#and by rest i mean i can get back to that underwater kiss comic

[artingstarvist]

Chapter 20 / 20 "No Regrets"

Summary: Xie Lian wakes up on a straw mat.

Additional Tags: Coffin Rescue, Coffin AU, AU - Canon Divergence, AU - Different First Meeting, Hurt/Comfort, Angst with a Happy Ending, Identity Reveal, Revenge Plot, POV Alternating, Blood and Injury, Dream-Reality Confusion, Canon-Typical Violence, Hua Cheng AND Xie Lian have Self Esteem issues, Hua Cheng & Xie Lian Invented Love, Slow Burn, Mutual Pining, Hua Cheng bout to make it 34 gods

That's all folks! Until I inevitably write the sequel

(It's coming, but don't hold your breath. I'm so tired).

Anyhow, thanks for coming on this experimental little journey with me! I've appreciated every comment (or keyboard smash). I'm so glad I gave fic writing a shot, it's been so much fun! I hope you find the ending satisfactory!

Also, huge shoutout again to my beta readers (@lildoodlecat @afanbeingatheart & @crystalsamethyst) who had to deal with my insane weekly deadline for literally four months. XL has something to say:

[twinklelilstarkey]

“bite me” ‘if you insist’ with my favorite sunburnt rafe please

For blurb thursday!! *this is set over a few weeks after the fic*

DO NOT REPOST, REWRITE OR TRANSLATE ANY OF MY WORK!

"I'll be right back!" Sarah says as she runs out of the pool, "Don't miss me too much!"

You watch as she soaks the concrete floors that are around the pool and as she snatches the towel from her chair. And that's exactly when she almost slips while walking through the gate.

"I'm okay!" She screams without looking back at you.

She throws her towel over her shoulders, covering her wet body before continuing on her way through the rock pathway to the house. As she's almost getting to the side door, it opens and none other than a shirtless Rafe Cameron walks out.

You always got to appreciate the daily eye-blessing that this man can be, and he, honestly, just makes it easier by the day.

You're standing in the pool, fighting off the island's heat with the cold water that rests by your waist, and you walk up to your phone, which is on a towel right by the corner of the pool. Probably close to being overheated.

The squeaky sound of the gate is heard not too long after you start peacefully scrolling through your social media and you look over your shoulder to see Rafe walking into the fenced area with his towel in hand, still folded, and phone in the other.

"Long time no see." He says with a smile.

"Sure has been a long hour." You answer back with the same smile.

He walks closer to where you're standing in the pool and throws his stuff over to the chair closest to you.

"Starting to think you knew about the whole Sarah-coming-home-early thing all along." He teases as he walks over to the stairs of the pool.

You watch him as he walks carelessly - acting as if he's not one of the hottest men alive - and steps foot into the cold water.

He curses comically as he tries to reach where you are, yet stops to have his hands by his hips and take a breather to regain his confidence to be able to be in this ice-cold water.

"I wouldn't risk us getting caught, unlike you, mister."

"That was an accident." He says defensively, "I never meant to say 'yes' to Kelce's hang-out question and you know that."

You give him a look if you're not buying what he's saying, and that gets him enough strength to keep on walking towards you.

Knowing Rafe, you should already be swimming away because he can tackle you in minus 2 seconds underwater, but you like to seem strong.

With, now, the water resting by his hips, he gets to you and you let go of your phone, slowly getting cornered and easily accepting your faith.

"I think you're the one that wants to get us caught..." He pauses, "Because you should be acting like you hate me, yet you keep teasing me. All. Day. Long."

"As if, Cameron." You try to say and continue your teasing like the strong woman that you are, but his cold hands quickly grab onto the warm skin of your waist, making you gasp and him smile.

He steps closer and you're then suddenly leaning against the wall, his dry chest glued to your wet bikini. He still has a smile on his face, but his whole demeanor has changed.

His smile is already slowly turning into a smirk.

"Am I being too mean to you?" You tease again.

His hand rests on your shoulder slowly as he admires you for a bit, and his fingertips draw lines over your skin. You smile as he brings his hand to the side of your neck and his thumb brushes over to your jaw.

"Do you know by any chance how long we have before Sarah gets back?" He whispers.

"I think... About 5 minutes?"

Before you could think about anything else, he connects your lips and begins a kiss. You hold in your smile at the sudden action and bring your hands up to his sides, making him tense up under your palms due to how cold they are.

He pulls back from the kiss and looks down at you right away.

"Think I can make you come before she comes back?"

You let out a gasp at that and smack his chest.

"You can't say things like that! She's right in there." You point over your shoulder, whisper yelling at him.

"But we have 5 minutes until she's back, right?" He says before giving your lips a peck. "Come on, baby. Thought you liked playing it risky."

You let out a chuckle in disbelief and you look over your shoulder.

"She can literally just look out of the window."

"So...?"

You look back at him and tilted your head to the side.

"We can't do-"

"We can." He interrupts, making you smile, "But if you keep talking, we won't have time."

You think for a second and you feel both of his hands by your neck, completely taking your mind off things. You look back up at him and he lifts his eyebrows slightly as if in question.

"You're really about to refuse an offer that good from me?" He teases and you chuckle.

"Well-"

"You're a traitor, Y/N." He nods slowly at you. "Thought you loved me."

As you laugh, his hands move back to your waist, holding it securely.

"And what are you going to do about it? Bite me?" You ask him playfully.

"If you insist."

Your laughter gets muffled as soon as Rafe brings his lips back to yours and quickly, the two of you are kissing again. Lips moving in sync, tongues only touching once before it deepens enough to drag out a moan from your throat.

Rafe's hands move down from your waist so slow that you swear that you can't even feel him. While still deep into the kiss, one of his hands moves over to your stomach and slides under your bikini.

You pull him closer as he does it and he pushes you further against the wall.

His fingers slide in between your folds and he pulls away from the kiss to hear you gasp. You look at him with half-opened eyes, and Rafe starts laying kisses down your jaw over to your neck.

You cling onto his hair at the nape of his neck, as his finger starts working circles around your clit and breathe heavily by his shoulder.

Rafe speeds his movements, peppering wet and slow kisses in every inch of skin you have on the right side of your neck. An idea in his head makes his lips curve into a grin and he opens his mouth, nipping at the spot right in the middle of your neck.

You whimper at the feeling of his teeth sinking slightly into your sensitive skin and Rafe's finger moves down to your entrance.

His finger enters you without any warning and he reconnects your lips, muffling your sounds once more. Small thrusts are able to make the fire at the end of your stomach ignite and you fight to take back control of your body.

Rafe pulls back from the kiss, nipping at your lower lip quickly, and a teasing smile appears over his lips.

Just as you're about to pull him into another kiss, the side door of the house opens.

Rafe retrieves his hand from you quickly, and as you look over your shoulder, you bite down on your lip at the sudden lack of touch and Rafe's warmth as he steps back, away from you.

Over your shoulder, you see Sarah looking at the ground while playfully jumping from stone to stone with food and various water bottles in her hands.

"Sorry, it took me so long!" She says as she looks up, "Couldn't find the chips that I wanted."

She steps inside the gated area and drops most of her stuff on her chair, right beside yours.

Rafe is now standing on the whole other side of the pool, pretending to look through his phone - which he was quick enough to grab from his chair. Looking more than innocent.

Sarah walks over to the corner that you're standing in and sits over the ledge with her chips in hand.

"Hope he didn't annoy you too much." She says while cringing.

"Just the usual." You answer with a shrug.

Hope you enjoyed this, guys!

[pigeonp0st]

Hi I love your fics!❤️

Can I request a WandaxReader where Wanda is still new to the Avengers and so people are still pretty afraid and a little hostile towards her but Reader(a trainee or whatever) is one of the few people who aren’t scared of Wanda and the two end up getting close. Idk if that’s too much or not 😅🤷🏽

Wanda Maximoff x Reader #1

Words: 1,561

Warnings: Food, burn

Notes:

Thank you <3 and thanks for my first Wanda ask! I hope you enjoy. Sorry for all spelling/grammar mistakes ;)

(Imma head to bed now...if I can anyways. I’m super hyper for some reason)

———

There’s a new girl walking around the tower when you come back from your mission. You have to ask Tony to explain everything to you so you can understand why.

Apparently she was their enemy...and then their partner, and now a new avenger. You’re happy to have someone else on the team but everyone else seems...skeptical of her.

They get silent when she walks into a room. They don’t make much of an effort to talk to her, and they’re just all around...petty.

The new girl doesn’t seem to mind though. She just sits still and looks like she’d rather be anywhere else with her eyes darting around the room.

—-

Steve confronts you the day after you try to talk to Wanda during dinner. He warns you that she’s dangerous, and that he doesn’t trust her yet. He says not to become too close to her. The rest of the Avengers agree with him.

You just stare at them in mild disbelief. “Steve,” you tell him, incredibly disappointed in him, and the rest of the avengers, “she has lost everything. She looks lonely and depressed most of the time...how could you—how could you find evil in that?”

Him and the rest of the avengers don’t try and stop you from talking to her after that.

—-

“Train with me, Wanda.”

Wanda looks up from the book she’s been studying with narrowed eyes. “What?”

You grin at her cheekily and hold out a hand, “I wanna kick your ass. You can use your powers.”

Her eyebrow quirks then, surprised and apprehensive, and rightfully so. No one else even considers training with her. “I knew everyone here disliked me but I didn’t think they’d want to…’kick my ass’”

Your eyes widen comically. “I—what—no, no, no, I don’t want to—it’s an expression Wanda I swear, god, of course I don’t want to—I mean I do, but like in a friendly way—”

This, this moment right here is the first time you see her smile. It’s the first time you stop and notice how beautiful Wanda is. It’s the first time making someone else’s smile fills you with such a great sense of accomplishment.

It leaves you unexplainably breathless for a moment.

“I was kidding,” Wanda informs you, taking a hold of your hand and shaking it to seal the deal. It’s the first time you two touch. “I’m going to be the one kicking your ass, Y/N.”

She knows your name. Wanda knows your name. “I’d like to see you try.”

———

Wanda does end up kicking your ass, but she does it gently...if that’s possible. You challenge her again and again after that, only to end up losing each time.

Wanda keeps accepting, even though she looks more and more hesitant each time you ask, like she thinks that maybe this time will be the moment you realize she isn’t worth it. That she’s a monster.

You don’t. You don’t get bitter like she imagined either. You just get up each time with playfulness and a tiny bit of awe and fight again, but you never look at her with fear.

To Wanda, this moment means more than you will ever know. To Wanda, this is the moment she realizes that she wants to keep spending time with you, and that maybe this place won’t be that bad. Maybe she doesn’t have to be miserable any more.

To you, this is where you decide to keep surprising Wanda. Each time you get up again, each time you laugh, every compliment you give to her powers, she lights up just that bit more. You want to be someone Wanda can enjoy.

——

It’s about the fifteenth ass kicking that you decide, breathlessly, that you two try to fight without Wanda using her powers.

Wanda agrees cockily, which is why it’s such a surprise when you manage to knock her flat after the first five seconds.

You laugh loudly at her pout, so hard that your body shakes with it, but you manage to get out, between fits of laughter; “why the fuck were you so confident?”

Wanda rolls her eyes at you and kicks your feet out from under you but you couldn’t care less. You’re too busy laughing, and she joins in after a moment.

