#he and maura are also very cute

[calyptramoths]

I FINISHED THE DREAM THIEVES. HOLY SHIT. SPOILERS IN TAGS.

[rudnitskaia]

If Augusto wants to call Maura somehow especially tenderly, he calls her mia marasca (my cherry, implying my little cherry). Marasca is a sort of wild cherries with small sweet-sour berries that are perfect for creating cherry liqueur. Despite it would be more linguistically logical to associate Maura with blackberry (which is la mora in Italian), for Augusto Marasca cherries have a very special meaning, nostalgic even. As I wrote in his story, his family owned a small vineyard, but there also were a few Marasca cherry trees that usually start to blossom in April, just the month when Maura was born.

In the distant future Mau will also call her son Niccolò mio nocciolino (my little nut) sometimes, but mostly she perceives it as a cute family tradition that she took from her father.

Picture is taken from here

[tcwmatchmakingau]

The Beauty In All, Part Two

Editor's note: written by @deejadabbles Pairing: Echo x GN!reader Rating: General Audience (but minors DNI) Summary: Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice- still shame on you, don't take advantage of my kindness! After so many times of falling for people who mock and manipulate your kind nature, you thought that love, true love, was simply not in the cards for you. Thankfully, Right to Love is here to make sure you and a lucky ARC trooper get your happy ending together. A.N: For some clarity: in my take on this AU, Palps had his "unfortunate accident" pretty late into the og clone wars timeline, so Echo was still rescued from the techno union and was rolling with the bad batch for awhile. And of course, since this is an everyone lives AU too, Tup's chip never activated so that whole thing never went down, Everyone lives, everyone's rescued, happy endings all around! Also....if you guys read this chapter closely, you'll see references to more stories I have planned for this AU *wink wink* Lastly, Daria is @blueink-bluesoul 's wonderful OC, who you will find in other works of this AU! Word Count: 2,742

Warnings: Mentions and discussions of ableism

Part One

With all her appointments taken care of for the day, Maura sat at her desk and got to work with the stack of profiles under her care. With her favorite playlist starting in the background and a shawl wrapped loosely around her shoulders, she started sorting today’s new clients. She used her own little “personality-type” system to highlight and sort each of them, which made it easier to draw up a short list of possible matches for each client, which were then looked into deeper from there.

She had gotten this process down to a nice, practiced rhythm and had just begun drawing up the ‘maybe-matches’ for the first new client, when there was a knock on her door. As usual, she gave a distracted noise to whoever was on the other side, and most people at RTL would know it meant a cheerful, “come in”.

“I come bearing gifts,” came an almost light tone, and Maura didn’t have to look up from her desk unit to know it was Kix.

Still, because it was Kix, she tore herself away from her work and smiled up at him. He was holding two togo cups in his hands, both bearing the logo of the tapcaf down the street that many at the matchmaking service frequented nowadays.

Kix was giving his most charming smile as he handed the cup to her, “One hot cocoa, with extra whipped cream and caramel drizzle. And yes, hot cocoa, because I know that, even if you like it, caf this late in the day makes you stay up all night.”

His smile was very infectious, not that she needed much reason to smile, but it was easy around a man like Kix. “You are the actual sweetest,” she said as she took the cup, waiting till she removed the lid and swiped some of the cream before adding, “even if it is just a bribe.”

Kix didn’t even flinch. He was still smiling as he put a hand over his heart, “But I bring you drinks all the time without ulterior motives.”

Maura leaned back in her chair and narrowed her eyes playfully at the medic, “In the morning, yes, not in the afternoon. Come on, Kix, out with it.”

He at least had the decency to look like he was thinking his answer over, even though she knew he had whatever he wanted to say planned down to a T. Finally he sank into her chair, instantly grabbing the tooka plushy and holding it aloft. “So, I had a lovely chat with one of today’s clients in the waiting room and I was thinking that they would be perfect for…you know who,” he moved the tooka’s head as if it agreed with him. Dang it, he was bringing out all the cute charm today

Honestly, she should have expected this, especially since she knew exactly who he was talking about…and that the thought crossed her mind too. How could it not? You were charming and sweet and obviously cared deeply about people, especially clones. One of her previous clients, Tiio, had sent her a long, detailed letter of recommendation the moment you signed up for RTL. Everyone knew about the whole flower crown event now and, according to Daria, even Fox was fond of you and the way you treated his brothers.

And, as for ‘you know who’, Maura had met the stubborn brother in question a few times now, when Kix invited her along to 79s. Even when she wasn’t working, Maura couldn’t help but to read people, to think about and observe them, and that man may benefit from someone like you.

But, in the end, none of that mattered. Not until Echo came to RTL himself. 

“Kix,” it was undoubtedly a warning, though it had no real teeth since she knew he was a good enough man not to make her resort to that. “You know I can’t do anything until he comes to us. And even then, I can’t set them up on a date just because you got a feeling or a vibe.”

“I know I know,” he set the tooka plush on his lap so he could hold up both hands to her, “Obviously you know more than I do, I just had a short conversation, but,” he shrugged, “I don’t know, I just got this feeling when I talked to them. You’re the expert but, if I can finally drag him in here, will you at least give their compatibility a look over?”

Maura quirked an eyebrow, “You think you’re wearing him down?”

He ran a hand over his neatly designed hair, looking a little smug now, “You know not to underestimate my skills. We’re going out tonight, a bunch of us and a lot are bringing their partners. I bet the morning caf that Echo’s name will pop up in the appointment requests by this time tomorrow.”

All she could do was wave her hands, “I won’t promise anything, but, if he submits his profile, I’ll keep all possible matches in mind.” Oh, he was practically beaming now. “But Kix, don’t expect me to wait for him if you still haven’t convinced him,” her tone was firm, but he knew she was only saying it as a professional reminder.

“I wouldn’t expect any less,” was his pleased reply, “I won’t even say I told you so when he signs up.”

“No.”

Kix looked quite affronted, “You don’t even know what I was going to say!”

Echo’s eyebrows climbed up his forehead, “You mentioned Right to Love, I know where this conversation is going.”

As if he couldn’t be bothered with his brother’s offended look, Echo simply took another drink of his Bespin brandy as Kix recovered himself. Currently, between everyone who had shown up tonight, Echo, Kix, Tech, and Hunter were the only ones still sitting at the booth and table they’d claimed. Fives always made sure to include Echo when the old 501st gang went out, and in turn, Echo tended to drag clone force 99 along with him. It had taken…a while for the two teams to get used to each other, but they'd managed something of a relationship by now.

Kix leaned back in his chair, “All I said was that there’s been another influx of new clients recently.”

“And,” Echo said in a bored tone, “that was your attempt at shifting the conversation so you can try to convince me to sign up, again.”

“There’s something wrong with that?” Kix shrugged, unbothered by the resistance, “It’s kind of my job to pester my brothers into taking care of themselves.”

“I don’t see how getting set up on a blind date is ‘taking care of myself’.”

“You know it’s more than that.”

“Kix,” Echo’s voice was a rumble now, but made it a little less barbed at the edges when he said, “why are you so set on this?”

The other man couldn’t help but sigh. He cast a look around the table, Tech was engrossed in his datapad while Hunter leaned back with his eyes closed. Hopefully, they would use the loud music as a way to turn a blind ear.

Still, Kix leaned in and lowered his tone when he said, “Vod, I see the way you look at them.” 

Even though he certainly didn’t need to, he nodded his head toward their brothers. To Fives who was dancing with his once shy partner. To Tup who was cheering his girlfriend on at the billiards table. To Rex who, while never having been a client, still found love at the little service devoted to it.

“It’s okay to want what they have, Echo,” Kix said, and he hoped the sincerity in his tone came through.

Echo didn’t look at him, at first he seemed to stare at nothing in particular, but Kix knew his eyes were drifting between the pairs. He saw the way he watched Fives tease a blush out of his cyare, or Tup smile when his girl leaned her head on his shoulder, or Rex and his little matchmaker staring at each other with pure adoration.

Kix took a sip of his own drink before adding, “Look, I’m not saying love’s going to make life perfect or anything, but, I think they could find someone who could really make you happy.” He waited a beat, then nudged his old friend in the shoulder. “Hell, I’m sure they can even find someone who can handle how grumpy you are. And when that happens, I know you can make that person happy too.” This time he didn’t give Echo a chance to reply, instead, scooting his chair back from the table as he took their glasses, “Think about that while I get us another round.”

  Still there, at the table, Echo watched the medic go and released a long breath from the depths of his chest. Yes, Echo had thought about Right to Love many, many times. Every time one of his brothers gushed about their partners, he would feel a small, short tug in his chest. Echo never had been, nor ever would be, the type of man who needed to be in a relationship, but, there was still a longing there. A pining, almost. And he supposed he owed it to himself to finally acknowledge its existence.

“I think it’s a good idea.”

The voice startled Echo out of his thoughts and he turned to find Hunter, still sitting with his head tilted back and eyes shut.

“All you can lose is time, Echo, so why not try it?”

“There’s more to it than that,” he grumbled.

Hunter finally opened his eyes and looked at him. “So? Since when have you backed down from anything? I would have thought the ARC trooper in you would like the risk.”

Echo knew what Hunter was doing, especially since Hunter was observant enough to realize what he meant by ‘more to it’. Still, he had to admit that Hunter's challenge was working.

