#didn't he say he wanted to have his own fashion house ages ago??

[lightsoutandaway]

The way i just peeped that this man is heading towards a 5th house profection year in 2025 with an exalted venus smack bang in there like!!!

[s1xthirty]

the smallest man who ever lived

pairings : aleksander morozova x fem!reader

summary : someone from your past come back from the dead and knocks on your door with no warning and empty promises.

warnings : rules of wolves spoiler! slight details of the reader being a metamorphmagus.

A/N : please please pleasee, ignore all the grammar mistakes and errors! english isn't my first language. Buy me a coffee!!

He didn't know where to go. He hadn’t thought past the need to become whole again and finally return to himself. He doesn't exactly know who he is right now. He doesn't even have a plan yet—he doesn't know what his purpose is, but his mind keeps echoing your name.

He had pushed you away and left you behind back when his mother meddled with his plans to expand the fold. Maybe he doesn't want you to see him as the black heretic, but that's no excuse because you had seen him evil and you never once blink an eye on the way he did things for Ravka and its people. Yet somehow that wasn't enough for him because you are not what he was looking for—you are not the sun summoner.

What was he thinking abandoning you like that? You were the only one who understands his ways—the only one who understands him. You stayed when nobody could, but yet he still left you once his sun summoner tried to fight against him.

Something painful stirred in his ribs, a feeling he once knew all too well.

Without knowing it, his legs carried him to a beautiful cottage deep in the woods. Many winters ago, you had told him that you wanted to live somewhere far away from the world, somewhere peaceful. You've always believed that you'd be more than content with your own company.

A lot has changed since the last time he visited. The plant has caught up in time, it has sprouted and covered some spots of the stone wall of the cottage. Aleksander also doesn't remember the wildflowers being so lush, he can barely see the pathway to the front door.

His feet were already approaching the front door, but something in him hesitated.

Are you even gonna let him into your home after all these years?

A creek sound of the door snapped him out of his thoughts and his heart raced rapidly in his chest. He doesn't know why he was so anxious to see you. He was the one who left first.

The sight of a familiar man in front of your door made your heart almost leap out of your chest, making you drop the basket in your grasp. "Saints!" You gasped and froze on the door seeing Aleksander standing before you.

For a moment, Aleksander was starstruck. Your face was still beautiful just like the day you both met, it's like you haven't aged a bit. Though, your hair is darker— what happened to your blue hair?

Your eyes roamed through Aleksander's body, making sure you haven't seen a ghost. The last time you saw him, his face was covered in scars. He was weak and wounded, begging for a fix and once he was, he's back on his feet to get his little summoner and you haven't seen him since. You eventually stopped waiting for him.

"Ma?" a voice of a little girl came from inside the house, "Who's at the door?" the little girl came up to the door hiding behind you.

Aleksander could see a glimpse of the blue hair he'd always known but then it turned back to black when the little girl saw him at the door.

"Oh, it's just an old friend, dear." You managed to say, but Aleksander could sense the shake in your voice. "Would you mind collecting the strawberries for me, today?" You picked up the basket on the floor.

"Really?" the little girl lit up in excitement, her hair turning to yellow but then she quickly shook it off again to turn it to black.

"Of course!"

The little girl immediately grabbed the basket and left you alone. Once you were inside, Aleksander sat down by the couch. The atmosphere of your home doesn't change at all. The first thing Aleksander smelled when he first came in was sage and cinnamon. He would always ridicule your old-fashioned ways, but maybe it has rubbed off on him because right now he felt at ease as if he knew he'd be safe inside of your home.

You sat by the armchair facing him with eyes shooting daggers into his very soul. Aleksander could sense the anger that's boiling inside of you, but he knows you know very well how to keep it at bay.

"I thought you were dead."

"Everyone does."

"Exactly, Aleksander. And you're supposed to stay dead!" You hissed, not wanting to shout knowing your child was outside. All these years you thought that you were over him and you've made peace with whatever reason he left you for, but after seeing his face again, you can't help but be angry at him.

"You know I'd do anything to—"

"Save it. What do you want?"

Ravka back in his hand, people kneeling over the starless saint, the throne, to be feared. But that one voice somewhere inside of him said your name. "I wanted to see you," said Aleksander.

"Me?" You chuckled, "I thought you're busy changing the world with that sun summoner of yours."

“I was wrong.” Aleksander said firmly, “I was blinded with greed. I shouldn't have left you.”

“And how am I supposed to believe your words after everything you put me through?” you seethed. “That day, I was planning on telling you, but you left so sudden without telling me a single thing. You could've told me you wanted to go after your summoner—I would've told you right then immediately. Instead, I had to pull myself together while also carrying a baby, all alone!”

"Was that little girl.. ?"

You said nothing, only looking out through the window trying to ignore the way your throat is starting to tighten up. That little girl is Aleksander's child. You haven't been able to tell the kid about her father yet. You couldn't. Not when his father is now resurrected from the dead.

"What is her name?" asked Aleksander,

"Lea."

“She's beautiful.”

“She looks so much like you, it makes me forget how much I hate you for leaving me.” Hell, was he so fixated on being feared than seeing what was actually important in front of his eyes?

Maybe Alina was right, it's not too late for me. Maybe Aleksander could make up for lost times and actually do better—not for ravka, but maybe for Lea.

“Does she know?” He asked,

“What do you think?” You snapped, “She can't know, Aleksander. How do you think she'll react after knowing her father is probably one of the most hated men in the country?”

“I'm willing to stay. For her—for you.”

“No,” you shook your head, “I'm not falling for your stupid games anymore.”

“Please,” He begged and you almost melted from how sweet your name was on his lips, but you know you can't. You've made a promise to yourself that you'd never go back to whatever you had with him. You'd never put yourself in that position again. This is the last time.

You shook your head, “Get out of my house.” The words came out a little more sharper than you intended, but to your surprise, Aleksander didn't fight anymore. He just looked into your eyes for one last time and left.

Buy me a coffee!!

[syoddeye]

14. Assign a fashion aesthetic to this character.

because i can't be Normal, here are 11 mini moodboards + blurbs lmao. thank you canva. some of the photos are low res, that's my b.

disclaimer: this is clearly for fun. i don't want to hear about how wrong i am lol.

Price: Maybe this is because the strong visuals from Ursa Major by @the-californicationist is rotting my brain (affectionate), but my favorite dude likes workwear and high quality clothing. I don't think he prioritizes fashion, but at the same time, he puts on Hard Pants whenever he leaves the house because you never know who he might meet! (You. At the store. Where he gets that pesky can of whatever off the top shelf for you.) Need to commission an artist to draw him as Tom Selleck.

Rudy: Inspired by Bayardo. Rudy likes moto style, worn-in/lived-in clothing, and cleans up real nice. I could see him gravitating more color and knit button downs/polo shirts. I didn't include much western/cowboy stuff, but I imagine Alejandro's aesthetic rubbing off on Rudy since they've known each other for decades.

Ghost: To no one's surprise, his favorite color is black. But, he wouldn't wear clothes that draw even more attention. He's already a big fella, I just don't see him trying to stand out on purpose. He favors darker neutrals, layers, regular cloth or paper face masks, and workwear. Pretty plain aesthetic. Just a Guy™.

Kate: "Sy, that's a lot of Gillian Anderson." AND? What about it? Anyway, I think younger!Kate saw If These Walls Could Talk 2 and emulated Amy's (Chloë Sevigny) style for a number of years. I think with her work and maturation of style, her style is more utilitarian/streamlined, but when she dresses up, ooh baby. Some of Maya Erskine's outfits in the new Mr. and Mrs. Smith show also scream Kate to me. Obviously we have a vest outfit here, because if there is one thing lesbians love, it's utility. /jk

Nik: Similar to Price in that he values clothes that can hold up under normal-to-heavy use. Every outfit does have to highlight a chain. My guy is probably sitting on a small mountain of money, too, but the clothes he picks for himself are unlabeled.

Ale: He's a smooth operator 🎶 No, but to me he's like Soap - Alejandro knows he's good-looking. He has the range and the confidence to pull off most anything. I think similar to Rudy, I imagine him leaning more towards moto aesthetics, with more cowboy/western vibes. Not afraid of color. Lest we forget, he owns a ranch, so throw in workwear, too. Tucked in shirts, belt buckles. Another minor point of inspo is Donald Glover from Mr. and Mrs. Smith.

Gaz: It's coincidence two photos contains glasses BUT I think in my dream world, Gaz dresses the way Elliot Knight's stylist dresses him. Which is to say wonderfully. Gaz tends toward neutrals, pieces that are easy to layer, and can fit into more than one look. He's probably somewhat up on fashion and style, not obsessed, but aware of what he looks good in. Not afraid to chat up a sales associate for help.

Soap: He knows he's nice to look at. He knows his arms are drool-worthy. The moment the weather's pleasant enough, he's sleeveless. I also know he probably dgaf about fashion but let's feed my delusions. Streetwear, athleisure - He's got to be able to move freely, feel comfortable, and show off his build.

Farah: Ignore the bags lol. If anything, she's carrying something crossbody and functional. Anyway, Farah's a leader and has been from too young of an age. I think this translates to how she carries herself and what she wears, yeah? I think she aligns with Soap+Gaz+Ale in the Can Wear Anything group. My soft as fuck HC is that Price gave her a few band shirts at some point in time.

Alex: Generally aware of what he looks good in. He relies on his more fashion inclined friends and loved ones to send him ideas or buy him clothes outright because he does not go out of his way to shop. He constantly wears that a single jacket he got One compliment on it six years ago. Like Ghost, he's Just a Guy™. A very handsome one.

Valeria: She's a business woman, right? 👀 Valeria's aesthetic is a mixture of all black everything/glam/utilitarian but make it fashion. In my deepest of dreams, her fashion style is more fluid, and she eats up everything she wears. Again, kind of falling into the idea that confidence makes any style possible on her.

character ask game questions here!

[katiesbells]

⧼   lulu antariksa, cis-female, she/her   /   this is me trying by taylor swift  + being the sunshine in everyone else’s life to hide from the darkness of your own mind from the trauma that you bottled down long ago because everyone said you were fine, that you had healed and maybe your body did, but your heart never did / when the door closes a lifetime of regrets return to you. in the middle of the night sitting on a broomstick when nobody is watching and wondering why you stopped playing. was it because of what had happened to you? why did you let your passion for playing disappear so long ago? now you're not the player but a washed up writer who dreams of being the player / the raw instinct to survive not just the battle but the war too. they tried to kill you once then twice but you refuse to let them stop you now .   ⧽   ━━   hey, isn’t that KATIE BELL ? i read a daily prophet article on them, once ; the TWENTY-NINE year old half blood WITCH is a GRYFFINDOR alumnus who has gone on to be a JUNIOR QUIDDITCH CORRESPONDENT FOR THE DAILY PROPHET. i’ve heard they can be quite CAPTIVATING & KIND, but i don’t know… they came off very JADED & ANXIOUS in that interview. it really is hard to know what to believe these days though, isn’t it?   [   courtney, 30, eastern, she/her + N/A ]

Character name: Kaitlyn "Katie" Briony Bell Age & Birthday: 29 & June 25th Zodiac Sign: Cancer Gender & Pronouns: Cisfemale & she/her Occupation: Junior Quidditch Correspondent for the Daily Prophet Blood Status: Half blood Previous House: Gryffindor Wand: Red Oak with a dragon heartstring core. Rigid. 9 1/2 inches long. Place of Residence: Flat in Muggle London

Background

Born to Samirah (a muggleborn witch) and Alaric Bell (A pureblood wizard), Katie was their only child. They had gotten pregnant so easily with Katie, but then they tried for years to have a second child to no avail. By the time she was seven, her parents had decided that they were okay with their one daughter, and they focused all of their energy on her. She had an ideal childhood, growing up in London. She would spend summers in Indonesia, visiting her mother's family and visiting her muggle cousins. Her father was not particularly close to his family, so her mother's family was all that she really knew. She could remember visiting her father's parents a handful of times, but they were very old-fashioned and never understood her, and she was not close to them.

Katie discovered Quidditch when she was three and her parents always liked to say that she never stopped talking about it. Instead of discouraging her love of flying and the sport, her parents encouraged it. Whenever possible, her father would bring her to matches and they would throw a quaffle around in the backyard after he got home from working in the Ministry. Katie knew that she wanted to be a Quidditch player one day, it was just a matter of which team.

Even though Katie had a wonderful childhood, it could be lonely at times being an only child. She couldn't remember ever being more excited than the day that she got her Hogwarts letter. Her parents had always told stories about their time at Hogwarts and about the friendships that they had made there. She had grown up with so many 'aunts' and 'uncles' who were friends from her parent's time at school. She craved those kinds of friendships. Katie was lucky enough to be able to make a lot of those friendships during her own time at Hogwarts. Between her classes and the Gryffindor Quidditch team, Katie felt lucky to have so many people that she loved in her life.

During her fifth and sixth years, things started to grow darker around them in their world. Talk of war, disappearances, and deaths became harder and harder to ignore. But she really tried. She knew what was right and wrong, and had always been firm in her beliefs that blood didn't matter and people should be equal. It was easy to join Dumbledore's Army at school to fight the so-called fight, but she didn't really know how dark things could be. I

t wasn't until her seventh year when she was put under the imperious curse and nearly died that she truly understood how dangerous things had become. She spent six months recovering in St. Mungo's healing her body from the cursed object she had touched, but her mind...that was a different story. She thought that she was better when she left St. Mungo's and got to go home and back to Hogwarts, and she had thought that everything would be okay. And maybe if that had been the worst of it she would have been okay.

Missing six months of school, it was advised that she repeat her seventh year. It had been an easy decision for her- she wanted to be a Quidditch player and what better way to be recruited than to play another year? But that year wasn't what she had expected. Hogwarts had been fundamentally changed. Everything came to a head at the Battle of Hogwarts. She fought alongside Dumbledore's Army, and miraculously they won. But...not everybody made it, and Katie has had to grapple with that over the last decade.

She was hit with survivor's guilt, and she has struggled with the question of why did she make it through when so many people she cared for didn't? In the aftermath of the war, it was a time for questionable decisions and soul-searching. Katie found herself feeling lost and unsure of what would happen next. It would become a time that she didn't like to think about too much.

Katie tried out for several Quidditch teams in the months after her graduation from Hogwarts but each time she thought she got a little closer to her dream of playing something got in the way. She made bad calls during tryouts, or she got the date wrong and showed up a week late. Her mother suggested she was purposefully sabotaging herself, but she refused to admit that that might just be the case. After too many failed tryouts, she finally decided to call it quits on the Quidditch dream, and she struggled for a few years to find the right fit. She worked some odd jobs here and there, but nothing ever seemed perfect.

Writing for the Daily Prophet had never been something that she considered until she ran into a former Quidditch player turned correspondent. He linked her to the Prophet, and she was hired on a trial basis, and that seemed to last. Her parents were happy that she finally seemed to settle on something, but she does feel some bitterness about writing about Quidditch instead of playing Quidditch. But regardless, she's glad for the job and the stability the job gives her.

[sweetbillwriting]

Love Just Happens

Part 14 - He Loves Me

Characters: The future's Bill Skarsgård and others close to him. The rest is my own characters.

Setting: This story is set in the future but because it's hard to say how the world is then (and it isn't that important for the story) the future is similar to our time now, even with fashion and so on.

Warnings: 18+, age difference, smut, alcohol, ageism, drugs, kinks and fetishes, cheating, rumors, mentions of violence, mention of rape.

Note: Thanks to allt readers, new as faithful, that like and reblog my work 🩷

He locked up the door doubtfully and then opened it carefully to see if there was any life in it. His apartment was empty of people. A dark blue kids rain coat and a pair of kids boxers laid on the floor and crumbs from digestives laid as a trail from the kitchen. He sighed just by seeing it. He hadn't been home for a week and when he looked around it looked like Hilma had used the time to let go of all the rules he had put up. Toys were spread out in the living room, some suspicious looking stains on the couch and dishes stood in piles in the kitchen but the worst was his bedroom. All his clothes were thrown on the floor and his private papers from work, about his kids, his health and his money laid on the bed. It was obvious Hilma had read all of it. Maybe in search of something. Maybe she had thought she would find something juicy but it was probably just provoking to read how much money he had in his savings accounts and that his sperm levels were great. But she also seemed to have found something else, maybe what she was searching for. On the floor next to the bed laid two cracked frames with pictures of him and Aurora. He had saved them in their frames like he would one day put them up again. Under the frames laid also the Christmas card with a topless Aurora and the birthday card he got when they celebrated his 41st birthday. The message inside from her was sweet but also suggestive where she promised daddy to be a good girl and that she would let him use her like he wanted. 

Bill sat down on the bed and looked at everything. His life. The papers were about everything he had fought for and tried to secure and then the things from the time with Aurora, that showed his deepest desires and his darkest secret. He hadn't had any contact with Aurora since the night they got high, ten days ago. Not because he didn't want to but he didn't know how. He didn't have her phone number or any other way to contact her. The only way was to take the ferry to her but he had done that so many times now she would see him as a stalker if he did it again. Instead he tried to find another way and had decided to ask around if someone had her number but he didn't have courage to do it. 

He looked at the picture of Hilma and him on the wall to the right of the bedroom door. They sat together in a restaurant and the picture looked a bit stiff. He had his arm around the backrest of her chair but it didn't even seem to touch her. These ten days he hadn't thought about her that much. Just practical things like how to fix their living situation and how he could help her with her kids without doing too much. Instead he had just thought about Aurora. Now there wasn't any other plan than to get her back. If he just had the courage and energy to fight for her. He thought back on their first conflict and how Gustaf had told him to fight, now it was time again but with so many more obstacles. 

He didn't know what Aurora felt. She did have a boyfriend. He didn't know what had happened when they were high. And he had work in England in just a few days.

He packed some clothes but focused on packing the important papers, his passport but also the things from Aurora. He could always buy new clothes, the other things were harder to replace. He had checked into a small hotel which was not far from his regular blocks. He knew it wasn't the tourist rich kind of hotel. He could have slept at a friend's house or a family member but felt he needed his space and it wasn't like he didn't have the money to live at a hotel for a few weeks. While working in bed he had Aurora in the back of his head the whole time. His thoughts glide together and he pictured her playing the female lead in the movie. It was a badass woman who the viewer didn't know if she was good or bad. It had been an interesting casting choice to choose Aurora. No one saw her as the mean type and she was way too sweet to even melt into the noir-like movie. He realized he had stopped working to fantasize and he looked out through the window with a small smile. He needed to fix this otherwise his collected, smartass character would be a lovesick mess. He looked through his phone book after someone that might know Aurora. Nothing. The closest was his sister who had a mail address but it went to Aurora's new manager in New York. 