When the two of you calm down you turn your head to look at her. Her cheeks are flushed from laughing, and her hair is messy on the ground, but to you; she has never looked more beautiful. She has never looked so happy.

“I’ll train you,” you promise her, offering a smile that’s gentler than you intended.

Wanda nods, suddenly sheepish. “And i’ll train you.”

You remind her softly that you can’t use powers like her, but she smirks at you deviously like she’s already very much aware.

“I was not talking about your fighting skills,” Wanda huffs. “I tried one of the cookies you made the other day...and let’s just say they were not very good.”

The glare you send her way isn’t like the ones the avengers have been giving her—it’s completely playful. “I doubt that you’re baking skills are much better.”

“You will see.”

—-

Wanda is awful at baking you learn. The lesson she tried to give you ended with the kitchen almost burned down and the entire avenger squad rushing into the smoke filled kitchen.

What they come to see is Wanda, covered in flour, glaring at black bundles of ash that were meant to be cookies, and you doubled over in laughter in no less of a state of messiness.

Wanda swats at the back of your head, not noticing the avengers, and you try to hug her consoling despite your laughter.

Thus, the avengers realize with no small amount of amusement, that maybe Wanda can be trusted.

No villain can look that upset over burnt cookies, and no villain can look at someone with that amount of softness.

—-

The avengers warm up to Wanda quickly once they actually start talking to her, but she always clearly prefers to spend her training with you, and she never stops your baking session, even despite how awfully they always go.

You’ve also developed... feelings... for Wanda. It must be obvious to the rest of the avengers but it doesn’t seem to be as obvious to Wanda herself.

At least, you don’t think it is. You don’t think she likes you like that anyways...

Well, not until about your tenth baking lesson with her.

—

She’s grinning at you with the amount of joy you’ve finally become accustomed to seeing on her, and holding out (with her adorable mittens) the first set of non-burnt cookies that you two have ever made.

She looks so accomplished and so smug that you can’t help it. You kiss her. Right there in the compounds kitchen, with flour all around, and sugar in your hairs.

You kiss her and she kisses you back, tasting like your favorite dinner, and hot chocolate on a winter day. Kissing her is like coming home after a long day out, kissing her is like coming up for air after being underwater for much too long, kissing her is like—

“Ow!” You yell, pulling away abruptly and looking down at the red burn mark on your hand.

Wanda stands there blinking for a couple of moments, first at your lips, then at your burn mark, and then at the still hot ban still in her grasp.

When she’s able to snap out of her daze she sets the pan down and hugs you, with your burned hand between your bodies. “Sorry,” Wanda whispers.

“It wasn’t your fault.” It wasn’t. You were just too overwhelmed kissing her to remember the pan she was holding. Speaking of… “would you like—to you know...do that again sometime?”

Wanda releases you from her hug to give you an amused smile. “I’ll do you one better,” she says, cupping your cheek. “Be my girlfriend?”

You certainly weren’t expecting that. “Shouldn’t we at least go on a date first?”

Wanda tilts her head, confused and hesitant. “Haven’t we gone on ten now?”

You gape at her, bewildered. “I—um...I didn’t know...you know what, never mind. Let’s just...you’re my girlfriend now. Okay?”

This was not how you were expecting your day to go, but you're not even close to disappointed because Wanda gives you a beaming smile and nods her head repeatedly before drawing you back in for another kiss.

She pulls away after a moment. “I know they weren’t dates, but they might as well have been now, right?”

You wonder if everything you say to each other is going to be a question, and whether or not she’s doing this on purpose.

“Right.”

“Cool.”

“Cool,” you agree, rolling your eyes playfully. “Wanna treat my hand for me now that this is all settled, and since you're the one who burned me?”

“You said that wasn’t my fault!” Wanda huffs.

“Yes, well now that I want something from you it is.”

“Ah, I see. That’s how it works.”

“Yep.”

“Cool.”

“Cool.”

You flick her gently between the brows with your non-injured hand. “Stop it.”

Wanda smirks. “Or what, you’ll fight me about it? Do you think it’ll be your first win?”

“Dickhead.”

“Very professional, Y/N. Very professional.”

[haknew]

pls talk about your thoughts about chanhee and also the other concepts!! I always have such a hard time interpreting music and videos but i love to read about it

“bestie pls share ur thoughts on make your own concepts specifically chanhee’s but any others that are ur fave too 🎤- mar”

omg mar thank you for enabling me all day today 😭🥺🧡 thenks bestie ily :,)) and thank you too anon ! i should preface that T-T i have not read any other theories or analyses so these are just my opinions / impressions but i hope it’s entertaining to read about haha :p ! (feel free @ anyone to add on or share your thoughts too ! :,))

HYUNJAE - okay so audio cues... if you listen to the beginning there’s a sound of a bomb going off before the music starts ? and that ties into the dystopian / cyborg aesthetics that jump out at me of course, but what i immediately thought of was their no air perfo ? like we know hyunjae in the no air mv got that shot where he’s laying in the bathtub filled with water but also their kingdom performance with it also had those underwater shots ! so i think it ties into that... i feel like we saw in gen z, he’s a very straightforward person he says things on his mind which can come off as blunt but he thinks it’s better than not saying it ? which is interesting bc i think that speaks to his self- determined personality, he’s much more inclined to do whatever it takes to get something done, which i think falls perfectly in line with the “make your own air” phrase that he gets, if it’s something he needs he makes it himself, in a situational sense methinks u.u 

 JUYEON - JUYEON’S DJSKHDG i’m waiting for dri’s essay but in essence we see the gen z “juyeon is not such a good boy” shot and these text bubbles that pop up that say “sexy” “you so hot” “such a bad boy” and tbh i like this ‘concept’ ? for him better than his gen z one ? it’s not bc of the concept itself but i like the idea that he can “make your own character” as in he has the capability and power to be whoever he wants to ! you see him throwing white paint at the gen z canvas and i think ?! that’s symbolic of like a fresh canvas ! of remaking himself to whatever he wants bc the canvas is now blank again thanks to the white paint and flowers usually indicate spring ? so renewal and stuff like that ! i really like his, it’s also fun word play on “character” which has been juyeon’s intro in tbz (bc his name sounds like main character in korean) but yea :o ! i really love his the idea he can just repaint / paint over a literal image of him gives it the possibility of becoming smth new and that’s so so cool

CHANGMIN - SCREEEEECH okie um oh boy um *windows shutting down noises* this was so so so very different from his gen z stuff but i actually think BOTH are equally perfect for him ? the way that he set up the sparklers and neon lights on this very obviously trashy and kind of rundown rooftop with the cityline behind him is so ?!?!? LITERALLY making his own stage as his tagline goes, sort of like how the physical stage itself does not matter but rather it’s changmin himself that makes the stage special ! i talked about this in gabi’s set that i rbed ;-;/ but changmin puts a lot A LOT of stake in his position as a dancer it means almost everything to him as a form of expression from what i can see ? so he’s always trying his best to put forward the best performance possible and seeing this segment makes me feel like he’s doing just that ! pouring himself into it to make his stage pls i care him 

HAKNYEON - god i’m a jusadan but just u.u rest in peace me, i’ll ... T_T be kind of honest this one confuses me a little ? i have assumptions and i feel like i know ... quite a bit about haknyeon (LMAO) my best guess is it has smth to do with self assurance ...? the way he’s framed and the fact that he’s sitting on a bed in the middle of a church surrounded by candles gives me christ figure symbolism (where my ap english takers at :/) and the light that perfectly frames him in a halo gives me angel vibes too, but the tagline of “make your own romance” paired with him kissing his reflection makes me think it’s about self love ;;;; from what i can tell haknyeon has always been someone who really likes feeling validated and praised for the stuff he does well, which he does for himself a lot of the times too ! but sometimes i think the self assurances he compliments himself with is more for reassuring himself rather than bragging (which i think people misinterpret) so it’s more about becoming the person he wants to fully love and being happie with himself which *tears* i might be reading too much into who knows i just love him ok ... U.U 

KEBINNN - i know !!! dri mentioned this in my gifset tags but ! kev on kpop daebak (? was it) or smth mentioned how he strives to keep a childlike wonderment for the world around him, which is a reason why i think he loves drawing and sound / music production, he talked in a fancafe post once about an artist who turned mediocre everyday objects into art and he said he really loves that sense of wonderment so peter pan who “never grows up” is actually perfect for his worldview ahhhh T^T also kev really likes disney lmao, the way he’s doing this outside in this “neverland” garden on a balcony which is a part of this very typical apartment backed by a typical city bg also i believe ties into this turning a mediocre everyday thing into smth wonderful through his sense of childlike wonderment and his tagline of “make your own fantasy” (i also care him a lot this concept >>>>>>) and keeps to his referencing movie plotlines like he did in gen z jddkfj

SUNWOO - i also mentioned this in my tags on sunu’s set but this gives me 100 degrees vibes which i still to this day think is one of the most “sunwoo” vibe things ever, it’s a lot of him having fun and doing his own thing, and mixes both more mature and youthful aspects together in a way that i’d only ever describe as sunwoo vibes LMAO like the roller skating around and all the soap bubbles ! cute and youthful ! the crop top and celine wasitband (don’t laugh at me we all noticed) more mature and a callback to his gen z look methinks U.u, think sunwoo has always been a more go-with-the-flow or do whatever he feels like doing sort of person and so “make your own vibe” fits well with him in that sense to me 

SANGYEON - .... *silence* *more windows shutting down noises* *jess.exe has stopped working* OKAY i feel like ! sangyeon’s is also more self explanatory :p i love the juxtaposition of boxing AND the arcade type fighter games ?? like both require very different sets of skills i feel like one is more physical the other is more mental ? but both require adapting to changes whether in the game or the boxing ring which as leader sangyeon would know a lot about, esp being flexible and quick to respond to different situations, and the “make your own glory” i feel is maybe more on the nose, but tbz are this man’s pride and joy you can see it literally anywhere and for him, as leader, to have made it this far with tbz, winning rtk and building their popularity through their hard work and efforts really is building his own glory and i just HHHHHHHHHH

YES EYYSFDHSHF CHANHEE YES - i said it in the tags of my srb before deleting it so i’ll just repeat it here but CHOI CHANHEE !!!!! this detail i didn’t quite process first watch was the continuous flashing of lights in all his scenes, like ... from the shots and the set it looks REALLY empty ?? but the flashing seems to indicate cameras and photos being taken of him despite there being no people we can really see in any of the shots ? WHICH IS SO COOL i think the implication is like “all eyes on him” type which SO TRU i love that idea, like i said the walking past the wedding dresses ? v heavily implies fashion designer which i think you mentioned mar :o ! and i see it in the sense of his tagline “make your own stereotype” bc white wedding dresses are the very traditional / typical choice and obviously feminine in stereotypes, whereas chanhee is wearing a SUIT which is all black in a very clean b/w set with no color which i feel is very stereotypically MASCULINE and the glasses too, it’s such an interesting contrast of his “stereotypically feminine” features (in my view) with very masculine symbols, like glasses we usually associate with more soft hearted / meek stereotypes ? but the geometric shape of the windows and again his suit seems to indicate the very opposite ? it’s a mixing of stereotypes which i think is the point, by putting those together he quite literally makes his own stereotype and puts on the crown while the cameras continue flashing while pointed at him AHHHHHHHHHHHHH

