#dark blaze has me on my knees i can't

[marinaiguess]

let's just say dark sonic acts like a black hole. energy and light trapped inside him, nothing ever gets out. that's how dark he is and that's his impact on his surroundings. depriving the world from light and hope.

white holes are the opposite. nothing ever gets in, there's no energy nor light trapped inside of it. matter and light explodes on the outside, on its surface. just as blinding as the black hole, so ice cold that it can burn you. who could be the opposite of dark sonic? equally deathly and out of control but giving away too much energy and light that it burns things down? fire that burns with coldness?

dark blaze.

[rememberwren]

Weeks of bad behavior from your lieutenant have you convinced that he can't get laid. You take matters into your own hands.

Ghost/fem!reader. Rough sex, a nearly submissive Simon, PIV, unsafe sex, pullout method, flimsy premise to explain gross fucking, ruined orgasm. This has been on my laptop for ages please take it. 2.5k

-

It’s your breaking point. 

Once you reach it, a strange calm comes over you. The mission is over, Price has finished taking you all to task for your failures, and Ghost has specifically taken you to task for your own—just like a typical man to notice the speck of sawdust in his Sergeant's eye and ignore the plank in his own. For so long (far longer than just the length of this arduous mission), the friction between Ghost and the rest of the team—between Ghost and yourself—has been building. Like two fault lines grinding alongside each other, there was bound to be a break somewhere. 

You just hadn’t expected it to be you. 

And you hadn’t expected it to be like this. 

“Lieutenant, can I have a word?” you ask, walking damn near double time to keep up with Ghost’s steps. 

“Negative,” he says. “Whatever it is, save it.” 

“No can do. It’s important, sir.” 

“Doubtful.” 

“I insist, sir,” you press, pushing your speed into a light jog so that you can come to stand in front of him and block his way. He reluctantly stops, dark eyes blazing from behind his mask. He’s stripped down, gear abandoned but no less intimidating nor lacking in height or width. Still you keep your chin up, refusing to back down. Something has to give, and it won’t be you. 

“Two minutes. Go, Sergeant.” 

Your eyes scan the hallway. Here won’t do, even if it is night time and the base is quiet. You know that the quiet can be deceiving. Spotting the supply closet, you bound over to check that it is unlocked and—score. It swings open silently, the inside dark and smelling faintly of lemon-scented cleaner. 

Ghost hesitates. 

“It’s important sir,” you promise again. 

You don’t promise that it will take two minutes or less. 

Rolling those dark eyes, he sweeps past you into the closet, flicking the lightswitch. The overhead light hums to life, casting a tinny ivory glow over the room. The shelves are well stocked with supplies, most of which aren’t for cleaning but are typical office supplies instead. There is just enough room inside for a man to lay down if he wanted to. 

You’ll have to test that to see. 

“Take your cock out.” 

Silence, for the length of nearly three of your heartbeats. Ghost’s head tilts, eyes narrowing where he stares down at you. He leans down a little as if to hear you better and asks: “Excuse me, Sergeant?” 

You straighten your spine, refusing to be cowed. “You heard me. Your cock. Get it out.” 

“Why the fuck would I do that?” 

You raise your chin a hair. “The recruits have been talking. They say your bad mood is because you can’t get laid. I’m here to fix that, sir.” 

“Getting your intel from recruits was your first mistake. Of many.” 

“Either I have faith that you aren’t always this much of a bastard or I give in to the belief that you really are. For the sake of my own sanity, I’m choosing to believe the former.” You find a few pins for your hair in your uniform and begin pinning it back, keeping the extras tucked between your lips and talking around them as you prepare yourself to suck his cock. That strange calm is still over you, but beneath it you can feel your better judgment panicking. You’re propositioning your superior officer right now. This could lead to your discharge, and not an honorable one. 

But something had to give. It was either your spirit, or your mouth. 

You drop to your knees even though he hasn’t even reached for his belt yet, hoping to rush him along. His dark eyes follow you, and you see the heat in them. The fingers on his right hand twitch. 

“Do you...want me to do it for you?” you ask, your voice a conspiratory little whisper. It’s the last little push he needs and then he is reaching for his own belt, undoing the clasp and opening it. He unfastens his pants. Beneath his jeans you can already see the bulge forming; proportionately huge compared to the man it belonged to. It made your teeth ache, like the thought of eating something sweet. 

Maybe you were both crazy.

His cock is uncut, a dusky flush just a shade darker than the skin on the back of his hands. His girth is nice; his length is nearly obscene. It takes all of your self control to keep from outright balking at the size of him—though the weepy little cunt between your legs certainly is intrigued by the sight. 

“Well?” he says. “Don’t just stare at it. Suck it off.” 

You reach out and flick the sensitive head cruelly. He hisses, hips jerking away from your touch. “You don’t give the orders here, Lieutenant. If you want your dick sucked, you’re going to be nice to me, once and for all.” 

“What?” 

“You heard me. Ask me nicely.” 

“Yer the one who begged me in here—!” 

You let out a sigh. Drastic measures… leaning forward, your soft cheek brushes against the silky smooth skin of his cock. It twitches against you, burning hot. You turn and let your heated breath fan against it. For all his outrage, Ghost has grown perfectly still above you, not trying to find the perfect angle to slip his cock past your lips or anything else of the sort. 

“Come on, Ghost,” you whisper, lips brushing against him. “I’m about to do something very nice for you. Isn’t it only fair that you ask nicely for it? I’m not asking for much. Just say…please suck my cock.” 

“Suck my cock,” he says. Then, like a murderous afterthought: “Please.” 

You sigh again and shift to stand. His hand is suddenly on your shoulder, pressing you back down. 

“Don’t,” he says, sounding less like the prat he is. “Please. Go on. Will you?” 

“You want me to?” 

“Yes.” 

“Yes what?” 

“Please,” he says through his teeth. 

Leaning back on your haunches, you place the softest, chastest little kiss on the head. He’s aroused enough that the foreskin is just beginning to pull back, and you let your tongue out to lap softly at the exposed head, listening to the way his breathing stutters and stops, the way the leather of his gloves creaks as he makes fists as his sides. 

“Try to fuck my face and it’s over,” you warn him. “You might be thinking of how badly you need this—and I know that you do. But don’t forget this: I need it more. I need this more. If we’re going to work together with any semblance of civility, I need this. Do you understand?” 

“No. But I get the gist.” 

“Good enough for me.” You open your mouth and take the head past your lips, suckling on it. He lets out a harsh breath through his nose, cock jerking against your tongue. You can taste precum already, and you’ve barely done anything. No wonder he’s been such a bastard lately. Has he been fucking his own fist at all? God knows that you’ve spent more than one night with your pruning fingers buried to the knuckle inside yourself, hand over your mouth to keep from shouting Ghost’s callsign when you cum. 

Leaning forward, you take more of him into your mouth, enjoying the heavy weight of him on your tongue. He is burning hot, smells and tastes faintly of sweat from the mission, but you don’t mind; living with so many men has almost given you a strange appreciation for the scent of hard work. Maybe Ghost’s most of all. You take him as deep as you comfortably can, but there are still a few solid inches outside the wet warmth of your mouth. 

You work one hand down your pants and underwear, finding the sopping wet slit between your thighs. Using three fingers, you stroke yourself leisurely from hole to clit, soaking the digits. Above you, Ghost mutters a curse, head tilting almost curiously as he searches for a better angle to watch your hand move beneath the fabric of your pants. Removing it, you hold it up to show him the filmy slick drenching your fingers before wrapping that fist around the base of his cock. 

“You get that wet just from thinking about sucking some cock?” 

Your eyes narrow dangerously, slowly pulling back until just the flushed head rests on your tongue, wondering if he’s being mean enough that you need to stop and remind him of his manners. Apparently just the threat of it is enough; he lifts his hands in supplication, mouth twisting a little beneath his mask. 

“If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything. Didn’t your mother teach you that, Lieutenant?” 

It’s his turn for his eyes to narrow dangerously, an expression that would likely put the fear of God in a lesser man or woman. But with your teeth so close to his cock, you’re not yet afraid. Before he can open his mouth and ruin anything else, you swallow him down as deeply as you can, feeling the thick head press at the back of your throat, your jaw aching. You can taste yourself on his cock and the thought has you whining around his length.  

“Fuck,” Ghost mutters. His hand touches your hair—not to grab, but just to pet. “Yer a pretty thing, aren’t you?”

You hum in delight at this unexpected praise. It goes straight to your soaked core, fanning the flames of the ache between your legs. You are a pretty thing, and you are glad he’s noticed. To reward his good behavior, you lean in until the head nudges the back of your mouth again. Tongue out, breath held, he slips even deeper into the warm channel of your throat. His ragged exhale is as sweet as a moan. 

You give him a few more minutes of your mouth before you grow bored without your own satisfaction. Slipping him free, you work his cock in your slick fist and say to him, voice wrecked: “Time to see if you can lay down in here.” 

Turns out he can, as long as he keeps his knees bent a little. Straddling his waist only emphasizes to you how obscenely thick he is, and you have to stand to shuck your pants and panties down and off altogether. You cast a brief glance toward the door—there is no lock from the inside—but no risk means no reward. 

“I don’t have a condom. You’ll have to pull out. Tell me when you’re close, alright?” 

“Alright.” 

His hands reach for you, gripping your wide hips as you straddle him again. You plant one hand firmly against his chest but hold no illusions that you could actually pin him in place if he decided to move. You lower yourself to brush your soaked slit along the length of his cock, back and forth, until he is soaked in your arousal. 

His mouth opens to say something smart, something that will have you gritting your teeth, but instead you rise up onto one knee and sink down on the head of his cock. It’s all you can take before that pinch of pain strikes you, freezing you in your tracks. His mouth is parted beneath the balaclava, wet, quiet pants that dampen the fabric with each breath. You take your time stretching yourself open, thighs burning in time as you lift and lower yourself over him again and again. 

“Touch me,” you demand of him. 

For all his earlier mouth, he seems content to be obedient now, his gloved fingers searching for the space where you both are joined. The leather traces along the seam where his cock disappears into your cunt before following your parted lips up to your clit. His thumb circles the aching bud with a firm touch, and it helps you ignore the pain as you take another inch of him inside. 

You ride him like that: both your hands on his chest feeling the way it hitches as it rises and falls, hips jerking and swaying as you find the angle that suits you best. 

“Lean back,” he demands. “I want to look at you.” 

“No time,” you pant. “It’s been way longer than two minutes, Lieutenant. I do hate to be wasting your time.” 

“Fucking hell,” he sighs, eyes rolling.

“Don’t forget to tell me when you’re close.” He grunts in acknowledgement, his fingers going sloppy between your thighs. That’s not good enough. You bark: “Lieutenant, do not forget to tell me!” 

He laughs. 

You go to lift off of him, but his laughter turns belly up and dies so quickly, morphing into a strange, desperate little sound as he stops working your clit and grips at your hips, pulls you down more firmly against the cradle of his thighs. 

“I mean it,” you say through your teeth, taking one of his wrists and prying a finger loose until he has no choice but to let go or have it broken. You guide his hand back between your legs. “Don’t cum before me, either.” 

He sits up, jostling you, forcing you to change your angle. His mouth comes down hard against yours, fabric on skin, but you don’t turn him away, lapping at the cotton like it’s his tongue as you kiss through the mask. 

Feeling things slipping out of your control, you press him back down with both hands, pinning him to the floor. The sound of flesh on flesh is loud in the enclosed space. At the apex of his thrusts he brushes against some deep, untouched space inside you that has you digging your nails into him, feeling that ache in your belly writhe and twist into something fearsome. 

“I’m close,” he grits out. 

“Not yet,” you hiss. 

“I said I’m fucking close—“

“Wait for me,” you growl. Then, knowing that you can catch more flies with honey, you soften your tone: “Please, don’t cum yet.”

He shuts his eyes. “Shut up,” he mutters, scrambling for control, fingers digging into your thighs, unsure whether to pull you closer or tear you off of him. “Shut up, shut up, shut the—fuck up.”

It’s your turn to laugh, feeling your release right there, coaxed forward by this pleasurable torture you’re inflicting on him. Never did you think that seeing your superior officer suffering like this would give you so much satisfaction. 

“So close,” you whisper, the tips of your fingers tingling with it. “Simon, I’m gonna—“

When it bursts, your teeth snap closed around a whine, jaw tight as your cunt clenches around him—

—and he jerks you off of him, sending you sprawling against his lower thighs as his ruddy cock twitches and spurts pearlescent seed, one dexterous hand wrapping around the shaft as he jerks himself off through it even after ruining your own. You stare, gobsmacked at his audacity, pussy still twitching and clenching around empty air, the stolen pleasure leaving behind a vicious ache. 

“You bastard,” you mutter. You bat his hand away, gripping his cock and beginning to jerk him off. When you smile, it is mostly teeth, something feral and mean. “Let’s try that again.” 

[b00kdiary]

Take it | Azriel & Cassian (II)

Azriel x Cassian x Plus Size Reader

Rhysand's playing Cupid and his meddling has you experiencing something you never would have thought possible.

Warnings: Mature content (18+), mature language, fluff, and SMUT.

MASTERLIST - 1 and 2

The walk back up to my room feels like an eternity.

From the moment I said those final words and turned on my heel and began to walk away, time seemed to slow down, seemed to stop when they both rose as one, their feet silent as they followed me out the door.

Trekking through the corridors, the three of us were deathly silent, the only sound of my heels clicking against the floor and our soft breaths dancing in the air. I could feel it, feel them, watching me- over my hips, my ass, my legs, watching my hair sway with every swift step.

And now we were here, in my room, and it was sobering, to say the least.

I came to a steady halt in the middle of my room and my breaths sawed in and out of me as I felt the indomitable power of them behind me. I heard them step inside, heard them stop, heard my door click shut- and then lock.

I waved my hand idly and the candles and log fire in my room blazed to life, bathing the darkness with light, bathing us with light. Forcing air into my lungs, I turned and stopped short at the sight of them both before me.

Azriel and Cassian watched me, their bodies as still as death, constellations shining in their eyes, and I could scent their desire all over them. They waited despite their need; despite the fact they were thrumming with energy- waited for me to decide.

"Y/N," Cassian muttered, his voice like gravel and my heart fluttered at the small, kind smile he gave me- as if placating my nerves, "Are you sure you want to do this?"

My knees were trembling, weak and numb with anxiety, but I steeled my spine and forced down every shred of worry and insecurity that threatened to overwhelm me.

I was sure.

It was palpable, the way their auras shifted, breaths catching in their throats when I lifted my chin, letting my shield drop completely, letting them scent and feel everything I did. They track my movements like predators, watching with terrifying attention as I slip my hands behind me.

And unlace my dress.

My hands shake as I tug on the ties, loosening the back enough that when I drag my hands up to the straps on my shoulders, hooking my fingers under them, it all comes apart with ease.

A growl reverberates through the room- from which male I can't tell. Not as I haul the silk dress down my breasts, my stomach, tugging it down my hips and thighs before letting it slip from my fingers and pool at my heeled feet.

Utterly naked, utterly bare- body and soul.

"Are the two of you sure you want to do this?" I ask, my trembling hands clenching at my sides, but I push myself to meet their gazes, to not let my fears control me.

But when my eyes meet theirs, I wonder why I ever questioned them at all.

They watched me, no, more than that- they saw me. Eyes trickled down my body, across my flesh, seeing every curve and roll, seeing my stretch marks and cellulite, and being in awe of every inch of me.

Cassian approached me first, his long legs bringing him to me in seconds and the smile on his face, the wonder made me dizzy. My eyes flutter when his handsome face ducks down inches from mine, a large, calloused hand cupping my cheek firmly, lovingly.

"You are fucking magnificent," Cassian was breathless, I could hear his heart pounding and my hands lift to his chest, my fingers finding purchase in the material of his shirt, to keep my knees from giving out. "Can I kiss you, angel?"

A whimper slipped from me when he brushed his lips against mine, the barest touch, a whisper of a kiss as if trying to coax me into more. His hands didn't leave my face and didn't touch my body, not until I said he could.

"Please, Cass," I whispered, my voice fragmented and the need in my tone was all it took for him to lose all hold of his control.

Cassian's eyes flared and I barely got down a breath before his hand fell to my exposed waist and he tugged me flush against him, his lips capturing mine. I gasped into the kiss, gasped into him and every thought eddied from my mind at the taste of him.

