#cutthroat challenge
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ðð Could I get a Cutthroat with the Lipstick color palette for your thingy please?
He's working on that cake for Swindler...
#akudama drive#cutthroat#akudama drive cutthroat#color palette challenge#color palette meme#really liked these colors for him#thanks for the ask!
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DAY 3 |Â It Takes Two (2/6)
Nina:Â Alright. Guess we aren't quite wrapped up with the drama for tonight. The islanders start to scatter, but this group has decided to hang around the fire pit a while longer to debrief over the recoupling. To no one's surprise, Frankie and Sydney are happier than ever having successfully coupled up tonight, avoiding the dramatic mishaps the rest of the islanders had to endure. Ramone and Sydney are happy their friend Yana has made it out of the chaos unscathed. But Ramone's relief is short lived after Camryn makes a pretty unfunny joke about her being better suited coupled up with Hikaru. Yeesh, let the man breath, Cam! Looks like this might have been the final straw for Ramone: now that he's resolved to playing the field, just who does he plan on going after?
Next, let's head over to the other side of the backyard to see what Joey and Manny are chatting about!
@galaxsims-x @regalllove @nilonne @ironicscavenger @ommsims @madebycoffee
Beginning | Island Schedule | Previous | Next
Frankie: Where are you going?
Hikaru: Upstairs.
Frankie: To sulk?
Hikaru: To take a shower. Or am I not allowed free will all of a sudden?
Frankie: [Chill, dude. I was just curious. No need to bite my head off.]
Yana: [meekly] A-actually, Hikaru, cou-
Hikaru: Not now.
Hikaru: [in the DR] What was the point in me trying to make progress today if Joey was going to sneak in and snatch Manny away from me?! Itâs BS! I had this in the bag before he got involved! Now Iâm back to square one!
Frankie: Donât mind him. He makes a much better second impression than his first. He just needs to warm up to you first.
Yana: [sigh] Right. Well, I guess Iâll go unpack my bag and get ready for bedâŠ
Sydney: [See you in a sec, Yana.]
Ramone: [See you later!]
Frankie: Well, that was a rollercoaster ride! I knew thereâd be drama but not to this magnitude.
Sydney: Iâm just glad we were out of the crossfire.
Sydney: [blushing] I liked your speech by the way. I didnât know you thought all that about meâŠ
Frankie: [blushing] WellâŠnow you know.
Frankie: [in the DR] Iâm pretty ecstatic that weâre coupled up now. I wasnât sure if Iâd meet someone who meshed with me the way that Syd does, but I really lucked out!
Sydney: [in the DR] You stole the words right out of my mouth! After a little bit of a rocky start, I can say Iâm super happy Frankie came to the Villa when they did.
Ramone: Iâm still shocked that Joey had the balls to do that! It was pretty clear that Tucker was planning on scooping Manny up tonight.
Camryn: [quietly] Is that so�
Sydney: Is it really surprising though, after what happened at the comp today? That kiss between Joey and Manny felt like the biggest one-up attempt ever. They clearly have been fighting over her for a minute.
Camryn: HmmmâŠ
Sydney: Whatâs more shocking is how Tucker did Tori! I canât be the only one who saw how shocked she was when he picked Felicity. I canât believe heâd drop her like that in front of everyone without talking to her about it first! Like whereâs the common courtesy?
Ramone: Oof, yeah, that was rough to watch. I hadnât really talked much with Tori, but she seemed cool. I guess the silver lining here is that at the end of it all, Yana wasnât dumped.Â
Sydney: True. Iâd have hated to see her go home after coupling up with Frankie. Though I canât say I have much faith in her making any headway with Hikaru romantically. Those two couldnât be more opposite energies.
Camryn: Right?! It would make more sense if Hikaru and I were coupled up. At least weâve already got the first kiss out of the way! [cracks up at herself]
Frankie: [in the DR] [rolls eyes] I canât believe she said that shit. What is wrong with that girl?
Sydney: [in the DR] Yeaaah, that was not a good look on Camâs part.
Ramone: [annoyed] Really?
Camryn: What?
Ramone: You and Hikaru?
Camryn: I was just joking around. Sheesh, donât be so serious.
Ramone: Despite all the shit Camrynâs been giving me I chose her at the recoupling because I had faith that we could click if sheâd just give me a real shot. Iâm regretting that decision now. Clearly, she doesnât care about my feelings, so why should I keep on caring about hers? From now on, Iâm not holding back waiting around for her to give me the time of day. Ramone: [cold] Right. My mistake.
#yeah camryn is still very cutthroat lol#she's being real reckless for someone who doesn't have many options#just two for today!#gotta pace myself as we get back into the swing of things lol#i'll have more for y'all tomorrow!#ts4#sims 4#love island challenge#ts4 love island challenge#sims 4 love island challenge#sims of color#colourfullsims#frankie samuel#hikaru togami#yana maely joachim#sydney brooks#ramone caruso#camryn broussard
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The only reason a game should not have access to immediate pausing is if it is actively connecting to online multiplayer. Difficulty spiking via time sinks is some bullshit and Iâm mad it exists. You can make a difficult game while also making it user friendly. Even challenging games are supposed to be fun and itâs not fun to have to either try to speedrun to somewhere to save/pause or, like OP said, lose an hour or more of progress because Uh Oh! Something urgent came up at work and you just have to pray enemies donât respawn.
Unpopular opinion: All games should have the option to enable pausing.
And to save almost everywhere.
Yes even in soulslike games.
I am an adult who has a full time job and responsibilities. I get to play maybe an hour a week. I do not want to lose that hour of progress because devs decided 'pause' was not allowed in their game and I had sudden unexpected things come up that meant I had to quit the game without saving/leave it playing and hope enemies wouldn't respawn.
Also it would massively increase accessability. I have fully working non-injured hands and they still need a break after a tough boss fight. I can't imagine how frustrating it must be for people with joint pain, arthritis, etc, etc.
#Ghost of Tsushima has some really good accessibility options#And itâs still an absolutely cutthroat game at the higher levels#I play on lethal and regularly get my ass beat but I enjoy the challenge#itâs also one of the most fun games Iâve EVER played and guess what#you can pause at ANY point#you can save basically anywhere#sucker punch my beloved
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What about reader is a team principal of a team and every driver and there girlfriend are obsessed with her?
Hahaha, omg this is so funny.
Enjoy reading and send some requests!!!
-xoxo
Obvious
The world of Formula 1 was unforgiving, relentless, and absolutely cutthroat. But there was one anomaly in the paddock that no one could quite figure out: Y/N, the 22-year-old team principal of McLaren. Her rapid rise to the top was a story everyone whispered about, but no one dared to challenge.
She was brilliant, tenacious, and had an air of authority that made her presence impossible to ignore. But what truly set her apart was the way she unknowingly had every driverâand their girlfriendsâwrapped around her finger. They were utterly, hopelessly obsessed with her, and Y/N remained blissfully unaware, thinking it was just the normal way people treated their boss.
Exhibit 1: Dinner with George and Carmen
It was a rare off-day between races, and Y/N found herself in London at Georgeâs request. The Mercedes driver had insisted on taking her out to dinner with his girlfriend Carmen joining them.
âIâm glad you agreed to come, Y/N,â George smiled as he pulled out a chair for her. âYouâve been working way too hard.â
Carmen leaned in, her eyes sparkling with admiration. âYes, you need to relax sometimes. Youâre always so busy.â
Y/N chuckled, feeling a bit flustered by their attention. âThanks, guys, but itâs all part of the job, right? I mean, this season has been crazy.â
George leaned closer, casually placing his hand on the back of her chair, his fingers brushing against her shoulder. âYouâre the youngest team principal in F1 history, Y/N. Youâre allowed to take a break now and then. Let us take care of you tonight.â
Carmen nodded in agreement, her hand gently squeezing Y/Nâs arm. âWe wouldnât want you burning out, would we?â
Y/N smiled, feeling a warmth that she couldnât quite place. âYou guys are too sweet. Iâm just trying to keep up, you know?â
The dinner passed with easy laughter and conversation, and Y/N was too busy enjoying herself to notice how both George and Carmen kept finding excuses to touch herâa hand on her arm here, a brush of fingers there. It was as if they couldnât bear to be too far away from her.
---
Exhibit 2: A Mallorcan Escape with Carlos and Rebecca
The invitation had been impossible to refuse. Carlos had insisted on whisking Y/N away to Mallorca for a weekend of sun, relaxation, and good company. Rebecca was there too, constantly checking in to make sure Y/N was enjoying herself.
âThis place is incredible,â Y/N said as she stepped out onto the balcony of their luxury villa, the Mediterranean Sea sparkling in the distance.
Carlos grinned, his hand resting comfortably on her lower back as he guided her to the sun lounger. âYou deserve a break, Y/N. Youâre always taking care of everyone else.â
Rebecca handed Y/N a cold drink, her smile warm and sincere. âExactly. Itâs our turn to look after you.â
Y/N blushed, sipping the drink as she looked out at the waves. âYou guys are too nice. Honestly, Iâm fine.â
Carlos laughed, sitting down beside her and casually resting his arm across the back of her chair, his fingers lightly grazing her shoulder. âNice has nothing to do with it, Y/N. We just really enjoy spending time with you.â
Rebecca nodded, her hand resting on Y/Nâs knee in a gesture that was both comforting and possessive. âWe wouldnât have it any other way.â
Y/N just smiled, thinking how lucky she was to have friends like them, completely missing the way both Carlos and Rebecca watched her every move with an intensity that went far beyond simple friendship.
---
Exhibit 3: Shopping Spree with Pierre and Kika
Y/N had never been a big shopper, but when Pierre and Kika insisted on a shopping trip in Milan, she couldnât say no. The day was a blur of designer stores, laughter, and playful teasing.
âYouâd look amazing in this,â Kika said, holding up a sleek black dress against Y/N.
Pierre nodded in agreement, his hand resting comfortably on Y/Nâs waist as he leaned in to inspect the dress. âTry it on. Weâre not leaving until you do.â
Y/N rolled her eyes playfully. âYou guys are relentless. Iâm supposed to be the boss, remember?â
Pierre smirked, giving her a light nudge toward the dressing room. âNot today, Y/N. Today, youâre our princess.â
Kika giggled, grabbing Y/Nâs hand and dragging her along. âExactly. And our princess needs a new wardrobe.â
Y/N couldnât help but laugh as she tried on outfit after outfit, completely unaware of the way Pierreâs eyes lingered on her every time she emerged from the dressing room, or how Kikaâs hand never left hers for long.
---
Exhibit 4: Movie Night with Max and Kelly
It was a cozy night in Monaco, and Max had convinced Y/N to come over for a low-key movie night. Kelly had made popcorn, and the three of them were snuggled up on the couch.
âYouâve been working too hard again,â Kelly said, her voice soft as she adjusted the blanket around Y/Nâs shoulders. âYou need to relax.â
Max nodded, his arm stretched along the back of the couch, his fingers gently playing with the ends of Y/Nâs hair. âYeah, you need to slow down sometimes. Youâre making us all look bad.â
Y/N laughed, pulling the blanket tighter around herself. âOh, please. You guys are the ones driving the cars at insane speeds every weekend.â
Max grinned, his hand dropping to rest on her shoulder, squeezing lightly. âAnd youâre the one making all the tough calls. Thatâs way more stressful.â
Kelly leaned in closer, her head resting lightly against Y/Nâs. âWeâre just glad youâre here. We love spending time with you.â
Y/N smiled, thinking how comforting it was to have Max and Kelly around. She missed the way Maxâs thumb traced circles on her shoulder and the way Kellyâs fingers intertwined with hers under the blanket, as if they were afraid to let her go.
---
Exhibit 5: Yacht Day with Charles and Alexandra
When Charles invited Y/N out on his yacht, she thought it would be a casual day in the sun. But from the moment she stepped on board, she realized she was in for something far more luxurious.
âThis is⊠wow,â Y/N breathed, taking in the sight of the pristine white yacht against the crystal blue waters of the French Riviera.
Charles smiled, his hand lingering on the small of her back as he guided her to a sunbed. âOnly the best for our favorite team principal.â
Alexandra appeared with drinks, offering one to Y/N with a bright smile. âYou deserve this, Y/N. You never take time for yourself.â
Y/N settled onto the sunbed, feeling the warmth of the sun and the company of her friends. âYou guys are always spoiling me. Iâm really not that special.â
Charles chuckled, leaning back beside her, his leg brushing against hers. âOh, but you are, Y/N. Youâre the heart of the paddock.â
Alexandra nodded in agreement, her hand resting comfortably on Y/Nâs as they basked in the sun. âAnd we all adore you.â
Y/N blushed, not quite understanding why they were always so kind, but grateful all the same.
---
Exhibit 6: Golfing with Alex and Lily
Golf wasnât Y/Nâs sport, but when Alex and Lily insisted on a day out on the greens, she couldnât say no. The trio laughed their way through the course, with Alex playfully showing Y/N how to swing properly, his hands guiding hers.
âYouâve got this, Y/N,â Alex said, his chest pressed against her back as he adjusted her stance. âJust focus.â
Y/N laughed, her cheeks flushed from the proximity. âYou make it look so easy.â
Lily watched them with a knowing smile, resting her hand on Y/Nâs shoulder. âYouâll get the hang of it. Youâre already a pro at everything else.â
Y/N shook her head, trying to concentrate as Alexâs touch sent an unexpected thrill through her. âYou guys are way too nice to me.â
Alex and Lily exchanged a look, one that Y/N missed entirely as she tried to focus on her swing. They were both addicted to her presence, to the way she brightened every room she walked into.
---
As the season went on, Y/N continued to be the center of attention in ways she never quite understood. Every driver and their partners found excuses to spend time with her, to touch her, to keep her close. And though she often felt overwhelmed by their affection, she chalked it up to just having great friends in the paddock.
But to everyone else, it was clear: Y/N wasnât just a team principal. She was the object of an unspoken obsession, the one person they all couldnât bear to be without. And whether she realized it or not, they were all just a little bit in love with her.
