#also wicked comes out this week 😭

[cozygirlsimmer]

i know i have been gone for awhile and it’s bc i have been super busy with some personal things that have really stressful, but i did manage to put my christmas tree up 🥹

[munson-blurbs]

BUUUG oh my god i also watched wicked last weekend and i literally have not moved on 😭 i haven’t listened to ANYTHING else aside from the soundtrack and it got me thinking.............theater girlie reader performing i’m not that girl and absolutely nailing the song because she’s actually pining over eddie 🥲 (i also relate to the song because jonathan bailey isn’t in love with me lmao)

Did somebody say...Wicked and pining? I'm in.

Warnings: idiots in love, dual POV, light angst, mutual pining, happily ever after, I don't know what year this takes place in because Wicked opened in 2003 but there's nothing indicating modern!Eddie

WC: 3.5k

Divider credit to @strangergraphics

It wasn’t love at first sight for Eddie. It was love at first sound. 

He was cleaning up after Hellfire on a rainy Friday afternoon, determined to race home and check the sofa cushions for change so he could order a pizza. If all else failed, he could always dip into his primary income source, kept locked tight in his lunchbox. 

Hellfire Club continued to be the best part of his week, as it had been since he’d joined six years ago as a gawky freshman, but there was something comforting about the stillness after everyone else had left. Sometimes Eddie didn’t get that privilege—especially when he was tasked with giving Henderson a ride home. The kid wouldn’t shut up if his life depended on it. But today, he reveled in the peace while he placed the game pieces back in their box. 

He barely registered the small commotion in the adjoining auditorium as you took the stage and began your vocal warmups. You couldn’t take any chances of straining your voice; not when your years of hard work and dedication to the Drama Club finally paid off. 

You trilled to the top of your register before taking it back down, repeating it over and over until you felt ready to practice. Ready to become Elphaba Thropp. 

You were wholly unaware that Eddie Munson stood just on the other side of the wall, whistling a Black Sabbath song under his breath. Maybe that was good, considering your ridiculous crush on him. Like he’d ever notice you—a theatre nerd who never stepped out of line. You certainly weren’t one of the cheerleaders he constantly tried to impress. 

There was no mistaking the way he blushed and stammered around Chrissy Cunningham, playing with a few strands of his curls as he shamelessly flirted with her. You could deny that the sight of it all turned your stomach, but everyone and their mother would know it was a lie. 

A relationship—even a friendship—between you and Eddie would never manifest naturally. You didn’t have many classes together, and it wasn’t like he showed up to them anyway. Rumor had it that he and Chrissy only started talking because she bought weed from him, but the idea of meeting up with him in the woods, alone, overwhelmed you. And Eddie Munson definitely didn’t frequent the school plays. 

You thought about this now, the way you would never measure up to the girls he wanted to be with. Closing your eyes, you inhaled deeply and let the emotions course through you. 

Frustration—towards yourself for harboring a crush on someone so unattainable. 

Envy—of Chrissy Cunningham, who happened to be playing Galinda, and the other cheerleaders who didn’t even have to try to get his attention. 

Dejection—because though Eddie had never outright rejected you, each day that you continued slipping under his radar twisted your heart more. 

You took it all and put it into the song. 

Hands touch, eyes meet Sudden silence, sudden heat Hearts leap in a giddy whirl He could be that boy But I’m not that girl 

Eddie was deciding whether to splurge for the meat-lovers pizza or stick with just pepperoni when he heard the voice of an angel coming from next door. 

Don’t dream too far Don’t lose sight of who you are Don’t remember that rush of joy He could be that boy I’m not that girl

His ears pricked up. Who was that? He’d been at this school for six years, and he thought he knew everybody. 

He rushed over to the adjacent wall, body moving faster than his brain. One sneakered foot caught on the leg of his Dungeon Master throne, sending him tumbling to the ground. In a moment of desperation, Eddie grabbed for the closest object in his vicinity—a mannequin, clad in a Captain Hook costume from last semester’s production of Peter Pan. It came tumbling down along with him, both hitting the ground with an unmistakable thump. 

The voice stopped singing mid-verse. 

“Shit,” Eddie grumbled, picking himself up and brushing the dust off of his ripped jeans. He waited for a moment, then another, in hopes that the song would resume. 

But there was only silence. Once cherished, but now a punishment for his own clumsiness. 

I should go over and apologize. He dismissed the idea almost as soon as it came. Except…what if it was just a coincidence? What if she didn’t hear any of that? I’ll look like a total moron. 

Instead, Eddie continued cleaning up, hoping the pink flush staining his cheeks would fade by the time he left school. 

Every so often we long to steal  To the land of—

A crash cut you off, your gaze flicking from the pretend audience to the stage door. Who was sticking around school on a Friday afternoon?

I should make sure they’re okay. 

You started towards the door, stopping in your tracks when a sinking thought washed over you. What if the person had made noise purposely so I’d stop singing? What if I check on them and they tell me that I suck? I’ll look pathetic. 

Fighting back a cringe at the notion of being humiliated, you scooped up your backpack and hurried out of the auditorium. 

Practice would have to wait until Monday. 

Eddie tried to hide his newfound fascination with the mystery girl who sang her way into his heart. Week after week, he insisted on cleaning up after Hellfire alone on the off chance he’d hear her rehearsing. 

But after that first time, there was nothing. Not a single note. Sure, other people used the auditorium to practice, but none of them were her. 

It was a rainy Friday when she finally returned. The weather—torrential storms all day—meant that Dustin would not be walking home. He begged Eddie to drive him, insisting that if his mom picked him up, she would thoroughly humiliate him. 

Having met Claudia Henderson on multiple occasions, Eddie could attest to that statement’s truthfulness. 

And while having Dustin around to clean up after Hellfire wasn’t a bad thing, he filled the room with incessant chatter and expected Eddie to respond. 

Eddie, however, was in a world of his own, losing himself in the somber lyrics and trying to tune out whatever the freshman was blathering on about. 

Every so often we long to steal  To the land of what-might-have-been 

“And then her dad took away her computer! All because she helped me change one measly grade!”

But that doesn't soften the ache we feel  When reality sets back in

“I mean, it’s completely unfair. Her siblings are batshit crazy and he can’t be bothered to care. But Suzie lies, probably for the first time in her life—”

“Henderson, can you just shut up for two seconds?!” Eddie hissed through clenched teeth, his nostrils flaring. His gaze softened slightly when he saw the shock and hurt on his friend’s face. “Sorry, man, I’m just…”

“Christ,” Dustin scoffed, regaining his composure. “What’s got your panties in a twist?”

Eddie cinched the dice drawstring bag closed, not making eye contact with Dustin. “Nothing. Just tired. Long week,” he added lamely. 

Blithe smile, lithe limb  She who's winsome, she wins him  Gold hair with a gentle curl  That's the girl he chose  And Heaven knows  I'm not that girl

Dustin noticed the way a smile tugged at the corners of Eddie’s scowl. A knowing grin spread across his face. 

“Why, Mr. Eddie. Look at you,” he said, donning a posh accent. “You’re lovesick.”

“W-What?” Eddie sputtered. 

Dustin rolled his eyes. “It’s a play on a quote from Wicked.” When the older boy kept his nose wrinkled in confusion, he continued with a huff. “Wicked. That’s the show the Drama Club is doing. That’s where the song is from.”

“Oh.” Eddie shook his head. “Yeah, it’s a, uh, a nice song.”

He fidgeted with his rings, spinning the skull around his finger until perspiration built up beneath the band. 

“Maybe we should see the show.” Dustin hoisted himself up onto the table, letting his legs dangle. “Y’know, actually watch your lady love on stage rather than secretly creep on her.”

“First of all,” Eddie pointed a finger at him, “she is not my ‘lady love.’ I don’t even know who she is. For all I know, it’s Jason Carver with a killer falsetto.”

The notion, while ridiculous, was the only way he could stifle the butterflies fluttering in his stomach at the term ‘lady love.’

“A possibility. Or,” Dustin countered, “she’s the love of your life, waiting just beyond this pesky wall for you to sweep her off of her talented feet.”

To his credit, Eddie considered the idea for a full second before shaking his head. Metalhead, music snob Eddie Munson watching the school musical? If anyone saw him there, he’d never live it down. 

Dustin, however, was relentless. The boy had a litany of tricks up his Weird Al shirtsleeve. 

“Well, I’m gonna go. My friend Robin is in the band. I wonder who else will be there?” He tapped his finger against his chin, feigning ponderance. “Oh, that’s right! Steve Harrington. You remember Steve, right? Great hair, great with the ladies…maybe he’ll even talk to your ‘friend.’”

Eddie’s blood boiled in his veins. Harrington showing up and being your knight in shining armor, parading around town with you on his arm—

“Fine. I’ll go.” Eddie grabbed his backpack and slung it over his shoulder. “But you keep that jockstrap with a toupee away from her, got it?”

“Alright, alright. Jeez.” Dustin put his hands up in surrender. “No need to be so testy, Nessarose.”

Eddie wasn’t sure what that meant, but he had a feeling he was about to find out. 

Opening night. 

You didn’t allow yourself to peek out behind the stage curtain for fear of someone seeing you in your green makeup, but if the loud chatter emanating from the audience was any indication, it seemed to be a full house. 

Fred Benson came backstage a few moments later, wearing his stage manager headset and a huge grin. “We’re sold out!” He waited for the cheering from your fellow cast-mates to die down before announcing: “Places in five.”

Five minutes. Five measly minutes until you became Elphaba Thropp, the Wicked Witch of the West. 

And if that wasn’t enough to send nerves spiraling through you, the next sentence you overheard certainly did:

“Eddie Munson is here?!”

No. No, no, no.

“Are you serious? I thought he only listened to shit that makes your ears bleed.”

