#full range value

[relto]

optimization journey: glue 10000+ arrays together for each data channel -> reduce number of array glueing required by doing 32 sequences at once -> NO array glueing at all!

[berryblu-soda]

Uhhh.. *walk out of moodle grades section covered in blood*

W-white streak in my hair but no stress now Trade-off, that guy's looking like a mess now Driving off the tracks, but I'm back and I've seen hell but this is a bit more my style I'm alive, I'm revived, I survived You surprised? Gonna cry about it? You should see the other guy i've returned and I've wa-

IM FREEEE !!!!!!!!!

[sepiasys]

Hhhhh relationship drama =w=

I mean ANY relationship can have drama but like. Romantic relationship drama =w=

I am a moderately unwilling participant (B was starting to stress me out in fact by having me participate in figuring this shit out. Mostly for him but partially for myself).

Like this shouldn't even have to involve me, I dont have a dog in this fight? I just live with one half of em and have to deal with it ig.

[3liza]

man it sucks so many people on here have absolutely convinced themselves that entire categories of consumer goods like perfume are bougie. you are depriving yourself of little treats by just assuming you cant ever afford anything! this isnt an avocado toast post either im not saying 'just save up and buy it lol', i would never say that, what im saying is perfume (that is: scents in liquid, paste, oil or solid form intended to be worn as a personal adornment) as a commodity starts at "free" and gradually increases in price from there. my favorite perfumes are priced everywhere between $0 and $300. one of the most lauded amber scents in the world (regrettably JUST discontinued), "Amber Paste" by Kuumba Made, is one of those little hippie oils you get at Whole Foods and it cost $10.

and im not telling you to wear perfume, obviously people have allergies and shit, or just dont care for it, im talking to the people who WANT to own fragrances. im saying they aren't all going to cost $150.

you can also get unlimited (unlimited over a long enough timeline, they limit you to a couple or three per visit) free samples at a lot of sephoras and nordstroms if you live somewhere that has those stores (this depends on the location and a lot of other organic factors, you'll have to check ahead of time or just try it if you're nearby, it's sort of random). if you're actually buying something at sephora (and they have a lot of stuff that isn't a million dollars as well, despite their branding) ask for every free sample at checkout that they have. they will often load you up, and not just with perfume. secondhand outlets like Value Village and Goodwill also do huge business in perfume because people are ALWAYS donating it.

sephora also does perfume refills. if you actually do buy a full size bottle, they can refill it for much less than buying a whole new bottle of the stuff. i don't know exactly how much it costs because i havent used this service myself. and idk how careful yiou have to be about reeceipts either, but look into it if you bought a full size and its running out

idk it just bums me out there are all these people who actually want perfume and seem to think it's out of their price range. the really basement-tier dupes of popular brand scents are so good these days it's often worth dropping the $10 at Walmart or Rite Aid too.

some of my favorite ever perfumes were some weird crap i got in a crystal wizard store, or a drug store, or a goodwill, or whatever. if you want perfume you can get it

[iniquitousyearning]

mattheo riddle. let me fuck you.

PAIRING: Mattheo Riddle x Gryffindor!Reader

SUMMARY: worried that mattheo was just going to use you for sex and leave, you had him agree to courting you first until you felt you were ready to take it to the next level. after months of this, mattheo finally can’t take it anymore, and lands himself on his knees at your feet.

WORD COUNT: 4.1k.

TAGS: 18+, SMUT MDNI, Degradation, Praise, Absolute Feralism, Begging, Exhibitionism, Overstimulation, Multiple Orgasm, PIV, Semi-Public Sex (implied cloaking charm), Dirty Talk, Swearing, Oral (f receiving), Body Worship, Slight Breeding Kink.

Courage. Bravery. Honesty--all traits that your house, Gryffindor, valued and honoured.

However, conspicuously absent from that list, was stupidity. A trait that you certainly seemed to posses a fucking abundance of these days.

To delve into the specifics, you possessed stupidity in the form of pure idiocy that took root when you began messing around with a certain curly haired Slytherin boy. This curly haired Slytherin boy just so happened to come from a group of assholes who seemingly detested your friends as well as your own bloody existence, having been nothing shy of full blown enemies for majority of your time spent at Hogwarts.

And yet, somehow, one thing led to another with this certain boy, and before you knew it you'd found yourself in a certain situation you'd never have imagined in a million damn years.

A courtship.

Securing Mattheo Riddle's commitment to court you exclusively, with a firm agreement to abstain from sex until you felt unequivocally ready, baffled your understanding. This arrangement was meticulously crafted out of a deep-seated concern that, left unchecked, he might merely try fuck you and then vanish without a trace.

He was known for doing that.

The rules of the courtship were a safeguard for your heart, a decision rooted in self-preservation, rather than any preoccupation with your virginity or lack thereof.

The harsh reality was simple – you desired Mattheo Riddle, despite every instinct screaming that you shouldn't. To shield your heart from potential wreckage, you implemented a set of rules governing the extent to which Mattheo could advance in your relationship. The decision to progress to the next level, if and when you deemed him deserving, rested solely in your hands.

It was a fool proof plan. No way for you to get hurt.

However, to absolutely no one's surprise, Mattheo wasn't a fan of this plan –not when he reluctantly agreed to it, and certainly not now. Not as you were seated across from him in a dimly lit corner of the library, the top buttons of your white button-up uniform shirt straining against the curve of your tits, your tie a loosened mess around your neck, and your burgundy pleated skirt way too fucking short for any bloody blokes sanity to remain intact.

Mattheo had counted the fucking days since the two of you started messing around, each instance of shared intimacy without crossing that final threshold chipping away at his restraint like relentless erosion. He wasn't fucking sure how much he had left in him.

"Did you finish this one, Matt?" Your voice rang out as a soft whisper, the hum of it snapping Mattheo from his wandering thoughts.

Forcing himself to meet your eyes and not linger on the buttons of your shirt just begging for fucking relief, he nodded. "Yeah. This one too."

Mattheo lifted a divination book, a testament to the exhaustive night the two of you had spent cramming for tomorrow's exam. Weary, you gave a nod, pushing up from the desk.

"Let's put these away, yeah?" you suggested gently.

Mattheo's throat parched as he observed you tugging down your skirt, a belated realization of how perilously high it had inched past your hips. With an innocent effort to conceal the expanse of those enticingly thick thighs – the same thighs he enthusiastically found himself nestled between every damn night – you fueled a growing heat within him. Mattheo cleared his throat awkwardly, giving a nod before pushing himself up as well.

As the two of you retreated into a dimmer, more secluded section of the library, you bent at the hips to return your book to its shelf. Unmindful of Mattheo's intense gaze, exhausted yet persistent, you began chattering. "I think there might be one more we can skim through, if you're still up for it-"

That thought abruptly dissolved as two sizable, calloused hands sought out your body, gripping anywhere and everywhere they could. An instinctive flinch involuntarily escaped you, but the sensation of those hands delicately tracing your thighs swiftly eased your tension. A trail of burning flames surged up your torso, and you instinctively straightened against him.

"For fucks sake." Mattheo's voice resonated as a low, deep growl in your ear, so intense you questioned whether he meant for you to hear it. His fingers clawed at the buttons of your shirt, nearly tearing it open in a frenzy. "What the fuck are you doing to me."

"Matt-" your hands came up, finding his. The two of you had certainly messed around in a lot of questionable places, but the library? At midnight on a weekday? "W-what are you-"

That sentence was abruptly cut short as Mattheo's lips attacked your neck at the same exact moment he slipped a hand through your now unbottoned shirt and roughly cupped one of your tits, twirling his thumb over your nipple. An entire body shudder rumbled through your limbs and the softest of moans escaped your lips, filling the charged air between you.

Music to Mattheo's fucking ears.

"Let me fuck you." It wasnt necessarily a demand but more of a plea. The desperation in his tone was fucking palpable. He sunk his teeth into the side of your neck as he pressed his hips against your ass, the entirety of his erection jabbing into your back. "Let me fucking fuck you."

You gasped, lids fluttering in an involuntary response as his hand switched to your other breast now, kneading and groping and squeezing with just as much fervour, more even. When you moaned again, he growled against your neck, pulling off you momentarily just to spin you around to face him.

His hands seized your hips, pressing you back against the shelf. "What is it, princess? What the fuck do you need from me?"

