#games coming out of ps plus

[esportschimpnews]

10 games leaving PS Plus Extra and Deluxe in January; see list

10 games leaving PS Plus Extra and Deluxe in January; see list

Credits: Focus Entertainment We are reaching the end of 2022, the year in which the sony launched its new model Playstation Plus🇧🇷 The reformulated service brought a division by levels with game catalogs, similar to what we already found in Xbox game pass🇧🇷 Like the brother of Microsoft, the subscription service has incoming and outgoing games. With the imminent arrival of 2023, the 10 matches…

[atomskdluffy]

The next big game I want to play is out at the end of the month, 12 days or so from time of posting. I figured I'd find a short game or two to take up the time on stream, but I don't know how I always do this, I once again found a game that was way too short. For context, if a game takes 2 weeks for me to finish (if I stream for 2-3 hours each night, that would be around 28-42 hours?) I would consider that a short game. I always forget that there are much shorter games out there! I've put 6.5 hours or so into The Plucky Squire so far (just two streams), and I will very likely finish it tomorrow at this point. It'll be the perfect length for what it is I'm sure, but that's barely a blip! You could get through this game in a single day if you spent all day playing it! It's ridiculously short! Even Astro Bot made it a full week, I don't even need the DLC for it to be longer than this one! So yeah if anyone has a game recommendation that'll last roughly 25 hours and is the kind of game you think I'd enjoy, let me know!

[orteil42]

Cookie Clicker turns 10 today! Having outlived our enemies, let us celebrate with a fresh batch of announcements!

🍪First of all, Cookie Clicker is 40% off on Steam this week! The perfect gift for your loved and/or hated ones! (the web version is still free forever but you don't get Steam achievements or music by C418!)

🍪Secondly! The mobile version has been lagging behind the browser game for years and is in dire need of an update. I've been dedicating most of my time recently to bringing its content up to par! Here's a progress report:

Compared to the current version, this update adds back 284 upgrades and 179 achievements from the web game, which leaves 83 upgrades and 94 achievements still unimplemented plus a good amount of heavenly upgrades. I am determined to close that gap!

Seasons and the pet dragon are currently partially implemented. These are complicated, compound features with side-effects in all kinds of places so once the update gets an alpha release I'll likely be needing everyone's help to hunt for bugs and oversights. I'm being as thorough as possible but there's no way I didn't forget some obscure interplay somewhere!

I'm also updating the UI! Cookie Clicker's interface makes heavy use of woodwork, which is largely absent from the mobile version; I've been aiming to bring it back. Rather than recycling desktop assets, I'm looking to push the game's visual identity towards less "plain wooden boards" and more "victorian biscuit shop" (something I'd have liked to go for when I first made the game but didn't quite know how yet). Here's some early screenshots!

I'm using Blender for the new assets, I might make a more in-depth post about my process in the future. Please note that these are experimental and I'm still fiddling with the look! Once I'm happy with it I'll ideally be giving the desktop game a similar makeover.

This update will hopefully come out later this year and will likely involve multiple rounds of alpha. Once stable, future updates will focus on adding sugar lumps and as many of the minigames as possible.

🍪Thirdly: the Makeship grandma plushie is real and we're doing a giveaway! Please read this twitter post to enter. Note that if the launch campaign succeeds we've got other plushies in mind! Maybe a wrinkler?

🍪Fourthly - there was going to be a really cool announcement here but I've been informed I'm not yet at liberty to discuss it. It's sooooo cool tho trust me. things happening. u gotta take my word for it. tune in next time

🍪Lastly:

i've got enough dough for like, idk 50 more? mom's recipe. white+dark+milk chocolate. they're very good thank you

PS. thank you for playing with us all these years! odds are some of you reading this have been here since the very start. that's mad to think about! Opti and I couldn't have done this for 10 whole years without all of you hyping us up. i want to see if we can do 10 more. get real freaky with it

[that-one-anxious-mango]

Hi love! I hope you are feeling/doing better! I was just thinking about the Days of Our Love series. Any chance we might get an update soon? I miss it!

Oh, New York. How I Love You. (1)

Summary: Austin's best girl comes to visit him in New York to cherish the time they have together before he leaves to Australia, in what becomes a very eventful two weeks together.

Word count: 8.2k

Warning: LONG POST!

Contents: Lots of fluff. Mentions of childhood trauma. Sexual Content (Oral: Fem receiving, hand job: Male Receiving), emotional situations.

A/N: Hello beautiful humans, it has been a minute. Don't drag me please. I just always take so long because I want to always put out the best content. Would you believe me if I said this went through TWO edits. Geez! But all in all, I hope you enjoy.

PS: Everyone feel free to comment, send more letter, and reblog! Much Love *hugs* Tags: @purejasmine, @wacoshuffle , @flyestvenustrap , @louisejoy86 , @unicoreads, @incorectly

______

“ Are you seriously going to take all of that to New York with you? Why don’t you just take one suitcase and then buy some outfits to wear there, ya’ know. “ Phoebe chirped from her spot laid out across your bed while flipping through a HG magazine. 

“ I agree. Buy some cute outfits and surprise him that way. Then you’ll have room to bring back the clothes you buy for you and us.” Alex continued to play a riveting game of tug of war with Magnus on the floor.

Her last comment made a laugh erupt from you in the closet, “ Yeah nice try, buddy. I’m not bringing you heifers anything back but some damn keychains and the lasting scent of the smug and smoggy New York air on me the next time we see each other.” You yelled back. “ And plus it’s gonna be cold outside.” 

Phoebe laughed while Alex scoffed, “ UM! Excuse me ma’am, but as a friend, need I remind your ass that this was a part of the deal. Since you’re abandoning me, The Travel Buddy, to go FORNICATE with Mr. Goldilocks in New York instead of HOME with me for the Winter Wonderland Festival. You promised to bring me back something nice to add to my outfit for the Warner Bros. charity event next month.” She recalled the promise that you did in-fact make to cease her tantrum at the time. 

“ And on top of that, I’m also the one silk pressing your hair for this trip, ma’am. AND taking care of my fur nephew that you’re abandoning as well. Therefore,  I DESERVE SOMETHING.” She added. 

“ This is true.” Phoebe co-signed, continuing to flip through the pages. 

You cut your eyes at her when you entered the room again to walk a pair of shoes over to your bursting suitcase.

“ Yeah. Yeah. I’ll make sure to bring you back something for your pain and suffering. Brat.” You muttered the last part. “ AND fyi his hair is black now.” 

Alex grinned while blowing you an air kiss that you grab and pretend to smush in your hands. 

“ You know you LUHHHHH me, girl.” She teased. “ Now hurry up because I don’t have all night to do this. I don’t know why you didn’t just get braids or some passion twists put in like a normal person going on a trip .” 

“ What’s love got to do with it?” You sassed. In return you were met with a pillow to the side and giggles around the room. “ And don’t rush me! I’m almost done.” 

“ What time is Austin supposed to be coming to get you from the airport? Phoebe questioned. 

“ Noon.” You answered fighting to try and fit a scarf into your luggage. “ My flight leaves at noon and I should be there by evening. I’m not exactly sure when, I just know their three hours ahead. 

“ Okay. Cool, just make sure you let us know when you’re in the car and everything. “ Phoebe noted.

You scoff, “Like yall asses won’t be watching me on 360 anyway. Stalkers.” 

“ Hey! You should be happy that somebody cares enough to stalk your ass. People go missing everyone, B.” Alex mocked the line from Paid in Full. 

“ Yeah. I know. I do the same thing with ya’ll.” You huffed, “ Okay. I think that’s it.” 

“ Good! “ Alex jumped up, “ Now go and grab my hair bag. So we can start on this head, honey. All this dang hair.” She looked at the long blow dried mess on your head. 

“ I know damn well that is not a damn hot comb.” You deadpanned. 

“ Do you want the hair straight or not? We have heat protectant, so relax. Whenever we both get back I’ll come over and we can do a treatment to make sure your curls revert back right. I got this. Now tilt your head down..” 

Phoebe giggled watching the two of you fuss at one another, “ Yeah you better sleep pretty tonight, babes. Head on hands, silk scarf, and turn a fan on so you don’t sweat.”

“ I'm aware.” You sighed, settling into the chair and began to listen to Phoebe as she started her descent into her plans while you would be away.

“ OW! ” You jumped at the sudden sharp burning feeling on your scalp, “ Alex really.”

“ I barely touched you! It’s the steam.” She giggled at the scrunch on your face, “ Hehe. My bad.” 

______

The Next Day…

After a couple goodbyes to your fur baby and helping your driver wrestle your large suitcase into the back of the car Austin had sent for you against your wishes, you found yourself tiredly weaving about through LAX. 

You’d already pre-checked everything, so once you went through security and went to make sure your gate existed, you’d found a very overpriced coffee place and ordered a little danish and iced chai to settle the nerves.

It wasn’t until you were in a seat by the terminal happily scrolling away on your phone that you got a text message from Austin. 

Sweet Baboo: can’t wait to see you. enjoy your flight. love you. :3

Once you boarded, the flight had been fine and you’d done exactly what was predicted of you.

You’d read for a good couple of hours and then slept a good chunk of the rest of it. The flight was smooth with no delays.

When the pilot announced your descent, anticipation began to build up in your chest

Quickly you pulled out the mini mirror from your carry on bag and went to fix your minimal makeup and undid the head scarf on your head to reveal the flowy silk press that fell down your shoulders. You combed it out and fixed your little cute airport outfit in preparation to get off.

Seeing as you were in first class, against your wishes also,  you were one of the first to exit the plane. You made it to baggage claim where a nice older gentleman with a sign had begun setting your luggage up for you on a cart and offered to push it down to the terminal.

“ For Miss Y/L/N.” He’d smiled.

“ Yes, I’m her.” You nodded. 

“ Wonderful I’ll be helping you with your luggage. Compliments of a Mr. Sweet Baboo.” He told you with a grin on his face.

You stifled a part of your laugh as the two of you began walking through the airport, “ Did he really ask you to say that? “ 

He nodded, “ Yes, He did. But I don’t mind. One of the more milder things I’ve been asked to say in my time doing this job.” 

“ I can only imagine.” You laughed. 

“ Quite cold outside. But you look bundled up.” The man smiled.

“ Oh yeah. It’s the Sahara in here. I think the breeze will actually help cool me down.” 

The sharp chill of the evening wind swiped at the little exposed patches of your face as you made it to the extremely congested pick up and drop off area. It felt near impossible to try and find which car belonged to your boyfriend in the sea of what felt like a thousand black SUVs littering the street.

It wasn’t until you spotted a familiar head of slicked back raven hair stuck out one window that you recognized your boyfriend as he made his way out the car.

A squeal unintentionally left you and Austin smiled a mile wide as he opened his arms up to you, “ There’s my girl.” He laughed, catching your body that was flung into him. “ Hey there. Mr. Sweet Baboo.” You giggled into his neck, placing a kiss there.

He’d taken his time unlatching you from him until he offered to quickly help the man load the trunk since he’d spotted what he believed to be the shine of a camera in the distance. 

You didn’t have time to breathe once you both were inside and the door shut. The partition was already rolled up and once the car started to move, and so did Austin’s lips against yours. Your body had suddenly felt like it was on fire with a flame that only he could put out. 

Your hands were attached to his face while his own were free to roam the parts of your body he’d missed in his absence. 

A small moan escaped you at the sensation of his hand kneading your thigh under his touch and pulling you further into him to the point of being in his lap now. 

“ Fuck, I missed you, Baby.” He groaned.

“ Not as much as I missed you.” You mumbled in-between kisses, hands feverishly grabbing at anything on his body that would keep him tethered to you. 

He smiled into your lips, “ Is that a challenge? Because believe me, before this car even hits the main streets I can prove that I missed you most.” He whispers, hand sliding to rest just under your abdomen. Your breath hitches and the most indecent thoughts begin to pool around in your brain. 

You giggled feeling his fingers sliding up your cardigan, “ Okay..okay..okay. I believe you.” 

“ I can’t wait to get you home, all to myself.” His words came out muffled, but had all the same effect as you found yourself pacing your breath and clenching your legs together. 

“ You look cold, sweetheart. Let me warm you up.” 

The ride had been agonizingly long with Austin teasing you every chance you got. 

When the two of you arrived at Austin’s brownstone, your eyes couldn’t register just how beautiful it looked from the outside. Almost like something you’d see in movies like Autumn in New York or Maid in Manhattan. 

“ Aus it’s beautiful.” You mumbled out taking in the glistening snow that littered the cement steps beyond the black steel gate.

“ Thank you. Can’t wait to get you inside of it.” He smiled, pecking your lips before getting out.

To your protests, he’d gotten all of your bags himself and took them inside as you huffed and whined, “ I wanna help! It’s my stuff. Aus! It’s too cold for you to be out here doing this by yourself.” 

“ Nope. Just get your cute ass in the house. ” You rolled your eyes at his smug grin.

The minute you stepped inside the foyer of the home Austin had literally swept you off your feet, dipping his face into your neck to administer kisses. 

You laugh and thrash in his arms the entire way to his gorgeous couch, ridding yourselves of your coats. 

“ So, first, “  He plopped down next to you, instantly reaching his arms out to pull your body into his lap. “ Are you hungry? I know you didn’t eat on the plane. And before we do anything else I wanna get you fed if need be.” 

“ No, not really. “ You leaned back against him, “ I think I’m just hyped up on the adrenaline of getting to see you.”

“ Yeah me too.” A finger traced along your neck just where your hair fell past, , “ Damn. Look at your hair. I knew it was long, but I’ve never seen it like this. It’s beautiful.” 

“ Thanks. I wanted something a little more manageable since our itinerary is a bit packed. It’s not big and unruly like usual.” You played with your ends. 

“ Stop it.” He scolded, “  Big? Yes. Unruly? No. I love your hair in its natural state babe. It’s cute. I love watching you take care of it. It reminds me to stay up on my shit.” 

“ Yeah, no 2 in 1 conditioner for you buddy.” You reached to pick at one of his dark locks close to his ear. It was still taking some getting used to. 

“ Hey.” He turned to nip at your hand, “ There wasn’t any 2 in 1 shampoo before you and there damn sure won’t be any now that I’ve been exposed to the good life.”

And a good life it was! You’d exposed Austin to all the skin care, shea butter, oil pulling, essential oils and everything else needed and now mysteriously you had products coming up empty all the time.

“ I know babe I’m just teasing. Excited for this weekend with you.” 

“ So am I. Gonna’ feel good spending time with my girl. Kinda miss my little buddy though. “

“ I know me too.” You pout, “ But I promise you he’s living his best life with his Aunt Alex. He’s already had a pup cup, two treats, and last I knew was taking a nap in her office on a pile of heated blankets.” 

“ You’re going home to a diva, baby.” He smirked, imagining the little dog buried in blankets fast asleep. “ So, back to this itinerary that was mentioned.” 

“ Yes! It goes by day to optimize experiences and time.“ You pronounced proudly, bouncing on the couch.

“ Really? “ 

“ Truly. I wanna make the most of our time together.” You replied. 

“ Okay, do tell. “ His eyebrows raised in amusement, “ What’s on today? “

“ Today’s agenda is light because it’s the first day and I already knew I’d be tired. So the only two major things on the list are having dinner with my Sweet Baboo and unpacking.” 

“ Nice! And we can make all that happen. Let’s take a look at the other days.” 

And you did, together you examined the well planned and thought out itinerary in front of you.

He nodded , “ Looks good. We may have to make a couple of adjustments if that’s okay with you. I have some surprises in store.” 

“ Ouuu! What?! Tell me.” You practically bounced in his lap. 

He smiled, “ If I told you it wouldn’t be a surprise then, would it.”

