#everyone Must have time for relaxation and exploration and play and they Must have the personal and social resources to do so

[blujayonthewing]

manual labor and similar work pays exorbitantly well in gnomish societies to entice people to do them (so they still have plenty of time and money to pursue something interesting as a hobby) to prevent an oversaturation in the working population of Impassioned Niche Specialists without anyone to, like, pick up trash

[couch-house]

If you've been following me for a while you already know I'm going to tell you to vote for @themetalvirus's Egghog AU in @sonic-au-collision. You know I love drawing those funny little guys. But I think it might be a good idea to actually get into why I find them so compelling! I think any good AU is in conversation with canon,and egghogs is a certified Yapper.

Let's start with our hero, Amy!

Our canon Amy can be characterized by her deep compassion and optimism. As well as how Sonic has inspired her hero crush and motivated her to go out and put that compassion to work herself!* Egghog Amy has that same compassion, but what if she had no choice in being the hero? She had no one to look up to and inspire her, just the crushing weight of necessity. An Amy put in canon Sonic's position, who relies on unceasing and perhaps inappropriate optimism, but is still worn down by the weight of the world. I like this take on her, an exploration of where "toxic positivity" can get you.

*I think the classic IDW Amy characterization is a good example of this. As well as Fleetway Amys origin story heehee

Despite the stress of it all, she still has the optimism to see the best in people and believe they can change for the better. Like, for example, her crush: Egghog Sonic.

Just like canon Sonic, Eggy is a headstrong hedgehog defined by his own moral compass and his need to have a pretty good time. But while canon Sonic is defined by his love of freedom, independence, and by his "coolness," Egghog Sonic has been raised in Eggman's trap of control. He's just as headstrong, but in the opposite direction. His adoptive family is just as important to him as canon Sonic's friends, but in opposition to the good of the world. Where canon Sonic is personally reckless to protect others, Eggy is careless with the safety of others in service to his and his family's needs. Canon Sonic is capricious and relaxed, even in the face of danger, while Eggy is restrained, emotionally stunted, and stressed at all times.

Personally, I think that Egghog Sonic's fighting style being based in ballet--associated with control, restraint, and exclusivity by wealth--opposed to canon Sonic's fighting evoking breakdancing--a sport associated with creativity, play, and its origins as an urban art--does a great job on its own of juxtaposing the two Sonics.

But as I mentioned, even with his morals and freedom in opposition to canon, Egghog Sonic still has that essential connection to the people he cares about: his close-knit (read: highly controlled) family.

Egghog Sonic's younger brother Silver has all of canon Silver's accidental dickishness and ruthlessness, but without the humbling experience of surviving in a ruined future to keep him in check. Born and raised with a silver (ha) spoon in his mouth, Eggy Silver would be killed instantly by canon Silver's upbringing. All his worst qualities have been encouraged (as opposed to canon silver facing consequences for and learning from his flaws) and Eggy Silver is a huge fucking bitch. You know when Silver mugged Tails in Rivals? Okay now imagine if he was raised to do that as a child soldier. Now imagine he gets anything he wants whenever he asks. Thats Egghog Silver. When Silver defects from the Eggpire, we see that appreciation for the world and its history grow back where it belongs. It gives a better appreciation to what motivates canon Silver's view of the world, and recreates it in a new way.

Also the irony of Mr. I Must Fight For The Future's fucked up AU version of himself being part of the cause of the ruined future.... its delicious.

Finally, the oldest brother (by like a couple months...). We all know canon Shadow's had a rough time of it RE: mind control, manipulation, having a whole game where he is asked to be everyones gofer... This is Egghog Shadow's life for a full 15 years. Gerald doesn't finish cooking Egghog, and Eggman is the one to dump him out of the tube and raise him to be the perfect chaos-weilding soldier. He makes liberal use of his ability to physically manipulate Shadow's artificial mind to keep him in line as an endlessly obedient servant. Of course, any Shadow meaningfully based in canon won't stay that way. Just as his canon counterpart breaks free from the demands of those around him to forge his own path, so does Eggy Shadow. Even in the fucking miseries, even without a Maria, Shadow is still will make the choice to walk his own path.

Well, not just his own path. Because while Shadow (esp post-06 Shadow) can be uncompromisingly independent at times, he is still often defined by his friendships. Specifically, his relationship to Rouge is given focus in this AU, being his one reprieve from the empire and ultimately his way out. Canon Shadow had Rouge and Omega by his side during some of his darkest moments and arguably that made all the difference to his arc. Their presence (yes, Omega is here too) during Eggy Shadow's suffering is all the more essential and highlights their roles in canon.

But of course, with greater miseries comes greater struggle to heal. Canon Shadow's neat freak nature gets reinterpreted as a trauma response--maladaptive perfectionism and OCD. (tbc, in the same way fan works often recognize that canon Shadow likely lives with PTSD as a result of his experiences, Egghog Shadow's OCD is presented as an appropriate consequence of the stressful environment he's been raised in.) I like this as an exploration of how Shadow handles stress and trauma, how it might change in different circumstances.

All that to say, Egghog AU is just done in such a compelling way that really grabs me and facilitates Rambling about The Parallels and such. And that I think makes for a GREAT AU. The exploration of Sonic's strong personal morals and headstrong...ness, the benefits and flaws of Amy's intense optimism and compassion, Silver's ruthlessness and meaner side, and Shadow's tendency to introspection and overcorrection... Again I say, a good AU is one that is in conversation with canon, and Egghogs is constantly talking about the fascinating conflicts created by these characters. And thats why you should vote #Egghogs4Eggver

[gloomwitchwrites]

what about 141 with a reader who’s hard to make cum. like still enjoying everything, but just can’t cum easily <3

Oh anon, you must have read the series with the prompt about being overly sensitive and squirmy during sex. This is the opposite, and I love that. Everyone is different during sex, and I love that I can explore the other end of the spectrum.

As always, these are filthy. Pure smut. Nothing less. Nothing more. I really indulged myself here just because I'm someone who isn't super sensitive, and I need that extra attention to get off. So, with that, enjoy!

For the masterlist and how to submit your own request, click HERE

Task Force 141 x Female Reader

Content & Warnings: unprotected piv (wrap it up irl), creampie, dirty talk, praise, clit play, mirror sex, doggy, talking through it, oral sex (female receiving)

Word Count: 2.6k

ao3 // taglist // main masterlist // imagines & what if masterlist

Kyle "Gaz" Garrick

“Hey, baby girl,” coos Kyle into your ear. “Relax.”

Kyle adjusts your legs, pushing them toward your chest. He settles between, the head of his cock catching at your entrance.

“Breathe for me. That’s it.” Kyle starts to sink in and you moan loudly, fingers digging into his back.

Sex with Kyle is always electric. He knows that you tend to get into your head, to drift even if you’re enjoying everything. Kyle understands, which is why he’s always careful in making sure you get off too, even if it takes extra time.

He always knows how to lavish you with attention, making each moment exhilarating.

“You’re doing so well, love. Taking all of me.” Kyle slides home and your back arches off the bed.

Kyle rolls his hips slowly, hitting that perfect spot inside you. He’s taking his time, moving casually, making you take and feel every inch. It’s fucking delicious, and your body buzzes with need as if bees live beneath your skin.

Before this, Kyle had his head between your legs, licking you toward orgasm. But one is never enough for him. Kyle always needs you to have two before he’s through with you.

“That feel good, love?” Kyle leans in and brushes his lips against yours.

You moan into him, and Kyle drapes himself over you, thrusting.

“You’re fucking perfect,” mumbles Kyle.

He shifts to one forearm. His other arm rests against your thigh, keeping you wide, his fingers finding your clit. The touch sends a shiver of pleasure through you. Using some of your slickness, Kyle rubs little circles as he thrusts.

Whimpering, you tighten your arms around him, attempting to pull him closer. Kyle nips at your bottom lip and smiles.

“Let’s have another orgasm, love. Want to feel you come around me.”

Kyle’s words drip with lust. It keeps you in the moment, twisting around you to envelope your senses. His fingers on your clit and his cock inside you stirs everything around.

“Come on, baby girl. One more.”

You do want one more, truly, you do. But sometimes you crawl out of it, sinking further away from orgasm. Kyle must sense this, because he touches the side of your face, guiding you to look into his eyes.

“Look at me, love.”

“Kyle,” you mumble, pussy clenching slightly.

“Look at me.” You do and Kyle leans in for another kiss.

His fingers start up again against your clit. This time, the orgasm returns, and you do everything you can to focus in on it. Kyle isn’t thrusting anymore. He’s entirely focused on your clit.

“Come for me, baby girl. Come for me.”

Your eyelids flutter as you sink into the feeling, chasing it. Your legs fall open, and then you’re split, everything in you firing forward.

“That’s it,” coos Kyle. “That’s my good girl.”

Your body shudders, and your moan comes out chocked.

Kyle starts thrusting again. His fingers play with you through your orgasm, and then he’s groaning above you, holding flush to your body.

Kyle’s lips are on your mouth, on your cheek, on your jaw. They are sweet and coaxing, easing you back down to earth.

“How you feeling, love?” asks Kyle.

You hum with happiness.

John "Soap" MacTavish

“We’re gonna do this nice and slow, love. Okay?”

“Okay,” you murmur in response.

Johnny’s thumb hovers at your entrance where your slickness pools. He catches it, drawing it up to your clit. Presses. Swirls. It’s a sharp tug. A sudden burst. But it is not an orgasm. It’s the essence of one. A spark.

You gasp, back arching slightly as Johnny continues to play with that sensitive bump. His fingers aren’t even inside you. It’s just his thumb teasing. And you are on the journey of unraveling, fingers digging into his shoulders, hips flexing into his touch as your body clenches.

Your moan is chocked. Suppressed. Not much of anything.

Johnny smiles against your throat.

“I’ll make you feel so good, love.”

Wrist rotating, Johnny’s middle finger slides through your slickness. He adds a finger, begins fucking you with it while he shifts up to press his lips to yours. You open for him, and Johnny slides his tongue inside the moment he inserts a second finger. Using the knee already resting on the bed between your legs, Johnny guides your legs wider to completely settle between them.

You are spread wide. Clinging to him. Johnny is seizing control, but it’s good. It’s nice. It’s everything. This is what you need to take you over the edge.

Johnny releases your mouth and roughly kisses down the length of your neck only to run his tongue over your left nipple. Your hips buck, and Johnny meets with a thrust of his hand. His thumb on your clit is relentless and it isn’t long before you feel the gnawing pleasure begin to claw its way to the surface.

“You’re so fucking wet,” murmurs Johnny, his teeth lightly trapping your nipple between them. He tugs softly. Releases the nipple. Kisses it.

With fingers slipping from your body, Johnny is already moving downward, leaving nothing untasted.

The knee between your legs disappears as Johnny moves onto his knees in front of the bed. His arms slide under your thighs and curve up to lock onto them. With a sharp tug, you’re dragged to the very edge.

Johnny turns his head and nips his way down the inside of your thigh. His breath is warm against your skin, sending a shiver down your legs to the tips of your toes. You float in coiled anticipation. Fingers drag up and down your thighs. Johnny’s mouth hovers close, but not enough to make actual contact.

You’re always in your head. Always taking forever to reach your peak. Johnny knows this, which is why he’s taking his time. He never rushes you toward your end or gets frustrated. He works for each orgasm as if they are a prize.

Johnny sighs heavily, but it tapers out, becoming a growl. He guides one leg over his shoulder while the other is pushed even wider. Descending, Johnny parts your pussy with a slow swipe of his tongue. He swirls up, teasing your clit with just the tip, and that is enough to make your thighs quiver. For your back to come off the bed.

Without thought, your hands seek him. One slides through his hair, tangling, twisting, anchoring yourself as your hips roll against his mouth, riding his face. The other claws, gripping his shirt, snarling the fabric in your fist.

Johnny sucks your clit into his mouth and the leg not draped over his shoulder snaps up, trapping his head between your thighs. But it’s nothing to him. Johnny forces your wide again to take his tongue without resistance.

The orgasm is truly building now. Pulsing behind your temples. Wanting to erupt but not quite there.

“You gonna come for me, love?” asks Johnny.

Your lips part, but Johnny returns his tongue to your clit, stealing all clarity. Johnny tastes and tastes. The only thing keeping you in place are his arms. Everything inside you is wiggling, itching to escape, and yet not bursting.

Johnny places a kiss against your pussy before he guides your leg off his shoulder. His hands begin at your knees, sliding down to your inner thighs. He finds a solid grip, guides them wide, and returns to eating you out.

Your thighs quiver, and your legs jerk, attempting to close yet again. Meeting resistance, the muscles quiver, unable to do anything else.

“Fuck,” you groan. “Oh—fuck. Johnny. John—”

“That’s it, love,” he groans against your pussy. “Come for me.”

When Johnny’s mouth returns, he brings his fingers with him. His enthusiasm in eating your pussy is endless. Using some of his body weight, Johnny keeps you locked into position. His tongue runs lazy trails up and down your pussy, dipping inside before trailing upward again.

Then he goes all in, and you burst, exploding outward.

The orgasm is a shuddering thing. Shaking. Your bones vibrate and your eyes roll backward. There is only darkness and bright spots for a brief few seconds before you return to reality and Johnny’s slow, lazy licks over your clit.

Around you, the bed sinks as Johnny shifts forward, pushing off his knees, crawling over you until the two of you are face to face. Your chest heaves and Johnny’s lips are slightly parted. In a small slash of moonlight, you glimpse the glossy shine on his lips.

“That’s my good girl,” he purrs.

John Price

“I know you want to come, baby.”

John hauls you into his lap, spreading you wide, revealing your slick sex to the bedroom.

“Look how fucking perfect you are,” growls John into your ear.

His gaze is focused on the large mirror in front of you. You meet his stare, and realize how much of a mess you look. Your back is pressed against John’s thick chest, head resting against his shoulder, mouth brushing along his muscled neck. He has you spread wide over his lap, legs parted, feet hanging over his knees and pointed toward the ground.

One arm is draped around his neck, fingers digging into his upper back. Your other hand grips the bed beside his thigh.

“Do you want me to touch you, love? Can I play with you?”

John’s words drip with lust. He’s always been vocal, and you love it when he talks to you. Having an orgasm is often difficult for you, but John only sees it as a challenge. He takes your pleasure into his hands, working you until you come undone to his satisfaction.

Sighing, you give in to John. Sliding your hand between your open legs, you work yourself.

“Like this, John?” you tease, swirling your clit.

“Just like that, love,” he coos, shifting your weight until you’re sliding down his thick cock.

In the mirror, right below where your fingers play, your pussy is stretched, full of John’s cock pumping in purposeful rhythm. When he pulls out, his cock glistens with your juices before disappearing back inside, hitting you somewhere deep.

“Move your hand,” he groans.

You draw your hand away, placing it back on the bed. Each thrust and every stroke of John’s fingers send a little tremor through your legs. He knows exactly what he’s doing. He knows how to draw your orgasm out from the depths.

John watches you in the mirror, and you’re completely lost in him. There is hunger there—a deep longing that curls your toes and makes your pussy flutter.

