#and i have GOT to see those patreon colors you have no idea--

[drawbauchery]

Finally back to coloring! (Well I've been coloring some of the patreon stuff but I can't exactly submit it here) (elaboratejellyfish)

!!!!!!!!! THEY'RE GORGEOUS //☯﹏☯// i forgot about some of these QAQ hajime in pink..chi's lil purple outfit....siiiighhh once again you've got me staring for an ungodly amount of TIME

[jarofstyles]

Cabernet

This can be read as a standalone I think, but! Here is a second part of Merlot! It's spicy and sweet so I hope you guys like it. Unsure if there will be any more parts (I’m open if you guys have more ideas!) but I do love a good dilfrry.

Check out our Patreon for early access and 200+ exclusive writings!

WC- 4.1k

Warnings- smut, age gap relationship, anal (for those who asked ur welcome!), unprotected sex, cumplay, Dom/sub elements

-------

Harry was by far the best man she had ever dated. 

Their age gap was evident at times, but not in a bad way. It was rather cute when he had been confused about videos she sent or his own excitement to show her the movies or books he was referencing. The added element of their dynamic was learning from one another. Harry had been teaching her about publishing and helping her flesh out the first draft of her book while she sat in his office some days, helping him out in return by getting him coffee or lunch or an occasional shoulder massage when he got particularly stressed. An unofficial assistant of sorts. 

“I feel like if I have to write the word ‘said’ one more time, my brain is going to explode.” She grumbled, pushing her laptop across the couch and leaning back on it. The leather seat in his office was by far the most comfortable one she had sat on and he happily invited her to come into the office to see him as often as she wanted. It was both practical and selfish on both ends.It was easier to work in a space like this and with the understanding that Harry really did have work he was doing, she focused on her own stuff. A quiet pair of people working in each other’s company. 

Add in the fact that he was the boss man, it made it much easier for her to come and go as she pleased. 

“Mm, sometimes authors get stuck with words in their novels. They’ll have phrases they repeat a few too many times, usually gets called out in editing and fixed. It’s not a bad thing. But with words that are action words like that, there are options. Y’know, depending on the scene and tone. Murmured, muttered, peeped, whispered, whined, moaned, huffed, grumbled. Those sorts of words.” He tapped his pen against the desk as he lifted his eyes to her. 

It didn’t get old. Seeing her pretty face sitting in his office looking the way she did, much more comfortable than the night they’d first met, but still appropriate for an office setting.

Sometimes he did let his mind wander into the roleplay aspect, wondering if she had been his real assistant if he would have made a move. If Y/N was the Y/N he knew now? Probably. Scandalous. 

Today she wore a pair of black flowy pants and a matching turtleneck, but on top she had a chunky knit cardigan that was utterly adorable. It had yellow moons and stars, a deep purple color with sleeves she had to push up so they didn’t hide her hands. His girl leaned into the office aesthetic when she came in so she didn’t stick out too much but with him or when they were at his place or out together, he loved seeing her dressed in her normal clothing. She looked soft, whimsical almost. Like a little fairy. 

“Hm. Good point. I need to write down all the synonyms in my notes app and defer to that because if I’m getting tired of writing it, I know whoever ends up reading it will get tired of seeing it too.” Her lips puffed to blow a strand of hair that had fallen from her bun, brows furrowed as she failed and made her hand ready up to tuck it behind her ear instead. 

Again, cute.

“Not necessarily.” He replied, leaning back in his chair. “We’re our own harshest critics. I doubt they’re paying that much attention to that. The majority of people will be paying attention to world building, character development, plot, sex scenes, all that fun stuff. The exact wording isn’t always the most important thing. But it shows that you care about quality.” He shot her a grin. “So you will be successful.”

“Mmm… and not because I’m fucking the publishing head?” She grinned as she stood up, stretching her arms out. 

“Well. That helps.” He wouldn’t deny it. She had a leg up, but he wouldn’t publish just anything. “If it makes you feel better, I don’t publish shit work. It isn’t worth the reputation of my company. Your writing is genuinely good, my sweet.” He knew the drill by now. Her heeled boots were kicked off by the couch and she made her way over to him, the tiredness starting to hit her as she happily perched herself on his lap. 

“Good to know.” She snorted before pressing a kiss to his scruffy cheek. The facial hair had grown but he was shaping it currently. She promised she’d be okay with whatever he did to it but didn’t want anything to happen to the mustache. That wasn’t allowed to go. “What are you working on? Anything fun?” 

“No, nothing incredibly interesting I’m afraid.” His hand squeezed her hip underneath the cardigan. “I was working on some contracts earlier but every so often I pick up some submissions and read through them myself. This one is very bland, unfortunately. There’s potential, absolutely. Their writing style is lovely, but the plot falls flat and the characters are one dimensional. S’like they chose a specific stereotype and did nothing to differentiate them.” It was unfortunate.” It was a shame he came across all too often.

“It’s obvious this person is trying but they’ve never observed or met someone with these traits. I don’t think you absolutely have to follow the rule ‘write what you know’, but I think a lot of the best works come from drawing from our own experiences. Romance, for them, doesn’t seem to be a passion. They’d do better with mystery with their writing style as it is, but they have to improve on other aspects first.” 

“Is it hard for you to see stuff like that?” She asked curiously, fiddling with the collar of his shirt. “I can tell you’re a little disappointed with it, so I have to wonder if it happens a lot.”

“It does. And it is hard when you see someone with potential not living up to it but I have faith that if we send them some constructive criticism notes that maybe they won’t see it as an attack but as a place of genuine care. I’m going to have someone meet with them I think, give them my notes and have them explain it in nicer terms than the plain ones I used. Maybe they can work on it again and add more and we’d have a best seller.” He shrugged his shoulders. “I can see they care about it in the way they put details in, but it needs more.”

There was something incredibly attractive about listening to him talk about it. It was always attractive to see someone care and talk about their passions; but Harry was on another level. She could see it on his face that he was disappointed and knew the person could do better. While it made it all the more nerve wracking for her own novel, she had him working with her along the way.

He never told her where to go with her story in terms of ideas, but how to improve the mechanics. Reading over bits and telling her to take away a certain detail and add more in other places, or giving suggestions about how things could flow smoother. He’d listened to her storyboard, after showing her the author equivalent of it, and gave his honest feedback from a publisher's point of view and then from a boyfriend’s point of view.

Sometimes it was more obvious that he was the one with miles more life experience in these instances but she couldn’t be upset about it when it only aided in strengthening their relationship. 

“I see.” She looked at the manuscript on the desk with the red pen of doom. “Oof. The red pen is out… and you’ve used it a lot.” 

“Well, there are errors.” He chuffed, kissing her cheek in return. “Did you get enough done?” The word count goal had been 3,000 for today, but he didn’t make it for her. It was all on her. He simply helped keep her accountable.

“I did more. I think… 4.5?” She tilted her head trying to remember. “Now my head feels like soup.” It did feel like mush right now. That was why the laptop was closed and abandoned and she was finding comfort in the man. It was like a reward. 

“That’s ace, my dove. Amazing.” He praised. The pride he felt for her was earned fair and square. She had been applying herself more now than ever. Since their first night together they hadn’t really separated, seeing each other at least a few times a week. Her work ethic was there as she had zeroed in on what she wanted. “Why don’t we finish this up and go back to mine, mm?” 

Harry had been holding off all week. He’d gone a bit rough one night and even though she said she was fine, he wanted to give her body time to relax. As much as he loved sex, he had wanted her body to enjoy it more than anything else. Not be overly swollen and sore the next day. 

Today was going to be the day to break that. A full week of nothing but heated kisses, and she was as needy as needy could get. He felt her perk up at the mention, sitting up straighter in his lap. 

“Please! Let’s go. We can get food on the way home but I think we have some pressing matters to attend to.” She sniffed, standing from him and offering a hand to help him up. “Chop chop. Get a move on, mister.”

——-

Two rounds in and he knew she could take it. Her poor cunt was a mess and he knew that as pretty as it was all drippy and swollen, she had been aching for him to get a try into her other hole. They’d had a proper discussion about it, and he had effectively been edging her the entire night. Fair? No, but she knew how he rolled. The promised pleasure first, experiments after. Just in case she wanted to stop, she got something out of the night. 

She’d been warming his cock for a bit as he held her in his arms, cooing soft praises about how good of a girl she was, how brave she had been to ask for something new tonight when he felt her get impatient. She didn’t need to say it. He knew her well enough now to understand what she wanted. Pulling his cock out and rubbing the tip against her asshole, pressing against it and spreading the sticky cum over the rim.  “Want me t’fuck this tight little ass too?  Fill you from both ends."

“Wanna try.” She nodded, panting as her cunt contracted and his cum dribbled out of her pussy. “You’re so big I… I dunno if I can take it. Go slow.” Y/N knew she was slightly cock drunk but she also trusted him. He’d made her feel good already, took his time with everything else why wouldn’t she want to test this with him?

“Okay, my sweet. Just relax.” Harry wasn’t nervous, but he was cautious. His girl was precious cargo, and he wanted to make sure it felt as good as it could. He’d done the work of stretching her with his fingers, but it was going to be a challenge to get him in there regardless. He slowly pushed his thick head past the tight rim of her back hole. Watching her face intently, his own contorted with pleasure. "You're doing so good, doll," he encouraged softly. "Just relax and let me in. You can take it."

The pressure was intense, and she hissed out a breath as he slowly pushed more and more of himself into her. His thick head stretched her wide, and he paused, letting her adjust to the new sensation. "Breathe." The reminder was whispered as he realized she was holding her breath, his hand carding through her hair tenderly.

"That's it, baby. You're taking it so well. Always do so good f’me." He praised, his voice low and soothing. He slowly pushed more of himself into her, inch by inch, his thick prick spreading her wide. She could feel every vein, every ridge, as he slowly filled her up.

As he slid deeper, Harry could feel the intense pressure and stretch around his girth. Her tight little hole was gripped tightly around his shaft, the muscles fluttering and contracting as he pushed his way inside. She felt like she was being split in two, her body struggling to accommodate his bigger size- but she was. Slowly but surely, he sunk into her fully.

She had done it. 

“Fuck.” She sobbed out, clinging to him as he got down to the base. Never in her life had she felt so full that way, so stretched. Only Harry could make her feel this way. It wasn’t just the physical feeling, but the emotional one too. She trusted him more than she trusted anyone else. His guidance was priceless.

"You're doing so good, You’ve got it all in. Jus’ gotta let it adjust." he soothed, his voice strained as he fought to keep control. Giving her a moment to adjust, his hands stroking her hair and her cheeks, his thumb brushing away her tears. "You feel so hot around me, doll. So tight. Knew y’would be."

“I wanna be… I want you to feel good.” She whispered, looking at him with wet eyes. “It’s just so big. I’m tryin’ to take it.” It surely wasn't a beginner cock but she wasn’t known for taking the easy way.

"You're doing so well, baby," he reassured her, his hands never leaving her. He slowly pulled out halfway before sinking in again, a little faster this time. "That's it... take me all the way in."

It was the fourth time he did it that she felt the pleasure. Both from the action and the thatch of hair at the base of his cock rubbing against her swollen clit, making her gasp. Her eyes fell shut as she leaned her head back, slowly relaxing into the bed.

He watched her face contorted in pleasure, his heart swelling with pride. "Look at me," he commanded, his voice rough. As she opened her eyes, he began to pick up the pace, his hips pressing against hers. "M’so proud of you. Look at you, taking every bit of me.”

Y/N sent him a blissed out smile as her hand slipped between them, rubbing her own clit slowly as he fucked into her ass. There was nothing rushed about it, nothing frantic, and it felt good just to be. Her muscles relaxed, making it feel even better as his cock filled her hole. Soft moans left her mouth as she curled her other hand around the back of his neck, pulling him down so he was close. “Are they the best holes you’ve had?”

Harry’s face was lax in his own pleasure as he felt her tight ass clench around his cock. “Fuck, baby,” he groaned, his breath hot against her lips. “They are. So fucking tight, so perfect. Can’t compare them t’anything else.” He kept up his steady rhythm, loving how her body moved with his. “You feel so good. Can never get enough of you.” He whispered, brushing a stray hair out of her face before stroking her puffy lip. They were so pretty. Kissing wasn’t something he’d thought much of before, but he hadn’t kissed Y/N. She had changed everything for him. 

“Better than that silly ex wife?” She prodded, watching with a little smirk as she watched him think it over. Y/N had a feeling she was by the way be was acting,  but she wanted to hear it.

"Way better." he grunted, his hips snapping forward. "Little minx, y’just need to ask that, hm? No need to be jealous. She never gets t’have me again. Only y-you." He stuttered as her hand moved around his neck and she squeezed down hard on him. "Her holes were nothing compared to yours, doll. Nothing."

Y/N giggled as she choked him a little bit, watching his eyes widen before pulling. It was obvious that while he was the big man in charge- she could have fun too. “That’s what I like to hear. I’ll tell you a secret, Harry.” Her lips brushed his as she kept the grip on his throat. Her lips were swollen and sensitive, the coarse facial hair brushing it and making her want to moan. “None of the boys my age have ever made me cum. They never fucked my ass. Never fucked me raw. And you did it all.”

"And I'm gonna keep doing it," he rumbled, eyes burning with lust as she kissed him. His hand tightened in her hair, tugging gently and pulling her deeper into the kiss. “You’ve got a man now, no need to think of those boys.You want me t’keep being nice to you? Keep making you cum?”

