#his design and twinkle’s are my faves

[peridouu]

sorry i haven’t posted!

finally got motivation to sketch some, here’s an alex :)

[puranami]

✿ It's The Little Things - 3 ✿

A/N: @leafyturtle come get y'all Franky and Robin fluff! I'm excited for this one, lotsa faves in here >:3c

Summary: Little relationship things with (currently) anime/manga exclusives ✿

Characters: Franky, Robin, Law, Kid, Killer

Content: SFW, G/N reader, language in Kid's (bc it's Kid lol) bottomless fluff ✿

(Part 1 - Luffy, Zoro, Nami, Usopp, Sanji) (Part 2 - Buggy, Shanks, Mihawk) (Part 4 - Crocodile, Rosinante, Doflamingo)

Franky

✿ Multiply his self-aggrandizing by 100, and that's how he sees you; he is your personal hype man! Every single insecurity, no matter how big or small, will be kissed away, because you are perfect, and you should definitely tell people as such. Wait, you're too shy and don't want to? No worries, Franky's got you, and he'll tell everyone himself. Loudly. No, he won't stop or tone it down; "The world needs to know how super you are!" He loves when you hype him up in turn, and uses it to show you how great self confidence is; and it will rub off on you. He's so proud when you declare how amazing you are, even if it's just to him! "AOW! That's right, babe, you are amazing!" He'll pick you up in those huge, strong arms of his, practically crushing you in a bear hug.

✿ Franky loves to make you any and all gadgets he thinks you'd like, or need. Just as he is constantly upgrading his body, he develops and re-develops things that make your life easier, or that bit cooler! While he likes to surprise you with them, seeing how your eyes light up in wonder as he shows you how it works, he loves it even more when you're involved in the building process; brainstorming ideas, designing, picking out the colour palette, he'll even let you use a blowtorch, just, please be careful, wait what was that twinkle of mischief in your eyes? Okay, no more blowtorch - leave it to the pro! It would kill him if you got hurt on his watch, he's meant to protect you!

✿ He's made up a comfy little alcove in his workshop so you can keep him company while he's working. Soft cushions, blankets, lights so can work on your own hobbies, it's perfect! Even when you were just friends, you were always welcome there, and it's become your little safe space. It's comfy enough to fall asleep there when Franky works late, and he even modified it so that there is room for him to sleep there too. While hanging out, you'll talk about everything, and nothing, what you're both working on, or you'll simply listen to music and enjoy each others presence, and that often leads to loud singing, especially on Franky's part. He'll share his cola with you too, you just bring the snacks - can't work on an empty stomach after all!

Robin

✿ Robin is very calm and reserved, especially compared to the rest of the crew, so her way of showing affection follows the same pattern. She'll put a gentle hand on your arm, and touch your foreheads together, but her favourite thing to do is to grow an arm out of your own, reaching down to hold your hand, all while on the other side of the room, smiling to herself. If your eyes are sharp, you'll catch the delicate blush on her cheeks when you bring your arm up to kiss her hand, or gently hold it to your cheek. She'll also make a pair of arms to wrap around your waist, or shoulders if you're sat down. She'll hold you personally too, but that is saved for your private quarters or the library.

✿ Part of her flirting is making dark comments and jokes; "I know the best way to your heart, dear." - "Through my stomach?" - "Oh no, that's not very efficient! It's anywhere between the 2nd and 4th ribs." She'll say it with such a loving gaze and gentle smile, and if you didn't know Robin better, you'd be worried she was plotting your murder, but that's just how she is, and you love her for it. She will also tell you all the gruesome details she finds in her books and research. Part of you suspects that she's purposefully trying to spook you so she can comfort you, but really she just finds these thing fascinating. Robin will be ecstatic if you can match her gallows humour, or if you have morbid facts of your own you can share with her.

✿ She takes great comfort in the fact that you love her unconditionally, and that you have always accepted her as she is, morbid interests, and former associations included, and she makes sure that you know she loves you all the same, no matter your quirks, flaws, and mistakes, for that is the beauty of love! You are each others port in the unrelenting storm of life.

Law

✿ Law is so used to losing the people he loves most, so for him to open up, it will take a lot of time, patience, and understanding. You can't push him on things, and will have to wait for him to come to you - he needs to feel like he has some control over the situation so he can make better judgement calls, and do something if it all goes wrong. It's nothing personal, he just doesn't want to helplessly watch his world fall apart again; he's older, smarter, and much stronger now, he will keep those he cares about safe. Once he's at that point where he feels like he's ready to be open and honest, he is completely dedicated and doggedly loyal, though he isn't very expressive with it.

✿ He shows his love through acts of service; making sure you are eating and sleeping well, tending any injuries you get in day to day life, moving you if you've fallen asleep in a weird place or position so you don't get any aches and pains, or catch a cold. Law hopes that you can feel the love he has for you in each action. He just wants to know you are healthy and well so he doesn't need to worry about you. Well, he says that, but he still worries, he can't help it. You'll need to use his own tactics against him to make sure he actually sleeps and eats instead of just working. It won't always work, sometimes he's working on things that are far too important, but he will relent otherwise.

✿ PDA is not a thing for him. At all. It's almost like he doesn't want to jinx things with the world seeing he has entrusted his heart with another again. On the Polar Tang, when it's just you and the crew, he'll be a little more open, placing a hand on your head or shoulder, matching your pace as he walks beside you, slightly gentler eyes, and the hint of a smile; so subtle, yet the crew sees right through him, and they like to tease you both. Nothing serious, but it still gets them the worst chores in response. In private, when you are alone is the only time will he allow himself to be vulnerable.

Kid

✿ Given how intense and aggressive he is, you have the patience of a goddamn saint, and guts to back you up. He refuses to lessen himself for anyone; he is who he is, and you can either accept it and embrace him fully, or you can, in his words, "Fuck right off!" It will take a lot to break through the immense barriers he has - he will shout, argue, insult, and to get through, you have to be able to withstand that without crumbling. Shout back! Show him you're not gonna let anyone walk all over you, not even him, earn his respect, then you can build up from there. Once you've wormed your way into that exclusive club of 'We aren't Killer, but Kid still cares about us," he will be ride or die with you, and when he realises he genuinely likes you, or hell, even loves you, he would burn down the world for you if you asked him to.

✿ Out in public, you get no special treatment. It's just safer that way. He can't afford to be looking over his shoulder every other minute to make sure no one is trying to get to him through you. He'll still keep an eye on you of course, but it's indistinguishable from him watching over the rest of the crew. On the Victoria Punk he will be possessive, but not affectionate. Kid will keep you by his side, or drag you onto his lap, just generally manhandling you really, there will be no mistaking who you belong to. Once you're alone he will actually soften up; he knows he's a lot, and he cares deep down, but he's still in charge, he is your captain after all. You should take advantage of this time to get all the affection out of him that you can!

✿ You're one of the few that are actually allowed to hang in his workshop, as long as you don't bother him. He'll entertain some conversation if he's just setting up, or having a break, but once he's in the zone, zip it. He's fine with you watching him work - he's good at what he does and he knows it, but seeing the admiration in your eyes is a nice ego boost. He'll make you things if the mood hits him, particularly bits of jewellery, as it makes it easier to manhandle you from the other side of the room. He's a busy man, he doesn't want to wait for you to look his way and walk over, he wants your attention now!

Killer

✿ Like Kid, Killer has a tendency to manhandle, but it's not nearly as aggressive; he's a big guy with big, strong muscles, and he just enjoys hauling you around like a sack of potatoes. It gives him the opportunity to hold you close, 'accidentally' touch your butt, and your laughter through it all is just so sweet. He greatly enjoys your presence when he's going about his day, and deeply appreciates any assistance you can offer, such as in the kitchen, and certainly when trying to manage his idiot best friend and crew, as he's essentially the de facto caretaker on board. Often you'll end up sat on his shoulders, acting as an extra pair of eyes and hands - no shenanigans go unnoticed!

✿ You have become an expert at reading Killer's moods and expressions through his mask, every slight shift of his body, and the angle of his head has a very specific meaning. It doesn't help that he's a quiet man in general; balancing Kid's incessant ranting and raving with his well thought out, straight to the point statements. He much prefers to listen to you talk, only talking when he has something to add to the mostly one-sided conversation. He loves having these 'chats' with you sat in his lap, head resting against his broad chest. Sometimes his goatee will tickle the top of your head, and he lives for those giggles.

✿ It will take a long time for him to feel comfortable enough to remove his mask, and you can bet he refuses to laugh around you for the longest time. Just be patient with him, and let him do things when he's ready, and don't make a big deal out of it if something slips; he'll be pretty mortified, so just giving him a loving smile and a gentle touch will reassure him that maybe the things he's insecure about, or straight up hates, aren't as big an issue as he believes them to be. Telling him he is perfect is appreciated, but not effective in building him up, since nothing is perfect really, but seeing you love him unconditionally certainly will give him a boost.

[gizkasparadise]

What is the worst, most technically inept drama that you secretly love? Tell us of the best badgood drama, the clunkiest dialogue, the most inexplicable casting, the hideously costumed yet most fun dramas, please.

🫥Anonymously yours🫥,

💜Purplehanfu😈💜🍇👾

dear complete stranger (<3),

man i love badgood dramas so much!!! i chose ones that are flatout objectively not good, but i was glued for them all. here's a few that are jumping out

triad princess (taiwan). it ends on a cliffhanger that will never be continued, the relationship building is non-existent, jasper liu basically plays himself yet still acts like he's doing a community service project, but omg it's cute and hit all the right notes for me. fave bonus is that one of the gangster henchmen falls in love with the FL's best friend, a shy boy who works at a mart and makes youtube covers

hold on, my lady (chinese). a bandit is offered a choice when she's caught during a heist: be executed or marry this aloof but beautiful but delicate son of the general. she chooses the latter, and hijinks ensue. made on a budget of pocket lint and just wacky, im going to rewatch this today, actually. fave bonus moment: the FL falls dramatically down and the ML breaks both his arms instantly when he tries to catch her

thumping spike & thumping spike 2 (korean). the two are barely related, but both deal with a competitive men's volleyball team! thumping spike 1 is about a washed up competitive female player going to coach a high school team to glory (just dont...think too critically about the age difference, there) and the second is COLLEGE EDITION with a love quadrangle between two identical twins, one of whom is a cheerleader for the team, the ace volleyball player who's too cool for school, and the WILDCARD volleyball player who gets mad when people call him gorilla. the second one is definitely worse than the first one, but neither are bringing home awards. i still watched them both in one sitting.

my heart twinkle twinkle (korean). this show is actually insane and a parade of toxic that i can never, in good conscience, ever rec to anyone. but gd did i watch the whole fucking thing. look at this fucking poster. this fucking poster looks like it was doused by a fake snow machine.

premise: Noble But Poor family has 3 daughters: the eldest, who is the caretaker; the middle who is Aloof and Ambitious; and the youngest who is A Fucking Menace. they are lead by their single father, who owns a fried chicken store

Rich but Dysfunctional family also has 3 children: the eldest, who is the only son and a fucking piece of work, the middle who is school colleagues with the other family's middle daughter and a hot mess who loves Da Club, and the youngest, who is clingy and gets into a ton of fights with the other family's youngest but is otherwise ok. they run AN EVIL FRIED CHICKEN FRANCHISE that is poisoning people through subpar ingredients!!

there's so much that's so wrong with this, im going to bullet point it from another post i made:

the entire premise is that there’s a fried chicken restaurant rivalry between two families but somehow there’s murder and slush funds and this guy who owns a string of fried chicken franchises named after himself (yeah) has direct access to seoul’s police commissioner at any given moment

one of the main actresses was involved in a scandal a little over halfway through production so they just….vanish her character/entire plotline like it never happened

the main male lead is toxic personified. him and li chengyin from goodbye my princess could co-author a dating strategy/forced-marriage-after-you-kill-your-girlfriend’s-head-of-household book because jesus christ. he literally screams that he hates women and he ends the drama (rightfully!!) in fucking prison

the second female lead disappears/creates a new identity and becomes a chicken chef student of the world. shes later in a love triangle between a single dad chicken shop interior designer and another vanilla guy

that's right, one guy’s job is he’s an architect for chicken restaurant interiors i cant

the main male lead leaves the main female lead’s father to die in a chicken-coop-themed arsony and then cha-cha slides into the son-in-law’s role during the father’s funeral and later MARRIES the female lead

the main male lead tells the female lead’s father’s grave that HE WON AND DAD LOST because the male lead is standing and the father’s in the dirt?!

a friend/almost!love interest of the second female lead dies tragically in a chicken delivery motorcycle chase????

it's the worst drama i've ever seen. i watched all of it.

kakafukaka (japanese)

this one is so gd weird and unappealing it somehow circled back around and became off-puttingly charming to me? so the premise is that there's a 20something year old woman whose life has gone to shit and she ends up in a sharehome with the most sexually dysfunctional bunch of people in the world. one of these is her ex, who tells her that she's the only one he can get a boner with (yeah) and asks her to help him get over his impotence in order to write his novel (yeah). if you read the whole show as kind of an exploration into sex without romance/love, it's as not bad, and there's something weirdly endearing about everyone--i really love the second female lead akari in particular. but it's not a good show, not by a long shot (MDL rating? 6.6), and the ship is dysfunctional at the very best. the ost somehow is great though?

speaking of trash dramas with great OSTs, love in sadness has some of my favorite songs:

okay that's enough for now!!!!

[ckwongb]

arts week in 🇸🇬

Thankful for the hiatus from work this week, which started well with the Gettys concert at the Star Theatre on 24 June:

Splendid performance by the Getty singers, band & choir, my fave song being ‘Our God Will Go Before Us’ by Matt Papa 🧔

The celebratory mood at the concert was enhanced, thanks to my friend, Mon Z Fonti 👍

~

Then on 26 June, had the opportunity to attend an Arts webinar by Mr Dominique Fam entitled ‘Journey in Painting the Bible’, organized by Arts Release.

During his presentation of both Old and New Testament paintings, one common thread was the use of both grayscale as well as colour for each design.

It was my first encounter as a Christian seeing John 3 (verses 14 to 17) depicted as a piece of artwork (read → AWESOME).

In the twinkling of an eye, the webinar was almost over, with the final art piece being a drawing of Jesus teaching Nicodemus:

Was truly blown away by the in-depth research done by DF.

All in all, the week was a good reminder of Mt 11:28 ✝️

[motthe]

Hello☆

Quietly sliding in for the lumenosity event!Thanks for your patience![and for being kind to me,I still feel a bit embarassed for what I have done earlier 😅]

I wonder if I'm supposed to tell you my name as well,you can call me "The Viktor dreamer" if you want 😳.

I'm a shy,yet friendly,fanartist.I lack in social skills that's why my fave medium to convey my emotion or communicate is art.I can easily put all my emotions on paper. I get emotional fast,cry for almost everything,sometimes for stress because I don't deal well with sudden changes and I panic. I'm a daydreamer and I've ""mastered"" lucid dreaming,it helps when you suffer from nightmares!

My friend told me multiple times that I can be very stubborn and competitive,oh dear they're so right... Beside that I'm a pretty quiet and chill lady,though I go all out when I find a topic that interests me. I like taking care of my friends and family,try to cheer them up,nurture their passions,I'm everyone's cheerleader!☆

I spend most of my free time playing videogames,I especially love Super Mario ones,listening to edm music[tho I have weird phases.I'm having a celtic rock one atm]I also like to write,mostly nonsense parodies with self-inserts and of course drawing. I' m a glutton who loves chocolate and lasagna.

