#because theyd actually be able to smell what you are

[ashfdhfgdsfk]

i swear to god if they make one more movie where a shark or wolf is depicted as evil i am seriously going to start killing on their behalf

[palebloodcvrse]

Devil may cry V enemies: what do they taste like? (And how to cook them) (Cursed headcanons)

Part 1

Some things shouldnt be posted...

This is cursed as fuck but my brain always does weird shit like this and since tumblr is the de facto dump for thoughts like this I feel obligated to share it with you.

Hell Caina

Theyre honestly not very meaty. They have little bits of flesh stuck to their bones and they smell weird.... but their flesh makes a good snack if theres really nothing else. But they taste bland, almost like cardboard... and decay. -1/10

Hell Antenora/Judecca

Their flesh would taste the same as hell caina but those purple things would make good pasta if you blanched them to cook the bitterness away, otherwise that shit would taste like medicine.

If you want purple carbonara, spaghetti or mac and cheese, eat those tenties. 6/10

Pyrobat/Hellbat

theyre spicy and tangy. The texture of their flesh is kinda weird though, its quite leathery, kinda like softer beef jerky. Theyre actually really good for some korean hotpot if you have the patience to slowcook them. As for their heads, theyre too tough to be eaten but if you tossed it into a stew youd be able to get the flavors anyways. If you minced them they'd be great as taco meat because of their flavor. 7/10

Behemoth

A mix of beef and pork! Theyre great for soup, chili, or even pork belly or steak! It depends what part of them youre eating oh and those tongue limbs it has?? Great for a nice cut of filet mignon, and depending where you cut it you could get anything from brisket to bacon. 8/10

Death scissors

Fucking inedible. -1,000,000/10

Proto/scudo angelo

Is there even flesh under there or are they just made of armor through and through? Either way theyre not very meaty and their flesh would be too tough. 0/10

Fury

They look tasty, i mean they look like beef jerky/glazed meat/fruit rollups... theyd be really lean meat, they got potential but their flesh looks hella leathery, but theyre probably hella flavorful. 6/10

They cant all fit in one post so im gonna reblog with a part 2.

[exanuz]

i think the reason people are seemingly more interested in me now is because

in real life possibly my strange treatment was fueled by people just being able to seemingly smell neurodivergence or mental illness on you like a dog and wanting to use it for their amusement

i was only beginning to actual become some sort of "person" and understand things when i was around... 16? 17? i was really nothing before then... i kind of just floated around

even then i had no particular care or passion about anything. i liked my ocs, but id only post about them in dms mainly. theyd be all i drew but, again, posted rarely, so not much happened to really quantify me as a person or rouse up interest in other peoples eyes

since i became actually some amount of passionate about something at age 19, and am slowly becoming more confident talking about my thoughts and opinions, its probably getting easier for other people to actually view me as a person instead of a Thing on their dash, and also like minded people can see and find me and etc, meanwhile back then, what was there for someone to be "like minded" with me about?

[jarofstyles]

336

FUN FUN FUN

If you like this, check out our Patreon

————

“It’s your fault m’like this, pet.”

Harry was hard. He was horny, he was needy and his mind was on her. Y/N. His pretty girl who was so rudely ignoring him as she spoke to someone. She had the audacity to look this good, to wear a dress that clung to her skin so pretty, accentuating her curves and bringing the color of it to attention. He wanted to lick.

“Can you behave for another hour? Fuckin’ horny gremlin.” She huffed under her breath. Y/N was trying to make friends with more of Harry’s friends! That was the whole point. it was a birthday party for one of his childhood friends and he had been the one to suggest going to the club and showing her around. After months of long distance, Y/N had moved to London to be with Harry. It was about 3 weeks in your her stay and they’d yet to do a lot of the normal things- mostly because they were in bed. Often.

You can blame Harry all you want! But being head over heels in love with a girl he met and who had lived miles away and having her move in, having her be utterly irresistible and sitting right there was something he wasn’t going to apologize for. He loved Y/N.

People who originally had said it was too soon and long distance was too much were most definitely eating their words now! Y/N and Harry were the perfect couple. Complimenting every aspect of him that he needed complimenting, he brought her out of his shell and she kept him grounded. It was a perfect match, and anyone who had eyes could see it.

Through the months of communicating over the internet and taking trips to see each other, Theyd realized one thing was very true as well.

They are horny fucking bastards.

They both had dirty minds and sense of humor even though Y/N kept it hidden more. They were sexual beings with touch being their main shared love language and they had no problem at all being physically clingy and thrived off of kissed and affection. Both had experienced past flings and relationships calling them excessive or clingy and being irritated with it, but it was natural for them to lean into each other, grab hands, be pulled in, get little kisses.

His front was against her back, cock right up on her ass. His large hands pressed against her stomach, fingers threaded together. Maybe slightly obnoxious with his face pressed against hers but neither of them found it in themselves to care. It was a club, for fucks sake. The touch made them both feel warm, but Harry was definitely feeling it in a dirtier way. The sticky air and smell of alcohol was irritating but he was happy to show her off to his friends.

Little did he realize before they left that it was going to be this difficult to share her. Harry was aware he was a needy, horny baby. He just wanted to show off and go home. Y/N, however, insisted on actually talking to some of them.

“Listen… know m’a ‘horny gremlin’ or whatever you’d like to call me… but don’t forget about his you begged me to stay inside of your cunt this mornin’. Didn’t even want me t’pull out of it, wanted to be stuffed full for hours. So I’m the gremlin, and you’re a greedy whore.” He playfully nipped her jaw, knowing he would have the upper hand yet again.

She could call him all the names she wanted, but they both knew damn well how it was her that melted and got teary when Harry didn’t give her his cock to suck on while he played his video games or answered emails. Y/N had never loved a cock so much in her life and Harry had taught her exactly how good it could be. All in all, she got addicted.

“Hey. That’s not fair. You were more than happy to oblige.” Her huff made him smirk. Y/N hated being called out. Totally hated it. And yet, it made her horny.

To be fair, so did everything.

“I did. And if you’d let me, I’d do it again right now. Sit down in that booth and let you sit on my cock while y’get to know my friends. But we both know y’can not do that though. You get too squirmy. Love to bounce.” His lips brushed her cheek for a kiss as they spoke, looking like a loved up young couple. If only they knew.

“That’s it.” She sighed, pulling away. “Let’s get out of here. You win, gremlin.” Her eyes rolled as she could feel her cheeks heat up. Harry just had that thing about him, able to get her all flustered out of anywhere.

“That’s what I thought. Let me pay our tab. If y’can get my my coat, I’ll let you suck me in the car before we go inside.”

-

A little short yes but 🌝

[fisherrprince]

ask dump (big long)

1) ABDBHTDND YEAH THEY DID UM, they did the ”no THANK you..! etc etc BUT IM WEAK” song too! Wild how that is now. points at them hey I know those guys

2) OHHH….. THIS HITS……….. I like missio sometimes but this is a nice chorus also: Vanitas… yeah I, like, always love music recs. they can be hit or miss but it’s only fair with how much music I find and then immediately go what if I showed everyone

3) how many does he have in there now, eleven? Twelve??? He signed up for one mouse and he got eleven human children or at least nine to ten human children, two young adults, and two regular adults who aren’t going to be helpful—

4) aaaaaaaaa thank you!!! 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺

5) MMM I haven’t thought extensively about cowboys for a while… it’s been mostly space up here for now, haha. I like my space murder. But that’s not to say I haven’t given them some fond passing thoughts! Two bros sitting in a river 5 feet apart cos they’re covered in mud and smell awful and one of them is very loudly blaming the other for the plan that involved hiding behind a barn (actually the last thing I wrote in my notes is a mini totally unfinished drabble of hiding in Lea’s bar but the “great hiding place” Lea has is in his floor)

6) gosh I Have to wonder if it’s a case of destiny/universal “the nature of humanity is that every so often someone invents homestuck again” or if we just, like, had common knowledge of the book of prophecies. Or not even the Book, maybe, I have to assume that knowledge/observance of the Foretellers phased out pretty quickly, but prophecies left unfulfilled would linger for generations probably. Or maybe they’re even old stories, a tale of seven masters of the past drawn in to a chess game, or the game based on the old fairytales, or the numbers 7 and 13 are ingrained in local culture … see, because obviously Xehanort implies that this prophecy/old masters stuff ISNT common knowledge, but Eraqus CERTAINLY knows about it and it’s in all the architecture/local myths… ok but then also, if we’re to take the opening chess game as more than just clever symbolic narrative bookends, everyone’s symbols ARE right there. I just kind of registered that’s probably what you were talking about. In which case our questions are still there, how much did the common populace know and how much did eraqus know? Did he like, end up with three apprentices who had very distinct chess symbols as keychains and go uh oh john or what—

hey why’d you do this to me. I’m a tired college student in scala on my sixth response paper about the prophetic legitimacy of foreordained keybearers versus the self-imposed creation of destiny as following common legend and I’m arguing with some guy named Einar about how you can’t just fake a prophetic fulfillment by claiming to be the Crown piece in chess. You can’t just KIN A CHESSPIECE, Einar.

7) ABGDJGD TY..!!! To be honest they also live in my head rent-free! Some of them need to start paying rent because I’m supposed to be in school getting Better at storyboarding—

8) hard same hey thats just bc magnet is uhhhh. The best spell? Aside from mine spells

9) SEE AGAIN I DONT KNOW bc for one Sora obviously isn’t ENTIRELY unique, if he’s able to be diagnosed so quickly, but this “holding your nobody and two to four other people in there” kind of thing probably has never been seen before. But for another, Roxas and Xion have copied a keyblade. Just like — a keyblade? Copied entirely? Wild.

anyways keyblade manifestation is a mystery to me and I’d love to see it explored because what we know the Lore is, is this: they were fashioned after the likeness of the x-blade. They can be bequeathed to others (shown to not necessarily mean that exact keyblade is passed down, probably this means the ability to wield can be bequeathed). They can be WILLFULLY given. They come from the heart, they are not welded out of steel. They are…. questionably sentient, or maybe just sapient, or somehow are picky about who holds them. Side note khwiki is telling me things I Did not know about the whereabouts of Ven’s heart during 358 and also the ability to wield two which requires more than one heart obvi but which is named synch blade??? always question the wiki but these have sources. Anyways. Keychains can swap their forms so they have a Base and Custom Skins mode. There are three kinds, Light (common), Darkness (Michael mouse??? Not his bbs one the rod one which I GUESS is a counterpa Iiiiii am getting off trackaaaaa), and Heart (which I’m guessing is just the x-blade, maybe the gayblade, and the kh1 keyblade of heart??). Um. What was my point here. OH yeah I was just gonna say Bro Wild. This is completely a mystery to me. Does every keykid’s base form keyblade look different, and we were all just given cool keychains? Are there some kids who melded unique keychains? If I were connecting dots wildly and with reckless abandon I’d say yeah and also you cannot just suddenly one day wield one, you HAVE to be bequeathed, but as soon as that happens it sparks the creation of your own personal heart sword. Every keyblade is manifested independently — those wielding a family keyblade have the ability to summon their own, if necessary, but the family sword is taking up that space in their heart and theyd have to get used to making their own. since, it seems, keyblades (summoned) will die and solidify if their bearer dies, but keyblades (unsummoned) will either disappear or summon themselves somewhere else and retain a small piece of your… essence. A legacy keyblade, I feel, would be a little something like feeling every past Avatar and you are the avatar, but you can’t talk to them. They’re there tho. Also I think that having an exceptionally strong heart would be not only a moral requirement for ensuring the keyblade’s duty is upheld, but also a physical requirement! youre carving out a bit of your heart to make room for a sword. Weak hearts should not do that even if they want to.

aye… how was that longer than the scala answer? You got me on tangents again in these essays I

10 (submission from licilou22)

NGDBFDBFSHGDHFDHGDA 😎👉🏼👉🏼👉🏼👉🏼👉🏼 WHEEZING

[pink-peony-princess]

Thank you for loving me/S.M

"Baby, time to get up hon, you've got work in an hour," Shawn whispered in my ear, peppering kisses from my brow down to my chin. His calloused fingers- from his favourite hobby- the guitar- running up and down my arms.

"Mmm, morning," I smiled leaning up to meet his soft kiss.

"Is that coffee I smell?" I asked, sitting up slowly, pulling my (Shawn's) favourite over-sized sweater off the arm chair at the side of the bed and standing up only to be pulled into my favourite spot in the world, Shawn's warm embrace.

"Do you really think I'd be so silly as to wake you without the coffee pot at the ready?" he laughed, kissing my temple again, before taking my hand and leading me down the hallway and into the kitchen.

Both Shawn and I worked for the City of Toronto Fire Department, me as a recently qualified paramedic, and Shawn as a firefighter and paramedic. It had been a tough few months for me, the job was demanding and taxing, but I loved it, and I had Shawn and all my work mates to help guide me.

"Sit," he pointed to the barstool where a cup of coffee in my favourite mug and omelette was waiting.

"Ahhh I love you!" I groaned, flopping down in the chair, shovelling a piece of the fragrant food into my mouth.

"I take it it meets your expectations," he laughed, coming to sit next to me.

"Exceeds!" I mumbled around the next mouthful.

Am hour later and Shawn had dropped me at my station, before headed off across town again to his station.

As I made my way into the station the familiar sounds of saws, engines and various other equipment- once so threatening now seemed to welcome me home.

"Hey El." my work partner and paramedic in charge Jo called, coming to meet me at the locker room door.

"Morning, how are Eli and Felix today?" I asked referring to her two little boys.

"They're okay. Eli had a meltdown before school this morning at having to get out of bed, but once I reminded him that Mummy can't go to work and save people if he doesn't get up and go to school all was well. I swear if the kid doesn't become a firefighter or a paramedic himself one day I'll walk to the moon!" she laughed.

"Aw, he's so sweet, it's so cute how you're his idol, speaking of don't we have that school group coming today?"

"We were supposed to, but due to budget cuts'" she rolled her eyes "the department is no longer able to fund it, apparently it's too expensive and labour intensive to have people out of action."

I sighed," How are we supposed to encourage the next generation of they can't see it for themselves. I mean I became a paramedic because my school had a field trip to a firehouse."

"You're preaching to the choir here girl, you're preaching to the choir." she laughed, turning and walking out. I went about putting my stuff away before heading to the kitchen/common room where we all spent our time inbetween calls.

The day turned out to be a slow one and by eleven o'clock I was doing laundry- (only having been called out once) when Mo one of the longest serving fire fighters and overall cool dude appeared by the door.

"You've got a visitor El, there's someone waiting for you it on the apparatus floor."

"Thanks Mo, " I smiled, putting the clothes I had been folding down and heading out the door.

When I got to the apparatus floor, I was slightly shocked. There was Shawn, leaning casually against a Pilar waiting for me a brown bag in one hand- a bunch of sunflowers (my favourite) in the other.

"Shawn... What are you doing here?" I asked, still stunned.

He beamed running and picking me up.

"I had to come speak to chief Hachette about an arson case so I thought I'd surprise my girl. Do you have time for lunch?" he asked just as Jo walked out, stopping in her tracks. She looked so surprised I thought she was going to faint for a minute.

"And who's this?" she asked with a smile, coming over to stand in front of us where Shawn was still holding me.

"Jo meet Shawn." As soon as I said it I knew it was a mistake. A mischievous grin came over her face and I suddenly felt sick at all the intimate details I'd shared with her about our relationship on long nightshifts-mostly under duress, but still.

"Right so we're going to have lunch before we get another call," I spoke quickly, tugging at Shawn's arm to get him to walk before Jo had an opportunity to embarrass me.

"She seems nice," Shawn commented as we found a quiet spot to sit in the grass behind the firehouse.

"She is," I agreed as he handed me a turkey and Brie sandwich from my favourite deli downtown.

Half an hour later and lunch was done all too soon, duty unfortunately calling for Shawn leaving me alone to face the scrutiny of Jo.

"Girrlll, OMG, he's fiinnnee El. I hope you've locked him down cause I want me some of that," she spoke a million miles a minute running to catch up with me a la I made my way back into the common room and through to the laundry to finish folding the clothes from earlier.

"Well, speaking of," I dug around in my breast pocket, pulling out the engagement ring Shawn had proposed with over the weekend on a mini getaway to the Hamptons.

The scream that left Jo's mouth was louder than expected and sent the whole house into a frenzy. Mo and several of the other firefighters including Tiny and Bug to come running.

When they realised there was no actual issue they turned around grumbling about how we'd pulled then away from the basketball game theyd been placing bets on.

"So when, how, where all the details," she demanded grabbing my arm and jumping up and down. Just the thought of the romantic evening Shawn and I had spent made me giddy again.