#formula 1#formula 1 x reader#george russel x carmen mundt x reader#george russell x reader#carlos sainz x reader#charles leclerc x reader#pierre gasly x kika gomez x reader#pierre gasly x reader#alex albon x lily minu he x reader#charles leclerc x alexandra saint mleux x girlfriend#alex albon x reader#max verstappen x kelly piquet x reader#max verstappen x reader#lando norris x reader#mclaren#xoxo babygirl ð
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I BET ON LOSING DOGS
àšà§ an unexpected surprise throws a wrench in your relationship with ken
â§.* ken sato x fem!reader, reader is an uriko (beer girl for japanese baseball games), unprotected s/ex, accidental pregnancy trope, angst with comfort, reader gets harassed, mentions of alcohol, mentions of violence, mentions of injuries, slight ooc!kenji but this is MY interpretation of him, emi makes an appearance, talks about fatherhood, relationship context, flashback heavy, 8k+ words i am so sick for this man
â§.* dawn says: i am absolutely in love with this pathetic milf </3
Life as the girlfriend of Japanâs number one baseball player wasnât as easy as people think it is.Â
The news portals and papers call you a modern day Cinderella, swept from her life of being a simple beer girl, and right into the arms of Japanâs best player, Ken Sato.
Looking back, you never thought you would catch his eye.Â
You, a simple Uriko girl trying to get enough commission to pay off your literature degree at a community college, and him, one of the best baseball players to ever grace Japanâs shore. The both of you were a mismatch made on the verdant fields of the biggest game in Ken Satoâs lifeâand you will never forget the day you first met him.Â
âLadies and gentlemen, the game will begin shortly! Please get to your seats and hang on tightly for the match of your life.âÂ
The announcerâs voice booms across the stadium, echoing the cries and cheers from over 10,000 baseball fans coming to see this legendary playoff between the Giants and the Tigers.Â
Working as an Uriko girlâor better known as a baseball girlâcame with plenty of challenges.Â
There were the heavy bags full of beer that you had to carry up and down the stands, sometimes weighing up to 10kg. The smiles you always have on, the makeup you wear to hide your eyebags from working two part time jobs so you can afford to pay off your literature degree; sweltering heat and a loud, rowdy crowd fuelled by beer from the other keg girls working this cutthroat job.Â
Many of them were wannabe idols who perfected the art of cultivating a following on social media and had regulars in the palm of their hands. Only a few handful shared the same fate as you did.Â
The truth was, you thought it was just another ordinary day at work when you overhear someone whispering excitedly behind the stands.
âI heard Ken Sato has come out of his break to play this game.âÂ
Your attention slips from adjusting the straps of your beer keg and you try to listen in on their conversation.Â
âHe is so cute,â one girl with braided pigtails swoons.Â
âTotally,â another agrees, wearing a baseball cap backwards to show off her petite features and pouty lips. âAnd heâs never dated anyone since coming back to Japan. Maybe one of us could change that for him.â
She giggles, as if it's the funniest joke sheâs ever told.Â
You try hard not to roll your eyes. A man like Ken Sato would never go for one of these girls. He was the type to exclusively date models and actresses, not struggling Urikos selling beer on the stands.
But, you donât dash their hopes, and you follow the rest of them in a line, plastering on a smile and mustering up the courage to charm potential buyers into being regulars.
âLadies and gentlemenâletâs put our hands together for the Giants!â
The roar of the crowd behind the doors shakes through your sneakers, in tandem with the tripling speed of your heartbeat. Electricity sparks through the air, and you can feel it in between your teeth when the stadium doors open and everyone rushes forward, pushing you along the stream of girls ready to break their sales target.
âAnd Sato-san steps foot into the pitch!â
You step out of the shadows, into the piercing bright light of the open air stadium, its magnetic dome rippling above.Â
âLadies and gentlemen, Ken Sato is back in his element!âÂ
You take a deep breath and catch a manâs eye. He nods at you and you smile, making your way towards him with a red cup in hand and frozen beer on your back ready to be poured.
Let the game begin.Â
 âLadies and gentlemen, Ken Sato is back in his element!âÂ
The announcerâs voice booms across the stadium, echoing the cries and cheers from over 10,000 baseball fans coming to see this legendary playoff between the Giants and the Tigers.Â
Itâs the game of his life, and to say that Ken is nervous would be an understatement. He twists the bat in his hands, adjusts his batting helmet and steps onto the pitch.Â
âOi, Satoâremember, donât lose your cool,â Coach Shimura sternly warns him before he enters the game, flinty eyes never once softening even when Ken shoots him a reassuring smile.Â
âI got this in the bag, coach. Just wait and see.â
Shimura doesnât scoff, though the corners of his mouth lifts slightly. After months of watching him play in the leagues, the older man can be assured of his star playerâs credibility.
Giving him a two finger salute, the young man picks up his favorite bat and high tails it to the edge of the pitch.Â
The crowds cheer, their cries reverberating right into his bones. Heâs focused, eyes on the pitcher who assesses him from head to toe like heâs vermin on the bottom of his shoes. Ken resists the urge to smirk behind his visor, eyes on the ball and head in the game.Â
âSato! Sato! Sato!âÂ
He tunes out the cheers, breathing deeply when the pitcher winds his arm back, and the ball goes flying. Narrowing his entire mind on the incoming white blur, he bats and it collides with the hardwood, flying off into the distance.Â
âAnd Sato nails it right out of the park!âÂ
âHere we go,â Ken mutters under his breath, lurching across the bases until he finally hits a home run.Â
The crowd swells like his erratic heartbeat, cheering out his name. Ken gives them a wave, his handsome face plastered all over the big screens, and in the front of the stands, right in the VIP center, his father whoops, raising his cane in exuberance.
Just the sight of the old man fills him with warmth, and Ken doubles back, about to return to his position when a movement on the second bleachers catches his attention.
His sharp, keen eyes catch sight of a man pushing an Uriko girl, goading her on as she backs away, apologizing profusely. He pushes her again, and she stumbles back, dangerously close to the edge of the staircase where she could take a tumble and break her neck.
Ken doesn't know what compels him to lurch right towards her, jumping over the barricade and straight into the stands, much to the crowdâs horror.Â
â... you rejected me over and over againâŠâ
âIâm sorry but this is just my job!âÂ
The red-faced man puffs his chest, and if looks could kill, the poor beer girl wouldâve been dead twice over. Heâs twice as big as her, and the other spectators are too afraid to jump right in due to his sheer size. But, thatâs never stopped Ken Sato beforeâin fact, bigger opponents were his speciality.
âOi! Back away from her,â he growls, and before anyone can blink, heâs grabbing the poor, shaken girl and shielding her behind his body.Â
The crowds are murmuring, the commentators having a field day announcing every movement of his diversion from the main game. The referee repeatedly blows his whistle, but Ken ignores it, his instinct to protect the weak more important than some league title.
Shimura muscles his way through the crowd, and for a second, Ken thinks heâs gonna blow up on him when the older man glares at the bulky man.Â
âGet out of here before I call security on you,â he sneers. âBullying some poor girl because of your delusions. Tch. Away with you!â
The onlookers jeer him, and he has no choice but to scurry away from the game, tail tucked in between his legs unless he wants to face the wrath of every Ken Sato fan.Â
Later that day when youâre washing your face in a nearby restroom, trying hard not to have a full on breakdown that your reputation and sales were ruined, you stumble into a familiar figure who gives you a once over, his mellow voice resonating through you.
âHeyâyouâre the beer girl from before, right?â
Ken takes one look at your red-rimmed eyes and clicks his tongue. âAh. Crap. Mustâve been a horrible experience for you, huh? Youâre making me feel bad, angel. You wanna get some food and then we can talk about it?âÂ
Sliding your eyes over his handsome face, youâre momentarily stunned by those high cheekbones and deeply unnerving violet eyes. His shapely lips and messy dark hair, coupled with his tall, slender build and broad shoulders, makes you suddenly realize that those girls outside the stadium doors were right.
Ken Sato is so cute.Â
âI-Iââ you stammer, and flush, looking away. Did he just call me angel?
He gives you a sheepish smile, devoid of the cockiness and pride youâve heard most baseball players possess.Â
âSorryâtoo forward? I heard girls in Japan were more shy and reserved so you donât have to say âyesâ if youâre uncomfortableââ
âNo!â You exclaim, and then start to panic when the rejection settles in for him. âI meanâyes! Yes. I would like to get some food. With you,â you add lamely. âA-are we going now?â
Catching himself before he bursts into laughter, Ken nods, rubbing the back of his neck.Â
âSure. I know a great ramen place.â
âSold,â you say, a smile playing in the corners of your lips.Â
Maybe you mightâve messed up your commission for the week and would have to defer your dorm payment for another month, but none of it matters to you right now.
All you could think about was how sweet it would be if you could bring back the smile on Ken Satoâs faceâperhaps make him laugh for real this time.Â
âLetâs go for dinner, then,â he gestures for you to follow him, and you swear there are stars in your eyes; you canât stop staring at him. âWhatâs your name, by the way?âÂ
âY/N,â you mumble, and blink when he extends his hand, an easygoing grin on those perfect lips.
âIâm Ken. Sato Ken.âÂ
I know, you want to say, but tame down the fangirling, taking his hand. His palm is smooth, but his fingers have calluses on them from one too many rough tumbles on the pitch.
âY/N,â he turns your name over in his mouth and you think itâs never sounded as beautiful as it does now. âItâs nice to meet you.â
You let go of his hand, feeling his warmth sinking past your skin, making your heartbeat kick up a notch.Â
âItâs nice to meet you, too⊠Ken.â
The rest, as they say, is history.Â
His large palm smoothes down your tummy, drawing you from the brink of sleep and back into a barely illuminated room.Â
You crack your eyes open, one lid at a time, feeling him pushing your hair aside to kiss down the nape of your neck.
âMhm,â your boyfriendâs sleep-drenched voice, still husky and rough, makes something deep inside of you throb. âMorning, angel. Did you sleep well last night?âÂ
Stifling a yawn, you nod, much too comfortable in his luxurious king-sized bed. Since coming clean on the dating rumors, Ken had whisked you away from your cramped dorm room to live with him right on the Azabu hills in his expensive, high-tech mansion.
You still went to school and did your assignments, but the biggest difference was you didn't have to worry about food or accommodation like before.Â
âLike a log.â You lean into his embrace, loving how sturdy and warm his chest is against your back, making you feel protected and safe.Â
âGood morning, Kenji and Y/N. Shall I prepare breakfast for the both of you? Eggs and toast or some pancakes?âÂ
Minaâs robotic voice chirps from somewhere behind Ken, and you feel him grab a pillow, tossing it over his shoulder. It thuds onto the floor, and you donât have to look to know that the Sato familyâs robot assistant has deftly avoided it.
âGive us some space, Mina,â Ken groans, burying his face into your hair. âItâs cuddle time. Weâll call you when we need you.â
âAlright. But, donât forget that you have an interview with Tokyo Today at 11AM. Enjoy your morning, Kenji and Y/N.âÂ
You muffle the urge to laugh, turning around and drinking in the sight of his hazy, adoring violet eyes and sleepy face. Booping the tip of his nose with your index finger, you click your tongue. âDonât be too mean to Mina. She was just doing her job.â
He grabs your hand and presses it to his cheek, breathing in a deep sigh. âNot my fault someoneâs being so enticing today.â
âHow can I be enticing?â You tease. âIâm just laying right next to you.â
Ken rolls his eyes, drawing the blanket down to expose your naked shoulder. âUm, duh. My super cute girlfriend is naked in bed with me. What else do you think is on my mind?âÂ
He loves how your nose crinkles when you laugh, fighting against the urge to kiss you all over for being so adorable.
You place a palm flat on his chest, exerting the slightest bit of pressure and he yields, shifting onto his back. The look of adoration on his face never wanes when you straddle his lap, your hair falling across his face. He pushes it aside with surprising tenderness, a huge palm cupping your face as he strokes the fullness of your mouth with his thumb.Â
âI love you, you know that?âÂ
You kiss the pad of his thumb, basking in his adoration and your pure devotion for him.
âI know.â
Ken arches one dark brow. âNot gonna say it back? How rude.â
You giggle at his petulance, gathering his hands into yours and leaving soft kisses on his knuckles. Ken sucks in a sharp breath when you guide his hands to your chest, encouraging him to palm your heaving breasts. Those violet eyes darken with desire, shooting a dirty thrill right up your spine.
âAlready so filthy in the early morning.â He doesnât protest when you lift your hips, finding his stiffening length and giving it a few good pumps before lining it up to your soaked entrance.
âJust for you,â your feathery whisper gets him harder.Â
Tease. You take him inch by inch, and he has to bite down on his lower lip to keep from springing a high-pitched whine when your velvet walls choke his length.Â
Your tender nipples turn into hard nubs underneath his palms, the planes of your body a feast for his eyes.Â
Kenji thinks heâs never seen such perfection up close.
His large palms fold around your hips, and you let him guide you up and down his cock; controlling the speed and depth, completely pliant in his grasp.Â
Ken makes love to you exactly like how he plays on the field: focused, determined and with a firm grip.Â
Oh, baby. You mewl, crumpling forward so he can catch you, strong arms vining around your shivering form.Â
The scent of sex and skin permeates the room, and youâre close enough that youâre starting to see stars behind your closed eyes.Â
Baby, I canât hold back, he grunts. Need you to come with meâfor me. Letâs do it together, okay?Â
Your thighs begin to tense, head tipping back.Â
His violet eyes darken imperceptibly, drinking you in.
Ken Sato is so fucking in love with you he doesnât know what to do with himself if you ever got hurt.Â
Your soul reaches out to twine with his, your bodies impossibly close until youâre sure your skin is melting into his.Â
A burst of white light rocks your entire world, and your universe goes black, filled with only the sensation of his lips on yours and his warmth filling you up.
Ken holds you tightly in the seam of his embrace, kissing your hair and rubbing his cheek all over you like an overgrown cat. You giggle and he joins you, hazily laughing at your hair poking out everywhere.
The moment doesnât last because Mina pops her head back in, clearing her robotic throat.
âKenji. 11AM. You have half an hour left to get ready.â
He groans, head thumping back onto the pillows, both your bodies hidden under the blankets so Mina canât see what heâs been up to, though youâre pretty sure the super smart computer can sense the pheromone shifts in the air.
âFine. Fine.â
Gently, he nudges you off of him, giving you a kiss on the forehead. Rummaging inside his night stand, he procures a sleek black card and hands it to you without a second thought.