“If you keep fucking me like this, I do. Want my man to be so, so nice to me.” She gasped as he pushed all the way in, balls rested snug against her ass as he slowly humped into her, the comfort of the fullness making her fingers work harder on her clit. “Gotta- Gotta prove you can keep up with me, old man. That you c-can live up to the hype. I like the bit of silver at your temples but…” Her moan was broken as he pulled out and pushed back in, jostling her. “Gotta prove why older guys are b-better for pretty little things like me.”

"Oh, I'll prove it to you," he growled, picking up pace as he pounded into her tight ass. She had no idea just how badly he’d needed her to walk into his life. Thank god she had. This was everything he had ever wanted. "And right now, you need me to wreck this little hole until you can't walk straight. You need me to show you how a real man handles his woman. I'll give you everything you crave, everything you need. You just have to let go and trust me.” The man had every intention of proving how much better he could be for her than she could ever imagine.

"Fuck, look at this cunt." He muttered, reaching down to spread her dripping pussy apart. "It's absolutely soaked, just dripping down. Love it, hm?” The smugness in his tone would usually make her scowl but there was no denying it. The proof was right there. It was undeniable. “You're so turned on, baby. It's making it easier for me to fuck this tight little ass of yours." The glossy, hard flesh glistened with slick, dripping down onto the bed beneath her. His own cum intermingled with her own, making his movements smoother as he pushed in and out of her, coating her holes with their combined essence.

Her face was a mask of pure ecstasy, her eyes rolled back in her head as she whimpered in pleasure, her hands gripping the sheets beneath her. Her asshole clenching and unclenching around his thick cock with each thrust, trying to milk him for all he was worth. Her body was feeling tingly, her legs trembling as he fucking into her ass, the sound of her arousal and his hips hitting her skin filling the room. She was completely lost in the pleasure, her mind clouded by the overwhelming sensation of being thoroughly fucked.

As she reached the peak of her orgasm, he took over and began rubbing her clit with his own thumb, the sensation sending waves of pleasure cascading through her body. She cried out, her pussy gushing as she came harder than she would have imagined being fucked like this. She was so overwhelmed that she could only hold limply onto his arms as he continued to pound into her, his thick cock stretching her hole as it thrust through the waves of her intense orgasm.

His face contorted, vein bulging in his neck as he struggled to hold back. "You feel too good, baby. I can't... I can't hold back any longer." His heavy balls drew up close to his body, ready to unleash another load inside of her. The feeling of her taut muscles milking him, the way she clung to him with every fiber of her being, it was too much. He was sensitive himself, but he wanted to deliver everything she wanted.

"Please, Harry...Please,come inside me... I wanna feel you fill me up. Want it everywhere." She panted, her voice desperate with need. Half of the fun of sex was seeing him lose that control he so easily held in all other scenarios. She wanted to make him feel just as good as he made her feel. He deserved it.

His restraint shattered at her words.  "Fuck, you're gonna get what you asked for."

With a guttural groan, he buried his face in the crook of her neck and let go, his hot load pulsing into her hole in thick ropes. She felt each ribbon scalding her , marking her as his. "That's it, take it all... That’s m’girl.” He kept cumming, his cock twitching as he filled her. Ribbon after ribbon filled her up until she was overflowing with his load, almost overwhelmingly so. He finally slowed, his chest heaving, before gently pulling out of her ass, his cock glistening with the evidence of their fuck.

With a sense of possessive pride, he watched as his cum began to leak out of her stretched hole, dripping down her thighs. It was satisfying in the filthiest way. Primal and caveman in every sense of the word, he loved knowing that he had done it. He’d taken every one of her holes and made her his in the dirtiest type of way. He gently spread her cheeks apart, admiring the sight of his mark leaking from her. "Look at that... You're so full of me, S’that what you wanted?”

“Mhm.” She smiled, slightly drunk on the orgasm and the fact that he had pushed her further than anyone else had before. it was a good feeling in her body, the beginnings of soreness and the calming heat of his hands as he caressed her the way he wanted. “Exactly what I wanted. Think M’gonna have to keep you around so we can do that again.”

“I’d hope so.” He laughed tiredly, pushing back down to take her mouth for another kiss. “I’m far from finished with you, sweet little thing. But I think I’ve ravaged your body enough. Think you need a bath and some tea, get you ready to sleep.” 

Aftercare wasn’t something she’d experienced in any other relationship either, but she realized now it was probably a Harry exclusive thing. He was phenomenal at it. A lot of things, honestly. He experimented with her responsibly, took care of her after every round of sex, checked in on her, made sure she was eating proper meals, and helped her with her career. She’d lucked out with him. Whatever his ex wife was thinking, she had no clue- but she wasn’t about to waste a single bit of him.

“Do you have chamomile?” She asked softly, pecking his lips in return. 

“What do you take me for? Course I’ve got it.” He scoffed, pinching her chin. “But if I didn’t, I’d find some for you. Know it’s your favorite. Added it to the grocery list, along with your cereal, your rancid battery acid energy drinks, and the sweet and salty popcorn.” 

“It’s good battery acid, I’ll have you know.” She giggled, carding her fingers through his hair. He did have a bit of gray going on the temples but it was sexy. Just hearing how much he cared and put effort into the tiny things made her giddy. 

“Yeah, yeah. We can talk about your poison in the morning. It’s time to get clean and go t’sleep. Tomorrow may be the day you write five thousand words. You never know.”

[dark-moonlust]

Fated Mates

Commission for Jana Pachner on Patreon!

Pairing: werewolf oc (Eli) x fem curvy reader

Summary: your werewolf roommate is secretly in love with you. He reaches his breaking point when he smells your arousal because of the books you read.

Warnings: minors don’t interact, 18+, mutual pining, explicit smut, primal kink, possessive werewolf, oral(fem), bulk werewolf, knotting.

It was a challenge to live under the same roof and see you sitting in that recliner, knees curled up, nose buried in one of those monster smut books. Your breathing became irregular as you reached the spicy parts and subtle color crept up your neck, extending to your cheeks. You also squeezed your thighs together, having no idea that your werewolf roommate’s senses were sharper than any human's.

Mate, the wolf growled in him. Ours.

It was primitive and irrefutable as if the universe had imprinted you on his soul.

And this time, your scent was his undoing.

It all spoke to him, tempted him, and anchored him to you.

But he could not tell you. Not yet. You were a human. Delicate.

And if he claimed you were his mate—that you belonged to him, that his entire soul was aching for you—you’d flee. He’d run, too, if he were in your shoes. He was a werewolf, buff, tall, and scary to most. Primal, animalistic, too.

But tonight, you were testing his patience.

Sitting there looking like a snack, a tattered paperback in your hands with a cover that he couldn't look at without his mind wandering into a dangerous zone. A bare-chested werewolf and a heroine with curves that matched her own.

And your scent— Goddamn it, that scent.

Eli took a sharp inhalation, his claws sinking into the couch's armrest.

He knew he needed to leave. To run. To breathe.

Then you sighed. Soft. Breathless. Sweet.

That was his undoing.

You glanced at him amid your dirty reading.

Your roommate. Eli. Your infuriatingly gorgeous, towering werewolf (who was always shirtless by the way).

Eli had chosen to stay stubbornly with you while you read your smut. Your book was good—one of those stories in which the brooding, possessive werewolf would rather burn the world than see his human mate with someone else. It was good but no amount of fictional tension amd sex could match the real thing sitting across the room.

Eli had a steely smirk and a presence that made the air hum. He'd always been kind, lively, and easy to talk to, but there was something wild beneath the surface that you couldn't resist. It was the way his golden eyes lingered on you, or how he seemed to shift closer to you every chance he got, or how he tensed every time you were aroused.

Like right now.

You took a quick glimpse over the top of your book. And sure enough, there he was, sitting stiffly on the couch, his knuckles white from gripping the armrest. His jaw was locked, and his chest moved in tiny gasps and… and was that a bulge in his pants? You swallowed.

"Eli?" you asked quietly, lowering the book. He did not glance at you. Did not move.

But his harsh, low voice sent chills down your spine.

"Yeah?"

"You okay?"

A pause. Then a quick, dry laugh with no humor. "Fine. Why?"

You grimaced and closed the book completely. "You seem tense.”

His head snapped toward you, and his eyes locked on yours. The intensity in his gaze caused your breath to hitch. Heat pooled down in your stomach, your body betraying you.

“Fuck. I cannot handle it anymore,” he muttered. His discipline, which had already worn thin, was unraveling by the second.

"Eli?"

"Why do you read that stuff?" His voice came out rough.

You blinked. "What stuff?"

He pointed to the book. "That. Those books."

Your cheeks flushed. "I-I'm not sure. They are... entertaining."

"Entertaining," he said, standing up, all his bulky gorgeous body and you leaned back slightly, your wide eyes fixed on his.

"It's just fiction," you muttered. ”Sexy as hell, too.”

And then you saw it.

His breaking point.

"Is it? Or do you read them because you wish I was there to make you feel something?"

Your lips parted, but no words came out. You could feel the tension between you, tightening like a wire about to break.

Could you risk it? Tell him the truth? Of how much you craved him?

"Tell me," he repeated, his voice low and rough. "Do they make you think of me?"

You could not breathe. Your body was reacting to him as it always did, heat gathering between your legs as his gaze drove into you. He was too close, his presence surrounding you, the only thing that mattered. You couldn't lie. Not when every nerve in your body craved him.

"Yes."

His pupils dilated. "Yes?"

“Yes… the books. They make me think of you.”

His lips curled into a predatory grin and he pushed closer, too quickly, and placed his hands on your shoulders before you could blink. You gasped as his touch shot a shock through your veins, the heat between you overwhelming.

“Reading thinking about me, hm? Every damn page."

You couldn't react because your heart was pounding so hard in your ears, that you felt you were going to drown.

But then his lips were on yours, wet, warm and demanding, as if he couldn't hold back anymore. Your hands trembled as they moved up his naked chest, stroking the muscles. You drew back for a moment, not believing this was real. But once you met his eyes; wide with need, and something deeper you knew.

He wanted you.

Eli kissed you again and this time, he fucking devoured you. You moaned, and damn, it almost drove him crazy. The monster in him snarled, enraged and hungry, urging him to take, claim, and brand you. You were his mate, his other half.

He deepened the kiss, moving his hands down your arms and felt your curves beneath his touch. You also tasted like temptation—sweet and innocent— your lips parting beneath his, your tongue hesitant at first, but then melting into him. Your scent; lavender and that enticing natural scent of your skin enveloped him, and he couldn't get enough of it.

His hands moved lower, pressing into the curve of your hips, pulling you close to him. You gasped into his mouth, and he groaned at the sensation of your soft, full body pressed against the hard lines of his.

"You don't know what you're doing to me," he said, his voice raw.

You moaned, your hands slipping to the waistline of his pants, fingertips teasing the fabric.

Challenging him, playing with fire.

Why not? You were already lost.

"Maybe I do," you said softly, lips brushing against his jaw.

A feral growl left him as he carried you in his strong arms and plopped you down on the bed. You couldn't help but look up at him—at your sexy werewolf. He looked back—possessive, ravenous as if he could swallow you in an instant. He would.

"Do you really want this, sweetheart?"  he asked.

"Yes. I want this… want you."

Everything happened in a flash. His hands moved, and you arched into his touch as he ripped your clothes. He pulled off his pants and boxers, removing all your clothes until were both naked, his clawed fingers caressing your plump tits, over one tight nipple, then the curvature of your waist, and down to the soft swell of your thighs.

“Fuuuck, look at you. Perfect," he drawled. "Every inch of you."

“I second that.”

His muscles flexed as he hovered above you, a great beast, the gorgeous heat of his body radiating on yours.

The contrast between you was uncanny. You were all soft, mushy thighs and belly, and he was everything you had envisioned in your fantasies and more. So much more.

And he was magnificent. All raw power and bulk, every inch of him designed for strength. His arms, chest, abs—and Gods, his dick. It was even better than the slutty monster books you read. Generously thick and long, with a sharp tip leaking pre-cum and a fat knot at the base.

Your thoughts faded when his lips followed a line down your neck, and you arched into him, allowing him to feel the fullness of your tits pressing against his firm hairy chest. You wanted him on your nipples. He took the bait and dragged his tongue around one nipple, his hand fondling the other mound.

Bliss coursed through you. He slurped up your breasts and meanwhile, your hands moved down his torso, feeling the way his muscles contracted under your touch, the roughness of his skin, and the heat that radiated off him. When you gripped his cock, his snarl made your entire body shiver.

“Ahhh, sweetheart. You're driving me crazy," he said, his voice thick with need.

“Good. I want to drive you nuts.”

He chuckled. “My turn first, love.”

A swift move and he was between your legs, his hands seizing your hips, his tongue pushing at your folds and eating your cunt. You jerked and whined, feeling his tongue as it made torturous circles over your clit, sending thrills up your spine and driving you higher and higher until you snapped.

Eyes shutting, belly trembling as cries of pleasure left you. Unbidden.

"You don't even know what you've done to me, do you?" His tongue brushed against your oversensitive clit, his fangs glinting.

"What have I done?" you gasped, voice quivering.

"You have been ruining me for months. Every time you curled up on the couch with those filthy books."

His cock pressed against your sloppy slit, making it even sloppier by spreading his pre-cum over your folds.

“Please…” you whimpered but he held you tightly, anchoring you beneath him.

"You've been tormenting me without even knowing it."

You swallowed hard, heat rising in your cheeks. "You could've said something… I wanted you for so long but I was scared," you said quietly. "I didn't know if you wanted me."

