#give me Benoit back

[cuteandhughesy]

Simone benoit 333333333333 prompt list

vol. 2 prompt no. 3: showering together (non-sexual)

“babe, look.”

simon’s thick accent, which is full of excitement and humor, has you carefully turning on your feet—unwilling to slip on the wet shower tiles.

one look at your boyfriend has your hands freezing in your sud covered scalp. he’s grinning proudly, facial hair soaked in water and shampoo—a sign that he’s been scratching at his jaw in thought. but that’s not what simon wants you to see.

no, he’s sporting a extravagant mohawk, held together by your raspberry and lemon shampoo.

“do I look like a rockstar?” he asks, making some wild attempt at air guitar. simon is lucky you love him, because in this moment he looks ridiculous. ridiculously dumb and adorable but still ridiculous.

you snicker, stepping under the stream off water to begin rinsing your second round of shampoo. “you look like you’re using too much of my shampoo.”

simon sqwaks like you just accused him of muder, “maybe it’s my shampoo.”

you quirk a brow, “I only smell mine.”

“you got me,” he hums, moving towards you in search of the shower head. you both move in unison—like you’ve done many times before. more times than you can count. showering together has been something you and your boyfriend have always done together—a part of your nightly routine.

he gently takes ahold of your waist, spinning you so that he’s under the spray. simon tilts his head back, exposing his throat. you want to bite him. but you don’t obviously—not yet.

you push up onto your tip toes, and with simon’s hold on your waist, you’re stable. your rinse the soap out of simon’s hair, scratching at his scalp in a way that makes him moan far too loudly.

you laugh, cupping the water in your hand and splashing it at the base of his neck where soap has collected. “this is a sign, babe. you need a haircut.”

simon opens one’s eye, peering down at you. “but then I can’t do fun shampoo hairstyles.”

“that’s the point.”

he snorts at your remark, large hand sliding down your back to give your ass a warning squeeze. it makes you squirm, but simon just holds you tighter.

—

(unedited)

[cyanide-latte]

TWST fan event: Wishmaster's Concert

Event introduction ficlet: Copper Benoit

Event banner by: @ramshacklerumble

(Event details here)

Characters: Copper Benoit and Jackie (my OCs,) Epel Felmier, Marja Felmier (referenced), Gia Yugo ( @ramshacklerumble 's Yuusona, referenced)

Word count: 748

Content warnings: none

Important note: While this event is open for anyone to use at any point in their OC's timeline, for my own works and lore I have this concert taking place during Copper's Junior year at NRC, when he is Housewarden of Pomefiore with Epel as his Vice-Housewarden.

A final once-over cemented for the young man that he was set and ready to go. Magical pen in one pocket, lock-picking set in another, a decent amount of thaumarks in another and substantially more thaumarks in a hidden pocket that only a fool would attempt to steal. A few other necessities, including some cosmetics, he grabbed and tucked into the embroidered patched-on pockets on his pants.

"Right, I think that's everything…"

There was a sudden chattering and a furry weight dropped onto his shoulder, tiny paws digging into him wherever they could reach. He let out a sudden laugh and nodded, amused.

"Right, right, sorry Jackie," Copper said, reaching up to give the monkey an affectionate scratch on his head. The capuchin let out a trill, mollified, and gently poked at the battle jacket he'd landed on, prompting Copper to chide him for pulling on a stud before they exited the room and locked up.

Other Pomefiore students going about their business throughout the dorm stopped as Copper passed by, many of them delightedly greeting him with an enthusiastic "Housewarden! Have fun at the concert!" A smile grew on Copper's face, regal, charming, and utterly proud of them, of his dorm, and he returned each with appreciation. He didn't stop or slow his commanding stride until at last he reached the lounge and saw his Vice-Housewarden.

"AAGH!"

And his Vice-Housewarden saw him.

"What in the—Copper! Talk about scarin' a guy!"

"Hehe, sorry Epel," he said, unable to hold back a laugh. "I wanted to go ahead and do my makeup now, get ahead of the tide of this thing."

To his credit, Epel recovered quickly and offered a smile of his own. "Well, it is smart thinking! And ya did great with it! Vil'd be proud."

"You ready to hold down the fort while I'm gone?"

"You bet! I'll keep it, er, ship-shape?"

At that remark, Jackie let out a noise that could only be described as a shriek, but with no real power behind it. Copper lifted his shoulder just a fraction and the monkey leapt clear over him and landed heavily on Epel's shoulder.

"I trust you guys," Copper insisted. "Just keep an eye on that menace while I'm gone. If he gets too bothersome, withhold all apples."

Jackie swiveled his head around and stared at Copper with big wet eyes as if to innocently suggest "who, me?" and promptly began to play with Epel's hair.

"Don't worry, we'll have fun," Epel said, waving a dismissive hand, before remembering something. "Oh, right! Remind me again who all's gonna be performin' at the concert?"

"Wishmaster is headlining," Copper said, ticking the bands off on his fingers, "and they're going to also have Pixie Metal, Fighting Dragons, H.D.M., and UnderDark."

"Ahh, that's right…" Epel looked somewhat abashed, and shuffled his weight from foot to foot in a way he hadn't done since they were freshmen. "Umm…"

"What is it? You know you can ask me anything, Epel."

His Vice-Housewarden managed a sheepish look before inhaling, exhaling, and squaring his shoulders.

"I know I asked ya if ya'd pick up an autograph from UnderDark for Meemaw…"

Copper nodded. Epel had been more than willing to look after Jackie in addition to filling in on Housewarden duties during the concert, but since he was also not going to be attending due to Spelldrive practice, it felt only fair to offer to pick up something for him. When Copper had learned Epel's grandmother, Marja, was an UnderDark fan, he immediately promised he'd look into getting an autograph from the band for her.

"But, if it's not too much trouble," Epel continued, "do- d'ya think ya could pick me up a Fighting Dragons shirt?"

"Done!"

"Oh. That was…quick?"

Copper grinned and winked. "For everything you're willing to do, that's an easy request!" Giving himself a final, quick brush down, he posed for feedback.

"Knock 'em dead!"

"Aye, and you break a leg."

The two reached up, lightly smacked their fists together, and then Copper was on his way. He was buzzing with energy, a spring in his step and mischief on his mind as he headed out to meet the others at the Mirror Chamber. Perhaps he and Gia would make it there first and continue going over their plans. If not, there would be plenty of opportunity over this concert to confer and carry out their little scheme. And plenty of fun to be had too.

Dividers used

Taglist: @elenauaurs @inmateofthemind @ramshacklerumble @tixdixl @winterweary

@distant-velleity @rainesol @thehollowwriter @theleechyskrunkly @twst-migraine

@harryinramshackle @the-trinket-witch (DM me if you'd like to be added or removed from the taglist for my TWST OCs stuff)

[leikeliscomet]

The Black Gay Asexual Potential of the Fifteenth Doctor (And Why It Will Never Happen) - Mini Essay

If you're wondering if any of these words are in the Bible, walk with me for a second!

Obviously the Doctor being Black is a huge moment for Black representation but also for Black queer representation in particular. After his smooch with Rogue and alleged hot summer with Houdini, RTD isn't shying away from an openly gay incarnation of the Doctor (bearing in mind, he's not the first as the Doctor's been queer, okay!). Plus the show is fully aware of Ncuti Gatwa's attractiveness with constant references to his hotness throughout the season and Ms Cherry Sunday catching feelings (good for her). But one aspect that's rarely spoken about is Fifteen as an asexual character. If the Doctor is an asexual character being played by a Black man in the main lineup for the very first time, we essentially have the very first Black asexual main character not only in the show's history, but in queer TV/Film history. And that would be huge. Groundbreaking even. But many fans (and likely RTD himself) aren't seeing Fifteen as asexual like previous incarnations. From the cries of the Doctor 'finally' becoming gay (like he didn't lipse Jack back in '05), the Doctor 'finally' becoming hot or the Doctor 'finally' being 'allowed to fuck', it's like Fifteen's asexuality has been erased before it could even exist to begin with. And whilst non-asexual gay identity deserves its representation too, especially as it's lacking for dark skin Black gay men, I can't help noticing the erasure not only of the potential of Fifteen's asexuality, but the non existent conversation about it in the first place and how it feeds into the long erasure of Black and gay identity from the face of the asexual spectrum and asexual representation as a whole.

Black asexual representation is rare, with the only Black asexual main character in film history being Selah Summers of Selah and the Spades. The only Black asexual boy in TV history is the recent character Elijah in Big Mouth. The sexualisation and desexualisation of Blackness play a key role in why Black aces are nonexistent in TV/Film. Through tropes like the Mandingo and the Jezebel and the fetishes of ebony and BBC, Black people are assumed to have an insatiable, animalistic sexual appetite stemming from slavery. Ncuti Gatwa's actually spoken about experiencing this fetishisation in white gay spaces. In reverse, tropes like the Mammy desexualise Black people, Black women especially. If Black people can't serve a sexual purpose then we have no sexuality at all and must give ourselves to exclusively performing domestic and physical labour. When you're asexual these stereotypes manifest in the most confusing way possible. On top of navigating a sexuality that's largely invisible itself already, you're balancing the sexual stereotypes of your desire that don't exist because of your alleged undesirability but also exist strongly enough to stop you from actually being asexual.

Prominent Black aroace activist and model Yasmin Benoit is the prime example as her aspec identity is constantly attacked by white conservatives and white TERFs, claiming she's 'too sexy' to be asexual. Even in outfits where she's fully dressed, the white conservative right sees her as too sexual to be asexual and that she is a 'heterosexual' sexual grifter. In other contexts, white conservatives and TERFs see her as 'sexualising asexuality' because she wears lingerie as a model whilst existing as an aroace (the horror!). In that respect they do recognise asexuality exists, but not for her specifically. Asexuality is real, but not in Black people. These stereotypes also manifest inside the asexual community itself. The image of the asexual in most people's minds, is a nerdy awkward white man (The Sheldon), a smart too-busy-for-a-girlfriend white man (The Sherlock) or if we're really, really lucky, the previous but a white woman (The Florence from Sex Education). Whilst ace visibility slowly grows and progress is still being made, Black asexuality is still missing from the conversation. Plus when you look at 'acceptable' asexual Doctors the incarnations form qwhite an interesting pattern. Socially, the idea of asexuality aligns closer with incarnations like One and Twelve, heavily explaining why claiming those two as ace is least likely to be controversial (The Aztec fans notwithstanding). #ThisIsWhatAsexualLooksLike was created by Benoit for this very reason. Black asexual men in ace activist circles such as Tyger Songbird and Marshall Blount have spoken about the erasure of Black men from asexuality specifically. The stereotypes about Black men's sexuality in particular like the Mandingo, the thug and the player can make it difficult for many Black men to come to terms with asexuality because of the sexual stereotypes they're societally expected to live up to. The Doctor Who fandom played into this a bit as I still remember the jokes about 'BBC having new meaning' once Ncuti Gatwa was cast. Whilst not necessarily hinging on his Blackness, there were also many memes and hyperfocus on Ncuti Gatwa's arse and crotch and large reactions to his nude magazine shoots. Whilst it's important not to stigmatise sexual desire whether it's of Fifteen himself or of the gay, bi and pan fans who find him attractive as their desire towards men is already stigmatised in wider society, sexual attraction to Black people doesn't an ally make. And participation in sex and sexuality is not unconditional, permanent consent. There's a difference between sexual attraction and sexualisation. Recognising someone as sexually attractive isn't at odds with recognising their own autonomy as a sexual being. And shouldn't be. From the already addressed sexualisation and invalidation of Yasmin Benoit's asexuality and aromanticism, the long history of the sexualisation of Black people and the specific sexual stereotyping of Black men, it's no surprise Black asexuality is left as an afterthought or impossibility. The Doctor Who fandom is no different.