And, once Echo thought about it with a little more grace, he supposed Kix had a point. If there was anywhere that could help him find someone who was nothing like his previous dalliances, it was probably RTL.

Kix was making his way back to the table now, and got a thankful nod from Hunter when he handed him a fresh drink. Before the medic could even settle back in his chair, Echo knocked him off balance with his next words.

“Alright, you win.” 

  If Echo wasn’t so hardwired to see things through, he might have walked out the door during the time he waited in the lobby. Filling out the profile questions had made this all feel a little too real all of a sudden and a part of him still couldn’t believe he was actually doing this.

Still, seeing the look on not only Kix’s face, but the way Fives’ lit up when he heard that Echo was coming here, made it all a little easier. Kix at least had the decency not to keep harping on the matter after he ‘won’ so to speak. Fives, on the other hand, couldn't stop going on about how excited he was that Echo was ‘getting out there’ again and would finally find someone they could go on double dates with.

It was half endearing, half annoying as all kriff.

Now, Echo was being led into a cozy little office by a woman who put the casual in business casual. A part of him was glad it was Maura who took him on, at least he knew her, even if they weren’t necessarily friends. Though, he supposed if they were, that would be some kind of conflict of interest.

“So, how does this work?” he asked after settling down in the chair across from her.

“Right now? We talk so I can get to know you better, so I can understand your needs and what you’re looking for better.”

To the point, but not unkind, Echo could respect that. “What do you want to know?”

For a moment she simply looked at him, considering and he felt a little uneasy under the gaze, not that he would let it show. Then, “I want to know why you were so reluctant to come here.” Her eyes softened a little, though she didn’t take them off him, “You don’t strike me as someone who balks at love, or even what we do here. And yet, Kix has spent many a lunch break complaining about how you brushed him off every time he brought it up to you.”

Alright, diving into the deep end. At least she didn’t waste time. Still, he needed a moment to think, to collect himself and she seemed patient, settling back in her chair to relax a little.

“It’s not just Right to Love," he started after a while, "it’s not as if I have some weird prejudice against this place. It’s just, dating in general, I suppose.”

“A bad history with dating?”

Echo scoffed, “Yeah, you could say that.”

She didn’t reply, just continued to look back at him, only now she gave him a small, encouraging smile.

Again, he waited a moment, falling back on some of his strategic tendencies before he even thought about it. Old habits died hard, but, he did want to think his answer over carefully. It’s not as if he kept these things secret and, if he was going to tell someone, it should be the woman responsible for finding him someone who wouldn't repeat the mistakes of lovers past.

Echo shifted in his chair, eyes drifting down to the dark wood of her desk. “In the past, when I’ve tried to date, I either get one extreme or the other.” He lifted his prosthetic hand and waved it over the rest of him, over every cybernetic detail. “A lot of people can’t handle this. They act like they can at first, but I see the way they look at me before eventually forgetting my comm number. Or, they’re at the other end of the spectrum. They see all this and think that they need to ‘fix’ me.” The word was bitter in his mouth, and his eyes snapped up to meet hers again, “I don’t need to be fixed, just like I don't need someone who can't stand the way I look. I don't want either of those. I want someone to look at me and…”

His voice trailed off, which was a little unlike him. Echo was usually so sure in his words and actions.

“To look at you and just see you?” Maura finished for him, and the words struck home.

Echo found himself taking in a breath, then, he almost let out a huff of a laugh, “Yeah. Just me. I’m not saying that these aren’t a part of who I am, they are, but there’s so much more to me than that.” He sighed, "So yeah, that's why I'm a little reluctant on dating."

That small, encouraging smile got wider and warmer as she straightened up in her chair, “Thank you for being so honest with me, Echo. Being hesitant to put yourself in our care is understandable, given all that.” It was only then that her eyes left him, instead focusing on her datapad as she typed away. “I’m not going to belittle the trust you’ve put in me by making flowery promises. I can’t guarantee that whoever I match you with will undoubtedly see you the way you deserve to be seen. I will, however, promise that I won’t give up until we find someone who does.”

Echo chuckled at that, “So, you’ll take on my high-maintenance case?”

Maura smiled at him, “High-maintenance? Oh, dear Echo, don’t flatter yourself. If you were truly that, we probably would have sent you to Daria. I don’t think there’s ever been a challenge that woman didn’t want to tackle." She winked at him, "You’re stuck with me instead.”

“You’re at least honest with me,” Echo shrugged, “And Kix seems to have faith in you, so I’ll trust his judgment.”

“I’m so glad I have glowing recommendations,” she drawled as she finished her notes.

He actually found himself smiling and almost, almost felt like something in his chest lightened. Alright, Echo wasn’t too proud to admit when someone else was right and, somehow, he actually had a good feeling about this.

 .

[julieverne]

The new Medical Examiner stayed in the basement. When she went out on a scene, she was covered head to foot in tyvek, a floppy hat on her head, an umbrella held over her.

"Cause of death?"

"Impossible to determine at this stage," Doctor Maura Isles said, despite the gaping wound in the torso. Jane sighed and shook her head, shifting the umbrella she held for the doctor, who fixed her in place with a stare.

"I burn very easily," Maura reminded her.

"Yeah, you said," Jane said, rolling her eyes. She held the umbrella still, though, looking down at the other woman. Pale, pale skin, the kind that would burn easily. Dark clothes - although Jane was also in dark clothes the didn't seem to contrast so starkly against her tanned skin. Red, red lips. Maura looked up again, and Jane looked away quickly, swallowing. She saw Maura's nostrils flare, a little smile on those taunting lips.

---

In the morgue, Maura seemed even smaller and paler, the bright lights flooding her out, making her blue veins visible. Jane paced nervously, but Maura didn't seem to mind. She seemed to welcome the company. The blinds were closed, and the evening was rolling in.

Jane paused as Maura drew some blood, watching the way Maura licked her lips as she did so. Maura looked up, startled, then put the vials on the lab tray.

"He's missing half his torso, what is his blood going to tell you?"

"You'd be surprised," Maura said, taking them into the lab. Jane stared down into the ragged hole where internal organs should be. Maura came back, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand before sliding her glove back on.

The autopsy was short, mostly because there were no organs to retrieve or examine. Jane helped Maura slide the body into cold storage, as much forensic evidence as they could retrieve already stored in the lab. Jane followed Maura in, taking off her gown and leaving it in the receptacle. Maura followed suit, removing her gloves too. There was a smudge of blood where Maura had wiped her mouth, and there was a test tube missing.

That wouldn't be suspicious if there hadn't been a spate of drained bodies around the city.

Jane looked away quickly as Maura washed her hands.

"I'm done."

"Do you want to grab some dinner?"

"I had a snack earlier, I'm fine."

"A drink, then?"

Maura eyed Jane with curiousity. Then she nodded.

"Sure. Why not?"

---

Jane had thought of the new ME as a quiet, serious woman, but after a drink or two she relaxed. Her smile came more readily. She had two little teeth that were very cute, a little sharp, a little pointed.

"I live right around the corner," Jane said, when the bar closed down. Maura nodded and followed her. She paused in the doorway, peering in, her nose scrunched as she took in the hockey sticks and trophy case.

"Come in, come in," Jane said impatiently. She staggered over to the kitchen cabinet. "Anything to drink? I have, like, green tea. And coffee."

"Coffee?"

"Powdered." Jane's nose scrunched, and Maura chuckled, closing the door behind her. Her hazel eyes flashed with mischief as she closed in on Jane.

"I think we both know I'm not here for something to drink," Maura said, her voice low and husky. Her hands closed around Jane's hips, gripping them tight as she tilted her head back to look up into Jane's face. "But I am very, very thirsty. Seeing you swagger around with all your long limbs all day. The way you bite your lip when you look at me. The way I can see your abs though your shirt." Maura bit her own lip, her elongated eye teeth catching and pulling at the plush, plump flesh. "Tell me I'm wrong?"

"You're not wrong," Jane rasped, her voice caught in her chest. She couldn't quite close the gap between them, but Maura didn't hesitate, brushing her lips against Jane's with a satisfied exhale that slipped past Jane's open lips and lodged in her chest. She found her own hands grasping Maura, pulling her closer, those teeth retracting when they scraped her lips. Their height difference meant Maura had easy access to Jane's throat, which she pressed her lips to, scraping her teeth lightly against Jane's jugular, making Jane shudder and remember the little spot of red she'd seen on Maura's lips as she came back from the lab, the reddish brown stain Mara had washed from her hand where she'd wiped it. Jane led Maura into the bedroom, but Maura baulked at the door.

Jane had a cross over the bed. Maura hissed, eyeing it with distaste. Her teeth seemed longer now, somehow. Jane quirked an eyebrow at Maura's reaction.

"I'm really only lapsed Catholic," Jane told Maura. "My mother insisted. I think she thought it would keep me from premarital sex. If it bothers you I'll take it down." Jane plucked it from the wall and shoved it in a drawer. She went to touch Maura, but the other woman pulled away with another hiss.

"We should wash our hands, if we're going to continue. We've been out in a bar, and there are places I'd like to touch you without introducing foreign bacteria."

