#and they just made her peach in an orange dress

[phoenixeclipse-lmkau]

Cursed Warlords Au - Chapter #10 - Planning

You and Spirit need to figure out what you’re doing. All the while you figure out how to wear the hanfu you were gifted.

“I don’t know… are you sure this is right?” You asked while struggling helplessly with the wrapping of your new hanfu.

The hanfu was beautiful, wrapping around your body surprisingly well. It wasn’t a perfect fit, possibly a size too big but then again it was a gift from someone who didn’t really know you. You shouldn’t be surprised. Now if only you could figure out how to properly tie this thing.

“… no I think you have it on backwards,” Spirit chuckled from her seat in the bed. Both of the monkeys sat next to her giving quiet chirps, though you weren’t sure if they were talking to each other or at you.

Looking down at the outfit you scowled when you realized that yes, you did have it on backwards. Your face flushed red before you spun around and glared at your friend. Your friend who was giggling but not offering to help.

“Well then would you be so kind as to help?” you asked, your cheeks still flushed.

Spirit quirked and eyebrow up before shrugging as she stood up. “How do you not know how to do the simplest of things?” She muttered as she helped out of the backwards hanfu.

You stood still for a moment as she tugged and pulled at the fabric, doing her best to correct how you messed up the outfit. It took some maneuvering but eventually you were dressed in the hanfu. It was clearly made for travel which you were grateful for even if you weren’t quite sure why the woman gave it to you. Maybe it was pity. Maybe she understood that you needed help. Whatever the case you were very grateful.

“What do you think?” you asked Spirit nervously once you were finally dressed properly.

A simple hanfu colored black with orange sashes to connect everything together. You weren’t sure how to feel about the coloring but it was still beautiful. Tugging on the fabric a bit you also decided it looked like good quality.

“Not bad. The coloring is shit but eh,” Spirit replied as she plopped down on the bed.

*Chirp?*

You both looked to Plum who tilted his head in confusion. It was adorable! Seriously he was just the cutest thing. You didn’t even bother holding back your squeal.

“I think he wants to know about the color,” Spirit muttered before looking at you with a worried expression. The look was quickly pushed away as you leaned forward.

“Well you see when I was dragged here I came through a portal that swirled with orange and black. It’s not the coloring per say it’s just the memories attached to it,” you explain, if you couldn’t tell two monkeys about it, then who could you talk to about it? Spirit already knows because she saw the portal and she knows that you’re scared of the portal, even though you’re trying to find another.

You smiled widely even though every bit of you was terrified, terrified of going back to that place, terrified to even know what that place was. Maybe it wasn’t bad you weren’t really sure but the moment you had fallen into the portal you felt a rush of something strange, something strong, something wild run right through your very soul. A blur of orange and black and then well then you were with Spirit.

Thinking back on it maybe you shouldn’t be heading straight for something that you had no idea what it was. Maybe going to that place was a bad idea, maybe you could be sent somewhere even worse than where you are now… but if you didn’t try then you would NEVER be able to return home. Right?

*Chirp?*

Glancing to the monkey cubs you smiled, both of them looked confused as hell. Both half draped over the side of the bed as they waited for you to explain. Explain what you were talking about, but you didn’t. You didn’t explain and instead chose to be quiet as you looked yourself over one more time.

“We got everything?” You asked patting yourself down.

“Clothes check, Spirit check, Peaches check, Plums check, and me!” You grinned before face palming, the sheer lack of equipment between the ‘four’ of you was rather depressing.

It was fine, even though you didn’t have barely anything to travel with you were determined to figure this out. With a deep breath you looked at Spirit who was half laying on the bed while her feet were firm on the ground.

”Let’s go,” You grinned happily.

“Aren’t you forgetting something?” Spirit asked calmly.

You looked at her and frowned, looking around the room you were sure you had everything you needed. There wasn’t anything missing, and everything was how you found it. So what could you be-

“Where are we even going?” Her words hit you like a brick, where WERE you going.

You had spent the last two days resting at the inn and the three days before that running away from bandits. In all that time you never stopped to consider where you two even needed to go. Your face scrunched up slightly as you thought, you weren’t sure when you sat down but here you were sitting on the floor while trying to think of a plan. You needed to find somewhere that could return you home, well maybe not somewhere but someone or something?

“I don’t know… do you know anyone who knows how to travel through dimensions? Or time? Or space? I think I’m from another dimension but I might be from the future,” You waved your hands to act spooky not noticing the looks of surprise on both of the small monkeys faces.

Another dimension? The future? What in the world were you talking about? You couldn’t possibly be from… it would explain your clothing and the slight accent in your voice. No, no that doesn’t explain anything at all! You were a mere mortal who is probably just from some far off place on the mainland who happened to fall into a demon’s trap. Surely that had to be the case, Wukong thought to himself.

However when he looked at his mate, his very rational mate who always thought things through, he didn’t find the exact same answer that he came up with. His mate was looking at you with wide eyes, his ears slightly fanning out a little bit but the longer they remained fanned out the more his scowl deepened. Surely Macaque didn’t actually believe this nonsense, you were just a mortal who had gone a little crazy from running into a demon.

“Okay so first we need to find out where you’re actually from, so we need to find someone who is able to get ahold of that knowledge… I have one person in mind but…” Spirit trailed off her face scrunching up a little bit as she tried to think of any way NOT to see this person.

“But what?” You asked way too quickly for her liking, and with far too much excitement.

“She doesn’t like humans, like AT ALL,” She nervously chuckled as she looked away.

Almost immediately you deflated a little bit, so the one clue you had to going home didn’t want to see you. The only clue that you have gotten in the five days you’d been here. Biting your lip you thought about it, you had to think this through. If she didn’t like humans it might be best not to interact but it was also the only way for you to find a way home.

“Will she kill me?” it was one thing if she just disliked humans but if there’s a chance that she won’t kill you, then maybe you can get her to listen.

Spirit thought for a moment pursing her lips as she contemplated weather this person would kill you. She didn’t seem one hundred percent sure weather she would or not. But maybe…

“She probably won’t try to kill you, but it’s doubtful that she would listen to you either,” Spirit explained, her face still pinched in a frown.

You decided to think some more she wouldn’t listen to you… bit Spirit was a demon. Maybe she would listen to her. It was a possibility and so far it was the closest thing you had to an actual lead. So with the decision made you looked up at your friend and declared.

“Let’s go meet her. It’s worth a shot, and the only clue I have to getting home,” you tried not to look so nervous.

Spirit stared at you for a moment, her eyes going wide at your announcement. You… you wanted to see her? Was that smart? She opened her mouth to speak when you continued quickly. “I can at least try. We don’t have any other leads and I need to get home… my family is probably worried sick.”

Wukong tilted his head, your family probably thought some demon ate you. He couldn’t help but think that they probably thought you were already dead. You were seriously going a little crazy, it probably wasn’t safe to be around you… but they didn’t really have much choice at this point.

Macaque narrowed his eyes. He was still deep in though trying to think of what you were talking about. Maybe you were confused or crazy… but there was the possibility that you were telling the truth. If you were then would you try to take them back to your world? Would you leave him and Wukong here? He let out a scoff, maybe it would be easier to leave… or they could find another monkey demon they could talk to. But how?

“So who is this woman you’re talking about anyways?” you asked curiously.

Spirit remained silent for a moment before speaking, “She’s a monkey demon, I’d say the only one that I’ve ever met. She lives roughly a weeks journey away but with your speed it might take two or three weeks. She’s stubborn and if she doesn’t like you she won’t help you, but if you can get her to like you then maybe MAYBE she’ll help. I I use can’t guarantee it.”

A monkey demon!? They would be able to find a way home if you agree to meet with her. Wukong immediately let out excited chirps, they could contact their friends this way. His sudden noise shocked you causing you to look over at him. Your eyes widened before you laughed.

“I see someone wants to meet her. Animals tend to have good intuition most of the time, maybe we should go,” you chuckled before looking at Spirit who pursed her lips more at his sudden attentiveness. She didn’t trust that he had good intentions, there was something about these monkeys if only she could just put her finger on what.

She glanced at the monkeys and sent them a slightly cold glare which was met with an equally cold one from the white monkey. His single set of ears flicked, her eyes were drawn to them and it irked her just how much he seems aware. Most monkeys were aware of the people surrounding them just not this much.

“Hey leave the cub alone,” You said as you reached out and lifted the Monkey into your arms, the other immediately climbing up your body to your shoulder.

‘We’re not cubs! We are powerful warlords!!’ Peaches chirped angrily, which was only met with a cheerful coo from you.

‘Give it up you know she can’t understand you,’ Plum responded as he leisurely laid in your arms like a hammock.

Spirit raised a brow before rolling her eyes. “Yeah yeah, protect the cub and not your friend,” She said dramatically lifting her hand to her head.

“… you don’t need my protection, you’ve proven that enough,” You replied with a chuckle before rolling your eyes.

“Have I? Last I checked you’re the one who saved my life from those bastards,” The sheer venom in Spirit’s voice was a shock to both Wukong and Macaque. Sure they had heard her annoyance and her sarcasm but here the sheer amount of malice in her tone was… outstanding.

“… I’d say watch your language buuut… yeah they were bastards,” You nodded before going silent, your mind wandering back to that day. It wasn’t even that long ago.

I finished chapter 10!! I have officially hit the double digits with this fanfic! Am I the only one excited? Yes… No? Who knows.

As always Feel Free to Reblog. Like and comment if you can. Comments are a writers food! Well not really, I just love reading them! I love to hear people’s thoughts on my fanfic. Esspecially since this is currently my main fanfic. I am still working on asks and such, work just likes to mandate working the weekends… it sucks. But I hope you all enjoy!

[hobermallowed]

I finally figured out how to play mario kart on the switch 😭

[astrophileous]

Every Single Day

Pairing: Spencer Reid x Female Reader

Synopsis: When his daughter demands him to tell the story of how the two of you met, Spencer can't help but oblige.

Warning(s): dad spencer🥰, established relationship (eventually), parent-child relationships, alcohol consumption, brief interaction with a douchebag, made-up astronomy facts, made-up places, idk if there's any cursing but I'll throw it in here to be safe, implications of sex and nsfw themes (minors be advised), pregnancy, mentions of illness, mentions and/or implications of character death, topics of loss and grief, angst and fluff because I love the best of both worlds👍 (pls lmk if I missed anything)

Word Count: 7700-ish

Author's Note: hi 👋 I'm back again with another dad!spencer fic bc apparently I'm a sucker for him. I got a lil carried away with this one lol but anyways, I'm also writing this for the meet cute challenge hosted by the amazing and talented @imagining-in-the-margins so pls go head to her profile and show some love cause she's a peach ❤️ don't forget to leave a LIKE+COMMENT+REBLOG

Criminal Minds Masterlist

The air smelled of freshly brewed coffee. Against the wind, shades of crimson and orange swayed on the trees. Fallen leaves crunched underneath his feet to the cadence of his leisured steps.

Two deep breaths, in and out. Spencer Reid greeted autumn with the deep longing of an old friend.

Next to him walked a source of light bigger than the sun, jumping and bouncing excitedly on the sidewalk. Her tiny fingers emitted warmth inside of his hand. There was a skip to her step that reminded him of the innocence he had long lost. The innocence she now possessed.

Spencer loved this little girl beyond everything he had ever known.

"Puddle, Dee."

The tiny bundle of joy jumped to escape the small pool of water, grinning up at her father, who then began ruffling her hair until she evaded his onslaught with a shriek.

"Daddy?"

"Yes, Pumpkin?"

"You never told me how you met Mommy."

Spencer glanced down at the 6-year-old, dressed gorgeously in her favorite floral dress, complete with a sweater that had entailed a hearty discussion about humans' perception of cold. It was only after he bribed her with the promise of a chocolate cupcake from Wakey Bakey did Spencer finally convince her to wear the woolen piece of clothing.

His daughter stared at him with a radiant smile peeking out behind a curtain of hair. A smile which Spencer always argued had belonged to you, even though the rest of Diana Aurora Reid was the splitting image of her beloved father.

"Surely I've told you before, Dee."

"Nuh-uh."

"Of course I have."

"No, Daddy. You haven't."

"Pumpkin, you know I don't forget stuff ever," Spencer said, looking at the little girl who was swaying along to the rhythm of her footsteps. "I used to tell you that story all the time. Back when you were still a baby."

Just as predicted, Diana let out a dramatic gasp as if Spencer had uttered the most offensive thing known to mankind; like claiming the earth was actually flat, for example. Spencer couldn't contain his grin upon seeing her reaction.

"But Daddy, that was so long ago!"

"Do you not remember, Dee?"

Diana shook her head.

"Fine. But Mommy must've told you the story already, right?"

"She has, but--"

"But?"

"But I wanna hear it from you."

Little Diana knew that her father could never resist her puppy dog eyes, especially garnished with that adorable pout on top. Once upon a time, you declared it sickeningly cute and annoying whenever Spencer would pull the same trick on you. When Dee started doing the same to him, you had simply laughed and kissed his cheek, letting him get a sweet taste of his own medicine.

Spencer smiled at the young girl next to him, squeezing her nose and relishing in the gleeful squeal that echoed from her chest.

"What do you wanna hear, Pumpkin?"

Diana held her chin, seemingly deep in contemplation before deciding, "Everything, Dad! I wanna hear it from the start."

"The start, huh?" Spencer hummed thoughtfully, his mind already reeling back to the first moment he ever laid eyes on you.

The story began on yet another ordinary Friday night.

Luck was on the BAU's side when the team managed to wrap the case they had been working all week just before Friday afternoon. By the time the sun was setting, their jet was already high up in the sky, en route from the state of Delaware to Quantico, Virginia. Spencer was looking forward to going home at a reasonable hour for once--maybe catching up on the four reading materials he had promptly pushed aside after his team was called to Delaware to work on the latest case--but that plan dissipated when Derek Morgan suddenly appeared by his side.

"Drinks. Tonight. Everyone's coming, and I'm not taking no for an answer," Derek said before dragging a reluctant Spencer away with him, ignoring the protests that the younger man kept grumbling under his breath all the way to the team's favorite bar.

Spencer just hadn't known it yet, but later down the road, he would spend the rest of eternity thanking Derek Morgan for dragging him along that night.

The Friday night crowd at Shaw's was borderline brutal, but fortunately for the team, a booth in the corner became vacant the moment they stepped into the threshold.

Two hours later, Spencer's fellow teammates weren't even close to calling it a night. The last chorus of "I Wanna Dance with Somebody" by Whitney Houston had just finished blasting from the speakers when Derek sauntered back to the booth, twirling a flushed Penelope Garcia in front of him. Spencer slipped out of the booth to allow them in--preferring to stay on the most outer seat instead of crammed between his tipsy friends' bodies--before sitting down once more.

"Hey, Genius," Penelope called, waving her empty beer glass in front of Spencer's face. "Be a darling and get me a refill, will you?"

"Garcia--" Spencer quickly snatched the glass from her hand before she could send it smashing against someone's head, "--are you sure you want a refill?"

Penelope scrunched her nose. "Why do you ask?"

"Because I think you're plenty drunk already."

"I'm not that drunk," Penelope denied, giggling when an unexpected hiccup interrupted her slurred words. "Derek, tell the beautiful Doctor I'm not that drunk."

"She's not that drunk, Reid." Derek grinned. "While you're at it..."

Spencer could only sigh when Derek slid his own empty glass across the table.

It was past 10 o'clock at night, and the crowd of people in the establishment seemed to have doubled in the couple of hours that the team had been there. Spencer had to squeeze himself through the ocean of patrons flooding the bar, barely able to move his limbs without other people's arms or elbows bumping against his ribcage.

Spencer was waiting for the bartender to complete his order when he happened to glance towards his right, catching sight of the concealed panic that triggered every profiler bone in his body.

Any other person would have taken one look at your face and presumed that everything was alright, but Spencer knew better. He recognized the frantic movement of your eyes, the tight press of your lips, and the impatient knocking of your fingertips on the counter. He only caught the tail end of your voice before discreetly listening to what the man you were talking to had to say.

"--so, unfortunately, I can't."

"I told you, Baby. My Veyron runs at over 260 miles per hour. We can go to Red Clover Hill and get you back home safely by twelve. It's simple math," the guy slurred smugly.

"Actually, that's not true."

The drunken man turned around at Spencer's interruption.

"Excuse me?"

"The Red Clover Hill State Park is approximately 229 miles away from here. Though theoretically, you could drive your Veyron at its maximum velocity, which is around 268 miles per hour, it's very unlikely you'll be able to maintain that speed for the entirety of the ride, considering the terrain you would have to go through between here and there. The fastest you can probably get to the park is in 60 minutes, give or take, and that's being generous. You would have to drive back to D.C. as soon as you arrive at the park if you wish to be back by twelve. It's just realistically impossible."

The man in front of him couldn't be less impressed by Spencer's lengthy rant.

"And who the hell are you?" the drunken guy said, pinning Spencer with a stare that was clearly supposed to be intimidating.

Spencer didn't even flinch. "No one. Just a guy who happens to know a lot about... simple math."

Your loud cough tore Spencer's attention away from the drunk man and towards you, who looked ready to burst from the laughter you were holding underneath. Even under the terrible lighting of the bar, Spencer could still pinpoint the hint of unspoken amusement glimmering inside your eyes.

"Sorry, Bill," you said to the man. "I really do need to be back home by twelve tonight. Maybe some other time?"

Bill didn't need to be told twice. He received the message loud and clear.

Spencer watched the other man scurry away, tail between his legs, before your charming smile enraptured him once more.

"Thank you for that. I was beginning to think he might never leave."

"Happy to help." Spencer smiled thinly, scratching the back of his neck even though the spot wasn't itchy. "What did, uh, why did he want to take you to Red Clover Hill, of all places?"

"Oh. That was... partially my fault." You grinned innocently. "I didn't know he was gonna be an insufferable drunk when he came over, and I was in the middle of watching this."

You pulled out a silver tablet from your lap. Spencer took a peek at the screen, seeing what looked like a live feed of the night sky--over North Carolina, judging by the visible constellations on the vast scene--stamped with the day's date at the bottom of the footage.

"You're watching the Roux-Nell?" Spencer deduced after gathering the facts: the live feed of North Carolina sky, the mention of Red Clover Hill State Park that harbored one of the highest grounds in North Carolina, including a collection of some of the most sophisticated telescopes in the country; you must have been planning to view that night's sighting of the Roux-Nell comet, its first time since the last one in 1927, and only its third one in history.

"Yes! How did you... don't tell me. You're an avid astronomy fan, too?"

Spencer's responding smile only made you beam even brighter.

"Anyway, that guy earlier, Bill, he approached me and asked what I was watching. So, I started talking about the Roux-Nell and about how I wish I was at Red Clover Hill right now since everyone keeps saying it's one of the best spots to view tonight's sighting. I thought he was genuinely interested until he started talking about his Veyron this, his Veyron that. I didn't even realize until a whole five minutes later that he was talking about his car!"

When you finally finished explaining, your eyes locked with Spencer's hazel ones before you seemed to cower shyly.

"Sorry. I can get a little excited when I'm talking sometimes."

"No! Don't be, it was--" Spencer stopped himself before he could complete his sentence.

What was he about to say?

Insightful? Entertaining?

Endearing?

Eventually, Spencer opted to settle for something safe and simple. "I get that way too, sometimes. A lot of the times, actually. So you don't have to apologize."

The fire flickered back inside your gaze following Spencer's admission. It burned brilliantly beneath the kindness you radiated, forged by the sharp intelligence he could see shining out of your eyes.

"So--" Spencer cleared his throat, attempting to shift the conversation in order to distract his racing mind, "--why did you tell him you needed to be back home by twelve?"

"Oh, that? I told him I'm donating blood tomorrow morning, so I need to at least get seven hours of sleep for the night."

"That's a clever lie."

You tilted your head slightly at his statement. "What makes you think it's a lie?"

"Because you're here. Nobody drinks alcohol before they're supposed to donate blood."

Your eyes flashed with surprise. "Not bad, Mister. You're very perceptive."

Spencer shrugged, trying not to appear too flustered by your casual compliment. "It's what I do."

You raised an inquisitive eyebrow at his reply.

"I'm a profiler."

"Profiler?"

"With the FBI."

"FBI, huh?" You hummed, something akin to intrigue swirling in your eyes. "So, you study criminals? Trying to decipher their way of thinking, why they do what they do. Dissect their past history for any related trauma, maybe even pinpoint a psychological stressor that could trigger a criminal behavior, that kind of stuff?"

Upon hearing your response, it was Spencer's turn to be intrigued. "Exactly that kind of stuff. How did you...?"

Grinning sheepishly, you pulled a professional badge out of your pocket, holding it up in front of Spencer so he could see the emblem covering its surface.

"Edgewater Psychology Center," Spencer read the words aloud, understanding dawning on him as he found your eyes once more. "You're a psychologist."

"Guilty as charged."

Spencer couldn't fight off his amused smile. "That explains it, then."