John continues to rock his hips, upping the rhythm of his thrusts until your breath comes in short gasps of pleasure. Your eyes begin to close, eyelids fluttering with every tingle in your clit. It is hard to stay with reality. Your focus is shifting down into that space, wanting to unfurl and burst across your skin.

A bite at your earlobe surprises you. “Watch me fuck you, love.”

Your eyelids open, and it is a starving—difficult thing. All you desire is losing yourself in the moment entirely. But John wants you present and focused, to see him take what he wants.

“Fucking perfect,” he purrs against your skin. “So bloody fucking perfect,” he repeats as his fingers stroke against your clit. It has you clenching around him, pulling him further inside.

This is his goal, to make you come, to bring you that orgasm that always seems elusive. John needs you with him, to witness and submit. His words and action create a coiling mix, fusing to bloom heat within your core.

“John,” you groan, the edge arriving quickly.

His pace increases, one hand sliding under your thigh for support as his dick pistons upward into you. John’s face presses against your neck and he growls words of lust into your skin.

“I’m going to fill your perfect cunt with my cum.” The slap of skin is loud and lewd in the room. It penetrates into your bone and blood, consuming you completely. Everything quivers, thighs twitching with pleasure as your orgasm comes clawing to the surface.

John’s teeth nip at your neck. “You’ll be dripping with me.”

His words sink in. You want to be bred. You want to come and scream John’s name.

John’s fingers swirl against your clit. The orgasm crests, exploding in your brain to shimmer through your limbs. John thrusts his hips upward as the same moment he slams you down on him, sinking himself to the base. Your nails dig into his forearms as John moans into your throat.

“That’s it. Good girl.”

His praise is sweet—a little treat on top of the orgasm.

Simon "Ghost" Riley

“You want to come, love?”

You whimper, and Simon roughly squeezes your ass.

“If you want my cock you need to use your words.”

Simon’s words curl around you like smoke. He’s taking his time. Drawing this out. An orgasm for you isn’t a quick, sharp thing. It unfurls slowly, slithering up to the surface at its own pace.

At times it frustrates you, believing that you’re somehow inferior or broken. But Simon never feeds into this idea. With him, you don’t feel less. He treats each orgasm like a reward, and he guides you toward it eagerly every time.

“I want you, Simon. Need you,” you murmur.

Simon kisses you between your breasts, descending to your belly, and then your thighs. His hands roam everywhere, leaving nothing untouched.

“Need me where?”

You slide your hand over your body to clasp his own, guiding it between your legs. The tips of his fingers part your slick pussy, caressing your clit. It sends a little shudder through you, back arching slightly as you press into his touch.

“Here,” you breathe.

“Here?” he asks, as if he hasn’t heard you correctly.

Simon inserts one finger and then another, pumping slowly. Pleasure blooms and surges out from your pussy. It’s not enough to send you over the edge but it does melt your muscles into gentle compliance.

“Simon,” you groan, as he hits that sweet spot deep inside.

Between half-closed lids, you watch as Simon withdraws his fingers and places them into his mouth, sucking them clean.

“Hand and knees, love.”

Slowly, you roll onto your stomach. Simon’s hand return to your body, helping to guide your hips upward. The bed sinks beneath you as he settles between your spread legs. There’s a pause—a brief silence of nothing—and then the head of his cock presses, pushing in, splitting you open.

He goes slow, easing in inch by inch, making sure you take all of him first before he starts fucking you.

“Take me so well, love. Fucking look at you.”

Simon’s grip on your hips tightens. He begins to thrust, bringing you back against him to meet him. The pace is steady—not slow or rough. Your back is arched, ass entirely up in the air, and Simon is claiming your pussy, perfectly filling you.

“Touch yourself,” growls Simon.

Shifting to one forearm, you slide your hand over your stomach, finding your clit. You are sensitive now, every nerve ending wired with need. The contact sends an instant wave of pleasure through you, and you fall into it, focusing on the way Simon slides in and out of your body, and the swirling movement of your fingers.

“That’s it,” coos Simon. “Fucking come for me, love. Want to feel you.”

His praise and need sink in, and on the next pass of your fingers, your pussy flutters, clenching down. Your breath is choked, pulled from your lungs in a harsh gasp as your orgasm scrambles forward.

Simon groans, and as your orgasm begins to smooth out to a dull contentment, he grinds forward, flooding your pussy. He drapes himself over you, pinning you to the bed.

“Feel good?” asks Simon, pressing his lips to your shoulder.

You turn your head and claim his lips.

Opening, you melt into him as his hand slides between your legs.

taglist:

@km-ffluv @glitterypirateduck @tiredmetalenthusiast @miaraei @cherryofdeath

@sapphichotmess @saoirse06 @ferns-fics @unhinged-reader-36 @miss-mistinguett

@ravenpoe67 @tulipsun-flower @sageyxbabey @mudisgranapat @ninman82

@lulurubberduckie @leed-bbg @yawning-grave81 @azkza @nishim

@haven-1307 @voids-universe @itsberrydreemurstuff @spicyspicyliving @keiva1000

@littlemisscriesherselftosleep @statixx-x @umno-yeah @blackhawkfanatic @talooolaaloolla

@sadlonelybagel @daemondoll @iloveslasher @sammysinger04 @dakotakazansky

@suhmie @jaggersinclair @jackrabbitem @lxblm @beebeechaos

@no-oneelsebutnsu @kidd3ath @certainlygay @thewulf @lovely-ateez

@pearljamislife @ash-tarte @eternallyvenus @spookyscaryspoon @vrb8im

[leighsartworks216]

You Have A Type, Don't You?

Astarion x gn!Tav/Reader

Based on this post

I wrote this instead of doing any of the work I need to do! I'm gonna go do that now lol

Warnings: innuendos, minor references to sex, the barest hints of jealousy

Word Count: 1,601

Masterlist

AO3

Tag List Form

Your pencil scratched across the paper, drawing Astarion over and over again on a single page. This wasn’t anything surprising; you drew all of your companions. Gale, Wyll, Karlach, Shadowheart, Lae’zel - they all had pages of their own, but it was usually only one drawing. Some had even posed for it. It was just a way to relax, and their faces always lit up when you showed them, even if they tried not to show it.

Everyone needed a break from fighting and exploring day in day out, so you decided one more day here wouldn’t hurt. As such, you’ve spent the better half of the day just drawing. At first it was little doodles of Scratch, but then you realized you hadn’t drawn the vampire spawn yet.

Most of the expressions you captured came from memory. You’d occasionally sneak a glance for quick reference, pretending to stretch or get distracted by some birds. But at some point, he’d disappeared from camp. You just assumed he’d gone off hunting.

That assumption was proved quite wrong when a voice tsked over your shoulder, almost directly in your ear.

Startling away from the sound, you whipped around to see Astarion crouched down. He wore a self-satisfied smirk and settled down into a full sit on the ground.

“It seems someone is infatuated,” he teased. “So who is it? Someone we saved from peril, perhaps?”

Oh. Right. It had completely slipped your mind.

You cleared your throat as your cheeks warmed and smiled. “Y-Yeah, something like that.”

He chuckled. “Come on, darling, there’s nothing to be shy about. Spare none of the juicy details. What’s he like?”

“He’s, well,” you stammer, “he’s interesting.”

He scoffed. “That’s hardly juicy or a detail. Or is he just another pretty face?” He leaned forward, trying to get a better look at your drawings. You wanted to pull them away and hide them, but why? All the others had drawings done of them, and you loved showing it off when they were done. Why was this any different?

“No, he’s a lot more than that,” you admit quietly. You weren’t good at lying - usually Astarion took the lead any time you had to - but maybe if you didn’t tell a complete lie… “He’s funny, charming. His laugh lights up my world. He’s had a rough go of it, but he doesn’t like it to show.”

“He must like you if you know,” he hummed. Your heart leapt into your throat as he pointed to the pin pricks drawn on the neck. “Is he a vampire, too?” He chuckled, but it sounded strained. “You have a type, don’t you?”

You scoffed even as warmth flooded to your cheeks. “No! I do not have a type.”

“No, of course not,” he played along. “Certainly not for creatures of the night who bite into that pretty little neck of yours.” Despite his smile, there was a tension in his eyes. “I don’t mind, dear. I’d be more than happy to scrounge around some nights so you may indulge your new lover.”

You shook your head. “You don’t have to do that, Astarion,” you assured. “He’s not… We’re not together.”

“No?” You shook your head again. He opened his mouth to give you advice or console you, but you cut him off. It was better to end this fantasy now, before it began to hurt too much.

“It doesn’t matter. Besides, you shouldn’t be sneaking around so you can look over my shoulder. I could have been drawing something terrible.”

He laughed. “All the more reason to risk a peek. You’re so good, it would be nice to know you can be tempted.” Then he scowled. “Unless it’s something terribly dull. You deserve much more than missionary.”

If your cheeks weren’t already blazing hot…

“In any case, I was only wondering when you’d draw my portrait. You seemed more than happy to provide the others with a likeness. And…” He looked past you, seemingly far away. “I haven’t seen myself in two centuries. One gets curious, especially when you’re as vain as me.”

If he heard your heart start racing, he didn’t comment on it. Drawing him would make him realize it wasn’t some other vampire crush you were drawing. But, it had been a while since your adventure began, and you’d drawn everyone else. You swallowed down your anxiety. “Yeah! Of course! Did you wanna pose, or anything?”

He blinked and suddenly he was back in the present. A sly smirk covered up whatever emotions could be lingering on his face. “If your little vampire friend doesn’t get too jealous. I would actually like if you could draw me just,” he paused, “smiling. It would be nice to know what everyone else sees. Make sure I’m not off-putting, you know how it is.”

Once he was sitting comfortably, you turned to a fresh page and began drawing. The paper was hidden from his view, but he watched as your hand, wrist, and arm all moved in tandem like a clock’s gears to create an image. Your eyes moved between the sketch and him multiple times. Sometimes you’d glance up and draw for almost a minute. Then other times you kept going back and forth, constantly checking for reference.

Watching you work was fascinating. All your surroundings faded away. Karlach being her usual loud self, Wyll dancing, Gale cooking, Lae’zel sharpening weapons - nothing could turn your attention from him. He almost felt subconscious with the intensity of it. Your eyes studied him, taking in every single feature, and translated it to your journal. What did you see when you looked at him, he wondered. What did the world see? It had been so long, he couldn’t even remember his face. All he knew was he was attractive.

With a final few marks, brushed away to blend them into the rest, you looked down at your masterpiece. You were so caught up in the drawing you forgot why you were hesitant before, but now that Astarion stared at you from two different angles, your anxiety came back full force. There was no way out of this.

“All done, dear?”

You smiled shakily up at him and turned the journal around. His face scrunched up in confusion. When he met your eyes, he was decidedly unamused. “Darling, if you’re going to draw your fleeting fancy, don’t trick me first. I know it’s hard to see past the depraved bloodlust, but we don’t all look alike, you know.”

“No, Astarion, it’s not- I-”

While you fought to find words, Karlach picked up the slack. Cupping her hands around her mouth, she shouted across the camp, “IT’S YOU, FANGS!”

Dread washed over you. You closed your eyes. If a merciful god was going to kill you and rid you of this embarrassment, now would be the time. A bolt of lightning, perhaps. You’d even welcome decapitation.

You risked a glance when you felt your book being tugged carefully from your hands. His eyes were wide, mouth slightly open as he tried to comprehend what the fuck had just happened. Gods, now he was going to leave camp. You buried your face in your hands. He was going to pack everything up and leave before the sun even touched the horizon. And you’d never see him again. Maybe you’d go find Cazador yourself, just to kill the bastard.

“All these drawings… are me? Darling?”

You inhaled deeply and lowered your hands, but you couldn’t bear looking at him. He could stab you with his dagger and you’d apologize to him for it all. Hell, you’d let him drink you dry if it meant leaving this all behind you. “You’re very pretty,” you admitted quietly. “I didn’t know how to ask, and just- You can rip the pages out, burn them, whatever makes you feel better. And if you leave, I won’t blame you or chase after you or-”

“I’m not upset.” Your head never shot up so fast. “Well, a little. You’re not subtle when you stare, you know. I thought you were just uncomfortable being around a vampire, but this…” He turned back to the portrait you’d just finished. “This is really what I look like?”

You swallowed away a small portion of the shame. At least he wasn’t running away. “As best as I can capture you, anyway. Y-You’ve got these sharp eyes, and your hair curls around your ears, and you get little wrinkles around your eyes and mouth when you laugh - and I just like drawing you.”

The page flipped over again. The page of expressions, capturing everything you described. When he smiled full and bright his fangs were on full display, accented by the laugh lines on either side of his mouth. And the puncture wounds on his neck…

“Ah, so when I said you had a type…” He chuckled, but it didn’t hold as much warmth as usual.

“Your laugh does light up my world,” you admit. His red eyes were on you in an instant, flickering over your whole face. “Just, for the record.”

He glanced at the drawings once more, contemplative. Then, he held the book back out to you. “I wouldn’t be… opposed to trying this. Whatever this is.”

You reached out to take it, but he pulled it away. “But, no more sneaking glances across camp when you want to draw me. I would be delighted to model for you again, in any pose your sweet heart can concoct.” He held the book out again. “Deal?”

You grabbed onto the book, finally relaxing as you smiled. “Deal.”

---

Tag List:

@satelliteapotheosis @hypopxia @mjmygd @flsalazar @thedevilssinner @marina-and-the-memes @softempest @rebeccasship @pinkishredlemonade @faeoran

[sunshinedaisywrites777]

Shadows of the Past, Light of the Present (DI!Leon Kennedy x F!Reader)

Warnings- Bad experiences of the reader with her ex, age gap (Leon is in his 30's, reader is in her 20's)

A/N- Thank you everyone for all the likes and reblogs. All are much appreciated 💜

The mall was buzzing with life, filled with the chatter of families, the click of high heels on tiled floors, and the occasional excited squeal from children exploring toy stores. You and Leon wandered side by side, his hand comfortably resting at the small of your back.

“This place is huge,” Leon said, scanning the rows of electronics stores. “You sure we won’t get lost in here?”

You smirked. “We’ll be fine as long as you don’t run off.”

Leon chuckled. “Not a chance. I’m your bodyguard, remember?”

The two of you stepped into an electronics store, your eyes lighting up at the sight of sleek gadgets and shiny displays. Leon leaned against a shelf while you examined a set of wireless speakers.

“This one’s good,” you said, pointing to a compact model with excellent reviews.

Leon crossed his arms, tilting his head thoughtfully. “But does it work with that overkill TV you’re eyeing? Or are we gonna have to come back to upgrade the speakers next month?

You laughed, playfully nudging him. “Hey, quality matters! Plus, you’ll thank me when you’re watching movies with surround sound.”

His phone buzzed in his pocket, interrupting the banter. Leon frowned as he checked the screen. “Work,” he muttered, his expression briefly serious. “I’ll just take this real quick, okay?”

“Go ahead,” you said, giving him a reassuring smile.