“ Not even a hint.” You whine, slightly puckering your lips, and playfully batting your mascaraed eyelashes. 

“ No. Nuh uh. Not gonna happen. But you’re cute though, baby.” He pecked your lips.

You groan, “ Fine! On second thought I am hungry. Feed me seymour.” You goofed trying to imitate the rich voice of Levi Stubbs. 

The lines of his lips curl, “ C’’mon then Audrey II. You can keep me company while I start dinner.” 

And you did just that perched on a chair at the island while the two of you made small talk.

“ That can’t be all.” He softly laughed, “ I haven’t seen you and I wanna really know how my girl is doing? Tell me. I know there's something.”

“ I mean there really isn’t much to tell, baby. I told you. It’s just been work..writing…Magnus..and missing you.”

“ How about that lease? “ Austin said, rolling out the dough in front of you.

Your shoulders tensed, “ What about it?” 

“ You talk to your building manager about whether you're renewing or not this spring, yet? ” He inquired about your plans for your apartment, which was really his not so subtle way of asking if you’d thought anymore about his offer to move in with him after Elvis was estimated to wrap this summer.

Although you and Austin had been together for almost six months at this point, you weren’t exactly sure if you were completely ready for that kind of commitment yet. Granted when the projected time of wrapping would come around the two of you would be coming up on a year, you still had some things holding you back about the whole ordeal.

“ It’s on the to - do - list…” You stretched, “One of the many adult things to eventually be handled.” 

“ Uh huh. I see. “ He mused,” Well like I said before. I wouldn’t mind coming home to you and Magnus every night. And when I’m home you're either always at my place or vice versa. In my eyes it would just make sense.” Austin explained. 

Your hands fidget with the brown place mat in front of you, “ I hear you and I understand, babe. And I promise I’m really taking all of this into heavy consideration. “ You settled. 

“ Good, I can live with that. Now get up, come over here and help me by cutting the sheath on these asparagus.” Austin instructed, while heating up his rosemary and pepper butter mix in his skillet.

Your eyes widened at the opportunity to help, while you could cook you were unashamed to say that you had hard limitations of what you could and couldn’t make. Whereas Austin on the other-hand was practically a chef with the way he could make his assortment of dishes. Which in turn made him the primary cook of the relationship while you were always happy to be captain of the clean up crew. 

“ Oh yay. I get to help.” You hopped up, “ And you're going to let me use a knife! Sick! “ 

Now becoming skeptical, Austin cocked his head rethinking his offer of a sous chef position, “ On second thought maybe you should stick to being my honorary taste tester. Quite good at that job, peaches.” 

“ Nope. I’m helping. “ You rolled up your sleeves, “ Now prepare to see some clean beautifully mutilated asparagus, babe. “ 

“ Jesus.” Austin groaned, placing the steaks in the sizzling pan.

______

Your dinner of sirloin, seared asparagus, garlic and herb mash potatoes, and bread you couldn’t pronounce right was absolutely splendid. 

And now being presented in-front of you was just the dessert to top the night off: A thick and nice slice of strawberry drizzled NY cheesecake.

Favorite of yours.

As you began to indulge in your sweet treat you teased yourself by wondering if there was any way the night could possibly get better. 

Then it hit you…you could knock one of your tomorrow's itenary items off tonight without any worry.

So, yes. It definitely could. 

“ You know what would be really good, right now.” You mused aloud at the island. 

Still turned Austin asked, “ And what would that be, sweetheart? “ He continued loading the dishwasher. 

“ A nice hot relaxing bath. “ 

“ Uh huh.“ He sounded

Grabbing the towel off the stove handle, Austin walked over to the island to lean in. 

“ Okay. “ He simply said, “ Your wish is my command.” 

“ Really? “ You nervously scraped your fork against your plate.

“ Of course. This trip  is all about you. So, if the best girl wants to end the evening with a bath. Then it’s my job to make it happen.” He washed his hands. 

“ Just stay here and finish your dessert. And then come up. Alright? “ He instructed, coming around to stand in front of you, taking your face into his face.

“ Okay. “ You nodded.

He returned the gesture and placed a chaste kiss to your forehead on his way out before heading upstairs. 

You could hear the faint sounds of water running as you struggled to calm your weirdly nervous stomach and finish your dessert. 

By the time you made it up stairs and into the bathroom the lights were dimmed and  the aroma of jasmine bath salts and vanilla bubble bath filled your senses.

You weren’t spooked when you felt him appear behind you. 

“ Let me take this off of you.” His fingers danced along the curves of your side as his hands moved along to lift your shirt over your head. 

You sucked in tiny breaths the rest of the time he took to undress you. Ever so often you’d catch his eyes and smile, turning away to blush.

Once you were as naked as the day you were born, he gently helped you step into the creme claw foot tub.

“ You wanna get in? “ You sheepishly grinned.   “ Plenty of room.” Kicking up your feet over the side to expose the suds and bubbles that dripped down your legs.

Knowing that he’d already restrained himself while helping you undress, Austin wasn’t too sure he’d be able to handle any accidental slips of the hand or touching by any means without immediately yanking you out the bath and into the bedroom for some extremely intentional touching of his own to you.

“ No, I’m okay. This is about you. So, enjoy your bath, babe.” He smiled leaning over to grab at the loofa.

, “ Stop it. You’re fine.” Austin playfully scolded, watching the pout spread on your face.

“ If you want we can both sit on opposite sides. “ You offered just as a lightbulb went off in your brain, “ OH! Or you could lay with your back against my chest and my arms around you like Vivan and Edward in Pretty Woman. I’ve actually always wanted to do that.” You confessed your little fantasy. 

“ Plus. You did say this weekend was about me.” You moved to place your hands on the tub and rest your head on them, “ And what I want right now is for you to come in here with me. Now,“ 

Austin’s cheeks warmed in affection and amusement as he watched a twinkle appear in your eye at the idea of getting to live out another one of your little rom-com fantasies. And how you’d suddenly gotten a bit bold in your request. 

He sat there for a moment contemplating when ultimately he decided who would he be if he couldn’t be the person to fulfill your fantasies and desires. 

He blew out air, “ Fine. I’ll be the Edward to your Vivan, babe. But just know the accidental touching and moving needs to be kept to a minimum. “ You watched as he stood up to pull his shirt above his head and shimmy his pants. “ I mean it. I am a man of virtue after all, honey. A delicate flower you could say. So, I expect to be treated as such.” He teased.

You didn’t have a smart remark to quip back at him because your mind and eyes had both been polluted with the images of him bare before you in all his glory.

Instead you mustered a playful cat call, “ Yeah take it off! Look at those cheeks! “ 

All Austin could do was smile and shake his head as he walked over and maneuvered himself to get in and sink in between your legs. Your arms found a home around his shoulders and your lips made quick work of placing innocent enough kisses to his skin in places you knew may be less…inflammatory than others.

And you could tell by the low and almost soulful groan Austin let out once he was fully  submerged in the calm of the warm water that this was something he needed too. “ Feels good..” He mumbled letting his head back to rest in the valley of your naked breasts. 

“ Good.” You replied, as you too were enjoying the warm intimacy of the atmosphere. 

“ We don’t do this enough at home.” Austin sounded as you used the soft silicone loofah to scrub and wash his chest.

“ What? “

“ Relaxing…soaking like this.” He rubbed at your knee that was exposed out of the water. 

 “ I agree.” 

“ So..” He squeezed the sponge he’d grabbed and dipped into the water on your back, “ You excited for tomorrow? “

You nodded, “ I am. I’ve visited here once on a family trip and another time for a work thing. But I’ve always felt like I’ve never gotten the true experience. And since Aunt Kiki lives here now I’ve been wanting to visit her. But of course she’s away on a work trip this time of year.”

“ Mhmm.” A hum can from Austin as you move your hand lower.

“ Watch yourself.” Austin mumbled, grabbing that hand to interlock it with his. 

And you did, you made it a point to keep your hands clear of the southern equator of your man. That was until you felt him let guard with a sigh and push back into you. 

This was the moment you took your opportunity.

A breath hitched, “ Y/N…what are you doing? I thought I made it very clear the stipulations of this arrangement. “ 

You crane your head down to rest your lips just above the shell of his ear as your hand continues to move toward its desired destination. 

He tensed against you when you went to lightly grip at his now half-hard cock in your hand. You moved it up and down a bit before stopping and using the pad of your thumb to quickly run across his tip.

Involuntarily Austin lets out a small hiss at the sensation, “ Alright, that’s enough of that. “ He hand comes to try and halt yours. But you use your leg to stop him.

Instead you ignored him, keeping your attention focused on guiding your hand to stroke him up and down. The water of the tub has begun to sway from the movement, “ I’m not done.” You whispered in his ear.  “ You said this weekend was about making me feel good.” 

Your tongue darts out to lick and bite at his ear,  “ You wanna know what would make me good? 

“ Yes.” His answer sounded strained against his voice. By now he’d ever so slightly begun to move his hips upward into your hand, beginning to get lost in the sensation of his touch.

“ What would make me good right now is for you to be a good boyfriend and cum all over my hand for me.” You say, mindful to increase the pace of your hand. “ Please can I have it, baby. Will you give it to me? Will you give your cum, baby? “ 

“ Oh fuck.” Austin’s head dives back against your breast and his eyes are tightly shut as his  body begins to become overwhelmed with pleasure. Your words doing something to him, of course he’d heard you be verbal during exchanges, but never like this. “ I’ll give you anything you want.” He groaned. 

“ That good, Aus? “ You used your free hand to come from its place on his chest, to grip at his chin and guide his head to loll to the side. It gives you access to attach your lips to his in what could only be described as a sloppy exchange of love. You swallowed his grunts and groans in your throat while he allowed your soft whimpers to enclose his lips. 

By now the water of the tub began to slosh with bits beginning to fly out of the tub and onto the floor from the impact of Austin’s hips coming to meet the pace of your hand.

He reluctantly forced his mouth away from yours, saliva collected on his cheeks. “ Fuck, just like that. Baby you’re gonna make me cum if you keep doing this.” 

“ Yeah? That’s what I want, baby. Give it to me, Aus. Show me how much you missed my touch, baby.” You moaned dipping your head to suck on skin you’d long ago identified on his neck to be his “ sweet spot.”

With that he couldn’t contain himself anymore and you watched as his face contorted into a beautiful display of pleasure and angst,  his eyelashes fluttered as he shot his thick ropes of cum in your hand. You keep stroking him through it until a hand shoots out to stop you. This time it succeeded as you ceased your movement, and watched his chest heave up and down.

Your hand rubs at his shoulder to help ground him and bring him back to you.

After a couple of minutes with a huff he speaks, “ Was this your plan all along? To get me in this position, baby. So you could use me this way, as your play thing?  “ He accuses. 

“ Guilty.” You whispered, thinking about how this all was in-fact a long game in getting him here. You knew had it been in the bedroom or anywhere else he would have undermined your advances and made your own pleasure the main focus as usual. But you figured that if you could essentially “ trap him “ into a smaller more controlled environment where you could take the reins a bit, you could finally have a moment to adore your boyfriend the way he always makes sure to adore you. 

“ What am I gonna do with you?” He groans and you smile, placing a kiss on his head. 

Eventually with no more funny business involved, you both take turns cleaning each other off before he gets out and wraps a towel around his waist. And then comes back for you, plucking your wet body out of the water. 

Routines are done and pajamas are thrown on quickly before he ushers you both to lay in the big king size bed. 

You relish the opportunity to sleep in his arms after so long. It seemed like it’d been a day and forever. When really it’d been about five and a half weeks. 

“ Quite the little show you put on there in the bathroom.” He whispered.

“ What can I say, I missed seeing the faces you make like that in person. All those facetime calls just don’t do those flushed cheeks or sweet strangled moans justice,baby. Needed to see it.” You shot back, and went to lightly play at the dip in his shoulder.

“ I see we’ve grown quite bold in my absence.” He muttered, trailing his eyes to your thigh that peaked out from the slightly raised shirt.

 “ So what about me? When do I get my own personal refresher of your moans and the way your body arches off the bed when I use my fingers to touch your spot? “ 

At his words, you could feel your heartbeat begin to race and the all too familiar aching and yearning you’d been feeling throughout your body return.

“ I don’t know. I haven’t felt like that in a while. I’m not as good as you with my hands, baby. “ You casually say.

“ Well. I don’t particularly plan on using my hands tonight. I’ve got a bit of a different approach since we’re so eager to try out new things. “ He said.

And then he said something that knocked the wind out of your chest.

“ Instead I want you to come and sit that pretty pussy on my face.” 

It would take you many moments and labored breaths of shock before you mustered up your bewildered response, “ You want me to what?! “ 

“ You heard me.” Austin laughed from underneath you. You were straddling his lap while he lay flat on the bed and you were pretty sure that maybe he wasn’t getting enough oxygen down there as it was.

“ Aus. You can’t be serious. I-I’m not a Polly Pocket sized girly, babe. I have a nice amount of meat on these here bones.” You countered, “ I’m not sure this is a good idea.”

“ What? You don’t think I can handle you? Is that it? “ His voice purred, fingers dancing up along the curve of your spine. 

“ Of course not! “ You clarified, “ It’s just that…that.” You huffed trying to gather the right words together.  “ I want you to be able to breathe , babe. HOW WILL YOU BREATHE?! “ 

You watched his face turn in amusement at your flustered state, “ Don’t you worry about that, babe. I’m a big boy. I’ll figure it out. And if not…. when they find me you tell them I died happy and stuffed in-between the sweetest place on earth.” He said, immediately you felt your cheeks flush, “ These thighs.”

“ AUS! “ You softly slapped at his chest, “ Be serious.” 

He laughed ,“ I am. They’ll find me with a permanent glistening smile.” 

You groaned trying to shimmy off of him but his hands at your sides stopped you. “ Uh huh. From when good ole’ Rick and Mortis set in.” 

“ I’m not asking again, darling. “ You yelped when he grabbed your thighs and moved you further up his chest, close to your neck, “ Get up here.” 

“ But Aus I- “ You cut yourself off with moan when you felt his hand come to fondle at your breast. 

“ What was that? I’m sorry I may not have caught that.”

“ I-w-well-” 

He had your virgin ass absolutely flustered. 

“ Take em’ off. I want em’ off of you.” He mumbled,scooting you further and tugging at your night shorts. 

Obliging, you somehow managed to rid yourself of your shorts and his shirt. At that moment it took all the courage not to fold right there. 

You leaned forward against the pretty dark wood headboard to grip at its edges in a fair attempt at stabilizing yourself in your squat. 

The plan had been to lower yourself down nice and slow, but leave it to your boyfriend to be an absolutely impatient brat to knock the wind out of you by slamming you down against his face. 

You went to make a remark of protest but soon found that the second his tongue touched you, you’d been left unable to form long coherent sentences. A simple moan of, “ Austin!” Was all that was mustered. 

He groans as he begins to eagerly lap and lick at your drenched pussy. The vibration alone makes you tighten your grip. 

Using his hands he bares down pressing you further into him as you cry out from this new intense feeling. He's calculated with how he uses his tongue to tease the entrance of your opening before gliding it back to suckle at your poor throbbing clit. 

The more and more sucks, the more your juices uncontrollably leak from you, until now the sounds of lewd slurping and your moans come together to echo off the walls. 

“  That feels so good.” You mewl, unable to control how you begin to grind your pussy against his face. 

He lifts up a little bit to mumble, “ Yeah? Am I making this pussy cry with my tongue? She talking to me, honey?” He sends a long lick up your slit making you jump. 

“ Yes! Your tongue is so good, baby. It feels so good.” You cried out. 