YOUNGHOON - okie might have less to say about this one :o i feel like both hak’s and younghoon’s i don’t see the connections quite as readily but ! i think it’s interesting that his tagline is “make your own classic” but then in the scenes itself he has a flip phone ??? with an antenna (okay boomer /j JDHFKFG JK PLS) and a teddy bear while in PERIOD stylized clothing and setting where those two things are more modern / contemporary in origin (but also not modern enough bc ,,, it’s a flip phone LOL) like 90s kid vibes ? you know but as an emperor in the joseon era haha :p while eating shrimp chips and reading a (comic ?) book, like idk too much of what it means but it’s a cool dichotomy LOL, think it might also tie into actor ! hoon bc it’s make your own classic and i think acting has become a very important aspect to him :o after seeing what he’s capable of in love revolution and his atbz video so it’s interesting u.u (need help w/ this one)

JACOB - think my explanation in han’s set’s tags didn’t really make sense so lemme ... reexplain LOL,,, so ! similar to his gen z video ? like he’s talked about how difficult it is to open up about his own feelings etc. and he said it’s less bc he realizes he needs to but rather just to make other people feel more comfortable when it comes to understanding him, and like the whole breaking the mirror with his reflection in the wanna be angry jacob, it’s about freeing himself to the point he can express the emotions he wants to ! in gen z it was about being able to be angry when he felt that way instead of being tied by his image of being just nice ? and in the video with his pilot uniform not only does he control the ride but he also rides on it himself ! quite literally making his own freedom (symbolically), a sort of realizing he can free himself ? from what’s been tying him down and i think the really big smile he has while riding it just comes to show how he wants to feel :,))) (jacob bae i care you) 

ERIC - last one :p AHHH this is one of my favs too, the quite literal “make your own pride” I LOVE IT ! sooo i think the biggest takeaway i got was that of course in this video his “pride” is symbolized by the hot pink car (that he’s going to pick up his christmassy date in of course u.u if he has a license which he does n- his driver’s license in this was literally his aaa / boy version of reveal photo which in no dmv anywhere would a license picture be allowed to look that good-) and LITERALLY when he finished and takes it for a joy ride while sitting on the roof he’s STILL covered in the dirt and grime stains ! from working on it ! which i think is so symbolic ! it’s my favorite detail actually, he literally put sweat into this car which is his pride and now that he’s finally riding around in it, it feels accomplishing ! his pride ! love that, also when he’s grabbing a stub from that flyer i noticed he chose “youth” over the others (which was like .... ca$h, beauty, ice cream, hamburger...) which i think also just indicates that despite all this hard work he put in he still cherishes his youth and still lets that be a huge part of who he is (i mean pink car so of course) so idk i think it’s very neat go bestie mwah

[hasquetzorkukudoneanythingwrong]

Quetzal woman: the movie

(Pt. 1)

For ages, humanity depended upon the gods to provide, care for, and guide them. How the gods viewed humanity varied greatly. Some saw humans as pawns, and that their rightful place was under their boot. Other gods cared greatly for humanity, they found joy in helping them. Eventually tho, humanity gained independence from the gods. They developed technology and sciences that lead them to no longer have need for the gods. Many gods hated this, seeing this as the ultimate blasphemy. But others still, found joy in their newfound independence, tho were sorrowful at no longer being needed. Regardless of the feelings, it could not be avoided that the gods were no longer needed, and so the gods shut themselves away, as to not interfere. Even in times where humanity seemed to need their protection again, they would not interfere. Or atleast that's how it should've been...

The mesoamerican goddess, Quetzalcoatl, watched upon the humanity she cherished so much, as they marched onward without her. But in recent times, it seemed like they may have needed her guidance once again.

Quetz: ...humanity is not doing well. Starvation, war, the changing of the climate, corruption, and so on. Many humans have the resources to change it all singlehandedly, but choose not to in favor of hoarding said resources greedily. They need our guidance once more...

Then a mysterious voice spoke up, it was not clear who they were, but what was clear was that they were powerful. More so then even Quetzalcoatl.

Voice: we are not to interfere Quetzalcoatl. Even in their darkest moments, we are to no longer meddle their affairs.

Quetz: they clearly need it!

Voice: you said it yourself, they have the resources to help themselves. Even if those resources are currently in the hands of greedy and selfish individuals, things will eventually take a turn for the better. It has happened before and it shall happen again.

Quetz: I understand what you mean... I'd love for humanity to overcome this hurdle, and reach great new heights. But... they are currently lost. Even a nudge in the right direction would be enough.

Voice: interference is interference. No matter how small.

Quetz: *sigh*

As this went on, Quetzalcoatl noticed something specific in the tropics, near the Caribbean. A lone young man, on an isolated beach, was being attacked by creatures who should no longer have a place without the gods.

Quetz: look upon that island!

Voice: hmm?

The young man was being attacked by sirens. Horrid bird like beasts, that were long lost once the Greek pantheon was no longer needed by their people.

Voice: what!? Sirens?!

Quetz: that young man is being attacked by them! Now can I interfere?!

Voice: hmmm... fine. But this is only because it would seem the Greek pantheon is interfering in mortal affairs themselves. It was only a matter of time.

Quetz: yes!!

Voice: but before you go, make sure they longer interfere in mortal affairs! No matter how long it takes, but once it's done return to the heavens at once. You understand?

Quetz: of course!

Voice: then go! He doesn't have much time!

The the sun goddess left, and went to save the young man.

At the beach.

???: wtf are these things?! Some kind of bird monsters?!

Sirens: *horrendous screeching*

???: I should've brought backup, I'm fucked now since I'm alone!

Then suddenly, a large storm appeared overhead. Lightning struck and thunder roared!

???: wtf!?

Then a huge fireball flew from the clouds, striking the earth near the sirens. The impact left the beasts flying, even injuring them.

???: holy fuck...

The sirens weren't done yet, but they focused their attention on the impact sight instead.

Then, arising from the impact, was Quetzalcoatl.

???: woah... she's... beautiful...

The sirens immediately went to attack her, but were met with tremendous force. Powerful flame attacks, along with lightning and wind aswell. She was a force to be reckoned with.

After the beasts were taken care of, the goddess went over to the young man and offered her hand to get him off the ground.

Quetz: are you ok?

???: yeah... I am now. Are you... a goddess?

Quetz: si, actually. I am!

???: oh... wait! For real?!

Quetz: si! I am the goddess Quetzalcoatl!

???: well... if it wasn't for the lightshow and that monster beat down I wouldn't believe you... that was amazing...

Quetz: gracias! Now I've told you my name, what's yours?

???: oh! Right, my name's Rex! Nice to meet you... Quetzalcoatl...

Quetz: you can just say Quetz, and nice to meet you too Rex!

Rex: Quetz huh...?

Rex: wait a minute, if you're real then, how come we don't hear about you and the rest of the pantheon anymore?

Quetz: because humanity no longer needs gods. So we shut ourselves away. The only interaction anymore is once a human goes to the afterlife.

Rex: oh... I mean, I'm not one to question the choices of gods but... sometimes it feels like we could still use a bit of help...

Quetz: I agree actually, but we aren't supposed to interfere anymore. The only reason I can now, is because it seems others have decided to interfere themselves.

Rex: ah... explains the... birds.

Quetz: right, I need to find out whose involved and put a stop to it, then return.

Rex: oh... how do you plan on doing that?

Quetz: well... I planned to blend in with humanity for the most part, until I can find whoever is responsible.

Rex: oh! OK.

Quetz: um... but I'll need some help doing that... I don't exactly have access to normal human things...

Rex: I can lend a hand...

Quetz: oh really?! I mean, I don't want to impose.

Rex: I insist, you literally saved my life. And you're a literal goddess! It'd feel wrong not to help!

Quetz: gracias! That's so nice!

Rex: of course!

Eventually the two leave for Rex's current living space on the island.

Rex: make yourself at home! It's not much but it'll do...

Quetz: oh... it's not so bad.

Rex: gracias! So... any idea how you're going to start looking for whoever caused those... things to show up?

Quetz: well... the only surefire way is to look out for other signs of divinity. Creatures such as those are a pretty good sign. But I'm note sure where else they'll show up...

Rex: there's also the fact that you can't just bust in and kick their asses like that so easily. It was whatever last time because there were no witnesses other then me but... it'll be crazy to see a woman just... do those things!

Quetz: that's a good point... how do I handle that?

Rex wasn't sure, but then he looked over at a shelf of books nearby, and inspiration struck!

Rex: hold on

Quetz: ok...

Rex went over to the shelf and picked up a comic book, then showed it to the goddess.

Rex: you could be a superhero!

Quetz: eh...? Ques eso?

Rex: these heroes with amazing abilities and colorful costumes! They protect people for good and righteousness and such!

Quetz: oh! That'd be amazing! That's exactly why I'm here so it fits!

Rex: yeah! But we need to make a costume...

Quetz: hmmm...

Rex: oh! I know, back to our homeland! Kinda...

Quetz: eh?

Rex: it's been a while for you, but the people of Mexico have invented a new type of fighting style called lucha libre, it fits the superhero image perfectly! They wear masks, and perform bombastic moves that look like flight! It'd fit you perfectly!

Quetz: wow! That sounds increíble!

Rex: then let's make you a lucha hero!

After an extensive montage of gathering the materials, learning the moves, and practicing a bit, Quetzalcoatl was ready to be a lucha themed superhero! She wore a red leotard, with red boots and gloves, green cape, and a red and gold lucha mask!

Quetz: wow! With this, I feel like a new me!

She said this with much excitement as she floated off the ground.

Rex: I'll say! It's incredible!

She zipped towards Rex, grabbing him by the shoulders, with a grateful look on her face.

Quetz: thank you so much Rex! You've been a big help!

Then without thinking she kissed him as thanks. After she finished tho, she realized what she did and the two got embarrassed.

Quetz: ah... sorry about that...

Rex: no it's... fine... kinda nice actually.

Quetz: really? Well... gracias...

The two stood together awkwardly, before an emergency broadcast was heard on the radio!

Radio: emergency alert! Emergency alert! There seems to be a huge whirlpool in the middle of a highly trafficked fishing spot in the sea, and it appears a large monster is at the center!

Rex: looks like it's time for your debut!

Quetz: looks like it! Let's go!

Then Quetz picked Rex up, ready to take him to the location.

Rex: uh...

Then boom! They were gone!

Meanwhile, in a secret underwater base, a shady old man is discussing his plans with an unseen partner.

Old man: charybdis has been unleashed master, just as you requested.

Master?: excellent! These foolish humans have gone long enough without us gods. soon, with enough sacrifices, I'll regain my full power then they'll see!

Old man: and you shall grant me great power in return for assisting you, right master?

Master?: of course! I always make good on my promises! Just do not screw things up!

Old man: of course not! I am an unparalleled genius! I shall make no mistakes!

Master?: see to it that you don't! Or there will be consequences!

A/N: so! Finally the first part of the movie event rewrite! Took too long, and the event's long since over but here we are! Hopefully I'll finish it off in one more part, but I'm fine with 3 parts! Hope you guys like the story!

