#but this will be an excellent opportunity and i will accomplish so much

[simple-and-cozy-life]

I've been so stressed from the changes happening in my life that I forgot that, even though this is going to suck, God is going to get me through this transitional time. Eventually, I will have the stability that I need and I will have a family.

Life will persist and so must I.

[youuuimeanmee]

This chapter might be the start of literally the biggest thing ever and I'm SCARED.

I have SHIVERS.

Almost every important characters are gathering in one place.

Our Eden kids are finally playing outside the school.

For a spy like Twillight, this festival is literally a treasure of intels.

(Though, I was surprised when Twillight mention that Glooman Pharmaceuticals has no further connection with the Desmonds. I thought it's gonna be involved in some kind of drugs' development for war, but ig I was wrong.)

Remember how Twillight always look down on Anya because she can't study, she's hard to teach, and she doesn't excell in any sport or any other talents (except classical language)?

Now look at them.

Twillight finally sees just how valuable Anya is. How much Anya, a presumably six-year-old, has accomplished in the span of 6 months. I repeat. 6. months.

He's pleased because it's really convenient for his mission.

And yet, look at what Jeff wished for the kids.

The irony. The sweet, sweet irony.

As much as it pains him to acknowledge how right Jeff's words are, he cannot. He cannot dwell into such sentiments, because he's a spy. A spy must seize every opportunity to gain any information neccesary for his mission. For the sake of his goal; a world peace. For that goal, he will do anything. Even if he has to use his "daughter" and his "wife" for his own convenience.

Because of that, the very least he could to them is protect their well-being and happiness.

Twillight has established that since long ago. But will things change after this arc? That is the big question.

Now we are entering, what I call, "the fortune teller arc." (until we get a better name imma stick to this one.)

Somehow, in every series I've read that has a fortune teller in it, it ended up changes (read: fucks up) the MC's life forever.

I've been predicting the involvement of Crowley in the future; from his name reference, his hairstyle, his excellence in Classical language, everything.

Look whose name Endo uses for the most popular fortune teller.

Heh.

(will Arnold Crowley appear in next chapter? Will he meet Anya in this arc?)

And look at the star of this chapter, who also plays as a fortune teller!

Melinda Desmond.

Who would've thought.

Suddenly, her earrings and ring's design make so much sense.

Is it safe to say now that Crowley and Melinda Desmond are occultists?

Or maybe just one of them?

I know jumping to conclusion is dangerous, but I just can't help it.

I still can't speak if Melinda and Crowley family are related to each other because there's no evidence of their relation (yet). But I can at least tell you this:

Melinda probably uses fortune telling as a way to collect informations. Her ad speaks for poor, desperate people. She doesn't charge her clients for a single cent. Even if she already claimed that her predictions are way off, it doesn't matter for desperate people. Desperate people will use desperate means. Poor people are not poor because they wanted to. There must be a reason, a circumstances; that intel is probably what Melinda aims to get.

Or maybe I was wrong. Maybe Melinda is genuinely a noble person, and she's just trying to help as many people as possible with her "free" fortune telling. Who knows.

Though, it is peculiar to note that Melinda only started recently. How recent, I wonder. Is it before, or after the dinner she had with Donovan, her husband?

Hmmm.

I'm also curious at Endo's reference for Melinda's alias: Lunaluna Selena. Luna, as in, Latin for [the moon]? Selena, as in, Selene [the Greek & Roman's moon goddess]?

The moon, huh. Remember how Anya's power is heavily reliant on the moon? Like, she lost her power when it's a new moon?

Hmmmmm.

TLDR; Anya confessed to Damian that she can read minds. Now Anya enters a fortune teller place. Twillight used to underestimate Anya's ability a lot. Now he sees how valuable she is, yet, he is stuck between his logic (wanting to utilize her to the max) and his heart (wanting to free her from the burden of his mission and let her be a happy normal kid). Melinda and Yor are friends. Now they meet again, when Melinda is doing her side hustle. Arnold Crowley is a kid who excels in Classical Language, and holds a great interest in Anya. Now we see that Crowley family runs a popular fortune-teller. Melinda just had an awful dinner with Donovan. Now we see that she recently run a fortune-telling stall for free. Almost all important characters in SxF are gathering in one place. All build-ups are seemingly leading towards this moment.

Let's give Endo some space & time to cook, shall we.

[cherryrouge]

action

lawyer!harry x lawyer!y/n

warnings: profanity, angst, mentions of murder and death

word count: 2.0k

harry styles is a damn good lawyer. he’s intelligent and calculated, but impulsive when necessary. he’s famous for closing deals before they can ever get before a judge and on the off chance that he does have to go to court, he wins. always.

harry styles is the standard for the firm, that much was clear to y/n. from the moment she stepped foot into her interview for holmes & harrison to where she sits now, in her spacious office with a view over looking manhattan.

y/n had no problem winning. she had been excellent in debate in university and law school. she conducted thorough research on her subjects, never leaving any gap for her to be bested. she was cunning, aggressive where she needed to be, and just a damn good lawyer.

all reasons why harry seemed to feel threatened by her.

before y/n, harry was constantly given the most important cases with the most high class clientele. he was praised at every turn for his accomplishments and everyone kissed the ground he walked on. he was the only one doing the work that he was, handling intense cases, often working over night to get to the bottom of the issue and chip away at the fine details in order to spin the evidence in his favor. and, he was the only one winning. reasonably, the attention, the praise, the power, got to him. his ego inflated and he grew arrogant. two things that y/n could not stand. just as much as harry couldn’t stand sharing the spot light.

y/n had begun working at the firm two years ago as an associate and swiftly climbed her way up to partner. she excelled in each position and proved her spot each time. the office was filled with hushed whispers of her name and enthused remarks about her accomplishments.

when she made partner, she was overcome with excitement. she was finally able to handle cases that matched her level and gave her a bit of a challenge and work with those who inspired her. one of those characters being, harry. harry who won cases. harry who had carried clients through long trials to end up victorious, despite how stacked the odds were. harry who was just a damn good lawyer. what she didn’t realize was how much of an asshole he was because of it. brushing off her attempts to start conversation or build an amiable work relationship, telling her that she could speak to him once she “made it off the playground and into the big leagues like the rest of the partners.”

and yes, he had a point. she had been doing pro-bono cases for months when she first became a partner. but that was just situational. no one else wanted to do them, so she did. and she won every single one of them, without really much effort either. the insinuation that she wasn’t on par with the rest of the partners left her blood boiling and her chest flushed because she was! she had climbed the same ladder they had, she had done similar cases to them, and had victory after victory that mirrored theirs! so what if she was doing pro-bono shit! she had her own office with her name on the door, for christ sake!

the notion that despite all of her labour and focus, she still wasn’t good enough enraged her and fueled her desire, no need, to be better than him. she wanted him to be haunted by her existence.

so when she was called into audrey holmes’s office, the managing partner of holmes & harrison, to invite her to assist harry on his newest case, she was elated.

“this case will not be easy,” audrey warned from her place sat at her desk, “but i have hope that you two can finish this.”

“i do, too,” y/n affirms with a smile, “thank you for this opportunity.” y/n stands from her chair opposite audrey and starts walking to the door, her heeled feet clacking against the hard wood floor.

“y/n,” audrey calls her attention back, a request y/n happily complies to, “play nice.”

“so, you trust me to handle this case entirely by myself?” mitch, y/n’s associate, questions from his cubicle. mitch is a rather quite man, driven yet happier in the background. a hard goal to complete in a place like this.

“you know, there comes a point in every associates life where they have to prove that they can handle a situation by themselves.” y/n states, arms crossed with a smirk over her painted lips. if there was one word to describe her, it would be polished. her hair sleek and blown out, her attire plain yet so classy. she was the kind of woman people either wanted to be or be with.

“but this is kind of important-“

“and you are a big boy so you should be able to handle important cases, yes?”

“yes, ma’am,” he replies sarcastically, “why are you giving this to me anyway?”

“i have to help harry with a murder trial.”

“and audrey is ok with that?”

“she insisted upon it.”

“you guys are gonna kill each other.” he says, matter of factly. his tone elicits a laugh out of y/n.

“y/n,” her name is announced from beside her. the voice familiar and haunting, the accent giving away who her caller was.

“harry, how nice to see you!” she says as she turns to face him, faux cheer laced in her tone.

“running back to the playground so soon?” he questions rhetorically with a teasing pout on his pink lips.

“ha, ha,” she jeers, “i’m actually giving mitch a case of mine, seeing as i have a much bigger issue to take care of.” at the mention of his name, mitch goes to introduce himself by stops before the words can leave his lips, realizing it to be ill-timing for such things pleasantries. harry scoffs at her response.

“what? did audrey finally let you take a case that will actually put money into the firm?” harry’s attempt to put her down brings a smirk to her features.

“she didn’t tell you?” she rest one arm against mitch’s cubicle and her other hand on her hip.

“didn’t tell me what?” he crosses his arms and his brows furrow with confusion.

“you might want to sit down.” she now smiles widely, the confirmation that he has no clue giving her the utmost satisfaction.

“i can assure you that whatever you are going to say to me is hardly shocking enough for sitting to be a requirement.” he says, smugly. her eyebrows raise slightly as if asking him if he would like to place a bet on that idea.

“i will be joining you in court.” a beat of silence as harry processes this information.

“on who’s authorization?” his face is the spitting image of irritation

“audrey’s.” her’s the picture of pride and triumph.

“i was doing just fine without you.” he all but huffs out.

“she seemed to disagree.”

“i am going to have a talk with her.” he states, unfolding his arms from their place on his chest.

“you do that.” with that final comment, he turns on his heels and walks out of the associates office. with a proud smile, y/n turns her head toward mitch.

“jesus christ.” he laughs dryly, opening the case file that y/n had given him. she laughs at his remark.

“hm?”

“does she realize that she’s starting a war?” she smiles softly and pats the side of his cubicle.

“less worrying about this, and more focus on mr. jones and his bed bugs.” she says kindly, taking her leave of him.

her venture back up to the partner’s floor was pleasant. she was much happier knowing how angered harry was by her presence in his case. she’d successfully gotten under his skin like he has to her countless times. she stopped on her way to her own office to speak with louisa, harry’s assistant.

“i’m just unsure of why audrey didn’t tell him the minute she decided that you would be joining the case.” she says softly as to not disrupt the rest of the assistants, a nosey bunch of you ask louisa.

“i’m not sure either, but i’m happy that i got to be the one,” she smiles, a laugh laced into her words, “you should have seen his face.” louisa laughs with her.

the opening of a door calls the attention of the two women to the man walking out of it, a scowl on his face.

“how’d it go?” y/n asks sarcastically, a smirk on her lips.

“in my office, now.” he commands, walking past her and louisa without even sparing them a glance. y/n turns to louisa with widen eyes. louisa mirrors her expression.

following him into his office she somewhat regrets her choice of words earlier, she felt wholly unprepared for whatever he was going to say to her. he opens the door for her, allowing her into the space first. a surprising gesture. once she’s stood in the middle of the office just before his desk, she stays still as he moves around to the other side. the two stand and look at each other. his presence is assertive, always has been but now with his hardened features displaying the image of a man angry, he looks dominant. his hair messy yet perfectly placed on his head, his green eyes slightly narrowed, brows and lips set in a hard line. if this were his appearance in any other context, she’d say it was a good look for him. that it made sense why so many women, opposing attorney’s and fellow partners alike, tried to make a pass on him. but this wasn’t any other context.

“if we are going to work together, you have to understand a couple things.” he states, sternly, sitting himself at his desk chair. y/n follows suit, sitting on one of the two chairs on the other side of the desk.

