#appreciate what your body is able to do for you

[authorhjk1]

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas

(Yeri X Male Reader)

"We can't do this here."

"Why not?"

"Because we're in public."

"So? I'm really needy right now. Please? You look so good in this..."

Your wife lets her hands travel down your upper body, while she appreciates your perfectly tailored suit.

"Your little event here ended 10 minutes ago. The girls might already be looking for you. This can wait, until we get home."

"Admit it. You love the way I look right now, don't you?"

"Yeri..."

She wraps her arms around you, pressing herself against you. Her head is at the same hight as your chest as she looks up at you.

"This tight dress... Showing off my shoulders... Hugging my ass... And it's so short, you wouldn't even have to take it off."

"When we're home."

Yeri shakes her head, her knowing smile never leaves her lips.

"I know you want me. You're just playing the good husband right now."

"Even if that's true, what are you gonna do about it?"

One of her hands moves to your crotch as you speak.

"Come on, you must be so turned on right now, watching your wife in this tight dress, right? I bet you'll get even harder when I tell you this:"

Yeri gets on her tiptoes and you instinctively wrap your hands around her waist.

"I have no panties on."

She knows you too well. You were already a lost cause when you first saw her in that dress earlier today. And now, she's doing her best to seduce you. The little resistance you have left is quickly crumbling.

"We have to be at your parent's by seven."

It's the last card you can play.

Yeri takes your hand off her waist and twists your arm. Your watch says 5:30.

"30 minutes are more than enough for you to fuck me."

She kisses your cheek, lingering bear your face a little too long.

"Hard."

You feel Yeri just barely rubbing herself against your crotch. No one around you notices, but it's affective.

Without a word, you grab her wrist and lead her towards the nearest store. You walk past row after row of clothes, looking for the dressing rooms. Just when you see them in the distance, Yeri unexpectedly pins you against the wall. You're surprised by her sudden aggression. Otherwise, she'd never be strong enough to handle you like that.

"I'm just so desperate right now. I can't wait a second longer."

Yeri presses her lips on yours, locking you into a heated kiss. You instinctively place your hands on her ass, enjoying the way it feels under the dress. Yeri's own hands are in your hair, trying to pull you down a little.

When the two of you break away for air, Yeri's eyes sparkle with amusement.

"Six years of sex every day and I'm still addicted to your cock."

She kisses you once more, giving you no time to reply. Then, she teasingly bites your lower lip, making you flinch.

"I want it."

She whispers against your lips.

"Right now."

Her hands run along your body as your wife gets on her knees in the middle of the store.

You're glad there's a wall behind you and you're otherwise surrounded by clothes racks. No one will be able to see Yeri as long as they don't come to close.

Your pants are quickly lying on the floor and Yeri pulls down your underwear as well.

"Why do you always have to wear suits? You look so hot in them."

She talks while taking your cock into her hand.

"Just be quick."

You groan, not wanting to get caught. She's still an idol after all.

Yeri wraps her lips around your tips and then works her way down your length. She struggled with it the first couple times, but after six years together, your wife knows how to give you head.

You lean against the wall behind you as she works your cock, taking most of it into her mouth, while stroking the base with her hand.

Looking around, you see two employees and five customers. None of them seem to be interested in you. Even when Yeri starts to get louder. Some women brag about not having a gag reflex, your wife is the opposite. Hearing her choke on your length makes you rock hard every single time, but it turns her on even more. She loves sucking you off, because you enjoy it so much. The way you groan, the way a hand reaches for the back of her head, the way you sometimes start to thrust into her mouth, the way you say her name... It all makes her happy.

You feel yourself slowly gliding down the wall as your legs become weaker. Yeri knows all the tricks in the book by now, which makes it hard to last long, when she's really going for it.

Her head is bobbing up and down on your cock, coating it with her saliva. Her gags make you look around, whenever her lips reach your base, afraid that someone will hear.

"You're amazing, Yeri."

You sigh as your wife sucks you off in the middle of the store.

Only two minutes later, the two of you reach the dressing rooms. Now it's your turn to pin her against the wall. Letting your pants fall to the floor again, you reach under her dress.

"You feel how wet I am for you, baby? I need it so bad."

Yeri voices her need as your arm pushes up the hem of her dress on accident as you let your fingers wander through her folds, occasionally dipping a finger inside.

Without even having to take the dress off, you wrap an arm around her waist, pulling her lower body a little closer, before pushing your cock into her. Yeri moans out, amazed at how good it feels every single time. You quickly start thrusting into her, not intending to go slow at all.

Yeri soon becomes louder, almost screaming your name. You have to put your hand over her mouth, so the two of you don't get kicked out. As you keep fucking her from behind, you feel how her warm pussy clenches down around your cock. She squeezes you hard, her walls trying to make you cum as quick as possible.

"Your cock is filling me up so good."

You can still hear her, even through your hand.

"Keep nailing me against the wall. Just like that."

You bury your face in Yeri's neck, licking and sucking on her skin. It's her last schedule for the year and your marriage has been confirmed by her company for three years now. You don't care if you bruise her skin or not. Actually, you'd prefer it if you leave a mark.

"Fuck me harder. Punish me for being such a slut for your cock."

You do as she asks, wrapping your arms tightly around her slim frame. Looking down on her, you take in the gorgeous view of her cleavage. Taking her body like you own it, you keep plowing her from behind, probably making the employees outside aware of the two of you.

Your hands soon wander to her tits, quickly pulling the dress and the bra down a little. Having her tits played with makes Yeri's pussy squeeze around you even harder. Her juices are coating your cock by now as you bottom out inside of her with every thrust.

"Do it."

Her moan desperate.

"Choke me."

This is very aggressive, even for Yeri most of the time. But you don't mind at all. One hand wraps around her throat, giving her a light squeeze.

"Yes, ruin me. Ruin your little slut."

You growl into her ear in response, tightening your grip on her throat and on her tits.

Soon, you hear her trying to speak again, but the words come out weak.

"I-I'm gonna-gonna cum."

Your hand moves from her throat to her mouth within a heart beat, but you're still almost too late.

Yeri shakes, her body quivering, her legs almost giving out. She screams your name into your hand as her pussy contracts around you. But you don't stop fucking her. You keep pounding her through there orgasm, until Yeri starts talking again.

"Fill me up, baby. Cum in me. Please."

She can tell you're close as well.

You press your wife against the changing room's wall as you dump your cum as deep inside of her as possible. Another tiny orgasm rushes through Yeri as her body welcomes your familiar load.

"Wow."

She says as you lie your head on her shoulder.

"We should go out more often."

You catch her smiling into the wall and you kiss her slightly read cheeks, while the two of you catch your breaths.

Leaning over the bed, you carefully close the book you were reading from.

"Good night, princess."

You whisper, before kissing your sleeping daughter's forehead. You carefully leave the room, turning off the lights in the process. The three year old girl was so happy to be sleeping at her grandparent's place, that it was hard for you to get her to sleep.

Now you're entering the living room, after passing Yeri's parent's bedroom. You see her sitting on the sofa in one of your pullovers, hugging a cup of hot chocolate.

You sit down next to her and lie an arm around her. For a moment, it looks like she's lost in her own thoughts. But when she feels you next to her, Yeri smiles at you.

"Thank you for putting her to sleep. I have to show you something."

Her eyes sparkle with happiness as she reaches next to herself on the sofa.

"I took this while you were reading her the bedtime story."

Yeri is holding up a pregnancy test.

"I'm pregnant again."

You capture your wife's lips with yours, a million butterflies exploding in your stomach.

"I love you so much."

You whisper into her mouth, not able to break away from the kiss. Yeri puts down the cup and the test without looking and slings her arms around you. You lean in further, eventually making the two of you fall on the sofa with you on top.

Yeri instinctively reaches down, tugging at your pants. The fact that she is carrying another one of your children makes her long for your warmth even more.

A couple of moments later, you still lie on top of her, thrusting inti your wife with shallow and soft strokes. This isn't the crazy sex scene the two of you had a couple of hours ago. That was pure lust. This is love. The love you have for your wife. The love your wife has for you.

"Merry Christmas, I guess."

You whisper into her ear as you make her gasp in pleasure.

"Marry Christmas, baby."

-----------

Merry Christmas, everyone!

By now, this will probably come out a little late, but I hope you guys can still enjoy it. Just a short Christmas present from me to you, guys.

Stay healthy!

[dixons-sunshine]

The Hottest Santa | Daryl Dixon x Fem!Reader

Day Twenty Five: Christmas Morning

A/N: Merry Christmas/Happy holidays my loves!

You awoke to the feeling of tiny fingers grasping and poking at your face. Opening your eyes, you were nearly nose to nose with your daughter, her toothy smile widening as she came to realize that she had successfully woken her mother from her slumber.

“Hi, Mama,” she whispered softly, her voice as sweet as honey.

You laughed lightly. You could not be angry when you were woken up by such an adorable little bean. “Hi, Baby,” you greeted Hazel in a voice just as quiet, slightly hoisting yourself up to rest your weight on one of your elbows and reached out to cup her cheek in your hand. “What are you doing up so early?”

She giggled and looked over your shoulder, before shifting her attention back to you. “Gifts,” was all she offered up for an explanation, and that was all you needed to hear to know why she was up barely at the crack of dawn.

From behind you, you could feel two arms encircle you, pulling you flush against the chest of your partner. He rested his chin on top of your shoulder, his tired cerulean eyes meeting those of your daughter. Despite not being able to see his face, you could tell that he was smiling. That beautiful smile of his was always present when your daughter was involved.

“Gifts, huh?” he inquired in a ‘surprised’ voice, feigning ignorance. His voice was gruff and clearly still laced with sleep. It sounded downright sexy, although you had to remind yourself that it was definitely not the time to let your mind indulge in not so innocent fantasies.

Hazel nodded and eagerly pointed towards the door. “Gifts! Out there!”

“Can’t be,” you said with a playfully surprised gasp, your eyes widened for a dramatic flare.