Whatever stage fright you’d already been battling paled in comparison to what you currently felt. Eddie Munson, the man who unknowingly served as your muse for unrequited love, was sitting in the audience.

When Chrissy Cunningham laughed behind you, it all became clear. He was here for her. He wanted to watch her flit across the stage, tossing her blonde hair and waving a magic wand. 

Well, at least you’d barely have to act when Galinda got the man Elphaba pined after.

Eddie sat straight up in his seat when the lights dimmed, clutching the bouquet of roses close to his lap. He didn’t want to risk putting them on the floor and stepping on them, so he did his best to hold them in place without constantly crinkling the cellophane.

They weren’t anything special–he’d gotten them from the refrigerated display case at Bradley’s Big Buy–but he hoped they were enough.

Chrissy came onstage first, wearing a poofy baby blue ball gown and a sparkling tiara. Eddie’s stomach flipped. Was Chrissy the girl he’d heard singing? No, she couldn’t have been. Her voice sounded nothing like the mystery girl. Chrissy’s voice was light and airy, like a princess. The other voice had a slight heaviness to it, like it held some pain.

So…not Chrissy. Good to know, but that still left him with more questions than answers.

He clapped when the audience clapped, pretending to focus on the plot while actually scouring the stage for clues. Maybe she was one of the chorus members; that would definitely make it more difficult to pick her out…

Resignedly, he sat back, summoning every ounce of music training he’d acquired over the years to pick out the sound of her voice among the crowd. 

Nothing. 

“This is bull—” he started to grumble to Dustin, but then his gaze fell upon someone…green. Even covered head-to-toe in pure stage makeup, her beauty shone through. 

Eddie just sat there, fully entranced. He didn’t want to allow himself to believe that this was the girl—because if she wasn’t the one he’d been obsessing over, then he was totally screwed. 

Please, he silently prayed, please let this be her. 

Please, you silently prayed, don’t let Eddie be here. 

Though you willed yourself to keep your eyes on that dark spot in the back of the auditorium, you couldn’t help but scan the audience for him. 

And there he was, sitting between Steve Harrington and one of the freshmen who followed him around the school like a little sheep. He had a dopey grin on his face and roses in his lap. 

Roses, you realized, that he’d present to Chrissy as he held her and congratulated her on an incredible performance—

Focus. You shedded your own skin at the stage door and took on Elphaba’s green hue, and you needed to act like her, not you. And her first song was upbeat and hopeful. Heartbrokenness would have to wait. 

She sang. After what seemed like endless dialogue between her and the teacher—Ms. Horrible? He couldn’t remember, nor did he particularly care—she sang. 

And from that first note, Eddie knew. 

It’s her. 

He almost didn’t want to believe it. He wouldn’t allow himself to believe it, because how could someone be so beautiful and talented? No, this must be someone who sounded similar, but the girl who sang that melancholy song would be someone else. Someone he didn’t feel wholly inadequate when he approached her. 

“Shh!” Someone hissed behind him. Only then did he realize that he was flexing his hand around the rose stems, the cellophane crackling under his tight grasp. 

Eddie muttered an apology, never taking his eyes off of the stage. God, she was breathtaking. He could practically hear her calling his name:

Eddie…Eddie…

“Eddie!” Steve’s annoyed voice snapped Eddie out of his stupor. “Move your foot, man!”

Eddie looked down to see that he was sitting at the edge of his seat, legs spread far enough to nudge Steve’s sneaker with his own. He quickly composed himself, hoping the dark auditorium masked his pink cheeks. 

“What the hell is his deal?” Steve whispered to Dustin. 

The younger boy shrugged. “Pretty sure he’s in love with the girl who plays the witch. He just doesn’t know it yet.”

Eddie barely heard the exchange, too wrapped up in the way the notes seem to float from Elphaba’s lips, ethereal in nature. Normally when he listened to showtunes—which wasn’t very often, but his uncle was partial to his Annie Get Your Gun record—he would pass the time thinking about how he could rearrange the song to fit a more metal vibe. 

But for the first time in a long time, metal is the last thing on his mind. He wants to know more of Elphaba’s story, how she went from a shy college student to one of the most well-known villains in cinematic history. The rest of the world had gone quiet, like a background noise he easily ignored. 

The few scenes without Elphaba were torturous enough, but Eddie soon realized that there was something even worse than that. Someone, actually. 

Fiyero Tigelaar. 

He watched the man in a makeshift Shiz University clutching the stuffed lion toy, already sensing some sort of romantic tension between him and Elphaba. There was no denying the way Eddie’s body tensed when a green hand rested on the man’s cheek, so loving and tender.

As if sensing his friend’s inner turmoil, Dustin turned slightly and whispered, “don’t worry. Rumor has it that he’s more into Boq, if you catch my drift.”

That information allowed Eddie to relax a little, but only for a moment before Elphaba began singing again.

Hands touch, eyes meet Sudden silence, sudden heat

“That’s the song,” Dustin announced to Steve.

Steve nodded, offering a smirk. “So that must be the girl.”

Body wrought with emotion, you could only hope you could stave off the tears until you got offstage. It would be almost impossible to cry and remain on-key, especially given just how low you–not Elphaba–truly felt.

Blithe smile, lithe limb  She who's winsome, she wins him  Gold hair with a gentle curl  That's the girl he chose  And Heaven knows  I'm not that girl

You could get through this. It was no secret that you weren’t Eddie’s type. The girl he chose would be Chrissy Cunningham or someone like her, not the dorky theatre girl who only came out of her shell while performing.

Don't wish, don't start 

Wishing only wounds the heart  I wasn't born for the rose and the pearl  There's a girl I know  He loves her so  I'm not that girl

No, you were definitely not that girl. That girl was backstage, touching up her makeup and probably giggling about the flowers she’d receive from her metalhead crush.

The applause might have been thunderous; it might have been completely silent. You didn’t know. All you could think about was getting off the stage before you got another glimpse of Eddie and the stupid bouquet he was giving to Chrissy. 

The rest of the show was spectacular. Maybe you were a bit biased, considering you were the lead, but it couldn’t have gone any better if you’d tried. You’d even managed to stay in character, keeping your focus on your scene partners rather than the man in the audience who held your heart.

You couldn’t wash off the green makeup fast enough, an arduous process that your castmates thankfully expedited with a plethora of baby wipes and makeup remover. Despite everyone’s best efforts, your face and hands remained tinged with a green hue. You supposed you’d look like that for a few days after the show closed. 

“Excuse me?”

You turned around, still in costume, to see Eddie Munson now standing before you. The two of you were alone, the rest of the cast having cleaned up before you did.

“I think Chrissy’s with her friends,” you blurted out. 

“Oh. Cool.” Confusion creased his brows for a second before he continued. “You did, um, an amazing job tonight. Seriously, I was just…wow. I never knew being anti-establishment could sound so beautiful.”

You smiled, fiddling with a stray black thread on your dress. “Thanks. Elphaba really is a badass.”

“Yeah.” Eddie’s eyes flicked over your face. He noticed you looking at the flowers in his arms. “Oh, shit–these are for you. I hope you like them and you’re not, like, allergic or anything.” He shoved his hands in his pants pockets. “Maybe I should’ve gotten poppies instead, since, y’know…that was Elphaba’s thing.”

“I love them!” Too enthusiastic. Well, at least you didn’t say you loved him. “You didn’t have to get me anything, though. I’m just glad you liked the show.” Timidly, you admitted, “I’m kind of surprised to see you at the school musical, honestly.”

He scratched at the back of his neck. “Can I level with you for a sec?” When you nodded, he sighed. “I didn’t even know the school was doing a musical. I’m only here because I heard you practicing from the Hellfire room, and my friend told me about the show.”

You froze. Did you hear him correctly? Eddie was here because of you? Because he wanted to meet you?

“I wasn’t expecting you to be so green,” he added with a nervous laugh.

You quirked up an eyebrow. “You weren’t expecting the Wicked Witch of the West to be green? Please tell me you’ve seen The Wizard of Oz.”

“Of course I have! It’s a classic. I just didn’t know what Wicked was about.” He raked a hand through his curls. “Anyway, if you’re not busy tonight, I was hoping you might want to hang out? Maybe go to Benny’s and split some cheese fries?”

Your heart skipped a beat. “Y-Yeah! I love fries. And cheese.” You cleared your throat, trying to ward off the embarrassment. “Let me just get out of this costume and I’ll meet you in the lobby.”

“Cool. I’ll go tell my friends to fuck off or whatever.” Eddie smiled, shaking his hair out of his beautiful brown eyes. He started towards the door before half-turning to add,

“And, by the way, you look beautiful even when you’re green.”

--

[anika-ann]

🧚🏻‍♀️✨Bippity boppity bow chicka wow oww! You’ve been visited by the Shameless Hoe Fairy, and now you must share a hoe thot about: CE!babe + forehead kiss ☺️

GASP!!! I was blessed by the visit of the hoe fairy herself 😍😍 Thank you 😭 As I can see, the Shameless One knows me well 🤭

Apparently, I am a hoe for fluff. Who knew? 🤭Everyone who knows me

The Constellation of You and I

Pairing: Steve Rogers x reader Word count: 1,7k Warnings: soft NSFW, 18+, smut-adjacent really, FLUFF, brief mention of Steve's job as Cap... and barely proof-read but with stars metaphors to make up for it A/N: Divider by @firefly-graphics

You could feel it surging though your nerves; light echoes of tingles of bliss still humming within, with every frantic beat of your heart, from your midriff to your fingertips, your hands feeling too warm as they remained laid over the bulge of Steve’s shoulder, over the slight curve of his lower back.

For every breath of his you gave two of yours, the bundle of your bodies, rising and falling slightly as your ribcage expanded against his hot skin, the firmness of his body and the welcoming softness of his touch like a touch of heaven itself.