Cassian's mouth tasted me, devoured me, he sucked and explored and prodded in a way that told me he wanted to memorise every inch of my mouth, my lips. My back arched like a bow when his fingers razed down my body, kneading my flesh, as if he couldn't get enough of the feel of me.

I didn’t fight him for control didn’t want to not as he pressed me to his steeled body, not as he cupped my ass in his hands, not as he kissed and kissed and kissed me.

Cassian drew his mouth from mine, begrudgingly, and my body shivered, my core clenching when another set of hands settled against my skin, as another set of hands traced across my stomach and hips, a solid chest pressing against my back.

"Az," I purred his name, eyes rolling at the feel of his mouth as my ear, canines nipping and teasing, jagged breath washing over me. Cassian grinned, a flash of white teeth before his strong hands turned me, so fast that I giggled from the dizziness, now meeting a different pair of hazel eyes.

"Look at you," Azriel muttered, wondering eyes feral, his tone dripping with praise and want as he let his scarred hands travel across my flesh, as he let those wild shadows feel me too. "Beautiful, so fucking beautiful."

Heat blossomed over my cheeks, over my body at his sweet words and I let that feeling guide me as I ran my hands up Azriel's magnificent body, until my fingers curled into the roots of his soft hair, and I was pulling him down closer to my face.

Cauldron, these males could kiss.

His hand wrapped around my throat, keeping me exactly where he wanted me as his lips met mine, and I could do nothing, didn't want to do anything, but let Azriel taste me as fiercely as he wanted.

Languid, broad strokes of his tongue against mine, satiating and wholly powerful, a male used to being in charge, used to having a female submit, to take all the pleasure he gives and beg for more- and I would, I would beg if I had to.

I moaned into Azriel's mouth, my eyes clamped shut at the intensity of it all- so many hands, tugging my breasts, rolling my nipples, palming the flesh of my ass, lips kissing my neck, canines scrapping against my sweet spots, rumbling growls of need piercing the air.

It was just like Rhys had shown me this morning, the both of them, absolutely worshipping me, both kissing and tasting and touching me, and I felt like the fire fanning between my legs was about to fucking explode.

"Please, please-" My voice sounds pathetic, whiny, and desperate as I drag myself away from the perfect torture of Azriel's lips, breathless and eyelids heavy as I choke out the words.

"We've got you, angel," Cassian chuckled roughly from behind me, and I saw Azriel's lip tilt into a purely male smile, the both of them staring down at me, loving how strung out I was. "We're gonna take real good care of you, don't worry."

An impatient sound escaped me, a mixture between a snarl and a whine but any protests or curses I was ready to spew fell short when I was suddenly whirled around, Azriel's hand gripping painfully into my hair, forcing my head back to look up into Cassian's dark eyes.

"So impatient," Cassian tutted, lip curling and my chest rose and fell like tidal waves as the male silently stared down at me, neither of them touching me spare the grip Az had on my scalp. "Az, you don't mind if I have a taste do you brother?"

Taste- Gods above I was going to pass out.

"By all means," Azriel replied, an almost feline satisfaction humming in his low tone, "I wonder if she's as sweet as she smells?"

I was definitely about to pass out.

Cassian grins and I melt into him when he kisses my lips again, only for a second, before he begins to kiss down my body, down my jaw, my neck, my chest, his tongue trailing over my hard nipples- all the way until he's kneeling before me.

The room was painfully silent as Cassian's gaze met the wet, aching spot between my legs and I wasn't breathing, not even thinking, as he curled his large hand around my thick thigh, his movement graceful as he lifted my leg, and hooked it over his shoulder- exposing me to him.

His fingers carved crescent moons into my thigh as he marvelled at the sight of me, and I clenched around nothing at the way his face hardened, like a male conquering, a warrior after he'd won the war.

"I'm going to fucking enjoy this," Cassian teased, kissing the flesh of my inner thigh and I could do nothing but force air into my lungs and lean into Azriel's solid chest, his towering form peering over my shoulder, watching his brother get closer and closer to where I needed him most.

"Cass-Cassian!"

There was no warning, no sign, not as Cassian lurched forward and wrapped his lips around my throbbing, desperate clit.

"Cauldron," I moaned, almost pathetically loud as Cassian's tongue parted my folds, as he teased and lapped against my clit, as the sounds of him eating me out danced through the air like a lewd song.

He groaned, the grumble reverberating through me, his contentment clear as he curled another hand around to palm my ass, shoving his face between my pillowy thighs and running his tongue over my core again and again until I was on the verge of screaming.

"It seems you taste even better than I thought, sweetheart," Azriel muses haughtily against my neck, and my body trembles when his canines pierce the flesh there, his arms hooked around my stomach like a vice.

He was forcing me to endure Cassian's relentless mouth, to endure his bite and the shadows torturing my sensitive breasts and all of it made my release barrel closer and closer.

It was almost embarrassing, how quickly his skilled tongue made me inch toward my climax.

"I'm so-so close," I babbled, tears leaking down my face now, my body writhing against Azriel's hold as Cassian's tongue toyed back and forth, back and forth with my clit, occasionally stopping to suck the bud harshly between his lips, teeth nipping until I couldn't contain my noise.

He's smirking against my cunt at the sounds that slip from me, and I choke on a pleasured cry when he suddenly shoves two large, calloused fingers into me, my core so wet that he has no resistance as he fucks them deep inside me.

"C'mon sweetheart," Azriel coaxes, his hands bruising as he holds down my flailing hips, pressing me back so that I can feel the terrifyingly large, hard imprint of his cock against my ass. "Make a mess all over Cassian's face, you're nearly there."

His tone was almost condescending, mocking and somehow, something dark and twisted and dirty within me seemed to feed off his words. Because Cassian flicked against my clit, his fingers curled against a spongey spot in me, and suddenly it was all splintering to pieces.

"Cassian, Cassian!"

Everything went dark for a second as my back arched and my body went unnaturally still, and I went limp against their bodies as a sea of release washed over me. I moaned, desperately loud, my stomach clenching and unclenching as my climax pulsed and pulsed and pulsed.

I sag back in exhaustion, my eyes clamped shut as I try and catch my breath, waves of release still rocking through me and slowly fading into oblivion. The hands around me have softened, tender as they soothe me through the high.

"How you feeling, angel?" In the time it takes for me to come down from my climax, Cassian's now stood before me and as my eyes flutter open and meet his, I can't help but smile at the adoration on his face, hopelessly sweet as he cups my cheek, brushing my hair from my sweaty face.

"I'm doing great," I giggle, a manic, gravelled sound and Cassian chuckles, white teeth flashing, and I know Azriel's amused too, just from the way his chest shakes with laughter against my back.

"You look pretty worn out," Azriel mumbles from behind me and I try and force some dominance back into my eyes as I glance over the shoulder at him, at his gorgeous face and greedy gaze, and I raise a brow.

"It'll take more than that to truly wear me out, Az," I say pointedly, and the way his eyes narrow- as if calling me a brat- makes me even wetter than I was. "When I get to that point, trust me you'll know... assuming you can get me there?"

I was playing with fire, I knew it the second those words left my lips- and all sweetness and calm vanished from his eyes, vanished from the room. And suddenly, I was trapped between two apex predators, two Illyrian males who could fuck me senseless, fuck me until I was begging them to stop.

"Get on the bed, sweetheart," Az commanded, the voice of a five-hundred-year-old male, of a spymaster, a torturer, a killer, "Don't make me ask twice."

Cassian laughs- actually laughs- when I rush to do so, the dominance in Azriel's face, his voice, making it impossible for me to not swiftly move to the bed, climbing up the satin material until I've reached the middle.

"Lay down, angel," Cassian states and the air in my lungs turns to ash when they both begin reaching behind them to the hooks on their shirts, releasing them to pull off the materials. "and spread those pretty legs for us."

I do it, I obey- but I don't take my eyes off them. Not as acres of corded muscle and dark, captivating whorls are exposed, not as I see the ripples of packs down their glorious stomachs, trails of dark hair following under the band of their slacks.

I watch them, captivated, and they watch me, enthralled.

I gaze at them as they unlace their breeches, biting on my cheek hard enough to taste blood as the fabrics come loose and they start tugging them down, almost in unison, their dark eyes never once leaving the spot between my spread thighs.

Mor was right- wingspan did correlate to size.

“Starting to regret taunting us now, huh?” Cassian snorts, seeing my doe eyes get wider and wider, flickering between the two of them as they yanked off their breeches, discarding them on the floor beside them.

I lifted my chin, feigning arrogance but deep down, my stomach coiled at the idea of fitting them into me, how they would stretch my cunt, stretch my mouth, how they’d fucking ruin me.

“Just say the word, and we’ll take it easy on you,” Cass rounded the bed, in all his naked glory, hazel eyes blackening to dark chocolate at the sight of me sprawled out on the bed, and I saw his cock twitch as he settled beside me. “You just gotta tell us if you can’t take it.”

His words were sincere, telling me that whatever I felt I should tell them- but there was also a challenge there as if asking how much I could handle.

I sucked in a harsh breath of air when scarred hands began languishing up my calves and my eyes flashes forward, to Azriel, who knelt on the bed between my parted legs, wings splaying up high behind him.

“Is that what you want sweetheart?” Azriel cocked his head, abs rippling as he leaned forward on his palms, slotting my thighs around his lean waist, so close that his cock brushed my folds. “You want us to go easy on you?”

“No,” I hiss through gritted teeth, my back bowing as Azriel reaches down and grabs hold of his long, thick length, the tip already leaking pre-cum- and I gasp when he rubs himself through my soaking wet folds. “I want-want you to fuck me hard, I can take it, I can-“

Azriel doesn’t wait for me to finish my sentence, not as he shoves his cock into me, hard and brutal, unforgiving as he sheaths his painfully thick length in until he’s hitting my cervix. And Cauldron, do I scream.

“There you go,” Cassian praises from beside me, hands combing through my messy hair and beaming as I cry out at Azriel’s ruthlessness, pulling his cock out to the tip before shoving himself back in all the way, again and again.

“Az-Azriel-“ I choke, my walls clenching around him as his hips fuck into me, forcing me to adjust to his size, his hands at my waist bruising as he keeps me in place. “Oh, my fucking Gods.”

“Taking it so well,” Azriel growled, and his smile was feral when my legs hooked around his waist, my eyes rolling as he slipped in deeper, hitting a spot that had me fisting the sheets under me. “Wrapped around my cock so good.”

“Cass, Cass, please,” I force my eyes open, my body rocking wildly, my tits bouncing as Azriel fucks me, our arousals wet through the air. My lips pout- my blowjob red lips- and Cassian’s smile is almost terrifying.

As if this is exactly what he had been picturing from the moment I said those words.

He hisses when my small hand wraps around his hard length, cursing as I pump my hand up and down, my mouth watering as he shifts on his knees, guiding his tip to my mouth, ever so slowly pushing past my lips.

“Fuck, Y/N,” Cassian moans gutturally, a sound that shoots straight to my pulsing clit as I take him further into my mouth, not stopping even when he hits the back of my throat. I gagged, making Cassian tighten his fingers into my scalp, his hands guiding me.

Azriel moaned, spreading my legs so that he could lean forward, palms braced on either side of my chest, and I mewled around Cassian’s cock as he plucked a nipple between his lips, teeth biting hard against the bud.

I was making such a mess- around Azriel’s cock, my arousal dripping down my thighs and onto the sheets below me as he rutted into me, skin slapping skin. I made a mess around Cassian’s cock too, spit, and pre-cum gathered covering his stomach as he bucked his hips, fucking my mouth how he liked.

“Just-just like that,” Cassian gasped, voice rasping like sandpaper, his words stuttering and broken as I bobbed my head up and down his length, feeling him twitch in my mouth, thighs tensing under my palms. “Got me so close, angel.”

I feed off his confession, feed off the jagged sounds Az makes against my wet breasts as he pounds into me, and I’m sucking harder, cheeks hollowing, tongue raking along the veined sides and Cassian snarls.

I gag as he bucks his hips up, hitting the back of my throat, and I can feel his cock twitching, a guttural, animalistic sound tearing from his lips as his orgasm hits, and I can’t help but take him deeper into my mouth, whimpering when he shoots hot spurts of his cum down my throat.

“Look at you, swallowing his cum,” Azriel grits out sardonically, watching Cassian’s cock pull free from my mouth, pearly cum gathered on my lips. His hand wraps around my throat, pressing down on either side- and forcing my eyes to his. “You gonna be a good girl and come around my cock now?”

“Yes, yes, yes-“ I cry out, head spinning from the hold Az has around my windpipe, my pussy throbbing as he moves faster, hips angled up, hitting a spot inside me that had me seeing stars. “Close, so close, Azriel, Az-“

A sob lodges in my throat when pressure brushes against my clit- not Azriel’s hand, but his shadows. My toes curl, back arching as they toy with the bundle of nerves, messily flicking and pulling and rubbing in a way that makes it hard to breathe.

“Let go, Y/N,” Cassian whispers, kissing my jaw, his tongue trailing softly against my skin, and grinning at the sound of Azriel fucking me, the sounds that tumble from my lips uncontrolled.

It’s too much, the shadows abusing my clit, Azriel’s cock buried deep in my cunt, hammering against that sweet spot, Cassian coaxing me toward that edge.

“I’m- Azriel, I’m-“ I can’t speak, all sound silencing in my lungs as my climax hits me, hard and fast and all-consuming, so strong that my thighs clamp down around Azriel’s waist, trapping his cock deep inside me.

Hot white release, like stars exploding across my vision, a kind of pleasure I’d never felt before, an orgasm that leaves me reeling.

“Shit,” Azriel curses, sweat covering his brow, dampening his hair and I feel his hips start to falter as my core clenches and unclenches around him, sucking him in deep and rough, my orgasm rippling through every inch of my pussy.

“Shit-“

I hear an amused chuckle and my release dies down just enough for me to crack my eyes open- to see Cassian running his hand down the bridge of Azriel’s wing, a sadistic smile tracing his lips as he traces the talon at the tip, watching Azriel shake above me.

It was the hottest thing I had ever seen- Azriel above me, eyes unable to stay open, the muscles in his arms stiff with the exertion of keeping himself up, his beautiful face twisted in pure pleasure as he buried his cock inside me- and fell apart.

I feel my cunt pulse as Azriel roars, the hand at the base of my throat clamping down just right and I moan as his cock twitches, his hot seed spilling into me, making a mess as he fills me up.

The fire inside me begins to wane, slowly fading into oblivion as Azriel stops completely, panting and trembling, as my thighs loosen from him, collapsing to the bed in exhaustion. My eyes close unwittingly, and I scrunch my nose uncomfortably as Azriel’s cock slips free, leaving me feeling empty.

Yet still pulsing with the aftermath of him being inside me.

“Sweetheart?”

“C’mon Angel, let us see those pretty eyes.”

I flutter my eyes open at the sound of their sweet voices, so at odds with the dominant, authoritative males they had been moments before. I blink away the fog covering my gaze- meeting two pairs of warm, honeyed hazel eyes.

“There she is,” Cassian grins brightly, and I sigh when his hands come to my hair again, his fingers soothingly running through the knots, easing the ache of where had been tugging minutes before.

“Are you okay?” Azriel asked quietly, and I couldn’t fight the smile that tugged at my lips as I glanced forward to him, seated between my legs, hands rubbing at my thighs, and a worried frown on his lips.

“Remember when I said you would know when I was worn out?” I whispered, my voice sore as I rose onto my elbows, a soft laugh escaping me when both their eyes dropped to my breasts, shaking with the movement.

“This is me worn out,” I bite my lip, and the way their faces brighten, the way they both smile- it was pure masculine satisfaction, the most Fae male thing they could do.

“Then it seems we did our jobs, angel,” Cassian winks, settling so that I was leaning against his chest now, my head dropping against his still-racing heart. I felt my cheeks heat, but I smiled as he ducked his head, pressing a gentle kiss to my lips.

I groaned as Azriel’s hands began massaging across my body, from my calves to my thighs, up my hips and waist, over my arms and shoulders, until his body was towering above me, hazel eyes glinting like stars.

“It’s also our job to take care of you after wearing you out, Y/N,” Az whispered, a small grin tilting his lips, and my heart fluttered, so full of light, as he kissed me, just as pure and careful as Cassian had.

“Just relax, sweetheart.” 

____________________________________

@mis-lil-red @hyemishii @assaultsofthought @starswholistenanddreamsanswered @loveareum @infintyfandoms @sarawritestories @eerievixen @nyotamalfoy @lewsnumerounofan @dreaming-about-fanfictions @sarawritestories @nottyourlover @bbycowboi @morganwdarius

Comment to be added to the tag list!