I have no idea if this can be considered an element but as since I have this weird connection with the Moon since my childhood I may say.."stardusts?" Or dust in general.

If I have to choose my strongest trait I say creativity. I've always had a huge immagination,to the point people tought I was weird and made it hard to make friend.I even believed I had some kind of magic in me and the Moon was my home!I'm still a bit weird,even for my friends.

Now,my fave Arcane character?

It's not a surprise,It's Viktor.

As a fanartist I find his design so appealing to my eyes and I would stare at his honey ones for hours,then I remember I'm shy and never be able to look at his face again. Since I have a thing for voices as well I find his accent adorable and his voice soothing. I like his desire to do good,to help the people in need,I may say he's also a funny young man?Act I Vik made me smile multiple times,plus I think he's a bit of an introvert?and as an introvert myself I find it endearing.He's charming hard worker,I admire that even if I wish he would take a break from time to time.

Thanks for taking your time to read this!!

CAN YOU GIVE ME TIPS TO LUCID DREAM PLS??? also you sound awesome and so sweet <3

your lumen for me is the exact texture and look of the Sandman’s dream dust from “The Rise of the Guardians.” instead of being gold, though, I think you’re silvery white to match your moon vibes. where ever you go, you have twinkling dust trailing behind you. because you’re more emotional i think your lumen has a sort of “chime” sound to it when it moves. like a bell, but softer. when your emotions get the best of you you’ll be jingling around the place like a hyper kid who’s just discovered a desk call bell 🛎 lol.

mini blurb: You enjoy being thrown for some reason; Viktor learned this long ago. He enjoys the sounds you make when you tumble through the air, zooming right back to his hand to be tossed again. He wonders if the adrenaline passes over to your actual body.

Since he’s gotten so used to this game of toss, he does it blindly as he works, one hand writing away and the other (that usually is twisting his hair in thought) waiting for you to return to his palm to launch again. He’s just about to throw you when he hits a eureka moment, accidentally shaking you as he admits a noise of excitement. The little chimes you give off has him chuckling out an apology, letting you go.

“Sorry, little bell. My excitement got the best of me.”

[thatesqcrush]

Fall From Grace, Pt. 10

Bryan Kneef x Reader. Fandom: The Good Fight. Reference: S4, E.4, “The Gang is Satirized and Doesn’t Like It.” CW: smut and fluff... the tiniest pinprick of angst (like minuscule). Language, of course.

AN: Our lovely REE was on The Good Fight for all of 3 minutes so I am taking lots of liberties. I am obsessed with the anti-Barba. He was just delicious.

AN: Lots of references to our other fave prosecutor. Can you spot them?

WC: 2837

S/O to @prurientpuddlejumper​ for the Kneef gifs! 

--

Back at your apartment, Bryan had you against the wall. He nuzzled your neck, causing you to shiver. Two large warm hands rose up the sides of your thighs before slipping under the hem of your skirt. He hooked his fingers under the straps of your panties and tugged. The flimsy lace underwear you wore tore easily. He nudged your legs apart with his foot.

The sound of a belt unbuckling and clanging to the floor followed by a zipper sent a thrill up your spine. 

Bryan’s breath was warm on your ear as he pressed himself along your ass. You instinctively pushed back, desperate for more. Bryan nipped your ear as he stroked your soaked pussy with his cock. 

“Like the song, we’re reunited and it’s going to be so fucking good.” Bryan purred. “Now place those arms on the wall and bend over more a little, sweetheart.”

--- Flash Forward to Four Years--

At the speed in which Bryan paced in front of you, you were certain the handsome litigator was going to wear a hole in the carpet. “Well?” He asked exasperated. He tugged on the collar of his navy polo, feeling warm and constricted.

“Two more minutes Bryan. These things take time.” You gritted. You rapped your freshly manicured nails along the counter. “I can’t tell who is more nervous. You or I.” 

Bryan stopped his pacing to glare at you. “This is life altering news.”

“Gee, whizz, you don’t say.” You replied with a roll of your eyes. “You are not making this any easier.” You stood straight and marched off.  

“Where are you going?” Bryan called out after you. He followed you, basically nipping at your heels.  

“To get something to drink.” You replied. “I need something to settle my stomach. I think I saw ginger ale in your fridge.” 

Bryan sighed. “I need something stronger.”

You returned with two low ball glasses. “Whisky on the rocks for you. Ginger ale for me.” 

Bryan took the drink and with his free hand, pulled you in. “I love you. No matter the results.” 

You cupped his bearded cheek. “I love you too.” You were about to stand on your toes to press a kiss when a buzzer sounded. You gasped and thrust your drink into his hands. 

Bryan watched your form disappear back into the room. There was silence and Bryan swore inwardly. “Okay, time for plan B.” He muttered before downing his drink in one shot and then downing yours. You walked back out into the room. Your face was unreadable initially and just as he was about to say something, you broke into a big smile. 

“I passed! I passed the bar exam! I’m a lawyer!” You shouted before running full-speed into Bryan’s arms. The glasses dropped to the floor, shattering into a million pieces as Bryan scooped you into his arms.

“I knew you would. I am so fucking proud of you.” Bryan replied before capturing your lips with his. Any tension you had, melted away and you allowed yourself to sink into his embrace.

“Let’s celebrate!” You exclaimed.

Bryan’s eyes twinkled. “I have just the place in mind. Go pack your bag while I have this cleaned up.”

You cocked your head and raised your brow. “And where exactly will we be going?”

“You’ll see.” Bryan replied huskily. As you turned, Bryan swatted your ass.  You looked back at him and the look on his face was absolute sinful. Your heartbeat began to race in anticipation. 

--

Thirty minutes later, Bryan had finished securing yours and his bags to the rear rack of his motorcycle. You tightened your helmet before hopping on and held Bryan tightly. Bryan kicked his motorcycle into gear and off you went, leaving his luxury apartment in the Gold Coast behind.  

--

 “You have a yacht? Since when?” You asked as you and Bryan walked down the slip taking in the sight of the boats at the marina.

“Not my yacht.” Bryan winked. “Someone who owes me a favor. Come on.”

 “Welcome aboard.” A man in a captain’s uniform greeted. “I’m Captain Williams – it’ll be my honor to take you along Lake Michigan. It’s a beautiful day for sailing; could not ask for better weather.” 

Once on board, another member of the staff came to greet you two with two flutes of champagne. You both followed and were given a tour. When you imagined a three-bedroom, two-bathroom living space with a spacious kitchen and butler’s pantry, life on the water did not come to mind. The boat was outfitted in a subtle palette of champagne, ivory, platinum, stainless steel and chocolate brown. 

Each room boasted an oversized, sumptuous bed clothed in supima cotton percale linen and a cashmere throw. In addition, the seating was Italian leather. There were two fridges, a below-deck engine room, a two-mode table that phased into a dining and cocktail table, Corian benches and an icemaker. The 40-foot yacht combined the timeless appearance of a bygone-era cruiser with stylish design and high-tech engineering. The opulent master ensuite featured beautiful Spanish hexagon tiles with a light running through it to create a sensual oasis. There was glass wall separating each bedroom and to your surprise, the glass could be easily blacked out with a frost effect at the touch of a button creating privacy. 

Finally, you and Bryan were alone again. You hopped onto one of the lush beds and almost sank into it. As Bryan chose some music to stream, you gasped at the skylight above the bed. The Illinois sky above was crystal clear, nary a cloud in the sky. The yacht’s engine roared quietly beneath you as it departed from the marina.

 “This is too much,” you murmured, turning to Bryan who joined you in the bed.

 “You deserve everything.” Bryan praised, as he pressed a kiss to your lips. “You worked so hard. And as a reward, now I am going to fuck your brains out.” 

“And what if I hadn’t passed? What was plan B?”

 “Plan B was going to be to take you here anyway and fuck your brains out.”

You let out a giggle before moving closer to him. You ran your hand over his toned arm. “You’ll be my sponsor, right? At the swearing in ceremony?” 

Bryan’s hands ran up your leg. He stopped at the top of your thigh and began to rub small circles. “Of course. Now, if I can only convince you to move back to Chicago and leave that firm of yours.” 

“Reciprocity takes five years, Bryan.” You replied, reaching across to tap his temple. Bryan took your hand into his and pressed a kiss to your knuckles. 

“You can come to New York, you know. Reciprocity here would be cake for you.” You continued, your voice dropping to a near whisper at the end. 

Bryan froze. “And leave Chicago?” 

You let out an irritated sigh. “I just hate that we’re apart. I want more for us, for this relationship.” 

“You’re a born and bred Chicagoan. Surely you understand. Everything I have worked for is in Chicago.” Bryan replied, letting out his own equally irritated sigh. 

“Let’s just drop it. I don’t want to fight. Please, today’s a good day.” You flopped onto your back, staring at the clear sky above. You felt your eyes brim and you brought your hands to your face. 

“Hey…” Bryan replied softly, removing your hands. “Maybe I can talk Laurie and Firth into opening a New York City office.”   

Your lips twitched into a smile. “Yeah? You’d do that for me?” 

Bryan pulled you close. “Of course. I love you.” 

You wrapped your arms around him and kiss him hard. Bryan took the opportunity to roll you on top of him. Excitement swirls down and pool between your thighs. Bryan wasted no time to grip the hem of your shirt and pull it over your head. 

“Someone wants to get laid.” You smirk, crossing your arms, purposely pressing up your sheer, lace covered tits. 

“You have no idea.”

“We should do something about that then… what did you say, you were going to fuck my brains out?” You asked leaning down. Your lips were by his ear as you reached around to unclasp your bra. “Because I am pretty sure this bomb pussy is going to milk out all that cum, out of that big… hard… cock.” You reached down between his legs and stroked his cock, which grew harder against your palm. A groan strained from Bryan’s throat. 

When you sit up again, your eyes settled on Bryan’s. His clear green eyes were now dark and stormy. 

You squealed as he rolled you back onto the bed. Bryan undid the button of your shorts and tugged them off. A smirk graced his face at the sight of the dark wet spot on your underwear. “These have got to go.” Bryan murmured, yanking them off as well. Once off, he balled your ruined panties into his fist and took a deep inhalation of your sweet scent. A rumble emanated from his chest. 

You let out a gasp as Bryan’s mouth settled on your pussy. He licked a tantalizingly slow, broad stroke before settling on your clit. He flicked the tip of his tongue across your clit causing you to arch your back in response. Bryan then used his fingers to spread open your lips, and stroked them, playing with your wetness. You gripped the streets as Bryan buried his face in between your legs, sucking and licking. 

You grinded against him, desperate. “More, please.” You whimpered.

 Bryan removed his mouth and you whined at the loss. “So fucking greedy. Fingers or mouth?” A digit slowly penetrated you and your walls clenched tightly. A moan escaped your lips as Bryan slowly thrusted his finger in and out of you, before moving to insert another finger. His tongue flicked against your swollen pearl before he paused once more. “Answer the question, Y/N.” 

“Both.” You sobbed. “Please don’t stop.” 

“Never.”

Bryan dove back into your folds, devouring you as if you were his last meal. You chant his name and other obscenities loudly. You were certain everyone on the boat could hear you. Part of you didn’t even care. The man in between your legs is a god amongst mortals when it comes to eating pussy and all the praise deserves to be heard. You bucked against his mouth, until you are full on fucking his face and fingers. Your walla began to flutter, signaling you were coming close to release. Bryan crooked his finger, stroking the sensitive spot inside you and the coil in your belly snapped. You came hard, wailing Bryan’s name as your orgasm ripped through you. Bryan rode out your orgasm and as you came down to reality, Bryan continued with gentle licks and kisses; your body jerked in overstimulation.

Bryan pressed kisses along your thighs before moving back up your body. He paused momentarily to pay attention to your breasts, licking along your breastbone before swirling his tongue over a nipple. You cupped your breasts together and Bryan continued to lavish you with his tongue. Bryan moved to your mouth and he kissed you deeply, before pulling back. 

“Can you taste yourself on my tongue?” 

You whimpered, nodding. “What’s that you called it? Bomb pussy?” Bryan murmured against your lips. 

You nodded. “Yes.” 

Bryan chuckled darkly, his lips against your ear. “Now it’s my turn to wreck that bomb pussy with this cock.” 

You closed your eyes briefly – for what even seemed like a half second but when you opened your eyes again, Bryan was fully nude. Pre-cum beaded on the head of his cock, and you resist the urge to lick it off, as you’re desperate to get filled and fucked to your heart’s desire. 

Bryan laid down on the bed and fisted his cock, so it was pointing straight to the ceiling. You climbed over him and take his cock from his hand, guiding him into you. You slowly slide down and sink onto him, until you’re fully connected. Bryan’s eyes roll back momentarily. “Oh fuck Y/N, you feel so good!” 

One hand gripped the slope of your hip tightly as your bodies move together rhythmically. Bryan usedd his free hand to smack your ass. You braced your hands on his chest with your nails pressing into his skin, leaving crescent marks into his skin as you ride his cock.

“That’s it, ride that cock.” Bryan encouraged, smacking your ass again, this time harder. The sting spurred you on and you began to speed your movements. Bryan leans up and pushes you back, breaking the connection for a second, before sliding his cock right back in. Your legs are pushed up, so your knees are by your ears and your arms are over your head. Bryan pins your wrists with one hand as he takes you to pound town. The sounds of grunts and moans along with skin on skin, fill the room and you can feel his balls slap against your pussy. 

Your foreheads are pressed together as he takes you deeply, sliding into you over and over in deep, long strokes. As he feels his own release approach, Bryan turns his face to the flesh of your shoulder, and bites before running his tongue over the bruised skin. 

This surprises you and you come completely undone, again wailing his name. Feeling your walls flutter around his cock, seeing your wrecked face - it was all too much for Bryan and with a strangled cry, he stiffened and emptied his seed into you.

Your bodies are covered in sweat and Bryan kissed you softly before rolling off. He pulls you in close, and you curl into his strong arms. It’s not long before you are both asleep – partly from the orgasmic oxytocin wearing off and partly from the rock of the boat. 

--

Later that evening, you wake up to an empty bedside – but there is a note from Bryan asking you to meet him on the deck for dinner. You shower and change into the dress you wore at The Hamptons when you all those years prior – it was a cream colored short-sleeve wrap dress that had a ruffle hem and an adjustable tie at waist. You left your hair in a loose wet braid and decided to go barefoot.

The night sky over Lake Michigan was dark, with nary a cloud in the sky. Away from the orange glow from the artificial light from increasing development and glare from unshielded streetlights, you found yourself beneath the twinkling stars and other celestial objects. You were surprised to find how many stars you were able see even just miles away from the city and northern suburbs.   

A pair of hands touched your shoulders and you jumped slightly until the familiar waft of Bryan’s cologne filled your nostrils. 

“Have you seen anything so beautiful?” You asked as you turned around. And when you did, you found Bryan on one knee. In his hand was a sparkling ring, which you presumed was at least 2 carats, flanked by smaller diamonds. 

“When I first met you, you literally collided into me. And from then, I couldn’t get you out of my head. At first, I thought we were going to be nothing more than a fling, an itch to get out of my system. I told you I didn’t do the boyfriend thing and you were more than okay with that. And for awhile it was that, but you weaseled your way into my world and black and white became different shade of gray. And then it became blues and reds.” Bryan’s eyes shimmer as he professes his love. After a beat, he continues.

“And I know we have had our issues in the past, and I can’t promise you that we won’t have rough patches again. In my heart, you are the only one for me. I cannot imagine my life without you. Will you marry me?” 