He held you close as you sat in his lap, gently; arm wrapped around you to keep you flush against him as you still remained one, his other hand tenderly tangled in your damp hair as you rested your cheek against his shoulder, your quick breaths fanning his throat; his cheek in turn rested carefully on top of your head, occasionally shifting so he could press his lips to the crown of your head.

The afterglow was almost as blissful as reaching your peak had been.

However, the afterglow was slowly fading as reality and embarrassment was setting in, your face burning not only from the cardio you had engaged in, but because of the pouncing you had done not two seconds after Steve had walked through the door, fresh out of a mission.

Fresh out of two week apart for the first time you had started dating over three months ago.

That was what young love did, you supposed; it blinded rational thought and erased all plans for the meal you had prepared and the blankets on the couch you had set there so you could ease Steve back into the reality of a simple life rather than a damn near battlefield where any moment of distraction could mean catching a bullet or worse.

You had missed him like crazy – of course you had. He had texted you whenever he could, a short message at least to let you know he was well and wishing you to be well also, occasionally telling you he missed you. With his mind laser-focused on his mission and the team he felt responsible for, understandably so, you expected nothing more, grateful for the scraps, even as written in half-hearted hurry.

Then, he had let you know he was coming home, with everyone safe and sound, tired but nearly unscathed, himself having but bruises already halfway healed. You had planned a quiet evening to reconnect with him, ecstatic at the premise alone of seeing him, trying to tame your less-than-decent needs with the sensation of genuine relief at him being alright and coming home, claiming to be happy to spend an evening with you if you’d like. A nice, grounding evening full of comfort.

And then this goddamn man appeared at your doorstep with a sheepish smile and a spark in his eye upon seeing you, a bouquet of pink roses and you had to physically hold back for long enough to put the gorgeous gift of his into water at least. And as soon as you managed that, your lady brain cut in and took full control, practically assaulting him and the lovely blue shirt he was wearing.

Steve certainly didn’t protest and participated rather enthusiastically as you kissed him breathless and walked him – pushed him almost – to your bedroom, discarding his and your clothes, hands wandering, gentle and needy and wicked, his red red red kiss-swollen lips parted so beautifully as you bounced on top of him until you both saw stars behind closed eyelids and reached for them eagerly with your fingertips, the sweet taste of stardust exploding on your tongue and consuming you with its light; but now, as the afterglow flickered away, bitter shame and sour vulnerability creeped in and began to swallow you into a black hole instead.

Yes, Steve was alright.

Yes, he was happy to see you.

Yes, he was all in, praise falling from his lips, whispers of how he had missed you too, how he needed you.

But dammit. You felt like the most socially inept and least empathetic person in the world, awkward in her impromptu display of desire.

And Steve, brilliant, beautiful Steve, must have caught on by now, because one of his warm palms sprawled on your cheek, tenderly leading you to lift your head and meet his gaze. And for all your messy feelings, you could not resist but do so.

You could never resist. Not to Steve.

“Where’s that beautiful mind of yours, sweetheart? Are you alright?” he whispered, eyes roaming your face, the spark, that damn spark that could set the world ablaze and heal it all at once, being a sweet tell of his. A tell of how he was happy to have you in his arms, all around him, despite your… enjoyable shortcomings.

“Why, right here with you.”

You awkwardly tried to mirror his smile even as your face still burned, succeeding somewhat – you must have. Because Steve’s lips curled up further, fingertips caressing your brow, following the line of your cheekbone, your jaw.

You melted against his body despite yourself, warmth humming in your veins as his gaze followed his touch, as if he was committing your features to memory.

“Good,” he said, leaning to kiss your forehead. “I missed you being with me. So close, in my arms. So sweet and w-“

“I’m sorry I pounced at you like that!“ you blurted out, cursing your tongue which always seemed so loose around him as soon as the words were out.

Steve’s fingers froze in their tender exploration, his lips remaining not further than an inch from your hairline, his body turning rigid and you could smack yourself.

“I mean… I just—I made calmer plans and I know it must have been hard out there and I… I didn’t want you to feel like--- I missed all of you, you know? I didn’t want to make you feel like… I don’t know, I’m rambling, I’m sorry.”

Steve was yet to move, even his ribcage still, not even drawing in a breath. Your heart thundered against your sternum, in your temples, all over you, consuming you with the heat of embarrassment, a whimper-like plea for the ground to swallow you forming in your throat. You did not dare to move either, your hands having curled into fists against his shoulder and back.

And then he chuckled.

Steven Grant Rogers, the loveable jerk, chuckled and kissed your hairline again, making you actually whine.

“Nooooo-“

“Sweetheart, are you embarrassed for wanting me?”

Your denial of the statement – a blatant lie, but not really – died on your tongue as he moved to cradle your cheek again, meeting your gaze, the previous spark lit aflame with new life as he observed you with a smile that made you squirm on his lap and lit your face hotter than a supernova.

“I-“

“I’m not. And I want you, always. You drive me crazy in the most wonderful ways,” he said, his smile only widening as you lowered you gaze and worried your teeth over your lower lip, the soft admission brining a smidge of relief and confidence.

“I mean… I’m not ashamed. Not of that...” you whispered, taking a deep breath and gathering courage to look him in the eye again, met with a gaze so tenderly inquiring you felt yourself relax just a bit, trying to scramble for coherent thought. “I just feel like just because I missed you it doesn’t give me the right to jump you without a chance to… to allow you to return to the right headspace for something like that. I was here. Safe, in my little apartment and life I built, meeting friends and colleagues and… simply being. You, on the other hand…”

You trailed off, your voice catching in your throat as you caught into the emotion written all over Steve’s face.

The sheer wonder – and dare to say love – shining in his irises almost chased tears into your eyes; stealing air from your chest and replacing it with glowing warmth of the Milky Way on the clear skies in the countryside upstate.

You were still but the air shifted; neither of you moved but the whole planetary system seemed to tilt off its axis, a new star born to became the centre of the universe right between you, in Steve’s featherlight touch and the hoarseness of his voice.

“That’s—I’m not--- You’re incredible. I… really appreciate the thought,” he whispered, the soft edge of his smile like a caress to your soul. “But despite everything, I need you to know I meant what I wrote. I thought of you and missed you, every day-“

“Steve, you don’t have to--- I know that when you are on a mission it’s hundred percent and you have a huge responsibility and there’s no space for-“

Two fingers slid under your chin, carefully but effectively stopping your slightly self-deprecating but entirely true words from flowing; Steve’s eyes, suddenly incredibly serious, bore into yours.

“Every. Day. Do you believe me, love?”

A shudder rushed through your body, a shaky inhale expanding like a nebula inside your lungs, the single word, endearment and declaration in one, causing your heart to tremble with affection. You read no doubt but a speckle of distress in Steve’s widened pupils, making it seem as if he had left slipped something he might be sure of, but did not mean to reveal; and it made your own love for him grow tenfold, your eyes turning a little glassy.

You willed your lips to curl up in a smile, hands coming up to cradle his face, erasing the slightest flicker of panic in his features.

You kissed him on the lips, lightly, but with taste of a new emotion born out of his confession; a confession on your own.

“I do, love. I do.”

He kissed you back with a tender grin and this time, when hands began to roam and he laid you on the bed, they roamed in sync; they explored the galaxies and eternity written on your skin and his, your lips rewriting the stars so they would align to pave the journey you’d set on together.

You kissed him without shame and he reciprocated, every touch and every gaze a promise:

I’ll miss you, whenever I’ll go.

I’ll think of you, wherever I’ll be.

I’ll love you, whatever you and I are meant to be.

My Steve fics // All my fics

Thank you so much, Siri, for blessing me 🥺

No, I don't exist on sharing only thots when sent an ask, I WRITE 😂

Thank you, lovlies, for reading and potential feedback/reblogs and such 💕

Have yourself a lovely day/night ✨

[5umttyg1rl]

Hi I'm back again hope everyone's Christmas was well! In spirit of the just past holiday I want to post some batfam hc's of mine Christmas edition!

Bruce: I feel like Bruce can go two ways either holiday wine mom and last minute prep mom. He either is on a couch watching movies with the kids sipping some nice wine OR he's the parent that piles everyone in the car last minute for a present/meal item and triple checks everything 5 hours before people are supposed to be at the house.

Dick: I feel as like the oldest sibling he's in charge of making sure Bruce doesn't go crazy during the holidays. I also feel like he gets those like family ugly sweaters for everyone and if your not wearing it he'll make you feel bad and guilt trip you about it for WEEKS LIKE- " Oh you don't wanna go out to hang? Remember that time I got us all cute sweaters and you decided to make me really sad and not wear it?" ( It works every time.)

Jayson: He's honestly super stressed during the holidays even if he doesn't show it. Poor baby😭 he's tryna figure what gifts to get his siblings. Cuz what do you get the children of Bruce Wayne?? He could snap his fingers and you'd have it. So I think in typical Jason fashion he just gets like gag gifts or gives them like his old weapons/gear that they always bug him about (cuz they think it looks cool).

Tim: I feel like Tim's the type that if they did a secret Santa he's now going to stalk them for like 3 weeks before Christmas and find the most perfect gift after stalking and a lot of calculations. Oh what does he want? Sleep and he's favorite brand of coffee.(I think he'll take the simplest gift anyways so he just asks for coffee.😂)

Damian: Damian's lost and he's barely holding on by a thread. I believe he's never experienced holiday season like this before. I feel when he was still with the LOA they did something small on only Christmas, so coming to America and experiencing the holiday rush between Thanksgiving and Christmas. He probably decides to go hang out with Jon between holidays because it's calmer and if he stays in that house any longer he's gonna murder one of his brothers. I think the first he saw Bruce stress over gifts he almost fainted. I mean he's dad is BATMAN. He's seem him take on foes stronger than him and now he's worried if he should give Cass a barbie or tickets to Wicked?!? It kinda throws him off. But after awhile he decides to help and just like his dad has notes and it takes even LONGER 😂. The whole experience make Damian see why Bruce is so stressed for the holidays.

