#badass moto girl

[motocrunch]

[bikerbiddies]

where are all the good biker blogs at?? I need that vintage, grimey, old school rock and roll feel

[motocrunch]

Sunday funday

Motolove

[mimithealpaca]

chapter x - the singing bells (redraw of a picture from the vault)

creating has been very difficult for the past two months. i'm forcing things to chug along, but i can feel it in my brain. sometimes when i get like this, i revisit older pieces and redraw them. i've been trying to be even more intentional with the redraws though--what about the original picture can i improve on? what from the original is worth keeping and expanding on?

in this case, as you see in the next slide, i think the biggest improvement i made was composition. the original pic was a doodle of OCs a childhood bestie and i made as kids (although i sorta took them when we grew up and went into the sunset with them XDDD). that old pic was drawn in mspaint in 2009 (15 years ago!) so i obviously wasn't thinking about composition or anything. i think at best, i was trying to mimicry anime posters/illustrations i had seen of character faces just collaged on top of each other…

for my redraw, i essentially did the same, but i wanted the characters to be more grounded in reality. (and again, i wanted the bell tower to be more of the focal point.) i also drew on a bit of hagio moto (i don't think it's visible here at all) or just the aesthetic of older shoujo manga, hence the loss of color.

what i like about this scribble is how i managed to still translate the positioning of the characters' faces. see how the girl on the leftmost in the original picture is looking at the girl with tears in her eyes in the middle? i made it more obvious this time in the redraw, turning her head in her direction. in retrospect, maybe i could've played with her hair or the lighting on the crying girl who now turned badass-showing-midriff so there would be some leading lines to dress girl but alas.

speaking of which, i'm so glad i made her more badass. i won't get into the lore, but these are all actually the same character, just at different points in their lives/timelines. and… well, my current iteration of the lore for these characters is that leftmost girl has an identity crisis that definitely would not have her wearing some boring ass pink tank top as an adult.

anyway, the title of the arc these characters showed up in was called "silver singing bells" but like, let me tell you, as the god of their world. THERE ARE NO SINGING BELLS. HELL, THE DEUS EX MACHINA THAT ALLOWS TIME FUCKERY TO HAPPEN ARE NECKLACES. YOUNG ME JUST RANDOMLY PICKED WORDS THEY THOUGHT SOUNDED KINDA COOL AND SAID "YEAH!" but. a homage is a homage. young me drew a lot, even when they were down in the dumps, which is something i haven't even been able to do so… kudos to them, yeah? and so, i kept the singing bells for the fake chapter title at least lol

[yukiakaren]

Kpop title track ranking: BoA

In this series I’ll be ranking kpop groups/soloists title tracks based on my taste.

Next up is the legendary BoA! If you are a new kpop fan and have not really listened to BoA's songs, please, do yourself the favor of checking her songs out. Her discography is diverse, so I assure there is something for everyone! With that out of the way, let's get to the ranking, shall we?

One Shot, Two Shot - It's cheerful, catchy, and easy to listen to. What else could I ask for? It just is captivating to me and I really really like it!

Only One - A classic for a reason. The whole package just works. It's just so well executed break-up story and the instrumentation is so so pleasant with BoA's lovely vocals.

Forgive Me - Well. I have been just flat out wrong about this one. I thought I didn't like it but now listening to it, wow it's great! The rock influence feels so fresh here. The rap feels maybe a tad unnecessary for me but other than that this is really cool and I have to give it the credit it deserves.

Hurricane Venus - My first BoA song! Severe amount of autotune but I can't help that the nostalgia makes me forgive that.

Girls On Top - Obviously the age of the song shows heavily but it just is so badass! Especially considering when it was released.

Better - Better was better than what I remembered. (yes, I'll see myself out) It has way too much catchiness to it for me to pass it by.

Copy & Paste - Admittedly not one of those songs that I would have listened to a lot but something in it makes me think it's pretty cool and I should have listened to more to it.

Woman - Cool and adult. Not just my personal favorites but undoubtedly deserving this spot.

Kiss My Lips - Just so well done song. Not thematically my fav but I can't ignore the catchiness of this one either.

My Name - My Name is undoubtedly cool. Gotta like it. No.1 - I mean this song was hugely popular for a reason. It's an easy to listen to upbeat number.

ID; Piece B - The age of the song is easy to spot. But still it's cool. And oh my was she good already despite being incredibly young.

Moto - I have to admit I only recognized the chorus. Hence, even though it sounds very cool, I can't lift it above the songs that I have listened to more. But clearly I should listen to this more often!

Atlantis Princess - For this one I don't have any personal nostalgia that would bump it up a bit. It's a perfectly fine song but for some reason I haven't really been the biggest fan of it personally.

Starry Night ft. Crush - Well here's one that has clearly completely went past my radar. Not the most interesting song either, so I'm not too sorry about the spot at the bottom.

Other songs needing a mention: Encounter - This was love on the first listen. Such a great one, highly recommend checking this one out! Shattered - It took me a while to fall for this one but it really is great. Camo & Nega Dola - Such a great ones that ended up not being title tracks like they should have been for no apparent reason. Valenti (Korean version) - For some reason this was the version I heard first and now it's the one I exclusively listen to. Energetic, Eat You Up, I Did It For Love, Did Ya - They very much sound like the western radio hits of that time and that's what they should have been. They sound nostalgic to me and the English is not an issue in these songs. Just impressive. Only downside here is that official versions of the bsides/music video-less songs seem to not be anywhere =/ Hence I'm not linking Did Ya here.

[menshort]

Elegance Redefined: The Ultimate Jacket Styles for Women in 2023

Introduction:

In the ever-evolving world of fashion, a woman's wardrobe is incomplete without a versatile and stylish jacket. Jackets not only keep you warm and cozy in the chillier months but also make a powerful fashion statement. In 2023, we are witnessing a delightful resurgence of classic styles, a fusion of contemporary and timeless designs, and a celebration of individuality through jackets for women. Let's explore the latest trends and must-have jacket styles for women this year.

1. The Classic Trench Coat:

The trench coat is a true wardrobe staple that never goes out of style. This year, designers are adding modern twists to the classic silhouette. Look for trench coats in unexpected colors like pastel pink, deep green, or bold cobalt blue. Oversized buttons, cinched waists, and playful details on the sleeves are all the rage. A well-fitted trench coat is the epitome of elegance and sophistication.

2. The Bomber Revival:

The bomber jacket has made a triumphant return, and it's more stylish than ever. This season, expect to see bombers in a wide range of materials, from luxurious silk to plush velvet. Embroidery, metallic accents, and intricate patterns add a touch of glam to this sporty silhouette. Pair your bomber with jeans for a casual day out or with a sleek dress for a night on the town.

3. Leather Love:

Leather jackets have always been synonymous with edgy style, but this year, they are embracing versatility. Leather jackets in shades like blush pink, deep burgundy, and rich cognac are hitting the runway. Consider a leather blazer for a chic office look or a cropped moto jacket for a rebellious vibe. The key is to find the perfect fit and embrace your inner badass.

4. Quilted Comfort:

Quilted jackets are back in a big way, and they're not just for winter anymore. Lightweight quilted jackets provide warmth without the bulk, making them ideal for transitional weather. Look for quilted jackets with bold prints, contrasting piping, or unusual textures. These cozy jackets are perfect for layering and adding a touch of casual sophistication to your outfit.

5. Denim Dreams:

Denim jackets are a timeless classic, but this year, they are getting a makeover. Oversized and distressed denim jackets are making waves, giving off a laid-back, cool-girl vibe. Patchwork and embellished denim jackets are also gaining popularity, offering a playful and creative twist on this wardrobe staple. Pair your denim jacket with a sundress or your favorite pair of jeans for a chic and effortless look.

6. Puffer Power:

Puffer jackets have evolved from their functional roots to become a fashion statement. In 2023, puffers come in various lengths, from cropped to knee-length, and in a plethora of eye-catching colors. Brands are using sustainable materials to create eco-friendly puffers that are both warm and stylish. Embrace the puff and stay cozy in style.

Conclusion:

In 2023, women's jackets are all about embracing individuality and celebrating the timeless with a twist. Whether you prefer the classic elegance of a trench coat, the edginess of leather, or the laid-back vibe of a denim jacket, there's a perfect jacket style for every woman. The key is to choose jackets that make you feel confident and reflect your personal style. So, step out in style this year, and let your jacket be your statement piece.