"You think I didn’t want you?" His voice was low and sinister. “I need you, love. Every inch of you. This body. This softness. This skin. This heat. All mine.”

“Yours.”

He growled, slapping his girthy cock over your entrance. "Say that again."

“Yours. I’m all yours, Eli.”

A groan echoed deep in his chest before he pushed inside. Stretching you, slowly feeding your pussy all inches of his dick. He invaded your depths as if his dick had always belonged there, the tip kissing your womb. So deep! So full! So damn good!

“You're taking me so well, sweetheart," he said, his hands caressing your tits. "Every inch."

The werewolf in him roared, set free to brand you, to claim you in every way. He held your hips, letting his claws press just enough to leave faint marks as a reminder that you belonged to him and fucked you, your bodies clashing and colliding. Your pretty cunt swallowed him up, messy and gorgeous while your body quivered beneath him, your curves beautiful and lush.

"You're going to feel me everywhere," he growled, reaching down to kiss your lips fiercely. “This is going to be nothing like those books you read. This is the real deal, love. From now on, your heart and cunt are mine. Mine to fuck, love and protect. You hear me?’

You only nodded – frantically— before you climaxed, again, your blunt nails sinking into his shoulders. But he wasn't finished. His knot was swelling, you’d read so many books about knotting. But God, this was the real deal indeed and it was freaking marvelous!

Your body tightened around him as he pushed deep and his knot enlarged, fully, locking you together. So stretched. Cum flooded you. So much it filled you to the brim. You trembled beneath him as he leaned down and swirled his tongue against your ear.

“Knotted like a good girl.” He hugged you harder, his snout brushing against your temple. “Keep my cock warm, love, okay?”

You smiled. “Hmm, I’m gonna keep it nice and warm, Eli. Where it belongs.”

"You are damned wonderful, mate. This was exactly what I'd been craving. You’re mine.”

"Always yours," you said, your voice full of need and trust.

THE END!

Did you enjoy? Let me know what you think!

Want more stories, series, feels, monster fluff and steam? Check out my Patreοn!

[askagamedev]

Would you agree that one of the only ways Concord stood out from its competition was through its character designs?

Going just off their clothing, their color palettes are hideous.

Concord really needed better character designs. When the player experience is greatly changed by the character or role the player chooses to play, the way that character or role is played must be clearly conveyed through its visual design. I thought Concord actually played quite well - several of their developers were former Bungie developers and Concord's gameplay was very much like early Destiny PVP. The game performed well and the characters played in fairly interesting ways once you started playing. The major difficulty was figuring out how a character played from how they looked.

For example, each of these characters from Samurai Shodown 2 really conveys what kind of gameplay a player can expect at a glance. One is a mid-range character who excels at keeping opponents at the right distance. One is a very fast attacker with short range and high combo potential. One is a heavy and slow heavy hitter. Earthquake, first, is clearly the slow and heavy hitter - his size is the biggest tipoff. Huge muscles, huge belly, and an extremely large weapon that can reach. Nakoruru, second, is the fast, short range fighter. She's got a hawk, a very fast animal, with her and she's got no visible weapon. The third character, Ukyo, is the mid-range character with his sheathed sword and sword hand ready to draw. It's immediately apparent that he's ready to draw that sword in a blink of an eye on anyone in range.

Here are three Concord characters - Daw, Duchess, and Vale. Among these three, there's a healer, a sniper, and an explosives expert. Is it easy to tell who's who at a glance? I would argue that it really isn't. The first character has a long rifle and goggles which suggests a sniper, but the white clothing and stylized red crosses suggest healing as well. The second character doesn't really fit the visual profile of any of the roles - judging by the size and bulkiness of the character's clothing, I would have thought he was a front-line tank of some kind instead, but I could see maybe that character being an explosives expert if there were any actual visible explosives. The third character's visual design doesn't say much at all - she looks like an old superhero with a gun. There are no real visual cues as to which role she fills. These characters are, in order, sniper, healer, and explosives expert respectively. This lack of visual clarity severely hurts the interest of anyone thinking about picking the game up because they aren't immediately drawn to a character or role they could be interested in.

From what I've gathered, one of the big issues during development with the character design was, as I suspected, design by committee. When the leadership wants things a certain way, those of us in the trenches must acquiesce. I've had situations where I've been assigned a particular task and thought it was a bad idea. I voiced my issues to the leads respectfully, I was overruled and told to do what they said, and I delivered what they asked. I know of another developer who got too close to a particular feature he worked really hard on and threw a massive tantrum when that feature was cut. That unfortunate dev was fired for his behavior. As much as those on the outside might think that we get to do whatever we want during development, individual contributors really are beholden to the decisions of our leadership.

[Join us on Discord] and/or [Support us on Patreon]

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Frequent Questions: The FAQ

[paddedlittleparadise]

Renée's Absolutely Awful Summer (Patreon/Ream Tier 2 Teaser)

Hey, all! So I don't normally post teasers from the exclusive tier-2 content on my Patreon and Ream, but this one's an exception. Why not take a peek and see what horrible and totally realistic things have been happening to our adorable protagonist?

For the record, this multi-chapter story is meant as a satire on a particular kind of AB/DL story – not of any particular author! It's all meant in good fun :-)

–––

When Renée woke that Saturday morning in late May, she had no idea that it was going to be the first day of a very, very crazy summer.

"Wha-a?" She sat up in bed, blinking down in confusion at the strange sensation around her bottom. If she was any other young woman, she might have pulled back the covers to investigate what horrible, shameful secret might be there. But she wasn't just any other young woman – oh, no. She had already realized that she was the protagonist in a kinky AB/DL story… and that meant she had to stop everything. Blink meekly into the middle distance, as if into the hungry eyes of the readers. And wait for the omniscient narrator to explain exactly what an adorable, lust-worthy character she was.

You see (the omniscient narrator announced, in the most lovely, rumbly narrator voice imaginable) Renée was twenty-one years old and definitely, totally, legally an adult. This was absolutely true, despite the odd genetic tendencies that had stunted her growth and made her look no more than a mere sixteen. She had shoulder-length brown hair and brown bangs and brown eyes – and freckles, too, for good measure. Her bra size was 32A, her weight 111.5 pounds, her height four feet eleven inches, her shoe size 6W, her glasses prescription -3.00 -3.75, and her blood type A-positive. Her middle name was Dawn, her favorite color was lavender, the name of her favorite teacher was Ms. Stapleton, and the name of her first pet was Hank (the hamster). She was-

The narrator paused, realizing belatedly that he might have given too much information too quickly. Ahem, he announced, a trifle apologetically. That is to say, Renée was a super cute and super lust-worthy AB/DL protagonist. She was very short, you see, and her chest was flat as a teenage boy's. Oh, see those freckles? And those bangs? And did I mention how short she was? Again, totally legal and totally an adult! But yeah, she was pretty freaking ador-

Renée impatiently pulled back the covers at last, and the narrator mercifully shut up. But oh, the horror! For what was she looking at with those cute, wide brown eyes of her? Not just the faded fabric of her favorite pajama bottoms. Not even Jerry, the tattered stuffed iguana that she slept with every night, now lying flat on his back like roadkill. Oh, no. It was a

GIANT WET PATCH IN HER BED!!!

"Oh my gawd!" shrieked her mother, who had suddenly and illogically appeared in her room. "My big adult dawta just peed her bed! Whaddya hafta say for yourself, girl? Huh? HUH? You think it's funny, laying there and peeing yourself? I didn't think you was a frickin' baby no more, you know!"

The narrator began to interject with exposition – explaining something about how Renée's nameless mother was a stout, domineering, no-nonsense sort of parent – but his voice was drowned out as Renée's adorable little face crumpled immediately down into pathetic little wails. "I- I'm sorryy, Mom," she pleaded, blinking in chagrin down at the GIANT WET PATCH she was sitting in. "I didn't- I never-! I- hic! I never wet the bed be- hic! fore! Not even last semest- hic! -err…"

In case it wasn't obvious, Renée got the hiccups every time she was upset.

"Oh, be quiet!" Having put up with them for twenty-one years, her mother apparently found her daughter's hiccups anything but endearing. "Listen: I haven't the slightest reason why you might have developed a case of nocturnal enuresis during the last twenty-four hours. However, since I am stout, domineering, no-nonsense sort of parent, I have no intention of demonstrating paternal affection or ensuring that you receive proper medical attention. On the contrary, I firmly believe that my best course of action at this juncture will be to administer a painful, hopelessly outdated form of corporal punishment on a sensitive yet durable portion of your anatomy…"

–––

Oh, no! Whatever will happen to that cute protagonist's sensitive yet durable bottom?

If you want to find out more, why not check it – and lots of other stories – out over on Tier 2 of my Patreon or Ream?

[bones4thecats]

I'm not sure if this is a good idea but can I please ask for Twisted Wonderland characters falling in love with a kianna reader

Also you can choose the characters you want to write about

She's an OC of mine you can find more information about her on my patreon Tumblr and you don't have to take this request if you don't want to

A/N: I tried my best for the reader to match your OC, Kianna, so I read as many posts as I could and tried to make this as accurate as possible. There may be a bit of lose ends in it, but I do hope you like this @nunezs-stuff!! You're posts are really good and I hope you continue making your OC stuff! This can also be interpreted as either platonic or romantic! Enjoy~~

●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・

●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・

This guy was interested in you because you looked so dead and frozen, kinda like him

Definitely surrounded you, which reminded you of how close you and your sister, Yui, used to be

It doesn’t take much for this guy to become your friend, as he doesn’t really have any standards like others

Sharing your pasts is a sign of trust, and when Malleus heard yours he nearly cried

You had gone through all of that trauma as a child, and then you went through more at the hands of vampires?

Hearing how you defeated all the vampire in order to save future sacrificial brides made him fearful, yes, but he also knew how much you cared for others and wanted them safe

He would definitely have a flip-phone like you, and if he had a newer one, he preferred yours, it was easier to use

●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・

●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・

He reminded you of the brothers in certain scenarios, and that scared you

Nightmares increased after you met the fashionista, but how could he know what you went through? He was from another world, maybe the brothers aren’t here like Vil wasn’t there

He loves your outfits so much, the ruffles on your shirt may not be the best colors, but they did look good on you

When you two got to be good friends, he made sure to keep you away from the headlines, knowing how violent you can get when feeling threatened

Seeing you interact with students of his dorm made him feel odd, you seemingly cared for one more than the rest, and all you said was, “He’s like Yui…”

Hearing the trauma you went through to keep people safe in your world saddened him, and afterwards, he made sure you didn’t feel the guilt you felt since you lost your sister to those vicious blood-suckers in your world

●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・

●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・○・●・

Jack definitely reminded you of the youngest brother

His tsundere-ish nature was something you never wanted to see again, and it caused a small drift in becoming friends, the same goes for the rest of the first years, since they all shared traits with the ones you killed

It took a while, but when you two eventually became friends, he showed himself to be so much better than the brothers you compared him too

The scares you’re covered in doesn’t deter his care for you, it only makes him feel happier that you survived, and showed how determined you were

You remind him of himself sometimes, not wanting to be close to people in case you lose them, but you both saw each other as exceptions

[siphersaysstuff]

MAY MECH MARATHON

So for May's Patreon-backed @tfwiki toy picture batch, I got a wild hair. After last month's Exdimensions update, I realized that the wiki was missing Legend of the Microns (Armada) Exdimensions Twist (Makeshift), the only XD Emergency Team toy I hadn't done. So I did him up. Hooray!

Then the next day I was staring at the raw photos I took of Retro Hot Rod, which were in my Patreon "working" folder because I didn't have a "Retro" repository folder because I am almost certainly not going to get any others in this line, so I did his pic up... besides, it's the "flagship" toy of the line, it should get unique imagery. God he's gorgeous.

At that point I went " to hell with it" and decided that for each weekday in May, I'd do one toy pic from a random, whatever-I-felt-like selection. No overarching theme, and trying to hit a pretty broad swath of toylines and timeframes. Thus...

Not sure why I picked Universe Magna Stampede next. I actually had to dig him up to take these pics. I think I'd just chanced upon his stock imagery, which was craptastic and also showed the axe split in two, which I'm certain the toy is not supposed to do, and went "no, I'm'a fix this.

And this last week's updates...

I picked up Decoy Smokescreen for cheap at TFCon, and really, the wiki's Decoy coverage has been... lacking. Mostly in that they were sold in so many colors and different ways in Japan that the wiki barely touches on. Smokescreen's page is now the template for how Decoys should be, so I'll get to those in time.

There's not much story here with Animated Lugnut. Most of the wiki's Animated toy imagery is stock, and while stock quality had improved since 2003 (it'd almost have to), it's still not great. Taking pics of the real, final-release toy will almost always be preferable for a number of reasons.

Takara's Mega Super Collection Figure Starscream was part of the big early-2000s burst of G1 merch in Japan. A 5-inch fairly-posable soft-plastic figure with swappable parts, he and a handful of other big-name characters were made, plus several Legends of the Microns headliners.

Power Up VT6 is from the "Real Gear Robots" subline of the 2007 Transformers movie series, one of a large range of 1:1-scale toys that transform from personal electronic devices into robots. He's also one of the few whose altmode is not almost totally outdated. The Cybertron-based stickers on the early Real Gears led to the belief that these were canceled /re-assigned Cybertron toys, but nope! They were made specifically for the movie line, it's just that in order to get them into production, they had to get those decals out fast.