"You know," you began, leaning further against the bar counter to shorten the distance between you and Spencer, "I've never met a profiler in person before. Most of my colleagues, they have consulted on a federal case at least once in the past few years, but the bureau hasn't yet contacted me so far."

"Really?" Spencer took a step forward, closing the distance by a mere inch. "Sounds like a big loss for us. We're idiots."

You bit down on your bottom lip to suppress a smile, your gaze flicking between Spencer's own lips and eyes. For the shortest of minutes, nothing else existed in Spencer's world but you; your smile, your scent, and your kind eyes. You were a magnet carved out of his wildest dreams, and Spencer, well, he might as well have been made out of the purest of irons.

But before Spencer could get lost deeper in your relentless gaze, a shout of his name slashed through the air from across the bar. Back at the booth, Derek was waving his hand frantically in the air, stopping only when Spencer signaled him to sit back down and that he was returning in a minute.

"I have to go." He smiled tentatively, apologetically.

"Oh?"

Spencer tried not to revel too much over the small dip of disappointment at the edge of your voice.

"My friends. They, uh--"

"Oh, no, it's alright. You don't have to explain," you told him gently. "See you around, Mr. Profiler. Hope you have a great night."

With that said, you went back to watching the live feed on your tablet while Spencer, begrudgingly, trudged across the room with two refilled beer glasses in his hands, back to where his friends--minus Rossi and Hotch who were conversing among themselves at one of the standing tables--were waiting.

"Finally," Derek groaned once Spencer slammed the glasses down on the table.

"Who was that?" Emily asked as he slipped into the booth.

"Huh?" Spencer followed Emily's gaze, finding you perched up at the very end of it. "No one."

"No one?" Emily's eyebrows rose. "She didn't seem like no one from where I was sitting."

Spencer took an insanely large sip of his leftover beer.

"Holy shit, you like her, " Derek muttered. "He likes her. Pretty boy's got a crush."

"No, I don't."

"Yeah? Tell that to those red cheeks of yours." JJ chuckled.

Instinctively, Spencer touched his own cheeks as if he could physically feel the change of colors on his skin.

"I'm just tipsy," he tried to reason.

A collective scoff reverberated through the entire booth.

"What's her name, Spence?" JJ asked.

When a full minute ticked by without so much as a grunt of acknowledgment from Spencer, Penelope reached out and slapped the man right across his shoulder.

"Ow!"

"You didn't ask for her name?!" Penelope exclaimed.

"It didn't come up!"

"That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard you say, Reid," Emily noted before sipping her margarita.

"Nope. I'm not having this. Not tonight. Look at me, Sunshine." Penelope grabbed Spencer's face in her hands, forcing him to stare directly into her glasses-rimmed eyes. "I'm not letting you spend the rest of the night like this. You will get your cute little tushy out there and talk to that girl. You will get her name and also her number, maybe even ask the nice pretty lady out while you're at it. Now, have I made myself clear?"

Spencer barely managed to swallow his nerves before he offered Penelope two tiny nods.

"Good. I don't wanna see your face back here if you're not at least pocketing her phone number. Now shoo."

Penelope sent Spencer flying across the bar with a dramatic stumble. By the time he reached your side, Spencer was nothing less than a stuttering mess and a thundering heart.

"Hi," Spencer breathed out once he found your welcoming eyes.

"Um, hi?"

"I'm Spencer."

"Okay... Spencer?"

"Reid. Spencer Reid." He cleared his throat. "Sorry, it's just... I realized while I was sitting over there--well, my friends actually made me realize--that I, uh, never got your name. Which, you know, of course I never got it because I didn't ask. So, I was coming here, wondering if maybe you'd like to give it... to me?"

You blinked once. Twice.

By the third blink, Spencer wished the earth would open up and devour him whole.

"You want my name?"

Spencer nodded.

"What are you planning to do with it?"

"Call you?" At your bemused expression, Spencer quickly elaborated, "Not call like call. I meant referring. Yep. That's it. Although, maybe if you want to, I would love to call you as well. Sometime. And perhaps, you know, ask you out... on a date?"

Spencer swallowed the lump of nervousness in his throat. In front of him, you were pretty, even with the conspicuous scrutiny in your eyes as they assessed Spencer as if he was some sort of an enigma. Embarrassment burned hotter through his veins with every second that passed by. He was merely two exhales of breath away from dashing out of the door when you finally spoke up.

"Okay."

"Okay?"

Smiling, you produced an old receipt seemingly out of thin air and asked the bartender to lend you a pen, scribbling something down as soon as you had it between your fingers. When the tiny piece of paper emigrated to Spencer's hand, the Cheshire cat in him jumped out once he noticed the ten digit numbers written neatly underneath a name he could only assume as yours.

"Will that be enough, Spencer Reid?"

"For now," Spencer replied before grabbing his wallet and shoving the paper containing your name inside. "I'll call you."

"You better."

After Spencer's departure, you returned your attention back to the tablet in front of you. Barely five minutes later, though, your serene watching session was once again interrupted. Only this time, it was by the ringing of your phone.

"Hello?"

"Hi, this is Spencer."*

Surprised, you swiveled your head left and right, stopping once you spotted Spencer standing on the other side of the room. His eyes were trained towards you, and behind him, a booth of four people seemed to have directed their attention at you as well.

"Spencer?"

"I know this is very untoward," he began, "but would you like to go out with me?"

"Boy, you certainly don't waste any time at all, do you?"

"I believe it's called being efficient," he countered, making you laugh. "So, what do you say?"

"Sure," you answered, enjoying the way Spencer beam at you from across the room. "I would love to, Spencer."

A breeze blew gently against Spencer's face, caressing the tendrils of curly hair that had fallen over his forehead. Diana's little fingers started to grip his tighter as the wind strengthened.

"Did you take Mommy on that date, Daddy?"

"Of course," Spencer replied, reminiscing the exact day when he had picked you up in your apartment, sweat glistening on his palm as he clutched the bouquet of flowers in his right hand. "We went to see a Mark Rothko exhibition at the National Gallery of Art, and before I took her home, we stopped by Wakey Bakey to buy some lemon tarts."

Diana gasped. "Wakey Bakey?!"

The little girl's reaction compelled a chuckle from Spencer's chest. "Yes, Pumpkin. Wakey Bakey."

"What happened after that, Daddy?"

"What do you think happened after that, Dee?"

"Um--" Diana pursed her lips, deeply lost in thought, "--did you become girlfriend and boyfriend?"

"Yes, we did."

"And you got married?!"

Spencer laughed at Diana's apparent excitement over the prospect of her parents getting married. "We did, yeah, eventually. After I proposed to her."

"Oh! Oh! The proposal!" Diana exclaimed, jumping up and down in the middle of the sidewalk without a care in the world. Spencer had to tug her back towards him before she could harm herself or the other pedestrians. "Tell me! Tell me! Tell me about the proposal, Daddy!"

"You wanna hear the story about how I proposed to your mother?"

"Yes, please!"

Chuckling to himself, Spencer mumbled a quick fine before his gears had started turning towards a specific memory in his mind. Spencer was sure, even without his eidetic ability, there was no way he could have ever forgotten about the day in question.

The day you agreed to have him as your forever.

Spencer had fallen in love with you during the first date, right around the time of yet another one of his animated ramblings, where instead of shaming him to shut the hell up, you had simply stared at him in awe and said, "You're pretty when you talk."

The young agent was sure he couldn't get rid of the blush adorning his cheeks for at least an entire week.

By the time the fifth date rolled around, Spencer was absolutely certain that you were the one he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. It wasn't a surprise, then, that a few weeks before your first anniversary came up, Spencer had pocketed a diamond ring with a promise of forever on the tip of his tongue.

Combing the courage to take this historical leap was easy. Difficult was trying to conjure up the perfect proposal plan that he would deem worthy enough for someone like you. There were no rooms for mistakes. Spencer wanted everything to be perfect because he believed you deserved nothing less.

Which was why, in moments of desperation, Spencer ended up turning to his fellow teammates in the FBI for help.

"I don't know if I'm the right person to ask about this, Spence. Will only ever proposed to me after finding out about Henry, and we only got married after I thought he was gonna die on the field," JJ explained. "It was never the most ideal of situations, but I would never change a thing even if I could."

Unsatisfied with JJ's answer, Spencer proceeded to find the BAU's tech genius in her bat cave.

"Go big or go home, my friend," Penelope said following a 10-minute hysteria she erupted into upon learning about Spencer's intent to propose. "Splash out on the bottle. Don't hold back on the grandeur. Spend all of your savings if you have to."

"Garcia--"

"Fine, maybe not all of your savings. You should leave some for the wedding."

Spencer spent weeks mulling over Penelope's advice.

Working as an FBI agent didn't pay as well as most people thought it would, and Spencer's tendency to collect first edition books wasn't exactly an affordable hobby. It meant that as much as Spencer wanted a proposal filled with the greatest grandeur--just as Penelope had suggested--he didn't have a fat enough balance in his bank account to make his ideal proposal concept a reality.

And Spencer probably would have spent the limited fund in his savings down to its very last cent, had it not been for Derek catching him browsing through the internet for the cost of a hot air balloon ride.

"I just want to give her the perfect proposal," Spencer admitted after he finished revealing everything.

"Kid, it doesn't matter," Derek said. "Don't you see? She doesn't care about hot air balloons or any kind of grandeur. She only cares about you. There's no such thing as a perfect proposal. You're just using it as an excuse to put off asking her 'cause you're scared of what she's gonna say. But you don't need to. You two are so devastatingly in love, it's disgusting."

In the end, grandeur wasn't even present in the room when Spencer decided to pop the question.

On that particular night, Spencer arrived in his apartment just a few minutes before midnight. His aching muscles were calling for sleep as he toed his shoes off, but his footsteps soon ceased when he caught sight of his dimly lit living room.

You were fast asleep on the couch, face illuminated by the television light. Spencer's movements were careful as he knelt in front of you, studying the soft and hard edges of your features like historians would an ancient scripture. He couldn't help it when his fingers reached out on their own accord, brushing the softest of touches against the high point of your cheekbone. Inside its cage, Spencer's heart started to stir.

You were so beautiful.

Even after one year of being together, Spencer was often still taken back by how lovely you were. He adored every detail of your being, most fervently the scars that littered your skin in a constellation of stars. All of the places in your body where your scrutiny had wandered in a fleet of insecurity were the same places that Spencer wanted to worship for the rest of his life. In his eyes, you were eternally magnificent, and this thought clouded Spencer's mind as he went to shake your shoulder gently.

"Spencer?" Your groggy voice sounded meek in the comfort of Spencer's apartment, the same one he had been sharing with you since you moved in three months prior. Your lips tilted with the tiniest hint of a smile at the sight of him, and Spencer thought he would melt when your fingers instinctively reached for his face. "You're back."

"I'm back," he confirmed, leaving a trail of kisses on your palm. "Why aren't you in bed, my love?"

"I was waiting for you," you admitted. "I have something to say."

"Really? Me too."

"Hm?" Curiosity flared in the center of your eyes. "You first."

Smiling, Spencer leaned down to steal a quick kiss before saying, "Marry me."

Your breath hitched.

After a few seconds of silence, your nervous laughter filled his ears. "Right. That's a nice one, Spencer. Very funny."

"I'm not joking, sweetheart."

Spencer reached into the inside pocket of his satchel, pulling out the velvet box that had weighed down his bag by several grams for the past few weeks. Any remnant of sleep you still had in your eyes was instantly washed away the moment he opened the box to reveal a pretty ring sitting inside.

"I've had this for a while now," Spencer admitted. "I kept putting off asking you because I believed I wanted everything to be perfect, until Derek knocked some sense into my head and made me realize that I was just afraid of taking the leap. He's right, as always, but don't tell him I said that."

Spencer paused at your teary laugh, relishing in the melodic sound that made his heart nearly burst in two. "My love, I don't need the perfect proposal when you're the promise of a perfect life. Any life with you is the one I want to live for the rest of my time, and I want to start living that life from this point onward. What do you say, sweetheart? Will you marry me?"

Spencer never thought the word yes could sound so incredibly spectacular.

The celebration had started right away, commemorated by the shedding of clothes from each other's bodies, finalized by panting breaths and entangled limbs beneath rumpled sheets. You lay on the bed with your palm on Spencer's chest, his own hand tracing invisible patterns on the vast canvass of your skin.

Spencer watched as you stared at the ring circling your finger. "Do you like it? We can exchange it for a new one if--"

"Spencer Reid, don't you dare."

"Apologies, ma'am." He grinned, continuing the random patterns he was drawing on your skin before he spoke again, "By the way, you said you also have something to tell me."

You looked up at him with a blinding smile before scooting out of Spencer's arm and reaching for the nightstand. When Spencer saw what you had rummaged out of the bedside drawer, Spencer thought his heart had forgotten how to beat.

"Is that--"

"Surprise," you murmured giddily, handing over the object in your hand into Spencer's awaiting palm. "I found out yesterday, but I wanted to tell you in person."

Spencer sat up on the bed, staring with disbelief at the small item in his hand. He only realized he had started to cry when a drop of tears fell down, blurring the two tiny pink lines in his vision.

"This is... you're..."

"I'm pregnant, Spencer," you professed.

Just an hour earlier, Spencer thought the word yes was the best thing he could ever hear falling from your mouth. But as he held you in his arms, his lips catching yours once more in a heated kiss, Spencer realized that you had many more surprising admissions waiting to be said out loud.

And Spencer couldn't wait to spend the rest of his life listening to every single one of them.

"Daddy, are you saying I was already in Mommy's belly when you proposed to her?"

"Yes, you were, Pumpkin," Spencer said, smiling at the blatant curiosity in Little Dee's eyes. "You were a surprise we didn't see coming."

Diana's responding smile was a picture of satisfaction. The father-daughter pair continued to walk down the street until Dee's voice tore through the silence once again, "Daddy?"

"Hm?"

"I thought you said a man and a woman can only make babies after they're married."

Spencer's footsteps halted on the pavement.

The silence must have stretched for only a partial of a minute, but the expectant stare Dee was nailing against his face, along with the internal panic that had short-circuited Spencer's brain made it seem as if the world had skidded into a standstill. Frantic eyes darted everywhere for a chance at rectification, and Spencer couldn't stop the words from tumbling off his lips when he saw the worn-down sign of a florist up ahead.

"Dee, would you like to buy some flowers for Mommy?"

The little girl squealed an excited yes before skipping the few steps left towards the flower shop. Spencer let out a relieved breath at having narrowly escaped such a harrowing crisis.

Once Spencer stepped into the shop, a multitude of fragrances immediately enveloped his surroundings. Diana was lingering back and forth around the vibrant displays when Spencer approached, her tiny eyebrows frowning in the most adorable way as she assessed the rows of flowers in front of her.

"Have you decided yet, Pumpkin?"

"Can we get some of Mommy's favorites, Dad?" Diana requested, pointing her tiny finger at the display of flowers she knew to be your favorites. "And then we can add some of these daisies, too!"

Spencer couldn't fight the smile blossoming on his face as he asked the florist to assemble a bouquet made out of daisies--Dee's favorite type of flowers, the same one printed all over the dress she was wearing--along with your favorite flowers in the center. Diana stared in awe at the deft work administered by the florist, her mouth forming an "O" once the bouquet was wrapped and ready to go.

"Do you think Mommy will like them, Daddy?"

"I know she will, Pumpkin," Spencer answered earnestly, his memory replaying that first time he had come home bringing the same arrangement of flowers in his hand.

Spencer came home to the apartment in utter disarray, and yet, it still was the best view that he had ever witnessed in his entire life.

Ever since his office was transformed into a nursery, the books he previously kept in there had to be relocated to the living area. Most of them had gone by now--some donated, and some others sold at second-hand bookstores--but piles of them still littered in various corners of the room.

Apart from his mountainous collection of books, small trinkets also covered every available surface of the place. From the empty nursing bottles in the kitchen sink to the breast pump on the counter, and the tiny socks on the coffee table to the pacifier jammed between the sofa cushions; every single one of them contributed to the mess that his apartment had become. Yet as he paused to inspect every inch of the place, Spencer couldn't find any other emotion besides warmth flooding his chest.

Muffled footsteps padded towards the living room before you appeared from the hallway with a freshly bathed Diana in your arms. As soon as your eyes locked with his, the crease between your eyebrows automatically vanished.

"You're home."

"I'm home." Spencer grinned before welcoming you into his embrace.

He stole a quick kiss from your lips before bending down to smother a 7-month-old Diana who yelped in glee when Spencer began attacking her with kisses all over her face.

"She's been fussy since yesterday," you told him. "I think she missed you."

"Did you, baby? Did you miss Daddy?" Spencer cooed. "I can take her for a few while you rest. You look tired. Are you feeling okay?"

"Gee, Spence. What a way to a girl's heart."

"You know what I meant, sweetheart."

"It's fine, Spencer. I just got a headache, but it's all better now that you're here."

Spencer smiled as he kissed your free knuckles. "If it's any consolation, you're still the most heavenly creature that I've ever laid eyes upon."

A sneaky laughter rumbled past your chest. "Fine. I'll let you go just this once," you said before letting Spencer take a yawning Diana into his arms.

As Spencer carried Dee towards the couch, you noticed a bouquet of flowers lying next to the kitchen sink in the corner of your eye. You glanced at the young genius with a discreet smile before aptly transferring the flowers into a vase.

"These are pretty," you commented, joining your family in the living room. You put the vase in the middle of the coffee table amidst the books and various baby clutters before dropping yourself against Spencer's side.

"They're your favorites."

"I know. As usual." You smiled affectionately. "And daisies. You've never bought me daisies before."

Spencer's eyes gleamed. "I bought the daisies for Dee."

"Oh?"

"I think daisies are gonna be her favorite."

"You do, huh?"

"One hundred percent."

Spencer's eyes looked up from Diana to you then, whose own gaze had been kept intently on your husband and daughter. Darkness embellished the area underneath your eyes, and Spencer couldn't help but count the lines of fatigue that seemed to have multiplied on the contours of your face. Even then, Spencer thought you had never looked more stunning than you did at that moment; as his wife, the mother of his child, and the woman who owned the sole reign of his heart.

Confusion wandered into your eyes when you noticed Spencer's stubborn stare. A surprised squawk escaped your lips as Spencer unexpectedly captured them in a rather long kiss. When he pulled back, Spencer looked the very image of a man who was drunk on love.

"I love you. You know that, right?" Spencer confessed as he squeezed your hand twice in his palm.

"Spencer, what's going on with you?"

"Nothing. I just--" he paused for a chuckle, seemingly trying to find the right words to say before he could continue, "--I owe my life to you, sweetheart. For all of the times you have pulled me out of the darkness, to the light you've brought into my life. You and Dee are the reason I keep on breathing. Without the two of you, I'm nothing."

"Spencer," you breathed out. "Where did all of this come from?"

"I don't know." He shook his head. "I just wanted you to know how grateful I am to have you in my life and that you've brought Dee into ours. Everything worth fighting for about me is because of you."

The telltale signs of tears began to cast a shadow over your eyes. You pressed your hand to Spencer's cheek, feeling the rugged sensation of his newly shaved stubble stroking your skin. Spencer melted into the warmth of your touch.

"You're giving me far too much credit here, Spencer," you whispered. "Everything you are has always been your own doing rather than mine. All I ever did was cheer you on from the sideline. You would still have become the person that you are today even if I weren't in your life."

Spencer physically shuddered at your last statement. "Don't say that. I can't even begin to imagine a life without you in it."

"Well, even if such day does come, when I won't be a part of your life anymore, I know you're gonna be just fine. Because you'll have Dee with you--" you stroked Diana's head lovingly, "--and I know that the two of you will give each other enough love and strength that you won't even notice I'm not around anymore."

The frown on Spencer's face deepened.

"You're not allowed to leave me. Ever," Spencer decided childishly.

"Fine. I won't. But you have to remember--" you brought your palm towards Spencer's chest, feeling each rhythmic thrum of his heart which seemed to flutter ever so slightly underneath your fingers, "--I'll be right here if you need me. Always."

Spencer's own hand landed on top of your hand, entwining your fingers together without ever tearing his fierce gaze away from yours.

"Always."

The sun was shining down in flimsy rays when Spencer and Dee finally walked past the familiar gate. Glimmers of gold sneaked past the reddish leaves on branches before falling upon the ground.

Next to him, Diana was humming a melody that Spencer recognized from one of your specially curated playlists. Her little hands struggled to carry the gigantic bouquet that she couldn't wait to present to you. It didn't matter that the bouquet itself was nearly as tall as she was, Diana still refused to let Spencer assist her.

"I wanna give Mommy the flowers myself," she had told Spencer in a manner that reminded him too much of your own stubbornness.

After a couple more minutes of walking, Spencer's reverie was soon broken by the excited squeal coming from the little girl beside him.

"Mommy! Mommy!"

Diana dashed into a sprint before words of warning could fall from Spencer's lips. He watched intensely as Diana's little feet moved upon the ocean of fallen leaves on the ground. Her tight grip around the bouquet never wavered even when she ran up the grassed hill, all the way towards the destination in her mind.