"But… Bill… Why do you need her number?" She asked with a suspicious voice. Bill played with a hair tie he had found in his bag and thought about his answer. He hadn't even told her he and Hilma had broken up. 

"Eehhh… It's not what you think," he said even if it probably was exactly what she was thinking. He stood up and looked through the window to the park outside of the hotel. It was a sunny beautiful April day, a day meant for being outside but he sat inside working. 

"What do I think?" Eija teased. Bill sighed, he didn't answer her question, just stood in his own thoughts. 

"I've broken up with Hilma…" he said after a while. Eija was quiet but made a heavy exhalation. 

"Yeah… Yeah… It's not like that surprises me…" 

"No?" 

"She was sweet and all but you two, sorry but you don't have any passion at all. And like… I thought you wanted that now, that you were tired of the whole 'boring mom' type."

Bill smiled a little because he probably was. He just wanted Aurora. 

"Is that why you want Aurora's number? To get some passion again?" 

Bill was too proud to say that he was madly in love with Aurora and even had some mild stalking tendencies. 

"We will see…" he said and looked closely at a woman going by the old oak tree opposite his window. She walked with two other women but she stood out in her long white patent leather coat and long straight hair. Fuck it was Aurora Lou. How many of these coincidences would they get? He abruptly hung up on Eija and opened the window by impulse. 

"Hey!" He shouted. The girls turned around, it was obvious they believed it was a fan and tried to mask their annoyance with stiff smiles. The two other women were two young actresses he had met many times. Aurora looked up at him with big blue sunglasses and smiled genuinely when she saw him hanging out from the window. 

"Wait! Wait! I'm coming out!" He shouted with his heart in his throat. He usually saw himself as a collected person but now he was just impulsive and driven by love. He would do anything to just have her close. Aurora smiled and nodded, exaggerating so he would see it and then turned to the other women. Bill closed the window and changed his gray sweatpants to a pair of black jeans and put a piece of chewing gum in his mouth. His hair was unstyled and he had a bit of stubble but he didn't care about that, Aurora used to like that anyway. He put on his bomber jacket over his white tank top and then ran down the stairs with his heart beating like a drum in his chest. He knew he looked a bit ragged but he didn't care as long as he got to meet Aurora and hopefully get her number.  

The girls stood in a circle when he came out, the two others shielding Aurora from his view. It was suddenly hard to go up to them, but he faked confidence and walked up to them even if it felt like he was bothering them. 

"Hey," he said to them and gave the actresses a smile then searched after Aurora who was almost a head shorter than the other women. Aurora smiled softly at Bill and walked up to him with open arms so he would lean down for a hug. 

"Hey handsome," she said with her arms around his neck. Bill smiled into her hair and hugged her waist. 

"Weird I should just see you outside of the window like that," he said without letting her go. 

"Yeah, why are you here?" She asked sweetly and let him go. Bill gave all three of them a small smile and shrugged his shoulders. 

"You know, get some time to just work." Aurora smiled but she had a feeling Bill's answer wasn't the truth. 

"Eh, we will go and meet Cornelia but you can meet us up at the restaurant?" Said one of Aurora's friends and gave Bill a friendly look. He knew what she meant, she wondered if he could follow Aurora. Both the women knew Bill was her ex and not the kind of ex she didn't want to meet. 

"Ehh.." said Aurora unsure because she had never really walked the streets of Stockholm alone. 

"I can follow you," Bill said and smiled. Anything to have alone time with her. Aurora smiled thankfully and when they were alone that smile became bigger. 

"Do you want to have a drink with me? The hotel has a cute little outside bar." Bill said, pointing to the building with a long finger. She looked at him amused. He knew she had plans with her girlfriends, yet still he asked but she also knew her girlfriends probably expected this to happen when they had seen how her tall ex made her smile. Aurora sent a text to one of them then she sat down at the hotel's courtyard with Bill. It was a classic South Stockholm courtyard, in between orange and yellow stone houses. Aurora sat by one of the tables in the sun while Bill ordered them each a glass of white wine. It was calm and cozy and people seemed to just care about their own things and didn't even look at the world famous pop artist. She had just recently started to move in Stockholm without bodyguards and she couldn't deny it felt safer being with Bill than her two girlfriends.  

Aurora had taken off her coat when Bill came back and was just dressed in a cobalt blue long sleeved dress that hugged her curves. Bill smiled brightly when he sat down and looked at her body discreetly. 

"I've broken up with Hilma. That's why I’m sleeping here," he said when he had sat down. Aurora looked at him carefully and played with her necklace. 

"Oh… Are you okay?" 

"Yeah… Yeah… It was for the best." He wanted to smile just to tell Aurora that he just was happy he could now put his energy on her but she looked at him with worry and carefully he would feel stupid if he smiled. 

"But it’s your apartment?" 

"Yeah, you know that, you've slept in it." He smirked a little and played with the wine glass in his hand. Aurora blushed when she thought back to a kinky game they had played in that apartment, especially because she was forced to press her legs together by the memories. It was like she still could feel that sensation of pleasure and pain of having Bill inside of her. 

"I liked that apartment…" she said with a small smile and looked down at her nails. It was time to fix them again. 

"Yeah? I don't know… I think I need to do some work on it." 

Aurora smiled a bit amused. 

"Because those boys have destroyed everything?" 

Bill laughed a bit uncomfortable. It was weird talking about Hilma's sons with Aurora. He wanted to be sexy in her eyes and when he was with them he was his least sexy self. 

"Yeah… How long will you stay here in Sweden?" He asked and looked at her from top to toe. He wondered silently how the Swedes treated her. 

"Em… I don't know. I've recorded some new material and when that gets released I guess I will go to the U.S.?" 

He wanted to ask if she would release some of the songs she had written about him but it seemed too egotistical to bring up, instead they talked about his next project after she had asked and then about Aurora's new situation. She had a whole new team after having fired Andrew and had no contact with Roxy. 

"I'm really sorry about how things… happened the way they did?" Bill said playing with his wine glass. He had taken off his bomber jacket and Aurora looked shamelessly at his arms and shoulders. The wine had already gone up to her head and Bill smirked a little when she bit her lip. 

"It's okay… Roxy and I've had many, many fights through the years so that this happened wasn't a shock…" Bill nodded a little and then looked down at his phone that vibrated on the table. It was the mother of his children and he doubted answering. He just wanted to be with Aurora. 

"Answer, you know it's for the best," she said just like she used to and Bill smiled warmly and answered. 

"Have you taken your apartment back yet?" Said his ex in Swedish. 

"No… Can't I come to you to say goodbye to the girls?" 

She sighed. 

"Yeah yeah… But Bill… Did you cheat?" 

He sat quiet, for a moment he didn't understand who he cheated against. Her? Aurora? Hilma? 

"People are saying that they have seen you with Aurora Lou again." 

Bill gave Aurora a fast look. She sat and sucked on the end of her sunglasses and he could see her tongue peak out. 

"No I haven't cheated but yeah, I am friends with her…" he said. He spoke in Swedish so Aurora couldn’t understand what he was saying but she could recognize his body language and could see he was uncomfortable. 

His ex laughed a little. 

"I think we all know what that means… God, I really didn't think you were that kind of guy! But again… I guess Hilma isn't the most exciting woman…" 

Bill sighed deeply and rolled his eyes. She would never like his new girlfriends but she disliked Hilma even more than Aurora. Maybe she had realized it was better he was with a woman his children liked than someone that she didn't feel threatened by. He hung up with a fast irritated goodbye and didn't even listen to her answer then he looked at Aurora again. He wished he could sit closer to her and feel her soothing aura. 

"She will always have strong opinions," Aurora said as a conclusion even if she hadn't understood a thing. Bill smirked. 

"Yeah, you were never the problem, really. She just doesn't like anything I do." 

Aurora giggled a little and Bill felt the warm sensation travel from his chest down to his crotch. 

"I kind of understood that, or now I do. I was a great girlfriend to you. Your kids…" 

"Love you," he filled in. He talked in present tense because he knew they still did. They still would talk about her and his time with her with a dreamy glow. Aurora smiled brightly and Bill smiled back but the moment was destroyed when his phone rang again. Hilma. Bill swallowed hard and dragged his fingers over his stubbly jaw. 

"Just answer, it's for the best," said Aurora again and smiled even if she was uncomfortable with him talking to Hilma. Bill nodded a little and answered. 

"You're so pathetic you know that?? I thought you were over your fucking crisis but you have made me into a fool! What did you want with me if you wanted that slut the whole time?? And don't you dare come back to the apartment until we've moved out. You fucking… Cunt!" Hilma screamed in his ear so loud not only Aurora looked up but also the people at the table next to theirs. Bill tried to answer but she hung up in his ear. 

"Shit…" 

Aurora sat quietly and uncomfortable and searched for lipgloss in her handbag just to have something to do. Bill looked at her and felt even more in love. Both the women he had talked to were so much drama while Aurora was so calm and collected even if she was easy to tears, was younger and called a diva. She acted like she was older and more mature than both of them even if she was 15-20 years younger. She was such a dream and also so sexy.

"Can I take you out for dinner? Now?" He asked and smiled brightly, the way just a man in love can. 

××× 

He took her to one of his favorite restaurants, it was quite new and didn't exist when she had been in Stockholm with him. It was a much more relaxed and festive tapas bar that had the vibe of being in Barcelona. The waitress recognized him and gave him a secluded table. It was obvious she recognized Aurora too but that just made her nervous and she looked at her like she was made of glass and could break to pieces if someone should handle her uncarefully. Aurora tried to be as relaxed and kind as possible, as usual, but Bill was a bit awkward when he realized it wasn't just the waitress that recognized them but the whole restaurant. He was used to being recognized but they never gawked that much when he was alone. 

He wondered for a second if others had heard about him "cheating" too and that was why they were staring but then he got lost in the company of Aurora. She felt a bit uncomfortable first sitting with Bill alone in a restaurant that could easily be seen as romantic. She had waited for him in the hotel lobby so he could change clothes and he was now wearing a beige linen shirt that fit him nicely. He looked like he was ready for a date, a date with her because his hair was unstyled and his upper lip amazingly stubbly. Both of them thought about the obstacles in their relationship at the same time as they were together but had totally different feelings about it. 

"Oh my god..! The last ferry goes in twenty minutes!" Aurora said when she looked at her phone after they had finished their second pot of sangria. "And I'm so drunk!" She whispered with a laugh. Bill smirked at her amused because he didn't at all feel the effect of the alcohol that much. 

"You can crash at my place," he said like it wasn't a big deal but he smiled expectantly. Aurora giggled, mostly from the alcohol and played with the hem of her short dress. 

"You will just try something!" She said with a silly voice but hid her glowing cheeks behind her hands. 

"Not if you don't want to," Bill said kindly but then gave her that look he used to give her when he acted like a dirty man in their filthy games. Aurora shook her head but smiled. 

"You must promise me to not try something!" Shs said and held out a finger towards him. Bill took her finger in his hand and let it drown in his wide palm. He sighed with a smile. 

"Okay, okay. I promise. Just let me take you to the hotel so I know you're safe," he said softly and smiled, still with her finger in his hand. Aurora gave him a blushing smile and wiggled her finger. 

××× 

Bill's hotel room was quite modest but with a more cozy, original interior than the standard hotel. For a second he wondered if it was nice enough for a girl like Aurora but wiped that thought away quickly. Aurora was a rich girl, a fine girl but she had never acted spoiled. She liked luxury but it wasn't necessary and he knew she had done sleepovers in the forest with her dad and wasn't a diva at all, even if it was what people called her. She looked a bit uncomfortable but he knew it wasn't because of the room but because it was his room. They hadn't been this private with each other for a long time. It wasn't a big deal for him but Aurora was more reserved than him and also as a woman, taught to be careful. 

"Is it okay?" He asked just to make her more comfortable and sat down on the bed. Aurora took off her platform sneakers and the coat and took a walk through the room. There wasn't that much space but she looked at everything you could look at. Bill wondered how unsober she still was. She didn't look drunk. 

"We can watch a movie or something? Or do you rather want to go down to the bar again?" He asked and looked at her with big eyes. Aurora smiled a little while looking at the window. 

"No… People looked at us so much in the restaurant so I'm tired now…" 

Bill nodded and started to unbutton his shirt to change to something more comfortable. Aurora looked at him discreetly and he noticed but didn't want to make a thing out of it. 

"Do you want to borrow something to wear?" 

Aurora doubted a moment. Of course she must borrow something to wear but having one of Bill's soft t-shirts against her naked skin would bring back memories. His smell and comfort would wake up even more warm feelings but the option was to either sleep in her dress or just sleep in her underwear. 

"Yes please," she said politely and Bill smiled a bit amused while he searched for a t-shirt. It was cute she always answered like a polite little girl when she wasn't totally comfortable. He unbuttoned his jeans on his search and when he gave her the t-shirt she didn't know where to look. Bill's naked upper body or the unbuttoned jeans that exposed his crisp white boxers. She giggled with a blush, still affected by the alcohol and took the t-shirt. 

"Promise again, don't try anything," she said again while looking at him up and down. She said it to herself too and Bill could see that in her eyes. She wanted him. 

"I promise, I will lay on my side of the bed," he said with a wink and pulled down his jeans completely. Aurora shook her head with an embarrassed smile then walked to the bathroom with the t-shirt and her handbag. 

She could feel her heart hammering hard in her chest of heated love but she had made a decision. She would just be friends with Bill. After the night they had smoked together she knew they could never be a couple again and that Mattias wanted everything she wanted. This was a stupid decision to share a bed with Bill and she would never have done it if the situation had been different. But she saw it as a test, a test that they could be friends. That Bill could accept her rejection and she could feel pleased with knowing Mattias was out there. Mattias, her boyfriend. She would never cheat, she was sure of that but maybe she would have too strong feelings for Bill that would force her to break up with Mattias, just because it was the only right thing to do. 

When she came out from the bathroom stood Bill by his suitcase and looked at something in his hands. He looked up at her with a teasing smile and showed her the Christmas card with her naked chest.

"You still have that??" She looked a bit embarrassed but also amused at seeing it again. She walked up to him and looked at herself in the santa hat. She remembered when she let Erica take the picture. She was so newly in love with Bill and also new with exploring her sexuality. She felt sexy but also young, inexperienced and sometimes stupid. She didn't feel that way any longer standing next to Bill. She didn't really think about the age difference at all and thanks to him she felt safe in her body and sexuality. 

"Have you jerked off to it?” She asked with a smirk and pointed on a suspicious looking stain in the corner of the card. Bill laughed. 

"Way too many times. God those tits…" He looked at her with a dreamy stare and down to her chest in his gray t-shirt. He could see hardened nipples and was determined to sleep with one of them in his mouth that night. Aurora shook her head with a smile but felt it was too much, she had a boyfriend but together with Bill she seemed to forget that it wasn't him that was her boyfriend. Bill tried to read her face because he saw another emotion than the one he wanted to see flash through her eyes. 

After he had made himself ready for bed he crawled down in the hotel bed next to Aurora but with a good amount of space between them. They laid quietly and looked at each other. It felt like they had done this not so long ago and he remembered that they had laid nose to nose, close to each other the night they were high. They talked softly about ordinary things but mostly they just enjoyed being close to each other, even if Aurora felt something sting in her stomach. Unconsciously they had moved closer to each other and Bill, who had promised to lay on his side of the bed, crawled over to her side and let her put her leg over his hip. He could feel blood travel to his cock and he felt it would have been amazing to sleep with her but he would also be pleased with just a kiss. He wet his lips with his tongue then he leaned down and carefully pressed his plump lips against hers. Aurora felt her heart in her throat and the endorphins dancing in her body. When he kissed her again it was her who separated her lips and her tongue searching for his. Bill didn't hesitate and deepened their kiss greedily and laid a hand on her ass to pull her closer to his body. 

"No. No, no, no!" Aurora said suddenly in a panic and pushed him away violently. Bill just looked at her in horror when she stood up and started to walk around in the room with flapping hands. 

"No, no, no," she said to herself in panic while big tears started to stream down her cheeks. Bill sat up and looked at her for a moment, unsure what to do. When she sat down on the edge of the bed to break down loudly he crawled over the bed to sit behind her. 

"Hey babe…" he said carefully and laid a hand on her back but she squirmed away from it. 

"Don't call me that! I have a boyfriend! That I've just cheated on! I am a cheater! I hate cheating!" She said with panic and heavy breath. The tears made her unable to talk. Bill didn't say anything because he didn't know what to say. She had cheated, even if it was with him. 

"He loves me!" She cried even more violently. 

"Yeah… But you… You love me," Bill said softly but hopeful. She must love him? 

"God…" she just said with her face in her hands. 

"And you know I love you… I never stopped loving you…" Bill said softly and once again dragged his hand over her back. She didn't push him away this time but sighed. 

"We can't be together Bill… You know that too…" 

Bill didn't say anything because he didn't know that. They were quiet a while but then Aurora turned around and hugged him. 

"I just need sleep… Please… Just hold me and… Then we sleep…" 

Bill held her in his arms and laid down in bed with her crying against his naked chest. He loved having her close but the situation was not ideal. And why couldn't they be a couple? He hugged her hard and let her try to sleep but the next day they must talk because he wanted her as a girlfriend again. Maybe even more than that. 

××× 

Bill had fallen asleep but Aurora never did. She laid there watching his peaceful expression and wondered what he dreamed about. She wanted him. She wanted all of him but she couldn't be with him. They didn't want the same things in life and he would become miserable with her. The woman he had been together with probably suited his life better, even if her sons were a struggle but even they would get older. He should be with someone like that woman instead of her. Aurora herself was another kind. She should be with someone like Mattias. They had talked so much about it, their future. They wanted the same things. Freedom, exploration, independence. He had said many times he wanted to marry someone like her and when he said it, it had felt realistic, not like when Bill said it. 

She had cheated against him. She would break his heart and maybe she would lose him. She was a cheater who was still in bed with the other man. The man she loved. 