However before I got a chance to response the bell went off overhead signalling an incoming call

"Main to 41... Possible GSW, 56th and Main."

I sighed.

It was probably some gang related drug issue again there were plenty of lovely people , but that side of town had a reputation.

"41 responding," I spoke into the radio on my shoulder l before running to the trick, jumping in and flicking the switch to the lights and sirens.

When we got to the scene all was well at first, the cops were already there assuring us it was safe to enter, however just as we were about to leave having treated a minor self inflicted wound a man brandishing a gun leapt from a concealed closet.

"Give me all the drugs you have b*TCH." He yelled before either Jo or I could take in what was happening.

"You know we can't do that sir," Jo spoke calmly. Moving to try to assess the man, who's head was bleeding heavily.

"I said give me the f*cking drugs b*TCH ."

He yelled again, storming towards me. The next few seconds were a blur, I heard a shots, there was immense pain in my abdomen and leg and then I crumpled to the floor, whacking my head in the process.

"El, El. Omg, stay with me." Jo panicked.

"41 to main we have an officer down, urgent assistance required for a GSW, EMS required now!" she shouted down her radio.

"Hurts," I gasped as the initial shock wore off and the pain hit, everything seemed to ache, my leg, my ribs, my head. The room was spinning and I was having trouble breathing no longer able to keep track of the flurry of activity.

Somewhere in the chaos,I'm not sure how long after the incident I heard his voice, Shawn's voice and at first I thought I was dreaming, but I managed to open my eyes and there he was, looking down at with with so much fear.

"It's alright baby, I'm here now, we're going to fix it up, you'll be just fine. Can you tell me where it hurts?" he asked.

I went to move, instinctively seeking his comfort, but he stopped me, and I instantly wanted to cry, more than I already was.

"You have to stay still Princess."

I let out a loud groan as he placed an oxygen mask over my face.

"El? Can you hear me?" I grunted, the effort of actually forming words seeming too hard right then. I could feel hands all over me, and as much as I just wanted to be left alone, I also knew , they were trying to help me.

"It hurts," I cried again.

"I know it does honey, but you're going to be okay. I'm here, and so is Connor and Jo, and we'll look after you, and then when we've got you all comfy we'll take you to get all fixed up, how does that sound?"

"Okay, lets get her onto the bed, and then we can assess her from there," Connor suggested, appearing by my side, with a back board and neck collar that Jo had brought over.

"Okay, we're going to roll you onto the board El just let us do all the work okay?" Shawn said.

I let out a serious of screams as they rolled me, gripping Shawn's gloved hand like my life depended on it.

"We'll get you sorted yeah?" Shawn tried to reassure me as they strapped me onto the bed so I was safe, and then starting to push the gurney out the door and towards the entrance of the ambulance which was no more than ten metres away.

"Shawn ," I whispered, tears falling down my face, mixing with the blood which I could feel was congelling on my face.

When we were in the ambulance Shawn and Jo attached me to the hundreds of leads which I was so used to attaching to others while I lay there helplessly.

"I've started some morphine," Jo patted my arm gently as Shawn pulled a blanket over my body as I drifted off into fairy land.

Ten minutes later and we were pulling into the emergency bay.

The automatic doors opened, where we were met with a hoard of staff, ready to assist, the first person being Brian, Shawn and my mutual friend and colleague.

The look of horror on his face when he saw that it was me on the gurney was unsettling.

"She's a priority one, bed four, resus," he directed Shawn, following behind. " What do we know?" He asked, starting to attach monitors and leads to me all over again.

"GSW on scene, while responding to an incident on the other side of town. Wound to leg and abdo, possible broken ribs and concussion." Shawn reeled off.

I wasn't aware that they'd even assessed me, clearly I'd lost consciousness at some point and I wasn't even aware of it.

I lay there mulling over this lapse in memory, letting the chaos wash over me like a wave.

The last thing I was aware of was Brian shouting orders at the floods of nurses, and Shawn standing helplessly in the corner, red-faced from crying, before everything went black.

"Ah, can you turn the lights off!" I groaned as I came to again, reaching to rip off whatever annoying piece of wiring was sitting over my face "My head hurts," I added as a dull.ache consumed my thoughts as Shawn's worried face came into view, his frame helping to block out the blinding light as he bent over the bed.

"Oh thank God I was so worried," he cried kissing me with so much force I forgot to breathe, making the monitor go crazy for a second. "How are you feeling he asked, stopping me from pulling at the thing on my face which turned out to be oxygen tubing

"What happened?" I asked,. I remembered the main.events but the rest was fuzzy, whether from my injuries or from the drugs I had no doubt been plied with I wasn't sure

"You were shot while on-call, drug exchange gone bad, you scared me so bad baby," he whispered, brushing hair out if my face as Brian made his way into the room clearing his throat to announce himself.

"Hi El, it's good to see you awake, how are you feeling?" He asked coming to check a few things on the monitors before flipping my chart that sat at the end of the bed open.

"So as you know you had two gun shot wounds, one to your left let and one to the abdomen, luckily for you they were both clean shots and we didn't need to do anything other than clean and irrigate the areas and stitch you up. You did however manage to fracture three ribs when you fell as well as sustaining a sizable concussion.

"So what does that mean work wise?" I asked. Shawn must have sensed my nerves, because he was sure to keep a hand intertwined with my, the other tracing soft patterns up and down my arm.

"We'll unfortunately, during the fall you fractured your tibia, which has left you in a cast, and pretty well imibilised, I'm sorry to say you'll be relying on this big guy-" he slapped Shawn in the back, "for the next week at least while everything settles.

You'll be in a cast for at least six weeks and off work from a minimum of two weeks with rehab worked in. Rest up El, give me a yell if ya need anything," he spoke to Shawn as he left the room.

"I'll lose my job," I cried, the thought of not being able to do what I loved terrified me.

"No you won't Brian said you'll be sore for a bit and need to rest, not that you'd lose your job, besides now you'll have a real reason to boss me around, I'll be your slave". He laughed covering .me with a blanket and lifting my bung leg to rest it in a pillow.

Besides when you're well enough there are some people who'd like to see you.

"Get some rest and we'll work it all out when you wake up.

True to his word, he helped me with everything, toileting, showering (which proved to be a challenge with the cast), dressing, getting up and down stairs, making breakfast, lunch and dinner, and forcing me to take pain medication when I was too stubborn to admit I needed it.

By the end of the first week though, I was miseeable,.not used to doing nothing but sitting in my behind.

"You my dear, need to get a coat on we're going out!" he announced, coming over with said coat and helping me to stuff my arms in.

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"SSH, it's a secret," he grinned, before carrying me to the car and making sure I was all buckled up.

Half an hour later and we were pulling up to the firehouse, where a few of the guys were sat outside playing cards as we made our way (me hobbling haphazardly on crutches) into the firehouse

"Hero in the house!" Mo called out and they all came running.

"I'm so glad you're okay. You scared me girl." Jo sniffled coming to hug me.

"Ouch still a little sore." I laughed leaning into Shawn for support as she blubbered all over me.

"Well sore is better than the alternative.

If it weren't for this one," she pointed to Shawn "you'd be dead."

"You've got yourself a keeper,"Mo added with a smile.

"Well if Mo approves it must be true." I agreed. "I think I'll keep you." I added, causing everyone to laugh.

"Thank you," I whispered to Shawn when the others were out of ear shot.

"For what?" he asked.

"Just for being you and for loving me," I shrugged, snuggling futher into his embrace, feeling greatful just to be alive, let alone call this wonderful human mine.

[pinkpeonyprincessblog]

Thank you for Loving Me

"Baby, time to get up hon, you've got work in an hour", Shawn whispered in my ear, peppering kisses from my brow down to my chin. His calloused fingers- from his favourite hobby- the guitar- running up and down my arms.

"Mmm, morning," I smiled leaning up to meet his soft kiss.

"Is that coffee I smell?"I asked, sitting up slowly, pulling my (Shawn's) favourite over-sized sweater off the arm chair at the side of the bed and standing up only to be pulled into my favourite spot in the world, Shawn's warm embrace.

"Do you really think I'd be so silly as to wake you without the coffee pot at the ready?" he laughed, kissing my temple again, before taking my hand and leading me down the hallway and into the kitchen.

Both Shawn and I worked for the City of Toronto Fire Department, me as a recently qualified paramedic, and Shawn as a firefighter and paramedic. It had been a tough few months for me, the job was demanding and taxing, but I loved it, and I had Shawn and all my work mates to help guide me.

"Sit," he pointed to the barstool where a cup of coffee in my favourite mug and omelette was waiting.

"Ahhh I love you!" I groaned, flopping down in the chair, shovelling a piece of the fragrant food into my mouth.

"I take it it meets your expectations," he laughed, coming to sit next to me.

"Exceeds!" I mumbled around the next mouthful.

Am hour later and Shawn had dropped me at my station, before headed off across town again to his station.

As I made my way into the station the familiar sounds of saws, engines and various other equipment- once so threatening now seemed to welcome me home.

"Hey El.", my work partner and paramedic in charge Jo called, coming to meet me at the locker room door.

"Morning, how are Eli and Felix today?" I asked referring to her two little boys.

"They're okay. Eli had a meltdown before school this morning at having to get out of bed, but once I reminded him that Mummy can't go to work and save people if he doesn't get up and go to school all was well. I swear if the kid doesn't become a firefighter or a paramedic himself one day I'll walk to the moon!" she laughed.

"Aw, he's so sweet, it's so cute how you're his idol, speaking of don't we have that school group coming today?"

"We were supposed to, but due to budget cuts'" she rolled her eyes "the department is no longer able to fund it, apparently it's too expensive and labour intensive to have people out of action."

I sighed, "How are we supposed to encourage the next generation of they can't see it for themselves. I mean I became a paramedic because my school had a field trip to a firehouse."

"You're preaching to the choir here girl, you're preaching to the choir." she laughed, turning and walking out. I went about putting my stuff away before heading to the kitchen/common room where we all spent our time inbetween calls.

The day turned out to be a slow one and by eleven o'clock I was doing laundry- (only having been called out once) when Mo one of the longest serving fire fighters and overall cool dude appeared by the door.

"You've got a visitor El l, there's someone waiting for you it on the apparatus floor."

"Thanks Mo, " I smiled, putting the clothes I had been folding down and heading out the door.

When I got to the apparatus floor, I was slightly shocked. There was Shawn, leaning casually against a Pilar waiting for me a brown bag in one hand- a bunch of sunflowers (my favourite) in the other.

"Shawn... What are you doing here?"I asked, still stunned.

He beamed running and picking me up.

"I had to come speak to chief Hachette about an arson case so I thought I'd surprise my girl.Do you have time for lunch?" he asked just as Jo walked out, stopping in her tracks. She looked so surprised I thought she was going to faint for a minute.

"And who's this?" she asked with a smile, coming over to stand in front of us where Shawn was still holding me.

"Jo meet Shawn." As soon as I said it I knew it was a mistake. A mischievous grin came over her face and I suddenly felt sick at all the intimate details I'd shared with her about our relationship on long nightshifts-mostly under duress, but still.

"Right so we're going to have lunch before we get another call," I spoke quickly, tugging at Shawn's arm to get him to walk before Jo had an opportunity to embarrass me.

"She seems nice," Shawn commented as we found a quiet spot to sit in the grass behind the firehouse.

"She is." I agreed as he handed me a turkey and Brie sandwich from my favourite deli downtown.

Half an hour later and lunch was done all too soon, duty unfortunately calling for Shawn leaving me alone to face the scrutiny of Jo.

"Girrlll, OMG, he's fiinnnee El. I hope youve locked him down cause I want me some of that." she spoke a million miles a minute running to catch up with me a la I made my way back into the common room and through to the laundry to finish folding the clothes from earlier.

"Well, speaking of... " I dug around in my breast pocket, pulling out the engagement ring Shawn had proposed with over the weekend on a mini getaway to the Hamptons.

The scream that left Jo's mouth was louder than expected and sent the whole house into a frenzy. Mo and several of the other firefighters including Tiny and Bug to come running.

When they realised there was no actual issue they turned around grumbling about how we'd pulled then away from the basketball game theyd been placing bets on.

"So when, how, where all the details," she demanded grabbing my arm and jumping up and down. Just the thought of the romantic evening Shawn and I had spent made me giddy again.

However before I got a chance to response the bell went off overhead signalling an incoming call

"Main to 41... Possible GSW, 56th and Main."

I sighed.

It was probably some gang related drug issue again.there were plenty of lovely people , but that side of town had a reputation.

"41 responding," I spoke into the radio, before flicking the switch to the lights and sirens.

When we got to the scene all was well at first, the cops were already there assuring us it was safe to enter, however just as we were about to leave having treated a minor self inflicted wound a man brandishing a gun leapt from a concealed closet.

"Give me all the drugs you have b*TCH." He yelled before either Jo or I could take in what was happening.

"You know we can't do that sir," Jo spoke calmly. Moving to try to assess the man, who's head was bleeding heavily.

"I said give me the f*cking drugs b*TCH ."

He yelled again, storming towards me. The next few seconds were a blur, I heard a shots, there was immense pain in my abdomen and leg and then I crumpled to the floor, whacking my head in the process.

"El, El. Omg, stay with me." Jo panicked.

"41 to main we have an officer down, urgent assistance required for a GSW, EMS required now!" she shouted down her radio.

"Hurts," I gasped as the initial shock wore off and the pain hit, everything seemed to ache, my leg, my ribs, my head. The room was spinning and I was having trouble breathing no longer able to keep track of the flurry of activity.

Somewhere in the chaos,I'm not sure how long after the incident I heard his voice, Shawn's voice and at first I thought I was dreaming, but I managed to open my eyes and there he was, looking down at with with so much fear.

"It's alright baby, I'm here now, we're going to fix it up, you'll be just fine. Can you tell me where it hurts?" he asked.

I went to move, instinctively seeking his comfort, but he stopped me, and I instantly wanted to cry, more than I already was.

"You have to stay still Princess."

I let out a loud groan as he placed an oxygen mask over my face.

"El? Can you hear me?" I grunted, the effort of actually forming words seeming too hard right then. I could feel hands all over me, and as much as I just wanted to be left alone, I also knew , they were trying to help me.

"It hurts," I cried again.

"I know it does honey, but you're going to be okay. I'm here, and so is Connor and Jo, and we'll look after you, and then when we've got you all comfy we'll take you to get all fixed up, how does that sound?"

"Okay, lets get her onto the bed, and then we can assess her from there," Connor suggested, appearing by my side, with a back board and neck collar that Jo had brought over.

"Okay, we're going to roll you onto the board El just let us do all the work okay?" Shawn said.

I let out a serious of screams as they rolled me, gripping Shawn's gloved hand like my life depended on it.

"We'll get you sorted yeah?" Shawn tried to reassure me as they strapped me onto the bed so I was safe, and then starting to push the gurney out the door and towards the entrance of the ambulance which was no more than ten metres away.

"Shawn ," I whispered, tears falling down my face, mixing with the blood which I could feel was congelling on my face.

When we were in the ambulance Shawn and Jo attached me to the hundreds of leads which I was so used to attaching to others while I lay there helplessly.

"I've started some morphine," Jo patted my arm gently as Shawn pulled a blanket over my body as I drifted off into fairy land.

Ten minutes later and we were pulling into the emergency bay.

The automatic doors opened, where we were met with a hoard of staff, ready to assist, the first person being Brian, Shawn and my mutual friend and colleague.

The look of horror on his face when he saw that it was me on the gurney was unsettling.

"She's a priority one, bed four, resus," he directed Shawn, following behind. " What do we know?" He asked, starting to attach monitors and leads to me all over again.

"GSW on scene, while responding to an incident on the other side of town. Wound to leg and abdo, possible broken ribs and concussion." Shawn reeled off.

I wasn't aware that they'd even assessed me, clearly I'd lost consciousness at some point and I wasn't even aware of it.

I lay there mulling over this lapse in memory, letting the chaos wash over me like a wave.

The last thing I was aware of was Brian shouting orders at the floods of nurses, and Shawn standing helplessly in the corner, red-faced from crying, before everything went black.

"Ah, can you turn the lights off!" I groaned as I came to again, reaching to rip off whatever annoying piece of wiring was sitting over my face "My head hurts," I added as a dull.ache consumed my thoughts as Shawn's worried face came into view, his frame helping to block out the blinding light as he bent over the bed.

"Oh thank God I was so worried," he cried kissing me with so much force I forgot to breathe, making the monitor go crazy for a second. "How are you feeling he asked, stopping me from pulling at the thing on my face which turned out to be oxygen tubing

"What happened?" I asked,. I remembered the main.events but the rest was fuzzy, whether from my injuries or from the drugs I had no doubt been plied with I wasn't sure

"You were shot while on-call, drug exchange gone bad, you scared me so bad baby," he whispered, brushing hair out if my face as Brian made his way into the room clearing his throat to announce himself.