âIâm gonna be busy all day, angel face, so I canât keep you entertained.â His boyish grin sends flutters in your belly, making you instantly smile. âGo buy something nice and have a good day. Iâll see you tonight.â
You nod and pull him in for another quick kiss; this time, Mina hovers by the doorway, her thin robotic arms arranged like a disappointed motherâs hands on her hips.
âKenjiââ
âComing, coming,â he groans, and slips on his pajama pants and shirt, giving you a wink.
âDinner tonight, angel face?â
âLike you need to ask.â You blow him a kiss and he catches it, pressing his palm flat over his heart, simultaneously walking backwards out of the bedroom.Â
Once he turns the corner, you exhale, unable to scrub off the lovesick look on your face.Â
Bringing his pillow to your face, you inhale the soft scent of his shampoo, forgetting the card and just wanting to bask in his presence a little while longer.
After a day of interviews, Kenji canât wait to see you again.
Heâs asked the chefs to prepare something special for you, a chirashi bowl and your favorite mochi to welcome you back from a day of shopping and classes.
His front door beeps open and you waltz right in, though he can tell somethingâs off. Your smileâs a little too tight in the corners, and he isnât sure if the lighting is playing tricks or if your eyes are red-rimmed.
âBabyââ
âKen, I need to tell you something.â
The truth was youâve been feeling off the whole weekâsleeping in too much, having rapid mood swings, going light-headed whenever you stood up too fast. But, the final strike was when you walked into a ramen shop this afternoon for a quick bite and literally gagged at the smell of freshly cooked riceâwhich never happens because you love rice more than life.Â
âIâm pregnant.âÂ
Fumbling in your backpack, you donât look up, rummaging for the small test which has changed your life in a matter of minutes. You bring it to him, noticing his wide eyes and bloodless lips; looking like heâs gone into shock.
He plucks the test from your hands, scrutinizing the double pink lines that cut through him with more pain than any Kaiju claw ever could.Â
Without another word, he sets the test down, storming past you and grabbing his leather jacket.
Your world falls apart at the seams when he canât even look at you, the tufts of dark hair falling across his face being angrily pushed back. Agony rips through your soul, leaving you shell shocked at his reaction, your hands falling uselessly to your side.
âKenââ
âWeâll talk about this later,â he cuts you off.Â
You hear a mechanical whirl behind you, Mina coming to your rescue.
âKen? Arenât you going to have dinner with Y/Nâ?â
âLater,â he snaps at her, and you donât think youâve ever seen your tender-hearted boyfriend look this angry; a dark cloud hangs over him, thundering across this room and bringing you right into the eye of his disappointment.
Tears sting behind your lids, and you dash at those pesky droplets before they could fall, running after him.
âKen, Iâm sorryââ
âI need time to think.â
You grab at his sleeve, wishing he would just tell you what was bothering him.
âAbout what?â you shout in despair.
Youâre being unreasonable with his request for space, but you canât see beyond the fear of losing him after youâve already lost so much: your parents to a Kaiju attack, your sister to a painful drug addiction.Â
You canât lose Kenji, too.
He tugs at his sleeve back, nearly making you stumble and fall flat on your face. You catch yourself in time, staring at him in pure shock.
Ken curses under his breath, and despite his cruelty, he steadies your shoulders, clasping onto you tightly. Those violet eyes are brimming with anguish, a pain he is unwilling to share with you. From being an open book whose pages you love to read and reread again, heâs now a subject you canât possibly understand.Â
âI need time to myself to think about what to do.â Glancing at the hovering robot, he sighs. âMina, make sure she gets to bed on time. Iâm going for a drive.â
Though sheâs programmed to check her Master on orders that do not make sense, her sensors record the cadence of his tone, registering it as pure frustration.
âOf course, Ken. Y/Nâcome and have some dinnerââ
You storm past him, ignoring his squeak of indignation.Â
âWhere are you going?â
Turning back, your lips pull into a terrifying sneer. âDoing you a favor and leaving first.â
âTo where?â His exasperation makes you see red, and you donât reply, huffing and pushing the door open, speed walking towards your old Camry.Â
âCome on. You canât be serious.â Kenji uses his longer legs to effortlessly catch up to you, grabbing your arm.
The drizzle outside turns into a light rush of rain, steadily soaking you from head to toe. Ken canât help the flash of panic at the thought of you driving in such bad weather conditions. But, youâre understandably upset with him and canât think straightâit was his fault for hurting you first.
Heartbreak radiates across your face and he flinches at the sight of tears welling in your eyes. His shoulders sag and he wants nothing more than to reach out to you and hold you tightly to his chest, but you pull away with a sniff and a shake of your head.
âI canât believe I thought you would be there for me when I needed you the most.â
You tug yourself free from his grasp, opening the car door and rushing inside; giving him one last, stinging look.
Droplets of icy cold water trickle down his face, illuminated faintly by the green neon of your carâs dashboard.Â
âY/N, IâŠâÂ
He wants to open his heart to you, tell you everything about the man behind the facade.Â
The wounded son, the struggling young baseball star, the giant hero fighting monsters and the dangers that haunt his waking momentsâŠ
But, he clams up, holding you back from the truth.Â
You exhale brokenly.Â
It was just like Ken to always keep you at armâs lengthâhovering just out of reach. Youâre not sure how long you can stay faithful and patient for him to finally let you into his heart.
âGoodbye, Kenji.âÂ
He watches your car speed down the driveway, round the bend and out of his life. His broad shoulders curl forward, and he wants so badly to kick his bike into gear and chase after you, apologizing for his mistake.
But the part of him that would always remain selfish, the one untouched by your goodness and the harsh lessons heâs learned in this life, nails him to the spot.Â
If he doesnât chase after you, maybe you might change your mind and get rid of it yourself.Â
He shakes his head, a wave of disgust rising in him.
Is this who you really are, Ken Sato? A coward?Â
âKen? Itâs raining. Donât you want to come in?â
Minaâs concern breaks through his destructive thoughts and he sighs. âMina, do you have a view on her? Where is she going?â
The robot pauses, scanning through the cityâs data systems. âSheâs right on Odori-chome. Rounding the bend to Takayo Dorms. It looks like sheâll be staying with a friend tonight.â
As much as he loathes the idea of you being pregnant and having to sleep on some poor college studentâs floor, Ken knows he has to give you space or else youâll implode.Â
âOkay. If she calls, let me know immediately. Sheâs pregnantââ He chokes on that word, and Mina gives a concerned whir. âAnd Iâm worried. Iâll see her tomorrow andâŠâ The young man trails off, pinching the bridge of his nose.Â
âMina, Iâm scared.â
She extends one robotic arm, guiding him inside to warmth and dryness, the doors automatically closing behind him. Ken staggers to the couch, kicking the bottom compartment open and finding a can of his favorite Asahi on hand.
He cracks it open, drinking deeply while Mina floats next to him, vigilant and listening.
âWas dad ever scared when mom broke the news to him?â
To his surprise, Mina chuckles. âWhy donât you call him up and ask him yourself?â
Ken considers it, glancing at his watch. Professor Sato was probably already in bed by now, and he didnât want the old man grilling him on his poor life choices so late in the night.
â... Iâll do it tomorrow. After the playoffs.â
Mina titters and floats in front of him.Â
âWhatever mistake you think youâve made Ken, I know you will have the courage to solve it. You are not like the person you were beforeâyouâve grown. Changed. And when the time is right, everything will fall back into place.â
Her words marginally comfort him, relieving him of the heaviness in his chest. Ken flashes her a weak smile, drooping his head back against the sofa. He hopes to every god aboveâboth baseball and Kaiju deitiesâthat sheâs right.
That no matter how things ended between you two tonight, it will never leave a permanent scar on the future.
âHey, isnât that the guy you said you were seeing?âÂ
Chisa, your roommate from months ago when you still lived near campus, points at the shoddy screen of her twice broken down TV. Sheâs sipping on a beer while spreadsheets and blueprints litter around herâremnants of last nightâs cramp study session which was interrupted by your unexpected return.Â
You lift your head from her couch and true enough, the devil in the form of Ken Satoâs confident smile appears on the screen, making your stomach turn and heart twist.
Flopping back onto the hard couch, you sigh. âYeah.â
Chisa rakes a hand through her platinum blonde hair, stifling a yawn. âYou know whatâI get it. I would be absolutely shattered too if a hot, successful and rich man dumped me for getting pregnant. You just canât win everything in life.â
You want to throw a pillow into her face for such harsh words, but a part of youâthat small, terrified partâhas to agree.Â
âSo, are you going to keep it?âÂ
Her sudden question makes you wish you never asked her for a favor in the first place. While Chisa was friendly enough, it was her sharp tongue and blunt nature which often led you two into mini arguments back when you were still living with her.
âI donât know,â you tell her truthfully, sitting up and feeling a pang of hunger course through you. âItâs not like I can afford a baby right now withoutââ Your throat swells, the words caught behind a lump.
Chisa has enough grace not to comment on the tears glossing in your eyes. She turns her attention back to the screen to let you rub them away, raising the volume to drown out your quiet sniffles.
The both of you watch the sports segmentâher, completely engrossed, and you numbly tracking Ken's every movement on the pitch. Itâs a livestream from one of his games happening this morning, the very first game you wonât be cheering him on from the stands.
Without much thought, you touch your belly, wondering if the little life in there could see his or her daddy on screen. The reality that this would be the only way they could meet their own father makes you tear up again, and you reach for your dead phone, needing to at least hear his voice again.Â
It didnât matter if Ken Sato didnât want you in his life or if he refused to acknowledge the child youâre carrying as his. You just needed to know he would still be there for you.
Hooking it to a cable, you switch your phone back on, and instantly, a stream of messages swarm in.
I know you never liked it whenever I asked Mina to keep an eye on you, but she told me youâre rooming with a friend. Chisa, right? I hope she doesnât make you sleep on the floor.
Another text.Â
Yikes. Reading that again, I sound like an absolute dick. What I meant to say was that I hope youâre comfortable and you can rest well. I know the way we ended things was messy to sum it up, but I really hope this wouldnât be the last time we see each other.Â
The last text, sent around one in the morning, three hours after your epic fight, reads:
I miss you. Goodnight, baby. Sleep well.
You lift your gaze to the TV again, and start to notice the dark circles under his eyes. The hard set of his mouth. Ken still loves meâhe still wants this. Your heart leaps, and you turn your attention back to the screen, typing out:Â
I miss you. Iâm sorry. IÂ
A sudden tremor rocks the house, and your phone goes clattering to the ground. Chisaâs loud yelp rings through your mind as the shakes get more and more intense, as if it's getting closer.
Outside the dorms, screams erupt and alarms blare. The symphonic pattern of the warning is unmistakable: there is a Kaiju nearby.
You lurch to your feet, dragging Chisa by the arm, jolting her into action.Â
The sound of hundreds of feet running in one direction burns through your mind; Chisaâs arm is a constant around you as she drags you down the road, trying to find shelter from the impending danger.Â
Itâs a lizard or moth hybrid with a wide wingspan and sharp rows of teeth. Youâve seen news reports of Kaijus before, but youâve never dared to think you would see one up close. Spikes adorn its tail which goes crashing into buildings and houses, debris raining to the screaming crowd below like a reckoning halestorm.
Car alarms blare, in tandem with the rising panicked screams of hundreds of students and teachers who were caught off guard by this sudden attack.
âLook!â Someone yells, and in the distance, you see a human-like shape approaching fast.Â
âUltraman!â
âHeâs here!âÂ
âHeâs here to save us!â
Chisa, whose lips are bloodless and cheeks pale with fright, leads you up the stairs of the business school building, where you both can find higher ground to avoid the falling debris.
In your panic, you trip on a large rock and tumble to the ground, a loud, ominous crack resounding throughout this concrete cube youâve both locked yourselves in.
âShit!â Chisa bends down to inspect your ankle. She tries to lift it, but a searing pain cuts through your entire body, your shriek of agony making her flinch. âFuck. Oh, fuck. This isnât good. This isnâtââ
Boom!
The doors of the building fly off, and the monster sticks its muzzle inside, sniffing around for its prey. Having scented you and Chisa, it releases a loud screech, and before both of you could even blink, the roof flies off, its sharp talons reaching inside and grabbing you.Â
The sudden loss of gravity strains your broken foot and you scream in agony and fear.
âY/N!âÂ
As the monster lifts you right to its face, you thinkâthis is it.Â
Every nerve in your body is frozen, your mouth falls open and you mightâve screamedâyou canât hear yourself or feel your body or your hands or even your broken foot anymore.
This is how I will die.Â
âWe interrupt this game to announce that thereâs a Kaiju attack nearby. All civilians are requested to proceed to the nearest emergency exit. We interrupt this game to announceââ
As the stadium erupts in chaos, Ken hears the worst news his nightmares could conjure when someone screams: âThe Kaijuâitâs attacking Takayo University!âÂ
His mind goes into overdrive, his body catching up as he feels the familiar muscles stretching and pulling, turning him into a 50-foot gargantuan hero. Mina chirps to life, and heâs never heard a robot sound so serious before.
âKen, Gigan is approaching Takayo University. I canât seem to get a hold on Y/Nâs signal. I think her phone is switched off.â
Damn itâdamn it all to hell!Â
He pushes his body to the max, racing towards your direction, hoping against all hope that you were somewhere safe.Â
The young hero wouldnât know what to do if he lost you.
âHer messages were all gray yesterday. Her phoneâs out of juice,â he snaps back. âRun a search on Chisaâs signal. They should be together.â
âAlright,â Mina whirs. âChisaâs signal: located. Theyâre at the Business Faculty Park. I have sent you the coordinates.â
A flash of numbers and lines appear in front of him. Ken reads them quickly and nods. âGot it. Mina, alert dad and tell him Y/N might be harmed. Prepare the base, if needed. If sheâs gone, Iâll lose my fucking mind.â
Mina doesnât comment on his languageâshe chirps back, âNoted. Calling Professor Sato now.âÂ
He sees it thenâGigan the monster whoâs stomping around and has something in its grubby claws.
âMina, I see it. Iââ
Ken thinks the light is playing tricks on him. Thereâs a flash of a familiar sheen of hair, a smaller figure held inside Giganâs monstrous grip.
âMina, enhance visibilityâwhat is it holding?!âÂ
The sight enlarges, and Ken gasps. His shock turns into anger, and heâs taking off towards the beast, not caring of anything else in his path as he summons all his anger into a fist and knocks the giant lizardâs head backwards. Giganâs grip loosens and Ken rushes forward to catch you, holding you tightly to his chest with one hand.Â
With the monster down for a moment, he glances at his palm, unfurling his fingers to find your pale, frightful face staring right at him.
