#he's so genuinely impressed and gives her such sincere compliments

[wildsaltair]

No thoughts head empty just Alex Ross being adorably impressed by a card trick <3

[mcflymemes]

PORTAL 2 PROMPTS *  assorted dialogue from the 2011 video game, adjust as necessary

when life gives you lemons, don't make lemonade! make life take the lemons back! get mad! i don't want your damn lemons!

best case scenario, you might get some superpowers. worst case, some tumors.

science isn't about why. it's about why not.

the next test is very dangerous.

before the wright brothers invented the airplane, anyone wanting to fly everywhere was required to eat 200 pounds of helium.

to help you remain tranquil in the face of almost certain death, smooth jazz will be deployed in three... two... one.

please disregard any undeserved compliments.

all right, i've been thinking.

what am i supposed to do with these?

do you know who i am?

oh, i like this guy.

he says what we're all thinking.

you can head on back to your desk.

well, this is the part where he kills us.

hello. this is the part where i kill you.

i know you.

no! i'm not listening! i'm not listening!

you're lying!

you're not just a regular moron. you were designed to be a moron.

i am not! a moron!

now who's a moron?

could a moron do that?

i can't see it though. maybe it fell off.

do you want to go and have a quick look?

are you alive? that's important. should have asked that first.

i'm going to work on the assumption that you're still alive.

i'm just going to wait for you up ahead.

i'll wait one hour.

brilliant! go team!

i think we can put our differences behind us.

hi. so. how are you holding up?

good, that's still working.

here are the test results.

you are a horrible person.

i'm serious. that's what it says.

we weren't even testing for that.

don't be alarmed, all right?

good work getting this far.

i wish i could take it all back. i honestly do.

i'm in space.

if i were ever to see her again, do you know what i'd say? i'd say "i'm sorry." sincerely.

i am sorry. i was bossy and monstrous... and i'm genuinely sorry.

you made it through! well done!

okay, follow me. we've still got work to do.

what's happening?

okay... don't move.

so i've got an idea, but it is bloody dangerous. here we go.

they told me that if i ever turned this flashlight on, i would die.

they told me that about everything.

i don't even know why they bother giving me this stuff if they didn't want me to use it.

look at you, soaring through the air like an eagle.

i'm different!

prometheus was punished by the gods for giving the gift of knowledge to man. he was cast to the bowels of the earth and pecked by birds.

it won't be enough. the answer lies beneath us.

oh, it's dark down here, isn't it?

i'm proud of you.

now we are a family again.

that last test was seriously disappointing.

just work with me.

some of my best friends are actually orphans.

you look ugly in that jumpsuit.

that's not my opinion.

i'll be honest. we're throwing science at the wall here to see what sticks.

no idea what it'll do.

i knew someone was alive in here!

you'll know when the test starts.

oh thank god you're all right.

i thought you were my greatest enemy, when all along you were my best friend.

the best solution to a problem is usually the easiest one.

i'll be honest. killing you? is hard.

i had a pretty good life. and then you showed up.

you know what? you win. just go.

it's been fun. don't come back.

this sentence is false.

to be honest, i might have heard that one before.

you know, i'm not stupid.

i realize you don't want to put me back in charge.

i'm being serious. i think there's something really wrong with me.

we should get our stories straight.

no, we're not stopping!

don't make eye contact, whatever you do.

i feel awful about that surprise.

oh, that's sad. but impressive.

we're running out of time.

you've probably figured it out by now, but i don't need you anymore.

i'm afraid you're about to become the immediate past president of the being alive club.

the square root of rope is string.

okay, what you're doing there is jumping.

you know what? that's close enough.

you saved my bacon.

is this a jailbreak?

the next test is very dangerous.

it's been a long time. how have you been?

i've been really busy being dead. you know, after you murdered me.

you out having yourself a little adventure?

no, don't get up. i'll be right back.

you're unqualified!

what if this hurts? what if it really hurts? oh, i didn't think about that.

get your hands off me!

i can't see a thing! what just happened?

i don't have any bullets.

did you feel that?

you were busy back there.

that's funny. i don't feel corrupt.

i've got an idea! do what it says!

look how small you are down there!

do you have any idea how good this feels?

sorry, fellas. she's married. to science.

let me answer those questions with a question. who wants to make sixty dollars?

yes, all right, okay, this is getting tiresome.

well done. good. aren't you little miss clever. little miss smashy smash.

does it actually make you feel good when you do that?

it's not impressive.

what is this, like a hobby for you now?

i'm beginning to actually take it personally.

it's like an insult to me.

oh, there goes another one.

it's vandalism! it's pure vandalism!

it's just us talking like regular people.

are you going to open this door?

where'd you go? come back!

[ducktoo]

Syncing Dream [Aespa x M!Reader]

8. New year, new man(ager)

Note: genuinely appreciate everyone who enjoyed Arc 1. Hope y’all will enjoy this incoming Arc 2 as well!

Masterlist here

Y/n paced outside the practice room, glancing at his phone as he triple-checked the schedule for the day. The past few weeks had been a whirlwind after MAMA, but somewhere along the line, things had started to fall into place. He wasn’t the same flustered manager he had been when he first joined aespa’s team. He’d made enough mistakes to last a lifetime, but he had learned. And today, he was ready to prove it.

“Alright, time to give the pep talk,” he muttered to himself, rolling his shoulders back.

Inside, the girls were warming up, Karina and Giselle going over a particularly tricky move while Winter stretched near the mirrors. Ningning was being her usual energetic self, bouncing around between them.

“Okay, everyone! Time to focus up,” Y/n said, clapping his hands together as he walked in. The room fell into a mix of mock groans and smirks.

“You sound so official now,” Giselle teased, giving him a playful nudge as she passed. “Who are you, and what did you do with the Y/n who booked us in the wrong studio that one time?”

Y/n grinned, shaking his head. “He’s still here. Just... learning from his mistakes.”

Karina crossed her arms, watching him closely. There was something unreadable in her expression—like she was analysing him, comparing the person in front of her to the frazzled trainee-turned-manager she first met.

“Alright, before you all get back to dancing, I just want to say…” He hesitated, clearing his throat. “You’ve all been working really hard last year, and I see it. Even when things get tough, you push through, and it shows. Just remember, it’s not about being perfect—it’s about giving it your all. So let’s hit this practice hard, but don’t forget to have fun. Let’s end the year strong, lads!”

The girls exchanged glances before Winter, grinning, gave him a thumbs-up. “Look at you, giving motivational speeches now.”

“I’m impressed,” Karina added, finally speaking up. Her tone was thoughtful, not teasing. “You’ve come a long way.”

Y/n blinked, caught off guard by the compliment. “Thanks, J” he said, scratching the back of his head. “I’m just trying to keep up with you guys.”

Karina stepped closer, lowering her voice so only Y/n could hear. “It’s more than that. You’ve grown into the role. Leadership doesn’t come easy, but you’ve figured out how to handle things, even when it’s chaotic. That’s what makes a difference.”

There was a sincerity in her words that Y/n hadn’t expected. He felt a weight lift off his shoulders, realizing that maybe he wasn’t as lost as he had once thought.

“Thanks, Jimin. That means a lot coming from you,” he said, feeling the tension that had lingered between them start to ease.

Before he could dwell on the moment, Giselle’s voice rang out. “Look at you two, having a heart-to-heart! I give Y/n… hmm, about half-professional status now. What do you think, Ning?”

Ningning, grinning widely, chimed in. “Three-quarters. He still hasn’t learned the choreography.”

Y/n groaned, throwing his hands up. “Oh shut it. I’m not trying to learn the choreography! I’m just your manager!”

They all laughed, the teasing familiar and light-hearted. As practice kicked into gear, Y/n watched from the side, feeling more comfortable in his role than he ever had before.

-

In the midst of the busy practice schedule, Y/n had noticed something peculiar: the other managers who Y/n met and befriended seemed to be acting a little more attentive and excited than usual. During a quick break, he caught snippets of conversation from them.

“Did you get the wrapping paper?” one of them asked.

“Yeah, I’ve got it. And the card?”

“Just make sure Y/n doesn’t see us.”

Curious and slightly amused, Y/n decided to investigate. He wandered into the break room, where the other managers were gathered, each one busily working on something. The moment they saw him, they froze, their faces betraying a mix of guilt and excitement.

“Uh, what’s going on here?” Y/n asked, raising an eyebrow.

Before anyone could respond, Red Velvet's managers, Minji, cleared her throat. “Oh, Y/n! Perfect timing. We were just... preparing a little something for you and Winter.”

Y/n looked around, noticing the wrapped gifts and a small banner that read “Happy Birthday Y/n & Winter!” The sight made him pause.

“We didn’t want to make a big deal out of it,” Minji continued, her tone earnest. “But we couldn’t let your birthday go unnoticed, especially since you’re new yet so integral to the team now.”

“Yeah, and we figured it’d be a good way to show our appreciation,” added EXO's manager, Joon.

Y/n chuckled, touched by the gesture. “Awww thanks, guys. I had no idea you were planning this.”

As they chatted, Winter appeared, drawn by the noise. Her eyes widened as she saw the decorations and the pile of presents.

“What’s all this?” Winter asked, her voice tinged with surprise.

The managers exchanged knowing glances before Minji spoke up again. “Well we found out that both of you shared a birthday, so…."

Winter’s eyes widened even further. “Aw, that's nice of you guys. Thank you for caring about this idiot here.”

"Huh? You guys share the same birthday? Ningning popped by with Giselle and Karina, now seeing the commotion.

“Yep, that’s the one,” Minji confirmed with a grin. “So, we thought it’d be fun to celebrate together.”

Winter laughed, clearly delighted. “That’s amazing. I had no idea you all were so organized.”

“Well, we try,” Joon said with a wink. “And we thought it’d be a great surprise, considering how hard you both work.”

The other managers handed Y/n and Winter their gifts with cheerful smiles. “Hope you like them,” Joon said as they both took their presents.

Y/n and Winter exchanged amused glances before unwrapping their gifts. It turned out to be an assortment of practical and fun items—a mix of things they both appreciated. Winter found a beautifully designed journal, while Y/n received a high-quality travel mug with the graphic "Most Improving Baby".

“This is really thoughtful, guys,” Y/n said, genuinely touched. “Thank you.”

“Yeah, it’s the least we could do,” Winter added, smiling warmly at the managers. “We’re really grateful.”

Unbeknownst to the two soon-to-be Birthday babies, the other three adorned a mischievous grin.

-

The last few days of December flew by in a blur of rehearsals, interviews, and last-minute preparations for the new year’s celebrations. Y/n barely had time to think about his upcoming birthday—shared with Winter, no less—before the big day arrived.

The plan was simple: get Y/n and Winter to believe it was just another ordinary day while secretly setting up a surprise party at the dorm. Giselle had somehow convinced Winter that Y/n needed help with something, giving the rest of the group time to set everything up.

Y/n, on the other hand, had no idea what was going on. He spent the day like any other, running around managing their schedules, completely oblivious to the plot happening right under his nose.

At the dorm, balloons were being inflated, streamers were hung, and a cake—decorated with both Winter and Y/n's names—sat proudly on the kitchen counter. It was a perfect setup.

That was until Y/n, ever the punctual manager, arrived a little earlier than expected.

The door to the dorm swung open, and he walked in, tossing his bag on the couch. "Hey, you guys here? I thought we had that—"

He stopped mid-sentence, eyes widening as he took in the half-decorated room. Karina was holding a balloon, frozen in place. Ningning was mid-streamer hanging, while Giselle had the cake knife in hand, looking like she’d just been caught robbing a bank.

They all stared at each other for a moment, time seemingly frozen.

“What the fu-” Y/n started.

