#cycling membership

[nomaishuttle]

bedtime i surpose.. i loves you all mwhamwhamaha. ok bye

[emmaspolaroid]

went for a walk in the sunshine and ate both veggies and protein for lunch that should be enough Health to last a year

[csuitebitches]

Start planning 2025

Make a list of all the emotions you want to feel at the end of 2025.

Now work backwards and write down all the tasks you need to do in order to feel that way.

Make a separate list of all the “gaps” - what do you currently not have in order to do those tasks to make you feel the way you want?

And lastly, write down how you can fill those gaps. Do you need a gym membership to become fit to feel good about your yourself? Do you need to learn how to cook better meals in order to feel healthy and energised? Do you need to start applying to jobs, in order to secure one, in order to feel financially safe? Do you need to buy an old school alarm clock that’s going to wake up your entire apartment building in order to wake up early? what do you need to DO?

also, make a list of all the things that worked out for you in 2024. Learn to celebrate and appreciate, even the smallest of wins.

For the next two months start the trial and error process of this program. Let’s say you decide that you want to work out 7 days a week in order to feel good about your body. Now halfway through November you realise that 7 days is probably too much, and 5 days would be better for your schedule. Or you decide to read 3 books a week, but realistically, maybe a chapter a day is better.

November and December are your trial months. By the time January starts, be ready with a program that is built for you, works for you, and can be completed by you.

Don’t forget about keeping a reward mechanism. If you complete your daily tasks for 1 month straight, buy that little purse you were eyeing, or take yourself to a spa. Reward yourself in ways you like so that :

a) you’re not in an endless cycle of never being satisfied

b) you don’t drop everything for a man or a friend who shows you the slightest bit of affection because you won’t show it to yourself

c) it encourages you to work harder for yourself.

[moonstonediaz]

++

[seiwas]

₊˚⊹｡ big gym energy (is this my fantasy?) | fushiguro toji

wc: 2.0k

summary: who would have thought the rippest DILF in all of Japan would get you to go to the gym everyday?

contains: gn!reader, non-curse au, college au, appearance of itafushikugi (mostly nobara), reader has a huge and lowkey delusional crush on toji, age gap

a/n: the gym toji fic! tone in this is a bit different from what i write, and it's lowkey a crack fic but i hope it's still enjoyable! listened to: big energy - latto & area codes - kaliii

part of the in's and out's new year/birthday event | request prompt: going to the gym for yourself (and totally not for that cute guy who sometimes says hi)

“You’re going to the gym?” Nobara halts smack in the middle of the busy hallway. Groans huff behind her, the rest of your class filing out of the lecture hall. You bow your head apologetically as you pull her to the side. 

“Yes.” 

She squints, skeptical, “You.” 

You nod.

“The gym.” she says it slower this time, tilting her head down. 

You nod again. 

Nobara blinks, shifting her weight as she reaches one hand inside the pocket of her overalls. There’s a long pause, rushed footsteps amplifying the suspense, then—

“Okay, what’s the bet? How much did Maki put out? I want in.” 

You roll your eyes, shaking your head as you loop your arm around hers and continue walking. 

There’s good reason for her to doubt you; she knows you best after all. In your little quad, you are the least likely to be found doing any physical activity or sport whatsoever—and that’s saying a lot, considering the other fourth of your group is Megumi. But at least he walks his dogs regularly. 

“Rude,” you scoff jokingly, “there’s no bet, just testing it out because they have a free trial promo.”

It shouldn’t hurt to check it out, you think. One of your resolutions this year is to finally get started on your fitness journey, whatever form it may be. 

“You should come.” 

Nobara snorts, “Wrong person,” you both turn at a corner, “ask Itadori.”

The gym is just a few blocks away from your campus, a good 18-minute walk if you’re counting—which is also part of what makes it so appealing. The ad you’d seen for the free trial is an early bird promo to attract new customers for the gym’s new branch launch. 

And it does make the most sense to ask him; he is the sports science major after all—

“No way,” you step out on the sidewalk, “telling him is practically committing to a membership.” 

—but Yuuji is a bit too eager when it comes to things like this. No doubt he’ll be at your heel, wagging his figurative golden retriever tail at the prospect of being your certified gym buddy. It’s endearing and you know he means well, but that’s way too much pressure for someone who’s just starting out. 

She laughs, readjusting her bag, “He’d know how to use the machines though.” 

“I watched some videos…” you mumble, because Nobara has a point, but if you’re being honest, you feel just a teensy bit embarrassed at the idea of anyone else knowing about your attempts at fitness this early on, lest it fail in the end. “I can probably ask someone there…” 

“Try the most jacked up person in the gym.” 

You shove her jokingly, her laughter echoing down the road. 

. 

The first person you meet at the gym is the lady at the front desk. Her ponytail sways as she greets you, a chirpy smile welcoming you in as she holds an iPad to her chest while touring you around—at the center, the main floor plan is decked out with machines; towards the back sit the squat racks, and to your sides are the private cycling rooms and multifunctional spaces. According to her, they also offer yoga classes every 6:00 p.m. on Wednesdays. 

You’d expected a lot more people to be in here at 7:00 p.m., but you suppose it makes sense others would prefer to spend their Friday nights elsewhere. 

Looking around, you spot a middle-aged lady you swear is Megumi’s English professor; on the treadmills, a couple your age share a laugh as they try to match pace. There are some machines you’ve never even seen in your life, Youtube videos included.

You take a deep breath. You can ask for help. 

After all, the crowd feels friendly enough, not too intimidating—

—until your eyes land on him, on the benches; an absolute tank of a man doing chest presses with what you think are probably the heaviest dumbbells on the rack. 

You try not to stare, catching only a glimpse of the way his biceps flex against the tight sleeves of his black compression shirt. 

Don’t be a creep, you tell yourself, walking towards the leg press machine. You may be new here, but you’ve learned that gym etiquette isn’t so far off from acting like a civilized human being. 

Thank god you never take Nobara seriously, because you can’t even imagine the stuttering mess you’d be if you had to ask him how to work any of these god forsaken machines. 

.

It’s a good thing, then, that help comes to you without you having to say a word. 

This is number four out of five sessions in your free trial promo, and you have no idea how to get the goddamn plates out of the barbell. You pull some out from the other side and the whole barbell comes along with it. When you attempt the other side, it does the same. Then when you finally do manage to get off the plates on one side, the whole barbell drops, clanging loudly against the metal foot of the squat rack set-up. 

(Now that you think about it, maybe it isn’t such a good thing that you’ve been offered help instead of you asking. There must be a reason someone thinks you could need it.)

Someone, who is also the last person you could ever possibly want to embarrass yourself in front of.

Someone, who just so happens to be the jacked up tank of a man you’ve admittedly glanced at a few times in your past few visits here. 

“To make it easier,” he crouches beside you, laying down a smaller plate and rolling the larger ones on the barbell over it. 

He unloads them like they weigh nothing—and with his physique, it isn’t hard to believe that they probably do. His biceps look to be the size of your head, chest popping out in ways you’ve only seen on those Tiktok thirst edits; his one hand is larger than a 2.5 kilogram plate, and his forearms look like they could ch—

Mind out of the gutter, you blink away, focusing instead on the metal bar in front of you. 

God, you don’t even know this man’s name. 

“T-thanks.” you stutter, embarrassed. 

He gives you a half-smile, lips turned on one side, “Sure.” then he walks away, the tightness of his black compression shirt hugging the ridges of his back muscles. 

You gulp. 

So begins your year-long gym membership.

(And maybe, just maybe, the kind-of-meet-cute of a lifetime. Who knows, really?) 

.

“Who would have thought the rippest DILF in all of Japan would get you to go to the gym everyday,” she snorts, fingers grazing over the curved edges of the heart-shaped watermelons in the fruit aisle.

You hush her, scanning the area around you for anyone who might have overhead. 

It’s 11:00 p.m. on a Thursday, so you doubt it, but you can never be too sure.

“He’s nice, you know.” you pout. 

“Yeah, what’s his name?” Nobara gives you a look. 

You glare, touché. 

Maybe you don’t know his name. Yet. 

But he’s always offered to stack on the heavy plates for you, and will oftentimes help in unloading them too. There are times when you aren’t quite sure how to work the machines and he swoops in like the gym buff version of prince charming, teaching you proper form just so you don’t get injured. He’ll wipe down a mat for you to use some days, because—

“Stretching is important,” he never fails to mention.

He’s nice. 

And you have an insanely delusional crush on him, but you don’t care, because why else would he be giving you this much attention if he wasn’t interested in you too? 

.

You find out many things about your gym crush, most of them completely unexpected. 

One: his hair is unusually soft for someone who looks so rough. Or, well, you think it looks soft, you can’t tell for sure; you haven’t actually touched it to be able to tell. The black mop on his head falls flat over his eyes on the few days you assume are right before his next scheduled haircut. It surprises you even more when he walks in the gym with a small hair tie holding his bangs up. 

Two: he does a considerable amount of bodyweight exercises for someone his size—Calisthenics, specifically. 

You watch him pull himself up the bar, biceps and back straining against the movement. The muscles ripple across the fabric of his tee, and it’s impressive how smoothly he’s able to go up and down; as if he isn’t exerting any effort at all. Then, the push-ups and dips. He can do them all, in every variation you never even thought existed, and it’s always done with so much ease. 

It gives you reason to believe that he could be gentle, controlled. In what? Well. You know. 

Three: he likes fruity things. You expected his go-to to be straight black, maybe a chocolate protein shake on other days too. But he shows up one day with a smoothie in the shade of vibrant magenta. Dragonfruit, you assume, from all the black specks floating in it. 

This also happens to be the first time you initiate the conversation with him.  

“Your smoothie looks good,” you mumble, a little hesitant. 

God, so awkward. 

He looks up from adjusting the plate stoppers on your bar. 

A hum rumbles from his throat before he flashes you the same half-smile he always does, “Strawberry, banana, and dragonfruit.” 

You don’t really know what to say after that other than, “Cool.” 

And you mentally facepalm yourself. 

. 

In your fourth month at the gym, you learn a few more unexpected things that change everything. 

You’ve just finished freshening up and you’re on the way out when you bump into— 

“Megumi?” 

He looks up from his phone, dark strands hitting the tips of his eyelashes as he pushes back one side of his headphones. He raises an eyebrow, confused and surprised.  

“You gym?” 

“What’re you doing here?” 

Pink dusts his cheeks as he ducks his head, motioning for you to go first. 

“Sorry,” you chuckle, adjusting the strap of your duffel bag, “I started going here a few months ago. You?” 

He looks a little surprised by it, probably more so at the fact that you’ve kept it a secret from him for so long, but he nods, “That’s good. You did mention wanting to work on your fitness more this year.” then, he shifts, adjusting his weight before hanging his headphones by his neck. 

“I’m waiting for my dad.” 

In the past few years you’ve known Megumi, he’s never mentioned his dad. You never bothered to ask because you suspected there was a good reason he never talked about him in the first place. 

