#ch: mack

[nikosasaki]

FAULTLINES ⭑ a riverdale series

originally released in 2018, Faultlines was a spinoff from the original Riverdale series, following the story of Southsider Benny Bayford and his close friends, the junior Southside Serpents. the series was known for covering serious topics like drug addiction and abuse, but became more known for it's expansive queer representation. the series spanned four seasons and nearly 80 episodes, with the final season showing the main characters reuniting in their hometown of Riverdale after being separated during their college years.

taglist: @kendelias @chlobenet @bravelittleflower @eddiemunscns @purpleyearning @eddysocs @heavenlysurf @arrthurpendragon @nolanhollogay @stanshollaand @lovehermioneforever @raith-way @kiara-carrera @decennia @luucypevensie @waterloou @ginger-grimm @hiddenqveendom @foxesandmagic @jvstjewels @dragonsbone @endless-oc-creations @ginevrastilinski @sunlitscribe @dyhlanobrien @partiallypearl @witchofinterest @fleetwoodmcs @daughter-of-melpomene

[highoctanegem]

[A package is delivered to Jade. Inside is a huge box of Jelly Belly Jelly Beans, but they’re all the gross flavors. Mack has connections. Included is card]:

To Jade:

Merry Christmas! A sweet for a sweetheart. Enjoy! :-)

From: Mackenzie

[theoneryderlynn]

No worries, luckily I've got a few friends who are into Halloween spirit! Well, thank you from the nervous me or somethin'. Keep your fingers crossed!!

I mean there probably are, do I know when, where, or what they are? No. Mostly cos I'm not the type, but I hope you find something and... I feel like I maybe should say congrats but you're also trying to not think about the thing so...

[motownfiction]

sweet like a chic-a-cherry cola

note: this vignette also firmly takes place between two consenting adults, aged 26 and 33

Paul is slow-moving for a man in his thirties. He and Emma have been on four dates already, and all they’ve done is kiss a little. He didn’t even kiss her until their third date, only five days ago, which was mostly a disaster. Emma hadn’t been expecting it, so she kissed him back with the exact pressure one uses to kiss the top of a baby’s head.

Tonight, though, she was ready. As it happens, so was he. They’ve been lying on top of his duvet for half an hour, just kissing and giggling, almost like they’re getting away with something. Paul pushes Emma’s hair out of her face and laughs a little more.

“What’s so funny?” Emma asks.

“Nothing,” Paul says. “Just … I guess I wish I knew you when I was a teenager.”

“Well, considering I would have been eleven when you graduated from high school, I don’t actually think that’s something you want.”

“OK, but you know. I wish we’d been teenagers at the same time. That way … we could have done this way sooner. Skipped to the good parts by now.”

“Are these not good parts?”

“They are, but …”

Emma pulls Paul closer to her face and kisses him like she’s never kissed anybody. It’s easy with him, and that’s not just because at five-foot-eight, Paul’s the only man she’s ever been able to kiss without standing on a stepstool. It was like she didn’t know how kissing was supposed to feel until tonight. All the other kisses with all the other men had been … clinical. Experimental (for them). Cold (for her). She felt obligated to them in ways she doesn’t feel to Paul. When it’s Paul, she wants it more than she’s ever wanted anything. He’s here. Flesh, blood, and warmth. His kisses make her feel alive. Not going through the motions. Alive.

“You can have all the parts,” she says. “If you want them … they’re yours.”

Paul grins like he’s been waiting all his life for someone to say that. He pulls her closer still, and he kisses her with a force he didn’t even know he was capable of. He’d been kissing girls since he was nineteen (though never with as much frequency as maybe he would have hoped), but it was never like this. Never so … wanted. Dreamt of. He spent hours thinking about Emma, about how he knows exactly what The Platters mean by “My Prayer,” about how he’s not sure he could ever live a day without knowing her again.

How could it be? How could it be that for more than three decades of breathing in and out, in and out, Paul didn’t know Emma O’Connor existed? How could it be that it still took them almost two years to get here? For so much of his life, he’s been running in place, afraid that if he catches up to someone, he’ll lose sight of all the things on the horizon, everything in his periphery. But Emma sees the world as he does–in stories, in goals, in dreams. And when she kisses him, he remembers that his body is for more than just walking from place to place or for working harder than he actually can. He remembers that he is blood.

So much blood.

Everywhere it should be.

He feels himself start to leave–not because he wants to, but because it’s his instinct. Flight. Always flight. Get out of there as soon as you can.

But then, he sees Emma’s eyes. Blue and impish. Perfect.

“You don’t have to be afraid,” she says, gentler than she’s ever been. “I want you here.”

Paul can’t even smile. He just cups Emma’s face in his hands again and kisses her. Desperate. Feeling younger than he really is. Has he mentioned the desperation?

“I want to be here,” he says, not sure which one of them needs to hear it more.

“I want you here,” Emma says again, between frantic kisses, like Paul’s going to change his mind. “I want–mmm–I want you.”

That does it. He’s all blood now. He begins to unbutton his shirt–why did he wear an oxford tonight?--but she tears it off. They’ll deal with it later. He still has on a white t-shirt, and she’s wrapping herself around him like a little cobra.

“You should only wear this,” Emma says.

“Only wear what?”

“T-shirts. Especially when they dip down below the neck like this.”

She takes the scoop near his Adam’s apple and pulls it down into a V.

“There,” Emma says. “I want to see more of your chest hair.”

Paul laughs.

“Do all women ogle men’s chest hair like it’s cleavage?” he asks. “Or is that just a you thing? Because you do it a lot.”

“I don’t think it’s just a me thing. But it is important to me.”

She kisses his chest, right between where her fingers are still making that V.

“I want you there,” she says.

“Good,” he says, then silently curses himself for sounding so lame. “Can I show you where I want you?”

Her eyes light up. She was afraid that he’d get insecure and pull back, like he usually does. Paul almost never initiates kisses or hand holding or any sign of affection. He’s just not used to it. Emma tries not to grudge him, but tonight is different. She can feel it in her blood. What a comeback.