âUltraman,â you gasp, and his heart breaks when he notices streaks of tears running down your face.Â
You mustâve been scared shitless for your life.
âAre you alright?â The tenderness seeps through his tone, and he canât fight back the cresting wave of loathing and self-hatred when you wrap your arms around your midsection, nodding tearfully.
âI-Iâm fineâlook out!âÂ
He holds you to his chest, careful not to crush you in his grip as he spins around, deftly avoiding Giganâs tail as it careens right into his face. The Kaiju raises itself on its hind legs, releasing an earth shattering roar.
Ken cringes back. He needs to find you a safe spot; he canât bring you into battle like this.
Sprinting away from the carnage, all the screams and fear fade into the distance, his mind hellbent on getting you to safety.
Finding a relatively high rise building thatâs been torn apart by the Kaiju and left for ruin, he gently unfurls his hand, placing you back on solid ground as if youâre a Lego figure he needs to safekeep.
You drop to your knees, unable to hold yourself up. Ken sweeps his gaze over you, and without thinking, says: âMina, run a scan on her. Is she safe?âÂ
Loyal to a fault, she follows his orders, coming to a hard pause when your screech reaches both their attention.
âMina?! Hang onââ
Despite his sheer size and how tinier you are in comparison, Ken flinches when you march up to him, looking right into his glowing eyes.
The masked hero whose identity has been hidden since the day he assumed the role of Tokyoâs protector, freezes like a deer caught in headlights and for a moment, nothing exists in this world besides your eyes on his. You reach out, tips of your fingers caressing his armored cheek.Â
As if an unspoken truth comes to light, your eyes widen, and you touch both hands onto his cheek, skimming them across his nose. Those wide, luminescent eyes slip close, like he's enjoying your touch.
âItâs you.â Your choked gasp tears at his soul, and Ken opens his eyes to find you crying, a palm pressed right to your mouth. âOh my God. It really is you. Itââ
Your knees buckle, unable to hold yourself upright to such a heavy truth. You slide to the ground and he reaches out a hand, letting you lean against his much bigger palm. His heart is beating so fast, he has to remind himself to breathe so he doesnât transform in front of you and canât protect the rest of the civilians from Gigan.
âKen,â you say his name like a prayer, curling your much smaller fingers around his ring one, feeling the smooth armor of his alien skin under your touch. âKen. I knew something was off about you but Iââ
This pure moment of ecstatic discovery is cut off by a loud screech.Â
Ken hears Gigan approach and heâs about to urge you to be safe when you lurch to your feet and stumble towards him.
Itâs a split second of unadulterated heaven opening its white, pearly gates when your head touches his gargantuan forehead. You breathe and he breathes, the both of you suspended in this time and space where it's just the two of you in this worldâhuman and beast, lover and monster.Â
âCome back to me.âÂ
Thatâs all you say, all you have the time to elucidate before heâs ripped away by Giganâs claws.Â
Your cry pierces through his soul, and before he falls, he casts a protective shield around you, trapping you in a blue bubble of safety.Â
But, itâs a miscalculated move.Â
Giganâs tail whips around, knocking the base of the building. One second, Kenâs eyes are locked on yours, and in the next moment, the entire roof falls on top of you.
âNooooo!âÂ
Ken fights out of the monsterâs grasp, using his sheer strength to dig his fingers into the creature's mouth and tear its entire head clean off by its jaw.Â
Ending its life for daring to hurt yours.
This is it.Â
He doesnât care that his father would call this cruelâdoesn't care for the mess and press comments calling him unhinged or for the KDF commending him on his efficiency in killing off a Kaiju.
This is his entire universe coming to an end.Â
The tap tap tap of Professor Satoâs cane on the steel floors of the familyâs underground base barely rouses Kenji from his vigil by your sickbed.
From his vantage point, Hayao easily notices his sonâs sunken eyes, the unshaven chin and exhausted slump in his shoulders. Ken is holding his phone in one hand, occasionally glancing at a message on the smeared screen. His sharp eyes catch an unfinished message, glossing over it as Ken finally hears his footsteps and pockets his phone hastily.
I miss you. Iâm sorry. I
A heavy weight settles in his chest like grease, and the older man exhales a sigh.
Without another word, he takes a seat next to his weary son, placing a hand on his shoulder.
âKenji, youâve been down here for days. You need to see the sunâstretch and eat a proper meal.âÂ
He turns those solemn, violet eyes he passed down to his son onto the faint pallor of a young woman resting in a medically-induced deep sleep inside the emergency pod, her chest rising and falling slowly.Â
Your vital stats on a holographic board floats in front of him, and Hayao stifles a sigh when he sees a tiny, bean-shaped blob hovering in another panel, its features barely formed but already so dear to him.Â
Kenji can barely look at the vitals of his unborn child, eyes closed and head hung heavily as if the weight of the world drags his shoulders down. It might as well have, judging from the mess Hayao had to clean up when his son was too emotionally strained to handle the aftermath of Giganâs attack.
âI canât leave her side,â he replies monotonously.Â
Hayao recognizes that despair Kenji exudes, having experienced it many, many times over his twenty plus years of being a father.Â
Unexpectedly, he chuckles, and Kenji raises his head, finding his fatherâs expression faraway, nostalgia glistening in his rheumy eyes.Â
âOh, I remember the time your mother broke the news that she was expecting you.â
Any mention of Emiko would draw Kenjiâs attention like a moth to a flame. His son listens, patiently waiting for him to reveal the next part.
Hayao smiles and shakes his head. âJust like how you reacted, I was stunned. I had to sit down when she passed me the test. It was the first time sheâs ever seen me speechless.â Grasping his sonâs shoulder and giving it a squeeze, the older Sato sighs.Â
âKenji, there comes a time in every manâs life when he has to sit down and evaluate if heâs the right fit for fatherhood. Any man can be a father, but it takes a noble, patient, and kind-hearted man to be a dad.â
He continues. âChildren arenât easy. Human children, that is. Kaiju ones grow too quickly and already have a set path due to their nature,â he chortles at the memory of Emi, and Ken canât resist smiling at that.Â
âBut, babies⊠They test us. Show us what we lack and how imperfect we are. They have their own dreams, needs and wants. Theyâre loud, messy and take up so much of your heart, thoughts and peace. But, despite all of that, theyâre our hopes and dreams.â Hayao chuckles. âIf anyone were to ask me what my greatest legacy is, I would never say âUltramanâ or the research Iâve done over the years.â
Ken listens to him raptly, violet eyes wide and waiting.Â
Hayao finally looks at him, and in those similar purple orbs, he finds a kindred spiritâsomeone who knows his burdens inside and out because heâs lived through them all for half of his life.
âMy greatest legacy is you, Kenji. My son.âÂ
A wizened finger taps on the screen, and the room fills up with the echoing pulse of a second heartbeat, fainter like its coming from the bottom of the ocean. But, itâs as strong as his own, and in that, Ken feels the anger, despair and disappointment he holds for himself slowly dissipating like steam on a hot day.
âAnd after seeing how much youâve sacrificed and learned from raising Emi, I know this baby would be so lucky to have you as a dad.â
Hayao gets to his feet with slight difficulty, patting Kenâs shoulder.Â
âDonât be too hard on yourself, Kenji. It will all work out just fine. Take it one day at a time, alright?â
Ken wants to ask about the neverending dread, if his father ever feared putting his family in dangerâthe perils of parenting and how heâs going to juggle baseball, Ultraman and being a dad (a real one, this time) all at once.
Like heâs heard his sonâs uncontrollable thoughts, Hayao turns back to give him one last piece of sage advice.Â
âEverything will be okay. You are Kenji Satoâyour motherâs son and my son. You will never be alone.â He glances at your resting form. âAnd she will never leave you. A woman who readily accepts our familyâs duty and burdens is a rare gem indeed, son.â
âBut, mom did the same,â he blurts out, brows knitting together. âShe accepted you with open arms, too. How can you say itâs rare when it has happened before?â
Hayaoâs eyes sparkle as if Ken has finally found the answer to his perpetually troubling question.
âThatâs why I married her.â
He leaves Ken alone to ponder his words, the doors closing behind his frail form.Â
The young man turns back to your pod, placing a hand over the reinforced glass, right over your belly.
Before he can stop himself, he presses his forehead against the cool metal, sighing.
âWell, you heard him,â he mutters. âThe second you wake up, baby, Iâm locking you downâthereâs no shaking me off this time.â
A click. A whir.Â
The world slowly comes back to focus and you furrow your brow, biting back a groan. Your body faintly pulses with pain, like itâs remembering the trauma you suffered through a five year memory fade.
But, your limbs work, and it doesn't hurt to breathe.Â
âHey, youâre awake.â
That voiceâŠÂ
You pry your eyes open and the second you recognize his face, you think you could break down and cry. Soft violet eyes appraise you, slender fingers reaching out to tenderly graze your cheek.
âKenâŠâÂ
He catches your embrace, holding you so tightly you think you might suffocate. The feel of his arms around you is like coming home after a long day, and you think he might feel the same way, his heartbeat thudding erratically under your cheek.
âIâm so sorry. So, so sorry,â he apologizes over and over again. It takes all of your willpower not to tear up at the look of defeat on his face. You cup his cheek, bringing him closer so both your foreheads can touch.Â
âItâs alright, Ken,â you murmur, free hand running through his thick, raven locks. âItâs okay. Weâre okay.â
He cradles your tummy at the reminder, looking like a puppy thatâs been kicked to the curb.Â
âI was so mean to you. And to Peanut. Iâm so sorryââ
âPeanut?â You blink, and he doubles back, scratching the back of his head.
âI, um⊠may have given the baby a nickname while you were, uh, recovering.â
Your lovely, silly boyfriend thought you would be angry when it is the furthest from the truth. âPeanut, huh?âÂ
You place your hand over his, drinking in this moment of having your entire family right here, safe and sound.Â
âI like it. Peanut.â Your smile is saint-like, warm like the first sun rays breaking through a long, dark night. âPeanut is perfect for him or her.âÂ
He doesnât deserve the grace and forgiveness youâve shown him and Kenji thinks that for the rest of his life he wants to atone for all the wrongs heâs ever committed.Â
Your health is his priority, and kick-starting this renewed promise to you, heâs there every step of the way during your recoveryâfeeding you, bathing you, helping you regain your ability to walk without needing a crutch, taking you to physiotherapy classes so you would be mobile again after breaking your leg.Â
He even shows you Kaiju Island with his dad, Professor Sato and him catching up with a now one year old Emi whoâs grown into her wingspan and new abilities. At first, you were terrified to meet the Kaiju baby your boyfriend once raised, but the moment she scented you, she was all over you like an overly-friendly cat.
Her beak presses against the barely-there swell of your belly, and she coos in delight.
Looks like Emi is happy to be a big sister. Professor Sato laughs at that, thumping his son on the back.Â
SiblingsâKaiju and a humanâIâll have to trash my entire research thesis because nothing can compare to this!
You move back in with Ken, ditching your old dorm and studying from home to accommodate your growing belly and fatigue. Your lecturers were understanding enough, though you suspect the Ken Satoâs reputation was enough for them to give you some leeway.
Ken reduces his time spent on the pitch to be home with you and the baby, catching the pressâ attention who start to wonder if the great Ken Sato is cracking yet again. Eventually, it's his old frenemy, Ami, who spots him leaving a prenatal clinic with you one rainy morning after tailing him for days.Â
Your boyfriend literally has to bribe her with two months worth of free Tonkatsu dinners on his card before she lets the scoop go, giving you a sympathetic look that makes you laugh and Ken indignant.Â
Life was back to normalâor, as normal as it could be after finding out your boyfriend is literally a 50-foot alien superhero who fights monsters.Â
One night where youâre both just lazing around on the sofa, Ken decides to show more of his world to you, and tugs your hand, leading you to the underground base which he affectionately dubs his âmancaveâ.Â
There, he asks Mina to pull up an old recording of Emiko on the stands and officially introduces his girlfriend to his mother.Â
âSheâs beautiful, Ken.â You approach her with a fond smile, and his arms wrap around you; heart filled with pure happiness at the sight of his two favorite women in one room. Ken kisses the top of your head and then sighs.Â
âI wish you could meet her, baby. She wouldâve loved you to the moon and back.â
He tells you of the efforts to retrieve her from a wormhole; how he spends everyday wondering if the next time he sees his mother, heâll be just as old and gray as her. Youâre there for his every rumination, every fear.Â
âMy parents separated when I was really young,â he confesses while youâre both lying in bed in each otherâs arms, giving you another piece of his childhood that you welcome with no judgment. âI donât want to be like my dadâputting Kaijus or my career first that I lose the both of you.â
At those words, you take his face in your hands, looking him in the eye as you shake your head. âYou will never lose me, Kenji Sato. Iâm yours and youâre mine. Weâre in this as a team and weâll see this through.â Echoing his fatherâs advice, you grin. âLetâs just take this one day at a time, okay?â
With his past revealed and double identity known, itâs your turn to be there for him in a different way.Â
When the voices of doubt get too loud for him, you donât let him wallow in his misery for long, encouraging him to teach you how to bat a ball or letting him press his cheek to your growing tummy so he can feel Peanut moving around.Â
You meant every word you said to him that night in the tender darkness: you were both a team. No matter how bad the storm hits, you would weather it together.Â
One day, without you expecting it, Ken proposes to you while youâre both watching a movie.
âI canât walk down the aisle!â You pout, and heâs taken aback, thinking youâre flat out rejecting him when you point at your nose. âMy nose will be all squished and the photos will come out ugly,â you whine. âPregnancy noses are a thing,â you try to convince him as he bends over in laughter.
âBaby,â he wipes the tears from his eyes, broad shoulders shaking with repressed mirth. âSquished nosh or not, I still love you, squirt.â
He removes a simple, velvet box from his pants pocket and reveals a ring with your birthstone and his on it. You whisper about a hundred âyes'sâ in response to his âWill you marry me, sweetheart?â; tearing up when he slips the ring onto your left hand and brings it to his lips, kissing your knuckles affectionately.
