#honestly agree with everything said above

[roki-roki-roll]

Rick Rounds? But like specifically season 3 post redemption, else he's maybe a tad too similar to Jacob (which to be fair makes sense since season 1 Rick was a bit of a role model for Jacob).

9/10 - post redemption!!! As mentioned he needed to be dragged through the mud kicking and screaming and he did. And took it like a champ!

[thsc-confessions]

"While I would be thrilled as fuck if a THSC continuation was announced in any capacity (however big or small), at the same time I really don't want one. Between the toll that THSC took on PuffballsUnited, the sheer amount of small background details, and the fun of filling in gaps and expanding on the canon that's already there, I'm more than happy with what we have."

"The game being so open-ended is one of the biggest appeals of the series, and probably the biggest reason people are so fond of it to this day. As much as I'm a total sucker for any scraps of canon lore I can get my hands on, I'm happy with not every mystery or question being answered." submitted by @the-irken-pony

[juleswritesstuff]

The Pillow Contract

James Potter seems to have found the best pillow on earth. You.

james potter x fem!reader

warnings: none

James Potter liked to consider himself a man of simple pleasures. 

A good meal ? Heaven. A lazy Sunday spent wrapped in a blanket burrito ? Perfection. A well-timed, sarcastic remark ? Chef’s kiss.

But above all else, there was one thing James had come to love more than anything in the world.

Your chest.

Well, you as a whole, of course. Body and soul alike. He was not a bloody prick, thank you very much. 

He loved you for you, not just for the flawless vessel that carried your golden heart and your beautiful mind.

But he couldn't help the way he was especially drawn to the perfection that peeked from your neckline when your shirt hung a little lower than usual.

And he also could not, in good conscience, ignore the life-altering comfort that was that perfection.

Now, to be clear, James wasn’t just some guy obsessed with his girlfriend’s body –okay, maybe he was a little addicted. 

But, come on, who could blame him when you were said girlfriend ? 

He was supposed to be a bit obsessed with you, right ? That’s what every person in their sane, right and helplessly in love mind would be about their partner, no ? 

Was that just him ? 

Ok, fine, maybe he was a bit of a simp (read, you had him at your feet). So what ? 

He liked it exactly like that. Sue him.

But this ? This was different. 

This wasn’t just about attraction or some primal male instinct. No, this was about something sacred.

This was about comfort.

The kind that he’d accidentally stumbled upon one evening when you had curled up next to him on the couch, and his head had somehow –miraculously�� ended up resting right on your chest.

That’s when he had discovered it.

The Holy Grail of pillows. The pinnacle of all headrests.

Your chest was perfect. 

Warm. Soft. Inviting.

It had been life-changing. Existence-altering. World-stopping.

And in that moment, with his head resting against the softest, most heavenly cushion known to mankind, and your heart beating under his ear like a lullaby, James had made a decision.

He was never going back to regular pillows again.

Ever.

The problem was, he didn’t exactly know how to turn this into a permanent arrangement without looking like an absolute fool.

Which, really, was ironic, because James didn’t mind acting like the biggest dumbass in the world when it came to you. Not even a tiny bit.

The man had zero shame, and zero chill when you were involved.

If he had to beg ? Done.

If he had to bribe you with kisses ? Oh no, how awful.

If he had to declare his undying devotion in front of his friends and suffer their relentless teasing ? Call Sirius and Remus over, he was ready to suffer.

If he had to wear one of those, frankly quite obnoxious --yes, even for him-- ‘I ❤️ My Girlfriend’ shirts in public just because you wanted him to suffer a bit for forgetting the chores ? Consider it his new favorite outfit.

He’d do anything and everything –yes, even sacrificing his dignity in front of Pads and Moony– if it meant putting a smile on your face (and making you agree to be used as a headrest for the rest of your life. But let’s just say that was a teeny, tiny, wonderful bonus if the case ever came to be).

Tonight was his chance, he told himself.

You were already curled up on the couch, wearing one of his hoodies, your legs tucked beneath you as you scrolled through your phone. The dim lighting of the room cast a soft glow over you, and James took a moment to appreciate the scene. 

Because, honestly ? You looked really good.

Too good.

Like, unfairly good.

The hoodie –his hoodie, the one he had technically claimed as his favorite, but which spent more time on your body than his closet– was slightly oversized on you, slipping off one shoulder in a way that made his brain short-circuit for a second.

This was his moment.

You were comfortable. The couch was comfortable. 

And your chest ? Well, that was a level of bliss he had yet to find anywhere else in the world.

Time to execute: Operation Smothered by Heaven.

Ok, the name was a little ridiculous. But, to his defence, he had been a little distracted while thinking about it –the dress you were wearing mysteriously met the floor not even five minutes after he had taken a glimpse of you– and his brain had refused to work at his full potential.

Something that he absolutely couldn’t let happen now. 

Not when the fate of his comfort and sanity was at such a high risk.

That’s why he casually –so casually– stretched like a giant cat just waking up from a nap, letting out an exaggerated yawn before –still ever so nonchalantly, of course– leaning closer.

And would you look at that ? His head, as if drawn by an invisible magnetic force he absolutely had no control on –God forbid– found its way to your chest.

It was seamless. 

Flawless execution.

Absolutely fucking nailed that.

He gave himself a mental high five.

Operation Smothered by Heaven: officially successful.

“Wow. Smooth” you blinked down at him, amused.

James grinned but didn’t move. Not even an inch. Nope. 

He had claimed his rightful place, and there was no going back now.

“What can I say ? Gravity is a powerful thing” he purred, his voice smug, his eyes half-lidded like a cat who had just found the warmest sunspot in the house.

“Ah, I see. So this is all gravity’s fault, then ?”

“Absolutely” he confirmed, burrowing his face in just a little more “I have no control over it. Pure science”

You snorted, shaking your head, but you didn’t push him away. 

Of course you didn’t.

If anything, you shifted slightly, letting your arm drape around his back, your fingers absentmindedly tracing along his spine. He hummed in approval, his whole body melting against yours like ice under the warm sunlight of a summer’s day.

Because the thing James didn’t know –or, at the very least, seemed to forget– was that he wore his heart on his sleeve. Always.

James Potter and secret scheming ? Not a good match. 

Not a match at all, actually. But you still liked watching him try.

And with the way he had been ogling you for the past week, it really wasn’t hard to figure out what had been brewing in that ridiculously pretty head of his.

His thoughtful frown, the way his brows scrunched together, his deep-in-thought lip-biting. James had looked like he was trying to crack some highly classified government code.

Except the code in question was you.

Or, more specifically, that area right below your neck that seemed to steal his attention more times then it should've been considered healthy.

Subtle, he was not.

He had been studying you. Analyzing the way your sweaters dipped lower when you leaned forward, the way the fabric of your shirts clung to your curves, the way–

God.

James had the audacity to look like he was pondering the meaning of life when, really, all he was trying to find was an excuse.

Funny how he could’ve just asked.

It wasn’t like you would have refused him.

Hell, you didn’t even think you possessed the ability to refuse him. To refuse him anything, really.

But your smitten and extremely down-bad behavior when it came to your boyfriend was a topic for another time.

James let out a deep, satisfied sigh.

“You know” he murmured, voice slightly muffled as he nuzzled closer “I think I’ve discovered something important”

“Oh ?”

“Mhm” he tilted his head up, his expression dead serious. Like a man delivering a life-changing revelation “Your chest ? Best pillow I’ve ever used”

You raised an eyebrow, a quiet grin making its way onto your mouth. “I should be flattered, I think”

“You should be honored” he corrected, his lips quirking into a lazy smirk “I mean, it’s a very competitive market. But yours ? Easily top-tier”

You rolled your eyes, but you couldn’t hide the smile tugging at your lips. “Is that right ?”

James nodded solemnly. 

“Hell yeah, baby. I’d even write a five-star Yelp review if that were a thing”

You let out a soft laugh and slid your fingers into his hair, gently scratching at his scalp.

James immediately melted.

He let out a low, contented hum, eyes slipping shut, the tension in his body dissolving completely. You thought if he was a cat, he would’ve started purring.

“Mmh. Keep doing that, and I might never get up” he mumbled, voice already laced with drowsiness.

“Wouldn’t mind that” you teased.

Because, really, who in their right mind would complain about this ?

No one, that's who.

And surely not you.

James hummed in response, his arms tightening around your waist burying himself further into you. You could feel the steady rise and fall of his breathing, the warmth of his body seeping into yours. 

His lips brushed absentmindedly against your collarbone –a barely-there press of warmth that sent a quiet shiver down your spine.

This. This was perfection.

Then, because James Potter simply could not help himself, he tilted his head up again.

“So, uh... just out of curiosity. How often do you think I can get away with this ?”

You smirked. “That depends”

“On ?”

“How well you behave”

James’ eyes darkened slightly, though amusement still played at the edges. 

“Define behave” his voice dropped, all smooth and teasing, like he could coax an answer out of you if he said it just right.

You arched a brow, pretending to think. 

“Well, let’s see. No stealing the blankets at night. No pretending you don’t hear me when I ask you to grab something from the kitchen. And definitely no distracting me when I’m trying to get work done”

James gasped, offended.

“That last one is unreasonable and you know it”

You laughed, shaking your head. “Oh, is it ?”

“Yes. It is literally part of my rights as your boyfriend to distract you”

You hummed, pretending to ponder your decision.

“Well, if we can do nothing about that…” your hand cupped his cheek, slender fingers applying a gentle pressure to lift his face up from that cocoon of warmth he had nestled himself into.

He blinked. “I-wait. What ?”

Before he could fully register what was happening, you leaned down and captured his lips in a slow, lazy kiss.

James melted.

Like, gone. Out of commission. Absolute goner.

The smug confidence he had a second ago ? Obliterated.

His hands, which had been lazily resting at your waist, tightened, pulling you closer like he never wanted to let go. One of them trailed up your spine, fingers tangling into your hair, holding you there like this was oxygen and he needed it to breathe.

You sighed against his lips, feeling the way he shuddered, the way his grip on you tightened, like he was physically trying to keep himself from falling apart.

Like you had just ruined him.

And maybe you had.

Because when you pulled back just enough to catch your breath, James just blinked at you, dazed and utterly wrecked, lips still parted like he hadn’t quite caught up with reality yet.