[motocrossbabes]

No one does it better than the beautiful Sierra Shaver Instagram: @twowheelgypsy

[dccomicsimagines]

The New Recruit - Kaldur’ahm x Reader

Requested by Anon -  A story about the justice league employing new recruits in the young justice. Kaldur is both annoyed and in love with one new girl.

Requested by Anon -  Can I get a fic where Kaldur falls in love with some badass girl after she rides on his moto to trash some criminal?

Requested by blackafricanqueen -  Can I get a fix where Kaldur is both annoyed and in love with a justice league new recruit?

Slight spoilers for season four ahead...

***

Kaldur crossed his arms, eyeing the new recruits standing in the main area of the Watchtower. He and Artemis stood together to one side as Black Lightning addressed the new members. “Black Lightning believes these are the key for the league to stay current with the times?” he asked, glancing at Artemis.

Artemis shrugged. “Yeah, he says we need more diversity.” She snorted. “Diversity in abilities and training anyway.” 

Kaldur hummed as Black Lightning finished and gestured for Kaldur to join him. Artemis gave him a supportive look as Kaldur left her side. “This is Aquaman. He’ll be in charge of getting you settled and trained on the League’s methods.” Kaldur barely hid his wince. Why did he become the League’s trainer? Couldn’t Batman do it?

Suddenly, one girl, maybe slightly younger than Kaldur, raised her hand. Black Lightning chuckled at the sight before nodding to her. “Is he Aquaman number one, two, or three? Isn’t there three Aquamans now?” 

Kaldur narrowed his eyes at her. She just smiled back cheekily. “He’s the second Aquaman,” Black Lightning said, a smirk on his face. “Now I’ll leave you to him.” Black Lightning turned and walked out of the room. 

“What now, sir?” the militant-looking recruit asked, relaxing slightly. He must be ex-military, Kaldur guessed. Jefferson never did give Kaldur the files on any of the new recruits. He’ll have to find them later.

“Now we will train.” Kaldur gestured for them to follow him as he turned to lead them deeper into the Watchtower.

“Yes, Aqua Two.” Kaldur looked over his shoulder at the girl. Annoying girl. 

“Aquaman is fine,” Kaldur said shortly.

“But what if all the Aquamans are in the same place, then I’d have to call you Aqua Two, so might as well start now.” The girl grinned. Kaldur sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose before looking away. The other two recruits were wonderfully silent. Kaldur led them toward the training room, planning to put the annoying girl through more rounds with higher difficulty as a result.  

***

“Is that it?” You panted, grinning at Aqua Two as he frowned deeply. You knew you pushed him too far and he was punishing you. It was very enjoyable to see him become more and more dissatisfied as you met every one of his challenges. Every part of your body ached. You were slowing down. Hopefully, Aqua Two will give up before you do. 

“No.” Aqua Two gestured for the other two recruits to leave. “You are done for the day. See you tomorrow.” They quickly left. “I will run another simulation.” 

You sighed, taking a moment to catch your breath. However, the simulation started immediately and you barely ducked to avoid a giant ax flying at your head. A huge Viking man formed out of thin air. You smirked and grabbed the ax as he took another swing. Riding the ax up in the air as he attempted to throw you off, you flipped over him to land a kick to his lower back. He stumbled allowing you to flip around him and perform a nerve strike to his neck. The Viking fell hard and disappeared. Two Vikings appeared the moment the other disappeared. You took a deep breath before standing your ground. 

***

“Kaldur, aren’t you taking this a bit far? You had her in there for hours,” Raquel said, appearing at Kaldur’s side. Kaldur flinched. He should have heard her come in.

“This new recruit has an attitude problem.” Kaldur crossed his arms. He noticed you were slowing down. You took a hit to the face, toppling over. However, you recovered quickly, rolling back to your feet and taking down the Viking.

Raquel hummed. “You have to stop. This is Wonder Woman’s program. It will kill her.” She reached around and turned it off. You froze as the Vikings disappeared. Kaldur clicked his tongue. Raquel rolled her eyes and turned to you. “Go to the med bay. That last hit must have really hurt.”

“I’m good.” You grinned despite the blood dripping from your mouth. “Ready to keep going, Aqua Two? If you are still up for it?”

Kaldur blushed as Raquel glanced back at him with a smirk. “You’re done. Go home, (Y/N). We’ll see you here tomorrow.” Raquel waved you off and eyed Kaldur. You waved cheerfully and limped out of the room. “So you’re punishing her for teasing you?”

“It is improper.” Kaldur pursed his lips, realizing he was taking out his frustrations on you. Truth was, he didn’t like having to share the Aquaman name. It was the way it had to be, but it certainly led to several situations he didn’t appreciate. For example, being called in when they actually wanted Orin. Very irritating.

“She is just teasing you, Kaldur. No different than how I would.” Raquel shook her head. “I’ll have a word with her to lay off, but don’t take your frustrations out on the newbie because she annoys you.” She crossed her arms. 

Kaldur sighed, dropping his shoulders. “I...You are right.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Check on her for me.” He met Raquel’s eye. “I will apologize to her once I have time to...calm down.”

Raquel nodded, patting Kaldur’s shoulder. “Don’t take what she does personally. I’m the one who recruited her. She’s sassy, but her heart is in the right place.” Raquel walked out of the room. Kaldur watched her go before heading toward the zeta tubes to go back to Atlantis. 

***

You couldn’t believe you had survived this long in the League. After the first day, you assumed you would be pushed out, but here you were on your first official Justice League mission. You brushed off your brand new suit even though you received it only a hour before. 

“(Y/N), are you paying attention?” Aqua Two snapped, nudging your arm as he passed. You jerked back into reality. He waved for you to follow him. You hurried along, smiling brightly at the thought of being partnered with Aqua Two. This is a chance to proof yourself to him.

“I am. Ready to join you on guard duty.” You nudged him back. He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose as he led you toward the zeta tube. You knew you were annoying him again with just your eagerness, but you didn’t care. Today was the day.

***

“It’s not every day you get to see the president in person,” you said as you sat on the edge of the roof next to Aqua Two. “He looks taller on TV.”

Aqua Two hummed in response, standing next to you as he scanned the crowd below. The Justice League was asked to provide extra security for the president when intel about an assassination attempt was revealed. An assassination attempt by a super villain nevertheless. 

“No sign of any suspicious activity over here,” Plastic Man reported through the comlink. 

“Nothing here,” you said before Aqua Two could speak. He narrowed his eyes at you. You shrugged. “What? I can speak too. Otherwise, why give me a comm?” 

“Quiet.” He turned away from you, studying the crowd below. You looked too. Several minutes of silence passed. The crowd grew as the president began his speech. You listened, smiling when the president cracked a joke to lighten the mood. Aqua Two’s eyes were on you. You glanced at him. He blushed when you caught him looking. 

You gave him a smile before examining the other roof tops. Nothing seemed to be out of place until you saw a slight flash of light reflecting on metal. Moving fast, you threw one of your shurikens just in time to stop a throwing knife from hitting the President in the chest. The assassin stepped out of the shadows and made eye contact with you. “Brutale.”

Aqua Two was giving orders through the comms, but you weren’t paying attention. Suddenly, Brutale threw another knife, but toward you. You were about to duck only for Aqua Two to tackle you to the ground. “Pay attention,” he growled as he rolled off you quickly and jumped to his feet.

“I was.” You hopped to your feet to see Brutale still on the roof. “I’m going after him,” you said before turning to look at Aqua Two. He looked back at you with a hint of concern in his eyes.

“You’re not ready for this.” He grabbed your arm, squeezing tight. Out of the corner of your eye, you watched the president being escorted inside the building by Plastic Man and one of the other new recruits. Brutale watched the president before looking back at you. 

You licked your lips. Brutale stepped back into the shadows. “I’m sorry, but I have to.” You jerked away from Aqua Two and fired your new grapple gun to give chase.

***

“Foolish,” Kaldur mumbled under his breath as he watched you go. He tapped his comm. “Is the president safe?” 

“Yes, sir. The president is secure,” the recruit said. “Have we captured the assassin?” 

