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ivystoryweaver · 2 months ago

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Day 11: I Never Knew (Marc, Jake, Steven)

Summary: You meet up with all 3 Moon Boys one fateful night

Notes: gn!reader, angst, violence, fluff, protective Moon Boys being the absolute best TW: abuse. This story starts with an abusive boyfriend.

Word Count: 4.8k

Angstember Prompt Post

Your boyfriend of two years had tested the last of your patience. At first you loved his passionate hotheadedness. You quickly fell for him and moved in together six months later. It was lovely at first, to have someone fun and spontaneous, to sleep next to a warm, protective body at night.

After about a year together, you realized something wasn't right. Your boyfriend kept odd hours, whispered hushed conversations over the phone, made "quick stops" at the oddest hours to the shadiest places.

And that hotheaded passion sizzled into blame and resentment every time you tried to reason with him. He was always quick to apologize, to bring you flowers, or a gift, to take you out for the night, lavishing you with attention and intense, vigorous sex.

So you gave him the benefit of the doubt. He was trying, and every couple had their struggles.

But the fuse of his temper got shorter, and his actions, more suspect. He lost his regular job but somehow still brought home money. When you questioned him, he accused you of not trusting him. Something felt wrong, you knew it deep in your bones, but you told yourself that relationships take work and compromise.

It was just last week that you demanded to know why he was out all night - who he was with and where they went. He'd raised his voice before, on occasion, but that early morning was different. He roared out accusations, lunging at you, and continued yelling and screaming over your cowered body. He didn't touch you, but his words beat you down, literally to the ground, where he left you afraid, sobbing and alone.

That's what it took to make you realize he was abusive. Clearly, he was now verbally abusive, but you started to understand that he had been manipulative, dishonest and controlling the entire time, lying about finances and whereabouts.

He had abused you in almost every way, except physically. You knew it was time to leave, so you started to plan how you would secure yourself a place to stay and what to tell him.

Your phone rang as you finished packing your suitcase - the first of many things you needed to move out. Not recognizing the number, you ignored the call. But it rang again and again and again, with a voicemail that warned you to answer. You blocked the number and tried to frantically dial emergency when your boyfriend burst through the front door, enraged.

Barreling into your bedroom, he roared at you, demanding to know what you did with "the money". Apparently, the phone call was from his boss, calling to collect.

"You mean my money? From my job?" You challenged, shrugging him off and zipping your suitcase closed.

Jerking the luggage out of your hand, he screamed at you about how he needed that money for his boss, how he'd taken care of you all this time, and you owed him.

"You're gonna give me that fuckin' money," he spat, lunging toward you, but you were already running out the door with only your phone in your hand. You thankfully made it into the lift with the doors closed before he caught up, and you could only pray he wouldn't make it down the several floors of stairs and beat you to the lobby.

There was no one downstairs to help you, so you raced out the door into the night, frantically attempting to dial 999 while crying and trying to stay ahead of your insane boyfriend.

You ran as fast as you could, but he was bigger and stronger, and he was gaining on you. Attempting to cut through an alley, your lungs burned, painfully dragging in breath as you pushed yourself toward safety.

But he found you.

Your mobile clattered to the ground as he grabbed both your arms and shoved you hard against a brick wall, calling you all manner of vile names and demanding you give him the money from your account.

Noticing your phone, he twisted your wrist well beyond the point of pain. "You didn't call anyone, did you, bitch? If you get the police involved I'll fucking kill you."

You had already drained your joint account and put money in your personal savings account so that you could afford a deposit on a new place, at least get a moving truck and hook up some utilities. You didn't take any more money than you had made from your job at the museum.

"I owe my boss money and I need it right fucking now," he bellowed, wrapping one hand around your throat and squeezing. “Tell me where it is.”

Unbelievable that it took you til right now to realize your boyfriend was more than an asshole, he was apparently a criminal. Or at least his boss might be if he was demanding a midnight payoff "or else".

"I moved... the money," you gasped, completely out of breath from the running and the crying and the choking and the fear.

He gripped your shoulders and slammed you hard against the wall. "We're going to get it right now. Then we're going home and you're gonna get on your hands and knees and pay for all this shit you put me through."

You whimpered, trembling at his threats, disgusted that his eyes flashed with self-satisfaction. He slipped two fingers into your mouth, pushing them far enough to gag you, an evil chuckle making you cry harder.

"Oh yeah. We're gonna have fun tonight, baby."

"I don't think she wants to be your 'baby', shithead."

You gasped as two eerie, white gloved hands grabbed your boyfriend's head and slammed it against the wall, hard enough to knock him out cold, but not enough to bash his skull in. Unfortunately.

Through your tears, you saw an etherial mummy figure, bandaged and gauzey white, with haunting, moonlit eyes. Your body quaked with more terror than you'd ever known. Perhaps he was the boss your boyfriend was so afraid of.

You passed out in Moon Knight’s arms.

"Shit," Marc Spector hissed, lifting your limp body into a protective embrace. He'd heard your screaming blocks away. Khonshu had directed him to the asshole passed out on the pavement next to you, letting Marc know he was a small player in an elaborate criminal organization. It would keep him busy tonight.

Brushing your hair out of your eyes, he sighed. "Didn't mean to scare you." He decided to take you to A&E, but before he walked away, he kicked your unconscious boyfriend in the side for good measure.

You woke up on a hospital bed, alone, a long while later. It appeared you had been triaged but not admitted. Remembering your boyfriend's threats, you decided you better bail before the police questioned you or you found yourself responsible for medial bills you couldn't pay.

You were scraped and sore, but nothing seemed permanent, so you did your best to sneak back to the waiting room where you could blend in with other would-be patients. One nurse seemed to glance at you questioningly, but you managed to make it out the sliding glass doors and into the night.

Now what could you do? You had no money, no phone, no purse, no bank card, credit cards or cash. Your suitcase was back at your flat. Ambling around the side of the building, you shivered in the night air, realizing even your jacket was still in the building.

Tears burned your eyes but you couldn't give into them. Not now. Your best friend was out of town. It was a long weekend for your co-workers, at least in the office part of the museum. Your parents lived in another country.

Think, think.

A few minutes later, an old fashioned cab pulled up to the curb. The passenger side window lowered revealing a man with a flat cap and a mustache.

"Need a ride, señorita?"

Drawing your hands to your chest protectively, you quickly shook your head. "I-I don't have any money. I dropped my phone."

Shit. Why did you admit that to a stranger?

Jake Lockley nodded understandingly. He had been watching the hospital to make sure you had a ride, should you emerge. Marc's idea, after he did a little late night ass kicking. Marc knew the Moon Knight suit would frighten you, but he wanted to make sure you were okay. A cab ride might seem less intimidating.

"It's on me. You look like you could use a little help."

Tempting. But he probably worked for your boyfriend's boss. "No. No thank you. I'm fine."

"Understood. Be careful out there." He rolled up the window almost all the way before pausing. "I'll swing back by in a while, just in case you change your mind." He drove off without another word.

If he was aiming to hurt you or kidnap you, surely he could have forced you into the car, or worked harder to convince you it was safe to get into the car.

Weighing your options, you decided to try to walk back to the alley where the terrifying white-suited, Avenger-looking dude saved you. Hopefully your boyfriend would be gone and you could at least find your phone. From there, you would have a way to call a cab or the police or at least use money from your account.

As soon as you started walking, you realized how stupid this plan was. But what else could you do? It took you forever, but you finally found your way back to where you were attacked. Your boyfriend was indeed gone and after a maddening search, you found your phone with a cracked screen and 12% battery left.

Better than nothing. You thought you might order an Uber, but where could you go? Not home. Where?

Maybe to work. Someone there would help you, surely. Perhaps Steven from the gift shop - probably the kindest person you'd ever met. He lived in your building too, although you weren't sure in which flat.

You ordered the Uber, and ten minutes later, the same old fashioned cab pulled up to the curb. Your stomach flip-flopped, wondering if this mustached weirdo followed you. But he showed you the Uber confirmation and it was correct.

"But this is a cab," you reasoned.

He chuckled. "They don't make ‘em like this anymore, doll. This is my Uber car."

You tried to listen to your protective instincts, but the sun was rising. You'd been out all night and he was a legitimate driver. So you tucked yourself in the back seat.

The man tipped his hat, announced his name was Jake, and closed the door for you.

"Headed home?" He asked, glancing up at you in his rearview mirror.

"Uh no. No, I can't go home," you quickly answered, wrapping your arms around yourself and rubbing up and down with your hands.

"Got the heat on for you," he kindly offered, "and my jacket's laying across the back seat there, if you need it."

Your eyes cut over to the tempting leather. Without thinking about it too hard, you snatched the garment and pulled it around your trembling shoulders. The smell of not only leather but crisp freshness and earthy warmth, along with something like amber and oak, washed over you. You buried your nose in the comfort of it, grateful for this small mercy.

"Warming up?" He asked you after a quiet few minutes.

"Yes, thank you. You're very kind."

"My pleasure," he grinned in the rearview mirror and it made his eyes crinkle. Steven, from the museum, came to mind. His eyes did that too. "Where can I drop you? Have you decided yet or should I drive around for a while?"

"Oh god, sorry. One sec." Checking the time on your phone, you realized you'd been out practically all night, and the museum would open in a little more than an hour. You could wait outside. "The natural history museum, please."

"A little early for a trip through time. You sure?"

Just then, your stomach growled embarrassingly loudly.

"You ever eat at the bakery right down the street?"

"Um, sometimes." You fidgeted uncomfortably.

"No pressure. You just look like you could use something warm to drink."

Without another word, Jake pulled up to the museum's front entrance. You reached for the door handle, but stopped. "Actually...you're right. Could you drive me to the bakery? I'll just walk back to the museum when I'm done."

"As you wish."

A few minutes later, the old cab parked outside one of the only open restaurants at this hour. Jake rushed around to open the door for you and you quickly handed him his jacket.

"You can wear it if you're cold. No rush."

There was something warm and sincere in his eyes. Again your mind drifted to Steven.

"Thank you." As the two of you walked inside, you held up your phone. "I tried to pay for the Uber and leave you a tip, but it won't let me. Did the transaction get cancelled or something?"

"I told you," Jake reminded you, pulling open the bakery door, "My treat."

"Oh. Thank you. You didn't have to do that."

The two of you sat down and were quickly served glasses of water.

"At least let me pay for breakfast," you offered, but he laughed.

"They only take cash here, I think."

"Jake!" An older man bellowed, bustling up to the table with a karafe of piping hot coffee and two mugs. "We take more than cash. You can always wash the dishes."

The man winked down at you. "I'm teasing, sweetheart. Name's Burt. Janey got one of those Square things, so you can pay on your mobile if you do that kind of thing." He nodded at Jake. "But I'd make this one pay if I were you. Coffee or tea?"

You chuckled, happy to get your hands on a steaming mug of coffee, and slightly relieved that you wouldn't fall further into Jake's debt.

Soon enough, you filled your belly with a warm, flaky pastry and some eggs, polishing off two cups of coffee while you and Jake talked.

"Do you mind if I ask why you're going to the museum?" Jake inquired.

"Um...I work there," you slowly admitted.

"Oh." An unreadable expression clouded his handsome features. "But...I found you at the hospital last night. Are you hurt?"

Your eyes dipped in shame.

"Not trying to be nosy, just...concerned, is all." Gently reaching across the table, he pulled a leaf from your hair. An actual leaf.

You were mortified.

"Wanna freshen up before work?" He nodded toward the washroom.

"Yeah. Thanks." You made a beeline for the loo, wondering why you hadn't thought to put yourself together before walking into the museum like a crazy person.

Jake was right to be concerned. You looked like hell. Dark circles had formed under your eyes. Before you could continue silently berating yourself, the waitress named Janey quietly slipped through the swinging door.

"You okay, dear?" She softly asked, eyeing you in the mirror. Before you could answer, she handed you a clean cloth.

"Thank you," you whispered, gingerly taking the cloth and running it under the faucet. The kindness around you made you sniffle, and you were left wondering why you spent so much time on an asshole like your boyfriend.

"Rough night?" She waved her hand dismissively. "Don't want to pry. Just want to help."

"Thanks," you repeated. "Do you have a toothbrush for sale? Or...mints?"

Between you and Janey, you managed to clean up your mouth, wipe down the upper part of your body and manage to tame your hair.

"You come back by any time, dear," she said lowly as you walked back toward your table, but she reached out her arm to stop you. "I mean it. Anytime."

You nodded, reaching for your phone so you could pay for your meal. "On the house, sweetheart," Burt smiled down at you. "A friend of Jake's is a friend of mine."

You were speechless. Where had all the nice people been hiding?

Jake's eyes lit up when he saw you and he rose to greet you. "Feeling any better?"

You nodded, reaching for one more sip of water before you got back in the cab/Uber.

"Your friends are really nice. I haven't eaten there in a long time."

"We try to help each other out," Jake voiced, stealing a glance at you in the rearview mirror. "It can be rough out there."

You made it to the museum, thankful it would open soon. "You sure I can't pay you, or at least give you a good tip?" You asked him as he opened your door and offered you his gloved hand like a prince in a fairy tale.

"Just promise you'll call me if you need a ride. Or...anything. We'll call it even." He fidgeted with his mustache and you chuckled. Not a look you saw every day but he wore it well.

You thanked him again, but he noticed you stealing glances at his mustache.

"My uh...roomates think this thing is the worst. Not a good look?"

"Oh no," you laughed, "it's very dashing."

Jake bowed jokingly. "My lady."

You walked right into the museum wearing his jacket.

The security officer didn't recognize you because he worked weekends and you didn't. Probably a good thing. You could only hope Steven was scheduled today. But at least being inside the museum would give you a safe, comfortable place to think.

After meandering through several exhibits, you checked back at the gift shop, only to find Donna, Steven's boss, berating him for being late. He apologized profusely, professing that he had no idea why he hadn't heard his alarm. Poor thing. He was so sweet and Donna was just the worst.

She finally let him get to work, and as soon as she headed back to her office, you approached him carefully.

"Hi, Steven," you smiled at him, hoping he would have time to help you.

His eyes brightened when he saw you, but quickly narrowed in concern. You must really look like hell. "You alright, love?"

Bouncing on your toes, you shook your head quickly. "Not really. Can we talk?"

Steven knew he would get in trouble for leaving his post, but this was you. If you needed his help, Donna would have to wait.

Sure enough, she barreled back into the gift shop, ready for a lecture, but Steven pressed his hands together and demanded one more minute.

Guiding you by the elbow, he took you to a quiet corner. "Thought you had a long weekend. What brings you in?"

You asked if there might be any way you could talk in private, in one of the employee lounges. "I know you just got here. I can wait."

Chewing on his lip, he glanced between you and the swinging door where Donna lurked in her evil lair.

"Come on."

Once you were totally alone, he hesitantly reached for your face. “May I?” He whispered, gingerly brushing his fingertips over a scrape on your face. Peering down at your bruised wrist, he gently lifted your hand, shaking his head and exhaling sharply through his nose.

"You're hurt." His eyes locked with yours. "Who did this?"

Your face crumpled and you melted into his arms, the stress of the entire, sleepless night catching up to you. You knew this was the place to go, absolutely certain you would feel safe with Steven.