Tags

@hasspartacusdoneanythingwrong @haspaulbunyandoneanythingwrong @hasishtardoneanythingwrong @hasereshdoneanythingwrong @grievouslyxorvia @exmeowstic @renmeo @kazosaurus

[youwerenevermeanttofeelalone]

Join Me | Victor Von Doom

Pairing: Victor Von Doom x Plus Size Reader (she/her)

Word Count: 2k

Request: may I please request some NSFW with comic!doctor doom and a short plus size reader who is very sweet and motherly and she dotes on him and loves him deeply. But she is sometimes very self-conscious about her body and the fact that he is so much smarter than her and she is afraid he'd get bored of her someday?

Warnings: nsfw, light angst, reader is a little insecure and Victor kinda doesn’t understand why, smut, fingering, unprotected sex (please, don’t do this), vaginal sex, fluff

❖︎・・・・・❖︎・・・・・❖︎・・・・・❖︎

Surrounded by open books and with a notebook resting on your lap, you found yourself enjoying the breeze of the night. You had the balcony all to yourself, your only company was the whooshing of the trees and the stridulating from the crickets.

The setup was comfortable, you had gotten used to doing homework outside. It helped you work quicker and understand clearer, to be the most efficient you had ever been — at least academically.

Flexing your left leg under your extended right one, you leaned over to take notes that would be helpful for your upcoming exam. You would be lying if you said you weren’t nervous, but making Victor proud was more important.

You weren’t at his level, a part of you was sure you would never be. Trying your hardest was your only option to not feel as though you were a burden. There wasn’t a thing Victor didn’t excel at — there was nothing about him anyone would qualify as a flaw, much less yourself.

The light of your eyes and compass of your life he had been since the day you met him. An enticing enigma you couldn’t help but wish to unravel. You thought yourself to be dreaming when he confessed his desires to court you, how a man as regal and powerful as him would ever grow interested in someone like you was a mystery you weren’t interested in solving when he made you so happy.

That was the main reason why you wanted him to be proud, to comfortably take care of his worries and businesses with the certainty you were as prepared to be whatever he needed you to be.

Steps behind you prompted you to close the notebook. You stacked it on top of the books and pushed yourself upward to stand up as the sound of metal clanking filled your ears.

Placing the books and pencil case on the desk near the French doors, you approached Victor. “Let me help you.”

He ceased his movements, standing still before you. He, however, briefly focused his attention on the books you had been lost in. “Are the professors overwhelming you with homework?”

You shook your head, standing on your tiptoes to unclasp the chest piece of his armor. “How was your day?”

Victor complained about the inanity of the American government’s existence as you placed the armor in its place, piece by piece just the way he liked. You were used to it, they weren’t as efficient as him. And even if they were, he hated them, it had never been a secret and no one could blame him — as complicated as Victor was, he had always been clear in his convictions.

He sat on the edge of the bed, watching you as though you would escape if he didn’t keep an eye on you. He had been doing the same for the past two weeks which only made you feel more nervous.

“You’re busy all the time,” he observed.

Not sure how to take the comment, you handed him a pajama and changed the topic. “Do you want me to run you a bath?”

Victor frowned. His patience was wearing thin, every night you avoided his worries and instead focused on whatever he could need. Victor loved the attention, your love and care had filled a hole in him and made him find a side of him he had only seen while around little Valeria; but he wanted to give you the same, to have a normal conversation with you like at the beginning of your relationship.

Had he done something wrong? Was life in Doomstadt so boring you preferred focusing on getting a second degree?

“Are you leaving me?” He blurted upon seeing you come back from the bathroom.

You frowned. “Of course not. Come, the water is just the way you like it.”

Not taking his eyes off you, he stood. Offering his hand for you to take it, he stared so hard he ceased blinking. Your hesitation made him swallow harshly, your touch eased off the string of doubts and inquires simmering up his throat as the fear of being abandoned once again bubbled up.

His slow steps prompted you to check his body a third time in search of fresh injuries. You didn’t find any. He must have been tired, poor thing.

“Join me.” It wasn’t an invitation but a command.

A silent nod was your only reaction. Dropping his hand in order to get rid of your clothes, you heard him sigh. A splash then filled your ears — you almost giggled, you would have if the air between you wasn’t so tense.

His eyes were heavy on you, so deep you swore their warmth had been replaced by darkness. Steading yourself against the edges of the tub as you sunk into the water, you fully faced him.

Victor rested his cheek on his hand. He inhaled sharply, “I am aware of my failings as a partner, yet I foolishly assumed our relationship was salvable...”

Dropping your gaze, you bit your bottom lip. For a while now you had seen such words coming. You couldn’t fathom why he would ask if you would leave him when he was the one considering it.

“Could you please not dump me while I’m naked in the same bathtub as you?” you pleaded for your dignity.

“I am not dumping you, as you say.”

“Perhaps you should.” You didn’t mean it, but truth to be told, the weight of everyone’s —including your own— expectations were getting too heavy to carry. There were many people who would be better than you at loving him, at ruling Latveria beside him,

“I don’t understand what is it that you want,” he admitted.

You swirled the warm water with your finger, letting the bubbles brush your skin as the water ever so slightly rippled.

Victor took your silence as a sign of indifference. “In fact,” he continued, “I don’t understand how you can be so caring toward me and then...”

“It’s not your fault,” you assured him in a whisper. “I am the problem.”

He scoffed. “How cliché of you.”

“Well, how insensitive of you!” you countered, setting your jaw when you felt him move. “I am honestly telling you there’s nothing wrong with you, or my affections toward you, or... I don’t know, anything that isn’t me, but you have to take it personally because you’re so perfect you can’t understand m—“

“(Y/N),” his voice changed, the cold tone went out of the window then, “breathe, love.”

You breathed in, nodding. His hands found yours underwater just as you were opening your mouth to continue explaining yourself. Victor squeezed them in an attempt to keep you from getting more overwhelmed.

“I’m not good enough,” you confessed, “not always.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” He leaned over, dropping one of your hands to place his palm on your thigh. You tensed under his touch, making him tilt his head.

“I’m not smart like you, I can’t solve problems...” you bit your bottom lip, avoiding his eyes in attempts of keeping your tears at bay.

“Of course you can solve problems, simply not in the same way I do. You are sweet and kind. Everyone here loves you, my dear,” Victor slid his hand to your waist, fingers brushing your soft stomach in their way upward. Pulling you toward him, he rested his back against the tub again.

You carefully placed your hand on his shoulder. Splashing water as you fit yourself on his lap, you finally stared at him to asses what he wanted.

“You’ve made me a better ruler and a better man,” he fervently spoke, “I wouldn’t trade you for the universe.”

He had been a God and found it beneath him, but you? Oh, you were his equal, his queen, everything he had ever dreamed and so much more. Happiness hadn’t been in his vocabulary until he started courting you, now the world looked brighter with you by his side — worth saving instead of merely conquering.

“I’m afraid you’ll get tired of me,” you lamented, “find someone prettier, more attractive...”

“Such a person doesn’t exist, not in my eyes.”

“Bu—“ your words died in your throat, this time because Victor grew impatient and slammed his lips onto yours.

Kissing him back, you allowed your eyes to flutter closed. Your hand moved to his cheek where your thumb gently brushed circles around the tender scars under your fingertips.

His grip tightened on your waist. Victor deepened the kiss by prying your mouth open, relishing on your soft sighs as your body relaxed. One of his hands slipped down to your thigh, caressing it softly as you parted from his lips to get some air.

“You’re so beautiful,” he whispered, inching his hand closer to your pussy. His hand stopped at your mount. “Is this okay?”

Taking a shuddering breath, you nodded. Reaching your clit, he circled it gently with his thumb — pleasure ran through you and your head dropped onto his shoulder. Hiding your face in the crook of his neck, you mouthed at his skin as he gradually moved his thumb faster and applied more pressure.

A moan slipped out of your throat, making him smile as the hand on his chest traveled downward. You started stroking his cock when he slipped two fingers inside you. Whimpering his name, you gripped the base of his cock a little too tight which prompted him to whimper too.

As he felt your walls tighten around his fingers, Victor withdrew them. You groaned in annoyance, thinking it was one of his teasing games. On the contrary, he thrust up in your hand so you would get the hint.

His cock brushed your folds once you took your hand off it. Biting your lip, you lifted your head from his shoulder to look at him. He gave you a hungry look through his eyelashes and you couldn’t believe you had doubted his attraction toward you as his eyes then roamed down your torso.

Impatiently, Victor took you by the hips. Letting out a giggle, you placed both hands on his shoulders and eased yourself onto his cock. His threw his head back, humming in pleasure as you took your time.

The position wasn’t new to you, but the place was. You weren’t sure as to how to move so the water wouldn’t overflow. Asking would probably ruin the mood so you risked it and tentatively moved your hips.

The slow movements were nice, a difference from how sex was usually with Victor. You liked both equally, this one was simply more exciting because of its novelty. He seemed to think the same, at least that was what his expression told you as he uncharacteristically let you do whatever you wanted.

He grew bored of just watching and take it, though. One of his hands ran up your torso to your chest. He kneaded your breast, breath getting harsh as your hands went back to his neck where you this time gripped for more leverage. Thrusting up to meet your movements, Victor kissed his way up from your chest to your neck and then your mouth.

Your moans got louder when he hammered into you harder. The splashing water was the least of your worries, you were lost in the pleasure as now his hands roamed your body, and his mouth sucked on your nipples.

You released a long whimper when he started continuously hitting your spot. He took it as encouragement and quickened his movements. It didn’t take long for you to come undone, him following just behind in slow yet deep thrusts. You clung to him, breath unsteady and head buzzing with the intensity of your orgasm. Victor continued kissing your neck and face, breathing on your skin through his nose.

“The water isn’t warm anymore,” you told him, annoyed by the fact his warm bath had been ruined.

Grunting, he gently pulled you off his lap. “It doesn’t matter. Let’s take a shower and go to bed.”

You moved slowly, more tired than you anticipated. The shower was a blur, you didn’t recall which pajama you had put on or if you had dried your hair or not. It didn’t matter either, you were in bed with the man you loved, clung to his torso as your head rested on his stomach and his arms around you.

[yourkeeperoftherunners]

6/3: Working From Home (Shark Hybrid!Jimin)

Rating: G

Characters: Shark Hybrid!Jimin x Reader (any gender)

Notes: Day 3 of my birthday surprise series. This is part of the Misunderstood Hybrid headcanons I wrote for BTS a while back. Please note that working from home can refer to anyone who does this and it does not specifically reference the current events. I got the idea to write short blurbs after seeing some comical pictures and moments in video conference calls of pets “helping” their owners work. All content is fictional. Please do not repost anywhere!

                                                   ————–

“Jimin, Jimin wake up.”

The shark hybrid turned in his sleep under the water’s surface, thinking he was dreaming.

“Wake up my little merman,” you tried, knowing that he wasn’t a fan of the nickname.

He scrunched his nose and pried an eye open underwater. He looked up at you and slowly emerged to the surface. You stepped back to avoid getting splashed on and he rested his arms on the deck of the pool.

“Y/N, I said I didn’t like that nickname!” he whined. He tilted his head and jutted his lower lip out.

You knelt down and reached out to touch his face with an apologetic look. At first he pretended to be disinterested, closing his eyes and trying to turn his head away from your hand.

“Hey sleepyhead, I’m sorry for the rude awakening,” you apologized, “but wanted to let you know that my boss is having me work from home today. I’ll probably be in the office most of the day, but if you need me, you can knock and ask.”

Jimin snapped his head forward and his eyes went wide, lips parting slightly.