"Abort mission!" Ningning yelled, throwing her hands in the air, and everyone scrambled to act like nothing was happening.

Karina hastily dropped the balloon and leaned casually against the wall. "Oh, Y/n, didn’t see you there. What’s up?"

Giselle, trying to shove the cake back into the fridge, smiled innocently. "Yeah, just, uh... normal day stuff."

Y/n blinked, looking around at the half-decorated chaos. "Suuure, normal day. Now tell me what exactly is going on here?"

Before anyone could make up an excuse, the door swung open again, and Winter appeared, looking confused. "What are you guys doing?"

Giselle groaned dramatically. "Well, there goes the plan."

Realizing the jig was up, Karina sighed and waved a hand. "Surprise, I guess?"

Y/n, despite being completely caught off guard, burst into laughter. "Wait, were you guys actually trying to throw a surprise party for us?"

"Yep," Ningning said, a little deflated. "But you had to show up early and ruin it."

“Yeah, screw you! Jung Y/n!” Karina pouted.

Winter, standing beside Y/n, grinned. "I guess it wouldn’t be our birthdays without some messes."

Despite the botched timing, the room quickly filled with laughter as everyone relaxed, the failed surprise only adding to the fun. Y/n and Winter shared a look before shaking their heads in unison.

Later, as the cake was brought out, the girls sang a loud, slightly off-key rendition of “Happy Birthday.”

Just as Y/n and Winter blew out the candles, Giselle and Ningning smirked at each other.

“We got you guys some special presents,” Giselle said with a mischievous glint in her eye. She pulled out two neatly wrapped boxes, handing one to Y/n and the other to Winter.

“Special?” Y/n raised an eyebrow as he took the box. “What kind of special?”

“Oh, you’ll see,” Ningning said, barely holding in her laughter.

Winter, just as curious, began unwrapping her gift first. The second she opened the box, her eyes widened, and her face turned red as she pulled out a pair of fluffy, pink handcuffs.

“What the—” Winter started, but her voice was drowned out by the chorus of laughter from the other members.

Y/n, now dreading his own gift, slowly unwrapped his box. Inside, he found his own pair of handcuffs, except his were black and decorated with little hearts.

The girls erupted in laughter. Blackpink was truly in the area.

“I—what even is this?!” Y/n held the cuffs up, utterly flustered.

“Oh, come on, you guys have been living together now,” Giselle teased, waggling her eyebrows suggestively. “We thought these might come in handy in case you two planned to be-”

"NOOOOOOO!" Winter looked mortified, covering her face with her hands. “You guys are the worst.”

Karina, trying to maintain a serious expression but failing miserably, added, “We figured it’d break the tension.”

Y/n shook his head, laughing despite himself. “You guys are unbelievable.”

Ningning, still in hysterics, managed to choke out, “You should’ve seen your faces!”

The room dissolved into laughter once more, the ridiculousness of the situation bringing everyone together. Even Winter, after recovering from her embarrassment, couldn’t help but join in.

As the laughter died down and they settled in to enjoy the cake, Y/n stood up and cleared his throat. “Well, since it’s both of our birthdays, I have something for you, too,” he said, handing Winter a small box.

Winter blinked, surprised. “You got me something? Is it a choker this time?”

"Minjeong, what th-" Y/n laughed out. "Stop being dirty-minded and open it, crybaby."

Winter carefully unwrapped the gift, revealing a simple yet elegant bracelet engraved with both their names. Her eyes softened, and she smiled. “Y/n, this is beautiful. Thank you.”

Y/n shrugged. “Figured we might as well embrace the fact that we share the same birthday. Continue the tradition since old days.”

Winter, her smile warm and genuine, reached into her bag and pulled out a small package. “Well, I got something for you, too.”

Y/n opened it to find a sleek, custom-made pen engraved with his initials. He chuckled. “You know, after all this time, I was expecting something like more handcuffs.”

Winter rolled her eyes playfully. “I did say a choker. But please don’t give them any more ideas.”

As the night went on, the room was filled with laughter, teasing, and warmth. It was a night of unexpected gifts, hilarious moments, and heartwarming memories—one that Y/n and Winter wouldn’t soon forget.

[lotomber]

Generally people assume I am a cold, unreachable person probably because of my high standards and resting bitch face. Can I request Aku, Chuuya, Jouno and Tetchou headcanons with a fem reader who is someone like this. They see her and it was love at first side however getting her attention is not quite easy.

Sassy!

Includes: Chuuya, Akutagawa, Jouno, Tetchō x Fem! reader Warnings: none!

Chuuya ❣

Oh Girl! The moment he saw you he couldn't take his eyes off of you.

He just loved your sassy personality!

If he saw you in bar, then he would offer to buy you a drink.

Even if you decline his offer he won't hesitate to try make small talk with you.

My boy is literally full of confidence so even if you shot him down once or twice he just won't give up.

He would just openly compliment or flirt with you and he won't even mind to flex his wealth in front of you.

But he would always make sure to respect your boundaries cause he's a real gentleman.

It's like an instant challenge to him to try and make you fall in love with him and he won't lose it.

After he got to know you more he realized that you were not as unapproachable as you looked and it just made him love you more!

Akutagawa ❣

He isn't the type to directly come and strike a conversation but with you he would try to make an effort.

He isn't real good at small talk so he would try gifting small things like flowers, chocolates, books or anything you like to show his admiration.

Aku himself most times comes off as a cold person but he doesn't mind it instead he finds himself smiling more in your presence.

He won't hesitate to tell you how beautiful you are or how much he likes you.

He would also make sure that he won't do anything that could make you feel uncomfortable around him.

Jouno ❣

He is a very perceptive person so he could tell that you were not as cold as look.

He try to make small talks with you in hopes of knowing more about you.

Instead of directly flirting with you he would first try to make you open up to him by befriending you.

He would like to take his time exploring about you, your likes, dislikes, hobbies.

He isn't bothered by your harsh turn downs to him instead he likes like chase.

Afterall it's more fun and interesting to him trying to make an impression on you.

Tetchō ❣

He is not embarrassed in openly confessing to you as he is a straightforward person.

Just like Aku he would try to gift you small things like bouquets, he would even try to make meals for you (just don't eat them)

He is real cinnamon roll, sometimes he doesn't really know how to read the room so he might come off as a bit persistent.

But he would always approach you with sincerity and genuine feelings.

Like jouno he isn't bothered by your rejection but he will keep trying until he could gain your attention.

A/N- Sorry if it came off as a bit ooc actually it's my first time writing for jouno and techo but if you like it then do tell me!

[automaticmercy]

Anyways something I’ve been musing for a while is ES Megatron being accidentally extremely charming. When he’s not his usual angry, tyrannical self, he’s so well spoken, and as of recent he’s been trying harder to be nicer, more patient, with the ones around him.

He’s even learning to be nice ! It’s a start.

It’s a rough idea where the former Decepticon prisoners and the Autobots call a temporary truce , and room together at the former Ghost headquarters - cue ridiculous harem-trope scenes ofc ofc.

Megatron , completely by accident , feeding into exactly what everyone needs - whether they know they need it or not.

Shockwave who is struggling with his feelings of inadequacy and uncertainty in, well, everything, vs Megatron who has been practicing giving out praise where it’s due.

“You made this? It’s brilliant, Shockwave.”

And Megatron doesn’t say it in that sappy, kiss-up tone, he means it when he says it , and Shockwave just kind of. Stares at him. Expressionless as he is , you wouldn’t be able to tell at first glance , but he is just SO pleased. And confused. He tries to ignore it and push the feelings down, but Megatron just /keeps/ complimenting him and praising him + Shockwave just slowly getting used to it and even seeking out his praise. Megatron is the first to see any new scientific discoveries he makes , and showers him with well earned praise. All the while Megatron just thinks he’s making up for old wounds, and being a good friend, meanwhile Shockwave is experiencing what the organics call ‘butterflies’ in his midsection.

Soundwave , all bitter and angry and doing his best to be detached vs Megatron who’s very patient and attentive etc. One time , Soundwave couldn’t find Ravage. He looked all over HQ and she was still nowhere to be found. Only for Megatron to appear with her in tow, explaining they were both eager to stretch their legs , and had gone for a walk. Soundwave who only glares and walks away with Ravage, not even sparing a word to his former leader.

But Megatron doesn’t take this as a deliberate insult - Soundwave has always been a less-than-talkative mech anyway. Anyways, he keeps going for walks with Ravage , and sometimes even Frenzy and Laserbeak join them . Soundwave who gets all possessive because who the hell is Megatron to be attending to /his/ cassette’s needs ?

Soundwave eventually joining them on their walks and finding he actually really enjoys them. For the first two outings, none of them say a word. The third time though, Megatron is the first to break the silence, and eventually Soundwave warms up to one word responses. Megatron, who is thrilled to have his former TIC talking to him again, begins to talk… a lot. And Soundwave just listens. Sometimes even offering up not one, not two, but three word responses ! Eventually their outings become a routine, and at some point, the little cassettes stop attending and it’s just Megatron and Soundwave, walking along a cement path as the sun sets in the distance. Megatron making some half-thought out comment that Soundwave is a lot like the moon, gleaming and silent - its usefulness and beauty often underappreciated. Etc. and Megatron spewing out an apology for underappreciating Soundwave in the past - being all sincere and genuinely sympathetic. Though, most of his words are unheard, seeing as Soundwave is short circuiting because Megatron just insinuated that he was beautiful.

And Starscream, too, will fall victim to these silly harem tropes. I’ve been thinking he takes way longer to even look Megatron in the optics - watching from afar as he ‘shamelessly flirts’ with the rest of the former Decepticons , insisting that he himself won’t fall for such obvious tricks and lies.

Anyways, Starscream who still gets all nervous in Megatron’s presence, though he swallows this all down and hides it with his impressive anger. Vs Megatron who just sighs and relents, keen to leave the little seeker to his lonesome etc. lest he invoke his wrath and ruin what little semblance of peace they harbored

Hashtag, just wanting to help ofc ofc , keeps setting up moments for Megatron and Starscream to meet ‘accidentally’. She’d seen it in a movie , when two friends are fighting and yet keep accidentally meeting, eventually learning to their reconciliation.

It doesn’t end so well the first few times, ofc, but they’re slowly getting somewhere!

One of the times, they end up in an elevator alone, and Starscream is glaring holes into the floor buttons. Hashtag had synced into the HQ’s WiFi and activated every button. Damn this place for having so many floors.

“So…” Megatron begins and Starscream holds up his servo in a ‘stop’ motion. Telling him not to even start. That he wont fall victim to his lies too, that he isn’t as much a fool as everyone else is.

“They may believe you’ve changed, but I know you - I know you haven’t changed a single thing, besides the insignia you bear.” And Megatron just stands there stupidly for a while, mulling over a thousand responses. His first instinct is to argue and defend himself but Starscream clearly doesn’t look like he’s in the mood to listen to that. When the elevator dings it’s on the second to last stop, Megatron sighs. “I’m sorry, Starscream.”

It’s a shitty apology, yeah, but it’s a start. “Save it.” Starscream would snap , and as soon as the doors slid open, he’d storm out of the elevator.

And from that moment on , every time Megatron runs into Starscream, he already has a speech of an apology ready. Starscream, at first, just gets angrier and angrier every time he hears that pathetic word drip from his former leader’s vocalizer. As if ‘sorry’ would fix anything !

But eventually , ofc , it starts to work. Starscream who lingers just long enough to hear the end of Megatron’s speech of atonement, but leaves without a word.

Around the fifth apology though, Starscream asks “how many times are you going to try and trick me with this ‘apology’?” And grumbles something about never, ever forgiving Megatron. That no mere apology would ever atone for everything. And Megatron just hums. “I dont seek your forgiveness, Starscream. I will apologize as many times as you like, for the rest of my life cycle if you’d like, and you dont ever have to forgive me even a little bit.”

