#because Far Places and Challengers both play with this theme in different ways and take it in different directions

[roguetelepaths]

If I had to name one theme that captivates me more than anything else, it's people rejecting the abusive and coercive ways of relating to each other that are offered to them by society and choosing care and kindness instead.

[runwayrunway]

No. 12 - Airbus A350F Default Livery

Another Paris Air Show bonus! Airbus has unveiled the default livery for their new freighter variant of their already-popular A350 wide-body airliner.

image: airbus

For those unaware, manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus tend to have "factory default" liveries used for demonstrations and the like. Generally they have different variants for different models, which can be as simple as a change of hue or as complex as a complete redesign.

This time around, Airbus held a design competition for their new freighter's default colors. So, hypothetically, this should be far more inspired than the average livery. Do I agree with their judgment?

Unless specified otherwise all this information is taken from Airbus's own webpage on the contest.

Okay, so who won the contest? The answer may surprise you! There are two (technically three) winners who submitted similar ideas. Those winners are a 57-year-old professional graphic designer...and a pair of brothers, aged 16 and 12.

That's right. There is a very real possibility that I come out of this with the opinion that a 12-year-old can design better planes than many adult professionals!

These were the winning designs. On the right is the Iversen brothers', and on the left is the one by Feehan, the professional graphic designer. As you can see, they both play on the same theme - delivery boxes.

I honestly think this is really brilliant. This is such an obvious idea that I can't believe it's not all over the place. The brown cardboard shipping box is such a universal association that it might be the first thing that pops into most people's head when cargo is mentioned despite the fact that cargo planes use pallets.

The two designs take different riffs on the theme. The Iversens' is covered in various labels and stickers and stamps, while Feehan's is covered in typical box signage like the classic 'THIS WAY UP' and taped together. It almost looks like someone has attempted to package the airframe itself for delivery, complete with an adorable postage stamp on the plane's cheek.

If I were Airbus, I also think I would have trouble choosing between the two. While the task of combining them without making the final design overwhelming is pretty daunting, these are both very well-done attempts on the theme. And combining them is the challenge. On their own both feel balanced, neither too sparse nor too busy, but combining them could quickly become a nightmare.

My one critique of both of them is with the writing itself. I think they both missed two very obvious options - either have the A350F written on a shipping label, or write it in sharpie as one does on a cardboard box. But that's beside the point. What did Airbus do with the designs?

Hmm. Okay.

They absolutely kept the spirit of both original concepts. I really love "open here for business", that's adorable. (It's more visible from the back, which is an angle I'll post in a minute.) I like the shade of cardboard beige they chose. I do wish they'd picked a shade for the tape that looked more like tape on a box and less like barricade tape, and I wish they'd kept the messy, hand-applied look from Feehan's design rather than making it a couple of very neat, evenly-placed strips.

I do think they erred a bit too far on the side of decluttering. While I understand the reasons they did this, I wish there were a couple more loose postage tchotchkes scattered on the airframe, even if they're too small to be seen at a distance, because even if you need to get close to figure out exactly what that sticker says it still adds to the overall box vibe. That said, it is not bad enough that it completely ruins the look. I do, in particular, miss the little postage stamp on the cheek. It was very cute.

Yep, this picture again! Look, they only gave me three to work with, and I had to use something for the hook.

I wish they hadn't included the blue on the underside of the plane and on the engines. It feels a bit out of place and clashes with the brown, and I think they could have just as easily used white.

My one main criticism, I think, is that they made it very very Airbus. They couldn't stomach the crooked tape; they had to make it neat. They had to make it professional. And yes, I get it, it's a branding thing - the carbon fiber tail.

Airbus has a bunch of default liveries for various models of plane, and I might review those someday, but the only one relevant at the moment is among my least favorite - the 'carbon fiber' A350. The herringbone weave pattern itself would be fine (I like how it shows gaps of white underneath it) if it were done in some some sort of fabric design, or if it weren't just half of the plane, maybe, but in its current state it looks quite miserably...gamer desktop setup. And it does have a meaning, it's a reference to Airbus's heavy use of composite materials including carbon fiber (if anyone finds this worrying in light of recent events, just know that carbon fiber has been used in airplanes for a very long time with no issues because it's fantastically tensile despite being lightweight and is a wonderful choice for sealing pressure inside of a vessel but decidedly less so for resisting it from outside). I get the intent, I just think it doesn't look good.

image: Viktor & Rolf

Also, they dressed her like this.

I get why they kept the carbon fiber tail, and it doesn't look nearly as bad when it's mostly covered up and just poking out of the end of a cardboard tube like a leek coming out of a grocery bag in a stock photo, but I just...I wish they didn't.

Ultimately, I understand why they had to tone down the whimsy, make it neater, more professional, less relatable. More futuristic, but there's nothing futuristic about a cardboard box and there shouldn't be. Still, the idea they were given was so strong from the beginning, and they did resist the urge to scrub it of any character. They certainly did not improve the design of two literal children, but they also didn't fail to translate it.

All in all, they were given something to work with that could have been an easy A if they didn't have to be so...damn....Airbus. Still, it could be so much worse, and it is, undeniably, such a strong idea to begin with.

Final Grade: B-

For anyone paying attention: yes, this does mean that most airlines cannot meet the standard of concept and design set by literal children. But fair play to those children. I like their design.

[rainyraisin]

Rai help do you know the persona lore can you tell me help

OMG OMG OMG OMG ARE YOU THINKING OF GETTING INTO PERSONA OR DID YOU JUST GET INTO IT???

Either way you have caught me at the right time because my long running Persona hyperfixation is in full swing babyyyyy

The Persona games are pretty disconnected other than a few elements here and there so I can tell you a bit of general persona lore but you’d have to specify a specific game if you wanted more info!!! (That would also be pretty general though to avoid spoilers!)

1. Persona games tend to follow the Fools Journey of the major tarot arcana with the protagonist always being the Fool! This is utilised differently throughout each of the games. One of the main aspects of the Fool is that they have limitless potential, which leads to one of the other main things shared between all persona protags: the Wild Card! The Wild Card leads you to be able to take on multiple different personas when usually a person can only have one. The protagonist grows and changes a lot as a person throughout the story, shown partially through systems like social stats but through other means as well, and both the personas they undertake through regular gameplay and also story related reasons reflect this!

2. The Velvet Room is a place between time and space ran by a man called Igor and usually at least one Velvet assistant (Persona 5 has two whilst the Q spin-off games have all the Velvet assistants from 3 and 4 or 3-5 depending on if you’re playing Q or Q2). It’s a place only accessible to those who hold the Wild Card within them and its form changes to reflect their heart and the challenges they’re facing. Persona 3’s is an elevator, Persona 4’s is a limo, and Persona 5’s is a prison! (I’m unsure what Persona 1 and 2’s look like as I haven’t played those two yet, apologies!). It doesn’t really have much lore beyond that as far as I know? But it is one of the only things shared across all the games.

3. The central themes of each game tend to be about accepting yourself and growing as a person (aka strengthening your heart, therefore strengthening your persona). I haven’t completed Persona 3 yet so I can’t exactly say how that’s utilised in that game just yet but in Persona 4 and 5 accepting the bad parts of yourself and going against others in order to follow your heart are one of the main parts and themes of the game.

4. Persona lore follows the Jungian psychology and takes it incredibly literally. Jungian psychology describes a persona as: “a kind of mask, designed on the one hand to make a definite impression upon others, and on the other to conceal the true nature of the individual." This is taken most literally in Persona 5 as they have to rip off the mask imposed upon them by society in order to access their true nature, aka their Persona, but it’s also somewhat similar in the previous two mainline games as well.

There’s certainly more to it than that but that’s what I can think of off the top of my head!!! If you wanna know more about the lore of a specific Persona Game just ask! Although I don’t know much about 3 at the moment as I’m only halfway through July in Reload- if you ever wanna talk about Persona just ask hehe I’d love to talk about it!!! Especially Persona 5, if you haven’t played the series yet and you’re trying to decide which one to start with is definetly recommend 5, specifically Royal but the original version is good too, Royal just has way more content and is better overall HDKSVXKSHXJ- it’s the one I started off with personally and I think it’s definitely the best intro to the series if you’re attempting to get into it. With the release of Reload, P3 is also a good way to get into the series and if you want a darker story that’s definitely the way to go but both are amazing options! Persona 5’s story is by no means worse than Persona 3’s though, I absolutely adore that game’s story and themes (there’s a reason I’ve played it 6 times HCKSGDKWBCKH-). If you want I can tell you more about both! The only game I wouldn’t recommend starting with is Persona 4, it’s not bad by any means but honestly if I wasn’t already hooked on Persona by the time I played it I probably would’ve dropped it, the dungeon crawling and battle systems of the older versions of 3 and both versions of 4 have uh… a few issues bcksgcksbckhs

[nyaagolor]

SWSH LIVEBLOG PART 1: INTRO

When most people play through every game in a series, they start with the first entry and play in order all the way up until the most recent. For this particular project, however, I’m choosing to work backwards, both because SV was the unofficial and accidental start of this project, but also because actually getting a physical copy of the game and trading is going to be exponentially more difficult the farther back I go. While I do plan on using a few hacks to make version exclusives catchable and trade-evos have an alternate pathway when necessary, I figured starting with a game that already has pretty robust online support would be a good idea. Also, SwSh has been so embroiled in web discourse and discussion that tackling it after people have moved onto SV felt like the blank slate I wanted to tackle this game with, especially since this is the game that convinced me to get a Switch in the first place! And with all that intro out of the way– liveblog starts under the cut :D 

Something I have always given SwSh a lot of credit for is the immediate and tight explanation of its themes and world, which I think the opening cutscene captures incredibly well. The world of Galar feels corporate, and starting SwSh with the equivalent of a sporting match commercial is some genuinely great exposition. From the first 30 seconds of gameplay, I have a clear understanding of the culture and attitude of the region entirely from visuals, both in what they show and how they show it. The very first shot is of a logo, then the crowd, and then finally Rose, shot from far away and above to show the sheer scale of the battle court. The entire cutscene, while using similar dialogue to other intros, has a drastically different feel because of the spectacle and cinematography. Not only that, but this is the first game I remember in which the opening cutscene isn’t referring to the player directly. From the onset, you’re shown what battling is, how important it is to the region, and immediately get a sense that this gym challenge is far bigger than the protagonist or player. Personally, I think this decision to take the expository spiel of the professors and lean into its corny and commercial sounding dialogue to turn it into an in-universe commercial is a great way to introduce newcomers to the idea of the pokemon world while also delivering a lot of regional worldbuilding at the same time. This is a concept I’ll harp on over and over, but SwSh really shines in its presentation, showing via little pieces of dialogue and framing exactly what’s going on behind the scenes of this massive gym economy and making Galar feel far bigger than the scope of the protagonist’s journey. 

Side note: Coming to this game after SV made me realize how glossy it is. Everything has this very smoothed out and shiny feel to it, almost like it’s made of plastic. I kinda get the feel of like. Action figures? Which ironically fits in with the overall sports / commercialism feel of the region. Neat!

Shoutout to the art direction of James Turner for making this game feel so unique. Something I noticed about Turner’s style is his focus on the pop culture elements of different regions, and I think choosing to make him art director for this particular game is an especially good choice by the company, because he really does a fantastic job at coalescing the themes of the world and the designs into a unified whole. It feels incredibly fresh and incredibly distinct within the universe of pokemon, and has a clear and recognizable identity. Also he’s British so that counts for something.

Something I noticed about the more recent games, especially the Switch titles, is that they seem dedicated to making the game introductions longer and longer. While this isn’t terrible, as it feels more naturalist, they do tend to drag a bit. As such I don’t really have anything to say about this section of the game as a whole except for a few myriad points: 

The whole Slumbering Weald scene was kinda. Strange. I can understand why they shied away from having you enter before you got your first pokemon, as it would feel a bit like a DPPt rehash, but I still think the decision to make you go to Wedgehurst and back like three times before the story even starts was a bit odd. Not only that, but the introduction of the wolves felt like a poorly executed way to keep the legendaries from being end-of-game prizes. We do see them towards the beginning of the game, but then we put a pin in that convo and don’t talk about them until 45 gameplay hours later. While not too egregious, the awkward integration into the story is a pretty consistent gripe I have with quite a few story beats (which we will get to later)

Magnolia is a complete nonentity of a character and I really think her and Sonia needed some serious rehashing. You get the pokedex, find out that Magnola has some history with Dynamax and therefore Rose, and then she fucks off for the rest of the game. One of this game’s other major story problems imo is the sheer amount of characters, since due to time constraints a solid half of them do absolutely nothing. I’ll talk about this more when the story kicks off but this cast is really bloated and needed a bit of reshaping to be coherent

As much as I think the intro drags, I will concede that it sets up the gym plot quite nicely. The actual background details and in-universe justification for why things happen the way they do is quite solid, and the ceremony, endorsements, registration and uniform switching paints a really fun picture of the gym economy within Galar. To me, it’s these details in combination with the visual spectacle that really sell the gyms as a sporting event, and really nail the systems by which the gym circuit operates. Much like Alola and Paldea, I think Galar has a really clear direction with its gyms and culture that just Works and serves to bolster its story

If it wasn’t obvious already, I think the gym circuit is the highlight of this game– it makes the world feel lived in, it provides an interesting framework in which the characters operate, it drives the plot, it gives clear direction and motivation to many characters including the player, yadda yadda. I’ll talk about the wolves later when they get more relevant (bc I sure as hell have a lot to say) but I think the intro doing so much to set up the gym challenge really gives a taste for the feel (and focus) of what’s to come. 

(This was going to be the point where I talked about Leon and Hop, and then I realized I would literally go over the tumblr character limit if I tried to include it in this post, so I’m just gonna let them have their own lil analysis post. Anyway.) 

The intro to this game highlights what I feel is a pretty consistent theme throughout the game: the gym challenge is the foundation of the plot, and everything else feels laid directly on top of it. Your goal is to be champion, your journey is the gym challenge, and everything else feels somewhat secondary, like it developed separately and then added at the end in ways that would supplement but not distract from the Main Thing You’re Doing. It’s for this reason I feel like the plots of the wolves, Marnie, and Bede don’t stick their landings– they’re not particularly well integrated into the gym challenge in the way that Hop’s story is, and as such feel kind of awkward and weirdly timed. Even their introductions into the story feel somewhat lackluster: Bede is a jerk for no reason, and Marnie is. There. You get a few lines to establish their personality, maybe a battle to ensure the first few hours of this game aren’t purely cutscenes, and then they leave. Especially in this intro, these two rivals feel more like they’re having their own adventure you’re awkwardly walking into rather than a plot that directly involves you. To each their own– I personally find stories that exist outside the player to be insanely interesting, but these two fail to deliver on that front for reasons that become more obvious later in the game. 

Other Notes: 

When Leon teaches you to catch a pokemon, he doesn’t weaken it first, nor does he mention you should. The juxtaposition between his reputation as league champion in contrast to his lack of knowledge about seemingly basic subjects is kinda fascinating to me? They really hammer in how strange he is and bring up some super interesting complications to his character due to his status as a grown-up child celebrity. This is never expanded on but it’s fun either way

Leon’s cape being covered in sponsor logos and him overall having the driest fit imaginable is one of my favorite pieces of visual storytelling this game has. I’ll talk about it more in my Leon and Hop post, but Leon’s status as a gym challenge figurehead is absolutely fucking fascinating

The Galar pokemon have some of the cutest battle animations I’ve ever seen. Nickit wipes the ground with its tail, Yamper’s fur spikes when it’s angry and it hops back to you after an attack, Wooloo has a stumbling bounce backwards to right itself after a rolling tackle. People were so distracted by the tree that they ignored how much character got put into the designs based on how they move and I’m forever gonna be mad about it

The Wild Area sure does exist. 

Overall, I think the intro serves as a microcosm to the entire game: The gym challenge setup and worldbuilding is great, the visual design is great, Hop is great, and everything else sure does exist. See yall next time! Next post will cover gyms 1-3 (with a side post about Leon and Hop) :)

[bacchicly]

Hey Garvez Nation...so I'm working on establishing the whole Lisa-Luke-Penelope friendly threesome for Part 4 of "Not Bound" and I am curious how this rings for those of you open for that sort of thing...so if anyone feels like having a gander and letting me know if it seems to be working ok... I'd appreciate it.

FYI: as I progress with the piece I am landing on the following sub-goals (my goals with smut writing is always writing something that follows my general "personal guidelines for writing smut" which are here)

1. AU that feels authentic to canon. Works for folks where Garvez is their OTP.

2. Explore the validity of a few different types of love and attraction without prioritizing one over the other (i.e. it is left to individuals to prioritize/negotiate the different types of love in their life) (which I am finding challenging to balance with writing a couple as an OTP!)

3. Show characters new to a kink in a way that is authentic to their understandable hesitancies and curiousities - without and -this sounds a bit weird - either kink shaming or fetishizing the kink

4. Use lots of horse / circus imagery because I am a dork but it's my damn hobby so I better enjoy it...and apparently thinking A LOT and writing to a theme is my happy place for this series.