Jane rolled her eyes but complied easily, not even having second thoughts about her first time with a woman. Maura kissed the back of her neck as she washed up, and then washed her own hands, dragging Jane back to the bedroom.

---

Jane woke with Maura's head on her chest. The light was filtering in through Jane's net curtains, and she sighed contentedly. The light struck Maura's bare shoulder, and her skin started to simmer, as though it was a steak on a griddle. Jane covered the shoulder with a sheet, not worried at all.

Maura woke, flinching from the sunlight.

"So. You're a vampire, huh?"

"What gave it away?" Maura asked breezily, not worried about having her cover blown.

"I had to invite you in. The cross scared you. Your skin smokes in sunlight."

"You're remarkably calm."

"You know what Hoyt did to me. This doesn't come close. Besides, only someone like me could have survived him."

"I knew you smelled of something. What are you?"

"Succubus, obviously."

"That explains a lot. You didn't have to seduce me. You could have just asked if I was a vampire. I'd have told you. I trust you, against my better judgement."

"I didn't use any of my seduction on you, and I didn't feed off you. And you didn't bite me. I think that makes our working relationship promising."

"I work in the morgue because I can't feed off live people," Maura mumbled against Jane's collarbone, as though she was ashamed of her inability to harm humans.

"And I work with homicide, but I make sure I feed off the sex criminals that come through the station. Not - not like that. Ugh, no. Not like - not like how we were last night. That was just for - just because. I didn't use anything to make you want me, and I didn't feed off you either. But I'm sure, if you're ever unable to get fresh blood, you could probably use me. If you wanted to."

"That's a very generous offer, but I don't want to hurt you."

Jane closed her arms tighter around Maura, a happy smirk on her face.

"As a detective, I do have to ask if you know anything about these bodies showing up without any blood. Friends of yours?"

"Hardly. My - my biological family. I was adopted, and they raised me vegan, which I appreciate. But it looks like my biological family has found me and is hunting me down." Maura nuzzled in closer to Jane, her tongue flicking for a moment over the pulse in Jane's throat, her lips and teeth pressed against it as Jane pressed against her with a moan. Aware the mood had shifted drastically, Maura moved away reluctantly. "I'm scared, Jane. I don't want to be like them. I like solving murders. I like working alone. I don't like to be around people in case I hurt them. I don't want to hurt anyone."

"You wouldn't," Jane said tenderly, stroking Maura's hair. "We can find them first. I'm a detective. You're a doctor. We can find them, and make sure they leave town, if that's what you want." Jane looked uncertain about wanting to kill or banish Maura's relatives, and Maura kissed her again for her sweetness.

"We?" she asked shyly, aware that there was a bond between them. It wasn't often two supernatural species consummated, but when they did, the imprint was strong and usually bonded them for life. She'd made her choice last night, not quite sure what Jane was but knowing from her scent that she wasn't entirely human. She'd trusted Jane, and it felt like for once she'd made the right choice.

"We," Jane agreed, kissing Maura slowly and tenderly. "Right after I get some proper blackout curtains."

Maura snuggled back into the only true comfort offered her, Jane's body warm and alive against her own cool skin.

"Okay," Maura said shyly, accepting Jane as one of her pack.

---

I do not read or write supernatural stuff in this vein but this was fun.

[mauraandeyk]

I just can’t get over how familiar Maura and Eyk seem to each other, and how distant Maura and Daniel feel in comparison.

They don’t ACT like acquaintances at ALL. Like:

The way they stare at each other but from like literally the first time they meet on deck lmao

Maura being veryyyy touchy and handsy

Maura sharing about her miscarriage and that she can no longer have children, not something usually shared with an almost-stranger and most DEFINITELY not in 1899

Eyk reciprocating by telling Maura, REPEATEDLY, that his family has tragically died, again, not something normally shared with a mere acquaintance like who does that?

Maura telling Eyk about her being a Singleton DESPITE knowing Eyk is already suspicious of her?! Running a real risk of losing her only ally there and she does it ANYWAY because trustttt

Eyk confessing he hears his dead daughter’s voice and that he might be going insane and seeking comfort but also being VERY vulnerable here (again, it’s 1899, and he’s literally telling this to someone who’s studied medicine!!)

Maura grieving and panicking when Eyk is “deactivated” and desperately begging for him to be brought back to “life”

“Thank you for believing I’m not crazy” (paraphrasing)

All the arm touching lmao

Eyk asking, concerned, if Maura is not eating that one time (cute!) - but also does that mean he saw everyone eating and then saw that Maura WASN’T and then went to look for her to see if she’s okay??

Maura being all protective over Eyk wanting to take a swing at Sebastian lmao

Maura handing over the key despite really not wanting to because she feels Eyk is in danger (“I wouldn’t do that if I were you”) and she barely even hesitates

Maura looking like she might throw up when confessing she’s actually married and Eyk stumbling over “your husband” because it’s too painful to acknowledge

[sonicjustbecause]

Sonic Italian voices. What I think. What are my favourites:

Nine doing the well known Italian hand gesture 🤌. I smiled when I saw it.

I'm Italian (for this my English sucks, at least, I hope it is readable). I tend to wathc shows in italian, English and Japanese. Usually I enjoy Italian and Japanese dubbing, English... not so much, I don't like the choices of VA usually. Sonic Prime is one of the few exceptions. I'm glad to not hear RCS as Sonic. Is voice is terrible for him. Kirk's Shadow also is bad. I can say is the only Shadow I prefer to avoid to listen.

In 30 years Sonic series changed the VA but for some voices only from Boom and in videogames we are finally getting there.

Italian Sonic VA have been four as far as i remember: Pietro Ubaldi, Fabrizio Vidale, Daniele Raffaeli and Renato Novara.

Pietro Ubaldi is known to be the dubber of virtually all cats characters, both anthro and four legged such as Michael (What's Michael) to Giuliano (Love me Knight) to Artemis (Sailor Moon) to the blue scottish fold Doraemon but he also dubs funny villains. He dubbed Sonic in Sonic SatAM and AoStH. it sounded a bit weird in that role I must say.

Fabrizio Vidale dubbed also Shadow, going as far as making Shadow talk exaclty the same way Sonic talks, same speech pattern and inflection to underline their likeness. He was not much appreciated in that role and was also weird as Sonic though he managed to show his personality. Fabrizio Vidale was also the Italian VA of the inspector Gadget.

Daniele Raffaeli dubbed Sonic in Sonic Boom (serie). I think he has the cutest Italian voice for Sonic, I love that. He also dubbed Shadow (of course) but I have no idea about how he dealth with him, I only was able to watch about 10 episodes of Sonic Boom that were dubbed in italian. I was surprised to enjoy Sonic Boom, since I didn't give it credits. Shadow with a cute voice? Mmmh, I'm curious...

Renato Novara, the official Sonic VA (also in Videogames and in Sonic Movie) has a pleasant voice too. I think it sounds youthful and gives the impression of a strong yet funny character.

Tails also had four VA in my country: Veronica Pivetti, Federica de Bortoli, Maura Cenciarelli and Benedetta Ponticelli.

Veronica Pivetti was for Sonic SatAM and AoStH. She has a versatile voice, shge dubbed Megara from Disney's Hercules making her sound like an adult woman (of course), but she also dubbed Dende from Dragon ball and Tails, giving them an innocent childish voice. One thing I like about Italian voices choice is that children are virtually always dubbed by women, never by men. I hate to hear a 8 years old child talking with the voice of a 30 years old man. Few men can dub a child in a convincing way (we had Paolo Torrisi, his voice sounded easily like the one of a 10 years old kid. Unfortunately he died few years ago)

Federica de Bortoli dubbed Tails in Sonic X. Is long i don't watch Sonic X but I remember a nice childish yet determined voice.

Maura Cenciarelli didn't give me a strong impression. If I can tell Sonic's voice was cute, I can't tell what i think about Tails, apart from 'its fine as a kid voice'.

Benedetta Ponticelli has a very cute voice for Tails. She is also the official VA for videogames, she dubbed Tails in the movies and Nine, Mangey, Sails. While keeping the cuteness, I can tell Nine is spot on and can be scary with a cute sounding voice.

Knuckles had three VA here: Davide Garbolino, Oreste Baldini and Maurizio Merluzzo.

Davide Garbolino dubbed Sonic in Sonic Underground. He is one of the few men who is able to properly dub a kid (most of the character he dubbed were kids, indeed), but I never watched Sonic Underground so I have no idea about how he sounded as Knuckles.

Oreste Baldini dubbed Knuckles both in Sonic X and Sonic Boom. I kinda liked his voice but thinking about that, it didn't left me a strong impression, although i laugh when he i remember him screaming: 'Oh no! The curse of the moose' in Italian from Sonic Boom.

Maurizio Merluzzo is a GENIUS! I don't like, that's reductive, I LOVE his interpretation for Knuckles. Is a while he dubs Knuckles but he did his best in Sonic movie and following. he is also the VA in videogames.

Amy only had two VA: Antonella Baldini and Serena Clerici.

Andonella Baldini dubbed Amy in Sonic X and sonic Boom, while Serena Clerici dubs Amy in videogames and in Sonic Prime. Both of them represent what I love about Italian dubbing. Most of the time, Italian dubbers try to keep the voices as close as possible to the original voices. In shows that they respect particularly (like the Simpson) they go as far as choosing VA wich voice are virtually identical to the originals.