(plz interact if you want a part!2. Also comment or put it in my asks I don't bite! and I wanna hear your thoughts)😁

[dr3amlab]

6. wicked games

SUMMARY. Y/N Gorgon and Draco Malfoy have a long history of mutual hatred. You see, the two of them have been pulling pranks on each other since their 1st year at Hogwarts, to the dismay of their close friends and supervisors. However, after a prank left Y/N completely out of her mind, she decides that she'll pull her cruelest prank yet on Draco by pretending to be his secret admirer.

PAIRING. Draco Malfoy x reader

GENRE. series, enemies to lovers, rival, comedy (?)

WORD COUNT. 1894 words.

AUTHOR’S NOTE. hey y'all.... I'm back for now. So turns out this isn't the last chapter 😭 Anywho, I hope you like this chapter because I'm not too sure of its quality!, and please give me feedback! I wrote this in a sitting so I didn't proofread (sorry)

PARTS. 1 2 3 4 5 6 finale

TAGLIST. @hopefulfuturenovelauthor​ @charlenasaxen​ @johnmurphys-sass​  @alittlebitofinsanitea​ @islayedyourmom @dramatic-long-coats @slashermadness @marplest @whosyourgnomie4 @makhaia @louieblue2 @born2222die @nikki-89 @jamlessgucciswegsunshineot7 @rachelccollier @imwaysthelastchoice @dracosgrf @vinkiesz @sleepinmoonbean @skiejustskie @hxl06

VI. WITH WHO?

You were walking in the hallway with messy hair and an uniform so wrinkled that it could get you a week of detention from McGonagall. But, truly, who cares? It was Monday and, as far as you know, the teachers should be grateful to have you in their class on this beloved day.

Last week hasn’t been easy on you : between draco finding out about your little scheme and realizing your true feelings for the blond boy, let’s just say that your conscience didn’t let you close one eye to sleep. And so, naturally, it was with pure bitterness that you dragged yourself to the first class of the already endless day.

As you begrudgingly made your way to class, you felt like you heard someone say your name. You stopped dead in your tracks and turned your head towards the source of the sound but there was no one with you in the hallway, not even a ghost, "Have I gone mad?" you whispered thinking that your lack of sleep was playing tricks on you. After standing still for a few seconds to make sure you actually heard a voice, you shrug your shoulders dismissing any possibility of another person or entity being with you in the grand hallways of Hogwarts, and so, you continued your journey to class.

"— Y/N—." You stopped again. This time you heard it clearly, there’s no way in hell you could’ve hallucinated. Someone was talking about you, and naturally you just had to know what they were saying. Quietly, you walked close enough to hear their conversation and hid behind a wall, "If what Fides was saying is true, then Y/N’s a complete fool. How could she think that she would be able to pull draco with that stupid scheme of hers?" A brown haired girl whispered not-so-quietly to her friend, "she really thought that she’ll get draco’s attention by merely pretending that she hated his guts! She’s a stupid pick me with nothing but a pea-sized brain in her head, " the other girl replied.

You felt your heart sink, was that what people thought of you? Although you were not the type of person to hold to heart whatever judgement others had of you, hearing those words come out of their words made you want to cry. You took a deep breath to stop the tears from falling on your cheeks. Just when did you get so sensitive?

The thing is, the hatred that you had toward draco was mutual. He also made you go to hell and back with his stupid pranks and yet, you were the only one depicted as being a stupid dumb girl whose only goal was to make draco fall in love with her. What about him? Wasn’t it only fair of them to also insult him with such words? Or were they too mesmerized by his pretty grey eyes? How stupid of them to think like that. How hypocrite.

You plucked all the courage you had to put yourself in a position that revealed yourself to one of the girls, « oh ! well let her be, she thought it will be quirky to not be like the other girls and—. » The girl stopped mid-sentence when she saw your face. You smirked

"No, go ahead! I did not mean to eavesdrop. What were you about to say—" you looked at her name tag, "Isis?" you read before flickering your eyes back to the embarrassed form of your fellow student. "Y/N! W-we didn’t expect to see you here!" Isis’ friend replied. "It’s funny, right? What a coincidence!" you clasped your hands, "Though, i have to say, I’m quite sad for you girls," you pouted, "are you both that bored to worry about my supposed scheme to make draco fall in love with me?" You asked, "How pathetic! Please, I beg you, go get a life and keep my name out of your mouth. Gosh, I don’t even know you and yet, you are worried about what im doing."

You looked at their embarrassed faces and a gracious smile find itself on your lips, "but, do not fret girlfriends," you started, "i think my stupid little plan have worked." You looked behind you to see if there was anybody other than the three of you in the hallway. Upon seeing that the coast was clear, you ushered the girls to come closer with both of your hands, "I think draco might ask me out soon, but shush! It’s a secret," you winked at them before going back to your initial path to class.

You slammed your books on the table making Athena wake up from her nap, startled, " Merlin! What the fuck is wrong with you Y/N?!" she scowled, "Athena, if you wanted to sleep you should’ve slept last night instead of staying up ’til the crack of dawn to read an erotic book," You pulled out your chair and sat down while Athena was looking at you up and down with a horrified look, "Salazar, y/n! I know you hate Mondays and all but, please do not bring that up in public, Merlin." your best-friend exclaimed with flushed cheeks as she looked around to see if anybody was eavesdropping on your conversation.

Realizing what you’ve just said, you looked at Athena with a soft gaze, "Look, I’m really sorry but I just had a really bad morning," you apologized, "oh what a surprise ! Y/N is having a bad Monday!"she said with a hint of sarcasm in her voice.

You put your hand on hers, "Athena, it’s worse than usual," you said as Athena looked at you curiously, "I heard two random girls talking about how I was an empty headed bimbo with an agenda to get draco to fall in love with me, can you believe that!" By the end of your sentence, Athena’s mouth was open wide, "who said that? Why would someone spread lies like this?" Athena said with a slightly loud voice with her eyebrows so frowned that creases were starting to form on her forehead.

You smiled warmly as it felt nice to have someone that cared about you, someone on your side. And so, you squeezed her hand, while you started to think about how lucky you were to have a friend like Athena in your life. It’s true.

For as long as you can remember, it was her and you against the world and you wouldn’t change that for all the money in the world. As you finally gathered all of the beautiful words you had in your mind to express your gratitude towards your lifelong friend and to tell her to not anger herself on some baseless rumors, an excruciating voice had to ruin the lovely moment your best-friend and you shared.

"What if it was true?" Pansy slammed both of her hands on your desk while she tilted her head and drew a mischievous smile on her lips, "What if our dearest Y/N here is doing everything to get draco’s attention?" pansy repeated her question but this time louder with the intention of getting the attention of the entire class, which worked. "Well, I’m sure you all heard the rumors that have been circulating around the school lately," she broke eye-contact with you to give all of her undivided attention to the other students who were listening to her eagerly, waiting to hear the latest scoop.

Pansy turned back to look at you as if you were a mere prey, and she was a ruthless predator, "you had been hiding your little act for so long, thinking that nobody will see through it. But thank Merlin, the truth has finally been unveiled. In case nobody told you yet Y/N, you’re nothing but a worthless muggle-born gold-digging bit-" Athena cut her off, "Pansy, I know damn well you’re not talking," she retorted as she got up to get closer to Pansy.

You wished you said something, anything, to defend yourself against Pansy’s venomous words, but you felt powerless. Why was everyone so against you all of a sudden? You weren’t a bad person, all you did was pull some childish pranks on some random boy, and yet, you were insulted as if you committed a crime against humanity.

Before the situation escales, you grabbed Athena’s arm, "I appreciate you defending me Athena, but let’s go. It’s not worth it to get in trouble because of a bitch with no common sense," you said with venom laced in your voice.

As Athena and you were about to leave the classroom, Draco was entering it with Theodore,"I’m glad you’re here, Draco. Go outside, I need to talk to you," you said seriously, "you can do it here," he replied, "I already know what you’re going to ask me," he smirked.

You raised an eyebrow, "oh, do you?" Draco smiled smugly, "you were about to ask to the ball since you’re so in love with me, aren't you Y/N?" You tried so hard to suppress the ugly laugh that was begging hard to get out, but, alas, you couldn’t help yourself, "Malfoy, that was not what I was going to ask you! Have you been daydreaming about this moment or what?" you pretended to wipe fake tears, "besides, I’m already going with someone," you said.

Athena widened her eyes, "you are?" you elbowed her, « yes, Athena. I already told you, have you already forgotten? » you gritted your teeth, "Ow! yes, yes you did. It’s true, you told me you were going with someone," she laughed nervously. "Then who are you going with?" he asked with a hint of suspicion in his voice.

You were sweating bullets. Yeah, who were you going with? Your eyes scanned the class nervously, "he’s not here yet," you said as confident as you could, "I’ll wait until he’s here then," he crossed his arms.

"Why are you so interested in seeing who’s going with me? It’s none of your business," you replied, "Don’t I need to see my competition?" he said in a way that only you could hear. With your cheek flushed, you pretended to ignore what Draco just said. You were desperate to get out of this embarrassing situation.

For that reason, you decided that whoever entered through that door next was going to have the extreme luck of being your date to the ball. "So, where is he?" draco asked eagerly, "he’s coming soon," you forced a smile. "Is he?" Athena whispered to you, "yes, he is," you smiled even harder, making Athena horrified of your weird demeanor.

After what seemed like ages, someone finally came through the door and it was Harry, "ah! There he is," you beamed, "See, here’s my date for the Ball!" Harry was confused so you rushed towards him quickly and grabbed his arm to pull him closely, "play along," you whispered subtly. "Are you serious? You're going with Harry?" Draco asked, "Harry Potter?"