All the way towards the headstone with your name written on it.

When Spencer finally got there, Diana was kneeling next to your grave with panting breaths, but the smile stretched on her lips was the biggest one that Spencer had ever seen.

"Hi, Mommy. I'm back with Daddy," Diana announced. "Daddy, go say hi to Mommy."

"Hello, my love." Spencer smiled before taking a seat next to his daughter.

"We brought flowers, Mommy! They're your favorites. I added daisies to make them prettier." Diana beamed before putting the bouquet against your headstone. "You're not gonna believe what happened in class yesterday!"

As Diana animatedly began to recount the funny incident in her classroom--somehow involving a boy named Patrick and a cup of slushie--Spencer watched over her with a permanent smile on his lips. The little girl loved to talk--a trait she obviously acquired from both of her parents--and Spencer knew just how much you used to adore listening to Dee's rambling at any time of day.

It must have been at least ten minutes later when Diana's story eventually whirled to an end. Her attention instantly shifted to the family who was paying their own respect just two headstones over, a small squeak of puppy tumbled from Dee's lips before she dashed towards the boy with a golden retriever pup beside his legs.

Spencer shook his head affectionately at his daughter's antics.

"I know we were just here a couple of weeks ago, but Dee wanted to tell you about the slushie incident herself," he said. "And, well, I can never deny the chance to visit you, love."

A loud laughter boomed a few feet away. Spencer watched as Diana ran around jubilantly with the little boy and his dog. The boy's father waved at Spencer from the distance, which he replied with an acknowledging nod.

"She's getting so big, sweetheart. Sometimes, I just wanna stop time and keep her as my little girl forever. I wish you were around to see how much she's grown." Spencer smiled ruefully. "I can't believe that it's been more than a year since you were gone."

Spencer thought back to the last few moments you spent on this earth. How just a few months prior, the doctor had advised you to stop the treatment and take a rest at home instead.

The chemo isn't working, was what the doctor was really saying. You should be spending as much time as you can with your family.

So, that was exactly what you ended up doing.

Spencer had quit his job at the FBI shortly after you were diagnosed, opting to take a full-time job of teaching where the hours were more humane and reasonable. The day you were discharged from the hospital, Spencer made a vow to himself to make every day as memorable as he could, and he was keeping true to it. Those last few months were filled with countless road trips, an unforgettable weekend at Disneyland, and visits to various museums across the states. Spencer made sure that each day was charged with love and laughter, a perfect day culminated by an equally perfect night, with you falling asleep in the safety of his arms.

Until one morning, when Spencer woke up to your cold and lifeless body lying by his side.

"Do you remember what you told me once? About how Dee and I would never notice you were gone because we would have each other?" Spencer recalled. "You were wrong about that, sweetheart. Your absence is the first thing I notice every time I start my day. The moment I open my eyes, I notice that you aren't lying next to me on the bed like you're supposed to be. I notice the cold imprints on the sheets where your warmth used to linger. I notice you in every corner of our home, but most importantly, I notice you in Dee."

Spencer glanced at his little girl, playing and running around a pile of fallen leaves with her newfound friend and his pet dog. His heart floundered at the scene.

"Everyone keeps saying that she's an exact copy of me, but I see glimpses of you in her more and more every single day," Spencer admitted. "She's the only anchor I have left now, my love. Without her, I'm lost. I try constantly, with whatever strength still resides in me, to give her everything she would ever need. Shower her with every ounce of love I have left in my heart."

A lone tear cascaded down Spencer's cheek. He quickly erased it away with a wry chuckle.

"What I would do to have a minute with you again, my love. I hope you know I'd give my heart and soul to have those extra sixty seconds just to stare at your beautiful face. To hold you in my arms one last time. I try my best to fill the void that you left for Dee's sake. Some days are difficult, and I keep thinking about how much better it would be--how much better off she would be--if it were you here with her instead of me. I'd trade places with you if I could. I fear that all of me would never be enough for her, because she needs you. We both do."

Spencer inhaled a breath, forcing the imminent wave of tears from breaking the dam he had masterfully crafted since the moment you were gone. He promised a long time ago never to allow the grief to consume him.

He still had his daughter to think about.

"I'm beginning to think people are wrong when they say time makes everything better. The pain never lessens. It just becomes bearable with time. Dee makes it bearable," Spencer confessed. "I can only hope I'm doing the same for her."

"Daddy! Daddy!"

Spencer hurriedly wiped away any sign of tears from his face before he caught Diana in his arms. Her innocent laughter was a balm to the gaping wound in his chest, and Spencer allowed himself to bask in the bliss that his little girl brought to his life.

"What is it, Pumpkin?"

"Look what Brian's mom gave me!"

Spencer looked at her tiny hand to see a plastic daisy ring gracing one of her fingers. He looked up towards the family in the distance, mouthing a thank you to the mother who waved him off with a smile.

"It's very pretty, Dee."

"Like me?"

The young dad chuckled. "Yes, very much like you."

"Like Mommy, too?"

Spencer's smile softened. "Very much like Mommy, too. Yes."

The exhilarated smile Diana rewarded him could probably light up the entire state of Virginia at night.

Five minutes later, Spencer found himself bidding you a goodbye, with Diana promising to visit again very soon to give you an update over the slushie incident that supposedly got Patrick in a lot of trouble at school. The air was getting even chillier as the two walked the path they had taken after arriving at the cemetery. Spencer tugged Diana closer to his side once he saw the familiar gate lurking a few feet ahead, keeping her safe while simultaneously seeking her warmth.

"Daddy?" Dee's voice arose shyly once the pair had reached the main street.

"Yes, Pumpkin?"

"I miss Mommy," she admitted quietly.

Spencer's fingers instinctively tightened for a split second around his daughter's hand. "I know you do, Pumpkin. You just need to remember, even if she's not physically with us anymore, that she's always watching over you and keeping you safe."

Diana nodded her head understandingly. "Do you miss her, too, Daddy?"

"Every day, Dee." Spencer smiled, glancing back towards the gate of the cemetery behind him. "Every single day."

[nahimjustfeelingit-writes]

Neighbors 🩵 Lovers

Part Two

She combed through her closet while wearing her favorite grey robe, body glistening from the white peach and orange blossom body oil she put on. She pondered with a crease in her brow over two items before grabbing a pair of cream-colored pants and a cropped brown top. After getting dressed, Fae put on a faux leather jacket and some platform Uggs. She completed the look with a silver chunky chain necklace and silver chandelier earrings.

Grabbing her gifted bag and her keys, Fae left her room. She halted her footsteps in the dimly lit hall. Fae exhaled slowly and walked out into the living room. Cordell had just finished grading papers with a football game on in the background. He looked up and gave Fae a questioning look. She walked over to him and did a little twirl to show off her outfit.

“What do you think?” Fae looked down at herself and back at Cordell.

“Cute. Have fun.” Cordell said with a small smile.

“I will. Hey…I may be out a little late. Just wanted to let you know so you wouldn’t get worried.”

Cordell gave Fae a one shouldered shrug before standing and making his way towards her.

“Just text me so I know you’re alright, Fae. Don’t drink too much.”

“I promise. Don’t forget to feed Deuce.”

Cordell kissed Fae softly on the lips. Fae turned to leave and the minute she shut the door behind her, she let out a shaky breath. She made it perfectly clear to Erik that this wasn’t a date, but she took a lot of time to make sure she looked presentable around him. Fae rode the elevator down to the lobby and left the building, waiting to walk across the street.

Putting up her hand a a thank you to a taxi driver, she jogged across the street, the wind rustling her sleek hair into her face. Fae smoothed her hair behind her ears as best as she could while looking up at the signs to make sure she wouldn’t miss it. She strolled past a bodega, then a barbershop, a small pizza parlor, and finally, Haymaker Bar and Kitchen.

Fae slipped past a couple sharing a cigarette outside and opened the door. Instantly, she was enveloped in warmth. It was an intimate setting with a low ambiance. She removed her jacket and searched with her brown eyes from left to right. The further she made her way into the bar, Fae finally found him sitting in a corner booth with a few empty glasses in front of him. He wore a plaid jacket, a white T-shirt, and black cargo pants. She couldn’t see his feet until she was two booths down from him. He wore a pair of all white Nike blazers.

Fae noticed a minimal amount of jewelry— diamond studs, a gold chain—and he had on those gold-rimmed glasses again. As if he could feel her presence, Erik looked up and smirked. She waved and he stood up to greet her. Erik startled Fae by pulling her into a two-armed hug. She felt so tiny ragainst him. Her cheek pressed against his chest, directly over his heartbeat. She turned her cheek a little, the soft fabric of his T-shirt against her nose now. Fae took a quick whiff of his cologne and it smelled like spicy vanilla.

Erik released her and instantly she felt cold standing there. Fae awkwardly scooted into the booth the same time Erik did. She sat her jacket next to her and folded her arms on the table, looking around the bar. Anywhere but meeting his penetrating gaze. A waiter slipped over; a young Caucasian girl with a blonde Bob and big, doe forest green eyes.

“Can I get you anything?”

“Uhm, a lemon drop martini.”

“Okay. Another rum for you, sir?”

“Yeah, thanks.”

The waiter removed the used glasses and rushed off to the bar, almost knocking into a coworker with a tray of beer.

“It’s busier in here than usual. Must be a special occasion.” Erik said.

Fae noticed a sign on the wall.

“Looks like it’s trivia night.” Fae pointed to the wall.

Erik nodded his head, “Friends trivia. Never watched that show.”

“I did. I prefer Living Single.”

“Yes, I used to love that show,” Erik cracked a smile, “the entire vibe of that sitcom was cool.”

“Do you watch a lot of TV?” Fae asked.

Erik’s eyes looked mahogany beneath the light.

“Not really. Unless it’s sports or a movie. I’m usually reading or listening to music most of the time.”

The waiter returned with their drinks. Fae took a sip of her martini. Erik drank half of his glass of rum down. Erik caught Fae’s eye and they smiled at each other.

“How was work?” Erik asked.

“It was okay. Friday’s are always the slowest for me. I kept looking at that clock ready to go.” Fae giggled.

She drank more of her martini.

“I have two more weeks until it’s time for me to get back to work. Not looking forward to it.” Erik responded.

“Why?”

“Because I made a new friend that I won’t see for a while,” Erik’s lips slowly formed into a handsome, dimpled smile.

“Who? Me?” Fae questioned with faux surprise, a hand to her chest.

“No, Deuce.” Erik’s shoulders bounced with laughter at her scowl, “You’re too pretty. You’re mean faces just make you look adorable.”

Erik licked his lips and Fae rolled her eyes, giving him a dismissive wave of her hand.

“How many of those did you have, Erik?”

Erik chuckled, “Not enough to put me on my ass.”

Fae ran her fingers through her hair, twirling the ends. She looked at Erik out of the corner of her eye.

“What did you want to talk to me about?”

Erik’s shoulders tensed. He leaned forward against the table with his arms and rubbed his hands together in deep thought. That happiness in her was sure to go dark after what he was about to say.

“Maybe you should have one more drink before I say what I have to say.”

Fae chewed on her bottom lip nervously. She gave him a look with confusion.

“Erik, what’s going on?”

The panic in her voice made his chest feel tight. He let out a breath and looked her dead in the eyes. Fae held his gaze, her eyelids fluttering slightly.

“Fae…Cordell is cheating on you.”

———

Fae cocked her head back, staring at Erik with a scrunch of her brows. He could see her chest moving up and down from her rapid breaths. She looked as if she didn’t believe a word Erik just said. She set her palms down flat on the table like she was trying to steady herself.

He’d been going over and over in his head of how he was going to tell her. He knew telling her in person was the best option, but to witness the hurt in her eyes, he wasn’t prepared for that. What was the next step? All he could do was lay it all out on the table.

“Another drink or…? Are you guys good?”

The waiter startled them. Fae fidgeted in her seat and Erik could feel her foot jiggling beneath the table against his. He’d definitely triggered something. Fae seemed to shrank into her seat like she felt small.

“Another round for the both of us please.” Erik said.

When they were alone again, Fae looked up at Erik through her lashes.

“I saw him with another woman, Fae. The same day we went to the dog park. I was coming back from the gym and I saw him on the elevator all hugged up with another woman. Got off the elevator and something told me to look. They were going inside of your apartment.”

Fae turned away. Erik slouched in his seat.

“Fae?” Erik tried to catch her eye, “Say something.”

Fae shook her head slowly, “I don’t even know where to start,” She looked up at Erik with glossy eyes, “I can’t even believe what I’m hearing right now.”

Fae covered her face with her hands, head shaking and then came the sniffles. Erik was frozen. He looked around the bar and then back at Fae before reaching across the table to rub her arm affectionately. As soon as his fingertips touched her, she quietly weeped.

Erik’s jaw tightened and he shut his eyes. He felt obligated to hold her and tell her that everything was going to be okay. The woman he’d only known for two weeks has him feeling this way. Like he needed to protect her. Like he needed to rearrange Cordell’s face.

“Fae, I’m so sorry,” Erik said with a soothing tone of voice.

“Fae finally uncovered her face, eyes puffy and cheeks wet, “You don’t have to apologize, Erik. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“I didn’t want to make you cry, Fae. I feel like a piece of shit.”

Fae grabbed a napkin and dabbed her cheeks, “I’ll be right back.”

She stood up and walked towards the restrooms. The waiter returned with their drinks. Erik ordered some shots—two each—and closed his tab. Fae was gonna need it. She was probably bawling her eyes out. Erik shook his head and blew air out his cheeks. He massaged the back of his neck, looking up to see Fae leaving the restroom and heading towards him.

She slipped into the booth seat with sad eyes. They sat in silence for a while. Fae kept her eyes in her lap while Erik watched her. She finally looked up and over at Erik.

“Is it me?” She said, “Why does this keep happening to me?”

Erik shook his head, “It’s not you, it’s him, Fae. You did nothing wrong.” Erik reassured her.

“Am I not good enough?” She let out a harsh breath, “Why can’t a man just treat me right? Why do I always have to get my heart torn in pieces?”

She rubbed her nose, a single tear rolling down her cheek. Suddenly, Erik reached across the table and wiped her tear away with his knuckle. Fae gasped at his sudden touch but relaxed when she realized what he was doing.

“I guess this is what I should expect.”

“No,” Erik spoke sternly, “Don’t settle for that. You’re better than that. He didn’t deserve you. He should be the one crying. Stop wasting your tears on that nigga. I see a woman who’s too good and too rare to be in these situations.”

Fae’s eyes lingered on Erik for a while. It was as if she were seeing him for the first time. Erik genuinely meant every single word. Would he love a chance with Fae? Absolutely. Would he love to catch Cordell slacking and break every bone in his fucking body? Definitely. He’d give anything to hurt him.

“Thank you,” She said with a soft voice, “You didn’t have to make it your business to let me know about it. I appreciate you for telling me upfront and not turning a blind eye. You’re really one of the good ones, Erik.”

Fae gave him a weak smile before pulling her eyes away, wiping more of her tears.

“You’re welcome, Fae.”

Fae looked at the drinks on the table and let out a tired laugh, “This for me?”

“Figured you wouldn’t mind.”

“Hell no,” Fae picked up one of the shots, “I need a pick-me-up.”

“Well then let’s toast,” Erik raised his shot glass, “To heathy relationships and happiness in the near future.”

Fae put on a forced smile, clinking shot glasses with Erik.

“I think I need to be alone for a while. No man deserves what I have to offer. They gotta prove it to me.”

They threw their shots back at the same time. Erik bobbed his head and tilted it in agreement.

“You are one of a kind.”

Fae giggled.

“One more,”. She picked it up, “I’m feeling it already.”

“Good,” Erik raised his glass.

They knocked it back and in unison they slammed the glasses on the table.

“Whew!”

“Shit,” Erik screwed up his face.

“Still have this lemon drop.”

“You got it,” Erik motioned towards the martini.

He watched her drink the martini with a smirk. He could see a flush creeping up her face. She was definitely leaving there drunk.

“I would just love it if he could feel how it feels to be cheated on. If it was me, he would be crying like a big baby.”

“He wouldn’t know how to handle it.” Erik said.

“He already couldn’t handle the way you complimented me that day. He was so pissed off.”

Fae laughed and Erik simply admired her.

“Imagine what he would have done if I took you to dinner myself.”

The corner of her mouth quirked up with a blush.

“I can see him now, making a whole lot of noise,” Fae rolled her eyes.

Fae sat bad into her seat.

“Where am I gonna go? I can’t face him tonight.”

Erik sipped from his glass.

“No friends close by?”

“Sort of. But it’s so last minute. Ugh,” Fae crinkled her nose, “And I’m drunk. I really don’t want to cause a scene. If I see him right now…”

She glared.

Erik sat his drink down and leaned in to speak to her closer from across the table. He had an idea, but would she be down? She would probably think he had ulterior motives. Erik’s eyes bore into hers.

“What if you stayed at my place tonight?”

Fae scrutinized him.

“It’s all up to you. Just…here to help. I promise I’ll behave.”

Fae laughed and Erik cracked a smile.

“Why not?” Fae exhaled a shaky breath, “It’s only next door, right?”

Erik fought to contain his excitement. He gave her a once over before wagging his brows.

“Fine. I guess I’m crashing at your place tonight.”

“I guess so.” Erik said.

_____

“I’m probably so heavy!”

Fae giggled uncontrollably. Erik put her down in the apartment lobby, holding her up by the waist when she started to sway. Tears shone in her eyes from laughing so hard. Erik could do nothing but smile and shake his head. He pressed the button for the elevator while Fae clung to his waist with her arms wrapped around him.

“You’re so strong!” She spoke loudly.

Erik picked her up with one arm around her waist so that she wouldn’t trip over her own feet. He pressed button thirteen and Fae slipped from his arm and stood on wobbly legs. His brows knitted as he watched her adjust her bra.

“Please tell me you have something I can sleep in, Erik.”

“Of course I do,” Erik held out his arm, “Come on.”

Fae took his arm and Erik led the way to his apartment. Fae took one look back at her place with a hardened expression. Erik retrieved his keys and opened the door, quickly guiding Fae inside.

“Wow, so minimalistic.”

Diesel came running out from a back room and he leaped onto Fae, barking excitedly in her face.

“Aww, he remembers me?!” Fae’s face brightened.

“Guess he really likes you.” Erik said.

Diesel wouldn’t leave Fae alone.

“Aye, back up,” Erik ordered Diesel.

He clapped his hands and Diesel sprinted back into the room. Fae chuckled nervously, walking further into Erik’s apartment.

Erik balanced himself against the wall and took off his shoes one by one, “You can keep your shoes here,” Erik pointed to a show rack, “And I’ll take your jacket to hang it up for you.”

Fae took off her boots while Erik approached Fae from behind and helped her slip out of her Jacket. She looked up at him over her shoulder with a small smile. Erik returns the smile and walked away.

“So…where do I sleep?” Fae asked with uncertainty in her voice.

Erik still had his back to her while taking off his jacket to put away. Fae’s brown eyes tracked his every move. The way his back muscles flexed beneath his shirt. His built arms and well-knit torso that she memorized from all of his shirtless gym photos. Erik looked back at her over his shoulder and her eyes darted away to look at the ceiling. The light fixture seemed to catch her interest.

“I have a guest bed. If that’s okay with you?”

Fae bounced back and forth on her toes awkwardly, “That’s fine. Thanks Erik.”

“Any time. Better here than over there with him, right?”

Fae didn’t respond. Erik turned around and caught her wiping away more tears.

“Hey,” Erik walked up to her, “No more crying.”

Fae sniffled, “I’m trying. What if…what if she’s with him right now?”

Erik’s tongue rested on his top lip deep in thought. He shrugged and his eyes met hers.

“Only way to find out is to listen, right?” Fae questioned.

“The walls aren’t that thin, Fae. I can’t hear nothing from neither one of y’all unless you’re screaming at the top of your lungs.” Erik said with a hint of playfulness.

He suddenly had a eureka moment.

“Unless,” He pulled his phone out of his back pocket, “I have a ring surveillance camera outside my door.”

Fae went very still. Her eyes were veiled with intensity. Erik went to the app on his phone for his surveillance and found movement outside of his door almost an hour ago. He clicked on the video and right there, looking guilty, was Cordell with a different woman this time. This one was a Latina with gold hoops in her ears.

“What is it?” Fae made her way over to Erik, “Do you see him?”

Erik just handed the phone to Fae. He stood there, watching her reaction. She stared at the phone intently before passing it back to Erik and walking away.

“Where I lay my fucking head, though?!”

She threw her hands up and paced back and forth angrily.

“I gave this man everything! I thought he loved me!”

Erik just stood there. He let her vent.

“How could you disrespect me like that and bring not one, but two bitches into my apartment to fuck?!”

“Because he doesn’t respect you. No man that loves and respects his woman would do some shit like that. And this is coming from a man. I know.”

Erik followed Fae into his living room. She flopped down on his black leather sofa with defeat. She leaned back into the couch, body slumped and her cropped shirt revealing her stomach more. Erik’s eyes swept over her caramel skin as he took a seat next to her.