And so comes number four, and maybe the last unexpected thing you find out about your gym crush— 

“Megumi!” 

You both turn around to the voice of none other than Nobara’s proclaimed rippest DILF in Japan; the most jacked up tank of a man who also happens to be the man you’ve crushed hard on for the past four months.  

Everything is snapping into place, information forming bridges you would rather not cross right now. 

He walks up to Megumi, duffel bag slung across his chest as he reaches for your friend.

Megumi looks like he wants to wither away, embarrassed at you seeing him tucked under his dad’s arm. But all your brain can really comprehend is that Megumi, your good friend, is currently squished between the bicep and chest you’ve been staring at since your first day at the gym.

You hold your breath, the realization creeping to the forefront of your mind. There had been signs that your gym crush was a dad; apart from being built like one, he’d offhandedly mention ‘son’ a few times. You didn’t think it would be—

“Oh, you two know each other?” your gym crush tilts his head, turning to you, “you didn’t tell me your friend signed up for this gym, Megumi.” 

“I didn’t know,” Megumi grumbles, and the look on his face can rival yours, for sure. Tough competition on ‘who looks like they want to die the most right now?’. 

But he can’t win. 

Because when Megumi begrudgingly introduces your gym crush to you as his dad, you’re pretty sure you’ve buried yourself twelve feet underground. 

(It doesn’t ease the embarrassment when you learn unexpected thing number five: he’s been a trainer at the gym this entire time.)

thank you notes: to @twentyfivemiceinatrenchcoat for encouraging me all the way!! ily ari

comments, tags, and reblogs are greatly appreciated ♡

[milkteabinniechan]

♡The Silk Thief's Embrace - Han Jisung

MINORS DNI 18+ ONLY MEMBERSHIP//M.LIST

pairing: perv! Han Jisung x fem! reader

summary: You've been Han Jisung's neighbors for a few months now and he's only spoken a few words to you. But when you invite him over to help around the house, he helps himself to a little souvenir to take back to his bedroom.

warnings: panty stealing, panty sniffing, pervert behavior!! masturbation, humiliation

“On earth; or damned because, half animal, One lacks direct instinct, because one wakes, Afloat on movement that divides and breaks.”

Han stood in front of his bedroom fan as it ocellated back and forth across his body. With the cold air only lasting a few seconds as it swept across his bare skin. Summer had swooped in and landed smack dab in the middle of his apartment complex. The entire building felt like a sauna and Han’s tiny fan was doing little to relieve him. The one solace he had, however, was seeing you. Thursday was laundry day. So he knew that meant for just a few brief moments of the day, he would stand with you in a cramped laundry room and talk about your days.

Han gathered his clothes in a small laundry basket and made his way down the hallway towards the laundry room. It was still early and he knew you wouldn't be there yet, but he was hoping to snag the two good machines that actually worked properly. He turned the corner to see you already standing at the washing machine. You turned and smiled, taking notice of him almost immediately.

“Oh, hi Han! So hot today, huh?”

You pulled at the collar of your shirt and obnoxiously fanned your face. Your skin was glistening and glowing with small dew drops of sweat. Your hair clung to your forehead, while your cheeks blushed a flattering rosy hue.

Han stood in the doorway for a moment before coming back to his sensing and making his way to you. He loaded up a machine of his own and nodded his head meekly.

“Y-yeah… Hot.” He said under his breath, barely above a whisper.

You continued to fan your face and you leaned actually against the washing machine behind you, your arms bent back at the top like a model on the beach, advertising for beer or sunglasses. Han’s eyes raked over your entire body, his hands still loading the machine with clothes. His eyes trailed up from your legs to your hips. From your hips all the way up to your breasts. Then from your breasts to your lips. Han’s vision lingered on your lips for a moment before tracing back down to your hips. You wore these jean shorts that hugged your body perfectly. Every curve and dip of your figure poured into those shorts like a fine wine.

In another life, I want to come back as a button on her jean shorts.

Han stood up slowly and pressed the START button on his machine. The cycle began whirling and thumping around as the two of you stood in the noise for a moment.

“Han, could I ask you a favor? It's kind of last minute.” Your soft voice cut through the rumble of the laundry machines.

Han perked up, his eyes wide and attentive. He nodded his head slowly,

“Sure. What's up?”

You looked down at your feet for a moment, as if the favor you had for him was something awful or embarrassing. Eventually, you looked back at him with an unsure expression.

“My A/C unit has been acting up and I really don't want to have to buy another one. Do you think you could come take a look at it?”

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

Han’s hands were beginning to sweat more than they already were. His mouth turned dry and the air in his lungs seemed to disappear for a moment. Somehow he willed the words “Yes” and “Sounds great” to come out of his mouth. You thanked him profusely and told him to be at your place at 6pm. You said you needed time to fold your laundry but Han didn't hear that part, his mind was elsewhere and now he just had to wait until 6pm.

Han stood outside your door that evening at 5:58pm. He fist hovered over your door and he stared at his watch. But without warning, you opened the door. You yelped at the sight of Han already standing there but quickly laughed it off. You motioned your hand inside and Han followed you. You started to walk towards your bedroom and Han was soon to follow. He immediately loved the smell of your apartment. The first scent was definitely your laundry detergent, something with lavender and lemon. The next scent was something sweeter, like baked goods. Had you been baking? He loved the idea of you baking muffins and cookies and other sweets.

“Here it is.” You stopped in front of your bedroom window where a large, and slightly rusted, air conditioning unit was wedged into the open window.

Han has recognized the model of a/c unit from his mother's house. She had never bothered to install central air so every summer Han went down to the basement and lugged up this behemoth of a device and placed it snug against the window of his mother's living room. Han looked over your air conditioning unit and gave a firm nod.

“I'll take a look.” He said confidently, giving you a soft smile.

You returned the smile and told him you would just be in the living room if he needed anything. And just like that you were gone. Han stood frozen for a moment, unsure of what to do next. He looked over the unit before crouching down in front of it. He noticed a small drip coming from the side and decided to follow it to its source. The search led him to a small tube that has been disconnected from the unit entirely.

Han smirked to himself and plugged the tube back into its proper place. He switched the unit on and soon felt the cooling arctic breeze of a functional air conditioner. Still crouched, he turned his body to shout the good news to you when his eyes caught something interesting.

Below your dresser, almost completely out of sight, was a pair of black lace panties. You must have missed them when you were putting your laundry away. They lay there on the carpet, almost calling out his name. Han’s breath hitched in his throat as he took in the sight. He was frozen again and unsure of what to do. His mind was scolding him, telling him to get that perverted idea out of his mind. But his cock… his cock was pleading with him to grab those delicate lace panties and shove them around his shaft. Han shifted a bit in his crouched positions, eyes still fixated on your panties.

“How's it going in here?” Your voice rang out from the living room but was drawing closer.

Han had to make a decision. It was now or never. As you stepped closer to the bedroom doorway, Han reached his hand out instinctively and grabbed for the misplaced underwear. He hastily shoved them into the pocket of his jeans and stood up from the floor.

“All good! Got it working now.” He responded, still a bit out of breath.

You ran over to the A/C unit and breathed in the cold air. You shamelessly moaned from the sensation and thanked Han in an equally breathless voice.

Han walked out of your apartment as quickly as he could. You offered to pay him or even split a pizza but he made up some excuse about needing to get home right away. When he finally reached his own apartment, his heart was nearly beating out of his chest. He slid his hand into his pocket and felt the lace material against his fingertips. He groaned low as he slowly pulled the panties from his pocket and brought them up to his face, breathing in deeply.

The first initial contact of your scent flew up through his nostrils and straight to his brain. Every cell was on fire with lust. Desire was pumping through his face and it was all he could do not to whimper directly into the fabric draped across his face. He let your panties lay along the top of his face as he slid his hand down his pants. Any common sense that once occupied his mind was wiped away with the first whiff of your scent.

His hand slithered down past his waistband and found his cock easily like it had so many times before. But now there were already small beads of precum beginning to form and drip out of his needy tip. He was so achingly desperate for you. He could feel it. The way his hips moved into his hand like he was moving into you. He gripped his shaft tighter and picked up the speed ever so slightly. He leaned his head back against the door and imagined you sitting directly on his face. Perhaps he just pushed your panties aside. He imagined each lick he gave you, his tongue also gliding across the fabric of your panties. Just the edge of them, as you rocked your hips with the motion of his head. His tongue flicking and lapping your most sensitive spots.

Your panties shifted and moved on Han’s face as he continued to give his hard cock long, pleasing strokes. He whimpered softly into the material as it made its way to his open mouth. He tongue lolled out of his mouth as your lace panties coated his tongue. Han’s whimpers soon became louder and more pathetic as he tasted you. His tongue swirled around the delicate fabric of your stolen lace panties.

Han’s hand pushed through the final pumped until hot, thick ropes shot out and onto the floor. He let out a low, animalistic growl as he sprayed and covered where he stood. He laid his head back on the front door and sighed heavily. He felt satisfied and disgusting all at the same time. And he couldn't wait to do it again.

taglist: @simply-trash5 @xoxoxh @trixiekaulitz @chrizzztopherbang @cassidymb121 @roanns-posts @staysinbloom @yaorzu-blog @bubblebisk @cotton-candycloudz @beautyinhypnosis @domicaru @strawberry31 @slxtmeri @newhope8 @tinyelfperson @dandelions-143 @stayyyyyyyyyyyy21 @msauthor @fun-fanfics @ell0thebell @stephanieeeyang @juskz @kimahreummm @readr1221 @kayleefriedchicken @ovulatingrn @hwnglixho @darthmaddie25 @queen-in-the-shadows @itgirlalisaa @miinhoo @greyaia @chanchansgirly @skzleeknowcorecan @skz-smut-reader

[hero-hoe]

Owner!Ghost with dogboy!Soap who gets puppygirl!Reader as a gift.

MDNI. 18+ ONLY

Hybrid au. Kidnapping tw, naive!reader, Fem!reader, handjobs (m/m). Ghost and Soap are a little off. Sadomasochism tw

Ghost who's had Soap ever since retiring being discharged due to injury and thought "fuck it, I need something to keep me busy", so he gets himself a retired dogboy. Nothing wrong with 'im, they just tend to cycle hybrids out after a few years of use. Any longer and they go a little wrong in the head. Something about their genetics and how they could get too into their tasks and needed human handlers on the outside.

Ghost is pretty sure the one he got is a little messed up anyway. Fine by him, the man had done his fair share of awful things, too far beyond being considered a good man anymore. At least having the mutt gave him purpose again, he was losing his mind trying to fit back in with polite society on his own. Johnny was Price's idea to get Simon out of his house, to take care of himself instead of wasting away in a bare bones cabin in the countryside. Take the dog on walks and all that, get a membership at one of those expensive city gyms that let hybrids in so they could both keep up on their training.

