#because it led to me having them in my life

[gguk-n]

18 (Oscar Piastri x Reader)

Series Masterlist

The garden was beautiful, it was the one they spent most of their time loitering in. Nothing extravagant but very meaningful to the pair who were getting ready to walk down the aisle. The guests were arriving and taking their assigned seats. There was a soft chatter among the crowd. Everyone was smiling and laughing and tearing up. When the time came, everyone took their turn walking down the aisle.

Oscar felt his palm sweat more than they ever did in a F1 car. He had a pip in his step as he walked down the aisle, smiling at the crowd and waiting for his Y/N to walk down the aisle. Everyone until Y/N's turn was a blur to Oscar. When the time came, her father led her down the aisle with tear filled eyes. Y/N had imagined her father crying as he gave her away but she didn't expect a teary eyes, on the verge of tears Oscar. He was wiping his eyes trying to take her in. Her father gave her hand in his and he almost pulled her towards him. "Didn't think you'd cry" she chided. "You look" he gasped trying not to cry anymore.

The officiant spoke some words of wisdom to the pair and waited for them to read out their vows. Y/N pulled out an envelope and started with hers, "Dear Oscar Jack Piastri. I didn't expect to see you cry but you don't fail to surprise me even after so many years" she said making the crowd laugh. "Baby, I am so happy I get to spend the rest of myself with you. If you'd told me when I was in high school that I'd be stuck with you, I'd have laughed it off. But here I am, with you in front of me; grateful to have you with me every step of the way. I promise to love you in every way and I promise to be there for you through all the cliche and important and life altering stuff. You're like the sun in my dark days. You're like the rainbow after the rain shower. You are the first snow in winter. You are everything special yet ordinary in my life. Something I couldn't live without. I hope you, me and Piastri junior can live happily ever after." she paused because of Oscar's shocked face. "I really do love you so much and I have a surprise for you." Y/N finished, pulling another envelope from her envelope, handing it to Oscar. He took it and pulled a couple pictures of ultrasound. Oscar looked at her waiting for a response and she only nodded.

"So, apparently my dear wife here" Oscar said but was cut off by someone in the crowd with a loud,"not yet" Oscar laughed. "Getting there. You, Y/N Piastri really like to keep me on my toes. Can't believe we'll have a tiny us for the rest of our life. Just so everyone knows, Y/N's pregnant." Oscar announced. The crowd burst out into cheers. "Ahm" Oscar cleared his throat to get everyone's attention. "If you'll let me get back to my vows. I thought my vows were half decent but I can't top those" Oscar sighed. "I met you here in high school when I was away from home and missed home. You made me feel at home, you made everything better. I hadn't realised it than but I was in love with you from the moment we met. I didn't know what I would do with my life but I knew it would have you in it. I wasn't even 18 but I knew it was you and it had to be you. I am so happy I get to make you mine in the very place we spent most of our time, all the times away from school or our stupid dates or the times you'd chase me around these tress. They've seen us grow and I hope they stand witness to us and our eternal love. Thank you for having me and I hope you'll continue to have me. I love you and mini us and can't wait to meet them" he finished. Y/N was in tears. "You're ruining my make up" she mumbled. Oscar just smiled and softly dabbed the tears away.

After the I dos, the officiant continued, "I, now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride" he said and the pair spared no moment to connect their lips.

[inseobts]

Could I get the kidd pirates (wire, heat, kid, killer) reactions to the reader saying that they feel safe with them? Let's say the reader led a kill or be killed life where trust was scarce and death was a guarantee matched with isolation. But after joining the crew, despite the fact its a similar life style, they feel safer.

Sorry for the kinda odd request, hope your having a good day ✌️

Safe Among Monsters

kidd pirates x reader (platonic)

a/n: thank you for the request!! hope this is what you wanted and you'll like it (●'◡'●)

words count: 0.8k

tags: kidd pirates, hurt/comfort, emotional bonds, trust, safety

masterlist || ko-fi

The sea is always dangerous. You know this well. A life of blood and survival has shaped you, made you sharp, but also left you alone. Trust is a weakness. Safety is an illusion. At least, that’s what you believed before joining the Kidd Pirates.

But now… now, things feel different.

You sit on the deck, watching the ocean. The salty wind plays with your hair, and for once, you feel at peace. Heat sits nearby, fixing his weapons. Wire leans against a crate, quiet as usual. Killer sharpens his blades, the steady sound of metal against stone filling the air. And Kid? He’s yelling at some poor crewmember for messing up something in the engine room.

You take a deep breath. This is the closest thing to home you’ve ever had.

“I feel safe here” you say without thinking.

Silence.

The sound of Killer’s blade pauses. Heat’s hands still. Wire actually lifts his head. And Kid? Well, Kid turns so fast you think he might snap his own neck.

“The hell did you just say?” Kid asks, stomping toward you.

You blink “I said I feel safe here.”

Kid stares at you like you just grew a second head “Safe? With us?” he asks as he gestures wildly “We’re pirates! We kill people! We steal! We fight the Marines and the damn Emperors! How the hell is that safe?!”

You shrug “I’ve lived a life where trust meant death. Where every second was a fight to survive. And yet, with you guys, I don’t feel like I have to watch my back all the time.”

Kid looks completely lost. He crosses his arms, grumbling “That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.”

“You’re just bad with emotions” Heat says, smirking.

“Shut up, Heat!”

Heat chuckles before looking at you “You really mean that?”

You nod “Yeah. I know we fight and kill, but… it’s different. I don’t feel alone.”

Wire exhales, running a hand through his hair “Tch. Can’t believe anyone would feel safe around us. We’re... monsters.”

“Not to me” you say simply.

Killer, who has been silent, finally speaks “You trust us.”

You meet his gaze “Yeah, I do.”

He tilts his head, studying you for a long moment. Then, he nods “Good.”

Kid groans “You’re all too soft.”

“Maybe,” Heat says, grinning “But at least we’re not in denial like you.”

“I AM NOT—!”

You laugh, and to your surprise, Killer chuckles too. Even Wire smirks. The tension fades, and the conversation shifts, but something lingers in the air, something unspoken but understood.

They won’t say it outright. Not in words. But you know. They feel it too.

You are safe here.

Not because the world is less dangerous.

But because you are not alone anymore.