From the very real sanitisation and repression of gay sexuality from the banning of gay men's books, criminalisation of homosexuality and 'homosexual acts' and the gay panic of the HIV/AIDS crisis, there's always been a fear and stigmatisation of gay sex and sexuality. But because of this, there's a knee-jerk reaction to sexless gay identity as it's seen as a side effect of gay sanitisation. Gay asexuality can't exist autonomously without being a sign of that repression. Alternatively, because of the sexual puritan idea that being gay is inherently sexually deviant and an inherently sexual identity, the asexual gay man 'can't' exist. This also explains the conservative rhetoric about Fifteen and RTD making the Doctor 'not asexual anymore', because to be gay and asexual in their eyes is an oxymoron due to their homophobia. This also bleeds into the erasure of bi, lesbian and pan asexualities too. As written before in my Thasmin thinkpiece, the Thirteenth Doctor's lack of sexual attraction to Yaz is seen as proof that not only that she doesn't love Yaz, but that Thirteen isn't even a 'real' sapphic or a 'real' strong female character. Under compulsory sexuality (and most Thasmin discoursers apparently) to be a sexually liberated woman and a sapphic means to have sex and sexual attraction. Thirteen's repressed, as in having a sexual attraction yet to be unlocked or a sexual attraction she was 'supposed' to have, but not autonomously ace as in not having it in the first place. So in a similar sense to Fifteen, ace-sapphic Thirteen got her wings clipped before she could ever properly fly. Linking back to gay asexuality specifically, the compulsory sexuality that prevents the acceptance of asexuality and the sexualisation and demonisation of gayness means to be 'to be gay and asexual is to coexist in conflict' according to queer writer Michael Paramo, who's consistently written the about these contradictions as a Mexican gay asexual person.

When gay asexuality and Black asexuality are brought up, it's almost exclusively in the context of desexualisation. Many and frankly too many people use asexual as a synonym for desexualised. This leads to a push to 'stop making POC asexual' and 'stop thinking gay people are asexual' plus constant reminders gay and Black people fuck with to 'correct' a sexlessness that's seen as abnormal for these groups to have, further pushing Black and gay asexuality to the back of a very, very long queue. If your asexuality can't exist because you're an inherently sexual being whether you want to be or not and it can't exist in the space where your sexuality is supposed to be free, where do you go? Where do the Black asexual and the gay asexual go if they aren't supposed to exist in the first place?

So enter the Fifteenth Doctor, we have a golden opportunity right here. Under antiblackness and homophobia wrapped in the ribbon of compulsory sexuality, you have a Black gay asexual incarnation of the Doctor. You have a character navigating layers on layers on layers of contradictions. You can navigate the gay experience in someone who experiences little to no sexual attraction. You can navigate the ace experience in someone who experiences romantic attraction to men. You can show two forms of queerness from an underrepresented dark skin Black lens. You show asexuality, Blackness and gay identity in how they overlap, intersect and shape one experience. You're showing a form of queerness that is never, and I mean never shown before.

And that brings me to why I don't think it will ever happen. If series 15, 16 or beyond proves me wrong the 'Black Gay Ace Fifteen is Amazing' thinkpiece will drop with a quickness. Trust me! But, RTD doesn't tend to write asexual characters. He focuses on the experiences of gay and bisexual men, has the occasional lesbian character and some trans characters. Apparently, there's an ace person interviewed in the Tofu web series in the 'Not Having Sex' episode so that's cool, but overall, The Asexual Character written by RTD is yet to be written. And I don't think they'll ever be. I don't expect RTD to write do this because I don't think queer writers, in this case, gay writers writing specifically about their own queerness slightly more than others is weird at all. I'm not surprised RTD writes mostly gay men as a gay man, so I'm not expecting or demanding asexual representation from him specifically. Similarly, from how RTD's written his Black characters in RTD1, I'm really not expecting him to make the next Moonlight. Whilst Roscoe from It's a Sin felt like a breath of fresh Nigerian gay air, this hasn't really translated into RTD2 yet. From 'Do you come in a range of different colours?' to how series 14 had no Black writers at all let alone queer Black ones and the atrocity that was Dot and Bubble, if Fifteen's experience as a Black queer person is missing or fumbled completely I won't be surprised.

That being said, RTD and Doctor Who are fully aware of its reputation as a queer show, as in an umbrella of all gender identities and sexualities. If Doctor Who both in show and fandom are pro-queer, as in embracing all forms of unconventional sexuality, as in being a safe haven for sexuality that's unrepresented and as in challenging the ideas of 'normal' sexuality then asexuality needs to be a part of that. No ifs, buts or excuses. I can't help but notice the coincidence of the Doctor 'not being asexual anymore' alongside the Doctor not being white anymore. And from the deliberate erasure of Black and gay asexuality on screen, inside asexual community and in wider queer community, I can't get behind another form of erasure even if it's accidental. The concept of Fifteen simply being demisexual, greysexual or a sex-favourable ace isn't even entertained in fandom either or the idea that Fifteen never stopped the Doctor's asexuality actually, but instead is just showing a flirty side of it. But even then it begs the question of why being Black and/or gay with no sexual attraction is seen as an impossibility. Why is letting go of sexual expectations of Black and gay people an impossibility? The Doctor Who fandom's and writer's (looking at you Moffat) long fear of asexuality is yet to be unpacked and until that day comes, I don't think we'll get close to any openly asexual doctor, let alone a Black and gay asexual one. Fifteen being asexual wouldn't dampen, sanitise or ruin him as a queer character. He could be flirty as can be, clubbing every night, skimpy outfit wearing, hot summers with Houdini galore and running off with Rogue into the sunset and still be asexual at the end of the day. Asexuality is a massive umbrella of different experiences, perspectives and people. It isn't asexuality that limits people, it's ignorant and restrictive attitudes about queerness that do. Asexuality doesn't, hasn't and will never restrict the Doctor's queerness, but compulsory sexuality does. And will.

I would love to be wrong about this and get bamboozled with Fifteen being written as a gay ace Black man in future series but knowing how RTD does Black characters in Doctor Who and the 'queer hierarchy' of the fandom, I won't be getting my hopes up. All I ask is that fandom and its writers be brave and look at representation different from their own. Something unfamiliar, something new, something borrowed, something blue. You could learn a lot. Queerness is a large umbrella after all. Anything is possible.

[daydream-believin]

a real stand up guy ba dum tss

summary: you get stood up by an internet man. douxie, your waiter and secret admirer, remedies that jackass’s mistake.

warnings: uh. swearing, alcohol, i’m too lazy to proof, the yooj. oh and doux doesn’t know how to handle this crush without getting slightly into stalker territory sorry. its a red flag but i think its cute. you may not think its cute.

a/n: tumblr was glitching while i tried to post this so idk how many paragraphs i accidentally erased. i mean i tried my best to make that number 0. but anyways if something is off let me know. the challenge for this one is that im not allowed to use italics. which you should know was very hard for me agshjfkgjdjh

taglist: @moppetwithamanbun @alovesongshewrote @blixeon @prismarts @fantasyiswaybetterthanreality @ukuleles-and-roses

okay quick psa i know it’s been years so if you want off the taglist just hmu. also if you were on the taglist and got taken off thats bc tumblr says you don’t exist anymore

uh this was a request. i’m not doing requests tho dont think that. looking back yeah that ask if from march 2022 and this doesn’t even match up to what you asked 😂 im so sorry @rose-writes-shit

you took a peek at your watch. 7:34 o’ clock. letting your head fall into the open palm of your propped up hand, you sighed.

coffee meets bagel boy was supposed to have met you at 7:00.

of fucking course. you let your plucky pink-haired coworker convince you to download a fucking dating app and make a profile, just for the only guy who had actually been interested enough in you to ask you on a real date to stand you up. makes sense.

it’s not like you’ve ever had luck with these kind of things. it’s not like you’ve ever had luck period. your kind might be the black cat of humans.

you’ve spent way too long eating the free bread at a mr. benoit’s of all places. it was the “classiest” establishment in the certain suburban hellscape of california you inhabited, albeit. you took in the scenery for the millionth time that night with a renewed sense of disgust. at least now you had a legitimate reason to hate this place.

your waiter slinked over, and you could tell he felt bad for you with the awkward shuffling gait to the pity grimace on his face.

“so, uh, perhaps more bread?”

you rolled your face towards him, arbitrarily throwing animosity his way with your dead eyes, just because he was there. but soon your compulsive desire to be the funniest pathetic wretch in the room won out.

“i’m considering burning this whole place down right now, actually,” you joked.

he grit his teeth, sucking in a breath, “could i perhaps convince you to do that on a night i’m not closing, instead? tomorrow is my least favorite coworker’s turn, for your consideration,”

“hmm,” you pretended to think, “i’ll do that then, it’s only kind,”

“thank you for your generosity,” he grinned, “now, are you still waiting for someone or?”

