#and pleasantly low-stakes

[gatheredfates]

I've reduced my queue for now so I can try to build it back up but, like always, I promise I'm not dead. I played the WoW remix this weekend because my partner and I discovered it's actually fun and we raided the tail end of MoP and most of WoD. Compendium and stuff will resume next week. 💖 I think I needed a weekend of brainless nonsense.

[pregstiel]

watched the first episode of lucky star (was curious because this anime shaped a generation). did i click the wrong thing. i watched 3 anime girls stand in the same spot and talk about pastries for 7 minutes

[morkhan]

I am just. So weirdly tickled by this Watcher situation. Like yes, initially I was very disappointed and upset but honestly now I just think it's funny. I can't remember the last time a creator or group of creators misread the room this hard. Like they really thought they were cooking with this one. They had a countdown to this. They announced their paywalled streaming service with their whole chests and expected rapturous applause. Instead, there has been a non-stop chorus of boos and thrown tomatoes for days now. They would have probably gotten a better reaction if they had posted a video where they sprayed a dog in the eyes with soapy water.

It's all so pleasantly... low-stakes. The consequences are nonexistent. It's not like the Ned Fulmer situation, where a friend group is destroyed, real life relationships are ended, and young children are potentially subjected to the trauma of divorce. Nah, all that's happening here is three idiots will be making a lot less money than they wanted. Maybe they'll learn something, maybe they won't. Either way, they brought it entirely upon themselves, and that makes it okay to laugh at in my books. So I will!

[happilyhertale]

A Dragon’s Respite – Modern Daemon Targaryen x fem!reader

Summary: It took a lot of persuasion and teasing to convince Daemon to spend an evening without distractions or work. But of course Daemon manages to add his personal touch to the evening.

Pairing: Modern Daemon Targaryen x fem!reader

Warnings: Smut, masturbation (w and m)

Author’s note:

English is my second language, please forgive me if I made any mistakes (:

Word count: 1.7 k

Other stories of mine

12 Days of Smuffmas

12 Days of Smuff

The snow falls gently outside the wide glass windows, blanketing the world in a serene hush. The streets of King’s Landing—now an upscale urban sprawl rather than the medieval bastion it once was—twinkled with Christmas lights. Every building, tree, and street corner is adorned with shimmering bulbs and festive cheer. Inside the penthouse suite, Daemon sits on the plush leather sofa, his silver hair catching the soft glow of the fireplace.

You watch him with a mixture of amusement and affection as he swirls the mulled wine in his glass. He’d reluctantly agreed to this—your idea of a quiet, stress-free evening. No office calls, no high-stakes business deals, no planning his next move in the corporate battlefield that he dominated. Tonight, it is just the two of you.

“Admit it, you’re enjoying yourself,” you tease, sinking into the couch beside him.

Daemon smirks, his violet eyes—striking and sharp—narrowing at you. “It’s tolerable,” he replies, the faintest hint of a chuckle in his voice.

You nudge him with your shoulder. “Tolerable? You’re sipping wine with me, surrounded by Christmas lights, and you’re warm for once. That’s more than tolerable.”

His gaze softens as he looks at you. “Perhaps,” he concedes. “But it’s not my usual kind of evening.”

“That’s the point,” you say, grinning. “You work too hard. Even dragons need to rest.”

Daemon chuckles, a low, rumbling sound that always sends a shiver through you. He leans back, draping an arm over the back of the couch. “You’re lucky I like you, or I wouldn’t tolerate being called a dragon.”

“You love being called a dragon.”

His grin widens, and you can‘t help but smile in return. You reach for your own glass of mulled wine, taking a generous sip. The spices dance on your tongue, warming you from the inside out. You sigh contentedly, the alcohol buzzing pleasantly in your veins.

Daemon’s gaze lingers on you as you drink, his thoughts evidently wandering. The soft curve of your lips as you sip the wine seems to hold his attention longer than usual. He isn‘t the kind of man to relax easily, but tonight, something about the atmosphere—and you—has him loosening the iron grip he usually kept on himself.

“You’ve had more than me,” he observs, his voice low and teasing.

“It’s Christmas!” you declare, setting your glass down. “Or close enough. I’m allowed to indulge.”

Daemon raises a brow. “Indulge, huh?”

You nod emphatically, the alcohol giving you a playful confidence. “You should, too. Stop pretending you don’t like this.”

He leans closer, his face inches from yours, his smirk turning wicked. “Oh, I like it,” he murmurs, his voice a low purr.

The firelight dances in his eyes, and you suddenly feel the air between you shift. His hand, warm and steady, brushes against your thigh as he adjusts his position. You are acutely aware of how close he is now, how his scent—spiced cologne mixed with something inherently Daemon—wraps around you like a silken thread.

“You’re blushing,” he points out, his tone dripping with amusement.

“I’m not” you protest, though the warmth spreading across your cheeks betrays you.

Daemon’s smirk deepens. “Liar.”

You can‘t answer with words. In one fluid motion, he leans in and captured your lips with his.

The kiss is everything you’d expect from Daemon —intense, passionate, and completely consuming. His hand slides up to cup your cheek, his thumb brushing against your skin as he deepens the kiss.

When he finally pulls back, his forehead resting against yours, he chuckles softly. “This,” he murmurs, “is why I agreed to your little evening. You always know how to make me forget everything else.”

You smile, your fingers trailing through his silver hair. “You deserve it,” you whisper. “Even dragons need someone to remind them they’re human sometimes.”

Daemon laughs, a rare, genuine sound that makes your chest swell with affection. “Careful,” he says, his voice laced with amusement. “You keep saying things like that, and I might actually start to enjoy Christmas.”

You grin, pulling him back into another kiss. “That’s the plan.”

His hand lingers on your thigh now, his thumb drawing lazy circles over the fabric of your skirt. His touch is light, teasing, but his gaze is anything but.

"You know," he begins, his voice smooth and low, "for all your talk about me being human, you seem to forget just how easily I can make you prove it."

You blink at him, your breath catching. "Prove it?"

He smirks, that dangerous, knowing smile that always makes you feel like you are walking into a trap—one you don‘t mind at all. “You like to think you’ve tamed me tonight, dragging me into this cozy little scene, mulled wine and Christmas lights. But I’m still me, love. A dragon doesn’t change its nature.”

His fingers trail just a fraction higher on your leg, enough to make you shiver. You try to mask your reaction, but his smirk told you he notices. “Daemon..,” you begin, trying to sound admonishing, but the way your voice wavers betrays you.

“What?” he asks, feigning innocence, though the playful glint in his eyes says otherwise. He leans in closer, his breath warm against your ear. “You said I’m only human. Don’t you think I deserve to feel like it tonight?”

You swallow hard, your heart racing as his words sink in. He isn‘t even trying to hide the teasing edge to his tone now. “And how do you propose I do that?” you ask, trying to keep your voice steady.

Daemon chuckles softly, the sound vibrating through you. “For starters,” he says, his fingers toying with the hem of your skirt, “you could take this off. It’s distracting.”

You shoot him a mock glare, though your cheeks were burning. “Distracting? You’re the one who can’t keep your hands to yourself.”

He grins, unabashed. “Can you blame me? You put so much effort into tormenting me with this little thing,” he says, flicking the edge of the skirt playfully. “It’s only fair I return the favor.”

His hand lingers, his touch still maddeningly light. He is watching you closely, clearly enjoying the effect he is having. You can feel the heat rising between you, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife.

“Daemon,” you say again, this time softer, more breathless.

He tilts his head, his expression softening just a fraction, though the wicked gleam in his eyes remains. “What?” he asks, his voice a low murmur. “You’re the one who wanted me to be human tonight. This is me, being very... human.”

You bite your lip, trying to suppress the smile tugging at the corners of your mouth. He has a way of turning every situation to his advantage, always one step ahead, always in control. And yet, there is something disarming about the way he looks at you now—like you are the only thing that matters in the entire world.

“Fine,” you say, your voice barely above a whisper. “But you’re not as smooth as you think you are.”

Daemon laughs, a low, rumbling sound that sends shivers down your spine. “Oh, love,” he says, leaning in until his lips are a hair’s breadth from yours, “you have no idea how smooth I can be.”

You just stand up and start to slide down your skirt.

“Happy?” You ask, but before you can sit down again, Daemon's hand is on your hip.

“Not quite yet,” he says, and his finger slides under the waistband of your tights. He slowly begins to pull them down. You look at him, “That's not fair... why should I be the only one to take off all my clothes?“ you complain, but you do him the favor... after all, he is also spending an evening with you, without any distractions from work.

“Who says you're the only one?” Daemon suddenly says, and you look at him as you hear his belt open.

You smile slightly as he pulls down his trousers. When your tights are on the floor, you sit down next to him again, grinning. He sits there in his boxer shorts and a small bulge can already be seen.

“Someone is happy,“ you say teasingly and giggle as Daemon pulls you closer.

“Careful,” he grumbles as his lips meet yours. His hand slides up your thigh and he grabs your ass lightly as a gasp escapes your lips.