“No, (Y/N) and I are in pursuit.” Kaldur ran for the fire escape and quickly climbed down the stairs. “Stay with the president.” He jumped down into the street, dodging the crowd when he saw you and Brutale fighting in the middle of the stage where the president had just been. Kaldur pushed past people, fighting his way to you. “(Y/N), I’m here. Keep him there.” 

“Working on it,” you replied as you dodged several throwing knives. One nicked your cheek, but you kept fighting. Kaldur jumped into the fight. Brutale fell back once he realized he was outnumbered. Moving fast, he hopped into the crowd. You and Kaldur shared a quick look. Kaldur held up three fingers. You smiled before sprinting off to the right. Kaldur moved left. He felt proud you had memorized the signals so fast. 

Brutale reached a motorcycle that was waiting for him on the street. He hopped on and drove off. “Crap.” You ran up next to Kaldur. Kaldur hummed, tapping his wrist to call his motorcycle. He had it hidden nearby, sensing it would be needed. Your eyes widened as it parked itself next to Kaldur. “Wow, do I get one of those?”

“Maybe. For now, you ride with me.” Kaldur climbed on. You eyed him before snuggling in behind him. Your arms tight around his waist. Kaldur felt a blush come to his cheeks. Luckily, you couldn’t see. Maybe you weren’t so annoying after all? Maybe even a little cute? He shook his head before zooming off after Brutale.

Kaldur followed Brutale closely. “Get alongside him,” you whispered. Kaldur tensed, feeling your breath on his ear. His body buzzed excitedly. He took a deep breath, pushing his thoughts aside. Brutale attempted to throw a few knives at Kaldur’s tires, but he dodged them. 

Your arms left Kaldur’s waist. He felt your hands on his shoulders. A glance behind revealed you were standing on the motorcycle seat. “What are you doing?”

“I got this.” You patted his shoulder with one hand as he sped up to catch up with Brutale. Suddenly, you jumped onto Brutale’s cycle. He attempted to stab you, but you dodged it and attached yourself around his neck. Kaldur dropped back, watching worriedly. 

With one jerk of the handles, Brutale’s motorcycle turned sharply, sending you and Brutale into the air. The cycle rolled several time. Kaldur slammed on his brakes. His heart stopped when he saw you hit the ground. The cycle flew over you and landed on Brutale who crashed on the ground after you. He heard a terrible snap. 

“(Y/N)?!” Kaldur dropped his motorcycle and ran to your side. He tapped his comm. “We need medical assistance immediately.” Kaldur checked your pulse. He frowned at the blood pooling by your head. “(Y/N)? Can you hear me?”

You moaned, opening your eyes. “That hurt.” Your lips cracked that annoying, yet wonderful smile. “Did we get Brutale?”

“Yes, he is over there.” Kaldur glanced over at him. Brutale moved slightly, but he wasn’t going to be able to get away. Kaldur focused his attention back on you when you hissed. “Don’t move.” 

“I think I broke my arm, Aqua Two.” You grinned when Kaldur narrowed his eyes. 

“Hush now.” Kaldur sighed in relief as an ambulance arrived. “Never do anything like that again.”

“We got him,” you said, closing your eyes. 

“You got him.” Kaldur pulled away as the paramedic came up. He went over to join the paramedic by Brutale to make sure he didn’t try to escape. Your laughter filled his ears and he knew you’d be okay.

***

A few hours later, you laid in your hospital bed. The TV played some old western. You watched it listlessly, wishing the pain in your body to go away. Apparently, they gave you some drugs, but the pain was still there. 

A knock on the door frame cheered you up. You grinned, looking over at the door to see Aqua Two standing there with a bouquet of flowers. A smile pulled at your lips. Did he really get your flowers?

“Hi,” you said when he didn’t move, staring at your cast.

“Hello.” He shook his head, stepping inside. “The doctor said you are alright.”

“Yeah, just some broken bones. They want to keep me overnight for observation.” You gestured to the chair with your good arm. He took the seat before handing you the flowers. “Thank you.” You held them to your nose, breathing in their scent. 

“I was told flowers are a customary gift for an injured person.” Aqua Two smiled tightly as you set the flowers in your lap. “How are you feeling?”

“Good. The painkillers aren’t kicking in super fast, but I’ll live.” You leaned back against your pillows. “Is Brutale in custody?” 

Aqua Two nodded. “He is. You did a good job.”

You smiled, thinking it was only a few weeks ago when he was punishing you for being cheeky. “You did too. Couldn’t have done it if you weren’t driving.”

A nurse came in to check on your vitals. She glanced between you and Aqua Two. You bit your lip while Aqua Two blushed. “Everything looks good. Call us if you need anything,” the nurse said, sending you a wink as she shut the door to your room behind her. 

“Tomorrow...” Aqua Two stopped and cleared his throat. Eyes on the floor. You watched him, smiling happily. “Would you allow me to escort you home from the hospital tomorrow?” 

You reached out to take his hand. “I would appreciate that.” Your heart skipped a beat, his hand felt so strong. “Thanks Aqua Two.” 

“Kaldur.” You blinked in surprise. He looked up at you, a hint of a smile pulling at his lips. “You may call me Kaldur.”

“Kaldur,” you said, testing the name on your lips. You liked it. He entwined his fingers with yours. Your skin electrized at the touch. “That’s a nice name.” 

The two of you fell into conversation and the time slipped away. Eventually, you didn’t even notice the pain anymore.

[bikeraholic]

#Repost @martin_slide ・・・ А кто не любит Harley Davidson !!! Photo by: @martin_slide (Andrey Martin) ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ ▶️ Follow @bikeraholic ◀️ ▶️ Follow @raul.blendz ◀️ ▶️ Follow @thespotbarbershop ◀️ ______________________________ www.facebook.com/BikerAholic www.Twitter.com/BikerAholic _______________________________ 📸 Tag your pics and videos with ▶️ @bikeraholic #bikeraholic ◀️ for a chance to be featured. ✌🏻️🏍 ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ #martinslide #martinphoto #top #hd #harleydavidson #kiev #amazing #wow #summer #girls #sexy #moto #beke #oneroadschool #lady #body #hot #fashion #session #studio #andreymartin #photographer #badass #good

[bougiebutchbitch]

I know the Sak/ura stuff happened hours ago, but I just happened to see it, and I have a couple Thoughts (along the same lines as you & the other anon were talking about - i'm not trying to convince you of my opinions or anything, i'm just casting them out into the world)

When I was first watching the original Naruto series, I honestly thought she was pretty annoying - but in fairness, I thought they ALL were annoying. And that's okay! Because they're all like 13 during that series, and who isn't annoying at that age?? I know I was for sure

But I think the reason I love her is mostly from what she could have been. And I think the scene from the chunin exams where she cuts her hair could've been the perfect turning point, where she could have realized that while she loves sas/uke, she's not IN love with him (no hate to people who ship them, I just don't) and could have moved on to being her own person

And I loved that she was at least slightly more mature during shippuden (and had the first akatsuki kill!!), but it seemed like every time sas/uke was mentioned, she almost reverted back to how she was at 13, and I think that's unfortunate

And obviously everything ends up coming down to the writing and the story, I just think that it's unfortunate how it ended because she seemed to have so much potential, but every time the story provided the perfect opportunity for her to fulfill it, she didn't and I just think it's unfortunate

Now obviously, she's not perfect, and did some kinda fucked up things (the way she treated nar/uto during the academy & while they were genin, and even during parts of shippuden, among other things), but I feel like that honestly gives her more potential or possibility for growth that she never gets

because that's the thing, people aren't perfect, good people do bad things sometimes, and bad people can do good things. Nothing is ever truly black and white

Anyways, I didnt mean for this ask to be so long, sorry about that

Nah that's super valid!

She had so much narrative potential as a character. Sadly, it felt like she was always made to play second fiddle to Naru/to and Sas/uke - whether she was fulfilling the in-universe acknowledged role of 'girl specifically put on a team to make boys fight over her, so the boys can become stronger', or only getting one badass boss fight against Sas/ori, while Nar/uto and Sas/uke have SO MANY AMAZING FIGHTS.

But y'know what? This could've been a REALLY INTERESTING THING TO EXPLORE.