“i’ve already been breifed,” she says with an expression that mirrors his, “reopened murder trial, our client claims he’s been framed, limited to no evidence proving the fact-“

“i put our client in jail.” his statement puts a halt to her listing.

“i’m sorry?”

“when i was working under simon bernstein at maxwell-darby, he had given me this case. prosecutor in a murder trial where every piece of evidence seemed to work in my clients favor. i won the case and locked away, what i know now, is an innocent man for 20 years.” she nods as he recounts his story.

“simon bernstein is a dirty lawyer. he doesn’t play by the rules and i knew that then. but i figured since he pawned the case off to me, there wasn’t any foul play. an incredibly naïve thought. i know that he tampered with the evidence to this case. i just have to prove it to the judge.”

“so, you reopened a murder trial because of a gut feeling?”

“there’s a shirt that the victim was found wearing. there was blood on it, the corner’s speculated that it belonged to the perpetrator as the placement didn’t make sense with her wounds. it was taken in to be tested, but for some reason none of the dna samples where ever brought to court.”

“bribery?”

“very likely.” harry leans back in his chair, still looking at y/n. she tucks a strand of hair behind her ears as she takes in the information.

“we need to get that shirt.”

“you think i haven’t tried that?”

“they wouldn’t let you use it?”

“stated my reasoning for not needing it in the initial trial.” y/n sighs, leaning back and giving herself some space to think.

“who’s their lawyer?” y/n questions, assessing his past clients.

“district attorney, clifford brown. good friend of simon bernstein.” y/n’s eyes light up at the information.

“i think we have our lead.”

-

hello, everyone! i hope you enjoy the first installment of lawyer!harry x lawyer!y/n. i’m planning on it being a four part series, let me know if you have suggestions for these two!

with love, rory.

[prouddogboi]

Stray dog (Part 1)

To find the most recent chapters, please go to @doggoboigaugau 's masterlist

Pairings: Ghost x Soap x Male Reader

Summary: Male Reader is traumatized and forcefully refuses affection from Ghost and Soap even in his sleep.

Word count: 1852

Warnings: It's my first time posting my writing on Tumblr. There are so few CODxM!Reader fics I just want to contribute lmao TToTT. The warning is it can be shit because I'm new.

It was a successful mission. A tough one, yes, many soldiers got serious injuries and had to spend days in the hospital, but still, the mission was accomplished with minimal loss. The people at the base decided to throw a party at a well-known bar in the area. As usual, you stayed close to your team, until they left you all alone again for whatever they were up to: Ghost and Soap went into the dark corridor doing ‘secret’ business except for the fact that everyone knew what that business was; Price meeting up with the Captains of other teams, talking about the ‘kids’ in their care like the good ol’ tired dads and moms they all were; Gaz hitting up on some pretty guy or girl; and Roach just immersing himself in the music on the dance floor. 

“The usual shot?” The bartender smiled at you. He was an ordinary-looking guy, not too tall, not too short, but he was always nice to you.

“Yeah.” You replied, eyes looking down at the empty glass in your scarred hand. Your usual shot was one of the heaviest types served at this bar, you found its bitter, stinging taste and the dizziness it brought about worked wonders for you, helping to repress the strong emotions that always came up to the surface to trouble you whenever you were off the field, whenever you were not having to fight between life and death. Free time and a mind that was offered the opportunity to relax were not something you felt grateful for. Instead, you loved being constantly stimulated when being in battles, since it left your mind no time to overthink unnecessary things other than trying to keep yourselves and your teammates alive.

“A successful mission, huh? Everyone is enjoying themselves a lot tonight.” The bartender said, clearly trying to keep talking to you as he was preparing your drink.

“It was.”

“Did you get injured?” 

“Just some scratches, nothing serious.”

“You seem to do your job very well.”

You did. You were a good soldier. An excellent one even. You were showered with praise from the Captain, the teammates, the higher-ups… just anyone after almost every mission. Even Ghost himself had to admit that you were a good one. However, you didn’t know for sure what made you excel while most others didn’t. Maybe it was because every mission you paid no mind as to whether you would be alive or not. It was true that everyone in this line of work had to come to terms with the notion of death upon themselves, no one could be sure how many days they got left on this planet doing this kind of job, but you were still different. You weren’t actively trying to get yourselves in situations that would get you killed, because it often meant a great threat to your teammates too, but you were not one that would hold on to life that much. You were always ready to sacrifice.

“I notice that you’re always alone. Well, the others do join you, but after a while, they leave and you’re still here.” The bartender passed you the shot.

“They have things to do.”

“Why don’t you? Getting out there and having some fun.”

Fun? It did not sound fitting to who you were. “Thanks for the suggestion, but I prefer it this way.”

“By the way, can I ask for a guy’s number? The one with the mohawk.”

“You mean Soap?” You left out a soft chuckle, “Give up, mate. He already has a partner. A scary one.” 

“Who?”

“The fuckin’ huge one with the skull mask. I’m sure you know well who he is and how scary he is.”

“What? That guy? I’ve always thought he’s into you though.”

This time you laughed out loud. The thought of someone interested in you was just so ridiculous, it felt surreal and impossible, “Ain’t no way, why would you think that?”

“He always looks at you with those piercing eyes, as if he will eat you up in no time.”

“Probably it’s because the Soap guy is always leaning over me. He’s so mad that I dare to get that near to his precious partner that he just wants to end my life right here.” You drank up the whole glass in one breath, then smashed the now empty glass on the bar, resulting in a huge ‘thump’ sound, mainly due to the fact that it was your fist that came into contact with the wooden material. It sent a burning feeling to your skin and fresh, but it was nothing compared to the physical pain you had to endure in battles or the mental one off field, when your mind was free to drift away. 

“Could be. But I still think he is into you.” The bartender shrugged, knowing you so well that he went ahead to prepare another shot for you. Nights like this often led to you drinking non-stop until you were so drunk that you’d pass out, and that masked guy was the one who carried you back. That was another reason besides the intense glare that made him convinced that the guy was attracted to you. Well, the hot man with the mohawk was always there too, but he usually waited in distance and smiled at how the masked guy having trouble carrying you as you thrashed around in his arms, clearly too drunk to know that he was just helping you. But the bartender only thought that the mohawk and the masked guy were close friends. Now that you mentioned it, it was indeed possible that they were in love with each other. 

Wouldn’t that make a love triangle though? The bartender threw a glance at you, studying you with amusement. Everyone loved some drama in their mundane lives. You were a handsome boy with sharp facial features, those damn bright eyes that lit up the whole place when you genuinely smiled, and all those strong muscles. He would’ve asked for your number instead if that scary big masked man wasn’t into you that much.

A few hours passed and the party came to its near end. All those smiling and laughing soldiers slowly hopped on the vehicles, making their way back to the base, clearly not wanting to wake up a mess the day after. They still had training as usual after all. One didn’t seem to care though. You collapsed on the bar, your handsome face grew red with how drunk you were and how much alcohol your body had absorbed. Ghost and Soap assured Price that they would bring you back safe before the tired dad of your Task Force got in the car with Gaz and Roach. They didn’t usually drink too much when they were off base, but you were quite the opposite. The team had no idea why you would pour so much alcohol into your mouth and stomach on these occasions, it was like you were grieving over something rather than celebrating the good news of a successful mission. Everyone in this line of work had their own past and troubles, but there was indeed something different in your troubles as they never felt that you were comfortable to open up. Soap even joked a lot about how much harder it was to get closer to you than Ghost. It was true that you were always smiling, chatting, and gossiping with him and Gaz and Roach over stupid things, but there was this invisible wall that you had built around your heart, unwilling to let anyone in. 

Ghost and Soap got to the bar where you were lying. 

“Come to get him?” The bartender was cleaning all the glasses that you and some other regulars used.

Ghost looked at you as your eyes were tightly shut, clearly not happy with your current condition, “Maybe next time don’t let him drink too much.”

The bartender raised his hands, “C’mon, I’m just serving my customers. He appears to need those shots to handle whatever emotions he’s having.”

Ghost and Soap turned their head to look at each other for a few seconds before Ghost stepped up and got you off the bar. You were too drunk to know anything, but surprisingly tonight you were very silent and cooperated well with your Lieutenant. 

“Let’s take you back to your room, huh?” Ghost was content with this sudden change and Soap just casually used his strong hand to rub your neatly cut hair. 

As Soap parked the car in the base's park, Ghost threw one of your arms over his shoulder and carried you off the vehicle. However, your tightly shut eyes suddenly opened, they widened as you turned your head left and right to make sense of your surroundings. 

“You’re up early.” Soap said jokingly.

“He’s too drunk to understand your stupid sarcasm, Soap.” Ghost scoffed. 

However, it took both men aback when they heard you sobbing. Soap was quick to cup your face with his palms, “Baby, what’s wrong?”

You shook your head, sobbing almost uncontrollably, trying to get your face out of his grip. One of Ghost’s arms went to your waist in an attempt to hold you in place and calm you down, but you started to act the usual way when you were drunk: thrashing around hysterically, as if you were striving so hard to escape from something inescapable. 

“Let go of me!” You screamed.

“Y/n, calm down, calm down! It’s us! Ghost and Soap!” Soap tried to talk some sense into the heavily drunk you.

“Stay away from me!” You didn’t seem to listen. Feeling Ghost’s grip was still firm around your body, you got more and more violent. Screaming and kicking, you definitely hurt him in the process as you finally succeeded in getting away. You stumbled a few steps on the cold cement ground before you collapsed on it due to the perfect dizziness that you hoped the shots at the bar would gift you. You curled into a ball, trembling violently yet not from how cold the ground was. Shuddering sobs still escaped your lips, and your eyes were tightly shut again. Price and Gaz hurriedly ran to where you three were, their eyes filled with worry given how loud and heartfelt your screams were (Roach didn’t come with them because he also drank too much). The two men saw Ghost and Soap standing beside you, their arms were hanging in the air as if they were holding on to something, while you were there, laying on the ground sobbing and mumbling unintelligible words. 

Luckily you quickly fell asleep again, still sobbing but unconscious enough for the men to carry you back to your room. They tucked you nicely into your bed, watching over your now peaceful sleeping face. Soap wiped the tears left on your cheeks with his hand, his mind questioning the reasons why you reacted so fiercely to them taking care of you earlier. When you finally stopped sobbing, they carefully left your room. There were things to be discussed, but they could wait.

to be continued bc I have class tmr and I need to sleep :D

[ikolaiigh]

I need Bok-su meeting reader at Da-jeong’s wedding who is also there for revenge because of something Da-jeong did to them in the past 🙏

The U & I in Revenge

𝑻𝑾/𝑾𝑨𝑹𝑵𝑰𝑵𝑮𝑺..Mentioned violence, Reader is a bit unhinged in this one, violent thoughts, Bok-su being her own warning lmao.

𝑷𝑨𝑰𝑹𝑰𝑵𝑮𝑺: Bok-su x Fem!Reader

𝘈/𝘕: Hey guys, guess who's back from the dead! Life's been rough with me, but nonetheless, I am back. I've been caught up on the Married in Red, and the request just fueled up my hyperfix. I am also going to make a pt 2 for this !! So I hope you all enjoy :)

-Listen to The U & I in Suicide by the handsome devil for better experience.

The pre-wedding meandering is as boring and dreadful as you thought it would be.

Swirling your glass of champagne, you lean against the far wall of the room, a smile carefully plastered on your face. The lively chatter and laughter of the crowd around you fade into the background. You take a slow sip, savoring the bubbles that tickle your tongue, pretending to enjoy the celebration.