You bit back a smirk.

Unbelievable.

How had this man made a full-time career out of turning you into putty, and yet one well-placed kiss had him looking like he’d just been personally blessed by the universe ?

You dragged your fingers lazily through his curls, watching the way his lashes fluttered at the sensation, the slow, dopey grin tugging at his lips.

Completely gone.

You tilted your head, murmuring teasingly against his mouth “Was that up to your standards, Mr. Five-Star Review ?”

James, still grinning –and still absolutely useless– just nodded.

"Five stars ? That was worth the entire Milky Way, baby"

You let out a laugh, and he practically glowed at the sound, his fingers flexing against your waist like he wanted to bottle it.

Then, before you could say anything else, he tilted his head, brushing his nose against yours in that infuriatingly sweet way of his.

"You know-" he murmured, voice all warm and syrupy "-if this is part of my reward system, I promise to be so good"

You smirked, fingers tracing idle patterns into the back of his neck. “Do you now ?”

James nodded solemnly, though the grin he was fighting gave him away.

“The best. Model citizen. Proper gentleman. Will hold doors, carry bags, call you milady unironically if I have to”

You snorted. Loudly.

"Now that, I need to see"

He hummed, tilting his head up like he was about to deliver the most profound statement of his life.

“Mmh. Maybe after another kiss”

Your eyes narrowed playfully. “That so ?”

He nodded again, already leaning in, his lips curling mischievously.

You let your fingers drag slowly down the back of his neck, feeling the way James shivered under your touch.

The moment stretched, thick with something warm and electric, the air between you charged in that intoxicating way it always was whenever you teased him like this.

You leaned in deliberately, lips hovering just over his, close enough that you could feel the ghost of his breath, the heat radiating off his skin.

James, for all his usual smugness, stilled, his lazy smirk faltering into something softer, deeper. His lips parting slightly, his pupils dark and expectant.

Waiting.

Wanting.

You let your gaze drop to his lips, watching as his tongue darted out just once, a quick, unconscious flick, like he was already tasting the kiss before it happened.

And, God, he was beautiful like this.

All that usual bravado stripped down to this, his sharp edges melted, his hands twitching slightly where they rested on your hips, fighting the urge to pull you closer.

His restraint was admirable.

His patience ?

Well. That was something you just had to test.

You leaned in that final inch –only for your lips to land on his cheek instead.

Soft. Chaste. Infuriating.

James let out a dramatic, suffering groan, his head thunking back against the cushions.

“Tease” he mumbled, voice hoarse, his hands finally losing their battle as they gripped your waist, fingers pressing into your sides like he was physically holding back the urge to grab your face and kiss you properly.

You pulled back just enough to grin down at him, impossibly pleased with yourself.

“What ?” you asked innocently, tilting your head “You asked for a kiss. You didn’t specify where, love”

He cracked one eye open, glowering.

“Oh, that’s dirty” he grumbled, before huffing dramatically and rolling onto his back, taking you with him.

You yelped as you landed against his chest, sprawled across him, your laughter cut off when his arms wrapped around you, pinning you against him with the strength of a human vice grip.

“James-”

“Nope” he said, shoving his face into your neck like a petulant child, muffling his words “You’re stuck here now. Actions have consequences”

You laughed, wiggling in his hold, but he just tightened his grip.

“James”

“Mmm. Nope”

“I-”

“Shh. Thinking about my suffering”

You rolled your eyes, smiling despite yourself, your fingers naturally finding their way into his curls again, scratching lightly at his scalp.

He made a sound, deep and content, his body practically melting beneath you.

“See ?” you teased, voice softening “That wasn’t so bad”

He exhaled heavily, but his hands had already started skimming over your back again, lazy and unbothered, like he’d completely forgotten why he was fake-pouting in the first place.

“Mmh” he hummed “Don't know. Still feel like you owe me”

You smirked, arching a brow. “Oh ?”

“Yeah” James sighed dramatically, finally tilting his head up again. Looking at you.

That expression.

Soft. Mischievous. A little challenging.

Maybe even a little hopeful.

Like he was just waiting for you to put him out of his misery.

You let the moment stretch for a beat longer, lips quirking.

Then, with a small, amused sigh, you finally gave in.

And kissed him properly.

For a few moments, the two of you just stayed like that, tangled together, basking in the warmth of each other’s touch.

You felt him smile against your lips before he pulled back just enough to murmur “So… hear me out”

“Oh boy” you sighed, already knowing. 

James just grinned, completely unbothered by your lack in faith in him.

“What if we made this a permanent arrangement ?”

You let out a soft laugh, tilting your head at him. “A permanent arrangement ?”

“Yeah. Like, an official thing. A contract, even” he lifted his head slightly, hie expression the picture of seriousness “Something binding. A legally recognized agreement that states you will be my official human pillow for the foreseeable future”

You stared at him, an eyebrow quirked in amusement, lips twitiching. 

“You want to draft a pillow contract ?”

James nodded, almost professionally. 

“For accountability purposes”

You rolled your eyes, a disbelieved chuckle leaving your lips before you could stop it. 

“You’re ridiculous”

“But lovable” he pointed out.

You exhaled, shaking your head, your heart betraying you with the sheer amount of fondness you felt for this man.

“Fine” you relented, rolling your eyes as if you weren’t already completely gone for him “You win. You can rest on me whenever you want”

James grinned like he’d just won the lottery, wasting no time in smacking a quick, eager kiss right on your lips.

“But” you added, poking him in the ribs “I reserve the right to move if you start drooling”

“Excuse me ?” he gasped, offended “I do not drool”

You smirked. “That’s not what the couch cushions say”

James gasped again, dramatically this time, like you had personally insulted his honor “That was one time-”

“Oh, it so wasn’t”

James pouted, pulling you even closer and pressing his forehead against yours with a grumble.

“You wound me” he muttered, a mock distraught lilt to his voice.

You grinned, the warmth of him, the smell of him, completely surrounding you as you pressed a kiss to his jaw, lingering just enough to feel the way his breath hitched.

“I think you’ll survive just fine”

He hummed, tilting his head slightly, inviting you to keep going.

So you did.

You let your lips trail along his jawline, slow and lazy, your fingers threading through the curls at the nape of his neck, scratching lightly in a way that made him melt.

“Well” James sighed, voice lower, heavier, the tiniest shiver running through him “If this is how you comfort me, I guess I’ll forgive you”

You laughed against his skin.

“How generous”

James smirked, but there was something else in his eyes now, something wicked, something that sparked just before–

Before the menace shimmied down.

Yes. Shimmied. Like a man with a mission.

“James-”

Your protest was cut off by laughter, because he was determined, wriggling lower and lower with expert precision, slipping out of your hold like a human-sized golden retriever trying to find the perfect spot on the couch.

And then, with a triumphant sigh, his head landed where he had been aiming all along–

Right on your chest.

James let out a deep, satisfied hum, snuggling in, his nose nuzzling into the soft fabric of your shirt like this was some long-lost paradise he had just returned to.

“Now we’re talking” he exhaled in sheer satisfaction, like the heaviest of weights had been lifted from his shoulders, snuggling even deeper, and muttering an appreciative “Mmh. Yep. Definitely five stars”

You blinked down at him, helpless to fight the way your heart swelled, a smile threatening to bloom against your better judgment.

“Should I start charging you for this service ?” you teased.

James hummed, content, his lips brushing absently against the skin just below your collarbone.

“I’d go broke, baby”

You let out a soft, breathy laugh, your fingers finding their way back into his hair, your nails scratching lightly at his scalp.

He groaned, pressing his face deeper into your chest, mumbling something incoherent that you were pretty sure translated to never stop doing that.

Before you could fully process how utterly whipped this man was, he pressed a soft, lingering kiss there –just because he could.

You pulled back slightly, blinking down at the mop of messy chocolate strands currently buried between your collarbones. 

“Do you make a habit of kissing all your pillows ?” you asked, voice mildly amused despite the unreasonable warmth now flooding your chest.

James, completely unashamed, grinned against you. 

“Pillows don’t usually deserve appreciation, but this one ?” his fingers traced slow, lazy patterns against your waist, his voice dropping to a reverent murmur “This one gets special treatment”

A full-body shiver rolled through you.

And James, that absolute menace, felt it.

His smirk was obnoxiously satisfied as he nuzzled in even deeper, practically purring as he molded himself further against you.

You rolled your eyes, trying –truly trying– to ignore the overwhelming affection clawing at your ribcage. And utterly failing.

“Jamie, you’re gonna choke like this” you warned playfully, fighting against yourself not to let out the endeared laugh threatening to spill.

He made a noncommittal noise, fully unbothered.

“Best way to go, honestly”

And that was it.

Not one beat missed. Not a single ounce of shame registered in his voice.

You stared wide-eyed at the mop of untamable chocolate curls right below your chin, completely bewildered by the words that had just come out of your boyfriend’s mouth.

Did this man, the actual love of your life, just casually declare that he would willingly –no, gladly– perish via boob-related asphyxiation ?

Because that was what it sounded like.

Was that a normal thing for a person to say ?

No. No, it wasn’t.

And yet—here you were.

"James"

“Mmm ?”

"James, get up"

"No"

You sighed, trying to nudge him off, but it was useless.

Because this man –this grown, six-foot, sport-trained, annoyingly fit man– was currently clinging to you like a koala experiencing its first-ever existential crisis.

And you knew –you knew– that there was no reasoning with a man who had just fully committed to making your chest his final resting place.

"James-"

"No"

"You cannot suffocate yourself on my–"

"I can and I will"

"You will not"

James lifted his head just enough to look at you with actual betrayal.

"How dare you harm a man in his final moments ?"

A stunned laugh escaped before you could stop it.

“Oh my god, you’re ridiculous”

James smirked triumphantly.

“And yet-” he murmured smugly “-you don’t seem to mind it”

He barely gave you a second to respond before he nuzzled right back in, burrowing into your chest like you were some long-lost paradise he had finally returned to.

You stared at the ceiling, dead inside.

How was this your life ?

You used to have dignity.

You used to be a strong, independent person.

And yet, somehow –somehow– you had become a glorified human mattress for your very large and very needy boyfriend.

And the worst part ?

You didn’t even mind.