Taking requests!

[roxygen22]

can i request any beautiful boy writing and thank you love your writing

Aww - thanks, anon! I can't believe I haven't written for Nic yet, so thanks for the nudge!

Context: Nic has been sober for a while and is holding down a steady job in the city, where he meets the reader.

<><><><><>

Bus Stop

"I have a crush on a stranger," you blurted out at dinner with your BFF. She stared at you like you had lost your mind. Maybe you had.

"Okaaaaay. Tell me about said...stranger," she replied slowly, skeptically.

"I take the same bus every day heading home from the office. Same bus. Same route. Same time. Every weekday. This cute guy - dark brown curls and cheekbones that could cut glass - always gets on two stops later and sits across from me. Every day except Wednesdays. Sometimes, if we happen to lock eyes when I look up, he'll nod and offer a closed-lipped smile. The looks have started to...linger. I've noticed that I have started to look forward to it."

At some point while narrating your story, your focus drifted off into the distance. When your eyes returned to your friend, she was grinning at you like a cheshire cat.

"Oof, you've got it bad."

"I know....," you groaned and dramatically dropped your forehead to your hands.

"What's the big deal? Ask him out." She shrugged nonchalantly.

You stared at her wide-eyed, jaw slack. "How?" You asked incredulously.

She laughed. "Start by asking his name. The rest should take care of itself."

<><><><><>

The following Monday was a federal holiday, so you wouldn't see the beautiful mystery boy again until Tuesday. The last hour of work crawled by at a torturous pace. At closing, you grabbed your coat and bolted out the door, determined to catch the bus on time. It dependably arrived at your stop like clockwork.

You sat in your usual spot, knee bouncing from nerves and excitement. Two stops later, a slew of people stepped onboard. With each unfamiliar face, you grew more and more disappointed until finally, the object of your affection appeared. He took his normal position across the way and down a few seats. He always looked so nice and put together in his button-down shirt and slacks.

You were eager to talk to him but didn't want to come off as a stalker, so you waited a couple of stops before scooting over to sit directly in front of him. Your movement caught his attention, prompting him to look up at you.

"Hi," you squeaked and froze as you locked eyes.

"Hi," he replied slowly, both confused and amused. He flashed a smile that frazzled you further.

"I- uh, I've seen you here almost every day for months. So this isn't like talking to a stranger. I, uh, don't usually make it a habit of talking to strangers. I've been wanting to meet you." You paused and caught your breath. "I'm [Y/N]." You stuck out your right hand to shake. Smooth, real smooth.

"Hi, [Y/N]." You felt electricity run through your fingertips as he took your hand in his. "I'm Nic."

"Nic," you breathed, holding his hand probably a little longer than a customary handshake. You weren't sure what to do next, except make a note that your BFF gives terrible advice.

He cleared his throat. "I- I've uh, noticed you, too. On the bus every day, I mean."

All you could do was blush.

"Getting off work for the day?" Nic asked as you settled back into your seat, nodding toward the laptop bag at your side.

"Yep, the daily grind. The best part is the bus ride home."

It was his turn to blush. He ducked his head down sheepishly. You were dismayed to look up and see your stop was next.

"This is my stop coming up. The day crept by while I waited to finally talk to you, but the ride blazed by once I did." You sadly half-smiled as you looked into his jade-hued eyes, while also admiring your own newly found confidence.

"Oh." You detected a hint of disappointment in Nic's voice. "If...hopefully this doesn't sound creepy...if you'd like, I can get off here, too, and walk with you. My stop is just the next one down," he offered.

Your heart beat rapidly - slightly wary since he was still effectively a stranger, but mostly exhilarated by the prospect of having more time with him. Your words failed, so you just nodded.

When the bus stopped, you both stood and walked toward the front. Nic stepped off first, then turned and offered his hand to help you down.

"Thanks," you responded, blushing at the gentlemanly gesture.

"Where to?" he asked as he shoved his hands in his coat pockets.

You froze as rationality hit you like a ton of bricks, finally realizing that you would be leading this guy, still essentially a stranger, to your apartment. No matter how much you liked him, that wasn't a smart move.

"Well, I...I," you stammered nervously. "I barely know you, so I'm not going to show you where I live. Not yet, no offense."

"None taken," Nic replied, holding his hands up in surrender.

"But I want to get to know you, and I don't want that to stop here. Want to duck in somewhere and grab a drink?"

"I- I don't drink." His brow furrowed, and his eyes cast downward slightly. "B-but I do eat!" he added. "Hungry? My treat."

You smiled and nodded, pointing at the diner across the street. "How about there? They make a mean cheeseburger and milkshake."

Nic grinned. "Works for me."

<><><><><>

Part 2

Masterlist

@croatianprincess @bluizh @jindongdongie @groovy-lady @pmak2002

[epicbuddieficrecs]

Weekly Recap | January 1st-7th 2024

First rec of 2024! Happy New Year everyone! I hope it's a good one!

(damn, can you tell I was off from work? this rec is long af 😅 I know it's a bit late but once I got done I just wanted to yeet it off my drafts asap)

Complete

🔥 All My Shattered Oaths by letmetellyouaboutmyfeels/ @letmetellyouaboutmyfeels (Vampires AU | 107K | Explicit): Eddie wants to stay away from his family’s legacy and give his son a normal life. Buck’s desperate to find a way to get over the love he lost. Fate has other plans for both of them.

🔥 a blaze in the dark by woodchoc_magnum/ @woodchoc-magnum (Post-S6, Eddie Coming Out | 117K | Explicit): Set post-Season 6, where Buck has inadvertently sacrificed his friendship with Eddie in order to focus on his new relationship with Natalia, and is shocked when Eddie comes out to the team and subsequently reveals that he is dating a guy.

i'm down on my knees (i wanna take you there) by burnthatbridge/ @burnthatbridge (PWP, Glory Hole | 5K | Explicit): Buck is… a little drunk. So, he honestly thinks, when he first spots it, after stumbling into the stall, clumsily undoing his fly, and taking a very needed leak, that he’s seeing things. It takes him reaching out — with a hand he was already going to wash and probably should doubly do so now — and sticking a finger through it to convince him that the sight hasn’t been fabricated by his inebriated brain. It’s real. It’s a glory hole. His first thought is, huh; his second is, I have got to show Eddie.

making love to the flashes by sibylsleaves/ @sibylsleaves (PWP, Hot Firefighter Calendar | 11K | Explicit): When Buck had told them all the Hot Days, Smoldering Nights, Men of the LAFD Wall Calendar had selected him to represent the 118 for the month of July, Eddie hadn’t thought much of it. He’d congratulated him with a clap on the shoulder, laughed along with Hen, Chim, and Bobby’s good-natured teasing, and that had been that. Well, Eddie certainly isn’t laughing now.

with a bird at your door by @sibylsleaves (S6, Getting Together | 3K | General): Eddie starts spending all his time with Buck. Which would be fine if it weren't for the fact that Buck is in love with him.

we're gonna need some land between our bodies by @sibylsleaves (Post-Poker Date | 9K | Explicit): or, Buck and Eddie can't fuck yet (four times Buck and Eddie try to define the relationship and the one time they do)

my heart's a secret (tell me you'll keep it) by @sibylsleaves (Getting Together | 5K | Teen): Or, Buck tells Chimney a secret. This proves to be a mistake.

the winner takes it all (the loser has to fall) by @burnthatbridge (Getting Together | 4K | Teen): Buck and Lucy compete to see who's the better kisser. Eddie somehow finds himself the judge. (Part 1 of winner takes all)

the winner takes all (of me) by @burnthatbridge (PWP, Buck/Eddie/Lucy | 4K | Explicit): An alternative ending to Buck and Lucy's kissing competition. (Part 2 of winner takes all)

Calling (So You'll Answer) by Princessfbi / @princessfbi (Angst, Hurt Buck | 29K | Mature | Warning: Rape/Non-Con): “Buck? Did you drunk dial me?” Eddie did not envy Buck’s headache in the morning. He fought back the urge to smile at the thought of Buck, hungover and pouting with his curls in wild form on his head and his hands twisting and knotting in his favorite hoodie for the comfort the texture brought him. “Can you come take me h-home?” Buck asked, his voice sounding so painfully young. “I don’t …feel good.”

Smoke and Ashes Brushed Off with Ink by @princessfbi (Tattoo Artist Eddie AU | 18K | Mature): Tattoo Artist!Eddie Diaz AU inspired by the tumblr thread about praise kink discovery when getting a tattoo.

i'll lie awake for you by diazbegins/ @evanbegins (Married Buddie, PWP | 8K | Explicit): Or: Buck and Eddie, newly-weds, spend their well-deserved time alone.

I'd Wait Here Forever by @princessfbi (Angst, Stalker | 21K | Mature | Warning: Rape/Non-Con): “Come on. You and me could—” Buck caught Chimney moving to intervene between them but the words were already falling past Buck’s lips before he even realized he was speaking. “I have a boyfriend.” Buck stopped when he registered the words. So, did Chimney before he shot Buck a look over his shoulder like Buck had grown a second head. Probably because, like Buck, Chimney knew that Buck did not have a boyfriend. In fact, he’d been single for a painfully long time since he and Taylor split up. Single and probably very obviously hung up on his best friend who didn’t seem to notice the way Buck would throw himself into oncoming traffic if Eddie asked.

Tear Me to Pieces; Skin to Bone by @princessfbi (Undercover Mission, kidnapping | 22K | Teen | Warning: Violence): Bobby wasn’t comfortable with the LAPD wanting to use Buck as bait. Because that’s exactly what Buck would be: bait. Or: The LAPD want to borrow Buck for an undercover mission to hunt down a serial killer. No one is thrilled.

pink and black and blue by devirnis/ @devirnis (Getting Together | 1,5K | Teen): “Hey!” Buck calls. Eddie spares himself a moment to briefly entertain the idea of fleeing out the back, but knows it would ultimately be pointless. His truck is in the driveway so Buck knows he’s home, and they’re on shift together in two days and there’s no way his bruises will be gone by then, no matter how much he ices them. “In the kitchen,” Eddie answers resignedly. (Bad Things Happen Bingo: Black Eye)

on sleep and unspoken things by evcndiaz/ @evcndiaz (Post-S4 | 2K | Not Rated): “You reached out for me. On that day. You tried to touch me.” The words sink into the silence between them. He did, didn't he? Eddie doesn't remember much from the shooting—only pain, and fear, and screaming (his own and so many others), and the vague echo of Buck’s voice—but he remembers that.

in red blue green by hammersmiths/ @henswilsons (Documentary | 11K | Teen): The commissioner signs off on a workplace documentary set in the 118 to better community attitudes towards the fire department. Unfortunately, whatever is going on between Firefighters Buckley and Diaz is a much more interesting story.

with blood in my nose by @henswilsons (Canon Divergent, S4E14: Survivors | 9K | Teen): or, Buck is the one who gets shot instead of Eddie.

let me know you (bedhead and morning breath) by @burnthatbridge (Post-Lightning | 6K | Explicit): Buck hasn't gotten off since the lightning strike. Eddie watches him do something about it.

sometimes an onion really is just an onion (and that’s all there is to it) by snarkymuch / @snarkythewoecrow (Post-Grocery Store Argument | 5K | Teen): Buck wanted fajitas, so he went to the store for the sweet onions he needed, but he got the wrong kind because he unexpectedly ran into the team, which had nothing to do with why he was crying in his kitchen--obviously, the shitty onions were to blame. And his day just gets worse from there--as he ends up fileting off a strip of skin, bleeding everywhere, then accidentally hitting his talk-to-text and sending a ramble he never meant anyone to hear to the last person on earth to care: Eddie.

i find you in everything (but its here you find yourself) by withmeornotatall/ @chronicowboy (Post-S6, Getting Together | 3K | Teen): Buck takes another sig of beer, "she left." "Sorry, man, I know you liked her. Guess where most people are scared of death, a death doula is scared of life." "Wow, that's actually pretty poignant," Buck says. "Didn't know you had it in you." Eddie just rolls his eyes. "Its weird, though, her being scared off by a donor baby." Eddie frowns over at him. "Chris didn't freak her out?"

Paper Rings by buckleyblueyes (orphan_account) (Canon Divergent, S4 | 6K | Teen): Maddie went quiet for a moment, looking at him not with pity, but instead with empathy, and shared sadness. “So. What did you find, then?” “An engagement ring.” The words weighed heavy on his tongue. “He’s going to propose to Ana.” 

Burn a bridge, learn how to swim by WatermelonShots (AvocadosUnderTheEaves) / @applesorcery (Getting Together | 13K | Mature): In which there is some unexpected making out, some pining, one third of an existential crisis and a lot of unhelpful advice. Not necessarily in that order. (Part 1 of Burn a bridge, learn how to swim)

Can't cross the sea just standing there by WatermelonShots (AvocadosUnderTheEaves)/ @applesorcery (Established Buddie, PWP | 7K | Explicit): In which there are sleepovers and snakes and some jealousy. (But probably not the kind you think.) (Part 2 of Burn a bridge, learn how to swim)

tell me how it feels (say it ain't so) by Iover_of_mine (I_almost_do)1 @lover-of-mine (Post-S6, Getting Together | 8K | Teen): Eddie hears Natalia saying Buck's death was cool and things spiral out of control from there.

Arm Candy by @princessfbi (Poker Date spec | 8K | General): “Act cool.” Buck shivered at the rumble of Eddie’s voice. “I think I got us in on the game.” Act cool? Act cool! How was Buck was supposed to act cool when he had Eddie dressed like sin parading Buck around like— Buck choked on his tongue as he finally realized what Eddie was doing and why apparently everyone had been so blasé about Buck going undercover after treating him like he was made of glass for weeks. “Am I the arm candy?” Eddie was damningly silent.

empty, broken, lonely, hoping by DaniWib/ @daniwib (Post-S6, Presumed Dead | 44K | Mature): Eddie's world crumbles when Buck’s apartment building becomes engulfed in a cataclysmic seven-alarm fire, resulting in a devastating mass casualty event. Amidst the chaos, Eddie and the rest of the 118 grapple with the heart-wrenching belief that both Buck and Christopher have met a tragic fate within the merciless inferno.

i lit the match, the firemen can do the rest by honestlydarkprincess / @honestlydarkprincess (Post-S6, PWP | 6K | Explicit): Or, the one where Eddie is pining and decides to drive over to Buck's. He doesn't expect to walk in on friends-with-benefits Buck and Natalia and he definitely doesn't expect the night to end with him getting everything he's ever wanted with Buck.

The Comfort of Your Hands by Spotsandsocks/ @spotsandsocks (Getting Together | 3K | Teen): Buck accidentally starts running his fingers through Eddie’s hair. Eddie lets him and things slowly move towards something special.

unfold me (tell me you love me) by extasiswings/ @extasiswings (S4, Love confession | 2K | Teen): Eddie goes on a date and has some realizations about what he really wants

the measuring contest by ColorMeParanoid/ @color-me-paranoid (9-1-1 LS S2E3: Hold the Line | 2K | Teen): Hen snorted from her own cot. “Trust me, guys. This isn’t the kind of measuring contest you want to play with Buck because you will lose.” But, comparing scars and exchanging crazy stories when meeting other people in your profession was basically a rite of passage so of course they didn’t take her warning seriously. It became a challenge instead and Eddie settled in for the show.

live while we're young by ashavahishta / @ashavahishta (De-Aging | 5K | General): Or: Some wonky magic leaves the firefam to take care of a tiny Buck for a few days. He's really, unfairly cute.

Radio Silence by madamewriterofwrongs/ @madamewriterofwrongs (Hurt Buck | 9K | Mature): Bobby was going to have a long talk with him about his self-sacrificing habits. For now, he kept his words calm and authoritative; for both their sakes. “None of that, you just hold still. Are you injured?” There was silence. Around him, the paramedics and firefighters of the 118 waited with bated breath. “Pretty bad.” There was little humor in his voice, though they could hear him trying. “My head. And uh, hahaha,” his laughter came as a gust of air. “I’ve been impaled?”

Buck Is My Warrior by elisela/ @elisela (Fluff | 5K | General): “We’ll be filming a special edition of American Ninja Warrior,” Troy announces after the introduction to the current contestant ends, “focused on our brave first responders. Go to our website to find out more details and how to submit your videos.” Oh. “Buddy,” Eddie says, “I don’t really know if that’s my thing.” Christopher looks at him, then says, “I want to nominate Buck.”