“Why do men stick around if they don’t wanna be with the woman?” Fae questioned.

“Because of what it provides for him at the moment. Financial stability, the fact that she’s catering to him, or it could be the convenience of having someone around.”

Fae kissed her teeth and rolled her eyes, “I should know. I’ve been cheated on more than once.”

Erik couldn’t believe it. She had it all. I guess it didn’t matter how much of an amazing woman you are.

“They didn’t deserve you, Fae. For real.”

Fae blushed.

“My problem is, I like them a little rough around the edges. Should I go for a different type?”

“Yeah, a man that will love on you and treat you like a princess. Even when shit gets rough.” Erik said.

“So what about you then?”

Erik looked at Fae. He sat up straighter on the couch, his inner thoughts wondering if she meant what he thought she meant.

“Uh…?”

“Are you that good guy type? Why are you single?”

Erik’s eyes blinked away.

“I just ain’t find the right one.”

“Hm,” Fae raised a brow.

What Fae didn’t know, was that Erik is most definitely rough. Rougher and tougher than any man she’d ever been with. It’s more than muscles, it’s skill. He’s a trained killing machine. Killmonger. He had the stats to prove it.

“What? You got somebody in mind?”

Erik sized her up.

Fae gave him a once-over, “And if I did, what would you do about it?”

“I’d see what’s up. Show her what I can do.”

Fae observed him with those gorgeous brown eyes of hers. He allowed his eyes to fall to her lips. Fae turned away and stood up, fixing her pants with a wiggle of her hips and a bounce of her booty.

“I need some water.” She spoke with a shaky voice.

“I gotchu,” Erik lifted himself from the couch.

Fae followed him into the kitchen and she peeked into a small room that looked like an office where Diesel was sleeping. Erik opened his fridge and Fae was amazed by how clean and organized it was. He grabbed a bottled water and she accepted it. They stood in the kitchen, drinking water with the only light being that coming from the stove.

“I just want him to know how it feels to be hurt, you know? Like, how would he like it if I was fucking some man behind his back? Lying and saying I’m going out with friends just so I can sneak off with a man who fucks me better and has more money—”

Fae stopped herself and Erik cracked up. She took another sip of water.

“I’m just blowing steam, don’t mind me!”

“Nah, nah, keep going,” Erik motioned for her to continue while propping his arms up on the kitchen island, “So, you were saying? A man that can fuck you better and spoil you?”

“Y-yes,” Fae exhaled a shaky breath, “I mean, this gift ain’t shit to me anymore. I just wanna throw it in his face.”

Fae held up her small Louis Vuitton bag.

Erik scuffed.

“Probably a fake too.”

Fae gawked at him.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” Erik said between laughs, “It’s probably not–I mean–why would he give you a fake? psst, forget I said anything. It’s the thought that counts, right?”

Fae blinked at Erik liked she’d been neuralyzed.

__________

“You only worn it twice…doesn’t look light like authentic bags would when you first purchase them…”

Erik looked from the bag to his phone. Fae nibbled on her lip anxiously. They were back in his living room with music on in the background. Fae was sitting Indian-style on the floor and Erik was sitting on the couch. He scrolled through his phone and read the words with his eyes.

“The lettering…the gold stamping does look off…”

“Just tell me it’s fake,” Fae rolled her eyes.

“It’s fake.”

Erik sat the bag down on the table.

“At least I think it is.”

“He had an authentic box.” Fae said.

“You can buy empty designer boxes online, baby girl. That’s probably what he was waiting for. To dress it up and make it look authentic.”

Fae sighs, “I should have known. I guess I just expected him to really show out this time around.”

“Dell!”

“Fae and Erik’s eyes slowly connected.

“That was a scream.” Erik said.

Fae laughed. She fell back against Erik’s throw rug and rolled around on the floor laughing.

“What if I just walked right in the door?!”

Fae picked herself up off of the floor and stormed to Erik’s door. Erik shot up from the couch and sprinted over to her, slamming his door shut before she could even get out.

“Move Erik!” Fae shouted.

“No.”

Fae tried pushing him but it was like pushing a brick wall.

“Do you want to get yourself thrown out of here?! If you go over there it’s gonna be ugly.”

“It already is ugly! He’s cheating on me! Right now!”

Fae couldn’t leave if she wanted to. Erik was 6’3, 225 lbs of muscle. She was trapped.

“You finished? Listen, Just wait until tomorrow morning. You have the receipts, you have my word, he’s done.”

Fae tried to settle her breathing. She smoothed her long hair out of her face and walked away with her hands on her hips. Erik locked his door and kept a close eye on Fae. She sat back down on the floor and covered her face with her hands, crying again.

“I’m so stupid! I’m so stupid!”

“Stop saying that shit,” Erik joined her on the floor. He crawled closer to her, “You’re not stupid, Fae.”

Erik pulled Fae into his lap and wrapped his arms around her.

“I just want him to feel how hurt I feel…”

Erik caressed her arm. Fae tilted her head back to look at Erik. They locked eyes and something seemed to shift between them. Fae’s lips parted slightly and her half-lidded eyes were inviting him to kiss her. Erik took his hand and smoothed it over her hair.

“Erik,” Fae’s eyes dropped, “That feels good…”

She was falling asleep in his lap. Erik reached his hand over his coffee table to check the time. It was 1 AM. When he looked down at again, her eyes were shut.

“Fae,” Erik tapped her, “C’mon, I’m gonna put you to bed.”

“Huh?” Fae’s eyes opened gently.

“C’mon.”

Erik picked her up bridal-style and walked with her in his arms to his guest room. He placed Fae onto the bed and she immediately sat up. She stretched her arms above her head and yawned.

“I’m sorry, all that crying and shouting got me worn out.”

“I’ll be back with a shirt and some shorts.”

Erik left Fae alone and Diesel walked past the room, following Erik. She stood up from the queen sized bed and walked around the room until she was standing in front of one of the windows. She pressed her hand against the cool glass and looked out across the cityscape.

“I grabbed your bag and your phone…”

Fae turned around and saw Erik sitting her things on a bedside table and a folded white T-shirt with navy blue ball shorts on the bed. Fae wandered over to him and grabbed her sleep clothes. Erik stood with his arms stretched out, bracing himself in the doorway.

“There’s a spare bathroom here in the hall right next door. I keep toothpaste, floss, tongue scrapper, tooth brushes, all of that. If you wanna shower I have some soap and spare wash cloths and towels on the shelf in there.”

Erik smirked at her. Fae walked towards the door and stopped in front of Erik. He tilted her chin up at him and Fae got butterflies.

“Get some sleep. Try not to think about it. Okay?”

“Thank you again.” Fae said.

“No problem. It was the right thing to do.”

They continued to stare at each other.

“Good night, Erik.” Fae twisted her lips to fight a smile.

“Sweet dreams, Fae. I’ll shut this so Diesel doesn’t come in bothering you.”

“I don’t mind.”

“Trust me, you’ll want this shut.”

Erik grabbed the knob and as he was closing the door, he gave Fae one final wave goodbye before shutting it completely.

Fae undressed quickly and went without her bra beneath the shirt. She found a hair tie in her bag and thanked the heavens that Erik had satin pillowcases. She sat back on her phone for a while, the room bathed in darkness, deleting all traces of Cordell from her phone. She could hear Diesel pacing back and forth in front of her door and realized she hadn’t brushed her teeth yet.

Fae climbed out of bed and placed her phone on the charger before opening the door softly. She peered out into the hall, Diesel now in the living room curled up on the floor. She walked out and noticed that Erik’s door was cracked. Probably from Diesel walking out of the room. She found the bathroom and brushed her teeth. After flossing and using mouth rinse, Fae used some of Erik’s Cerave facial lotion and turned off the light.

She went back to her room and cracked the door. She tiptoed to bed and crawled beneath the sheets. Fae couldn’t sleep. She tossed and turned for almost an hour. All she kept thinking about was Cordell and what was next between them. Obviously she was going to leave him, but then he would have to move out, and she would have to tell her friends and family.

Frustrated, fae sat up and grabbed her phone again. She went to Twitter to just scroll aimlessly and try to get her mind off of Cordell. Her thoughts drifted to Erik again and she couldn’t be happier that he came into her life and at the right time. Like a guardian Angel. She found herself on his instagram again, looking at his photos, lusting over how fine he is.

The way he blocked her from leaving his apartment turned her on. Fae has a size kink and he was just the right amount of tall and build. There were a few times that evening where she thought they were going to kiss. She would have embraced it to be honest. His tongue down hee throat and his plump lips against hers. Thoughts of Erik led her back to the dark side of Twitter and to his likes.

He had new ones.

Fae scrolled through and found herself wet and horny in his guest bed. Post after post after post.

She couldn’t escape it. Each post was enough to make you get yourself off. Could she do that in his own bed? He was practically sleeping next door. Fae can’t keep quiet when masturbating to save her life. Was doggy his favorite position? Did he ever think about putting her in those positions? How big is it? Could he really eat pussy? Could he talk you through it?

If he was the complete package, imagine how Cordell would feel if Fae ever gave in and let Erik hit. He already hated him. He would probably piss himself if he found out he took his woman. That would be the ultimate lick-back. And he was her neighbor. Getting slutted-out by her neighbor while her cheating ass boyfriend graded papers all night long. While he’s doing his dirt, Fae would be too. She wanted revenge and she wanted to be petty about it. Fuck feelings.

Fae sat up and she could feel the wetness of her panties. She needed some water. There was no way she could sleep in this sweat with rock hard nipples and a dripping-wet pussy. She crept out of the room again and the door creaked slightly when she closed it halfway. Fae found her way back to the kitchen and opened Erik’s fridge, grabbing another water bottle. Without thinking, she shut the refrigerator door harder than she intended to.

Just then, Erik walked out.

“Fae?”

He had on a white beater and tight black briefs. He had a durag over his locs.

Fae was transfixed.

“You can’t sleep?” Erik asked while scratching his beard.

“No,” Fae looked at his body, “I’m sorry if I woke you.”

“I couldn’t sleep either.”

Erik admired her in his clothes and chuckled.

“You look cute.”

Fae had a tight grip on her water bottle. Erik looked at her with worry in his eyes. He walked up to her, took the bottle out of her hand, and leaned into her.

“What’s wrong? Talk to me.”

He even smelled amazing. That same vanilla scent.

“You.”

Erik pulled back slightly and he blinked at her with a perplexed look in his eyes.

“Me?” Erik clarifies.

“Yes. You’re the reason I’m tossing and turning. Not Cordell.”

Fae turned away to face the kitchen island. She grabbed onto it to steady herself.

“…Care to tell me why?”

Fae flicked her eyes towards him, “I was thinking…”

Erik waited but she could tell he was growing impatient.

“Thinking…?”

“If you wouldn’t mind–you know–yeah?”

Erik looked towards the ceiling.

“Fae, ima need you to tell me what’s on your mind.”

His voice held an edge to it she hadn’t heard from him before. It was all or nothing.

Put your big girl panties on, Fae, and just say it.

“Wanna fuck?”

Erik���s eyes went round. Fae didn’t know if that was a good sign or not. Her heart was pounding.

“Uh–yes? No?” Fae asked.

Erik’s eyes became sultry but still he hadn’t said a word.

“I’m attracted to you. I know you’re attracted to me. I really wanna start some shit. And I guess…what better way than to have sex with my neighbor?”

A mischievous smirk slowly formed on his plump lips.

“So, you want me to be your sneaky link?”

Fae pondered.

“Is that what it is?”

Erik nodded his head slowly, “Yeah. Pretty much.”

“It sounds so…I don’t know,” Fae giggled nervously.

“Fun?”

Erik smiled with both dimples.

“Wrong,” Fae said, “Wouldn’t it just be better to break up with him instead of this back and forth?”

“Fae,” Erik dragged a hand down his face, “You said so yourself earlier. You want him to feel the same hurt. Stop acting all scary and get yours.”

Fae didn’t take her eyes away from Erik. She dragged her tongue towards the corner of her mouth, fingers drumming on the counter top before suddenly, Erik traps her against the kitchen island.

“I’ll be your sneaky link, Miss Fae.”

Fae smirked naughtily.

“When should we make this official?” She asked.

“Hm,” Erik titled his head towards her face. He used the back of his fingertips to stroke her neck while his eyes roamed her body, “We can start now if you like.”

“…Okay.”

———

Erik grabbed Fae by her soft hand and walked her towards his room. He pushed open his door and shut it completely behind them. With her hand still in his, Erik led her over to his bed. He grabbed both of her hands and Fae sat down with her legs on either side of his. She sat back against her hands, causing her chest to thrust forward. Erik turned on one of his lamp lights so he could see her better.

She was so damn sexy. He couldn’t sleep because he knew she was right next door to him. He was not expecting her to ask him that, but he was so glad that she did. He was going to enjoy this. She deserves good dick after finding out about her boyfriend. He was so excited about it that his dick was at its full potential already.

Erik leaned forward with his hands cupping her face and finally, he pressed his lips against hers. It was electric. They tongue kissed right off the back, Erik lowering on top of her. He slipped one hand beneath the base of her head to control her movements. Fae brought her knees up and dragged the sides of her feet along his waist.

They’re heads moved from left to right, tongues reaching every crevice of the others mouth. The sound of their kissing filled the quiet room. It was the longest make-out session Erik ever had. Not once did they come up for air. Fae untied his durag and tossed it onto the bed. She used her fingers with those short acrylic french tips to grip him by his locs.

Erik loved the way she tugged on his hair. Her mouth tasted minty and her lips, although no longer covered in gloss, was soft and buttery-smooth. Fae released Erik’s hair and his locs flopped against his forehead. She molded her body more into his and her hands went over his shoulders and down his arms. She used only her fingertips. That had Erik groaning into her mouth.

Erik finally released his lips with a wet smack to look at her. She touched his face, ran a thumb over his bottom lip revealing gold slugs, and dragged her nails down his throat to gather the neck of his white beater into her fist. Lip between her teeth, she yanked him back down and they were kissing again.

His dick was on brick. The heat from between her legs told him all he needed to know. But first, he wanted to undress her. He needed to see that body in its naked splendor. He already noticed her hard nipples in the kitchen. Erik couldn’t wait to suck on them.

Fae broke the kiss this time. Erik brought his hungry lips to her cheek and now he was ravishing her neck.

“Careful,” Fae whispered, “No love bites.”

“My bad,” Erik made sure to keep from sucking her neck, “You just taste so good.”

“Erik,” Fae moaned with a hushed voice.

Erik sat up to look at her.

“Do I get to spoil you too?”

Fae chuckles, “If you want.”

Erik kissed her lips.

“So I get to fuck you and spoil you?”

Erik sat up to remove his top. To see it in person blew Fae away. She glided her hands from his chest to his abs. Erik loved the way she touched all over him. He worked hard for this body, it always turned him on whenever a woman would admire him.

“Yes,” Fae whimpered.

She sat up, flipping her hair over her shoulder before removing Erik’s T-shirt. Beautiful, round flesh with small areolas and pointed dark nipples blessed his eyes.

“I just wanna eat you up,” Erik latched onto one of her nipples, “Mm…mmmmm…”

Erik went from nipple to nipple, and the way her body shivered, Cordell couldn’t have been doing it like this. He did this thing with his lips where he would leisurely suck all the way to the tip of her nipple before using the pointed end of his thick tongue to flick it. She had the prettiest titties. The way she looked at him with low, wanton eyes had Erik hooked.

“Fuck, that feels so good,” Fae threw her head back.

Erik kissed her sternum and down to her stomach. Fae leaned back on her elbows. He was getting closer. Erik’s anticipation was strong. He hoped she’d seen the pussy eating videos in his likes. He sat up a little to drag his shorts down her body. Before he did the same for her panties, he kissed her hips, thighs, and knees.

“I want you to relax and let me make you feel good…because that’s what you deserve. I’m a show you…”

Erik used his teeth to get her panties past her thighs then he took it off the rest of the way with his hand.

“I’m keeping these,” Erik sniffed the crotch, “Don’t worry, I’ll be thinking of you every time I beat my dick when I go away for work.”

Fae gasped when Erik spread her thighs and pushed her knees into her chest. Her pussy is fat and soaked like he liked. Her clit poked out and the wetness dripping out of her reminding him of honey from a jar had Erik’s taste bubs going crazy.

“Damn…you got a pretty pussy.” Erik said.

“Thank you.” Fae replied.

Erik spread her open with his fingers causing Fae to moan.

“Can you please eat me up, daddy? Like those videos on your Twitter?”

Erik’s dick jumped. So she did see them? Perfect.

He didn’t waste time. Erik put his face in her pussy and licked. Whenever he slurped, he would gather spit and all her juicy goodness in his mouth to suck her pussy. Fae was speechless. She tired to tilt her hips away from his mouth when he found his way back to her clit, but Erik stayed on that pussy.

“Fuuuck! Oh my god,” Fae moaned,” I can’t take it. It feels so good. I don’t want you to stop.”

She was talking nonsense while Erik was too busy feasting on fat pussy. He spread those lips and used all his skills to make Fae cum. When he dragged his tongue up and down between her folds, over her clit, and back down, Fae was whimpering heavily. Like she had no control over her body. Her body seized up and she couldn’t even close her legs because Erik had her locked in place.

“Erikkkkkk!” Fae cried out.

He sat up to take a breath in but all he could smell was her pussy and it was devine.

“I’m not finished. Turn around and sit on my face.”

Fae got up and Erik crawled beneath her. She sat that beautiful pussy on his mouth again and he instructed for her to bounce her pussy in his mouth. The angle and the positon of her pussy created a new sensation she hadn’t felt before. It was like her pussy was being sucked into the tightest vortex and she was afraid to squirt in his face. Her legs grew weak from the sensation and she fell to her knees.

Erik was right on her pussy. Her entire body shook out of her control.

“Ohhhhmygodddddd.”

“Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god.”

She was a broken record. He had a way of taking you to a whole other dimension. Your mind and body are two separate things.

“Erik, wait,” Fae cried, “wait, wait, wait!”

She was too late. With a deep moan she was squirting. He licked it up. Fae climbed off and crashed to the bed convulsing. Erik sat up and he could feel her juices dripping from his chin, down to his chest. Fae curled into a fetal position and Erik watched her ride the wave of orgasmic release. He kissed up her spine as her body shook. Fae finally relaxed and when she flipped over, she spread her legs to see her pussy.

“I couldn’t stop,” Erik kissed her pussy, “I plan to eat this pussy whenever.”

“I wasn’t in control of my body,” Fae said with a tremble in her voice.

He inserted a finger with his eyes on her.

“Didn’t think I was gonna get you right, huh?” He dragged his lip between his teeth before releasing it slowly, “you got one more for me, princess, before I put this dick in your mouth?”

Fae planted her face into the bed and allowed Erik to finger her into another orgasm.

“You grip like that?” Erik pumped slowly.

“Fuck,” Fae hissed, “I’m gonna cum…”

Erik forced her to keep her legs open.

“Keep your eyes on me.” He commanded.

Fae did as she was told. He smirked at her while his fingers thrust in and out, hitting places she didn’t know could feel this good. He proved to her once again that he was a pro in bed. With the look in her eyes, Erik told her how much he couldn’t wait to bury his dick inside of her.

Erik watched her face like he was conducting an experiment on how many times he could make Fae cum. The slight tilt of his head and the crease in his brow had her creaming all over his fingers. Erik sucked her mess off of his digits and slid off of the bed. He took off his one piece of clothing and when Fae came face to face with his dick, she couldn’t believe how big it was. He could tell she wasn’t used to this. But she wasn’t a saint, so at this point, she was going to take it.

He made a come-hither motion with his fingers and Fae was on her knees. She grabbed him and her mouth fell open at how thick it is. It wasn’t too much thickness, but enough to make her feel full. Erik smirked at her when she put him into her mouth. She looked up at him and sucked as much as she could. Erik gathered her hair and shocked her when he forced her head lower. Fae almost gagged.

“I knew this mouth was gon’ feel good, mmm,” Erik licked his lips, “You’re such a pretty dick-sucker, baby.”

Fae closed her eyes and started moaning a little. She popped her lips off and jerked him with a sloppy face. Erik hooked his hands under her arms and sat her on the bed. He gripped her chin with force and kissed her while his other hand squeezed one of her titties. When he stood back up at his full night, Fae continued sucking. She was making spit bubbles with her mouth.

“Mm, stay on that tip…that’s it…good girl…eat that fuckin’ dick up.”

Fae used her hand to stroke while her head bobbed at the same time.

“Fae…”

He had her by the hair again and more of his dick made its way past her throat. Tears welled up in her eyes. He released her and she gasped for air. It was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.

“That’s my girl. You take me so well down your throat.” Erik praises.

He slapped his dick on her tongue. Fae looked up at him with doe eyes while his dick rubbed across her lips. That look alone could have him busting. He had to stop her before it happened.

“Did I do a good job?” Fae asked.

“Yes. You have the tightest throat.”