You thanked Salazar that Harry wasn’t as stupid as he was depicted to be for he got the hint quickly, and grabbed you by the waist, "You heard me, Harry is my partner for the ball!" you said while looking at your alleged date who was bearing the most convincing smile as he nodded to confirm your statement.

"Also, on a less joyful note." you let go of Harry and approached Draco, "What I was going to demand from you is to ask your fangirls to leave me the fuck alone." Draco clenched his jaw, visibly annoyed about the turn of the events .

[hiemaldesirae]

Okay so my idea is Vox was an omega in life and hid it because he wanted to be a producer and at the time omegas were rarely allowed such autonomy and freedom. So when he dies, he just naturally falls back into his pattern of hiding his nature, especially because he knows he wants to be an overlord and another enterprising demon could take his power if he mated with the wrong person.

At first, Vox hated being an omega, but as the years went on, he realized what he actually hated was the constrictions Earth's society had put on him and he began to feel more comfortable and assured in his designation.

When Vox feels comfortable enough to start exploring his sexuality and possibly having partners for his heats, he drafts an NDA that all his potential partners have to sign so his secret can never get out. It works great and Vox learns what he likes and doesn't like and his secret is secure.

When Valentino approaches him for a partnership, Vox is already established as a small time overlord. Valentino flirts relentlessly but Vox remains completely professional until one day Val comes into work to find Vox leaning on his desk with paperwork of some kind. Vox tells Val he just needs his signature real quick and so Val signs it without reading. As he finishes, the contract glows and disappears and Vox grins before pouncing on Valentino and kissing him ferociously.

They fuck like crazy for the next week while Vox rides out his heat. Val was shocked to discover his business partner was an omega and a wicked lay but he was most shocked when he tried to call Vox his little omega and found himself saying "my little beta" instead.

Vox smugly informs him that he'd signed an NDA and that he was bound by it for the rest of eternity, but that if he played nice, maybe Vox would let him spend his next heat with him again. So every year, about a month before Vox's heat, Val rolls out the red carpet just so he can have the pleasure of being Vox's heat partner.

Vox will never tell Val, but after their first time together, he'd decided he didn't want anyone else. Nevertheless, it's good to keep Val on his toes-and he likes being showered in gifts.

OUGHHH wait oh my god this is honestly pretty fucking genius . i love this idea soo much and its actually so fun i love twists on a/b/o even though i myself typically pivot to more rigid dynamics. the idea that vox likes to NDA people he sleeps with is SOOO fucking funny and im now imagining a situation where valvox eventually start wanting more than their current situationship and vox in a show of trust nullifies the contract and NDA for val only, even though val still doesnt breathe a word of voxs secondary dynamic unless vox says its all good because hes just That Whipped 😭😭

theres also a crazy amount of potential angst here that i feel i should point out with the idea that perhaps voxs aversion from revealing his actual dynamic stemmed from past unfortunate memories in life + even what led to radiostatic breakup if we're following canon timeline here . like the idea that vox first revealed his dynamic to alastor and then al in his typical "I Have Never Interacted With Another Human Being Before" manner proceeded to use it against him and then broke voxs trust forever (<- you can tell i never got over the twist in freak-a-zoid) and now vox is learning to get over that wirh val... Aough. i dont know i think staticmoth can be sooooo cute sometimes

this prompt was wonderful nonny thank you for sending it in (and i promise ill find some time to start dusting off the other asks in my inbox eventually. just... maybe not now because im still irrationally scared of them)

[ghulehunknown]

Hello!! Uhm may I request papa terzo dealing with a shy reader who wants to be fucked and mutters how she wants Terzo to take her right their and then and Terzo hears it and he goes”oh what was that? You would like me to fuck you raw yes? That is what I heard” or sum like that 😭 you don’t have too !!! Have an amazing rest of your week

Ask and you shall receive! / {Warning - the following contains NSFW smut}

Terzo x F!Reader

**NSFW**

Summary: You’re a new hire Sister of Sin and you’ve won the opportunity of having a private audience with Papa Terzo.

CW/Tags: female reader, shy reader, characters drinking alcohol, vaginal fingering, P in V sex, unprotected sex

Word Count: 1900

“La Lezione di Lucifero”

You walked up to his office door and hesitated before knocking. “Fuck,” you whispered under your breath. Were you really going to do this?

You moved all the way from your boring hometown to work at the Ministry. Wasn’t this the life you wanted to live - a life full of spontaneity and a little depravity?

Anyway, you had quite literally won the lottery. Every new hire got a chance to have a night with Papa…in whatever manner they wished to, so long as Papa gave you a particular wink in the hallway. At least, that’s what you were told. You were also told this was more or less an unofficial initiation ceremony to let Lucifer’s spirit into your body through Papa - though you were certain that was a crock of shit excuse Terzo used to sleep with as many Siblings as possible.

Finally you knocked on his office door, your heart beating so hard you could practically feel it in your throat.

The door opened and there he stood - Jesus Christ, he was even more intimidating up close. He looked surprised at first, then smiled almost smugly.

“Hello, Papa, I… I don’t think we’ve been introduced,” you stammered, looking at the floor, noticing the fine leather detail on his shoes.

“No, we haven’t. But I know who you are,” he said, stating your name matter-of-factly. “You’re new.”

“That’s right, Papa. You’re very observant,” you said sheepishly, instinctively reaching to tuck your hair behind your ear, still not used to wearing your veil.

“I notice everything. I have to; it’s my job.”

You nodded quickly, still avoiding his gaze though you could practically feel his white iris piercing into you. “Yes, of course Papa, I - I didn’t mean to…I mean of course you…”

“Relax Sorella, and come inside,” he said, stepping away from the door and gesturing for you to come in.

You stepped through the threshold of his office, never in your wildest dreams thinking you’d be granted entry in a million years. The room was dark - deep purple walls with tapestries, mahogany furniture, and black slate floor tiles. It looked quite elegant.

“Are you still working this late?” you asked him, entering the middle of the room.

“Mmm, a little yes and a little no,” he admitted. “No rest for the wicked as they say.”

You smiled at him and let out a tiny laugh.

“So,” he started, moving things around on the bar cart opposite his desk, the clink of the glasses bringing you to your senses. “You want to get fucked tonight, eh?” he continued with a smirk, pouring you both a glass of something clear in two ornate glasses. He handed you one.

How did he know what you had on your mind? Your face must’ve flushed bright red because Papa took a casual sip from the glass and spoke again. “Nervous? You don’t have to be. We won’t do anything you’re uncomfortable with. Mm?”

“Yes, Papa,” you practically whispered, taking a slow sip then coughing as soon as the burning liquid hit your throat.

“Careful, Sorella,” he said, leaning against his desk nonchalantly and lifting the glass to his regal mouth. You watched as the glass touched his soft bottom lip and you bit yours, holding back your imagination of feeling his lips on yours. You wondered if his Papal paint ever smeared, and what it might look like smudged onto your face. He brushed his bottom lip with his thumb and looked like he was pondering his next move.

You didn’t want to seem impolite so you choked down another swig of the - what was it, gin?

He set his glass down on a side table and walked towards you, taking your glass from your hand. He took a sip from yours and muttered “Mmn. Cherry lip gloss?”

You blushed and started to tuck your hair behind your ear again, before remembering your veil once more. “Yes, Papa.”

“Hmm, my favorite.” He set your glass down next to his. He lifted your chin so you were both gazing at one another. He tilted his head and leaned in to kiss you - suddenly it felt like you were flying and losing sense of time. Yes, his lips were soft, somehow even softer than you’d imagined. He pulled away, licking his lips. “È delizioso.”

You held your hand up to your mouth, already missing his.

He walked over to his desk and opened up a drawer, rummaging around and pulling out a very small, metallic package and setting it down. “How do you want it?” he asked plainly, looking at you.

“P-pardon?” you asked.

“How do you want it? On the desk, or on the couch? Would you prefer to be on top, or do you like to be on the bottom?”

“I, er - ” you stammered. You gulped, and took a few steps forward until you faced him on the other side of the desk. “On the desk.”

“Very well,” he responded. He began to open the little package when you noticed it was a condom.

You held your hand out to stop him. “No, Papa. I just need to feel all of you, right here, right now.”

His lips - Satanas, those beautiful lips - curled into a wicked smile. “Ho sentito bene? So you want Papa to fuck you raw, eh?”

Your hand still over his, you looked into his eyes and responded, “Yes.”

He reached for your face, grasping your cheek in his hand and dove in for another kiss, this time faster and rougher. You sloppily returned the gesture, feeling your tongues slip inside each other’s mouths in desperate fervor.

“Mmn,” he said, pulling away. “Sorella, I must disclose it would be safer if we used protection. I did, eh, just attend an orgy last night. Who the fuck knows what may be…lingering, you see?”

You nod, making your way around his desk. “I said, Papa,” you started. “I need to feel all of you right here. Please Papa just take me,” you breathed into his neck, kissing him again.

He held your waist in his hands, kissing you roughly then making his way to your neck.

You took off your veil, letting your hair fall around your shoulders. He took a strand in his hand, smelling it then exhaling. In one swift motion you unzipped your habit and let it fall to the floor, looking down at your knees and noticing your legs were shaking.

He gazed at you, biting his bottom lip as he watched you undress. He looked, for a lack of a better term, hungry. He noticed how shaky you were taking off your clothes and grasped around your waist again. “You’re shaking, Sorella. Let me help you.” He slid your panties off your waist and you yanked them the rest of the way off.

You hopped up on his desk, spreading your legs partially, hesitant to show him every bit of you.

“You are molto bellissima, Sorella. Has anyone ever told you that?” He held your chin in his hand.

You shook your head, pursing your lips.

“What a pity. Because you are very pretty. And you would look prettier filled with my cock on my desk.”

