#behind the scenes tag china

[hephaestiions]

drarry holidays! thank you, @kamaela, for the tag (and all the sexy-gorgeous-brilliant tidbits in yours). this had me writing entire scenes, so in the interest of space and time, i picked two fics i've been wanting to explore more lately:

dinner & diatribes:

Harry works Christmas, makes it home for dinner, not alone. A man— boy, really, can’t have graduated Hogwarts more than two years ago— trails him, star-struck, discomfited, scratching the back of his neck. 

“This,” Harry says, toeing off his boots, hang-dog, awkwardly guilty, “is Auror Bentley. My protective detail.” 

Draco lets his eyebrows rise.

“Slew of death threats, Howlered directly to my office, passed the Ministry wards,” Harry’s weary. “I know dinner was supposed to be just us, I'm sorry. But I couldn’t just leave him out in the cold.” 

“I could go outside,” Bentley says, earnest, like nothing's ever called to him more than the thick snow in their front yard. “I really could, Auror Potter insisted—"

“Nonsense,” Draco cuts in, smooth, secure. “There’s enough dinner for all of Hufflepuff, I'd wager Molly sent her entire kitchen earlier. Stay, please, it's really the least.” 

“Thank you,” Harry whispers into his neck enroute the table, close-clasped, sighing. “It’s been a fucking day.” 

Draco squeezes him close, closer— death threats, death threats, it’s the job, always the damn job— until a crash issues from the kitchen, and Bentley, gone up ahead, emerges, harried, fervently apologising before rushing back in, probably to fix the damage. 

“Protective detail,” Draco mutters and Harry grins. 

“He’s better with a wand,” he says, pulling away, upright. “And those threats are probably meaningless, some freak on too many potions.” Quiet, serious, “And if they’re not— I sleep next to you. Only Robards wouldn’t listen when I said that—" goes gruff, mocking, “—he’s a civilian, Potter.” 

Draco thinks of the candles he waited to light, the cushioning charms on the table, of the feast he intended to make of Harry on it. No matter. They have a bed, and a door that locks, and he’s handy with a soundproofing spell. 

“It’s really quite alright,” he says. The strict line of tension between Harry’s brows, in his shoulders, his gait, eases up, falls in. “I’d rather you bring home strays than not come home at all. Now, please—" he waves towards the kitchen, warm, lit, safe, always safe, “—dinner. Before he stumbles into Mother’s china.”

& it's you:

Their first Christmas on the run, Draco’s vacant, dimmed, easily startled. Dark descends sudden and early on the Scottish village they’ve holed up in for the week. Their blinds are drawn, but the village carollers harmonising Silent Night— so tender and mild— sifts through the cracks, clings to the cracks in the walls. 

Harry can’t remember last Christmas. Chasing the scent of an underground uprising across Europe alone, time segmented as the space between information. Any other day— Christ, the saviour, is born— could have been solstice, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, he didn’t have use for it. Now, though. 

“Leave,” he tells Draco, who looks irritatingly resigned at that. “Not like that, obviously, Merlin. Just— take a fucking walk. Come back when you’ve stopped pouting.” 

It’s a testament to— well, something— that Draco has no quip, no rejoinder, no fuel to throw in the fire. He wraps a scarf around his neck— Harry’s— casts a Glamour and leaves. 

He returns two hours later, still heavy, and stops short halfway over the threshold. 

“Close the damn door,” Harry says, and Draco walks in, slow, silent, door snicking quietly shut behind. He reaches for a floating paper angel— Harry winces, up close, they’re disfigured, his magic isn’t meant for finicky charmwork— butterfly-soft, holds, releases. The shimmering yellow lights spelled to the walls soften his platinum fall of hair, flint-grey eyes, his stupid, sharp nose. Under Harry’s transfigured lights, Draco looks delicate, almost. He’s not. He’s hardy, hardening further every day on this interminable chase, but for a night—

“Oh, Potter,” Draco’s still fixed on the fluttering angels, “you made a scene.” 

They fuck, filthy, under the lights and the angels, Harry pushing into Draco with the weight of his entire body, his ugly wanting wolf, its bursting, rotten heart. They fuck until the whole of Draco is so wet with come and spit and lube that Harry can barely get a grip on him. The carollers are long gone, but the carol sticks, drips from the rafters down, down, onto their bed— son of god, love’s pure light— and Harry collapses beside Draco and kisses him and kisses him and kisses him until neither of them can breathe. 

would v much love @lqtraintracks, @skeptiquewrites, @toomuchplor & @sleepstxtic's takes on how your drarries celebrate the holidays (or don't) if you'd like to offer!

[bijouxcarys]

𝑻𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑩𝒊𝒏𝒅 (𝑹𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝑹𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒏𝒔 𝒙 𝑶𝑪) - 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑬𝒍𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏

Masterlist

Character Profiles/Face Claims

Playlist

A/N: Hehehe... I hope this one is enjoyable and... satisfying for you all. I went over it obsessively to make sure it was as close to perfect as it could be. It's also a long one. I was originally going to split it up into two chapters, but I felt it broke the momentum, so I just said fuck it and kept it all together. This bitch is like 12k words. Enjoyyyy ;)

CW/TW: Scenes of violence, strong language, smut (ur welcome)

Tags: @trippinsorrows @empressdede @thetribalqueen @heauxvibez @bigsimperika

@cyberdejos2 @keyaho @headoftheetable @jstarr86 @southerngirl41

@tshepisho @cry1nwhileimcumm1n @maeb99 @thedesireds @dzdndcnfsd

@expert-texpert @niknakbucks92 @sillyteecup @trentybenty @pittieprincess22

(If you want to be tagged in any future Roman fics, just let me know!)

The morning light filtered through the tall windows of the dining room, casting warm glows over the pristine white tablecloth and polished silverware. Nate could hear the soft clinking of china as the butlers quietly moved about, setting the table and preparing for the day ahead. The morning chef, Oskar—a short man with a neatly trimmed beard and an air of precision about him—was busy in the kitchen, the scent of freshly brewed coffee and sizzling bacon wafting through the air.

Dimitri sat at the head of the table, his broad shoulders relaxed, a rare sight in a man who was usually coiled like a spring, ready to strike. His eyes softened slightly as he scanned the morning paper, a steam cup of coffee within reach. He looked every bit the powerful patriarch he was, exuding an effortless authority that made him both respected and feared.

Nate hesitated at the entrance, taking in the scene. It wasn’t often she caught her father in such a good mood, and the rarity of the moment wasn’t lost on her.

“Morning, Papa,” she greeted lightly, casually approaching the table.

Dimitri glanced up, relaxing a fraction more as he saw her. “Dobroye utro, Natalka,” he responded. “You’re up early.”

Nate shrugged, taking a seat around the corner from him. “Couldn’t sleep. Too much on my mind, I guess.”

He nodded, folding the newspaper and setting it aside, giving her his undivided attention. “Anything you want to talk about?”

She offered a small smile, shaking her head. “Just the usual. You know how it is.”

Butlers moved smoothly around them, pouring fresh coffee into her cup and placing a plate of breakfast in front of her—eggs, bacon, toast, and a side of fresh fruit. Nate picked up her fork, taking a small bite as she considered how to steer the conversation towards what she truly wanted to discuss.

“How’s business?” she asked after a moment, keeping her tone light.

Dimitri’s eyes gleamed with pride and satisfaction. “Tverdyy. Everything is moving as it should. We secured the knives you won for me, and our new contacts are proving useful. There’s still some cleaning up to do, but nothing we can’t handle.”

“That’s good to hear,” Nate replied, sipping her coffee. She paused, then added casually, “And what about Bunny? How’s that shaping up?”

“Bunny?” he echoed with a small hint of suspicion. “Why do you ask, dorogoy?”

Nate remained nonchalant. “Just curious. After the deal the other day and everything… Just wondering how it’s going, if he’s delivering, or if we’re picking up, y’know…”

He studied her for a long minute, as if trying to gauge her true intentions. And she held his gaze, bravely, refusing to be intimidated, even if her heart was erratic behind her ribs.

“We are picking up next week,” Dimitri slowly responded. 

“And… The Bloodline?” She swore she saw red in his eyes. “Anything new on them?”

“The Bloodline…” he grimaced, the relaxed demeanour stiffening somewhat. “Luckily enough, we have managed to tap their SUVs. We can easily see where they are at all times.” He seemed happy with himself—elated, even. Fully knowing he didn’t have to pull many strings or work very hard to make that happen. Though, it did leave Nate in a bit of an awkward position. Not that Dimitri had to know that, of course…

Nate nodded slowly at her father, pushing the bacon around with her fork. “That’s good…” she murmured. She took a steady sip of her coffee, mulling over how to phrase her next question, even though it ultimately wouldn’t matter how it came out; it would all mean the same to Dimitri anyways.

“Y’know, I was thinking…” she started, setting her cup down. “Do you think… it’s possible that… Bunny could have acted… alone? Like… What if The Bloodline didn’t know all that was going to happen? Isn’t that a possibility we should probably consider?”

It seemed instant that Dimitri’s eyes narrowed, hardening his expression as he always did whenever he felt challenged. Lines around his mouth from years and years of smoking, deepening with the inner rage that was just waiting to unleash.

“No,” he firmly answered. “Bunny isn’t stupid, Natalka, he wouldn’t have made such a big move without backing. And The Bloodline… they’re the only ones with enough power and resources—aside from us—to pull something like that off.”

Her heart sank, but she didn’t let it show. She knew her father was stubborn, but she’d hoped she could at least plant a tiny seed of doubt in his mind. It was clear, though, that his opinion was set in stone.

“Maybe,” she conceded, lowering her gaze to her plate. “But it wouldn’t hurt to consider other possibilities, right? I mean, there’s a lot at stake here. What if there’s more to this than we realise?”

Dimitri’s jaw tightened, a sign that he was losing patience with the conversation. “Natalka,” he said, resting his arms on the table. “I’ve been in this business a long time. I know how these things work. The Bloodline—Roman Reigns—is behind this, and that’s all there is to it.”

Nate swallowed her frustration, knowing that pushing any further would only lead to a fight. She’d done what she could, and it was obvious that she wasn’t going to change his mind. At least not today.

She leaned back in her chair, feigning a casual demeanour as she decided to shift the conversation slightly. “Dad… can I ask you something?”

He arched an eyebrow. “Of course, Natalka. What is it?”

Nate hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath and asked, “Why do you hate The Bloodline so much? Is there… a reason for it? History, maybe? I’ve never seen you hate someone as much as you hate Roman Reigns.”

It felt like an eternity before he actually responded. Almost reluctantly as he regarded her with wariness. And possibly a hint of… vulnerability.

“They’ve been watching us for years,” he finally said through a heavy exhale. “I would say almost a decade. They have always wanted what we have.”

“And what is that?”

“Power, Natalka. They’ve tried to muscle in on our territory more times than I can count, always lurking, waiting for us to slip up—waiting for a sign of weakness to exploit it.”

Nate listened intently, but tensed up when the implication of his words hit her. If The Bloodline had been scrutinising them for almost a decade, that meant that there was a possibility that they… could have, at least… been around during the time of her mother’s death.

Suddenly, the situation with the shipment didn’t seem so important anymore. 

“Even since mum died?”

The question caught Dimitri off-guard. He froze, staring daggers straight through his daughter’s skull. “What?”

“You said they’ve been watching us for almost a decade… does that mean they were watching us when mum was killed?”

The consequences of bringing up her mother were irrelevant right now. Even though she knew Dimitri didn’t like talking about the death of Irina, the door to potential answers, emerging out of nowhere, seemed too enticing for Nate not to push further.

But instead of pure animosity, he too shared a moment of realisation. “Yes,” he said through clenched teeth. “And I wouldn’t be surprised if they were to blame, either… gryaznyye samoantsy…”

The thought made Nate sick to her stomach. The mere concept that Roman could have had something to do with her mother’s murder. If Dimitri were to make such a comment a month prior, chances were that she’d believe it without question. She’d already be on her way to fuck some shit up, carelessly and recklessly. Even if it got her killed.

However… a big ‘however’… Four encounters and a weighty collection of back and forth texts with the very man, somehow led her to… doubt her father. She couldn’t picture Roman organising a hit on the matriarch of the Volkovs. It didn’t make sense. Surely, he’d go for the head honcho, no?

But then again, Roman worked at a pace unmatched. He didn’t rush things. And everyone knows that the way to weaken the enemy is to take out its strongest point: the family. 

Ultimately, if The Bloodline had been involved in her mother’s death, even indirectly, she needed to know. And if they had any information, anything that could help her unravel the mystery that had haunted her for years, she would find it—no matter the cost.

But for now, she played her part, keeping her father’s trust, continuing to walk the tightrope she’d adhered herself to for as long as she could remember.

“Thanks for telling me,” she said quietly, meeting her father’s eyes with a steady resolve. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

Dimitri gave her a curt nod. “Just remember, Natalka. We’re stronger together. The Bloodline may be powerful, but they’re not invincible.”

“I know, Papa,” she agreed with a gentle nod, lips hovering over her mug of coffee. “I know,” she repeated in a quiet whisper.

She was already making plans to mention this conversation to Roman, specifically the part about her mother, but she wasn’t prepared to bring it up any time soon. Not immediately, anyways. 

After all, they still had to pay a visit to Bunny.

The air in the room was slowly veering away from the dangerous territory it was snowballing into, thankfully. A few moments of silence was all it took for Dimitri to return to his breakfast, this time peering at the newspaper he’d laid open beside him on the table, rather than putting up a shield between the two of them.

“So, Natalka, what are your plans today?” he asked, reestablishing the casual tone the morning had started with.

Nate leaned back, matching his energy. “Uh, Lana’s picking me up later. She’s just got a new Panamera, so she’s very excited about that… Oh, and I think she said she wanted to take me to the vineyard she and Rusev just bought, too. So, uh… it should be fun.”

Dimitri thawed a little at the mention of Lana. He had a noticeable blind spot when it came to her, always seeing her as the epitome of femininity and grace, despite her being the same age as Nate. “Ah, Lana,” he mused affectionately. “You know what she’s like. Always needing to show off the latest thing.”

Nate nodded with a small smile. “Exactly. But it’ll be nice to see the vineyard.”

“Konechno,” he agreed. “Enjoy your time with her, dorogoy.”

“I will,” Nate shifted in her seat, before getting up and moving around the table to place a barely-there kiss to the top of her father’s greying head. “Spasibo, Papa.”

⋆༺𓆩☠︎︎𓆪༻⋆

The tranquillity of the late afternoon soundscape did little to ease Nate’s mind as she waited for Lana to arrive at the house. Everything was too quiet, too subdued; she was never one for such minimalism. She thrived on adrenaline. One could even go as far as to say she was addicted to the hormone. She loved the feeling of being indestructible, immortal in a sense. Like decisions and the subsequent consequences bore little weight.

It was a feeling like no other. And she wouldn’t replace it with anything.