Starscream just cant understand why his former leader would sink so low, this was a humiliating performance, and yet… it was charming in its own way.

Anyways, I have not fully fleshed it out but some stupid, cheesy scene where Starscream trips and falls next to Megatron but before he can kiss the floor with his pretty face, Megatron catches him - by the waist. And when he resettles Starscream on his pedes, his touch lingers, and Starscream's processor seems to fizzle out of coherency.

Agh, big, dumb, charming Megatron is my weakness I tell you. I want nice Earth spark Megatron. Someday, I'll get around to writing this hehe.

[whipped-for-kpop-fics]

Can you do individual ot13 thoughts/headcanons of svt getting with a reader that has a really good physique and is a pilates princess? Like abs so nice and defined it shows through her silk dresses and they have so nice arm/back muscles! I’m sure they would definitely love a partner to tag along with them at the gym.

🏋️‍♀️Who; Seventeen (individually) x female reader (though I think most come off as gender-neutral) 🏋️‍♀️What; I guess you could call it fluff(?) headcanons 🏋️‍♀️Wordcount; a little under 1k altogether 🏋️‍♀️Warnings; none, I don't think so at least.

-2024 Masterlist -

A/N- Let me just preface by saying that I am in no way speaking for the members and their preferences in regards to the female form in a romantic partner, as obviously, I am not them nor do I know them therefore I cannot speak for them. I'm just responding with the ~vibes~ they give me, okay Also, I know nothing about exercise so this is all general fitness

Thank you for the request, anon! I hope you like it 💖

Seungcheol I think Cheol would quite like having a partner who works out a lot and who it's visible on. It's a sign that you take care of your body and physical strength as much as he does his own so although he wouldn't be loud about it, he'd be happy and always glance over at you in the gym with a proud smile seeing you focused on your task

Jeonghan He's a mischievous little imp so of course he'd be extra about it. Playfully swooning when you do things that require strength or flex your muscles. He'll love to buy you those silky low-backed dresses just to show off your muscles and will often have his hand appreciatively on your shoulderblades when you're in them

Joshua I am genuinely kind of stuck on Shua with this particular thought. I'm not sure he'd be all that into it but I don't think he'd exactly be against it either. Maybe he's sort of neutral about it. But he'll worship your body anyway and always give you the most sincere compliments and makes sure you know he loves every inch of you

Junhui I genuinely think that Jun wouldn't really care. So long as you're happy and healthy, he won't care how muscular you are or are not. But he will often have his hand on your abs over your clothes to mindlessly trace over the muscles. Like his own personal soothing/fidget toy

Soonyoung He'd love it. Always hyping you up and tracks your sets for you even if you never ask. He'd honestly spend most of the time at the gym standing by you and counting aloud with a serious, supportive expression on his face instead of working out. So now he goes to the gym twice as much, half with you and half alone to make up for focusing on you the whole time

Wonwoo Honestly, I don't think he'd really be into someone very muscular, a little definition, sure but not lots. Still, if that's what you choose to do with your body, he will do his best to support you while always making sure you don't go over the top and actually are doing it in a healthy way just for you, not for the sake of impressing others

Woozi Another one who doesn't much care. He'll like that you work out and you can share that together but it also wouldn't much bother him if you didn't either. But he also does like it for the fact that your regular workouts means he gets to the gym more regularly and doesn't get caught up in his work or lounging at home as much as before your gym dates started

Seokmin He's confused by how into it he is. He never thought he'd like a woman who isn't feminine but man, his eyes are always glued to the definition of your muscles at every chance. Full on big ol round eyes glued to the lines of your body, this man is utterly whipped He will definitely have his hands on you as much as he can to feel the natural flex of muscles under his fingers so you better be okay with copious skinship

Mingyu Number one hype man for real. As much as he wants to be that couple who works out together, you can't because he genuinely has almost scared you into dropping weights on your foot on more than one occasion from his sudden catcalls and yells of your name in support. He means well though, he just gets too excited seeing his baby killing it at the gym He regularly makes you flex for him then giggles and squeezes your muscles appreciatively before he flexes and makes you touch his in return

Minghao I'm kind of stuck between he isn't really into a lot of muscle on a partner at all and he doesn't really care either way. I think maybe he's somewhere in the middle where he will appreciate a certain amount of definition, like a flat stomach but when it turns to a six-pack he's not really into it. He'd love you regardless but it wouldn't be his preference

Seungkwan I don't think Seungkwan would be into a very muscular partner at all. He can appreciate the time and effort of course that getting such a physique takes. And he will be very impressed in general but I can't really imagine him being attracted to that in a partner though as a friend, he'd hype the shit out of you at every chance

Vernon Dude doesn't much care what you look like so long as you have a general sense of pride in your appearance to not look like a slob and eat relatively healthy. You got soft bits? Great! Got muscles? Great! Got neither? Great! Dude does not care, just wants to hold you and be held regardless of the type of body you have Though he will support you in your exercise routines and you might even be able to convince him to work out with you once or twice, though he mostly just makes you a workout mix, hands you a water bottle and sends you off with a "have fun sweating around strangers while I watch movies"

Chan This sweetheart will always support his partner in their interests. He's likely to even sign you up for classes together (with your consent of course) and do research into your preferred methods of exercise or sport. He'll very likely get very into it himself and proudly call you from across the gym when he hits a new achievement that he's learned because of you If you want to dress up in ways to showcase your muscles, he'll love it, but if you'd prefer to keep it to yourself for whatever reason, he'd still love it. He just really loves you and everything you do, you know. (I am a firm supporter of the simp chan agenda okay)

A/N- I genuinely felt really mean on the ones I said wouldn't be into it, I don't want to offend anyone

If you have any ideas/suggestions of what I could write next, send an ask after checking this post where you can find the guidelines about what I will or will not write

[hearts4hughes]

lacy | mark estapa

( mark estapa x fem!reader )

a/n: i know i should be working on my bday celly, but this song has been stuck in my head since i first heard it. olivia so perfectly captured the feeling of insecurities within girls and others. this is sooo short and it’s devastating writing mark angst, but i had to write something for this song!

warnings: mentions of being insecure, being led on, no part two!

Lacy, oh, Lacy

Skin like puff pastry

Aren't you the sweetest thing on this side of Hell?

Dear angel Lacy

Eyes white as daisies

Did I ever tell you that I’m not doin' well?

the bar was loud- so loud it hurt your head. then again, maybe it was also the result of the countless drinks you’d lost track of, each one seemingly going down easier than the last.

why had you agreed to go there? why had you agreed to torture yourself?

just a week ago mark had his arm around you. he was whispering sweet nothings into your ear, giving you the impression he wanted more than to just be best friends. yet he never acted on it, never followed through. so you waited on this confusing limbo. you didn’t know what you were waiting for- perhaps for your crush on your best friend to magically disappear or for him to finally act on all those mixed signals.

now, mere days later, he had his arm around her- treating her as he had just treated you. his arm rested comfortably around her waist. their height difference made him have to lean down to whisper in her ear, just as he had done with you. and he looked at her with those unmistakable heart eyes. you wanted to believe that she had lured him in with some siren song, or maybe cast a spell on him, but you didn’t believe in magic. that’s why lacy almost didn’t seem real. she was impossibly perfect.

her long, blonde hair was tied back with delicate pink ribbons, matching with her adorable slip dress. but when you wore pink, it washed out all of your features, leaving you feeling less then feminine. with lacy, it was different. pink accentuated her plump red lips and those piercing blue eyes of hers. she embodied femininity in every way.

why couldn’t you look like that?

Smart, sexy Lacy

I'm losin’ it lately

I feel your compliments like bullеts on skin

Dazzling starlet

Bardot reincarnate

Wеll, aren't you the greatest thing to ever exist?

you were jolted as she gracefully moved away from mark and headed in your direction. she sent you the sweetest smile, showing off her pearly white teeth. it was the kind of smile that could uplift anyone that was lucky enough to see it.

“oh my goodness, you look like an actual goddess!” she complimented, her eyes filled with sincerity and awe. there was no devilish undertone or hidden agenda in her words, so why did it feel like bullets against your skin?

you smiled in return, yet it didn’t reach your eyes. “speaking of looking like a goddess, darling, that’s you.” you replied with sincerity, even though the gnawing feeling in your stomach hinted otherwise.

“thank you so much, cutie! i channeled my inner bardot with this look.” she said, though she didn’t need to channel anyone. she was a modern-day brigitte bardot herself. “anyways, catch you later; i’m going to get drinks for mark and me.” she beamed, planted a sweet kiss on your cheek, and strutted off to the bar.

you wanted so desperately to find a flaw, to mock her in some way, but it was impossibly- she was genuinely one of the sweetest people you’ve ever met, and it left you conflicted, torn between admiration and insecurity.

you couldn’t do this. you couldn’t sit here praying on the downfall of her and mark’s relationship. it was time to accept the painful truth: you were just a pawn in his game, leading him to her- his queen. your trembling fingers found their way to the heart pendant necklace around your neck, and with a determined tug, you broke the clasp. gazing at it in your palm, you remembered how mark got it for you for your one year ‘friendiversary’. what once was such a special piece of jewelry, was now a mockery of your failed relationship.

tears welled up in your eyes as you stomped over to mark. he didn’t notice you were next to him until you shoved his shoulder. he looked at you with confusion as you opened his hand, shoving the golden pendant within it.

“what’s going on?” he asked, peering down at the necklace. “why are you giving this to me?” foolish was the only word that could describe him.

“i can’t be friends with you anymore, mark. you’re tearing me apart and i don’t even think you notice it.” you confessed, tears streaming down your face. his eyes were laced with hurt. what had he done to lose his best friend?

“y/n-”

“no, don’t say anything!” you snapped, your breath hitching in your throat. “you don’t get to say anything after what you did to our friendship. you ruined it! you’re the one who ruined it.” your words were slurred, fueled by the alcohol coursing through your veins.

he didn’t respond or ask for clarification; you both knew exactly what had been done to ruin such a solid connection.

as the weight of your confession hung in the air, you turned away from who once was your world, leaving him behind with the heart pendant in his open palm. there was a whirlwind of emotions coursing through you- pain, anger, and an overwhelming sense of betrayal.

pushing through the crowd, you made your way to the exit. lacy waved you bye, clueless of what had just happened.

you stepped out of the bar into the darkness. tears clung to your lashes, but you didn’t let them fall. your phone vibrated in your pocket, but you ignored it- too nervous that you’d see mark’s contact picture staring back at you.

and you left, leaving everything you once cared about behind you; leaving that cruel chapter of your life in the darkness of the open night.

Lacy, oh, Lacy

It's like you're out to get me

You poison every little thing that I do

Lacy, oh, Lacy

I just loathe you lately

And I despise my jealous eyes and how hard they fell for you

Yeah, I despise my rotten mind and how much it worships you

[techhiz]

Headcanons: Terrans & Bumblebee React to Reader’s First Alt Mode!

Bumblebee

Impressed Mentor Mode: Bee would be over the moon! He’s always felt responsible for helping you develop and gain confidence, so seeing you with your first Alt mode would make him feel like a proud teacher.

Encouraging but Playful: “Nice wheels! I knew you’d nail it! Wanna take ‘em for a spin?” He’d likely challenge you to a little friendly race or something to help you break it in and get comfortable.

Protective Big Brother Vibe: Bee would also look out for any trouble, making sure you know some moves to handle yourself while driving. “Remember to watch your six, and stay cool. You’ve got this, [Y/N]!”

Twitch

In Awe and Enthusiastic: Twitch would be thrilled and might even do a happy hover or spin around you. She’d be fascinated by every detail, asking tons of questions about how it feels, what inspired your choice, and wanting to know every little feature.