You tilted your head back as he kissed you again, placing his hand between your legs, carefully caressing around your labia before slipping in between your lips and easily sliding his middle finger inside your entrance. You moaned, arching your back as he filled you and slid back out.

“You are very wet for your Papa already,” he said in a praising tone. He slipped his gloved finger into your mouth. “See? There’s a good girl.”

He unbuttoned his shirt, revealing a bare chest (minus a few dark hairs across his pecs) and soft but toned arms. He kissed your neck as he unzipped his trousers and flung them, his gloves, and his underwear off. His hard cock bobbed as it was released from his pants, flushed pink at the tip and ready to enter you.

He caressed you, sliding his hand up to your back and unhooking your bra in one hand, holding your face with his other as he kissed you. You slid the straps down your arms and let the bra fall to the floor.

Once your breasts were free, he took each in his mouth, pinching your other nipple in between his fingers as he swirled his tongue around the other; taking turns and switching.

He kissed you roughly while he lined his hips up with yours, sliding his erection in between your folds and pausing at your entrance.

“Are you sure, Sorella? We can use protection, it does not take anything away,” he said, looking at you earnestly.

You grabbed onto his ass and pushed him into you, sliding him in with ease. “I need to feel all of you Papa, and invite the Unholy Spirit inside me.” Your mouth opened in an “ahh” as he filled you.

He groaned. “I guess that’s my answer,” he said, chuckling, leaning in to kiss you again while he began to pump in and out of you. “Sì Sorella, ahhh - cazzo you’re so fucking tight! - this is - fuuuck,” he breathed, pummeling into you at a much faster pace now. “This is the most effective way to induct you into the Church, mmmn, ahhh Satanas...” His breathing was much heavier now, yours escaping your lips in shudders.

You moaned with every thrust into you, feeling him fill you and stretch you. Your hands trailed all over his body and through his perfect raven hair. “You’re an ahhh - amazing teacher, Papa.”

“It really is the most effective with a female orgasm,” he said on a sigh, continuing to thrust. He brought his hand between your legs again, circling around your clit with his thumb, matching the pace he was fucking into you.

“Oh fuck, Papa!” you exclaimed, feeling your orgasm take over. He bent his head down to suck on your nipples, taking your high even higher. As your whole body quivered, you could feel yourself clench around his cock - which, clearly, sent him over the edge as well.

“Shit, Satanas!” he moaned, pumping his seed into you. You both clung to one another, breathing heavily before pulling away and beginning to put your garments back on.

“Did it work, Papa?” you asked inquisitively, putting on your habit and zipping it up.

“Mm?”

“Has Lucifer entered me? Am I admitted into the Church?”

“Ah - ” he said, stuffing himself back into his trousers, clearly pulling this explanation out of his ass. “Sì Sorella, but you may need to - hmm, come again tomorrow. I believe you need more sessions to fully let Lucifer in.”

“Is that so, Papa?” you ask coyly, looking towards his crotch - still half an erection poking through, then back up at his eyes.

“Sì, it is…imperative that your body be worshipped as a temple, and these praises be whispered in tongues into your skin. Your body is to be celebrated for creating the most sinful of acts. You may not be aware of how powerful the female orgasm is.”

Your brain wandered, thinking of all the possible things this could mean.

“And of course, you must…ingest the soul of Lucifer too,” he added.

Now that one you were pretty sure you understood. You tilted your head down in a bow. “Of course, Papa. I know Satan requires this of me before I am fully admitted to the Church.”

He cleared his throat. “Same time tomorrow, Sorella.”

“Of course, Papa.”

{to be continued..?}

Italian to English Translation

- La Lezione di Lucifero (Lucifer’s Lesson)

- È delizioso. (That’s delicious.)

- Ho sentito bene? (Did I hear correctly?)

- molto bellissima (very beautiful)

- cazzo (fuck)

[autisticlancemcclain]

fic rec friday 45

hello and welcome to fic rec friday! where, on friday, i rec five of my favourite fics.

Pieces by zenstrike

Five times Keith found comfort with Lance, and one time he tried to return the favour.

look i know i talked about zenstrike last week and im here to do it again. i know what the secret relationship trope is, i know there are so many great fics but like. zenstrike reaches something in my chest and fucking twists it. i read something of theirs for the first time like two years ago and i remember being actually fucking struck dumb on my bed and clutching my phone because the way my stomach churned and my heart pounded and i well and truly FELT every fucking emotion!! when keith nervously pressed his palm to the junction of lance's neck and his breath sharpened mine did too!! when the swirling dread of fear and nerves turned in lances belly it turned in mine too!! idk what it is about zenstrike but they have touched me in a way no other author ever has in my whole life and i cant always read everything they write in one sitting, sometimes im consuming it all in a frenzy and sometimes one fic takes me days. anyway keith loving lance with every goddamn molecule but being physically unable to say it but determined to show it will always make me insane sorry for the goddamn essay

2. when you're here loving me by orphan_account [EXPLICIT]

“’Look at me, I’m Keith,” Lance muttered, “’I run directly at Galra sentries and don’t even think about the big, glowy thingies in their hands. What are those called again?’” He tightened the gauze, gently despite his trying to act angry, “’Right! Guns! Can’t possibly hurt me, right?’” Keith scowled, “I know what a gun is.” ✦ they come back from a mission, gross and in love.

this one is kinda porny lol but its pretty goddamn funny. of COURSE these two are the massive losers who play rock paper scissors after they bone 💀💀

3. The Samurai and the Sharp-Shooter by orphan_account

It's tough going on missions when you have to pretend you're dating your rival. Tougher still when you're actually not even rivals but lovers forced to hide that fact for the sake of the team's greater mission. Not canon, but still in space and everyone's there. Fluffy with zero angst.

this fic makes me CRY with laughter bc why are they fake dating to hide that they're real dating on a god damned assassination mission 😭😭 they're actually so goddamn stupid

4. Headshot by @angelwithaknife

“Guys,” Lance grunted, lying down behind a couples of rocks and aiming at some soldiers again, “I appreciate that you appreciate me but please stop waving at me after I save you, I’m sick of running around trying to find new spots, I specifically chose a long-range weapon so I could lie down all the time.”

this is so CUTE the team loves lance so bad. and as they should!! bc hes so smart and amazing and cool and wonderful and talented honestly i just love him so bad

5. What's Something You've Never Told Me? by @fondaboo

The lady drops a slice of lemon into it and slides it back towards him. “You’ve got pretty good taste kid,” she says. Her cordial smile turns wicked and teasing, as she jerks her chin to the dance floor. “And it's not just limited to drinks, I'd say.” Keith follows her dark gaze, before he can help himself, biting down on a groan when he sees where she’s looking. Lance. Jesus, he can’t even go to a bar without someone calling out his—blatant and painfully obvious—crush on Lance. “Friend of yours?” She croons. He drags a hand down his face, maybe he needs something stronger than whiskey. Ketamine maybe. “Best friend actually,” he squints through his fingers, glaring darkly, “not that it’s anyone’s business.” Or the author overuses em-dashes while trying to make Keith talk about his damn feelings! OR ace Lance has to deal with a smitten Keith and just wants to watch disney

ACE LANCE ACE LANCE ACE LANCE ACE LANCE ACE LANCE!!!!!!!!!!!!! god i love him. also fondaboo literally never misses

that’s it for today!! i’ll see y’all back next friday for the next fic rec post!!!

[asteriass]

I will not deny, due to being busy and procrastinating, I’m a week late to starting the new Black Butler season, but now I have and I can confidently say I love the adaptation

The visuals are SO GORGEOUS overall I recently found out the storyboards & direction for the ending theme were done by artist okazakiokaa and as usual they delivered! A great fan of their work（≧∇≦）

The opening theme and the foreshadowing and symbolism in it were also well done. The contemptuous look Ciel has right at very end… he looks so cool 🥹

As I was watching, the scenes with the stained glass for the P4 kept catching my eyes. The details for each of them look emaculate!

This entire sequence in Ep 2 was originally just official artworks for the manga, but I like how cloverworks utilized it for the recap scene. The paint-like style they went for it looks amazing too

The character designs & general art direction are a mixture between Yana Toboso’s current art style & also Cloverworks adding their own flare and honestly I like how everyone looks!

[Perhaps in another world I would’ve been an Edgar simp…]

[THE iconic scenes]

[I can not deny, Maurice’s visuals are on point. Too bad this winsome face masks a wicked character]

[As I was watching I suddenly remembered that as a kid I used to simp for Harcourt lmao 😭. I can’t say my preferences for designs have changed… I still lean towards this haircut and blonde characters 😓

Anyway… I feel so bad him, especially given the… tragedy he is subjected to later on 😭]

[I look forward to Soma’s scenes ٩(๑❛ᴗ❛๑)۶. Tho I predict a bittersweet feeling enveloping my heart in the coming episodes ❤️‍🩹]

All in all, the Public School arc is one of my top faves and I very much enjoy the adaptation so far. Cloverworks did an amazing job and it’s clear a lot of hard work has been put in to adapt the source. I look forward to the rest!

[aettuddae]

hey . . . 😭 i haven’t been that active for a while, but i’m js here to drop the head canons i promised  ( i was js actually waiting for your reply and sadly got busy sooo )

(1) i js know they’re sooo domestic !!! serim and jimin finally being in each other’s arms after weeks of their busy schedules, and i js can imagine serim waking jimin up with kisses 💋 NAWT JUST KISSES ON THE FACE OK !!! serim 😭 kissing 😭 jimin’s 😭 moles 😭 jimin will probably act so irritated but we all know she enjoys that shit. she’ll probably say “what are you doinggg?” and serim will js reply with “what? i’m js waking you up.” while having that silly smile on her face !!!