His heart burned protectively. The two of you sometimes ran into one another on your break, mostly out on the museum's front steps or at the vegan restaurant along the street. Occasionally you saw one another on the train home, or even in your building. He knew you had a boyfriend - the dimwitted bloke.

If that asshole hurt you...

"It's alright. You're safe here." He squeezed you comfortingly.

You finally settled, wiping your nose and eyes with Jake's jacket sleeve. Steven's eyes went wide as he studied the jacket carefully, but he shook his head and focused on you.

"Tell me what happened. What can I do?"

The softest brown eyed gaze you'd ever seen coaxed your confession out of you.

"I need your help," you whispered. "I need to get back into our building, but I don't have my key, or any of my stuff." You produced your phone. "And my phone is dead."

"Okay, of course," he nodded sincerely. "What about your boyfriend?"

"No, no, not him. I think he wants to kill me." You started to cry again.

"To k-kill you? Should we go to the police?"

"No, no police. I just need to get into my flat before my boyfriend gets back. If he's not back already."

Steven sighed. "I knew that dimwitted bloke was an asshole, but - kill you?"

"Steven, please can you help me or not?"

"Of course I will. Do you want to go now?"

"I don't want to get you in trouble with Donna. But my boss is her boss' boss...if that helps. I’ll ask him to pull rank.”

You and Steven took the train back to your building. Although you were half tempted to request Jake's Uber, Steven quickly dismissed that notion without sounding rude.

He let you in the building and you found the super, letting him know you "lost" your key. The super seemed willing to let you in, but warned you not to let it happen again.

As you exited the lift, you carefully looked for any sign of your boyfriend.

"What if he's home?" Steven whispered. "How will you know?

"I guess we just have to take that chance."

The super unlocked your door and you tiptoed inside with Steven behind you. The place seemed to be empty, thank god.

Darting to your bedroom, you recovered the packed luggage your jerk boyfriend tossed aside last night. You rushed to your safe to collect some important documents, working as quickly as you could manage. You made it out the door, not caring that you left it unlocked, dragging your luggage and almost making it around the corner when your heart stopped at the sound of your boyfriend shouting, "Hey!"

You and Steven exchanged looks before he grabbed your hand and your luggage. "Quickly! The stairs."

Trusting his lead, you ran, making your way to his flat, several floors up, before your boyfriend could follow, or figure out what floor you ended up on.

Steven ushered you into his flat, bolting the door as the two of you panted erratically from your exertion.

"Thank you," you gasped, reaching for your baggage. Finally getting a good look around, you couldn't believe how different Steven's flat looked from yours. His was on the top floor, in what appeared to be a loft, or converted old attic. The roof was steeply pitched with skylights offering more natural light than just the windows.

More than a dozen bookshelves burst with multicolored, worn paperbacks and gorgeous hardbacks. Ancient Egyptian artifacts, maps and souvenirs littered his cluttered desk and shelves. And in the middle of it all sat a bright aquarium with three plump goldfish.

You felt as if you stepped through a portal into another world. How could this place be in your building?

"Steven, your place is..."

"Bit of a mess, yeah? Sorry. Who's the biggest hoarder around? Me." He blushed, pointing to himself.

"No, it's wonderful. It's so different than my flat. It's like an old library."

He smiled, emboldened by your compliment. "You like to read?"

"Not this much, but yes. I do. I like the skylights." You locked eyes with him. "It's really soothing here." Reaching for his arm, you squeezed gently. "Thank you for helping me."

"Anytime." The crinkles around his warm eyes reminded you of Jake. It occured to you then, that Jake had also reminded you of Steven.

"Cuppa tea?" He asked, nodding toward the kitchen.

"Sure," you shrugged, following him. "I'll help."

The two of you worked quietly for a moment, when you asked him if he had a brother.

He swallowed hard. "I did...long time ago. He passed away."

"Oh shit, I'm so sorry, Steven." God, what an idiot you were. "I just...you reminded me of someone and I just thought, maybe... I'm really sorry."

"'Salright. You didn't know."

The two of you prepped the tea, boiling the kettle before steeping the leaves.

"This is his jacket, actually," you finally continued. "I forgot to give it back to him after he gave me a cab ride. Or...Uber, actually. He uses a vintage cab as his Uber car."

Steven almost dropped the cup and saucer he was holding. "That so?"

"Yeah, he helped me last night. Like I said, I forgot to give him back his jacket. He was kind, and when he smiled...he reminded me of you."

"O-of me?" Steven cleared his throat.

"Yeah." You shrugged. "Anyway, I'm sorry about the brother thing, but I just wondered. He had like this 1980s mustache though."

Steven, who had just brought a sip of tea to his lips spat it right back into his teacup, coughing a few times. "You're not serious. A silly little tache?"

You giggled. "Yes. I told him it was dashing. He wore it well. But he reminded me of you somehow. American lad though. Thick accent."

"Mmm," Steven nodded, cleaning up the mess he'd made. "I'm happy Jake was able to help you."

Your eyes went wide. "I didn't tell you his name."

Steven's mouth dropped open. "Right. I actually know him. Flat cap? Mustache?" He pointed at you. "Leather jacket, cab?"

"Oh," you gasped, smiling. "Don't you think you guys could be related?"

Pressing his lips together, Steven answered diplomatically. "Never really thought about it exactly like that, but...yes, I suppose so."

He paused for a moment before growing more serious. "So what's going on with your boyfriend? Or, ex-boyfriend, I hope."

"Yes, definitely," you assured him, attempting to explain what you'd gone through lately and how you suspected your boyfriend of working for a crime boss of some sort.

"As much as I love this flat, I'm even scared for you to live in this shit hole building with him, Steven. I think he's really dangerous."

As if waiting for his cue, your boyfriend pounded on Steven's front door, demanding, in foul language, to be let in.

"Do not open that," you warned him, but it was too late. His hunched shoulders squared up, chiseled jaw clenching. A deep wrinkle appeared between dark eyebrows as the typical twinkle in his eye went cold.

"Steven, no, don't!" You watched in horror as he yanked open the door, grabbed your boyfriend by the collar and dragged him inside. Kicking the door shut with one foot, he slammed the taller man against the wall, nostrils flaring as his eyes flashed.

Your boyfriend shouted an insulting protest, but with one, precise jab to his throat, he was rendered speechless and left gasping for air.

"Listen to me, asshole," Steven spat, but his voice sounded entirely different. It came out as a growl. And...American.

It couldn't be. Jake? But it didn't sound like him either.

"You're never touching anyone again," he went on, menacingly. “You're never coming back here again. You're moving out. Right now." He pointed to you with one hand. "Lose their number."

Your boyfriend raged, struggling against Steven's powerful, one-handed grip, but he still couldn't speak.

"You think your boss will protect you?" He taunted. "Your boss is a pussy. He's already dead. And you're next." Roughly releasing him, he motioned him out the door condescendingly. "Better run."

With a hopeless glance your way, he was gone.

Steven's head dropped as he waited for your reaction.

You finally whispered his name, inching closer. "Are you American? I don't understand."

Finally meeting your eyes, he answered, "I'm Marc. I'll let Steven explain."

Shoulders hunched and hands drawn to his chest, Steven came back to you, fidgeting uncertainly. "Bit of a long story. Want that tea now?"

Then he explained how you'd spent the entire night with one man, occasionally fielding questions like, "wait, you're the white mummy man?" And, "wait...you're Jake?"

Steven laughed sheepishly. "In a manner of speaking."

"Oh good, I can give you your jacket back. Wait - where's your mustache?"

The thought of Jake wearing a fake mustache was so hilariously endearing to you.

Steven let you take a nap on his couch and use his washroom to freshen up. Later, he ordered takeaway for an early supper. The two of you talked, trying to come up with plan to help you move on with your life.

"I know this is weird to say at a time like this, but...I've always had a little bit of a crush on you."

"On me?" Steven almost choked on his food. "I never knew."

"It's stupid, really. Just ignore me."

"Not at all. But can I ask you a question? Why did you stay with that plonker?"

You shrugged helplessly, shaking your head. "I guess I never knew there was anything better."

Angstember Masterlist || Moon Knight Masterlist || Main Masterlist

#angstember #angstember24challenge #oscar isaac characters #moon knight #marc spector #steven grant #jake lockley #steven grant x reader #marc spector x reader #jake lockley x reader #prompt: I never knew

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aviiarie · 14 days ago

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˚ ₊ ‧ ♡ UNLIKELY COMPANION — feat. kyojuro event masterlist.

synopsis. you're certain that the creature that keeps visiting you is something completely inhuman, but you don't mind. he seems quite fond of you, and always tries his best to look after you, so who are you to complain? warnings. none? notes. requested by anon. demon!kyojuro. gn!reader. fluff? 1.7k words. i hope this is okay, i wasn't sure about this one but i couldn't keep editing it T-T

The first thing you were taught was fear.

Fear came in the form of caution, learnt through a thousand tales of reckless children and their inevitable demises. Those who ventured out of their home when the sun fell, who dared to stray from the path when walking in the forest, were whispered about like ghost stories. Your elders made sure the horrors were never forgotten, always lurking in the back of your mind like cobwebs.

So you learnt, and learnt well. You heeded their advice, and kept your house locked up before you slept, lighting the lanterns outside, and burning wisteria incense to ward off any stray evils.

It wasn't an infallible defense, but it was better than nothing, they said. Anything less would be like offering yourself up like a piece of meat on a platter.

The cause of the fear, the ones who were waiting to snatch up unsuspecting humans and tear them to shreds, those were less certain in your mind. All that was really known was the trail that they left behind; massacres of entire families, young men and women vanishing without a trace, bloodstains splattered across the forest floor.

'Demons' was what they were called.

They were what kept people barricaded inside their houses, huddled under blankets and fearing the moonlight poking through the cracks in their windows. The bloodthirsty creatures emerged at sundown, feasting on human flesh, and retreating before dawn. They were stronger, faster, and much more deadly than any other danger a human could face.

The village was right to fear them, and so were you.

Once, the idea of walking through the forest in the dead of night would have given you a heart attack. Now, it had become just another part of your day.

It was simply too much of a good opportunity to pass on. Collecting herbs and plants to sell was what kept food on your table, and some of the most sought after greenery bloomed only at night. The risk was high, but in times of desperation as strong as yours, common sense was disregarded. You weren't a kid anymore, and you needed some sort of income to keep yourself afloat.

Most would—and have, for that matter—called you mad for your little 'hobby'. Hunting plants in demon-infested woods at night was equal to plucking the whiskers off a tiger's face as it's sleeping.

“Do you have a death wish?” The doctor asked with a shake of his head. He accepted the herbs graciously, offering a generous sum for your effort, but still scolded you for your actions. “What sense do you have, going out at night alone?”

You smiled and waved him off every time, assuring him that you were careful, and you weren't in any danger. You never bothered to correct him that you weren't alone, but you doubted the truth would be any comfort to the man.

-----

As always, you felt him before you saw him.

The first sign was the wind—which was as howling and brutal a late-night breeze could be—suddenly going still. You paused in where you were crouched over a crop of flowers, hand still poised and ready to pluck them from the soil.

The next sign was a sudden warmth behind you, like a forest fire was creeping up at your back. It was a cold night—or it was up until he appeared, leaving a pleasant heat in his wake.

Finally, if you hadn't put the pieces together, his booming voice confirmed any lingering doubts.

“[Name]! I see you are still collecting plants!”

A smile broke over your face, even before you saw him. You grabbed a handful of the flowers and tossed them into your bag, straightening up and turning to face him.

“I am,” You agreed pleasantly. “I see you're back.”

He was grinning back at you, eyes wide and bright. You found yourself studying them, watching his irises shift and swirl in shades of yellow and orange, like there was a bonfire burning behind his eyes.

At a first glance, he wasn't anything out of the ordinary. There were no obvious abnormalities, no inhuman features that would prove he's anything less than a perfectly normal man. It was only when you looked closer that you noticed he never seemed to blink, his teeth were unusually sharp, and his skin was always burning when you touched it.

You would have to be a fool, spending as much time around him as you had and not suspecting him to be something otherworldly, but you didn't let it trouble you. Even if he was the creature that you were warned about, he didn't seem like he had any intention of harming you.

Even after what you were taught, it was difficult to see him as someone to fear, when the very first time you had met him was through him saving your life.

On one of your first visits to the forest, you had stumbled into one of the 'demons' that you were warned about. You had enough wits to drop your bag and bolt towards the town, but you could hear heavy footsteps behind you, getting closer and closer.

In the end, the strain on your lungs slowed you down, until you were collapsed heavily against a tree, with nowhere left to run. You squeezed your eyes shut, waiting for the moment that the demon would tear you to shreds.

It never came.

Slowly, you opened your eyes and glanced around, still wheezing from the exertion. There was no sound or sign of a struggle, it was as if the creature had gotten spooked and run away.

But what could possibly scare away a demon?

That was when you saw him, stepping out of the trees with your bag held loosely in one of his hands. He looked over at you with owlish eyes, unblinking as he held out the item you had lost.

“I believe this is yours.”

Numbly, you took the offered bag, still leaning against the tree trunk. The man stepped back, smiling widely.

“Call me Kyojuro!” He proclaimed, his voice echoing through the quiet clearing.

“I-It's nice to meet you, Kyojuro.” You had stammered out, still reeling from the close call. “My name is [Name].”

“You should not be here!” He continued, as if you hadn't spoken at all. “There are more dangers than losing your belongings, you know!”

You only nodded, still in shock.

After that, he walked you back to your house, making you promise to not to explore the forest at night anymore. You were careful with your response, instead vowing that you wouldn't get into danger like that again. When he waved you goodbye, there was a strange curl of warmth in your chest that you couldn't quite place.

Of course, it wasn't your last visit to the forest, much to Kyojuro's chagrin. He managed to find you every time, chiding you for coming back even after his warning. Every time, he would accompany you as you collected plants, and every time he would walk you home.

There was a hint of fear, for a while, but it wore off easily. While his unwavering gaze and loud voice unnerved you at first, he was a warm, steady presence that you found yourself craving, even during the daytime. He wasn't violent, or unpredictable, as you had been led to believe creatures of his kind were.

If anything, he seemed oddly fond of you.

It showed in strange ways, but the way he always made sure you arrived home safe, and the times he would leave bento boxes on your doorstep to discover in the mornings, and the genuine care in his voice when he inquired about your well-being told you more than words ever could.

“I have returned, yes!” Kyojuro nodded. “I apologise for my absence. It has been a busy few days.”

“I don't mind,” You reassured him. The wind brushed against your face, making you shiver. “I've been busy too, I haven't been foraging much.”

“That is—” He cut himself off abruptly, the smile sliding off his face. In two quick strides, he crossed the clearing and was right in front of you. “You are cold.”

“It's just the wind.” You pulled your haori tighter around yourself.

“You are cold.” Kyojuro's voice was more distressed than you have ever heard it. He reached out his hand, pressing it against your cheek. His skin, as burning hot as it always was, was a welcomed relief on your cold face. Unconsciously, you found yourself leaning into the touch.

“It's not that bad, really—”

“No. You are too cold. Have you collected enough for tonight?”