“I might die if you don’t.”

Paul’s eyes gleam in a way Emma has never seen from him before. She’s always thought he was cute. Sweet. Approachable in a dorky sort of way. But this … something’s happened. Something’s happened, and she realizes in less than a full breath that she could love him. Maybe she already does. He puts his arms around her and places her flat on her back again. His hands snake up her little blue dress and land on her thighs.

“I want you here,” he says, voice thick and nervous, but there. Not silent. “Is that OK?”

Emma takes a long breath. After years of nursing the world’s biggest crush on him, after years of falling in love with him, what else does he expect her to say?

“Yes.”

[rose-of-oz]

𝐑𝐄𝐈𝐍𝐑𝐎𝐃𝐔𝐂𝐈𝐍𝐆… 𝐌𝐘 𝐌*𝐀*𝐒*𝐇 𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐆𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐑, 𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐑𝐄𝐖 “𝐌𝐀𝐂𝐊” 𝐌𝐀𝐂𝐊𝐄𝐍𝐙𝐈𝐄

❝ Mack had been keeping a secret for most of his life.

Well, he supposed, it wasn't as much of a secret as he liked to think if people already knew - after all, if his wealthy parents hadn't kicked him out of the house and cut him off at nineteen because they'd caught him lip-locking with the gardener's son, then he'd really like to know what their real reason was.

Still, though he'd managed to form a tight-knit friend group of people like himself since moving to Manhattan, not a single person in medical school, nor any doctor he worked with or patient he treated now, had managed to figure out that he much preferred men to women when it came to matters of the heart. So when Mack is drafted and shipped off to Korea to serve as a surgeon for soliders wounded on the battlefield, he figures it won’t be much harder to keep his secret than it has been at any other time in his life.

But being subjected to such chaotic individuals as serve in the 4077th, and sharing a tent with a man as charismatic and handsome as Hawkeye Pierce, he’s starting to wonder how he'd thought any of this would be easy. ❞

General Taglist: @hiddenqveendom, @foxesandmagic, @artemisocs, @reyofluke-ocs, @endless-oc-creations, @stanshollaand, @ginnystilinski-reblogs, @luucypevensie, @ginger-grimm, @arrthurpendragon, @fakedatings, @impales, @claryxjackson, @dancingsunflowers-ocs, @eddysocs, @lucys-chen, @ocappreciationtag.

[o-berriesandhotsauce]

having one of those nights where i wanna pick up every fanfic project i've left dormant..........

[jonahshunt]

The fact that Mack held up on her end of the staring game, had Jonah's heart beating hard enough that he wasn't surprised if she could see it beneath the layer of his shirt. Suddenly, his mouth was parched, forcing his tongue to dart out and swipe at his bottom lip. The descent of his fingers on his buttons was painfully slow, even for him, but it was the only way he could keep his breath in check. Finally, he reached the last button, freeing it and exposing a narrow strip starting at the top of his chest, dipping down the valley of his belly button, the parted fabric casting a shadow over the light array of his happy trail.

With his lips less dry, he pushed down a heavy swallow, catching the glimmer in her eyes. He was falling deeper under her trance, and he wasn't sure he ever wanted the option to escape it. There was something about peering into her innocent eyes, filled with a curious spark that provided an almost unrecognizable tsunami of emotions in his lower belly.

Perhaps it was her feather-light touch that pulled him out of the hypnosis of her gaze, awareness kicking his ass so that he wouldn't miss the moment when she finally allowed her hands the freedom to rise between their bodies and stop at his shoulders. It was then that his attention fell on her left hand. He could have sworn that he'd seen her fingers twitch and he wondered what that internal battle looked like in her mind, and how he could release her from the shackles of hesitation.

The material descended like a shadow, caressing his muscled back and Jonah inhaled deeply as he returned his attention back to her eyes. Before he could appreciate the stark contrast of her icy touch cooling his fervent skin, growing warmer with desire and uncertainty, it was gone.

As tension coiled its tail around them once again, the seconds felt eternal, but his silent prayers were answered and her palm landed where his heart was beating like a caged animal. When her smaller hand took his larger hand, he gave free and unassuming reign, knowing damn well that he would allow her to put his hands anywhere her precious heart desired.

Ironically enough, the clairvoyance of his thoughts aligned with her intentions. His gaze met hers once again, a vibrant, breathy chuckle pushed past his lips as he acknowledged the wild thud of her heart beneath his touch. "It s a good thing I’m in the company of a nurse, if my heart doesn't find a calmer pace to claim." He took his time appreciating the fact that his heart had met it's match, letting him know that maybe he wasn't alone in the center of this swirl of starved curiosity, begging to be explored.

He slowly turned his hand, knuckles gliding over her collar bones and up to her shoulder, mimicking what she had done to his shirt, only to the strap of her dress. He was mindful and kept checking in with her as he lightly slipped his middle finger beneath the strap and moved it aside. His lips delicately followed suit as he leaned in, pressing open-mouthed kisses to her bare shoulder while his fingertips brushed down the length of her arm, reaching for her hand. He curled his fingers gently around her smaller digits, while his kisses littered the space between her shoulder and the dip of her neck.

jonahshunt​:

Once the door was closed behind them, the outside world faded almost immediately, silenced as much as could be expected. Even then, it was silent enough that now their mingling breaths joined in the gentle soundtrack of droplets falling from their soaked frames. Hair, clothes, shoes, all drenched and dripping onto Mack’s floors and Jonah just knew there would be puddles that hopefully wouldn’t cause too much damage.

He wondered which one of them would break the silence, otherwise, his beating heart might give away just how much her touch affected him. It was in the way that she looked up at him, doe-eyed and as if her mind had gone somewhere else. Which, truthfully would have worried him, if it weren’t for the way that her gaze seemed to trace over his face, following her touch to his cheek and the light blush creeping over her cheeks and nose - something that he could see even in the dim of her apartment.