âHave I ever told you I love you so, so much, baby?â
Though you have no idea whatâs in store in the future with a man who can turn into a superhero, and a whole new world of monsters, baseball and parenthood to navigate, you thank your lucky stars that heâs right beside you for the journey.Â
âMaybe it wouldnât hurt to hear it again.â
He chuckles and kisses your cheek, the feel of his smile on your skin like the embrace of home.
âI love you.âÂ
âHah,â you look up, starry-eyed and in love as you push his bangs out of the way. âI love you, too, Kenji Sato.â
â feedback and reblogs are appreciated <3
Â©ïž all works belong to lalunanymph. do not copy, repost or claim my plot points, structure and elements of work as your own.
#ðŠ¢ writes#kenji sato x reader#ultraman rising x reader#kenji sato#ken sato#kenji sato smut#kenji sato angst#ultraman x reader#tw pregnancy#tw unprotected sex#first ultraman post let's go !!
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Lights, CameraâŠChaos.
[PLAY HERE] (October 23rd, 2024) Act 1, Chapter 1, 64.2k words.
For as long as you can remember, your dream has stayed the sameâyou want nothing more than to make it as an actor in Hollywood. After years as an overlooked, overworked talent, your big break comes from an unlikely source. And itâs one that changes everything, for better or worse.
Hollywood is its own character within this worldâsometimes it loves you, sometimes it wants nothing more than to see you crash and burn. Navigating this ever changing landscape while balancing your own interpersonal relationships is only half the challenge. The other half is memorizing your lines.
Navigate the red carpet, bloodthirsty paparazzi, cut-throat tabloids and complicated relationship dynamics with A-list celebrities (who may or may not be completely insane.)
But, hey: isnât this what youâve always wanted?
Key Features:
- Customize your Actor: are you a classic Hollywood heartthrob? An eccentric and unconventional recluse? Are you kind and genuine despite the fame, or a cutthroat diva with undeniable talent?
- Navigate scandal, paparazzi, and stan culture: dodge or embrace the flashing lights. Interact with your fans, or distance yourself from them for your sanity. Waitâwho are they shipping your character with?
-Build your legacy: choose between the stability of superhero blockbusters or turn into an indie darling. Or, maybe forgoe both to become a household name in the horror genre.
- Network and build relationships: whether theyâre manufactured by your well-meaning publicist or spawned from real feelings, forge dynamic and ever changing relationships with other industry icons.
- Try to manage your mental health: the dark side of the industry lurks in every cornerâthe highs are high, but the lows are ever lower.
Characters:
Kendall Mays (gender selectable)âever the loyal best friend, Kendall followed you into the throes of showbiz without hesitation. From fighting over toys on the playground to helping you run lines for a major motion picture, you can always count on them to have your back. That is, before they met Masonâtheir ever-present boyfriend who demands more and more of their time. You were never that great at sharing.
[Note: Kendall is not a romance option.]
Sutton Foster (he/him, she/her)âchild star turned award winning powerhouse. Sutton Foster has everything an actor could wantâwell, minus the countless stays at rehab centers around the world. Itâs undeniable that Sutton is a generational talent, but whatâs even more notable is their messy personal life. You yourself have been caught in Suttonâs gravitational pull, once upon a time. The question lies in whether or not youâll pull yourself away.
Wyn Grace (he/him, she/her)âon stage, Wyn is electric. The same cannot be said for Wyn off-stage. The lead singer of the up-and-coming Indie band is struggling with their meteoric rise to fame. As the awards pile up and the crowds get bigger, Wyn is unraveling at the seams. All they wanted to do was make music with their friends, but the fame makes them reconsider it all.
Lex Moreau (he/him)âan older, award-winning director with anâŠeccentric disposition. Yet despite his volatile nature and obsession with perfection, anyone whoâs anyone would kill to work with him. Lex is always in search for a muse, a great beacon to pour all of his artistic vision into. And now, he thinks heâs found that in you. Lucky you?
[C is a conditional character, only appears based on choices you make.]
Carlo/Carmen Mencina (gender selectable)âC is harder to pin down than a stable acting gig in LA. When youâre togetherâitâs kismet. The problem lies in when youâre apart. Câs frequent disappearances abroad leave a bad taste in your mouth, and when a shocking truth comes to light, itâs not just your relationship in the spotlightâitâs your life, too.
Flings and other mini-romances will be available as well. But these I will let be revealed as the story progresses.
When writing this game, I knew what themes I wanted to focus on, and the care/detail needed to do so. Hence, this game is strictly 18+.
TW: death, substance abuse, suicide, bullying, explicit language, violence, and explicit (skippable) sexual content.
Thank you for reading my intro! Reblogs are welcome, and my ask box is open (:
And major thank you @thecutestgrotto for the gorgeous headers!
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aftertaste. | welcome to the spice market
meet khosi wambui. an aspiring chef with something to prove. recently accepted into britechester's illustrious culinary simstitute (san myshuno campus), she's used all her savings to make the move and chase her dreams in the big city. 1 plane, 1 train, and 1 taxi later...she's finally arrived at her new home in the spice market. does khosi have what it takes to make it in the cutthroat world of fine dining or will the bitter aftertaste of defeat send her packing?
finally excited to post my new gameplay esp since my blog is fully back and i don't have weird restrictions. a little random but this gameplay was inspired by a combination of watching the bear (i know i'm late af), boiling point, and this amazing prompt for gen. 3 from @fruitysimsy and @hellohopesims, 'struck by love legacy challenge'. these all served as a lot of inspiration for me to set up a new save for this gp...excited to share more!
-d.
#ts4#the sims 4#ts4 gameplay#ts4mm#ts4 maxis match#ts4 san myshuno#umami save#its-opheliasgarden#iog*
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James Vowels portrayed himself as being a compassionate TP but he is as cutthroat as the rest of them. Idk why I was fooled into thinking that Williams will genuinely try and nurture talent. I understand that Logan hasn't really challenged Alex. And maybe this is just me being biased towards feelings over facts, but I really do feel for Logan. I'd hate to show a lot of progress and improve in tricky conditions just for reports to come out he was trying to replace me mid-season. Way to build up someone's self-esteem as a driver ð€¥
#sports are more mental than physical to me#if you're not in the right mindset it's gonna be harder to produce results#and yes i am aware that it was over for logan before the season started#but stop playing with drivers' emotions like they get enough criticism as it is#f1#formula 1#logan sargeant
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NUMERICAL NOTES
â volume eight
â°⩠each numbers challenging energy can come to an end once you find its purpose. think of it as a bill that has to be payed. for example: 14âs are constantly getting attacked a lot, so they must fight and defend themselves in order to put an end to these negative energies, 9âs are constantly being tested to end things, etc
â°⩠when people with 3 energy walk into the room they naturally gain lots of attention with minimal effort in a way that others canât. this is because itâs the number of the child and children get lots of attention from their parents and others in general (like when you have a baby in the store and everyone walks up to you and says itâs so cute)
â°⩠people with 22 energy are good at focusing at one skill and mastering it, but they may struggle in all other areas
â°⩠when higher vibrational, people with 29 energy are the most sympathetic people. they see the best in people and always uplift others
â°⩠most 8âs are very cutthroat when it comes to business projects, but 26âs arenât. they want to work with others as a team and treat their business partners like family
â°⩠people with 14 energy can be great boxers or fighters in general. 14 rules over the hands and 14 reduced is 5 (1+4) which also is good for boxing since 5 is the number of war
â°⩠you can think of 9 energy in numerology the same way you think of neptune in astrology. itâs like a black hole that absorbs whatever energy is around it and then spits it out. 9âs are mirrors which is why theyâre one of the most hated numbers because most people donât like themselves
â°⩠iâve talked about 7 being bad for love, but some numerologists argue that 5 is almost as bad since itâs the number of freedom. these people donât do well with commitment. especially the men as 5 is a masculine number
â°⩠people with 8 energy hate being told what to do as itâs the number of power. they donât like when others have power over them in any way
â°⩠people with 9 energy tend to have bad judgment unless paired with prominent 8 energy. they are really naive and get taken advantage of by others too easily
#numerology#numerology blog#matrix#the matrix#simulation#life path number#numerology community#numerical energy#spirituality blog#spiritual realm#spirituality#life path
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paul mescal request ð
maybe meeting him at an industry party and sharing a cigarette and then it evolves
You Can Be The Boss | Paul Mescal X Fem! Reader
As an actress, and daughter of two of the biggest names in your country of the 90âs, It was inevitable that your name would make it onto the list of Gucciâs Fashion week list.
They had flown you out to Milan, saw that you had a hotel room and clothes for the event, all so you could sit and watch as dozens of models strut about in clothes most people would have to work decades to afford.
When the models would pass you, your gaze kept lingering to him, how could it not? There was a mesmerising sort of charm about him. It consumed you, you had tried to approach him when the event coordinators were ushering hoards of high profile people into limousines to take them to the after party, but youâd had no luck.
You couldnât find his eyes in the sea of people dancing to whatever the DJ was playing, the music was far too loud, it brought back the migraine you had managed to shift a few days back, after swiping a champagne flute from one of the waiters walking around with them, you snuck out onto the balcony that overlooked Milan.
Having forgotten to bring your own case of cigarettes, you let out an exasperated sigh before downing the champagne. When you lowered the glass from your lips, He was there, cigarette between his lips, almost grinning, his appearence had been so sudden that youâd jumped and dropped the flute over the balcony.
Watching it fall, you felt like an asshole for whoever would have to clean that up later. âFuck!â The words escaped your lips before you could think properly.
You heard his chuckle and turned to face him. The urge to tell him he was at fault restrained itself. âDo you want a light? I saw you checking that bag of yours for one.â Paul offered. You nod, not exactly desperate for one, but you certainly wouldnât decline one.
He puts his between his lips and then pulls the case out from his pocket, the only one that remains is squished, not nearly useful enough for you to smoke.
He pulls the one from his lips out, and offers it to you. âYou sure?â You question. He nods, and you look so relieved before placing it between your pointer and middle fingers.
After a few exchanges of the cigarette, he speaks as you have it in your lips. âIâve seen your work, I adore your recent film. Are your team pushing for award nominations?â He asked.
You nodded, your agency was not nearly as cutthroat in that aspect as you would have liked, but you had signed a six year contract with them five years ago, so you would soon be free from them, and hopefully be able to join a more affluent agency. You handed him the cigarette.
âThank you.â The two of you spoke in unison before chuckling âYeah, my Uhm, my team are trying but Iâm with an agency that are like, more focused on modelling so itâs a bit of a challenge but, Iâm still young, Iâve got time to win awards.â You replied.
He takes a drag as he nods. âYou looking to change agents?â He questioned, you nodded. âMy managerâs looking for new clients, I could pass your name along if youâd like.â He offered.
His manager, you had heard, was a woman very dedicated to her job. âIâd love that, thank you.â You told him. You take a step closer to him, it just feels natural. âYouâre gorgeous do you know that?â He asked.
You blushed, which caused him to chuckle, it wasnât mockingly, rather, one of enjoyment of seeing you so flustered by his compliment. âYouâre not so bad yourself.â You replied.
He dropped the cigarette onto the floor and leant forward, his face centimetres away from your own, and then he cupped his hands around your face, pulled you in and kissed you.
A/N: This is my first time writing x reader stuff .. hope u enjoyed
#paul mescal#paul mescal x reader#x reader#normal people#connell waldron#aftersun#gladiator 2#gods creatures#foe#carmen
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hey! this is actually something i've thought about quite a lot before so here's how i see it:
since monsters are so diverse in the monster world, there are a vast amount of factors that are considered beautiful. some monsters may like 1 eye, some like 3 eyes and some like 8. some like feathers, scales, or fur. it just comes down to preference. but for monsters, generally, scary = beautiful
firstly, for the teeth thing, i imagined that just like human beauty standards, monster beauty standards can change. perhaps yellow teeth used to be the standard, but then it was discovered that whiter teeth made them more visible and gave them a scarier appearance. also, maybe they discovered that poor dental health caused monsters to lose their teeth sooner, which is a problem if you rely on them for scaring. proper dental care allowed you to stay healthy and kept your teeth in good condition, keeping you in the scaring career for longer. like when sulley is brushing his teeth in mi, mike really emphasizes getting rid of plaque
this change could also be why randall's teeth in mi are visibly whiter than they were in mu
as for female monsters, i see it sorta like how jessica rabbit from who framed roger rabbit is in toon town. she's regarded as very beautiful, but not as desireable or successful (to other toons) as roger rabbit, someone more cartoony and goofy looking
so though the more humanoid looking monsters could be considered beautiful, since being a scarer is known as the biggest achievement a monster could have, if you're scary, you're considered beautiful on a whole other level.
another idea i had is that scaring could be considered as a male dominated career, so the scary/beauty standards for female monsters aren't as scrutinized as much as male monsters. this could be why there are more female monsters that aren't necessarily as "scary looking"
this could also play a role into why the pnk's are so cutthroat- with a more conventionally beautiful appearance, they might not be considered the most successful in monster society. sure they could be models and movie stars
(though i can still see """scary/conventionally unattractive""" monsters being just as viable as models and moviestars in the monster world, maybe even more so),
but since scarers are the creme de la creme, "prettier" monsters could sometimes be seen as beautiful but maybe not typically the image of someone "successful" or "desireable" (my oc lia is a scarer and has a body type similar to the pnks so i made this an insecurity of hers hehe)
but monsters can combat this by showing their scariness through their glowing eyes, teeth, claws, etc. this could be valuable as well as there's a scary/surprising factor to appearing "innocent" at first, which could be advantageous in scaring, if you know how to use it (like the pnk's in the toxicity challenge or terri and terry in the scare simulator)
also considering the movie poster seen in maw; it's about monsters in space, likely referring to aliens. humans could be considered aliens/alien-looking to monsters because they come from another world, and heather has a more humanoid appearance
on the other hand, hss is more favored as "one of the most powerful, scary monsters in campus, and they have a more traditionally "scary" appearance. and in monsters at work, of the female monsters in the mu sororities, rosie levin was the one who made it to the same scare/(laugh) floor that sulley/(mike) are/(were) on, at monsters inc.
so really i think beauty is subjective in the monster world since everyone is so different. conventionally beautiful monsters are still beautiful, maybe even some monster's preference, but scary monsters are generally favored most, because of how much monster society is centered around scaring. after all, "scariness is the true measure of a monster."