5. Good orgasms and awww moments. For Garvez and maybe for a reader or two.

Excerpt of the wip "Whoa!" - part 4 of "Not Bound" Series set in season 15.

Words (so far): 1700 ish

Content: this part doesn't have anything too sexy/graphic...but story will eventually have pony play (gentle/beginner); breeding kink (gentle/beginner); mentions of and maybe graphic threesome sex (wwm); bi-penelope; bi-Lisa; maybe bi-Luke

Lisa and Penelope share a smile that is part appreciative and part indulgent as they listen to Luke backtrack his last statement and watch him stretch up to string the purple, white, blue, and black tassels in front of the window - a hint of belly showing when his arms raise above his head.

“Whoa! That is not what I’m saying! I CAN believe they are having a 5th baby - afterall the first four are certifiably amazing - but what I CAN’T believe is that I let you and Penelope convince me to host a shower for them.”

Penelope faux pouts and Lisa laughs and pelts him with the purple balloon she’s just blown up.

“Look - just think of it as more of a sprinkle, Hot Stuff. Babies deserve parties - whether they are first born, last born or somewhere in the middle. Am I right, Penelope? Or am I right?”

“Oh you’re so so SO right!”

“See? The All-Knowing-and-Ever-Perfect Penelope Garcia agrees with me! I must be right!”

Luke is about to throw a balloon at both of the ladies ganging up against him - when strains of the Doctor Who theme-song pierce the room. Lisa dives for her phone which is vibrating and ringing it’s little sci-fi heart out on the table. Luke looks absolutely gobsmacked at this development.

It is obviously work and Lisa is being called in - she quickly takes in the details and hangs up sighing.

“Well. No rest for the wicked. I have got to run, kids. I’ll have to take a rain check…although like I was saying earlier I have a date with a dishy dude from the obstetrics wing Tuesday - if I’m not called in - Sally says he’s the best nurse on the floor - so…"

"Ooohhhh! You have to text me after! I want all the details! Luke and I will have our fingers and toes crossed for you that he's a keeper."

"Of course, Gorgeous! And I am entrusting you both with the solemn duty to make sure my present gets to Matt and Kirsty? I fear I will not make it to the party at this rate."

"Will do! But Honey Bunches, it's too bad you have to go though…I was looking forward to seeing if the stuff fit."

"Next time, Babe - although if latest date works out - no more grupo a tres fun for little old me. Ok I think that's everything - sorry for decorating and dashing but you know what they say… DUTY CALLS OVER BOOTY CALLS. And who knows - maybe there will be some Grupo a quatro in our future…can you imagine Luke kissing my true-love-dishy-nurse while we watch?"

"While we make out you mean. But yes! Ok safe travels you! Give me a squeeze and text when you get safe to the hospital?"

Through all this extended womanly banter and Lisa gathering her things, Luke has been staring at his ex-turned-friend like she's grown three heads.

"Alright, toodles you two - open the package, ok? Promise? No need to wait for me. Bye Luke. Treat our gal right tonight!"

Lisa steps out of Penelope's warm goodbye embrace and goes to give Luke his hug goodbye but he stops her.

“Wait. Before you go. Explain.”

“Well, Luke. You may recall from our time together that I am an ER Doctor now and regularly - particularly when there is fun to be had - get called in to save lives.”

“Not that, you goof.”

“Well - like I said this summer - I’m up for some no-strings fun with good friends - but more and more I am realizing that long term I want something more one-on-one - y'know 2.5 kids, a picket fence, boring everyday chores, maybe a backyard with a pool, so…”

“Not that either! You know I want the best for you and I told you earlier that a dishy nurse sounds good and that I'm rooting for him to be someone able to give you all the tlc you deserve. Tell me what I want to know, Woman."

"Then I have no idea what-" says Lisa loftily.

"You’re being deliberately dense, Lisa! Don't make me give you a noogie. And look,” Luke gestures at Penelope who has collapsed in helpless giggles on the floor, “-you’re going to kill our friend over here. What I NEED to know - as I am sure you are completely aware…is… Why do you suddenly have a Doctor Who ringtone? Since when are you into sci-fi?”

“Oh that! Well - as you might have heard - the new Doctor is a woman now. Penelope introduced us a few weeks ago after you left to do something macho and I am now A FAN. Penny helped me fix my ring tone and Voila! Happy now?"

"Yes. Thank you. You may now go. You leaving for work…you having a date… all that I can handle but 'Just Say No to Star Wars Lisa Douglas' having a whovian ringtone…was beyond me. But if Pen-el-o-pe Garcia was involved? That explains everything."

"Yep. She's magic this one. Penelope one-in-a-million-Garcia walks into your life and then WHAM! BANG! all sorts of things you didn't expect are happening."

Penelope sputters through her giggles and tries to right herself, "THANK YOU MA'AM… I think?"

"No need to think about it, Sugar Lips. The pleasure has been all mine. Ok I really have to jet…have fun but don’t get into too much trouble - Doctors Orders - you, my friends, both need to be able to stand at the party tomorrow.”

With that and a huge teasing smile, Lisa gives them each a fond kiss on the lips, whispers something in Luke's ear that makes him blush, smile and nod, shoulders her purse, and swans out the door - turning back at the last moment to throw these two best friends she's become unexpectedly close with over the last few months one last wink - then closes the door firmly behind her.

“I've said it before, Penelope, and will probably say it again - this - this is last way I expected things to work out when Lisa let herself in that day of THE swing - but, I have to admit, it’s been…a special kind of fun. I'm sorry she had to go early - but we'll just have to have extra fun on our own. Now let's get this place decorated - I believe there is a box with our names on it just waiting to be opened."

🐎🎠🐎🎠🐎🎠🐎🎠🐎🎠🐎🎠🐎

Luke and Penelope stand side by side silently staring at the box on the bed.

It seems extra big and somehow very conspicuous and extravagant against the plainess of Luke's bedroom - even though it is wrapped in non-descript brown paper.

Penelope is suddenly acutely aware of the slightly insane amount of money they had each chipped to bring them to this moment.

Luke is having trouble pinning down exactly what he's feeling. Anticipation? Excitement? Dread? Strangely shy? Honoured? All that and more? Nothing?

This may not be their first rodeo since agreeing that "sex-ploits" would be their "thing they do together as friends" - but so far their explorations had been more athletic or scientific - position and sensation driven - or - once Lisa had joined the fun - voyeuristic and social but this is their first step into something from the more BDSM side of things… maybe it was what they had encountered through their jobs which made them hesitant to cross the line which separates what they had done so far and rougher more darkly-psychological forms of sexplay…

The moment stretches and the box seems to double in size under their twin gaze.

Finally, Penelope turns to Luke and does a little move like she's introducing a circus act,"Well…show time?"

Luke is suddenly smiling and so is she - then a cinematic version of that night the three of them made the decision to order this gear gallops through both of their brains like a herd stampeding through a lightning storm.

🐎🎠🐎🎠🐎🎠🐎🎠🐎🎠🐎🎠🐎

Silky and sated after an afternoon of massage and slow relaxing lazy pleasurable menange à trois sex-plorations, Luke and Lisa loll in friendly silence on the couch waiting for Penelope who had gone to the kitchen to fix some sustaining snacks before they dive into the first of three spicey documentaries they plan to watch.

Penelope enters - naked and beaming - baring a ginormous tray of peach salsa nachos, a bowl of Cajun spiced pecans, a small plate of balsamic and goat cheese endive boats and three comically large copper-mugged Moscow Mules garnished with fresh mint and blackberries.

Luke looks at Penelope. She seems haloed by the light of the room beyond and he can't help but bask in the warm pulse of the breed of love he discovered he felt for her all.those.months ago on the 'day of the baking sex'.

Lisa looks at Luke. She enjoys his would-be-masked-to-everyone-but-her reaction to Penny's appearance and the reasurrance and ease their conversation from a few days before has brought. Without examining the impulse too closely - which has apparently been the theme of this whole whirlwind - Lisa doesn't bother to hide the joy at his reaction to Penelope; for her it is proof there could be a happy future for Luke - the man she had once hoped she would be able to build-a-life-with-love but then had been heartsick to realise that it was instead a best-friends-forever-but-still-sexual-love that she felt… still dear and vital and precious but different.

Fortunately, by some twist of magical fate, Luke felt the same for her and she felt the same for Penelope… thank fuck she had not hurt him the way she had feared she might.

The only kernal of doubt in her heart was that she still wasn't sure exactly what Penelope was feeling - and that did sometimes worry her… but she couldn't live her beautiful friend's life for her… that had to be Penelope's path to forge… and the three had been careful to set the rules so that consent was sought and trusted.

So, come what may, Lisa has given up on worry and perfectionism for the first time in what feels like a lifetime to enjoy and learn a bellyfull from this odd but deliciously pleasurable side adventure which mysteriously cropped up in the midst of her self-declared quest to meet the right someone to build-a-life-with-love.

🐎🎠🐎🎠🐎🎠🐎🎠🐎🎠🐎🎠🐎

At Penelope's cue - like a knife-thrower - Luke brandishes the box-cutter he's brought upstairs with him and confidently slices first brown paper and then the tape on the box beneath. As Penelope pulls wide the box flaps, the air tangs with the earthy tanins of metal and leather. Luke leans over and places what he is half-amused half-appalled to discover is a shaking hand on white tissue paper which is dappled with line-drawings of horses printed with metallic turquoise ink.

...to be continued...

[gloriousmonsters]

unfollowed you by mistake lol. anyway. do you think song lan and xiao xingchen could have changed their philosophy/outlook on life to include any kind of "class consciousness" without encountering xue yang, and do you think that given the chance to live post xue yang encounter, that they would have regressed into a more conservative/prescriptive ideology as a reaction to their own trauma, or rather have eventually reflected on what produced a xue yang and how that understanding of injustice and trauma can improve their own approach to cultivation as a mean to better society? i am very tired and this is probably badly worded and shallower than i would like it to be lol

its possible that it can be both btw. a seemingly not class conscious ideology can still include principles of guidance which can look prescriptive to the outsider while actually implementing the kind of life long dialogue between teacher and student which is not essentially repressive nor excessively patronizing in nature, despite having a clear hierarchical nature and a heavy emphasis on individual responsibility

welcome back lol

and I... hm. Idk, there's a part of me that often kicks in with MDZS characters where I'm like 'this is for a certain value a Person but also very much a Tool of the Narrative' (possibly bc mxtx's works tend to be so laden with... moral problems, is the best way I can think of putting them, and I love it). So my kneejerk answer to the first question is that if they'd developed that class consciousness without meeting XY, it'd be kind of lame because then they couldn't have partaken in their part of the story. It's possible, of course, answering watsonianly (though I've never had the necessary drive to deep dive into any of the schools of thought/philosophies/etc that they come from, so IDK how exactly it might come about) because a lot of things are possible if you fiddle with the factors.

And I also find the question of 'if they'd lived' to be an interesting one bc for me... XXC's committing suicide is his answer to the challenge that XY presents at that point, and I feel like if he did somehow live his mind would be clouded a very, very long time not so much by problem-of-xue-yang-as-related-to-justice-and-revenge-murder, but the problem of xue yang as 'how did this person have two such utterly different faces, and which of them was real? is it possible to reconcile them?' I feel like it might stand a chance of him feeling pulled to understand XY and consider what role society played in his shaping when he's remembering his friend, and then overcorrecting with 'but none of that can matter THAT much, I shouldn't be thinking about that kind of thing' when the guilt and shame of 'this is a massacre killer who blinded my bff and may or may not depending on what timeline this takes place in engineered his death'.

IMO time, one of the big themes in MDZS is: people are very good at thinking they're ruled by principle when they're actually ruled by the buffeting winds of trauma, bias and emotion. All three of the villains show a strong awareness of different societal issues and how they can create, well, people like them, and point these things out, and the reaction of the good guys is usually... rejecting those arguments based on gut reactions, not objective reasoning (much like swathes of the fandom lololol). XXC rejects XY's reason for what he did based simply on it's just wrong, even if what you said is right you went too far so I can't focus on your reasons. So while I think there's a chance he could come around, I think it's slim. (It would probably involve a Lot of conversations with XY with crying and yelling and they'd both hate it).

SL is more of a cipher to me bc i like never write him and read him only slightly more but he's pretty much established as the more severe and judgemental of the two so....... all of the above but decrease the chance from .01 to .001 percent.

[de-fright-ful]

I ran out of space on the character document to explain, so I’m dumping it here to link back to from the full document to kind of explain what I’m talking about!

Now, cunning: I know in a lot of cases, it’s viewed as sort of a playful, trickster sort of cleverness. I DO NOT mean it like that for Amity, Amity’s cunningness is an underhanded form of cleverness. She’s never going to outright lie to get her way, but she’s finding loopholes and playing on allowable manipulation tactics to get her way. Y’know?

A couple good examples of this trait of hers in practice:

Her partnership with the Saijikara Pokemon League on making herself a designated, approved gym area — she was given rules, agreed, read them inside and out — only to follow the rules to the dot and make her ‘official Gym’ her family estate and thus write off necessary repairs to the greater estate (that do not ever too far into personal expense) as the costs of maintaining the Gym space — which is absolutely true, it’s just a sneaky, underhanded way of going about it. Which of course earned ire from some of the older Gym Leaders (who still see her as an over important upshot to this day), but she was following the rules. CUNNING.

When she took part in a Global Pokémon Gym Challenger event — on paper the assignment was for the leagues across the known world to send two or three elected tributes from their Gym Programs to fight each for a prize — which in reality was public marketing to drum up hype and bring attention to new comers to the League. But that’s a separate topic! Where the cunning is concerned: Amity was one of the two Gym Leaders chosen from Saijikara. She went over there with a (albeit surface level) understanding about the function and way gyms in different regions worked (to point of following a single Pokémon type per gym). Amity knew what her appearance and Gym Leader theme would make other Gym Leaders BELIEVE she’d play with (just ghosts) but that fact, that she’s presumably just a ghost player, made her a sitting duck. She COULD follow that expected path, and bring out Whinnie and Magnus but Amity is CUNNING. Amity knows this perception and plays into it - but with no intentions on following through. Amity played every interview straight. She made sure Whinnie and her were seen as an inseparable team for all the world and THE partnership. But Whinnie wasn’t on the battling team - not only would HE have hated it - Amity wanted that to be the expectation, that she’s lead with a Ghost/Flying so when she threw out the Grass / Normal Sawsbuck, she’d completely strike the Gym Leaders strategizing to hit her team off their guard (& hopefully, play into how THEY’D hope to use Ghost/Flying’s weaknesses against her, after all, Normal is immune to Ghost and Grass trumps Ground) CUNNING,

(also for closure on that saga, she placed 11th worldwide in that contest, not the very best but she’s proud that she placed that high against everyone and that she was the highest placing Saijikaran.)

Or, honestly, the entire deal with Amity giving her younger half-sisters, who have no relation to her father’s side of the family except through being raised BY HER, the last name Joy. Both because, in the eyes of the law, she is (essentially) their parent and the only parent they’ve ever had since birth. But more importantly to Amity, so that they can use that name and leverage it to stay safe if anything happened to her. Amity’s paternal side of the family is so far spread out and distant that she’s certain more than enough of them believe Amity actually gave birth to both girls, and to that end, Amity is using her name, her FAMILY name, to take advantage of that ignorance and make sure that there’s no chance those girls would be left completely stranded. As De Claires, which they are rightfully, they would have no one willing to take them in by merit of family. There is no structure for them to fall back on. But as Joys? A Joy will never let another Joy go homeless or passed away without a second thought. If they BELIEVE those girls have Joy blood, there will be a home for them. Amity knows this, she expects it, she PLANNED it. CUNNING.

I truly do consider it a flaw that boarders on Ruthlessness but without any malicious motive behind it, y’know? Amity does what she needs to do to keep on swimming. If the world won’t throw her one, she’s making her own out of whatever she can and damning anyone who scorns that for her. That’s survival. It isn’t pretty, it just IS.

[spfmp]

Research - Satisfactory

Satisfactory is a sci-fi resource management game which centers around the player building their own factories across a large wide open world in order to create various goods to send back to earth to be sold by the ficsit Inc. company.

The game revolves around a plethora of different resources both solid and liquid that can be refined and changed into different items that can be used yet again in different recipes of higher and higher complexity. Because of the very slow crafting system and the fact that some resources cant be acquired by hand, the player must build and use intertwining factories in order to shorten the amount of time required to complete more complex recipes.

The recipes in the game and the overall gameplay make sense and fit the theme, that being sci-fi space themed, the game takes place on a different uninhabited planet similar to earth which houses familiar materials which are used in recipes in ways that make sense with different machines often requiring even minute resources like screws. The first person element also complements the open world exploration as a part of the gameplay, power management is required and energy output can be improved by using power cells created from creatures called power slugs around the world, these creatures are usually hidden from sight and are finite so the first person viewpoint makes it more exciting for the player and because of the ways they're hidden, it also makes them more challenging to find even with tools that help locate them.

