#hardass romance

[lynnedwardswrites]

Relationship Snippet Tag

How-to: Share a few lines or a snippet that sums up the the main relationship(s) in your WIP.

Tagged by @ceph-the-ghost-writer Tagging: @lungs-and-gills @linaket @saegolius @vcaudley @indecentpause @human-still-developing

Found a fun one in the chapter I'm working on today. Longer scene below the cut:

She shoots me a dark look. “My father is behind this.” I start putting my money away, laughing. “He’s got an interesting idea of a good time, then. I didn’t know he was into threesomes. Or is he just watching?” “Ha ha, very funny.” I chuckle. “Well what was I supposed to think you meant? That he’s trying to get Lady Ines to seduce me away from you, so you’ll go marry a nobleman?”

I look away as soon as I say it, the words striking unexpectedly close to home. I can’t help remembering the almost mocking way her father congratulated me on our relationship, or the way his eyes seemed to pierce through me on the entire trip, whittling me down to the nameless urchin I once was. That I still am, probably, as far as Luther Morgenstern is concerned. “Something like that,” she breathes, and her voice is so unexpectedly strained that I look up at her again, reprocessing her face, her posture, everything she’s said. I reach out to snag her by the arm. “Why, Lady Isabella… Are you jealous?” She shakes me off, rolling her eyes again. “Don’t call me that.” I lean towards her, walking with a twist so I can see the face she’s keeping turned away from me by pretending to look at the shop fronts we’re passing. A splash of red tinges her cheeks and my heart skips a beat. Impossible. “I think you are jealous!” I accuse. She turns an overly smooth face back to me. “Why would I be, darling?” Her cheeks are still pink. “That wasn’t a denial.” “Nor was it a confession.” “I suppose she did come on pretty strong.” She scoffs. “You think I’m jealous because some woman was flirting with you?” “I think the words were ‘tried to seduce me away from you,’” I say, flashing her another devilish grin. “Creed!” she groans, shoving my shoulder with just the right leverage to make me stumble sideways a step (something I taught her how to do). “You’ve wooed, kissed, fondled, and slept with literally dozens of women for cons we’ve run. I’ve personally made those calls more than half the time, and you’ve made them the other half. What could she possibly do to make me jealous?” “Well obviously something is bothering you. Unless that blush is an illusion?” She shoots me a glare as the color deepens. “It’s just an automatic reaction, like everything else. If you sleep with someone enough times, you’ll think you’re in love with them. If you find out they’re sleeping with someone else, you’ll get jealous, no matter what your head has to say about it. It doesn’t mean anything. I’ll get over it.” I chuckle again at the defensive edge in her voice. “Ah, so you’re not just jealous, you’re in love with me, too!” She sighs, exasperated. “Oh, yes, Credence,” she says in a voice that’s suddenly exaggerated and flowery. “How dearly I love you! No other could fill my heart as you have! And I swear I shall love you for eternity! Until the last rains fall!” “You little shit,” I say, making a lunge for her ribs with my elbow. She dances out of the way, smirking, and turns down a side street.

From The Hare and the Jackal, Draft 10, Chapter 8

[tenojan-in-tevinter]

If i had a nickel for every time I've become unreasonably attached to a human male character from a BioWare game with dark hair and brown eyes who you meet in the very first mission of the game, and has trust issues either with himself or others or both, and is also voiced by Raphael Sbarge, I'd have two nickels. Which isn't a lot but it's weird that it's happened twice.

Im talking about them

[emmodii-mode]

Just finished my first playthrough of BG3. Romanced Lae'zel, but ending up turning into an Illithid because the idea of making Orpheus or Karlach do it didn't sit well with me (or my character).

I told Lae'zel to leave with Orpheus in the end (I heard she wouldn't stay with a ghaik anyway, which she's valid for, but also, it doesn't feel right to ask her to stay when I know how much her people mean to her). And like-

Her face before she flies off---

She looks so heartbroken and sad.

[pricemarshfield]

i like playing rine in bg1 bc i’ll do something nice bc i already have 2k gold and khalid goes “gorion would be proud of your actions!” like i didn’t just tell the mayor to fuck off five seconds ago

[n1ghtwarden]

how it felt getting the minth.ara approves notifcation when my tav agreed to save a kid from ethel in act 3, when minth.ara was the one to point out we'd hurt the kid if we hurt ethel, when minth.ara approved of my tav comforting the kid after we saved her

[2goo-p]

he can look so soft sometimes and it makes me want to cuddle him u-u

[lunaticus-platina]

Look at that face.

Can you believe that that is the same man as this

Travis Hackett/Ted Raimi was originally supposed to have a scene/script part mentioning that Travis is a romance novel enthusiast. Here is the concept art of it done by @/wes_nike_illustrator on Instagram.

Thank you to discord user: cleucas for showing me this omg.

Close up of both novels.

[love-toxin]

MR O’HARA HAS ME ACTING FERAL BOTH OF MY LIPS HAS BEEN DROOLING SINCE I WATCHED ATSV OPENING NIGHT… I NEED HIM TO DESTROY ME

RIGHT??? LIKE--LIKE--

(cws: across the spiderverse spoilers, gn pronouns, smut, rough sex, mating press, size kink, biting/venom, belly bulges, mindbreak(?), breeding mention, a bit of forbidden love trope)

Like....imagine, if you will, becoming an assistant for the Spider-society after your dimension is destroyed. It's mostly because Miguel took pity on you since you're not a spider-person, you had nothing to do with the unravelling of your world, and/or you were meant to gain your spider-powers but an anomaly in your dimension prevented it. Since there's no place for you in another multiverse, he keeps you on his team both to give you asylum and to keep an eye on you just in case you prove to be an anomaly yourself....but it becomes pretty clear pretty early on that you're not really a threat. Not for violence, at least.