You scarcely had a moment to absorb the question, accompanied by the raw, desperate vulnerability in his tone, before he surged into action again. Long fingers slipped beneath the waistband of your skirt, while the other hand ascended to your jaw, gently tilting your head back to meet his intense gaze.

"I've been so fucking good, have I not?" His fingers inched excruciatingly slow over your mound, taking his time to tease you for all he could, watching every subtle ministration of your face as he went. "I've stayed out of fights. Haven't partied. I've been so fucking loyal..."

You swallowed, acknowledging the sincerity in his words. Yes, all those things were undeniably true. Mattheo had transformed into a different man in recent times. While you were drawn to him for the chaotic soul he was, the fact that he willingly opted out of party nights to spend time with you hadn't escaped your notice in the slightest.

Mattheo noted your silence. "Was it the drugs? Because you know I quit those."

Long fingers crept toward your slit, one finger gliding along and coating itself in your slick. Gods, if you weren't already fucking dripping for him.

You tried to shake your head. "No, Matty..."

His hold on your jaw tightened as he felt how fucking wet you already were. He snuffed a groan in his throat. How a little fucking Gryffindor could manage to have him in such a chokehold was beyond his comprehension.

"Is it the smokes?" He tilted his head, watching your eyes. "Because, fuck--I'll light every last one into flames right here in this fucking isle. I'll use the ashes to sear your fucking name onto my skin--just give me the goddamn words."

As his finger connected with your clit, drawing quick frantic circles over it, you mewled, your hands squeezing his biceps as your brain could only muster the comprehension to say one fucking word.

"Mattheo-"

"Mhm." Mattheo groaned, pressing his lips to your temple, his hand on your jaw slithering down to clasp a firm hold around your neck. "Yeah, baby, that's my name, fuck...say it again."

His pace on your clit increased, your head spun with carnal lust. Intoxicated. "Mattheo-"

"Yeah, good girl. Fuck--so fucking good." The reply came within seconds, along with the release of your throat, his hand gliding back to tangle in your hair. "Come on, baby, you know I'm not in this for the sex...you know I want way more than that."

If you hadn't already been rendered helpless and speechless from his relentless pace on your clit, you would have scoffed at that. But instead, all you could do was attempt to breathe the words out between your moans.

Your lids squeezed shut, fingernails digging into the fabric of his uniform. "I-I don't know that, actually."

"Fuck." Mattheo dipped low, his finger thrusting into your cunt before you could even realize it had, his thumb continuing the pace on your clit. The way your wet walls gripped his finger as he pumped it in and out of you was enough to send him into pure fucking desperation. He sucked in a deep inhale, gathering himself. "How do you figure that, hm?"

"Because-ah-here you are practically fucking begging me to let you fuck me." Your back arched, your legs trembling. If it wasn't for Mattheo's looming frame practically pinning you against this shelf, you were certain you'd be a pile of limbs on the floor at his feet. "You're just...t-telling me what I want to hear, Matty."

"I'm not." His pace increased, his brows knit tight. He didn't like that response. Not one fucking bit. His lips found your ear, his grip on your hair intensifying. "You don't understand how fucking bad I want you--how fucking bad I want every single last inch of you. Your laugh, your smile, your wit, your heart, your fucking soul. You haunt me every moment I'm awake. Even when I'm asleep you're there, fucking torturing me. I dream about waking up next to you. I dream about growing old with you. I dream about worshipping you, pleasuring you. I dream about pumping this perfect cunt full of my cum. No woman has ever fucking done this to me. I'm insane for you. For fucks sake please let me fucking fuck you princess. I need you so fucking bad. All of you."

"Gods," was all you could say, not a single shred of coherence left in your brain, not as those words bounced around inside your head in rhythmic hums synced with the movement of his fingers. You were right there. "Matt--fuck, I'm gonna cum-"

"Mhm, go on baby," he cooed with a softness that seemed to fray against the edges of desperation, his voice nearly shredding against his vocal cords. How he was keeping himself together was truly fucking impressive. "You're so fucking good for me. Such a pretty fucking pussy, hm?"

"Yours," you breathed out just as your vision blurred, your entire body shuddering around his fingers. "It's all yours!"

A choked gasp slipped from your lips, swiftly muffled by the plush entirety of Mattheo's mouth. His tongue invaded past your teeth, meticulously exploring your gums as if etching the details into memory. The sound of his groan reverberated through you, but it soon became a mere echo as your ears rang and your orgasm charged, coursing through every inch of your being, leaving your head spinning and your body trembling against the shelf.

Mattheo withdrew his lips from yours, sensing the aftershocks of your orgasm rippling through you, sure in the fact you had regained enough composure to remain quiet without his help. He grazed his teeth along your jawline, warm breath bathing your skin as both of you panted in unison, bodies pressed and fighting for breath as he slowly pulled his finger from your cunt and teased over your clit with slow, sensual swirls.

"Let me fuck you," he repeated again, softer this time, his voice a whisper as light as a feather in the air. "You said it's mine...you said this pussy belongs to me."

"Yes," you panted, squirming against his hold as he continued his slow teasing strokes over your clit. "I...I did say that...it does..."

"Mm," his dark eyes lingered over your lips before he leaned in slightly, resting his forehead against yours, erratic breaths intermingling. "Please. Fucking please, let me take what's mine."

Mattheo Riddle had gone by many names over the years; an asshole, a delinquent, a rebel--but a man with manners? A man who'd ever had to beg and plead for something he wanted? That was not something you would have ever included in his description. Seeing him like this, completely and openly vulnerable, did something to you. Something you knew you could no longer resist. This was a man you knew you were willing to take risks for, willing to risk getting hurt for. It'd been fucking months. You wanted him. Just as fucking badly as he wanted you.

"I dunno, Matty," you grinned, unable to fight it off even if you tried. "Maybe you should say please again...maybe you should say it on your knees..."

Mattheo huffed, a groan accompanying it.

"Dirty, dirty little thing..." he whispered, pulling his hand from your cunt entirely now, both hands shifting to your hips, gracing them with a feral squeeze. "You really fucking are mine, aren’t you?"

As Mattheo Riddle dropped to his knees at your feet, you were certain the entire world had faded away. You were certain that time no longer existed and that there wasn't a single other living being in the entire expanse of the universe--all there was, across all existing planes of reality, was you and this messy, curly haired boy at your feet, looking up at you with dreamy chocolate eyes, poised to beg and fucking plead for release from his torment.

"Fuck, you're beautiful," his hands trailed a steady path from your hips down your thighs, squeezing and grabbing every inch of flesh he could. "You know that, right?"

You pulled your lip between your teeth, unable to peel your eyes off this boy before you. He was mesmerizing, In all his glory. Every last fucking molecule of him.

"Yes, Matty..." you breathed, your hands clutching at the wooden bookshelf behind you, steadying yourself. "You tell me a thousand times a day."

"Only a thousand? I was aiming for way more than that." Mattheo hummed, wetting his smirk-adorned lips as he brought his mouth to your inner thigh, softly nipping at it. "Guess I have to step my game up, huh?"

You blinked, pulse pounding in your ears. “I-“

“Please, princess…” Mattheo shifted, snapping himself back to the task at hand, nipping at your other thigh now, his voice so soft you almost missed it. His eyes never left yours. “Fucking hell.”

In one swift movement, his hands gripped your thighs and spread them apart, one leg slung over his shoulder as he brought his lips to your already dripping cunt, placing a vulgar kiss to it, tongue delving into your slit, a trembling groan echoing in his throat when he swallowed your wetness.

Your lungs sputtered, head falling back against the shelf--his eyes, in the pits of perversion, watched you, soaking in your speechless delight while he explored each tiny crevice of your cunt. Bliss built inside of you for the second time, blocks of white hot energy, stacking with every second those velvety, full lips massaged your folds. Your mouth fell in an open pant, your hips rocking into his face--his hands moved, sticking your wrists to your hips as he gripped you there.

You struggled to find your breath--oxygen had left the room--and you squeezed your eyes shut, desperate to keep your moans quiet. Your previous orgasm still had you tingling, the stimulation almost, almost too much--but you found yourself climbing toward your second with little effort. Your eyes rolled back, pleasure crashing over you, tiny moans leaving you while he sucked slowly on your clit, engorged and throbbing at his lips.