So, when—finally—Lana’s brand new Panamera rolled into view, gliding up to where Nate was standing, her fists had already clenched in pre-adrenaline anticipation.

The car’s tinted windows reflected the golden light of the sun, making it difficult to see inside until the passenger window smoothly slid down.

“Nate! Get in, I’m double parked,” Lana called out urgently as she leaned over from the driver’s seat.

Nate didn’t hesitate, slipping into the passenger seat and closing the door with a soft thud. The interior was immaculate, the faint scent of Lana’s perfume lingering in the seats—floral and expensive. Nate shot her friend a quick smile as she buckled her seatbelt.

“Sick car,” she remarked, letting the praise fill the space between them as she settled into the plush leather seat.

“Thanks! Rusev insisted on getting it for me,” the blonde responded with a grin, her hands confidently gripping the steering wheel as she pulled away from the estate. “Says it’s safer, more reliable… But you know me, I just love the way it looks.”

Nate laughed, but it was a short, distracted sound. Her mind was elsewhere, already considering how best to navigate the next couple of hours. As they made their way past towering trees and manicured lawns of Westchester County, Nate felt the weight of what she was about to do settle in her chest. She took a deep breath, hoping to ease the tension that had coiled there, but it did very little to help.

Lana continued to fill a majority of the ride with a steady stream of anecdotes and plans for the vineyard that Rusev and she had recently acquired. Nate did nod along, throwing in the occasional comment or laugh, but her focus remained solely on her phone. She kept the screen angled away from Lana, the GPS directing them to a destination her friend knew nothing about.

After a while, Lana noticed Nate’s silence and glanced over, her brow furrowing slightly. “Is everything okay? You’ve been quieter than usual.”

“Yeah, I’m fine. Just… got a lot on my mind,” she answered with a tight-lipped smile, the grip on her phone tightening.

Lana didn’t press, but Nate could feel the curiosity like it was its own presence, lingering in the backseat like an unwanted companion. They had been through a lot together, Lana and Nate, shared secrets, had each other’s backs through the chaos of each other’s lives… but this was different.

This was something Nate couldn’t fully explain, not yet.

As they neared the North Shore of Long Island, the neighbourhoods grew more exclusive, the houses larger and more secluded behind wrought iron gates and tall hedges. Nate’s anxiety kicked up a notch. She could see Lana attempting to steal glances at her GPS.

“Hey, uh, I need you to drop me off a little further down from where we’re headed,” Nate said suddenly, almost choking out the words as if her throat was unprepared for speech. 

Lana blinked a couple of times, but nodded. “Sure… But, I have to ask, being a nosy bitch,” she huffed out a small laugh, “Where exactly are you going?”

Nate hesitated. “It’s… complicated. Just something I need to handle.”

Lana’s fingers drummed atop the steering wheel, simply nodding before her expression shifted to one of quiet understanding. “Okay. But promise me… If you are in danger, if anything happens, you call me or Rusev, and we will be there. No questions asked.”

There was always one word Nate could confidently use to describe the relationship she and Lana shared. Loyal. Lana did anything and everything to make sure Nate was okay, and if she needed anything, she wouldn’t hesitate to drop everything and be there. The same could easily be said for Nate.

“I appreciate that, Lana. Really. But I’ll be okay.”

“Da, you say that now, Natalka,” Lana muttered. “But seriously. Don’t do anything reckless. You know I’m always here.”

“I know you are,” Nate replied with the utmost sincerity, her eyes on the road ahead. “And so am I. Navsegda.”

It wasn’t even a few minutes before Lana pulled over near a small park, the destination still a little ways off on the GPS. Nate unbuckled her seatbelt, taking a deep breath as she prepared to get out of the car.

“Thank you, Lana,” she said, turning to meet her friend’s eyes. “For everything.”

Lana smiled, reaching out to hold onto Nate’s hand. “Just be safe, okay?”

Nate nodded, slipping out of the car and closing the door behind her. She watched as Lana’s car pulled away, the tail lights disappearing around a corner. Then, with a deep breath, she turned and began walking, her phone still clutched tightly in her hand, the GPS leading her in the right direction.

Each step felt heavier. She almost had to desensitise herself to the potential fallout if her father ever found out about where she was heading. And yet, underneath all that anxiety, there was a strange, almost exhilarating thrill just beneath her skin.

The unknown should have been daunting to her. But as always, the more daunting the unknown, the stronger the pull of it. She was just drawn to it—curious, intrigued, and maybe just a little… reckless.

And as the intimidating gates of Roman’s home came into view, Nate steeled herself, pushing down the last remnants of doubt. There was no turning back now.

She wasn’t even sure what felt real to her as she pulled out her burner phone and sent a quick text:

Nate: I’m outside.

The response came almost immediately, brief and to the point:

Roman: Wait there.

As she tucked the phone back inside her leather jacket, she scanned the perimeter. It shocked her how serene the neighbourhood was, given the kind of person that lived in it. It was… nice. 

It wasn’t long before she saw movement on the other side of the gate; the imposing figure of the man that had sat and watched her at the gym—Solo, as Roman had called him. His unreadable features almost bothered Nate. Before Roman, she’d never encountered anybody she couldn’t read easily, apart from her father on occasion. And now, Solo was the addition to that list. Something told her the list wasn’t going to stop there.

The gates opened just enough for Solo to step out, his eyes locking onto Nate with a sharp, aggressive gaze. He didn’t say much, just a curt nod to acknowledge her presence. Nate, already feeling the anxiety starting to build again, didn’t bother with pleasantries. She was here on business, and so was he.

“Arms out,” Solo instructed, his voice low and gravelly.

Nate complied without hesitation, her heart beating a little faster as he began his security check. His movements were efficient, professional, hands sweeping over her clothes with a practised ease, searching for anything that could be a threat. She was clean, of course, but the process was still unnerving, especially under a scrutiny as intense as Solo’s.

When he was satisfied, he stepped back, giving her a brief nod. “You’re clear,” he said in a clipped tone. Then, with another silent gesture, he led her toward the gate.

As she followed him inside, the gate closing almost ominously behind them, Nate felt the air shift around her, as if she had just crossed an invisible line, stepping into a different world entirely.

Entering the home, her boots clicking softly against the polished wooden floors, the interior was every bit as imposing as she’d imagined—high ceilings, art that likely cost more than a small country’s GDP, and an atmosphere as thick as anything she’d ever experienced. But what struck her most wasn’t the grandeur, but the group of people standing just beyond the entryway, waiting for her.

Roman led the way, wide-set shoulders cutting a path with his family standing just behind him. The man Roman had referred to as “Wise Man” stood beside him, a calculating look in his eyes as he assessed Nate. The others stood a bit farther back, all of them in various states of wariness.

“Everyone, this is Natalka Volkov,” Roman swiftly introduced, not bothering with pleasantries, just the barest as if to remind everyone that this was still his territory, and this was to operate under his rules… his say so.

Nate’s face remained a mask of cool indifference, even though her heart was hammering in her chest. She could only give them a nod of acknowledgement, just like the one Solo had given her.

There was an awkward beat of silence before Roman continued. “Wise Man, you’ve already met Natalka. But everyone else—this is our guest for the evening.”

Jey’s eyes narrowed slightly, and Nate caught the flash of suspicion that crossed his face. He looked her up and down, his posture stiff, arms crossed over his chest. He didn’t even bother to hide his scepticism.

“So, this the Volkov princess,” Jey said, his tone just on the edge of disrespect. “Didn’t think you’d actually show up here.”

“Roman thought it was important. I’m here to talk business.” Nate’s jaw tightened, but kept her voice as even as she could.

Jey’s eyes flicked to Roman, then back to Nate. “Yeah, but why with us? You got plenty of other places you could be.”

Nate met his stare head-on, refusing to be intimidated. Training paid off. “Because you’re the ones that seem to need me.”

Roman, sensing the building animosity, stepped in. “Jey, chill. She’s here because, like she said, we need her. A’ight?”

His cousin let out a huff but didn’t say anything further. His expression, though, made it clear he wasn’t convinced. But that didn’t stop his brother from chiming in.

“So, uh, we just lettin’ anyone in here now?”

“She’s not just anyone, Jimmy.” Roman glanced over at Jimmy, a warning in his eyes. “Don’t your ass know better than to question me in front of company, huh?”

“Company?” Jimmy shot back, clearly unimpressed. “More like trouble waitin’ to happen, Uce…”

Nate stiffened at his words. She wasn’t used to being the one under scrutiny, and it didn’t sit well with her. She wasn’t used to being seen as a liability; in her world, she was the one people feared. But here, she was the outsider.

“I’m not here to cause trouble,” she said. “But I’m also not here to prove myself to you.”

Jimmy’s lips twisted into a smirk, but before he could retort, Roman stepped in once again, his voice commanding and final. “Enough. She’s here ‘cus I want her here. That’s all you need to know.”

Solo, standing off to the side, watched the exchange silently. It was clear he saw her as a potential threat, someone who could disrupt the delicate balance they had within The Bloodline.

Sami, who had been quietly observing the entire time, shifted uncomfortably. He knew what it was like to be the other, the one everyone was wary of. His sympathetic glance was the only sign of welcome Nate received, though it was hardly comforting.

“Nice to meet you,” Sami offered gently, though it was clear he was aware of how precarious the situation was.

Nate gave him a nod in return, appreciating the gesture even if it didn’t do much to ease the tension. The atmosphere in the entryway was fucking suffocating.

“Look,” Nate sighed. “I get it. You don’t know me, and you sure as hell don’t trust me. But I’m not here to cause problems, like I said. I’m here because there’s something bigger going on, and we need to figure out who’s behind it.”

“And why should we believe you’re not here just to spy on us for your old man?”

To Nate’s surprise, it was Roman that asked the question. Wasn’t he supposed to be her—well, the closest thing to an ally here? He was the one that brought her here! 

There was a little smug smirk on his face as he noticed her apprehension, and that’s when she knew: he was testing her. Trying to gauge how she’d respond to such a question in front of everybody at once.

“Because,” she started, her eyes locked with Roman’s. “I’m not my father. And I’ve got just as much at stake as you do. My family’s caught up in this mess, too, and I’m trying to find answers. If that means working with you… then that’s what I’ll do.”

There was another pause. A small tug of Roman’s eyebrow showed his validation, still staring her down. But Tamina was the one to speak up.

“We’ve looked into the Volkovs,” she said to Roman. “She’s got the connections she says she does, and from what we’ve found, she’s not the type to be used as anyone’s pawn.”

Nate glanced at Tamina, accepting the neutral stance. It wasn’t an endorsement, but it wasn’t outright hostility either.

Roman nodded, then turned back to Nate. “You’ll need to earn their trust,” he said, his voice low, only meant for her. “But I know you’re capable of that, Princess.”

Once the group moved into the living room, Roman gestured for Nate to sit, taking his place at the head of the room. The others followed with palpable unease, especially as their leader began laying out the plan.

“Alright,” Roman started. “Here’s how it’s gonna go down. It’ll just be me and Natalka visiting Bunny.”

Jey immediately shot Roman a look. “You sure about that, Uce? Feels like you’re walkin’ into a trap.”

“We’re not goin’ in there to start a war. Just to ask questions. Show up with too many bodies, we’ll spook ‘em. It’s better this way.”

Tamina nodded slowly, her gaze lingering on Nate. “He’s right. Less chance of escalating things if it’s just the two of them.”

Despite the animosity, there was logic in Roman’s plan. Showing up with an army would only send the wrong message, one that could get them all killed before they got answers.

But still, Jey wasn’t convinced. “And what if things go south? You expect her to have your back?”

Roman’s gaze slid to Nate. “She’s capable. Besides, I got a feelin’ she can handle herself.”

There was a moment of silence as everyone absorbed Roman’s words. Nate met his gaze, something unspoken passing between them—a mutual understanding, perhaps, or maybe just an acknowledgement of the high stakes involved. 

Sami, sensing the tension from the twins that flanked either side of him on the couch, cleared his throat. “If that’s what you think is best, Roman. But maybe… I don’t know, take someone as backup, just in case?”

Roman instantly shook his head. “No back up. It’s me and Natalka. That’s it.”

Paul had remained silent until now, as he usually did unless he was needed. And this seemed like a good time to input his opinion—which, really, just consisted of validating Roman. If he truly had an issue with Roman’s plans, he would have raised those concerns in private.

“This is a… delicate situation. You must understand, our Tribal Chief is doing what is best.”

“It’s so risky,” Tamina commented, folding her arms. “But it’s the best approach.”

Solo, standing over at the door like a sentinel, huffed. “If this shit goes south, we gotta be close.”

Roman, once again, declined the proposal, shaking his head. “We will be fine. This ain’t my first rodeo, shit…” He then looked over at Nate. “You good with this, right?”

Nate looked up at him, her instincts taking over. There it is again… that adrenaline. Oh, it felt good. 

“Just don’t make me regret it,” she simply said, knowing the look in her eyes told him what he needed to know. She wanted to do this. Even if the rational voice at the back of her brain screamed at her that this was stupid. Because, hello Nate, Bunny knows who you are!

A ghost of a smile flickered across Roman’s face before moving toward a locked cabinet in the corner of the room. He pulled out a sleek handgun and handed it to her, the cold metal heavy in her hand. “Just in case.”

Nate nodded, looking down at the weapon as Roman instructed the others on what their role was during his absence. The gun was… pretty. She’d not seen one like it before. There were some kind of tribal patterns embossed around the barrel, and a watermark of some sort that made it unique. It was all black, but it was so carefully crafted. Beautiful.

Nate and Roman walked side by side as they exited his home, heading towards the row of SUVs parked perfectly down the side of the house. He instinctively reached for the door handle of the nearest one, but before he could open it, Nate’s hand shot out, grabbing onto his black hoodie to stop him in his tracks.

“Wait,” she said firmly.

Roman turned to her, eyebrows raised in surprise. It wasn’t often someone had the audacity to physically stop him from doing anything, let alone a woman who had only just formed a delicate alliance with him and would have taken great pleasure in seeing his lifeless body floating in the Hudson a month prior.

He glanced down at her hand on his arm, then back up to her face. “What’s up?”

She hesitated, her fingers twisting a little into the heavy fabric as if she was debating whether or not to say what was on her mind. But then, with a small exhale, she conceded. She’d already stopped him.

“My dad told me this morning that they’ve managed to, uh… tap all your SUVs.” She swallowed thickly. “He wanted to keep an eye on you, I guess.”

Even though she saw Roman’s face subtly twist in annoyance—the small twitch in his nose was a dead give away to her at this point—he nodded at her. “Tapped, huh?”

“Yeah,” Nate confirmed, finally releasing his arm. “If we take one of these, they’ll know exactly where we are. And trust me, you don’t want to deal with that shit.”

Roman assessed her for a moment, narrowing his eyes down at her. She could see flickers of… something in his gaze—perhaps surprise, or maybe even a tiny hint of respect. “You really just gon’ give that up? Betray your old man like that?”