You could practically feel him smile into your pussy when he closed the gap, obviously satisfied with desensitizing you this way. 

From there he really started to lay into you, when he laid his tongue completely flat on your clit you couldn’t help the pleas that spilled from your mouth, “ Yes! Yes! Yes! Just like that! Aus, PLEASE.” You began riding his face with more urgency. 

A hand came to smack and grip at your ass to help you with your motion, by now your stomach had begun to build up into that all too familiar knot of delicious agony. 

“ Oh shit! Oh shit! Oh shit! “ You squealed, “ Aus I’m close! I gotta get up.” You tried scrambling off him and out of his grip, out of fear he truly wouldn’t be able to breathe from how hard you were about to flood his face. 

Little did you know that was all the motivation he needed to go harder, using his tongue and mouth to take a grip on your clit that outta to be illegal. He sent a series of smacks to your exposed ass to let you know that you had better not go anywhere. 

Tears sprang in your eyes, “ I-I. It’s too much! “ 

You white knuckled the headboard as your body began to heat up and spark with your impending orgasm. “ Aus I’m about to cum all over your fucking face!” 

“ That’s it, baby. Let go for me.” He moaned out against you. 

Gripping your ass harder he helped grind you faster against his tongue until he felt your body begin convulsing above him, “ I’m fucking cumming! Aus! Yes! Yes! Yes! “ You hissed, feeling the floodgates overtake you. 

After cleaning you up with a couple more licks and slurps, he catches your limp body and gently lowers you to lay next to him. 

Through hazy pleasure ridden eyes you look over to see that previously mentioned glistening smile set across his face as he lays triumphantly next to you!

You feel the bed dip as he disappears into the bathroom and returns with two damp towels: one for you and one for him. 

He goes to really clean you up before hoisting you in his arms and carrying you to the bathroom to pee. 

After everything is said and done, he brings a now sleepy you into his chest, arms creating a warm cage of comfort, “ So, will I be doing that again this weekend?” His hands rub your back. 

You nod and he smiles, “ That good? “ 

Voice cracking you whisper back, “ Could you not tell by the way I left Lake Erie on your face that it was fuckin’ amazing.” 

“ Just checking. “ He laughed, “ Next time we’ll try for the Mississippi, yeah?” 

_____

Next Day

Madison Square Garden 

New York Rangers vs Philadelphia Flyers Game 

“ I can’t believe I’m actually doing this. I’ve always wanted to go to one of these.” You squealed looking out at the crisp white ice while you were surrounded by thousands of other people.

Cup of water in hand and popcorn in lap, you’d dressed in thick wool lined jeans , a Flyers jersey, converse, and had your baseball cap to the back in spirit of your first time seeing a Flyers game in person. 

Austin laughed and took a sip of the wine he’d gotten. “ I’m glad we’re enjoying ourselves. I keep forgetting you told me you were a little hockey fan. Would have never guessed.”

You laugh, “ Yeah. When I was little my Aunt dated the guy who did the sound at the games for the Blue Jackets so we always got tickets. She’d go and take us up on the weekends and I can remember just always having the best time. Ever since I’ve become quite fond of hockey. The smell of the wet ice when they redo it, the chill of the arena, the way the glass rattles when the players zip by. I love it.” 

Austin noticed the way you hadn’t taken your eyes off the ice the entire time you were talking about this little passion of yours. A smile passed his face in satisfaction that he’d learned something new about you. For most of the rest of the time he got more pleasure from watching you watch the game then actually paying attention to what was going on himself. 

The way your nose scrunched when a shot was missed, your little squeals when your team regained the puck, and even how you held your own and  weren’t afraid to get back with surrounding audience members who may have said something to you out of the way.

This was hockey after all.

By the time halftime rolled around you were content at watching your favorite little segments. 

Kid of the game, celeb look alike, and your personal favorite: The Kiss Cam. 

The cliche track by Sixpence None The Richer echoed throughout the arena as you watched couples old and young peck each other and giggle for the camera.

It warmed your heart, but what happened next made it drop to your ass and roll onto the ice.

Because suddenly, your face made up in about a million pixels on the big kiss cam screen, there you and your grinning boyfriend were on display for the whole world.

People around you had begun to cheer and you could see Austin’s face was turning a shade of candy apple red. 

“ Aus.” You whispered, half covering our face.  The encouragement and cheering only grew louder and you felt Austin’s hand come to remove yours from your face. “ Hey. C’mon we can’t let everyone else have all the fun.” 

“ Just pretend it’s you and I. Only us. Okay?” He whispered, taking your face into his hands. 

You nodded and took a deep breath closing your eyes with a mixture of excitement and nerves pinging through you as your lips connected with his in a sweet little innocent kiss. 

The whoops and cheers intensified around you and when you pulled away you saw the wide smile Austin had his arm around your waist and you both waved to the camera one last time. 

After you were off Austin wrapped his arms around you, placing a kiss on your head, “ Always wanted to kiss a pretty girl on one of those things. Never thought I’d ever get the guts to do it.  Guess dreams come true.“ He laughed.  

You could still feel your heart pounding in your chest a bit thinking about how you’d replay that moment in your head for who knew how long to come, “ Yeah. They really do, they really do.” 

He placed a kiss on your hand and the both of you returned your attention back to the screen just as an older couple appeared. 

Eventually after some shouting, another small bag of popcorn, and twenty autographs from Austin to some fans later, the game was over, the Flyers beat the Rangers, and the two of you happily walked along to the car. 

“ Home for a nap. “ Austin suggested. 

“ Yes Please.” You yawned, feeling the excitement of the day beginning to catch up with you. 

______

Austin’s Brownstone - 8:23pm 

“ Well, Good Evening sleepy-head.” Austin greeted your groggy figure as you sat up with a pile of blankets sliding from you. 

“ Evening?! “ You yawned while looking around at the dimming sky outside the big bay window in the living room. “ My gosh, babe. How long did you let me sleep? What time is it? Don’t we have reservations? “  

You looked over to the loveseat where Austin had his feet propped up with a book in hand.

“ Woah. “ He held up a hand, “ Slow down. Take a breath.”

“ I let you sleep because you needed to rest, Babe. It’s about eight-twenty five right now and I called and canceled the reservations we had because truth be told I’m a little tired too. “ 

Your bottom lip stuck out and you went to protest but he held up a hand. 

“ So, instead I thought maybe you’d want to order in. Your choice. Thai, Italian, Mexican…”  He threw out the options. Nothing sounds good.

“ Do you know any good sandwich places? “ 

______

Forty five minutes and two wrapped hero sandwiches later…

“ Two-truths and one lie go.” You randomly said, reaching for one of his fries. 

“ Hmm. Alright. Well, I once shared the same production lot with Beyoncé and met her. “ He began, “ Two, I used to come home every single day in elementary school to eat lunch with my mother, and I once played a sad tree in my acting group’s play when I was younger..” 

You threw up your grease ridden hands, “ Automatically I'm gonna assume that the Beyonce thing is unfortunately untrue because I don’t think you would’ve held out on me like that. And I’m almost positive from that picture your sister showed that you were a sad bird in that play. So,I don’t know…maybe the lunch thing. I wouldn’t think an elementary school would let a kid walk home like that? Right? “ 

Austin smiled, “ Well my dear. Unfortunately this one you’d be wrong because all through elementary school I did in fact have a standing lunch appointment with my mother everyday.” He revealed.

“ Really?! And the school just let you go? “ 

He nodded, “ Yeah. We started doing it because of how shy I was. I couldn't really make friends at that age because of it, so sometimes it was hard being in school. Everyone knew everyone in town so the walk home and back was a breeze. We always ate P & J’s and watched cartoons or old westerns.” He recalled the fond memories. “ I know with work and other things at the time I’m sure her doing it wasn’t exactly ideal, but she still always made it work.” 

Your heart swelled for him as you reached out to rub his shoulder.

“ Awe, Austin, that sounds so sweet. She seemed amazing. “ 

“ Yeah, she was.” He sighed, “ She really was.” 

“ Wish I’d had a mom like that.” You sighed, “ I wish I would have had a mom period. “ 

As soon as the words left your mouth and you saw the look on Austin’s face, you instantly felt embarrassed. 

It wasn’t like Austin didn’t know about your situation, it just wasn’t something that you had in-depth discussed before. And you also really weren’t trying to make this seem about you either. It was just a little slip of word vomit.

You backtracked, “ I mean I do have a Mom. Just, it’s rather I just…have no idea where she is. Sorta…” 

Noticing you were about to say more but held yourself back, Austin encouraged you to continue, “ Hey. It’s alright. Tell me.” 

“ Okay well. From what I know, my Aunt said after I turned a year my mother wasn’t really around much. Started going out and hanging around with friends all hours of the night, and she just really didn’t seem that interested in Gracie and me anymore. Even disappeared for days at a time.” 

“ She left my Dad a note one night. On it she explained that she couldn’t imagine another day of being a mother. Specifically she said that it was draining something out of her that she was afraid she’d never get back. That we’d all be better off without her being there, herself included.” 

 “ I was only a year and some change and Gracie was almost five. And Dad did the best he could raising two girls by himself. He didn’t date much or anything really. Just was a devoted GM Plant worker and an even more devoted Dad.” 

“ A couple years later he found out that she’d remarried, moved to a part of Spain, and had more children. So, he made the decision to go to court and officially file for full custody of us. Which she didn’t contest, naturally.” You continued, “ I don’t think he ever really got over it, unfortunately.” 

“ He never talked about her at all.  And when he passed away when I was thirteen from congestive heart failure we went to live with our grandmother in Georgia. Gracie graduated and decided to move to Texas to pursue a career in public service. And after graduation I got a scholarship to Arizona State, so my grandmother moved and then decided to travel the world.” 

“ If you don’t mind me asking, has she ever tried to reach out? “ Austin questioned. 

You nodded, “ Only once. Not to me though.” You clarified.

“  When Gracie got married. Somehow she’d found Gracie’s address and sent a letter. Gracie read it but never responded. And she never told me what the letter said either. Her silent way of still protecting her little sister. I guess.” 

“ Would you have wanted to know what it said? “ 

“ I don't really know. Maybe? Maybe not? “  You answered. “ She wrote it just to Gracie. So, I'm sure there’s a reason for that.” 

“ Being honest….” You started feeling your lip begin to quiver and eyes water at the incoming thought. “ I always wondered if I was the reason she left? Like maybe I was hard to take care of or if carrying me did something negative to her. I-I *sniffle* It doesn’t sound like she wanted to leave when she had Gracie, so why after me? Why didn’t she stay? “ 

Your vision had full on fuzzied out now and your cheeks were slick with tears, turning his head to look at you all Austin could do was feel his heart ache. 

He tried to reach out  but you instinctively moved away trying to cover your face, “ Don’t. It’s fine.” Your voice cracked. 

He frowned, “ No it’s not, babe. You’re upset. My best girl is crying. Nothing is ever fine when my best girl is crying. It’s very far from fine actually.” He fussed moving toward you still. 

“ Hey.” He cooed, while reaching over to gently grab you and pull you onto his body, “ Hey. Shhh. It’s okay. Let it out.” He encouraged, rubbing your back and placing a kiss to your head as small sobs still escaped you. 

A hand went to your head to hold against him as he offered you all of his love and comfort.

After a while you’d began to settle and quiet at the warm feeling of being enveloped in his arms and calmed by his words. He hated that you were feeling this way. In situations like this it truly made Austin appreciate his mother, he couldn’t have imagined ever having any other maternal experience then what he had. He wished everyone could have had that. 

“ Hey, look at me.” He cupped your face and wiped at the tears while you sniffled, “ Anyone would be lucky to have you in their life, sweetheart.” 

“ I’m lucky to have you in my life.” He affirmed while making sure your eye contact never broke, tears forming in his.  “ You hear me? I love you.” 

You nodded, clinging to his shirt, “ I love you too, Austin.” 

He smiled, “ Of course. Snot and all.” He teased making you giggle and shriek away from him. 

He went to lean over and hand you the tissue box he’d snatched.

“ Now, let’s get into bed. How about a shower and a movie? Any movie you want.”

At this declaration you perked, “ Any movie? “ 

Now a bit skeptical, Austin still nodded, “ Any movie.” 

______

“ Okay, I changed my mind. Any movie but this one.” He groaned.

“ Austin.” You mirrored his groan. 

“ Fine.” He mumbled dragging you into his arms as the beginning of Lilo and Stitch played on the screen.

“ You really like this movie, huh? “ Austin chuckled into your headscarf. 

“ It’s my favorite! I was obsessed when I was little. I had a lilo and stitch lunch box, bed set, and all kinds of stuff.” You explained.’

“ And have you ever been to Hawaii? “

“ Nu uh. Haven’t gotten around to it. Maybe one day.” 

“ Uh huh.” Austin yawned.

Maybe one day real soon…

[astra-galaxie]

So...quick question. How would you rank each CC game in terms of character design? I would love to hear your thoughts!

Oh! Good question! Let me get some pictures, and I'll come back with my list!

1st place: Mysteries of The Past

I LOVE the character designs of MotP! It does an amazing job at replicating the style of the late 19th century, which it's supposed to be set in, and while some things aren't entirely period-accurate, I love it regardless! Also, the characters' physical appearances are detailed and unique, creating a large diversity among this season's cast.

Plus, Victorian Steampunk is one of my favourite styles (even if I don't wear it), so that's an added bonus for me!

2nd place: The Conspiracy

This season showcases how much Pretty Simple's character designs have improved since its release, as it brought back many S1 characters. The details in the designs are beautiful, and this is also when PS started trying more facial expressions and poses for the characters. This season is a perfect example of how character designs can be improved with practice, so it earned second place!

3rd place: Travel in Time

S6 gets third place thanks to how many different periods' styles it's replicated. We had Ancient Times, the 1960s, the Renaissance, the future, the Age of Sails (which I love pirates, so bonus!) and Medieval Asia. This season had so many unique styles within it that it's only fair it should be in the top three! I think the only reason it's not higher up is because it's shorter than the other seasons, and while I don't know if I would want it to go for 60-ish cases, it would have been interesting to see what other times we could have visited.

(I still think we should have visited MotP during S6, but that's an idea for another time, so I'll shut up about it for now!)

4th place: Supernatural Investigations

S7 gets fourth place, as I love seeing its take on different supernatural creatures. I am a HUGE fan of the paranormal and magic, so this season is right up my alley! While some designs could use improvements (*cough* the demons *cough*), I still like seeing all the different mythical creatures. Regardless of the things I would choose to change to improve some of the characters' designs, it did an excellent job making characters who are so different than what we see in other seasons.

5th place: Save The World

Save The World is when I feel that Criminal Case really started to branch out with its diversity in character designs. We visit so many countries throughout the seasons that it makes sense for the characters to reflect the differences between nationalities. I won't speak for how accurate some of the designs are for all of the nationalities featured in this season, but I think PS did a good job designing characters to represent each country. You can even see it among the Bureau since few members originate from the same country. Overall, StW has fantastic character designs, even if the following seasons have more details.

6th place: City of Romance

OMG! Who would have thought we'd ever see the day CoR DIDN'T come in last place on a list?! (At least I don't recall them ever not being in last place...)

Even if CoR failed horribly at being the final season of CC, the character designs are good. Some characters I like more than others, but overall, they have plenty of details without being overwhelming. Had CoR gotten the chance to be a full 30-case season, we might have seen more characters come back from past seasons and see the design improvements like we did in S5 and S6. Like I always say, CoR had the potential to be better than it was, but at least the character designs weren't a total flop!