You're just a sweet thing that gets doted on by nearly everyone in the society--you're either a refreshing break from the endless spiderman variants running around or you remind the spiders of their Mary Janes, their Gwen Stacies, their Gayatri Singhs, and being a civilian to boot makes you the perfect candidate to have your things carried for you and be given web-slinging rides around the facility even though you're supposed to be the assistant here.

But even so, even though you're treated so lightly, Miguel really likes you and even--gasp--enjoys your company. It can be hard to tell with him, but the most perceptive of the spiders notice that Miguel keeps you in his good graces always. When he's stressed or in a bad mood, he collects himself before he speaks to you. He never snaps at you, and on the very rare times you get caught in his crosshairs, he apologizes quietly and gently and reiterates that whatever it was about, it wasn't your fault. He gives you so much wiggle room for error to the point that his companions sometimes complain outright that he's such a hardass, but he never berates you when you make a mistake, and without fail Miguel will come up with some reason for it; "That's because they don't screw up as often as you do" or "At least I can trust them to do their job", or he'll just tell whoever's bitching to leave you out of it and he'll dismiss you to discuss the matter privately.

Surprisingly, those incidents don't bother him nearly as much as when the inner circle starts getting closer to you. He feels this deep need to pull you away when Gwen offers to take you on a trip through the dimensions (although that's just plain dangerous), but it also bubbles up when Hobie hangs around and encourages you to join his band, and when Jess asks you questions about your life and is eager to hear about any potential romances you might be getting yourself into--there's a lot of single spider-people out there, and you're not tied to any dimension, so you've got plenty of options!

God, Miguel hates when Jess brings that up. You don't need to go anywhere, your place is here. You can stay here safely, which is something he can't promise in any of those other dimensions the spiders come from. But that's not the real reason, he realizes that when he feels that tingle at the sight of you holding Mayday and playing with her, having been given the task of impromptu babysitter for Peter when he has to rush off and do damage control somewhere.

It's you. He likes having you around, and it's not about letting you venture off into other dimensions, he just doesn't want you to leave him. That's why he loves it when you reply to those people, when you tell them "Oh, but I couldn't leave Mr. O'Hara! He'd lose his head without me." or "I really like this job, actually. I wanna keep working under Mr. Miguel." and especially "Miguel saved my life, I owe him all I can give. I could never leave him all alone." because it just reaffirms that desire for him to keep you as close to his side as possible. When he replays those videos of himself and his daughter, the pain is dulled for a while as he sees your eyes in hers, and envisions a future where you create a new family with him--one that he can properly protect this time.

It's that fantasy that emboldens him to lay hands on you, your body so puny and small in comparison to his massive frame, so fragile as he holds your hips in both hands and waits for you to tell him this isn't really what you want. He's waiting for it, anticipating it, even reminding you that you have the option when you look up at him shell-shocked. He promises that your answer won't affect your position here. It falls on deaf ears, however, because you desperately want to kiss him but you just don't think you can reach.

It's so adorable to see you try. Up on your tiptoes, clutching at his suit, straining to try and reach him where he's at--all it takes is an arm around your waist and he's got you off your feet and in the air, perfectly situated to press your pretty mouth to his own and awaken his instincts that have laid dormant all these long years. The stress of keeping each and every dimension following its intended canon has nearly broken him, it might have done so already if not for your unexpected appearance in his life. It's riled him up so much he doesn't think twice about taking you back to his place, nor gives him second thoughts when you help him peel that tight suit off and he tears through your clothes just as easily--maybe it really doesn't matter. His world is gone and so is yours, but you're both still here and you're begging him for another kiss, for more attention. How sweet could you possibly be? Pleading for something you'll always have and not realizing it's the least you deserve, perfect as you are?

Miguel just can't help himself anymore, he's too far gone and you’re too angelic for him to let down when you want him so badly. You don't seem to mind the rough treatment as he pushes you down either, no, you thrive on his aggressiveness and even encourage it to come out as he clambers over you. That pretty smile and those giggles as he shoves your thighs apart and spits, his venom sending electrifying tingles up and down your spine as he fingers the makeshift lube inside you. He's so bulky you can't even get your legs all the way around him when he lowers himself, forced to let your heels scrabble down his lower back as you struggle to find some kind of purchase on him--to just grab something and let it keep you steady as he slides in and rocks you into oblivion. The toxins loosen you up too, thank god, or else you'd be seriously struggling to take him in when he's practically twice your size. And he doesn't want to force it in, he just wants to ease you into the process before he allows himself to batter your poor body with thrusts that shake the whole bed--it's a little bit of payback for flaunting your pretty self around his office without ever telling him how you actually feel about him. Now you know exactly what you've been missing.

Drooling, hair sticking to your skin, sweat dripping down your chest, body gripping him like a vice yet endlessly slick....you're a total mess and he couldn't be more satisfied. You don't even try to keep yourself together, but that's all that he wants--he wants you to lose yourself in the way he makes you feel so you won't ever want to leave. The taboo is there; you're not from his dimension, he shouldn't be planning any kind of future with someone who doesn't belong in his world. But it makes it all more thrilling in the moment even if he can reason his way around it, it makes his every thrust gain power until he's breaking your willpower down enough to have your eyes rolling back in your head, hips jumping weakly as you try to participate. You don't even know how good you make him feel without lifting a finger.