Cheering You On: “You look amazing! I can’t believe you’re just like us now with an Alt mode! Can we go exploring together?”

Heartwarming Support: Twitch would also be super supportive, cheering you on and making sure you’re comfortable with your new form, almost like a younger sibling looking up to you.

Thrash

Instant Bonding Mode: Thrash would probably be the one to jump on the excitement right away. He’d rev his own engine to match yours, treating it like a new adventure for both of you.

Playful Teasing: “Finally! We’re ride buddies now! But good luck keeping up!” Thrash would be the first to initiate a playful race, revving and taking off without a second thought.

Encouraging Fun: He’d probably suggest some crazy off-road trails or stunts to break your Alt mode in and see how much fun it can really be.

Nightshade

Curious Analysis: Nightshade would be immediately interested in the technical aspects, wanting to study your transformation and see how your Alt mode works in detail.

Thoughtful Compliments: “Your Alt mode is truly unique. The aesthetic suits you, and I imagine it’s quite functional. Tell me—how does it handle?”

Sharing Knowledge: Nightshade would also offer tips on adapting to your new form, helping you become fully comfortable and in sync with it. They’d probably suggest some maneuvers and strategies for using your Alt mode effectively.

Hashtag

Ultimate Fangirl Mode: Hashtag would be all over the excitement, whipping out her phone to capture every moment. She’d take a hundred photos, videos, and would probably be trying to get a selfie with you in both your bot and Alt forms.

Excited Bragging: “OMG, you look EPIC! This is so going on the Grid! Everyone’s gonna know how awesome you look in your new Alt mode.”

Supportive Friend: She’d hype you up like no one else, giving you tons of confidence in your new look. “I mean, seriously, you’re like an action star! This is major! We’ve got to show off how incredible you look!”

Jawbreaker

Admiring and Proud: Jawbreaker would be a little quieter about it but incredibly proud. He’d take a minute to let it all sink in, giving you a soft smile and a thumbs up.

Genuine Encouragement: “Looks great, [Y/N]. I always knew you’d make an awesome Alt mode.” He’d keep it sincere, making sure you knew how happy he is for you.

Calm and Helpful: Jawbreaker might even suggest a scenic drive or something relaxing to help you ease into it. He’d be there to support you at your own pace, keeping things fun but chill.

have a goodnight/day ^^

[objection-argumentative]

Accidental Part 3

I’m sorry it has took me soooo long to update this story 

This is my first post in the months 

Thankyou for all the love on previous posts, I do still check my notifications 

Here you go lovelies!

@emandems10​

Emily Gilbertson couldn't believe her best friend, little "Annie", was hitting it off so well with a handsome hot man. Emily watched her best friend laugh, be silly and drink beer while she got to know Sonny. Emily knew how self-conscious Anna was, but she never understood why. Anna was a beautiful young lady with a killer smile, big chocolate eyes and a figure to die for. Emily wasn't interested in her date anymore. She was just so excited to see her friend happy and open with someone.

Anna hadn't experienced anything like it. she hadn't experienced anything like that, she liked Sonny, he was cute, hot, funny, sweet and unique. The way she felt around him was new; she always felt old beyond her years and that she was too scared to enjoy life. When Anna is with Sonny, she feels her age, happy and light, as if she can grab life by the balls and take on anything thrown at her. Sonny made her feel like Anna, not Annie or the girl who follows Emily Gilbertson around like a puppy. She was her own person with him, and she liked that feeling very much indeed.

Sonny never thought he could feel like this. After one coffee date cut short because of his career and two beers with this amazing young woman, he thinks he might be head over heels for Anna Diaz. All of his insecurities seem to vanish when he is around her. The horrors he saw at work daily, plus the pressure he was under from his family, his team, and himself, was unbelievable. For the past few months, Sonny has struggled to find a genuinely happy moment. When he has been with Anna, all he has felt is happiness, like a massive weight has been lifted off his shoulders.

It was 1 am when the group left the bowling alley quite drunk, and they were merry, laughing and talking with each other. Sonny and Anna stayed at the back of the group in their own little world. "so this is it. I'll see you Tuesday night for dinner ?"  Anna asked, hopefully giving the man in front of her the best doe-eyed look she could with the amount of alcohol she had in her system. "Anna, I wouldn't miss it for the world. I can't wait to spend more time with you," The blonde man confessed as he stared into her eyes, getting lost in them. "Sonny, I like you. I'm looking forward to our date" Sonny felt ecstatic. He couldn't determine if it was Anna's statement or the sincerity he felt from the girl. "I like you too, Anna, very much, but you, my dear girl, are very drunk, and you need water and your bed. So I'm going to call you an Uber to get you home" All of a sudden, Anna felt tired, and the beer hit her. When the Uber arrived, Anna and Emily slid into the car's back seat with Sonny's help. When the girls were safely in the car, Sonny leaned in, pecked Anna on the lips before closing the door, and asked her to text him in her dorm room so he knew she was safe. The door shuts, and they pull off, leaving both Anna and Sonny giddy with happiness about each other.

*Tuesday Evening*

Sonny: I'm outside, Doll, in the Uber. Are you ready to go? Anna:  Yeah, give me a couple of seconds. I will be right down.

Anna came downstairs in a pink dress that flaunted her figure with black strappy heels. She ran out to the Uber, impressing Sonny in the process of running in heels. Finally, Anna got into the back of the car and closed the door. "Hello, handsome, You look good in a suit, Sonny", Anna greeted as she eyed the man up in down. "Hello Yourself, Doll; you look incredible tonight" Anna blushed at Sonny's compliment. The date was a dream for the pair, one of the best dates they had ever been on. They both didn't want to drink, Sonny was at work the following day, and Anna had class followed by lunch with her Aubella and her aunt Rita. Nevertheless, as they left the restaurant, the pair were smitten with each other leaving the restaurant, they were in their little bubble, and no one at that moment existed in the world. Anna leaned in and started to kiss Sonny with tounges in the middle of the street. A few weeks ago, Anna hated the thought of public affection, but with Sonny, she doesn't have a care in the world. "Doll, I live just down the street. Do you fancy coming in for a cup of coffee?" Anna felt like she had just had an ice bucket tipped over her; this is what she had been dreading. "Sonny, Im just going to come out and say it, Im a virgin. Im not ready for anything. I hope you understand, and I get it if you do not want to see me again or go for someone with experience." Anna looked down at her feet, ashamed. Sonny lifted her face by her chin with two fingers. "Anna, I like you. I'm not interested in a fling, im looking for the real thing here. I will wait for eternity for you if you are the woman I think you are." Sonny kissed the girl's lips, trying to pour his feelings into the kiss. Anna couldn't believe it, she had found the perfect man, and he liked her, her of all people; she felt like she was on cloud nine. "Sonny, thank you for understanding. I appreciate you waiting for me." Anna whispered, still breathless from the kiss.

*Sonny's Apartment*

The apartment itself was small, but it was cosy and homely. Anna loved apartments like this, which reminded her that new york wasn't full of people looking for high-end real estate at costly rates. Sonny's apartment smelled like vanilla, and she felt safe. "I know it's not much, but it is home." The blonde man eyed the girl nervously. "That's why it's perfect, Sonny" Anna gave the man one of her killer smiles, and he instantly felt at ease. "Come into the kitchen, Doll. I'll get the coffee started for us," Anna agreed and followed the man into the kitchen.

"So tell me about your family doll. We spent loads of time discussing mine; we didn't discuss yours" Sonny waited for the girl to open up. "My aubela is the matriarchy of the household. She is terrific, strong, kind and many other things. My aubela was my grandmother and mother all rolled into one. My dad went to college on a full scholarship when I was a baby, and he did it to provide himself and me with a better future and opportunities. He went to Harvard, and I stayed in the Bronx with my aubela. We are a small family, but my god, we are mighty; we are so close nothing will come between us." Sonny hung on to every word that Anna was saying while Anna stared into her glass as she told the story. "what about your mom?" Sonny asked innocently. "My mom walked out on my dad and me when I was six weeks old. They were both very young, and I think she was just overwhelmed, and after she left, it was just too hard to come back. If you had a child, would you want to be a part of their life? I know I would. She is probably out there somewhere, regretting what she had done all those years ago. I've tried to look for her; I found a census entry for her, dated six months after she left in LA, but the trail ran cold from there." Sonny felt pity and sadness for the girl and couldn't understand why anyone could leave their child like that. " I wanna find her, Sonny, show her im not angry with her and hopefully finally have a relationship with her."  Anna smiled at her daydream " I hope you are right, doll", Sonny sighed as he had a horrible feeling in his stomach.

" Does your dad still practise law?" Sonny asked to change the subject. "Yeah, he does. He is an ADA" Sonny was surprised he couldn't think of an ADA with the last name of Diaz. "what's his name? I may know him," Sonny quizzed as his heart hammered out of his chest, awaiting her answer. "Rafael Barba", Anna answered matter of factly. "Shit, no, Anna, no. He is the ADA on my team. I'm a detective with Manhattan's Special Victims Unit. Anna looked at the man, horrified. Suddenly she thought she liked Sonny and Sonny liked her. Why does she have to give him up? This was the happiest she had ever felt, and she didn't want to let go. "Sonny, I know this is not ideal, but I'm Anna around you. I'm happy when I'm with you, and I like you a lot. Let's keep this a secret for now and see how things go. If we go on to go separate ways, no foul was done, but if we make it, my dad will have to learn to love it. What do you say? Take a chance?" Anna could hear the blood pumping her body with adrenaline. It felt like hours waiting for Sonny's answer, but it was only a minute or two. "Yes, Doll, let's give it a go, You and me. I know this might be too soon, rash, or fast, but will you be my girlfriend? I can't stop thinking about you, Anna Diaz." Sonny spurred out as he was nervous to ask. "I don't care how soon or rash it is, and the truth is I feel the same way about you. I would love to be your girlfriend, Sonny Carisi. Both smiled like idiots until Sonny leaned over the breakfast bar and kissed Anna. "That is never going to get old", Anna stated, still with her eyes closed, reeling from the kiss.

Sonny took Anna by the hand and guided her to the sofa, where they laughed, talked and told each other stories from their pasts. It was 3 am when Anna let out a yawn. She thought she covered the yawn well, but Sonny immediately picked up on it. "Doll, take my bed; I'll take the sofa. I don't trust cab drivers this time of night. I've seen too many horrors of women getting cabs late at night." Sonny stood up and extended his hand out to help Anna up. "Sonny, I don't want you to give up your bed. I'll take the sofa." Anna tried to reason with the detective. "Absolutely not, Doll. You get my bed. End of story."  Anna got into the comfy double bed and immediately dreamed of Sonny.

*The Next Day*

Anna woke up late to her phone buzzing on Sonny's bedside table. She could still hear Sonny softly snoring. She looked at the time and realised she had missed her morning classes as it was 1 pm. she had over a hundred missed calls collectively from her tutors, Emily, her aubela and her dad. "Shit", Anna cursed as she jumped up to get ready to leave Sonny's apartment. As she was clumsily pulling her dress over her head and trying to get an uber, Sonny walked into his bedroom half asleep, trying to work out what was going on. "Doll, everything alright?" Sonny quizzed the girl "Sonny, we have slept in. It's gone 1 pm. I've missed most of my classes, and people are looking for me," Anna explained. "Doll, it will be ok. Once they realise that you are safe, they will be happy. Of course, your tutors will want you to do the catch-up, but you are smart. You can do it, and it is not as if we are going to make a habit of this, is it?" Anna relaxed at his words. "you're right, handsome, and I really need to get back, though. My uber is outside." Sonny nodded, threw on a jacket and walked his girlfriend to her uber. "Text me to let me know you are back home, ok please, doll." he leaned in and pecked his girlfriend on the lips as she got into the uber.