“Don't be shy, help yourself,” Daemon says teasingly.

He doesn't hesitate and lets his fingers glide over the already damp fabric of your panties.

“Mhm... someone is happy,“ he grumbles and you bite his lip lightly in response. Suddenly he pulls you closer to him. This sudden movement makes you gasp again, your hand slides to his thigh, gripping lightly to support yourself.

“Oh shut up,” you mutter, but your desire wins out. Your hand slides to his crotch and he growls slightly as his hips twitch slightly. A sound of arousal escapes your lips too as Daemon pushes your panties aside and smears the wetness along your folds.

You grind against his fingers lightly and whimper as you cup his balls lightly through the fabric of his boxers. He growls again and you feel his cock twitch. Slowly, you let go of his balls and slide your fingers up his length while his fingers lightly circle your clit, making you whimper.

Your hand pulls down his boxers and his length springs free. You bite your lip slightly and feel your pussy clench around nothing at the thought of what awaits you. But at that moment, Daemon pushes his fingers inside you and you moan out. Immediately, he feels your walls clench around his fingers.

“You like that, don't you?“ he grumbles, but only a whimper escapes your lips. Yet your fingers grasp his length, pumping him gently. He stutters out a shaky breath, a groan choking in his throat as he desperately tries to regain his composure.

”Fuck... look how hard you make me,” he grunts, and his face contorts with pleasure as you continue to stroke him. You don‘t mind that he has stopped his movements, breathing heavily.

You lean into him again, kissing him as your hand moves faster, gripping him tighter. He grunts and you smear the precum along its length. Your pussy flutters around his finger as he adds another finger, moving again and stretching you further. His fingers thrusting in and out, his palm rubbing your clit with each thrust.

When he suddenly pushes you onto your back. You gasp but you let him. Your fingers let go of his cock as you lay back on the sofa, taking off your panties and spreading your legs for him. You whimper as he hovers over you, pumping his cock. Your fingers glide to your clit, rubbing it, and Daemon growls as his hand slides faster up and down.

“Yes... rub that perfect little cunt for me,” he grunts, as his other hand slides back to your folds and he slides his fingers back into your cunt. You moan as he fingers you – his movements encourage yours to speed up.

Daemon growls, his hand pumping faster, his eyes fixed on your pussy. Drop after drop of precum drips onto your folds. Your fingers rub the precum along your cunt. Your wet walls clench around his fingers, the smacking sound of his penetrating fingers filling your room. Your moans get louder and you feel the pressure in your abdomen as his fingers push into you. The lewd, wet sounds increase your arousal and your back arches as his fingers curl against your spongy inner walls.

“Daemon,” you whimper, and he growls.

“Yes... come on my fingers!” He growls, and you cry out.

Your pussy clenches around his fingers, trying to pull them deeper. Daemon feels his balls tighten and he moans. He pumps faster, watching his fingers thrust into your spasming pussy. And then he grunts loudly. He pulls his fingers out of your pussy before he cums on it. He grunts, pumps his length and milks it completely. As if in a trance, he watches wave after wave of searing hot cum cover your pussy and abdomen.

You lie in front of him, your eyes closed and breathing heavily. Daemon pants, trying to catch his breath and enjoying the sight of you.

“Maybe we should have more relaxed evenings like this,” he murmurs, and you giggle slightly before he leans down and kisses you.

[dawn-speckled]

just watched too big to be a jockey for the first time and it's so funny, such an underrated longform!!

it doesn't quite have the plot quality of the newer ones but it feels very pleasantly low-stakes and silly, you're just there for the laughs - definitely a comfort play :))

[trashytoastboi]

Day of Greed - Mammon

~Spicy Sin-ario F! Version~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

> Female Version

> Word count: 1,781 words

Warning: NSFW (Teasing, Sex on a pool table, Stripping, Thigh fucking, Overstimulation)

Saturday night had a dual meaning for {Name} and Mammon on one hand it meant date night- on the other, if it was a stay at home date then Mammon loved turning it into a games night. Of course Mammon loved having something of a gambling nature and betting for those games, he’d suggest something like poker, texas hold em, black jack- the kinds of games you’d find in a casino. Mammon was honestly a very good teacher when explaining the rules and putting them into practice with a few rounds that had no real stakes until {Name} got used to things. After that it was suggested poker be the first game, it was one Mammon believed himself to have the highest chance of winning as he saw that {Name} struggled with the concept of a flawless poker face. It started with low stakes, a little bit of grimm, exchanges on the chore roster, desert privileges. Cute and simple bets that would feed Mammon’s satisfaction for winning as well give him some time to slack off and enjoy some easily earned grimm. At least that’s how it was supposed to be. {Name} was blessed by lady luck and won EVERY round, she took home all the grimm that Mammon bet, he was to be in charge of ALL of her chores for the next three months, {Name} would get all of his deserts and in a final way to raise the stakes Mammon even bet Goldie and lost. 

{Name} was having more fun watching Mammon get a little more silly and desperate as the night wore on, she wouldn’t keep Goldie away from him, nor make him do all the chores- just on the days when she didn’t feel up to it. Mammon in his final effort, proposed something that pleasantly surprised {Name}. Now having lost everything he’d entered the game with, he had only the clothes on his back and that’s exactly what he proposed to lose next- via strip poker. {Name} liked this side of him, finding it more cute than anything so naturally she agreed. Mammon played with more sincerity and no longer going easier on his girlfriend was proving to turn the tides steadily in his favour. Until {Name} claimed the first rounds victory, and Mammon’s jacket hit the floor first with some curse words at his luck tonight. For the first time since they started playing seriously Mammon won and {Name} lost the jacket of her uniform. With the newfound surge of motivation he gets fired up and the competition is neck and neck until they’re left with nothing else to strip. Mammon proposes a sudden death round, winner takes all. Everything that had been bet up until now would be the winners. {Name} truly had no reason to agree when currently she possessed everything and Mammon would be the only one walking away with nothing gained from this. His tenacity was admirable and in the spirit of a good game she agreed. The night had proved that {Name} had incredible luck and a secret talent for things like poker so saying that she bolstered herself with well deserved confidence would not be an understatement. 

The cards are shuffled, dealt and finally it’s time for the final game of the night. Mammon looks at her face, noting the anxious way she bit her lip while looking across the cards in her hand. She’s nervous- good news for him. He held four of a kind, surely he’d win. He settled into that false sense of security and for a split second he saw a flash of confidence in {Name’s} eyes, something told him he was about to lose, so doing the thing that any reasonable player would do- he drops his cards and pulls her into a sudden and rather forceful kiss. She gasped softly as he pinned her to the table, deepening the kiss when he heard the faintest moan. His leg inched between her legs, pressing against her heat and without wavering he pulled away for a moment to catch his breath. “What about the game?”  Mammon doesn’t answer, flashing a smile her way, knowing that a charming smile would be enough to pretend the question never existed in the first place as he continued to smother her in more kisses. {Name} stopped him, looking at Mammon who pouted when being denied his kisses. “Well?” 

“Who cares about the damn game?” Mammon grumbled, leaning down to nip at her earlobe and kiss down her neck, suckling small marks into her collarbone as he just kept moving down. {Name} could already feel through his urgency and his raging hard on that he is pretty turned on. {Name} laughed softly, Mammon reminds her that it’s her fault for being too damn cute. He shifts to pull her closer and he rests his cock on her stomach- almost showing off just how far he’s going to reach inside her. {Name} bit her lip noticing the slight rock of his hips and how sloppily his cock dribbled precum onto her stomach. The sight of seeing him so worked up when they hadn’t done anything but kiss was getting her hotter by the second. She reached to half cup his cock with her hand as it rested on her stomach as she rubbed it with her hand, gathering the pre and making it a little more slippery as Mammon cursed and rutted against her stomach and between her hand. “Jus’ like that baby”; Mammon hissed through his teeth. Mammon grabbed her thighs, and guided her legs till they were over one of his shoulders all to make sure her pretty thighs were pressed together as he thrust his cock in and out, grazing against her slit with every lazy thrust, he angled his hips to make sure every thrust intentionally bumped against her sensitive clit earning louder moans and trills of praises that fell from her open mouth. His pace picks up, driving them only further into their heat, and for {Name} it frustrated her. She felt so close but it wasn’t enough, just a little more.. “Mammon please…I can’t wait” she purred, a whisper in her shaky voice as she begged for him. Mammon was utterly helpless before those words, he knew it and so did she. If {Name} asked for something, he was so utterly weak to her, Mammon could never deny {Name} anything she desired. If it meant going to the ends of the world and back he’d do so. 