Obviously, it's a bit cringe that so many of the 'main' women in Naru/to are medics (Sak/ura, Shi/zune, Tsu/nade, and In/o, I believe...). There comes a point where it's just feeding into the 'healing and nurturing support-class women' stereotype, even if medics are badass and they can Punch Stuff HardTM.

But if Kishi/moto had truly committed to giving Sakura more screentime and delved deep into what it's like to be a battlefield medic, the trauma of not being able to save everyone, and how she formed her own identity separate to the boys that wasn't centred around fighting... I would LAP THAT SHIT UP.

I mean, sure, she starts a therapy centre in Bor/uto... but I want more on-screen development!

I want her to slowly realise her own self-worth, and stop comparing herself to her two literal god-level teammates!

I want her to make a name for herself among civilians! Of Team 7, she's the only one born to civilian parents, and that's a link I'd love to see explored.

Of course, that's not possible, because Nar/uto is a shonen manga and the focus is always going to be on Wham Bam Big Fight Scene. Sak/ura could've had an incredible arc, but she's hampered both by the writer and the genre. I understand, but I think there were ways that the manga could've kept its shonen feel without doing her character such disservice.

Give me a Sak/ura arc where tensions between civilians and shinobi in the village are rising, and Nar/uto, Sas/uke and Kak/ashi are blind to the problem, because they're all so entrenched in the shinobi world. Give me a Sak/ura arc where she gains her own super badass technique and has her own boss villain to fight. Give me a Sak/ura arc where - maybe even after having Sar/ada! - she starts to question her relationship to Sas/uke and how she acts around him, and starts demanding more respect!

Obligatory note that I haven't watched much of Bor/uto so maybe Sak/ura and Sas/uke have a vaguely healthy relationship now and they've worked out all their issues... idk slkdfjhgksjdg

But just - yeah. She deserved better. As a result, I can understand why people disliked her in the anime, and loved her - for all the reasons you said.

[motocrunch]

girls and bikes. I don't need more

[watermelinoe]

have u read any of moto hagio’s manga ?

also, any shoujo/josei manga recs ? <3

i haven't! i'm not super familiar with classic shoujo tbh but i love that art style, and i have iguana no musume on my list to read!

ok ooooh ok i'll try to organize my recs a bit

for f/f pairings, i prefer josei, and omg i can't believe i only read this recently but kakeochi, girl blew my mind 😭

the art style is so cute, the love story is heart wrenching and triumphant, i just loved it. it's about two women who dated as girls, but now one of them is an adult and getting married to a man (derogatory)

ok for a real short one volume yuri that no one talks abt, ebisu-san to hotei-san is a comfort manga for me. its only flaw is a scene where one woman touches her love interest's breast while she's asleep which >:/// otherwise such a fluffy wholesome little manga, but that might be a deal breaker so i always give that disclaimer. it's about two women who work together but don't get along until one finds out the other's secret and they see each other in a new light

another real short yuri is pietà, but it is pretty dark, the triggers are self-harm and suicide attempts. it isn't a tragedy though, it's a lovely story. the plot is.... not super important, but the two classmates realize they have a connection to each other and become inseparable. they slowly uncover what that connection is.

one i'm currently reading, it's complete but not fully scanlated, is 2dk, g pen, mezamashi tokei. published in comic yuri hime but i can't find info abt the demographic, so this might not be shoujo/josei for sure. it's about two women who're roommates but total opposites; one is an aspiring mangaka and the other a businesswoman. the cast is all women and so far they're getting fleshed out as well.

ok this next one is a doujin but hear me out, it makes me melt. hebi-onna to kumotsu-chan.

despite being offered as a human sacrifice, the snake queen doesn't seem interested in eating her. at least... not like that 😳

listen alright if you're not reading otome game no hametsu flag you are missing out on bakarina, dumbass extraordinaire, who has no idea she's in a harem manga bc she only thinks abt gardening and destruction flags. yes it's an isekai (shut up i like them) but it's so funny, and yes the other girls all want her, too. it even has an anime

so for Hettery, i'm pr sure all the weebs already know kimi ni todoke which is one of my fav manga of all time bc i love my girls, it's such a good coming of age story. also akatsuki no yona which deserves a season two already, featuring a princess who gets progressively more badass and mature as she works from behind the scenes to protect her kingdom after being forced to flee her home. i know it looks like a harem, but it isn't

so if you like fantasy/historical romance, hi hello please talk to me bc i'm so alone surrounded by shounen lmaoo here we go

for some really cute fluffy shit, i'm reading fukushuu wo chikatta shironeko wa ryuuou no hiza no jou de damin wo musaboru. it's another isekai fight me anyway the heroine gets transported to another world and finds out the spirits fuckin love her, so she ends up living w in the imperial castle for her own protection except..... everyone thinks she's a cat. and at this point it's too awkward to clear things up 🐈

the one i'm Obsessed with rn is colette wa shinu koto ni shita. overwhelmed with patients, the doctor colette decides to jump in a well and end it all. except she doesn't die, and instead ends up in the underworld, where she finds out the lord hades has a mysterious illness and becomes his doctor. now she goes back and forth, treating patients on the surface and also getting closer with everyone in the underworld. but what about her short lifespan, how are they gonna make it work.. . i have theories alright

i love shoujo art styles i'm gonna die. look at cerberus.... three of them......

and if you wanna know the real self-indulgent trashy shit i read so i can project onto the male love interest, i have an anilist 😔✌️

[underwaterbrother]

WHAT YOUR FAV LOVE NIKKI CHARACTER SAYS ABOUT YOU

Nikki : You’re very soft and kind and probably a good person

Momo : You’re either a child, or insane

Bobo : You’re bubly and cute and probably creative

Lunar : You’re kind of a poet and probably writes angst

Kimi : You’re a lesbian

Orlando : You’re probably chill and nice to talk too or gay

Neva : You’re ultra cool and a bit edgy but very very cool

Royce : You like Disney boys

Yvette : You want to protect her at all cost

Ace : You’re probably adventurous and probably bi

Yue Qiangshuang : You’re a sucker for sword girls and lesbian or bi

Bai Jinjin : You like cute girls and wonder why she looks like Nikki

Fu Su : You like pretty feminine boy who will play with your mind

Sofia : You want her to top you

Queen Elle : You’re very extra and also probably a lesbian

Queen Nanari : You’re not following the plot you just think she’s pretty

Reid : why

Mela : You like bad girls and you probably lowkey have a crush on her

Debbie : You’re small

Sherry : You think she’s cool and sincere and you probably relate a bit

Ransa : You’re probably sapphic and very cool and badass and also she reminds you of Enjolras

Starlet : You’re a good person

Bai Yongxhi : You like deep stories but you play Love Nikki instead of reading a book

Zhu Yuxian : You like bad boy but with class

Ming Shuiyuan : You’re very impression irl and also congrats for following the plot

Louie : You ship him with Lunar or something like that I guess I’m sorry I don’t know much about him he’s just the white hair moto guy.

Kaja : You have a great taste. Also gay.

Annabel : You’re a weeb

The Mayor : Trans right also you’re cute

Toto : You’re an astrologer or something  Ozeca I can’t get the picture in idk why : You like girls you like guns and you like badass cool girls with cool guns

Gray Raven : You’re very edgy or a medical student

Peachy : Same but you’re cute

Shade : You’re edgy

Cesare : You’re emo

Nidhogg : You’re insane

[foureoreos]

The fandom doesn’t seem to like the female characters as much as the male ones. I think it’s because the males are part of everyone’s favorite ships and we tend to care more about those characters more idk. So many people even dread seeing new female characters because they’re scared of the canon heterosexual relationships that follow. I’m really uncomfortable with how the fans react to the female characters in favor of their gay ships... is that like weird?

This is a good ask!

But I don’t think “ships” are the reason that everyone tends to flip out about the female characters in this show.

I love female leads. But here’s for starters...

I can’t find any of them relatable because:

A) The handful of female characters we do get on the show hardly ever show up so it’s hard to get a grasp of what their personality is like. i.e. Skylor.

B) When they do show up they’re either: written very poorly, bland, aggressive, or just don’t last very long.

So far, my favorite ones have been Pixal, Faith, Mystake, and Harumi, and quite possibly Akita. Racer Seven was cool too but she only showed up for maybe 1 or 2 episodes? Akita? Only a season. Faith? A season and just a wee bit of MoTO. Mystake died in Hunted. Harumi? Two seasons actually, then died, but came back as an avatar in Prime Empire! Also, she’s a villain, and my analysis here is mostly around the protagonists.