Serena Clerici uses a high pitched voice for Black Rose and Amy, while she sound more adult while dubbing Rusty and Thorn. Maybe my favourite is her Thorn interpretation.

For Shadow we got three VA, two of them shared with Sonic. Fabrizio Vidale, Daniele Raffaeli and Claudio Moneta.

I didn't hear Daniele Raffaeli yet, so I can't say how his voice sounds on him. But I can say, as far as I know, Shadow is not as soft spoken as in the English version. On the contrary, he talks loud and clear.

Fabrizio Vidale dubbed Shadow in Sonic X making him sound like Sonic. Terios, the reflection in short. I think this robbed some of Shadow's characterization. Shadow and Sonic shared the same voice in English version too, but Jason Griffith and Ryand Drummond were good to make them sound different. More like two identical twins who have also identical vocal folds, but due to their different personalities, they also have a different speech pattern and inflection. so they seem to have two different voices.

Claudio Moneta opted to show Shadow's emotions through his voice. he is an actor who prefer to put his personal twist on character he dubs rather than giving a perfect imitation, making him sound very strong, determined and no-nonsense but he sounded cheerful when he did steal all Sonic's regulators. Honestly I would have preferred to hear a soft voice in my language. He also dubbed Goku and Zarbon (the latter was dubbed as soft spoken).

Eggman got six VA, but I didn't hear all of them: Toni Fuochi, Riccardo Lombardo, Dario Penne, Gerolamo Alchieri, Roberto Pedicini and Aldo Stella.

I like most of them but I would talk about two in particular: Roberto Pedicini is the VA for the movie. More than the VA of Eggman he is the VA of most Jim Carrey interpretation, and he sounded dangerous, although funny in the movie.

Aldo Stella is Eggman in the videogames and in Sonic Prime.He also dubbed Guldo from Dragon Ball. his voice sounds nasty, rasp and high pitched and I like it. It makes me think what Eggman is, a mad scientist.

[baura-bear]

MAURA IMPORTANT AS FUCK !!!!!! what do you think david's favorite books are. make this as self indulgent as you want bc then i will also learn what books you like :33 personally i think he loves classic polish books (they help him reconnect with that part of his identity which can be a little hard considering he lives so far away) such as pan tadeusz or kordian and especially wesele (it didn't come out until the 1900s but shhh he would LOVE wesele) and also i think he really loves 20,000 leagues under the sea (i think he just loves the fantastic elements, the way the ocean is described + also captain nemo was originally supposed to be polish and yadda yadda i don't want to dump too much here..) AND little women. because of reasons i think. the march family dynamic is so sweet and also i definitely think david's gay ass would find laurie cute SORRY i got really passionate about this my bad.

Guys, I had and Epic Autism Moment so this will all be under the cut. You have no clue what you've started Dave <3

OMG YES YES YES!!! I LOVE THIS! ok ok ok so i definitely agree with you about the polish literature thing (although i obviously don't know anything about polish literature) I always imagined David to live in an immigrant neighborhood (and of course be an immigrant himself) and I'm sure he has several neighbors who, throughout his youth, lent him and gifted him books.

(going off the rails for a second idc) I think his family is really active in the community (of course they attend shul) Mayer and Esther love talking with the neighbors and having them over for dinner or just tea or something. Esther mends clothes to make a little extra money so she frequently has folks coming to her with that. I also think there's a kosher deli nearby and Mayer is friends with the owner (well the whole Jacobs family is friends with their family) I know that in 92sies it's established that Mayer works in a factory but with the stage version we get a bit more lenience PLUS (this might sound terrible) but like. his injury doesn't look that bad in 92sies (LET ME EXPLAIN) his arm is just in a sling so we can infer his arm is broken (i honestly don't remember if they ever say??) but I feel like he'd be able to a job like he wouldn't be completely indisposed. anyway in the stage version it makes more sense that he has a leg injury and can't walk, hence the inability to work. I imagine he helps do deliveries and like loading stuff off of carts. His injury actually happened out on the street trying to stop a kid from getting hit by a wagon and he did, it was just to his expense. "twisted his leg up real bad" I take that literally like.. it got caught in the wheel and twisted up. and I think the deli owner saw it happen and got him home (along with a few other fellas and a doctor).

ANYWAy the whole reason I say that is just like. I think the Jacobs are a well liked family in the community and everyone always found David endearing and saw his love of reading and writing and wanted to help give him the resources he needed (especially being a polish kid removed from his culture they wanted to help restore that)

I agree that he likes Little Women!! He also enjoyed reading War and Peace (I haven't finished it yet but I just KNOW Davey loves Pierre because little awkward man who's probably autistic). I think he also enjoys Wuthering Heights (which admittedly I haven't read but my friend really loves it and has talked about it so I think he would enjoy it) along with poetry. I think he loves books/stories/poems that are very descriptive and have good imagery because it helps him transport himself and like really be engulfed by the story

He'd read Moby Dick but he despises it. He wanted an epic ocean adventure but half the chapters are just all about whales (like science-y and shit) which,,, would be fine if he'd picked up a textbook about whales. He just wanted more from it and didn't enjoy the ending. WHICH IS WHY he prefers 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea because if he wants to read a good story involving the ocean he's not gonna pick up Moby fucking Dick.

um. yeah.

i had literally never thought about this before but the second that I saw the ask i was typing up a storm. hehe

ALSO LITERALLY STOP APOLOGIZING I LOVE WHEN ANYTHING FROM YOU APPEARS IN MY ASK BOX you could send me a ten page essay and I would read it beginning to end like :DDDDD and enjoy every second

[xberylliumoxide]

LIGHTNING ROUND: OC Summary!

Gonna do a quick summary for all my ocs other than the two ive already done!

Robin

Full Name: Robin Feline Fursyth (Feline is pronounce Fuh-leen) Pronouns: she/her Sexuality: Asexual Gender: Nonbinary Height: 5'5" She's Brutus' childhood best friend, right hand man, and adoptive sister. She doesn't speak; she was born with a severe stutter. As a child she was never allowed to learn sign language and her father tied her hands as a punishment when she chose not to speak. She was kicked out at 12 when she met Brutus, who was also living on the streets at the time. She essentially functions as Brutus' personal first aid giver. Relationships: Brutus (brother), Alex (friend), Murray (friend), Noah (friend) Interests: First Aid, Stargazing, Knitting Fear(s): Handcuffs

Noah

(sorry this is the dumbest possible image to use lmao) Full Name: Noah Andeerson Pronouns: he/him Sexuality: Gay Gender: Cis Man Height: 6'2" Brutus' boyfriend and later husband. He was born and raised in Buckstone, a deep south-type town, a few miles away from Toontown and came to Toontown to get away from his homophobic family. He met Brutus—who had a massive crush since the moment he saw him—his first day there and he showed him around. He's very repressed because of his roots. Shortly after showing up in Toontown, he had to go back home to take care of his mother because his father died. He had finally been able to be himself and it was ripped away from him, and he got very depressed. He finally came back to Toontown after a suicide attempt Brutus managed to stop that gave him asthma. He idolizes his brother Zeke and is close with Gabe because they shared a room growing up. He eventually comes out to both of them and they accept him. His mom comes around eventually too. Luke always bullied him growing up and never accepts him. He also has a slight lisp which is irrelevant but cute. Relationships: Brutus (husband), Robin (close friend), Alex (friend), Luke, Zeke, and Gabe (brothers) Interests: Stargazing, Exploring his Sexuality, soft pop emo Fear(s): Losing his family

Noah's Brothers (aside)

the crossed out names are their old names before i decided to change them to be more biblical :}

Murray

Full Name: Murray (i dont have a last name for him), later Rose Pronouns: formerly he/him, later any Sexuality: Straight-ish (later pansexual) Gender: Genderfluid (identifies as cis for a large portion of life) Height: 5'9" Murray was in an accident as a teenager with a faulty cog that caused him to lose most of his ear, some of his hearing, and causing damage to his left leg. His knee randomly gives out and he sometimes falls down, so he walks with a cane most of the time and occasionally uses a wheelchair. Later on the damage progresses and he has to have his leg amputated, hence the prosthesis in the drawing. He is a very affectionate, high-energy optimist with mom-friend energy. They are very good at gentle parenting techniques and helps Alex keep their temper under control. In return, Alex helps him with his chronic pain and mobility issues. He believes himself to be straight, but stays with Alex after they come out to him as trans and later comes out as nonbinary themself (they use both Murray and Rose interchangeably) They grew up with two moms who support him and Alex both emotionally and financially which is why the two most disabled of my ocs have the best house Interest(s): Flower Crown Weaving

Maura

Full Name: Maura Mullins Pronouns: she/her Sexuality: Bisexual Gender: Butch woman Height: 5'11" She originally started as a Sim, but I liked her and her wife so I wanted to make them into Toons. She was involved in the mob with Brutus, which is where they met. That's kinda it. Relationships: Brutus (ex), Melanie (wife)

Melanie

Full Name: Melanie Mullins Pronouns: she/her Sexuality: Lesbian Gender: Cis Woman Height: idk i havent bothered to give her one She was in a band with Alex a while back and they briefly dated. that's it basically

Here's the video where Maura and Melanie were designed btw :)

I'm gonna do one more I think with Fite&co and Lil Oldman

[dazd-dreamr]

meet murphy mosely - the gen 3 heir of my short lifespan legacy

i have never played past the first generation in the sims 4 and ive owned it since 2016. and i have attempted to do legacy challenges in the past but no to avail. i just kept getting bored. but this time my plan was to power through, even if i wasnt completely enjoying myself, because eventually i knew i would get back into it. now im on gen 3 and no regretting my decision one bit!

this is murphy mosely - heir of gen 3. it all started out with maura mosely, who wanted to become a comedian. she married dustin broke. then gen 2 was her only child, mandy mosely who was a freelance beats maker. she married a random townie and had three children: meryl, murphy, and miriam. i chose to continue with murphy and he wants to sell nectar and race his horses.

its so fascinating, the further i play with the same household, the more i feel attached to them. funny that :D. murphy might be my fave male sim ive ever played and the sim i made to be his future husband is just so cute. im also playing vanilla, no cc (build or cas), and very few mods. its really helped me to appreciate the game and utilise parts of the game i have never explored because i was so stuck in my ways of how i played the game.

needless to say, im loving this gameplay and i dont know how much i will be updating it, but hopefully a little bit hehe.

love you all, enjoy your games x

[atnineteenninetyfour]

Hi!