-

douxie had been watching you for over half an hour now. not creepily. he swears. he just got a little excited when he saw you come into the restaurant is all.

anddd maybe he might have badgered the host into giving you one of his tables. but again, he was just excited. he’s been looking for an excuse to talk to you for the past three months, after all. forgive him for jumping on the opportunity.

he maybe fancied you. just a wee bit. perhaps a rather large bit. or at least, the version of you he’s cooked up in his head from the way he sees you interact with people at house parties and the things he’s heard from zoe.

but he’s sure he’ll love you. as soon as he gets to know who you actually are. which, hopefully, is about to be sooner rather than later.

he did not anticipate this situation, however. whatever benevolent deity blessed him on this night decided to throw a jar of pickled herring in with the otherwise yummy pastry filled gift basket they left for him.

not long after you arrived at 6:56 pm, not that he marked the time you came in or anything he just happened to glance at the clock around that time, he watched you, how they say, deflate. your demeanor shifted from antsy to sad to downright annoyed.

you were dressed nicely. not fancy, not pretending like this wasn’t a benoit’s. but nice. orderly. like you wanted to make a good impression on whoever it was you were expecting to meet. so either a date, or mayhaps a job interview.

not that you didn’t look nice or orderly on other days. you just weren’t in your hex tech uniform shirt. or in the incredibly casual clothes you wore when he saw you around. you were just. clearly cleaned-up, is all.

whoever it was, it was obvious that they were not coming. doux applauded you for being patient enough to wait this long, but again, they obviously weren’t coming. which, if it was a date, was good for him, but bad for you. very bad for you.

and honestly who does this person think they are? letting you down like this? horrible. disgraceful. this person was a grade A jerk-off. they have to be dead from the neck up to leave you waiting here like this, publicly embarrassing you as you sat at a table set for two all alone at one of the busiest restaurants in town. shame on them.

he was glad you seemed to be in the joking mood, however. and about arson, too. oh, he’s always had a soft spot for arsonists.

he hoped you’ll forgive him for having to do his job. if it was up to him, he’d give you all the bread in the pantry just so you wouldn’t leave. but alas, he had to deal the killing blow.

“now, are you still waiting for someone, or?”

your eyes drifted downward to the empty wineglass in your hand as you swirled it sarcastically as if it were still full.

you sighed, “yeah, no, it’s clear he doesn’t plan on showing,” you looked back up at him ruefully, “i’ll order now. i shouldn’t have waited this long for an internet man, anyway, huh? could’ve made it less pathetic.”

“i don’t think there’s a way to make these things any ‘more’ or ‘less’ pathetic,” he began taking out his notepad, ready to write, “because i wouldn’t call it pathetic at all. getting stood up is a thing that’s done to you, not because of who you are, but because of who someone else chooses to be… unless you stole this guy’s car or something. then it’s your fault.”

you laughed. genuinely.

“no, no, it’s a first date. i haven’t known this guy long enough to steal his car yet. but thanks… that’s. a better outlook than mine. kinder,” you apologized, “… uh, can i have like, the cheapest bottle of white wine you’ve got back there? the whole thing this time.”

“i take it back. that definitely made it pathetic.”

while you shared a laugh, douxie mentally congratulated himself. you had just given him the information that a) you were single and b) you were into men. a good day to be a charming single man, then. he had a chance.

“so are you ordering any real food as well? or did you plan on just having wine and bread for dinner? have to say, i don’t think that’s wise, love.”

“well i suppose i gotta, since, i’ve, uh, eaten three baskets of complimentary bread,” you stumbled over your words for a second there, “and i’m sure it’d make the manager mad if it didn’t, right?”

“right you are. he’s uh,” douxie lowered his voice, “he’salreadybeenonmydickaboutyou so yeah, you gotta. plus i’m just— you should eat something, yeah.”

you awkwardly turned your attention to the menu as you did that thing where you hold it and pretend to look over the menu as you order like you forgot or something, “the duck confit sounds good for tonight, i think,”

douxie snorted.

“no, no, that wasn’t a joke,” you shook your head, smiling fondly, “i actually just like duck, i promise. no sarcasm. i do understand the irony though. i get it.”

he didn’t completely believe you, “well then, one order of duck confit, coming right up. be back shortly, love.”

doux grabbed the breadbasket on his way out.

when he glanced back to throw you a short and unnoticeable but longing stare, as he paused in the kitchen doorway, you were fidgeting with the flowers on the table. he should get that order in now.

-

when your waiter came back with food, he placed two plates down on the table. you looked at him like he had suddenly grown a second head as he took the other seat as well.

“what are you—“

“i called in a favor with the owner. i’m still working but, i’ve got a bit of free time now. if you don’t mind me joining you,”

you shook your head in astonishment.

“not at all,” you smiled, still absolutely flabbergasted that this man would do something like this for you, “you’re douxie, right? zoe’s mentioned you a lot.”

“oH—,” he coughed, “oh, uh, she has?“

“yeah,”

he awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck, “only good things, i pray?”

“oh, sure. sure. good things,” you took a demure little sip of your glass to torture him with the pause implying the contrary.

he swallowed audibly. nervous, then. what dirt did zoe have on him. you watched as he awkwardly shoved up the sleeves of his shirt, perhaps feeling a bit warm now. it was cute.

you’d be sure to ask zoe all about him later. how could you not. this was the most interesting thing to happen all year. and it’s december.

you racked your brain for what you knew of this guy for conversation topics.

“you’re in zoe’s band, right? the lead guitarist.”

his face lit up at the mention of it, “oh, yes. you’ve seen us?”

“once or twice, i believe.”

it wasn’t really your thing, live music. you mostly hung around the back of the bar when you got dragged to shows. you liked loud, sometimes. just not often. it really depended on how your brain was feeling that day.

“well, you’ve gotta come to the next gig, then, at least. i’m sure zoe’s already invited you?” you nodded. “the venue’s holding a wee little music festival, it’s going to be nuclear,”

“ah, that’s fun,” you smiled. that sounded like hell but now that two very enthusiastic wizards have invited you, you don’t have the heart to weasel your way out of it. you’ll bring the “XTREME” ear plugs.

“but yeah, the bands great. i love that i get to play with my mates now. a team that works as well together as we do is rare, so i really appreciate them.”

“speaking of,”

doux hummed inquisitively.

“what’s going on with zoe and that new girly y’all’ve got on the drums?”

“oh,” he paused to take a sip, narrowing his eyes mischievously, “they’re boning.”

you clasped your hands together excitedly, “thank you! you’ve just won me a betting pool.”

he almost had to spit the wine back into his glass,“hhhh. how many?”

“oh, just the entirety of the hex tech arcadia staff.”

“i’m not sure she’ll be happy to hear that.”

“which is why you won’t tell her, mr. casperan,” you placed your hand over his with a cheshire cat grin.

well, he couldn’t argue with that.

dinner progressed. alas, you can’t say you lingered as long as you wanted to on conversation. you were kinda rushing things because you felt a little guilty doux was getting someone to cover for him while you had your little date. was this a date. it had to be. as mentioned, he’s going out of his way for this, and you can’t imagine he’d go through all this trouble because he wasn’t interested in you. but then again, you couldn’t believe he was interested in you either.

“do you like cryptozoology?” douxie tried his best to ask nonchalantly while he scratched the bridge of his nose to look a little less interested. he was feeling a bit energized since talking about the band. you had been paying attention to him like he’d been paying attention to you, if only in passing.

“a tad more than the average californian wizard, why?”

“well, later this weekend, i’ve got a job exterminating a goblin infestation in the next town over,”

“snelling?”

“yeah, snelling. the guy i was partnering with told me he was backing out this morning, so now i’ll be going it alone. and im sure you know how fighting goblins alone usually goes.”

“makes it easier for them to gang up on you, yes.”

“see, that’s why i’m asking if you’d be interesting in taking his place?”

“well, i’ve got the weekend off and nothing to do,” he knew that, he got the hex tech schedule from zoe every week(to know how to schedule band practice. and, if he also took a peak at your schedule, it was purely accidental. yeah.), “so, i don’t see why not.”

doux grinned, both relieved he wouldn’t be fighting goblins alone, and feeling clever that he found an excuse to spend more time with you, “perfect, i’ll text you the details? but, oh, i don’t have your number do i?”

you were about to ask why he couldn’t just tell you in person right now, but he said that soo hammy. it took .01 seconds to understand what he was doing. you snorted.

“okay, okay, here,” you held out your hand and he gladly placed his unlocked phone in your hand. you made the contact and sent yourself a text of the first emoji he had in his recents, which happened to be🫀. ah, a goth romantic. you gave him back his phone.

“perfect. thank you, love.” he tucked the phone into his chest dramatically before placing in back into his pocket.

you rolled your eyes fondly, “you know, goblin smashing isn’t exactly my idea of the perfect second date, you might have to turn up the charm.”

“oh, i’m sure i’ll make it worth your while,” he let his head fall into his palm propped up on the table, gaze going soft, “so was this a perfect first date, then?”

you laughed, “hardly. all things considered. but—“

“but?”

“but i’m glad it happened this way. i’ve had a good time, mr. casperan.”

he grinned in agreement, “me too.”

you put your hand on top of the one he left resting on the table, and he took the opportunity to take that hand and gently lay a kiss to the top of your knuckles. he lingered for a moment, eyes shut tight to take in the tenderness of the moment.

alas, he has to go back to work now.

doux pulled out your chair and helped you to your feet. you thanked him as he started stacking the dishes.

“should i—?”

“no, god no,” he chuffed, “i’m the waiter, remember? i work here.”

“oh yeah.”

that reminded you. you shuffled for your wallet, but he stopped you.

“i’m paying for dinner, love. go enjoy the rest of your evening, i’ll text you after i close.”

“you sure?” it didn’t really sit right with you, considering he probably took a pay cut by not working the whole time you were on this little “date.”

“well,” he paused, and placed the dishes back onto the table for time being, “you could leave me a tip, if you know what i mean. just a teeny thing—“

“c’mere,” you snickered as you pulled him down by the lapels to kiss him.

chaste, just a peck. but perfect and sweet all the same.

when you pulled back, you watched as douxie held his eyes closed for just a moment longer than he need to before letting that blinding all encompassing smile bloom across his face.

“well then, a very goodnight to you, y/n l/n.”

[cleolinda]

Weekend links, February 23, 2025

My posts

Silent Hill 2 update: I have now recorded the first two hours of gameplay with commentary, which gets us through the jukebox puzzle reveal, and I’m going to be able to record that quest through our arrival at Woodside Apartments tomorrow, knock on wood. I’m working on a timestamped list of topics and some additional things I forgot to mention, because the commentary is a bit... information dense. It’s like, some new Fact every minute or two. This is mostly just because South Vale has a lot of easter eggs and lore per square inch. By the time we get to the apartments, it won’t be like, “Apartment 215 was named after the author Fifteen McCarthy” or anything, so it should calm down by that point.

But man, I was so jittery. I calmed down once I had some monsters to whack. That said, the frame rate was WILDING OUT, which ended up being pretty funny toward the end so I’ll allow it, but I can’t figure out why the game is this fussy this early on. I’ve checked my graphic settings, which are still the Optimized for PC settings that I found. 