"Hi El, it's good to see you awake, how are you feeling?" He asked coming to check a few things on the monitors before flipping my chart that sat at the end of the bed open.

"So as you know you had two gun shot wounds, one to your left let and one to the abdomen, luckily for you they were both clean shots and we didn't need to do anything other than clean and irrigate the areas and stitch you up. You did however manage to fracture three ribs when you fell as well as sustaining a sizable concussion.

"So what does that mean work wise?" I asked. Shawn must have sensed my nerves, because he was sure to keep a hand intertwined with my, the other tracing soft patterns up and down my arm.

"We'll unfortunately, during the fall you fractured your tibia, which has left you in a cast, and pretty well imibilised, I'm sorry to say you'll be relying on this big guy-" he slapped Shawn in the back, "for the next week at least while everything settles.

You'll be in a cast for at least six weeks and off work from a minimum of two weeks with rehab worked in. Rest up El, give me a yell if ya need anything," he spoke to Shawn as he left the room.

"I'll lose my job," I cried, the thought of not being able to do what I loved terrified me.

"No you won't Brian said you'll be sore for a bit and need to rest, not that you'd lose your job, besides now you'll have a real reason to boss me around, I'll be your slave". He laughed covering .me with a blanket and lifting my bung leg to rest it in a pillow.

Besides when you're well enough there are some people who'd like to see you.

"Get some rest and we'll work it all out when you wake up.

True to his word, he helped me with everything, toileting, showering (which proved to be a challenge with the cast), dressing, getting up and down stairs, making breakfast, lunch and dinner, and forcing me to take pain medication when I was too stubborn to admit I needed it.

By the end of the first week though, I was miseeable,.not used to doing nothing but sitting in my behind.

"You my dear, need to get a coat on we're going out!" he announced, coming over with said coat and helping me to stuff my arms in.

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"SSH, it's a secret," he grinned, before carrying me to the car and making sure I was all buckled up.

Half an hour later and we were pulling up to the firehouse, where a few of the guys were sat outside playing cards as we made our way (me hobbling haphazardly on crutches) into the firehouse

"Hero in the house!" Mo called out and they all came running.

"I'm so glad you're okay. You scared me girl." Jo sniffled coming to hug me.

"Ouch still a little sore." I laughed leaning into Shawn for support as she blubbered all over me.

"Well sore is better than the alternative.

If it weren't for this one," she pointed to Shawn "you'd be dead."

"You've got yourself a keeper,"Mo added with a smile.

"Well if Mo approves it must be true." I agreed. "I think I'll keep you." I added, causing everyone to laugh.

"Thank you," I whispered to Shawn when the others were out of ear shot.

"For what?" he asked.

"Just for being you and for loving me," I shrugged, snuggling futher into his embrace, feeling greatful just to be alive, let alone call this wonderful human mine.

[pomegranates-and-blood]

🎵everything’s coming up ivar🎆🎇 what a morning of fortunate revelations for him! i know i must say this after like every chapter, but you have truly done such an exceptional job building up these characters and this relationship. there were so many neat little tie ins to other things i noticed in the story! and every other line, i was just struck by how well theyd come to know each other. i remember after the first time he broke a bone (and smth similar in ch36??), she thought something to the extent of “if i try to push him on this, ill just hurt him. if i don’t, then he’ll just accept this situation as immutable, so im at a loss.” but she absolutely could not miss in this chapter. after all this time together, she knew exactly what to say—and he finally felt like he could completely sincerely trust her! “Of course you wouldn’t leave, he knows you wouldn’t leave him” 😣🥺😭 he’s got a new certainty!! also cracked me up to read half the lines and think “you’re gonna give him a heart attack!!!” only to move to the ivar pov to find that he was in fact having a heart attack. i Love that for them💕 sub ivar is like inspired choice #17266 for this fic but damn!! does it go hard you do just an excellent job!

it’s been such a convincing and satisfying journey for them. theyre really doing it!! i feel like my child has learned to ride a bike. you have been cranking out bangers only since the hiatus so thank you very very much for another fantastic chapter!!!❤️(bit of a tangent but i briefly looked up some baseline historical symbolism for lavender bc i was so struck by freydis and the mint smell and i wanted to get ahead of the game and like the first meaning that comes up is silence lmao—somehow i don’t think that’s it so ill have to keep looking!)

OMFG ILY  ❤️

I’m so happy you liked the newest update! That morning was A Lot™ for Ivar lol, all positives but still, his mind tapped out halfway through Gǫfga and none of us can blame him, poor guy was a tad overwhelmed lol. And yeah, her not really knowing if she should push or not is a thing that happens a lot (that will happen a lot more in a certain AU lol) because there really is no way to navigate around that until there’s the established trust and vulnerability that they have by now.

I’m so glad the fact that he now holds on to the certainty of her promising to stay by his side was noticeable!

Omfg yeah, the inside of Ivar’s head anytime she started talking was probably just a loop of a very loud alarm going off lol

I’m so happy you like sub!Ivar, it is a blast to write him actually surrendering to his lover like that. I cannot see him any other way to be honest, especially with my priestess. She’s been thinking about making him hers for a long time: “Even after he has imprisoned you, it would be a lie if you said you didn’t wonder what it would take to have the Viking underneath you, or the different ways you could make his proud façade crumble."

Thank you so so much for your kind words, they mean so much!! I am so happy you have been liking this so far, and that you enjoyed the latest updates. Thank you so much, you wonderful person!

I answer your intrigue about Lavender under the cut by the way, if you’re interested. It is not as interesting as with Mint and Freydis I’m afraid, but if you were curious as to why Ivar lingers on it, and why specifically Lavender, under the cut is the (very rambly, but that’s expected of me by now lol) answer 😉

As for the lavender, I commend your resolve to get ahead of any plot twists, but surprisingly this isn’t one. Lavender is actually the scent she uses in her baths, and thus her skin smells slightly of lavender. In a deleted scene of one of Ivar’s PoV’s it goes into how he has started to relate this slight lavender scent with her so much that walking into their room already makes him feel like she’s there even if she isn’t; and in his newest PoV he just lingers on it because it’s just one more way she clouds his senses.

As for why lavender? Ah, that’s where my irrational need to research everything comes into play. Lavender is a flower that symbolizes Persephone first of all, and it was (according to some of the sources I handled) one of the flowers used in the temples in Ancient Greece, so for the Priestess it has a strong meaning regarding her faith (and her retracing Persephone’s myth in the Goddess’ role, but she doesn’t know that lol). Also, Lavender was fairly common, and it has a lot of medicinal uses, including relaxation and the such, but most importantly for this story, it is one of the many herbs used to heal burn wounds. Lavender was one of the flowers used on the Reader (and that once she was better she used on herself) after the Eleusis thing, and either consciously or not she uses it still, it is a source of comfort in a way.

Cause here’s a thing/headcanon of the Reader/Priestess that really means nothing but I always snuck into my work: she is a healer first and foremost (is the one thing across all AUs and all the places she has been that remains consistent, from the Roads to Greece to Kattegat and beyond, in Nostalgia, and Hope and Alatheia and all others), and her insistence on keeping plants close to her is mostly because she wants life to be around her in a land like Kattegat, yes, but it is also because she trusts/relies on the herbs and what she can do with them. Her own sword and shield, her own way of fighting, like Sieghild told her in the flashback of Ch 33.

At the beginning of her time in Kattegat, stretched to her marriage to Ivar even, she mostly just kept plants like Lavender, Poppy, Summer savory, Field scabious and the such, which are all used medicinally to treat burns and as antibiotics. She is more scarred by what the Byzantines did to her in ELeusis than she would like to admit, or that she ever would in her PoV, that’s why I like sneaking in comments by Ivar and Freydis in their PoVs about how she flinches when someone breathes too much life to a fire, or how when she feels unsafe (even when she is freezing her ass off, bc she is not used to Scandinavia’s cold) she sits far away from any fire. Keeping plants like this is her way of irrationaly wanting to keep herself safe if they ever do the same thing to her again, even if it is incredibly unlikely. Slowly, she starts to be able to let go of that, and really all that remains by now (~Ch 42) of those plants is the Lavender.

When she marries Ivar (and more importantly when she starts truly caring about him) she starts keeping plants like Comfrey, Chickweed, Buckeye, which are used for broken bones or for rheumatic/arthritic pain, or for pain general, like Willow or Elderberry. Freydis makes a point of it in “Until spring comes.”, of how she has been relentless on keeping both the common/accesible ones like Comfrey and Willow around, but has also secured plants from the East, like Ganglong (which was traditionally used for bone fractures). Again, the plants and her ability to heal is her own way of fighting, her own way of keeping the people she loves safe and protected, limited as it may be. Which, around Ch 31 she uses (in a different way) to try to keep the man she loves safe, which is by making the wreath of flowers and praying to her Gods.

And once she really starts settling into her life in Kattegat, even if she doesn’t realize it, she no longer keeps plants only for the use they may have, and brings things like that Marsh Violet (that as far as my limited reseach told me has no real medicinal uses). Her own way of making the world around her a little more hers is by putting plants around her and caring for them (she did this in the Roads a lot too), and with time the stubborn little shit accepts letting this world make her a little theirs too by caring for plants like that one.

You are on point that I use plants and symbols a lot, most of them you know about by know. Ivar/Hades and snakes, Melinöe/Freydis (especially once the revelations of Ch33-34 happen, which is when the Minthe parallel comes to an end and she embraces the role of Melinöe in the Priestess’ eyes now that the lies are discovered) and howling dogs, Hermes/Galla and hawks/falcons. I used Snowdrops a few times I think, towards the beginning, which was a little nod to Freyja’s myth and the Priestess’ threading the line of it, because I like the parallels between some of Freyja and Persephone/Hecate (which by some sources could sometimes be intertwined, or one and the same, much like Melinöe and Persephone).

Anyhow, sorry for the long-ass answer, I hope it doesn’t dissapoint. I really cannot put into words how happy it makes me that you’d care enough about this story to search the meaning of lavender, thank you so much for your support, and for the undeserved love you keep showering me and Nostalgia with! Thank you so much sweetheart!

Sending you my love!! ❤️

[mageofcolors]

reasons i hate my job:

1. a job in sales is super manipulative of the customers just so you can get some money. ive seen people straight up encourage abusive behavior in order to make a sale

2. typical shift is 11 hours long

3. we have 4 people working in our store but only two tablets. so even if we have 3 people working at a time, not all 3 of us can hepp customers at once

4. schedules are made super last minute, and sometimes i have tp remind the manager to give us the schedule

5. at least one of my 2 days off in a week my manager will ask me to come in anyway

6. manager is irresponsible tbh. i asked her one favor once and she didnt do it and bc of that im not getting the money for my sale

7. manager once went to wisconsin dells and swam in a pool DURING THE PANDEMIC and then didnt take the time to quarantine after. the district manager knew this and didnt do anything to stop it. when i encouraged all my coworkers to get tested after she came back and the store ended up getting closed for 2 weeks, the district manager called it us "wanting to take a 2 week vacation" instead of a safety precaution we had to take because HE AND THE MANAGER didnt take the proper precautions first.

8. our company is two companies that just merged and there are so many errors in the systems ALL THE TIME

9. i just got a 3/10 review from a customer bc i was coughing the whole time, even though i explained to the customer that it's not covid and it's not contageous. this was also my very first review so that's great /s

10. half of the customer service and sales support people we need to call practically every day dont know what theyre doing

11. since the merger they took away our stools and now we have to stand for 10 hours in a day

12. our air conditioning is broken right now and i am overheating

13. they sometimes supply us with water, but usually not. so i have to bring enough water from home to last me 11 hours

14. none of my coworkers voted and im pretty sure theyd vote for trump anyway

15. one coworker is just. super annoying in everything he does. i cannot stand close to him without being uncomfortable

16. oh yeah we cant even stand 6 feet apart when we do our jobs

17. i got written up once because i was in charge during a couple days but the mistakes weren't even made by me

18. my first manager literally believed in stupid questions and it got to the point that i was scared to ask him anything

19. it took 4 months for me to become commissionable for some reason (that being them refusing to teach me), while everyone else becomes commissionable after a week

20. when stores in this company were closed bc someone was tested positive for covid (which happened multiple times), then closed it for one day and had it deep cleaned, then the next day they forced people from other stores to work overtime at that store, instead of just letting the store be closed temporarily

21. when the stores were closed during the quarantine at first, people had to use their paid time off in order to get paid at all

22. my coworkers would put insurance on people's devices without even asking them, which charges them an extra $15 a month

23. everyone here is cishet and i'm just. really uncomfortable talking about anything i like or do bc cant relate

24. one of my coworker doesnt do shit outside of selling. he literally tells me im better at it and leaves it at that. he doesnt even TRY

25. almost every single customer asks me about my cough and i am EXHAUSTED

26. my manager dumps a lot of her work on me and instead of taking the time to work on it herself, half the time she's just talking to people on the phone and getting distracted

27. one time my manager went on her lunch break (we get one hour) and then came back to the store 1 1/2 hours later, and then went to the back room to eat. i'm like??? did you not have time to eat in that 1 1/2 hours???? you know what she said? "oh i was shopping"

28. ive told every one of my coworkers my pronouns. none of them use them. they dont even notice when i try to correct them

29. my manager also randomly deadnames me. like you didnt call the other guy his legal name??? you called him by his preferred name completely fine when he's not even trans??? but this enby you gotta "forget" to call by their chosen name, even though that's all anybody else calls me??? actually, my district manager calls me by my legal name sometimes too thats probs where she got it, but he knows my preferred name too so fuck them

30. when i finally got my log in information to sell things, they misspelled my last name. i had to get it corrected. this prevented me from being able to sell things for a longer time. when the companies officially merged and i got new logins??? they fucking did it again

31. when they gave me my name tag it had my deadname on it so i asked them if i could get one with my preferred name on it. district manager said he'll order one. it's been over a month.

32. two of my coworkers smoke and then i have to stand next to them when they come back in and smell the fucking smoke. im sorry im trying to breatheover here

33. we have to say this long-ass intro when answering the phone and it's so awkward and annoying

thats all i got for now

[yehetting]

Monsta X - REACTION

cutekitty145 requested: “How would Monsta X and BTS react to their s/o coming to their dorm and telling them that some guy was following her and tried to grab her but she got away by fighting back as she showed them the bruised hand print on their arm. Sorry is if it's a bit wordy. But I have a lot of thoughts going on in my head. I love you blog and keep up the good work! 💞💞 “

You literally are the best human being ever. You make my account worth writing on. Even if I take lengthy breaks. I always come back to see you requesting amazing topics. Ilysm!!! 💜💜💜🥺🥺

*also I'm adding wonho still bc mx is ot7 in my heart also it's kinda lengthy bc it's a lot happening and I want to make sure things make sense.*

...........................

Wonho:

He heard the door unlock and glanced up from over the couch to see your flushed and tear stained face. He immediately jumped up and ran over to you. "What happened? Why are you crying?!" He asked. "Some.... Some guy was following me when I left the store, he tried to grab me when I started to walk faster." Wonho was pissed. His blood was boiling at the thought of some creep grabbing and following you. "Where is he?! Why didn’t you call me??" He asked taking your bag out of your hand and leading you to the couch. "Someone saw and called the cops. I shoved him off but he was gripping really tight.." you lifted your sleeve to show him the fresh red finger prints on your forearm. "Did the cops show up? I'm so sorry you had to deal with this... Why didn't you call me?" He was worried for your well-being now and just was wondering why you didn't call him at all. "I tried but my phone died, but yes the cops came and he's apparently done this before and they were finally able to book him on other counts. Another copy gave me a ride home." You explained. His expression softened as you closed your eyes. "I'm so sorry baby... Come here.." he slid you closer to him and held you until you fell asleep from the comfort is his heart beat.

I.M

He was actually on his way to meet you at this Cafe you suggested during your lunch break. He was typing away on his phone when he heard a familiar voice. But it was a sound he's never heard before, something out of a nightmare. His head shot in the direction of the voice and he took off running down the street. When he arrived it was about a block from the cafe and he saw you. Hella shaken up. Gripping your wrist and crying. He bolted to you. You heard the footsteps and looked his way. You ran to him the rest of the way. "What the hell happened??? Are you okay? Why are you crying? Are you hurt??" A million questions flew from his mouth looking over you're entire body and taking your hurt hand in his inspecting it. "Some guy was following me and I didn't think anything of it because there's shops all down this area but then..." You stopped choking a sob. "Then what y/n?" He asked standing up straight jaw clenched waiting to hear what some man tried to do to you. "He- he grabbed my wrist and tried to drag me down that way.. I was able to push him off but it hurts so much that I couldn't do anything but feel the pain in my wrist... I'm so fucking scared.." you explained looking around then at I.M. He pulled you extremely close to his chest and held you. "What did he look like?" He asked in a softer tone to not make you feel worse. "I didn't get a look at his face, he was wearing a mask and was dressed in a black hoodie and blue jeans... I just want to go home..." You pleaded. He nodded but he still made a call to the police station and you had to give a statement just so if it happens again they can be on alert.