Gliding through you as if you couldn't be more willing to take him, his position is clear just from a glance down at your stomach--the bulge is obvious, and as sickening as it could be your whines as you brush your fingertips over it sing his praises without a coherent word. You're so wet and stupid and needy on his cock, clearly he should've done this a long time ago when you were so much worse at hiding your pining looks at him from across the room. If he knew it would culminate into this, he would've saved the assistant crap and turned you into his stress relief toy that very first day. If he had, you might've already had a family by now....knowing him, at least.

It's still just as sweet to lick your tears up now, though. You're already drunk on his cock, it doesn't make much more difference for him to sink his fangs into your throat and pump you full of more venom straight from the source, the shock sending you straight into orgasm and dragging it out for so long he fears you might just pass out from the pleasure. It's like he's juicing up a plump little fruit until it's so ripe it could burst. And as if your own ecstasy wasn't enough, you really lose it when Miguel has you pinned and flooding that sore, fluttering little hole with so much seed it burns. Jets of pearly-white cum squirting down your thighs, painting you like a canvas without him even pulling out, because you just can't take him at his peak and you know it. You just have to whine and squirm beneath him as he fills you up, his hot breath puffing over your cheeks as he keeps you barely still enough not to wiggle away. With a shift of your hips you nearly slip off right up to the tip, his cum sloshing about and making everything too slick--but a hand slides up your neck and grips the crown of your head, his biceps flexing as he slowly pushes you back down with vermillion eyes piercing through your heated flesh. Lower, deeper, until he's seated himself up in your guts again and holds you there to milk those last few shots out of him, keep him nice and warm with those precious walls uncontrollably spasming around him. Doesn't stop you from pulling his head down closer, though, and whispering your praises while begging in whimpers in equal measure, urging him not to stop now. You're not ready to let him go.

How convenient is that? Miguel won't ever let you go, and he's known that deep in his chest since the moment you arrived--it couldn't make him any more satisfied to know that you feel the exact same way.

[skygemspeaks]

thinking about qpr married zolu

Luffy found out one day that a husband is someone who stays with you to the end and never leaves your side and he's like "oh! That's zoro!" So he proposes to zoro (i'm thinking it would specifically be after zoro wakes up from the baratie fight in the opla)

And zoro accepts

Everyone TRIES so many times to explain to him that that's not all marriage is and a marriage needs romance and sex and whatever but luffy never listens because that's not what MAKINO said and makino's right about EVERYTHING

So eventually the rest of the crew just give up and accept it. They've done their job. This is just on of their captain's idiosyncracies. It's not like it'll really change anything

So they have a little wedding when they're in loguetown.

Buggy crashes it, but when he figures out what's happening, he stops in his tracks, lets them finish the ceremony, enthusiastically congratulates the happy couple, and then resumes the attack

As the series goes on, it does slowly start to become obvious that luffy and zoro know what a typical marriage looks like, they just want theirs to be different (and since when have the straw hats done things the normal way anyways?)

Boa confesses she's in love with luffy and he's like "i'm married"

When Hiyori talks about how many guys would be delighted to wake up next to her Zoro tells her he has a husband.

People look at the super intense relationship between luffy and zoro, and are told these two are married, and even though there's nothing romantic between them they're like "yeah...that makes sense"

Whenever nami and usopp and robin sanji leave the crew they come back and zoro's the one they apologize to. Because they know that luffy doesn't want or care about apologies, he understands why they did what they did and he's not mad at them. But zoro's the hardass husband who keeps the others in line. He doesn't care what kind of sob story you have, that's no justification for the way you treated luffy. (But at the end of the day, he forgives them, always. Because they're his family too, and he loves them, he just wants to make sure they understand that what they did was wrong)

[bubble-leaves]

Hiya! could I request the male romanceables' ways of apologising to p/c after an argument? I saw a post about it and wanted to know your thoughts thanks so much and belated happy birthday!

So sorry about the wait, I had a sudden case of burnout!! Here we go!!

Hodari:

Hodari feels like the scum of the earth when he knows he hurt your feelings during an argument. His apologies are soft to you and brutal toward himself; he'll let you know that he's a hardass and stupid when he gets too into his own head. When that's out of the way, he'll explain how he never meant to hurt you, never in a million years. If he REALLY messed up, expect to be cooked your favorite meal, with your favorite dessert, and a long array of explanations and apologies into the night.

Reth:

Reth's also one to berate himself during his apologies, just out of habit. His apologies are more like rambles, really, due to how panicked he gets when he sees you're genuinely upset. He'll splutter out how sorry he is, how idiotic he was being, how wonderful you are, and how he'll do better. Even if it's just a little argument, Reth will make you an apology food of your liking, most often desserts. Or soup. That's a given. Whatever you two argued over will most likely not be argued about again, as Reth hates confrontation and doesn't want to relive hurting you again.

Hassian:

When Hassian hurts you, he cuts right to the chase. There are no excuses. There are rarely explanations. Absolutely no self-degradation; he keeps that to himself. Hassian apologizes up front for what he's done and asks what he could do to make up for it. And even if you forgive him and tell him he doesn't have to worry about it, he'll search for a meaningful gift anyway. Something like you like, something practical, or perhaps something poetic. He's not going to let you go without a physical apology.

Einar:

Einar is characteristically blunt whenever he apologizes. He'll explain his thought process for why he acted the way he did or said the things he said, not deminishing it by any means. He'll then list out his observations that he's had if you following your argument; you seem upset, dejected, frustrated. He'll explain how he does not like seeing you with such emotions. Finally, he'll apologize and let you know he won't say/do whatever he did again.