Nate blinked, realising what she’d done. She had betrayed her father, hadn’t she? But instead of dwelling on it, she shrugged, attempting to play it off. “It’s not for you,” she said defensively. “It’s for me. I’m not getting caught up in this mess because of a stupid tap on a car.”

His lips tugged up into an amused smile. “Sure, Princess. Whatever helps you sleep at night.”

Nate rolled her eyes, but there was no real malice in it. More… irritation. “Do you have another car or not?”

Roman chuckled softly and nodded towards a less conspicuous vehicle parked off to the side—a dark sedan that blended into the shadows. “That one’ll do just fine.”

They made their way over, Roman unlocking the car with a press of a button. He opened the driver’s side door and slid in, while Nate took the passenger seat, the door closing with a solid thunk. The interior was luxurious but understated, nothing flashy that would draw attention. Perfect for what they were about to do.

As they pulled out of the driveway, Nate got out her phone, opening up the GPS to enter the location Roman had given her earlier. It wasn’t the address linked to Bunny’s compound, the one she had visited with Dimitri, but just a little out of the way. “Where exactly are we going?”

“Not too far,” Roman replied, his eyes on the road. “There’s a spot where we can watch Bunny’s place without being seen. See what we’re dealin’ with before stepping on their turf.”

Nate nodded, focusing on the directions. The drive was relatively quiet at first, the tension between them not entirely uncomfortable but certainly palpable. It wasn’t until they were a few miles out that Roman broke the silence.

“You don’t sound like him, y’know.”

Nate glanced over at him, raising an eyebrow. “What?”

“Your old man,” Roman clarified casually, yet curious. “You don’t talk like him. You sound… different.”

She stifled a chuckle, a small, almost wistful sound. “That’s because I didn’t grow up in Russia… I was born there, but we moved to the UK when I was around two. Spent most of my childhood there before we moved to Florida in… ‘07.”

“Florida, huh? Small world.”

Nate eyed him for a second before understanding what he meant. “Oh, yeah,” she muttered under her breath. “I think I remember reading something about you being from Florida,” she nonchalantly commented, chewing her lip in thought. “But yeah, that’s why I don’t sound like my dad. If anything, I sound more like my mum.”

Roman held back on poking fun at her pronunciation, unlike their encounter at the gym, but he did huff a little. “You were close to her?” he asked.

She paused, squinting her eyes as she thought of her mother once again that day, and the revelation that The Bloodline had been watching them long enough to have seen the change in their family. But now… this wasn’t the right time to bring that up. It was a miracle she was even sitting in a car with Roman Reigns without someone aiming a gun at the other.

“...Yeah,” was the only thing that she could muster at that moment.

He sensed he hit a nerve. A weakness. But for once, exploitation wasn’t on his mind. I mean, she’s already helping me, I don’t need to use that right now…

“It’s different, isn’t it?” Nate asked. “Florida, that is,” she glanced at him. “It’s got its own vibe.”

“Definitely,” Roman agreed, carrying a nugget of nostalgia in the way he exhaled. “Still home for me. My family’s down there, most of ‘em anyway. But here’s where the action is. The business. Can’t stay away for too long.”

Nate smirked. “Seems like you’ve got the best of both worlds.”

Roman stared off into the road stretching in front of him, licking his lips as hesitation lingered on them. “Could say that, yeah…” he mumbled. 

Nate watched him for a few moments, something else clearly sparking his memory. Almost a small glimmer of… what’s that, adoration? Pride? He had something, or someone, back in Florida that triggered an onslaught of mixed emotions. And she could see it; as plain as the nose on his face.

They fell into a somewhat comfortable silence after that, the city’s skyline passing by in a blur as they drove. When they finally reached the vantage point Roman had mentioned, he parked the car in a secluded spot, where they had a clear view of Bunny’s warehouse without being seen.

They sat there for a moment, both of them scanning the area, taking in the number of guards, the layout of the building, the vehicles coming and going. It was clear that Bunny’s operations were running smoothly.

“Give it fifteen, then we move,” Roman instructed, shifting in his seat and straightening his posture. Resting his arm on the small ledge the window provided, running his hand over his beard. “How long were you in Florida?”

Also getting herself into a more relaxed position, Nate focused her attention on the sights below. “About six years… moved here to be closer to business. Dad bought more properties, made alliances based here, so we moved with that.”

“You don’t sound too happy about it.”

She almost scoffed, shaking her head. “Nah, I’m kinda used to the back and forth. But I’ll give it to my dad, we’ve managed to stay in the same place for nine years now. Though, that might just be because of–” she cut herself off, never liking to physically utter the words.

“‘Cus of what?” Roman looked at her.

“S-Something that happened,” she shrugged, leaning forward in her seat to dial in her attention on the warehouse. 

“Whatever you say, Princess…” Roman muttered.

“Why do you keep calling me that?” Nate huffed.

“What?”

“You know what.”

“Princess?”

“Yeah,” she whipped her head round to look at him. “Do I look like I have a fucking crown on my head?”

He practically beamed at her cold switch. “‘Cus that’s what your ass is, sweetheart. Like Jey said… you the Volkov princess.”

She almost cringed at the phrase. “Okay, if I’m gonna work with you, I’m gonna need none of you cunts to call me that again. Call me Natalka—you know what, don’t even call me that. You sound too much like my dad.”

“So, what am I supposed to call you? Fuckin’ Brenda?”

“Nate! Call me Nate, alright? Jesus…” she groaned, returning her gaze in front of her.

“Nate…” Roman tested the name on his tongue. It rang, it sounded alright. Sure, why not use it? Comply with Princess’ wishes. “Your ass needs to calm down…”

“Sorry, are we not sat watching the very people who most likely fucked us both over? Both our families? Excuse me if I’m a little wired right now,” she snapped.

He didn’t say anything further, just embraced the jolt of satisfaction it brought him to piss her off like he had. 

The two of them continued to watch over Bunny’s compound like predators stalking prey. The tension in the car remained thick, but it wasn’t entirely the only mission on Roman’s mind right now. Instead, especially after her little outburst, he found his eyes drifting toward Nate.

She leaned forward, her elbows resting on her thighs as she carefully scanned the area. The way she moved, the way her body held tension and focus, it was something that captured Roman since the conversation they had behind the Apple store. 

But here, for the first time, he allowed himself to really look at her.

Her jawline caught the fading sunlight, accentuating her cool, composed facade. His gaze moved to the curve of her neck, noticing the tattoo planted just behind her ear, down to the subtle rise of her collarbone. The way she sat revealed a hint of her chest, the swell of her breasts just visible in the low-cut neckline. He travelled lower, taking in the shape of her thighs as they pressed together, plush-looking and toned all at the same time.

She was all angles and curves, a balance of strength and femininity that drew him in, even as he fought against it.

Roman wasn’t one to lose focus easily, but something about… her was different. There was a rawness, a primal allure that he hadn’t expected. And it wasn’t just her physicality; it was the way she carried herself, the confidence that radiated from her even when she was still.

For a moment, he found himself wondering what she was like when she wasn’t guarded, when she wasn’t watching the world with those sharp, calculating, golden eyes. He imagined, shamelessly, her clothes gone, her skin warm under his hands, her body beneath his—a fleeting thought that he quickly pushed away, though it left a heat in his chest that wasn’t easy to dismiss.

But Nate wasn’t oblivious to the attention. She felt his focus shift, the intensity of it impossible to ignore. Slowly, she turned her head, her eyes meeting his with a knowing smirk.

“You know, you’re supposed to be watching the compound,” she murmured lowly, teasingly.

Roman didn’t flinch, didn’t look away. Instead, he leaned back slightly, giving her an almost imperceptible smile. “Just makin’ sure I didn’t miss anything.”

Nate arched an eyebrow, the playful glint in her eyes unmistakable. “And did you?”

Roman’s smile widened, but he didn’t answer, choosing instead to let the silence speak for itself. Nate chuckled softly, shaking her head as she turned back to the compound.

“Anyway,” she sighed, taking on a more assertive tone. “It seems alright for us to head down now.” She made the call, pushing open the passenger side door and slipping out of the sedan, but not before she turned and bent down, looking straight at Roman once again.

“And remember to keep your eyes on the prize, gospodin vozhd’ plemeni.”

The adrenaline had laid dormant until now; as they made their way down toward the compound, it rose, slowly at first, then with increasing intensity as they neared the entrance. Nate felt it—the quickening of her pulse, sharpened senses. Body prepared for whatever was to unfold. It was a feeling she knew well, and welcomed with open arms each time it paid a visit.

Slightly ahead of her, Roman himself struggled to contain the rush simmering beneath the surface. He remained physically relaxed, his stride easy, but there was an underlying edge to him now—a controlled power just waiting to be unleashed. 

He was a man used to command, used to bending the world to his will, and he wore that authority like a second skin.

They were noticed immediately, of course. Bunny’s men, scattered around the compound, straightened as the two newcomers approached, with sharp scrutiny and rigid stances. The territorial aggression reeked.

“Who the fuck are you?” one of the men demanded gravelly, narrowing his eyes as he took in Roman’s imposing figure and Nate’s assured demeanour. The man was tall, with a shaved head and tattoos snaking down his arms, along with all the telltale signs of someone who had spent most of his life in the business of intimidation.

“Relax, we’re not here to cause any trouble,” Roman said, hands slipping into his pockets as he came to a stop just a few feet from the group of men. “We just wanna talk to Bunny.” Calm arrogance infused his cadence, causing his words to translate as far more patronising than what they implied.

The men exchanged wary glances. “El señor conejito is not here right now,” another one of them said curtly. He was shorter, stockier, with a face that looked like it had seen more than its fair share of fights.

Nate stepped forward, joining Roman’s side. “Maybe you can help us out, then. We’re just looking for some information,” she added softly, looking to hone her skills she garnered from years of using her femininity as a pawn for her father.

However, Bunny’s men didn’t soften, not like she initially had hoped. If anything, they just grew more suspicious, their eyes flicking between Nate and Roman with barely concealed hostility.

The smirk on Roman’s face faltered, replaced by a harder edge—patience wearing thin. “We’re lookin’ for answers about a job at a particular warehouse,” he clarified. “And we wanna know if Bunny still had issues with Damian Priest.”

There was one man in particular who seemed to have taken up the role as leader in his leader’s absence, folding his arms across his chest and standing his ground. “We don’t know anything about that, amigo.”

“I ain’t in the mood to be bullshitted, amigo,” Roman retorted. Another step closer was taken, and he was towering over the man, suffocating him with his otherworldly presence. “No games. You wanna tell me if y’all recently came into possession of a large shipment of… heavy weaponry? While we at it, why don’t I ask if you added another name to the list of successful hits, huh?”

Roman left no room for doubt; his questions were rhetorical, thick with implied threats. The men bristled, hands twitching toward their weapons. The interaction was teetering into irredeemable territory.

But before anyone could make another move, the roar of an engine cut through the strain like a thunderclap. A vehicle, dark and nondescript, sped into the compound, tires screeching as it barreled toward them. The sound of gunfire erupted, the sharp crack of AK-47s ripping through the air.

Chaos engulfed them.

Bunny’s men barely had time to react before bullets began to tear through their ranks. Bodies crumpled to the ground, blood spraying across the dirt, the ether thick with the acrid smell of gunpowder and the screams of the dying.

“Shit!” Nate gasped, instinctively reaching for the handgun Roman had given her, that she had tucked away in her waistband. She ducked behind a nearby stack of crates, her pulse hammering in her ears, the adrenaline now well and truly flooding her veins like fire.

Roman was beside her in an instant, his own weapon drawn as he caught the eye of one of Bunny’s men staring daggers into him, accusation rife in his eyes. “This ain’t us!” Roman barked at him, his voice barely audible over the cacophony of gunfire. “We ain’t here to take you out, man!”

But there was no reasoning with them now. Bunny’s men were in full survival mode, their minds too clouded by the sudden onslaught to discern friend from foe. They fired wildly, their bullets indiscriminately hitting everything in sight.

Nate took a deep breath, braving the decision to peek out from behind the crates. The vehicle had come to a stop near the entrance, its occupants still firing relentlessly. The men were dressed in black, their faces obscured by masks. And then, with one more glance at the vehicle, Nate felt… stupid. 

That fucking flag situated above the tail light… 

Shit… Why didn’t I think of that?

Before she could think any further into it, she had to return fire—precise shots, each one finding its mark. The satisfaction of each hit sent a dark thrill through her—a reminder of the power she held in these moments, the control she exerted in the midst of such chaos.

But even as she revelled in the rush, she knew they needed to get out. This was a numbers game at this point, and a losing battle; the longer they stayed, the greater the risk.

And it seemed Roman was thinking the same thing. “We need to move!” he shouted over the noise, scanning the compound for an exit route.  “Now!”

Nate nodded, gritting her teeth as she fired off another round. But as she moved to follow Roman, pain lanced through her leg—a sudden, sharp agony that nearly knocked her off her feet. She stumbled, her hand flying to her thigh, where blood was already soaking through her jeans.

“Shit,” she hissed, trying to keep the panic at bay as she realised she’d been hit. The epinephrine was still pumping, dulling the pain, but she knew it wouldn’t last. They needed to leave now, before it got any worse.

Roman noticed immediately, his eyes narrowing as he saw her falter. Without a word, he moved to her side, his arm slipping around her waist to support her weight. “Can you walk?” he asked breathlessly.

“I’ll manage—let’s just get out,” Nate bit out, forcing herself to focus through the pain. There was no time for weakness, no room for hesitation.

He shielded her the best he could from the hail of bullets that continued to rain down around them. The compound was a full blown death trap now, bodies littering the ground, blood pooling in the dirt. The sounds of gunfire and screams were deafening, a symphony of violence.

They reached the perimeter, where Roman’s sedan was parked—miraculously avoiding the worst of the carnage. He practically shoved Nate into the passenger seat, his face a mask of grim determination as he slid behind the wheel.

“Hold on,” he muttered, more to himself than to her, as he started the engine and slammed his foot down on the accelerator. The car shot forward, tearing away from Bunny’s compound and onto the road with a screech of the tires.

Nate’s breath came in ragged gasps as she pressed her hand harder against the wound, trying to staunch the bleeding as best she could. She could speak, couldn’t say anything. The pain was bad, but she could handle it. 

What was harder to ignore, however, was the thrill that remained. The dark, intoxicating high that came with the close call, with the sheer unpredictability of what had just happened.

The car’s interior was now tainted with the scent of blood as Roman sped down the deserted roads, mingling with the leather. Roman’s eyes flicked toward her leg, where crimson had started to cover her hand as she continued to apply pressure. It was getting worse.

His jaw tightened as he tried to focus on the road, but the sight of her blood was pushing him over the edge.

“You’re bleeding too much,” he said in an almost accusatory tone.

“I’m fine,” Nate shot back with that infuriating stubbornness that was quickly becoming one of her defining traits.

Roman completely took his eyes off the road, narrowing them at her. “You’re ruining my damn car.”