Leon stepped outside the store, leaving you to continue browsing. You were engrossed in comparing two models of soundbars when a voice you hadn’t heard in a long time pulled you from your thoughts.

“Didn’t think I’d see you here.”

Your heart sank as you turned to see your ex standing a few feet away, hands in their pockets, a smirk playing on their lips.

“What do you want?” you asked, keeping your tone neutral.

“Relax, I’m just being friendly,” they said, though the edge in their voice was far from kind. “Funny running into you like this. Guess you’re still into shopping for shiny toys instead of fixing what’s real.”

You stiffened. “This isn’t the time or place for this. Just leave.”

But your ex wasn’t done. “I still can’t believe how fast you moved on. Does he know how clingy you get? Or how you used to cry over the smallest things? Must be exhausting for him.”

Their words hit a nerve, memories of the toxic relationship flashing through your mind. You clenched your fists, determined not to let them see you falter.

Just then, a familiar voice cut through the tension.

“I think you’ve said enough.”

Leon’s calm yet commanding tone made your ex visibly flinch. He strode up to you, his expression cool but his eyes sharp as they locked onto your ex.

“And who are you?” your ex asked, their confidence wavering.

“I’m the person who’s lucky enough to be with them,” Leon replied, standing close to you. “And unlike you, I actually know how to treat them with respect.”

Your ex scoffed. “You don’t even know what you’re talking about.”

Leon stepped forward, his posture relaxed but intimidating. “Oh, I know plenty. I know they’re better off without someone who drags them down. And I know you’re wasting your time trying to get under their skin because nothing you say matters anymore.”

Your ex opened their mouth to retort, but Leon raised a hand.

“Save it. You’ve already said enough to prove why you’re in their past. So do yourself a favor and walk away before you embarrass yourself further.”

Your ex hesitated, then muttered something under their breath before slinking away into the crowd.

Leon turned to you, his expression softening immediately. “Hey, you okay?”

You nodded, though your voice trembled slightly. “Yeah. Thanks for that.”

He touched your arm gently. “You don’t have to thank me. Nobody gets to treat you like that—not while I’m around.”

You smiled, warmth spreading through your chest. “I mean it, Leon. You’re amazing.”

“Damn right I am,” he said with a small grin, pulling you into a comforting hug.

After a moment, he stepped back, his gaze playful. “Now, let’s get those speakers and grab some ice cream. I think we’ve earned it.”

The two of you continued shopping, his arm draped protectively around your shoulders. Later, over bowls of ice cream at the food court, you found yourself laughing at his jokes and forgetting all about the earlier encounter.

That evening, as you set up the new gadgets at home, Leon’s goofy commentary and occasional mishaps filled the room with laughter. The warmth of his presence reminded you that, no matter what the past held, the future was brighter with him by your side.

[teenandbeyond]

Hello! I was wondering if you would want to write for Beerus? I was thinking what a courtship would be like between him and a goddess of creation? :) hopefully you're doing well during the midst of everything that's going on in the real world! Best of wishes! -A

Beerus x Goddess of Creation. Reader

I like the alternative idea. Despite this, I plan to make the personality different! Edit: I'm doing okay, just busy with schoolwork. Best wishes to you, too! I hope everyone who reads this is doing well too, or if not, this can cheer you up a little!

Want more from me? Masterlist

☆*: .｡. .｡.:*☆☆*: .｡. .｡.:*☆

🥢Création et Destruction🥢 (DBS or Dragon ball Super)

Warning(s): Fluff

Although destruction and creation contradict each other in meaning, one can not exist without the other...They must coexist to truly make the universe hold the beauty it possesses.

✨✨✨✨✨

You and Beerus are total opposites.

He destroys.

You create.

He is much more relaxed.

While your shoulders are stiff with responsibility and proper etiquette.

When you met, you hadn't expected him to flirt with you on the spot.

"Huh. My first time meeting the Goddess of Creation, can't believe I've been missing out on such a cute Goddess."

"I—That-that's very unprofessional..."

You didn't understand him. You were taught to always be polite and respectful, to always hold your tongue, to always be professional, and to hold your temper.

He hardly did any of those things.

And he could really test your temper.

He easily broke that elegant, put-together wall you had up.

And he enjoyed every minute of it.

"Why are you taking a nap when you have responsibilities?! That's so improper!...Ahem-"

And with time, he broke you down completely.

Noticing you were always tired and stiff and showing you what's it like to relax.

"Just because we have responsibilities doesn't mean we can't relax once in a while. We have to do this for millenniums, might as well catch a few Z's in between."

He is very protective over you when you do relent and catch a nap, he'd be very tempted to destroy the planet of whoever interrupts you.

And he learned you hadn't really explored planets and introduced you to Earth and its cuisine.

Which really excited you.

"Cute..."

"What was that?"

"Nothing."

He liked that your presence wasn't rough as his, the feeling of powerful serenity you gave off was attractive to him. You were polite and fluid in movement, yet your power and knowledge were undeniable.

He wanted you.

So he courted you.

And you saw another side of him.

"Flowers?"

"Bulma gave me an earful and said something about them..."

"Let me guess, you weren't really listening?"

"Well...I want to get this right, so, I tried to remember everything I could. She mentioned something called a 'date' that I'm supposed to take you on..."

He was soft and wasn't afraid to show it...to you...

He noticed your hair was always getting in your face, so he got you fancy hair clips to hold the stray hairs away.

When your shoulders got stiff from playing your role, he learned how you give you massages to make you feel better, but not without cracking jokes the whole time.

He attempted to learn how to cook for you...

Well, actually, he wasn't terrible at that. The dishes he could make were just limited.

You liked watching the process, his frustration was adorable.

Cooking for you? Telling you 'good morning' and 'good night'?

He was whipped.

Undoubtedly.

He even lets you pet him, which you'll do if he gets a little riled up.

You save his dignity and refrain from doing it in public (if it's not necessary) since he purrs a deep rumble.

You do things together, like cooking and of course your roles as Gods.

But Beerus's favorite activity to do with you is definitely napping...or maybe eating...both? That's a hard choice for him to make.

You were really good for each other.

He destroyed your walls and the false personality you upheld.

You created a warmth in his heart that he cherished.

People wondered how you worked out so well, you were opposites.

But being opposites brought you together.

So what if he destroys and you create?

Destruction and creation coexisting can make something truly beautiful

And you two love every minute of it

[zylophie]

Furina meeting someone in fontaine who somehow doesn't know them... Sounds refreshing and fluffy!

꒰⌗´͈ ᵕ ॣ`͈⌗꒱৩ — furina

✿ — ♬ ⌨️ᶻᶻᶻ : x/modmafuyu is typing... ✉!

✿ — ↻ SYNOPSIS : Furina meeting a fontainian(reader) who doesn't know her.

✿ — ♯ GENRE : Fluff(mostly), bittersweet

✿ — ⊜ CW : Nil

✿ — ↠ NOTE : Hi hi Anon~ Thank you for requesting~ I had a lot of fun making this fic and I hope you'll enjoy reading it ! I know you wanted fluff but I accidentally made a bittersweet ending. Hope that's alright!<3

Timeline would be Furina still acting out her role. So that this fic would not go too far out of character.

Just a warning, 4.2 spoilers.

[h/c] - hair color

[e/c] - eye color

✿ — ♪ REMINDER : reblogs & likes are appreciated, in doing so will motivate us to continue delivering stories to you, thank you for all of your supports ~ !

Extra: if you would like to request, click here and read the writing rules for each writer !

✿ — ♭ ⁿᵒʷ ᶜᵃˡˡⁱⁿᵍ... : ...No one

✿ — ► ᴺᴼᵂ ᴾᴸᴬᵞᴵᴺᴳ : Furina

CLICK CLACK CLICK!

A petite girl was seen running out of the Palais Mermonia in the Court of Fontaine. As she took off running as far as her legs could take her.

-----------------FLASHBACK-----------------

"...Miss Furina, I do hope you know the prophecy will come sooner or later. Even if Fontaine hasn't experience any deleterious flooding.. yet.. We must act fast to ensure all our citizen are safe and won't live in fear. Who knows how long till they believe in those 'rumors'"

"I do know that! ...I promise I'm doing something useful to help everyone."

"I can clearly sense that you are hiding something from me. Please, just tell me what is it that you are covering up."

"I-I'm telling you! I'm not hiding anything. I am your archon, could you PLEASE stop doubting me?!"

...

-------------------------------------------------

'How much longer..'

pant pant pant

'So lonely..'

pant pant pant

'Please let this show end..'

THUD

The petite girl collided with the ground due to exhaustion. She began looking around, upon seeing no one, she felt a little relieved to see that no one had spotted her being in a mess from earlier.

..Well probably except for the Chief of Justice.

'..Way to go Furina, if he wasn't already suspicious of me, he definitely is now..'

As the girl slowly picked herself up from the ground and continued to wandered mindlessly, wanting to get her mind off things for a bit.

Furina strolled leisurely while admiring the scenery upon her. She usually doesn't have time to be curious and as carefree while playing the role of the archon.

'Where am I anyways? I've.. Never been out of the city before'

As Furina came across a sunny and bright view. Where the sun is beaming while waves crash into one another, accompanied by golden rocks.

Although it is an unfamiliar surrounding, Furina only felt comfort feeling the breeze of the atmosphere as she slowly trotted over to the sea.

'What is this place? I've never been here but it feels really easy to relax..'

As Furina slowly took in the sunlight and windy zephyr and sighed. If only she could adventure and explore the world even more..

Being lost in thought, the petite girl did not notice someone in the distance sneaking up behind her.

'..It's really hard being an ar-'

"BOO!"

"AHHH?!"

Furina out of instinct, quickly lifted her arms into a defensive pose to shield her from whatever is coming after her.

"Ahaha! You should've seen the look on your face."

As Furina slowly opened her eyes, she saw a unfamiliar [h/c] person with [e/c] eyes. Realising they were a fontainian, she immediately cleared her throat.

"What look? I was preparing to attack you, you're lucky I took the flight response or else I would've seriously injured you!"

Furina folded her arms looking really displeased with whoever scared her.

"Ahaha.. Sorry, you just looked a little bit depressed. Anyways, I'm [name], nice to meet you. Now, may I ask why such a beautiful lady was looking quite down?"

"B-beautiful?!"

"Mhm! I've heard my friends say that the hydro archon was really pretty. At this rate I might mistake you as them!"

[Name] looking quite content with their response, giving a close-eyed smile.

"Ahem! A-Anyways, to answer your question. I was simply dreading about my workload. I'm fine, don't worry about it."

"Oh really? Guess it isn't a big issue. I'm glad."

'They're glad? I'm just some stranger though, I'm not sure why they're that relieved..'

"So, how's the beach? Pretty relaxing huh? I usually come here after I run my errands."

"Oh.. So this is called a beach, I've never seen one my whole life until today. It really isn't that bad at all to spend a day off here."

Furina then turned her view back to the waves, wanting to treasure this moment before returning to her dull stage.

Suddenly Furina felt something. Only to turn to see [name] placing a rainbow flower in her hair.

"Eh?! What's up with the sudden flowers?! Forget that, how did you even get them?!"

"I did mention I run errands, and that is when I go flower hunting to find beautiful flowers to add to my garden. I decided to give this rainbow flower to you as a gift. It's fitting for a beauty like you~!"

"W-wha-"

"Also, just want to ask, do you work for the hydro archon? You called me a mortal, surely the hydro archon must've have cute colleauges!"

"..."

[Even-More-Fluff Ending] - Optional to read

"Do you not know who the hydro archon is?"

"..Not really, I live on the country side, but I do hear adventurers say that she is dazzling and charismatic. Although it fits into your description.. Surely I'm not talking to the hydro archon."

"...Yeah you're right, I'm not the hydro archon ahahaha! I-I'm her coworker. Yep, pleasure serving under her!"

'God damnit Furina! What are you doing?!'

'...'

'Maybe they are the person I can confide in.. However I know that's impossible, but it does feel nice to not need to put my guard up as high..'

[Bittersweet Ending: continuation of Even-More-Fluff Ending] - Optional to read

When Furina returned to her office in Palais Mermonia. She sat in her chair recounting her recent encounter with [name]. Hoping to see her again.

So she began having meetups with [name] more frequently. Of course, this caught onto Neuvilette's attention since Furina never leaves the city much. So he decided to follow her on one eventful day.

Only to see the archon with a mortal. He didn't know much about this other person that was with Furina so he decided to interrupt their conversation.

"Miss Furina?"

"Huh?! Neuvilette?! W-What are you doing here?"

"Well the hydro archon has been frequently leaving the city for quite a while so I wanted to check it out. Whose this other person you're with?"

"W-wait.. Furina?! You're the hydro archon?!"

[Name] stared in disbelief, immediately apologising for their rude behaviour towards her.

'Well there goes my identity.. Oh well it was pretty fun while it lasted."

[siriuslychessi]

For the @jilychallenge a bit late since this was for July.

Partners: @tedwardremus and @thecasualauthor

AO3 | FF

Summer trip to (uninhabited, remote, idyllic holiday) island but by accident A & B are left behind alone (or they miss the boat back to main land or a shipwreck (boat wreck??) happens

James Potter could never stay still, it was a blessing and a curse. He could be bored to death in a class and he would always be restless somehow. He would either bounce his leg, write on the corner of his books and parchments, or play with a stolen Snitch when professors were not looking. 

It wasn’t James’ fault that he was so full of energy, he did try to stay still, he did try to seem like he was paying attention, but in reality he was bored in many of them. Having eidetic memory and an abundance of energy really played against him. 

However, when it came to classes outdoors James became much more serene. He loved Care of Magical creatures, going to the grounds exploring, or how he needed to get his hands dirty with Herboly, but what had gotten his attention lately was Astronomy. 

Professor Pruitt had a hands-on approach to teaching, he rarely liked the Tower for his teachings and was always testing their knowledge in the field (near the Forbidden Forest), which James was always excited for. And even if at first he took the class for an easy O, now it had become one of his favourite ones. 

For his 6th year students, Professor Pruitt had a surprise; they would travel to the coast to be able to watch a comet that passed near earth every 60 years, and this time around it would be visible in the southern part of the country. 

It meant a trip with the Astronomy class for two nights, maybe if the weather would allow it they might be able to enjoy a bit of the beach before returning to classes and tests, and all the things they needed to overcome before the end of the school year. One last trip of fun before going back to the responsibility of the upcoming reality that awaited them back home. 

James and his friends were beyond excited. Even if Sirius already knew the sky like the back of his hand, Remus was so determined to get as many O’s as possible that he learned everything he could from the book the Professor used for class. Peter was something to admire, he might not know every star, but knew every constellation name and their stories, and how they related to magical events. It was a thing of wonder.

All they could do was plan for the trip and hope that the usual group of bigoted students wouldn’t make things worse. 

Once they finally arrived at the Isles of Scilly the weather was amazing, it screamed to ditch the group and just got to the beach, however Professor Pruitt had other plans. 