Your hands covered your mouth as tears streamed down your face. A gentle breeze blew through and you nodded before you dropped your hands. “Yes, of course Bryan, yes!” Bryan smiled as he stood and your hand shook as he slipped the ring onto your finger. You wrapped your arms around his neck as two kissed. 

“What about everything I said – about New York? Not being able to come to Chicago right away?” You asked breathlessly, as you broke the kiss. 

Bryan wiped a tear from your cheek. “Oh Y/N, I already had it all taken care of. Laurie and Firth already agreed to it. I’ll be heading the NY office when it opens in the Fall. We signed a deal with a building space in Midtown.” 

You gasped once more before playfully hitting him on the chest. “So you were just fucking around with me below deck?” 

“In more ways than one.” Bryan winked. 

“You’re such an ass.” You replied. “Wait - does that mean you’ll actually tell me what memo 618 is now?” 

Bryan responded by cupping your ass and kissing you once more.

FIN.

--

Tags: @madpanda75 @tropes-and-tales @delia26 @mgarner1227 @beardedmccoy @youreverycolor @neely1177 @the-baby-bookworm @mrsrafaelbarba @skittle479 @ottosuricato @delia26 @sass-and-suspenders @mommakat32 @dreila03 @beccabarba @garturbo @lovebennycolon @imjustreallynosy @sweetsummertime99 @whyissvuruiningmylovelife @annabelleb49 @scarletsoldierrr @cesarofangirl78 @redlipstickandplaid @redlipstickandblacktea @zoeykaytesmom @differentshadesofgray @misssirenlove @esparza-army @bananas-pajamas @mishaissocoolike @thefanficfaerie @theenchantedgalleryofstories @catnip987 @choppedgalaxynerd @pieceofshittytitty @ktiz90 @evee87 @itsjustmyfantasyroom @blk0912 @detective-giggles @rampantmuses @jazzyjoi​ @caked-crusader​ @rachelxwayne @the-hopeless-haze

[theshy1sout]

Inseparable - Chapter 11

Tags: Not Rated, Slow Burn Fluff, Broppy, Trolls Mythology Au

Ao3 is here

Notes: Ok, so in the last chapter were some plot holes or more like understatements, but let me work on them later. There're many chapters before us, there will be a time for fixing them, but now, back to some fluff :3

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It's time. Poppy is bouncing with excitement, the huge grin doesn't leave her fave. She's all happy. She's all one ticking bomb waiting to explode. 

- I'm scared now - Branch chuckles, watching as she's almost dancing. - What is this surprise? Is this something erupting from the ground or... How big is it?

The goddess giggles with genuine joy in her melody voice. She looks at him with sparks of thrill in her eyes.

- Bigger than you thought! - She beams. And then she reaches for the Staff. - Calm down, it would be great!

- I hope so - He throws, twisting his face. He hesitates to give her the Staff. - I know it’s ridiculous, but I'm really stressed, this is overwhelming, you don’t have to...

- Nah nah nah, shhh - She puts her finger on his mouth, making him freeze. She looks deep into his eyes, and says slowly with a calm, quiet voice: - It won't kill you, ok? It's a surprise. A gift. All you have to do is just follow me and watch. Easy?

The god blinks when her finger lets go of his lips. He takes a deep breath, keeping his eyes on her.

- Easy - He breathes out, nodding slightly. 

She smirks at him and finally grabs the Staff of the Light, taking it from his hands. The world slowly fills with shades of red and pink, birds start their welcoming-the-day serenades. Branch gazes tense at the sky, waiting for a huge loud explosion or something like that.

- Where should I look? - He asks.

- Just sit here and wait - Poppy says. She starts opening flowers' cups on the meadow. - And watch the sky. It will come slowly and smoothly, the first part hasn't got a big entrance or something.

- The first part? - Branch chuckles. - Maybe I shouldn't have asked how big it is, but how long it is.

The goddess of the Day smiles, not stopping her work. The blue god knows he is supposed to watch the sky and wait, but it is so easy to be distracted by her.

 Poppy gently opens every little or big flower cup. She touches them so carefully to not damage any of the sensitive pedals. The Staff shines gold in her hand, its Light brightens her rose complexion. Her hair looks so soft and majestic in its golden glow. He wonders how it would feel to sink his fingers into it. And her tiny, twinkling freckles... He wishes she would let him count them all, one by one. The touch of her smooth, warm skin was so delightful…

 Not like his. His skin is always cold. He all is cold. But when Branch's with her it's not that bad. Especially if she gives him a bit of her warmth... How is she doing that? Her smile makes his heart gets warm, he feels warmth, a real one, inside him, and it's like nothing else in this world, it is something so addicting, he wants more and more of it, but he's scared of asking. It's like a little fire inside him, a little fire that he wants to burn him one day or night, he wants to be burned by this fire and he doesn't know why...

And this pink beautiful lady, this gorgeous brisk woman, this sunshine dancing with the flowers on the meadow, this spotless gold heart and a bright, pure mind, this cute smiley face and two sparkling eyes, she... She's here. With him. She's giving him a gift. She likes him and likes hanging up with him. It is so hard to believe. But it makes him feel so good. 

- I told you to look at the sky! - Poppy laughs girlishly and sound. Her cheeks turn red when she notices he's staring at her. 

Branch smiles as he feels his face gets warm and probably purple. He used to get shy because of it, but he kinda starts liking it. Like, a lot.

- Guh, you got me! - He chuckles and lifts his arms. - I'm busted at adoring you. What a shame! I should've known that you're not the sky! 

The goddess actually blushes even more after those words.

- It's also kinda your fault, you were interrupting the sky - The god smirks. Oh my goodness, maybe this is cruel, but it’s so satisfying to see her like that. 

- Stop it! It's you who is supposed to be red right now - She giggles, sitting down next to him with the Staff in her hand.

- Why?

- Just look at the sky, you dork!

He chuckles and listens up. And now he's wondering how he could not notice that. How could he not notice that the whole sky, the whole frickin sky, the whole existing horizon...

Is BLUE.

Blue. Clear beautiful azure. Not milky white as always. But blue. The exact same shade that his eyes have. Blue. Azure blue. He even doesn't notice that his mouth is open wide until Poppy closes it with her hand.

- Now, I should say - She catches his sight and shows him a sweet smile. - How much I like sinking into your beautiful azure eyes.

He has no idea how his face looks right now. His mind just stops working, his sight gets lost somewhere between the sky and Poppy's eyes and smile. He tries to gather his thoughts. 

- I... don't know what to say… - He breathes out, after a while.

- You don't have to say anything! Aren't you the god of Silence?

He spits a chuckle.

- I am

- Branch, I just want to show you that... - She looks down a bit shyly. - I adore you as much as you adore me. I... - She sinks her fingers into her hair. - You know, it's this weird, funny feeling...

- Yeah - He smiles at her, grabbing a strand of her hair that falls on her face. He puts it behind her ear and lets his hand stay a bit there. - I know.

She's smiling, but not this huge, wide sunny smile she has when she gets excited, but a little, gentle one, much more similar to the smiles he does, a cute one. His thumb moves slightly through her warm cheek. Her face is so small, his hand cups almost half of it. It is so weird and so enjoyable that she likes it, but he lets go of her face. He lets go, fearing the desire in his chest, the desire to never let go of her warm soft skin. 

Poppy's sigh of delight is such a pleasant sound, another thing he can't get enough of.

- Are you ready for the next part? - She lifts her eyebrows with a smirk.

- I don't think so - Branch smiles.

- Well, you have a break now, I have a few things to do, and then the Midday and... you know - She shrugs her shoulders. - Responsibilities. But after that, I'll show you one more thing!

- And I will be following you whole this time like a creepy ghost - He jokes. - Maybe there is something I can help with?

Poppy gets her eyes up and twists her face as she's thinking.

- Well, I can find something for you.

* * * 

- After the first part of the surprise - Branch screams to be hearable in the loud sounds of rain. - I've imagined the second one much different than that!

They are wet, they are so wet. But the feeling of uncomfortableness fades with the sweet melody of Poppy's laugh.

- It's kinda prolog of it! - She yells at him. - We have to wait until the end of the rain!

- Yay! What fun! - Branch jumps and waves his hands, pretending that the situation is really enjoyable. The goddess laughs. It is the only reason he's still here in the rain. He raises his arms, tilts his head back, closing his eyes, and roars with displeasure. Cause this is displeasure. He stays like that. He drops his arms, but his face and hair are facing the droplets with all of their wetness. The tepid water is flowing over his whole cold body. The calming hiss is in the whole forest. He feels like the water cleans his mind leaving nothing but the sound of the droplets’ hits and the warmth of the rain.

- Actually - Branch murmurs. - It's quite pleasant.

After a long nice moment, when the rain lets go a bit and becomes a drizzle, the god hears Poppy's voice calling his name.

- Look! - She points at something in the sky.

He glances at it and gasps. There is a big hole in the grey clouds, with a clear, bright azure shining at the Land. And below it... a long translucent colorful ribbon streams from it down to the forest. The seven colors of it are so clear and beautifully illuminating against the background of grey rainy clouds. Mesmerizing bright colors. Wonderfully clear and pure. Strikingly splendid and simply gorgeous like a tender smile. Branch forgets about the world for a minute. He can’t take his eyes off it.

- I called it 'a rainbow' - Poppy says with pride. - It was so hard to design and to make. But Satin and Chenille, you know, the twins' goddesses of Beauty, are two geniuses! They helped me a lot. But sadly, a rainbow appears only in the drizzle. It's made with a mix of tiny droplets and Light. So I asked Trollazart to make it rain today - She chuckles, looking at the wet god. - I'm sorry.

He stares at the rainbow in Silence. She isn't sure if he adores it or gets lost in his thoughts. But the Silence is way longer than ever was.

- Umm, Branch?

His lips vibrate slightly as if he wants to say something, but he hesitates.

- What if - He starts really slowly and now Poppy is sure his mind is somewhere else. - What if we make an endless source of drizzle?

She frowns.

- When water falls into another water from a high height - He explains, showing the thing with his hands. - It makes a drizzle around. So if we create something like... A river falling from a height in the sunny place...

- It will make a drizzle and rainbow in it all the time! - Poppy gasps. She jumps excitedly. - Branch, it's so genius!

- Let's do it right now - He says, looking around to find the nearest river and starts walking quite fast. Poppy runs after him, bouncing slightly with joy. Are they going to make something together? Oh, this day is so fun!

When they arrive at its shore, the rain stops pouring. Poppy puts her hand into the water and calls the god's name. After a few seconds, the navy face, slightly illuminating violet, shows up from the water and two, big eyes gaze at them curiously.

- Hi Synth! - Poppy beams at the smiley god of rivers.

- Hi Pops! Hello Branch! - He cheers. - What's up, my fellows?

- Can you make a river for us? - Branch asks. - We need a river that will be falling from a high height in a sunny place.

- Crazy! - Synth yells. - I like crazy! Come with me!

And he dives into the water, disappearing.

- Umm, Synth? - Poppy calls him once again. 

His smiley face immediately shows up from the water. Again.

- Yes?

Branch clears his throat.

- Oh - The river god realizes. - I'm sorry. Let's go on the Land!

And with that saying, he steps on the ground.

- Do you know a place where you would like to see your river? - He beams at them both, putting his hands on his hips.

- I think I know a good place - Poppy replies and shows the direction.

When they come there, well, what to say more, it is a perfect place for their idea! The cliff is in the beautiful, sunny area, wild horses pasture nearby on the steppe. Synth calls the water from the Ocean and after an hour a brand-new river is ready and beautiful, streaming through the field. They call the place where it falls a "waterfall". 

- I give this beauty the name "Lora" - Synth announces. - I don't know why, but this river looks exactly like Lora.

- Sure - Branch nods, not getting. - Thank you for creating Lora for us.

- You're welcome! - The god salutes. - If you want something else, you know where to find me! - He throws, diving into the water of the new river. 

- Bye! - Poppy waves him goodbye.

- Ok, come here with the Staff of Light - Branch asks her.

The goddess comes close to the waterfall. She feels the fresh drizzle on her face. They both glance at it and gasp happily.

The rainbow appears above the water's surface.

- It's so beautiful! - The god is amazed. She never heard such a swoon in his voice. - I mean, the colors are so clear and vivid...

- Yeah - Poppy smiles.

They stare at it for a long while, just adoring its beauty. At the very same moment when the goddess wants to suggest that maybe they could sit down here and spend a bit of time together, the god jumps up with saying:

- Guh, it's so inspiring. I have a huge idea - Branch turns to her. - Can I keep it as a surprise?

Poppy looks at him kinda confused.

- Well, yes, of course!

- Then, I'm going to make it - He says, walking away.

The goddess of the Day stands very still, close to the waterfall, watching the smaller and smaller silhouette of the god of the Night on the horizon. She imagined that they would be sitting somewhere, talking about anything and just enjoying each others' company, as always. But now? She is just shocked. Only one, simple word, filled with surprise and disappointment, slips from her lips.

- What.

___________________________________

Index

[greenbriar-j]

excerpt + bonus doodles linked under the cut in case you missed them

I am a god - or something very close to one - and I have never felt as powerful as I do in this moment. Holding Finley is holding such raw and articulate power. Like I’ve tamed one of the elements of the universe, attained its loyalty even as it runs free. His lightning shatters me, but it fills the spaces it leaves behind too.

I can’t imagine ever giving it away.

I can’t imagine losing myself to oblivion either, but one of two options will come to pass.

“I’m okay. Just a little bruised.” Finley speaks softly, pulling back to swipe his fingers across my cheeks. I hadn’t realized I was crying. “How many stars?”

The moments after that are filled with my shuddering breaths rather than an answer. Once I’ve regained half of my composure, I sniff. “What?”

“I told you to tell me how hot I was. How many stars? Out of ten.”

I hold up four fingers.

Indignantly, Finley sputters a series of protests, including but not restricted to you said you were hot and bothered. “Emerson, come on.”

Despite myself, I giggle. “You’re still my fave though.”

“You’re unbelievable. I picked fights with demons for four stars. Four measly stars.”

“Keep going and it’ll be three.”

“Darling, please.”

“I love you.”

“Don’t say it till ya mean it, honey buns.”

Squinting suspiciously at him, I start to walk away. Backwards so I’m still facing him. “What are you doing right now?”

“Trying to raise my rating, babe. Am I at four point five yet?” He advances on me with a twinkle in his eyes. A twinkle I don’t trust but would fall for all the same.

Taglist: @abbystardis @astrowriting @aelenko @asoftplxcetoland @chazzawrites @jess---writes @marchdove @mouwwie @mastery-in-procrastination @nightmares-and-fireflies @thescatteredscribbles @unbearable-lightness-of-ink​ @waterfallwritings

bonus links!

surprise! emerson’s getting a makeover; finley may be getting tats or piercings soon i haven’t really decided

with the character design adjustments and a sudden love for them, i edited my finley/emerson phone wallpaper a bit

doodle + title change! between gods and men -> fate at first sight (though i’ll probably keep tagging it as bgm)

[aalissy]

Ladynoire

Day 9 of Ladynoire June is finished!! And it’s Ladynoire x Adrien! One of my fave tropes hehe. I lovedddd Reflekta 2.0 bc of the kwami swap. I need moreeee lmaoooo. Anywho, I hope you like this chapter <3

AO3

Adrien sighed quietly, staring up at his computer background in a lovestruck haze. It was a picture he had recently taken with Ladynoire. He had been caught up in an akuma attack and hadn’t had time to transform into Mister Bug. Luckily, the superheroine was by his side in a flash, scooping him up into her warm arms. The Adrien in the picture was gazing into her emerald green eyes with a deep, red blush covering his face. The Adrien in real-life sighed longingly once again, resting his chin on his fist. 