7th place: Pacific Bay

(AnxietyFluffy, please forgive me for putting S2 so low on this list.😭)

While I enjoy PB's plot and characters, unfortunately, I had to put it so low on the list since, compared to other seasons, its character designs aren't as impressive to me. Mainly, it's because it's only the second game, so PS was still working on improving character designs. While I can see an improvement between S1 and S2, it's just not enough for me to put PB higher on the list. But, I still think PB did a good job creating diversity between districts, and while I will always question how the climates of these districts coexist, it was nice to see the differences reflected in the character designs.

8th place: Grimsborough

Last but certainly not least is Grimsborough! While it's nostalgic and the game introduced me to CC, sadly, its character designs showcase the fact that it's the first game. I would never say the designs are bad, but they're not as good as they were in the following seasons. There's something simplistic about the designs compared to feature seasons, but I still enjoy them. However, I am glad that PS started making the characters more detailed and unique in the following seasons, and I wish we could have seen more S1 characters come back in future seasons to see how much their designs could have improved.

I loved seeing how PS's character designs improved over the course of their 8 games while staying true to their CC style. I've always enjoyed the style and characters of this series, and it was fun to pick which ones I liked most! I'm sure others would put the seasons in a different order based on character designs, but I'll stand by my choices.

Thank you for the ask, eggsandmasks! You always send me some fun brain teasers!😁

[justanotherdonatello]

Just a small thought..

Leon is in it with the purple dragons? Or at least has a relationship with them. HEAR ME OUT!

Leo is usually worried about villains and beating them. Even if it's not obvious, he does take his heroin role seriously. (Which makes me kinda mad at the movie but that's another story)

In most, if not all purple dragon episodes, Leo is much more dismissive of them. Like in the first episode when Donnie is freaking out, Leo was completely calm! And he must've walked down the hallway and saw his tech missing (plus bro was just standing there menacingly)

After that he was dismissed. He wasn't necessary yet he was shown anyways.

The next episode, suddenly the PD knows Donnie's FEAR?? Leo again, chiming in and not giving two shits. Even putting out an unnecessary blame on Donnie because freaked out. Plus Leo seemingly becomes the main focus along with Donnie when he makes the boys smarter.

(ps, Donardo is literally me-)

I don't know about the last two, I don't think Leo was shown in breaking purple because it was mostly a shelldon and Donnie episode.

He was pretty careless in the purple game episode but he was still worried about Donnie?

Hell maybe this rant was for nothing and I'm just going insane BUT WHATEVER :D

Thanks for coming to my TedTalk.

[bellswlw]

˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚ it’s cold here without you 2: you set me on fire ⇨ e. williams

ellie williams x afab!reader

wc: 11k

part one | part 1.5 | masterlist

summary: after the winter dance, you and Ellie find yourselves unsure of where you stand. but after a prank gone wrong during a movie screening, the line before you bolds, and you’re ready.

cw: smut, mentions of homophobia, public humiliation, oral (e!receiving), inexperienced!reader, underage alcohol consumption (wine), mentions of artist!ellie, scissoring, multi orgasm, slapping, some fluff, mutual pining

a/n: this wasn’t supposed to be 11k…. but eat up! this is my first time writing proper wlw smut so pls, pls be nice:,) ps: i highly considering only writing jackson!ellie bc she’s just so cutsie i just love her. proofread.

There wasn’t a single thing on Ellie’s mind besides you. Besides what was going to happen tonight. And besides what she had planned, almost to perfection. almost.

She had been thinking about it all day, just a few after the two of you had your moment in the greenhouse after the winter dance. Which… was something.

Something… out of a movie, some might say. ‘Some’ just by Ellie. Secretly, she had rewinded the memories and let them play out in full from the inside walls of her own mind, afraid to mention even a speck of it outloud.

The images played on a loop inside her head, causing a grin to find its place on her face when she met you at the stables after her patrol shift and prayed that for what she was hoping would finally rise off of her notebook pages, tonight.

In the dining hall for breakfast surrounded by mostly everyone in Jackson, the four of you had contracted a plan. (Mainly Ellie, if she was being honest.)

“Oh come on, they’re just kids.” Dina said, cocking her head to the side to glare back and forth at Ellie and Jesse, silently scolding her for wanting to do something so stupid and looking to Jesse to help tell her off.

“Hey, those little shits deserve it. They totally started it.” Ellie said, pointing her spoon towards her. “Plus, it's totally harmless.” she sighed and took the spoonful of cereal into her mouth.

Earlier in the morning, just before breakfast had begun, some of the kids had started a completely civil snowball fight, and on your way toward the dining hall you had all stopped to watch. And you had to admit, they could be kind of cute sometimes. When they weren’t being absolute menaces.

“I say, tonight, as soon as we get back… we get drunk and play some board games.” Jesse said, nudging you with his elbow with a playful smirk.

You looked over, a soft smile. “Yeah, that sounds like fun.” and watched as Ellie continued ahead of you, her hands shoved so deep in her jacket pockets that they might poke out the other end.

Listen, she wasn’t jealous of Jesse, or the fact that the two of you had grown a little closer after you got to town. She knew he would never try anything, and she knew surely, neither would you. But it still sent a thick stroke of anger through her just thinking about the if.

She tried not to, but eventually it was the only thing running through her head. Like an absolute idiot.

You had only seen Jesse merely as a friend. And sometimes, somebody to help you tick Ellie off with stupid puns or to poke fun at. Sometimes. The other times he was stopping by the greenhouse to bring you back samples of plants he found out on patrol.

Most of them were weeds or dead flowers, but you accepted them all and thanked him kindly. He liked you. And he liked that you made Ellie happy, even as much as it grossed him out sometimes when you found yourself staring at her leaving the stables on Shimmer, galloping slow enough to see the steady jostle of her hips lift up and down with a rhythmic bounce.

Jesse had known, at the dance. He knew before then too. He knew when he saw the same look in your eye that he felt in his when he looked at Dina. He was happy for the two of you.

“Ellie, you in?” he asked, catching her attention and making her turn around. She was red in the face, fuming inside her head from a scenario that was nowhere near real.

“Huh?” she asked, and looked at you.

“Board games, drinking, probably a little…” and you put your pinched fingers to your lips, pretending to smoke a joint before blowing the smoke from your mouth with a laugh.

“Oh, yeah. Sure.” and then she turned back around.

The three of you had slowed down, all watching Dina as she knelt down behind a section of the playground, a snowball ready in her hand.

Ellie had been meaning to talk to Dina. About the dance, about the looks she had been giving you, she was so confused by it all, not really understanding why she did it and now why she seemed to hate your guts. Especially because no one knows. Or, at least… they weren’t supposed to.

You didn’t want to make a big deal of things, and since Jackson was relatively small and it was typically pretty calm, you did not want to be the talk of the town. Or any for that matter. But after Ellie had noticed how hesitant you were to go say goodbye to her at the stables, she knew something was wrong.

And it made her kind of mad. She felt the smallest amount of pride too, if she was being honest. She liked how much you flushed at the thought of someone else being upset that you had her instead of them. But on the offhand, she wanted to kindly tell Dina off for making you afraid to even say a simple ‘goodbye’ before patrol.

“It’s not a big deal, I don’t want to make something out of nothing.” and your eyes were glued to the floor.

“Tell me,” and her voice was so soft, melting on your tongue as her gloved hand grabbed yours. They were so warm, radiating a soft heat through the leather.

“I– it’s just… maybe Dina knows, you know? Maybe she saw and she hates me or something and–”

And Ellie sighed, swinging your hand playfully in hers.

“I told you, it's nothing!” and your voice was high, trying to hide itself in the lie.

“No. it’s not nothing. I’ll talk to her. Tell her to fuck off. If she saw, then who cares? Lucky her.” and Ellie slipped off one of her gloves to cup your face, pecking your lips slowly. Warm.

“I’ll talk to her, okay?” and you nodded. You could live with that.

Ellie came to a halt, her hands gripping the fence before she called out after Dina. “Hey Dina! Can I talk to you?”

And it was then that she finally noticed her, standing up from her kneeling position and throwing her hands up in defense. “Hey, guys? I’m tapping out!”

Ellie turned back to look at you, reminding you of the promise she had made earlier. You took it. “We’ll meet you inside?” and Ellie gave you a quick nod, her head tilting back while her eyes stayed on yours until you smiled at her and turned the corner, continuing your conversation with Jesse.

“So, what kinda board games are we talking?’ and you nudged him, hard enough to make you think you had caused him to stumble over. Which obviously made you burst out a laugh.

From there, it was obvious why Ellie was upset. She lost. Big time. Those kids had annihilated her and Dina, and there wasn’t a soul brave enough to face them again. They deserved this, those punks.

Or at least, that’s what Ellie had said from beside you. “They’re punks. They ambushed us. And they tackled you?!” her sigh was long, and she looked over to you for help, maybe a little bit of approval.

“Well… I mean, it does seem a little extreme Ells.” and you looked a little apologetic.

“Wha— Jesse, c’mon, back me up.”

Jesse jutted his hands out from underneath their place on his chin. “Hey, leave me outta this. I don’t want any part of it.”

Ellie lets out a frustrated exhale. Her hands resting against the table with one potato wedge in each. “IT is a completely non-extreme movie to show to a bunch of 12 year olds. You guys just suck.” she says, eyeing you before sticking one of her soggy wedges in your face.

Your brows are pulled up and your eyes tracking her flail these cold dead sticks of potato around as she continues her spiel. “I mean, IIIII think they deserve to feel their hearts beating in their chests for once… right? Like I’m practically doing them all a favor. We all are… because when screening starts, we sit through the first quarter, and then after all the parents fall asleep, BAM–” and Ellie is suddenly flinging her wedge across the table, landing hard against Jesse’s cheek with a rippling smack.

There's a moment of shrilling silence between the four of you, just before he wipes his hand down his face to dust off the skin of the potato and says. “Thank you, for this.” and plops it onto his plate.

It’s then that’s when you break, leaning forward against the table and letting your laugh erupt out of you like some kind of overflowing bubble.

Your eyes are practically sewn shut, and you breathe in just moments before jump starting another round of laughter from everyone around you. Including Ellie.

God, you had loved it when you made her laugh. It usually happens when you aren't trying. But it was worth it all regardless, just to see her lips break apart with the sound of your laugh alone, her teeth revealing themselves before she hung her head away from you to try and regulate herself.

She never knew you noticed that about her.

When you finally opened your eyes, letting the stars clear from your vision, you saw Ellie’s head had fallen back, and a wide grin was etched into her freckled face, the red hue blending between the constellations of her skin.

You felt Dina’s eyes on you just then, barely deep enough to cause you to look over at her and watch the look wipe itself right off her face. Did she see the way you were looking at Ellie? Did Jesse? Did everyone?

The two of you hadn't told anyone about what had gone on last week, mostly because you yourself didn’t really know. You had never ever expected for Ellie to admit she felt the same way as you did, let alone first.

Since then, the two of you had definitely been more than friends, but it was just that. You were still obviously friends, there was just a shift. You two still hung out as much as you did before, just now, they lasted longer. Day’s usually. And you had started going with Ellie to the stables more often, saying goodbye to her and coming back after her patrol shift was over if you weren’t busy working.

Your days usually ended the same, either you coming to Ellie, or her meeting you wherever you were scheduled that day. (mostly the greenhouse.)

It had worked better when you were scheduled to actually be working in the stables, helping prep Shimmer and the rest of the horses that were going out that day, or cleaning out their beds and refilling their water after it had frozen over. But you still went. You couldn’t stand not being around Ellie now that you were… more than friends.

There was a sudden worry in your stomach every time you watched her leave from behind Jacksons gates, the gnawing feeling eating away at you that there was a possibility that she couldn’t come back.

You liked Ellie, a lot. Definitely more than a friend, and more than all the words at your disposal. You would do anything you could to make her happy, to keep that part of her that is buried in fear and everything else she hasn’t told you alive. You wanted to push her buttons just enough to make her pinch at the sides of your waist in retaliation and cause you to try and get away from her grasp with scream laughs following behind you.

And to state the obvious, you wanted Ellie, period. You wanted her to touch you like no one else had ever before, even yourself. The execution is what had you stumped though. The line was blurry for you, and you weren’t sure if and how you were supposed to go about all of this. You were too afraid to ask.

And Ellie would never make fun of you, really if you did ask… but you knew that she had been with Cat, and you knew that she had more experience than you. And it made you feel kind of intimidated, and kind of jealous if you were totally honest. You had wanted to keep Ellie all for yourself, for your eyes only.

Which of course you knew was a little unhealthy, but you really couldn’t help yourself. She was Ellie. Everyone who really knew her loved her, how could you not?

You rested your eyes on your lap just then, drawing back into the reality of Jesse’s stupid remark. And her hand had rested high on your thigh, rubbing slow circles there as she tried to rid herself of the jokes Jesse was about to make. You had to pretend you were totally unaffected by it, when in truth you wanted to drag her to the bathroom right then and there.

You didn’t though, obviously.

|

A few hours later, after you, Dina, and Jesse had somehow fallen accomplices to Ellie’s stupid prank, you were sitting around in the dining hall watching the first half of Summer Magic.

There were fewer parents than all of you had expected, but the ones who did end up coming were asleep near the back of the room or leaning against the posts with bored expressions laid thickly on their faces.

You watched as Ellie sat next to you, her arms folded over her chest with a devious glare planted across her face, the light from the projector completely giving her away.

You then look back at Dina who was sitting a few seats behind you, closer to the for-mentioned projector and quite literally sitting on the key ingredient in the form of an old dinged up VHS tape.

Her eyes flickered from the screen to yours, and for nearly half a second, you could have sworn she had rolled her eyes at you.

Ellie noticed your head turn, and free’d a hand from her position to rest it on your leg. “Relax, we're not gonna get caught. Dina’ll throw them off.” and she offered you a small smile, squeezing your thigh lovingly.

Oh it wasn’t getting caught what had made you so nervous, it was the look in Dina’s eyes that read I know what you’re doing.

Soon enough, you did actually relax back into the movie, Ellie’s hand warm against the fabric of your jeans and her thumb slowly moving back and forth to decompress your anxiety.

It unfortunately didn’t last long, because just when you shifted positions to lay your head against her shoulder, the screen had gone dark and the room had swarmed with loud sounds of all the kids groaning and screeching to the sudden darkness of the room.

You had almost done the same, not knowing that Jesse was going to switch all the lights off at once.

Ellie had perked her head up then, watching from her dilated pupils, children standing from their seats and trying hopelessly to find their parents in the pitch black of the dining hall.

It was kind of cruel, watching how much she was enjoying it. You tugged on the sleeve of her gray hoodie, getting her attention. “Ellie, I think this is too much. We should stop before someone narc’s.”

She looked at you for a moment contemplating it. She did kind of feel a little guilty. Not for the kids though, but for you. She could tell how much it upset you, watching all of these little kids run around aimlessly trying to find their parents. It made her wonder if it had reminded you of what it was like before coming to Jackson. She had never had the courage to ask, she was too scared to figure out the answer.

Ellie didn’t want to picture you like one of these kids, screaming with tears running down their small cheeks and their voice cracking as they all yelled for the same thing. Protection. Ellie could give that to you, she knew that.

She hesitated. “I– okay. Okay. You’re right. I’m sorry. I’ll find Dina, tell her there’s a change in plans. Okay?” and it's almost worrisome, how hard the sigh fell from your lips when the words “I’m sorry.” echoed in your ears.

“Okay.” and you stood up with Ellie, pecking her lips before thinking on it. She pulled her head back, and you could almost feel the confusion radiate off her.

Her hand had squeezed yours momentarily. “I’ll be right back.” and there was one last pinch to your fingers just as the screen lit up, an off-white flooding everyone's eyes.

It was then that you saw all of the kids scattered around the room, some huddled together in groups, and others backs flat against the large windows, hands still spread out in front of them in search.