Days pass, but the words stay in your mind. The crew still fights, still raids, still risks their lives every day, but something in their eyes has changed when they look at you. There’s an understanding now. A silent promise.

One evening, after a long battle at sea, you sit beside Killer, your back against the ship’s railing. He’s quiet, as usual, but you don’t mind. The silence between you is comfortable.

“You’re really not scared of us at all?” he finally asks.

You shake your head “No. Not anymore.”

He hums in response. Then, after a pause, he says “If you ever feel different… if you ever feel unsafe… tell me.”

You smile “I will.”

Across the deck, Kid watches you both, his expression unreadable. Wire mutters something under his breath, and Heat just grins. It’s a strange family, but it’s yours.

And for the first time in your life, you don’t feel alone.

Another storm rolls in one night, violent waves crashing against the hull. The ship rocks dangerously, and the crew scrambles to secure everything. You’re drenched, holding onto the railing as the wind howls.

Kid barks orders, his voice barely audible over the storm “Tie down the sails! Secure the cargo!”

You move to help, but a massive wave sends you staggering. A strong hand grabs your wrist, Killer. He pulls you upright, nodding “Stay close.”

Through the chaos, you realize something... no one is afraid. The crew works together, trusting each other completely. Despite the danger, there’s no panic. Just confidence.

When the storm finally passes, the crew collapses on the deck, exhausted but victorious. You sit beside Heat, breathing hard.

“You alright?” he asks, glancing at you.

You nod “Yeah. That was… intense.”

He grins “Storms happen. We get through them.”

Wire chuckles, running a hand through his wet hair “You held up well.”

Killer sits nearby, quietly cleaning his weapons. Kid crosses his arms, looking at the sea. Then, he glances at you “Still feel safe?”

You meet his gaze “Yeah.”

A beat of silence. Then, Kid smirks “Good.”

And just like that, you know you belong here.

[xoxochb]

dated february 28

——— ౨ৎ ⊹ ࣪ ˖

this has been the most uneventful and boring and stupid week of my life.

I’ve been sick since saturday with the flu and while it is for the most part gone it’s still there faintly.

but at least I get to be babied by percy. or really that’s until I start complaining and complaining and then he ignores me. I pull his hair and that gets him talking. kinda like a children’s toy !

I think he’s been doing something differently because he’s looked extra nice this week. maybe he’s pregnant and that’s why he’s glowing. he told me once that female seahorses get the males pregnant because they have a pouch which can carry the eggs.

I asked him once if he’d like to be seahorses with me so I could get him pregnant. he said “no thank you” but offered to impregnate me instead. unsurprisingly, I said “no thank you” and to wait until we’re older. that made him happy so I was happy too.

but I seriously think he’s doing something though. or maybe it’s just because summer is on the horizon. I can’t wait until it’s hot outside and I get to see him shirtless every day. though I do during winter too anyways…

on that thought, I do everyday. but you get the point, it’s still nice.

he convinced mr. d to let him take a week long trip to see his family. which I’m happy for him because I know he misses them. but I’m going to miss him too! maybe even more! :(

but luckily I’ve prepared myself for this moment! I took a couple of his clothes back to my cabin so he can’t find them so when he leaves, his clothes will still smell like him so I can wear them. and cry in my bed maybe possibly probably.

percy asked me not to cry while he leaves but it’s hard not to because we’re together 99% of our lives and when he’s gone it’s kinda boring.

and it’s sad because I’ll miss him.

but I won’t think about this until the time comes.

today I made a playlist for us. it’s songs I like that remind me of percy and some of him and me both. I almost let him help me find the perfect songs but I knew he’d end up making it just a bunch of led zeppelin songs so I decided against that idea.

but I did make him sit through the entire playlist and rate each song. he said it was a 10/10 playlist because I made it. I guess that’s progress!

percy told me he was going to make a playlist himself for me so I’m kinda excited to see what he’s putting on it. and kind of nervous you never know with him.

he’s kind of suffocating me right now. he passed out after we shared a bowl of ice cream but I presume that any minute he’ll be up and bouncing off the walls. by then I would become sleepy. that’s a later problem though…

for right now I’ll just enjoy watching his peaceful state. I like watching him sleep it’s nice. he’s very pretty and I like his hair. and his eyes, sea green is my favorite color. but his eyes are closed right now. I’ll take a look later.

I think I should go to sleep before he wakes up so well actually get around to sleeping tonight because most nights we don’t sleep and stay up until, like, three in the morning and that’s usually when he crashes.

then we miss breakfast and he cooks me something for brunch. today he made me heart shaped pancakes and they even had chocolate chips!!!!!! I gave him a large kiss in return. he asked for more since he had even taken it upon himself to add powdered sugar. I told him tonight.

and that idiot remembered. so as he asked, I granted.

but I just keep talking….. I should rest my eyes and my wrist before it falls off.

xoxo, sweet girl <3

[adivinationwitch]

Long rambly Patti LuPone related post, but there is a point at the end, I swear.

You know seeing how many people have discovered Patti, literally learned she even existed in some cases, because of AAA, and it makes me think of how I first came across her and learned of her existence.

I'm in the UK, and I didn't grow up in London, so it's not like she was a physical presence within the culture of my city so it took me getting into musicals, having a Cole Porter phase as a teenager (I know. What other 14 year old is playing Anything Goes on the piano and singing Well, Did You Evah? in the shower?), and a Sondheim freaking spiral when I was twenty that led me to Patti and not just that voice but that personality.

Like, for someone who has grown up being told she's too loud (not by family, who are all as loud as I am. Where else would I get it?), who won loudest child when she was 7 at a competition in Blackpool, and was told by her choir teacher when she was 9 'You're the only one we can hear, Lana' (like that's my problem that the rest of the kids are too quiet?) or being told by teachers 'that'll do, Lana' when I was sharing my opinion (it didn't stop me) and then having 'friends' refuse to speak to me in high school for two whole weeks because they didn't like me standing up to an older girl who was my relentless bully (since I was FOUR. This bitch was seriously obsessed. I hope wherever she is now that her life sucks, I really do) because it 'drew attention' on them apparently, finding someone who was loud and opinionated and embraced that was freaking amazing for me, and pretty inspiring and encouraging, especially when you've begun to feel that maybe you should tone yourself down (I mean that's not to say I haven't had some positive reinforcements about my loudness and character; one of my tutors in drama school, when talking about projection, casually added 'this isn't something you'll have to worry about, Lana'. Erm, thank you? And when I moved to NYC, my room mates loved my pushy opinionated style and used it to get themselves constant cheap tickets for Broadway shows. So I had a purpose, haha)

And in a world where you grow up being told by media that dark hair is something we should dye blonde if we want to be seen as attractive, or that brown eyes are masculine and beautiful blue eyes are feminine, and you even have freaking agents suggesting blue-tint lenses for auditions, the fact she was a brown eyed brunette, and not just that but a short brown eyed brunette (Any other fellow 5'2 people out there?), well my brain just went 'Inspirational' and full on heart eyes.

