#ell��da

[jtl-fics]

Fluent Freshman - 38

PREV

If it weren’t for the fact that he and Riko had stumbled across a truly traumatizing video of his birth that they had watched secretly in Tetsuji’s office when he was away on a business trip one weekend Kevin would believe that he was born with an Exy racquet in his hand. But the image that is seared into his retinas to this day has proven that he came into this world empty handed.

That doesn’t change the fact that Kevin has spent the majority of his life utterly and completely submersed in Exy. He was trained as a Raven, he was court, he was a champion as both a Raven as a Fox and if he had his way he’d leave college with more Championships under the orange and white than the black and red.

Exy was everything in the world to him.

He could overlook many personality defects if someone brought something to the Court.

Apathetic five foot nothing who was more likely to stab him than shake his hand? Well, he’s the best goalie that Kevin had ever seen in his entire life (and that was saying something).

Tight ass who has anger management issues and will not shut the fuck up about his girlfriend now that he’s not even allowed to have? Well, he is a very solid backliner who has excellent ball handling skills (even if Aaron keeps telling him to stop saying it like that or why he keeps yelling that he’s straight).

Overly touchy, too emotional, will not shut the fuck up about his fiancé in Germany? Well, he is a very solid backliner who is great at rebounds (Kevin doesn’t get why Nicky gets mad when he says that or why he brings up Erik).

Guy who actively dislikes him and is dying for any chance to punch him and also being overly attached to his friends? He’s a great enforcer on the court and had the stamina to play far longer than the other two backliners (Why Dan always said “yeah he does” whenever Kevin commented on Matt’s stamina he will never understand, and he also doesn’t want to.)

Suspicious kid from Millport with a mouth that could strip paint and a past so shrouded in mystery that it even had Andrew perking up in interest? Well, he’s the fastest Striker in the game and the only person that has ever kept up with Kevin’s obsession with the sport. (There was the minor downside that he was the son of the Butcher and almost died before the championships, but Neil pulled through.)

He tolerated all of them and now they’re his best friends.

There are some who he does find personally objectionable but so long as Jack and Sheena manage to continue to be good on the court he doesn’t care about the many many faults in their personalities. They’re his teammates, they aren’t his friends.

He accepted that he might not like any of the others that came onto the team. For the most part he had never given a shit about before the Foxes, content with his brotherhood with Riko even if it wasn’t…perfect. Then he became friends with FF and FF had done him a truly large favor and Kevin wanted to pay that back the best way he knew how. Through his truly infallible health advice and through perfectly crafted smoothies.

Then Daniel appeared with the truth that FF truly met all requirements to be a Fox and Kevin tasted his own smoothie for the first time.

He considered both revelations to be equally upsetting.

Still…

FF was one of the best dealers Kevin had ever had the pleasure to be on Court with. The man knew his position well and interrupted offensives with an enviable ease that made Kevin wish to possibly strap some sort of device onto him and figure out how he did certain things.

It wasn’t that far off to believe that a man raised in the same environment as FF could possibly have similar talents and since Lisa fucked off back to some small town cult they really did need a good sub. Sheena was a good offensive dealer but they had games coming up where defense would be imperative and FF did not have the stamina for a full game and likely would not for quite some time considering he’d be recovering from being stabbed.

So, he’d defended Daniel’s right to try out.

At first, he had felt vindicated. Daniel kept up quite well during the initial warm-ups. Kept pace with Jack, Sheena, Aaron, Andrew, and Nicky. Kevin had been bringing up the rear mostly to make sure that Andrew didn’t stab the guy during warm-ups.

Then it was time for the first precision drill.

The other thing about how Kevin was raised is that he was raised surrounded only by the best of the best. The Ravens were at the top of the Collegiate hierarchy. The National Court used their stadium for practice.

The worst Exy that Kevin had ever seen in his entire life up until the moment that Daniel took hold of an Exy racquet was still only the worst team in Collegiate Division 1 Exy.

Then Kevin watched the ball go so wide that the entire court went silent.

All of the drills that followed were as bad, if not worse.

Kevin felt himself start to vibrate with anger the longer it went on. He started to shout corrections at Daniel but the younger man merely rolled his eyes, “I think I know what I’m doing.” He would say before pointedly proving that he did not.