Johnny would bark his ear off about his time in the military, causing messes he never had to clean up and getting paid for it. And he didn't push when Simon said nothing about his own experience. And then they settled into a decent enough routine, too intimate to just be hybrid and handler, but Ghost wasn't a man who liked labels. They were just Johnny and Simon, that's all that mattered.

He got a good dog. Sure, he was a bit off, but nothing that couldn't be handled. He barked a lot, hated strangers, refused to sleep anywhere but Simon's room after the first few nights. And he was energetic, always bouncing off the walls or chasing down random animals in the woods. If he brought back something to snack on, Simon never minded, so long as he clean his own mess. Ghost wasn't above rubbing the dog's nose in the blood and mud puddle left on the kitchen floor. Good thing Johnny learned the first time.

It'd been a few years, Ghost hadn't bothered to keep track, but his silly pup was getting restless. Only after the third time coming home to Johnny humping himself stupid in the toy he'd gotten, teeth sunk into the pillows, did Simon finally take him to the vet. Trying to handle the situation himself hadn't helped, and he didn't like seeing his boy so miserable, even if he looked beautiful because of it. Simon swore Johnny never looked better than when he was desperate and on their sheets, fucking into a silicone pussy like his life depended on it and whimpering into a slobber covered pillowcase.

Everything was normal, the vet said, a waste of £150. It's actually a good thing, they told him, means he's healthy and happy enough to breed and is having ruts. Gave him three options: have Johnny fixed, let the mutt handle it himself every time, or get him someone to play with. Simon was offended at the idea of getting his pup snipped, immediately shutting the thought down. But he couldn't keep watching Soap sob and beg, pleading for something Simon didn't have. He held Johnny in his arms each but after that, making sure to stroke his needy pup through every orgasm needed with a hand around his neck for stability.

Johnny was a good dog, Simon relented. Never once bit without being told and made sure to moan nice and loud whenever he was hit. He deserved a treat.

So Simon did his research, went to all the shelters and breeders and even searched the parks for a new treat for his boy. Nobody was good enough, he thought, until he found you. Soft, sweet, and so, so innocent. You didn't hesitate to take his hand when he offered you a treat and some ear scratches, wandering away from your old owner and right into his truck.

You ate the special biscuits he gave you and fell asleep with a dopey smile on your face, so happy when he told you he was gonna take you home and introduce you to his puppy.

Johnny was at the door like always, waiting on his knees at the time Simon said he'd be home. He was anxious and confused today, able to smell you from outside as soon as Ghost pulled up. You smelled so good, but he hated the idea of Simon bringing another dog home. Was he not enough? He'd been so good, why would his master need another pup?

"Settle, mutt." Simon huffed as soon as he heard Johnny's whine, the hybrid kneeling obediently at the door with his ears tucked back. "Stop the damn whining. Got you somethin'." He huffed, shifting you in his arms.

Johnny scooted closer, staying on the ground and sniffing at you cautiously. One of Ghost's massive hands laced into a well maintained mohawk, tugging tight until he calmed down. The pain grounded him, a reminder that Simon was there, that he wasn't being replaced. "Fer me?" Johnny asked, taking another deep inhale along the skin of your thigh where is dangled over Simon's arm.

Ghost hummed, the sound pulling another whine from Johnny's throat. "Smells s'good." He whispered, eyes dilating as he crawled closer. "She's pure bonnie, Sir."

Straddling Simon's boot, rutting mindlessly against his shin while taking in deep huffs of your skin, Johnny couldn't wait to play with you.

[queeranarchism]

[the cover of A consensus handbook by Seeds for Change, featuring the title in Orange lettering followed by an color drawing of 11 people working on the maintenance of a house]

I'm going to share this as a separate post for those that missed the ask: A consensus handbook by Seeds for Change https://seedsforchange.org.uk/handbook is a free and very handy guide to how to take decisions as a group without leaders or hierarchies. I'm going to drop the chapters here to show off just how much useful stuff it has. If you work with consensus, there's almost certainly a problem in here that you recognize and wish you had some answers to!

1: Making decisions by consensus What’s wrong with the democracy we’ve got? - Why use consensus? How does consensus work? - The consensus process - Key skills and values for consensus 2: Facilitating consensus The role of meetings in group work - What is facilitation? - Facilitating a meeting – Making meetings accessible - Taking minutes 3: Facilitating consensus in large groups Meeting the conditions for consensus in large groups - Processes for large groups 4: Facilitating consensus in virtual meetings Why have virtual meetings? - The tools for the job - Challenges of facilitating virtual meetings - A consensus process for virtual meetings 5: Quick consensus decision making Preparing for quick consensus - How it works 6: Facilitation techniques and activities Starting the meeting - Regulating the flow of the meeting - Encouraging involvement - Techniques for problem solving and tackling difficult issues - Prioritisation techniques - Activities for re-energising - Evaluating meetings 7: Troubleshooting in your meetings Our meetings take a long time - Time pressure - Our meetings lack focus - Our group is large and we don’t enjoy meetings - We’re stuck and can’t reach a decision - Too many ideas - ‘Steamroller’ proposals - How can we deal with disruptive behaviour? - What to do when someone blocks - Our group is biased towards the status quo 8: Bridging the gap between theory and practice Conflict and consensus - The life cycle of a conflict - Ways of dealing with conflict - Techniques for inviting collaboration Power dynamics - Step one: What are our feelings about power dynamics? - Step two: Diagnosis – what is actually going on - in your group? - Step three: Where do your power imbalances come from? - Step four: Work out some ways to change your power dynamics Other common issues - External pressures - Open groups with changing membership - What if you’re the only person who wants the group to change? 9: Consensus in wider society So how might it work? - Challenges, questions and tensions - How do we get there? - A final thought

[myshunosun]

Myshunosun's first summer break

Same post on Patreon

Hey there!

Hope you've all been having a great start to the summer. Popping by to share that I'll be taking a summer break - meaning that I will not be posting any custom content throughout this summer (aka, first-of-the-month releases). However, I will continue sharing Patron-only posts, as well as some lots that I've been creating while working on my personal save file.

I have been publishing custom content as myshunosun since 2020, and I have been maintaining a regular upload schedule since 2021 (without skipping a month!) - which is kind of crazy now that I think about it. Well, it's time for me to take a short break from posting custom content! To put it simply, there are quite a lot of changes happening in my personal life - and I would like to enjoy and focus on these moments as much as possible.

As I plan to continue posting and sharing Patron-only updates throughout the summer, I will not be pausing the Patreon billing cycle. By default, my content is always free and public upon release, and paid members receive my monthly Patron-only updates - so you can choose to cancel your membership if you wish.

Funnily enough, as I'm typing this post, I am working on a piece of custom content. But I will try to keep my word, and you shall get your hands on my next custom content set in September.

Thank you for your support, myshunosun

[jpitha]

Mercenaries

In the end, it wasn't about what the humans could do that the other sapient groups could not, it was about what the humans were willing to do.

The Gren war was a war of conquest. They had decided that they needed more room.

All of the races of the Coalition had similar environmental needs - the fact that they could live and work together was why there was a Coalition at all. The humans lived at one end of the habitable scale - higher gravity, more varied and intense weather, seasons - while the Sefigans lived at the other. The Gren occupied a space somewhat in the middle. Their word was less dense than the worlds the Humans preferred, and while they did have seasons, they were much less intense. Dex, their homeworld was older, and lighter than Earth.

The Sefigans on the other hand, evolved to thrive practically on a paradise. They had no seasons, their biomes were laughably similar, their days and nights were always exactly the same length. Outside of a few bands near the equator they didn't even have rain. Most humans that visited their world were put off by the sameness of every day. Human ambassadorial rotation was the shortest of the Coalition sapient groups - it was that maddening for them.

Seeing a ripe opportunity, the Gren launched a lightning attack two (earth) years after the humans joined the Coalition. Their large Warfinders would flash to Sefigan colony worlds, enter low orbit and demand surrender. If no surrender was forthcoming, they would bombard one or two cities and then land and take the rest with an invasion until they local authorities surrendered or were eliminated.

The human governments had decided to remain neutral. They were still the new sapient in the Coalition and didn't want to jeopardize their membership by taking the 'wrong' side. But that didn't mean that no humans fought...

****

Olivia, the leader of the group, sat down in the small Sefigan built chair - it was half again too small for her frame. It reminded her of sitting in the chairs in her niece's school. It was tough to have bravado and swagger when trying to contort into a tiny chair, but Olivia did her best.

"Commander Olivia, I still do not understand your offer." The Sefigan administrator said. The Sefigans were a small, furry species. They reminded the humans of something they called a 'teddy bear', though teddy bears did not tend to have 4 centimeter retractable claws.

"It's simple really, Administrator Wollruf. For a reasonable fee, my mercenaries and I will fight on your side. We will bring our equipment, experience and skill and fight the Gren in your name." Olivia tried to lean back, but the front legs of the chair tipped up and she swung her arms wildly to keep her balance. With a thud, the legs slammed back down and she smiled sheepishly.

Administrator Wollruf leaned forward. His office was well appointed, but small. and the humans that Commander Olivia had brought with her tended to loom. He was fascinated by the offer though. "You'll fight, for pay? Like a job?"

Olivia shrugged. "It is a job. Like any other. Some people build ships, others grow food. Me and my Obliterators?" She gestured to the two men behind her who grinned, showing their teeth "We fight."

"Why?"

"Why not? We're good at it, we like it, and it's an opportunity."

Administrator Wollruf's ears twitched and his fur rippled. "Opportunity? For what?"

Olivia smiled and spread her arms welcomingly. "For money. We - me and my team - would very much like to be rich, Administrator Wollruf. Hire us, and you will be safe, and we will be paid; half up front, half after the Gren leave."

"I will consult with the rest of Colonial Administration. We will give you our answer in one solar cycle." He stood. "Thank you for your offer, it is... interesting."

"We will wait one solar cycle for your answer, but-" she held up a finger. "Only one. We have other colonies to visit. If you do not wish to avail yourself of our services, there are other Sefigan colonies that might." Olivia and her two guards turned and left.

One half solar cycle later, the Obliterators were pinged. Administrator Wollruf's colonial government was willing to hire them to protect their colony. The next half cycle was spent negotiating the pay, and the deposit was given.

Not one twocycle later, a Gren Warfinder flashed into the system. As before, they took up station in low orbit, and demanded the surrender of the colony.

However, this time, before the Sefigan colony was forced to reply, Olivia's Obliterators flashed in. Their main ship was a former Imperial Dreadnought - older but well maintained - and was more than a match for the Warfinder. They engaged in pitched battle, and the Obliterators were able to drive off the Warfinder.

Two more Warfinders came within the next three cycles, and each time, the Obliterators drove them off. The Gren hadn't really anticipated any opposition from the Sefigans, let alone the humans, so they barely came prepared to fight. The Obliterators received their payment from the grateful colonial authorities, left a beacon stating that this system was under their protection, and flashed away to the next Sefigan colony for another payday.