It almost took his own breath away, if it hadn’t already been shaken up from the cold. But, warmth was beginning to spread up his neck and over his own features as he thought about leaning forward and pressing his lips against hers and closing the small distance between their bodies. He already missed the feel of her pressed up against him and their lips exploring each other.

Thankfully, before he could convince himself that he needed to say something, anything, Mack took the lead, which provided some comfort that he wouldn’t say or do the wrong thing.

God, that giggle. That giggle was everything. The corners of his own mouth tugged as her infectious happiness seeped into his system and a wave of warmth caressed his cold chest, a shiver running up his spine, but for an entirely different reason than one might think. He might have been slowly sobering up, but her sounds and touch were offering him a different kind of buzz. The kind that he only felt around Mack.

keep reading

The tension in the air was as thick as the quiet, but not in an uncomfortable way. As her breath hitched with each inhale, the tension between them was thick and warm and tempting and for a moment, Mack couldn’t picture this situation going any other way. It was only seeing the way Jonah seemed to be slow, almost hesitant, that had her realising that maybe this wasn’t going the way she thought, that maybe he didn’t want that, he’d just wanted somewhere warm to dry off before he got a cab home for the night. 

Maybe, for the first time in her life, she was the one being too forward, too presumptuous. That worry was put on hold when he responded. Simple words, low in volume but loud in her mind, a confirmation that maybe, just maybe, she wasn’t wrong. Her breath caught, her eyes following his every movement, every slight shift of his chest. And then hands were on her shoulders, and her thoughts emptied. 

Cool fingertips brushed over warm skin, only kept warm thanks to his jacket. The dampness had gotten through, leaving a light sheen over her skin that only made the feel of his fingers somehow more intense, more perfect. And yet even as the jacket fell to the ground, as her heart skipped a beat, her eyes never left him. 

Her gaze followed his hands as they moved back to his shirt, each button slipping free pulling a little more of her sanity from her. She swallowed, sobering more and more with every bit of skin revealed to her eyes, eyes that glazed slightly as she followed deft fingertips. She had barely noticed as her own trembled and rose, delicate fingers taking hold of either side of his shirt once all of the buttons were loose, gently pulling apart, revealing more. Her breath hitched audibly this time and she was sure that her shivering had turned purely into trembles as she slid her hands up, up, up the shirt to his shoulders. 

There was a moment, a join of eyes, before she just as gently guided the material from his shoulders. Another moment of joined gazes, and her eyes drifted down, tongue darting over her lips as her hand came up again. The urge to touch, to feel his heartbeat under her fingertips, to find out how warm he was, whether he was still cold, just to feel, it was too much. Her hesitancy lasted a second, a second where her hand hovered over skin, before that urge - and probably the last drops of alcohol still giving her liquid confidence - won out and she laid her hand gently against his chest. 

“Your… Your heart’s beating so fast…” She whispered, swallowing nervously as her free hand went to take one of his. She looked up, her eyes meeting his once more, as she brought his hand to her chest, resting on the skin above the neckline of her dress. “I think mine’s faster…”

[celbrini]

'be normal, be cool be ch- oH! hey mack!'

[kangshxrtie]

ch. 32 ⤍ i'm yours

"hey, wanna be in my vlog?" you asked kazuha, grinning as you held up your camera.

she nodded quickly, and you couldn't help but smile at the way her face lit up, eyes sparkling with excitement.

"is this our official couple debut?" she teased, raising an eyebrow with a playful smile.

"not exactly," you chuckled. "this won't go up until after tomorrow, so technically no... but, yeah, this is our first couple vlog."

with the tripod steady in your hands, you set it up and settled onto kazuha's lap. she immediately wrapped her arms around your waist, holding you close as you looped an arm around her neck.

"alright," you began, focusing the camera on both of you. "we're currently getting ready for an event. unfortunately, i'll be with my team, and she'll be with hers, so we won't see each other much today, but—"

"i'll be cheering you on from afar," kazuha chimed in, squeezing you a little tighter with a soft smile.

you shifted a bit in her lap, bringing your face closer to hers, your voice dropping playfully. "can't wait to beat you, though."

kazuha laughed, raising a brow as she shot you a competitive look. "oh, really? you think you can beat us?"

"definitely," you grinned, leaning in just enough to make her blush, the camera capturing the teasing moment between you both.

she smiled, shaking her head in mock disbelief. "we'll see about that."

"well, that's enough distracting the enemy for now," you said, standing up from kazuha's lap.

kazuha pouted, watching you move away as she leaned back in her chair. "i'm sad that we're going to be in the same place all day, and i'll barely see you," she sighed, already missing the closeness.

you grinned, leaning down and whispering as if it were a secret, though the camera definitely picked it up. "i'll sneak over and come see you when i can."

kazuha's face brightened instantly, her pout replaced by a soft smile. she formed a heart with her hands, holding it up for you as you began to walk away. you chuckled, sending her a quick wink before making your way back to your team's booth.

as you returned, gaeul was quick to comment, grinning ear to ear. "oh, you're back; are you done macking it with the enemy now?"

"i had to say my goodbyes," you laughed, trying to downplay it.

liz leaned against the table, shaking her head in amusement. "as long as you try your hardest to beat her today everything is fine"

"oh, of course. they're going down." you laughed, settling into your seat.

"you better," leeseo teased.

as the event continued, your group had some downtime before it was your turn to participate in the next round of games. you spent most of that time either hanging out at your booth, taking photos, or wandering around the venue to check out the various pop-ups.

you and the rest of your team took turns posing for pictures with fans who passed by. but in between, you couldn't help but steal glances across the room at kazuha, who was busy with her own team. she caught your eye a few times and gave you a wink with a knowing smile that made your heart race just a little.

after a while, rei nudged you as you both browsed one of the pop-up stalls. "stop flirting with the enemy, we must stay focused," she teased.

you shrugged, trying to play it cool. "what? i can't help it."

rei laughed, shaking her head. "i get it. she's your weakness."