Originally posted by m0n-g

Shownu:

He was actually with you when it happened. You two where out shopping for a birthday gift for one of your mutual friends. He had wondered off to another part of the store without you. He heard a commotion coming from the section you where in. He jogged over and when he saw you punch this guy square in the face he was shook. He snapped out of it when the guy went to hit you back and tackled him. "Who the hell do you think you are?" He asked as he had the guy pinned to the floor. "What the hell is going on over here?!" A store clerk asked when he saw your boyfriend pinning another guy on the ground, you crying and holding your arm and hand. "This guy just grabbed me and tried to drag me outta here.. I hit him.. I didn't know what else to do. He tried to hi-hit me back, but my boyfriend got to him first... Call the cops!" You said quickly nearly stumbling over your words as you cried. The cops arrived shortly and the guy was taken away in cuffs. A paramedic was looking over your hand and wrist. You broke your pinky and ring fingers and you had some finger print bruises on your wrist. Shownu was watching as they wrapped your hand. "Is there a way you can wrap til I can't see the bruises?" You asked. Not wanting to see them until they were gone. The paramedic nodded understanding why you wanted that without asking. "Let's go home.. I love you so much and I'm so proud of you who sticking up for yourself like that.." shownu said as he helped you climb into the car. You kissed him when he got into the drivers seat. "Thank you for taking him down like that. I'll never forget it." You said with a small smile as you took his hand in yours.

Jooheon:

He jumped when you slammed the door of his studio. He looked at you all flustered and Shakey. “What’s wrong?” he asked turning his chair towards you. “I- some guy tried to literally kid nap me!” you said in a loud tone. “What?! Who?! Where?!” he asked jumping up from his seat and rushing to you. His face was turning red as he looked you over to see if you where hurt. He saw red fingerprints forming ion your forearm and wrist. “I don't know who it was, he took off when I screamed because it caught some peoples attention and they started to run towards us.” you explained tears forming in your eyes. “Okay, first things first, we need to inform the company and see if we can figure out who it was there has to be cameras where you were.” he said as he started to lead you out of his studio. “Wait, I don't want to just yet, If I talk about it right now ill just cry more and I cant cry in front of them.” you said looking at your feet as tears fell into the carpet of his studio. “Its okay love, ill be right there. Ill make sure you’re taken care of.” he took you into his arms as he felt your body relax you two made your way to the chairman’s office.

Hyungwon:

He’s the one that found you just sitting in the doorway of his apartment. “Hey, are you okay?” he asked seeing you. You looked up tears still coming from your eyes, cheeks and eyes red, and eyes super puffy. “Baby! What happened?!” he asked this time kneeling in front of you. “I was on my way here, to bring you some dinner since we’ve both been so busy I knew you’d be here and I got off early...” you said in a small voice. He nodded and looked at you to continue. “And when I was coming around the corner of the store some guys came out of nowhere and cornered me and tried to put me in a car but the shop owner saw and called the cops and some others where there held the guys down.” you talked fast trying to get it all out so you can stop thinking and talking about it. “And? did they come, are they in jail? are you hurt anywhere?!” he asked taking your hands in his and looking over your arms, he stopped when he saw hand print type bruises on your arm near your elbow. “yes, they came and I had to stay to give my report and it was confirmed by everyone there so they took them away... they said I might have to go to the station and give a full statement but theyd call me if I needed to. and no im not hurt just beyond happy to see you.” you said slowly standing up and hugging his torso. He hugged you back and closed his eyes as he sighed. “Okay, they have your number right?” you nodded. “Okay, then lets go inside ill order something for us, and we can watch a movie.” he said unlocking his door. Since you had just realized you lost the food in the altercation you nodded and went inside.

Minhyuk:

He was watching tv when he heard you come in, he looked over the couch to see you leaning against the door, face in your hands, jacket still on, purse just dangling by one strap because the strap is broken, your shoes all scuffed up. “Hey, what’ wrong?” he got up slowly not sure how to approach because he doesn't know if you’re mad, upset, or mad at him for something. He walked slowly over til he was right there in front of you. You sighed and threw yourself at him burring your face in his chest and let out a loud sob. He was terrified but he hugged you back tightly. “oh, shh its okay. I’m here..” he cooed completely unsure with what’s happening. Your phone started ringing and you snapped back and just stared at it. “Whos that?” he asked. “The police department.” you answered shakily. He was so confused by this point. You walked to the couch as you answered it. He followed. As you talked things started to click for him. Why you where crying and you looking super distraught. he took your free hand in his and you looked at him tears in your eyes again. He wiped them away before they fell. HE held you as you spoke to the officer. Once you got off the phone he just pulled your whole body onto his lap. “Oh baby I’m so sorry you had to go through that. I cant even imagine...” He trailed off this time stroking your hair soothingly. You soon fell asleep from pure emotional and mental exhaustion. You woke up to the smell of your favorite foods. He smiled at you and handed you a plate. “I’m not sure if you’re hungry but I made dinner, also you’re not to go anywhere alone for a while understood?” he said sternly but with a smile. you smiled and nodded.

Kihyun: he was talking to a friend when he saw you pull up to the company building in a company van. “What's up hot shot?” he asked laughing and kinda confused as to why you where in a company van. “Its a...a long story, can we talk?” you said glancing at the driver who nodded and reopened the door so you two could climb in. “What's going on?” he asked really consirned and cinfused. You explained what happened not even 20 minutes prior. You explained that his manager had called and asked for you to run an errand for him and seeing as this isn't anything out of the ordinary you accepted and he gave you a driver so itll be easier to go in and get out asap. He nodded. So when you had started to leave some girls came up to you and asked for a selfie and they where nice so you said yeah. You took one with each girl then said your goodbyes, as they opened the door to an apartment building connected to the store some guy pushed passed them and tried to take you. The driver saw as soon as he grabbed your body. He took the guy down and the girls called he cops. It was chaos. The girls where with you making sure nobody got pictures of you on your state. His jaw was on the floor. “Someone would just do that? In broad daylight?” He asked dumbfounded. You nodded. “yeah, im okay now I was able to catch my breath, but the chairman wants me to come up and tell him everything and he’s already talked to the police station and he said he plans on giving me a body guard for the time being.” you added. He nodded. “Okay lets get you up there and get the ball rolling, I wish I could be with you all the damn time, maybe since we are taking a break ill see if I can spend more time at home instead of here during that time, I don't want you alone ever.” He said climbing out of the van. He helped you out. He kissed your forehead and took your hand as he led you to the entrance

( I DONT OWN THESE BEAUTIFUL GIFS ALL CREDIT TO OWNERS )

[tilltheendwilliwrite]

Once a Witch*

Chapter Six

Previous Chapter

Pairing: Steve Rogers x Witch!Reader  |  Word Count: 3137 Warnings: Angst, Anger, Smut - NSFW

Leaning your back against the door, you covered your face and let the tears flow. It was the right thing to do, you were sure of it, but it left a gaping hole in your chest. This one was three times the size of the one you’d lived with for three hundred years. It was fresh and bled pain, but you’d done the right thing. The best thing. The only thing you could.

He deserved to live the life he clearly loved, with the people he loved. To be happy.

You should have known better, though. He wasn’t one to give up that easily, and when you heard the glass shatter, you jerked off the door, spinning to face the man angrily pacing toward you.

“You think you can tell me all this, sit there and look at me with longing and those goddamned eyes and then kick my ass out?” He stormed angrily toward you, shield on his arm and glass falling from his frame from the window he'd crashed through.

Again you found yourself backing away. Not out of fear, he would never hurt you, but out of shock. “How did you… get in?” He never should have been able to get back into the house, not with your spell active and protecting the property.

“Brute force and determination,” he growled, stalking you into the bookshelves.

Backing hard into the wood, you knocked everything over with the connection sending crystals and candles and small statues falling.

Steve’s right hand shot out, and everything stopped before it could smash to the ground. “Careful.”

You were too shocked to do more than stare at him, ignoring the objects which flew past you, returning to their place upon the shelving. It had to be the serum. The amazing serum they’d pumped into him back in the forties. It had done something to the magic inside him, unlocking even more of his strength and abilities than ever before.

Once everything was returned to the bookcase, Steve took the shield from his arm and leaned it against the sofa. “Now, we gonna talk about this, (Y/N)?”

The rolling, swinging stride had you swallowing hard when he continued toward you. His hands came up to grip the shelf on either side of your head as he leaned closer, nearly nose-to-nose with you.

“Steve…” You opened and closed your mouth a few times, caught in the spell his eyes had become. Intense, focused blue, glowing with the depth of both anger and magic.

“What made you rabbit, baby?”

“Goddess save me,” you whispered, his question crooned in a manner most coaxing.

One big hand delved into your hair. “She’s a little busy, doll face. Talk to me instead.”

Darting your tongue out to wet your lips, you gave a shuddering sigh. The heat from his body warmed your previously frozen bones. The way he held your hair caused your heart to pound and your womb to clench. He inhaled, and you were nearly certain he could smell the arousal on you.

“You have a good life, Steve, an important one. One where people depend on you. I can’t be selfish again. I won’t take that away from you. I lost you once because I made you choose between what I wanted and what you did. I won’t do that again.”

“Stop talking crazy,” he muttered, his eyes locked on your lips.

“It’s not crazy!” you huffed, shoving at his chest to no avail.

“It is!” he snapped. “If you help me remember, will I forget who I am right now?”

“Well… no,” you admitted.

“All I do is gain back a few centuries worth of memories with a woman who loved me, and whom I loved, right?”

You nodded slowly, hair pulling against his grip. “And a better understanding of your magic.”

“And you? Do I get you, darlin’?” He leaned into you, his entire body moulding to yours.

A thigh somehow nudged its way between your knees, making you whimper. “If… if you want me.”

“I’ve wanted you since the moment I met you,” he breathed. Dipping down, he closed his mouth over yours in a kiss centuries in the making.

Sighing, you went boneless against him, arms lifting to wrap around his neck. It was a kiss for the ages, one that deserved to be recorded in the history books. His hold on your hair gentled. His hand slipped down to cup your jaw as your mouths moved together in perfect harmony. His opposite hand dropped to curl around your waist and draw you from the bookcase, lifting you up till you were standing on your toes, suspended in both time and against him.

The inquisitive flick of his tongue against your lips had your mouth opening on a moan. A slow exploration began as he took his tongue over your teeth and into the depths of your mouth. His stroked against yours, pressed and played, teasing a moan from your chest.

He broke the kiss only to take a deep breath, his forehead coming to rest against yours. “Baby…”

“Steve…”

You smiled when he did.

He held you against him, still on your toes, mouths so close together you could feel the wash of his breath across them. “Don’t push me away, (Y/N). Something… something tore inside me when you did. It hurt like nothing else ever has.”

“Me too,” you admitted, holding him a little tighter.

Taking another breath, deep and shaking slightly, Steve whispered, “Help me remember.”

“But…” you shook your head.

“What’s holding you back?”

“You’ll have to choose,” you whispered. “Me or the Avengers.”

“Why? Why would I have to choose?”

“Because of me,” you sighed.

He chuckled, actually snickered against you. “Darlin’, why couldn’t you just come with me?”

“What?” Jerking back as far as his arm would allow, you stared up at him in amazement.

“You think they wouldn’t welcome another magic wielder?”

“But… I can’t… I don’t use it like that! I can’t!”

His lips brushed yours when the panic filled your voice. “I know. I know, sweetheart. I’ve got all these things jumbling around in my head, but and it harm none keeps coming through like a heartbeat.”

“You… you’re remembering?” you gasped in shock.

He gave a slow nod and smiled. “Bits and pieces.” Caressing your cheek, he brought his thumb to your lips. “Your taste is so familiar. The touch of your hand. The way your skin smells… I can’t explain it. When I kissed you, it was like the first time and the millionth time all wrapped up together.”

“Steve…” you whispered in awe.

“Help me remember.”

Closing your eyes, wallowing in the caress of his hand and the heat of his large body, a heat you’d sorely missed, you gave in. “Okay…”

***

Even as you led him toward the forest at the back of your property, you wondered if you were making a mistake. The basket on your arm was a heavy reminder that what you were about to do could not be undone. When he’d tried to take it from you, you’d clutched it all the tighter.

Arriving at a small, circular clearing, you crouched to place your hand against the ground. The tall grass waved and retreated, the trees bent their branches back allowing the silver light of the moon to flood over the ground. Your circle formed, filled with green grass, lush and thick and so very soft. A ring of flowers in pure white sprang up, took on an ethereal glow while you quietly cast your seal of protection.

Steve held down his hand to help you up, and you took it, peering closely at his face. While a touch of wonder filled his eyes, he only smiled gently and nodded his agreement again.

Holding onto his hand, you stepped over the threshold, your magic buzzing on your skin. “Come in, Steve. You are welcome in my circle.”

A quiver wracked his body when he did so. The blue of his eyes brightening with the increase in power all around. “Wow,” he whispered, his fingers tightening.

“You haven’t seen anything yet,” you said with a small smile.

Taking back your hand, you flipped open the top of your basket. Inside, fat white candles waited. Before you could reach for them, they were up and gone, set out exactly as they should be.

Glancing at Steve, he only shrugged. “Follow my heart, right?”

Smirking a little, you lit them with a wave of your hand and reached for the blanket, the cup and the wine you’d included. “Lay that out for me in the center.” You handed him the thick quilt.

He eyed both it and you but did as asked.

Kneeling down, you whispered a prayer to the goddess and pulled the cork from the wine.

“What’s that for?” Steve asked, dropping down to kneel before you once he’d spread the blanket.

“Courage,” you whispered, bringing the cup to your lips and drinking deeply of the dark red wine laced with herbs. Holding out the cup, you arched a brow when he only looked at it. “It will help.”

He drank, watching you over the rim as he repeated your actions.

When he was finished, leaving a mouthful in the bottom, you took it and poured it over the earth. “Take this offering from my heart and help me as I work my art. As the moon this night rises free, return the love once taken from me, as I will so mote it be.”

The soft white glow of the flowers deepened into silver and shifted into blue. It seeped like fog along the grass, flowing in tendrils toward you.

Returning to your feet, you held your hands out for Steve as the first wisp of your magic touched him.

“I… know this place,” he said, staring wide-eyed at the forest.

“Yeah… you do.”

He pointed toward the grove of willows. “There… there was where I…”

“You died. I returned your body to the earth in that grove, and when I bought this house and land, I set a marker for you.”

Turning to you, he gathered you close. “What now?”

A blush filled your face. With a deep breath, you reached up and touched the button nearest his throat. “We need to… you and I need to…” Plucking at the button, it came undone, and you stroked the flesh laid bare.

Colour filled his cheeks. “Really?”

“Sex magic is potent,” you murmured. “We used to… all the time… when we worked a really big spell.”

Determination filled his eyes. Hot hands dipped beneath the hem of your simple t-shirt and stroked the skin of your back.

Your whole body quivered at the contact.

“I’m up for it, baby,” he crooned, lips brushing yours in a tender kiss.

“Steve… be sure… it’s not too late to stop this.”

“I am sure. I’ve been sure since shortly after dinner. You’re the one who drop-kicked me out of your house.”

“Really?”

He pulled back enough for you to see the gentle glow of his eyes and sweet smile. “Yeah. It was taking everything in my power not to jump you in your living room. There’s this… part of me that keeps growling mine. I’m tired of fighting it.”

Your shirt came up over your head with such speed, you gasped out excitedly. Especially as his hands remained on your back while yours were now firmly held above your head by his magic. “Still so tricky.”

Chuckling and tracing his fingers over the band of your jeans, he slipped his palms back to grip your ass and drag you up against him.

The press of his erection into your stomach had you moaning and rocking on your toes. “Steve… please!”

When he released your hands, clothing came off in a frenzy of buttons and tearing seams. The tension which had been building all night, all day, was finally peaking.

Hands roamed everywhere leaving trails of shivering skin and gooseflesh in their wake. Teeth and tongues clashed as kisses grew out of control.

He dropped to his knees to place openmouthed kisses on your stomach, and you cradled his head. The sensations were so familiar but so strong, you cried out when his hand closed over your breast.

“Easy, baby,” Steve murmured against your flesh while tugging and rolling your nipple.

“Oh, Goddess! It’s been so long!” Dragging his head back, you dropped over his lap, your thighs spread wide to straddle his.