The horror of their faces flushed the color from your face. They were just kids. And even if it was just a stupid prank, it was real to them. It was like their world was ending all over again.

But it was too late, because there it was, frame for frame what Ellie had talked about just hours before. The street post in full view as the people paraded the street with ease.

Ellie swore under her breath. “Shit.”

She turned her head around frantically, trying to find Dina, only she was now across the room, kneeling down in front of a little girl who was sobbing uncontrollably.

“Ellie,” you said, and there was a twinge in your eye that screamed, stop.

She looked down at you, watching as you shook your head slowly, eyes fighting the tears that so desperately wanted to pool there.

It was then that Seth had stepped into the center of the room, a mere few feet from the screening. “What’s going on here?!” he yelled, trying to find someone in the crowd to blame.

His eyes cut into your and Ellie’s, and he could see from the look on your face that you were scared, and after he realized that… he glanced over to a group of tween boys who were huddled around in a small group. “HEY!” he said pointedly, cutting their group apart with the snap of his dirtied fingernail.

The boys looked up, a different kind of fear ringing off of them. They dispersed almost instantly, moving away to find their younger siblings who were all still crying.

“Who’s doing this?” and he was spinning slowly, trying to make blame.

But it's then that the echo of Pennywise’s voice breaks the sudden silence, instantly turning him and the rest of the kids faces white.

“I’ll kill you all. Ha! I’ll drive you crazy and KILL you all!” Seth had suddenly stopped and stared straight up at the screen, his face dropping completely as he gulped down his fear.

This wasn’t part of the joke, to single him out and make him quite near piss his pants in terror. But it was somewhat entertaining to watch considering what had happened after you left Ellie and Dina on the dancefloor.

Ellie had told you a few days ago, laying flat on her back with a joint resting gently on the makeshift ashtray she had made from a small piece of wood.

You watched as she blew the smoke from her lips, curling in on itself while desperately trying to cling to the ceiling above.

It had made you mad, and Ellie just as much. Even if she didn’t like Dina like that, it was uncalled for in the first place.

Back in the dining hall, watching all of this unfold, Ellie stood there frozen, helpless. She didn’t know what to do. She knew what she should do, she should pull the plug and take the blame for all of it. But that was a harder bridge to cross when she enjoyed the terror that struck through Seth’s face as he watched a fictional clown threaten to kill him.

“I am your worst dream, come true! I’m everything you ever were afraid of!”

Ellie turns her attention away from him momentarily, seeing the curtain ripple just for a few seconds, seeing the flash of Jesse’s shoe slowly creep across the floor behind the screen.

You saw it too, knowing exactly what was to come before Ellie blinked in recognition.

And the entire room went quiet, unable to look away just as Pennywises’ hand curls into a claw and Jesse is jumping out from behind the sheet to tackle Seth to the ground with a loud thud.

He screams, and Ellie can’t help herself but laugh, folding in on herself as she places her hands on her knees. It was truly a sight. Seth is on the ground, kicking and screaming like his life depends on it, all while the rest of the kids and adults watch, doing nothing.

You can hear Jesse's faint laugh, a low chuckle shredding through the fabric and sending Seth into a spiral of utter fear. It was kind of ironic how afraid of clowns he seemed to be when he was one himself.

The smell came before anything else, and it hit Jesse first, causing him to jump off of him with a gag to follow. “Did you piss your pants?” he says, just loud enough to reach the ears of the gaggle of tween boys that were standing near the front of the room.

“Holy shit! He pissed himself!” and that’s what started the domino effect of laughter, soon filling the room with giggles from the children who had all finally sponged up all their tears.

You followed suit too, giggling into your hand before hearing Ellie cackle, her head falling back and a loud laugh erupting deep from within her lungs. She had been holding that one in for some time.

As the laughter had begun to subside, the door could be heard slamming on his hinges, and a few moments later the lights flickered back on and Tommy was standing next to Maria. Fumming.

Oh shit.

Ellie straightened up at the sight of him, knowing that they had all been caught. Not just Dina and Jesse, but the entire room.

Tommy eyed the two of you, squaring you away in his head. Ellie’s eyes had glazed over from her laughter, but were soon pushed away to the corners when she cleared her throat.

He looked over his shoulder, watching as Seth had struggled to stand with a big wet spot on the crotch of his khasis. Wincing, he took a few steps over toward him.

“Seth,” he said, a little hesitantly. “What happened here?” and it was then that he finally found the strength to pull himself upright, not hesitating to rat you all out.

“Those kids, is what happened! They ambushed me, and that one even assaulted me!” he yelled, pointing to Jesse who had the sheet balled up in his arms across the room.

Tommy eyed him, and then without saying a word he shoved the sheet over to one of the boys next to him.

|

“You guys wanna tell me what the hell just happened back there?” the four of you stood outside in the cold, your winter jackets folded in your arms unprepared for the sudden eviction.

You didn’t even have to look up from your spot on the ground when Ellie had chirped up an apology. “It was all my fault. My idea, they didn’t have anything to do with it.” and she eyed up Tommy, begging him to take the bait she laid out for him.

He sighed, and blew out a sigh. “Wh… I- Jesus, I can’t deal with all of this. Just go home. All of you.” Tommy was beyond frustrated, but he didn’t have it in him to give out punishments right now. He was going to leave that to Maria.

“Tommy, they aren’t a part of this-”

He looked at her, and then one by one, the rest of the group. “Go. Home. We’ll settle this in the morning.” and he didn’t wait a second more to turn his back on the four of you and return inside. Slamming the door for a second time.

As soon as the door is calm against its frame, Jesse turns inward and slings his jacket on. “Told ya,” and he shrugs his shoulders before shoving them deep into his pockets.

Ellie’s eyes are glued to the still door, making sure that it stayed shut until you all left. Which would probably be sooner or later, considering it was freezing and it would take a few minutes to get home.

“He got what he deserved.” and Ellie pulled her coat over her shoulders, nudging you with an elbow to silently tell you to do the same.

“Guess so.” he said before looking over at Dina, who was looking right at Ellie.

You tried not to overthink it… but it was so hard to look away when it felt like you were looking in a mirror, watching Dina look at Ellie the same way you had been for months.

Ellie finally perked up, her voice hugging around your waist with a sting. Her hand was freezing under your shirt. You prayed no one noticed, but of course they did.

“Hey, you guys wanna come hang out? We can get drunk and play board games, just like you wanted.” and her hand slips out from beneath your skin to playfully backhand Jesse’s arm.

You didn’t want her to let go, your skin forming goosebumps in protest, the silent and microscopic atoms of your skin trying to prick hers and lock them together forever.

But of course she did, she had to. Because she knew if she didn’t she would want to hold you forever.

Ellie was hopeless, in her mind. She had tried over and over again to try and forget that she had essentially spilled her guts to you last week. She wanted to tell you she had lied, or that she didn’t mean any of it, or trick herself into thinking none of it had even happened in the first place. But of course it did, and of course she had meant every word she said.

You liked her. And she liked you. It was as simple as that.

But of course, it wasn’t. These feelings were too big, too overwhelming and neither you or Ellie had any idea what to do with all of them. And sure, maybe they had been slowly spilling out into tonight, or yesterday, or a few days before that… but what would happen if they exploded, and made a huge mess of everything.

What if Ellie had something she didn’t mean, all because she was so fucking nervous to mess this up. To make you hate her. She feared it everyday since she met you, and that fear would either fuel her to do what she desperately wants, or eat her alive until she's nothing but a shaky bundle of nothing.

Jesse looked to Dina, hoping she might help him tell a flawless lie. “Ah, we probably shouldn’t. We’re probably gonna get scheduled to patrol because of tonight. Soon though.” and he shrugged an arm over Dina’s left shoulder.

Her eyes cut to you for the split of a second, just enough to make you squirm and look at your feet.

Ellie of course didn’t catch on. “Yeah, sure.” and she cocked her head up at him as the two of them walked off, making thin footprints in the snow.

“I thought you said you talked to her.” and you look up to meet Ellie’s eyes. Your lips were tucked in an unforgiving line. You were just the tiniest bit mad. You hated the fact that she didn’t like you, more so that you didn’t know what you did wrong.

“I did! She said she didn’t know what I was talking about. I let it go.” and she seemed genuine. But really? She didn’t know what you were talking about?

Before you could fire back, before a single word slipped past your lips, Ellie spoke again.

“How come you kissed me in there?” Ellie says now, the threat of a smile on her lips.

You drew back a bit, shocked. “Um, I dunno. I didn’t think about it.” and you search her face, trying to blink a response out of her. “Can you not change the subject?”

“I was kinda surprised if I'm being honest. It’s so… not you.”

You were fumbling, your hands clasping together to try and gain some control back into your system. “Ellie, you said you woul– wait, what do you mean not like me?”

Ellie’s smirk was hiding in plain sight. She was getting a rise out of you. And successfully changing the subject. Her hands found their way to her pockets, shoving them deep inside for warmth. “I just… I dunno. It was different from how you usually act.”

You knew secretly what Ellie meant. And she was right. It WAS out of character. But in the moment, in that dark room with over at least 200 people inside, that same feeling came flooding back into your stomach, and before you knew it you were kissing Ellie how you would if she were being sent off overseas. “I just… wanted to. Was it weird?” and you look at Ellie for approval, hoping she would tell you no. And if by some chance she said yes, you hoped she would let you down easily.

But she laughed, her breath catching the light just outside the building that was beaming down on the two of you and reflecting the glistening snow. “No. I thought it was kind of cute.”

“Shut up.” you said, nudging her just enough to express another laugh from her before speaking up again. “What did Dina say?”

“She doesn’t hate you, I’ll tell you that much.” and Ellie laughed again, but this time, it was stale, dried up and knocking against her throat on its way up.

“Ellie.” you couldn’t find her eyes, she was avoiding you.

She looked a little flushed now, even a little frustrated that you could easily get past her bullshit of a lie. Which wasn’t completely, it was a half truth.

“Okay, so she didn’t say it, but I mean it’s what she meant. Swear. She likes you.”

She didn’t hate you, that was true. In fact, it was the complete opposite.

Ellie hesitates, before pulling a hand from her pocket to slot it in with yours. She doesn’t know if she should even be doing stuff like this, and to be completely honest, she has no fucking clue what she’s doing. And her lips quiver. She convinces herself it's because it's cold out. But god she’s so afraid.

Ellie somehow managed to get you as her friend, but now, now is when it mattered. She didn’t want to fuck it up. She didn’t want to cross a line that she couldn’t take her word back on, lie her way out of or make a stupid joke to make you forget about it.

She was more than lucky to have met you, and certainly the luckiest girl in the entire world to have you like her. And she liked her just as much, probably even a little more.

How could she not? How could someone so bright walk into a place like this and not have people drawn into your beaming light and infectious laugh? It certainly worked for Ellie, there must have been half a dozen people who thought the same as her.

Your eyes drift from your locked hands to her face, she’s staring right at you. Right through you. “She likes me? Really?” and the smile is soft on your purpling lips.

“Yeah.”

You sigh, a little relieved. “She has a hard time showing it. More than you.” and you chuckle before wrapping an arm around her back, drawing her closer to you.

She was warm. Finally.

|

You opened Ellie’s door with ease, the laughter pushing you further and further inside with her hand on the small of your back and the other clutching a wine bottle.

She was covered in snow from head to toe. All to hear those giggles that were echoing around the room. Ellie had never been much of a drinker, but when she did occasionally, man was it a sight. She had shed her protective shield, leaving her to act like a 14-year-old boy who thought the word “Balls” was the funniest thing in the world.

Where you had even gotten the wine? Neither of you could really remember. But what you can picture clear as day is Ellie standing with her arms stretched out wide, with the bottle in one hand and the other flailing around as she yelled at the top of her lungs how much she loved Shimmer.

The snow was piled high, leaving you to stand at the bottom to watch as she confessed her love for her horse.

“She- she’s amazing. She… she’s such a good horse.” and she stood there, holding in a breath just seconds before exhaling with a laugh, something so deep in her stomach that hearing it made you do the same. You loved seeing her laugh, and so far this was the most of it you had seen since you met her.

“Ellie! Be careful, you’re gonna fall.” you said, the giggles threatening to rise in your voice as you watched her slowly move her hips back and forth. It was then that the snow mound had shifted under her foot, causing her to drunkenly slide down the side of it with an “Oof” and the wine to splatter across the blinding snow. It had painted itself all over Ellie, almost looking like blood in your hazy vision.

You couldn't help but laugh, and a minute later after you had come back to earth to see Ellie was laying down on her back chuckling to herself quietly.

“Are you okay?” you ask. Your hand flew over your mouth to smother your laugh.

Ellie was unsure, considering the sharp pain that was quickly forming against her back, the ice burning a hole there at what felt like lightning speed. But as soon as she saw your face, and had seen the glimmer reflecting off of the snow. She was perfectly fine.

“Yeah,” she said, taking the bottle to her lips and chugging down a few gulps. Ellie never liked drinking much, she didn’t like how it made her feel. IE: horny. Horny for you, most definitely.

The tingle in her legs had begun to grow the second that you bent over to help her stand, and the flash of your cleavage sent a bold brush stroke through her. She looked away, but the image was already burned behind her tightly shut eyes.

Fuck, she wanted you so bad, it had made her dizzy. Or was that because of how fast she stood up? Now she didn’t know. It didn’t stop her from kissing you though, with one hand clasped around yours and the other hanging onto the half empty wine bottle.

Your hand had touched the side of her face gingerly, and the feeling of her warm skin lit something bright inside you. So much so that it nearly poured right out of you with a quiet moan against Ellie’s lips.

They couldn’t do this here. But god did they want to. Both of them, right now, had never felt how their skin was on fire. Especially Ellie. And now she could crave that feeling for the rest of her life, chasing the high of your lips and the small sounds you made when she touched you.

“Let’s go,” you breathed against her, and without hesitating Ellie passed you the bottle and dragged you by the hand until you were back inside her room.

You both stood there now, a little breathless and unsure of what to do.

Ellie was undoubtedly covered in wine AND snow, and you were covered in goosebumps from watching her strip off her layers, leaving her in a white tank top and her jeans.

“This fuckin’...” she trailed off, and shimmied the sleeve of her hoodie off of her, tossing it on the ground next to her. You looked at her, mouth hanging open with dilated pupils. A look full of lust.

There's a knot inside your throat, tying the words together so tightly that all you can do is breathe, watching Ellie as she steps closer to you. To her bed.

Her hand is in yours again, and she’s taking you so far, tipping you over the edge of something that can never be undone. There are no do-overs. This is it. And it's happening, now.

“Ellie,” you rasp just as she sits on the edge of her bed, her hands instantly flying to cup your hips and draw you in closer.

She looks up at you. And the thought fuzzies out all of your other worries, underlining it in bold black ink. You want Ellie. You want to grip at her thighs and feel the wetness between her legs. You wanted to be between those same legs.

“I want you.” and you can’t fucking believe the words left your mouth, low and a little slurred. But it was true. It was all so unbelievably true that you had to laugh.

“Why are you laughing?” Ellie said, moving her hand ever so slightly off its comfortable place on your waist, flaring out her fingers to enunciate her question.

Your head fell between your shoulders, hovering over hers. “I don’t know.” you knew. You were so nervous. Excited, but nervous. Because it was real. And so was she. And so were her thumbs slowly making circles on your hot skin.

“Are you nervous?” she asked.

Was it that obvious? You couldn’t even look at her when you said quietly, “Yeah…”

Ellie cocked her head down, searching for eye contact. “Why?”

“You make me nervous. All of this does. I dunno.”