In truth, you couldn't care less about mingling with the crowd or being seen by it. You’re here because it's your sister’s pre-wedding party, and you need to keep up the facade of being happy for her. After all, everyone expects you to be thrilled about the upcoming nuptials.

Oh the things you did for your sister.

Speaking of the devil... Truly, the only exciting thing about all of this so far has been seeing her dear friend who dropped out of university. The sheer horror on Da-jeong’s face as she greeted her.

You see your sister, radiant as ever, chatting animatedly with the guests. Her laughter rings out, clear and bright, drawing everyone's attention. She looks genuinely happy, the center of everyone's admiration and affection.

You grip your glass of champagne a bit tighter, feeling the cool stem press into your palm. A frown tugs at the corners of your mouth as you watch her bask in the spotlight. The warmth of the room feels stifling, contrasting sharply with the envy settling in your chest. You take another sip of champagne, your smile faltering just slightly as you struggle to maintain your composure.

You start to wonder when everything went wrong in your life. You dedicated yourself to your studies, always striving for excellence, while Da-jeong was carefree, attending parties and messing around. Despite her seemingly reckless behavior, she always managed to captivate everyone’s attention.

From childhood, your sister had been the center of attention, effortlessly drawing admiration from family and friends. You worked hard, hoping to gain the same recognition from your parents, but it always felt like you were in her shadow. The spotlight was hers, no matter how much you accomplished.

A bitter thought creeps in: you wish it were you gaining the spotlight, not your sister. Your grip on the glass tightens to the point of discomfort, and you can't help but glare at Da-jeong as she basks in her moment of glory.

You imagine her wedding dress stained red by your hands. How selfish she is. After all the opportunities you gave her. No gratitude, no acknowledgment. Just her, always in the spotlight. You wish they could see her for who she truly is. The envy burns hotter. The champagne glass feels like it might shatter.

You, always in the background. Her, always the favorite. Your hard work overlooked. Her careless charm adored. It's not fair. It’s never been fair.

It's her fault. Not yours. Not yo-

"You don't seem very happy."

The grip on the champagne glass in your hand lessens as you're suddenly startled by a voice. You quickly turn to face the person, forcing a smile onto your lips.

"Whatever do you mean, darling? I'm perfectly fine," you say, giggling lightly. You hope the sound of your laughter is convincing enough to make them forget the tension they just witnessed, wishing they would move on and leave you to your thoughts.

"In my eyes, you were glaring at the bride, angrily might I add," the person says with a slight grin, sipping their own champagne while looking at you. You grit your teeth in slight annoyance, biting the tip of your tongue to refrain from snapping.

"Really? That's quite the imagination you have," you reply with a forced chuckle, trying to keep your tone light, taking another sip of your champagne, hoping to divert their attention. "I must have been lost in thought. You know how these family events can be."

The person presses further, their grin widening. "Lost in thought, you say? Looked more like jealousy to me."

"Mind your own business!" You retort sharply. A few people nearby glance your way, their conversations pausing. Realizing your outburst has drawn attention, you quickly put on a sweet facade and apologize to the onlookers.

"Sorry about that, everyone. Just a bit of a misunderstanding," you say with a charming smile.

As the crowd’s attention shifts back to their own conversations, you turn back to the person, scowling. You take in her appearance: black shoulder-length hair tied into a messy ponytail, a black vinyl trench coat with a white undershirt, a red belt cinched around her waist, and red gloves on her hands. Recognition dawns on you—she's your sister's ex-friend from university.

“What do you want?” You ask, your voice low, as you place the empty glass of champagne on the waitress’s tray, offering a polite thank you. You turn back to the woman, your gaze steady.

“I was just curious about why you were looking at the bride like that,” she says, her tone almost playful. She takes a leisurely sip of her own champagne, still smiling, then sets her glass down, and extends her hand toward you. “I’m Bok-su, by the way. We haven’t fully met yet."

"Not in person, no. I'm Choi [Name]. My sister spoke a lot about you when she was at uni," you say with a polite smile, extending your gloved hand to her.

Bok-su takes your hand, her touch unexpectedly warm, and she brings it to her lips, pressing a light kiss on the back of it. Her eyes hold a knowing glint as she releases your hand.

"Interesting," she murmurs, a hint of amusement in her voice. "I didn’t realize I’d left such an impression. I've heard quite a bit about you too. Always the diligent one, weren't you?"

“Yes, well, someone had to be,” you reply lightly, feeling a bit flushed from the unexpected kiss. You quickly withdraw your hand and reach for the glass of champagne. “So, what brings you here tonight, Bok-su? And judging by your attire, you seem to be dressed for a funeral.”

"Your sister said the same thing. I sure was dressed for the right occasion," Bok-su chuckles softly, placing a hand over her mouth to muffle the sound, her eyes never leaving yours. She glances momentarily at the groom, ensuring he remains in her peripheral vision.

You choke on the champagne you were drinking and caught off guard by her comment. You let out a small cough as the liquid goes down the wrong pipe, your cheeks flushing with embarrassment and something else you can't quite place.

"I wasn't expecting that." You say, trying to regain your composure, your voice steadier now. you manage, dabbing at your mouth with a napkin. "So, you're here to stir things up?"

"Maybe." She says, her tone light but her eyes serious, Bok-su tilts her head slightly, studying you with an intensity that would send a shiver down anyone's spine.

You hum thoughtfully in response, swirling your second glass of champagne as you scan the crowd, searching for your sister. The conversation settles into a comfortable silence, the soft hum of the party filling the background.

"You didn't do it," you say, breaking the silence as you continue to gaze at the crowd, your glass still in hand. You can feel Bok-su bristle beside you.

"What?" Bok-su asks, shooting you a disgruntled look. You glance at her from the corner of your eye, her expression unreadable.

"You didn't kill the patient that day," you continue, a sneer creeping onto your face as you finally turn to face her fully. You can see the bafflement in her eyes, though she tries to mask it. "And you're here to take revenge on my sister."

"You've done your homework," she murmurs, her tone both admiring and wary. Bok-su's baffled expression only lasts a moment before she regains her composure, a slow smile spreading across her face.

"It didn't make sense for you to leave university like that," you reply, your tone dripping with a mix of charm and cunning. taking a leisurely sip of your champagne, letting the moment stretch out. "And besides it seems that i will let your plan happen."

"Touché," she replies, her eyes flickering with a mixture of mania and excitement. "It appears that i might have a role for you to play in."

"And who says that i want to join in?" You reply sharply, a frown tugs at the corners of your mouth as you look at her.

"I saw the hatred in your eyes as you looked at your sister," she says calmly, leaning in slightly, her breath grazing in your ear. "Don't you crave a taste of that spotlight, even just a glimmer of fame in your life?"

Her words hit a nerve, and you stiffen, your jaw tightening. “You think you know me so well, don’t you?”

“i know i didn't lie." she says softly, her voice almost a purr. Bok-su’s smile remains, though it’s tinged with a hint of satisfaction. "I just have a feeling you’re tired of cleaning up her messes.”

Her words linger in the air, and despite your attempt to remain composed, you can feel a flicker of doubt within you. The idea of craving recognition, of wanting just a taste of the spotlight, unsettles you more than you care to admit.

“I…” You start, but your voice trails off as you struggle to find the right words.

“Think about it.” she continues, her voice low and persuasive. “You have the intelligence and the charm. Why waste it playing being the second choice?”

You let out a low growl, processing her words, the struggle evident on your face as you wrestle with your emotions. Finally, you let out a reluctant sigh, your resolve hardening. “Alright, you’ve made your point.”

Bok-su’s eyes gleam with satisfaction, but she remains silent, waiting for you to continue.

“You’re right,” you admit, the words tasting bitter but liberating. “I am tired of cleaning up her messes. I want more than just standing in the background while she takes all the credit.”

Bok-su nods, her expression serious. “Then we have a common goal. We can help each other achieve what we want.”

“And what exactly do you propose?” You tilt your head slightly, studying her.

Bok-su steps closer, invading your personal space. Her proximity makes your pulse quicken, and you realize you’ve been holding your breath. You let it out slowly, feeling the warmth of her breath against your throat. Bok-su leans in, her lips almost brushing your ear as she whispers.

“We’re going to make Da-jeong atone.”

𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗱 © 2024 𝗩𝘀𝗸𝗸𝗼𝗹𝘆𝗮𝗮. 𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗱𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗽𝘆, 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁, 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲, 𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗺𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

[icyg4l]

Pick-A-Meme: How Can I Choose The Right Career Path for Me?

Choose the image that resonates the most with you. In this reading, I will give you details that you can use to get closer to accomplishing to your career goals. I will also give those clarity to those who are confused on where to go from here with the help of the True Heart tarot deck.

Left-to-Right (1-3): Raven Baxter, Brenda Meeks, Kim Parker.

Cards Used: 10 of Cups. The World (RX). Judgment. Knight of Cups. Wheel of Fortune. The Hierophant. 4 of Pents.

Pile 1A: I feel like this is for those who are thinking of going into the traditional career paths like being a nurse, a teacher, a lawyer or doctor. You are very determined when it comes to breaking into this career path. I feel like this is a dream that you’ve had for a long time, since you were a child. But you’ve grown up and you see just how practical this career path is or how much time it would take from all other aspects. Don’t let the money or the amount of time it takes to pursue this career stop you! There will be opportunities that come up for you as you pursue this path that will financially support you. I also see that you’ll receive some recognition early on in your career, for your contributions to this field.

Cards Used: The Moon. 3 of Pents (RX). Strength. Queen of Cups. Ace of Cups. The Hanged Man. Ace of Wands (RX). Queen of Pents. Ace of Swords.

Pile 1B: For those of you that are confused about what career path you should pursue, I say that you should consider some “niche” career paths; something that sticks out to YOU. This will ensure that you’re using your energy towards things that you love. I get the feeling that you’re tired of what you’re being presented with. These are the people that are tired of receiving rejection emails from employers or being ghosted by interviewers. I feel like you’re kind of nosy… perhaps you should consider a career as a private investigator. You have a sharp mind and you call bullshit when you see it. I also think that you should consider something to do with childcare, maybe take up the jobs that nobody wants to take up? If you’re into pets, you should take up the pet care. I feel like this is also the pile that should consider going to trade school to become an electrician or plumber. You would actually benefit from it & would meet some excellent people along the way. Everyone isn’t be a tech geek, a rapper or an aspiring designer and that’s absolutely fine! You got this!

extras: annalise keating. bedtime stories. human design. timestamp. first wives club. worker bees. social justice reform. politics. class action lawsuit. science geek.

Cards Used: The Emperor. 6 of Cups (RX). 2 of Pents. Ace of Wands. The Hierophant. 7 of Pents (RX).

Pile 2A: The people who chose this pile are currently fed up with their career path. I think that you have dedicated so much time to this career path that it has you burnt out. You may be considering switching career paths or adding a new element to your career path. You should! I thought of the storyline from ‘This is Us’ where Beth takes the risk to open up a dance studio after being fired from her job. Her original passion was ballet but her mother forced her into a practical career. She became an urban planner. She had the job for twelve years and loved it but she unfortunately got laid off. I feel like this collective has some resentment towards their career because it’s not what you want to do. What do you really want to do? Examine what really makes you light up. If you decide that you want to have a side gig doing what it is you really want to do, then have at it! But if you decide to start fresh in a “new” (but not really new to you) career path, then also have at it! The ball is in your corner.

Cards Used: 10 of Cups. 3 of Cups. 9 of Cups. Justice. 6 of Swords. The Hermit. The Fool. Prince of Cups.