You sighed deeply, fingers slipping into his hair against your better judgment. James melted immediately, exhaling in a way that was obscenely pleased. Like if he were any more relaxed, he'd have dissolved into a puddle of mushy, lovesick goo.

Then, with the solemnity of a man about to deliver a groundbreaking presidential address, he cleared his throat.

You barely had time to register the shift before he–

“Ladies” James began, his voice smooth, reverent “It’s always a pleasure”

Your mouth fell open.

Did he just–

Oh, for fuck’s sake.

“I just wanted to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude” he continued talking to your breasts, completely ignoring the look of utter disbelief and sheer horror plastered on your face and sighing dramatically “For your service. For your warmth. For providing me with the best naps of my life”

Your soul, quite frankly, left your body, just straight-up abandoned you.

“James–”

He shushed you.

Shushed you.

“I’m having a moment with my girls, baby” he whispered, like he was delivering a speech at fucking Buckingham Palace.

You gaped at him. “You are not-”

“I am” he placed a hand over his heart “They deserve it”

You had never contemplated murder so seriously in your life.

James, completely unbothered, pressed on. 

“I promise to treat you with the respect and admiration you deserve. To appreciate your softness in all its glory. To-” he paused, tilting his head “Actually, I feel like I should name you”

“For the love of God, James. Don’t you dare-”

He gasped. 

Gasped. 

“That’s a brilliant idea. Baby, why haven’t we named them ?”

You smacked his arm, your eyes so wide they threatened to fall out of your skull. “Because they are literally attached to my body ?!”

But he wasn’t listening. No, the absolute menace was thinking, brows furrowed in deep concentration.

“They deserve names that reflect their greatness. Something regal. Something powerful”

He snapped his fingers. “Got it. Thelma and Louise”

You groaned. “Absolutely fucking not”

James ignored you. 

“Or maybe Hall and Oates ?”

“I- What- Aren’t they both men ?”

“Gender’s nothing but a social construct, darling”

“Ok-”

A sudden gasp interrupted you, as if he had just discovered the meaning of life itself.

"Baby- Baby, I’ve got it"

You sighed, already regretting everything. "James, no"

"Yes" he insisted, eyes alight with the thrill of an idiot about to say something profoundly stupid "Bonnie and Clyde"

You blinked. Once. Twice. 

"You want to name ‘your girls’ after two actual criminals ?"

He nodded solemnly, as if he were making the most reasonable suggestion in the world. "Iconic criminals. Star-crossed lovers. Thrill-seekers. Just like us, babe"

"Just like us ?" you repeated, incredulous "James, they literally died in a hail of bullets"

"Tragic, right ?" he sighed dramatically, resting his cheek against your chest. "Just two outlaws against the world. Inseparable. Madly in love. Probably great at robbing banks"

You stared at him, completely dead inside. "Are you about to compare my chest to a highly coordinated armed robbery ?"

James lifted his head just enough to grin at you. 

"Well” he mused, eyes twinkling “they did steal my heart"

You were done. So done, in fact, that you just gave up entirely.

"I cannot believe this is my life" you muttered, shoving your hands over your face.

James, the absolute menace, took this as encouragement and nuzzled back in, pressing obnoxiously reverent kisses between his newly christened 'Bonnie and Clyde'.

"Rest easy, my loves" he murmured dramatically "Your legacy shall live on"

"James-"

"Shhh" he hushed, patting your side "They're outlaws, baby. They don’t play by the rules"

At that point, you seriously considered pushing him off the couch. Or out the window. 

Maybe both.

You shook your head, defeated, completely annihilated by your boyfriend’s questionable choices.

James grinned, entirely too pleased with himself. 

“Oh, come on. I’m just having a bit of fun” he chuckled lightheartedly, turning his attention back to your chest with the solemnity of a man who had just finished writing a best-selling novel “Well, ladies, whatever your names may be, just know –you have my eternal devotion”

And then, as if he hadn’t just committed the most embarrassing crime against you, he nestled back in with a satisfied hum.

You stared down at him, deadpan. 

“You’re an actual menace”

“And yet, despite that, you love me” he mumbled, already half-asleep.

You sighed, your fingers automatically sliding into his hair once again. It took him less than two seconds to turn into a puddle, his entire body going limp as he exhaled in the most ridiculously pleased way possible, like he had just been given an award for the best nap ever.

“Unfortunately” you muttered, your heart melting just a little bit too, because, yes, he was a ridiculous man, but he was your ridiculous man.

And, as much as you complained, you couldn’t deny it --having James like this, warm and completely wrapped around you, was its own kind of perfect.

The Pillow Contract (Unofficially Signed & Approved) 

Clause 1: James gets unlimited chest pillow privileges.

Clause 2: Y/n reserves the right to kick James off if he drools in his sleep.

Clause 3: Cuddles are mandatory.

Clause 4: James won't ever refer to Y/n's chest as ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ again. Penalty: annulment of Clause 1.

Hello beautiful people 💗

I have no idea of where this thing spouted from. It popped in my head, and I had to bring it to the world 😂.

This is my first attempt at a more humorous type of fic. I had so much fun writing it, and I really hope it didn't downright suck, and you had a good time reading it, too.

Let me know what you think!

Thank you for reading, and I'll catch you in the next one <3

[tiramissyoucake]

Oooooo I have a viltrumite mark request! How would he and the reader handle having kids? As a viltrumite I assume it would be on the agenda, but how exactly do you think that would go?

Vomitted a small blurb. i apologize. But absolutely, I think Viltrumites want heirs. In this scenario where earth is destroyed, reader is obedient under Mark's affection because there's nowhere to go. It's either death in space or him.

So they'd change the subject or divert his attention to avoid talking about it, having kids was a huge thing and you don't fake-love him enough for that, he'd catch on to the stalling game at some point.

Reader manages to evade him in this blurb, lmk if you want another where Mark finally gets to mark it

Here you go:

"I need your answer, NOW." He'd demand with folded arms, staring down at you as your back was facing him in the bed, dressed in sleepwear while Mark stood above you, shirt was thrown aside, only in comfortable pants. "I asked you multiple times, and you keep changing the subject. When will you give me heirs?"

The way he phrased it disgusted you, maybe if you spoke honestly now, he'd understand. "I don't think I'm ready." You'd explain as you sat up, the sheets slipping down to your waist. "Mark, kids are... a huge responsibility, who's to say we can take care of them properly?"

He seemed to take the bait, sitting on the edge of the bed and facing you with a stoic expression. "I understand you're scared, but we have everything we need, a powerful empire, a comfy bed, clean clothes and warm meals, what more could a child need?"

He dismantled your arguments so impatiently and was closing you in a corner, you had to think of a way out. Fast.

"... y-your.. conquests." You mumbled, the excuse building itself in your head quickly. "... dear, you've been so absent and neglectful recently." A glimmer of hope appears as his expression shifts to guilt.

"Our children should have present parents, parents who aren't busy with invasions." You glance away, keeping your expression away from his eyes. "I know it's your responsibility, but I can't accept, it's not a good time."

His hands clutch the sheets, frustrated as you illustrated your point. "Sweetheart, is that how you really feel? Have I been neglectful?" He cups your cheek and makes you look at him, your eyes downcast as you nod, ensuring to stab the guilt into his heart as you pouted and looked at him with your most vulnerable, saddened, kicked-puppy look.

Mark sighs, hugging you closely, his bare skin warm against you as he caught a whiff of your scent; he's come to associate it with home. "... I'm sorry, I really am. You know I love you, don't you?"

"I love you too dear, but..." You didn't know if he was rambling or if he wanted a response, nonetheless you absentmindedly replied, he continued. "Listen, let's compromise; okay?"

Too much resistance would raise alarm, you listened. "I'll agree to postponing, I have a few more invasions to carry out for the next 2 months, that should be plenty of time for you to think, don't you agree?"

You bought yourself 2 months successfully, nodding twice, although his smile said he expected a yes after those 2 months.

"Good..." his defined hand trailed up your thigh gently, pushing up the cloth and revealing your skin. The mattress sunk down as he pulled you closely, his heartfelt smile turning into an lustful grin. "Now, come here. I missed you."

[diaryofawhoretbh]

Hi could u do thanos x preg reader playing the games basically just like 222 n 333 so hear me out.. imagine we befriend 222 :3 n were basically talking ab our pregnancies (however u write it help) and ab baby stuff then topic of baby daddies comes around and 222 mentions that her baby daddy is here n we r like no way ours is too and we decide to meet near bunks w our baby daddies n when thanos n 333 see each other they r like no way and 222 and we have to hold them back from fighting. So we and 222 force them to get along bc 222 and we are close so why shouldnt they be too

love this request so much!!! i hope i did your idea justice 🫡🫡 i tried to write this quickly. pls let me know if this isn't what you wanted.thank you for requesting, enjoyyy!!

NOT proof-read, sorry!!!!

fine line | thanos (choi su-bong)

the barracks were quiet, save for the soft murmur of other players trying to get some rest. you sat on your bunk, legs stretched out in front of you, feeling the familiar weight of your belly.

jun-hee, player 222, sat next to you, her hand resting on her own swollen stomach. it felt strange, being surrounded by danger and fear, yet finding a kind of peace in talking about the one thing that kept you both going: the babies.