Ellie was baffled. She made you nervous? Oh, if only she knew. “I- I make you nervous?” and there was something playful behind her words, something that only made the smile on your lips grow. “Why do I make you nervous?” and her hands crept forward, to the opening of your jacket, threatening to pull it off of you.

You gulp back your words, a hitch in your voice when you finally find them again. “Because… I’ve never, I- I dunno. You just do.” and your coat is on the floor by now, leaving you in a gray long sleeve shirt.

“You never what?” her hands were making you dizzy, your eyes shutting softly before Ellie shifted your shirt just under your ribs and exposing your stomach.

The same stomach that was doing flips on itself, aching for something to touch it deep down inside.

Your breathing was uneven, shaky in some places and so, so shallow in others, unable to catch it.

“I’ve… never done anything before. B- by myself, but.. No one else.” and it was then that Ellie’s hands stilled against your skin, almost like they were suddenly same-faced magnets.

Your eyes met hers with a shrilling silence. The kind that burned.

“You’ve never…?” and all you could do was shake your head.

“No. But I want to. I want… you. I want to… you know, on you,” and the words were barely audible, even with Ellie this close. She was utterly shocked. You wanted… to go down on her? Ellie couldn’t fucking believe it. Her timid, giggly best friend –more than best friend– had just admitted that she wanted to eat her out.

Ellie had never been more turned on, and she didn’t even need a reason for it. She knew, she knew then that it was because of you, and because of those two words “on you” that checked Ellie into a state of mind she never wanted to leave.

“Oh yeah?” she was losing it. Big time.

Ellie’s cheeks were on fucking fire, she was burning up from the inside out, a pool of wetness already filling her underwear. She gripped your hips a little tighter now, unleashing the part of herself that she never wanted you to see, the greedy part. She was so fucking greedy, and she wanted you all to herself. She wanted to mark you as hers somehow, and show you off to all of Jackson.

She kissed you like you were the sun, soaking you in after a long 10-month drought. Your hands flew flat against her shoulders, trying to stabilize yourself before she was leaning you back, her back resting gently against the mattress while your hands boxed her in.

A suppressed moan slipped from your lips, feeling her hands ride up your sides and traveling across your back to snap your bra strap. Her chuckle etched its way across your skin before her nails scratched their way back around to the front and dipped below the button of your jeans.

“Fuck,” her voice was low against your skin. You wanted her to say it again. You wanted her to never stop talking, ever. You wanted her to do everything to you. Everything. You wanted Ellie so bad nothing else mattered to you right now as much as the desperate need to feel as much of her skin on yours.

“Ellie.” you said her name like a warning, the sirens in your head going off with the shift of your body, inching closer to her zipper.

Your shaking hands fumbled there, unsure if there was a certain way you were supposed to take off someone else’s pants, all while they watched. Ellie had now sat up on her elbows, resting there with her eyes glued on you, glued on how your delicate hands were brushing up against her folds that were pressed up against the crotch of her jeans.

Your hands gently pulled them off her hips, dipping underneath before Ellie bucked upward to help you. It was then that you had felt how hot her skin was. And it was all because of you. Because of your mouth and your hands that raked against Ellie’s thighs mercilessly.

You eventually got them off, hanging low around her ankles as one by one you took off her shoes and the rest of her jeans, now completely leaving her exposed besides the thin material of her tank top and underwear.

Ellie had fully sat up soon after, the look in her eyes pungent with lust as she quickly unfastened the button on your pants and stripping them off you with ease. You held onto her shoulders for support as you finished stepping out of them.

Oh so that’s how you do it.

She lifted her head up quickly, just seconds before her hands slowly grazed the bare skin of your thighs. You were so reactive, and Ellie loved every second of it. She knew that if you weren’t covered in goosebumps, you would be soon.

But she stopped herself then. She wanted to let you do what you wanted to do. To go down on her, as you said yourself. Ellie’s hands lifted away from you and you suddenly missed the feeling, leaning into her to try and fall back in her orbit.

“Say it.” was all Ellie said, holding her hands away from you in protest. She was refusing one of the only things you wanted, and that made her bloom with a tingle between her legs. Seeing the look on your face. The way you so badly wanted her.

You snapped back to, reeling back from Ellie. The look in her eye was all consuming. something that no matter how hard you wanted to look away from, you couldn’t. So you spoke instead. Low, with a slight rasp. “I want… I want you Ellie. Please. To go down on you. Let me, let me please.”

Please. Saying her name was more than enough, but the please. Oh you could have her any way you wanted. She loved the way it rang in her ears. So much so that she scooted away from you, setting herself up against her headboard. Just for you.

“C’mere,” Ellie said, and there was no more hesitation. This was it. This was fucking it. You were starving, and Ellie had just offered you to feast.

You were soon following suit, crawling onto Ellie’s bed, and sitting gently on your knees. You found yourself waiting for Ellie to give you further instructions. You wanted to please her, and please her. You wanted to do this justice, memorable even.

You actually found yourself asking for help. “Um… what next?” and you pulled your hair behind your ears with a slight shake to your hands. You were unbelievable.

Ellie looked a little blank then, realizing you really had no idea what to do, she found it cute. And kind of hot if she was being honest. The thought of you being so selfless and wanting to please her, when she hadn’t even asked. that is what Ellie was thinking as you sat on your knees in front of her. For her.

“Do.. you want me t’ tell you?” and she was only met with a singular nod, one that had only made her fume with desire.

“Yes. tell me, please.” and you were whining. You didn’t care.

“Okay.” was all Ellie could say. Her heart was beating out of her fucking chest.

She held out her hand for you, her fingers curling around themselves to usher you in, in between her legs that were already spread for you. “C’mere, for a sec,” and her hands found the soft spot behind your ears, pulling you into her so much that your chest was pressed hard against hers.

The moan vibrates through you, sending a shrill of wetness to collect between your legs. And those same legs had just done the unthinkable, a single knee slotting between the soft spot of Ellie’s clothed cunt.

Her mouth fell open with a moan crashing against you, snapping and cracking into yours. She felt it. You did it again, rubbing your bare knee against her core, getting the same reaction from her. It made the smile on your face shift to a grin. You felt so much pride.

“That– fuck.” Ellie mumbled out, her hands still resting lazily behind your ears. She wasn’t letting you go.

You continued, letting your knee move up and down against her wet folds, sending mass signals to keep going by the sensation that was building up in your stomach listening to the deep sounds that came from within Ellie.

She kissed you again, this time, letting her hands finally fall from their position on your face. Fuck, she needed you now. There was no time for teaching. She wanted your mouth on her cunt, and she wanted it now.

One last moan and Ellie was nearly unraveling, her hands swiftly moving to stop your knee from shifting against her. “Now.” she whispered.

You followed orders, and with her help, you stripped her of her underwear and soon you were met with the rarest sight of her pink pussy.

It was slick with her fluids, nearly glistening against the moonlight that creeped through the curtains, lighting up your back moments later when you inch toward Ellie’s pulsing cunt.

“Just…” Ellie was breathless, her chest rising and falling with hot anticipation.

You wanted to please her, and give her what she deserves. So it's then that you swallow back your worries and attach your lips to her burning nub. Your tongue ran slow circles around it, unsure if what you were doing before Ellie’s hands touched the top of your head, her hands fumbling with strands of your hair and then pressing your head closer to you. Skin to skin. Just like you wanted.

You took her clit between your lips sucking generously as you pulled a groan from deep within Ellie’s stomach, the cord there stretching with ease.

“F…” she mumbled, and Ellie’s fingers were tangled in your hair, curling and pinching at the root. It only made you hornier.

Your tongue danced against the bundle of nerves between her legs, just before you let it lay flat against her folds to collect the wetness for you to taste. Unexpectedly sweet. You did it a few more times, not getting enough. The voice in your head had diminished, leaving you to place your hand between those same pink folds and caress them slowly.

Edging. You were edging her, and you hadn’t even known it. Some part of you had just known exactly what to do. You just needed a little shove. Like Ellie’s hands, pushing your head down again and arching her back off of her bed to try and bring herself closer.

She let out what could only be described as a pornographic moan, a sound so guttural that your free hand had actually rode up the center of Ellie’s stomach, holding it in place as you began to unravel her from her tight knot.

It was when your fingers had dipped through her tight walls, the sensation alone making you moan against her heat before Ellie finally released her hands from you and let them fly toward her sides, flexing her fingers wide in preparation for the orgasm that was soon to come.

“Fuck, shit… jus’ right.. there.” and you felt her stomach tighten, tipping over that same edge.

Two of your fingers had slowly started pumping in and out of her, so agonizingly slow, but soon were quick enough to cause Ellie to lose her breath and draw in as much air as she could before stopping all together.

The sudden image flooded Ellie’s brain, smudging in the messy lines of your hair falling against her thigh as you devoured her whole. It was thrilling seeing you like this– in a position Ellie never could've even imagined you in– with your ass perked up, your stomach relaxing against the mattress just barely grazing it, and the small of it on full display as your shirt was still coiled up below your ibs, a little higher now, barely revealing your bra strap. But it was perfect. It was all so perfect.

Her orgasm hit her hard. Sending her flying over the edge with a loud groan, followed by the snapping of the cord in her stomach and warm liquid dripping from her as she clenched hard around your fingers.

You soaked up her cum, licking it with the tip of your tongue as you continued to help her from what you must have known was her high.

Ellie arched her back against the hand on her stomach then wrapped both hands around your forearm to ground herself. She was soaring, clenching around your gentle fingers as you fucked her with what she thought had to be the hands and mouth of someone who’d done this before.

Her mouth was agape. She couldn’t stop, letting the moans roll out of her with ease. She didn’t fight it. She couldn’t. Ellie was stupid to think that this would’ve never happened. Because if it wasn’t you, it’d be her between your legs. Which is what she so desperately craved.

“Fuck.” Ellie finally said. Her fingers were still wrapped around your arm, tight enough to leave crescent shaped marks that might even bruise.

You drew back to catch your breath, wanting to go back in for more before she had stopped you, gently tugging on your arm to pull you up closer to her. She looked at you in the low light, the glisten of your spit and her cum all over your face. Traveling as far as the tip of your nose and a single bead down the center of your neck. You were covered. And it pleased Ellie more than she’d ever admit –if it weren't for the look of lust piercing through your eyes, wide like a spooked cat–

“Where, the fuck did you learn that?” she asked you, the hold on your forearm strong, but not painful.

You licked your lips and managed to collect the sweet taste of Ellie before you spoke. “I–”

“Did you just lick your lip?” and Ellie was completely stunned. You had licked your lip. You licked your lip. Surely you were asking to be fucked.

“What?” and you threw your hands up at your sides with a laugh. You knew what you were doing. You loved getting this kind of reaction out of her. And there was a small tingling feeling in the nape of your neck that told you you had ticked her off enough to get something out of it for yourself.

“You're such’a brat.'' Ellie smirked.

In the matter of seconds, the hold on your hips was so tight that she had managed to flip you on your back with ease and the tiniest yelp to escape past your lips. Ellie’s lips connected with yours, dipping her tongue in your mouth with whatever resistance she had left as her hands tugged at your underwear before pulling them off in one fast motion.

You had gone so slowly with her that her fuse had come and gone, leaving her to hungrily take you in her hands like a fucking animal.

“Shit,” she teased, a hand cupping your dripping pussy, all for me, she thought. And that was true. It was all for her, it always was.

And then she asked, the two words that were echoing inside your head now with her voice pinning them down permanently. “For me?” and the smirk had developed fully now, all of the ink flooding to her face, a red hue visible to you even in the dark.

Her fingers found themselves hovering over your clit, rubbing the lightest circles possible with the pad of her finger just barely grazing it. This alone made your back contort forward, meeting Ellie heart to heart. Both yours and hers beating out of their chests.

The moan that echoed into Ellie’s mouth was low, almost like a whisper. But Jesus did it make her want to hear it again. Again and again and again she wanted it. She fucking needed it. She needed to hear how good she was making you feel, even if this was just the start.

Ellie held herself back with what little resistance she had left in her, planting a sloppy kiss on your lips before she drew back from you to sit on her knees. Her legs were spread wide enough that the reminisce of her unmade bed and rumpled comforter just barely grazed against her irritated clit, sending a shock through her in the form of a wince and the biting of her bottom lip. Along with a sudden jolt of her hips, adjusting herself closer to you.

Her hand shifts again, palming your cunt with a light hand, only to suddenly reel it back and slap it playfully. It wasn’t a mean smack, just enough of one to send you rolling forward and upright. Your hands now holding you up and eyeing Ellie with the slightest bit of worry spread across your face. You had never seen her act this way toward you. So dark… and vulgar. And you of course had never had her hit you. But there was something about it that you kind of… liked. It was indescribable, the feeling you got when the sting reached you. It… it woke something up, something that was always there. And there was a sudden hunger for it that only she could and would fill.

“Do that again.” you said, and the words sounded so matter-of-fact coming out of your mouth that Ellie didn’t even hesitate before there was a small cold gust of air that flooded your core when her hand drew away from you, only to come crashing down with a stifling smack that made the moan in your throat stagger out in broken breaths.

Ellie wanted the image burned inside her brain for the rest of her life. And her wish was granted when she had quickly laid her thigh over yours, wasting absolutely no time and turning herself at the perfect angle to align your dripping pussies.

Your hand is fumbling to touch Ellie, to touch any part of her really. And when you run your fingers along your leg, you meet with the edge of Ellie’s hip. You grip hard against her skin, pulling her forward until you meet flesh to flesh. The feeling alone seals your eyes shut with a flutter. And soon after Ellie’s drawing comes to life.

You with your mouth agape, and your eyes pinched shut along with your brows that had begun to pull together. She hadn’t even shifted against you, but feeling her warmth against you was already sending floods of blood to pump through your entire body.

This doesn’t last nearly long enough because Ellie lifts your leg up over one shoulder and grinds herself against you, fast. She gives you no warning, her hot heat rippling against yours like a bullet at a high speed, sending wave after wave of pleasure to shoot through you with a loud and unexpected moan.

Ellie laughed, but that didn’t stop her. No. Now, her only mission was making you feel how she’s been dying to for months; and a little extra, because after all… you really had deserved it.

She gripped onto the back of your thigh with both of her hands, opening your legs wider to make sure you felt as much of her as possible. She wanted to dive into your slippery folds, soak up every ounce of wetness that was designed just for her.

And she did just that, continuing to thrust against you until the moans were bubbling out of you, with no remorse. You were flooded with feeling, tingling from head to toe with the way Ellie felt against you. It was everything you had ever thought and so so so much more.

This did not feel the same as when you did it, your hand disappearing below the elastic of your underwear to feel how turned on you were after waking yourself up from a wet dream in the middle of the night. Your hand was sloppy as it swept back and forth your swollen clit, your other hand cupping and playing with your ice cold nipple, trying to sooth yourself any way you could.

But Ellie was persistent, her rhythm proficient as she pulled and pushed against your core, soft moans leaving her perfect bow-shaped lips.

It wasnt much later that your soft whimpers transformed into earth shattering moans, leaving you completely breathless as Ellie fucked you into the next 10 years.

Her hand grazed your bare abdomen, tugging at the fabric of your shirt to motion for you to take it off. Which you did absentmindedly, lazily pulling it up past your breasts and over your head, along with your sports bra soon after to reveal all of you to Ellie.

“Fuck, just like I pictured,” and her voice was light, clearly out of breath and raspy because of it.

She reached forward, cupping your tit with her ice cold hand. The moan had lodged itself back down your throat at the feeling, sending an immediate signal for your nipples to harden ever more than they already were.

“Ellie,” you croak. You were close, the knot in your stomach tightening with every thrust she made.

