#but on rare days it sure does look breathtaking

[pixelbots]

Winter ❄️

[simplyvyn]

── .✦ little things.

Sypnosis: little affection that you or your boyfriend between silent moments.

multicharacter drabble; rin, sae, nagi, reo, kaiser, ness

ITOSHI RIN

This goes both ways, you kiss him in the forehead. He expects you to kiss his forehead. Why? Usually or always, this man is always steamed up angry at some point. So when you two rest, you just kiss his forehead, as a sign of safety or protection of him being in your arms. Why does he like it? It is just lips touching his forehead, even he doesn't know why. He just finds it very comforting and reassuring. Sure it looks weak but hes asleep anyway, hes unconscious. Not really, he's just pretending. He won't sleep till you give him the kiss on the forehead. This happens anywhere anyway, just private. But to him the ones you give when you two are about to sleep are the most special ones.

ITOSHI SAE

When you two sleep together (very rare btw! Jk.) You can't help but wrap your arms around his arm. At least one of them, your arms has to be around his. And it can go anywhere! Let it be cuddling, watching a movie, walking. And Sae notices! You don't. You got so used to doing it, you don't notice it leaves an effect on Sae. To him, It shows, one; you like being close to him, two; you feel protection near him, three; you find him comforting which is all correct!.. if you knew. But, oh well. Its a win-win for the both of you anyways.

NAGI SEISHIRO

Okay, let's get one thing straight. Nagi is your personal heater. He's just so warm. So sometimes after going home from a crazy day, late at night and Nagi is still playing video games to wait for you. You drop your bags, take of your shoes, and as you walk up to him, he already knew what your gonna do, he opens up, letting you sit on his lap as you wrap your arms around his neck. You snuggle at the crook of his neck as he finishes his last round in his match for the game. So soonly enough, Nagi Seishiro can go to bed with your arms wrapped around him. May it be his neck, waist, or arms. Nagi doesn't mind you doing it and you know that.

REO MIKAGE

Now Reo is the other way around. He loves wrapping his arms around you, just practically being close to your warmth. As if your body suits his really well like a puzzle piece. So sometimes after a very long... talk.. with his father, he goes to you, seeing you prepare food and wrap his arms around your waist. Snuggling in the nape of your neck and slowly putting kisses at the back of your neck. He knows you like it anyways. Just from the tip of your ears turning pink is understandable. Don't worry! Reo knows his boundaries anyway. Just not leaving you though.

MICHAEL KAISER

Between you and this big-ego'd man, he likes touching you but he likely expects you to do it more than he does. So from you, you like kissing his tattoo on his arms. May it be from his hand or all the way over to his arm to his neck. To him, it shows that you appreciate of his achievement. And just as i mentioned about Kaiser also likes to touch you, he actually likes to tuck your hair behind your ear. Its a small act compared to the other but its just.. breathtaking to him. Being able to remove those hair covering your eyes to seee your beauty because once he does he analyzes your face. Then after, if you get lucky, maybe you'll notice the pink in his cheeks.

ALEXIS NESS

Let's be real here, this man likes to do anything with or to you. But if he has to pick a favorite from the silent moments with you then maybe brushing your hair. Sometimes when you two have dates and you two are still preparing, you ask him to brush your hair. And his reaction is just the cutest! Going all giddy and excited to brush your hair. You like it anyways. He was gentle. And if there were tangles he makes sure to brush your hair slowly to find the tangles and untangle it with his own hands. After that he kisses your head and say its done. Bonus points if you kiss him on the cheek as a thanks. He might actually give you a whole salon.

[willowed-wisp]

GHOST AS A DAD ( part two ) [ simon riley ]

part one | part three

- Definitely takes your eldest to base when she can walk small distances with him on occasion.

- He literally crouches down and holds her little hands. Her doe eyes wandering everywhere, a pinch of awe and a little bit of fear but when she looks at her dad she gains the courage to continue.

- Definitely calls her, ‘pumpkin’, ‘princess’, and other things that has uncle Soap like a puppy dog.

- Johnny is the only person he trusts with her on base- he is your kids’ god father, along with Simon’s brother, Tommy.

- When Simon notices her getting sluggish, “Come on, sweet pea,” holding her with caution as she has the nerve to bonk him on the nose when talking to his superiors, “what has mummy been teachin’ ya, huh?” Not mad at all, impressed even- she had an impressive right hook for such tiny hands.

- Her head shook, “Not mama, dada,” her finger pointed over to someone, “It was Soapy…” Simon had been on the verge of hysterical laughter but contained himself- remembering the encounter later that day. Even telling you over dinner.

- He has two personalities when your son is born, maybe it was because of his abusive childhood that drove him to leave home but he had a mental block after learning the baby was a boy.

- All of his worry melted away in the delivery room- Simon was the first to hold his baby boy. Something he’d missed with your daughter.

- He decided to be a better father figure to his son than his dad. The BEST father figure even if it fucking killed him.

- Simon’s mother was watching your little girl at home. It was the afternoon that you went into labour. 6 hours down the line it was over and you were hell bent on getting back home.

- Simon takes care of the nitty gritty for the first fortnight, while you get proper rest.

- He rarely sleeps while deployed so he’s used to taking the night shift on. Until your stubborn ass gets him to allow you to take it and that he doesn’t need to do that every night of the week.

- Simon gets his best sleep when your daughter crawls between you in the middle of the night.

- His heart breaks when he sees this little blonde haired figure swaddled in a fluffy blanket waddle through the door he leaves ajar for this exact reason. “What’s wrong, pumpkin?”

- She shuffles over to him, blanket falling at her feet as she jumps into his open arms, “Couldn’t sweep, dada,” Clung to him like a koala bear.

- He gives a gentle boop onto her nose, making her giggle, “Guess you’re gonna have to sleep ‘ere then…” Plopping her down in the middle and giving her one of his pillows.

- She’s such a deep sleeper- good when the baby cries but a nightmare trying to wake her up without getting kicked. She was her dad through and through. Down to the brown eyes, to the little mannerisms she has.

- When she starts nursery, Simon is on school duty. He loves making sure his little girl gets there safe and sound. Ditching the car parked near the packed nursery before walking hand in hand with his pumpkin.

- You wait in the car on the first day, with your boy in his car seat in the back of the Land Rover. In tears watching this 6’5” man crouching down to hold his four-year-old’s daughter’s hand.

- When he returned to the car, his hand at the back of your head dragging you into a breathtaking kiss. You were taken aback, “What was that for?” Said between laughs.

- Tears trapped in his gentle eyes, “You gave me the best kids,” your fingers brushed by his lips before he held them in his, “Thank you…”

- Definitely hangs whatever artwork your girl does on the fridge, praising her macaroni art pieces.

- Gets a call while on base, “Mr Riley?” He acknowledges it’s him. “Hiya, it’s the nursery… there’s been a situation. Y/D/N has gotten into a scuffle with one of the boys…”

- “Is she okay? She hurt?” He blurted out and did the maths on how quickly he could get to his daughter. Not caring how this looked to the other guys.

- “No, Y/D/N punched one of the boys in the face. They were picking on her, when’s the soonest you can pick her up?” He had to hold that laughter, reign it back in a cough.

- “I’ll be there in ten…” He hung up the phone, now giving a small chuckle.

- Price is the first to speak up, “What’s got you so happy, Riley?”

- “Y/D/N just punched a bully in the face…”

- Gaz raised a brow, “That’s a good thing?”

- “I’ve never so proud in my life…”

- He goes to the nursery, doing an act in front of the staff before they get to the car, “Don’t be mad at me, dada…” His heart crushed as she said that, as if he would ever be mad at her.

- “No more punchin’, okay? Call ‘em a prick instead, alright?” Then he turned to her fully. Fist outstretched to her, instead of bumping it she slapped his knuckles. He’d have to teach how to fist bump, “Don’t let people pick on ya… I’m always here…”

- The next day, you received a call. From the nursery… telling both you and Simon to come in.

- Simon carried your son, sound asleep on his dad’s arms. You could tell the staff were maybe a little intimidated by your husband. You were before you discovered he was such a kid under that tough exterior.

- His eyes softer than they had ever been looking at his children, “What’ve you done now, missy?” You studied her features, so much of you in her but that look was all Simon. Determined and a slight scowl, yeah that was Si alright.

- “Y/D/N called one of the other children, something beginning with ‘P’ and ending in ‘Rick’,” Something told you she had some influence from her father.

- He fist-bumped your daughter when you were walking back to the car. You’d have a word with Simon later that day but for that moment. To see him so at peace and her little smile… you wouldn’t spoil that for the world.

- When your son was four years old, you saw the difference with how Simon treated the pair. He instilled kindness in him, took him to football games with the members of 141.

- It affects Simon to be away from them during deployments but you’re the best mother to them. He couldn’t ask for a better partner.

- He lets the kids colour in his tattoos… a pink skull on his arm… green fire… they used sharpie/permanent markers. During deployment it breaks his heart to see the colours fade, he contemplates filling them back in but he says to himself, “Gotta get home so the kiddos can do it…”

————

taglist:

@thychuvaluswife @foxygirl-4287

[woundedoves]

General Relationship & Sex Headcanons pt.1 with Neuvillette, Diluc, Wanderer (including Kunikuzushi) x Bottom GN!Reader

a/n: awawa kuni my love

CW: i really cant think of any, reader is a switch for one paragraph on Neuvillette’s part, not proofread!

Neuvillette:

ᥫ᭡ Really sweet, not romantic in the traditional sense, but he’s trying his best. He always makes sure to bring flowers and desserts when he comes back to your shared home. He kisses you on the forehead when he comes back from a long day of just reading papers and signing contracts, dealing with the court and overall the people of Fontaine.

ᥫ᭡ Likes cuddling with you, it’s actually pretty good because his body is always cold, so when it’s winter you’re the heat source. And when it’s summer, he’s like a pack of ice that soothes you when he cradles you in his arms. He loves being the big spoon, just having you in his arms and your head on his chest as he listens to your steady breathing. When you’re the big spoon, you just wrap your whole body around this 7’5 man, trapping him with your legs and arms as he smiles softly and sinks into your embrace.

ᥫ᭡ The cutest dates, the melusines bake the sweetest desserts and cook the tastiest menus for you two, it’s always in such gorgeous places with breathtaking views. He always goes all out in your dates because it’s such a rare occasion due to his responsibilities.

ᥫ᭡ Unsurprisingly, very gentle when having sex. Consent checks, soothing massages on your thighs and ass as he thrusts his cock in and out of your hole, twitching inside you when you moan his name.

ᥫ᭡ His favorite sex position is missionary, adores your facial expressions as you feel him drive his cock even deeper; slamming his hips against your ass as his ears twitch slightly with each gasp you let out, his hips stuttering when you tighten around his dick.

ᥫ᭡ A real whiny bottom, you love having him in the doggy position. The tip of your cock/strap hitting his prostate as he moans your name, his claws digging into the mattress as he feels his dick throb with an incoming orgasm.

ᥫ᭡ He prefers to sit as you suck him off, looking up at him with your mesmerizing eyes as he feels the tip of his cock hit the back of your throat. Whines as he takes your head in his hands, pushes you down onto his pelvis as he ejaculates down your throat, the choking sounds making his thighs shake as he breathlessly whimpers apologies.

ᥫ᭡ Cuddle fuck sessions almost every week, loves just having his arms around you as he fucks you with a slow and sensual pace. All while making out as he feels his body against yours, so warm and comforting as he sinks into your warmth.

ᥫ᭡ Has the best aftercare, cleans you up with warm towels or showers with you, gives you water and food if you’re feeling peckish, peppering your face with gentle slow kisses as you slowly fall asleep in his arms.

Diluc

ᥫ᭡ Tries his best to be the best partner he can be, always checking in on you, making sure you take your meds, eat three meals a day and don’t overexert yourself. Not the best with romantic gestures or intimate touches but has improved at receiving and giving ever since the start of your relationship.

ᥫ᭡ Loves to pick fruit with you, makes it a date. He sets up a picnic as the sun is going down, eating and drinking non-alcoholic beverages as he blushes when he awkwardly attempts to compliment you: “You, uh, you look wonderful, that color suits you.” You smile softly, bringing him closer to you by his collar as you capture his lips in a kiss, making his stiff body melt with relaxation as he does his best to kiss you back.

ᥫ᭡ Remembers your likes and dislikes to a t, gets you the best gift for your birthday, anniversary or just when he feels like getting one. Doesn’t always go for the most expensive thing he can find, he likes to buy you useful things like quality soap, soft towels, the silkiest bed covers and statues of your favorite animals.

ᥫ᭡ Takes excellent care of you when you’re sick, makes the best chamomile tea that will ever grace your taste buds, waits on the door of your room asking if you need anything every 10 minutes. Really comforting, actually, “don’t worry, you’ll get better soon. Lay down and relax, I’ve got everything covered for you.”

ᥫ᭡ Inexperienced and shy about sex, most of the time you’re the one that leads in the bedroom, a service top basically. Thinks him moaning is really embarrassing, but when you tell him to not muffle his pretty sounds he obeys, whispering your name over and over again as he fucks into you, deep and slow.

ᥫ᭡ Nervous as he fingers your hole to get you prepared, his head snapping upwards to look at you when you whine, afraid that he hurt you in some way. After a few months he relaxes into it, though his fingers are so long and strong. Feels damn good when he fucks your hole with just his fingers, having you ruined under him with just his fingers as he feels his dick throb with want.

ᥫ᭡ Loves to work his tongue on your sex the most. If you have a dick; he loves sucking you off as he has your thighs on his shoulders, feeling your legs quiver under his palms as his tongue laps up the pre-cum off of your pretty cock. Also, just loves reaching around and jerking you off as h’s fucking you doggy style, placing a gentle kiss just above your ear as he takes your throbbing cock in his hand, stroking it with the same pace as his thrusts.

ᥫ᭡ If you have a cunt; loves eating you out while you sit, the way your hands grip his hair as he flicks his tongue against your clit, looking up at you with his flushed cheeks and puppy eyes as he rolls his tongue against your cunt, his tongue thrusting inside you as he fully dives in, his head flush against your hips as your body spasms with orgasm against him, his tongue digging deeper the more your body moves.

ᥫ᭡ Another man that has amazing aftercare, cleans you up gently, tells you that you did so well, kisses your forehead as he tucks you in, his arms slowly wrapping around you as you relax into his embrace.

Wanderer

ᥫ᭡ A relationship with him won’t be an easy one, even though he has learned to better express himself he’s still quite harsh without meaning to be at times. Though when you do tell him what he said or did hurt, he won’t apologize with words, but you will find your favorite dessert or pastry on the kitchen counter that night with a handwritten note that says: ‘Enjoy.’

ᥫ᭡ He isn’t a physically affectionate person at all but will let you cuddle him and hug him when you want to, gives you featherlight kisses if he’s passing by you in the bazaar as he takes a break from his work at the Akademiya. His hand is always placed on your lower back when you’re out and about together, throwing a short but nasty glare at people that stare way too long for it to be socially acceptable. Really possessive of you, you actually try to understand him and know what he feels without him even putting it into words, he won’t say it, but he dreads the thought of you leaving him.

