 

“I’m so sorry,” she whispered. “I don’t know why… it must be the wi-”

Elain didn’t have the chance to finish her sentence, however, because Azriel’s lips were immediately on hers. One large hand of his found her bare thigh while the other landed against the small of her back, holding her close to him. Her hands slid from his shoulders, up his neck and into his hair. Her fingers twisted into his midnight waves as she pulled him even closer, her entire body arching up into his touch. 

The moan that left his mouth as her lips parted for him, as her breasts pressed against his chest, had an immediate ache building between her thighs, one that only coiled tighter as that hand on her thigh slid dangerously higher, his fingertips digging into her supple flesh as he kissed her.. 

She’d never be able to look at a pumpkin pie, never be able to taste cinnamon or cream again, without thinking about this. Without picturing Azriel standing in between her legs, his hand under her dress, his tongue in her mouth. 

“Is it really just the wine?” He pulled back from her lips just an inch to look at her properly. His hands were still on her body, his touch searing. His lips were swollen, his chest heaved in time with hers as they each attempted to catch their breath.

Elain bit down on her lip and shook her head, her nails scratched softly at his scalp. “No.”

She shifted forward and the movement caused Azriel’s fingers to slide over the thin scrap of lace she wore underneath her dress. 

“Fuck,” he swore under his breath, feeling the damp fabric. She whimpered as his fingers pressed in slightly as he dragged them up and over her center. “I’ve barely even touched you.”

He didn’t say it with any sort of pride. Didn’t say it as if he were teasing her. He said it with a certain sort of disbelief, like he couldn’t quite comprehend that she could ever have that sort of reaction because of him. 

Elain’s cheeks blazed with heat, her head spinning. She was so far gone, too consumed with the familiar scent of him coupled with the unfamiliar feel of his hands in a place they’d never gone before to think straight.

“Lain,” He whispered, his lips sliding up her jaw towards her ear. “Tell me to stop.”

“Don’t want you to stop,” she mumbled, turning her face until her lips met his. Her eyes fluttered shut, a moan of her own leaving her mouth only to be swallowed by him as his thumb circled her clit over her underwear.

She should’ve told him to stop. She most definitely should’ve gone home. But she couldn’t bring herself to put an end to this. She couldn’t think of anything past the insistent throbbing between her legs that only he’d be able to satisfy. 

This was Azriel. 

Azriel who’d taught Feyre to drive. Cold to the world Azriel, who warmed so slowly to people but had seemingly been so willing to open up and share himself with her. 

This was the boy that had slotted himself next to her in the church pew and gently took her hand in his at her father’s funeral when the guy she’d been seeing at the time had all but disappeared into the ether. 

It was Azriel that helped Rhys and Cassian at the small reception after the funeral so that the girls didn’t have to worry about anything. And when it came time for Feyre and Nesta to return to their own lives and families after a week of the three of them sharing a bed like they so often did when they were kids, it was Azriel that she had turned to during a moment of weakness, admitting that she couldn’t bear to be in the house alone. 

It was Azriel that had stayed with her all those weeks. It was his arms that she fell asleep in night after night, his shirt that she soaked with her tears. His voice in her ear whispering that he’d always be there for her. 

It was during those weeks that everything had changed. It was on one of those nights when he’d held her close, his fingers pressed to the small of her back, that she’d felt the urge to press her body closer to his, to tilt her head up and kiss him. She’d gone as far as sliding her hands under his shirt, pressing her lips to his neck before she’d gotten ahold of herself.

The desire had been so intense, so all consuming, that it had made her feel ill. 

She’d turned in his arms that night, afraid of what she’d do if she looked at him for even a moment longer. And the second that she faced away from him and he readjusted his grip on her, his fingers tightening on her hip over her shirt - always over, never under, she choked back a sob. 

She’d been so ashamed of wanting him like that, completely overcome with sheer guilt that she could feel anything besides grief in the wake of her father’s death. 

She’d decided then and there that she had to go. That she needed to put distance between herself and this place. Him. So much had already changed, she couldn’t bear to complicate things any further and she knew it would be inevitable if she stuck around. 

It would have been entirely too easy to let it happen, to give in to that pull she’d always felt towards him. But she refused to risk it, too afraid of all the possible repercussions on everyone else involved. So she took the savings she had and the money left for her in her father’s will and she moved across the country just to prove to herself that she could. 