××× 

Bill usually slept through all his nights without problem, his problem was waking up so when he woke up by himself in the middle of the night he knew it was something. His first thought was that his youngest daughter was having a bad dream, his second thought was that his oldest had come home way too late for a fifteen year old. It had happened a few times but she had understood it wasn't a good idea for a fifteen year old girl running around in Stockholm by night. He tried to sleep again when he realized he was at the hotel but then noticed his chest felt much colder and lighter than it had done before. Aurora. She had slept against his chest but now he was alone. He sat up in bed and rubbed his eyes, listened if he could hear her in the bathroom but it was tragically silent. He looked around and saw his gray t-shirt laying on the bed and Aurora's things were gone. The dress, the coat and her little pink handbag. She had left him. He sighed loudly and rubbed his eyes. He really thought she felt the same thing and her relationship with Mattias was as shallow as his with Hilma but it seemed like he had been wrong. He wondered bitterly if she had gone to Mattias instead. For a while he just sat and felt sorry for himself and felt his heart breaking and he pushed the tears in his eyes with the palms of his hands. His thoughts flew so long that he thought to himself that he would be single for the rest of his life now. He didn't want anyone else. To try to be with someone else just made it hurt more. Images of Aurora with Mattias haunted him and once again he wondered if she was with him and it was then he realized; had she walked out in Stockholm by herself in the middle of the night? One of South Stockholm's party streets laid just a block away and he started to picture the worst scenarios. He must call her. He still didn't have her number. Should he go out and search for her? Where would he look? Where was she going? Where did Mattias live? Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. In panic he dressed in his sweats and a zip hoodie. He put his running shoes on and took his phone and the key card to the room but then he ran out. He ran faster than he had done for a long time. He would search through all of Stockholm if he was forced to. Stockholm on a Saturday night alone for a beautiful woman could be dangerous but for Aurora, a world famous, rich, privileged woman with one of the world's most perfect faces it was more than dangerous, it could be life threatening. Why had she run out all by herself? 

Bill ran around searching without a goal and saw curious eyes on him. He didn't dare to ask anyone for help because that could get her in even more danger if people knew she was out on her own. Even if he searched for hours he didn't feel a will to stop. He was driven off something else and just felt more desperate to find her. When he stopped for a break outside of the royal castle he took a look at his phone. One missed call. Was it Aurora? He googled the number and found at once what the number belonged to. SöS. South Stockholm's Hospital. His heart pounded hard when he called them to see what it was. 

"Oh yes, we have a young woman here that has asked for you… Emm… She has asked me to not go into details and she thought you maybe would know who she is…" 

Bill was quiet and heard his own heart in his ears. He saw that worst in front of his eyes. Aurora bloody, raped, terrified. 

"Otherwise I should say it is 'the pink girl'." 

The nurse heard Bill cry from all the overwhelming feelings and she was silent for a long time. She hadn't thought she would listen to Bill Skarsgård cry when she started her night shift. 

"Ehh… She's okay. But she wants you to come. She has been in an accident." 

× 

[believerindaydreams]

@theoremproved I hope I'm not overstepping, I just. Couldn't resist writing a little post-canon AU snippet for your fic, on Gallifrey.

You've made the Doctor and the Master such partners...not just "need you in my life for snarking and hate sex" but like ...actual partners. Never ran across that before. It offers so many possibilities!

anyway here's some words

"I can still hear her," the Doctor says, resting on a hay pile with his eyes shut. "You know that, don't you?"

He would, the Master reflects, know it considerably better if they were using more than words. With the loss of his TARDIS, all the Doctor's telepathic shields had snapped on instinctively, and two days later he's yet to lower them even in exhausted sleep. They have not touched each other since escaping the Citadel, clenched hands giving way to the smooth silky freedom of nighttime winds.

The words are in the Master's mouth, that given the opportunity he could readily verify whether the Doctor is sensing a genuine psionic signal or succumbing to wishful thinking. Not so many lifetimes ago he would have already insisted on deciding the point, so that they could make further decisions based on the stern necessities of fact.

Age may not have taught either of them wisdom, but at least one of them has experimented with patience. "I'll make tea."

"In the ruins of the House?" The Doctor's unseeing gesture is grandiose and careless, his fingers coming perilously close to a rusted saw-toothed blade of some description. The Master removes it from harm's way, carefully hanging the rawhide loop over his own shoulder. Better to have even so minor a weapon as this than none at all. "And even in its glory days, the table never boasted triangular tea bags."

More properly this is the ruins of an outlying barn and not the house proper, but in his present mood the Doctor would call that quibbling. "It wouldn't now, either. Lapsang souchong is better brewed loose."

"Really? That's clever. However will you manage that?"

"Other persons in this cosmos also possess pockets." If the Doctor can't bring himself to anything closer, words are still a vast improvement on yesterday's tortured silence. Muteness has never become him, and especially not this incarnation with his deft way of employing words like perfectly honed knives.

Almost sufficient to talk them out of trouble in the Capitol. Almost.

The Master piles up fallen chunks of wood and wisps of hay, sets it alight by sparking the near-exhausted battery pack of a melted staser. There's little chance of the fire being seen- the taboo on leaving the Capitol is deep and profound- but he arranges it to give off as little smoke as possible. It isn't beyond possibility that the Shobogans will be offered some sort of reward for capturing them.

If that happens, he will have no qualms about self defense. Hunters should always be prepared to become the hunted.

It has taken the better part of the day, for a jury-rigged atmospheric condenser to provide sufficient water. Half an hour to get that water properly hot. Five and a half minutes to brew, in two cups fashioned from a shattered bucket.

"It's ready."

This would all have been a great deal of needless trouble, he thinks, if the Doctor refuses to get up.

"No, I don't want to-" and is that a mental response or a physical complaint? "But I'll try to muster up some cheer. You didn't cause anything like this fuss about your own ship."

It is perhaps because, the Master doesn't say, I know what happened and the coral heart beats quietly next to mine; whereas yours is being taken to pieces and plumbed for secrets as no time ship has ever been dishonored.

If they must be separate a while, he can be glad the Doctor won't have caught this particular underlying thought.

"Tea," he says simply.

The Doctor sits up suddenly, brushes hay out of his curls, and gulps down his share without a pause for breath.

"You know, that is rather better. I suppose we'll have to start making a plan and such this time, won't we? A pity. I always have more fun improvising on the spot."

"I'll finish my tea first," the Master says, unruffled. They are not going to take on the Citadel's rage without several good plans, and preferably better weapons than one ancient farming implement.

"There's something to do before that, even."

"Oh?"

The Doctor leans in and kisses him, his mouth hot and flavoured with smoke; and all the day's efforts are, in the Master's opinion, thoroughly repaid.

[tomemyxxmen]

"If    you    were    going    to    attempt    making    popcorn,    you    were    better    off    putting    the    kernels    in    a    pot.    The    old    fashioned    way    of    popping    them    is    on    the    stove    over    low    heat    in    a    metal    pot."    He    paused.    "There    IS    a    microwave    in    the    house.    We're    not    living    in    the    dark    ages    you    know.    You    simply    could    have    asked."    He    passed    him    a    mug    then    carried    his    snack    over    to    the    table,    taking    a    seat.    Despite    how    calm    and    relaxed    he    seemed,    on    the    inside,    layers    of    anxiety    always    hovered    near    the    surface    threatening    to    spill    over.    He    supposed    it    was    out    of    fear    of    failure    but    it    honestly    could    not    be    helped    given    past    traumas.    Even    so...

"Control    is    not    something    that    can    be    mastered    in    a    day,    month    or    even    a    year.    I    was    seven    years    old    when    my    powers    manifest    and    well    into    adulthood    before    I    managed    even    an    ounce    of    control    over    certain    aspects    of    my    abilities.    I    still    cannot    properly    control    my    telekinesis    though    to    be    honest,    I    never    practice.    I    cannot    control    what    I    hear    inside    my    head.    If    you're    around    me    then    its    a    safe    bet    I    can    hear    your    thoughts,    but    I    assure    you    it    isn't    because    I    WANT    to    hear    them."

He    goes    quiet    as    he    stares    at    his    bowl    of    fruit,    thinking    about    the    few    kids    in    the    house,    the    lot    of    them    way    taller    than    he    will    ever    be.    He    took    it    in    stride    though.    At    least    his    height    didn't    deter    them    from    listening    to    him...for    the    most    part    anyway.

There's    a    moment    when    he    nibbles    his    fruit,    mulling    over    Gabriel's    question.    A    few    months    ago,    his    idea    of    'dealing'    was    drinking    from    a    bottle.    These    days    he    was    simply    more    resigned    to    his    own    fate.    He    controlled    the    aspects    that    were    within    his    power    and    ignored    the    rest.    Probably    not    the    best    means    to    an    end    but    it    was    how    he    personally    got    by    while    attempting    to    aid    others.

"I    do    not    really    know,    Gabriel.    For    me,    there's    no    such    thing    as    control.    If    you    dislike    telepaths,    you    probably    shouldn't    hang    around    one    because    I    am    willing    to    bet    they    all    have    the    same    issues    as    I."    He    paused.    "However,    I    can    say    that    after    working    with    a    few    mutants    in    the    past,    control    is    rooted    in    one's    ability    to    control    their    emotions.    Focus    with    a    cool,    calm    head    will    likely    get    you    the    results    you    want.    That    isn't    to    say    rage    or    fear    isn't    useful.    But    when    you're    irrationally    angry    or    scared,    are    you    thinking    clearly    or    are    you    simply    reacting    in    the    moment?    That...    makes    a    lot    of    difference    in    the    long    run."

He    offered    the    bowl    of    fruit    by    sliding    it    closer    to    Gabriel.    "There's    always    potential    for    things    to    go    wrong.    We're    mutants    after    all.    But    I    assure    you    the    danger    room    will    be    fine    for    now    and    if    not,    well,    we'll    build    a    new    one."

Gabriel shifted uncomfortably, his eyes darting between Charles and the charred remains of the popcorn bag. He ran a hand through his hair, a nervous habit he'd picked up since joining the X-Men.

"I know, I know," he sighed, his voice a mix of embarrassment and frustration. "I just thought... well, we don't have a microwave, and I was really craving some popcorn. I figured, hey, I can generate heat, right? How hard could it be?"

He moved to sit across from Charles, careful not to accidentally brush against anything that might conduct energy.

"It's just... everyone else seems to have such great control over their powers. Alex can blast targets without breaking a sweat, and Scott... well, Scott's Scott. But me? I try to make a simple snack and nearly set off the fire alarms."

Gabriel's shoulders slumped slightly as he reached for his mug of tea, being extra cautious not to let any stray energy spark from his fingertips.

"I appreciate you being cool about the smell and all. And yeah, I guess I should stick to other snacks from now on. It's just... frustrating, you know? I've got all this power, but using it for anything bigger than lighting a candle makes me nervous. What if I lose control during a mission?"

He took a sip of his tea, letting the warmth calm him a bit. "And don't get me started on how many of these kids are taller than both of us. Makes me feel like I should be drinking milk instead of tea to catch up," he added with a weak chuckle, trying to lighten the mood.

"But seriously, Charles... how do you deal with it? The responsibility, the potential for things to go wrong? I mean, I know you've got way more experience than me, but... any tips for a guy who's afraid he might accidentally turn the danger room into a crater if he really lets loose?"

[satoriberry]

whore activities . . . .

⊛ summary: karasuno characters and what they feel about maid dresses.

⊛ warnings: no actual whore activities are described </3, 2.85/5 level suggestive, men/women in maid dresses because idk, excessive usage of the the word "whore" (?), intended lowercase.

⊛ berry's note: ahaha! catfished! anyways, maid dresses cute, hq cast is cute, it makes sense that im even thinking of this. enjoy (pls leave comments or constructive criticism :3)

• sawamura daichi: thought you were joking at first, ended up wearing it because you were literally begging on the floor with your wallet over your head.....too amazed by how nice he looks. he was particularly a fan of the stockings (he took selfies in those gym bro poses while also elegantly holding the skirt between his index and thumb).

• sugawara koushi: heard the words "maid dress" and immediately said "yes". took too many photos of himself and may or may not have shown them to the team. pretended to be a real maid and purposefully spilled a drink on himself (precisely down the square neckline area so it's all over his chest) in an attempt to seduce you. realized 4 milliseconds afterwards that he ruined the dress with tropical fruit juice. RIP dress, it lived for 54 minutes.

• azumane asahi: stared at you wide eyed when you proposed the idea, gave in because he didn't want to make you feel sad and it could be a fun fashion experience (and also because he wanted to see if he'd look cute in a frilly dress lmfao). he was shy the whole time but inside, he was like "wow i look hot" because he objectively did look hot. favourite garment was the headband, because.....headbands. wore it on a few more occasions for shits and giggles, never told the team though.

• shimizu kiyoko: stared at you for a solid 15 seconds before saying "no". im sorry. you'd be the one wearing the dress in this scenario, she prefers seeing you in it than herself, and besides, who wouldn't wanna make kiyoko happy <3. blushed when you showed her what you look like, took advantage of the opportunity to shower you with compliments to see you get flustered (she's evil).

• nishinoya yuu: yes and yes. yes to wearing it, and yes to having you wear it. he's more excited for himself though because the guy loves wearing skirts (canon? idk shsjshjs). complimented himself provocatively in front of a mirror with you next to him. he's so shameless istg, turning left and right to get a good look of himself. really liked the bow that's tied from behind. contrary to his previous reaction, he was stunned into silence when you wear it, just sat there like 👁👁. liked seeing you twirl in it because yes.

• tanaka ryuunosuke: he bought it before you even asked him. he had the idea ages ago so he already owns one. has worn it on multiple occasions around his house (saeko pretended to not notice. she did. she judges him.) he made you wear it as a dare even though you would've done it either way. took like 50 polaroid photos of you in it, both good and bad angles. may or may not have one in his phone case on all times (he loves you okay???). is a whore for stockings so that's probably his favourite part of the outfit.

• hinata shouyo: was excited by the idea, ended up being too nervous to leave his bathroom after changing. he thinks he looks silly, so you'd have to encourage him to come out and if he does, DO NOT STARE AT HIM! he called this "an introspective soul experience" aka him seeing if he's fitting for such a peculiar fashion piece or no. on the flipside, you + maid dress = everybody finding it because he can't keep his mouth shut about it. even his classmates know about you wearing it. he has no range so keep him close.

• kageyama tobio: doesnt get the buzz. said it's nothing special while looking at the photo on the purchase site. bought the long modest looking ones because "authentic is best". was utterly flabbergasted when you said "go ahead and try it", he thought it was YOU trying it on, but he gave in because of slight interest. he doesn't look good in it, im sorry. physically, he looked like hot snatch but it was his posture and his facial expression that ruined it. he looked constipated, probably clenching his ass underneath, he was wearing this awkward grimace and overall, he did not have a good time. he much preferred seeing you in it; pretended to be a real customer when you served him chips ahoy on a plate, and he even tipped you! :D

• tsukishima kei: you'd think he'd be the most reluctant, even more than kiyoko, but he was surprisingly easy to convince. he made up his mind after you promised to 1) not tell anyone, 2) wear it first and 3) pretend to be a real maid while he checks you out shamelessly. he chose the ones that came with the cute puffy sleeves (he's a whore but he's a whore for you before anything). after you went through the most humiliating experience of your life, it was his time and....he was too tall for it. he didn't think of the skirt's length so it reaches his upper thighs. normally that would make him feel scandalous but it was genuinely so not his size, he found it unbearable. the only thing that looked good is the choker but that wasn't enough to compensate for his dissatisfaction.

• yamaguchi tadashi: the only reason he agreed is because he watched maid sama as a little kid and he thought the ladies looked really hot, so he wanted to look like them. the gloves made him feel so badass, which was funny because the puffy skirt and the collar were the complete opposite. roamed around his house with a feather duster saying shit like "oops i forgot a spot" or "how embarrassing it would be if i flashed you my bouncing bubble booty", it was ironic dw. you recreated a shoujo scene with you kabedoning him while he fake stuttered cutesy stuff in a high pitched voice, sent it to tsukishima who then blocked you both.

• yachi hitoka: melted, evaporated, condensed and went though the water cycle when you made your wish known. she didn't know how to feel because, on one hand, you're gonna see her in a dress that's made for young women that work in cafés whose target demographic is men, which felt weird. on the another hand, that dress is really cute and it comes in pastel colours too! solution was the following: you both buy a dress and roleplay the thing together. she didn't want to feel awkward by herself :(. also she's a sucker for couple activities, it would only make sense that you wear matching dresses for cute photos and other....stuff. no elaboration :3 favourite item is the shiney black mary janes, she really likes their tap tap tap against the floor.

[witchthewriter]

Hey love, I wanted to ask if you could write me some ships pls?🤍🌿

Fandoms would be: Grishaverse, Harry Potter and LotR (I didn't see it on your ship list, so if you don't write for those characters, you could pick a Marvel character)✨️

My pronouns are she/her, infj, Aries ☀️ leo 🌙 libra ⬆️, I'm bisexual (tho mostly attracted to men) and a hufflepuff.

Physical description: I'm 5'4", 20 years old, I've got very long dark brown hair down to my butt, my eyes are also dark brown. I've got tan skin. Not a size 0 but I'm quite happy with my figure. I don't personally think I'm that short, but my friends are all taller than me.

Character: I can be a bit shy and awkward at first, but I've gotten a little more confident over the years. I overthink a lot, sometimes my brain can't stop running in circles. That's why I'm not a very spontaneous person, I might say I'll do something but the closer that moment comes, the more hesitant I get. I can get angry very fast (fire signs complicating my life) and I may not forget, but I certainly forgive. I'm smart and a quick learner. I'm also stubborn and don't cope well with being criticised by friends or family.

Hobbies: I like staying in reading or watching films, I'm very excited for autumn, cause I just moved to a very woodsy place. I'm studying textile design, so I like knitting, sewing, crafting, I started making my own clothes a few years ago. Other than that I also draw a lot. I played a few instruments in my life, currently trying to teach myself how to play the ukulele, and I like singing (don't know if I'm good tho). I'm interested in mythologies and really enjoy watching documentaries about different civilisations and ages. I love period dramas and am obsessed with historical fashions. I like cooking but don't like doing the dishes afterwards.