("Anything worth doing is worth doing poorly" did give me some comfort.)

Meanwhile, Ian did his first livestream commentary this past Wednesday, focusing at first on the music of Silent Hill 2.

Reblogs of interest

Artist (Marta Minujín) Uses 100,000 Banned Books To Build A Full-Size Parthenon At Historic Nazi Book Burning Site

Tumblr turns 18 years old. I’ve been here since 2010, so I’m maybe less shocked than most people. But still. 

Happy birthday also to Edward Gorey

The saddest “werewolf”

Mothman emergency commissions: Mothman can be in your photos badly for $5, goodly for more

I too love Scytheguy

Daniel Craig returns as Benoit Blanc

Artists, it’s time to flee Twitter: they’re feeding your art to Grok AI but also posting it unchanged while crediting it to Grok 

A story told in google searches

The jorrors

Croissant discourse

I actually was unaware of chia flour back when I was playing Neopets back in college, but it’s horrifying

Sincerely, you don’t get this kind of literary analysis on other social media platforms (this time it’s Lord of the Flies)

Similarly, it’s Tumblr who can explain Jocelyn’s costumes in A Knight’s Tale

Moby Dick as cosmic horror

There is a crack in everything, that’s how the fanfic gets in

The polar bear overlords of Kolyuchin Island

What are your whimsical habits?

Lindy West’s husband toots the bad cone

Nobody understands what the fuck this woman is on about re: manicures and Elusive International Hot Girls

Rb to remind a friend not to put the pffthlarthh in their mouth

I will laugh at literally any Silent Hill joke

You are not lost. You are here.

Video

Josh Johnson’s set about the Kendrick Lamar Super Bowl show that I had been longing for

Harper Watters' homage to great Black ballet dancers

Trail cam: Animal crossing

Chris Kluwe engaging in civil disobedience

Re: US politics: PBS NewsHour is free on YouTube

I did not at any point know where this Tiktok video was going

Behind every girlie working from home (is a cat)

Ghoul on a stool

The sacred texts

I had no idea that the “I GUESS” meme actually came from a comic about a cat strip club 

Personal tag of the week

I’m going to say David Lynch, because some really lovely interview excerpts showed up, plus a random Twin Peaks post.

[couldawouldashoulda50]

From Completely Different Worlds - A Follow-up

Happy New Year everyone - wishing you all the very best in 2025.

I thought I would write a little follow-up to the final chapter of the series, mostly to tie up any loose ends. This next part picks up from the following day, which is Thanksgiving at Loren's.

I had a thought - I would like to continue writing little blurbs for these two...I have about 3 or 4 outlines just for some little situational moments that I thought might be fun to dive into. I hope there will be a few readers out there that might like to continue on their journey together ❤️

Warnings - profanity, general smut (p in v)

Word count - approx 5k

18+ only please.

“Fuck, I’m full,” William groaned as he closed the sliding door to the backyard, Pablo and Banksy trotting back inside without a care. He shuffled over to Loren, who was fast-tracking the steeping process of the ginger tea she’d made to help settle his stomach. Leaning over to sniff the mug, he wrinkled his nose slightly. “What is this?”

“It’s ginger tea—it should help with your stomach,” Loren said, smiling as his hand found the small of her back in a casual, comforting gesture. “It’s worth a shot, anyway.”

Sliding in behind her, William moved her hair aside, brushing his lips against the base of her neck. The soft, ticklish giggle she let out made him grin, even as the weight in his stomach reminded him of just how much he’d eaten.

He couldn’t bring himself to say it out loud—not yet—but what he felt in that moment was undeniable. Happiness. Gratitude. Optimism. After everything they’d been through—the ups, the downs, the doubts—there was no question of how they felt about one another now. They were here. Together. Alone.

And if only he hadn’t gone for those two extra pieces of lemon meringue pie, he’d have been expressing himself in a much more interesting and physical way.

They moved to the couch where the dogs were already sleeping, Pablo curled up on the cushion and Banksy on the arm of the couch. William shifted Loren’s legs after she sat and positioned himself between them, his back resting on her torso. He sipped his tea and allowed the warmth of the ginger to calm his stomach.

There were candles still lit throughout the room, providing a lovely ambiance earlier as Simon (Benoit) and William had talked team dynamics while Alice fed Adelaide. Loren had sat beside her, petting the Benoits’ dogs that had come for some turkey as well.

As the flames flickered with an occasional invisible draft, the mood between them was nothing short of tranquil and serene.

Loren kissed William’s head, and he leaned into her affectionately, prompting her to give more.

William and Alex had arrived at Loren’s together earlier in the day, but Alex had taken off with William’s car after dessert for a get-together that, for once, didn’t include his brother. William hadn’t asked for specifics—he figured it might be a new fling on the horizon. Alex’s vague responses had all but confirmed William’s assumptions.

He softly broke the silence. “So…can I stay here tonight?”

As William leaned back against Loren on the couch, he found himself silently hoping the plans he’d formed in his mind with her would actually come to life, despite his uncomfortably full stomach.

Loren paused, her gaze drifting over the length of William’s body sprawled across the couch. A soft chuckle escaped her. “Theoretically, you’re kind of stuck here,” she teased. “But… I’d really like that. If it works for you.”

“I have practice at noon tomorrow—can you drive me home in the morning?”

Loren planted soft kisses against William’s head, her lips brushing against his hairline. “I want to make a joke about me being Kathy Bates in the movie Misery, but I doubt you’ll know what I’m talking about.”

William shook his head, a small smile forming. “You’re right, I don’t. The title doesn’t sound very… optimistic.”

She laughed softly, the sound warm and melodic. “It’s not. Let’s just say it involves a guy being stuck somewhere he really doesn’t want to be. Kathy Bates plays a nurse—a caregiver for him—but, uh, she’s a little… unhinged.”

William tilted his head back to look at her, his brows furrowed in mock confusion. “And this is your way of inviting me to stay the night?”

Loren grinned, her hand stroking his shoulder lazily. “It’s more about poking fun at you for being trapped here without a car. But now that you mention it…”

William chuckled and set his empty mug down on the coffee table, shifting onto his side to face her. “So… wait. Does she kill him?”

Loren smirked, her fingers threading gently through his hair. “Mmm, no. She incapacitates him by taking a sledgehammer to his ankles. I never read the book, but apparently, in that version, she takes an axe to his foot.”

William hung his head, rubbing his face with his hands. “I’m going to have nightmares after this,” he groaned, half-laughing.

Loren bit her lip and shot him an apologetic glance. “I’m sorry, I forgot… it might be too soon to joke about a girl blowing up your world again. So yes, I can drive you to practice… at whatever time you need.”

William shifted again, this time laying flat on his back, the couch just wide enough to accommodate his long frame. Loren instinctively curled into him, her head resting against his chest as his arm wrapped securely around her. He guided one of her legs to drape over his, pulling her closer until there was no space left between them.

His fingers traced patterns along her back, while she soothingly ran her hands across William’s clothed chest. The room was quiet save for the occasional rustling of the dogs shifting in their sleep.

William spoke first, his eyes fixating on the dark freckles that adorned her cheekbones - just another element of her beauty that he found so unique. He shifted slightly beneath her as if to prompt her to look up at him.” “We should talk though, about all of that stuff that happened - try and prevent it from happening again.”

Loren tilted her head up, her gaze settling on his face. It always struck her, the perfection of his features—it was unsettling in a way. She contemplated his words, her own brows furrowing. “I’m not sure it’s anything that either of us will be able to prevent from happening,” she admitted, tinged with uncertainty.

Loren continued, her tone thoughtful but laced with a hint of teasing. “I mean, you’re wildly popular—for all the good and not-so-good reasons. And you’ve been in this game—this league, this team—for a long time now. I can’t come into your life and start saying you can’t do this or that.”

She grinned knowingly, her eyes catching his. “You might seem really laid-back and chill, but I get the feeling you’re also really fucking stubborn.” Her smile widened at his soft chuckle before her expression changed slightly. “What I’m saying is… those pictures. You were hugging someone, or they were posing with you, and it looked like something it wasn’t. I can’t start throwing ultimatums at you—‘No more posing with women or hugging them’ or any of that shit.”

William stayed quiet, letting her words sink in. With other women he’d dated, conversations like this - if they even got that far in their relationship - eventually led to immature arguments or ultimatums—laying down rules that William couldn’t (or wouldn’t) adhere to.

It had been the underlying theme since he first met her - it shouldn’t have but the way she approached things still threw him off from time to time. She wasn’t blaming him or trying to control him. Instead, she was being honest about how she felt and what worried her, and she was leaving space for him to be himself. It was refreshing in a way he hadn’t expected.

His fingers moved lightly over her sleeve as he listened, unsure of what to say just yet.

William’s expression silently signaled for her to keep talking.

Loren leaned over and pressed a soft kiss to his chest before lifting her gaze back to his face. “I guess I’d say—hmm, how do I put this?” She paused, her brow furrowing slightly as she searched for the right words. “I don’t know what to expect with any of this. I think all I can really ask for is… some help getting through those uncomfortable moments….especially at this point - at the beginning. I hope that makes sense?”

William brought his lips close to hers, his voice low and steady. “Makes perfect sense.” William kissed her lightly before asking his next question. “Can you give me an example - of maybe what I can do to help. I mean - whatever you need and all that but you gotta maybe - help me, help you, sorta thing?”

Loren bit her lip, a sheepish smile forming at the corners of her mouth. “Letting me vent—and I’ll do my best to make it clear that’s all it is. So it doesn’t sound like I’m, you know, ripping you a new asshole.”

William feigned being shocked. “Wait - you have a temper? I don’t believe it.”

Loren rolled her eyes, laughing softly as she gave his shoulder a playful shove. “I do not have a temper. I just… get animated about certain things.”

William’s grin widened as he raised his hands, mimicking the exaggerated one-fingered salutes she had been know to give on the occasion. “Uh-huh. Animated. Got it.”

Loren nudged him again, narrowing her eyes playfully. “Passionate’s maybe a better word.”

A wry smile played on his lips as his gaze flicked to hers. “I’ll say—you are definitely… passionate.”

The conversation paused for another moment. William hadn’t said it yet, but part of him was still worried. Not just about the misinformation and the issues they just got through—though that had been bad enough. It was about all the other things Loren might see, hear, or read. Stuff that would seem harmless to him but could easily look like something else to her.