And the bonus is you can never feel in competition with Patti as an actor or singer, because she's in a league all of her own. And now, in recent years, when I listen to her albums, I have the same nostalgia she had for the songs she chose. Because, having a mother and aunts who are also children of the 50s and who are obviously Patti's age, with a family that were theatrical if not actually in theatre themselves (my Mum used to do impressions for her sisters and parents when she was five of the 1940s movie singers, and also pretend to be people like Burt Lancaster in made up interviews), I grew up with these sorts of songs being sung to me. So when I listen to Patti singing 'Happy Talk' I'm 6 years old again with my mum and South Pacific on the TV as we did the hand movements, or 'Heat Wave' takes me back to summers at my grandmother's where she would sing that song (as well as 'The Heat is On') whenever the weather was hot. Patti has unexpectedly taken on a whole other level of connection for me no.

WHICH BRINGS ME TO THE POINT OF THIS LONG ASS POST.

I have seen some people (occasionally on Tumblr but mostly in other places, particularly theatre group places) who've known and been fans of Patti for years being a bit gatekeepery about Marvel fans liking her. Judging them for not knowing every bit of her work, or if they don't personally like musicals so are only looking at her straight plays and screen work. And I just want to say that attitude is a fucking crock of shit.

I LOVE that people have discovered her through Marvel, that more people, and some really young, like in their teens, might have the same experience I, and others, have had, of feeling a little more comfortable in your own skin and personality because of seeing the way Patti is and her personality and life.

And you know what? You don't have to watch and listen to everything she's ever done if you don't want to. Gatekeeping is such a comic book boy thing to do, but it's worse because it's happening in theatre which is meant to be all about acceptance.

So yeah, there is no right or wrong way to enjoy Patti's work or to be a fan of hers or to appreciate her. Hell, you can just enjoy her in AAA and nothing else; who gives a damn? (Also, as I've said before, when I discovered Patti there was no TikTok and no real fan-edit social media thing at all, so getting all these edits and lost clips posted by new fans is great for me, and is a whole new experience and I love it)

And that actually goes for anything.

[yourfavewriteress]

about that work crush (part 12) | jamie benn

(do you hate me for how late this is? please forgive <3)

chapter 1 | chapter 2 | chapter 3 | chapter 4 | chapter 5 | chapter 6 | chapter 7 | chapter 8 | chapter 9 | chapter 10 | chapter 11

Teaser: "Your bedroom does have a lock, right?"

Your subtle miscommunication with Jamie was a wake up call to him: he had to do better communicating with you. He also had to make sure he separated his life as captain and the life he was interested in building with you. They couldn't be the same, especially if your paths had to cross again like it did with the reporter fiasco.

"Did you guys figure it out?" Tyler asked Jamie the next day, who was in the middle of his morning workout.

"Yeah, we're good."

"That girl is in love with you, man," Tyler replied. "Don't fuck that up."

"I don't plan on it."

You were in back-to-back meetings all day, especially as you started the transition to a permanent position with the team. You were drowning in paperwork, which just seemed like busy work.

You still had to nurse the "interim" in your title, but the next few weeks would require facetime with board members, donors, and a lot more training staff. With the shift, your schedule drastically changed, and you were spending a lot less time at the arena and more time around Dallas and neighboring cities.

Jamie hated it. Granted, he knew it wouldn't be forever but it was annoying that he couldn't just show up at your office on a break. The upside? More uninterrupted time at your places, like tonight.

“Ugh, you’re amazing,” You cheered after opening your front door, hugging Jamie tightly. “I love these.”

“I know, that’s why I brought them,” You could feel his chest vibrate as he chuckled, his scent filling your nose. He was holding a family size bag of your favorite candy in his hand that was not wrapped around your back.

“Okay, so,” Standing back, to look up into his brown eyes, “I ordered food.”

“Did you?”

“Yes. Don't say anything but I haven't eaten since, like, noon?"

He looked down at his watch as you allowed him inside and closed the door behind him.

“You are nuts," He laughed. "How have you not passed out?"

You rolled your eyes at him, but led him into your kitchen where you had just started to separate the food you had ordered. Jamie was clearly comfortable in your apartment, moving straight to your fridge and pulling out a beer for himself and your favorite wine.

These were the moments you were enjoying the most with Jamie. When you were able to exist together, and share small moments.

You could convince Jamie to watch anything you wanted, he was just happy to be with you. Tonight, you had tricked him into The Bachelor which was definitely not a show he would watch on his own.

He wasn't as focused on the show like you were, and took breaks to clean up after you guys were done eating. You would never complain about a man who cleaned. And, Jamie was clearly a neat freak which would work in your favor.

“This show is stupid,” Jamie mumbled to you, as he returned to his spot next to you on the couch. You laughed, getting comfortable again against his chest. His hand found its way to your side, his pinky finger touching your bare skin. His other arm was bent behind his head, most likely to keep himself awake.

“Do you want to watch something else?”

“You’re clearly enjoying it,” He shrugged.

“I can watch it anytime,” You replied, looking up at him. "I like to please my guests."

He laughed, turning slightly red which made your stomach do flips.

“Who do you think is going to win?”

“On The Bachelor?” He nodded. “Honestly, it’s hard to tell. But, I’m trying to not see any spoilers online so that I can authentically watch it. Personally, I’m going to hope that Madison wins, just because I think her and Peter really connect well.”

“Which one is she?”

You waited until she appeared on the screen, “Her. She’s really nice and stays out of the drama which is always a plus on this show.”

Jamie hummed in response.