"Fuck, Mattheo-" you whined, your nails digging into the flesh of your own thighs as his strong grip kept them pinned there. "I'm gonna-fuck-"

Your core thumped with a demand to cum--Mattheo was reining you to a cliff, your desire a wild animal, bucking with abandon and ecstasy.

"Mhm, that's it," he muttered into your flesh. "Let me fucking taste you."

His tongue swirled over your nub, slipping wet circles around it before he groaned and sucked it hard between his teeth. You wailed, cracked, orgasm gushing through you, a geyser, a cascade of ecstasy that left you quaking, your walls spasming at his chin.

There was no more holding back your moans. "Oh--f-fuck!"

Mattheo swallowed your release hungrily, releasing your wrists and clutching your hips to his head, as if the evidence of your pleasure sustained him, laving at you until you squeaked and jerked from sensitivity. With a satisfied gasp, he released you entirely, slowly rising back up to his full height, watching with tethered emotion while you descended from your high.

Without even giving you the chance to process it, he reached down and swiped two fingers along your slit, collecting your cum before bringing it up to your lips and urging it past your teeth.

"That's what I do to you, baby," he cooed, his eyes far less intense than they were before. His free hand brushed the sweat dampened hair away from your forehead, watching as you wrapped your lips around his fingers and worked them clean. "You like that?"

You nodded, heat flashing your face, and Mattheo groaned appreciatively, slowly pulling his fingers from your mouth. His gentle grip found your chin now, drawing your eyes to his.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered, "you don't have to-"

You cut him off. "Fuck me, Matty."

Mattheo blinked, and you reached for his belt.

"Please, Mattheo," you clenched, body quaking with need. Even after two orgasms you still wanted more, needed more. You needed him, and now you were the one willing to beg for it. "Please, fuck me."

Almost immediately, Mattheo's eyes darkened, his gaze glossing over with a hunger that spoke volumes far louder than any words ever fucking could. He leaned in slightly, your scent still lingering on his breath.

"You want me inside you? Hm?" He purred, lips grazing over yours. "You want me to fuck you here? Open and exposed for anyone to see?"

You smirked knowingly. The cloaking charm he had cast didn't escape your notice. This boy always had a knack for thinking one step ahead. Yet, the exhilaration of the prospect was just another facet that had initially drawn you to him.

You nodded. "Yes, Mattheo...I need you..."

Mattheo pressed his lips to yours, not wasting another singular second of time as his hands moved to the clasp on his belt, fumbling with it, a low groan escaping him as he pulled his throbbing cock free, gliding his fist over it a few times as his tongue hungrily fought with yours.

Mattheo's hands shifted to your shoulders, spinning you around, your own hands grasping at the shelving in front of you. You felt the warmth of his thick length gliding between your thighs, teasing you, slicking himself in your wetness.

"You're sure you want this?" Mattheo's voice was a soft growl in your ear, his hands grasping at your hips with enough force to bruise. "Fuck, princess, please be fucking sure."

The reaction was immediate. As though he asked you if you needed oxygen to breathe. "Gods, I'm fucking sure, Mattheo. I'm so fucking sure."

"Fuck," he muttered, pressing his face into the crook of your neck, fingernails digging into your flesh, pulling your skirt higher up your torso. "You've got me so fucked up, princess..."

As he slicked his length over your core once more, teasing your entrance, you whimpered. He was so smooth and silky and fucking big...you knew this was going to sting, even after two orgasms, even after he had you dripping down your thighs. Just that thought alone made your pussy clench, you'd do fucking anything to get him inside of you.

"Mattheo..." you whined, your body tensing with each false thrust. "Stop teasing me."

"Shit,” he breathed, easing the head of his length into you now, before slowly pulling out. "I'm teasing myself, baby...I don't know if I'm going to be able to control myself-"

You groaned, shuddering. "Please!"

Mattheo matched your groan with one of his own, and with one smooth movement, he tightened his grip on your hips, tugging you closer before he drove his dick into your cunt, splitting you open with one deep, slow thrust.

"Oh..." he moaned, paused, froze, entire body seemingly turned to stone. The only outward sign of his consciousness was his rapid breath washing over your neck. "...fuck."

You gripped the edges of the shelf with such intensity your knuckles were pale, doing everything within your power to keep quiet. The feeling of him seated inside you like this was everything you'd fucking imagined it to be. Better even. Your entire body was tense with bliss, your walls moulding around him.

Mattheo's lungs sputtered. "Relax...fuck-relax around me, baby..."

"I-" You weren't sure what he meant, your body trembling, your heart pounding in your throat. "Matt-"

"I'm not going to fucking last," Mattheo growled into your ear, the strain in his vocal cords more prominent than ever. "...if you keep squeezing me like that."

You mewled, head falling back against his shoulder as you fought to suck oxygen into your lungs. Mattheo finally began to move inside you; slow, easy strokes in an effort to give you a chance to adjust, feeling your tight walls relaxing around his thick girth, before he pulled out entirely and slammed back in, stuffing you full, groaning as you pulsed around him with each brief pause.

"Fuck...tight fucking pussy...so fucking wet..." he whispered, lips pressed against your ear. "All fucking mine."

Any ounces of restraint Mattheo had managed to maintain prior to this clearly had now been entirely annihilated as he increased his pace, fucking into you like a savage, as though he'd never get to fuck you again. He panted into your ear, groaning, fingernails bruising your thighs while he hammered your cervix with thrust after thrust after thrust. Sputtered curses left him under his breath and he attempted to silence himself with your neck, biting and nibbling at your throat. You stifled every single noise that threatened to leave your lips, body bouncing with the power of his hips, air hiccuping in your lungs as he pounded you.

"This little pussy is mine...you're mine..." he growled, fingers snaking down and brushing over your clit. "Fuck, you feel so good...I can't believe you kept this from me for so fucking long..."

Rapture numbed you, at the edge of your skin, a typhoon ready to wreck you witless. Your lids fluttered, teeth biting your lip with enough force to draw blood. He was going to make you crack. Make you fucking scream. There was no way you could continue being quiet when he was fucking you this good.

"M'sorry, Matty-" you weren't even sure what you were apologizing for. "So good...so deep...I-"

"Cum for me." Desire had consumed you both, his pace embodying complete desperation, a frenzied, urgent need to bring you both to orgasm. "Cum so I can fucking breed you...pump this little cunt full of my cum like I've dreamed of doing for months..."

Mattheo increased his pace on your clit, thrusts deepening even further--which you didn't even think was physically possible. He was slamming you deep, panting with every snap of his hips, your pussy hot and slick and pulsing with your oncoming climax.

You couldn't hold it back anymore--"Oh Gods-Mattheo!"

You shattered, exploded into flames, spectrum of colour blazing through your mind, a string of sobbing wails fleeing you as pulsed and spasmed on his dick, third climax shuddering through your veins. Mattheo groaned, clamping his palm over your lips as he continued to drill into you, holding off his own climax for as long as he could until he was physically unable to control himself--and he cursed, lungs sputtering as his hips slowed, cock twitching inside you as he poured his cum inside your cunt.

The room itself seemed to shudder, a tremor rumbling in the hardwood until he had finished and slowly pulled out, a deep, satisfied sigh leaving his chest.

After you collected yourself enough you spun around and watched as he tucked himself away, brushing his dampened curly hair back from his forehead. He straightened out, tucking the soft white fabric of his uniform shirt back into his pants before doing up his belt.

The second his eyes met yours, you reached for him. "I'm sorry for making you wait-"

"Don't ever be sorry," he cut you off, pulling you into him and placing a soft kiss on your forehead. "You were more than worth the wait, baby."