“Wait, did you just say...you’re staying here today?” he asked.

“Yeah, it’s a new thing – see my boss wants to try to have all us do one or two days of working from home to see if it increases productivity,” you explained. “I will have to focus on work though, but you won’t be alone this time. We can probably have lunch together.”

A huge smile spread across Jimin’s face and he threw his arms up to the sky. “I don’t have to beg! Yay!” He rested his hands on the deck again and asked if you would have breakfast with him.

You leaned down and planted a kiss on his cheek.

“Of course.”

                                                  ————–

Breakfast went by too fast and Jimin found it hard to not whine and pout as you started to make your way to the office.

“I know you said you have to work, but can’t you do it outside?” he protested, reaching for your hand.

“Chim, they didn’t give me a laptop,” you sighed.

He gave you a baffled look and you quickly explained it was a wireless version of the computer you had in the office. “It does the same functions, only it can be used without a cord plugged into the wall for a certain amount of time,” you said.

He frowned and asked why the company didn’t give you one. “My jagi is important and should have one!”

You sighed and slowly slipped your hand out of his. “I know, they should have given me one, but they haven’t yet. I’m not far – you can check on me in the office if you want.” You stood up and waved, before slipping through the sliding doors and walking to the office. You closed the door behind you and Jimin sighed as he cupped his chin in his hand.

                                                  ————–

For while Jimin kept himself busy with swimming a few laps in the pool, always taking a break to see if you would emerge from the office. When you did come out to get more coffee, he tried to do an underwater handstand to get your attention. It did work, for you came outside with a smile on your face and asked what he was doing.

He almost fell out of the handstand when he heard your voice and had to carefully balance himself again, then turn himself around to swim up to the surface. The moment was brief and soon you were headed back inside to work.

He didn’t know what time it was, but he decided he was bored swimming around in the pool trying to entertain himself. He placed his hands flat on the pool deck and pushed himself up out of the water. His tail began to change into two legs and he slowly sat down on the deck. He waited a few moments before pushing himself up onto his feet and tried to get used to the sensation of using human legs and feet.

This wasn’t the first time he tried to stand and walk like a human, but it took time getting used to the sensation every time he got out of the pool. Slowly, he walked toward the sliding doors and used the handle to tug it to the left. He stepped inside and looked around for a towel to dry off with. His eyes fell on the one in the kitchen for the dishes that you put out this morning and he decided it would do for now.

He walked toward the kitchen, trying not to slip on the floors as he went around the counter and grasped the towel. He gently tugged it off the handle of the oven and used it to dry his hair and body with it. Eventually the water soaked up the dry areas of the towel and he dug around in the drawers where you kept the clean ones for another one.

“Jimin, do you want a regular towel?” you asked as you emerged from the office for lunch.

He jumped and the drawer slammed loudly, making him jump away from the drawer. The towel he used was draped over his shoulders and you giggled at his reaction to surprising you.

“Jagi! You scared me!” he whined.

You held up a finger before running to your bathroom to retrieve a proper towel for him. You returned and held it out to him.

“I guess I need to leave a regular towel outside or by the door next time,” you mused as you watched him dry off. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you, but I didn’t know you were going to get up and walk to the kitchen. Were you hungry too?”

Jimin paused from drying himself off and he confessed he didn’t leave because of food. “I got bored swimming around and thought it would be nice to practice walking. But I couldn’t find a towel and I remembered Y/N put this one out today, so...”

You laughed as you held a hand out for the dishtowel. He started to hand back the bath towel and you shook your head.

“No silly, this one!” you explained as you yanked the dishtowel off his shoulders. “Let me throw that in the washing machine and you and I can do lunch now.”

Jimin beamed and quickly secured the bath towel around his waist.

“I can’t wait!”

[natashasbanner]

Late Night Bubble Baths

After a long day at work, Macy is in desperate need of a long bubble bath. But this time she invites Harry to join her. (M Rated)

A/N: When I started this I only had the idea of them sharing a bubble bath together but it took on a mind of its own. I hope you all enjoy :) 

(I'm playing it safe with the rating cause it does get a little spicy toward the end.)

Also on AO3

X

Macy had had a long day. A really long day. When she finally made it back to the house it was already dark outside and her muscles ached with every step it took to get to the front door. The house was quiet when she walked inside and closed the door. 

“Macy?” Maggie’s voice drifted from the living room. 

Macy peeked around the corner and saw her curled up in the corner of the couch, the glow from her phone illuminating her face. 

“You’re home late,” Maggie said, her eyes dropping back to her screen. 

“Long day at the lab,” Macy said tiredly, leaning against the archway into the living room. 

Maggie’s face scrunched up in distaste. “Harry made dinner,” she said gesturing toward the kitchen. “There’s a plate for you in the fridge.” 

Macy smiled. “Thanks.” 

“No problem,” Maggie said and went back to scrolling on her phone. 

Macy pushed off of the wall and headed for the stairs. She yawned as she shuffled down the hall to her room, but smiled softly when she saw the light on inside. The door creaked when she pushed it open and she paused a moment in the doorway to take in the sight before her. 

Harry sat on her bad, leaned against the headboard with a book open in his lap. His brow was furrowed in concentration but other than that he was the picture of relaxed. It was so rare in their lives fighting demons and protecting the innocent that moments like this were few and far between. Macy wanted to soak it in as much as she could. 

“Well are you just going to stand there all night?” he asked, his eyes still on his book, but Macy could see the smile tugging at his lips. 

Macy chuckled and walked over to the bed. She sank onto the footlocker at the foot of the bed and shrugged out of her jacket. She kicked off her shoes and heard Harry close his book behind her. 

“How was your day?” he asked. 

Macy let out a long sigh and scrubbed her hands down her face. 

“Tedious,” she decided on. “Lots of paperwork.” 

She stood from the footlocker and crawled up the end of the bed to lay her head in his lap. His hand immediately fell on her back, rubbing small circles between her shoulder blades. Macy hummed softly and closed her eyes, letting the soothing motion ease some of the tension in her body. 

“I’m sorry,” he said sympathetically. 

“Not everything can be exciting all the time,” she muttered, reaching blindly for his other hand, intertwining their fingers when she finally found it. 

“What can I do?” 

Macy hummed again and shook her head. “This is nice.” 

“There’s dinner for you in the fridge.” 

“I know,” she said and cracked one eye open to peek up at him. “Maggie told me.” 

He smiled down at her fondly. “Were you just planning on falling asleep on my leg?” 

She shook her head and closed her eye again. “No, I’m getting up.” 

He chuckled, but his hand remained on her back. She laid there a few minutes longer before reluctantly pushing herself up into an upright position. His smile when she met his eyes was so fond that she was helpless to return it. 

“Hi.” 

He tilted his head, biting his bottom lip. “Hi.” 

“I need a bubble bath.” 

He nodded and brought a hand up to run a thumb over her cheek bone. “Take as long as you need. I can have your dinner warmed when you’re finished.” 

Macy smiled. “Thank you.” 

Harry ran his thumb along her bottom lip and leaned in for a chaste kiss. He dropped his hand and patted her thigh, nodding toward the door. “Go, enjoy your bath.” 

She scooted off the bed and grabbed her robe from the back of her door before going to the bathroom. She stripped out of her work clothes, leaving them in pile by the door as she slipped into her robe. That act alone was enough to soothe some of the weariness in her bones. 

While the tub filled, up she lit a few candles and queued up her playlist of classical music. When the tub was filled, she slid into the scalding water with a content sigh and hit play on her phone. She sank down in the tub until the water was up to her chin and closed her eyes, letting the soft music and warm water slowly release the rest of the tension she’d been holding in her body. 

Her playlist started over, which normally signaled the end of her bath, but Macy couldn’t bring herself to get out of the tub. She just sank deeper into the bubbles that were beginning to disappear and soaked. 

“Macy?” It was Harry’s voice that finally broke into her relaxed reverie, followed by a quiet knock. 

Macy sat up and pulled the shower curtain back. 

“You can come in,” she called, resting her chin on the side of the tub. 

“I don’t mean to disturb you, but it’s been almost an hour,” he said cracking the door and peeking his head inside. 

“And you were concerned?” she guessed with a knowing smile. 

“Maybe a little.” 

“If you’re so concerned, you could always join me.” 

His eyes widened almost comically, but he shook his head. “I wouldn’t want to impose. This is your space.” 

“A space I’m inviting you into,” she pointed out, raising her eyebrows. “If you want.” 

“Okay.” 

He nodded and stepped completely into the bathroom. “But only if you’re sure.” 

“Harry, I’m sure, get in the tub.” 

Chuckling, he ran a hand through his hair before he started unbuttoning his dress shirt. He let it drop from his shoulders to join the pile of her clothes already on the floor. His hands moved to his belt buckle and Macy leaned back against the tub. His lips twitched when he noticed her watching him and slid his pants down so painfully slow that Macy wanted to throw something at him. 

He smirked at her frustrated sigh and let his pants fall with a thump against the tile floor. Macy pulled her knees up to her chest as he stepped into the tub and sat opposite her in the water.  

“How on earth is the water still warm?” He asked, leaning back beside the faucet. 

Macy just shrugged, stretching her legs back out beside him. 

“So,” he said after a long stretch of silence. “Aside from sitting in scalding water, what is it you do in these late night bubble baths.”  

“I listen to music and try to relax,” she answered, closing her eyes again. “Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, but it’s comforting either way.” 

“Very well then.” 

He shifted a little, water sloshing against the sides of the tub. Macy cracked an eye open and saw him awkwardly trying to find a comfortable position next to the faucet. She chuckled and closed her eye again. 

“What’s so funny?” He asked, tapping her hip with the side of his foot underwater. 

“You,” Macy answered, her eyes still closed. 

“I’m just trying to understand your safe space since you’ve so graciously invited me in,” he said. “For the first time, I might add.” 

“Usually, I prefer the quiet,” she told him with a smirk as she opened her eyes again. 

He flicked water at her, his eyes narrowed challengingly. 

“But I’m willing to make an exception for you. Or at least I was.” She splashed water at him in retaliation. 

“In that case, I surrender,” he said, holding his hands up above the water. “This is quite nice by the way.” 

Her smile softened. “I know.” 

They fell into silence again. Macy watched him, still squirming around, the water rippling against her chest. 

“You’re kind of ruining the relaxation part,” she said, tapping her foot against his hip the way he had hers. 

“I don’t mean to, it’s just the drain is digging into my thigh.” 

She couldn’t help but laugh at that. “Why didn’t you say something?” 

“This is your space,” he said. “I didn’t want to seem ungrateful.” 

Macy shook her head as she sat up, pulling her knees to her chest again, reaching for his hands. He held onto her fingers and she tugged him forward, pulling until he sat in the middle of the tub. 

“Better?” 

“Much,” he answered with a nod. 

He let go of her fingers and ran his hands down her forearms, holding onto her elbows to pull her closer to him. It took a moment to situate their legs in a way that wasn’t uncomfortable or awkward for one or both of them. Macy ended up in his lap, his legs stretched out, knees bent slightly. She slid her arms around his neck while his dropped to her hips. 

She sighed as he left a trail of open mouthed kisses along her collar bone. She felt his lips curve into a smile before he softly nipped at her shoulder. Macy tilted her head back, biting her lip as he dragged his nose up the length of her neck, stopping with a kiss to the underside of her jaw. 