“Seriously, we can watch something else, if you want?” You asked, sitting up slightly so that you could get a good look at his face.

He looked back at you, studying your features. With the shift in position, you could now feel his fingertips lightly tracing shapes on your exposed waist. 

“What?” You blushed, when many seconds went by without a response. You were feeling the intensity of his stare as well as the calmness of his touch and you didn't know what to do next. 

“I’m really sorry about the other day,” He said. "I can't stop thinking about it to be honest."

“Jamie, I already told you, it’s resolved. We’re good,” You assured him, reaching over to put your hand on his face. “If it was still an issue, trust me, you would know. I wouldn't be explaining The Bachelor to you.”

He smiled at you, “I know.”

“Just wait. One day, I’m really going to be in a bad mood and you’re going to have to deal with it.”

“I’m looking forward to it.” You studied Jamie for a moment, his arm flexed behind his head. Hot. His hair, somehow the perfect mix of messy and styled. Hot. His current grip on your side. Hot. Everything about him. Hot. 

Once you noticed that he was watching you watch him, you finally turned your attention back to the TV. “Stop staring at me.”

“I should be saying the same thing to you, but it doesn't bother me,”

“I wish I didn’t blush so freaking much,” You groaned, making him laugh again.

“Why? I like it, it’s cute,” He shrugged.

“That’s because you feel accomplished when you make me blush.”

“No, that’s because I’m grateful that you even talk to me, let alone blush because of me,” He said.

“You, big-shot hockey captain of one of the top teams in the NHL, is grateful to be talking to me?” You raised your eyebrows. “You’re crazy.”

“I play hockey for a living. I shoot a puck, skate around, and knock guys over. You, on the other hand, do real shit and help people through actual problems. I think your job is a lot more important than mine,” He argued. “So, you’re crazy.”

“You do the same thing, Jamie,” You rolled your eyes. “Kids battling cancer look up to you in their darkest times. When you go visit them, do you even realize how special you make them feel?”

“Of course, I do. But, that’s still nothing compared to you and what you’re working for every day. I wish I could do that stuff full time.”

“Jamie,” You sat up. “Yes, you play hockey, but you’re also a role model to anyone who watches you. Hockey is hard as shit, take it from me who still doesn’t know how to skate on the ice. Why do you think they made you the captain? Why do you think you’re the face of the franchise?”

“You know,” He sat up as well. “You make me feel amazing, I hope you know that.”

“Same to you,” You smiled, kissing his cheek. He kissed your lips after, pulling you closer to him. You relaxed into him, allowing him to guide damn near every body part of yours against his.

The size difference between you two was intoxicating for you, especially in moments like this when you really just wanted him to take control. You've had your fun in the past, but there was something about Jamie that made you want to relinquish control.

Jamie's phone started to buzz on your coffee table, interrupting your moment. But, Jamie never pulled away from you. He continued to kiss you through one round of buzzes, then silence.

"You don't want to check that?" You smiled against his lips.

"Not at all." He reattached his lips to yours, his hands traveling lower on your body for a second, before trailing back up to your hair. You moaned into his mouth as he gently pulled your hair, giving himself more room to lean into you.

His phone started buzzing again, forcing him to freeze in his movements. He kissed you one more time, before pulling away from you to look at his phone, his hands still tangled in your hair. “It’s Miro.”

“Answer it. It’s 11, it could be an emergency.” You watched as Jamie picked up the phone with his hand closest to the table, holding it to his ear.

“Hey, what's up, man?” You could faintly hear Miro’s voice through the phone. Jamie’s hand moved from your hair to the back of your neck, gently massaging the area. 

“I’m busy, man, not gonna lie to you,” Jamie smiled at you. You turned your head, kissing the inside of his wrist.

“Alright, alright, calm down,” He rolled his eyes. “Yeah, just stay inside. I’m on my way.”

You waited as Jamie got off the phone with Miro. “What did he do now?”

“He’s hammered,” Jamie laughed. “And, needs me to pick him and Roope up, which also means make sure they get into their own beds in their own houses.”

“Captain’s duty, huh?”

“Always,” He said. 

“Well, I’ll take my candy now.”

He rolled his eyes again, this time at you. He reached behind him, handing you the bag of candy. 

“I’m sorry we can’t continue,” He said. “Watching the show, I mean.”

“Uh huh,” You laughed. “I know the team comes first.”

“Not a chance,” He shook his head. He leaned over, kissing you again. “I had fun tonight. Hopefully I can get a second date?”

“Hmm, I’ll think about it." He smiled, kissing you once more. “Text me when you get home?”

“Yeah, I will.”

-----

The perks of dating a captain of a NHL team included many team parties with free food and alcohol. At first, you were worried about how some of the guys would feel having you around during down time, but it felt like a big family.

You were intentional about checking in with players in sessions around your presence, and it seemed like they loved to have you around. And, you really liked the approval you had gotten for your relationship with Jamie. You finally felt like you could relax into your relationship and not hide.

Today, Jamie was hosting a low-key BBQ with the players and their families. He took hosting duties seriously: decorations, caterers and homemade food, and endless drinks. It was actually shocking how much he cared to foster a good environment for his guys, and it was really attractive.

He forced you to be hands off, citing that you were a guest no matter how many times you tried to argue. He spent most of the party traveling around the group, making sure everyone was having a good time. Once he was certain he checked in with everyone face-to-face, he took his moment to pull you into the kitchen for a few minutes.

You and Jamie were both in agreement to keep PDA light at team outings, but that didn't mean Jamie was going to keep his distance from you for hours.

He brought you a piece of Pavelski's wife's pie which you were basically devouring as he recounted the football game he just refereed between some of the guys' kids. He sat on his kitchen counter while you stood between his legs, watching the videos he recorded. Listening to his voice in the videos, you thought He's such a dad.

More than a few minutes passed by after you finished the pie, but neither you or Jamie made any movements to rejoin the group.

With your back against him, his hands were around your body, which was fine, until he started rubbing his hands up and down your arms and shoulders as he spoke about random things. If it wasn’t for your long sleeve shirt, Jamie would be feeling the goosebumps that he was causing.

“Jamie,” You whispered, cutting him off. “Are you good?”

“Yeah, why?” He furrowed his eyebrows, looking down at you. 