The Badass Background of one Evan Buckley series by Onlymystory / @theallandthemoreofit (Navy SEAL Buck | 5 works | 32K | Complete):

A Six Minute Man (Hostage | 3K | Teen): Or the one where Buck's secret background as a Navy SEAL comes in really handy in a hostage situation. Buck Begins (Backstory | 1K | Mature): When Evan Buckley Spencer is five years old, he wants to be a firefighter. They save people he says. He’s going to be one someday. One of the Good Guys (Revenge | 3K | Mature): Eddie says “You find every single person that hurt our son and you burn them to the ground.” - The Moscow Rules are simple. “Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. The third time is enemy action."

With A Little Help From My Friends by @extasiswings (PTA Eddie | 3K | Teen): Eddie makes friends outside of work and realizes that Buck might not, in fact, be just a friend

(Not) Under the Mistletoe by Tizniz / @tizniz (Christmas | 2K | Not Rated): Buck is definitely not avoiding Eddie at the Christmas party where mistletoe is everywhere.

Flash Forward by @daniwib (Different First Meeting | 3K | Explicit): The last thing Eddie remembered was pressing the tiny, blood smeared photograph of Christopher to his trembling lips while huddled behind rocks, hiding from the insurgent's attack. The next thing he knew was when he woke up, naked, with a muscular body on top of him. OR: Eddie has a flash forward when he gets shot during his last tour.

WIP

and we are homeward bound by glorious_spoon/ @glorious-spoon (established Buddie | 1/3 | 3K | Explicit): "Okay," Buck says finally, muffled. He rubs his face against Eddie's shirt again. "You promise you're not going to dump me if he smashes a salad bowl over this?" "I promise I will not dump you if our kid has a tantrum about us finally getting our act together," Eddie recites solemnly. Buck laughs against his shoulder and finally pulls back. Or: Buck and Eddie get around to telling the people they love that they're together. (sequel to Something Dumb to Do)

Kiss Me Once Cause You Know I Had A Long Night by I_still_dont_understand_13 / @sherlockcrossing (Prompt collection | 21/? | 14K | Teen): 100 kiss prompts.

Chapter 21. 10. Surprise kisses, in which your lover wasn't prepared but responds immediately

🔥 Precious & Fragile Things by Daisies_and_Briars/ @cal-daisies-and-briars (Small Miracles AU, Angel Buck | 10/? | 25K | Teen): Buck is the Fallen Angel of Petty Temptation, who has been tasked with tempting human Eddie Diaz to sin and enjoy life, but just a little. He thinks the job will be easy - get in, get out, go back to Peru to continue messing around with eternity. But when Buck arrives in Los Angeles, he finds Eddie is harder to tempt than expected, and more compelling than Buck had hoped.

and if i bleed (you'll be the last to know) by diazchristopher/ @captain-hen (Canon Divergent Season 6, Friends with Benefits | 2/18 | 9K | Explicit): or, an alternate look at season 6 where buck and eddie have been casually sleeping together since before the beginning of the season. somehow, this changes both everything and nothing at all.

🔥 Things We're All Too Young to Know by @cal-daisies-and-briars (Canon, S1 through S6 | 104/? | 283K | Mature): This is a love story. Even if it doesn’t always look like it. Even if it doesn’t always feel like it. A look back on Eddie and Buck's lives up to now, and what led them to each other, interpreted from the current 9-1-1 canon.

Re-Read

🔥 the weekly bet (but the forever kind) by theleftboobgrabber (Post S3E15 | 49K | Explicit): When the squad bets on how long it will take for Buck and Abby to get back together when she comes back to LA, Eddie is forced to reconsider keeping his feelings for Buck a secret.

🔥 come out to the sea, my love by allyasavedtheday/ @littlespoonevan (Canon Divergent - Tsunami | 8K | Teen): Tsunami au in which the 118 find out about Buck and Chris being stranded on top of the ladder truck and come to rescue them before they get separated.

🔥 Your Scars and Your Lonely Heart by Taste_is_Sweet (Sentinels AU, Tsunami | 82K | Teen): Clara Williams just wanted to visit Pacific Park during her layover in Los Angeles. She never expected to find a young, exceptional Sentinel dying for lack of a bond. Actually, what she really never expected was a tsunami, or the same Sentinel to save her life. But Clara's a Guide, so now she's on a mission to keep Evan "Buck" Buckley alive until she can get him to Eddie Diaz, the Guide who should have bonded with him, but didn't. Because Clara can't bond with Buck, no matter how much she wants to. There's just one problem: Buck's convinced Eddie doesn't want him, and he might not survive long enough to find out the truth.

i (for)get you by withmeornotatall/ @chronicowboy (Temporary Amnesia | 6K | General): buck hits his head, forgets the past month and suddenly eddie has a secret girlfriend... right?

you're my whole house by hammersmiths / @henswilsons (Getting Together, PTA Eddie | 12K | Teen): Eddie shrugs. “Christopher mentioned to Daniel that Buck and I are partners. I mean, sure, it’s a little weird that she invited him over as well, but—” “Partners,” Hen interrupts, “like work partners?” Eddie and Buck glance at each other. “Uh, yeah?” Eddie says. “What other type of partner?” Hen stares at them for a moment, before she bursts out laughing. “You dumbasses. She thinks you’re together.” or, Eddie joins the PTA.

I can't love you any more (than I do now) by wikiangela/ @wikiangela (Didn't Know They Were Dating | 2K | General): Eddie's pretty sure he and Buck are dating and kind of living together. Neither acknowledges it, until Eddie finally does.

Tell me where you wanna go by allyasavedtheday/ @littlespoonevan (Post-S6E11: In A Flash | 4K | Teen): Buck wakes up from his coma and Eddie offers him a passenger seat and a couch and a home.

🔥 Autocowrecked by HMSLusitania/ @hmslusitania (Miscommunication | 2K | Teen): Eddie is never, ever using the talk-to-text function on his phone. Ever again.

[hanchette]

𝐓𝐎 𝐁𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐄 ( wind breaker characters )

a/n: i haven't written one in years haha, praying i still have bit of skill left in my arsenal WOOYAH

consist of : fluff, gender neutral reader, suggestive content, established relationship — how they make love to you (18+)

𝐇𝐈𝐈𝐑𝐀𝐆𝐈 𝐓𝐎𝐌𝐀, you're at nearing the edge of the cliff, riding the high that knots in your belly tight and tight. briefly aware of how the noise is nothing but a ring in your head and the way your heart beats so fast could be heard. "still with me?" you could hear hiiragi from above you, rough hands cupping your cheeks to bring you back to him and yet the rhythm of his necklace that repeatedly hits your chin always tries to bring you back to paradise.

"beautiful." only praises could fall from his lips now, noting how your eyes are fluttering close, lips parted in the overwhelming tingles of your senses going haywire.

"'kay, t'is fine.." hiiragi breathes out, "i got you."

he got you indeed, arms bigger than yours pushing your legs forward until all you could do is claw at the velvety sheets and inhale the scent of hiiragi's cologne, the pace of his love fast but tender and loving as he helps your knees up, warm and rough hands under the inside of your knee until he pushes your thighs down, down, down until it reaches your chest and your head spiraling to another place. "i got you, y/n."

𝐓𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐈𝐒𝐇𝐈 𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐊𝐀, he's not loud, everything is like nothing but a simple void for takiishi, you can't even tell if he is enjoying the intimacy that you are sharing, but you know him better. atleast, enough.

takiishi breathes deeply, eyes trained on the connection that you two share, his arms propped on either side of your head, he's never been one to initiate things unless he has an agenda and yet today seems so different with the way he is stuck, just breathing, above you, his hair like a curtain from the outside world and it's just the two of you. "hah.."

you move, reaching to cup his cheek and directing him to look at you, his eyes on yours. takiishi allows you to, his gaze still as intimidatingly blank as ever but the crease between his brows tells you more—he's thinking. "chika?"

you're not given another opportunity to ask if he's alright, not when his hand is on your neck, pressing on it deep but not enough to knock you unconscious, your lips parting open in surprise until you feel his lips on yours.

"shut up." he talks, lips never parting from yours.

𝐔𝐌𝐄𝐌𝐈𝐘𝐀 𝐇𝐀𝐉𝐈𝐌𝐄, you can hear umemiya laughs lightly, sending the butterflies in your stomach to wake and flutter around. there's a sense of security in the room, your fingers intertwined with his, umemiya brings it towards his lips, pressing sweet chaste kisses on each knuckles, matching the movement of his hips.

"tell me if it's too much." he smiles at you, soft, warming, inviting, and making you feel so belong in his gaze.

there's no need to worry though, it'll never be too much, he is never too much.

you pull him closer, wanting, needing, more and more of him. maybe it is greed, a sin you've known to ever since you met umemiya, but how could you not? when he's... him.

"you close?" he leans down, until all you could feel is him, his breath on your ear, snd teh feeling of his hair tickles your skin, you don't even know if you nod to his question or not, but umemiya seems to know.

with gentle movements, he kisses you on the forehead with such tenderness, "go on then, angel, come for me."

𝐘𝐀𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐎 𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐎, you're no deity by any means, but each look that endo gives sends your brain reeling into a place where the heart could reach—the gaze that looks too dark but too soft, looking at something he isn't supposed to. your body dancing in a blaze of inferno but by the heavens does he makes you feel like you are in paradise. endo trails open mouth kisses pass every skin, leaving none to waste as he does, each curves are mapped and tainted by him.

fingers knowingly sending you into a delightful place that has you mewing and clutching at the sheets beneath you. "you like that huh?" he chuckles, darkly, breathing in every sounds you make.

"how cute." you don't know if it is derogatory or praising, with endo, you can never be too sure.

the sounds permits the air and the stink of love makes you dizzy, eyes in a haze of fog. "c'mon, we're still not done." you feel your thighs tighten, numbing as your head is thrown back, and yet his hand is unrelenting as he keeps on continuing to send you into overdrive.

"you still have more left." stamina—endo grinned, there's a glint of mad hunger in his eyes. "it feels good, yeah? I'll send you to heaven real quick." he may be the devil, but he makes you see heaven all together.

[anjelicawrites]

Follows directly from this ask here and fills this request by @sinistersnakey49 "I really want to see the pt 2 of this where Aemond absolutely destroys Osferth as she watches."

Pairing: Aemond Targaryen x Osferth with a side of reader. Set in the OG!Poly universe.

Warnings: oral (m receiving), anal, voyeurism, edging, masturbation.

NSFW and 18+ only under the cut!

You should be sitting in a comfier place to truly enjoy the treat that's Aemond making love to Osferth. You should crawl on the armchair and make yourself at home there, but your shorts and panties are already gone, and you're so wet the toy almost slides between your lips. You don't want to miss a single second of their lovemaking.

Osferth lets himself be walked to the bed. In between kisses and small love bites, he can feel his mind floating already with every caress Aemond leaves on his skin, until the back of his knees hit the bed and Osferth realizes he's naked. When did that happened? He's taught Aemond too well.

Boneless he lets his body fall on the bed, legs splayed, cock half hard already. He feels his muscles, his need to take the lead, liquefy as Aemond undresses himself, revealing his alabaster skin and tight muscles. Osferth's mouth waters at the thought of kissing and licking him, a part of his brain knows it's not going to be the case now: he's the one who is going to be worshiped until he cries.

Aemond's lips are so warm they leave brands on Osferth's trembling skin as they travel, slow and passionate, down his torso. He marks hickeys as Osferth's cock grows into full hardness by the time he's reached there.

"Are you ready to give me my compensation?" Aemond says, his lips on Osferth's stiff erection.

Words escape Osferth. He's mesmerized by Aemond's mismatched eyes, the way his right one holds this predatory glint, like a dragon who has caught his prey.

Osferth feels small, in all the right ways, protected and owned under Aemond's command.

He moans a strangled 'yes' and he's lost from there, his body a knot of nerves for Aemond to play with, his tongue devious on his erection as he squirms and cries, he arches his back to follow Aemond's devilish mouth when he pushes on his hips to keep him in place. He grabs and scratches his head when his teeth bite his tights and suck his skin; you whimper with him when the toy catches your clit at the right angle.

"Not yet." Aemond drawls, staring at you with a blazing eye. "You come when he does."

You choke on a moan and grab uselessly at the wall, moving the toy away from your clit.

Aemond stares at Osferth who is trying to breath under him. He's covered in sweat and precome is pooling on his belly, he tries to breathe, hash pulls as he squirms, burning with the need to be owned, taken until his body can't take it anymore.

"Show yourself to me, beloved, spread you legs more."

Drunk on Aemond's dark tone he can't help but obey, opening up until his hamstrings pull and his hips buck up.

Osferth's head rubs against Aemond's hand, like a cat, as he dries his tears of desperation, before pouring lube over his hole, making him shiver.

"I will have you. Again and again. You will not come, not until I tell you." He says, soft and final, as if his cock is not hanging between his legs, so hard that it hurts. "Do you remember your safeword?"

"Yes." It comes out elongated and desperate. "Please?"

"You're so beautiful when you're needy."

Osferth's mind is lost in the pleasure, it flies until all he feels his Aemond in him, over him, fucking him with his hands tight on his thighs, keeping his legs over his shoulders as he bullies his prostate and praises him.

He's so close. Lost in his pleasure he can't tell Aemond, he can't even fathom to speak: he's all emotions and nerves now, pleasure coursing though him like a river that washes away all that he is.

He whines when Aemond stops, and Osferth tries to grab him when he slips out of his hole, afraid in his confusion that he's done something wrong, calming only when Aemond holds him tight and kisses his forehead, praising him for his endurance, for not coming just yet.

You shudder, his voice is so low and deep, hungry as he looks at you.

"Aemond." You whine from the floor.

"Slow the toy down. It's not time yet."

"Turn around, beloved." He tells Osferth with a gentle push on his hips. "Like this. You're so good, so perfect."

Osferth's back trembles as he tries to maintain his position, back arching invitingly; a moan leaves his lips when Aemond kisses his nape, his lips dry on his sweaty skin.

He moans when he breaches Osferth again, the position letting him reach deeper inside of him, hips flush, Osferth's arms letting go, his mind lost to need.

He drools on the sheets, hips following Aemond's lead as he fucks inside of him, slow, opening him up to his erection, ignoring his hard cock, making him feel his ownership everywhere in his body.

"Was the toy this good?" Aemond moans in Osferth's ear. "Or is my cock better?"

Osferth's body answers for him, clenching at the end of the sentence, winning him a deeper push, faster, as Aemond helps him to kneel, Osferth's back to his front.

Sluggish, Osferth's hands grab Aemond's nape, as he he holds on his hips to move him to his leisure, still slow, ignoring his heavy cock as you writhe on the floor, the pleasure so close you can taste it.

Your lovers are so beautiful, one lost in the throes of passion, eyes glassy and mouth slant, the other chasing his end, his teeth biting Osferth's shoulder.

Osferth's words are chocked moans, the thread of pleasure curling and curling, pushing him deeper into the ocean of pleasure swallowing him whole. Aemond's cock head relentless pushes against Osferth's abused prostate, tether him towards his end, his control slipping dangerously when Aemond's palm curls around his erection to jack him fast and hard, with one goal in his mind.

"Come for me, now, the two of you." Aemond commands.

You throw the toy on the floor and crawl to the bed, where you bracket Osferth's body with Aemond. His long arms reach to grab you, his hand plastered on your back: if he could, he would absorb you and Osferth within himself, to keep you two safe and sound now that you're both coming down from your respective highs.

He's rarely like this, so bossy, voice a dark rasp that destroys Osferth's control. He comes with a scream, cock pumping in Aemond's hold until he falls on the bed, followed by him.

On the floor your breath catches, hands trembling as you push the toy against your clit, until you come with a long moan.

Before he falls asleep with you two, his sight falls on the comically big dildo and he can't help but giggle: the two of you are pulling his leg, he's aware of it. If it makes you two happy, he's happy with you.