Pile 2B: If you’ve been considering going into a business with a friend, you should absolutely do it! I saw the banner of a restaurant opening. I feel like this pile is really into the traditionally ‘girly’ things like doing your nails or hair. If this resonates then you should definitely take up cosmetology school. If that’s not what you’re into, consider going to school to become a masseuse or get into holistic medicine! You have a calming aura and people probably open up to you easily. But I get the feeling that you guys don’t always like to talk to people. You enjoy your solitude/quiet time & that’s okay. For those of you that are into poetry, you should consider posting your poems for monetary gain for extra money! In due time, you’ll figure it out. Be patient with yourself, you’ll know what sticks!

extras: aching feet. balloons. graveyard. black jeans. venus in the 11th house. aquarius venus. gemini venus. losing hair ties. the color purple. spoken word. friendship breakup.

Cards Used: King of Swords. 2 of Pents. The Hierophant (RX). Queen of Pents. The High Priestess. The Emperor. 5 of Cups.

Pile 3A: You guys are the people who long to be the boss. You guys strive for greatness & hold yourself to a certain standard. But I think that you’re doing a lot. You’re trying to do everything by yourself and you need some help. This could be a pile full of freelancers, psychics, therapists or entrepreneurs. Perhaps you’ve opened up a new business and everything just feels like it’s falling on top of you. You need an assistant to keep this business running! Hire someone that will keep you on top of your stuff. I think that you should try a new method of organization as well. Maybe you’re a model? If so, take some new headshots. Get some help with your portfolio. Update your resume. Create some new material because you’ve come so far. You really just need to be more proactive when it comes to your career; get on top of things quicker.

Cards Used: The Lovers. 3 of Swords. 5 of Swords. Queen of Swords. 3 of Cups. 9 of Cups (RX). 7 of Cups.

Pile 3B: This is the pile for those that are “inexperienced” but know that they’re going to be in their career field. I don’t think that you are clueless as to what you want to do. You know exactly what you want to do, you just don’t think you fit the criteria. When in reality, you’re rejecting yourself before someone else rejects you. Stop counting yourself out man. I think you want to pursue a career as a model, a baker, an influencer perhaps? I think you have some childhood wounds surrounding your social circle. You were viewed as an outcast and this is why you feel stuck. You know you’re going to be somebody but you need to start acting like it. I think that the route you want to take requires you to be in the spotlight. There is an audience for you but you refuse to put yourself out there. I think the best way for you to get over this is to challenge yourself. Create small tasks that will help you get out of your comfort zone. Therapists would call this rejection therapy. Try it!

extra: ANTM theme song. ADHD meds. kendrick lamar. “simultaneously”. influence. impostor syndrome. what was i made for? gymnast. athlete. being the only non-white person in the room. fitness model. green grass walls.

[bengiyo]

Cherry Magic Anime Ep 12 (Finale) Stray Thoughts

Last week, the boys made a right mess of themselves. Adachi went to visit Nagasaki to scout out the new position, and send a letter to Kurosawa while he was there. Thankfully, Kurosawa is a simp, and the letter accomplished its job. Kurosawa went to Nagasaki to see Adachi, and finally got to hear Adachi express clearly how much Kurosawa means to him. We left the two of them in bed, and Adachi likely no longer has his powers. Meanwhile, Tsuge tried to support Minato from a distance, but Minato chased after him and the two properly connected.

Thank you, Cherry Magic Anime, for confirming that Adachi could hear Kurosawa’s thoughts during their first encounter.

I like that this version dwelled in the loss of Adachi’s power, and what it meant for Adachi. I especially like that he asserts that it has little to do with the definition of a virgin and the physical realities of sex, and instead has to do with Adachi’s willingness to be open and vulnerable with Kurosawa.

My man Kurosawa is crying because he knows he’s loved and it’s what he deserves.

Okay, Adachi saying that Kurosawa’s warmth and scent are stronger now that he’s not hearing his thoughts is such an excellent detail. Good job, Cherry Magic Anime.

Hell yeah, Adachi! You should take on this new project that excites you, and also accept the inherent promotion! So happy that he’s serious about trusting Kurosawa and speaking openly about how excited he is about this opportunity. I like that he recognizes that his relationship with Kurosawa has made him braver.

Very funny that Adachi forgot about the power and that’s how Tsuge found out. I also like seeing Tsuge be impressed with Adachi taking a major step forward before him.

I have missed Fujisaki. I’m glad we got a little bit of her.

Oh boy. Adachi is being worn out from all of the difficulties that come with his new responsibilities.

I love Adachi going back to Tokyo to talk with Kurosawa about his anxieties. Recognizing that something bad could happen to either of them and no one would know about them is actually so frightening, and a genuine gay reality.

Adachi saying they should live together and Kurosawa putting a ring on it feels like the right balance for them.

Look at that splash of domesticity for both couples at the end as a treat.

They got married!! Fujisaki won!

What a lovely stinger at the end.

Final Verdict: 9, Highly Recommended. I really like this version of the entire cast. They’re far more flawed in a way that makes them a little less likable, but it also makes me empathize with all of them a lot more. I like that Rokkaku was such a dick early on to Adachi, so it lands when he finally starts to respect him properly and remember his name. I love how mundane Cherry Magic as a story is, despite the magic power. I absolutely loved this version, and it and the Thai version will stay on my recommendations list for a really long time. The Thai version may be the best show of the Cherry Magic stories, but this one has my favorite versions of the characters.

[lightlycareless]

Could you please spare some child au or high school au hc? Please I’m so hungry 😔 /hj

Hello dear anon!!

Well, I've decided to write a lil thing for the child au :> It's the au that I have most neglected, mainly because I don't get any inspiration for it 😭 (idk, just... nothing comes to me, you know?)

BUT I did manage to get this, mainly from my experiences... or maybe that was just me. Either way, I remember taking pictures of just about anything and posting them to my myspace (OOOF) soooo........ enjoy :>

warnings: none, fluff. plus a little something I wanted to explore at the end.

Happy reading!

“—A camera!” Naoya grins as he proudly shows off his newest acquisition, a gift from one of his grandparents; the latest digital model found in the market!

And perhaps something the adults might’ve wanted to wait a bit longer before getting, or at least put up some resistance against Naoya’s never-ending fits when it comes to impressing you…

“What do you think? Nice, right?”

You stare at it for a few seconds, before giving him a big, bright grin and a nod.

“Yes!”

Naoya’s heart flutters—his purpose accomplished.

“I knew you’d be able to recognize excele—exclen—excellency!” he boasts, whether he knew the meaning of that word meant or not, is a mystery for both.

“What are you going to do with it?” you curiously ask. You’ve never had a camera, even though you’ve long expressed your interest for it, (your parents were a bit more… sensible when it came to spoiling you.) Nonetheless, what Naoya’s got was also yours, much to their chagrin.

“Take pictures, of course!”

“But of what?” you pout, frowning.

There’s actually so many things he wishes to do with his new camera, things that he’s partially done already, from taking pictures of the new figures he’s got from his favorite anime to the drawings he’s been slowly working on to impress you…

However, he had a reputation to maintain, and such, he gives you the response he thinks will make him look the coolest, straight from Naoaki’s —his oldest brother— book.

“I don’t know, just, whatever I guess.” He shrugs, copying every mannerism, down to the tone, to impress you.

But to you, he only appeared absent-minded, as if he was foolishly failing to realize the great opportunities having a camera presented!

And thankfully, you’d come to his aid. Unknowingly creating a win-win situation for the two.

“Oh, I know! We can take pictures of us doing cool poses!” you grin. “Like the ones in my brother’s posters!! Or that anime you were watching the other day!!”

“That girl group?” Naoya twists his lips, not very… fond of your idea at first, until the frown on your face rectifies his response. “I mean—If that’s what you want…”

Of course, what he said wasn’t what he felt, for the moment you grabbed his hand with your soft one, tightly holding onto him as you led him towards your room, he was nothing but willing to do what you desired.

He’d silently observe you take out a few of the magazines you managed to sneak out of your brother’s room (Ren’s very aware of it, he just lets you keep them, happy to share his enjoyment for the Spice Girls.) and get ideas of what poses to replicate—down to the smallest details.

Naoya’s commitment had some limits, though.

“I don’t know if I want to do that one…” Naoya murmurs, slightly embarrassed, fearing what he’ll look like before you if he accepts…

“Why not? I even got the clothes!” you encouraged. Kind of. They’re your best attempt at something like that. It’s the thought that counts, though.

But in the end, you let Naoya not take part in the activity, solely because he got an even better job to do—that is, being your own personal photographer.

A camera is something that you’ve always been allured to, especially the instant ones where you can get the picture immediately after, so to hear that your best friend is getting one, and that he’s more than happy to share this adventure with you, is like a dream come true!

So, the two begin to take all kinds of pictures, with just about any pose you could think of, and landscapes to choose from; getting more and more ideas the longer this photoshoot went on.

Eventually, Naoya would also feel comfortable enough to take pictures with you; although truth to be told, he was hoping to get one either way, realizing that by doing this… he’ll have a piece of you to take come.

The thought of keeping your adorableness through pictures is enough to fill his heart with this growing sentiment he has yet to discover as love—or perhaps completely understand, achieving so until much older…

When he isn’t fretting about your increasingly worrisome choices, that is.

“Take a picture when I’m jumping down the edge!!” you’d say. “I’m going to do this cool pose like in Naruto, so be ready!!”

“Y/N, wait!” He cries, camera unprepared, while fearing for your wellbeing. “What if you get hurt?!”

“I’m a ninja! I can’t get hurt!”

The number of scares you’d put him through that day are ones that he’ll never forget, the mere thought of them enough to send shivers through his spine…

But even then, he didn’t complain much. Because he was nothing but happy see you smile and laugh, proof that his decision was the right one, yet again, just to show how well he’s gone to know you—already planning what to get when you eventually grow tired of the camera…

If he doesn’t destroy it first when his brothers eventually discover his embarrassing photos.

“Naoya, come here please!” You’d call from another room, a request that was immediately granted just a few seconds after when he crosses through the doors.

“What is it, my love?” Naoya asks, throughout the years, his determination to please you has never dwindled.

“Look what I found!”

“Oh, its—”

The same camera he got all those years ago, the first one he’s got. A relic of his childhood, in other words.

“The camera, that one! Remember?” you say. Rummaging through the moving boxes has been quite nostalgic as of lately, but you never expected to see something so… ancient, no offense meant. “Wow, can’t believe it’s here…”

“Me neither…” Naoya says, somewhat… nervous.

“Think it still has pictures from back then?”

Naoya immediately turns red.

“No!” he shrieks, making you raise an eyebrow. Did you forget, perhaps? “I mean—It’s old, who knows if the battery or memory are any good.”

“Let’s find out then!” you grin, quickly standing up to look for a compatible charger.

Naoya tries to stop you, kind of; he doesn’t really put that much of a fight whenever he sees you this enthusiastic, although he wishes he could’ve for once, considering how anxious he felt for the impending moment the camera turned on and revealed all those embarrassing pictures he innocently took back then.

To when you giggle graces his ears, amused by his antics…

But when the camera beeps on, he’s received with… well, nothing. Just silence as you diligently flick through the photos, each one received by your intense gaze that makes him wonder if perhaps the camera didn’t work anymore…

Until noticing the fluster in your cheeks, then did Naoya dare to ask what’s wrong.

“Y/N, is… everything ok?”

“Naoya… did you really… keep all these pictures?” you ask, slowly turning around to see him, revealing your burning face.