“You know what else is tight?” Fae couldn’t keep her hands off his dick. She grabbed a handful of his nuts and licked him all over.

“What’s that, baby?” Erik asked.

“This pussy.”

“You think you can handle it?” Erik questioned.

Fae gave a slight shrug.

“You’re a big girl.” Erik reminded her.

_______

“You’re a big girl, of course you can.”

Fae wasn’t so sure about that. Erik was thick and long. She tried to appear confident, but the harder he is, the more she’d feel him in her stomach. She was already trying to register in her mind that she was doing this with him. Erik moved her towards the center of the bed and he got between her legs. He sat up on his knees and threw Fae’s legs over his shoulders. Erik had slipped on a condom that he grabbed from his bedside table.

“You ready?”

Fae nodded her head.

Erik pushed past her lips. Fae gasped. She watched as Erik spread her legs and held them up and back. He tilted his hips and sank deeper. The entire time he was lowering that big dick inside of her, his eyes were enticing, never looking away for a second. Eventually, his eyelids fluttered and he let out a grunt.

“You fit around me so good…good girl.”

Fae moaned. He was thrusting in and out slowly. Fae grabbed onto his shoulders and squeezed. Erik held her thighs back with his hands.

“Damn, baby.”

Erik’s abs flexed as he picked up speed. Fae was so wet she couldn’t believe how he felt thrusting in and out of her. It was warm and tingly. Erik’s brows furrowed and his lip was between his teeth. He finally released her thighs and drove his fists into the bed, leaning over her even more. His chain dangled on her face and he was looking down at her through his locs.

“You feel so good,” he said through clenched teeth.

Fae’s toes curled. She was hyperventilating. Erik wouldn’t let up. She tried gripping his waist but he was too strong. Her much smaller body curled beneath him while he hunched over her.

“Oooh, yes.” Fae moaned.

“You taking this dick, baby?”

“Mhm,” Fae replied as best as she could.

“Didn’t daddy tell you that you was gon’ take it?”

His words and his strokes combined was too much.

“Didn’t I? Answer me.”

“Yessss,” Fae moaned.

Their panting breaths and moans sounded beautiful. Her wet pussy and their flesh colliding grew louder and louder.

“Give Daddy that squirt, Fae. My little waterfall.”

Fae seized up beneath him. She was squirting again. It only made her wetter. Erik pulled Fae into another kiss. His dick was still inside of her, throbbing and hard.

The condom was still nice and wet when he slipped out. Fae was stretched a new hole. Erik flipped her over and pulled her by the ankles towards the edge of the bed. Fae laughed at his roughness, looking back at him while bouncing her cheeks. Erik spanked her on each cheek and then he pressed his face between and wiggled his tongue over her back door entrance.

She’d never been licked back there before. Not like this at least. He was putting his face in it. He finally came up for air and Fae arched her back from the bed. Erik rubbed his tip between her folds before he found her hole again and sank that meat deep inside again. Fae reached back to grip his thigh.

“Oh!” She shouted.

Erik grabbed her wrists, pushing them out of the way. He began thrusting. Fae could feel it all in her stomach.

“Why is it in my belly?” Fae’s mouth dropped open.

Erik increased speed.

“You know how I like it, Fae. Face down. Ass up.”

Erik smacked his hand across her ass hard.

“Baby, you’re creaming all over this dick.” Erik said, “Of only you could see this…the way my dick goes in and out…fuck…”

Fae shut her eyes and just felt. Her hips snapped forward. Erik was beating that shit up from behind. Fae couldn’t keep still anymore. The pressure on her lower abdomen was a pressure she hadn’t felt. Fae would turn from side to side, look back at Erik with weepy eyes, bring one hand back to push him. Nothing stopped him.

“Take everything I give you,” Erik grunted, “Take all this dick.”

“You’re going deep, daddy!”

“Oh, fuck—”

“Oh my god—”

“Don’t run from me,” Erik commanded.

Erik leaned over her and delivered precise thrusts to her g-spot. He gripped her throat from the front and buried his face into her neck. Loud clapping bounced off of the walls.

“I’m tearing this pussy up…squirt on this dick…there you go…got more for me? You know daddy likes it when you make a mess all over me. Daddy likes it when you give that pussy up…”

“YES!”

Fae did it again. She couldn’t believe it. He had a way with controlling her body. His voice and his touch.

“Spread that ass…dayum…”

He used his thumb to flick her clit from the back. Fae tried to shove his hand away.

“Move my hand again. I dare you. You won’t ever get to use your hands again fucking wit me. I promise you that.”

He spoke so even toned but it was so rough.

“C’mere to daddy…”

Erik turned Fae up on her left side and raised one leg. He entered her from the side and fucked her into the mattress again.

“Now…daddy has to cum…fu-uckkkkkk…”

He looked so damn fine covered in sweat. That big brown dick was digging her out so good. Fae pouted her lip and Erik slipped his thumb into her mouth for her to suck on. Titties bouncing, pussy open, Fae felt like Erik’s personal fuck doll.

“You just fit on my dick…been taking this shit…dammit, Fae…”

His eyes rolled shut and he lowered his head.

“Look what you made me do, bitch—”

That condom was overloaded with his nut. Erik’s hips jerked out of control for a little bit. He was still inside of Fae. She was staring at him like she couldn’t believe what they just did.

He called her a bitch. She didn’t know the effect that would have on her until now. It was the sexiest thing.

“Whew, fuck,” Erik deep breaths slowed down, “Fae…you wore a nigga out.”

Erik withdrew his hips and left to the bathroom to take off his condom and pee. Fae found his T-shirt and went to do the same. She walked as best as she could but her muscles kept spasming. When she returned, Erik was back in his briefs. Fae sat next to him on the bed. She wasn’t there for more than two seconds before he lifted her up over his lap to straddle him.

“I want you to sleep with me tonight.” Erik whispered.

They kissed a few times. Fae stared at him with this look in her eyes that said she’d do whatever he told her to do.

“Okay,” Fae tongue kissed him, breaking the kiss to look at him, “I want you to fuck me again.”

She said this with tired eyes and a pout.

“You’re tired, Fae. I promise I’ll be in that pussy again. “

They stared at each other with a mixture of restlessness and lust before kissing again for a while this time, Erik’s hands cuffing her ass and Fae’s fingers gripping his locs.

@goddessofthundathighs @theegoldenchild @hearteyes-for-killmonger @imagining-greatness @chaneajoyyy @uzumaki-rebellion @theeblackmedusa @lisayourworries @bellleame @ratedbadgal @bombshellbre95 @cecereads209 @cancerianprincess @dameshaemonique @6lack-1otus @thickemadame @thickeeparker @stinkalinkkkk @ehniki @electrixit @prettyisasprettydoes1306 @bakarisprxncess @melodicheauxxlovesfood @bxolux @sweet2krazee @bluesole16 @90sisthenew80s @ispywithmylileye @geemamii @unbotheredblackchild @nubianbabee @adoreesun @blackpinup22 @nayaxwrites @dersha89 @honeytoffee @thickianaaaa @modelmemoirs @why-wait-4-eventually @angelicniah @queenfaithmarie @soulfulbeauty19 @asweet-serendipity @aijha @novaniskye@princessxotwod@callmemckenzieee@blowmymbackout @lahuttor@momobaby227@blackerthings @kenbieee @palmstreesallday @kokokonako

[respectthepetty]

The Odd One Out

All roads leads to Home x Peach

Home's grandfather wanted a ceremony with a strict dress code of orange only.

And I thought it was just because the grandfather really liked the color orange.

Because in a show with a Pink Person, a Cyan Cutie, a Brown Beauty, a Red Rascal, and a Black Brooder (single father of four not pictured), I thought I had my fill of colors.

But as the maids carried out the grandfather's red and orange suits in episode eleven, it hit me.

This is a family of fiery personalities.

Phon is also a Red Rascal.

But she is everything negative about them.

She is vengeful.

She is murderous.

She is hot-tempered.

But Red Rascal Home doesn't have to worry about turning out like her because he has Brown Beauty Kan, Pink Person Pang, Cyan Cutie Home, and Black Brooder Suradech to keep him humble. And, of course, his uncle Somkid.

Who's been an oddity from the very beginning.

And I do mean the very beginning.

However, I trusted Somkid because Orange Oddities are normally optimistic and energetic, which he has been shown to be, but Somkid has his own mysterious and secretive Black Brooder.

Who helps Somkid be everywhere the color-coded kids are.

And I mean everywhere.

However, I didn't realize it because I was too busy focused on Home's wearing Peach's color all the time, which I have believed shows he loves Peach.

Which is why I was also excited when Home wore green (which is part of Peach's cyan) on his chest with his red accented shirt, yet ignored the orange on the stomach of Peach's shirt.

So when the cursed eleventh episode began I felt bad for Peach because he seemed to be struggling with his color as he believed Home didn't care if he left.

The same way Home struggled with his color when he thought his relationship with Peach was irredeemable.

Even though Pang maintained her color.

So when Peach magically gained his color back at the morgue, I knew something was off.

And, thankfully, the showed went back and told us that the Cyan Cutie and Red Rascal had actually worked everything out, so it would make sense that Peach would gain his color back before the morgue scene.

Because the thing about Peach is, unlike Home who has continuously worn Peach's blues and greens throughout the series, Peach isn't so quick to wear Home's red. He likes to save it for big moments, like when he signed "love"

So it was strange that the boy who has gone a journey with Home as they have both evolved (and fallen in love!) barely wears Home's red, while Somkid finally decided after decades of being the oddity of the family to wear red in solidarity with his family.

As if he was trying to prove he belonged in the family.

But the bad thing about Orange Oddities is, because they are attention-seeking and impatient, their actions can quickly become insincere if they feel slighted.

And their true color will easily emerge.

But as mentioned before, Peach likes to save his love red for Home for big moments, like when it's written over his heart with his color below as they prepare to take down Somkid. (Shoutout to the wardrobe department for grabbing a Rolling Loud Music Festival shirt!)

So we enter into the finale with

Black Brooder Suradech being rushed to the hospital,

Somkid showing his true color,

Home wearing his and Peach's combined colors in the same purple sweater he comforted Peach in when Peach faced his past,

Pang supporting her bother in blue with her pink on her chest,

Kan being the secure Brown Beauty,

and Peach in the same blue shirt he wore when Home made his dreams come true that proudly proclaims that "IT'S UP TO YOU" because he is the one who has the save the Red Rascal who quietly crept into his bed in the first episode and into his heart all season.

And now that "YOU" sits on his heart for everyone to see.

[phasecornnuts]

I would love to power bottom Valentino from hazbin hotel ples 😏 also I LOVE angst so maybe a bit of that 😌 head cannons or a fic doesn’t matter I love words

Hello again whores! This is over 16k words…. I think I may have a problem, but I cooked so whatever

Tbh I may open writing commissions bc I love y’all but if I’m writing biblical epics I lowkey would appreciate being paid (college is expensive) 😭

CW: For general angst and Drug use

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

You hated working nights, but working for Val always meant you worked nights. If someone were to ask you to write a list of everything you disliked about the club, you’d swear the exterminators would be here by the time you were done with it. But alas, it was what it was and there was nothing you could do to change it. That fucking contract made sure of that.

There were a few things that could make your shift bearable though. You liked Angel, even though he didn’t really come by anymore because of that stupid hotel, you liked the free drinks, even though Val made sure they were watered down after you vomited on a customer, and you liked the pills Val would give you, even though they made you feel loopy when you preformed. Those were the shit. Grade A. Top tier. Happiness in a tablet the size of your fingernail.

In your dressing room you watched the clock, five minutes. God, you were already sweating in the shitty outfit Val made you wear for tonight. A frilly maid outfit with black lingerie underneath, the man wanted a strip-tease and he was gonna have it one way or another. With Angel gone, you were the only other person he thought was worth headlining. That felt good to hear, even if you were only second choice. Maybe Angel being gone was a good thing, not for him but for you, maybe Val would see that you’re better than him, that you tried more. Maybe then you could be the star, and not just the understudy. Maybe, maybe, maybe; The word’s rhythm wavered in your head.

Hoping for Val to want you was fruitless though, you knew. Angel was the golden goose- or spider, you supposed - and it would take an act of god for someone to eclipse him. You took your eyes off the clock, knowing getting lost in your thoughts would just lead to a spiral of self-loathing. You closed your eyes and released a heavy sigh. On your table, beside your makeup and phone stood a fluorescent orange bottle. Unscrewing the cap you let loose three in your palm before capping the bottle. You ran the pad of your thumb over the tiny white buttons, smooth and chalky, before placing them in a row on your tongue, all washed down with watery gin. A twisted communion.

You lean back in your chair, wondering when the pills are gonna kick in. About two minutes pass before you hear the door to your dressing room open and a tired waitress with smudgy blue eyeliner and a crooked wig tilts her head towards the hallway to tell you it’s time for you to get on stage. Walking past her, you can smell a heavy peach scented perfume she used to try to cover the smell of sweat. Your heels clacked on the tile floor as you walked up to the entrance of the stage. You scratched your back from the itchy fabric of the costume, then adjusted the tops of your stockings. The song that’s currently playing ends and the performer before you walks to the back, they’re huffing and tired. They stretch and pop their back before looking at you, mouthing “Good luck.” The DJ of the club took a beat before announcing you to the crowd. Rolling your shoulders, you walked on stage feeling the hot spotlights shine on you.

That’s when it hits.

All of the tension you held in your body lifted, and your mind began to swim as you felt the Oxy kick in. Fuck, they really were the best. They made you feel warm and floaty, made the world seem bearable. You swung your hips seductively as you sauntered to the pole, ready to begin your act. Looking around, all the faces of the crowd blended together. It felt like the world was painted in watercolor, all of its harsh edges gone, replaced with washes that drifted out into nothing.

A chemical confidence kicked in then. Those languid movements of yours had everyone entranced, grinding your sex to the pole as you teased eager watchers with a peek up your skirt. Over the music you could hear their hoots and wolf-whistles, then frenzy when you began to shimmy off your top, exposing that black bra you had on under. You throw it out into the crowd, grateful not to have that polyester piece of shit on you anymore. The way they all clamor to catch it made you bite your bottom lip with a smirk. They were all so pathetic.

You spun on the ball of your foot, but the weightlessness of your opioid addled body worked against you, making you fall. Luckily you caught yourself on your hands, pretending it was some sultry move like a lady in a porno. The crawling was good though, you pretended to fuck the stage before you got to the center. You leaned back on your hands, stretching out a heeled foot that they all begged to touch. One almost did, before you snatched it away.

Slipping off that ugly skirt and kicking it off into the drunken crowd felt so good. They were transfixed, enthralled, however you wanted to put it. Your high made everything better, blanketing your body in comfort- That was always the peak. Savoring those small moments that made them scream. Looping and spinning and sliding and going upside down, stretching your legs out spread-eagle. When you felt the room start to spiral you stopped with your back to it for support. With a fake sexiness you slid your hand down your stomach, into those thin painties before taking it out.

God, it felt good to be desired even if it was like this. Sure, Val didn’t want you, but they did. All those sinners and hell-born who clamored to touch you and have you touch them. How they fought over an ugly, scratchy top because you wore it.

Turning your head you saw a wide-eyed patron ignoring a half-drank glass. You smirk and crawl towards them, and their eyes turn to the size of saucers. Reaching the edge of the stage you lean over, hanging over their small table. You opened your mouth wide enough to kiss- But you didn’t. You let your tongue hang out of your mouth, letting a fat drop of spit land in their drink. That was all they could have of you; You smile and go back to the stage to continue your act.

You don’t know how long he’d been standing there when you saw him. Valentino. He nips at his cigarette while he looks at you, not knowing what he’s thinking. Your moves become bigger, looser, hoping to impress him. A glob of phlegm sits at the back of your mouth and you swallow, feeling the tenseness grow inside your body. I can be good too, see! I’m as good as Angel! Even better! Please…please don’t fire me.

He walks closer to the stage as you keep grinding on the pole. Your eyes meet for a second before you look away, unsure. When he reaches the edge of the stage is when you slam yourself to the floor- the crowd hollered. Val adjusts his glasses and takes a long, long drag from his cigarette. Your body cranes towards him, head lowered in reverence while you studied his face. Val was always so hard to read, that’s the thing you hated most about him - well, at least one of them- was he displeased, impressed, disinterested? Fuck if you knew.

With one hand he pinched your face, between his pointer and thumb. He pressed his mouth to yours, filling it with all of that warm smoke. The roof of your mouth hurt so much, but the rest of your body trembled. He’d never been this open, kissing you, watching you dance, it felt so, so good to have his attention. Val pulled away, pink cloud leaving your parted lips.

Valentino leaned in, “Meet me in the back.”

“I still have five minutes left…”

“I’m your boss.” There was a vague sternness to his words, what were five minutes compared to his regard?

You breathed heavily. “Gimme a second.”

Quickly as you could you got off stage. Your head was spinning and you couldn’t tell why- was it the Oxy? The drink? The dancing? The cigarette? All of them combined. The backstage was full of cold air, making goosebumps prickle over your legs. You crossed your forearms and leaned them on the wall. Eyes closed, you counted backwards from 100; 100, 99, 98, 97- Val with his cigarette showed up in your mind, how he pulled your mouth to his, how you shivered, how you liked it. You tried again, but he kept lingering. Another restart, going a bit longer this time, but you gave up somewhere around 56.

Through the backstage hallway you walked to the back, The Velvet Rooms. Those fancy, gilded places hidden away that only those Val liked - or who could afford it- could enter. Valentino hid himself away in the biggest one, a room within the wall closed off with heavy dark blue curtains. The Velvet Rooms were where Overlords and certain Goetia came to be spat on, spanked, and other “peculiar wants” that Val catered to.

Opening the curtains you were struck with the heavy scent of his smoke. You closed them shut, the room illuminated by a faint pink light. Val sat on the couch, legs spread wide and arms slung over the top, his heavy coat thrown to some unknown corner. Seeing him reminded you of how little clothes you had on. Val’s second set of arms beckoned you over, you obeyed. He rested them on your waist, idly feeling the texture of your garter belt.

“Good of you to come carino,” He kissed your stomach, tittering at the way you quivered. “You did so good I had to meet with you privately.”

“How could I deny you Valcito?” You responded in a honeyed tone that made him chuckle.

“Valcito?” He smirked.

“Aren’t you?” You tilt his head up to see your smiling face, dressed with sultry bedroom eyes, “My little Valcito who liked my dancing.”

Val showed off that gold tooth of his; He kissed your stomach again, leaving a little red mark.

You dropped your hands to his arms, sliding up to his biceps. You bit your lip, so hard and toned. For so long you were curious about Val’s body, his sex, his libido. You wondered what he did to Angel to make him so sore and his voice so hoarse. It was embarrassing how many nights you spent thinking about what he tasted like- though now there was no point, you knew now, cigarettes and citrus vodka.

The tips of his fingers traced along your hips, fingering the thin strap of your panties. Your voice grew weak as he nipped again and again at the soft flesh of your stomach. Mind in a daze, words slipped out of your mouth.

“You know, I’m surprised you called me back here…” A kitten-lick across your navel that made you squirm.

“Why’s that Carino? Don’t think you’re pretty enough?” His voice teased.

“I thought you didn’t like women”

“Why would you think that?” He looped his finger around the hip strap again

“Angel.” He snickered.

“Oh Carino, don’t worry. Angel is just the soup D’Jour,” His finger dipped forward along your hip bone, “Men, women; Women, men; all of those sweet things in-between, how could you pick just one?”

“How poignant.” You said with a bit of a flat affect. His waxing-poetic seemed so unimpressive to you. Though, you felt a stab of guilt for thinking so.

“You, Sugar, I just can’t deny,” Val moved his hands up along your torso, stopping just underneath your breasts, “Good tits, nice stomach, pretty face,” his attention went back to your panties, “You coulda been on the cover of Hustler. Hhhnn, maybe I’ll make you the centerfold this month…”

You leaned over him, pressing your face to his. Fuck, his tongue felt so good in your mouth, making your stomach start to knot and squirm. He took your bottom lip between his teeth, making you whine before you pulled away. Placing tiny nips on his neck, you felt the heat in your stomach grow hotter and hotter and turn to slick. You wanted to touch him, feel him, consume him, and be consumed.

Val pulled away for a second, but it felt like forever. He reached into a shallow pocket and produced a button of something. It was a tiny tablet, waxy and fat, and pinched between his two fingers. You wondered what it was, it didn’t look like Oxy. You hoped it was something stronger, desiring the out of body experience you’d been losing since you started to grow tolerant of the opiate.

“You ever play a game of rolling roulette Sugar?” Val asked, you shook your head no.

“You trade the X tongue to tongue, and whoever’s it dissolves on is the lucky winner.” Oh so it was Ecstasy, now that’s good shit.

Val pulled you onto his lap, cupping a breast, “C’mon Baby, let’s go on a trip together…”

That’s all it took.

The tiny pill teetered between both of your tongues as you kissed, growing smaller and smaller and smaller. Val’s spit was thick and sweet and wonderful, something about it making your body go alight with electricity. The X melted so easy, like blue cotton candy; You could feel the serotonin swell in your brain like a party balloon.