But now that she was back here with his hands confidently navigating her body, there was no time to think. There was only here and now and all she wanted was him on top of her. Under her. She didn’t care as long as she could have him inside her. 

Elain didn’t protest as his hands slid under her thighs, his scars gliding over her smooth skin. Her legs wrapped around his waist as he lifted her and carried her upstairs. Their mouths were fused together apart from split second separations to go over the necessary questions.

Yes, he’d been tested recently. No, he hadn’t slept with anyone since that test. Yes, she was on the pill. No, she didn’t want him to use a condom.

Elain grappled with the hem of her dress, tugging the tight fabric over her head and discarding it somewhere on the landing at the top of the stairs. Azriel’s lips wrapped around a peaked nipple barely a second later as he blindly made his way towards his bedroom, kicking the door shut with his foot before he gently laid her down on his bed. 

He stayed standing, eyes scanning hungrily over her body, his bottom lip pulled in between his teeth. Elain blushed under the heat of his gaze. She thought that she must look ridiculous, laid out like this - naked aside from a measly bit of lace and the thigh high black tights she’d worn under her boots. 

“Even prettier than I pictured,” Azriel said, voice soft as he peeled the stockings off each of her legs. His fingers hooked in the waistband of her underwear and she raised her hips, holding her breath as he removed them - torturous and slow - until she was utterly bare before him.

“You pictured this?” Her voice was breathy as she propped herself up on her elbows to watch as he knelt on the floor in front of her. 

“More times than I can count,” he admitted. Azriel’s voice was steady but she saw the smallest inkling of embarrassment in the light dusting of pink high on his cheeks. 

Elain didn’t have a chance to reply to his admission, a gasp leaving her mouth as his fingers gripped her hips as he dragged her to the edge of the mattress and hooked her legs over his shoulders. An unbearable heat stoked low in her stomach at the realisation that the breadth of his shoulders meant that she was spread open inches from his beautiful face.

“Did you ever think of me? Us? Like this?” His lips brushed over the sensitive skin of her inner thigh. 

She couldn’t focus, couldn’t conjure up a single thought when his mouth was so close to where she needed him. 

“Lain?” He prompted her again, clearly seeking an answer before he’d give her what she so obviously wanted. 

“Yes,” Elain gave him a shy nod. “A few times.” 

A vast underestimation. 

She’d learnt long ago that just imagining Azriel’s face was enough to get her over the edge. She’d take it to her grave the amount of times she’d whispered his name into her pillow as she imagined his fingers in place of her own. 

Azriel didn’t say anything else but she felt him smile against the crease of her thigh, moments before he finally gave in and ran his tongue over her.

Elain’s fingers grasped at the white linen of his sheets as she tried to remember how to breathe. Azriel was relentless, his talented mouth coaxing out little whimpers and moans from her despite her best efforts to keep quiet. She bit down on her lip, holding back a desperate moan as he slipped a single finger inside her. His other hand slid up the plane of her stomach, fingers bracketing her ribs as his thumb grazed the soft curve of her breast.

Her back arched off the mattress, hips bucking up under his mouth. He moved his hand down from her breast, slinging that arm across her stomach to keep her in place as he added another finger and wrapped his lips around her aching clit. 

She couldn’t bring herself to care about how quickly she came for him, her thighs threatening to close around his head, her nails digging so hard into the arm pinning her down that she knew he’d have little half moon marks on his skin for hours to come. 

Elain grasped at the fabric of his sweater to pull him up to her and Azriel stood, reaching for the material at the back of his neck and pulling it off his body in one smooth motion. She raised onto her knees, eyes still locked on his as she bent and pressed a number of kisses across his hips, her fingers making quick work of his belt, followed by the button and zipper of his trousers. 

She took pride at the sight of her red lipstick smeared on his skin as she leaned back and watched him finish undressing. She could see the shape of him through the thin material of his boxers and still, her mouth went dry when they came off and the length of him was revealed to her. She moved forward again, wanted to reach for him and feel him in her hands. Take him into her mouth. Leave her lipstick all over every inch of him. But Azriel stopped her, shaking his head and gently guiding her back down to the bed. 

“Lay back,” he instructed. His hands ran along the curves of her body as he guided her thighs apart with his knee and settled himself between her legs. 

“I’ve wanted you for so long,” his lips brushed against the shell of her ear. “As much as I’d love to feel your pretty mouth on me, I just need to be inside you.” 