“It is!” Hazel giggled, her earlier quiet demeanour gone and long forgotten. “Under the tree. So many gifts!”

“Santa must have come, then,” you whispered softly, as if revealing a secret you had sworn to take to the grave.

Hazel did not share in the sentiment of keeping quiet. She squealed happily and bounded on her toes, a mere two seconds away from losing her cool and racing to the living room to open all of the gifts. Her excitement elicited chuckles from both you and Daryl, and you had to admit, your daughter’s happiness was contagious.

“Okay, okay. Here’s what we’ll do since I can tell you really wanna see what Santa got you,” you began with a big smile on your face. “How about you go get dressed and Daddy and I will meet you downstairs. We’ll eat a very speedy breakfast, and then we’ll see what Santa brought us during the night.”

“Okay!”

That was all it took for Hazel to go running from the room, leaving you and Daryl alone. You turned over to finally face him, smiling up at him and taking in his handsome features as his body slightly hovered over you. God, how did I manage to get so lucky? you thought to yourself.

“Thanks for the gifts, Santa,” you joked with a light laugh.

Daryl rolled his eyes and let out an amused scoff. “Don’t start. S’too early for the teasin’.”

“What? I’m just trying to thank you,” you laughed, bringing a hand up to cup his cheek. “Did you see how happy she was, Dar?”

Daryl nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “I did. Ain’t never seen her that excited ‘bout anythin’. Was definitely worth it, them days spent lookin’ for toys and shit like that.”

“I appreciate it,” you began in a sincere tone of voice. “And I know Hazel appreciates it, too, even if she doesn’t know that her daddy is Santa.”

“You ain’t gonna stop callin’ me that the whole day, are ya?”

“Nope,” you confirmed with a smile. You leaned up and gave him a soft, tender kiss, one that spoke volumes of the love you both had for one another. “Merry Christmas, Dar. You’re definitely the hottest Santa I’ve ever seen.”

“Thanks.��� Daryl huffed a breathy laugh at that and simply shook his head. “Coffee first, then you can continue with your relentless teasin’. Deal?”

“Deal.”

And to seal the deal, you pressed your lips against his for one final kiss.

[multific]

A Holiday

Yautja x Reader

Summary: Imagine trying to explain to a Yautja what Christmas is.

You have spent many years on Yautja Prime.

Being a mate to a Yautja Leader came with many obstacles but it also came with many joys.

This year, you decided on a mission to explain the significance of Christmas and its cherished traditions. 

It used to be your favourite holiday after all.

During dinner, your mate sits opposite of you, eating his food when you take a deep breath, ready to unfold the wonder and joy of the festive occasion.

With enthusiastic gestures, you begin by describing Christmas as a special time of year when people all over the world come together to celebrate love, kindness, and gratitude. 

It's a magical season that brings warmth and cheer to hearts, where families and friends gather to share precious moments and create lasting memories.

You explain that Christmas is often symbolized by a beautiful evergreen tree decorated with sparkling lights, colourful ornaments, and a shining star on top. 

These decorations, you explain, serve as a visual representation of the joy and hope that the season brings.

As you continue, you delve into the significance of gift-giving during Christmas. 

You explain that it's a heartfelt way to express love and appreciation for one another. People exchange carefully chosen presents, wrapped in colourful paper and tied with ribbons, to show that they care and value the bond they share.

You then remember the traditional foods and feasts that make Christmas even more special. 

You describe the aroma of freshly baked cookies and cakes, the savoury dishes prepared with love, and the rich hot chocolate that warms both body and soul during the chilly winter nights.

As you paint a vivid picture of Christmas, you mention the character known as Santa Claus. 

With a twinkle in your eye, you reveal that Santa is believed to travel around the world in a sleigh, pulled by magical reindeer, to deliver gifts to children while they sleep. 

This mythical figure represents the joy of giving and the spirit of generosity that permeates the season.

With each detail you share, your mate's eyes widen in wonder and curiosity. So many questions.

You can sense the growing interest in Christmas and the values it represents. 

You emphasize that, beyond the material aspects, Christmas is a time for compassion, forgiveness, and embracing the true spirit of humanity.

It is a time when differences are set aside, and unity and love prevail.

You eagerly await a response, hoping that the magic of this season has captured the imagination of your beloved, just as it does for people around the world, including you.

---

The next day, you were out with the females.

You liked to take care of their little ones.

Upon your arrival, you noticed something in your living space.

It almost looked like a tree.

Instead of ornaments, it was filled with trophies.

Your Mate's trophies. 

You recalled when yesterday you mentioned to him the meaning of ornaments on a Christmas tree. Their value and what they meant.

"Christmas tree." you spoke up just as your Mate entered the room. You smiled at him. "I love it, it's so beautiful!" just as you spoke the lights turned on.

If you were to explain it, it was a very Yautja Christmas Tree. 

You were so happy that he not only listened to you talk about Christmas but also decided to implement it.

This was the best Christmas ever.

Even on a planet far from Earth, you were able to find a home, you were able to find love and now, your favourite Holiday.

"Thank you." you jumped into the arms of your Yautja who made happy noises. Upon seeing you happy, it affected him.

He was glad he could make you happy.

Taglist: 

@castellandiangelo @imagines-by-a-typical-fangirl @manduse @jacalineiscomingforyou 

@mandoloriancookie @deliciousfestsalad @lilliumrorum @asgards-princess-of-mischief 

@fallout-girl219 @dracaryxzs @snowtargaryen @mel-vaz

~Masterlist~

ˇAO3ˇ

/YOU DO NOT HAVE PERMISSION TO TRANSLATE, TO STEAL ANY OF MY WORKS/

[koenigami]

soft kissing hour. tags : fluff, fem!reader, touchy togame, mentions of reader wearing make up wc : 950 - Less is more. Togame likes to live by that simple rule in more than only one way. Whether that be his clothing, his minimalistically decorated home, or his decision to exchange his long messy mullet with a plain short undercut a few years ago. As cheesy as it sounds, he just thinks that it is important to appreciate the mundane things in life.

His conviction is even further undermined once your silhouette appears in the doorway of his bedroom.

It is the first time that you’re actually spending the night at his, and to say that he’s more than elated is an understatement.

Being able to watch you pad around his room in his own clothes, hold you in the comfort of his bed, and having the honor to have you being the last thing he sees before falling asleep as well as the first thing when he wakes up the following morning. The simple thought of it makes him only now aware of the fact that his home has been missing something significant all this time. You.

That's why you're met with the most gentle smile once you walk over to the unoccupied side of the bed, clad in an old shirt of his and sweat shorts.

A light shiver runs through your body accompanied with goosebumps rising along your skin once you slip under cold sheets. Yet when Togame's arm reaches out and pulls you in by your waist, you can't hold back the little hum of contentment once you feel his warmth.

You always tell him that he's a walking furnace. Especially on days when he calls you a living icicle. When your freezing fingers meet his warm palms, or when you bury your cold nose in the crevice of his neck, soaking in his warmth and the woody scent of his that you've gotten so very addicted to.

"I don't think I've seen you like this before." He speaks lowly once you're nestled against him, your head resting on his upper arm.

"Like what?" You breathe out and wonder whether he can feel your heartbeat like this, chest to chest. His lips are so close, all you would have to do is lean in the slightest bit only to taste him, slot your mouth against his and forget the entire world around you.

His soft gaze travels across your face. Your eyes, your lips, your jaw, your nose, again your lips-

Your eyebrows perk up when he opens his mouth, obviously unsure about how to word his thoughts. There's a stuttering beat against your chest, and you have no clue whether it is yours or his. A second passes, then another, and when the suspense is getting almost unbearable, Togame only sighs. You both giggle in unison when he just curses while a rosey blush suddenly dusts over his cheeks.

"Jo! Come on, just say it already." The corners of your mouth are starting to hurt from the bright grin plastered on your face. Though it falls slowly when his palm cups your jaw, and he just silently looks at you.

Your heart swells at how tenderly his thumb swipes over the skin of your cheek. Togame Jo, a man so strong yet a man who knows that the blessing of such a strength comes with certain responsibilities.

His broad shoulders and back have always been an advantage when facing adversaries, allowing him to intimidate them easily. Now, he knows that those same shoulders are meant to carry any burdens that seem to weigh you down.

Big strong hands that have punched and broken so much, been covered in blood for way too many times. Now, he can use those same hands to gently hold your softer ones in his, glide them over the plush skin of your curves and feel your warmth.

"What are you doing?" You giggle quietly when his thumb slides higher up to the corner of your eyes, tracing the dark shades which are usually covered by a light sheen of concealer. He can easily move the pad of his finger over your eyebrows and down your nose bridge without you whining about how he's messing up your make up.

"You're just-" You follow his eyes which somehow seem to drift all over your face, as if he wants to take in all of you and burn every single detail into his memory. There's just something so satisfying about being able to see every single mark and blemish on your skin, and it's crazy how he has thought that you could not be any prettier. Yet here you are, taking his breath away and leaving his mind empty, and unable to come up with words to properly describe you. "Pretty. Very."

A beat of silence passes, while you blink at him.

"My boyfriend has such a way with words." Your voice is a pitch higher as you fan your face, containing your smile with a bite on your lip until you shriek when his teeth suddenly graze your jaw.

"Maybe my girlfriend should have dated a poet instead then." There's something darker in his voice as he looks at you through hooded eyes. As if even the single thought of you with someone else is able to kindle a fire inside him that could only ever be extinguished by you yourself.

No, Togame may not be your classical poet. However the way his body language speaks to you, reacts to you, how his fingers trace all kinds of shapes into your skin, how his eyes roam all over your body, pupils dilating and throwing shadows into the green forest in his eyes- It's probably more worth than simple words on a piece paper.

"Nah." You quip and wrap your arms around his neck, pulling yourself impossibly closer to him. The tip of your nose touches his. "I think I'm more than fine like this."