He spreads her legs, his fingers digging into the soft flesh of her thighs, he keeps a slow uneven rut against her slit, taking a moment to appreciate just how wet she is…All for him, and only him. He guided his tip to her hole, feeling the instant heat the moment the two touched. “Shit…so eager huh baby?” He chuckled, pressing past the resistance while she stretched around him. {Name} reached down to grab his hips as he persistently inched further inside, {Name} whined while feeling the stretch was too much to go any further for now. “So tight baby, can’t take anymore of me can ya?” Mammon cooed, pulling out to rut in shallowly, getting his precious girl’s pussy more used to his size. Once he felt like she opened up a little more he’d push another insistent inch inside before repeating the pattern of rutting and pushing in, his thumb drew slow circles on her clit encouraging {Name} to calm down. {Name] impatiently tried to grind her hips against him, trying to bite off more than she can chew, Mammon knew it. She would get impatient, take too much and then cry that his cock is too big and she can’t handle it. His thumb increases the pressure with a steady pace as he felt her insides clenching around him “Gonna cum for me pretty baby?” Mammon smiled, watching how she nodded frantically and her body practically lifted off the table as she was rocked with the earth shattering pleasure that she’d grown greedy for. “Atta girl, think ya can handle the rest now?” he’d asked, and as expected {Name} nodded. Without warning Mammon slammed the rest in without a moment to hesitate ripping the most delighted high pitched whine from {Name}, he sucked in a breath and let out a long groan at how delectable she felt inside. 

Mammon sets his hands on either side of her head, noticing her cards still turned face down on the table. He thrust hard enough to rock the table as he flipped the cards one by one. “Ya had a losing hand, nothing here coulda won.” he groaned, a new layer of satisfaction swelled in his chest knowing that he actually did win. But regardless of whether he won or lost, he’d already planned to fuck his pretty girl on the table. “Ya need to stop being this damn cute” he groans while he pushes her down onto the table, his hands tighten their hold on her hips to keep in her place. He’s getting greedier for her pleasure and until he’s satisfied he will not relent. He could feel the way {Name’s} body tensed up and all the knowing signs as her voice got louder, more urgent. Mammon flashed the all knowing grin, and the urge to wipe that smug expression off his face {Name} opted to be a little bratty, the more Mammon insisted on just letting go and feeling good she whined “Don’t wanna.” Mammon paused, looking down at her. He leaned close and pecked her lips, softly searing gentle kisses down her neck and into her collar bone. He moved with slow, intentional movements making sure he hits that spot she loves oh so much. “My pretty baby…” Mammon groaned, {Name} shivered on the emphasis he placed on the word ‘my’, he looked at her with pleading eyes. “Please be good for me? Give it to me…” his voice was so sweet, the typical depictions you’d hear of how people explain the voices of demons enticing them. {Name’s} protests didn’t last long at all because she gave in the moment he opened his mouth, he sighs and furrows how brows to hold back his own release. Refusing until he’s felt her constrict around him with all her pleasure, {Name’s} breaths grew shallower as she moaned his name in short utterances on repeat, Mammon steadily thrust and kissed her, working through her high until she relaxed in his arms. Mammon purred as he pulled out, frantically rubbing the head of his cock against her sensitive clit until he painted her with his cum, smiling at the sight of the mess he’d left. Mammon really…really loved game night. 

Taglist: @completelyshatteredbrokenmschf

[protect-namine]

it's interesting that yingdu E1 is gonna be the episode that really tells you if you like S1 story structure more, or S2 story structure more.

I thought yingdu would be more like S2 but I'm actually pleasantly surprised it starts more like S1? and I already knew this about myself but I really loved the episodic, slice of life nature of the first half of S1 (and the chibi shorts). I loved S2 and all, but the first time I fell in love with link click it was because of the day-to-day kind of issues they face before they started playing mind games with other people who have abilities like them. and I think I wouldn't have enjoyed S2 or even the back half of S1 if the show didn't start with episodic, low stakes cases. of course, I think they'll probably mix both storytelling styles this special season.

but idk, I really missed that vibe. shiguangling being domestic is sweet. I did like the cosplay story more than vivian's story, though I think them trying to set up the scammer parallel to lu guang was funny. I think cheng xiaoshi shines a lot in these kinds of moments because he's very empathetic even with the little things. lu guang is the one dealing with a lot of big picture stuff (time and death itself) but cheng xiaoshi? he just wants to set up a photography studio and maybe help a couple of people out when he can. play basketball. find a cosplayer to return her paintings. help their student council president to not get scammed.

he's just a little guy! look at him! he thrives in low stakes situations!! give him milk tea and he's happy 🤗

I think the most surprising details in this episode were:

lu guang is in the anime club :o

lu guang kept a detailed notebook of the past?? damn. I feel like he spent one timeline just memorizing and noting down events, down to the last minute.

"your eyes remind me of two people I knew" holy shit. time traveler parents possibly true. what if cheng xiaoshi's parents are lost to the time stream? like, they faced the consequences lu guang said you'd face if you stayed more than 12 hours into a picture (notably though, lu guang doesn't seem? to have this issue when he dives? or I guess past 12 hours you get "stuck" in the past and aren't able to come back to your "present")

what is up with cheng xiaoshi always wanting lu guang to be his partner "for life" asdfghjkl. my guy. you're so sweet

lu guang moves into the photo studio during their university years and bridon happens right after. and he's wearing cheng xiaoshi's summer clothes...

cheng xiaoshi did not clap when he activated his powers with the bridon picture (his hands were holding the envelope and the picture). which is... weird? how did that happen? also he went there as himself which means this picture was... not taken by a photographer? because otherwise he should've possessed someone like normal

finally: lu guang didn't have a watch in the beginning. idk why I always thought he had a watch. anyway, I think we can use the placement of his watch as a signifier of which timeline we're in

no watch: original timeline. when lu guang dives back here, I guess he buys a watch afterwards

watch on the left hand: either the og timeline (after he buys a watch) or the first time he dives? the timeline with cheng xiaoshi's first death? the style of the bedroom makes me think this happened in the first time they go to bridon (which isn't necessarily the same timeline we're seeing in the donghua right now).

edit: actually, scratch that. now I think this might have been lu guang's bedroom lol. the date is 4/12 which is the day cheng xiaoshi reads the 👌 text from lu guang about playing basketball again

it's also consistent with the flashback to cheng xiaoshi's death in S2E1 — watch is on the left hand.

watch on the right hand: S2 finale dive / yingdu E1 dive. which means vein showing up in the photo studio happened sometime during our "current" timeline.

lu guang keeps his watch on his right hand during S1 and S2 as well (catguang in the chibi shorts also has a watch on his right... paw).

there's probably other details I missed but anyway. welcome back link click!! I'm already one square away from getting a bingo in my yingdu bingo card lmao

[peterpparkrr]

Banter (Ch. 4)

Series: Banter

Pairing: Roy Kent x f!Reader

Summary: Sam has his restaurant’s soft open. You and Roy spend the night together. No! Not like that!

A/N: I cried twice during this week's episode, how are you guys doing?

(Ch. 1) (Ch. 2) (Ch. 3) // (Ch. 5)

series masterlist

"Keeley..." You singsong as you walk up to where she and Rebecca are staking a claim in front of the bartender.

"What did you say to Roy?" You ask her as you lean your face toward hers, making an effort to keep your voice low seeing as the man in question is only on the other side of this relatively small restaurant.

"I'm not sure I know what you mean," Keeley replies with such a convincing tone of innocence that you’d almost believe her if it weren’t for the fact that Roy Kent was staring at you with such unabashed intensity that you felt like you might combust.

"He's...looking at me," You whisper-hiss in her direction. Causing both women to look over your shoulder to where Roy is sitting with Jamie Tartt, Jamie going on about something while Roy continues to stare in your direction.

“God, he really is intense, isn’t he?” Rebecca comments as she turns back to you, sipping her drink. 

You purse your lips to keep yourself from snapping at your newfound friend. 

You know this is amusing to Keeley and Rebecca, everything about your love life is amusing to these women, but you’re having a hard time laughing about it when everyone else knows just as much about your business as you do. And how it sometimes feels like they know stuff you don’t know. 

“I need to know why all of that intensity is aimed in my direction, and Keeley’s my best bet,” You reply as you stare at your best friend expectantly. 

“Nothing! I just encouraged him to explore the relationship- friendship between you two!” Keeley defends.

“Go say hi to your new friend,” She adds as she prods at your side.

You sigh but move to say hello to him anyway.

Jamie has disappeared off to somewhere else by the time you move to this side of the room.

"Hi... friend," You greet Roy as you come up to him with an awkward smile, your hand coming up in a half-wave, half-fist bump that just makes it look like you greet people by punching the air.

Cool.

"Right," Roy replies gruffly as he frowns down at you. 

"This place is nice, I'm impressed," You comment as you glance around the space.

When Keeley had invited you and explained that one of the AFC Richmond players had started a restaurant you kind of expected it to be like most celebrity-owned establishments, completely detached from that person other than the use of their name to get people in the door. With little care for anything other than making money.

But you were pleasantly surprised, Sam clearly had a lot of oversight here as owner, he was helping deliver plates to people’s tables, checking in with the chef, and making the rounds to ensure everyone was having a good time. 