It had a harsh groan rippling from him for your dripping wet core skimmed his hard cock like a lover’s teasing caress.

He went over on his back on the quilt, taking you with him.

Plastered to his chest, you nipped and kissed his jaw, rocking your hips down on his clenching abs, trying to ease the ache flooding your core. “I’ve missed you so much. I need you so bad.”

Hard hands grasped your ass, lifted and set you back so your wet heat could slide over his throbbing shaft. There was a spark of memory in his eyes when you looked at him questioningly.

“Take what you need from me. I give it freely.”

Tears gathered again, threatening and finally falling with the words. Sitting back, you began to rock your hips over him, rolling your wet core on his thick cock. Each slide brought friction to your aching clit.

His hands locked around your waist, dragging you down harder over him and higher to catch the head of his erection. “That’s… oh damn…” he panted, eyes glazed and heavy-lidded with lust.

“Wait for it!” you gasped, lifting your hands in the air. The mist closed in, wrapped over you both, curled its way up your body to dance around your fingers. Power flowed into you, gradually growing waves of intensity which lit you up and set your body on fire. “Now!”

Lifting your hips, Steve brought you back down, driving his cock up at the same time, filling you so full you screamed and nearly lost the hold you had on your spell. Throwing both hands out, you began to move again, ride the overwhelming fullness between your thighs with vigour.

The silver moonlight fell upon your spine and set you glowing, filling you with strength and the power of the Goddess even as your long lost lover returned physical pleasure to your life. He cursed softly, drawing your attention down to his face.

Brows drawn together, his tight grip on your waist registered for the first time. Sweat beaded on his forehead. His eyes gleamed the bluest you’d ever seen them. They lifted from where your pendant swung against your chest to your eyes, held for a moment more. Then he was surging up, the show of strength making your core clench around him.

“You’re so damn beautiful like that. Look at you glow, baby.” His hands drifted down to grasp your ass, lift and lower you over the hard length of him.

“So long…” you moaned. “I missed you…”

His teeth nipped into your lip.

Tight coils of pleasure had wrapped so firmly around your womb you thought you’d explode before you finished what you started. The slick glide of him through your fluttering walls drew harsh grunts and sexy growls from his throat. You wanted nothing more than to simply fall into the passion, but the spell was so close to being finished you held back, held out for a few more seconds.

“Tell me your close,” he moaned, his mouth dropping to lay sucking kisses to your throat and shoulder.

“So close.” Every part of you throbbed and burned for him. Shockwaves of pleasure pulsed with every beat of your heart, with every thrust of his heavy cock through your tight core.

When the final remnants of the spell gathered around you, you brought your hands to rest on his shoulders continuing to roll your hips. Your breasts connected with his chest, nipples rubbing most pleasingly as you clutched him closer. “I missed you mo ghaisgeach, mo ghaol.”

One big hand threaded into your hair, tugged your head back for his lips to find the hollow of your throat. “Thoir dhomh a h-uile dad, mo leannan.”

The mist wrapped tightly around you both, the magic finally peeking as the love you’d been holding back came forth on a cry of his true name. “Aneirin!” screamed from your lips when your orgasm overcame you, tightening your walls and milking his cock in rapid contractions.

“Nessa!” he bellowed, body shaking as he followed you over into ecstasy, the hot wave of his seed making you whimper.

Draped over Steve, body humming but exhausted, you rested against his chest and shoulder while your heart slowed and breathing normalized. The gentle stroking of his hands over your back was almost enough to make you purr like a kitten.

“Nessa…” he whispered, his face nuzzling into your throat. “Oh, Goddess, Nessa! I remember. I remember everything!”

“Welcome back, Aneirin,” you sighed happily. The world rapidly tilted and you giggled to find yourself beneath him.

Bright, excited eyes full of love peered down at you. “How could I… I can’t believe… I forgot you. Oh, darlin’.” Pressing his forehead to yours, he shuddered.

“Not your fault. Not your fault at all.”

Tracing your fingernails over his back, you smiled when you felt your heart beat in time with his. Content and whole for the first time in three hundred years, you wallowed in the warmth of his body.

“You’re too giving, mo ghaol.”

“I’ve missed you Aneirin.”

“Think I’ll stick with Steve.”

“Steve…” You turned your head to see him in the moonlight. “What happens now?”

Settling to your side, he pulled you in close and gently touched your cheek. “I’d hope you’d come home with me, back to the tower. Come meet the team and I think… I think we’ll tell them the truth.”

“Really?” Stunned you could only stare.

“Yeah. It’s not like it was in the past, Nessa. I trust them, I really do. I think it’s time.”

Taking a shuddering breath, you gave a slow nod. “I like (Y/N). And I’ll go anywhere you want, as long as I’m with you.”

He smiled then, big and wide, and rolled you underneath him. “No need to go anywhere for a few days. I’m still on furlough and have a few centuries to make up for.”

Laughing, you clutched him close and breathed him in. While it might scare you, your future unknown and new people on the horizon, you had him back. Aneirin, Henry, Steve. The love of your life was once again back at your side.

Whatever came next, as long as you had each other you would be alright.

-The End-

mo ghaisgeach, mo ghaol - my brave one, my love Thoir dhomh a h-uile dad, mo leannan - Give me everything, my darling.

[kyvir]

will you write something with smut since you're freaking great at it ♥ ily

Thanks for the request. I hope you like it! ^^

*Fate*

.

“People are staring.” Those whispered words came from a husky voice just after a broken kiss.

Sakura stared up at her ex-lover through hooded eyes, her arms wrapped snuggly around his neck while his were still secured around her waist.

It was at a mutual friend’s wedding that they’d happened to come across each other, and after being apart for four years. Their eyes had met and in that instant, they were both taken aback by nostalgia, by the feelings they’d thought they’d buried so long ago.

They had been high school sweethearts who’d been unconditionally in love with each other, but after graduation, they’d been sent to colleges by their parents that were purposefully worlds apart and because of it, in the end… their relationship fell apart.

That being said, the two of them had been crazy about each other, the breakup had taken a toll on both of them, and neither one of them was ever able to forget the other. So now, when they met again so unexpectedly like this, all those past feelings resurfaced.

They couldn’t stop watching each other, all throughout the ceremony and even when the reception started. After they’d both drank until halfway through the reception, the tension of it all got to be too much, and Sasuke went up to her.One look was all it took for them to know everything they were feeling was mutual.

That’s when Sakura wound her arms around his neck and hugged him meaningfully. His arms snaked around her waist and for so long, they just stood there, holding each other closely, savoring the feel of one another. They’d been missing each other for so long, been broken for so long, but here they were, and this was fate.

Not a word was spoken, for several minutes time seemed to sit completely still as they stared into each other’s eyes. Both of them could remember just how easily they’d fallen in love, how hard it had been to be pulled apart and how they were never able to move on. Sakura was never able to be with anyone else, and so her love life had become nonexistent, and while Sasuke had tried, at least physically to be with someone else, he was too emotionally detached. Whenever he saw someone, all he saw was Sakura and in the end, he’d done more harm than good in trying to move on.

“Been a long time.” Sakura finally whispered, the prettiest of smiles gracing her lips.

Sasuke didn’t respond immediately, for he was at a loss for words. He wondered many things, the main thing on his mind was this encounter. He wondered what it meant, what would happen, and why he couldn’t soothe his racing heart. He still loved her, he knew he did. And he could see in her eyes that she still loved him too. He’d finished college, but he had no idea what Sakura was up to these days, and he lived far from their current location.

This meeting could go one of two ways. Either they could rekindle what they’d once had and finally be happy together, or they’d once again be broken hearted by having to lose each other a second time. They were both hoping it wasn’t the latter.

“I’ve missed you.” Was his quiet reply.

Sakura’s smile broadened then and a gleam took to her emerald eyes. “Prove it.”

That was when he kissed her, deeply, passionately and oh so slowly. It was the first kiss they’d shared in years, but their lips moved together knowingly, as if they’d never been separated before. They held each other with a desperation they hadn’t felt since their last day together and by the time Sasuke pulled away, she was breathless and swooning even in his arms.

“People are staring.”

Sakura ignored him to start with, taking a few precious moments to just admire him. He was so close, after so long. He smelled so good, yet looked even better. He was her ex, he was no longer hers, but still… Sakura never wanted to let him go, and he wasn’t releasing her either.

However, after a moment she did glance around the reception room to take in the many onlookers they had. All their friends had witnessed the kiss apparently, they could be seen grinning and gossiping while watching the two of them. Even strangers were standing in place, all eyes on the couple. Sakura did not like an audience, and neither did Sasuke, but they’d just been unable to help themselves and now, neither one of them wanted to let go.

After taking a few seconds to think over her next move, Sakura released Sasuke to take his hand in hers and then she was pulling him along behind her.

“Where are you taking me?” He asked, amusement thick in his tone, but Sakura never bothered answering.

She led him just out of the reception hall and outside. Slowly, and while checking around them for any people, Sakura tugged him along until they were at the back of the building. People were still around, but not in sight and with alcohol fueling her movements, Sakura jumped him instantly when they were hidden, throwing herself against him and kissing him once more, this time though much more desperately. Kami only knew how much she’d missed him. There was no way Sasuke could ever understand.

Only, he did. More than she would ever know, for he’d missed her just as much and it showed in the way he met her kisses heatedly, how he held her against him so strongly, the way he gasped her name in between touches of their lips.

Sakura groaned, their lips separating with an audible smack as he forced her up against the back of the building, keeping her pinned there as his hands came to cup her face and finger her hair. Her legs wrapped around his waist and that was all it took to have him hard up and wanting her then and there, if he hadn’t already. Sakura was the same, already panting with desire, sex damp as too many memories flooded through her mind and clouded her vision.

“Fuck me.” She begged, head lolling back against the wall as his mouth trailed down her neck with hot, open-mouthed kisses.

Her words had him inhaling sharply. “Here, now?”

He was astounded, but thrilled. He would not turn her down, no matter the consequence. He’d been without her too long, he’d been dreaming about her and this moment for years. There was nothing that could stop him from taking her up on such an offer.

She nodded quickly, breathless and clinging to him as he nibbled her earlobe. “Here. Right now.”

He dropped a hand between them, fingers inching under her short dress. The second he came in contact with her damp panties he cursed under his breath and pulled his hand away. Sasuke honestly couldn’t believe this was actually happening. It had completely taken him by surprise to even see Sakura again, and to find that she still wanted him as much as she used to, as much as he wanted her. It was nothing but a dream come true.

Sakura pouted when he helped her to her feet gently, but he only smirked back at her. Obsidian eyes nearly melting her emeralds. “Turn around.” He whispered darkly, breath hot at her ear and with a shudder, she obliged.

After bracing herself against the stone wall, Sakura grinned to herself, rolling her eyes as she thought about the situation she was in just then. Sasuke had always worked her body like a god. He knew just what to say or do to get her falling to pieces and she was already halfway there unfortunately. They had barely touched and yet, she was trembling from her hands to her knees. She could already feel him inside her. Though the thought was fleeting, Sakura felt certain there was no way in hell she could ever let him walk away from her again.

Sasuke bunched her dress up around her waist after pulling her legs back to make her bend over move. It took all she had to prop herself up against that wall as he forced her panties down to her ankles. She only vaguely heard him hiss something unintelligible before his hands were roaming her ass and legs in a worshipping manor.

“Sasuke…” She moaned as he forced her legs wider apart, knowing it had been so long and yet he was seeing all of her so freely and she didn’t give a damn.

“You know… we could get arrested for this.” He murmured softly, and his voice alone was enough to have her soaked and begging to have him. Again, she didn’t give a damn.

“We just… have to be quiet.” She breathed, to which Sasuke chuckled.

“So then, jail it is.”

Sakura rolled her eyes and just as she was about to bark out a retort, his finger slipped between her folds, expertly finding and stimulating her clit before sliding back to her entrance and circling it teasingly. Quiet was out of the question. But jail was far from her mind as he continued his ministrations and it was only a matter of seconds before she was on the edge of bliss.

“Sasuke! Ah…”

His hand was gone then and she whimpered a protest before she heard him fumbling with his belt. She bit her lip, effectively silencing herself. He’d always given her a hard time about being patient, and she’d always tried to be, but right then, she had no patience at all. She had to have him immediately. When she finally felt him against her, prodding against her entrance, she cried out quietly, whispering pleas of need and lust and even love.

Fuck, she’d always loved him. Always would.

He entered her then, erasing all thoughts and reality. The feel of him entering her so slowly was so engrossing, so maddening, so fucking good that all she could do was wail out her approval. Sasuke was shaking his head at this. Sakura had never been on the quiet side when it came to sex, but right now, he needed her quiet. He wanted to enjoy this, getting busted would ruin things on so many different levels.

So, halfway in, he stopped completely and she glanced back at him with eyes that were sure to be his undoing. A wave of chills washed over him at the sensual and needy look in those gorgeous green pools he’d always been so fond of. She was biting her bottom lip hard as she gazed at him and after a moment she nodded, understanding the silent meaning in his actions. When her head turned back to face the wall ahead of her, Sasuke resumed his mission of burying himself inside her and he swore to Kami then and there that nothing had ever felt more right.

Being inside her had always been his favorite place in the world, his little piece of heaven, but his memory did nothing to prepare him for the feel of her just then. She was so tight it took his breath away and he didn’t dare move to start with. He held her hips tight, holding her against him and keeping himself completely sheathed inside her as his cock throbbed at the feel of her so secure around him. He could have come that instant. But he forced his body to calm, not to move, to refresh so he could move again and bring them both to the edge together, just as they’d always done before.

Sakura was in no better shape than he, a quivering mess who couldn’t even hold herself up right against the wall before her. Just as he slowly began to pull back, he wondered idly if she’d ever been with anyone else… or if he’d been her first, and her last. Either way, he knew it had been just as long for her as it had for him, probably longer and she was in need of release. Right now, she was lost in sensation, forcing herself to be as quiet as she could was the only thing she was managing but Sasuke liked it. No, he loved it- having this power over her.

She couldn’t take it. His painfully slow movements were sure to drive her insane. She needed him desperately, and so with the sad bit of strength she possessed at the moment, she forced herself back to meet his slow thrust making it much more stronger than it would have been had it been left up to Sasuke. It had been a long time, and he was hard as steel and even thicker than she remembered but Kami did it feel good. All she wanted was for him to fuck her as if he never had before.

But, Sasuke was serious about control.

Just thinking about it had her scoffing out a gasp as their union became deep enough for him to hit a spot inside her that had her seeing stars. “Oh, fuck!” She cried out, body rebelling against the overwhelming feeling, but Sasuke had no mercy and his slow strokes remained just that deep. With each thrust, his movements sped up a fraction.

Within seconds, Sakura was screaming his name, calling out to Kami and begging him to do things that were just too inappropriate for their friend’s wedding reception, as if they weren’t already past being inappropriate. With her being that loud, Sasuke knew there was no way they (or rather she) hadn’t been heard.

“Shit.” Sasuke cursed, fearful that someone would stumble upon them at any second. He had to end this, for the good of everyone.

So he picked up his pace until he was pounding into her, his right hand releasing her hip to swoop under her and find her clit. The second he touched her, she exploded around him, crying out though it was muffled as she now had a firm bite on her own arm. Sasuke lost it, moving inside her tight, wet heat so quickly, and the feel of her cunt fluttering against him with her climax, he could hold it out no longer. He filled her one last time, holding her tight against him as his seed spilled into her and he groaned out her name.

Surprisingly enough, neither of them were shy or standoffish after that heated moment. They both straightened themselves and returned into the reception hall with flushed cheeks, disheveled clothes and messy hair. And neither of them gave a damn even then.

It was as soon as they were finished that Sasuke had made a proposal, though he wasn’t sure if it was him or the alcohol talking. He assumed it was both. “Let’s get out of here. Come back to my hotel with me.”

Sakura was giddy with the suggestion and so they hurried back in to wish their friends happiness in their new life together. They had a couple more drinks while doing so and then they got in Sasuke’s car to leave, luckily without having been seen, or hopefully anyway.

“Can’t believe you made me do that.” Sasuke grumbled as he got on the road.

Sakura glared at him and shook her head when she noticed the smirk that seemed to be permanently on his lips. “Don’t be an ass. We both know I didn’t make you do anything.”

“Oh?” His brow went up in challenge. “Like I could refuse with you all ‘fuck me, fuck me’”

Sakura just gawked at him then, having no words to shoot back at him. For one, the way he tried to imitate her voice was annoying and funny as hell, and two she knew damn well he wanted it just as bad as she did.

“Bastard.” She muttered when she finally recovered herself, but she was grinning from ear to ear. She knew he was just teasing her, and she liked it. “You won’t catch me asking again!”