“I guess, but—”

“Good.”

Without another word, he leaned down and scooped you up in his arms as if you were weightless. With a gasp, you clutched onto his sleeve, as he adjusted his position so he was carrying you with one hand under your knees and the other supporting your back.

“Kyojuro!” You hissed, your face growing warm in embarrassment. “I can walk, I don't need to be carried!”

Kyojuro clicked his tongue in disapproval, calmly walking back through the path of the forest towards your house. “I disagree. With how long you've spent out in the cold night air, you might be sick. I wouldn't want you collapsing before you get home.”

You scowled into his chest. As flustered as the sudden gesture made you, you could see the care behind it. It was his way of taking care of you, or at least you assumed it was.

And it was difficult to be annoyed, when he was so warm, and you were still so cold from being out all night. Leaning against him was like curling up by a fire; it was enough to lull you into a gentle slumber.

It was only when you arrived home that you stirred, as he laid you down on your bed to sleep, pulling the sheet up to your chin.

“Goodnight, [Name].” Kyojuro said, tucking a strand of your hair behind your ear.

“Goodnight...” You mumbled.

If this was what you were supposed to fear, then you didn't mind ignoring the warnings.

🏷️ taglist: @mollzaj, @mitsvriii, @an-angstyteen

#☆ — ghost stories.#★ — avie's writing.#kny x reader #demon slayer x reader #kimetsu no yaiba x reader #rengoku x reader #rengoku kyojuro x reader #kyojuro x reader #kyojuro rengoku x reader

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neptunes-sol-angel · 6 months ago

Text

Just a little reminder that everyone has a feminine and masculine side, so don't hesitate to read the messages for your masculine side too.

Paid Services | Botanica | Tip Jar

Pile One 🕺

BEYONCÉ - COZY

Right away, I’m detecting that this pile is trying to work through some bitterness and that’s ok. I get the gist that this collective is aware of this and are either accepting of it or in denial of it because of the assumption that it’s embarrassing or demeaning to feel that way. I always want to remind people that it’s okay to feel negative emotions. Having them is not what defines you but how you choose to express them is how it truly characterizes you. It feels like this brooding energy is like a seesaw or a visual representation of tug of war, because it’s happening in two different directions. This pile could be in limbo with trying to reach the other side of realizing your self-worth. There’s bitterness split into two directions. Acerbic agony over “why not me?” in terms of finding people who accept and match the love that you give to others and “why me?” when it comes to jealousy and vitriol that makes you afraid of your own potential for success and dim your light. What your feminine side is asking of you is to stop watering yourself down because you feel it’s safer that way to be under others. Take note of the vibe that you get from this channeled song because it’s time to get “cozy” with who you are and take some initiative in the lessons that you’ve been through by talking your shit. You sat with your pain long enough to know its beginning but to finally decide how YOU want to create its end. If you’re in a funk where it’s making you feel meek and want to self-sabotage, reach deep inside yourself to know that the answer isn’t to revert back to old patterns and lies that people told you to keep you stuck because they don’t want to see you grow. Get cozy with yourself because you must understand that every step of the way isn’t going to be comfortable all of the time but I feel that a lot of you are at a point where things are getting worse before they get better. It could be something external going on, but I feel that it’s mostly mental. You’re going to come out of this even stronger than before and you’re going to move differently and choose differently but also get an upgrade relating to speech. How you talk to yourself will improve, you’ll speak with more confidence, and your words will match exactly with your feelings when it comes to communicating with others. The main thing that I am seeing here is no longer trying to make accommodations that make you suffer in the end just to protect another person’s ego.

Pile Two 🕺

BEYONCÉ -MOVE

I’m sensing a lot of completion with this pile. If you’re not in this new energy yet, prepare for people making a lot of misconceptions about you. You could be accused of being aloof or have people nitpicking or trying to diagnose you based on little to no evidence. It doesn’t have to be this exact situation but what I first would like to point out is that it’s like, you’re floating down this river, unphased, and just flowing with the currents. Or that you’re water itself, becoming mutable with your form but regardless of what changes are made, you’re still water. If you’ve experienced intense feelings over people ghosting you or just not prioritizing you in the past, I’m seeing that you’ll be at a stage where you understand that what those people did wasn’t at all right and you’re no longer internalizing it with your thoughts and actions, but in other words, you’re not going to be that person anymore that’s waiting for a text. You’re not going to wait for people to act right, wait for other people’s approval, or postpone your life for people who like to play with your time. I’m getting the message that you shouldn’t stop yourself from doing whatever it is that you think about doing because “they will talk about you either way”. This could apply to promoting yourself in some way, maybe for a new job opportunity, or just taking a chance to improve your health. You may have anxiety of thinking that maybe there’s no point in trying to see what you can do for your body because you’ve been stagnant for years because of circumstances that weren’t really in your control, like finances or being dependent on a toxic parent. This could also be something else, but either way it’s like you’re afraid of what you could hear, possibly something negative or even just a “no”, but I’m hearing you can’t make that judgment without trying, because you might actually receive a yes, assistance in getting back on your feet again, or good news about your timing in getting something done before you could miss out on what’s important.

Pile Three 🕺

BEYONCÉ - CUFF IT

A rebirth is needed for this pile. There’s a lot of indulgence that feels mindless and endless because you’re seeking to satiate a need or needs but there are people who are already aware of this but are in need of confirmation for which way is the right direction to go. It’s about experiencing everything for the first time all over again. Not in a dreadful way to make you suffer, but to soothe any worries over not finding happiness if you don’t have that “one thing”. If you’ve been tested recently on remaining brave in your decision to part ways with someone but are having second doubts or the fear that you’re going to miss out, maybe that “need” that you have can be replenished by just being around your family to remind yourself that you aren’t lacking love and support around you. If you’re feeling “sexual”, maybe it isn’t sex that you necessarily need and that it’s just your soul telling you to create. If you’ve been used to seeking answers through spiritual measures but are still left confused, then maybe that’s a sign that it’s time to step back and take a break from the unseen and to come back and relearn how to go through life from just being instead of trying to know everything. Even if it isn’t those specific scenarios previously mentioned, you’re on a journey of wisdom of learning that a lot of the things that you’ve considered as losses haunting your everyday life, were not really losses, because they can be replaced by something else that’s going to lead you into falling more in love with yourself.

#divination #intuitive #psychic #pick a card #tarot #spirituality #tarotblr #pac #pick a pile #tarot readers of tumblr #the tarot community #tarot community #beyonce

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mixtape-0325 · 1 year ago

Text

Testosterone

Stray Kids; Hwang Hyunjin x M. reader (18+)

Word count: 1k

Content: Hyunjin leads, dirty talk incl. quite a bit on stretching the reader, mxm incl. oral and anal sex, cum swallowing, spit as lube, spanking.

We need more male reader fics even if the community is smaller, so I hope you enjoy this one 🖤

"Please baby, stop teasing", you beg at him as your length had already grown hard between you and your boyfriend. His perfectly shaped lips continuously pressed against your inner thigh that you could just imagine already what they would feel like on you. His arm went through the opening of your shorts on the other side, resting dangerously close to the base of your length. It wasn't just mean, Hyunjin knew what he was doing and he knew it had a big effect on you.

You reached out to him and brushed his hair out of his face, holding it tightly into a ponytail as he let his mouth hover over the outline of your hard cock that stretched the fabric of your soft shorts. He never pressed a kiss to the fabric, instead smirking at you as his eyes met yours.

"B-baby...", you spoke as you felt your length twitch between your legs. Hyunjin noticed your little desperate movement, but only chuckled to himself before backing up his actions and moving his hands to your waist instead.

"Up", he said confidently. You lifted your hips up from the bed to let him take your shorts off, no boxers underneath making everything even easier. He hummed in satisfaction as he saw your cock fully hard, veins along the side, the tip already more brightly red than normal, a few drops of pre cum leaking past your slit. All because of him. He pushed one of his hands against your abdomen, having you slightly lean back to rest on your elbows rather than sit down.

"You want me?", he asked teasingly, one of his palms moving up your thigh as the other ghosted over his own length. It made you think of his cock, the details of it, the length, how you wondered if you could ever take all.

"Want my mouth baby?", he continued before pressing a kiss to your tip, then letting his warm tongue brush over your sensitive slit to collect the pre cum leaking from it. His knees were tightly pressed against the floor beneath you, making you even more eager to have him.

"B-baby if you don't a-anytime soon i'll be the one f-fucking you today", you teased seconds before his big lips wrapped around the head of your cock fully. And within seconds he was taking more, filling his throat with you. And fuck, did his mouth feel good. He knew how to make it just the right amount of tight, and god does he make it wet. Strings of saliva connect to him whenever he moves away for a brief moment, only to take every inch again and bob his head on your cock.

"Y-yeah, keep going", you breathe heavily as he speeds up and the room fills with sloppy, wet sounds. Hyunjin never gags on you once, and not cause you're not a prominent size yourself, but because he has trained his throat with you so well that he can take you perfectly.

It doesn't take long until you're close to release, and Hyunjin uses his hand to jerk you your last way to climax. His tongue lays under your tip to catch every last drop of your cum to swallow, and his hands equally hold your body firm to the bed as it twitches with every new spurt.

Hyunjin chuckled as he watched you catch your breath, knees lifting from the floor to hover over your figure instead. He pressed a deep kiss to your lips, giving you a hint of your own taste. Without having much time to think, his hands were on your hips again and helped you up with him, bodies tightly pressed against each other. His hips grinded into yours, lips hovered over your neck as he eagerly took control over your body once again, this time for his sake.

"Turn around, baby", he whispers seductively into your ear before kissing your earlobe, a sensitive spot for many men like you. When you did as told just a little too slowly for his liking, his grip on you becomes stronger and Hyunjin pushed you over the edge of the bed in a rush. His palm held your back down so he could press himself against your ass, his free hand guiding his long, hard cock to your rim. His next hum was one much more deep, much louder.

Hyunjin let the head of his cock push past your rim, spit dropping from his mouth straight onto himself to smoothen the process. "aa-ah, fuck yeah", he groaned as he watched your hole take him with a slight struggle.

A smack against your ass followed, as Hyunjin brought himself into a mindset he didn't get out of anytime soon. You hummed in pleasure with every hit that followed, jolting forward at the impact and the burn.

"Fuck me", you begged to encourage his own lust further, that waited patiently all evening for any real pleasure himself. "Every inch baby", he replied as he pushed into you further with a groan. "Gonna make you take it all".

Hyunjin's hand once again pressed you down onto the bed, a strong grip onto your body as he thrusted forward for you to take more of him at once. "a-ahh shit, yeah, that's it, little more", and with a few more thrusts he filled you completely, and god was it overstimulating, so much, but so good.

A moan fell from your lips with every slight readjustment of his position, stretching you further. You could just sense him smirking behind you, and you weren't wrong.

You let out another moan as you felt his wet finger tease your rim, pulling at the skin and applying pressure that had you seeing stars with already being filled to your max. "s-so tight...", he whispered.

Hyunjin's hips started to move, earning gasps from you at the feeling that only became stronger as he sped up in no time. "Gonna fuck you so good, baby, fuck you open".

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ybklix · 5 months ago

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omgg how about Han Jisung being supportive and pretending to be happy for y/n when she was dating his best friend?

𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐫𝐤

♡ pairing: bff!han x fem!reader

♡ genre: angst ?

✧summary: Han simply tries to be happy after the news that you're dating his best friend, but his heart and body betray him, however his brain controls his mouth by just keep telling you the sweetest things and wishing you the best.

★ warnings: suggestive wet dream with oral sex, mention of masturbation

word count: 2.2k

MASTERLIST

a/n: ok i wrote this, i hope it’s okay<3 :0

Han pretended to smile, as he felt his insides shatter, his heart pounding and he suddenly felt so dry, as if all the blood in his system had left him.

Your words were simple, carefree, but sharp and heartbreaking to Han, “Oh, it's not big news, but Chan and I are dating.”

The whole table watched you guys in surprise, dumbfounded, while shouts of 'agh, we saw this coming', 'Channie once again doing his thing', and on the other side, Han Jisung, silently, sketching a smile showing his teeth.

You were a group of six best friends who did everything together, you and your other two girl best friends, Ari, Jiah, the guys, Han, Changbin and Chan.

You were all friends but for Han… at least he felt that among the six of you, you two were the closest, the only flaw of Jisung, or Han, as you all usually call him, is that he is extremely reserved, behind his lively personality, jokes and laughter, he always hides deep inside him his real feelings and he knows how to do it so well, that's why no one felt bad for him when you announced that you and Chan were dating, no one knew that Jisung secretly loved you, not even you, you just knew how incredibly sweet and good a friend he was, even to Ari and Jiah who only expressed sweetly about Han, saying he was always there to help them, but to him there was always a slight more special treat for you.

Han wanted to cry, you looked so happy as his best friend wrapped his arms around your waist behind the elongated couch in the restaurant. You decided to tell everyone at the same time, like removing a band aid so quickly.

Jisung blamed the city, he was devastated that he had to find a damn thing to blame other than himself and his inability to express himself since because of him, for not speaking up sooner, he had lost you, maybe forever. Chan was… everything he wasn't, he was more charming, not as assertive with his words as Jisung was, but, he managed to captivate people in his own way, he was stronger, older, openly cared for people more and…. He expressed what he felt without any problem.

You would never have suspected it from Han, he was energetic and funny with the whole group, he had a couple of failed dates but in every gathering of friends he makes it clear that for the moment, love is not knocking at his door, everyone listens to him, and comforts him equally, but it's only your words and actions that matter the most to him. Or mattered, for you were now another man's, his best friend's.

The six of you had planned one of your trips, as usual, this time it had been New York, Jiah and Changbin had some small business in the city so the rest of the group signed up as a group trip. You had been talking to Chan secretly since before the trip, flirting by message, until, sure enough just as Jisung thought, your romance bomb went off once you arrived in the new city.

That night Han walked aimlessly, he took cabs whose routes he didn't know, he felt like a movie character alone and sad in an unknown city, and, if his memory didn't fail him, he made it to Brooklyn, where the famous bridge witnessed his tears and a sad and empty Jisung; there was no explanation for his feeling, it was as if he was drunk, floating and searching for his soul… he had to get rid of you and every little thing his mind collected as something he adored. The sound of your laughter, your manners, everything.

He went back to the building where the six of you stayed, he used the silly excuse of wanting to explore the city just to have inspiration for his songs, since he was a songwriter, but of all the sweet love songs he wrote you, which he always made it clear he wrote because he saw a movie or read a book, they wouldn't compare to everything that came with experiencing his heartbreak.

You stayed in one room with your other two friends, and the guys stayed in another room, it was late so Jisung decided not to make so much noise when entering the apartment, he fought with all his will not to snoop around Chan's room to find out if he would be there… and if he wasn't, there was only one painful option, he was with you, in your arms.

Again, a pang in his chest, he felt as if he had just had such a painful breakup and you didn't even kiss once, there was nothing between you in the sight of everyone and yours but just friendship. He was so down that he just let himself lay on the bed, face down, hoping he wouldn't wake up the next morning or if he did, he wished it had all been a nightmare, that Changbin would wake him up the next morning and that their group of friends was still the same without dating each other.