[puckinghischier]

Can we talk about how hard Luke would try to be helpful while you’re on your period? I just feel like all of his efforts would be so endearing

oh this is so perfect bc my body decided to give me its own christmas present yesterday 🤩

he would be so attentive, god love him. he’d even have his own tracker on his phone so he can be prepared and make sure he always has your favorites stocked when the time comes.

the second he starts seeing the signs, he’s making your coffee or tea, whichever you prefer, in the mornings and having it waiting on you with your favorite breakfast pastry. on your worst day he’s bringing it to you in bed, heated blanket on his arm.

if he has a day off from practice or gets back early from a morning skate, he’s assuming all housework duties. he’s making sure the kitchen is clean, bringing you your favorite comfort meal from your favorite restaurant, doing the laundry, tidying up the living room. he wants to make sure you don’t have to lift a finger.

he secretly loves when you’re having a rough cramp day, if he’s honest. not because he enjoys seeing you in pain, it’s the opposite really. it breaks his heart that you have to go through this every month, knowing there’s nothing he can do to take the pain away. but he loves how clingy you get, whining every time he gets up to leave the bed or the couch, even if it’s to get something you asked him to get.

he’s constantly calling and texting you to see how you’re feeling and asking if you need anything when he’s not with you. the guys in the locker room all make fun of him for it, but he could care less. it’s the least he can do. you’re constantly taking all of this on every other week of the month, doing all you can to make his life easier, wanting him to come home and be able to relax and focus on resting before or after games. so he’ll gladly take the responsibility on for this one week a month, to show you how much he appreciates you and loves you.

you become such a homebody when you’re on your period and luke eats it up. he loves nothing more than being lazy with you, and he gets at least an entire week of it each month. you refuse any offer of plans, not wanting to have to put on ‘real’ clothes, content with living in one of luke’s oversized shirts, period panties, and a loose pair of his boxers. and luke loves coming home to the sight more than he could ever express.

you love the effort he takes each month to make sure you’re comfortable and cared for. you don’t know how you did it, but you truly hit the jackpot with him. you hear him constantly on the phone with ellen, double checking which painkillers work best for cramps and what the best remedy for period induced headaches. you crawl into a freshly made bed every night, despite rotting on the couch all day. you get baths drawn for you with soothing smells and low light, like either joining you or sitting in the floor with you and telling you all about his day. you have a never ending supply of sweets and baked goods, thanks to his bakery runs every morning.

you always ask him how you can repay him, but he always tells you the same thing. “what you do for me every day is enough. being able to do this for you is repayment in itself. this is what i’m supposed to do. it’s my job to make sure you’re comfortable, taken care of, and loved.”

of course, the words always make your hormonal self emotional, tears falling every time at how much you love him and how lucky you are he loves you. but then he ruins the moment, adding in “plus, the post-period sex is always great, so that’s a good incentive, too.” you swat at him, telling him to shut up.

“i’m just kidding, sweetheart. i love doing this for you, seriously,” he’d back track, nuzzling his face into your neck to place small kisses there.

rolling your eyes, you respond with “you might like doing this for me, but you weren’t kidding, don’t lie.”

he gives you a “welll….” look, making you laugh, forgetting all about the ache in your lower abdomen.

[xxgoldie]

Congratulations for your 100 followers!

May I request for harumasa or lighter (zzz)? As for the alphabets, it's B, G, J, S, and X!

good afternoon, morning or night^^

-Miyi

i think i originally planned to do this one w harumasa but i feel bad locking these reqs up too long (don't even mention the non-event reqs i have, they will get done i swear) n i've not been able to play zzz much recently bc of christmas so i'm still building confidence on writing for that yellow twink (/aff)

main event page - event masterlist

B: Body - what's their favourite body part of yours? Lighter really loves your hands. Absolutely one to compare hand sizes - especially if yours are a lot smaller than his, but it's really just an excuse to feel your soft hands against his calloused ones and get a good look at them. In fact, he loves any excuse to stare at them, like if you paint your nails or wear rings a lot - if you text him that you got a drink or something, he'll ask to see because he knows the photo will include your hand holding it. He also loves holding hands, he has so many sappy thoughts about your fingers interlock with his like puzzle pieces. Likes if you trace his scars or draw little patterns onto his skin with your finger, just finds the dance of your fingertips against his skin really soothing and intimate.

G: Gifts - do they give a lot of gifts? how do they feel about receiving gifts from you? Every time he runs errands in the city, Lighter will pick you up random things he think you'd like, whether it's your favourite snacks or a silly-looking plushie. While he won't necessarily get you a bunch of thought-out gifts without occasion, there are always little treats and trinkets waiting for you - you're just in the back of his mind basically non-stop, and he drops them into his basket without thinking twice. Sometimes, if he ends up getting you a bunch of things at once, he'll give them to you over a few days, just so he can see the smile on your face when he gives them to you again. With recieving gifts from you, he's a bit awkward about it but he treasures everything you give him. Especially if it's something heartfelt or expensive, he doesn't really know what to say to thank you but he appreciates it immensely. And if you return his treatment of regular small gifts, he keeps them all in one place, a small box in his drawer that to most people would just look like a bunch of random items, but is essentially a shrine to you.

J: Jealousy - do they get jealous easily? what are they like when they're jealous? Already done, see it here xx

S: Show-off - do they like to show off to their s/o? Honestly, he's more of a show off before you're dating, when he's crushing. Will never admit it but he has a desperate need for you to think he's cool. Tries to be extra suave and intimidating (to others, not to you), and gets extra flashy in fights when he knows you're watching. Once you're dating, though, his showing off basically becomes a way to tease you. You like his arms? The jacket's off and he's randomly flexing his muscles to watch you stare. Find his voice hot? He's playing it up and talking into your ear so you hang off his every word. Anything you find attractive, whether you tell him or he notices himself, he's showing it off - partially because it adds a bit of pride in that trait, but mainly because he loves to see your reactions to it.

X: X-Ray - how easily can they read their partner? how easy are they to read? Already done, see it here xx

[hitomisuzuya]

being wrapped up with ribbon as a christmas present for aventurine... im on the floor....

aventurine x fem!reader. smut. body worship. nipple play. cunnilingus. spoilers for aventurine's real name.

i hope smut was what you were asking for 😭 if not, my apologies. i hope everyone had a wonderful christmas.

you got a lot of encouragement from topaz. aventurine's eyes held both a look of soft amusement and captivated awe as he looked at you. there you are, a shy blush on your cheeks, offering your wrist that has a lopsided christmas ribbon tied to it. tying it with one hand had indeed been a challenge, to say the least.

every part of your body was highlighted perfectly by the lingerie you put such careful thought into picking out. "happy christmas. i hope i am an okay gift," you said shyly, barely able to look at him in your flustered state.

"my my, you shouldn't have," aventurine replied, his eyes sliding over your body as he untied the bow. "i will unwrap you, and enjoy you thoroughly," he dropped the ribbon to the floor.

both his words and the action of untying the ribbon made the blush darken on your cheeks. every word aventurine said dripped with appreciation for your gesture. "such an exquisite gift deserves to be indulged in," he delicately removed your bra and panties, taking extra time in brushing his fingers over your skin teasingly.

he led you over to the bed, gently maneuvering you onto your back. "tell me, sweetheart, to what do i owe the honor of such a," his finger traced a line from your throat to between your breasts, "lavish gift?" he chuckled hearing your shy squeak. he is more than aware of how much just the sound of his voice affected you.

his cock aches always seeing how adorable your flustered reactions are.

"because you are you. i want you, aventurine. thank you, so much for simply existing," you replied, shivering as goosebumps dotted your skin in the wake of his touches.

aventurine felt both his cock hardening and his heart swelling. your words were full of genuine love and endearment. he turned your head to look at him with a finger under your chin. "what kind of man would i be if i didn't except such a gift?"

lying next to you on his side, aventurine kissed his way down your neck, drawing a shaky sigh from you as his teeth grazed your skin. he put an arm around you, leaning around to flick his tongue on your nipple while he parted your legs.

he groaned softly, slowly wagging his tongue across your nipple. "you know, i have always enjoyed the sensation of your nipple hardening on my tongue," he latched his lips around your nipple to suck on, dipping his fingers to part the folds of your pussy. "you are really enjoying my tongue," he teased, swirling his tongue around and around your nipple relentlessly.

your hips twitched up to grind on his fingers, his sucks on your nipple sent jolts of pleasure to your throbbing clit. you whimpered softly behind your moans, your hand finding the back of his head to press his mouth down onto your breast. you carded your fingers through his soft blonde hair.

aventurine sighed, soaking up the feeling of your fingertips rubbing on his scalp. he practically purred as he switched his attention to your other nipple, drool rolling down your breast. he savoured the sounda of your moans rising in octave, becoming more consistent as he stroked your pussy and played with your clit.

more wet pooled between your legs, the worshipping sucks and licks on your nipples made your pussy clench around nothing. you grind against his fingers, arching your chest up into his mouth slightly to convey your urgency for him.

"k-kakavasha," you moan, grinding your clit on his fingers. aventurine pinched and rubbed your clit, his sucks on your nipples turning more aggressive as he grinded his hard cock against your thigh. you moaning his real name so sweetly turned him on even more.

he is determined to worship your pussy next. rolling over onto his stomach, he slotted himself between your thighs. "say it again," he moans, his tongue sweeping between your drooling folds. he looked up at you expectantly, his fingers ghosting along the insides of your thighs.

"kakavasha," you cry out, your thighs shaking as you grind against his mouth. your clit throbbed on his tongue as he scooped it into his mouth to suck on as drool pools onto your pussy.

he groans hearing you oblige him. he wagged his tongue around and around your clit, his head spinning with absolute love. "how lovely you sound, sweetheart. please," he prodded your tongue on your abused clit before licking a stripe down your pussy to tease at your hole. "do moan my name just like that while you cum."

aventurine hardly gave you a moment to breath as he ravished your cunt. just when you processed the strong jolts of pleasure burning through you, he coaxed another much stronger one to grip your body. "kakavasha! oh fuck, kakavasha, don't stop!" you writhe on the bed, chasing the warm, delicious pressure of your orgasm building in your core.