“I wouldn’t say that quite yet. We haven’t made it to the hotel, and who knows what you’ll be saying when we do.”

“You’ve pissed me off now, so I will not be saying shit. If anybody will be asking for it, it will be you!”

Sasuke’s eyes darkened as he glanced over at her and met her glare head on. “We’ll just have to see, won’t we?”

Sakura’s fist clenched in her lap as her glare deepened. She was beyond pissed because she knew, he was more than likely right on the money. Hell, a part of her wanted him to pull over and take her in his car. But, she could wait. She just didn’t know if she could wait as long as he could, because she’d never been able to do so before.

When it came to Sasuke… she just wanted him so badly, needed him more than anything else. She would have preferred him even over the air she breathed if anyone would have asked, and she’d even told her mom that long ago… It was one of the reasons their parents had forced them apart, they couldn’t separate the two of them, and they had cared about nothing else but each other. Even now though, the two of them didn’t understand what was so wrong about that.

That’s just how love was… when you found that person, and they both believed they were that person for each other.

They both had a lot on their minds and so, the remainder of the ride was silent aside from the radio. Sakura almost wished her mind was sober so that she would have really been able to wrap her head around everything, but at the same time, she felt like if she didn’t have a few drinks at least, she would be nothing but emotional, in all the wrong ways. Right now, she was just enjoying this day for what it was. A fateful reunion she’d been waiting what seemed like ages for.

When they made it to the hotel, Sakura was so lost in her own thoughts that she hadn’t noticed Sasuke even get out of the car until he was opening her door and offering her his hand. She unbuckled her seatbelt and took it without hesitation. Then they walked into the hotel together.

Once they were finally in Sasuke’s room, Sakura hurried to plop down onto the couch and remove her heels. She’d been in the annoying, but good looking shoes all day and she was beyond ready to let her feet breathe and relax. They were aching unlike any other time she could remember at the moment.

“You should have a bath, I’ll bring you a drink.”

Sakura looked up from the couch to look at Sasuke when he spoke. He looked far too good to be true, especially after all the time she’d had to go without him. After finally convincing herself she was over him and soon she could move on, he just had to come waltzing back into her life to remind her that she would never forget him, she would never get over him. Nobody else could ever have her. He’d already told her so before, and those words had haunted her since. How could she try and be with anyone else, when he’d been completely right.

She was his, he had her heart already and nobody else would be getting it.

“Would you like me to prepare it for you?” He asked in addition when she said nothing in return.

With a blush tinting her already flushed cheeks, Sakura stood, shaking her head. “No, I can do it myself.” She insisted before hurrying down the hall to find the room. It was a nice suite he had, but Sakura couldn’t think much of it, all she could think about was the fact that she was here, with Sasuke and he was offering to run her a bath and all.

He would have done it, without a second thought. Would have even carried her to the tub, stripped and washed her himself. He’d done so before, but Sakura just didn’t feel comfortable at the moment. She wasn’t sure what to think or do. She wanted Sasuke, Kami did she want him, in every way possible. But, with her intoxicated state waning, she was becoming more and more uncertain of what she was really doing, of what she was going to do if he left her again.

Sighing at her wayward thoughts, she got the water running and went about stripping out of her dress and underwear. She had just sunk into the water when Sasuke entered the bathroom without so much as a knock. He was carrying a bottle of wine and two glasses. He kicked the door shut behind him after he entered, and sat on the edge of the bathtub to pour them both a glass. Sakura sipped hers immediately, needing the effects of the alcohol to return to her system as quickly as possible.

“Tell me what you’re up to actively. Are you still in school? Are you working?”Sakura stared at her glass of wine, sipping it a few times before answering. “I’m working, but I’ve already finished school.”

Sasuke nodded. He had done the same and all he did these days was work. He’d even had put his vacation days in months in advance to be able to make it to his friend’s wedding and he was damn sure glad he’d decided to attend, even though at first, he just didn’t want to go.

“What about you?”

“Same.”

Sakura sipped her wine again, until it was gone and Sasuke had to give her a refill. “Where are you living now?”

“Still overseas, I ended up starting to work there and I liked it… and I didn’t think there would be any point in me coming back here. Though now I think I should have.”

She shook her head at that. “If you think that because of me, it wouldn’t have done any good. I’m still across seas too, in the whole other direction. I’m only back here for the wedding.”

Sasuke’s heart constricted at this newfound knowledge. He felt a lump form in his throat as he refilled his own glass then. “We really are worlds apart then, even now…”

“Yeah…”

Sasuke drained his fresh glass of wine before turning to look at her, her pretty green eyes were sad but beautiful as he met them. He watched her as she finished her second glass. “I’m still sorry. Do you know that?” He needed her to know. He needed to know she knew.

“Sasuke don’t. It’s not your fault, it never has been. I’ve never blamed you.”

“But… I blame myself.”

He has regretted things ending as they had for years. He loved her, she loved him. He’d been devastated but he hated the thought of knowing Sakura was feeling even a morsel of what he was. He blamed himself for not fighting his parents more, for not fighting harder for Sakura. More than anything, he just wanted to be with her, even now. Because he loved her, now just as much as he had so long ago. He knew it, there was no way he could let her go again. He could not lose her a second time.

“I love you.” She whispered, tears welling up in her eyes.

Sasuke met her gaze, his own eyes tired and so sad. “I love you…” He told her quietly before adding, “I’ve always loved you.”

Clumsily and hastily, Sakura discarded her glass onto the side of the bathtub then grabbed Sasuke’s hand and snatched him down towards her and she knelt up to meet him halfway. She kissed him hard, their teeth clashing together at the impact. Sasuke groaned, his own glass hitting the floor and shattering, but neither of them even flinched at the sound.

He was pulled forward, and straining to brace himself up on either side of the tub with the way she was forcing him to her, all the while her lips never leaving his. Soon he relented and just allowed her to pull him into the tub with her, clothes and all.

Her fingers slid down around his neck to his tie and quickly began to undo it. She slung it off to the side and proceeded to unbutton his soaked shirt with trembling fingers. It was extra hard with the way Sasuke so easily kissed her until she was good for nothing else. He let her do as she pleased, let her take her time to remove his shirt, because he was in no rush this time.

A low growl sounded deep in his throat when her lips fell from his, to his neck. His brows furrowed as his head tipped to the opposite side, giving her easier access. Sakura had never been this straightforward before, doing such things as kissing and nipping on his neck, he was always the one to do those things to her, but he quite liked it. Still, she was only halfway through the buttons on his shirt.

Sasuke reached up to slide his fingers across her erect nipples. She gasped against his neck which was wet from her tongue and the combination nearly set him on fire, but he controlled himself and continued to tease her nipples gently while she fumbled with his shirt.

It was only a second later that she got frustrated and ripped the rest of the shirt apart in her annoyance. Sasuke laughed at this but helped her shrug his shirt the rest of the way off of him and his arms until they finally just let it drift off in the water. When she reached for his belt though, he grabbed a hold of her hand to stop her, grinning against her lips that had since met with his again.

“Whoa now.”

“Stop it!” Sakura whined and used all her strength to force him to her side and then on his back in the water while she straddled him.

Her hands fisted into his hair and her lips came crashing down on his once again. When his tongue touched hers, she released him to reach down and start her struggle with his belt. It was even harder to get his belt and pants undone with them being wet and under water, but she managed after a few minutes. She couldn’t force them off of him from how he sat under the water though and so she just continued to kiss him and mold her naked body to his. His skin felt so good against hers, so nostalgic and yet so new.

Sakura’s kisses turned more heated, until she was suckling and nipping at his lips. The hotter she got, the more Sasuke wanted her, but he was a patient man. With his arms around her tiny waist, he held her down on him, making sure she could feel just what she was doing to him. She groaned every time she did feel him. Her lips parted from his and she opened her eyes for him to see. They were lidded and oh so sexy that all Sasuke could do was close his eyes to escape them before he lost all his restraint.

She enjoyed admiring him for the man he’d became. That perfect jawline, those sharp eyes, his still long hair that wasn’t as messy as it once was. He’d grown, but he still looked like her Sasuke, and she still loved him. He was stunning now, just as he always had been, maybe even more so. Her eyes trailed down his naked and wet torso, hands following. He felt so good, smelled intoxicating and looked good enough to taste.

Not even knowing what to do with herself in this position, she just took her time enjoying it for what it was. She couldn’t get him completely naked as she’d like and she wanted him so badly. Her hands took purchase on his shoulders and she grinded herself down against his erection. Just that was enough to have her insides coiling. Her lips formed a perfect O as she rocked her hips against him once more, needing whatever stimulation she could get.

Sasuke grunted at her actions and his hold on her tightened. He was feeling far too strained under his soaked slacks and waiting it out was turning out to be much harder than he’d anticipated. So, to speed things up, he dipped his hands down under her ass to find her sex, his finger slipping inside her with ease. He gasped right along with her.

Sakura’s whole body was trembling against him and by then she could do nothing other than cling to him and rock her hips back and forth to enjoy his ministrations even more. Sasuke needed to be inside her, he needed to feel her again, and again. His lips found her neck as he continued to work her with his fingers, bringing her close all too soon as he sucked on the skin at the base of her throat.

“Sasuke,” She whimpered his name, nails digging into his shoulders as her body clenched up, a telltale sign that she was about to come.

“No.” He croaked, removing his hand so fast she couldn’t comprehend it.

Slowly her high began to fade and she opened cloudy eyes to glare at him. “Bastard.”

Sasuke smirked. “Impatient ass.”

Her glare turned into a glower then and she rocked her body down hard on him until he inhaled sharply. He was too hard and strained for her to do that anymore. When he was the one to glare at her then, she was grinning, a wicked gleam in her eyes.

“Let’s not pretend here.”

Sasuke leaned back in against the porcelain tub, face lighting up with amusement. “Who’s pretending? I’m in no rush. I’d say I’m pretty good at waiting.”

“Hmph. Well, so am I!”

“No, you’re not.”

“I’d say I am, asshole. I’ve been waiting for you since you’ve been gone. But, I bet you haven’t.” She turned her nose up at him, not needing or wanting him to elaborate on that matter. She already knew. Sasuke was sexy as fuck, women had always thrown themselves at him. He may not have tried to settle down or anything, but she was no fool. Sasuke was going to fuck.

Her words made him feel like shit. She really hadn’t been with anyone else. That warmed him in the best of ways, but at the same time made him feel even guiltier than he’d already felt. “I’ve never wanted anyone like I want you. It’s always been you and you know it.”

Bottom lip quivering, Sakura turned her head to meet his eyes again. She believed him. She’d known he loved her, and she knew he never wanted to lose her, just as she never wanted to lose him. But this was too much for her. To have him back, and knowing that he still felt that she was his one, it touched her deeply. Touched even her very soul. She needed him.

“Take your damn pants off.”

Sasuke’s left brow arched at her order. “Make me.”

Sakura’s brows narrowed in challenge. “You really want to play this game?”

He scratched his chin pensively, unable to conceal his smirk. After a moment, he finally shrugged indifferently. “Could be interesting.”

Sakura shook her head and chuckled, but was feeling nowhere near humorous. She backed off of him and positioned herself at the other end of the tub, pulling even her legs out of his reach. Sasuke’s eyes darkened noticeably as he watched her right hand trail down her body until it reached her sex and she began touching herself.

It was all he could do to remain in place as he watched her. The way her head fell back against the tub, the way her hand moved under the water with practiced precision. Her left hand teasing her own breasts mockingly. Her lips parting as she moaned while pleasuring herself. It was a sight so sinfully alluring, that he could not look away. His breathing became shallower the more he watched, rather enjoying the show even though he’d prefer it to be him pleasuring her.

She was beautiful, always had been but she’d turned out to be a gorgeous woman and he still adored her. Nobody would ever give him the satisfaction that she did and therefore, he’d already made it up in his mind that he would not, under any circumstance be letting her go again.

Purposefully, she called out his name and moaned with each touch she gave herself. Sasuke knew he was fighting a losing battle when she got louder. He’d fucked her enough times to know when she was close to orgasm, and he’d be damned if he was going to allow her to get herself off. Even if he would have liked to see it.

He stood up in the tub, water sloshing everywhere but the whole bathroom was already soaked, and neither one of them gave a damn. His quick move made Sakura stop, her impending orgasm fading quickly at the loss, but she was more than hot and bothered just watching him peel off his drenched pants and briefs in one go.

She had to pray to Kami when her eyes took in his length, long, thick and more than ready. The sight of it had her mouth watering, her eyes bulging, and her thighs pressing together. He came to tower over her sitting form, cock just above her head. He had a perfect body that was a sight for sore eyes.

“Suck me.”

Those two words were like fire to her body. She convulsed, taken aback by the wave of pleasure and desire she felt by his command. She scrambled to her knees, eyes locking on his when she wrapped her hand around his length and kissed the tip teasingly. He watched her with smoldering eyes as she did as he asked, first licking and kissing at the head of his cock before she finally started taking more of him in her mouth, sucking him just as she’d done so long ago.

Her hand worked with her, stroking him as she took him into her mouth, sheathing her teeth behind her lips and sucking hard every time she pulled back. It had been no time at all to her before he grabbed a handful of her hair at the back of her head and forced her off of him, her lips smacking when his cock left her mouth.

Sasuke got back down in the tub and pulled her over him, positioning his cock right where they both wanted it. Sakura moaned loudly as she forced herself down on him, not giving him the opportunity to stop her. She took him in completely and he filled her to the brim, leaving her a wailing mess.

“Fuck.” Sasuke hissed, hands gripping so hard at her hips she’d probably bruise because of it.

She squeezed him like a vice, and he was already worked up enough to hold her in place, to not let her move for several beats. Once his body calmed, and he was sure he wouldn’t come immediately, he let her go and she wasted no time in moving.

Her lips found his as she moved, hips rocking back and forth at first before she started bouncing on him, each movement she climbed until he was almost completely out of her and then she slammed herself down on him again, taking all that he had to offer.

Sasuke was cursing and panting and she was lost with bliss. She missed him, all of him, including the sex. Kami, did she love to have him inside her. Already close, her movements slowed, wanting- needing to savor every second of their union that she could. But he was close too and when she felt him throbbing inside of her, she bit down on his shoulder, sex tightening even more around him. Her cries were drawn out and loud then and she became weak, too weak to move any further but Sasuke knew what was happening and he couldn’t wait any longer.

He held her by her hips and forced her up and back down on him hard, and with only three more thrusts, he came, just as she did, her body convulsing continuously, bucking down on him and making his own release seem as endless as hers.

After that the water was cold so they both opted for a shower together.

Once they were both fresh and clean they lay in the bed together, neither of them bothered to put anything on and cover themselves. They’d opened another bottle of wine and were already half way through, as if either of them had needed any more alcohol for the night. Or morning. Hell, they didn’t even know what time it was.

“So, it’s been what… four years since we last saw each other?” Sakura mused, grinning to herself behind her glass of wine.

Sasuke nodded thoughtfully. “Almost five.”

“So long…” Sakura mumbled. Now that she thought about it, she had no idea how she’d ever survived so long without him. She loved him so much, when he was with her, when he was gone for so long, and even now. “Did you enjoy your free time?”

“Fuck no.” He scoffed, draining his glass before looking back to her. “It was like hell without you.”

Sakura blushed at that. “I honestly didn’t think you’d feel the same as me. I thought you’d gotten over me long ago.”

“I tried. Couldn’t. But I never really wanted to anyway.”

“Oh…”

“You never tried?” He asked then, head cocked to the side as he watched her from the head of the bed, whereas she was at the foot, laying on her front.

“You’re my soulmate. How could I ever move on from you?” To Sakura, there had been no point in trying.

“You would have been better off.” He sighed and went about refilling his glass, after that he leaned up to pour the remainder in her glass.

“So would you.”

“I don’t think so.”

“Well neither do I.”

They both laughed then, eyes locked with mutual adoration. It was hard to forget someone you’d been madly in love with, when they’d only been taken from you. It was impossible for them to get over it, to move past it. They really never broke up because they never wanted to.

“I don’t think I can lose you again…” Sakura admitted quietly, eyes never wavering in the way she watched him.

Sasuke stretched out his hand towards her and she got up to crawl over to him and take it. “That’s a good thing, because I’ve already decided not to let that happen.”

Sakura reached over him to place her glass on the bedside table, Sasuke got rid of his as well and then she grabbed a hold of his face and touched her lips to his ever so softly. Sasuke’s hands embraced her naked body and held her loosely as each soft caress of a kiss melted him more and more. She was fire to his icy heart, bringing him back to what and who he once was when he had her all those years ago.