[onthecrescentofthehill]

it’s funny when ppl talk about the harpy omelet scene and say things like “why did he do all of that? he didn’t need to. JUST doing that for laios???” (seen these nearly verbatim on posts i’ve made.)

i don’t really get how you can hear his backstory & not understand that every decision he makes within the dungeon is fueled by a profound trauma borne out of horrific, structural negligence. of course he would do fucking anything to enact his plan? if he computes “getting in laios’s favor = proxy control of the dungeon” and he has very limited time to do so, he will jump at the chance. he’s already DIED for this.

kabru has maybe the clearest possible motivation that a character can have. he has a Protagonists Motivation, and it guides him forward in a very coherent way in the beginning of the story. things get more complicated in later acts that directly address how that motivation manifests itself/gets contradicted, bc ryoko kui is great at exploring this, but it’s still extremely present.

and as a labru fan i strongly dislike the implication i see from some ppl that his interest in laios is mostly personal or romantic (posts that range from pure joke to actual ship meta.) even when taking the “confession” at face value, where i think he was telling the truth, there’s still a lot more to it than that. i think at first kabru does see laios as a means to an end in a way that’s impersonal, partly because he tends to keep everyone in his life at arms length. but that “end” (preventing history from repeating itself) is something foundational to his psyche, and we should consider that potential sense of safety getting mixed in with his warring fascination/apprehension towards laios. he’s drawn to him for visceral reasons, and his stated motivations are so intertwined with his sense of self that untangling this push-pull is much more interesting than boilerplate Yearning, to me.

it’s just confusing when any meta or basic discussion of kabru diminishes the weight utaya has on his inner world and i’m really surprised every time i see it? like i understand that different types of meta will put other lenses on things intentionally, and in most cases i think it’s an interesting tool to work with. but it’s a massive disservice to his character to put the most foundational experience of his life on the back burner ESPECIALLY when it’s in favor of shipping. dissecting character relationships, romantic or otherwise, is at its best when you have their full personhood in mind!!

[damlahayal]

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[kunikuyu]

"A reward for someone so good." Hashira Series!

Part 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Uzui Tengen x Male! Reader

Warnings: MINORS DNI, NSFW, read as afab reader, Dom! Uzui x Sub! Reader, use of explicit words, worship kink, master kink, Tengen has an open relationship with his three wives, cockwarming, drunk sex.

Summary: Pillar training has begun, much to your delight. Of course, as a hard-working and strong person, you can handle any challenge. Even if it's fighting a hashira. And in a way, they all see some value in you, and want to reward you for it.

How did you end up like this? Thrown on top of Tengen, who now had his arms hugging your waist as he fucked you violently? Your brain had already melted and consumed with pleasure, you don't even remember what happened in the beginning.

From what you think you remember, it all started quite normally...

.....

"[Name]! It's been a long time since we've seen each other, my man. I see you've gotten tougher and flashy." You had just arrived at the area where Uzui's training was going to take place. You were even excited because the tallest man had already been your partner on some missions and you ended up creating a friendship. You knew that hashira's full capabilities, and you were eager to fight alongside him once again.

Turns out it was pretty fun, at least for you. Seeing Tengen active even after he lost his hand and one of his eyes is exciting, and you can learn even more from him. As for your training partners... They weren't doing very well.

While they were getting injured and trying to improve their physical resistance, you had already been released for the next training. But before that, Tengen told you to spend the night in his room. For what? You have no idea. Yet.

....

Tengen opens the bedroom door after hearing some almost silent knocks. He already knew you were arriving before he even knocked on the door, but he didn't want to seem anxious and already be at the door waiting for you. When he opens the bedroom door, you look kind of carefree and calm, looking at something not so important next to the door.

"Oh, hi Tengen-Sama!" You say to the man standing in front of you, greeting him with a smile on your face. He looked slightly nervous, which wasn't really his style. You chose not to talk about it, though.

He closes the door, and invites you to sit next to him. At no point did you see the tallest man's three wives, which made you curious. Before you can ask, he answers you. "Hinatsuru, Suma and Makio are in another room, they are already asleep." "Oh I see." You were going to say more, but you were stopped when Tengen took a huge bottle of alcohol and poured some into a glass, giving it to you right away.

You silently thanked him, and after he poured the liquid for him too, you drink together. Some conversations were exchanged and glasses were refilled several times, resulting in rosy faces and jokes you would never make if you were both sober. They ranged from phrases like "I like taller guys" to "I would have sex with you, no problem." And you didn't care about it anymore, the drink consumed you once and for all.

"I'm not kidding man, I'd fuck you right here and now." "Then why not do that? I wouldn't mind having you inside me."

.....

Ah yes, now you remember. It was just a stupid conversation, which turned into the most incredible fuck ever. Your sweaty face, your skin completely marked by bites and hickeys, all done by the same person. He seemed to like seeing you like this, and in a weird way, he saw it as the purest art. Your body was like a sculpture to be modeled, and he was a god destined to sculpt every detail that filled your skin.

"M-Master Tengen... I..." You wanted to say that this was the best experience possible, and that your body was being overwhelmed with so much pleasure. But nothing understandable comes out of your mouth. His cock was completely buried in your cunt, filling every space inside.

"... Your voice is so beautiful, thick for someone so delicate." He said, as his fingers roamed your body in search of something warm and wet. Once there, he couldn't help but massage the area, bringing you even closer to a climax. He didn't want to cum before you did.

You had already finished in Uzui's hands, but he wasn't finished yet. A few deep thrusts were made before you felt Tengen's cum invade your body. At this point, you didn't even care if you ended up pregnant, only the pleasure was important. ((spoiler, you didn't end up pregnant))

....

You had been clinging together all night, Tengen's cock still inside you. He didn't want to take his dick out of you, because he thought your insides were too warm.

"Man, we need to drink together more often."

"For sure."

Bonus lines!

"Man, what a headache. Are you sure there was only sake in that one?"

"... I have no idea."

[microscotch]

WISTERIA SKIN + PUPA EYES: A COMPLETE SET OF GENETICS

BOI that was an undertaking! but finally, and with lots of assistance from the wonderful @kestrelteens, this skin is completed. and it turned into an entire set of cohesive genetics, too! more info under the cut ⤵

essentially this is a mix of woohoo on the beach (aka ios those darn skins slightly edited) and various other components taken from @obscurus-sims, @lamatisse and @buglaur, (such as collarbones and ears), and some moles/freckles for the elder bodies i snuck from @episims, and @sixfootsims tongue + teeth texture. lips are a nod to maxis and a blend of so much stuff that i dont even remember it.😅 also tried to eliminate the smeared lipstick texture under the feet, and p much blended every seam i could find.

here's a swatch of the full range, which is more undertone rather than gradient based:

yay, first time doing supernaturals! 🌙 it was a lot of fun doing eye textures for them, here's the swatch:

NOTE: the zombie and vampire default come with an overlay mod! and the werewolf skins are correlated! please check out the hyperlinked instructions given by the respective creator ‼

also, i highly recommend downloading shasta's genie hair fix!

the eyes - squeas pupa eyes to be exact! come in 17 colors.

SO here are the downloads:

pupa eyes 👁 - custom / gen&town / defaults

wisteria skin 💗 - custom / gen&town / defaults / supernaturals / pngs for recolors + add ons :)

edit 01/08/25: showerproof add-on here

NOTE: these eyes are meant to go with the alien skin. 👽

dec 3rd update: EM chubby morph for shadowrealm has been fixed, feel free to redownload the non default version you're using!

for the database:

credit 🥰: serabiet, squea, obscurus, buglaur, themeasureofasim, sixfootsims, epi the phenomenal mod maker (and correlated werewolf skin maker!), withlovefromsimstown (plantsim textures), deedee(vamp cracks), platinumaspiration for more vamp cracks, veronavillequiltingbee (vamp overlay base), magical-girl-sandbox(bigfoot base), tvickiesims, lordcrumps, lamare & teaaddictyt for playtesting & feedback 💗

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~updates~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

dec 3rd-- EM chubby morph for shadowrealm has been fixed, feel free to redownload the non default version you're using!

january 13th-- i noticed that the s3 range for females is a little too highlighted in the chest area, to the point that clothing where the skin texture mapping is just off the *tiniest* bit makes it clip with the neck, which also applies to a lot of ea meshes. i have toned down the shine and blended the neck down further for this range so that it looks better with differently mapped clothes :)

please redownload the natural defaults and/or non defaults. make sure to keep a backup of the previous version in case you end up not liking the changes ive made to this range!

july 1st-- oh, ~fun fact~ seems like the genetic values werent saved correctly as simpe takes note of the digit separation convention of your own localization (as in, if , or . is used in your region) SO if ure using the gen/town version of this skin, redownload that one, please!