Pixal’s actually gotten good development. She’s definitely grown on me. And I love that she can still be feminine and badass. She’s caring, shows human emotions, sassy, and smart. And although Pixal is a part of the group, the writers don’t write her as a main character. Unfortunately. Which I pointed out to show that she also doesn't get as much screen time as... drum roll please... Nya!

And that, folks, is the reason why I had an entire Twitter thread with someone about why I care about how her character is written and represented. And why I diss on her so much. Because she’s the main “poster girl” that every little girl watching is supposed to look up to since, let’s face it, everyone else is waiting in the wings (lol, Tangled fans did you catch that reference?). But, let’s also acknowledge how most of the little girls who were watching are probably already grown up now. Like me :) And I could go deeper into why I pick apart Nya like that, but we won’t do that on this post.

Anyhoo, that’s still no excuse to write a female character poorly.

Now, when *she* arrives...

Everyone dreads when a new female character is introduced into the show because the show tends to have a reputation of writing them off first as a love interest to one of the ninja. Not even after getting to know them first, just the second they’re right there in the show.

Jay immediately went after Nya the second he heard Kai mention that they were saving his sister. So, a girl.

Zane instantly sparked some kind of romantic attraction with Pixal. However, I still kinda play around with the fact that they’re both just robots? So it was kind of the “robot love” scenario.

Kai instantly fell head over heels for Skylor the second she turned around.

Lloyd had his eyes on Harumi the second he laid eyes on her.

It’s not just bad writing, but it’s also very annoying. And it’s also almost always annoying because it’s a boy falling for a girl. Which is seen quite often. Repetitively. The reason we all shake our heads at it is because it feels like the ninja only like girls. We just want representation, that’s all.

And the writer’s can’t even write good relationships for the sake of the show. Then again, they can’t even write the female characters well on the show too. Maybe you’d think they’d need a female writer or two on board.

Now this part, I had a conversation on twitter several hours ago about this. About why the fandom excuses and likes the boys more than the girls.

I think it’s because:

A) They’re more interesting and the dynamic they have with one another is very fun.

B) There are the fans who see them as “pure innocent beans who could never do anything wrong” and when they do do something wrong, it’s simply excused. Of course, not everyone does that. But I’ve seen the people who do. I made a tweet acknowledging Jay in S6 today and the comments I got proved my point.

C) It’s so common for us to excuse the male characters in media when they do something wrong or out of bounds, but pick on the girls for doing something completely outrageous when maybe, it wasn’t so bad? It’s not right, but you can’t ignore it.

But for me in particular, I just think the gals in this show are poorly written.

And now about ships...

Number one: if the ship is all you care about, as in, the only thing that exists in the show for you, so you disregard the story and the other characters, okay. See you later.

I love my ships, like, absolutely adore bruiseshipping. But I also love the concept, and the characters, and the story. It’s why I began watching the show in the first place. And I care about how the show is treated and how the writing is.

Number two: the people who hate a character simply because it gets in the way of their ship can also beat it. That’s... absolutely no reason to dislike and/or put down a character.

I don’t like Nya, and I don’t like ja/ya, but neither have anything to do with me liking bruiseshipping. The reasons are completely separate. I don’t like Nya and ja/ya because they aren’t written well. Period.

And I hate that some people in this fandom assume that. I’ve interacted with some people on Twitter who automatically accused me of dissing on Nya just because I like bruiseshipping. And it made me... sad. Honestly.

So, nah, it’s not weird that you’re uncomfortable about it. It shouldn’t be like that in the first place.

[natsukitakama]

Headcanon  : Being Marcus Pierce’s significant other (AU)

Author note : I had to confess Tom welling was my very first crush I watch the whole serie « Smallville » just because of him. So imagine how grateful I was when I saw him on Lucifer season 3. Looking even better than before. 

This headcanon will be in another universe when Marcus decide to do everything to make you fall in love with him and fall in love with you eventually. 

Warning : Fluff slight mention of NSFW (sorry not sorry) 

Gif don’t belong to me credits to the owner

The plan was simple : Not being another Lieutenant’s fangirl like all of the girls at the precinct (Chloe, Ella we saw you)

At first it was easy the man was harsh, hell even a dick sometimes

You didn’t like the way he talked to Dan or Ella, or the way he looks at you were worthless.

You hated him

At least that’s what you thought

But Hey no one is perfect

After knowing Chloé won’t be his key to erased his cursed he thought it was over

And then realized that maybe some pure love could erase his cursed like Chloe tends to make Lucifer vulnerable

He first thought Chloe could be useful but she was really closed to Lucifer and this man won’t let him go further

Trust him : He already tried to let him alone on a desert as far from Chloe as possible

It didn’t work : Lucifer was back two days after

Then he thought about Ella : She fangirls around him all the time she was an easy target. But she tends to be super excited, too happy, too loud. Marcus couldn’t bear her.

But you

You could be the one

You were quite attractive (to his taste), with a good spirit. Plus you weren’t afraid to tell when something was wrong. You were badass which was a huge turn on on him.

In addition he felt this hot connection everytime both of you were alone : some colleagues will say sexual tension but whatever. 

If he wasn’t cursed you two would already had the most savage quickie against a wall you would never have.

So basically you were the best candidate

But you were « challenging » (stubborn to be correct) : all the time when he tried to make a move on you, you always found an excuse to reject him or just escape him.

Sure a little challenge was appreciate but he couldn’t wait  until you felt in love with him. He might be immortal but patient wasn’t a quality of him

For a moment he thought about asking question at Lucifer since they were supposed to work together (but in fact Lucifer was trying to keep Chloe away as far as possible from Marcus) but he will make him too happy which couldn’t happen. 

He decided to come and talk to you : like a big talk on his office. You first thought you screwed something and he was about to yell at you and telling you how much you sucked. But that not what happened in fact Marcus started to apologize for being such piece of work (you will say asshole or dick but nevermind), he told you the last thing he wanted was to hurt you. So he apologized.

You didn’t expect it you thought the man was too proud for apologies but again you didn’t really know him, he was so hot and yet mysterious

You decided to use his apologize as a chance to get to know him (for professional’s purpose obviously) and ask him on a date as proof. You never thought he’ll be agree with that you just wanted to tease him.

You were wrong cause not only does he accept your proposal to a date but he gave you his best smirk like everything happened according to a plan (it was but you didn’t know that)

You then went talk to your best friend Ella : You never heard her screaming that loud before, she was a way too excited about it. It’s fine you love her for that.

You then confess your fear about this date being a way to manipulate her or use her for a plan or something. Ella did her best to calm you down and said a quite good argument : for the very first time Mister « I don’t give a ship I’m lieutenant » decided to make a move he even apologized about his behavior. He was trying to change for you so there nothing you should be afraid of.

You trusted her and make yourself ready

You didn���t plan to sleep with him after the date but still you wore your best underwear just in case. You chose your best outfit the one who make you look like an angel again just in case.

Deep down you didn’t think much about this date you expect him to be « normal » so a bit harsh and just accepte his apologize and go back back to your job like nothing happen. This man wasn’t clearly a talker guy so it’ll probably useless. 

You couldn’t be more wrong

Marcus went to your hours just as planned wearing a black shirt that make his body look amazing (especially his arm) with a jean. You couldn’t help but noticed the way his shirt was open just enough to see a bit of his torso but no more.

You went to his house where he cook you the most delicious Italian food you never had. To be honest you never saw him as a cook. He has this huge testosterone aura you expect him to be old-fashioned. For once you were glad to be wrong.

You started to talking. First it was about simple things just to test the water but the more dinner was moving further the more you two start to talk about more private things like dirty things.

Alcool didn’t help. You might confess about how you found him attractive 

when he introduced himself how disappointed you were when you saw him interact with the precinct.

He laughed like genuinely laugh at your speech

He confess he was attracted to you the first time he saw you but thought he’ll be easier for both of you to keep it professional.

« Then why did you accept this date ? » « I wanted to be wrong »

You didn’t know if this was alcohol but his stare made you feel both horny and afraid. He was like a animal looking at his prey. You couldn’t tell if it could lust or some dark instinct.