“I… did.” He silently admits, unsure where this is going, but convinced it wasn’t good. “I… well, you liked them, so I thought I’d keep them, in case you wanted to see them again, of course. I didn’t know you wanted me to… delete them.”

It’s funny to see that even when married, Naoya is just as anxious when it comes to openly expressing his feelings—he’s gotten better at it, of course, the two were now living in the same house together, hoping for a baby…

But maybe it’s the inner child in him, the one that never got to express his feelings back then, didn’t know how. Even though he wanted so, so much.

Which is coincidentally, the same reason that made your breath hitch to your throat, heart skipping a beat when realizing that Naoya, all this time, has…

“—You’ve always cared for me, haven’t you?”

Naoya blinks, caught off guard by the direction this conversation was heading; but even then, he nods, admitting what you confessed.

You knew that already; you wouldn’t have married him if that wasn’t the case.

It’s just that… to be reminded that Naoya always had your wellbeing in mind, probably since the moment he met you… melted your heart.

Truly, you had found your soulmate.

“Enough to even… take these silly pictures of me!” You add, it’s your turn to be embarrassed by all the goofy pictures you made him take; you knew you were nothing but a child back then, actions like these more than expected, but now that you were an adult… you can’t help but wince, covering your cheeks with your hands as you continue to fret. “Oh my god, Naoya—how did you even put up with me back then??! Seriously, look at this one!! It’s all coming to me now—I think I got hurt, didn’t I? Or at least that’s how it felt…”

“I guess I just liked you too much.” He says, a smile on his face.

“I guess you did.” You giggle. “Guess you must’ve had it real bad if you were willing to make silly faces with me! Though you looked far cuter than me, but then again, you were always good-looking.”

“What are you on, love? I don’t think either of us looked good.” he snickers, leaning down and looking at the camera. “Definitely not you on that photo.”

“Hey!” you gasp. “No need to go that low!”

“Or what?” he smirks. “Gonna make me take more pictures of you?”

You gasp. “I’ll take this as blackmail, then!” and then, you stand up, sprinting past the door and away from him, hoping to get a copy of these pictures onto the computer and let your evil scheming commence.

“Huh?! No you’re not!” Naoya says, running right behind you, eventually catching up to you and taking the camera away from your hands.

But you meant no harm, of course, not when the presence of them filled the two with nostalgia, fondly looking back to the moment the two were nothing but kids, yet, unknowingly fated to be with one another.

It’s always meant to be that way; to be happy together, whether in the past, the present, or the future.

One the two have yet to create, now as a family.

Which neither could wait for it to happen.

Naoya and YN growing to be together is the ultimate endgame. I will not discuss otherwise :) also, Naoya might be holding onto those pictures in hopes of showing them off to their future daughter, just to get back at her (Naomi is not thrilled, at all. It's probably the first time she thinks of her parents as weird)

Oh, I hope you enjoyed this little thing 🥺❤️ thank you so much for sending in this ask, the child au is 😭 the fluff I need amongst these times of angst haha.

Anyways, I will try my best to write the Naoya b-day one shot :> In between requests and updates.... you know... eheh.

Thank you so much for your patience, take care, and hope to see you soon ❤️❤️❤️

[breelandwalker]

Buck Moon - July 3, 2023

Put on your flower crowns and your dancing shoes, it's time for the Buck Moon!

Buck Moon

The Buck Moon is the name given to the full moon in the month of July and is called this because at this time of year, the antlers on male deer are at the height of growth and impressiveness. This month also marks the first supermoon of the year!

Other European names for the July moon include Hay Moon and Wort Moon. North American Indigenous names for this moon include Salmon Moon (Tlingit), Berry Moon (Anishinaabe), Month of the Ripe Corn Moon (Cherokee), and Raspberry Moon (Algonquin, Ojibwe).

The West Abenaki also call this the Thunder Moon in reference to the often-stormy summer weather. (This one is my personal favorite and the name appears in lunar calendars just as often as the Buck Moon.)

What Does It Mean For Witches?

The July full moon continues June's template of planning for the future, this time with a focus on your passions and ambitions. Reflect on what you've accomplished so far this year and plan your next step.

Dream big and plan big, but don't give in to reckless urgency. Summer (and capitalist grind culture) gives us the urge to Go Go Go. Despite all this, it's important to take time to rest and recharge, lest we find ourselves burning out and losing our motivation.

What Witchy Things Can We Do?

Celebrate your victories and revel in the abundance of the summer season. If you're inclined to do so, take a page from the deer and do a bit of prancing around a bonfire or your favorite flower arbor with some festive flowery headgear.

Go exploring! Find a local park or garden and take a stroll among the greenery, or use TV and the internet to explore and learn about faraway places. This is another opportune time to go and check out pick-your-own farms and farmers markets as well. Sharpen your foraging and plant identification skills while you're out and about!

If you're tending a garden, harvest some herbs and investigate what you can make with them. Whether it's seasoning for meals, homemade botanical products, or just helpful spell ingredients, many herbs and flowers have a plethora of uses. As an exercise, select three plants growing in your garden, research their magical correspondences and botanical properties, and try to think of as many ways as possible to use each one for witchcraft and for practical purposes.

(Safety Note: Always clean and prepare home-harvested herbs properly before using them for kitchen, bath, or medical preparations. Always consult a doctor before trying an herbal treatment and take all allergies, medications, and pre-existing conditions into account. Please also note that while herbal treatments can be helpful, it can have negative interactions and side effects just like any other medication, and it is not meant to be a replacement for modern medical care.)

Apart from the usual full-moon festivities, I've always found this is an excellent time for weather-witching. Summer weather is notoriously fickle, but it is also highly malleable - one recalls that old American Southern epithet of, "If you don't like the weather, wait five minutes."

If you're hoping to bring some rain to water your garden or break the back of a heat wave, this may be the time to do it. My personal favorite folk magic ritual for rain-calling involves going outside with a broom and a bucket of water, using the broom to scatter drops of water over your yard, and shouting up to the clouds, "SEE? IT'S NOT HARD!"

Make sure you take local weather patterns into account and try to draw on existing fronts and nearby precipitation to get the desired result. And keep in mind that with weather magic, less is more and one casting is enough. Asking for too much or asking too often can produce undesirable results. And if you manage to make it rain, be sure to collect some for moon water!

If you're interested in weather-witching, I highly recommend checking out this masterpost by @stormbornwitch for a number of excellent articles and suggestions.

Happy Buck Moon, witches! 🌕🦌

Further Reading:

Buck Moon: Full Moon in July 2023, The Old Farmer's Almanac

Buck Moon 2023: The Awesome Spiritual Meaning of July's Full Moon, Amanda Brethauer, The Peculiar Brunette

The Hearth Witch's Garden Herbal, Anna Franklin, Llewellyn Publications, 2023.

Everyday Moon Magic: Spells & Rituals for Abundant Living, Dorothy Morrison

(If you're enjoying my content, please feel free to drop a little something in the tip jar or check out my published works on Amazon or in the Willow Wings Witch Shop. 😊)

[golden444manifest]

It girl Manifesting/Scripting List ✨🤍✨

I am ready to commit to the It Girl lifestyle. I’m determined to become the woman I want to be and learn to embrace and celebrate my accomplishments. I’ve tried in the past, but it never quite took off the ground. This time, I'm going in with a plan! Below are some overarching ways I want to bring more abundance into my life.

Consistently practicing gratitude, I have been immensely blessed for everything I accomplished and the support system I have gained over the years. Very grateful for every opportunity as it's what made me the woman I am today. The first step to abundance is gratitude.

Financial Stability: I want to have the confidence that I can handle unexpected expenses while also giving myself a better quality of life. Release my scarcity mindset. Save up to 6 months of expenses. Complete the 52-week saving challenge.

Confidence in my work, remember that I am new, take everything as a learning lesson, and follow the rules.

Positive self image, believe that I am enough. See my inner/outer beauty. Put more effort into my appearance.

Building healthy routines, hair appointments, eyebrow appointments. Have a planning routine and new hygiene routines.

Taking care of my health, return to the dentist. It is very overwhelming, and I need so much done.

Moving out of the state, options are Houston and NYC. I want to go to NYC and move in with my dad's side of the family. I’ve wanted to do this for a long time, and I need a time-out. I also enjoy a better quality of life. NYC has amazing food and architecture, and I will never be bored. The job market is pretty competitive, so I'm working on my resume and have confidence that I am a valuable candidate.

Consistent blogging/content, start an IG documenting my It girl/wellness/career journey. It gives me a way to romanticize my life. It would also provide me with practice in creating a posting schedule and organizing my ideas.

Letting love back into my life, after my break up I shut my heart down and kept the world at arm's length. Now, I want to return to the dating world, and I like to transition smoothly.

Accepting a job in NYC, it's also vital for it to be very similar to my role now. I want to stay in the GRC space.

This is not everything I want to do, but this is an excellent place to start. I'm so ready for this glow-up. My mind is there; all I have to do is plan and execute.

Cheers to new beginnings. May my blessings and yours overflow! 🥂✨🤍

[jase-is-ace]

Drabble I had in drafts for too long

“You wanted to see me, All Might?” Mirio peaked his head into the teacher’s lounge. The Pro Hero looked over to the young man selected to inherit greatness. “Ah, yes. Come one in, young man!” He said cheerfully. Mirio grinned and entered, closing the door behind him. “I have been keeping an eye on you. You are a wonderful student and I’m sure you will be the top hero in no time at all!” All Might praised the boy. “You’re too kind, sir. I just wanna make everyone smile.” He chuckled sheepishly.

All Might hummed. “But its that exact mindset that has led me to decide that you are worthy of something very important.” He informed Mirio, earning a surprised look. “What is it?”

The elder man took a deep breath. He started to explain how his own quirk works and how he had inherited it from someone else. Soon, he plucked out a long golden strand of his hair. “I was blessed with this power, and now, I wish to bless you. You are a wonderful hero, young Togata. I know you will accomplish so much.” He said with a proud smile. Mirio’s eyes widened. “Is…Is this the reason you’ve been hanging around me for the past few months?” He stammered. All Might nodded. “I was informed you would be an excellent candidate and I was not disappointed in the least.” Mirio teared up at the words from the number one hero of Japan. He quickly wiped his tears. “Thank you so much for this opportunity, sir!” Mirio exclaimed, bowing. “None of that nonsense! Are you in?” All Might asked. Mirio straightened up and nodded. “Yes, sir! So…what’s the hair for?” He asked, pointing at the strand. All Might grinned. “Eat this.” He said, earning a confused look. After the exchange, All Might sent the boy off to return to his studies. He sighed and pulled out his phone to text his old sidekick, informing him that the deed was done. Suddenly, Mirio popped his head in again, this time, through the wall. “Heyo, All Might! You asked to see me? Sorry I’m late. There was a girl who asked me to help get her kitten out of a tree.” He chuckled. All Might stared in confusion. “Y-You were just here?” He stammered, earning a confused look. “Uhm…No? I just got here.” Mirio smiled. If this is Mirio Togata, who did he just hand his quirk off to?

All Might paled in horror.

“One for All acquired. You can drop the disguise, Chameleah.” The boy said as he entered the nearest alley way. “Roger that.” A voice chimed from the other side of the line. The boy poofed to a smaller size, blonde hair turning green and blue eyes shifting to a rounder shape.

Izuku smirked as he met up with the green haired girl who had successfully distracted Mirio long enough. “I’ll repay you for your services in time. First and foremost, we need a new hiding spot. I’m sure the Number One Hero is going to have a heart attack when we reunite.” He muttered as Chameleah trailed behind him. “How did you know All Might’s quirk could be given anyways? You never really explained that part.” She asked as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Izuku smiled as he looked back at her.