Okay, that's all I can think of🤍🥲 I'd be so happy if I could get a ship from you! I already read some of your writing and you're so damn talented!

Thank you so much and I hope you have a lovely day !!🤍✨️

Want to be shipped? Here be the instructions 🦋

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒐𝒏: ✧ Chivalrous ✧ Brave ✧ Good-hearted ✧ Stubborn ✧ Gryffindors

𝐆𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞

𝐷𝑒𝑠𝑐𝑟𝑖𝑝𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

I ship you with Matthias Helvar! I think you would suit characters that have a noble, chivalrous personality. Someone who would always do good by you, no matter what. 

𝐻𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑐𝑎𝑛𝑜𝑛𝑠

・He is SO PROTECTIVE OF YOU. And I mean overly - on multiple occassions you’ve had to command, “Druskelle,” while grabbing his arm. He’s honestly like a guard dog. 

・He loves eating and always overbuys; so you never feel hungry because there’s always a feast

・You love making him blush, and he’ll pretend to hate it. But really he absolutely loves it. 

・He is actually very very funny. It’s a lot of witty remarks and blunt statements. It takes you aback, but you always laugh. Because he doesn’t mean it to be funny, he’s just saying what he thinks 

・Relationship Tropes: 

  ✧ Big Reserved x Smol Fiery

  ✧ Mutual Pining But Neither Saying Anything Until A Dangerous Event Happens

  ✧ Would Die For The Other

𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐏𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫

𝐷𝑒𝑠𝑐𝑟𝑖𝑝𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

I ship you with Harry Potter! I think you two would have a very genuine, authentic relationship. He would be so excited to have someone - a person who he can call family and feel secure with.

𝐻𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑐𝑎𝑛𝑜𝑛𝑠

・With Harry’s inheritance from his parents’, and along with your in put, you guys are able to buy your own house from a young age (4 years after the Battle of Hogwarts) 

・It’s very cottage-like, and Harry wanted it that way because he always felt safe at the Burrow. So having aspects that reflect the Weasley’s made him immensely happy. 

・Definitely buying pets, and Harry is a bit hesitant at first but you’re so excited. 

・He’s probably an auror, and whatever job you choose, you would come home to a tired yet happy Harry, whose already started on dinner. 

     “Honey, aren’t you tired?” You cooed, coming up behind him and wrapping your arms around his waist. 

   “Not too tired for food,” he replied, turn in your arms and kissing your forehead. 

・On your one year anniversary, he gave you a beautiful necklace with a gorgeous pendant. It was a sapphire stone laid in an oval gold plating that seemed to be enchanted, because it glittered even in the darkness. (Hermione helped him ... he knew what he wanted to get you, but he knew Hermione could make it even better. So the enchantment isn’t just for beauty but also for protection). 

𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬

𝐷𝑒𝑠𝑐𝑟𝑖𝑝𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

I ship you with Arwen! I just think you need someone with a soft touch, but is also ready to fight when necessary. She would always protect you, but nurture and care for you as well. 

𝐻𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑐𝑎𝑛𝑜𝑛𝑠

・She loves braiding your hair; her hands are so soft and her nails gently scratch your scalp. It’s in those moments when you understand why dogs allowed themselves to be pets

・She gives you the MOST SOFT YET MEANINGFUL KISSES. LOOK HOW PLUMP HER LIPS ARE. THEY LOOK SO SOFT AND KISSABLE

・Gives you a weapon and makes sure you know how to use it 

・Teaching you words in Elvish and giving each other pet names in the language

・Playing with her hands and she feels giddy because Elves aren’t very affectionate. 

[scuttle-buttle]

Psychopathia Sexualis - Chapter 1

Sequel to The Interpretation of Dreams

Pairing: Modern AU Professor Laszlo Kreizler x Fem!Reader

Summary: After experiencing a whirlwind enemies-turned-lovers romance with the imposing Professor Laszlo Kreizler, things have been wonderful for you. Your studies are coming along, work is enjoyable, and you are in a stable relationship with the man you believe to be the love of your life. Suddenly, everything threatens to come crashing down with the arrival of a face from the past. Will jealousy and desire consume you and destroy the love you finally found?

WC: 1116

Rated: M (will increase in later chapters)

Chapter Tags: domestic fluff, age difference, technically student/teacher relationship, mentions of daddy kinks & sugar daddies

🧠

Time passed quickly since the day you and the doctor finally admitted your feelings for each other. After that you were practically inseparable. You resumed work as his TA, only occasionally getting distracted, but the term was over after a few short weeks anyway. You had agreed to keep everything rather low key, so as not to encourage the wrath of the university. There was no actual rule against graduate students coupling with professors. Nevertheless, the practice was often frowned upon, and you didn’t want Laszlo to get in trouble. If anyone asked, you were just ‘friendly coworkers that sometimes ate meals together after work’. Most didn't pay attention to you anyway since you weren't friends with any underclassmen. Despite the fifteen year age difference you were both on the same page with the seriousness of the relationship. You knew how you felt about each other.

Sara and John found out right away. Because they had expected it to happen anyway there was no reason to hide it from them. The two were beyond happy for you. Whether Laszlo had noticed John slip a twenty dollar bill into Sara’s hand after the admission you’ll never know; at your raised brow John just shrugged and said that it was "about damn time". Bitsy was equally as delighted for you. She wouldn’t admit it, but she was also glad you would be out of the house more often so that she could spend time with her own boyfriend, Lucius.

Now, you are laying on your Laszlo’s bed scrolling through social media. The wintery weather outside his bedroom window gives you a chill despite the warmth of the fireplace he has burning. You were still not over just how nice his place was. It was in a rather upscale part of town and was roughly three times the size of your place. The townhouse style was similar in fashion to his office at the university - full of dark ornate wood and books and even a chandelier in the foyer. When you had asked how he afforded something like this in the heart of the city, he had just said a wealthy great uncle or other had left it in the family. With Laszlo being the only surviving member he inherited it.

Your love was getting himself ready in the bathroom. He had a department meeting to attend on campus in an hour. Tomorrow the new spring term would begin, and you were to resume your post as his TA. An errant thought crosses your mind as you admire the expensive looking painting hung on his wall.

“Laz?”

“Yes, Bärchen?” his response echoes in the large bathroom. You smile at the nickname, little bear. He’d given it to you because he said your presence was like that of a bear, ready to fight to protect herself and those she cared about.

“Are you my sugar daddy?” You can see his reflection in the mirror. He looks scandalized by the implications of your question.

“What would prompt you to ask that?” A blush forms on the apples of his cheeks.

“I mean think about it, I spend time with you - an older, exceedingly handsome, wealthy man - and in return I get orgasms and nice things.” Truth is, you are joking entirely, you know the relationship is conventional. You just like to watch him squirm with teasing like this.

He walks into the bedroom and picks his sweater off the bed next to you. “You're teasing me," he accuses with a grin. "I hardly think it can be considered as that sort of arrangement when you get paid because you are employed to work for me. It is merely happenstance that the other characteristics should parallel themselves to that of a…” he searches for the words, “financial benefactor.” You laugh at his unwillingness to say ‘sugar daddy’. “As for the orgasms…” he smirks and drops a kiss to your head.

He finishes dressing as you bury yourself under the duvet. “What are your plans while I’m detained?”

“I don’t know, figured I would just take it easy today. I need to be well rested for my first day at work tomorrow - I hear some pretty ruthless things about this German doctor I’m going to be working with.” You get off the bed and wrap your arms around Laszlo’s waist. “But I don't know, I think I’ll like the guy.” He leans in to give you a chaste kiss.

Checking his watch he sees that he needs to leave lest he be late for the meeting. “You’re welcome to stay here while I’m gone. It shouldn’t be more than an hour or two at most. Perhaps we will go to Delmonicos for dinner to celebrate the beginning of a new term.”

“Sounds great, daddy,” you wink. Normally you didn’t tease him this much, but you were in a playful mood.

He rolls his eyes. “Remind me why it is that I tolerate you?”

“‘Cause you love me,” you retort with a broad smile.

He brings your hand up, kissing the back of it as he turns to leave. Softly he whispers “Indeed I do.”

_

Laszlo fiddles with the pen in his hand. The upcoming semester was no different than previous ones. He had stopped taking ‘notes’ long ago as the head of the department continued to drone on. Laszlo would admit, the meeting had drawn on longer than anticipated and he had lost focus on the last few minutes. He would rather be at home in your company than here.

“Before we end the meeting I do have one last exciting announcement - many of you have been around long enough to remember, but we are pleased to be welcoming back Dr. Stratton as a visiting professor this semester!” the department head cheered. At the mention of a Dr. Stratton Laszlo perked up.

“Dr. Karen Stratton will be conducting outside research in the city, so I have asked that she grace us with her presence in teaching an elective on her speciality: sexual deviancy. Unfortunately, she is on a flight to the states as we speak, otherwise I know she would be here to greet you all herself.”

Karen was coming to New York?

The thought excited him, as he hadn’t seen her since he moved to the States four years ago. He and Karen had followed each other's work for years before meeting at a symposium in Vienna almost six years prior. The two remained close until he accepted the current position and fell out of touch.

Meeting over, Laszlo sent you a text to be ready for Delmonico’s when he got home. He had much to look forward to this term.

Tag list

@hardlyinteresting @lorna-d-m @livvyshmiv @somethingthatsaysbubbles @greeneyedblondie44 @unbeatablecurlgirl @apparrio @marchingicenotes7 @anteroom-of-death @bruhidaniel @lemairepstuff @thehuiabird @zemosimp05 @alindeluce @iamnotthecatladynextdoor @laura-naruto-fan1998 @trelaney @boneheadduluc @i-am-dead-inside-666 @fictionlandslanddreams @thatoneartgalsstuff @hb8301 @fandom-princess-forevermore @foggycandywitch

[foodieforthoughts]

Journey through time - Part 5

Summary: Your relationship with Syverson over the years.

Warnings: fluff and only fluff.

A/N1: Last part to this mini photo series. Thanks to @agniavateira who has provided me with so much inspiration. Also thank you to everyone who read and liked and commented. You guys make me so happy. (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4)

A/N2: I'll be taking a small hiatus from posting fics for now. But I'll be back soon. ❤️

As much as Sy adored his daughter, secretly he had always wanted a son. Two years after Adeline was born, when he was back from his oversees tour for three weeks, Sy took it upon himself to get you round and plump with his kids again. He was overjoyed when you told him over a call that you were pregnant. Although it saddened you both that this time, Sy wasn't going to be around when you gave birth to your child. When you told him he was going to be a father to twin boys, Sy had hollered with glee, making a couple of his men come knocking at his door to see if he way okay. That was a very awkward call, where you were waving at his men while they congratulated you. You sent him a copy of your sonogram, along with a picture of you with Adeline in a care package. "Mini me's," He would say while looking at the picture, "And my princess with my queen." Your heart would flutter like the very first time he had kissed you; upsetting you at the distance and yet also filling you with love. Sy asked his parents to come live with you, help you with Adeline, as you got big and started experiencing difficulty in moving around. When you went into labour, his mother tried to get him on call, just like he had requested. But they were unable to connect to his phone, wondering if he was safe and sound or just away doing things that were expected of him to do as a captain. Your emotions were unbounded when you gave birth to your sons, worrying about Sy and going through the long process without him. The next day, Sy saw his sons for the first time over the video call, happy tears springing in his eyes as you cradled the two boys in your arms. "They have your eyes, Sy. Have you thought of names yet?" You had asked, having decided long time ago that since you had named your daughter, Sy would name his sons. "James and Noah." He had sniffed out, smiling at you lovingly.

Captain Syverson retired as Major Syverson after serving 20 years of active duty. Sy joined as a coach for Little League Baseball team, becoming a favorite amongst his players and their moms. Every morning you would kiss Sy goodbye as he walked out the front door, holding little Adeline's tiny hand in his to drive her to her school on his way to work. Your days were filled with less worrying about Sy's safety and more on providing a loving family for your kids. It helped that at the end of the day, your dining table was occupied with your children and your loving husband, sharing their day's events. Weekends were spent in parks with the whole Syverson clan out for picnics, you watching your husband running around with James and Noah, Adeline who was a spitting image of her father, perched on his strong shoulders. Somedays you couldn't believe your life turned out the way it did, mostly when you would walk inside the living room to find Sy sprawled on the sofa with Adeline curled on his side, James and Noah snoozing on his chest. You would wake him up, carefully peeling your daughter away from her father and take her to bed, while Sy got both boys in his arms with little to no effort and took them to their own room. At the end of the day, when parenthood and responsibilities left you both weary, you and Sy found solace in each other's arms while drifting off to a peaceful slumber.

It was the most devastating day in Sy's life when his teenage daughter told him she wanted to pursue modelling. Adeline was stubborn and opinionated, graced with Sy's beautiful features. He had stared at his daughter with wide eyes, cup of coffee stopping midway to his mouth. "You want me to be okay with grown men gawking at you?" He had gruffly replied, anger evident with his eyebrows knitting together and his lips forming a frown. You had learned over the years to not interfere with Sy's ways of parenting. James and Noah had awkwardly slid off their chairs, both of them avoiding what was to come next. The discussion had ended with father and daughter, arguing with each other, eventually Sy sending a crying Adeline away to her room. Neither of them had spoken to each other the rest of the day, Adeline refusing to eat dinner and Sy drinking too many glasses of whiskey. "I cannot believe she thinks modelling is a career choice." He had scowled later in the night, you both staring at the ceiling while lying in bed. "Didn't you once tell me you had hated your father for sending you off to military school? Do you want your daughter to hate you?" Sy had sighed, turning on his side to face you. "That's different. Adeline's our little girl, it's my duty to protect her." Understanding completely what Sy was feeling as a parent, you had too turned on your side and placed your hand on his scruffy cheek. "You taught her to be strong, independent. She will always be our little girl. Don't you trust her to take decisions for her life? And even if she fails to do what she desires, don't you want to be there for her when she would need her dad?"

The next day you had watched from your kitchen window as Sy and Adeline talked while sitting on the swings in the backyard, ending with long hugs and lots of tears.

While Adeline roamed around the country for fashion shows, Sy groomed his sons to join the army someday. It was not an acceptable behavior, but both of you had your favorites when it came to the twins. Noah, the stronger of the two was decidedly his father's favorite, adding to his delight when by the end of high school, he wanted to go to a military academy. James, the apple of your eye, on the other hand, wanted to become a doctor, much to Sy's dismay. But lessons were learned from the time with Adeline and for that reason only, Sy did not oppose. Noah was sent off to Virginia to a military academy, going on to join the air force as it was affiliated with his school; while James buried himself in studies, moving to Connecticut to attend medical school. Weekends that were spent with picnics in the park, now consisted of video conference calls with your three kids spread out over the country. "It's just going to be you and me in the end." Sy would say, shutting the computer off and looking at you pensively. Wounding your arms around the love of your life, you would rest your head on his shoulder and agree, "Till death do us part."

On your 30th wedding anniversary, Sy gave you an unexpected surprise. He had been missing from the house since morning, only to send a vague text with "Pack your bags and come out in ten minutes." When you walked outside on the front porch, you were left stunned to find Sy dressed in riding gear on a super bike. "I think we need to relive our days from the time we were dating. Come on, I've planned a road trip for us." And with that, Sy had driven all the way to San Antonio for the weekend. With a hotel room on the river, Sy pampered you with all his love and the best Tex-Mex food he could find for you. You spent the day shopping and exploring, while in the night he made love to you with unbridled passion. "My better half," he had called you, kissing your hands while cradling you to his chest. When you both came back home from your trip, you had another surprise waiting for you: Your three children all under the same roof again, holding up a sign board with "Happy anniversary, mom and dad."

Noah had successfully climbed the ranks in the airforce to become Lieutenant at an age younger than when Sy was one. But it was when James, inspired by his twin, decided to join the armed forces as a field doctor, you saw Sy's chest puff in pride. "Syverson men always join the military." He had told his friends over dinner one night, soaking up the praises for his children. Adeline joined a major modelling agency that speared her career forward. She roamed around the globe, sending her old folks trinkets from the new city she was in, and one day added a picture of her and her boyfriend in the mail. Sy turned into a protective father quickly, inviting her and her man to have dinner. "I like him." Your old man had chuckled, when he had scared Adeline's boyfriend, making him blabber incoherently with nervousness. You could only watch in a haze as one day Adeline's boyfriend showed up to your house unannounced, to ask Sy for his daughter's hand in marriage. "Listen boy, Adeline is precious and if you hurt her, you know there wouldn't be anything worse than us. You don't want to be on the bad side of the Syverson men, is that clear?" You had heard Sy warn, a shiver running down your spine listening to his commanding tone, even if the threat wasn't meant for you. A few weeks later, when Adeline was in Paris, she had called home only minutes after the proposal, screaming on the phone that she said "yes." The rest of the night, Sy had you looking at Adeline's baby pictures from old photo albums. "This little bundle would be getting married soon. Can you believe that?" He had laughed, wiping the tear at the corner of his eye and throwing his arm around your shoulders when you couldn't hold onto your own tears.

The day after Adeline, Sy's little girl, was married, he threw a brunch for the newly weds and their families. James and Noah, back from their deployment in time for their sister's wedding, had introduced their own girlfriends to both of you before the ceremony. You knew Sy would never admit it, macho behavior of his never fading, but you could see his eyes glisten watching his family grow. He had tried to keep a straight face throughout the ceremony too, but he had let go of his tears when Adeline had laid her head on his shoulder during their father-daughter dance. Halfway through brunch, Sy pulled you away from the crowd and took you towards the orchard outside the country club. He held your hand while taking you to stand under the shade of a massive tree. "It's like I'm living in a dream." You admitted, looking out at the sprawling orchard, thinking about how you were a mother-in-law to someone. Sy pulled you close to him by your waist, encircling his arms around you. Gray hair on his temples and his face beginning to be marked with wrinkles and yet for you, Sy looked like he had never aged. "I know I don't tell this to you very often, but darlin' running into you, falling in love with you, building a life with you, is the best thing that could have happened to me." He kissed the top of your head, taking your face in his hands before planting a soft kiss on your lips. "I love you and thank you for everything, Sy." You whispered as the birds chirped on the branches above, a whistling breeze blew by carrying the sweet fragrance of fruits in the orchard and you stared at the brilliant blue orbs of the man who had owned your heart and soul since many years ago.

The End.