ᥫ᭡ Short dates, gives you the most blood pumping romantic moments, though. No matter what your weight is, he’ll have no problem carrying you in his arms as he flies around the Sumeru forests, gently laying you down on a bed of sumeru roses as he captures your lips in a deep kiss, his hands finding yours as you reciprocate. Pulling away after a few moments, fiddling with his hat in embarrassment and telling you to get up, it’s late already. Though he’s unable to blush, you know he’s flustered by the tone of his voice as his fingers fiddling with his hat or vision.

ᥫ᭡ Doesn’t have a high libido, but doesn’t reject your advances. Lets himself ease into your touches as you pepper his neck with gentle kisses, his hands going to your hips as he keeps you in place on his lap.

ᥫ᭡ Makes you do the work, you wanted his dick that bad? Well, ride him and make him cum first, then he’ll consider fucking that brain of your stupid.

ᥫ᭡ Loves the way you whine as you bounce on his cock, his hands squeezing your ass as his dick twitches inside you. Can’t wait for you to make him cum in the end, as he takes your hips in a harsh grip and thrusts upwards, driving his cock in and out of your hole as he takes in the sight of you turning into a dumb whore on his cock.

ᥫ᭡ Gets you a pretty collar that compliments your skin tone so well, loves to pull on the leash as you ride his cock, making you whine as he feels you tighten around him, “look at you, enjoy being my lapdog that much?”

ᥫ᭡ Surprisingly very good aftercare, has the towels and water ready, huffs if you whine about not wanting to get up, forces you to the shower by scooping you up into his arms and washing you. Rarely cuddles after the fact, but lets you hug him, giving your forehead a kiss after he’s sure you’re asleep.

Kunikuzushi

ᥫ᭡ Very inexperienced yet so sweet and earnest, hugs you every time he sees you, picks fruits and herbs with you, brings you flowers he thought looked pretty and have the same color as your hair, eyes or your favorite accessory.

ᥫ᭡ Loves watching you cook food, sew or make swords, just being in your presence makes him really happy. Always asks questions, he’s eager to learn what you like to do so he can spend more time with you!

ᥫ᭡ Gives you cheek kisses and squeaks when you give him a kiss back, looks at you like you’re his world when you have your first kiss. If he had a heart, he’s sure it would be pounding so loudly, his fingers gripping the fabric of your clothes as his eyes are tightly shut. Really flustered after the fact, holds your hand and plants a gentle kiss on the back of it, his own hand reaching over to your chest to feel your rapid heartbeat.

ᥫ᭡ Loves to be the small spoon, just because he can fall asleep to the sound and feeling of your heartbeat as his head is snug on your chest.

ᥫ᭡ Now, he's very clumsy at sex, gets flustered easily, but he’s doing his best. His thrusts are weak because he’s worried he’d hurt you, gets better at it with your instructions but, still very gentle with you.

ᥫ᭡ He’s making love to you rather than just sex, he kisses your neck just above your pulse lovingly as he thrusts slow but deep inside. Goes along with everything you want, as long as you feel good it doesn’t matter to him.

ᥫ᭡ Also an amazing aftercare person, has towels and water ready for you, snuggling into your embrace as you lay down on your shared bed together.

[agirlnamedelia]

BNHA headcanons I can't stop thinking about (FLUFF)

Izuku Midoriya

Izuku is always your biggest cheerleader, constantly encouraging you to follow your dreams. He loves leaving little sticky notes with motivational quotes around your living space.

He loves cuddling after a long day, often pulling you close while he tells you about the latest hero missions.

Izuku enjoys cooking meals for you, especially when he knows you've had a rough day. His food is simple but made with love, and he always tries to include your favorite ingredients.

Hawks (Keigo Takami)

Hawks loves to tease you in a lighthearted way, often ruffling your hair or sneaking up on you to give you a surprise hug.

He takes you on sunset flights, holding you securely in his arms as you both enjoy the breathtaking view from the skies.

He often leaves one of his feathers with you when he’s away, so you know he’s always with you, even if it’s just in spirit.

Dabi (Touya Todoroki)

Despite his rough exterior, Dabi is surprisingly gentle with you. He loves running his fingers through your hair, especially when you’re sitting together in quiet moments.

He has a soft spot for you, often showing his affection in subtle ways like making sure you’re warm enough or bringing you your favorite snacks.

Dabi opens up the most at night, lying next to you in the dark, sharing his thoughts and feelings in a way he rarely does with anyone else.

Eijirou Kirishima

Kirishima is always telling you how amazing you are, whether it’s about your appearance, your talents, or just how lucky he feels to be with you.

He loves giving you big, warm bear hugs, especially after a long day. He’ll lift you off your feet and spin you around just to hear you laugh.

He enjoys having movie marathons with you, cuddled up under a blanket with lots of snacks. He’ll even let you pick the movie, even if it’s not something he’d normally watch.

Shigaraki Tomura

Shigaraki isn’t used to showing affection, but he’ll awkwardly try to hold your hand or brush his fingers against yours when no one’s looking.

He’s fiercely protective of you, often standing close when you’re in unfamiliar places, making sure you’re safe without being overbearing.

Though his words can be harsh with others, he speaks softly with you, his tone always a bit gentler when you’re alone together.

Katsuki Bakugou

Bakugou shows his love through actions, like fixing things around the house or cooking your favorite meals without you asking.

He’s extremely protective, always walking on the side of the sidewalk closest to the road and giving anyone who looks at you wrong a death glare.

Though he’s not big on PDA, he’ll gently nudge your shoulder or give you a quick forehead kiss when no one’s looking, just to remind you how much he cares.

Denki Kaminari

Denki loves making you laugh, whether it’s with cheesy jokes, funny faces, or silly dances. He believes that your smile is the best thing in the world.

He’ll playfully shock you with tiny, harmless zaps, laughing when you jump before pulling you into a warm hug.

Denki loves surprising you with spontaneous dates, like late-night ice cream runs or star-gazing sessions, just to keep things exciting.

Shoto Todoroki

Shoto loves using his quirk to make you comfortable, warming up your hands with his left side or cooling you down on a hot day with his right side.

He’s not one for grand gestures, but Shoto shows his love through small, thoughtful actions, like bringing you tea in the morning or offering you his jacket when it’s cold.

Shoto cherishes the quiet moments with you, like holding your hand as you walk through a park or simply sitting together in silence, enjoying each other’s company.

Hitoshi Shinsou

Shinsou loves staying up late with you, talking about anything and everything. He feels most at ease during these quiet moments, sharing thoughts he wouldn’t share with anyone else.

He’s always there to comfort you when you’re feeling down, wrapping his arms around you and letting you rest your head on his chest.

Shinsou enjoys teasing you in a loving way, exchanging playful banter that always ends with a smile or a soft kiss.

Tamaki Amajiki

Tamaki gets flustered easily, but he loves holding your hand or giving you shy kisses on the cheek when he’s feeling brave.

He enjoys spending time with you in the garden, planting flowers and caring for them together. It’s a peaceful activity that he finds deeply fulfilling.

Tamaki loves making you bento lunches, carefully arranging the food to look cute and making sure to include all your favorites. He often leaves little notes inside to brighten your day.

[mbruben-stein]

Attack on Titan: Levi Ackerman dating a s/o who is like Violet Evergarden would Include.

Their relationship would develop very slowly and gradually. Both Levi and his s/o are extremely reserved, guarded individuals who have difficulty processing and expressing emotion due to their traumatic pasts as child soldiers. Trust and intimacy would not come easily or quickly for either of them. It would take a long time and a lot of patience on both sides for them to open up to each other.

They would bond over their shared life experiences, traumas, and difficulties reintegrating into normal society after leaving military life behind. Both know the horrors of war and violence from a young age. Both struggle to feel human at times and question if they even deserve happiness and love after the blood on their hands. Being with someone who truly understands helps them heal.

Levi would be endlessly patient with his s/o as she tries to comprehend emotions and relationships. He knows it's not her fault that feelings confuse her. When she says seemingly tactless or insensitive things, he doesn't take it personally, knowing she means well but lacks the social skills to express herself properly. He gently guides her when needed.

They are a power couple when it comes to combat and missions. Both are elite soldiers with superhuman skills. Levi trusts his s/o to have his back completely, knowing her capabilities. In battle, few can match their deadly synchronicity. They make the perfect partners on the most dangerous assignments.

Behind closed doors, a soft domestic side emerges, previously buried under years of hardened exteriors. Levi enjoys pampering his s/o in little ways - brewing her favorite tea, giving her shoulder massages after a long day, reading to her in the evenings. These quiet, tender moments are precious to them both.

Levi helps his s/o rediscover pieces of her lost humanity. He encourages her hobbies and interests outside of work. Seeing the small, beautiful things in life through her fresh eyes - a breathtaking sunset, a vase of her favorite flowers - reminds Levi there is still goodness in the cruel world they live in. Her innocence and wonder thaw his heart.

Physical affection is rare but meaningful between them. Neither are used to casual touches, so things like holding hands, kisses on the forehead, leaning on each other feel extra intimate and vulnerable. Hugs are reserved for emotional moments, a silent affirmation of "I'm here" when words fail.

Levi's squad would be surprised but supportive of the relationship. They'd never seen their grumpy Captain show a soft spot for anyone before. But seeing how he is around his s/o - the gentle looks, the protectiveness, the subtle ways he accommodates her needs - they know the love is real, even if neither are the type for public displays of affection.

Arguments are rare, but when they happen, both tend to shut down and go silent. Levi has a hard time articulating his feelings beyond irritation. His s/o struggles to identify why she's upset. But they always talk it out eventually, even if it's hard. Neither likes letting things fester.

On the difficult anniversary days - the fall of Shiganshina and Wall Maria for Levi, the death of Family members/friends for his s/o - they turn to each other for comfort, solidarity in their grief. "It's okay to not be okay today," they remind each other, riding out the painful memories together until the clouds pass.

Levi makes a point to praise his s/o frequently. He knows she received very little appreciation or positive reinforcement in her military upbringing. Whenever she does well at work or makes progress in her emotional growth, he's sure to voice how proud he is of her. Coming from a man of few words, the compliments mean everything to her.

While Levi was initially hesitant to be physically intimate, not wanting to make his s/o uncomfortable, he's consistently blown away by her enthusiasm and openness once they do become intimate. "I want to be as close to you as possible," she tells him earnestly. "I want to make you feel good." He melts at her guileless affection.

In the peaceful moments in between missions, they often sit together in comfortable silence, Levi sipping tea and his s/o practicing her writing. No words need to be spoken; they simply enjoy the relief of being together, alive, and safe for now. The future is uncertain in their dangerous world, but their feelings are constant and sure.

[thebiscuitlabryinth]

Faerie Cookies are born with a song on their tongue, and a tune in their hearts – a gift from the trees, and the wind, and the moon. Music is baked into their very dough, which is why it is considered the purest form of communication, and why all their records are scribed in sheet music.

It is natural for a Faerie Cookie to hum their own melody when idle, almost compulsive, as if it cannot be contained by their body. Even Elder Faerie Cookie, wise and great, cannot resist the pull. When he serenades the sky, everyone stops to listen and harmonise, his voice strong and breathtaking even among the perfect tones of the voices of the Faeriewoods.

The only Faerie who doesn't sing is Mercurial Knight Cookie.

Really, in all the years Silverbell Cookie has known him, he has never heard a single note from him. He's always found it a little strange, compared to the neverending symphony that is the rest of the kingdom. Even compared to the other Silver Knights, who are more careful about following their songs' urges but still tap the rhythm along their weapons, Mercurial Knight is unique in his absolute lack of music.

Silverbell has only ever brought the topic up with him once, in a moment of pure impulse when he thought it was just the two of them.

"Why don't you sing?" He had asked, words blunt but softened by the sweet harmony of his own tune, melting into the sentence from his earlier humming. His bells had chimed along with it, stopping abruptly when he realised he had spoken aloud, with a little tinge of embarrassment. Still, he hadn't backed down, simply smiling sheepishly. "I've been meaning to ask. I don't think I've ever heard you before."

He hadn't said that it was strange, because that wouldn't have been very nice, but he had still heard it beneath his own words, despite his best efforts.

Mercurical Knight took no offense, though he rarely does with Silverbell. Instead, his expression had pinched slightly with confusion, glancing over at him. "Because there isn't any need for me to. My duty is to the Guardian. I cannot allow myself to be distracted by something trivial like singing."

It had been an earnest answer, and exactly the sort of answer Silverbell should have expected, but he had still found himself surprised. "But how do you ignore the call of your song? I know your oath is your highest priority, but I can't imagine always resisting its call."

Silverbell, himself, feels the pull of his melody at least once a day, if not more. To constantly resist it, he had thought, would surely drive him crazy.

"I don't have a song." Mercurial Knight had replied easily, as if that hadn't immediately shook Silverbell to the core, disbelieving. That was even crazier – no melody at all, not a single note floating within his head? Wasn't that lonely?

Mercurial Knight, who had become very familiar with Silverbell by that point, seemed to read his mind, the slightest amusement in his eyes. "It is as I always say. On the day the Silver Blessing was bestowed upon me, I cast aside everything. My flavour, my scent, and my song. Whatever it may have once been matters very little to me."

Silverbell had been unable to respond immediately, trying to fathom it. During his stunned silence, another voice had arrived to answer in his stead. "Does that not simply mean that the song you now carry is that of the Silver Tree instead?"

Silverbell had jumped a little, startled by Elder Faerie's appearance, and had hurriedly fixed his posture, well aware that he was still on duty. Mercurial Knight adjusted his posture too, though considering it had already been perfect before Elder Faerie's arrival, it hadn't made much of a difference.

Mercurial Knight had hesitated for a moment, before inclining his head in a slight nod. "If you say so, Your Majesty, then I must believe that to be true."

Elder Faerie, in all his brillance, had approached them with grace, a knowing look on his face. Of course, if Silverbell could tell Mercurial Knight had been doubtful, Elder Faerie certainly could.

"You may have not felt the urge yet, but not all songs surface frequently. Even I only feel mine on rare occasions." Elder Faerie had explained, almost gently. "The Silver Tree's song will surely come to you when the time is right."

It was Mecurial Knight, then, that had been at a loss for words, blinking slowly. He had glanced away a moment later to regain his composure, in a way Silverbell would dare say was shy. "...Thank you for your kind words, Your Majesty, but it truly doesn't matter to me. Silverbell was asking me about my song, that's all."

Elder Faerie had hummed in understanding, looking towards Silverbell for a split second, before returning his attention to Mercurial Knight. "Well, that doesn't make my words any less true." Then he had smiled, an elegant, mysterious curve. "There's no rush, of course, but I do hope to hear your song someday. You know, I have a feeling both of your voices would harmonise quite well."

Mercurial Knight had, somewhat helplessly, declared that he would be honoured to share his song with Elder Faerie if it ever arose, and that had been the end of it.

Or maybe this was the true end of it, because the opportunity to share his song with Elder Faerie had now been swept away by the winds of time, never to return.

Faeries do not mourn. To return to the soil beneath the Silver Tree is what awaits all of them, eventually, so they do not mourn. They only celebrate and honour the lives that were lost, and to do that, they organise a grand feast.

The atmosphere is light and jolly, a celebration of Guardians both new and old, and Silverbell is lingering by Mercurial Knight's side, a cup in his hands. Usually, he would have flitted off to mingle with the others by now, but after everything that has happened today, he feels like he should stay with him, at least for a few moments more.

The Silver Tree stands tall behind their backs, the evils within trapped securely once more, and its shadow falls upon Elder Faerie's final moments. Silverbell's eyes linger on the place where they watched him disappear. Inexplicably, it does not feel like he is gone.