Not to mention the fact that the food looked absolutely amazing.

Sam cared a lot about sharing his culture and food. And it showed.

"Maybe Sam should quit and become a full-time restaurateur,” You comment as the man in question sneaks around the two of you with two plates in his hands.

"Don't you fucking dare put that idea in his head," Roy replies. “The team needs him.”

"You'd figure it out,” You say with a wave of your hand. “Ted and Beard are both pretty smart guys," You add with a small smile.

"And you too, I guess," You add with a sigh, smiling at Roy as he takes your teasing remarkably well given your past. 

"How have you been?" Roy asks you.

"Oh, um, good," You reply with a nod. “You?” 

“Shit,” Roy replies.

“Oh… um…” You stammer as you glance at his expression nervously. Only to see him staring back at you as straight-faced as always but with a glimmer of something behind his eyes that has your short-lived anxiety quickly morphing into relief and amusement. 

“You’re fucking with me, aren’t you?” You reply as you hit his upper arm with your palm. 

“Yeah, glad you finally noticed,” Roy replies.

You smile up at him for a moment before a server with another platter of delicious-looking food walks past you. 

“Watching all of this food come out is making me extremely jealous, do you want to order some food to share?” You ask as you gesture toward an open table in the corner.

“Yeah,” Roy replies. 

As you move to sit down you miss the look that Roy and Keeley share.

As it turns out, talking to Roy is easy.

You’d initially been a little worried that with your nervous energy and hatred of long pauses that trying to make conversation would be like pulling teeth, but once the two of you get going you can’t stop. 

“What do you mean?!” You shout as Roy finishes telling you the story of how his ex-girlfriend stole his Rolex and sold it for drug money.

“I said what I said,” Roy replies.

You burst into laughter at the whole story. 

“Uh oh,” You mutter as you see Sam out of the corner of your eye start to put chairs up on the tables. 

And then you glance around to realize everyone else is gone except for Sam and his employees.

Keeley and Rebecca had bid you goodnight a little while ago but everyone else had still been here then.

“I think Sam is trying to very politely tells us to fuck off,” Roy replies as you pull your phone out of your bag to realize how late it’s gotten. 

And get a glimpse at a series of texts from Keeley almost exclusively consisting of emojis including but not limited to the peach, eggplant, and explosion emojis.

“Do you want to go get a drink? There’s a pub down the road that makes good cocktails,” You ask Roy when you turn back to him. 

“Yeah,” Roy replies as he moves to stand up.

“Thanks for tonight, Sam, this place is seriously amazing, it’s going to be a huge success, I can already tell,” You tell Sam with a smile as you and Roy make your way to the door.

“Good food,” Roy adds from beside you.

“Thank you so much for coming,” Sam replies with a grin. “And I hope you’ll stop in again soon.”

“Oh, we will,” You reply without even thinking about it before you head out with one last wave.

We. You said we. Putting you and Roy into a shared unit without even thinking about it. 

And you didn’t hate it.

As your brain spirals Roy switches over the walk on your other side, his hand ghosting the small of your back as he places himself between you and the road. A move that you’ve only read about in books. Or heard about on TikTok from people who apparently have better boyfriends than you’ve ever had.

The spiral pops an embarrassing story of your own into your brain.

“I once had a boyfriend who was stealing money from my wallet and when I caught him he claimed it was a ‘boyfriend tax’,” You blurted out as you glanced over at Roy. Filling the silence with your rambling.

“Your terrible ex story reminded me,” You add. 

Roy looks down at you and stops dead in his tracks as he turns to face you more completely. You stop walking too and take a step back to glance back at him.  

“What was his name?” Roy asks. 

“Br– wait, I’m not telling you that,” You stop yourself when you realize what he means. “I can’t let you go to jail for murder.”

“You don’t know that it was going to be murder,” Roy replies.

You laugh.

“C’mon,” You say as you loop your arm around Roy’s and pull him along to come with you. “Let’s go get that drink. Maybe I’ll tell you his name after I’ve had a few.”

After the change in locations you’re ready for the mood to shift and for you to down a quick drink and bug out as whatever weird truce you and Roy have going on fizzles. But the conversation continues to flow even better as the two of you share a few more drinks.

Once it becomes truly too late that even the bar crowd is starting to think Roy offers to walk you home.

"Thanks for walking me home," You tell Roy when you reach the door to your flat. "I'd ask you to come in but it's probably way past your bedtime with practice tomorrow."

"Yeah," Roy replies.

"Tonight was fun, I'm glad we were able to break the ice," You say as you glance down at Roy’s lips. Waiting for him to look at you and do the same. 

But his eyes don’t move from the top half of your face.

"Me too.”

"I guess I'll see you tomorrow- today technically," You add.

"Goodnight, (Y/N)," Roy says with a small smile.

"Goodnight," You reply.

And then Roy turns on his heels and walks down the hallway.

You watch him disappear down the staircase before you turn and shove your key into your door.

"Goodnight," You mutter to yourself as you push open your door. "What the fuck?!" 

[vixenmulder]

Jedi don’t have fun!

Summary: Reader and Yord go undercover in a bar, and accidentally distract each other on an important mission

Warnings: alcohol, kissing

—————

The glaring yellow lights from buildings reflected in dirty puddles on the ground, and the smell of cooking food and garbage mixed unpleasantly in the humid air.

Yord and Y/N were making their way through the crowded streets of the city, their hoods pulled low over their faces to maintain their anonymity. It seemed an unusual setting for two Jedi, blending into the bustling nightlife, but their mission required them to be discreet in their pursuit of the drug smuggler they had been tailing for weeks.

The limping figure ahead stopped looked around and then entered a bar, still completely oblivious to the two people that had been following him on his night time excursion. Y/N and Yord didn’t even exchange a glance as they followed him into the bar.

Yord, ever the rule-follower, was uncomfortable in the noisy, chaotic environment of the bar. The sounds of raucous laughter and clinking glasses grated on his nerves amidst the buzz of countless conversations. He preferred the tranquil stillness of the Jedi Temple, where his mind could be at peace. Yet, there was no denying the thrill of the chase and the satisfying closure that came with bringing a smuggler to justice.

In contrast, Y/N seemed to thrive in the chaos. Her carefree smile and quick wit effortlessly charmed those around her, as she ordered a drink from the bar, laughing pleasantly and paying, carefully picking up both drinks. In her civilian clothes she blended in perfectly, while Yord felt stiff and severe compared to her.

As they settled into a quiet corner booth, the shadows played on Yord's face. His demeanor, serious and composed, stood in stark contrast to Y/N's laid-back demeanor. Despite the gravity of their mission, she wore a playful smirk, unfazed by the dangerous endeavor ahead. Her eyes darted around the bar, observant, taking in every movement. The only thing betraying her nonchalant attitude was the occasional flicker of anticipation in her gaze as she locked onto their target across the room.

Yord, unable to shake off his disciplined attitude, meticulously studied the smuggler from afar, noting his every movement. On the other hand, Y/N, with her mischievous eyes, couldn't help but lean towards Yord, whispering comments and observations about the patrons of the bar. Although Yord attempted to maintain his seriousness, he struggled to ignore the warmth of her proximity and the subtle scent of her hair that filled his senses. He mentally berated himself for letting his focus slip, reprimanding himself for allowing such feelings to surface in the middle of their mission.

The drug smuggler, a burly figure with a rugged face marred by a network of scars, sat at the bar, nursing a drink. He was surrounded by a small group of shady-looking individuals, seemingly engaged in idle chatter that potentially masked the exchange of illegal substances. Y/N and Yord watched closely from their booth, their gazes unwavering yet subtle, avoiding drawing any unnecessary attention.

Yord shifted uncomfortably in his seat, the discomfort etched onto his face betraying his thoughts. The noise, the smoke-filled air, and the presence of strangers, all violated the his beloved principles of control and peace. Y/N on the other hand (much to Yord’s annoyance) had begun her favourite stake-out pass time, making up stories.

She was giggling and creating absurd backstories for random bar-goers around them, sometimes finding herself so funny that she whole figure shook violently with restrained laughter. She smiled wildly leaning in to whisper to him again “-that girl that’s with the disgraced priest, I bet she met him at a the circus, and-“

"You really ought to take this seriously," Yord whispers sternly, his gaze flicking between the target and her.

Y/N sighs, a playful glint in her eyes. "Lighten up, Yord. You know I can handle both the case and a few jokes. Multi-tasking, have you heard of it?"

She takes a sip of her drink, amused by his disapproving demeanor. His eyes roll in playful annoyance, but beneath the feigned irritation lies a hint of affection for her carefree nature. Yord sighed, the familiar frustration with Y/N's lighthearted approach surfacing again. "You can't keep getting distracted by every ‘amusing’ person in this bar. We're here for one reason."

“You made me lose my train of thought about the circus…” Y/N pouted clearly not listening and bringing a hand to her chin thinking hard.

Yord gives an exasperated sigh, shifting in his seat. "You're insufferable, you know that?"