When the first roll happened you moaned into Val’s mouth. All of your nerves were standing on edge, shivering with anticipation. He removed your bra, placing a nipple in his mouth as you felt his cock grow harder. It felt so much better than your other highs. The Oxy only ever calmed things, washed them out. The X was so different, so so much better. Everything seemed to shimmer, like the whole world was wrapped in cellophane. How could you think the absence of feeling was so wonderful when this existed?

Your mind was in a twinkly daze when you started to undress him. He kissed and licked at your neck while you felt your way through unbuttoning his top. Fuck, his skin was so smooth and warm; He pressed you closer, teeth bit into your collar bone before dragging his tongue over the marks he left.

You kissed your way down Val’s body. At his chest you lingered, leaving tiny red marks on the trail to his V-line. Valentino’s head lolled back on the couch as you unzipped his cock with all of its dark hair. You put it in your hand, running your thumb over the leaking tip. He swore under his breath as you pumped him slowly, up and down up and down.

The warmth of your tongue dragged along his thick shaft. Your stomach gets a sharp squirm to it, same as your cunt. It’s hard to tell because of the drugs or how sexy Val looks with his legs wide open and his cock needy for your touch. Looking up at him, you’ve never wanted anything more in your life.

His breath hitched when you took him in your mouth. Your tongue twists and swirls around his cock, savoring the feeling of him hitting the back of your throat, making you gag. To try to calm that darling pain between your legs you rubbed your thighs together, but that didn’t help. All it served to do was make your cunt needier. You push his member deeper and deeper into your mouth; You moan into his sex, making him squeeze the palmful of hair he had in his hand tighter.

“You’re so good, Carino.” He says, breathless. You start to suck him faster, blowing and kissing and licking. Val kept sprinkling compliments throughout. It felt so good to be praised by him; All of those sweet things he’d save for everyone else, but never you. You’re so good, you’re so sexy, you take me so well, you’re so pretty, you make me so hard.

“‘M close.” He grabs your hair again, pulling your face in. Feeling devious, you pulled away, savoring the flustered look on his face. Val is huffing, fucked out, and dazed out of his goddamn mind on X.

“You can stand to wait a little longer Valcito~” You nip at the inside of one of his thighs, making his voice hitch into a falsetto. You dragged the tips of your fingers up to his sensitive stomach, mouth leaving a hard bite outline near his ribs. Tracing him was so wonderful, feeling all of those hard edges give into softness. Nursing on his neck, your thumb and forefinger followed his neck muscle and collarbone, dipping into their crevices.

“Valcito~” Your breath was hot against his neck. He mumbled something under his breath and tried to slip his hand into your panties. You caught his wrist and pushed it away, biting hard on his collarbone. You can wait.

Again your mouth found its way south, the want in your cunt becoming more and more painful. You took him in your mouth again, your saliva getting thick and syrupy. Val seized the opportunity and shoved your head down on his cock, chasing the release you denied him. Your teeth grazed his member before pulling away again. Val whined, his eyes pleading. A dark smile grew on your face before you took him again.

He let out a sharp breath and pressed his hands onto your scalp. You went faster, letting the flat of your tongue trace the vein on the underside of his cock. It was fun playing with him like this, having a little control with him for once. Val’s hands tensed in your hair when he warned you he was going to cum.

When he came he wailed, filling your mouth with his salty taste. Looking up at him, you opened your mouth. Val’s thumb traced your bottom lip, admiring his work.

“You look so good like this, Carino.” He huffed.

Pushing yourself from your knees you kissed Val, his seed still in your mouth. That’s all that took to make him go feral. He pulled you to his lap and laid you down, wrapping your legs around him. Without taking his mouth off yours he took his top off, ramming into your needy sex.

Fuck, Val was bigger than you thought he was. His pace was hard and fast, making you scratch your nails into his back. Your kiss tasted like everything good in the world- cum and grapefruit and cigarettes and cotton candy and euphoria. Both of you swallowed, pulling your faces away to catch your breaths. God, you were so wet, Val’s cock slipped in and out of you so easily and it felt so goddamn good. Better than any finger or cock or toy and it made you squeeze him tighter.

You pressed your forehead to his neck, mumbling nonsense. “I’m yours, I’m yours, I’m yours, I’m yours, fuck me, fuck me, fuck me, fuck me.” Val spat on his fingers and slipped his hands between the two of you. You didn’t know what he was going to do until you felt his wet fingers graze your clit. He got rougher with it once he found it, making you squeal and cum on him.

That didn’t stop Val though, and god did it feel good. He kept fucking you through your release, making you cum another two times. Your legs felt like jelly, body weak and weightless. The X was releasing its last wave of chemical joy as he fucked you, pleasure rippling inside of you. He came inside you, making you sob into his neck. Val pressed you closer to him, whispering in your ear as you felt your release drip out of your cunt.

“You’re so good baby, so good and pretty.” Pleasepleasepleaseplease, say the magic words.

“I love you, you’re my perfect girl, my pretty baby.” You came again.

His thrusts got sloppier and you could tell he was gonna cum again. “Please, please, please, let me be your favorite, I’ll be good, I’ll be good, I’ll be good.” You whimpered.

The anticipation of an orgasm built up, shivering and needy. Val grazed your face and kissed you, “Oh you’re my favorite, baby. My little sullen girl~” He held you closer, savoring the way you squirmed when you came together.

When he was done he stayed inside you. Val pressed his head on the couch beneath you. You traced the scratches you left on his back, feeling your high from the X begin to ebb. Your breath felt so heavy and your mind so fuzzy. That all didn’t matter though, Val wanted you now. He’d been inside you, kissed you, felt you, squeezed you, and couldn’t get enough. He wanted you. So what if it was only for the moment, so what if this meant you could disappoint him, so what if you’re only a place-holder until someone better comes. You’re the favorite.

[1d1195]

Zipper Extra VII

As much as I love this couple, I struggled to come up with an idea for this so I hope this works.

~3.5k words

“I want it to be perfect,” she whispered.

“For whom, m’love?” He wondered. “For me? You’re there. We could get married in trash bags and be married by an alien,” he reminded her making her smile so gorgeously it made Harry’s heart skip a beat.

Harry was losing his mind again.

There was a ring on her finger and somehow that made her more enticing to the men that saw her in public. At the coffee shop, Harry would look at the different roasts to take home and someone would immediately start chatting with her asking to buy her coffee unaware that Harry was only a few feet away. Of course she stopped them politely, explained her fiancé was right there. “Oh, I didn’t even notice the ring,” the man murmured, further turning Harry green with envy.

When they were at the grocery store, the bagger insisted on lifting her items and offered to take them to her car while Harry headed back to grab something they inevitably forgot. Once more she assured the man that her fiancé was more than capable of doing so. “Hmm...I didn’t see your ring,” he admitted.

Of course they didn’t.

Why would anyone bother to look away from her pretty face for even a second to see if she was happily taken?

It soured Harry’s mood immensely. Naturally, she was kind about it on the ride home. She didn’t speak about it at all, merely held his hand as he drove and gave it a gentle squeeze every couple of minutes. She would tell him all about her ideas for their wedding; how she wanted sunset colors for her bouquet: peach, golden yellow, some light orange colors, sprigs of purple, and rosy pinks. “I think it will offset the blue dresses the girls will wear really nicely,” she explained.

He typically grunted in response still feeling frustrated over how someone blatantly flirted with her. It shouldn’t have surprised him. She was so pretty and so nice. It was a wonder Harry didn’t resort to physical fights. Eventually after a few grunts she would finally ask. “Do you have any ideas of what you want? I’ve been struggling with a seating arrangement plan. I see lots of cool things on Pinterest, but nothing really speaks to me.”

Almost always it worked. Harry would clear his throat, forced to answer her question. He had to forget about the jealousy that filled him because he would rather die than not help his fiancée with whatever it was she wanted. “M’not too sure,” he murmured. “What are the options?” Because he was not going to be one of those men who did nothing to help plan. She went through hundreds of different options and questions. They were pretty agreeable on most fronts.

“Having the seats listed on a mirror is really popular these days. I went to a wedding in college that was on a windowpane and that was cool. I’m really into this thing I saw though it almost looks like a clothesline—little clips hold the cards in place for people to find it.”

Harry could hear the way her voice changed when she talked about the little clothesline. “I like that,” he smiled.

“Yeah? You’re not just saying that?” She always asked.

“No, kitten. Course not,” if he didn’t like it, he would tell her. “I think it’ll be beautiful.”

“I was also thinking about our welcome sign.”

“Hmm?”

Harry knew she was trying to trick him into feeling less jealous the longer she spoke. It worked too. “I’ve been trying to come up with something punny. Finally found ‘you’ve been sentenced to a lifetime of happiness,’” she giggled. Harry snorted and shook his head. “Is that lame?” He glanced at her peripherally as they pulled onto their apartment’s street.

“Not if y’want it, love,” he assured her.

“I know, but I want you—”

“I think it’s adorable,” he pulled into a spot on the street and parked. He turned to her finally, gazing into her soft, pretty eyes. He looked at her lips and brought his hand to her face admiring how warm her skin felt beneath his palm. She was so pretty every moment of the day it was incredible she was all his to admire.

“It’ll have a gavel below the words, and I want it to be decorated with the flowers we pick,” she continued.

“You’ve already made the sale, kitten,” he chuckled, brushed his thumb on her lip.

“I want it to be perfect,” she whispered.

“For whom, m’love?” He wondered. “For me? You’re there. We could get married in trash bags and be married by an alien,” he reminded her making her smile so gorgeously it made Harry’s heart skip a beat.

“Well,” she sighed. “When you put it that way.”

“M’sorry m’a jealous monster,” he whispered quietly.

She blushed below his hand, and she glanced from his uninterrupted gaze. “I don’t think you’re a monster. I don’t think you have anything to be jealous of either.”

He smiled; pressed his lips to her forehead and nodded. “Probably not, but can’t help it,” he shrugged. “M’sorry.”

“I would probably tear a girl’s eyes out if she even looked at you.”

Harry laughed loudly. “I would never make y’jealous, kitten. Ever. But I would love t’see that.”

*

It was going to be a spring wedding. Spring in the loosest sense of the word. It was going to be on the first day of spring but there was no way of knowing if it would be a warm spring day or a holdover of a cold winter day.

It didn’t bother her much planning most of it. Everyone in her life told her a thousand different things that made her anxious and sick of hearing the difference of opinions when the only opinion she cared about was Harry’s.

“I want to show you my dress so bad,” she told him while they snuggled on the couch watching a movie.

He smiled. “I can’t wait t’see it, kitten. Gonna look like an angel,” he kissed the top of her head.

She buried her face into his side. “I don’t know about angel,”

He chuckled. “Course y’will, love. Y’look like an angel every day,” he reminded her.

She laughed, muffled by his ribcage. If she had the ability to tell her younger self she would one day be engaged to Harry Styles she didn’t think there was a world in which she would have believed it. But right beside him, calling her an angel. It seemed like the surest thing to ever bet on.

*

“Mom,” she sighed rubbing her forehead. Harry was walking in the door, a box of cupcakes for tasting. He picked them up after a long day of work. She could see the exhaustion on his face. There were dark circles under his eyes and his hair had that look that he ran his hand through it too many times.

On the table was a giant poster board filled with sticky notes that was supposed to keep them organized in planning but felt like a full-time job some nights.

Her mom was talking in her ear about how her uncle wanted to bring his new girlfriend despite the fact his ex-wife was going to be there, and they did not get along. “Mom, it’s my wedding!” She was practically bubbling with tears. Harry rushed over, missing the counter as he put the box down, which left the cupcakes smeared on the floor in the process. Harry looked at the box like it was the box’s fault but feeling shame that it was his own doing.

Her jaw dropped in shock, unable to believe the chaos that seemed to creep in every moment the closer it got to the wedding. It was only four months away and they had already been planning for so long. While she looked at the ruined cupcakes, she listened to her mom try to reason with her that it was what you were supposed to do at a wedding. They could rearrange everyone when the time came so that everyone was happy.

“Mom, I have to call you back,” she mumbled and hung up without another word. Poor exhausted Harry looked at the cupcakes.

“Fuck, m’sorry, kitten,” he frowned. “I thought y’were going t’cry and I just wanted t’make sure y’didn’t...I can call and ask for another dozen and go get them right now—”

“Can we get married this weekend?” She looked at him nervously. “Please?” She whispered.

His voice felt broken. They had been planning for nearly a year. A wedding that they were grateful to afford because so many could not have the elaborate wedding they were planning. One that had everything they wanted. But even in their own planning, it was their wedding and yet it was still dissolving into anxiety and madness. It was supposed to be in front of all their friends and family. “But what ‘bout—”

“We can do that one too, but I’m going crazy. You’re going crazy,” her voice cracked. “I just want to be your wife. I don’t care about any of this anymore,” she whispered.

“Kitten,” he cooed.

“I know I’m crazy but if one more person asks if they can bring their child after I specifically said no children I’m going to scream,” she sniffled.

“Baby,” he frowned. “Please don’t cry,” he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her forehead. “I know s’overwhelming but I want you t’have—”

“Then please marry me. This weekend,” she repeated into his shirt.

“How on earth could I say no to you?” He asked rhetorically.

*

Angelic was insulting compared to how beautiful she looked. In fact, there wasn’t a word to describe how perfect that dress looked on her. It literally stole Harry’s breath away. “Breathe,” Louis muttered to him as she entered. His voice felt frozen, and he wondered how on earth he was going to get through vows.

Louis was the only person they told. He closed the office down for the night. Told everyone that planned on working on a Saturday evening that they couldn’t. Something about buffing the floors or tenting for fumigation. But really, Louis was going to marry them as a recently registered online-ordained clerk. They were getting married in Harry’s office because that’s where she told Harry she loved him for the first time. She walked the short distance from the door to where Louis and Harry had moved his desk to the side so they could get married in the setting sunlight. There were a few bouquets of flowers that Harry thought would match the theme of their other wedding in a couple short months.

She held a similar bouquet in her hands. Harry thought she looked like an ancient goddess of sunlight and flowers. Her dress was A-line in structure. A plunging neckline with intricate floral lace on the bodice without any sparkle. The floral lace faded into the flowy skirt and against the setting sun, she looked golden against the pure white dress. She was the most precious thing he had ever seen. She was completely right; he was desperate to see her in this dress. Waiting another few months would have been sinful.

“Hi,” Harry smiled as she stood in front of him.

“Hi,” she giggled. “It doesn’t fit right because it still needs to be altered,” she told him and showed off the back that had a similar plunging neckline but against her back. “I stole all our chip clips,” she smiled excitedly. Harry laughed and shaking his head at her and her adorable antics. “And I won’t have my hair like this.”

Harry hadn’t even noticed that she had her hair down naturally as she always wore it. Her makeup was the same as he saw it each day. Yet somehow it was even more beautiful. “I think y’should,” he murmured.

“Oh?” She smiled. Nodding he scanned her up and down unable to believe she was all his. In a few moments she would be his wife for the rest of their lives and beyond. “You look perfect,” she assured him. Harry always looked handsome. He had plenty of suits due to his job, but there was one he had gotten shortly after getting engaged. He never told her but as she scanned the suit, it fit better than all his other ones, it seemed she realized he got a new one just for this day. Like it was made to be on him and look so perfect on him for this moment.

“Are you ready?” Louis asked quietly. It was their evening, and he didn’t want to spoil it or rush it. But Louis also knew that Harry would spend hours ogling her if he let him.

They both nodded eagerly.

Louis went through the basics, the things that were said at every wedding but they were staring at each other, Harry holding her left hand in both of his while her other hand held her bouquet. “Do you want to do your vows now?” Louis asked.

“I forgot mine,” she admitted.

He shrugged. “They don’t have to be the ones we wrote,” he offered.

She took a deep breath. “Okay, Louis, I’m sorry,” she smiled. He winked at her and she turned her gaze back to Harry. “They’re not going to make any sense if I say them off the top of my head,” she warned.

“S’okay,” he assured her. “M’gonna love you no matter what.”

With another deep breath she started. “I’ve been so lucky to know you since we were kids. Thinking back on it, I’m sure I’ve loved you since we were in college. Having our lives intertwined so obviously seems like fate, in hindsight. But I wouldn’t trade a day of our relationship and every path and twist and hiccup it led us to for anything. There are days where I truly don’t want to do anything but be your wife and just...bask in how perfect it is. I lose all sense of identity and it’s not a bad thing. I am so in love with you it makes me,” she sighed, shaking her head, keeping her gaze on his green eyes that looked golden in the sunlight. “I am so happy to marry you. It might be the best thing I’ve ever done. You make me a better person, you make me happy, you make me feel safe,” she blinked away briefly and laughed. “I didn’t...” she sniffled as she thought of the night that Harry was there to save her and kickstart their romantic relationship. Despite how scared she was at the time; she would be forever grateful for Harry finding her and keeping her safe. Always. “Oops,” she swiped at her cheek and Harry chuckled.

“S’okay,” he promised. She sniffled again, a tear rolling down her cheek.

“I think if I admitted it to myself, I always had a crush on you. Ever since we were young,” he reached for that tear and wiped it away. “You make sure I have medicine when I don’t feel well, and you always make sure I eat. You dance with me in the kitchen, and you don’t mind that I’ve been in pajamas for two days on the weekend. You make me feel like the most beautiful girl in the world,” she paused briefly and squeezed his hand like it was part of the promise she was whispering to him (and Louis). “I’m going to have a crush on you for the rest of our lives and I’m so happy we’re here and I love you very much. I always will. And I will always do everything I can to make you happy.”

Louis looked at Harry pointedly. “I can’t wait to hear what she has to say when she has prep time,” Louis smirked.

Harry rolled his eyes as she giggled, which just made his heart feel warmer than he ever thought possible.

He squeezed her hand. “I feel like I’ve said m’vows a hundred times t’you now. When I told you I loved you for the first time, right here. Then when I proposed. M’going to love you with everything in me. Every single day. M’gonna love you more every day. Somehow. I’ll figure it out, I promise,” he smirked making her giggle. “You mean everything t’me,” he promised. “I don’t care ‘bout money, houses, billable hours, or contracts. The second I think of you, it all goes away. You are my entire world. You make me so happy. Even when I don’t want t’be happy. Y’work tremendously hard t’make our lives easier and happier. T’make me happier. No one has ever done that for me before,” he explained. “I admire you more than anyone on this earth,” her eyes welled with tears again.

“M’going to love you and cherish you and take care of you for as long as we live and then wherever this afterlife takes us,” it truly sounded like a vow. “I want this to be the last time you cry, but seems a bit unrealistic,” he chuckled and wiped at her tears again as she giggled tearily through the words. “M'never going t’be responsible for your sadness, kitten. I promise. M’always going t’be responsible for making y’happy. When y’need me, m’going t’be there. Always. I love you more and more every second and I wish I figured it out sooner than I did,” the only nod to the rough start they had in ages. “But m’glad I figured it out now. Glad I get t’see you in this beautiful dress and hear y’tell me that m’worth it,” he whispered.

“You are,” she mouthed unable to speak.

“I love you,” he repeated. “Forever, and ever.”

Louis cleared his throat awkwardly and shook his head. “Didn’t know you could do that,” he muttered and pinched at the corner of his eyes. She laughed tearily, still but Harry couldn’t help but smile. Louis spoke again, more logistics and legalities. Terms and conditions the pair of them were used to hearing.

Harry was certain he said “I do, I do, I do,” about a hundred times when Louis asked making him and his beautiful girl laugh again.

“And do you take Harry Styles to be your husband?” Louis asked.

Her eyebrows pinched together as she looked at the most perfect man she had ever met. She tilted her head at him. “Are you holding your breath?” She whispered.

“Please say ‘I do,’” he mumbled but he was definitely holding his breath.

She giggled. “I do,” she rolled her eyes. “You idiot.”

“Thank you,” he sighed with relief.

Louis snorted. “Just kiss her already,” he chuckled.

Harry dipped her as if they were dancing in the kitchen at home. His hand unclipping one of the chip clips holding her dress in place. She giggled as his lips sealed over hers. “Congratulations, Mrs. Styles,” he murmured against her mouth when he pulled away slightly.

Louis chuckled, grabbing the clip, and heading for the door to sign the marriage certificate.

She kissed him again, the flowers falling to the floor, and she held his face in both her hands. “I love you, Mr. Styles,” she smiled. She looked so beautiful; it made Harry’s heart ache.

“This was an amazing idea, kitten,” he told her standing her upright, and kissing her again.

“I have those every now and then,” she tucked her face into his chest. Another clip fell off her back.

He laughed and kissed her forehead. “Better get y’home so y’don’t flash Louis on our way out,” he suggested.

She smiled. “Well...I actually brought a change of clothes,” she assured him. “And I may have told Louis to leave the floor locked and leave,” she bit the inside of her lip.

Harry felt warm all over. “Oh?” One of his eyebrows quirked up. His expression hooded as he looked her over.