Kevin only realized nearly an hour in that he had wasted his entire practice shouting himself hoarse at the actual waste of human life that was Daniel Stanton.

Kevin could accept being bad at Exy and having an inoffensive personality. Kevin could accept being good at Exy and having a bad personality.

Kevin could not accept being bad at Exy and having a bad personality.

Coach Wymack called the practice to an end and Kevin thought that he’d manage to keep his anger mostly inside (he is ignoring the near hour of practice he spent screaming directions) when Daniel decided to deliver the Coup de Grace.

Sweat soaking his bangs, panting, and without a single thing done correctly (even the way he was currently holding his borrowed Exy racquet set Kevin’s teeth on edge) the man had the gall, the gumption, and the absolute AUDACITY to come up to the coach.

“So, where do I sign?” he asks.

Kevin sees red and unleashes hell.

***

This was the most fun Andrew has had at a practice since he started having to come to them.

The look of embarrassment on Daniel’s face as Kevin accurately tore into everything he did wrong on the Court and every personal failing that Kevin could home in on. His attention shifted away to FF sitting in the stands near the University official who was shaking her head at the obvious poor showing. The University may have wanted Daniel around to spruce up the Fox’s marketability but even they couldn’t let someone so obviously awful onto one of their few Division 1 teams.

FF was sat sipping one of Kevin’s god awful smoothies looking completely unshocked by Daniel’s showing.

Kevin turned his attention to FF, “You said he was good!” Kevin points at the freshman as he continues to sip the drink.

Andrew interrupts, “He never said he was good.” He remembers the conversation so exactly and there are few things he loves more than having the opportunity to rub it in Kevin’s face when the man is wrong, “He said ‘Daniel has always been athletic’ never anything about him being good.” Andrew reminds.

Kevin whips back around to Daniel, “Have you ever even played Exy?” Kevin demands.

“I didn’t think it’d be hard to pick up.” Daniel argues crossing his arms defensively.

It sets Kevin off on another furious rant.

Andrew had thought that FF didn’t have a mean bone in his body and he’s quite pleased to have been proven wrong. The thought that FF had let Daniel get all the way into embarrassing himself in such a way?

Andrew had to give him props.

“How does it feel getting to watch this idiot crash and burn?” he asks coming to the glass.

“Really thought he could manage it if I could.” FF says with a shrug that has Aaron bark out a laugh.

“You really figured?” Aaron asks coming to stand next to Andrew.

FF just shrugs again, “I mean I also started not knowing how to play and now I’m on a pretty good team.” He says as if FF starting as a child not knowing how to play is the same as someone walking in demanding a spot on a college team.

Nicky lets out a laugh.

“Oh, Smithy I could kiss you.” Nicky laughs and makes his way towards the Court entrance to likely do exactly that moving past a Daniel who was so red in the face with embarrassment and anger that he looked as if he was about to turn purple.

Andrew tuned in.

“…small pond. The only reason you ever felt like you were worth anything is that Smiths was too nice to put you in your place before now!” Kevin was probably talking about medium-sized fish in a small pond but Andrew didn’t really care to know.

“Are you going to let him talk to me like this?!” Daniel finally turned to Wymack.

“Kevin, you shouldn’t talk to the public like that.” Wymack says without a hint of chastisement in his voice.

Kevin still straightened at the reminder, “You’re right. Sorry coach.” Kevin sneered at Daniel, “Get off the court before you taint it.” He hisses.

“You’re really not going to sign me?!” Daniel demands.

“Why would I?” Wymack asks with a raised brow.

“You took a chance on John!” Daniel points towards FF.

Andrew watches as Wymack’s face does something he’d rarely seen it do, it goes utterly and completely cold. “I don’t take chances with my kids.” He spat, “I give my kids a second chance. Get the hell off of my court.” He hisses.

Daniel’s face purples further before he stomped off of the Court.

“Don’t you dare walk off with that racquet! It’s worth more than you!” Kevin shouts after him and Andrew in that moment realizes that Daniel is going to do something stupid.

And FF is on the other side of the Plexiglass with only Nicky at his side.

It’s like watching a train crash.

Daniel might say something, but Andrew doesn’t know. He sees Neil rushing as well, his sense of danger always well-honed but Neil had been in Captain mode in the moments before walking some of the sophomore and freshmen through what they had done wrong.