Her laughter echoes quietly, the sound sending an unexpected airy flutter through his chest.

"You love it, though," she teases, her voice soft. "Admit it."

His stomach does a summersault, and he averts his gaze, busying himself with observing the smuggler once more.

"Focus, please. We're on a mission here, not out for a night of entertainment."

“Speak for yourself!” She smiled and stretched slightly arm brushing up against his own as she does.

Yord exhales, trying and failing to hide a smirk at her response. He feels uncomfortable in his seat, aware of the proximity between them. He wants to scold her further about keeping her mind on the mission, but he knows how little effect his words have on her carefree spirit, and even if she doesn’t act like it she is in fact paying very close attention to the smuggler. He just can’t let her know that she’s right about multitasking.

"You make it difficult to stay focused," he mutters, more to himself than her.

Y/N grins at his comment, her eyes dancing with suppressed laughter. She leans back in her seat, her arm brushing against his once again in the cramped space. The feel of her body against his sends a jolt of warmth down his spine. He mentally chides himself for reacting, knowing he should maintain his disciplined focus.

"That's part of my charm, my dear," she teases. "I've always had a knack for distracting you."

Y/N's eyes twinkle mischievously as she shifts her focus to the bar. The bartender, a stoic figure with a permanent frown, catches her attention. She giggles under her breath, her mind quickly crafting a humorous backstory for the serious bartender.

"You see that grumpy bartender?" she whispers, nudging Yord.

Yord, trying to keep his focus on the target, can't help but roll his eyes jokingly. "Oh no, not this again."

As Y/N begins to make jokes about the bartender, Yord can't help but shake his head in feigned annoyance. Despite his disapproval, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips betrays his true feelings.

She leans in, her voice lowered to a conspiratorial whisper. "I bet he's not just mixing drinks. He's got a secret identity. Look at that mustache, definitely a cover up for some serious shameful past."

Y/N grins, undeterred by Yord's lack of response. "Oh come on, you're no fun. Just look at him: the way he moves, the way he interacts with the patrons. He's got layers, I can feel it."

Yord chokes on a laugh then feels frustration ride in his throat, and turn his head quickly to scold Y/N and tell her to knock it off, but when he does he is nose to nose with her, not realizing just how close she had leaned in. Her eyes are wide and startled looking back at him.

Yord is caught off guard by the sudden proximity of her face to his, and he falters his intent to chide her now overshadowed by the closeness of their bodies. His mind is blank when Y/N's gaze flicks to the side, her expression subtly changing.

Her eyes lock onto his and she whispers seriously “Do you trust me?” And even through the surprise of the situation his response was immediate. “Yes.”

Y/N abruptly closes the distance between them. Before he can react, her lips are on his, her hands gently clasping his shoulders, and one sliding up his back to his hair. For a moment, his mind goes completely blank. He's utterly frozen, the world shrinking to the feeling of her against him. His mind races struggling to process the situation.

He might die, he can’t believe this is happening. Is he dead? Her smell is overwhelming, the feeling of her delicately kissing him makes him feel things he’s never felt before. He begins to kiss her back and without him noticing she quickly hops a leg over his and straddles him holding his face with both hands so gently. The feeling of his soft face in her palms shoots electricity into her heart, and she vaguely wonders why she’s never done this sooner.

Heat floods Yord’s body and mindlessly he wraps one arm around her lower back his fingers spreading feeling the fabric covering her warm shoulders. How long have they been here? Hours? Days? Years? He wishes that could be the case.

All too soon, Y/N breaks the kiss, her gaze flicking over his shoulder. As their lips part, Yord's senses are captured by her closeness, the sweet scent of her skin, the warmth of her breath, and the rapid beat of his heart in his chest. She begins to move off of him and startled he realizes that both of his hands are on her waist. His heart feels like it’s breaking as he removes them, but the gravity of what just happened sinks in as she settles back down beside him.

Startled, Yord's eyes widen for a moment before he forces himself to maintain a casual facade. Their faces remain close, as they’re still leaned towards each other but in a way that allows them to keep an eye on the smuggler.

“So …What was that?” He said calmly clenching his jaw and trying to slow his breathing, staring at the smuggler through half lidded eyes.

Y/N can feel a subtle blush creeping up her cheeks, but she tries to play it cool. “The smuggler had been glancing at us, and when you looked away he was staring at us and had started to point, I thought he was figuring out who we were and I had to think fast.”

Yord's mind tries to catch up with the events unfolding around him. His lips still tingle from the unexpected kiss and his thoughts are a jumbled mess. He swallows hard, his mind still preoccupied with the memory of her lips against his. "And the first thing you thought of was to kiss me?" he asks, disbelief coloring his voice.

Despite her normally confident demeanor, Y/N is unexpectedly embarrassed by her impulsive action. Her cheeks flush a light pink, a rare flicker of vulnerability in her gaze.

"Just a quick cover-up," she mutters, suddenly unable to meet his eyes. "The smuggler was getting suspicious, and this seemed like the quickest way to blend in."

Yord's heart pounds louder in his chest, his thoughts swirling with conflicted emotions. Her momentary embarrassment only adds to his flustered state.

His heart raced as he absorbed her words. Despite the logical explanation, his mind is filled with the lingering feel of her lips on his, the warmth of her body against his, and the overwhelming closeness between them.

He manages to find his voice, still slightly shaken. "You could have just told me," he mutters gruffly. "There were other ways to blend in.”

Y/N gives a sheepish shrug, her cheeks still flushed from embarrassment. "This seemed like the most direct approach," she replies feebly, avoiding his gaze.

Yord can't help but notice how uncharacteristically flustered she is, her usual confidence seemingly shaken by her own impulsive action. He's torn between wanting to chide her further for her recklessness and wanting to pull her closer again.

The tension between them is palpable, the air thick with unspoken words and mixed emotions. He fidgets slightly in his seat, struggling to regain his composure. Her fingers tap along the rim of her drink.

Y/N can feel the weight of his gaze, her heartbeat quickening under his intense stare. She finally meets his eyes, her expression a mixture of embarrassment and something else, something more profound that she can't quite define.

A charged silence hangs between them. Yord can't seem to tear his gaze away from her face, taking in every little detail - the flicker of her lashes, the sheen of her lips, the rising and falling of her chest. His heart hammers in his ears, drowning out the sound of the bustling bar.

Y/N, equally captivated, can feel the tension mounting between them, the air practically crackling with electricity. She swallows hard, her throat suddenly dry.

Yord grapples with the conflicting emotions swirling within him. A part of him longs to pull her closer, to feel the warmth of her body against his again, but another part of him wants to maintain his disciplined demeanor. He studies her face, his gaze roaming over her flushed cheeks, her parted lips, and the subtle flicker of vulnerability in her eyes.

A long moment hangs in the air, filled with unspoken words and electric tension. Finally, he breaks the silence, his voice gruff. "You always have to make things complicated, don't you?"

Y/N opens her mouth to respond, but before she can utter a word, Yord's gaze snaps away from her, focusing again on the smuggler. His expression darkens, his mind shifting back to the mission, his confession would have to wait.

A newcomer has approached the smuggler, engaging him in hushed whispers. Yord and Y/N share a quick glance, silently communicating the need to maintain their cover and listen in.

“Looks like the smuggler's contact arrived."

They watch closely as the two men exchange some small items, their voices too low to be heard above the noise of the bar. The conversation that was just just exchanged between the two Jedi, dropped for now, but far from forgotten.

[kirythestitchwitch]

Klaroline WIP Wed - fake sexy lamp au

Okay so like the basic premise of this fic is that Klaus finds out about Elena and in order to keep an eye on his doppelgänger, comes to town before Stefan and fake woos her in the guise of a college student. He just doesn't count on her extremely opinionated best friend Caroline butting her nose into everything and messing with all his plans and getting under his skin.

--------------------------------------------

It was astonishing what a thousand years could do to a place. The last time he’d seen the village that would become Mystic Falls, it had been a half burned wreck, a testament to the sins of fathers coming to roost on the sons. Now? 

Well, it was no longer on fire, Klaus thought blandly, looking around the town square from where he sat on an out-of-the-way park bench. One could term that an improvement. It was disgustingly picturesque in that true Southern Americana way. 

As he flipped through the file folder he’d had liberated from the Sheriff’s file folder drawers by a convenient deputy, he rubbed at his jaw absently, fingers missing the usually present stubble. Going undercover, at his age. The temptation to burn this town to the ground—again—and take his doppelgänger and go simmered pleasantly in his veins, except for that one pesky loophole: the ceremony had to be completed in the birthplace of the doppelgänger. From all accounts, that was Mystic Falls, VA. So here he was, blending in. 

Was this how the average American youth wore their clothes, so ill-fitting? He hadn’t worn anything that hadn’t been tailored for him in the past several centuries that he hadn’t taken in desperation on the run from Mikael. It seemed rather ridiculous to complain of one’s trousers being too tight when your own father figure was trying to stake you through the heart.