“i can’t believe we’re both pregnant in here,” jun-hee said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. “i always thought the world would be different by now, but… i guess this is just how life works out, huh?”

you smiled, nodding. “yeah. it’s crazy. but honestly, it’s kinda the only reason i’m still here. these little ones, they’re everything.”

junhee rubbed her belly gently, a soft smile on her lips. “same here. i didn’t expect this kind of life, but it’s like… being a mom now, it’s like i have something bigger to fight for.”

you let out a soft laugh. “i get you. even in a place like this, we’ve still got our kids to think about.”

jun-hee looked over at you, suddenly more playful. “speaking of kids, i’ve got to tell you something. my baby daddy is here too.”

you raised an eyebrow. “wait, really? no way. who?”

junhee’s eyes sparkled with a mischievous grin. “player 333. you know him as myung-gi.”

you blinked, then let out a low whistle. “myung-gi? as in that coinmg guy?”

jun-hee nodded, not even a little ashamed. “yep. crazy, right?”

you let out a laugh, a bit of disbelief in your voice. “wow, that’s... that’s wild.” you leaned back, looking at her with a grin. “your baby daddy is the reason me and my baby daddy are in debt."

junhee’s eyes widened slightly. “i apologise on his behalf... but wait, is your baby daddy here too? no way.”

you nodded, your grin growing bigger. “yep. he is. and… trust me, it’s not who you’d expect.”

jun-hee tilted her head, curious. “who is it, then?”

you leaned in a little, lowering your voice as though sharing a secret. “it’s su-bong...ah sorry thanos.”

jun-hee’s eyes almost popped out of her head. “what? no way. you’re telling me that your baby daddy is thanos?”

you shrugged nonchalantly. “yeah, believe it or not. crazy, huh?”

jun-hee shook her head, unable to suppress a laugh. “this is... way too much. okay, okay, we need to meet by the bunks. i want to see this. you and me, we’ll introduce them to each other.”

you raised an eyebrow, feeling a little hesitant. “you think that’s a good idea? i mean, myung-gi and su-bong don’t exactly… get along.”

jun-hee smirked. “it’s gonna be fine. trust me. they’re both here for the same reason now. i’m sure they can at least pretend to get along. for the sake of us, and our babies.”

you were still nervous, but the excitement was enough to push you forward. “okay, fine. let’s do it.”

the two of you carefully stood up, waddling over toward the area where the men were usually hanging out. you spotted su-bong in the corner, his large frame looming over the other players, while myung-gi was off to the side, doing his own thing.

as you and jun-hee dragged each man to the agreed meeting spot, both men’s eyes immediately flicked toward you. there was a sharp tension in the air as they both realized who the other was. myung-gi’s brow furrowed, and su-bong’s fists clenched at his sides.

jun-hee crossed her arms, giving you a look. “this is gonna be fun.”

you took a deep breath. “fun? more like intense.”

before you could do anything, both men started toward each other, their bodies tense and ready for a fight. su-bong’s deep voice was the first to break the silence.

“you,” he muttered, eyes narrowed. “what are you doing here?”

myung-gi sneered, taking a step closer. “don’t act like you’re in charge here. you think you can just walk around like you own the place?”

jun-hee quickly stepped in between them, arms raised. “hey! no fighting. not now, not here. we’re pregnant, okay? we’re trying to make it out of here alive, and you two are gonna work it out.”

you added, stepping up beside her. “yeah. no more fighting. our kids need us to be smart. we’re in this together.”

the two men stared at each other for a long moment, tension thick in the air. but as the seconds ticked by, something in their eyes softened—just slightly.

jun-hee, ever the mediator, was the first to break the silence. “come on, guys. we’re both in this for the same reason. for our kids. so, no more petty grudges. can you just... act like adults for once?”

you nodded, giving them a pointed look. “we have to work together. for them. our little ones deserve a chance.”

su-bong let out a frustrated sigh but nodded slowly, his fists unclenching. “fine. for the babies.”

myung-gi gave him a long, hard look before exhaling sharply. “yeah, fine. but don’t think this means we’re friends.”

jun-hee raised an eyebrow, her voice light. “we’re not asking for that. just... can we at least get through this without tearing each other apart?”

the two men exchanged a last heated glance before reluctantly stepping back. you and jun-hee gave each other a silent nod of approval.

“alright,” jun-hee said, her tone softening. “that’s a start. we can make this work.”

you smiled, feeling a little lighter now that the tension had eased, even if just for a moment. the road ahead was still long, but maybe, just maybe, with a little teamwork, you could all make it out of here—alive and with your babies.

[littlelamy]

inspired by this post :) ; drew is asked about you on a podcast

𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.

“so drew you and y/n have been dating for one year so far,” the podcaster says to a grinning drew. “we all want to know how everything is going.” the podcaster questions looking over.

drew pauses for a moment smiling, “ you know y/n is a amazing women who i’ve had the pleasure to be with,” drew nods his head agreeing to what was already said. “she’s almost too perfect for me. as you know she’s a very busy girl so her business demands a lot of her time, but she balances her work life and personal so well.” she’s loves praise

the podcaster smiles with a little mischief is their eyes, “and as fans found out she’s very young considering your ex was closer to your age.”

the podcaster knows that this will stir up a little drama, but thankfully drew knows how to shut it down.

“well my fans understand that i am in love with the perfect woman and i choose her above all else; she comes first in my book. and honestly if you are a fan of me then i hope that you can respect my decision!” drew finishes speaking from his heart with a nonchalant tone. drew made it clear to you, the day before, that you are his priority.

“you have it here folks, drew starkey has found the love of his life,” the podcaster laughs into his mic as a unamused drew sits back in his seat, mic still in hand.

“yep she’s mine” drew smirks, looking at you behind the camera.

[annewithaneofthegreengable]

Kinktober - Day 19

19th — 69ing, Oscar Piastri

The previous day I The next day I Kinktober masterlist I Main list

You were lying on the bed beside Oscar on one of your movie nights. During the gaming session of “Never Have I Ever”, Oscar’s hands were on your thighs all night. At first, it all started rather innocently and turned into hands running along the meat of your thighs and heavy bedroom eyes. Until you asked the ultimate question, “Have you ever had any 69ing with anyone?” 

He leaned in closer, my breath hot against your ear as he whispered, "Honestly, no...but god, I wish I had with someone as incredible as you." His hand slid further up your thigh, fingers brushing against the fabric of your panties. The heat between you two was palpable, and you  could hardly contain your excitement.

"I want to experience everything with you, honey. Every intimate act, every forbidden fantasy. And 69 is definitely at the top of my list now." He punctuated his words with a soft nip to your earlobe, his other hand gently squeezing your hip. "So what do you say?"

“We..We can try?”

His heart pounds with anticipation as you agree to give it a shot. He takes a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves. “Okay, let's start slow. Why don't you lie back and relax?” He helps guide you onto your back, positioning himself above you. His fingers trace lightly over your skin, from your collarbone down to the swell of your breasts. He leans down and places tender kisses along the same path, savouring the taste of your flesh. He couldn’t believe how lucky he was. There you were, between his legs, your mouth full of cock, a little saliva dribbling out of the side of your mouth as you moaned, bobbing your head slowly. Hair an utter mess, you flicked your eyes up to him, hollowing your cheeks slightly as you reached a hand down your knickers. 

“YN… Wanna taste you,” he groaned, fingers tangled in your hair, tugging you away slightly. You licked your lips. 

“But you haven’t… finished,” you said frowning. Oscar grinned, shuffling further down the bed so he was lying a bit flatter. 

“Don’t you worry, YN… c’mon…” you nodded and crawled up to him, settling yourself over his face as his strong hands gripped your thighs, guiding your wetness over his mouth. You let out a soft moan as his tongue flickered out tentatively, before gasping loudly as he began licking you eagerly. You fell forward, just catching yourself on your elbows. An idea pinged into your mind. As Oscar licked you with earnest, wriggled so that you could suckle on the tip of his heavy dick. He let out a throaty groan against you, the rumble making you shudder. 

Taking as much of him in your mouth as possible, you began grinding your hips gently, angling them just so and whining loudly when he slipped two fingers into you, hooking them perfectly against your G spot. Within moments of listening to your muffled moans around his cock, his thighs were clenching hard. “YN,” he groaned, his lips now wrapped around your clit. “I’m- oh, fuck!” You moaned lewdly, sucking him down as much as you could bare, groaning as you drank down the spurts of his come, feeling him twitch at the back of your throat. Moaning, you felt him flick your clit with his tongue rapidly, and you shattered, moaning lowly as you both rode out one another’s orgasms. 

Panting, Oscar helped you off him, pulling you into his side. “You’re… wow,” he said, kissing you gently. You groaned, tasting yourself in his mouth, winding your arms around his neck. 

“There’s plenty more where that came from,” you grinned.

Taglist:@formula1-motogpfan@iamafootballfanmiasanmia@arian-directioner@annimausi@mythicalmaven@lucycowr@hamilton-mount @Chuxk-leclerk @landosgirl @Kikiaaaay @iluvvmeeee @stars4me @starz4me1 @fxrmuladaydreams @Ashleyo1611 @ln-fours @cloud-55 @neo-stay @mysteriesincorporated @nzygftoji @dinodumbass @qxeenjen @lilmacabe @9fi @sya-skies @toriiez @jud-3 @ryl-xoxo @fandomz-queenie @gracie23x @kr1sblog @b-law @F1fan24 @taylorsdoratheafr @missevrythingg @salma @cherrypopsicle @toasterpiastri @uhhvictoria @01rrdbull @aracelys-stuff @horseymchorse3 @lou-ghoul @unknownmystery22 @thisbitxhs-blog @toxicdreamer296 @maxivstappen @si1ver06 @mendes-bae @bestgirlie @mbioooo0000 @depressedgiftedburnout @lieslostinsilence @chaoticversion @kaydesssssssss @maryelizaart @milkyymelanine @bisrae @carlando4 @mystichandspruneshark @sweetwh0re @larastark3107 @fiveyjustin @moonchildlec @bicrazybabe @maximumflaps @sainzwife @i--sa @liviav @nitonan-blog @moodymoony71 @horrible-decision @verstappenluv111 @Meyla123X @bea-stilinksi24 @Hayley125 @imjustme-n @elizamoe133 @bernelflo @evie-likes-stuff @anne1444444 @celtis--vr @rockytheluver @orlafitz1664 @aliceespector @ricciadosredbull @novelant @briannamh07 @oliveswiftly @hotlapshottakes @sinners-98-world @ramenblutte @fallenlunar @little-nando14 @fore45fore @importantduckhumanoidpatrol @eroselless @strabunny @sydneyhlove @jkdaddy01 @multi-fandom5 @f1-hoff @kittylolly4 @reguluscrystals @uhhvictoria @arian-directioner @forza-dolce @dukeofjjune @vimayxo @ilove-tswizzle @peachapat119

[yeonzzzn]

💙beautiful angel: sim jaeyun

2.0 of won’t give up on us for the off limits trilogy

pairing: jake x afab!reader word count: 2.1k

synopsis: after the birth of his daughter, jake takes on the responsibility of watching after her while you sleep and get the much needed rest after giving birth. jake and jay spend that late night reminiscing about old times and discussing the future.

genre: established relationship, older brother’s best friend!au, fluffy, suggestive talk.

warnings: swearing, jake and jay being down bad for daughter/niece, mentions of sex, pregnancy mentions, that’s probably it! ♡

✰ this a 2.0 to this trilogy, please see parts 1-3 under the title before reading this one. ✰

˗ˏˋseries spotify playlist´ˎ˗

Jake lets out a quick yawn, rubbing his right eye as his other holds Hwa tighter then wraps the arm back around her. 