Neither of them will make it in time.

Daniel throws his racquet, and he throws it right at FF barely 5 feet away in the stands.

The Racquet blows past FF’s head and Andrew lets out a breath.

Then before it could crash into the seats behind him and break FF’s hand wrapped around the shaft of the stick and stopped it’s trajectory.

“Your aim really isn’t getting any better by not listening to Kevin’s advice.” Smith says as he twirls the racquet in his hand so that the net was on the ground. “Also, don’t break the equipment, like Kevin said it’s pretty expensive.” He says.

Daniel let out a primal scream but where Andrew had stalled out to watch the miraculous catch Matt Boyd had not. Daniel was tackled to the ground by the backliner, “Absolutely not.” Matt said with a scowl.

“Smithy are you okay?” Andrew hears Nicky ask.

“Yeah, why?” FF asks as if he hadn’t just been attacked but considering everything that Andrew had seen it wouldn’t shock him if Daniel’s attacks were just par for the course back home for FF. “The racquet looks okay too.” He adds.

“Coach Wymack,” The University representative made their way down looking flustered at the outburst of violence.

Obviously not someone who regularly watched Exy or paid attention to their team.

“This is why I wanted absolute control over who does and who doesn’t get a shot here.” Wymack hisses pointing at Daniel as he struggled under Matt.

“You have our sincere apologies for this.” She says looking at Daniel, “He didn’t… we thought he’d be good for the team’s culture but it seems like we may have misjudged-“

“That guy just tried to take Smithy out!” Nicky interrupts.

“I told you he was dangerous.” Neil adds.

“Can someone call campus security?” Matt asks from the ground, “This jackass keeps aiming for kidney punches and I would like to not be pissing blood during winter break.” Matt requests.

“O-of course!” the University representative says fumbling for her cell phone.

Andrew looked at Matt and figured that the backliner had a handle on that particular mess at the moment.

He made his way over to FF and Nicky who was checking over the freshman.

“Nice catch.” He says.

FF shrugs, “It’s my racquet he was borrowing.” He says, “I didn’t want to get a new one.” He adds.

***

FF watches as campus security took custody of Daniel as he continued to spit and scream. There are talks about pressing charges, but FF just wants Daniel off of the campus and away from him. It’s Jack of all people who says that getting a restraining order is a great way to make sure Daniel stays the hell away from him and FF nods consideringly.

Honestly, he’s still mostly in shock he managed to catch his racquet the way he had. His reflexes weren’t quite up to snuff since he’d been trying to catch the netting, but his hand only closed around the shaft.

Embarrassing.

He really hopes no one teases him about his slower reflexes.

“He needs to be charged for assault at least.” Kevin hisses as they watch the security officers take Daniel away.

“It’d be attempted assault.” Aaron corrects.

“He assaulted my eyes with his Exy.” Kevin insists.

“If that counted as assault, don’t you think I would have pressed charges for all the times I have had to see you dance at Eden’s?” Neil asks. “Also, you’re the one that insisted he try-out.” He reminds.

“Smiths told me he was good!” Kevin screeches.

“No, we’ve been over this Day. Smithy said he was athletic.” Nicky reminds. “Are you going to do what Jack suggested?” he asks turning to FF.

“I’d like to see significantly less of Daniel.” FF admits.

“You know he did actually commit assault, if I pee blood I’m making Kevin go buy me pads.” Matt says.

“Whatever.” Kevin says as they continued to make their way back to the dorm to get ready for the day.

MASTERPOST FOR ALL PARTS OF FLUENT FRESHMAN AU

NEXT

[aaliyahhsources]

New Rare of Aaliyah alongside Lil’ Kim, Da Brat, and Missy Elliott for ELLE Magazine (1999)

Captured by Elfie Semotan.

Thank you for the find @veemelancholy!

[venusimleder]

Elle France, October 2002.