OG!Poly taglist : @fan-goddess, @notyour-valentine, @aegonx, @darylandbethfanforever9 @20thcentwriter @peachysunrize

Ewanverse taglist: @vhagar-balerion-meraxes @zaldritzosrose

[taylortruther]

Sorry if this discussion has been fully had but I can’t get over wcs/ivy and the transition from “give me back my girlhood/it was mine first—it’s a fire/it’s a goddamn blaze in the dark and you started it” like that’s crazy to me!!!! That part of ivy has always seemed very (if desperately) in love and tongue in cheek to me with the “you started it” like obviously there’s some true conflict and worry there but I always imagined the narrator shaking her head and smiling a little at her own melodrama ….. but paired with wcs omg the entire meaning changes & becomes so sad and accusatory she’s standing there indicting him for his role in their story like you don’t get to hold your hands up as some kind of innocent victim of love and Taylor Swift’s songwriting! you started it!!!! I suddenly saw straight from “but I stole your matches before fire could catch me” —> “it’s the goddamn fight of my life”

this is so disorganised but I LOVE how her mashups are completely changing the meaning, tone and lessons from songs we’ve known for years and years now! I think it’s so interesting and I don’t know another artist who could pull this off because it combines Taylor’s decades of autobiographical songwriting and the sort of rich narrative she’s spun for us over the years and she knows exactly what her brand is and uses it so effectively

that line in ivy (agree it's melodramatic on purpose) also is almost the thesis of this entire mashup. ivy is her explaining that falling in love with him was out of her control - i can't stop you putting roots in my dreamland, your ivy grows and now i'm covered in you, it's the goddamn fight of my life and you started it. wcs is her explaining that she would've stayed on her knees, she would've remained an innocent girl, if he hadn't lured her. in both, she's the passive victim. ivy describes being a victim of love, wcs a victim of manipulation. the way both can feel similar to each other... "the pain was heaven," the way wcs' manipulation only became evident in retrospect.........

also, this is blowing my mind?

“but I stole your matches before fire could catch me” —> “it’s the goddamn fight of my life”

[ladytauria]

genuinely can't remember what ships i've sent you already but WHO CARES. “You’d sound so good begging for it.” for jaysteph wahooo

i love jaysteph so much <3

this... came out a little different from my usual, i think? i blame the song i was listening to at the time <3 (which is also where i took the title from, altho. there's another line in there i want to use at some point xD)

anyway!!

i hope you like this <3

>> AO3 <<

They’re kissing again.

It’s almost routine at this point. Whatever they’re doing—sparring, casework, studying, watching a movie, playing games—it’s never very long before they end up making out. Even when they’re apart, Jason finds himself thinking about her, and the next time he’ll get to see her again.

It’s—

They're not dating. Haven't really talked about anything yet, either, but there's something—

His nose is filled with the scent of her perfume—violets and vanilla. He tastes strawberry chapstick and grape soda. His hands are on her waist, her shirt rucking up beneath his palms. She’s got one hand in his curls, the other on his chest, palming his pec.

This time... she invited him to study in her bedroom. He thinks, maybe—

Her hand slips from his hair. He barely has time to mourn before she’s shoving him backwards. He bounces a little on the mattress—he hears one of the pillows fall to the floor as he takes a breath, quick and sharp. Steph grabs his wrists, pinning his hands on either side of his head as her knees bracket his hips.

Her hair falls to frame his face; the soft strands tickling his skin, making him shiver.

Jason’s tongue darts out; swiping over his bottom lip. She tracks it with dark eyes—he draws it back into his mouth, and Steph chases it, kissing him again.. Her tongue traces the seam of his lips; he opens to it, moaning when she pushes in, licking into him, over his tongue, his teeth, exploring every crevice of his mouth.

It’s—

Jason’s head spins, wrists flexing under her grip, his stomach jumping.

He can’t help but chase her when her tongue leaves his mouth. He feels Steph’s mouth twitch—she nips him. He shudders, gasping, and her teeth catch his lip, rolling it between them.

Jason whimpers.

Steph stills. When she pulls back, her eyes are dark and heavy-lidded, lashes kissing her cheeks. “That was hot,” she breathes against his mouth. “Do it again.”

He—

He’s whimpering again before he even thinks about it.

Steph groans. She grinds down on him, her grip tightening on his wrists. He hopes— Somewhere in his mind, he hopes she leaves bruises.

A whine leaves him—a shaky, stuttery thing. He feels hot, hot, hot; the room suddenly burning, blazing.

“Fuck,” Steph swears. She kisses him again, hard and brief, pulling away to whisper. “Shit, baby. I bet you’d sound so good begging for it.”

“Please.” He’d been— He’d been hoping, maybe, that tonight they’d do something more than just kiss.

Steph shudders. “Fuck— Jason,” she says, the same desperation and want he feels plain in her voice. In the way she says his name. “If— Tell me. Tell me if you don’t want this,” she says, searching his face.

“Steph,” he says. “Stephanie— I want it. I want you. Please.”

She shudders again, and then her mouth crashes against his again. She squeezes his wrists again, like a warning, so when her hands slip down his arms, he leaves them there. She pulls his shirt up, skimming her fingers over his skin. It makes him shudder, shake.

Steph swallows his gasp as she palms both pecs in his hands, cupping and squeezing them. She nips his lip again; pulls back just enough to whisper, “Nn— Such pretty tits, honey.” Her thumbs swipe over his nipples. He shudders, sparks making his fingers tingle.

“S-sensitive,” he tells her. She groans. She slips down his body. Her lips wrap around one of his pecs—nipple and flesh engulfed in soft, wet heat. He throws his head back, groaning, arching up into her.

Her teeth scrape over his nipple right as she rakes her nails down his sides.

“A-ah—” His answering gasp is high and breathy.

His boxers are wet—he’s, he thinks it might be spreading into his jeans. He wants—

“Please.” He raises his hips, voice full of need.

Steph pulls off of his chest with a pop, swollen lips shining with spit. She cups him through his clothes, squeezing—the pressure is— His hands curl into fists, a breathy keen in his throat.

“Look at you,” she breathes. “Falling apart for me.” 

There’s no room left for to blush; Jason’s face is already flushed and hot with desire. He whimpers instead, and she flashes a grin at him before popping open the button on his jeans one-handed. The zipper comes down easy, and he lifts his hips so she can work his jeans down. That takes both hands; Steph sitting back on his haunches to pull them down his thighs. His boxers follow, caught in the denim, and then his cock springs free between them.

Steph’s nails are painted a pale shade of lilac—she trails the tip of one finger down Jason’s cock. He jerks, whines, wanting more than just a ghost of a touch. Steph glances up at him. There’s only a thin sliver of blue in her eyes now; the black of her pupils has swallowed the rest of the color. He can see himself in her eyes, the mess he’s become under her attention.

It’s—

“Needy looks good on you,” Steph tells him, right before she claims his mouth again; her fist wrapping around the base of his cock. His arms twitch—aching to grab her, pull her close. But he— He leaves them where she puts them, and— She smiles against his mouth, a silent approval that makes something in him quiver.

“Steph,” he says, against her lips. “Steph— I want. Can I— Let me see you. Please.”

Steph nips his lip, and then eases off of him. “Finish stripping,” she orders, while reaching for the hem of her own shirt.

Jason has never been so quick to follow an instruction before. He pulls his shirt off, tossing it in the vague direction of Steph’s closet. At his jeans—Jason pauses, snagging the condom he’d tucked away, just in case. He doesn’t look at Steph when he sets it on the nightstand.

Then he goes back to his jeans. It takes a little more to get them off, at least until he gets them off the thickest part of his thigh. After that, it’s nothing to kick them and his boxers to the floor.

His socks come off last.

Steph takes her top and jeans off first, leaving her in matching purple panties and bra. Jason’s fingers itch to take them off, but he keeps his hands to himself. Instead, he watches her as she reaches around behind herself, pushing her breasts together as she undoes the band. She shrugs her shoulders, the straps falling down her shoulders before she pulls it off and tosses it.

Then her thumbs hook in the panties, pulling them off first one leg, and then the other; leaving her as bare as he is.

She straddles him again—his hands go back to resting on either side of his head, palms up.

Steph smiles approvingly. “Good,” she praises softly, skimming a nail down the line of his throat. Jason shivers, a breathy noise escaping him. It’s just as much from the slight scratch of it as it is the gentle praise.

She settles down onto his thighs—he can feel the dewy heat of her. He— He wants.

“Steph,” he says, pleads. “I want— Can I taste you? Please?”

Her eyes widen, mouth parting briefly in surprise. Then she smiles; sunny and pleased. “With those manners? Hell yeah, baby.” She goes to slide off of him. His hands jerk, rising a few inches before he remembers himself. Then he shakes his head.

“I— Sit on my face,” he blurts.

Steph stills again. She— She hesitates at that. “Are you sure, honey?”

“Yes,” he says. “Yes, I’m sure.”

Her eyes flicker over his face. Whatever she sees there seems to settle her, because rather than climb off of him, she climbs up him. “You can use your hands,” she says, as her thighs bracket his head.

Her scent—

It makes Jason’s mouth water. Thick, musky, a little sharp. Her folds glisten; her clit already poking out of its hood. He wraps his hands around her thighs—they’re soft under his hands, but he can feel the cords of muscle under the fat. The power hidden below the softness. He pulls her down, licking a hot line between her outer lips; moaning as the taste of her blooms on his tongue.

She groans, hips rocking a little.

Jason licks again—and again, before bringing his thumbs around to spread her open, allowing him to lick deeper. He runs the flat of his tongue over her twitching, fluttering hole and all the way up to the underside of her clit.

“A-ah— Jason—”

He swipes his tongue over her clit again before circling her hole a few times and probing inside. The muscles flutter and clench around it; Steph gasps, high and pretty, rocking down against him, smearing her wetness against his face.

Jason pumps his tongue in and out a few times, and then goes back to licking over her lips. He traces letters—feels her thighs clench and quiver around him, and then—

Steph laughs breathily. “Your name?”

Jason doesn’t grin, but the corners of his eyes crinkle when he looks up at her. Y-E-S, he spells.

Steph laughs again. One of her hands tangles in his hair—the other is still braced against the wall. “Do it again,” she demands—

Jason does. Steph’s hips work, rotating in slow circles over his mouth. Steph is vocal above him—every sound she makes spurs Jason further. When he finishes the N, he noses his way back up to her clit, wrapping his lips around it. He’s gentle—circling it with his tongue, gauging her sensitivity.

Then—he sucks.

Steph shouts, thighs clamping tight around his head, grinding down onto his face. He encourages it, pulls her down harder, until she’s fucking his face. Slick rolls down his chin, his neck; she’s making an utter mess of him, and he loves it, moaning into her.

Jason lets go of her clit, going back to her lips and hole—switching between them all until, finally, Steph’s hand tightens painfully in his hair, hand smacking on the wall, her whole body shaking as she comes.

He licks her through it, until she’s easing off of him, her chest heaving as she pants. She glistens with sweat, her skin pink and flushed. She grabs his face in her hands, pulling him up onto his elbows so she can kiss him hard and fierce, seemingly uncaring of her slick smeared all over him.

When she pulls back, a thread of spit connects them. She sweeps her thumbs over his cheeks. “Think you can be still while I ride you?”

Jason moans, high and needy. “Yes.”

She flashes a smile at him. “Good,” she purrs. “Hands above your head, Jay.” 

He raises them over his head, crossing them at the wrist. Steph hums her approval before kissing him briefly. She sits back on her haunches, snatching the condom from the bedside table. Jason groans as she rips it open with her teeth, trembling when she works it over his cock.

She grips the base of him—his hips twitch. It’s an effort to stay still, especially when she straddles him, lining the tip of his cock up with her entrance. She moves, back and forth, letting her slick smear on the latex.

Jason expects her to sink down slowly. Instead, she flashes him a brief smile; a quick flash of teeth and then—

Slams her hips down, burying him inside of her in one, quick thrust.

Both of them shout—Jason’s whole body jerks. He shakes with the effort to stay still, his breaths coming quick and sharp, chest heaving. He wishes he could feel the slickness of her, but— It’s enough to feel her molten heat, and the quiver of her muscles, the way she clenches around him like a vice.

Steph stays there for a moment, letting her breathing slow. She runs her hands up his sides, caressing his skin.

“Look at you,” she murmurs. “You look so good spread out in my bed, Jason.”

Jason moans breathily in response, wishing his tongue didn’t feel so thick and clumsy. He wants to tell her how gorgeous she is, how good she feels, how much Jason wants her, and likes her—

Steph smiles at him. Her hands splay on his chest, using him to support her weight when she bends down and kisses him. Her hair falls like a curtain around them, tickling over his arms, his cheeks. “If you keep looking at me like that,” she whispers, “I’m going to have no choice but to make you mine.” She bites his jaw this time; the sharp pain of it making him whimper.

“Please,” he says. “Pleasepleaseplease—”

She groans; a low, guttural sound that sinks straight to his core. Her nails bite into his skin—he twitches, another, higher whimper tumbling from his mouth. 

“Fuck,” she hisses.

She rises. Tosses her hair over her shoulders. Then, she grips onto his waist and starts to move.

The pace she sets is almost punishing. It drives every thought from his head; the only thing he can focus on the waves of pleasure crashing through his body. It drowns him. He can hear, faintly, the flood of noise coming from his mouth but it’s all distant, like his head is underwater.

He barely manages to stutter out a warning when his peak crests. “G-gonna—”

Steph rubs his sides. “Wanna feel you,” she demands—and he comes, muscles seizing, hips lifting, cock twitching as he spills inside of her.

“Fuck.” Steph swears, vehemently, above him. “You’re so fucking pretty, Jason—” She’s barely rising off of him now, focusing on gyrating her hips instead, rubbing her clit against his skin until, finally— She shudders, head to toe, everything draining from her as she comes a second time.

She slips off of him, collapsing down in the bed beside him. Jason sits up for a moment, just long enough to remove the condom, tying it off before dropping it in the bin. He lies down again after, and Steph doesn’t hesitate to nuzzle into his chest, one of her hands splaying over his stomach. Jason winds one arm around her shoulders, then settles his other hand over hers.

“Stay the night?” Steph whispers against his skin.

Jason exhales slowly. “Yeah.”

She hums. “We c’n— We c’n talk in the morning.” She turns her face more into his chest, and then whispers, “Meant what I said. Wanna— Wanna keep you.”

Jason shivers. He’s— He’s more than okay with that. “In the morning,” he says, his voice just as thick with fatigue as hers.

She makes a soft noise of agreement. “And a shower, in a minute.”

Yeah. That sounds pretty good too. 

[taylor-swift-bracket]

🎇Please reblog!🎇

Comment your favorite bridges!

Notable Bridges

(Under the cut)

evermore

champagne problems

Your Midas touch on the Chevy door

November flush and your flannel cure

"This dorm was once a madhouse"

I made a joke, "Well, it's made for me"

How evergreen, our group of friends

Don't think we'll say that word again

And soon they'll have the nerve to deck the halls

That we once walked through

One for the money, two for the show

I never was ready so I watch you go

Sometimes you just don't know the answer

'Til someone's on their knees and asks you

"She would've made such a lovely bride

What a shame she's f*cked in the head," they said

But you'll find the real thing instead

She'll patch up your tapestry that I shred

ivy

So yeah, it's a fire

It's a violent blaze in the dark

And you started it

You started it

So yeah, it's a war

It's the fiercest fight of my life

And you started it

You started it

tolerate it

While you were out buildin' other worlds, where was I?

Where's that man who'd throw blankets over my barbed wire?

I made you my temple, my mural, my sky

Now I'm beggin' for footnotes in the story of your life

Drawin' hearts in the byline

Always takin' up too much space or time

You assume I'm fine, but what would you do if I

marjorie

The autumn chill that wakes me up

You loved the amber skies so much

Long limbs and frozen swims

You'd always go past where our feet could touch

And I complained the whole way there

The car ride back and up the stairs

I should've asked you questions

I should've asked you how to be

Asked you to write it down for me

Should've kept every grocery store receipt

'Cause every scrap of you would be taken from me

Watched as you signed your name Marjorie

All your closets of backlogged dreams

And how you left them all to me

right where you left me

Did you ever hear about the girl who got frozen?

Time went on for everybody else, she won't know it

She's still twenty-three inside her fantasy

How it was supposed to be

Did you hear about the girl who lives in delusion?