A melody, low and stilted, imperfect, begins to drift in the air, curling around them. It takes Silverbell a moment to realise it, and when he does, he lets out a tiny gasp.

Mercurial Knight is singing.

He turns to watch him with wide eyes and, mortifyingly, they feel damp as he does. Silverbell doesn't cry – his voice is too high, and his eyes naturally dewey, so he hates to makes himself seem any weaker when he is a perfectly capable knight – but it almost feels like a near thing.

After all, music is the purest form of communication, and he is hearing Mercurial Knight's song for the first time.

It takes Mercurial Knight a moment to find his footing, but when he does, his voice smooths out, running rich like liquid silver. All Faeries have voices designed for song, so it is no surprise that it is beautiful.

Mercurial Knight does not look at him as he sings, steady but still quiet. Instead, he holds his glaive perfectly straight, his gaze lingering on an invisible grave. It is bittersweet, a gift come too late, but the song itself is not sorrowful, because the Faeries are not in the habit to mourn.

No, the tune is powerful and majestic, determined and confident. Before long, Silverbell finds himself drawn into it, his bells tinkling on beat as he sings along.

As it turns out, Elder Faerie was right, as he always is. Their voices blend together wonderfully, slotting atop one another as if they had been waiting endlessly for the opportunity. They sing, and sing, and sing, and though they barely look at each other, Silverbell feels closer to Mercurial Knight than he has ever been.

He hopes, somehow, Elder Faerie is hearing their duet. It's dedicated to him, after all.

[southofeerie]

modern west wing social media hcs

i feel like charlie would have the most normal social media acct and following, like maybe an instagram where he posts pictures of himself (mostly for family), and like a twitter where he occasionally retweets his friends or bartlet. he likes making fun of other people (especially senior staff) for being too stuck to their devices, and a large online presence would take away that ability

CJ’s twitter is less incendiary than she’d like, since she’s the face of the bartlet administration, and so a lot of it is discussing policy or clarifying briefings. she does retweet a lot of good edu sites or interesting articles she finds. she herself trends a lot, she’s pretty famous online as a political icon ala AOC or bernie sanders, and she gets a lot of edits made online from press conferences (which she enjoys bragging abt to the other staff, while making fun of them for being out-of-touch). CJ also has a private instagram that hogan had her make, but she only posts extremely blurry pictures of coffee and her goldfish with captions like “hogan said to post to remind people that im alive”. toby always replies with “sending the pictures to MOMA. breathtaking” and danny replies with “breaking news. press secretary reveals she is still alive. more at 7”.

leo does not have social media because he still has a flip phone and a brick laptop. he says he prefers hearing bad news out loud or reading it on physical paper, but really, he just can’t figure out how to work it. im talking types “google” into google, then types “hello find me a map of the united states of america” in the search bar. margaret tried to help but seeing him type google into google physically pained her

josh is banned from twitter (after he pissed off three midwestern states, basket weavers, and most hollywood producers in the first week in office). cj regularly checks to make sure he hasn’t made a new account. he has a public instagram, but cj looks over captions before he posts (he once tried to ask the president for permission to get a new account but the president sided with cj). most of his posts are about encouraging people to vote or be more politically active. he is also not allowed to reply to comments on the instagram, so he reads them out loud in a mocking voice to donna. unbeknownst to him, there is a white house deputy chief of staff twitter page run by donna (with cj’s permission) that discusses white house initiatives and shares fun anecdotes abt day to day work. anytime someone tells josh they love his twitter account he assumes they mean instagram, and nobody tells him until bartlet is two years out of office

donna, like charlie, has an instagram mostly for her family back home, but also has a twitter where she talks about tv shows she likes and her hobbies, that has a decent following. she might have a tumblr but again it would be abt tv shows and hobbies she has

toby is on goodreads and instagram (but only to leave sarcastic comments on his friends’ posts). he hates twitter’s word count limit and how it’s owned by elon musk, and rants abt it often. he leaves lengthy reviews on any political commentary article in the comments section. this has been brought up in the briefing room, to the point where cj has a recording of herself saying “toby ziegler’s online rants are not indicative of president bartlet’s views. if you have any questions please direct them to ziegler himself”

president bartlet has facebook </3. there’s a white house twitter page run by an intern, but he’s not involved with that. he posts fun facts about national parks or ancient latin novels, but each fact starts with something like “joshua lyman, 🧍‍♂️deputy chief of staff, 🇺🇸doesn’t understand the true beauty of yellowstone national park 🙄🏞🏜🤦‍♂️”. most people think it’s a parody account and cj doesn’t want to correct them

abbey does not have facebook, despite her husbands insistence that it’s better than twitter. on the rare occasions she uses her account it’s mostly to discuss important medical breakthroughs and her daughter’s work

sam has a really popular instagram, where he posts selfies and pretty pictures of the white house and captions like “having a great day at work today!” or “white house at sunset.. gorgeous”. he posts on his story a lot, and comes off as very relatable to the public. he’s cj’s dream social media user

will bailey runs campaign social medias pretty well but his own twitter account is mostly for promoting the campaigns. occasionally he retweets stuff his friends post, or tweets out funny jokes he hears.

margaret is tumblr famous, but never posts abt her job. her posts regularly wind up on other sites. she hasn’t told anybody and doesn’t plan to

[soleilnomoon]

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･titled — “lady(bug) killer.”

9k words (shh i know i know), fem reader, nsfw, 18+ mdni; angst city, there’s fluff somewhere somehow i think, smut obviously; shanks is a bully and an ass but that’s why we love him, reader has no self-preservation (when has she ever lbr); feat. cute stuff like making out, alcohol, some smoking, oral (f receiving), biting, reader being shameless; shanks is mean when he’s jealous and reader is equally as ridiculous, also benn beckman, yasopp, and lucky roux make a tiny cameo. anyway this was 1000% self-indulgent, but idc.

this is for @strawhatsoraya, and even though it’s *calculates* 7? months late ૮꒰ ˶• ༝ •˶꒱ა ♡ lmaooo i finished bb, a labor of love for u because i’m absurd and u enable me. don’t blame me for nothin, i did what i could!!! (if u see typos/grammatical errors no u didn’t.)

DELUSION X IS X INEVITABLE

the seas are not, and never have been, kind — nor are they patient. weakness is rarely tolerated, so to combat that, to give yourself some semblance of strength, you tell yourself stories in the hopes of extracting a bit of courage. there’s one in particular that you like to tell yourself when things get to be a little too much.

it’s about the impossible love between the sun and the moon — the two seemingly trapped in an endless cycle of cat and mouse, chasing one another across the skies for eternity.

golden-hued, dazzling, brilliant; a deity above all others with a kingdom as expansive as its reach — grand and all encompassing. the sun is a powerful, overwhelming force of nature, able to disrupt the earth as he sees fit, his heat infiltrating any crevice it can find with each new day. the stars serve as reluctant guides, leaving behind crumbs for the sun to follow. they’re much too quick, twinkle out of sight, and the moon is nowhere to be seen. she’s a shadow, a mirage, an entity that’s completely out of the sun’s reach no matter what he does.

the moon, in contrast, is serene when in rest, shimmering proudly in the dark sky — illuminating the seas for wayward sailors, dreams, and the like. calm, the epitome of grace, yet unyielding; forever dictating the tides as she sees fit. there’s a sharpness to her beauty; it’s cold and unapproachable — a single rare flower that blooms nightly in the sky, her spores a sweet poison that serves to ensnare unsuspecting stargazers, adding yet another devoted follower to her massive collection. a hopeless romantic deep down, admiring the blazing trail that the sun leaves behind. fear forces the moon to hesitate, never to embrace the sun’s brilliance and warmth.

despite being the biggest star hanging in the sky, the sun remains out of the moon’s reach; and despite priding herself on her uncanny ability to pluck the truth from anyone, she conveniently evades revealing her own dark truths.

the ocean is a reluctant playground, her mirror of truth; if the moon looks hard enough, she can see the golden light from the sun touching the water. if she hangs back, then maybe she might be able to grab onto some of that warmth. she’s always so cold. it’s evident in how she approaches life. her rage is frigid, hidden, forbidden from ever coming out; a stated beauty from afar, breathtaking and life changing up close.

everyone is too afraid to approach her; no one wants to risk her wrath — except the sun.

where the sun chases away his own shadows, the moon welcomes them. there’s poetry in the dance they do; a ballet in several parts — steps light and well-rehearsed, as the stars play a sweet, melancholic melody. it’s indescribable; a work of art fit to inspire the masses.

ascending along the expansive sky, the sun begins his rhythmic march, reveling in the sparkling remnants of light that moon has left behind. it’s always been said that the sun lusts after the moon, but it’s not quite as simple as that. the moon leads the dance — measured, practiced, perfect; while the sun clumsily follows along, sure-footed, and honest. a never-ending cycle of what ifs and maybes; a love affair that is in a deadly, hypnotic loop.

yours is a story about love, about life, and about losing bits of yourself in someone else.

shanks has always been fond of the sun, of its power, its size, and its impact on life; he’s always reached his arms out every morning, soaking up as much of the warmth and heat as he can, forever rejuvenated by its light. you have always favored the moon — its eerie silence, the way life seems to hold its breath for it, how you can gaze at it without consequence.

both of you are fueled by the whims of their love — the former a frenetic storm, hounding islands and ships, dangerous when provoked; the latter a frozen lake, one step and the ice cracks on the shallow surface, pulling bright-eyed victims deep under, freezing them from head to toe.

in stories of antiquity, the two never truly meet, but somehow in this story, you and shanks experience what may be considered the most difficult sort of love to bear. potentially ill-fated and destined to fail, you delude yourself into thinking that you can have the entirety of his heart and not suffer any consequences. there’s no greater love than the one you desperately want to attain and can’t; it’s an addicting cycle that neither of you want to break.

PASSION X NOT X PAIN

from your father you learn obstinance; it’s carefully woven into your daily routines, each stitch tighter than the last, the thread unbelievably strong even as it’s pulled taut underneath your skin. by the time it reaches your bones, you’re already well into adulthood, fragility and naivety carelessly discarded, the remains intentionally desiccated, crumbling underneath your feet as you navigate through life. a never-ending labyrinth of torment and desire, a hunger for the unknown gnawing continuously in the pit of your stomach.

from your mother you learn humility; a tradition, she tells you, but adds as an afterthought: an eternal obligation. it sits on your shoulders, weighing you down, making you question every decision and thought. you never say what you truly mean, never ask for the things you want; resentment lines the crevices of your teeth, dictating your tone and choice of words. your tongue a maestro, pushing out each phrase with purpose; every word pinpricks your skin — a dull, cumbersome pain chipping away at your sanity.

you become obsessed with spontaneity, rejecting routines, and deviating from the norm. they can never keep you indoors long enough; you’re usually climbing something, running somewhere — enticed by the possibility of adventure. you leave your hometown to travel across the grand line, staying on various islands for months at a time — to learn about regional dishes and cultivate your skills.

your heart, unfortunately, has always been a flighty thing — falling in and out of love, leading you down a treacherous path, one that leaves a deep scar you can’t seem to heal no matter what you do. still, you fortify yourself any way you can; it’s not permanent, but it does the job somewhat effectively.

like clockwork, you find yourself in the middle of a busy street, perusing the market. you look over a round, shiny apple before buying a few to take home. unbeknownst to you, your day will quickly derail, bringing about impossibly rash decisions on your part.

as usual, it takes forever to dock the ship; he doesn’t even bother yelling t the new recruits, because he’s trying to ignore the hangover that’s kicking his ass right now. yasopp is cackling off to his right, tears flowing freely as he recants drunken tales from last night. he’d love to join his friend in all that revelry, but there’s a pounding in his head that won’t quite go away.

shanks downs another cool glass of water before loudly announcing that they need to find provisions before heading to their next destination.

the island isn’t hard to navigate, so they wander until they reach the lively town. it’s when you’re fussing with a vendor over the outrageous price for a small bottle of seasoning, that shanks notices you for the first time. as someone who takes pride in swallowing a great deal of pain without complaint, he’s finding it very difficult to not rub his chest — to somehow calm down that foolish heart of his.

it’s doing things it’s never done before; beating much too loudly, making his thoughts scatter around — it’s bothersome and he doubts he has time to deal with it. he almost voices that very sentiment out loud, but is distracted by your smile, which makes him take another step forward. then you’re laughing, another ordeal for him to suffer through — your voice melodic and hypnotizing.

shanks rubs his eyes repeatedly, blinking away any residual fatigue; surely it’s the fault of the bourbon they drank, because he must be dreaming. it wouldn’t be the first time he’s mistaken a dream for reality, although this strangely feels real to him. he’s not sure if it’s the shape of your jaw, or the roundness of your cheeks, but there’s something wholly familiar about you. he frowns at that, brings his hand to his chest to rub the ache away. it’s beckman who catches up with him first, dark eyes landing on shanks for a moment before following his line of sight.

throat dry, head a little fuzzy, shanks asks, “do you see her?”

the question is absurd, but he has to know; and even though it takes a moment, beckman finally answers him. “yes,” he says, voice low but certain, “she’s real, captain.”

he has no need to shop for vegetables, but winds up at the same stall as you. if he wasn’t so damn obvious, you probably wouldn’t have said anything — except, he’s crowding your space a little too much; but when you turn to tell him off, you hesitate. there’s no reason for him to be that tall, no reason for his ruggedness to add to his overall attractiveness — enough to incite irritation, that makes your face burn and siphons all your logic. his voice is doubly offensive — deep, husky, and gravelly, touching parts of you that you don’t want to think about.

what starts as a friendly conversation — of him asking about local cuisine, of you giving him recommendations on dishes to try — somehow morphs into shanks teasing you as if he’s known you for much longer than ten minutes. you’re not normally this social, preferring to keep to your own so that you won’t be bothered by people in general. the townspeople are more than friendly, and a little too overwhelming to be around; yet you don’t mind talking to him and find that it’s nearly impossible to pull yourself away.

fear — of vulnerability and intimacy — threads itself around your fingers, makes your hands shake as you hold onto your bags.

eventually, you give in and grace him with your name. he says it a few times, mostly to himself and you dislike the way you stand there, listening to him — caught in a thick net, completely unaware that the fortress you’ve built over the years has completely fallen apart. a terrifying feat, you think; one that makes you want to run until your legs give out. intrigued by your stubbornness and insatiable curiosity, shanks decides to stay on the island a little longer. his crew doesn’t mind, they like the break. yasopp tries to pry for more information, but shanks simply says he wants to relax for a bit.

it doesn’t take long for them to chisel away at your reluctance, a friendship that buds and transforms quickly. against your better judgment, you grow fond of them — with their rowdiness and frank manner of speech, with their crude jokes and ability to turn any gathering into a large party. adventurers and treasure fiends, a group with monstrous strength, not the sort of people your parents would’ve expected you to hang around.

and maybe that’s why you hardly resist their charm — or, his charm, you should say. because that’s what it really is, much to your disapproval.

you offer to cook for them one night, and after the first bite shanks asks you to join his crew. your initial refusal is met with a frown on his part; he insists that you join them — one can never have too many chefs on board, and lucky roux has already taken a liking to you. still, you refuse; and when shanks asks you the following morning, you refuse again.

there’s no real reason why you keep saying no. it’s mostly because you like seeing how frustrated he gets, where he huffs about it all damn day, claiming you’ve broken his heart for the fiftieth time that week. the best part is how his crew mates make fun of him for being rejected by you again.

he takes it all in stride, though — laughing along with everyone else, ordering another round of drinks. as wary as the townspeople were by shanks’ presence initially, they’ve come to appreciate his generous patronage. it’s not often that pirates settle in a specific area for longer than a few days, but shanks is determined not to leave without you. he’s not exactly sure why he feels compelled to take you along, and while a few of his crew mates have some sound theories as to why that is, he ignores them completely.

it's beckman who manages to convince you after eating a third lemon square; he’s impressed by your talent for creating delicate and delicious pastries, even more so by the fact that shanks to enjoy eating them more than he should.

