#and not to spoil it but a public declaration of love is not my thing and i cringed the whole time even though id been waiting for it

[mysweetsinfulobsessions]

Who knew being honest and direct could be so sexy? Gemma (right) spares no time in taking a little white lie about them dating told by book nerd Tansy (left) and turning it into a deal that could benefit them both. Confidence is hot!

[rmview]

when you’re just too cute, ATEEZ.

featuring — ateez members x gn!reader ( masterlist )

summary — headcanons of what the ateez boys are like when you’re just too darn cute for words!

contents — fluff, cute aggression, no warnings.

hong ♥ joong

⟶ tries to play it cool but ends up stuttering whenever you do something adorable. ⟶ covers his face with his hands to hide his smile and mutters, “stop, you’re too much.” ⟶ pulls out his phone to record you, pretending it’s for memories but secretly watches the videos later. ⟶ uses your cuteness as inspiration for lyrics, often scribbling down phrases like, “you make my heart skip a beat.” ⟶ calls you “too dangerous” jokingly because your cuteness distracts him from work. ⟶ tries to tease you to balance the power dynamic but ends up melting when you pout. ⟶ gifts you oversized clothes because he thinks you’d look even cuter in them. ⟶ regularly mutters under his breath, “how can someone be this cute?” ⟶ always gives in when you ask for something in a sweet voice or with puppy eyes. ⟶ quietly brags about you to the other members, but acts nonchalant when they tease him about it.

seong ♥ hwa

⟶ softly pinches your cheeks and coos, “how are you so cute?” ⟶ tries to remain composed but ends up giggling whenever you do something adorable. ⟶ constantly offers to carry things for you, saying, “cute people shouldn’t have to lift a finger.” ⟶ gently fixes your hair or clothing while smiling fondly at you. ⟶ buys you cute accessories or plushies that remind him of you. ⟶ holds your hand more often, just so he can admire how small and delicate it is in his. ⟶ whenever you’re being too cute, he jokingly says, “i can’t handle this,” and pretends to walk away. ⟶ talks about your cuteness as if it’s a world-changing phenomenon. ⟶ tries to teach you his “cool” expressions but melts when you fail adorably. ⟶ protectively hovers around you in public, thinking everyone else must also find you too cute.

yun ♥ ho

⟶ laughs so hard at your cuteness that he has to sit down to recover. ⟶ constantly pokes your cheeks or playfully taps your nose, saying, “boop!” ⟶ teases you about how adorable you are but gets flustered when you call him cute in return. ⟶ loves it when you match his playful energy, especially with silly poses or expressions. ⟶ challenges you to aegyo battles but declares you the winner every time. ⟶ takes a million photos of you doing cute things, claiming he needs “evidence.” ⟶ randomly hugs you tightly and says, “you’re too cute. i’m keeping you.” ⟶ tries to keep a straight face but bursts into laughter when you catch him staring. ⟶ complains jokingly, “you’re going to give me a heart attack with that cuteness.” ⟶ encourages your cute behavior, saying, “don’t ever change. it’s perfect.”

yeo ♥ sang

⟶ quietly stares at you with a small smile, occasionally muttering, “so cute.” ⟶ pretends to be unbothered but blushes furiously when you catch him staring. ⟶ gently pokes your cheeks and murmurs, “i don’t think this is fair.” ⟶ buys you matching items, like plushies or keychains, because he loves seeing you happy. ⟶ when you’re being especially cute, he hides his face in his hands, saying, “you’re killing me.” ⟶ tries to tease you, but his soft voice gives away how much he’s enjoying it. ⟶ loves watching you get excited over little things and secretly takes pictures of those moments. ⟶ often uses your cuteness as a reason to spoil you. “how could i ever say no to that face?” ⟶ gives you his hoodie, just to see how adorable you look drowning in it. ⟶ sometimes tells the members, “they’re too cute. what do i do?”

san ♥

⟶ dramatically clutches his chest and exclaims, “i’m not strong enough for this!” ⟶ squeezes you in tight hugs and says, “you’re like a teddy bear. so squishy!” ⟶ constantly tells you how adorable you are, no matter what you’re doing. ⟶ pinches your cheeks gently while giggling, “so cute, it hurts.” ⟶ acts jealous if you’re being cute with the other members, saying, “that’s my cuteness!” ⟶ shows you off to everyone, bragging about how “the cutest person in the world” is his. ⟶ whines playfully when you’re cute during serious moments. “how am I supposed to focus now?” ⟶ randomly bursts into song about how cute you are, complete with dramatic gestures. ⟶ insists on taking selfies with you every time you do something adorable. ⟶ calls you his “weakness” and dramatically pretends to faint when you do aegyo.

min ♥ gi

⟶ laughs and squeezes you to his chest uncontrollably whenever you do something cute, sometimes until tears form. ⟶ ruffles your hair constantly, calling you his “little fluff.” ⟶ teases you about how small you are compared to him but secretly adores it. ⟶ tries to mimic your cute expressions but ends up making you laugh instead. ⟶ randomly picks you up and spins you around, saying, “i can’t help it — you’re too cute!” ⟶ constantly compliments you, saying, “you’re like a real-life cartoon character.” ⟶ pretends your cuteness “annoys” him but can’t stop smiling. ⟶ buys you snacks or small gifts just to keep seeing your excited reactions. ⟶ gushes about you to his members, saying, “they’re so cute, i don’t know what to do!” ⟶ like yeosang, always gives in to your requests because, as he says, “how can i say no to that face?”

woo ♥ young

⟶ playfully scolds you for being “too cute,” saying, “this is illegal!” ⟶ mimics your cute behavior but makes it extra dramatic for laughs. ⟶ pretends to faint or clutch his heart every time you do something adorable. ⟶ constantly calls you pet names like “cutie pie” or “baby.” ⟶ shows off your cuteness to everyone, saying, “look at them! aren’t they the cutest?” ⟶ takes countless candid pictures of you and saves them in a special album. ⟶ whines jokingly when you’re cute, saying, “you’re going to ruin me!” ⟶ pulls you into playful dances just to see you smile and giggle. ⟶ teases you, “you’re lucky i love you, or i’d be jealous of how cute you are.” ⟶ admits in quieter moments, “i never thought someone could make me this soft.”

jong ♥ ho

⟶ tries to act unaffected but ends up smiling every time you’re cute. ⟶ gently pokes your cheek and says, “you’re not supposed to be this cute, you know.” ⟶ loves teasing you about your cuteness but secretly thinks it’s the best thing about you. ⟶ randomly sings for you when he’s overwhelmed by your adorableness. ⟶ pretends to be “tough,” saying, “cute things don’t work on me,” but folds instantly. ⟶ often shakes his head in disbelief and says, “what am i going to do with you?” ⟶ buys you little treats or gifts, claiming, “i couldn’t resist because it’s cute like you.” ⟶ protectively hovers around you, saying, “you’re too cute to handle the world alone.” ⟶ laughs when you try to be serious because look adorable while doing it. ⟶ although always admits, “i don’t think i’ll ever get used to how cute you are.”

notes: i’m actually against doing the same trope for multiple groups, but if this is something you guys like then i might do it for my other groups too!

[pucksandpower]

So Good to Her

Charles Leclerc x Reader

Summary: the public reacts to the TikTok challenge you and Charles inadvertently participated in

Read So Good to Me (about the TikTok challenge) here

The TikTok that the British influencer posted of his encounter with you and your incredibly generous boyfriend quickly goes viral, racking up millions of views, likes, and comments within mere hours.

It spreads like wildfire across social media platforms, with people sharing it on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook — even LinkedIn of all places. Everyone marvels at this mystery woman with the boyfriend of all boyfriends who casually sent her €10,000 just to buy a pair of shoes.

In a cozy London flat, a group of university students and diehard Charles fans gather around a laptop, eyes wide as they watch the now-viral video for the umpteenth time.

“I can’t believe Charles has a secret girlfriend!” Megan, a petite blonde wearing a red Ferrari cap, exclaims. “How did we not know about this? We follow his every move!”

Her best friend Ethan nods in agreement, his brow furrowed. “Seriously, who is this girl? She’s drop dead gorgeous and apparently Charles is just casually sending her 10 grand for shopping sprees?”

“Okay but like, goals though,” Lexi chimes in dreamily, clutching a Charles Leclerc poster to her chest. “Imagine having a boyfriend who’s not only mega hot and talented but also spoils you rotten. She’s living the dream.”

Ethan scoffs and rolls his eyes. “Oh come on, he can’t just throw money around like that. I bet this whole thing was staged for clout.”

Megan shoots him a withering glare. “Don’t be ridiculous. What would be the point? Charles is already one of the most popular drivers on the grid, he doesn’t need to pull PR stunts for attention.”

“Plus did you see the way he talked to her on the phone?” Lexi points out, rewinding the video. “That was not acting, that was real love and affection in his voice. I’m so soft for them already, ugh.”

The trio falls silent as they watch the clip again, zeroing in on every little detail and facial expression from both Charles’ mystery girlfriend and the clearly shocked TikToker.

Ethan chuckles and shakes his head. “I still can’t get over her reaction though. Just a guy who loves driving fast cars — I mean, the cheek! She really knows how to keep a secret, gotta give her that.”

“An icon, honestly,” Megan declares. “The fact that she told him to donate the money to an animal shelter too ... okay, I can’t even be mad. She seems like a sweet person.”

Lexi sighs happily, starry-eyed. “They’re literally a power couple. The sheer confidence and BDE of it all. I’m so jealous but also like, rooting for them? We have to find out who this girl is!”

As if on cue, Megan’s phone pings with a Twitter notification. Her eyes widen as she swipes to view it. “Guys. GUYS. The TikToker just confirmed her first name is Y/N and posted another video with a few more details about her!”

“Well don’t just sit there, play it!” Ethan demands, practically launching himself across the couch to peer over Megan’s shoulder at her phone screen. Lexi scrambles to join them, bouncing with anticipation.

In the new clip, the TikToker is grinning excitedly at the camera, an extra bounce in his step as he walks along the same Monaco street where he first approached you.

“Right, so I’m sure by now you’ve all seen my video with Charles Leclerc’s girlfriend go absolutely mental viral,” he begins, running a hand through his artfully tousled hair. “Which, can I just say — thank you so much for the insane support and love, you lot are the best fans ever.”

“Get to the point,” Ethan mutters under his breath, earning a sharp “Shh!” from both girls.

“Anyway,” the TikToker continues. “After she left and I finally picked my jaw up off the floor, I did some digging. I headed to that little boutique she mentioned in the call with Charles, just to see if she actually went in and bought anything. Thought maybe if I asked the staff, they might be able to give me some more info, you know?”

Megan, Ethan, and Lexi all subconsciously lean closer to the small phone screen, hanging on to his every word.

“So get this — not only did she buy the shoes, she apparently also went next door and purchased, and I quote, a frankly alarming amount of lingerie. The cashier said she dropped over 5 grand like it was nothing!”

Lexi lets out a scandalized gasp as Ethan chokes on his sip of Red Bull. Megan just shakes her head in wonderment. “The actual legend,” she murmurs reverently.

The TikToker laughs and waggles his eyebrows suggestively at the camera. “I don’t know about you lot, but I’m definitely sensing some spicy thank you for the shopping money activities were planned for a certain Ferrari driver, if you know what I mean. Get in there, Charles!”