Breakups happen every day, you don't have to lose it

She's still twenty-three inside her fantasy

And you're sitting in front of me

Midnights

Hits Different

I find the artifacts, cried over a hat

Cursed the space that I needed

I trace the evidence, make it make some sense

Why the wound is still bleedin'

You were the one that I loved

Don't need another metaphor, it's simple enough

A wrinkle in time like the crease by your eyes

This is why they shouldn't kill off the main guy

Dreams of your hair and your stare and sense of belief

In the good in the world, you once believed in me

And I felt you and I held you for a while

Bet I could still melt your world

Argumentative, antithetical dream girl

Would’ve Could’ve Should’ve

God rest my soul

I miss who I used to be

The tomb won't close

Stained glass windows in my mind

I regret you all the time

I can't let this go

I fight with you in my sleep

The wound won't close

I keep on waiting for a sign

I regret you all the time

You’re Losing Me

How long could we be a sad song

'Til we were too far gone to bring back to life?

I gave you all my best me's, my endless empathy

And all I did was bleed as I tried to be the bravest soldier

Fighting in only your army, frontlines, don't you ignore me

I'm the best thing at this party (You're losin' me)

And I wouldn't marry me either

A pathological people pleaser

Who only wanted you to see her

And I'm fadin', thinkin'

"Do something, babe, say something" (Say something)

"Lose something, babe, risk something" (You're losin' me)

"Choose something, babe, I got nothing" (I got nothing)

"To believe, unless you're choosin' me"

You’re On Your Own Kid

From sprinkler splashes to fireplace ashes

I gave my blood, sweat, and tears for this

I hosted parties and starved my body

Like I'd be saved by a perfect kiss

The jokes weren't funny, I took the money

My friends from home don't know what to say

I looked around in a blood-soaked gown

And I saw something they can't take away

'Cause there were pages turned with the bridges burned

Everything you lose is a step you take

So, make the friendship bracelets, take the moment and taste it

You've got no reason to be afraid

Anti-Hero

I have this dream my daughter-in-law kills me for the money

She thinks I left them in the will

The family gathers 'round and reads it and then someone screams out

"She's laughing up at us from Hell"

[nom-damour]

An Evening of Submission, Chapter One

A fantasy playdate, written by Nom d'Amour

Your Uber from the airport pulls into the driveway, and the driver politely tells you that you have arrived. You gather your small travel bag, thank her, and step out.

This has been a night on the horizon for over six months, since that fateful first private message. The last few weeks have been a blur of preparation and arousal. And conditioning. You're not sure which excites you more.

You're dressed as you've been told. Cupless corset, garter and thigh highs, "come fuck me pumps", under a fashionable knee-length overcoat. All black. No panties. Master said. Wearing this on the flight out has your pussy throbbing and soaking wet already. The vibrations from the jet engines were bad enough, but it seemed like the driver deliberately hit every bump in the road on the entire journey to the house. Thankfully, you're not sitting down anymore, but you're absolutely certain that there's a huge wet spot on the inside of the back of your coat.

Taking a deep breath, you walk up the small sidewalk leading to the front door. Both the outdoor and indoor lights are blazing bright and welcoming. You steel yourself and ring the doorbell.

You see a masculine figure approaching through the frosted pane of glass in the front door. He opens it, and you finally see the Master you've come all this way for. A little over six feet tall, with short dark hair with rather distinguished gray streaks starting at his temples. Well-trimmed facial hair, a mustache, and a goatee that you can't wait to sit on... grind against... Wait, where were you? You trailed off there mentally a bit... Oh yes! Black button-up collared shirt, long sleeves rolled up to the elbows, showing off his thickly muscled forearms... "Hmm? What?" You murmured. Someone had said something to you. In a really dreamy baritone voice. "I said, are you okay little one?" SQUISH "I'm sorry, sir!" You say, practically instinctively. "I'm just a little nervous. In my own head for a moment. What did you say?" "I said: Hello! Welcome to our home. Please come in." His green eyes twinkled like jade in the light. "Thank you," you say a bit numbly. Your pussy, already drenched on the way here, was in the process of coating your thighs with your arousal. You follow the man in black (my god, his ass looks good in those jeans)... A voluptuous woman is standing at the end of the hall, at the entrance to the rest of their home. A blazing mane of silver hair, a tight black blouse sprayed onto her torso. Breasts. Torso. Tits.

She wasn't wearing a bra. Her nipples were clearly hard. And needing to be sucked on.... Wait. You did it again. Someone's talking.

"Hello, little one," the Amazon said. "Please join us in the kitchen, let's relax a bit and get comfortable." She seems so pleasant. And she's so fucking sexy. Her clothes look like they're painted on. Onto the brunette goddess of breeding. Big breasts, topped with thick, hard, turgid nipples, plainly visible through whatever fabric encased her. Visible nipples. Big hips. Big, beautiful honey-brown eyes. Thick, kissable, suckable lips.

The Goddess speaks in your ear...

"Here, little one. Have a bit of an edible. And a shot of chilled Glenfiddich. To settle your nerves... from traveling." First, there's the taste of strawberry. It's so sweet, like candy. The whiskey is a bit of a burn, but an excellent chaser. Your nerves calm, your breathing slows, your mind seems to clarify for a moment...

"Welcome, to our home," the Mast... man says. His voice.. just does things... to your psyche. And the most intimate parts of your anatomy.

"Would you like anything else? Another shot? Another quarter gummy?" The Goddess speaks again. She seems so nice. Like she really cares about you. You just want to hug her. Wrap yourself around her. Bury your face in her ample... "May I please have both?" You ask cautiously. They smile at you, then each other. Miss feeds you another gummy while the Master pours you another shot. Your body feels so warm, and tingly. There are things being said to you, and you feel so good in obeying their requests. Their orders.

"Take off your coat and let me hang it up for you, little one," The Mistress says.

You do as you're told. The air conditioning slaps across your exposed nipples, and the juices coating your thighs. Your eyes close. You succumb to sensations, leaning back against the wall. Master *SNAPS!* loudly near your left ear and says one word in your right. "DROP."

Your knees immediately weaken. You're caught by a strong arm at your waist. You can't open your eyes.

You're straightened and pressed against a vertical surface. You feel hands on your exposed tits. One hand is much larger than the other, but both perform the same stimulation. Mauling your breasts. Massaging them. Pinching your nipples. Flicking them. Everything happening to your poor tits is hotwired directly to your poor, throbbing, neglected pussy. And your swollen clit.

SNAP

Your mind begins to slip sideways a bit. The Sir is on one side, the Miss on the other. Both are making your body feel soo good. Someone presses a single finger against your clit. You cum right there in the kitchen. You even squirt your juices onto the hardwood floor, but you're completely unaware of it. A rich baritone voice commands you to DROP

Your knees buckle, dependent on those holding you. Suddenly, you feel weightless, as if floating in the wind. Or sensation. You're set down on something soft. So nice. You feel your clothing removed from your body sensually. A caress here, a fondle there. Oh god, both nipples sucked at the same time... wait. No. Yes. Yes, please. Wait, come back! You're fed another sweet treat, along with a nice warm liquid to wash it down. Your wrists are moved directly above your head, your arms outstretched. You feel bracelets placed around them, then moved higher. They suddenly feel attached to each other, and something else. Unable to move far. And, yet, so satisfying. This feels right. Correct.

You feel similar sensation with your ankles. Your knees are bent, spread, and those familiar bracelets are wrapped around your ankles. You feel so spread. Vulnerable. You feel your pussy clench. She knows what you want. Your brain just gets in the way. Your pussy has been guiding you on this adventure, and took complete control once you arrived.

You're finally ready.

Everything is tingling. No, throbbing. No, pulsing. Hee hee. Master and Mistress are here! They're so nice to me. They make their little slut toy feel so good. Because I'm a good, obedient little girl.

[corruptedforce]

 

FIVE SONGS for your muse.

i.     EVERYBODY WANTS TO RULE THE WORLD / TEARS FOR FEARS   :   ❛ it's my own design / It's my own remorse / Help me to decide / Help me make the most / Of freedom and of pleasure / Nothing ever lasts forever / Everybody wants to rule to world   ❜

ii.     LOOK AT WHAT YOU MADE ME DO / TAYLOR SWIFT   :   ❛    I don't like your little games / don't like your tilted stage / the role you made me play / of the fool / no, I don't like you.....Anakin Skywalker can't come to phone right now. Why? Because he is dead and I am what remains. '

iii.     BROTHER / KODALINE   :   ❛    We've taken different paths' and traveled different roads / I know we'll always end up on the same one when we're old / and when you're in the trenches / And you're under fire / I will cover you / If I was dying on my knees / You would be the one to rescue me / And if you were drowned as sea / I'd give you mu lungs so you could breathe ( very Anakin and Obi-Wan coded, probably through the War, but really, they never did want the other dead. ) ❜

iv.     AM I SAVAGE / METALLICA  :   ❛    Am I savage? Scratching at the door. Am I savage? I don't recognized you anymore.

v.    IMPERIAL MARCH / JOHN WILLIAMS : This doesn't need any explanation??? Also, it was hard not to include Anakin's theme, Anakin's betrayal, Duel of the Fates, Across the Stars because they are all amazing but the Imperial March is irreplaceable.

FIVE QUOTES for your muse.

i.     ❛ This is Anakin Skywalker: The most powerful Jedi of his generation. Perhaps of any generation. The fastest. The strongest. An unbeatable pilot. An unstoppable warrior. On the ground, in the air or sea or space, there is no one even close. He has not just power, not just skill, but dash: that rare, invaluable combination of boldness and grace.” - Matthew Stover / Revenge of the Sith 

ii.    “They are closer than friends. Closer than brothers. Though Obi-Wan is sixteen standard years Anakin's elder, they have become men together. Neither can imagine life without the other. The war has forged their two lives into one.” - Matthew Stover / Revenge of the Sith (About Anakin and Obi-Wan)

iii.      “This is how it feels to be Anakin Skywalker, forever: The first dawn of light in your universe brings pain. The light burns you. It will always burn you. Part of you will always lie upon black glass sand beside a lake of fire while flames chew upon your flesh.” / Matthew Stover / Revenge of the Sith

iv.     ❛ All I am surrounded by is fear and dead men.' / Vader Down #1

v.     ❛  You loved her. You will always love her. You could never will her death. Never. But you remember... You remember all of it. You remember the dragon that you brought Vader forth from your heart to slay. You remember the cold venom in Vader's blood. You remember the furnace of Vader's fury, and the black hatred of seizing her throat to silence her lying mouth—And there is one blazing moment in which you finally understand that there was no dragon. That there was no Vader. That there was only you. Only Anakin Skywalker. That it was all you. Is you. Only you. You did it. You killed her. You killed her because, finally, when you could have saved her, when you could have gone away with her, when you could have been thinking about her, you were thinking about yourself... It is in this blazing moment that you finally understand the trap of the dark side, the final cruelty of the Sith—Because now your self is all you will ever have. You rage and scream and reach through the Force to crush the shadow who has destroyed you, but you are so far less now than what you were, you are more than half machine, you are like a painter gone blind, a composer gone deaf, you can remember where the power was but the power you can touch is only a memory, and so with all your world-destroying fury it is only droids around you that implode, and equipment, and the table on which you were strapped shatters, and in the end, you cannot touch the shadow. In the end, you do not even want to. In the end, the shadow is all you have left. Because the shadow understands you, the shadow forgives you, the shadow gathers you unto itself — And within your furnace heart, you burn in your own flame. This is how it feels to be Anakin Skywalker.. Forever." — Matthew Stover /Revenge of the Sith

TAGGED BY: @prodijedi

TAGGING @mayxthexforce (sabe), @taliaromanova, @petitsdieu, @xx--ofmanythoughts--xx (tara maybe?), @subduedrebel, @cagedpotential (haley - I miss her btw), @alootus, @spokewar, @galaccias ( if you are feeling like doing a thing, have this for Rex) and anyone else. I am sick but apparently can write this.

In case you can't tell, I am very pro ROTS novelization.

This was fun, if not long. I totally would do this for Jax and Nathan on my multi too, if prompted.

[little-miss-moonstone]

The Red Thread (Carmy x OC)

Chapter Two | Somewhere Between

Previous | Next | Series Master List

Summery: After Natalie begs Rori to help with some paperwork at the restaurant, Rori and Carmy come to an agreement.

WARNING: Anxiety, blood, almost vomit?, brief mention of past depression, very little editing. I think that’s all, once again just let me know if something needs to be added :)

Fear consumed Carmen as he watched Rori lying on the floor of the kitchen blood pooling by her side. She was struggling to breathe almost like she was drowning. He could hear everyone around him panicking, Sugar screaming for someone to call 911. It seemed like everything was happening in slow motion around the two of them. He didn’t notice when, but he was now on his knees by her side holding her hand as the blood soaked into his jeans.

“Help me, Carmy. Please, help me,” She begged.

He tried using a rag to apply pressure to the wound and the sound of her wincing through sobs broke something deep within him. How could this be happening? Hadn’t they all been through enough? Her whispering for help was all he could hear as he stared into her eyes, praying they didn’t close for good. He leaned in, noticing an orange glow in her irises. He wondered if that was what happened when someone was dying. He leaned in closer than before to see the reflection of fire dancing in her eyes, and the moment he turned around the fire alarm was blaring.

“Fuck!” Carmen cursed as he woke to realize he had almost set his apartment on fire. He opened the window while using the fire extinguisher to put out the blaze on his stove. He began fanning the smoke out the window and the alarm soon stopped. He sat on his couch with a glass of water seeing it was 1:30 in the morning. His breathing was starting to slow down from his actual nightmare and the one in his kitchen, glancing over to the journal on the coffee table, he leaned forward to grab it. He flipped it open, studying the polaroid that lay inside. He and Rori from Christmas 2018, or from what they called it, Fishmas. It was a candid shot neither of them had known was taken until Mikey had given it to him at the end of the night. The two of them were standing in front of the pantry, she had just arrived and greeted him with a hug. She pulled back and he said something that had made her laugh, his arm was still around her waist and she had put a hand on his chest as she smiled. If any stranger saw the photo they would have thought the two were a couple. He admired the picture for a few more seconds before putting it back and flipping to a blank page when his pen acted as a bookmark.

Dear Rori,

I saw you today for the first time in 3 years. You took my breath away, but you’ve never had that problem. I didn’t know what to do, or say, I thought I would never see, or hear from you again. That is my fault, I know, but I couldn’t risk you leaving me. I wish I never shut you out, you were all I ever truly had that was mine. You could have actually been mine and I ruined that too. I miss you, I miss you more than I ever thought was possible, and it's weird now because you're here and I saw you, but I still miss you. I guess that's because nothing’s changed and yet everything has changed. I used to know everything about you, your favorite song, color, flower. How you always prefer waffles to pancakes and when pinks and blues paint the sky at sunset. You’re scared of the dark and you can't sleep on the side of the bed closest to the door and the TV has to stay on. You adore dogs and you used to cry when we would pass the animal shelter. You hate summer and when Mikey and Richie would pin you down and tickle you and these days I would assume you hate me too, and I can't even blame you for it. I want to fix this, I want us to at least be friends because I can't imagine that you still love me, and I can’t stand for you to haunt another one of my dreams.

Yours forever,

Carmy

He closed the journal and moved it back to its spot on the coffee table, before lying back down on the couch and letting the TV lull him back to sleep.

Natalie invited Rori over to her house for breakfast in hopes of guilting her into helping find the missing tax forms at the restaurant. Rori almost choked on a piece of French toast at the idea of being around Carmy. She tried to voice her opinion but Sugar began to ramble on.

“No, Rori I need some help, and if it's you that helps then Carmen can run the kitchen so he won’t even be in the office. I have to find these documents or the IRS will cease my fucking home, please Rori, please, please, plea-“

“Fine! I’ll help,” She sighed.

“Thank you,” Sugar smiled. A comfortable silence fell upon the room for a brief second before Sugar spoke again, “Would it honestly be a bad thing if you and Carmy became friends again?” Rori sighed again, taking a moment to gather her thoughts.

“No, if we’re being honest, I would love that, but I doubt he would ever open up like that to me again. And, for shits and gigs, let's say he did, it took me months to cope with him cutting me out of his life. I-I don’t know if I could handle that again, I’ve never been so depressed in my entire life,” She paused. “You know how I feel about Camry, I don’t think there will ever come a time where I don’t feel that for him. It’s been three years, and when I saw him yesterday it was like the last 30 years flashed through my head, like everything came back to me, and despite the instant panic I just wanted to hug him because it actually felt like I was finally home.”

Nat’s eyes were glassy and she tried her hardest to hold it in, while another part of her couldn’t believe how much of an idiot her brother was. She had known since they were 10 that they were the perfect pair, not to mention both sets of parents often joked about the two growing up and getting married. Everyone expected it, so much that when Rori came home for Christmas in 2019, Mikey, Natalie, and Richie were shocked to hear that the two were no longer on speaking terms. She now hoped that if the two could just talk things out, maybe one day Rori would get to be her sister, like how they used to talk about as teens.