He’d been in this game long enough to know how it worked. People loved to talk, speculate, exaggerate. He was used to it—had learned to tune it out years ago. But Loren? She wasn’t just stepping into his world; she was stepping into the chaos that came with it.

And he couldn’t help but wonder… would it wear her down? Would she start to question every hug, every photo, every headline? He hated the idea of her doubting him—of them being pulled apart by things that didn’t matter.

William sighed, running his thumb absently over the back of her hand. He didn’t want to scare her off, but she needed to know. “Loren,” he began, his voice low, steady. “There’s something I want to say, and I need you to really listen to me.”

She looked up at him, her brows knitting slightly in concern. “Okay,” she said softly.

He hesitated, choosing his words carefully. “I know you know this but there’s… a lot out there. About me. Stuff people say, stuff they think they know - they’ll just go ahead and post it and not think of it again. But then it winds up all over the place - and it’s not even accurate or true. I’ve learned to ignore it, but… it might not be easy for you. All of the articles, pictures, fans saying things online - it’s everywhere whether you’re looking for it or not. Some of it might get under your skin - and I get it - it plants doubts and insecurities.”

Her hand tightened slightly in his, her eyes steady on his. “You’re worried that I’m going to get messed up over everything that’s out there and start turning on you?”

“No,” he said quickly, shaking his head. “It’s not that. I just… I want you to know it’s okay if it gets to you sometimes. But I need you to tell me when it does. Don’t let it build up, don’t keep it to yourself. Just… talk to me. We’ll figure it out - but you just gotta let me know.”

He paused, his gaze holding hers. “Look, Loren - I know your instinct is to step back—to take time to sort things out on your own. I get that. But…” He swallowed, his thumb brushing her knuckles. “I need you to promise me you won’t shut me out. Not this time. We can’t afford a month of silence to let things settle….it’s really important to me that you just… talk to me, even if you feel embarrassed or are just trying to get past something you’ve seen or heard. Okay?”

Loren nodded, her throat tightening with the thought of the time they lost in the previous month.

William exhaled slowly, the words coming a little harder now. “And I’ll be honest—I’m not the greatest at asking what’s wrong. I’ll try, but if I start to think there’s something bothering you all the time…” He hesitated, a light chuckle led to a wry smile. “It might actually drive me fucking nuts. So I’ll need your help there too—just… tell me where you’re coming from. I’ll do my best to understand…even if it doesn’t make sense right away.”

He paused, his fingers intertwining with hers. “You don’t have to handle everything on your own, Loren. That’s all I’m trying to say.”

Loren nodded, her face giving a look of appreciation mixed with understanding. “I hear you,” was her reply, her fingers lightly toying with the buttons on his shirt.

It wasn’t long before Loren heard the faint sound of snoring. She smiled against the fabric of his shirt, her heart swelling with the calm and contentment that surrounded them. For the first time in weeks, everything felt right again.

As the snores grew louder and more prolonged, she bit back a laugh. She didn’t want to disturb him, but she knew she had to get him to bed. A crick in his neck or a sore back—despite the couch being ultra-comfortable—was not ideal at the start of the season.

“William? William Nylander,” she whispered softly, shifting against him. “Better get you up to bed.”

His eyes stayed closed, but a lazy smile crept across his face. Loren giggled, leaning in to leave a trail of kisses along his jawline and down to his neck, the warmth of her lips lingering against his skin.

It was at that moment where William really regretted over indulging after everyone had left. The food was amazing but he was sure her mouth on any part of his body would overshadow his second mini-feast. He kept his thoughts to himself but suddenly the elicit thoughts of what might greet him the following morning danced in his mind.

Loren gently scooped up Pablo, cradling him against her chest as she planted soft kisses into his fur. He let out a long, contented groan, his eyes slipping closed again. “Turkey-itis, eh, Pablo?” she murmured with a smile. “You’re just like your dad.”

She didn’t look back for a response, already halfway up the stairs, but William’s unmistakable chortle followed her. A moment later, while supporting Banksy’s rear in one hand, his other hand playfully squeezed her ass—a clear acknowledgment of her mild ribbing.

Once upstairs, the dogs were placed on Loren’s bed, sniffing the comforter before circling and settling into their chosen spots. Between stolen kisses and a few teasing gropes while getting ready for bed, William was the first to slip under the sheets, letting out a satisfied groan as he melted into the mattress.

Loren wasn’t far behind, stepping out in a camisole and shorts before maneuvering herself between the sleeping dogs to nestle beside him.

William feigned disappointment as his eyes swept over her, the thin fabric clinging to her curves. “You usually sleep naked—what happened?”

Loren brushed her lips against his bare chest, her voice low and teasing. “I’m not saying I have that much of an effect on you, but me cuddling into you, naked, with the way you’re feeling… blue balls is the last thing you’d want.”

He decided not to tell her the truth—that naked or not, she absolutely had that effect on him. The pressure in his cock made that perfectly clear.

Morning could not come soon enough.

—

When Loren awoke early the next day, her eyes, still heavy with sleep, drifted to the empty space beside her. She barely had time to wonder where William had gone before spotting him nearby, bent over with his ass in the air as he rummaged through the bag he’d brought with him.

A smile spread across her face as she watched him move. For someone who was so often the picture of effortless perfection, even now, in this very human moment, he was still gorgeous. His hair was mussed, his shorts askew just enough to expose the crack of his ass. And yet, even his imperfection felt flawless to her.

William turned toward the bed, catching Loren’s gaze just as her smile widened. Her dark eyes shone, filled with admiration for the view and optimism for what lay ahead of them.

Adjusting the pillow, she greeted him with a soft, “Good morning.”

William’s grin grew wider as he took in her tousled hair and sleepy, sexy expression. Standing at the edge of the mattress, he clasped his hands behind his back. “Morning.” After a beat, he added, “I have something for you.”

Loren’s eyes instinctively drifted downward, lingering on the natural bulge in his shorts. She bit her bottom lip, raising her eyebrows as if to say, I bet you do.

William followed her gaze, then looked back up at her as she let out a subdued giggle. Shaking his head, he smirked. “Not quite yet,” he said, though he had every intention of fulfilling her insinuation soon enough.

With a slight flourish, he brought his hands out from behind his back, revealing the crumpled jersey he’d been holding.

Loren’s eyes immediately lit up, and he could tell she was holding back an audible squeal of excitement. She shifted into a kneeling position as William slid back onto the bed, handing her the jersey.

She unfolded it carefully, catching its distinct scent—his soap, his cologne, and a trace of sweat from last night’s game. The mix was already intoxicating, hitting her senses like a powerful aphrodisiac. Turning it around in her hands, her fingers traced over the bright white “Nylander” and the bold number “88.”

William chuckled at her reaction. “It’s from last night’s game,” he said. “Swiped it before it ended up in the laundry bin.”

Loren beamed, her joy unmistakable, though her expression quickly turned mischievous. “You know,” she said, deadpan, “I could probably rake in a few grand if I sold this on eBay.”

William narrowed his eyes, letting out a laugh. “Punk.”

Before he could say more, her lips were on his, silencing him as she guided him onto his back. The jersey stayed clutched tightly in her hands, pressed between them like the treasure it was.

Her lower half was soon straddling William’s pelvis, the top part of her body hovered atop of his. Her dark brown eyes scanned his features as the full intensity of her affection for him over came her. She lowered herself down, brushed her lips across his jawline and neck and whispered “Thank you” near his ear. Her slow kisses continued over his throat,

The pressure was building with every shift of their bodies and every movement between them. William’s hands began to knead her hips but then travelled to her round ass cheeks. He pressed his ever-growing hardness against her, eliciting a soft whimper from her mouth.

William’s voice sounded rough with desire. “Can I see it on you?”

Loren smiled against his warm skin, nodding her head before pulling back. She sat straddling him, yearning for him to be inside of her. She lightly grinded against him before sliding off of him, an almost painful feat considering how desperately she wanted him. “Be right back.”

William propped himself up on his elbow, his gaze following her as she padded toward the washroom. Once inside the bathroom, the door clicked close behind her, and with flipping on the light, she efficiently brushed her teeth, flipped her hair over and back again and dabbed a bit of perfume between her breasts.

She quickly shed her sleep set and pulled the jersey over her head and shimmied as it enveloped her. Her cheeks flushed red as she looked at the back of the jersey. How in the world did this ever happen she mused while chuckling and shaking her head. She exhaled deeply, the anticipation of William anticipating incited a warmth that radiated throughout her body.

When she emerged, William caught his first glimpse of her in his jersey, and for a moment, he was completely still. A smirk teased at the corners of his lips before it faded, replaced by something deeper. He bit his lip, his turquoise eyes roaming over her with an intensity that made Loren’s cheeks flush under his obvious admiration.

As she approached the edge of the bed, Loren timidly fidgeted with the hem of the jersey, which hung just halfway down her thighs. William’s gaze never strayed, his focus entirely on her.

He extended a hand toward her. Loren placed her hand in his and climbed back onto the mattress, letting him guide her, laying on his back until she was straddling him again.

William’s eyes soaked in every detail of her, his expression a perfect mix of adoration and mischief. “It looks really, really good,” he murmured, his voice thick with affection. “Way better than Auston’s.”

Loren paused, tilting her head as if to consider. “Who?” she replied with a smirk before leaning in and pressing her lips slowly against his, letting her mouth linger as one of her hands cupped his jaw.

Their kisses deepened, each one a release of the pent-up longing they’d carried since Loren’s departure from Stockholm, their embrace tightening as though even the smallest space between them was unbearable. Loren’s voice broke through the moment, her lips still brushing against William’s. “The boys… their walk,” she reminded softly.

He pressed his mouth against hers before kissing a trail down her neck. “I took them out back. They, uh, sort of watered your grass,” he said between kisses, his tone both teasing and breathless. “I told them I needed about ten minutes, but I’m pretty sure it’s going to be less than that,” he admitted coyly. “It’s been almost two months since I’ve…we’ve….y’know.”

Loren paused, her thoughts briefly catching on his words. For her, two months without sex was a cakewalk, but she hadn’t considered it from William’s side.

“It’s been two months?” she asked with an air of surprise.

William pulled back slightly, his turquoise eyes locking with hers. “I mean, yeah… between you leaving and me getting back here….not quite two months of….well - just my hand.”

Loren’s eyebrows lifted, and she grimaced slightly, her mind catching on the idea of William’s admitted celibacy. She could only assume it wasn’t typical for him—but now wasn’t the time to ask.

He smirked, catching onto her expression. “Let’s just say that little ‘test’ video we made before you left my place in Stockholm helped out… a lot.”