She swallowed, biting down on her lower lip at his earnestness.

“Do you want that?” He continued, pulling back slightly so he could look at her properly.  “Want me inside you?”

She didn’t say anything, only reached between their bodies to run her hand along the hard length that rested heavy against her stomach. 

Azriel groaned at her touch and the sound sent a new wave of warmth coursing through her body. “Answer me, Elain.” 

Elain could’ve come right at that moment, just from the authoritativeness of that command, but she took a second to collect herself, dragging her thumb over him and smoothing that drop of moisture around the head of his cock before she answered him. “I want you inside me, Azriel.” 

Azriel tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, two fingers tucking under her chin to lift her lips to his just as he started to slowly and carefully push into her.  

Elain had spent years of her life picturing what it would be like to fuck Azriel. 

She’d thought of him putting her on her knees, taking her from the back. She’d imagined his hand around her throat, maybe tugging at her hair. She’d thought that it’d be hard and fast and edged with a little bit of pain. Maybe she’d expected that from him because it’s what she was used to from most of the men with whom she’d shared a bed. 

What she hadn’t expected was for him to take his time with her, to treat her with such care. Azriel kept his eyes on her as he sank into her, waiting patiently for her breathing to steady as she adjusted to the stretch of him. She hadn’t expected the smooth, slow roll of his hips. Hadn’t dreamed that he’d continuously pull her closer and closer. She hadn’t ever let herself go as far as to imagine that he’d intertwine their fingers, holding her hands tight in his as he fucked her. 

Not that this could be considered fucking. Not when it felt a whole lot more like something else.

“You’re perfect. Every fucking part of you is perfect.” Azriel whispered against her lips, more to himself than her, as he thrusted into her, tearing her out of her own mind. Out of the terrifying thought that this was anything more than simply sex. He’d brought one of his knees up, allowing for a deeper angle that had her grasping at his back, her nails sharp as they dragged down his skin. 

“Azriel.” His name was all she could say and it left her mouth in three long drawn out syllables punctuated by sharp intakes of breath. It was the only word in her vocabulary as he moved within her, the head of his cock hitting that sensitive spot inside her that left her scalp and skin tingling as white hot pleasure once again coiled low and tight in her stomach. 

“I know, Lain.” He nodded. He didn’t need her to say anything else. They’d always understood each other with as little as a shared glance and so he knew that she was close. Could most likely feel the way she tensed around him. Felt the frantic way she grasped his shoulders, his hair. Could probably hear it in the keening of her voice as she begged him to go a bit harder, a little bit faster. Pleading with him to give her more.

Azriel gave her what she wanted, patiently following each of her garbled instructions as he picked up his pace. The hand that had been holding her thigh up to her chest moved in between her legs to run quick circles over her clit and Elain moaned his name over and over again, fighting to keep her eyes open through her climax so she could watch his face as he pulled out of her, his hand sliding over the length of his cock as he finished with her name on his lips. 

Azriel kissed again, long and slow, before he sat up and knelt between her legs once more. His eyes traveled slowly from her face down her body, lingering on the proof of what they’d just done decorating her stomach. 

He rubbed the back of his neck, his throat tensing as he swallowed. “You’ll be the end of me.”

…

He’d cleaned her up after,  had held her in his arms and told her little stories about Shadow’s escapades and the new pieces of jewelry he was working on. He listened as she told him about the workshops she ran at the apothecary she’d taken over and about the two twins that had become more like friends than employees since she’d hired them. 

 Elain had thought that she was in the clear, had been elated that things seemed normal, that crossing that line between them hadn’t somehow ruined everything. But she’d lulled herself into a fall sense of security because once Azriel’s eyes closed and his breathing slowed, it all hit her at once.

One minute she was silently tracing the planes of his face with her eyes as he slept and the next she was fighting back tears, her heart pounding against her chest as what could only be described as panic started to consume every bone in her body. 

The sheets felt too heavy, the scent of sex was too strong, and the sudden realisation that she could no longer pretend that her feelings for him didn’t extend far past simple friendship had her silently slipping from between his sheets and out of his bed. 