The game is very well made and has many features that often work with little to no flaw which is impressive given how much traction the game has gained considering the game is still in early access, even features like programmable routes for the trucks in the game rarely fail unless they run into rough terrain which in my opinion is fitting. Despite the early access state of the game, the factories can be made considerably large however, even with thousands of moving ingredients across conveyor belts and hundreds of machines playing animations and emitting particles the game runs pretty well, even on high settings often experiencing a loss of around 20-40 frames.

In my opinion, though this is very subjective, where the game falls short is the action element. Although the game has enemies, their AI is very predictable and while can be difficult at the start, after a few encounters becomes underwhelming. There are various enemies in the game that have different behaviours, however none of them are particularly dangerous unless the player is attacked en masse and while there are enemies that can be considered "boss" enemies, often guarding important resources, they essentially are just higher health versions of regular enemies and aren't all that much harder to defeat. I make this statement aware that the game is still in early access but I also wish that there was an element of danger to the player's factory, as far as I'm aware, there is no way in which the factory can be affected by enemies and as a game that focuses on a certain degree of realism, I feel like that should not be the case, I'm aware that certain players would disagree, however that is my personal opinion on what the game is lacking in.

Satisfactory played a major part in composing the initial idea for my game, many things including things like ore veins are an inspiration taken from satisfactory, however they do not work in the same way, for example while the veins in satisfactory are unlimited, the veins in my game have a certain capacity which regenerates at a slow rate, meaning they are technically infinite, but can be emptied if it is used many times in succession.

Overall, Satisfactory played a major role in composing the idea as it is a fantastic game, but I do hope to do things differently for my game, as the playerbase I hope to attract with it is similar to that of satisfactory, however not entirely the same.

[linkspooky]

My Hero Academia, Chapter 372 Thoughts

This post could also be called “Who do you think is going to wake up, Kurogiri or Shirakumo?” I’m going to make an argument for why I think it will bee Kurogiri who wakes up undert the cut, because it ties up a bunch of themes with this arc. 

1. Stopping vs. Saving

The biggest conflict of this arc, which is also the central theme of the manga (Winning vs. Saving) is if overpowering the villains in a physical fight is enough, or if the heroes need to go one step farther and save the villains. There is a lot of setup for this idea of saving villains, it starts with All Might mentioning that both of their ideas of heroism winning or saving can work together. 

You can’t save anyone if you lose, but if you only focus on beating bad guys then no one will get saved. The entire previous arc before this is Deku going on a solo journey and trying to learn what exactly it will mean to try to save Shigaraki after seeing the vision of Tenko as a helpless child inside Shigaraki’s mind. The arc before that is the war arc, and remember that was the heroes levying every single hero they had in a show of military might to crush the villains and their strongest attack didn’t work.

If this arc is to be different than the war arc, then naturally it would take a different strategy for the heroes to win. I could keep going. And I will. Basically, every single fight between the heroes and their villainous foil has followed the same pattern so far. 

Deku rejects Toga by saying that he would never want to hurt someone I love so therefore they’re too different, which causes Toga to lose her interest in talking to both Uraraka and Ochaco when of all people she was the one who could have most easily been turned because she wanted to seek out the heroes in the first place and talk things out and see if people like her and Jin are worth saving. Deku’s rejection causes her to double down. 

Then, we have Shoto again against Toya, Shoto’s focus is on stopping his brother, as if Toya came to his violent actions all through his own free will. He only cares about stopping Toya’s violent actions without empathizing why he became this way or why he feels. Which you know is pretty contradictory to his goal to migle with his brother “We’re gonna mingle whether you like it or not” exept, Mingling requires understanding the other person’s side. 

Toya, (not surprisingly) gets back up again specifically because his brother underestimated  Toya’s single minded determination. Someone who learned all of his moves simply by watching news clips and memorizing them could easily copy Shoto’s move at the last minute by sight alone. Shoto didn’t understand his rother’s situation and therefore did not see Toya countering the move Shoto made specifically to defeat him coming. 

This pattern repeats itself further. Enji decides to play the hero against AFO, rather than face the son he abused, and because of that even exhausting himself and his powers completely to burn AFO alive, AFO just gets back up again. If there is a mistake the heroes keep making, si that they consistently refuse to see the villain’s point of view and perspective. It’s what Toga mentioned at the end of her fight  “you think that heroes and those they protect are the only one who count as real people” which echoes Twice’s callout “You people ain’t heroes, you throw all of us downtrodden folks to the dogs.” The heroes have yet to answer to that challenge in any real way. When Shigaraki sees all the effort the heroes put into saving Bakugo, he is just reminded of the trauma he suffered as a child. The heroes will stop at nothing to save someone... as long as they’re innocent, but Tenko when he was still a child, when he could have been saved he wandered for hours on the populated city streets because he looked filthy, and came to internalize the idea that he didn’t deserve to be saved as punishment for what happened to his family. 

“it’s not like anybody would even look at me.” So you have this continued theme of the heroes refusing to look at the villains perspectice and suffering, and that too is egregiously repeated in the fight between Shoji and Spinner.

Shoji delivers this speech about who Spinner is trying to protect... when we as the audience know that Spinner is literally only rampaging as a mindless godzilla right now, because he accepted a quirk to save his best friend Shigaraki. He tells the crowds of innocent people not to let their wounds be exploited the way that Aoyama, was exploited, but Spinner is also currently in the process of being manipulated and exploited the same way by AFO that Aoyama was. 

But Shoji doesn’t see this, because there’s no care given to why the villains are committing their cimes only on stopping them. SO once again, Kurogiri and Shirakumo who will wake up? I want to point out there’s another repettition of this pattern in the way Aizawa and Mic both view Kurogiri. Kurogiri’s legitimate care for Shigaraki is something both of them brush off and are confused by. 

Even though, Kurogiri’s desire to take care and tend to Shigaraki is what Aizawa recognizes as a sign that SHirakumo is somewhere deep inside of Kurogiri. However, to Aizawa and Mic Shirakumo and Kurogiri might as well be different entities. The metaphor of the cat is used in Aizawa and Shirakumo’s backstory. 

Aizawa leaves an abandoned cat in the rain because he didn’t think he would be able to protect or take care of it, however, when Shirakumo saw someone in trouble he instead saved the cat without a second thought. Does that not reflect the current situation? 

Mic and Aizawa along with the rest of the heroes have already given up on the idea of saving Shigarki, in fact they actively discouraged All Might form doing so when it would have been much easier to reach him before his multiple power ups. THe attitude towards Shigaraki from the start is that he’s beyond all hope of redemption, and yet is Shigaraki not another orphaned cat left out in the rain? 

Aizawa is someone who does everything to protect his students, he even took in Eri someone who was in a similiar cirucmstance to Shigaraki being kidnapped and abused by a villain who rtied to convince them they were evil deep down isnide and yet Aizawa is compelely unable to see Shigaraki as another child who was lost and hurt. 

Kurogiri however, cares for Shigaraki and this is another thing that Aizawa ignores about his friend’s identity because he doesn’t even see the half of him that is Kurogiri. He is SHirakumo every time they refer to him. It’s not about helping Kurogiri, it’s about getting Shirakumo back. 

So, what could possibly remind Aizawa and the rest of the heroes that Shigaraki too is a lost child, but Kurogiri waking up at Spinner’s call rather than Mics. Because it would be a physical reminder that Kurogiri too wants to save and take care of Shigaraki. if Kurogiri sees Shigaraki as someone who can be saved, then Aizawa can learn that many of the villains they are fighting against right now were once hurt children too, children like the ones they are currently trying to protect, children who should have been saved back then, and still can be saved. 

[subpar-ghoulfriend]

Live In Nanny Pt 2

Villain!All Might x Reader

All Might raising baby Deku but is in desperate need of a nanny (Pt 2). The morning after and basically wayyyy to long so the smut is gonna have to be in pt 3. (word count: a little over 2k)

pt 1 here

TW: Yandere themes, day after dub con, reader is held against their will

You were sore. Your hips, wrists, back, pussy, everything ached. A silky sheet was the only thing covering your bare form. You could feel that you were alone in bed, Toshi's bulkiness was no longer weighing down the mattress. It must be mid morning because light was streaming through the curtains. Maybe if you remained still you could absorb into the mattress. Not only because of your tender body, but because you would prefer to never see your boss again. But speak of the devil. "Are we staying in bed all day?" You groaned. Hating how he worded his question. We. It was condescending, patronizing, and somehow filled you with butterflies. Something was placed on the bed, definitely not heavy enough to be Toshi. And then you realized, not something but a tiny someone. Baby Izuku crawled over to you, babbling, and tapped your sore shoulder. "Morning, Zuzu," You mumbled. Your joints crackled to life and you tightened the covers so you could face the little one. Behind him the clock read 11:00 am. "I need to get dressed." The villain cocked his head, "I tossed your clothes in the laundry do you want me to go get something from your closet?" No, you didn't want him running through your belongings. He would probably make a mess. "Just give me one of your shirts." That provided you enough modesty to get to your room and you were surprised the menace didn't follow. You scrubbed your body raw under the shower, subconsciously punishing yourself for taking pleasure from the night before. You were frustrated. Clean and covered in giant sweat pants and a hoodie you stormed into the living room where Toshi sat watching izuku entertain himself. "I quit." There was a pause. You tried not to look at the child. He would sway your resolve. This didn't have anything to do with him, it was between you and his father. "Alright." Oh. He wasn't going to challenge you? Figures, the man got what he wanted from you. You turned on your heels and rushed back to your room. You didn't own much so it wasn't hard to shove your belongings back into the suitcase. Opening your bedside drawer you froze. Your keys and phone were missing. This was their spot. The dedicated key-and-phone drawer. You check the room once, twice, then Izuku's room, the playroom, the kitchen. "Where are my keys?" You hissed, to hell with the phone you could buy a replacement. "Why would you need those," His voice was taunting. You felt your fists ball up and your nails dug into your palms. You stomped your foot like a frustrated child. "Because I'm leaving, I quit, now give me my keys." "I agreed you can quit, if that's what makes you feel better. I didn't say anything about leaving." The tension could be cut with a knife. He wasn't speaking or moving, he was eerily looming. In the other room Izuku was getting fussy. It knotted your stomach not going to check on him, but you kept your eyes on the villain. Toshinori was the first one to move, he went to check on his son. Clearly you weren't a threat. You could do without the keys, even sacrifice your suitcase. You made it all the way to the front door where you expected him to be, but he wasn't. He was with Izuku. With a twist at the knob the door didn't budge. You tried once more before angrily shaking the door. All Might called for you, "I told you that you aren't leaving. It's a two way security system but feel free to keep trying." When did he install this? You didn't see anything obvious like a box or camera indicating a security system. You could've thrown a fit or tried to break open the window but you had a feeling you wouldn't make it far. "What are you getting at?" You asked, rejoining the father-son duo. "Nothing aside from what we discussed last night in bed," he was making your cheeks burn red. "Making sure we stay a happy family." By the tone of his voice you knew there was no room for discussion. He didn't chastise you for slamming the door your room. He didn't pester you through out the day. He didn't even open your door to tell you he made dinner. He came by later to tell you (through the door) that he left you a plate in case you get hungry. By midnight you were. You tip toed down the hall, peeking into to the nursery to see Izuku fast asleep. You scarfed down the food before crawling back to bed. --- The next day you shuffled out of bed and into Izuku's room where you picked up the quiet but awake baby. You were gentle as you combed through his green curls with your fingers. He was still warm the way babies gets when they sleep. Holding him soothed you. Toshi melted when he saw you two curled up on the couch. He didn't want to ruin the mood so he stayed out of your line of sight for a few more minutes. Finally he entered the threshold of the room, "I'm heading out for the day but I won't be out late." You could've ignored him, but Izuku's grubbing hands were grabbing for his daddy. You had been defeated by the toddler. You weren't a monster. You moved toward your now ex-employer so he could tell his son goodbye. Goodbye before he goes off to commit atrocities. Toshi kissed the child’s chubby cheeks without removing him from your arms. He was too close for comfort. You took an awkward half step back before his huge hand caught your hair. With a tug, your chin jutted forward and he pressed his lips to yours. "Zuku, keep an eye on mommy," Chuckling as he stepped out the front door. Your mind was fuzzy for a moment before looked down at the boy on your hip who was giggling and clapping his hands together. --- The jovial villain was focused at work. He was on edge, quiet and irritable. Eager to return home and help you with his son. All Might wasn't delusional — well at least not entirely. He anticipated that this would be a rough time for you, but you were a good girl, you would adjust.

When he placed that ad to scout for someone to watch Izuku he didn't plan for this. But you were so perfect. He ached for you in a way he never hurt before. Had you been anyone else he would've killed you when you found out his villainous ways. But no, he could never bring himself to harm you. God, you even took the news in stride. Yeah, you weren't thrilled and may have walked out of their lives if he hadn't stopped you; but you weren't trashing his house or treating Izuku any differently.

And you were so pretty underneath him, whimpering while you took his length, your nails digging into the man's shoulders when he released into you. You slept like a rock afterwards, rolling unconsciously into him. Your body sought his comfort, knowing you were safe with him. He just needed to give you time to adjust.

--- It didn't take long for you to stop leaving the room any time he entered. And soon you were back to your normal routine of caring for the child and keeping up with the house. You resumed playing around with Izuku and began reading a ton of books to the boy. You told Toshi that Izuku could even pick which books he wanted you to read. It was nice that you were talking to him again, sometimes making jabs at his life choices and always kept a distance between yourself and him. Izuku was becoming quite the talker, well the babbler because he hasn't said his first word yet. He was figuring it out though. He knew he could say 'Ap-ap' for apple or to get picked up. You were sure he would say his first word any day. --- The three of you were in the living room when it happened. Izuku was watching some baby show, the first "lesson" was colors and the little one did his best to make nonsensical noises. The next subject was family members. Siblings, sister, brother. Parents. Mom, mommy, mama. Dad, daddy, papa. Grandma, grandpa. Aunt, auntie. Uncle. Over and over again until the show was done. Toshi looked at the izuku who was wearing the face of a thinker. He looked at his dad, the little one was trying to get something of importance out. You both cheered for him once he finally got out the word "papa." It was cute to see the man beam with pride, even though he was a villain. The butterflies were breaking out of their cocoons again. --- Toshi didn't get much alone time with his son and he liked it that way. That meant you were with them. But when he did get time with son he worked on teaching the boy that you were the mommy. Mama. And Izuku would try to repeat but hadn’t quite got it. --- You were struggling to maintain your composure in between watching the news and cooking dinner. All Might was robbing a bank. There were hostages. You recognized the location immediately as a bank you passed almost daily before working for Toshinori. Did you know anyone inside? A small part of you worried for the man, probably because you were thinking of him as Izuku's father rather than a villain. You shut the TV off when you heard Izuku start to wake from his nap.

That night you couldn't help but notice a slice on his arm; it was superficial, not even bleeding but enough to draw out the question: Why do you do it? It's easy, he shrugged. All Might never initiated an attack unprovoked nor directed his actions towards helpless civilians. He stole, dabbled in the black market, and made sure everyone knew not to mess with him or anyone in his circle.

You just couldn't understand. When Zuku gets older he will ask questions. All little boys idolize their dads. What if someone tried to hurt the boy? 

The two of you were whisper yelling with each other. You more so than Toshi but he was still running low on patience; it had been a long day, after all. Izuku was picking up on the changing atmosphere, watching you both through furrowed brows, the quiver in his lip worsening. You stopped when you heard the whimpering begin. He was a sensitive child. Maybe you just needed to sleep. Toshi picked up the baby, bouncing Zuku in the way that always prevented tantrums and wails. He kept babbling and you could tell he was doing his best not to cry. You started to head towards your room when a cry broke out for 'mama.' This time it wasn't Toshi “putting you in your place”. This time it was Izuku.

"It's okay, Zuzu," Toshi soothed. "Mommy just needs a minute."

The crushing realization of just how trapped you were knocked the wind out of you. You couldn't leave the house. Toshi was always being too kind and patient. Somehow he managed to teach Izuku that you were his mommy. The most infamous villain had ensnared you and no matter what he wasn’t letting go. You would never be able to convince him to leave you alone and you'd never be able to leave Izuku.

You were tired of stubbornly holding out. Pathetic tears cascaded down your face, gentle and oddly relieving. Izuku practically leapt into your arms. The tot clung to you and his crying calmed down. you turned away, not able to look at the man.

"Are you going to think the worst of me forever?" Toshinori whispered. Maybe? Probably not. It was hard to tell. You didn't want to.

He continued, "I'm a good father, I would never let anyone hurt Izuku. Or you. Sure I don't have a lot of redeeming qualities but there are some."

You were tired of being stuck inside. It wasn't good for Izuku either. You wouldn't admit it but you weren't so sure you would abandon them even if given the chance. You were tired of trying to hate the man behind you. Tired of pretending you didn't fantasize about that night when you were alone in bed. Toshi moved right behind you and you relaxed against his huge chest. He was surprised and hesitant to move in case he frightened you to your senses. He couldn't just stand there though, that would be weird. Two thick arms wrapped around waist. "Tomorrow I wanna take Izuku to the park," You whispered. Toshi was equally defeated.