“I think you got a good view of my dress for now, right? You can wait till spring?” She asked, pulling the last two bag clips off the back of her dress. Without them holding it in place, it draped differently on her body making it fall haphazardly around her torso, dangerously close to revealing some of Harry's favorite physical features of hers.

“I’d like to view it on the floor,” his voice was low and hungry in tone as he scanned her.

She smiled. Turning around, she showed off her zipper. "Unzip me."

--

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[anystalker707]

Cherry lips

Pairing: [trans, mtf] Vinsmoke Sanji x [amab] Reader Kinktober prompt: Mirror + Clothes on Tags: she's so cute, ok / she's a good girl / penetration / she's pre-transition / cotaggecore sanji ! (shout out to @josukeslefttitty )

KINKTOBER LIST MASTERLIST

          “Which do you prefer?” Sanji asked as she showed you three different tubes of lipstick, some of her favorite scented ones. One was red—cherry—, the other was cantaloupe-orange—peach—, and the last one was pink—bubblegum. While you sat on the bed, she sat at the vanity with her makeup case open, getting ready for the day. You always had the impression you’d ruin the frilly duvets or their lace details whenever you sat on them.

You had clear memories of Sanji wearing each shade of lipstick, but it was still a hard choice. Her eyeshadow was baby pink, so any shade would match it, making things a little harder. A sigh escaped your lips, making her pout a little.

“Choose a dress first,” you said, “so I’ll help you choose according to it.”

Sanji raised her eyebrows and tilted her head, placing the tubes on the vanity. “Okay, not bad.” She was just wearing some satin pink underwear and thigh-highs that were held up by lace garters. It was impossible not to stare as she stood up and walked to the wardrobe, picking one of the summer dresses—it was white and layered, with a few butterfly prints on it.

The dress suited her so well. A smile tugged on your lips while you watched her stand in front of the body mirror, adjusting the dress until she grabbed her corset and glanced back at you. “Could you help?”

“Sure.” You moved to stand behind Sanji and adjusted the ribbon on the back of the dress first, then started tugging at the laces of her corset. She adjusted her posture, taking in a deep breath as she felt it getting tighter, though she mostly used it for fashion reasons—her waist was slim enough already. Out of pure curiosity, you tugged the laces a little tighter than usual; she whimpered, stumbling back a little until her torso pressed to yours. Your eyes met hers through the mirror, observing her flushed features.

“So pretty.” Your breath fanned over the side of Sanji’s neck; she swallowed audibly, fumbling with her thumbs as she watched you.

Sanji slowly exhaled as you loosened the laces of her corset, making sure she was comfortable enough so that you could tie the laces.

You pressed your lips to Sanji’s shoulder, then up her neck. “Looking like a princess, as always. I think the red lipstick will match you better today. It’ll stand out, compared to your dress, and match your hair ribbon, too.”

“Okay, thanks…”

“Can I put it on you?” You looked at her directly instead of through the mirror.

Sanji’s eyes lightened up a little, which made your heart flutter even more as she nodded and quickly grabbed the lipstick tube from the vanity. Her eyebrows raised a little when she saw you sit on the bed, patting your lap invitingly. Blood rushed to her cheeks, but she wouldn’t deny it, smiling happily as she straddled your lap.

“That’s a sweet girl!” You smiled, uncapping the lipstick and screwing the base until the red wax appeared. “Open…” You whispered, holding the lipstick up—she did as told, so you carefully started applying it. Her makeup needed to be perfect, so you did your best to line her lips perfectly and fill in perfectly.

Once you were done, you smacked your lips together, and she immediately copied the motion. No smudges or mistakes spotted, you nodded, capping the lipstick and putting it away.

“So?” Sanji brushed a strand of hair away from her face, turning her head from side to side.

“Flawless, as always.” You nodded, kissing her face, away from the blush.

Sanji smiled and nuzzled your nose lovingly, placing her hands on your shoulders. “Do you think this lipstick shade also suits you?” Half-lidded eyes observed you intently as she pressed a hand to the side of your neck, letting her thumb run along your jawline. The look she gave you seemed so endearing, but something in it alarmed you slightly.

You were about to question Sanji when the words died on your tongue. Her lips pressed to yours first in a soft kiss, but the following ones were shorter, just pecks that teased both of your lips with occasional nipping. A dragged groan escaped your throat as you observed her hazily, lazily kissing back.

The taste of Sanji’s lipstick remained in your mouth even after she started kissing down your neck, leaving behind kiss marks that stained even the collar of your shirt, but who were you to argue? Tilting your head back, you exposed your neck more to her, welcoming the nibbles and kisses that snatched a gasp or two from you, already making your cock twitch in your pants.

You took a deep breath and gently placed your hands on Sanji’s thighs, running down to the edge of her dress. Her breath hitched, and she shifted a little on your lap once your hands touched the slice of bare skin between her panties and the thigh garters. Circles were pressed into her thighs, gently, by your fingertips, continuing as they trailed into her panties for your hands to cup her ass and give it a squeeze. Her skin was so smooth, so soft, and she was all yours.

Despite the silence, Sanji’s breath hitched, falling out of pace according to how you kneaded on her ass, and her kisses faltered a little. Button by button, your shirt got opened by Sanji, exposing your chest for the lipstick marks she was so eager to give you. Her lips lingered on your pec, making sure to leave behind a perfect lipstick mark, even if it wasn’t as tinted as the others. Just the fact she was doing that made your cock throb. She pulled back with a smile, admiring her work, but you also smiled once you were able to see her again. Even with her lipstick all smudged, she managed to keep looking so gorgeous.

“Can’t handle you,” you groaned, into the side of her face, making her giggle as you started kissing down her neck at the same time you brought her closer, squeezing her ass.

Sanji sighed, head tilted to the side as her hands ran up and down your upper back, though they started actually tugging on your shirt once you pulled her hips against yours, grinding. She gasped and eventually rocked her hips into yours in return, breathing sharply at how your hands squeezed her ass, and you nibbled on her neck.

“Lube,” you whispered to Sanji, and it was just a matter of seconds until she messily stood up and stumbled to retrieve it from the bedside table—you hadn’t even bothered to put it back into the drawer last night. You put your pants and underwear down just enough, taking the bottle from her hand to lube yourself up while she took her panties off. She was about to reach for the corset’s laces when she got pulled to your lap with an arm around her waist instead. “Keep it on,” you mumbled, only lifting the skirt of her dress up.

Whether it was planned or not, Sanji couldn’t define it, but a red tone took over her cheeks the moment she noticed the mirror right in front of her as her back pressed to your chest. She gulped, pulling her legs up to the bed in a sort of w position. Her eyes met yours through the mirror, and you smiled, kissing her shoulder.

The warmth between Sanji’s legs intensified, just growing at the way your hands ran up her thighs, pulling the skirt of her dress up enough to expose the thigh garters. She bit her lip, tasting her own lipstick as she felt you tug on one of the garters enough and suddenly let it go, making it slap against her skin. It didn’t slap harshly or anything, but just the action itself made Sanji’s head become fuzzier, so she knew she was already lost when she felt kisses against the back of her neck.

“Oh,” Sanji, whispered, “please—” Her breath hitched in her throat as you lifted her hips and your cock pressed to her entrance. She gasped, not knowing what to do with her hands, but she eventually reached behind her to hold on to your arms, not minding how awkward the position was.

A moan escaped your lips at how Sanji squeezed around you, her warm walls slowly accommodating your cock inside her according to how it sank in. You looked at her face through the mirror—her lips were parted open and eyebrows furrowed as if she were focused on something, but she eventually pressed her lips together when it was all inside, and she could let her weight down on your lap.

“You feel so good,” you whispered, massaging the top of her thighs.

“Can I…”

“Yes, princess.” You nodded and kissed her shoulder.

Sanji took a deep breath, clenching around you before she finally started moving her hips. It was slow, at first, sometimes making both of you gasp because she dropped her weight with a little more intensity than planned, but she soon found a nice pace. It wasn’t steady, though it wasn’t bad either. Honestly, you didn’t think Sanji could ever not please you.

“Look at yourself in the mirror,” you mumbled over Sanji’s shoulder, groaning a little. “You look so, so pretty.” Your eyes met hers through the mirror, then her gaze changed to herself, and she clenched tighter around you with it. Hell, it was so hot. You moaned softly, kissing the back of her shoulder while your hands ventured under the skirt of her dress again, over her thighs, her hips, and to her cock as well.

Sanji whimpered, voice going a pitch higher with the way your hand wrapped firmly around her cock and gave it slow, tight pumps that didn’t match the pace of her hips. Not only did she clench around you, becoming so fucking tight—which made you hiss—, but she also tried to push her hips into your hand in an attempt to make you touch her more, just for you to let go.

“Nnnnngh, my love,” Sanji gasped, rolling her hips against yours, trying to seek something that made up for the pleasure you’d just taken away from her.

A chuckle escaped your lips. “Come on, is that all you’re made of? I thought you had strong legs, princess.” Your hand slapped her thigh gently, and it seemed to give her a little motivation.

Sanji took a deep breath, biting her lip as her hips started moving faster on you, saving for the times she’d slowly move up to drop on you faster—it’d draw louder moans from you, which she deeply enjoyed. What you’d told her really got into her brain. Her eyes kept focused on herself through the mirror, eyebrows knitted together just like she’d do whenever focused on a task. So adorable.

You allowed yourself to lean back on your elbows, feeling her grasp slowly transferring from your arms to her own dress, and she didn’t stop moving. She felt so good around you like that, in a way you couldn’t help but lift the back of the dress, watching your cock disappear inside her each time she lowered her hips while the mix of your own pre-cum and lube accumulated by the base of your cock.

The sight itself made your cock throb more inside Sanji, holding you in some kind of trance that made you need to take some deep breaths so that you’d not cum so quickly—something that wasn’t so successful since your moans kept interrupting your breathing, and Sanji tightened more around you. She must’ve found that angle that made her feel full, letting your cock press to all the nice spots inside her; it compelled her pace to falter slightly, only recovering some steadiness when you held her hips firmly while sitting up properly again. Her support was recovered, back pressing to your chest once more.

“Ohhh, (y/n),” Sanji whined, rolling her hips on yours. Her dress was crumpled under her hands, knuckles white. “Please, please, please…”

“Of course,” you whispered with a soft moan, pressing kisses to her shoulder again. ���You’re such a good girl. Anything for my good girl.” Your hands trailed under her dress again, but without wandering much this time; one of them held her thigh firmly, while the other wrapped around her cock tightly.

Sanji was already leaking so much, so sensitive, throbbing. “Nnnngh, s’good,” she whined, her moans becoming more breathy as her pace faltered, but in a different way. She didn’t know whether to push her hips back on your cock or into your hand, just doing what she deemed fit—her eyes pressed shut, and you felt her start clenching more around you at the same time she throbbed in your hand.

Of course, you were also close, feeling the drops of sweat running down the back of your neck as she clenched around you so tightly, and she was cumming. She was loud, thighs quivering, and she came in hot spurts into your hand—it covered her tip, trying not to stain her dress—, and it was enough for it to be over for you as well. Your balls tightened at the same time your fingers sank into her hip, Sanji’s shoulder muffling the moans that escaped your lips with your orgasm. Shit. Too good.

You needed a moment to recover from it, slowly coming back to reality while inhaling her sweet perfume. You nuzzled the back of her neck, making her whine a little bit, but the little kiss you gave her seemed to be comforting.

“Well,” you whispered breathlessly. Your fingers massaged the skin that you’d previously squeezed, and she leaned back against you, head back on your shoulder. You pulled your other hand away, observing the small puddle of cum, before you brought it closer to lick it clean. “I think you need to redo your makeup, princess, I’m sorry,” you whispered.

.𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟.

[peaches2217]

how do you personally envision Mario and Peach (and/or others)? Like if you could draw them, how would they look? Physique? Significant height differences? Super poofy dress for Peach? Hairy arms and body for Mario? (Already know the answer to this ;)) I know you’re a fan of chubby Peach, but what does your mind picture when writing them?? 🤔

This got long and has visual aids aplenty, so Mareach body and outfit headcanons below the cut!

First up, body headcanons! The closest I could find to how I envision Mario is this ridiculously handsome man named Louis Kwong Jr.: fat but muscular, overall stout build, and, of course, an abundance of body hair, because I’m not weird about that at all.

I had to thumb through bear porn just to find what I was looking for. Consequently, that means this dude’s dick is on the internet for all to see, so exercise caution if you look him up.

For Peach, I take inspiration from the absolutely stunning Kristine Thompson. She’s tall, she’s curvaceous, and she’s the picture of elegance and feminine confidence. I hc Peach’s chest being a little smaller, but still generally large.

Height-wise, I put them at 5’1 and 6’, which would put the top of Mario’s head right about at shoulder level with Peach; she typically wears kitten heels and he wears work boots with thick soles, so that difference doesn’t change much based on whether they’re wearing shoes or not. Size-wise, they’re both somewhere in the realm of 200+lb, though Mario is larger and heavier than Peach since he’s so much shorter, and since he’s got as much muscle as he does fat.

I couldn’t figure out how to change the colors, lest I would’ve made them red and pink. I wish there was an option to tailor the weights too, ‘cause this just looks weird 😭

As far as clothing goes, Peach is all about dresses, the longer and flowier, the better! She enjoys miniskirts and will wear pants or shorts when it’s more practical, but maxi dresses are what makes her heart sing loudest. She opts for Big and Poofy when going about her business in the castle or for formal occasions/ceremonies and looser, simpler offerings like sundresses when going casual. She’ll wear darker colors every once in a blue moon, but she loves bright, cheerful colors most of all, pink and white and orange and yellow and the likes.

That last one miiiiight be AI, but it came from a photoset that was clearly an actual human modeling the actual dress, so I’m fairly certain it’s just heavily airbrushed. If I’m in the wrong then I’ll happily find a replacement!

Hair! I’m a Curly Haired Mario truther myself. The curls I picture him with tend to fall between 3a and 3c, depending on who you ask, but this is the closest visual representation I’ve found to my vision (just in a lighter shade of brown):

Peach’s hair is very long, very thick, and slightly wavy (somewhere between 1c and 2a). She enjoys brushing and pampering it with products, but the only way she gets it to stay in place is via her magic (which also keeps her makeup perfect, no matter how many wringers she’s put through on any given day). It puffs up considerably when it’s humid.

I was gonna include more character appearance headcanons as a bonus, but Tumblr keeps screaming at me for adding so many images to a single post, so if there’s any more y’all are curious about, ask away and I’ll give them their own posts!

[keen-eye]

got really bored and made the N6 into Club Penguins. couldn’t decide whether they should look like their CC designs, or CT designs, or how they’d design their own penguins, so I did a mix of the 3 / what felt right lol

the N6 as players:

Brooklynn: obsessed with playing the PSA missions. the others always ask her to play with them and she promises to after just one more mission (a lie). investigated the Operation Blackout rumors. she’s constantly searching for secret messages on the island. she uses her coins to buy the most fashionable outfits and loves being the first to find new hidden items in the catalogs. hangs out in the Coffee Shop with everyone

Kenji: wants to have the highest rated igloo, but he’s not very good at the minigames so Yaz plays on his account to get him coins. he scouts other players’ igloos to steal borrow ideas. loves the monthly parties/themes and throwing his own parties. collects Special Actions’ Items (pretends to work everywhere). looks online to know where/when to find rare items (also uses codes). throws snowballs at other players 

Yaz: prides herself on being the best at the minigames. when she wants to play Sled Racing she yells at other players on the Ski Hill to play against her. Darius beat her at Card-Jitsu too many times and now she refuses to play (her excuse is that it doesn't take skill anyway). enjoys the Night of the Living Sled short films and dressing up for the Halloween parties. one time she submitted artwork to be displayed in the game

Darius: as good at the minigames as Yaz but he doesn’t take it nearly as seriously. his favorite game is Card-Jitsu and he’s always trying to get the others to play with him. he earned all the belts in one sitting (then did it on Kenji’s account). plays in the Arcade and reads books in the Book Room. loves anything Rockhopper related. always exploring less popular areas of the island and finding/unlocking secret rooms

Ben: very invested in the in-game conspiracy theories and lore. logs on and immediately tries to tip the Iceberg (hard hat on, pengussy out). tries to convince others of the most random theories. eavesdrops on players misbehaving and follows them around because he’s nosy. has been banned many times for refusing to leave other penguins’ igloos when they tell him to. reports “pookies” because he thinks they’re pedos

Sammy: spends most of her time in the main hangout spots chatting with everyone. she’s been temporarily banned twice for revealing and asking for too much personal information (you can’t ask for someone’s address to send them a care package, Sammy). she’s the best at Puffle Roundup and uses her coins to adopt puffles (she has to get one of every color/type). she takes naming and caring for them very seriously

comments on their designs ->

Brooklynn was the hardest in getting the right outfit/jewelry combo, but I lucked out with her hair. an alternate version of her had glasses but I wanted her to have eyelashes (does she look like a Simpsons character, maybe)

Kenji was originally going to be blue but red just went better with his outfit + vibe. an alternate version of him had sunglasses but I wanted his eyes to be visible

Yaz could have been black, her favorite color like I did with Brooklynn, but she looked better purple. she had good options for hair but not for her outfit

Darius was the easiest (minimalist king), but unfortunately Club P is lacking in textured hair options so this was the best I could do. he could have been green but brown suited him best

Ben is the best imo. the hair and outfit were perfect, but had to settle for a satchel. he could have been peach but he looks better orange

Sammy looks the most like her younger self but no other hair option matched her as well as this one. she could have been yellow but I swapped her and Brooklynn’s colors. she's the only one with expressive eyes

Everyone’s shoe choices were very easy

[heartofsol]

A post from reddit:

*Sigh* Here we go again... Let's go through each of these "points", shall we?

"Poorly written" - Um, no...she's not. Elise's character is simple. She has the same desire for adventure as Sonic, but because of her status and responsibilities as a princess, she can't fulfill that desire. Her arc was about Sonic teaching her to open up, enjoy life, and inspiring her through his love of adventure. Despite how scared she felt when being kidnapped by Dr. Eggman, Elise states that she enjoyed the time she had with Sonic on their adventure because it allowed her to see things she had never seen, do things she'd never done, and be herself.

I think it's kind of tragic how some of the things Elise shows excitement and joy about are rather small, such as seeing flowers or running in a field. It just shows how lonely she is and that she didn't get to have a normal childhood. It's clear that she doesn't get out much. Elise may not have the most in-your-face personality but she's not poorly written. She's a kind, reserved, and selfless princess that cares deeply about her people, but she gets called "bad" because female characters whose main personality traits are kindness or selflessness are considered "boring" nowadays.

"Poorly designed" - I know this is subjective but I find Elise's design pretty. They could mean her in-game character model, but the way its worded sounds like they mean the design itself. The bright orange leggings are a bit weird, but her design is meant to be reminiscent of a bird.

I will say the soft peach color of the leggings in the CGI cutscenes looks much better though. I have no clue why they're bright orange in the game. Her actual design: the dress, hair accessories, heels, etc. are well-made. I also think it's unfair that people dismiss it as a "Final Fantasy design". She's a Sonic character and it's a Sonic design. It's safe to say that there's no standard as to what is and isn't a Sonic design. There's been many unique and crazy-looking Sonic characters. Final Fantasy is far from the only franchise to have realistic-looking humans either so I don't understand why people say this.

"Contributes nothing to the plot" - Besides reviving Sonic and snuffing out the Flame of Disaster, which effectively got rid of Solaris and allowed everyone to live in peace. Yes, Sonic, Shadow, and Silver did the fighting but it was ultimately Elise who had to deliver the killing blow to Solaris and put out the flame to truly defeat it.

"Molests Sonic's corpse" - ...Is this one even worth addressing? People still say this in 2024? Sonic fandom and the internet as a whole, I'm begging you, PLEASE learn what the words beastiality, necrophilia, and molestation actually mean instead of throwing them around because you're just repeating what YouTubers say. Thank you. Were they looking at some other site and somehow miraculously confused it with Sonic 06? Because there are no X-rated scenes between Sonic and Elise in the game. The dreaded kiss scene is a second long and obscured by a light. People keep trying to apply a sexual element to Sonic and Elise's relationship when literally nothing about it is sexual. Also, Sonic wasn't dead, but likely in a coma. Elise even says as much:

So yeah, a lot of the criticisms thrown at Elise don't really hold up and much of it is exaggerated to a ridiculous degree. It's time for people to let it go and put this to rest.

[brf-rumortrackinganon]

What are your favorite looks from royal weddings, christenings, jubilees, coronations/enthronements, funerals?

For weddings, see this post:

For christenings - I've always generally liked what the moms wear but there just aren't a whole lot of good pictures because they're the ones holding the baby! What I love the most to see at the royal christenings is always how happy, proud, and glowing most of the moms are. I always got an odd vibe from Meghan in Archie's christening pictures - she isn't glowing and happy in those photos as the moms in other christening photos are. In fact, to me, Meghan seemed happier, more glowy, and prouder in the pictures from the Windsor hall when they presented Archie to CBS cameras.