Jel:

Jel is a mixed bag when it comes to apologizing. He might delay apologizing he feels he's REALLY in the right. But at some point, he comes to the realization that his pride means less to him than you do. You are Jel's everything, and he's not going to let you suffer silently due to something he did. So, with all his melancholy, Jel will softly apologize to you and tell you how much he adores you and loves everything about you. He'll kiss you, hold you, whisper sweet words to you. Everything to make up for his callous behavior before, and to show you how much you mean to him.

Nai'o:

Nai'o rarely ever gets angry or argumentative. When he does, he's loud and actually kind of scary—which is the LAST THING he wants to be, for you. When he sees you upset because of something he said, did, or hinted at, he will profusely apologize. He'll hug you tight, whispering how sorry he is and how he didn't mean to hurt you or scare you. Later in the day, he'll come moping to you with a fresh-baked pie and flowers, even if you did already forgive him.

[loony-n-moony]

Jack headcanons pls. I'm begging 🙏🙏🙏

YE SHALL RECIEVE!!!!1

Jack Howl General HCs!!

He has a magicam dedicated entirely to his cacti

He listens to dad rock.

He has a very specific routine to keep his fur and tail fluffy and clean!!! A true man does NOT allow himself to look crusty!!!!!

If you try and throw a dog toy even as a joke he will lecture you for like 20 minutes.

That being said he will find that in record time

He’s a hopeless romantic. Like he dreams of the whole meet-cute staying together forever type stuff. 

Speaking of, absolute sucker for romance movies. He will chastise the characters for making stupid decisions, but he is INVESTED.

In that same vein, he detests reality TV, claiming that it brings out the worst in people for monetary gain (king shit tbh)

He may act like a hardass, but he switches up SO QUICK with his siblings. He wants to not only be a good role model for them, but also a figure they can rely on (I luv him fr)

He cringes whenever he watches musicals and can only handle very few (Phantom of the Opera FTW)

Has VERY low spice tolerance. Like you give this man two takis and he’s down for the count

Wants to tend to flowers more, but he lowkey has a pollen allergy (don’t tell anyone)

Believes heavily in karma, so he tries not to lose his patience very often but HOOOO do bitches (Floyd) try him

The twins pissed him off so bad on a Mostro Lounge shift one time that now there’s a giant bite mark on one of the tables in the back because he was genuinely gonna crash out

He’s picky when it comes to seafood because he hates the odor of raw fish

He really likes lime flavored candy

He’ll act all tsundere if you give him any kind of friendship bracelet “don’t think this means anything!!” Or “Don’t expect me to wear it!!!” Shit like that, but he will treasure that shit FOR LIFE

he’ll scrunch his nose when he’s confused with something and it’s lowkey adorable

Knows a shocking amount of history, like he just knows random facts off the top of his head.

It’s bc he uses documentaries as white noise LMFAO

[magewritesstories]

I’m not sure if you write for this version of this character in particular but I saw you did an incorrect quote for Harry Osborn, and I was wondering if you could do tasm 2 version Harry Osborn headcanons like a dating him includes?

Harry Osborn // Dating Headcanons

Note: ofc, ofc I would love to share some hc's (btw AU where he doesn't have the Goblin Disease) TW: mentions of fighting, possessiveness (but not in the Wattpad mafia way y'know)

okay so for starters, buckle up for enemies to lovers office romance

but it's one-sided; you dislike him, 'cause y'know he's kinda an asshole, but he just likes teasing you and doesn't actually mean anything he says

after a very drunk confrontation at an office party, you tell him you think he's an absolute asshole, and how much you hate working for him

after a while it just devolves to stupid things you dislike, like the way you hate that he drinks black coffee or that he has to have take-out all the time, or that he just randomly cancels meetings for no apparent reasons

the next day, you just find a box of chocolates on your desk

after that it's a little more smooth sailing

after a few months— which is enough time for harry to fully mourn the death of his dad— things start getting better

he's fully taken over as CEO of oscorp and proven to everybody, that despite the fact that he's young, he's still a good businessman

i imagine it's been a year, and now that you're both fully adjusted to the job, things start getting a little more spicy

at first you don't even notice the change; he puts down a cup of coffee— you're favourite order— on your desk when he arrives at the office, or he asks you to join him in eating take-out when you two are the only ones left in the office after a long day

then it escalates, you complain about the old coffee machines, and he has them replaced, or you offhandedly mention the fact that one of the lifts is always out of order, and the next day you see some poor mechanics who've been working at it all night walk past you, complaining about how much of hardass the "baby osborn" is

your friend is the one that mentions it first; "hey, weren't you complaining about those yesterday?"

at first you just shrug it off, he was being a good boss, so what?

but after a while, it gets into your head anyway

i mean, there are only so many sentences with a flirty undertone a girl can take

so, being you, you decide to outright ask him

"are you flirting with me?"