"Okay."

---

After putting Izuku to bed you made your way down the hall. The shower in Toshinori's bathroom was running. That was fine. You needed a moment to collect your thoughts. If this was going to work without you feeling like a hostage he was going to have to be open to loosing the reigns. 

He was surprised to see you in his room when he exited the bathroom in nothing more than a pair of sweatpants. 

"More fighting?" He cocked an eyebrow. 

You shook your head, "I hate All Might, just as much as I hate every other villain. But when you come home I don't see All Might, I just see Toshinori, Izuku's dad. That's the man I care about and no matter how much I fight it I can't stop caring."

It was hard to keep eye contact with him but you continued, "I want to be with you and Izuku, not with All Might. And I want to be here on my own accord. I want to be able to go out with Izuku and with you. Can't we just try that?" 

You didn't come in here to berate him again? Or to demand to leave? His heart softened as he realized that the person he wanted, wanted him back. You were willing to remain in their lives. 

"I can try that." 

Toshi trained his eyes on your body, fighting every instinct to close the space between. But you moved first, gingerly placing your hand on his shoulder to steady yourself as you straddled his lap.

"Can I sleep in here tonight? I want you to hold me," You whispered.

He nodded and rested his forehead against the crook of your neck. "Is that all you want from me tonight?"

[huihuiheart]

Lessons Part 2 - Kevin + Jacob

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The Boyz Masterlist

Pairing: Switch! Kevin x Switch! Female Reader x Switch! Jacob

Genre: Smut, Pure filth, proceed with caution

Summary:  Kevin and Jacob can’t quite figure out what they’re lacking in bed. Well, until you explain that there’s more to sex than just vanilla. That just means there’s one question left…how exactly do they do something else. - Part 1

Warnings:  Threesome, dom/sub themes, brat behavior, brat taming themes, slight corruption kink, power struggle (in the brat trying to assert dominance kinda way), protected sex (stay safe guys), some light bdsm themes (warnings to follow with explain), spanking (with a hand + a paddle), mentions of overstimulation, oral (m. receiving), cum shot, cum eating, mentions of gagging, choking? (grabs/holds reader by the throat but no pressure really) cursing, degradation turning to praise, face fucking.

Word Count: 2141

You’re about to respond with some smart remark until Jacob smacks your thigh, bringing your attention to him again, “Eyes on me when I’m fucking you.”

You grin almost evilly up at him, ready to step it up some, “You know I think it’s time the two of you finally start showing me you can follow through on this whole firm act. Prove that you can actually punish me because I’m not sure that I’m buying it.”

“Oh baby…it’s only 6 pm and we have all night to prove it to you. We’re going to have so much fun.”

_____________________________________________________

It had been just about a month since that fateful night, and much had happened. Things often start with serious questions about things, then inquiring more and more about things they heard or saw and what it is like to try. Experimenting with them both alone and together with various things as they learned what they were truly like as doms. Letting them start to get a taste for what you were like as a sub, but never fully revealing your bratty side, intending to test them out after some time and see just how much they had learned.

Today seemed as good a day as ever for that too, they wouldn’t see it coming and that would give you the perfect opportunity to see just how they would react. Knowing that having the day off from work meant you’d be able to toy with them some more while they were indisposed. Taking the time to pamper your body, knowing that if all went well your body would be put through the works later. Pulling out a rather innocent-looking light pink lingerie set, knowing that was the opposite of your intentions for today. The push-up bra, buttoning down the front for a vintage look white lace frills brings attention to your cleavage. The same pink floral lace decorates the delicate panties, white frill along the edges. The set brings attention to all your most tempting places, without revealing anything at all, the perfect tease of what someone could get if they played things right. 

Fluffing your hair in the mirror you decide it’s time to play, snapping a variety of scandalous photos and sending them throughout the day knowing full well they were trapped at work. The question you had though was what exactly would the result be when you pushed every possible button. So far though the reactions between the two boys had been very different. Jacob left you on read with no responses whereas Kevin was doing the opposite. Telling you all the things your naughty pictures would earn you and even sneaking into the bathroom at some point to reciprocate with some photos of his own.

You knew that if things went the way you anticipated they’d be coming straight to your shared apartment and letting themselves in to find you. Not that you were going to make that much of a challenge for them settling onto the couch, aimlessly scrolling through tv channels as you waited for them. No focus on the actual device before you as all that filled your mind was thoughts of what was to come. You’d taught them a lot of different things, it was just a matter of what would actually come out of this. 

Looking towards the door as it opens, raising a brow and puffing your chest as a smirk dances over your lips, “Oh? What a pleasant surprise to see you both home so soon. Should I get us some drinks? Something to settle in and chat with?”

Kevin moves fast, blocking off your path to your kitchen, “Oh don’t play coy now baby not after you’ve been teasing all day. You’ve not even been remotely subtle. Don’t run off now that we’ve actually got a chance to play back.” 

Jacob moves slower, and more silently, but you soon notice he’s blocking your exit, “You should have been more careful because by the end of the night we might just have you regretting teaching us anything. Especially about your own personal tastes, angel.” 

“That’s a lot of talk from someone who needed my help to try something at all.” You shoot back with no hesitation, trying to slip away until Kevin’s hands pin you.

“Oh no, the only place you’re going now is the bedroom.” He smirks at you, leading the way, his hands still on your hips. His grip has loosened now though, letting you know that he wasn’t going to try and force you into this. Still, you followed his lead, leaving Jacob to trail behind, eyes trained on your every move. 

As Kevin steps away to look through the drawer of your playthings Jacob finally closes the gap again, hands on your waist, leaning in towards your ear and planting a soft kiss, “I know you’ve been teasing all day, but I don’t want to just assume. Is this really what you want right now?” 

Your brat slips away for a moment, knowing this needed to be a serious conversation, “I am. Is there anything you two aren’t okay with tonight?”

Kevin stops his actions for a moment, looking at you with a shake of his head as he answers first, “I’m down for whatever tonight.”

Jacob in agreement, “I’m alright with whatever as well. What about you? Anything you’re not okay with right now?”

“Anything within my limits is fine today. You both know my safe word, I’ll use it if need be.” You assure them before you start to get playful once again, “Don’t you think that’s enough talking though? Let’s get to the good part.”

Jacob grips under your jaw, fixing you with a heated gaze, “You know...I didn’t have gagging on the agenda tonight but keep talking and we might just have to have some fun with that too.” 

“Oh don’t threaten me with a good time now. You might just make me act up.” You lick your lips, before letting your tongue hang out and mouth open to tempt him with the mouth you know he loved so much. 

Jacob raises a brow before turning you around to bend you over the foot of the bed. Kevin turned to join you both leaning in towards your face, vibrator in hand. His free hand comes to tuck some hair behind your ear, a smug little grin on his face as he holds your gaze.

“You had time to have your fun, it’s our turn now.” He practically sings the words out as if to taunt you even more. Moving to bring the vibrator down between your legs until Jacob stops him.

“Not so fast. I know you’re eager and rightly so, but that’s a bit premature don’t you think? We’d be practically rewarding her for acting like a little slut. No, she’s got to earn that first.” Jacob tsks, a hand suddenly cracking down on the curve of your pantie-clad ass, stunning you into letting out a moan. 

Kevin goes back to the toy drawer after tossing the vibrator beside you, in search of the perfect toy to bruise your ass. Jacob’s hands smoothing over the swell of it, toying with the band on the panties before letting it snap back with a slight sting. 

“What did you think dressing up all innocent and pretty like this would hide the truth from us? It’s too late for that doll, we already know how dirty you are. All your deepest, filthiest desires. No looking innocent to us anymore. Though you certainly do look sweet enough to eat...if only this was about your pleasure right now.” Jacob coos mockingly, as if his words hadn’t already taunted you enough. Maybe he thought it’d get you to cave and start behaving, if he did though then he must not know you very well.

“So you don’t want to fuck me? Don’t worry, I don’t have high expectations from you two anyways. So we can always hope you don’t still disappoint.” You could practically feel Jacob heating up at your statement, grip on your ass getting harsher. Looking over and noticing how it gets a pause from Kevin as well, who takes only another moment before joining you and Jacob, paddle in hand.

“You know...I think I have a far better idea than a gag. Still, it might just teach that slutty mouth some much-needed lessons.” Kevin hands the paddle off, before moving to kneel before your face. Undoing his pants and freeing his cock, but offering you no other visual of his pretty form until you’ve earned it. “Open up baby. You were so eager to do that just a moment ago when you were talking shit.”

Kevin’s hands brush your hair out of your face, threading in at the roots to guide your actions and keep his view of you unhindered. Taking the tip into your mouth as Jacob moves behind you to finally remove your panties, exposing your ass to the chilled air. It doesn’t stay cold for long though as the leather paddle soon cracks down leaving a slight burning sting behind and making you moan around Kevin.

“Still hearing a bit too much of you don’t you think? Especially for someone whose mouth is supposed to be stuffed and who isn’t supposed to be enjoying their punishment.” Kevin’s grip on you urges your actions on. That paired with how Jacob brings the paddle down on your ass again and sending your lurching forward has you taking Kevin’s cock down your throat, gagging just slightly at the suddenness of the feeling.

“Such pretty slutty sounds those are, sounds so much better than those wasteful words you were spewing earlier angel. Keep making those sounds for us while taking what you’re given for acting like a spoiled little brat.” Jacob punctuates his words with a few more successive smacks of the paddle, alternating the area he hit, but never letting up on the power he put into it. Letting you know he had every intention of making sure you felt the repercussions of your actions for days to come. 

“Look at her. Already drooling all over my pants as if she’s already falling apart. She looks like she can barely handle it and yet still so eager, I bet she’d let me fuck her pretty little face right now too.” Kevin chuckles down at you, but his own eyes are glazed over in pleasure already, loving every second of this arguably as much as you were.

“You should. If she wants us to make her feel good, she should really earn it.” Jacob leans forward towards your ear, “Go on doll, earn it.”

The way he growled into your ear had shivers of delight running down your spine, Jacob leaning back as Kevin took control, thrusting into your mouth. No warning signs coming from behind to warn you of when to expect the bite of pain from each hit to come. It seems your taking the hits and being pliant for Kevin’s pleasure aren’t enough to earn you an end to the punishment, yet. Denying you the taste of him as he came, instead painting your cheeks and lips with his cum. Only to lean down and lick it away before you could get the satisfaction. 

“Look at that, she’s still behaving that little mouth of hers for us. Maybe we should reward her with a little pleasure of her own.” Kevin moves in to connect your lips for a moment letting you get a lingering taste of him, just a tease of what you could have had. 

The kiss does not last long enough to get more than a little heated as he moves to grab the previously discarded vibrator. Jacob’s hands find your hips to turn you over onto your raw ass, stinging just slightly. Kevin is angling you to lean back against him, his legs spreading yours and holding them open and out of their way. Clicking the vibrator on as Jacob undresses and goes to grab a condom.

“She was practically dripping down her thighs before we even gave her any pleasure. So I doubt she’ll last long once she actually gets a taste of what we can make her feel.” Jacob calls you out with a smirk as he rolls the condom on. Kevin placing the vibrator on high on your clit, wasting no more time but instead getting straight to the point.

“I think you’re underestimating me. I’ll be able to last just fine.” You counter, yet the way you moan and squirm as Kevin presses the vibrator against you harder is in stark contrast to your words. 

“Guess there’s only one way to find out then, isn’t there, doll?” Jacob asks, pressing into you, “Just know that once you start cumming...we’re not going to let you stop.”

[midnightswithdearkatytspb]

VelvetCardiganBucky’s Recommendations 2021: Week 12 & 13 | March 14th – March 27th

Welcome to weeks 12 & 13 of my recommendations, if you would like to be featured on a future list, I follow the hashtag #VelvetCardiganBucky, message me, tag me in your future works, or reblog this post and link to your story, one-shot, Masterlist, writing challenge, etc.

Be aware some if not most stories and writers on this list are meant to be consumed by an audience of those 18+. My blog is also an 18+ blog.

✨Page breaks are made @firefly-graphics✨

«Last Week

Week 14»

My Masterlist

My Fic Rec List of Mafia/Mob Bucky/Sebastian & Steve/Chris/Andy

Stuff I Posted This Week:

Steve + Bey = 4Ever » Steve Rogers and Bey carved places in each other’s hearts, that no one else could ever replace.

I Hear A Symphony » Bucky Barnes x Mutant!Reader — Reader plays an important song to her for Bucky.

—Formerly The Winter Soldier » “I’m no longer the winter soldier, my name is James Bucky Barnes & you're part of my effort to make amends.”

Lee Bodecker

(Mini) Series:

*Give In by @not-a-great-writer » soft!dark!Lee Bodecker x shy!Reader — She didn’t think she was anything special. So when the intimidating Sheriff takes an interest in her, she can’t help but feel a little unsettled. Her boring life is about to get a little interesting. | This story has to be one of my all time series I’ve ever read, and I know I will weep when it’s over. The chapters are decently sized, you have angst, fluff and smut. I couldn’t ask for more, it’s simply a masterpiece.

Deadbeat Pt. 9 by @the-witty-pen-name » Lee Bodecker x F!Reader — You work at the bar at the edge of town, the Sheriff is going through a divorce and needs to rent a room. | Cole thank you for feeding my current Lee Bodecker obsession after I watched The Devil All The Time, for the time. This story is good and I love soft!Lee, and one where no one dies. At least I hope no one dies...

SamBucky

One-Shots:

Loving You Is Cherry Pie by @river-soul » Sam Wilson x Reader x Bucky Barnes — When Sam Wilson, one of your regulars at the cafe finally asks you out, you’re ecstatic until he tells you he wants his friend to join. When you meet Bucky, you decide it might be worth your while after all. [Allusions to stalking, exhibitionism and explicit sex, 18+] | There is just not enough SamBuck stories out there and we have @river-soul to thank for feeding our love for the boys and giving us some good smut, especially to tide us over till Friday.

Nothing Good Happens After 2 AM by @callmeluna » Sam Wilson x Reader x Bucky Barnes — You are admittedly a handful when you’ve had a few drinks in you. Luckily, your partners Sam and Bucky are more than up for the challenge… maybe. | If you are looking for something to make you laugh, might I suggest reading this? The whole time as I read this I couldn’t get the huge smile off my face, it was that good.

Bucky Barnes

Drabbles:

Matching by @heli0s-writes » Bucky Barnes x Reader — Reader and Bucky are “matchy matchy,” with their belly button rings. | This is adorable as well as very funny.

One-Shots:

Smooth Criminal by @bestofbucky » Bucky Barnes x Reader — Based on a dream @velvetcardiganbucky had. You’re parents told you to never give rides to strangers, but when you notice Bucky Barnes trying to break into your car, you know some strangers aren’t so bad. | Jenny did my dream justice! I honestly couldn’t have asked for anything better.

Don’t Over Do It by @whisperlullaby » Bucky Barnes x Reader — Your boyfriend is an asshole. Bucky reminds you that you are perfect the way you are. | I can’t describe this anyway other than perfect, that I wish I had a Bucky like this there for me. Trust me you’ll love the ending.

Coming Home to You by @angrythingstarlight » Biker!Bucky Barnes x Reader — Your Biker boyfriend is finally home and he’s going to show you how much he missed you. With every inch he has. And you’re going to remember how much he loves you. | It’s not very often you read something that has an alternate ending and when you do you find yourself loving both endings. Both endings are hot, the smut is great, again who couldn’t love Biker!Bucky?

Won’t Let You Go by @kind-of-crazy-butthatsokay » Mob!Bucky Barnes x OFC!Kori — Kori met Bucky in one of his clubs, out to get shit-faced with a couple of friends to forget about her worries and maybe take home a guy to further rid herself of her numerous frustrations. Little did she know that the one-night stand with Bucky would turn into so much more than that. | Thank you so much for entering my writing challenge, it means so much. This one-shot is so good, it hit me right the feels and left me falling in love with Kori and Bucky.

Show Me How To Ride by @angrythingstarlight » Beefy Biker!Bucky Barnes x Reader — You’ve been keeping a secret from your biker boyfriend. He is going to get the information out of you one way or the other. | It’s hot and it makes you realize just how much you realize just how much you love Biker!Bucky.

Bubble Baths by @floatingpetals » Bucky Barnes x Reader (Modern AU) — Even your boyfriend Bucky, needs to wind down at the end of a stressful with a bubble bath, but he doesn’t want to do it alone. | Okay, so my summary of this sucks but let me just say this is fluffy and smutty all at once. I wish I had Bucky to take a bubbly bath with.

Bad Boy!Bucky Barnes x Shy!Reader by @gagmebucky — in which there’s nowhere to sit and bucky offers his lap—then, subsequently, his cock. (bad boy!bucky x shy!reader, dirty talk, exhibitionism and voyeurism, cockwarming, unprotected sex.) | *chugs water* yeah is it a little hot in here? I probably would have failed class if Bucky had been in my class along with Steve, I wouldn’t have known who to stare at, forget learning the material.