(2) jimin, being the loser she is, will DEFINITELY watch serim’s favorite musicals behind the latter’s back. with the knowledge jimin has, she’ll randomly bring those up and serim will be like “🤔 how the fuck do u know”

serim finally found out months later AND TEASED THE FUCK OTTA JIMIN ABT IT

(3) i feel like business matter jimin is that type of person who gets “mad” at the simplest things 😭 like serim forgetting to kiss her before she leaves the house. and jimin will continue her day with that silly >:( look on her face

when serim finally comes home, she’ll find jimin laying on their bed with her arms crossed and she’ll immediately know !!! will probably scoot over next to jimin, hug her figure while whispering sweet nothings

“i’m sorry i didn’t kiss you earlier, baby.” while pampering jimin with kisses in between her words 😔

— 🍊 ( i just realized how short these are . . . )

HELLO ANGEL, SORRY TO ANSWER SO LATE BOTH TIMES I SHOULD HAVE ANSWERED IN TIME

i won't lie to you, i read this ask back when you sent it and i'm thankful cause ever since i read it my head started thinking about stories again. even if it wasn't exactly with business matter, you kind of helped me with my writer's block.

anyways, here's some fanfiction of the fanfiction in times when the author won't update

1 - I'M BAWLING OMG, i literally always have this headcanon of kissing jimin's moles because HOW COULD YOU NOT? her moles are so precious and spread across her pretty face. also, i remember there's a scene in business matter when serim actually gets distracted staring at jimin's moles, so this is canon 😭 they're so cute even if jimin is actively a brat 🫠

2 - don't know why i started thinking about the wicked movie release 😭 jimin forcing herself to watch the whole thing just to have something to talk about with serim. but no really she would do anything for that theater kid, i can see her even writing down the names of the characters from serim's fav musicals so she doesn't forget 🥹

3 - THIS LAST ONE IS SO CUTE I'M CRYING DON'T TOUCH ME, goofy mad jimin, you know what her mad face looks like and she's literally a piece of bread, how can you take her seriously? 😔 serim would probably have to ease her silly tantrums all the time, but she doesn't mind cause she's cute. this headcanon literally changed me as a person

thanks for your contribution to the business matter community, you have made the not-writing-author very happy

[ziggy-stardust-is-in-love]

musical rant rn go

goodness gracious I wrote an entire novel yesterday and it all got deleted. Whatever.

OKAY HERE ARE ALL OF THE MUSICALS I THINK ABOUT IN ORDER

Frozen: Every six year old girl was obsessed with Frozen, including me. Good soundtrack and nostalgia. I still really want my theatre to do this show, but I’m not sure which role I’d want. Elsa, Anna, Christof, Olaf? I dunno. Too many good options

Hercules: One of my favorite movies since I was little. Insanely good soundtrack and super fun characters. If my theatre did this one I still wouldn’t know which role I’d want. Hercules would be great, but Meg is so fun, but Hades is even more fun!!

The Lorax: I’m considering this a musical so shut up. This has also been one of my favorites since I was little. Fun fact: as student council president I came up with the idea of making a Lorax themed bulletin board and we did it!! 💪 I think my presidency will be remembered as year of the Lorax or something like that. We’d come in every meeting and I’d play the soundtrack while we worked, it was perfect. I ALSO WANT MY THEATRE TO DO THIS BUT ID WANT TO PLAY EVERY ROLE. THEYRE ALL SO PERFECT

Sister Act: Pretty uncommon. The only reason i really listen to the soundtrack or anything was bc I was in it. This is the first musical I ever did (I’ve done 5 now) and in this I played Monsignor O’Hara, which is a pretty great role for a first time actor. I got to dad dance a deliver cheesy lines. The soundtrack is pretty good to me, but that might just be because of the distinct memories I have with each one. Like the time the power went out during a rehearsal so everyone sat in front of the stage with their phone flashlights on. That was super fun. Or all of my friends and I playing flee the facility on Roblox. 🥹 miss all of that

Dear Evan Hansen: or however it’s spelled. I’ve only read the book and occasionally heard the songs. The book was really good and I should really learn more about the musical.

Newsies: Second musical I was in and my first big role. Jacks best friend. It was awesome!! Before auditions I went over to my friend Emma’s house. She’s the one who brought me to theatre and we were watching newsies bc we knew nothing about it. I immediately, from the very first scene, wanted crutchie. Emma really wanted Katherine. I’ll always remember Emma FaceTiming me as soon as the cast list came out and telling me we got our dream roles and we were in the same cast. That was the best summer ever.

Elf: I don’t talk about this one too much bc it’s just trauma. I simply played a background elf because of my big role last show. I had two lines 😭 We did this for some reason and I decided “wouldn’t it be just great to bring my bf (now ex) to theatre!” So I did. What was I thinking. Halfway through rehearsals he broke up with me. I had to see him twice a week and it really sucked. I’m not gonna get too far into it bc my ex literally ruined my life but anyways

Wicked: My theatre didn’t do this play, I got to see it on broadway in November. It was really great. I went in knowing nothing about wicked and I came out obsessed. I was able to get a full cast signed poster and a copy of the novel. I’d definitely want to do this production at my theater someday but I just don’t know who I’d want to be. Elphaba or Glinda? Either way great show and good soundtrack for sure

Sweeney Todd: EEE!! Okay so the show itself is incredible. Great story, good characters, magnificent music, a 10/10 show for my theatre to do. The bad part is that this was just for the older age group, which means our director put a lot of pressure on us. Ever rehearsal someone went home crying (usually me) and nobody was having fun. I actually had an incredible role because I mentioned wanting Sweeney in auditions and I didn’t realize how much work that actually was. Thankfully they gave me an even better role: ANTHONY!! Still not my favorite role, Crutchie will always have that, but it’s awesome!! Being a lovesick sailor is basically me.

Heathers: Another fun musical!! We haven’t done this at my theatre and I don’t think we ever will 😔 I personally love belting these songs when I’m home alone, but that applies to basically all of these. Also if you’ve read this far that’s impressive bro. (Also I might start a secret side blog of me singing) but that’s a secret between you, me, and anyone else who read this far

American Idiot: The Green Day musical!! The music is obviously super good and the story is a bit strange but it’s really fun to watch slime tutorials of it on YouTube. (For any of you who don’t know, slime tutorials are what we call videos filming broadway productions because they’re illegal and a way for YouTube to not take them down is if you title them “slime tutorial.” If you ever want to see a bit of a musical poorly recorded on a trash phone, look up the name of the musical and you’ll usually find some.)

Peter Pan: Honestly a trash musical. The story makes no sense and most of the music is garbage. I played a lost boy, which is basically the only fun role in the whole show. I knew all of my other lost boys well, someone of them were already my best friends, so we were just a gang of rascals. Little Shop of Horrors: I went to a local production knowing very little and I came out of this one obsessed as well!!!! The soundtrack is sooo goood and my friends and I are super close to getting our theatre to do it. I would def want Seymour, Audrey, or Orin (the dentist)

WOW TYSM FOR LETTING ME GO ON A RANT I REALLY NEEDED THAT!!!!! YAYYY!!!! I think this is a complete list but I dunno. I’ll see if I forgot something at some point

[aidaronan]

People I'd like to get to know better Tagged by @br0ck-eddie 🥰

last song: Royal Beggars - Architects

last book: Last one finished was The Pairing by Casey McQuiston 10/10 so fun and queer and horny. Current read is Babel by R.F. Kuang bc it was on sale for $1.99 digital a couple weeks ago.

last movie: uh.... I don't watch movies that often unless I do. 🤣 Maybe when I did the John Wick marathon? I'll go with John Wick 4.

last tv show: Make Some Noise with Vic, Jacob, and Ally. Have also finally been watching Dungeons and Drag Queens and am on season 2.

sweet/savory/spicy: savory, but sweet AND savory combined are the best as we all know

relationship status: single and ready to tear my face off about it

last google duckduckgo: "april 30th" because my friend sent me a thing about a local event and i was trying to figure out what day of the week that is. and if you're thinking "aida why not open your calendar?" the answer is I'm still trying to fix my laptop screen and i can't see the time/date to click them and open the calendar 😭 (but hopefully i'll finally be resolving that this weekend)

looking forward to: warmth and sunlight driving away the winter. mom visiting next month. Djo in DC. forest/trail shenanigans. a work conference if my request gets approved but an exciting & fun one with potential to see an old friend. maybe some life things if they work out???🤞🏻 August vacay my mom got us for Christmas last year if it's even safe to fly by August 😭. hopefully at least one more evil person biting it this year (apollo come at me with that dodgeball rn)

No pressure tags bc i have no object permanence anyway: @sparklyslug @vecnuthy @yesdangerpls @banannabethchase @greatunironic @bookgeekgrrl

[fitzrove]

Musical questions! 28, 29, 30?

[To celebrate 400 followers I'm finally answering all these from my drafts :D]

28. What's a musical that you saw ages ago that you're still not over? What about it made you love it so much?

If watching a video counts as "seeing": Tanz der Vampire. I saw posters and ads on the street for the Helsinki 2016 production... but that was after it was already over, in April/May!!!!! I was so curious about it but forgot after the initial wondering. Then that summer I went to a two-week language camp/course in the UK (my first time abroad without parents!) where we were singing Total Eclipse in the music room and an older "camp counsellor" girl from Germany told us it's actually from a musical, and that night I took it as my sign to look it up and ended up watching sooo many clips on YouTube over and over for the rest of my time at that course, and eventually the whole 2005 proshot with English subs.