The Gren had submitted a formal complaint to the Coalition stating that the humans were illegally 'interfering' in their war. The humans replied back that the Obliterators and any other mercenary groups were not affiliated with the government, and were purely independent operators. When the Gren asked where they got their equipment, the humans shrugged and pointed out that it was not illegal to sell mothballed and surplus equipment.

To their credit, it only took the Gren half a solar year to reach out and see if any human mercenary groups were willing to work for them.

Multiple groups replied back that they were happy to engage in negotiations... for the right price.

[octuscle]

Teens work out free all Summer

Jakob was done. The day had been exhausting. And somehow he couldn't cope with two or three exhausting days in a row as well as he used to. He was now 27 years old, his 28th birthday was only a few weeks away and the days when Jakob had been described as sporty were long gone. Even during his studies, he had spent less time at the gym or in the swimming pool than when he was at school and the slight tummy bulge with which he had accepted his master's degree and started his career had developed into a veritable paunch. Climbing stairs? Only in an emergency… Walking or cycling? What were cabs for… Jakob was done and he knew why.

It was trade fair in the city. The last one before the summer break. The hotels were full, you couldn't get a table in the restaurants and there were no cabs to be had either. So Jacob bit the bullet and walked to the nearest bus stop. Sweat was pouring down his forehead. And there he saw this sign: “Teens Workout Free All Summer”. Sure, he was no longer a teen. But he also earned enough money to afford a gym. All he had to do was sign up. Just for the summer. Since he didn't have any school-age children, he didn't have his vacation until mid-September. What was the worst that could happen? He could lose a few kilos and cut a better figure in the late summer sun on the Croatian coast. “I'll sign up first thing tomorrow,” Jacob thought to himself. And then it hit him. "Shit, don't keep putting it off, I'll sign up now. Now and immediately. And if they have a store for gym gear, I'll start training today."

It was hot in the gym. The place was obviously not air-conditioned. It smelled of sweat and sneakers. It smelled like the changing rooms in the schools gym earlier. Loud music blared from the speakers. The reception and training area merged seamlessly. The monotonous sound of people on treadmills and the groaning of people lifting iron was mixed into the booming music, occasionally interrupted by the sound of dumbbells falling into the rack or onto the floor. This was certainly not the kind of gym Jacob wanted to work out in. He was almost on his way out again when the lad behind the counter approached him. “Hi bro! Are you here for our summer offer?” Jacob said that he was here for a membership, yes. But not for the offer. ‘Why not, bro? My name is Liam, by the way. And you are?’ ‘Jacob,’ Jacob introduced himself. ‘Cool thing, bro! Don't worry, we'll get you in shape here.’ Jacob thought for a moment. Of course he would make a fool of himself here among all the beefcakes, but better here in front of people he didn't know than in some stylish gym where customers, colleagues or neighbors would make fun of him.

Liam was already hammering away at his keyboard. “So, your name is Jake. What's next?” “Jacob,” Jacob corrected. “Goldsmith” “Smith, Jake Smith. Your birthday?” Jacob wanted to correct Liam first, but maybe a pseudonym wasn't wrong. “August 12, 1996.” “Bro, I'll put in August 12, 2006,” Liam said with a wink. “Nobody checks here anyway. And I get a commission when I sign contracts for the summer offer.” Address? Jacob was just about to give his address when he thought to himself that he was here anonymously or under a pseudonym. So he gave the address of his parents' house, where they had all lived when he was at school. His parents had sold everything last year and moved to Provence, but as Liam said, no one would probably check it. “Please be so kind,” said Liam. Jacob looked surprised at a flash of light. And a few seconds later, a plastic card came out of the printer. His membership card, his ticket back to a life where climbing stairs wouldn't lead to panting and sweating. “Because it's your birthday in the summer, you get a water bottle and the water flat rate. Do you also want the protein shake flat rate? It's on special offer today. 20 pounds a month, 50 pounds for June, July and August together.” Jacob nodded and asked if he could also buy something to wear here. “That's my lad,” said Liam with a grin. “Get started right away, no hesitation, very good. No, you can't buy anything, but there's a treasure trove at the back. Just take what you need. I'll let Colin know in the meantime, he can show you around and show you everything.

Slightly disgusted, Jacob went to the corner with the lost-and-found treasure trove. It was obviously a source of odour. But it was surprisingly neat. Shoes, shorts, tank tops… Everything was neatly sorted by size. Only the socks were in a big box. It took Jacob a few minutes to find a pair. And while he was looking, he heard a throat clearing behind him. “So you're Jake, the new guy?” Jacob turned around, startled. Behind him stood a mountain of a man. Probably his age. Maybe a few years older. But someone who had never skipped chest or leg days. Never in his life. He obviously didn't take his personal hygiene that seriously. Colin was smelly. Jacob pulled himself together. “Jake, nice to meet you. You must be Colin.” “You can be sure of that! And now stop making a fashion show out of it.” Colin unerringly grabbed a tank top, shorts, shoes and even a matching pair of socks. And a jockstrap. He stuffed everything into a rucksack. Jacob shuddered. “The changing room is over there. Don't look for girls and boys, it's a lads only place here. Hurry up, we should allow two and a half hours for a training session." Jacob was beginning to feel sure he had made a mistake. Okay, at worst he had lost 50 pounds… But it was a mistake.

There were no cubicles in the changing room, no lockers. Things went on open racks. Shoes and bags on benches or on the floor. There was no one around. Only by the sinks was a lad, maybe 16 years old, showing off his enviably fit body in front of the mirror. Jacob sighed. He'd looked something like that when he was 16. He undressed and put on the unwashed clothes that Colin had stuffed into his bag. He looked in the mirror. He looked silly. He was wearing the washed-out clothes of an obviously much more muscular man… The shorts were too tight. The tank top too loose. The socks had holes in them. But at least the shoes fitted. Jacob sighed. And the torture on the dumbbells began.

Colin hadn't given him puppy protection. Colin had worked out with him as if they were training partners. Of course, he had reduced the weights for Jacob. But when Jacob couldn't do any more, he had shouted at him. Four more, three more, two more… Somehow Jacob had always managed the last repetition. The two of them were the last ones in the gym. Liam had already called it a day. Colin gave Jacob a fist bump. “Good training, mate! You've got bite and talent. You'll be something!“ Jacob would have blushed if his head hadn't been glowing anyway. ‘By the way,’ said Colin. ‘Hot water is turned off after 10 p.m. You can take a cold shower. Or…’ ‘I'll take the ’or',” Jacob chastised and grinned. He went into the changing room and packed his clothes from the office into his rucksack. He walked to the bus stop with the last of his strength. The city was full of fairgoers. Some raised their eyebrows in pique. Yes, he had to stink. But he had to get home now. He didn't care about anything else.

When the alarm clock woke him up at 06:00, he felt like everything was gone. He had fallen asleep sitting on his bed. He had just managed to undress. His office clothes were still in his rucksack. His sports kit was scattered on the floor. And he had slept half-sitting, half-asleep on his bed. In a puddle of sperm. Because he had obviously had at least one wet dream. And his morning wood was already standing at attention again. Jacob started to jerk himself off. Damn, did his cock feel good. Jacob smelled his own cold sweat. He smelled male. And he had a hard-on. He had smegma under his foreskin. Just like when he wasn't so serious about personal hygiene at school. He smelled his hand. Damn, that smelled like youth and manhood… And at that moment he came. He cummed all the way up to his chin, even though he had obviously emptied his balls at least once tonight. Shit, he thought to himself, breathing heavily… The training is paying off. As exhausted as I am, I'm more agile than I've been at any point in the last ten years.

Jacob went into the kitchen and stirred protein powder into his cottage cheese. He didn't question where the protein powder and cottage cheese came from. He drank two bottles of water because he felt completely dehydrated. He wolfed down his breakfast and made himself five more scrambled eggs. And another protein shake. Shit, he was starving. And late. He jumped into the shower. He didn't take a really thorough shower. He didn't shave either. He emptied out his rucksack on the floor and stuffed yesterday's clothes, which were still damp with sweat, into it. His bus was leaving in ten minutes. He had to walk. Cardio was never his thing. He was more of a weightlifting man.

He got lots of compliments in the office. He was told he looked fresh. He was told he'd lost weight. He looked younger. But he also got a few unpleasant questions. What was so smelly here. The old rucksack was standing next to his desk. And it stank. Jacob simply ignored the questions about the rucksack. He felt fit and full of energy. For lunch, he had a salad with three turkey breasts. His colleagues looked at him questioningly. “Mass phase,” he said apologetically, chewing with his mouth full.

Today was leg day. Colin had told him that he should allow three hours for warming up, stretching and maybe a bit of fitness training if he was serious. And Jacob was serious. He finished his work very punctually. Unusual for someone who was always the last one. Yes, he was on the verge of promotion, but his fitness was important to him. As soon as he entered, he pulled the access card out of his wallet. He looked at the photo with a grin. He was 23 on it, that was two years ago. What a slim man he had been then… Liam greeted him with a fist bump. Colin could be heard grunting from the chest press throughout the hall. Jacob greeted his bros as he entered the changing room. It was busy. Of course, most of the people here were still at university, unemployed or tradesmen who had already started work at 06:00 in the morning. There were few armchair farters like him here. But that didn't matter to him. Today, all that mattered was the weight on the leg press. And how much protein he could swallow from his flat rate. Protein and the leg press was a toxic combination. But protein farts didn't bother anyone here. They were part of the workout. And when he finally left the gym with Colin at around 11 p.m., there were a lot of protein farts in the air. Neither Colin nor Jacob had been bothered by that during the final cardio workout. Damn it, how could a beefcake like Colin be so limber!

His morning routine was well established. Alarm clock at 05:30. Sit-ups and press-ups. Breakfast, running gear on, run to the office, shower there, and be at his desk by 08:00. Sitting was the new smoking, he hated it. Jake was 22, he had just finished his bachelor's degree and as a trainee he couldn't afford to make any mistakes. His colleagues knew after a few days that he was a fitness junkie. The carefully labeled Tupperware containers spoke for themselves. Jake had to eat something every two hours. His trainer had told him to. Jake had been an ambitious bodybuilder since the age of 16. His tight ass and broad shoulders showed this even when he was wearing a suit. And many of his female colleagues and even some of his male colleagues appreciated the fact that Jake always wore tight and crisp-fitting suits.

This afternoon was going to be an ordeal for Jake. He had promised Liam that he would take over the shift from 21:00. If he wanted to work out properly before then, he had to get off work at 5:00 p.m., 5:30 p.m. at the latest. The meeting went on and on. Jake looked nervously at his mobile again and again. At 5:15 p.m., over an hour later than planned, it was finally over. Jake breathed a sigh of relief. And then his boss asked Jake and two colleagues to stay for the minutes and the upcoming tasks. FUCK! He should have accepted Colin's offer and taken over the management of the gym after graduation. But his tutor at university had convinced him that auditing was his future. Holy shit. Now he'd have to skip cardio training.