Nate managed a breathy laugh. “Is that what you’re worried about? Your precious car?”

He didn’t answer immediately, momentarily dissecting his focus between the road and the rising frustration bubbling inside him. “I’m takin’ you to our safehouse in Red Hook. It’s closer than goin’ back to my place, and we need to wrap that up now.”

She straightened slightly, wincing as she shifted her leg. “I told you, I’ll hold out, it’s surface level.”

Roman clenched his teeth. He was on the edge, high from the incident mingling with his growing irritation, and she was testing him. “This isn’t a fuckin’ argument, Nate. You’re bleeding all over my car, and you’re gonna get patched up whether you like it or not.”

She shook her head, her fingers gripping the edge of the seat. “I can handle it. Just keep driving, for fuck’s sake.”

The car swerved slightly as Roman’s temper flared. He slammed his hand against the steering wheel, a sharp, loud thus that reverberated through the car. “Damn it, stop being so fuckin’ stubborn!”

Nate’s eyes widened slightly at his outburst, not out of fear but more out of surprise. She knew Roman had a reputation for being overly composed in situations that called for the opposite, but whenever he did lose his cool, it was like a hurricane—sudden and destructive. Yet, it wasn’t the kind of outburst that scared her; it was the kind that finally shut her up.

She pressed her lips together, holding back the retort that sat on the tip of her tongue. She could tell from the tension in his shoulders, the clenched jaw, and the way his eyes kept darting back to her leg that Roman wasn’t going to budge on this.

“Fine,” she muttered with reluctant acceptance. “Take me to the stupid safehouse.”

Roman didn’t respond, but she saw the slight loosening of his grip on the steering wheel, a sign that her compliance had at least eased him somewhat. The car sped on, the streets of Brooklyn blurring past as they approached Red Hook, the industrial area shrouded in shadows and silence.

The safehouse was a nondescript building tucked away in a quiet corner, one that looked abandoned but was anything but. Roman pulled up to the entrance, his movements quick as he parked the car. He got out first, moving around to her side, and opened the door with a brisk motion.

“Come on,” he urged, voice still tinged with that earlier frustration, but there was something else there as well now—a hint of concern that he tried to mask with his general sternness.

Nate didn’t argue this time, biting back the pain as she swung her legs out of the car. Roman was at her side in an instant, his large hand gripping around her arm to steady her as she stood. 

The walk to the door was a short one, but every step sent a fresh jolt through her leg. He kept a firm hold on her, practically half-carrying her into the building. The safehouse’s interior was sparse, utilitarian, but clean. There were a few pieces of furniture, a couch, a table, and the basic amenities needed to make it livable, but it was clear this place was meant for function, not comfort.

Roman guided her to the couch, easing her down onto it with a gentleness that actually put Nate on edge more than his dickhead demeanour she’d known from him this whole time. “Stay there,” he ordered as he disappeared into another room.

Nate breathed out shakily, pulling off her jacket before leaning back against the couch, hoping to alleviate some of the throbbing in her leg. It beat in tandem with her heart, each pulse sending new waves of discomfort up her spine. But it wasn’t… just the pain—it was the lingering sense of ecstasy that came with a shootout. 

She felt so… wired.

Roman returned a moment later with a first-aid kit in hand and a no-nonsense crease in his brow. He’d let his hair down from the bun that had come loose during earlier altercations, and he’d stripped himself of his hoodie, revealing a snuggly-fitted t-shirt that showed just how toned he really was. 

His eyes darkened as he looked at the wound on her leg, the blood-soaked denim clinging to her thigh. He knelt down beside her and sighed. “You’re gon’ have to take these off,” he said matter-of-factly, hoping that she wasn’t about to start rebelling… again.

Nate shot him a look, half incredulous, half defiant. “Fuck off.”

“Can’t do it properly with them on,” he replied, looking up at her with an unyielding intensity.

With a huff of resignation, Nate stood and moved to unbutton her jeans, her movements jerky and begrudging, her sole intention to piss him off. She pushed them down her hips, wincing slightly as the fabric pulled against the wound. All the while, she kept her eyes locked on his, challenging him even as she complied.

“Keep your eyes in your head, suka…” she grumbled, before continuing to herself, under her breath in a biting tone, “Podumayte tol’ko, ya mog by vse yeshche byt’ doma, naslazhdayas’ priyatnym vecherom, i ya zdes’.... S chertovym Roman Reigns. Ty idiot….”

Roman bit his tongue, honestly amused at her little tantrum, even though he had no fucking clue what she was saying. All he heard was his name. In that accent. He had Natalka Volkov, daughter of an intense adversary, in his safehouse, now in nothing but her shirt and underwear, the black lace peeking from underneath her v-neck stark against her subtly sun-kissed skin.

A position he never fathomed the two of them would ever be in.

But he didn’t rise to the bait, didn’t let himself react outwardly, but inside, there was a shift, a crack in his otherwise ironclad control. He focused on the task at hand after she removed her boots and sat on the edge of the couch.

“This is gonna hurt,” he warned, not bothering to sugarcoat it as he began to clean the wound.

Nate gritted her teeth, nodding silently, before hissing as the antiseptic touched her skin, the sting cutting through her like a sharp machete. But the rough pads of his fingertips were… surprisingly gentle as they worked. 

Roman spoke, casually, though he was still breathing through short huffs, causing his voice to acquire a rasp. “You need to be more careful. Gettin’ shot ain’t a hobby.”

She let out a breathy laugh, though it sounded more like a sigh. “Could say the same to you… Don’t lie, we both live for this shit.”

He responded with a dark chuckle, narrowing his brows as he concentrated on getting the area as clean as possible before he started to wrap it up. She did notice his fingers lingering longer than necessary, tracing the edges of her wound with a care that bordered on… tender.

And then, out of nowhere, he broke the silence again.

“Tell me about your fiancé.”

Nate blinked. “What?” The word came out sharper than intended, but she was too frenzied to care. “How the hell do you know about that?”

Roman didn’t look up, but there was a slight curve to his lips, a knowing smirk that told her everything she needed to know. “I don’t need you to tell me. It’s the talk of the town.” He finally glanced up, his dark brown eyes meeting hers with a look that was both challenging and deeply amused.

Her heart, as cliché as it sounds, skipped a beat. It literally stumbled in her chest to the point where she thought she was about to throw it up. Whether it was from his proximity, how much closer he’d seemed to have gotten to her—how much further up her leg his hand had crept, or the information he just dropped, she couldn’t be sure. And she wasn’t sure why she began to talk, but the words started spilling out before she could stop them.

“Boris,” she muttered, her tone instinctively twisting into a mixture of disdain and resignation. “He’s—” She paused, biting down onto her lower lip as Roman’s fingers brushed higher up her thigh, lingering dangerously close to the hem of her shirt. “He’s a… convenient match for my dad, I guess. Solidifies alliances, keeps everything nice and… professional. Known him since we were kids, but my God, don’t I hate the twat…”

Roman hummed in response, his hands failing to cease their slow, deliberate movements. He couldn’t help it; the sight of her on his couch, flushed, in such a vulnerable position, made it difficult for him to shut out that naturally primal, inherently male, part of himself.

Every time he reached for something in the first aid kit, his fingers would trail down her leg, only to return with even more intent. The touch wasn’t lost on her—each brush of his skin against hers sending a wave of heat straight to her abdomen, threatening to inch lower into territory she knew she wouldn’t be able to come back from. 

She continued, her voice growing quieter, almost as if she were speaking more to herself than to him. “After Christmas, dad’s moving him in. I’m, uh, expected to share a fucking room with him, as well, so…”

Roman’s hands stilled for a moment, his eyes locking onto hers. “And you’re okay with that?”

Nate scoffed bitterly. “Don’t really have much of a choice, do I? It’s all about loyalty, right? Doing what’s expected.”

There was a long pause before Roman’s voice cut through again, this time with a different kind of rasp altogether. “Is that why you’re here with me?”

Oh, she fucking hated him with a passion. In fact, that question solidified the fact that she was sure she couldn’t hate him more. The fact that something alarmingly close to exhilaration bubbled up inside her. Fuck Roman Reigns.

A small, almost giddy smile tugged at the corner of her lips. Maybe it was the absurdity of the situation, or maybe it was just the way he was looking at her, as if he could see right through all the bullshit she’d been telling herself.

Roman’s fingers now, sneakily, crept under the hem of her shirt, tracing the edge of her panties. Feather-light, but oh so deliberate. He watched her closely, gauging her reaction as he spoke again. “Feels good, doesn’t it? Breakin’ the rules. Doin’ somethin’ different.”

Nate didn’t perceive his words as any less than a challenge. The heat from his hand caused her breathing to hitch in her throat. She knew this was so, so wrong. He was pushing closer toward a boundary they were both well aware should have been avoided.

But instead of pulling away, she found herself leaning into it, into him.

“Ain’t nothin’ wrong with having a little fun, Nate,” Roman continued in a smooth and coaxing tone. “You ain’t gotta be the perfect daughter here.”

She couldn’t deny the truth in his words. The adrenaline remained rampant in her veins, making everything sharper, more intense. The way he was looking at her, the way his hands moved—everything felt charged with a dangerous kind of energy that she wasn’t sure she even wanted to resist. 

With a harsh swallow, Nate took a much-needed deep breath, narrowing her eyes down at Roman as his hand finally stopped at her waist, still under her shirt. “What the fuck are you doing, Reigns?” she asked him bluntly.

And with his usual cocky tone, he smirked. Smirked. “What do you think I’m doin’, Princess?”

She’d rather die than admit that confidence, the arrogance, made him even more alluring to her. But it didn’t stop her from giving him at least…something.

“You look good with your hair down.”

He grinned, licking his lips, clearly finding her comment amusing. He even laughed a little. What a rare sound.

“Don’t laugh at me,” she snapped. “I’m actually trying to be nice.”

But the smile only deepened, his fingers only squeezed a little firmer into her. “And what would you rather me do, Volkov?”

There was a pause. A long, tedious pause. Thickened with the tension of unspoken… desire. And finally, driven by the circumstances surrounding them, she broke.

“Fuck it,” she muttered under her breath, her resolve crumbling as she reached out and grabbed the collar of his shirt, yanking him up towards her. The move was bold, risky, but it felt worth it in the moment. 

Their lips crashed together. Intense. Unrestrained. Fuelled by everything leading to this moment. The hatred. The shipment. Priest. Dimitri. Maria and Ava. Boris. Being ambushed. The adrenaline. Him. Her.

Roman responded immediately, his hand tightening on her waist, the other sliding up to the back of her head, where his fingers dug through her hair, pulling her closer as if it were well overdue. His teeth nipped at her lower lip, messily overpowering her with his harsh hold and his God-like stature.

Much to his satisfaction, she seemed to throw back exactly what he was giving her. She returned with a vicious snap of her teeth, the sting lingering on her own blurring every line of rationality she could have pulled from her subconscious.

Her fist clenched around his shirt, twisting the material around it until she heard the miniscule snap of thread. This prompted Roman to swiftly push himself up from the floor, momentarily breaking the kiss before he wrapped both of his bulky arms around her body, lifting her up with ease and guiding her back until she hit the arm of the couch. He was careful not to touch where he’d bandaged her thigh, hovering over her.

His eyes cast a threatening glare down at Nate, taking in the sight of her under him, breathless, burning a light red in the face. Lips parted, shirt crumpled up around her waist. 

“Such a fucking mess,” he grumbled, glancing down at her hand that still had an unrelenting grip on his shirt. He wrapped his own hand around her smaller wrist, roughly ripping it away and pushing it down into the couch beside her head. Keeping it there. “You’re gonna ruin my shirt. First my car, now this?”

“Fuck you,” she bit with clenched teeth. 

Once again, she watched as his nose twitched, and he ran his tongue over his teeth, causing his cheeks to hollow for a split second. “Awh, look how easy I can piss you off, Princess,” he chided, mocking her. Her arm wriggled under his grasp, but he wasn’t letting go. No way.

It should have bothered her how he touched her as if he had a right to. But… it really didn’t.

“Fuck. You,” she repeated, unable to utter anything more.

“What you gon’ do, Princess?” He kept using that name. “You gon’ hit me? Maybe you should. Maybe it would get rid of that bitchy attitude I keep hea—”

He was cut off by the swift, fiery movement of her free hand colliding with the side of his face. They just stared at each other, the only sound in the safehouse being the pair’s shallow, heavy breaths. Below, he awoke, the slap encouraging that familiar twitch.

Suddenly, his hand moved from her wrist to her throat, wrapping the expanse of it around her. He jerked her upwards so her upper body was lifted, his nose barely brushing the tip of hers, and his hair falling into makeshift curtains around their faces. He wanted to curse her out, wanted to stop this whole thing before he made even more decisions that could bite him in the ass down the line. But it was too late for that.

He needed her. Needed to be in her. Now.

Another heated kiss followed, thick tongue rolling past her lips and circling hers with a telling talent stemming from years of meticulous experience. She tugged a little at his beard, the sensations causing him to groan into her mouth and rut his hips downwards, desperate for some friction.

“Get on with it,” Nate mumbled against his lips as she felt his fingers dig into the sides of her throat. It sent jolts down to her arousal, the undeniable sensation of it heavy between her legs.

Roman didn’t need to be asked twice. He ripped away from her, pulling his shirt up and away from his body, exposing his defined frame and intricate tattoo over the right side of his chest, connecting over his shoulder and all the way down his arm. 

He wasted very little time, gripping her hips and dragging her towards him, not bothering to remove her panties, only roughly tugging them to the side. He had her lower back propped up on his legs, causing her to open up to him in the lewdest of manners. She didn’t care. In fact, the cool air hitting the soaked folds of her cunt only heightened her arousal. Only made her want this more. 

Roman let out a breath at the sight, keeping her panties hooked around his thumb as he collected saliva from his tongue onto the fingers of his free hand, lowering them to tentatively drag them over her wetness.

“Shit, you get this wet over a shootout, baby girl?” he hummed, pressing his thumb into her clit. She jolted a little, feeling her pearl throb under his rough fingers. This was anything but gentle, there was nothing sentimental about this interaction. It was sordid, demented, manic, erratic. 

Exactly how she liked it.

“Not so mouthy now, huh?” he tormented, wasting no time in slipping two tepid fingers down and into her tight entrance, smirking at the whimper that left her defiant lips. “Boris stupid ass better know how pretty his pussy is…”

“It is not his,” Nate managed to choke out, the slight stretch of his fingers reminding her of how long it had been since she last got to experience this.

“Of course not,” Roman hummed, leaning over her and looking her dead in the eyes. “This my pussy tonight, Princess.”

“O bozhe,” she exhaled, waiting with baited breath as he fumbled below, maintaining eye contact before she felt the hot, hard tip of his cock press against her dripping folds. 

Roman neglected to tell her how much he secretly loved the Russian on her tongue, knowing there was a slim possibility she’d withhold it from him out of pure pettiness. He wanted her to speak to him in that fucking accent, wanted to hear her as she panted in a breathless slavic drawl. And that’s exactly what he’d get.