You were sound asleep on the hospital bed, completely exhausted from obviously birthing a child earlier in the day. 

Jake rocked little Hwa in his arms, smiling over how soundly she slept like there was no care in the world. 

Out of the corner of his eye, Jake saw Jay’s head fall from the hand he was resting on, jolting him awake. Jake tried to not laugh, not wanting to wake up his daughter. 

“You can go home, man,” Jake whispers, “You’ve been here all day.” 

Jay rubs his eyes, “You can go home.” 

Jake scoffs, narrowing his eyes, “The fuck I will go home, my fiancé just birthed my daughter.” 

“And my sister just birthed my niece.” 

“Point taken,” Jake sighs, knowing damn well Jay wasn’t going to leave. As he said at the sports bar the night they watched the Formula One races, they were both fucked if you had a girl. And well, here you all were. 

Jake assumed Jay was going to stay at the hospital as well once everyone else eventually piled out. They even had to ask the nurses to bring an extra recliner chair for him to sleep on. 

Jay yawned, sitting up in the chair and stretching his arms above his head, “You sure you don’t want to go home?” Jake teased. 

Jay flipped him the bird and stood up from the chair, “I’m going to the cafeteria, want anything?” 

Jake nodded, “Surprise me.” 

Jay left and came back quickly, carrying two chicken sandwiches, “They didn’t have much, since ya know. It’s two am.” 

Jake shrugged, reaching a hand out for the sandwich, “I don’t care at this point I am just starving.” 

Jay unwrapped the foil on the sandwich and handed it to Jake, “Need me to put Hwa in her little crib thing?” 

Jake quickly shook his head, not being ready to let her go yet. It took every ounce of willpower he had not to snatch her away from his family and friends earlier, to yell at them that he wanted his daughter back in his arms. The protection Jake felt towards his daughter was insane. Wanting to bark and growl at anyone and everything that looked at her for too long. 

Jay just rolls his eyes and sits back in his recliner across the room on the other side of your bed, “Well, I call dibs holding her after we eat.” 

Jake glared at him, only for Jay to glare back. 

“I’m just as crazy about her as you are man,” Jay hissed, “My family too.” 

Jake decided to ignore Jay and take a bite of his sandwich. Jake knew he eventually had to get some sleep, mostly if he wanted to be awake when you wake up later. 

So Jake eventually nods and swallows his food, “Fine, only because I need to get some sleep and I rather my daughter sleep peacefully in one of her family member's arms than that plastic hospital crib.” 

Jay chuckles as he eats his sandwich, “I couldn’t agree more, brother.” 

Brother. That word holds so much more meaning now than it did before. Jake went from being best friends with Jay to practically being brothers from how close they were, to being brother-in-laws. Jake will soon actually be related to Jay, and honestly, he couldn’t wait. 

“It’s crazy how everything worked out,” Jake said, finishing the last bite of his sandwich, his hand that still held his daughter slightly squeezed her small body, “I still can’t believe it. Like I am waiting to be woken up from a dream.” 

Jay just stared at his friend, watching how he smiled down at his niece and the tears swell in his eyes, “You know, I’ve never seen you cry as much as I have ever since you started dating my sister.” 

“Shut the fuck up.” 

Jay laughs, finishing off his sandwich and standing from the chair, “But it’s not a dream, Jake. Trust me I tried to pinch myself awake after finding out you were messing around with my sister.” 

Jake just shakes his head, “It just feels all so unreal to me. Like I’m a father now? Who would have ever thought about it.” 

Jay just nods. It seemed so out of reach and impossible for the old Jake. The Jake who partied every weekend and was bringing many different women in and out of his bed, didn’t take college all that seriously and honestly only did it to stay with his friends. Jay saw a change in Jake the moment his sister arrived at the house during winter break all those years ago. You changed him, and it was for the better. 

“Yeah it’s weird to think about,” Jay took Jake’s trash and threw it away, quickly washing his hands and making his way back to Jake, reaching his hands out for his niece, “My turn.” 

Jake lifts Hwa up, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead and straightening out the blanket wrapped around her then sending her into Jay’s arms. 

“Hello sweet girl,” Jay whispered to her, holding her close to his chest and placing a kiss on her forehead, “Uncle Jay has you now.” 

Jake stared at his friend and daughter with endearment, “I love you all so much it’s insane.” 

Jay carefully sat back into the recliner chair, lifting the leg up, “Same here, man. I love you all with every inch of my heart.” 

Jake stood up and stretched, letting out another yawn before sitting back down and getting comfy in the chair, his eyes looking over to you, watching how your chest raised and fell with each sleepy breath you took. 

“Stop looking at my sister like that,” Jay softly snapped. 

Jake looked away from you, his eyes now piercing daggers into your brother, “Huh? That’s my future wife.” 

“Yeah, and you’re looking at her like you want to impregnate her again.” 

Jake smirks, “Because I do.” 

Jay groans, “Jesus fucking Christ.” 

“Trust me, the moment I can, I’m putting another baby in her,” Jake knew these sex jokes were pissing Jay off, they always did. His big brother protective persona always came out. Even though Jake knocked you up and was now engaged to you, Jay still never wavered his protectiveness. And Jake was honestly happy about it. 

“Remind me that I need to speak to her about getting back on her birth control,” Jay said with a roll of his eyes. 

“I’ll just hide it.” 

“Okay yandere Jake,” Jay chuckles, “Calm down.” 

Jake laughs with his friend, enjoying every moment with him. 

He glances back at you, smiling wide, “It’s crazy how things worked out.” 

Jay was busy adjusting the blanket around Hwa, tracing a finger over her little face, “Yeah, things turned out how they were supposed to.” 

Jake sat up in his chair, keeping his eyes on you, “Thank you, Jay.” 

“For what?” Jay asked, leaning his head down to kiss Hwa’s forehead, smiling as she softly yawned. 

“For walking into my life when you did,” Jake was truly, truly, thankful for Jay. Jake remembers the memory so fondly, sitting at the small table in kindergarten alone. Twirling his thumbs against each other as he watched the other kids in his class make the friends he was too shy to make. 

“Why are you sitting here alone?” little Jay asked, nearly scaring Jake to death, “Don’t you have any friends?” 

Jake just shook his head, looking away from Jay. Jake didn’t attend the same daycare these other kids did, everyone already knew each other or were social butterflies enough to make friends. 

Jay sat down beside him, “Sunghoon, come here!” 

Little Sunghoon stood up from the playing mat and waddled to the table, sitting across from Jay without so much as a thought. Sunghoon was shy too, but since he already knew Jay he felt comfortable. 

“What’s your name?” Jay asked. 

“Jaeyun…” Jake whispered, “But I go by Jake as a nickname.” 

Little Jay just smiled, “I’m Jongseong, but my nickname is Jay. And that’s Sunghoon. We are your friends now. I have a friend in the first grade named Heeseung, he’ll be your friend too.” 

And since then the four of them have been attached at the hip. Jake chuckles at the memory. Jay was also remembering the same memory, smiling and chuckling as well. 

“You were so shy back then, I wonder what happened.” 

“I became friends with you,” Jake teased, smiling even wider, “But it’s because of you, on why I am where I am right now.” 

Jay nodded, looking back down at his niece, “Someone had to become friends with you.” 

Jake rolled his eyes, slumping down into the chair. “If you never invited us to come back home with you, we wouldn’t be sitting here right now.” 

Jay nodded again, “Yeah, we sure wouldn’t be.” 

Jay was honestly happy with how life turned out to be. He’s kept the same friends his entire life, had a perfect sibling relationship with you, you’re engaged to one of his best friends and now he’s holding his niece in his arms. Everything balanced out how it should have. 

“I am glad it was you,” Jay said after a few minutes of silence. 

Jake tilts his head into his hand, “Oh yeah?” he said through a yawn, “Glad it was me who became your best friend?” 

“No,” Jay said with a pause, earning Jake to glare at him, “If you’d let me finish,” Jay hissed, “I am glad it was you who fell in love with my sister. You’ve given her a love no one else could. Nobody was good enough for my sister, not until you.”��

Jake smiled, looking at you, “I am so in love with her. Thank you again for walking into my life when you did. For welcoming me into your family and for letting me love YN. You could have easily beat my ass and forbidden me from ever seeing her again. Thank you for accepting my love for her, thank you for letting me date her. She’s my soulmate, my everything,” Jake now looks at Jay, then sending his eyes to his sleeping daughter, “It’s because of you that I not only have the best friend a guy could ask for, but I met my soulmate so early on in life, and now I have a beautiful daughter. It’s all because of you.”

Jay tried to not let the word go to his head and let his ego boost further. Jay knew this was all because of him. But he was glad for it just as much as Jake was. 

“Yeah, be grateful,” Jay teased. 

Jake was about to comment but stopped quickly. 

“Oh my god can you both shut up?!” you groaned, using all your strength to push yourself up to your elbow, “Some people are trying to rest!” 

“Baby,” Jake said, quickly standing up to rush to your side, “Were we being too loud? I am so sorry.” 

You secretly have been awake the entire time, listening to their conversations and cooing over your daughter. You kept praying they’d eventually just shut up and fall asleep. 

You look at your brother, watching as he places more kisses all over Hwa’s face and suddenly you want nothing more than to hold her. 

You reached your arms out, “Gimme.” 

Jay didn’t want to give Hwa up yet but stood up anyway to hand her over to you. 

You smiled down at your daughter, “Beautiful angel.” 

Jake wrapped an arm around you, leaning his head against yours, “She is, isn’t she.” 

Hwa has already received so many kisses since she was born, but you couldn’t help but press your lips to her forehead, sending every ounce of love you have into her skin. 

Jake loved seeing you like this, so motherly. It turned him on, he had to admit. 

“Let’s make another one when we get home.” 

“Oh god here we go,” Jay groaned, sliding down the chair and crossing his arms. 

“I’m telling you,” Jake chuckled, “I am going to knock her up again. I’ll have sex with her every single night over and over until she’s pregnant again.” 