Remember Attacktix? No? Not shocking. Hasbro had an admittedly cool idea for an action tabletop game, started the line with Star Wars, and moved on to Transformers. Yes, officially, you could have Optimus Prime fight Darth Vader. Battle Ravage was one of the booster-pack common pieces (laughably officially "Rare"). You rolled his base forward a set number of "tix" (a clicky-thing in the base counted them off), then could use his spring-loaded waist to swing the mace-ball in the hopes of knocking over your opponent's pieces. There's other rules but that's the jist of it. Each booster-pack piece commonly came with a black base, but there was a roughly 1-in-8 chance of getting a silver-chrome base one, which had no gameplay differences but it was shiny. Sadly, the whole Attacktix line was cancelled after only one series of Transformers pieces were released, with several more based on Generation 1 shown off but doomed to never see release.

Next Saturday, I'll update with the pics done over the course of this coming week!

And remember, if you like these big pic jaunts, you can help make this bigger and better by tossing a tip via Patreon. Just look up "gregstfwikipics" at that site! You can even help pick a monthly theme!

[objuct]

my patreon suggestion thread

Since I'm gonna closeout my patreon, I wanted to take my suggestions thread and make it public for other CC creators to look over and consider for stuff to make! Some of this stuff has already been made by now but it would definitely be cool to see the rest. (i'm copy pasting each of these comments, thus weird wording possibly and repetition)

there's a lot of good ideas here and i'd hate for them to just be thanos snapped out of existence

I would be happy about proper gaiters or different types of bridles. the same about ultra long manes.

Dressage poses would be lovely!

Idk if that's possible, but maybe try to override the barrels with orange cones to make it a little less western?

Riding boots and spurs! Bridles, boots/bandages for horses, breastplates

Saddle-shaped numnahs (and just more numnahs in general)

Bridle racks with/without bridles

Halters (hung up, as acessories, different colours, with/without wool covers etc etc)

Saddle wall racks

Equine first aid box?

Feed and water buckets (large and small - the flexible tub ones that are mostly used nowadays)

Black feed bins

Wall salt licks

Filled hay nets (floor and wall option)

Turnout rugs and stable rugs, but hung up (I've currently just upsized the dressing gowns lol)

High-vis accessories

Hung-up high vis sim jackets?

Sim ankle riding boots

Feed supplement tubs (turmeric, garlic, etc) as decor and in simlish

I think barn clutter would be great, we got like three barn clutter items in the pack haha. I'm hoping to see other mane and tail styles and more CAS items showing up soon too!

Could you make an Australian Stock Saddle

maybe more saddle textures, and hitching posts

rugs/turnout blankets

helmet that doesn't remove hair

different style jumps

decor objects for goats like the platforms they would play on irl and low watering troughs. They gave us nothing for them :/

English riding clothes for show and practice

better polo wraps and sport boots

salt lick in a feed tub on the ground for out in the pasture

different functional horse ball toys

saddle and pad racks for the wall of a few different saddle styles

more standing saddle racks of different saddle styles

bridle rack

functional hay and water troughs in more modern styles

stacks of buckets

manure pile

items you'd find in a wash stall

more styles for mane and tail (a proper running braid for show would be nice)

more horse-obsessed BB and CAS for toddlers and children

Hairstyles, new English saddles (nice dressage and jumping saddles), saddle pads, track points, a slider to adjust the size of the horse would be cool too

random coat colors for foals and not looking exactly like their parents. I have no idea how you would fix this but it is my biggest annoyance in this game!

dressage saddles! new saddle pads!

realistic manes or turnout stuff

I love everything Western! I would love a few free-hanging western saddles/ bridles and also a saddle pad rack with only western pads! Maybe a few sponges/flyspray/shampoo bottles.

Perhaps leg wraps and english saddle pads that are matching? Like Lemieux and the sorts. Hanging horse blankets / horse racks that hold blankets. Vet objects, like syringes, creams, vetwraps and little objects for a first aid kit :)

please make a stable rug/ turn out rug/ riding rug :D

I though of something while i was sitting here building a jumping course. A little pile with poles neatly put together to place outside the arena on the ground for some esthetic purposes

I would love another short tail! :)

Ah and maybe those silly little horse mustaches lolol? :,D

Girth holders on walls, hanging rugs, bridle holders. Saddle soap / spray, conditioner :)

Maybe a halter for foals?

i know ive said this before but bridle hangers and saddle holders & maybe maxis match hay stacks so we don't have to pile it up ourselves with the debug hay bale and maybe more different swatches for the hay rug from the ranch pack? bc thats only 2 in 2 different colors

Stall doors please!

Western / Red Dead Redemption inspired tack and saddles

bell boots would be amazing!, and barn clutter, like helmets, gloves, english tall riding boots.

I'd love to see some foal accseries if you could figure that out, other then that rop halters are sorely lacking

I'd love to see a breastplate for the saddle and a double reined bridle

[justsome-di]

Nobody Ends Up Dead in a Bathtub, Everyone Keeps Their Organs: Chapter 12

Summary: Alex is an ordinary, highly-introverted office  worker. He clocks in and out and goes home to his little apartment he  shares with his younger sister. He hasn’t dated in years. Until his  co-workers set him up on a blind date.

The only issue is he and his date are not on the same page. At all.

While  Alex thinks it’s a normal date, Damián is under the impression Alex is a  client who paid to be there. No-so-quickly, they realize something is  up. It’s all a prank. Damián is a sex worker Alex’s co-workers hired as a  sick joke.

After reassuring that they’re both okay, Alex  decides he wants revenge for both him and Damián. The plan is to use the  stigma of sex work and start a 6-week, scandalous fake dating scheme  with a big finale at the office Halloween party. Alex’s co-workers will  be too horrified to try to prank him again. At least, that’s the plan.

You can also read this on AO3, or Patreon  (patrons also get chapters a week early along with bonus content). If  you’re enjoying the story and want to support me in other ways, I do have a ko-fi! Or consider dropping me a message in my inbox or reblogging this post!

Alex and Damián were set to meet Martin and his wife uptown at 6, and Alex was stuck in the worst dilemma anyone could have been caught in before going out to a new place with new people.

He had no idea what to wear.

His wardrobe and dressers were open and terrorized in his feat to find something that didn’t look like he was about to head to the office. But the thing about not leaving the apartment except to go to work was that a lot of his clothes were for work. He didn’t want a business casual ensemble, and he didn’t want to repeat his outfit from his last fake date.

He couldn’t believe his wardrobe was so barren. It was just a series of button-up tops of different colors and patterns.

There was one top—short sleeves, collar, dark blue with little white arrows up and down it—that he briefly thought looked nice. But after examining himself in the mirror a little too long, he thought it looked a little too casual. Short sleeves probably weren’t appropriate attire if the date was at some semi-swanky restaurant.

A pile of clothes on Alex’s bed grew with his frustration. Was he one of those helpless men who couldn’t get dressed? No. He took clothes seriously. He was just in a pickle at the moment. A new social situation called for a new outfit, and it wasn’t his fault he was so unprepared for it. He wasn’t going to let himself spiral so early in the evening.

Damián was just going to make the situation worse. No matter what, Damián was going to show up as handsome as ever, and sitting next to him, Alex was guaranteed to look mediocre.

But if anyone was going to have any advice on how to dress, it would be Damián who surely had an outfit for every potential social situation.

I don’t know what to wear, Alex texted Damián.

Wear whatever you’re comfortable in.

Alex wasn’t sure yet if Damián’s periods meant something passive-aggressive or if he was just a stickler for punctuation. He quickly scrolled through their previous texts. Damián always seemed to put periods and commas in the right spot when he wasn’t over-using exclamation marks. Okay. He wasn’t mad at Alex. Alex could continue.

What are you wearing?

A selfie was sent through in record time. Damián stood in front of a full-length mirror. He cut his own head off, leaving the focus on his long legs and lean torso. He wore a black sweater and black jeans with a dark, fur-lined jacket. It might have been denim, but Alex couldn’t make it out in the picture. It was so gloriously low-effort, but Damián looked really good in it. Really good.

Alex had to stop staring. He would see Damián in person soon. He didn’t need to commit the selfie to memory.

There wasn’t anything in Alex’s closet that was on the same level of casual-classy. He did, however, have a sweater his mother got him for Christmas a couple of years ago. It still had the tags on it. There was a faint smell of fake wood clinging to it.

When he had unwrapped it, his mother had immediately taken it from his hands and held it up to him. She said that the dark green was the perfect color for him. He was a winter—whatever that meant.

It was a little thin and more form-fitting than anything else he usually wore, so it had sat in the back of his closet with no hope of ever coming out. He didn’t like tight things. It was part of him knowing his limits as a truly mediocre man.

He looked at Damián’s picture again. He looked so nice.

Going by the bed in the background, Alex assumed he took the picture in his bedroom. It felt a little intimate. Alex looked closer. The room was impeccably clean and organized. There was a shelf on the wall behind him, though Alex couldn’t make out any of the books that were sitting on them. There was a plant with long vines dangling down, twisting and remaining full all the way.

So, Damián was incredibly put-together. He could keep a plant alive. And he read. Alex needed to read more. Maybe that would fix some of his problems. When was the last time he had even finished a book? Actually finish. Cover-to-cover. There were loads of books he had tried to read.

The Handmaid’s Tale because Alex wanted to be a good feminist. It was interesting, but he accidentally left it on the subway and never remembered to find another copy.

Great Expectations because he was supposed to read it in high school, and he wanted to try to redeem himself and his low English test scores from that semester. He gave up when he remembered why he had neglected the book in the first place.

One of those Warrior Cats books because Eve devoured them when she was young, and he wanted to know what she was talking about. He didn’t get them.

Brave New World because he once saw it in an article titled “100 Books to Read Before You Die” and Alex was more intimidated by the expectation of reading 100 books in a lifetime rather than the dense, hardback copy of the book he picked up at Barnes & Noble. It was horribly pretentious, he thought later, when he incidentally saw some dick pseudo-academics discussing it online.

Maybe he could make it a conversation starter with Damián. Ask for recommendations. Pretend like he wasn’t totally creepy and wasn’t investigating the background of his selfie.

Alex had to look back at himself in the mirror. Maybe the sweater wasn’t too bad now that he had it on. The color was nice. His mother was right. But he wasn’t sure about how it hugged him. Alex had been cursed with a pear shape, and he was never sure what he was supposed to wear.

“How do I look?” Alex asked, walking out and standing in front of Eve.

She was reading a book. Dammit. Everyone read but him. He had to find a book.

“You look fine,” she said, giving him the briefest glance over.

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah.” She turned a page. Giovanni’s Room. Alex wondered what it was about and if it would be a good starting point for him. “I’m not doing this every time you have a date.”

“I’d do it for you if you had dates.”

Eve wrinkled her nose up and stuck her tongue out. Alex didn’t mean for it to be a dig at her romantic life, but he counted it as a petty victory.

Alex’s phone buzzed in his pocket.

I’ll meet you outside the restaurant?

Yeah. See you there!

A surge was going to happen soon. Alex could tell. Every 30-year-old in the city was about to go out before the young people started their parties and had their late-night dinners. He didn’t have the money to spare for both a date with Damián and surge prices to the restaurant and back.

“I have to go,” Alex said.

Their messages didn’t push Damián’s selfie out of view. Alex smiled at it. Even without his head, Damián was handsome.

“Don’t get mushy with your boyfriend in front of me,” Eve said.

Alex wanted to correct her. She deserved to know that there was no real boyfriend and that Alex was just as lonely as her. It felt like a nasty secret to keep from her.

“I’ll see you tonight,” he said.

“Whatever. Don’t get murdered.”

“Maybe I want to get murdered.”

“Then get murdered. I don’t care.”

Alex pulled his good coat back out of the closet. He could remember exactly how Damián’s hands felt on his shoulders when he helped him into it. It made his stomach flutter and his heart sink. He would prefer to never see the coat ever again. But it was worth it for another date with “Marcus.” Maybe he could get as many bittersweet memories tied up into it as possible to minimize the items that would be tainted by the scheme. And then he could burn the coat at the end of the month.

It was probably time to get a new one anyway.

Alex hopped out of his Uber 20 minutes later with regret in his bank account. If he had left earlier, he could have taken the subway and saved money. But that meant taking the subway.

He finished the commute on foot. He saved a whole dollar by having the drop-off point a few minutes away from the restaurant. It had been a financial tip he saw on Twitter followed by how to invest in the newest, most promising cryptocurrencies. The original poster didn’t appear to speak to a consistent audience. Alex had never followed him, but the Uber tip had stayed in the back of his mind ever since.

People were starting to flood the streets. Millennial couples were out in their best H&M and Target ensembles. Those who were particularly thriving weren’t out among those posing as people who needed to budget for nights in these parts of the city. They went to the even swankier places. Maybe they left the city altogether.

Alex walked down the block and turned the corner. He kept his head up to read every business sign he passed until, right in front of him, he saw a hanging sign jutting out over the sidewalk. It was minimalistic and rustic. Sweet Pine. Below it, thankfully, he saw Damián tucked away against the brick wall.

Damián didn’t look much better. His hands were tucked into his jacket. It looked like the wall was supporting his entire weight. Before he spotted Alex, he was frowning at the street, eyes not focused on anything. His head lazily followed some pedestrians who walked past him.

When Alex walked into his line of sight, he straightened and smiled.

“Are you feeling any better?” Alex asked, hoping it wasn’t too intrusive or personal. Or weird that he remembered that Damián wasn’t doing so well days ago. “Than you were a few days ago?”

“Loads.”

Damián took Alex’s arm which sent a little shock through all of Alex. He hooked his hand in Alex’s elbow. Together, they walked in.