“A little handsy there, aren't we?”

“Sorry,” He blushed. “I wasn’t thinking about it.”

“I didn’t say stop,” You mumbled. "I just can't focus on anything you're saying when you're touching me like that."

“I'm sorry, baby," He replied.

"So, should we talk about when we’re gonna reschedule our sleepover?” You asked, turning around in his arms.

“I think planning it kind of backfired last time,” He said. “How about now?”

“What?” 

“I’m sure no one will miss us. I mean, we’ve been in here for 10 minutes and no one has come in." He was watching your expression, his eyes gliding over every part of your face as you considered his offer. What the hell.

"Your bedroom does have a lock, right?” You surprised yourself with your agreement.

Jamie laughed, nodding before leaning down and pressing his lips to yours. "It does. And, I kind of already told the guys to host themselves."

“You’re insane,” You mumbled against him.

“If we’re not going upstairs, we have to stop now,” He breathed against your lips. “Seriously, I already need a cold shower.”

“Come on,” He gently pushed you back before stepping down from the counter. He grabbed your hand, pulling you upstairs.

“Slow down,” You laughed as he pulled you up the stairs.

He pulled you into his bedroom, pushing you against the door as soon as he closed it. He leaned over you as he locked the door to his room. “If someone knocks, it’s your fault.”

“No one told you to throw a barbeque today,” You smiled up at him.

“And, no one told you to show up looking this good,” He said, kissing you, using his bodyweight to hold you between him and the door.

His size is everything.

-----

“The food wasn’t terrible today, man,” Tyler joked.

“Why are you still here?” Jamie looked at him. “Everyone already left.”

“This love-hate relationship that you guys have going on is very entertaining to watch,” You added.

“Yeah, yeah, I’ll see you guys later,” Tyler rolled his eyes. He gave you a hug before attempting to hug Jamie but he pushed him away. You shook your head as you hopped up to sit on the counter, exactly where Jamie was sitting before your moment upstairs.

As Tyler was the last guest out, he left you and Jamie finally alone at his place.

“Everything is mostly clean besides the grill, but I’ll clean that tomorrow. Everyone complimented your plates, by the way.”

“I told you,” You laughed. “You can get plastic plates and tupperware but it doesn’t have to be the plainest one.”

“Just take your compliment,” He teased as he finished washing his hands.

He walked over to you to stand in between your legs. “Did you have a good time today?”

“I had the best time,” You smiled, wrapping your arms around his neck. “Which is always the case when I’m with you.”

“I feel like I can finally breathe around you now,” He mumbled before meeting you in a kiss. His hands moved to your hips, “Thank you for coming today.”

“No pun intended?” 

He laughed, “Not originally but I guess it fits, huh?”

"Thank you for waiting," You whispered to him. "I know I probably made you wait longer than you're used to, but I'm happy we waited."

"I was about to explode for sure, but I would do anything for you," He replied, "You're worth it."

"So, you still actually like me?"

"Are you kidding me?" He laughed, stepping closer to you, if that was even possible. He raised his hand to the ponytail in your hair, tugging gently to lift your lips to his. "I'm obsessed with you."

"I can't tell if you're real," You replied, looking over his features.

"Really?" He kissed you again. "5 months in and you still doubt me?"

"I don't doubt you, per se," You smiled when his hair fell over his eyes. "I doubt everyone."

"What can I do to get special treatment?"

"I think you've had enough special treatment actually," You laughed. "I should head home."

"You can't stay?"

"I didn't pack a bag and I'm off tomorrow."

"More reason why you should stay here because so am I," He said. " I have an extra toothbrush, and all the basic necessities you might need."

"On one condition," You replied. "Tomorrow, you have to make me your mom's pizza recipe. I've been thinking about it for weeks."

"Deal."

[andreisvechnikov]

To Canes Fans

Sebastian Aho, Feb 27th, 2025

I think about the playoff losses a lot. It hurt then, and it hurts now. Each one of them stays with me. It stays with us. We have scar tissue. That’s the honest truth. There’s no point in lying about it. It’s there. And it’s a part of who this team is, of who we’re going to be. And I’m thinking about it now, not because I’m taking the regular season for granted, or because we’re already thinking ahead. It’s actually the opposite of that. This year's team, we don’t want to just be talented, or a tight group, we want to have a real identity. Something that we can rely on, no matter what happens during a month, or game, or series. Something that we know is us — something that is true to Hurricane hockey, through and through.

And that thing is simple: Hard work.

I don’t care at all if you think it’s a cliché.

We’ve come up short six years in a row. And each year we try to learn from it and make changes and do something different. Sometimes maybe we’ve tried to be things we aren’t. It happens. And there are teams all around the league who have certain styles of play, or things they’re great at. And so do we. But what I want is for us to be the hardest-working team in the league. The team that doesn’t leave a stone unturned. First ones in, last ones out. That type of stuff. Because when we break through, when we finally lift the Cup, it will because of all the reps before that moment. All the hard work. That’s the way through.

Everybody is a loser until they’re a winner.

And I know we’re winners.

I know it.

And if you don’t mind, I want to shout out Coach for a second here. Roddy. Nobody gets what it means to wear this sweater more than him. He’s got this connection with fans, man…. It’s crazy. He’s a legend. I remember being eight years old and watching from Finland when Carolina won in 2006. I can still see him and Cam Ward skating around with the Cup above their heads. I got to know Roddy during my rookie year in 2016. He was the power-play coach. I didn’t know him that well and I remember so many flights where it seemed like he never looked up from the film on his computer. He’d spend hours and hours trying to figure it out, trying to put us in positions to succeed. And when he became head coach in 2018, we all got to see another side of him.

He’s an incredible speaker. He just has this way of connecting with the guys that’s completely genuine and honest. He feels like a teammate. Like he’s in the battle with you. And he sets the bar so high. He’s the hardest-working guy every day. In the gym, in the film room, he is the culture. And I wanted to talk about him because I know Canes fans appreciate him. I see the jerseys. I hear the roar when his name is announced. But maybe people around the league look at Carolina and think, How did they build that unique culture down there? Roddy is a huge part of it. 

And I thought about that a lot when I was negotiating my contract in the summer of 2023. When you have the opportunity to be a free agent, it’s a massive moment in your life as an athlete.