“he doesn’t really care for sweets,” beckman says carefully, sipping his tea slowly, enjoying the warmth wafting from the hot drink.

you know better than to ask, but the question rolls off your tongue anyway. “who doesn���t?” you feign ignorance, fuss with a stray curl, tugging and playing with it while he eyes you critically.

the vice-captain reminds you that you can only travel so far along the grand line alone; and he’s right, you came to terms with that a while ago. it’s an opportunity for adventure, and a chance to hone your skills.

“fine,” you say, while crossing your arms, leaning forward on your chair. “how much?” not that you really care about the money, but they’re pirates — notorious ones, at that — you won’t risk your life sailing with them if the reward isn’t worth it.

a small smile works its way onto his lips as he motions for you to scoot closer. you oblige without hesitation but end up hopping out of your seat when he whispers the amount in your ear.

“that’s a lot of fucking money.” you almost don’t believe it, but beckman isn’t the childish sort, nor does he lie for the sake of lying. you swallow hard and don’t bother acting coy. “when do we leave?” it’s not exactly the sort of job you’d place on a resume, but you can’t say you aren’t excited to traverse across the ocean.

shanks offers more gold than necessary, but you’re not one to complain, nor do you care about bleeding a pirate dry of his stolen treasure. he decides to spend one final night on the island, so naturally his crew throws a large feast in celebration. you doubt you’ll ever get tired of their impromptu parties, or the raucous way they laugh and sing, voices carrying out into the sleepy streets. the energy is addictive and hard to escape; you soak it all up, allow it to loosen your bones. you laugh and drink with the others but keep your distance from a certain red-haired captain. you’re not sure how to be around him, especially now that you’ve accepted his invitation after fighting him for so long about it.

it’s completely by chance that you spot shanks near the bonfire; you think you’re being subtle when you watch him from afar, admiring the way his throat bobs when he tilts his head back to down a full glass of liquor. the fire emits a deep glow, one that extracts a memory from the back of your mind — oranges and yellows draping over him, an enigma that will always remain out of your reach no matter how hard you try.

the truth of it sits on your tongue — raw and distressing — so you down a shot of whiskey and maneuver through the crowd of people to find a place to sit and rest.

yassop and lucky roux tease shanks mercilessly throughout the day, so much that he ends up smoking more than he means to. a light haze clouds his rationality, and he mumbles under his breath, which only makes them laugh louder, pointing out his plight for all to hear. no matter how much he denies it, or how much he tells them that they’re full of shit, the story remains the same: boss has fallen in love. it’s annoying, to say the least. just because he feels calmer whenever you’re around, and just because his heart continues to beat louder — heavy, relentless, and unsettling — doesn’t mean that he’s fallen in love with you.

if anything, it means he needs to get off this damn island quickly. “it’s probably something in the water,” he tells himself. no need to stay long enough to carry it with him elsewhere.

a few hours later, nearly everyone is passed out, either from drinking or eating or both — and shanks, unfortunately, can’t seem to sleep. neither can you. he finds you walking alone on the beach, sandals in hand, humming something soft and familiar. before he can even make his presence known, you look over at him and a smile tugs on your lips. you’re not sure what compels you, but the sight of him standing there, watching you like you’re some sight to behold — and if anyone asked him at that exact moment, he would say that yes, you are — invites a small warmth to circle around your chest. an irresistible flame that grows hotter the closer he gets.

OBSESSED X & X IRRITABLE

what starts as subtle flirting rife with teasing jokes and lingering touches, turns into something frighteningly intense. shanks routinely teases you in front of everyone, and while you’re embarrassed by it sometimes, you actually like it. there’s a push and pull, where you also have him backed into a corner that he can’t escape from with his sanity intact.

shanks starts being more bold when he touches you, kissing you randomly in hallways when no one’s looking, his hand roaming down to your ass and squeezing it playfully. the rush makes everything worth it; he likes the way you push him away, and you like the way he chases you. if he knew that you’d fallen in love some time ago, he’d never let you live it down. his touches make your skin hot and your head fuzzy, leaving you light-headed and wanting for more. after a few months, though, he’s still given you no indication on whether this is a casual thing or something more.

you’re too afraid to ask at this point, always losing your nerve when he sweet talks you late at night. you swallow back your questions, but they pile up eventually, until you can’t take it anymore. after that stunt he pulled in that pub, he drunkenly tells yasopp to make up a shirt for you that says “angry when wet” on the front. your face burns, both in anger and in embarrassment when you receive the gift, and shanks laughs loudly when you throw the shirt at his face. he confesses that he forgot he even asked for yasopp to do that, which only makes him laugh harder.

in a fit of fury, you tell shanks that you refuse to have sex with him and that he has to keep his hands to himself. for a month, at least. he figures you’re all talk and only agrees to it because you’re so determined and cute when you’re angry like that. when the others find out about the ban, they ridicule their captain mercilessly. he tries to act unaffected, but something about the way you insist on seeing this ban through rubs him the wrong way.

it’s been twenty-two — no, twenty-three — days, and you’re barely keeping it together. shanks thinks it’s hilarious that you believe he’ll cave before you do; and you’re determined to make him suffer. now granted, you are to blame for the predicament you found yourself in just a month prior — even now, you still suffer from that embarrassment — when shanks fucked you in the back of that dingy pub.

they’ve all taken to calling you ladybug — bug, for short; something shanks thought up in the moment, spurned by yasopp’s laughter at the matter. and despite fighting against it initially, the nickname grows on you. shanks appears every bit as unaffected as he always does, still flirting with you whenever he can, but respecting your wishes all the same. regardless of that, he still finds ways to get under your skin. it’s your hope that holding out will make shanks realize that he wants you in a deeper way than just physical intimacy.

you should just let him go and move on, but you can’t. he always pulls you back, always finds a way to make you smile — the warmth from his presence is enough to burn you alive most days — and you find yourself wrapped up in him without realizing. incidentally, shanks also can’t let you go, and never intends to anyway. he’s a selfish creature by nature, not cognizant enough to recognize his own role in that.

on a sleepy morning, you take your time and carefully bake pastries for the crew. last night you promised them something tasty and sweet — your specialty, really — and they’ve given you room to work without interruption. as a chef for the red-hair pirates, you take pride in your work; in feeding the crew, in ensuring that they eat well-balanced meals that give them strength and energy. shanks has always been in awe of your talent — your hands are delicate and exact, skilled laborers that make brilliant works of art whenever you’re in the kitchen.

you’re humming a nameless tune to yourself, cutting up strawberries neatly, as another person silently invades your small sanctuary. while you wash your hands in the sink, shanks approaches you and a sudden awareness makes you freeze. his body barely touches yours, but he reaches over you to crab a cup out of the cabinet above your head. given the difference in your height, it always seems like he’s crowding you without trying. although in this instance, he’s intentionally doing so.

a groan rolls out of your mouth, frustration eating away at the remainder of your patience. you’ve been giving him short answers lately, barely looking at him — although, that isn’t exactly true; you’ve stolen more glances than you can count over the past month — so whenever he can, he finds ways to tease you mercilessly.

“oops,” his hand lowers so he can rinse out the cup, “didn’t mean to interrupt you, doll.”

teeth sinking into your bottom lip, you count to ten, breathe out of your nose and smile tightly. “uh huh,” his body is still much too close for your liking, “just make it fast.”

a sly grin, one that you can’t see, drifts onto his lips. “you know i can never turn down a quick fuck.”

you slap his hand, make him drop the cup into the sink, and spin around to face him. your face burns painfully, the flush a permanent fixture now that he’s moved on from light teasing, to full out being insufferable around you. “shanks, enough.” you shove his chest, much to his amusement, his eyes gleaming with mischief, but you can’t exactly look at him properly, can you? and when you manage to get over a bit of your embarrassment, manage to look up at him through your thick, dark lashes, you struck by his stupidly handsome face. despite his rugged exterior, you know there’s a gentleness that periodically comes out when the two of you are together.

an unexpected ache plagues your chest and you ignore it; but you miss touching his scars, miss kissing him and being kissed by him. he already smells like smoke and bourbon, a scent that you’ve come to covet over the past few weeks.

belatedly, shanks realizes that he miscalculated; your beauty still takes his breath away, especially when you’re this close to him. his eyes drift along your soft, round features, linger on your plump lips — where he’s suddenly overcome with the desire to trace your cupid’s bow with his fingers — and stare a little too hard at your neck that’s been blemish free for a while. a shame, really, as he likes when your neck shows proof of his affection for you. if he’s not careful, he’ll get sucked back into your orbit; as always, your brown eyes — intense, unyielding, a fusion of dulce de leche and tree bark — keep him rooted in place. your dark, curly hair continues to remind him of a storm that he desperately wants to navigate alone.

caught in a daze, he almost forgets that you’re mad at him, until you roll your eyes and push past him. he watches you languidly, completely smitten with you all over again, eyes transfixed on your retreating form — round ass and thick, curvy hips captivating him entirely.

you stomp away and leave the pastries to their own devices, reeling over the fact that shanks had the audacity to say that to you. but as you keep walking, the brisk morning air whipping around you, you realize you’re not upset because he said it. you’re upset because he didn’t actually try to fuck you in the kitchen.

a shame, you know, but you can’t help the thought.

it’s becoming more and more apparent now that you might be the only one suffering from this ban. you decide you need a better plan, one that is strong enough to withstand shanks’ careless attitude, one that might just push him to the edge.

a childish impulse strikes you, and you opt to give him the silent treatment, which only further amuses him. he watches you lazily, grinning each time you turn your nose up and stomp past him. you make it so easy he doesn’t even have to try riling you up. you ignoring him isn’t much of a big deal — so he tells himself — but when he sees just how friendly the crew is with you, something sinister builds inside the pit of his abdomen and works its way up to his chest. when you head back to finish working in the kitchen, he tells his crew that he’s implementing a new rule.

“no one,” he says, after gathering everyone else, surveying his crew mates critically, eyes particularly landing on yasopp and benn beckman, “touches ladybug. understood?”

they all agree, although beckman, lucky roux, and yasopp pull him aside to ask what this new rule is all about. shanks being shanks, playfully waves them off and starts drinking instead. beckman exchanges wary glances with the others, but they don’t push the issue. every time you try to get closer to someone — whether it’s a crew mate, or an overly friendly resident of a sea faring town — he finds a way to sabotage, laughing as you eye him angrily, hands balled into small fists, which only makes him laugh more.

THREE’S X A X CROWD

part of your duties is to accompany the crew as they go into town to scope out any local fruits and vegetables that you want to try. you like talking with the townspeople, like getting their insight on their regional dishes. you just live for the thrill of creating new, exciting meals and want your crew mates to feel the love that you pour into everything you make for them.

on a particular island, the ship is docked far enough away to not attract too much attention. there aren’t any major navy bases nearby, but one can’t be too careful in the new world, can they? there’s a festival in town, one that they keep advertising for. you catch wind and want to go, but shanks decrees that only a portion of the crew is allowed to disembark, while the others stand by on the ship. too many pirates traversing through the island will set off alarms; thankfully, the island is partial to the patronage of pirates, so they aren’t too upset that shanks’ crew has docked there.

somehow, you’re part of the group designated to stay on the ship, much to your annoyance. you try to plead with beckman, even go as far as pouting your lips, but he doesn’t budge. “captain’s orders,” which seems to be the norm these days. and when he sees the way your shoulders drop, he says, a little quietly, “sorry bug.” you know they’re just going to drink and act foolish on land, so you wait and take your time dressing up.  you have an actual reason for wanting to go into town; you need ingredients and don’t trust the others to shop properly for you, so you take matters into your own hands.

no one dares to stop you as you make your way off the ship; you tell the others you’ll be right back, and of course they believe you — why would you lie to them?

and you’re not lying, per se, you do want to get ingredients — although that isn’t your primary focus at the moment.

the festival is loud and seemingly merry with alcohol and food everywhere. thankfully the music makes the shitty alcohol taste better. shanks sits at a large table with the others, drinking, smoking, laughing as various people fawn over him and feed him cut up pieces of fruit. flirtatious by nature, he doesn’t even blink when they allow their delicate fingers to linger on his lips, or when they whisper things in his ear, or when they take turns to perch themselves on his lap.

for some reason, despite knowing that he should, he isn’t exactly stopping their advances.

guilt eats away at his crew mates at the sight of shanks on his usual path of self-destruction; yasopp tries to get him to see reason, beckman too, but he waves them off, saying he can do as he pleases. which only tells him that he’s still annoyed about you not talking to him properly these days. and, despite him not openly saying it, he’s suffering too.

you have fun watching the fireworks for a while, mesmerized by the loud explosions of color decorating the sky; before long, you find yourself in the middle of all the festivities, humming to yourself as you scope out the stalls. you get swept up into a small crowd of people and get turned around when you slip away. as you try to catch your bearings, you hear a familiar laugh and, on instinct, follow the sound of his voice.

while standing off to the side, you watch shanks and the others, heart beating far too loud for comfort. your hands ball into fists all over again, and you sink your nails into your palms when another woman drapes herself over shanks, giddy and tipsy, blushing every time he smiles her way. you know he’s just doing this because he’s pissed off at you, and rather than get sad, you decide to head to the pub and drink.

three drinks later, you saunter back out into the night and join the festival. you enjoy the way the music thrums underneath your skin, the beat thumping in your veins; a cool breeze travels nearby, making you feel light-headed. you forgot how freeing it is to be on your own — without a group of people to worry about, and a selfish captain who tramples over your heart and feelings repeatedly with his blasé attitude. maybe it would be better to just leave? but, the more you think about it, the more your head hurts, so you decide you’d rather enjoy yourself for a bit before heading back to the ship.

the alcohol makes you bolder than usual, and you’re all smiles with flushed cheeks when the vice-captain runs into you on his way to get more food. an incredibly foolish, petty idea crawls into your mind — it barely sits long enough before you act impulsively again.

“what are you doing here, bug?”

you simply shrug, as if you’ve embarked on an innocent expedition and didn’t expect to see him. beckman doesn’t buy the act one bit and pulls you into a nearby alley to talk with you privately. sighing loudly, he fixes you with a steely glare. “you’re suppose to be on the ship,” he says carefully, “d’you know how much trouble you’ll be in if shanks sees you here?” there’s no reason for him to tell you that, but you can’t fault him for trying to be nice. still, the idea of shanks thinking he can just dictate how you live your life, pushes you closer to the edge with your sanity barely intact.

and before you can stop yourself, you blurt out, “i am not a child,” you say angrily; your annoyance has reached the point of no return, so you let the irritation flow freely and allow it to fuel your pettiness. beckman pauses for a moment before chuckling darkly, shaking his head at your antics. from the determination on your face, and the way you don’t seem to want to budge on the issue, he can understand why shanks is so smitten with you — in fact, everyone on their crew understands — so he relents.