Nate’s hand shot up to Roman’s bicep, nails clawing into his skin as he finally, steadily began to push his way inside her. She wasn’t even upset that he’d not given her a longer warm up; the discomfort, the sting, the pull… Fuck, it hurt so good.

He watched her brows furrow and her eyes flutter shut, head falling back against the cushiony surface of the couch. And he could feel it in the way she gripped around his cock, just how intense it was to take someone as well-endowed... It hurt her. But the pulse of her walls, the moan that fell from her parted lips, the way she clung onto his arm in an attempt to pull him closer…

…The way her back arched…

She wanted anything, but for him to stop.

“Chert voz’mi, why are you so big…” she groaned under her breath as he started moving, strategically pulling away, just to thrust his hips back, filling her to the hilt. He grunted as his cock was sucked back into her heat, caressing him like a warm blanket.

“God’s gift, Princess,” he breathed out with a knowing smirk, moving to throw her uninjured leg over his shoulder, lowering his body over her and propping his hands above her head on the couch. 

Her whole body jolted back and forth as he built up a rhythm, rolling his hips into her at a jarring pace. If it weren’t for the fact he was still wearing his black sweatpants, his thrusts would sound out as a backing track over the growing whimpers beneath him. 

The hand that had been grabbing at his arm slid upwards, feeling a light layer of perspiration over his olive skin. She grabbed at the dampening length of his hair, right at the roots on the back of his neck, hoping to gain a little stability in his erratic movements.

“Fuck,” she gasped as the tip of his cock kissed the spongey surface of her cervix, her hips careening up towards his in a sloppy motion. 

“That the spot, huh?” Roman whispered raspily, angling—folding—her body, allowing him to hit that spot deep inside her each time he rocked back into her. “Been a while for you, ain’t it?”

Up until now, she was sure the pleasure couldn’t get any more intense. But his voice… talking her through it… God, it did something to her. Something otherworldly.

Nate nodded quickly, her chest rising and falling rapidly and her mind fogging, tears forming in the corners of her eyes.

“I can tell,” he continued, threading his fingers through her hair and clenching his fist around it, making it easy to tug and pull as much as he pleased. “So fuckin’ tight on this dick… got Daddy feelin’ good.”

Jesus Christ…

“Fuck, I hate you so much,” Nate whined.

“Yeah? You hate me, Princess?” He tilted his head as he peered down at her, tongue dragging across his lower lip.

“Y-Yes… oh fuck, yes…” she stuttered, her grip on his hair tightening as he sped up, the reverberations in her chest making it difficult to say a word.

“This pussy don’t hate me,” he smugly commented, before pulling himself back up onto his knees to get a better look at his glistening dick sliding in and out of her. “See? She singin’ for me…” 

She managed to glare at him, using the back of the sofa to help pull herself up onto his lap and bring her face to his. “Will you shut the fuck up and fuck me?”

His hand instantly slid around to her lower back, pulling her hips to move in tandem with his as he shifted his legs from under him, allowing her to properly straddle his hips. She took the hint and started to roll her hips at the pace she wanted, which didn’t differ much from his.

“Look how desperate you are, Princess…” he grinned, looking down at where her pussy swallowed him up, the sight annoyingly obstructed by her shirt. “Take this shit off,” he ordered, already pulling it up and off her body to reveal a bra that matched the delicacy of her panties.

Nate grabbed at his shoulders, his chest, his neck, his beard—anything to help with leverage as she started to bounce up and down on his cock, chasing a high that had been lingering since she arrived at Roman’s house earlier that day.

“Fuck,” Roman grunted, sending a harsh smack to the side of her ass and grabbing the curves of her body. The action made her yelp, followed by a throaty groan. “Oh, you like that?” he asked, before repeating the motion in the same place. This time, it sent spasms through her cunt, massaging him in all the right places. “Yeah, you like that shit, huh?” He was rambling on now, unable to stop himself from meeting her thrusts with his own. 

Her hand wrapped around his chin, digging her nails into his face as she stared down at him. And it seemed the more pain she inflicted on him, he’d come back stronger. And so it ignited a back and forth of wills, who could get one over on the other. Soon enough, he had her throat snugly in his hand again, squeezing with exactly the right amount of pressure.

Her skin was raw, throbbing where he’d landed repeated slaps. And the more it stung, the closer she felt herself getting to her release.

“O-oh, fuck—I’m gonna cum,” she whispered, barely able to annunciate. “Shit, don’t stop, don’t stop…” she begged, holding onto his shoulders as he wrapped his arms around her, pummelling his hips up into her, jarring her body in his hold.

“Yeah, you gon’ give Daddy that nut?”

“Da… chert, ya seychas konchu tak chertovski sil’no…” she brokenly whimpered, her lips pressed up against his forehead.

“Fuck,” he moaned, leaning in to press open mouth kisses to her neck, dragging his tongue over the marks he’d left from his death grip on her. “Riempiró questa figa perfetta, dolcezza…”

Finally, her movements became clumsy, inconsistent, and she tensed up everywhere. Her ears buzzed and her eyes squeezed shut as her climax smacked her in the face. She cried out loudly, scratched at Roman’s back as she gyrated and rode through the overwhelming level of euphoria.

“Goddamn, you cummin’ so hard,” he purred, a strained, guttural growl sounding from the back of his throat. He held her weight as she practically went limp on top of him, allowing him to enjoy her body long enough to unload inside her, fill her up and leave his mark. She felt his release seep out as he continued to milk himself of every last drop, ensuring he made the most out of Natalka Volkov’s body whilst he had it.

And squeezing her eyes shut, on the come down from such an eventful day, she promised herself that Roman Reigns wouldn’t have her body again.

But self-restraint was never her forte.

TRANSLATION: Gospodin vozhd’ plemeni - “Mr. Tribal Chief.” Podumayte tol’ko, ya mog by vse yeshche byt’ doma, naslazhdayas’ priyatnym vecherom, i ya zdes’.... S chertovym Roman Reigns. Ty idiot…. - “Just think, I could have still been at home, enjoying a nice evening, and I’m here… with fucking Roman Reigns. You idiot.” O bozhe - “Oh God.” Da… chert, ya seychas konchu tak chertovski sil’no… - “Yes… shit, I’m gonna cum so fucking hard.” Riempiró questa figa perfetta, dolcezza… - “I’m gonna fill this perfect pussy up, sweetheart.”

[anulithots]

NOORIE. I JUST WATCHED EP 3-5 OF LINK CLICK AND I BAWLED MY EYES OUT. I WASN'T EXPECTING THIS MUCH EMOTIONAL DAMAGE WHYYYYY

off topic but like scattered thoughts:

i don't know if you know this but what they're chanting during the game (龙阳之好 — meaning longyang's interest) is basically a phrase that refers to gay relationships. this has to be intentional. right. right. right. anyways if you'd like you can learn more about lord longyang in this brief wikipedia page

cheng xiaoshi's basketball flashback thing with lu guang is peak queer cinema. casually called him his partner and made a profound metaphor on trust on the spot. no one is doing it like him. icon

the captain's (i think his name was hong bin??) accent changes drastically when he's around his family — i don't live in china so i can't pinpoint which region it's from, but just think of it as the chinese equivalent of a country accent. skfjd just thought that was a cute detail

embarrassing but for like the tiniest moment but with the dramatic sunlight and the gentle music i fr thought that implied that hong bin was chen xiao's first love... my stupidity knows no bounds

when cheng xiaoshi is 'in the body' of another person in the past, how much of his emotions are his, and how much of them are the other person's? ...this calls for a character psychoanalysis

okay thank you for listening to my rant. sfjdskfjkfjsj going to scream into my pillow now

KDFJKLDSJF KSDJF

EPSIDOE THREEE THROUGH FIVE ARE SO EMOTIONALLY DEVESTATING, IF NTO THE MOST EMOTIONALLY DEVESTATING EPSIDOES IN ALL OF CINEMA (I'm weak for parents singing lullabies and providing comfort that ends tragically. I never stood a chance.) /pos

OKAY RESPONDING TO YOUR THOUGHTS! (sorry if this seems disjointed I'm going through an 'execuative dysfuntino floaty-float cloud rn... yes feeligns I know how to describe those.)

OHMIGOSH THE GAY CHANT. YES IT HAS TO BE INTENTIONAL. THey just get more queer the more you watch. Their shop literally has their ship name.

The manhua exists.

If this isn't the most queer platonic/gay thing I've ever seen... I don't know what is.

OOOH and I have to tag @celestialsun123 and @mylee-sketches in this just for that point GAY BASKETBALL CHANT WOWOWOO

This ep was also just like... very queer. SO queer. the most queer coded thing I've ever watched in my life (they wanted to convince us we were safe, that this would be a fun little gay time travel show.)

Holy herbs. You know what? The censorship just made them more creative and this is more queer than if it were cannon (just shiguang in general actually... it gets even better as you go on)

ANd the shorts as wellll... also Qiao Ling literally asks Lu Guang 'so what do you like about Cheng XIaoshi?' Like she's honestly the biggest shiguang shipper of us all.

The accent thing IS such a cute detail yess. The way that entire town was written with so much life and little things, each character having depth and intrigue from the get go... only for... episode five.. . and ... *ugly sobbing*

(Especially Chen Xiao's mom. I've honestly rarely seen parents written as well as they are in link click.)

PFT YES YES I ALSO THOUGHT HONG BIN AND CHENG XIAO were supposed to be queer coded in that scene. It's very vibes.

OHMIGOSH THE CHENG XIAOHSHI POSESSION THING CONSUMES SO MUCH OF MY THOUGHTS IT"S SO INTERESTING AS BOTH A NARRATIVE DEVICE AND PART OF HIS CHARACTER. I have a post here:

Theorizing on how Cheng Xiaoshi's emotions work when he's possessing people

with some theories behind it, and lots of notes and anlysis that are... in the works (I'm on my second rewatch of season one but I'm silly and keep rewatching the same scene six times before I watch the next... rinse repeat I've been rewatching for a half a month now.)

LIke the layers and layers and layers in this show are insanneeeee.

Also boba tea:

and... screenshot collection (It's so hard to screenshot shows holy herbs. I wish the manhua adapatation of the first season - where it's all the same as the show - was available online)

(not goign to include any spoilers)

....and I reached my image limit.

THANK YOU FOR TALKING WITH ME ABOUT LINK CLICK AKLDFSJKLDSJFKLDSJFDKLSFJDSLKFJDS.

[gudsouplady]

Watching Sherlock (S1,E2) The Blind Banker (Tw: This show has a lot of showing and mentioning of guns,Dead bodies,Drugs,War etc.If you don’t like that stuff then I advise you to not read this post)

• Soo Lin makes tea for her job at a museum,That sounds kind of fun

• Soo Lin is very wise

• Nooo Soo Lin denied going for a drink with Andy

• Why is Soo Lin in the museum alone ????

• Who is in the room with Soo Lin ?????

• Is someone under the cloth ???

• I LOVE THIS INTRO 🩷, I want to learn it on the piano

• John is food shopping 🛒 and it going unsuccessful

• Sherlock is having fight with someone in his house

• I just learned Euros Lyn directed this episode and Heartstopper

• “You had a row with a machine”

•The sword tucked under the sofa

• “Incident at the bank”

• Sherlock using John’s laptop because he wasn’t bothered to get his own

• John took the laptop away :(

• What does John need from Sherlock ????

• Sherlock and john are going to the bank 🏦

• “Travels Twice in a month” That is a lot

• Sebastian and Sherlock were uni friends

• Let Sherlock do his deductions and stop interrupting him

• Someone broke into the bank and vandalised a portrait

• How did they paint that so quick

• Paid 5 figures ????

• Sherlock taking pictures

• Why is he opening the window ????

• I like the montage of Sherlock ducking and reappearing behind desks and the office windows

• The graffiti was a message to someone in the bank

• Van coon isn’t answering the door

• “Can I use your balcony”

• Van coon has a nice flat

• Why so much champagne bottles in the fridge

• Van coon is dead

• Whatever he pulled out of his mouth is absolutely disgusting 🤮

• Dimmock is kind of annoying

• Van coon was left handed

• Interrupting sebastian’s dinner

• lost 5 million in a morning and made it back in a week ?????

• I don’t like Sebastian

• “I thought bankers were all supposed to be heartless B@$tards”

• Why is he running ????

• His house was trashed ?????

• Soo Lin resigned her job

• Soo Lin isn’t answering the door

• Andy left a letter for Soo Lin

• John is getting interviewed for a doctor job

• “She’s great”

• Two exact same murders

• Yess Sherlock, YELL at Dimmock

• You can give Sherlock 2 minutes and he can deduct everything at the crime scene

• A climbing killer

• More vandalism in the library

• Going to the National gallery

• Sherlock needs advice

• His idea of a expert is a graffiti artist

• John’s face when he was handed the paint can

• John got left to take the blame

• John is slowly becoming more and more done with Sherlock

• I just learned about what an ASBO is

• Sherlock just shoved John out the door

• Who was taking the picture of John and where did he go ???????

• Why was there a big gap ????

• Don’t insult Sherlock

• He got the diary

• that’s is a lot of receipts

• Both of them traveled to china 🇨🇳

• He got peckish

• Lucky cats are adorable

• “I think your wife, she will like” Ma’am John isn’t married yet

• The tag has the same cipher

• Both men were smugglers

• The lucky cat was the drop off

• Breaking into Soo Lin’s flat

• Someone else broke in too

• The burglar is in the house

• SHERLOCK NEEDS YOU JOHN !!!!!

• What did the burglar do with his pocket ????

• A black paper flower ?????

• Questioning Andy

• The museum storage room

• The statue has the numbers painted on

• The graffiti artist found more of the numbers

• Sherlock found an old paint can

• Yellow paint splattered on the tracks

• A lot more of the numbers on the wall

• It’s been painted over

• Sherlock spinning John around

• Thank god John took a picture of the wall

• John is exhausted 🥱

• Where is Soo Lin

• Why are there now two shining teapots

• Soo Lin is still alive and practicing the tea ceremony

• Thank god Sherlock caught the cup

• Soo Lin is in danger ⛔️

• Soo Lin was a smuggler

• The black lotus gang are up to no good

• The gang has her brother

• The gang has arrived

• Sherlock just ran off and left them

• “Have a bit of respect”

• Soo Lin’s brother found her and shot her. NOOOOOOOOOOOO

• Is Dimmock actually stupid ????

• MOLLY !!!!!!!!

• Sherlock complemented molly !!!

• SHERLOCK WAS RIGHT ALL ALONG

• The stuff smuggled ended up on auction

• THAT IS A LOT OF BOOKS 📚

• Finding the same book is taking ages

• John fell asleep at work

• He got a date with the nurse

• “That’s what I was suggesting”

• Go to Sherlock for you dating advice

• Sherlock crashed the date !!!!!