But these two are my favorite looks from royal christenings.

I also really liked Madeleine's look from her first child's christening but couldn't find a good picture of her outfit so I didn't include it. I loved that she wore a floral headpiece and with a floral dress, made her whole look very summery.

For jubilees - I'm just going to do the BRF's 2022 Platinum Jubilee because I don't want go to down a rabbit hole right now.

Here are the ladies:

Kate in Wales (one of my all-time favorite Kate coats)

Beatrice at the Royal Windsor Horse Show Charity Night (one of my all-time favorite Yorkie looks - this is such a slay)

Zara at the Epsom Races (in Mike's hat)

Kate at the Platinum Jubilee Service of Thanksgiving

Sophie Winkleman and Lady Gabriella at the service of thanksgiving.

A couple of notes about the service of thanksgiving - Beatrice and Sophie W. actually wore the same dress in different colors; Beatrice in blue, Sophie in pink. I prefer Sophie's dress and her hat style. Beatrice's dress just looked off, like the fit was just slightly too big.

I didn't mind Eugenie's dress at the service of thanksgiving but the tangerine color with a black hat was all wrong. A more muted orange, like Gabriella's peach, or a darker-hued orange on scale with Sophie’s pink/fuchsia would've worked much better.

And now for the gents:

Mike after the service of Thanksgiving in Zara's hat. Just fab. No words.

August at the jubilee pageant. Who doesn't love a little boy in a heritage sweater? Such a cutie-pie.

For coronations/enthronements

From Charles and Camilla's coronation in 2023:

Queen Matilda, Coronation

Beatrice, Coronation

Penny Mordaunt, Coronation

Empress Crown Princess of Japan, Coronation

Queen Letizia, Pre-Coronation Reception

Queen Jetsun, Pre-Coronation Reception

Lady Louise, Coronation (an all-time favorite look)

Everyone in the procession at the coronation, (except for the Camillas)

Kate, Coronation Garden Party

Kate, Coronation Concert

Princess Anne, Coronation

Major Johnny, Coronation

Yeomen, Garden Party. These guys are just cool.

The only other coronation/enthronement whose fashion I enjoyed was King Willem-Alexander's inauguration. These looks are my favorite:

Maxima, Inauguration

Frederick and Mary, Inauguration

Felipe and Letizia, Inauguration (they became King and Queen a year later)

Mary, Reception (not sure if this was before or after the inauguration. I think it was after or later that day since Willem-Alexander and Maxima’s daughters were wearing the same dresses from the inauguration ceremony). Mary is 💃 personified in that dress.

I also adore the dresses that Leonor and Sofia wore for King Felipe's coronation. I wish we could have seen Charlotte in dresses like these when she was younger, instead of the traditional British smocked dresses.

For funerals - I don’t know about this one. I’m a little uncomfortable focusing on the fashion at such somber occasions. I get why some people do but it’s not for me so respectfully, I’m not sharing about these. People do the best they can during times of grief and we shouldn’t fault them for choices made under duress.

That said, I think Kate looked better at Philip’s funeral and The Queen’s lying-in-state than she did at The Queen’s funeral. Her outfit choice for The Queen’s funeral felt very much like a changeover to The Princess of Wales, where she looked (and probably felt) more like herself at Philip’s funeral and the lying-in-state service.

This concludes the traditional Royal-watching week of commentary. In two weeks, I’ll spend a few days posting about the Sussexes, and opening Pandora’s Box, so if you have opinions/royal-watching questions or just want to light matches with me about the Sussexes, get them in before May 18th to be included.

Back to regular programming.

[antariies]

Late Winter in Divinity's Reach

Summary: Winter and Urlae are invited to celebrate the Lunar New Year's festival in Divinity's Reach.

Characters: Winterlayt, Urlae Summer, Lily Summer, Verdanzy

Notes: Winter's POV (2nd person); fluff; 1.2k words; this is my 2024 secret santa red envelope gift for @ruderubicante! happy new year!

—

The charr have this theory about humans, that they insist on being so noisy all the time to make up for their dull sense of hearing. You’re inclined to believe it. You’ve only just arrived in the Crown Pavilion and the cacophony of firecrackers and joyous shrieks bombards you from every angle, unrelenting. This was a bad idea.

“This was a bad idea,” Urlae remarks, echoing your thoughts. “We should leave.”

Well, now you obviously can’t leave. That would be letting him win.

“You can leave, if you’d like,” you offer, perfectly cordial. You even give him this sort of sympathetic look you’ve been practicing.

Urlae sees right through it. “You can drop the holier-than-thou act. I know you hate this racket just as much as I do.”

Your reply is as pleasant as spun sugar and just as substantial. “Hm? I don’t know what you’re talking about.” A gaggle of human teenagers rush by, and for some reason, every single one of them feels the need to knock their bony elbows into your legs as they pass like you’re some Dragon Bash piñata. “Ow,” you intone with the same lofty cadence.

Urlae crosses his arms, unimpressed. “Winter, I can see your eye twitching.”

“You should get yours checked then, Doctor.”

“You’re acting like a huge prick right now.”

“And is that your personal or professional opinion—”

“Dad! You made it!” A new voice interrupts your bickering. Urlae turns faster than you, eyes scanning in the direction of the familiar shout until he spots a young charr squeezing her way out of a sea of humans. The tension bleeds from his shoulders as his daughter makes her way over to the pair of you.

“Oh,” he murmurs, a fond smile stretching across his face, “Lily, you look stunning.”

That, at least, you can agree on. Her hanbok is gorgeous in its simplicity, consisting of a pale green chima, an even paler yellow jeogori, and as she gets closer, you spy little white flowers embroidered on the goreum. Combined with her soft, well-brushed fur, she looks like the last frost before spring, in spite of her namesake.

Speaking of spring. Verdanzy is next out of the crowd, the blue-and-orange ribbons of their hanfu fluttering wildly behind them in their hurry. Their beizi is light and delicate, long sleeves billowing around their body like a cloud.

“Hi, Uncle! Hi, Dad!” they cry, and now it’s your turn to smile. Which, to everyone else, looks like an infinitesimal uptick of the corner of your mouth. It seems like a hassle for them, having to constantly dodge lanterns and paper dragons and the occasional stray sparkler because of their height, but when they skid to a halt in front of you, it’s clear that nothing short of an apocalypse could ruin this day for them.

“Wow, Uncle,” they start, breathless, “you look great!”

Pleased, Urlae gives them a short bow. He’s wearing an áo dài himself, a long-sleeved peach-colored tunic embroidered with matching blossoms over black trousers. The whole ensemble is made of silk, and the reflection of the warm lantern lights in the fabric creates an illusion of luminescence.

“Thank you, Verdanzy. I’m glad at least you two understand the importance of dressing well,” he says, shooting you a sidelong glance.

You look down at your extra lumpy sweater. It’s a thing of beauty—in your humble and unbiased opinion—made of eye-catching (though some would say eye-searing) red and yellow wool. “I’m told these are the traditional colors. Very auspicious.”

“But not traditional dress,” Urlae says, picking at a loose bit of yarn on your shoulder. You slap his hand away.

“When did you get here? Have you eaten? Just in case you haven’t, we got something for you!” Lily manages all in one breath. “Here!”

She shoves a paper carton under your noses. Yours, literal, and Urlae’s, figurative. The gentle reminder that you two can’t eat regular food dies on your tongue when you open the container.

“...Is it human custom to eat raw meat during this festival?” you ask instead, staring down at the chilled pile of—you sniff the meat—uncooked pork.

“Nope!” Verdanzy chimes in, “We just asked if we could have some of the, uh, what’s it called?”

“Bánh chưng,” Lily provides helpfully.

“That. We asked for some of the filling before they cooked it. They didn’t even charge us.”

“You’re kind to think of us,” you say, taking the small wooden skewer that Verdanzy holds out to you. The raw pork strips are soft and marbled with fat, yielding under your teeth with surprising ease. Seasoned well with salt and pepper, but unlikely to make you sick later. It’s not bad. Urlae gives you a knowing look as he chews slowly on his own meat skewer. It’s rare the two of you get the opportunity to actually enjoy the food you eat.

“Have you two been enjoying the festival?” Urlae asks after swallowing. 

“Yeah!” Verdanzy nods fervently. “We’ve been having lots of fun at the game tables. I think one of the dealers is using loaded dice, though. I lost a handful of silver there.”

You reach for your gun.

“Dad.”

“That was humor,” you clarify, holstering your pistol. What, did they think you were actually going to shoot someone for your kid? …Hm. Unconvincing even in your own thoughts.

“I liked your joke, Uncle Winter,” Lily reassures. “And you two are just in time for the lion dancers! They’re about to start, c’mon!”

You and Urlae are unceremoniously dragged through a throng of people and all the way to the front of the crowd. Some people glare up at Verdanzy, who can’t help their height, but quickly find other places to look after catching a glimpse of your glower. A crash of cymbals and rhythmic drumming pierces the air, and cheers erupt as costumed dancers bound into the middle of the circle.

They don’t look like any lions you’ve ever seen, but what do you know? Perhaps Canthan lions are much more friendly and colorful than their Elonian counterparts. Admittedly, they’re growing on you. The puppetry is impressive, and for most of the performance you even forget that it’s two human dancers under there, and not one giant, fuzzy beast.

A little ways to your right, Lily urges a reluctant Urlae to offer a cabbage to the lion. “Quick, Dad, he’s coming back around, hold it out! He’s not going to eat it if he can’t see it—”

The lion considers the offering for just long enough that you can see Urlae’s patience wearing thin, then takes the whole head of cabbage into its mouth, making a show of chewing the vegetable with great vigor. Abruptly, it stands up on its hind legs, opens its mouth—

“This is my favorite part,” Verdanzy whispers.

—and begins spitting cabbage leaves back into the crowd. Before you can move out of the way, Verdanzy holds their arm up above your head, protecting you from being pelted by the chewed-up cabbage. To your endless amusement, Urlae is not so lucky. As soon as he peels a cold, wet leaf off his face, he’s immediately hit with another one. And another one.

“It’s supposed to bring good fortune, apparently,” Verdanzy explains, grinning. They look down at you, eyes bright with unrestrained mirth. You would give the world for them to be this carefree all the time.

“Is that so?” you say instead of voicing that thought, “I suppose I am feeling rather fortunate right now.”

“Yeah? That’s good. Happy New Year’s, Dad.”

“Happy New Year’s.”

[coffeeghoulie]

Ghoulette Appreciation Week 2: Stealing Clothes

Sunny can't find her favorite hoodie, so she enlists Cumulus to help her.

Ghoulette Appreciation Weeks was put together by @jesusbutbetterrr, thanks for organizing this!

"Hey, Cue!" Sunny calls, sticking her head out of her bedroom doorway. "Dove?"

From the common room, Cumulus chirps curiously. "Yeah, Sparky? What is it?" she calls back, ear flicking against her curls.

"Have you seen my favorite hoodie?" Sunny asks, still calling down the hallway. "It was in my dirty clothes pile. Was gonna run a load or two while I had it on my mind."

Cumulus stands, setting aside her crochet project, a blanket she's been making to keep her hands busy. Keep her thoughts off of the upcoming tour, because when the pack leaves with Papa, they're leaving two of their mates behind. Sunny included. "I haven't seen it, but I'll help you look for it, spark," she says, nuzzling against Sunny's shoulder, breathing in her scent, ripe peaches and sun-warm grass. "The orange one, right?"

"Yep, the cropped one? Thanks, Cue," Sunny grins, turning back into her room. It's like a bomb went off in there, clothes scattered across her bed, blankets shoved down and bunched up at the foot.

Cumulus hums, rummaging through the pile of clothes on Sunny's bed. Judging by how strongly they smell of her, Sunny must have upended her dirty laundry onto her bed. "You planning on changing your sheets after this?" Cumulus asks, grinning up at her.

Sunny shrugs, abandoning the pile of laundry to root through her dresser. "It's not like I have Mountain levels of dirty clothes. Have you seen the state of that ghoul's work pants?" She gags dramatically.

"Aren't you a little earth, Sun?" Cumulus teases.

"Eh, just a little," She laughs, shutting her drawers, unsuccessful. "Too much fire and air to feel the calling to the earth, you know?"

Cumulus grins, turning back to Sunny's bed. "Well, sparky. I can't find it. Do you think someone else has it?"

There's footsteps coming down the hallway from the common room, and Cirrus passes by the open doorway, dressed casually, long navy hair thrown up into a loose bun. The other ghoulettes light up as they see her. "Hey, blossom!" Sunny calls, grinning bright. "We're looking for my cropped hoodie. I can't find it."

"Oh, um," Cirrus trails off, blushing as her eyes grow wide. "I know where it is, Sun."

Sunny's brow furrows and she cocks her head, her copper curls bouncing. "Where is it?" She asks. "It needs to be washed."

"I have it," Cirrus sighs, her shoulders slumping. "I'll show you," she says, gesturing for her fellow ghoulettes to follow her out of Sunny's room, a few doors down to her own room.

Sunny and Cumulus share a look as Cirrus turns her back, but they follow their mate diligently. Cirrus's room is spotless and pristine, bed made, though she usually spends her nights in Cumulus's bed. There's a large duffle bag on the center of the floor, and the air immediately sours with the reminder of tour.

The reminder than in a short while, Sunny'll be all alone at the Abbey. Well, that's not true, she and Aether will be together, but the rest of their pack will be gone. Cirrus, her stoic, steadfast ghoulette, unzips the duffle bag, moving a few of her own articles of clothing and pulls out an orange cropped hoodie. There's a wave of peach scent that comes with it, tinged with Cirrus's own honeysuckle and jasmine, and if they really strain for it, Cumulus and Sunny can smell the traces of Aether's steady ozone coming from her bag.

"Oh, Cir, blossom," Sunny breathes as the older ghoulette holds her hoodie out to her, eyes downcast. It's an emotion Sunny's never seen on her mate's face, and it looks kind of like shame.

"Sorry, Sun," She says, her lips quirking up in a tiny smile, still not making eye contact.

"Cirrus," Sunny breathes, grabbing her by the shoulders gently. "I'd give you my clothes to take with you, both of you, if you asked. But I gotta ask, why the hoodie? You're doing outdoor venues all summer. I don't want to hear reports that you passed out on stage."

Cirrus snorts, and Sunny grins as she watches the shame crack and crumble away. "You never wash the damn thing, dragonfly. Of all your clothing, it smells the most like you."

"Aw, you're sweet," Sunny says, reaching up and brushing a strand of dark blue hair that's fallen from Cirrus's bun. "You're really gonna miss me, huh?"

"Of course we are," Cumulus chimes in. She sneaks behind Sunny, wrapping her arms around the multighoulette's waist, nuzzling in between her shoulderblades. "You're our girl, Sun. Of course we're gonna miss you. We'll even pick out some souvenirs for you and Aeth."

"You promise you're gonna get me cheesy souvenirs?" she asks, batting her eyelashes up at Cirrus, who throws her head back and laughs.

"Course, dragonfly. And we'll call when the timezones work in our favor," she promises.

"See? It won't be too bad," Sunny insists, even though she's trying to convince herself too. "You guys will be back before you know it."

Cirrus doesn't reply, and neither does Cumulus. They both pull themselves closer to Sunny, holding her close like they'll never have to leave.

[asexualsoup]

Hey, Travelers! After a couple years away, I’m doing the @penumbrabang​ again this year! And to my absolute joy, I got to do art for @alexandenigtscreations’ fantastic fic THEIA My Name! 

It features various shenanigans with the Theia chip and a long-awaited reunion between Juno Steel and Diamond Hijikata!

Rating: M 

Warnings: Graphic Depictions of Violence 

Desperate times call for desperate measures, and being on Dark Matters most wanted list makes a person about as desperate as they come.  With the Carte Blanche's expert in disappearing still missing in action, Rita manages to locate another, more unlikely source.  

Which is how Juno Steel found himself on the door stoop of Diamond Hijikata.  An old flame who made just enough of a name for herself to be a problem.

(Written before Juno Steel and The Blank Slate) 

Check it out! 

(Art ID below) 

[ID: Fan art of Juno Steel and Diamond Hijikata from The Penumbra Podcast, in full color. The main colors of the piece are gray blue, desaturated purple, and peach.

In the foreground are Diamond Hijikata and Juno Steel. We see them from the side as they face each other head-on. Diamond stands to the left, glaring at Juno as she crosses her arms. She wears a button-up shirt with wide collars. Her long white hair is up in a loose bun. Juno stands on the right side of the piece, hands planted in the pockets of his purple trench coat. He looks at Diamond with a mix of exhaustion, sadness, and apology. 

Floating behind and between them in a rough peachy orange bubble is a vision of their younger selves. Young Diamond stands to the right, her long white hair hanging loose down her back. She smiles at Juno, who stands to the left also smiling, dressed in his HCPD uniform. Older Juno’s hair is in short dreadlocks, while young Juno’s hair is in short, natural curls. Young Diamond tugs playfully on young Juno’s tie. 

In the far background, in shades of blue, is a chalk drawing of Hyperion City in the rain. Raindrops fall in stiff angles across the piece. 

End ID]

[jinlizz-dragondrama]

Here's another fanfiction I decided to make it's called The Sun's Shadowy Flame. I'll post it here and Wattpad. Let me know what you guys think 💜

Chapter 1

A Promise

*Loud heart thumping echoing*

My vision blurred, I removed my hand from my chest, warm blood dripped down my forearm, and the smell made me gag. Buddha was not pleased that Wukong decided to challenge him. I was too late to stop him from going through this crazy plan. I don't know why I follow this simian into fire but this time it would seem to be fatal.

Wukong is busy fighting Buddha until the smell of my blood hits his nostrils.

"OH no, Ai!" Jumping onto his cloud he soars down to search for me in the rubble on the ground. Finding my mangled body on the ground he falls to his knees and bites his lower lip to not show his fear.

He gently grabs me and puts my head in the crock of his elbow. Pushing the soft black, purple, and red streaks of hair that he loved so much out of my face, now sticky in crimson-red blood.

"HEY kid, you're gonna be OK! Yeah, we're getting out of this, we'll go to my temple, and eat peaches while watching the sunrise like we always do.

Chuckling softly but it was cut short by me harshly coughing up some iron-tasting blood. Breathing becomes labored as I slowly reach out to him, he places his cheek in my hand as I move it up to tenderly scratch his head, hearing his soft purrs, I smile lightly at him.

"Don't forget about me ok", my voice barely a whisper, pulling a beautiful silver comb with a purple flower jewel embellishment on it, I hand it to him.

"Wouldn't dream of it, my peach."

Memories flash through my mind of our first meeting, early morning meet-ups, baking peach desserts, coming crying to him when my parents treated me horribly, realizing that I love him but never had to courage to tell him.

My smile slowly falters as I feel myself drifting away, the hand that gave the comb to him fell to the ground. Wukong looked into my round purple eyes as my life force slowly left me, eyelids heavy and finally shutting. He pulls me into a tight hug as my last breath is carried with the rustling and twirling of leaves going up to the heavens.

"No, no, no....Noooooo!"

My eyes open once more but I'm not in heaven, blinking several times to clear my vision I see I'm staring up at the sky. The sun is rising and beautiful oranges, blues, and purples speckle the sky. Raising my hands they are chubby, small, and caramel colored. Not the red rose color I'm used to. I sit up and look at my body I'm in a simple white dress with no shoes on but my body is smaller like a toddler. There is a rustling, pans being thrown and a wooden spoon is thrown from inside of a shop. Soon a man emerges quickly and almost runs into me, a young man with a simple black haircut, glasses, and a wise aura surrounds him.

"TANG you freeloading son of a gun, when I get my hands on you I'll-"

Another spoon comes flying out and hits the man square in the face and it leaves a bump on the area. Never mind not wise at all.

"Pigsy look"

A pig in a chef uniform looks down at me and he looks shocked

Oh no, no, no, no. This isn't an orphanage I already have 2 mouths to feed and one I'm not willingly feeding. He gestures at the spectacled man, I tilt my head to the side and black and purple locks cover my field of vision. At least I have something familiar.

The man called Tang picks me up and smiles down at me. A small shock of electricity goes through me but I ignore it.

"We can't just leave her here besides MK will have someone to play with"

A little boy comes out wearing a bandana, a white shirt, and red pants. I smile and wave, he returns the wave as well.

Pigsy sighs and rubs his temples

"Fine, but she's staying with you! I have no room for her here"

"Deal, so what's your name kid?"

I was about to answer but I couldn't remember my name it's as if I drew a blank. So I shrug my shoulders Sadly.

"Hmmn that won't do let's call you Jing"

"Jing? Really Tang?

"What it kind of rhymes with my name?"

Tang puts me down while he argues with Pigsy. I walk over to MK and he smiles at me.

"Hi, I'm MK. Let's be friends, ok?"

"I'd like that"

Author's Note

Hey guys this is my second book on Wattpad. I've been obsessed with LMK and wanted to write a fanfiction with my oc. Let me know if you like it and I might continue it.