“Gross, I so did not need that visual,” Ethan grumbles, but there’s a slight smirk playing on his lips all the same.

“Oh shut up, as if you wouldn’t do the exact same if you were dating Charles,” Lexi retorts with a playful shove to his shoulder.

“ANYWAY,” the TikToker presses on, “I did manage to squeeze a few more details out of the lovely shop girl. Apparently Charles’ girlfriend is named Y/N, no last name given for privacy reasons. But she’s a regular customer and, I quote, an absolute sweetheart who only ever has glowing things to say about her man. So there you have it, folks — Y/N and Charles are the real deal and we’re all just peasants watching a fairytale unfold.”

Megan sighs dreamily as the video ends. “Y/N and Charles,” she repeats to herself, already typing the names into her social media search bars. “God, even their names sound good together. I have to find out everything about her.”

“Dibs on making their ship name hashtag go viral,” Lexi calls out, already furiously typing away on her own phone.

Ethan snorts and rolls his eyes affectionately at his friends, but there’s no denying the small, reluctantly impressed smile tugging at the corners of his mouth too. “I give it two days before they’re papped together on some glamorous date night now that the secret’s out. Hope she’s ready for the attention dating an F1 star brings.”

“With that level of confidence and the way Charles clearly adores her? I think our girl Y/N will handle the spotlight just fine,” Megan says confidently.

Lexi nods in firm agreement. “Yep, a true queen. Charles better lock that down and wife her up real quick before one of us tries to snatch her for ourselves!”

***

In a cozy apartment not far from the very street where you had your memorable encounter with the TikToker, three young women huddle around a laptop screen, eyes wide and jaws slack as they watch the now viral video for the umpteenth time.

“I can’t believe this,” mutters Isabelle, a pretty brunette with an impressively encyclopedic knowledge of Formula 1 stats. “Charles has a girlfriend? Since when?”

“And he just sent her €10,000 like it was nothing!” Exclaims Maia, nervously twirling a strand of her platinum blonde hair. “I mean, I know he’s loaded but holy shit, the way he spoils her ...”

The third girl, Claire, bites her lip, a pensive look on her delicate features. “Did you hear what she said at the end though? Just a guy who loves driving fast cars. She was obviously talking about Charles. But the way she said it, all mysterious and like it was some inside joke ... I don’t know, it just rubs me the wrong way.”

Isabelle scoffs and rolls her eyes. “Please, she was totally gloating. Didn’t even have the decency to act a little humble about the fact that THE Charles Leclerc is apparently head over heels for her.”

“Exactly!” Maia chimes in, nodding vigorously. “Like okay, congrats, you bagged a hot, rich, famous race car driver. No need to rub it in the rest of our faces.”

Claire wrinkles her nose. “I just don’t get the vibe that she actually cares about him, you know? I mean, who asks their boyfriend to send them money in the middle of the day for some stupid shoes? While he’s working? She seems like such a gold digger.”

“Ugh, you’re so right,” Isabelle agrees, her lips curling in distaste. “Poor Charles is probably blind to it because he’s so gone for her. He didn’t even hesitate to transfer that money!”

Maia sighs dramatically and falls back on the bed. “God, it’s so unfair. Why can’t I find a man who’s that generous and totally obsessed with me? I’d treat him so much better than she does, you can already tell.”

Claire hums and taps her chin thoughtfully. “You know what, I think this smells fishy. How do we even know she’s actually Charles’ girlfriend? For all we know, she could have paid some guy who sounds like him to play along for a TikTok clout.”

Isabelle’s eyes narrow as she considers this possibility. “That’s true ... I haven’t come across any photos of them together or anything. Why has no one ever seen her before if they’re supposedly so in love?”

“Exactly!” Claire exclaims, growing more animated. “I’ve been a Charles fan for years and I’ve never seen or heard anything about a girlfriend. If they’re really dating, there’s no way it wouldn’t have come out before now.”

Maia sits up, suddenly energized by this new conspiracy theory. “Oh my god, you’re right! She’s probably just some wannabe influencer trying to get famous by pretending to be with Charles. That’s so pathetic.”

Isabelle nods slowly, a determined glint in her eye. “You know what? We should do some digging. Try to find out who this girl really is and expose her for the fraud she clearly is. Charles and the world deserve to know the truth.”

“Yesss, I’m so down for an investigation!” Maia says gleefully. “Imagine if we’re the ones who reveal that this whole thing is fake. We’d be doing Charles a huge favor.”

Claire is already pulling up Instagram and Twitter on her phone. “Let’s start by going through the comments on that TikTok and seeing if anyone has identified her or posted any receipts. There have to be some clues somewhere.”

The girls spend the next few hours poring over social media, searching for any scrap of information they can find about the mystery woman who has supposedly captured Charles Leclerc’s heart. They work themselves into a frenzy, convincing each other more and more that you can’t possibly be Charles’ real girlfriend. In their minds, you’re clearly just an opportunistic clout chaser looking for your 15 minutes of fame.

“God, I hope Charles sees through her act soon,” Isabelle says for the hundredth time, shaking her head. “He’s too good for some two-bit gold digger who’s just using him.”

“We’ll make sure he finds out who she really is,” Claire assures her firmly. “And then he’ll have no choice but to dump her lying ass.”

Maia sighs wistfully, hugging a throw pillow to her chest. “Do you think once he’s single again, I might actually have a chance? Like, if I run into him at a race one day and strike up a conversation, maybe he’ll realize I’m the girl he’s meant to be with ...”

“Okay, let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” Claire says with a laugh. “First step is taking down this fraud of a girlfriend. Then we can daydream about being Mrs. Leclerc.”

The girls giggle and go back to their social media sleuthing with renewed determination. They’ve decided you’re public enemy number one and they won’t rest until they’ve exposed you for the fake, money-hungry, clout-chasing liar they’re certain you must be. In their eyes, they’re crusaders for truth, fighting to save their beloved Charles from your clutches.

What they don’t realize, of course, is just how very real and very deep Charles’ feelings for you actually are ... and that you’re not going anywhere anytime soon, Internet conspiracy theories be damned.

***

In a dimly lit basement somewhere in Italy, a group of die-hard Charles Leclerc fans huddle around a computer screen, their jaws dropping as they watch the video for the umpteenth time.

“Guys, are you seeing this shit?” Enzo, the self-appointed leader of the group, asks incredulously. “Who the hell is this girl and how did she bag Charles freakin’ Leclerc?”

“Dude, we don’t even know for sure that it’s actually Charles,” Giovanni points out skeptically. “She never said his name. It could be some other rich dude with a fast car.”

Enzo scoffs and rolls his eyes. “Oh come on, who else could it be? €10,000 like it’s nothing, is it possible that Leclerc has a secret girlfriend we don’t know about all this time? A guy who likes driving fast cars? It’s obviously Charles! Our boy is LOADED and that’s exactly how he’d spoil his girl.”

Luca nods in agreement, a dreamy expression on his face. “God, can you imagine being with Charles though? Having him call you all those cute pet names and just showering you with love and gifts? I’d fucking die.”

“Yeah, she has to be the luckiest woman on the planet,” Enzo sighs wistfully. “I mean, I’m straight, but even I’d let Charles ruin me, you know what I’m saying?”

The other guys murmur and nod in emphatic agreement, all of them momentarily lost in a fantasy of being Charles Leclerc’s pampered significant other.

“Okay but like, how is this even fair?” Giovanni gripes, breaking the spell. “The rest of us mere mortals are out here busting our asses on Tinder and Hinge, praying a decent girl will swipe right, and Charles just gets to date a literal goddess who is probably a model?”

“Life isn’t fair, Gio,” Enzo says solemnly. “Charles is on a completely different level. He could have any woman he wants and they’d all say yes before he even finished asking. The rules don’t apply to a guy like that.”

Luca suddenly sits up straight, his eyes widening with realization. “Holy shit, guys. Do you know what this means? If Charles is taken, that’s one less F1 driver on the market for all those grid girl groupies to throw themselves at! Maybe the rest of us actually have a chance now!”

Giovanni snorts derisively. “Yeah, you wish. Those chicks are still gonna be busy trying to get with Sainz or Verstappen or Norris. They’re not gonna settle for some nobody Ferrari fan. Let’s be real.”

“Wow, way to kill the vibe, Debbie Downer,” Luca mutters. He turns back to the computer and hits replay on the video, watching enviously as the TikToker clearly shows the €10,000 bank transfer on your phone. “Seriously though, how is this chick not freaking the fuck out? If Charles Leclerc randomly sent me 10 grand I’d be screaming and probably pass out.”

“She’s probably used to it,” Enzo says with a shrug. “I bet this is like, a regular Tuesday for her. Just casually strolling around Monaco, stopping into designer stores whenever she feels like it, Charles’ black credit card weighing down her Hermès purse. The bougiest of WAG lives.”

“God, what I wouldn’t give to trade places with her for just one day,” Giovanni says longingly. “Can you imagine getting to wake up next to Charles every morning? Having him make you breakfast and give you forehead kisses and tell you how much he loves you in that sexy accent?”

“Okay, now you’re just torturing yourself, bro,” Luca laughs. “You’ll be lucky if you can get a Tinder match to agree to split the bill at McDonalds.”

“Why you gotta bring me back to my sad reality like that?” Giovanni groans, chucking a throw pillow at Luca’s head. “Let me live vicariously through Charles’ bougie mystery girlfriend for a little while longer, damn.”

Enzo sighs and leans back in his chair, hands behind his head. “You know what the craziest part of all this is? The fact that Charles managed to keep a whole ass girlfriend hidden from the world. Like, the media has been speculating about his love life forever and no one had a clue he was actually in a serious relationship. That man moves in silence like a ninja.”

“Yeah, and did you see how he just casually threw out that he loves her?” Luca gushes. “He was all I love spoiling you, you deserve the world. My dude is head over heels for this girl and I am LIVING for it.”

“Ugh, why can’t I find a man like that?” Giovanni whines dramatically. “All I want is a guy who will write me cute Instagram captions in three languages and buy out the Gucci store for me but I guess that’s too much to ask!”

“Maybe if you stanned Charles harder, the universe would reward you,” Enzo snarks. “Start leaving thirsty comments on his shirtless pics, see if that manifests your dream F1 boyfriend.”

“Bold of you to assume I don’t already do that,” Giovanni retorts with a smirk. “How else do you think Oscar Piastri ended up in my DMs last night?”

“Wait, WHAT?” Luca and Enzo exclaim in unison, whipping their heads around to gape at their friend.

Giovanni bursts out laughing at their shocked faces. “I’m just kidding, jeez! You think I’d be sitting here listening to you losers if Oscar freaking Piastri actually messaged me? Puh-lease.”

“Man, don’t even joke about that,” Enzo grumbles, clutching at his heart. “You really had me going there for a sec.”

Luca huffs and slouches down in his seat. “Can we get back to being jealous of Charles’ sugar baby girlfriend now? I was enjoying that more than whatever the hell this conversation turned into.”

“She’s not his sugar baby!” Enzo argues. “They’re clearly in love! Did we watch the same video? The way he talked to her was mad cute. That’s his GIRL girl.”

“You’re right, you’re right,” Luca concedes, holding his hands up in apology. “Charles might spoil her but he obviously adores her for more than just her looks. That’s the real relationship goals right there.”