"true," you replied with a grin, picking up a cute keychain from one of the stalls. "but don't let her know that."

kazuha was fully glaring at the other people in the room. sure, you looked cute whenever you laughed at something somebody else said, but only she was allowed to think that. she crossed her arms, eyes narrowing as wonyoung came over to chat with you. she tried not to let it get to her, but when you motioned to her that you'd be leaving for a bit and she nodded, her mood soured again when she overheard a group calling you "cute" and making comments about your body.

she rolled her eyes, her annoyance slipping through her usual calm exterior, forgetting for a moment that she was live on stream. all she wanted to do was go off on them for checking you out, but she couldn't, not with the cameras on. plus, you didn't seem to notice, and they hadn't directly hit on you. yet.

chat, of course, noticed immediately.

user1 who made kazuha mad??? 😳 user2 she looks like she's about to throw hands lol

chaewon and yunjin tried to pull her attention back to the stream, but kazuha was too distracted, glaring at the group across the room.

when you finally returned with wonyoung, carrying snacks and drinks, kazuha visibly relaxed. having her eyes on you again made everything feel a bit better. you were, of course, oblivious to all of it, smiling and waving to her as you held up the snacks, excited to share them when the stream was over.

but as one of the guys who had been checking you out earlier whispered something to his friend and stood up, kazuha stiffened. when she saw him walking toward you, she started to stand, her protective instincts kicking in, but chaewon grabbed her arm, pulling her back down.

"i don't know who you're mad at, but worry about it later," chaewon warned quietly.

the chat blew up again, speculating, but you finally noticed what was happening through the comments. your eyes darted to kazuha, who looked like she was barely restraining herself. you grabbed one of the snacks meant for later and made a beeline for her, determined to defuse the situation.

but before you could get far, that same guy stepped in front of you, blocking your path. wonyoung gave you a questioning look, clearly confused as well.

"can i help you?" you asked, keeping your tone polite but firm.

he shrugged with a smirk. "just thought i could join you. looked like you could use some company."

you held up the snacks, smiling at him, but your words were direct. "not really. i was just bringing these to my girlfriend."

you brushed past him without giving him a second glance, making your way to kazuha. you could tell she was about to get up, her irritation still simmering, but before she could do anything, you swiftly sat on her lap, stopping her from making any rash moves. you knew she wouldn't risk you falling.

you smiled at her, wrapping your arms around her neck and getting comfortable in her lap. kazuha's tension melted away as she wrapped her arms around your waist, pulling you closer. without hesitating, she leaned in and kissed you, a quick but possessive gesture that left the chat in chaos.

user3 THEY KISSED user4 i'm dying omg user5 kazuha's face when yn sat on her lap 😍

though you both wanted to stay in the moment, you knew you were still on a live broadcast, so you pulled back, grinning at kazuha. the two of you shared the snacks, chatting and laughing as if nothing had happened, but kazuha's protective grip on you never really loosened.

when you felt she had calmed down enough, you finally tried to get up to return to your team, but kazuha tightened her hold on your waist, keeping you from moving.

"stay here," she pouted softly. "so people know we're together."

you blushed, glancing around at all the eyes still on you. "zuha, i'm pretty sure they know by now."

"just stay with me," she insisted, her grip firm but affectionate.

you almost gave in, tempted to stay in her arms for the rest of the stream, but you remembered why you were here. even though kazuha looked incredibly hot when she was being possessive, you had to stay focused on the responsibilities that you had to take care of.

"i have to go, babe," you said softly, giving her a quick peck on the lips. "but don't worry, i'm yours."

kazuha reluctantly let go, and you hopped off her lap, shooting her one last playful wink before running back to where your team was.

as soon as you arrived, rei raised an eyebrow, "are you finally done with the pda with kazuha?"

you shrugged nonchalantly. "i don't know. i might go back later."

yujin immediately noticed you and jumped in, grinning. "oh, look who's back! i thought you were joining le sserafim for a second."

you laughed, playing along. "maybe i should. they treat me better."

yujin smirked, leaning in as she mumbled, "i bet she does."

as you and your team headed backstage, the excitement in the air was palpable. both teams were about to face off in the next game, and the competitive tension was starting to build.

the lineups were set: you, yujin, gaeul, rei, and leeseo for ive, facing off against kazuha, sakura, chaewon, yunjin, and eunchae representing le sserafim.

as the teams took their places, yunjin grinned from across the room, her voice playful but confident. "hope you're ready to lose. we've been practicing, you know."

gaeul chuckled, folding her arms with a smirk. "practicing for what? losing? don't get too comfortable up there."

kazuha caught your eye, her voice softer but just as teasing. "don't expect me to go easy on you just because i like you so much."

you smirked, feeling a little more competitive after hearing that. "i wouldn't want it any other way, babe."

as the game started, the atmosphere became tense with both teams taking it seriously, but there was still an air of playful competitiveness. you found yourself locking in quickly, your hands flying across the keys as you communicate with your teammates. the first few rounds were close, with both teams trading wins back and forth.

yujin, as the team leader, was barking out strategies, while leeseo's sniper skills kept le sserafim on their toes. meanwhile, eunchae and sakura coordinated like pros, giving you a real challenge as their tanks barreled through your defenses.

user6 leeseo sniping? she's cracked user7 madmakz best duo

"stay on point, stay on point!" yujin yelled, pulling everyone back together as the game approached the final round.

you all scrambled, working in perfect sync as you and rei held the frontline, while gaeul and leeseo provided solid backup. the final phase was fast-paced, with both teams neck and neck. kazuha's team was giving you a run for your money, but you were not about to go out like this.

user8 yujin best leader user9 rei's defense was actually so good

"okay, go all in now!" you shouted, executing a well-timed ult that wiped out most of le sserafim's team. your side exploded in cheers as the match ended in your victory.

"we won!" leeseo cheered, raising her arms in the air.

you let out a sigh of relief, pulling off your headset as your teammates celebrated. "we did it!"

on the other side, le sserafim groaned, yunjin dramatically threw her head back. "nooo, not like this!"

sakura just shook her head with a smile, while eunchae pouted. "we were so close!"

kazuha crossed her arms, looking disappointed but still smiling as she glanced over at you. "looks like i'll have to admit defeat."

you grinned, walking over to her side. "told you we'd win," you teased, offering her a hand to pull her up from her chair.

she took your hand, standing up with a playful roll of her eyes. "yeah, yeah. i'm not mad that i lost against you."