Loren’s cheeks flushed as vivid memories surfaced, her body reacting to the mere thought of them. But her mind drifted to the time she’d spent alone since William returned to Toronto. Her needs had remained quiet—virtually dormant—as the hurt and uncertainty of their situation took over.

On the rare occasions when a faint spark of desire arose, it faded almost as quickly. As much as she wanted to deny it, William had unlocked something in her—new levels of intimacy, new ways of craving. No one else could satisfy her now. Only him.

Loren dragged her fingernails lightly through the soft hair on his chest, loving the feel of his broad frame beneath her hands. Her legs spread a little wider as she leaned down to kiss him again, the pressure of her arousal building with every movement.

As their kisses deepened, Loren shifted her hips, raising herself off his clothed erection just enough to free her hands. She started to push the waistband of his shorts down, slow but sure, until William took over. He shimmied them off completely, tossing them to the foot of the bed without a second thought.

Reaching for the hem of the jersey, William’s fingers lightly gripped the fabric as he began to pull it up. “You look amazing in this,” he murmured, his voice low and rough. “But I’ve missed touching you.”

The jersey slipped off easily, leaving her bare. His hands smoothed over her hips and waist, rediscovering every curve as though memorizing her all over again.

Loren’s breath hitched at the dizzying sensation between her legs. She stealthily reached over to the nightstand, pumping a small amount of lube into her palm. Warming it between her hands, she slid one hand behind her, wrapping her fingers around him with deliberate slowness. Her teasing strokes drew a low groan from William, the sound alone enough to send her into a spiral of desperate need.

William’s hips rose and fell in rhythm with her touch, his breaths growing heavier. When she shifted to gingerly massage the tip, slick with his own juices, his head pressed back into the pillow. Groaning a string of expletives mixed with murmured affirmations, his grip on her hips tightened, his fingers digging into her soft skin.

Loren couldn’t wait any longer, and judging by the tension in his muscles, neither could he. She positioned herself, pressing her entrance near the base of his cock as she leaned forward, capturing his mouth in a kiss that expressed her deep desire for him. Her tongue grazed his with a light, sensual flick which nearly sent him over the edge.

She positioned his tip at her entrance and slowly slid onto him, savoring the way his girth stretched her. Her breath hitched, and she bit her lip, her body adjusting to the overwhelming sensation of fullness.

“FuckLoren…,” William groaned, the two words melting into one as his hands gripped her hips, guiding her movements. She began to slide him in and out, her rhythm slow and deliberate, her body responding to his in the most natural, primal way.

Her pace quickened slightly, her hands gripping his forearms as his fingers found her breasts, stroking and teasing her nipples. The bed creaked softly beneath them, a rhythmic echo of Loren’s intensifying thrusts. Gasps and moans filled the room, her voice trembling as she murmured his name, each sound pushing him closer to the edge.

The early morning sun filtered through her blinds, illuminating the sheen of her still-golden skin. The light accentuated every beautiful contour of her neck as her head fell back, her long mane of hair almost touching William’s thighs. The sight of her—equal parts elegant sensuality and untamed vixen—was almost too much for William. He was right; he wasn’t going to last long.

But he wasn’t done yet. He knew exactly how to bring Loren to the edge with him. As her hips moved with increasing urgency, grinding against him, his hand slipped lower, his thumb finding the perfect spot on her clit.

His strokes were precise and gentle, and the reaction was immediate. Loren jolted, her body clenching tightly around him as she clasped his wrist, a silent plea for him to keep going. Her other hand braced firmly against his thigh as she leaned back, her body moving with a more fervent, desperate rhythm.

The overwhelming sensation between her legs built rapidly, a flood of heat and pressure that stole her breath. “Don’t stop,” she gasped, her voice trembling with quiet urgency. Loren’s body began to quiver, her movements stuttering as the release overtook her. She collapsed onto William’s chest, her breaths uneven as she cried out softly, her orgasm pulsing through her.

William held her tightly, his arms wrapping protectively around her as his hips bucked fast and firm into her trembling body. The tightness of her release pushed him over the edge, his moans breaking into shorter, rougher sounds. With a deep, guttural shout, he spilled inside her, his grip on her waist tightening as they both stayed connected, riding out the bliss together.

After a few moments, Loren slid fluidly from his body and sank into the mattress beside him, her breathing soft and steady. William shifted to his side, easing her close against him, her face naturally finding its place against his chest—one of her favorite places to be.

It felt like calmer waters lay ahead for them. With a better understanding of each other, despite the SNAFUs and bad timing of their past, they were unknowingly building a foundation for something lasting. Where they differed, they balanced each other; where they were alike, it felt like perfect harmony.

William lay quietly, his hand stroking small circles on Loren’s back as he stared at the ceiling. His thoughts wandered to the next few hours, wondering if she’d stick around after practice. He laughed softly to himself, realizing how far gone he was for her. And he knew she felt the same about him.

He could manage life without Loren, he supposed, but it would never feel the same. Over the past month, during their separation, he came to terms with how she made every part of his life better. Whether it was a long drive, nap time, practice, or game time—everything was brighter, fuller, with her beside him.

Never mind one woman, a thousand ways. One woman, in every way. That’s how he wanted Loren.

[chirp-a-chirp]

The Itch: The Gift that Keeps on Giving

Fandom: Ikemen Prince

Synopsis: Emma knits a sweater for her consort, but it’s REALLY itchy. How do the consorts react to wearing the sweater? Enjoy the cursed Gil photo and crack post 😆

Consorts: Jin, Rio, Clavis, Chevalier, Silvio, Gilbert, Leon

…

Jin

Does Jin REALLY need an excuse to strip?

“Hey, if you want to see me in the buff sweetheart, why didn’t you say so?” Jin whips the sweater straight off.

“JIN WE’RE IN THE PALACE GARDENS!” Emma’s eyes widen as Jin tosses the sweater on the ground. She barely notices the red welts underneath his tanned muscles.

“Not for long we’re not.” Jin grins, carrying Emma princess style as he walks towards his room.

Later that night (much later), Jin goes to retrieve the sweater from the gardens but can’t find it. Rumor has it that the stray dogs from Jin’s route made a reappearance and ran off with the sweater*

*Seriously, read chapter 9 of Jin’s route. A dog steals his clothes. Among the funniest scenes in ikemen EVER.

Rio

You will not be able to pry this sweater away from Rio. EVER. “My Mistress made this just for me! Each itch is like a scratchy hug!”

But there’s a problem. Rio won’t take it off. It’s been two weeks and he’s STILL wearing it. And the sweater’s starting to smell.

Sariel stages an intervention, forcing Rio to wash it. “No problem boss-man!” Rio bathes…while wearing the sweater.

Nokto comes up with another solution—Emma knitting Rio more sweaters.

Congrats Emma. You are now knitting Rio clothes for the rest of your life.

Clavis

Clavis is so happy to have a tangible sign of Emma’s love. SO HAPPY. Doesn’t want to take it off.

Unlike with Rio, Sariel doesn’t stage an intervention. Because Clavis invents a soothing gel so he can wear the sweater. But he has to apply so much of it that there’s a trail of gloopy gel throughout the palace—perfect for Sariel to track Clavis’s movements.

Clavis learns to knit to support Emma. He knits a purple scarf with the phrase “#1 Accomplice” on it in gold script.

Unfortunately, Clavis’s C’s look like S’s and most of his letters are illegible. So “#1 Accomplice” looks more like “#1 Ass” with a bunch of squiggly lines next to it.

When Emma wears Clavis’s scarf, at least once a day she hears a variant of “I thought Clavis was a leg man?”

Chevalier

Emma and Chevalier have been reading a series of popular romance books. The heroine knits a sweater for beloved and Emma is inspired.

For a week, Emma spends what time she WOULD have been reading with Chev knitting his sweater. She then enters his private library, sweater in hand, and sees Chev sitting, staring contemplatively in his lap. “I made you this swea—“

“I am not wearing that.” Chevalier’s eyes flicker to Emma. “My eyes itch by merely looking at it.”

“Oh, I’m sorry I’ll—“ Emma’s words are cut off as Chevalier places her in his lap. He reaches towards a corner table and picks up the same book they were last reading. Emma notices a bookmark within the novel. “You waited for me to resume reading?” Chevalier nods. “Of course simpleton.”

When Chevalier and Emma finish the book series, Chevalier places the book series and the sweater in a glass display case in his library.

Silvio

Emma knits matching blue and cream colored sweaters. It isn’t cold often in Benoite, so she wants Silvio to wear it when she’s wearing hers as often as he can.

Silvio…has opinions on this. “WHA? YOU GOTTA BE JOKING! I can buy ya ALL the sweaters instead of wearing this thing!” Silvio scratches his arms furiously through the sleeves.

“But I incorporated the seashells from our anniversary in them…” Emma looks mildly dejected. She’d crushed some of the shells into a powder to make the sweaters look like a beach scene.

“THATS why my back is scraped up?! Cause of damn barnacles?!”

Emma’s face turns red. “Well I’m sorry!”

Silvio’s face turns a brighter shade of red. “Hey, don’t get mad at ME! Wait, wait stop ya crying! I’m wearing it, I’m wearing it!”

Gilbert

Emma knits a GIANT oversized sweater for Gilbert. It’s big enough to fit two people to hide sweets in it. And it has a giant pocket on the front to hold even MORE sweets.

Big mistake Emma.

Gilbert now insists on having Emma wear the sweater WITH him in it. That’s why she made it so big, right?

And Emma of course has to bake all those cookies for Gilbert. While wearing the sweater (and Gilbert).

“I hope you bake quickly little rabbit. I’m quite hungry.” Gilbert bites Emma’s neck.

Which produces more red marks on Emma—the itchy sweater or Gilbert?

Leon

Leon really appreciates the love that went into its creation. He wears it with more pride when he learns the wool was procured from a Rhodolite shop. Gushes to EVERYONE about Emma’s knitting skills if given a chance.

But secretly, the man suffers. His shoulders twitch with tiny little itches. Surely it’s the tag that’s itchy, right? (No Leon, there’s no tag with the sweater.) Or maybe it’s his cloak that’s making him itch? (No Leon, you left your cloak at the palace to show off the sweater…).

Emma notices Leon looking uncomfortable. The man denies it, not wanting Emma to feel guilty. The MOMENT Emma leaves his sight though, Leon is scratching like THIS:

Emma realizes Leon’s suffering when she sees his neck is red. “Ok, that’s it! I’m taking this sweater off you now!”

“Oh? Well, if you wanna strip me THAT badly, that’s fine by me.” Leon smirks.

[elisemeetsthesun]

Mama, I’m callin’, I’ve got some news

Victoria ‘Tori’ Benoit x Luke Hughes AU!