“Imagine being so secure in your love that you can just ball out on your partner like that and know it’s only going to make them love you more,” Giovanni muses. “Cannot relate.”

Enzo nods sagely. “Charles is just built different, man. In more ways than one.”

“Truer words have never been spoken,” Luca agrees. “So, are we watching this video another 50 times or are we moving on to the Grill the Grid compilation I found of all of Charles’ most adorably flustered moments?”

Enzo grins maniacally and reaches for the mouse. “Oh, you know we’re watching the hell out of this absolute gift again. And then we’re gonna spend the next three hours cyberstalking Charles and seeing if we can find any other crumbs about who this legendary mystery woman is. For research purposes.”

“This is the most productive thing we’ve done in months and I’m not even ashamed,” Giovanni declares, cracking his knuckles in preparation for the intense social media deep dive they’re about to undertake.

***

In a crowded sports bar in Dublin, a group of die-hard Ferrari fans gather to watch the latest race. But today, there’s another bit of F1-related content that has their attention. They huddle around a phone, repeatedly watching the now-infamous TikTok video.

“Can you believe it? €10,000 just like that!” Exclaims James, a tall, lanky guy with a mop of curly hair. “I mean, I knew Charles was loaded but damn ...”

“Forget the money, did you see his girlfriend?” Tom, a stocky redhead, chimes in. “Absolutely stunning. Like, how does a race car driver land a girl like that?”

Mark, a quieter guy with glasses, rolls his eyes. “Uh, maybe because he’s Charles freaking Leclerc? The man’s a beast on the track and has the face of a Greek god. Girls probably throw themselves at him left and right.”

The guys all mutter in begrudging agreement, a note of envy coloring their voices. On screen, the video replays yet again, showing you confidently calling up your boyfriend and securing the small fortune without batting an eye.

“God, what I wouldn’t give to have a woman look at me the way she probably looks at Leclerc,” Tom sighs wistfully.

“In your dreams, mate,” James scoffs. “Girls like that are way out of our league. We can’t compete with a Ferrari paycheck and Monaco real estate.”

“Still doesn’t seem fair though,” grumbles Mark. “The dude’s already got it all — talent, fame, money. Leave some for the rest of us!”

On screen, the video reaches the part where you coolly inform the gobsmacked TikToker that you don’t need his measly €2,000 and he should donate it to an animal shelter instead. The guys let out low whistles, clearly impressed by your classy move.

“See, that right there, that’s what separates the Monegasque princess types from regular girls,” says James with an air of authority. “We would’ve taken the cash in a heartbeat.”

“Speak for yourself, I’m a man of principle,” Tom jokes, puffing out his chest exaggeratedly. The others snort and shove him playfully.

As the video ends, the guys sit back, each lost in their own wistful imaginings of what it must be like to be Charles Leclerc. To have the money, success, and effortless charm to win over a girl like you.

Mark is the first to break the contemplative silence. “Maybe we’re looking at this all wrong,” he muses thoughtfully. “I mean yeah, Charles is a lucky bastard, no doubt. But that girl, she seems like a real catch too. Like the kind of person who’d keep you humble and grounded, even when you’re a superstar athlete with the world at your feet.”

The others consider this, nodding slowly. “Fair point,” concedes Tom. “Behind every great man and all that jazz. Leclerc may have his millions but he still needs someone to call him out on his BS from time to time.”

“Exactly,” agrees Mark. “And did you hear the way he spoke to her on the phone? The dude’s completely smitten. He may have all the money and fame, but I bet she’s the real prize in his eyes.”

“Alright, alright, settle down Dr. Phil,” James interjects with a good-natured eye roll. “You gonna start writing romance novels in your spare time now? Maybe they’ll make a movie — The Tifosi Who Loved Me: A Charles Leclerc Story.”

The guys all crack up laughing at that, the tension broken. Their envy towards Leclerc’s charmed life remains, but it’s now tinged with a newfound respect and even a touch of empathy.

“Y’know, jokes aside, I do hope he realizes how lucky he is to have her and treats her right,” Mark says sincerely as their chuckles subside. “A love like that seems rare these days.”

Tom reaches over to clap Mark on the shoulder. “No worries, mate. Did you see the dopey grin on Charles’ face in those paparazzi pics of them together that came out earlier? That man is whipped with a capital W. He knows he’s got a keeper.”

“As he should,” nods James sagely. “Behind every great Ferrari champion is an even greater woman keeping his ego in check. Tale as old as time.”

On that note, the guys clink their pint glasses together, silently saluting the unnamed woman who stole the heart of Charles Leclerc and the envious admiration of Formula 1 fans worldwide. The mystery girlfriend with impeccable style and a heart of gold.

As the pre-race coverage starts up on the bar TV, the guys settle in to cheer on their favorite driver, their fleeting jealousy replaced by the camaraderie and excitement of race day. But in the back of their minds, a single wistful thought remains — what they wouldn’t give to find a love like Charles and his girl seem to share. Guess that’s just one more thing to add to the list of reasons to idolize Charles Leclerc.

***

Among the hordes of viewers obsessively replaying the clip are three best friends gathered for a girls night at a posh Parisian penthouse. Colette, the willowy blonde draped across a velvet chaise lounge, takes a sip of her champagne and shakes her head in wonder.

“God, can you imagine having a boyfriend who just casually drops 10k on you like it’s nothing? Talk about relationship goals,” she sighs dreamily.

Next to her, Nadia snorts derisively while scrolling through Instagram on her phone. “Oh please, like that’s hard to find. I bet loads of rich guys would do that for their girlfriends. It’s not that impressive.”

From her perch on a tufted ottoman, Stephanie raises a skeptical eyebrow. “Really? You think Liam would send you that kind of cash without batting an eye? Mr. I-Need-To-Check-With-My-Financial-Advisor-Before-I-Buy-A-New-Tie?”

Colette erupts into giggles at the scathing impression of Nadia’s banker boyfriend. Even Nadia cracks a reluctant smile before tossing her sleek dark hair.

“Whatever. I’m just saying, that TikTok chick’s boyfriend can’t be THAT special. I’m sure if we did the same challenge our boyfriends would come through too,” she declares with more than a hint of competitiveness in her voice.

“Oooh yes, let’s do it! Let’s recreate the video and see what happens!” Colette squeals, bouncing up and down on the chaise with excitement.

Stephanie, ever the voice of reason, looks uncertain. “I don’t know, guys ... isn’t it a bit tacky to demand money from them like that? What if they get mad?”

Nadia rolls her eyes. “Oh come on Steph, live a little! It’s just a silly experiment. Where’s your sense of adventure?”

“Okay, okay fine,” Stephanie relents, unable to resist her friends’ cajoling. “But I’m blaming you both if Omer breaks up with me over this!”

“Deal!” Colette grins impishly as she grabs her phone. “I’ll go first — let me call Henry and we’ll see if he’s as generous as Mystery Monaco Man.”

With a deep breath, she dials her property developer boyfriend and launches into her rehearsed plea as soon as he picks up. “Baby!” She whines. “You’ll never believe what happened. I’m out with the girls and my Louboutins broke! Like the heel just totally snapped off. I’m absolutely gutted, these were my faves. Is there any way you could send some money to my account so I can grab a new pair on the way home? Pleeeaaase, I’ll love you forever!”

There’s a heavy pause before Henry’s clipped voice comes through, tinged with annoyance. “Christ, again with the bloody shoes? What is it with you women and wasting my hard earned money on bits of leather you don’t need? Can’t you just take the broken ones to get fixed?”

Colette’s perfectly glossed pout trembles, her blue eyes shining with disappointed tears as Nadia and Stephanie look on in pity. “Never mind,” she mumbles. “Forget I asked. Chat later.” She hangs up and flings her phone down despondently.

“What an ass,” Nadia spits. “You deserve so much better.” Colette shrugs sadly but rallies as she turns to Stephanie expectantly.

“Okay Steph, your turn to give Omer a ring! Let’s hope he restores our faith in rich boyfriends everywhere.”

Stephanie grimaces but dutifully calls her Qatar-based hedge fund manager beau. In her most saccharine voice, she makes her case. “Habibi, you know that gorgeous YSL bag I showed you last week? It finally came back in stock but only for today! Could you maybe pop some cash in my account so I can treat myself? I’ve been working so hard lately and-”

“Wallahi Stephanie, how many handbags does one woman need?” Omer cuts her off irritably. “If I buy you this one, I don’t want to hear any more whining for designer things for at least 6 months, got it? I’ll send you 500 euros, that should more than cover it.”

“Oh. Right. Thanks, I guess ...” Stephanie replies glumly before ending the call. She shakes her head at her friends. “Well, it’s something at least?”

“Hardly,” Nadia scoffs. “These men, I swear. Okay, time for me to show you girls how it’s done. Watch and learn, ladies.”

With a confident smirk, she video calls Liam who answers distractedly, clearly still at the office despite the late hour. “This better be important Nadia, I’m right in the middle of-”

“Liam. Focus,” Nadia cuts him off crisply. “I need you to send €10,000 to my account right now. No questions asked.” She arches a commanding eyebrow, daring him to argue.

Liam just blinks at her for a moment before letting out an incredulous laugh. “I’m sorry, you need me to do what now? 10 grand, are you mad? For what possible reason?”

“To prove you love me,” Nadia retorts smugly. “I saw this thing on TikTok, some girl’s boyfriend sent her-”

“Oh for fuck’s sake,” Liam interrupts. “I’m not one of your little social media playthings to manipulate for views, Nadia. My money is not a toy. I’ll buy you a thoughtful gift for your birthday next month, but I’m not in the business of flinging cash at you for no reason. Now if you’ll excuse me, some of us have real work to do. Goodnight.”

With that he abruptly ends the call, leaving Nadia staring at the blank screen, a red flush of embarrassment and anger creeping up her elegant neck. Stephanie and Colette exchange knowing looks.

“So … that went well,” Stephanie quips sarcastically.

Colette sighs morosely as she flops back onto the chaise, hugging a silk pillow. “Maybe that girl’s boyfriend really is one of a kind. God, I bet she feels like the luckiest woman alive. Can you even imagine being THAT loved and adored?”

Nadia seems to deflate, her bravado evaporating. “No,” she whispers. “I can’t. You’re right, Col. Mystery Monaco Man is clearly in a league of his own. I bet he makes her feel like an absolute queen every damn day.”

Stephanie nods thoughtfully, twirling a lock of hair. “You know what though? Good for her. She seems lovely and down-to-earth in the video. If anyone deserves that fairy tale romance, it’s a girl like that who doesn’t even realize how special it is.”

“Ugh, so true. god I’m depressed now,” Colette groans, reaching for the champagne bottle to refill her glass. “To Mystery Monaco Man — may he set the standard for rich boyfriends everywhere. And to the girl who’s lucky enough to love him — may she live happily ever after and never take a single moment for granted.”

“Hear, hear,” Nadia and Stephanie chorus, clinking their glasses against Colette’s.

As the bubbles fizz on their tongues, the wistful faraway looks in their eyes betray the same thought — what they wouldn’t give to trade places with you for just a day, to know what it feels like to be cherished so completely by a man like Charles. To them, you’re living the ultimate dream.

If only they knew the best part isn’t the extravagant gestures or lavish gifts.