The lobby was warm and packed with people. Alex immediately started sweating and prayed that he wasn’t staining his sweater. Hopefully, the color was dark enough to hide any damp spots. Maybe his mother had thought of that when she bought the sweater. She was practical like that. Alex wouldn’t put it past her to pick a sweater based on if it hid sweat well.

Damián seemed immune to the grosser side of body functions. Alex had never seen him break a sweat. Actually, right then, he shivered. His hands trembled on Alex. He had a hard time keeping the rest of himself still, making him tense and vibrating in his spot.

Alex gave the host their names, and she whisked them off to a table. Damián followed, his hand still tucked into Alex’s elbow but not watching where they were headed. He looked around the dining room. He watched the waiters walk by and looked at the other diners quietly sitting at their meals. Alex didn’t know what he was trying to see, but he looked only half-aware of it all.

“I’m Marcus tonight?” Damián asked when they were seated.

“Yeah. Are you sure you’re okay?”

Damián slowly turned his head to Alex. “What was that?”

“I asked if you’re sure you’re okay.”

“I’m fine.”

“We don’t have to do this. I can tell Martin you weren’t feeling well, and we can leave.”

Damián shrugged out of his coat and laid it delicately over the back of his chair as if to say they were staying. Alex tried taking off his coat with the same poise, but his left arm got tangled in its sleeve. He didn’t have as much wiggle room as the slim Damián did, and he awkwardly pressed himself against the table while his arms stretched behind him. Finally, out of his wool prison, he laid it over the back of his chair.

He was still hot. Damián was squeezing his hands together, trying to get them warm.

Alex pushed his sleeves up. Hopefully, he’d cool down before Martin and his wife showed up.

Damián was staring at him. Fuck. He wore the wrong thing. Alex plucked his sweater away from his middle, self-conscious about how tight it fit. He should have just worn the dark blue top. He wouldn’t have been sweltering in the short sleeves.

But Damián was smiling at him.

“You look nice,” Damián said.

Oh. “Really?”

“Yeah.”

He looked Alex up and down. Alex’s face was burning. A waiter placed a glass of water in front of him, and he wanted to dump the whole thing over himself. Condensation was just starting to prickle up all over it. The ice shifted with clinks Alex couldn’t hear but still knew were there.

“Are you sure?” Alex asked.

Damián nodded. His eyes looked clearer. He was back with Alex. “I’m being totally honest. You are very handsome. I am very lucky to have people think we’re dating.”

God, how embarrassing. Damián was maybe the most attractive man Alex had ever seen in person, and he thought Alex was handsome? Or he was at least flattering him.

“Am I being too much?” Damián asked.

Fuck. Alex must have had his skepticism showing on his face. “No! Not at all!”

“Leo says I’m too much sometimes. He calls me ‘extra.’ Worse, he calls me extra and then asks if I know what being extra means. He thinks I’m getting old.”

“I think I was born old.”

Damián tittered. “I was worried about turning 30, but now that I’m 31 and, you know, wise and mature, I’ve come to peace knowing I’m not going into a nursing home anytime soon.”

“You’re only 31? I’m 33. I’m ancient!”

“No. No. You’re youthful and fresh. You’re only two years older than me.”

“I’m decrepit. I got one foot in the grave.”

They were falling easily into self-deprecating jokes that neither of them meant. Alex’s anxieties were melting away watching Damián curl forward and chuckle at the dry humor that most people didn’t get. He had only joked so well with Eve.

“No! We can’t be old.” Damián pressed his hand to cheek. “What happens when we’re 40?”

“I don’t know!”

Alex felt a little tug at the bottom of his stomach. He wanted to say how lucky they were to be aging. Queer people were only just starting to get old again. But he was sure that Damián understood that, too, and might have been biting his own tongue. It would kill the mood if either of them were to bring it up, and Damián was starting to look better. His eyes were brightening.

“Do I start Botox now?” Damián asked. He held one hand out, palm up and fingers limp.

“No.” Alex shook his head. He pushed forward into the dry humor. “Botox is a gateway drug.”

“A gateway drug?”

“It starts with Botox. Then you start getting all of this other stuff done. In ten years, you look like Versace.”

“Versace? Versace’s dead. That’s a whole thing.”

“No. The other Versace. The one that’s alive.”

“Donatella Versace? Be nice to her. She’s done nothing to you.”

“She has a weird face.”

Damián’s jaw dropped. “Rude! She’s been through a lot.”

“A lot of plastic surgery.”

Damián covered his mouth to hide his laughter. “Your queer card has been revoked. For hating on Donatella—she’s an ally, by the way—and for disrespecting a woman’s autonomy. I didn’t take you for a misogynist.”

“I still respect her! All I’m saying is, if you start Botox, there’s no guarantee you won’t get addicted to plastic surgery like her.”

“Maybe if you inherited a fashion empire, you’d be a little more sympathetic. It wasn’t even hers to begin with, and if you think about it, she’s probably always surrounded by models who are always 20 when she’s aging.”

“Okay. Fine. She gets a pass because she’s entrenched so deeply in beauty standards.”

“Also her trauma with her brother.”

“Okay, but you shouldn’t get—“

“Oh my God, wait, hold on,” Damián waved his hands, “I need to tell you this. There was a podcast about Gianni Versace’s murder, and they were saying that his killer had met him before he was murdered, and how they could have traveled in these same circles for a bit—“

“Versace got murdered?”

“Yes! Famously! Let me finish. It’s a whole thing.”

“Wait. Wait.” Alex held up his hands and wiggled happily in his chair. Damián looked fantastic. “We need to stay on topic.”

“What was the topic? I forgot already.”

“Botox.”

“Oh my god, don’t get Botox, Alex,” Damián said, with feigned earnestness. “You’ll start down a dangerous path of plastic surgery.”

It was so ridiculous. It shouldn’t have made Alex laugh, but he did. And Damián started laughing—actually laughing—with him.

“I don’t have plans for Botox,” Alex said. “I was warning you.”

“I’m getting so old, though. I might be getting wrinkles soon. We could try Botox together!”

They were straining themselves trying to keep their laughter quiet. They leaned in towards one another, their shoulders pressed together. The restaurant was so nice and there they were, giggling like children over a string of bad jokes.

But it was such a relief to see Damián perk up so quickly.

“Alex?”

Alex looked up. Martin was holding out a chair for his wife. She smiled at them as took her seat, arranging her long, blonde hair behind her shoulders. She was very beautiful in a plain sort of way. There wasn’t anything exceptionally attractive about her. No distinctive features. Her hair was straight and void of highlights or lowlights. She just looked welcoming and friendly.

Alex cleared his throat. “Martin. Hello.”

“This is my wife, Sam,” Martin said. Sam nodded her head politely to them. “Sam, this is Alex. And Marcus, correct?”

Damián nodded with a wide smile. He had settled into his character. “Correct. It’s nice to finally meet you.”

Martin’s cheeks colored. “Yeah. Uh.” He took his seat. “I guess I should start off tonight with an apology.”

Damián straightened. Alex held his breath. It was happening. Martin was turning over a new leaf. Damián was going to get a little respect, and they could still pull off the rest of the scheme.

Martin clasped his hands together and set them on the table. “I apologize.”

“What he means is,” Sam said to Damián, “he understands now that you have a very respectable and challenging career. And that it’s not funny to put someone in your position in the situation he did.”

“Yeah,” Martin said. “All of that. And I really do feel bad. The guys kinda forced me into it. Not to deflect responsibility or anything. I just—I wasn’t a fan of it from the start. I do really know that it was totally wrong.”

“Okay,” Damián said. “It sounds like you get it. I can find it in me to forgive you.”

“Thank you.”

“As long as Alex forgives you, too.”

“Oh.” Alex clenched his fists under the table. “Uh. I do.”

He didn’t. Not totally. That was why they were doing the whole scheme. He did appreciate the effort Martin was being forced to make, though.

“I, for one, think this whole thing is cute,” Sam said. “You guys made the best out of the whole thing. And it’s totally like Pretty Woman.”

“I’ve been thinking the same thing for the past two weeks,” Damián said. He turned to Alex. “You’re like a young Richard Gere.”

Alex shook his head. He was vaguely familiar with Richard Gere from the 90s, but the man faded from any recognition after that. “I’ve never seen Pretty Woman.”

Damián’s eyes widened. “I’m sorry. You what? This isn’t—hold on.”

He was being serious. He turned fully to Alex and held out a finger to him. Alex widened his eyes.

“You’ve never seen Pretty Woman? With Julia Roberts?” Damián asked.

Alex wanted to give him a sarcastic response, but he didn’t. “No.”

“I’m making you watch it. You and I can’t be together if you haven’t seen it.” Damián shook his head at Sam, who was clearly enjoying the false display of a flamboyant gay man. He knew how to play a straight, white woman. “He’s never seen Pretty Woman. Can you believe that?”

“I gathered,” she said.

Damián scoffed. “Anyway, yes, it does feel like Pretty Woman. And I love pretending like I’m Julia Roberts. Especially in her black dress. She looked so good in that.”

“She did!” Sam sighed. “You know, I really forced Martin to do this. I wanted to see you.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. I wanted to meet,” Sam lowered her voice, “a sex worker. I think it’s just the coolest thing.”

Alex could feel the sheet of ice slap Damián’s face. There hadn’t been all that much progress. This was a mistake. Alex should have saved Damián the misery.

Sam leaned over the table. Martin smiled nervously at Alex.

“Can I ask you a couple of questions, Marcus?” Sam asked.

“Sure.”

“What kind of sex work do you do? Like, do you have an Only Fans?”

Damián’s smiled tightened like a man who had been asked that question a hundred times.

“I do what I guess you’d call traditional work? I don’t,” Damián lowered his voice and glanced around, meeting Sam’s eyes when he turned back to her, “I don’t do porn. It’s not really my type of thing. I do know people who do it, and it’s a pretty intense gig. Too time-consuming for me.”

“Right. Right.” Sam nodded. “So, do you—I don’t know how this works—how do you find clients? Or how do they find you?”

Damián delivered the answer so perfectly that Alex wanted to jump from his chair and punch the air and high-five Damián.

A slow smile spread on Damián’s face, and he said, with great smugness, “Your husband knows. Ask him.”

Alex held everything in. He’d shake Damián’s hand later.

Sam, face red, leaned back. Martin turned his face to his lap. 

“So,” Damián said, lacing his fingers together and laying his chin on them. There was a twinkle in his eyes. “I know where Martin and Alex work. But what do you, Sam?”

“I, uh, work in a, uh, marketing firm.”

Martin had his face turned down to the table. Sam couldn’t complete a sentence. The revenge was going to be great. And seeing Damián get a good jab in and have fun, all of Alex’s reservations were gone. He was going to enjoy his fake dates for as long as he got them, and he wouldn’t let himself think about how guilty he felt or how much he’d mourn them once he and Damián parted ways for good. 

[neon-junkie]

You know what? Fuck it: Modern!Batch’s secret/surprising talents, let’s go —

Hunter: You’d think it’d have something to do with his tracking skills or even his hypersensitivities but nah — Hunter’s just weirdly good at the claw machines you see in arcades or grocery stores. Comes with the territory of having a plush-obsessed brother like Wrecker and a little sister capable of whipping out the puppy pout even at a very young age. It got to a point where sone arcade managers thought he was cheating but there’s no real way to prove it.

Tech: At first I wanted to say diabolo but the idea of him being awful at it is far more appealing to me. No…Tech’s surprise talent is…composing music. (Is SoundCloud still used as an insult?? I dunno, I’m not hip) At any rate, there are times when he’s holed up in his room and his siblings think he’s doing his usual tinkering or coding when in fact he’s actually got headphones on, GarageBand open, running through scales and praying to whatever gods there may be that the headphone jack doesn’t come loose and reveal whatever he’s working on. He doesn’t really care to have attention on him for it, much preferring to post it anonymously on YouTube. Some people want him to do a Patreon or even Spotify but he’s not entirely sold on the idea. He just wants to get these tunes out of his head exactly as they sounded in there.

Crosshair: I was gonna say mechanic work (check him in the garage souping up an old motorcycle he bought for cheap) but I dunno if he’d even consider it a talent. Crosshair is more the sort to keep his skills quiet, only bringing them out when they absolutely have to be, and you’d better not bring them up again. …That being said, I think everyone already knows or at least suspects that this guy is good at needlework. He’s got the finger dexterity and patience/ability to sit still for long periods for it. But Maker help you if you draw any attention to it whatsoever. He sucked a lot at it as a kid but that secretly festered in him as a need to prove himself wrong and work hard to do better. In secrecy, of course. But there’s only so many places one can hide knitted socks, scarves, and embroidery hoops that definitely aren’t from any old store. The unspoken rule of the house is that if you have an article of clothing that needs hemming or a tear that needs stitching, you simply leave it where he can find it — but you can’t be present for it. And don’t ask him when he’ll be done (once again, that’s acknowledging too much). (It’ll be done within the week, depending on how urgently it’s expressed you need the thing done by.)

Echo: Alternative talent? Ping pong. Old boy can ping some pong. I will not and cannot expand any further it just. Feels right for him.

Wrecker: Well, it’s not a surprise because it’s already been hinted at in the canon, but it’s a shocker to anyone who doesn’t really know him: Wrecker has an eye for decor. …When it comes to literally any room but his own. Kinda like those people who love cleaning other people’s spaces but their own is so disorganized. He just as a way with feng shui and what colors will and won’t go together and just how much dado is enough.