It gave you shivers 

At end of the night he drove you home just to be sure and having more time to talk to you.

He walked with you until you were in front of your door not knowing if the date should continue on your living room

As if he could read your mind he gave you a kiss and said goodbye

You thought your date end well

In fact it nevers stopped : when you went back to the precinct for work you find some flowers on your desk red rose and a « that night was awesome let’s do it again » card. You didn’t have to question the team you already knew where it came from

For the following days he was very sweet with you : making you a cup of coffee, helping you with case even joined you to interrogate suspect. It’s like he couldn’t stay away from you.

It was really cute but quite out of character to him. Normally you weren’t the one to fall for just act of attention but this man has such an effect on you, it’s like you couldn’t do anything but just fall for him.

You two decided to give a try and started a relationship

You felt good really good, Marcus was nothing but sweet with you. Always cooking you breakfast, be sure you were okay.

Despite his lack of communication it was perfect.

But don’t worry he has other way to show you his feelings to you. You never experienced sex like this before : the man has so many stamina and has the hability to be both rough and deep on you. He ravaged you like an animal leaving you exhausted but so satisfied, like you never been before.

He started to drive you home with his moto the moment you said it was a huge turn on on you

You were closed like you never thought you could be with a man. All the time no matter what was about he listened to you carefully and tried to help you. It was like talking to a wise man, a man who lived so many life before this one.

When it came to him it was different in fact he was starting to lose his mind. It was been 3 months since you two were a thing and yet his mark didn’t disappear. He came to think you weren’t the one after all and he should go see another people.

But he couldn’t help but felt guilty he felt it his stomach was twisted and couldn’t think at you without feeling sad. He has grown quite fond of you. He couldn’t just broke you like this it would break your heart. 

He won’t let that happen  

Little by little, step by step he started to appreciate a lot of things about you and stopped forcing himself to be nice around you. He was naturally. He didn’t have to force himself anymore. He genuinely wanted to make you happy.

And you felt it, your relationship felt even more real like you two started to have a connection a true one. 

He didn’t admit it before but he loved seeing you cooking or just prepare his clothes for the next day. Just saw you being domestic for him make his knees got weak

He also loved seeing you buy new cloth just to flirt with him and please him.

it’s been such a long time since someone cared genuinely about him

it felt good 

Marcus stopped to focus about his mark, like he wasn’t afraid to loose another people he cared anymore.

The truth is the second he stopped thinking about himself and cared about you : his mark was gone. But it took him 3 weeks to realize it

All he wanted to do now that his mark was gone, was to live his life as he pleased with you by his side.

However destiny has other plan for him

At some point Marcus will try to become immortal again

And by doing that will lose you

[scattered--pages]

For the lukanette lyric prompt." Stop there and let me correct it. I wanna live a life from a new perspective" because I love panic! at the disco and I'll make everyone else love them too. Also this is a cute lyric I love 💘

Thank you so much for this one and I’m sorry this took ages! Work and uni were hectic as hell suddenly and then I got sick so this took forever, but it’s finally here! ♡  I mainly used the way I understood the song and kind of a sudden fierce need to change the usual and the casual in a relationship with someone to something finally as serious and stable as they’re craving it to be, mixed with how a person just wants to relax and throw all their cares and everything everyone else might be thinking about them away and just have fun with the person they trust and love the most , so I hope it worked out how you expected it to in the end? ♡ It’s filled with fluff and Lukanette being happy and in love and in that recently-finally-officially-started-dating phase so I’m also hoping you’ll like it anyway, let me know how you feel about it ♡

Send me a lyrical prompt for a Lukanette fic ! ♡

______________________________________________________

I wanna live a life from a new perspective

Words: 4647 pfff this used to be a ‘drabble or a ficlet’ prompt request whoops

Rating: Teen +

AO3 link: here  ♡

 ______________________________________________________

Marinette giggled slightly, leaned against Luka’s coat, her arms holding onto him firmly as the chilly winter air whipped against her face in the way that was just strong enough to be refreshing and invigorating in this sunny winter’s morning.

“Hm?”, Marinette more felt rather than heard Luka through the vibration against his back as it was unfortunately incredibly difficult to talk to your motorcycle driver both due to the wind, helmets and the fact that it’s not very good to turn your head to talk to someone while you’re rushing down the road 100 km/h. When he’s alone, Luka, even though he’s very careful about laws and regulations, did like to try and practice a stunt or two ever since he was able to pass his A1 driver’s license for a moto légère and finally legally drive a motorcycle he’s been saving for since ages now, and even though she knew he was too careful of a person to do anything stupid, Marinette still disapproved of him doing any out-of-the-ordinary stunts whatsoever on a vehicle realistically far more dangerous than a car and she was very grateful that, until he’s eighteen, he isn’t eligible to drive a bike faster stronger than this one and faster than 110 km/h.

However when she was riding with him, she actually didn’t have to worry at all. Luka was a picture perfect example of caution and precision in his driving, making it very clear that, with her there, he wasn’t risking anything even remotely bad happening, adamant on not allowing anything from her not actually getting hurt but just feeling a slight discomfort because of sudden turns or bumps, to far, far more horrible options he didn’t even want to think about. Turning his head, even ever so slightly so she could hear him through their helmets, was one of those things he would not do, which was fine on smaller routes, but excruciating today, of all days. Because they’ve been driving for almost forty minutes now and the endpoint was a surprise he was planning for their two months dating anniversary. And Marinette was a responsible, calm, understanding young woman.

Patient and immune to insanity-inducing curiosity, however - she was not.

“I gave up on trying to get clues out of you about”, she shouted through the glass of her helmet loud enough so he could hear the teasing tone in her voice before it grew a bit more warm and sensitive, “I was thinking of something different now… Almost a year and a half ago, I was riding behind you on a much slower bike and you had just told me that you were almost finished with your song for me…”, Luka couldn’t turn around but she could almost swear that he was smiling right now and, for the lack of being able to do anything else, he very gently nudged his helmet against hers in a way that made her chuckle. “You know if we were already there, you could have even kissed me right now, but instead, you must suffer, I must suffer in my ignorance of any details about today, it’s all rather tragic…”, the teasing tone was back and she could feel him sigh, followed by what she recognized was a chuckle, sending warm shivers down her spine and brightening her smile even more. Content, with her curiosity eased down for now, she leaned against him even tighter and gazed at the gorgeous French fields stretching on both sides of them, sprinkled with frost, blurring next to them as they passed them by.

Soon, they came near a more inhabited area, embraced with a perfect mixture of urban and rural charm and, upon reaching a specific cottage at the edge of what seemed to have been a wooded area, they stopped.

“We’re here?! We’re finally here?!”, the raven haired girl practically shouted as he turned the engine off, one foot on the ground, arms clapping excitedly, but her helmet still on her head.

Carefully stepping off of the motorcycle, Luka laughed softly, took his own helmet off in one fluid motion, placed it to rest against the steering wheel before helping his girlfriend take hers off and placing a kiss atop her forehead.

“Yes and no.”

The sound she produced, frowning deeper and deeper, sounded almost like a quiet growl.

He laughed again, putting away their helmets and pulling his bike a bit further aside to park it next to the cottage’s entrance. “You waited for almost an hour, now you can’t wait for fifteen more minutes?”

When he reached her, she immediately jumped into a hug, but the eyes looking up at him from the ruffles of his scarf were those of the most adorable rage he has ever seen in his life. “I have had my waiting, Couffaine, give me hints or risk dire consequences!”, she murmured against the woolen material and he cupped her face, bringing it up closer to his as he leaned down to kiss her.

“Soon, my small bundle of anger and rage, soon.”

She moved away and swung her glove at him at that with feigned anger and quickly hopped back to give him one more peck as they both laughed.

“This place here,” he nodded towards the cottage, “Is where a really good friend of my mom’s lives. He works here. And therefore we have special privileges and access that hardly anyone else has, just for us, just for today”, he took her hand and lead the way into the wooded area.

She chuckled. “So… Driving five kilometers per hour faster on the road was out of the question, but trespassing into a strange wooded area outside of Paris is perfectly fine?”

“Hey, it’s not trespassing if it’s…”, he looked aside, puzzled, “Authority approved type of trespassing?”