“Before I lose you lads to the island, I must remind you that this is not a leisure trip, we are here with a purpose, and thus I must give you these.” The older man handled everyone a parchment with a copy of the assignment, “The comet will be visible around 4am, so we must get there before that and settle, some muggle bystanders might be around, so please refrain from using magic.” he explained, as he finished handling the paper, “You have been randomly paired, no you can not swap, and I expect a full report by the end of this trip. That is all.” 

James was sure that whomever he would be paired with it wouldn’t be too terrible. 

As he scanned the paper he heard a familiar voice exclaim: “Potter?!”

Lily had read the list of things they needed to measure and how to better calculate the trajectory of the comet to get accurate readings and optimal experience. She knew that celestial events affected living beings and that might affect the ingredients and steps in potion making, so she was taking this class fairly seriously, as she wanted to pursue a career in Potions. 

Everything seemed in order, instructions were straight forward, and she could actually picture herself relaxing before going to the top of the nearby mountain for a better view.

That was until she saw the name of the person she was paired with: James Potter.

The gods did not smile upon her, Lily had had a weird relationship with the fellow Gryffindor, they weren’t on bad terms at the moment, but she felt that they were not exactly friends. And in spite of him being a great student, and probably a great teammate, she just remembered how he could not stay put for more than 5 minutes. Which might infuriate her at the end of a long evening. 

After she, unintentionally, said his last name out loud, everyone in their group turned to her. The tone of her skin matching the one of her hair. 

“All right, Evans?” she heard James Potter asked.

Lily blushed harder. 

“Yes, just didn’t expect us to be paired.” she admitted, putting the parchment inside her back. 

James seemed like he was mulling over something, was she really that loud? Was her tone that annoyed? She didn’t want to go back to the awkward phase they were in after 5th year, once was enough. They have so many friends in common she did not want to go back to weather talk. 

“I thought somehow you would charm the papers to be with Sirius, we all know you two can not be apart.” she tried joking, making some eyes roll. 

“He knows he can’t have me forever, Red.” Sirius chipped in, “I should find McKinnon to sort the schedules.” he explained, patting James' shoulder, who looked disheartened, he was not looking at Lily, nor at Sirius leave. James was just nodding to his friend’s statement.

One by one they all went to their partners trying to come up with a plan where they could all enjoy and do the assignment. Leaving James and Lily alone to speak. 

James ran his hand through his hair, messing it more than it already was. Something she had noticed increased near herself. 

Did she make him nervous?

“We should also try to schedule our times.” she offered, hoping that it would be an olive branch more than anything. 

Every interaction with James and Lily seemed weird, they were not on bad terms, they were amicable towards each other, but it seemed that as much as they both changed (individually and as friends) things weren’t smooth. James was always afraid of saying the wrong thing, and Lily always believed she was too hard on her fellow classmate, when lately she could see more of his point than she cared to admit. 

After a lot of fidgeting from James, not knowing what to do with his pent up energy. And Lily’s rambling and blushing, they decided that they would each pack a bag with different things, a thermos of warm tea, and met in front of the hotel at 3am when the classroom decided to leave with the Professor. 

Both of them tried to enjoy their day with their friends and did a bit of exploring around, enjoying the different view from Scotland and Hogwarts grounds. And one would say that they would be exhausted after a day at the beach where they did anything but lay down and sunbathe. 

However, James’ restless energy was too much to be contained. He did try to get a few hours of sleep, tossed and turned in bed as his mind went over the things in his bag, making a mental list trying to not forget anything, if he did he was sure that the awkwardness between him and Lily would be more palpable. But in spite of double checking that everything was correct, he could not find rest. 

Checking the watch on his nightstand he saw that it was around 2am. He still had one hour to meet with Lily, and the rest of the class, and judging by how awake he really was it would be almost impossible to fall asleep.

Suddenly an idea formed, it wasn’t a particularly bold one, but it was better than staying in bed looking at the ceiling.

Gathering his things, leaving a note in the nightstand and trying not to wake his best mate sleeping in the bed next to his, he climbed down the room to the front of the little hotel and to the street. 

The night was chillier than he expected, the day was so warm that he forgot that they were still in the United Kingdom and not some tropical place. It was good that he decided to bring a jumper. 

During the day James and his friends went exploring around, they found the place where Professor Pruitt had decided to take his students to see the comet. It was a nice mountain that overviewed the island. He figured that he had enough time to go up there, set the equipment in the best spot; gain some points with Lily, and go back before they needed to meet. 

Some people might think he was crazy and he would be beyond exhausted when he would get back with the group. Hindering the project in the process. But James knew that it was the opposite, he would be the right kind of tired, where he would be useful instead of trying to stay still and failing in the process. 

That’s how his journey started, with a positive attitude and considering if he should get snacks after he got back. 

The moon was half full, making it ideal to see the sky but also to not trip over the walk, and the path to the viewing spot wasn’t steep, with a good pace anyone could make it up and back. 

Due to the hour James imagined the path to be deserted, he figured he could transform into Prongs once he was more hidden by the surrounding trees, enjoying the freedom of running around a new landscape. It would be a great way to go and come back, doing even better time; not wanting to be late in case Lily decided to be there earlier than what they had agreed upon. 

Closing his eyes he focused on the familiar shapes of Prongs; the long legs, the white fur, the itchy antlers that were about to shade. Everything to evoke the perfect transformation. 

Feeling the familiar pull in his gut he let every other thought out from his head…

“What are you doing here?” a familiar voice asked.

Of all the times that James expected to hear Lily Evans’ voice, in the middle of a transformation was not one of them. He knew things could go wrong if he did not focus and he tried his best to stop the spell as it were. It seemed that his body listened better than his brain.

“I couldn’t sleep.” he admitted, turning to look at her. 

Lily’s cheeks were sunkissed, James could see that she had spent a day at the beach. She would probably have a few more freckles after the trip. James found himself thinking. 

“So you decided to sneak out and go for a walk,” it wasn’t accusatory, it was matter-of-fact.

“If I stay in, I'll start waking everyone up, figured it would be best if I did something useful with my energy.” he shrugged, readjusting one of the straps of his backpack. 

“Seems we were both thinking the same thing.” 

Lily smiled at James, and it seemed all of the tension and worry from earlier had vanished; his shoulders relaxed, and he found himself smiling back at her. Maybe this wouldn’t be a disastrous pairing after all.

“Where were you planning on going?” Lily asked.

James blushed, he really didn’t want to be seen as the dork that wanted to be prepared, but it was true that was what he was thinking. “I thought maybe I could go and grab us a good spot to watch the comet.” he admitted, hoping she wouldn’t think he was the biggest dork in history. 

“Oh,” she sounded surprised, James was not sure how he felt about that. 

“That sounds like a great idea.” Lily added, as she was wondering why she didn’t think of that herself. She just wanted to get rid of some energy before the class gathered. 

They started walking in silence uphill, there was nothing much to distract them from the awkwardness. It was not that they didn’t have anything in common, just that Lily believed that everything she said sounded like a scolding, when she didn’t mean to. And James believed every word he uttered around Lily (unsupervised) was terrible or misconstructed. 

His body reacted oddly to that silence. He needed to say something, do something, other than just walk straight in that slow pace, so instead of following the boring old path he decided that he should skip along the logs that delimited the path from the woods. 

Lily looked at James as he balanced on each log precariously. “Don’t you ever do something normal?” she asked, genuinely curious, he never seemed to just follow a straight path or instructions, there was always a work around. Something that the other people would not do or think about. 

“What do you mean?” he asked, still walking, feeling his anxiety lower when he had to focus on balance.

Lily chuckled. He looked a bit childish, but in the best way, she didn’t remember the last time she played at anything like that. She had too many responsibilities and expectations in her to let go. 

“You never do what’s expected, if you go on a path instead of going through the designated area for walking you go on the sidelines. If a professor asks you for an assignment you always ask a million questions on the importance of said work, like you never do just what is expected of you, you are always too curious to just follow what has already been set up. It’s a bit unnerving.” She admitted, making James’ heart sink a little. “It is also refreshing.” she admitted finally, not really looking at him, she believed that even with the darkness of the night he would still see her blush.

James chuckled at her words, “Why don’t you try it?” he offered, “Who is to say that you are not supposed to walk on these if you want a less taciturn experience?” he continued, “There are a few things that can only be looked from one point of view, my parents taught me that, they always taught me to ask a lot of questions.” he admitted “Besides, if you don’t come up here, you wouldn’t notice there is a stream below that looks gorgeous under the dim moonlight.” 

Lily was surprised by that, it seemed great to ask a lot of questions when facing things that seemed a bit unfair and out of touch, but some things were too straight forward for you to be questioning them. However, at James’ mention of a different view she now was eager to see what was to look at things under his perspective. 

She climbed on the log as he did, looking at the creek below them, and as James said it was gorgeous, like something unperturbed by the humans that passed through that path every day. It made Lily wonder what else James saw that the rest of them did not. 

The walk got easier from them, at least in terms of conversation. It got easier to understand each other after that, setting aside past prejudices and trying to see things from each other’s perspective. 

Lily learned that James’ parents asked him as many questions as he asked everyone else, trying to have an open and interesting relationship with his son. James learned that Lily put a lot of other people’s expectations on her shoulder trying to be the perfect friend, sister and daughter, and understood a bit better why she always seemed to be so stern even when in reality she was funny and witty, and as curious as James.

They continued to chat amicably, conversation grew easily the more time it passed. James was glad for it, and Lily seemed to be relaxing a bit more now that there was nothing more than a walk. 

At some point Lily got distracted, she was not sure how he lost her footing, if it was a tricky log, slippery, or her body was too tired and she did not realise it. But all in all she knew she was falling to the creek and she could just hear herself scream and trying to hold on to something to stop it. 

“Lily!” James was heard yelling after her. And then she felt something warm and soft around her, making her fall soft as she rolled downhill. James had stopped it. 

“Are you okay?” Lily heard James ask, and she took account of her body. She was a bit sore, and she knew she would hurt more later on, but it all seemed okay at the moment. 

“Yes, I think so. Just a bit wet.” she admitted, as she knew they got to the creek by unconventional ways, all she wanted to do was get up and dry herself, get back to the path so they could get to see the comet. However, life had other plans.

As soon as Lily put weight on her foot, a searing pain went up her leg, making her scream at the top of her lungs and falling back down on her bum. 

James hurried to duck next to her and looked all over to see any injuries, “Where?” he was frantic as he saw the colour drained from Lily’s face. 

“Foot.” was all she could muster, as she breathed the pain away. Slowly managing to get the unbearable pain to a low throb.

“Okay, it’s going to be okay,” he moved his hand, a little wince as he pulled his wand and showed it was broken in half. “Fuck.” he muttered. Lily’s eyes went as wide as they could. 

“Oh no, James your wand, I’m so sorry.”

“It’s okay.” He was panting as her, maybe he hit something as well, they took a pretty nasty fall, but he seemed okay in spite of not having his wand. “Maybe we can use yours? I know a few casting spells to keep that not moving until we get back.” he explained, but as Lily went to retrieve her wand she felt nothing in her pocket. 

“I think it might have fallen.” she said quietly, hating that she hadn’t learned yet how to accio it back, she had been trying but there was so much on her plate at the moment. 

“We can come back with light and try to find it. But first we need to get out of here.” He took off his backpack, wincing again, making Lily worry.

“Are you okay yourself?” Lily asked worriedly. 

“Brill, just sore.” he lied, but Lily did not have to know that on top of her nasty sprain, he had sprained his wrist as well. He could endure, he had had worse with Quidditch matches and Snape’s & Co. hexes. “You do know how to fall.” he tried teasing her worries away, instructing her to put the backpack herself. “You’ll carry it, I’ll carry you.” 

Instructions were easy enough, Lily just had to lay off her foot, and James was already turning around so Lily could climb onto his back, arms around his neck, legs around his waist. Making Lily feel a bit embarrassed. 

“Isn’t it too heavy? You could go up and get someone.” she offered, worried that he was doing too much. 

“I won’t leave you here all alone in the middle of the night.” James was not taking no for an answer, he was just waiting for Lily to feel secure to start climbing the steep hill himself. 

Lily could hear the grunts from pain and effort coming out of James, she was not sure why he was going above and beyond for someone that he wasn’t as close with, even though she was grateful that he didn’t leave her in the middle of nowhere with a swollen ankle. 

It took longer than if he had gone alone to climb back to the path. They almost slipped back a couple of times but James managed to get them up safely. 

“We are closer to the viewing point than the hotel.” he explained as he sat Lily on one of the logs for a moment while his breath evened out. “We should wait there for the others, not sure if they’ll take this path or the one that goes around the beach.” he said, looking down the path hoping to see or hear something, but he didn’t.

When he turned around he could see Lily was still a little pale and shivering from the soreness and dampness of her clothes. “Here,” he said, offering his jacket.

The redhead looked at him and shook her head, “You’ll need it, the temperature is lowering.”

James chuckled, a bit uneven, “I’m carrying you around, I’m actually a bit hot.” he admitted looking her in the eyes, something he didn’t dare to do often. “Take the jacket, Evans, I’ll be warm enough I didn’t fall in the water.” 

Lily didn’t need too much persuasion, soon she was putting the jacket and getting the backpack on once more, before they parted towards the comet viewing place. 

It didn’t take long for them to reach a spot. It was exactly what was marked on the map the Professor gave them. 

James had prepared some blankets for them to sit on, he put one below them so they would not sit on the cold hard floor, and grabbed the second one to replace his jacket. Noticing Lily still shivering he sat behind her, allowing her back to be up to his chest. 

“What are you doing?” she asked, not putting too much of a fight, she was exhausted, in pain but she needed to admit that James’ warmer body behind hers felt nice. Even if the position was a little odd for two friends to be in. 

“Relax, we just have one blanket left, and your back is all wet. Don’t want you to catch a cold, but don’t want to catch my death either.” he mumbled behind her, reaching out for his bag, wincing a bit as he got a hold of it. 

“You got yourself hurt too, why didn’t you say anything?” she said holding his hand, examining his wrist, that looked swollen from a sprain and the effort to carry her. 

James blushed knowing exactly why he didn’t say anything, she would argue with him that they could both wait by the creek, but that would mean she would be colder and it would be almost impossible for them to be seen by the others. She would insist that they should both rest, or that he would go without her, and he would not have that. 

“I’m used to it, I get injured in Quidditch all the time. Don’t worry about it.”

“Of course I worry! I care about you, you bloody idiot, we could have come up with a different plan!” she could not believe he had been that careless, he could endanger his Quidditch career because of it. It wasn’t like they were in mortal peril, they could wait for morning, their grades were not that important, his well being was more important than that.

“You were going to suggest to leave you there, or to wait there while you get even wetter, colder and with less and less chance of us getting found by the group. And I was not going to risk you for a sprain that I’m sure Sirius will heal as soon as he gets here." There was no discussion to be had, she was not going to convince him to have left her behind, no amount of Quidditch and future prospects he had, a human life was more important. 

Lily tried to argue as she saw him taking a thermos out of the bag, she helped him with it since she knew he would be hurting even if he did not show it. “I still deserved to be told, I’m not a damsel in distress, I can think for myself, even come up with something other than staying behind. I don’t appreciate not having a say.” She opened the thermos and poured what seemed to be hot tea. 