Omega: Omega is a can-do type of girl who embraces all her skills and talents wholeheartedly, so I don’t think there’s any one thing that can be defined as a secret or surprise. That being said, she loves the arts. She’s involved with plenty extracurricular activities at school, ranging from sports to the humanities but I genuinely do think that she hold a particular soft spot for art club. She’s by far not at all stifled at home, she has plenty of room to express herself, but there’s something fun about being in a new environment and being able to bring her thoughts and experiences with her family there. Especially if it means coming home with an abstract painting of Lula or a mosaic of Tech’s van or a portrait of her brothers gifted to them on Veteran’s Day.

Posting this ask as is because it's great!! I love these headcanons lol. 10/10, very in character of them all ahah :P

[redvioletarts]

Novel Loading Progress Bar Stickers & Notebooks to help you track your writing

[Image ID: five stickers displayed against a wooden textured background. Each says "Novel Loading" in hand lettering, alternating light and dark letters in the sticker color, above a blank progress bar with each quarter marked, and below that is written "Word Count Goal:", a blank space to fill in, and "K" as an abbreviation for one thousand. The stickers come in kelly green, violet purple, denim blue, rosy pink, and dark red. End ID.]

You know what sucks about writing? It's lonely, at least most of the time. Unless you've got a rabid AO3 or Patreon readership waiting for your next chapter, or a really dedicated writer's group, you end up spending a lot of time just plugging away at what looks to other people like basically the same task... all. the. time.

[Image ID: Mockup of a person sitting on a fluffy blanket, holding a pen and a pale blue notebook featuring the same Novel Loading artwork as the stickers above. They rest their wrists and the notebook on a coordinating blue fluffy pillow. End ID.]

"When are you going to finish that so I can read it?" your friends ask, inevitably when you're at that 75% mark and you hate every word you're putting down. You really don't have an answer.

Now you can get a sticker (for all you laptop and phone writers) or a notebook (for the longhand sentimentalists, or those who like keeping a writing journal specifically to write about their writing) that has a visual progress tracker right on the front, ready to be filled in with your favorite Sharpie.

Both come in five colors to match the vibe of your story--or enable you to track more than one story at once without mixing them up!

[Image IDs: First image shows a person sitting on a bench with a pencil and the pink version of the Novel Loading notebook. Second image shows the red version on a black desk surrounded by black and gold office supplies. End ID.]

We writers know progress on a novel isn't exactly linear--a thousand words near the beginning of the novel is usually way easier than a thousand words dragged sentence-by-sentence out of your brain as you're poring through your notes trying to tie everything together near the end. But who cares? Rip off the loading bar idea from the programmers--they're BSing it too!

Fun fact! Most of the loading bar graphics you see on computers are fake--they're just there to reassure you the computer hasn't frozen. But by gum do they make us feel better.

So slap a loading bar on your novel! Track your progress visually to keep yourself motivated, give your friends an opportunity to encourage you, and maybe meet some new writer buddies when you're sitting in a coffee shop with your laptop sporting one of these stickers.

Or get the perfect gift for your writer friend--because seriously, how do you buy for a writer? New notebooks, obviously. Yeah, they have about eighteen blank ones stuck in a box already and they mostly write on their laptop, but they still get really excited every time they get fresh paper. It's a writer thing.

(Yours truly once asked for loose-leaf binder paper for Christmas as a kid. No, my family never let me live this down.)

Both products ship out pretty quickly from my print partners. The stickers are nice splash-resistant vinyl ones, and the notebooks are hardback with a smooth matte finish that feels good in your hand.

Get the sticker here, and the notebook here!

[skitariiposting]

funct.print ("[statement] so. Just a little update on the imperator titan situation. I decided to sit down with the .stl files just to see what I'm working with. First off, most of them seem to be set up for a larger build plate, which is fine, I can cut most in half and just baaaarely fit them on a Mars 3. The problem is before I even do that there's already a funct. ton of models. Like holy shift so many models. I got like 4 or 5 sliced, just to see what I'm working with here and just those 5 added up to a little over 24 hours of printing. So when I say this'll be a long project, it's gonna be a long project.");

funct.print ("[optimistic] on the bright side, the poll I made is looking pretty positive, so if I did start the project, I know that at least at the beginning I'd have a couple people watching, which is a confidence boost. I wanna bring this up for people questioning the quality of the videos: I'm about to graduate as a Creative Media Production major. Producing high quality things is what I've spent four years of my life learning how to do and what I intend to do for the rest of my life to make a living. The question will be if it's entertaining or not, which I'm still worried about.");

funct.print ("[statment] I mentioned it in the replies, but if I started this project <and this is still a big if> I'd open a patreon to go along with it, because I don't think I can manage this project without a bit of support. One of the patreon rewards that I think would be cool is if you get the tier, I'll send you one of the pieces to paint however you like. No color scheme, no set amount of detail or quality, just paint it how you want to paint it. Scrawl your name in leadbelcher after painting it light pink for all I care, just no bare plastic. After I get everything printed, the patrons will send back their painted parts and then I'll assemble this big patchwork chaotic conglomeration of paint schemes and colors and we'll have a big art piece that the community helped to put together financially and physically. I've also been thinking more on the whole "giving me money" thing with patreon, and I have a morality thing I've reached a conclusion with. On top of paying for me to continue the project, any money I'd have left over that I didn't spend that month won't go to me. The budget will focus on the print first, video production second, helping with rent and groceries third, and then the excess past that. I'd feel guilty taking the excess money to pay for anything besides those three or four things. So instead, I'll use it to make donations to small upcoming creators in the community and artists, without sending it to the patreons for benefits or whatever. Just direct donations from my community to them. Because while yes money to buy more fun stuff for me is cool, I feel like if I'm taking money from the community, it's only fair I spend it on things for the community and give back to the community anything I don't spend.");

funct.print ("[statement] Now. I want to specify. This is all still hypothetical at this point. I'm still a college student living in their parent's basement with a part time job for three to four more months. While yes, I've been making connections with full time jobs, prepping for moving out again, <my roommate graduated, so I couldn't afford the dorm room anymore> and making plans, my future is not set in stone by any means. So, I'm not making promises that this is going to happen. More than anything I'm just sharing my idea to see if it's even a good idea and if there's anything I can do to improve it, or make it more enjoyable for people. So don't go holding this to me like it's 100% going to happen, it's just a project I'd love to do if I have the capability to. -Jerry");

[jarofstyles]

Splendore- Verboten 8

They're back. Best friend's Dadrry returns and this time in another country. 👀💋

Check out our Patreon

Series masterlist

Warnings- emotions, slight angst, fluff, I promise there's smut next time

---

Harry’s idea to let them bond together without the worry of someone they know catching them hadn’t been what Y/N expected.

She had imagined a trip into the city, maybe to a few over so they could get used to being out together, to being a couple they wanted to be. Maybe a BnB if he was feeling fancy.

It turns out, he was feeling luxurious.

Italy had been the last of her guesses, not even truly on the brain. The older man had her pack her bags and told her they were going to one of his houses. She had been given the hints of a ‘warm climate’ and to pack those ‘pretty bathing suits and sundresses’ that he loved oh, so much. Y/N did exactly as asked, packing up her suitcase with the cool packing cubes she had bought from being influenced online - she was weak for easier travel- and prepared for at least a bit of fun in the sun. Her suspicions rose when he had mentioned a passport, but when they sat in the first class seats on a flight to Italy, she was in shock.

Harry had laughed at her shock, how she bounced on her heels when she had figured it out when they arrived at the lounge. She had thanked him with kisses to the cheek, her hood falling off her face as she held his far too pretty for a grown man’s face. Y/N hadn’t been to Italy, let alone know that he had a house there. Imagine her reaction when he broke out into Italian, speaking to the gate agent as soon as they landed about something that she couldn't understand. Her attraction to him had already been sky high, but the last few hours had elevated it specifically.

2 weeks. They were spending 2 weeks in Italy, Y/N finally quitting the job she hated with plans to look for another one when she got back, and a weight lifted off her shoulders. Her excuse to Lia had been she was going to go see where her extended family lived, whilst Harry said he had business. It wasn’t a lie- Y/N did have family here, but she wasn’t exactly going to see them.

Y/N’s arms wrapped around his one as they walked through one of the street markets. Harry had been the one to choose her dress, deciding on a white base colored one with tiny baby blue florals covering it. It hugged her waist and flared out, reaching right above her knee and was off the shoulder with tiny puff sleeves- a beautiful one he hadn’t seen before. They’d lazed about in bed sleeping off a bit of the travel from the day prior,  but Y/N had been a bit antsy to see things. Harry knew the area well, had spent some summers here with family, and he was a massive fan of the country in general.

Sunglasses hung on the bridge of his nose as he stopped at one of the stalls, looking at the fresh fruit lined up. He hadn’t gone to the market yet, and it was probably a good idea to get some fruit while they were here. “Why don’t you pick out some that looks good to you, hm?” He turned to murmur against her temple.

Y/N wasn’t used to being allowed to be so openly affectionate with Harry.  The times they’d gone out back home, they’d still been cautious with how close and sweet they were in fear of their relations being reported back to someone who didn’t need to know. Being in Italy offered a type of freedom that she didn’t expect to feel so good. Hanging on his arm felt so perfect, like it fit right into her own. Letting her arm drop from his, she chose a few things. A few packets of berries that looked particularly ripe and juicy, some peaches that were far softer than any she had felt, and a few red and green mottled apples were placed into the wicker basket she had bought from a few vendors up. She knew Harry was a fan of cherries, so she chose a small bag and picked up a pomegranate for herself before stopping. Looking at him for approval, he simply nodded and took the basket from her to show the vendor.

“Mi scusi, quanto costa tutto questo?” His Italian made her blink. His voice had always been a weakness of hers, but hearing him talk in a different language and sound so… dreamy? She felt a bit wobbly in the knees, eyes locked on his face as he spoke. The exchange was completely missed on the other end, her long lashes blinking as she watched Harry pull his worn leather wallet out from his front pocket and hand over a few bills. She watched his eyes slide over to her, catching her staring point blank as his lips quipped up in a tiny smirk.

“Grazie Signore.”

His hand found Y/N’s, threading their fingers together as they continued to walk with her basket in his hand now. He wouldn’t let her carry her own stuff a lot of the time and as much as it drove her crazy, it also showed that he was a real gentleman. They just didn’t make them like this anymore. That’s why she’s gone with an original model, she supposed.

“Got something on my face?” His smug little smile hadn’t dwindled, their hands swinging slightly in between them as she could feel his happiness. It squeezed her heart in her chest. As many times as she’s seen the man content, she had never seen him like this. This level of happiness, or seemingly free. She could relate, but seeing it in the man who was usually quite reserved and had been known to her as an authority in a way, an intimidation, it was a breath of fresh air. His giddiness was contagious.

“Mhm. A little smug look on that face.” She laughed, rolling her eyes in jest as they continued to walk down the cobblestones. “You’re just very pretty. That’s all.” She feigned a bit more indifference than she actually felt.

“Oh? And it’s got nothing to do with the fact that you look at me like I offered you a lifetime supply of peach tea when I speak Italian?” He rose a brow, calling her out directly on her bullshit. “I do appreciate the compliment though. I prefer ruggedly handsome, a sexpot, maybe. But pretty will do.”

“A sexpot?” Y/N snorted, nose crinkling in distaste as she looked at him over her own sunglasses. “I forgot you’re an old man sometimes. But fine. Maybe I do like hearing you speak in a foreign language. You surprise me, is all.” She shrugged one shoulder, continuing the swinging of their arms. It was odd, how well they connected despite all their seemingly different life points. They melded together like precious metals over a flame, combining in a way that made her positive that traces of him would remain in her forever.

“Good. You’ve got a lot to learn about me.” He hummed, squeezing their joined hands. The man seemed a bit shy with her sometimes, like now that they were out of their normal element, he was a tad more vulnerable. It was something Y/N found to be refreshing. She wasn’t the only one a little nervous. Or perhaps he had always felt like this, but hadn’t felt ok showing it.

“Hm. Let’s look in here.” Harry interrupted her train of thought, pulling her into a stall with dresses.

Harry had a thing for them, as they’d previously discussed. He liked seeing her in flowy, soft dresses that showed off her shoulders and her legs. It had taken her slightly off guard considering she had thought he would prefer to see her in her bathing suits- which, he did obviously enjoy, but he had shown more excitement to see the dresses she had shown and requested them specifically.

“Are you going to get something?” Y/N asked, looking at the colorful pieces hung up on a pole and the rolling racks. They were beautiful, but definitely pricey. She couldn’t fault them for it, as they looked hand made and artists deserved to be paid for their work appropriately. She had to be a bit careful with her spending, though, considering she had just quit her old job.

“Mhm. We both are.” Harry’s words made her turn to him, lifting the glasses off her face.

“Oh? I am?” She crossed her arms, looking up at him with her brows raised, only to be met with a laughing man who scooped her into his arms, pulling her into his chest. She had no time to question before he was kissing the top of her head, pulling back to look at her face.

“Yes. M’gonna be buying you what I’d like to see you in.” He said easily.  “And probably some things for myself.” There were a nice variety of shirts and shorts, so he could choose for himself. It was written all over her face, her reflex to argue, but instead of allowing it, he tipped her chin up and covered her lips with his own, cutting off any sort of rebellion. Kissing her for the first time, properly, in a public place. It had caught her off guard, her body relaxing slightly before he pulled back from her. “Just let me. Yeah? It’ll make me happy.” He smoothed his thumb over her bottom lip. “Per favore, bellezza mia. Lascia che ti vizi.” The croon of a whispered Italian sentence, despite her not really knowing what he said besides please, had her core heating up.