“Fuck.” her stomach was hollowing out, spilling all over you with a low bellow falling from her lips uncontrollably, gripping into your breast as she continued to grind herself against you,more rapidly now.

“Fuck, Ellie. Shit!” and you were gripping the sheets of Ellie’s bed like your own, coming so close against her that she felt it, she could feel your walls clenching around nothing but her lips.

Your orgasm washed over you completely. You let yourself ride out the high with no remorse, your leg shaking hard over Ellie’s shoulder while she slowed her pace to bring you down together.

You opened your eyes a few moments later, letting yet another moan fall from your lips while you watched Ellie’s chest heave with every shallow breath she took.

Her grip on your tit had softened but not before the shape of her nails were imprinted on the soft skin there. You hadn’t minded though. You liked knowing the next morning that you really didn’t dream it.

���Shit.” you whisper, trying to find Ellie’s eyes.

Once she notices your voice, her eyes shift toward you and she rests your leg back down against her bed gently just as she untangles herself from you and rests down next to you.

Ellie comes back down slowly, thousands of images running on the insides of her head with the speed of her heartbeat, fueling them all.

“Hey,” you say, gently rubbing small circles against her back.

Ellie doesn’t say a word. She can’t. Her head is traveling with her inside and she can’t slow it down no matter how hard she tries. But when she feels the light touch of your hand against her, she’s drawn back, back inside her room, with you. Just you.

She looks at you over her shoulder just moments before she sees your legs shake, the goosebumps prominent against your skin due to Ellie herself and because suddenly, with no clothes on in what previously was a garage, you realize just how cold it was in here.

Ellie does too, and she reaches over you to grab ahold of her comforter to pull it up and over your shivering body. It warmed you instantly, along with the feeling of Ellie laying down beside you and finally speaking. “Holy shit.”

She’s laying down on her back next to you, staring up at the ceiling as you watch, your elbow propping up your head to get a better view of her profile.

She's silent for a beat, not knowing if she should say what she’s dying to. She really likes you. Ellie wants you, more than a friend, more than anything. And she wants you to know, and tell her the same thing. But what if you didn’t–

“I really like you.” she says. Her eyes go wide. She’s afraid to move, praying that maybe you had already fallen asleep and hadn’t heard her.

But you were awake. You were stunned back into the reality of Ellie telling you the same thing you were thinking and had been for quite some time.

You blush. “I really like you too.”

The small smile on your face grew when Ellie's head turned along with her body to face you head on. Her breath had caught in her throat, a shaky and shallow version taking its place as she reached with curled fingers to place a stand of hair behind your ear

She needed to know. “Was it okay?” and she met your eyes, the uncertainty in them was cute to you. You found it so sweet that she was worried.

“No.” you said, breathing in slowly. You were fucking with her, prodding for a raction.

“No?” and she reeled her hand away from your face. She was kicking herself– of course it wasn’t okay. She had no clue what she was doing. She shouldn’t have kissed you, in the greenhouse, tonight… she–

“I’m fucking with you.” and you can’t help but giggle into your arm. “It was more than okay. Better than anything.”

“Jerk.” she scrunched her nose and pulled the covered tight over your shoulder, cocooning you in.

You let out a laugh then, the kind that had the pull of Ellie’s lips forming into a sly grin before she took a playful jab at you. “I’m surprised, y'know… about the.. Y’know. You have the mouth of like ah, what's the thing? Venus fly trap! Yeah…”

And you laugh in Ellie’s face then, loud enough to make her crack a full smile. God, her second favorite sound. “What?” and the sound had ripped something heavy off of Ellie’s chest. A slick sludge that was weighing down her ribs. It was stripped clean with the sound of your giggles alone.

“I– Like the…” and she pinched her fingers to demonstrate. Dropping her hand against your covered waist when she had failed to show you what she meant. “What I'm trying to say is… I had a good time. I just wanted to say that.”

Your laugh subsides then. Relishing in the overwhelming truth.

“I did too.” you smile at her. You couldn’t help it.

“Good.”

Ellie hesitates a moment, her hand laying atop of your side softly before she reels back and pulls herself underneath the covers with you.

Once she’s settled beside you, you take it upon yourself to inch closer to her, resting your head on her chest that was still somehow beating 100 miles an hour.

“I’m kind of tired. And pretty drunk.”

Ellie chuckles against you softly before drawing in a deep breath. “Same.”

And just as your eyes begin to flutter closed, you murmur against her. “Hey, now you can draw me like… all the time. Now you know what I look like naked and stuff..”

And just then, the thought alone would keep her up most of the night. You had no idea what you’d just done to her.

She didn’t care. For now, this was enough.

Soon though, she would get you to pose for her. For real this time.

Ellie would have you all to herself, and the feeling would send her into a soft sleep.

taglist: @hazelnutsforellie @coeurify @bunification @0atm1lf @aklxojjk @trouble-mans @soleilmoons

[reslari]

The lifting the lore does in glazing when none of the demigods are actually all that powerful is so funny. In fact, neither is Queen Marika.

When GRRM said, "I wrote these guys to be normal humans a long time pre-canon," he wasn't kidding.

Marika, all-consumingly powerful, can rewrite reality with the reality rewriting macguffin! Except where she can't rewrite her children AND herself not to be cursed, and can only just barely seal a couple of Outer Gods and not actually kill them. Where she can't just write the Hornsent or the Crucible out of existence, and instead has to sacrifice people for a miserable, honorless war. Turns out, she's just an average, rote god, but she has propaganda on her side, and maybe a slight homefield advantage. But she isn't special and never has been.

Radahn, mightiest demigod of the Shattering! Who got his ass kicked by some sewer-scented old man with a walking stick. Twice. Plus he couldn't properly siege Stormveil Castle. So his official score in "notable battles" is 1/3/1. That's a championship record if I've ever seen one, truly worthy of the "mightiest" title.

Malenia, the undefeated!!!! Because she had to throw her pride away just to *tie* the dude that got his ass kicked by a stinky geriatric, when she was actively trying to kill him. Sure, Caelid is a mess now, but all she did was slap an aeonia down; the scarlet aeonia and the rot itself propagated under its own power, she wasn't controlling it once it was unleashed.

Morgott: should therefore be as powerful or more than both of the above, but is a midgame boss, and not even a particularly difficult kill, with no particular skills other than a little holy magic, so who knows how he even got Radahn in the first place. Except if Radahn isn't actually as powerful as the glazing tells you he is, and therefore neither is Malenia.

And all of the above can get absolutely humbled by some naked dude with a stick.

I could also go on about how Miquella's plan makes a ton more sense if you take away the bullshit anime superpowers, but bullshit anime superpowers is what makes the video game a video game, so they gotta stay.

PS: "Prime Radahn" isn't actually that powerful; if his fight was only phase 1, he would be easier than Malenia, even before the nerfs. He is buffed by Miquella to be as punishing as he is in Phase 2 - You're not fighting "Prime Radahn" acting under his own power, you're fighting "Prime Radahn" with a pocket buff machine enhancing his abilities; it's the combined strength of Miquella and Radahn, actively trying to defeat you... and you STILL win.

But this is a poignant point about the way FromSoft makes their characters: Even in their "prime", they are still defeatable by a naked dude with a stick. Even in their "prime", they're not all-powerful. It's for the same reason FS never writes people in positions of power as unambiguously good: You are supposed to realize how falliable those in power are. You are supposed to question them, their intentions, and see through the illusion and transience of their "power". GRRM wrote the characters even weaker and more falliable than FS would, it seems, but even "buffed" - just like Radahn - they are still people, and just as susceptible to the faults that come with that.

[desultory-novice]

Noir's Field Trip - "Starting Out"

"...Thanks, you two."

-

Ahem! Following in the footsteps of several other Kirby OC contest peeps, you may send in asks for [Noir]!!

(...But I'm SUPER busy so it may take until May to respond! ^^;;)

[Notes/Rules About Asks:]

-I'm iffy on back-and-forth style dialogue-based RP, due to the complex interplay of pseudo-linearity in an amorphous situation plus my autistic-self often being unable to figure out what my RP partner is actually trying to say tone-wise or what they are thinking and then-I-answer-them-wrong-and-embarrass-myself...!!

NVMD SEND WHATEVER YOU WOULD LIKE XD

That and long post-chains make me a little nervous. ^^; Asks in the form of questions Noir can answer in-character are preferred.

(You may also ask me generic "What does your OC think/do when...?" style questions, such as those from THIS detailed OC ask meme!)

-You can also send an ask for Noir from your OC, if you'd like to find out how the troubled teenage boy would react to meeting them! (These may or may NOT(!!) come with art, depending on mood, time, and a variety of circumstances. Tourney OCs will generally get preference. If I AM inspired to draw said meeting, I may request additional information/clarification before going through with it.)

Again, I'm pretty autistic, so if you are going to go this route, it'll help if I have something more than "Hiya, Noir!" to work off of - else he'll just react to you the same way he does to Marx.

(Not that you can't go places from there! XD)

-You can also prod Noir about his traumas if you like! XD Note that asking for details about certain things (the "murders" on Shiver Star or his hatred of physical contact) may result in responses with TRIGGER WARNINGS, if I decide to answer them.

-Tournament!Noir is currently in his own similar but separate timeline from Mainline Apologies Noir. However, events during this contest MAY influence his fate and the fates of those he holds dearest!

-Noir's latent cross-dimension sight means that you can ask him about his various other timelines or Kirby games he was not alive for and probably get some pretty unique/funny/strange answers.

-I almost assuredly won't be able to get to every ask/comment. Some I may avoid answering due to complexity, uncomfortableness, them not fitting tournament!Noir's narrative, or me just not having any good ideas. Please don't take this personally.

-Lastly, please leave space between sending multiple asks. ^^

omg I'm so nervous about this. I want to draw lots, for me and for others (!) too if I can but I want to follow the flow of the tournament and not JUST go off on my own crazy thing, except that I'm not even completely familiar with what the rounds will be like?!

[Non-Ask Notes:]

-The flowers in the BG are the forget-me-nots that Adeleine drew for him on his birthday and that he received in this post. That post was also the inspiration for Tournament!Noir. (Although he retains the corruption + the collar here.)

PS: In addition the song that post is, you know, named for, Noir + the forget-me-nots also makes me think of the lyrics: "Since the day I met you, there's never ceased to be music in this hell of mine" from the opening to Sousei no Aquarion.

-This, and the tag name, was inspired by @Graycoin's comment "Noir gets to go on a field trip. I hope he has a good time : D " (then I saw Starflung had the same idea to send her OC off with a backpack! Haha! XD)

-The fish bone is a gift from Gooey. He's doing his best. Adeleine is also doing HER best. ("...A comb? Really?" "It's unbreakable!")

-As to the bento box, I'm not sure if I mentioned this before (?) but the Fontaine children are French-Japanese...on their mother's side.

-Why yes, that IS a cellphone in his backpack! I wonder who might call him...?

[sophie-looks-at-stuff]

Some random modern HotD headcanons :)

Hey y’all! So I kept thinking of some funny, and very specific headcanons for the HotD characters, so I decided to just make it a whole post. This will actually be my first “legit” post on here, lol! Anyways, this will include some headcanons about Aemond, Aegon II, Luke, Jace, Daemon, Rhaenyra, Helaena, etc. But hope y’all enjoy lol! :)

Ok, I am convinced that Aemond has a secret stash of tea hidden somewhere. He's even put them all in a very nice ornate, antique box. It's his guilty pleasure. He probably would have some Earl Gray, English Breakfast, maybe even some lavender mint for the evenings. He'd keep it secret because all the teas he's gotten are way too expensive, and special.

Luke is an avid Minecraft gamer. Like he's basically built Dragonstone, and the Red Keep in his server. He'll play sometimes with Jace, or maybe even Aegon. But he doesn't let them into that world. Aegon would probably blow it all up with TnT.

Speaking of gaming, I think some people are on the same page that Aegon would be some kind of gamer. He'd be up to date on all the new systems and gadgets. He'd be one of the firsts to have the PS5 when it came out. He probably plays a lot of Call of Duty. Maybe even some Valorant when he doesn't wanna fire up the PS. He'd definitely be cursing and yelling at the game, to the point where Alicent threatens to take it away.

While Rhaenyra watches her shows, House Wives, Rupaul's Drag Race, etc. Daemon pretends to be not interested, but really he's super invested. He'd be leaning against the couch, or the wall totally sucked in. And when Rhaenyra tells him to just sit down and watch with her, he's all like, "no no I don't even like this show". But then he'd say things like, "Well maybe if her gown was better made she wouldn't have been eliminated last episode".

Aegon gives me frat boy energy. And I know I'm not the first to say that lol. You already know he's planning all the parties, and picking the themes. I like to think he'd be very invested into picking the themes. They would be things like, dragon night, wear your fave dragon scale colors. Or something like, Dragonstone beach night, wear your swim suits and flip flops.

Alicent likes to knit. Or maybe crochet? It's her stress reliever activity after dealing with Aegon, and the rest of the boys. Helaena is always giving her new patterns or designs to try.

I think Alicent also likes to take the occasional Buzzfeed quiz. "If you were a cake flavor, here's what you'd be based on your star sign".

Helaena runs a very successful tik tok account. She'd post her outfits, and maybe some art or cool bugs she's found.

Aegon listens to a lot of Megan Thee Stallion and Kim Petras. He's blasting Kim Petras' Treat me like a Slut at least 5 times a day. He gets ready to it in the morning.

Aemond will get down to some Amy Winehouse.

Jace works at the local animal shelter as his summer job. He only got the job cause Rhaenyra said he needed to get out of the house. Plus Helaena also works there, so she helped him get hired.

Aemond would be a great bartender. Not with like actually interacting with customers, but he can make some great drinks. Like he's over here coming up with all these crazy cocktails. Although, like his tea obsession he keeps this on the low. He doesn't want Aegon asking him to make drinks all the time. Gods forbid he asks Aemond to bartend at one of the frat parties.

Helaena was a Monster High girl growing up.

Aemond has a motorcycle. It was his one rebellious purchase. Alicent hates it.

Luke can kick Aegon's ass in any game, video or otherwise. You name it, Call of Duty, UNO, Valorent, Go fish...

Rhaenyra has a bit of a sweet tooth, but she has to hide her candy stash, cause the boys will steal it in a heartbeat. Who would have thought Daemon would love lemon drops so much.

I really could go on forever, these are just too fun to write. But I'll leave it here for now lol.

[whoishotteranimepolls]

Shanks. Oh Shanks…

Yes he is kinda the guy on the beach who wasn’t lying about knowing karate.

When we meet him he’s relaxing/chilling/taking a breather in a little hidden away port to get away from the Navy. This is in a world where stories about Pirates (and many actual Pirates) are about how much chaos and pain and destruction they bring simply looking for treasure. But not Shanks and not in Foosha.

He puts people at ease because there is no reason to antagonize or bully the locals. He spends his days flirting it up at the bar. When someone does come looking for a fight, he’s not easily baited either. Some things aren’t worth it, a message he teaches Luffy. It takes a kidnapping for Shanks to step up and remind everyone that not only is he a real pirate, but a dangerous one at that.

He also has scars. Very sexy scars. And they don’t seem to turn him bitter or spur him on life. His facial scarring is a lesson about how there are people who will never fight fair and if you’re going to get anywhere you should recognize and respond appropriately. And they really give some character and contrast to him. I really can’t explain why. He also SCARIFICED HIS ARM FOR A CHILD. This man jumps into the ocean knowing full well there is a legit sea monster waiting for a snack and swims out to save a boy who had idolized him, acted out, and eaten Shanks’ treasure. What kind of Pirate risks life and limb for a kid who took their most powerful possession? THEN!! Then this man is able to TURN BACK THE SEA MONSTER WITH A LOOK. That’s all! Just a very intense look saying “you may be called a Sea King but I am an Emperor so get!” (Ps he’s not an emperor yet) And it works!!