“fine, i’ll accompany you, then.”

you hadn’t expected him to offer, and you feel the tension leave your body slowly. maybe you were overreacting a bit, and maybe you just need to relax and enjoy the night like everyone else. you visit several stalls and shop around for a bit; you like the vice-captain’s company as he doesn’t say much, nor does he complain when you make him try various sweets to see which ones you should recreate. and while you might not intend to, you can’t help but flirt with him a little — touching his arm, laughing at his dry humor, standing much closer than necessary. beckman knows what you’re doing, but he doesn’t stop you; maybe shanks will get his act together if he thinks he has competition. you doubt he will, but it’s always worth a try, right?

DIAMOND X IN THE X ROUGH

after a while, the merriment feels stale; shanks’ laughter is hollow, forced, and unbecoming. and while on the surface it looks like he’s soaking up all the attention that’s being given to him, he’s not happy about it at all. a small frown works its way onto his lips as he tries to work out the cause of his unhappiness, completely ignoring his role in all of this. he’s not sure what’s missing — or, rather, he’s sure, but he just doesn’t want to say it out loud. that would make it real, and while he doesn’t want to make a habit out of it, shanks has been lying to himself for some time now. he knows that if he’d let you come with them, he’d be having much more fun — that thought alone makes him reconsider how he’s handled everything between you two.

the universe, it seems, has a cruel sense of humor. as his thoughts continue to berate him, he spots you walking with beckman. he narrows his eyes at you both but offers a smile — one that doesn’t quite reach his eyes — once you approach the table.

jaw clenched, shanks manages to greet you without fail. “hey there, lovebug.” there’s tension in his shoulders, and that amiable demeanor of his is shed, which makes the women near him a little reluctant as they squirm awkwardly in their seats. “thought i told you to stay on the ship,” he says lightly, as if this is the most casual conversation in the world. beckman sighs, knowing that shanks will most likely read into the situation incorrectly; but before he can explain himself, he sits back down in his seat and pours himself a drink.

“you don’t own me,” you say with a slight huff, glancing over at shanks from the corners of your eyes, “i’m allowed to go where i please.”

shanks almost laughs at that, but keeps it inside; he wants to tell you that you’re wrong, but he knows that this isn’t the right time or place for that sort of discussion. lucky roux offers to make some room for you, but you smile sweetly and announce that there’s no need. they all look at you, confused and a little intrigued, and before lucky roux insists again, you say, “i have a seat already.”

without warning, you gently perch your round ass on top of beckman’s lap, effectively silencing the group around you. it suddenly feels as if time has slowed down for shanks, who shifts in his chair as he watches you and beckman.

the vice-captain sighs again and playfully pinches your side, a move that does not go unnoticed by shanks, of course. you let out a small shriek, cheeks burning, and swat his hand before scooting up higher on his lap. the move alone nearly sends shanks and beckman into an early grave, for different reasons, obviously. meanwhile you’re smiling like a cat — mischievous and proud, as if you’ve cornered your prey and you’re ready to pounce.

you look so damn smug and shanks wants to fuck your mouth for all of that insolence.

beckman holds onto your hip as you cross your legs, revealing the deep slit in your skirt. your legs are on display, catching the eyes of everyone at the table and the random party goers passing by. shanks clenches his jaw so tightly, it’s a miracle he hasn’t cracked his teeth. he knows that you’re provoking him into acting out, and while he doesn’t want to feed into it, his jealousy knows no bounds right now. especially since he knows you’re not wearing any panties — it’s why you chose that particular skirt.

you really only wanted to tease shanks a little, so you’re on cloud-nine when you notice how bothered he is over your little act.

it takes an inordinate amount of strength, on shanks’ part, to not split beckman’s face in two for his complicit behavior. he’s being unfair, he knows that — but he doesn’t really care. yasopp and lucky roux try to diffuse the situation with lighthearted banter and jokes — they also tell their guests to leave, because knowing shanks this might not end well.

beckman leans forward, lips ghosting along the shell of your ear, making your body warmer than necessary. “settle down, bug, we don’t want to cause a scene, do we?” you shake your head at that and swallow back whatever complaints you want to say when you see the hardened look on shanks’ face. you’ve only ever seen him that serious when his anger reaches a certain point — so you know you’ve fucked up pretty badly. you have the decency to act ashamed as you slide off beckman’s lap and grab your bags. you should probably say something to shanks, but you don’t bother looking back at him and instead head back to the ship.

you’re absolutely furious right now and so is shanks.

beckman rubs the back of his neck before leaning forward. “i told you, captain,” he keeps his tone friendly, yet firm, “if you’re not careful, one of us will take bug away.” at that, shanks casts a sharp glance at the other crew members seated at the table — the intensity behind his gaze forces them to turn away and look at other things. shanks motions for one of them to slide the bottle of vodka his way, and beckman groans audibly.

“not again, shanks, let—”

as shanks isn’t in a negotiating mood, he cuts his first mate off quickly — maliciously, even — with  venom sifting along his tongue, the layer thick enough he almost chokes on it. his voice is much too hoarse, but he spits out, “drink.”

it’s not a game that the red-hair pirates ever like to play with shanks, and he knows it; which is why he keeps insisting, and why his best friend keeps refusing. shanks’ anger reaches a tipping point; it transforms into a fire that steadily burns along the back of his neck, hot enough to make impulsive thoughts gather around him. the idea of extinguishing it never crosses his mind, although he knows that eventually he’ll need to face it head-on. and as he grips the bottle of alcohol tightly, a sharp moment of clarity hits him.

it’s by chance that he swallows it back, not wanting to make this even messier than it already is.

beckman shifts in his seat, a disapproving frown settling comfortably on his face. “it won’t be fair, i’m practically drunk already.”

“spare me the bullshit,” shanks says with a smile that serves as a small warning; he places a glass in front of beckman. “drink.” beckman pinches the space bridge of his nose and exhales a bit of his irritation. but when he picks up the glass, he recoils from the strong scent.

“this is practically rubbing alcohol.”

shanks only hums while shrugging lazily, before knocking back the drink; the burn revitalizes him, the pain reminds him that he’s alive. in a game of endurance, shanks always comes out on top. so it’s no wonder that beckman taps out after two shots.

“i value my liver, unlike you.”

this time, shanks’ laughter is genuine; he hops out of his chair and claps a hand on beckman’s back. “you’re forgiven,” he says when he leans down. as an afterthought, he adds, “this time.”

you’ve done a good job derailing his night — not that he can really blame you, he was being absolutely shameless in the worse way — so he’s decided he’s had enough. somehow, he’s rationalized that you’re the only childish and ridiculous person in this situation because he intends on stamping that attitude out.

SUN X STARS X MOON

you peruse shanks’ room while sipping from the bottle of rum you found. although you count tonight as a small victory against shanks, you didn’t think he’d get that mad. was all the teasing worth it, in the end? you leave the rum on the nightstand before climbing onto his bed and enjoy the softness of the mattress. maybe you overreacted, or maybe it’s all his fault. the guilt sits with you, until shanks enters his room.

“the hell are you doing back so soon?”

it’s not a proper greeting in the least, but you’re not exactly ready to deal with him just yet. but, since he’s already here, you might as well have it out. shanks closes the door and leans against it, partially obscured in the shadows as the moon bathes you in its light through the window.

“in case you’ve forgotten, this is my room and that’s my bed that you’re lounging comfortably on.”

he’s got you there. you roll your eyes in response, which draws out a chuckle from him once he pushes away from the door and goes to sit near you on the bed.

your emotions swell inside of you and become too heavy for you to keep hidden. “fine, whatever, i’ll leave.” you hop off the bed but then turn around. “you’re an asshole, you know that? you string me along for months and then anytime anyone else wants to talk to me you suddenly intervene.” the words tumble out of your mouth fluidly, you’re surprised your tongue could keep up. blinking back tears — because you refuse let him see you this vulnerable. “you piss me off so much, i… can’t do this anymore.”

it’s the first time that you’ve properly articulated how you’ve felt about this whole stupid situation. you feel a bit lighter but then sense of dread overcomes you, gnaws at your stomach — twisting and creating knots that make you want to run away forever. shanks takes a moment and mulls over your words, but his long silence is all the confirmation you need. you’re halfway to the door when he calls out to you.

“wait, come here.”

against your better judgment, you turn around and head back to his side. he sits on the edge of the bed, pulls you in between his legs, and warms an arm around you. “i hear you, bug, i really do.”

this is the first time he’s ever willingly said anything to make him vulnerable like that, so you relent, soften in his hold, allow your shattered heart to repair itself piece by piece. you wrap your arms around his neck and kiss him softly. he’s normally much hastier with you — being a pirate captain, he barely has time to himself, so whenever he does get a moment to touch you, he’s always in a rush.

but tonight — the moon full and pink, hanging heavy in the sky, stars shimmering brilliantly around it — he opts to slow down. shanks takes his time memorizing the shape of your lips, tongue gently caressing yours as you sigh against his lips. he kisses you like he has all the time in the world, like he’s afraid you’ll leave him if he doesn’t. you’re certainly in no hurry to finish anytime soon. by the time you’re done kissing, you’re a little breathless and can barely hold it together. shanks, unsurprisingly, is in a similar predicament, as his cock hasn’t given him a day of peace since your ban started.

but he decides to let go and mumbles, “thirty days is a long fucking time,” and you laugh, surprised at his words.

you climb onto the bed with him, laughing as he drops playful kisses along your neck, and straddle him once he lies down on his back. you rub your ass against his stiff length, forcing him to groan audibly. he’s always more vocal when he’s tipsy, and the rum has you feeling bolder as the minutes pass by. before you can do it again, shanks slaps your ass hard and you let out an involuntary shriek.

he laughs at you, laughs at the way you’re suddenly acting demure, as if you weren’t the one who started this. “i thought you didn’t want anyone to hear you?” he gives you a knowing look and a sly smile crawls onto his face. heat travels along your skin, making your cheeks burn in the worst way; you place a hand over his mouth on impulse.

“shut up, what is wrong with you?”

you hate the way you’re suddenly embarrassed about all of this. shanks, however, takes it all in stride, laughing behind your hand and mumbling something unintelligible against your palm. he knows he needs to act quickly before she makes him cum in his pants without trying. so when you pull your hand back, he says, “come on, put your pretty pussy on my mouth.” you stare at him wide-eyed, but he doesn’t relent. you mumble something about possibly being too heavy, which makes him laugh at your ridiculous excuse.

“how many times do i need to show you?” his strength, he means.

before he can do anything too rash, you pull your skirt up and position yourself over his face, pussy already slick with your arousal. shanks runs his tongue along your folds, slipping it inside to give you a firm lick; he takes his time to eat you out, his pace tortuous but electrifying. you can barely keep quiet and moan louder than you mean to as you shamelessly ride his face. holding onto the headboard, a whirlwind whips about inside of your lower abdomen as he slurps your pussy sloppily. he pulls you closer, and your arousal drips down his lips and onto his chin. your pussy is always so eager for him, so naturally he wants to treat her right.

you lose a bit of your sanity when his tongue slips inside your hole, thrusting in and out, your whimpers and moans circling around him — the best sort of lullaby he could ask for. he flicks his tongue against your clit and you buck your hips, feverishly grinding your pussy on his tongue. he likes it when you let go like this — when you’re uncaring and free. you place so many barriers in front of your own happiness, so he’s determined to knock them all down while he can. you know it’s reckless to give in to your inhibitions like this, to fly this closely to this personified version of the sun. although, you do feel a surge of power, seeing him underneath you like that, in between your thick thighs.

if shanks is apollo, then you are a nymph with ties to the moon and the sea.

it’s when shanks swirls his tongue around your clit, mercilessly stroking it, sending tiny jolts through your thighs, making you tremble above him. the orgasm is transformative — you have tears in your eyes as you whimper pathetically, your pussy puffy and sensitive; but he doesn’t care. he licks your arousal off his lips, thinking you look divine and goddess-like in the interim following your orgasm.

time slows for you both, and maybe you’re imaging it, but your heartbeat matches his once you climb off of him. of course, as usual, shanks is smug and proud of himself, but when you start taking off your clothes and tossing them onto the floor, he follows suit. pre-cum drips slowly from the tip of his cock, and when you rub your wet pussy up and down his length, you let out a breathy moan. shanks watches you with lowered eyes, inhaling sharply once you sink down onto his cock.

your pussy swallows his girth with a slow descent, and he’s losing whatever sliver of control he thinks he has over himself when it comes to you. when his cock hits a particular spot, you shudder and moan his name; he could cum from that alone, he realizes, and it shocks the hell out of him. in retaliation, shanks thrusts into you once, then twice, as you claw at his chest and cry out for more. your pace quickens as you bounce on his cock, thighs trembling as you try to keep strong; the orgasm weakened you, but rather than give in, you keep going, rolling your hips against him, hypnotizing him without completely meaning to. he won’t last much longer at this rate, which is completely your fault, he reasons.

you ride him as long as you can, before frowning and slowing down. shanks looks at you slyly, unable to stop teasing you. “need some help?”

it’s your pride that doesn’t want you to ask for help, but you know that if you don’t, shanks will edge you until you’re on your knees in tears. “please.” if he wasn’t already teetering on the edge, your desperation would make him tease you more. he rolls so that he’s on top of you and leans forward to place kisses along your jaw and neck, loving how smooth and soft your skin is. because he’s obnoxious, he sucks and bites, leaving behind bruising marks on your neck and chest. he’s burning you alive, but you want more.

you drape your leg over his shoulder, and he kisses the inside of your thigh before flicking his tongue against your skin, enjoying the way you squirm underneath him, your heart beating much too fast in your chest, making you think seemingly impossible things. shanks slips his cock back inside of you, burying it completely, letting out a shaky breath at the way your plush walls suffocate him. the angle makes you buck your hips off the bed; he laughs darkly at your enthusiasm, but doesn’t move. the frustration alone could kill you; you want him to fuck you hard enough to shake your doubts, to combat all the warmth that keeps sliding through the cracks around your heart.

he moves his hips at his own leisure, giving you broad, powerful strokes — hard enough, that his balls slap against you, pussy squelching as he powers into you repeatedly. you should be embarrassed from the sounds alone — your pussy is wet enough for him to drown, but thankfully he’s got enough stamina to handle it.

each time his cock sinks deeper into your pussy, he feels reborn; like the sea — tumultuous, dizzying, captivating, and greedy — you suck him back in each time he tries pulling out. eventually, you wrap your arms around your thighs and he feels like you’re squeezing the remnants of his soul out of him. shanks rocks his hips against yours, rough and determined, sweat gliding along his skin. when he moans your name, your heart expands faster than you thought it would. shanks keeps his hips closer to yours, giving you short, quick thrusts, fucking you to remind you that he has no intention of letting you go. his breath is warm against your skin and you kiss him again, giving him ardent, sloppy tongue kisses that do nothing to calm you down. he swallows your moans as another orgasm grips you by the throat and nearly claims your life.

your pussy clenches around him tightly, so he takes that as a challenge and fucks you harder, giving you brutal, punishing strokes — frenetic and dizzying, making your mind spin too fast for you to keep up.