@moonlight-monster @randall-simp-nadt88
#kinda rushed this bc im busy but i was excited to get this out because i've thought about this a lot actually!#hope i didn't forget anything i wanted to mention#sorry i really wanted to share my thoughts on this ð#monsters inc#monsters university#monsters at work#mi#mu#maw#mike wazowski#james p sullivan#sulley#sullivan#randall boggs#randy boggs#who framed roger rabbit#roger rabbit#jessica rabbit#wfrr#heather olsen#pnk#python nu kappa#hss#eta hiss hiss#rosie levin#pixar#disney#cartoons#analysis
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A STARE WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS
PAIRING. dan feng x gn!reader
WORD COUNT. 1.4k
SUMMARY. you and dan feng were just friends. close comrades who challenged each other. but you were starting to suspect that just friends don't stare at each other like this...
NOTE: dan feng on the brain !!!! i was looking thru some writing prompts and there was a list of friends to lovers that inspired meeee :> i hope y'all enjoy this lil dan feng drabble!! :o ~sof
It wasnât always easy being a friend of the esteemed High Cloud Quintet, but it sure was fun. In a group of warriors and leaders, some of your morals seemed to go against the grain. With your more pacifist approach, you preferred healing and mediating disagreements rather than resorting to a clash of the swords.
Still, you were not young with folly such as before. You understood there was a time and place for everything and, sometimes, war was inevitable in this world. You could only sigh to yourself, wishing it werenât so.
But while battles waged on, you at least wanted to help those wounded trying to fight for what was rightâno matter how misguided you thought their approach was.
Dan Feng was someone you chose to confide in. The great warrior, the Imbibitor Lunae, somehow empathized with your inner conflicts more than you would have expected him to. He may have been a cutthroat, fearless leader, but he was also gentle and thoughtful, pondering whether or not the ends truly justified the means in between brutal battles.Â
The people he led could never see that ever-questioning side of him. Nor could he ever find the vulnerability to show them. That was something he reserved only for the closest of friends.Â
That was something he reserved only for you.Â
You let out a deep breath after a long day of work, smiling only to greet Dan Feng who had asked you to meet up with him over dinner.
âLike a date,â Baiheng sang with a grin when you had told her the previous day.
Your cheeks flushed at the memory. Two friends could certainly partake in evening consumption of sustenance together without it being a date, you had reminded her. And yourself.Â
âSure, but do just friends stare into each otherâs eyes for seconds too long like you two do?â
With a small laugh and a shake of your head, you brought yourself back to present time with Dan Feng.
âGood evening,â you greeted with a wave. âHave you been waiting long?â
âI have been left alone here all day waiting for your arrival,â he jested with a dramatic sigh, one corner of his mouth tilting upwards to let you know he was only joking.
âOf course,â you played along, âI do not doubt that the great Imbibitor Lunae has plenty of time to spare waiting about.â
âFor you? Most certainly.âÂ
You fought a grin off your face at his kindness. Dan Feng truly was a good person, always putting his friends first. For a moment, you wondered how much more thoughtful he would be towards a partnerâtowards someone he had romantic feelings for. But you did not allow yourself to entertain those thoughts for too long. After all, you had food to eat.Â
âI requested your favorite dish,â he said as the meal came to your table. Establishments in which private outdoor dining was an accommodation were not common in your area, so you and Dan Feng often frequented the one closest to you. It was no strange feat for him to commit your favorite dish to memory. âI hope I did not overstep, but it was getting dark out and I know you tend to grow rather famished at this hour.â
You smiled as the scent of the food in front of you wafted through the air, causing your stomach to grumble quietly. âI appreciate your preparation, Dan Feng. You arenât overstepping in the slightest.â
In fact, you quite liked that Dan Feng went out of his way to ensure you would have food to eat by the time you arrived for dinner. He was rightâ You were running late today and you were rather peckish by the time you had arrived. It was a simple act of kindness, and you were grateful for it.Â
Dan Feng really was nice to his friends.Â
If you did not have a good head on your shoulders, you might have let your emotions confuse the situation and misread his intentions towards you. He simply was a good friend to you and the High Cloud Quintet, though in moments of delusion you felt yourself imagining more.Â
Especially moments of delusion fueled by the unnerving stare on his face directed right at you. Unnerving in a positive sense, of course.Â
Unnerving in a way of not being able to understand the depth of emotions behind those bright eyes of his. Unnerving enough to pique your curiosity and want to learn just what that stare meant.Â
The certain stare he was giving you right now.Â
Was he looking at you like a confidant? A scholar to share his pacifist literature with? A friend? A lover?Â
If Dan Feng noticed your inner turmoil, all he did was smile. It was a smile that said he knew exactly what was running through your mind. His piercing gaze stayed locked on yours as he tilted his head and took a sip of tea.Â
Unable to help yourself, you blurted, âDo you intend to look at me in such a way?â
An expression of delighted amusement formed on his face before he regained his stoic composure. âIn what manner are you referring to, my dear?â
Your heart stirred in confusion at his affectionate words. This High Elder truly had a disarming effect on you.
âSuch as how you are staring at me right now!â you cried, feeling rather indignant. âIt is how youâve been staring at me for the past few months, even. Itâ It bewilders me!â
âAnd how, exactly, am I staring at you?â he pushed, a confident smile on his lips as he awaited your answer.Â
âYou are staring at meâŠas if you want me.â
His eyes widened for a brief moment, like he was shocked you gave in to his teasing and prodding this time.Â
âYou keep staring at me like that, and treating me in a special manner⊠You should be careful, Dan Feng,â you said with a sigh, slowly bringing your utensils to your mouth. Before biting, you stated, âYou could confuse even the most refined of individuals that way, are you aware?â
He studied you before asking, âAs an esteemed and refined Vidyadhara yourself, what do you find confusing?â
âWhether I am reading your intentions incorrectly or not,â you said, no longer bothering to hide you frustration.Â
âIt is not my desire to confuse you,â promised Dan Feng, a genuine look on his face as you finally met his gaze again. âFor that, I apologize sincerely.â
Your stomach churned in dejected understanding. âThank you for the apologize. It is okay.â
Perhaps you shouldnât have gotten ahead of yourself and confused his kindness for interest. You shoved the food around on your plate, trying to downplay your disappointment that Dan Feng did not desire you after all.
At your lackluster response, he cleared his throat. He looked at your downcast expression and frowned. âPerhaps I am not making myself clear enough. Believe me, you are certainly not misinterpreting my intentions.â
Your eyes widened at his clarification. âMeaningâŠ?â
âI do want you.â Dan Feng set his teacup down with a conspiratorial glint in his eye. âI admire your strength and your intellect. Your desire for peace and your willingness to do what is right. You are nuanced and complex and, at times, even oblivious,â he smiled at the thought of you misunderstanding his initial confession, âand you are my close friend I have found myself getting more and more drawn to.â
Giggles bubbled up from inside you, more so in excitement than in amusement. If it werenât unbecoming of an unpartnered Vidyadhara to show public displays of affection, you would have ran over to Dan Feng and given him a hug by now.Â
âI want you, too, Dan Feng,â is what you said instead. âYou are cunning and sharp, yet understanding and gentle. Your thoughtfulness is inspiring and I have never met anyone more loyal than you.âÂ
The apples of his cheeks tinged the lightest pink you had ever seen, and you fought the urge to continuously shower him with more compliments.
âYouâre the only one I could confide my potentially treasonous thoughts in,â you laughed while he nodded with amusement. Your gaze softened as your tone grew more serious. âYou are one of my best friends, but I can envision a road in which we are more than that, evenâ Lovers.â
If he was surprised at all, he did not show it.Â
âThat is the path I would prefer to take.â Dan Feng extended his hand from across the table as if it were a mere offering to your boundless grace. âDo you desire to take it with me?â
âWith you?â you repeated, slipping your hand into his with a smile. âMost certainly.â
#hsr x reader#dan feng x reader#honkai star rail x reader#hsr imagines#honkai star rail#hsr#hsr fanfiction#dan heng x reader#dan feng#imbibitor lunae#imbibitor lunae x reader
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A Duet of Fire and Fate
ONGOING
Summary: Aemond Targaryen, a talented cellist marked by his family's legacy and a personal tragedy meets a gifted pianist from a music rival school. As they navigate the pressures of a national music competition, their initial rivalry transforms into a complex relationship filled with unspoken desires and shared musical ambitions. Amidst the backdrop of high stakes performances and the cutthroat world of classical music, they discover that their greatest challenge isn't winning the competition, but understanding the true harmony between their hearts and their art.
Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four | Part Five | Part Six
ADOFAF: Taglist: @julczimozart @helaenaluvr @toodlesxcuddles @apothe-roses @bellaisasleep @tulips2715 @deliaseastar @lorarri
Dividers by @strangergraphics-archive â¥ïž
#modern aemond#aemond targaryen modern au#hotd modern au#modern hotd#modern!aemond#modern!aemond targaryen x reader#modern aemond x female readrr#modern!aemond x reader#modern!aemond targaryen#modern!aemond targaryen fanfic#modern!aemond smut#aemond smut#aemond fanfic#aemond fanfiction#aemond fic#aemond fandom#modern aemond x reader#modern aemond targaryen x reader#modern aemond x you#aemond x reader#aemond x fem!reader#aemond x female#aemond x fem!oc#aemond x oc#modern aemond x oc#modern aemond fanfiction#aemond targaryen smut#aemond targaryen fic#aemond targaryen fanfiction#aemond targaryen x reader
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Captured Moments
Jennie Kim x Fem Reader
Word count: 2.3k
Synopsis: Y/N and Jennie's journey from trainee friends to K-pop stars culminates in a dazzling Calvin Klein photoshoot, winning fans' hearts
Before the fame and the bright lights of the K-pop industry, there was a friendship that laid the foundation for something deeper. You and Jennie met during your early days as trainees under the same entertainment company. Drawn together by a shared passion for music and performance, you quickly became inseparable.
Despite the pressures and challenges of trainee life, you found solace in each other's company. Late-night practice sessions turned into heart-to-heart conversations, where you shared your dreams, fears, and aspirations for the future. In Jennie, you found a kindred spirit, someone who understood the highs and lows of chasing your dreams in the cutthroat world of K-pop.
As the years passed, your bond only grew stronger. You watched with pride as Jennie rose through the ranks to become a member of Blackpink, one of the most iconic girl groups in the industry. Meanwhile, you pursued your own solo career, honing your craft and making a name for yourself as a talented performer in your own right.
Through it all, your friendship with Jennie remained a constant source of support and inspiration. You celebrated each other's successes and lifted each other up during the inevitable setbacks and challenges that came with life in the spotlight. And amidst the chaos of the industry, you couldn't help but feel a growing attraction to Jennie â a spark that ignited into something more.
After two years of dancing around your feelings, you and Jennie finally took the leap and confessed your love for each other. It was a decision met with both excitement and trepidation, knowing the potential backlash that could come from being open about your relationship in an industry that often frowned upon same-sex couples.
But love, as they say, knows no bounds. And so, you and Jennie made the decision to stand together, facing whatever challenges came your way with unwavering determination and a fierce devotion to each other.
â â â â â â â
The day of the Calvin Klein photoshoot was a whirlwind of excitement and nerves. As one of the main ambassadors for the brand, Jennie was a seasoned pro when it came to posing for the camera, her confidence and poise evident in every frame. Meanwhile, you were a newcomer to the Calvin Klein family, eager to make your mark alongside your girlfriend.
As you stepped onto set, you were greeted by a flurry of activity â stylists fussing over wardrobe choices, makeup artists applying the final touches, and photographers adjusting their cameras for the perfect shot. Despite the chaos, there was an undeniable energy in the air, a sense of anticipation for the magic that was about to unfold.
Jennie was already in the midst of her solo shoot when you arrived, her signature pout and smoldering gaze captivating the camera with effortless ease. You couldn't help but marvel at her beauty, the way she seemed to command attention with every movement.
"Wow," you whispered to yourself, a small smile playing at the corners of your lips. "She's incredible."
Just then, Jennie caught your eye from across the room, her lips curling into a mischievous grin as she struck a pose for the camera. You felt a blush creep up your cheeks as she winked in your direction, her gaze lingering on you for a moment longer than necessary.
"Cut! That's a wrap for Jennie's solo shots," the photographer called out, signaling the end of the first part of the shoot. Jennie sauntered over to where you were standing, her confidence radiating like a halo around her.
"Hey, you," she said, wrapping her arms around your waist and pulling you into a tight hug. "How's it going?"
You melted into her embrace, reveling in the warmth of her touch. "I'm good," you replied, your voice soft with affection. "Just a little nervous about my solo shots."
Jennie leaned back slightly, her hands resting on your shoulders as she looked at you with a reassuring smile. "You'll be amazing, I know it," she said, her voice filled with confidence. "And besides, I'll be right here cheering you on every step of the way."
As you and Jennie took your places on set, the photographer wasted no time in getting started. The studio lights cast a warm, flattering glow over both of you, accentuating every curve and contour of your bodies as you stood side by side.
"Alright, let's start with some solo shots first," the photographer instructed, adjusting the lighting and camera settings.
Jennie flashed you a quick grin before striking a pose, her movements fluid and confident as she effortlessly switched from one position to the next. You couldn't help but admire her grace and poise, the way she seemed to command the attention of everyone in the room with just a single glance.
As you watched her, a playful smirk tugged at the corners of her lips, and you knew she was up to something. Sure enough, as the photographer snapped away, capturing Jennie in all her glory, she couldn't resist throwing in a few extra flourishes â a wink here, a subtle hair flip there â all designed to make you laugh.
"Cut it out, Jennie," you chuckled, shaking your head at her antics. "You're going to distract the photographer."
Jennie just grinned in response, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she struck another pose, this time exaggeratedly dramatic. "What? I'm just giving the people what they want," she quipped, earning a chuckle from the photographer.
After a series of solo shots, it was finally time for the two of you to pose together. As the photographer directed you into position, Jennie sidled up next to you, her shoulder brushing against yours as she flashed you a conspiratorial grin.
"Ready to steal the show?" she whispered, her voice filled with excitement.
You nodded, a grin spreading across your face as you leaned in closer to her. "Always."
With that, the two of you launched into a series of playful poses, each one more adventurous than the last. From piggyback rides to playful wrestling matches, you threw yourselves into the shoot with abandon, reveling in the freedom of being able to express your love openly.