James felt embarrassed, of course she should have had a say in all, but he was thinking on his feet more than dismissing her ideas. “Drink, it’ll do you good.” he added softly. 

“It’ll do you good as well, you must also be cold.” She gave him the cup and waited for him to drink to pour herself a cup. 

After they drank the tea they just stay there, next to each other, keeping the warmth of their bodies by proximity and hoping that sooner rather than later they would be found. 

After a while Lily murmured “Thanks,” back to James, “for not leaving me behind.” she added, for good measure, to which he replied “No need.”

Their bodies’ tiredness won over after they made themselves as comfortable as possible, and soon enough slumber took over, each other enjoying the safe company of the other. That is how the class found them: sound asleep, dirty, and hugging each other.

[clangenrising]

Month 10 - Leafbare

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A few days of sunny weather had thawed the heavy snow and caused the huge piles to dwindle down to slushy dregs. For the first time since the kits had started walking, Smokyrose felt comfortable letting her daughters out to play. Fogkit had been bouncing around the den for days, begging to go explore and meet people, but Smokyrose had insisted that they would be far too cold to have fun if they went. In truth, she didn’t want to risk either of them getting sick, especially after what had happened to Nightfrost. 

But today the sun was shining warmly on the camp and she had no excuses and she was just as eager to hand them off to someone else as they were to have some fun. 

“Alright, my darlings,” she said, ushering them forward with a gentle sweep of her tail, “Remember the rules: Don’t go over the hills and stay where I can see you, alright?” 

“Okay!” Fogkit squeaked, bowling forward into the clearing. She stopped, squinting against the light with her tail straight up in kittish excitement. Slatekit started forward, then paused for a moment before hurrying after her sister. Smokyrose watched them go with a mixture of pride and weariness, and not just for the usual reasons. 

She couldn’t help but look at the two of them side by side and imagine her walking with their father. She sighed and wondered if the ache for him would ever cease. The ache for Currentseeker had waned, she reasoned, so maybe time would ease this wound too, but it didn’t feel like that would happen any time soon. 

“Ooh! Look at this!” Ospreymask called as she slipped out of the healers’ den, Branchbark limping along behind her. “Hello there, girlies!” 

“Ospweymask!” cheered Fogkit. Slatekit gasped excitedly. 

“Look at you!” the warrior purred, bouncing over and batting the tiny kits around in her paws. They shrieked and squealed with laughter and Smokyrose smiled. Confident they were in good paws, she moved to the top of the warriors’ den to settle in the sun and warm her bones. Aldertail was already sitting atop the flat stone and looked up as she approached.

“Ah! H-hi there, Smokyrose,” she said, shifting her weight anxiously. 

“Hello, dear,” smiled Smokyrose. “Don’t let me disturb you at all, I’m just coming to stretch my legs.”

“O-okay,” Aldertail nodded and gave one of her forelegs a few firm licks. 

Smokyrose spread herself out on the stone with a relaxed sigh, one ear tilted to listen absently to her daughters’ laughter. “How have you been settling in, dear?” she asked and Aldertail sat up suddenly. 

“Oh,” she said, clearly having let her thoughts drift. “Um, good- uh, well, I mean. Everyone has been so kind and- and generous to me.” She glanced over at Ospreymask and the kittens 

“I’m glad to hear it,” purred Smokyrose. “I know the Clan is better off with you in it.” Aldertail blushed, ears sliding back, and she buried her nose in her curled forelegs. Her only reply was a small squeak that Smokyrose assumed must have been a thank you. She chuckled warmly and let out a satisfied groan as she pushed her stretch. Her back popped and she sighed in relief, melting back down into the warm stone. Kitting had taken a toll on her body that she hadn’t expected and she wasn’t sure if she would ever feel the same again but on days like today she could almost believe it. 

The sun was a gentle companion. The wind was soft and quiet, largely shielded against by the camp’s sloping hill. She looked over to where Ospreymask was wrestling with the girls and smiled, thankful as ever for the warrior’s never ending exuberance. 

“Ack!” Ospreymask cried as Fogkit accidentally stepped on her face very close to her eye. “I’m out numbered! Branchbark, you gotta save me!”

“Sorry,” Branchbark grinned impishly. “I’m injured, remember?” He waved his left paw in reminder. The wound was no longer bandaged, mostly just a nasty, dark scab and a greenish bruise underneath his short brown fur. 

“Coward!” Ospreymask wailed, flopping underneath the kittens. Slatekit and Fogkit giggled to each other and then Fogkit went in for the kill, chomping down on the side of Ospreymask’s neck. The warrior hissed in pain and pulled away. “Hey, hey, gentle! Remember, we’re just playing.” 

“Oh,” Fogkit jumped back, wide eyed. “I’m sorry.” 

“It’s alright,” Ospreymask smiled, leaning in to nose the kit’s forehead. “Just be careful next time.” 

“Are you gonna be okay?” Slatekit’s tiny voice asked, barely audible from where Smokyrose was sitting.

“Yeah, I’ll be right as rain,” Ospreymask purred, hooking her into a hug with one paw. “Unlike Branchbark, I can take a bite like a champ.” 

“Hey!” he frowned, “That’s not fair.” 

Ospreymask cackled and flicked her tail at him. “You’re so easy!” Fogkit joined in with her laughter, snuggling up next to Slatekit with a wiggle of her tiny haunches. Smokyrose sighed fondly. What precious things, her girls. She tried to ignore the aching that came with the thought. 

“She looks just like him,” Aldertail murmured and Smokyrose inhaled sharply, looking over at her. Aldertail shrank with fright as she realized what she had said. “Oh! I-I’m sorry! I didn’t mean-” 

“No, no,” Smokyrose hurried to reassure her. “It’s alright. She does.” She’d forgotten that Aldertail had known Ghost. Curiosity suddenly gripped her and she found herself speaking, “Do they often?” 

“Hm?” Aldertail tilted her head in confusion.

“His kits,” she said softly. “I’ve heard he has plenty. Do they often look like him?” 

“Oh,” Aldertail said, her own voice softening to a whisper. “Sometimes. The girls are usually torties, the boys are fifty-fifty.” 

“I see,” she nodded. The thought that there were kits just like hers wandering around the two-leg place was still hard to conceptualize. A desire to speak with their mothers tugged on her heartstrings. She wondered if it would be possible to find them all, to let them know they weren’t alone, to find out what they knew about him. 

“How long did you know him?” Aldertail asked carefully.

“Since the spring,” Smokyrose smiled, “So… six or seven moons.” 

Aldertail nodded. “There were rumors he had a new dame but nobody knew who. People said you were a wild cat with blood on your teeth and strange magic that stole his heart.” 

Smokyrose couldn’t help but laugh. “Oh, my! Well, I’m flattered but no, no. I’ve never even had any battle training.” 

“Really?” Aldertail asked. “I thought all of you did, at least a little. Branchbark has been trying to teach me a few things but I’m not very good.” 

“Most Clan cats do,” she nodded, “but some cats choose other paths. Like Sagetooth and Oddstripe, they’re healers so they spend their time practicing medicine instead of combat or hunting techniques.” 

“But you’re not a healer, are you?” 

“No, I’m a mediator,” she said proudly. “Since I was little, I’ve studied how to settle disputes and work out problems. When two cats or two Clans have disagreements, cats like me help find a solution that makes everyone happy.”

“That sounds hard,” Aldertail winced. 

“It is,” Smokyrose shrugged, “but I love it. If you wanted, I could teach you.” 

“That’s very kind of you,” Aldertail said, and Smokyrose already knew she wasn’t interested, “but I’m more scared of talking to cats than I am of having to fight one. Thank you though, I don’t mean to be rude!” 

“Not rude at all,” Smokyrose shook her head. “Mediator work isn’t for everyone.” 

“Mama!” Fogkit’s voice called out and she turned her head again, “Mama look how tall I can stand!” The kitten was rearing up on her hind legs, trying to stretch her arms above her head, which was slightly impeded by Slatekit trying to cling to her like a shield. She kept falling down and then rearing back up with an energy that Smokyrose wished she could still muster. 

“Look at you!” she called. “You’re so tall, Fogkit!” The kit beamed and Smokyrose felt another surge of fondness mixed with aching. She wondered if their father would find the display as cute as she did or if he would ignore them entirely. She dreaded to think what his indifference would do to her kittens, if he indeed felt it. 

She glanced at Aldertail, who was staring at Fogkit with a grimace made from fear and pity, and had to wonder what had been done to her to make her so afraid of Ghost. What had he done to the cats under his charge? What had he hidden from her? She decided she didn’t need to know. She and her kits were safe in RisingClan and she would raise them to know every single minute that they were loved more than they could ever know. She hoped that would be enough.

[denimbex1986]

'David Tennant and Cush Jumbo walk into the Donmar Warehouse’s offices, above the theatre’s rehearsal rooms in Covent Garden, and sit down on a sofa, side by side. Tennant has that look his many fans will instantly be able to call to mind of being at once stressed – with a desperado gleam in his eye – yet mischievously engaged, which has to do with the intelligence he applies to everything, the niceness he directs at everyone. He is wearing a mustard-coloured jersey and could be mistaken for someone who has been swotting in a library (actually, he has been rehearsing a fight scene). If I am right in supposing him to be tense at this mid-rehearsals moment, I know – from having interviewed him before – that it is not his way to put himself first, that he will crack on and probably, while he’s at it, crack a joke or two to keep us all in good spirits. But some degree of tension is understandable for he and Jumbo are about to perform in a play that explores stress like no other – Macbeth – and must unriddle one of the most dramatic marriages in all of Shakespeare’s plays.

This is star billing of the starriest kind. Tennant, at 52, has more triumphs under his belt than you’d think possible in a single career (including Doctor Who, Broadchurch’s detective, the serial killer Dennis Nilsen in Des, and the father in There She Goes). Jumbo has been seen on US prime time in The Good Wife and The Good Fight and in ITV’s Vera. But what counts is that each is a Shakespeare virtuoso. Jumbo, who is now 38, won an Ian Charleson award in 2012 for her Rosalind in As You Like It and, in 2013, was nominated for an Olivier for her Mark Antony in Phyllida Lloyd’s all-female Julius Caesar. More recently, she starred as a yearningly embattled Hamlet at the Young Vic. A dynamo of an actor, she is described by the former New York Times theatre critic Ben Brantley as radiating “that unquantifiable force of hunger, drive, talent usually called star power”. Tennant, meanwhile, who has played Romeo, Lysander and Benedick for the RSC, went on to embody Hamlet and Richard II in performances that have become the stuff of legend.

Jumbo settles herself cross-legged on the sofa, relaxed in her own body, wearing a white T-shirt, dusky pink tracksuit bottoms, and modestly-sized gold hoop earrings. She looks as if she has come from an exercise class – and she has in one sense – no need to ask whether rehearsals, at this stage, are full-on. As we shake hello, she apologises for a hot hand and I for a cold one, having just come in from a sharp November morning. She is chirpy, friendly, waiting expectantly for questions – but what strikes me as I look at her is how her face in repose, at once dramatic and pensive, gives almost nothing away, like a page waiting to be written on.

Max Webster, the director, is setting the play in the modern day and Macbeth, a taut and ageless thriller, is especially friendly to this approach. I want to plunge straight in to cross-question the Macbeths. Supposing I were a marriage counsellor, what might they tell me – in confidence – about their alliance? Tennant is a step ahead: “There are two versions of the marriage, aren’t there? The one at the beginning and the fractured marriage later.” And he then makes me laugh by asking intently: “Are they sharing the murder with their therapist?”

He suggests Macbeth’s “reliance” on his wife is unusual and “not necessarily to be expected in medieval Scotland” (another excuse for the contemporary production): “I look to my wife for guidance: I don’t make a decision without her,” he explains. “We’ve been through some trauma which has induced an even stronger bond.” Jumbo agrees about the bond and spells out the trauma, reminding us the Macbeths have lost a child, but hesitates to play the game (I have suggested she talk about Lady Macbeth in the first person): “I want to get it right. I don’t want to get it wrong. I don’t know what to say… If I improv Lady Macbeth, it will feel disrespectful because you don’t know if what you’re saying on her behalf is true. And then you’re going to write what I say down and she [Lady Macbeth] is going to be: ‘Thanks, Cush, for f-ing talking about me that way.’” She emphasises that, as an actor, you must never judge your character, whatever crime they might have committed. And perhaps her resistance to straying from the text is partly as a writer herself (it was her play, Josephine and I, about the entertainer and activist Josephine Baker, that put her career into fast forward, opening off Broadway in 2015).

She stresses that the great problem with Lady Macbeth is that she has become a known quantity: “She is deeply ingrained in our culture. Everyone thinks they know who she is. Most people studied the play at school. I did – I hated it. It was so boring but that’s because Shakespeare’s plays aren’t meant to be read, they’re meant to be acted. People think they know Lady Macbeth as a type – the strong, controlling woman who pushed him to do it. She does things women shouldn’t do. The greatest misconception is that we have stopped seeing Lady Macbeth as a human being.”

For Tennant, too, keeping an open mind is essential: “What I’m finding most difficult is the variety of options. I thought I knew this play very well and that it was, unlike any other Shakespeare I can remember rehearsing, straightforward. But each time I come to a scene, it goes in a direction I wasn’t expecting.” He suggests that momentum is the play’s great asset: “It has such muscle to it, it powers along. Plot-wise, it’s more front-footed than any Shakespeare play I’ve done.” And is it ever difficult for him as Macbeth to subdue his instinctive comic talent? “Well, yes, that’s right, there are no gags! But actually, there are a couple of funny bits though I’d never intentionally inflict comedy on something that can’t take it. I hope I’m creating a rounded human being with moments of lightness, even in the bleakest times.” Jumbo adds: “Bleakness is funny at times”, and Tennant, quick as a flash, tops this: “Look at our government!” (He is an outspoken Labour supporter.) Later, when I ask what makes them angriest, he says: “Well, she [Suella Braverman]’s just been sacked so… I’m now slightly less angry than I was.” Jumbo nods agreement, adding that what makes her angriest is “unkindness”.

It is Tennant who then produces, with a flourish, the key question about the Macbeths: “Why do they decide to commit a crime? What is the fatal flaw that allows them to think that’s OK? I don’t know that they, as characters, would even know. Has the loss of a child destabilised their morality?” In preparation, Tennant and Jumbo have been researching post-traumatic stress disorder. “PTSD is a modern way of understanding something that’s always been there,” suggests Tennant – and the Macbeths are traumatised three times over by battle, bereavement and murder. “We’ve looked at postpartum psychosis as well,” Jumbo adds. They have been amazed at how the findings of modern experts “track within the play”. Tennant marvels aloud: “What can Shakespeare’s own research process have been?” Jumbo reminds him that Shakespeare, like the Macbeths, lost a child. She relishes the play’s “contemporary vibe which means it’s something my 14-year-old niece will want to see. Even though you know the ending, you don’t want it to go there. It’s exciting to play that as well as to watch it.”