“shanks, fuck, fuck, fuck.”

whatever else you say after that is lost on you, incoherent babbling that makes him laugh at you again. it’s out of adoration, you know it is, even if he won’t openly say it. shanks e works you through your orgasm, hips jerking against yours, before his own pushes him completely over the edge. after giving you a few lazy thrusts, he cums inside of you, messy but satisfying. shanks slows down and tries to catch his breath, as you push your curls away from your face. he doesn’t leave your side after he pulls out, instead he pulls you close to him, his hand rubbing up and down your back, his subsequent kisses intense and possessive.

you don’t exactly know what will happen tomorrow, but for now you’ll cherish this moment and commit it to memory. with everything that’s happened, he doesn’t want to see you in the arms of another, and you don’t want to keep pushing him away. you’re sure something’s shifted fundamentally between you two, especially when you lay on top of him and listen to the steady, powerful beats of his heart. you suppose you can give him a little leeway, but you won’t tell him that right away. there’s a warmth that cloaks itself all over you, keeping you moored to him for the rest of the night; he enjoys the silence that accompanies your presence, and decides that he’s going to keep you for as long as he can.

[jayoonology]

𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐰/ 𝐓𝐮𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐮

𝗮/𝗻 - procrastinated and then gave birth to this. I low-key want to make the Beomgyu part a proper one shot but idk if I should.

𝘄𝗰 - sb (331), yj (324), bg (346), th (314), hk (290)

Choi Soobin | 최수빈

manga shopping date

It took him weeks and I mean weeks to ask you out. He sits behind you in class and Beomgyu swears Soobin spends more time looking at you than he does at the teacher. From all that creepy staring (as Beomgyu likes to call it) Soobin noticed your wallpaper. Is that jujutsu kaisen..? No way! If it was somehow possible Soobin likes you twice as more. After some (bad) hyping up from Beomgyu and an entire night of pondering he finally decides to ask you out.

Low-key he zoned out while he was talking to you because he couldn’t believe he was actually interacting with you. But somehow he didn’t mess up and asked you if you wanted to check out a manga shop with him. And you said yes?!?! Soobin was still zoned out so didn’t actually process it till later but Beomgyu (who was rudely eavesdropping was SHOCKED) 

On the day of the date, however; Soobin was NOT calm. Man was internally freaking out, he must have changed his outfit at least 3 times. When he did make it there he couldn’t help but overthink the entire thing. Are you actually coming? Do you know this is a date? Is he wearing his shirt backwards?

All his fears melted away when he saw you though. The conversations flowed easily and he sort of forgot it was even a date, everything seemed so easy with you. The both of you spent hours at the shop, browsing and recommending each other series. Most of the time both of you were just freaking out that they had every single jjk manga, even the super rare first edition ones. And by the end of the date the both of you had two heavy bags full of books. You two agreed you’ll never have a date again at the manga store as you’re both most definitely broke now.

“Next time we should go to watch the new jjk movie!”

“next time?” MAN WAS OVERJOYED!!!!! 

Choi Yeonjun | 최연준

chill evening at roof top bar

you and Yeonjun both work the same shift and for months now there’s been so much playful tension between the both of you. Enough to make your coworkers think there’s something going on. Now Yeonjun can’t lie, he does like you a little bit (a lot) and he admits you’re gorgeous (the most breathtaking person he’s ever seen) but he also knows that you’re his coworkers and things could become awkward (he’s too much of a pussy) This game of cat and dog had been going on for a while now and frankly, you’ve had enough of waiting for Yeonjun to make the first move. If he isn’t going to do it, you’ll do it yourself. So you super confident go up to him and don’t waste any time on pleasantries.

“Yeonjun there’s a new rooftop bar that opened down the street, do you want to go—”

“Yes.”

Literally the two of you bolt the second your shift was done. This is your first time seeing Yeonjun outside of work, and there was something different about it. The two of you seemed even more unhinged, even more flirty. You didn’t even need alcohol turns out you just needed to leave that grey office. When you were at the bar the two of you ordered almost every drink on the menu and refused to leave before closing getting absolutely wasted. It was fun sitting on a skyscraper looking at the tiny people below you.

As far as first dates go, it must have been the most brilliant one you’ve been on. You and Yeonjun didn’t leave a single topic uncovered discussing popcorn flavours to white sand beaches. And you have to admit, it was kinda cute how Yeonjun got wasted, he looked like a lovesick boy. And then there was when drunk Yeonjun went on a tangent about everything he likes about you. (you made sure to never let him hear the end of that)

Choi Beomgyu | 최범규

vinyl shopping

So Beomgyu ended up getting a vinyl player from Hyuka for his birthday, the only problem is, he doesn’t have any vinyl albums. So now he has two options:

Sell the vinyl player and make some cash.

Ask his pretty roommate to go vinyl shopping with him and blow his entire paycheck.

Logically, Beomgyu chose the latter. He isn’t exactly sure when he started developing a crush on you, he just knows that one day he woke up and no one seemed to matter except you. But there’s a little bit of a problem, how is he going to make the outing seem like a date? As roommates you practically do everything together, this needs to be special. He knows that you like music and him buying your favourite vinyls could be called romantic but with no previous warning, it’s just platonic.

He’s determined to make this seem special, but how? Naturally, he watched a romcom, sure he could have consulted his friends but they’re bitchless anyway: how could they have even helped. He landed on getting you flowers, that’s the most romantic thing a guy can give you right? So the next day as you get ready he quickly runs to the grocery store and back and gets you a bouquet of tulips, awkwardly handing them to you.

“uh what’s this?”

“flowers.”

“but why?”

“cause this is a date.”

“okay cool.”

OKAY COOL? WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN? Does that mean you like him too? Does that mean you’re uncomfortable? You can see the gears turning in Beomgyu’s head and figure you should probably help the poor boy out. You grab his hand, dragging him out of the apartment. Beomgyu’s face was pinker than the tulips he got you.

You two spent the entirety of the afternoon picking out cool records you found at the shop (and emptying Beomgyu’s pockets) buying the most obscure music you could find. Despite the long day, it was rewarding cause the two of you just chilled the rest of the day, playing the music you bought and eating takeout.

Kang Taehyun | 강태현

escape room

You and Taehyun have been project partners for a while now and instead of completing your project, Taehyun has spent more time falling for you. He’d vowed to himself that 2023 was going to be the year he was going to focus on school but here you come knocking his walls down.

Now Taehyun knew for sure he was going to ask you out, it was clear to the both of you that you liked each other, you were just patiently waiting for Taehyun to make the first move. The dilemma is, Taehyun doesn’t know where to take you. Sure he could be a basic bitch and take you out to the movies or a restaurant but you were more important than that. He wanted you to enjoy and remember the first date. He thought of many things like bowling or going to a school game together but they’re so crowded and loud, how will he be able to focus on you?

It was like a eureka moment when it struck him while having a shower. He could take you to an escape room! It’s private and fun, plus teamwork. The two of you were good at that (despite not finishing your project that was set 2 months ago) When he proposes it to you, you were overjoyed. Not only have you been waiting for Taehyun to make a move, but he also made the perfect move.

You work together to decipher the clues and solve the puzzles, using your teamwork and problem-solving skills to make your way through the room. Taehyun's quick wit and intelligence are a valuable asset, and you can feel yourself growing more and more impressed by him with each passing moment (his plan is working !!) now not only did you and Taehyun enjoy working together and talking about your interests, but it was also the most memorable date you’ve been on.

Huening Kai | 정카이

create your own plushie workshop

You’ve been trying to go on a date with Kai for weeks but something or another always comes up. First, you two had a planned a picnic and it turns out it was going to rain, then he gets called to pull an emergency shift, and then your car breaks down. You’ve been wondering if it’s a sign from the universe, the universe is definitely against picnics and you know what it’s fine, who wants to sit on the grass surrounded by weird bugs anyway?

So you decide to come up with something new, something fresh and better. So scour the internet for new events happening in your hometown. Wait, what’s that? A plushie-making workshop? If that isn’t the universe giving you a sign you don’t know what is. Kai loves plushies and wait for it, it’s happening this Saturday when the both of you don’t have work. It’s perfect.

So you call up Kai, telling him to write it down in permanent marker cause there’s no way in hell that this date is going to get cancelled. Luckily the two of you make it there early and basically have the workshop all to yourself. With the help of the instructor, you work on making a plushie together.

Of course, it had all the essentials, plus a little note the two of you wrote, hiding it in the stuffing on the plushie. Your plushie was perfect in every way and the icing on top was that you got to make it with the guy you’ve been crushing on for ages.

[shmowder]

Falling asleep on her shoulder

Yulia Lyuricheva

The chilly autumn air only made burying your face into the shoulder of her coat more appealing, sleepiness still latching onto your eyes. In one of her rare walks around the town, Yulia decided to drag you along.

"Observe the sunrise" was the only explanation she offered after she shook you awake from your sweet dreams, stealing you from the warmth of your bed, having readied your jacket and shoes already by the door.

Linking her arm with yours together as she led you through the silent streets of the still-sleeping town.

And now here you are, sitting on the bench, amidst an overgrown grassy field, overlooking the Gorkhon river.

What would've made a beautiful view has been easily negated by the menacing sharp cliff just a short walk upfront, threatening a death fall into surely poisonous waters and jagged rocks. Not to mention the garden of statues lurking nearby, the tombs of the late mistresses easily spotted by the eye.

Not that you'd voice your complaints out loud... this time. If anything, you were pleasantly surprised that Yulia finally got out of the house by her own free will, even if it came at the cost of such inconvenient timing. 

You never really knew what was going on in her brain at any given moment of the day. The closer you got, the deeper the well of mystery would become, seemingly endless at times. The workings of her mind were hardly understood by anyone who's ever crossed paths with her. 

It should've put you off by now, as she claimed countless times in her pessimistic tone, a cigarette loosely hanging from between her fingers, bitter coffee at the tip of her tongue.

But it never did. If anything, its magnetic pull was stronger than ever. Your determination to scratch the surface of her being, to form a connection, attempt to understand the unfathomable, even if it took a lifetime.

Stealing one last glance her way, you were met with reddened cheeks, the cold dusting a soft blush across her face. Her short hair curls around her ear, strands more even than you'd expect from someone suddenly barging into the bathroom with scissors at the dim hours of the night while you showered nonetheless. 

Too used to her antics by now to stop lathering your arm with soap, hearing the snipping of the metal against hair. She was done with the loose bun hairstyle, it seems, back to the old pixie cut.

A cloud of fog leaves her pale lips with every exhale. She appeared unbothered by the cold, lost in her own world.

Just what did she see looking at the sunrise? You'd imagine her answer to be somehow related to the wavelengths of various colours or the long-gone legend of chariots that pulled stars along their path.

How does the world look through her brilliant eyes...

...and how did you look? What did she see across the breakfast table, or at the opposite side of the bed? 

With a yawn, you decide that you couldn't care less. You loved her, yes, but now your precious stolen sleep was all that's weighing on your mind.

And eyelids, apparently, as they started to droop on their own. 

The breathtaking view as the sun started to rise seemed to lose Yulia's attention. Her head turned in your direction instead, meeting your gaze for a split second before your eyes closed shut, and in return, the comfortable darkness fully enclosed you whole.

You felt her arm wrap around you, the rustling of the coat's fabric as she pulled you closer to her, let you sink into her side. A silent offer to share whatever warmth she can with you.

It's serene. The chirping of the early birds, the subtle smokey scent latching onto her clothes, your jacket comfortably hugging your body.

Yulia watches in polite silence as you drift off to sleep. She studies the way your features soften by the promise of rest. Despite her initial claims of coming here to observe the sunrise, it was you who ended up rivalling the star for her attention.

Content with the peaceful atmosphere, she doesn't plan on moving any time soon, cautious of disturbing your well-deserved rest. 

[subwaytostardew]

Update: Ginger Island content

Now there's more than just the bare minimum and their bar dialogue! Kade filled out the other dialogue keys for Ginger Island! Here they are!

▲ Ingo’s Resort Dialogue ▲

 "Resort_Entering": "I have always been told I need to rest my cab! Now I get to do so! This place is breathtaking! However... I do wish the seas were less choppy... I felt as if I was being subjected to a Seismic Toss!"

  "Resort_Leaving": "Alas, I must return to the mainland and to home station. As nice as this place is... I cannot help but worry about the work that needs to get done. They say to rest and relax, but I find it quite difficult to do so. Still! It was a nice day off! I would not mind returning to this terminal! The boat, on the other hand... Oh dear."

  "Resort_Shore": "Ahh... now this is quite the sight! Oh! Perhaps I could build a sand sculpture? Oh... What do I plan to build? Why, a train of course! EHAHAHAHAHA!"

  "Resort_Chair": "(Ingo seems to be fast asleep. He is snoring quite loudly. The book on his face does little to nothing when it comes to volume control.)"

  "Resort_Umbrella": "Owch. Owch. YOWCH. Nuuugh... @... I'd hate to be a bother, but you wouldn't happen to have any sunscreen on you, would you? I'm afraid I am ill-equipped for how bright the sun is here. It appears my cab has gotten burned in the process..."

  "Resort_Wander": "Ah, this place is quite relaxing... But what of all the paperwork that sits unfinished at the station? Oh dear...

No. No. Tut. Tut. Ingo. Do not derail. You are here to relax!

AH, @! Y-you hadn't overheard me, have you? Eh... eheheha... My apologies, but I am simply trying to remind myself that work can wait. After all, I'm here to relax! I heard many good things about the island here! To think this region has so many hidden wonders beneath its prickly thorns..."

  "Resort_Bar": "Bravo! Mister Vincent was indeed correct about the delectability of Cranberry Candy! He has quite a refined palette for such a young passenger- especially when it comes to that of fruits! Perhaps I will take along some cargo for him and Miss Jas before we depart back to the valley... Surely, that will steer them away from my personal supply of sweets..."

▽ Emmet’s Resort Dialogue▽

 "Resort_Entering": "Mmm... I did not like the boat ride. Trains are better. Maybe we can make a train come here! That will be much better. Yup."

  "Resort_Leaving": "I am Emmet... I am now verrrry behind schedule. But I am well-rested and refueled. Ready to work on the railroad all the livelong day again. Yup. The beach is nice. But trains are better! Remember that! ... Stupid boat."

  "Resort_Shore": "The water is verrry wet. The sand is also verrry wet. It sticks to me like glue. I do not like that. As nice as the beach is. Tracking dirt and cleaning sand from one's cab is not fun.",

  "Resort_Chair": "(Emmet looks to be busy sorting through a photo album. It is full of pictures of the shoreline and sea creatures that are around.)"

  "Resort_Umbrella": "Ow. Ow. Ow. I am Emmet. Ow. I did not apply enough sunscreen. Ow... This sucks. Yup. I burn verrrry easily... Ingo does, too. There is a reason why we do not usually make detours from our usual tracks. I miss the subway tunnels. The sun cannot cause damage there.",

  "Resort_Wander": "I don't know why I came here. I am Emmet. I have a lot to conduct at the station.$3#$b#Is this what a vacation feels like? I do not like it. There is too much work to be done. I will be verrry behind schedule. You. Why are you here, @? Aren't you busy, as well?",

  "Resort_Bar": "The Tropical Curry is verrry good! A little... spicy... though... I had to ask for less spice. It is still spicy. Because of the peppers. But I like the pineapple bowl. They are like Pinap Berries but not spicy at all! They are verrry sweet. Pinap Berries are verrrry rare in Unova. Yup. It is a shame. They taste good. I wish I could eat them more. I could just eat a pineapple. But I like curry. It reminds me of the Galar region. I ate some with my friend- Piers- back in Pasio. It was verrry good! I missed it. He didn't make it spicy."