It’s the little moments. The soft kisses pressed to your temple. The fingers intertwined with yours. The sleepy smiles over morning coffee. The shared laughter and inside jokes. The unwavering support and unconditional acceptance. The bone-deep feeling of safety and coming home.

That’s the real fairy tale. And no amount of money could ever buy it.

***

Back in Monaco, Lando Norris slouches comfortably in his gaming chair, eyes glued to the triple monitors in front of him. He’s meant to be reviewing telemetry data in preparation for the upcoming race weekend, but the notification chime from his phone proves far too tempting. Lando picks up the device, fully intending to only glance at it for a second before dutifully returning to his work.

But then he sees it — the TikTok that at least a dozen people have sent to him in the past hour alone. Curiosity piqued, Lando clicks on the video and watches intently, his brows steadily rising towards his hairline with each passing second.

“Wait, is that ...” he mutters to himself as the clip plays out. When your boyfriend’s voice comes through the speakers, Lando’s eyes bug out comically. “Holy shit, it is Charles! And Y/N!”

A knock on the door makes Lando jump slightly. Before he can respond, a familiar mop of tousled chestnut hair pokes into the room. “Hey mate, did you see-” Max Verstappen starts to say.

“The TikTok of Charles simping hard for Y/N? Yup, watching it right now,” Lando finishes for him, eyes still glued to his phone screen in fascination.

Max invites himself into the room fully and flops down on the couch. “Absolutely crazy, right? Who just casually sends their girlfriend 10k for a random pair of shoes?”

Lando snorts. “Certainly not you, you stingy Dutchman,” he ribs playfully. Max chucks a throw pillow at him in retaliation.

“Hey, even I splurge on my girlfriend sometimes!” Max protests. “I just bought her ... erm ...” He racks his brain trying to remember the last lavish gift he purchased unprompted.

“A six-pack of Sugar Free Red Bull last week?” Lando supplies dryly.

“... Shut up.”

The two dissolve into snickers before turning their attention back to the TikTok, which has now looped to the beginning again.

“Charles is so whipped for Y/N,” Max observes, shaking his head in amused disbelief. “He’s just asking to get taken advantage of, throwing money around like that.”

“I think it’s kinda sweet,” Lando admits with a shrug. “He just wants to make her happy. Don’t act like you wouldn’t do the same if your girl asked!”

Max scoffs. “What, fall victim to a gold digger? No thanks mate.”

“Y/N’s hardly a gold digger and you know it,” Lando chides. “She works hard for her own money and buys plenty of expensive gifts for Charles too. They just like spoiling each other ‘cause they’re in luuurve.” He draws out the last word in a silly voice, making dramatic kissy faces.

“Yeah, yeah, true love and all that sappy bullshit,” Max says dismissively, though there’s no real heat behind it. “I’m just saying, no way in hell I’m sending 10k on command for a pair of fucking shoes!”

Lando hums thoughtfully. “I would.”

Max’s head whips around to stare at him incredulously. “You what.”

“If it was the right girl? Sure, I’d do it,” Lando says nonchalantly. “Maybe not for something frivolous like shoes, but if my girlfriend called me up and said she needed 10k transferred ASAP? I’d do it, no questions asked. You gotta have that level of trust.”

Clearly torn between wanting to take the piss out of his friend and feeling a reluctant sort of respect, Max just grunts noncommittally in response before turning back to rewatch the clip once more.

Debate rages online among the fans about the cute interaction. Most find the whole thing adorably romantic, cooing over what a doting and generous boyfriend Charles is. They swoon at the obvious love and care between you two, speculating excitedly in the comments about when Charles might pop the question.

Others are more cynical, rolling their eyes at Charles “simping” so hard and accusing you of only dating the Ferrari driver for his money. However, these naysayers are quickly drowned out and ratio’d by your legions of adoring supporters.

Through it all, you and Charles pay the speculation little mind, blissfully wrapped up in your fairytale romance.

Charles returns home that evening to the mouthwatering aroma of his favorite pesto pasta dish wafting from the kitchen. He grins when he spots you at the stove, swaying your hips to the sultry jazz music playing from the speaker as you stir the sauce. Quietly, he comes up behind you and slips his strong arms around your waist, pressing a kiss to your temple.

“Mmm, smells amazing,” he murmurs appreciatively.

You turn in his embrace and loop your arms around his neck, smiling radiantly up at him. “Welcome home, Cha-Cha,” you greet him, using the silly pet name that never fails to make him chuckle and scrunch his nose adorably. “Dinner’s almost ready.”

“And what’s for dessert?” Charles asks with a playful waggle of his eyebrows.

Biting your lip coyly, you untangle yourself from his arms and saunter off towards the bedroom. “Come find out after we eat. Oh, and I picked up a little something special to express my gratitude for earlier ...” you call over your shoulder with a wink.

Charles’ megawatt grin could power all of Monaco for a year. Viral TikTok or not, the Monegasque knows he’s already the luckiest man in the world to have you as his partner through this crazy ride called life.

No amount of money could ever compare to the joy of being loved by you.

[kingconia]

POMEFIORE WHEN THEY NOTICE THAT THEIR S/O HAS SHITTY FRIENDS

Vil Schoenheit.

— It takes some time from him to realise it. Not because he is stupid or anything, but he is always so busy, spending time solely with you, and you always say good things about them, so;

— But as soon as he spots you with them on some school event, he starts to understand something is really wrong. Why would they say all these sarcastic remarks? Especially, if you seem to be uncomfortable? He is furious;

— At first, he will have a talk with you. He just needs to make sure that you understand how toxic they are, and that they are really-really wrong. If you don't see that, or for some reason agree with them, he is sad and disappointed in himself for not noticing it earlier;

— ”Ah, my sweet potato, how could you think so bad of yourself? Just look at yourself in the mirror for a minute! Look at how charming you are. How I love every part of you...”

— Starts praising you more often! He is quite reserved on the public, but he clearly tries to do something good for you. Might pull out a complements on your ear quietly, when you see each other in school;

— ”Oh, who is this pretty lady is?” ”Ah, I am sorry that I bumped in you, darling. I just couldn't tear my eyes from you...”

— Once again, as Vil is busy and aloof, he will not call your fake friends out personally. But he will make sure that some measures were taken. And that they know that their single word against you will cost them so much. Especially, if they are from Pomefiore;

— Live, laugh, Vil Schoenheit.

Rook Hunt.

— Oh, of course he knows that. Rook spends half of time hunting down objects of his interest, but most of the time his eyes glued to you. Even if you don't realise;

— He hears everything. And he sees everything, too. There is no way to fool this man;

— He is immediately furious. But Rook's rage is different from most of the people; his rage is quiet, cold, and slightly... Delirious. But no one can hurt you, physically or emotionally, and he makes sure that others will know that;

— Firstly, though, Rook needs to make sure that you are not affected by their attitude. Whatever they are shitty for—making toxic remarks about your appearance, leaving you out constantly, or something else—Rook will make everything better;

— This man is literally kissing the ground you are walking on. No insecurity under his roof! No-no. If you ask him, he surely can become your servant, even. But you don't, so he continues to adore you in his own ways;

— But that I mean writing poetry about you and declaring it publicly, so everyone would now how loved you are. Gifting you small—or not really—tokens every day. Writing little notes of what it reminded about you. Ah, he can even spoil you with food and sweets! Anything you want, really;

— And regarding your friends... He will take care of it personally. In his own ways. Which can be extreme, but don't worry! They are alive, just frightened! But at least they apologised, right?..

— ”Don't worry, ma belle catastrophe. I will always keep you safe!”

Epel Felmier.

— He is quite observant, and you spent a lot of time together, so, of course, he notices that something is really wrong;

— He can't believe his eyes, though, when he realises how your friends threat you. For him, you are the most supportive and kind person in the world, and perfectly charming. He can't understand how anyone could ignore you, let alone brush you off constantly;

— Epel fully concentrates on fixing your mental state. He knows how bad it feels, to be dawned by insecurities. And he is not a perfect speaker, but he tries really hard to explain you how he sees your situation, how bad are your friends are;

— He is aware that he is not that impressive and scary as others, which means he can't scare off your fake friends. But Epel is smarter and more cunning;

— He uses what he has to make your friends pay for what they had done to you, uwu!

— He either will make sure that Rook or Vil will do something about that—he might dislike his house and housewardens, but, hey, they are useful—or ask to help his other friends. I mean, just pulling in this Jack would be already enough, but if anything, he has these two idiots from Heartslabyul to do something with it. You will not even notice! He is with you all the time, after all;

— ”Please, never forget that you are not alone anymore, and never will be! I am here for you.”

[chosaraki]

Arrogance and Stolen Kisses.

Jihoon Min x R.femele.

—————————————————————————

It was a quiet late afternoon when you found Jihoon in the usual place: leaning against a wall, headphones in his ear, scrolling the cell phone feed with a bored expression. When he saw you approaching, he just looked up for a second before looking back at the screen.

- "Hm. I thought I was going to have to pick you up. Well, at least you know how to walk alone."

His arrogant tone was already expected, but you just rolled your eyes and crossed your arms, hoping that he would really pay attention to you. He finally took off one of the headphones and snorted.

- "What's up now? Do you want my attention?"

You didn't answer immediately, you just cast a defiant look. He let out an exaggerated sigh, put his cell phone in his pocket and leaned a little closer, his sharp eyes evaluating his face.

- "You're so spoiled, you know?"

Before you could answer, he pulled your wrist, intertwining his fingers in yours, starting to walk without giving you time to protest. The warmth of his hand was comfortable, even if the gesture was kind of rude. Jihoon was never the kind of guy who made declarations of love or showed a lot of affection in public, but he had his ways.

He took you to a small and half-empty coffee shop, where he always went after training. He asked for his order without even asking and threw himself on the seat in front of him, going back to touching his cell phone.

- "Training was a pain today. But at least Hashik released some new songs, so it was worth it."

You heard him speak while absently moving in his glass. Jihoon didn't like long conversations, but when he was comfortable, he started talking about the things he liked.

When he finally dropped his cell phone and looked at you, his look was different. More intense, but without losing the typical arrogance.

- "You know, you're lucky I'm here wasting my time with you."

You laughed, knowing that it meant exactly the opposite. He didn't like wasting time with anyone. You meant something to him, even if he didn't admit it.

When they finished the coffee, he pulled your hand again and dragged you to a more isolated place. The atmosphere between you became different, as if a silent tension hovered in the air. Jihoon wasn't one of cute and long kisses, but when he kissed you, it was in an intense, direct way, as if he wanted to prove a point.

His lips were warm against his, the kiss starting slowly, but getting deeper as he felt his answer. His hand held the back of your neck firmly, ensuring that you didn't move away so quickly. Jihoon could be lazy in many things, but when it came to you, he was very determined.

When he walked away, he passed his thumb lightly through the corner of his mouth and smiled sideways.

- "Tsk... Do you see? You just give me work."

But he didn't complain when you pulled him back for another kiss.