“Are you alright, Adrien?” Tikki hovered nearby, watching him with concern.

“Hmm,” he jerked his gaze back to the kwami, opening a new tab to erase the image he had been staring at. The model gave his kwami a wide, awkward smile, “Y-yeah I’m fine.”

Slowly, Tikki smiled at him with a teasing giggle, “Are you staring at Ladynoire again?”

“Maybe,” Adrien dragged out, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly.

The kwami laughed cutely, nuzzling his cheek in a small hug, “It sounds like you had a great day today, then.”

He patted Tikki on the head lightly with another gentle sigh, “I did. I really did.”

Adrien barely heard the light tap on his window. Assuming it was just a bird hitting his window, his gaze slowly dragged over towards the sound. What he saw, however, made him freeze in shock, his green eyes widening. Outside his window stood Ladynoire, a bright smile on her face as she waved at him. Adrien gulped, eyes shooting back over to Tikki who had thankfully managed to disappear before the superheroine could spot her. With a quiet breath of relief, he quickly dashed over to the window to open it for her. When she landed in his bedroom, he quickly spoke, “Are you alright, Ladynoire? Did something happen?”

She shook her head quickly, an almost shy smile on her face. Geez, she looked really cute when she was relaxed like this. Eventually, she spoke, “Sorry for dropping in and startling you, Adrien. There isn’t another akuma attack I just wanted to see how you were doing.”

“Oh,” he said softly before his eyes lit up and he beamed at her excitedly, “Oh!”

Ladynoire giggled sweetly and his heart tugged in his chest at the noise, “So, are you doing alright then?”

Adrien shook his head quickly to get rid of the haze that had overtaken it before nodding hastily, “Y-yeah! T-thanks to you after all.”

She blushed faintly and he watched in awe as her cheeks turned a light pink. Nibbling on her lower lip, she glanced up at him from beneath her eyelashes, “I was only doing my job. It was really Mister Bug who saved the day.”

“What?” he frowned, “No, no, it was your cataclysm that destroyed the akuma today. Mister Bug barely did anything,” he waved a hand.

This time, Ladynoire frowned at him, “Maybe my cataclysm stopped the akuma, but it was Mister Bug’s lucky charm that distracted the akuma long enough for me to use it.”

“Let’s just agree that you both saved the day today, then,” he gave her a bright grin.

The superheroine giggled, nodding her head, “Alright.”

“Thanks for checking up on me, then, Ladynoire,” Adrien said before his eyes glittered over towards her mischievously, “I have to ask, though, do you usually visit civilians in their homes?”

Her flush darkened and she ducked her head shyly, “Not usually.”

He chuckled teasingly at her, “Does Mister Bug know about this?”

  To be fair to her, though, he didn’t really have room to judge. He visited Marinette as Mister Bug many times just to hang out with the charming fashion designer. Ladynoire didn’t need to know about that though.

Her gaze flitted away from his own, a small, smug smile tugging at her lips. The superheroine shrugged once, “Something tells me he wouldn’t mind.”

Adrien slowly raised an eyebrow at her, “Yeah, why do you think that?”

“Just a wild guess,” Ladynoire’s green eyes twinkled at him like she knew something he didn’t.

Adrien chuckled softly, shaking his head slowly at her, “Alright, then. Was there another reason you dropped by or are you just here to check up on me?”

“I only came by to check up on you!” she chirped cheerfully, seemingly unaware that she had caused his stomach to flutter with a million different butterflies. Her lips twisted as she looked back at the window, “Which is probably why I should be leaving soon.”

He sighed to himself, muttering quietly, “Do you have too?”

Ladynoire’s eyes jerked back to him, a shocked expression on her face. Adrien felt his face flame as he realized that she had heard him. Curse the superhuman hearing she had! He gave her a small grimace as her lips downturned and her eyes grew sadder, “I-I really wish I could, Adrien. Really, believe me,” she stressed, looking at him almost pleadingly, “I just have a lot of work to do tonight.”

“Yeah, I understand,” Adrien gave her a weak smile, cursing himself silently. Why in the world did I ask her that?! 

“B-but I’m free next weekend I-I mean i-if you are too,” she stared resolutely forward, not meeting his gaze as her face pinkened.

He blinked at her a few times, trying to understand what she was asking him. Eventually, he swallowed, speaking to her quietly, “I-I would really like that.”

“R-really?” Ladynoire’s mouth dropped open in shock before it slammed closed.

“Yeah, I would,” Adrien gave her another timid grin, “If you aren’t too busy, of course.”

“No, no, I won’t be!” she said quickly before stammering slightly, “S-so I’ll see you next weekend, then?”

“Definitely!” he nodded at her. Ladynoire gave him a bright smile and said goodbye back to him before disappearing out the window. He barely noticed, though, frozen in shock as he finally came to terms with the fact that he had practically set up a date with the superheroine. Punching a fist into the air, Adrien cheered to himself, “Yes! Yes! Yes! Today just keeps getting better and better! I get to see the love of my life next weekend!! I just can’t wait!”

Falling happily back into his desktop chair, he clicked back to his new computer background, “I’ll see you soon, m’lady. I’ll see you soon.”

[wandlores]

Royal Treatment

Pairing: Pansy Parkinson x Narcissa Black Malfoy  Words: 2,093 You can also read this on AO3.  Warning: This is rated Explicit on AO3 for some smut.  This is for the @hprarepairnet Pansy Parkinson Challenge! I am also dedicating this to all my faves in my rare pair net server. You guys have inspired a lot of this plot based off of our discussions about Narcissa and Pansy. 

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The war was over, and they had finally finished their eighth year at Hogwarts. They were officially ready to become adults, and Draco was the last of them to turn eighteen on this very night. Whenever it was Draco's birthday, that meant a sleepover at Malfoy Manor with a lot of firewhiskey. That had become a tradition starting their fifth year. Pansy's first time ever experiencing pure intoxication was at this manor, and she remembered explicitly how Narcissa held her hair back as she threw up. Pansy could not stop staring at her chest even then.

Some things never change. Narcissa Malfoy was as beautiful as ever, and she made Pansy quiver with excitement from her own fantasies. It was never going to happen, Pansy knew that. It was wrong to fuck your best friends mom. Even Pansy had some morals, but she could not stop thinking about it. Some desires that you discover at the age of fifteen never leave.

It was the usual crew. Pansy, Goyle, Draco, Blaise, Daphne, and Theo. They never talked about Crabbe; maybe it was too painful. Pansy wasn't sure, but she knew this group of friends were never the type to become overly vulnerable. They were known to bitch about others, gossip, and drink the night away. It was how Pansy preferred it, though she did have vulnerable relationships with each one of these friends on an individual basis. Particularly Draco. That is how it had always been. So Pansy was surprised when Goyle drunkenly mentioned that they should play truth or dare. To Pansy, that screamed potential vulnerability overload. Vulnerability was not something that ever happened at Malfoy Manor. Especially on Draco's birthday.

"Guys, we seriously need to play truth or date," Goyle pushed, "I want to see some of you squirm out of your skin." He was smirking, and Pansy could feel that he had an alternative agenda. She just wasn't sure what.

Pansy watched as Theo whispered in Daphne's ear and kissed her cheek on the couch, and Blaise rolled his eyes at their public display of affection. Draco pounded another shot.

"This is my eighteenth birthday party, Greg, not my fifteenth," Draco said, "Isn't that a little, juvenile?"

Daphne snorted, and Draco looked up to meet her eye.

"What is that about?"

"We are all a little juvenile when we are drunk, Malfoy. Don't act above that," Daphne replied.

Draco didn't argue back, and Pansy had a smile spread across her face as she brought her shot glass to her lips. The firewhiskey burned the back of her throat as it went down, but she stopped herself from wincing. The pain was nothing.

"So who is going first then?" Blaise perked up, with a smirk playing at his lips.

"Well," Pansy started, "Since you are initiating it, why don't you go first, Blaise?"

His smirk spread wider, "My pleasure, Parkinson."

Pansy leaned back against Daphne's legs and now pulled out a muggle cigarette. She closed her eyes as she lit it and took a drag. She could feel Goyle's eyes on her while he was having a wet dream. They were never going to happen, but that never stopped him from trying.

Blaise noticed Goyle practically drooling over Pansy, and his eyes lit up with an idea. Pansy knew that look. He was about to cause some problems.

"Greg," Blaise asked, "Truth or dare?"

Pansy braced herself for his answer. She knew what it would be. He eyed Pansy as he replied, and she watched as he licked his lips.

"Dare."

"I want you to kiss the person of your choice in this room."

Goyle's eyes sparkled at the prospect. Pansy watched as he cracked his knuckles in preparation to move over towards her. Pansy could feel Theo protectively put his arm around Daphne on the couch. He would never admit it to anyone, but he was territorial over his girlfriend, even if he tried to act constantly nonchalant.

Pansy braced herself mentally. She put her cigarette out knowing what was coming and looked at the red lipstick stain on the end of it. She sighed, at least her lipstick was already ruined.

Greg had scooted himself over to her on the ground. As he faced her, he suddenly looked nervous. He looked like the shy boy who asked her out at fourteen, and suddenly, Pansy felt empathetic towards his nerves and constant rejection.

"Are-are you okay with this?" Greg now asked under her breath. His cocky confidence was gone; she assumed his plan was out the window.

Her breath hitched. She didn't want this, but she didn't want to insult Greg any further. All she did was nod. He leaned forward and kissed her. His tongue didn't even slip into her mouth. He knew. It was just a peck, and he pulled away. She watched as he got up and poured himself another shot.

Draco rolled his eyes as Blaise booed, "That was it? Really Goyle?"

"I'm not the type to kiss a girl that doesn't want to be kissed by me," he told them honestly. He took another shot, "Pansy is my friend, too."

Pansy wanted to thank him, but instead, she turned her attention to Blaise. It was time to get him back.

"Blaise, truth or dare?" She smirked.

His eyes twinkled, "Truth."

She was surprised. He was always the type to take a dare. Maybe he was too nervous she would get him back. Pansy thought for a moment.

"What is up with you and the Weasley girl?"

She watched as Blaise's neck heated up, and Theo stifled a laugh by choking on his shot. Draco smirked from his arm chair, and Goyle took another shot.

Pansy lit another cigarette as she waited for his response.

As soon as the cigarette touched her lips, he replied, "She's a good fuck, actually. If you are wanting me to be honest."

"It is more than that, though," Daphne taunted, "I have seen the way you look at her."

"Yeah, he is completely smitten," Draco teased.

"Just like you are completely enamored by Potter," Blaise shot back.

"You both clearly have a type for heroes," Pansy murmured as she took another drag.

Blaise and Draco bickered back and forth for awhile about their new romantic prospects, until Blaise turned his attention back to Pansy.

"Truth or dare, Parkinson?"

She had embarrassed him. She knew that. She could feel revenge coming, but she was enjoying her cigarette too much to take on a dare.

"Truth."

It was then that she remembered. One drunken night during their sixth year in the Slytherin common room, Pansy admitted to him her crush on Narcissa. He thought it was hot at the time, but now, she had a feeling he would use it against her.

"If you had to fuck any of our parents, whose parents would you fuck?"

Draco rolled his eyes, and Daphne gave him a disgusted look, "Why are we even thinking about that Blaise? Considering that Theo and his dad are not on.."

"It's okay, Daph. We know Pansy would never choose my dad to fuck."

They all laughed at that, but Pansy swallowed the ball in her throat. She knew he knew the truth, but would she answer honestly with Draco there? She wasn't sure, so before answering, she took another shot and a puff off of her cigarette.

She figured she could blame it on the alcohol later, so rather than back down from Blaise, she answered honestly, "Narcissa, obviously. She is the definition of a MILF."

Draco pretended to gag and everyone in the room smirked. Goyle laughed like it was a joke.

"Good answer, Pans," he joked.

Pansy didn't say anything other than take another drag off her cigarette. Daphne started playing with her hair, and that is when Pansy swore she saw Narcissa's shadow walk past the entryway. She figured it was just the alcohol finally taking over, and they all continued on with their little game.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 

Two hours later, Pansy was exhausted. She stumbled down the hall to her designated bedroom at Malfoy Manor. She practically lived here all summer, so it was even decorated to her liking. She closed her eyes as she opened her bedroom door to try and get a hold of herself, and when she opened her eyes, she saw Narcissa lying on her bed wearing the sexiest black lingerie she had ever seen.

Pansy felt her mouth drop open, and she hoped she wasn't drooling. Knowing her, she probably was. She was shocked. What the fuck was Narcissa doing in her bedroom in the middle of the night in lingerie?

"It took you long enough to get back," Narcissa said nonchalantly, "Can you give me one of those muggle cigarettes? That's what they call them, right? Lucius has never let me try one."

Pansy shut the door behind her and then pulled her pack and muggle lighter out of her pocket. She handed Narcissa a cigarette, and she watched as she put it in-between her lips. Her cherry lipstick had already stained the end.

"Can you give me a light?" Narcissa asked seductively. Pansy gulped and leaned forward with her lighter lit. She watched as it engulfed the end of the cigarette and as Narcissa breathed in. Narcissa smirked as she blew the smoke out directly in Pansy's face.

Pansy had to clench her thighs to stop herself from losing it as she breathed in the smoke.

"I heard your little game earlier," Narcissa remarked. She got up from the bed now, and all Pansy could focus on was her legs in her fishnets and heels as they clicked across her bedroom floor. Pansy attempted to collect herself by sitting on the edge of her bed.

Narcissa took another drag from her cigarette before she continued. She leaned her head back as she blew the smoke out, "Is it true what you said? You would fuck me out of any parent of your choosing?"

Out of anyone of my choosing, Pansy thought. She didn't say anything. Pansy had never been brave, but she nodded. This could not be happening.

Narcissa licked her lips and took the last drag off of her cigarette. She put it out in the ash tray by Pansy's bedside, and then she got down on her knees in front of Pansy.

"Well good," Narcissa told her, "Cause there is something I would like to try."

Before Pansy could respond, Narcissa had spread her legs apart, wetness was already between her legs, and as Narcissa undid her pants, she could see it already through her panties.

"I excite you this much, huh?" Narcissa teased.

Pansy didn't say anything as Narcissa leaned forward. Her tongue was now on her, and Pansy had to stifle a moan.

Before Pansy knew it, her clothes were off, and Narcissa was straddling her on the bed, still in her pesky lingerie.

"Please.. please take it off," Pansy begged.

Narcissa smiled as she started to unzip the back of her lingerie. Her breasts popped out, and Pansy instantly went up to feel them in her hands.

"Better than you imagined?" Narcissa teased. Pansy nodded and her mouth went up to Narcissa's nipple. Narcissa moaned and rubbed up against Pansy. Pansy was in heaven. This was the definition of ecstasy.

But it was over too soon; Narcissa had managed to make Pansy orgasm five times in the past hour. She was out of breath as Narcissa laid next to her on her bed and leaned over to grab one of Pansy's cigarettes. She lit another one and handed it to Pansy to share. Pansy grabbed it and took a drag.

"That was incredible," Pansy told her, "Truly."

Narcissa smiled, "Anything for Draco's best friend."