**Greater Good by @fuel-joy » Bucky Barnes x Reader — There is a cure for the zombie outbreak but is it worth the cost. | Grab your tissues, because you are going to need them. Thanks darling for entering my writing challenge and making me feel so many feels with this one.

(Mini) Series:

A Tender Heart ♥️ Pt. 2 by @river-soul » Alpha!Bucky Barnes x Omega!Reader — You’ve been sweet on Bucky since you started working at the compound six months ago. Normally quiet and mild mannered, an unexpired fight with a coworker brings Bucky into your orbit. [A/B/O dynamics, brief mention of bullying and fluff] | If anyone can pull at your heartstrings it’s @river-soul making the beginning of this series look so promising and I can’t wait to see where it goes.

Run To You 🪙 Pt. 10 🪙 Pt. 11 🪙 Pt. 12 by @bestofbucky » Mob!Bucky Barnes x Bodyguard!Reader — Mob boss Bucky Barnes hires you to be his bodyguard. | Jenny left me at the edge of my seat, making this such an amazing story, I always look forward to her updates, and so sad that there is only 1 chapter left.

Better than Working sequel to This by @angrythingstarlight » Beefy Biker!Bucky Barnes x Reader — Beefy Biker Bucky shows you all the benefits of working from home. In fact what he has for you is so much better than work. | Sometimes you just need to read something hot to lift your spirits, let this do that.

Stucky

One-Shots:

*Tell Me What You Want by @angrythingstarlight » Mafia!Steve Rogers x Reader; Mafia!Bucky Barnes x Reader — Your mob boyfriend, is none other than Steve Rogers and he is willing to get you whatever you wanted, all you have to do is ask. And be careful what you ask for because he’s going to give it to you over and over again. | This is so hot that I highly recommend not reading this anywhere out in public. The smut in this is just *chefs kiss*

(Mini) Series:

Miracle Pt. 2 🥀 Pt. 1 by @heavenhatesme » Soft!Dark!Bucky Barnes x Reader; Soft!Dark!Steve Rogers x Reader — When infertility threatens mankind with extinction and there hasn’t been a baby for almost 18 years, what happens when two certain super soldiers fall for the same woman and accidentally impregnate her? | It’s not tagged as dark, sorry to the writer I tagged it that please forgive me? But I just want to tell everyone heed the tags. I do look forward to reading what happens next. The smut in this is great!

Invisible Ink by @navybrat817 » Bucky Barnes x Reader, Steve Rogers x Reader; Bucky Barnes x Reader x Steve Rogers — The owners of the Howling Commandos Tattoo Parlor want to make you their best girl. | I love the idea of tattoo’d Bucky and Steve, but that's because I have a weakness for tattoo’s. So this series is just right up my alley, and the start of it is so good that I know it’s good to be a great one!

Steve Rogers

Drabbles:

Chocolate Milk & Dino Nuggets by @nony-bear » Steve Rogers x Reader — Daddy Steve helps make his little girl feel better after a long week. DDLG THEMES | Had me wishing I had a Steve to make me Dino nuggets after a long day at work. It’s precious folks.

Prompt 4K Drabble Challenge by @sweeterthanthis » Steve Rogers x Reader — “Show me how deep you can take it.” | You’re going to need an ice cold bath after this one.

One-Shots:

A Cruel Tide by @writerwrites » Nomad!Steve Rogers x Reader — A lost hero thinks she needs saving, but this divorcée’s needs were different, fleeting, and then full of attachment. Can they overcome the burdens on their shoulders and keep their word? | Sometimes you want to wrap the reader and Steve in a blanket and protect them while enjoying the smut. This gave me that and more.

Untitled Request by @navybrat817 » Steve Rogers x Reader — Sending Steve a naughty photo while he’s in a meeting leads to punishment that will remind you to never do it again, right? | Hi, I’m just going to drench myself in ice cold water. ✌🏻

(Mini) Series:

*Control Pt. 3 🔐 Pt. 1 🔐 Pt. 2 by @river-soul » dark!Steve Rogers x Reader — When a probationary agent asks you out on a date you learn Steve’s intentions for you have evolved. He doesn’t take kindly to someone touching what’s his. [Noncon, physical violence (biting), grooming behavior and explicit sex, 18+] | Definitely one of my favorite series to read on Tumblr so far, you know it’s dark, and the smut is great. I always look forward to the updates on this one.

*Lipstick and Crayons 🖍 Ch. 4 by @oneoftheprettynerds » Dark Mob!Steve Rogers x Reader — Steve can’t ever repay you for what you did. After meeting you, Steve believes his broken family is the missing piece in the puzzle of your own wrecked one. Indebting the crime lord to you has been the biggest mistake of your life, cause now you can’t get rid of him, no matter what. Loyalty and favours go a long way in the mob. | This story always gets my heart a racing and leaves you with questions as to what is going to happen next. I truly love it and Soft!Dad while being Angry!Mob boss Steve all at the same time, this story just has it all for me.

This Is My Unbecoming by @river-soul » Werewolf!Steve Rogers x Witch!Reader — When the Hydra pack graduates from turning humans to swell their ranks to kidnapping and murdering witches to consolidate power, Steve knows he needs to strike. He makes a deal with a powerful coven leader for a witch of his own in exchange for destroying the rogue pack. [Magical realism, biting, blood, slightly dubious consent and explicit sex, 18+] | Okay this is so good and I would like to thank the teenage mind of @river-soul for creating this! Like seriously thank you. I look forward to reading more!

It’s been a long, long time ☕️ Ch.1 by @mostly-marvel-musings » Steve Rogers x Reader — Steve Rogers – a man who has lost too much finds himself blending into the crowd in attempts to forget his past but revisits familiar places and spends days sketching his heart out. A rainy evening leads him to find shelter in your coffee shop. Is having meaningful conversations over endless cups of coffee with a stranger the key to unlocking a heart that’s lost the will to love? | The prologue tore my heart out, it truly did but the first chapter just puts the pieces back together. I really love this and I’m honestly looking forward to reading what happens next. I can’t thank you enough for entering my writing challenge!

*Not A Team Part: 1 by @shedobewritingalittle » Steve Rogers x Reader — The Reader tries to live a normal life, but her memories won’t leave her alone. Rhodey comes to visit the reader with a proposition. | There aren't a lot of stories out there that have walk on parts with Rhodey in it and I didn’t know how much I missed out on having him in stories till I read this. This was just so well written and the characterization of Rhodey was perfect, how Peyton got the emotions written across, it’s perfect. Read this and have some tissues on hand. I will always love it.

Andy Barber

One-Shots:

Closing Arguments by @river-soul » Andy Barber x Reader — Andy and you are going out for the first time since your daughter’s birth. Anxious about leaving her behind Andy does his best to make you feel better. [Fluff with explicit sex (f recieving), 18+] | So fluffy and sweet!

Keep the Heat by @ozarkthedog » Andy Barber x Reader — Andy fucks you in the coat. | Semi-Short and the smut is oh so good.

(Mini) Series:

Homebound 🏡 Ch. 1 by @fuel-joy » Dark!Andy Barber x Reader — You witness your neighbor kill his wife. You try to gather evidence all from the comfort of your home. | Prepare to be at the edge of your seat with this one, it’s just that good.

One Night by @darkficsyouneveraskedfor » Dark!Andy Barber x Reader — One night changes your entire life. | This is dark and exciting, with tons of angst in it. I love a real good dark!Andy fic and this is it.

Chris Evans

One-Shots:

Mirrors by @cherrychris » Chris Evans x Reader — “wanna know what i see? me owning you and this sweet little pussy” | Sometimes you read things that just blow your mind and this was one of those things.

*Work Party by @harrylovex » Chris Evans x Reader — you get drunk at a work party and chris looks after you… | This is really adorable and probably one of my favorite fluffy Chris Evans one-shots I’ve ever read.

Misc.

One-Shots:

An Act of Kindness by @stargazingfangirl18 » Jake Jensen x Female!Reader — A simple act of kindness seals your fate. | I would like to simply start of by saying that this was my first Jake Jensen fanfiction in years, or maybe my first one, and all I could was where have I been hiding from him? So good and glad I read this and so will you!

*Come Back Safe by @celestialbarnes » Sam Wilson x Reader — based on tfatws, you find out sam’s leaving for a mission, afraid to lose the man you love, you confront him, and he promises you to come back. | So fluffy you’ll want to cuddle it under a blanket fort and wish under a thousand starry night skies for it to come true.

(Mini) Series:

Fiery Friends Pt. 3 🔥 Pt. 4 by @wanderinglunarnights » Johnny Storm x OFC!Sophia Jones — Johnny invites his best friend Sophia to stay with him in his penthouse during quarantine. | I really like this story, because I find myself mentally rooting for Sophia and Johnny, also going you go girl. Looking forward to what is next for this duo.

Ensnared Pt. 2 🔗 Pt. 1 by @stargazingfangirl18 » Ransom Drysdale x Female!Reader; minor Robert Pronge (Mr. Freezy) x Reader — Robert preps you for the handoff to the smooth talking stranger who bought you, but before he lets you go, he wants to have a little fun first. | So good and hot. Honestly I look forward to hopefully finding out what happens between the reader and Ransom.

Made With Love by @ayybtch » Wanda Maximoff x f!Reader + Friends to Lovers — Wanda is an excellent cook but a terrible baker. A rough day leads her to the bakery in the Avengers compound where she meets you, the lead baker. After a dismal attempt at making chocolate chip cookies, you volunteer to help Wanda learn how to bake. Your friendship grows stronger with each successful recipe until the two of you stumble into something even sweeter than baked goods. | This story will constantly have you smiling, sure it’s only 3 chapters so far, but I started off reading it in a bad mood but by the 3rd chapter I was just so sappy and happy. I can’t wait for more!

Without Me by CuttingMyFingersOff » Legolas x OFC!Braigeth — Braigeth was an elf who has nothing but memories of Legolas to help her survive being imprisoned in the walls of Orthanc. That is, until she is able to escape and reunite with him. | I’ve been invested in this since my friend came forward to me with the idea for this story and now that it’s being written, I couldn’t be more excited to read it. I need more Lord of the Rings in my life if I’m being honest.

Forever and Ever More by @syntheticavenger » Dark Alpha!Ransom Drysdale x Omega!Reader — Ransom Drysdale may be Boston’s most eligible Alpha but he has his eyes set on you. With his inheritance hanging in the balance, he won’t take no for an answer, whether you like him or not. | Prepared to go on a Hawaiian EMOTIONAL roller coaster with this story, there are so many times in this story you find yourself picking your jaw up off the floor. I’ve linked you to chapter 9, which has all the previous chapters, listed.

Is A Shout Out To My...

@bluemusickid in celebration of 700 followers is hosting a Holi Celebration Writing Challenge, that is due April 30th, but extension can be given. Any Marvel or MCU characters can be used in addition to Chris Evans and his characters. The theme is Holi and its colors, for better explanation visit the link provided.

@whisperlullaby in celebration of 700 followers is hosting a 700 Followers Challenge, your entries will be due May 5th. The theme is kinks, no RPF, DDLG/MMLG, bathroom related , incest, or under age kinks. This is MCU characters, Sebastian Stan, and Chris Evans characters x OFC or Reader. For more information visit the link provided. Congrats Becca on the 700 followers you deserve it hun!

@stargazingfangirl18 in celebration of 5K followers is hosting a Soft Dark Writing Challenge, which is due May 31st. Don’t let the name fool you, your writing can be soft, dark, or soft!dark, or headcanons about any Chris character. 500 word minimum with no max, but new or be read as a stand alone piece. For more information visit the link provided and be sure to congratulate Siri on her 5K milestone!

@cloudystevie in celebration of 4K followers is hosting a Mob!AU Writing Challenge, that is due on May 30th. You can use Chris Evans and any of his characters he’s played before, as well as make it NSFW or SFW. To learn more about it please visit the link below. Also congratulations Jasmeen on the 4K followers! 💗

[be-gay-do-heists]

hello yall :) the holy month of elul started last night, which is typically a time for contemplation, so since it is impossible for me to stop thinking about leverage, i decided to write an essay. hope anyone interested in reading it enjoys, and that it makes at least a little sense!! spoilers for leverage redemption

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Leverage, Judaism, and “Doing the Work”: An Essay for Elul

When it comes to Elul and the approaching High Holidays, Leverage might seem like an odd topic to meditate on.

The TNT crime drama that ran from 2008-2012, and which released a new season this summer following its renewal, centers on a group of found-family thieves who help the victims of corporations and oligarchs (sometimes based on real-world examples), using wacky heists and cons to bring down the rich and powerful. In one episode, the team’s clients want to reclaim their father’s prized Glimt piece that had been stolen in the Shoah and never returned, but aside from this and the throwaway lines and jokes standard for most mainstream television, there’s not a ton textually Jewish about Leverage. However, despite this, I have found that the show has strong resonance among Jewish fans, and lots of potential for analysis along Jewish themes. This tends to focus on one character in particular: the group’s brilliant, pop culture-savvy, and personable hacker, Alec Hardison, played by the phenomenally talented Aldis Hodge.

I can’t remember when or where I first encountered a reading of Hardison as Jewish, but not only is this a somewhat popular interpretation, it doesn’t feel like that much of a leap. In the show itself, Hardison has a couple of the aforementioned throwaway lines that potentially point to him being Jewish, even if they’re only in service of that moment’s grift. It’s hard to point to what exactly makes reading Hardison as Jewish feel so natural. My first guess is the easy way Hardison fits into the traditional paradigms of Jewish masculinity explored by scholars such as Daniel Boyarin (2). Most of the time, the hacker is not portrayed as athletic or physical; he is usually the foil to the team’s more physically-adept characters like fighter Eliot, or thief Parker. Indeed, Hardison’s strength is mental, expressed not only through his computer wizardry but his passions for science, technology, music, popular media, as well as his studious research into whatever scenario the group might come up against. In spite of his self-identification as a “geek,” Hardison is nevertheless confident, emotionally sensitive, and secure in his masculinity. I would argue he is representative of the traditional Jewish masculine ideal, originating in the rabbinic period and solidified in medieval Europe, of the dedicated and thoughtful scholar (3). Another reason for popular readings of Hardison as Jewish may be the desire for more representation of Jews of color. Although mainstream American Jewish institutions are beginning to recognize the incredible diversity of Jews in the United States (4), and popular figures such as Tiffany Haddish are amplifying the experiences of non-white Jews, it is still difficult to find Jews of color represented in popular media. For those eager to see this kind of representation, then, interpreting Hardison, a black man who places himself tangential to Jewishness, in this way is a tempting avenue.

Regardless, all of the above remains fan interpretation, and there was little in the text of the show that seriously tied Judaism into Hardison’s identity. At least, until we got this beautiful speech from Hardison in the very first episode of the renewed show, directed at the character of Harry Wilson, a former corporate lawyer looking to atone for the injustice he was partner to throughout his career:

“In the Jewish faith, repentance, redemption, is a process. You can’t make restitution and then promise to change. You have to change first. Do the work, Harry. Then and only then can you begin to ask for forgiveness. [...] So this… this isn’t the win. It’s the start, Harry.”

I was floored to hear this speech, and thrilled that it explained the reboot’s title, Leverage: Redemption. Although not mentioned by its Hebrew name, teshuvah forms the whole basis for the new season. Teshuvah is the concept of repentance or atonement for the sins one has committed. Stemming from the root shuv/shuva, it carries the literal sense of “return.” In a spiritual context, this usually means a return to G-d, of finding one’s way back to holiness and by extension good favor in the eyes of the Divine. But equally important is restoring one’s relationships with fellow humans by repairing any hurt one has caused over the past year. This is of special significance in the holy month of Elul, leading into Rosh haShanah, the Yamim Noraim, and Yom Kippur, but one can undertake a journey of redemption at any point in time. That teshuvah is a journey is a vital message for Harry to hear; one job, one reparative act isn’t enough to overturn years of being on the wrong side of justice, to his chagrin. As the season progresses, we get to watch his path of teshuvah unfold, with all its frustrations and consequences. Harry grows into his role as a fixer, not only someone who can find jobs and marks for the team, but fixes what he has broken or harmed.

So why was Hardison the one to make this speech?

I do maintain that it does provide a stronger textual basis for reading Hardison as Jewish by implication (though the brief on-screen explanation for why he knows about teshuvah, that his foster-parent Nana raised a multi-faith household, is important in its own merit, and meshes well with his character traits of empathy and understanding for diverse experiences). However, beyond this, Hardison isn’t exactly an archetypical model for teshuvah. In the original series, he was the youngest character of the main ensemble, a hacking prodigy in the start of his adult career, with few mistakes or slights against others under his belt. In one flashback we see that his possibly first crime was stealing from the Bank of Iceland to pay off his Nana’s medical bills, and that his other early hacking exploits were in the service of fulfilling personal desires, with only those who could afford to pay the bill as targets. Indeed, in the middle of his speech, Hardison points to Eliot, the character with the most violent and gritty past who views his work with the Leverage team as atonement, for a prime example of ongoing teshuvah. So while no one is perfect and everyone has a reason for doing teshuvah, this question of why Hardison is the one to give this series-defining speech inspired me to look at his character choices and behavior, and see how they resonate with a different but interrelated Jewish principle, that of tikkun olam. 