You tried to not laugh at seeing the look of pure disgust on your brother's face. 

“I take back everything nice I said earlier,” Jay said with a pout. 

“No you don’t shut up,” you laughed, “You love us.” 

Jay nods, “I damn well do.” 

Jake kisses your brow, “Let me get you pregnant again,” he whispers. 

“At least get your own apartment or house first, jeez,” Jay sighs, “Our apartment is crowded enough.” 

“Awe, but if we move out how can I tease you about our sex life?” Jake smirked, wiggling his eyebrows at Jay. 

You tuned out the teasing argument between your fiancé and brother, putting your full attention to your daughter, watching as her small eyes flutter open and a yawn leaves her little lips, her eyes now locking with yours. 

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful angel.

—tags: @ikeuverse @slutforsjy @hanjisunginc @alvojake @lhsvibez @wonsbaer @zeeloveshee @jjknoir @jaeyunq @jaklvbub @woniebae @jeongingf1 @haelahoops @willgrysn @in-somnias-world @lovelyikeu @ilikekpop-c @moonrachas @misssparklyprincess @eddieeddiesblog @kaykay11sworld @tasnim10 @kangnina @kthstrawberryshortcake-main @mymemoriesandmelodies @iselltulips @jooniesbears-blog @shawnyle @brownsugarbaybee @woahsehun @laurradoesloveu @citylightsdoll @simjyunnie @cmoundiamante @caramelcandescence @lavenderiridescence @niniissus @wonniethepoo @soobieboobiedoobiedaboobie @fried-bread071696 @coolwitu @kyeoluvr @crimnalseung @jwnghyuns @woninluv @fakeuwus @simhinata

[pitchsidestories]

lovers II Keira Walsh x Williamson!Reader

masterlist I word count: 2468

a/n: Hi, we realized that it's our 100th oneshot which sounds absolutely wild, so enjoy. For the readers who wait for the Emily Fox fanfic it will come out next. <3

You were in love with Ibiza.

In love with the beaches and the sunshine, the palm trees and the blue of the ocean.

You were in love with the clubs and bars, your sister and her friends took you to.

But above all, you were in love with your sister’s best friend.

The afternoon sun painted the hotel room in soft golden light as you slipped into a short dress. You could still feel the salty air and the sun from earlier that day on your skin as you began applying mascara to your eyelashes. Except for a bit of hunger, you felt fully content.

“Ready for dinner? You look gorgeous by the way.“, Keiras voice said from behind you.

You hadn’t noticed her coming in.

You flinched, almost stabbing yourself in the eye with the mascara wand.

Keira smiled apologetically at your reflection in the mirror.

You watched as her gaze started to travel down your body, taking in every curve in your tight-fitting dress.

With a smile you turned towards her and bridged the gap between the two of you.

“Are you kidding? Look at you… Your curls are so pretty and soft.“, you whispered, gently running her fingers through her reddish brown hair.

You loved the way the salt water had restored Keiras natural hair texture.

“My curls? I just didn’t straighten my hair.“, she laughed.

Her cheeks flushed slightly, barely visible through the light sunburn on her skin.

Completely enamoured, you beamed at her: “I love it.“

You were about to lean forward to kiss her when someone cleared their throat behind you.

Your heart stopped while you pulled apart. You ran through possible explanations for this situation in your head, just in case you would turn around to face your sister.

Instead, Alex Scott watched the two of you with a knowing grin.

“You do? Oh hi, Alex.“, Keira greeted the former football player.

“Little Williamson is right though. She could have done something with fashion but…“, Alex said without finishing her thought.

You rolled your eyes, she had always tried to convince you to work in the fashion industry but you wouldn’t trade your job as an English teacher in Barcelona for anything in the world.

“She chose to teach people English in Spain and honestly, it was the best decision ever.“, you finished for Alex.

Keira laughed: “I agree with that.“

Leah appeared next to Alex in the doorway. Subconsciously, you tried to put more distance between yourself and Keira.

“Of course, you do, Kei. Because that way you can talk to someone in your mother tongue almost every day. How did the Catalan interview go again?“, your sister teased.

Her best friend released a tired groan: “Don’t remind me.“

Alex changed the subject, pointing with her thumb over her shoulder: “Now that everyone’s dressed up, let’s get some dinner in before we go clubbing.“

“Sounds like a good idea.”, you agreed in a good mood, the sea air made you hungry.

At the restaurant Keira studied the menu thoroughly before looking at you with an innocent smile on her lips.

“Everything here sounds so good, do you want to share?”, she asked.

“Sure.”, you replied happily. Above your heads the fairy lights were switched on and you could hear the waves crashing on to the shore in the background.

The romantic atmosphere was quickly disturbed by your older sister.

“Excuse me? I thought you’d share with me!”, she pouted, sending glances at the Barca player which could kill.

“What about your girlfriend? Doesn’t she want to share with you?”, Keira asked in return, cheeks flushed.

“Yes, Lee, no need to be that dramatic about it.”, Alex Greenwood intervened laughing.

“I’m not dramatic.”, Leah countered smirking.

“That’s just how she’s.”, you explained cheekily.

“Why don’t we order food for the table so we can all share?”, your girlfriend suggested hoping this would calm the Blonde Arsenal defender down.

“Yes, that’s perfect. I’m in.”, the two Alex’s declared grinning.

“Same, you too, Leah?”, you turned around to investigate your sister’s face, waiting for her reaction.

“Sure.”, she nodded, sounding much calmer already.

 “What about a first round of cocktails?”, Jess wanted to know.

“Please.”, Leah answered.

A few minutes later the drinks arrived at your table, beaming you toasted with her. “Cheers.”

“Cheers.”, she responded grinning.  

The sweetness and the alcohol sparked the desire in you to touch your lover’s curly hair again.

“Stop it.”, Keira demanded giggling.

“I’m not doing anything.”, you remarked in a not guilty tone.

“Yes, you’re. Stop it.”, she bit her lip nervously.

“Fine.”, you sighed defeated, quickly finishing your cocktail.

After the last sip you stood up smiling delighted at the other girls. “Girls, are we ready for the club now?”

“Let’s go.”, Alex Greenwood chirmed.

The sun was long gone now, the moon and the stars shown brightly as you and your sister former and current teammates joined the Ibizan night life.

Something your sister and you both shared was the passion for music. While Leah preferred to sing you would take every chance you could get to dance. Before Keira your first love has been rhythm and beats.

“Come on, Kei.”, Alex nudged the red-haired woman who admired you from the distance.

“I don’t dance. I’m here for the drinks.”, she waved the sports journalist off.

“But I do. Come on, Alex.”, Leah remarked cheerfully.

“Coming.“, Alex laughed and let the defender pull her into the direction of the dance floor.

The other Alex jumped up as well, following closely behind: “Hey, wait for me.“

You caught Keiras eye from across the room and danced your way over to her. You were not ready to stop yet but you also didn’t want to leave her alone.

Keira reached for your wrist with a laugh: “Stop twirling around, y/n.“

“Why?“, you asked, spinning out of her grasp.

“Just because.“

You stopped for a moment, studying her face. There was something serious and pleading in her eyes that you didn’t understand. You only wanted to continue dancing with your friends. “Keira…“

You interrupted yourself, taking in a sharp breath in surprise as two hands laid on your hips and spun you around.

A man in his mid-thirties and clearly drunk grinned at you. His gaze traveled down to your neckline while he asked you something that your brain didn’t seem to comprehend. Apparently he wanted you to dance with him but everything about him made clear that he had other things in mind than just dancing.

You froze in place, not sure if you felt disgusted or disgusting.

Just when you were about to say something, your sister squeezed between him and you and pushed him back: “Sorry, no. That’s my sister!“

“And she’s already taken.“, Keira added. You hadn’t noticed that Keira had gotten up from her seat as well.

Leahs head whipped towards her best friend: “What?“

“Uhm…“, you mumbled as you watched the man retreat with his hands raised in surrender.

You desperately tried to find a good reason to change the subject but you just couldn’t come up with one.

“Who is it, y/n? One of your colleagues or one of the Barca girlies?“, Leah asked, her voice tinted with anger.

“It’s…uhm…“, you started and forced yourself not to look at Keira. Lying would be so easy right now. But did you actually want to keep hiding?

Your sister got impatient: “Just tell me.“

“Keira.“, was all you could get out and prayed that you made the right choice.

The two best friends looked at each other. Keira nodded slowly: “It’s me.“

“Wait, you?! When? How? She’s my little sister!“ Leahs eyebrows furrowed in anger.

Keira shrugged, trying to keep her voice calm: “In Barcelona… it just happened.“

Your sister turned towards you with her jaw set: “We’ll talk about this tomorrow morning!“

She stormed off without waiting for an answer and you quietly wondered where she would go.

Keira and you ended the night there and went back to your hotel room.

You walked out on the balcony overlooking the ocean, Keira followed right behind you.

“She’s really mad.“, you said nervously into the night sky.

The midfielder wrapped her arms around you and rolled her eyes: “She can’t be mad about this.“

You knew she had a point.

“No, Lee is more upset about the fact that we didn’t tell her.“

“Still. I can talk with her if you want me to.”, Keira offered while you kept watching the waves come and go which was scarily similar to your older sister’s temper. Deep down you knew she would eventually calm down.

“No, I’ll do it, it’s fine.”, you assured the Barcelona player before kissing her temple softly.

For a moment she closed her eyes under your touch. “She’ll be fine.”, the midfielder whispered in a convinced tone as her lips touched yours in a heartfelt kiss.

“What was the kiss for?”, you raised an eyebrow at her curiously.

“For good luck.”, Keira replied smirking.

“But she said tomorrow so maybe we could just go inside and..”, you begun rambling.

“You think that’s a good idea?”, your girlfriend interrupted you with a doubtful look on her face.

“No, I’ll do it now.”, you sighed, knowing fully well that some things shouldn’t be put on hold. Although you’d miss the comforting hug of the midfielder who pretended to hate them but always made an exception for you.

Cautiously you stood at the entry of the hotel room your sister and her girlfriend were staying in. “Lee, can we chat outside?”

Without a word the older blonde got up and put on her shoes, signalling that she was ready to talk to you outside.

For a while the two of you walked silently on the sand which felt still warm under your naked feet.