Narcissa then leaned over and kissed Pansy deeply on the lips. Pansy was leaning in for more when Narcissa pulled away. Pansy watched as Narcissa put a black robe on over her body. She walked to the door and turned back to look at Pansy naked in her bed one last time, with a cigarette in-between her lips that she had given her. Narcissa quivered at the sight, but Pansy could not read Narcissa's mind.

"Until next time," Narcissa whispered. She gazed over Pansy's body one last time, licked her lips, and left.

Pansy was going to ask Draco if she could move in tomorrow, especially if she was going to receive the royal treatment while living there.

That was the night that Pansy's wildest dreams came true and continued on.

[grigori77]

Top 10 Horror Movies, like, EVER (reissued)

10.  THE MIST

In 2007, writer/director Frank Darabont once again proved he does his best work when adapting master of literary horror Stephen King (after The Green Mile and solid gold masterpiece The Shawshank Redemption), this time turning to pure horror with one of the author’s lesser-known early novellas.  The result is another tour-de-force cinematic blueprint, a taut, harrowing tale of humanity pushed far beyond the brink by unexplained supernatural events and the monstrous lengths normal people will go to to stay alive, as a small-town New England supermarket is cut off from the outside world by a mysterious, monster-filled mist.  The Expanse’s Thomas Jane proves a complex hero, beefy yet vulnerable as local artist David Drayton, leading a high-calibre cast of Stephen King-movie/TV regulars – Jeffrey DeMunn (The Green Mile), Andre Braugher (Salem’s Lot), William Sadler (The Shawshank Redemption) and Frances Sternhagen (Misery) – and “newcomers” – Laurie Holden (who must have really impressed Darabont, since he subsequently cast her alongside DeMunn in The Walking Dead), Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy’s Toby Jones (as one of the most unorthodox action heroes in cinematic history) and Miller’s Crossing’s Marcia Gay Harden, pretty much stealing the film as deeply unhinged Bible-basher Mrs Carmody, who goes from unsavoury town nut to fervent cult leader as the situation grows increasingly desperate.  Darabont once again proves what an exceptional screen storyteller he can be, effortlessly weaving an atmosphere of mounting dread and knife-edge tension, as well as delivering some nightmarish set-pieces featuring magnificent Lovecraft-inspired beasties designed by The Walking Dead’s creature effects master Greg Nicotero.  When cinematic horror was becoming increasingly saturated with “gorno” Saw-derivatives, this was a welcome return to old-fashioned monster movie thrills (Darabont himself was heavily inspired by the monochrome scary movies of his childhood, and longed to make the film in black-and-white – indeed, this is definitely worth watching at least once in the “director’s cut” B&W version he included on the special edition DVD release), and not only proved one of the best examples of King on screen to date, but also one of THE key horror movies of the “Noughties”. Not least thanks to that ending, one of the greatest sucker punch twists of all time – reputedly King was most envious of Darabont on seeing it for the first time, wishing he’d thought it up himself. Coming from the King of Horror, that’s high praise indeed.

9.  30 DAYS OF NIGHT

When Steve Niles, the undisputable master of post-modern horror comics, originally came up with the concept for his definitive work, it was intended for the big screen, but he ultimately wound up committing it to print because he just couldn’t get anyone to produce it.  Interesting, then, that the comic’s runaway success led to its optioning by Sam Raimi and his production company Ghost House Pictures, Niles adapting the first volume alongside Stuart Beattie and Brian Nelson, with Hard Candy director David Slade at the helm. Of course, the concept was always a killer – for one month every year, the sun never rises over the Alaskan town of Barrow, a fact that a coven of hungry vampires have decided to exploit in a midwinter free-for-all feeding frenzy.  Josh Hartnett manfully crumbles in what remains his best role as town sheriff Eben Olemaun, ably supported by Melissa George as his estranged fire-marshal wife Stella, Memento/Batman Begins’ Mark Boone Junior as hard-as-nails town loner Bo, Ben Foster (one of my very favourite actors) as a mysterious drifter with a dark agenda, and Danny Huston, who created one of the best ever screen vampires with nihilistic pack leader Marlow. It’s ironic that David Slade should have followed this with Twilight film Eclipse (although he was an inspired choice – after all, it’s the one that DOESN’T suck) – this is about as far removed from the toothless, blood-lite young adult series as you can get, an unrelenting, gore-drenched exercise in relentless carnage and ice-cold terror.  These vamps wouldn’t be caught (ahem) dead sparkling – they’re man-shaped mako sharks, all dead black eyes and jagged teeth, gleefully revelling in slaughter and playing sadistic games of cat and mouse with the isolated townsfolk.  This is definitely not a movie for the faint of heart, and it takes itself deadly seriously right through the unapologetically bleak ending, but it is nonetheless an endlessly rewarding thrill ride for the faithful, paying respect to all the great conventions of the genre while simultaneously ripping them to shreds.  Brutal, bloody and brilliant, this is BAR NONE the best vampire movie of the post-Interview age, and very nearly my all-time favourite EVER ...

8. POLTERGEIST

1982 saw the release of TWO of my all-time fave horror movies, and the lesser (but no less awesome) of the two is what I personally consider to be THE DEFINITIVE haunted house movie.  Tobe Hooper, director of the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre, pretty much reinvented ghosts on the big screen with this thrilling tale of a small-town-American family, the Freelings, whose seemingly perfect home comes under the influence of a powerful supernatural force.  At first the effects are harmless – moving furniture and the like – until a night-time thunderstorm signals a terrifying escalation and younger daughter Carol-Anne (Heather O’Rourke) is sucked through a portal into the spirit world.  Long before he was the dad in The Incredibles, Craig T. Nelson had already become a pretty definitive cuddly American screen father as Steven Freeling, while JoBeth Williams is a lioness defending her cubs as mother Diane; then-newcomer Heather O’Rourke, meanwhile, is a naturalistic revelation as Carol-Anne, her innocent delivery of “They’re here!” becoming a genuine geek phenomenon all on its own, but the film’s real runaway performance comes from Zelda Rubinstein as diminutive Southern belle psychic medium Tangina Barrons, whose every screen moment is a quirky joy.  As you’d expect, Hooper’s scares are flawlessly executed, the atmospheric tension ratcheted with consummate skill, even if the director’s characteristic gore is kept to a PG-13-friendly minimum ... then again, this was a summer offering from Back to the Future producers Frank Marshall and Steven Spielberg himself, who was also the main screenwriter. Indeed, his influence is keenly felt throughout – the suburban world the Freelings inhabit is very much in keeping with Spielberg classics like Close Encounters of the Third Kind and E.T. – and there have been consistent rumours that he was all but the de-facto director on set.  The film (along with its sequels) has also gained a reputation for being cursed, with no less than FOUR cast members dying not long after (most notably Dominique Dunne, who played elder Freeling daughter Dana, who was murdered by her boyfriend just five months after the film’s release).  Whatever the truth behind these rumours, there’s no denying this is a cracking film – taut, atmospheric and consistently terrifying while also displaying a playful, quirky sense of humour and lots of heart, it remains one of the most rewarding and entertaining screen ghost stories around.

7.  BUBBA HO-TEP

Bruce Campbell is Elvis Presley!  He really is!  Although maybe he isn’t ... all right, TECHNICALLY he’s Sebastian Haff, a washed-up, long-retired Elvis impersonator languishing in a retirement home who claims he really IS the King (apparently he swapped places with the REAL Haff because he’d grown tired of fame).  Meanwhile one of his fellow residents is an old black man who claims he’s the real JFK, maintaining that President Lyndon Johnson had him dyed black and secreted in anonymity with a bag of sand sewn into the gap in his brain ... confused yet? Well hold on, cuz there’s more – the retirement home in question has been invaded by the malevolent spirit of a cursed soul-sucking mummy, and only these two fallen heroes can save the day ... yup, writer/director Don (Phantasm and John Dies At the End) Coscarelli’s initially criminally overlooked but deservedly seriously cult adaptation of Joe R. Lansdale’s novel is as typically oddball as the rest of his filmography.  It’s also his most moving and spiritual work to date – behind all the supernatural weirdness and quirky, offbeat humour this is a deeply-affecting meditation on the pains of growing old and losing your place in the world.  Bruce Campbell’s Elvis/Haff is a tragic hero, regretting his current lot and pining for former glories, but he still has the odd little twinkle of his former charm and bravado (particularly during his interactions with his nurse, played with spiky gutsiness by Ella Joyce), while screen legend Ossie Davis is stately and charismatic as “the former President Kennedy”, even when he sounds REALLY crazy.  Meanwhile the creature, “Bubba Ho-Tep” himself (Bob Ivy), is a fantastically weird creation, Coscarelli’s skilful use of atmospherics elevating him far above the “guy-in-a-suit” effects – he’s mean, cranky, and just as strong a character as his flesh-and-blood counterparts.  Coscarelli really let rip on this one – it’s chock-full of his characteristic leftfield comic-scariness (Elvis/Haff’s early encounter with one of the mummy’s scarab familiars is a particular zany gem), visually inventive and frequently laugh-out-loud hilarious, but in the end plays out on such a heartfelt, genuinely powerful and moving denouement that you can’t help getting a lump in your throat, even while it is one of those movies that leaves you with a big dumb goofy grin on your face.  It’d be pretty sweet if Coscarelli and his mate Paul Giamatti ever get their long-gestating “prequel” Bubba Nosferatu: Curse of the She-Vampires off the ground, but this is one that you can’t help loving all on its own.  See this if you’re a Coscarelli fan – it’s his best work to date – see this if you love quirky, unusual and original horror ... hell, see this if you love MOVIES. This is a true GEM, not to be missed.

6.  DOG SOLDIERS

My favourite werewolf movie is also easily one of the most offbeat – think The Howling meets Assault On Precinct 13 and you’re pretty close to the mark.  Before visionary British horror director Neil Marshall had his big break with masterpiece The Descent, he made an impressive cult splash with his feature debut, a fiendish comedy horror in which a six-man British Army unit on training manoeuvres in the wilds of Scotland stumbles upon a pack of hungry werewolves and are forced to take shelter in an isolated cottage.  With their ammo dwindling and their weapons largely ineffective against the monsters (not a silver bullet between them, of course), it doesn’t look likely that ANY of will survive the night ... setting the humour dial for JET BLACK, Marshall keeps the atmosphere tense and the substantial gore flying (I was amazed when I saw this in the cinema that it was only a 15 – even just ten years earlier stuff like this was GUARANTEED a solid 18 certificate), while the squaddies are a likeably foul-mouthed bunch with a winning, sometimes enjoyably geeky line in spiky banter (Marshall makes frequent references to everything from Star Trek and The Evil Dead to The Matrix and, in one of my favourite nods, Zulu).  Trainspotting’s Kevin McKidd is brawny but enjoyably self-deprecating as nominal hero Cooper, Sean (son of Doctor Who Jon) Pertwee gives great earthy-shoutiness as Sgt. Wells, Darren Morfitt consistently steals the film as mouthy little bugger “Spoon” (short for Witherspoon), and Game Of Thrones star Liam Cunningham injects a strong dose of dark and dangerous as Captain Ryan, the special forces operative with a sinister plan, while Emma Cleasby is far from just a token female as zoologist Megan, who came to Scotland in search of the legend and seems to have found a whole lot more than she bargained for – she’s smart, tough and flat-out refuses to be a love interest, and definitely proved a good trial run for Marshall’s all-female cast in The Descent.  It’s impressively paced – after an initial character-driven set-up so we can get to know the lads (including a fun little scare-on-top-of-a-laugh moment), the action kicks in fast and rarely lets up for the rest of the film’s tightly-packed 105 minute running time.  The set pieces are thrilling and frequently fun (particularly Spoon’s ballsy little distraction technique), and the werewolves are impressively brought to life through physical animatronics created by Image FX (the Hellraiser effects team!) and a talented troupe of stilt-walking stunt performers – no cheesy CGI here!  Altogether it marked a blinding debut for a singular, visionary sci-fi/horror talent who’s still making his presence felt – Doomsday was a delightfully old-school slice of super violent sci-fi in the John Carpenter vein, while tight, gruesome little Roman-era suspense thriller Centurion proved that a historical epic doesn’t have to be 2+ hours long with a big budget to impress, and Marshall continues to garner real acclaim through his extensive TV work on the likes of Game of Thrones. That said, I can’t wait for him to return to the big screen, preferably with more dark, edgy, blood-soaked fun like this ...

5. TREMORS

I’ve always had something of a bias towards horror movies that are also comedies, or at least that have a strong sense of humour throughout, and when it comes to funny horror movies, this brilliant throwback to cheesy 1950s monster movies is KING, baby!  While it snuck in under the radar on its 1990 release, director Ron Underwood’s sleeper universally wowed critics, word of mouth helping it to become an impressive cult smash once it hit home video ... which meant I saw it at JUST the right time, the film quickly becoming a firm fixture in my favourites lists and a major milestone in my own geek development.  The premise is simplicity itself – giant underground worms with tentacles in their mouths terrorise an isolated desert community – but underneath the goofy concept is a surprisingly sophisticated movie that continues to influence filmmakers today.  Kevin Bacon was in a bit of a career slump at the time (Footloose had been SO LONG before), but this gave him both the shot in the arm he needed and one of his most memorable roles ever – odd-jobbing slacker Val McKee, who has to get off his arse and think big to beat the beasties; Fred Ward is the perfect foil as Val’s crotchety “business” partner Earl Basset, while Finn Carter is thoroughly lovable as scientist Rhonda LeBeck, a no-nonsense smart girl who can go toe-to-toe with the boys (and manages to lose her pants WITHOUT losing her credibility), but the film is consistently stolen by Family Ties star Michael Gross as tightly wound survivalist Burt Gummer – this might be Bacon’s movie, but Gross is the real star, deservedly becoming the driving force of the film’s various sequels AND the spinoff TV series.  The film opens with a killer of a funny line, starting as it means to go on – frequently hilarious and smart as a whip, consistently defying character and genre tropes and wrong-footing the viewer almost a decade before Joss Whedon started doing the same with Buffy the Vampire Slayer, all the while balancing the belly laughs with some genuinely scary set pieces.  The worms themselves (or “Graboids”, if you want to get specific) are spectacular creations, some of the most original movie monsters out there, and they still stand up well today, just like the rest of the film.  A cornerstone of the genre that wins over new fans with each generation, this is one of those films that deserves to be remembered for a very long time, and looks set to do just that. 

4.  EVIL DEAD 2: DEAD BY DAWN

Nobody does screen chaos like Sam Raimi, particularly when it comes to his horror offerings – still his first and purest love. His original debut feature The Evil Dead is rightly considered the DEFINITIVE indie horror, and to this day remains the standard blueprint for all young, aspiring directors starting out in the genre ... it’s also a work of pure, unadulterated MADNESS once it gets going.  Raimi upped the ante with this part-remake, part-sequel, the increased budget and proper studio resources meaning he could REALLY let his imagination run riot, and the results are a cavalcade of tongue-clean-THROUGH-cheek, jet black comedic insanity that STILL has yet to be equalled.  Bruce Campbell returns as unlikely “hero” Ash Williams, thoroughly out of his depth and failing miserably to hold it together as the ancient tome of evil itself, the Necronomicon Ex-Mortis (“Book of the Dead”), unleashes a horde of undead demons on the isolated forest cabin he’s brought his girlfriend to.  Wildly expanding on the supernatural back-story of his original, Raimi and co-writer Scott Spiegel also ramped up the humour, playing the horror on the blackest edge they can, albeit cut with a hefty dose of Tex Avery – Ash’s battle with his own possessed, eventually severed hand is like some demented skit out of The Three Stooges, while the absolute comedic highlight is the ridiculously over-the-top “laughing room” sequence, in which the seemingly inanimate objects in the cabin suddenly come to life and begin to taunt Ash; add in the great wealth of re-view-friendly visual in-jokes scattered throughout and this remains Raimi’s FUNNIEST film to date. Campbell clearly had a ball, throwing himself into the action with everything he had, and he’s ably supported by a meaty (ahem) cast that includes a very pre-Slither Dan Hicks as a seriously scuzzy redneck and Raimi’s own brother Ted, virtually unrecognisable as one of the maniacal Deadites (“I’ll swallow your soul!”).  The creature effects from the great Greg Nicotero still stand up spectacularly well today (they remain some of his very best work), from hideous gurning beasts to insane fountains of blood, while Raimi’s direction is pitch-perfect, playing the humour beautifully while still (sometimes simultaneously) building up a near-unbearable atmosphere of unholy dread, and the climax is ingenious, beautifully setting things up for the enjoyably madcap trilogy-closer Army of Darkness: the Medievil Dead.  Raimi has finally brought the trilogy the follow-up fans had been waiting decades for with the fantastically bonkers Ash Vs. the Evil Dead series, but this delirious masterpiece remains the franchise’s zenith.  Groovy ...