Kol had managed it, both the too tight trousers and the complaining. Probably he should have spent the majority of the 80s daggered instead of doing enough cocaine to keep El Padrino in business, but his little brother’s terrible fashion decisions aside, he didn’t think they had ever stooped so low as to buy off the rack. 

The jeans and t-shirt Klaus wore, along with the thin zip-up hoodie, and converse sneakers were designed to make him appear younger. Those, and the addition of a paint smeared backpack slung over one shoulder, seemed to be performing the desired result: before he’d compelled him, the deputy had asked Klaus if he was taking classes at Whitmore. 

Which brought him back to the contents of the folder: the drowning deaths of Grayson and Miranda Gilbert, and the mysterious rescue of Elena Gilbert. It was clear the car accident was just that, an accident, but what flummoxed the good members of the Mystic Falls Police Department was how his Doppelgänger got out of that vehicle. Indeed, she had no memory of having done so.

Where in town, he mused to himself, would I locate the one person who could rip open a car door with their bare hands?  Closing the folder, he slid it under a second folder, flipped it open to see a paper clipped photo of a square-faced young-looking man with green eyes and light brown hair. An odd little brush of memory hit him as the man laughed, an arm around his shoulders, the sound of jazz in his ears, blood and gin mingling in his throat. Blink, and it was just a photo again. 

A shadow fell across the page. “Nik, I’m bored.”

[gatheredfates]

I'm being sentimental for a moment, don't mind ME.

It's officially November now, which means SEAFLOOR Saints Wake is technically over. Technically, in the sense I won't be actively monitoring the tag past like a week from now, but you can still 100% use it as a personal challenge any day of the year and tag me with your gposes—I welcome it, in fact!

But what this is segways into is that I am once again blown away by the creativity of this community and the people who engage with my little projects. 🥺 Even now I am always so pleasantly surprised by how many people engage with them, and all the nice comments? I'm glad so many people had fun with it and that they felt it was accessible to them! That's the biggest thing I always try to aim for, whether it be this or Count (Down) to Dawntrail. I want it to be a little bit of low-stakes fun that people can enjoy.

So... thank you! Thank you for engaging with my things and enjoying them. I really love making and participating in things for the community, so it warms my heart that the feeling is mutual. 💖

Saints Wake gposes are queued and will come out on my blog in a few days, I'm sure. But I promise they're there!!

[starryjkoo]

Not much is out yet about the travel show, but already just the name “Are You Sure?!” has me so endeared. I’m not sure why I assumed the title would just be another generic “ITS” or “BV” variant, but of course Jikook went with something so cute and funny for their show instead.

It also made me realize that the show itself probably won't be just another generic “ITS” or “BV” variant either. It’s a show that was seemingly shaped by Jikook’s unique dynamic, sense of humor, and personal brand of chaos. And isn’t that so exciting? To have a show that’s going to be entirely Jikook through and through?

It’s going to be really interesting to see how it differs from OT7 content, what aspects of their personalities come to the forefront when they’re together, the general tone of the show, their thoughts and decision making processes, just seeing their dynamic in general in so many different situations and environments. We know there’s chaos, but is it going to be more action oriented (lots of activities like kayaking and skiing), is there going to be some more chill segments (shopping and eating), are there going to be any heart to hearts, or soft and sweet moments? (how much flirting)

Anyways, I was already excited but I guess finding out that there really is a third location and seeing their personalities shine through already just from the title alone has me more excited than I thought possible. I was trying to keep my expectations low (still am 😭) but I’m already so pleasantly surprised by what we know so far and the slightly unexpected amount of episodes.

Also fingers crossed that they filmed some promotional content together!! (also a theme song, also some merch, also that the episodes are longer than 25 minutes 🙏😭)

Side note but I forgot how insanely stressful these music releases were in stan spaces, actual hell, so it’s nice to have some fun and healing, low-stakes content to look forward to.

[dailydragon08]

Hey queen! Would love to know how the main ot gang (Han, lando, Chewie, Luke, and leia of course) would react to you asking to hang out, and in turn where they would each personally take you/what you would do together. I’m Intrigued to know what you think, because you understand all of them so well xx

Thank you, that’s so sweet! I’m having so much fun with these and might be opening up my asks again soon for more (not sure yet). I realized after I finished this that there’s a lot of swimming mentioned in this one—it’s starting to get hot where I live, so I guess that’s where my brain is going?

My masterlist and a list of fandoms I write for are available in my pinned post on my page. If you liked this, any reblogs and/or comments would be greatly appreciated! Please let me know if you'd like to be added to the taglist as well!

When you ask Leia to hang out on her off day, she keeps her cool as always, but is elated on the inside. Growing up royalty, she didn’t always have the chance to just make friends with anyone and run around like other kids from her planet (even though she would go against her parents’ wishes whenever she could anyway). Similarly, as an adult, she was always so concerned with matters of the senate, and then the rebellion, and afterwards getting the New Republic off the ground while also fighting off remnants of the empire, that she never really had time to just have a day with a friend who genuinely wanted to spend time with her. Of course, she’s spent time with plenty of people who wanted her for her money, her status, etc.—and of course, there’s Luke, Han, Lando, Chewie, and the droids. But they’re also always so busy, she hardly gets time with any of them. So, a day to hang out with one of her favorite people with no obligations, no rigid timeline for the day, no expectations that she fulfill some superficial status transaction—yes, please.

Honestly, she kind of strikes me as the type of person that likes to constantly be in go, go, go mode. She likes feeling productive, so anything she does to relax is also productive in a way – playing some sort of logic game like chess or a card game, learning something new, or even playing some sort of low-stakes sport. Growing up on Alderaan, I can really see her having a love of swimming, too. Privacy is probably something she really values, so maybe she takes you for a little morning swim with her, followed by a breakfast full of fruits and foods from her home planet. Afterwards, you dry off in the sun while reading your own books, then in the afternoon, go to a museum she’s been dying to explore with you – incognito, of course. She relishes having chances to walk around like anyone else without being in danger or ogled by passersby and actually enjoys the simplicity of “common” clothing and even makes a little date out of picking disguises with you. Afterwards, she insists you pick where they eat—still in disguise, of course—and finds herself pleasantly surprised by your pick, which becomes one of her favorite places. After, if you’re still up for hanging out and are into this sort of thing, she takes you back to her private quarters to do face masks, make some tea, and she may even braid your hair in a style that’s easy to sleep in, and will still look sleek and smooth in the morning while you relax and watch videos on the holonet.

Although Luke grew up having more typical kid experiences, he still grew up on a farm and was bullied within his friend group. Biggs got busier the older they both got, so one-on-one, harassment-free hang outs with him were few and far between. Now with the rebellion, jedi training, and even rebuilding the jedi and trying to figure out which parts of the order to keep and which to reform, he has an immense amount of pressure on his shoulders and constantly feels like he’s got so much to do and so little time to do it. For this reason, convincing him to even take a day off at all—let alone spend it for pleasure vs work—might feel a bit like pulling teeth at first. But once you start listing off all his favorite activities, you see him start to crack a bit. The more activities you list, the more his blue eyes start sparkling with excitement and the more he’s fighting the urge to smile. Eventually, once you promise to help him get caught up the next day and tell him he deserves a day off after all he’s been through and done for the galaxy, he caves with a quiet laugh.

Similar to his sister, he also likes learning new things and doing an actual activity to wind down, but at a slower pace. He always starts the morning off with a meditation and is elated when you seem interested in learning. Even if you aren’t Force-sensitive, Luke’s never had an opportunity before this to pass the jedi teachings down and is very excited about it to the point that you have to contain your laugh. Later, he’ll home-make you two a nutritious breakfast he used to have many mornings on Tatooine, insisting that it gave him lots of energy to work the moisture vaporators for hours. You spend most of your day with him outside, and if you’re in a sandy place, he’ll tell you all about games he used to play with his friends growing up and maybe even demonstrate some of them for you. If you join in and it turns into the two of you playing the exact same game, he’ll have the biggest smile on his face the whole time. After growing up on a desert planet, he also became so interested in plants and fauna that thrive in more tropical environments, and might enlist your help in caring for some he has either in a pot under a sunlamp in his room or a garden he’s trying to start outside. Leia also got him interested in all things water and swimming, but hasn’t had much time to hone his skills, so asks for your help if you’re a good swimmer. If you’re just as hopeless as he is, he’s happy to just splash around with you instead. After, he’ll also curl up with you with a good book and maybe even lay his head in your lap and take a little snooze once you start stroking his hair. Once he wakes up to both of your stomachs growling, he’ll cook dinner together with you and eat it outside if possible before ending your day with a stargazing session where he points out all the different constellations with you tucked under his arm.

Han looks at you like you just grew a second head when you ask if he wants to hang out. “You wanna hang out with me? Well…I mean, I’ve got some good alcohol stowed away on the Falcon if you want some. If Chewie hasn’t drank all of it,” which of course gets a very disgruntled growl from the Wookiee—but whether that means he resents the accusation or the fact that he didn’t know about this alcohol in the first place, you’ll never know. Han isn’t the most emotive person, so he’s a bit harder to read, but does seem happy you’re there with him.