But even his mind was not in poor Jisung's favor, he had such a vivid and deep dream, where even he could feel that he was smiling on the outside, the dream was you and Han, in a karaoke booth, like one of your many nights together, having fun, singing loudly and jumping, then he would sit, taking his glass with his drink and admiring you, you would sing looking towards the screen and then energetically turn to him, wanting to invite him to sing but by accident you hit his drink spilling it on him.

“Oh, I'm sorry I'm sorry” you were saying to him as you got down on your knees trying to clean it up, in a concerned tone and then laughing.

“It's ok, it's ok” Jisung would reply to you as he noticed you frantically patting, a specific part of him that in moments it woke up.

In his dream it was so fast, there was no need for words, just you looking him straight in the eyes while biting your lip, unbuttoning his pants and pulling down his underwear to promptly take his cock in your mouth, having Jisung completely ecstatic, his gasps unheard over the loud music, the dark light of the cabin with the colored lights illuminating you taking his cock… and suddenly, Jisung woke up startled, his phone vibrating in his pocket startled him, shaking, still excited and heart racing, he picked up his cell phone and saw that it was several messages from you. He was still blurry-eyed after waking up and couldn't see clearly if they were old or recent messages, so he rubbed his eyes and there it was, message just now.

He saw the time… thinking what the hell were you doing insisting him so late when you were supposed to already have a boyfriend to bother, including on your energetic nights when you can't sleep but you'd talk to Han. He opened your chat, and that's exactly what it was about, you couldn't sleep and you wanted to see him.

Han threw his phone annoyed towards his bed, he sighed in frustration and turned in bed to look up at the ceiling, a few seconds ago he was horny, now he was back to finding the sensations afloat, still with the erection in his tight jeans, but sad. Worst of all, he'd go after your call no matter what. Han lifted his chin and gaze, looking down at his aching erection and, he waited, for his mood swing to do its job and soften his cock, but it wouldn't so he almost annoyed, he had to masturbate, feeling so fucking embarrassed and humiliated. As if losing the girl he loved wasn't enough, now he had to masturbate in his room in a suite shared with his two other friends in an unknown city at 4 in the morning.

Han cleaned up his mess, tidied himself up a bit and hurried out, towards the hotel lobby where you had summoned him. He saw you, wearing your pajamas sitting at the large reception couch. Your face lit up at the sight of him and it broke him up even more.

He sat next to you, breathing in your sweet scent.

“The city that never sleeps, also has people working all the time who don't sleep either” you told him jokingly, “I'm still not used to the time difference, and you?”

“I've been sleeping pretty well” he replied curtly, his life was going pretty well since he found out you were dating Chan, to be accurate and honest, but he couldn't tell you that.

You saw Han with a slight pout on your face, since dinner you noticed him very silent, he didn't even limited himself to joke a little with the news of you and Chan dating, and he didn't want to accompany the rest of you to walk around the city, you wondered if something was wrong with him. So you decided to tell him:

“All right… you've been quiet…” you tilted your head, trying to catch his gaze.

“I'm fine” smiled Han, daring to look you in the eyes, bad decision, if he saw you another second longer he would start crying, “I'm tired, it's late.”

“Oh, I'm really sorry, Sungie, it's just that since you responded to my texts I thought you were awake, I shouldn't have woken up…”

“I'm fine, I was tired but I couldn't sleep either.”

You looked at Han, his eyes actually looked a little tired, it wasn't his typical look of his round eyes wide open, attentive and tender.

“Well, I'm glad you're here with me” you told him with a smile, leaning your body more towards him, Han was just praying like he had never prayed in his life, please don't mention him, but you did, “… It's just that you were quiet, you didn't even joke about the news or anything” you said amused.

Han closed his eyes deeply, taking a deep breath of his pain.

“It was nothing to joke about about” he replied again serious.

“Uh, I know, but, I don't know why I expected it from you… but, can I confess something to you?”

Han watched you attentively, paying attention to your every move and word, despite his body being sore and tired. He nodded.

“Well it's weird… now I'm going back home with a boyfriend after I publicly announced that I hated all men” you joked to which he let out a chuckle, “I don't know if I did the right thing by starting dating someone from the same group, I don't want to mess up the whole group by creating tension and being that typical dumb couple.”

Han smiled sideways at your honesty, not knowing that you had ruined it, or at least both of it, both the friendship and him; eventually, which Han doesn't expect or want you to, trouble will appear… creating the most cliché scenario of all, that was also one of the main reasons why he stopped himself, he thought of everyone, he thought of Changbin, Ari, Jiah… and Chan; Jisung wanted to laugh in disbelief as he realized that ultimately Chan didn't give a shit about the non-existent code and morals of their group of friends, but Han didn't blame him either, for you, who wouldn't do everything, he would kill for you if you asked him to, and deep down, he just hoped Chan would do the same for you, love you well, know every detail that you dislike, and when you're feeling really down you have a marathon of every episode of Treehouse of horror from The Simpsons.

“I've known Chan…” began Han sincerely, trying to say the right words to express what he was feeling at such a vulnerable moment, “longer than I've known you, I know exactly how he is” and how you are, Han thought, “I know… he knows how to take care of people very well and... of course, he'll take care of you very well.”

Han tried to smile, but a knot formed in his throat, he couldn't keep talking, a flood of emotions overwhelmed his body and mind, he thought about how beautiful it is to love you, how lucky his best friend is, he thought about Chan, about their long years of friendship, he never failed him even once… just this one time, but how was he supposed to know, he had no idea that Han liked you.

Han couldn't change the time, he can't go back in all the countless opportunities he could have told you how much he liked you and… That he loved you, so all that was left for him to do was to be mature, and wish you well.

“Still” he cleared his throat, “you know you can always count on me, I'll always be there for you no matter what… Chan is, a very good man.”

You smiled at him, feeling his words like a warm hug, when to him, they were like stabs inside, you leaned your head on his shoulder, enjoying the noise of the city piercing the walls and enjoying the closeness of your best friend, you hoped that even if you dated Chan, it wouldn't ruin your friendship with Jisung. You really adored him.

-----

taglist: @rylea08 @hann1bee @iovecb97 @armystay89

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mostlysignssomeportents · 5 months ago

Text

Ticketmaster jacks us for billions so it can pocket millions

NEXT WEEKEND (June 7–9), I'm in AMHERST, NEW YORK to keynote the 25th Annual Media Ecology Association Convention and accept the Neil Postman Award for Career Achievement in Public Intellectual Activity.

Corruption is a system of concentrated gains and diffused costs: cheaters make a lot of money, and their victims each lose a little. The cheater has a much larger pool of money to spend on keeping the scam going, and the victims need to pay again to fight the cheater.

Actually, it's worse. The victim pays once when they are cheated, then, they pay a second time (in time and/or money) when they fight back against the cheater.

But in order to fight back effectively, the victims need to band together – it doesn't make sense for one victim to pony up to counter the cheater, because the cheater stole from a lot of people and can therefore spend far more than the victim lost and still come out ahead.

This is the third time the victim pays: they pay the "collective action" tax of locating other victims, agreeing to a common strategy for fighting back, and then coordinating with all those co-victims to keep the campaign up.

But actually, it's even worse. Because most corruption isn't just dishonest, it's incredibly wasteful. Corruption involves stealing ten dollars from you to make a dime for the cheater. The polluter who gives you cancer rather than cleaning up their industrial process costs you millions in medical bills – and maybe costs your family the lifelong trauma and expense of living with your death. They pocket an infinitesimal fraction of those costs. The rest is just wasted. They're setting your house on fire to spare themselves the cost of a match to light their cigar.

This is yet another way in which the deck is stacked in favor of corruption. A victim of corruption is placed in a condition of precarity and misery from which is it difficult to marshal a counteroffensive. The cheater, meanwhile, is made stronger and more comfortable by their corrupt activities. Immiserated victims must undertake the hard, ongoing work of acting together to be effective against the cheater. The cheater answers only to themself, avoiding the collective action costs that the victims pay every time they seek to act.

All of this is why we have governments. A government is (said to be) a democratically accountable way to meet the concentrated power of the corrupt with the concentrated power of the victims of corruption. Governments are many things, but they are especially a way of solving the collective action problem of enforcing the rules against cheaters. This is partially in service to justice – no one likes to be cheated, and a society of rampant and routine cheating is unstable and prone to collapse.

But it's also a matter of efficiency. While it makes a certain kind of selfish sense for the cheater to liquidate our dollar to make their penny, from a societal perspective, it's a catastrophe. Letting Wall Street slumlords corner regional markets in single family dwellings makes large amounts of money for their investors, but it costs those cities unimaginable amounts in public services as their housing stock decays, homelessness spikes, and schools and public services crumble for want of local taxes.

The paltry sums that Flint's creditors extracted by insisting on switching to a chlorinated water-supply that leeched lead out of the city's water infrastructure are crumbs compared to the vast, lifelong costs of giving an all the children in a city lead poisoning, to say nothing of the costs to the city as a city nor forever tainted by this unspeakably evil crime.

This is why inequality – and its handmaiden, monopoly – is so dangerous. The more concentrated private wealth becomes, the harder it is for the state to police, and the more likely it is that this private wealth will corrupt our officials. We see this all around us – for example, when Supreme Court justices receive lavish gifts from billionaires whom they later rule in favor of:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/04/06/clarence-thomas/#harlan-crow

Through the neoliberal era – the past forty years of billionaire-friendly Reaganomics – we've seen increasing concentration in wealth, coupled to increasing collusion between the wealthy and the government to protect the corrupt against the public. Think of the IRS's long decay, in which it turned a blind eye to increasingly blatant tax evasion by the ultra-wealthy, while training its fire on working people who fudge a few bucks on their returns:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/04/13/taxes-are-for-the-little-people/#leona-helmsley-2022

Likewise, think of the governmental obsession with "welfare cheats," no matter what the cost to families who are kicked off food stamps and Medicaid:

https://armandalegshow.com/episode/medicaid-enrollment/

All this in the midst of a corporate crime-wave that is not only unpunished, it's utterly unremarked-upon:

https://pluralistic.net/2021/12/07/solar-panel-for-a-sex-machine/#a-single-proposition

This emphasis on benefits cheating and indifference to corporate crime really highlights the drag that corruption places on a society's efficiency. Even if you believe that there's a lot of welfare fraud (there isn't!), the dollar in "undeserved" food stamps spent by a cheater costs society…a dollar. Meanwhile the dollar that a corporate criminal makes by skimping on workplace safety costs society thousands of dollars to care for the worker who is then maimed on the job.

This is very easy to see in the world of corporate environmental crime. The "social cost of carbon" measures the total cost of pollution: the injuries caused by marinating in fossil fuel extraction, processing and combustion byproducts; as well as the loss of life and property from climate events. These costs are blistering, so high that every MWh of renewable power we bring online saves us $100 in social carbon costs:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/05/30/posiwid/#social-cost-of-carbon

Governments that sleep on corporate crime are objectively governing badly. That's why the antitrust failures of every US presidential administration from Carter to Trump are so damning: they set the stage for later corruption that would not only be carried out on a larger scale than smaller firms could accomplish, but also for those large firms to corrupt the political process.

This is the Ticketmaster story. The superpredator that is today's Ticketmaster is the end-point of a series of ever-more corrupt mergers, waved through by every-more pliable presidential administrations. It was bad enough when Bush I allowed Ticketmaster to gobble up Ticketron in 1990. After all, the company had already proven itself to be a cesspit of corrupt, bullying activity.

The Ticketron acquisition kicked off a two-decade-long corporate crime-spree that produced a mountain of evidence proving Ticketmaster's nature as an inherently corrupt enterprise that acquired power for the purpose of abusing that power, at the expense of creative workers, the public, and the owners of venues:

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/pearl-jam-taking-on-ticketmaster-67440/

Despite this, the Obama administration waved through an acquisition that was obviously far more dangerous that the Ticketron caper: the 2010 merger between Ticketmaster and the concert promoter Live Nation:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_Nation_Entertainment#History

After a decade and a half of vertical monopoly power – Ticketmaster/Live Nation controlling ticketing, promotion and venues – the company has grown from a dangerous octopus with its tentacles twined around the industry into a kraken that is strangling every kind of live event and everyone who earns a living from them. This has produced an ever-more obvious string of scandals, most notably the company's assault on Swifties:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/11/20/anything-that-cant-go-on-forever-will-eventually-stop/

A combination of mounting public outrage (with Swifties at the vanguard) and the Biden administration's generational enthusiasm for smashing corporate power has led, at last, to a reckoning with the Ticketmaster kraken:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/04/30/nix-fix-the-tix/#something-must-be-done-there-we-did-something

Ticketmaster is a famously opaque organization. When Rebecca Giblin and I were working on Chokepoint Capitalism, our book on monopoly and creative labor markets, we were able to speak on the record to insiders from every part of the industry, except live performance:

https://chokepointcapitalism.com/

As soon as we raised Ticketmaster/Live Nation with club owners and other events industry insiders, they'd go pale and quiet and tell us that they didn't feel comfortable staying on the record. TM/LN has a well-deserved mafia-style reputation for savage retaliation against snitches.

With the DOJ Antitrust Division chasing Ticketmaster through the courts, we're starting to get a rare, on-the-record glimpse of TM/LN's operations, as its internal documents find their pay into court records. In response Ticketmaster's spokesliars have embarked on an epic spin campaign, to "contextualize" these damning numbers and paint the company as a weak, low-margin business that has been unfairly set-upon by the bullies at the DOJ.

In his BIG newsletter, Matt Stoller offers a spectacular, must-read breakdown of these documents and the ensuing spin:

https://www.thebignewsletter.com/p/is-ticketmaster-telling-the-truth

Stoller starts with Ticketmaster's insistence that it is barely profitable. Though this is true on paper, the numbers just don't add up. For one thing, anyone who's bought a ticket can see, printed on its face, TM's junk fees: "a 'service fee' without any obvious service [and] a 'convenience fee' that is anything but convenient."

Far more damning is a comparison between the price of a Ticketmaster ticket in the US vs the EU. The EU has legally mandated competitive ticketing, and the tickets there are far cheaper. A US ticket to see Taylor Swift will run you $2,600 – the same ticket costs $340 in the EU. As Stoller writes:

An American could fly to Paris, spend a few nights at a nice hotel, see a Taylor Swift concert, and fly back, for less than it costs to see that same show in the U.S.

How to make sense of this contradiction? How can Ticketmaster show such a low profit margin on its books but somehow end up costing event-goers such an absurd premium?

Start with the fact that Ticketmaster has three businesses, not just one. They sell tickets, but they also promote concerts (that is, front the money for personnel, travel and marketing), and they also own a bunch of the largest and most profitable venues in the country.

This allows them to play a shell-game that's very similar to (and possibly not actually different from) money-laundering, where money is shuffled between entities in order to shield it from creditors, suppliers or tax agents:

https://www.thebignewsletter.com/p/explosive-new-documents-unearthed

But this presents a problem for Ticketmaster. They're a publicly traded company and their investors demand high returns. And unlike performers or venue owners, investors have power over Ticketmaster management. Keeping "margin per ticket" number as low as possible lets Ticketmaster minimize the revenue it has to share with the people who actually do the work and invest the capital in live performances. But for investors, they need to show another number, one that's as high as possible, to keep the investors happy.