But every thought I had that summer led me back to one thing: Canes fans.

I saw the way Roddy was treated, the love he had for the city. I wanted that. My wife and I love living in Raleigh. This is our place. This is where we’re supposed to be. And also: I’m a bit stubborn. I’m not giving up until we win. I promise that. I think I’m a Hurricane for a reason. I know what that reason is. And I will do everything in my power to make it happen.

I think sometimes there’s this misconception about European players. That we don’t care as much about the Cup as Canadians or Americans. I can’t speak for everyone when I say this, but for me, that couldn’t be further from the truth. I watched the Cup final almost every year growing up. I remember after the Canes won, the Ducks won it in ’07. I stayed up past midnight to watch Chris Pronger hand the Cup to Teemu Selänne. I was nine years old at the time, but I knew how important that moment was. The NHL seemed far away, but I knew it was the pinnacle. And I got it in my head that that’s what I wanted. To be a champion — to share that moment with a city. 

And so I’d watch YouTube for hours and hours. Pavel Datsuyk and Patrick Kane were two of my favorites. I was kind of mesmerized by their hands, by what they could do with the puck. As a teenager I’d get out on the outdoor rink with my friends, and it’d be colder than you could ever imagine, and we’d do one-on-ones and two-on-twos until we couldn’t feel our feet.

In Oulu, my hometown, we have so much pride for Finnish hockey. I think my very first hockey memory is being in the Kärpät dressing room with my dad, Harri, and his teammates when I was three or four years old. I remember his D partner cutting a down a stick for me to use. Those vibes in the room after they’d win … it was just really incredible. It felt like a big family to me. There’s something about being with the guys after they’ve given everything out there. I don’t know. That’s just something that I’ve always loved.

I cherish every win we get here in Carolina. We know how hard it is to win in this league. And every time we get one, and we share the moment together, I’m reminded of my childhood and why I play this game. 

That first playoff run we had in 2019 was special for a lot of reasons. That was the first time I saw the real Raleigh. It had been nine seasons since the team had been in the postseason, and I remember before Game 3 of the first round, the city was just alive. When I was drafted a few years before, people told me, Oh, it’s not a hockey town. It’s a football state. It’s a basketball state. All sorts of stuff like that. I don’t know, man. You come to our rink and you tell me if it’s a hockey town. I’ve played all over the world in almost every big rink. And I’ve never been in a building that was rocking like ours was before we got on the ice against the Capitals in 2019. Never. I was standing in the tunnel and I was in the zone. I was focused. We were down 2-0 but both games were close. I felt confident. I was getting ready to get on the ice, and I could hear the crowd, but I couldn’t really hear it, if you get that? Like I’m so in the zone that there’s no noise. But I could feel it. In my legs, in my chest. There was just this thunder going through the place. I can still feel it when I think back on it.

That series, man, beating the Cup champs in Game 7, in double OT…. Awesome. And then we swept New York in the second round and it felt like we were on top of the world. I really fell in love with Raleigh that summer. Like, I got it. I understood what hockey meant to everyone

And that's why it sucked so bad that we couldn't get it done against Boston. That was such a low, after such a high. To get swept.... I'm still pissed about it. 

Honestly, every series loss since then has been brutal. We've gotten so close, and built something special year after year, but close isn't good enough. 

Close sucks. 

But we understand the nature of hockey. Only one team can win the final game of the season. It’s the hardest trophy in the world to win for a reason. The only thing you can do is use the heartbreak as motivation. And so we keep going, we keep giving it our all. And this is where I really need to shout out our fans, because a lot of you have been showing up since the dark days, when we were rebuilding. The cool thing about our building is it's almost like a neighborhood. You come to the rink, and you see the same faces during warmups. The same families. You guys are a part of our group, and you keep us going. 

So we’re here again with a pretty darn good hockey team. I love this group. I really do.

We’re led by our Captain, Jordan Staal. He might not be on the scoresheet every night (he has been lately!!), but he’s our engine. When there’s a big draw to take, or penalty to kill, he’s just got this other gear. When I was a young player in the league, I’d look at him as somebody to be. That effort is how you win in the NHL. The goals and the points and all that, it matters. Don’t get me wrong. But when spring comes around, and the game changes a little in the playoffs…. It’s the stuff you can’t write down that makes the difference. Our captain is that guy.

And we’re a group that’s full of strong individuals, full of fighters. Freddie came back the other week and, man, it’s really inspiring to see how hard he’s worked to get himself back to the level he’s at. It’s brutal to see your brother go down like he did, and all the health stuff he’s had to overcome, he’s been through hell. But he never gave up. I’d see him in the gym all the time and you knew how much he was giving to get back to help us, to be there for Raleigh.

Now we’ve got some new faces in the building, and it’s an exciting time to be here. From the front office down, I think we all want the same thing. That’s a good feeling. It’s never easy seeing friends go. But that’s part of the game, part of life. We’ve got to keep going here through the end of the season and try to finish as strong as possible. We’re taking it one game at a time, doing every little thing to get better and better. And when the time comes, and the building gets even louder, and the games matter even more, I can promise you one thing, Raleigh: Close isn’t good enough.

Thanks for all the love. Let’s make some memories.

—Sebastian

[storkmuffin]

The Magic of San (6/n)

Marilyn Monroe Sidebar #4/4 ( Sidebar 1, Sidebar 2, Sidebar 3)

No but seriously, you guys, there are so many similarities between Marilyn Monroe and Choi San. Please agree with me.

On and off.

Marilyn Monroe was fabulous at being a movie star. She could turn it on or off at whim, according to at least one friend (Lee Strasberg's daughter). She was invisible just walking along the street in normal clothes in New York City, dressed simply, and nobody noticed her, beyond maybe, Oh that's a pretty lady. Then she asked her friend, Do you want me to become her? and the person who witnessed it happen couldn't actually articulate what it is she did, only that she did something and suddenly Norma Jean was gone and Marilyn Monroe was there, in the same clothes and get up but nevertheless suddenly present, and people swarmed.

Marilyn was also apparently absolutely delightful to fans. Anyone who ever saw her at a movie premier had a wonderful time, because she loved the red carpet, loved her fans, and really 'performed' being a movie star for them.