A further exciting challenge is the show’s use of binaural technology (Gareth Fry, who worked on Complicité’s The Encounter, is sound designer). Each audience member will be given a set of headphones and be able to eavesdrop on the Macbeths. “The technology will mess with your neurons in a did-somebody-just-breathe-on-me way,” Jumbo explains. “You’ll feel as if you’re in a conversation with us, like listening to a podcast you love where you feel you’re sat with them having coffee.” Tennant adds: “What’s thrilling is that it makes things more naturalistic – we’re able to speak conversationally.”

Fast forward to opening night: how do they manage their time just before going on stage? Tennant says: “I dearly wish I had a set of failsafe strategies. I don’t find it straightforward. I’ve never been able to banish anxiety. It can be very problematic and part of the job is dealing with it. I squirrel myself away and tend to get quite quiet.” But at the Donmar, this will be tricky as backstage space is shared. Jumbo encourages him: “When I’ve played here before, I found the group dynamic helpful,” she says, but explains that her pre-show routine has changed since her career took off and she became a mother: “These days, I no longer have the luxury of saying: I’m going to do five hours of yoga before I go on. When I leave home at four in the afternoon, I might be thinking about whether I’ll hit traffic or, whether my kid’s stuff is ready for the next day. You get better at this, the more you do it. The main thing – which doesn’t sound that sexy – is to make sure to eat at the right time, something light, like soup, because when I’m nervous I get loads of acid and that does not make me feel good on stage. I have a cut-off point for eating and that timing has become a superstition in its own way.”

In 2020, Tennant and Jumbo co-starred in the compulsively watchable and disturbing Scottish mini-series Deadwater Fell for C4. How helpful is it to have worked together before? Tennant says it is “hugely” valuable when tackling something “intense and difficult” to be with someone you are “comfortable taking chances with”. Although actors cannot depend on this luxury: “Sometimes, you have to turn up the first day and go: ‘Ah, hello, nice to meet you, we’re going to be playing psychopathic Mr and Mrs Macbeth.’” And Jumbo adds: “I’ve been asked to do this play before and said no. You have to do it with the right person. I knew this would be fun because David is a laugh as well as being very hard-working.” He responds brightly with a non sequitur: “Wait till you see my knees in a kilt…” Are you seriously going to wear a kilt, I ask. “You’ll have to wait and see,” he laughs.

It is perhaps the kilt that triggers his next observation: “We’re an entirely Scottish company, apart from Cush,” he volunteers, suggesting that Macbeth’s choice of a non-Scottish wife brings new energy to the drama. He grew up in Paisley, the son of a Presbyterian minister, and remembers how, in his childhood, “whenever an English person arrived, you’d go “Oooh… from another worrrrld!”, and he reflects: “Someone from somewhere else gives you different energy.” And while on the Scottish theme, it is worth adding that Macbeth is the part that seems patiently to have been waiting for Tennant: “People keep saying: you must have done this play before? I don’t know if Italian Shakespeareans keep being asked if they have played Romeo…”

I tell them I remember puzzling, as a schoolgirl, over Macbeth’s line about “vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself and falls on th’other” – the gymnastic detail beyond me. Tennant suggests that what Macbeth has, more even than ambition, is hubris. But on ambition, he and Jumbo reveal themselves to be two of a kind. Tennant says: “Ambition is not a word I’d have understood as a child but I had an ambition to become an actor from tiny – from pre-school. I did not veer off from it, I was very focused. When I look at it now, that was wildly ambitious because there were no precedents or reasons for me to believe I could.”

“For me, same,” says Jumbo, “I don’t remember ever wanting to be anything else.” She grew up in south London, second of six children. Her father is Nigerian and was a stay-at-home dad, her mother is British and worked as a psychiatric nurse. “At four, I was an avid reader and mimicker. I got into lots of trouble at school for mimicking. My ambition was similar to David’s although, as a girl, the word ‘ambition’ has always been a bit dirty…” Tennant: “It certainly is to a Scottish Presbyterian.” “Yes,” she laughs, “perhaps I should have said Celts and Blacks… Girls grow up thinking they should be modest, right? But I had so much ambition. I knew there was more for me to do and that I could be good at doing it.”

And what were they like as teenagers – as, say, 14-year-olds? Tennant says: “Uncomfortable, plooky…” What’s plooky, Jumbo and I exclaim in unison. “A Scottish word for covered in spots.” “That’s great!” laughs Jumbo. “Unstylish,” Tennant concludes. Her turn: “At 14, I was sassy, a bit mouthy, trying to get into a lot of clubs and not succeeding because I looked way too young for my age. And desperate for a snog.”

And now, as grownups, Tennant and Jumbo are, above all, keenly aware of what it means to be a parent. Jumbo has a son, Maximilian (born 2018); Tennant five children between the ages of four and 21. Parenthood, they believe, helps shape the work they do. “Being a parent magnifies the job of being an actor,” says Jumbo, “because what we’re being asked to do [as actors] is to stay playful and in the present – be big children. As a parent, you get to relive your childhood and see the world through your child’s eyes as if for the first time and more intensely. We don’t do that much as adults.”

Tennant reckons being a parent has given him “empathy, patience – or the requirement for patience – and tiredness. It gives you a big open wound you carry around, a vulnerability that is not a bad thing for this job because it means you have an emotional accessibility that can be very trying but which we need.” But the work-life balance remains, for Tennant, an ongoing struggle: “Just when you think you’ve figured it out, something happens,” he says, “and you have to recalibrate it because your children need different things at different times.” Jumbo sometimes looks to other actors/parents for advice: “To try to see what they are doing – but you never quite get it right.”

And would they agree there is a work-life balance involved in acting itself? Is acting an escape from self or a way of going deeper into themselves? Tennant says: “I don’t think the two are mutually exclusive though they sound as though they should be – I think it is both.” Jumbo agrees: “On the surface, you’re consciously stepping away from yourself but, actually, subconsciously, you have to do things instinctually so you find out more about yourself without meaning to.”

And when they go deeper, what is it that they find? Fear is another of the motors in Macbeth – what is fear for them? “Something being wrong with one of my kids,” Tennant says and Jumbo concurs. And what about fear for our planet? Tennant says: “There is so much to feel fearful and pessimistic about it can be…” Jumbo finishes his sentence: “Overwhelming.” He picks it up again: “So overwhelming that you don’t do anything.” Jumbo worries about this, tries to remind herself that doing something is better than doing nothing: “If everybody did something small in their corner of the world, the knock-on effect would be bigger.” Tennant admits to feeling “anxiety” and distinguishes it from fear. Jumbo volunteers: “I recognise fear in myself but don’t see it as a helpful emotion. It’s underactive, a place to stand still.”

As actors who have hit the jackpot, what would they say, aside from talent, has been essential to their success? Tennant says: “Luck – to be in the right place at the right time, having one job that leads to another.” Jumbo remembers: “Early in my career, I had a slow start. You have to fill your soul with creative things, which is not always easy if you can’t afford to go out. You have to find things that are free, get together with people who are creative and give you good vibes and not people who are bitter and jealous or have lots of bad things to say about the world. This tends to bring more creative things to you.” Tennant observes: “As the creative arts go, acting is a difficult one to do on your own – if you’re a painter, you can paint – even if no one is buying your paintings.” Jumbo chips in: “Because of that, it can be quite lonely when it’s not happening.” “Tennant concludes: “It’s bloody unfair – there are far too many good actors, too many of us.”

And are they in any way like the Macbeths in being partly governed by magical thinking – or do they see themselves as rationalists? (I neglect to ask whether they call Macbeth “the Scottish play”, as many actors superstitiously do.) “I am a rationalist. I’m almost aggressively anti-nonsense,” Tennant says. Jumbo, unfazed by this manifestation of reason, speaks up brightly: “I’m a magical thinker, I’m half Nigerian and that’s all about magical realism and belief in energy. If something goes my way, I think: God, I felt that energy. And the thing that drew me to theatre as a kid was its magic.” And now Tennant, alerted by the word “magic”, starts to clamber on board to agree with her – and Jumbo laughs as they acknowledge the power of what she has just said.'

[alotofpockets]

Now the world knows | Jackie Groenen

Pairing: Jackie Groenen x Reader

Summary: You and Jackie are dating but the public doesn’t know about it, until Jackie gets hurt in a game.

A/n: repost from my old account @woso-x-reader

masterlist | woso masterlist | words: 1400

You've been dating Jackie for a couple months now. Keeping it mostly to yourselves, except for some of your noisy friends and teammates that had figured it out. Dating her had been amazing so far. You spend most your time off from training with her, exploring the surrounding towns. Occasionally some fans would run into you, but they didn't expect anything. Just two close friends hanging out, and that was okay for now. It was nice having some time to figure out what this all meant without having the public interfere.

Jackie decided to get some drinks to go and invite you to come take a short trip to the lake, watch some nature and relax before the game tonight. You always get a bit nervous before games, so it was a nice way to take your mind off of it. And you loved that Jackie remembered and tries to ease your nerves.

Eventually you had to get back for the mandatory team meeting, to go over the game plan for tonight one last time. After that it was time to warm-up on the field. There was an amazing turn out, most of the seats were filled with fans.

The match started and not only ten minutes in Jackie managed to kick the ball over to Vivianne who was able to get a clear shot to the goal and score the team their first point. You all celebrated the first goal, jumping into each other's arms and patting Viv and Jackie on the back for the great work.

Soon after the opposing team managed to move past your teams defense and made a goal as well. Sari was quick to get the ball back into play, keeping it in possession, slowly moving it more towards the other half of the field, where the ball met Jackie again. She noticed she had a clear shot to get the ball to you. The midfielder took the shot you had practiced so many times. It landed perfectly at your feet, you managed to turn in a matter of seconds surprising the goalkeeper with the curve of you shot, landing your second goal.

You point at Jackie immediately after the ball goes over the goal line. She runs towards you and jumps in your arms, quickly being followed by Vivianne and Daniëlle who were standing nearby. The game continues with some more goal opportunities from both teams, but it stays 2-1 until halftime.

Going back into the field after half time, the opposing teams seems to have gotten more energy and aggression around the ball. It's hard to keep up at times, but the defence is doing a great job.

Everyone's positions on the field have lowered a bit, trying your hardest to keep the other team at bay. A long ball flies over the field, Jackie tries to reach for it by jumping in the air, while an opposing player must have wrongly calculated the height of the ball. Thereby kicking Jackie straight into her ribs. She falls down to the ground hard, her hand immediately shoots to her side.

You're half a field a way, but you're by her side in a second. Softly brushing the hair and turf off her face. You know there's not much you can do until the medical team arrives, but you want to be with her.

Once they get there they start asking her questions, where does it hurt? How painful is it? Do you think you can stand? On which Jackie answers "My ribs and my side. Very painful and I don't think so." The medical team tells all the surrounding players to give them some room. When you stay they tell you, "You too, y/l/n."

You're about to get up and walk away against your will, but Jackie grabs your hand. "I need her to stay." The woman from med nods and lets you stay. All through being checked Jackie holds your hand tight and you weren't planning on letting go anytime soon.

When it's time for Jackie to be taken off the field you help walk her to the sidelines. She can barely stand which is breaking your heart. "Can I carry you the rest of the way?" You ask her, making sure it won't hurt too much. She whispers a pleading 'yes' before you carefully pick her up bridal style. Once at the sideline you know you have to go back on, so in putting her gently down on the ground again you hug her side and kiss her cheek. "You're going to be okay, take it easy. We're winning this one for you."

And that's what you did. You and the other girls now got more aggressive with the ball as well, angry that they hurt one of your own this badly. Jackie had been resting in the dressing room with an ice pack on her side, ever since she got taken off the field. "How are you feeling, Jacks?" You ask as you take a seat next to her. "Not so good." She says leaning into you a bit.

The medical staff walks into the dressing room, "Are you ready to go to the hospital, Jackie?" She nods and tries to take off her cleats to put on her own shoes, but when she reaches down a sharp pain in her side makes her sit back up again. Without a second thought you sit down on the floor in front of her and untie her cleats and help her get into her other ones. "I'm coming with you." You say grabbing your own shoes to change in the car.

Luckily Jackie didn't break any bones, she bruised some of her ribs and the print of the opponents cleat was starting to show. But she was free to go back to the hotel you were all staying at.

In the lobby most girls were nervously waiting to her the results of the x-rays. After telling them the good news and telling the coach know how long the doctor said she had to be out for. You took her to her room to get some rest. You lay down on the bed with her and open up Netflix on the TV. She cuddles up to you in a position where it doesn't hurt too much, and you let her pick a movie to watch.

About halfway into the movie someone knocks on the door. You call out, “Come in.” too comfortable to get up. Daniëlle walks in with her phone in her hand. “Hey, how are you feeling?” She asks a sleepy Jackie. “I’m doing alright now, but once I have to get up again it will hurt again.” Daniëlle sits down on the edge of the bed with a sympathetic smile on her face. She truly felt bad for her friend, having been in the same position before she knew how much it hurt, even if Jackie was telling her otherwise. 

“Have either of you been on social media since the game?” Daniëlle starts. When you both shake your head she says, “I think you better look at your notifications.” You reach for your phone and hold it so both you and Jackie can see what’s on the screen.

You’re tagged in hundreds of posts on Instagram of the two of you holding hands and some of the kiss you thought you could give her without anyone seeing. Comments on the fans shipping you two start filling the screen. You’re smiling at your phone. “I see you two are both happy that the world now knows, so that’s my cue to leave.” Daniëlle says as she quickly walks out of the room again.

Jackie’s eyes meet your, a smile evident on both your faces. “So…” you start. “Now the world knows.” Jackie finishes. “How are you feeling about that?” As a response, you cup her cheeks and place a soft kiss on her lips. “I’m glad they know, because now I get to do this all the time. How about you?” You ask her back. “I wouldn’t have had it any other way. I was and am so grateful for your support, I really needed you and I want to be able to hold your hand and kiss you wherever we go too.” After sharing a couple more kisses, Jackie melts into your arms again and you finish watching the movie.

[curi0us-gh0st]

Escape Room (Park Jiwon)

pairings: park jiwon x producer!fem!reader.

word count: 1.4k.

genre: smut.

summary: jiwon is curious to know what song is making your cheeks burn while you were distracted.

warnings: dom!fem!reader, sub!jiwon, oral, fingering, semi public, overstimulation, eating cum, breast play, kinky kink (?), etc. [no review]

a/n: a special request for someone special...

“Y/N-ah, how are you?” Hayoung appeared next to her, making her jump.

“Oh, you scare me.” You took off your headphones, smiling shyly at the girl.

"Sorry I did not mean." She smiled. "What are you doing?"

Her question made her cheeks blush, as she watched the other members behind her, her eyes focusing on one in specific, making her shy.

“N-nothing, just work.” She lied.

“Come on Hayoung, Y/N must be working.” Saerom pushed the girl out of the recording room.

The girls following the leader, only falling behind Jiwon, who approached you, taking one of your headphones.

"What are you doing?" You were going to stop her but it was too late.

A defeated sigh took over the small room, his face was frowning in frustration and tiredness, his eyes were looking at her and the table in search of help.