Ph. Filipe da Rocha

[itblackggirl]

[jaysbiceps]

okay,, so sunoo is ur classmate who u thought was pretty cute, u thought that was..

as for sunoo he had.. many thoughts of u, just not as tamed as u, he thought about bending u over the table in class to show u who he really is,,,

fast forward to after midterms and ur class decided to go out to celebrate finishing at least halfway, sunoo catches ur eye once again and suddenly u guys are in a private room, u thought u were going to be the one to take the reins but sunoo finally shows u who he really is. his kind eyes change, with his sweater off, u finally can see his arms that are much more muscular than u had once thought and,,, well u can take it from here:)

That sounds so🥵🥵

Okay so sunoo definitely hated how you viewed him as just another cute guy you admired his looks from afar, he desperately wanted to change this and prove you he can be hot and mature as well

So when his chance comes and you're alone in a private room his animal instincts kick in, he just wants to show you how tough he can be, and boy is he tough and mean🤭

He'll start with asking for permission first, would look deeply into your eyes, "Do you really want this? Once I'm on it I won't be able to hold back" his hopeful pleading eyes looking for an answer, "Yes, sunoo I trust you, please" and after this? No coming back

He suddenly changes and his lust takes over, he rips off your clothes and tells you how bad he's gonna ruin you for everyone else, and you're so intrigued, how is this your adorable classmate?

He kisses you with so much lust, starts to knead your boobs hard, tweaking and pinching your nipples, making you moan into the kiss, then he'd hold your face and forces you to open up your mouth, he goes back to kissing you while his tongue wanders inside, you can feel both his passion and lust, you grip into his muscular arms to ground yourself since you start getting dizzy

He breaks the kiss, leaves a trail of kisses/hickeys along the way until he reaches your sopping pussy, he looks at you with a smirk, "awww, never thought you'd get this wet for the cutie innocent guy in your class, such a bad girl" that makes your pussy clench and gush more arousal, he laps all your juices without a warning and you start screaming of how much pleasure he's giving you, won't leave it until you came at least once or twice.

Then he'd massage his cock on your lips, just to tease you and have you begging for his cock, he slips it in at one go and goes "oops", he's a fucking meanie istg, and boy his pace will be brutal, you won't be able to walk the next two days or so, and it won't be just one round, he'll make sure to knock you up ofc too hehe

PLS NOW I NEED ME A SUNOO

[therookandthecrow]

There is a lot to be said about giving my elven Rook a distinctly inhuman appearance, especially when this kind of look was what I was going for [an Aen Elle from the Witcher series.], and prominently, Eredin, along with Elder Scrolls elves such as krovav's Altmer OC Vikrolomen, and Warhammer Drukhari such as Marazhai; (1) and (2).

I prefer for my elves to look supernaturally beautiful, and not interchangeable with humans, if not for pointed ears. All of my elven Rooks will have the same kind of angular - yet ethereal, slender almost like a twisted tree, tall look to them with distinctly inhuman faces - almost as if not from this world.

[robo-dino-puppies]

so...

I decided to get veilguard anyway - I was too curious about where the story was going, the environments looked exceptionally pretty, the companions all sounded interesting, and I read there were cats and you could pet them. and there's a griffon. and you can pet him too?! what can I say, I'm easy to please.

here's my rook! i'm sure she will make many terrible decisions :D

and since it's new and I haven't run across any spoilers I told myself I would not look up the consequences to choices that make me nervous (like I did when I just recently played the other three). could be a fun time for my anxiety lmaooooo

I hauled myself and my laptop to a neighbor's house to steal (consensually!) internet in order to download the game. thankfully it doesn't seem to throw a fit if I don't have a constant connection once it's installed, so now I have two games to keep me occupied while I'm in shitty-internet-land for the rest of the week+...

so far I'm really enjoying the combat (esp. compared to the other three) - being able to seamlessly switch between bow and daggers is my favorite! the bow combat is no horizon but it feels nice enough.

I found the character creator great in some areas and super frustrating in others (why no eye shapes? lip shapes?), and I honestly... don't really like that many of the hair options. while there seems to be a good selection of styles for type 4 curly hair, there aren't many options that look like type 2/3? :/ kinda disappointing ngl. but being able to change the lighting was amazing. why couldn't we do it when we made the inquisitor?

I am glad I could make rook short. she's only slightly taller than harding :D

[celebratingwomen]

Aaliyah, Lil' Kim, Missy Elliot & Da Brat for Elle Magazine, 1999

[hotfuss]

the killers in elle, july 2009

[memoryoflife]

also!!! exams are over YIPPEE i'm free!!!!!!

[venusimleder]

Elle France, October 2002.