AU masterlist!

toribenoit_ has posted!

toribenoit_

Liked by lhughes_06, edwards.73, dylanduke25 and 1,367 more

toribenoit_: he’s all grown up 😢, have fun in the big leagues, Lukey, we all know you deserve it

Tagged: @/lhughes_06

lhughes_06: gonna miss you V

toribenoit_: 🫶

*this user has limited comments*

toribenoit_

Liked by juli._benny, lhughes_06, gracie..21 and 1,278 more

toribenoit_: life recently ☀️🪻

juli._benny: missing you, come back soon

toribenoit_: love you Julie 🫶

edwards.73: 🪩🪩

toribenoit_: you speak in code and it confuses me

edwards.73: 👎👎

gracie..21: the guy’s shoes?? Girl…

toribenoit_: no comment…?

gracie..21: calling you, you better give a comment.

dylanduke25: who was that coffee for, huh, Tori??

toribenoit_: die. miserably. die in a fire.

lhughes_06 has posted a story!

View private replies…

╰┈➤ toribenoit_: what I’m here for ig 🙄

lhughes_06: seriously though thanks again, V, you didn’t have to come

toribenoit_: would do it a hundred times over don’t forget it

╰┈➤ jackhughes: I’m not saying pussy but…

lhughes_06: and I’m not saying shut up but…

~~••

Note!: hiya!! This is part one of the Victoria Benoit au and i completely forgot to put this anywhere in the fic 😭 anyway I’m on mobile so sometimes you’ll have that ugly ~~•• divider or sometimes I’ll have a divider by @saradika-graphics depending on what’s in the writing/if it’s an insta edit or not!

Thank you for reading !!!

[irregularcollapse]

i’ve been watching the tenny (irl) and thinking about the tenny (au) so wanted to ask some nerdy tenny questions feel free to answer wheneverrrrr also smite me down if you’ve said any of this in tenny fic it’s so BEAUTIFUL and maybe i haven’t taken in the lil details if you’ve said these but….. do you think john and gale would make good doubles partners? does john have a single or double handed backhand? who wins more baseline points? do either of them serve from their non dominant hand? ur ideas are so fresh so clean so original i love u

Frankie xxxxxxxxx

I haven’t talked about any of this ty for being interested and humouring me 😭

1. Doubles: maybe it’s a spoiler, maybe it’s not. Maybe it’ll come up in a future chapter. After writing ch5 I sort of reevaluated the pacing/order of some of the narrative beats so I’m a little unsure currently of when the doubles question will be answered, but it will come up!

2. John’s backhand: two-handed! I was watching this two-handed backhand analysis video and I think the way that Benoit Paire messes with tempo is really how I picture John playing if he can’t put away a point quickly, sort of deliberately erratic and unpredictable bc he is capable of bringing a lot of power but his opponent is never sure when it’s coming. The two-handed backhand gives him that control I think

3. Baseline points: John! In the fight at the US Open, John says that Gale is a whole court player but Lee is trying to make him a baseline player. John is an aggressive baseliner and is good at putting points away quickly whereas I think Gale thrives more when he’s moving and using variety (and as I’ve said, Curt is a counter puncher and plays by returning and waiting for mistakes to take advantage of)

4. Serves: I decided that Gale is wonky. Lee would have coached him to serve right-handed, but his forehand is left bc that’s where his control is, and his backhand is a two-hander like John’s. He does have a good serve, when he’s well enough to do it properly. All his faults (double faults…..) aren’t bc he’s serving right-handed, especially after the slight adjustments to his stance which John suggested in ch1. Like mostly that’s a metaphor for John encouraging Gale to loosen up and rebel against his dad, but I guess it’s also about adjusting to compensate for what’s lost by him serving with his non-dominant hand, which Lee wouldn’t have suggested (due to him thinking there is a “correct” way to do tennis and a mould which Gale doesn’t fit, the metaphor for rigidity and control and cough masculinity, etc etc blah blah blah)

Thank you for questions xxxxxxxxxx I have started the next chapter and hopefully it won’t take me as long as chapter 5 🥴

Marge is back!

…and a new hitting partner? 😮

Tenny!

[cuteandhughesy]

1000 Follower Celebration Prompt List ⊹˚₊

───────── ౨ৎ ─────────

WOW… when I started posted my fics a few months back, I never expected the outpouring of love, positivity, feedback and support I’ve received from all of you.

as a huge thank you for this milestone, i’ve decided to give back in the best way I know how! with a prompt list!

starting now you can pick any of the players from the given list (see below), pair them with a corresponding prompt, and I will write a little blurb/imagine on it!

there’s no limit per person, and no rules besides my usual blog requesting rules. there is also no limit on how many i’ll be choosing and posting—if it inspires me, it inspires me 🤭💌

⊹˚₊ players ⊹˚₊ (alphabetized)

anthony stolarz

brady skjei

brock boeser

dakota joshua

dawson mercer

erik johnson

ethan edwards

gabe landeskog

hayden fleury

jacob truscott

jamie oleksiak

joseph woll

leon draisaitl

mat barzal

matthew knies

mark estapa

ross colton

seth jarvis

shane pinto

simon benoit

trevor zegras

⊹˚₊ prompts ⊹˚₊

1. “yeah, well he should learn to keep his hands to himself”

2. “look how pretty you look coming undone for me”

3. showering together (non-sexual)

4. voice notes they send you

5. “can you tickle my arm?”

6. “if I fall off, it’ll be your fault”

7. self pampering night

8. “I can give you something else to suck on.”

9. “you’ve always got your arms wrapped around me.” “so?”

10. “you’ve been pouting ever since I went out on that date, what’s up?”

CANNOT THANK YOU GUYS ENOUGH 💗 i’ll see you in my inbox loveys

[nautilusgays]

Live reactions to Episode 2 of AMC's Nautilus

SPOILERS SPOILER SPOILERS SPOILERS

Oh the N rising out of the water is beautiful

Humility's massive skirt is pissing me off I'm having a viceral reaction to it - Oh yes it's getting ripped up - I think the fabric just looks like I would hate the texture

Ayyy it's going up

'Captain Crazy' lmao Ned Land would approve of that title.

Oh god that like cockney/sailor accent hurts

ANOTHER TWINK!? Oh god he's a brat 'algey boy' oh god no

Lmao they are literally giving Humility Aronnax-esq dialogue - except she's apparently lying?

'ah Mon dieu' just incase we forgot Benoir was French

'you are not going back to the underwater boat. Get back to the underwater boat' marvel called it wants it's dialogue back

Look I love a competent woman but ahhh her writinggggg

YES DOGGOOOOOOOOO

Nemo speach time - oh a threat instead of motivational - he's looking good in his rolled up sleeves and waistcoat tho.

Oh dreadnaught is back - more like Twinknahght there is three of them now!

Listen to the fucking captain you shareholder dickhead he actually knows how ships work (he's giving "and a (business) partnership was the only ship that he ever had seen" - a Gilbert and Sullivan lyric)

Oh! He knew Nemo??!

Oh god that comparison Humility babe - HUMILITY NO

'that will be none of your business' I love the way she did that slay

'its hope that brings people together'

Lmaoooo Lord Pitt is Humility's fiance??? Oh twink on twink violence.

Youngblood has some positive view of Nemo yas

Mate Pitt is weird af

HUMILITY! Her foot in mouth disease is real I kind of love it

Benoit sweetie! I love him. Also hope him and Humility have a cute father daughter-esq relationship.

I love submarines so much!

Oh this is adorable!

Him and Nemo are brainy besties I love it. "He has his reasons for being the way he is." Mate just give him some 2010s emo music and he'll be fine.

I love them messing with the kid so much omg it's so cute.

'hey concentrate' mate you put me in front of that window I will focus on nothing but the moving water and fish.

Aw Benoir is such a bleeding heart!

Nemo angst projected onto whales

Pfff dramatic waistcoat removal I love him.

Wait are those sperm whales??? (I don't think so but I can't tell lol - my bro is the marine biologist not me)

Wet cat Nemo fr fr - need a fic where Pierre sees him in a wet white shirt.

Damn Nemo savage!

"That was theft" why is that so funny to me

NOOO Humility baby imma hug you her sad puppy eyes

"they're made from whale bits" "the fish that made these are dead already" savage queen Imao

How tf did a mouse get on-board??

Horizon scanning is the favourite past time on the Nautilus.

"big boat with big big guns" that's how we should describe the dreadnaught from now on

Ugh competency is sexy - also I now realise why that the open waist coat and shirt combo is so sexy it's cause Nemo got that lesbian fit

UGH 'we better use our wits then' CUTE PATERNAL REASSURACE IS ALSO SEXY HES A GOOD DAD

Archie NO

Crawley mate don't fight the shareholder

NOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Oh stowaway?

"then the next stage of our journey maybe a spiritual one" NEMO NOT HELPFUL SWEETIE

Benoit and Humility make me happy (it's probably the daddy issues)

"how deep were they tested?" "50 fathoms" YOUNGBLOODS EXPREASION OMG - I love the plots of shareholders not understanding how science and engineering work and the people that do having to deal with it - I hate it in real life tho: looking at you RBMK Reactors and The Challenger! - I hope Crowley gets his commupence for not listening to experts and the actual competent people get to save the day (to make up for it not happening in real life)

This is so stressful

I like having the viewing port on top of the saloon window

Oh no a Brit

[phoenixwatchesmovies]

What I'm Watching: November 2024

...well, this calls for some comfort watches.

Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)

After a bitter divorce, an actor disguises himself as a female housekeeper to spend time with his children held in custody by his former wife.

Have I ever mentioned Robin Williams might as well have been my babysitter growing up? I might have thrown this on for comfort, but that doesn't mean I didn't cry, and not just because of nostalgia or that I'll go to my grave mourning this man.

The Addams Family (1964-1966)

The misadventures of a blissfully macabre but extremely loving family.

#GothTrash #FluffFiend (though that last one might come as a surprise). It's cozy. What else should I say?

Three's Company (1976-1984)

The misadventures of two women and one man living in one apartment and their neighbors.

The theme song has been an ear worm all month.

Interview With The Vampire (2022- )

Based on Anne Rice's iconic novel, follow Louis de Pointe du Lac's epic story of love, blood and the perils of immortality, as told to the journalist Daniel Molloy.

....k, so I know I said "comfort," but give me a break. I've been meaning to get around to this forever, and it's every bit as amazing as everyone says it is.

Knives Out (2019)

When renowned crime novelist Harlan Thrombey is found dead at his estate just after his 85th birthday, the inquisitive and debonair Detective Benoit Blanc is mysteriously enlisted to investigate.