In his TokToq Live on 2025.1.19, San said that he sometimes has this feeling that he is 'not himself' when he's performing on stage. (TBF, I have heard Beyonce say this too, actually, and she names her stage persona entirely different from her actual name). Furthermore, he is often told that he "looks like San of Ateez" but nobody ever actually clocks him. This has led him, in his characteristic way, to wonder "Is my flesh and blood self not very exciting?" (내가 실물이 별로인가?) but I think possibly, he has this "on" persona and an "off" persona. "On" San is immediately recognizable, "off" San just looks like a boy who looks a lot like San of Ateez. There's a great post that makes the distinction between San and "Sanimal." I wonder if all great stars have this??

San shows a lot of deliberation about what it means to be an idol. There are expectations for how he is supposed to behave. San has learned what the rules are, and wants very much to adhere to them. He's paired with Wooyoung a lot, who also is very aware of what the rules are, and gets off on deliberately flouting them. San will calmly lecture Wooyoung about his failure to behave like an Idol, insisting "remember you're an Idol" when Wooyoung purposefully acts against the role of model citizen that S. Korean society demands of Idols.

On a different live, (2025.1.27) San has addressed when the fans in attendance who were apparently cursing at him to get his attention. He laid out his boundaries: He can tolerate 미친 but beyond that is a bit difficult to stomach. He said note that since many foreigners are all intentinoally learning Korean swear words, he tries to accept the strong language when it is used as adjectives - as in 'fucking' is fine if it's in the context of "I fucking loved the show" perhaps, but a straight up, aggressively intended "fuck you" would not be ok. Then he said, as a statement, 여러분은 평생 내가 욕하는 거 들을 리 없겠지만. (You would never hear me swear your whole lives.) I thought this was an extraordinary statement for a guy who's 25 and planning to stay in the public eye decades to say. How would that be sustainable? But he intends to see it through - of that I have no doubt.

Studious

Both San and Marilyn are hardworking people, sure, but I actually think most people are hardworking if you give them something with even a modicum of meaning. What San and Marilyn are, actually, are studious, almost bookish.

Marilyn had a major intellectual hunger that was never actually fulfilled, mostly because given the combination sexism and resentment that her great beauty inspired, she was so relentlessly mocked for her intellectual curiosity. But she read, challenging herself to difficult texts, wrote, had considered and rather brave political opinions. Towards the end of her life, Marilyn was trying to figure herself out by making recordings of her thoughts, going to therapy, taking difficult acting classes, and for a while, very reliant on a strict acting coach. Marilyn and Natasha Lytesse are still speculated on as being lovers, which I don't really care about, but Marilyn did insist on having Natasha present on her sets and listened only to her. This too was mocked, but I assume Marilyn's reliance on this coach wasn't just the usefulness of whatever coaching she got - Lytesse was possibly the only person on set who took Marilyn seriously as an artist. Marilyn kept wanting to get better, and be serious, and make art.

As a bookish person who also loves the idea of expanding my inner world by taking in external stimulus, it always hurts me that Marilyn never had anybody take her intellectual yearnings seriously - not Joe DiMaggio, not Arthur Miller, very few of her male costars, even fewer directors. She was just born at the wrong time, in so many ways. I feel like her equivalent may actually be Nicole Kidman - a superlatively beautiful actress who wants to make dark material. Kidman of course was raised in a stable, intellectual home.

San has exhibited a similar lack of pride and hunger for artistic achievement. It can't have been easy, necessarily, to be a stiff, slightly awkward dancer with mostly a martial arts background asking for coaching and attention from very near peers. It speaks to a lackof unnecessary pride, which I think is rare to find in very young people. San's dance performances are to my eye the most 'ballet' to me, in terms of his having absorbed whatever classes he got in formal dance training and insisting on keeping those in his body. San is, along with Hong Joong, the only singer in this singing group that seems to just constantly burst into song. (I have not seen a long of Jongho footage, tbf). Whenever he's bored, waiting for other people to get ready for him, or his mood improves, he just starts singing. Other members have said that he's a bit of a practice nut, constantly working on improving himself in a way they found transformative and inspirational.

And one more thing -

Throughout the European concert tour, San has discussed his continuing to study English. He devotes 30 minutes per day every day to studying, and he does it using a very standard textbook. I found this so moving, that he would tell people about it (creating external accountability) and be so sweetly proud of the progress he was making in his book.

San is gifted at languages by the way. I too am gifted at languages, so I am the authority on this. This Atiny on Tumblr has noticed it too, that he has an ear and a knack for correct pronunciation ( in this case, German). His English pronunciation seem like real accomplishments to me. I assume that his being a gifted singer has something to do with this - he can hear with great attention to detail, so it helps him replicate the sounds better. During their Japanese TV special, San made a concerted effort to try to speak Japanese with the people that he met as well as the crew, even if it's imperfect, because this is how you improve. (Yunho seems the most fluent in Japanese, but that's just ... Yunho, to be good at all the idol things lol, which in Kpop includes speaking Japanese).

The encouragement and admiration that San's fans express for him when he talks about studying English or Japanese is something I'm so happy he has, and I wish Marilyn had had something like that too. **

**Though I don't know -would she? If say, another (I think) very smart, sexy little blonde (say, Sabrina Carpenter) went on social media and talked about how she was teaching herself German so she could read Goethe, would her fans support her?

[filthy-imouto]