“So, you and Keira, huh?”, Leah broke the silence, sounding more curious than mad this time.

“Yeah.”, you answered timidly.

“Since when?” the defender continued asking.

“We got closer when she came to Barcelona.”, you confessed.

“That was forever ago.”, she noted slightly hurt by your reply.

“Yes, but we just started dating a few months ago.”, you added quickly. This much was true. Undoubtedly, you always had a soft spot for your sister’s best friend. The more time you two spend together, the more it became obvious that there was more than just friendship.

“And you didn’t tell me.”, Leah swallowed hard through that realization.

“You didn’t ask me.”, you reminded her.

“If you’re dating my best friend? How was I supposed to know.”, she retorted.

“No, in general, it’s mostly about you when you call me.”, you countered.

“I didn’t realize that. I’m sorry. But I thought you’d tell me such things.”, the defender apologized, her skin despite the tan turned pale.

“It’s okay. I guess we weren’t great sisters for each other recently.”, you admitted guiltily.

Leah nodded in reluctant agreement: “I guess we weren’t.“

There was a moment of silence between the two of you, not uncomfortable but thoughtful.

“But we could do better now.“, you said determinedly,

Your sister stopped walking. You only realized that wasn’t on your side anymore after a few more steps.

You turned towards her and caught her staring at you.

“Y/n?“, she asked.

“Yes?“

“Are you happy?“

You smiled at her: “Very.“

“With Kei?“

“Yes.“, you confirmed again.

Leah studied your face for a moment, searching for any indication of a lie before she finally nodded once: “Okay.“

“Okay?“, you echoed with hopefulness in your voice. You didn’t want to fight with your sister. You wanted her and Keira in your life.

Leah kicked up some sand with her shoe: “Yes, okay. I think I can live with that.“

“Good.“, you beamed and slowly continued your walk, waiting for your sister to take her place by your side again.

You thought your talk was over when your sister suddenly spoke up again: “Y/n?“

You looked at her, signalling her to continue.

“Just because you live a life outside of the public eye doesn’t mean I’m not interested in your life or I’m not proud of you.“

Her words caught you by surprise. You frowned at her in confusion. “Wait, you’re proud of me?“

“Why do you sound so surprised? Obviously I’m proud of you.“

You stared down at the fine sand under your feet: “Sorry.“

Another break in your conversation arose. Apparently, struggling to express your emotions properly ran in your family.

“Not everyone has the bravery to go abroad for work… I would not.“, Leah continued.

You looked back up at her: “Really?“

She nodded slowly: “You know how much I love home. And Arsenal. I just couldn’t.“

Hearing this filled you with pride but at the same time, you had to suppress a smile because you really couldn’t imagine your sister anywhere else.

“True, you’re such a homebody.“, you laughed.

Your sister smirked and gave you a small shrug: “See, we’re just very different.“

“Yes, but that’s okay.“, you assured her. You could feel the tension dissolve slowly.

Leah raised an eyebrow: “I will still have to talk to Keira though.“

You let out a groan: “Oh no, not the big sister talk.“

“Oh yes, even for my best friend.“

“Fine, but try and be nice, okay?“, you asked innocently.

“Of course.“

“Thank you.“

She reached over and ruffled through your blonde hair: “Anything for my little sister.“

You tried to get revenge. You two were laughing like children while you chased her down the beach.

You never heard anything about their talk. Both Keira and Leah refused to tell you anything and stubbornly maintained their silence. You didn’t care anyway. They seemed closer than ever and that was all that mattered to you.

The next days were spend at the beach, enjoying the sun and the refreshing coolness of the sea.

“No. I’m not going into the water.“ Keira shook her head determinedly. She had spend the morning straightening her hair but to you, that was not a reason to miss out on swimming.

“Come on.“ You impatiently pulled at her arm.

Leah appeared on Keiras other side, pushing her forward. “You better go now.“

Together you barrelled towards the sea, falling over each as soon as you reached the water. The rest of your friend group burst out laughing,

Keira pushed her now wet hair back. It started to curl at the ends already.

“I hate you Williamsons!“, she laughed.

You kissed her cheek: “No, you don’t.“

“Not really, no.“, Keira admitted and pulled you towards her by your waist to kiss you.

Leah grimaced in disgust: “Okay, but you don’t have to kiss in front of me.“

“Stop complaining.“, you rolled your eyes.

Keira grinned at her: “You better get used to it, Lee.“

[bestruction]

Uchiha's symbol

Summary: You surprise him by wearing the clan's symbol

Warnings: a tiny bit suggestive

Sasuke stood near the door, pulling his cloak over his shoulders as he waited for you to finish getting ready. He was used to you taking your time, especially now that you were six months pregnant and fussier about how your clothes fit. Still, he wasn’t expecting you to walk out of their room in that.

The dress was a deep red, clinging to your curves in a way that left little to the imagination while still being elegant. It flared slightly around your hips, emphasizing your growing belly, and ended above your knees. Your hair was pinned back, exposing your glowing face.

You looked radiant, almost ethereal.

Sasuke's dark eyes trailed over your form, lingering on your belly before snapping back to your face. "You’re wearing that out?" he asked, his voice even, though his throat felt oddly tight.

You smirked at him, brushing past him to grab your bag. "Why not? You don’t like it?"

He didn’t respond, which only made your grin wider.

He liked it way too much to leave the house now.

"Wait," You said, stopping in the middle of the room. "You haven’t even seen the best part."

You turned slowly, holding your hair up so your back was fully exposed. That’s when he saw it—stitched onto the fabric, just between your shoulder blades, was the unmistakable red-and-white fan of the Uchiha clan symbol.

Sasuke blinked, his expression unreadable as his eyes fixated on the emblem. His silence stretched long enough for you to glance over your shoulder, suddenly feeling nervous.

"Do you... like it?" You asked softly, her voice almost hesitant.

He stepped closer, his fingers grazing the fabric of the dress just below the symbol. His touch was so light you barely felt it, but the weight of his gaze sent shivers down her spine. He never thought he would see someone else wearing this so proudly.

"People will glare at you on the streets," he said quietly, his voice softer than usual.

After everything that happened, the Uchiha name carried the curse of whispers around the village. Most people didn't agree with letting an ex-criminal wander around.

You nodded, turning to face him fully. "I wanted to show you that I’m proud to be part of your clan... our clan. And—" You glanced down at her belly with a soft smile. "—I wanted our baby to know it too."

Sasuke’s expression softened, a rare, tender look crossing his face. He reached out, his hands settling on your waist as he pulled her closer.

"You didn’t have to," he said, his voice low, but there was a warmth there that you didn’t miss.

"I wanted to," You whispered, standing on your toes to kiss his cheek.

He let out a quiet sigh, his forehead resting against yours for a moment before he pulled back slightly. "You look so beautiful," he admitted, his hands briefly caressing your bump.

You couldn’t help but laugh softly. "I’ll take that as your approval."

"Hn," he murmured, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. Then, with a rare playful edge in his tone, he added, "But you should probably wear a cloak over it or we won't leave the house so soon." He said sliding a few kisses on your jawline, right where it made you close your eyes.

You laughed again, swatting at his chest as he started pulling up the skirt of your dress. "Don't you dare, Sasuke Uchiha. I just got ready"

"You can keep the dress on" he replied simply, pressing a kiss on your neck. You felt your beck reach the wall and chuckled at how eager he was.

"Naruto is waiting for us." You reminded him and yourself, feeling your body get warmer by the way he caressed your thighs. He smirked at you and gently turned you to face the wall. Sasuke's gaze fell on the clan symbol on your back again.

His long fingers found its way to under your dress, raising the skirt enough to expose your panties. Honestly, he had to hold himself to not cum just by looking at you in that position with the fucking symbol of his clan on your back. It made some possessive part of his brain go insane.

"He can wait"

It's all he says before grinding his bulge on you, and yes, you two arrived in Naruto's house very late.

[kasssscali]

could we get some general jax x reader hc's? like how he acts around his crush, how he maybe goes about confessing, if at all bc i feel like he'd be the type to draw it out for a good while just to mess with the object of his affections/torment

It takes time for Jax to develop feelings for you, he really has to know someone well enough

and for the longest time he’s in denial when it comes to his feelings for you

he’ll start to get kind of grabby when he has a crush on you, he might try to make small talk by wrapping an arm around your shoulder

he is a lot taller than you, he will definitely grab your stuff and hold it above his head laughing at your pathetic attempts to get it back

it becomes kind of obvious he’s pretty drawn to you, when anyone confronts him about it, his response is always

“don’t know what your talkin’ about” or “what kind of sucker do you take me for? Romance and feelings ain’t really my thing”

it takes him forever to finally have the realization dawned on him that he actually likes you more than he thinks he does

At first he obviously saw you as someone just to mess with, and those feelings grew into a thought of Maybe they Aren’t so bad, until Why can’t I get them Out of my head?!

He’s not that experienced with that type of stuff, hell he doesn’t even go as near as to talk about whatever is bothering him

He’s mad at you that you made him feel this way, and since he doesn’t like to talk about whats bothering him he brings such a sour mood to the circus

He sulks a lo, and just giving everyone bad attitude over everything. He’s not taking this well, instead of making little snarky comments when he wants to, his usual responses are now “Yeah…”

”mhm…”

”sure Thing” followed by an eye role

it’s not exactly like Jax to just sulk around everywhere, yeah sometimes he was snarky and quick to just be a total jackass when it wasn’t necessary

but he was acting so different, now he’s just mad

Everyone in the circus has now tried to talk to him about it, the one who actually got to him was Zooble believe it or not

Zooble could instantly put two and two together and quickly found out what was bothering him

it was you

Jax was denying everything Zooble said, it got to the point Zooble actually snapped at him

He could either tell you how he was feeling, or get over you and drop the attitude

That really got to Jax, he wasn’t showing it and continued to pretend like Zooble was just making stuff up, but what Z said really got to him

Its a good thing that Zooble eventually left because it gives Jax a minute to think

he doesn’t have anyone around him to fake his feelings for, its just him

It takes FOREVER for him to confess to you, and when he does he does it so casual

After Zooble talked to him, he was quickly back to his old self

honestly no one missed that

Out of the corner of your eye you saw him sly over to you, smirk and all. “Heya! You seem to be kinda alone right now~” He laughs at you in a taunting matter “Say… how about you and me have dinner tonight, what do you say?~”

if you agree, he’ll make it seem like its no big deal when deep down it makes his heart pound

if you say no, he’ll immediately go back to sulking until Zooble has to help him out again

the choice is yours

[ariaste]

Do you have any advice for absolute beginners who are writing-curious? My education was cobbled together and I didn’t have to write much there. I’m in a professional field where I do very technical and structured writing, but self-directed writing feels like a stranger. Writing basics/advice seems like it’s either for someone who has way more practice than I do, condescending, or written by someone who is convinced that writing is pain. Sometimes all three…

I definitely agree that a lot of writing advice (especially the sort you find on the internet, written by people with dubious qualifications to be giving advice) is... less than helpful. Even a lot of the published books on writing are not very helpful. However, I have some recommendations!