[thiserichann]

cookies and cream - lee jeno

reader x jeno

genre: smut, strangers to fuck buddies, humor if you squint hard enough

word count: 4k-ish

warnings: recklessness (she met with a stranger online, don’t do it kids) excessive lying, 18+ scenes that includes: oral (f receiving) face riding, soft dom!jeno?

This is merely a work of fiction and is not meant to hurt the image of Jeno and NCT. Again, don’t be as reckless as OP. This was just a fantasy of mine that I’ve been dying to get out of my system.

Holy fuck.

That's the only word that you've managed to utter when you decided to check your messages that morning.

You got bored in the middle of the class and decided to sneak a peek on your phone to pass the time. The class is recorded anyways so you can always just go back to the parts of the lessons that you've missed.

But holy fuck.

You never expected to see THAT so early in the morning.

"Miss Y/N?"

You snapped back to reality and stopped malfunctioning for a second when somebody called your name. Everyone including your professor remained quiet and all eyes are on you.

"Oh. Sir what’s the question again?"

You answered nervously as you tried to review your notes and backtrack on what he is discussing a few moments ago.

"I see that you're distracted in the middle of my class again. Mind sharing what you're occupied with?"

"Uhm. I was watching KPOP fancams, sir."

"Fancams won't get you into law school, Miss Y/N. Phones off please."

You tucked your phone back to your pocket and never picked it up again since. The professor started blabbering again but no information is being retained on your head. It stayed that way at your other classes.

You wished you were looking at some KPOP fancams earlier. You’ve watched fancams at class before and got away with it unscathed.

Oh no. It was a goddamn dick pic.

A good one, too.

It was from a guy that you met in a kink site a few days ago. You created the account out of boredom and expected nothing to come out from it. It’s all the flirting and sexting without all the unnecessary commitment

It only took you a few minutes to set up an account. For some privacy, you made a random birthdate and a random nickname, because like hell would you share your real information to these people. You also picked a racy picture of a lady that looked a bit like you and passed it off as your own.

Within minutes, your inbox is flooded with messages. Most of them, however, are from men who are old enough to be your father.

Well, you were bored, so you entertained everyone and then went on back to your boring, vanilla life. A few political history and theory books later, you went back to see which ones messaged you on the site.

And that's where you've met him.

The most gorgeous piece of meat alive.

He seems like a nice guy. He introduced himself as LJ and your age aren’t that far off from each other. LJ is the only one who actually engaged in conversation besides "want to fuck?" or "are you horny?"

As soon as you started messaging back and forth, you scrolled on his profile to see what he looks like. The only thing is, his profile looked a whole lot like those high fashion male underwear photoshoots.

It was an array topless pictures (presumably his, you just can’t be bothered to check if it is actually his). It featured his sculpted abs and biceps, cropped up all the way to his full lips. Despite not seeing his whole face, you knew very well that he’s a hunk. To say you were intrigued is an understatement.

Since then, you've been talking back and forth through Snapchat (your secret one because you're not stupid) and sent him actual pictures of yourself, completely omitting the face. You took one from your bed, your bathtub, and probably every part of your house that you felt is sexy enough to be included on the pics.

You can't tell him if it's him or the repressed sexual urges finally manifesting itself after more than a year of not getting laid, but every text to and from him made your heart race. It was something that you looked forward to every hour everyday.

Hours went by that you totally forgot leaving him on read. You climbed up to your bed to rest your back to the headboard and opened your unread messages.

You: Hey svlr. School stuff.

  He opened the chat and started typing right away.

  LJ: Oh good. I thought I did something wrong to upset you.

You: Not at all. I loved the pic by the way. It literally knocked my socks off.

LJ: Just the socks?

You: You can take the rest of it off yourself ;)

You scoffed. The flirty banter has always been there ever since you started talking but nothing really came out of it.

LJ: If only I could :(

You: I know. Covid’s a bitch.

You set your phone aside for a second to go to the bathroom. On your way, you picked up some snacks at the fridge and sat back down to your bed, only to find your phone blowing up.

LJ: If you're down maybe we could meet

LJ: It's totally fine if you don't want to

LJ: I just made it weird, didn't I?

LJ: I'm so sorry I brought it up in the first place

LJ: I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable

LJ: Hello?

LJ: I'm really sorry

You: Chill. I'm right here

You: I just went to the bathroom

LJ: Oh

You: I'd be lying if I said I don't want to meet you as well

You: Well... I wouldn't write off the idea

You: But with the Covid

LJ: Thoughts?

You: I don't think it's a great idea

The screen says Seen right at the bottom but it took him a couple more minutes before finally replying.

LJ: I understand

LJ: But in case you change your mind, I'll leave the time and place up to you

LJ: I’ll take care of the rest

LJ: Deal?

You: I'll sleep on it.

You: Speaking of sleep, I gotta go. Morning class.

LJ: Okay. I guess this is good night then

You didn't, in fact, talk to him the day after.

You'd be lying if you said that you didn't want to see him and his abs in real life. But as someone who overthinks a lot, you just can't shake off the risk.

You: Good night. Talk to you tomorrow.

What if he's not really the guy in the pics? Or he’s psycho in real life? What if he's infected the virus?

You sighed.

Why must some global pandemic ruin your sex life?

You waited until the end of the day before you finally replied to LJ. The last thing that he texted was a brief good morning from earlier in the day and nothing else. He’s actually a pretty sweet guy, totally not worth ghosting, and you actually liked talking to him as a friend that you can share your sentiments with.

With your guilt finally eating you up, you took a break from your assigned readings and sat back at your bed to rest for the day. Your fingers hovered over the keyboard for a minute, thinking of something to say to him. It took you a few tries before finally hitting the send button.

You: So, I thought about it

LJ: And?

You: I need to know I can trust you

LJ: Okay. How?

You: I don’t know. Send me a proof that you’re real. Get tested?

You: Is that fine with you?

Within a split second, he sent his reply.

He actually did it.

You couldn’t believe it but he actually did it.

LJ: Consider it done.

He got tested for physical, including the virus test, and passed with flying colors. He even sent you a vid of him inside a medical clinic.

He just sent the uncensored results this morning where you can clearly see his real name.

Lee Jeno.

LJ.

Seems legit.

Well, the uncreative nickname shouldn’t matter now because the results meant only one thing.

You’re gonna have to push through with your promise.

You got ready around noon that day. You can’t remember the last time that you actually got ready to meet someone that’s not a delivery guy or a relative passing on something to your family.

As someone who overthinks a lot, you actually got everything covered. You picked a place near a restaurant to eat. The police station is just a few blocks away just in case something happens, and right in front of a library…

“Where’re are you off to?”

You raised your backpack to show to your mother.

“I’m off to the library. I needed to get these renewed. Maybe pick up a novel or two.”

She looks at you from head to toe, eyeing that incredibly loose hoodie, faded denim jeans, some worn out sneakers that looked like it’s supposed to be thrown away years ago and a medical mask that covers about ¾ of your bare face. It’s just your usual attire whenever you go out for errands.

She just nodded and went back to watching her favorite soap opera.

“It’s nice that you’re out of your room for once. Take some cookies from the kitchen so you’ll have something to eat in case you get hungry.”

… as an alibi to get away from your strict parents.

As soon as you left the door and made sure that you’re out of sight, you found the nearest public toilet and grabbed a whole other outfit from your backpack. The hoodie is replaced by a white, ruffled see-through blouse and you ditched the jeans for a tight skirt that’s at least four inches above your knees. You tousled your hair a little bit and put on some powder and tiny hint of lipstick before putting your facemask back on again.

It’s been a while since you’ve done an elaborate scheme like this. Your skills got a little bit rusty, but they always work.

Sometimes you wonder if you’re really meant to be lawyer or a criminal instead.

You stepped out of the toilet and blended right back into society.

Now all you have to do is find wherever the hell LJ is.

Jeno sat anxiously as he waited for you right inside the café. He’s on his fourth cup of coffee but it didn’t do anything to calm his nerves down (geez I wonder why).

You: I’m almost at the café.

He’s been staring at his phone the whole time. Once he received your message, which is a pic of you in the bathroom after the outfit change, he almost choked on his drink.

This message sent him on a panic as he turned his camera on to see how he looked. He did some minor adjustments to his hair and he wiped off his eyeglasses clean with the sleeves of his hoodie (which did nothing for him by the way) and then casually sat down and played it off cool like he hasn’t been waiting for you for over an hour.

On your perspective, you walked inside the café and looked around for LJ. Fortunately, there was only guy inside the café, twiddling with his phone on his hands and as he kept on peeking through the glass windows as if he’s looking for someone.

From afar, he actually looked really cute. His appearance, a shy, nerdy dude with glasses, looked way off from the fuckboy image that you expected him to have in reference to the messages that you’ve been getting from him.

It’s always the quiet ones that are kinky. You should know, you are one.

You walked over to his table and tapped his shoulders to get his attention.

He froze for a moment before he finally managed to turn around and face you.

“You’re actually here.”

“I know. I’m just as surprised as you are.”

tap tap tap tap

The room is so quiet that the only thing you can hear is the sound of your heels tapping against the tiled floor. You can say that that is one of your observable annoying habits tapping your foot on the floor when you're a nervous wreck.

Sighing in retaliation, you removed your hoodie, fanning yourself as you tried to relax and get comfy on the hotel couch (which should be comfortable enough since you paid a shit ton of money on that room), switching the TV on to get your mind off of things. The lackluster array of shitty sitcoms didn’t distract you at all, but it instead reminded you of the reasons why you’re in that room in the first place.

Having nothing to do to pass the time, you paced back and forth in the room, finally sitting down once you realized that it looks way worse than you just tapping your foot. You folded your arms right across your chest, looking at the watch from time to time but the hands of the clock seem to be moving slower the more you stare at it.

Quarantine started almost a year ago and it's been very hard for you. Sexually. It's been almost a year since you've been touched by a man and you’re more than ready to jump on anyone’s dick at any this point,

Too bad that that dick is taking his sweet time in the bathroom.

tap tap tap tap

Your foot found its rhythm once again, only this time, you’re not nervous anymore. Your patience is wearing thin.

As if summoned by the constant tapping, the guy comes out of the bathroom, just casually drying himself while wearing nothing but the towel dangerously hanging on his waist and a boyish smile on his lips.

No biggie.

"Hey."

Suddenly, you’re not tapping anymore.

Head empty, just thoughts of a hot guy patting down a towel all over his toned body.

“I hope I didn’t make you wait for too long.”

He spoke, tossing aside the towel on his hands on the sofa, finally giving you a full view of him and all his glory.

You must admit, you’re skeptical at first. The guy that’s been sending you faceless thirst traps just days ago, telling you how he’d fuck you senseless looked a lot different from the guy who entered the hotel room just a moment ago.

He came in wearing those black oversized hoodies that did a great job in hiding his best features. His hair was a bit long for your taste, covering half of his face while the face mask hid the other.

But this man right here in front you, he’s Adonis.

You unconsciously bit your lower lip, earning a chuckle from the guy.

“I’m guessing that you’d like to start now?”

You nodded, the tension and awkwardness rendering you unable to speak.

He smiles as he takes the remote from you, turning off the television because the main show is about to start.

You started to tense up again, eyes wide as you realized that he’s now right beside you, wrapping his arms around you as soon as he sat down. He leans over, soft lips coming into contact with your exposed neck and shoulders, landing small pecks all over.

You sat there breathless as he slowly ran his fingers to the side of your thighs, tracing circles at it while giving small, reassuring kisses on your neck and shoulders. It’s as if he’s asking you for your consent, waiting for you to open up to him before he makes a move.

He got his answer when you turned around to face him, running your fingers into his cheeks before cupping his face, your lips finally touching his. He moved in the same pace as earlier, slow and calculating. You got a bit impatient once again, biting his lower lips gently to let him know that he can do more.

He grabbed you by the waist and successfully placed you on top of him. The kiss got even more sloppy as you ran your hands through nape, then into his soft locks. His hands travelled once again, finger running through legs again, stopping as soon as he reached the hem of your skirt, flipping it up to reveal the thin lace material that barely covered your core. You took that as initiative to remove the towel on his waist and grinded against his growing member, the friction and heat enough to earn a groan out of him.

He held your waist once again, firmly this time, halting your movement completely.

You broke away from the kiss, staring him in the eyes to read his face.

“Something wrong?”

“Hold tight.”

You were about to ask about what hold tight mean, but your arms cling unto him involuntarily as he lifts the both of you out of the sofa.

Jeno laid you gently in the bed, making sure not to break eye contact as he does so. He looked like he's about to eat you alive, which is enough to send flush to your cheeks.

“I would’ve loved to bend you over that sofa, but I think it’s just proper that our first time will be on the bed.”

"God. You're beautiful."

He then ran his fingers towards the thin fabric of your blouse, feeling every part of your torso like he's memorizing every detail of it. His hands then travelled in your chest, squeezing the swell of your breasts on each hand, fingers shaking as he does so. It felt like an artist admiring his delicate work of art.

He situated himself between your legs, taking a moment to admire you first before doing anything else.

He started to run his hand on your cleavage and stopped on the uppermost button of your blouse, taking his time to remove all of them and placing a kisses at the exposed skin. After all of the buttons are taken care of, you lifted your body up and slid off the fabric. Your black lacy bra finally made its appearance. You took the liberty of taking that off too, as slow and as you possibly can.

 Jeno just stared at your body in awe, breathing heavily as his eyes scanned your naked glory.

 "Gorgeous."

He said under this breath before leaning down to claim your lips once again. You're turned on by how much attention he's giving your body now. You're usually loud in bed but his gestures are making you bashful. You've never felt this beautiful before.

You can feel his hands trembling as it travels all over your body, his kisses getting even more needy. There was moans of satisfaction every time he would lick your lips. Jeno was kissing you like you were oxygen and he needed to breath.

His hands travelled south, running across your thigh and your now aching core. You're about to remove your skirt and underwear but he stopped your hands midway.

"Keep it."

He took your hands away from your skirt and placed them just above your head.

"Just sit there and relax baby. Let me treat you."

You did just like he told you and gave him full control of your body.

"Good girl."

His lips brushed your ears, whispering sweet nothings about how beautiful you are under him. His kisses then went down to your neck, using his tongue and teeth, marking everything he can get his mouth on with his saliva. Meanwhile, his hands finally touched you down there, massaging your still clothed wetness.

His middle and index finger felt your slit, moving it in swift motion in search for your clit.

"Oh my god. That's it."

You gasped as his fingers finally hit the right spot, tossing your head back as his fingers made circles at your bundle or nerves.

You opened your legs more, leaning on your arms on your back, head tossed back and eyes closed as you feel your impending orgasm.

He dipped his hand inside your underwear and collected some of your essence with his fingers. The mental picture of him licking his fingers deliciously is enough to get you off for weeks.

It didn't take long before he took your panties off and his ducked his head down. He opened your legs once again and licked one long stripe on your core, making sure to taste all of you. You sat there and watch as he hungrily takes all of you in his mouth, acting like your pussy is a full course meal and he's been starving for years.

Within moments, you've become a moaning, toe curled mess. You ran your fingers to his blonde hair, guiding him on how to move his tongue and fingers on you. At one point, he bit some of your sensitive skin, making you scream a string of curses under your breath.

"Stop stop stop."

You grab a fistful of his hair and he paused from what he was doing. You pushed him gently away from you, leaving him staring at you confusedly. The confusion didn't last long when you flipped your current position, you're now on top.

"Can I ride your face?"

At this point, you're bold and horny enough to use your words and ask him. He just nodded, sliding himself from underneath you and went back to eating you like a champ. You grabbed his hands and placed them across your chest, squeezing your breasts to send him a message. He was quick to pick up and followed suit, pinching your nipples right in between fingers while your ride his face to orgasm.

"Shit. I'm coming..."

  You writhed from above him as you come undone. Your body felt cold all over. Your eyes are ringing, feeling dizzy as you almost passed out while you bucked your hips a few more times to milk your release.

You didn’t have time to recover when you heard your phone ringing from outside. Your legs felt a little shaky and you almost tumbled and hit your head in the wall if Jeno didn’t help you get up. You  sat down on the floor, butt-ass naked as you frantically searched for your phone from under all of your stuff before you finally pressed the answer button.

“Yes mom?”

“Where have you been? Your father’s been looking for you at the library. He’s picking you up on your way home.”

You buried your head on the couch to shake off the buzzing feeling on your head. You placed a pillow on your body while you searched for your discarded clothes all over the hotel room.

“Oh yeah. I went to the café and got something to eat. Tell Dad I’ll meet him outside the library.”

“Okay sweetie. Can you pick up some groceries on your way back? I’ll text you the list.”

“Yeah mom. Bye.”

You breathe a sigh of relief as you started putting on the outfit that you wore when you left home.

“Where are you going?”

Jeno reluctantly got dressed as well, his shy demeanor came back as soon as he wore his glasses and fixed his hair.

“I got to go, Jeno. I’m sorry that I’m leaving in such a bad time…”

You went over to him and placed a sweet kiss on his lips.

“I promise to make it up to you next time, okay? I’d love to meet you again.”

You grabbed a paper bag from your backpack and handed it to him, waving as you bolted out the door.

After fixing his things, he sat down for a moment and took a quick peek inside the package that you left him.

It was a ziplock bag of full of cookies and a whole other treat.

You left him your two-piece lace lingerie.

To be continued.

[theliterarywolf]

Can someone at Disney explain to me why, out of ALL the villains that you could recontextualize into sympathetic anti-heros, you picked the puppy murderer who wanted to skin adorable innocent animals into coats? Like say what you want about Maleficent and how it's ruined Disney and Hollywood as a whole, at least she didn't perform animal cruelty!

Silly Taka, no one at modern Disney can think more than two moves ahead. They needed a girl-boss anti-villain! Could they have created a new one and had their first new merchandise mascot in almost a decade? -- when I say 'Merchandise Mascot', I'm referencing characters that are plastered onto so much merchandise that a good percentage of the population hasn't even seen the original films they come from, i.e.: Jack Skellington, Tinkerbell, Stitch -- Yes, but that's haaaaard~

Anon said: To be fair they could pull a maleficent and have this be an alternate timeline where she doesn't become a villain and skin puppies for a coat and they just chose cruella for the aesthetics. Or maybe they'll have the cruella personality somehow split off and whatever her actual name will have to fight her to keep the dogs safe god that dropped my iq typing that

People keep telling me that that's close to what they did... Which leads further into my frustrations of 'Disney, do something original for fuck's sake *looks at Raya* Not like that'

Anon said: Not only do the dalamations actually kill Cruella's mom, they did it in the stupidest way possible. Do they bite or maul her to death? No, one of them jumps on her and pushes her off a cliff and into the ocean.