3.  JAWS

It may be the oldest film on this list (released in 1975, it’s THREE YEARS OLDER than I am!), but Steven Spielberg’s breakthrough feature has aged incredibly well.  Indeed, it almost single-handedly changed the face of big budget cinema, establishing the idea of tent-pole summer blockbusters and blanket-bombardment advertising campaigns (in particularly it was one of the first to make heavy use of television to drum up excitement and interest), ultimately taking over $400,000,000 on its original release (the equivalent of multi-billion big earners like Avatar today) and paving the way for Star Wars two years later.  Not to mention the film’s famous negative effect on beach-going for years after ... but under all that there’s a magnificent, masterfully-crafted film, still (rightly) considered one of the director’s best.  The plot may be ridiculously simple – New England beach-community Amity Island is terrorised by a man-eating Great White shark – but there’s a stealthily subversive story here, taking old genre conventions and twisting them in new, unexpected directions (which would, ironically, form a template for a great many later horror movies); while the first hour is a slow-burn thriller, the second is more like a light-hearted nautical action adventure with added scares. The French Connection’s Roy Scheider virtually CREATED the everyman-out-of-his-depth hero with his portrayal of Amity police chief Martin Brody, a former New York cop who’s terrified of the water, Richard Dreyfuss is lovable comedic gold as rich kid marine biologist Matt Hooper, Lorraine Gary did a lot with very little as Brody’s wife Ellen, and Robert Shaw effortlessly steals the film as shark hunter Quint, a ferocious, scenery-chewing force of nature in the mould of Moby Dick’s Captain Ahab.  The film is immensely rich in great character moments, from Hooper’s rib-tickling arrival on the island and the dialogue-free moment Brody shares with his younger son Sean, to the undeniable high point of the film, where a humorous comparison of scars (which has itself become a popular homage-magnet in film and TV) leads to Quint chilling account of his wartime experience onboard the U.S.S. Indianapolis (the ship transporting the Hiroshima atomic bomb which was torpedoed in the Pacific, leading to over a thousand stranded sailors being eaten alive by sharks); indeed, this is one of Spielberg’s most well-written films, sitcom writer Carl (The Odd Couple) Gottlieb’s polish of author Peter Benchley’s adaptation of his own original novel still zipping and zinging today, although some of the best dialogue was derived from the actors’ own on-set improvisations (most famously Scheider’s now-legendary “We’re gonna need a bigger boat.”).  It’s also one of his most well-directed, with near-hypnotic tricks in editing and bold, adventurous choices in atmosphere-building, often a result of the shoot’s infamous difficulties – the animatronic shark (affectionately named “Bruce” by the director, and “the Great White Turd” by the crew) created by Bob Mattley (the guy who did the giant squid in 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea) was impressive when it worked, but this was so rarely that the director had to devise several means of creating maximum tension WITHOUT showing the shark, which ultimately ADDS to the effectiveness of those scenes, particularly the “barrel-chasing” in the second half.  None of these tricks, however, work better than the score from Spielberg’s most faithful collaborator, John Williams, based around a deceptively simple four-note melody that evolves into something spectacularly evocative, which has rightly become the film’s most iconic element.  Humorous, intriguing, intense and still thoroughly terrifying when it wants to be, this is, bar-none, the finest man-versus-nature horror EVER MADE, and surely always will be.

2.  NEAR DARK

I’m a fool for vampires (much like I’m a fool for redheads, but that’s a whole other conversation), so bloodsucker horror is one of my very favourite sub-genres.  I’m also a big fan of Kathryn Bigelow – two of her most recent features, The Hurt Locker and Zero Dark Thirty, both pinged VERY LOUDLY on my radar (the former is my favourite war movie of the current decade), while her collaboration with then husband James Cameron, Strange Days (he wrote, she directed), rates high on my list of criminally underrated screen gems.  So what do you think happened when she made a vampire movie?  The results SHOULD have become one of the most celebrated and legendary features in the genre ... except that it came out in October 1987, two months after the admittedly cool and fun but far more glossy and dumb The Lost Boys.  Needless to say in the wake of that, Bigelow’s film got kind of lost in the back chatter, nearly flopping at the box office and all but vanishing into obscurity ... until its subsequent release on video (quite rightly) earned it an impressive cult following.  Myself included, because this movie is RIGHT UP my dark and dangerous alley.  Collaborating with The Hitcher’s screenwriter Eric Red, Bigelow crafted a (largely) deadly serious modern day supernatural “western”, in which cocky farm-boy Caleb Colton (Heroes’ Adrian Pasdar) hits on cute drifter Mae (Jenny Wright, probably best known for her supporting turn in Young Guns 2), only to get WAY more than he bargained for when her kiss leaves him with a crippling hunger and one serious tanning problem.  Pasdar’s all-knowing youthful swagger disintegrates as he tumbles further down the vampiric rabbit hole, while Wright’s fragile beauty compliments her character’s deep, soulful melancholy – the pair make for a compelling, tragic romantic centre anchoring the horrors that unfold as Caleb begins to lose himself to his burgeoning nature; even so, the true dark and twisted soul of the film lies with Mae’s predatory nomad “family” – Lance Henriksen is the definitive “dark father” as nihilistic pack leader Jesse Hooker, while his Aliens co-star Jenette Goldstein is his perfect mate as punk rock femme fatale Diamondback, and Joshua John Miller excels as Homer, the bitter old man trapped in a child’s body ... meanwhile Bill Paxton consistently steals the film as mad dog Severen, chewing the scenery to splinters with gleeful, feral aplomb and stealing all the best lines.  It’s a potent, heady ride, taking itself pretty seriously throughout but deriving a subtle, inky black sense of gallows humour from the situation, and the set-pieces are intense and thrilling (particularly the shootout in a roadside motel at dawn, where shafts of sunlight become as lethal as bullets).  At times it’s also powerful, soulful and bleakly beautiful, Bigelow’s heavily stylised visuals brilliantly augmented by the spiky electronic score from Tangerine Dream. It also subverts the classic vampire conventions with great skill and originality, with nary a cross, coffin or even fang in sight.  Like 30 Days of Night, this is the perfect antidote for anyone suffering from Twilight-overload – the monster can be quite interesting when he’s the hero, but he’s just so much more fun when he’s the bad guy ...

1.  JOHN CARPENTER’S THE THING

While I’m sure many will think I’m mad for preferring this over Carpenter’s other seminal horror classic Halloween, this one’s much more my speed, a perfect exercise in sustained tension, paranoia and white-knuckle terror. Critically mauled and under-performing on its release (it was labelled by many as a sort of “anti-E.T.: the Extraterrestrial”, which came out two weeks earlier ... and interestingly this opened the same day as Blade Runner!), it nonetheless became a massive cult hit now rightly considered one of the true DEFINITIVE horror movies.  Faithfully adapting John Campbell, Jr.’s novella Who Goes There? (certainly more so than Howard Hawks’ admittedly entertaining but ultimately very kitsch The Thing From Another World), it revolves around the all-male crew of U.S. research station 4, Outpost 31, in Antarctica, who come under threat from a body-snatching alien entity that can perfectly imitate its victims after investigating the mysterious destruction of a neighbouring Norwegian facility.  Carpenter regular Kurt Russell (Escape From New York, Big Trouble In Little China) is at his gruff best as helicopter pilot R.J. MacReady, the taciturn blue-collar Joe called upon to play “hero”, Keith David (Pitch Black, Carpenter’s They Live) angrily flexes his acting and physical muscles as hot-tempered researcher Childs, Donald Moffat crumbles as ineffectual station commander Garry, and screen legend Wilford Brimley effortlessly makes the exposition compelling as tightly-wound biologist Blair.  The freezing Antarctic atmosphere perfectly complements the razor-edged suspense, the idea that ANYONE could be the creature lending every scene a palpable sense of implied threat, while the science of the fiction is thankfully largely put on the back-burner in favour of the story and scares; meanwhile there’s a cheeky edge of jet black humour throughout, from the scuttling disembodied head to Garry’s explosive reaction to MacReady’s improvised humanity-test.  Rob (The Howling, Robocop, Fight Club) Bottin’s fantastically nightmarish creature effects are a magnificent achievement, still looking as good today as they did back in 1982, while master composer Ennio Morricone’s subtle, atmospheric score is a triumph of creepy, insidious subliminal effect.  For me, this film is the definition of fear – the idea that the threat could be literally ANYONE, that you could even become that yourself, be taken over completely, body and soul, is absolutely terrifying, and Carpenter executes this potential reality with surgical precision from the intriguing, icy start to the bleak, desolate ending.  Perfect.

[figureviews]

Review: Nendoroid 701 Snow Miku: Twinkle Snow Ver.

There are some Nendo I buy because they have parts I want, some I buy because I’m a fan of the character they’re based on and there are some I buy because they just are too adourable.

Nendoroid Snow Miku: Twinkle Snow Ver. belongs to the last category and she’s still my all time fave Nendo for beauty, no one looking as adourable as her in my books.

Expensive... as almost all the Snow Miku, but if there’s a Snow Miku I don’t regret buying in the slightest (and I love my other Snow Miku) it’s her.

But, in case you’re not familiar with the term, why is she called a “SNOW MKU” and not just ‘Hatsune Miku’?

During "Sapporo Snow Festival 2010" a snow sculpture of 'Hatsune Miku,' was created. From that moment on "SNOW MIKU" became one of the main characters of Hokkaido winter with her own "SNOW MIKU" festival, held each year, her figure being turned into a different Nendo each year.

From 2012 the costume design for "SNOW MIKU" is selected in an online competition on different themes every year.

Nendoroid Snow Miku: Twinkle Snow Ver. is the winner of the 2017 competition whose theme was 'Stars and Constellations of the Winter Hokkaido'.

You can also see a rabbit near Miku, that’s Rabbit Yukine, her pet, a lepus timidus ainu (a kind of mountain hare), chosen as her pet among the animals in winter of Hokkaido, from among the public in 2014 (although in 2013 Snow Miku already had a snow bunny with herself).

Well, now let’s give a look to the illustration made by illustrator Nishina that inspired her.

You might notice Yukine looks different because he’s actually based on an illustration made by another illustrator LF.

I’ll let you see the official art for her as well because it’s worth it.

And now let’s dig into how this Nendo is.

Snow Miku: Twinkle Snow Ver.’s package is a special package created just for her. The package is in a pristine white (though due to poor illumination it might not seem so) with images of her behind it and on its sides. Do yourself a really HUGE favour and avoid buying bootlegs of this Nendo. She might be expensive but her beauty is worth it.

If you raise the bottom part you get this:

a beautiful pop up snow and star filled scenery just for her which can work as a stage for her to sing her songs.

If you instead open the right side of the box you are first shown the draw that inspired her...

... then you can pull her blister pack out, with Snow Miku in all her beauty wrapped in protective plastic.

And here she’s unwrapped.

As you can see she comes with many interesting accessories (and her stand is attached below the blister pack).

But let’s go with order.

The less insteresting part first, her stand and Yukine’s.

Yukine’s stand and brace are the standards for pets and companions.

In the past I talked of how Nendoroid Mami Tomoe Maiko ver. has the same stand and brace for Bebe.

The brace is not the standard one but the one used for female Nendoroids with hair floating on their backs. I talked about it, talking about Nendoroid Asirpa. I don’t know why they gave her this brace as her long hair are tied into twintails at the sides of her head and therefore don’t fall on her back.

Whatever, maybe it support better her weight as due to those twintails she IS heavier than many other Nendo.

The base is a square one but huge compared to the standard base, likely that big to host the overmentioned twintails as well.

Of course we’ve instructions in English and Japanese.

And now let’s look at all of Snow Miku’s disassembled parts!

We’ll start with the legs.

Snow Miku comes with some delicious blue ballerinas with the sole in gold, a single lovely garter wrapped in an equally lovely blue string on her left leg and adourably cute poofy underwear.

Yes, she has two set of underwears because if you use the one on the right with the bent legs you can have her sitting down.

It’s also worth to note how the peg connecting her lower body to her chest is a mobile one, allowing her more mobility in the waist area compared to many other Nendo.

I love how they carefully depicted all the folds of te gaiter and of her underwears.

Arms now.

We’ve 4 arms, 2 right ones and 2 left ones, but the upper part can be removed, allowing for even more posing.

The long sleeves in a pale blue with parts of dark blue and a white line with a lovely star attached at the end are incredibly cute and again the folds are well depicted.

The hands, 6, are covered by blue fingerless gloves. In addition to the standard open and closed hands we’ve hands to hold a beautiful snow star crystal...

and one to hold the baton to direct the orchestra as she sings.

Apparently the star crystal can’t be removed but the baton can. It’s very tiny and of a beautiful gold colour.

Another accessory she can hold is her cute star shaped pillow.

This one isn’t of solid plastic but of a soft, squishy material. I love it.

And now let’s give a look at her body.

Her dress is a mix of blue, pale blue, gold and white. It’s elegant and lovely with all those beautiful fonds and details and the colours mixing so well.

Behind there’s a ribbon and it becomes almost translucent, as if it was a cape with, again, two lovely little stars.

Really, the care for details is amazing in this one.

Here, admire it with all its parts.

Faceplates now! 

They’re three but each expression is lovely. For start they all have adourable gold star shaped earrings.

Stars are also shining in Miku’s eyes, both as light in her eyes but also in her wink.

The fist expression have a cute, almost kitty like smile, the second is filled with cheer and the third is an adourable sleepy expression with Miku yawning with tears in her eyes, fitting for the nocturnal theme of the stars and the fact she comes with a pillow.

The slight blush, the tiny white dots on her cheecks that lighten her expression, they all increase her charm.

And now something else I also adoure about her.

Her hair.

Instead than Miku’s usual green hair, Snow Miku have azure hair, fading into white, adourned with star snowflakes and tied into two beautifully long and detailed twintails, not her usual straight twintails but poofy twintails with strands fluttering away from them and the tips curling. Her frontal hair are hold in place by a gold starshaped pin, also beautiful and do we want to talk of the ribbon tying her twintails?

Long, blue but they also fading in white, adourned with a penragram, gold star and snow crystals, their tails falling so beautifully along Miku’s hair.

Ah, they’re a work of art!