Rori became more anxious as they parked in the back of the restaurant, she was just thankful Richie was the only one taking a smoke break. She wiped her palms on her jeans before they started walking towards the door. She decided she was going to be cordial, she didn’t want to push Carmy away any further than he had already pushed. She was just going to stay in the office with Sugar and try to find this stupid document as quickly as possible.

After greeting Richie she slipped inside behind Sug and tried to keep her eyes on the ground. Carmen’s voice quickly got her to glance up as he was talking to Marcus a few feet in front of her. Their eyes met for a moment before she darted into the office and was quickly greeted by the poster of Fenway Park. A shiver went down her spine thinking about Micheal and how much time he spent in the office. She wondered if this was the last place he was before he went to the bridge that day, and she knew it was stupid to wonder things that were facts.

Two hours later they were still sifting through the never-ending paperwork. They were both growing frustrated and the office looked like a wreck. Rori was so grateful her phone began to ring. She noticed it was her publisher and quickly stepped out into the back alley. It was only a few moments later when Richie stepped out for a smoke break. He could tell it wasn’t a pleasant phone call from her constantly furrowing her brow and pinching the bridge of her nose. He took another drag just as she hung up. She looked at him and then at the cigarette he loosely held by his side.

“Can I?” She asked, gesturing to the American Spirit. He lifted his hand to offer the cigarette to her with a perplexed look on his face.

“When did Rori Bear start smoking?” He chuckled as she took a drag.She could feel her stress levels decreasing, even though she knew cigarettes didn’t help. She gave herself a moment before answering.

“Uh, I don’t know, about three years ago. I don’t smoke all the time though, it’s more of like an “I’m really stressed, or I have writer's block, or I just got off the phone with my publisher and they're bitching for a sequel” thing,” She shrugged before taking another drag and handing the cigarette back over.

“I’m sorry by the way, for calling you Rori Bear, it’s just habit y’know,” He apologized. It made her heart drop a bit that he felt the need to even say that. The nickname had always made her laugh, at least when she got older.

“No, no. It’s fine, I promise. Mikey always called me that, even after Carmy and I stopped talking so it’s okay,” She assured him with a smile. It wasn’t much longer before the two headed inside and she went back to the office to find Carmen and Natalie going through the mess together.

She went back to her spot trying not to focus on him too much, it was hard, but they all had their separate piles they were working out of. There was small talking happening mostly between Rori and Natalie or Carmy and Natalie, but that was better than silence. She got stuck on a piece of paper, it had MIkey's handwriting all over it, and then she noticed her handwriting. She remembered it from when she helped out during the pandemic. She had gone into the office and left him a note to remember to call the fridge guy and it ended up with them having a whole conversation every time one of them replied. She smiled brushing her hand over the ink, unaware that Carmen was glancing over at her.

“Oh, shit. I forgot to call Pete,” Sugar announced before slipping out of the office before either one of them could say a word.

Rori and Carmen both looked from the door and then to each other, then immediately to the papers they were both holding. He wanted to say something, but he thought he might vomit, or stutter, and that made him want to vomit more. Just say something, say anything!

“Uhh, so Book of the Year, is that like a big deal or?” He asked and then immediately regretted it.

“Kind of. I mean, yeah. I don’t know.” She settled on an answer all the while feeling like an idiot.

Carmen chuckled a bit, “You don’t know?” Despite him thinking he could’ve asked a million better questions he didn’t think that one was hard.

“Yeah, it is a big deal, but being the youngest to ever win a Pulitzer stunts your judgment on what is a big deal or not, y’know?” She explained trying to sound as humble as possible. Carmen just hummed in response, he did understand, which is why he didn’t care for awards all that much. Rori now realized it was her turn to ask something and she felt like there was a lump in her throat. She could ask all the questions she had been dying to know. Why did you push me out? Did our friendship ever mean as much to you as it did to me? Was there ever a point where you could have loved me?

“How has it been running this place? I mean besides all the shit that became yours and Sug’s problem.”

Carmen began to fiddle with the paper in his hand, trying to calculate a response that wasn’t completely unhinged. I’m so stressed I almost set my apartment on fire. I feel like one more thing might make me crumble.

“I-it’s definitely a change of pace from New York, but it’s not bad,” He tried his best not to lie. The room became quiet, but the tone wasn’t clear, it lingered somewhere between comfortable and awkward. They both knew it wouldn’t take much to make it flip, both of them grabbing folders to keep looking. She wanted to carry on a conversation with him, connect with him about something— anything. She opened her mouth to ask if Mikey ever got the fridge fixed, but he spoke first.

“Yo, I think this is it,” He leaned toward her to show her inside the blue folder labeled “Shit”. She met him halfway taking in the tax document not realizing how close their faces were.

“Yeah, yeah that’s it,” She smiled looking over to see his face an inch or two away. She glanced to his eyes wanting to burn the shade of blue even further into her mind, it was her favorite. He had always been a hard person to read, but not for her, she could practically see the gears in his head turning, he was trying to think of something to say.

“What is it, Carmy?” She asked, trying to pull the thoughts from his head. Say something, tell me anything, anything at all.

“Do you, uh, do you think we could talk, y’know about,” He paused to collect his thoughts again, “I think we should talk about things if you’re up for it. We’re both home and it’s clear that we’re going to see each other a lot. I just don’t want anyone to feel like they have to tiptoe around us.” I don’t want to tiptoe around you.

“I agree. Can you come over after work tomorrow?” She asked. Can you come over? I've wanted to show you my house since the day I bought it.

He agreed as Sugar came back into the office, the two shuffled apart proudly presenting the document to shut down anything she might say. After she and Natalie got the office back into some kind of order the two girls left, making an impromptu stop at the farmer’s market. Natalie obliged because she had nothing better to do, and after being stuck in the restaurant for hours the outdoor air seemed nice. They carried on a conversation about the “What ifs” in life coming to a bunch of unserious conclusions, laughing as Rori picked up some vegetables.

“What if you were picking up ingredients to cook Carmy dinner?” Natalie asked. She knew it was a bold assumption, but the mood in the office seemed lighter when she returned and she saw how close they were. Rori froze her hand going to pick up a tomato, she felt her cheeks warming up, and she just prayed her face wasn’t red.

“Well, I am picking up ingredients to cook dinner tomorrow night. If he eats, that's his decision,” She replied in a matter-of-fact tone. She didn’t have to look to know the grin on Natalie’s face stretched from ear to ear. She figured she had better do some damage control before Natalie got her hopes up. “We’re going to talk about everything. We figured it was better to get it all out there than to keep dancing around it. It does not mean anything is going to change, it just means we’ll be on the same page about all of it.”

The smile was still present on Natalie’s face, she knew this could only go well— no, this had to go well, for everyone's sake. She didn’t want to imagine what it would be like if it went wrong, she would be stuck facilitating every interaction the two had, not to mention what it would do to both their mental health. She pushed the thought as far back as she could. This was Rori and Carmy and she knew their story wasn’t over yet.

Chapter two!!! Please like, or reblog, or something! I hope you’re all having a wonderfully week!! My birthday is Saturday so I’m hoping to have another chapter out before then, or at the latest Sunday:) I going to do flashback I just haven’t decided if those are going to be actual chapters or like sub chapters, or maybe apart of chapter… ugh anyways, see you soon!

[yournaothings]

Hear me out...

"Otherwordly" by Starset is perfect for Reaper Sans and Geno Sans. It's more of Reaper to Geno.

I just love it so much! <3

**Warning! The video has flashing lights! Please be careful when playing it.

Lyrics:

Otherworldly, otherworldly

Otherworldly, otherworldly

Otherworldly, otherworldly

Otherworldly, otherworldly

You're like an angel's song I'm on my knees waiting for the sound Stuck in a world gone wrong So lift me up, I'll never let you down

Light like a brand-new day Surreal and astounding The site of a mystery But I'm here on the ground

Bring me to the edge and let me stay Pull me in, I'll never push away Searching for the words that I can say How it feels when you're with me

Otherworldly, otherworldly Send a light then, I'll be waiting Otherworldly, otherworldly I come alive when you are with me Otherworldly, otherworldly Far away from all the mayhem Otherworldly, otherworldly At the speed of light and beauty

Supernatural Like an oracle When darkness starts to call You'll find me after all A face that could emanate A stare like a spotlight If you guide me into your space I'll be there at the first light

Otherworldly, otherworldly Send a light then, I'll be waiting Otherworldly, otherworldly I come alive when you are with me Otherworldly, otherworldly Far away from all the mayhem Otherworldly, otherworldly At the speed of light and beauty

I wanna become lucid Clear just like a window I tried too hard to open up And show you what's behind it But you didn't need to hear me 'Cause you were supraluminal Knew me without an uttered word You always seemed to know me

An ethereal feeling That I cannot describe The way that I feel you Something that I cannot hide How you illuminate In a profound way, I feel your space I can't explain this place you're taking me

Otherworldly, otherworldly Send a light then, I'll be waiting Otherworldly, otherworldly I come alive when you are with me Otherworldly, otherworldly Far away from all the mayhem Otherworldly, otherworldly At the speed of light and beauty

But they told him, "Beware Do not fly too close to the sun" The blaze will surly melt their wings But alas, he fell His cries swallowed by the sea

[spidermanifested]

returning to the concept of greed playlists: im actually really proud of the one ive been working on. its not "done" yet, in the sense that i like to make my character playlists go in chronological order and theres still comparatively few songs representing the latter half of his arc, but what ive got so far is very solid in my humble imho. so. heres a big post with all the songs ive got in it so far, particularly relevant lyric excerpts, and explanations for how they fit into my Grand Vision

act i: greed the avaricious

softy by kiltro

there's a boy who stalks these halls, he never leaves and when he talks, he talks a lot always by mistake there's a man who runs the show you never see and where he walks, all our breathing stops, how he quiets things

i figured this was a good one to start off the playlist, it sets up the quiet unease of greeds existence. also starting with a song called "softy" on a playlist about the Ultimate Shield and building everything else on top of that is a move of genius i think

shadow's keeper by black rebel motorcycle club

what is the purpose if you feel so incomplete? what is the reason if it beats you to your knees? what do you keep? your eyes were wide but there's a world that keeps you blind a painted serpent turning water into wine seeking light

hes starting to acknowledge how unfulfilled he feels, and the shadow/light motifs are an extra treat considering he uses the metaphor himself. ive done my best to continue that theme throughout the playlist. especially fun if you take the "painted serpent turning water into wine" as the "world that keeps (him) blind" AND the thing "seeking light", aka father, and combine that with the later verse:

you're begging for the truth but now you've seen too much you're living in your head but never feel their touch and everything was buried by the deep blue sky help me to breathe 'cause I don't wanna see the light just tell me to breathe 'cause I don't wanna be denied

he doesnt want whatever grand plans father has in store, he wants a family that cares about him. truth mentioned also, as well, give it up for the truth

willard! by will wood

i've never understood what humans do and want it's quite confusing to me to try to connect never learned how I should feel, instincts somehow stunted just seem haunted by my stupid urge to protect

replace "humans" with homunculi and you have a whole song about how his chimeras are the only ones who really get him. "being haunted by (his) stupid urge to protect" is also such a greed line

hast thou considered the tetrapod by the mountain goats

and alone in my room i am the last of a lost civilization and i vanish into the dark and rise above my station

he, father and the other homunculi quite literally are the last of a lost civilization. also

held under these smothering waves by your strong and thick-veined hand but one of these days i'm gonna wriggle up on dry land

^these lines make me cry on their own already and when i place them in greedcontext it has an effect

what's a devil to do? by harley poe

oh, when the saints go marching in i won't be there, 'cause I love my sin am i so bad that you hate me? there was a time when i could see my hopes and dreams, they are no more i'm not a rich man, but blessed are the poor oh man, forgive me, i turned away i won't come back, so i'll have to pay

i dont think i have to expound on how this relates to greed very much do i. entire song about your inherently sinful nature making you unfit for your home

act ii: taking on the world

could have been me by the struts

don't wanna live as an untold story rather go out in a blaze of glory i can't hear you, i don't fear you i'll live now 'cause the bad die last dodging bullets with your broken past i can't hear you, i don't fear you now

the tiger! he destroyed his cage! the tiger is out!!!!

i by kendrick lamar

and i love myself (the world is a ghetto with big guns and picket signs) i love myself (but it can do what it want whenever it want, i don't mind) i love myself

hes seen how much pain society has in it at this point, but he still has no regrets about leaving home. for the first time in his life hes starting to fill the void in his soul

i want it all by queen

i'm a man with a one track mind so much to do in one lifetime (people do you hear me) not a man for compromise and where's and why's and living lies so i'm living it all, yes i'm living it all and i'm giving it all, and i'm giving it all

the first of several songs about Wanting Everything because you have to have songs about wanting everything in a greed playlist. but thats not the only reason this one fits, youve got the "not wanting to live a lie" part, as well as talking about giving instead of just taking

raise hell by dorothy

young blood, run like a river young blood, never get chained young blood, heaven need a sinner you can't raise hell with a saint young blood, came to start a riot don't care what your old man say young blood, heaven hate a sinner but we gonna raise hell anyway

hes way past young at this point but theres always room for a Fuck You Dad song

emperor's new clothes by panic! at the disco

welcome to the end of eras ice has melted back to life done my time and served my sentence dress me up and watch me die if it feels good, tastes good, it must be mine

this is maybe The classic greed song. everybody knows its about him. the only difference in opinion with the masses i really have is that even though emperor is in the title it really fits more as a pre-nest wild party era greed song than a greedling era song because at no point during the winter road trip does he get to engage in the songs brand of lavish hedonism. hes too busy being depressed

also its fun that it has the word decapitated in it. when, you know

the man by the killers

i know the score like the back of my hand them other boys, i don't give a damn they kiss on the ring, i carry the crown nothing can break, nothing can break me down

obligatory Toxic Masculinity Song. some of the lines about not taking advice dont really apply here because this is greed "looks to his minions for social advice in the middle of a kidnapping" the avaricious but he does have his weird chivalry thing and also a lot of baggage around his own vulnerability. i also think its funny to put in a song where he brags about his dick

thrift shop by macklemore

imma take your grandpa's style, imma take your grandpa's style no, for real, ask your grandpa, can i have his hand-me-downs?

unfortunately this is definitely a greed song.

mr. pinstripe suit by big bad voodoo daddy

now he strolls through the city like a big ol' alley cat with his pinstripe suit and a big bad voodoo hat i don't believe i ever saw him without a kitten on his hand and no one swings as hard to the big bad voodoo band

the time period doesnt quite line up but the Vibe is there. hes making a name and a reputation for himself and hes looking good doing it

busy earnin' by jungle

you think that all your time is used too busy earnin' you can't get enough

a more uncertain interlude. the melody doesnt falter but the lyrics ask if this is really what he wants out of life. after all, he has a long time, but he doesnt have forever.

everybody loves me by onerepublic

don't need my health got my name and got my wealth, i stare at the sun just for kicks all by myself, i lose track of time, so i might be past my prime, but i'm feelin' oh so good, yeah

this answers the question the previous song posed with a "psssh, ill think about it later"

i want it by viv and the revival

in the stores make it rain 'cause it's wet like a dream (a-wooo) cars, boats, big house, everything in between (a-wooo) i don't know i don't care i don't give but i can share, so i'll make you scream make you believe that you can have anything, anything!