“He told me himself.”

~~~

I had a villain Deku AU in the works for so long now and never really posted anything for it until now. I decided to go with a plot point mentioned in the show about Mirio being a candidate to inherit OFA and ran with it here since I haven't seen anyone else try this concept before.

[thinkingaboutbetterdays]

the four-year ruse. ( malcolm wilkerson x reader )

gif belongs to me

You knew that you should actually be studying instead of pretending to be studying in his room. For over two weeks, Malcolm kept up the pretence that you needed the door closed to focus on homework, but he knew Lois would catch on soon - she always did.

He just wished it wasn't today.

When the door opened, Malcolm's instinct was to put as much distance between you both as possible, but quickly realized it was a poor choice and tried to shield you as he moved away. You clutched the sheet tightly, closing your eyes, internally scolding yourself for getting carried away. With Reese gone, Malcolm and Dewey no longer shared a bed, and when you were alone, it was difficult not to take advantage of the situation.

"Mom! What are you doing?"

"Get dressed and meet me in the kitchen." She was eerily calm as she tossed clothes that were on the floor, at you both.

She walked out, closing the door and you covered your eyes with your hand, head hitting the pillow in disbelief and fear. Lots of fear.

"Oh, god, we are dead." You looked at Malcolm when he didn't respond and sat up, narrowing your eyes when you saw him sitting smiling, holding your bra.

You shook your head when he directed his smile at you. "We're already dead. At this point my parents can expect my remains to be scattered with a woodchipper."

"She won't come back in." He sounded so certain as he leaned in to kiss you.

"Malcolm! Don't make me come back in there!" Lois yelled.

You couldn't help but giggle when he groaned, dropping his head on your lap. "You know she will actually do it."

So you both quickly got dressed and with great reluctance, walked to the kitchen, joining Lois at the dining table. You listened as she explained that your mother had told her about your grades slipping, and she had heard from Malcolm's teachers that his grades were drastically falling.

"From now on, there are going to be some changes around here."

You reached for his hand beneath the table and felt him squeeze your hand for comfort as Lois scolded you both for breaking the trust of both parents and that from this moment on, you were sitting in the kitchen or in the living room, until you got a hold of your teenage hormones.

You shared a glance with Malcolm when she went to pick up a large card with assigned dates you could spend together, quickly noticing that every time you were in each other's presence you were to study.

"Don't you think it's a little overkill?" Lois narrowed her eyes at him and Malcolm quickly added, "'Cause I don't."

A month passed, and the ban on you spending time with Malcolm outside of school was lifted. When you arrived at his house together, you took a seat at the kitchen table under the watchful eye of Lois. Within a week, a schedule had been formed, and you and Malcolm set specific study goals to ensure you stayed on track in time for the exams. Lois was pleased to see him taking his studies seriously and allowed him to continue seeing you.

As you spent more time together working on homework, you and Malcolm discovered that you make a great team. He helped you understand difficult concepts, and you both shared study resources and motivated each other to stay focused. Your relationship grew stronger as you supported each other academically.

Not only do you both excel in your studies, but you also find joy in learning together. Instead of a punishment, you turn the study sessions into opportunities for intellectual discussions and exploration. Malcolm loved challenging perspectives and vice versa, sparking curiosity and deepening your understanding of various subjects.

Your dedication to your studies paid off, and you both started to see improvements in your grades. You feel a sense of accomplishment and pride in your hard work. Lois noticed the positive change and acknowledged your efforts, but also denied Malcolm's request for a break - wanting to spend time with you without textbooks.

Your relationship with Malcolm became even more meaningful as you realize that you not only share a deep emotional connection but also a strong intellectual bond. You appreciate each other's intelligence and the way you challenge and inspire one another.

As you continue to prioritize your studies, you and Malcolm find a healthy balance between your academic responsibilities and your relationship. You understand the importance of maintaining individual growth while also nurturing your connection. This is why when your parents no longer watched you study, as Lois did, you stole kisses and more at your house, using his house as a chance to keep on top of your grades.

When Lois mentioned the dip in your grades would mean that you would have to break up, Malcolm knew that as long as you set time for studying and boosting your grades, she wouldn't know that when you were alone at your house studying was the last thing on your minds. As long as you both kept your grades up, she would never know that he was still leaving hickeys on your skin, just hidden more carefully.

However, there is no denying that the commitment to your studies not only benefits both of your academic success but also strengthens your relationship. You learn to rely on each other for support, encouragement, and guidance. You become his biggest cheerleader, and he is yours, celebrating each milestone and accomplishment together.

In the end, you and Malcolm's decision to make more time for your studies not only helped you excel academically but also deepened your bond. You both realize that your relationship is not just built on love, affection, and teenage hormones but also on shared goals, aspirations, and intellectual growth with a future that always seemed to co-align. However, Malcolm always said that your greatest achievement together was maintaining the pretense that you were studying at your house to Lois, who found out during your second year at university, a ruse that lasted four years.

[shingekinohyrulewrites]

& They Were Roommates

Armin Arlert is in need of a roommate, and you just so happen to need a place to live. For some reason you cannot figure out, his best friend, Eren Jaeger, has a problem with you.

Read on AO3 here

SMUT AHEAD, MDNI, 18+ ONLY, CONTENT WARNINGS FOR :

Couch Sex, Unprotected Sex, Spitting, Creampie

Armin Arlert is an accomplished man.

After graduating as valedictorian in both high school and college, he decided to continue on with his higher education by going on to graduate school. With his Molecular Biology Bachelors Degree under his belt, he was moving on to get his Masters and, sometime in the future, his PhD. His alma mater, Eldia University, offered a great graduate program, and he decided to continue his education there.

He had been living in the same off-campus apartment since his freshman year. Since he excelled in high school, his tuition and living expenses were paid for, which meant he had his pick for where he wanted to live. Wanting to have the “real” college experience, he opted to choose a two bedroom apartment two miles from campus, and he took the bus to commute to class.

Annie Leonhart stumbled into his life during his second semester. They were both taking Chemistry, and they had been assigned as lab partners. Despite her stern demeanor, Armin managed to break through, and the two began dating halfway through the semester. Sophomore year she moved into his apartment, the extra bedroom being converted into a guest room. They graduated together, and she also decided to pursue a graduate degree like her boyfriend. Their first year was stressful, navigating much more difficult, specialized classes while balancing a job at the local pharmaceutical company.

Over the summer, Annie was presented with the opportunity to study in her family’s native country, Russia. Despite safety concerns, the top pharmaceutical company there had offered a chance for her to work there, gain experience, and attend classes at the local prestigious university.

It was a chance she couldn’t refuse.

However, this left Armin with a conundrum. Now that he was in graduate school, only his tuition was covered. Given that he was expected to have a job, his living expenses were now up to him. Since he had chosen a rather swanky apartment, he knew he would need some help with paying for the rent. He put out an ad in the university’s newspaper, hoping that a fellow student would be willing to reside with him.

The week before Annie was set to leave, Armin’s best friend, Eren Jaeger, heard about his situation and stopped by. The two had been best friends since they were kids, and he wanted to see if he could help out somehow.

“Hey, why don’t you let me move in?”

Armin’s nose had scrunched up, which immediately annoyed Eren.

“What’s wrong with me?” he asked, frowning deeply.

“No offense, Eren, but I need someone who is just as studious as me. I can’t afford any distractions right now.”

Eren opened his mouth to argue, but Armin held up a hand to silence him.

“Look, you’ve been done with school. You work as a personal trainer. You don’t have a set schedule, so you would be coming and going at unpredictable times. I need consistency.”

For some reason, Eren decided to take this personally.

He currently lived at home with his parents and half-brother, Zeke. Although he made good money as a personal trainer, it was hard to find an affordable place that he could afford by himself. He had been hoping that this would be a chance to finally move out, and the thought of living with his best friend made him excited.

“Why don’t you help me vet roommate options? I know it’s not moving in, but at least you have an idea of who you would see when you come hang out.”

For the next week, Armin arranged “interviews” when the both of them were free. They interviewed both undergraduate and graduate students, with Armin asking the questions while Eren studied them quietly. Unbeknownst to the blond, Eren was fuming. He hated every single option, finding stupid reasons for Armin to reject them. He had decided that, regardless of who Armin decided to go with, he would hate whoever his roommate ended up being.

Two days before Annie’s flight, Armin was freaking out. He still hadn’t found a suitable roommate, and Eren had been no help. The responses to the ad were basically zero now, and Armin hadn’t heard from friends about anyone who may need a room.

Then you showed up.

A mutual friend of yours who had a few classes with Armin had casually mentioned he needed a roommate, and you had immediately jumped them for details. You were finishing up your Masters Thesis, jumping between meetings with your advisor and your job. However, your roommate had dropped out, the stress of graduate school causing a nervous breakdown, leaving you essentially homeless.

Your friend gave you his contact information, and the two of you arranged to meet the day before Annie’s flight. You were greeted by him, relieved that he seemed kind. He introduced his best friend, Eren, who regarded you sternly. The both of you toured the apartment, with Armin explaining the amenities and breaking down the bills. He asked about your schedule, and was pleased to see that it essentially aligned with his. You both conversed about your respective Masters programs, and he had a feeling the two of you would get along great.

“How soon can you move in?”

“I can move in tomorrow!” you excitedly said.

“Sold!”

Eren watched the exchange with a scowl, rolling his eyes as Armin went over the lease paperwork and how to get a copy of the keys. The next morning, you moved in, settling into the second bedroom before leaving for work. The two of you had decided to go out for dinner to better get to know each other. Armin had dropped off Annie that morning, which meant he had time for you that night.

You immediately admired Armin. It was evident he was a hard worker, and you listened intently as he talked about the difficulties of his program and his job. You asked about his study habits, and were pleased to hear they were similar to yours. The two of you had similar personalities and senses of humor, and a part of you predicted that you would be getting along very well.

It took one week to fall into a routine. Since your schedules were almost the same, you were up at the same time, sharing a quick dinner before running out the door. Twice a week, your lunch time aligned, so you met for lunch. You would usually get home before him, which allowed you time to relax a bit before you started dinner just as he was getting home. He would ask about your day as you ate before watching a bit of TV and retiring to bed.

Eren came over the week after. It was Friday, and Armin had suggested a movie night. You had happily agreed, hoping to get to know Eren better. Armin talked about him often, letting you know that they had been friends since they were kids and that he had always been super protective of the blond.

“I was usually a target for the neighborhood kids,” he had admitted sheepishly.

You had offered to pay for the pizza that evening, and you asked Eren what he wanted on his. He shrugged, saying pepperoni was fine. His aloof personality put you off a bit, but you figured you were still a stranger to him, so he was weary.

While you waited for the food, Armin and Eren caught up. You sat to the side, scrolling through your phone silently while you quietly observed Eren. It was hard not to notice how attractive he was - he looked like he could be a model. His long, brown hair was pulled into a messy bun, just like the first time you had met him. A few pieces had slipped out, framing his face. Thick, dark eyebrows sloped over a pair of expressive turquoise eyes, who often eyed you with suspicion. His nose was slender but rounded at the tip, above a pair of full lips. Your eyes traced the sharp line of his jaw, watching his Adam’s apple bob as he swallowed.