As the photographer urged you to get closer, you felt a surge of adrenaline course through your veins, the thrill of being able to share this intimate moment with Jennie overwhelming your senses. With each click of the shutter, you and Jennie grew bolder, more daring in your displays of affection.
"Let's try something a little more intimate," the photographer suggested, motioning for the two of you to move closer together.
Jennie grinned mischievously, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she wrapped her arms around your waist, pulling you flush against her. "Closer, baby," she murmured, her breath warm against your ear.
You shivered at the sensation, your heart racing as you allowed yourself to surrender to the moment. Wrapping your arms around Jennie's neck, you pulled her even closer, reveling in the feel of her body pressed against yours.
"Perfect," the photographer exclaimed, snapping away as you and Jennie shared a lingering gaze. In that moment, there was no one else in the world but the two of you â lost in each other's eyes, bound together by an unbreakable bond of love.
As the shoot came to an end and the final shots were captured, you and Jennie lingered on set, reluctant to let go of the intimacy that had enveloped you. It had been a day filled with laughter, tears, and everything in between, but through it all, you had stood together â united in love and unwavering in your commitment to each other.
"Thank you," you whispered to Jennie, pressing a soft kiss to her lips. "For everything."
Jennie smiled, her eyes shining with love and affection. "Anytime, my love. Anytime."
As the photographer signaled for you to start your solo shots, you took a deep breath, steeling yourself for the task ahead. The studio lights illuminated the set, casting dramatic shadows against the backdrop as you struck your first pose.
You glanced over at Jennie, who was watching you intently from the sidelines, her eyes filled with admiration and pride. With a playful smirk, you began to move, each step deliberate and purposeful as you channeled your inner confidence.
"Work it, babe!" Jennie called out, her voice filled with encouragement.
You couldn't help but chuckle at her enthusiasm, feeling a surge of warmth wash over you at her words. With renewed determination, you launched into a series of sexy poses, each one designed to showcase your best angles and highlight your natural beauty.
As you moved, the photographer adjusted the lighting, capturing your every movement with precision and skill. With each click of the shutter, you felt yourself growing more confident, more empowered by the knowledge that you were owning the moment.
"Beautiful!" the photographer exclaimed, snapping away as you struck a particularly sultry pose. You couldn't help but feel a thrill of excitement course through you at the praise, a sense of satisfaction settling over you as you basked in the spotlight.
But it wasn't just the photographer's approval that spurred you on â it was Jennie's unwavering support and encouragement that gave you the strength to push yourself further. With each passing moment, you felt yourself growing more confident, more radiant in your beauty.
As the shoot progressed, you found yourself growing bolder, more daring in your poses. You threw caution to the wind, allowing yourself to fully embrace the sensuality of the moment as you basked in the glow of the studio lights.
"Hot damn!" Jennie exclaimed, her eyes wide with admiration as she watched you in awe. "You are absolutely killing it!"
You grinned at her praise, feeling a surge of pride swell within you. With renewed energy, you continued to pose, each movement fluid and graceful as you allowed yourself to fully inhabit the role of the confident, seductive soloist.
As the shoot came to an end, you couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment wash over you. You had conquered the camera, owning every moment with grace and style. And as you looked over at Jennie, her eyes shining with pride, you knew that you had done more than just take pictures â you had captured a moment of pure magic, a moment that would live on forever in the hearts and minds of those who witnessed it.
â â â â â â
After the photos from your Calvin Klein shoot were released, the response from fans was overwhelming, but in the best way possible. Rather than hate, there was an outpouring of love and admiration for you and Jennie. Your fans flooded social media with comments and messages, expressing their awe at the stunning images and the undeniable chemistry between you and Jennie.
As you scrolled through the countless messages on your phone, a wide grin spread across your face. It was incredible to see the positive impact your photos had on your fans, and you couldn't help but feel a surge of gratitude for their unwavering support.
As the photos from your Calvin Klein shoot made their way onto social media, fan accounts dedicated to you and Jennie erupted with excitement. The images of the two of you, captured in intimate and sensual poses, quickly became the talk of the town, eliciting a flurry of reactions from your devoted followers.
@JenYoursTruly: "OMG, have you seen the latest pics of Y/N and Jennie for Calvin Klein? They look absolutely stunning together! ð #Yennie"
@YNNation: "Y'all, I think I've died and gone to heaven after seeing those photos of Y/N and Jennie. Can you say power couple? ð¥ #Yennie"
@JennieIsQueen: "Jennie and Y/N's chemistry is off the charts! These photos are everything we never knew we needed. #Yennie"
@YNNavy: "I'm convinced that Y/N and Jennie are the eighth wonder of the world after seeing those Calvin Klein pics. My heart can't handle this level of perfection. ð #Yennie"
@Jeniverse: "I swear, Y/N and Jennie are trying to kill us with their hotness. Those photos are pure fire! ð¥ #Yennie"
"Wow, look at this," you said, turning to Jennie as you showed her your phone. "Our fans are going crazy over these pictures."
Jennie leaned in to get a closer look, her eyes widening in amazement as she read through the comments. "I can't believe it," she said, her voice filled with awe. "They really love us, don't they?"
"They do," you replied, reaching out to squeeze her hand. "And can you blame them? We look pretty damn good together."
@YNNation: "Obsessed with Y/N and Jennie! They redefine couple goals with every photo and every moment they share together. #Yennie"
@Jeniverse: "Y/N and Jennie are the epitome of love and beauty. We stan this power couple forever! ð #Yennie"
@YJEnthusiasts: "Every time Y/N and Jennie grace us with their presence, we're reminded that true love exists. Here's to forever shipping #Yennie!"
@YJUniverse: "No words can describe the magic of Y/N and Jennie together. Their bond is unbreakable, and their love shines brighter than any star. ð #Yennie"
@JenniesDarling: "Y/N and Jennie radiate love in every photo, every gesture, every smile. Their relationship is an inspiration to us all. ð #Yennie"
Jennie chuckled, leaning in to press a kiss to your cheek. "We do, don't we? I'm so glad we did this shoot together."
"Me too," you said, smiling as you leaned into her touch. "It was an unforgettable experience, and I'm so grateful we got to share it."
As the two of you basked in the glow of your success, you couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement for the future. With each passing day, your bond grew stronger, your love for each other deeper than ever before. And as you looked ahead to all the adventures that lay in store, you knew that together, you could conquer anything.
#blackpink x reader#blackpink#blackpink x fem reader#blackpink x you#blackpink x fem#blackpink scenarios#blackpink imagines#jennie x reader#Jennie#kim jennie#Kim Jennie x reader
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ððððððð - ðððð«ðð¬ð¬ ðð§ð€ð§ðšð°ð§ - pt. 2
(ðð°ðŽðµ-ð€ð³ð¢ðŽð©!ðð¶ð³ððº ð ððð!ððŠð¢ð¥ðŠð³)
ðð²ð§ðšð©ð¬ð¢ð¬: ðð¯ ð¢ ð³ð°ð¶ðµðªð¯ðŠ ð³ð°ð¶ðµðŠ ðµð©ð³ð°ð¶ðšð© ðºð°ð¶ð³ ðð°ð€ð¢ð ð®ðªðð¬ðºðžð¢ðº, ðºð°ð¶ ð§ðªð¯ð¥ ð¢ ð§ð³ðŠðªðšð©ðµðŠð³ ðµð³ð¶ð€ð¬ðªð¯ðš-ðŽð©ðªð± ð§ð°ð³ ðµð©ðŠ ð±ð°ð±ð¶ðð¢ð³ ðŽð©ðªð±ð±ðªð¯ðš ð€ð°ð®ð±ð¢ð¯ðº ðð°ð¯ðº ðð¹ð±ð³ðŠðŽðŽ ð§ðð°ð¢ðµðªð¯ðš ðµð©ð³ð°ð¶ðšð© ðŽð±ð¢ð€ðŠ. ðð§ðµðŠð³ ðµð³ðºðªð¯ðš ðµð° ð€ð°ð¯ð¯ðŠð€ðµ ðµð° ðµð©ðŠðªð³ ð€ð°ð¯ðµð³ð°ð ð€ðŠð¯ðµðŠð³ ðžðªðµð© ð¯ð° ðð¶ð€ð¬, ðºð°ð¶ ð¢ð¯ð¥ ðµðžð° ð°ðµð©ðŠð³ ððð ðžð°ð³ð¬ðŠð³ðŽ ð¥ð° ð¢ð¯ ðŠð®ðŠð³ðšðŠð¯ð€ðº 'ðžðŠððð¯ðŠðŽðŽ ð·ðªðŽðªðµ' ð°ð¯ ðµð©ðŠ ðð¶ðð±ð¢ð³.
part 1
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ð°ðððð ðððð ðððð ððð ððððð-ð ððððððð ðððð ðð ððð ðððððððð, ð²ðððð¢ ð ðð ððððððððððð¢ ðððð ðð¢ ððððððð ðð-ðððð ððððð. ððð ððð ððð ððð ðð ððð ððððððððð ðð ððð ððððð ðð ððð ðððððððð ððððð ððð ððððððððð ð ðð ððððððð ðð ðððð.
After that, it was out of your hands.Â
Months went by and you had to frequent your therapist more often than every two-weeks, like usual. The horror you'd experienced on the Tulpar was never topped in all your experience as an EMS. The case was opened, and you were questioned a bit by police about the state you found things in. You never heard the beginning of the end of the story you witnessed.Â
You checked online for any Pony Express cases being opened, but they were able to pay it off and keep it quiet. You didn't know any of that, you just waited. In your local town there were old missing posters for a young adult named 'Daisuke' who was last seen months and months ago by his parents. He went on a trip and never came back. You didn't want to think it was related, you hoped he was found and returned to his family.Â
You wondered if the man you found in the pod had recovered or kicked the bucket because of the severity of his injuries. Your therapist didn't want you spending time on these hypotheticals. A part of you couldn't help it. In all your career, you'd never spent this much time wondering about patients.Â
The only thing to take your mind off of your trauma, was skiing. Not you skiing, but spending time with family. The lodges weren't cheap and you kind of hated the attitudes of everyone who was a regular there. You sat in the public ski lounge sipping on a shitty (coffee order). Your family was out on the slopes and you waited here until it was time to get dinner. Cutthroat Kitchen played on the plasma tv screen.Â
You would occasionally look up and see Alton Brown giving another challenge. You were drawing on your tablet in the meanwhile, letting your pencil take its time making waves across the screen.Â
A large family had also settled into the lounge, getting somewhat on your nerves.Â
"ðð¡ðš'ð¬ ð ðšð§ð§ð ð°ðððð¡ ðð«ðð§ð?" "ðð'ð¥ð¥ ð ð¬ðð¢ð ð'ð ð ðš ðšð§ ðð¡ð ð ððšð®ðð¥ð ðð¥ððð€ ðð¢ððŠðšð§ð ð°ð¢ðð¡ ðð¡ð«ð¢ð¬ððšð©ð¡ðð«, ð ððð§'ð."
Curly saw you. His family was making a fuss of who'd watch him while he was in the lounge. Really he felt he could be left alone in the lobby, but he was sure some lodge manager would patronize him for it. He sighed and hummed. You were too focused drawing, or too focused ignoring his loud family by looking like you were drawing. He wanted company, but watching the tv was fine too. They said they hadn't planned to be on the slopes all day but Curly doubted his mother's timing.Â
He used his tablet with eye-tracking ability to tell them who could watch him. The roman times font appeared on the screen, the words flipped and calculated his sentence.Â
"ðð¡ððŠ, ðšð§ ðð¡ð ðð«ðŠðð¡ðð¢ð«."Â
His family halted their squabbling and looked at you. You kept minding your business and had tuned them out long ago. You tested different pen strokes for the tree you were drawing. It was hell.Â
"ðð«ðð§ð, ð²ðšð® ððšð§'ð ð€ð§ðšð° ðð¡ððŠ." his mom fussed.
They waited for a response, whispering among each other like he couldn't hear.Â
"ðð¡ðð² ð¬ðð¯ðð ðŠð² ð¥ð¢ðð ðšð§ ðð¡ð ððŠðð®ð¥ðð§ðð. ð ð€ð§ðšð° ðð¡ððŠ."Â
A large gasp came from his mom and she immediately dropped her annoyance and the group got much louder once again. His mother walked over to you and waved her hand in your face. Curly realized what he had just gotten you into.Â
ðð©ð°ð°ð±ðŽ, he sighed.Â
"ðð±ðð®ð¬ð ðŠð!" you looked up, startled and flipped your tablet shut. You looked at her and behind her at her family. You stopped, looking at Curly. He'd grown back some hair, it was short and choppy. His skin was discolored but there were no scabs. He looked amazing. You recognized that blue eye anywhere. Months of therapy came undone.Â
He wore a puffy navy blue jacket over a terry maroon sweater. He wore heavy loose barrel jeans and a cowboy belt buckle around his hips. A beanie with a puffball at the end sat in his lap. There weren't any blood bandages on him. His eye socket had scarred over and left a valley of skin. He had a triangular hole where his nose was.Â
You looked at his mom,Â
"ðð² ð¬ðšð§ ð¬ðð²ð¬ ð²ðšð® ð¬ðð¯ðð ð¡ð¢ð¬ ð¥ð¢ðð. ðð¬ ðð¡ðð ðð«ð®ð? ðð¥ððð¬ð, ð°ð¡ðð'ð¬ ð²ðšð®ð« ð§ððŠð?" she took your hands in hers. You were very uncomfortable.Â
"ð-ð. ðððð¡. ðð² ððððŠ ðð§ð ð ððšð®ð§ð ð¡ð¢ðŠ ðšð§ ðð¡ð ðð®ð¥ð©ðð« ðŠðšð§ðð¡ð¬ ðð ðš." you looked at him. She gasped again and started to tear up. More of his family gathered around you.Â
"ðð¡ ðŠð² ð ðšð." "ðð¡ðð'ð¬ ð²ðšð®ð« ð§ððŠð?" "ðð ðð¡ðšð®ð ð¡ð ð¡ð ðð¢ðð!" "ðð¥ððð¬ð ð¢ð ðð¡ðð«ð'ð¬ ðð§ð²ðð¡ð¢ð§ð ð°ð ððð§ ððš ððš ð©ðð² ð²ðšð® ðððð€." cousins, aunts, siblings, even his uncle's chihuahua was surrounding you.Â
They were overwhelmingly warm and bombarding your peace and quiet. This was supposed to be your escape.