It has been while. To make up for everything, I’ll make a recap of my year before 2023 ends.

Last Dec. 23, 2022, my friends from my work — Ms. Camille, Ms. Jes and Sir JayAr set me up on a blind date. I was hesitant at first but I want to try it out as well. And so I did.

I met John. He was pretty normal at first. But eventually I found him very cute and appealing. He has this bad boy charisma but if you get to know him, he is one of the softest and sweetest boy out there. Anyway, going back sa blind date. So wala siyang idea saan kami kakain haha. So spontaneously, he decided to bring me sa Antipolo for an overlooking dating spot. We went to Maura’s. It was a beautiful place. There was a live band which makes the place more cozy. However, since we came in late na, patapos na yung live band. We enjoyed the food. We talked about our career and random stuff. My friends knew me well na introvert ako and baka di ako magsalita that’s why they sent me ice breakers haha I showed it to John and he found it funny haha. In all honesty, I feel safe with him. I was actually surprised that I was so talkative during the course of our date. After we ate, we went to Starbucks sa Marcos Hi-way. We chatted. Secretly, I started to feel nauseous. I don’t know it is because of the coffee or too much food. Since it was late na rin, we called it a night na. He drove me until sa Pasig Palengke. My goodness! The traffic is horrendous! I was embarrassed kasi home court ko yun e huhu. Pero nakasurvive naman kami haha.

We got each other’s social media accounts and bid farewell. I was so happy back then and scared at the same time. I think I kind of like him na. Haha ang bilis amp. He’s a cutie kaya. But I was also scared na what if hindi magwork — na baka na-off siya sa akin pero inisip ko na lang whatever forda experience ba haha. Another new found friend pala haha. The next day, I was hesitant to message him good morning kaya hinintay ko siya hahaha and voila! He did!!! I was kinikilig haha.

I’d say that it was a whirlwind romace. On December 25th, he openly admitted na he think may spark sa end niya. I was surprised and kinikilig syempre haha and of course, sinabi ko ring same kami hahaha. Ang bilis diba? 23 ang blind date nung 25 may spark na haha. Anyway, during our convo may mga hirit na siya na pakilala ko na siya as manliligaw like wait lang haaa hahahaha hindi ready ang puso ko haha. And then on the 27th, habang nag-uusap kami sa messenger basts nakatanungan na nga haha. To make it short, I asked him for some clarification muna like is he really manliligaw na ba? Do he really like me ba? Kasi sabi niya lang naman he “thinks” may spark sa end niya so technically not sure pa. So, I bravely asked him if he seriously likes me or baka nag-aassume lang ako. And he did clarify na yung spark na sinasabi niya was that he likes me nga. As an overthinker, nasagot na rin finally ang tanong ko haha and of course, I told him din na I like him too pero we tried to have a courting session muna at least a week? Hahahahaha

Moving forward to January, we continued going out. Until the 15th of January, we officially become a couple. Hihi landiii

I’ll continue the story next time. Sorry na tamad ako mag-update ng tumblr. Nalimutan ko na nga to e. Huhu

Anyway, we are both head-over-heels. I can’t explain how much I love this person.

[novemindie]

sawyer felt like she could jump for joy. he was definitely coming. he was playing coy, which was hot, but he was definitely going to show up. "i'll even pay the first round," she added in for good measure, but she knew that it wasn't necessary. he'd be there, and maybe, she'd get to have a fun night with him. who knows, maybe she could even have more than a laugh with him. she wanted to anyway. he even grinned at her. lip-sided and cute, and honestly, it had been such a long time since she'd felt this attracted to a guy. he even made the lingering pain of maura breaking up with her seem very, very distant. was it... gone? or almost? well, whatever it was, he was healing that just a little. "I'm going to go get changed as well, and then i'll see you there in a bit, ranchhand." she teased and then with one last smile, she started to saunter back to the house, feeling quite elated for what was to come.

-----

later on, in the bar called 'the buckle', she was nervously waiting on his arrival. it was ridiculous, but she was starting to doubt everything. asking him, first and foremost but now also her outfit. it was what she felt most comfortable in, most attractive generally - but this was a kind of... man's man. would he find her button-down shirt attractive? her slicked-back hair? she had been dating women for so long, who actually found that handsome, that she was now scared he wouldn't like that. yet, did she want a man who couldn't handle that she wasn't a dress-wearing girly girl?

her panicking ground to a halt as the doors opened and she saw him. caleb. he came; he was here. she couldn't help but smile.

jesse felt the weight of her invitation settle over him, and for a second, he wanted to give his usual brush-off. it was safer that way—easier to stay distant, keep her at arm’s length where she couldn’t touch the parts of him that were broken. but then she smiled, that teasing spark still in her eyes, and he felt something shift inside him. he couldn’t deny it anymore. as much as he tried to convince himself otherwise, he wanted to go. he wanted to see her smile again, hear her laugh, maybe even let himself enjoy being around her—just once. hell, he deserved that, didn’t he? after everything he’d been through, after all the anger and grief that had consumed him for so long, didn’t he deserve a night where he could forget? even if it was just a couple of hours? he was quiet for a moment, the silence stretching between them as he fought with himself. then, against his better judgment, he looked at her, eyes darker than before, and gave a slow, almost reluctant nod. “maybe i will,” he said, his voice low and steady, though there was a hint of something deeper there. something he couldn’t quite hide. “might be nice to see montgomery fall on his face again with lou.” it wasn’t much, but it was enough. more than he usually gave.

he ran a hand through his hair, glancing down at the dirt beneath his boots, trying to downplay the decision he’d just made, trying not to let her see just how much he wanted this. “guess i could use a break,” he added, almost like he was convincing himself now. “a quick shower, and i’ll think about it.” he felt his heart beat a little faster, the words hanging between them, heavy with the promise of something he couldn’t quite define. he was opening a door he’d sworn he’d keep shut. but damn it, for the first time in what felt like forever, he didn’t want to keep it closed. jesse glanced back up at her, his lips tugging into that familiar slow, lopsided grin—the one that hid more than it revealed. “don’t go countin’ on me too much,” he added, his voice soft, almost teasing, though there was still that undercurrent of tension. “but… maybe.” it wasn’t a full yes, but it was more than he’d planned to give. more than he’d let himself consider before now. and the truth was, he wanted to go. wanted to feel something other than anger and revenge for just one night.

[covertblizzard]

More Kyle and Maura’s interaction because every single thing about them is both heartwarming and adorable.

[i-did-not-mean-to]

Come sail away - Part IV

-> Part III

Dearest @laurfilijames, I hope this can entertain you while you're resting. I love you ❤️

Words: 3.9 k

Warnings: NSFW, SMUT! (also soft boys and praise)

Summary: The grand finale (so basically...sex)

“Do you think they’ll be alright?” Maura sat down on one of the deserted deckchairs standing alone and forgotten along the empty beach, drawing Fíli in to follow her like the moon moved the ocean without ever touching it.

“I don’t know,” Fíli replied slowly; he respected her too much to lie, “I am truly sorry that this didn’t work out the way we had hoped it would; Ori is a good dude, but he’s not super convincing.”

“There lies the problem,” Maura interrupted him rather harshly, “he is a little too convincing; he’s scared her half to death and I understand her!”

Fíli’s eyes narrowed as he caught the hint of trembling in her voice; he knew that he could intimidate a man if he tried to, but he had never expected or wanted to frighten the woman he loved with all his heart.

“You’re just all a little too perfect,” she grumbled, “and it is uncanny.”

“Kíli is dumb as fuck, he’s been in love with his best friend for ages and hasn’t caught on yet. Ori might well already be crushing on a woman who has no interest whatsoever in him, and my poor ass is hung up on a lady who doesn’t seem to be interested in taking this relationship any further. We are far from perfect; Kíli and Ori have managed to injure that poor girl, I mean, come on!”

“She injured herself,” Maura contradicted, “and where do you want to take this relationship?”

“I want to be allowed to come to your apartment,” he burst out, not thinking about it beforehand.