Marinette went from holding his hand to hooking her arm around it and hugging herself against his side, “You know, everyone keeps thinking you’re this bad boy with a guitar, or just a heartthrob badass rocker on the rise, but in fact, you’re just a teddy bear.”

He laughed pressed his lips against the top of her head, “Yeah, but I’m your teddy bear.”

She smiled, looking up at him with loving eyes, “Yes you are.” And she wouldn’t change it for the world. Her perfect mix of prince charming and a dashing rogue, of sunshine and moonlight, the perfect combination of absolute kindness and softness with a perfectly fitting edge of just enough of exhilaration and wildness. And to think that, a year and a half, after first hearing the first version of ‘her song’, in front of her parents’ bakery, she was still partially capable on letting him slip away for Adrien. Now she wouldn’t let him slip away even if the entire universe offered itself up to her.

“But wait, technically… We are trespassing?”

“Today, you are not to worry about secondary things like that.”

“Luka!”, she nudged his ribs with a genuinely concerned expression now that she realized he really wasn’t joking.

He chuckled again, “It’s gonna be fine… We’re not going to get into trouble and it’s worth it, trust me!”

“Hmm…”, Marinette mused, excited, but quite puzzled and just a bit nervous. In a way, it was a good feeling, to break away from doing everything by the line for a change, and she knew she was not only safe with Luka, but also that he, as mentioned, never would do anything dangerous or fully illegal with her, not to mention that she fully and unconditionally trusted him. So she decided to be brave.

And she didn’t have to stay in her mildly perturbed state for too long as, very soon, they reached the end of the small wooded area.

Marinette clutched at his hand tightly, standing there fully astound.

“Welcome to…”

“Versailles…”

Luka chuckled slightly, “With it’s premises entered by an ever so slightly backdoor way.”

She turned to him, still in a state of absolutely blissful, overjoyed shock, “How did you know that I…”

At her sudden lack of words, he smiled and pulled her into a gentle hug. “Juleka told me you’ve never been here yet”, he shrugged pulling away gently, “And to have grown up in Paris and never been to Versailles is a crime that I had to rectify”, he joked, and she felt an urge of happiness to sudden, she could have cried. Hopping in one place twice, she clapped her hands and turned to the gorgeous, stunning vast fields of flawless shrubbery, grass and blue winter skies, stretching in front of them all the way to the magnificent palace at the garden’s end.

“Screw trespassing…!”, a sudden bout of courage grabbed onto her in her euphoria, “We’re getting to that castle!”

Her hand clasped tightly onto his and they shared a grinning, determined look of agreement, as though they somehow read other’s minds in that very moment, before they began sprinting through the perfect trails amidst the trees, bushes and winding pathways, all preserved perfectly under a thin layer of eyes, making the whole place seem even more like a location springing to life right out of a fairytale.

Peering behind one of the trees, Marinette stuck her tongue out playfully and smirked at Luka, laughing running towards her, “Catch me if you can, Couffaine!”

 With a chuckle, he smirked back in a fiendish way that was just charming enough to make Marinette feel an array of fireworks of tingles all over through her body. “Challenge accepted, Dupain-Cheng”, he replied completely confident, causing her to giggle out a tiny squeal of faux panic before she set of to find cover behind the next rich green topiary, luscious even in a winter as cold as this one, as was, somehow, the entire garden.

 Reaching the stunning Colonnade grove, Marinette stopped next to one of the beautiful columns, catching her breath quietly as she glided her palm across the smooth marble, admiring the texture of the perfect icy cold surface. Each column the a stunning fluid shade of red or blue, one following the other in a perfect circle with the Abduction of Proserpina by Pluto statue placed right in the middle - a perfectly white vision in marble. She felt like she was in a fairytale. How on Earth did she never come here before…

 Suddenly, she felt a hand graze her other palm and in a second, in unique kind of instinct where her hand recognized the other one before her mind did, she instantly intertwined their fingers, only to be spun around and swiftly wrapped into a familiar warm embrace.

 "Got you now, my princess", he whispered before placing a soft peck against her lips, the sparks within her vivid once more, spreading from her heart to every corner of her body, causing an array of sensations from the soothingly knotted yearning at the pit of her stomach, to the utmost tender tingles she felt all the way to the tips of her fingers, like pure happiness sparkling through her, so strong and genuine that it couldn’t be contained.

 She giggled and locked her lips with him before pulling away only so they could catch their breaths, rosy-cheeked and chuckling blissfully, their foreheads and noses still pressed together.

 “Come on my brave trespassing knight”, she stepped away, taking his hand with a grin, “Show me more of your kingdom before the royal guards catch us and give your mom and my parents a heart-attack when they call to tell them their kids have been arrested in a castle outside of Paris”

 “I honourably promise that I shall let no guard come anywhere near you, my princess! I swear by my life that I will protect you and our parents’ health for I have fallen for you far too much to jeopardize either of those two”, he grinned and made a surprisingly authentic and gallant knightly bow before her, causing her to break into a fit of blushing giggles again for a moment.

 "I bet you say that to all the girls you take on romantic, secret walks around the Versailles gardens in winter", she pouted teasingly.

 "No", he shook his head with a smile, “I only say it in hopes of making this one girl in front of me as absolutely and entirely smitten with me as I am with hers.”

 "And is it working?“, she interlocked their fingers.

 "You tell me, my fair maiden.”

 Her shoulders shrugged as they walked, a jokingly disappointed look on her face, “I don’t know… I mean a true princess is never fully charmed until she’s had her first romantic waltz with her dashing suitor.”

 Still grinning, he quirked an eyebrow, “What happened to the incredibly-scared-of-dancing-especially-if-it’s-a-real-ballroom-dance-Marinette?”

 “You happened, you goof!”, she punched him jokingly and he laughed. “And, that Marinette has never been in the middle of the most beautiful winter outdoor ballroom in the vicinity of one of France’s most stunning castles”, her hand let go of his only to tip-toe a few steps away, spreading her arms and spinning around as she took in the gorgeous view of the Roccocco Grove. The massive, gorgeous stones adorned with decorations and fountains all around them and, even though the fountains didn’t work at the moment, even though the breath-taking arena-like structure lacked the marble flooring, colors, vast audiences and lights that it featured when it was originally built centuries ago, the whole vision of the entire outdoor ballroom structure, covered by thin translucent snow, sparkling in the light winter sun as if it was thousands of little diamonds spilled and strewn across the cold stone, was as if it somehow appeared all around them straight out of a dream. A dream from which Marinette never wanted to wake up.

 Regarding the waltz and dancing in general, partially, she was only joking and, partially, she still was a bit terrified to embarrass herself in front of him and to therefore singlehandedly somehow ruin a moment like these, so she wasn’t truly expecting it when he closed the distance between them again, took another graceful small bow that he probably thought was silly but to her it was so charmingly dashing and perfect that, with his smile and the absolute magic radiating from this particular garden grove, it honestly caused her to instantly feel irrevocably and entirely smitten and taken aback by the now increasing levels of dream-likeness of this entire situation.

 “Well than…”, he offered her his hand, “May I be so bold as to ask you for a dance, princess?”

And, also somehow without expecting her own courage, but also fully well knowing that there was no way she was capable of uttering anything else right now, she took his hand and with a shy, adoring smile replied, “You may.”

 She always forgot how good of a dancer Luka actually was. Coming from a musical family and loving music so much, one would assume that, other than having a huge passion for guitar and, so far secretly, singing, he would also enjoy dancing in more casual, modern music-related situations. So she was incredibly surprised to have learned that he actually could, and very well at that, waltz! Of course, she knew the basic steps, for which she was insanely grateful currently because it was the only thing allowing her to be able to follow his lead, but Luka was gathering more and more points for secretly being a prince behind that façade of just a calm, introverted, punk-rock boy. In fact, it reminded her of that day more than a year ago at the ice rink where she was too busy and blind chasing after Adrien to fully appreciate the down-right movie-like way he spun her around, lifted her and held her in his arms on that rink before Philippe was akumatized.

 This time, on the other hand, she was entirely without any other care, focus, or distraction in her mind, now for her the only thing that existed was him and how light and free and so incredibly loved and beautiful she felt in his hands. The ballroom around them might as well have had actual candles, diamonds, fountains and decorations behind them, there might as well have been real music behind them and even if she stumbled in her steps a few times, even if she faltered a bit occasionally, he was there to help her, to catch her, and she never stopped being amazed at how easy it was to just laugh in each other’s arms, ignore life for a moment and just… be, when she was with him.