That number is "Adjusted Operating Income" or AOI. While gross margins are the difference between the face value of a ticket and the sum remitted to the venue and the performer, AOI factors in all the other revenue TM/LN books from that ticket, like kickbacks. TM/LN's AOI is very healthy: it's 37% on tickets and 61% on promotions.

Those sums delight TM/LN's investors, and they express their joy through lavish executive compensation packages. CEO Michael Rapino is America's fifth-highest paid CEO, at $139m/year (that's eight times the Fortune 500 average). His sidekick Joe Berchtold is America's highest paid CFO, at $54m. The total AOI for TM/LN is $732m/year – and 19% of that is being paid to two of its execs.

But LN/TM has a third line of business: operating venues. The AOI for these venues is just 1.7%. If this were a normal, cutthroat business, you'd expect those same return-focused investors to insist on their handsomely compensated execs selling off that low-margin turkey. But nevertheless, TM/LN keeps those venues on its books.

When those execs talk to the public, they use the poor profit margins of ticketing and the poor AOI on venues to plead poverty: "how can we be a monopoly when we're barely scraping by?"

But when they talk to the investors who decide whether to pay them 800% of the S&P500 average, they are more forthcoming.

Keeping the margins low on tickets – and making up the money with kickbacks and other corrupt payments – means that potential rival ticketing firms can't afford to get into the business. Without the venue and promotion business, those rivals wouldn't be able to command kickbacks. They'd have to subsist on the rock-bottom margins that are competitive with Ticketmaster.

Likewise those venues: ownership of key venues lets Ticketmaster/Live Nation force out credible rivals in important markets, and keep new ones from emerging, because again, they'd have to make a living on that paltry 1.7% AOI (or the even lower profit margins!).

As Joe Berchtold, the highest-paid CFO in America, told an analyst:

I don't think Concerts AOI per fan is a logical way to look at it. I think if you look at how we've talked about our business, we've talked about our business across the multiple pieces. So you have to look at it, what's the concerts plus sponsorship plus ticketing AOI per fan.

Berchtold is paid roughly $26,000/hour. Those words take roughly 25 seconds to utter, so that's a $7.20 explanation, but it contains a wealth of information – it's basically the DoJ's case in a nutshell.

But Stoller points out a curious fact that isn't captured here. Remember when I told you that TM/LN's NOI is $732m/year? What I didn't mention is the company's gross revenue: $16.7 billion.

When TM/LN talks about how shitty their business is, and therefore they can't be a monopoly, this is the trump card. How could a company creaming off a mere $732 million off $16.7 billion in gross revenue be a monopolist with "pricing power"?

This is where understanding corruption helps clarify our understanding and cut through the bullshit. Corruption is vastly wasteful. In order to extract $732m from $16.7b, TM/LN has to engage in a lot of wasteful and corrupt activities. They have to bribe other key players in the system, spend vast fortunes on lobbying, and generally do a lot of unproductive things with their money.

This is concentrated gains and diffuse losses. In order to command the highest salary of any American CFO, Berchtold has to cook up and maintain this process. In order to earn his $139m/year, Rapino has to play mafia don and keep everyone is his supply chain sufficiently terrorized or sufficiently greased to maintain omerta.

These two men take home a fifth of Ticketmaster's net income because they possess a rare and valuable skill. They are able to obfuscate a corrupt arrangement, enrobing it in layers of performative complexity, until the average musician, concertgoer, or lawmaker, can't understand it. Any attempt to unravel it will induce a deadly, soporific confusion. The investment industry term for his is MEGO (My Eyes Glaze Over), the weaponization of complexity. A skilled MEGO artist can convince you that the pile of shit they're peddling is so large that there must be a pony under it somewhere.

Here's Stoller, de-MEGOfying the TM/LN story:

Live Nation has a giant capital intensive unprofitable division of putting on concerts, from which it skims for its real cash flow. But this leverage among different subsidiaries means that it has an incentive to push up the cost of concerts overall, not just for its own profit. This incentive operates in two different ways. One, since ticket fees are based on the price of a ticket, Live Nation seeks higher prices for tickets so it can move more cash to its Ticketmaster subsidiary. And two, since Live Nation itself gets rebates by overpaying for venues, it has the incentive to push up the cost of shows. No one can undercut Live Nation, as it’s a monopoly.

You might think that this is a lot of mental energy to expend on understanding live performances. If you're not trying to see Taylor Swift, does any of this matter?

It assuredly does. Understanding how Ticketmaster's shell-game works is critical to understanding the similar shell-games played by many other kinds of monopolists, who have wrapped their tentacles around all the other parts of our lives. As David Dayen and Lindsay Owens write for The American Prospect, the companies that avoided monopoly prosecution by ripping off suppliers have bled those suppliers dry, and now they're coming for their customers:

https://prospect.org/economy/2024-06-03-age-of-recoupment/

From groceries to plane tickets, rent to cab rides, Amazon to Ticketmaster, we are living through the "Age of Recoupment," when the long con of lowering prices to secure monopolies flips enters it final stage: greedflating the shit out of customers, and using the monopolist's power over regulators to avoid consequences.

Today, everywhere consumers turn, whether they are shopping for groceries at the local Kroger or for plane tickets online, they are being gouged. Landlords are quietly utilizing new software to band together and raise rents. Uber has been accused of raising the price of rides when a customer’s phone battery is drained. Ticketmaster layers on additional fees as you move through the process of securing seats to your favorite artist’s upcoming show. Amazon’s secret pricing algorithm, code-named “Project Nessie,” was designed to identify products where it could raise prices, on the expectation that competitors would follow suit. Companies are forcing you into monthly subscriptions for a tube of toothpaste. Banks have crept up the price of credit, so customers who cannot afford price-gouging in their everyday transactions get a second round of price-gouging when they put purchases on credit. Expedia is using demographic and purchase history data to set hotel pricing for an audience of one: you.

When these companies end up in front of angry attorneys general, DOJ lawyers, or an FTC investigation, they'll use the Ticketmaster/Live Nation playbook to try and wriggle off the hook. They'll point to some barely-profitable (or money-losing) part of their business and say, "How could a monopolist possibly be running a business this shitty?"

If the DOJ makes its case against Ticketmaster, it will set a precedent, both in court and in policy circles, for understanding how a monopolist's corruption works. Monopolists aren't always businesses with gigantic margins. Like other criminals, their corruption can produce spectacular wealth and spectacular waste at the same time.

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/06/03/aoi-aoi-oh/#concentrated-gains-vast-diffused-losses

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ohtobeleah · 20 days ago

Text

Day Twenty Two [Do Not Look Away]

Summary: After the events of Bruises, Bradley comes face to face with his new reality. You’re experiencing a physical manifestation of PTSD and Jake’s still in a coma.

Warnings: Jake Seresin x F!reader. Mentions of death. Mentions of Sexual assault/rape. Mentions of torture/violence. Bad medical portrayals. PTSD induced psychosis

Word Count: 2.7k

Whumptober Prompt Day Twenty-Two: Forced (to kneel/watch/hurt somebody else), whipped, “Do not look away.”

Author Note: Please make sure you read the warnings provided. Disclaimer: I do not condone nor endorse the actions that are written about during the month of October. These works of fiction are just that, fiction and should be treated as such. Thank you to @ailesswhumptober for this year's prompt list.

Whumptober Masterlist | Main Masterlist | Bruises Masterlist

In a recent experiment, scientists observed that single human cells in a petri dish will seek each other out…and adhere to each other to form new connections. When cells team up, they become stronger. They thrive and evolve and eventually become something that their single selves ever could have been alone.

“I don’t want to pry,” Bradley’s voice broke through the deafening silence that lingered between the two of you as you sat at Jake’s beside. The only other sounds that filtered through were the humming of life-saving machines and the incessant beeping of medical equipment. “I can’t even begin to relate to what you’ve both been through,” Bradley continued as you looked over to where he was standing. Right at the foot of Jake’s hospital bed.

You spent more time at Jake’s side than you did in your own hospital room. It often got you in trouble. There was even one particular time when you were still in a wheelchair, where you’d decided to take yourself down the hall to see him. It didn’t go over very well with the orderlies. Your team of doctors and nurses alike were furious with you. But they understood the burning desire to be with the one you loved. They understood and could recognise the early stages of post-traumatic stress disorder. They could see the signs of codependency.

They could see that you were more at ease by Jake Seresin’s side than you were by yourself. Once your primary doctor had signed off on it, you were essentially treated at Jake’s bedside permanently. Screw hospital policies and politics.

Rooster’s hands gripped the railing at the end of the bed with such a force you thought his grip alone might crumple the metal. But it never wavered. The metal held strong under the pressure Bradley was putting it under. Much like Jake who never gave up on you.

“But–” Bradley paused one final time before the question left his mouth forever. Once he asked he couldn’t take back such a charged question. “Was there ever a moment where you wished–” He didn’t have to finish his sentence for you to know what he was asking.

“Every day,” You interrupted as you sat perched in the world’s most unsupportive, uncomfortable hospital chair known to man. “I prayed for death more than I prayed to be rescued, Rooster.” You knew Bradley was prepared to hear you say that, he wouldn’t have bothered to ask if he didn’t already believe to some extent that you would have prayed for the sweet release of death. “But Jake kept me going even when I wanted to die.”

“I–” Even though Bradley knew that answer was coming, it didn’t make it any easier to hear. “I’m so sorry, Y/n,” Bradley sighed as he shook his head in disbelief. “It should have been me.”

“I wouldn’t wish any of this on my worst enemy, Bradshaw,” You replied as you shivered in the cool of Jake’s bleak hospital room. Rooster saw and quickly made his way over to where spare blankets and pillows were thrown haphazardly. They sat crumpled in a pile on a forgotten chair never used by the neverending list of visitors that cycled through.

“Oh, you don’t have to do that.” You tried to tell Bradley as he collected a spare blanket. “Rooster–”

“You know, I remember not long before the mission rolled around,” Rooster explained as he placed the blanket over you. Covering your legs enough to maintain some warmth. “Jake got obliterated one night at the Hard Deck, so much so that Penny actually got a few of us to just drag him out to the front deck by his ankles.”

You couldn’t help but to chuckle. You were mourning the loss of the version of Jake Seresin you hardly got to know before the mission. But you would have liked to bear witness to some more of his antics. However, you had tried your best to stay clear when you didn’t need to be in his direct vicinity.

“Sounds like something he’d do.” You smiled softly all the while you looked over your shoulder to where Jake lay still heavily sedated and comatosed. “I miss him so much.”

“I drove him home that night,” Bradley continued on as he made sure you were warmer than you had been moments before. “He was rambling about some woman, you know, in between when he had his head out the window of the Bronco pealing the paint off with his bile.”

Again you couldn’t help but to laugh, this time with more intention. Bradley could see it in your eyes though, you wished Jake was awake to laugh at his own stupidity with you.

“He told me about this woman, how he couldn’t stand her,” Rooster explained as a frown plastered itself across your face. “He couldn’t stand anything about her really, from her smile to the way she laughed without fear of ridicule to the way she just knew how to call him on bullshit before anyone else could,”

“Why are you telling me this?” You asked with a tone laced with something you didn’t recognise. Rooster knew exactly what it was though. It was jealousy. It was the all-consuming green goblin called jealousy. Who was this other woman Jake was talking about in his drunken rambling and why was she on his mind?

“He even hated the way she ate her food, with purpose and intention.” Bradley laughed to himself as he looked down at where Jake was lying unresponsive in his hospital bed. “Mother fucker had hate confused with love though.”

“What do you mean?”

“He loves everything about you Hollywood,” Bradley sighed as he tried to keep the tears in his eyes from welling too much. It wasn’t his time to cry. No. For you, he had to be strong. “I can remember giving him so much shit for it, he was droning on about how he hated the way you always beat him at his own game.” You could feel the heat in your cheeks rising as Rooster crouched down before you. His hands were gentle atop your blanket-covered knees. “Han–Jake, loved you before he even knew he loved you.”

“What if he doesn’t wake up, Roo?” tears rolled down your face through a pained smile. It was nice to know Jake truly did love you before he saw hell’s most horrible torture performed against you. But it made the fact he wasn’t awake so much harder to handle. “What if he–”

“He will,” Bradley replied as he reached up to wipe the stray tears streaming down your cheeks. “He wouldn’t leave you behind, not after everything you’ve been through, alright?” Rooster wanted confirmation from you. He wanted you to nod. He wanted to see that you were listening to what he was actually saying. “He loves you too much to leave you now, he wouldn’t do that to you, not after fighting every day to keep you two alive.”

“I wanna be able to tell him that I love him too,” You sobbed in your chair all the while Bradley did his best to comfort you. He looked up at your own monitor. The one that told all the doctors and nurses what your heart was doing. What your stats were. You were still hooked up to IV fluids. “I just wanna hear his voice again.”

Bradley let the silence linger for a moment as he stood. He couldn’t deny how tired you looked. How weak your movement pattern was. He saw the exhaustion written in between the lines on your face. You needed to rest. You needed to sleep. But getting you to agree to head back to bed even just for an hour would be a battle Rooster wasn’t sure he’d win.

But you were the woman Jake Seresin loved. A title Bradley would never have but would envy from a viewpoint just shy of the front row. He would forever force himself to watch the man he loved love another human with all the fire and grace he had to offer. Bradley swore that he’d never look away from the gift he’d been given. The gift of witnessing his best friend fall in love. Get married. Have children perhaps. He wanted to be right there in the thick of it.

So he needed to be your person, even just for a little while. For Jake. For Hangman. For the sandy blonde with the emerald eyes across the bar. For the aviator who knew how to get on his last nerve. For the man who’d risked his life to save his. For the best friend, he never realised he’d lost and subsequently found again.

“I want you to know I suggest this with so much respect,” Bradley sighed. He tensed a little as if he was bracing for impact. “But I reckon Jake would want me to tell you to get some rest.”

You listened to what Bradley was saying. His words were something comforting amidst all the pain and suffering you’d endured. He was, if anything, a good friend. You knew that Jake would never truly regret his decision to put his life on the line to save his wingman. But it would be a decision that haunted him every night. Every morning. Every second that passed him by where he had to live in a world where he’d seen you experience the worst of what humanity had to offer.

And you understood why he was telling you to get some rest. But you couldn’t sleep when your mind would get stuck on a loop. Replaying all the hurt. The pain. The suffering. All in HD while your body tried to recover.

The mind is dark, wonderful and weird. But the last thing you wanted was your subconscious at the helm.

“No.” It was a complete sentence. No follow up required. But Rooster thought otherwise.

“Uh, I really think you should just get maybe like, a solid half an hour at the minimum?” Bradley replied as he stood with his hands resting slightly cunty on his hips. “Jake would–” Before Rooster got the chance to finish, you deadpanned him. His blood ran cold when you glared his way. A look he never wanted to be on the receiving end of ever again.

“They made Jake watch a lot of things happen to me,” Bradley had no idea where you were going with this. But he chose to listen regardless. “They made him watch them rape me, over and over again.” You paused just to listen to Jake’s heart rate monitor. The rhythmic beeping soothed your troubled heart in a way you felt ungrateful to experience. Sure Jake was in the hospital after being held as a prisoner of war…but at least he was alive.