"how sweet you sound," he moans, pushing his tongue inside of you. his eyes rolled in the back of his head tasting your walls clench around his tongue, your back arching off the bed as he pinched and rubbed your clit. "give me more, sweetheart."

you tug on his hair, pushing his mouth down onto your cunt as your hips buck into his mouth. "kakavasha!" you moaned in an endearing way that made his cock pulse even more. your gasp of pleasure as he latched his lips around your clit again was the only warning he got before his tongue on your clit tore your orgasm out of you.

you couldn't even think about anything, except for how good his tongue felt fucking into you while he lapped at your release.

[smut-anarchy]

Own Me - Chapter One

Tags: Gryffandor!Reader, Cursing, Blackmail, Dom!Mattheo, Anxiety

Rewritten as of: 12/26/2024

Word Count: 2,077 Words

Chapter One: Every Pet Needs A Collar

It was no small feat dragging yourself out of bed this morning. After bawling your eyes out sleep overcame you, and when you woke up at 5:55AM you could feel the same dread crawling back up your throat. It didn’t help that you weren’t a morning person by any stretch of the imagination, dawn providing far too much light for your tired eyes, but you’d always felt more comfortable in the unwavering vastness of the dark, it provided a sense of security and safety in its shadows. 

You were lucky enough to be one of the eighth years that was granted your own room, though it was less about luck and more to do with you didn’t have many close friends in your house that would’ve picked to room with you; Your closest friend being the peculiar Ravenclaw, Luna Lovegood. Nonetheless, you could appreciate your room and the privacy it allowed this early in the dawn as you slumped to the attached bathroom. 

The mirror reflected your outward appearance corresponded your inner turmoil. Your hair was disheveled, knots already committed in the strands of your hair, and your face taut and dry from the tears you’d shed, eyes red rimmed and puffy. You soul ached for a warm bath, but having no such time or mood for such a luxury you’d settled for a shower, trying to scrub the worry from your skin.

The term had only started a few weeks ago so the Autumn air was crisp and cool, promising a biting cold as the months dragged on. Upon exiting the shower you’d slipped on your usual uniform of your red skirt, white button down shirt and red tie, and oversized burgundy knit cardigan. The sweater felt like a safety net, preferring to hide in the substantial heft that the sweater provided, its soft fibers swallowing your body. Expecting further cold as the day grew on you’d slipped on some black stockings and fastened your Mary Jane shoes to your feet, the small blocked heel tapping lightly on the wood. 

Fuck, it was 6:40AM, only giving you twenty minutes to get from the third floor all the way to the dungeons, you silently prayed that the staircases would cooperate with you. You hurried out of your room, luckily it was early enough that no one was in the common room to notice your haste, breakfast started in an hour and twenty minutes, giving you plenty of time to glide out unnoticed. 

Every minute seemed to pound your heart with panic, not willing to find out what would happen to you if you were late. Mattheo was known to be mean and at times, cruel, even to innocent on lookers, you’d hoped you could keep your tongue in check and avoid provoking his foul nature. 

Utterly out of breath, you’d checked your watch, making it to the front of the Slytherin Common room with one minute to spare. You made a mental note to give yourself more time, this was cutting it far too close to be comfortable. 

“Cutting it close to the wire, lion?” Somehow in less than a few hours that smug voice was able to reach into the depth of your soul and make every inch of your skin ice. A mix of adrenaline and terror warred with each other in her body, one urging her to flee and never look back and the other begging to stand her ground and make such an enemy eat his words. 

As best you could you steeled yourself, trying to maintain an aura of indifference to the cocky Slytherin, lest he know how much of an effect he had on you and your future. “I sleep at the top of the castle, instead of living down in the dungeons with the rest of the rats.”

It was all too quick for the young snake to show his fangs, his face falling into a seething scowl. He grabbed your arm, pushing your body against the wall and towering over you. “Watch your fucking mouth, brat. I am all that stands between your life at Hogwarts and a pitiful existence in the muggle world.” 

Your head ached as it hit the stone wall, but that hardly mattered as your fingers curled into fists, your entire being alight with the desire to smack a curse right into his enraged face. You glared up at him, his face closer than you’d ever seen before.

“I am here, on time, like you asked Mattheo.” You spat out sarcastically, “What else do you need of me, oh great and powerful Slytherin Lord?” You could tell you were pushing it, his face only extending more fury at your sarcasm, his breathing escalated, and faint puffs of peppermint coming from his mouth. 

“For starters you’re going to drop the fucking attitude,” he growled. The angry, deep timbre of his voice curling right around your chest. “And since you think its so fucking cute, you will call me Lord. Or master. Or sir. Fuck, pick any one you like kitten, because you’ll be saying it for a while.”

You turned your head away from his penetrating gaze, trying to swallow the humiliation and shame rising in your body at having to call him any such title. His hand came up and gripped your chin in a tight hold, making you look back into his smoldering, coal-colored eyes. 

“Say it. Now.”

“Yes, sir.” You’d tried to pick the least mortifying option of title and still you could feel nausea bubbling in the pit of your stomach. Your inner Gryffindor was roaring in protest, demanding you to save your pride, but he was right, the looming threat of expulsion provided enough motivation to throw your dignity at his feet. He seemed to be satisfied with your concession, albeit he never moved away from his looming position over you. 

“Good girl.” He preened at you, a sneering smile adorning his face, “Now, I’ll tell you how this is going to work: You’re not going to tell any of your little friends about this, you’ll follow me to each and every class, you’ll sit down with me and do both of our work and you’ll have a fucking smile on your face while you do it.” Your mouth is filled with the coppery taste of blood with how hard you were biting the inside of your cheek, trying your best to hold back the venom and bile from spewing out.

“If I call you, you’ll come within five minutes. And if you break any of these rules I’ll make sure you suffer for it, or I can easily go to Snape and Dumbledore and tell them what you did.”

“How will I know when you need me… sir?” You croaked out. Hogwarts’ cell service was spotty, especially more so in the dungeons, not that you’d expected a pureblood to use ‘an inferior muggle device’, your own phone only used sparingly whenever your parents remembered to call. 

“I don’t need you, Kitten. Masters don’t need their pets.” He taunted. His hand slipped off of your face and into his pocket. When he pulled it out, dangling from his long, admittedly beautiful fingers was a black choker with an attached silver wrapped tear shaped green gem. “Every pet has to have a collar.”

No. 

No fucking way. 

Hiding quite literally the worst development of your life from Luna was bad. Trailing after him and doing his work for him every fucking day would be worse. Having to be at his beck and call whenever he wished was horrifying. Being forced to degrade yourself and call him a title he certainly had not earned was disgusting. But this? Having to wear a permanent reminder of your imprisonment and unwilling attachment to Mattheo around your neck was deranged. 

“No. I’m not fucking wearing that.” You shook your head, grimacing. 

A wicked grin spilt his face, his eyes portraying he was quite thrilled with your unwavering stubbornness. His ego and gleeful attitude made you understand: this was a fucking game to him. The choker was just a fucked up way to flaunt his ownership over you.

“Oh yes you are.” He insisted, jingling the choker in your face, the offending piece of jewelry taunting you with its meaning. “It’s enchanted, it will tell you when I’m calling you.” 

You shook your head, eyes pleading with him for some kindness, “Mattheo please, I-I don’t want to wear that. Anything else, any other way to call me, but please don’t make me wear that.” Your hushed begging seemed to do nothing, his eyes only darkened further at you. 

“Careful what you beg for, Kitten, remember how you got here in the first place.” Still pressed between the wall and Mattheo you had nowhere to escape to as his warm fingers fastened the choker to your neck. Though the black velvet was soft against your cool skin it felt all too constricting, a glamorous shackle bonding you to your fate with Mattheo Riddle. 

You hadn’t realized you were holding your breath until his hands left their spot on your neck and he stepped back to admire how his leash looked on you. “Green is a good color for you, Kitten. It almost makes me take pity on you.”

The stone seemed to be weighing down your body as a panic attack was settling into your bones, your situation now felt much too real with an emerald reminder secured around your throat. You pushed your back further into the wall, refusing to expose your vulnerability to Mattheo. 

“H-how does it work?” You stuttered, attempting to bury the anxious meltdown brewing inside of you. 

“It will heat up when I’m requesting you while simultaneously sending a message to your brain to let you know where I am. It happens if I hold the gem on my ring,” He held up his hand, and there among other black and silver rings was one silver ring with square cut emerald.

Oh Merlin no, it matches. 

“You can thank Theo for this one, he’s a genius with customizing spells.” 

Theo I am going to choke you with my bear hands as soon as I get the chance. 

“And when I take it off? What happens then?” Surely Mattheo wouldn’t make you wear it to bed and when bathing, right?

“Only I can take it off, Kitten.” He smirked down at you. “The longer you take to come the hotter it heats up, so let’s not burn that pretty neck testing my patience, yeah?” Mattheo chaining you with an item that will hurt you on behalf of his impatience only furthered your scorn for his sadistic cruelty. 

A thought sparked to life within you. If Theo customized the spell then maybe you could convince him to adjust it, if at least so you could take it off during the night and when bathing. Getting to the reserved Italian bad boy would be tough but not impossible, maybe you’d be able to convince him to grant you this small kindness. You made a mental note to find out what Theo’s interests were in the hopes of bribing some compassion out of him. 

You nodded hesitantly, your face set in a worried frown, your teeth chewing your lip.

“Anymore questions, little lion? Has it set in yet that I own you now?”

You didn’t answer, once again nodding, trying to not let your anxiety fester up again and overshadow the small hope that Theo would help you. 

“Good. Do whatever you want for your meals unless I call you, I’ll see you in Transfiguration after breakfast.” Mattheo turned away from her and started walking down the hallway, but slowed to a stop after a few steps and catching her with a calculated glare, “Oh and one more thing Kitten, don’t try anything. You won’t like what will happen if you try to escape from me.”