"i have been for the past three months, but thanks for noticing."

after that he just gives you one of those typical harry osborn smirks and walks off, hands in his pockets 'n everything

Once you guys actually start dating though, he's a total sweetheart

His love languages are most definitely gift giving (giving) and physical touch (receiving)

Speaking of, you bet you're closet goes from being worth 200$ to being worth 8000$ within weeks

It starts off as small things, a cup of coffee on him, or some dinner in the office, just the two of you

But it escalates quickly

By the time you're three month anniversary rolls around, he's bought you just about the entire Jimmy Choo collection, and your amazon wishlist

He remembers everything you tell him, from the fact that you love a certain colour or dislike a certain food, he'll definitely remember

When you tell him you feel bad about the amount of money he spends on you, he just shrugs it off

besides you can pay him back by wearing that Victoria's Secret gift he got you a few weeks ago

Princess treatment all the way

The entire thing, holds your bags, opens the door, has his card out and has paid before you even reach for your wallet

Just loves spoiling you

Dates are usually one of two things:

One: Super extravagant, oh there's this cool restaurant in LA you want to check out when you go there? He has two tickets booked, and he's written it in his agenda for next saturday

Two: Super chill weekend in. The two of you just relax, watch some movies, have breakfast in bed, maybe even some pillow forts if he's feeling fancy, and of course, pillow fights that somehow always end up in make-out sessions

Extremely touch-starved, so will have his hands on you all the time

And he isn't even ashamed about it

Like, y'all will be at dinner, and he'll casually put an arm around your shoulder and pull you closer to him, to the point that you're almost in his lap

"Harry, we're in public!"

"So?"

"People are staring!"

"I reiterate: So?"

Just a sweetheart in general, he loves you and he isn't ashamed of it at all

But of course, there are some downsides too

For starters, he's very unaware of just how privileged he is

He doesn't do it on purpose though, he really doesn't mean to seem like an arrogant jerk. But it just shows

For example, this one time, there was a super sale at Costco, and you were super excited to tell him, and he just stared at you like, "What's the big deal??"

You'd think hanging out with Peter would make him realize that not everyone has the same chances and problems growing up

It gets annoying sometimes, like how he just shrugs off employees overworking themselves with a "So, if they're so stressed, just take a day off."

He's trying though

Secondly, he's extremely possessive, so he gets jealous super easily

For example, the two of you will be at one of his rich people gala's—as you very fondly call them— and this random guy will have a chat with you, normal conversation, but with an obvious flirty undertone

And he'll get very annoyed

"Why didn't you tell him you had a boyfriend?" *insert pout*

"Harry, we were talking about the stock market, where would I just casually add that piece of information?"

He's annoyed for the rest of the night, as well as the car ride home— in which you tell him he's being childish— but the moment you get home he just sighs and tells you he's sorry for overreacting

Those fights usually turn into long night conversations, with tea and blankets

He also has the habit of forgetting dates

This is usually when there's a big project presentation coming up and he's nervous

Usually you don't mind, after all, you've seen first hand how brutal the board can be

But sometimes it's just a little too much, and all the other little things that have been bothering the two of you blow up into one big fight

You're both very stubborn so it just turns into a waiting game of who'll give in first

If he's the one who gives in, he usually turns up at your door with a huge bouquet of your favourite flowers and your favourite chocolates

Definitely the type to drive across the city to get you that one sweet, from that one shop you really like

If you're the one to give in, he'll just pout, and tell you he's still mad

He already gave in the moment you walked in though

He just likes to tease you, but after the third sorry he feels bad and tells you he's sorry for neglecting you too

He likes the idea of communication, and he's trying to get better at it

But when he can't find the words, he just defaults back to buying you stuff

That's how his dad always fixed stuff, so it's the only way he knows

But he tries, because it's you and you deserve nothing less than the best

[ispeakforthetrees19]

Puck Me Chapter 3

Summary: Levi's ready to prove himself to Reader at their first lesson; Reader finds out she means more than she thought to Levi from the dance team.

A/N: I love all the love for Hockey Levi. Thanks to my beta @nilfgaardianleviosa, as always. Also thanks to @pacificheights for help!

Cross posted to AO3.

Tags: Levi Ackerman/Reader, AU-Modern Setting, Hockey Player Levi Ackerman, Figure Skater and Coach Reader, Enemies to Lovers, You know where this is going, this will be explicit in the future, 2nd person POV, female reader, romance, fluff, humor.

TW: bad words, fuckboys

Words: 2.1k

Next Chapter

Chapter 3: Chasing Tail is Not an Excuse

Levi shows up to your first practice together, and you have to admit, you’re surprised at how seriously he’s taking this. He’s ready waiting by the side of the ice for you at 6:15 in the morning, wearing tight fitting black pants, a tight grey t-shirt, and his Titans hoodie slung over his shoulder.

You’ve been on the ice since 5:30, running your jumps and spins, then playing the music for your short program. Nanaba watches you from the boards, eyes narrowed as she barks out orders to you. “Bigger arms. Go faster into your jumps. Cross check. Take your time, you’re rushing.”

You adjust as needed and as the program finishes, you turn to look at her. “Not bad, eh?”

“Yeah,” she says, smiling. “I think you’re ready to start competing again.”

“No, not yet. I don’t have my triples back. There’s no point in competing without them.”

“You’ll have them back by the time competition season starts.”

“You don’t know that,” you argue. You wave to Levi to join you on the ice since it’s 6:30am and he steps on, slowly skating over to you.

“Then at least work on testing through your dances,” Nanaba argues as Levi stops against the boards, watching you talk to your coach.

“What’s the point if I don’t have a partner to test with?”

“The point is, you have to test dances with and without a partner; do it without, and once you have a partner, you’ll have half as many tests to do.”

“Ugh, fine, I’ll test through some dances.”

“We’re always striving for something,” Nanaba reminds you. “We can’t expect to do better without admitting we have room to grow.”

“Damn, dude,” you mumble. “Why are you always therapy-ing me before the sun is even up?”

“Enjoy your lesson with Levi,” Nanaba says, smiling, before skating over to her next lesson.

“Hey,” you say to Levi, turning to face him. “Sorry, she likes to nag.”