(On a sidenote the tails of the ribbons are attached to the twintails, but the ribbons are actually a separate piece which is inserted with a peg in Muku’s head and therefore can’t be used on other Nendo. I was afraid to remove it in fear of breaking it so I’ve never tried doing it but I guess it can be done. I just wouldn’t recommend it as it would be a pity to break it.)

Anyway I ABSOLUTELY love her hair.

And, of course, as in many Mikus, it’s long enough to allow her to stand without a stand, supported by her hair only.

She’s such a cutie, isn’t she?

And now two words on Yukine.

Yukine is really, really cure, with that blue scarf with stars at the end and that star on his head. The winking expression makes Yukine look mischievous and a perfect pet for Miku.

Yukine’s head can be removed, she means one can also turn it in different directions... but apart for it there’s nothing else that can be moved.

In case you were wondering yes, Yukine has a tail, which in this version seems to be star shaped (Yukine’s tail changes shape according to the theme).

Accessories now as Snow Miku comes with a bunch of them.

For start there’s a lovely table with a starry tablecloth.

It’s really cute although it reminds me of a fortuneteller table.

You can rest on it this lovely tea cup with a cute snow crystal on it.

Although it’s meant to be drank Miku doesn’t come with a hand to hold it so you can just rest it on the table. Also I couldn’t remove it from the plate. Maybe it’s possible and mine just is a little hard but I didn’t want to break it.

In order to sit around the table Yukine and Miku can use two very special chairs, shaped as snow clouds!

As you can see there’s a concavity for Miku and Yukine’s bodies so as to hold them in place. The below surface is flat so you can rest them on each surface but you can’t connect them to the stand.

Miku and Yukine though can sit still on them without needing stands so maybe that’s on purpose.

We continue with this snow crystal part for Miku to walk on.

In trasparent blue plastic, it’s beautiful and gives me a Frozen feeling, making me think of when Elsa runs away from her palace on a bridge she created with snow and ice.

We continue with an icy music stand to use with her baton so she can direct her starry orchestra.

It’s really cute.

If I’ve to be honest the only thing I’m not too fond of is the ‘musical effect’.

Those two transparent plastic stripes with snow, stars and music themes are to be attached to this starry piece, each strip should slid into the space in between each star.

The ring at the bottom (in the pic placed at the right so you won’t have a too long image) is meant to be inserted in the brace that support Miku like this.

The overall effect doesn’t really impress me much...

...but of course it might be just me. Also as the stripes aren’t that soft they weren’t really happy to be bend into circles. Maybe I overworry but I was afraid they would snap the stars holding them.

Now… poses.

They’re all adourable and easy to get. Maybe the one who’s a little more of a nuisance is the one with the star and music effect above exactly due to them not being that comfortable to latch around Miku. But maybe it’s just me.

Would anyone who’s not fan of Vocaloids or of Hatsune Miku, want to buy her? 

Well, as said above I’m TOTALLY partial to her. She’s adourable, extremely cute and I just can’t resist her.

I think she’s totally worth being bought, her spare parts are also very nice, the sitting part as far as I’m involved is always a plus, she comes with cute furniture and her yawning expression is so sweet and her hair and dress are beautiful and... well I love her.

She’s expensive, true, but for me she’s totally worth it.

[p-artsypants]

Nine Lives (18)- The Reunion

FF.net | Ao3 

I want to thank everyone for the kind words and faves on this fic! It had been stewing in my mind for about four years, and when I decided to write it down, I honestly didn't know just how popular it was going to get! I'm so grateful to you all for sticking around on this journey and I hope you all enjoyed!

What was your favorite part?

Adrien and Marinette stood in the mansion lobby together, Adrien trembling in every limb. There was no authority left in this house. Gabriel was two cities away in prison, and the rest of the house staff had been laid off. Sheets covered the furniture to keep off the dust. Curtains covered the windows, and the main gate remained closed.

Nathalie was in the office, working on trying to keep the company afloat. Sales in Paris had dropped to almost non-existent, which was expected. But international sales had skyrocketed in the wake of the news. It was like free advertising. A super villain clothing designer? Too intriguing! Be that as it may, the Paris store location was being shut down, because the landlord refused to House the business any longer.

At this rate, Gabriel was set up to live his life comfortably after prison, as France’s most hated man.

Though prison was no walk in the park either. He’d been sent to the infirmary once already since his interment a week ago. And that was just from one guy. Who know how many other people held grudges against him?

Who knew if he’d survive the ten years?

Finally, Master Fu came out of the office. “Oh, you’re early.”

“Yeah...I’m kind of anxious.”

“Then we needn’t waste anymore time.” He beckoned them along, to the hidden corridor that Nathalie had unveiled for Fu.

Marinette watched in awe as they descended into an atrium. A garden grew at the far side of the dark room, and she could see a glass coffin resting among the plants.

Adrien swallowed hard and reached out to take her hand.

At first, Marinette had tried to stay out of this thing with his mother. It wasn’t her business, and didn’t think she was needed. But contrariwise, Adrien wanted her along every step of the way. She was his family now, and he needed her more than ever.

The coffin was open, and next to it was the miracle box, of all things. Madame Agreste had the peacock miraculous resting in her hands, while Dusuu sat just above it, on her stomach. It seemed like the little Kwami had passed her crying spell, as she looked a little hopeful.

“So...did you figure out how to save her?” Adrien asked, his voice just barely audible.

“Yes. I have.” Fu said, his voice strangely neutral. “Though, it is risky, and it will require the Black Cat and the Ladybug Miraculous.”

“But, if we bring back her soul, won’t one of us lose ours in return?”

“Yes, if you were to activate both and make a wish. But that’s not what we’re doing.”

The duo looked at each other in question. If they weren’t using a wish, then why would both be needed?

“Mme Agreste has not lost her soul…only been separated from it. From all that I’ve decoded from the Grimoire, the spell that Gabriel used puts Dusuu into a trance, at which point, she took Emilie’s soul and hid it where no one, not even herself, would find it.”

Adrien frowned. “Well, then how do we have any chance of finding it?”

“Simple. Kwami have a special world of their own, where they keep their treasures. If her soul is anywhere, it’s there.”

“So, do Tikki and Plagg go after it?” Marinette asked.

“You will be accompanying them.”  

Marinette and Adrien looked at each other, and then back at Fu. “If…it’s a special kwami world, how are we supposed to get there?”

“The same way that Mme Agreste got there.”

“No.” Adrien said immediately. “My mother has been like this for four years, I’m not risking either of us being in the same state as her.”

“Of course,” Fu nodded, in understanding. “I thought you might feel that way. But I must warn you, this is the only way. And, if your mother’s body is to be here much longer without a soul…it will perish.”

Adrien closed his eyes, dreading the thought. They were so close…

Marinette tugged him to her and hugged him tightly. “Adrien, you have had so much hardship in the last year. You deserve happiness, and I want to help you get it.”

Biting his lip, he looked to Fu. “What does your plan entail?”

“You will both transform. Then, you will take hold of the Peacock, and speak the spell. From there, your souls will be separated from your bodies, but since you are transformed, an anchor will connect you to your kwami. Dusuu will take your souls to Mme. Agreste, while Tikki and Plagg will follow. When you can recover it, Tikki and Plagg will escort you back.”

Marinette smiled. “It sounds easy enough. Right kitty?”

Adrien was quiet, his mouth screwed up in thought. “Do we both have to go?”

“Yes. You and Marinette are the key to getting into the area where the soul will be. Plagg needs to go to wake Dusuu from her trance, and Tikki needs to go to make sure everyone stays focused.”

Everyone collectively looked at Plagg.

“What?! I can stay on track!”

“You asked for cheese in the middle of your testimony!”

“I was hungry!”

“Enough,” Fu cut through their bickering. “The four of you have very specific roles in this venture, and if you want to succeed, you all have to agree.”  

“Come on kid!” Plagg nearly shouted. “If you think I’d let any harm come to my favorite kitten, you’re dead wrong!”

Adrien couldn’t help but laugh. “Alright, you convinced me. If…if you guys are all sure.”

“After everything we’ve been through, this will be easy.”

“Come on then! Suit up!” Plagg chirped.

“What’s got you all excited all of a sudden?” Tikki asked.

“I can’t wait for Adrien to meet everyone!”

“This isn’t a reunion, Plagg! We can��t waste time in there!”

“Aww…you’re no fun!”

Adrien paused a moment. “Would it be too risky to activate all the Miraculous later? Just for like an hour?”

Fu frowned. “Miraculous are stones of incredible power. It would be irresponsible to activate them all at one time.” He stroked his beard. “But, perhaps it would be advantageous to activate them for once, if only for them to meet the new guardians.”

Oh, that’s right. He had forgotten about that. “See Plagg? You can introduce me later.”

“Fine fine. Let’s just go!”

“Plagg, Claws out!”

“Tikki, Spots on!”

With transformations in place, Ladybug and Chat Noir walked over to the coffin, where the Peacock laid.

“You may want to kneel when you say the spell. Your bodies will collapse and you could get hurt if you fell.” Fu reminded, gently.

They both knelt, taking hold of the Peacock, and interlocking their fingers with each other.

“Repeat after me.” Fu instructed. “Fresta sálina úr…”

“Fresta sálina úr…”

“Verða til að ewig.”

“Verða til að ewig.”

There was a flash of blinding bright light, and when it was gone, Marinette and Adrien lay draped on the sides of the coffin, while Tikki and Plagg hovered nervously nearby.

Dusuu raised up, two of her feathers glowing, and flitted over to the Miracle Box.

“There they go! Let’s hurry!”

They zoomed after, to keep up with her, and together disappeared into the other world.

On the other side, Tikki and Plagg were curious to find another side to their realm, one they weren’t immediately familiar with. It was dark, a faint blue glow coming from beneath them. The void was further illuminated by little white glowing orbs, all floating in the air like snow.

“Where are we?” Plagg asked Dusuu, though she remained silent.

Tikki answered, vaguely. “I guess this is Dusuu’s room. I feel like I’ve been here before, but I can’t remember when...”

Suddenly, Dusuu stopped. Tikki and Plagg watched as she fanned her feathers out, and two more orbs joined the cluster. Only these two were red and green instead.

“Oh!” Tikki exclaimed, collecting the orbs in her hands. “I know where we are!”

“Tikki? Is that you?” The red orb flashed as Marinette’s voice spoke.

“Marinette?” Adrien followed after, the green orb flashing as well. “Where are we?”

“We made it!” Tikki assured them. “It’s been so long since I’ve been here, I forgot it existed.”

“Where is here?!” Plagg shouted, his voice echoing on and on.

“Well, now that’s a good question…how to describe it…it’s not quite a prison, or a graveyard, but it’s like that.”

Plagg just stared at her. “This is…Tartarus?”

“Tartarus?” Asked Adrien.

“Yes. The ancient Greeks called it that at least. ‘A dark cave as far below Hades as the Earth from the heavens.’ Though, it’s just another corner of the Miracle Box. It’s a realm where souls are kept.

“What kind of souls? Others that speak the spell?” Marinette asked.

Tikki and Plagg watched as Dusuu flitted around, tending to some of the other orbs, like a mother hen to her chicks. “Some, likely. Though, many are souls of those that have committed evil deeds with the Miraculous. When Gabriel dies, Dusuu will likely fetch his soul and bring it here.”

Marinette looked over the dozens of floating orbs surrounding them. “There’s been that many?”

“…a lot of these souls belonged to kwami, too.”

This time, Adrien questioned. “Kwami can die?”

“Kwami are abstract concepts. So when a concept is no longer true, the kwami dies.”

“I don’t think I can logically digest that.” The green orb twinkled.  

“Of course not, because there are no dead concepts that you would know or understand. Though, you two have nothing to worry about. There will always be creation and destruction.”

Plagg reached over and took the green orb. “Any other questions? Or can we do what we came here to do?”

“The sooner this is over the better.” Marinette agreed.

So Plagg inhaled deeply and let out a cacophonous yowl, one that made the others cringe, and the little orbs immediately around them scatter.

Dusuu looked up, mildly surprised. “Oh Plagg! Tikki! It worked!”

“Now what?” Asked Adrien. “Do we need to split up to search?”

“No!” Dusuu protested. “You mustn’t separate far from your kwami.” Then she smiled. “But don’t worry, I can handle things from here.” She danced around, touching the orbs one at a time, just for a moment. “I’m very sorry to drag you all into this. I can’t believe creation and destruction have to help me solve my mistake! I’m integrity after all! If only I could remember how to get here on my own! Without that stupid spell!”

“Dusuu,” Tikki reprimanded. “This was not your mistake. This was Gabriel’s fault, don’t internalize it.”

“Yeah, don’t beat yourself up! I wiped the dinosaurs off the planet, and there was no fixin’ that! And does it bother me? Not really.”

Dusuu managed a smile at that. “I just wish this would stop happening. I have no control over that spell, and my holders keep interpreting it wrong.”

“Well…” thought Adrien aloud, “what if we were to scratch it out of the texts?”

“No.” Tikki said, “but we could write a warning next to it, so that it’s understood to be a punishment and not a chance to be immortal.”

“Ah-ha!” Dusuu chirped. “I found her!”

It was probably the brightest orb in the bunch, if that had been a clue.

“Mom?”   

“She can’t hear you right now, Adrien. She’s in stasis.”

“Oh…”

“Alright,” Tikki smiled. “We found her! Now let’s get back!”

“And that is…how?” Asked Plagg.

—

Several hours later, Adrien and Marinette both woke with a start, on the floor.

“Mom!” Adrien cried out, immediately.

Fu startled from his place, having dozed off in their absence.

Adrien was standing, hand rested on her arm as he waited on bated breath. Marinette stood as well, resting a gentle hand on his shoulder for support.

Slowly, Emilie Agreste’s eyes opened, blinking owlishly against the still dim light. She seemed confused, as her brows furrowed, trying to recall what happened last.

Finally, she spoke. “Who…are you?”

Adrien deflated harshly, tears gathering from relief and heartbreak. “I’m your son.” He answered softly.

Her eyes widened as she stared at him. “Adrien…? You look—“ Her hand raised and caressed his scarred face. “…older.”

He exhaled shakily. “You’ve been asleep for a while…about five years.”

That prompted her to sit up, though the action was soon regretted as she held her head in her hands. “Ugh…I feel…sick. Where’s your father?”

Adrien helped her to sit comfortably, then admitted sheepishly. “Um…it’s a long story. But…he’s in prison.”

She stared at him again, as if he was speaking another language. “I…I don’t understand.”

Marinette touched her hand gently. “We’ll help you. We’ll explain everything.”

“Thank you, my dear…and you are?”

She smiled. “My name is Marinette Dupain-Cheng. I’m the holder of the Ladybug Miraculous.”

“The Ladybug--!” Emilie gasped.  

“She’s also my girlfriend.” Adrien beamed at her. “And it works since…I was given the Black Cat Miraculous.”

“And you’re the Black Cat…” There was some humor in her eyes as she took in this information. “And all this time, we had been looking for them, and now…” She shook her head, feeling weak. “I’m so tired, Pumpkin.”

“I wondered if you would be. We should probably get you to the hospital, don’t you think?”

She nodded. “I don’t even know if I can stand on my own.”

“I’ll get Gorilla,” Adrien suggested.

“Oh Arthur still works for us? That’s wonderful!”

Adrien nodded and headed out of the room.

“Um,” Marinette spoke, once he left. “When you said you were looking for our Miraculous, what did you mean?”

“Oh, nothing to worry about anymore.” The woman said wearily. “It was mostly Gabriel’s venture. The grimoire that came with our Miraculous said that the Ladybug and Black Cat could grant any wish, including immortality. Gabriel was terrified of losing Adrien and I and wanted to find a way to prevent that.” She shook her head. “But I knew it was foolish. If I was asleep for five years, then I was correct.”