Tikkun olam is literally translated as “repairing the world,” and can take many different forms, such as protecting the rights of vulnerable people in society, or giving tzedakah (5). In modern times, tikkun olam is often the rallying cry for Jewish social activists, particularly among environmentalists for whom literally restoring the health of the natural world is the key goal. Teshuvah and tikkun olam are intertwined (the former is the latter performed at an interpersonal level) and both hold a sense of fixing or repairing, but tikkun olam really revolves around a person feeling called to address an injustice that they may have not had a personal hand in creating. Hardison’s sense of a universal scale of justice which he has the power to help right on a global level and his newfound drive to do humanitarian work, picked up sometime after the end of the original series, make tikkun olam a central value for his character. This is why we get this nice bit of dialogue from Eliot to Hardison in the second episode of the reboot, when the latter’s outside efforts to organize international aid start distracting him from his work with the team: “Is [humanitarian work] a side gig? In our line of work, you’re one of the best. But in that line of work… you’re the only one, man.” The character who most exemplifies teshuvah reminds Hardison of his amazing ability to effect change for the better on a huge stage, to do some effective tikkun olam. It’s this acknowledgement of where Hardison can do the most good that prompts the character’s absence for the remainder of the episodes released thus far, turning his side gig into his main gig.

With this in mind, it will be interesting to see where Hardison’s arc for this season goes. Separated from the rest of the team, the hacker still has remarkable power to change the world, because it is, after all, the “age of the geek.” However, he is still one person. For all that both teshuvah and tikkun olam are individual responsibilities and require individual decision-making and effort, the latter especially relies on collective work to actually make things happen. Hardison leaving is better than trying to do humanitarian work and Leverage at the same time, but there’s only so long he can be the “only one” in the field before burning out. I’m reminded of one of the most famous (for good reason) maxims in Judaism:

It is not your duty to finish the work, but neither are you free to neglect it. (6)

Elul is traditionally a time for introspection and heeding the calls to repentance. After a year where it’s never been easier to feel powerless and drained by everything going on around us, I think it’s worth taking the time to examine what kind of work we are capable of in our own lives. Maybe it’s fixing the very recent and tangible hurts we’ve left behind, like Harry. Maybe it’s the little changes for the better that we make every day, motivated by our sense of responsibility, like Eliot. And maybe it’s the grueling challenge of major social change, like Hardison. And if any of this work gets too much, who can we fall back on for support and healing? Determining what needs repair, working on our own scale and where our efforts are most helpful, and thereby contributing to justice in realistic ways means that we can start the new year fresh, having contemplated in holiday fashion how we can be better agents in the world.

Shana tovah u’metukah and ketivah tovah to all (7), and may the work we do in the coming year be for good!

------

(1) Disclaimer: everybody’s fandom experiences are different, and this is just what I’ve picked up on in my short time watching and enjoying this show with others.

(2) See, for example, the introduction and first chapter of Boyarin’s book Unheroic Conduct: The Rise of Heterosexuality and the Invention of the Jewish Man (I especially recommend at least this portion if you are interested in queer theory and Judaic studies). There he explores the development of Jewish masculinity in direct opposition to Christian masculine standards.

(3) I might even go so far as to place Hardison well within the Jewish masculine ideal of Edelkayt, gentle and studious nobility (although I would hesitate to call him timid, another trait associated with Edelkayt). Boyarin explains that this scholarly, non-athletic model of man did not carry negative associations in the historical Jewish mindset, but was rather the height of attractiveness (Boyarin, 2, 51).

(4) Jews of color make up 20% of American Jews, according to statistics from Be’chol Lashon, and this number is projected to increase as American demographics continue to change: https://globaljews.org/about/mission/. 

(5) Tzedakah is commonly known as righteous charity. According to traditional authority Maimonides, it should be given anonymously and without embarrassment to the person in need, generous, and designed to help the recipient become self-sufficient.

(6) Rabbi Tarfon, Pirkei Avot, 2:16

(7) “A good and sweet year” and “a good inscription [in the Book of Life]”

[pingutats]

my dearest darling

in which you and harry spend a sunday morning having coffee & cake, and spontaneously decide to go engagement ring shopping together.

warnings: a little suggestive at the end. mostly just pure fluff!

word count: 3.4k

.                               .                           .                               .                           .

The little alleyway off the main street filled with café tables is a perfect place for you and Harry to sit unseen. In fact, in this little alcove, it’s easy to watch the world pass by the two of you. It’s a nice reprieve from the usual of the world watching Harry. 

He’s wearing sunglasses anyway, just in case—despite the overcast weather. 

You frown at him, resting your elbows on the table and lacing your fingers together to rest your chin on. “I really think that makes you more conspicuous.”

He scrunches up his nose. “Nah. Or at least, if people notice, they’re going to notice an odd bloke in sunnies, not me.”

“They’ll notice it’s you.”

He glances at the busy footpath. “‘S working so far, love.”

A young waitress rounds the corner from the cafe’s front entrance and sets your coffees down on the table. You move your elbows off the table politely to give her space.

“Thanks,” Harry says, reaching for his black coffee. 

You smile at the waitress as you wrap your hands around the latte you ordered, warming up your freezing fingers. You notice the way she hesitates before she leaves, how she looks at Harry like she wants to say something before before quickly spinning on her heels and walking away. When she’s out of earshot, you look at Harry. “She knows.”

He shrugs. “That’s different.”

The waitress reappears a minute later with the little cakes you ordered. This time, she’s braver. “I’m so sorry—are you Harry Styles?” she asks, saying his name in a voice that’s akin to a reverent whisper.

His eyes dart to you for a split second and he raises his eyebrow enough that only you’ll notice, conceding to you, then smiles at her. “Yeah, I am. Sorry, what’s your name?”

You watch him navigate the encounter easily, like you’ve watched so many times. The girl asks for a photo and he politely declines, explaining that he doesn’t want to draw attention, but offers to sign a napkin for her instead. He a short message (nice to meet you, all my love) to her and draws a couple hearts after he signs his name, then passes it to her with a sweetly genuine thanks her for her support. 

“Oh my gosh, no, thank you,” she says earnestly. “It was so, so nice to meet you.” She glances at you, then, and her cheeks go even pinker. “Thanks,” she says again, and then she’s gone.

You let a giggle free at the awkward way his fans treat you, like they don’t know if it’s appropriate to talk to you as well, and how they struggle to find something to say to you anyway. Once it might have bothered you. It’s just amusing to you now. You raise your brows at Harry. “All your love?” you tease, quoting the message he wrote on the napkin. “Where’s my share?”

He pouts from behind his sunglasses. “Don’t be like that.”

You kick his shin gently underneath the table. “I’m kidding around. She was sweet. I like watching you do that, you’re so good at it.”

His foot swings around to trap your ankle between his. “Trying to play footsie at eleven o’clock on a Sunday morning? You little minx.”

You roll your eyes and wrench your foot free, rattling the table as you do so. He laughs—a sharp barking ha! that makes you smile through your embarrassment at causing a small commotion. 

“Who’s conspicuous, sorry?” he asks.

 You shake your head at him and stab your fork into your apple and cinnamon muffin. He keeps giggling as he slides his own plate with the carrot cake to his side of the table and picks up a fork himself.

“Mm, that’s good,” he says after he swallows his first bite. “Better than the one I make.”

“Well, baking isn’t known to be one of your talents.”

He claps a hand to his chest. “I’m wounded.” He leans over the table and skewers a piece of your muffin on his fork, dodging your attempts to swat his hand away with great agility. He pops it in his mouth triumphantly, cocking his head like he’s challenging you. 

In return, you steal a piece of his cake. 

“That was a much larger piece than what I took,” he accuses. 

You shrug.

His phone, face down on the table, dings. He glances up at you. 

“Check it,” you tell him. You know he only has alerts on for his closest friends—otherwise his phone would be ringing all day long. “I don’t mind.”

He bites his lip apologetically and flips the phone over, reading it. “Oh, it’s Tom. Hang on a sec.” He starts typing back.

You crane your neck around to read the message—something about Tom being free at the end of July, and Harry is giving a thumbs-up to that.

“Where are you off to?” you ask. 

“France, maybe,” he replies. You’re aware that discovering this kind of information so suddenly would be jarring for most couples, enough to even incite a fight—but you and Harry aren’t exactly a normal couple, and international trips are just part and parcel of your relationship. Hell, he goes on world tours for months at a time. You’re lucky, you suppose, that you function just as well long-distance as you do when you’re living together. 

“Lads’ trip?”

He sends the message and clicks his phone off, leaning back in his chair. “Nah. Taking you to Paris and getting down on m’knee in front of the Eiffel Tower,” he says, nodding sagely. 

“Is that so?”

“Yeah, Tom’s there to get the photos.” He shovels a forkful of the cake into his mouth and then points his fork in the general direction of a street busker playing a violin across the road. He swallows. “And I’m getting that guy to play a little tune, for the atmosphere,” he adds. 

You raise your brows. “Oh, you’ve got budget for this, then.”

He smiles. “Nothing but the best for my dearest darling.”

You snort.

He carefully cuts a piece of cake with the edge of his fork. “Nah, we’re thinking of doing a trip down to his friend’s studio in—somewhere in France, I can’t remember really. Friends and family welcome too, if you want to come. Apparently it’s a real nice place.” He eats his mouthful and then lifts his sunnies to look at you with clear eyes. “We are getting married, though. I mean that.”

Your cheeks threaten to burst from how badly you want to smile, but you force yourself to assume a serious face, just to humour him. “Of course we are.”

Despite the butterflies it inspires, this conversation isn’t new. You’ve been with Harry a couple of years now and you both know you’re on the same page when it comes to your shared future. There are no hard plans, but the direction is set. You’re getting there someday. 

He puffs his cheeks out. “I feel like you aren’t taking this as seriously as I am.”

You sigh melodramatically. “Well, sweetheart, I haven’t seen a ring yet.”

“A ring? You should have asked,” he drawls, then suddenly sits up straight and points a finger at you. “Don’t take that as a challenge. I want to be the one to ask.”

You shrug. “Can’t make any promises.”

His arm shoots forward to grab at your hand and you almost laugh out loud at the puppy-eyes he’s making at you. “No, please, baby, I swear you can do everything else, but let me do the proposing bit.”

In your heart, you’re happy he’s so insistent, because this is exactly how you want it to be too. In your mind, though, you really enjoy tormenting him. 

“I’ll think about it,” you concede, and he groans.

“I’m buying a ring soon as I can, just to lock it in,” he tells you as he destroys what’s left of his carrot cake.

Once you’ve finished and Harry’s gone up to pay for the coffee and cake (he also took a moment to lean over the counter to snap a group selfie with the waitress who served you earlier and a couple others too) you walk back up the street in the general direction of your car that’s parked a few blocks down. The weather is pleasant today and the sun is even peeking out from behind the clouds now, justifying his sunglasses. 

Your mind starts to drift (his arm wrapped loosely around your waist anchors you to the real world) as you think about how nice it is to be with Harry, how you’ve learned to appreciate each physical moment you have with him because they are so precious. After the tours, the promotional trips, the film sets, and all the little things in between, you understand how to be with Harry. You know not everyone can handle a life like this, and you’re sure that if it wasn’t Harry whose return you awaited, you wouldn’t be able to either. But he always returns. 

Harry comes to a sudden halt in front of a shop window, gazing in. You’re nearly yanked off your feet as you keep trying to walk with your arm around him—he’s so steady that he doesn’t budge. You stand next to him and look into what you realise is a jewellery store. 

“What do you think?” he asks. 

“Huh?”

He looks down, his arm squeezing around your shoulder. “Said I’d get you a ring, didn’t I?”

Butterflies erupt in your stomach. “What, today?”

“‘M not asking. Just preparing.”

You raise your eyebrows up at him. “That is… that is really a technicality.”

“Humour me,” he says. “C’mon.” He shepherds you into the store, steering you by your shoulders. 

It’s small and pretty in here, the air from the fans cool against your sun-warmed skin. There are hardly any other customers at the moment, so you have some kind of valuable privacy. There are a couple of glass counters that run along either side of the store with meticulously placed themed displays inside them. You gravitate immediately to the closest thing, a cluster of rough amethysts hanging from necklaces. 

“Aren’t these so cute?” you comment to Harry.

His arms wrap around you from behind and you reach up to grasp onto his crossed forearms resting against your chest. “Oh, yeah, they are.”

You stay there looking at the necklaces for a little too long—it’s not like you’re really that fascinated by the jewels, but more that you’re just enjoying Harry’s head leaning over your shoulder and his chest pressed to your back as you stand there. When your gaze meanders along the counter and you see something new, though, you shake free of his grip and follow your whims.

This store isn’t labelled out front with a massive brand. You’re pretty sure it’s an independent jeweller, judging by the neat description cards that accompany each small collection, explaining the theme in a lively and personal manner. This is what makes you really fall in love with the place and feel sure that this is where you’ll find the perfect ring. You know Harry could afford any ring from any famous brand, the heaviest jewels imaginable, easily worthy of a feature article in Vogue magazine. He could probably organise to have a diamond dug up fresh specifically to go on your finger. 

It’s the fact that Harry could give you anything in the world that makes you not want it at all. Special, to the two of you, isn’t something that you’ll find in wealth or the crowds that adore him.

It’s found in a day like this.

“Oh, my god, H, look at this one,” you gasp, grabbing his wrist and pulling him over.

He bends over the counter, his gaze following the line of your pointing finger. “Oh, that is pretty,” he says. 

It’s a simple gold band with a small, neatly carved diamond fixed to it. It isn’t flashy at all, which is what drew you to it. You knew he’d like it too. Despite the decadence of his performances, he can be a different man behind closed doors and you love that part of him. The secret part, the one that only you know so well. 

“I’m in love with it,” you tell him.

Harry nods. “Yeah, I think that’s the one.”

You never doubted that he would agree, but his assent sends a bolt of excitement up your spine. It’s all so real, suddenly, and you can’t wait to see him on his knee for you, to see that ring on your finger. You know your ring size off by heart (how could you not, being in a relationship with the jewellery connoisseur that Harry is), so there’ll be no need for you to try it on today. You’re left with only the raw anticipation of the day he’ll slide it onto your finger. 

His hands come down to rest on your hips as you both stare at the ring. You imagine you can hear his heart, knowing that it’ll be beating erratically because his excitement must match yours—you know how he feels about the idea of marriage. 

He spins you around to face him, leaving his hands on your hips. He looks at you very seriously. His sunglasses are resting on top of his head now, pushing back his curls and revealing his green eyes and furrowed brow to you.

“You know, if we’re seen buying an engagement ring…” he begins, trailing off. He shrugs. “Just want to think about that.”

You screw up your nose. “According to some magazines we got married last week, and also six months ago. Just being in here is probably going to spark something.” You glance behind you, as if you’ll see journalists scribbling away on their theories, then flatten your palms against his chest, smoothing out his shirt. “I’m happy to ignore it. I want to just do our thing, H.”

He nods, pursing his lips, and gradually the crease in his forehead disappears. “Okay. Good.” Twin smiles spread over your faces and you have the feeling of being two giddy kids, high-schoolers about to have their first kiss. Something new, unknown, exciting, that the two of you are going into together. His eyes are practically sparkling at you. If this was a cartoon, you think his pupils would be shaped like hearts right now. Something is starting to bud and you can feel it growing up inside you and between you, preparing to bloom. 

“Alright,” you say, breaking the insulating silence to draw you both back to the real world. 

He blinks a couple of times as if he’s just waking up. “Alright,” he echoes. “Let’s get it.”

He waves over a man drifting through the store in a neat suit and points at the ring. “Excuse me, can we please have a look at this one?”

The two of you watch the man unlock the cabinet and slide the plate of rings out, placing it on the counter. He picks up the one Harry pointed out. “It’s a lovely one, sir.”

“It is,” Harry says. His hand finds yours and squeezes your fingers. “What size is it?”

The man checks the price and tells you, and your mouth drops open. Surely there is something supernaturally perfect going on, because it’s exactly your size. You and Harry look at each other incredulously. 

The man seems to notice your unspoken conversation, because he helpfully adds, “We can resize it if you need.”

Harry chuckles. “No, it’s perfect. I think…” he trails off, looking at you. “What do you think?”

You nod at him, grinning. You rub your thumb over the back of his palm as he tells the man, “Thank you. We’d like this one, please.”

You stand slightly behind him as he pays for it, flexing your hands and wringing them in front of you. You know it’s all in your head, but your left ring finger is tingling as if it senses that it’s missing a piece. You really just want to wear the ring at this minute, but when the man selling it to you offers, Harry shakes his head quickly. 

“I’ll hold onto it for now,” he says. He accepts the little box from the man and slips it into his pocket. “Thank you so much.”

“The pleasure’s all mine, sir. Enjoy it, and congratulations to the two of you.”