Jiwon was inside the small room, headphones covering her ears while her gaze was fixed on the paper in front of her, only looking at the glass when there was a comment, it seemed like she had been there for an eternity.

Fromis_9 was preparing for their comeback as an eight-girl group after Gyuri's departure, the recording sessions were filling their schedules and the producers along with the songwriters were not taking it easy. She was in that room, she was going to do two hours, the beginning was easy but there was a part where she simply couldn't reach the grade desired by the supervisors; Just as she was preparing for another note, a composer stood up, interrupting everything again.

"Time." He grumbled. “I’m tired, I know you can do this, Jiwon, but try a little harder.” Jiwon's clenched fists showed how displeased she was with the comment, she was giving it her all. “Let’s have lunch, we’ll be back soon.”

Everyone nodded, the trio of supervisors left the room, letting Jiwon finally breathe properly, she sat on the bench in the room, her hand ruffled her hair while the other held the paper.

“You should relax…” her husky voice caught Park’s attention. “Drink some water, they’ll take a while.”

“No, I want to try one more time.” She insisted. “Who does he think he is? ‘Try some more’?! Tell him to come here and try to do better!” Jiwon exploded, ranting about.

“Hey, calm down.” She entered the small room, placing his hands on her shoulders and massaging, making the tension in her shoulders temporarily go away. “You’re the best, you know.” She kissed her forehead.

Her eyes meeting hers, a knowing gleam, a tired smile gracing her beautiful face, she pulled you in front of her, hugging her tall body, tucking her head into your chest.

“I'm tired…” She whispered, being muffled by her chest, her hands stroking her head.

“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it.” She responded, pushing her away from his body.

"As?" Jiwon had an eyebrow raised, looking at you curiously.

“Just relax and watch.”

You collided your lips with her soft lips, a soft and slow kiss, as well as passionate, your hand caressing her cheek while the other held her waist; It showed that Jiwon was enjoying it before being stopped by her hand pushing you away.

“We shouldn’t do that here.” She warned, a pout on her lips.

“Didn’t you hear? Don’t worry about anything, just let me please you, pretty girl.”

"But…"

“Ssh..”

She shut her up, kissing her lips with more need, biting her lips only for her to mumble, the perfect opportunity to stick his tongue inside her mouth, exploring the wet inside, pulling away while biting her lower lip. A pout on Jiwon's lips, she didn't like it when you bit her lips because they were painful and swollen, but for you it was so attractive. You smiled before pulling her off the chair, only to pull down her sweatpants.

“Y-Y/N…”

“Alright, I’ll be quick, baby.” She kissed her mouth to distract her.

Pushing her to sit back on the chair, while she knelt between her legs, ripping off her pants, leaving them next to her. Jiwon's hands firmly gripping the sides of the bench, her body shaking, his hands separating her thighs giving the view of her panties with a stain in the center.

“Mmhp… Anxious?” It provoked her.

“Shut up!” She grumbled.

Getting closer, you blew hot air making her shiver, kissed the inside of her thighs, teasing her as she grumbled about you speeding things up, until her patience ran out and grabbed her hair, guiding it to her core.

“Do what must be done, soon!”

Shrugging, she pulled her panties aside, her pink pussy leaking and clenching into nothingness, licking her lips before licking a long stripe of her pussy, sucking her clit gently drawing gasps from Jiwon as he tightened his grip on her strands of hair.

Leaving her clitoris to provoke her entrance, circling it with her own tongue threatening the entrance, your nails digging into your scalp, making your hot tongue enter your tight, hot pussy. Moving in and out quickly, taking turns between entering and licking her clit.

The soft and sly moans filling the room, being the very music of angels to your ears, your eyes shifting to look at Jiwon, head thrown back, lips parted, your throat moving with each moan, moving you in such a way, your chest moving up and down hurriedly, your hips starting to move just to rub against his face and tongue.

“Fuck, so good!” She cursed, looking at you.

Her eyes meeting made her insides churn, his bright eyes looking straight at her as he fucked her so good. Making her body jump as her fingers teased her entrance, inserting into the tight hole, thrusting deep.

Her movements were strong and deep, her mouth doing a perfect job on her sensitive bud, her moans increasing and becoming more constant, her wet walls squeezing her long fingers.

“I-I’m close!” She warned.

You forced yourself to work harder, curling your fingers just to hit that spongy spot that made Jiwon see stars, Jiwon's moans became desperate and loud, trembling in your mouth, she was so close to heaven, her teeth grazing her sensitive clit making her scream and cum unexpectedly on his fingers, her nectar leaking from her pussy, her lips quickly going to fully collect her reward.

Her mouth didn't stop amid Jiwon's protests, her tongue entered her sensitive insides, making her squirm and moan, her hands didn't know whether to push you away or pull you to straddle her face.

“It’s s-too much! Fuck, fuck, fuck!” Jiwon moaned, her waterline filling with tears, his tongue dragging her into overstimulation.

“We have enough time, you will relax properly.” You pulled away just to say this to her, your chin wet from your juices making her eyes roll back.

The free hand capturing hers, intertwining their fingers, squeezing them to withstand the stimulation. In that room it was just the two of you, your souls curled up, unable to stop.

“Give me, give me, give me your best.” You asked her as you pushed your fingers deeper. “No need to be afraid, jagiya.”

Jiwon's mind just sounds a red alert, danger. The most indecent place to do such an act, but the spark that grew more and more in her stomach made her ignore any other feeling, her legs trembling and closing, squeezing her head.

Her moaning louder as she reached her climax, splashing on your face, you taking willingly, everything she was giving you, neither of you knew who was in heaven at that moment.

Jiwon relaxing her legs, releasing you from your suffocation, her head thrown back, breathing deeply, you stood up, holding her waist, her face turning towards you, just to kiss her passionately. Park moaning against her lips, while she felt her hand moving up her abdomen to play with her breasts.

“Y/N-ah..” She whimpered.

“Ssh, take your time, breathe, baby, breathe.” She kissed her deeply, touching her hot, sweaty body.

“Oh, that… It was…” Jiwon stuttered, putting down the phone, his cheeks red.

“Y-yes… Sorry, I can delete it. I-I didn’t even ask, I look like a pervert, don’t worry, unnie.” You stuttered, not letting her speak.

“Hey, no. All good." Jiwon smiled.

"Serious?"

“Yeah, maybe we should make a mini album.” She teased, a teasing smile took over her lips, making her cheeks burn.

“A full album is better.”

[clairesvalentine]

MILEENA DATING A MUSICIAN!READER

🗡️ mileena x musician!reader

PROMPT: mileena with a partner who sings and writes music

i’ve been having so much fun writing these headcanons! i have so much more in store. thank you for all the support so far! it means so much to me ☺️💗 this was supposed to be a shorter, in general type of head canon but i got too carried away... oops.

— mileena has never been with someone like you. yes, music existed in outworld but not in the way you made it. you had so many instruments and so many different melodies. melodies that often made it’s way into her head.

— it truly was the best thing for mileena. if she heard you strumming your guitar or fiddling with the keys on your keyboard, she’d stop and listen.

— a few months before you two started dating, mileena saw you in the royal garden strumming away on your guitar. it was a moment of silence for the amount of chaos you had in your life. you felt an overwhelmingly amount of peace.

— you noticed this and always made sure to bring your guitar whenever you made your way to outworld.

— mileena would be so entranced with your playing, staring at you intently as you played.

— you smiled up at her, keeping your fingers on the strings. “would you like to try, princess?” you asked, handing the instrument over to her.

— mileena looked a bit startled, immediately being taken out of her trance. “oh… but i don’t know how to play.” she admitted sheepishly, her cheeks heating up ever so slightly.

— “i can teach you.” you reassured, patting the space empty space beside you.

— mileena hesitated a bit before sitting beside you. you smiled at her scooting a bit closer to her, so you could help her.

— you carefully put the guitar in her arms, while your hands hovered over hers. mileena’s breath hitched ever so slightly.

— “is this okay?” you asked softly, not wanting to make the princess uncomfortable.

— mileena just nodded, looking down at the instrument in her arms. “what do i do now?” she asked, eager to learn.

— “for starters, you have to relax your shoulders. it’s not going to bite you.” you joked. you carefully removed your hands from hers, placing them on her shoulders.

— mileena blushed deeply, feeling herself relax at your touch.

— as you showed her the notes, she played along. she played a bit clunky but just enough to hear the melody of the song you were writing. l

— “(name), this song is absolutely incredible! i have never heard a melody as beautiful as this one.” mileena gushed, marveled by what she heard.

— it was your turn to blush. mileena liked your song. the future empress of outworld liked your song. it didn’t have a name nor were you finished, however, this was already your favorite song that you have written.

— “we must show everyone at the feast tonight! everyone needs to hear this song!” mileena concurred, a smile on her face. she needed her people to hear how wonderful of a musician you were.

— you grew flustered, immediately shaking her head. “forgive me, your highness but i can’t. the song isn’t finished and i don’t want to make a fool of myself in front of your people.”

— though disappointed, she didn’t want to pressure you. she understood. she liked to perfect her craft as well. besides, most outworlders weren’t friendly to the earthrealmers that came here. she would hate for you to be embarrassed.

— as time moves by, you and mileena grow closer and closer. unfortunately, this is towards the end of your time in outworld. you two are hurt and just beside yourselves. you have both been going on secret dates, often exploring outworld in secret.

— mileena was now your everything, as were you hers. due to the tournament ending, your hearts were going to be shattered. it was hopeless. you had no way to enter earth realm without liu king's portal and sindel would never allow her daughter, the future empress to be in a romantic relationship with an earthrealmer.

— on your last night, you decide to write her a song. something she could remember you by, just in case the two of you never see each other again.

— on that night, you carefully sneak your way into the palace and up into mileena's room. you opened the door, resulting in mileena to jump up from her bed.

— "my dearest (name). what are you doing here?? you being up here is a risk." mileena scolded in a whisper. if her mother found out you were in her room, things would not be okay.

— "i know, i know... this is just too important. i had to see you urgently." you replied, reaching into your pocket. mileena watched you, furrowing her eyebrows in confusion once you pulled out a piece of paper.

— "what is that?" mileena inquired, tilting her head to the side once you handed the paper to her. mileena retrieved the paper into her hands, opening it up. her confused demeanor drops and turns into a softer and happier one. you had finished the song you were composing when you and mileena first met.

— tears welled up in her eyes as she read each lyric. the title of the song was "to my dearest mileena." you wrote a song for her. no one had ever done such a thing for the princess. it was oh so special to her.

— "i don't know when we'll ever meet again, so i wanted to give you this. just a little something to remember me by." you let out in a wavered voice, tears starting to fall from your face.

— mileena let out a small cry, wrapping her arms around you snugly. "i will never forget you. we will reunite again... nothing will split us apart." mileena whispered, placing her chin on your shoulder. outworld and earth realm were worlds apart, but that wasn't going to stop mileena.

[yuki-boshi]

Kai no Kiseki - Act 1 Part 3 English Summary

Table of Contents

Will Van Arkride beat the allegations?!

The scene opens at Viktor's place, where the group is enjoying a meal together. Yume expresses her regret at not having seen the live performance, while Dominique scolds Judith for forgetting the invitation. Paulette reassures everyone that Yume would benefit more from the live show than a rehearsal.

Yume then invites everyone but Judith to join her, prompting Judith to question why. Yume retorts that she is getting back at Judith for her forgetfulness.

Van glances at Nina, still reflecting on past events from Kuro 2, which confuses the others. Meanwhile, Risette feels somewhat isolated, as she has no relatives to contact due to her personal circumstances.

The group discusses recent mysterious disappearances, speculating that they may be linked to the space program. Rocksmith mentions that Kincaid has been avoiding Van but suggests it may not be out of hostility.

The conversation shifts to Gramheart who was said to be a military member who worked at the Republic’s embassy in Liberl and collaborated with Cassius Bright. Judith realizes that if Agnes is nearly 17 and Gramheart was in Liberl at the time of her birth, it raises questions.

Agnes confirms that her mother gave birth alone due to Gramheart's military obligations. Rocksmith concludes that Gramheart genuinely cares for his family and wants Calvard to thrive, even if his intentions remain unclear.

After the meal, Van changes his clothes and speaks with Elaine over the phone. Once finished, he changes back, as he needs to pick out a present for Agnes.

During free roam, Paulette is seen discussing with Maxim about asking her dad about something mentioned earlier.

Upstairs, Feri talks to Yume about the play. Judith finds herself overwhelmed by helicopter parents and begs Van for help, but he awkwardly distances himself, claiming he cannot assist her.

Aaron lounges on the couch, looking at inappropriate material, and deduces that Van is shopping for Agnes’s birthday gift. He offers to tag along, but Van dismisses his interest as none of his business.

Before entering a new district, Van notices a mysterious cat and decides to follow it, only to discover it is Jorda, who insists that he take on a 4SPG request of hers.

--

お兄ちゃん = Oniichan (written as Big Bro)

オジサン = Ojisan (written as unc here for funny)

Van readily accepts, leaving Jorda surprised by his impulsiveness. She comments that if their roles were reversed, she would have refused. Curious, she asks how Van plans to manage any police interference during the request. Van questions her concern, and Jorda sarcastically reveals she is a runaway living in the capital with her "Unc." Van finds her act amusing but questions the identity of this "Unc," noting he is not that old.

Jorda teasingly calls him "Big Bro," but Van quickly retorts that "Unc" may be the lesser evil.

While exploring, Van inquires why Jorda isn't wearing her jacket. She explains that it is summer, making it suspicious, and if she is not wearing it, she can perform "services" for her Unc later if he so desired. Van is disgusted and tells her that she should not be saying such things because she’s a minor, insisting that he is not an Unc.

At the bathhouse, Jorda notices Kisara’s artwork, and Van shares Kisara's backstory. When Jorda questions why they are at the bathhouse, Van humorously remarks that she must be dirty from her time in cat form and wearing the jacket. Jorda protests that she dislikes being around people, but Van encourages her by suggesting that a summer bath followed by vanilla gelato is worth it. Jorda's ears perk up at the mention of ice cream (milk gelato), and she reluctantly agrees to the bath.

Although uncomfortable at first, she begins to relax, and afterward, they enjoy ice cream together. Van enthusiastically praises his treat, while Jorda questions the point of bathing if they will get dirty again while patrolling. Van assures her they can always take another bath, but Jorda insists that her concerns are valid.

If Van chooses to enter the bathhouse again, Jorda will loosen up and eventually befriend Anya, the receptionist, who invites her to return anytime. Jorda blushes at the invitation, and Van feels pleased that she is starting to open up.

While at Montmart, Yume surprises Jorda with a hug, and Van offers to fetch her food. Initially refusing, Jorda is eventually coaxed into trying pudding. At the ASO, Van shows her around, but she refuses to interact with his friends.

At Riverside, Jorda expresses interest in idols at an underground live performance. Yun Ka-Fai also appears, curious about the idol group, which he finds inexperienced. Van explains that the group formed in response to the space program's popularity.