Anna opened her dorm room to find her dad, her abuela and Emily talking to a police officer. "What's going on?" Anna asked the room that hadn't yet noticed her. Rafael's head span so quickly that Anna was sure he would have whiplash. "Where the hell have you been?" Rafael demanded in his lawyer voice. "Annie, Are you ok?!" Emily half asked, half shouted. Lucia was too busy hugging the life out of Anna to ask anything.   "Aubela, I can't breathe. Im fine, I went to dinner last night with a few friends from class and ended up back in their dorm hall for a few drinks afterwards, and I fell asleep in the common room and slept in." Anna lied through her teeth to the people she loved the most and didn't know how to feel about it. "What about your date with what's his name? Dan, no Greg, no Simon, that was it, Simon." Anna was grateful that Emily could not remember Sonny's name. " I blew him off, and I don't have time for a relationship. I need to find a job to get work experience and cash. I have school and maintain relationships with my family and friends. "You sure you didn't go on a date, Annie?" Rafael asked to ensure he didn't need to threaten any boy with an inch of his life to protect his daughter. "I'm sure, dad, I got what I need right here in this room. A relationship will be much later on." Anna couldn't help but think of Sonny and how much he belonged to be in this room. Anna realised that it would be difficult but worth the result.

[nicawlette]

PLATONIC & ROMANTIC TOUCHES! PART ONE

@sxnburst asked: [ LIFT ] for the sender to lift the receiver up!

The laughter that spills forth from her parted lips is unbidden in its sincerity, lacking all the usual mocking amusement. Nicolette had hardly expected this reaction to her presence— both the visual and physical show of enthusiasm are nothing like she's used to. It's not to say there aren't people who truly like her, but they are few and far between, nor are they quite so expressive.

Sun seemed to embody his very namesake, something that she would typically find ridiculous. Naïve, innocent types like him usually exhaust her in their unbelievable ignorance, but somehow Sun manages to embody purity without the stupidly uptight morals. It makes him surprisingly endearing in her eyes, though his willingness to shower her with praise helps, too.

When he'd spotted her, his face had lit up with such genuine delight, and he'd called her name as he ran in her direction. Perhaps the high of his last assisted hair-care routine was still ongoing. Warmth bloomed in her chest, a tiny spark of joy she wasn't at all familiar with taking root, buried deep but present all the same. Since when had anyone ever seemed happy to see her?

When he reached her, Sun apparently became possessed by the need to physically expel his energy, as he wrapped his arms under her bottom and lifted her from the ground, greeting her with words as he spun them around like eager child.

❝ Pwahahaha !! You really are like an overeager pet! ❞ It's compliment, and like a good pet she rewards him with a pat to the head, his hair much cleaner this time thanks to her insistence. ❝ You're holding me up like it's easy, am I not heavy? ❞ It's a rhetorical question, and while anyone else could catch her fishing for compliments, Sun is not so clever. He will give her exactly what she wants, and be happy to do so. ❝ You're so strong, Sun! I'm impressed! Your hair looks very nice today, too. ❞

[hearthtales]

Maude hadn’t forgotten what Bran told her. Samhain had dropped his room’s barrier on purpose. What if he made another rash decision in search of answers? What if Nightshade couldn’t save him this time?

But Nightshade knew Samhain much better than she did, Maude reminded herself firmly, drying her arms with the towel and placing it onto the counter. The girl sounded genuinely confident in his plan, which succeeded in easing some of Maude’s nerves.

Nightshade’s dream draught impressed Maude as well. Protective wards had taught the innkeeper that even seemingly simple designs could hold strong magic — and this little pouch had allowed Samhain to escape Feld’s trap. Maude traced her thumb over the bag in her palm. She doubted it would protect her, given the strength of her contract with Feld, but she didn’t mention this. “Sam’s lucky to have you,” she said instead. Sincerity and unspoken gratitude softened her voice. Thank you for protecting him when I failed. “If you’ve got three more to give the others, I’d appreciate it.” Extra safety never hurt.

Rhubarb scones. Surprise flitted across Maude’s face at Nightshade’s request. Regaining her composure, she gave a noncommittal hum and tucked the dream draught into her pocket as she spoke. “I… suppose so. If you’d like.” Admittedly, Maude disliked sharing the kitchen with anyone, much less a near-stranger, but a hint of warm pride colored her words in spite of herself. She couldn’t help feeling pleased when someone complimented her meals and treats.

Worry twisted in her stomach at the idea of teaching someone again, though. How long had it been since she’d taught anyone other than Bran? She knew teaching a pastry recipe was different than teaching magic, far less risky. It was silly to worry, really.

But still…

She cleared her throat, shoving her fears to the back of her mind, and focused on Nightshade again, her tone lighter now. “Nettie’s bound to spend as much time with you as possible. She adores you already. Reckon she’ll come looking for you soon.”

"No clue! But if Sammy thinks it'll help, then it's gotta be somethin' good!" Nightshade chirped as she stuffed the compact mirror back into her pawprint bag. While her hand was in there, she dug around until she found the rest of the dream draughts; plucking one and giving it to Maude. "Ta-da~! This is for you!" It looked like any normal, drawstring pouch, so small Maude could fit five in a single hand easily. The fabric sewn was nothing fancy, just patterned cotton - but the holographic hairs twined with the drawstring glittered exquisitely in the light.

"For protection an' good, lucid dreams! Not my best work but it'll do the job, like Sammy said!" If Nightshade could sense any awkwardness between the two, she didn't show it. She wasn't the type to bear a grudge, especially since she was quite understanding of the situation. She could tell Maude and the rest of the crew were good people; otherwise Sammy wouldn't have gone out of his way to help them the way he did. If they had Sammy's trust, they would have hers too.

"Heehee," Nightshade grinned wide. "Sammy said he really liked your rhubarb scones! Do ya think maybe you could teach me how to make 'em sometime?"

[grasshopperdoingdogpaddle]

Do you prefer Omi's mentor-student relationship with Master Monk Guan or Master Fung?

I’d say Master Fung by default.

Master Fung never really praises or acknowledges Omi and comes down heavier on him to scold or punish him than he does any other student. There are times when some sort of emotional response is practically being begged for from Omi and Fung just completely no-sells it, even though Fung will have emotional mentor talks with Raimundo, Kimiko, or Clay.

And Omi cares deeply for Master Fung, more than he cares about anyone else, and has time and time again shown that he’s willing to die for Master Fung. He jumps into the Yin-Yang world not because he doesn’t care about the other’s inputs, but because there’s nothing the Yin-Yang world could do to Omi that Omi wouldn’t consider worth it to save Master Fung.

He’s so enthralled with Master Fung that he watched what he knew was a fake Kimiko with shapeshifting powers walk into the vault, and Omi ran in after her, and then when he sees “Master Fung” in there instead and Master Fung is uncharacteristically kind to him, Omi just drops all logic and walks away with this huge cheesy grin on his face. But that sort of just makes it sadder how little Fung ever visibly reciprocates or evens says anything about how much Omi clearly wants nothing more than to be seen as good in Fung’s eyes. That intense love and devotion comes across as tragically one-sided most of the time.

Omi has to praise himself and build himself up, and often just trains by himself and has little in the way of a childhood before meeting the other dragons-in-training, because his upbringing at the temple was deeply lonely. He’s on this pedestal and convinced that he’s the only one that has the weight of the world on his shoulders, which was a ridiculous thing to let Omi grow up thinking if there are at least 3 other chosen dragons.

But Fung did raise Omi and does seem to care about him in his own way. He shows it more openly to every monk aside from Omi, but there is that scene in the bad future where Fung finally returns a hug from Omi and offers him some comfort.

That has to put it above Guan, who I don’t think has any genuine positive feelings towards Omi in general.

He came back and saved the kids after he stole Dojo and left them all to fend against Chase themselves, and he specifically thanked Omi for helping him make that decision and gave Omi his Spear of Guan to show his gratitude. 

But Guan also goes out of his way to undermine that gift in front of Omi later, after he sets Omi up to have his heart broken and his body beaten black and blue by one of Omi’s own friends. He almost seems like he actively wants to rub salt in the wounds he sent Omi to get in the first place, and only the whole mentorship was based on a false pretense.

It gives the impression that Guan sort of holds a grudge against Omi for calling him out earlier.

And even though Guan does show Omi the physical affection and praise that Master Fung never does, Guan’s is very hollow and insincere. It’s so hollow and insincere that I think even Omi realizes how disingenuous the headpats and compliments Guan gives him are.

Omi really looked up to Guan, saw him as the amazing, noble hero, and he was even still willing to look up to him after he came back in Master Monk Guan, but I think The Return of Master Monk Guan is when Omi sort of stops putting him up on that pedestal, and why, by the finale, Omi has officially come to admire Chase much more than Guan.

While I think Master Fung is sincerely trying and just is not good at being either a mentor figure or a parental figure to Omi, I think Guan only ever sees Omi as a tool to be used, at best.

However, narratively, the fact that both Omi’s mentors on the side of good are really bad at mentoring him... is what makes his relationship with Chase so interesting. And I like that.

Omi’s only viable option for a mentor who likes and acknowledges him, shows him physical affection, will help him get stronger, is a legendary hero who’s fun to be with, and who actually will say and show that he wants Omi at his side... is also the one who Omi is diametrically opposed to. 

The fact that Omi has no any good options that were on his side is part of the reason why we get those deeply conflicted feelings he has towards Chase. 

[schnedoop]

Servitude (Kaeya x Reader)

SUMMARY: You were just so sweet, so diligent, so noble. Too noble, if Kaeya’s honest. He’s glad that he was the first one to take advantage of it.

WARNINGS: dubcon/noncon

TAGS: cockwarming, PIV penetration, manipulation, abuse of power, asshole Kaeya

WORD COUNT: 2.4k

Kaeya can’t help but think that you would have made an amazing knight.

You were born with all the qualities needed for the job: a quick wit, a reassuring demeanor, a natural respect for the Anemo Archon, and a blinding devotion to serving the people of Mondstadt to top it all off. Inside you seemed to be a fierce combination of Diluc, Jean, Varka—and Kaeya can’t deny that, in your early training days, he sometimes saw himself in your unfailing persistence—and you seemed to carry everyone's best traits only, all weaknesses of character cast to the side.

Yes, the man muses, continuing to write his report. An amazing knight indeed. 

He still remembers how popular you were during your training years. Captains and soldiers alike stepped away from their taverns to spend their free time watching you, someone they all imagined to be the future of the Ordo, the next grandmaster, someone even Jean couldn’t hide her favoritism for.

Kaeya can’t say he blames any of them. He was always among the spectators, of course, watching you train, eavesdropping on your conversations in the mess hall, taking stalker-like measures to decode the enigma that was you.

In the beginning, it was out of wariness.

Kaeya was disinclined to believe that anyone could be so perfect, so pure. He assumed that you were putting up a facade, that the way you always took the long way home to help any citizens who crossed your path was nothing but a vicious scheme to gain Mondstadt’s trust so you could betray it—but soon, he learned that it wasn’t a lie. That you truly were this good a person. That your blinding naivety was natural, and not even a little feigned.

That was around when Kaeya began to watch over you, not as a potential threat, but as a subject of interest.

He found that everything about you was sincere. That you were one of the only knights who wouldn’t lie about their numbers for the bi-annual physical evaluations, who would spend their free time scouting out hillichurl camps and anonymously reporting them, who would wake up early to get extra training in, who would do anything and everything you could think of to better equip you to serve Mondstadt.

Kaeya found it endearing. You were so sweet, so diligent, so noble.

Too noble, if Kaeya’s honest. 

He’s glad that he was the first one to take advantage of it.