[cringefailvox]

"blitz. there is a crowd full of people here who cared so much, they throw an entire fucking party about hating you every year! do you know how much you have to care to do something as stupid as that?!"

something i really love about apology tour is how well it captures the frustration that people go through when they have a loved one with self-hatred issues. at some point, no amount of reassurance and comforting words can fix someone's self-esteem; they need to want to believe you when you say you love them, and no amount of repeating yourself will do the hard work of taking that leap of faith and trusting that you mean it. stolas' irritation with blitz was definitely informed by how wasted he was, but the sentiment still rang true. nothing stolas says will change blitz's mind, because it's blitz's turn to take the plunge and internalize everything everyone has been telling him, not only the negative parts. and it makes perfect sense that stolas is frustrated! it's okay for him to be! he's been clear and upfront about his emotions (even if in an abrupt & not very understanding way), so now it's time for blitz to learn how to trust him and take those things at face value—it's not (and shouldn't be) stolas' responsibility to teach him how to do that

[szhmidty]

The California insurance thing is adding on to my established belief that insurance is inherently a bad mitigation for any risk that affects large swaths of the population who will very likely need it at some point.

The point of insurance is for the collective to pay an affordable regular fee, and the few who are affected by a given risk are compensated. Ideally, the EV of insurance would be 0, but in practice the EV is negative, but since we are broadly risk averse* we want it anyway.

But that only works if the fee is affordable and the risk is low. Fire insurance in California was a bad idea because everyone was at a major risk, the full cost of premiums would have been immense. California made it worse by making it illegal to charge for the real cost, but even if they hadn't, the premiums would have simply ballooned and many people would have been priced out of insuring their homes, and would still be in this situation.

Similar thing happens with healthcare. Everyone wants their insurance to cover everything, including very common, every day medications for long term medical problems. Needing my ADHD medication isn't a risk, it's not at the tail end of the probability distribution. My insurance shouldn't cover it, because covering it means that the company has to raise everyone's premiums, and raising the premiums prices people (myself included) out of being able to afford insurance for actual tail risks that could ruin their lives.

"But I need my ADHD medication to live a good life, it would ruin me to not get it" yeah, I hear you, same here, but insurance is just a bad system for dealing with that. It just isn't a risk, it doesn't fit well with the "small affordable fee to avoid unlikely disaster" model. If insurance pays for everyone's lifetime medications, then it has to raise premiums by the average of the cost of everyone's lifetime medications, and everyone breaks even, except now insurance is just more expensive and some people are priced out.

I think anytime insurance starts to sail out of the price range of the target demographic, it's a sign that something is deeply wrong and some intervention, likely government intervention, is needed. If people can't afford the fire insurance, it's because the fire risk is way too high and your forest management strategy should be overhauled. If people are struggling to pay their health care insurance, their insurance probably covers way too much because too much of every day health care is also out of reach of people.

Insurance companies aren't the good guys, you have an adversarial relationship with them. They will try to screw you over and lie to you and scam you and all the rest. But you can't get blood from stone, and you can't get a policy of "pay me money if my home built on top of kindling burns down" without paying for it somewhere, and instead of getting mad at the insurance company you should probably start asking why your home is built on kindling.

*Or, well, more complicatedly the full cost of some disasters is much worse than than strict accounting cost. Losing your home is far more destructive than losing the market price of the home's value, because it means spending weeks to months homeless and opening you up to other risks.

[luna-azzurra]

Tips to help you describe love and attraction in your novel:

1. Show, don't tell: Instead of directly stating that a character is in love or attracted to another, demonstrate their emotions through their actions, thoughts, and interactions. Describe their reactions, gestures, and expressions to convey the depth of their feelings.

Example: "Her heart raced as he entered the room, a smile spreading across her face that she couldn't contain. In that moment, she knew she was helplessly in love.

///////

2. Engage the senses: Use sensory details to immerse readers in the experience of love and attraction. Describe the sights, sounds, scents, tastes, and textures associated with the characters and their interactions to create a rich and immersive atmosphere.

Example: "As they danced, the soft melody filled the air, intertwining with the sound of their laughter. She caught a whiff of his cologne, a mix of warmth and familiarity that sent a shiver down her spine. The touch of his hand against hers was electric, igniting a flame of desire she couldn't ignore."

///////

3. Use metaphor and symbolism: Employ metaphorical language and symbolism to convey the intensity and depth of love and attraction. Compare the characters to natural elements, use imagery to describe their connection, or associate their emotions with colors, seasons, or other evocative symbols.

Example: "Their love blossomed like a garden in spring, vibrant and full of life. Each touch was a brushstroke on the canvas of their hearts, painting a masterpiece of desire and longing."

///////

4. Explore internal thoughts and emotions: Provide insights into the characters' internal dialogue, thoughts, and emotions to convey the complexity and nuances of their love and attraction. Show their vulnerability, doubts, and the transformative power of their connection.

Example: "Her mind was filled with his presence, his voice echoing in her thoughts. Doubts melted away as her heart whispered, 'This is love, undeniable and all-consuming.'"

///////

5. Highlight the unique qualities and chemistry: Describe the unique qualities and characteristics that draw the characters to each other. Focus on their shared interests, intellectual connection, shared values, or the sparks that fly between them to emphasize their compatibility and chemistry.

Example: "Their conversations flowed effortlessly, their minds dancing in perfect sync. They understood each other in ways no one else could, their connection a magnetic force that pulled them closer with each passing moment."

///////

6. Capture the range of emotions: Love and attraction encompass a wide range of emotions, from joy and passion to longing and vulnerability. Capture the various emotional states the characters experience, both the highs and lows, to create a multidimensional portrayal of their relationship.

Example: "In his arms, she felt a sense of belonging she had never known. The world melted away, leaving only the euphoria of their love. But as the distance grew, an ache settled in her chest, a yearning for his touch that consumed her thoughts."

[doing-something-unholy]

The basics of care for Catholic Priests

(this probably won't read as horny to anyone who isn't into a very specific kind of casual degradation and objectification ¯\_(ツ)_/¯)

Most people are familiar with Priests as collectively church-owned working class pets, but they can make wonderful single-owner pets as well! Here you'll find some of the basics of caring for these unique creatures.

Appearance

Priests are usually known for having black coats, with high contrast white markings around their necks known as a "collar." A few different morphs do exist however! Mostly these consist of small markings in either gold, red, or a liturgical color, but one morph includes a bright red coat known as a "cardinal."

Curiously, both young and very old priests tend towards white coats. The priest pups are referred to as "seminarians," and they grow in dark coloration as they get older. Very old priests slowly get lighter with age, eventually ending up with white coats. Priests from tropical environments may also have white coats at any age!

A healthy priest's markings, especially the collar, should be in high contrast with a deep, saturated black coat. Dull, or desaturated colors can be a sign of chronic stress or illness. No need to panic however, sometimes it is as simple a fix as a vitamin supplement at meal times. You should consult a vet to find out.

Diet

Communion wafers of course! But mostly as treats, priests love them but they have surprisingly little nutritional value. All forms of bread or crackers are acceptable (though your milage may vary with a picky eater) and any kind of grapes. Many enjoy other fruits as well. Priests are capable of eating meat, especially fish for lent, but often prefer it only for special occasions. They often will refuse large meals entirely during lent, which can be concerning for beginner owners, but this is normal behavior. Try breaking it up into snacks throughout the day if you're concerned about your priest not eating enough. Often times pets will lose track of how many snacks they've had and eat regularly.

Priests need access to fresh holy water. Contrary to popular belief, it is easily made at home, although some picky pets may prefer the kind found in churches. Priests are capable of injesting weak alcohol like wine with no problems, anything higher than around 20% may cause some illnesses over time. Wine is actually an important enrichment treat for them, in the same vein as wafers, it allows them to follow their natural behaviors.

Housing

Anything that mimics it's natural habitat works, luckily churches come in a variety of ways! Priests are safe to allow full range of you home but having a dedicated room or partitioned space specifically designed for them is very rewarding for both you and your pet. Stone and wood facades are preferred, as are stained glass coverings over windows. Have an altar space available for your pet, and allow them to maintain it themselves. Priests naturally like to maintain an altar and their church space. Provide clean cloth in both white and the appropriate liturgical color. Real altar sets can be expensive, but any kind of durable cups and plates will work. Your pet may prefer different materials, but typically wood, pewter, or brass is used. Observe the decorations in churches and add as much as you'd like! It is not recommended to use real candles without supervision, you may provide them while someone is home and switch to battery powered lights while away.