Well, I mean, everyone knows that an average of 3 British middle-aged women are killed by level 20 Dalmatians using Tackle every year. It's common knowledge, anon, gosh.

Anon said: Just to play De Vil's advocate, her Stepmoms death isn't actually used to justify her puppy hatred, in fact it's not even really connected to why she wants a dalmatian coat, she's shown to like them towards the end of the movie, though with the implication she still wants to skin their babies for fashion. Imo the movie was pretty fun and she's still very much a villain protag where that scene is really only meant to further her grudge with the Baroness. The scene is still stupid though.

Okay, even if I tried to look at this through a similar perspective of someone like Wolf from Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts where a character is actively wearing the pelt of something that tried to kill her as a symbol of 'Fuck around and find out', it still feels like they handled it in a clumsy way here. Especially with 'Oh, I feel no grudge towards your kind... But I am still going to commit a crime against your species in the future, so keep an eye out~'

More and my responses beneath the break

Anon said: Actually if I had to say a few things about Cruella it's that it actually never delves into why she's so obsessed with furs. Fashion yes, but not furs specifically. General consensus I've heard though is that the movie could've been a really good standalone unconnected to any prior ips.

THAT'S ALL I WANT! FOR DISNEY TO JUST MAKE NEW IPs! I wouldn't care so much if we were following a murderous girl-boss anti-villain as long as we're not trying to woobify a pre-existing character who is already evil for evil's sake!

Anon said: Hey, since we're all collectively ragging on Cruella, thought I'd share something I stumbled on during a 2am YouTube crawl. Some dude on YouTube made a fake trailer for a theoretical Live Action Origin Movie about the dude that shot Bambi's mom

... As bad as this is for me to say, I wouldn't actually be opposed to watching a film following a guy who has essentially lost everything (job, family, house, etc.) and is living as a hermit in the forest. One day he happens upon a clearing full of animals and he needs to stock his rations for the upcoming winter and he manages to snag a doe.

Of course, as he's retrieving his kill, he sees the poor, now-orphan fawn looking at him in fear and horror before it bounds away into the woods. The rest of the movie is about the hunter trying to survive, thinking about his (mankind's) place in nature and just how much he should be taking and hurting to justify his own existence. The climax of the movie could be the fire but now written as a forest-clearing event that takes out the hunter's shelter and meager possessions. As he's trying to see what little can be saved, he hears a crack. Immediately grabbing for his gun, he takes aim and sees a buck. However... As both man and animal stare each other down, the hunter recognizes the buck as the same scared fawn from all those years ago.

And, thus... He lets him go. Bambi turns away and guides his family away from the burnt remains of the woods, and the hunter finally decides to go back to the city to try and rebuild a life without encroaching on the natural world.

Or something like that.

Anon said: You know who's actually a well written, sympathetic, female Disney villain, Demona from Gargoyles. An animated series from the 80s did a better job at giving a reason for being a villain than "wah, my mom got killed by Dalmatians but I'll still adopt them and use faux fur." I might even say Eclipsa from Star vs was a better "villain" than 2021 Cruella. I put " " because Eclipsa didn't really feel like a villain, more of a morally grey character IMO.

Sad to say, I doubt Disney will ever give us something in the same vein as Gargoyles anytime soon.

God... *holds back a scream* Season 4 of Star vs. would have been so much better if we just focused on Eclipsa and the other Queens of Mewni! Why couldn't Seasn 4 of Star vs. focused on Eclipsa and the other Queens of Mewni!!

Anon said: I feel like you probably could do a decent Cruella movie. A young woman starts her career in fashion at the bottom with earnest intentions to make an honest living. Heck she could be against fur in the beginning, but finds that she has to compromise more and more on her ethics until her rise to the top were she has lost all of her morality and no longer recognizes the person in the mirror. At that point, she's too far gone, and in the pursuit of even higher fashion heights, is willing to make a coat from puppies.

Anon, are you in my head? Because that's close to how I rewrote the premise of a movie like this when the trailer first dropped.

[aelin-queen-of-terrasen]

𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐭 | 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 - 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐫

full masterlist - fic masterlist

The next morning found all the townhouse residents asleep, Celaena decided to take her leave of her brother—how she marveled at the word—through a note, citing prior obligations that needed to be attended though he was welcome to visit her in the evening if his duties could spare him, which she left with the efficient butler, who assured her the message would be delivered. The ride back home was unexpectedly short considering the roads were teeming with entourages of families returning from their country estates for the London Season or ladies running off to modistes to have their wardrobes updated with the latest fashions before the invitations started rolling ko in.

Her relief at returning was great, though she purposefully hid from her parents—or her elder sister, Eleanor—attending diligently to her correspondence. It was a miracle the stack of letters thinned at all, considering how preoccupied her mind was. Two hours after the torment of trying to focus on her letters, Celaena gave it up in favour of returning Countess Lieven's visit from last week. There was a considerable difference in age, personality and social ranks between them but both enjoyed each other's conversation, and the russian ambassadress was excellent company. Celaena did not expect to find the woman alone—the countess' drawing rooms rarely ever were—but she did look forward to sensible conversation about politics and such and was thoroughly displeased to find that esteemed lady attempting to look interested in Lady Jersey's—another lady patroness of the Almack's and a social leader whose favourite pastime was gossip—rants about the latest love affairs of Lady Caroline Lamb, and Mrs Burnwell among other ladies, who though a sensible lady did not look much pleased with Celaena, though she could not tell if it was because of her rank or her public insult to the lady's beloved niece—Lady Perrington—at the dinner party the other day. Despite the former's thrice professed hatred for the topic, Lady Jersey lament about Caroline Lamb extensively and with all the knowledge of one well-informed of her activities. The other ladies listened keenly and with interest, and by the end of their visit, Celaena felt she knew Caroline's social life better than her own and the countess looked ready to pull her hair out.

"I cannot stand her hypocrisy," said Her Ladyship once they were alone, "condemning Caroline—as obnoxious as she is—for her 'love affairs' when her own mother-in-law is so infamous a mistress to the Prince of Wales. If she thinks it is different just because the Royal House of Hanover is involved—oh, I cannot countenance her. It is a pity she should be such a public figure that I cannot avoid her, or I should happily see the back of that one. Come, my dear," said she, noticing her friend smile behind her teacup, "you came looking for an enjoyable half hour and were instead subjected to gossip and derision. You cannot have anything to say in Lady Jersey's defence?" this said with a tone that indicated she did not know how anyone could have anything to say in Lady Jersey's defence.

"I cannot defend her, but I can understand why she thinks the situations are different—it's not because the prince regent is involved, but rather Caroline's utter lack of discretion. I could easily forgive her affairs if they caused harm to no one but herself, but alas, as it is, her husband's standing in society is affected by her behaviour." This was said in reference to Lady Heathcote's ball in July, 1813 where, after being publicly insulted by her—former?—lover, Lord Byron, she had slashed at her wrists with a broken wineglass and only her mother-in-law Lady Melbourne's prompt thinking and quick intervention had kept her from serious harm. When it became clear she had no suicidal tendencies, the whole affair attached such a ridiculous air to all the parties involved, it could not have been in anyone's favour.

"You would condone her actions if she were only being discreet?" asked Countess Lieven, surprised.

"Perhaps not condone, no," said she, "but I would not object to them. Really, she and her husband are both adults in a marriage that is less a marriage and more a business contract based on terms and conditions. If both decide between themselves that the other can look for love—or rather, a lover—outside their household, and if they can manage it discreetly, what is the harm in it? Viscount Melbourne admits himself he does not care for his wife, nor she for him. If they must remain in a marriage neither wants, I do not see the harm in looking for satisfaction outside with both spouses' consent."

"But you would not act in the same way in her place," accused she.

"If my marriage was more like hers?" she wondered aloud. "I would hope to reach an understanding with my husband we can both be happy with." Seeing her friend look unconvinced, she said, "Really, I strongly believe that if something makes you happy, you must ask yourself if it harms someone? If it does not, I would not hold myself back out of respect for society's ridiculous edicts; not at the expense of my happiness."

"Adultery would be a disrespect to one's marital vows."

"Oh, certainly," agreed she, "but are they not already disrespecting their marital vows by vowing to love each other? I would rather a husband and wife live by an arrangement that keeps both happy than be miserable trying to respect marriage vows they never truly meant."

Countess Lieven who herself was faithful to her husband—a rarity among the upper ten thousands, whose own marriage was arranged and who lived—if not happily, than in a content state of harmony with her husband, could have nothing more to say on this subject, so she steered the conversation away from it. "I suppose you are thinking of the Whitethorns when you mention that example? I admit I was surprised to hear from Mrs Burnwell earlier Mr Whitethorn appreciated your company so—oh, do not be offended, dear—it is only that I have never seen him appreciate anyone's company at all, though I say he has fine taste if he does indeed show you preference."

Celaena had been thinking of him in relation to the subject, but denied it. "I do not think their troubles can be solved simply by taking lovers." Celaena put her teacup down and leaned forward, more to stop drinking the overly sweet concoction than to show interest in the subject. "I had the impression those two do not get on because she is not suited to the duties his rank and station entails and he is not equipped with enough knowledge or patience to know how to guide her in it. They are bound by constraints of society in a marriage that makes both miserable."

Countess Lieven looked at her speculatively before the subject was dropped.

A perverse curiosity drove her to mention meeting Mr Galathynius and Lord Fenrys, which had the happy effect of inducing the countess to volunteer information about that family.

"The House of Galathynius," said she, "has been suffering from a lack of inactivity. Lord Rhoe lost a child some years ago and has not been the same since. His father abdicated his title after a severe bout of influenza in their county, but he soon recovered. The damage was done; Rhoe, the poor man was not prepared for the title and his estates and position suffered for it; now his sons take care of the properties while he pursues politics. The grandfather constantly battles them for power but he does not have half the influence as Viscount Layton—that is the elder brother, hardly social at all, so solemn and reserved but he is a responsible man. Far better than the rakes and dandies of town spending their days in the club, neck deep in debts of honor."

"Viscount Layton? I have not heard much of him at all, aside from his fondness for the written word."

"So you would not, for Galathynius is a name that does not appear in the tabloids often. The younger son does not have the trademark grave countenance of his forefathers—he inherited the ashryver charm from his mother and the elder is so antisocial, he hides himself in the country. For two boys who lost their sister and mother at an early age and were brought up by an uninterested father, they grew up to be fine indeed."

"The Countess of Narrowcreek, yes. Mrs Burnwell told me she was a fine lady."

"Lady Helen was, not pretty but so well-mannered and polite! She died of fever an year after her daughter, though some say it was the heartbreak that killed her."

"They are a big family, are they not? You said something about the ashryvers? I met one of them."

"Yes, the cousins," said she, "fine young men, all either determined bachelors or trapped in poor marriages. The ashryvers don't have their Galathynius cousins' impeccable reputations but the natural ashryver charm easily accounts for that." The Countess smiled knowingly and she shifted in her seat at the silent implication that she was interested in one of them—god forbid—and not wanting to further this idea, Celaena was obliged to put an end to this line of inquiry and introduced a generally neutral topic of conversation. Though Celaena was far too aware of the speculative look on the countess' face everytime she looked at her, the visit ended pleasantly on both sides, with one party anxious and the other intrigued with the subjects of conversation introduced.

That afternoon, Celaena was admitted into Lysandra's modest apartments by a housemaid who bade her to wait in the drawing room. Impatient to her own detriment, she thought nothing of barging into her friends' room and was wholly unprepared for the sight she was met with.

"Oh, no," said she, stupidly, "I-I came to talk, I didn't know—Captain Ashryver, I-I-oh."

Celaena flushed, prompting the colonel to fish for his clothes while he clutched the bedsheet in an attempt to cover his lower-half. The poor man looked ready to fling himself off the nearest cliff, which soothed her mortification somewhat. Like all englishwomen of respectable birth, Celaena had a suppressed but prurient curiosity that was only encouraged by the books available in her father's well-stocked library. Her odd fascination with the ladies of the demi-monde had been one of the initial reasons she extended an acquaintanceship with the courtesan who was now her dearest friend, though she soon learned to love the lady for her own merits. However, all education in that area did not prepare her for exposure to such a sight. She colored, gaped, stammered an incoherent excuse about needing air and fled the room. Her distress increased when Captain Ashryver stepped out of the room first, properly dressed to the boot.

He bowed formally, which seemed absurd given what had passed before.

"Captain Ashryver."

He flushed. "Miss Sardothein. It is—it is actually Colonel Ashryver now."

Celaena murmured vague congratulations, studiously avoiding his eyes. "I thought you were still with the army, sir, in Brussels—I am surprised to find you here. Do you know yet how long you will stay with us?"

"Six months," said he, looking away.

"Aedion," called she, startling him with her address of his given name, "I hope you know you are as dear to me as a brother. If there is anything you wish to talk about, I would happily listen to you."

Hesitation warred with trust in his eyes, and he looked cautiously towards the bedroom.

"I will not betray your confidence to anyone," she assured him firmly.

Aedion looked at his hands, blonde strands of hair falling in front of his eyes. "I was offered a posting here in London and—and I am not sure if I can accept it."

"It must be hard," she observed, "to give up a career you spent half your life pursuing."

"It is, and yet, it is not the only reason. I didn't choose to go to the army—I—when my grandfather found out about my inclinations," this word was spat out with enough venom that she knew what he thought about the man, "he sent me there and I accepted it as my lot, as if I were a second son. I don't know if father knows why I insisted on joining the army but, gods, I did belong there, with my men—there were some others from aristocratic families like mine who hoped any unusual proclivities would be beaten out of us there. It was just part of a job—killing people was not a good thing or a bad thing—it just was. But I was at Hougomont, Celaena," this being one of the chateaus in the village of Waterloo, "and by God, I never saw so much death as I saw there, so many friends dead, their wives widowed, their—their children orphans. I did not—if I have to see a war half so drastic as that again, I do not think I will survive it."

Celaena reached for his hand, frowning. "Then why hesitate?"

"I did not go there by choice; he—my grandfather, that is—forced me into it and he will not be pleased if I am against him. If he decides to cut off my allowance, on a colonel's payroll alone, I will not have nearly enough to pay off Lysandra's debts."

"I can help with that—"

"No." His voice was soft, but firm.

"Aedion, don't be foolish. You haven't much choice. You said yourself you could not survive another war and I could—"

"I said no."

"Pride goeth before a fall, colonel."

"Pride!" exclaimed he, looking resentful at the implication. "It is hardly that. You know what Arobynn did the last time you tried to pay off those debts—and whatever you can spare from your allowance, you need to save for your own future. Lysandra is not the only one bound to a monster by law."

She did know, but because she felt like being difficult, Celaena scoffed. "Say what you mean, sir. You do not wish to have help from a woman. If it had been a male friend offering instead, you would have jumped to accept—"

He threw his hands up. "You are putting words in my mouth."

"I am saying what you are too proud to admit out loud."

Aedion did not take the bait, replying calmly that he would not save one of his ladies from the Hamel's fire only to throw the other in it. Celaena could find nothing snappish to say to that, but having gotten over her own embarassment, she was determined to be difficult. "This is all well and good," said she, "but I hope the next time you will lock your door."

"The maid knew to leave you here," argued he. "If you had followed the instructions—"

"Instructions!" cried she. "This is not an army camp, colonel, and I am not a fellow soldier under your authority."

"I say, a good thing you are not. You have not the discipline for a soldier's life."

"If all your men are as disagreeable as you, I am happy to have missed the chance." Clamping down on the very inappropriate desire to stomp her foot on the ground, she turned her face away. "At least I am well-mannered enough to not lay blame on others for my own faults."

"Fine manners you have indeed, walking into someone's bedroom unannounced."

"The door was open," argued she, weakly.

"The latch broke last night," he flushed and she decided she did not wish to know how. Celaena felt a pair of accusing eyes fixed on her. "But the incident was a fitting punishment for you—I hope you will think twice before doing that again."

To no one's surprise, they retreated into a calm silence while their tempers cooled off. Both were impulsive and hot-headed, too similar to never fight and too prideful to give in, and they had surprised everyone—including themselves—by striking up a lasting friendship that had suffered through time and distance. Propriety dictated an unmarried woman could not write to a bachelor, so she had her father address it for her; society said they would be ruined if they were found together without a chaperone, so they started meeting in each other's homes, where they could not be found at all; decorum demanded they speak not a word of love untill the gentleman offered marriage—and that the lady should not at all say anything but a polite yes, so they talked of everything but marriage. Their showdowns with each other were frequent something to watch—and friend was not at all an ideal title to assign to an eligible gentleman; it raised many an eyebrow at balls and dinner parties where the Colonel was so attentive to her, and all felt certain a marriage proposal was not far away. Speaking materially, it would be a splendid match—with his rank as the penniless second son of an earl—and her, an accomplished society woman with an inheritance big enough for all to overcome the worst of their prejudices about trade. It would have been a splendid match; if he wasn't taken and if she was more amicable to the idea of marriage, that is. Celaena thought guiltily of all he had done for her, fending off suitors determinedly like a dutiful elder brother all the while pretending to be one, and she wondered shortly what he would say if he knew who she was. Did he know her brothers, or Lord Fenrys perhaps? He would be sceptical at first, she knew, and then he would be pleased she was close to being free of Arobynn's shadow. Celaena looked up to do something—to tell him perhaps or to apologise? But there, he had his eyes fixed on her already—his eyes, thought she, were turquoise blue ringed with gold. Oh.

Celaena rose from her seat, saying unsteadily, "Forgive me, but I just remembered I have an appointment at my modiste."

"I can drop you—"

"No, no," she was already out of her seat, donning her cloak, "I came in my carriage. Pray, tell Lysandra I will return tomorrow."

The carriage ride back home was so short, she hardly felt it. Celaena had not much time to ruminate on her present realisation, but she felt stupid at her distress a few minutes ago. Her new family—a reality which had seemed like such a surety this morning—was now shrouded in doubts. Aedion had not recognised her as his cousin for years, and if he who was practically her mirror image by all accounts, did not, no one else could be expected to believe her claim by one look at her face. But what other proof had she? It was with near trepidation that she entered her house, and was happily recieved by her brother who had been waiting in her parlor for a half hour.