“To my apartment? When?” Maura frowned at him, at a loss about what he wanted to say.

Fíli just shrugged; he didn’t know how to make her understand that all he wanted was a place in her life that was entirely his, but if he had to ask for it, it would always feel like a well-meant but not very earnest gift.

“Ok,” Maura rubbed her chin absent-mindedly, “apparently Lexi and I both had a point; I love you, I do! You can come to my flat whenever you want, whether I am there or not; you are welcome, you know?”

“Kíli will be back soon,” Ori sighed against her lips, but somehow, his hands wouldn’t obey him when he tried to retract them from her skin.

Lexi didn’t care; Kíli was a grown man, and he didn’t need anyone to come and turn on the TV for him. She had no doubt whatsoever that he would be peachy on his own, especially as she was convinced that it was him and not Maura who had ratted on her.

Her friend would never make it that easy on her, no, Maura would have wanted her to slink down in abject shame and seek Ori out.

Once again, the other woman’s insult came back to haunt her; how often had she moaned about wanting a man to actively come after her without being pushy or even so much as confident about winning her over.

“Why did you come up?” she asked, compelled by some intrinsic desire to hear something disappointing.

“I was worried about you; I told you, I am a natural worrier,” he chuckled, still unable to let go of her even though the heat of her naked body was slowly seeping into his veins and firing up his own blood; she was beautiful to him and it had been a time since he had last held a naked woman in his arms, trembling with a tension as old as time.

“Am I yours to worry about?” she teased him and felt his lips quirk in dismay before he admitted that – obviously – she was not his in any way or form, but that he couldn’t – once again – help it.

“You’re the sweetest man I’ve ever met,” Lexi sighed.

“I am sorry? Believe me, I’d also rather be sexy like Fí or funny like Kí,” Ori muttered, “but I am – undeniably and irreversibly – cute, little Ori. Ori and his computers. Ori and his books. Ori and his hopeless inaptitude when it comes to women. Believe me, I’ve heard it all before.”

“I think you’re sexy,” Lexi confessed breathlessly; she remembered his arms around her body and the cute, snow-white butt she had gotten but a glimpse of, and she would have lied if she had claimed that her standing naked pressed against him had nothing to do with that spontaneous striptease before dinner.

“Don’t mock me,” he whispered, “I know better than that. So, are you alright?”

“More than alright,” she replied, letting her hands fall from his shoulders to his upper arms to pull him closer in hopes to seduce him into another one of those slow, melting kisses; she could smell the sweet scent of his skin under the run-of-the-mill deodorant and the clean smell of laundry detergent, “bring me back to bed, please?”

Thinking of her foot, Ori lifted her the way he had several times before, only – even though she had been scantily clad before – she was completely naked now and when the soft flesh of her chest was pressed against him without the protective layer of wet, clammy fabric, the effect was quite a different one.

His clothes seemed to burn on his skin as if he had developed an allergy to cotton in the last few minutes and heat crept up his neck to pool in his cheeks while her eyes sparkled like pearls on the bottom of the sea with unspoken promises.

“Is this seduction?” he asked quietly as he set her down on the edge of the bed but didn’t retreat.

“It is whatever you want it to be,” Lexi purred sensually when she recognised the slow burgeoning of lust in his gaze.

“Oh, then let it be seduction, please,” he laughed in self-derision, “or let me flee this room and your naked self.”

After a second though, he added: “No pressure, it was just a joke. I am…not like that.”

Of course he wasn’t, Lexi thought with a mix of emotion and pity; he evidently thought that telling a woman that he wanted her was sexual harassment, even if she presented herself naked and obviously inclined to be kissed by him.

“Come here and kiss me again then,” she invited and giggled when he stepped up to her immediately; she let her thighs fall open to accommodate his form and gave a small huff of surprise when he simply dropped on top of her, his lips caressing her own ever so carefully.

She could feel the solid ridge of his arousal press against her and tilted her hips to get more of it, strangely excited by this unspoken confession that – beyond the shadow of a doubt – was mortifying in the highest degree to the poor man himself.

“Is Maura around by the way?” she asked to give him some time and room to breathe through the panic flickering in his eyes.

“No, she’s gone out with Fí,” Ori informed her sheepishly, “why? Do you need her?”

“Well yes,” Lexi patted her salt-crusted hair, “I need someone to spot me while I shower; I guess that honour falls to you now.”

The expression of horror and desire on his face made her laugh out loud, but he diligently scrambled up and extended a hand to her.

“Alright, let’s go,” he declared bravely and grinned at her.

“You are aware that you’re going to get naked and hold me while I balance on one foot?” Lexi asked as she hobbled over into the bathroom.

“Maura would have held you? Naked?” Ori stared at her in wide-eyed amazement; the images running through his mind made his blood boil and Lexi’s exhilarated laughter did nothing to dispel the heat.

“Yes, it’s much less sexy than you imagine it to be,” she chuckled while she leaned heavily on his arm to step over the rim of the bathtub gingerly to get the water running.

“Ah, well,” Ori muttered indecisively, looking down in utter and abject misery at his treacherous body that would show her in a second just how erotic he found the mere idea of two beautiful women cuddling under running water.

“Get rid of the clothes and come here,” Lexi laughed; she had to lean against the wall not to lose her balance which was dangerous enough as the wet ceramic was slippery, and her head was spinning.

Her word was his command and – reluctantly but steadily – he peeled out of his sober, unexciting garments to lay bare the soft body of a man who spent too much time hunched over flashing screens in dark rooms; once more, he wished he could display the sun-kissed muscles his cousins paraded around so proudly to provoke that amazed look women generally got when gazing upon them.

“Well hello there,” she laughed when he stood – naked as the day he had been born – under her blazing eyes that were sparkling with amusement.

“Don’t mock me, kissing a naked woman who tells you about another naked woman hugging her wonderful body necessarily has an effect on a man,” Ori grumbled, stepping in behind her and extending his arms readily for her to lean on.

“I am not mocking you,” Lexi sighed, “you are truly too precious to be true.”

He held her through her whole intricate shower routine, flinching every time her hands brushed his body and stifling a moan as she let her palms lavish suds across her generous chest just underneath his very nose; he was not a tall man, but God knew he was tall enough to look over her shoulder and follow the movement of those slender fingers across sun-kissed skin.

“Need some?” Lexi asked and gave the shower gel bottle a tentative shake.

His first instinct was of course to tell her that he had already showered, but his voice had been washed down the drain together with the rest of his dignity.

Lexi turned around in his arms, settling her cheek on his shoulder as she had before and he couldn’t help tightening his arms about her, pulling her closer and hence intensifying his own torment as her warm, wet skin was now flush against his own heated flesh.

“I might have ruined my bandage,” she whispered, watching the discreet shiver rippling through his skin to die in the darkness of his eyes; he was beautiful in ways he could not fathom himself and she couldn’t get enough of it.

“I’ll redo it,” he promised, stepping out almost hastily and leaving her swaying; before she could collapse though, his arms were back – solid and reliable – and he swaddled her in another towel before lifting her out of the tub and onto a small – mercifully empty – cabinet.

As he knelt in front of her, Lexi was overcome with a sense of self-possession and playfulness that was exceedingly rare for her and so she let her thighs drift outward – knowing full well what view he’d have from his position – and waited for him to look up.

“Woman,” he cursed when he finally did, pressing his lips ardently against the inside of her calf, “are you purposefully trying to drive me insane? That’s not very nice, you know? You keep saying how sweet I am to you and yet, you keep torturing me.”

Fíli pressed her down flat onto the woven surface of the chair, covering her neck laid bare by the flimsy sweater that felt soft and worn under his lips with kisses and her body with his.

“I want this,” he murmured, “I want to take you while only the moon and the ocean are our witnesses.” “A holiday fling?” Maura joked, but he nodded solemnly.

“Yes, I want to be your holiday bimbo, your Christmas ugly-sweater-partner, your wedding plus-one, your TV buddy…”

“My man,” she whispered, “is that it? You want to be my man?”

The light jumper she had thrown on was slipping off her shoulder and his lips caressed and teased this new spot of naked skin for a moment before he hummed his acquiescence; was it so wrong a yearning?

Already, her legs squeezed him in that rhythmic way that made his thoughts fly apart; urgency surged like a wave within his chest and his fingers clawed at the irritating, shifting garment as he dropped his hips to grind against her, grinning when her lips parted in a silent moan of pure desire.

The air smelled like salt and secrets and Fíli took a deep breath to regain but a quantum of control over his urges, but when her own sweet scent mingled with the aroma of freedom, a desperate groan escaped his gritted teeth.

“I need you,” he whispered, and his eyes started to water – blinking was impossible when Maura looked so beautiful in the moonlight – when her tongue drew lazy patterns onto the side of his throat.

“We’ll be arrested,” she giggled, but her hand was already feeling down his quivering stomach to tease the pulsating bulge between his legs; she was wrapped around him like a protective layer of flesh and beauty, and he wished that this would be his shroud.

“If you keep doing that,” he said while cocking an eyebrow, “they won’t even have time to unpack their handcuffs before I’m done.”

“Want to come to my room later then?” Maura asked as she inserted her hand between his clothes and his skin; all of this had a summer camp feeling indeed, the blind fumbling behind a rickety beach shack and the clumsy kisses in the darkness.