“She just wants you to keep pushing yourself. She reminds me of Coach Smith. He’s a hardass, but he pushes us hard because he wants us to get better and be better.”

You nod. You know the hockey players, for all of their complaints about Erwin, respected the hell out of him and always strive to not disappoint him.

“You’re pretty good, by the way. I don’t know what you were doing but it was great.” His face flushes slightly. It looks like it took a lot for him to admit that to you.

You giggle. “Thanks. She wants me to try for Nationals again.”

“Are you going to?” he asks, leaning his elbow against the boards.

You shrug. “I don’t know. Maybe. I’m just busy with coaching and stuff, it feels silly to try to compete.”

“Who cares about what anyone besides you thinks?” he says, scoffing. “Do whatever makes you happy. If you want to compete, then compete. I love hockey. It makes the blood sing in my veins, it’s hard to describe what this sport has done for me, not to mention the family I’ve built here.”

“You’re right,” you agree softly, smiling at him. “I’ll think about it.”

He sets his hoodie down and looks out on the ice. This early in the morning are the skaters who skate competitively or at a higher level, usually. Late-teens, early and mid-20’s who have years of experience in figure skating. Everyone strokes around for a few minutes before splitting off into their lessons or routines, program music starting to play over the loudspeakers.

“These ladies are good,” Levi says. “I didn’t realize there were more than just kids skating.”

You raise an eyebrow at him. “Where do you think we all started? I’ve been skating since I was four years old.”

Levi gives you an impressed look. “Alright, then teach me how to skate, princess.”

“Go stroke around the rink.”

“That’s it?”

“Crossovers are next, go.”

Levi frowns at you but he starts down the rink, gliding on his blades as he rounds the corner, going slowly.

“Faster!” you call to him, and you can see the irritation in his eyes.

He begrudgingly picks up speed, nearly losing his balance as he comes to the corner again. You gesture for him to finish the lap and come back to you, smiling.

He looks suspicious of your smile, and he should be, because as he glides over to you, he realizes that he theoretically knows how to stop, but actually doing it on unfamiliar skates is a whole different matter. And you knew that before he did.

His eyes widen and then his brow furrows, it’s like you can literally see the thought process on his face. Oh shit, I don’t know how to stop. Well, I’ll do a ‘hockey stop’; both blades at the same time. I do it all the time.

He catches the edge of the blades, not expecting them to be so sharp, and is flung to the ice. You step to the side as he comes to a stop by crashing into the boards next to you.

“Ow,” he says, looking up at you.

"Time to learn how to stop," you sing as he picks himself off the ice.

You walk out of the coaches room to see Levi leaning against the wall across from it, face falling as he sees you. “Where’s the outfit?”

You raise an eyebrow at him. “What outfit? They told me to wear leggings.”

You’re in black leggings and a black tank top, and you can feel Levi staring at your ass while you turn to shut the door. You turn around and tilt your head at his eyes guiltily darting up to your face. “What are you doing here?”

“I thought I’d walk you to practice.”

“Walk me a hundred feet down the hallway to the studio?”

He shrugs and you giggle to yourself at his attempted nonchalance. He starts telling you about a fight from his latest game, an explanation for the bruise on his jaw, and you find yourself daydreaming about what he looks like when he’s fighting in hockey. It makes you warm to even think about, so you try to focus on what he’s saying.

“It’s okay though, I gave him a black eye and we won the game.”

You look up at him, stopping at the door of the studio, open to show some of the girls stretching their muscles. They all fall silent as they see you and Levi talking, sharing looks between each other.

“Take it easy on the punches, okay?” you ask him.

He smiles, a little confused. “Why? It’s hockey, violence is part of the sport.”

“Don’t want you to have too many concussions,” you say, teasing lilt to your voice. “I need you to protect your brain so you can remember the steps for your debut as a figure skater.”

He rolls his eyes. “I’ll be fine.”

You brush your hair behind your ear, tucking it back into your braid, smiling at him. “I hope so, I’m really looking forward to it.”

You catch a genuine smile from him as he pulls you into a quick hug. “Fuckin’ adorable,” he mutters, so low you almost don’t catch it. “Have fun at dance practice, princess.”

“Pick me up after?” you ask him hopefully.

He winks at you and you wave, giggling as you walk into the studio. You’re suddenly aware of the ten girls staring at you with varying levels of shock.

“Hey,” you say, waving awkwardly. “Thanks for letting me join you guys for the game, I’m sorry to impose.”

“Well, when Levi Ackerman came and asked me to let you dance with us, I have to admit, I was curious,” says the captain, Historia Reiss, smiling at you, blue eyes alight. “I don’t even know if I’ve ever seen Levi twice with the same girl, but then he’s begging me to let you dance and agreed to put the letters on the jersey.”

You can’t keep the ridiculous smile off of your face, laughing as you set down your bag. “Begging? Really?”

“It’s true,” says someone named Ymir, vice captain of the dance team. “It was…pretty pathetic.”

“How did you manage to pussy whip Levi? Oh, I’m Sasha, by the way,” exclaims a girl, holding out a hand to you after asking.

You shake her hand and shrug. “I don’t think he’s pussy whipped or anything, that’s dramatic.”

“He just hugged you,” Sasha points out. “And did you say he was planning to be a figure skater?”

You laugh and explain the bet to them as you stretch your calves.

“I’ve never heard anyone talk more shit about figure skating than Levi. And you just bat your eyelashes at him and he’s skating? Unreal. I bow down to you,” Historia says jokingly.