A sob wracked Elain’s body the second she was on the other side of his bedroom door, stark naked in his upstairs hallway. She moved quickly, grabbing her dress from where she’d discarded it earlier in the heat of the moment. She slipped it over her head, tugging it down to cover herself before scrambling down the stairs. She stopped in the kitchen to collect her phone and her bag, ignoring the forgotten slice of pie on the counter. Shadow lifted her head from her bed by the Christmas tree in the living room, those all-knowing eyes bearing into Elain’s soul as she quickly slid on her boots and closed the front door.  

There were no Ubers available at this hour, no cabs in the vicinity. She couldn’t call her sisters. Definitely couldn’t call their husbands. Elain had no choice but to walk the hour back to Feyre and Rhys’ home in a too short dress and no coat because she’d left it in his house along with her underwear and her dignity. 

The sun was just beginning to rise when she finally reached her destination, exhaustion settling deep in her bones as she trudged up the icy walkway. There were blisters on the back of her heels from where her boots rubbed against her feet as she walked. She unlocked the door with her borrowed key, quietly shutting it behind her with the intention of going straight upstairs and crying in the shower where she would attempt to regain feeling in her body.

“What the hell happened to you?” Elain turned to find Nesta sitting in an armchair in front of the fireplace. Her gray eyes widened as she took in Elain’s appearance.

Fuck. 

Elain was still sobbing, trails of hot tears rapidly falling over her frozen cheeks. There was snow in her hair and on her clothes, leaving her a miserable, wet mess as it melted. 

“Elain?” Feyre appeared on her other side, most likely coming back to this room from the kitchen. Her arms wrapped around Elain’s shoulders, quickly steering her towards the chair opposite Nesta. “ What happened? Did you walk here?” 

“I…” Elain collapsed into the chair. Feyre scurried around, quickly finding a thick blanket and tucking it around her trembling sister. “I messed up.” 

“What do you mean?” Nesta asked, deep lines of concern formed on her forehead. “Weren’t you just with Az?” 

Elain sobbed harder at the mention of his name. 

“Is he okay? Why didn’t he bring you home?” Feyre knelt in front of her, her hands gripping Elain’s arms. 

“I… we…” Elain tried to calm herself down, to force air into her lungs. “I’ve ruined it.”

“You’re not making any sense, El. What do you mean you ruined it?” Nesta asked again, voice firm but hushed. 

“I had sex with Azriel.”  Elain buried her face in her hands, meaning to avoid seeing her sister’s reactions but because she couldn’t help herself, Elain removed her hands and raised her bloodshot eyes just in time to see the fleeting look of surprised amusement her sisters exchanged before their eyes were back on her.

It was Nesta that eventually  motioned with her hand, wordlessly prompting Elain to explain herself.

“We were just talking and then he asked if I wanted some pie and he had a bit of cream on the corner of his mouth so I kissed him. It was just a peck, but then he kissed me and it… wasn’t just a peck.” Elain explained, words spilling from her mouth as she nervously wrung her hands. “And then one thing led to another and we did what we did and he fell asleep and I was looking at him and then my heart started pounding and I felt like I was going to have a panic attack so I left.”

“You just left?” Nesta stared at Elain, dumbfounded. “No note? No text?” 

“I didn’t even stop to find my underwear, Nesta. Do you think I left a note?” Elain snapped. 

“This isn’t necessarily bad, Elain.” Feyre bit her cheek. “I mean, I think I’m mostly surprised the two of you haven’t hooked up before this.” 

“What?” 

“Yeah,” Nesta chimed in. “You guys were always together. Constantly sneaking off together… you weren’t seriously just out for a drive or a walk all those times?”

“And the way he looks at you! I mean, come on, El…” Feyre cut in before Elain had a chance to tell Nesta that she and Azriel really had just been out for quiet drives and walks. That they hadn’t exchanged much more than a hug in all these years. 

“Oh my god!” Nesta’s eyes went wide as she turned to face Feyre. “Do you remember my wedding video? The way he looked at her when she came down the aisle!”

“And when they danced!” Feyre added in, her smile widening. 

“Cass and I swore that they’d gone home together that night when we watched it back.”

“Jesus. Stop.” Elain tossed the blanket off of her lap and stood up as fresh tears gathered in the corners of her eyes. She couldn’t take any more of this. Couldn’t stand to listen to her sisters rehash a list of moments that she herself had taken careful measures to repress. “I have to go.”

“Yeah, maybe you should get some rest.” Feyre nodded. “You’ve had a big night and you’re overwhelmed but it’ll be fine. It’s really not that big of a deal.”

“No,” Elain shook her head. “I have to go. I can’t be here.”