“So, you aren’t going to try to take them?”

She shook her head. “No. I don’t even want my own anymore…” Though she cast a tender glance at Dusuu. “Though it’s nothing against you, Sweet Pea.”

“I understand.”

Master Fu finally spoke, “Dusuu’s brooch is broken, and it is not safe to be worn in the first place. She will come with me, and you may come and visit when you like. My name is Master Wang Fu, the guardian of the Miraculous.”

“It’s a pleasure, M. Fu.”    

—

2 weeks later

Marinette was snuggled into her boyfriend’s arms as they sat together on the couch. Likewise, her parents watched with rapt, nail biting attention as the news unfolded on television.

A press conference at Gabriel’s office, as led by Emilie Agreste. She looked a lot better, after several days of bedrest and hydration, she was back on her feet. Doctors had called it a miracle, considering she was in a coma for five years. She had not lost much weight, nor had her muscles atrophied.

But that was then end of her blessings in this waking nightmare.

“It has come to my attention that the Agreste family name has been popular in the media this year. First, with the dead of my son, then with the incarceration of my husband…and now I come forward and announce that I’m here in Paris and quite alive.”

Adrien clenched Marinette closer to him. He had wanted to be there for his mother, but after the several hours of explanation, she had suggested that he return to his new life.

That wasn’t to say she wouldn’t have anything to do with him anymore, only that he step out of the spotlight.

“All that to be said, I have been brought up to speed on my husband’s actions since my disappearance.” She swallowed thickly, as she glanced up at the camera, her eyes filled with tears. “My heart is absolutely broken. To know that the man I once loved committed such atrocities to save me is…it makes me angry and confused…I never asked that of him. On the behalf of myself of my son Adrien, we are so very sorry for all that has happened. If you can never forgive Hawkmoth, I hope that you’ll find it in your heart to forgive the two of us, for not stopping this sooner.” She dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief, keeping her composure a lot better than she had when she had initially been told of Gabriel’s deeds and plans.

A hand raised.

“Yes?”

“Mme. Agreste, what are your actions from here on out? Will you be returning to modeling and movies?”

“No,” she shook her head. “I…I would like to continue being in movies, though it’s not likely that I’ll be able to at this point. I will be selling my share in the Gabriel Brand, as well as our mansion. I plan to move from Paris, to my summer home in Nice.”

Another hand raised. “Mme. Agreste, are you planning to have contact with your husband?”

Emilie frowned hard, knowing it was important question, though it hurt all the same. “No. I have already started the divorce proceedings. I cannot in good conscience stay with him, after all I know.” She cleared her throat. “I will take one more question.”

“Mme. Agreste!” A hand called. “What about your son, Adrien?”

“My son has worked very hard to build a new life for himself under a new name. We agreed that he continue that path, though I will still be apart of life. I have plans to keep him in my will as well, even if Gabriel decides to disown him. He deserves that much after all of this.” Then she nodded and departed from the stage, while a chorus of ‘Madame Agreste!’s echoed over it all.

Tom turned off the Tv once the news went into another story.

“So,” Sabine said softly. “It’s all over?”

Adrien wiped his tears away with his knuckles. “It’s all over.”

“So, what’s next for Emilie Fu?” Tom sang, his eyebrows dancing, “University? Global Domination? Baker?”

Adrien attempted to laugh, but it was watery. “I’m not sure yet. But someone has to take over the family business if Marinette is going into fashion.”

“Yes!” Tom pumped his fist.

“But,” Marinette reminded gently. “You’ve still got time to figure it out.”

“Right.”

Sabine yawned delicately. “Well, it’s about time papa and I went to bed. Try not to stay up too late you two.”

“Yes, Maman!”

Once they were alone, Adrien reclined so that Marinette could more comfortably lay on him.

“You okay?”

“You’ve asked me that every day since…since we took down Hawkmoth.” He recalled.

“I just want to make sure you’re coping alright. I want you to know that we’re here, I’m here. And you’ve got your mom now too.”

He smiled wistfully. “Mom’s coming over for dinner tomorrow. That’ll be fun. She’ll get right along with your parents.”

“She will! She’s really nice.”

“She likes you! Which is a huge relief. You know, my dad actually liked you, too? He still might. Not that it matters.”

“Ten years isn’t as long as we think.” She reminded gently. “I’m not saying you have to see him again, but…maybe he’ll change.”

“I’m sure he will. For better or worse, he’ll change. Who knows what he’s going through right now.”

Marinette spoke softly. “You still love him, don’t you?”

Adrien was quiet, considering her words. “Yeah. A little. I think I always will. He…wasn’t always cold. I think about the days at the beach when he’d pick me up and toss me in the water. The Christmas Eve’s when we sit around the fire, and he’d sing ‘Sing We Now of Christmas’. The days when he treasured each and every one of my drawings. That’s the father I love. I like to think he’s still in there. Somewhere, maybe. But it’s more likely that he’s dead and gone. And all that’s left is Gabriel Agreste, human glacier.”

Marinette couldn’t help but snort. “I understand. And you know…hating someone isn’t good for the soul. So, I think…and I might be wrong…you’re better off forgiving and letting him go. You don’t have to bring him into your life, but don’t let him control you.”

“My lady is so wise.” He hummed. “Hey.”

“Hmm?” She leaned up slightly, from where she was laying on his chest.

He captured her lips in a kiss. One that lingered, and blossomed into tentative touches and fluttering hearts. Her hands combed through his hair as his travelled over her spine and down dangerously close to her rear.

He flicked his tongue out to tease her, as she parted her lips to tease him back.

Since they had left the hospital, and up to now, it seemed like there was never a quiet moment, for them to just indulge in each other. This was a first, and put off for too long.

“Marinette…” He whispered when they parted.

Her cheeks were flushed, but her smile was giddy. “Kitty.”

He put his arm behind his head, propping him up to get a better look at her. “There’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you.”

“What? Adrien Agreste isn’t your real name either?”

He snickered at her, and booped her on the nose. “It is, I swear. But…this is serious.”

“Okay,” she breathed. “I’m listening.”  

He gazed into her eyes, as his brows furrowed slightly, showing pain, and a little bit of reverence in his eyes. “Thank you for jumping after me. It was a crazy thing to do, but it’s…” He pushed her bangs behind her ear. “It’s the most awe-inspiring thing I’ve ever seen. To think some…cute little girl jumped off the Eiffel Tower into a fireball to reach for a guy she wasn’t even dating…it floors me, Marinette. I can’t begin to explain how much love I felt for you in that moment. When I grabbed you, and you were Ladybug, and all you could think about was my safety…not your identity or the akuma…just poor lonely Adrien…that meant the world to me. You mean the world to me.”

“Adrien…” She whispered.

“I can’t believe I missed you all those years. You were just behind me, loving me…and I swore as Chat I would know you outside of the mask…pretty pathetic huh?”

“I missed you too,” she reasoned. “I had posters of your face everywhere, and yet I never put it together. I’m just as pathetic as you.” She smirked. Instinctively, she flicked at his collar, where his bell usually was, but just ended up thumping his throat. “Oh whoops.”

He only giggled. “And you’re hilarious.” He gazed at her with longing on his face. “Since I became Emile, there hasn’t been a lonely moment. If I was bored, or wanted company, you were here. I found a home with you. And I never want to be away from you ever again.”

“You don’t have to be.” She smiled back.

“Will you marry me?”

Marinette stared, slack jawed. “W-what?”

He grinned a little wider. “Will you marry me?”

She sat up, off of him. “Wha—Adrien, you can’t make jokes like that! You’ll kill me!”

“But I’m not joking!” He was quick to pull a little black box out of his pocket.

“Adrien, I swear to god, if there’s a ring in that box—!”

He flipped the lid, and showed the sparkling band to her. It was simple, a diamond set on white gold, with smaller diamond embellishments. “It was my grandmother’s. My mom gave it to me back before…you know. I already talked to your parents and Alya and Nino…and of course my mom—“ He stopped talking when he noticed she was bawling.

“Marinette? Is it…too soon? Is that a no?”

She threw her arms around him, hugging him so tightly, it hurt. “No you stupid cat! I mean—yes! Yes I will! I will marry you!”

“Then…why are you crying?”

She pulled back, holding his face. “Because I’m so incredibly happy. I had always imagined getting married to you, and then after Hotspot…and then with all that happened, I never thought—“ She hiccuped. “I love you so much.”

Now he was crying, “I love you too, My Lady.” He pressed another kiss to her lips, this one messy since they were just bursting with love.

“It’s appropriate, don’t you think?” He asked, nose to nose with her.

“What?”

“My partner in the streets, and my partner in the sheets.”

“Oh for the love of—!”

[red-razzadoops-blog]

Aoyama Headcanons

Thanks to a bud of mine I have a newfound love for Aoyama. So why leave him out?? Here's some hcs I've got for my favorite sparkling hero!!

Every year on the week leading up to New year's, he puts a different color of glitter in his hair (red on Monday, orange on tuesday, etc). It's a pain to wash out but he loves it.

He got his ears pierced when he was 7 and although he doesn't wear them to class, he's got little ladybug earrings that he wears in the dorms and on weekends to keep his holes open.

He had a shirt that said "twinkle✨" on it. Or he did, until Bakugou scratched out the le til it said "twink ✨". He still wears it.

As the classiest of bitches, he once stole a glass of wine from the dinner table on Christmas. His grand-mère whooped his ass.

Every month he and the Bakusquad have a designated week where they get high and remake vines

He took ballet from ages 4-7. He was forced to quit at 7 when he accidentally fell off the stage during the Gala and onto an elderly man. They were both ok though.

He drinks tea, but exclusively chamomile and/or fruit tea with lots of sugar and a little honey.

He lives for TV dramas; greys anatomy is his favorite show and Christina was his fave.

Bakugou called him a bastard and he responded with "I know my hips are wide but I am not going anywhere near a turkey" (he confused a bastard with a baster)

He sings in the shower. However, his picks vary based on his mood and can range from pierce the veil to Hamilton to Adele.

He used to want to be a musician, his parents got him a guitar that he loved until he cut his finger on it.

The Stare™ he does is bc he binged the office w his cousins during one summer break.

He actually lowkey prefers Mexican over French, but Mexican gives him gas so he rarely eats it

He paints sometimes, and when he does it's usually at 3am after watching a lot of Bob Ross while trying to fall asleep. Other than that he's in bed on time and out by 10 every night

These aren't as in depth as my other hcs but I love Aoyama so much. He's such a star and I would, again, die for him. I'll maybe make another, longer and better, post later with many more for him but these were all I could jot down rn!! I've got school on Monday so everything is kinda crazy so I've just been throwing these down when I had free time.

[zaynabbs-blog]

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Sometimes a party might take the kind of a girl's retreat to a spa, workshop center and also hot with San Francisco male strippers. A lot of buddies have "scrapbooking weekends" where they assemble collectively at a pals residence, lake cabin, and motel. Time to escape from every one of the distractions and also invest some time performing something they love. I have various other pals which take into account summer trips in addition to just the girlfriends - at times even with the kids (but minus the males in their lives!) Personally, I have been able to begin girl weekend excursions accompanied by a group of some of my personal favorite friends to destinations like Mexico and also the Gulf. It is a great moment to reconnect with friends when living has gotten in the form of hanging out together, but you do not need to head over to an exotic destination. You can just about all remain in an equivalent community, as well as schedule this special time to be together.

You can capture those memories for life. I'm discussing recording the instances inside photographs. So to make those memories cherishable for daily life, you've to capture those instances. Deciding a for any birthday celebration party theme occasion is very important because that helps the manager to keep conditions into shape. By using a defined theme in your head you are able to readily arrange a party. To celebrate or even set up a birthday party there are so many things that involve accessories to costumes. Almost nothing says "best girlfriend ever" a lot better than dumping the guy of yours a casino themed bash. Try letting him be one of many guys with all things the buddies of his and also participate in every one of his fave casino activities. This specific type of party is a great way to showcase the hostess skills of yours, from the designs to the truly adorable DIY cakes. Plus, this is a truly good chance for you to dress up, have a couple of cocktails as well as take all the credit.

[kodocha4ever]

its been a few days since i finished it but i needed to work up the energy to talk abt it lol

i was disappointed :( i thought i'd really like it, but it didn't meet my expectations.

the part i enjoyed the most was pikario & kirarin's story.... but even that fell short in the end for me. like the part from ep 19 to 23? really fun to watch and i liked it a lot!! but i didn't like the followup when pikario is like "hi i've recovered from being stabbed after napping for 16 episodes. but i regressed character development wise >:(..." like he's allowed to be a angsty jealous teen, but it felt like we WENT somewhere and then he just kinda reverts to how he was before? weird.

and the villains are sooooooo boring. like a consequence of pikario and vibry (the only two interesting characters on the villain's side this series) being redeemed so early on is that noir feels weak. like damn... you can't keep down some underlings huh? you suck and no one likes you and you have no one to back you up huh?? which makes the reveal with elysio being part of noir accidentally funny 😭 like wow, the one underling that you could maintain is actually just, you in disguise?? wow 😭😭

and it just feels like the characters are only characterized by like... a thing they do? and not much else. like all akira is is that she has a sickly sister that she watches out for, and that shes nice and popular... what else is there? if you compare that to even a character i'm not too connected to -- say cure twinkle/kirara. its like wow there's such a difference! early on her job as a model is established as are her goals for the future, as well as her proximity to the work from a young age with her mom. you see her family dynamics really quickly and in a way that reflects her character well, you see her take towa under her wing, and near the end you see her struggle to balance being a precure and pursuing her dream. like that's a lot of complexity! and even in the episodes kirara isn't the focus, she still feels in character because she has traits outside of say -- her being a model. and again! kirara isn't even a fav of mine but it's easy to see her complexity.

meanwhile akira was my FAVE in a la mode and she doesn't have that same level 😭 like they could have gone more in depth about how she feels living with her grandma, or how her popularity at school effects her, or how her relationship with yukari is... just like idk?? these things are either not touched on, or if they are it's on such a surface level when comparing to other precures... and this is true of basically everyone in a la mode. they don't have many points of change either. the only change we see with akira is her deciding she's gonna become a doctor. but again like, compare that to minami deciding she's gonna become a vet.... like minami's arc had so much buildup!! like the first hint we get of minami wanting to be a vet is in episode 36, but it continues in the bg until episode 44 where it comes to a conclusion!! akira just like shows up to visit her sister one day in a single episode and is like 🙂what if i became a doctor?

oh and i didn't like the fights 😭the cures in this one having like their projectile cream??? attack??? thing means u dont get any fist fights or any real combat they just sorta stand and extend their arm 😭😭 when there is choreography it still doesn't even come close. like the best fight in the whole run was cure yell showing up early and punching shit its like YEAH!! GOOO!!! LOVE SEEING PUNCHING!!!

the like attack sequences are fine tho. it's cute seeing pikario jump out of the way in the 3 2 WONDERFUL attack. i looove kiracle rainbow its one of my fav precure attacks ever now. the bunny in animal go round??? whoever decided to make the bunny look like that has a kind soul

i dunno. not my favorite precure (in fact it's my least fav of the precures i've watched beginning to end). the designs are sooo fun and the second ending is needless to say the best ending ever of any anime. i wish i liked it more!

i wanna write a big long post about my thoughts on kira kira precure a la mode, but i'm like 10 episodes away from having seen the whole show. so ig i i'll wait until then 🤐