• The circus is very empty

• Chinese Arrow shooter or something

• The escapologist survived

• Sherlock snuck backstage

• The acrobat is actually quite good

• Shelock almost got caught

• Sherlock is having a fight backstage

• Yessss Sarah saved Sherlock

• can Dimmock just shut up

• Mrs Hudson bringing the nibbles

• Can Sherlock speak German

• Sherlock has begun to decipher the code

• JOHN JUST GOT KNOCKED OUT

• Sarah and John have been taken by the black lotus

• John never gave back sherlock’s debit card

• I DON’T WANT JOHN TO DIE

• Sherlock is on the way

• The arrow shooter

• Pooh Sarah :(

• I don’t want Sarah to die

• Sherlock got there quickly

• Sherlock saved Sarah

• “Next date won’t be like this”

• Sarah and John walking away together

• He gave Dimmock the credit for it

• They finally found out what the cipher meant

• Amanda was a lover of Van Coon

• He got the check

• Amanda had the hair pin

• Someone is doing another cipher

• Who is she messaging

• Shan got shot

I loved this episode and rate it 10/10 because it was so good and I love this show

[bananaproved]

Top 6 shelved dramas that I would still really like to see

Ranked in no particular order, selection based on my personal tastes.

1) The Prisoner of Beauty

Plot : Adapted from the novel "Zhe Yao" by Peng Lai Ke, it tells the story of the arranged marriage between Wei Shao (Liu Yuning) and Qiao Man (Song Zuer). The fun thing about this marriage is that they both hate each other for complicated family reasons (in the novel Qiao Man's family is directly responsible for the death of Wei Shao's father), so they start they relationship by trying to make the life of the other a living hell. Ultimately, their relationship will develop as they are impressed by each other's ingenuity and discover common interests. There is also an important "let's protect the empire and the common people" plot behind the romance.

Why I wish I could see it : It looks good !! The main duo of actors are both really good looking, but the production in general looks really high budget, with good costumes and sets. I would love to see that. Just look at this trailer !

Why I am not seeing it any time soon : Song Zuer :/ bestie :/ tax evasion is bad !!

Can we have some hope ? : Not really, at this point of time, no c-actors caught for tax evasion managed to make an actual comeback in the industry (even really popular ones like Deng Lun or Fan Bing Bing). Song Zuer is still being investigated, so maybe we can hope to see her name cleared but it's a little unlikely because they don't investigate people just for fun. However Song Zuer was involved in a lot of high budget projects so I am sure a lot of people are really motivated to try to airdrop at least some of her projects if they have the possibility.

2) The Fated General

Plot : Classic high-budget historical drama telling the story of real life historical figure Huo Qubing (Zhang Ruoyun) during the Western Han Dynasty. It follows his military feats that got him the reputation of being one of the best military generals in the history of China.

Why I wish I could see it : First, the cast is incredible. We have Zhang Ruoyun (famous for being really good at choosing his scripts), Mao Xiao Tong, Bai Yu, Li Hongyi, Xu Yue, and others. It's really an all star cast except the drama was shot in 2016, before some of them became really famous, so it can be really interesting to watch ! Plus it's a really high budget drama, most of the outdoor scenes are shot in real landscape and not in a studio and it globally looks really good. For a better impression, look at this nice looking MV based on the different trailers of the show :

Why I am not seeing it any time soon : In 2019 (I think ?) the censorship rules changed concerning historical dramas and established the fact that dramas were forbidden to "distort" certain historical facts. This kind of put an end to traditional historical dramas as they became a way more risky investments, and stopped this one from airing as it already took some liberties in terms of storytelling. Huo Qubing is also a semi-controversial historical figure so it is not helping.

Can we have some hope ? : It's been 7 or 8 years and the regulations concerning historical fiction only got more restrictives in China so I would say no.

3) Immortality

Plot : I'm sure everybody knows the plot of Erha so I don't need to write it but just in case the important tags are : xianxia, dangai, shizunfuckers, reincarnation, blood spitting, stairs, ...

Why I wish I could see it : Outside of the obvious reasons (gay people on my screen, Luo Yunxi spitting blood), it's also produced by the same people involved in the production of Till the End of the Moon and Shui Long Yin, so I have I hopes for the artistic direction of the drama. Also for dmbj fans : did you know Liu Chang played a guest role in this drama ? Idk what he is doing here but I would love to see it.

Why I am not seeing it any time soon : We are all aware of the famous 2021 dangai ban, but in general the chinese government is not a big fan of massive and really agitated fandoms (in the way The Untamed fandom was), so Immortality is in a pretty bad position.

Can we have some hope ? : Yeah !!!!! Hyx TOMORROW !!! Believe in your dreams !!!

For real : Two options. 1) On a random morning of the year 20XX you wake up to danmei fans in your tl losing their marbles bc the 6 first episodes of hyx were randomly airdropped during the night with no promotion and no warnings. You cry some tears of joy and immediately go watch Luo Yunxi spit some blood on screen. 2) After many years hyx is still not out but there were so many leaks that the fans managed to recreate the entire series from scraps and now you can watch it in full. Look, they already started :

4) Night Wanderer

Plot : Zong Yin (Ni Ni) is a forensic expert living in Shanghai in 2021. She met, in her own apartment, a man, called Sheng Qing Rang (Deng Lun), claiming to be the owner of this apartment but in 1937. Together they discover that they can travel to their respective time periods through their shared apartment and start to develop a strong relationship, first as confidence and progressively as lovers. However, the situation get complicated as the Battle of Shanghai broke out in 1937 putting both of their lives in danger.

Why I wish I could see it : First, for lesbian reasons as I would never miss an occasion to stare at Ni Ni for 36 episodes (Wang Yuwen also has a supporting role here and I really like her ! Double win !). Second, it's actually a really nice and original plot for a CDrama and I have full confidence in both actors' capacity to pull off a really good performance to go with it. Look at this trailer ! It looks so promising !

Why I am not seeing it any time soon : Deng Lun !!! Tax evasion is bad !!

Can we have some hope ? : Even less than for The Prisoner of Beauty as Deng Lun is 100% proved to have committed tax evasion. There is often rumors about him coming back to acting but it's unlikely.

5) Winner is King

Plot : Based on the novel "Sha Po Lang" by Priest, set in a steampunk version of the Liang Dynasty. It tells the story of Chang Geng (Chen Zhe Yuan), a young man living in a random countryside village, who discovers after a raid on their village that the closest people around him were hiding a big secret about his identity. He also discovers that the people around him are not who they pretend to be, especially his yifu (adoptive father, played by Tan Jianci), and realizes that his life will never be the same.

Why I wish I could see it : Outside of the reasons already mentioned in hyx's case, Winner is King is also directed by the same director as Guardian and a Journey to Love. I really like his work and he proved that he was able to do really good things even with a really low budget, so now imagine with a decent amount of money ? It could be great. Also I really like the idea of an ancient china steampunk but I am too lazy to read the book.

Why I am not seeing it any time soon : Same reason as hyx and all the other dangais </3 Also I am not sure of how advanced the production was when it was stopped, because I feel like there are not as many content leaks.

Can we have some hope ? : If we can manifest hard enough the end of the ban, it is possible.

6) The Love of Hypnosis

Plot : During the end of Qing Dynasty, a (patriotic) young man named Yen Shen (Jing Boran) meets a fragrance shop owner named Lu Man Sheng (Liu Yifei). Man Sheng has the special ability/ mission to relieve the hearts of people suffering because of love, but it does not mean that her own romantic life is easier to deal with. Together they fall in love and have to navigate the really troubled times of the end of Qing Dynasty.

Why I wish I could see it : If you are familiar with Liu Yifei and Jing Boran acting I'm sure you can see the potential of this pairing ??? Just the poster has more on screen chemistry than some pairings have in 40 episodes. At this point the plot could be written by a cat walking on a keyboard and I would still have hope for a good chemistry. Also the drama has Liu Mintao in a supporting role and I am in love with her so it's a plus.

Why I am not seeing it any time soon : First, there are some copyright issues with the original manhwa author. Second, the second male lead, Zhao Lixin, got more or less canceled a few years back for political reasons (sorry I don't have the details).

Can we have some hope ? : I would say maybe a little. Copyright issues can be solved and I've heard that Zhao Lixin is still shooting in dramas, meaning that there is hope for some of his stuff still being released.

That's all <3

Sorry for depressing information maybe ? Next time I promise I will make a post about dramas I am looking forward to and that are likely to be released sooner or later. 

[mellancholy-morose]

Seven Sentence Sunday

Thanks for the tag @puppys-teeth

I haven't wrote much this week, been super absorbed in a piece of art I've been meaning to draw for awhile. That you accidentally reminded me of, puppy. But here's a later bit in dragfic

We browse through shelves of ancient knick knacks, discarded china, and furniture old enough that its sturdiness is self-evident. I practically have to drag Stein away when we come across a section of antique medical equipment.  "What would you even need a bone saw for?" "First off, it's an 19th century osteotome, and it was the very first chainsaw, it helped speed up amputations which ultimately made them safer. And for the aesthetic. Besides, it's an interesting piece of history." "What aesthetic? Mad scientist?"

Tagging @chickycherrycola as the rest of ya'll seem to be tagged already lol

Bonus little "behind the scenes" so to speak about this snippet under the cut

@marshofsleep's (tho they haven't used tumblr in awhile fair warning) beta comment on this has lived in my head rent free since... /looks at comment date April of last year, god I write slow, but I digress; said comment:

It has permeated my brain so thoroughly that when I visited a friend last February and we went to a artists alley style thing, and one of the shops had a bonesaw (as well as a ton of taxidermy and wet specimens and other dope stuff) This was all that was playing in my head, I almost walked away without it, but this silly comment pushed me back to get it. I mean what kind of Stein would I be if I passed up a bonesaw? lol Not as fancy as a 19th century osteotome, but still pretty sick.

[ampresandian]

My (unofficial) PJO season 2 episode 5 script part 3/4 (part 1 | part 2)

I think towards the end of this section my lack of screenwriting experience becomes more apparent but I had a vision and tried to paint the picture probably a little too much so sorry if you're an actor/screenwriter and it looks/reads weird.

Images of script and copied text (bc I'm lazy and don't want to write out alt text) under the cut, just in case I didn't tag enough spoiler warning or people aren't interested <3

Annabeth Tries to Swim Home

MATCH CUT TO: INT. DARK VICTORIAN HOUSE – NIGHT. 

Continuation of first scene/flashback. YOUNG ANNABETH is still running down the hallway, but seems more determined. 

Thunder shakes the windows as she runs down a staircase. She turns a corner into a sitting room. The chairs are upturned, feathers coming out of the pillows all over the floor. A draft comes in from the dark fireplace, whistling with the storm. 

Annabeth stops in the middle of the room, facing the three doors that she has to choose from. They look the same. 

Hearing heavy footsteps, she opens the leftmost door, closing it quickly behind her. Breathing heavily, she presses her back to the door. 

Looking around the room, Annabeth finds herself in an orangery, the glass pelted by rain. Two of the large windows were cracked, spiderwebs expanding from old sites of impact. A few dead fruit trees sit in one corner. 

Through the cracks and the rain, Annabeth can see a light coming from a window several rooms down on the first floor of the house. Creeping closer, she presses her hand to the glass as she watches the light. 

In another room, Annabeth can see the CYCLOPS, but not much of the room. He lifts his arm, raising THALIA into view from the window. She struggles, and he looks to be laughing. He sets her back down, bending down himself as well (to tie her up, off screen). 

Turning from the window, Annabeth looks determined. 

YOUNG ANNABETH: (quietly) Hang on, Thalia. I’m coming.

She leaves the orangery from the second door, leading to a less Victorian hallway, one that would have been a servants’ corridor a few centuries ago. The walls look to be made of clay, and the floor is uneven in places. She nearly trips. 

Annabeth creeps through an open door, entering a dark room with a long table and walls lined with cupboards. China is smashed on the floor, half the cupboard doors open and hanging by hinges all along the room. Ahead, there’s an open door, light spilling through. 

Annabeth approaches, looking through to see a large room that used to be a kitchen, a large broken stove and Victorian era cookware off to one side. In the middle of the room is a raging fire. There are bones all over the floor. 

Near the stove sit THALIA, LUKE, and GROVER, tied up. Luke has a large gash at his hairline, but they seem mostly unharmed. Annabeth follows their eyes to see the large Cyclops in the middle of the room, near the fire. He is already looking at her, grinning. 

CUT TO: EXT. QUEEN ANNE’S REVENGE – DAY

PERCY is on deck, steering the ship through the sea. ANNABETH appears behind him, coming up from the cabin below. 

PERCY: (turning to look at her) Hey. How did you sleep?

ANNABETH: Fine. I-- (pointing) Percy. Look. 

In the distance, a lush island can be seen, meadows and forest on one side, cliffs and beach on the other. 

ANNABETH (CONT): Are we...?

PERCY: (nodding) 30, 31, 75, 12. That’s it. 

They look out at the island, closer now. Annabeth points towards a large tree. 

ANNABETH: The Fleece. 

PERCY: What’s protecting it? There’s no way it’s as easy as just going up there and taking it. 

ANNABETH: There should be... Jason had to fight a dragon in the story. It should have a guardian of some sort. 

As they watch, one of the large sheep visible on the island breathes fire, setting the grass in front of it aflame. The fire quickly dies, leaving brown grass that turns back to green and vibrant as they watch. 

ANNABETH (CONT): The Fleece must keep the island unburned. 

PERCY: So when we take it, it’ll just burn?

ANNABETH: (gasping) Percy, look!

On the beach is a small boat, just like the one they escaped the CSS Birmingham on. 

PERCY: That’s the other lifeboat. You don’t think... 

ANNABETH: (grim) We’ll never be able to get through those sheep. Sail around to the cliffs. 

CUT TO: EXT. POLYPHEMUS’ ISLAND – DAY. 

Cliffs and sea sparkle in frame. The Queen Anne’s Revenge sails into view around the cliffs, stopping at the base of them. Percy and Annabeth are on deck looking up at the cliffs, a little apprehensive. 

ANNABETH: Come on. It’ll be just like the climbing wall back at camp. 

PERCY: That’s what I’m worried about. 

Annabeth glares at him. Percy readies himself. 

PERCY (CONT): Okay. Let’s go.

Percy moves towards the cliffs, as if to start climbing. 

ANNABETH: I’m going first. 

PERCY: What? Why?

Annabeth rolls her eyes and begins climbing. Percy makes a sarcastic gesture and follows. 

Percy and Annabeth climb the cliffs, steadily making their way up. Percy mostly follows the path Annabeth takes. 

ANNABETH: Watch out here. 

Percy chooses a slightly different path at her warning. 

Suddenly, Percy’s hand slips. He dangles from the cliff by one hand. With the sideways motion, RIPTIDE falls out of his pocket, landing in the sea below. Percy looks down before refocusing on the cliff, finding another handhold. 

ANNABETH (CONT): Are you okay?

PERCY: (looking down) Yeah. Let’s go. 