I think the comedy was a bit more on point in Glass Onion, but I don't have Netflix anymore and it's not like I'm settling for this one. And you can't get any cozier than a murder mystery detective series.

###

See you back here next month?

[edgessunflower]

Shape of my heart

Pairing: Eddie Guerrero x GN reader

Description: When you think your life is falling apart, a kind hearted man comes in and puts it together

Warning: Mention of Intimate partner violence, abuse, and emotions

Baby please try to forgive me stay here don't put out the glow hold me now don't bother if every minute it makes me weaker you can save me from the man that I've become oh yeah looking back on the things I've done I was trying to be someone I played my part kept you in the dark now let me show you the shape of my heart

You finally had the courage to escape your abusive relationship, moving in with your friend who taught you how to defend yourself in case the circumstances called for it if you didn't have any weapon which helped you build up confidence in yourself. Everything changed when you met wrestler Eddie Guerrero in 1992, who was such a gentleman making you feel a bit more love toward yourself from his compliments to you, "Damn Mama you gotta wear this more often", "Mamacita! Looking sexy today!", "CALIENTE MIS DULCES MUY CALIENTE" always feeling your heart beat pick up and your face blush a shade of pink every time he says a compliment and thanking him when the two of you were out, seeing your ex and being pushed against the wall and slapped but eddie grabbed him and intervened, helping you file a police report and cover the cut on your face feeling safer and a bit more calmer around men thanks to eddie.

Sadness is beautiful loneliness is tragical so help me I can't win this war oh no touch me now don't bother if every second it makes me weaker you can save me from the man I've become looking back on the things I've done I was trying to be someone I played my part kept you in the dark now let me show you the shape of my heart

The two of you finally asked each other out going on your first date together after he won his 1995 showdown match against Dean Malenko, enjoying the night together and followed by an ice cream date three days later taking everything slow announcing you were officially together in February of 1996 being ring side during all of his matches meeting his friends and fellow wrestlers and helping him form LWO later on even joining him and Rey Mysterio in the ring to help them win eventually being his tag team partner when rey had other matches being affectionately called Mamas or Guerrero's sunshine by fans who adored you always asking for autographs and pictures with you when you would walk to the ring with eddie always giving hugs and flowers to people in the audience feeling the happiest you have ever been.

I'm here with my confession got nothing to hide no more I don't know where to start but to show you the shape of my heart I'm looking back on things I've done I never wanna play the same old part or keep you in the dark now let me show you the shape of my heart looking back on the things I've done I was trying to be someone I played my part kept you in the dark now let me show you the shape of my heart

After winning his vacant US semi final match against Chris Benoit, you hug him in the ring and go to sign autographs not thinking much of the extra loud cheering going back in the ring and waving until you turned around to see eddie on one knee with a ring in his hand nodding your head and jumping in his arms as you both laugh crying happily as the fans cheered hugging a lot of them as the two of you walk out of the arena backstage earning many congratulations from fellow wrestlers especially your friends and his family who took you in as their own and loved you a lot, your family was hectic and no true support so eddie's family became your own finally feeling like you belonged in the world.

Looking back on the things I've done I was trying to be someone I played my part kept you in the dark now let me show you show you the shape of my heart

You and eddie married in late March of 1997 being called Mrs Guerrero by the fans and always being called Mom by little kids who watched wrestling and who loved Eddie feeling pure happiness that you never thought you would have or even deserved but you know that you always deserved to be happy, "What's on your mind Mi querido?" you smile as eddie wraps his arms around you as you watch the sun come up "Just thinking of how lucky I am to have you" he laughs placing kisses on your shoulder, "It's the other way around Mi Vida" you shake your head sharing a breath taking kiss before grabbing and holding eddie's hands looking down at your small bump on your belly that was just starting to show, excited for the next part of your life with eddie right by your side.

[agentinred]

mirror: benny sends carmen a picture of himself and tells her he's beautiful <3 (i'm not sure if this was rly how the prompt goes but it fits well now)

The envelope arrived with the irreverence of its sender, tucked between the pages of an old novel she’d been meaning to finish but never did. Carmen recognized the handwriting before she even unfolded the paper, a flourish of ink both deliberate and careless, as though the words had been conjured in a single breath. And then there he was—Benoit—staring back at her with a certainty only he could muster, a quiet arrogance softened by something more elusive, something only glimpsed in the corners of his gaze. Dark eyes, brimming with untold stories and provocations, the kind that had made a game out of complicating her thoughts. Oh Benoit. Ever the performer, ever the PROVOCATION.

See how beautiful I am? he had cheekily written, as though it were gospel, as though the world itself should bow in agreement. Carmen laughed, she couldn't help it—almost hearing the cadence of his voice in the silence. It was ridiculous, of course, INSUFFERABLE even. And yet, she found herself shaking her head with amusement. But the photo did not seem like something posed for the public. Here he seemed to have been captured in a moment of his own choosing, every detail curated but effortless, dark eyes holding that infuriating, irresistible knowing. She sighed, a slow exhale of something DANGEROUSLY close to fondness. It wasn’t a clipping from some society page, or a news story detailing his LATEST case—not a carefully selected portrait from a New Yorker profile where he played the role of CHARMING enigma. No, this more akin to an offering, a gift not meant for public consumption but for her alone.

She wouldn't tell him, of course, but she traced the edges of the photograph with careful fingers, giving the printed portrait a light tap on his face before tucking it into the silk lining of her coat as if it were some delicate RELIC. Their paths were always diverging, stretching across continents and stolen moments, but now—now she had this. A semblance of him, a fragment to carry in the quiet spaces between departures and arrivals. "Esos ojos me complican..." she murmured, half to herself. Because they did. Because they always would. And because, in some small and unspoken way, she was grateful for the small memento.

[dreamcrow]

ARCANE ORDER LOCAL ARTS NONPROFIT

(give me an au and i'll give you five headcanons; thank you for the ask!)

i know the meme specified "five" but in my defense, i know nothing about nonprofits, and also: i can't count

it's not that arcadia has a…deficiency, exactly, of such community-minded organizations. "let alone the assholes who think they're qualified to run them," skrael mutters, leaning determinedly into the conference center's balcony railing. he's one and a half glasses into something so aggressively mediocre he'd be surprised if it could be legally labeled sparkling wine, and because they're spending this weekend "technically" "working," he can't even suffer through it with bellroc's fingers tangled through his hair. maybe next time they can bypass all the 501c3 b.s. and just be evil wizards or something, instead.

but the thing is—the thing is. arcane arts is, technically, the oldest arts-focused nonprofit in arcadia county. yes, fine, true, they've been on a bit of a hiatus, but that was for medical reasons, and had been rough on all three of them; and anyway it's like all of that history doesn't even count for anything anymore. except, apparently, when dessicated old farts like m. emrys want to make snide little comments over canapés at the county expo gala.

together nari and bellroc do, somehow, manage to keep their development director from doing something inadvisable. (shanking the senior editor of the arcadia times-ledger with a plastic knockoff champagne flute is, after all, probably not great for q4 fundraising.) they do not manage to keep him from pilfering one of bellroc's secret stash of clove cigarettes, after, though the look nari gives them both when she sees—him for the pilfering, them for the having—makes both of them duck their heads.

"what about glassblowing," bellroc suggests, the following morning, in the interminable purgatory of an impromptu emergency board meeting (read: the three of them, in the hotel room, nothing near like enough coffee). all desperate, earnest conviction, increasingly frantic and totally powerless against the unflinching reality that they've got no plan, no campaign, no cash. "encouraging and promoting experiential re/discovery of the oldest human technical arts—it's right there in the mission statement. no? or—maybe something with stoneknapping, instead—"

later that night, when they and skrael shuffle back like a couple of teenagers caught after curfew, they find their shared room conspicuously empty. nari is missing. bellroc very nearly hisses something they would definitely regret.

(but when they do find her, later—only slightly tipsy, emrys glowering sourly into his laphroaig as she flits like a fairy, radiant and electric, charming the pants off of the pendragon-lefay's vp for corporate philanthropy—they really do feel ashamed. both of them do. which is why, when she comes back to her office on monday: she's greeted by what must be most of the pastries in benoit's case.)

[batmanisagatewaydrug]

Hi! It’s the catholic school maybe ace anon again. I just have one more question.

I want to be open and okay with sexuality and that kind of thing, but from a very young age I’ve been taught it was Not Okay.

Is there anything you can recommend to me (books, blogs, channels, etc.) that might help me.. understand more, ig? I try really hard to keep an open mind, but I don’t actually learn enough to be at a point where I’m chill with it (I try to be, I really do).

hi catholic anon (cathnon, if you will),

I did drop a couple of recommendations in my answer to your last query (shoutout to Lindsey Doe's Sexplanations and Heather Corinna's Scarleteen again, I really can't say enough good things about them!) but let's talk about some more cool resources!

Dr. Nadine Thornhill is an educator doing THE COOLEST work, definitely check her out!

if you want to read about asexuality and aromantic experiences, check out Yasmin Benoit's writing on her website! she's one of the most outspoken aroace figures in the business.

while I have my gripes with Teen Vogue, they write a lot of very accessible articles about sexual topics ranging from abortion info to disability-friendly sex to tips on buying vibrators. give it a look!

Planned Parenthood's website is chock full of useful info that I frequently use as a reference in my work, with a section specifically geared towards teenagers.

for asexual-specific writing you gotta check out Angela Chen's book Ace: What Asexuality Reveals About Desire, Society, and the Meaning of Sex. it's a fantastic piece of writing, and makes me so hopeful for the future of ace and aro scholarship written from within the community.

Sexuality: A Graphic Guide is also a gentle illustrated into to a lot of big ideas about sexuality and orientation, by Meg-John Barker and Jules Scheele. you may also be interested in another of Barker's books, How to Understand Your Sexuality, written with Alex Iantaffi.

another book I'm very fond of is Jaclyn Friedman's Unscrewed, which looks at ways in which sex can be exploited by patriarchy and capitalism and contrasts that bleak outlook with people doing real, tangible good to advance sexual freedom, queer rights, and reproductive health.

also hey listen I'm going to say one that's a little goofy but a lot of fun: there's a show on Netflix (or elsewhere, if you know how to pirate) called How to Build a Sex Room that's short (only sex episodes, I think?) and nothing but fun, following designer Melanie Rose building her clients' ideal rooms to have sex in. clients range from eager to overshare to adorably awkward, and Rose is always there to encourage them to think about what they really want and how to express that desire. it's very cute and a great way to get cozy around casual convos about sex!