"oh, of course. you have to beat everyone else, just not our team," you said, pulling her closer for a quick hug before stepping back to join your team.

user1 IVE WIN LESSGOOO user2 GG user3 actually so close user4 the way kazuha's not even mad losing to yn 😭

the organizers came over to hand out the prize money, and some merch for the winning team, which you proudly held up for a quick team photo. after the picture, you brought everything back to your booth, leaving it with the managers before finally heading off to enjoy some much needed time with kazuha. you had been waiting all day for this moment.

"i'm so glad there wasn't an actual competition and that was the only game," you said as you walked next to kazuha.

kazuha chuckled, nudging you with her elbow. "tired from all that winning, huh?"

"something like that," you laughed, "but now i finally get to walk around with you."

kazuha smiled warmly, her eyes softening as she looked at you. "i've been waiting for that too."

as you strolled through the venue together, browsing the different stalls and enjoying the relaxed atmosphere, kazuha suddenly glanced over at you with a playful gleam in her eye. "so, are we going for round two later?"

you shot her a knowing look, pretending to think it over. "if by round two, you mean a rematch, then sure. but if you mean something else..." you trailed off, stepping closer with a mischievous grin.

kazuha blushed, catching on quickly, though she tried to play it cool. "we'll see," she murmured, leaning in to give you a quick, soft peck on the cheek.

you smiled, your heart fluttering as you walked hand-in-hand through the venue. it felt like the day had finally slowed down enough for the two of you to enjoy each other's company.

"so," you began, glancing around at the booths, "what's the plan?"

kazuha tilted her head thoughtfully, her hand still intertwined with yours. "hmm... maybe some food? i've barely had time to eat today"

you grinned, squeezing her hand. "food it is, what kind of food are we feeling?" you asked, casting a glance around at the different food stalls lining the venue.

she paused for a moment, her eyes scanning the options before locking onto a stall. "what about that one?" she asked, pointing toward a food booth tucked in the corner. the sign read ssambap in bold letters, and the smell of sizzling meat immediately caught your attention.

"solid choice," you grinned, leading her toward the stall. "i'm starving too, so this is perfect."

the two of you got in line, and while waiting, kazuha rested her head lightly on your shoulder, a small smile playing on her lips. you felt warmth bloom in your chest, the casual intimacy between you two a stark contrast to the earlier adrenaline rush of the games.

"i didn't think i'd miss you this much today," kazuha murmured softly, her fingers gently playing with yours.

you chuckled, leaning your head against hers. "i know, right? it was weird being in the same room but barely being able to talk."

kazuha lifted her head slightly to look at you, her eyes softening. "and i may have gotten a little jealous when other people were talking to you," she admitted.

you couldn't help but laugh. "oh, i noticed. you were definitely giving them the death glare from across the room."

kazuha sighed, her cheeks tinting a light pink as she bit her lip. "what can i say? you're mine," she said softly, squeezing your hand a little tighter.

you smiled, leaning in to give her a quick kiss on the forehead. "well, i'm glad, because i'm yours too."

the line moved quickly, and soon enough, it was your turn to order. you both chose a mix of options, grilled beef wraps for kazuha and spicy pork for you, and a side of kimchi and rice cakes to share. as soon as your food was ready, you found a quiet spot off to the side where the two of you could sit and enjoy your meal in peace.

you sat across from each other at one of the small tables set up near the food stalls. kazuha handed you one of the wraps she'd prepared, her smile bright as she watched you take your first bite.

"this is so good," you mumbled through a mouthful of food, nodding approvingly.

she took a bite of her own wrap, nodding along with you. "we should do this more often. just walk around, try new things... and eat like there's no tomorrow."

you grinned at her enthusiasm, watching as she happily devoured another bite of her food. "i'm down for that. honestly, i'm just glad we finally have some time to ourselves. it's been such a busy day."

kazuha nodded in agreement, pausing to take a sip of her drink. "yeah, i've did so much today. it's nice to just... be with you."

her words were simple, but they hit you right in the heart. it didn't matter what you were doing; being with her always felt right.

the rest of the meal flew by with you two laughing and teasing each other between bites. it felt really nice to just chill, away from all the attention, and enjoy the moment. you could tell kazuha felt the same, she seemed relaxed and happy.

after finishing your meal, you both leaned back in your chairs, feeling full. "i think i'm in a food coma now," kazuha said, rubbing her stomach with a satisfied grin.

"same," you agreed, stretching your arms above your head. "but totally worth it."

kazuha smiled, reaching across the table to grab your hand again. "let's walk around a bit more, maybe grab some dessert? does ice cream sound good to you right now?"

you grinned, nodding eagerly. "it sounds perfect."

with that, you both stood up, hand in hand once again as you made your way through the venue.

as you walked, the colorful booths and pop-up stalls caught your attention. kazuha glanced around, her eyes lighting up at the various stands. "look at that!" she pointed excitedly toward a booth with a sign for custom bracelets. "we should get matching ones to remember today."

"good idea," you replied, squeezing her hand. "what kind of design do you want?"

"i'm thinking something simple but meaningful, like our initials," kazuha said, "maybe with a small heart or something cute."

"yeah that'll be cute," you agreed.

the two of you stopped at the booth, admiring the designs on display. the bracelets were made of delicate cords with various charms that could be personalized. after a moment of indecision, you both decided on a design with matching cords, each bracelet featuring a small heart charm and your initials engraved.

the booth owner promised to have them ready in a few minutes, so you both continued your stroll through the event while waiting.

you both stopped at a few more booths along the way and looking through accessories before finally picking up your matching bracelets. kazuha slid yours onto your wrist with a smile. "i love it."

"me too," you said, fastening kazuha's around her wrist.

eventually, you reached the ice cream stand. kazuha looked over the menu, her eyes scanning the options. "what are you getting?"