He could hardly kiss her back, for each peck was soft and quick and she was laying them on him more rapidly by the second. She smelled a citrusy mixture of oranges and lemons. It wasn’t overpowering, but sexy and arousing to him. He loved the way her slender fingers traced over his naked chest as she peppered kisses on his lips, chin, and cheeks. She tasted like the fruity wine they’d been drinking and pretty soon, Sasuke found himself taking control.

Her kisses were sweet, sexy and touching, but he needed more- so much more.

He would never get enough of her.

Sakura yelped in surprise when his hands suddenly scooped under her thighs and he hoisted her up at the same time he slid down on the bed. She had to think fast and catch herself against the wall before she went head first into it. Her heart pounded as she realized where he was going and before she could prepare herself, he was breathing hotly against her sex.

How just a breath could put her in a daze, she wasn’t sure. But, she shuddered at the feel of his long hair against her thighs, his breathing which seemed to pick up the instant he was in position and the way his fingers dug into her thighs.

“Oh my,” She squeaked, face turning beet red.

Sasuke turned his head to kiss her right thigh, and repeated the process with her left. Then he brushed his lips across her folds, followed by his tongue, touching all around where she really wanted him. Her arms wobbled as she fought to hold her weight which became just too much as yearning coursed through her, taking every ounce of strength she possessed.

“Sa… Ah!”

The second his tongue touched her wet sex, she gasped out a moan and greedily pushed herself down for more. It was intense, and Sasuke had always known just how to make her feel the most pleasure. He lapped at her sensitive and swollen bud with piercing attention.

All sound was stolen from her, Sakura couldn’t even breathe as the fire in her belly erupted and soon consumed her whole. With each lick she climbed higher, closer to orgasm and she prayed to Kami he wouldn’t deny her as she remembered him doing so many times in the past.

Sasuke thought about stopping. He thought about getting her to the brink and then pulling away to feel her come while he was inside her, but then he thought better of it. He didn’t want to disappoint her and he also had all intentions of making her come again anyway.

Soon as her body clenched up and finally found her voice, he pulled her down on his mouth, laving at her sweet cunt until it rippled and flittered against his tongue and lips. He held her firmly in place, suckling her clit until she was screaming and bucking viciously as he made damn certain her climax was all it could be and more.

It was almost too much. Sakura could only wail out incoherently as Sasuke forced her to endure the most excessive and extreme orgasm she’d ever experienced. By the time it was over and he’d finally removed his mouth for her body to relax and calm, tears were streaming down her face thanks to the harsh but exceptional experience.

“You okay?” Sasuke asked and Sakura glared at the wall as she panted, for she was able to feel and hear the smirk he had just then.

“Yeah, but you’re about not to be!” She declared just before his tongue slid across her still throbbing clit and she convulsed, unable to take any more at that moment, she was too tender and still recovering as it was.

Sasuke chuckled under her, but made no move as if he had no intentions of budging from his spot. “Calm down. You kill me being such a spitfire even in the most intimate of moments.”

“Well stop pissing me off.” She snapped, body still shaking in the aftermath of her climax. “Get up. That’s enough, don’t you think?”

“No… I don’t think so actually.”

“W-what?” She breathed, stiffening then. There was no way she could handle any more of that.

“Just relax, Sakura.”

“How can I, when you’re trying to kill me?”

“Hn. Ridiculous. Trust me, you’ll enjoy it.”

Sakura shook her head quickly. “I… I can’t. No more. Let me just… let me please you.”

Sasuke laughed. “If you want to please me then relax and let me play.”

Sakura took a deep breath and forced herself to calm. She would give him this, even if it did end up killing her. Once again Sasuke went about kissing and nibbling at her inner thighs, reawakening her hunger while still giving her body time to cool off and warm back up until she craved another orgasm.

By the time his tongue returned to her sex, she was ready for it, nearly ready to beg for it, but instead of going for her clit, his tongue circled her entrance slowly. She groaned at this and jumped up at the sensation, but Sasuke had a firm grip on her thighs and he wasn’t about to let her escape him.

Though it wasn’t easy for her to do so, Sakura relented and forced herself to give in to feeling, to enjoy the pleasure he was giving her. It would have been so much easier if she didn’t feel as if she would faint because of how overpowering it all was.

Sasuke knew she was struggling, that she wouldn’t be able to handle but one more orgasm before she’d more than likely pass out on the spot. It wouldn’t take him long to come and he’d already planned it all out anyway, it was just a matter of taking his time so she could enjoy it without it becoming too much for her.

One thing he was certain of was that she wanted him inside her, what with the way she cooed and rocked against him when he teased her entrance. Once he was certain she was relaxed and turned on enough for him to return to her clit, he did, while at the same time he brought his hand up to finger her opening, circling it with his index finger just as he had with his tongue. She cried out at the combination and only a few seconds later he had to stop to keep her from coming again.

He ducked out from under her, grabbed her around her waist and forced her on her back so quickly her head spun. She gazed up at him breathlessly as he loomed over her, wasting no time in getting to position. Her fingers twined in his hair when he rested his forehead against hers at the same time he entered her swiftly.

Finally, Sakura felt fulfilled, only noticing then that she’d needed to feel him inside her more than anything. Sasuke kissed her passionately, unable to keep still, for he needed to release after denying himself for too long.

Sakura wouldn’t dream of complaining. Everything felt so right. She moved with him, meeting him thrust for thrust until finally they both came together strongly. They were both passed out almost instantly afterward, a tangled mess of limbs and quivering bodies.

…

Sakura woke up groggily, struggling to fight her eyes open. She was disoriented and hung over but the second she turned her head to find obsidian eyes staring at her, she was sitting up with a start, everything else forgotten. The previous night came back to her in a flash and washed over her like a ton of bricks. Now sober, she blushed furiously as her mind replayed the events of the day and night before.

“Hey.” He whispered, voice husky and oh so sexy.

Sakura shuddered. “Um… Hey…”

Sasuke stretched onto his back and sighed. “We need to talk about what happened last night.”

Hesitantly, Sakura nodded, watching him from his side. “Yeah… I think we should.”

“We’ll talk over breakfast. It should be here in twenty minutes, we should shower first.”

“Um…” Sakura’s blush deepened as she gazed down and noted her weakened legs that felt no sturdier than pudding.

“What’s wrong?” She heard him ask before looking back at him and scowling when she saw the devious smirk on his lips. The bastard already knew and she half wanted to punch him right in his gorgeous face. “Don’t worry, I’ll carry you… and maybe a bath would be better suited.”

[kj-nixon]

happy v day

On any other day, it would be nearly impossible to wake KJ up before 10am. You would have to fire a gun next to her. It was actually a major concern of her family’s, but she had always been more of a night owl than an early bird.

But today was Valentine’s Day. And this year she was going to do something fantastic for Hunter.

Last night, she had stolen his Apple Watch after he had fallen asleep and set the alarm to vibrate on her wrist at 7. She hated the thing because she felt the radiation from it would lead to arthritis. Bailey had tried to explain that that wasn’t how arthritis worked, but KJ was still skeptical. Regardless, it was the only way she could think of setting an alarm without also waking up Hunter.

God damn, 7am. Any later and Hunter would probably wake up on his own and ruin the surprise. Why did he have to be such an adult?

KJ grinned at that. That’s why she loved him.

As gracefully as she could manage, which wasn’t all that graceful if you knew KJ, she slipped out of their queen sized bed and tip toed to the kitchen. Their apartment was more of an open loft. A giant, brick square with only the bedroom and tiny bath distorting the shape by jutting out to the side. Looking at the floor plan, she had never quite been able to figure out how it interlinked with the other apartments, but really, did it matter? It suited them perfectly. The kitchen was as much a part of the living room as it was the dining room.

Open concept, open vibes.

They had it decorated as some combination of industrial modern and cozy, and the kitchen was pretty much the same. The tricky part was that KJ so rarely actually opened their cabinets that it took her a few attempts to find the pans she needed. Eventually, though, she got the bacon onto the gas stove and started on making breakfast in bed.

Hunter was, hands down, the best thing to happen to her. She knew she said it a lot, but it was just facts. Without him, she would probably be chasing yet another degree that she wouldn’t complete. He rescued her. Of course, he’d never admit it, but KJ and her siblings knew that she was kind of worthless without him.

And she was worthless, no doubt about it. Worthless against conventional standards. She couldn’t keep a job, her temper kept her from really being too great a people person, and without help her living space would be a dump. But she thrived in a space where you could let her be expressive, and Hunter provided her that. He encouraged her to be as creative and goofy and obnoxious as she wanted. And, somehow, they had figured out how to monetize it online. The cookie crumbled perfectly in that way.

She wanted to get lost in all the different ways she loved him, but it was almost impossible to actually start a list. Because as soon as she thought of one detail, it was almost immediately replaced and forgotten with another. He was just.... her world. She was obsessed with him. And she was pretty sure he was equally obsessed with her.

She assumed. She hoped.

KJ wasn’t actually a secure person. Some would even dare to call her insecure. And she felt justified in her anxiousness. Comparing herself to others was one of her most developed skills, and she never could measure up. So, if by some chance a girl who was just as pretty as she was, but twice as responsible came along, was there really any doubting that Hunter would take an interest? He was actually the perfect, functioning adult. One day he’d realize he was tired of babysitting a grown child. She just hoped it was on his death bed. Because KJ quite actually couldn’t live without him.

They’d be together forever if she had any say. And if you know any Faline, they have a lot to say.

And so what if they weren’t legally linked? KJ loved being with him no matter what. Did she sometimes dream about having the big wedding? Sure. Did she ever wonder if he even thought about asking her to get married? Yeah. Was she kind of concerned that he hadn’t asked yet because he didn’t want to permanently link himself to her in such a way that it would be difficult to leave her when he was ready? Who the fuck asked you?!

KJ’s brain snapped back to the kitchen when she smelled the smoke. While zoning out, she had splashed bacon grease onto the range and started a fire. Fucking ADHD.

What were you supposed to use on a grease fire again? All she could remember was not water, but she needed to put it out before the alarms went off and woke Hunter up.

Um.

Ummmm.

Flour!

Kj had no idea where they kept flour, or if they even had it, but the pancake mix sitting on the counter was the next best thing. Without giving herself a moment to second guess it, she dumped the box of powder onto the stove.

Well... on the stove, in the pan, and on the floor, technically.

She stared at it, willing it to not be all over the place. But, alas, there it was.

Kayla Jane, you’re an idiot.

But at least the apartment wasn’t up in flames.

Sighing, she dropped the empty box on the counter and skated to the corner deigned the living room in her socks. Her sleep tank and shorts were covered in mix now, but when was she ever put together? KJ picked up her phone and quickly ordered Postmates from their favorite diner, like the proper millennial she was. Should’ve done it in the first place, but she wanted to be romantic.

The second phase of the morning was cute enough anyway. It didn’t take her long to get her computer hooked up to their TV and get started on touching up the final bits of editing for her next video. KJ had become pretty savvy with anything techy since her career on YouTube took off. Not that she understood a single thing about engineering or how any of the machines actually functioned, but she could put it all together and operate it pretty easily if you gave her twenty minutes and a 5 Hour Energy to figure it out.

The doorbell rang and she ran to grab their food, knowing full well that he’d definitely get up for that. If he hadn’t smelled the smoke already.

Sure enough, Hunter stepped out of their room just as she finished unpacking their breakfast. KJ would never get over how insanely tall and good looking he was. Like, it wasn’t even fair.

But she sure did appreciate having the injustice in her bed.

He smiled at her and chuckled, probably laughing at how messy she was.

“Don’t go to the kitchen,” she warned, pointing a finger at him threateningly.

“It kind of smells like I should,” he replied.

“You absolutely should not. You should come kiss me and get your present instead.”

“That does sound much more pleasant.”

He graciously leaned down so she could stand on her toes and give him a peck on the mouth. She guided him to sit in front of the television and placed his food in front of him. “Happy Valentine’s Day, baby.”

“Happy Valentine’s Day, sunshine.”

Patience wasn’t really a Faline trait either, so she only gave him enough time to take two bites of food before she climbed into his lap and face the TV. “Okay, I made something.”

“You did? For me?”

“For you.”

“I’m touched.”

“You will be.”

“So will you.” He winked.

She licked his cheek. Then she pressed the enter key on her keyboard.

The video went live on her channel. A shaky close up of Hunter’s forehead came on screen. You could hear KJ’s laughter over the speakers as the camera zoomed out and you were able to see the picnic set up from one of their earliest dates. Minute by minute, the video played through a compilation of vlogs from the last four years of their relationship. Some were of their travel adventures, others were at home where Hunter was obviously unaware that she wasn’t filming. Two consisted of KJ being home alone, lamenting her state of abandonment while Hunter was on a business trip. Every clip, every piece, was carefully chosen to show how perfect they were.

KJ had been on social media for the last three years, but she had never made her relationship public to her audience. Anything regarding Hunter was posted to her private accounts that only friends and family could see. Even her family was often used as clickbait. But Hunter had been reserved as a secret, or marketed as just a friend. And she had never quite been able to explain why.

Part of it had been that she was afraid of karma. If she put them out their publicly, then maybe they’d break up and she’d have to announce to the world that she was alone and her person had left her. Or maybe it was because she was selfish and didn’t want him to get any attention outside of her (and Simon.)

But, around Christmas, she had decided that she wanted the entire planet to know how mad she was for her. She wanted her audience, people she loved and was inspired by, to see how lucky she was.

And she would cut any bitch who tried to bat a single eyelash at him.

The video was only about five minutes long, nowhere near the length of her usual challenges and vlog segments, but there was four years of love pieced throughout it. And she prayed to the universe that he got the bigger picture.

That she loved him more than anything on the entire planet.

It ended and she stretched her head back to see his expression, a proud smile on her face. For a moment, he just continued staring at the screen.

She knew it would take a moment to buffer in his brain. They had discussed forever ago that they’d never go public and he was okay with that. Hunter had never cared one way or the other, but KJ had insisted.

Now...

He looked down at her and she saw his blue eyes glisten. It made her smile wider. He was such an emotional tall man.

Climbing around to wrap her arms and legs around him, she sat up to look him directly in the face. “You’re my person. I’ve staked my claim across the globe now. So if any skanks try to make a move on you while you’re wherever your stupid job sends you, you now have live proof to show them that I will hunt them down and burn their eyebrows off.”

“Oh, it’ll have them and their eyebrows shaking in their kitten heels.” He grinned.

She kissed him. Hard.

“I love you, Green Giant.”

“I love you too, Thumbilina.”

KJ tucked her head into the crook of his neck and gave a happy sigh.

“So... What did you burn?”

“Oh my god, SHUT UP!”

[gyratingeonian]

JANE: -Guess who's in the kitchen again? It's this gal. She's been occupying much of her time this way; it's largely to burn off anxious energy in waiting for the fated crew to arrive, but also because she just can't stand boring meals day after day.-

JANE: -She isn't baking right now, surprisingly. She's slowly cooking a nice pot roast for dinner, ingredients fresh from one of her many pieces of portable Crocker tech. Her apron reads "Hot Daddy"; an artifact salvaged from somewhere in the pantry.-

JOEY: =She'd been lying upstairs, staring at the ceiling for hours. It was hard being able to sleep soundly without the threat of being discovered for her human qualities, and at times it was hard to believe she had a family again. Mostly everyone all together and all in one place, too. She'd heard some quiet rummaging in the kitchen below until the vapors rose and holy shit, whatever it was smelled delicious. She's sneaking down the stairs like a kid on Christmas Eve, carefully poking her head around the corner.=

JANE: -She doesn't notice Joey immediately; while the food cooks, she's leafing through a business book she found on a shelf and laid out on the counter before closing it back with a sigh. There's not much point in studying business when the business in question is currently being run by an evil alien sea queen, is there?-

JANE: -She scans the room, and then double takes at a pair of eyes around the doorway.- Oh!

JANE: Good... morning? Not really, but I haven't made any breakfast yet. Sorry. I wasn't sure if anyone was up yet.

JOEY: =She finally came out of hiding and stepped the rest of the way down the stairs, smiling in greeting.=

JOEY: nah its fine im not usually up around this time anyway

JOEY: the jet lags been awful =joke=

JANE: The mysterious interdimensional portal-lag, you mean. Hoo. -It's not that funny, but she's trying to make the most of it.- I understand completely.

JANE: Do you like eggs and bacon?

JOEY: =She perked at this=

JOEY: you mean to say

JOEY: you guys actually have that here?

JOEY: =eyes the refrigerator= 8o

JANE: Well... Sort of.

JANE: I conveniently happen to have a very good storage unit on my person.

JANE: -She's already pulling out pans- How do you like your eggs?

JOEY: =when was the last time she had anything that wasn't grubloaf lathered in grubsauce?= JOEY: oh jane you dont have to go through all that trouble—

JOEY: =fusses.=

JOEY: ....