ANNABETH: What was that?

PERCY: Nothing. It’ll come back. (turning back to the cliff) Let’s go. 

They continue climbing, starting back up a little slower than they were before. 

Nearly at the top, Annabeth’s foot slips. 

ANNABETH: Oh! 

She flounders before finding a foothold on Percy’s head. She rebalances. 

PERCY: Ah!

Percy tries to remain still, supporting her in spite of his surprise. Annabeth moves her foot back to the cliff. 

ANNABETH: Sorry. 

PERCY: It’s okay.

ANNABETH: Sorry. 

Annabeth reaches the top of the cliff, pulling herself over. She turns back and helps Percy up too. Percy goes to speak, but Annabeth puts her hand over his mouth to stop him. 

They move to the edge of the ledge they are on, peering down into a cavern below. Through the crack, they can see POLYPHEMUS, GROVER in his wedding dress, a large fire in the middle of the floor, and CLARISSE, tied up. 

CLARISSE: (struggling) Give me back my sword and I’ll fight you!

POLYPHEMUS: Well, bride? Should we eat her now, or save her for wedding feast tonight?

Grover flounders, nearly tripping over his dress.

CLARISSE: Bride? Do you mean Grover?

ANNABETH: (whisper) Shut up, Clarisse.

POLYPHEMUS: What is a ‘Grover?’

CLARISSE: The satyr? He’s right there.

GROVER: Oh, dear, her poor brain is boiling, you have to--

CLARISSE: In the wedding dress!

Polyphemus turns to Grover and pulls off the wedding veil, revealing his horns. Grover exclaims.

POLYPHEMUS: I don’t see so well. Not since Nobody stabbed me in eye. But you. Are no lady Cyclops!

Grover cries out as Polyphemus swipes at him. 

GROVER: Oh, stop! Don’t eat me raw!

POLYPHEMUS: (pausing, holding up a boulder) Eat you raw?

GROVER: Oh, no, I’ll taste awful! I have a recipe! I’ll taste much better grilled, with mango chutney! 

POLYPHEMUS: Mango chutney?

GROVER: Yes, yes. You have mangos right out there, in the forest. I’ll just wait here. You go gather them. 

Polyphemus considers, before turning to Clarisse. 

POLYPHEMUS: Grilled satyr. You are one too?

CLARISSE: No, you overgrown pile of dung! I am the daughter of Ares! Untie me so I can rip your arms off!

POLYPHEMUS: Rip my arms off.

CLARISSE: And stuff them down your throat! Let me down!

POLYPHEMUS: You got spunk. Have to graze sheepies now. Wedding after, with grilled satyr for the feast!

GROVER: You’re... Still getting married? 

Polyphemus looks at Clarisse. 

PERCY: (quietly, from above) Ew. 

Polyphemus gathers his sheep, throwing the door to the cave open as Clarisse understands. 

CLARISSE: Oh, no, you cannot be serious. Absolutely--

POLYPHEMUS: I come back at sundown for the big event!

He seals the cave, mumbling about mangos as he walks down the mountain with his sheep. 

ANNABETH: (exchanging a glance with Percy) Come on. I have a plan. 

(PART 4)

[bizarrequazar]

GJ and ZZH Updates — January 28-February 3

previous week || all posts || following post

This is part of a weekly series collecting updates from and relating to Gong Jun and Zhang Zhehan.

This post is not wholly comprehensive and is intended as an overview, links provided lead to further details. Dates are in accordance with China Standard Time, the organization is chronological. My own biases on some things are reflected here. Anything I include that is not concretely known is indicated as such, and you’re welcome to do your own research and draw your own conclusions as you see fit. Please let me know if you have any questions, comments, concerns, or additions. :)

[Glossary of names and terms] [Masterlist of my posts about the situation with Zhang Zhehan]

01-28 → Nothing of note.

01-29 → 361° posted two photo ads featuring Gong Jun.

01-30 → L'Oreal posted a promotional video spoken by Gong Jun.

→ BEAST posted a commercial featuring Gong Jun. (1129 kadian)

→ Gong Jun Outdoor Office posted a behind the scenes video from Gong Jun's shoot with BEAST. Caption: "Whose eyes are locked on yours?"

→ The Instagram posted a video of "Zhang Zhehan".

→ Gong Jun's studio posted a behind the scenes video from the same shoot. Caption: "The flowers are in full bloom and the gold is flowing. @ Gong Jun Simon presents auspicious spring colours in the garden, and everything welcomes the new year."

→ Vogue posted a photo of Gong Jun.

01-31 → 361° posted a photo ad featuring Gong Jun.

→ Gong Jun posted a photo from the BEAST shoot to his Instagram. Caption: "Bright love from BEAST."

→ Fresh posted a photo ad featuring Gong Jun.

→ The Instagram posted two photos of "Zhang Zhehan".

→ Not directly related to anything, but a good comparative: A couple convicted in 2021 for the of the deaths of two toddlers were executed. Immediately following the execution, the mother of the toddlers posted a video where she talked about receiving online harassment because of the case for the last three years, stating that she had maintained her silence for sake of not interfering in the trial, and that she will now be suing those responsible for the cyberviolence.

02-01 → Gong Jun posted six miscellaneous photos. Caption: "Photos taken casually." Fan Observation: The first among these has become the latest photos that people are comparing silhouettes to, owing to the ear in it looking distinctly larger than Gong Jun's.

→ PRSR posted a photo ad featuring Gong Jun.

→ Gong Jun reposted a post announcing the premiere of My Special Girl, which stars Song Yiren whom he costarred with in Flavour It's Yours.

02-02 → The scam released another song.

→ The BL drama The Spirealm (aka Kaleidoscope of Death) was suddenly released on streaming platforms only to be pulled shortly thereafter due to competition interference. #There's a light on you, I want to catch it and see#, the line from Word of Honor, appeared on Weibo hotsearch in connection to the show including the first half of the line in one of its episodes; the hotsearch was likely bought to draw attention to the show, and the original novel does not include any line similar to this. Whalers tried to post photos of Zhang Sanjian to the tag; these were reported down en masse by CPFs, who then flooded the tag with positive content.

→ Zhang Sanjian wandered conspicuously around an airport again, this time in a knock-off of the Alexander McQueen suit Zhang Zhehan wore to the 2021 Weibo Night awards. A reminder that even if it wasn't hilariously obvious that it's not the same suit, designer outfits worn by celebrities are almost always rented for single events.

→ China Literary Art and Volunteers posted a video featuring Gong Jun giving New Years well wishes.

02-03 → Gong Jun's studio posted four behind the scenes photos from the vampire-themed photoshoot back in November. Caption: "Behind-the-scenes footage dropped~ @ Gong Jun Simon Open your eyes + close your eyes = super bright eyes 📸"

→ Rare posted a photo ad featuring Gong Jun. (1129 kadian)

→ Gong Jun posted a commercial for Fresh to his Instagram.

Additional Reading: → N/A

previous week || all posts || following post

[oh-no-another-idea]

Find the word tag

I was tagged by the lovely @duckingwriting a long time ago--thanks, pal! I am pulling from the four scenes I've got of my newest WIP, the one inspired by Peter Pan ✨

Pigeon, Mushroom, Testify, Hostage

Pigeon:

Right as she finished [her tea], the small sounds of a baby waking rose behind her. Disturbing a few pigeons, Gwendolyn climbed back into the nursery, holding her china cup carefully. She bent and set it on the tray, kicked the tray toward the door, and wiped her hands off on her skirt. “Good morning, darling Michael,” she said, bending over the crib and uncovering the baby within.

Mushroom:

Peter nodded at her. “I shall make a note of that to the housekeeper, Miss. Moira. Will you be joining us for supper? I hear the cook’s prepared a hearty mushroom stew.” And that had been all.

Testify:

[Jack's] mouth twisted. “It won’t do any good to get your hopes up.” “Surely if I testify, they’ll listen. The trusted servant of one of the victims. I have given Belle nothing but good work since she hired me and I've taken care of her son throughout 3 mutinies, 8 murders, and days trapped and stranded on this ship. I am nothing if not a dependable nurse.” Despite herself, she laughed. If she ever made it off the Second Star and wanted to seek employment elsewhere, surely her recommendation letters would be superb.

Hostage:

“You have my permission to hold me hostage for as long as you like,” he breathed into the side of her neck. “It would only be fair of me to let you have a turn.” Gwendolyn laughed into his shoulder and lost track of time as they stood in the galley, embracing in a sunbeam.

I'll tag @blind-the-winds @reneesbooks @writeouswriter @talesofsorrowandofruin @eccaiia @cljordan-imperium @late-to-the-fandom and anyone else who'd like to join! Your words are scare, weapon, hands, and bleed 💞

[suuho]

rules: link your favorite and/or most popular post from each month this year ♡ (it’s totally fine to skip months!) and tag some CCs you love!

tagged by my beloved @bethereforme; thank you so much, my angel and @baekslight, thank you, i am so honored!!

january:

✨ most popular: kyungsoo's birthday set 💙 my favorites: yoseob's birthday set, my fiction gfx, exo winter palace, after sunset era

february:

✨ most popular: san; the real 💙 my favorites: jang hanseo gifset, chansung's birthday set, junmyeon (to all the boys i've loved before), ateez shooting star gfx

march:

✨ most popular: chancheol gose mafia 💙 my favorites: besties in wonderland junmy, highlight invisible string, jung sungil in the glory, shinee 1 and 1 photoshoot, kyungsoo in hyung

april:

✨ most popular: vernon eye drop saga 💙 my favorites: exo 11th anniversary set, exo' clock bts, gikwang predator mv

may:

✨ most popular: shinee 15th anniversary set 💙 my favorites: fearless seventeen set, junmyeon tempo first win, highlight sorry live performance, myeonzart, wedding singer junmyeon

june:

✨ most popular: minho covering jonghyun's view lines 💙 my favorites: chansoo besties, seho don't go exo' clock, sesoo let me in mv, exo the war gfx, kibum hard mv

july:

✨ most popular: chanyeol cream soda mv bts 💙 my favorites: chansoo besties pt. 2, junmyeon fixing kyungsoo's hair, exist gfx, cream soda relay dance, junmyeon in the present

august:

✨ most popular: playful chensoo 💙 my favorites: junmyeon in behind your touch, chentube, radio romance ep. 11

september:

✨ most popular: opla zosan heart eyes or whatever 💙 my favorites: iconic zoro, sanji tongue piercing gifset, kyungsoo's expectation teaser, kyungsoo 10 min live, opla!iphone gifset

october:

✨ most popular: the worst of evil final scene 💙 my favorites: hanbin waterfall gfx, chansoo good enough mv, the worst of evil junmo/gicheol, the worst of evil smoking parallel, the worst of evil ep 6

november:

✨ most popular: jordan fisher as orpheus 💙 my favorites: 2pm junho fancam, exo obsession anniversary, hospital playlist season 2, sehun for sense china

december:

✨ most popular: jonghyun 🤍 💙 my favorites: junmyeon for vogue, exo's don't mess up my tempo, taylor swift's love story eras tour, kyungsoo cream soda performance, doojoon in radio romance

tagging: @tipannies @ye-xiu @dazzlingkai @herewegobebe @mostlyfate @zyx @tzurim @jftk @dokyunqsoo @jeonwonwoo @byunbaekhyunie ♡.*･｡ﾟ

[booasaur]

You taking care of yourself Booasaur? I don't think I have the words to describe watching truly horrible things take place in this modern age.... but please don't forget to take time out for yourself.

Thanks, anon, for checking. It feels selfish to focus on myself in times like this when, really, everything is fine for me, but, you asked, and this is my blog, so...

I'm angry! I'm hurt and disappointed and, like, so sad, all the time, it feels like I've had this physical ball of grief in my chest for three months, but I'm just so angry at so many people. Governments and media, of course, but so many other people, including on here.

They say the best way to sublimate these feelings is into action, and to me that seems to use what platform I have here, but that brings its own pressure to get it just right. I already second-guess myself over everything, but this is so important. What can I post that's egregious enough that people won't think it's somehow deserved, is it from a believable source, is it from someone who isn't actually just antisemitic or pro-Russia or China/anti-West, what if it's too egregious or I post too often and people just blacklist the tags or start tuning it out? Should I post about myself because presumably my followers see at least me as a person and my anguish could reach them, even if millions of Arabs could not, or is that centering myself?

And so many remain seemingly unmoved. I've read, well, you don't know what they're doing behind the scenes, but this is the one time when nothing helps so much as boosting public awareness and pressure. Not even donations can help as much as every call for a ceasefire. Food and medicine can't help if people are still being attacked.

I try to distract myself with other things, watching stuff, giffing, but there's always this moment of guilt when I remember and return to reality. I've actually giffed more than I've posted, giffing is mechanical in a comforting kind of way, but my tags are where I really express what I'm feeling, and I haven't been able to really focus on them. It's hard to focus on anything for long, really...

I will say, what HAS really been heartening is the solidarity. From the start, it felt like so many marginalized groups and previously oppressed people immediately were willing to learn what was going on and stand with Palestinians and that's just grown. I was telling my friend from Belgium the other day, who's got a vocal Palestine supporter in her government, that it was like this emerging network of support across the world, individuals or whole countries, all uniting on the Palestinian cause. I just wish so many hadn't died or suffered so much to get here...

[kingofthe-egirls]

FOX TALES: LUFFY asks to be your boyfriend (+ bonding time with ROBIN)

fox tales

(Part ??? Of my arctic fox kistune fic, based off a lot of russian folk lore lol. Scroll through my tag and read in whatever order you want, you’ll get the gist 😅)

(cw: food, violence, kissing, sfw)

“Vasya”

***

“I think I wanna change my name,” you start, slowly flipping through the pages of an antique book Robin had handed you. There’s gold filigree on the paper edges, and it’s written in a script you have to scrunch your eyes to read.

“Oh?” The archeologist asks. She looks up from over the rim of her teacup, sipping gently. Her blue eyes are lighter than Sanji’s: hers more teal, rather than his lapis lazuli. Robin and you haven’t connected much, but it’s nice to spend some time with her. And you didn’t know if anyone else would understand this sort of thing.

“To Vasya,” you continue, nodding down at your book. “I read it in a story once.”

Robin sips her drink. “What was it about?” Her voice is quiet, and lilting. You tilt your ears, wondering if she knew she spoke in lullabies.

“It was about this girl,” you say, folding your hands atop the book, vellum pages spread open in front of you. You scratch at some of the ink. “She was a witch, sorta. She could see nature spirits. And the king of winter wanted to take her for his bride. He actually fell in love with her,” you recall, “Instead of the mortal man she was betrothed to. So she ran away into the woods with him, and eventually learns to fight. She helps her country win a war, actually.” You grin, “There were some really cool fight scenes.”

“Oh?” Robin hums, closing her book on her lap. The two of you had been reading in the library together, until you’d spoken out of nowhere about your name change. “That’s interesting.”

“Mhmm,” you agree, sipping your own sugary tea Sanji had prepared for you. He knew you liked it sweet.