I'M TIRED, LEAVE ME ALONE. Hello everyone, I don't like drama (I'm literally just too old for this) and I didn't wanted to make this public but this post let's me no choice because this is just stupid at this point. Some of you might know that @/clumsyzw0mbiez did perma-paywall her Sims and re-uploading CC of others in the past which led to her being critized by others. I was part of her server back then and when she wrote publicly about her being bullied and she wondered why and I told her that the reason might be because she paywalled her Sims including their CC. She projected all the anon hate she got onto me, her friends included. She then made all her Sims free and said I was lying, so I left the server because I didn't liked how I was treated and I don't support people profiting from other peoples work. I reached out once more to her in private, because I gave her the benefit of the doubt and I don't like conflict. She gave me a snarky response and I gave up on that matter, telling her I will block her. Not respecting my boundaries, she reached out to me on Tumblr, TikTok and even found my real life Instagram to message me on there. I told her to leave me alone and that was it. Month later now, people started to talk about her again because she was charging 40 dollars for "Sims 4 classes" (which she also changed to 15 dollars after being called out and now claimed it was never 40 dollars to begin with), where she would "teach" people how to do Sims. I looked into it and someone on my small server posted about this as well, so I talked about what had happend in the past. One of the people there was her friend, she decided to invite 3 people onto it who would spam my server with horrible things, Clumsy included. After an hour of spamming on my server, throwing insults around and telling me that everyone would hate me, they left. I was shocked that the people supporting her, knowing about this, just looked away and/or even enabled her behaviour. While being worried about this whole situation, I tried to move on from this, not talking publicly about it. But this person here, that is probably one of her friends or even herself, don't give me a choice. I don't support bullying, no matter in which direction. Everything I said on my server (which doesn't even have 4 active people on it) was stuff I told Clumsy to her face. This account was obviously made to make it look like I made it, frame me as a bully and Clumsy as a victim like she did it multiple times in the past after being critized. This is literally insanity. This accounts is trying so hard to sound like me, using words I used and turn them into the most hateful way they were able to. I'm done with this, Clumsy. I told you multiple times to leave me alone and you do not respect it. Instead you guys do something like this now after spamming my server last night with disgusting stuff. Just stop already. This account is benefiting her situation so much, it is obvious that it's made to make her look like she was the one being bullied. You all should grow up, seriously.

@clumsyzw0mbiez

This person is a lowlife scammer. She pretends like she’s this sweet person. When in reality all she wants to do is exploit, manipulate and lie to others. This person that you think you know is lying to you.

I have so much proof on everything that she’s done and I plan to post all of it. This is just my initial post because it’s time to bring her character to light. She uses other simmers base to make her Sims. I have proof of this. She has also copied two simmers in the community. Do not let her fool you. Do not let her lie to you.

If you want more information, I can make more post. This is my first, not my last post. I plan to expose her and show everyone the type of person she is. The truth will be revealed. She will no longer be able to trick and lie to people. It is time that the Sims community knows all about her and I’m gonna be the one to do it. 

[todayinmagicalgirlhistory]

hii, i saw you post on floral demons and tried to research further but found it hard to get anything thats not fandom/video game related... do you have any good sources i could look at? maybe on connecting with them, the different types of floral demons, etc- floral demons seem pretty good for what im looking for in a spirit companion, but id like to look into it more before i just jump into it. absolutely no pressure ofc, but id really appreciate it!!

Floral demons are a species I organically ran into in the astral so the only resources I have for you is the post I made. I only used that gif from Hell's Paradise because the Tensen had a similar vibe to those spirits. I only ever add any additional resources like mythology and shows/books when they are available here in the physical like in my selkies, kitsune and banshee posts.

Sorry OTL that's why I put the disclaimer at the beginning of the floral demon post that said "Unlike my previous posts, this is all based on my own UPG and not a post that’s divided into known lore surrounding the species and then my personal experience working with them."

If you're newer to spirit work and companionship, I suggest starting with dandelion and daisy demons and I think crocus demons as well, but I really lean towards dandelion and daisy demons. They're very chill and don't have as much of a negative reputation as the floral demons that garnered their negative reputation to start with. I would put clover demons under this category as well.

Cherry blossom demons are also good but I will also say that they can be a bit private so they can be a bit hard to run into. I only met some cherry blossom demons after a crocus demon friend I made introduced me to some.

Rose demons are a bit in the middle - you'll find it hard running into black rose demons organically, I have only ever met 3 (and that's because of their social status as being more delegated to body guards and such) so giving the heads up there as well!

Again like I said in my info post, I would stay completely clear of lotuses, camellias and irises until you're very experienced with interacting with floral demons and used to their energy.

And if you go to areas with a high populaion of floral demons, I would stay in public locations. Think the library (really beautiful btw) or the schools, which are open to the public for tours.

I hope this additional info can help you out, anon!

[shorthaltsjester]

Imogen Temult, Exaltant Hope of the Red Storm

Heroes and Monsters by Penny & Sparrow // Critical Role Campaign 3

[iwritenarrativesandstuff]

literally the easiest way to make someone care about a character and make them feel well-rounded beyond basic traits like personality, sexuality, ethnicity, etc, is to give them an actual character arc, and it’s shocking how many people do not seem to fully realize this

you cannot just cram a bunch of tropes. tropes are not the main event, they are tools to tell the story you wish to tell. emotional impact comes from the lead up, so you can’t just jump ahead and expect the payoff to work. “I want this character to just ___ already!” but they’re not there yet. that’s where the arc comes in - how do they get there?

and! most importantly, and this is something I really want people to think about when writing - the most important relationship your character should have, always, is with the world and society around them. defining your character purely through their interactions with other characters are, I find, how a lot of female characters end up feeling flat or not engaging with the themes as much as the male characters, and also how queer and non-white characters wind up as devices for other characters’ development instead of being more fleshed out

[distressed-bird]

Kalina is the most interesting character to me because of all she has going on…

she is Cassandra’s familiar, she is simultaneously a pet and a friend and a servant and a family to a goddexx that is simultaneously her owner and friend and creator and parent and her god and reason to be—Kalina’s relationship to Cassandra is hard to put a name or label on (since what does being a familiar even mean?) but the bottomline is that this cat loves her deity enough to put everything and everyone on the line for her…

And adding in that she is a child of divorce. So to speak. I am extremely normal and haven’t been driven mad by the detail that baby itty bitty kitty Kalina was at Cassandra’s wedding to Ankarna and is remembered to have been toddling after her as she walked down the aisle…

Kalina will be the death of me /lh

[rosefires20]

Mentally insane about the Earthsea Cycle tonight

I finished The Farthest Shore a couple hours ago and God. Just god. The messages in the series are so amazing and I adore them so much it's hard to put it into words honestly.

I am very very very very much looking forward to Tehanu which I didn't think the copy I ordered was going to arrive until next week but I check the tracking earlier and it's supposed to come tomorrow and I'm so siked.

Just all the little things and the nuances of the series and writing are so incredible.

[cator99]

I always get detained at da border because PROFUNC never ended but basically I'm like if a targeted individual didn't even care

[swordsonnet]

.

[thebigqueer]

unrelated to that rb but im thinking about it and i dont think piper liking jason was ever a forced heteronormativity thing i think she genuinely liked him