I made one whole island animation for the twins. Here are the frames and a gif with their towel sprites!

Of course Emmet would kick his feet around. Ingo, I was a little more inspired for. I was thinking that he would fall asleep in the position he would have as a passenger: legs crossed, one hand in his lap, the other holding a (nonexistent) handrail. He probably goes "choo choo" in his sleep. Emmet just doesn't sleep.

▷ Station Steward Thylak

[umbralaether]

Kiss prompts: In the rain/snow 💜

Living in Coerthas was not unlike living in a snow-globe.

She awoke to a new dusting of snow every morning, and as someone who had spent most of her life in warm climates, it was more than an adjustment. She wasn’t sure how the people of Ishgard survived in such a world— endless snow and cold, nothing but grey and white covering every surface. It had been days since she’d seen a blue sky, and weeks since she’d seen the sun and felt it’s warmth.

Needless to say, the snow was beginning to freeze even her spirit.

Haurchefant, the only true sun in this unbearable climate, was not slow to notice her distaste for snow. He made sure the fire in her room was always blazing, had fitted her bed with the warmest of blankets, and made sure warm meals always found their way to her if he was unable to bring them himself.

So when he had told her he wanted to take her on a hike before dawn, she had almost spit out her drink.

“I assure you, my sweet Eisha, it will be worth the trip.” He said, taking her hand in his to kiss it gently.

In the end, she agreed. After all he had done for her, romantic intentions aside, she could give him this small thing. When he woke her an hour or so before the break of dawn, she crawled her way out of the cozy bed and dressed as warmly as she could.

The trek was not to be very far, he had assured her. Noir, his chocobo, did most of the work as he carried both of them up the summit. She was grateful to cling to Haurchefant’s body heat as they went, sleep still hovering around her mind.

“I know the snow has not been your favorite part of Ishgard, or Coerthas for that matter. I hope this can show you there is beauty to be found in even the most dismal of climates.”

They dismount Noir, the bird chirruping happily as Haurchefant feeds her a palmful of Gysahl greens. Eisha takes a moment to look around. He’s taken her to a mountaintop overlooking Ishgard, freshly fallen snow piled high and moments away from falling off the branches of the pine trees nearby. The sky is already a bruising purple as the sun begins it’s ascent.

“So what is it you wanted me to see?”

Haurchefant comes up behind her, wrapping his arms around her body, “The sunrise, my sweet.”

It only takes a few minutes for the sun to peek over the horizon, a dazzling show of sparkles as the light hits the freshly fallen snow. Eisha cant help but find it breathtaking— most of the time Ishgard was just grey and white and bland.

This was something entirely new.

“This… I’ve never seen anything like this before.”

Haurchefant chuckles, “It’s rare we have clear skies, especially this late in the season. I’m glad I get to be the first to witness you seeing it.”

Eisha turns towards him, and just as she does the wind blows glittering snowflakes all around them. They dance briefly before landing in their hair, on their coats, and she grins before leaning up to kiss him. He meets her with the same softness, a gentle thing, and she swears she could kiss him all day if it weren’t for the cold.

“Thank you, for showing me this,” she leans her head against his chest, “I won’t ever forget it.”

“Anything for you, my sweetest love.”

[minniebbang]

within the forest | chapter 8

pairing: fairy!Chan x princess!reader word count: 2.2k words summary: after facing the truth, something needs to change. warning: a slight mention of death

main masterlist | series masterlist | next

Sara tidied Y/N's hair and tugged a lily stem onto the braids. She gazed at the princess’s expression and a disappointed sigh sounded as she set the brush back to its place. Any excitement was invisible on her face and this wasn’t the first time she witnessed it, that alone was enough to make her uneasy about the princess. Something changed inside of Y/N.

“Y/N, the Queen always searches for you in the evening. She seems sad when you aren’t here.” Sara confessed

Y/N’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion at the statement, yet she remained silent, allowing Sara to continue. 

“I didn’t mean to be rude but you’re forgetting your family after you found Chan.” Sara watched her through the mirror, sadness lingered in her eyes when Y/N looked at her. Something inside her twitched in a bad way. The deep guilt suddenly crawled out, the feeling she never knew existed in the corner of her heart.

"You avoid the Queen, Seungmin and everyone in the palace. Everyone suddenly becomes a side character in your life when Chan appears. I know he brings happiness to you but that doesn’t mean you need to push everyone out of frame, pretending they never help you before."

“Get out, please, Sara. I will meet you in a moment” She uttered calmly but sternness was evident in her tone. Sara could tell she was holding herself back from exploding. She bowed and shut the door behind her. Y/N shut her eyes, regaining her composure, and took a big breath. Her gaze shifted to the picture beside the mirror - a portrait of her family beaming. 

Where did all of that happiness disappear? Is it her fault that her mother rarely smiles now? Was what Sara said true?  She shook her head instantly, eliminating the thought and exited the room. She headed to the dining hall where she was supposed to meet the prince.

Entering the hall, her mother swiftly held her hand and led her to the prince with a tender smile decorating her face. “Thank you for not running away this time, sweetie. I appreciate it and I’m sorry for taking your time today.”

Her eyes fell to the floor for a slight moment. She should apologised to her mother instead, not the other way around. Now, she saw the reality behind Sara’s words.

The princess and prince occupied the dimly lit library. The princess was flipping through the pages, and the storyline was vague - none of the words made sense to her preoccupied mind. Pretending to read a book was a way to avoid conversation. The latter just admired her from afar. The rumours were true after all, Stellious's only princess was exquisite, breathtaking even. It wasn’t odd if the prince had fallen for her beauty.

“Princess Flora, shall we head to the dining room? It is almost 7.30 p.m.”

“Sure” She closed the thick cover book and placed them away. The prince gestured for her to exit before him. The entire day, he couldn’t strike up any conversation with her. How can he marry someone without knowing them well? 

“Flora, I'm curious. Where did you go the other day?”

Her hands rubbed together as she walked “Out in the forest. Visiting a friend”

“Does your friend have anything to do with your unseemly behaviour today? Your smile lost its shine today,”

"I didn’t notice it”

“I want to get to know you before we go further. So, can we start as a friend?”

Her steps came to a halt. She turned at him, eyes staring directly into his. She was stunned by the request. Did she close her heart to everyone else after Chan came into her life? She was ashamed of herself after the realisation. She nodded.

“Of course. Let’s start from the beginning. I’m Y/N Flora, call me Y/N. I dislike people calling me Flora”

Seungmin chuckled “And I’m Kim Seungmin. You can call me whatever you like.” He beamed enthusiastically.

She stared at the forest through her window, hand fumbling with the black feather. Since Chan’s leaving and the unexpected meeting with Beomgyu, her head heaved with questions and worried…no, the worry had exploded into fear.

“Duncan is far away from kindness. I always see him with a dead body, the body of his victim. I’m afraid if Chan did accept Duncan’s protection, he’ll be forced into doing them again” 

“Doing what, Beomgyu?”

“Murdering, killing innocent life without solid reasons.”

The moment she heard it, she stood, frozen with widened eyes. What could surprise her more in a matter of two days? She folded her eyes as the image of Chan’s victim flashed in her mind, leaving her breathless for a moment. His smile crumbled down at the back of her mind.

“10 years, Do I want to crash down this friendship without knowing the whole picture?” Sitting in the palace, letting Beomgyu’s story devour her, wouldn’t suffice anything. With Chan’s image in her memories, she vanished from the bedroom, unaware of the infuriating eyes watching her actions behind the creaked door.

She tilted her head as she slowly pushed the door out of her way, perplexed at the slightly opened door. Setting foot in, she saw Chan duck under the fireplace and hit his head on the brick. 

“Little flora, what are you doing here late at night?”  He dusted off his worn-out trousers. He had his back on her. She felt terrified of him for the first time, not until he turned around, showing the same enchanting smile.

“Who’s Duncan?”

His face was stoic but she figured it out, he was surprised. “Just a friend, not blood-related. Let’s sit and ask everything you want.”

Taking her hand gently, he pulled her to the chair, beckoning her to sit.

“Can you explain these pictures to me then?”

She placed the pictures on the desk, observing Chan’s reaction. They were pictures of Chan with several unknown faces. She needs his honesty currently. If he were her faithful friend, he would tell her. His smile subsided, his relaxed shoulder dropped downward, and his gigantic wings engulfed his slightly quivering self. 

“There were my friends. All of them were my close friends but…”

“I had to kill them. It was either them or my siblings”

His vision turned blurry from the tears brimming on the edge of his eyes. He lowered his gaze, and the back of his hand felt wet. Words began tumbling on his tongue, and he couldn’t find a way to speak them out properly. 

“That is the condition of living under Duncan. One way or another, I was forced to kill them so my siblings are safe from the kings.”

The room suddenly filled with thousands of eyes watching them talk. She shifted her gaze to the fireplace, letting the fire crackling echo in her ear, trying to cover Chan’s low sniffling. Guilt was devouring her alive, she never thought that she would see Chan crying due to her curiosity.

“I destroy a lover, someone’s shoulder to cry on, a loving brother and sister…a friend”

The blood-crudling scream became louder in his head, and his mind ached, begging for it to stop as tears dropped to his hand more. Every attempt to move on from the past was vain, not when their scream daunting him every time someone recounts the buried memories. The tension and Chan’s sobbing were swallowing her up, she couldn’t sit still, knowing all of this happened because of her. The reason the conversation occurred was because of her. 

She shouldn’t have brought the topic up, to begin with

“It’s a sin for me to smile whereas my hand held a dead body before…”

Before he could continue, she clasped his hand with hers, a tight grip as she pulled his hand off his knee. Chan raised his face, tears staining his pale cheeks and red dominating his nose. 

“Stop… Chan. You’re torturing yourself. I shouldn’t have asked you that, it’s my fault”

His hand reached for the new bitter tear to wipe it but she beat him to it.

“Let’s stop about Duncan here and have something warm to drink. It’s freezing tonight.”  

She gave a small smile and headed to the kitchen. His eyes followed her silhouette, rising to his feet after seeing her struggling to find the items. Her head perked up at the squeaking sound of the cupboard below her. Shaking her head, she rinsed her hand and wiped Chan’s face with her damp hand. He was bewildered, tilted his head and gave a questioning look to her.

“I don’t want to see your face stained with pain.”  

“Thank you, little flora” 

They continued the half-done work, comforting silence took over when a smile was exchanged between them. The silence reminded Chan of how much Y/N had grown up. Ecstatic shouts would accompany their cooking or tea session, there was some other time when the clattering of the fallen bowl rang throughout the small kitchen area, and Chan would be panicked, thinking she’d slipped. Watching her doing everything by herself, a sense of pride concealed him.

She brought the two cups to the desk, while Chan picked some books out of the brittle shelf for them. Setting the cups down, she saw a tiny figure with wings leaning against the jar of cookies, one of them nibbling the sugar cube that slowly melted in his grasp. A speck of glittering gold dust scattered on the surface of the wood

“What are you looking at?” 

She pointed at the unknown creature, and Chan kneeled, leaning in to take a clearer view of the creature, only to sigh.

“Taehyun, Beomgyu, what are you doing?”

The blonde one grinned.

“They want to join us. If that’s okay with you” Chan turned at her, a stack of books halfway blocking his vision.

“Of course! You say it before, having extra company will be fun.” The brunette fairy’s cheek turned chubby at the reply, and a broad smile crept up on his face. She couldn’t bite back a smile.

Chan handed her a book after they sat across from each other. Now, Chan realised how many years had passed with her. It was a familiar setting but with a grown-up little flora and a never-aged man, that was him. The shout of the owl had subsided by the time they closed the book and began sharing their old story. The little ancient cottage lit up with their laughter and giggling again. Nothing is more comforting after devastation than doing something you love with your beloved. The clock had passed midnight, and Beomgyu had fallen asleep on Taehyun’s lap. Beomgyu’s lips were coated with sugar that Taehyun had to wipe off with his sleeve. Her lid became heavy, past a point that she couldn’t keep her head from slumping. 

“Let’s head to sleep, little flora. You could have told me you’re sleepy.” Chan stood up, arm draping her shoulder, leading her to his bedroom. 

“Chan…” 

He stopped and glanced at her, allowing her to continue. She collided her body with Chan’s tough one, wrapping her arm around his waist. 

“I love you and thank you for these 10 years. I’m grateful that fate let us meet. Goodnight.”  She pulled herself away and shut the door behind her. 

Her words roamed around his mind, practically leaving him frozen on the spot. An unknown emotion dominated him. Was it ecstatic? Or was it heartwarming? The last time he felt this was before his mother’s death, it was the last he told himself. Hearing those again, he wanted to shed tears all over again.  Despite his hideous and terrifying black wings, he admits he’s a soft-hearted man.

Sometimes all one needed was sincere words to make them feel appreciated. 

“Maybe Beomgyu was right and I was too fed to myself to agree with him” Chan snapped his head toward the voice, coming eye to eye with Taehyun. 

“But I'm sticking with my idea. Don’t you think it much safer living under Duncan’s protection?”

“And allowing myself to crush into a bottomless pit? I can’t face that again, Taehyun.”

“I know you will answer that. Then I’m going to be your guardian angel now.” Taehyun chuckled and Chan shook his head, disagreeing with Taehyun’s idea. Taking care of him when they first met was risky enough. Taehyun shouldn’t have left him alone, die or alive, he should stop caring about him. The blonde had done well and Chan didn’t know how to repay him for his kindness if he did accept his offer. 

“I’m not giving you an option, Chan. I’m grateful enough you’re still alive today”

“Don’t–”

“I risked my life when I met you. Protecting you from the king is far away from difficult.”

“Fine…but if things get out of your hand, leave me alone” He uttered firmly

Taehyun nodded and approached Chan. He squatted down to Chan’s leg, hovering his hand above Chan’s wound. A beaming light spread through his hand. After a while, Taehyun retreated his palm and got back on his feet.

“I’m heading home. I can’t let anything disturb Beomgyu’s sleep. Goodnight chan”

[dark-frosted-heart]

Doki Doki☆Beast Camp - Foreign Affairs Faction

Part 1

This event ran from August 29 - September 8, 2022

As usual, can’t guarantee 100% accuracy on this

The day I visited Prince Silvio's private island at his invitation was the perfect day for going out. There was not a cloud in sight.

Emma: Wow! This island's so beautiful!

With the glittering sea, and the fragrant and lush forest, I break out into a smile at the breathtaking view. Nokto smiles in response.

Nokto: Yeah, beautiful.

Even Nokto's smile, which I had seen dozens of times already, somehow looked different and fresh before the blue sea.

(But even in a place like this, Nokto still has a hint of night...)

As I'm thinking that, alluring crimson eyes peer at me.

Nokto: Nice location to seduce you, isn't it?

Emma: N-Nokto, you're too close...!

I hurriedly turn away and am next greeted by a pair of alluring golden eyes.

Clavis: Haha. This island looks like it's worth setting traps on, doesn't it?

(It won't be any good to have Prince Silvio's island be full of traps...)

(But can I actually stop Clavis?)