He gets you onboard the Falcon early in the morning and flies the two of you to this small town (if it can even be called that) in the middle of nowhere that at first, doesn’t look too promising. He quickly leads you inside a 24-hour pub that is the most hole-in-the-wall place you’ve ever seen. At first, you wonder what he’s even thinking—until breakfast gets there. You’re not sure how this unassuming place has some of the best waffles, eggs, bacon, pancakes, you name it, that you’ve ever had, but it does. As you’re leaving and you realize the line is out the door and around the building, you now understand why Han was so insistent you get up at the crack of dawn. Through a few alleyways and around the back of another building, he leads you through this ominous door to reveal an arcade complete with a faux shooting range. When you ask him how he finds all these places that look completely unappealing from the outside, but hold the best little hidden gems inside, he just shrugs and says “part of the smuggling job, I guess. You gotta be willing to go through the crusty outside to get to the juicy middle—just like me.” Of course, when you then point out that his “outside” is anything but crusty, he just scoffs and insists you’re trying to get more free food out of him, but you can tell he’s happier and more relaxed than he has been in a long time. You spend the afternoon playing all the games he explains were staples of his childhood before moving to the shooting range. When you ask to go back to that same 24-hour pub for dinner, he laughs, slings his arm around your shoulders, and says “see? Sometimes I do know what I’m talkin’ about,” before indulging you. The two of you head back to the ship and enjoy a few drinks (maybe get a little tipsy in the process; but if you don’t drink, he has some non-alcoholic drinks stored there as well, just for you) before he flies you back home. Despite his rough and tumble exterior he likes to preserve, he does insist on walking you to your door—or if you’d rather just tumble into one of the Falcon’s bunks, he’ll gently lift your head onto the pillow and put a blanket over top of you before crashing next to you.

I’m fully convinced that despite Lando’s more refined reputation (or slightly rougher one, depending on who you ask from his past), he can actually be very excitable and is prime best friend (and more) material (I haven’t read the EU or seen the Han Solo movie, please don’t come for me). When you ask him to hang out, he can’t stop his huge grin and “yes, of course!” He, however, strikes me as an “I like a plan” kind of guy, even on his off days—and he may or may not want to impress you and make sure he takes you to all the best places ahead of time.

Lando gives me strong “I like just about anything if I’m doing it with my friends” kind of guy, so is down for just about anything and lets you take the lead a bit more when it comes to planning. However, if you ask to be shown around Cloud City, this man is soooo excited. Especially once the New Republic takes over, he’s put so much time and effort into really making his city a fair, clean, one-of-a-kind, modern, and welcoming place for any who want to call it their home and spares you no expense—no matter how outlandish you think your requests are. What started off as just a day together quickly turns into him pampering you in all the best ways possible. He’s not even trying to impress you, he’s just 110% convinced you deserve all the pampering in the galaxy. You want to eat breakfast and drink artisan coffee/morning drink of choice in a hot tub? You got it. You’ve never swam in an infinity pool before? Oh, he’s going to fix that—and his infinity pool has a perfect view of the clouds and sky. He insists you won’t fall over the edge if that’s what you’re worried about, but lets you cling to him just the same, and tells you all about all the birds that fly by. He’s happy to either have dinner catered to his private home where you two eat in front of full floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the rest of the city, or take you out to one of the best restaurants nearby. You’re 100% getting the five-star treatment, whether you don’t mind being out in the open or want to remain a bit more inconspicuous, before settling down for the night with some wine (or a non-alcoholic cocktail of choice) and a board/card game.

Chewie (platonic) can be scary when he wants to be, but to those he loves, he’s the biggest softie. When you ask him to hang out on your day off, he vigorously nods before letting out an excited string of Shyriiwook, followed by his usual crushing bear hugs. If you’re fluent in his language, it makes the day all the better—but if you’re not, it’s no big deal to him, since he’s learned to communicate well without words out of necessity.

I think like Luke, he’d want to spend most of the day outside and just enjoy walking around and exploring with you. He strikes me as the type who doesn’t really make a plan for his off time, but would rather wander around some sort of town center with you and just walk into any places that pique either of your interests. But he’s also happy to even just roll around in the grass with you and is surprisingly good at making flower crowns. Because of his line of work and the rebellion, he values survival skills and if you’re lacking in any department, he insists on teaching you—especially fishing. Apparently, that was something he used to do frequently on Kashyyyk and got quite good at it—well, good at it Wookiee style anyway. He waits by the bank of a river and stays so still, someone could almost mistake him for a tree trunk. Right when a fish swims close enough, he dives his hands in and grasps it with his two giant paws, showing it to you with a triumphant growl before teaching you how to cook it over a campfire. You can’t help but laugh when he proudly pulls some seasonings out of his bag. The fish is actually delicious, and you spend the rest of the evening enjoying each other’s presence and chatting—whether you can understand every word he says, or whether he does his best to pantomime (or maybe use 3PO as a translator if you were able to pry him from the twins’ sides). At the end of the day, you two work together to clean up the campfire and before going your separate ways back home, he gives you a parting hug and affectionate pat on the head.

~~

Taglist: @kaleidoscope1967eyes @masterlukessaber @coffeeorsomething-irl @eveningserenityyy @victorian-nymph @lxstfathier @rogue-kenobi @lavandula-ipsum @sonofthedunes @pomplalamoose @lex-the-flex @ilovemarkhamill

[lendmyboyfriendahand]

I just watched "Damsel," here is my low spoilers* review.

Very fun movie. No idea if it was good, but it's entertained me the whole time and I cared about the main characters.

The end credits song is a somewhat hilarious choice (a mournful cover of "Ring of Fire" by Johnny Cash)

Robin Wright, best known as Princess Buttercup, is a wonderful evil queen.

Prince Henry's shot at the end, with his eyes closed and accepting his fate, is amazing. He is my new precious little meow meow.

I had assumed "it's a lie" referred to the map, and that Elodie would be led back to the dragon's main lair.

I love all the princesses across generations working to help the next one even when they can't escape themselves. Unclear how real the ghosts are and that is exactly right for a fantasy movie.

A lot of the plot beats were things you could see in advance, but not all of them. I was pleasantly surprised by the identity of the horsemen Elodie saw.

I love you magic glowworms.

Yay for familial love, both by blood and by adoption.

Girl power!

The dragon is slightly smaller than I first thought, but it's still huge. Maybe ten feet tall at the shoulders, eighteen feet at the wingtips?

Don't nitpick the politics or the economics, it's a fantasy movie.

The characters have understandable motivations, the magic is used for low-stakes situations before high-stakes situations, and you get a lot of cool shots of dragons.

Overall, wholeheartedly recommend if "movie where the princess evades the dragon herself" sounds like your thing!

*Low spoilers mean about as many as in the trailer and the marketing

[hermitknut]

20 Questions for Fic Writers Tag Game

@birdylion tagged me :D

1. how many works do you have on AO3?

56.

2. what’s your total AO3 word count?

440,219

3. what fandoms do you write for?

There've been quite a few over the years. Currently Goblin Emperor (slightly on the back burner while I unkink my writer's block) and Hands of the Emperor (just started dabbling, nothing posted yet). Before that Merlin, Green Rider, Realm of the Elderlings, Doctor Who, and Harry Potter predominantly, with little dips into Discworld, Sherlock, Sweep, Supernatural, Percy Jackson, Lady Trent, Life on Mars, Old Kingdom, Life on Mars, and MASH. I have some Narnia stuff kicking about in my drafts somewhere, and while I've never posted it I've been writing Animorphs fanfic for years.

4. what are your top 5 fics by kudos?

The Stairs Beneath the Heart: Goblin Emperor, a series of vignettes that runs parallel to the canon that I posted through the start of the pandemic and really enjoyed. It was the first time in ages I'd had a regular posting schedule, and the first time ever I'd had that much fandom attention on something I was writing - everyone was so lovely <3.

Take These Tower Stones: Goblin Emperor, the sequel to the above, a much more coherent and consistent story which everyone was again really supportive of <3

What Friends Are For: Discworld; Angua gives Vetinari the shovel talk. There's a big disparity in the stats between the previous two fics and the rest, so these last three were a surprise to me! I'm glad people liked them though :)

Fire in the Night: Merlin, somewhat angsty nightmare/comfort oneshot. Again, surprised to see this one so near the top, but pleasantly so.

The Michen Emperor: Goblin Emperor again, currently the bane of my existence because I can't seem to finish it (I will eventually, just need to unstick my brain). Really appreciate all the love people have shown it. Basically, what if canon but with smol!Maia.

7. what’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

Probably either Take These Towers Stones, or Red Sky (which is a tiny little snippet of fluff).

8. do you get hate on fics?

I've had a few shitty comments, and mostly I've just deleted them. I've never had any extended hate campaigns or anything, just people who mistakenly thought their dislike was worth expressing.