It started off with a casual comment during training. Your instructor was on bedrest after getting ambushed by some Electro slimes while swimming in a lake, so Kaeya had been asked to fill in. He paced down the line of your fellow soldiers-in-training slowly, offering loud compliments and gentle corrections to everyone he walked past, only for him to come to a halt at you.

“Come on, I’m sure you can do better than that. Training is no joke, cadet. Please take this seriously.”

You practically froze when he said that to you. 

His words were whispered, hushed low into your ear as if Kaeya didn’t want to embarrass you by chastizing you publicly, as if Kaeya was still the amicable Cavalry Captain everyone knew him to be, as if his criticism of you was genuine and wasn’t a stupid lie to make you question yourself.

It took all of Kaeya’s self-restraint to keep his expression neutral as he moved on. No doubt, it was the first time anyone had ever spoken to you as if you were failing to meet expectations instead of surpassing them—and Kaeya half-expected you to protest, to argue that you were doing a better job than everyone else in the room. 

He was pleasantly surprised when you mumbled an even more determined “Yes sir,” before continuing. 

A perfect soldier indeed. 

After that, you seemed determined to impress Kaeya. He could see the hierarchy in your mind: the fact that, although Jean was higher in authority, her praise meant less to you than Kaeya’s because he was the only one to not be impressed.

After you set your sights on impressing him, it was all over for you.

Crushing your spirit was an easy feat for Kaeya. You were a brilliant soldier, probably the strongest recruit the Ordo has had since Diluc, but you were nothing exceptional when it came to mind games. The occasional “do you need a break, cadet?” and the more often “there’s no shame in admitting weakness, solder” began to wear into you. Whereas before you responded to his every criticism with a fierce determination to do better, Kaeya could sense the change when you began to think your efforts futile, when you began to feel like the Cavalry Captain you so wanted to impress would, seemingly, never find you as exceptional as everyone else did. 

Kaeya still remembers the devastated look on your face when you barged into his office at midnight on the eve of your official recruitment into the Ordo.

“What do I have to do?!” you blurted, hands balled in fists. “What do I have to do to make you think I deserve to be a knight?!”

Kaeya recalls how surprised he’d been at that. He stared at you, that night, with genuine shock at your outburst. 

Before, he assumed that your attempts to impress him had merely been out of a selfish desire to earn the praise of everyone around you. Yet, there you stood, cute little tears building in your eyes as you revealed that the true reason was that you felt bad joining the knights without his approval, as if Kaeya was some benchmark that you needed to pass.

Very well, the knight remembers thinking. With your official graduation from soldier-in-training to soldier, Kaeya had been prepared to release the possessive grip he had around you...but when you presented him with such an obvious opportunity to take what he wanted, who was he to resist?

“It’s not anything you can change, cadet. Some people are meant to be soldiers. Some people aren’t. I already know which kind you are, but it doesn’t matter.” 

Every word Kaeya said had been carefully placed. He phrased his response in a perfect way, all to prompt the inevitable question from your soft, sweet lips:

“A-and which kind am I?”

“Which kind of what?” Kaeya asked, pretending as if he was barely giving this conversation any thought. He brought his eyes down to the map that he was detailing, pretending to continue working on it. 

“Wh-which kind of knight do you think I am?”

Kaeya remembers how hard it had been to stop a vicious smile from spreading across his face.

“You don’t want to know, cadet.”

“I do, Captain! I really do! Y-your opinion matters to me!”

“Oh?” That had been the first time Kaeya placed his quill down. “So if I tell you that I don’t think you’re ready to be a knight, you’ll heed my advice?”

“Well…” 

Your sheepish expression had been almost too much to bear. 

“If you came here to ask for my opinion just to ignore it, I’d advise going elsewhere. Please don't waste my time. The Ordo will spend enough resources trying to turn you into a half-decent knight, so don’t disregard all of that by—”

“Why?” you practically sobbed. You’d come forward and placed your palms flat against the surface of Kaeya’s desk, a pose that would have been wholly intimidating if not for the tears building in your eyes. “Why don’t you think I’ll make a good knight? Why won’t I—” you’d broken off to wipe away the tears that had begun to spill. “Why won’t I be able to help the Knights of Favonius?”

Instantly, Kaeya had risen and walked over you to wrap you in his arms. 

You were confused, no doubt, because the captain had been anything but kind to you in your previous interactions, but you openly sobbed into Kaeya’s chest, gripping the fabric of his jacket weakly. 

“I j-just want to help—I just want to m-m-make Mondstadt safer—I j-just—just want—”

“Of course you can help,” Kaeya whispered gently into your ear, wiping your tears away. “You’d be an invaluable resource to the city. It’s just that serving as a knight would be useless when you could be so much more useful.”

That stole your attention.

Instantly, you looked up at Kaeya with hopeful eyes.

“R-really? You think I can...actually help?”

Kaeya remembers how even he had been unable to stop the cruel smile from spreading across his face when he realized that you genuinely believed his words all this time: thinking yourself lesser, weaker, inferior to your fellow cadets. 

“Of course you can,” Kaeya whispered into your ear, gentle as the setting sun. 

And in this way, he managed to persuade you in a single night to abandon your dreams of becoming a soldier. Easily, he made you understand that such a thing was futile. Soldiers were expendable, and when Kaeya asked you if you thought you were expendable, you shook your head like a good girl and said you wanted to be alive to protect Mondstadt, not a dead body that could do nothing.

Still, you would have made an amazing knight. 

Would have, but not anymore.

You were born with all the qualities you needed for the job—but one by one, Kaeya’s replaced them with smarter, more reasonable goals. Your once-quick wit has been refocused on pleasing Kaeya, on figuring out whether he’d rather hear “yes, sir” or “thank you, sir” based on the question he poses you with. The calm, reassuring demeanor that once drew people into you is now nonexistent, completely replaced with something more obedient. The respect you used to allot the Anemo Archon has been redirected onto Kaeya: because what has Barbatos actually done for you? Kaeya is the one who’s given you a home, a purpose—it’s him that you pray to every day when you get on your knees.

The one thing that has remained constant is the devotion you carry for the people of Mondstadt: but that, too, has shifted.

Where you once wished to serve your people by protecting them on the front lines, you now understand that your purpose is to personally aid the superiors who already know how to do the job, to make Kaeya happier so that he can protect the nation for you. 

It was hard, at first.

But your mind is pliant, now, moldable and malleable as Kaeya wraps a hand around your naked hip to halt your grinding.

“Now, now,” he chides, kissing your shoulder as he continues to write his report. “None of that. I’ll fuck you nice and good after I’m done with this, so don’t distract me.”

“But—but sir,” you whine, wriggling your hips gently on top of Kaeya as if hoping that it’ll convince him to forgo the report and fuck you now. 

Internally, Kaeya appreciates how well you’ve acclimated to your new life. Externally, he clicks his tongue and lays a slap against your bare bottom, ignoring your delighted giggle.

“Be a good girl and let me focus. These are important documents, okay? You being here only helps me work if you’re not trying to distract me. Or do you not want to help Mondstadt out after all?”

That line always works, and you instinctively coil in on yourself, ashamed as you halt your playful teasing and rest your head on Kaeya’s shoulder. 

“I—I want to help Mondstadt…”

“I thought so. So be a good girl and keep my cock warm until I’m done.”

And you do a good job of it. Oh, you do such a good job, your little cunt clenching down on Kaeya the whole time as he proofreads his report once, then twice (and then thrice, though that’s more to torture you than it is to actually check for mistakes)—and when Kaeya finally tucks his report inside an envelope, sealing it with the crest of the Cavalry Captain, he knows you deserve a reward.

“Good girl,” he coos, slipping his gloves off to massage the soft flesh of your ass with his bare hands. “How did that feel? What do you want me to do to you?”

“Felt good,” you whisper, and Kaeya loves the shudder that runs down your spine when he drags a finger to circle at your clit. “P-please, Sir. Want more. I-if you have time. If you're busy with your captain duties...I can w-wait. But if not. Please.”

So cute, Kaeya thinks, loving how even now, months after you’ve been isolated from the world, you still cling to the naive hope that somehow, being Kaeya’s private slut is contributing to the prosperity of Mondstadt. Not that it’s something Kaeya will ever correct. He can keep you here for as long as you believe you want to be here, so he won’t do anything to jeopardize your innocent naivety. 

“Hmm, you’re going to be more specific than that, sweetheart. What do you want more of?”

“You, Sir,” you gasp, rolling your hips down on Kaeya’s cock to enunciate your point. “Wanna get fucked. Pretty please.”

“Oh?” Kaeya chuckles, lifting you up and laying you down on his desk, not caring about the paperwork your body is sprawled over because goddamn, you look hot like this, tits exposed, face flushed, pupils dilated, like the only thing you can think about is Kaeya’s cock and how bad you want it.

“You don’t want anything else?”

Normally, this is the part where you deliver a mumble about Mondstadt and how you want prosperity for the nation. Those comments have been getting more and more halfhearted recently, overshadowed by your larger desire for the overwhelming pleasure that Kaeya, and today—

Today, you forget about your so-called love for Mondstadt altogether.

“No,” you babble, wrapping your legs around Kaeya’s hips, desperately trying to tempt him into fucking into you. “No, Sir, don’t want anything but you so please, please, please—”

A breathy laugh falls from Kaeya’s lips as he leans over to press a quick kiss to your forehead. 

“Of course, sweetheart.” His hands find your hips, slender fingers digging in to grip them with bruising force as he prepares to wreck you from the inside. “I’ll always give you what you want.”

[hansoulo]

lay back in cloying sin

part three of “Pillar of Salt”

Pairing: Boba Fett/Princess!Reader (she/her pronouns, no Y/N)

Warnings: NSFW-ish; references to marks and bruises, kissing, probably inaccurate descriptions of ballroom dancing, fluff, mentions of alcohol consumption

Word Count: 3.3k

Gif Credit: (x) by @/ktfhett

A/N: boba & reader: [tyler the creator voice] oh no i hope i don’t fall 

༓ series masterlist ༓ 

Dinner was a tedious affair, filled with hollow pageantry. It was one last hurrah before the send off of the honored guests, one of which you’d never talked to and the other who was nowhere to be found. The former, Lord Vader, sat at the head of the long table and made for very unamusing company. You had the distinct impression that he’d rather be anywhere than here, having to listen to his uniformed subordinates squabble in grating voices and your father simper about mining collectives. That made for two of you.

But the cavernous banquet hall was always beautiful, if a bit ostentatious, and the food never disappointed, so you consoled yourself with a loosened corset and the promise of a second dinner by servants who pitied your forced small portions.

You floated into the large room, shuffled through by the compounding procession before an older man offered to help you into your seat. The ornateness of your evening wear made you grateful for the help, watching in sincere thanks as he pulled out the high-backed chair.

“Thank you, um…” the color of his robes and the softness of his hands signalled high rank and you chanced a guess. “Duke...?”

“Sagcock,” he finished for you. “Jovron Sagcock.”

He has got to be joking.

Evidently, he wasn’t.

If the man saw you choke on a laugh, sputtering it into a hiccup as you sat down, he pretended not to notice. After all, princesses knew better than to be unbecoming or crass or know why any part of that exchange could be fodder for humor.

Fighting down one last cough, you attempted to regain some sense of decorum. What a wonderful start to the evening.

The arrangement of persons on this particular night was strange though, even disregarding the title of the man now seated beside you. There were more people than usual filling out the hall tonight, all fancily clad and buffed to shining. Boba wasn’t anywhere to be found.

The supposed importance of the occasion probably necessitated a shuffling of seats to soothe egos and encourage conversation, but you weren’t used to being so close to the head of the table, near parallel with your mother. Usually your elder sisters sat higher and provided you the benefit of distance. Of course, they were all gone now. Your brother was still too young to be at evening dinners, so there was no buffer between you and your parents’ ire.