"hmm... i think i'll go for cookies and cream," you told her.

kazuha smiled, already sure of her choice. "i'll get the same"

the two of you placed your orders, and after a short wait, the ice cream was ready. you handed kazuha her cone and took your own, savoring the first bite.

"this is perfect," kazuha said, smiling as she took a bite of her ice cream.

"definitely," you agreed. "best decision ever."

the two of you wandered for a bit longer, chatting about everything and nothing. eventually, the ice cream cones were gone.

"well, what now?" you asked, glancing around.

kazuha shrugged playfully, her eyes scanning the area. "how about we just walk around for a bit? i don't think i'm ready for today to end yet."

"i was hoping you would say that," you said, squeezing her hand.

you both continued to wander through the venue, chatting about everything and nothing, exchanging stories about your day and things you hadn't yet talked about.

at one point, you passed a photo booth. you turned to kazuha with a grin. "wanna do it?"

without hesitation, she agreed, and you both squeezed into the booth together. the pictures were full of silly faces and kisses and when the strip printed out, you couldn't help but smile at how cute you both looked.

"this is definitely going above my desk," you said, grinning as you handed kazuha the other strip.

kazuha smiled, holding it up with a soft chuckle. "my new wallpaper."

you both made your way to a nearby bench, feeling your legs ache from all the walking and excitement of the day. once seated, you leaned back, letting the tiredness of the day hit you. kazuha rested her head on your shoulder, letting out a soft sigh.

you both sat there in comfortable silence, the soft lights around you making everything feel cozy. there were no crowds or distractions, just the two of you, relaxing together. you leaned your head against hers, enjoying the calmness of the moment.

eventually, it was time to head back. after a soft kiss on her cheek, you both stood up, hands finding each other as you walked back. the day was wrapping up, but there was no disappointment, you're just glad you were able to spend some of the time with kazuha.

you both made your way back toward the venue, fingers still interlaced, a quiet smile on both of your faces. as you walked, you exchanged a few soft words about the fun you had, already thinking about the next time you'd get to do something like this again. kazuha glanced at you, her eyes soft and warm, and you couldn't help but smile in return.

when you reached her team's booth, you gave her one last lingering kiss, soft and sweet, before pulling away. "see you soon?" you asked.

she nodded, her smile bright. "definitely."

with one last squeeze of your hand, you turned and headed back to your team, already looking forward to the next chapter of this relationship, and everything it would bring.

ALL CHAPTERS !!! | FINISHED

[nikosasaki]

the maraverse ⭑ pride 2024

created by Gilbert Baker, the original pride flag had eight colors, all with its own meanings; pink for sex, red for life, orange for healing, yellow for sunlight, green for nature, turquoise for magic, indigo for serenity, and violet for spirit.

taglist; @kendelias @chlobenet @bravelittleflower @eddiemunscns @purpleyearning @eddysocs @heavenlysurf @arrthurpendragon @villanele @nolanhollogay @stanshollaand @lovehermioneforever @raith-way @kiara-carrera @decennia @luucypevensie @waterloou @ginger-grimm @hiddenqveendom @foxesandmagic @jvstjewels @dragonsbone @endless-oc-creations @ginevrastilinski @sunlitscribe @dyhlanobrien @partiallypearl @witchofinterest @fleetwoodmcs @daughter-of-melpomene

[ofginjxints]

Freddie couldn't help but beam brightly, squeezing her hands. "There I was thinking I was going too fast." He chuckled, bringing one of her hands to his lips and kissing her knuckles.

continued from here ♡ ( @ofginjxints )

"of course i mean it." she grinned, intertwining her fingers with his. "there's no one else i'd rather be with and nowhere else i'd rather be."

[chasseurdeloup]

@howdy-cowpoke replied to your post “[pm] Are you a cookie thief?”:

[pm] I have seen some very curious photographs.... [new pm] Good grief, no. That thing sounds like a nightmare.

​[pm] Yeah I saw that. Not sure who made that or why or how it got on that reddot reddit string or whatever. But I can assure you, I'm not the WRCM.

That's what I thought. Cass said that thing sounded French and that I sounded like that, too. Glad that's not the case.

Also, uh, not sure if you heard but Jade attacked Mack, too. I'm bringing her some food. Almost wish you had killed her when you had the ch--

[motownfiction]

do you like me?

note: this vignette is very firmly about two adults, aged 27 and 34

Emma lies in bed with her head on Mack’s chest. He’s sweaty again, from their third night of fucking just this once, plus the sweltering summer. Cities are always hotter than other places. All those bodies packed tightly together in one place. Something like this was bound to happen eventually. Emma just figured it would be with Paul.

But no.

Paul is in New Hampshire, visiting Laura, his sister who has always taken her namesake very seriously. She’s a grad student at Dartmouth and spends all day writing in a house that’s one step up from a log cabin. When Paul escaped his near-fatal car accident in LA with only a sprained wrist, he said the first thing he thought was that Laura had it right. Cities will kill you, and your ties to them might kill you, too. That’s why he put Emma on pause, even though he swore up and down he loved her so much. That’s why Emma is in bed with his best friend.

It only took her about a day to break down and sleep with Mack. A tiny part of her always found him interesting. Attractive. Mack had a way about him that was so different from Paul. Wicked, maybe, but not in a bad way. It always seemed like Mack saw the world at an oblique angle, and Emma liked that.

Mack has better taste in music, too. At least, better than a lot of what Paul listens to, and more in line with what Emma grew up hearing. Maybe she wouldn’t have let him kiss her if he wasn’t playing “Tell It Like It Is” on the turntable in the living room (Paul’s living room, too, if he ever comes back from fucking New Hampshire). Tonight, he fucked her to Solomon Burke. Not like Dirty Dancing, either. “If You Need Me.” He digs a little deeper.

“Mack?”

His name comes out of her mouth before she’s ready with a question.

“Yeah?”

“Um …”

He kisses the top of her head.