—————————————————————————

In a scenario where pride mixes with desire, Jihoon Min, with his confident and distant posture, finds himself in a delicate clash between arrogance and passion. Your eyes, always focused on your phone or on the music that echoes on your headphones, begin to soften when you notice the presence of someone special. The silence between you is broken by intense looks, a game of short words and sharp provocations. But behind the tough facade, Jihoon is captivated by an unexpected tenderness. He shows no weakness, but in each stolen kiss, the intensity of his feelings overflows. A unique gift, given with a smile, is more than a symbol, it is a recognition that, behind power, there is someone who gives himself completely. The day is marked by intimate and meaningful moments, where arrogance gives way to soft touch, and pride dissolves in the sweetness of a love that, although silent, is as strong as a certain blow.

—————————————————————————

[sparkles-and-trash]

dabihawks, halloween fluff ~

Keigo's a little out of breath as he hurries through the door, several shopping bags in hand and excitement coursing through his veins.

Up until about an hour ago he had been absolutely stumped on what to be for the costumed halloween charity event he was expected at tonight, but a stroke of genius had smacked him in the head and sent him running to the nearest costume shop.

The bathroom door is already closed when he comes home, music blasting from a speaker, so he knows Touya is already in there getting ready and Keigo doesn't wanna risk spoiling his costume too soon, so he gets to work in their bedroom.

He doesn't have as much time as he wished, but with some feather safe colored hairspray (like, ten cans of it actually), some of his own feathers de-attached and then re-attached in his hair, a pair of VERY orange pants and a fake beak later, and he could not be happier with the result.

He giddily hopped over to the bathroom door and knocked, and to his joy Touya hummed from inside, the hero threw the door open with a loud "TA-DAH!"

Touya turned from the mirror to look at his boyfriend, and stared.

And stared.

And then he stared some more.

Keigo rolled his eyes and threw both his arms and wings out again for added effect.

Touya's face finally broke into a confused grin.

"What..?" Touya started, and Keigo sighed, removing the fake beak so it's on the side of his face.

"I'm Big Bird!" he exclaimed, and Touya barked out a laugh.

"Yeah I... I got that," he chucked as he moved closer to his boyfriend to pet his yellow dyed feathers.

Keigo grinned and tilted his head to take in Touya's appearance.

"Oh my god, Hot Stuff, you look so..."

Keigo trailed off.

"Cute?" he finished, reaching up to pet Touya's fake ears.

Touya pouted.

"Cute?" he asked indignantly.

"I'm supposed to be a scary werewolf."

The fake fangs didn't make his pouting any less adorable, but Keigo kept that thought to himself for now.

"You are, babe, like so scary!" Keigo assured him quickly, but Touya still rolled his eyes.

"Sure, Big Bird," he mumbled with a small smirk.

Keigo dragged Touya over to the mirror by the sink and grinned at their reflections.

"We are so gonna win that costume contest," he declared confidently.

Touya grimaced, having, for a blessed moment, forgotten that they had to go out in public like this.

"The things I do for love, silly bird," he sighed and gave Keigo a quick kiss before putting the fake beak back into place.

Keigo chirped in reply, and Touya huffed.

Only for this bastard, alright.

[valentine-cafe]

*rubs hands together* for my lovely bbg hàoyŭ + vampire au my digital footprint are full of me wanting this man to breed me holy shit, i wanna pull on his hair and drink from him like a goddamn fountain and him doing the same. WOOOF WOOF ARFF ARF

"mutual obsession or nothing. kill for me like i would kill for you. long for me every second i'm gone like i long for you. see no one else but me like i see no one else but you, put my blood around your neck and declare me your religion... so my love... will you give me some of that?" she hinted at the crimson paint, knowing full well that the thing was not one of those created for art, but rather taken from a poor soul, "well, preferably one that hasn't been touched by your brushes of course.” his lover leans up, breathing in his scent, ones that put her in a brief state of serenity.

.. and a fucking horn dog on the next.

"by the damned you smell so fucking delicious, i’m changing my mind, can i have your blood instead?" she murmured, trailing kisses down hàoyŭ's pale neck, staining it with her lipstick, occasionally grazing it with her sharp fangs, teasing him. her hands couldn't stay still too, trailing up places where it shouldn't be when they're out in public until they reached his shoulders, the tips of her white hanfu sleeves, stained red–a clear indication she had just fed—yet her thirst for him remained insatiable. "you'd spoil your wife, wouldn't you, husband?”

. ˚◞♡ vampire boyfriend x fem vampire reader◞ ₊˚

⊹ ۪ ࣪ ᥫ᭡ vampire au hàoyŭ

. ˚◞꒰ 🍪 ꒱ vampire x reader ⊹ ۪ ࣪

‧꒰ character sheet . legendarium . prompt page ꒱‧

the vampire prince expects nothing less from his darling wife. the sting of her fangs has always been bliss. who is he to deny such pleasures? especially from a lady as lovely, as carnal, as she is.

“you have no filter,”

hàoyŭ still dares to muse. the feel of your lips graces his pale skin. a gift, he has declared numerous times. with your hands that trail over his dark hanfu and into places unknown to most a ribbon to tie it all together.

“mmm, needy, are you not?” his hands trace. they grip at your wrists after he strokes your white, tainted sleeves downward. the feel of your slow-beating pulse is only music to his ears. and so he digs his thumb into the point. “you have already fed, my dearest. yet here you are again.”

he may be in his studio, with windows wide open — but a part of him cares not. let the townsfolk see the beauty that will surely be their demise; for all he cares.

nevertheless, the threat of his father’s lectures tickle his ears. with a sigh, he flicks his wrist and the blinds are drawn.

like a moth to the flame. two large hands encircle your waist. his steely grip hoists you onto his lap before a hand ventures to the back of your head.

“feast,” he muses. tender. devout. “feast to your heart’s content. and do not stop even then. feast until the crimson between us outshines my newest canvas.”

of course you comply. and of course, he leans into the delightful pain of your fangs that sink into his neck. to bear your bite is the highest honour. so he will do so with a submission shown to you - and you alone.

as you drink of his deep, dark blood, he groans. tightens his grip. the swell of his gums around his own fangs remind him of his own hunger. the itch to mark you as you do him. like any artist signs off their most prized work and possession.

“my darling. . .”

your kisses, bites, only live on. a beautiful pattern lies in the wake of your endless path of bloodlust. desire. and when he has finally - surprisingly - had enough. your back meets the wood of his desk. brushes and paints spill to the floor without care as he splays the surface out for his beloved.

his fangs replace yours. his beautiful, maleficent canvas.

and how, how you bleed into him with each bite. just as your scarlet essence bleeds all over his lips. all over his table. an art to behold. a masterpiece - you are.

[snorpdawg]

And Now, An Unnecessarily Long Post Guesstimating How Long The Events Of Bugsnax Took Place

TLDR: My best guess for how long Bugsnax transpires is either between a couple months at least or a year at most.

So here’s the thing. The reason I even did all this meticulous research was to answer a question someone had in a Discord server. I figured I should probably make my inane ramblings a public post as a means of archiving for future usage, so here I am.

Please keep in mind that these are all educated guesses. I have both researched in my own time and scoured the depths of the Bugsnax Wiki to try to put together a coherent explanation of my thoughts. So inevitably there will be things I've messed up on or left out altogether. Any feedback or additions are appreciated!

In addition, this post will contain spoilers for the events of Bugsnax. If you haven't already gone through the main story, I strongly advise you not to read onwards, so as not to spoil your playing experience.

With all that jargon out of the way, let’s dive in!

Let’s go over what we already know. It is established that the expedition team has been on Snaktooth Island for roughly a year. During “The Quake”, around the start of the climax, when the Grumpus pairs are talking amongst themselves, Triffany mentions that the expedition group “only made it a year [on Snaktooth Island]”. This can also be backed up in the flavor text for the Lovely Sweetiefly, where Eggabell mentions that Lizbert gave her a bouquet of Sweetieflies for their anniversary, implying that the team had been on the island long enough for it to be celebrated. During the Major Celebration, Chandlo mentions that he would’ve come back “weeks ago” if he knew Snaxburg threw parties like this. This implies the town disbanding was several weeks prior to the events of the game, presumably months given how quickly Snaxburg ran down when the inhabitants left.

Here’s where things err on the trickier side; the prologue. In it, two weeks prior to the events of the game, The Journalist watches a tape sent by Elizabert encouraging them to come to Snaktooth Island. This simple scene actually brings up a lot of plot holes. For starters, we can tell from the background (no buildings, Cromdo still setting up his Cromdo Mart sign) that this tape presumably was made in the early days of Snaxburg. Presumably a couple days or weeks after Tape #0 (in the DLC, at least). So it begs the question; how long did it take for the tape to get sent to the Journalist? It makes Filbo’s observation of the Journalist being “a bit late” a big understatement if it took them well over a year to receive the tape and travel to the island.

Supposedly, “a bit late” can refer to those two weeks before the games events to about three month. It’s established that the Journalist presenting the tape to Clumby and them arriving to Snaktooth took them two weeks. When arriving back to the mainlands, Snaktooth Island can be seen in the horizon at not too far a distance, meaning the Journalist took more time in preparation rather than the journey itself.

A big point of contention is the epilogue, where Clumby tells the Journalist that while they were missing, they were declared “legally dead”. This is where I hit a bit of a fork in the road in my research. When I searched for information about how long it takes for missing people to be declared legally dead, a lot of conflicting information came up. The most common estimates are about seven to ten years, which is inconsistent with the fact that the expedition had only been on the island for a year. Perhaps the Grumpuses have a different law system when it comes to missing Grumpuses? Your guess is as good as mine.

There also other smaller details that also raise more questions than answers. When the player enters Snaxburg for the first time, most of the buildings are empty and in poor condition, with wearing paint and decomposing structures. According to my research, it takes between five to ten years for paint to fade and it can take up to five years for a wooden house to decay, which, again, raises inconsistencies with what is already established.

If I had to absolutely guess, if we’re to assume the tape was sent exactly two weeks before Snaxburg disbanded, and we’re to guess every in-game time skip via sleeping counts as days passing, the game would’ve taken roughly several months to up to a year to transpire. Pretty anticlimactic results, no? Well, that’s the best we’re going to get for now. 

Again, a lot of this is educated guessing so there’s definitely more finite details I’ve might’ve left out on accident, so I’d really encourage any and all feedback if possible, as well as your own additions!

[deepinthegroves]

..interconnected silk threads

the web thrums, the spider crawls. our lives are woven together, and i wouldn't trade it for anything else in the world.

warning: very long

you can find the platonic(ish) version here.

–

my family

.my father, Atlas Nightwine

the man of the hour. one of the most important men in the room, no matter what. the one so many wish they could be. the one that corrupt politicians despise. the one who children adore. my father, ladies and gentlemen (and all of my lovely sweethearts who fall outside the gender binary).

made CEO of Nightwine Industries at the ripe age of 21, he has dealt with a lot of pressure since then. as soon as he took over, he amassed an even greater wealth than his father did, and most of that money was immediately used to be thrown into charities, new help groups, the government, hospitals, etc. in order to improve them. sure, the others with money aren't happy with it and look to thwart it all, but he's never giving up on this. ever.

he strives to provide for everyone, going above and beyond to pay his employees and cover their needs. recently went to the hospital? no problem, Nightwine Industries' got you. your company health benefits would completely pay for it. he is the one who taught his children that "leaders serve the people" and he lives by that.

with his kids, he has no problem with spoiling us (though within reason). you've scored an A for a test that you worked hard for? tell dad what you want and he'll get it for you. need a vacation from the academic stress? don't worry, dad's writing a letter to excuse you and we can chill all day long. he loves his kids, all 5 of them, and he'll do anything to keep us happy and healthy.

with his wife, he is whipped. we are constantly hearing stories about them, much to our disgust sometimes, and it's clear to us that he really loves our mom. the first thing he did after their engagement was to plan a whole family house for her, making sure to decorate it with things she adored, and specially had a section cordoned off just for her garden. he decorated it with gorgeous hedge walls, pretty gazebos and marble columns that had vines twining up on them. he planted her favourite flowers and tress, making sure that each and every square inch is perfect, and surprised her with it on their wedding day. if my mother ever needed anything, he'd be there for her, ready to fulfill the request.