He begins to engage with the Vega party, showcasing their catchphrase, which impresses Jorda, who sees that he is not an ordinary person. Afterward, Yun Ka-Fai asks Jorda if she would consider becoming an idol.

Kisara can also be found saying that her friend dragged her to it.

At the car shop, Graham and Lucio discuss their car repairs and unite as one racing group to make a comeback. Kisara is also present at the live performance, feeling inspired that the atmosphere resembles her artistic process.

At Bermotti’s, Jorda is recognized by Bermotti, who questions how Van became involved with her. Van urges Bermotti not to pry into their situation. In a conversation with Rodhe and Thelma, Rodhe asks Jorda out, leaving her flustered.

Outside near the church, a woman approaches them, seeking help to find her lost cat. Although Jorda is reluctant to assist strangers, Van convinces her by framing it as a cat game and highlighting that 4SPGs often involve similar tasks. The woman explains that her cat went missing on the subway, and Van notes that crating pets would typically prevent such issues.

After a thorough search in Riverside, the duo finds the cat in the subway. Jorda almost gains the cat’s trust, but it panics when the subway doors begin to close, causing it to jump onto the tracks. Jorda uses her powers to rescue the cat, prompting Van to praise her ability to apply her skills effectively. He mentions that the cat already seems fond of her.

Surprised and blushing at his compliment, Jorda questions how the cat could feel comforted by someone with her past. They return the cat to the elderly lady, and Van praises Jorda again, leading her to find his constant compliments irritating. The woman rewards Jorda with a cinnamon candy.

Upon entering Central Station, Jorda expresses surprise at the lively atmosphere, even at night. Van indicates he wants to check out some 4SPGs and explore stores, likely to find a gift for Agnes. Jorda offers to join him but reminds him that their situation might raise eyebrows, as it would look suspicious for an underage girl to be alongside an older man. Van assures her he understands.

At the department store, Van is on a mission to find a gift for Agnes. Jorda, unaware that the gift is for Agnes at first, is asked by Van to help him choose something special. He prompts her to consider what it would feel like to receive a gift, but she struggles to provide ideas. She suggests sweets, but Van quickly dismisses that, stating he already gives those frequently. Jorda is left uncertain about what to suggest.

On the rooftop of the department store, Daswani and his daughter are stargazing. Jorda observes that Daswani's demeanor changes from his usual police persona when he’s being a doting father.

Inside a café, Van and Jorda encounter Marielle, who is attempting to write about a stage play but is feeling stuck. She informs Van that she plans to travel to Tharbad to meet Saara and Shahina. Marielle notices Jorda and questions Van about his intentions, implying that it looks suspicious for him to be with an underage girl.

Van insists he is merely engaged in a 4SPG. Marielle thinks to herself that she has her doubts.

Van receives a call from Fie, who inquires if she can borrow the ASO’s name for some 4SPGs. She cannot reveal why and when Van surmises it must be off the record, she agrees, hinting at some potential trouble. Fie warns him not to go out at night with minors before hanging up. Jorda remarks on how Fie could sense her presence despite being off camera during the call.

While talking to Marielle, they overhear her conversation with Reporter Nicole from Liberl, which mentions Nial and Dorothy and how the space program has created excitement in Liberl.

Upon entering the guild, Jorda refuses to enter and waits outside while Van speaks with Hazel. Hazel warns Van to stay alert for any renewed activity from underground forces. She also hints that he should report any interactions with high-risk individuals. Frustrated, Van wonders why everyone is scrutinizing him over Jorda.

Upstairs, Van finds Zin and Elaine at a table discussing Elaine's findings. Elaine is aware of Jorda outside and cautions Van against teaching her anything inappropriate at night, given she's a minor. Van, visibly annoyed, replies that he will not do anything bad.

At Trion Tower, Mishe (the sister) is hosting a show where the Mishy Show (written as Michey. Typo in Japanese?)

Jorda reflects on how she never had a typical childhood to enjoy and she doesn't think Mishy is all that.

Taking Jorda to watch the Mishy movie will actually reveal that she is super into Mishy and she dislikes that the movie they watched grossly mischaracterized him. Van even jokes that for someone who said they didn't like Mishy, she is very defensive.

Near the Verne store, Moira finally purchases Bart a T-phone but tells Van that they will be living paycheck to paycheck. Bart humorously assures Van that he will use the phone for homework, despite the playful tone and saying he was gonna play games on it at first.

Inside the store, Rashkar expresses his ambition to become a Bracer and is working on the necessary paperwork, planning to apply when he turns 16.

Near the observation tower, an announcement indicates that it is closing for the night. Van and Jorda reminisce about Kuro 2, and Jorda admits her dislike for heights. She also reflects on her past with Ixs, recalling how she was treated as the weaker of the two.

At the Liberl store, Van seeks souvenirs but finds himself thinking about what would suit Elaine better than Agnes. Jorda points out his indecisiveness, and Van explains that he only knows what his childhood friend likes, noting that Jorda does not understand the significance of birthdays. He ponders her upbringing and decides to postpone the gift hunt.

Rains is spotted at the store, preparing to take over for Lila.

---

Connect Event: Nina

In a connect event, Van is at the GR talking to Carlos, who expresses his desire to race again. While walking around, he sees a crowd gathered around a truck with a movie screen showcasing classic films. Among the crowd is Nina, wearing glasses as a disguise. They watch a film featuring Judith’s breakout role, and Nina shares that Judith inspired her to become an actress. She reveals that her friend applied for her position at Judith’s agency without her knowledge, leaving her surprised when she was accepted and got to work alongside her idol.

Van inquires about any obstacles Nina faced entering the entertainment business. Nina states that her parents were supportive, but Van remains skeptical, leading her to call him a bully for making her confess. She explains that she does not know her biological parents and that her ‘grandmother’ is the closest thing she has to a foster parent. Nina describes her childhood as emotionless and recounts how her grandmother encouraged her to be more expressive, which she struggled to understand due to her having a pre-destined mission. Van asks if it is wrong for a parent to support a dream, even if Nina has her own mission.

She recognizes herself as an ungrateful child toward her foster parent and thanks Van for helping her gain clarity.

As Nina leaves, Van expresses his excitement to see her in the play “Gloria.” Nina returns to the church, sharing her love for everything in the world before Ashladd opens the front door, informing her that preparations are complete. She mentions needing to take action to prevent the people she loves and the world from experiencing further turmoil.

Van and Jorda check the 4SPG board and notice that a man is seeking assistance. They call him out directly, identifying him as Henry Valentino, the minister of economy and trading. In the car, Henry expresses his surprise that Van Arkride is real, mentioning that he has heard a lot about him.

However, his attention shifts to Jorda, and Van clarifies that she is a temporary part-timer assisting him. Henry makes veiled threats about revealing what he is about to share, prompting Jorda to express her frustration, wishing she could use her powers on him. Van quickly intervenes, telling her not to do that.

Henry reveals that his son, Jeffrey, former leader of the Desire Gang and has recently been released on bail under house arrest. Despite this, Jeffrey has been sneaking out every night for the past month. Henry shares that he has tried locking his son in his room, but Jeffrey always finds a way to escape.

In the Levre district, Albert and his sister Odette enjoy cake and tea at a cake shop. Odette also questions Jorda being so young and hope Van isn’t doing anything bad.

Meanwhile, Van arrives at the Valentino residence, hoping to leave early, but he realizes he forgot to bring snacks. He curses the absence of Hermes Doordashing. Jorda offers him candy from the 4SPG, suggesting he could lick it, but Van quickly realizes that licking a candy ball from a kid’s hand is inappropriate.

While they stake out the house, Van encourages Jorda to open up about her feelings, particularly regarding Ixs. Jorda explains that their decision to join the Society was not entirely bad, as it meant they would not have to engage in meaningless killings anymore. They had access to infinite mira, but she and Ixs are now pursuing their own paths with differing perspectives. Jorda insists that she does not want to kill if it can be avoided. They spot Jeffrey as he leaves the house and head into the sewers to follow him.

In the sewers, Jorda continues her story, explaining that Ixs dismissed her claim about not needing to kill and deliberately increased the violence in their Society missions. Their disagreement over this issue led to their falling out. Just then, Van and Jorda are attacked by a monster reminiscent of one they encountered in the Blacklight District. Renne and Rixia jump in to save them, with Renne teasing Van if she’s interrupting his date with Jorda. The creature flees, leaving Van puzzled about how it found them and questioning Renne about her earlier comment, causing Jorda to blush.

They find Jeffrey, who has become involved with a cult that aims to transcend the current world and usher in a new dawn. In a shocking transformation, he becomes a monstrous robotic version of himself. Jorda prepares to attack him with her shadow but hesitates when she sees Ixs in the distance.

Time freezes for everyone except Van, who realizes that Mare has returned. He wonders how she could be present without Agnes, as she typically appears only with the Genesis or through Yume. Regardless, Van transforms into the Grendel and manages to knock sense into Jeffrey.

Just as Jeffrey is about to be assassinated by an unknown person, it is revealed to be Ixs, and he mocks Jorda about her new part-time job with Van and teleports away with a white Genesis, having been behind everything and the giant robotic monster lurking in the Blacklight District.

Kincaid arrives shortly afterward, and Van scolds him for inaction. He presses Kincaid about what the CID and the President are concealing, but Kincaid merely states it is a top national secret and mentions that the appropriate authorities, including the guild and police, have been notified. He leaves the scene, and Jorda teleports away to gather her thoughts. Van asks Renne if she can stay for the next day, but she declines, saying that Agnes will have to suffice in her absence.

Act 1 Finally Finished!

[rahleeyah]

No cause let’s talk about Olivia’s daddy kink

PLEASE let's talk about it

This is one of my favorite asks I've ever received

This is gonna bounce around a bit but I'm trying to hit all salient points while I'm at lunch

So I'm gonna start with grown Liv. I explored this idea in the art of letting go and acts of service but it's something I think is really compelling to explore with Liv: she has, all her life, been the one in control (or perceived herself to be). She is the responsible one she is the one taking charge of her personal relationships and by 3.0 she is a parent and an officer with profound professional responsibilities. Her every movement is being studied and she must be Right all the time. She cares for everyone else, she always has, and what she needs, desperately, is someone to care for her. Someone to take charge, someone she can hand the reins to and just relax. I wrote this in biding time but she responds to a man's confidence (and to him taking control); Burton, when she's young. She cuts Cassidy loose in 1.0 in part bc he is too clingy, too needy. She tells David no and only says yes when he continues to - in a very "charming" way - continue to press the issue. Tucker tells her what to drink and when, tells her to go for lieutenant (pretty much makes her) before they ever fuck. What a relief, to have someone else make the choices. She breaks up with Brian not long after asking him to decide what they'll have for dinner (telling him she can't make any more choices and he still won't), she responds to a partner who will take control and gets rid of them when they need her more than she needs them.

But then if we go back to child Olivia, we know from something happened that she has a complicated relationship with the idea of her father. Hates what he is and the man he is, but the Idea of a father is still something dear to her. She wanted a father who loved her. She has a father, he is not a good man, she wanted him to love her anyway.

She wanted to be wanted.

And like daddy dom play isn't always about literally seeing the daddy as a father and the sub as a/their child; sometimes it is but "daddy" has become shorthand for a particular kind of dom, and a particular kind of sub. It's about control and trust - I mean d/s play in general is but - it's about a dom who is caring for their sub by being a leader, about a sub who feels cared for when their dom is in control.

And then like for Liv; Liv was never anybody's little girl. Liv's childhood did not allow her to be a child and no one stayed, no one called her theirs, except her mother, who we know at least once only did so in a moment of violence. All Liv ever wanted was to be part of a family; all she ever wanted was to belong somewhere, to someone.

Yeah if you ask me all the pieces are there fam.

[everythingcanadian]

I know we all talk about Peter in lingerie and cute things and skimpy things. And Dr Strange goes wild for it.

But the other end is Dr Strange in uniform. In his scrubs. Or a casual suit and a doctors coat.

Now. Imagine

Peter is in his lab tech gear. Navey Slacks that taper tighter by the ankles, a fitted black shirt under a grey button down. Large safety glasses fitted for Peter. And his lab coat, with his last name patched on the shoulder and the patch under it, is the lab's logo. Along with blue medical-grade gloves that look to be doubled up, it has Stephen wanting. Peter looks like a professional scientist leaning over the metal and glass table.

Stephen is blown away by how affected he is by it. He's bringing Peter lunch and sees the kid looking through a large table top magnifying glass with the lights on the bottom edge. He's turning a small chip looking thing between a pair of rubber padded tweezers.

Something about the deep focus and the lab dress code does something to Stephen.

The other technicians are also in similar wear. An older woman has her hair tied back, too. And Stephen shivers. A supervisor is in full black scrubs that are quite fashionable, and Stephen wonders to himself if Peter would wear something similar for him.

It hits Stephen that he has a new thing to add to the ever growing list of kinks he and Peter have or share.

He knows about Peter's daddy kink, his (perfectly normal in the grand scheme of things) stock of lingerie, the doctor play, spanking, being held down, etc. He knows a lot of it.

But this?

Oh this is something Stephen didn't know he had and is delighted by it. It's something new. He's been around a few times and had thought he explored most if not all of his kinks and turn ons. To find one is a nice feeling.

Peter smiles down at the piece of tech in his tweezers. He must know Stephen is looking at him. His senses would let him know. What he doesn't expect is to see his boyfriend checking him out so obviously when he looks up.

He tilts his head as he puts the chip down onto the soft pad he took it from. He licks his lips and stands up as he strips off his gloves and says something to his supervisor. Probably that he's going for his lunch and will be back in an hour. But he's coming out of the lab and heading to Stephen after hanging up his lab coat and put his glasses into their case in his designated locker.

"So. The lab coat?" Peter teases as they head to the building's cafeteria. They enter the elevator that was already opening on their floor,

"All of it, actually." And his voice croaks a bit but it's a very welcome occurrence when he sees Peter preen. "It's something I never thought about until seeing you wearing your work clothes. I see them in the closet and drawers but never on you. You just look- so professional."

"As opposed to normal?" Peter teases with a small smile, the little shit knows what he's doing.

"Well I do like you in formal wear, and very informal wear, and your suit." Stephen puts a hand at Peter's back as they exit the elevator. "Everyone of your co-workers is also quite attractive in such attire. And you, darling, are very eye catching to me. Always."

Peter's smile as they walk the hallways to the very relaxing looking cafeteria is easy and warm. "I'm going to guess you spotted Bernie. Bernadette, my direct boss. She's quite eye catching. It's the silver hair I think." His grin is shit eating. "I do have a thing for older people."

Stephen's eyebrows raise up. "I hope I'm the only one you call Daddy, Sir, or any other authoritative honorific."

Peter's grin melts to a smile when they sit down and Stephen is pulling out two containers of rice and meat and veggies. "You're it for me, Stephen."

"And you are for me Mister Parker." Stephen's own smile has a bit of an edge as he watches his younger half shiver, the handle of a spoon held out to Peter with the other on the table next to his container. "And I think we both found out something new today. You're taking charge tonight. I want you to wear a lab coat."

"Done and done. I want you to wear sweats and an undershirt. I have plans."