Harry snakes his arm around your waist as you walk back out to the street. His hips knock against you as he squeezes you into his side, and you can feel the little box in his pocket. You can’t help the grin that takes over your whole face. You worry you look like an idiot, smiling so widely at nothing, but when you glance up at Harry, he looks exactly the same.

Your car is parked down a quieter road and you get to relax a little once you’re away from the crowds of the main shopping strip. You can walk a little more slowly and Harry loosens up a bit. His hyper-vigilance starts to strip away. You can see the tension in his shoulders dissolving and here’s your Harry, emerging from his defensive layers. Most people wouldn’t notice this change, but you do. You feel how he adjusts the grip of his hand on your hip, how he leans into you a little more as you walk. In your closeness, you can smell his cologne and you think of how you watched him spray it on this morning—and how you’re going to be watching him do that for the rest of your lives.

He glances over his shoulder and you copy him. The narrow street behind you is empty, but you don’t get a moment to really register this before you feel his arms tighten around your waist and you’re swept off your feet for a second as he crashes his lips into yours.

You close your eyes, letting the kiss envelop all your senses. The sweetness of the cake’s icing lingering on his lips; his arms locked around your waist, holding you up; the rapid beating of your heart. He pulls away slowly and your eyes flutter open. His face is just inches from yours and he’s looking at you with such intensity you feel naked. Not for the first time, you’re in awe of how impossibly green his eyes are; you could make a palette from every forest in the world, and it wouldn’t hold a candle to what you see in front of you right now.

“Y/N,” he says. He cracks a grin. “I’m so fucking happy.”

Your reply is simply to grab him by the back of his neck and pull him in for another kiss. Your hand tangles in his hair and you feel his tongue running along your bottom lip before he pulls away again quickly.

“Fuck,” he says, sounding lost for breath. “Need to stop before I make a fool of m’self in public.” He even physically takes a step back from you, his eyes comically wide.

You giggle. Your gaze travels down his body and you notice the indent of the box in his pocket. “Is that a ring in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?”

He shakes his head at you. “You’ve gone all giddy. ‘M getting you home right now and then we’re celebrating properly.” He turns around and starts walking towards the car, his long legs carrying him faster than you can keep up.

Your stomach flutters imagining what his idea of celebrating might be. Suddenly, the only thing on your mind is getting back to your house as soon as humanly possible. You run after Harry, skipping around in front of him and jogging backwards as you waggle your fingers in his face. “So, when are you going to pop the question?” you ask.

“Oh, honey,” he says, patting his pocket with the ring. He grins. “It’s going to be when you least expect it, I’ll promise you that.”

.                               .                           .                               .                           .

thank you for reading! hope you enjoyed—if you did, a reblog or a message is really encouraging and lovely for me to see!! the title is taken from the song by etta james.

this fic is the first part of a series called “here we are in heaven,” and i’m really really excited about it. you can read my earlier fic, at last!, if you want to see where this will end up, but there will be more parts to fill the in-between. plus blurbs and stuff! let’s chat about it! 

my masterlist can be found here. have a beautiful day!

[rosequart]

i compiled a bunch of direct quotes about pink diamond/rose quartz from the newest artbook, end of an era. some of these quotes are taken from charts and scribbled notes, so the sentence structure might be weird.

let me know if there are any typos/missing information you think i could add!

quotes from rebecca sugar: on pink diamond/rose quartz

Pink Diamond is so sure that she’s powerless, but she’s actually profoundly powerful, so much so that she devastates people’s lives without understanding it because she thinks that she has no real power or sway.

The thing that she really lacks is balance, any ability to temper her extremes. This is part of her character throughout her forms: she’s always very extreme. 

Pink fits into those older tropes, too: the restless princess, the little Winsor McCay clown.

Pink is pure want. Impulse, desire—she’s infectious. She is the flip side of White; she can bring out a Gem’s hidden personality—their deepest wants. This isn’t necessarily a Diamond power (she has a handful of Diamond powers both destructive and constructive), but she has this power in a very human sense. She is an enabler and very manipulative when it comes to getting what she wants, so when what she wants is to get closer to someone, her intensity, and her sincerity, opens them up and draws them in.

White and Pink were always clashing. The Diamond body repressed Pink’s wants, as directed by White, the self-critical conscience. Pink’s shield made it impossible for White to override Pink’s identity, so she had to find other ways to repress her.

Episodes like Bismuth make much more sense when you know that Rose is Pink, and even more sense when you understand how poorly Pink treated friends who became inconvenient.

Rose is tracked carefully through the entire show. She makes sense once you know she is her own worst enemy. She dreams, achingly, that she could become compassionate, because she’s sure she’s incapable of compassion. Her lack of respect for herself makes it impossible for her to respect everyone closest to her. She reveres them instead, because they are better than she could ever be, and that reverence is so honest and intoxicating that it draws everyone closer to her, without them understanding the deep self-hatred that pull is coming from.

She couldn’t stand herself; self-destruction is a huge theme throughout the show—the struggle of the feeling that you shouldn’t exist, and what that can do to a person. A lot of the themes of the show exist within Rose, like her inability to be honest with other people or herself about what she’s done. She’s so deeply ashamed of herself and her past, with very good reason. The truth is that the people in her life would be so much more understanding than she believes they will be. The contempt that she has for herself gets turned outward as contempt for other people when she can’t trust them. When she can’t trust herself, she can’t trust other people, and it makes it impossible for her to be close with anyone. It makes life extremely difficult for her. It makes living difficult for her.

Rose wants [honesty and trust and being able to grow and change] so badly, but she can’t really accomplish any of that until she accepts herself—and she never does.

quotes from rebecca sugar: on rose and greg

Rose and Greg have a very specific relationship. They parallel each other: Greg left his unsupportive family to follow his dreams. He changes his name and begins living as his stage persona...He invents himself.

Rose is instantly interested in Greg; he’s so human, sweet and funny and pliable. But as they get a little deeper into their relationship, Greg starts to realize how alien she actually is. She objectifies him, she laughs at him...she can’t seem to relate to him or pick up on how he’s feeling. They have a physical relationship, but they’ve never had a meaningful conversation. He starts to feel used. So he challenges her in a way she’s never been challenged before: he asks her to treat him like an equal. This is huge for her. She’s always been less than the other Diamonds and more than everyone else. She opens up to him in a real way, and over time she’s ready to confess everything to him. But he understands what it is to run away from home and reinvent yourself. He doesn’t need her old name and he’s not going to drag her through whatever it was she ran from; as far as he’s concerned, her old self isn’t the real her anyway. The real her is her in the present, the person she decided to be. [...] This is an incredible relief for her! With him, she can live authentically in the moment...They both can, but on the flip side, they enable each other. She never unpacks what scares her about her past, and neither does he.

They really wanted to have a child [...] It’s something they are genuinely excited about. And that’s something that’s left a little open-ended—just how selfish it was for Rose to do this knowing that she would disappear. What Rose is doing is outrageously selfless and outrageously selfish at the same time, and you can really read it both ways and neither is untrue.

chart notes: on pink diamond/rose quartz

Pink learns to keep secrets. She tells her new Pearl to keep them too. (She puts on an act. Behaves better.) She doesn’t trust herself...keeps asking her Pearl what to do...

The Game: Rose plays Batman on the ground. (Pearl is Robin and Alfred.) Pink tries to use Rose as an excuse to call off the invasion. This backfires when Blue and Yellow send in reinforcements.

Rose finds herself the head of a family. Determined to be everything White was not—she is close with everyone, flexible in everything. Love & fun are the rule—and there are no rules—and everyone is the most special!

chart notes: on rose and the crystal gems

Pink keeps asking Pearl what she thinks. Pearl understands she should have no opinions, and should follow orders. She is caught in a paradox. Her head swims. She laughs—feels scared—what is this?

Pearl is falling in love. Pink, as Rose, is intoxicating. She’s free somehow. They both are, when they’re on Earth.

Rose falls in love with Pearl’s surprising boldness that comes out of left field—!

Pearl and Rose start fusing a lot.

Pearl and Rose—the dust clears, revealing an endless honeymoon. Pink is gone and Pearl is free—free to love Rose.

Garnet trusts Rose, respects her secrets. She sees in Rose a self-made gem, a quartz that transcended her station out of sheer will and the power of self-love. Garnet loves Rose and her mystery, the way she learns to love & embrace the mystery of herself. Rose is her rock and inspiration.

Rose teaches Amethyst: you can be anything you want to be! Huge advocate of shapeshifting, self-expression, anarchy—however, Amethyst can sense shame from Rose and Pearl over the Kindergarten.

chart notes: on rose and the crystal gems, post-pink diamond reveal

Amethyst finally understands Rose: wanting her to shapeshift, not feel obligated to be a quartz, suddenly feels sympathy...kinship. It wasn’t Amethyst being inspired by Rose—Rose was inspired by them!

Garnet shocked: Rose taught her to love herself. If that was a lie—if Pink Diamond was self-hating, and wanted to disappear—than what does that mean for Garnet? No—it wasn’t Garnet being inspired by Rose—Rose was inspired by them!

Pearl is finally released—but, a rift—! Garnet feels betrayed! But, Pink did change! Pink did grow! Rose was different! That’s why Pearl was inspired by Rose—or, wait—Rose was inspired by them!

chart notes: on pink and the other diamonds

Pink, the littlest diamond, is largely ignored by Yellow, Blue, and White. Her silly impulses and eccentricities are not particularly helpful to the other diamonds in their endeavors. No one wants to play with her. Pink desperately wants White’s attention and approval (she will never get it).

Pink’s [original] Pearl is the only one who sees how much this upsets Pink. Pink is bright in front of Yellow, Blue, White—but when they don’t have time for her, she privately takes it hard.

Noticing Pink’s behavior, Yellow and Blue think she should have her own colony. White insists—she hasn’t really changed. She’ll never change. She gives Pink a colony—if only to prove Pink will fail.

White knows Pink is out there. This expensive, embarrassing tantrum is not worth her attention. Pink will come groveling back when she’s done running away from home.

Yellow and Blue are relieved to have Pink back—but White is vindicated. I knew you’d be back, your silly game is over—get back in place.

Steven gets Yellow and Blue to understand who he is now. But White won’t have it [...] In an ultimate act of self love, Steven fuses with himself, as White realizes—she can be wrong, and she’s truly lost her ‘daughter’.

[oneoftheprettynerds]

Belle Of The Ball: Dark! King! Steve Rogers x Reader

A/N: So this my first ever proper dark fic and I’m so nervous. I finished it but my mind thinks it’s garbage. so I’m gonna post this now when I’m feeling a random spurt of courage and am confident in my work. So here’s my masterpiece, cookies.

This is for Dark!MCU  Festive Fic swap hosted by @darkficsyouneveraskedfor  and @darkmcuficswap

My giftee is @hermesmaximoff Hope you enjoy it love!

Thanking @firefly-graphics for the dividers: both personalised and general.

There is also an amateur somewhat okay shitty poster I decided to make which is included at the end.  

WARNING: THIS IS A DARK FIC CONTAINING DUBIOUS CONSENT BORDERING NON-CON AND EXPLICIT SMUT. YOUR MEDIA CONSUMPTION IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY. LOSS OF VIRGINITY, ABUSE OF AUTHORITY, BREEDING KINK ALSO PRESENT.

Summary: Invited to the Royal ball by the benevolent monarch, you could barely control your excitement to visit the Capital. While you were busy admiring his prosperous reign, King Steve was quite occupied getting enamoured by you. As you try to fulfil the King’s demands, secrets find their way out.

CHARACTERS + GENRE: DARK!STEVE ROGERS X READER, SUPERNATURAL STEVE ROGERS X READER (read to find out what), ROYAL AU, HALLOWEEN THEME (I tried for the request, hope you do like it)

King Steve Rogers invites the princes and the princesses of all Kingdoms, near and afar,

To celebrate his several years of reign.

He requests thy kind and noble presence

At the joyous regale

of his auspicious ball

On the thirty first of October,

after sundown, in His Majesty’s finest castle.

Challenging thy with the unique theme of

A Halloween Masquerade Ball,

The King expects exceptional indulgence from all.

 The Most Grandiose Halloween Celebration is being organised with the spookiest of events within.

Come here if you dare.

“We have been invited to a royal party! My day couldn’t have been better!” Your elder sister exclaimed, jumping quite unladylike in your chambers, as you went through the details of the venue. You chuckled at her antics, knowing rather well that she would be scolded if someone else was present. 

“Emma, Mother has to approve first. As Lady Ava always says, don’t count your chickens before they hatch.”

“As if mother would really decline an invite from the King, dear sister.” She rolled her eyes at you, not letting her enthusiasm die as you pondered over her words.

Your sister had a point though, the King summoning your presence was not to be taken lightly. The invitation came up handwritten in a scroll with the King’s wax seal atop it. It was placed elegantly beside a golden mask in a rectangular black box, that bore the Majesty’s sigil on the front.  

The theme of the ball wasn’t that peculiar if you reflected over it, the renowned monarch was also recognised for his distinct interest in eerie, unearthly beings. He was known for adventuring into haunted lands, mysterious manors and sinister soils, meeting up with people rumoured to be sorcerers and occultists.

Of course, the reason for his encounters was sometimes rumoured to be because of his familial distress, how he couldn’t find a mate to procreate with and conceive his own heir no matter what. Three females, who were pregnant with a progeny of his blood, none his wife though, had died during the first two or tercet months, reason unspecified why.  

Coming to You, you and your sister weren’t actual princesses, rather the daughters of one of the esteemed Ministers in the King’s cabinet. The benevolent King, however referred to the daughters of the town, more exactly, the Kingdom, as noblewomen. He held high reverence for the females and was the sole creditor to the improved condition of the women in this era. No matter how troubled his own life was, the King was the most merciful royal to be crowned to date, his people prospering under him.

Your sister nodded eagerly to your mother, drinking in her words like the fine tea you all had in the afternoons, while you just smiled at her advice.

 When you both met your mother for dinner, you were surprised to find her already informed about the invitation. Her conformity to the celebration astonished you even more, but Emma’s zeal was starting to rub off on you too by the end of the meal. 

Your mother continued, “Your father mentioned The Majesty is looking for a wife, quite possibly. He has been insistent in trying to get a successor the correct way this time, by courting the lady who piques his interest. Even though this might be a rumour, or some gossip spun by the ladies of the Cabinet, you both should try your best to be graceful and presentable. Among the hundreds of guests, he’d be having over, on the off-chance, if Gods allow, that either of you manages to entice him, it will only promise you the most pleasant of all forthcomings. It would also do me and your father some good, if you managed to find some other suitable bachelor, from a nice background to engage with.”

Your sister had always been one with the more overactive imagination out of you two, while you had been the more serene and poised one. When she’d be out playing with the children in your town, you’d be talking to the younger toddlers, drawing with chalks on the side. For every kid she splashed with water in the nearby sapphire river, you made tots flower crowns. These were the values you both grew up with, and these will be the values you’d die with.

After days of shopping velvet fabrics and silk textiles, and bothering your seamster to make sophisticated and stylish dresses, you both neared your day of departure. After some instructions to you both to represent your father and town well, your mother bid you adieu. It was nerve wracking to not have your mother by your side, for an event as big as this was, but since you both had passed more than twenty name days, you were expected to be proper, independent ladies. 

With a heavy heart and some self, positive affirmations, you and your sister embarked on the voyage, which was filled with her chitchat.

You only hoped that the gala was as exciting as your family made it out to be. That it was just a King trying to celebrate his sovereign with some western festival integrated together. That the event would not be as unnerving and creepy as the last line of his invitation made it out to be. 

For some unknown cause, it did not sit well with you. Your apprehensive intuition made you wary of the invitation for some reason, but you let your sibling’s zest take you over. What benefit would fretting get you?

The ball was far more pompous than anything you’d have imagined in your little head. All the ideas that Emma had come up with during your journey, to anticipate the extent of extravagance for the ball, were all exceeded with tenfold finesse. You had travelled to faraway, distant lands with your parents, but the King’s mansion, with all the festivity happening, was truly a sight to behold.

Entering The Capital had been the highlight of your excursion, you were sure earlier, but well you were proved wrong. Your father greeted you both when you had arrived, eager to see his angels after almost six moons, and had ensured you both got the best of the accommodations in the well-built, enormous fort. He introduced you to several of his comrades as well as their brooding, young lads and then, left you both to rest for the main event next eve. With two maids at your every beck and call, courtesy of your father, your time went smoothly and now you found yourself at the said Halloween themed celebration, staring around in awe of every little detail that had been so meticulously handled to make the event as dazzling as it was.

The servants were dressed rather ridiculously as cats, wearing some bizarre structure resembling cat ears, horribly short black dresses barely past their thighs and some whiskers draw using either coal or makeup, you weren’t sure. It was a poor attempt to make them appear feline. However, the food was as immaculate as everything else, entirely themed like only blood red wine, candied apples, chicken pumpkins, cheesecake brain, mummy muffins, some appetizer with bell peppers as jack-o-lanterns; these were the few that met your sights.