Ph. Filipe da Rocha

[maldoniastar]

✶⋆˚ ⁀➷ Por Glinda e sua varinha mágica! Olha só se não é EVANGELINE MALDONIA caminhando pelos corredores da torre NUVENS. Por ser filha de TIANA E NAVEEN, é previsto que ela deseje seguir caminhos parecidos com o dos pais. Ao menos, é o que se espera de alguém com VINTE E SETE ANOS, mas primeiro ela precisará concluir o MÓDULO II, para depois se assemelhar como um conto de fadas. ✶NOVO CONTO: Marcele, a tola.

𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑠 𝑤ℎ𝑜 𝑙𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑚𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑑

Tiana tinha um sonho. E numa noite brilhante, ela resolveu recorrer a velhos hábitos: pedir a ajuda de uma estrela. O que ela viu cintilar no céu no instante que revelou o desejo do seu coração lhe encheu o ventre de calor e o peito de expectativa: o ponto de luz que brilhava no céu caiu. E nove meses depois, nasceu Evangeline Maldonia, a luminescente. A pequena ganhou o título no instante que nasceu, não era todo dia que bebês brilhantes – no sentido mais literal da palavra – nasciam em Nova Orleans. E por isso, ganhou o nome de uma das estrelas que os pais mais admiravam.

Nos primeiros anos de sua vida, Evangeline desfrutou de uma infância mágica e feliz. Seus pais, apaixonados e unidos, lhe proporcionaram um ambiente amoroso e acolhedor. Era cercada por influências poderosas – uma de suas favoritas sendo a da sacerdotisa vodu: Mama Odie, quem Evangeline visitou no bayou onde os pais se casaram pela primeira vez. Ela era apaixonada pelas histórias e parábolas contadas pela sacerdotisa, que continham valiosas lições de vida. Essas lições em muito moldaram a perspectiva de Eva sobre o mundo.

A jovem princesa tinha a vida dos sonhos: era rica de todas as formas possíveis. Nunca teve que se preocupar com nada além de desfrutar de todas as bênçãos que a vida havia lhe concedido.

Até que ela perdeu tudo isso.

𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 ℎ𝑜𝑝𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑛...

A guerra que eclodiu trouxe consigo a ascensão da tríplice do mal, e a desgraça que assolou todos os finais felizes.

Seus pais, Tiana e Naveen, que deveriam ser o alicerce do amor em sua vida, tiveram sua relação destruída pelas influências malditas da guerra. Naveen, iludido e enganado por vilões, causou a ruína financeira da família. Tiana, consumida pela raiva e desgosto, amaldiçoou seu marido. E em uma época em que as maldições tinham um poder avassalador... Naveen foi transformado novamente em um sapo, e eventualmente, sua vida chegou a um fim trágico após ser encontrado preso em um pote de sal.

A questão que intriga a todos é quem teria motivos para assassiná-lo de maneira tão macabra e bizarra? É uma pergunta que continua pairando como poeira no ar até os dias de hoje.

A culpabilidade de Tiana foi uma ferida aberta na relação mãe-filha. Evangeline, mergulhada em mágoa e dor, não conseguia perdoar a mãe, apesar de todas as evidências que apontavam para a inocência dela. Brigas se tornaram constantes, e Eva, por ser alguém que sente as coisas forte e profundamente, é muitas vezes provocadora, espirituosa e despreocupada quando está feliz, mas a reação mais imediata dela, quando irritada ou triste, é canalizar suas emoções sombrias para uma fúria mal contida ou calma assassina.

Tiana, no entanto, acabou vítima de sua fúria. Num surto de raiva, Evangeline acabou eclodindo em luz azul-violeta durante uma discussão com a mãe. A consequência dessa explosão de poder acabou custando a Tiana a sua visão. A princesa nunca mais viu o céu – ou qualquer outra coisa desde então.

Evangeline caiu como uma estrela cadente na penumbra do luto e culpa, sobrevivendo a mercê da mágoa e de uma forte necessidade de redenção. Ela quer reconquistar o final feliz usurpado de sua família, e não será menos que implacável enquanto persegue seu objetivo.