.my mother, Evelyn Gray

one of the icons of the 2000s, my mother dominated both the screen and the catwalk. she had loved fashion at a young age, and managed to get scouted to model, which kicked off her career. at first, she started with modelling for magazines, posters, etc. before being picked up for high-fashion modelling.

when she started getting noticed by the public however, she pivoted, declaring her dream of making it to the silver screen. she went through thousands of auditions before landing her first ever role, a side character in a semi-popular movie at the time. it allowed her to catapult into fame, and from there, she only got bigger and better.

she met my father on a movie set. he had come to discuss sponsorship, wihle she was the main star. they somehow hit it off (they swear they'll tell us the story "when we're older." my oldest sister is 24 and they still haven't told her.), and according to the media, they went on many, many dates before their engagement. it was suppssed to be a long engagement but when my mother got pregnant at 22, they decided to just tie the knot (because the media was so unnecessarily cruel for the few weeks that the news got out before their marraige). the whole experience of that made my mother really hate her job for a while, and luckily, my dad offered for her to retire, which she took. now, she just takes projects as she wishes, and chooses when she wants to be in and out of the media's eyes. (she is known for flipping off paparazzi, and has once started rushing at one when they tried to take pictures of her and her friends going to a private party, causing said pap to freak out and run.)

between my father and her, she's the stricter one. she just cares for us, and has seen how the world works, and so she makes sure that we're prepared for it. she makes sure that we don't ever take our lifestyle for granted, teaching us to be grateful for it and to always share. from her experiences, she also teaches us how to hold our ground, and refuses to let us ever bow down to pricks and let them step all over us.

if it wasn't obvious, she loves my father. when i was younger, i'd go into their bedroom if i needed anything (sometimes i just needed hugs for a long day) and more likely than not, you'd see her rubbing at his neck and the both of them murmuring about important things and she'd kiss his forehead and reassure him. sometimes i manage to back away in time and leave them to it, but sometimes my mother would notice me and beckon me closer, hefting me either to her hip or onto my father's lap. i know she's ever so grateful that she met him and that he's in love with her, and it's obvious to everyone that her heart is his, and vice versa.

.my oldest sister, Occida Nightwine

my oldest sister. the first one. the one who cared for us all. the one who keeps us in line and would cut down anyone who hurt us.

Occida isn't the best at showing her love physically, but if you look, it's obvious. she knows all four siblings' ever-changing tastes – favourite colours, favourite food, favourite styles – and somehow juggles her own life at the same time.

she was the one who had to deal with the fame first, the one who tried everything out by herself and came back to us to give us amazing advice. she had no one to hold her hand, no older sibling to guide her, and instead was that person for us, her siblings. she was the one who'd hold your hand when you're scared, your parents far away but your sister right there with you in school, and the one who'd give you the best advice you've ever heard. because she'd already experienced it herself and hated it, she took it upon herself to help us avoid such mistakes.

it was sad to see her move out at 19, already in university and preferring the dorms to the hour long ride between. it was so surprising? shocking? when she'd come home to dinner, girlfriend trailing in behind her, no warning beforehand. (we'd immediately fawned over Aveline, and i fear she was terrified then.) it was horrifying walking in on her crying, legs bent to her chest and head buried in between the space, seeing my older sister break down and not know what to do. but it made it so so much better when everything goes right for her, because she deserves it after carrying so much with her and caring for us all. she deserves only the best, and we can see the joy on her face when she told us she proposed to aveline and that they were going to get married in the spring (aveline's favourite season, fun fact). and it's amazing to know that their small business is thriving, and that aveline can sell her paintings and occida can run her little cafe and they're both happy with each other and it's all she's ever wanted.

.my second oldest sister, Dahlia Nightwine

the first to be named after nature. the one who is just as volatile as the winds she love so much, the kind that whip you across the face, hair flying out of control. the one who my mother says has too much emotion and life to contain in a mere vessel, with bright eyes and wide grins. the shifter.

she was born with my mother's anger, brown eyes flashing before she bit you, pretty brown curls tied in a bun so no one could yank on it while she fought. she caused a lot of trouble when she was younger, always getting into fights when she saw someone to protect, ready to lash out at any given moment. i wasn't alive then, but these are the stories i've heard. though she's slightly more mellowed down now, dahlia recounts them with a gleam in her eye, as if she's ready to do it all over again at a moment's notice.

maybe there was a reason for dahlia and i to be the only ones in the family named after nature. maybe it linked our consciousness together forever after. but she's the (other) shifter in the family. i once walked into her room to see her scrolling on shiftblr, humming as she liked posts and reblogged them. i fear i may have gotten a little too excited then, and now it's our 'thing'. we haven't told any of our other siblings about it, but sometimes, we'd just meet up and share abt our experiences with shifting and exciting things we've experienced.

other than shifting, she's also a pretty established model. she does it for fun, and when she's not busy, she's off, flying from country to country. she loves traveling – she says it's freeing, that it's amazing to see how other people live. she has invited me to join her a few times, but i'm been so busy recently i couldn't.

.my oldest brother, Rafal Nightwine

the heir to the "throne", the next CEO of Nightwine Industries. he is almost terrifyingly smart, and incredibly observant. when our father asked us (individually) who we thought would be the best candidate to become the next CEO, we all nominated Rafal. he simply is the best at all of this.

business aside, he has a corner in the home library that is entirely his – no one is allowed to go in there without permission, and the shelves are only stocked with books he approves of. it's his safe space, and when we were younger, he'd let me run in there during social events, the both of us hiding in there with books on our laps and seated on comfy couches.

my brother is so good with animals i'm jealous. maybe it's because he has a calming presence, or maybe it's because he secretly can talk to them or something, but animals all love him. hell, my cat damian who hates like most people loves him, to the point that he's willing to nap in Rafal's arms.

love-wise, he's on the aroace spectrum. he's been clear about that since forever, and we would never push him to do anything he doesn't want to do – we made sure to get the word out there (he was fine with it) so the media wouldn't question him on anything romance or sex related.

.my second oldest brother, James Nightwine

the fourth child. the young one. the one who's into too many things all at once. the one who laughs with his mouth open, and eyes squeezed shut, for all the world to see.

James is my youngest older sibling, and also the one i'm closest to. he's only a year older than me, and we were always in each other's lives. when i first entered school, he made sure that he'd be my buddy, and not anyone else in his level. we wandered the school grounds the entire recess break, and he introduced me to all his favourite spots.

now 19, turning 20, and he's studying history in university (though it's a different one from mine). he originally wanted to pursue law, but after much thought about it, switched to history. sure, our parents were surprised, but they supported it, and so did the rest of us.

he lives in the uni dorms, and is lowkey jealous (/hj) of the fact that i have my own apartment. sometimes i'd invite him over, and other times he'd just show up at my door, knocking.

as for romance, he had recently had relationship drama, and had come to me for advice, and i just told him to take a break from dating. he may not be happy with that, but so far he's been single and working on himself, which is amazing for him. he may be the silliest and goofiest of us all, but he's also the one with the biggest heart.

note: sorry for the length and thank you if you read it all <3 i love my family in my dr and this is basically a love letter for them. i fear you can also see the issues i have in my cr familiarly lol.

divider credits: @/strangergraphics

[panther-os]

Omg I wanna hear about the spiky blackberry wife!!! What is she like?? Does she fit JC's list?

She does!

naturally beautiful - my fc for her is Liu Shishi who is just. amazingly pretty

graceful and obedient - definitely graceful, and she's obedient but not blindly so, if she has a genuine problem, she'll bring it up to jc in private but she'll defer to him in public and make sure to present a united front

hard-working and thrifty - she's been managing her parents' household under her mother's oversight for a few years and she's good at it, she definitely knows her way around a budget as a result. she also wanted to learn how things were done to make sure she's giving sensible orders, so she knows how to cook and clean and occupy herself and will pitch in if needed, though she knows when to step back and let people do their jobs

coming from a respected family - she's the eldest daughter of the Ma clan leader, a minor clan of my own invention that is based in Yangquan and made up of horsemasters who provide the best trained horses to the Nie clan

cultivation level not too high - she's just powerful enough for minor talismans and short sword flights, she knows theory as well as strong cultivators do but she is not one herself, she still works hard to be able to defend herself and her home if it ever becomes necessary but for that she usually winds up training with non-cultivators and their methods

personality not too strong - this one was hard to find a balance because she can't be a doormat either, especially with jc's own strong personality, but I think I managed it where she's confident and willing to speak up when it matters but neither extremely strong-willed nor overtly challenging

not too talkative, voice not too loud - she's quiet when she talks at all, not in a "she doesn't like to talk" way but more in an introspective "she wants to make sure whatever she says is meaningful" way, she's a foil to jc in this way, where he talks a lot and says very little she instead talks very little and says a lot, but she's still good at conversation - she has to be in order to perform her political duties well

must treat Jin Ling nicely - to her, Jin Ling is a growly wet kitten she found behind a dumpster and she absolutely adores him for it, she will occasionally spoil him, and jc likes her because she's very clearly not trying to curry favor or anything, she sees Jin Ling for who he is and she accepts and loves him that way

bonus, here are my two favorite pictures of Liu Shishi for this character - both from zll/love lost in times (ofc my favorites have to include the one I found of her wearing purple):

I'm also going to be taking inspiration from the blue and grey one for the Ma clan colors, those feel close enough to the cql Nie to declare allegiance while distinct enough to be recognizable as their own sect.

[aworldforastage]

paused reading: 裴公罪 by 书归

roughly: "The Crimes of Lord Pei"

(the novel that helped me get through a bout with covid)

This is a one of those novels that's been on my list since I first got into danmei two years ago. I remember looking into it around the time I read Jun You Ji Fuo and not being interested, but recently I came across a recommendation for another novel that contrasted it to 裴公罪 -- and it got me intrigued.

Premise: In the first life, Pei Jun has given up everything to help his lover, the young emperor Jiang Zhan, secure his reign and his kingdom. In the end, he is betrayed and beheaded on the order of his lover, just moments before the regime he worked tirelessly to secure is toppled by a rebellion mounted by the his political rival and the Emperor's uncle, Jiang Yue. Returning to ten years before, Pei Jun is determined to not repeat his mistake. But just hours after his "rebirth", a seemingly random act has already altered the course of history. And also, he notices something he never did about Jiang Yue ...

What I like about it

Jiang Yue's pining, devoted, unrequited love that's been misunderstood across two lifetimes. This is the thing that got me to read the novel! When Pei Jun kneels to greet him, Jiang Yue always helps him up before his knees touch the ground. He always votes in support of Pei Jun at court, no matter how little sense it makes for him personally. And Pei Jun never knows that he spoils the nephew Pei Jun never has the chance to see, just like he never knows about all the other times that Jiang Yue has watched or waited or remembered while he Pei Jun rushed off to his own life and friends and lover. How could I not want to read a novel about someone like this finally being loved back?