Maybe this was the Maker’s way of getting back at you for your tiny tryst. Maybe they all knew about what happened in the garden and were just waiting for the shoe to drop, branding you as a harlot and finally letting you free. Vader’s static words travelled down the table and mingled with your father’s but you were too busy entertaining worse-case scenarios to understand conversation.

People were observing you, you realized partway through the first round of courses. Watching you with strange eyes as if you were the last scrap of halfway-spoiled meat for imperial officials and all the nobility that had come to pay their prostrate respects. No one had really given half a damn about you before, which made it all the more strange.

A heel foot softly kicked at yours underneath the table, breaking you out of your glazed thoughts. The fork you had been mindlessly moving across your plate stopping mid-swirl. Looking up, you met the quiet glare of your mother and cleared your throat.

“I’m sorry, what was that?” you asked. Your question was punctuated with a smile too large to be genuine. The queen’s head jerked towards the grizzled man seated to her right and you turned towards him at her behest, face open in trained invitation. “Oh, hello, General.”

General Enes, current commander of the army of Quas Killam. Not strictly Imperial, but aligned close enough to have him in the king’s good graces and to reside permanently at court. He was also a Duke and probably a cousin thrice removed, but who was counting?

“No need to stand on pleasantries, your Highness,” the gray-haired man assured you, one large hand resting over his stomach as servants replaced the dirtied plates in front of you with new ones. You only sipped delicately at your algarine as he chortled and remembered, “It seems like yesterday that you were running around the palace with your sisters. A little sprite of a thing, weren’t you?”

Was he drunk already? “Yes, I remember,” you tread pleasantly; carefully.

The general settled and let out one last chuckle before his eyes grew hawk-like again, trained in the jewelry and accoutrements that signified your being old enough to marry but young enough to have not yet been taken. Like a prize. Or a charity donation. “You’ve grown into quite the young woman, you know.”

So that’s where this was going. You resisted the urge to roll your eyes and tried to look gracious. “Thank you, sir. That’s a high compliment.”

“How old are you again, dear?”

Masking your surprise at the forwardness of the question, you supplied your age to a nod of approval from both him and your mother.

“A good age, I’d say. ‘Round the same as my youngest.”

“Yes, I’m aware,” you shot a look down the table and caught a glimpse of cropped flaxen hair, its owner sitting enough seats down to prevent any shared conversation. You counted your blessings for it and smiled, tight-lipped. “Your son and I shared company when we were children.”

“Well that’s very nice,” the queen interjected quite loudly and looked around the long table with a light laugh but cold eyes. “Isn’t that nice?”

Your father looked at you for the first time all evening as if on cue, boring a hole into your face with the words he seemed to be telepathically trying to put in your mouth.

The taste of bitter wine on your tongue made your thoughts fevered, though not borne out of alcohol so much as the memories of someone else’s touch in the same places. “Yes,” you repeated vaguely. “Very nice.”

Darth Vader apparently didn’t remove his helmet. You wondered why he came to dinner at all.

The remaining evening hours had been whittled away by dessert and drinks. Everyone who cared to stay shuffled into the ballroom, a behemoth of a thing filled with inky windows and sparkling artifice. It was a blur of waltzes and predetermined couplings with boys you’d been ignoring since you were old enough to kick them in their shins, but you didn’t care enough to go to pains to avoid it. They broke up the monotony of introductions, at least, and let your mind and body be somewhere else for a while.

All compounded, the night left you flushed and tired. You needed alcohol. Or air. The latter was probably the more reasonable choice of the two.

Being in the midst of ballroom theatrics allowed for an easy enough escape, and a side entrance to a balcony overlooking the palace grounds became the object of your attention.

The tall double doors lay open in their glass encasings and spilled out lamplight refractions on the guests’ gaudy clothing and gaudier jewelry, everything sparkling and warm. But you were far enough away from it to still be chilled by the night air, a balm for your flushed cheeks and fizzling temper.

Usually guests ignored it in favor of staying indoors, so you were fairly confident in the promise of solitude and an undisturbed breeze.

But someone apparently had the same idea as you.

“Hello,” you ventured out a greeting to the silhouette not yet fully in your vision. You stepped closer and the heels of your shoes echoed on clay tiles. “I’m sorry, am I bothering you?”

Royal Highnesses shouldn’t really care about whether or not they were disturbing strange party guests, you could make them leave if you felt so inclined, but something in you was feeling magnanimous tonight. You tried not to think about why.

The figure didn’t turn back towards you, still facing out towards the blurry glitter of urban lights far off in the distance. It looked pretty this far away, all glowing masses and amorphous buildings that scraped the sky. You’d never  been close enough to see all the dinge and smog that made its home in places not populated by princesses. Marble felt more familiar than metal.

The man wore metal too, and his voice scraped at your chest when he answered. “You’re not bothering me, princess.”

Oh.

You ventured cautiously towards the balcony’s edge, next to the man you now could recognize as Boba. The thick stone railing was cool to the touch. “Hello.”

His helmet tipped to the left, which was probably his way of saying it back.

“I didn’t see you at the dinner,” you noticed quietly. Would it be presumptuous to assume he was avoiding you? Intellect said yes, but ego didn’t listen. You leant forward, the speckled marble digging into your elbows as you mirrored Boba’s sightline out into the city. “You know, you wouldn’t have needed to make conversation. Lord Vader was the guest of honor and all he did was sit there.”

“I don’t like crowds.”

“Ah.”

A silence lapsed between you, awkward as if you were strangers. You were though, weren’t you? Strangers. Not friends. Not lovers. Not really.

But if he asked you to crack yourself open for him, you would. You would rip apart every satin petticoat and snap the boning in your corsets until your hands were raw if it meant he would touch you; skin to skin. You’d run away and cite a hidden fountain as the reason why.

You didn’t know what he’d give up for you, if anything. Boba didn’t seem like the type to have much in the first place. Either by choice or by necessity.

The garden afternoon nagged at you after having time to form coherent thoughts, and the fizzy shine of palace lights reflecting off his helmet reminded you of what you’d been meaning to ask.

Night made you softer-spoken. “Why did you let me take off your helmet?”

Night made his edges sharper. “Why did you want to?”

“I asked first,” you volleyed back as reason enough to get an answer first.

Boba wasn’t a Mandalorian in the true sense of the word, at least that’s what gossip told you, so it didn’t really matter if he took the helmet off or not. But he kept it on in front of everyone else.

The hunter gave you visor-silence and your impatience made you concede. “I just wanted to see you,” you breathed out, still not looking at him.  The admission sounded much more naive than you intended.

His words held their characteristic aloofness but were edged by gentle teasing. “What if I said the same?”

That he wanted to see you?

You still didn’t understand half of why he did what he did and what he wanted, but you turned to face him head-on anyway. Cold moonlight fell on your neck and the air cracked with fever. You tried to reply in jest. “Then I’d say that you were being stupid.”

“You’d be right.”

A swallow bobbed in your throat. He always seemed to take up your vision; fill it and suffocate you with seemingly no effort. “And then I’d ask you to do it again.”

“Do what, princess?”

He knew. He just liked seeing the words come out of your mouth.

“Let me take your helmet off.”

This time, he guided your hands up himself. They were slow and almost careful running across your palms, placing them on the mechanisms your fingers found in quick memory. Set on the balcony railing, the helmet seemed to be a prop. An upside down bucket filled with all the things you had yet to say to each other, spilling out onto the ground in a fog.

“I like you better without it,” you decided when he turned back towards you, his weight still resting on the railing with one cocked hip. Everything about the way he looked was dark: inky black curls and scarred brown skin and eyes that pushed the air in your lungs with a stall and a catch. They looked even darker next to tan clothes and green armor.

His voice wasn’t entirely lacking in humor. He did that. Humored you. “Do you now?”

“Mhm.” you nodded with fake seriousness, slightly giddy and slightly too brave. You blamed it on an excess of wine and good company. “Better-looking.”

He only scoffed, a flash of pearl-white canines serving as one half of a smile. A smile that had been wider when it was against your collarbones, your neck, your mouth. A smile that you wouldn’t mind being in other places.

You nudged Boba’s shoulder with your own when a waltz kicked up in the background, faint through the open ballroom door. “There’s music,” you implied, half-joking and half-expectant. There had been this whole time, of course, but acknowledging it now seemed better than never. “You should ask me to dance.”

“I’m not one for dancing, your Highness.”

The title made you roll your eyes, a commonplace formality that you usually insisted on but now found overly facetious. Coming from him, that is. “Clearly not,” you almost snorted. Pushing away from the marble ledge with a finality that seemed almost comical, you held your hand out and waited, eyebrows raising and fingers beckoning. Well? your face seemed to say, Are you coming?

His sigh was bone-deep and settled in your chest like chunks of black plaster, but it felt good. “You’re not going to let me leave, are you?”

“No, I’m not,” you replied, as if it’d be ridiculous to expect anything else. Princesses danced with men at parties. You were a princess. Boba was a man at a party. In a roundabout sort of way. “It’s easy, I promise,” you assured, wrapping your hand around his wrist and pulling him away from the balcony. His glove slipped down a bit; just enough that your thumb could press one soft circle against the tan skin over bone.

Uncomfortable wasn’t really the correct word for how you thought he felt. You doubted Boba could ever be uncomfortable. No. No, the right word would probably be… bemused. Like he was in a menagerie watching a creature, something exotic and pretty, with mild interest while it still had his attention. But you did have his attention. That was something.

“You put your right hand on my waist,” you moved to reposition the large fingers more accustomed to blasters than they were to bodices. Boba smirked, almost boyish, when you caught his hand wandering someplace else. “Not that low,” you chided with quiet exasperation, placing your palm atop his and guiding it back up.

The pale leather was warm underneath your skin and you bit down a smile, almost awe-struck at how strange your hand looked next to his. Yours was polished, weighed down by heavy gold bangles and softened by years of idle play. His, you suspected (for you didn't actually know; hadn’t yet actually seen), was anything but.

“That’s good,” you supplied lightly. “And then I do this,”your other hand reached to rest on Boba’s shoulder. “And then- no, no you give me your left hand. Hold it out- good.”

Still looking down, you were careful not to trip over your skirts or his boots. “And now we just-” you breathed out and glanced up, surprised to find his expression strangely careful. Almost tender. You gulped down the quiet notch in your throat. “-now we just um… sway. Like this.”

You eschewed complication in favor of a simple rhythm, just letting your feet fall wherever they liked so long as they didn’t tangle in themselves. Now wasn’t the time for anything laborious; you didn’t have faith enough in Boba’s footwork. But he actually wasn’t too bad all things considered. A bit stiff and a bit gruff, but those were part and parcel. It was a bit like dancing with a tree trunk. A very handsome, very broad, very taciturn tree trunk. It was easy to let yourself sink into it a little with how solid he felt.

The man arched an eyebrow when your fingers stretched to thread together with his. “Just sway?”

“You’re welcome to do a jig instead if you’d like,” you replied wryly as your weight shifted from foot to foot. The hand around your waist stiffened at the prospect and a grin escaped your face.

“Nevermind.”

The amusement that had previously only been in your throat escaped in a quiet laugh. “Thought so,” you whispered, victorious. Tension, bunched up in your shoulders and collected in your bones, melted completely when he pulled you closer and let your head fall against the space of his neck. Sinew fit against silk like puzzle pieces and warmed the quiet moment that followed. Neither of you spoke for fear of disturbing the fresh peace.

You found yourself dwelling more and more on hypotheticals. Unrealistic and stupid, you knew, given who you both were. But still you dwelt, unable to fathom a reality outside of the last nine hours and inside a reality within which Boba was gone.