Mattheo left you in that hallway, your body tingling with alarm. You let out a sigh you’d been holding, the interaction and turn of emotions leaving you exhausted and mentally fried. As you touched the stone on your neck your appetite was lost, the desire for anything other than sleep shriveled up inside of you. You walked towards the Transfiguration classroom, planning on napping in a seat until class started, it was going to be a long week of figuring out your rhythm in this circumstance with the cold hearted Slytherin.

[multifandomfix]

Miranda Priestly Smut Alphabet

A = Aftercare (what they’re like after sex)

Miranda tends to be reserved but attentive. After sex, she might quietly cuddle or lay beside her partner, offering a few whispered words of praise.

B = Body part (favorite body part of their partner’s)

Miranda is drawn to your neck and collarbone. She finds subtle, sensual moments in tracing her fingers along these areas, delighting in the vulnerability they represent, and the closeness they bring.

C = Collar (do they mark you as theirs in some way?)

She might purchase several discreet, elegant pieces of jewelry for you to wear in public with her that hints at her ownership of you, but she’s not one that needs to put it on some grand display. People basically already know.

D = Dominant (who is in control? are they a top or bottom?)

Miranda is firmly in control. She prefers to be the one calling the shots, taking the lead in all aspects of your relationship. Whether it's in the bedroom or in public, she likes being the one who holds the power, and she’s great at getting what she wants.

E = Experience (how experienced are they? do they know what they’re doing?)

With years of experience under her belt, Miranda is incredibly confident in her abilities. She knows exactly what she's doing and what she likes, and is able to read your body language with precision.

F = Fuck (do they prefer to fuck or make love?)

Miranda prefers to fuck rather than make love. She's passionate, demanding, and likes to take her time, pushing you to your limits. It's not usually about tenderness for her, it's about raw, unapologetic desire.

G = Goofy (are they more serious in the moment? are they humorous? etc.)

Miranda is far more serious and intense, always maintaining an air of control. There's a confidence to her actions, and humor is rare in intimate settings unless she's feeling especially playful.

H = Hot (what turns them on, gets them going)

If you match wits with her, there’s a fifty-fifty chance that you’ll either piss her off or turn her on. She likes someone that can hold their own, but still knows where to draw the line.

I = Insatiable (how do they act when they’re desperate to have you?)

When Miranda is desperate to have you, she becomes impatient and curt, her control slipping only when she can no longer resist. Her usual cool demeanor cracks, and she demands your full attention, her eyes dark with desire as she takes what she wants.

J = Jack off (masturbation headcanon)

Miranda doesn't often indulge in self pleasure. However, when she does, it’s indulgent, usually borne out of frustration from you being away, or perhaps mad at her.

K = Kink (one or more of their kinks)

Miranda prefers the thrill of power dynamics. She’s no stranger to issuing commands, but she also likes some light bondage, and leaving marks all over you.

L = Location (favorite places to have sex)

Her favorite places to have sex are often her own home or, if pressed, a five star hotel suite, where she can maintain her air of control and privacy.

M = Mood (what’s the foreplay like? how do you get them in the mood?)

Foreplay with Miranda is often intense and heated. She’ll pounce on you like a jungle cat with prey and it’s up to you to respond. She’ll slow things down if you need her to, but she can become impatient.

N = Naked (how do they undress? do they like to watch you undress?)

Miranda removes each item of clothing slowly and deliberately, never casting them to the floor, but folding and setting them aside. She's not particularly voyeuristic, but she does enjoy watching you undress, appreciating your figure before guiding you toward the bed.

O = Oral (preference in giving or receiving, skill, etc.)

Miranda prefers to receive rather than give. Even so, she’s skilled and focused when it comes to pleasuring you, and loves the sounds you make for her when you get close.

P = Pace (are they fast and rough? slow and sensual? etc.)

Miranda enjoys a slow, deliberate pace, taking her time. There's an intensity in her actions, but it's all about creating long lasting pleasure. Her slow, teasing rhythm is meant to make you ache for more.

Q = Quickie (their opinions on quickies, how often, etc.)

Miranda isn't one for quickies. Too messy and unpredictable. However, if she's particularly needy or caught in the heat of the moment, she might indulge in one with a sense of urgency.

R = Risk (are they game to experiment? do they take risks? etc.)

Miranda isn't someone who's reckless with risks, but when it comes to experimenting in bed, she's open to trying new things as long as it's controlled.

S = Stamina (how many rounds can they go for? how long do they last?)

Miranda has great stamina, lasting for multiple rounds if needed. She's able to keep her focus and intensity for as long as the mood strikes, never tiring easily. Her endurance matches her drive and ambition.

T = Tryst (are they into casual sex or one night stands?)

Miranda is not typically interested in one night stands. While she enjoys a discreet affair, she does not indulge in casual trysts without having a deep attraction.

U = Unfair (how much they like to tease)

Miranda loves to tease. She toys with you, pushing you to the brink of frustration before letting you have what you want.

V = Volume (how loud they are, what sounds they make, etc.)

Miranda is usually pretty quiet in bed. She's more likely to let out a soft sigh or moan when the pleasure is particularly intense, but she's not one to be overly vocal.

W = Wait (how long do they wait before having sex with their partner for the first time?)

Miranda waits a while before having sex with a partner, as she likes to make sure the connection is solid and that the relationship has some level of commitment and trust. She's not impulsive in her actions and believes in taking the time to build trust and desire.

X = X-ray (let’s see what’s going on under those clothes)

Under those elegant clothes, Miranda has a toned, well maintained body. There's a sophistication to her appearance, usually accented with very delicate and expensive lingerie.

Y = Yearning (how high is their sex drive?)

Miranda's sex drive is fairly high, but she often keeps it repressed. She's not impulsive about her desires but is incredibly passionate when the mood strikes.

Z = Zzz (how quickly they fall asleep afterwards)

Miranda falls asleep quickly, always seeking rest after a satisfying encounter. Once her needs have been met, she's efficient in winding down, retreating into the calm of her mind, leaving the chaos of her daily life behind.

For anon

Forever Tag: @baubeautyandthegeek, @ghostsunderstoodmysoul, @immyowndefender, @valencethefriendlychangeling, @crimsonwidow666, @rebelbossheart, @thedailyspiritualist, @orangeisnttheonlyfruit, @woman-simp, @aperol-with-izzy, @leonoralessoem, @ellepossum69, @lakita-fisher, @trexsuit, @analuw, @luvlesavyy, @malfoyfeed, @aliciabrower, @sparrowspixie, @imaginationismyworldlypleasure, @og-kxsh-420

Miranda Priestly: @iticaboopsyou, @derry-n, @ladysc, @russian-soft-bitch, @rafterymorton, @messynessi

[suprababka]

How you first met & how they asked you out on a first date (part 2)

Featuring:

• Garou • Metal Bat • Amai Mask

[Saitama & Genos & Speed-o'-Sound Sonic: part 1] [Flashy Flash & Zombieman & King: part 3]

A/N: Merry Christmas! Thank you everyone for reading what I do and supporting me, it means a lot. I always do my best to make you guys happy because I really appreciate all of you. As some of you can remember, I've already mentioned a few times my first post with headcanons, and here it is! Finally, after all this time, I can present it to you as a gift for Christmas!🎄💫🎊🎉

(I hope I didn't mess anything up, and I'm sorry for being a bit late! I really wanted to publish this post sooner but couldn't. We don't celebrate Christmas in my country btw) Unfortunately, I had to split up post into 3 parts :((( Alright, let's see if you guys like my headcanons! :) (I low-key cringe at them tbh)

And dear anons, who requested headcanons, do not worry! I remember about you and will post everything, I just wanted to have a logical "begining" for hcs, you know?

Thanks for all the likes, comments, reblogs and following me! I really appreciate your feedback and support, guys!🥰🫶

You can check my masterlist too see more of my other works.

Prepare for possible OOC!

(Sorry if there are any mistakes!)

And, most importantly, enjoy!!!

You're used to constantly listening to music in your headphones at full volume

To ignore all hustle and bustle and focus on yourself and your daydreams about... practically, anything

(and of course to imagine yourself in a cool edit)

With the help of music, you're able to ignore people's rude remarks towards each other or to you for whatever reasons

However, sometimes it's better to be aware of your surroundings

For example, you're returning back to your home now and it's late evening

Some weirdo catcalls you, but you don't hear it, being engrossed in your favourite song

Suddenly you feel someone grabbing you by your wrist and pressing you against the wall

"I said heeey," you squirm and wince, feeling the smell of alcohol

"L-let go of me!"

"Hey, relax, girliiiie. I just wanted to – hiccup – to talk to yaaa... Such a cute giiirl. C'mon, let's kiss."

"No, I don't want that!" you try to free your hand, but the man's grip only tightens

"Don't be such a brat now. – hiccup – If ya don't wanna kiss... we can get freaky straight awaaay..."

"Ew, no!" you make an attempt to shove him away, but he's stronger

"Rruude. – hiccup – Come on, let's get started with a kiiiiiss..." you start looking around in hope of finding someone not indifferent, but people seem not to notice you

"Huh? Don't worryyy. – hiccup – Nobody is gonna seeee us. We'll be quiet."

"Get away from me!"

"Shut it, girl. Wait, nooo... – hiccup – Keep your mouth open... and gimme that kiss..." the man starts to lean in, but a sudden tap on his shoulder interrupts him

"Hey, how about I give you a kiss?"

The drunk man turns to the tall stranger who pecks his knuckles

"Huh? Who the hell–"

In the next moment, the drunk prick is knocked out cold on the floor

"Tch, disgusting," the stranger clenches his fist with annoyed look

You blink for a few seconds, processing what just happened

You feel a huge wave of relief, realising that you're safe now, and sense your body and lips trembling

Or they were doing that before?

Remembering about your life saver, you look at him, but the tears in your eyes don't let you examine him in detail

"Th-thank You!" you grab his hand, "Thank You so much! Y-you saved me! Thank You! How can I thank You?"