The sound of someone knocking at the door pulled you from your thoughts.

Armin sat in between you two, eyes fixed on the TV screen. Eren hadn’t said a single word to you beyond thanks for paying for the pizza. For some reason, it really bothered you.

Meanwhile, Eren was absolutely annoyed with you. Armin had been gushing about you over text, going on and on about how you were essentially a perfect roommate. The two of you got along great, and his studies weren’t interrupted. When he had invited him over, Eren was intent on saying “thanks, but no thanks.” But Armin had mentioned how it was so important for them to get along, and Eren couldn’t say no to that.

His eyes watched you from the side. Your eyes kept flicking between the plate on your lap and the screen. You were wearing a thin tee shirt and sweats, your hair messily braided. Armin had mentioned you had been busier than usual with work that week, which explained your tired appearance. You weren’t cute or whatever.

That movie night opened a door. Eren came and went as he pleased, stopping by to hang out with Armin. Sometimes you cooked an extra plate for him. Other times, him and Armin went out for dinner, leaving you alone. He still kept you at arm’s length, never greeting you past a nod. Armin tried to push him to open up, but you saw how hard Eren resisted.

“It really wouldn’t kill you to get to know her.”

It had been a month since you moved in. The two were currently sitting in a booth at the local diner, waiting for their burgers. Eren rolled his eyes, taking a long sip of his drink.

“She’s really nice. I mean, she goes out of her way to include you at dinner and stuff.”

“Have you considered that she might be trying to break you and Annie up?”

Armin, bewildered, stared at Eren.

“What?”

“I mean, she’s pretty cozy with you.”

“You’re joking, right?”

The waitress brought their food then. Eren immediately began eating, keeping his eyes low as Armin continued to stare at him.

“She’s met Annie. I introduced her the first time I Facetimed her.”

Eren ignored him, keeping on with his meal.

“She’s given me advice on how to deal with a long-distance relationship. I don’t think anyone who wants to break up a relationship would do that.”

When he saw that Eren wasn’t going to respond, he sighed and picked up his burger. The rest of their meal was silent, with Armin dropping Eren off before returning home. Eren lay in bed, arms behind his head as he stared at the ceiling. What was it about you that bothered him so much?

You’re obviously trying to take Armin away from me.

He scowled, turning on his side. That had to be the reason. You knew how close the two of them were, and you wanted to pull Armin away. That had to be it. He saw how chummy the two of you were, and he figured you were just nice to him out of sympathy.

Whatever.

He rolled over to his other side, letting out a long sigh.

It had nothing to do with how hot he thought you were.

***

It was the first week of June, which meant the heat was starting to kick in.

The last week of classes was fast approaching, and you and Armin were thankful to have some reprieve before the Fall. Annie was set to return in mid-July, and you were excited to meet her. The couple had agreed to let you stay for the next school year, with all three of you set to graduate next June.

Armin’s week was chaotic, with back to back exams, as well as meetings with his thesis mentor. You, on the other hand, had it slightly easier, as you were taking one elective. Your final paper had been finished last week, as you had wanted to get an extra week to relax. Your boss had also been kind enough to give you Finals week off, which meant you had a week to do nothing.

Eren had been told about the end of the semester, and he realized he would have more time to spend with Armin. Normally, he would text him to give him a heads up, but he figured Armin would be home, so he stopped by. He whistled a tune as he walked up to your building, letting himself in with the gate code and climbing the stairs to your unit. Armin had given him a spare key for emergencies, so Eren let himself in.

The apartment was silent, sunlight streaming through the open windows. Normally, Armin would do his work at the dining room table, since it gave him the space he needed. Instead, it sat empty. Eren listened for any sounds coming from his room, but the entire place was silent.

“Armin?” he called, but no one responded.

He waited a minute, but figured that neither of you were home. Shrugging, he kicked off his shoes and left them by the door before laying down on the couch. He figured he could hang out while he waited for Armin to come home. The two of them could probably grab some dinner then.

Unbeknownst to him, you were home. You had slept in, going for a run before coming back and taking a shower. The heat, plus the exhaustion from working out, made you sleepy, and you decided to take a nap. It was still hot in your apartment, so you climbed into bed naked and fell asleep. When you woke up, you were feeling better but still feeling warm. You used the towel beside you to wipe some sweat before standing up and stretching.

Armin had texted you that he was working overtime, so not to worry about dinner for him. You had texted back you would order something for him, and he had sent you his order along with a smiling emoji. The apartment was yours, and you figured it wouldn’t hurt to walk around naked and pour yourself a cold glass of iced tea.

The apartment was filled with sun, and you made a mental note to shut the blinds to try and cool the place down. You yawned, pausing to stretch again in the living room. Your joints popped, satisfaction flooding you at the sound.

“Holy shit.”

You jumped, head whipping around towards the voice. Eren was sitting on your couch, eyes wide as he took in your very naked figure. You could feel your cheeks burning, and looked around desperately to cover yourself.

“What are you doing here?” you squeaked.

He didn’t reply, still staring at you.

“EREN!”

He jumped, shaking his head before hesitantly turning his head away.

“I, uh, thought Armin would be home. He told me you’re almost done with school.”

“Why didn’t you text him?!”

He shrugged.

“Oh my god, I am going to kill you.”

“Look, you’re really distracting. Can you put some clothes on?”

“This is my home! I have the right to be naked if I want to!”

He didn’t respond, his eyes continuing to take in every single curve. 

“Get out!”

Instead of listening to you, Eren stood up. He slowly strode over to you, and you backed up until you were pressed against the wall. The cool sensation had you relaxing slightly, the heat flaring through your body going down. One of Eren’s hands came to rest beside your head while the other came to rest gently on your waist.

“You have been such a fucking pain in my ass.”

You narrowed your eyes at his words and opened your mouth to argue with him but he shook his head, the hand on your waist coming up to cover your lips.

“Now, here you are, walking around naked as if to punish me.”

A dark chuckle escaped him as he shook his head.

“Were you just waiting for your chance to tease me like this?”

You shook your head as you narrowed your eyes further.

“Tell me you don’t want this. Tell me and I’ll stop.”

You hesitated, and he immediately took note of this.

“Oh, look at you, naughty girl.”

A quiet whine was muffled against his hand. He chuckled again, removing his hand and placing it carefully back on your waist.

“Tell me to stop and I will.”

You looked up at him, all the times he had been dismissive of you the past few months playing in your head. He cocked his head to the side, waiting for your response.

Fuck it.

You stood on your toes, gripping the back of his neck to pull him towards you. His lips met yours messily, your lips pressing against his as he sighed, allowing your tongue to slip in. The hand beside your head slid down to your hips, squeezing the flesh there before he bent down and picked you up.

“I’m going to fuck you on this couch, and you’re going to think of it everytime you sit here.”

He laid you down on the couch before hastily removing his clothes. You admired the muscles on his body, eyes trailing down his abs and following his happy trail down to his erect cock. He stroked himself, smirking as he watched you study him.

“Like what you see?”

“Shut up.”

He paused for a second before realization crossed his face.

“Shit, I don’t have a condom. Um, do you think Armin has any?”

“Eren,” you laughed. “It’s fine. I’m on birth control. Are you clean?”

He nodded, relief crossing his face. You opened your legs as he kneeled at the end of the couch, eyes half-lidded as he took in your naked body splayed out beneath him. He leaned down towards your core, close enough that you could feel his breath. You sucked in a breath as you waited to feel his mouth on you, but instead he spit on your core.

“Eren,” you gasped.

He shrugged.

“Gotta make sure my girl is ready.”

He slapped his cock against you before sliding it slowly along your slit. You moaned, wiggling your hips to try and get him to slip in. A low chuckle rumbled in his throat, and he finally obliged you, pushing in at an agonizing pace. He was very well endowed, and you winced slightly at how thick he was. The stretch took some getting used to, but he went slow, murmuring praise until his hips were pressed against yours.

Your left leg came to wrap around his hip while the other hung off the couch. He pulled his head back to kiss you for a moment while you adjusted to him. After a moment, you lifted your hips, your silent signal that you were ready to take him.

His head came to settle in the crook of your neck, groaning as he pulled out. You felt how heavy he was as he dragged himself out until just the tip was in before pushing back in. One hand came to grab the back of his head, pulling at his hair while the other began to claw at his back. His pace started slow, repeating the slow drag and harsh push before he started to pick up the pace. The couch creaked noisily underneath you as he fucked you faster, your moans getting louder and filling the living room. He turned his head to kiss and lick your neck, biting down lightly in an effort to mark you.

“Mine,” he slurred out. “You’re mine now.”

You lifted the leg on his hip higher, allowing him to hit a different angle. Stars began to dance in your vision, and you tried to warn him through moans.

“You want to cum, yeah? You think you deserve to? Walking around naked to fucking rile me up?”

“I’m s-sorry,” you stammered out. “I-I didn’t mean t-to, Eren.”

He grabbed your cheeks harshly, turning your face so you could look at him. His face was flushed, pleasure evident on his features as he kept on fucking you.

“Look me in the eyes while you cum. I want to remember what it looks like.”

His words were the nail in the coffin, and you moaned out his name loudly as you came around him. He groaned with you, relishing the feeling of you tightening around him as he kept on until he came too. You could feel him twitching inside of you, his cum flooding you and leaving you warm.

The both of you were quietly panting, trying to recover from the intense sex you had just had. After a moment Eren pulled away, one hand pushing your hair out of your face. He studied you, a trace of intimacy in his eyes, before he leaned in and kissed you. The kiss was so different from before, tender and full of affection. You didn’t want him to pull away, but he did so to pull out and sit back on the other side of the couch.

“Are you alright? Let me go get you some water.”

Your heart swelled as you watched him pad into the kitchen and return with a cold water bottle. He handed it to you, kissing you before he sat down again and took a long swig of his own bottle.

“Do you hate me?”

He sputtered on his water.

“No!” he exclaimed, eyes wide.

“Then why have you been so cold to me since I moved in with Armin?”

He looked away, cheeks flushing.

“I was, er . . . jealous of you. Armin and I have been best friends since we were kids, and I just didn’t want someone to take him away from me.”

A deep frown touched his brows as he stared at the coffee table.

“He’s my closest friend, and I care about him so much. I just . . . I didn’t want him taken away from me.”

You let out a quiet giggle as you scooted closer to him.

“You were just being protective of your friend. You’re like a golden retriever.”

“Hey! I am not!”

You laughed, ruffling his hair before snuggling into his side.

“Well, I guess we better come up with a story for Armin. But I think we should leave the couch out of it.”

It was Eren’s turn to laugh and he pressed a kiss to the top of your head.

“Great idea.”

[driftward]

Log Entries 113-140

Log Entry 113

She woke up late. She never wakes up late.

At least we still went for her morning run. Well, morning. Barely. It was lunch time when we got back. She washed up, changed outfit, went to the meeting room where the company usually has their lunch, and announced to everyone present that the courtship between her and the Chirurgeon had ended.

And then she retreated.

The Madam Commander is acting in paradox. Frantic, yet still. Bubbling full of emotion, silent as ice. Hands reaching for tasks, yet nothing accomplished.

I have seen her here before, and I am afraid. I cannot keep her safe this time.

I want her to take care of herself. I want to prepare. She is going to self isolate. We need food, water, books.

Stupid, stupid.

Log Entry 115

The Madam Commander’s brother is still at headquarters, which I did not fully appreciate. She went to him. The Leftenant was there as well, but whatever they were doing, they put it aside to let her stay.

Nothing happened. We’re well fed and there’s plenty of tea.

Log Entry 117