 “Hold on to my shoulders with both of your hands now”, he said suddenly, smiling, and she obeyed, although a tad confused, before she found herself lifted up by her waist slightly mid-spin and swiftly brought back down into his embrace, like they were in scene from Beauty and the Beast.

 She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him into a hug as she laughed in that breathless, entirely interwoven with joy way in which only people in love can laugh when they’re completely overcome with how they feel when they’re with the person the care most for.

 “If this isn’t reality, never wake me up, please…”, she kept chuckling, “How are you even real, Luka, how did I ever even deserve someone like you?”

 She giggled a bit more, but quickly turned dead silent and pulled away as she felt Luka’s smile against her neck fade away slowly, his hands around her losing the strength of their grip. The sudden cold change of attitude was so strong it Marinette snap out of their dreamlike state within a second, replacing it with a string of panic and worry.

 "Luka?”, her tone was quiet but nervous, “What’s wrong?”

 "Marinette… I need to tell you something… I need you to know, really know something…“

 He stepped back a bit, carefully plucking her hands from his neck and placing one of them in both of his own.

 The dark haired girl turned an alarming shade of pale that matched the lithe frost covering the surfaces around the grove. "What… is it?”, her voice was cautious and silent, but upsetting her was the last thing Luka wanted to do right now, so he tried to muster up a small sad smile, gently squeezing her hands in his own.

„You’ve been kind of stressed lately and it’s only been so briefly since we’ve been… an actual couple…”, a pause and a shy smile graced his features that Marinette could only describe as breathtakingly adorable, but after that, heartbreakingly fast, his smile faded. Slowly, she studied his eyes with hers, puzzled and worried, as he ran the fingers of his free hand down his scalp through his teal locks before stopping to rub at his neck with a brief sigh, a habit of nervousness and a sign of hesitation, she knew how to recognize these small signs when they painted themselves across his features when he tried his best to hide them and when everyone else thought they were just random quirks. But she knew. “And suddenly“, he continued, torn, silent, suddenly avoiding her gaze, „I feel like I haven’t been as good anymore at keeping you happy or relaxed, and I think it’s because I know everyone’s still saying that…”, his cheeks reddened, but his face somehow grew even more somber. He sighed once more, “Literally, someone from our group said to me a few days ago that they all know I’m just that boy who’s going to be someone to ‘keep you busy’ while you’re getting over Adrien, someone to check all your ‘firsts’ with, until you gather some confidence from this before you finally get together with Adrien for the long term…”

“Luka… Who said that, was Chlo-…”, Marinette tried to stop him, reaching out to place a hand against his cheek, but he caught it and cradled it again in his own palms instead, this time both of his hands held hers in a way in which a person craddles a final drop of water that’s helping them cling to their very life amidst a desert. Lovingly, tenderly, and almost desperately in the way they shook ever so slightly.

“I’m sorry, please, I-I just need to say this, cause if I don’t, it’ll take me getting akumatized again and fearing that I’ve hurt you or lost you to say anything, and than I’ll stay silent again for six months until I muster up the courage to try to again attempt saying something that’s been hurting me bit by bit on the inside, until it’s almost too late to say anything, like the last time, cause…”, he gave her that heartbreaking small but growingly sad smile again, “I could write and play a thousand of songs, melodies and tunes to show you how I’m feeling, but sometimes, as much as I’m… very clearly horrible with words, sometimes they need to be said and something nothing else is enough when things like this bubble up unspoken… I’ve seen it with my parents, with other people, and I swear to always be completely honest with you, even with things that are scaring me.”

Marinette had to fight an urge to touch his cheeks and somehow smooth the sudden immensely strong fear and lack of his typical mellow optimism off of his face, but she suppressed it, for now, and simply carefully nodded, urging him to continue.

“The worst is, the person that said this… They, I’m pretty sure, didn’t mean it as a necesarrily bad thing, they just said it kind of as a casual humorous observation cause they, somehow, thought I was okay with it, that I was the kind of chill, fairweather guy that am in on that… Of course, people like Juleka knows I’m not, maybe Rose and Ivan know, people really close to me that spend almost every day with me…but the truth is…”, he frowned for a moment, shaking his head before his eyes met hers again with an earnestness so fierce and pure she could swear she could feel it, “I’m not. I’m not okay with it.”

His fingers caressed her knuckled with the kind of gentleness she’s never felt before. It didn’t matter it was icy cold outside, it made her very core light up with a summer-like warmth and she had to once again fight the urge to grab his face, scream if needed that 'I know you’re not like that, I know!’, just to extinguish this ridiculous notion that she shares this opinion of him with this insanely cruel person, but before she got the chance to, he hesitantly parted his lips to speak again. “I know I’ve told you this before, but to me, this is more than just having another crush or a girlfriend to date for a few weeks or  months cause we’re teenagers, and you’re still getting over Adrien, and I’m the easy-going yet rebellious punk rocker who’s here as your rebound and that’s how relationships go in our age …”, he shyly rolled his eyes, angry at the very fact that things like this are expected from people their age because eighteen and sixteen isn’t old enough to know love, when he knew the love he felt well enough to propose to this girl right here and now and not regret it until they’re old and grey and shrivelled up, and he saw the kind of honest, strong love in other people their age all around them, in Alya and Nino and Rose and Juleka and Ivan and Mylene and shattered his heart that he finally found a girl that made him feel like he was constantly dreaming, even when loving her made him hurt, even when being by her side meant that he wasn’t the one she would prefer there, even back when standing by her made him feel both more happy and broken than he’s been in a long time, perhaps ever, he knew how terrifyingly, beautifully, most assuredly different and strong this was. To the point Juleka even mocked and teased him for a while until she realized that this was actually real and very much happening to her introverted, strong but bad with emotions big brother that hardly ever even having had a proper crush or two before.

 “What I mean is… What I want to make sure you know about and what I say to anyone thinking or saying stuff like that, because I know more of them have thought something like that as well but were perhaps too polite to voice it and what I mean to say to those people and that outlook on love and on us is…”, he held her hands just a bit tighter and took a deep breath, his eyes searching hers with an unmistakable sense of fear for her reaction, but his words were determined, “…to hell with that, and to hell with what we have being anything close to just that. You’re the first thing in my life that anchored me this strongly or made me feel this way this hard and now that you’re finally with me and are perhaps feeling at least an inkling of what I am, after everything, I am not letting this be a typical cliché teenage passing thing, no matter who thinks that it is and it’s so, so important for me that you know that too…”

 His expression, locked with hers, soon grew fully terrified when she didn’t immediately respond, but in reality, Marinette was only out of words for an entirely different set of reasons than the darkest case scenario that he was imagining.

 She now firmly placed her second palm onto his hands and squeezed them, smiling and shaking her head in disbelief of what this amazing, mature, selfless boy was somehow made to believe she thought of him. “Luka, I never thought you were like that in the first place and you have nothing to prove to me… The fact is, you are the most kindhearted, empathetic, caring boy I know and I definitely agree with saying ‘to hell’ with what anyone thinks of us…”. She glanced aside with a small rueful sigh, “I know that after more than a year of my very obvious and embarrassing pining for Adrien… it may seem like I need more convincing than necessary but, my truth and my opinion is… You’re not Adrien… And it makes me so happy that you’re not and that’s why I love you. Because just meeting you slowly made me finally realize that, all this time, I needed and felt best and truly loved not Adrien, but you, you silly thing! All of what you just said,“ she chuckled happily, „I’ve known it already. And I am very happy to be here to stay for as long as you’ll have me…“, giggling quietly, she hunched her head down a bit, flush rosyness coloring her cheeks swiftly though, through a set of thick black eyelashes.

And just like that, his lips pulled into that gorgeous, bright grin that accentuated his cheekbones in a way she loved so much and lit up his eyes so that their teal to aquamarine shades almost seemed to have all grown a hue brighter.

„For as long as I’ll have you?“

Suddenly, his arms were wrapped around her as he spun her around, causing her to instantly squee and laugh loudly as she held herself tightly against his chest.

When he put her down again, he brushed a stray lock of dark hair from her face and pressed his lips to her forehead, then against her lips. “How does forever sound?“