O tio mais novo de Evangeline, que agora era o príncipe herdeiro, assumiu a guarda dela após a morte do irmão, oferecendo proteção e apoio em tempos tão difíceis enquanto Tiana mudou-se para a residência de sua amiga Charlotte, que passou a cuidar dela. Evangeline mantinha contato esporadicamente através de cartas com sua madrinha, mas nunca a sua mãe.

𝐻𝑜𝑙𝑑 𝑢𝑝, 𝑛𝑜, 𝑦𝑜𝑢, 𝑑𝑖𝑑𝑛'𝑡 𝑏𝑜𝑤!

PODERES: Manipulação de energia estelar. Eva consegue absorver energia das estrelas e tem a habilidade de canalizar e projetar essa mesma energia em explosões destrutivas chamadas "starbolts", além de moldar essa mesma luz a sua vontade.

DAEMONS: Estelar. Dragão fêmea. Suas escamas são de um verde profundo, quase como as folhas de uma floresta densa, mas com uma qualidade luminescente que faz com que elas brilhem como estrelas à noite. Estelar em muito reflete a natureza de Evangeline: é uma criatura desconfiada e potencialmente letal dependendo da intensidade do humor de Eva. Mas fica muito feliz e tranquila durante a noite, período qual ama voar.

[artistaforever]

Happy International Women's day with the Sparkle 10

[xiaoluclair]

Pretty please:

15 giving them a message and 9 resting head against their back, together?! ❤️

For Lestappen of course

happy wife, happy life etc etc! (enjoy 😈)

massage + head resting against back // lestappen // [ rating: T/M ]

"Where are you going next?"

"Andromeda. My sister was admitted for labor yesterday. Gave birth this morning."

There is a beat of silence. VER tips a little more petroleum gel onto his fingers, bottle sliding back onto the floor. The moles on LEC's back shift, a constellation in ripple. He settles again under the flat press of VER's thumbs. Round the bend, throttle the straight. He's worked most of the knots out.

"I did not know you have a sister."

VER makes his way down the sinewy line of LEC's spine. All curves, a loop, the briefest DRS between. "Or that she was pregnant."

"Or that," agrees LEC.

"Now you do."

On the floor, O.8.C.A.R makes a beeline for the empty condom wrapper. LEC moves again as VER shuffles back, lifts himself over the soft swell of his ass to settle on the backs of his thighs.

"I have two brothers. One older, one younger."

"Ah, the middle child." VER nods. "Makes sense."

LEC makes a noise, high-pitched, short. Affronted. It makes VER grin and the slide of his hands go light like Skipping Eels on the small of LEC's back. X marks the spot. Straight, curve, kink to the left.

"So, your nephew," says LEC. "What is his name?"

VER pokes him.

LEC laughs. "Okay, okay. But he is under your star, yes? This morning?"

"Yeah." He feels his mouth curve in smile.

"I can feel your head growing from here."

VER laughs. Round the bend, full throttle. Loop. "Your droids are fucking," continues LEC, neck twisted in mild interest to the right. VER follows his gaze, where L.4.N.D.O is trying determinedly to manover its way on top of O.8.C.A.R. O.8.C.A.R continues hunting for trash under VER's Kyirinyse cactus.

He muses, "Reminds me of our first time."

"What." LEC snorts. "Humping me into the floor?"

VER pinches a fold of skin and the snort turns into a yelp. "If I remember correctly," he says, "that was you."

"Was not."

"Was too. Practically chasing me to get into my pants—" One straight, his teeth to the air.

"Lies—"

"Like, I know I have a really big dick but, come on, at least some decorum would have—" And another, shoulders unsteady.

"Conveniently skipping over the fact that you—" Straight, bend, swoop to the other direction, sound spilling like seconds in sand, "—were the one who ripped my Trakro vest, like, I know I have a really tight ho—"

"Okay!" VER gasps, stomach convulsing. "Okay, okay." He shakes his head, folded like paper over the shuddering body below. The curl of LEC's grin shakes, hidden under his hand.

Slowly, the vibrations subside. Pliant, VER feels himself sink a little, paper body bent a bit further. His breaths rebound back into his face, sour. LEC's skin is slimy smooth against his nose, smells lightly sweet, mostly nondescript. It has settled too. Gone to the occasional hiccough with a cool touch to the raw bone of VER's knee.

VER's hands have slipped to the bars of LEC's ribs. His elbows rest on the bed. His nails, blunt, move. X marks the spot.