Elaborate politics. The individual plots in this novel are not complicated, but there is a complex web of conflicting ideologies, relationships, and personal interests in the political landscape. Most of them are trying to shape government into what they think it should be like, but their visions are affected by self-interest, whether they want to admit it or not. The author has written beautiful classical-style speech when the politicians argue with each other in public, and it really helps set the scene, and make you believe they are powerful, important people from that era.

Jiang Zhan, the ex and villain. On the one hand, he is a self-centered emperor who prioritizes his own power over the welfare of his nation, and he betrays and kills Pei Jun in the other timeline. On the other hand, the current younger him obviously still loves and depends on Pei Jun, and it's kind of a jerk move for Pei Jun to "break up" with him for future crimes no clear reason and doesn't even tell him for months. He is a tragedy of his position and his fate, but because he is the emperor, no one truly emphasizes with him for that. -- Also, I honestly feel like that Pei Jun had taken advantage of his youth, ignorance, and isolation when they started their relationship (man in early twenties vs mid-teens), but it's simply not interpreted this way by Pei Jun because he was technically the emperor.

Why I stopped reading ...

There are a few reasons. I came across a spoiler and made me think i would need some emotional preparation before I get to the final arc. And then the political plot is getting to a heavy point that I don't really want to handle for now.

But most, it's because I'm liking Jiang Zhan a little too much. It's kind of ironic because he is a character who is so full of flaws -- he is selfish, manipulative, short-sighted, weak, and will only more cruel in the future. His love for Pei Jun -- even though it's one tainted by manipulation -- is perhaps the best and most sympathetic part about him, and yet he is rejected so thoroughly in this.

In one of the last scenes I read, Jiang Zhan realizes Pei Jun really is breaking up with him, and he desperately declares that he only wants Pei Jun, and Pei Jun thinks he waited for more than decade for Jiang Zhan to say that in his first lifetime, but he never heard it. It almost makes me wish this is another kind of novel, where they reconcile and both turn out better somehow in the "rebirth".

However, I also really like the main love interest, Jiang Yue, so I definitely want to come back and see his happy ending!

[ay-chuu]

Hi Hi ^^ I would like to request a matchup for Genshin Impact, my mbti is INFP. I'm a Cancer (July 2nd ^^) and I'm female and I go by She/They pronouns! I enjoy learning choreographies and drawing as well as baking for my hobbies ^-^ I have a fear of large bodies of water (Or really any body of water that I would have to swim in), a fear of heights, and also a fear of public speaking. I like iced coffee and ice cream all year round no matter the temperature as well as spicy food, but I don't like brussel(?) sprouts or really anything bitter (unless it's dark chocolate). I guess my type when it comes to men would be someone who is good with kids and likes cuddles? I'm 5'4 which is about 165 cm if I did the math right ^^" If possible I would like to choose the Valentines Day thing for the tiny drabble ^_^ I think I did this right? I hope you have a wonderful day and don't forget to hydrate and to eat something ^-^

Thank you so much love you are so cute <3

I match you with... (っ＾▿＾)💨

THOMA!

You and him met in a cafe together <3 Thoma found himself approaching your table and gently introducing himself to you, finding your shyness sweet and looking at you as if you were a goddess because of your beauty. From that moment on, he sensed that you were the only one for him. When I he bought you your favorite coffee in the cafe, the result ended with you giving him your heart too <3

The harmony between you is like a sweet mom and dad couple. Thoma is there for every moment when you can't talk in public. (Or that you're shy, unsure of yourself, upset... so Thoma is there for you whenever you want!) He is a wonderful gentleman and his treatment of you is very unique. It is enough for him that you give him your love and the depths of your heart. He is your Knight both in life and heart <3

ESFJ and INFP are a compatible couple because ESFJs are very empathetic to INFPs and they will admire their emotionality. The INFP, on the other hand, will admire ESFJ's outward-looking and realistic face, which comes out when necessary, and will take them as a role model. In short, you are both each other's soulmate and motivation <33 Capricorn and Cancer are quite a domesticated couple. While the Capricorn man protects the person he loves at the expense of the man, Cancer woman will spoil him with her love.

Some of the moments I have imagined for you two:  regular spice food days of eating together at the favorite restaurant, giggling while spending time with the childrens and falling in love with each other more, a romantic kiss shared at a picnic in the middle of the forest, and foreheads touching each other while accepting Thoma; who declared his love for you.

A special moment:

Love is a child of platonic love and is one of its designed itself. That's why we see traces of it in places where there is platonic love (everywhere).

You opened your eyes by feeling the empty warmth next to your bed. As you felt your consciousness gradually coming back into place, your senses suddenly began to perceive many tiny details.

The delicious smell coming from the kitchen mixed the smell of roses laid on the bed. Which made your nose feel like it was in heaven. The weather was warm. The trees outside your holiday cottage in the forest were glowing with the sun.

But let's not forget, love is a child! It doesn't sit anywhere or stay standing anywhere. It is as alive as the electricity transmitted by two electrons to each other and is strong as the nuclear power.

Looking at the roses arranged around you in amazement, everything suddenly began to make sense when your eye shifted to the calendar.

February 14th, Valentine's day.

While your heart was filled with pure joy, you felt your cheeks turn red both from the shame of not being able to do anything and from the pure love gifted to you. It must be heart to heart that while you didn't know how much happier you could be, Thoma came in with a tray in his hand.

“I didn't know you were awake, darling..”

Love does not have any special moments. In that most sudden place, it happens all the time.

When Thoma was sitting next to you, you felt your heart speed up and you just looked at him like you were an idiot. While maintaining his gentle smile, Thoma put down the breakfast he had brought to bed and pressed your hair behind ear with his hand while planting a kiss on cheek.

“Do you like it, my angel?”

You just hugged him with helpless happiness when you felt your eyes starting to fill up and whispered “I love you.” To him.

This time Thoma kissed the top of your head while giggling. “Happy Valentine's day, darling.”

Even on special occasions, love never comes as it is begged for. Maybe it comes at the most unwanted, maybe the most unexpected, maybe the most unconscious and maybe the most normal moment. Like a child who crams the flower in their hand into you and runs away, like a pure love.

[fortleegospel]

Gospel News

Dear members and friends of Fort Lee Gospel Church,

For most Americans the past few months have been hard. Most world, national, and local news has been unsettling. Some families have been impacted by layoffs or fear of ICE agents. Trust in government, institutions, and the legal system has eroded. Many have lost hope.

Today I want to address reasons for hope beyond what our society has to offer.

I.              Nature is an illustration of new life.

1 The heavens declare the glory of God;     the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 2 Day after day they pour forth speech;     night after night they reveal knowledge. (Ps. 19:1-2)

I have been blessed by the signs of Spring in New Jersey. Flowers have emerged from the frozen tundra (my exaggeration of the past winter). Trees are showing signs of life again. There have been some warmer days to tease us that summer is coming. Warmer days are good for our mood.

It is easy to connect the Spring season with reasons to hope. Every winter nature appears to be dead. Then around this time of year, nature comes alive. Our lives also go through seasons. Grieving the passing of a loved one can feel like winter but soon signs of Spring appear. We may go through a time with a shortage of friends, feeling like a winter. Making a new friend can feel like Spring.

Whatever you are facing, I pray that there will be signs of Spring and hope.

II.            Easter will soon remind us of resurrection life.

8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.

11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. (Romans 6:8-11)

It is no accident that Easter happens in Spring, when nature comes alive. The death and bondage to sin we have lived under is replaced by the life in Christ.

Easter is about how Jesus died on the cross, was buried for three days, and rose from the dead. Easter is an illustration of our conversion. We humble ourselves and confess our sins as an identification with Jesus’ death on the cross. We invite Jesus to live in us as an identification with the resurrection of Jesus.

Baptism is a public expression of our conversion story. We die to self and sins as we go backwards into the waters of baptism. We arise out of the waters of baptism as an expression of new life in Christ.

Our hope is rooted in the work of Jesus Christ which we celebrate on Resurrection Sunday!

III.           Hope is central to our faith.

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. (I Peter 1:3-7)

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

Our hope is our inheritance kept in heaven for us. Heaven is not shaken by a new president, the loss of a job, or the sickness of a loved one. We hope because Jesus is alive and living in heaven. One day we will pass from life through death to a living hope bought by Jesus on the cross.

When our focus is on the things of this world, it is easy to lose hope. But, when our focus is heavenward, hope is natural. Hard times and suffering tend to be the foundation of thinking more about heaven. While no one choses to suffer, suffering can serve as a motivator of getting our priorities straight.

Our Christian hope is not just that we are on the road to heaven. We also have hope that God is at work in our daily lives. Romans 8:28 above reminds us that God is working for the good of those of us who love Jesus. Things do not always work out in ways we imagined, but God is working and orchestrating events in the life of believers. People without faith do not have this hope.

Be reminded that in Jesus’ “great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” (I Pet. 1:3) Walk and live in this hope today!

-Pastor Rick

Passion Week: April 13-20

Here are some of the ways you can join us remembering Jesus this Holy Week:

Palm Sunday, April 13

Palm Sunday marks the day Jesus entered Jerusalem and was welcomed as the King of the Jews. Our 11:00 PM Worship Service will meet as we do every week, with added celebration and joy. Palm branches will be available as we remember Jesus as King of our lives. We welcome you to join us for our Fellowship Meal after the service.

Passover Seder Meal, April 15

In recent years we developed a Passover Seder tradition where we replicate the Last Supper that Jesus shared with his disciples in the upper room. We plan to meet in the church fellowship hall for a full lamb meal. The program will start at 6:00 PM, include singing of hymns, reading of the Passover account, explaining the fulfillment of Jesus as the Passover Lamb, and sharing dinner.

We share the Passover Seder on Tuesday with the understanding that the traditional day for this event is Thursday. We made this adaption because of scheduling issues in our building and Tuesday being our usual Bible Study evening. There will be no livestreaming option. Join us as you are able.

Good Friday, April 18

Our Good Friday service is a solemn and reflective service that remembers the day Jesus died on the cross for our sins. We meet in the church sanctuary at 7:30 PM and there will be a livestream option. The service includes hymns, liturgy, readings, preaching, and the Lord’s supper.

Resurrection Sunday, April 20

We start the most important Sunday of the year with a Sunrise Service at 6:30 AM. Weather permitting, we meet at Monument Park, across from the church for an outdoor service. In case of rain or extreme cold, we meet indoors. We do this early service as a remembrance of the women who came to the tomb early in the morning and found that Jesus was not there. This brief service (under 30 minutes) is followed by breakfast back at the church.

Our second resurrection service is at 11:00 AM in keeping with our weekly practice. We celebrate Jesus breaking the power of sin and death in this joyous service.

Weekly Announcements

Sunday worship service at 11:00 AM is primarily off-line, with only the sermon posted on our website, Facebook page, and YouTube.  

The Tuesday Men’s Lunch and Bible study meets at the church at 12:30 PM for a meal and Bible study.

The Tuesday Bible Study meets at 7:00 PM every Tuesday as we continue to study the book of Romans.