“Damn. He’s down bad,” Ymir quips. The rest of the team giggles in agreement.

You give a faux-innocent look. “Oops.”

You hate to admit it to yourself, but you're feeling a little...romanced by Levi. You knew the reputation of the hockey team for going through girls like water bottles, but you're surprised to hear the dance team say how they think Levi is really going the extra mile to swoon you.

Never in a million years did you think you'd let a hockey player sweep you off your feet, especially not one with a reputation like Levi. You're not sure if this is just for fun anymore, but you push it to the side and just tell yourself to enjoy it while it lasts, however long that may be.

Dance practice is more intense than you anticipated. But by the end of it, you’ve learned all the steps and half the choreography. The dancers poke fun at you about Levi and you all laugh at the latest news traveling around the rink. When it’s time to go, you all spill out of the studio, laughing at a particularly funny comment from Ymir about Levi’s height.

“What’s so funny?” Levi asks, suspicious of the tone of laughter.

“Nothing,” you tell him, pushing through the girls to put your arms through his. “You’re still a good hockey player, even if you’re short.”

“Excuse me?” he says, looking back at the women barely containing themselves.

You start to pull him down the hallway, away from the team as they start laughing. “Nothing, dear. So, I was thinking you should buy me dinner.”

“Why am I buying you dinner?”

“Well, for your punishment, you get to be fully dressed. For mine, you failed to mention I’m going to be in short shorts and a bra for the performance.”

“It’s a crop top,” he points out, a shit-eating grin on his face.

“Exactly,” you say, walking into the coaches room to get your purse. “So where would you like to take me?”

He laughs, leaning against the door of the room as you slip joggers over your athletic leggings and switch out dance shoes for your warm boots. “I’d like to take you home.”

You stand up, smirking at his words. “Memorize the steps to the dance and I’ll think about it.”

His eyebrows raise in surprise, and he reaches for your hand as you walk over. You give it to him and walk down the hallway to the lobby, and you giggle when you try to let go of his hand, making him squeeze yours tighter.

“Levi, you coming back to Smith’s for the team dinner?” Eren calls from the hockey locker room as you pass by.

You go to drop his hand again, but he keeps hold of it, pulling you into the doorway beside him. “Can you make an excuse for me? Promised princess I’d take her to dinner, I forgot.”

You smile, face half hidden behind his massive bicep you’re holding onto with your other hand. Fuck, he’s so built it makes you want to drool.

Eren laughs and waves Levi off, saying he’ll find something and to enjoy his night. Levi walks you out of the rink, arm slipping around your shoulders as he leads you to his dark grey Jeep Wrangler, opening the passenger side door for you as you roll your eyes. But you still accept his hand to get into the vehicle.

“Why is Levi running drills by himself?” you ask as you walk up to Eren, in your skates, a little early for afternoon sessions the next day.

Eren and a few of his teammates are standing by the boards, watching Levi through the plexiglass with pity in their eyes.

Erwin stands at the center of the ice, following Levi, who is in full gear, as he skates drills up and down, yelling at him to skate faster and harder.

“Levi’s being punished,” Eren says, a hint of humor to his voice as he looks over at you with a smirk. “For skipping team dinner.”

“So, you didn’t make a good enough excuse for him?”

“Captain Erwin saw you two leave the parking lot together. And he says chasing tail is not an excuse.”

You can’t help but giggle as Erwin finally waves the Zamboni onto the ice, fifteen minutes before the session starts. Levi meets your eyes once his helmet is off and you pout apologetically at him.

“Sorry,” you mouth to him.

He smiles back at you, and mouths, “Worth it.”

A/N: How are we feeling about Reader and Levi's blossoming situationship? I hope you enjoyed! As @pacificheights said, "This is wonderfully unserious". That is the goal of this story, and it has been so much fun to write.

Next up will be Levi's debut as a figure skater and Reader's debut as a hockey girl. Let me know what you think! I appreciate all of you readers so much <3 thanks for encouraging me to keep posting and your love for hockey player/fuckboy Levi.

[sasskarian]

I am BLATANTLY using Veilguard as escapism and have made 3 separate Rooks. I'm still fleshing them out but screenshot from CC are below cut

My so-far "canon" Rook: Kiali

Late 30s, one (failed) marriage, one (lost) child. Joined the Shadow Dragons as a young thing, fighting the good fight. Despite being a mage, and a damn powerful one, they despise how mages hold so much power in Minrathous.

Secretly has a terrible crush on Mae.

They/them, femme-leaning NB

...no idea who they're romancing yet, tbh, but leaning towards Davrin. So far, they've flirted with everyone, and also several inanimate objects (including at least one bookshelf that flirted back).

***

Second Rook: Ashe, of the Lords of Fortune

Mid-20s, a young, bright thing. Cis, she/her, warrior.

The only thing I know about Ashe so far is that she has a personality like Rivaini sunshine, and thinks that one day, she'll be able to impress [LoF leader] enough to buy them a drink without being laughed out of the sparring ring

***

Quickly becoming my favorite, we have Ivy, of the Veil Jumpers (or? Maybe the Crows? Idk yet) (rogue)

(Edir: Nope, she's my Lord of Fortune warrior I guess???)

A mid-30s transwoman, she/her, with an explosion of curls (and a shaved ivy vine underneath them), a pot of gold face paint, and absolutely no time for Solas's bullshit or self-pity.

Ivy was barely 20 when Corypheus almost destroyed the world-- actually worked a while on the fringes of the Inquisition-- and not even 25 when Solas disappeared. Now, she's working with his old friend to stop him, and come hell or high water, she sure fucking will.