“The water’s getting cold,” he whispered. 

“Let it,” she said, rolling her head forward to drop on his shoulder. “Don’t stop.” 

He let out a breathy chuckle. “Wouldn’t dream of it.” 

She kissed his shoulder as his hands moved up her back, his fingers dancing up her spine. She shivered under his feather light touch and leaned back to meet his eyes. He brought his hands up to cup her jaw, the pad of his thumb lightly stroking her bottom lip. 

Macy grinned and leaned in to kiss him, their mouths meeting in a desperate clash of teeth and tongues. One of his hands drifted down to cup her breast and she moaned softly into his mouth. His hand started moving lower, but a swift knock on the door left them both frozen where they sat. 

“Macy?” It was Mel. 

Harry chuckled and Macy slipped a hand over his mouth with a pointed glare. 

“Yes?” she called out, cursing the high pitched ring in her voice. 

“Are you almost done in there.” 

“Give me a minute and it’s all yours,” she promised, looking back at Harry, unable to hide her disappointed pout. 

“Thanks,” Mel said and Macy waited until she heard her door close down the hall to take her hand off of Harry’s mouth. 

“This isn’t over.” 

Harry gave her hip a squeeze, still grinning up at her. “Not by a long shot.” 

He pressed a quick kiss to her lips and orbed out of the tub, leaving her to flop gracelessly back into the cool water. She blew out an irritated huff before pulling to stopper from the drain and climbing out of the tub. She made quick work of gathering everything that was hers or Harry’s from the bathroom and hurried to her room. 

Harry was waiting for her, towel hanging loosely from his hips as he stood at the foot of her bed. 

He grinned and crossed the room to her, cupping her face in his hands like he had in the tub. Macy dropped the clothes in her hands and pulled him closer, their bodies flush against each other. 

“Where were we?” he mused with a soft chuckle, capturing her lips once more. 

Macy made sure the door was locked behind her before backing him toward the bed.

[gammija]

The Hollow review/summary/rant/explanation of why i hate the ending I wasn’t sure whether I should post this, but I did enjoy reading others experiences watching this show, so here’s mine under the cut. Edited from a convo with a friend.

(Obviously, spoilers!)

Me: Okay so to properly express my disappointment i gotta take you through the major beats

The show starts with three teens waking up in an almost empty room, finding out they all have amnesia. They quickly solve a puzzle to escape the room, and just as quickly Adam and Mira realize they have superpowers (superstrength/agility and some weird 'speak to animals/know all languages' hybrid, respectively. also she can breathe underwater and swim really fast. its kind of vague)

Kai is already clearly a comic relief, discount Ron (from HP, the movies, no idea about the books) so me and sister correctly predict he'll get jealous of adam and miras relationship (even if there is none), gets pissy and jealous that he has no powers, but then finds out he has powers anyway he does, hes a fire bender. cant say im not bitter about that cause id put my money on invulnerability but eh its alright he has red hair after all hes still fun

Friend: Of course he is

I just feel bad is all aldjs

Me: adam gets a throwaway line of 'maybe were dead' and kai never lets it go

this food might be poisoned but im starving and hey were dead anyway! right, adam

Friend: I love him??

Me: i loved him as soon as he spoke his first dumb words also he puns but basically hes the only interesting char; adam and mira are just cookie cutter 'male lead 1' and 'female lead 1' i mean, he’s cookie cutter ‘jealous 3rd wheel’ but that has more going on than the first two still servicable though

anyway so the jokes are sometimes fun, and superpowers are always my jam. but the REAL reason to keep watching is just, whats going on? ARE they dead? or in some kind of weird gvnmt experiment? some weird magical vampire guide (dont ask) hints they wanted this themselves ooh, intrigue. and the world is very very quirky they start in a gravity falls-y woods and then get teleported to a desert with minotaurs and witches, then get invited for tea by the Grim Reaper and the rest of the 4 horsemen of the apocalypse

tbh Grim is the best part of the show but thats neither here nor there

anyway they have a magic map that updates once theyve been somewhere, and it shows them that the hot dry desert and the swampy wood bunker are like right next to each other

so you start thinking, how are they gonna explain that? this is too weird to be handwaved away. theyve gotta be going somewhere

they visit some other exotic locals, like what appears to be the set of Alien (complete with alien) and an abandoned old fair and a floating island with japanese inspired evildoers on it

the weird magic guide keeps showing up and being vague, dropping hints that there are other kids there etc

at some point Mira says "This is no time for games!" Weirdy: "Thats where youd be wrong~" me and sister: Aha! videogame! that connects all the dots, and also makes the tropes clear: small world with all kinds of different areas, quests, fights, superpowers, an updating map, fast travel Adam, a few eps later: guis i think we might be in a videogame me and sister: [high five]

Anyway in the meantime also the second predictable Kai (discount Ron) plot happens: they meet three other kids (boy boy girl) and they act shady but the girl takes an immediate and obvious interest in Kai so obviously theyre gonna manipulate him and have him betray his friends but in the end he'll see through their facade and kick their ass that more or less happens. The other teens also confirm that this is a game, and theyre trying to win. winning is done by bringing the MacGuffin to a tree fights over macguffin ensue situations are dire but our characters persevere

(also Mira kisses Adam and he acts very weird about it, almost as if hes gay and the only reason they didnt make it canon is censors) (no lingering gaze, just him going 'hehe yeah no thanks, its not you, its me', but in a very... he doesnt seem to be saying it with shall we say burning desire in his soul. hes literally just like 'eh youre a good friend.' Cool move, cartoon that made the two main boys have arguments over nothing cause of course the two main guys have constant dick measuring matches)

this all is not the offensive part btw it was all fun and games, its just a flash cartoon i wasnt expecting Shakespeare

anyway so theyre in a videogame, and apparently thats the answer to all the weirdness. A bit of a cop-out, cause thats a very easy answer, but eh, it works. it wasnt immediately obvious.

also something i hadnt mentioned yet: thisd be ideal for making (self-insert) OCs. Unique powers for each person, there are clearly more characters than shown, the world is your playground

and maybe the video game thing could be interesting on its own in the last few eps the game seems to be glitching out a lot they say its breaking apart so they really gotta hurry now maybe they were beta testers for a vr game gone wrong maybe this is part of it but its like a huge experience that you tell all your friends about anyway there are ways it could be cool, could be expanded to a season 2 despite having solved the mystery

but. last episode. our heroes get the MacGuffin, go to a final stage, and fight the Boss Battle (its a dragon). they enter the Castle....

...and the screen zooms out, into a sudden live action stage, where we see the cartoon (literally what you were just watching) on screen. there are 6 chairs, 3 with our heroes, 3 with the other teens, presumably. theres a host and hes dressed exactly like the weird guy (and that was already kind of a clashy outfit in the cartoon). it was all just a game show. but. the worst part is the live action

you. dont. go. from. animated. to. live. action.

other way around? fine, can work. But now? WHY itd still be dumb and dissapointing but if itd been animated too itd at least have been.... nice to look at but the acting.. oh god they didnt even say anything and it was all wrong clearly theyd just picked the first random teens that vaguely looked like the chars and put them in there cause they had no lines so who needs acting?!

the enemy teams girl had, in the cartoon, pink hair. Purple with pink highlights instead of stylizing that into something more realistic or painting the actual hair, they gave some 30-year old woman a wig and called it a day

keep in mind i binged this show in one go

purposely stayed up late to watch the last ep with my sis even tho we shouldve gone to bed and were disobeying our dad cause we Had to Know

and theres more i said they had no lines but i was lying. Kai did have a line. well, his voice actor did they dubbed him also the line was about him having to pee which is already not the most hilarious in animated version but a live action kid whose supposed to be this character you spent 3 hours with but looks nothing like him saying that in a voice that doesnt belong to his throat, as he stands bashfully in front of a live audience, the only words spoken by your main characters in the last moments...

*its actual hell*

oh oh one more thing at the end the six kids stand in a line and kai is next to other girl they glance at each other and as the eyes of this teen and 30 year old in wig cross, her eye glitches for a moment

dun dun duuun

bUT i dont care anymore, The Hollow. You overestimated your own premise. this wont be forgiven. your most interesting part was the mystery, and the answer  to that was "just a normal game show" (which also doesnt make sense on another level smh) soo if you think that im interested in what these two-dimensional (ha) characters will do now about the glitch in the eye of a bitch then i have news for u

i dont

...if they get a second season ill probably check it out though as long as its animated

Friend: Gammi I'm getting the real sinking suspicious feeling that what you saw isn't the real end but bad on purpose because there's more to it

Me: the show didnt seem good enough to be bad on purpose

and yet im still not done, if youll still hear me out

i mean, im an animation fan so ill still watch but if theyd wanted to be bad on purpose they really shouldve done a better job fleshing out the characters thats what people come back for that was a bit of a sidetrack BUT so i said why the live action itself was just terrible in overal quality

but the resolution that 'oh it was all in a game show' doesnt work on multiple levels

first of all, they show a short flashback of "About 5 hours earlier". The kids stand on the stage and are instructed to take their seats in the vr-chairs, and pick their superpower

2 things i dislike about that

1) there goes all the self-insert/oc potential. they werent teens in over their heads, they werent gvnmt experiments, or just some kids who wanted to play a game -they were in it to win it, from the start. thats very specific and not the most appealing to all kinds of characters (goodbye, all the 'im just an average girl whod never step into the spotlight like that' characters).

Also, all the expansion on lore is gone. maybe there were other games simultaneously? eh, maybe, but theyd be all gameshows. Maybe someone ended uo trapped there for way longer? nah its just a gameshow theyre not gonna let anything actually bad happen. Maybe there are other worlds, other areas, other weird creatures? unlikely, they finished the map and familiarity seemed to be a thing for the audience. Now every new idea has to be put not through a 'whats interesting for a player' but a 'whats interesting for a viewer' lens, and whats a selfinsert if not a player in another universe

2) HOW IS THIS A SUCCESSFUL GAME SHOW

who the hell watches a game show for 5 consecutive hours, some of which mustve been just them walking. also, we zoom out of the screen were watching, so implication is that everything up until then has been what the audience has seen. but... we only followed the one team. there were two? why didnt the audience want to see what they were up to? ~reality tv usually thrives on showinf the worst assholes so realistically they wouldve been the focus~

There are also way too many times *both* teams couldve failed, from early on till late in the game. Not a single game i can think of thats played for an audience is set up like that, and especially not a televised one (okay tbf idk if this was televised, i dont remember if i saw cameras, but. it mustve. monetary reasons.)

What r u gonna do if they all 'died' from the monsters in the first ep? Call it a day? boring for the audience. let them restart from scratch? boring for the audience. the existence of an audience messes with everything

AND THEN ANOTHER THING what do you mean, "5 hours ago?" you never get a time stamp to show how long theyve been in there but there are some cuts, when they travel and such. The actual show is a lil over 3 hours runtime. You mean to tell me you sat through 2 hours of the characters just walking?

okay last thing. so. they were clearly second season teasing with the glitching eye thing. i already said this but. theres nowhere to go from here that isnt worse that the first season. your mystery is dead. you clearly know your live action teens cant act so youd have to go back into the game - but why would they do that? how would that be in any way interesting? you explored all there was to explore.