Behavior

Priests are surprisingly intelligent, being a working breed means that they take well to structure and training. Priests have a wide range in personalities, but tend to be reserved, neat, and polite, especially around strangers. They tend to be early risers, but some can be persuaded to sleep in and begin their rituals later in the day. Priests love a structured routine, and will often become upset by interruptions that don't allow for them to perform their usual rituals. Typically they will play act at least one “mass” a day, and love to see their owners participate. They will also frequently “pray”, making repeated vocalizations and playing with beads (be sure to provide some!)

They may also exhibit a few behaviors that might greatly concern new owners. “Guilty” behaviors are normal and common for priests, and may include increased “prayer” both in frequency or intensity, skipping large meals, or putting themselves in uncomfortable situations. Some priests may also self-flagellate, but this too is normal as long as it does not cause lasting harm. Excessive “guilty” behavior may indicate a stressful environment, so look out for potential causes like broken altar pieces, missing communion wafers, or even engaging in too much “sin”. Your pet will have a strong sense of morality, and will certainly let you know about it! Priests often have strict internal rules, but they will frequently accept new ones from their owner with training. You may have to correct your pet's internal rules if they have deemed something you normally do as “sinful”. Luckily they respond well to firm training and positive reinforcement.

These little guys are extremely unique pets, and make a great addition to the home for owners willing to put in the time for them! Please do further research and consider if owning a Catholic Priest is right for you.

[p0orbaby]

@randombush3 violated my inbox to request this so you have her to thank

old!money, boarding school reunion, and some other bits im too common to explain !

-

The reunion gala is being held in the dining hall, which is now unrecognisable, strung with white fairy lights and overrun by women who look like they’ve stepped out of a Tatler feature on “The New Guard.” You and Leah arrive late, her fingers laced loosely with yours, her face caught in a look of quiet amusement she’s been wearing ever since you explained what the event actually was. The type of function where everyone’s name rhymes—Tillie, Millie, Mintie, Lottie—and they all wear headbands, pearls, and just enough Loewe to feign not trying.

“Are you sure I’m dressed for this?” Leah mutters as you step into the room. She’s in a black blazer, simple but sharply tailored, and trousers that cling to her frame in a way that has made you a little distracted all evening.

“You’re perfect,” you say, squeezing her hand. “Besides, half of them are just here to drink champagne and complain about the wallpaper”

The first person to approach you is Tillie Worthington, née Price, whose voice hasn’t changed since you last heard it at seventeen: clipped, nasal, and deeply amused by everything. She air-kisses you, one cheek then the other, leaving a faint trace of Jo Malone behind, and sizes Leah up with the kind of interest usually reserved for auction lots.

“This must be your footballer,” Tillie says brightly, as if she’s been handed a guest list and not just guessed from Leah’s posture, which screams athlete. “Leah, isn’t it? How marvellous. I’m Tillie, darling. Went to school with your girl. She was an absolute terror in Upper Fourth”

Leah shoots you a look, equal parts entertained and confused. “Upper Fourth?”

“Year Nine,” you mutter.

“She had all the girls swooning,” Tillie continues, ignoring you, her attention fully on Leah now. “They’d leave her chocolates in the locker room. Did she tell you that? Or is she still pretending to be shy?” She winks.

Leah grins, leaning into the banter. “She’s not shy”

Your cheeks are already burning when Mintie Sotherby appears, dragging her husband—a man who looks like he was born holding a yacht steering wheel—behind her. Mintie is as you remember: glossy and terrifying, with the kind of presence that made underclassmen weep in corridors. She zeroes in on Leah like a heat-seeking missile.

“You’re the Arsenal one, right?” she says, tilting her head. “You’re on my husband’s fantasy football team.” She pauses, turning to the man at her elbow. “Aren’t you, darling?”

“Er—yes,” he says, with the enthusiasm of someone who doesn’t know his own players. “Very good value for money”

You’re about to step in when Lottie—of course it’s Lottie—arrives, carrying two glasses of champagne and a third that she thrusts at Leah. “Here,” she says conspiratorially, her vowels clipped like a BBC anchor. “You’ll need this if you’re meeting everyone. They’re all positively feral tonight”

Leah raises the glass, her grin widening. “I’m starting to see that”

The night is a whirlwind of introductions, champagne, and remarks that range from condescending to bizarre. Leah handles it all with a grace you’re sure she didn’t think she had, charming your comrades like she’s been doing it for years. But the moment you’ve been dreading comes as you’re cornered by Pippa Hardwicke, your former dorm mate and now a full-time collector of scandal.

“Oh, and let’s not forget the time she got caught sneaking into the boys’ school across the lake,” Pippa announces, her voice carrying over the din of conversation. “Right through the headmaster’s garden. She had to scale a wall in a dress she’d nicked from the laundry room—can you imagine?”

Leah turns to you, eyebrows raised, the faintest smirk tugging at her lips. “Is this true?”

You’re halfway through an attempt at deflection when Pippa adds, “And she left her shoes behind. Do you know how hard it is to explain a pair of muddy Louboutins in the middle of a rose bush?”

Leah bursts into laughter, shaking her head. “Oh, I’m going to need to hear all of this later,” she says, her tone low, conspiratorial.

You groan, pulling her away as Pippa prepares to recount the time you tried to rig the voting for Head Girl. “We’re leaving. Right now”

“Leaving?” Leah says, grinning as she falls into step beside you. “Baby, I’m just getting started. I’ve got so many questions. Like, how many times were you caught sneaking around? And did you really steal the dress?”

“You’re supposed to be on my side,” you mutter, though the warmth in her voice is impossible to resist.

“I am,” she says, slinging an arm around your shoulder. “But I also love picturing you in the middle of a garden, barefoot, running from security. It explains so much”

[hornyfor-redacted-onmain]

Secret Secret Chapter 6

OT8 Straykids x reader, ABO AU

Masterlist | Next Part

You picked up the box of painkillers from the convenience store shelf with a sigh, looking it over for a bit, before deciding it was suitable for what you needed it for.

The bells on the door rang as it opened, another customer making their way into the nearly empty store. You supposed it was rare to get customers this late on a Monday night, but you wanted to make sure you restocked the first aid kit back at your apartment before you forgot, having gone through the entire stash back when you were dealing with your preheat.

At least, restocking was all you had been planning on using them for. But with the way your blood was starting to pound heavily in your head and the ache in your bones, you had a feeling that you might need to think ahead and get more than just one box.

You sighed again.

Grabbing another box, you took a second to consider the slight grumbling in your stomach, and made your way to the next aisle over. Some snacks couldn’t hurt. You just went through your heat; you figured you had an excuse.

“The chocolate flavored ones are the best,” A voice said from beside you.

You looked up from where you had been considering the selection of candies and blinked in surprise. “Jisung?”

The beta smiled at you. “Hi.”

“What are you doing here?”

“Oh, I-“ Jisung’s eyes went wide. He looked down at the ramen package in his hands, and you raised an eyebrow. “It’s not what it looks like! I know we have performances tomorrow, but I just … really had a craving for ramen.”

You rolled your eyes. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to tell on you.”

“It’s only this once, I promise!”

“Seriously, Jisung. I couldn’t care less about your diet.”

He gave you a sheepish smile. “Really?”

“Really.”

Jisung took your words at face value, and you found yourself matching his now genuine smile with your own. You reached out to grab your sweets, intent on passing by and going on your way, but the idol reached out to stop you as you made to leave.

“I can’t eat this back at the dorms without someone complaining of temptations,” He began, eyes focused on the package in his hands.

“Makes sense,” You quipped.

He shifted his feet nervously. “If you aren’t in a rush, I was wondering if you wanted to join me?”

“To eat?”

“Yeah.”

You reached out to pat his shoulder, and Jisung finally lifted his head to actually look you in the eyes. For a split second, you found yourself breathless with no explanation, the kind of feeling that you got when listening to your favorite song years after forgetting it or watching a plot twist for the first time. It made your entire body hum.

And then it was gone, and only the hums of the refrigerators at the back of the store remained. You swallowed hard.

“Sure.”

-0-0-

You watched as Jisung slurped up the noodles from his chopsticks, the red broth staining the corners of his mouth even as he licked up the remaining moisture. With a small smile, you reached over with a napkin to wipe it away, and he turned to you with wide eyes and full cheeks.

You snickered. “I can see why fans compare you to a squirrel.”

Jisung whined, but with his mouth full, he couldn’t say anything to defend himself. He chewed thoughtfully, staring out through the convenience store window. The soft rain and disappearing sunset gave the streets a hazy glow, and combined with the quiet music playing through the speakers, it gave you a sense of peace.