05:30. Damn, that was early. But Paul, his roommate, was obviously already awake and seemed to be making breakfast in the kitchen. Yes, Jake was actually disciplined. Otherwise you didn't stand a chance when studying at the sports college. But at least sleep until 06:00 for once, he thought to himself… While he did his burpees to wake up. Paul was Liam's little brother. The two had met at the gym last summer. And Liam and Paul had convinced Jake to study sports economics. He had never regretted his decision. If only because sharing a flat with Paul was a cool thing. The two of them constantly motivated each other. And they also fucked each other from time to time. Hey, tighter asses were hard to find on the whole campus! Today was mostly sports on the timetable. Just one statistics lecture. It wasn't worth changing for that. Jake enjoyed riding his road bike to campus in just shorts and a cut-off tank top. And if the clothes weren't freshly washed, they were at least aired out by the breeze. Of course, the business students sitting in the statistics lecture would get upset about the smelly sports economists again. But hey, Jake already knew the game. It wouldn't be the first time one of these Oxford-shirt-wearing snobs would follow him to the toilet after the lecture and lick his hairy armpits. And it wouldn't be the first time he'd take someone home for a shag or join the gym as a new member. The first was fun, the second earned him a small commission.

“Jake, my darling! It's time to get up!” His mother looked into Jake's teenage room. His bed had already been made. Jake stood behind his mother in sweaty running clothes and quietly went “Boo!” His mother winced. Jake deliberately hugged her tightly so that his sweat made her nightgown damp. “Honey, when did you get up? It's the middle of the night!” Jake replied that he still had body fat to lose before his first amateur competition this weekend. He pulled off his wet running jersey and did a double bicep pose. “Jake, more important than losing body fat would be a shower.” his mother laughed. “Fuck, mom, I'm late. And by the time I've ridden my bike to school, I'll be sweaty again anyway.” “Don't talk back, otherwise there'll be no breakfast.” The threat worked. Jake reluctantly trotted into the shower and his mother prepared his ten-egg omelette.

A poster announcing the national bodybuilding championship hung above the reception desk. With local hero Jake Smith as the favorite in the juniors. You could find those posters everywhere in the neighbourhood. Jake was somehow a local hero. Liam greeted the studio's up-and-coming star with a fist bump. Male rituals. Jake enjoyed that. He wasn't turning 18 for a few days, but here he felt like a full-fledged man. Liam said that ten new members had signed up to the teen-working-out-for-free-in-the-summer promotion last week alone. And eight said they had come to the gym because of Jake's fitness channel. Jake should get in touch with Colin and there would be a special bonus. Hehehe, thought Jake. That could be an extra 50 pounds. Or a shot of extra protein from Colin's cock. With a bit of luck, both. But Jake wasn't greedy. Either would be enough for him.

Inspiration by @olivierlefou, pic by @ki-kink

[allfryam]

the hot dog eating contest

one summer, while out with his friends, Alex bet he could eat an entire pizza by himself. None of his friends thought he could do it but they all wanted to see him try. Piece after piece, the pizza started to slowly disappear into Alex’s stomach. With a final bite, he let out a large burp and rubbed his bloated belly. His friends were in awe, and Alex’s best friend Noah, had a gray idea. “Dude you should totally enter that hot dog eating contest they do for the fair.!” Noah said. “dude that was last weekend.” Alex responded, letting out another belch. “no. Next year! You’ll have all year to train and you can already eat an entire pizza. It should be easy.” Alex usually ignores the stupid ideas Noah came up with but this one wasn’t too bad. The top prize wins 10,000 dollars after all. Then it was settled. Alex would spend the next year trying for a hot dog eating contest. How hard could it be?

the next day while doing research on the topic, Alex found a strategy. Most people said eat until you are full, and then eat some more. The goal is to stretch your belly so you can fit more food. Alex was worried about his figure though. He had a nice body with slight abs that had started to fade after he graduated college. He figured if he gained any weight, with the $10000 he could get a nice gym membership to work it off. He started training with breakfast. He ate his way through ten pancakes before feeling like he was going to throw up. After waiting about a minute, he felt some room left in his belly so he ate another pancake. He did this three more times before being done with breakfast. For lunch, he ate a large burger and felt pretty full, but he definitely still had more room, so he ate another. Now he felt like he was going to explode. After some belly rubs and a few burps, some room opened up for a third burger. This one caused trouble. After a few bites, Alex really thought his belly would burst. After stifling a few attempts at throwing up, he barely managed to get the rest of the burger down. He groaned in pain as his stomach was stuffed to the brim. He looked at it to see a tight, round lump of flesh. It looked gross. He decided to take a nap before dinner with his friends.

at dinner, he ordered spaghetti, a steak, and some chicken wings. All of his friends looked at him in disbelief as he gorged on all of the food. Bite after bite he kept at it. His belt grew tight but he didn’t even notice from how fast he was eating. He groaned as he shoved the last bites down but it would all be worth it when he won the prize. With another loud burp he freed up some room and stole a few fries from Noah’s plate, finally being full enough to lay back in his chair and rub his bloated stomach. About 30 minutes later, after the normal paced eaters had finished, the waiter swung by the table and said, “any desserts for tonight?”

“no thank you I’m stuffed” said the rest of the table. But to nobody’s surprise, Alex sat up and ordered a slice of chocolate cheesecake. “Dude what the hell are you doing?! Trying to get fat?!” His fried mark exclaimed. “I’m training” Alex replied. “I have to expand my stomach capacity for the hot dog eating contest.” They looked at him wearily and watched him struggle through his slice of cheesecake.

this cycle of stuffing himself until he felt like he was about to pop continued for the rest of the week. Alex’s started noticing he could eat more without feeling nauseous. He could eat an extra 3 slices of pizza before having to stop. While his appetite and stomach capacity were increasing, Alex failed to notice his waistline was too. Without his knowledge, he had gained almost 5 pounds in just a week. The slightest bit of fat was starting to grow on his belly. It was almost impossible to tell, because he was always bloated, but the weight was definitely there. And it was only a matter of time before people began to notice.

day after day Alex ate like it was his last day on earth. The second he felt he could fit more food into his stuffed belly, he was making his way to the fridge. His new favorite snack was a triple decker grilled cheese. It was 6 slices of bread with 3 pieces of cheese between each. He loved making new concoctions to help stretch his stomach. One day he ate a Big Mac salad. It was three Big Macs crushed and shredded into pieces. He put in into a bowl, added shredded cheese, ketchup, mayo, and threw it in the microwave. Alex thought it tasted awful but he still ate it. Anything to help him win the contest.

after a few weeks of training, Alex decided to test himself. He went to the grocery store and bought as many hot dogs and buns as he could and brought them all home. He watched professional eaters on YouTube and noticed they dipped their bread in water to make it easier to eat. Alex stacked the hotdogs on his tray, set the timer, and began. He yanked buns off the hotdogs and dunked them in the water while shoving the hot dog down his throat. Then he would wash it down with the soggy bread and a sip of water if he really needed it. Then the cycle repeats until the time is up. Hot dog after hot dog, Alex’s belly continued to get fuller as the food slithered down his throat. As the timer went off, Alex finished chewing and did a tally. He managed to eat 19 hot dogs in ten minutes. To most, this would seem like a great accomplishment, but at the fair last year, the record was 42. Alex had a long way to go, and he was feeling stuffed from all of those hot dogs. He would need to be able to eat a lot more if he wanted to win.

after his first month of training, Alex had finally began to notice his weight gain. He was up 17 pounds from when he first started and it was all in his belly. He frowned in the mirror as he pinched his flab. He had been fit his whole life. Was it really worth it to throw that away. He called Noah to get a second opinion. “Holy shit” Noah said as he answered the FaceTime and saw Alex’s belly. Alex didn’t notice, but Noah had to move the phone to hide his boner. “what do I do Noah? I really want to win this challenge but not if it means getting fat” Alex said wearily. “fat? No way dude! You look great. If anything it’s probably just a little water weight.” Noah replied. He was trying to do anything to get Alex to keep the weight. Alex eventually agreed after some more convincing and then invited Noah out for lunch.

They ate at a small diner downtown that had some incredible burgers. Alex took advantage of that and ordered four. “Four? That’s it?” Noah asked. “Cmon man if you want your stomach to expand you need to eat more than that.” alex agreed and ordered two more burgers. He scarfed them down one by one until the final burger. He had been struggling with the last two but there was no way he would be able to eat this one. He leaned back in his chair and burped. His tight shirt rose up slightly and his bloated belly began to peek through. “Need help big guy?” Noah asked. “dude there’s no way *burp* I can finish this.” Alex replied. “I’ll help” Noah grabbed the Burger and shoved it into Alex’s mouth. Alex’s eyes grew wide as Noah continued shoving. With nothing else to do, Alex began chewing. The warm burger started to disappear into his gut and he moaned in pain with each bite. When he was done he unbuttoned his suprisingly tight pants and leaned back with his eyes closed. He rubbed his tight belly and breathed heavily. Noah was practically foaming at the mouth from how horny he was but he couldn’t let Alex know. One Alex had recovered from the insane amount of food he just ate, he sat up and looked at Noah. “Dude that was incredible. I’ve never eaten so much in my life! You should help feed me all the time!” Alex said excitedly. Noah’s face turned bright red and he agreed almost instantly.

Noah showed up to Alex’s apartment loaded with different fast foods. Alex was nervous but also excited. He knew Noah was capable of making him eat it all. Alex decided to eat in his underwear to ensure his stomach had room to expand. Noah liked this idea as well. They sat on the couch and quickly got to work. Alex downed fries, burgers, milkshakes, chicken nuggets, soda, tacos, and cookies. Noah sat with delight as he watched Alex’s round belly expand and begin to roll over the waistband of Alex’s underwear. “URRRP! Ok I need your help dude.” Alex said with shaky breath. Noah reached into one of the paper bags and pulled out donuts. Alex smiled and Noah began to slowly shove the fatty food into Alex’s mouth. Alex rubbed his bloated gut and moaned with pain but also some pleasure. It was the greatest thing Noah had ever experienced and Alex seemed to be enjoying it too. “Take off my underwear.” Alex said between bites. “I need room to grow.” Noah blushed and pulled off the tight underwear to reveal Alex’s boner. Noah began to stroke it as he continued shoving donuts down Alex’s throat. Alex moaned with each movement Noah made until the donuts were gone. Out of breath, the two men fucked as Noah continued to stuff Alex. The intense motions caused Alex’s new belly to jiggle and sway. Noah teased him as he shoved more food into his mouth. It was the hottest sex either of them had ever had, and they fell asleep cuddling, surrounded by food wrappers and crumbs.

I really like the idea of this story and I tried to make it a bit longer than my usual ones. Hope you guys enjoyed part one!

[am-i-the-asshole-official]

WIBTA for suggesting my girlfriend eats less?