“They forced him to watch every time, and said it was always his fault.” Bradley’s heart sank at the thought of having to go through that, let alone watch it unfold. The levels of physical and psychological torture you were describing were almost unbearable to listen to. But for you, he would. “But he never gave them what they wanted. Jake never gave up on me even when he could have.”

“Y/n–” Again Bradley tried to speak. But you kept talking over him. Just trying to get your point across.

“They forced him to hurt me, they used him against me in ways I wish I could describe to you right now,” You began to shake your head as your tears ricocheted down your heated cheeks. “‘Don’t look away. Don’t look away Seresin’–on goddamn repeat, while I was cut and used and beaten until I could barely breathe and without fail after everything was said and done he was still there.” Bradley could very much see you unraveling right before him. He didn’t recognise the look in your eye. He chose to take a few cautious steps back towards the door, giving you some space and himself some distance.

“He was there for me to crawl home to even when I couldn’t see,” Your voice softened as you looked over at Jake. Bradley saw it, the moment your eyes caught the rise and fall of Jakes chest. God, it broke his heart. All of this did.

“So no–” You hissed. “I will not be leaving his side and I will not sleep until I get to tell him that I love him and not until I get to see him wake up,” You explained for the last time. You were sick and tired of people telling you to rest. To sleep. To take care of yourself. They didn’t know what you had been through. They didn’t understand what you were going through. They didn’t understand what it was like to witness torture, to experience hell day in and day out. “Do you understand?”

Bradley didn’t respond right away. He simply looked at you with a look you didn’t want to be on the receiving end of. One of sympathy. One of pity. So you snapped. “I said DO YOU UNDERSTAND!?” Your voice echoed down the hall as Rooster backed away even more. He placed his hands where you could see him as if he wanted you to know he wasn’t there to hurt you.

“Hollywood, take it easy.” Rooster cooed. “It’s me, Rooster.”

“Get me out of here!” You screamed all the while clawing at the wires and tubes attached to various parts of you. Your arms, chest, stomach. “Let me go!”

“NURSE!” Bradley called down the hall towards the nurse’s station. He turned his back for five seconds only to turn around to witness you trying to pull the vent from Jake’s throat. The one helping him to breathe. The life-saving piece of equipment you were now messing with. “Fuck! Y/n!”

“I’ve got you,” You cried as you tried to save Jake. Not understanding you were in the middle of a panic attack mixed with exhaustion. “I’ll save you, I’m here.”

“Hollywood!” Rooster wrapped his arms around your torso from behind. “Stop it, you’re in the hospital!”

“Let go of me!” You cried out as a handful of nurses approached Jake’s room. They saw the look of utter shock plastered across Bradley’s face. “LET ME GO!” You shouted again as you violently kicked and thrashed against Rooster as your feet left the ground.

“I don’t know what I said to set her off like this?” Explaining himself to the nurses, Bradley held you tight as you fought against him.

“JAKE!!!” You cried out in unimaginable terror.

“She’s having an attack again,” One of the nurses explained as she jabbed you with a sedative. “Anything will trigger her right now.”

Bradley listened to your screams get weaker as your body grew heavier in his embrace. He knew you were gone the second your head lulled to the side.

“She’s in a bad way, they both are.” Rooster groaned in frustration. Not at you or Jake, but at the situation as a whole. “Someone needs to be held responsible for all of this.”

“I’m just the night nurse, Lieutenant Bradshaw,” One of the nurses replied much to Roosters’ shock. He was venting more so than looking for a response. “But if I were gonna start somewhere, I’d start with having a conversation with her father.”

Rooster took that note onboard as he carried you back down the hall towards where your empty hospital bed was. A room just as bleak as Jake’s.

“I got you alright?” Bradley sighed as he laid you down, taking notice of how at peace you looked. So content. So…Sedated. “I’ve got you and I’ve got Jake.” As the nurses followed him in to fix up your machines and copious wires, Rooster took a moment to sit in his torture. Reminding himself of the promise he’d made. “Always.”

We are an extension of our cells. Just like them, we are programmed to find others…to reach out to one another and find nourishment and love. Much like our cells, we’re not meant to be alone. So once we find each other…

We try our best to hold onto what we’ve got. Even after horrific petri dish experiments.

***************************

#bruises // jake seresin #ailesswhumptober2024 #ailesswhumptober #jake seresin x reader #jake seresin x you #jake hangman fic #jake hangman imagine #jake hangman seresin #bradley bradshaw

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itsabouttimex2 · 1 year ago

Note

I urgently need a platonic Yandere Keigo who finds the reader insanely hungry and crying and his only instinct is to feed the reader like a newborn baby bird

Natural Instinct

Almost every Quirk has a drawback of some kind. A person might have a Quirk that’s too strong for their body to bear, or one that can’t be precisely controlled and does more damage than intended. Some are outright entirely uncontrollable, incapable of being shut off. Sometimes those drawbacks are emotional. It’s not unheard of for a Quirk to be tied to the emotions of whoever bears it. Sometimes, they grow stronger with rage or weaker with sorrow. And for others, that drawback is mental.

Keigo Takami knows that his Quirk has afforded him a lot in life. He has so many different uses for his feathers that it can be dizzying to watch him in action. People would kill and die to have a Quirk so powerful and versatile. He himself wouldn’t trade it for the world.

But that doesn’t mean there aren’t drawbacks. They’re a massive target, to start with. Every enemy he’s faced with half a brain goes after them first, more than a few managing to leave some serious damage. Sure, he can grow more later on, but losing them hurts.

It isn’t the only downside, though.

The bright red wings he bears have to be dispersed for stealth. It takes a lot of concentration to properly wield his Quirk to his full potential. All of his clothes have to be custom-tailored. And sometimes, just sometimes… he gets these strange thoughts.

People with animalistic Quirks often report strange instincts and unusual desires related to their Quirks. To hunt, maybe. Or to hide away in dark spaces.

Keigo knows the feeling. When he was younger, he used to preen his wings with his own mouth, delicately cleaning his feathers with his teeth and tongue. He’s long grown out of that habit, but the urge still persists. He’s also particularly drawn to shiny objects and has a tiny, tucked away desire to collect them. He satiates that urge with sensible things like bracelets and watches.

But what he’s feeling right now isn’t as easy to suppress.

There you sit, all curled up on yourself in the corner, tears dribbling from your eyes. Your arms are wrapped tight around your growling stomach, head buried against your knees.

And his brain tells him that there’s only one solution capable of solving this problem.

Feed you himself.

Of course, he’s not going to feed you like a bird. Even when his Quirk is working against him like this, pitting his brain against his heart, he stays rational. Keigo isn’t quite sure what the exact impact that force-feeding you by mouth would have, but he knows it wouldn’t be good. Potentially trauma-inducing.

It’s much easier and far more sane to gently sit you in front of himself as he navigates a fork to your mouth. He lets you take your time, working through the bowl with you one bite at a time. If you take too long, he doesn’t mind reheating it and sitting back down with you. It might be a little tedious and time-consuming, but he doesn’t really mind.

When he’s done feeding you he tosses the bowl and fork into the sink, not bothering to be gentle about it. He is, however, very gentle about pulling you into his lap, sitting comfortably with you as close as possible. You move to stand up and pull yourself away, but his arms catch you in a hug, snaring you in place. His wings then wrap around you, keeping you as trapped as you are warm.

It feels right, to have you here. To have you close. Your needs met, your comfort assured. Warm, safe, well-fed. What more could anybody want?

Certainly, you couldn’t want to leave the nest he had built just for you, right?

Not that he’d ever give you the chance.

#Platonic Yandere #Yandere MHA #Yandere My Hero Academia #Yandere Keigo Takami #Yandere Hawks

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allforhee · 9 months ago

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*ੈ✩ — 𝐈𝐓'𝐒 𝐀 𝐂𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐈𝐒! (TEASER) | LEE HEESEUNG

୨୧ pairing — secgen!lee heeseung x journalist!fem!reader

synopsis: decelis high's academic weapon, future valedictorian, model un prodigy especially in the crisis council, and top-notch secretary-general of the mun club, lee heeseung has it all. from earning constant "best delegate-s" left and right, no one dared to go against his stances in any debate. until a student like you transfers into decelis high. as a soon graduating senior, you were a newbie to press. but with your endless love for writing, you'd managed to steal the hearts of your peers. it was your first mun, and you didn't expect much. but when heeseung finds out about an article you've wrote about his arrogant performance in a recent committee session, he is set to strike you down.

୨୧ genre — high school au, secgen!heeseung x press delegate!reader, academic rivals to lovers, dumbasses in denial, rivals in public but lovers in secret

୨୧ warnings — a lot of model un terms, cursing, hurt no comfort, heeseung makes fun of the reader a LOT, reader is feisty and could care less but she lowkey has parental issues, featuring all the other enhypen members, huh yunjin, and jang wonyoung

୨୧ word count — tbd

୨୧ release date — tba

୨୧ author's note — my baby! i love muns and as a press girlie myself, i had to make an mun-themed fic for my boy. mind you that i don't really understand the ACTUAL muns (unsc, who, etc.) cause i highkey don't want to get involved i just like writing!! this teaser is kind of short and sweet cause i know that the actual fic will be LONGER! so excited for you guys to read my works and what my imagination has to offer!!!!!!! enjoy this lil teaser. press 4 fanfic writers arise!

𝐋𝐄𝐄 𝐇𝐄𝐄𝐒𝐄𝐔𝐍𝐆 had it all.

the walls of his room were littered with delegate lanyards from conferences across the globe, "best delegate" certificates framed all over his house (and a couple crumpled up inside his desk to fit the space), and a collection of trophies that stood in every nook and cranny.

no one at decelis high dared to go against him. whenever it was, whether it was moderated caucus or unmoderated, he'd always have his country or character's placard raised high, ready to speak, or leading whatever bloc was being formed.

it was no doubt that no one has ever beat him. it was no doubt that he was decelis high's mun club's secretary-general. and those who chose to go against him either get crushed in fear or knew when to step back.

even with his "best delegate" status, he wouldn't have gone far without his best mates, park jongseong, sim jaeyun, and park sunghoon.

park jongseong or jay, most known for his cold stares in the debate room, ready to make a delegate tremble, would always chair crisis. he was decelis high's deputy secretary-general alongside heeseung. and although being heeseung's best mate, he never favored him when it came to awarding. it's just that he was naturally talented.

sim jaeyun, known for his popular slogan around the school; "jake it till you make it!", was the strongest when it came to knowing what a country or character believed in. his research skills were like a pirate on the hunt for lost treasure, he had all the facts, the data, and the proof to back up any stance. whatever heeseung needed to know, jake already had his back.

and park sunghoon. even though he was the quiet one of the bunch, his position papers never ceased to appeal any chair. even if he wasn't as strong in speaking out during committee sessions, his fingers were his weapon. the guys would always ask him why'd he chair press and not join in the heat with them, he'd always answer with a simple, "my words are stronger than my actions." where jay would always respond with "isn't that the other way around bud?"

the four were unstoppable when it came to model un. lee heeseung was unstoppable. he was. until you came along.

back to my masterlist?

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thesensteawitch · 9 months ago

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What Will Your Romantic Life Look Like?

🍁Based on your current energy!🍁

Pick A Pile Reading

(Left to Right- Pile 1, Pile 2, Pile 3)

Hello, Senstea Souls!💕

I am back with another collective reading. This reading is about your future romantic life.

This reading is strictly based on your current energy so take it as it resonates. You can change your future based on your actions + this is a general reading.

💓Book A Reading|My Rate Card|Tip My Blog💓

Pile 1

Tarot cards- The Chariot, Seven of Cups, Two of Cups, Page of Swords, King of Swords, The Moon

Hello, my beautiful pile 1. Your romantic life is going to be very much focused on a dream that you and your partner have for your relationship. Love is not a destination and you both would know that and that's why there will be days in which you would want to experience everything together. You both will somehow be forging towards your destined path (basically your north node) and time will prove to you that you both are soulmates. Number 8 is of significance in this connection. I am seeing “the strength card” too. On your path, the challenges that you will face will only make your bond stronger. It's going to be a one-of-a-kind experience for you. Once in a lifetime to be precise! Not everyone will have the kind of connection that both of you will have with each other. Strong communication will be the foundation of your romantic life with your person. There is going to be a balance between emotions and logic. When you're vulnerable you will be too vulnerable with each other. Some connections only travel in the 3d world but your connection will be of a kind that will be ever-growing and eternally travelling through different dimensions. Your romantic life is going to be very spiritual. Dates will never end, and meetings will never end. The connection will never lose its spark. There is going to be so much you both would want to do with each other that you will end up confused and will find it challenging to bring your life together. But eventually whichever direction you choose to move in you will end up bumping into each other. Because as I said this connection is fated. I am sensing strong water and air sign placements in both of your birth charts. People around you will secretly compete with the kind of connection you guys have with each other. They will wonder, “Is this even real? Does this kind of love even exist in this day and age?” You both will help each other in healing each other's shadow sides. There won't be a single moment when you both don't feel safe with each other. You guys just compliment each other like ketchup and fries, haha! They are meant to be served together. You two will learn a lot. You'll be achieving long-term goals and stability with each other. Buying a home or living together will come later in your life because you two will build everything (by everything I mean every damn thing) together from scratch so it will take time. But you're going to have the kind of life no one can crumble down. No one! You both won't be able to walk away until you both throw each other into eternal glory. And right in that glory, you will never be able to forget each other. You will never forget the karmas that you both healed together. The darkness that you both dealt with each other will hold your glory high above in the astral sky. You both will overcome so many fears together. Wow! It's such a beautiful connection. One is a dove and the other is a dolphin. Both are from different worlds but so pure, so connected. One looks above and the other below and just like that they fall in love. It's one-of-a-kind love. Not everyone will be able to understand it so don't expect the world to understand your love anyway.

If you wish to know how to manifest your soulmate then book a reading with me at $9/₹666 (5 cards pull).

Pile 2

Tarot Cards- Four of Cups, The Lovers, The Magician, The Emperor, Ace of Pentacles, Knight of Wands

Hello, my beautiful pile 2. The first thing that I see in your love is the individualistic nature of you and your partner. You two will be very different from each other yet perfect for each other. There will be a lot of mirroring in your connection. You both will see your reflection in the other. It will shock you, surprise you. One will be sunshine and the other will be midnight rain. The advice you both give to each other will work wonders if you both are willing to see life from each other's perspective. Your romantic life will be quite organised. Doing something new in your connection will scare both of you. Overthinking is what will always prevail. Prioritising emotions can be a problem in your connection. As this reading is based on your current energy I also see choices will be needed to make quite often. These choices will overwhelm both of you but eventually, you'll choose each other and will make things work around the choice you make for each other. The choices you make on an individual level are what is going to bring you together. There will be a lot of risks involved in your connection. One of you may have had difficult relationships in the past so having a heartfelt communication can be a challenge. You two will end up together after going through a lot of tests and trials. The connection will have a lot of passion but it won't be easy. You both will be challenged to get rid of the unnecessary worries in your connection. There will be a healing that you would need to do before the relationship can finally emerge into something beautiful. You both will be devoted to each other and the more devoted you are the more challenges you will face. But all these challenges will act as an opportunity for you to heal the parts of you that can affect your connection negatively. Reminding each other how much you love each other will be crucial in your connection. Your romantic life will begin right after you both have faced your demons and worked on them individually. You both will only think of each other after the storm has settled and there's a comfortable quiet. You both will go to extremes to shower each other will love. I hear, “I belong with you, you belong with me. You're my sweetheart.” You both won't stop loving each other in chaos or storms it's just that you will be forced to help yourself first before loving the other. Your empty cups will fill with time and then it will never run out of love. This connection will bring an end to a never-ending pain/cycle. You both will be afraid to lose each other but also to lose yourself in the process of loving each other. But later on you both will realise the importance of heartfelt communication and your vulnerability will bring trust.