The other, more out there option, is that as you said the 'real world' was a fake-out and theyre still in a game. but. how would- how would you even make that remotely convincing? if youd just left the 'real world' gameshow as animated too this wouldnt have been a problem. but there is absolutely no conceivable reason to justify, in universe, why another meta-level up is 2D animation again unless they were in a game, in a game, in a game. and thats just dumb. yall aint inception

Friend: HONESTLY if they just kept the whole deal animated it'd probably be okay. Not good, but better,

Me: ye me and my sister came to the same conclusion

i couldve lived with that. at least, i couldve just acknowledged the finales existence but chose to ignore it. now however im full phantom planet levels of denial. in fact i dont even know how the show ended anymore, suddenly

Friend: what finale? what show?

Me: also at least now we know why its called The Hollow

it leaves you feeling empty inside

[sowk-fic-archive]

SOWK ch.25/35

Summary:

Oh, how the tables can turn...

Chapter 25 : honnêteté

Matthew slowly blinked into consciousness, his sluggish mind trying to work out why something was different. He tried to shift the duvet away from his eyes, to allow him to judge the time by the amount of light in the room, but something was keeping him in place. He looked down his body, trying to work out why the duvet felt so soft against his skin. Suddenly, he realised three things: he had slept naked, and a pair of arms were tightly wrapped around his waist. Thirdly, and most importantly, he realised he was happy. Dominic’s breaths were light and quiet against the back of his neck. He lay still, his eyes open but his mind a world away from the silent darkness of the temples. Every detail of the previous night was foreign and familiar at the same time: the feeling of Dominic inside him, pleasure spreading across every inch of his body, and the unforgettable explosion of emotion that had filled him as he voiced the declaration he had waited his whole life to give. I love you. Matthew loved someone, truly and completely, in a way that he had never understood before. Suddenly everything else seemed worthless compared to the sleeping figure beside him. An overwhelming urge to protect Dominic suddenly crept upon him, and with it came the fear and the terror of being discovered. He turned towards Dominic, fingers splayed against his tan chest, and pressed a gentle kiss to full lips. “Dom,” he whispered. “Wake up.” Dominic stirred. Blearily, his eyelids parted, revealing grey eyes clouded with sleep. “Morning,” he said, his voice thick and tired. “What’s the time?” “I don’t know,” Matthew admitted softly. “There are no clocks in here. No way to measure the time. How long have I been in here?” “That’s not for me to say,” Dominic replied tightly, though a teasing smile lifted the corners of his lips. He turned onto his back, pulling Matthew with him so that the Voix’s head rested against his chest. Fingers traced invisible patterns over Matthew’s shoulder, a pleasant tickling sensation sending barely perceptible shivers through his body. “Did you sleep alright?” “The best I have in a long time,” Matthew said. A yawn parted his lips. “I’m so comfortable. I don’t want to move.” He curled his toes, one leg settling between Dominic’s. “Can we just stay here forever?” “I’d hate to see the world’s collective face when the doors opened at the end of Cachant and you emerged, completely naked, with me hovering around awkwardly behind you. People might get the wrong idea.” “And what, pray tell, is the right idea?” Dominic laughed, the movements of his chest unsettling Matthew’s position. He huffed, sitting upright and shivering visibly as the cool air attacked his previously warm skin. “It’s morning,” the Voix said quietly. “I should wash.” Matthew swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood up, dragging a sheet with him to protect him from the cold. Feeling Dominic’s eyes on him, he turned back to the bed, arranging the sheet like a toga as he stood there. The glouglou was lying on his side, watching Matthew with amusement.  “I’m thinking this could be my new style once I become a Unique,” he announced, striking a pose with one hand on his hip and the other defiantly in the air, his legs jutting comically. Even as Dominic began to snort with laughter, he felt the sheet slip from over his shoulders and pool on the floor at his feet, leaving him completely naked and freezing. Dominic rolled onto his back, clutching at his stomach as silent laughter crippled him momentarily. “Your - your face,” he wheezed between giggles, as Matthew’s face reddened in the blink of an eye. “Oh God, oh my God, I can’t breathe...” He continued to roll about on the bed, beside himself with laughter. Matthew, humiliated, stooped to pick up the sheet and drape it over himself again. “I really don’t see the funny side of this,” he snapped, arms folded across his chest in order to secure the sheet in place. Dominic, still choking on his own schadenfreude, beat his hand on the mattress, words popping out between bouts of intense laughter. “And when you - and the sheet - and your face - oh God - and you - and - and - ow!” He had rolled perhaps a little too far and was now lying, spreadeagled on the floor, with the duvet hanging over him like a tent. Unsurprisingly, he wasn’t laughing anymore. He pouted at Matthew, eyes narrowed. “You dare,” he said solemnly. “You dare even chuckle and I will come for you.” Matthew’s lips pressed to a flat line. “I’m going in the bath,” he said, his voice quivering as he replayed the incident over and over in his head. “I may be quite some time.” He turned sharply on his heel and marched towards the bathroom, closing the door behind him. A slow smile spread over his face as he bunched the sheet up and threw it into a corner. Feet padding softly across the tiles, he bent down to set the taps running. He had never felt this happy before, ever. No experience with Adora had ever come close to the warm, comfortable completeness he now felt. With the bath filled, he eased himself into the warm water, sighing softly as he let it wash over him. The silence was absolute. That is, until Dominic began to knock on the door. “Matthew?” he whined. “I’m all alone. All by myself. With nobody here beside me to wear a sheet and then drop it by accident. All alone. Forever and ever. And ever.” There was a pause, during which Matthew could perfectly picture the glouglou’s jutting bottom lip and puppy-dog eyes. “Hey, what’s this letter thing? Can I read it?” “It’s just a letter explaining Cachant from Joie,” Matthew called in reply. “It’s far from scintillating, but you can read it if you want.” Dominic was quiet for a few seconds. “How shall you keep track of time,” he said in a high, fluttering mockery of the Ancien, “with only the sun and the stars as your guides? Bloody hell. You’d think she was writing a poem or something.” A lazy smile crept onto Matthew’s face as he listened to Dominic’s stark review of Joie’s literary masterpiece. He should have been angry - every word was a mockery to all that Matthew aspired to - but for some reason, he couldn’t care less. “That’s nice, telling you to bloody drown yourself as well. Washing away all impurities? What’s in that bathwater? Bleach?” A bitter sigh. “Oh, it’s getting interesting now. Refrain from indulging yourself. Apparently wanking is very uncouth.” He subsided into silence once more as he finished reading. “Ah, that’s nice. Good luck and all that. Sweet of her.” “Why are you talking to me through the door?” Matthew called as he poked a toe out from under the water. “I’m bored and lonely.” “No, I mean... you can come in, if you want.” “Oh!” The door swung open silently and Dominic, wearing naught but a pair of boxers, rushed inside, shutting the door behind him. He stood with his back resting against the dark wood, eyes focussed squarely on Matthew, lying still in the bath. “Do you...” Matthew coughed lightly, shrugging. “Do you want to come in?” “Uh...” Dominic swallowed. “Is this not meant to be a sacred ritual or something? I don’t want to muck it up with my glouglou smell or something.” “Well, I’ve already broken one sacrosanct rule, and I haven’t been speared with a fork of lightning just yet. Besides,” he added, “I want you to come in.” Dominic seemed to need no more persuasion. His feet carried him across the tiles until he stood at the lip of the bath, staring down into the water. Quietly, he removed his only item of clothing and slowly lowered himself into the water. “You know what’s weird?” he said softly, getting comfortable with his back against one of the walls of the bath. “I’ve never had a bath before in my life. Even when I was a kid, my mum used to just douse me down a bit with a wet towel. Too expensive, otherwise.” Matthew sighed, settling himself with his back resting against Dominic’s chest. “I’m honoured,” he said, his quiet voice echoing in the room. Dominic’s hands automatically found Matthew’s shoulders, massaging them as he marveled at the complete lack of walls between them both. Dominic had dreamt of it for months now, but it was suddenly too surreal to believe. “So, you have to completely submerge yourself, and then wash your hair?” Dominic asked quietly, thumbs pressing into knots of tension in Matthew’s back. “Yes,” was the whispered reply as Matthew slipping out of Dominic’s hold. With a small smile, he held his breath and sank under the surface of the water. Dominic’s eyes widened as he watched Matthew underwater. His light hair moved of its own accord around his face, his eyes open and vacant, looking at nothing in particular. A small bubble escaped his lips and for the second time in as many days, Dominic was sure that Matthew was some descendant of an angel. Matthew sat up, crashing through the surface of the water as a revelation crashed into Dominic’s consciousness: Matthew was the descendant of a cold blooded killer. And yet, he found himself pulling Matthew back into his embrace. Reaching for a shampoo bottle with his free hand, the glouglou squirted a dollop into the bright blond hair before him, placing the container back on the side and beginning to massage it into Matthew’s scalp. “Ahh,” Matthew hummed, his hands coming to rest on Dominic’s knees. “That’s... really nice,” he sighed, slipping down Matthew’s chest slightly. His eyes closed, unknown to Dominic, as he felt completely relaxed. Although, the serenity only lasted for a moment. “Um, Matthew?” “Yeah?” Dominic’s question had been asked in a small voice, so Matthew replied in kind. “Can’t male Voix get pregnant?” Matthew sat up suddenly, the water splashing up the sides of the bath. He turned around with an expression of stone on his face. “How very dare you!” he sneered, looking Dominic up and down. “As if the Bellamy bloodline would even be associated with that hideous mutation!” Dominic’s lips struggled to stay in a straight line. Matthew’s expression may have been one of pure fury, but the bubbles in his spiked, sud-filled hair begged to differ. “Are you laughing at me? Again?” Matthew asked, although his tone wasn’t quite as distraught as before. Dominic lifted a hand to point at Matthew’s hair, said hand shaking as his shoulders bounced with silent giggles. Sighing dramatically, Matthew dunked his head underwater and shook it, ridding his hair of the suds. “Better?” he gasped as he looked at Dominic once again, the glouglou nodding. They were silent as they both scrubbed their bodies (and each other’s) with a bar of soap. “Does someone normally bring you breakfast?” Dominic asked a few minutes later, stepping out of the bath and grabbing a towel from the rack. He threw one to Matthew, wondering briefly how the staff would react to the sudden amount of laundry needing to be done. “Yes,” Matthew answered, drying himself in a hurry and wrapping the towel around his waist. “I don’t know how much time has passed, though. Stay here,” he said, opening the door to the bathroom as Dominic hid behind it, out of sight of any potential people in the bedroom. Matthew walked over to his bed and sat in a particular spot, placing his feet along two edges of a certain tile. He craned his neck upwards, the sun not quite in the frame of the atrium yet. “It’s safe, Dom,” he called, watching the glouglou emerge with a confused expression. “This is how I try to tell the time. Breakfast comes when the sun comes into view, lunch when it’s just leaving and dinner is served at just about the time I have to start lighting candles.” “Clever,” Dominic said, sitting down next to Matthew on the bed. “I am, in fact. More than you bloody glouglous give me credit for,” Matthew said with a smirk, Dominic laughing loudly. “How do they serve food, then?” Dominic asked, genuinely curious. “They, like,” Matthew’s fingers wriggled in the air as he tried to explain, “they open the door you came through, and they set a tray down but they never look into the room, and they wear the cloaks like yours... why do you ask?” “Well, you see, it’d be a bit of a flaw in my plan if they saw you alive and kicking when your corpse is meant to be in the bathtub,” Dominic explained with ease, reluctantly standing from the bed and cursing when he realised his boxers were in the bathroom. He returned a few seconds later wearing them with his robe clutched in his hand, as Matthew still rolled that sentence through his mind. “Oh,” he finally said. “Right. That would be a flaw.” A sudden, terrible thought occurred to him. “So, the entire staff of glouglous looking after me are actually intent on seeing me dead?” “Well, I doubt that all of them are in on it. But... some of them might be.” “That’s awfully reassuring.” Dominic resumed his seat beside Matthew, and it wasn’t long before their hands joined comfortably together. “How are you feeling?” Dominic asked softly. “Tired,” Matthew admitted. “And a little... sore.” “Sorry,” Dominic grimaced, pressing a kiss to the top of Matthew’s cheekbone. “Don’t apologise. It was the best night of my life.” Matthew dipped his head to rest on the glouglou’s shoulder. “Dom?” he said suddenly. “Mm?” “Were you really going to kill me?” Dominic looked away to the side for a brief second, before gently pushing Matthew away to retrieve his jeans. Matthew watched him shrug them on, restrapping the scabbard to his thigh and pulling on his shoes and socks. “Should I take your silence as a yes?” The inflection in Matthew’s voice cut sharper than any dagger of Dom’s could. The glouglou bristled, frozen still for a moment before scooping his t-shirt off the floor and putting it on. The robe was over the back of the chair from where he’d retrieved it a few moments ago, and he let Matthew stew for a few moments as he disappeared inside the billows of fabric. “It’s complicated,” Dominic said flatly, walking back towards Matthew. “Jesus, Dom, my whole sodding life is complicated!” the Voix said dramatically, falling back into his pillows with his arms in the air. “So the male glouglou I just basically lost my virginity to and admitted my love for actually wanted to kill me!” “No, Matt, it’s not--” “What did you just call me?” Matthew said, sitting bolt upright and fixing Dom with an ice cold glare. The glouglou recoiled slightly, backing towards the door. Matthew swallowed hard, pointing towards the door. “Get out of my sight.” “Matthew--” “Go!” he shouted, and Dominic obeyed. He hammered three times at the door, and it was swiftly opened from the outside. He blinked in the lighter room, sunlight now pouring through the large windows facing St Pierre. “Did you... did you do it?” the young female glouglou whispered, excitement spread across her features. “No,” he said, the girl’s features falling. “He outsmarted me, the bastard,” he said, the sneer on the term beyond convincing. “I’ll be back in a week, with a new plan... tell only those who need to know,” he said, and with a sudden urge to be rid of the place, Dom fled through the building and back towards his home, shedding the robe in a lone set of bushes on the way.