“Elain,” Nesta rose, Feyre tailing her as the two girls followed Elain as she made a beeline for the stairs. “You’re completely overreacting. Just take a few deep breaths and everything -” 

“I don’t want to fucking meditate, Nesta. I want to go home.” Elain turned to face them, only to see twin expressions of shock on her sister’s faces at the result of her outburst. 

Elain closed her eyes for a second before she continued, attempting to keep her voice as level and calm as possible. “He’s my best friend and I’ve ruined it. I can’t be here. I can’t be in this town. I can’t see him. I just need to go.” 

“El…” Feyre reached for Elain’s shoulder but she maneuvered out of her grasp. 

“Please don’t tell the boys.” She whispered quietly, glancing between her sisters - letting them see the desperation in her eyes. 

They both exchanged concerned looks but ultimately nodded, silently promising that this would stay between the three of them. Elain muttered a thank you, tears steadily sliding down her cheeks, before she turned around and made her way upstairs to quickly shower and pack her back.

Two hours later, she was at the airport and booking the first available flight back home. 

The first thing she did when she got back to her apartment, after wearily collapsing into her bed, was pick up her phone and open a text thread that had sat ignored for a couple weeks now.

Hey! I’m back in town - you free this week?

[fucklove-4-life]

Billie Bossa Nova

warnings -> smut (mdi), potentially bad spelling

It had just come out of apparently nowhere, and just caught you off guard.

Your breath hitched, and you blinked, pulling back slightly to meet Billie's gaze. Her lips were still swollen from kissing, her eyes dilated and you could see something more intense below them. You aren't sure how to respond immediately.

She's just such a horny fuck.

"Wait, what?" you asked voice shaking a little, heart thudding in your chest.

Billie smiled wryly, pushing a strand of hair out of your face; the tips of her fingers lingered on your cheek. "You heard me," she said in that low, husky tone of voice-a tone that was playful but low. "It could be a lot of fun."

A wave of heat coursed over you, and in the split second, you were divided between that high from the moment and the surprise of her audacious proposal. Your mind went into overdrive-is this really happening?

You swallowed hard as your heart quickened, the weight of the situation setting upon you. Billie's fingers danced softly along your jawline, sending shivers down your spine. The idea had scared you, but it also stirred something deeply within-a curiosity, an excitement that you hadn't expected. You couldn't deny the heat between you, the electric charge that seemed to always spark whenever you were together. But this. this was different.

Billie…," you whispered her name, as if to say it would somehow make the image she had just described make sense. Your eyes searched hers, trying to gauge how serious she was, or if this was a momentary whim.

She didn't flinch. Her gaze held steady-Playful but sincere. "What, baby?" she asked softly, the warmth of her breath touching your lips as she leans in closer. "We don't have to. But… Her fingers curl into the back of your neck, tugging you in gently. "if we did, it would just be for us. No one else would ever know. You know how I get on away games."

Again, such a horny fuck.

Her voice was a mix of teasing and promise, and the look that she gave you-looked only at you, as if you were the only person in the world that mattered-made it hard to think straight. The space between them was almost non-existent now; their foreheads were almost touching while her lips were hovering so dangerously close again to yours. The temptation was just too much.

Your heart was racing in your chest, mixed up in a concoction of anxiety and anticipation. "You. you are serious?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper, not knowing if he wanted her to confirm or dismiss that notion.

Billie's lips had curled into a half-smile, her head cocked just a bit to the side, her eyes sparkling with that mischievous glint that always managed to buckle your knees. "Why wouldn't I be?" she whispered, her lips brushing against yours in a feather-light kiss that left you wanting more. "Think about it-something just for us. A secret just between us."

A secret.

That word set a ripple of excitement through you despite the nervous flutter in your stomach. The thought of something that was just yours and hers, shared in the privacy of this moment, was undeniably thrilling. You'd never done anything like that before-never even considered it, really-but with Billie, everything was different. She had a way of making you feel like you could step outside your comfort zone and still be utterly safe with her.

Your fingers unconsciously tightened on her waist, pulling her closer; your body was betraying the uncertainty that still clung in your mind. Billie noticed it, her smile growing wider as she took the opportunity to press her lips against yours again, this time deeper. Her kiss was demanding yet patient, giving you the time to melt into it, letting the hesitation slip away second after second.