“I don’t think I can wait that long,” Fíli admitted, “I want you, right here, right now.”

Maura could think of worse places to have sex than a deserted beach – some of them having been explored thoroughly with Fí before – so she leaned back and let him crash over her like wave, leaving wet trails of kisses on her skin that seeped into her veins to drum her blood up into a storm.

Their bodies seemed to have a mind of their own because – even before any conscious decisions or plans were made – his hips started rocking against Maura automatically, exerting delicious pressure that was just enough to make her whole body tingle with want but not sufficient to get enough friction to truly satisfy her.

“Don’t you just love the sea?” Fíli sighed, breathing in the fresh salty smell as deeply as he could.

Maura rose up against him and – in moment of tenderness – he switched their positions and set her down on his lap, putting his chin on her shoulder and encircling her shivering body with his strong arms; despite their insatiable hunger for each other, they both yearned for these quiet moments of deep-felt connection that could so easily get lost in their hectic lives.

Caressing her throat with one hand, Fíli traced the lines of her body – the smooth elegance of her arms and the tight curve of her hip – with his fingertips of the other, lost in the sensation of holding her like the shore held the sea: loosely and yet passionately.

“I do,” she replied and let her eyes flutter shut slowly; she lost herself in his sweetness and when his fingers dipped into her heat quietly, her sigh melted into that of the ocean breeze.

She had expected urgency after his words, but his touch was slow and coaxing, his fingers trailing absent-mindedly over the soft fabric that was already damp with her arousal which only exacerbated his own, and yet, the surge of hurried desperation seemed to have abated.

This was moon-love – calm, sweet, and deep – unlike the fiery rush of passionate encounters under the blazing sun; everything seemed to have slowed down and time ran lazily through their intertwined fingers.

“I love you,” she breathed into the night air and moaned when his warm palm slipped under the camisole she was wearing to unhook her bra and cup her breast gently, kneading it in time with the slow song of the waves.

Her breath hitched in her throat when he slowly pulled down her shorts just enough, holding her – propped up on her knees – against his chest still while freeing his leaking cock from the confines of his own trousers leisurely to let it graze – hot and silky – against the skin of her bum.

Arching her back, Maura made sure to let him feel just how ready and aching she was for him and when his hand – smoothing caressingly along her flesh – was replaced by his cock, breaching her slowly, she let her head fall back against his shoulder in self-forgotten revelry.

Steadily and tirelessly, Fíli rocked her like a ship on the waves, his hands reaching around her to tease her all the way to the stars and back tender and intimate; as she exploded into seafoam and starspray, Maura yearned to eternalise this moment forever.

The sky was full of light and her heart was full of love for the man who could hold her without chains.

She felt him shiver behind, against, and around her and his soft moans of release sounded like music to her muted senses.

“Let’s stay here for a bit,” he whispered, tightening his arms around her almost fully dressed body, “to hell with brothers and cousins.”

“To hell with them, indeed,” Maura grinned, enjoying the sticky warmth of their lovemaking dripping onto the eternal and mute witness of the starlit sand.

“What’s going through your mind then?” Lexi asked coyly, waiting for him to meet her burning gaze.

“This,” Ori whispered and trailed soft kisses along the curve of her calf up to her knee, “tell me to stop!”

“I won’t,” she laughed, the sound breathy and strangled with want as that ridiculous, little moustache of his grazed along her tingling skin so slowly that she thought that she would go mad before he ever made it to the juicy bits.

“This is unlike me,” he tried to defend himself even as his hands slid up the outside of her thighs and tugged hard at the towel veiling her naked form from his questing eyes; she could see that he was earnest enough, the heat of embarrassment and passion sitting high in those rosy cheeks, and she even forgot to feel inadequate when that flickering look settled on her own mesmerised face.

“You’re beautiful like that,” she praised; often had she dreamed of a man like him – someone who could kneel without having to compensate by feigned anger – and now that she could look down on his glowing features, her heart galloped furiously within her heaving chest.

He merely hummed before caressing her with a tongue she had expected to be tied by good manners and overwhelmed astonishment; slow and teasing, his fingers slid along the swollen expanse of her flesh, and she couldn’t stifle the shivering cry of relief.

Despite her own lack of inhibitions, Lexi had had a hard time finding any man who was attractive to her and willing to touch her at the same time; being drawn to shy, quiet men had ever been more of a curse than a blessing to her.

That was…until she had met that gracile creature sitting devoutly between her open legs and devouring her as if she was made of chocolate and cream.

When she tried to pull back, overcome with the intensity of the sensations that kept rocking her body like shockwaves, he tightened his grip around her legs and pursued relentlessly until her head fell against the cold, hard wall behind her with an audible bang.

She whined his name more than she called him, begging for him to stop, imploring him not to; her mind dissolved like a drop of blood in the ocean and her body melted into those churning waves of insanity.

“Beautiful,” she panted again when he stood up clumsily, holding on to her hips as if to steady himself, and tilted her face towards him in invitation of another one of those sweet kisses.

When it fell like summer rain onto her open lips though, Lexi had to admit that this was far from enough; pushing herself up on the small cabinet, she plundered his mouth recklessly, going as far as to nibble on his lower lip in her greedy need of his unconditional mellifluousness.

The smell of his skin and the taste of her own lust on his lips were intoxicating; far from being satiated, Lexi closed her legs behind his lower back like a vice in an effort to draw him closer to that voracious heat thrumming deep within her lower abdomen.

“Woah,” he exclaimed when the tip of his cock but brushed her wet folds, achingly ready for him, “are you sure you want to do this?”

Lexi cocked one eyebrow at him.

“I am; are you?” she laughed, rubbing herself against him to make him feel just how much she wanted him.

“Very much so,” he admitted passionately, but the soft, nipping pecks he lavished upon her throat were still torturously tender and sweet; the contradiction between the throbbing testament to his unbridled lust and the cautiously delicate blandishments of his lips drove Lexi half insane.

She wanted to imprison him in the purgatory of her desire and burn every brick of that wall he had erected around his heart to the ground; when he pushed into her slowly, she rocked forward to meet him mid-stroke, sinking her teeth into his bare shoulder.

As expected, he flinched, surging forward and filling her to the brim, and she made a sound so deep and vulgar that she would have been ashamed of it if she had but the awareness to mind it.

“Let me take you to dinner,” he moaned as he started moving inside of her, “let me invite you out. See me again?”

Lexi agreed, she would have agreed to sacrificing her firstborn son in this moment of blind, mindless, irreverent passion, but a part of her also really enjoyed him.

His breathing accelerated and she increased the tension of her legs, forcing him to pound into her with short, deep bursts that made him grit his teeth in his struggle not to lose control.

“Oh, you’re glorious,” he panted, letting go of her leg for a second to cup her breast and – when he contorted impossibly, straining against the constraint of her legs to close his lips around her right nipple – a second orgasm – flatter, faster, and sharper – singed through her like a live wire.

To witness how the tension rose in a crescendo before draining completely out of her face was more than Ori could take and – burying himself deep within her – he climaxed with a tremulous cry of sheer relief.

It should not have surprised Lexi that he didn’t pull out and leave right away; it was strangely in character for him to hug her against his frantically beating heart and kiss the top of her head tenderly.

“Dinner then?” he whispered, a note of apprehension in his voice.

“Dinner,” she agreed against his skin, “and then…my place or yours?”

“You…” Ori fell silent. “You want to repeat this as well?”

“Yeah,” Lexi laughed, “you can bet your sweet ass on that. Would you imagine that? I guess there are plenty of fish in the sea.”

So, that was the last part of this story...special thanks to @laurfilijames for the inspiration and the readership :D

If anyone reads this, I hope you enjoyed it <3

I'd be glad to get a comment or a reblog if you have the time <3

Thank you and have a lovely week

Also remembered I had promised to do a taglist...Sorry .-.

Taglist:

@blairsanne

@fizzyxcustard

@laurfilijames

@myselfandfantasy

@legolasbadass

@linasofia

@lathalea

@midearthwritings

@guardianofrivendell

@mismaeve

@middleearthpixie

[anthrofreshtodeath]

Pyrite 24+28 - Huddled together on a Cold Day and Stutter

@swishybats also requested these so I put them together as well. Enjoy!

“Where’s Mom?” asked Elena when she saw a flutter of movement toward the front of the line. She sat in a foldable chair that she’d inhabited since about 3PM, when her Uncle Frankie had driven her over straight after school and waited with her until Jane could leave work at 5 and take over. 

Now, at 9:00, with the sun down and the March chill setting in, she was hyperattentive to any sign that might mean she could see Dragonalia: The Lightning Drake sooner than the midnight show time. Jane shoved her aching hands deeper into the pockets of her pea coat and scoffed. “You still got about two hours before they let you in, kid,” she said. “And Mom’s on her way. She had a big report to finish up and then she had to call the governor. She’ll be here.”

Elena only shrugged and returned her eight-year old focus back to the game on her tablet. Jane shook her head. The nerdy, nerdy things she would do for her kid apparently included waiting in line in the early spring cold to watch some dragon trainer movie. If Maura were there, she would most definitely object, but that would be because this was their thing. The latest fantasy franchise cash cow started as a book series (as they all do, don’t they?), one that Maura and Elena devoured together. Maura had read the first two to their daughter when she was much younger, but now the third was out and Elena had read it entirely on her own. They had regular book club meetings every Friday to discuss plot points and progress, and Jane, despite her general disinterest, now smiled at the memories. 