The hall was so grand, almost the size of three jousting arenas and playing fields combined with pillars having detailed architecture supporting the place. The walls were covered in scarlet, golden and black velvet drapes, the royal colours, and beautiful masquerade masks were pinned atop them, along the walls. Almost hundred round, white clothed tables filled the ballroom, with gold plated candlesticks and utensils upon them. The entire place had entertainers progressing around, the essence of it being magicians, clowns, contortionists, palm and tarot card readers. 

In the centre of the hall, was an empty space, reserved for the soon to be ensuing dancing. An orchestra on the side had beautiful instruments, playing soft melodies for now, reserving the upscale beats for later.

You had only read a few books on Halloween to be prepared but nothing could have geared you up for this. Your small-town self was gaping at everything with a childlike wonder while somehow your sister was quite composed and calm, somehow your roles had been reversed. 

Emma was wearing a blue gown, having several layers of nets and cloth, each a different shade of azure. She tried to dress as the mythical creature called mermaid, with crystal heels and a beaded neckline. Her masquerade mask had scales like fish, made using shining sequins. She looked so gorgeous, truly managing to look captivating.

You on the other hand were dressed like an angel, which you were against, finding it too mainstream and typical and wanted to dress like an enchantress with violet and jade colours, which your mother immediately negated. On demand of your sister, she let you wear a fluffy white ball gown, and had you made wings with dove feathers, an apparatus which was astonishingly light to wear. Using her art and craft skills, Emma made you a headband with two wires attached to a metal ring, shaped like an angel’s halo. The loop at top made of some special metal that glowed golden in the dark, making it look like a real, floating halo. Your mask had a fur lining on it, and silver sparkles were sprinkled all over you, with pretty makeup on your face, courtesy of your sibling.

The change in music brought you out of your reverie, as trumpets and harps began to hum, signifying the arrival of the King on the grand staircase. He had a crimson red velvet cape descending his broad shoulders, his tuxedo underneath could hide neither his long legs nor his bulging, protruding biceps. His black, shining shoes cost more than your entire apparel, you were certain. 

As your gaze ascended his masculine form, you were mesmerised furthermore with his high cheekbones, full lips tainted cherry pink, a Grecian slanting nose, sleek eyebrows, luscious blonde hair, a thick beard and the best of all yet, cerulean blue eyes, the prettiest you’d ever seen in the entirety of your small life. The ladies beside you, Emma included, had the same reaction whether they had witnessed his Highness before or not. Every female’s gaze seemed to flicker between his azure eyes and the Golden crown resting atop his blonde locks, flooded with rubies and emeralds and gemstones you weren’t sure your books had.

For a moment you felt his eyes land on you, which surprised you even more so, that you questioned yourself about it, but his cheeky grin and wink confirmed it, make you shiver involuntarily as heat spread through your face while a titillating stir ran through you, a first for you. His impeccably white teeth were clearly visible now, showing two elongated canines, which finally gave you a sense of his attire, paired with his blush lips, A Vampire.

He spoke a few words, eyes unsteadily wavering, observing different members of the gathering. He let the dances commence, partnering with his most suitable match at the festivity, the daughter of the wealthiest lord. After the first song was over, other couples joined alongside him while you stood at the side, observing everything. Only mere moments ago had your sister been courted by a young man, the two of them shooting each other coy glances since they had entered. 

A tap on your shoulder had you puzzled, you turned around focus landing on warm, brown eyes. You recalled him to be Lord Stark’s son, Peter, having met him yesterday at dawn. His familiar brown eyes gave you sense of comfort, which you liked, not being alongside Emma now.

“Shall we?” He asked, his cheeks ruby like yours were, as he extended the palm of his hand towards you. You giggled, smiling like a little babe who got extra cookies for dessert, and accepted his hand. Sauntering to the dancing arena, you only prayed to The Heavens above that Lady Ava taught you enough to embarrass neither yourself nor your guild.

Tracing his steps and following his lead, you did manage to dance without falling, which was a surprise seeing how spread out your wings were. You and him made easy conversation, about your hometowns and interests.  You saw your Father proudly looking at you and Emma, dancing with lads, you guessed, he approved of.

As the song ended and the orchestra played a transitioning tune between the melodies, a cough sounded beside you as you and Peter stopped. Your eyes widened as you nervously curtsied beside Peter, A ‘Your Majesty” falling from both your lips.

“If it’s not too much trouble, may I share a dance with the most stunning dame here?” 

Peter politely stepped back, letting go of your waist, as The King’s wide stature more than filled his place. Your heart was beating rather loudly, blood pumping to your ears as you tried to make sense of what was happening. In your peripheral vision you could see the prying eyes of others looking at you both, ready to criticize you for one wrong move. Your father watched intently, a slight warning in his eyes to not mess this opportunity up while your sister comfortingly smiled at you. You tried to even your breaths and make sense of what he was saying, to not just stand and gape like a fool in court.

As the harmony played out, he swayed you around, lifting you up and twirling you around. Compliments spewed out from his lips, making you crimson like freshly ripened apples. You couldn’t keep up with your expression of gratitude through your words as he admired your eyes, your elegance and your ensemble which just couldn’t make him shift his eyes from you. 

After two songs had played out, he left as suddenly as he had come, with a promise to meet you later. You watched him dance with other maidens, who approached him when you were dancing together, entertaining every approaching lady like an excellent host.

You made your way to the side, hoping to get some liquor, or at least some fluid in your veins and not faint right there this moment. Emma came up beside you while you were having wine, and rubbed your back in a parental way. Her eyes communicated her understanding of how overwhelmed you felt at the instant. Her date and Peter soon came and kept you both company for the rest of the night. As duos danced and people got intoxicated, you had to call it a night on behalf of your sister, her incessant giggling make you worried for her inebriated self. 

You slipped her out before your father caught her and gave her a stern talking to and tucked her in her bed keeping a glass of water and some fresh fruits for her on the bedside wooden bench. You concluded retiring for the night yourself but only after assuring your father of your whereabouts and well beings. Before returning to the hall, you took off your wings and the halo, also opting to leave the mask behind as the fur tickled your skin. Your makeup hadn’t ruined in the heat of the hall, it was a miracle. You made your way to the Hall, hoping to find your father, assumingly drunk with all his entourage.

Two hallways before the decorated ballroom were you pinned to the wall, one hand of your attacker covering your parted lips while the other held your face delicately, with a lover’s touch. A split second was all it took for you to be immobilised by this man and another by your wavering form to recognise the cobalt blue eyes and blonde curls. When The King was certain you wouldn’t scream, his hand left your mouth slid upwards, mirroring his other hand, with thumbs in front of your ears and palms resting on your cheeks.

“Your Majesty?” You mumbled back, your voice somehow even lower, afraid for yourself and even more so terrified to offend him.

“Say, would you come for a while to my chambers, the view of the creek from my balcony is splendid.”

His choice of words gave you an option, but his eyes, almost hypnotically told you there was only one correct answer.

“You are the one, I can feel it.” He whispered lowly but your heightened senses gladly picked it up.

You meekly nodded, your inner self surprised at your body moving of its accord alongside him, as your mind started voiding of thoughts like reporting to your father, checking up on Emma. You felt like you were trapped in someone else’s form and fought with an invisible force to take over the reins of your own body.

You did not fail to notice the lack of guards outside the King’s chamber and how every entrance managed to open itself. The King wasn’t lying about the picturesque scene though, as you stood in the balcony, hair getting ruffled by the strong breeze that seemingly came from nowhere.

Your body stiffened as King Steve came uncharacteristically close to you and slid his hands around your middle, his nose nestled in your locks, inhaling deeply.

His lips descended your neck, laying feathery kisses on his path as you stood there, unable to even move your hands or turn around. This out of body sensation was broken when you felt intense pain on piercing of your skin where your head met your torso. You suddenly gained all wits and enough strength to flail your limbs around but all your might wasn’t enough to even stir the man from his task. Your throat couldn’t gather enough energy to scream, though you doubted anyone would come. You started getting light headed and only then did he stop, carrying you in his arms to his widespread four poster bed, mattress as soft as sponge and sheets as silky as butter. Too weak to fight him off, you harvested all your energy in staying conscious as your gaze danced around, trying to make sense of every object present but not awake enough to notice too many details. The wine you drank did not make it any better.

As you laid on the stranger’s bed, you felt his body sit beside you, holding your neck; leaning down, his lips meeting yours for the first time. You did not reciprocate, neither did you have the strength nor the will, while his tongue slipped inside your mouth, roaming around like a traveller in foreign land.

As the kiss drew on, you felt some energy sidle inside you, enough for your mind to function again but not ample enough to fight off the brawny thief who robbed you of your first kiss. King Steve broke off the kiss and connected your foreheads together, his indigo eyes turning black in want, leaving you a frightening and gasping mess.

He backed away, sitting more straighter now as his hand drew back from around your neck and slid along your stomach, nearing the most intimate part of your body, even though there were still layers of cloth present. His hands did not stop there, however, and made their way downwards only stopping at the hem of your gown and slipping inside.

You shrieked out suddenly, becoming aware of his intentions quite late and grasped his wrist that rested now on your knee. 

“Your Majesty, I……I can’t-”

“Do you wish to refuse your King?”

You looked down, caught in the dilemma of wanting your safety and offending him once again. Your virtue had to be preserved till marriage, your mother had taught you, but on the other hand, the King’s words were the law.

“Answer Me.” The King’s cold voice broke through your thoughts, not a shout but still scarier than a yell.“

Your Majesty, I’ve never engaged in s-” You started tearing up, lower lip wobbling and body shaking at the thought of the future. You did not see this ending beneficial in any scenario. If you lost your virtue, you would never get wed but if you refused the King and he felt insulted, your family and your connections would be in the ruins, he held that much power over you.

Cradling your face with his other hand, he began again, “You think I’m not already aware, pretty one?” The man who was reprimanding you only few moments ago upon not answering him, had a smile on his face this time: not assuring or comforting, but malicious and sinister to its very core. “I could smell your untainted scent from my room, before even descending the stairs.”

“Your e-eyes..” You gaped again as colours morphed in his eyes, red now swirling around in the pools of darkness, his words lost on you as you felt your fear rising due to the inhumane action.

“For an intellectual, bibliophilic girl, you sure are oblivious, sweetheart.” He scoffed, looking unimpressed at you, “Come on, prove to me you aren’t heedless like the rest, draw the conclusion." His eyes held yours, again altering into hues of different colours, seemingly mocking you now. 

You don’t know how the thought jumped into your head, maybe because the two holes on your neck stung suddenly or because the automatically opening doors entered your mind, the contemplation that his fangs appeared so realistic and authentic the more you stared at them paired with the blood on his collar, not just the fresh red stain of your plasma but also the burgundy stain present there, giving his lips the cherry red shade you admired hours ago on his arrival at the event.

“This is not a co-costume, no-” You inhaled a quick breath, “you are a vampire.” Your face paled in realisation while he smirked proudly, tapping your knee in a weird, twisted form of appreciation.

“Tremendous, my dear. But only half, you see. My mother was one, yes, but my father, he gave me an even better ability, he was an Incubus.” You shuddered as the words sunk in, your only worry being staying alive now, when your life was in the hands of this sex demon, having the greatest of powers and strength. Your mind did not spend any time mulling over the existence of supernatural beings, only dwelling on possible escapes now.

“That is why even your untouched body couldn’t help but react to my form and it is also the very reason, that I can read what goes on in your mind, all your memories, your hobbies, every book you’ve read, your precious sister, Emma isn’t it? So please, do not even think about fleeing if you don’t want your family to suffer.”

The threat loomed in the air, nasty sobs wracking your body as his thumb came to wipe the tears off. His hands started undoing the lace on the front of your bodice as you sniffled. Managing to quieten down just a bit, you begged, “Please don’t do this, I’ll have nowhere to go if my family found about me partaking in this unholy deed before marriage.” You had little hope about him seeing reason but there was optimism nonetheless. 

“Darling, do not fuss that I’ll leave you unhinged and deserted after finding pleasure in your body, you are to be mine now. Essentially, you already are.” His lips claimed yours again as the front of your dress slackened, bundling around your waist.

You pulled back, surprised at his promise, “You mean that?” He nodded, coming to kiss you again. You turned so that his lips met your neck, tongue licking the salt residue of tears there. “In what sense?”

“In every sense you could think of and more. I’ll give you everything, make you my queen, would you like that?” He mumbled in your neck, tongue now soothing the two punctured cavities residing there.

You could feel yourself crossing your legs involuntarily, trying to caress the abrupt yearning in your intimate part, your underclothes dousing with wetness somehow. Steve smirked in your neck, sitting upright and playing his trump card.

“I’ll marry you and we’ll rule together with the plenty of successors you’ll give me. Won’t that make your parents proud? Isn’t that what your parents taught you? Catch the King’s eye?” You meekly nodded, his charisma of an Incubus winning you over. “I’ll make your father The King’s Hand and send your mother the finest of jewels and gems, satins and silks.” He looked over at your submissive form, looking at him with the innocence of a toddler, swayed by his promises.

“I’ll let your sister have a grand wedding with the man she dears. All you have to do is surrender yourself to me and be my Queen, rule alongside me. So I ask, will you?” You cut him off, your lips pressing against his as you tried to mimic his earlier movements. He held your waist, surprised but pleasantly so, crushing the layers of the rolled top half of your dress underneath his hands. You had very little idea about what bedding someone meant but you had this primal urge to not have any skin of yours covered or untouched by him.

Steve shed his cape and threw every cloth on his torso away, almost as eager as you to get skin to skin contact. Your hands tangled in his hair as he lifted you up and sat you in his broad lap, not before sliding your dress all the way down. As he broke the kiss and took in your body, parts of you hidden under the smallclothes, he let out a growl that frightened yet excited you with another shiver down your spine. 

He made quick work of his bottoms, his cock standing and reaching his muscled chest almost and you gaped. Your sister, Emma had informed you of men’s parts being far much smaller than what you had just witnessed. His member stood erect and proud, glistening as he pumped it with his fist. His eyes drank in your surprise and trepidation, getting amused and turned on even more. 

You still laid stretched across the bed, legs straight ahead of you while your torso rested on your elbows, eyes wary of his every next movement.  He eyed your scantily clad body, gaze filled with lust and nothing more and climbed between your legs, one hand coming down on your waist while the other grabbed the back of your head and pulled you into a possessive kiss, robbing you of your breath. Your mind was slowly registering the reality of it all, this was going to happen no matter what. You were going to sin by engaging in fornication. But is it really wrong if your benevolent king demands that of you?

His hand sliding from your face to your bosom distracted you from your chain of thoughts. He slid the cups of your garment revealing your nipples and took one in his mouth, swirling his tongue around it while his other pinched the abandoned one. You didn’t know if you should be more surprised at his actions or the rush of the feelings that ran through you.

He slowly released your nipple and trailed soft kisses down your stomach to your most intimate part yet, kissing it through the cloth there. His delicate touch was abruptly contrasted with him grabbing the fabric, tearing it into two and revealing you bare. 

You closed your legs out of instinct but his heavily muscled hand took them apart in a single push. He eyed you with a warning, to not obstruct him anyhow anymore.

“Let me taste that sweet nectar of yours, sweetheart. I really want to find out if it is as addictive as my senses picked it up, as sweet as the aura that surrounds you.”

And with that he dove into your pussy, his tongue roaming your wet cavern. Neither did you understand what he spoke of nor had you sister told you about the activity happening right now. But all you could do was focus on the astonishingly pleasant shivers running through you as you had an out of the body, more accurately an out of the world experience. You had no sense of the time that passed and how long you laid there clutching the silk sheets letting out mewls. But out of nowhere, something in you snapped and all your energy left you. 

As your blurry vision cleared and your eyes found his face, he licked his still glistening lips, his beard moist and wet but erotically so. He dove right into kiss again and you tasted your own sweet nectar for the first time ever. His hand roamed your body, grabbing your curves and caressing your soft flesh. 

One of his hands made its way down furthermore and spread your fluids along your folds, and then lined up himself along your hole. With a sudden push, you felt yourself being full like never before, and a sudden pain hit you as your face visibly flinched. Steve swallowed your grunts of pain with his kisses and started rubbing your bud above your linked bodies. 

The shudder that ran through you once again made you incapable of thinking, the ache slowly subsiding behind the pleasure you felt. When your moans filled the air, Steve kissed your collarbones and sucked leaving bruises there, and started thrusting again. As his movements became faster and consistent, and his callused hands rubbed you and pinched your intimate flesh, you ascended to another world. Each action of his introduced you to a new star in the wide galaxy. The same unknown descended upon you again as something snapped in your abdomen and you experienced pure bliss. 

“Going to make you the mother of my children, you will carry my seed and bring the Kingdom several heirs. This time I’ll succeed, you will be mine, my Queen in every sense.” His words made you clench around him and that was all it took for him to achieve ecstasy as well.

Your head lolled and your eyes met his sweating frame lying across the silk sheets as a sinister grin adorned his face again, “I need to fuck a successor into you tonight, you ready?”