(🫠 so i can find it later)

I know immediately it sounds insane but please I need advice. Also sorry it’s so long this is a sensitive topic and I want to treat it as such.

So my (24F) girlfriend (22F) has been trying to lose weight for about 9 months now. I let her offer up what info she wants but never ask because I don’t want to add pressure, and i’ve struggled with an ED and witnessed as my mom has struggled with her weight since I was born so I understand how hard it can be. But my girlfriend is as gorgeous as ever. And I know she’s been as active as possible so Idk why she’s so hard on herself.

My mom eats healthier than anyone I’ve ever known. When I was younger I watched her go through phases with taking on some weird diet that never really worked. She once told me she recognized her real problem is stopping when she’s “full” and not what she eats. She was insecure about that fact because she almost starved as a teenager. I tried to encourage her to accept her body if eating what she wants makes her happy. But she always says she isn’t happy when she’s not eating & only would be if she felt “sexy” again.

I’m starting to see a similar struggle in my love. She asked to go to the gym together, so I bought us a gym membership. We try to get there 3x a week for at least an hour each time. But she’s in her final semester before graduating so we stopped going as much about a month or two ago. She keeps talking about losing weight so her graduation dresses will fit better but I think they fit perfect. I zipped them myself. She never wears dresses or skirts, favoring baggy clothing and streetwear, so I think she’s just not used to the sensation of a form-fitting dress.

She joined a coed soccer team that would meet weekly for a month. I went to her games, she goes hard. She’s also started going for runs twice a week after work with a coworker. They did 3 miles one day! That’s still 3 days a week she’s been working out, plus the occasional day or two every other week we manage to get out to the gym.

She has taken to blaming me for us not going to the gym, not directly but will whine at me with a pointed tone, as if begging me to go to the gym after she told me we couldn’t go. I try to ignore it since I know she’s having a hard time and mostly venting. But if I agree and offer to drive us, she always has too much homework. Even if she’s been sitting on tiktok for an hour.

I do all the cooking for us. After she complained about not making progress I started serving us both smaller portions. Now she gets seconds after meals and will complain about being snackish or wanting a sweet treat less than 30 minutes after we’ve ate. If I stand firm on no treats (which is rare), she pouts. She refuses to get a treat without me, if I tell her she can go get one if she wants she won’t. If I give in, then later I feel guilty like I enabled her. And she’ll guilt trip me for it too. And then she’s unhappy about not losing any weight again and the cycle continues.

She’s got a broad build and a naturally curvy body. When she talks about being her ideal size/shape again, it’s always in photos of her at 14-17. I keep trying to instill in her that she can get muscular and fit but still might not look like that again because she was a child. She dismisses me every time and will compare her body to mine since we’re the same height, but I have different genetics and an overactive metabolism.

She’s active, healthy, muscular, and is maybe 30 lbs over the BMI for her height and age. I don’t believe in the BMI, just stating for reference reasons. Some of that “overweight” is definitely likely muscle since she said she gained weight after we first started going to the gym. She would not believe me when I said you gain muscle before you lose fat, even though she’s learned this in her major. In my eyes to have the kind of toning that she wants— and that athletes her shape have— she probably only needs to lose like 10-15 lbs. You can see the line of musculature on her thighs as she is. She eats way healthier than most college students because she’s a medical major and really cares about body health. I think a lot of her desire to lose weight comes from the athleticism of the PT’s she works with.

She continues to nitpick at her other behaviors (i.e. having a yasso icecream twice a week) that are far less “harmful” to her goals than overeating. But I fear it will cause a rift in our relationship if I try to suggest that to her.

I want to help her on her journey and the way she blames me makes me feel like I need to do more to help, but the only thing I can think to suggest is something I would never recommend on my own, let alone to my girlfriend who I think is beautiful as is. I don’t want her to think by me suggesting smaller portions that I have a problem with her perceived lack of progress. I only have a problem with being treated like it’s my fault she isn’t losing weight. When I tell her she looks amazing as she is she just tells me I’m biased because I love her.

I don’t feel it’s my place but Idk what else to do. So WIBTA if I told her that she should try to eat smaller portions rather than dieting since she’s already physically active and eats healthy?

[seliasvault]

this popped up into my brain and i decided to write it instead of my paper due on monday

nsfw below, mdni

gym!ghost x reader

tw: pervy simon, mentions of stalking

It was the new year, meaning the collective motivation to be better than the year before was flowing through everyone, including you. The past year had been a whirlwind, and so celebrating the new year felt right.

Like most, you decided this would be the year you focused on yourself, that 3 am motivation to change your life coursed through your veins and so you impulsively bought a gym membership.

You had joined the gym once, trying it out for a couple of days then shying away, all the different equipment required far too much learning and you simply didn't have the time. But this year you felt motivated enough that you would try.

And so on the first day, your membership was activated you made your way over to the local gym, dressed in the new sportswear you had bought the weekend prior.

Parking your car you walk in, a small bag in hand, still unsure what you're supposed to bring to the gym, so you settled with a water bottle and a change of clothes.

At the front desk, you're greeted by a man in his late 40s, he went over the basics, where everything was, how to get in if there was no staff, and the basic rules.

After your introduction you headed to the lockers, securing your bag inside, you popped your earbuds in, the playlist you made especially for today filled your ears, and you headed straight for the treadmill.

Sure it's stereotypical for a first-time gym goer to only use the treadmill, but you just needed to get a lay of the land and so what if that's the only thing you did while you were there, who really was looking?

Simon joined this gym a few months ago, after getting stir-crazy in his small flat, he thought what better way to spend his leave than working out?

With nothing to do, during every leave, he would come to the gym, spend 2-4 hours doing whatever he felt kept his body sharp, then he’d head home, eat, sleep, and repeat. It was a grim cycle, only interrupted by Soap's persistent invites to local pubs and deployment. That was until he saw you.

A normal Tuesday for him, he had been in for roughly an hour when you walked in, it was a small local gym so they rarely got newcomers however because of the new year it was to be expected. He paid no mind, not even a glance at whoever had walked in, and went back to whatever workout he found himself doing.

That however didn't last long, mid lift his eyes caught sight of the shy little thing on the treadmill. One of the only women occupying the space. You were dressed in basic workout clothes but he'd never seen them look better on anyone. He could tell you were shy, unsure of your surroundings by the way your eyes darted around the room, taking in every machine, each person.

You were trying to acclimate yourself and wasn't that cute. A slight smile played on his lips but he didn't let it last long, going back to finishing his set.

He continued his workout, observing you at every chance he got, and by the end of the hour it looked like you had enough and were headed to leave. He watched you wipe the sweat off your forehead with the back of your hand, his mind thinking about you wiping your mouth the same way after he'd filled it.

He mindlessly shot up to follow you.

After an hour on the treadmill, you decide that was more than enough for one day, especially your first day. And so you wiped at any sweat gathering on your forehead and headed to the locker room.

The gym had showers but you weren't too comfortable using them just yet. Though this gym was uncrowded, it consisted of mainly men and you were unsure how you felt about that.

You open the locker, get your stuff, and close it, only to be startled by a man you hadn't heard come in.

"Sorry! Didn't hear you come in." tensing immediately, you nervously laugh. He was at least 6'2 maybe 6'3, towering above you.

"S'alright didn't mean to startle ya'" His reply was smooth, voice deep. "It's no problem." You give him a smile, standing awkwardly, unsure of where this interaction was going.

After what felt like a couple of awkward minutes, he talks again.

"Just wanted to introduce myself, Simon Riley, saw your new 'ere and thought having a friend might help." He gave you a soft smile, one that seemed genuine, not like the countless creepy ones you've received during your short time here, and so you relax, just a bit, thanking god that he wasn't fully a creep

"Oh thank you! that's really nice of you, it'd be nice to have a familiar face."

"Since you're new, how about next time you’re in I'll show ya' around, show you the basics, help ya' out? Couldn't help but notice you stuck to the one machine, nothin' wrong with that just might be better to see what else is there yeah?"

Your cheeks heat just a bit, you hadn't clocked anyone staring at you, but then again you hadn't noticed him when you initially surveyed the area. You were still weary but the offer sounded good enough, nothing too bad.

"Uh-yeah sure! That sounds great actually, thank you, Simon."

"S'no problem, see ya' next time." He doesn't so glance back, abruptly leaving. You wondered how he would know when you'd be in next, considering this gym operated on a different days for everyone basis. But you shoved that aside, he probably had one of the fancy passes that allowed him in whenever, and based on his body, it's safe to say he was here often.

With the interaction over you push the slight heat creeping up on you down, leaving to head home for a hot shower.

Simon couldn't have imagined that going any better, he didn't quite realize what he was doing till it was done.

The moment you opened your mouth he swore he hardened right there and then, the sweetest voice he'd heard. He knew he intimidated you, saw the way you were weary, a couple of his best-mastered smiles and he had you relaxing into his grip.

Who else was going to protect you against the number of creeps that littered the gym?

And the way you said his name? He couldn't let you go after that.

If he broke into the gym computer to find your billing address, what days you come in, and your number, who's to know? And if he finds out everything else he can about you, like your name, birthday, social media, and access to the cameras he's discovered outside your house, really it's just a matter of getting to know you.

And so what if after a couple of weeks of coming to the gym, the panties you bring with you start going missing?

Simon's bleak life's been given a mission, that mission being to make you his.

[beyondthesefourwalls]

This Love Came Back to Me (3)

Summary: You and Bradley hadn’t ended on bad terms; really, you stopped before the two of you could even truly begin. Still, in the last seven months, you had never completely left his mind. So when you suddenly appeared in front of him at the bar, asking for a favor and pulling him into a kiss, he thought maybe it was the perfect opportunity to see if this time, things could be different. But what neither of you realized was that there’s more going on than just rekindling a lost romance, and it might not be as easy as simply just wanting it. 

Pairing: Bradley Bradshaw x Reader (no use of y/n)

Warnings: second chance romance, language, allusions of smut and potential full smut, stalking, unhealthy obsessions, delusions of feelings, unwanted attention.

Part Three Word Count: 4.1K

Part Two

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You blinked awake slowly on Saturday morning to Bradley’s voice fading in your head. You touched your fingertips to your lips because you swore you could feel the faintest touch of a kiss from your dreams. It took a moment for the night before to flood back to you but when it did, a wide grin broke out on your face and you couldn’t stop yourself from turning your head to squeal into your pillow. 

Running into him had been the last thing you expected last night. You had been planning on grabbing drinks with your friend Anna and her new Navy boyfriend, only for them to cancel last minute. You had decided since you were already there that you would just grab a drink by yourself before going home. But then Paul had shown up out of nowhere. Again. You had been trying to escape when you caught sight of your ex-boyfriend across the bar. 

Truly, you don’t know what you were thinking, approaching him like you did. You hadn’t seen or spoken to him in months and even if you admittedly still harbored feelings for him, you had no right asking him for a favor now. But you had. And he went along with it willingly. Maybe even enthusiastically. 