JOEY: sunny side up

JOEY: =she's WEAK=

JANE: -snrrrk- Me, too.

JANE: Don't worry. This is better than sitting around, stewing in potential doom scenarios. -she produces a package of bacon and cuts it open while the pan heats up on the stove-

JANE: And I could use some breakfast, too...

JANE: Shucks. All I've eaten this morning is a bite of leftover cheesecake.

JOEY: that wont do at all! heres to proper sustenance hahaha

JOEY: =she approacheth= it is only right of me to ask if you need help with any of this

JANE: Hmm...

JANE: Actually, I do need help with something. -glances over at her- I've been pretty curious about all this... estranged family business.

JANE: I just never felt like there was a good time to corral you all and ask about it. Actually, the image itself seems pretty rude.

JOEY: oh

JOEY: well... =she leaned back against one of the counters and sighed, laughing a little helplessly as she dragged a hand down one cheek=

JOEY: where to even start?

JANE: Perhaps the beginning?

JANE: As a genuine suggestion, not a sassy remark.

JOEY: =she glanced up at her and soft laughter replaced her expectant expression.=

JOEY: yeah thats always a good place

JOEY: we were little then

JOEY: dad was an explorer so he was gone often

JOEY: our aunt came to stay with us - mom jude tess and me - she had a baby with her

JOEY: bout a year later some people at her work did something that scared her off =she shrugged= and so she left

JOEY: i guess she didnt want us getting caught up in it but it happened anyway =Joey smiled, shaking her head= from that point on we got really good at camping

TESSERACT: =Soft boof as he comes wagging his entire body down the stairs. He smells FOOD.=

JANE: ... -She can sort of guess what that means, but...- Oh hi, doggy. -casually braces herself against a counter-

JANE: No bacon for you yet!

JANE: Um-- So you-- lost your home? Because of... a bad business venture?

JOEY: yeah—

TESSERACT: boof! =Whines up at jane=

JOEY: :O down tess

JOEY: you know better that that

TESSERACT: =WHINES again but lays his head down right on Jane's foot. licks her leg and looks up with those big puppy eyes=

JOEY: we couldnt really go back to it for a while but soon enough they left us alone and we got to go back

JOEY: guess they figured what could a woman her kids and their dog do? not much of a threat, you know

JANE: A... threat?

JANE: This sounds a little more dastardly than I was imagining.

JANE: Was it... you know... them?

JOEY: =she nods=

JOEY: the same people that have taken over skaianet

JOEY: it was our dad and aunts lifes work

JOEY: and they took it out from under them so easily

JOEY: =she ran her hand on the edge of the counter, just feeling the texture there=

JOEY: one day dad never came home

JOEY: i thought for sure because of his connections theyd gotten to him somehow

JOEY: not very long after that mom never came home either(edited)

JUDE: -at some point during the conversation, jude had come up from the basement, but when he heard the topic of discussion, he wound up lingering in the hall just outside the kitchen. hearing their skeletons get dragged out made him anxious, but it was important that jane knew exactly what they were dealing with -- what his whole family had always been dealing with. he runs his hand along the wall, awkwardly stuck in place.-

JOEY: but we claire-leys don't know when to keep our heads down and mouths shut(edited)

JOEY: jude tess and i went off for some daring do and picked up where dad and aunt jo left off

JOEY: it was better for me to think they were dead cause nothing can hurt you when you expect the worst, right? but jude flat out refused to believe that =She shook her head= he was so much stronger than me - bouncy little optimist

JANE: -Jane can't help laughing a little at that description, despite the story itself.- Well... you can sure tell you're related.

JANE: And... if you don't mind me saying so, I'm sure you gave him plenty of push he might not have had alone. -At least, when she met him, he hadn't really been outside in years.- I think it all works out.

JANE: But how did you end up... Elsewhere?(edited)

JOEY: we both had that effect on each other =she glanced down at the counter again= JOEY: it was a whole stack of things but aunt jos research to put it simply JOEY: its what they were after all those years

JOEY: or one of the things at least

JOEY: that research led us to the portal downstairs which in turn led to skaianet finding out jude and i werent so harmless after all

JOEY: =she shrugged her shoulders, but it was more like brushing off the uncomfortable feeling of that distant memory than to indicate something like indifference=

JOEY: they wanted what we knew and if it hadnt been for jude they would have gotten what they wanted(edited)

JANE: ... I have a feeling this tale is nearing its bitter conclusion. -She watches Joey, brows knitting with some concern at the way she seems more uncomfortable the further this story goes.-

JANE: You don't have to tell me all this if you don't want to. My curiosity isn't worth digging up too many bad feelings.(edited)

JUDE: -with an exhale, he finally moves to join them in the kitchen, eyes down cast but he looks up after he gets his hands on a cookie.- ...

JUDE: hello

JUDE: sorry for interrupting...

JUDE: and also for

JUDE: eavesdropping

JANE: !

JANE: Jude.

JANE: I didn't hear you creeping up.

JANE: ... I didn't mean that the way it sounds.

JOEY: =Her back was to the stairs and she turned, a smile lifting as she saw it was her brother. Wow. She has to get used to them being in the same place again.= hey...

JOEY: =she's relieved he was here. The events leading up to everything were easy to say, and of course on Alternia she changed up a few things to suit her trollsona's history. But she'd never gone so far to explain the separation itself other than that it happened. The fear of never seeing her brother again didn't hang heavy over her head and the past didn't hurt quite so much=

JUDE: -catching a glimpse of her smile, he can't help smiling too.- it's alright

JUDE: creeping is probably technically a good way to describe my... general movement

JANE: Well... as long as we're all agreed. :B

JANE: -drapes a paper towel over a plate and starts piling the cooked bacon on it-

JUDE: heh... -cookies and bacon... part of a balanced breakfast. he didn't think this through.-

JUDE: -also sweats because he disrupted the conversation, which makes it his responsibility to initiate it again.- ...

JUDE: so...

JUDE: bacon

JOEY: =she's staring at Jude, and it's obvious she's staring. Her smile is growing by the moment.=

JOEY: yes! and eggs!

JANE: And cookies, apparently. -gives Jude a GAZE.-

JANE: How do you like your eggs?

JUDE: -HOW YOU LIKE YOUR EGGS... FRIED OR FERTILIZED...-

JUDE: sunny side up

JUDE: to match my sunny outlook on life

JOEY: =she just...smiles at him. How can she not?=

JOEY: good answer.

JANE: -SNORTS-

JANE: I'm glad we are all still in agreement, despite serious flaws in your argument. -cracks another egg in the pan-

JANE: How are things going down there?

JUDE: well... none of my other long lost relatives have jumped out so

JUDE: uneventful, mostly

JUDE: which is fine I guess

JUDE: but I'm still anxious for the UU to get here

JUDE: I feel like they should be here by now

JUDE: what if something happened? maybe alternians attacked their ship and their technicians hacked into all their accounts, pouring over records of everyone's speech patterns to perfectly replicate them when they talk to us

JUDE: or maybe... it was never really them to begin with

JUDE: and they knew we were going to contact them

JUDE: and they've lured us here to back us into a corner and now they're waiting for the perfect moment to extract the portal and do away with us once and for all

JOEY: ...

JOEY: jude

JOEY: you know ive always trusted your gut

JOEY: even though those are a whole lot of maybes, maybe we should take precaution

JOEY: is there an easy way of storing the portal if we have to make a quick getaway?

JOEY: plus, if this place is as heavily fortified as it looks, shouldnt there be another way to exit the building than the front and back doors?

JANE: -She swears she's going to find a camera somewhere to stare in, just watch her.-

JANE: Maybe Jamison would have some ideas? Perhaps a rational suggestion or two.

JUDE: I've been able to store it pretty efficiently but

JUDE: maybe I should dismantle it for now

JUDE: if they do show up we can study it with them

JUDE: ... I've mapped out all the escape routes too

JUDE: I mean I found some of James' blueprints of the house but I

JUDE: also physically went around the house looking for exits...

JUDE: but more eyes help... my dad is really good at finding weaknesses in designs so yeah thanks for the suggestion jane

JOEY: theres no harm in taking precautions

JOEY: should we practice drills?

JANE: -SIGHS-

JANE: -slides eggs onto plate-

JOEY: hehehe you never know, jane!

JANE: Well, let's wait until after breakfast for the main course of hubbub. :B

JOEY: good plan!

JOEY: one should never act on an empty stomach :)

[tetranocular]

significance? i smell lore

its damien lore hours

its kinda silly but an interesting story, so here we go

i have trouble putting my needs first, and ive always admired villains for basically just.. doing whatever the fuck they want without considering how it affects other ppl

obviously i dont wanna be a villain and completely neglect other ppl, but a big part of my therapy is to prioritize my needs over other ppls feelings, i.e., not letting my parents bully me into doing shit that's actively harmful to my mental wellbeing just bc of their puritanical views on personal success

my old therapist was really awesome and chill and he basically just said... "hey, why dont you become a villain?" because he knew i wouldnt be able to give myself the permission to think of myself first if i was a 'good guy'

i was tasked with doing 1 "evil" thing every day, "evil" meaning... just.. doing something without putting other ppl's feelings before my own. most of it ended up just being me saying no to things, since im very very bad at saying no, even if i know the thing will be really bad for me

around this time, i was also not very pleased with the name i had chosen for myself, chris, since i picked it when i was like 15 and it was only meant to be a placeholder until i figured out what i actually wanted to be called. it was just a name i used online to protect my privacy, since it could be christopher or christina or whatever else. but my parents found out about the name and told everyone to call me it and i just. put up with it for a while bc theyre not very good with change and i knew theyd throw a fit if i changed my name AGAIN

so i was talking about it with the therapist, and he said i should change my name anyways, if i'm unhappy with it. he said i could even choose a villain name, and that might help me be more open to doing my "evil deeds" (i love how he just ran with it btw its very sweet of him to let me indulge in my villain love, i rlly wish i was still working with the guy)

so... you know. damien. demon. evil. it just made sense, and i really loved the name anyways. not to mention, i knew some characters i adored that were named damien. it just worked. it felt right. it was significant to my progress

unfortunately, i was no longer able to stay with that therapist, and my current one is super resistant to using words like villain and evil and stuff, so i've kinda. dropped the practice. but that's neither here nor there. the point is, my current name is super significant to me bc it's a reminder that i don't have to be the most selfless person in the world 24/7

[tumblunni]

Man i'm remembering how raw all of Nami's early arcs were in One Piece and how much it sucks that she just got completely sidelined later on and increasingly turned into a sex symbol as well as being pushed further into the box of 'token weak normal human who can never win a fight' while usopp eventually escaped it. Oh except she can sometomes win sexualized fights against other sexualized women. *sigh* That moment where she got fuckin assualted ny an invisible man while naked in the shower and it was all played as sexy to the audience and sanji makes a shitty joke about wishing he had the invisible power to perv on girls and then EVERYONE ELSE EXCEPT NAMI gets some damn resolution on beating up invisibiluty asshole and its clear the whole thing was just an excuse for the author to show tits and her feelings dont really matter. Oh and the fuckin literal soap bath battle with the lady whose power is magic soap that makes people extra slippery and shiny like JESUS CHRIST BRO

Anyway lets not go on for an hour about the bad nami stuff and instead remember the great stuff!

Like that FUCKIN RAW moment in her backstory arc where theyve played the reveal of her being part of Arlong's crew SO WELL that you genuinely cant tell if she was really evil all along and is really betraying everyone. And then they slap you right in the face with what seems to be a scene of her murdering usopp! And its just done so damn great and dark and shocking, like right down to the framing of it where it looks like he escaped for a second and then he barely has time to gasp out a word before she stabs him. And they let this ride for a decently long amount of time too before revealing she's not evil after all. Just enough time to sink in and make you believe it! And the circumstances of the reveal are SO DAMN GREAT, yo! I think its straight up the most badass heroic thing anyone has ever done in the entire series and i hate how it doesnt get remembered much or aknowledged as much as the bigger more dramatic fights.

Cos you see...yeah Nami was not in fact evil and was just pretending to be loyal to these villains because theyd been blackmailing her for years ans she had a plan to trick her way out of it and wanted to keep her friends safe from being involved (and loads of other complex shit!) But she REALLY FUCKIN DEDICATED HERSELF TO HER ACTING cos she knew just how damn dangerous these bastards are and how much it was gonna take to fool them. The real reason Usopp got cut off mid sentence into a strangled scream is because Nami stabbed HERSELF to fake killing him! She wrecked the shit out of her arm and rubbed the blood on him and told him to stay down, and then managed to not let out the slightest sound of her pain and continue pulling off her amazing fake villain acting while bleeding out underneath her sleeve. Its not really brought up again but from the degree of how goddamn much she injured that hand and how she wasnt able to get it treated until after HOURS OF HIDING THE PAIN, it probably would have left her with permenant muscle spasms and difficulty moving her fingers. And she's a mapmaker so thats an injury that would really affect her career for the rest of her life. She risked all that to save a friend who believed she'd betrayed him and was 100% down to fight at that moment! Like seriously they also had some great development with usppp realizing he was wrong and working hard to overcome his cowardliness and put his own life on the line to help save Nami later on. It was such a good arc!!

Oh and of course theres the entire context to this whole thing that this villain group actually murdered nami's mother when she was a kid and groomed her into joining them. And right from the age of like six years old she was already planning how to out-manipulate the manipulators and gain the trust enough to take revenge someday. And she faked joining the villains, faked being fine with it, faked not mourning her goddamn mom. She let herself be treated like a heartless demon child by everyone she ever knew, so she could make these monsters believe she'd betrayed them and thus someday save them all. Save all those people who never even fuckin believed in her! And the villain dude fuckin branded her like a cow and she was so traumatized she tried to dig the tattoo out with a knife and seriously man her left arm must be so damn scarred and i hate that they dont atually show it just cos 'she's gotta be sexy'. They used to show the scar underneath her life-affirming happier replacement tattoo, but it just got phased out around the same time her waist became 2cm wide...

Also it really fuckin sucked that this arc just ended with Nami's decade long plan to save her family failing and she cries into the dirt and then all the male characters save her aand defeaat the bad guy instead. Even worse that this started becoming a trend where every new arc from now on would have some sort of femle character who was very sad and her grand character development was admitting she needed luffy to save her and then everyone else except her gets to defeat the bad guy she has this deep personal reason to want to defeat. Sigh!

So yeh seriously Oda i know ur tryin real damn hard to amp every damn battle as the biggest thing ever now but nothing will ever be bigger than back when you had more simple fully realized concepts that gave the whole cast time to shine and aalso very specifocally nami who was the best most goddamn engaging character and you suddenly somehow forgot this. "Woman who is so much of a damn hero that she'd stab herself to save her friends who didnt even believe she wasnt evil" is like the fucking apex of what this series has ever achieved and i wpuld personally like to remember her always as the way she was in that moment.

Also seriously it would have been way better if nami got to contribute towards defeating arlong AT ALL, and especiaally if she could have dealt the final blow. Like yeah she isnt some beastly strong superpowers guy like luffy and co, but it would have been so satisfying to see all her intelligence and planning pay off! Instead of just bullshit 'arlong somehow magically knew everything she was ever planning and he only let her believe he was fooled so he could have fun shooting down her hopes when she got so close'. Nah yknow what would have been really satisfying and great? If we still had that moment but then it was revealed nami actually double-doublecrossed him! Like he's boasting about seeing through her whole plan and then suddenly he stumbles and realizes she poisoned his drink or something. Would have been extra mega double triple satisfying if this was after him actually beating all the main brawn-over-brain characters in a physical fight, and it looked like our heroes were all doomed but she managed to take down this guy they couod never hope to defeat. Though some very simple clever trick that he never expected because he underestimated her. And also this could work well to introduce the seven warlords kf the sea without immediately undercutting them, like if we clearly show that arlong actually WAS wildly out of their league and they genuinely could not defeat one of the warlords at their current power level, they just got lucky with a creative solution. That would have worked better than having zoro fight mihawk for literally no reason except 'i wanna prove im stronger than mihawk'. Srsly so much of zoro's goddamn honor shit seems so dumb on a rewatch, he outright stabs himself to give himself a handicap cos something sonething honor, and refuses to accept help because honor and fights people who didnt wanna fight him because honor and generally this looks more like signs of the man being suicidal, geez! Also stabbing yourself for no reason is nowhere near as raw as stabbing yourself to save a friend. Also zoro fuckin passed out from blood loss and nami not only didng do that but also completely hid her injury from a literal shark man who can smell blood. And stared him right in the face and lied about murdering her best friend. Nami is the highest goddamn power tier in one piece and if the creator cant figure that out then i have no interest in reading any more of it

WE ARE NAMI STANS FIRST AND HUMANS SECOND