[radioleary-blog]

The Injustice League

If we had to elect a billionaire womanizer with anger issues, I wish we had elected Bruce Wayne instead. That I could get behind. Think about it, President Batman. How does that sound? Pretty damn awesome, that’s how that sounds! “Pow!” “Biff!” “Ka-Pow!”  I love those comic book sound effects that accompany a solid kick to the face or a roundhouse punch on the old Adam West Batman show. I bet “Ka-Pow!” probably hurt a hell of a lot more than “Biff!” or “Pow!”, right? There was definitely a wide range of fight sound effects, I actually did a little research to find some other real examples of superheroes hitting each other, and they weren’t all great:

“Bam!” That’s not a punch, that’s the sound of that obnoxious midget Emeril Lagasse cooking food on TV.

“Zonk!” Sounds less like a mighty blow from Thor’s hammer and more like the stoner from Doonesbury doing blow and getting hammered.

“Boom!” “Crash!” These two word show up a lot in comics, and what scares me is these are the same words they use on Wall Street every day to describe what’s happening to our retirement accounts. It doesn’t exactly fill me with confidence that fluctuations in the market are like Batman’s fist, and my 401K is the Joker’s face.  

“Crack!” “Zap!” “Crash!” That sounds like the drug you did, the police hitting you with a taser, and the sound you make as you hit the sidewalk. I would imagine the next sound effects would be “Make-Bail!” “Court-Appear!” and “Do-Time!”          “Fap!” “Fwap!” “Sock!” “Bonk!” “Bamf!” “Wank!” “Splooge!” I kid you not, these were all really used in Marvel Comics from the 1980s. But it sounds more like the soundtrack of every teenage comic book nerd discovering masturbation. The next sound effect was most likely “Ma! Don’t You Knock?!”

But I digress. President-elect Batman. The Caped Crusader-in-Chief. The Dark Knight POTUS. Sure, it’s crazy, but I think that actually sounds less insane than our reality here on Earth-Prime, with President-elect Donald J. Trump. What the hell happened? Is it just me, or does it feel a little like we somehow stepped into an alternate reality that really wasn’t supposed to happen. Like someone messed up the timestream, and we all have a residual memory of things having been better somehow in a significantly different world. We can feel it in our bones, that things were intended to go down another way. It’s kind of like The Man In the High Castle, Philip K. Dick’s dystopian novel of an alternative reality where America lost World War II. It was a book I loved as a young man and read over and over, but now I know it as that show that’s supposed to be good that I can’t see because I don’t have Amazon. I preferred the book. There are certainly parallels, Trump actually lives in a high castle. But it’s more like The Man In the Gaudy Ostentatious Gold-Plated Tower. And rather than leading an underground resistance against Nazi and Imperial Japanese rule, he just kind of causes traffic in midtown Manhattan to become a permanent unmoving cluster-fuck from MoMa to The Met.

Maybe Donald Trump is like Batman from an alternate reality where his parents don’t get killed in an alley during a robbery attempt. So rather than devote his life to seeking justice and protecting the city from evil, he instead goes on the Howard Stern show and talks to Baba Booey about third-world swimsuit models he’s banged while he and one of his three wives were “on a break”. You know, Bruce Wayne only pretended to be a shallow, rich, gropey asshole so people would never suspect he was secretly a hero. I don’t think our President is pretending, and I don’t suspect he’s secretly a hero, either. I hope he is a hero, sure, but I still hope Andy Kaufman is just faking his own death, too.

Hey! Wait a minute! This explains why Trump’s eyes are so white while the rest of his face is burnt orange! He wears a mask! Holey Moley, It’s all starting to make sense! But whereas Batman fought the Penguin, The Riddler, and Poison Ivy, Trump mostly just fought Rosie O’Donnell. And a girl in a beauty pageant. And the cast of Hamilton. And I don’t think he actually won any of those fights, either. While Batman keeps the peace in Gotham City, one time on the Celebrity Apprentice Donald Trump kept Meatloaf and Gary Busey from fist-fighting over missing art supplies. Yeah, Batman seems like the better choice to me. Although I wonder what the sound effects would be for a Batman administration? “Veto!” “Photo-Op!” “Fund-Raise!”

As I’ve been thinking about this, and taking this weak premise far too seriously, I’m beginning to realize I may have some real problems with a Batman presidency. Not so much with the hitting and the vigilante stuff. Not with the fact that he’s a lunatic who deludedly thinks he rules a major metropolitan city, and if anyone else in a costume challenges him, he locks them away in Arkham mental asylum. No, my problem is the way he treats Alfred. Batman just may be a republican after all, because he treats Alfred the way the Walton family treat Wal-Mart employees.

How come every villain in Gotham City, from Clayface to Two-Face, they all have dozens and dozens of well-trained mercenary henchmen working for them, but Batman? He’s just has Alfred. He makes Alfred do absolutely everything. Bruce Wayne is like the richest man in Gotham City, but he’s too cheap to hire any real workforce? No wonder Gotham City is constantly overrun by criminals - Bane’s got an elite squad of para-military assassins knocking off the Gotham Bank, and Batman’s got an 85 year old British guy who’s gotta finish a load of laundry before he gasses up the Batmobile.

Alfred is like, “Yeah, right away, ‘Master Bruce’, mind if I put your damn socks away before I do the pre-flight check on the Bat-Copter? ‘Cause if I don’t take them out of the dryer right now, everything is going to be wrinkled AF by the time you get back.”

“You do realize I’ve only been trained to kiss rich people’s asses and serve soup, right? You want me to set the table and get the door? No problem. You want me to load Kryptonite missiles onto the Bat-Tank? Then you better download the manual, Caped Crusader, because they didn’t cover that shit in butler school. It’s bad enough you’ve got me changing the oil in the Bat-Jet while I’m wearing a tuxedo, but then I gotta keep dinner warm all night while you brood over the city from the top of a watertower.”

“You know, you employ like 50,000 people worldwide with this Wayne Foundation and Wayne Industries, and routinely hire thousands more temporary workers and independent contractors. You know that, right? You are on the board of directors. Here’s a crazy idea, let me get back to polishing the silver and ironing your cape, and maybe you bring in some people who are actually qualified to run your advanced-weapons motor pool.”

Is it my imagination or does it look like Alfred works seven days a week? Every crisis I’ve ever seen in Gotham, Alfred is always right there. I’ve never seen him take a day off. You’d think if something happened on a weekend, Bruce Wayne would have like a part-time guy there. “Hey, Travis, is it? Can you hold off on doing those dishes and run down to the Bat-Cave and dig out my underwater Batsuit? Killer croc is starting some shit. No, I don’t know where it is exactly, Have you looked by the giant penny? Or the T-Rex? Alfred has his own system. You guys need to communicate on things like this.”

You think Alfred ever hangs out with Jarvis, the Avengers’ butler, and they just bitch about their jobs? “You just have Batman, you have it easy, Thor leaves his hammer laying around and I can’t move it, I have to vacuum around it, and I always vacuum up Ant-Man. And they ought to call her the Scarlet Bitch, let me tell you.”

But it just goes to show you how old these characters are that they have a butler. Who the hell has a butler these days? Mike Tyson had an entourage of like 50 people, but even he didn’t have a butler. A tiger-wrangler? Sure. A Maori Tattooist? Yes. No butler. Butlers are an anachronism from an antiquated class system. Batman still reflects the culture of the 1930s when he was created. Good thing Batman isn’t from like 70 years earlier than that, or it probably wouldn’t be a white guy working for him, and he probably wouldn’t have a choice. And when he said ‘Master Bruce’, he’d really mean it.

So let me see if I got the story straight here. Alfred raises Bruce from a kid after his parents were killed. And in gratitude, Bruce makes him work like thirty years past retirement age. No pension plan? So he’s just gotta keep working until he drops dead? No 401K? Bruce Wayne is one cheap bastard. No. He’s a Cheap Bat-stard.

Batman is so cheap he won’t even rent a nice place for his Batman stuff, he just lurks in an underground cave full of batshit and stagnant water. I don’t know which he’s gonna catch first, the Riddler, or dysentery. Is he gonna collar a criminal, or just get cholera. A damp cave? Really? It’s a breeding ground for mosquitos. He’ll get the zika virus before he gets the Joker. He’s basically in a subterranean pit filled with bat guano, breathing that shit in, he’ll get double-pneumonia before he gets two-face.

And they thought Howard Hughes was a crazy billionaire. At least Howard Hughes was smart enough to bang some movie stars. Batman? What’s his thought process on a Friday night? “Hmm, what to do tonight...I could date that supermodel who’s been sending me nude selfies….but on the other hand I could impale some junkie mugger with a couple of Batarangs… I gotta go with Batarangs. Hey Alfred!”

Make America and Gotham City great again.