And then he had asked, insisted, on buying you a drink. And one turned into two, and he was staring at you in a way that was so, so reminiscent of how he had looked at you back when you were dating. And after you had confessed that there hadn’t been anyone since him, he was kissing you. Not because you asked him to in a desperate attempt to trick an overly eager coworker, but because he wanted to. 

“Then why aren’t we still together, Bug?” 

You had wondered that often in the last seven months. Timing hadn’t been on your side back then, and despite how strongly you felt toward one another, neither of you had fought for it. It was a choice you had regretted since you made it.

The truth was, no one had ever made you feel the way Bradley Bradhaw did. You had resigned yourself to him being the one that got away, your “would’ve, should’ve, could’ve.” Even when he had wrapped his arm around you and led you out of the Hard Deck the previous night, following you home and then staying and talking with you for hours like no time at all had passed, you had wondered if it was too good to be true.

But then he had said that he didn’t want it to just be a one time thing, and you swore, your heart soared. You knew the two of you still had a lot to talk about, but for the first time in a while, you were feeling hopeful and excited. Even if the circumstances of the night didn’t start off the best.

Your smile slipped as Paul’s face flashed in your mind. 

Last night hadn’t been the first time he had randomly popped up in your space outside of work. You could convince yourself that the first few times at the grocery store had been nothing, since you often went to the one closest to the office during the week. And then the happy hours you could excuse as maybe he found out about it through other coworkers. But then two weekends ago, you had run into him outside of the gym where you did cycling and hot yoga. He had claimed he was looking into a membership, but where you went was an all women’s facility, and Paul was…not the gym type. Still, you had forced a smile and pretended to get a phone call and walked away before he could say much else, forcing yourself to brush it off as another weird coincidence. 

The Hard Deck, though..that was harder to explain. You lived nearly 30 minutes from the bar, and your office was 15 minutes in the opposite direction. There was no reason for him to be there, whatsoever. 

You shook your head to rid yourself of the thoughts before you could go further down the rabbit hole. You reasoned that if it wasn’t for Paul appearing, you don’t know that if you would have ever run into Bradley again. You could leave it at that for now. 

Scrambling around in your sheets for your phone, your texts were still pulled up when you unlocked the device. You had messaged back and forth for a few minutes after Bradley had let you know he got home, his last reply wishing you sweet dreams. And oh, they certainly had been. He was the star in all of them. 

You bit your lip as you typed out a quick text to him, a simple Good morning 😊 before you climbed out of bed to go take a shower. He hadn’t responded by the time you were done or by the time you had made it through getting ready, but it was barely 9:00 on a weekend, and the two of you had been up quite late anyway, so maybe he was still sleeping. You refused to entertain the thought of him changing his mind; Bradley was a lot of things, but a liar wasn’t one of them. 

You had just walked into your small kitchen to make something quick for breakfast when your doorbell rang. Your eyebrows furrowed together and the briefest hint of fear ran through you just as fast as it left. You weren’t expecting anyone today, especially this early. Your curtains were still pulled shut so no one could see inside, and figuring it was just a salesman of some sort doing old school door to door, you ignored it and went back to grabbing a piece of bread for toast. 

The doorbell rang again, followed by a quick knock, and you sighed in defeat. You kept your footsteps light as you made your way to the door and looked out the peephole. When you saw who was on the other side, you gasped and fumbled for the lock, throwing the door open.

“Bradley,” you breathed, “hi.” 

“Morning, Bug.” 

He was standing on your porch, all tall and handsome with two cups of coffee in hand. The way he was smiling at you made your heart skip a beat and the sound of the name only he called you had it beating faster all at the same time. You just stared at one another for a minute, not saying a word, before he raised an eyebrow.

“Can I come in?” 

“Oh!” you exclaimed. “Yes, of course. Come in.” 

You felt the heat rising to your cheeks as you moved to the side. He laughed softly as he stepped through the doorway. He handed you one of the cups after you closed the door behind him. 

“What are you doing here so early?” you asked. 

“Well, I was up really early this morning. And I know that you used to go to the farmer’s market across town on Saturday. We mentioned maybe seeing each other today, so I figured I would grab us coffee and then maybe go with you, if you’re going? Do you still go? I’m sorry, maybe I should have asked fir-”

You cut off his rambling by stepping into his personal space and wrapping your free hand around the back of his neck, pulling his face down to yours. You pressed your lips to his as sparks shot through you. 

He remembered. 

“I still go,” you told him. “And I’d love for you to go with me.” 

There was the faintest pink tint to his cheeks that made you want to squeal, knowing it was you who put it there. In an effort to contain it, you took a sip of the coffee he had brought you. It tasted exactly like what you always ordered, and truly, you didn’t know how you were going to avoid spontaneously combusting at how happy you were right now that he was here and seemed to remember everything.  

“Breakfast?” you asked. You winced at how high pitched your voice was and hoped he hadn’t noticed. “I was about to make toast.” 

“I’m starving,” he admitted, “but I was thinking we could grab something while we were there? Do they still have that bakery stand?” 

____

Much to his chagrin, you beat Bradley at handing your card over to pay for the breakfast sandwiches and croissants. You smirked proudly at him as you took a bite. After you were done eating, you strolled around the large outdoor farmers market where different vendors spread out throughout the open space. It was crowded this morning so you shuffled closer together to avoid running into anyone. Halfway through, he had wrapped his arm around your shoulder, pulling you directly into his side instead. You continued with your conversation without skipping a beat. He hadn’t stopped touching you since - a hand on the small of your back when you were sorting through apples, lacing his pinkie with yours when the aisles for the fresh bread stall were too slim for him to walk beside you. 

It was the best Saturday morning that you could remember. 

“I could go for another coffee,” Bradley said as you tried to decide if you wanted both green and red peppers. “Do you want one?” 

“I’ll take one,” you confirmed with a smile. 

He kissed your forehead before he walked away, promising to be back quickly. You watched his back until he’s out of sight and let out a long, happy sigh. You knew you still needed to have a serious conversation with him, but you couldn’t help but think about how you could get used to spending every Saturday morning like this.

Just like you had told him, you selected the peppers you wanted (green, red, and yellow) and then made your way over to the next produce section you were looking for. You were consulting one of the recipes you were planning on making that week when you felt the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. You furrowed your eyebrows and turned to look over your shoulder. There was an older couple at the table next to you, and a young mother with her son not too far behind you, but they were all focusing on themselves. You glanced around, but didn’t see anything out of the ordinary. You tried to focus back on the food in front of you, but the prickling sensation in your brain stayed firmly present; you felt like someone was watching you, but you were sure it was just your mind playing tricks on you. Still, that uneasy feeling in your stomach continued to grow. 

You quickly grabbed the last of what you were after and made your way to the pay area, forcing a smile on your face for the older lady running it. Once she handed you your receipt, you stepped out of the tent the stall was under and scanned the area, trying again to see if you could find the source of this nagging feeling. 

You took a deep breath to try and center yourself. Goosebumps erupted over your skin and your nose scrunched up when you caught the faintest hint of what smelled like cheap locker room cologne that you swore you had smelled before. You looked to your right where you thought it was coming from, but it was still so crowded with people and no one met your eye or stood out. You bit the inside of your cheek, wondering if maybe you had just listened to one too many true crime podcasts this week and were just being paranoid. 

You jumped when you felt a brush against your arm, whipping your head around.

“Bradley,” you breathed, putting a hand over your heart, feeling it pound against your palm. You had been so distracted that you hadn’t seen him approaching, but the man in question was right there at your side, close enough to touch.

“Sorry,” Bradley apologized, “I didn’t mean to scare you.” 

“It’s okay,” you assured, even as your pulse continued to race. You took a deep breath, this time catching the scent of something that was purely Bradley, and you couldn’t resist breathing in again as you felt the tension you had been feeling leave your body. 

The man in question was giving you a concerned look, forehead crinkled in worry. Before he could question anything, though, you caught sight of a colorful bouquet of flowers tucked under his arm. 

“Oh,” you said softly, “are those for me?” 

Seeing where your eyes were, Bradley’s face morphed into something more gentle, a smile tugging at his lips. 

He handed you a coffee first, freeing up a hand to grab the assortment wrapped in cellophane to hold out to you as well. You bit your lip as you took them, feeling that same giddiness from earlier come back in spades. He took your canvas bag full of purchases as you brought the bouquet up to your nose, delighting in the floral hitting your senses. 

“They’re beautiful,” you told him, “thank you.” 

“You’re welcome, Bug. Wanna keep looking around?” 

He held out his arm and you looped yours through it easily. You let your head rest against his bicep for a moment as the two of you started weaving your way through the crowd. It didn’t take long to get lost in his presence again and completely forget about the uneasiness that had momentarily distracted you. 

It had been cloudy all morning, though the forecast hadn’t called for any rain. So when the sky completely opened up right after you threw away your empty coffee cups about fifteen minutes later, a sound of surprise escaped your lips. Bradley cursed under his breath as people immediately began taking shelter where they could under vendor tents and awnings.

“Are you ready to go?” he asked, raising his voice to be heard over the rain. When you nodded, he gripped your hand tightly and the two of you made a mad dash toward the parking lot. You nearly slipped several times, but Bradley always steadied you, never letting you fall. By the time you made it to the Bronco, you were drenched. 

He opened the passenger side door, the grocery bags and flowers finding a home on the floorboards before he held out a hand to help you in, but you were too distracted to notice. His hair was plastered to his forehead and raindrops were caught in his mustache. Even standing soaking wet in the rain, huffing from the impromptu jog, this man was breathtaking. You couldn’t help the giddy laughter that bubbled out of you. You took his offered hand, but instead of letting him boost you into the seat, you tugged him closer, reaching up to thread your fingers through his sopping hair. 

“Bug, what-” 

You kissed him before he could finish.

Bradley didn’t hesitate to return it. His large hands cupped your wet cheeks without missing a beat, his mouth opening against yours. He tasted like coffee and raindrops and something simply just him that was more addicting than anything else could be. 

The rain poured down on you the entire time you stood there at the open car door. It wasn’t until a loud crack of thunder came from the sky that you pulled away. You were both breathing heavily, but his smile was just as wide as what you knew yours was. 

———

When Bradley finally pulled into the driveway of your little rental house, you could have groaned in relief. You had checked the weather app on the drive back, and unexpected thunderstorms were on the radar for the rest of the day. You were looking forward to taking these wet clothes off and maybe jumping in a hot shower to rid yourself of the chill that had soaked into your bones. 

“I can throw your clothes in the dryer when we get inside. I might have a pair of sweatpants laying around that will fit you, but I’m not certain. We can figure something out.” 

You unbuckled your seatbelt and bent at the waist to gather the bags at your feet, but when Bradley didn’t say anything, you turned to look at him. He hadn’t moved to turn the engine off or get out. You swallowed thickly, straightening back up. 

“Were you…not planning on coming in?” you asked slowly. 