Garou looks at you both confused and annoyed

Confused because he's just not used to being treated like that, to people thanking him and clinging to him

Annoyed because he was in a bad mood the whole day

Thankfully, he let off some steam on the drunk man

Bu-ut the thought of other drunkards who pester fragile and helpless girls like you makes him angry again

It pisses him off

He hates it

Just look at you, clinging to him as if he's your lifebuoy

(well, he practically is)

When you calm down a bit, you let go of his hand and wipe away your tears

"Sorry, I wasn't myself for a moment..."

Now Garou is puzzled, not knowing what do next

Originally, he wanted to teach the prick a lesson and then continue going back to his place

But seeing your scared face made him realise that he can't let you go on your own

Looks like his plans changed

"Erm, can you walk on your own?"

"Yeah... I can," you take a few steps with your slightly shaking legs

"Good."

"But thank You. Seriously."

"Well, someone had to teach the bastard a lesson. Now let's go. I'll accompany you."

"Uh, there is no need to! You already did enough for me, I can't ask You-"

"It wasn't a question. Or what, afraid of your boyfriend seeing us?"

"I don't have a boyfriend..."

"Then I'm definitely coming. Or you'll get into trouble again," you two begin to walk

"... Thank You, sir."

"Sir? Don't call me that, I'm only 18, so let's talk without formality."

"You're 18?!"

"Yeah, what's with that?"

"Uh, nothing... I'm Y/n, by the way."

"Garou."

"It's really nice to meet you, Garou. Seriously, thanks again."

"Yeah-yeah, I get it, you can stop that."

"I'm just really grateful. So if there is any way I can-"

"You can thank me by not getting yourself into trouble again."

"Right, okay."

You continue to walk in awkward silence

Or it's for you awkward since Garou is deep in his thoughts with his hands in pockets

But he sees your struggle of not knowing what to do and, with a sigh, decides to "help" you

"Fine, you can treat me with some good food."

"Huh?"

"As a way to thank me. It seems you can't just let it go."

"Yeah, you're right. But you want me to treat you today or any other day? And in a restaurant or–

You're interrupted by Garou's chuckle

"You really like to solve everything right on the spot, huh? But let's eat out not today, I'm not hungry, heh. I don't care which day, but evening is preferable. You decide the rest, just remember that I eat a lot."

"Got it. So if you don't mind, I'd like to cook dinner and invite you to my place."

"I wouldn't invite myself to a restaurant either since it'd cost you a fortune!" Garou suddenly laughs

(as if products aren't expensive)

"But I love home food, so it sounds like a plan."

"Great, does this Saturday sound good?"

"Yep."

Meanwhile you reach your home

"I live here. Let's exchange our phone numbers and keep in touch?"

"... Yeah, that would be reasonable. Let's do that."

It's safe to say that Garou LOVES your food when trying it

It brings him some weird but warm sensations from his childhood

He feels as if he is at home, place where he can feel safe and cared for

Such a strange feeling, but... he likes it

He also enjoys having conversations about different topics with you

(and he's pleasantly surprised when you agree with him that fictional villains deserve appreciation and understanding too)

But is it really the end of... whatever was between the two of you? You're gonna just split up and live on?

Both of you hesitant to hint on mutual attraction desire to spend time together more

When it's time to say goodbye, you tell him to text you if he needs anything and stop by to share a meal

You both laugh it off (just in case)

And off Garou goes

Don't be sad though, because it just so happens you keep running into each other on the streets

And what a coincidence that almost every time one of you needs help: either he helps you with carrying the groceries, you patch him up, he accompanies you to make sure you're safe, or you invite him for tea and wait out the rain

One evening he put his shoes on, getting ready to head out from your place, and you see him off

"So, see you soon, huh?"

"Yeah, see ya. But next time will be a date," his signature cocky grin (that you already both hate and love at the same time) appears on his face

"Hah- What?"

"You heard me, bye for now," he waves you goodbye with his back turned to you and disappears in the crowd

"I guess I have no choice, huh? Not that I complain though..." you mutter to yourself before closing a door with the biggest smile on your face

Bonus:

Garou isn't dumb when it comes to realising his feelings

Well, yeah, it scares him at first since he doesn't want to depend on anyone and possibly be heartbroken

He tries to avoid you, but his attempts are in vain

Because he tends to get close to you as much as possible both mentally and physically

So he has no other option but to accept his crush on you

The next thing he wants to know is your feelings towards him

So in order to do that, he starts watching your every move, reaction, glance, touch, smile and listening to your every word very attentively

And of course he sees signs of attraction

(at least he hopes that these are)

Garou isn't someone who will appear at your door with a bouquet of flowers and nicely ask you out

So yeah, he decides to act all confident and practically leave you no choice but to go out with him

(he doesn't want to even consider rejection)

But he shouldn't worry because there is no way you'd deny him, right? ;)

Your heart is breaking every time you see posters with missing pets

They look so happy in their photos

And who knows what happens to these poor creatures...

You also feel sorry for their owners who must feel devastated

(what makes it worse is that there are some idiots who find it funny to call pet owners and imitate animal sounds)

Today is no exception

You stand in front of another poster

A cute cat is depicted in the picture

"Tama is a really friendly and calm cat. She likes to be petted and held in arms, but can also be easily scared too. If you find our cat, please be patient with her, so she could get comfortable around you. A generous reward is promised, please call this number: + XXX XXX XXXX" the text in the poster says

Sighing, you continue going to home and see this sheet glued to something every two steps

Damn, Tama's owners must be really worried about her

That's quite understandable

But sadly, as much as you want, you can't help them

So you continue going back home

As you're about to open the door, you suddenly hear a cat's loud meowing, signaling that the cat is hurt

You check the surroundings and find a cat with an unpleasant wound on his leg

Millions of different possible scenarios and outcomes race through your mind

Should you take a blanket from your place to wrap it around the cat and go to the vet?

Or maybe just patch up the cat at home?

What if he's hungry and thirsty?

The wound isn't bleeding, so it's something

In the end you decide to use your shirt as cocoon for the cat and take him to the nearest vet clinic

Fortunately, it's not busy and you don't have to wait to see a vet

It turns out that the wound is not deep and will be healed just in a week

What a relief!

(you also find out the the cat is a girl, not a boy)

You buy prescribed ointment with bandages and food for... uh, how should you name the cat?

Hmmm... C/n (cat's name) sounds good!

Now you're free to go home!.. With a pet...

Yeah, you didn't have time to properly think about it

Well, you can't just leave C/n alone on the street now, can you?

So you decide to take her home for now

On the way back you spot the same poster with missing cat again

Waaaaait a minute...

Tama is C/n!

Or C/n is Tama?

Anyway, for the first time in your life you're able to help owners find their pet!

You take the poster because you can't use your phone now

As you get home you organize a corner for Tama: bowls with milk and food (which almost immediately disappears), a box with a soft blanket (Tama really enjoys herself there) and some papers (just in case she wants to go to the toilet)

As for now, you're dealing the phone number given in poster

(and try to ignore your nervousness)

Beep...

... Beep...

....

Beeeeeeep...

...

... Beep...

Bee- "Yeah?" suddenly a man's voice asks

(ah, what a beautiful voice... and strangely familiar)

"U-um, good evening, I call you because I found your cat Tama."

"Oh my god, really?? Thank you so much!!! How is Tama?!"

"She is fine. Well, except for a wound on her leg. But don't worry, it's not serious, the healing process should take around one week."

"Oh, damn it, our poor cat... But thank you again for taking care of her. Where and when can I take her?"

"Well, she's with me at my place and I'm free for the rest of the evening, so if you want to take her back today, you can come whenever you want to."

"Great, I'll head out now. Where do you live?"

"Oh, right! How about I send you it in a message?"

"Yeah, that would be preferable, thanks. Alright, then I'm waiting for the address and heading out. See ya."

"Yeah, see you-" the line goes dead before you can finish your sentence, "soon..."

Sighning, you send the address and turn your attention back to the cat who is peacefully resting in the box

"Did you hear, Tama? Your owner is coming for you," you pet her head, "I know we've met just today, but I kinda got used to you. It's nice to have a pet, especially as chill as you. Heh, who knows, maybe I will even get someone in the future."

Soon a door bell rings

You reach the door, open it and see...

Metal Bat, an S-class hero!

(aka your celebrity crush)

(so that's why his voice seemed familiar on the phone)

(and oh god, he's even more handsome in reality than in the photos)

Metal Bat stares at you with mouth agape (and with a slight blush on his cheeks?), but quickly fixes his composure, clearing his throat

"Uh-h, hey, we're here for our cat, Tama."

We?

You look down and notice a small girl, holding Metal Bat's hand

She must be his little sister

And she has puffy eyes

Aww, poor thing must have been really worried about their cat

"Hello!" she confidently says

"Hey there. Um, please come in. Tama is sleeping now," you point at the cat

"Tama!" she immediately lets go of her brother's hand and rushes to the pet

"Hey, Zenko, wait, we're not at home, you can't just..." he extends his hand to stop his sister, but the little girl is faster

He sighs and looks at you, "Sorry about that. She was really worried about Tama. We both were."

You shrug it off, saying it was fine and reassuring him with sympathy

Both of you continue talking about Tama and how you rescued her while Zenko is hugging and petting the cat (who is still peacefully sleeping with belly upwards)

Metal Bat seems to be nervous (and even blushful?) in the conversation

You find it strange since he is always portrayed as a confident and tough man in the media

Maybe it's just his act? Who knows...

(in fact, he finds you really cute and attractive and has never interacted with girls like this before, that's why he feels anxious while talking to you)

However, his intense gaze (and the fact that you're talking to METAL BAT) makes you squirm too

What exactly is he looking at on your face? Oh god, what if he thinks you're ugly??

(he's actually admiring your beauty)

"We're forever grateful for finding Tama and treating her, seriously. We owe you big time, so is there anything we- I can do to thank you?