"I thought," said he, "I should personally come to you with an invitation to a dinner party tonight at my home—our home, rather. I should like to reintroduce you to relations who are already in town—they have all been waiting so long, Aelin, if you like? You are acquainted with most of them already, and I know father wishes to apologise."

"He does? I hope he is feeling better after that—that attack." Celaena thought ashamedly how little consideration she had given him except to worry the others might follow his lead, believing her to be a fortune huntress.

"He is," assured James, "He refused to believe me when I told him—and then to see you, looking so much like mama, he was overset. But he is fine now, and very remorseful, dearest. I hope you will not hold that first impression against him for long—we had all quite lost hope, and it seems fragile still, like I would look away from you for a moment and you would disappear into the mist, he was being cautious."

"I will try my best," she promised in an attempt to appease.

Celaena knew she was blessed with a handful of attractive features that compensated for the majority of average ones; and, by early adolescence, she had discovered that with the help of cosmetics, these average features could easily match the extraordinary assets. Vanity she had always acknowledged freely to be her chief sin after pride, and she felt her nerves ease at the familiar ritual of having herself pushed into a pretty dress, her hair tugged and pulled before an event. By the time she was dressed in a fine evening gown of soft pink muslin, golden curls pinned atop her head with diamond pins gifted by her brother—a family heirloom, apparently—she was almost beaming on her brother's arm. In the carriage, she distracted herself by asking him questions about his involvement in the House of Lords, their father's health and had the immense pleasure of hearing him talk about meating Madame d'arbley who wrote Cecilia, which had been her favourite novel since she first read it. The talk soon turned to the night's guests and she inquired after their identity.

"You already know Fenrys and the younger Mr Whitethorn; Fenrys' parents will be there, as will our father and Rowan's parents, his elder brother is out of town and his younger sister, Mrs Parkinson and her husband could not attend, and the little Whitethorn boys will come too; though their mother holds the traditional belief that children should eat in the nursery until they are fifteen, so I do not know if they will be present at dinner."

"Rowan—that is Mr Whitethorn's given name, yes? I met his children before," said she, "in the park yesterday. They were sweet, well-mannered boys."

Her brother allowed it to be so, regaling her with anecdotes of their youth and Celaena felt she had never spent a half hour half as entertained before.

"Really, Rhoe," said Lady Meave, rising from her seat, "you are being absurd. I would think thirteen years of grief would make you accept it, but you are starting to grow more deranged with time."

The family members had all arrived a half hour ago when Rhoe explained the purpose of the meeting. James believed that the family would be informed of the situation before meeting Aelin so the element of surprise would not bring out ill-mannered reactions and accusations like this one and Rhoe had agreed to do it himself as the head of the household, though whether he did out of obligation or out of a desire to redeem himself in Aelin's eyes, Fenrys could not tell. Their cousins had more or less recieved the news with good grace, curious but tentatively delighted. The Whitethorns were curious, though Lady Mora expressed her delight at the news repeatedly and tearfully. Lord Jared was more reserved in his congratulations—a reserved disposition was a Whitethorn trait—as was his son, Rowan, who seemed more curious than anything else. His wife made incoherent noises about how nice it must be to be surrounded by all of one's relations, which made her husband stiffen. It was public knowledge Mr Whitethorn's relationship with his mother-in-law was contentious. She was a widow who lived in her father the earl's home, infamous for her very public affairs with Lord Shuttleton and the Marquess of Mowry, and did not have much regard for propriety or morals. The Earl had recently sent her back to live with her relations in Scarborough, prompting Mrs Whitethorn to insist her mother be invited to stay indefinitely in her home instead, an idea which Mr Whitethorn did not approve of. This served to increase the tension between the mismatched couple, and that Mrs Whitethorn seemed wholly unaware of it only served to aggravate her husband more. Fenrys was saved from replying when Lady Meave having finally processed the news, loudly and fervently denied it.

Rhoe did not look at all perturbed. He said, "We thought Aelin died, because we found a girl's dead body—which was unrecognizable—and an anklet near it. I am now ashamed I did not once consider it might not be her, for if I had, perhaps she would have been with us—but I do intend to make up for the lost years, cousin. I believe the anklet we procured was either circumstancial evidence or a delibrate cover-up. I have hired private investigators to look into the matters, though we have not much hope, but as it stands, I believe—no, I know—Aelin is alive and will be joining us all for dinner. Oh no," he added quickly, holding up a hand to forestall their aunt's objections, "This is not a discussion where Your Ladyship can pitch in her own two cents. If you are not prepared to acknowledge Aelin, you may see yourself out."

"You are putting a lot of faith in a fortune-hunter."

"Really, my lady," interrupted Fenrys, bemusedly, "I have met the lady on three occassions before; I can assure you she looked like an ashryver—"

"That proves nothing!" cried she, acerbically. "How do we know she is not one of your father's by-blows, hoping to extract a fortune? You are the one who put this whole idea in James' head—so perhaps, perhaps you are in cahoots with her."

"Sister!" exclaimed Mora, wide-eyed at the acid spewing from her mouth.

Poor woman—bless her gentle heart—looked scandalized her sister would even think those accusations, let alone voice them out loud. Rowan patted his mother's arm, looking pained while his father turned all sorts of blue and red. Lord Jared was offended on the behalf of his dearest friend—Fenrys' father, the Earl of Bedford. To Fenrys, the idea that his noble, stuck-up, proper and prudish father would have a mistress—let alone a bastard child—was laughable.

"Hold your tongue there, Meave," chided Lord Jared disapprovingly. "This childish petulance does not become you."

"You believe him?" Seeing none of them deny the accusation, she said, "If you are determined to fool yourself, please do. I will have no part in the downfall of this family." And so saying, she turned on her heel and left.

"If anyone else has grievances with this new discovery," said Rhoe, "they may join Meave in her self-inflicted banishment from my homes."

"Oh, Rhoe," said Lady Mora, defending her sister. "I hope you will forgive her. The news was very much surprising, and I think she was much surprised. I am sure she was only being cautious to save you from one she thought was a fortune hunter. We are all very happy little Aelin is back." Fenrys thought he would not assign so pure a motive to his other aunt's outburst but Mora was a compassionate soul, incapable to think meanly of others so he let the statement go unchallenged. Before the silence could turn awkward, he heard Colonel Ashryver say dryly, "Well, at least when Aelin comes, we can assure her there is no lack of entertainment here."

"If I recall, she was rather fond of drama as a child," agreed he.

"No, no, that was Fenrys," said a voice in the doorway. "Aelin just liked to follow him in whatever he did." James looked affectionately at his sister, escorting her inside.

Aelin smiled at Fenrys who kissed her cheek. "Welcome home, Aelin."

"It's Lady Aelin now, sir."

Two different voices called 'Miss Sardothein?!' though no one paid them much attention as Lord Rhoe stepped forward tentatively in front of his daughter.

"Aelin," he said.

Fenrys tried instead to look at Rowan and Aedion, both of whom were gaping inelegantly but failed, eyes repeatedly snapping back to Aelin who was watching the old man warily. She returned his bow with a curtsy, then rose on her toes to kiss his cheek. "Father."

Lord Rhoe said tearfully, "Oh, Aelin."

"It is all forgiven," said she quietly, in response, "I was surprised too."

He was almost disappointed when Aedion interrupted the father-daughter reunion. "You," said he accusingly, turning to the lady of the hour, "You knew the truth this morning?"

"Yes."

"You didn't tell me."

"With all the commotion of the morning—which by the by was your fault—I did not realize," said Aelin. "And when I did, I was too surprised to do anything more than flee."

"Wait," said James, suspiciously. "This morning? I thought you were to attend your business affairs this morning, Aelin."

Aedion's face flushed, matching Aelin's in it's hue. "Yes, well," she said, "I had, uh, some calls to return."

"You called on Aedion?" asked Fenrys, surprised.

It was terribly improper for a gentlewoman to call alone on a bachelor, but with her formerly a tradesman's daughter, Aelin did not bother to stick with the more ridiculous edicts of society; she would not have accepted their dinner invitation if she had. Besides as far as he was concerned, Aelin could grow two heads, murder someone or dye her hair lavender and he would still consider her perfect. Fenrys did not know about the others but he had missed the little spitfire terribly; pranks were not nearly enough fun without her trying to stifle her giggles by his side.

"I did not call on him; rather, on a friend he too was calling on," she defended herself. Her face was red.

James narrowed his eyes, looking between them. "You are courting each other!"

"Heavens no!" said Aedion. "Believe me, you have nothing to fear on that account." At the look of mock-offense on her face, he smirked. "You are not half as pretty as you think you are, Cel—Aelin."

"Did I permit you to address me so informally?" she asked primly. "Considering I look almost the same as you do, my appearance is not something you should be disparaging, colonel."

Rhoe huffed in amusement, "Yes, well, come along, children, there are others waiting to be introduced."

And so they did, though Fenrys could tell James was not yet convinced there was nothing between the two. Lady Mora was every bit as pleased as she had claimed, greeting her cousins' daughter with pure delight. Lord Jared was more formal, though not at all unkind. Mrs Whitethorn had a distracted air towards her, though she did smile pleasantly and Fenrys could detect no animosity in her. It was Mr Whitethorn—Rowan—whose reaction surprised him the most. He looked—pained, almost—which did not quite make sense, though perhaps that was just his discomfort with strangers shining through. The civilities were only just exchanged when the butler announced dinner was ready and the whole party proceeded inside in an informal order, Rhoe ditching the normal propriety edicts in favour of leading his daughter into dinner. He seated her at the opposite end of the long, mahogany table as himself, in the seat reserved for the mistress of the house.

Aelin's answering smile was a lot more genuine than before.

Dinner passed almost pleasantly, the seven course meal enough to sustain the conversation for some time and if the silence ever stretched, it did not stay long. With fine conversationalists like Fenrys and James at the same table, and with Aelin's lively manners the atmosphere was merry enough to overcome even the infamous Whitethorn reserve, Lord Jared expounding passionately on the fine horses in his stables on such occassions when provoked. Mr Whitethorn talked animatedly of books—but only with Aelin and only when she delibrately directed her statements to him—and even Mrs Whitethorn ventured a few shy remarks here and there. They were in the best of spirits when in the middle of the dinner by the end when the men stood up to retire to the study for port—a traditional seperation of sexes following dinner—when the door opened. The poor butler hastily entered the room behind the new addition, struggling to keep up with the man's but determined to follow the protocol, announcing to the room between pants, Viscount Preston, Lord Edward Galathynius of Graceview.

Celaena's fork clattered on the floor; her eyes were fixed on the dark-haired man, curls just barely pushed away from his face. A light pink tinted his cheeks and the tip of his nose—a result of the biting wind outside—and dust clung to the lapels of his overcoat, white cravat almost coming apart. Edward's eyes so identical to her own were entirely cold; he bowed formally to the dinner guests and she had the impression he had stormed inside unaware of them. He did not see me, she thought, embarassed as he was at having the attention directed at him. Edward's eyes went over the crowd in a quick movement and he murmured polite greetings—until they caught on her and her heart thumped wildly inside her chest. Edward's noble mein was intimidating and his features arranged neutrally and she worried the boy whose memory she had clung to for years was but an illusion until he whispered her name 'Aelin' with a quite awe and muted wonder; for the first time, it felt like hers. Then he choked on a sob; Aelin was running at him and he had his arm around her, a movement so natural like he had been doing it all his life.

Aelin buried her face in her brother's neck, trying to commit his scent to memory.

"Shh," said he, lovingly, caressing her cheek with one hand, "Please don't cry, dearest."

"You smell like horses," said Aelin, tearfully. "It's making my eyes water."

Edward threw his head back and laughed, a sound rare enough, she could feel her cousins' surprise from behind them. He sighed quietly, a small, contented noise that made her smile. "I missed you, Aelin, though I know I have no right to say that. Had I done something differently—"

"Ridiculous man," said Aelin, tenderly wiping the tears from his cheeks. "James told me you were not four and ten; what could you have done? I have long since learned not to regret what has passed and make the best of my lot. I had a good life, brother," she told him, squeezing his hands, "if not a perfect one. I—I was brought up with an education no lady recieves. It suits my disposition perfectly and you may call me selfish but I am happy I had that chance—though I wish we had more time together."

Edward smiled softly, "We have all the time in the world now."

"Perhaps not all the time," she teased with an imp-like grin, seeing the whole table's attention fixed on them, "After all, you are in dire need of a bath and if I am forced into your vicinity for another half hour, I shall faint from the horror of it." Edward too stiffened, and she realised the extent of his shyness. "Refresh yourselves, sir," ordered Aelin, in her best haughty tone, and had the desired effect of making him laugh, "and when you are ready, you may call for me. I will bring a dinner tray to you and we may talk all we like."

Edward bowed gallantly. "I am but your loyal servant, madam." He kissed her cheek and she detected in him a hesitation to leave.

"I will not go anywhere," assured Aelin, smilingly, "I promise I will not."

Edward formally took his leave of the dinner party and retired to his rooms. Aelin collected herself, joining the ladies with an enthusiasm she did not feel.

No one commented on the happy tears that flowed from her cheeks.

tags: @thesirenwashere // @courtofjurdan //@little-crow-corvere // @the-dark-swan // @queenofgreenbriar // @clockworkgraystairs // @julemmaes // @rowaelinforeverworld // @mymultiversee // @queen-of-glass // @strangely-constructed-soul // @mijaldraws // @http-itsrebecca // @aesthetics-11 // @lord-douglas-the-third // @flowersinvegas // @towhateverend17 // @aelinchocolatelover // @justabunchoffandoms // @cool-ish-nerd // @faerie-queen-fireheart // @sad-book-whore // @didsomeonesayviolin // @atozfantazyxx // @hizqueen4life // @the-gods-killer // @booknerdproblems // @annejulianneh111 // @firestarsandseneschals // @b00kworm // @mysweetvillain // @moondancer-204 // @thesurielships // @witchling-leonor // @ladywitchling // @amren-courtofdreams // @ifinallygavein // @jlinez // @faequeenaelin // @df3ndyr // @in-love-with-caramel-macchiato // @bitchy-knees // @superspiritfestival // @xx-fiona-xx // @stardelia // @maastrash // @miihlovesnoone // @totenhamboys20 // @sanakapoor

[sunshine-alice]

Prompt: "Don't say goodbye (again)."

00:15 AM:

Oikawa don't drunk text Toru: hey, could you give me a ride from the airport, like, right now? Terminal 3? U still live in tokyo, right? - toru <3

You stared at your phone, unsure whether to be more disgruntled by your ex-boyfriends blatant request after ages of radio silence or the obnoxious (but characteristic) use of the heart emoji.

Two years ago, the short but intense affair you have had with the volleyball pro player had ended rather abruptly when he got a last-minute offer from a club in Argentina.

You were aware that you had absolutely no business being sulky about his sudden departure, after all, what the two of you had could hardly be considered a committed relationship.

Despite that, unwelcome thoughts of “what if...” whenever he contacted you from overseas made you let your conversations fizzle out slowly until at some point, they stopped completely.

You allowed yourself 5 minutes of consideration, fingers ghosting over the keyboard of your phone without touching the cold display.

00:21 AM:

will be there in 45

Barely 10 minutes went by as you slipped out of your pyjamas into somewhat presentable clothing, did your hair, put on some light make up and left the underground parking of the apartment complex in your shiny black company car.

Given the late hour, traffic had mostly died down and you reached the expressway directed to the airport in no time while trying very hard to focus on driving and not think about what was to come, the butterflies in your belly flustered enough as is.

You pulled up at the pick-up area at 1:00 AM to the tick. Toru was hard to miss, standing at the sidewalk accompanied by two suitcases and clothed in a fashionable (and undoubtedly designer) winter coat

Courtesy of the tinted car windows, he didn't recognize you immediately. You pressed a button on the centre console and the passenger seat window slid down without a sound, revealing you to the outside world.

“You owe me for this, just so you know.” You leant over to the open window and into Toru's field of view.

The man's eyes widened a little with recognition and a disarming smile appeared on his face.

“Anything, sweetheart. You have no idea how happy I am to see you.”

Without comment, you pushed another button and the trunk opened with a click. Toru loaded in his luggage and the coat, closed the trunk and proceeded to fall into the leather seat on the passenger side.

“Nice ride. Life treating you good?”

He turned on the seat heater and connected his phone to the car's entertainment system. A bassy R&B song started playing.

You shrugged non-committally and glanced over to him as you pulled back on the road.

“I guess you could say so. But you know how it is with me, I'm hard to please.”

He looked great, which didn't come as a surprise, his hair a little shorter and a shade lighter, his skin tan and smooth as per usual. You swallowed and pointedly ignored the fluttering in your chest.

“I wouldn't put it like that,” he sounded amused, “You've always been remarkably... ambitious. It's something I find very captivating about you.”

Out of the corner of your eye you saw him eyeing you up. He seemed pleased.

“We're headed to the Hyatt, by the way.”

You bit your lip, fingers thrumming on the steering wheel. Things went exactly as expected, Toru sweet-talking you and you reacting like a lovestruck lamb that had found it's way back to the shepherd.

“Don't take this the wrong way. We left on good terms and I like doing you a favour. You don't have to massage my ego in return.”

“Left on good terms? That's what you call it? Please darling, nobody ever ditched my like you did. What happened to let's stay friends, let's keep talking no matter what? You're lucky I don't carry grudges.”

You laughed outright at his bantering complaints.

(never before in you life you had met someone as unforgiving as Oikawa Toru)

“In that case, the fact that you ask a cold hearted bitch like me to give you a ride must mean you're really pining for me,” you said, not entirely serious either.

“Joking aside – I'm... not great at staying in contact long-distance. Talking to you reminded me of the good times we had together and on bad days, I missed those too much for my own good. I'm sorry if I hurt you.”

The mood shifted while you spoke and you could nearly hear Toru pondering your explanation. Inadvertently, you wondered if you had revealed too much.

“I do that too, you know. Miss that thing we had.” He stretched in his seat beside you. “But that's not how it has to be. I'm here right now, and so are you, and we could make this count – if you want us to.”