Now yes, he is a total slut. I personally subscribe to a specific endgame ship where such behavior changes when he falls in love but man is always going to have his manwhore vibe. But they are the best? Like he’s not creeping or forceful about it. He knows he’s attractive and he knows what parties interested in a night (or so) of fun look like. And if he were in this world now or back during the golden age of piracy, I would be like “yeah walking STD” but it seems like everyone whose anyone in One Piece has a capable doctor. If he did catch something he’d appropriatly take care of it.

Shanks is also not completely irresponsible. Man is captain of a ship with a crew and fleet who like him and believe in him. He makes world altering decisions on the regular. He has been granted audiences with the 5 elders. He fights other Emperors. He’s been playing a long game. His first teacher was the Pirate King. Yes, Beckmann definitely keeps things on track at times but Shanks isn’t like a toddler running in all the directions at once. He’s got a plan and he’s been sticking to it. And it’s been working really well.

As for the showers: I personally never thought about it but…in the world of One Piece every ship is complete with all the luxuries of life. This means Red Force is bound to have baths/showers. Shanks isn’t a DF eater so he can take baths and I assume while he might not everyday he does regularly. Plus with a man whose identity/brand is tied to his hair, he’s not letting that get grimy and greasy and dirty. I do believe there is some dependable vanity here which Zoro would lack.

TLDR; Shanks may initially look like a scary threat based on reputation, build, and scaring, but he has a gift for putting people at ease so they see him as some beach bum. But right below that his dangerous aura is ready to burst out when needed (usually in aide of a friend/ally or for his plan). He is an intelligent man who knows what is happening in the World and a very talented swordsman. And the layer below is someone who clearly loves life and all the wonderful things it can offer.

In summary: he has a genuine peacefulness about him that makes him feel safe (when not actively fighting as I mean “peaceful” in relation to being capible of great violence.) and he’s just sexy as sin.

For context, they're responding to this post about Shanks

That's the dichotomy of shakes. He goes from complete dork

To the absolutely terrifying Emperor of the Sea.

People like to talk about the yesification and glow-up of most of the characters post-time skip. The most prominent glow-up to me was the dedorkification of shanks. That man was a complete dork for most of the pre-time skip. Now in Wano. What happened?

He's got a whole new jawline and everything

But at least he still has his dorky moments

[sephirthoughts]

well i ran into the wall of bullshit in this ever crisis game. team way above the “recommended” level keeps getting wiped out in one hit. and i can’t progress ANY of the story without progressing this one part. and in order to do that i have to navigate 60 different menus and use 100 different currencies just to be allowed the privilege of grinding for level. this is my problem with free to play games. they don’t seek to engage the audience with a compelling experience, they are just selling you frustration paywalls. plus there are 87 billion different currencies and all kinds of individual wait or pay scamming on every single level. gacha games like genshin and star rail are works of pure artistic integrity in comparison.

ps. don’t send me hate if you like this game. my criticisms are coming from someone who loves video games and loves this series in particular. you’re free to like what you want. doesn’t make my frustration invalid nor is it a personal attack on you.

[soul-engraver]

Even more outfit recreations! (I thought I had already made enough, but I was wrong)

I prefer Sophitia's Soul Edge 1p over her other 1ps, probably because it somehow reminds me of Xena and Wonder Woman (and both have ties to Greek mythology, what a coincidence), so I really wanted to make something similar in SC VI. The most difficult part to put together were her boots – there is only one pair that looks close, but they're too short, and I think the length makes a noticeable difference. I ended up placing some stickers on socks and colored socks close to her skin tone, but they are still not the same color. Still, it's the best that I could come up with, and ngl I like it. Fighting Cervantes on Indian Port sage in this outfit was fun.

Another costume from Soul Edge I like is her PS exclusive. It's unlike anything else she has in the other games, and it's just pretty. Still not sure about the hat, but for now I'm keeping this version. I would like if the tunic allowed for stickers though, because patterns are more difficult to place nicely.

Next is Maxi's 2p from SC III with some elements from other games. I liked two-colored pants and some robe on his upper body, but the black scarf doesn't stand out as much, so I changed it to red (not even my idea, I took it from Silvershire's video on Maxi's costumes). Also the shoes are closer to his SC II 2p because others would be more difficult to replicate.

The rest are just improved versions of what I put together before in this post. Raphael had very few changes – some stickers to give more texture to his red shirt, adjusted colors here and there, and I placed special equipment to resemble buttons.

For Ivy, I changed the upper equipment because this one has a corset, and adjusted colors again, so it looks closer to the original.

I added a belt, changed boots and colors for Tira's outfit. Plus gave her makeup that brings her closer to SC IV look.

With Cassandra's costume, I went for a full revamp. The first version was nice, but it still missed something imo, and then I figured what – the silhouette is a big part of why I like the original costume, and in my recreation it wasn't the same (plus that tunic doesn't allow for stickers). So I decided to change the top, and there is a good option in the inner body layer, the problem is that it takes off her tights. Still, I went with this one and placed a bunch of stickers to make it look similar to the original (stickers that change the texture of clothing are very useful for this). I also changed boots to short ones, picked a different neck equipment and chose tall socks to imitate her tights. And as a cherry on top, I let Cassandra's hair down because it looks cute with this.

[funhaversclub]

Super Mario Brothers!

...the game, the movie, the game?

It's always been a dream to make a game out of the 90's Mario Bros. Movie but with all the projects on the go plus work it never really seemed like a possibility.

Over the years I've seen artists make AMAZING sprites from the movie and I saved a few just in case inspiration hit and I decided to put something together. I consider myself a pretty good artist but once I came across Izzi Rae's sprites (seen above) I thought, shit... those are kind of perfect. Especially the Goomba and Koopa Troopa. They are glorious. Izzi fused Super Mario World with the 90's Mario Movie really well. So I saved them and that was the end of the story... Until recently. Another artist SuperSledgeBro. released a tile set for Koopa City including flashing signs. Immediately I dug up Izzi's sprites and I just had to do something...

I used Petey Pest's engine and whipped up a quick little demo. I wanted to have the demo done in time for the theatre viewing of the 90's Mario movie in Toronto but the more I added the bigger the demo got. I wasn't even going to change Petey into Mario but it had to be done! (that's where all the extra animations come from)

The final Product, featured in the video above, used both sprites and tiles from the mentioned artists aswell as edits, add on and a background by me. I would've loved to make a full game but this was only suppsoed to be a fun little demo and I had to stop it before it started to consume me.

(these are my 90's Mario Bros. Movie sprites. I wouldv'e loved to make the SMW Mario in the demo look like this but... I had to stop somewhere.)

PS: if you don't know what I mean when I say Petey Pest check this out!

[atsukinakae]

Hey! Me again. So hear me out: platonic trans!reader (genderfluid or ftm) coming out too Kenma, tsukki, and/or bokuto (plus whoever you want ofc) as trans. Maybe they are close friends and met during middle school.

~SQ. (Ps! Have a nice night)

Hq reacts to Mn coming out to Kenma,Tsuki and Bokuto + Kiyoko

Haikyuu x ftm reader (PLATONIC)

Kenma

• At first his face was neutral,no reaction at all,still processing what you just said to him.

• Very supportive but doesn't show it infront of the others.But watches every movement of yours,to see if your feeling dysphoric.

•Like every other weekend,you two would go to his house or your house to play games, spend some time together or just study for exams.This time was on his house,you came with low energy and he could sense it.

•"Hey,should we keep on going with the game?"Your voice came out just as a whisper,he nodded in response and started the game.

•Dying again and again, couldn't even focus on the game, getting more frustrated by every minute passing.

•And he noticed,every single thing,then suddenly he got up and went to this wardrobe,"Is there something wrong?","That's what I should be asking you",he come back with your fav hoodie and gently helped you to put it on to you.

•"There's nothing wrong...",glassy eyes that once showed sparkles of happiness now are afraid,insecure.

•It has been almost an hour since you were in his arms, crying,ranting and sniffling.

•"Shhh, it's okay, you're safe,you are always safe with me","Listen to me, it's all going to be okay","You have me here Mn".

Tsukishima

•At first he had a 'no expression face',but actually deep down he was happy that you've trusted him enough to tell him

•Yes you were scared of how he will react but it instantly calmed you when he accepted of how you truly are.

•If anyone,and I really mean ANYONE refers to you with the wrong pronoums, they're fucked up.

•While you were waiting for Tsuki and Yamaguchi on the exit door,a classmate came to you and started talking of the project that the teacher gave in the morning,after a while, Tsuki approached you when he noticed that they where using the wrong name and pronoums,""Mn,his is name Mn" he said with a serious face."Whatever"your classmate mumbled under they're breath,"As I was saying d/n,the project has to be-"they were cutted off by Tsuki,"Let's go Mn,I don't want you interacting with this shitty people","Hey am talking, where are you taking her!"they yelled while Tsuki dragged you away from there.

Bokuto

•He was listening when you said it but got distracted.

•You had to repeat yourself again because he asked for it.

•Actually very acceptive,he so happy that hugs you tight.

•The members have to check if you still alive.

"Bokuto,I'm trans"

Silence,no one said anything.

"You want a cookie?"he said with mouth full of cookies.

"I-,umm yeah,thanks"

"Could repeat what you just said, please,I swear I was listening"

"I'm trans..." your voice lower than before.

Suddenly you felt some arms around your small body,now you were trapped in his arms. Giggles being heard from him and a sweet smile on his face.

"Bokuto san, please let Mn breath".Akaashi said while checking that he doesn't hurt you with his arms.

But you were okay,being safe in your best friends strong arms.

Kiyoko

•She already knew.

•Figured out a few later of knowing you

•Always uses your desired name and pronoums.

•Also always corrects people when they say the wrong name/pronoums even if they are intentionally or accidentally wrong.

"Kiyoko san,can we talk?"

"Of course,is everything alright?"

"Yeah,just wanted to tell you something..."

She nodded and let you take your time to say it.

"I'm actually trans"you lowered your head so that you wouldn't see her reaction.

"Oh I already knew that"she giggled and went back to the gym.

You were shocked and followed her asking a lot of questions.

[mickeytheticklee]

Not my fault

Ler!Renee Rapp x Lee!Reader

Summary: Renee discovers how your laugh is really like. PS she loves it.

Warning: Tickling, foot tickling, cute shit, this took a minimum of three hours

An: Starting a new series (pls don’t be surprised this is my third rebrand this month I fear) also needed to make this small Renee Rapp short

“Shouldn’t I be the one giving you a massage? It’s weird considering your the one who’s been working.”

It was after a concert in Chicago you attended to see your girlfriend perform. It’s the first you’ve seen her in concert due to conflicting schedules. A businesswoman and a rising pop star, both different careers that don’t always call for rest days. For once you two had the night together at a hotel room, where she couldn’t wait to spoil the hell out of you. After the relaxing shower and matching pjs Renee decided to give you a foot massage. Which you don’t get often because of your ultra sensitive feet. It shows when you’re holding in your grunts extra tightly and she’s wondering why you keep moving your feet.

“Does it hurt baby?”, Renee says, hearing you clear your throat whenever her knuckles dinked deep into your soles. It was an extricating, ticklish feeling on your feet, adding to the oil Renee applied to them. Like if she turned back she would definitely see you fighting demons, holding yourself together for a few tickles. Biting your knuckles and slapping on the couch, she knew you were unbearably ticklish. She rather just see you suffer holding in giggles and be oblivious to your struggle.

“It’s good…it’s just ticklish.”, You say, having a few chuckles letting out your system. She didn’t believe you until she looked behind, you fully laying down with your face covered. Face flushed, exhausted from hiding those giggles Renee is desperate to see. All this crazy struggling and your feet weren’t even pinned through Renee’s lap. You can easily set your feet down and she wouldn’t mind, you were just torturing yourself because it was fun.

“You know you can laugh if you want to. I won’t restrict those pretty laughs.”, Renee says, your heart thumping over her messy blonde hair and small specs. Somehow the small reassurance made you into a bigger lee mood. It made you happy, although not as happy when she switched up and stopped the massage tickles. Her long, red nails went down your soles all at once, causing a loud screech to echo in the luxurious room. Her eyes widened, she never heard such a loud noise coming from you. You were normally quiet, even in public spaces or around Renee’s group of friends. If you yelled you usually did it in lowercase. But never THIS loud. It made her want to hear more of this loud laughter you had hidden inside.

She kept raking her fingers on your soles, not forgetting the heels or the toes. From the knees down Renee thinks it’s good ASMR. From the knees up your laugh is high pitched enough to break glass. “AHHHHHQHJAHAHIM GONNA FUCKING GET YOU FOR THIS.”, you laugh, yelling and threatening to start a tickle fight. Renee knew you didn’t have the power to take her down. Guaranteed she was just as ticklish as you, had the same spots, but barely handing simple light feet tickles you were in for a losing game. Plus you bad mouthing her you were definitely getting punished in the next five seconds.

“Really? Let me find some other spots around here that can make you laugh just as loud.”, Renee said, setting your feet down but is ready to attack your upper body. Before you held back and tried getting Renee she was already on top of you, sensing the fear in your eyes. Her fingers already start the countdown to your tummy. You close your eyes, thinking her fingers would magically disappear, expect it’s an inch closer to your tummy.

“Sorry in advance if I burst your eardrums.”, You say as a warning before the tickle fest began.

“Oh sweetie, you can never persuade me to not hear that laugh. Especially if I’ve been begging for it for months.”, Renee says, immediately scribbling your tummy and up the ribs. You laugh uncontrollably, being unable to move from Renee being on top of you. You didn’t mind, you enjoyed the tickling from all the pressure that’s been put on you from work. Somehow being tickled was the missing key from the long term depression.

“EEEEHAHAHAHAHA!!”, Your loud laughter strikes again. It doesn’t bother Renee one bit, I mean she’s a performer loud noises come at her all the time. Besides hearing her fans sing her songs, this is the type of sound she rather hear.

“What happened to you saying you’ll tickle me back? I’m not going that hard on you.”, She was, reaching for your armpits that made it impossible to get her back. Despite your pits being the most ticklish it was your most favorite spot to be tickled. Without being asked you had your arms up for Renee to have free range. It made Renee gush so hard over you whenever you did that. The amount of trust for you to let Renee willingly tickle your armpits until mercy and you still had your arms raised made her content.

A few minutes later she stopped, letting you take a small break. Renee sort of knows your limits before you even say a word. She grabs you some cold water, snuggling you a bit before you decide to continue on to the tickling. The way you were so comfortable and safe with the tickling made you blurt out something Renee didn’t expect.

“Is it weird that I’m insecure about my loud ass laugh?”, You say, thinking it’s a completely normal question to ask.

“Is that why you warned me on your laugh earlier.”, Renee asks, and you nod your head. You drop a piece of childhood lore about how a lot of your friends made fun of your laugh. Said it was too loud or too annoying, so it caused you to portray a fake laughter outside. Which is why you’ve been cautious about your laugh around Renee, up until tonight when the real laugh came out. You were expecting a long lecture, Renee talking about loving all your insecurities no matter what. But actions spoke more than words, and rather she should show you with more tickles on how your laugh means to her.

“WAIT IM NOT REASY HAHAHAHAH!!”, You were in fact ready. You were ready the moment you overshared to Renee. She pulled you into a tickle hug, peppering you with kisses alongside your ear and neck. Your loud laughter came back again, adding a bit extra volume from the side scribbles. Somehow the secret ingredient to your laugh were a good amount of teases and kisses.

“There’s that laugh! I should kiss you more for being so cute!”