You plop another sugar cube into the china cup, stirring it with the silver spoon that came with the rest of the tea set. It had a lily emblazoned on the handle.

“And her name was Vasya?”

“Yes,” you say, nodding, “Short for Vasilisa. But I like Vasya best.”

“Well then,” Robin smiles, a thin flutter of pleasure dancing around her lips. “Nice to meet you, Vasya.”

You grin, and take a big sip of tea.

“Thanks, Robin. Nice to meet you, too.”

***

“The wings of the pirate king?” You giggle after Robin had told you Sanji’s title.

“Mm,” she hums, pleased, “Zoro is his right arm. And you are the painter, I presume?” She nods toward the set of colored pencils you’d brought along into the room. The library was one of your favorite places on the ship to draw (minus the stern’s railing, which was your favorite spot). Sketches of the aquarium fish dotted your notebook every few pages. Luffy and his stupid grin took up most of the rest.

You couldn’t stop drawing him, much to your chagrin.

“I like using colored pencils, mostly,” you prop your chin on your hand. Munch on a cookie Sanji had brought, the white china plate dotted with pink frills. It was vanilla, with lemon-icing sugar on top. Your eyes flutter closed at the taste of it.

“Melts in your mouth, doesn’t it?” Robin brings her own cookie up to her lips, and takes a dainty bite. She’s so polite, you think. Way better manners than you, or even anyone else on the crew. Nami came close, but not really. Sanji was better mannered than her (at least to you, although he yelled at Mosshead quite a lot). You hadn’t gotten to really meet Zoro, yet.

“Mm,” you agree, taking another bite.

“You’re the archeologist, right? A historian, of sorts.” You hadn’t known what that word meant, until Chopper told you. He was your best friend, on the ship. Well, besides Luffy…

But Luffy was special.

“That’s right,” she inclines her head, the sharp edge of her raven hair skimming the top of her shoulder. Her collarbone dipped behind a violet collar, sharp and angular just like the rest of her.

Plus she was so tall.

“What do you like about it?” It was easy for you to make friends, you had realized. Especially with this crew. They had all been so welcoming to you, the day Luffy reappeared through a portal with you on his hip. He’d been gone for three months, stuck at the cottage with you. That’s how you’d met him, how you’d gotten to know him, and how he asked you to be on his crew.

He’d been impressed with your portal fruit, and had found you to be excessively pretty, to boot. You blush at the memory, the first time he’d called you cute.

***

“You’re pretty, kitty.” Luffy bends down his head so he’s looking at you from upside down. You’re sitting on a tree stump, sketchbook in hand. You’d been drawing Luffy himself, enthralled by his athleticism as he trained on your cottage-green lawn.

“Y-You are!” You blurt, having never been called pretty before. You could use your body to flirt with men, sure, but somehow Luffy’s complement hit differently than theirs. Your cheeks flush.

You wonder why.

“You’re welcome,” he says, grinning, and steps away to sit down across the firepit from you. Last night’s embers still smoke, chalk-like wisps still curling through the air.

“But you’re supposed to say ‘thank you’ first,” he stretches his legs out, leaning back on his hands. His fingers are thick and calloused from where they curl into the grass.

“Thank you,” you mumble, closing your sketchbook stealthily. He’s seen your portraits of him, the ones you dared to show him. But those were less…ogling than this last one had been.

Listen, he’s hot when he trains, okay?

“You’re really pretty,” he says again, and you realize there’s a sudden dusting of rose across his face. He’s blushing, you think with a shock.

“Th-thanks…,” you say again, sitting on your hands. You knock your feet together, bare and dirty from the grass. You curl them up, and scrunch your nose. “What…what makes you say so?”

Luffy tips his head to one side, gray eyes sliding up toward the sky. “Hmm…just felt like saying it, I guess. I like watching you draw.”

You bite your lip, your own cheeks heating. “I like watching you train,” you quietly counter. Luffy stills, going calm in that way you’d seen for the first time last night, when he’d fought off a whole town of angry farmers for you. They’d been trying to chase you, torches and all, and he had just. Knocked them down like bowling pins.

He’d been angrier than you’d ever seen him, then.

After, when there were only groaning bodies left twitching on the ground, he’d wrapped an arm around your waist.

“Let’s go home, Kit,” he had said, and you opened a portal for the both of you to step through.

Now, he stares at you with guileless, unblinking eyes. You’ve never trusted someone so implicitly before. Luffy never lies.

“Do you think I’m pretty?” He asks, and the question catches you off guard. You’re still a little shaken, from the fight.

You regard him, leveling an artist’s eye at his muscular frame. His body is tanned, weather-worn and battle-hardened. His hair is fluffy and dark, like a raven’s ruffled feathers. He has the best smile you’ve ever seen in your life, and it’s not long before you’re nodding emphatically.

“Yes.”

He grins, eyes crinkling up into little half moons. “Good! I like you,” he hums, turning his head to stare at the tree line surrounding your yard. The pine trees are tall and indigo, shivering in the cool, twilight breeze.

“I like you too,” you hedge, not sure what he means. Did he…y’know…like you? Like that?

“I mean, I really like you,” he repeats. He’s staring at you fully now, and your pulse quickens.

“I really like you, too.” You couldn’t hope, you couldn’t possibly, but—

“Can I kiss you?”

He asks it plainly, simply, with a subtle tilt to his head. His hair is ruffled in the wind, and you can see a flicker of conquerer’s haki around his shoulder blades. Like the mantle of a king.

You answer without words, crawling forward off your tree stump over to where he sits with his legs splayed out. Your sketchbook is forgotten, discarded in the grass. You sit in his lap, hovering with your face and your hips barely a breath away from his.

Your eyes flick to his lips, and you can see that he’s trembling. He looks up at you, a question asked still paused in his throat. You slide your fingers into his hair, and pull.

He gasps, but you devour it with a kiss.

“Fuck—,” he whispers, in between hot crashes of your lips, “I like kissing you.”

You moan out a little sound, something satisfied and warm, and sink down onto his lap proper. His arms snake around your waist, pulling you in tighter. Your hands are raking through his fluffy hair.

“I like you,” you growl again, pursing your lips at his temple. You wonder if he’s ever been kissed.

“Good,” he says again, peppering small kisses along your jawbone. “Will you be mine?”

“Hmm,” you tap your fingers against the base of his skull. “What does that mean? I don’t like being trapped,” you lean up, haughty, your arms around his neck.

He shakes his head, fiercely. “Never trapped,” he tightens his hold around your hips, “Not with me.”

“Okay,” you chirp, bending down to nip at his bottom lip, “I’m yours, then.”

Luffy laughs, loud and clear, and tumbles you both onto the grass together. You giggle, enjoying the weight of your now-boyfriend pressing against you in the dirt. He’s so warm, and he smells like fresh logs.

You reach up to kiss his chin. He beams down at you with pride.

“My Kit,” he says, effectively claiming you as his own. He kisses the tip of your nose.

“My Luffy,” you say, grinning almost as wide as him (though you don’t think that’d ever be possible). “My pirate captain,” you stroke his hair lovingly, and he leans into the touch.

“Your pirate king,” he corrects, and swoops down to claim your lips once again.

[dojae-huh]

so lucas got his first solo!!!!!!

u knw what twtr i is exploding.... Haha.... Some are being neutrals while some acting like the scandal is happened with them.... Like they have seen it through their eyes!!! I mean as a new one to this fandome I only can read the news.... Yes there was a scandal, a bad one actually.... But I don't knw how much of it is true.... So if u hate him ignore him nd don't listen to his songs.... Nd u like him just support him rather picking up a fight with those hate him..... That's all i can say.... But am really curious abt smthng...

I mean, even if u r doing a great job the company won't always invested in u much...most of the cases are like that....nd when u got into a scandal, there goes ur career into a bhooom....like u knw these entertainment companies won't just support someone....even if they are introducing a new face they work hard to make them famous coz they can't risk the amount they spent on that person..they want profit....but here in lucas case, what made them so confident abt get him into the field again... I mean he had such a big scanadal nd got really hate, ofcrs i knw he still has a good fanbase but u knw, it won't be an easy task... There is risk... There is a chance of it won't make it big... But still SM daringly made him a solo artist really makes me curious.... Does he have some connections or what.... Or is he really innocent that company wants to give him a chance..... Nd I don't think that pink company is that much generous.... Coz they even made shotaro nd sengchan into another group just becoz they are already famous, so puting them into another group would make more benifit to reach out to the fans.... That compnay only think abt profit rather than their artists feeling, so what in the world they got the confident lucas would bring back lot profit through this solo?! Normal idols not getting things while scandalous one got it..... I'm totally confused huh nim.....im soryy if my words made u offended, if I'm wrong correct me nd share ur thoughts on this.... Thankuu ☺

Lucas was accused of things of various degree of villainy. Most fans never cared to look into the things more deeply, read the disproof by fans who investigated the case, just jumped on the hate train. And now those people think they continue to stand on the side of "good people" who condemn cheaters, sexual harrassers, rapists, etc. And, of course, there are just plain antis.

Taeyong was cleared from accusations of being a bully and others in 2020. It is now known he had one of the worst childhoods among 127 neos, was even sent for a month to his granparents, away from school he didn't want to go to. And even today fans spread misinformation about him being a "nasty person".

Many Lucas' fans stayed and demonstrated they were waiting for him through trending of tags, comments on IG, etc. SM could see the continued interest and rely on that core fanbase. Lucas is going on a fanmeet tour around Asia, which demonstrates SM being sure it will be sold. The upside of working for the global market is that being cancelled in one country (here: China) doesn't nesessary mean that other countries will follow suit. When SK starts to hate a celebrety, that celebrety "dissapears" to Japan or China for a couple of years (works there non-stop), and makes a comeback back home, once people forget.

I suspect Lucas is Chris Lee's personal project. He uploaded a photo together with him a year or so ago, and appeared in the documentary. Either Chris was empathic, knowing Lucas personally and how the things actually were behind the scenes, or he wants to try to return a banished idol back and make a case for the future. Idols are cancelled all the time, and recently it has become a big problem. Just look how many idols were kicked out from their groups, and big ones. This issue will become even worse in the future, with deep fakes and AI voice generators.

LSM also gave chances to some of his artists after they caused problems.

SM signed Kim Woojin, who was ousted from Stray Kids. He managed to clear his name with the help of lawyers, proved the accusations were false, but it was too late.

Lucas wasn't a super big star, not like BigBang members, for example, or BTS. He has star quality, a potential to be very big, however, SM has new groups and current ones that bringmoney. It's not like he is last resort, worthy of risking everything. As such, SM returning him means whatever mess ha was involved with, it wasn't criminal. Not something that can comeback like a boomerang again if media really tries to dig something up (and not antis proliferate rumours).

Shotaro and Sungchan's opinon was taken into consideration. The transfer was agreed on with them. Yes, Riize gets a lot of problems with scandals, but the degree of it wasn't possible to predict in the past. The two boys fit Riize better than NCT Wish, and they don't need to work from scratch again and build thegroup's popularity slowly. Just look at choreos. Shotaro would be bored. Meanwhile Sungchan is too tall for teens like Ryo or Sakuya. He is pushed as the next SM visual, while Wish' concept is cute boys.

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

Technology to gain ground in Brazilian consumers life

Smart cameras, tags, checkouts to transform shopping experience in Brazil

Consumers who have witnessed the proliferation of automated checkout kiosks in retailers like Pão de Açúcar, Renner, or Leroy Merlin in recent years should brace for further changes in the sector.

A trend is seen behind the scenes among major groups and will likely impact store technology more rapidly and visibly than in the last decade.

While we cannot expect a massive technology invasion akin to what is seen in China or the U.S., due to high capital costs and limited budgets in Brazil, the pace will accelerate following advancements spurred by the pandemic, according to executives gathered at the Retail’s Big Show in New York.

“Previously, companies would say everything was impossible and expensive, but mindsets have gradually shifted as those who do not advance will face serious competitiveness issues in the future,” said Regiane Romano, director of Vip Systems, who has been attending the industry fair for 28 years.

Continue reading.

[casbooks]

Books of 2023

Book 70 of 2023

Title: Fighter Pilot: Mis-Adventures Beyond the Sound Barrier With an Australian Top Gun Author: Mac 'Serge' Tucker ISBN: 9781742697918 Tags: AFG Afghanistan, AFG Operation Enduring Freedom (2001-2014), Aviation, F/A-18 Hornet, RAAF Rating: ★★★ Subject: Books.Military.20th-21st Century.Aviation.Australia.RAAF

Description: Mac Tucker, or 'Serge' to use his callsign name, is one of an elite group of men trained to fly F-18 jets. Now, for the first time, Serge takes you behind the scenes of the fighter pilot world to reveal what it's really like.Find out how it feels to be shot at by SAS snipers, to be lost in a $50 million jet over Northern Australia with nothing but car lights to guide you home, to rupture your sinuses while flying, to inadvertently bomb a yacht and to face death on an almost daily basis. Relive the adventures of a real-life Top Gun and find out what it takes to become part of this elite force.From the Pentagon to the South China Sea, the deserts of Australia to the wars of the Middle East, this book is as action-packed as it is entertaining.Sit back and strap yourself in for an exhilarating ride to the sound barrier and beyond with Mac Tucker, an Australian fighter pilot and real life Top Gun.

[35mmproject]

Update

If you're reading this it means I didn't finish updating the blog in time and there might be a short break in posts while I finish that up. I think I've nailed down a much smoother way of running this blog that also expands on the tag system while severely cutting down on admin/behind the scenes time. It's taken a few weeks, even longer by the time this post lol but it will make things better moving forward.

Mostly I've been working on a master spreadsheet and formulas/scripts that will compile and draft posts for me based on the spreadsheet information, then I just need to go through the drafts, add whatever touches need to be done, and queue it up! (I am not an excel girlie nor am i a programming girlie which is why all this took so long lmao)

I've also got my hands on both new scanning software and an actual decent photo editor, so I can do quick edits both on my computer and my phone, and good, sellable edits on my computer. With the new scanning software I should be able to go back and re-scan the slides that clearly didn't scan correctly but I was too busy to fix the first time around. (June 10th update: fuck that new software. Keeps closing in the middle of scanning. Returning to ol' reliable Cyberview X)

Alongside all that I've also been working on updating the blog to the new, more consistent, tags. I have another spreadsheet that grabs all posts and let's me fix the tags, which I just copy/paste from the master spreadsheet when I have a bunch done, and then auto-fixes them in the post. So with that being said maybe...scroll back through and see if I've added anything to your favorite picture? I've been doing a lot of google maps hunting haha. Please validate me. Last note: please ignore the slight jump in photo ID's. We are now at the point where my first hard drive crapped out and I had to start a second so a wedding got cut in half and I'm waiting to see what I can recover from the first drive before posting that particular batch, so I'm skipping to the next one: China 1985. Anyways. Thanks for being here and reading this. Love you. Have a nice day.