Without replying, you pulled into an open space next to the impressive building that housed the Tokyo Hyatt and the low rumbling of the car engine lapsed into silence.

Toru took your hand. His skin felt familiar on yours, like it would with an old lover, and simultaneously electrifying, like on a first date.

You turned your head towards him and were met with eyes that sucked you right into their depths, and you fell deeper and deeper every passing second.

“I'm serious about this. Please don't say goodbye again. Don't let this be the end. We deserve more.”

A knock on the driver's side window dragged you back into reality and with frantic movements, you reached for a button and the window slid down, revealing a middle-aged man in a posh uniform – a valet.

“Would you like me to park your car in our underground parking garage, madam? We guarantee twenty-four-seven monitoring and the best care.”

The next morning, your car was squeaky clean and the interior smelled like expensive detergent.

This post is part of the drabble challenge.

[raschuuuu]

Let’s try. // J.HS imagine (J-Hope) angst/fluff

Summary: You were put into an arranged marriage with Jung Hoseok yet he has no feelings for you and neither do you. How will you deal with each other when you both know well that you cannot divorce or develop feelings for each other.

Word count: 4100

Genre: angst/fluff

warnings: swearing / mentioning of Namjoon and his wife / no idol J-Hope / businessman J-Hope

Pairing: J-Hope!businessman x Female!reader

A/N: Hello!!!! this was requested and first off all I want to say: thank you so much I’m really happy and shoutout to the creative person who requested this. I hope you’ll like and enjoy it <3 keep in mind that English is not my first language so if you spot any mistakes I would love you guys to tell me. If you like it please leave a like and if you have any preferences or wishes please let me knoooow! Have fun everyone and keep in mind REQUESTS ARE OPEN!! hihi bye.

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"You look beautiful! Wow I'm fascinated!" wow thank you. Does that mean I looked like shit every day? Why does everyone keep telling me that? If today wasn't my wedding no one would tell me I looked good everyday... well maybe because I don't either.

Today is my wedding to the one and only Jung Hoseok. The Jung family made a very big name for themselves in South Korea, years ago. Jung Hoseok's father is the founder and CEO of a famous restaurant chain. His mother is a famous doctor of surgical aesthetics and his older sister Jung Jiwoo is a famous youtuber and fashion designer in South Korea. So you could say that the Jung family is more famous than the president of South Korea and freaking rich. And I have the "privilege" of marrying him today. NOT! Neither he nor I agreed to this wedding, but what do children have to say when their parents have already decided behind our backs.

Jung Hoseok's father is my father's boss. You wonder why your father's boss wants an employee's daughter for his son? It's very simple, I'll explain it to you: My father lost his job back then because he was ill and had to get surgery on his leg, since then he really has trouble walking. And in South Korea almost no employer feels sorry for you. When you are healthy and you can work, you go to work. If you are ill and unable to work, it's your fault and you get fired and lose everything you have. And so my father lost his job back then and desperately looked for a job in a metropolis with millions of inhabitants that was fair to him and not physically demanding. Where did he end up? With Mr. Jung, who surprisingly had understanding and compassion for my father and took him on in one of his companies in Seoul.

Flashback

"Appa where are you?" I asked as my father when he answered his phone. "I am on the 12th floor my child! Did you come?" - "Yes Appa, I promised you that we would have lunch together today!" I said as I stood in front of the giant building of the Jung's company. "Yes, okay, that's right my child! Wait for your father, I'll be right there and we can go to the restaurant next door!" so I waited downstairs in front of the entrance. I don't want to wait inside, there are so many men at the entrance.... They're pretty serious about security here. "Y/N!!" I heard someone shout from behind. I turned around and saw my father coming towards me... or rather sneaking. Unfortunately he still can't walk since he had the surgery on his leg.

I went to him and offered him my arm so that he could support himself. I am really happy that he was accepted here. He doesn't earn much but enough to support my mother and me. We've always had money problems, ever since I was little. I was always one of the last to get the new shoes that were already in fashion last year. Or I was one of the people who got an iPhone 5 when the iPhone X was already on the market. That's why I tried to go to work at a young age to help my parents financially. My mother has been cleaning restaurants or schools or sometimes houses of rich families for years. But still I am glad that my father wanted to work after his surgery and found a simple office job.

"Appa, are you very hungry?" I ask him as we slowly walk down the stairs in front of the big building. "Yes my child I really-" - "Hello Mr. Y/L/N!" we heard someone shout interrupting my father. My father and I both looked up and standing in front of us was an older man, wearing a suit and carrying a briefcase. He looked very smart and around him were 3 men also wearing suits. "Oh, oh hello Mr. Jung!" my father exclaimed and bowed. I quickly bowed in response as well. That's Mr. Jung! The man who gave my father his job. The rich famous Mr. Jung CEO of his restaurant chain.

"Who is your pretty companion?" he asks and comes towards us. My father grins "My daughter Mr. Jung! Isn't she pretty?" oh no dad what are you saying. I notice my cheeks turning red and warm. Mr. Jung looks at me and smiles. "Yes your daughter is very pretty." wow I feel flattered. "I didn't know you had a daughter Mr. Y/L/N" he added. "Yes Mr. Jung I have a daughter and she is my pride and joy. I am honestly happy to have her in my life" my father said and I blurted I am as red as a tomato. "I would be too if I were you. She must even be my son's age! What a coincidence" says Mr. Jung and then we say goodbye to him and my father and I go to eat in the restaurant. Wow did that really just happen?

Few days later - still flashback

I can't wait to get home. Work is so exhausting, I'm so tired and exhausted I'm looking forward to my shower and my bed. Just as I walked in the front door I saw my parents sitting in the living room with a worried look on their faces like something had happened, like they were waiting for me.

"Hello Eomma and Appa." I say, about to go to my room. "Y/N wait!" I hear my mother call and I go back. She points to the couch to indicate that I should sit down. "What's wrong?" I say, looking at my parents. My father is looking at the floor all the time he doesn't dare look up don't  I don't know him that way. My mother looks at my father and waits. "Hello?" i ask. "Your father has something to tell you but please don't freak out." I am worried. What is going on? "Appa what's wrong you are scaring me is anything wrong? Are you not well?" finally he looks up. "Y/N, you know I love you." - "Yes I love you too" - "And you forgive me everything? Even if I trade selfishly?" - "Yes Appa I forgive you but please tell me what you did."

He finally looks at me and sits up straight. "The other day when we had lunch in my lunch break when we met Mr. Jung.... That same evening he came to me and asked me for something" he says with tears in his eyes. "What did he ask you, Appa?" I ask curiously.

"He asked me if you would like to marry his son."

He did what? 

Is he fucking serious? Who does he think he is? Just because he is rich and famous and who knows what he can take the right to go to other men to ask if the daughter can marry his son?

"Please tell me you said no Appa please tell me you said no" I scream and fall to the floor on my knees. The only thing he says is "I'm sorry" I can't take it anymore I start crying. Why is he doing this? Why does he agree? Why does he agree to such a thing! Why doesn't he ask me why doesn't he talk to me about it first instead of deciding for me! I am not an object or a toy that you can just give away. I am a human being, I decide for my own life and I tell him that.

"Please understand me, my daughter. I love you more than anything and you know that I only want the best for you. He wants to retire soon because he is also not the youngest anymore and he wants his son to follow in his footsteps but he needs a wife he wants that when it is made official that his son is CEO the media will report that he is married and when he saw you you immediately caught his eye!"

"Still no one gives you the right to say YES Appa! I don't want to marry his son! I don't know his son and I think his son has better things to do than marry a girl he doesn't even know!" I shout and stand up I can't believe what he is saying.

"Y/N don't you understand? They will be able to give you a better life. They will be able to give you everything I couldn't give you. You'll never have to go back to work you'll never have to get up early every morning to torture yourself you can quit your two jobs! You will be able to live a normal life of wealth and happiness! Please think of your mother and me too. I can't go to work anymore I have pain I can't walk properly and this office work is also stressing me out now I sit all the time I have back pain! Your mother has 3 jobs to take care of. We can't do it anymore and with the financial help of this family we will all be better Y/N please. Do it for us do it for you" he shouted.

I hope he knows that you don't need wealth to live a happy life. I say nothing more and rush into my room, throw myself on the bed and let my tears run. I can't believe it why do these things always happen to me? Just when I think my life can't get any shittier, it gets worse.

Back to present

"Thank you." I say to my work colleague whom I invited to my wedding. I haven't invited many people simply because I don't know anyone. Or let's put it this way, I just don't have any friends. I was never the most popular one at school. My work colleague and I took a photo, she thanked me, bowed to me and walked out of the beautifully decorated photo room. Just as I was about to get up there is a knock on the door and I see Mr. Jung and his wife and daughter come in.

"Wow Y/N! You look fantastic!" he says and hugs me. His wife and daughter agree and I smile at them. I'm not in the mood to talk to you rich brats. You're ruining my life.

"Hoseok is in his dressing room with his friends. He's pretty annoyed and irritable so don't be surprised if he gets a bit of a scowl at the altar," his sister says, grabbing my shoulder. Yes, because he doesn't want to either, don't you see?

I met Hoseok once when his parents invited me and our parents to their rich villa for dinner. Before that, of course, Mr. Jung transferred a lot of money to my father, a sum I have never seen in my life, and of course my father was allowed to quit his job. How can I put it? If you think Hoseok and I exchanged even a single word then I have to disappoint you. He didn't even look at me. He didn't speak a word, didn't laugh or smile once and didn't eat a thing. I have never felt so uncomfortable or ashamed in my life. That evening, our parents were just talking about what to do after the wedding. They have decided that my parents will move to a bigger house with employees so my parents will never have to move or work again. Mr. Jung will retire and tell the press that his son will be the new CEO and Hoseok and I will move into a villa in Seoul after the wedding.

Of course, he asked us if we would like to go on a honeymoon right after the wedding to get to know each other better, but neither of us agreed. He didn't make a sound anyway, so I had to have the stupid conversation with his father.

The only person I got along with well was his sister. She could completely understand how me and her brother felt. She told me after dinner that she is also married and her husband was also forced to marry her by her father. Her husband was of course also the son of a friend of his. He was of the opinion that she, as a famous fashion designer, needed a man by her side and she said to me that I shouldn't hold it against him because he still thinks in such an old-fashioned way. Meanwhile she and her husband are happily married, I am happy for her that she could at least learn to love him.

When it was finally time to walk down the aisle with my father, I felt tears welling up in my eyes. I didn't care about my make-up, I just wanted to go back to my old life because I know I'll never have that again. My father and I walked down the long aisle with eyes fixed on me. I could hear everyone amazed and saying how pretty I was and how lucky I was to be able to marry him. No, neither of us can consider ourselves lucky because we both don't want that. The aisle seemed so long and it just wouldn't stop. Arriving at the altar, my father presented my hand to my future husband and they bowed to each other. He didn't look me in the eye once, his eyes were empty and directed to the floor.

The ceremony went okay I could hear a few tears flowing from our mothers. To be honest, I had imagined my wedding quite differently. I could have married on a farm, but at least the love of my life would be with me.

The wedding went well, how can I say it was okay. We both sat next to each other while the guests danced and had fun and drank alcohol. We, or rather he, talked to many of the businessmen his father had invited to the wedding. It felt more like I was wearing a wedding dress to a business meeting. We didn't exchange a word, not even glances, he treated me like I was air. Too bad we'll be living together Mr. Jung Hoseok.

1 month after the wedding

"Y/L/N Good morning. Would you like coffee or tea? Pancakes or rice? Or do you have any other requests please let me know so I can pass it on to the cook!" the housekeeper Soyoung asks me as I'm walking down the stairs - I've only just woken up. I'm still overwhelmed with this new lifestyle never had someone running after me just after I get up but she was very nice and sweet.

"A coffee please Soyoung. I don't want anything to eat thanks I can't eat well in the morning, I usually eat when I'm hungry!" she looks at me surprised. "That's why you sometimes leave your food.... well then please let me know right away if you get hungry Y/L/N I will tell the cook right away!" she says smiling and walks to the kitchen.

I look out the big window facing the exit and I can see that Hoseok's car is not here. It's never here. He always gets up early every morning and comes home very late since he is the new CEO. We don't see each other at all or never.

In the evening when I was sitting alone at the dining table I hear a car parked in the driveway. I look out of the window and see that Hoseok has just come home - quite early by his standards, it's only 8pm. I quickly sit back down and pretend I was never at the window. He walks in the front door and all the staff bow to him. He looks at me and then quickly goes up to his office. Hello to you too Hoseok.

1 month later

This month is my mum's birthday and I have to be honest that I haven't seen her since my wedding. I don't have the best relationship with my parents anymore because I still can't forgive what they did to me and that they gave me away to another family for their happiness. But of course they don't know that I am so resentful because please, they are still parents. Parents usually don't see that when the children are angry or not happy.

I stand in my wardrobe and look at the clothes Soyoung put out for me. A beautiful Chanel skirt with a matching blazer, nice shoes with a little heel and a bag that looks more expensive than some cars. I change and Soyoung calls a woman in to do my hair. I'm not used to all this, I've never had my hair done before, I'm just going to visit my parents.

"Y/L/N, when you're done, you can go down to the car. Mr. Hoseok is waiting for you downstairs," she says and smiles at me. Mr. who? "What, why is he waiting downstairs?" I ask her in surprise. "He will accompany you, of course! Wouldn't it be bad if he didn't congratulate his mother-in-law! So I'd be mad at my husband if he didn't come!" she says, smiling at me.

Oh Soyoung you are so sweet and naive. I walk out the front door and get into the car with Hoseok waiting for me. I have to say he looks really good today, he's dressed up more than usual. And the fact that he took the day off to come with me to my mother's, even though he must have a lot to do, makes me very happy too. But what am I saying? He's the CEO, he can take the day off whenever he wants.

The car ride is very quiet and the only thing you can hear is the voice of the radio presenter saying what the weather is today and in the next few days. I'm honest I'm quiet for a really long time I'm always quiet when someone isn't talking to me and feels uncomfortable next to me then I feel exactly the same. I could win first place in a quiet competition and I would even be proud of it but this silence between me and Hoseok is eating me up inside so I muster up all my courage and say to him "Thank you for coming with me today. I know it's not a matter of course" I say and look at him. I can tell by the look on his face that he is surprised that I am talking to him. He hesitates a little before he says, "No problem," curtly.

Arriving at my parents' new house, we stand in front of the door and wait for someone to open it. "Y/N and oh! Hoseok! You came!" my mother says in surprise when she sees Hoseok standing behind of me. Hoseok bows to her and wishes her a happy birthday. "Come on in quickly," she says and takes us to the living room.

"I'm so glad you came, what a surprise to see you here Hoseok!" my father says as he walks into the living room. Hoseok smiles at him and says "I'd love to. I mean, my mother-in-law doesn't have a birthday every day." I am surprised! Did he honestly just say that? He's never shown any interest in my parents before, let alone me. So why does he suddenly care about my mother's birthday? We were served coffee and cake by my parents' housekeepers while there was an uncomfortable silence.

The young housekeeper serves me my coffee and a piece of cake and goes over to Hoseok. I notice how he doesn't look at her but she tries to get all his attention. She keeps asking him how he wants his coffee and how big his piece should be. Hello, why didn't she ask me that? I mean, is she really trying to get his attention next to his wife?

My father interrupts the awkward silence by asking "How are you two doing? I know this might not be the perfect time to talk about it, but are you getting along better? Have you been able to get to know each other better?" I notice how tense Hoseok becomes and wants to avoid answering but just as I am about to answer I hear him say, "Yes, we understand each other better. We have a relatively normal marriage now. Don't worry about it Y/D/N" and smiles at him. I don't think I'm hearing right? Is he serious? For two months he hasn't exchanged a single word with me and now he wants to tell my parents that we are happily, well almost happily, married?

Back in the car we don't exchange a word with each other. Happy marriage, my ass. Don't make me laugh. At home, Soyoung serves us our dinner and we sit alone in the living room, eating in quiet silence. But suddenly, "Would you like to go with me to - to my friend's house tonight? He and his wife invited us, I said it might not work out but it's still early so do you want to?" I don't think I'm hearing right. To his friend's? He's introducing me to his friend? AND his wife? I stammer "Y-y-yes so if that's ok with you" and he nods.

After dinner we drive to his friend's house. We are standing in front of the door of a penthouse his friend must have quite a lot of money too. "Hello Hoseok!" his friend says as he opens the door for us. "Hello Namjoon," says Hoseok and we both go inside. Once in the living room, his friend calls his wife Naeun and they both introduce themselves. "Hello I am Namjoon and this is my wife Naeun we are very happy to finally meet you. Unfortunately we couldn't talk to each other at your wedding," Namjoon says and smiles at me. "The pleasure is all mine," I say and sit down on the couch. "And how is the newly in love couple? I think it's a shame we couldn't meet you earlier Y/N but Hoseok said you were busy every time" Naeun says and Hoseok doesn't look at me. "Y-yes I was busy I'm sorry. I wish I could have met you guys earlier too," I am overwhelmed I don't know what to say.

"Come on tell me how you two met already! Every time I ask Hoseok he avoids me, maybe I can get it out of you!" Namjoon says.

“I-I uh we-" - "It doesn't matter Namjoon! Our fathers knew each other and that's how we met and fell in love," Hoseok interrupts me.

I think I'm in a bad movie. He tells lies about our marriage just to make himself look good, but I don't understand, he is his friend, why doesn't he tell him the truth? Time went by more and more and we understood each other better and better. I also saw Hoseok laughing so much today, I didn't even know he could laugh properly, otherwise I always got to see his angry and cold looks and he also talked to me a lot more today.

When we got home we were greeted by Soyoung at the door late at night. "Soyoung you can go to sleep it's very late" Hoseok says and Soyoung looks at him in surprise. When Soyoung went to her room and I said goodnight to Hoseok he grabs me by my wrist. "Shall we sleep in my room tonight Y/N?" - "W-what why? Are you sure?" I ask him. 

"Yeah I think we should sleep together tonight.... I mean we are married. Neither me nor you wanted that but it happened now and we should make the best of it." he says and looks at me curiously. I agree with him. He is right. We are married whether we like it or not we are husband and wife. "If you want we can start with little dates.... We can go to the movies and restaurants... We can travel. We can do all that and maybe get to know each other better." he suggests. I smile at him and thus began a somewhat strange but ultimately beautiful marriage.