As she drew back, her eyes searched yours for the slightest doubt, but you were lost in hers, your head reeling with all the things that could and might happen. "Got my phone right here," she purred, low and sultry, her hand slipping down to the pocket of her basketball shorts. She drew it out incrementally, held it between you like some offering ofseduction.

Your breath caught in your throat as you stared at the device in her hand, your mind racing. It would have been so easy to have said yes-to give into the moment, to let one's self be swept up in the rush of it all. Billie's thumb hovered over the screen as an expression perfected a mix of teasing and serious.

But the gravity of it wasn't lost on you; there was such intimacy and a personal level to it that you couldn't just take back once done. It was a moment where you thought about what it actually meant or how this particular moment tied you both together in a way that was beyond anything else you had shared.

"Bills," you started again, softer this time, sure of yourself. "I… I don't know. What if something happens? What if—"

She cut off gently, her hand coming up to cradle your cheek, grounding you with the warmth of her touch. "Nothing will happen," she said. "I would never let anything bad happen. Not to you. Not to us." Her eyes softened; the playful edge fell away into something more serious, more real. "It's just for us, I promise."

You searched her face, feeling the sincerity behind her words. Billie had always been good at making you feel safe, like no matter what you did or how crazy things got with the media, she'd always be there to catch you if you fell. And right now, looking into her eyes, you wanted to believe that more than anything.

Still, part of you held back. You're not quite sure if it was because of the fear of the unknown or just the intensity of this very moment. "I trust you," you whispered, letting your forehead fall against hers while feeling the steady rise and fall of her breath against your chest. "But this is… new.

Billie's lips pressed a soft kiss to the corner of your mouth, her voice tender when she spoke again. "It is new. But that's what makes it fun, right?" She pulled back just enough to look you in the eyes, her thumb brushing your bottom lip gently. "We can stop at any time. If you're not comfortable, we won't do it. I can always delete it.

That's what you needed to hear-reassurance that she wasn't pushing you, that this was completely your choice. And in that moment, with Billie so close, so open, so trusting, you felt the last bit of your doubt melt away.

"Okay," you breathed, the word escaping before you could overthink it. Billie's eyes lit up immediately, and you couldn't help but smile at her excitement. "But only if-

"Only if it's just for us, make a movie with you that we'd have to hide" she finished for you, her lips crashing against yours once more before any further words could escape your lips. The kiss was deeper now, more urgent, as though the dams had burst and all tension finally spilling over between you.

Her hands roamed over your body, tugging you closer until there was no space left separating your bodies anymore. The fast beating of her heart pressed to your chest echoed the rhythms in your chest as her phone clattered to the floor beside you, forgotten in this heat of the moment.

She slowly leaned back, searching your expression for any remnants of hesitation. Satisfied when all was well and truly gone, she sat back and pulled out her phone. Now or never.

───

"Just like that, pretty girl," she muttered, releasing a low moan as her hand clamped down into your hair and you looked up at her iPhone lens facing you. You hummed at the sight of it, your tongue escaping to taste more of her.

You were on your knees as Billie lay upon the couch, her legs spread as you ate her slowly out, just how she liked. Her hands were in your head as you controlled each movement of yours. Every time you glanced up at the camera it was a new level of motivation-the idea of being recorded was exhilarating, and the thought of Billie rewatching the tape when she was alone.

God, the thought alone made your pussy wetter.

You moaned as you looked up at the camera again, a small smile on your lips as you leaned away. At that, billie let out a chuckle. "Dirty fucking girl," she shook her head in mock displeasure.

Your chin was covered with her juices, you were glimmering under the flash of the camera. Billie's free hand leaned in, wiping all over your face before pushing your head back in.

You closed your eyes at the taste, humming once again. God, she tasted heavenly. You started moving your tongue quicker across her wetness, the sound echoing throughout the room as Billie let out another groan.

"Oh fuck, yeah. Keep going just like that, just like that." She complimented, her head falling back on to the couch in pleasure. Her grip on your hair tightens, pressing you farther onto her pussy, another moan leaving her lips.

Your tongue had started flicking her clit fast, her moans and your sloppy sounds echoed in the empty house. A couple of seconds later, she stilled, coming, and the film became shaky before her phone fell onto her stomach.

Billie leaned down and hit you with a kiss, moaning slightly at the taste of her on your tongue. "Was so good, baby," she mumbled against your lips before cuddling up to you and falling asleep.