The look on his face was sheepish. “I didn’t want to assume that I could.” 

Your heart thudded a little faster at the consideration and control he was giving you. It came back to you, then, how you and Bradley still had so much to discuss and figure out. Between last night and this morning and how natural it felt being around him, it was so easy to forget that you weren’t together, that you hadn’t been in several months. The hesitation he was suddenly showing made you think that perhaps he was thinking the exact same thing. 

“‘I’d love for you to come inside, B,” you told him softly, “I think…we have a lot to talk about. So I want you to come inside. But only if you do, too?” 

A beat passed as the two of you stared at each other, and you were sure his mind was moving as quickly as yours. But after a moment, a smile crept on his handsome face, the faded scars tugging with the motion. He unbuckled himself and stretched to reach into the backseat to retrieve a Navy emblazoned backpack. His cheeks tinted pink when he saw your raised eyebrows. 

“Spare gym clothes,” he explained sheepishly.

He reached over and squeezed your hand before he pulled the keys from the ignition and then grabbed the door handle, looking at you expectantly. “Ready to make a run for it?” 

You took turns using your shower, Bradley insisting that you go first. You kissed his cheek once you were done and he passed you on the way into the bathroom. You settled on the couch and took the few minutes that he was in the shower to think over what it was you wanted to say to him. You wondered if it was a conversation you should have now, or if you could stretch the day out more before risking bursting the bubble you had been in with each other for the last 18 hours. You were confident that you both wanted to make things work, but you also knew that you wouldn’t be able to handle things starting up just to end up the same as they did last time. You felt like things were different now, more hopeful and sure, and you were pretty sure he did, too. 

God, you really hoped he did. 

You chewed the skin on the side of your thumb as the anticipation built. You were so caught up in your own head that you didn’t realize how much time had passed. Seeing Bradley walk out of your bedroom in a plain black tee and gray joggers had your pulse racing and your mind whirling even more. He made his way to you with that kind, soft smile on his face that made you dizzy. 

“Do you want to watch-” 

“I wish we would have tried harder,” you blurted out. 

You slapped a hand over your mouth when you realized what you had said. Bradley froze in his tracks a few feet away. You watched as surprise flickered over his features before he shook himself out of it. He took a silent but deep breath and settled himself on the edge of the coffee table directly in front of you. His bulky frame was so close that your knees touched. 

“I think-I-” Bradley cut himself off with a shake of his head and another deep breath.  You could tell he was trying to gather his thoughts, so even though you were buzzing with nervous energy now that you had just spewed those words out without warning, you gave him all the time he needed. 

“Yes,” he finally said, “I do too.” 

“Why didn’t we?” you brought yourself to ask. You snapped the hair tie on your wrist, the first time you had done it all day. Bradley reached out and laid a hand over yours before you could do it again. 

“I think it’s true that the timing sucked because of how busy we both got right there at the beginning. And I think we both took the easy way out instead of pushing through it and potentially getting hurt. Looking back, that really backfired. We may not have hurt each other, but we hurt ourselves.” 

You nodded slowly. His reasoning made sense, even if it stung. You smiled ruefully. “We’re idiots.” 

He huffed out a laugh and laced your fingers together. “Yes. We are.” 

You chewed the inside of your cheek as you considered your next words carefully. You were so nervous to say them, because you were scared that neither of you would have a good answer. “What makes this time any different?” 

Bradley’s brown eyes had been staring at your joined hands, but they snapped up to yours at the question. With a sigh, he shifted off the coffee table and sat beside you on the couch in one smooth movement. He tugged on the hand he was still holding. “Come here, Bug.”

At his urging, you maneuvered yourself so you were in his lap, your knees setting into the cushions on either side of him. Your hands rested on his strong shoulders as he wrapped his arms around you completely, pulling you even closer, but still with enough distance to be able to look directly into your eyes. 

“I don’t know for sure that this time will work.” 

Your whole body tensed, but Bradley kept his arms locked around you and started speaking again before you could try and bolt. 

“But I also know what it’s felt like to not have you in my life for the last seven months. I never thought I’d get a second chance with you, and I had accepted that I’d always think of you with a little bit of regret and a lot of what ifs. But then last night happened, and then this morning…I meant it when I said I wanted more than just a night. I know we should take more time and that maybe this is moving too fast, and who knows what will happen in the future, but I want to try to make things work this time. I don’t want to give up on us again. I just…I want another chance with you, Bug.” 

Bradley’s eyes were so earnest as they stared into yours. His face was completely open, showing every ounce of honesty and vulnerability. His words were steady and passionate and god, you believed him. 

“I want that too,” you breathed.

“Yeah?”

“Yes,” you nodded rapidly. You were feeling overwhelmed in the best way possible, like your heart was about to explode. 

You wanted him, and he wanted you, and you would try this time. 

He leaned in, brushing his nose against yours and whispering, “If I were a smarter man, I never would have let you go to begin with.”

You crashed your lips to his with a whimper. Bradley didn’t hold back, taking all that you gave him and giving you even more in return. It was a clash of tongue and teeth and he swallowed all the sounds you made. You only pulled away when breathing became an issue, but he didn’t stray. As you gasped for breath, he kissed down your neck. You tilted your head to make it easier on him, delighting in how his mouth felt against your skin. 

His hands settled on your behind, squeezing the flesh through the spandex of your leggings. The arch of your back caused your core to thrust down into his hardening length from your spot on his lap. You couldn’t help but moan his name and tug on his hair. 

“Bradley.” His lips released your skin with a pop and you guided his swollen lips back to your own. “I need you.” 

“You have me, baby.” 

“Take me to bed,” you pleaded breathlessly, lacing your fingers together behind his neck as you kissed him, “please, B.” 

He stood from the couch with you still in his arms. Your bedroom was right off the small living room and he barely pulled his mouth from yours as he navigated the both of you there. 

You may not have fought as hard as you should have the first time, but you’d be damned if you made that mistake twice. 

----

Part Four :: Series Masterlist :: Main Masterlist

Notes: Thank you so much for the feedback on the first two parts! I hope you enjoyed this one just as much. Likes/comments/reblogs are the best encouragement for posting more, and I am super excited about part four, so show this one some love🖤

Thank you to Mak and Em for all of your help making this story come to life. And thanks to Mak for the AMAZING banner!

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[leonisloresmith]

Thank you pokemon leaks we all say in unison.

Here’s my interpretation of the Arceus circle as I choose to believe it and for the fic I’m writing.

Long explanation about which pokemon each circle stands for is beneath the read more-

In this interpretation, all of the pokemon included here are gods in the pokemon world. Most ascended to their roles, having once been normal people or pokemon, but many were just born for their roles.

First we have the innermost sections of the pantheon: the Origin Circle and the Rules of the Universe.

The Origin Circle is the innermost circle that includes The High God Arceus and Their favorite creations Palkia, Dialga, Giratina, and a fourth non-canon fic-specific individual. These gods are usually deemed the most important ones as they hold the fabric of reality together.

The orientation of Palkia and Dialga can change but they must be inline along Arceus AND Palkia must be closest to Rayquaza. Giratina is non-symmetrical on purpose. And Arceus must always be at the center of the entire pantheon circle.

The three gods that sit on the line of the Origin Circle are Rayquaza, Groudon, and Kyogre. I’ll get to them later.

The Rules of the Universe include everything within both triangles and the circles at their points. Let’s just call it the Triangle.

The inner triangle is connected at its points by the Lake Guardians: Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf. They are the gods of consciousness and are just as important as the gods (excluding Arceus) within the Origin Circle.

The outer triangle is connected at its points by Regigigas, Ho-oh, and Lugia. The orientation of these points to the rest of the pantheon circle doesn’t really matter, but some orientations have more symbolic meaning than others (like Uxie being next to Regigigas for knowledgeable craftsmen).

Regigigas is the World Smith and one of the elder/father gods, older than even the Lake Guardians. It can make living bodies, but must work with the Lake Guadians to give those bodies minds of their own. The five gods connected immediately to it are the Legendary Giants, who do not have minds but are considered their own individual gods. Regidrago and Regieleki are younger than the other three Giants and are considered infant gods, their places on the circle are to the bottom left and right of Regigigas (the spots not symmetrical with the other two triangle point circles).

Lugia and Ho-oh are usually depicted making the base or the Triangle because they are the Guadians of All-Worldly Balance, or the yin and yang to Regigigas’ qi. The Legendary Birds answer to Lugia as gods of the seasons and the Legendary Beasts answer to Ho-oh as the gods of resurrection and cycles.

At the end of the day, the work these gods do is vital to the maintaining of the rules that dictate how the world works. They are the “rules of the universe.”

Now Rayquaza, Groudon, and Kyogre sit at the edge of the Origin Circle as ambassadors to Arceus, which are called the Courtly Champions. These champions oversee basically everyone else I haven’t mentioned yet. These three and the rest of the gods are part of what’s called the Heveanly Courts.

The Heavenly Courts are set in the pantheon circle between the aspects of the mind, meaning that the membership of each court is based on how well each God’s throne (the thing they’re god of) fits between each grouping of the Lake Guardians’ thrones. These gods largely act independent of any greater plans or prophecies because their service to their thrones is “unnecessary” compared to the vital work of the gods within the Triangle.

Rayquaza champions the combination of knowledge and willpower.

Groudon champions the combination of willpower and emotion.

And Kyogre champions the combination of knowledge and emotion.

The Heavenly Courts themselves have four ranks (five if you count infant gods as a separate group):

Courtly Champions

Worldly Boundaires

Foundational Principles

outer ring gods with no actual special title

infant gods (who also get no special title)

Worldly Boundaires are the six gods within but at the edge of the outermost circle. These gods are important enough in the pantheon circle to be too important to become Courtly Champions. Instead, their position marks the edge of what counts as godly and symbolically “encompass” the world within its boundaries and rules.

The gods with these roles are:

Mew

Zygarde

Jirachi

Necrozma

Celibi

Terapagos

The last group I’ll talk about are the Foundational Principles. These gods are often replaced based on their thrones and the changing of the exact meaning conveyed by their different combinations. Basically, which combination of gods will best describe one certain definition of combined knowledge and emotion, etc.

I’ll just list the current Principles and their thrones to show the current combinations:

Knowledge and Willpower:

Zekrom - the god of dragons, twins, and ideals

Reshiram - the god of dragons, twins, and truth

Pecharunt- the god of puppets, the god of wants and desires

Knowledge and Emotion:

Calyrex - the god of wise leaders and kings

Cresselia - the god of good dreams

Darkrai - god of bad dreams / nightmares

Willpower and Emotion:

Shaymin - the god of flowers and healing

Hoopa - the god of mischief and doorways

Enamorus (sometimes including all the forces of nature) - the god(s) of nature, the change of seasons, and natural disasters

The rest of the gods are all equal in standing but have more important thrones based on how you look at things. I won’t list them all out cause this is very long.

Thank you if you’ve read this far!!!