If you wish to know how to manifest your soulmate then book a reading with me at $9/₹666 (5 cards pull).

Pile 3

Tarot Cards- The Emperor, Six of Wands, The Moon, Two of Wands, Two of Swords, Eight of Wands

Hello, my beautiful pile 3. I heard that your connection will be blessed by God. You'll be divinely supported in your romantic journey. I see an exchange of rings, communication and a lot of travel. Some details may get missed because you both fall for each other at first sight. There will be quickness in this connection. A lot will be overlooked and you two may end up marrying each other quite early into dating. Logically it will feel like a wrong move and you both may even question your judgement later on but divinely speaking this is exactly what is supposed to happen. There will be an instant connection between you and your partner. You may even feel caged later on but hear me out. You must be thinking then why would I even end up marrying this person? Well, I don't know the exact answer but I can see that there will be ancestors' support in this marriage. Perhaps, it's the kind of connection where it was a contract that you signed with this person on a soul level. I seriously don't know what your beliefs are pile 3 but this is something I am strongly getting. Like it is meant to go this way. I know I might sound insane. Also, this reading is based on your current energy so take it that way. You do have the power to change your future. The marriage will bring so much happiness to the families. When the love in the air will fade a bit you two will realise that one is trying to keep the peace (who wants to have soulful conversation) and the other is trying to risk their dreams to have a stable married life. And soon you both will speak your heart out to each other and things may go out of hand because of the overwhelming energy. As soon as the conversation puts you both off balance it will bring stability too as you both will understand each other and will provide the safety to work on your dreams. Wow! So that's why you would end up marrying this person. You'll achieve great things with the help and support of each other. You both will show each other the mirror of how powerful you are and how capable you are. And after this what will follow will be victory and generosity. You both will come together to give each other a strong career boon. You may not stay together for a long time but will definitely appreciate the change you both brought into each other's lives.

If you wish to know how to manifest your soulmate then book a reading with me at $9/₹666 (5 cards pull).

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saekkas · 1 year ago

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𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐄

summary: rin's becoming more human the longer he's with you. he doesn't mind at all.

tags: f!reader, merfolk au, shark mermaid hybrid rin, human reader, strangers to lovers, fluff, falling in love, cultural differences, kissing.

wc: 2k

notes: i'm honestly very proud of this. i hope i did rinnie justice!

rin normally doesn't care about anything else but hunting, it's a given with how quickly he's growing. only months before his eleventh birthday, rin's already outgrown the other merchildren in his pod.

his tail is getting bigger, stronger, and he's starting to catch up to the wild orcas roaming the big blue seas which he calls home. it's a pretty thing, sleek and smooth but scaly.

black as the hair on his head with coralline blue and teal swirling up the limb, he looks like the fearsome predator he is. not only that, but his skin is also becoming thicker even his sharp nails can't scratch through them like they used to.

what he most prides in himself though, are his teeth. shark teeth are unique in the way they shred, falling out every year to signify their age. rin collects his, keeping every single one on his neck, wrapped around a long piece of netting he found near the shore.

he has ten wrapped around his neck, proudly showing off their sharpness and glimmer to anyone who passes.

the coral reefs are beautiful this time of year, they're teeming with life and growing into their colors. rin's laying among one, absentmindedly running his finger through an anemone, watching as the clown fish scatter at his motions.

the sun is bright ahead, casting a light that shines directly on him. he loves the feeling. basking under the sun yet not burning because of his skin.

minutes or even hours go by. rin can never seem to tell the time, not when the current flows through his gills. he almost falls asleep right where he is when a shadow passes up head. rin's eyes flutter open and it only takes him a moment to propel himself to the surface, his hands tightly gripping at what he assumes to be a seal.

he flinches when your scream pierces his ears. even though the sound is cloudy under water, rin moves back, letting his hands fall to his sides. his dorsal fin breaches the water as he circles you, keeping his distance before swimming closer.

only to receive a kick to the face.

rin grunts, feeling the telltale signs of a tooth shredding. he keeps it in one hand, letting his tail push him out of the water. his head pops out, bright teal eyes and messy flock of dark hair surrounding his visage. he's surprised you don't react as dramatically as you did.

rin isn't as interested with humans as the rest of his pod but he's followed enough fishing boats around to understand and speak their language.

he eyes you, stiff as a plank on your surfing board. you're a small thing, weak looking, and pruned. he wonders what you're doing out in the middle of the ocean all alone.

at first, all that comes out of his mouth are hums and growls. he's trying to communicate the best he can but when you start to lift a leg again, which rin thinks is meant to be a threat, he stops.

"are you a merman?" your voice is shaky at best, as is your entire body. your hands clench around the shells you've been collecting, ready to throw it at the unfamiliar creature. "my grandparents used to tell me about you. i didn't think you were real."

fascination replaces the fear in your eyes, and rin feels himself stiffen. you look to be the same age he is, and you have nothing to protect yourself with. he sighs internally, letting out a low chirp that you seem to perk at.

"can you talk?" you use your legs, kicking against the calm waters to bring yourself closer to him. rin leans back, cautiously flicking water at your face with his tail. you giggle at his action. "i won't hurt you. in fact, you're the one who could hurt me if you wanted to."

he calms a little at that. rin has always been the cautious one, especially with the way humans use their machines to trap his kind for amusement. he nods, pointing at you and then at himself, speaking lowly, "i thought you were a seal. please don't swim alone like this."

he dives back into the depths, only looking back at your form one last time when he hears you yell something at him. your name. rin smiles, clenching the tooth wrapped around his palm, and swims back home.

the seasons pass, the necklace around rin's neck becoming heavier as he grows. he's recently turned twenty-one yet there are only twenty pieces of his teeth dangling around his neck.

he doesn't wear the eleventh one because of you.

through the years, rin's become verily acquainted with your presence. friendship, you had called it. at first it was another accidental meeting between the two of you when he was out hunting near the shore. one thing led to another and rin finds himself too used to your laughter, the little quirks that you possess, and the differences between your worlds.

he's a full-grown shark now. his shoulders have broadened, his tail a sight to behold. he has the ability to roam the oceans, swim across the world, yet the waters feel empty without you beside him. rin has to shake the thought out of his head when he hears your voice calling out.

the waters of the open ocean ripple when you kick and slam your feet, and it has rin shaking his head. he launches himself at your board, hearing your maniacal laughter when he breaches the surface. he tips your surfboard, effectively sending you right into the water.

"that's no fair!" you push the wet hair out of your face, splashing rin when his head pops out of the water. "i never get to surprise you."

rin flicks his tail, sending a wave of water right at your face. he chuckles lowly when you splutter. humans and their need for air never seem to not amuse him.

"my brother can probably hear you at the bottom of the ocean with how loud you were being."

you snort, waving your hand nonchalantly. "i'm sure sae is comfortably unaware of my presence in his secret cave."

rin only chuckles at that, swimming closer to wrap a hand around your waist, pushing you up against his chest.

that's another thing rin has become acquainted with ever since meeting you. skin ship. the act of touching itself is uncommon among shark folk. gentle caresses and acts of service are reserved only for family or mates. with strangers and even friends, aggression is usually what he uses; play fights, hunting, preying.

and here he is, letting you touch him and take away all his time as if it were a normality.

the worst part about it? rin feels as if he wants it, needs it. he can barely spend an entire day without you, your smile and gentle touches soothe him in ways he can't understand. he hates to admit it, but sae was right. he's been too blind all this time, like a guppy threading through murky waters.

he just needs to own up to it.

"hello? earth to rin?"

his eyes come back into focus, solely fixed on you. there's a smile on your face, your feet softly kicking against the water. the sun is setting behind you, and rin feels his heart beat out of his chest at the sight.

he hums, a mere flick of his tail sending you both forward. he wraps his arms around your waist tighter, careful with his nails, and helps you stay afloat against the water.

he wonders if you can feel the thrumming in his chest against yours.

"someone's distracted today," you hum, wrapping your arms around his neck.

moments of intimacy between you are sparce but they're special, especially on days where you both want nothing but to float away in the sea. his nails, pointed and sharp, trail up your waist and settle on your lower back.

he's not sure what's making you shiver. the cold temperature or his touch.

"something special happen?"

rin nuzzles his nose against your neck, right where your gills are supposed to be if you were like him. a low rumble sounds deep in his chest, one you recognize to be a greeting. one he never forgets to gift you.

"i have something for you." his voice by your neck is low, deep as the ocean you swim in. you feel his hands roam down to your thighs, guiding them to wrap around his waist. when they do, you hear him sigh, his dorsal fin slumping in content.

you watch with amusement, lifting a finger to caress the limb. it makes him groan, wrapping his hands around you tighter, before suddenly diving down into the depths, bringing you with him.

his movement are fast, and you try to keep your eyes open, even when the salt stings. rin does this often. most times when he's flustered or something's bothering him. today, you assume, it's a combination of both.

when he breaches the surface, you inhale as much oxygen as you can. looking around, you see that he's brought you onto a small stack of land that's covered in sand, surrounded by miles of water.

"i have something for you," he repeats, his eyes unblinking as he stares at you. "i want you to have it."

you let him open your palm, watch as he drops a necklace decorated with pearls and a single tooth in the middle.

"is this," you gasp, looking at the necklace around his neck and back to, what is now, yours. "rin. you didn't have to."

"i didn't." he nods as he says his words, now shyly avoiding your gaze. his dorsal fin stands rigid against his back, his tail anxiously wrapping around one of your legs. he's so different yet so similar to you, in so many ways. "i wanted to."

"thank you," you whisper softly, leaning over to where he sits by the edge of the water. "i want to give you something too."

"what is it?" his tail flicks against your thigh, the texture smooth and scaly, hefty above the skin. it's a weight you're used to. a weight that grounds you. "i'd like anything you give me."

there's the beginnings of a blush on rin's cheek and you silently giggle, wondering whether shark folk are always so brash and obvious with their words.

"well, i'll hold you to it."

rin hesitates, freezing when you lift a hand to his neck, gently caressing the gills on the area. he blinks, as if in a daze as your hand moves to his face, lingering on his cheek.

he's never let anyone come this close before. you've never come this close before. it feels foreign yet so much like home. he sighs, closing his eyes and slumping most of his weight on you, nuzzling his face into your hold.

he feels you lean down and blinks his eyes open when there's a gentle pressure on his lips. it leaves him tingling and he looks at you with wide eyes. "what did you do? what was that?"

"it's called a kiss." you swipe the hair that's covering his eyes away, still keeping a hand on his cheek. "it's what humans do to express their affection."

rin tilts his head, his tail coiling around your leg tighter. "you have affections for me?"

"i do," you say before laughing when he coos suddenly. he dives into the water right after, hiding his blush as only half of his head pops out.

"i have affections for you too." the sound of his voice is muffled by the water, but his excitement is clear with the way he's shaking. almost like a fish out of sea. a rin out of his element. "i liked that.. kiss too. can we do it again?"

"we can do it as many times as you want," you answer with a grin, tapping your thigh with a hand. "i can't kiss you when you're all the way there, though."

rin waddles closer to you, pulling himself onto the sand. letting his tail curl around your body, he smiles with sharp teeth as you pull him into another kiss. he can definitely get used to this.

#blue lock x reader #blue lock imagines #blue lock fluff #itoshi rin x reader #itoshi rin imagines #rin x reader #rin imagines #itoshi rin fluff #itoshi rin x you #itoshi rin x y/n #bllk x y/n #bllk x female reader #bllk x you #bllk x reader #blue lock x you #blue lock x y/n #blue lock x female reader #blue lock headcanons #rin fluff

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radioactivewisdom · 5 months ago

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The collective loves to parrot lies such as, “children are sacred,” “innocence needs to be protected,” and “there’s no love stronger than a parents.” Does our world really reflect that?. To distract from the filth they’ve made, one must fear monger about the childfree for not wanting to interact with kids in public. Our real concern needs to be what’s going on behind closed doors, and the mass scale grooming that these “family oriented” freaks partake in.

Children are the most vulnerable members of society, particularly girls. Yet, they continue to be brought into this world, being raised by doormats and wild beasts. Sexual, physical, and emotional abuse and neglect against children is almost exclusively caused by those that publicly declare love for them. The childfree woman who doesn’t wave back at your child in the grocery store is an easy target to project onto. Parents and those who wish to become them, blame everything and everyone, besides themselves and their participation in upholding a failing family system.

You know who’s leaving bruises on children for making simple mistakes? Parents. The most likely person to prey on your daughter? Her family man of an uncle who is always around kids. Broken body image is caused by mommy dearest practicing beauty standards, and then encouraging her own daughter to partake. It’s the “sweet” and “well meaning” neighbor who raised 3 kids of her own, who’ll ask your preschool age child when they’re getting a boyfriend.

Actions WILL always speak louder than words. Parents and their enablers have always been responsible for the degenerates they raise, who make up the majority of this society. The little is the big, and every wide scale societal issue is a manifestation of what happens in the home. Women and men replicate the same demented dynamic they share with each other, once they have children. That’s why you see mother’s emotionally immeshed with their sons, as women attempt to dominate men through emotions. While Fathers become obsessed with controlling their daughter’s physicality, just as they seek to rule over women through sex.

Emotionally healthy and intelligent individuals never wish to posses others. They’ll never see another person as an extension of themselves, don’t get into power struggles, and don’t need outside sources to complete them. %99.9 of the population is excluded from such a description, and have no business being around children, let alone raising them. The average individual is a lust seeking dopamine addict who lacks discipline and needs constant reassurance.

Sovereign women have no societal obligations in this worldwide shit show. I actually do love children, that’s why I will never have any of my own, or participate in parenting them. A positive healthy role model for kids can simply go about their life, and do more good than any parent or teacher. It’s very obvious that those who spend the most time around children intend to destroy their innocence, as they normalize the sick world around them. The populace’s souls have been rotten from the start, and they seemingly can’t wait to sign their own offspring up to slaughter.

#idiots can’t love #children aren’t safe with sex addicts #sovereignty is safety

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circeyoru · 5 months ago

Note

Here I am back with another question😀

What if we meet Emily/she learns of our existence?

Learning about the extermination alone really shook her up so knowing of our existence will probably be a whole new level of shock.

But then again she was pretty excited to meet the princess of hell. So I wonder how the meeting would go

This is for {Collection of Overlords}, check MASTERLIST for the work

Hi again!!