Would he fit here, with the stucco and plaster and ivy? With all the sheltered society of an insignificant court? With you?

You wondered if he dwelt on hypotheticals, too.

Swallowing cold air as Boba thumbed the collar of your dress, you felt the light scatter of broken blood vessels from hours before smart again. Your cheek pressed against the pauldron of his beskar, but neither of you were really dancing anymore. “I- I wanted to talk,” you began quietly. “About earlier.”

“Did you not like it?” Did you not like me?

“No! No, I…” you shook your head, trying to rid yourself of his assumption. The crystals hanging from your headpiece tinkled with every soft movement. “No, I… I liked it. I like…” The lump in your throat seemed to travel down back into your stomach. “You,” you finished, swallowing the final word and leaving all its implications to settle in the night.

He could feel the rise and fall of your chest; delicate and airy and resigned. You spoke again. “But you’re leaving tomorrow and... and we could’ve been caught. And the more I think about it the more I really am not looking forward to the idea of some court scandal or being cloistered up like a nun because I—”

He called you your name.

He’d never used your name before.

You lifted your head off his shoulder, desperate-eyed and looking for answers you both knew he couldn’t give. “Yes?”

“Kiss me.”

You barely breathed out an okay before the arm around your waist tightened, crushing you against cold metal and a warm body.

He kissed you how a lover would. Like how a first kiss should’ve been.

It was gentle. Warm. Tender-mouthed and aching, placing promises down your throat with a soft hand and closed eyes. It was… It was…

It was broken up far too quickly.

A voice called out your name from somewhere far-off, regally accented and not at all welcome. It called your name again, first middle and last with all the titles in between with much less patience. Your mother, queen consort.

The groan of displeasure that escaped you was muffled in Boba’s mouth and swallowed up before it could give either of you away. He recovered much faster than you did, peeling back from your body with eyes already alert and scanning the shadows for passersby. There were none. For now.

“It’s my mother,” you whispered, letting your eyes roll seemingly out of your skull. “They’re probably doing some send-off for Vader’s entourage.”

Neither of you mentioned the fact that Boba was part of that entourage too.

Your last words were rushed before the footsteps became too close and the mercenary pulled away. You didn’t really want to stay to hear the answer. “Will I see you again?”

Boba Fett, you’d come to learn, wasn’t the kind of man to offer more than what he knew he could give.

The helmet went back on. “I don’t know.”’

[ofmoonlitmagic]

Growing up, he'd heard countless times how worthless he was, all his failings given spotlight, and it had seeped into his bones, become part of him in a way he hated. It fueled the wolf, gave openings to the anger and the violence. Then he met her. He was seen, not for all he'd done wrong but for who he was. She was the best part of his life, a light and a warmth he could never get enough of no matter how long he lived.

How many times had he sworn this wasn't for him? He'd kept romance at arms length or further, seeking the least possible interaction, mutually beneficial though it may be. To care for someone, to take a risk, it was terrifying. He'd never been so scared in his life, having already lost her once, but strange as it felt, he'd also never been more calm in the midst of the fear. She belonged with him, and he with her. This was impossible, and yet, after all this time, she was still the only one.

He could spend the rest of the night like this, and he wouldn't have cared at all. The world could fade away into nothing but this, and it would be wonderful. They were imperfect, but those imperfections were part of what had made the other perfect. He was aware of how that didn't make sense, but that was life. In finding love, he'd discovered life. It wasn't perfect, and that made it so. He wanted every part of her. His gaze softened all the more as he looked at her while her fingers grazed his skin, his hair. He wasn't sure he'd ever been so relaxed or peaceful in his entire life. "Sounds like an adventure," he murmured, with that characteristic hint of boyish charm, "I accept."

His hand pressed into her back, pulling her in that much more as she laughed. Inches might be a generous estimate for the space between them, and he felt drunk off her joy and all the more for his being the cause of it. "Compliments? That's all it takes?" He teased her, pausing only for a second as if he needed to think of some, "like...I've never heard a better sound than when I can make you laugh. Or how about I forgot how to breathe when I saw you coming down those stairs earlier?" The playfulness wavered into a soft sincerity, "or how even when you've got your hair in some messy bun sitting on your bed in a t-shirt and sweatpants, it has the same effect." He held her gaze, hoping she could see reflected there that he meant every single word. "Those compliments?" Her promise of good memories brought a genuine smile back to his lips, a sensation in himself he might have rolled his eyes at in others. "Me too."

The kiss just ended, and he was already ready for another. He could completely forget where they were and what came before, everything wiped clean save for this moment. "Scare me away? With that dress on? Not a chance," he quipped back, tracing each finger of the hand resting on his chest with his own as he whispered with absolute certainty, "you always had me." Even in death, though he didn't say that aloud, he had gone with her. Holding her in his arms, screaming for her to come back to him, he knew he'd died too.

Watching her, he much preferred to see the party through her eyes, even if that meant she'd broken the eye contact between them. He didn't mind it as long as he got to keep looking at her. Only when she pointed out something for him to see did he look away, giving a slight wave in that direction. "I will never hear the end of this," he joked with a full laugh as he turned back to her, his temple grazing hers. "I think maybe it's you who should worry, though," he teased, arms wrapped further around her waist, lips by her ear, happiness radiating off of him, "I can hear it now: what are your intentions with my nephew?" He felt pretty decently about that impression of his uncle, glancing back over his shoulder once more. "I think I'll just tell them it's your fault and I've been corrupted."

Before Briggs had found her, companionship had been unexplored territory for Billie. More so through her own choice than circumstance, as unfortunate as they may have seemed. She spent the majority of her time alone with her sketchbook; even when she had been around other kids at the foster homes. Billie never let herself get too close, never truly formed an attachment through the fear that nothing lasts forever.

There had been an unidentified force that had brought them together, something that even the most sceptical of hearts couldn't deny. At first, it had been a connection that she was unwilling to accept. Something that she felt undeserving of. Billie had made a promise to herself to keep everybody at a distance. Don’t let anybody in and they can’t hurt you. It didn't matter how much she tried to push, or to place a distance between them; there had been a flame within her that Briggs had ignited and no matter what, it couldn’t be extinguished. From the early days of having found one other, they absorbed the others pain and returned it as something good.

“I do” she whispered beneath a tender smile, nodding slowly as her thumb grazed across his dimpled cheek. Her eyes continued to study each feature, knowing that she would never tire of gazing upon him. She could feel her heart practically swelling with pride in her chest as he spoke. All she had ever wanted was for him to be able to see himself through her eyes. Each and every beautiful, vulnerable detail that was there to be cherished. They vowed to take each other exactly as they were and that had been the beauty of their dynamic. They weren’t broken birds who needed their wings mending, they just needed to be seen and to be accepted for everything that they were. Her cheeks flushed as she held onto each and every adoring word, her smile unfaltering as her hand lifted from his cheek to tease through the hair that sat against the nape of his neck. “You deserve the world, Briggs Mikaelson and all of the beauty that I know is in it. Maybe we can find it together.” 

Whatever was to happen, Billie could rejoice knowing that Briggs knew exactly how she felt and that she had held the strength to let him know. That was all she wanted, all she had ever wanted and a part of her wondered if that had been the reason for her return. His laughter vibrated through her frame as they remained entwined, revelling within each and every second of it as her expression matched his “that would be telling. But keep up with all the compliments and I might just relax the rules a little” she teased. “But” she paused for a second, prolonging for dramatic effect before whispering “spoiler, I only have good stories; good memories.”

His hand resting atop of her own only made her all the more reluctant for their embrace to end. Her breaths now slightly labored as her forehead remained against his, almost as if lightheaded from the kiss, but giddy with elation. "I didn't want to scare you away" she teased breathlessly, "I only just got you back."

Time felt to have slowed to a complete halt, but eventually the sounds of the crowd and the music began to filter back into her senses; becoming aware of their surroundings once again. Even if she was reluctant to do so. Her head lifted just enough from his so that her eyes could explore, only to find an audience as she giggled and looked back at Briggs to whisper, "looks like you're gonna have some questions to answer. Mikaelsons, like a lot of em at 3 o'clock."

[badfvith]

precious | draco malfoy

request: HI! HOW ARE YOU? I was hoping I could get a Draco Malfoy imagine where his girlfriend is a hufflepuff and one day she makes him a flower crown and he just finds her so adorable that he wears all throughout the day, and it could just sort of be little moments where people mention the flower crown and Draco is like “oh my loving, sweet girlfriend made it for me so I decided I’d keep it on for the whole day.” Anyway, THANK YOU 💛💛💛💛💛💛

a/n: hi my love! sorry this is a bit short but i think it contains more fluff than my entire masterlist combined so i hope that makes up for it. thanks sm for the requests & i hope you like this! 💓

warnings: nothing here but teeth rotting cotton candy sunshine & unicorns style fluff

word count: 563

“Alright, you can open your eyes now!” You beamed, holding your creation out in front of your boyfriend’s peeking eyes. 

He removed his hands from his face and took in the sight in front of him. You were kneeling in the grass, bundled up in a light jacket to keep out the occasional chill of the morning spring air, hands delicately holding a circle of perfectly placed baby’s breath and green vines. Draco’s lips curled into a smile as he reached out to grab it. He didn’t say anything yet, just admiring the way the stems tangled into each other. 

“Do you...do you like it?” You asked quietly, his reaction making you feel insecure. You had made flower crowns for yourself before, and each time Draco always complimented how you looked. You finally got the idea to make him one, mostly out of curiosity to see to see what he’d look like in it. 

“It’s perfect. I love it.” He said sincerely, leaning over to give you a kiss on the cheek. 

“Want me to help you put it on?” You asked, and he nodded in agreement. 

You took it from him once again, and slowly placed it on top of his head, careful not to mess up his inexplicably soft, never out of place hair. “There.” You said. 

“Well how do I look?” 

“Precious.” You replied, without missing a beat. 

Draco scoffed jokingly. “I hardly believe that.”

“Oh I’m sorry. Let me rephrase that Mr. Malfoy, Slytherin Prince, heir to Lucius and Narcissa.” You began, bowing down to him slightly. “You look regal.”

Draco laughed, a full and genuine laugh that only you got to see. “That’s better.” 

“You are unbelievable.” You said, shaking your head and trying to hold back a smile.

“But you love me.” 

“You’re making it very hard for me to not. Looking so precious in that flower crown.” You smiled innocently. 

“I’m kidding darling. And you know what? I think I’ll wear it for the rest of the day.” He stated. 

“Draco! You know you don’t have to do that.” You responded.

“What if I just want to show off the fact that I have a beautiful, wonderful, talented, adorable Hufflepuff who makes me unexpected presents on her Sunday mornings?”

You smiled widely. “I guess I can’t argue with that.” 

After a few more minutes of gushing over each other, you both decided to head to the Great Hall for breakfast. You walked inside and saw a few other early risers headed in the same direction. You noticed a couple more stares than usual, but continued on to Draco’s normal spot at the Slytherin table. 

The two of you had barely sat down before you were interrupted. 

“Hey Malfoy, what’s on your head?” You laughed as you saw Blaise walking up to you both and eventually sitting down across from you. 

“Just a gift from my lovely girlfriend.” He said back, squeezing your hand under the table. 

Blaise looked at you, raising an eyebrow. “Don’t look at me.” You started. “He was the one that decided to wear it all day.” 

“Can’t believe you actually got him to go soft.” Blaise continued. “I’m impressed.” 

“I seem to have a talent for things like that.” You replied.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way.” Draco said, turning your head and pressing a soft kiss to your lips.

tags:

@kashishwrites @lateautumn @asksiriusblacvk @inkhearthes @user12345321 @dracoo-malfoy @tinylumpiaa​