She'll never tell him, but Ivy is in love with Varric, in that very quiet way. Despite being a hardass, she is approximately 5% less of a hardass around him. Always makes sure he has a drink, enough food, and keeps the med kits stocked. Varric never runs out of supplies for Bianca with Ivy around. While Ivy is pretty far from a virgin and doesn't experience much in the way of dysphoria, the love isn't really sexual? Not that she'd mind taking the lovable street rabble for a tumble, but it's not what draws her to him.

If she stays with the VJ, she might fall for Davrin or Taash, two who desperately need someone to love. If she ends up a Crow, she finds affection for Emmerich. It's not quite the same depth of love as hers for Varric, but it's returned, which makes it the priority of the two. Emmerich, for his part, thinks Ivy is the coolest thing on Thedas and adores her.

[biteofcherry]

Happy Wetnessday 💦

I hope you're doing well.

This Wetnessday you're a professor in professor Rogers universe. Since he is already taken (sorry) you fall into a romance with another professor.

Who is he? What does he teach? How did you meet? How is your dynamic? Does he make you forget about Professor Rogers?

xoxo Wetnessday anon 💦

Hi Wetnessday Anon! 🩷

Now that was cruel. Not because you took away Steve, I would be only pouty about that. But you said I'm in professor Rogers' universe AND THEN took him away! That's like hanging a delicious, stuffed chocolate bar in front of me and then taking it away 😤

But fiiine, fiiiine, I will find myself another hot professor to erase the pout from my face.

I could go for the welcoming, flirty and approachable professor Ari. He's so hot and such a sunshine, it's so easy to be around him and with him 🥹🫠 I really should go for him.

But there's something wrong with me today, because I crave mean professor Andy 😳🫣 I blame it on all the evil pixies drowning me in awful Andy content last year. Professor Andy isn't a crazy psycho, but he is very mean and degrading in the hottest way.

He is admired and described as a hardass, but a fair one. He can be a bit moody, but students forgive him the more demanding lectures, because he also carries passionate and fun ones.

Andy is a law professor and as such you shouldn't have a lot of common with him when you start working at the university, since you teach a different faculty. You'd probably only meet in passing and spend some time at the official parties.

However, he's the one the dean introduces you to first, simply because you bumped into him on your tour after signing the contract.

Andy wasn't in a welcoming mood at all, but he still offered a smile and a warm if short greeting. Though his face shifted into cloudy annoyance when the dean got a phone call and without previous agreement he sort of dumped you onto Andy to show you around.

And he's not happy about it.

No, he's not in rush, but he's not much interested in playing a babysitter for the Ice Queen. And he says as much, readjusting his cufflinks.

Your spine hardens into steel at the mention of the nickname you've been given by colleagues in the past.

Because you don't enjoy getting wasted after the conferences, because you refused quite a few flings, because you focus on keeping to yourself and allegedly reported a romance at your past job (you didn't, but that fucker Ransom still thinks it's because of you that he had to break it off with the student; he's the one who gave you the nickname and a snide remark that you were jealous of him not wanting to touch your frigid ass).

"I may be the Ice Queen, but you're an asshole." You tilt your chin and give him a freezing look.

"Someone should play with your asshole to loosen you up."

There should be retort at the tip of your tongue. You're already forming it. But for a second your brain stumbles in attaching the right wires into right spots, instead igniting with the image of Andy's velvety voice cooing at you as his fingers scissor that tight hole.

"Ah!" A dark spark ignites in his blue eyes at your pause.

"Is that it, Ice Queen?" He takes a step into your personal space and you make the mistake of taking a step back. Which he follows, backing you against the wall as he taunts:

"Do you need to be used thoroughly like a needy slut, so that your brilliant, calculating brain switches off and you melt into a puddle?"

"Stop it." You huff, trying to glare at him. But you can't hide the shortening of your breath as Andy presses even closer.

"No, I don't think I will." He chuckles and it's a scarily seductive sound that heats your blood. "And I think you will love it when I keep pushing... and ruining... and filling your holes."

[livelovecaliforniadreams]

I Am All In Rewatch - Episode 2x13

I gotta tell you, I I watched that.. the scene in the diner, and then the scene at the picnic between those two and with Luke and Lorelai and I just you know, I miss working with her. I thought we were great together. I thought that was just magic. I really thought it was funny. And I mean, how else I don't know how I got away with being so uh, I don't know, just just such a hardass....I think that's one of the reasons because I really kind of dug that attitude. You don't see that that attitude is so misplaced in that show. It's like what what I mean. It's like it's almost reaching Yanic levels of of sarcasm... I just was surprised that all of the resistance, like I'm not participating in this ridiculous thing, Taylor. You know, It's like it was funny. I really enjoyed watching it because I didn't expect it. I just didn't expect it, and I didn't expect how Luke was at the picnic and she started getting all mooney with me a little bit....He knew what he was saying to her. She was romancing him. She was telling him that she has a crush on him and that she's in love with him. She's basically saying that. That's how I read it. So it was like this complete reversal, and it was not like episodes before. It's like my friend, my friend, and she's not no. I mean, we're just friends and this kind of thing. But now suddenly during Tisket and Tasket, she I think she she kind of owned her feelings a little bit and opened up to him in the gazebo and it made him uncomfortable a little bit... I was very charming. I thought she was very charming in that scene, and I thought that..It was my favorite, uh so far, my favorite Luke and Lorelai scene, that gazebo scene. I love that scene. I really loved it. Yeah, yeah, I just I really enjoyed it. I really did. -Scott