Plus, she had to admit that the special effects in the first movie were pretty cool. If they were the same in this sequel, she supposed she had a fighting chance to stay awake this time.

“Jane! Elena!” Jane turned when she heard her name, and saw Maura hustling toward them from the shopping center across from the theater. 

She waved and then pulled up the rope. A man grumbled at her. “Give it a rest,” she barked, “that’s my wife. And her mom.” She pointed to Elena, making sure to turn her hip just enough for her badge to be visible under her coat. He looked away. “C’mere,” she said to Maura, beckoning for her to walk under.

“My phone call took so long,” Maura lamented, “I was afraid I wasn’t going to get out of there on time.”

Jane then noticed that Maura only had her cashmere cardigan on, and not her jacket. “Where’s ya coat?” she asked, hovering close.

Maura, seen and therefore compelled to be honest, let her teeth chatter. “I left it on my chair. And by the time I realized I didn’t have it, I was halfway here.”

Jane rolled her eyes. “Here,” she said, taking hers off.

“Jane, no!” Maura contested with her hands out. She put her purse by Elena’s feet and then rose back up to press against Jane’s insistence. 

“I’m not even cold, c’mon,” Jane scoffed for the second time that night. “And we all know that you’re perpetually cold. So please, take it. You’d be doin’ me a favor.”

“I can’t-”

“Just take the coat, Maura,” Jane said. She moved to stand behind Maura so she could hold the coat out.

Maura reluctantly stepped into it. “You tell me immediately if you get too cold,” she ordered.

“Yeah, yeah,” Jane folded her arms cooly in front of her. “So the call was a mess?”

Maura looked around for eavesdroppers and thought very hard about what she should say next. “I wouldn’t say mess. Just… he likes to talk. And he’s a very smart man, who likes to go over every inch of my reports.”

“I guess because he was a doctor, huh?” asked Jane. She felt the cool air on a breeze creeping through her thin button up shirt, so she rocked back and forth on her heels. “Makes sense.”

“I suppose so,” Maura went on. “And I didn’t have the heart to rush him because my excuse was ‘my eight year old is waiting for me to watch a blockbuster movie with her tonight.’ Cute, but not exactly a reason to rush the executive, you know?”

“If he has kids then he would have known exactly what y-you were talkin b-bout,” Jane stuttered, thrusting her hands into her slacks’ pockets now. 

Maura eyed her suspiciously, one fancy eyebrow curled. “And how was work? Were you able to get off relatively on time?”

“Ri-hmm. Right at five,” said Jane. She kept her teeth in check. She looked longingly at Maura, warm in her jacket, and Elena, even warmer with a blanket from home draped over her lap. Jane just sniffled.

“That’s good. I’m sorry I was so late,” said Maura. Jane suppressed a shiver and Maura smiled. “Jane?”

“Yeah?” Jane croaked.

“Come here,” Maura said, opening the coat wide enough for the both of them. “We can share.”

“Jesus,” Jane breathed a sigh of relief and fell into Maura’s arms. “I didn’t last ten minutes.”

Maura chuckled when Jane’s warm breath tickled her neck. Strong arms squeezed her waist and she squeezed back until Jane was almost completely covered by the sides of the coat. “You didn’t last five,” she said. “Think we can stand like this for two hours?”

“I hope not,” Elena chimed in from her seat. 

“Oh hey, who asked you??” Jane turned her head on Maura’s shoulder to glare at Elena. “You have a blanket and a jacket. And you’re wearin’ a sweater under that!”

“Uncle Frankie said to come prepared!” retorted Elena.

“Yeah, well, that’s because it ain’t his first nerd-show rodeo,” Jane grumbled.

“Ma!”

“Jane!” 

Both Maura and Elena chastised her in unison, and Jane wondered if she should just call it a night and drive home so they could experience the night unfettered. But then, Elena got up, shook out the blanket, and put it on her shoulders while she wrapped her arms around her parents' hips. “Here,” she huffed. “We can huddle together for warmth.”

[luverofralts]

Arkhelios University

When the cab had taken them back to their dorm, Pia was overcome with the strong desire to stargaze. She wasn’t sure if it was the drinks talking, but she was sure that she would see something amazing if she just kept looking. She’d looked for an hour though with nothing to show for it.

“And this is our dorm kitchen in all it’s crappiness,” Lucy said, leading Ulyssa on a tour of their dorm. There wasn’t much to look at, other than the fly infested leftover food on the counter. What did her tuition go towards if they had to live in a place filled with flies?

While she hadn’t discovered anything new in the stars, all that stargazing had inspired Pia to choose math as her degree. She had gone out drinking, flirted with several guys, and now knew what she wanted to study in school. Her new makeover was paying off.

She was so confident in this new self that she completely forgot about Berenger, the guy she had previously been obsessed with. Everyone was interested in him, and she wanted to be different. Instead, she ran into another cute guy in the hall, and introduced herself. Minutes later, they were kissing.

This development didn’t go over well with Tennyson or Abe. Tennyson was angry because he’d wrongly assumed that Pia would wait around for him to advance their relationship, and Abe was angry because Pia was very publicly making out with his boyfriend.

“Rai, what the hell?”

Well, there went Abe’s relationship. He was furious at his now ex-boyfriend, but also felt a little guilty. He’d cheated on Roman to be with Rai, and now here he was being cheated on. Lucy would never let him live this one down.

Except Lucy was currently too busy with a scandal of her own to judge her brother. She and Ulyssa were extremely drunk, and had started with overly friendly hugs, which had ended with both of them naked in one of the common areas. This was everything Lucy had wanted in life, but she’d probably barely remember it in the morning. Ulyssa finally had noticed her as a potential love interest, and all it had taken was drinking a concerning amount of alcohol. Luckily, most people in the dorm were checking out Abe and Pia’s drama in another room, and anyone who wasn’t didn’t seem interested in the empty common area with the lights off.

“Oh my god, I cheated on Maura!” Ulyssa exclaimed as soon as she’d put her clothes back on. “I can’t believe this. This can’t be happening. This can’t be happening.”

Lucy’s head was already throbbing, and the complete disgust in Ulyssa’s voice didn’t exactly help. She pulled her shirt back on, and watched the only girl she’d wanted to be with since she was a teen lose her mind over sleeping with her.

“I won’t tell anyone,” Lucy whispered as Ulyssa neared hysterics. “No one would believe me anyway.”

“Yes, yes thank you, that helps,” Ulyssa replied, her mind a million miles away from Lucy. “Look, I have to go. I’m sorry, but I have to go.”

Ulyssa disappeared in a shower of sparkles, leaving Lucy alone in a dark common room, rejected and starting a hangover. She could hear Abe still shouting at Pia down the hall.

Well this has been a memorable first whoo-hoo.

[lothloriien]

the raven cycle

with the exception of the first half of 'the raven boys,' i last read these books over a year ago. im going to note down everything i remember happening:

THE RAVEN BOYS

- gansey accidentally calls blue a prostitute

- blue gives adam her number

- adam spends a ridiculous amount of time worrying about a fray on his sweater

- blue goes to the church with neeve on st marks' eve and sees gansey

- the camaro breaks down and ronan brings adam to help fix it

- declan said he wants the gangsey (minus blue who they dont know yet) to meet his date

- ronan and declan get into a fight

- gansey tells ashley about glendower

- the latin teacher comes in for a reading but maura and the others get angry and make him leave

- gansey, ronan, and adam come in for a reading. blue is there and its very awkward

- the latin teacher realizes that he was right about glendower if gansey was also looking for him in henrietta

- blue and adam start dating

- ronan dreams up chainsaw

- blue becomes a part of the gangsey

- adam gets beat by his dad

- gansey's sister flies them in a helicopter to cabeswater

- neeve does some ritual with the latin teacher

- the gangsey finds out that noah is czerny who is also dead (and has been for 7 years)

- adam becomes cabeswater

- there's a funeral for noah

THE DREAM THIEVES

- ronan and kavinsky have their weird dreaming thing

- kavinsky finds out ronan is gay

- the gangsey going spelunking

- adam's trial with his dad?

- noah and blue kiss

- mallory and Dog

- there's a weird mirror-pool thing where blue and ronan have a very cute bromance moment

- ronan dreams about adam

- aurora and matthew lynch are dreams, niall and ronan lynch are dreamers. declan is neither

- blue gets detention and ronan is very pleased with their ingluence on her

- ronan and adam visit cabeswater

BLUE LILY, LILY BLUE

- blue finds out that her dad is a tree

- adam and blue break up

- adam has anger issues

- ronan dreams up eye cream for blue

- they find the screaming girl (gwennlian or something??)

THE RAVEN KING

- the gangsey go to ronan's house

- noah is having trouble staying present

- greywaren and the greenmantle

- ronan and adam kiss

- they find glendowers tomb but glendower is dead

- blue and gansey kiss and gansey dies

- somehow, gansey returns

- noah disappears forever for some reason

- bees

- yeehaw

- the gangsey is racist all of a sudden

- henry cheng and his toga party