Short and simple answer is: It wouldn’t be as big of a bad shock to Emily as compared to learning about the exterminations.

In terms of ‘learns of Collector/Reader’s existence’, I’ll assume that means nearly everything that the hellborns know and keep secret of. The basis of your nickname ‘Collector’ is that you collect souls of the deceased humans sent to Hell. The damned are the ones of little to no importance that you just collect for no reason, Cages are tortured and brainwashed souls that act as your eyes and ears around Hell, and lastly Overlords are ones you watch over and guide to be stronger. Your other alias is the True Ruler of Hell, which obviously means you own Hell and its inhabitants, basically watching over the realm by your standards and everything else. The only thing that’s left out is the whole balance entity thing with Trick.

I imagine Emily meeting us would be something similar to her meeting Charlie but more controlled since you have a more strict and imposing aura around you than Charlie’s approachable sunshine aura, plus your formal attitude. Why? Because from the show, Emily is shown to be protected by Sera ‘for her own good’ so she can focus on being happiness to Heaven and its people/souls. So Emily might not have the chance to meet the higher-ups like Sera does, meeting the highest being from Hell is the first for her and she’s happy to make an impression and gain an experience.

Emily would be excited and anxious, that’s why I say she’d be more controlled. She has no idea how you would act or why you prefer, if anything she does offended you, it could mean war between the two realms. There’s this pressure that she puts on herself before the meeting so as to prepare herself for every situation.

On your side, you heard of Emily from Trick since she was their favourite from Heaven. You have a clear picture on Emily as a person or angel. You do see Emily as a niece of sorts since she reminds you of Charlie from Trick’s description of her and the little scenes Trick would show you when they just can’t stop with just talking about her. Needless to say, there’s no hostility or negativity towards Emily from you, nor will there ever be partly because of Trick’s obsession and protectiveness over her.

The meeting is definitely happening after the show and everything. As for why, where, and how, I have no idea because there’s no season 2 yet and I have not planned for them to meet. All these answers and explanations are strictly for this ask.

In the actual meeting, Emily would be tripping over herself mentally to get herself presentable in front of you to avoid a war and hold in her excitement, since there’s a big difference between you and Charlie. She’ll spat out that she was sorry about the exterminations too, saying she’ll try to do something to stop it all on her side and help Charlie with her hotel project, even telling you about Sir Pentious in Heaven.

If you weren’t won over by her through Trick’s stories, you are now. She is quite the sweetheart and like the Heaven copy of Charlie. You got her to calm down when you have your hand on her head and patted her head softly. Emily would quiet down and bowed her head unconsciously to let you continue, within moments, her eyes closes and she flies closer to you, then proceeds to hug you.

Emily quickly realizes what she done and looks up to apologize, but you hugged her back and combed through her comb while shushing her. Your actions make her hug into your tightly and relax herself to the point where even her wings slumped down.

With time, Emily does learn of your cruelty but there was reason behind it all and she understands that it was rarely ever unprovoked. She also learns of your unique care to Hell and its beings’ freedom that you grant with its boundaries. You don’t hide either side and answer Emily’s questions, you do prefer honest truth instead of a white lie that would paint you in a good light. You never saw a need in such since when have you ever cared for others’ view of you?

The contrast in her expectation and reality makes Emily question things and solidifies that beings from Hell aren’t all evil and bloodthirsty like Heaven depicted. The shocking realization is enough to make her see you as being more genuine than Sera. Scary how you earn others’ favour so easily, right? That’s a charm of yours.

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afroditisworld · 1 year ago

Text

Brooklyn baby

Late Eycte! Alex Turner x Singer!Reader

Warnings: smut, smoking, stoned sex? spanking, oral (female received), smut without plot, soft dom Alex, tits play and use of pet names (doll, luv, princess) if you are not into that please don't read it :))

word count: 3k

You and Lana were best friends. You were like sisters from different mothers. You grew up with each other, and it didn't turn out to be a surprise when you both decided to follow the same career. Both of you were talented women in the music business. You both followed each other every step of the way. You normally planned your tours together and attended each other's shows with every change. It was a mutual relationship based on support and admiration for one another's talents and successes.

So when she met Miles Kane and Alex Turner, she also introduced them to you, and you instantly matched each other's energies. But, oh, you and Alex, you had an electric connection with your first conversation. You felt an indescribable spark every time you talked to him. Alex had his way of making you smile. His witty humour and charming personality captivated you from the start. With every word he spoke, you found yourself drawn closer to him and as time went on, your bond only grew stronger.

You and Alex were at your home studio, trying to get the perfect sound for one of your songs. It was one of those terrible days when you'd prefer to listen to one of your vinyl records than try to come up with new ideas. You were attempting to play a song on your keyboard, but nothing seemed to come together. You sighed as you turned to see Alex, who was lying on the floor with his back to the wall, doing the same thing with his electric guitar.

"I'm going to play a record," you said, hoping it would bring some inspiration, and you walked towards the record player. "Do you mind?" you continued.

"No, maybe I can strum a few chords while you listen and find something new," he replied mindlessly.

You laughed at your current state as you picked a random record from the collection and gently placed it on the turntable. As the familiar crackle of the vinyl filled the room, you watched as his fingers effortlessly moved across the strings of his guitar, creating a melody that seemed to be perfectly in harmony with the song that was playing in the background.

"Oh, I love this song," you whispered, and you started mumbling the song lyrics under your breath. "I didn't know that you liked Lou Reed," he commented, listening to your soft humming with a smile on his face.

"Yeah, his music has always clicked with me," you replied, your voice barely audible over the music. "I've been listening to his songs for years; Lana teases me for that; she had written a song about it," you said with a smile.

When the record ended, the room was filled with silence. "Does it bother you?" Alex's voice brought you back to reality, showing you his lighter that was ready to light up his joint. You just shook your head in response.

You both had given up on finding some tunes for your song. Instead, you approached him and sat next to him. You were lying on the floor, your heads facing the ceiling, in silence. Then suddenly Alex placed the joint in your mouth, giving you a puff, and as the smoke filled your lungs, you closed your eyes. At that moment, a calming sense washed over you, as if the worries and stress of the outside world had been temporarily suspended and time stood still. With each exhale, the weight on your shoulders seemed to lighten, allowing you to fully embrace the tranquillity of the moment. Alex's fingers were still on your lips, and you could feel the warmth of their touch spreading through your body. Slowly, you felt your mind drift away. Your body grew more and more hotter, yet the cool air in the atmosphere made you shiver. Alex forced you to look at him and his unexpected action made you freeze. You just stared at his beautiful eyes and waited for him to say anything.

“Fuck” he sighed with a smirk “You got some soft lips there” he continued your heart racing as you tried to process his unexpected compliment. You couldn't help but blush, feeling a mix of excitement and confusion. “I'm always catching myself thinking if you could put them in good work for me,” he said and you were so surprised that you only blinked you could barely find words to respond.

“Oh, don't act so surprised luv, I know that you wanted too, I can say from the way you look at me” he added again. It wasn't that you didn't want to but you really didn't know how to react. You never believed that Alex could be so forward.

"Come here," he said, lifting himself up. You move closer to him without thinking, never breaking eye contact, and as you get closer to him you fall to your knees. Everything seemed to start dragging on a bit slower as the high settled into your mind and every touch made you shiver. "Oh, no, it's not about me tonight," he said, helping you stand up. You looked at him confused, and he kissed you passionately on your lips, catching you off guard. The intensity of the moment left you breathless, and you couldn't help but wonder what had prompted this sudden display of affection. As he pulled away, a mischievous smile played on his lips, and he whispered, "Tonight, it's all about you."

When the words left his mouth, he kissed you again, lifting you up and placing you on the nearest table. His hands roamed gently over your body, his touch igniting a fire within you that you had never felt before. "Alex," a soft moan left your mouth. As his hands travelled all over your body. "What is it, doll? Tell me what you need," he asked. "I- I need…y-you" you moaned, so ashamed that you couldn't even look him in the face. You could feel your panties getting wetter and wetter with every minute passing. God, this weed was doing too much to you. "No need to tell it twice," he said, placing his hand on your neck and pulling you in for a kiss. The intensity of the moment overwhelms you, making it difficult to form coherent thoughts. The combination of his touch and the effects of the weed heightened your desire, leaving you craving more. A cry left your mouth as you kissed him back, and he bit your lip, causing a mixture of pleasure and pain to surge through your body. The room seemed to spin as you surrendered yourself to the intoxicating mix. It was a moment of pure surrender, where nothing else mattered but the raw desire between you. You wrapped your leg around him as you quickly deepened the kiss. You gasped into Alex's mouth as you felt his hands touch up and down your back.

Without even realising it, your top and your bra were lying scattered in the studio while Alex's mouth took one of your nipples between his teeth and pulled hard, gazing up at you as you cried out of pleasure and pain. Your back was arching from the pleasure his mouth was giving you, and all this attention in your sweet spot was making you soak through the fabric of your undies. His hands were hugging your boobs perfectly as he was teasing you, alternating between gentle caresses and rough squeezes. The combination of his skilled mouth and expert touch sent waves of pleasure coursing through your body, igniting a fiery desire within you. Unable to contain yourself any longer, you surrendered to the intoxicating sensations, losing yourself to Alex, which left you breathless and yearning for more.

"Al, p-please. You're teasing me so much." You pleaded with a desperate voice, your words laced with a mixture of need and anticipation. Alex's eyes met yours, filled with a hunger that mirrored your own desires and with a wet pop, he let go of your breasts. The waiting was maddening, every nerve in your body on edge as you watched him slowly remove his hand from your breast and lower it between your legs. He smirked, his fingers tracing teasing circles on your inner thigh, inching closer to where you craved his touch the most. Your breath hitched as his fingers brushed against the fabric, sending a shock of electricity through your body. He lowered himself, and his hot breath was hitting your clothed pussy sending goosebumps all over your skin.

“Tell me what you need and I will give it to you," he whispered seductively. You could hardly find the words to respond, but the ache in your core fueled your determination.

"I need your touch," you managed to utter, your voice trembling with tension. With that, he lifted your skirt and slid his fingers beneath your panties granting you the pleasure you craved, sending waves of ecstasy crashing over you.

"You're so wet for me," Alex said, thrusting two fingers into you. As your hands grabbed his hair, his thumb slid to circle your clit, fingers now steadily pumping into you. Your spine arched and your legs sought to close as he curled his fingers in the perfect position. He looked up at you, disappointingly shaking his head.

“No, sweetheart come on, I know you can do better than that," he said wanting to continue pushing you to your limits.

“Close your feet again and I'm going to stop,” he said, with a serious expression on his face.

With his jawline sharp, he placed his hands on your back as he pushed you to the edge of the table. You could feel the pressure building in your muscles and the passion surging through your veins. He helped you take your panties off, and he lowered himself between your legs.

You gasped and rolled your eyes back as his tongue touched your clit. His hands gripped your thighs and held them open for him, so tightly that you swear it'll leave a mark on your skin. As he continued to lick and suck your pussy, his tongue touched you in all the right spots. With your hands pulling the back of his head, you pushed your hips into his mouth as he thrust the tip of his tongue into you. Alex groaned against you, and the pleasure reached all the way to your core.

He rubbed his thumb on your clit again, making you see stars. Your body trembled in pleasure as you cried out his name. He was looking at you and, he couldn't help but enjoy having such power over you.

“A-Alex, please” you whispered.

“Please what doll?” he asked teasing you.

“Ple-please, don't stop” You paused not being able to utter a phrase with his face between your legs.

“I'm gonna cum Al- please, d-don't stop” you continued as one of your hands gripped the table tightly.

Alex moaned as your orgasm landed on his tongue, the sweet taste lingering in his mouth as he sucked the juices. The heat of the moment overwhelmed both of you, leaving you breathless and craving for more. He pulled away, gently placing your shaking legs down. You looked into each other's eyes, knowing that this was only the beginning. You felt your juice running out of your thighs, and your mind was all over.

You only came back to reality when he helped you turn around and bent you over the table, ready to take you from behind. When your breasts touched the cold furniture, you gasped at the sensation.

“We are not done, luv,” he said with a playful grin. You weren't able to respond but you needed him, you wanted to feel him inside you, all the anticipation that your previous action gave you and the high feeling of the joint that you two smoked made you even more hornier, longing for his touch. Eager to feel him again you pushed your hips against him, causing friction as his bone teased your entrance, he then backed up and let a spank fall in your ass. It was so unfair, he was fully dressed when you were wearing nothing but a skirt that was barely covering anything because he turned it up.

The painful sense sent a rush of pleasure through your body, and a cry left your lips. You closed your legs, trying to get some relief. But again, that gave you another spank.

“Please” you begged again, hoping for mercy. And then the sound of Alex unzipping his pants was like harmony in your ears.

“Someone is getting needy” he whispered and when he pushed his member inside of you, burying himself fully, you both moaned.

“Ugh- Al” you moaned as waves of euphoria washed over you. Your legs started shaking and you couldn't bear your own weight anymore. You were a mess. Your moans, his heavy breaths and the sound of your bare skin slapping together filled the room. You could feel his dick hitting against your tight walls with each hard thrust, it was like he was doing it on purpose. You tried to make him slow down by pushing him by his chest but your attempt failed as he grabbed your hands and placed them behind your back.

“You wanted me to stop, luv,” he asked, mocking you. “N-No, just- just please…slow down” you cried out and bit your lips trying to hold yourself quiet. Another orgasm built up quickly inside of you, you were so sensitive and overwhelmed with pleasure that you could barely breathe.

“What? Are you going to cum already” he said and spanked you again harder than before, making you whine even louder. You couldn't even respond to him you just nodded and murmured.

“Use your words, babe, like a good girl you are” he groaned. He was getting closer too, your walls were tightening around him and made it very difficult for him to move and not to cum right there.

“Yes. Please yes,” you screamed, and then you placed your hands where you need them the most and started playing with your clit. The pleasure intensified as you felt the waves of orgasm building within you.

But Alex still catch your action. “Such a dirty girl trying so hard to cum on my cock” he said.

He knew he had some power over you and he wouldn't stop until he had made you completely submit to his desires. You couldn't think of anything else but how close you were to your relief. Your body started to shake as the pleasure rushed all over your body. Your mind went blank and you gave yourself to him completely.

You were high, your body aching as you let go once more. Alex moan as your juices covered his cock. Your orgasm seemed to last forever. You could hear your heartbeat in your ears, Alex continued to fuck you while you came and you couldn't do anything else but moaned in pleasure.

“ I- please cum inside me, I'm on the pill" you panted. And this was all Alex needed as he filled you up.

When he pulled himself out the mix of his warm release and your juice started running out of you in a sticky mess, you nearly sobbed, as he left you feeling exposed and empty.

“You did so good Y/N," he said helping you to stand up and face him, his eyes were filled with admiration and pride.

“I can't feel my feet,” you said with a shaky voice.

“Come on, princess,” he said as he lifted you in his arms. "How does a bath sound ?" he asked as he carried you towards the bathroom.

well, my boyfriend's in a band he plays guitar while I sing Lou Reed

#alex turner #alex turner x reader #alex turner fic #alex turner smut #alex turner fanfic #alex turner fanfiction #alex turner x you #alex turner x y/n

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