"My name means free."

He stills. Swallows. “ Stop it.”

LEC does. For a second. Then, "Free man." He says it soft. Like a secret.

He should.

Under his forehead, the skin is hot and slick, ridges of the spine like fingers when LEC shifts. VER presses further. Like he could get to LEC's heart from here, a sleazy knock on the backdoor. Mind if I spend the night? Mind if I spend the next ten?

"I could give it to you." LEC exhales; the meat of it makes VER's head tremble like a lighter spark in cold wind. "Right now." The fingers on his knee curl around it.

VER moves a hand, fits it around. It slips with oil between LEC's knuckles. His voice lies down like a scratchy lullaby between the moles. "That would be incredibly stupid."

"Why?" presses LEC. He sounds breathless.

The lump in VER's throat is difficult to speak around. "You fucking know why."

"You say it yourself." LEC moves. It jostles VER's head, displaces their naked bodies from one other. Their hands slip apart. "Rules are meant to be bent."

"Racing rules," stresses VER, rises to his knees. "This is not a racing rule."

This is a life rule. Death rule. No Names.

LEC finishes twisting and his eyes land like a shock. To L.4.N.D.O, VER says two years back: Imagine the brightest supernova you can. Now turn it green. And when it starts to collapse into a blackhole, light that blackhole on fire. They are like that, but a million times more annoying. And L.4.N.D.O replies: Oscuh?

Now, he just holds himself as LEC sits up, stomach going taut. Their faces level — VER is higher. Indentations line the edges of LEC's face like a moon and his skin shines damp like its light. "I am not asking for yours," he says shortly into the soft jut of VER's chin.

"I know," says VER. His belly twists like a rope. "And I would of course not tell it because that would be—"

"Incredibly stupid," finishes LEC and his eyes slant to the side like half a roll.

VER scowls. Swings his legs together to rest over one side of the bed. "Glad you finally get it." He stretches out his legs, and his toes bump the pool of LEC’s Trakro suit. The untorn one. He stands.

A hand snags him around the wrist. LEC’s teeth have sunk into his lip. His throat bobs with a swallow. He says, “Two rotations until the next race.” The lines of him glow gold in the low panel lighting. He paints a pretty picture, that is for sure. He usually does.

VER makes a pointed glance, to the place low on his body where he is soft and still slightly red. "Mate, you are spent."

LEC's head cocks. His lips tilt: a smirk. "And you love a challenge."

Later, O.8.C.A.R swallows a final piece of trash — an empty bottle of petroleum gel — before trundling from the room, L.4.N.D.O stuck to his solar panels. The door slides shut behind them.

In front of him, LEC gripes out incessant chokes of sound. He arches and, just for a second, catches the light along the ripples of his spine, and the slants of fingerprints flash into focus.

max max max max.

VER rolls him over, lets the rocking sheets rub it all away.

[pip-fitz-amobis]

TAO AND ELLE DANCING TAO AND ELLE DANCING TAO AND ELLE DANCING TAO AND ELLE DANCING

[robo-dino-puppies]

so I said I had a few (some humorous) screenshots from playing dragon age - I mean, not that many, and they're not that funny, but here's the origins edition:

Morrigan... what. what are you doing? why. are you still a spider. this is very awkward.

Warden Mahariel looking at the camera like it's The Office. she didn't sign up for... this.

(NOTHING would make her turn back into a human. I had to quit the game completely lmao. also it seemed like shapeshifting kinda sucked so I had her stop doing that.)

synchronized disapproval! (ugh this was before I found a mod that de-boobified the armor. I'm sorry Leliana, you look ridiculous.)

it's right behind me, isn't it?

these... sure are some creatures. the little hands... disturb me T_T but I still like them!

of course I had to make sure Leliana got Schmooples! (iirc I had trouble with this - the guy in Orzammar wouldn't talk to me about nugs even after Leliana mentioned it? or something? obvs I worked it out eventually)

this one I mostly included because I laugh at Alistair getting yeeted by a darkspawn in the background while I'm killing this ogre, pffff.

we killed a dragon! (the first and only dragon - I mean, besides the story-required one - that I killed haha. the combat was definitely not for me. you're welcome Morrigan.) the Korcari Wilds map is pretty though - I really liked the sky.