"ðð² ð§ððŠð'ð¬ (ð²/ð§). ðð¥ððð¬ð ð¢ð'ð¬ ðð¥ð«ð¢ð ð¡ð. ðð ð°ðð¬ ð£ð®ð¬ð ðŠð² ð£ðšð. ð-ð ð ðð ð©ðð¢ð ðð§ðšð®ð ð¡." You tried backing up but it was no use. You were surrounded by plush furniture you could sink into, what hell. You looked at Curly for help.
Curly had used his pad to speak, but they weren't listening.Â
"ðð¡- ð¡ð'ð¬ ᅵᅵð«ð²ð¢ð§ð ððš ð¬ðð² ð¬ðšðŠððð¡ð¢ð§ð ." Their attention turned immediately but his mom was still sobbing on your shoulder.Â
"ðð¡ðð'ð¬ ðð§ðšð®ð ð¡, ð ðð¡ð¢ð§ð€. ððšð® ð ð®ð²ð¬ ððð§ ð¡ð¢ð ðð¡ð ð¬ð¥ðšð©ðð¬. ð'ðŠ ð¢ð§ ð ðšðšð ð¡ðð§ðð¬." He typed. You sighed.Â
"ðð ð°ðð§ð§ð ððð¥ð€ ð°ð¢ðð¡ ð²ðšð®, ð¢ð ðð¡ðð'ð¬ ðð¥ð«ð¢ð ð¡ð?" his dad asked you.Â
"ðð¡. ð'ðŠ ð§ðšð ððšðš ððšðŠððšð«ðððð¥ð ð°ð¢ðð¡ ðð¡ðð. ð ððŠ ð«ðððšð¯ðð«ð¢ð§ð ðð«ðšðŠ ðð¡ðð ðð«ð¢ð© ð¬ðð¢ð¥ð¥. ð ððšð§'ð ð°ðð§ð§ð ðð«ð¢ð§ð ð¢ð ð®ð©." you tried to back out of this and sit back down but his mother gripped you by the shoulders. You didn't think 'heroes' had to spend thousands in psychological recovery and act nonchalant. The situation was a big deal to you too after months. Heroes knew how to move onto the next person and live normal day to day. You felt less than normal. You helped him, you didn't save him.Â
"ðð®ð ðð«ðð§ð ð°ðšð§'ð ððð¥ð€ ðððšð®ð ð¢ð ð°ð¢ðð¡ ð®ð¬, ð°ð ð°ðð«ð ð°ðšð§ððð«ð¢ð§ð ð¢ð ð²ðšð® ððšð®ð¥ð ð¡ðð¥ð© ð®ð¬." His mom choked out. You gently took her hands off of you. She held them close to her chest as she tried catching her breath.Â
Part of you sympathized with her. Her son left on his regular job, and came back mangled and suffering from 4th degree burns and some places even higher than that. They could've lost him, never to be seen again.Â
"ðð'ð¬ ð ð ð«ðšð°ð§ ððð®ð¥ð, ðð§ð ð'ðŠ ð¬ð®ð«ð ð¢ð'ð¬ ðð¯ðð§ ð¡ðð«ððð« ððšð« ð¡ð¢ðŠ ðð¡ðð§ ð¢ð ð¢ð¬ ððšð« ðŠð." you reasoned.Â
"ðð ð°ðð§ð ðð¥ðšð¬ð®ð«ð."Â
"ðð§?" you looked around, what was there to close, their family member was home safe now.Â
"ðð¡ðð ð¡ðð©ð©ðð§ðð."
"ð ðð¡ð¢ð§ð€ ð ð°ðð§ððð ðð¡ð ð¬ððŠð ðð¡ð¢ð§ð ððšðš. ðð®ð ð¡ðð«ð ð ððŠ, ð«ðððšð¯ðð«ð¢ð§ð ðð«ðšðŠ ðð¡ð ð®ð§ð€ð§ðšð°ð§." Imagining what actually happened left you sleepless. You're sure knowing what happened would leave something worse than a sleepless night.Â
"ðð¡ð ð©ðšð¥ð¢ðð ð°ðšð®ð¥ðð§'ð ððð¥ð¥ ð®ð¬ ð°ð¡ðð ð¡ðð©ð©ðð§ðð."
"ððšðŠð© ð°ðšðŠð©." you shrugged.Â
"ð-. ððšðŠð© ð°ðšðŠð©? ðð¡ðð'ð¬ ð¢ð?"
"ðððð¡. ðð'ð¬ ð§ðšð ðŠð² ð¬ððšð«ð² ððš ððð¥ð¥." you concluded and sat back down. Accenting your moves by flipping your tablet open and ducking your head down to draw again. His family grumbled to each other and waddled out in their puffy jackets, leaving Curly with you. They couldn't get it out of you. You were off duty and on vacation.Â
Curly watched you. He hoped he wasn't a burden himself. Or his family that was out of his control. You knew how it was, families. Your own was overwhelming enough doing literally anything around you. You wouldn't judge him based off of that. Right now, you are trying to get back into your happy place. Processing that interaction would take more than yourself to help you. At least your next session wouldn't be ridden with anxiety. You had something new to talk about.Â
"ðð¢." Curly's automated voice spoke up.Â
You looked up and waved,Â
"ðð¢. ðð¢ðð ððš ð¬ðð ð²ðšð® ðð ðð¢ð§." you weren't sure what to say. What could you say?
"ððšð® ððšðš. ððšð° ðð«ð ð²ðšð® ððšð¢ð§ð ?"
You sighed "ð®ð ð¡, ð°ðð¥ð¥. ð'ðŠ ðšð§ ð¯ððððð¢ðšð§ ðð®ð ð'ðŠ ð§ðšð ðŠð®ðð¡ ðšð ð ð¬ð€ð¢ðð« ðð¡ðð¬ð ððð²ð¬."
"ðð ð§ðð¢ðð¡ðð«." he joked.
You laughed. Curly felt his heart pound in his chest. You got up and sat closer to him near his wheelchair. You reminded him of Anya. A caretaker.Â
"ðð¡ðð ðððšð®ð ð²ðšð®? ððšð°'ð«ð ð²ðšð®?"
"ð'ðŠ ððšð¢ð§ð ðð¢ð§ð. ðð±ð®ððð«ðð§ð ðð¡ðšð®ð ð¡."
You were a bit confused but he looked busy with his tablet so you would wait for an explanation.
"ðð±ð¡ðð®ð¬ððð. ðð®ððš-ððšð«ð«ððð."
"ððð¡ð¡ð¡." you smiled. "ððð©ð©ðð§ð¬ ððš ðð¡ð ððð¬ð ðšð ð®ð¬."
Curly thought about thanking you for that day. But in truth, he wish he died with it. The day he lost his crew was the day that he died with it in spirit. He had to find himself again. As much as he wanted to have more in life, he never expected to gain it like this. This was an entirely new beginning for him.Â
He hated it. The once young and respected captain who took responsibility for his crew, now was entirely a responsibility himself. He lived with family. They took him to appointments. His bank account was drained from medical bills and fitting new prosthetics. After the settlement between the accident with Pony Express, it was dubbed that he was the captain. And it was his fault.Â
The rules Pony Express had placed on their employees gave them no legal responsibilities over injuries unless the ship had exploded in on itself from a poor inspection. Then again, the mechanic was supposed to be able to fix it.Â
You showed Curly what you were drawing and explained the details behind your idea. When he looks at you, he goes back to that day you found him. It was miserable but you didn't baby him. You treated him like someone. Just like anyone else you'd save. He hadn't been treated that way since Anya died. Curly admired Anya for always trying her best.Â
The only problem was her tendency to take care of others because she didn't always know or feel like taking care of herself. He hated thinking about her. The guilt was immeasurable. He was captain, he should've taken responsibility. Jimmy was preventable. If Anya got hurt, or frankly anyone, the whole crew got docked credits. He wanted to prevent that knowing life wasn't good outside of trucking.Â
This was a hard life lesson. One he didn't share with anyone. But his psychiatrist.Â
"ð'ðŠ ð¬ðð«ð®ð ð ð¥ð¢ð§ð ððš ð¬ð¡ððð ðð¡ð¢ð¬-" you were too busy zooming in and out of your canvas, pointing out what you where artist block was hitting you.Â
"ð ð°ð¢ð¬ð¡ ð²ðšð® ð§ðð¯ðð« ð¬ðð¯ðð ðŠð." Curly typed. It almost felt subconscious to him.Â
You looked at him. Your hands slowly drifted to your lap. Your smile disappeared and your heart dropped.Â
"ð'ðŠ ð¬ðšð«ð«ð², ððð©ððð¢ð§. ð ᅵᅵððð¥ð¥ð² ððŠ." you looked into his blue eye and he was tearing up "ð ð®ð§ððð«ð¬ððð§ð ð²ðšð®ð« ðªð®ðð¥ð¢ðð² ðšð ð¥ð¢ðð ð¡ðð¬ ðð¡ðð§ð ðð ðð«ðð¬ðð¢ððð¥ð¥ð²." you used your professional work voice. You weren't sure how to handle such a personal situation.Â
Curly realized that if he wanted you to stick around, maybe he shouldn't have said that. He thought maybe he'd feel a relief after saying it even if it hurt your feelings, but two wrongs don't make a right. He wanted you to stay. You're just some off-duty EMS he met once but you were the first connection in a long time that was familiar.Â
His family was familiar, but sometimes they acted differently around him. Like his condition was a secret. It was always about money and how to pay for surgeries he needed. He could talk to them, like the adult he was. They didn't want to place any more burdens on his shoulders, but it didn't help. Treating his feelings like glass menagerie.Â
"ð'ðŠ ð¬ðšð«ð«ð². ðð¡ðð ð°ðð¬ ðšð®ð ðšð ð¥ð¢ð§ð." he choked out a sob.Â
"ððšð§'ð ðð©ðšð¥ðšð ð¢ð³ð. ððð¬ðð¢ð§ð ðšð®ð ðð¡ð ðð«ð®ðð¡ ðšð®ð ð¥ðšð®ð ðððð¥ð¬ ð ðšðšð ð¬ðšðŠððð¢ðŠðð¬." you shrugged.Â
"ð ððšð§'ð ðððð¥ ðððððð«. ðð ðð¢ðð§'ð ðŠðð€ð ðŠð ðððð¥ ðððððð«." there was silence. The background dampened in his ears with the thudding pulse he felt in his face.Â
"ðð¥ðšð° ðð§ð ð¬ððððð² ð°ð¢ð§ð¬ ðð¡ð ð«ððð." you smiled. You smiled. Genuinely. You shrugged his comment off. You think the only person who can help Curly is Curly, and his therapist. He can blame you, but at the end of that day, it's your job.Â
You've come to your own realizations throug out life. And sometimes you have to come to those same realizations again and again and again. Sanity is not something that sticks on and stays on. You wish you could dish what you served like advice. Because you didn't feel better either. After all these months. You wish the memories would go away.Â
Curly was capable of having a good life, like anyone else. He needed to realize that for himself. You couldn't force your advice on him, you doubt it'd make him feel better.Â
â©
ð¶ðððð ððð ð¢ðð ðððð ðð ððððð. ðŸðð ððð ðð ð¢ðð'ð ððð¡ð ðððððððððð ððð ð ððð. ððððððððð ð¢ðð'ð ðððð ðð ðð ð ððððððð ðð¢ð, ð¢ðð'ð ðð ð±ðððððððð ððððð ð ðððð ð¶ðððð ð ððððð ðð ððð ððð¢ððððð ððððððð¢ ðð¡ððððððð. ððð ð ððð ðð ðð ð¢ððð ððððð ððð£ð£ððð ðð¢ ð¢ððð ððð. ððð ð ððððð'ð ððð, ð¢ðð ððð ððððððððððð ð ððð ðð ððð¡ððð ð¢ðð.
"ðð²ð."
"ðð²ð!"
"ð'ðº ðŽðŒð¶ð»ðŽ ð¶ð» ð³ðŒð¿ ððð¿ðŽð²ð¿ð ððŒð±ð®ð."
"ð¢ðµ ðð²ð®ðµ!! ððŒð ððŒð¹ð± ðºð² ððµð®ð ð¹ð¶ðžð² ð® ðð²ð²ðž ð®ðŽðŒ. ðð²ð ðºð² ðžð»ðŒð ð¶ð³ ððŒð ð»ð²ð²ð± ð®ð»ðððµð¶ð»ðŽ :)"
"ð§ðµð®ð»ðž ððŒð, ð ðð¶ð¹ð¹."
It was short and curt. He was going in for a skin graph on his right calf. He's expressed his frustration with the skin graphs being rejected by his body. You debated on asking him if he wanted you to donate but you were covered in tattoos. Several worries went through your mind about this question. Was it too personal? Would he feel pitied by accident because he was struggling? Did he even like tattoos? What if the skin was rejected?
You sighed and shut off your phone. You had to switch shifts with the pilot on the shift. You pushed yourself out of bed and got dressed into your uniform. There was a part of yourself that told you to mute his messages for your own anxiety.Â
You were getting anxiously attached over a MAN.Â
ðð¯ð¢ð± ð°ð¶ðµ ð°ð§ ðªðµ, (ðº/ð¯). ððŠð¯ ð¢ðªð¯'ðµ ðŽð©ðªðµ. You sighed and walked through the white halls to the clinic. Your coworker left the ship on auto-pilot while they took their break. The controls blinked rhythmically.Â
ððŸ ð±ðŽ ð²ðŸðœððžðœððŽð³...
â©
ð°ððððð ðððð: ððððð ðððð ððððð ðððð ðððð ððð ððð ðž'ð ððððð ð ðððððð ð²ðððð¢!! ðž ððððð'ð ð ðððððð ððð ð ðððð ðððððð ðððððð ððð ðž'ð ðððð ðð ðððð ðð ðž'ð ððððððððð ðð ððð ðð ððð!! ðŽð¡ððððððð ððð ðððððððð ðž'ðð ðððð ðððð ðð ððð ðð ðððð ððððððð ððððððð ðð ðððð ðððððð ððð ðððð ð ð ððð ðð¡ðððððððð. ðž ððð ððððð ððð ð ððð ðððððð ððð ðððð'ð ðððð ðððð ðð.
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