another "i want everything" song that stands out by mentioning wanting someone else to have things too. still not really addressing the uncertainty yet in favor of continuing to fuck around

gimme! gimme! gimme! (a man after midnight) by abba

gimme, gimme, gimme a man after midnight won't somebody help me chase the shadows away? gimme, gimme, gimme a man after midnight take me through the darkness to the break of the day

well? give him a man after midnight

i'll rust with you by steam powered giraffe

i'll rust with you i'll rust with every one of you nostalgic nights have got me feelin' its all gone, gone, gone to rust

song about being immortal and watching all your relationships fade away before your eyes as the decades roll past? dont mind if i do

highwayman by the highwaymen

i was a highwayman along the coach roads i did ride with sword and pistol by my side many a young maid lost her baubles to my trade many a soldier shed his lifeblood on my blade the bastards hung me in the spring of '25 but i am still alive

by this point hes been living among humans long enough to have racked up a considerable number of deaths. but hes still around. he'll always be around. Or Will He

act iii: coming together

red right hand by nick cave & the bad seeds

you don't have no money? he'll get you some you don't have no car? he'll get you one you don't have no self-respect, you feel like an insect well don't you worry buddy 'cause here he comes through the ghettos and the barrio and the bowery and the slum a shadow is cast wherever he stands stacks of green paper in his red right hand

the tone of the song is sinister. within the context of this playlist i am envisioning it as entirely literal. whats up with this weird guy and his red right hand. well he got me a new car so he cant be all that bad. he definitely casts a shadow wherever he stands but you know itd be kind of weird if he didnt

this marks the beginning of his quest to find lasting friends minions. clearly just bribing them wont really work

evil friends by portugal. the man

it's not because the light here is brighter and it's not that I'm evil i just don't like to pretend that i could ever be your friend

return of the light motif and the cataclysmic collision of greeds refusal to lie and his refusal to accept the most basic truth about himself. hes gotten to the point where hes able to recognize that who he is isnt a bad thing, but he still cant connect the dots and understand that he was lied to from the start about who he is at all. so he says shit like this with full confidence

let me bathe in demonic light by the mountain goats

someday the old flesh will give way to the new find a functioning mirror inside and slip right through and there, there i'll be and who, who's coming with me? to show me my one true face when i arrive at my preordained place

the light theme continues, and illustrates the fact that in starting to seek out immortality he's retreading the same ground as father-- making the same mistakes. the hunger, as the lyrics explain, runs "deep in the bloodline". just like father, he cant do it alone, and calls on others to join him, while the lyrics run in direct contrast to the past song by saying the word "friend" multiple times. this will continue

amy aka spent gladiator 1 by the mountain goats

i hide down in my corner because i like my corner i am happy where the vermin play

i might wind up relocating this somewhere else on the playlist at some point but right now the sound fits well in this part so. song about Coping, and not necessarily coping healthily or well. but hes surviving, with his little crimelord hobby

if i lead by kiltro

show me the ways that you talk and all of the places you walk if i lead would you follow? let me at the corners where the light don’t touch colors, figures sway love, they might lift you away from the street to what’s under and everything that scatters by the light of day

weve got light again folks! this ones (very plainly i should think) about recruiting the gang. he asks for their trust and brings them down into the underbelly of dublith.

modern jesus by portugal. the man

don't pray for us we don't need no modern jesus to roll with us the only rule we need is never giving up the only faith we have is faith in us

the Greed Crucifixion jokes are hilarious but this song i think fits very well as a refusal by the nest to treat him as anything but an equal, at least in terms of his being a homunculus. they dont want a god, they want a boss and an ally and a friend.

bourbon street by jeff tuohy

every night we throw this little soiree i'm gonna turn her head until she's mine, all mine every night I breed a new disaster might be right, might be wrong try to get away and i will bring you right along

another party song, this time with hints that being on his side isnt totally safe, and he might not be as in-control as he makes himself out to be. everyones having fun, though. for now!

guys on every corner by the mountain goats

with your tabloid stars and your unmarked cars with your special forces and your inside sources with your radar fields and your riot shields and heavy horses i'm coming to swat you down like flies 'cause i got guys

come at him, government. hes got guys.

act iv: the downfall

alligator teeth by mother falcon

i will turn my friends to gold for the treasury to hold them safely while they dream

a sudden shift in musical style to something way more... i dont quite know how to describe it but its soft at first and then turns frantic and its generally not the kind of music i would typically listen to for Fun but in the context of the events leading up to the raid i think the sound works to illustrate the confusion and fear. immortality, i think, was never just for greed. he wanted to protect his friends too. the lyrics start to repeat "i don't wanna ever dream", and then "'cause all it ever leads me to is bad things, bad things"-- this desire is exactly what gets them all killed.

king rat by modest mouse

we spun like birds on fire right down towards the residence, and i i took all that I desired, even crooks have to pay the rent we swam like rats on fire right, right down the reservoir we took all that we could carry, but we tried to carry more and you know, you know, you know it all went wrong

the musical panic continues into the next song, which describes a burglary gone sideways and perfectly captures the raid. greed tried to bite off more than he could chew and paid the price for it. plenty of the lyrics can be directly associated with the situation-- the "king rat" who "has (greed) on his list again", the "deep water" he's sinking in, the claim that he was "honest even when he cheated them". i dont think id be able to find a more fitting song for this part if i looked for a year

going to hell by the pretty reckless

father did you miss me don't ask me where i've been you know i know, yes, i've been told i redefine a sin i don't know what's driving me to put this in my head maybe i wish i could die, maybe i am dead and he said for the lives that i fake, i'm going to hell for the vows that i break, i'm going to hell

barring any better future options this song has provided the title for the whole playlist-- "redefine a sin". the in-context priest being called father really elevates this one, if the whole premise wasnt enough to begin with. a+ greedsong

heretic pride by the mountain goats

and i start laughing like a child and i mark their faces one by one transfiguration's going to come for me at last and i will burn hotter than the sun

maybe greeds emotional state is a little different from the narrator here, but overall this is a certified Song to Get Put in the Soup To

act v: rebirth

still feel. by half alive

floating in outer space, have i misplaced a part of my soul? lost in the in-between, or so it seems, i'm out of control floating in outer space, have i misplaced a part of my soul? lost in the in-between, but it can't keep me asleep for long 'cause i still feel alive

i can so vividly picture the animatic to this one. greeds little soulface flipping around in the stone. zooming in on fathers weird eyeball as he cries him out and puts him in different guys. the last verse being him coming to life again in lings body. why dont i have 7 million dollars

same man i was before by oingo boingo

i'm not the same boy I was before but I haven't changed my desires i've not extinguished the fires i haven't lost wide-eyed wonder i haven't lost, haven't lost, haven't lost that stupid fear of thunder

AND everyone keeps telling him everything he does is wrong. cut that out

ドーナツホール ft. GUMI by hachi

いつからこんなに大きな | When was it that I got these memories, 思い出せない記憶があったか | These big ones I can't remember? どうにも憶えてないのを | Out of what I just can't recall, ひとつ確かに憶えてるんだな | There's one thing I remember pretty well もう一回何回やったって | Try one more time, a hundred times, 思い出すのはその顔だ | All I remember is your face それでもあなたがなんだか | And yet you yourself, I'm not sure why, 思い出せないままでいるんだな | But I still can't remember you…

this is the bido song. look up the rest of the lyrics its about bido. i searched bido on japanese twitter one time and saw somebody else saying this song reminded them of greed and bido. its about greed and bido

act vi: memories returned

stronger by the score

set me on fire set me on, set me on fire (whoa, whoa-oh) i'm still alive i'm still a- i'm still alive (whoa) bet you didn't think that i'd come back to life

every single line fits him perfectly. youve all seen @humming-fly's animation right you dont need me to explain. if you havent what are you doing

long way down by black rebel motorcycle club

don't you cry to yourself just to feel like someone who's hit bottom? but you can't run away 'cause the hole that remains will follow don't you care just enough? don't you feel your heart stop? but you can't know what you want

after the emotional high of 'stronger', representing the anger overtaking him as he goes to attack bradley, 'long way down' takes us, well, Down. hes is so fucking sad. but he cant know what he wants! now more than ever! because to admit it would mean admitting he lost it!!!

clean slate by the mountain goats

rest until you're rested, climb back onto the caravan remember at your peril, forget the ones you can and then just when you think you've learned how to forget you learn it's just the ones who haven't risen to the surface yet

this is The Roadtrip Song. hes sorting through his memories and struggling the entire time. i owe john "the mountain" goats my life for continuing to make ten million songs about extremely specific situations. ideally id have so many more songs in this category but until i find more this is it for the time being

act vii: final sacrifice

human heart by thao

god damn your crooked mouth and lean your fear is a bullet in the wing is it so brave? tell me, is it so brave? the private posture of the self homemade

with this, we skip ahead to the final fight and the moment when he decides to sacrifice himself. shout out to whoever transcribed "eat and won't you be hungry" as "ethan won't you be hungry" on the spotify lyrics for this one, i dont know who ethan is but i hope he has a good lunch. what was i talking about. oh right

children play with fire by mischief brew

children lead us to the lake of fire (fire!) children lead us to the lake of fire (fire!) and as we drive down into the flames maybe I'll let you hold the reins

change da world... his final message. goodb ye

epilogue

just one more by mad caddies

no necesito la vida rica (i don't need the rich life) estoy contento contigo (i'm happy with you) 'cause in the end we all go the same place, yeah so i'll be happy with what i know

like the title says: just one more. because whatever form it takes, he IS partying it up in that shitty bar in the sky. and all his friends are there too.

like i said i would very much prefer to have more songs in the latter parts so if anybody has recommendations. please rant at me about the songs you associate with greed. and if i can fit them in i will. this post took me all day to make i have got to get some follower interaction out of it

[ohorishan]

a sudden blaze

A forger, a fence's guard, a late-night handoff gone wrong-- these two sudden allies don't remotely expect what happens instead.

1500 words, ~20 years pre-Calamity, oc x oc exact opposite of a slow burn. It's Ori's parents' backstory! Here Be Smoochin'.

-

Otan Ketan is having a very bad night.

He was sure there had been something fishy about the last-minute change of rendezvous, but Jannemont had insisted on making the handoff, and of course the old fraud wasn't going to do it himself.

So now here he is, backed down a dark alley at the business end of a blade, with two distinctly unfriendly personages looming over him. Bit overkill sending an extra, he thinks resentfully. It's not like looming over him is hard.

"Now, what's gonna happen, Professor–" the big Hyur's voice is all self-satisfied scorn– "is you're gonna hand over them scrolls, and maybe my associate here lets you keep an eye." The Miqo'te beside him draws a smaller, but certainly no less sharp, knife.

Otan Ketan clutches the round leather case and swallows hard. "I'm guessing you don't work for Tatashai, then," he says. "He'd never be this messy."

"Messy–?"

Was that movement, in the shadows behind the pair of thugs? "You're a big man," says Otan Ketan, reaching for a bluff. "Noticeable, you might say. Care to bet no one saw you come down this way? What are the odds, do you think?"

"He's stalling," the Miqo'te hisses. "I say we–"

There's a silver flash in the darkness, and the man drops his knife, clutching his suddenly bleeding wrist. "What in hells–" the Hyur starts, and then he folds knees-first onto the cobbled ground. He doesn't get the chance to yell before there's a dagger in his neck.

The mystery assailant turns, a second dagger in hand, but the Miqo'te has vanished already. "Thal's balls," says a surprisingly light voice. "Least he don't have the goods, right?"

She bends and retrieves both blades, her own and the abandoned one. When she stands up again, Otan Ketan finds himself face to slightly higher face with the most beautiful woman he's ever seen.

He wordlessly shows her the leather case for confirmation, still safely in his arms. "Huh," the vision says. "You was all talk a second ago. Ain't concussed, are you?"

She reverses the dagger deftly in her off hand and uses the pommel to tilt his chin up, then back and forth, tracking the movement of his eyes with her own. Hers are flawless jade, the kind of gems he only dreams of recreating, a clear and perfect green even in the scant torchlight. Those eyes belong in a palace somewhere, not the dingy back end of a Horizon alley. 

"You're all right," she says, more a command than a question. "Come on."

-

The apartment she takes him to is a second-floor back room, accessed by a precarious ladder, which she pulls up after them. The door on the other side is firmly bolted.

"Not back to Jannemont?" he'd said, when it had become apparent she was leading him in the opposite direction.

"He sent you, right? Can't be sure he ain't in on it," she'd replied. Then she had gestured very clearly for him to hush, and so he'd hushed.

"We can talk here," she says now. "'S my own personal saferoom. Even Tatashai don't know about it."

"Then why…?" Otan Ketan gestures to himself. "I mean, you don't even know me."

The woman plants her hands on her hips. Gods, she's even beautiful when she frowns. "I'm Ririzu," she says. "And you're–?"

"Otan Ketan," he says immediately. He could no more hold back an answer than he could stop breathing.

"There," says Ririzu, "now I know you and you know me. Sit down, Otan Ketan, you look half stunned."

Half stunned, he sits.

The room isn't much, and there isn't much in it. Ririzu rummages around among the sparse furnishings– low table, single stool, sleeping mat rolled up in a corner, a few chests and a lockbox– and comes up with a dusty bottle, half full. The liquor inside is stronger than he's used to and tastes of anise, and he sputters a little swallowing it, but it does help.

"What do we do now?" he says.

She paces, still frowning. "I don't know. Them two alley thugs– I never seen 'em before, and that concerns me some. Have another, it won't kill you."

He does, and he barely coughs at all this time. "Do you always get men drunk after you rescue them from assassins?"

"You're the first," she says, not missing a beat. "It ain't like Jannemont not to double check a rendezvous, either."

"You're right at that," Otan Ketan says. "He's a fool, but he's a cautious fool. And if Tatashai didn't change it, then–"

Ririzu fetches up by the table again. "Something's wrong," she says, thumping its surface, "and I'm taking you nowhere 'til I know what it is."

"You'll get no argument from me," says Otan Ketan. He passes the bottle to her. She takes a stiff belt and passes it back.

"Gods. All this for, what, some phony papers?"

"They're historical records," he says, pride a bit stung, "or, you know, they’re meant to be."

"Daft thing to try to kill a man over. Right– let's see them." And she begins to unfasten the case.

"I'm not sure you're meant to–"

"Oh, let a lady have her fun," she says. "Ain't often I get to inspect the merchandise." The wink she shoots him fills his stomach with a heat that has nothing to do with the liquor.

He's accustomed to waiting patiently while someone else examines his handiwork. He has to be, in this career. A nervous forger is a dead forger. Nevertheless, he watches with his heart racing as Ririzu slides the scrolls carefully from their case and spreads them on the table.

Her bright eyes widen. She gives a low and quite unladylike whistle, and Otan Ketan feels another wash of heat slide into his stomach.

"These are–" she breathes, and then trails off, transfixed.

"Good, I hope?"

"Better than good," she says. "I ain't an expert, but– why in seven hells are you working for an fraud like Jannemont? Hand like this, you ought to be in the cities. Or one of them fancy museums, maybe."

It's so exactly what he'd thought about her that he can't help but laugh. Those jade eyes snap over to him. 

"I don't say nothing I don't mean," she insists. "You got a talent, Otan Ketan. You could go anywhere." It isn’t what he meant, but– the way she says it, not flattery, simply a statement of fact, is better than any compliment could be. He opens his mouth to say something in response, although for the life of him he doesn't know what it'll be–

"That's it," Ririzu says suddenly.

He blinks away the surprise of missing the mental step. "What is?"

"We'll leave. Together. Tonight, if you want. You make the goods, I’ll be your guard–"

"But– your job here, and Jannemont–"

"Thal take Jannemont," she interrupts, in a sudden blaze of passion, "and Thal take Tatashai too, they’re gods-damned fools who don't know what they got. They can keep the damn scrolls, split 'em or sell 'em or toss 'em down the gorge– you and me, we could be something."

She ought to sound stark mad, but she doesn't, not at all. In fact he finds he's risen from his seat to meet her– to study her face the way he'd study a painting, to find and capture its every detail. "Gods," he says, "you really mean it."

"I told you, I don't say nothing I don't mean." He has it now, her expression. There's no word for it, but he knows it well– it's the look a person wears when they almost hope and don’t dare. "So, Otan Ketan… what d'you think?"

What does he think? A thousand thoughts fight for space, and the one that emerges first is–

"I think," he says, "you can probably just call me Otan."

The breath she lets out is half laugh, half unlooked-for relief. "Bit familiar, ain't it?"

“Well, you’ve already saved my life and proposed to sweep me off to fortune and glory.” She’s so close, the scant space between them all sparks. “I think– Ririzu– you can be as familiar as you like.”

“Is that so,” she says, and she takes his face between both of her hands and kisses him hard.

He hasn’t had much to compare it to, but he’s sure it’s the best kiss of his life. Her callused hands are warm on his skin, and her mouth is warm and shockingly soft and still tastes of anise, and he reaches his own hands for her and around her, overwhelmingly and delightedly aware of every place her body presses against his. 

“Come with me,” she murmurs into his lips.

“Anywhere,” he says, which earns him more kissing, his hips backed into the table and her hand firm in his hair. He’s distantly aware of her other hand starting to undo the fastenings of his shirt.

“Although I think,” says Ririzu, “it can wait ‘til morning.”

Otan Ketan just nods. He’s about to have a very good night.