While I secretly mull over this, Nokto sighs next to me.

Nokto: You'll only do this against King Highness, right? I'm going to have this girl fall for me after I seduce her in an unexpected way. Even if the mood's good, it'll be ruined by traps.

Clavis: Nope, things will be fine. After all, Emma will be traveling with me all around the island, pursuing every form of pleasure to the limit, right?

(Um...I didn't plan on either of those...)

Luke: You guys, that's enough. You're bothering Emma.

Emma: Luke!

I turn to look at Luke and he gives me a gentle smile.

Luke: Just leave those those two alone and we'll take it easy together.

(Spending time with just Luke does sound peaceful and fun, but...)

Emma: Since we all came together, why don't we-

I was going to say something like "have fun"...

Chevalier: ...

I see Prince Chevalier walking toward the villa ahead and I unconsciously shout.

Emma: Ah!

Will I be able to accomplish my original goal?

As I stare dumbfoundedly at his retreating back, I recall the day after Prince Silvio asked me to pick who to join me on the island.

After thinking over it for a night, I visited the foreign affairs faction office and told them what had happened as well as my desire to go to the island with them.

~~Flashback start~~

(It's not every day you get to spend time with the princes)

(I'd like to invite the foreign affairs faction because they're not around the castle as often)

(If we go together, I might be able to see the princes who usually work alone working together)

(It'd be a rare and valuable opportunity to get to know about the relationship between the princes, so I hope I can get them to accept my offer)

Emma: Please, will you go with me?

Clavis: Haha! I knew you'd ask me out.

Luke: A private island, huh.

Nokto: Wow, Silvio's pretty generous.

Chevalier: Ridiculous...

Emma: Um...so are you coming, Clavis?

(He was pretty enthusiastic that night when Prince Silvio invited me...)

Clavis: Of course. How could I not go to a place of supreme pleasure? Leave all the arrangements to me, okay?

Emma: Thank...you? How about you, Luke?

Luke: I'm down, but I don't think you should invite Nokto and Chevalier. I don't think they'd take you up on the invitation.

(That's true. I don't think I can simply invite them either)

(I got it!)

Nokto: Wha~t? You're looking at me all fired up. I don't care much about the island. But if you join me in bed...

(Maybe he's testing me...)

Emma: Staying at Prince Silvio's island has some merit for you Nokto, doesn't it? Since a lot of your business partners are from Benitoite, if they learned that you're close enough to Prince Silvio to be invited to his private beach, it'd surely make negotiations easier.

Nokto: Hmm, I'll give you credit for giving it some thought. It's true that strengthening relations with Silvio wouldn't be a bad thing. But I'm a prince so I've had a certain amount of trust since the beginning. I won't be at a disadvantage if I don't go.

Emma: Of course if you come, I'll do my best to serve you. Just not in bed.

Nokto: Ahahaha, I understand now. At first I didn't think you could convince me with just words alone. Are you trying to get me to lower my demands by suggesting benefits?

Emma: Yeah, I was wondering if you would be open to that kind of negotiation...

Nokto: Ok, sure. Yeah, that's it...let me seduce you on the island. I'll get some benefits from being able to seduce you at a different place. Sound good?

Emma: Yeah, sure.

(I'll have to be extremely vigilant...but I'm glad I was able to convince Nokto)

(Now for Prince Chevalier. I'm nervous, but it'll be fine)

(There's something "special" on the island that Prince Chevalier would be interested in!)

Emma: Prince Chevalier...

Chevalier: ...

Emma: I heard that the villa on Prince Silvio's island is well equipped to entertain guests. I'm told that there are plenty of well-known books and rare books written by Benitoite authors for book-loving guests.

Chevalier: ...

Emma: Would you like to come along?

Chevalier: I don't mind...

(Yes!)

Chevalier: Know that what you're expecting will never happen.

(Prince Chevalier saw right through me. But if I work hard...)

(If I do my best...)

Nokto: I'll live up to your expectations no matter what. It's a private island after all. If you have a situation in mind, let me know. I'll seduce you any way you want.

Clavis: I won't just "live up to" your expectations. I'll surpass them.

Luke: Emma, I'll protect you.

Chevalier: ...

(Everything will be fine...right...yeah, I'll do my best!)

~~Flashback end~~

(Back then I said I'd work hard and do my best...I can't be discouraged now)

(We've only just arrived on the island so there's plenty of time...)

As I psyche myself up, Nokto follows Prince Chevalier to the villa.

Nokto: Well, I think I'll go to the room and relax.

Luke: Hey, what about you?

Emma: I think I'll go to the room for a while.

(I need to figure out my next steps...)

Just as I thought about it, Clavis looks at my face and smirks

Clavis: Don't worry. I told you I'd take care of everything, didn't I? I have a present for you for being brave enough to choose us as your campmates.

After hinting at something, Clavis cheerily heads toward the villa.

(Present?)

Despite my doubts, Luke and I follow Prince Chevalier, Nokto, and Clavis to the villa.

---

Emma: Wow!

The large book case in the corner of the elegantly furnished room brings a smile to my face.

(There are so many books known for being interesting!)

(Prince Silvio's amazing. These are all hard to come across)

I spy Prince Chevalier sitting on the sofa by the window with a view of the sea, book in hand.

Emma: These books all look so interesting. It's amazing, Prince Chevalier!

Chevalier: It's not bad.

After the brief comment, Prince Chevalier turns the page and begins to silently read the book.

(If there are rare books, Prince Chevalier will no doubt be satisfied)

(And I'm excited to read all the books I've been wanting to read in such a lovely place!)

As I'm browsing the bookshelves while suppressing my excitement, I suddenly feel Clavis' gaze on me.

When I turn around, Clavis hands me a book.

Clavis: The first book you'll read here is this one. An exceptionally rare book that is a must-read to enjoy this island.

Emma: Exceptionally rare...book?

While I flipped through the pages, Clavis hands the same book to Nokto and Luke. He even places a copy on the table next to Prince Chevalier.

(It looks recently printed...)

(It's written in what looks like the most unintelligible characters I've ever seen)

(Is this book foreign?)

After checking the contents of the book, I look around and see that both Nokto and Luke have a look of annoyance despite not even opening the book.

Even Prince Chevalier, who's reading silently, doesn't even glance at the book that Clavis had placed on the table.

(Wait a sec...)

(Even though Clavis said it's a rare book, Prince Chevalier seem to be interested at all)

When I tilt my head in confusion, I hear Nokto let out a sigh.

Nokto: Listen, it's not a foreign language. It's Clavis' handwriting, okay? It's the characters we normally use.

Emma: HUH!?

(T-this...?)

Nokto: By the way, only King Highness can read it.

Nokto added as I stared at the book.

(Prince Chevalier's amazing...)

Luke: I'm sure whatever's written is garbage anyway so you don't have to read it.

Luke says while leisurely stretching. Clavis shakes his head.

Clavis: What's written is important information. It's a travel guide I made.

Emma: A guide?

Clavis: That's right. It's important to gather important information in advance to fully enjoy the camping experience. With this guide, you can see what kinds of fruit are around, what bugs are in the area, and even information about the heavy rain from a few days ago. And there's more...Look here.

Clavis opens to the page with a huge map of the forest.

(Compared to the writing, it's somewhat interpretable...)

(This forest is a lot bigger than I thought)

As I look in amazement, Clavis comes closer and whispers in my ear.

Clavis: You'll miss out if you don't enjoy this chance.

(It's true that I was so eager to learn more about the foreign affairs faction that I didn't prepare anything to enjoy camping)

Emma: Thank you, Clavis.

I smile and Clavis returns a meaninful smile.

Clavis: Let's start here then.

I look at where Clavis' pointing but...

(I can't read it...)

Clavis: It'll be noon soon. When camping, it's necessary to live off what's in the area. We can cook the fish we catch in the nearby river. One of us has to stay here in case something goes wrong. We'll prepare after-meal recreation at the same time.

Emma: Recreation?

Clavis: That's right. After filling our bellies, we must fill our hearts.

(Fill our hearts huh...)

(The idea's nice but why does it sound so disturbing when Clavis says it...)

Clavis: There won't be any issues. If you follow my wonderful plan, anyone will be in for the most pleasure time of their life. The most important thing is assigning roles. I'll-

Someone interrupts an enthusiastic Clavis...

Nokto: Clavis, I'll go look for food with Luke and the girl. Naturally, King Highness will stay here. You're in charge of recreation. We can't read this guide.

(Nokto?)

I couldn't help but stare at Nokto as he spoke in a brisk manner.

Luke: You...

Luke also looked skeptical at first, but then he soon becomes convinced and gives a small nod.

Luke: Ah, I get it now.

Clavis: Interested, aren't you Nokto? Your big brother Clavis is pleased.

Nokto waves at Clavis as he pushes Luke and me out.

Nokto: Sure, whatever. Let's go.

---

After making a quick exit, we walk through the forest and Nokto sits down in the shade of a tree by the riverbank.

Nokto: *sigh* What a pain. Hey, can you fish?

Emma: I've never fished before but I've read books on how to... Don't you know how to fish, Nokto?

(Why'd he volunteer then?)

As if he read my mind, Nokto sighs in exasperation.

Nokto: Hey, you know I saved you, right?

Part 2

[heavenridersindia]

Exploring the Kuari Pass Trek by a Journey to the Heart of the Himalayas

With its stunning mountain vistas, unique forests, and an unforgettable experience in the great outdoors, the Kuari Pass Trek is one of the most beautiful trekking routes in the Indian Himalayas. This trek perfects itself for adventurers who want to dip into the wonders of nature. Heaven Riders India, the trusted name in Himalayan trekking, takes the trekkers on this journey by ensuring their safety while leaving behind a memorable experience among the mountains. I will give an in-depth look on what makes Kuari Pass Trek so appealing to all nature lovers and adventure goers. 

Why Choose the Kuari Pass Trek?

The Kuari Pass Trek is one of the best treks in Uttarakhand, targeting any individual interested in a mix of wonderful scenic landforms and moderate treks. Popularly known as the “Lord Curzon Trail” after Lord Curzon who pioneered the route in the early 1900s, the trek boasts breathtaking views of majestic Himalayan peaks including Nanda Devi, Dronagiri, Chaukhamba, and Kamet. Heaven Riders India brings the best of this trek with their knowledgeable guides, comfortable arrangements, and a commitment to safety, making it perfect for both beginner and seasoned trekkers. 

The Unique Beauty of Kuari Pass

Varied landscapes of Kuari Pass make trek very interesting for trekkers when they experience the Himalayas. From the dense forests of oak and rhododendron trees, vast meadows and lush valleys open up the trail. So, this trek does not get boring, and with each turn, new views reveal the picturesque beauty of nature. 

One of the apotheosis moments of the trek is the view from atop the Kuari Pass, which offers a stunning view of towering peaks. Heaven Riders India makes sure the trekkers are having the best experience possible-to “push” them to the best viewpoints while training them in the region’s natural and cultural history.

An Itinerary Crafted by Heaven Riders India

The Kuari Pass Trek takes around 5-6 days according to the route taken. Heaven Riders India plan an itinerary which will balance a great degree of adventure trekking with proper rest and acclimatization so that trekkers enjoy the journey fully.

Arrival and Acclimatization: It starts from Joshimath where Heaven Riders India would ensure that the start day is amiable. Acclimatization to the altitude would be a critical factor for the successful trek.

Trek to Gulling: The initial day of trekking takes you through the lush forests and small mountain villages, giving a glimpse of local life. The guides of Heaven Riders India make sure that the trekkers are comfortable; they point out scenic spots on the way.

Gulling to Tali Top: The trek takes the route through oak and rhododendron forests. Sometimes trekkers get rare birds, even wildlife, making the adventure exciting.

Summit Day – Kuari Pass: TThe peak of the climb is at the pass. Heaven Riders India cannot take anything on the strength of chance, but instead, a safe and steady pace and guiding trekkers up to the summit where breathtaking views are located. A view of the stretch of snow-clad peaks right around the horizon is a memory to forever keep.

Return to Joshimath: After having drowned in the beauty of Kuari Pass, trekkers wander back downhill, passing through stunning trails and celebrating the achievement of the trek.

What Makes the Kuari Pass Trek Special?

The Kuari Pass trek is special for many reasons and Heaven Riders India adds to it with expertise and dedication. Here’s why the trek experience is unique:

Stunning Himalayan Views: Catch the view of peaks like Nanda Devi and Dronagiri as viewed during the trek.

Rich Flora and Fauna: The trek passes through dense forests of oak and rhododendron trees. Other species of very rare birds and animals can be seen; therefore, it is an exciting adventure for nature lovers.

Local Culture and Villages: The Kuari Pass Trek is also a cultural excursion. This enables the trekkers to get into contact with the people and experience mountain life.

A Great Option for Beginners:Although it is considered not too challenging in terms of difficulty, Heaven Riders India makes the Kuari Pass trek quite accessible to beginners as it sets a comfortable pace and offers assistance all throughout the trek.

Preparing for the Kuari Pass Trek with Heaven Riders India

Heaven Riders India equips the trekkers with detailed advice on what to carry, workout routines, and how one should prepare for high-altitude trekking. Here are a few things to take care of:

Fitness Level: The trek is moderately challenging but would require a minimum fitness level. Heaven Riders India asks the trekkers to regularly do cardio and leg strengthening exercises to ensure they enjoy the trip without much trouble.

Packing Essentials:The Himalayas’ weather is changing, hence Heaven Riders India requests the trekkers to carry layers of warm clothes, waterproof clothing, comfortable shoes for trekking, and personal requirements such as sun protection cream, first-aid kits, and enough water.

Acclimatization: Heaven Riders India avoids altitude sickness by having rest days included in the itinerary and advises slow walking, hydration, and abstaining from alcohol.

Why Choose Heaven Riders India for the Kuari Pass Trek?

One genuine company, such as Heaven Riders India, would be your safest bet for an enjoyable and memorable experience while trekking. Here is how they differ:

Experienced Guides: The company offers keen, friendly, knowledgeable guides who know the terrain well, thus ensuring that the trekkers have a thought-provoking and safe journey.

Focus on Safety: Heaven Riders India is not anything careless with safety as they have reduced group sizes, staff training in basic first aid needs, proper guidance to bring risks to a minimal.

Eco-Friendly Practices: Heaven Riders India ensures sustainability in tourism and contributes to activities that care for the environment, including minimal plastic usage and zero waste.

Community Engagement: Heaven Riders India is pro-community. They are able to support the local community’s economy while making trekking experiences authentic.

Experiencing the Magic of the Kuari Pass Trek

Trek to Kuari Pass is much more than just a trek in mountains; it provides an opportunity to connect with nature, beautiful landscapes, and new visions. Because Heaven Riders India makes sure that all aspects of authenticity and enjoyment are featured in the trek, such an experience can be very rewarding. From day one of planning to summit day, they take care of all details so that the trekkers have enough time to enjoy every single moment.

Conclusion

Kuari Pass Trek with Heaven Riders India would be an excellent choice if you seek one unforgettable Himalayan adventure. A combination of breathtaking landscapes, cultural exposure, and well-organized support will make this trek an experience of a lifetime. So, pack your bags, lace up your boots, and join Heaven Riders India on an exciting sojourn through the trials of the immensely beautiful and thrilling Kuari Pass Trek-a journey that will forever be etched in your heart as a sojourn in the great Himalayas.

Originally Published Here:-