“That jog your memory?” he asks. “Or make you think of something?”

Emma laughs, a bit too silly and girlish for her taste, but what can she do? She’s in bed with someone she’s been into for longer than she knows how to admit. That’s not the kind of thing you can just be cool about, even if you were raised to put up a front. Be professional.

There is little such thing as professional when you don’t know where your underwear ended up tonight. Are they even in Mack’s bedroom, or did they come off in the kitchen, where they got started? Who is she?

“Yeah,” Emma says. “Do you … do you like me?”

Mack laughs.

“Are you serious?” he asks.

“I mean … kind of.”

“Riff …”

“Are you really going to call me that after all we’ve been through these past few nights?”

“Riff …”

“OK.”

“Riff, I’ve liked a lot of girls. A lot of women. Many before I met you. Many after. But after I met you … I don’t know. You were always in the revolving door.”

Emma knows she’s blushing. Shit. Is this what it’s like to be Elenore?

“So …”

“So, yeah,” Mack says. “I like you. I’ve liked you since Paul brought you home and said you were just his office mate. I haven’t been writing sad poetry about you or anything …”

“Ah.”

“But I like you. And it’s been … a little like hell. I was starting to wonder if I couldn’t get over it … I don’t know, I’d have to do something.”

“Like what?”

Mack shrugs.

“I don’t think it matters anymore,” he says.

Emma nods. They both know that’s not true. Paul will come back from New Hampshire. Even if he doesn’t want to be with her anymore, he’ll be unavoidable. He’s trapped in the middle of both of them, and he doesn’t even know it’s a trap.

But it doesn’t matter anymore.

Not for the next few days.

[dustorange]

3, 4, 23, 25, 45, 47 *taking notes*

3—Describe the creative process of writing a chapter/fic

I definitely start out with the ending in mind and then like the emotion i want to be building the whole thing up to. And then i am like hmmmmmmm what is a thing that will make that emotion feel like a Big Thing or feel like it was inevitable. I write the ending first ALWAYS (bc i never have anything else at the start 😭) and then i just hit enter a bunch of times and flicker around the doc as i come up w different scenes i am a PANTSER

4—Where do you find inspiration for new ideas?

Literally from whatever emotion I’m feeling about Bruce that day. I NEVER HAVE IDEAS EVER 

23—Best writing advice for other writers?

hmmmm i would say do not let other peoples character opinions doubt YOUR opinions about the character. I think some of the Tumblr discourse abt “this is so stupid” “this character is NOTTT ___” can make it so u get scared of like omgggg what if im being a bad writer or what if this is ooc and people don’t like it that was what ruined beat journalism for me (BESIDES NOT HAVING ANY IDEAS FOR CH 3 DESPITE HAVING CH 4 the ending DONE) because i was so scared people wouldn’t like it but in the end YOU HAVE TO GO WITH YOUR HEART

25—What fic do you wish you got more of a response on?

There Is. i LOVE the ending of There Is. its my favorite ending of anything I’ve written ever. but it was a weird fic for me because i haaaate zombie aus so i definitely would not have clicked on it to read it either. but i do love that fic lol

45—Do you want to break your readers‘ heart or make them laugh?

THIS IS GOING TO BE A STUPID VISUAL but have u ever touched a wire and gotten AN ELECTRIC SHOCK. and your blood system feels really hot afterward. that is exactly how the Bruce dick relationship feels in terms of the Power of Love like if i could get ppl to smile affectionately at how much bruce loves dick that would be the ticket. But i also love it when ppl say they’re sobbing lol that is SUCH an honor 

47—How many times do you usually revise your fic/chapter before posting?

NOT ENOUGH if i ever post a fic without 15 spelling errors thats an imposter but i am so embarrassed 

MACK U R MY STARRR i love u MUAH

[theoneryderlynn]

mackpuckerman​:

I don’t believe in hell, but if I did, my apartment with it’s busted AC and windows that barely open would, in fact, be it. If you need me, I will be mostly naked, trying anything humanly possible to cool off. If I wanted heat like this I’d have stayed in Texas.

Box fan and a Styrofoam cooler full of ice, and maybe beer, here I come.

At least you have an AC, it’s the best invention ever, or that’s how I call it. How was Texas anyway?

It’s always a beer season. By the way, I’ve heard that tennis players or other sports people take baths full of ice after intense matches, so maybe you should try that out. Just a random thought.

[sunnydaleherald]

The Sunnydale Herald Newsletter, Wednesday, October 30th

Gwendolyn: The fact is, there is talk in the council that you have become a bit too... (inhales) American. Giles: (taken aback) Me? Buffy: (surprised) Him?

~~Revelations~~

[Drabbles & Short Fiction]

Candy Phobia by badly_knitted (Buffy, Joyce, PG)

Foil Balloons by veronyxk84 (Buffy/Spike, PG-13)

Collection: 20 works revealed in Buffyverse Slay-o-Ween Ex 2024 (Buffy/Angel, Buffy/Angelus, Dawn/Connor, Buffy/Riley, Spike/Tara, Willow/Tara, Wesley/Lilah, Buffy & Dawn, Angel & Connor, Spike/Willow, Buffy/Spike, Angel & Faith, Cordelia/Fred, Cordelia/Doyle, Angel/Wesley, Buffy/Faith, various ratings)

Not That Drunk by NuckChikMack (Buffy/Spike, G)

Stolen Moments by fandomtherapy44 (Spike/reader, 18+)

i could be your girl, but would you love me if i ruled the world? by sawyerconfort (Faith/reader, not rated)

Killing Me Softly by honeygirl51885 (Buffy/Spike, PG-13)

Snooping by RavenLove12 (Buffy/Spike, R)

Foil Balloons by VeroNyxK84 (Buffy/Spike, PG-13)

Zombydale Gates, CA by VeroNyxK84 (Buffy/Spike, PG-13)

Haunted House by forsaken2003 (Xander/Spike, T)

[Chaptered Fiction]

Bend in the Road - Chapter 1 by AsarStar (The Morning Show crossover, Buffy & Cory, T)