God damn, he was good.

“Fine. Fine… If it’ll make you happy.” She whispered back, leaning up to peck his lips again. It took him by surprise, but one he happily leaned into. Harry’s wide grin was reward enough.

After that, it was a bit of a blur. Y/N said yes and no to a few dresses, trying her best to be conservative with the money he was spending because it still made her a little uneasy- but seeing the amount of clothing that he had folded up for himself, it reminded her that he really did have the funds. His home here alone should show her that- but in the back of her mind, she knew she was worried about what people would say.

Gold digger. With him for the money.

It wasn’t that she necessarily cared about anyone else's opinion of her, but she didn’t like the idea of people saying she didn’t feel for him as strongly as he did for her. She would be with Harry if he didn’t have money at all at this point. Of course, she couldn’t lie and say it wasn’t a good thing to have. That it didn’t arouse her to know her man could take care of her, that he was successful and driven and able to provide and create things. It did, more than she cared to admit. It just wasn’t why she was with him.

Harry had swept her off her feet, what started out as a fuck in the poolhouse turning into a full blown relationship with feelings and anxious glances and sweet giggles. It was different than past relationships but also, not. The circumstances certainly were unique, the risk especially so, but the full bellied butterflies she got whenever she thought about him, the late night calls, the rest of it all resembled a pure romance.

She acted the part of a spoiled girl well in most other contexts, but actually allowing people to provide things for her had always made her feel a bit uncomfortable. It was never an even exchange. Harry’s expression had been so earnest when he had told her he wanted to do it for her, she couldn’t tell him no.

The shop owner had looked overjoyed, throwing suggestions to them and acting as a personal shopper once she had deciphered what size Y/N would be, a flush on her face as she realized it meant real money for her. That was another reason she let the guilt melt away. Providing income for a local artisan was worth it. Falling into it, she smiled and showed her preferences towards cuts, choosing one of the lilac ones from the rack, a soft linen mustard colored dress with floral embroidery across the bust, a deep red maxi dress with a mix of lace creating pleats, a white wrap skirt, and a few other things that Harry had decided she was getting. Y/N wasn’t about to deny him. It was his money.

By the end of it, they had two bags of clothing, separated to his and hers by the helpful and gracious artisan who kissed both of their cheeks repeatedly and apparently invited them both to dinner while they were here. Y/N didn't know what he had said in response, but she assumed by the large smile that it was an acceptance.

He had a charm about him. She had noticed it, obviously, but as they continued through the market and shopped it became apparent that he just had a magnetic quality to him that had her looking on the interactions fondly. This was an unfiltered view of the man that made her feel a fluttering in her chest, the luck she had stumbled upon by getting to spend her time with him realized fully as she continued their walk. He was a gentleman, stopping and letting her browse one of the pottery stalls so she could choose a mug- finally letting her pay for something herself when she had pouted at him- and decided to get him one as well. Hers had oranges on it, Harry’s matching with lemons.

Italy was far warmer than she had realized though, and her inner thighs were starting to sweat. She needed a break, which she told him in a soft request to go back to the house to relax by the pool. Her body was in desperate need of a shower and far less clothing. This had been the most walking she had done in months.

He had insisted on gelato before they made the trek back up to the villa, Y/N choosing a Tiramisu flavor and Harry getting pistacchio. Leisurely, they walked hand in hand while the bags hung off Harry's elbow and her basket back on her own while they licked at the treat. It was melting fast, her tongue working over the sides to try and constrain it from dripping all over her fingers. Being sticky on top of sweaty and tired was not on the top of her to-do list.

“Messy girl.” His eyes had been watching intently as they paused at the top of the hill to give her a second to breathe. Her tongue flicked over her fingertips as the melty cream dribbled down over the cone, making his stomach burn a little bit. The woman managed to make the most mundane things either utterly adorable or completely erotic depending on the mood. In this instance, he was reminded of her sitting on her knees, lapping up every drip of his cum when he had finished in her mouth. Greedy for it, he had soaked up every moment of her desperation. It was a cherished memory of his he would be happy to relive.

“Perv.” She smirked, shaking her head as she looked him in the eye, taking a long lick. If he was going to be flirty, she was going to return it right back. “Don’t start when we’re out here. If you’re going to be dirty, wait till we’re back in private.” Her hip bumped his before she started off on her own, leaving him to follow right on behind while watching her skirt sway.

—---

“Darling?” A soft voice woke her from her light sleep, cool fingertips brushing over her cheek. The warm ocean breeze and sound of the water and birds had lulled her into a state of relaxation while the sun had begun to set. Eyes peeled open to see Harry smiling down at her, shirt hanging off of his shoulders while he was bare underneath. He was bent down, arm resting on the back of the lounger while the other stroked her face. “There she is. Fell asleep?” He looked down at the book splayed out on her stomach and the half finished spritz on the side table, evidence of the accidental dozing.

“Yeah, m’sorry.” Knuckles reached up to rub at her eyes, peering up at him with a soft grin. “Didn’t mean to. The breeze felt really good.” Finishing with her no longer sleepy eyes, her fingers went to his wrist, urging his hand to cup her cheek the way she liked. “Did you have a good shower?”

Harry had left her out to relax while he had answered a few emails and took a shower, needing to wash the day off of him. Y/N had done so earlier when he had made them food, so it had been his turn. She had told him she was going to relax by the pool with her drink and book and she wasn’t too tired, but it was obvious the day had caught up with her a little bit.

“I did, yeah.” He stroked the apple of her cheek with his thumb, seeing her face relax into the hold he kept. “Missed you a little, though. Much more fun with you complaining about how it isn't hot enough.”

“Well, you take lukewarm showers at best. I like to feel a bit of burn.” She huffed, turning her face to bite the heel of his palm lightly to show her displeasure. “Rude. But, I missed you too. Come sit with me.”

Y/N’s body shuffled over, allowing him to lay on his side next to her. The size left little room between them, but Y/N remedied that as she moved her leg to hook over his waist, sighing as she snuggled up to him. Harry couldn’t control the flip flop his stomach did at her apparent comfort with him, feeling easy enough to do something like that with him. No hesitation now, lips pressed against the base of his throat before she settled in.

“Comfortable?” His voice murmured, hand falling to her bare back to stroke the warm expanse.

“Mhm.” Her replied was hummed, hand resting on his chest as she sagged into his hold. “I’m really happy.”

The words had sounded like it took her a moment to admit. His breath caught, looking at the top of her head as she kept her face tucked against his throat. Hiding a little bit, but he could understand why. Admitting things, feelings, it was intimidating. “Yeah?” He chuckled, letting his blunt nails run over her spine, memorizing the feeling of its ridges under the skin. “Good. That’s all I want for you. I wanted to take you away… let you feel relaxed for once.”

His words vibrated against her cheek, tickling her slightly. She hummed back, twirling the chain of his necklace around her finger. A force of habit now. “I am. It was a really good idea. I…” There was a pause, hesitation coating her tongue as she decided to go for it anyways. “I was really scared I messed this up completely. I didn’t want to hurt your feelings or make you feel like… Like you weren’t enough, or I wasn’t happy. I know we talked about it before, and I don’t want to ruin a good day with those thoughts, but I really like you and I loved how it felt when we were out earlier. Holding your hand, when you kissed me…” She swallowed the lump that had formed, his soothing fingers continuing their path. He knew what she needed. “It felt right. I know back at home, some people are probably going to have a lot to say, a lot of mean things probably, saying I’m in this for money or something and that you’ll get over me or whatever but I just want you to know that I think we could work.”

Mustering up the courage to pull back and look at his face, she looked into his own eyes. They looked light, but focused. Intent as he met her gaze, encouraging her to continue to speak. She had no idea how he felt, how he felt a little choked up himself at her words and her resolve over the both of them. “I think we could. I’m sorry I seemed so wishy-washy before with us. With putting labels and dancing round things.  I was scared to ask for anything more because I enjoyed us together and I didn’t want to be a silly little girl and assume you’d want something with me.” There was a pregnant pause, Y/N’s eyes falling from his for a moment. “I know theres a lot against us. I’m half your age, you’re Lia’s dad, it’s going to cause problems but I-I really think it’s worth exploring. I don’t want you to get hurt by the repercussions and like I said, I know it’ll cause some issues but-”

Y/N’s words were cut off with his mouth. A deep kiss, fingers angling her up towards him and keeping her chin between his fingers as he locked their lips together, letting her feel him. Heat flushed in her body, leaning into it immediately. He had stolen her breath, a tiny whimper leaving her throat as he attempted to pull back. Her fingers tangled in his hair, tugging him back to her with a quiet mewl of ‘No’ before sealing their soft mouths back again, feeling his harsh exhale through his nose when she dragged her nails over his exposed chest and pulled back to peck his lips a few times. He eagerly responded, chasing her lips a few more times before giving a breathless chuckle, forehead resting against her own.

His heart thumped in his chest as he took a moment, opening his mouth to speak to her but failing. How could he possibly be able to tell her how much he actually appreciated her? He had to at least try.

“I don’t think words will be enough to accurately describe to you how much I feel for you already. I know. I know of the risks, the things people would say, the things that could possibly happen as a result. Trust me when I say that a relationship with you is all that has been clouding my mind for the last few weeks. I’ve thought through every scenario, as good and as bad as they could get, but none of them are as bad as the thought of losing out on being with you.”

His voice was slightly hoarse, the kiss and the mere passion he felt stealing some of the strength he usually had, but he powered on. “Y/N… I know I was cruel to you the other night. I was pathetically jealous, angry that it wasn’t me. That I couldn’t make it easier on you to be with me. I can’t control what people outside of myself do, and I should have conducted myself better but you…. You make me feel again. It’s unnerving and I felt raw and naked and hurt because I was letting you in and it felt like perhaps that wouldn’t be enough. That I’d be a phase. But it was cruel of me to underestimate you and think poorly of your intentions because of my own insecurities. As good as I try to be… I am still a man.” He laughed humorlessly, shaking his head. “A silly, jealous, needy man who wanted to rip the hands off of the guy in that photo for touching your shoulder. I wanted to storm down to the bar and toss you over my shoulder, take you home where you belong. When I realized I didn’t have a claim over you, it hurt. It made me feel bitter and irritated and then you showed up to my house, wearing a dress that you put on for another man… I went mad. But it wasn’t fair of me. I was feeling those same insecurities, and I didn’t let you speak. And for that, I’m sorry.” He returned to her chin, tilting it back up and pressing another lingering kiss to her lips before continuing.

“I want to be with you. I’ll take it all. I won’t let anyone be cruel to you, I will cherish you and this relationship, I’ll make you happy. I know we’ll have some growing pains and that it won’t necessarily be easy because of everyone else, but being with you? Being around you, feeling happy? It’s the easiest thing I’ve ever done.”

Y/N hated herself for it, but she felt the burn behind her eyes. To hear someone talk so passionately, to put themselves in a position at home that could cause him personal issues because he liked her so much, he felt so intensely for her? It had shook her to the core. It felt like no one else had ever cared about her this much. She could feel it, feel his affection in the way he kissed her. “Me too.” She peeped. “It’s- It’s so easy for me to be myself around you. I know it was weird at first because of how we met but it fell into such a rhythm so quickly a-and I like myself around you, H. I do. I think that’s what we’re supposed to feel in relationships. Right?” She sniffled, cursing under her breath as a tear escaped. “Sorry. I just feel a lot right now and I’m really happy.” A watery laugh made him smile, thumbing the salty tear away from her cheek.

“Don’t apologize to me for feeling.” It was a gentle scold. As much as tears from her would break his heart, he wanted her reactions unfiltered. There was a greed he couldn’t control when it came to information about Y/N. “I want to hear and see everything you feel. You underestimate just how curious I’ve been about how this pretty little brain works.” His damp finger tapped the tip of her nose, making her giggle again. “It is how you’re supposed to feel, I think. At least, it’s how I feel with you, too. It’s the best, isn’t it?” His arms pulled her back to his chest, smiling to himself as he felt her rub her face into his neck and play with his hair, warm breaths brushing his collarbone as she nodded in response.

“It is.” Her words were soft against him, pressing a series of gentle kisses to the side of his throat and working her way up to his jaw. “You make me feel things I’ve never felt before. Every day, it’s something new.” Her teeth grazed the hinge of his jaw, biting down delicately before pulling back to give him a grin. “I never want to stop learning with you.”

“I’ll make sure you never have to, sweetheart.” Lips brushed hers, stealing her breath. “We don’t have to tell everyone we’re together when we’re home, but… we can use this trip, see how good it feels. Work on it when we get back.” meaning they’d have to tell Lia. Something neither of them would look forward to, but it was going to be pushed back on this trip. “Just want to take this time to get to know you, to see bits of you that you’ve hidden away. Cruel little thing.” He clicked his tongue, letting his fingers brush her sides to make her squeal. She was a tiny bit ticklish there.

“I’ll let you know anything you want- but first lesson? Do not tickle me unless you want me to accidentally knee you in the balls.” She huffed. “I happen to quite like them, so don’t do that.”

“Noted, darling. Noted.”

[ultramagicalternate]

ULTRAMagic Interval Chapter 17

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“Well now what do we do?” Will groaned as he slouched in his chair.

“You asked that already, Boyo,” Sam replied with a giggle.

Will shifted a little bit. “We can’t go anywhere now…” He glanced over to the clock, which felt like it was trudging along slowly. “And everyone is busy.”

“And it doesn’t seem like Olivia and Buster are going to be done with those interviews anytime soon… So how did that little session with Fractal go yesterday?”