9. do you write smut? If so, what kind?

Occasionally; usually though not always queer, normally pretty tame. I read smut usually without worrying about the warnings, but I'm a bit too shy to comment on it, and I think that extends to my writing, haha. Maybe I'll get the hang of it some day :)

10. do you write crossovers?

Nah, for some reason they don't work for me at all - almost a squick, I don't read them either. The closest I got was considering a fic where the characters from Green Rider had diplomatic contact with the characters from the Chronicles of Ixia series, but I never ended up getting there.

11. have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not that I know of.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

I don't think so - I should probably put in my Ao3 that people are welcome to if they like, I keep forgetting. I'd be honoured if anyone wanted to.

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Nope; I'm very picky and not good at compromise, though it's something I'd like to work on one day. It'd have to be very low stakes and with someone very patient!

15. What’s a WIP you want to finish but doubt you will?

Lines of Silver and Gold (Realm of the Elderlings) is probably my oldest fic that is both posted and unfinished, and I have no current plans to work on it. I'm hoping that one day I'll be able to come back to it, but that book series was my thesis topic and unfortunately I rather burnt myself out on it, so it might be a long while.

The Queen Rider series was originally going to have two more fics, but those have been scrapped; fortunately it resolves quite nicely as is. Maybe I will put up a little misc fic with what I do have of the rest some day.

And on a more positive note, my Animorphs fic - it was originaly going to be a full written-through story spanning a considerable post-canon period, but unfortunately I lost the original in a harddrive failure and while I rewrote some of it I rather lost my enthusiasm for it. However, I have been reconsidering lately and might post what exists as a series of loosely connected vignettes; we'll see.

16. What are your writing strengths?

Dialogue is what I find easy and what I've received the most compliments on; I think this is because a lot of my fic is drafted "out loud" before I get anywhere near setting it to page, so the first iteration is often predominantly speech. I'm also often told I'm good at mimicking the tone of the canon, if I'm writing for a book fandom.

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

Research (I'll do it if it's something that will otherwise potentially hurt people, but other than that I have neither the effort nor the inclination), and making things messy - that is, I tend to tidy things up a lot and I'm not good at letting my characters get things wrong/communicate badly/etc. Good for fix-its, less good for creating challenges in the story.

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic?

I am depressingly monolingual so I don't do it in my fics; as to what everyone else does I think they should have fun and do whatever they like, I suppose. Not enough knowledge to have more of an opinion than that.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

Harry Potter was my gateway fandom.

20. Favourite fic you’ve written?

Ohhhh tough one. I'm immensely proud of the Keystone series (The Stairs Beneath the Heart and Take These Tower Stones), so they're solid candidates, but I also really like The Shadow of the Mountains (Lady Trent) and Miracles (Realm of the Elderlings), the latter of which contains possibly my favourite line of prose I've written.

I'm tagging @the-tao-of-fandom, @pipuhattar, @alittlefellowinawideworld, @nonasuch, and anyone else who'd like to answer!

[dewitty1]

Fic Recs Wrap Up - July 2023(ノﾟ∀ﾟ)ノ⌒･*:.｡. .｡.:*･゜ﾟ･*☆

Harry Potter: DILF Hunter by Vukovich @vukovich

Auror Potter doesn’t know what a DILF is, but if Malfoy’s one, then Harry’s gonna be the Ministry’s best DILF Hunter ever! Or, five times Harry heard Draco was a DILF, and one time he found it to be pleasantly true. *All spelling errors are Harry’s, not the author’s. Rec Post

Witness Marks by gryffindorhearts @gryffindorhearts

No one comes to Cogg and Bell’s with a working clock. After all, it’s Draco’s job to repair what’s broken and put time – quite literally – back in order. When Harry Potter waltzes in a few decades after the War, red Head Auror robes flashing, Draco expected to serve as a consultant on a case. Instead, Harry offers him the broken Weasley family clock, and with it, the chance to live in the present for once. Rec Post

Bonded Consort by Lomonaaeren

Nineteen years ago, the Potters betrothed their firstborn child to the firstborn Malfoy child. Eighteen years ago, Voldemort was defeated for good. Seventeen years ago, the Potters changed the contract so that their secondborn child was substituted for their firstborn. Now, Draco Malfoy is trying to work out what happened. Rec Post

Blessed Are The Lambs (Do You Walk With Gabriel?) by Cannibalschism @cannibalschism

It’s been eight years of this. Eight years since the tug that drew Harry like the tide pulls the earth towards the Camerlengo and Vatican City. Eight years since he’d last felt what it was to think freely and not around the wretched, awful din. Eight years since the bars of his gilded cage had slammed shut around him all while the Camerlengo spun the key on his conniving finger. But it was today when Draco Malfoy walked into St. Peter’s Basilica, looking so young as though the years had passed him by, and smelling like pennies and dead leaves. Rec Post

I’ll Play Your Game by JayseHasNoGrace @jaysehasnograce

After quitting the Auror department at the ripe old age of twenty two, Harry Potter finds a nice, uneventful job in an apothecary. At least, it’s uneventful until his old rival Draco Malfoy comes into the shop. They strike up an unlikely friendship, which evolves into an increasingly convoluted scheme, which then snowballs spectacularly out of control into a tangle of lies and blurred lines. They’d agreed to a fake relationship — in Harry’s case, to get the wizarding world to take him off his ‘perfect saviour’ pedestal, and in Draco’s case, just to be given a chance in wizarding society at all — but neither of them expected just how difficult that might really turn out to be. Especially when the stakes grow ever higher, and they both start falling for each other. Just a little bit. Rec Post

Butterflies in Winter by Justlikewriting

Of course Harry had known that Malfoy’d been sent to Azkaban, but, to be honest, since the trials Harry hadn’t really thought of the git at all anymore. A random visit to Slug and Jiggers was about to drastically change that, though. And whose exactly were those letters that Harry found there? Rec Post

You Know the Feeling by iota @iota

Harry waits, but the hex never comes. In the mirror, Malfoy’s eyes dip shut, and he lets out a soft sound that goes right through Harry, heat rising in his body, pushing out against his chest. Malfoy turns slowly, careful not to dislodge Harry’s hand. He swallows, Adam’s apple bobbing, then speaks, his voice low. “Don’t start something you won’t finish.” *** Harry’s not sure why he’s started hooking up with Malfoy. Boredom, or the heat of the summer, maybe. Whatever it is, it’s nothing too complicated. Right? Rec Post

Here are a few more fics I've read recently that y'all might like to check out as well! (ﾉ^ヮ^)ﾉ*:・ﾟ✧

Release by maraudersaffair @maraudersaffair

After serving two years in Azkaban, Draco is ready to finally live his life on his own terms. He gets a job at Borgin and Burkes, rents a crummy flat in Knockturn, and begins seeking out fit Muggles to shag. Then one night Draco comes across a gorgeous man who’s tied himself up and stuck a message on the wall for any stranger to read: Free use. And what’s even better? The man resembles Harry Potter.

All Things Go by iota @iota

Draco’s back at Hogwarts by court order. Harry’s back for no particular reason at all. Some things change, some stay the same. Neither expects to spend eighth-year living in close quarters, playing rugby (poorly), staying up late, sneaking around, and finally figuring it all out.

The Inconvenient Death(s) of Harry Potter by nv-md (ANW815) @nv-md

Harry and Draco have spent the decade since the War avoiding each other, even as they’re forced to work together at the Ministry and their friend groups begin to alarmingly overlap. But what happens when Harry meets a tragic end (in a manner of speaking) and Draco’s the only one who can save him? Or Harry won’t stop dying, Draco’s had too much coffee, and there’s more than enough time for them to make a mess of each other’s lives.

Constellations on your skin by shushu_yaoi_lj @orange-peony

“I’m going to get my scars removed,” Draco announces on a rainy Wednesday afternoon. “Who are you seeing?” Blaise asks. “The best Healer out there,” Draco replies with a little shrug. “Harry Potter.”

and the world is tumbling down by thewakeless @thewakeless

Draco is thirty-five and content. He’s a writer, a painter, and has built a life for himself totally separate from the one he envisioned as a sullen, fearful boy at Hogwarts. Everything is calm—until his house begins trying to kill him.

The Cursed Manor by AhaMarimbas

Ophelia’s been a paranormal investigator for almost ten years, and she’s starting to run out of haunted and cursed sites to explore. When her eclectic roommate and assistant reveals that he owns a large, cursed Manor, Ophelia finds a lot more than just a new career opportunity.

the treehouse near primrose downs by softlystarstruck @softlystarstruck

Draco and Harry have been roommates for years, so buying a magical house in the countryside shouldn’t be a big difference. But in between fresh loaves of bread and beds of wildflowers, things start to fall into place.

( •ॢ◡-ॢ)-♡ I hope you enjoy these fics as much as I have! Happy reading, y’all! xoxo, Carey  (◍•ᴗ•◍)♡ ✧*💜💙💚💛❤💗💕💖