Mutual Desire - Chapter 1 by zombiesam (Buffy/Giles, Explicit)

Exorcise 👻, Chapter 10 by Desicat (Buffy/Spike, PG)

Письмена на стене – a translation of HollyDB’s The Writing on the Wall, Ch. 1 by breakingandentering (Buffy/Spike, Explicit)

Soul Mate Magic - Chapter Fifteen by emma-m-black (Giles/OC, 18+)

Stray, Ch. 12 by Feanix88 (Buffy/Spike, Adult Only)

Waiting for You, Ch. 26 by honeygirl51885 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Mysterious Destinies, Ch. 19 by EnchantedWillow (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Be Back Before Dawn, Ch. 12 by Blissymbolics (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

reciprocity - epilogue (COMPLETE!) by HappyWhenItRains (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Evaporate, Ch. 1 by Soulburnt (Buffy/Spike, R)

The Reckoning, Ch. 1 by DizzyB (Buffy/Spike, PG-13)

I Need Somebody (Not Just Anybody), Ch. 1 by fortes775 (Buffy/Spike, R)

A Series of Fortunate Betrayals, Ch. 1 by the_big_bad (Buffy/Spike, R)

You'll Thank Me Later, Ch. 1 by Spikelover4ever (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Sins of the Past, Ch. 1 by DeamonQueen (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Waiting for You, Ch. 26 by honeygirl51885 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

The Pirate King and Queen of Sunnydale! Ch. 1-13 (COMPLETE!) by Lilacsandorangeblossoms (Buffy/Spike, Ethan Rayne, R)

[Images, Audio & Video]

Collage: slayer, the - by drusillas-tales (Buffy, worksafe)

Fanvid: Just One Of The Guys by mercer-queen (Cordelia, Lilah)

Fanvid: From Eden by angelofthe2000s (Buffy/Spike)

Vampire-Slayer Buffy Summers as the most dangerous creature . Queen B of the underworld by flyora (Buffy, worksafe)

Der Kindestod by Alan Mack (nightheartcomics) (worksafe)

The dead rise! Pat is possessed... by Alan Mack (nightheartcomics) (worksafe)

Gwendolyn Post puts on the Glove of Myhnegon by Alan Mack (nightheartcomics) (worksafe)

spuffy moodboard by nightmericana (worksafe)

Heard of me, have you? by olivedrop (Spike, worksafe)

AU where Kendra was buried in Sunnydale... by sideartblog999 (Kendra, worksafe)

Faith by squishedtofu (worksafe)

Collage #219 (all the pretty stars) by thedecadentraven (Buffy/Spike, worksafe)

Collage #220 (But we're something, don't you think so?) by thedecadentraven (Buffy/Spike, worksafe)

🎶The curtains close on a kiss... by tiaragloryart (Buffy/Spike, worksafe)

the first slayer art by bubbyusagi (Sineya, worksafe)

Halloween costume, with tips for vamp makeup, by usbconnection9999 (vampire in game face, worksafe)

A “Kiss the Librarian” sticker by traveling-wallflower (worksafe)

Mutant Enemy nail art by effinmetal (worksafe)

My wardrobe-sourced Buffy costume by gossamer_bb (Buffy, worksafe)

Pumpkin carving: the mutant enemy (grr arg creature) by Sharlilla (worksafe)

Drawings: Buffy characters by bubbyusagi (Kendra, Faith, Buffy, the Anointed One, the Master, Angelus, Angel, Sineya, worksafe)

Buffy cosplay by accordinaria (worksafe)

My Halloween costume! by delfi2004 (Buffy, worksafe)

[Reviews & Recaps]

Book review: Bloody Fool for Love by William Ritter reviewed by apachefirecat

thinking about the last season of buffy again by chudsuckerproxy

Favourite AtS Seasons, Ranked by dudeben90

Re: Where do I start with the Graphic Novels by Senorpuddin and others

My problem with the last season of Angel [Il mio problema con l'ultima stagione di Angel] in English and Italian by Negative_Flan_4403

[Recs & In Search Of]

backto-oz, an Oz roleplayer, seeks a partner to play Giles

Ode to Tara and a request for content by firaga_sauce

[Fandom Discussions]

One of my key elements with writing Willow and Tara's respective arcs by lightdancer1

Re: but why dont you call him angelus by moistvonlipwig

spike and drusilla?? it feels like i’m being told there’s high romance there but shown... by selkiemaidenfae

I love that in 5x08 of ATS (“Destiny”) Angel’s dejected face as he watched Spike run off... by thequeenofsastiel

I love how gentle Spike was when he punched Tara in the nose by thequeenofsastiel

I honestly like Cordelia and Angel as friends more than as romantic partners by thequeenofsastiel

Ok remember in "Crush" when Buffy and Spike storm that abandoned building... by andyoullhearitagain

i wish Giles left in season six to help a potential by figsandfandoms

It is funny at the end of Tabula Rasa when Buffy can't even look at Spike... by mybloodyvampire

I still have issues with how they wrote Connor in season 3-4 (but) by theinheriteddutchess

Most Dangerous Villain in the Buffyverse? (cont'd) by burrunjor

Not gonna lie. Connor s4 was NOPE but Connor s5 was DOPE... by sirtch_analyst

Remembering Why Holtz Was The Most Loathsome Character in the Universe For Me by NikkolasKing

Band Candy (I really love Snyder in this episode) by I_was_saying_b00urns

Moments that make you realize a character could have gone either way by Chemical_Egg_2761

The long flowy red shirt Spike wears by foostick

Why does Oz get grouped in with characters who would’ve stuck up for buffy? by llaurilai

What did yall love about Bangle? by SamTheMarioMaster2

[Articles, Interviews, and Other News]

James Marsters to Attend Vampire Fan Weekend in Whippany, NJ 7-8 June 2025 - via dontkillspike

Guest announcement for Hellmouth Con via thisguy49

James Marsters talks playing Spike in Buffy the Vampire Slayer on "Sports and Hip-Hop with DJ Mad Max"

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