“It went alright. We found out that the fireball I created wasn’t a spell, but rather an emotional response. I probably could do something like that again, it’s just that that instance wasn’t a spell…” Will then felt a chill run down his spine. Glancing over, he saw Umuka emerge from the wall.

“Pardon my interruption, but how do you feel about Valentin now, Will?”

Will rubbed his face. “I have no idea. I get that Milan wants us to spare him, but that last encounter…” He went silent, indicating he did not want to say anymore.

Umuka waited a second, then nodded in understanding. “I don’t expect you to have an answer at the moment. My mind has been just as clouded, so I have a good idea on how you feel…”

“Hold up, aren’t you a ghost? What do you have to worry about?”

“Well yes, kind of. I’m still concerned about you though.”

“Fair enough.” Will then had a realization. “Hey, wait, where were you the other day?”

“I was going to get Zoltan, but he was already on it, so I went and told Sam what was going on.”

Sam nodded as Will looked at her. “Alright then,” he conceded. “Sam, I owe you one.”

She chuckled. “Oh stop, you’d do the same for me…”

“Oh, by the way, Aelia should be here soon,” Umuka pointed out.

“Really?” Sam said as she stood up. “Boyo, up and at’em!”

Will was a little sluggish, but got up with a yawn. “Jeez, I need some lunch.”

Sam then began straightening him out, brushing him off when she did not need to. “Be on your best behaviour, Will. Aelia is a proper lady after all.”

After a quick shake of his head, Will stretched a little and cleared his throat. “Alright, let’s go.”

Trumna and Reynard were waiting in the staff lobby for Aelia. Things were calm as various employees passed through the quite spacious room. Eventually one of the glass doors at the entrance changed colors. It had become a cloudy pink, like that of a beautiful flower, while light shone through the margins. A woman dressed in a formal, yet modest blouse and dress stepped through. She had long, brown hair and icy blue eyes that were like the morning sky. Carrying a wicker basket under her arm, she made her way across the lobby with a proud, yet humble stride.

“Trumna, Reynard, salve et salutationes.”

“Glad you could make it, Lady Aelia,” Trumna said with a modest bow.

Reynard shook her hand. “Good to see you again, Aelia. Shame I couldn’t get Erika here. I trust getting here was without incident? Intel suggests Despot and his cronies are up to no good at the moment.”

“Things were a bit hectic at the coven’s hall, but other than that everything else is fine. Now, where are Samantha and William?”

“If you’ll follow me, Aelia, they should be at the conference room by now,” Reynard answered as he started to lead the two in that direction.

Over at room A1, Zoltan was tapping his fingers on the table. “Where are those two?”

“Who, Zoltan?” Will inquired.

“Vlastimir and Eka. They said they would be here by now…”

“Don’t worry, Zoltan,” Antares announced. “I found them while I was on my way here.” He was followed by Adrien, Vlastimir, and Ekaterina.

“Excellent. Son, where were you? You’re thirty minutes late.”

Vlastimir chuckled, feeling a bit of innocent guilt. “Sorry, dad. The scientists wanted to see our abilities in action again,” he answered as the four sat down.

“Just the usual ‘your abilities are so fascinating’ and whatnot,” Ekaterina said with a giggle.

Antares took a seat next to Will. “Private…”

“Captain Antares, sir!”

“At ease, Will.”

“Sam, Will, how are you two doing?” Adrien asked. “Hanging in there?”

Will nodded. “Yeah. I was able to get some actual sleep last night, despite my dreams acting up again.”

“They were a bit surreal, from what he described,” Sam added. “We ended up calling Ellen to talk about them.”

Antares was a bit concerned by that. “Private, if you’re ever feeling overwhelmed, I can connect you with some mental health experts that specialize in combat trauma. Don’t be afraid to speak up.”

“Thank you, Captain. I’m fine, for now…”

“Alright, everyone, look lively” Trumna stated as he entered. “Milan is running late, but Lady Aelia is here.”

“Hello, everyone,” she said as she stepped into the room.

Sam immediately got up. “Aelia!”

“Samantha, my dear,” she replied as she accepted a hug from her. “That dreadful Valentin hasn’t caused you too much strife, has he?”

“Well he nearly tried to kill Will, so there’s that…”

“How awful. William?”

Will stood up, then froze before he could speak. He then turned to Antares. “Captain, help, please…”

He chuckled and shook his head. “Relax, Private. Start with a simple bow and refer to Miss Albus with dignity.”

“How do I do that…?”

“Refer to her as ‘Lady Aelia,’ Will,” Adrien added.

“Right, right…” Will gave a bow, then cleared his throat. “Lady Aelia…”

Aelia could not help but smile a little. He was not the most refined individual, but she could sense his sincerity. “It is a pleasure to meet you, William,” she said as she shook his hand. “Do not worry any further, I shall make sure that all of you stay safe.”

After a round of greetings from the others, Trumna got to work explaining to Aelia what had happened on their end thus far. He also used the opportunity to sneak in some criticisms of Will’s brashness here and there, as to be expected. Aelia took a few things away from the summarization of events. First was that Will was a bit of a wild card, making her a little concerned for Sam. Second was that things were way more chaotic than she had initially thought. And third was that she was amazed that Will was about to achieve ULTRAMagic.

“...Trumna, Reynard, Antares, and I are all in agreement that we need to go on the attack,” Zoltan declared. “The fact that Valentin has a steady supply of shadow constructs is of great concern.”

“How strange,” Aelia remarked. “You would need a fairly powerful shadow orb to create that many stable constructs in such a short period of time like that.”

“It’s becoming obvious that Despot is getting ready for something and we’re going to need more than just the boys in the security division,” Reynard put forth. “The presence of GRENADIER is going to be a hassle for public relations and the city folk, but I don’t want us caught with our pants down.”

“Such things are unavoidable, Doctor,” Antares conceded. “Colonel Aalders knows how you feel.”

Trumna sighed. “Trying to keep all of this underwraps has been something else, construction sites notwithstanding…” Will and Sam knew exactly what he was referring to and averted their gazes.

“If it’s any consolation, Trumna, father may be willing to compensate you,” Zoltan stated. “Albeit he might want to use the building for one of his charities in return.”

“Thank you, Zoltan. It’s certainly tempting… Hey, where’s Milan? Do we have an ETA on his tardiness?” The others chuckled at that jab.

“Oh he probably got caught up studying the Dark Void frequencies again,” Aelia deduced.

Just as she said that, noise could be heard coming from the supply closet. “Speak of the devil…” Reynard said with a smile.

“Not another security breach…” Trumna quietly lamented with a groan.

Emerging from the closet was a man dressed in sharp, black robes with red stripes. He had crimson eyes and silver hair with a blonde tint to it. From his complaints, his need to untangle himself from the cleaning supplies was the result of a misplaced dimensional gateway. It was something he needed to work on.

“Blast it all, I should’ve taken the left at Albuquerque…” The man then noticed everyone was looking at him as he corrected the placement of a mop. “Ladies and gentlemen, sorry I’m late.”

“Better late than never, Milan,” Reynard replied.

“A broom closet entrance?” Aelia critiqued. “Fairly unorthodox, I must say…”

“Miss Aelia Albus!” Milan said as the two approached each other. Aelia held out her hand and Milan bent the knee to kiss it. In one of the slickest moves possible, he magically produced a gorgeous, dethorned rose from his sleeve and presented it to her. “How are you doing, my sweeting?”

She giggled and blushed a little. “Oh Milan, a charmer as always.” She accepted the rose, then conjured a pot of flowers for it to rest in at the center of the table. “You’re late, but just in time.”

He gave a guilty chuckle. “The Dark Void frequencies were quite active today. I am so close to a breakthrough with them…”

“By the way, dear, two of your former students are here.”

Milan then looked over her shoulder. “Will! Vlastimir!”

“Professor!” Vlastimir said as he got up and received a bear hug from him.

“Hey, Professor Milan,” Will welcomed as he got his bear hug.

“Will, I am so happy to see you again, you and Vlastimir,” Milan stated with joy in his voice. “I am so sorry that I was late to the graduation ceremony that day and I’ve been worried sick ever since. Will, have you noticed a strange, fairy-like entity in recent times?”

He thought about it for a second. “Yeah, I’ve been noticing a purple light out of the corner of my eyes now that you mention it…”

Milan clapped. “Excellent. That means Yale has been doing his job.”

“Yale?” Aelia questioned.

“Yes. He’s a dire fairy I had tasked with looking after Will and he’s been reporting to me ever since. Surprisingly he’s a little behind on the stuff going on here.”

“Indeed. Before we get to the rest of the formalities, and since you brought it up; why weren’t you on time on that fateful day?”

Vlastimir nodded. “Was something happening in Ertheval, professor?”

Milan gave a regretful sigh. “Valentin picked the worst possible time to cause trouble in the main city. Thankfully it was independent of Morana unleashing Akaya, but in hindsight I should have ignored Valentin and been at the academy.”

“It’s alright, professor,” Will assured him. He then took a moment to process that it was all partially Valentin’s fault.

“You okay, Will?” Milan asked.

“Yeah, yeah…” He then lifted his head off to let out a small plume of gray smoke.

“Oh, Will, how are your memories doing?”

“Fine. I think most of them are back by now…”

“Pop quiz! What years did Hellenistic, Arabic, and Latin alchemy start and end?”

Will was caught off guard and froze again. “It…um… well Hellenistic alchemy started in 200 B.C. and ended in… Hold up, how does any of this relate to the academy?”

Milan gave a bit of a mischievous cackle, with the others chuckling a little. “Don’t worry, I just wanted to make sure you’re not creating false memories. As an aside, it wouldn’t hurt to refresh your knowledge of alchemy.”

After another round of greetings, Trumna gave Milan a brief rundown of the events that had been occurring in Red River. Milan was glad Reynard had called him in as the situation was demanding his attention. He needed to confront Valentin for what he had done to Will and there was a sneaking suspicion that Anne Vozenilek was involved somehow. While things did not seem too out of hand at first glance, the issue was flying off the rails from Milan’s perspective. He needed to get everything under control quickly, as he feared the worst case scenario could easily occur with how volatile things were becoming.

Next: Chapter 18

ULTRAMagic Alternate © 2022 William Ford II (ChaoticTempleKnight)

[hekkoto]

Love is love in every rainbow color <3 which color from rainbow is your fav? Mine is red~ honestly I still also love blue a lot ;D I mean, you probably can see it in my arts as I usually shade with blue and make lights with red ;D I definetelly have some preference ;D My friend Sailor-girl1234 on DeviantArt suggested me to post rainbow colors bloody knives while its still Pride Month and I loved this idea so much that now you can expect daily colorful bloody knives >XD enjoy lolz, my bisexual ass just cant waste this oportunity haha ;D I had really nice time with my husband to celebrate my birthday <3 Lately I feel depressed for most of a time also some past trauma got into my head but Im trying stay strong. I will see my family this weekend as in 3 days in row are some birthdays and nameday ;D I hope it wont make me even more depressed >XD tho I got nice amount of money from my parents and I was able to buy new headphones cause since months my old are used by my husband and I recently broke my earphones >XD but yeah, those headphones are so great! I love them so much uwu Im still waiting for summer Steam sales as I wanna buy few games but my poor onion ass wont pay full price ;p wanna support my evil dark empire? Im accepting souls on Patreon and Ko-fi! -> Hekkoto Huge thanks to all of my Patrons and people who donate <3

[shankss-magnificent-ass]

Imagine finding out that the observation haki doesn't work on you

You: *is the newest crew member on the red force so you're hard at work organizing the cargo hold* sir, I finished the inventory record.

Hongou: hmm? ... Oh, go take it to the captain for review and once he approves it bring it back here and I'll show you where we store them. The captain should be up on deck.

You: got it *goes up on deck and spots shanks standing side by side with Benn, talking, staring out at the ocean*

Shanks: *checks the log post* it's starting to look like we managed to escape that storm.

Benn: oh gods why did you have to say that? If I have to spend the night awake because we're sailing through the eye of a hurricane, I'm going to kill you.

Shanks: *sticks his tongue out*

You: *walks up behind Shanks* hey captain! The inventory record is ready for you to review.

Benn: * throws himself away from you like a cat does a cucumber*

Shanks: *feels his heart jump* Whoa! Geez, (Y/n) watch it!

You: oop sorry *holds out the book to him*

Shanks: *very unsettled by the fact you snuck up on him while he was using his observation haki, but takes and reviews the records you brought* they look fine

You: alright, I'll take them to Hongou, sorry again.

Shanks: *as soon as you leave he starts probing out with his haki to find you* I can't use the color of observation on them.

Benn: me neither, I think this requires further looking into

That night

Shanks: we're going to play a game tonight

Yassop: oh boy, here we go

Shanks: but it's only for those of us with an observation haki, and (y/n).

You: why me?

Shanks: you'll go hide somewhere on the ship, and those of us with observation haki will go find you.

You: again, why me?

Shanks: we're testing a theory.

Two hours later

Lime: how?

Shanks: I don't know

Yassop: this doesn't make sense, we should be able to feel them.

Benn: but we can't, and we have no idea why

Hongou: we taking them to whitebeard or Rayleigh to figure this out?

Shanks: both I guess, hell we might even take them to Katakuri to see his he can see their future.

Benn: I'm sure Big mom would love a visit from you

A week later

You: *walks up behind Shanks*

Shanks: *drunk off his ass*

You: *grabs his sides and begins to tickle him*

Shanks: *shrieks*

Benn: get em! Get em (y/n)!

Shanks: I hate all of you!

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