You looked over at Jisung again, only to find he was staring at you back.

He quickly looked away with an awkward laugh. “It’s, uh, odd to see staff here. Most of them take advantage of the free meals in the company cafeteria.”

“Hmm, I never turn down free meals. But they only have super healthy meals.” You shook the bag of sweets. “Sometimes you’re just in the mood for some junk food, you know?”

Jisung looked down at his instant ramen and nodded his head. “Yeah, I get that.”

“Besides, it’s not like I come here everyday. Although, if I knew I’d find such nice company, I probably would have come here sooner,” You said, pushing your shoulder gently against his.

“Ah, I don’t come here often either. Although, if you asked, I would definitely show up just for you.”

Jisung gave you a wicked grin, and you covered your mouth with a laugh in hopes of hiding your flushed cheeks, shaking your head in amusement. You didn’t know him that well, but you weren’t expecting something like that to come out of his mouth.

“Wow, Jisung. Are you flirting with me?”

He leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand. “And if I am?”

“It just seems like such a change from the first time we met,” You mused, leaning in close as well.

Jisung blinked in surprise, his mouth parting open a smidge as his pupils dilated. “Oh, wow. You smell really good.”

You frowned, feeling like reality had just shattered your hopeful fantasy. Jisung was lucky he couldn’t smell your actual scent because you were sure if it wasn’t for your scent blockers, you would be stinking up the store with your sudden mood change.

Jisung leaned back with a worried look. “I- I didn’t mean it like that. I mean, you really do smell good, but I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”

He started to wave his hand around anxiously, and you forced your face to relax, reaching out to hold one of his hands between yours. He immediately stopped moving, his mouth snapping close and eyes staring deep into yours. You smiled.

“It’s okay. You didn’t make me uncomfortable,” You lied, because you couldn’t explain the truth to him.

He nodded slowly. “Yeah, right. Um. Good.”

“There he is.” You smirked, “Guess you’re not that confident after all, huh?”

“What!? No! I mean, I can be confident!”

You shook your head, grabbing his now empty trash and standing up. “Sure you can.”

“I really can!”

Jisung practically fell out of his chair in his rush to follow you. The two of you made your way out to the store and into the cold night air, a sudden chill forcing you to close your jacket around your shoulders in the pursuit of warmth. From behind you, you heard Jisung say his goodbye to the girl manning the cash register.

The second he walked out, a cold burst of air rushed through the street, and a few stray drops of water lingering from when it had rained earlier hit you in your face. Having already been bundled up in your jacket, you only felt the cold on your cheeks, but Jisung had just walked out of the store and had his own hoodie hanging from his arm, leaving him vulnerable to the sudden change in temperature.

He let out a squeak in surprise, arms tightening up against his body as he shivered. He then tried to pull his hoodie on as quickly as possible, but somehow his arm got stuck and he struggled to get his head in the right opening.

You sniggered.

“You’re doing a really good job showing how smooth you are,” You pointed out.

“Shut up.” He said, his voice muffled by the fabric of his hoodie.

He finally managed to figure it out, pulling the hoodie down and letting out a huff. The sleeves were a little too long for him, leaving the beta with an adorable pair of sweater paws and a flushed face (whether from the cold or the embarrassment, you weren’t sure).

“Aww, how cute.”

“Shut up!”

“No! You’re adorable, seriously.”

“I wasn’t going for adorable,” he grumbled, folding his arms. It only made him look even cuter, and you moved forward.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you upset,” you said, ruffling his hair. “It’s just that it’s hard to imagine you fitting the Stray Kids concept with those big wide eyes of yours. Especially some of the 3racha songs I’ve heard. They seem a little too hard hitting for you.”

Jisung tilted his head away from your hand, rolling his eyes. “Its different when we’re on stage. We have stage personas for a reason.”

“Well, yeah. But those personas don’t come from nowhere. Where do you get all your confidence from?”

“Hmmm. I guess it’s easy when you’ve got a stadium full of beautiful people screaming your name,” He joked, nudging my shoulder with his own.

“Is that what it takes to get you going?” You teased. You don’t know what prompted you to suddenly lean in close, crowding Jisung in from where he was leaning up against the wall. His eyes darted down your face and back up in surprise. “Is that what you need to show me how confident you can be? Hmm? Want me to scream your name?”

“Watch it,” he muttered.

“I thought you were confident.”

Without another word, Jisung spun the both of you around so that you were now in his place. He pushed you up against the wall, not hard enough to hurt you, but enough that you could feel the strength behind his touch. To his credit, he immediately moved his hand away from your shoulder and to the wall behind you, his palm slapping loudly against the brick as he leaned in like it was a cheesy drama where the guy had the girl cornered up against the wall.

The idea behind the gesture probably would have been more effective if a cat didn’t immediately yowl from behind him, causing Jisung to jump in surprise.

You laughed loudly, and not even his glare could get you to stop. Even when he leaned in closer, his other hand coming up to rest on the other side of your head, effectively trapping you between him and the wall, you couldn’t stop the snickers.

“Yah! Stop laughing!”

“I can’t,” You said breathlessly.

“Seriously, you’re ruining the moment.”

You just laughed harder, eyes closed and chest hurting from the shakes that wracked your body. Hands grabbed your waist gently, and you titled your head down with a smile. Jisung rolled his eyes at you, the smile pulling at the corner of his mouth betraying his amusement.

“You done?”

You took a deep breath. “Yeah, I think I’m good. I’m sorry.”

“Good.”

It was then that you realized just how close the two of you had gotten since your laughing attack. His hands were still on your waist, face inches apart. You felt your smile drop slowly, eyes darting down to his mouth on instinct. Or maybe it was want.

It felt odd, because you couldn’t smell him. He was wearing scent blockers. And even if he could smell you, it wasn’t your real scent, and it wouldn’t be affected by your feelings. Neither one of you was being drawn in to each other based on instinct. And yet there you were, staring at each other in a knowing way, both of you too afraid to make that first move.

You didn’t even know each other that well.

His hand tightened on your waist, and you reach out to grab his forearms, not sure if you wanted to pull him away, or pull him closer.

Jisung let go. “I should get going.”

“Yeah.”

You forced down the disappointment. He gave you a hug goodbye, one you hadn’t been expecting but accepted less. You wished him a goodnight and spent the few seconds it took for him to make his way down the street staring at his back, wishing he would turn back around. Wishing he didn’t have to leave.

It was for the best.

So why did it feel so wrong?

-0-0-

Comeback season was in full swing.

The first few days were a bit of a chaotic mess at the company, but you managed to keep out of the way, unlike Maya and most of the other stylists. Most of your work took place at your desk, preparing for the upcoming promotions taking place in Japan later that month, and then the world tour that was set to take place afterwards. You were in contact with multiple news programs, city venues, promotional companies; more than a dozen phone calls were made every hour, and it left you feeling mentally exhausted by the time Wednesday came around.

The music video had been dropped early that morning, with captions in every language you knew, and more to be added soon. With every passing hour that nobody complained about any errors, you felt yourself relax a little more, the post-heat and stress finally catching up with you until your eyelids felt so heavy you could barely keep them open.

If it wasn’t for the fact you still had a meeting scheduled later that afternoon, you would’ve found a way to take the rest of the day off and crash. But alas, the job never ends.

Maybe Sooyoung had been right. You could have used a few days off.

Thinking about Sooyoung made your head hurt again. The alpha had been radio silent since last week, and when you let her know your heat had started, she had packed a bag to stay at a friends house. It was normal, something you had both been doing for months since you realized how much your heats and ruts affected each other. But even though it was expected, coming home to an empty apartment was still hard for you.

You tried not to think about the comfort that you sought that weekend. Instead, you tried to focus on the late schedule you were dealing with. The time difference with the stops the boys would be taking on their tours meant you had to stay up late to attend to meetings with other companies, but it also meant you were never up early enough to catch Sooyoung, who was back at the apartment and leaving early to get to the school.

It made it very hard to talk to her. To apologize. You felt like you owed her that at least, if not more for everything she did for you. For how much she cared, even when she didn’t need to. You were finding it hard to accept that.

That people cared. Could care. Would care.

For you.

You let out another sigh and pushed away from your desk. Maybe a coffee from the cafeteria would help your heavy eyelids.