("Go on a date with me", you want to say)

"Ah, it's nothing, really! Like I said, I'm happy I could help, we need to take care of little ones."

"Yeah... But," he suddenly pulls something from his pocket and places it in your palm, "please take it."

You feel a big stack of cash in your hand

It's so big that you can barely clench your first

That is a LOT of money

"I... I can't accept that."

"No, take it," Metal Bat wraps his warm hands around yours, "Please, Y/n."

You both stare into each other eyes mesmerized

His hands never leaving yours

(and you love this)

(I'll tell you a secret that he loves it too, hence he doesn't move a muscle)

(moreover, he fights the sudden urge to kiss you)

"I... I just want you to know that I helped because I wanted to, not because of money..." you suddenly speak up

"Of course. Many people wouldn't even take Tama to the vet. So the fact you took care of our cat speaks volumes. We can't thank you enough," he notices that his hands are still on yours and awkwardly, yet reluctantly pulls them away, "Sorry..."

"Ah, it's okay..."

"Onii-chan, let's go home?" Zenko suddenly walks up to both of you

"Ah, yeah, we should get going now."

"Right, let me give you medicine for Tama."

You give a packet with stuff for the pet to Metal Bat since Zenko already holds Tama in her hands

They thank you again and you say bye to each other

Metal Bat seems to want to say something or ask you

But just shakes his head and heads out with his sister

And you're alone at home, processing what just happened

Both feeling pleasantly shocked that you talked to Metal Bat (and he even held your hand) and sad that that's all it was

He's gone now and you will never meet him

If he liked you, he would have asked you out, right?

Or maybe he was just too shy?

Or he simply didn't like you

Maybe he even has a girlfriend

But he wouldn't hold your hand and act like this in that case, would he?

Alright, then it means you just gotta message him and ask him out

Not now, of course

Or maybe just let it go? Maybe you're just delusional

In the end you decide to take a few days to make up your mind

Funny thing is that a couple days after, as you're about to text Metal Bat, you actually receive a message from him (what a coincidence!) :

"Hey, Y/n, it's Metal Bat. I hope you remember me😅 Anyway, I'd like to get to know you better and was wondering if you would like to go on a date with me?"

You firstly think your own eyes deceive you

But then of course you say yes

Bonus:

Badd wasn't interested in dating

And he especially didn't believe in love with a first sight

Though, when you open the door and he sees you

It's like his world turns upside down

You're the most beautiful girl he has ever seen in his life

(yes, he has fangirls, but they don't interest him)

Suddenly his breath catches in his throat, and his heart race speeds up

Oooooh, young hero is immediately attracted to you

That is something he didn't plan

And he falls for you even more while talking to you

(his heart melts when he feels your soft hand in his)

(he definitely can get used to this)

You're gorgeous, kind, funny and adorable

So there is no way you're single

But on the other hand, it wouldn't hurt to try, right?

As he is considering to ask you out before heading out

A thought of not being good enough for you crosses his mind

He's just a dumb guy with a bat, so yeah, he doesn't stand a chance

And just heads off

On the way back to their house, Zenko suddenly asks him a question, "Do you like Y/n, onii-chan?"

"Huh, what?"

"I like her, she is nice. And Tama was comfortable around her too, so it means a lot."

"Yeah, that's true..."

"You looked cute together. So, do you like Y/n?"

"I... Yeah, I think so."

"Then why you didn't ask her out?"

"Because it's probably not mutual."

"But I saw how she looked at you! She definitely liked you!"

"Really? You think so?"

"Yes! Now go back and ask her out!"

"No, Zen, it's not how it works. Too late for that."

"Onii-chan, you baka! You missed your chance!!"

"Well, not entirely. I still have her phone number, right?"

"Hmph, then text her."

"I will, but not now. It's better to do that tomorrow in the evening."

"Why?"

"Because I'm too scared to message her now."

"... Just trust me."

And so the next evening comes and it's time for Badd to message you

But there is a slight problem...

He feels more nervous than he should and can't think of anything good to type

Gladly, Zenko is here to help him

And they spend whole evening on composing his message for you

Though, they finish doing it too late, and Metal Bat has no other choice but to postpone messaging you again

When he finally sends you message next evening, he throws his phone on the table and leans back on the sofа, running his fingers through his hair and letting out deep breath

He finally did it

Now he needs to wait for your respo-

His phone vibrates, signaling that he received a new message

Feeling more nervous than before, he unlocks his phone and reads your reply

And then rereads it again

And again

"Hey😊 Of course I remember you, and yes, I'd love to go on a date with you! What do you have in mind? :)"

He can't believe it

You said yes

(bruh, of course you did)

And now Badd needs to decide what you'll do on the date

Well, crap, he didn't think about that

Amai Mask is an idol

And of course he has tons of fangirls, either fawning over him or genuinely loving him

Still, he doesn't want to have relationships with his fans

Every fan knows that and yet believes that they can be the one for him

Don't get him wrong, he loves his fans, but it gets overbearing sometimes

And as much as he loves attention and everything that popularity gives him, he still needs time to be alone

To chill in his jacuzzi, watch some TV-show with a glass of wine, eat at his favourite restaurant in a VIP zone

Or to take a walk in the park... which he's doing now

The park has a nice yard with a beautiful fountain in the center of it, bushes with blossoming flowers grow around the perimeter and lovely benches are stated on each side of the yard

In addition, there aren't a lot of people at this place and he almost never gets recognized

The key word: almost

"A-ah! It's you, Amai Mask! I'm your biggest fan!!!" a woman's voice distracts him from enjoying his walk, "Can I get your autograph and photo with you?"

He turns around and sees a woman with bright make-up on her face, wearing a luxurious dress and high heels

"Of course, how can I reject my gorgeous fan?" he fakes his famous smile, fixing his hair, "Though, I don't have a pen, so there can be a problem."

"Thank you! Don't worry, I got everything covered," she pulls out a pen and a small poster with him

His favourite picture of him is printed on the paper

(alright, let's be fair, he loves every picture of him)

Amai Mask signs the poster, poses for a photo and says good-bye to his fans

Now he can continue on with his walk

... And run into his another fan again

Looks like he isn't going to spend his time alone without anyone disturbing him

After dealing with the fangirl, he decides that it's time for him to go home

Yeah, jacuzzi sounds nice now

As he heads out from the park, he feels someone tapping on his shoulder, "Um, excuse me, sir..."

Ugh, not another one

"I'm sorry, sweetheart, as much as I love my fans and would like to give you my autograph, I can't. I have to be somewhere else, so I don't have time," he truns around and fixes his hair, arrogantly closing his eyes, and waves his hand as if dismissing the person

"What, you're so busy that you can't even take your scarf?"

"Huh?" he opens his eyes and sees you, handing him his scarf

Ah, it must have fallen

"Thanks, cutie..." he takes it and notices a rather suspicious figure from the corner of his eyes

A man prepares his camera to take a photo of Amai Mask... and you

Oh no, he knows where this is going

The reporter wants to make gossip about him and you!

Pop idol loves being in the center of attention and using gossip about him to gain more popularity, but for now he can't let that happen

So what to do?

Walk away? No, the reporter will get suspicious that both of you are hiding something

Act like you asked for his autograph and he was about to give it to you? This will work, but there is a risk you won't play along and that will draw even more suspicion

Pretend that he is the one who picked up the scarf? Yeah, it'll make him look good, but again, there'll be a high chance you won't go with the flow

What if you're one of those fans who want to be the center of attention with him?

Well, no matter what, Amai can just threaten the journalist and deal with him this way, but he doesn't want to

So, what to do? He needs to decide now

"Hey, I know this might be strange, but I need you to do something for me, no, for both of us," he whispers, "Just act like you're my fan who asks for my autograph. There is a reporter behind you who is about to film us together in order to publish some scandalous articles. You don't want that, do you?"

You skeptically raise your eyebrow

"Just who he thinks he is?" you ask yourself, "He looks like one of the guys who are too full of themselves and believe that the world resolves around them. ..So maybe it's some kind of prank? They're popular nowadays. Yeah, it must be."

"Ha-ha, very funny," you cross your arms, "And let me guess, the reporter is actually a friend of yours, and he's filming us. If I "play along", you two will upload a compilation of videos with people giving you autographs because you're allegedly a pop star."

Your words are like blades that cut through his ego

"... What? Do you even know who I am?"

"And why should I? I could care less."

Another strike right through his ego

"You know what? I don't have time for that. I've got better things to do than arguing with... you."

Now Sweet Mask strikes back

"..."

"HUUUUUUUUUH?" you suddenly exclaim, "Just who do you think you are to talk like that?!"

"And now you care enough to know who I am, huh?" he smirks

"Actually, no. I know who you are. You are a self-obsessed wannabe pop idol!"

Amai snorts, "Self-obsessed you say? That's rich coming from you."

"Excuse me?"

"Yeah, excuse you. You accuse me of being narcissistic when you're the one who thinks highly of herself, believing that she's so special because she didn't fall for a prank. But in reality, no one even pranked you. What, you're that desperate to be popular on the Internet?"

"What?" you cringe. "You're the desperate one. Otherwise, explain to me why you "warned" me about some reporter and now don't even care about him?"

Oh

He forgot about that

Instantly checking the journalist behind you, Sweet Mask sees him, taking pictures of you two

Great, just great! Everything goes NOT according to his plan

Instead of relaxing and spending time by himself, he has to deal with you and a noisy reporter

Groaning, Amai Mask moves past you and walks up to the man with the camera, starting to deal with him

You turn around and watch the scene

Turns out you were wrong. No one was pranking you. You in fact talked to the famous pop idol – Sweet Mask! And he was indeed right about the journalist

Well, this is embarassing

Should you do something? Or just walk away?

While you're contemplating what to do next, you glance at Amai Mask and start examining him

He is tall, muscular... and handsome

Damn, he is attractive, awfully attractive

And why is he kinda-

Wait, what are you even thinking about?

You walk to two men only to see the reporter literally fleeing from Amai Mask's wrath... and coldness?