The next monthly Church Dinner will be on Palm Sunday, April 13th, following the 11:00 AM worship service. Plan to join us for this fellowship meal.

The 6:00 AM Prayer Meeting on Wednesdays and Saturdays is at the church with an option to connect on Google Meet.  

The Women’s Bible Study will continue the study in the book of Psalms this Saturday, March 29th, at 2:00 PM.

Connect info for Tuesday Bible Studies and Morning Prayer is:

Meeting URL :

https://meet.google.com/suk-xpsf-nwh

For dial in: Phone: +1 567-351-1104 PIN: 469 349 929#

[c0exiist]

Teasing Ezra was a part of her charm as she did enjoy seeing him smile or laugh. She knew the kind of man he is, keeping to himself and having his walls up. They were somewhat similar in that sense and if anything, she understood that he probably has his reasons for why he was closed off. However, to see him lower his guard just for her made Cynthia realize how much he valued and trusted her. This was a genuine relationship in the making and deep down, she really wanted this to work. Another laugh escaped her lips at his affection as she beamed with content simply being in his presence. 

“You spoil me too much.” she mused. “So does that mean you’re my prince or knight in shining armour?” Outside the confines of his home, there was no way this kind of vulnerability would be seen to the public. Cyn knew better than to be head over heels over a man, but Ezra grew to be that exception and here she was in his arms, completely in love with the attention and affection. “Sounds perfect.” In fact, it felt right to hear those words, a declaration that it was them against the world and whatever force that was in their way. “It’s as if it was meant to be.” To have someone match her energy was rare these days and to see Ezra’s acceptance and understand her without judgement made her feel like the luckiest girl in the universe. 

Leaning into his touch, Cynthia wore a cunning smile and hummed in agreement as they were committed to each other at this point. “Well this should be fun…” That was her delusional confidence taking, especially when she was slightly worried about how he would feel being on the opposition. For now she focused on the present, taking this all in day by day. “Why not both? Not everyone's perfect, plus it doesn't make us boring babe.” she mused in a playful tone. She then trailed kisses along his jawline before pulling away and meeting his gaze as a thought crossed her mind. “Together.” she confirmed. “No matter what happens…If shit hits the fan and things get bad, trust in me and I’ll do the same with you.” She didn’t want to worry him, but she was als being proactive as the last thing she wanted was for him to misinterpret everything and that she was being dishonest on purpose. “It's going to be more than a mess, I'm being realistic and calling it a fucking catastrophe of a chaos. No matter what happens, just know what we have—this is real Ezra."

The air in the room changed when Cynthia murmured those words between kisses, calling him her good-looking fool. "Best thing I've heard all day. Minus the fool part," he teased. Ezra wondered when the hell he'd gotten soft. His life had been a fortress of protocols and contingency plans since Chicago, keeping everyone at arm's length. But this woman had slipped past every security measure he'd built. He watched her laugh and felt himself falling deeper. When she wrapped her arms around his neck, his pulse jumped. The teasing in her voice about his feelings coming from the heart made him want to roll his eyes again. "Call it whatever you want, Princess." He leaned in to kiss her nose, his voice remained steady despite the storm in his chest. Normally, he would have the urge to pull back, to regain control, but he was too far gone.

Only she could break him down like this. When she talked about their reality while holding onto hope for change, something inside him shifted. The cynical part of his brain—the part that had kept him alive—screamed warnings, but for once, he ignored it. "You and me," he repeated, testing how the words felt. Strange how right they sounded coming from a man who'd planned his life around never needing anyone again. Her comment about violence being her love language pulled a dark laugh from him. "Good thing we speak the same language then." He studied her face, while wondering how he had gotten so lucky. He wasn’t interested in a damsel in distress. He needed someone who would stand tall. Ezra knew exactly what she was capable of. He'd spotted her for what she was the moment she'd appeared in his casino that first time—all predatory grace beneath civilian clothes.

It took one killer to recognize another. The difference was he'd left that life behind when he'd turned in his badge. Her promise to eliminate anyone who threatened him should have sent him running. Instead, it settled something in him. "I believe you would." He traced her jawline with his thumb. "That makes two of us willing to burn this city down for each other." The realization should have terrified him. "Makes me wonder if we're both insane or just perfect for each other." He pulled her closer, his mind already calculating the risks of this attachment while his heart thundered against the logic. "Either way, I guess we're in this mess together now."

[acradelius]

Hello! I'm the anon who requested the daddy Roadhog scenario and I absolutely LOVE it!!! I literally can't stop reading it. I was wondering though if I could request a similar scenario but instead of calling Roadhog Daddy the reader calls Junkrat Daddy?

"Just Like That, Daddy!~"

Fandom: Overwatch

Pairing: Junkrat (Jamison) x Reader

Rating: Lemon [🟡] (NSFW!)

Warnings/Mention Ofs: Illegal Activities, Hair Pulling, Verbal Teasing, Intercourse, Implied Voyeurism/Voyeurism Kink, Biting, Daddy Nickname Usage

Word Count: 690 Words

Author's Note: Sexually Feral Junkrat makes my brain go "BRRRR"

Referenced Post: Acradelius — Could you do an NSFW scenario where a... (tumblr.com)

There’s one thing that’s quite obvious when it comes to everyone’s favorite most wanted explosive obsessed freak is that he has difficulty controlling himself, especially when he becomes excited. Now, the term excited can relay meaning to multiple things with this man. There’s excitement for the anticipation of planning a substantial heist, especially when it’s at a plain-in-sight bank that declares to the public that they have “the most top notch, impenetrable security” that just screams that they’re looking for someone to try to break in. Following that initial feeling of excitement is the added-on excitement from the actual heist itself, blowing through supposedly impenetrable security and through walls to reach the grand vault, intimidating or plowing down anyone that got in their way. To end the excitement cycle is the ending excitement, making way throughout the seemingly unending number of law enforcement on their tails. The excitement of spoiling themselves with the riches and expensive things to buy with said riches afterwards. Yet, there was only one thing. Whenever Jamison became excited, he also became aroused. 

That excitement cycle leading to immense arousal brought the two exactly to this moment, one that (Y/N) definitely should’ve expected: being bent over an employee’s abandoned desk, one of Jamison’s hands having a grip and pulling on their hair while the other hand was gripping (Y/N)’s hip, making sure that they couldn’t escape the harsh movements of Jamison thrusting his throbbing cock inside of them. “That’s right, my little firecracker~ All nice and tight, all for me~” Jamison teases, enjoying the frantic breaths and broken words that escaped from (Y/N)’s mouth. This wasn’t exactly a part of the plan, at least until afterwards, but the arousal had apparently become too overbearing for Jamison to handle, him deciding that he needing to fuck (Y/N)’s brains out right then and there. He knew that they should be on the move to rendezvous with Mako, but the excitement, along with the now thoughts of them being caught by others, just made him have to deal with it right now. He’d deal with getting scolded by Mako later on. 

The vulgar words and commands slipping past (Y/N)’s lips edged him on, giving his own groan as they let out a soft cry from him leaning down and biting roughly at their shoulder. “Mine!~Mine!~ Mine!~” He started his mantra, his thrusts and grip becoming sloppy and frantic, giving a hint that he was close to cumming. He wraps an arm around (Y/N)’s waist, pulling them off from the desk and hoisting them into the hair, bucking his hips as he begins to bounce them against the length of his cock. His other hand reached around to pinch and roll their nipples, chuckling lustfully at jerking motions that he was causing to (Y/N)’s body. “F-Fuck, Daddy!~ Just like that!~ Fucking give me more of your cock!~” Jamison had to wrap the arm that was fondling (Y/N)’s waist to make sure that he didn’t accidentally drop and hurt them, but had gone silent out of what could be considered as shock. 

(Y/N) struggled to focus on the fact that Jamison had gone quiet when their body seemed to take control, rolling their hips to create friction of Jamison’s cock inside them, being on the verge of reaching an orgasm themself. “J-Jamison~” (Y/N) stuttered out his name, glancing up to his face whenever he started to speak once again. “Daddy, hm..?~ Firecracker’s Daddy~ Oo, I love the sound of that!~” He gave his usual giggles, now looking down at (Y/N) as he began to pick up the pace of his thrusting, a sinister grin forming on his lips. “Does Daddy make you feel so good, my Firecracker?~ No one else can make you feel as good as Daddy does~” He continued to verbally tease the trembling (Y/N), who was babbling out nonsense at this point, but he was now eager to finish up and get to the rendezvous point. He couldn’t wait to inform Mako that he was now a Daddy~ 

[yandere-daze]

Hello I've been seeing your blog and I think they're really great!!! Also can I request headcannons about mayoi and arashi having a soulmate who isn't that much showy when it comes to affection and stuff because they're too shy to show them or tell them how much they love them? If it's okay though.. Also take care of yourself and have a great day!!!! <3

Thank you so much for reading my works and enjoying them ☺️ This is a pretty late answer but I hope you enjoy nonetheless!

gn reader

tw brief mention of Mayoi having self-doubts

Arashi with an s/o that isn´t very showy with their affection due to being shy

Arashi is a very affectionate person herself but she honestly finds your shyness very cute! She most definitely cooed the first time you nervously admitted just how much you like her because it´s a very rare thing for you to do so freely and it´s a precious memory that will always stay in her mind

To her, there´s just no person in the world that is more adorable than her s/o!

Of course she would enjoy it a lot if you were a bit more open about your affection ( because she would just looove to cuddle with you, hold your hand in public and kiss you on your cheek as a greeting) but she also understands that everyone has different boundaries and she would never push you to say or do anything that you feel uncomfortable with

But even though you usually don´t offer up grand displays of affection or anything like that, Arashi knows that you really do love her a lot, just from all the simple little things you do for her and with how you fuss over her whenever she has been working a bit too much again or when she tries to do everything on her own

It´s very heartwarming for her to have someone that cares so much about her and her well-being and it honestly almost makes her tear up from time to time

Arashi would be very ecstatic if you gave her permission to be as affectionate with you as she wants though! She wants nothing more than to spoil you and make up for all that you´ve done for her!

Mayoi with an s/o that isn´t very showy with their affection due to being shy

Oh, so you´re just the same! Mayoi usually also is very shy when it comes to showing his love and appreciation for you so he would instinctively be able to understand you and your own hesitation in that regard

He´s always a bit nervous whenever you´re around, simply because his heart is doing summersaults as soon as he sees you walking towards him. There´s this brimming happiness inside him that he just can´t quell ( not that he wants to anyway)

Due to his self-doubts, Mayoi might sometimes jump to conclusions and think that you not wanting to hold his hand might mean that you don´t like him as much as he does you even though he knows better than that, but as soon as he looks into your beautiful eyes and sees the fond glimmer to them, his worries are easily put to rest

Mayoi just feels so safe and comfortable around you, something he rarely does, so he doesn´t think your relationship needs to be all flashy and full of passionate declarations of love for you both to know that you love and care deeply for each other

If you do initiate physical contact though, Mayoi would probably become very flustered, heat rushing to his cheeks but a happy smile spreading across his face

Very shyly, and with both of you probably not meeting each other´s eyes due to your embarrassment, he takes your hand and marvels at how nice they fit together

It´s a very soft moment, and one Mayoi definitely could get used to, he thinks