Something about it spoke to me in a way no other musical had before - I mean, I had liked POTO for years, that summer I also started listening to Hamilton, but neither of those rattled in my head to the same obsessive degree as TdV did <3

It came into my life at a special time, has come and gone since, and whenever I get back to it, it still hits the hardest out of any show I've ever watched. Whether it be the epic orchestral rock score (I'm not like an über Steinman fan but I like his stuff), the level of emotion (some would say melodrama <3) and the way the show itself has come to symbolise a lot of things to me over the years (freedom to leave an environment you're not happy in and remaking your life elsewhere; freedom to be yourself and go after what you want even if it goes against what's conventional or societally acceptable; the world belonging "to the shameless and the wicked" and the rest of us just having to roll with it). So yeah >:)

I've now seen TdV live three times: once in Stuttgart in autumn 2021, and twice in Hamburg this summer (2024). It wasn't perfect but it meant a lot :') I've also met Aris Sas and he liked my headcanons and hot takes, and wished me the best in my life and my studies 😭🙏

29. What's a musical that you used to really like but don't anymore? What made you fall out of love with it?

I think I'm falling out of love with Wicked!! It was one of the first shows I saw live (back in Finland) and that production left a lasting impression on me, but after seeing it in London twice (heheh) I think I'm satiated :') I will still want to see the movie though! I probably just won't have the energy to engage that much with the hot takes it will probably spawn kslsls. Plus I hate the discourse that the movie is stirring up about how the book is better and that should've been a movie instead dkkdldls. I think the book is kind of terrible and takes itself too seriously. Plus the sex scenes are bad bad bad bad....

Anyway - still like the musical, I think I have just overlistened to it and I don't usually find too much to "chew on" in the fandom space :D Especially since I don't know/care about Wizard of Oz lore 😭

30. What's a musical that's grown on you since you first saw it or listened to it? What made you appreciate it more?

Rudolf: Affaire Mayerling.......... I still think it's terrible but I keep making friends with people who know that it's inaccurate (and don't really care about defending its honor skkskd) and still love it for being camp 😭 I used to have a very negative view of it but now I can just listen to Du bleibst bei mir on repeat, enjoy wholeheartedly and pretend it's the whole show 😌 obligatory mention that I met and took a pic with Wietske at the Les Mis München stagedoor this year 😭😭😭😭🙏🙏

[voltadream]

Hi I’m here to bother your inbox:

Favorite (non SP) fandom and why?

OOO shit, I’ve only ever been in the SP fandom to be honest, like it’s the only one I’ve really been involved in. 🫣 I wouldn’t count my music era from when I was 14-15 HOWEVER, I do interact with different fandoms of my interests but it’s mainly surface level 😭🙏

To name a few:

Invincible: I fucking love this show, it doesn’t have much of a fandom but I love the fanart I have seen and I love watching videos analysing the characters. It’s one of my favourite shows honestly and I’m so hyped for season three coming out in a week and a half now shshsh.

Arcane - I LOVED ARCANE SO MUCH!! It’s become one of my favourite TV shows, for its amazing writing and I love how nuanced the characters are (I’m honestly mad it exists bc nothing will ever come close to its story telling lol) I love all of the fanart and memes from the fandom, like it’s always GODSEND.

Epic the Musical: I LOVE LOVE LOVE this fandom!! I love watching the animatics and everyone reciting different sources from the Iliad/Odyssey and weaving it into Epic fanart, it’s really cool. I also just love the songs and I can’t wait for the day it becomes a movie or is on the stage.

Merlin - I’ve read a couple of fics from the Merlin fandom actually !! I love the show (I never finished it but shhhh) and I loved the characters so much - especially Gwyn and Merlin so I love seeing fanart of it. I also love the edits I’ve seen.

Winx - I HAVENT WATCHED THE SHOW IN YEARS BUT I LOVE THE FANDOM!! I love the ocs, the edits, the fanart. All of it, Winx was my whole childhood and the songs all slapped. My favourites will always be Aisha and Flora. (I’m also basing Wendy’s design of Tecna in my fic !!)

ATLA - It’s similar to how I interact with the Winx fandom, except I may rewatch it one of these days <3

Teen Titans - also the same as the other two except I’m also dying to rewatch this one as well.

Some other media/fandoms I like are: Moral Orel, Mouthwashing, The Princess and the Frog, Anastasia, Hercules, Treasure Planet, Road to El Dorado, Prince of Egypt, The Hunger Games, Wicked and Hamilton !!

For extra lore: The first fandom I was technically in was Sally Face!! My first ever fic was a Sally Face one which I wrote when I was 11 or 12. And no, no one may know about it, don’t worry about it LMAO.

WHAT WERE YOURS OMG ??? I’m curious now

[synonymouswithanonymous]

Wicked movie Danish Dub!

Translation via google! Very exciting news!

"I have been crazy - completely exaggerated - lucky to be allowed to voice the Danish Glinda in the new mammoth film 'Wicked' 😭💘🎉🪄🪩💗🎀 It has been a wild and hard few months with rehearsals during the day in Fredericia, then commuting back to Copenhagen and dubbing in the evenings and on my days off. @vdueholm, Jørn and I have often looked at each other out of breath when the evenings got long and my brain was completely burnt out at the end 😂 but stop now, how fun it was, and worth all the many hours in the studio. Thank you, dear Vibeke, firstly for believing in a small, rather inexperienced dubber like me for this huge project and for whipping me when it wasn't good enough, but also for giving me faith that I was on the right track all along. It's a huge dream come true and I love how my life is enveloped in Glinda magic during this period 💗 everyone needs a little Glinda naivety and goodness once in a while and I hope we can pass that on to you when the movie comes out at the end of November (and otherwise Ariana is FABULOUS, so no matter what, you won't leave empty-handed). And then I'm just looking forward to a new week here in Wicked-land. We have our last day in Tivoli on Saturday, so come and say hello to us before we go back to Fredericia 💗✨"

Danish Glinda dubs for Ariana Grande's Glinda!! 💚😊💚😊💚😊

So in love with that pink gown!!

[chocolatecake47]

wow the second chapter of my little grief fic is finally here 😭

beta-read by the lovely @a-very-sparkly-nerd 😘, I couldn't do this without her!

"I've been holding on to hope that you'll come back when you can find some peace" ~

Callum’s grief was like the moon, altering forth in phases.

The grief was the poetry that rang in his ears, and the air that filled his lungs. Every encumbered breath that reminded him of the life he still had even though so many, more deserving souls, no longer did.

The grief was the premature drop of his stomach when he first witnessed the agonized expression on his father’s face. His very last shuddering, gasping breath, one his mom had told him to look away for, to leave the room, but the way he curled into his mom’s soft, warm chest and apologized because he never could again was impossible to tear his watering eyes away from. Those first wails of gut-wrenching agony that were shaped like a knife, a double-ended sword, sharp and pointed enough to wedge itself between the gaping wounds and tear viciously.

“Callum, I want to talk to you about life.” Flickering forward in the hushed way his mother would rub his back and remind him to “breathe, just breathe Callum,” and the way he would hold her legs and how she would spin him around when the corners of this new castle were too vast and intimidating. The craters running its length down the silvery fragment representing the delicate climb of his little fingers when he would braid her hair while she told him stories of the strongest man she ever knew. The strongest man Callum would never truly have the pleasure of knowing, and later asked him to promise her through breathless gasps and beaming smiles that he would protect, protect, protect, “Take care of your brother.” The fragility of life, running his fingers through nature’s stillness and soaking its grace into his skin, inhaling the beauty until it was tattooed in his lungs, pulsing like the heart that was too big for his body, in his ribcage.

The grief was the few fragile memories he had from the days with her that felt like a whole lifetime instead of mere weeks, that wicked trick of time that didn’t heal him, reinforcing the serenity she had brought him under her lighthearted teasing and the heartbreak she had caused under her moonlit illusions. His longing built from the shattered remnants of her presence, her luminous essence. As long as she was away, as long as he wasn’t near enough to sprinkle stardust in her milky hair and cast gleams on her blood-drenched scars, kiss her illumination until she understood, “I know that, and you should too”, he was only half. Reaching aimlessly, crying out for the moiety that was no longer there, that had wrenched itself away under the guise of heroism and death “I love you Rayla. I really really do”. Rejected him in the end and left him with fear and grief, like they all had, even though he would ruin his very core and spirit for her a million little times.

The grief was his panicked cry of mourning, the stricken shriek of “Dad!”, almost complete, almost heard, almost there, just like the relationship with the man his heart promised as his dad. Never quite as futile as he once tricked himself to believe but also never quite fully reassured of the last little fragment that was missing, even though the virtual emotion behind it was the same. He could still remember the shape of his smile, that he had winced under the pressure of once upon a time, the sound of his laugh as it rumbled in his chest, the closeness of it fresh in his mind from those few nights he had been carried to bed, flustered and blushing, but loved. Undeniably cherished

The grief was the facade he put on, “you doing okay?”, the aimless show of ravaged resilience, even though the moon never set, the tainted reminiscence of all he had lost never sincerely vanished. It lurked instead, hid shamelessly in the guilt of the burden that now hung on young shoulders, but was keen enough to camouflage against the pale sky and conceal behind the clouds. But the moon revolves around the world, so he would try to swallow it down and revolve around his world, “you mean everything to me”. Give more parts of himself to those starry blue eyes, breezy laughter, and beautiful shining smile, until there was nothing left in his barren soul to give, the same way the moon bestowed everything to the sky until it was hollow and dark. Millions of instances all throughout his childhood where he had rushed to care for him, to carry him up, and would do again in a single heartbeat, shimmering the last of his courage during the coldest and loneliness of nights until it was purposed for him, the way the moon projected onto the world, but it still wasn’t enough, he still wasn’t good enough for the only child he would spill his own blood for without hesitation.

Sometimes he was sure that half his mother’s lost soul had been given to Ezran and half had been given a new home in Rayla. And so he couldn’t give up, no matter how heavy it got, not when even a fraction of her could still be there, in the people he loved. So he yearned and ached and fought, fought against the overpowering grief, so that one day, maybe, just maybe, he would be as beautifully radiant as the moon.