It's a bit freezing when you approach him, maybe it was wind? Doesn't matter now, the cold is gone anyway

"Um, so..."

"So," he crosses his arms and stares at you

"... I'm sorry."

For a moment, there is a hint of surprise on his face, but it immediately fades away, turning back into annoyance

"I just had a shitty day and sorta lashed it out on you. That was wrong of me. Sorry again."

He keeps staring at you with crossed arms over his chest

You can't really read his gaze

Is he examining you? Cursing you? Waiting for you to say something? Battling between forgiving you or staying mad at this whole situation?

As you start walking away, he calls out to you, "A shitty day you say?"

"Uh, yeah," you turn back to him

"I'm not having a good day either. So..." he gets closer to you, "It looks like we both need to blow some steam off, to just chill and relax, huh?"

"Damn right. I just want to flop onto my bed and do nothing."

"I feel you. Though I was wondering something."

"Mmm?"

"How about we talk again when we have a good day? Or we can meet up to make our days better?"

Woah, what? Is he asking you out?

"I thought you hated me?"

"What gave you that vibe? My retorts? Well, it's only fair to treat others the same way they treat you. Besides, I like your feisty personality and pretty looks."

Wow, that's suspiciously unexpected

What if he is a playboy and wants to use you?

There were a few rumors about him and his one-night stands back then

Seeing your troubled face, Amai Mask clears his throat, "And no, it's not a prank or something like that. I'm serious. It'd be a shame if I missed an opportunity to get closer to you and regretted it later."

Ah, to hell with this! We live only once, right?

"I'm glad to know so. But you know what? Let's try and see where the future leads us."

Pop idol smirks, "Good answer. Here is a card with my phone number, please send a first message with your... name. Huh, I can't believe I still didn't ask it."

"It's Y/n."

"Y/n, huh? It suits you. Well, of course it does, a pretty name for a pretty girl. ..As cheesy as it sounds."

"Thank you," you smile at the compliment, taking his business card

"So, see you later then, Y/n."

The way he says your name makes your heart flutter for some reason

"Yeah, see you!"

"Looking forward to our date, and don't worry, I won't disappoint you," he winks at you and starts walking away

Okay...

What the hell just happened?!

And why is your heart beating so fast?

Bonus:

Sweet Mask instantly finds you beautiful

Which is already enough for him to understand that you're special

(you are my special... sorry, wrong fandom)

But what attracts him more is that you talk back to him

Of course you're not the first nor the last one to do this

However, he somehow feels entertained while arguing with you

Well, alright, mostly pissed, but amused too

Amai usually doesn't really bother bickering with others: he simply doesn't have time for that and has better things to do than waste his precious time on "idiots"

But since he does continue his quarrel with you, he realizes there's another thing he likes about you: the way you stand up to him and your witty comments

He's really interested in hearing more of your remarks

When he's done threatening the poor reporter and hears your apology, he's surprised for a second because he didn't take you as someone who would be sorry for their behavior

You managed to surprise him again

That's how Sweet Mask understands that he can't just let you go, that he is interested in you

So he decides to take a shot

And it's not like you'll reject him because...

He is Sweet Mask after all

[lylahammar]

I think the important thing about body neutrality and body positivity existing side by side is that body positivity is a big hurdle for people who are just starting to work on learning to love their bodies. When someone's at their lowest point, it's better to say "aim for just fine," and once they reach that level of neutrality where they can appreciate the functional ways their body is serving them, it's a lot more feasible to make the jump to seeing the visual beauty of it.

[moongothic]

Seen a few people too many discuss the concept of Dragodile Baby 2 and my hot take is that there's no way in hell Crocodile would ever detransition just to go through nine months of horrible dysphoria again, let alone go through pregnancy ever again (or allow Ivankov to even touch him, what if they died and weren't able to trans Croc's gender again afterwards? Hell naw, ain't worth the risk)

But this leaves an opportunity for a Funnier Option:

Dragon wants another baby? Sure, but it's his turn to carry it >:)

[anna-scribbles]

h-how do you ever finish any of your work? genuine question because you seem to be productive despite your agreste syndrome and I need to learn your ways. but also how do you ever finish any of your work

unclear. last night i stayed up and finished a report worth 25% of my grade at about 5am, arrived on time for my 9am lecture, and spent about half of it zoned out while thinking about seventeen year old emilie agreste. and i was one of the most active participants in the class discussion

[angelnumber27]

It’s so embarrassing and heartbreaking being in so much pain over losing someone while knowing they don’t give a fuck if you live or die. Your favorite person becoming a stranger is a special kind of hell.

[aggravatedanarchy]

Hello Kind Soul 💕

I am trying to evacuate my family from Gaza to safe area to save our lives ASAP 🙏

I Ask if you could support us by share my blog and boost my campaign?

https://www.gofundme.com/f/Stand-With-AlBalawi-Family

If you are generous enough, you can donate any small contribution, it really helps ❤

Of course!

Anyone who can donate, please consider doing so! It looks like they're currently at just under halfway to their goal.

If you're unable to donate, please consider reblogging this so that it might reach someone who can! (And hey, maybe consider reblogging it even if you did!)

Wishing you the best; I don't generally pray, but I will keep you in mine moving forward.

Here's a photo of my cat to hopefully get this more traction (and so I can put this in more tags)

[drdemonprince]

The data does not support the assumption that all burned out people can “recover.” And when we fully appreciate what burnout signals in the body, and where it comes from on a social, economic, and psychological level, it should become clear to us that there’s nothing beneficial in returning to an unsustainable status quo. 

The term “burned out” is sometimes used to simply mean “stressed” or “tired,” and many organizations benefit from framing the condition in such light terms. Short-term, casual burnout (like you might get after one particularly stressful work deadline, or following final exams) has a positive prognosis: within three months of enjoying a reduced workload and increased time for rest and leisure, 80% of mildly burned-out workers are able to make a full return to their jobs. 

But there’s a lot of unanswered questions lurking behind this happy statistic. For instance, how many workers in this economy actually have the ability to take three months off work to focus on burnout recovery? What happens if a mildly burnt-out person does not get that rest, and has to keep toiling away as more deadlines pile up? And what is the point of returning to work if the job is going to remain as grueling and uncontrollable as it was when it first burned the worker out? 

Burnout that is not treated swiftly can become far more severe. Clinical psychologist and burnout expert Arno van Dam writes that when left unattended (or forcibly pushed through), mild burnout can metastasize into clinical burnout, which the International Classification of Diseases defines as feelings of energy depletion, increased mental distance, and a reduced sense of personal agency. Clinically burned-out people are not only tired, they also feel detached from other people and no longer in control of their lives, in other words.

Unfortunately, clinical burnout has quite a dismal trajectory. Multiple studies by van Dam and others have found that clinical burnout sufferers may require a year or more of rest following treatment before they can feel better, and that some of burnout’s lingering effects don’t go away easily, if at all. 

In one study conducted by Anita Eskildsen, for example, burnout sufferers continued to show memory and processing speed declines one year after burnout. Their cognitive processing skills improved slightly since seeking treatment, but the experience of having been burnt out had still left them operating significantly below their non-burned-out peers or their prior self, with no signs of bouncing back. 

It took two years for subjects in one of van Dam’s studies to return to “normal” levels of involvement and competence at work. following an incident of clinical burnout. However, even after a multi-year recovery period they still performed worse than the non-burned-out control group on a cognitive task designed to test their planning and preparation abilities. Though they no longer qualified as clinically burned out, former burnout sufferers still reported greater exhaustion, fatigue, depression, and distress than controls.

In his review of the scientific literature, van Dam reports that anywhere from 25% to 50% of clinical burnout sufferers do not make a full recovery even four years after their illness. Studies generally find that burnout sufferers make most of their mental and physical health gains in the first year after treatment, but continue to underperform on neuropsychological tests for many years afterward, compared to control subjects who were never burned out. 

People who have experienced burnout report worse memories, slower reaction times, less attentiveness, lower motivation, greater exhaustion, reduced work capability, and more negative health symptoms, long after their period of overwork has stopped. It’s as if burnout sufferers have fallen off their previous life trajectory, and cannot ever climb fully back up. 

And that’s just among the people who receive some kind of treatment for their burnout and have the opportunity to rest. I found one study that followed burned-out teachers for seven years and reported over 14% of them remained highly burnt-out the entire time. These teachers continued feeling depersonalized, emotionally drained, ineffective, dizzy, sick to their stomachs, and desperate to leave their jobs for the better part of a decade. But they kept working in spite of it (or more likely, from a lack of other options), lowering their odds of ever healing all the while. 

Van Dam observes that clinical burnout patients tend to suffer from an excess of perseverance, rather than the opposite: “Patients with clinical burnout…report that they ignored stress symptoms for several years,” he writes. “Living a stressful life was a normal condition for them. Some were not even aware of the stressfulness of their lives, until they collapsed.”

Instead of seeking help for workplace problems or reducing their workload, as most people do, clinical burnout sufferers typically push themselves through unpleasant circumstances and avoid asking for help. They’re also less likely to give up when placed under frustrating circumstances, instead throttling the gas in hopes that their problems can be fixed with extra effort. They become hyperactive, unable to rest or enjoy holidays, their bodies wired to treat work as the solution to every problem. It is only after living at this unrelenting pace for years that they tumble into severe burnout. 

Among both masked Autistics and overworked employees, the people most likely to reach catastrophic, body-breaking levels of burnout are the people most primed to ignore their own physical boundaries for as long as possible. Clinical burnout sufferers work far past the point that virtually anyone else would ask for help, take a break, or stop caring about their work.

And when viewed from this perspective, we can see burnout as the saving grace of the compulsive workaholic — and the path to liberation for the masked disabled person who has nearly killed themselves trying to pass as a diligent worker bee. 

I wrote about the latest data on burnout "recovery," and the similarities and differences between Autistic burnout and conventional clinical burnout. The full piece is free to read or have narrated to you in the Substack app at drdevonprice.substack.com