There was heavy traffic in the hallways, most of whom you recognized as stylists. They were clothes on hangers, and some of them had makeup bags. You slowed down to let them pass since they had their hands full. You felt for the stylists. At least all your work was only mental and not physical.

As the doors to the elevator open up, the group shuffle in with their load, and you choose to relax against the wall as you waited for the next one. For a moment, you let your eyes fall close. You still had your eyes closed when the elevator dinged again, signaling it had arrived. You opened your eyes and immediately met Changbin’s own eyes.

“We have got to stop meeting like this,” You joked, shuffling into the elevator.

He gave you a grin in response. “Going down?”

“Hmm. Cafeteria.”

“Long night?”

You hummed. “Yeah. You?”

Changbin let out a tired laugh. “Yeah.”

The two of you rode down to the cafeteria in silence. You walked with him since you were heading in the same direction, but upon entering you saw that Changbin was actually the last of the Stray Kids to arrive to what seemed to be a gathering. Even in a room full of staff and other idols, they seemed to be the loudest of all.

Jisung waved wildly to you when he spotted you, calling out your name. You winced as the people around you suddenly turned to stare at you.

“Han, dude. Inside voice,” Changbin reminded him, pushing the air in front of him down with his hands. “Calm down.”

“I didn’t know you two were on a first name basis,” Chan said, giving you an inquisitive look.

As if suddenly remembering that your outing earlier that week was supposed to be a secret, Jisung shrank back into his seat. “Ah, it’s not that. I mean, I just assumed since we were the same age-“ You crossed your arms, trying (and probably failing) to bite back a smile. Jisung squinted at you. “Actually, I have no idea how old you are.”

“You alling me old?” You joked at him. He gave you a oanicked look, and you kaughed, waving your hand in an 'its okay' manner. “How’s your comeback going?”

Jeongin, a beta if your nose was right, dropped his head into his folded arms with a groan. “Uh, don’t remind me.” From next to him, Hyunjin patted his members’s shoulder without looking away from his ipad.

“Tiring, like always. But it’s going great. Stay’s seem to love the new song,” Chan said, leaning back in his seat with a grin.

You had to look away from him, unable to meet his eyes without thinking of that weekend where your omega wanted nothing more than to have the alpha in your bed with you, the need so bad you had found yourself digging out that hidden shirt you had in your bottom drawer to incorporate to your nest. The combined scent made most of your memories of your heat fuzzy. Although, on that note, Chan wasn’t the only alpha you had thought of in your horny heat ladled mind.

You eyed Minho carefully, but he was looking at his phone.

“I imagine you’re probably busy too. We have a tour coming up,” Seungmin brought up.

“Ah, I’ve been working on that stuff for the past two weeks. Since I got hired, actually,” You pointed out. The others looked up at that.

“That sounds rough. Having to deal with all that work so soon after joining,” Felix said, resting his cheek against his hand.

The position of the omega’s hands made his words come out slightly slurred as he squished his cheeks. You found your eyes resting on his mouth and how it was pushed into a small pout, the pink of his lower lip shiny. You shook your head, both at his comment, but also to keep yourself from staring.

“Nah, it’s not so bad. I haven’t been doing it all on my own, anyways. Since I’m still technically new, I’ve had plenty of help from Jeonhui as she shows me the ropes. I’ll probably be on my own once you’re actually on tour, though.” You smiled ruefully. “That should be fun.”

Changbin beamed. “You’re coming with us?!”

You blinked in surprise at his loud voice. “Yes? I mean, you guys are going on a world tour, and I’m a translator. I’d imagine it be kind of obvious.”

“Oh, right.” The others laughed at Changbin’s sudden embarrassment.

You spotted a small table being cleaned up and figured you should take the chance to get a seat before the cafeteria began to fill up again. You waved goodbye to the boys, wishing them luck in their performances, and made your way to the empty table.

Chan’s eyes followed you as you left.

“They're nice,” Felix mused. “I’m glad they got some time to get settled in before we went on tour. They looked so nervous the first time we met.”

“That’s probably because Minho went all protective alpha on them,” Seungmin said nonchalantly, side eyeing the dancer.

Minho, to his credit, didn’t seemed bothered by all the looks the other’s shot him. “Eh, it was an honest mistake.”

“Hyung!” Jisung whined. “Why do you always have to scare away the pretty ones?”

“Pretty?” Hyunjin finally looked up from what it was he had been working on. “Since when do you care about pretty people?”

Jisung flushed. “Never mind.”

“No no no,” Changbin teased. “Come on, I want to hear more about your little crush.”

“It’s not a crush!”

Chan smiled. He was glad that his members seemed to be getting along well with you, the mysterious omega who had grabbed so much of his attention. He had never intended to go home with anyone the night that he had met you, but the moment that you scent had registered in his brain, his alpha had perked up his ears in interest, something it had never done before. At least, not since he had met his pack mates.

He wasn’t delusional to assume that his interest in you meant that you would one day be a part of that pack. You had ever right to say no if, and when, he asked. But knowing that you had enjoyed your night together, and that you held no ill will against him, made him slightly more hopeful that maybe, just maybe, you would someday be open to him courting you. To joining the pack. To being his mate.

He glanced at Felix, the blond omega laughing at something someone had said or done, his eyes shining like there were a million stars in them. He could only hope that the others would also be open to his plans. After all, he would never imagine inviting you in without their permission. This was their pack just as much as it was his.

Chan let out a sigh.

Soon, he imagined. Soon he’d get his answer.

_o-o_o-o_o-o_o-o_o-o_o-o_

Taglist: (feel free to ask if you want to be added or removed. Still figuring this out, so sorry if it doesn't work)

@3rachasninja @lilyuwon @brojustfknkillm3 @yukichan67 @mallielovssyou @mintchip17 @iweirdthingsblog @maisyyyyyy @neivivenaj

[peppertaemint]

Jikook & "Are You Sure?!" : The Beauty of Mundane

The much-maligned reality-TV format deserves most of the criticism and ire it provokes. Schlocky production values and pre-tense often lead to melodramatic fakery that people want to believe because they're bored. We've all succumbed to it; I've seen more than my fair share of Big Brother seasons. But the thing that reality can do, if it doesn't try too hard, is give us a window to life that sits between documentary and that unscripted faux-world, and I think Are You Sure?! makes a wonderful example.

The situations are both planned and imposed on this show, from Connecticut to Jeju to Sappparo. Jungkook and Jimin planned the trip along with producers and agreed to film it as content, a loathsome word if there ever was one. What we see is not genuine real-life, despite what Jimin states in Sapporo; it's a mediated view into the pair's life on camera together -- a life they seem to want to share together and with fans.

What makes AYS work so well is their naturalness on camera and together. I'm struck by how comfortable both facets of their lives seem after just over ten years of vlogging together under agency Big Hit.

We see how much they enjoy existing together, grappling with the highs and lows of the mundanity of travel. I say mundanity specifically because so much of travel is just that -- your life simply transported to a pretty view. It's still full of stomach aches and flus, good and bad food and wide-ranging moods. Seeing Jungkook patiently take care of Jimin, ensuring he took his medicine, and then creating a doltap, the traditional practice of rock stacking to ward off bad luck and bring in good energy, was a healthy glimpse into the everyday of their shared life.

The most telling part of the show is, rather ironically, the worst part -- the three-episode interlude with their unexpected guest in Jeju, Taehyung. Our duo made no bones about the fact that the guest invited himself to their trip -- their special time -- and took every possible opportunity to remind him of his status as unwanted guest.

The entire vibe of the show changed because of Taehyung's presence, and not just because JiKook were put out by the whole thing. His presence changed their dynamic toward one another as well, seemingly disrupting their status as a duo. It was as though there was a need to cater to the guest, to an extent, and to put aside their interest in one another to a marked degree. That in itself is incredibly telling for their relationship.

Luckily, the show bookended itself with JiKook solo trips, and it ended in Sapporo where the duo seemed to be most comfortable and in their element, embracing the romance and magic of the snow resort in Japan. This was a welcome contrast to the funny, fish-out-of-water vibe of NY and Connecticut.

What will stay with me is the joy in the mundanity that the two showed throughout the show, but especially when left alone. The fun of grocery shopping when you're with your person. The enjoyment of playing cards, cooking, or simply going to bed when you're with your person. It's easy to forget there is a team of people watching over them for the majority of the show, filming or simply observing. And I wonder if sometimes Jungkook and Jimin forget, too.