She sent the Mathye a fruit basket. I looked back through Lily and Foxglove’s notes. I’m pretty certain this is the wrong way to handle a break up. I referenced some stories from the archives.

They’re no help.

My own guidance recommends that, if opportunity presents itself, to send someone with relationship difficulties back from the field to sort it out so they are better able to focus on what’s right in front of them.

Guess we aren’t meant to be counselors.

Log Entry 118

I was so worried that I didn’t notice at first, but!

Something’s changed.

She wakes alone, but from that moment, she does not stay alone. If there is nobody where she intends to be, she seeks until she finds somebody.

Our friends accept us. She does not talk as much, but they seem happy to just have her there, and it’s a relief, I’m relieved, she’s not brooding, well she IS but she’s brooding with company, and most importantly, no running off to perform ill advised experiments with insufficient supervision.

I am not sufficient supervision. Noting that here should it come up again. She’s too big and too heavy for me to move by myself. That’s important to note. I’m noting it.

Log Entry 119

She could stand more variety in her diet.

Log Entry 124

She practically lives in the workshop, now. I think she’s determined that’s where her friends are likely to either be, or where they’ll look for her first. And she’s taken to machinery with enthusiasm.

Which is great! I can also access schematics! In theory. Fairies did lots of things back in ancient Nym. I am an Eos-class, so while I am specialized for helping my Scholar in field triage situations, fairies like me had other jobs, too!

And I am so much more than most fairies. I bet I could pick this up no sweat. Just me and her and her crew, working on these submersicraft and aerocraft.

Soon as I can interact with reality I’m going to bite everyone and everything. This is terrible has been terrible and continues to be terrible.

Log Entry 130

The Madam Commander is more worried about the Crystalficer as time goes on, and I think she’s right! Whatever has happened to the Crystalficer is eerily familiar to what happened to us. Everything was fine, right, until everything was very. Not fine.

The Marine seems to disagree. Where’s her fairy. Where’s Glitterdust. I want to talk to her instead.

A joke! I am hilarious. I still can’t talk to anyone.

Anyroad, worries about the Apple are on pause for now. It seems that someone else has recognized the Madam Commander’s excellence, and asked for her services.

An investigation. This is great, actually! It is well past time. The Madam Commander has recovered her strength well enough, if not her essence. She has been practicing with gunblade and chakram; so she is armed enough. She is smart, and clever, and even without me, she will be alright. The Marine and the Leftenant are never far from her side, and there are others she can call on.

And frankly this is better than her spending all her time in the workshop avoiding thinking about the Chirurgeon.

So, murder most grisly in the home of the land spirits! I wonder if they will be able to see me. We are off!

Log Entry 138

I have missed this.

Lily told me stories of their early adventures, and I have bits and pieces of Foxglove’s gestalt, to say nothing of my own memories.

Simply, my Scholar is an investigator.

And it is in an investigation that she is most in her element.

We’ve been directed to examine some bodies. I want to tell her what I can see! I want to help! I can see what’s wrong almost immediately. Their physical form may be whole, but their essence is depleted - further than even death would suggest, given how long they have been dead. If I was more here than not here, I could help perform the autopsy work.

But my Scholar is an investigator.

And while I have been helpful in the past, she doesn’t NEED need me for this.

Watching her work is a marvel. The way she notices every detail of a scene. The way she manages to see things nobody else does, not even me. The care with which she acts. The way she puts pieces of information together.

I thought I would try to help. And I think she managed to see the world I do, just for a moment, I’m… I’m not sure. But she saw the essence depletion, same as me.

A small puzzle piece! The Adept and the Marine are both here. She called on them both, and set them to work, and began to put the matter together.

It’s so good to be back in the field like this.

Log Entry 139

The Crystalficer was still on her mind, and so we went to their home. A small living craft, worthy of any proper Nymian. Her and the Marine disagreed on some matters, even as she examined the ship and noted it had been abandoned.

She wanted to go inside. The Marine disagreed.

It was a risk, but we took it. Just the slightest nudge, right? Just a brief touch, through, and I had her hand through the door and opening it from the other side.

I don’t think the Marine noticed. We examined the boat, and oh, my Scholar is so very very clever! I thought we were only working on the one case, but in fact, we were working on two! She determined that the Crystalficer was very probably the grisly murderer in the home of the land spirits!

Or… something infesting and controlling the Crystalficer.

A voidsent.

We are about to go investigate further.

Log Entry 139 addendum

IT WAS NOT A VOIDSENT HOLY SHITE IT WAS NOT A VOIDSENT THIS MAY BE MY FINAL LOG

Log Entry 140

The Crystalficer is back home, safe.

She had… summoned… a unique sort of egi. Now, I don’t know as much about egis as I would like. They are creatures of aether, like me. They are created via sophisticated geometry, like me. But while I tap into anima energies and am formed of symbolic logic, an egi… borrows… primal aether. Sort of like living aether, but elementally charged, and shaped by some kind of conceptual logic.

It was a terrible creature. I could call it a voidsent, I think, for it was full of the chaotic aether with which I am now all too familiar. It had many arms of dangerous blades. It was fast, and dangerous.

I was faster. I am still not sure how I did it, but at one point, I reached, and pulled myself and my Scholar through the in-between.

We avoided the worst of its strikes. We fought back.

It did not dissipate fully when defeated. A part of it is still part of the Apple. It will always be part of her, the Scholar opines.

I look upon it with a faint feeling of horror.

We may be different, but we are the same. Her egi… my Scholar’s fairy… me.

Our aether showing streaks of the strong mix of static and chaos. I know not where her egi got it from. I got the static from the Atelier, so long ago, pulled from the malfunctioning device, to protect my Scholar. And the chaos… again. That from the spaces we visited abyss. I took it to protect my Scholar.

But what if … I am the same as that thing?

A fairy is a symbolic construct that serves their Scholar.

But that thing defended the Crystalficer as viciously as I would defend my Scholar.

And I am clearly not a proper fairy anymore.

No. I won’t do it. And that’s that.

[painted-bees]

Can you tell us about a time Magritte was surprised (in a good way) at Raf's behavior or vice versa?

aw, this is a cute ask haha

Let's see here... Raf is very frequently surprised by Magritte's behavior; she's not really like anyone one else he's gotten to know before, and the way she responds to obstacles and failure, he finds very inspiring. She's remarkably adaptable and doesn't have very high expectations of anything, ever. But--not in a cynical 'always expecting the worst' kind of way. Rather, she just seems constantly surprised and delighted when things go well, or something nice happens--and is very rarely upset to any significant capacity when things don't go as planned. A very, genuinely "it is what it is!" kind of person who'll make things work with the hand they've been delt. Magritte herself is just one big, ongoing, pleasant surprise in Raf's life haha

I guess there are two comics that already show instances where Magritte has been kinda taken off guard/surprised by Raf's playfulness

x

x

But she's also endlessly surprised by Raf's seemingly effortless gestures of support for her music. I mean, once she moves in, the guest room--her room--slowly finds itself furnished with more and more instruments and music supplies. Things that Raf purchases with no desire to use himself, but he knows Magritte will make excellent use of.

But beyond even this, she has been more than surprised on the rare occasions when Raf has gone out of his way to pull strings for her with regards to her musical career specifically. It's not something she'd ever dare to ask of him, but Raf gets really tired and fed-up on her behalf after seeing her try to seize opportunity after opportunity to get her work recognized, and receiving rejection after rejection. A lot of it is just due to the fact that she doesn't come across as very professional--unless you only listen to her music. Attempting to speak to her in a professional context, she seems incapable of composing herself properly for longer than a few minutes at a time before her own excitement unravels her. She's very giggly, and wiggly, and her vocabulary is unrefined and childish, and sometimes rather crass. She doesn't know how to talk about her own music, or how to explain her process in a way that makes sense to anyone who isn't her. She doesn't have a way to describe why she makes certain choices with her musical compositions... She comes off as very young, inexperienced, and unreliable.

And, though it frustrates him to no end, Raf can't blame anyone for reading her this way. After all, he was rather quick to do so himself when he first met her. It was only thanks to an uncharacteristic nibble of curiosity in the back of his mind that he felt there was more to Magritte and her music than first impressions led on. Sure enough, Magritte is the closest he's ever met to what he'd comfortably describe as a 'genius'. He hates the word, having been called a 'genius' for much of his life growing up and knowing that what he accomplished was only possible due to forfeiting his childhood to hours of endless hard work and practice--and the tyrannical manner in which his parents funded and 'supported' his career. But he doesn't really know what other word exists to describe Magritte's sheer aptitude for music. The way she approaches and applies certain concepts is not something that he feels can be taught, it's a unique perspective she has that he can't even fully understand. Her brain, it seems, is just wired differently. And she could change people's lives with that unique perspective of hers, the same way she has changed his...

If only she had the proper structures of support to back her up.

Raf does not like calling in favors, or being made to feel like he owes anyone anything. And so, when he goes out of his way, unrequested, to get her booked as a performing musician at one of Vancouver's many highly attended music festivals (on the condition that he also play and allow his name to be used as part of the promotional materials), Magritte is elated to tears and beyond words haha

[jujumin-translates]

[A3!] ★ Main Story | Act 14 - DREAM CATCHER | Episode 22 - The Scenery I Want to Show You

Kazunari: (I had literally never checked out that gallery from earlier before, but it was seriously so good~.)

Kazunari: (I was able to talk to the artist for a bit, and I could really feel their passion for art! It was supes inspiring!)

Kazunari: (Encounters like that are only possible when you actually go to the real place itself, so I’m so glad I came~.)

Kazunari: (I got to go to all the art galleries and museums I planned to go to, and I got tons of inspo from them.)

Kazunari: (There are just some things that pics alone can’t convey~. The power of seeing things IRL is crazy.)

Kazunari: (The brushstrokes and the way the nuances of the colors change depending on the way the light hits them is something that you can really only see when you’re actually there.)

Kazunari: (I’ve been to some of the more famous art galleries on previous trips, but I feel like the way I feel and the number of things I get from them has changed since then.)

Kazunari: (I guess that just shows how much I’ve grown.)

Kazunari: (It’s important to create opportunities like this one and not just stay holed up working in your room all the time~.)

Kazunari: …Right.

Kazunari: Hmm, can I get everything in the shot like this?

*Camera clicks*

Kazunari: …Alright, perfect!

Kazunari: And “Inspo-gaining completed~!”.

*Phone notification*

Muku: “That’s such a beautiful view~. I’m just about to go to bed over here.”

Kumon: “Same, I’m so tired from the workshop I’m basically about to pass out~.”

Misumi: “I’m getting ready for tomorrow’s rehearsal~. You seem like you’re having fun, Kazu~.”

Tenma: “I’m about to head out to a shoot.”

Yuki: “I’m in the middle of outputting content right now.”

Kazunari: (...Everyone’s doing their best.)

Kazunari: (When I get back to the hotel, I’m gonna try and output something too. I’m so motivated right now I can’t wait to get my hands working.)

Kazunari: (I’ve gotta do my best so I don’t fall behind everyone else!)

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

Kazunari: (My stay here went by so fast~.)

Kazunari: (But I’ve got a huge stockpile of ideas, and I’m more motivated than ever, so I was able to get tons of work done and I feel like I’ve actually accomplished something~.)

Kazunari: (I’ve got another three hours until my flight… Maybe I’ll have a cup of tea at the airport.)

*Ping*

Kazunari: Hm?

Kazunari: (Ah, it’s from a client.)

Email Contents: “I looked over the other proposal you sent. Thank you very much for your excellent suggestions. I would like to ask you to please proceed with the--.”

Kazunari: --Hell yeah!

Kazunari: (With this, I’ll have the energy to keep working on the flyer designs as soon as I get back to Japan~!)

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