Wonderbook by Jeff Vandermeer. If you buy only one book, let it be this one. It's fantastic.

Steering the Craft by Ursula K Le Guin.

The Elements of Eloquence by Mark Forsyth. More about the flowers of rhetoric (that is, tools like metaphor, alliteration, metonymy, synecdoche, parataxis, etc) than WRITING, but it is genuinely one of my favorites.

There are also a buttload of amazing articles on writing from people who legitimately do know what they're talking about on the SFWA blog! (Example: Key Conditions for Suspense)

But honestly, if you are an absolute total beginner, my advice would be to ignore everything I just said. You don't need writing books or articles. Just give yourself permission to play. Read some of your favorite books and practice noticing things about how the writer did things. Every time you go, "Oh, I love this scene," or you notice your heart racing, or tears coming to your eyes, or WHATEVER -- pause and read it again and try to figure out where the magic trick is happening. You could even try transcribing a scene, either by hand or by typing -- this is an OLLLLLD apprentice-writer's trick to help trick your brain into thinking that IT is doing the writing itself so it can get used to what the movements of the dance are.

Another old, old apprentice-writer's trick is to make a list of all the stuff you really love in books. Character archetypes, tropes, themes, topics, vibrant sensory details, mental images that speak to you, whatever. Mine has things like: wizards, dragons, enemies-to-lovers, only one bed, etc. Then you can use that list (I call it a "Magpie Hoard" but people have a million different names, I did not invent this tool) to cobble together ideas -- and because the ideas are made up of raw material that you love, you are going to love the ideas too! You can even represent the genesis of an idea mathematically. The Idea Formula (and this one I DID invent) is: Idea = ❤️ + ❤️ (+ ❤️...) + "what if"

Where ❤️ stands for "thing from your Magpie Hoard". So for example:

Cozy fantasy + badass lady soldier + the smell of baked bread + murder mystery + "what if"... = "What if a grizzled lady sellsword retired from mercenary life, rented a room above a bakery in a quiet village, and immediately got caught up in investigating a murder?"

You can do this all day long, just generating story ideas based on all the stuff you love in books.

And then... y'know, just get out there and play! Make some messes. If you don't like what you made, nobody ever has to see it, and it's EXTREMELY easy to hide the evidence. :)

[bright-side20]

A little Elriel fanfic 😘

Elain hummed to herself as she arranged the batch of cookies on the tray. The warm, sugary scent filled the kitchen. She adjusted the oven, carefully sliding the tray inside. She wiped her hands on her apron, satisfaction warming her chest as she imagined Nyx’s delighted smile when he saw the treats.

The faint breeze of Azriel’s wings rustled her hair just before his hands slid around her waist. She immediately leaned into his warmth, his chest pressing lightly against her back.

"Busy, are we?” he murmured into her ear, his voice teasing.

She bit her lip, trying to focus on the task at hand. “Nyx asked for cookies,” she said, as though it explained everything.

Azriel hummed, the sound vibrating against her back. “Didn’t we agree that today was supposed to be about us? No interruptions, no tasks. Just… us.”

Elain smiled, turning her head slightly to glance at him. “You’ve seen his face when he asks for something,” she said softly, a smile tugging at her lips.

Azriel shook his head, exhaling a soft laugh. “You’re spoiling the kid.”

She turned back to cleaning the workspace, her voice light with amusement. “Says the one who flew halfway across the Continent to find him that dragon figurine.”

Before she could react, his hands were on her waist, and with one swift motion, he turned her and lifted her onto the counter. She gasped, gripping his shoulders.

“Azriel!” she exclaimed, though there was no real protest in her voice.

His hands stayed on her waist, his thumbs brushing against her ribs. “It was a strategic mission,” he said. “That toy was the only thing that stopped him from crying every time Feyre left the room.”

Elain laughed and leaned to press a soft kiss on his lips. “But honestly, you have to admit it ,you’re the one who spoils him. I just bake cookies,” she said, batting her lashes at him.

Azriel’s hazel eyes glinted, a mix of gold and green that always seemed to catch her off guard. “You don’t just bake cookies, love,” he said . “Nyx will remember this. Trust me.”

“I doubt that. He’s only three. By the time he’s older, he won’t remember I did this,” she said.

Azriel’s hand covered hers, his thumb brushing over her knuckles. “He’ll remember how loved he felt,” he said, his voice warm.

Elain’s throat tightened, thinking about all Azriel had endured as a child. She reached up, cupping his face as she smiled. “You’re going to be an incredible father,” she said without thinking.

Azriel’s wings twitched, and his expression shifted, a flicker of hesitation crossing his face. “I don’t know,” he admitted, his gaze dropping to his scarred hands.

Elain took his hand gently, her fingers brushing over the scars. She brought it to her lips, pressing a soft kiss to his palm before cradling it against her cheek, letting its warmth seep into her skin. “You’ve never thought about having children?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

His throat bobbed as he swallowed, his eyes darting back to hers. “No. Not until…”

“Not until me,” she finished softly, her lashes lowering as a shiver ran through her at the memory of his words, the way he’d looked at her, the rough promise in his voice I’m going to fuck you until you’re pregnant.

Azriel’s eyes darkened, like he could see the thought flickering in her mind, feel the heat of it. “Not until you,” he said, his voice rough, his thumb stroking over her cheek.

Elain’s cheeks warmed, but she held his gaze. “I’ve thought about it,” she admitted. “How it would feel to have little ones running around. I think…” Her lips curved into a tender smile. “I think we’d make good parents.”

“What if…” He paused, his throat working as he swallowed hard. “If the baby has wings it... I couldn’t...” His voice cracked, fear showing in his eyes. “I can’t risk losing you, Elain.”

Her fingers threaded through his hair. “Azriel,” she said, her voice gentle, “you won’t lose me.”

“You can’t know that,” he replied.

“Yes, I can,” she said, her voice steady. “Because I’ve seen it.”

His brow furrowed. “Seen what?”

“A vision,” she said. “Of us. Of our children.” She cupped his face. “Azriel, we’re going to have children. And I was fine. I am fine. I saw it. Felt it. There’s nothing to fear.”

His breath hitched, his hands tightening around her thighs. “You saw…?”

She nodded, tears shimmering in her eyes. “A boy with your wings and your smile. And a girl with my eyes. We’re going to be okay. I promise.”

His shoulders sagged slightly, the tension easing from his body. “Why didn’t you tell me that before?” he asked.

“I was saving it for our anniversary,” she admitted with a small laugh, “but I couldn’t keep it in any longer.”

Azriel buried his face in her neck, breathing in her scent. When he looked back at her, a tear ran down his cheek as he said, “I love you.”

She wiped his tear and leaned forward, pressing her forehead to his. “I love you.”

His hand slid into her hair, tilting her as his lips captured hers. The kiss was slow and lazy, as if they had all the time in the world.

Elain pulled back just enough to breathe in the air around them, the warm scent of cookies reaching her nose.

“The cookies,” she murmured against his lips.

“Cookies?” Azriel repeated.

She nodded, biting her lip playfully. “They’re done.”

He didn’t waste a second before moving toward the oven, pulling the tray of freshly baked cookies out with ease and setting them on the counter. “So,” he said, stepping closer and sliding his hands around her waist again, “can I have my wife now?”

Her gaze dropped, taking in the flour smudges on her apron, her thighs where his hands had gripped her, and even the faint outline of her touch on his shirt. Her cheeks flushed as her eyes darted to the mess dusting his pants.

She looked back up at him. “I think,” she said, “I need a bath.”

“A bath?” he echoed, stepping closer, his voice dropping to a rasp. “Together or apart?”

She tilted her chin, a mischievous smile on her lips. “Depends,” she replied, her fingers skimming down his chest, tracing the hard lines of muscle beneath his shirt. “Will you behave?”

“Not a chance,” he said.

Before she could respond, he hooked his hands under her thighs and lifted her effortlessly off the counter. Her legs wrapped around his waist, the solid heat of him pressing against her core.

She gasped, half laughing, half breathless as he carried her toward the bathroom.

As he set her down gently, his hands lingering at her waist, Elain caught her reflection in the mirror,flushed cheeks, flour smudged skin, and eyes alight with joy. Then her gaze moved to Azriel,his scarred hands gripping her as if he couldn’t bear to let her go. His hair was tousled, his lips flushed from hers, and his hazel eyes fixed entirely on her.

Her chest ached with how much she loved him. Not just for the way he looked at her, like she was his whole world, but for the quiet strength in him, the devotion he carried, the love he never tried to hide. Her hands slid up to his jaw, her thumbs brushing over the smooth skin of his cheeks.

“I want it,” she whispered. “Everything. You. Us. The family we’ll build together.”

His hands tightened on her waist, his wings flaring slightly behind him. “Elain…” he rasped, as her hand slid lower, over his chest, lingering just above his heart.

She leaned in, pressing a kiss to his chest, her lips brushing over the steady beat of his heart. “I want to give you everything,” she murmured, her voice trembling. “I want to give you that life, Azriel. I want it all, with you.”

“You already do,” he murmured, his voice hoarse. “You already have.”

But the way his eyes darkened, the way his grip shifted, as if he were trying to hold back...told her he felt it too. That same need, that same desire to make her his in every way. To give her the life she’d just promised him. And when his tongue traced her lips, savoring her, she knew they were on the same page...

[mintyys-blog]

CLINGY— peter parker

Peter Parker loved a lot of things: science, swinging through the city, his Aunt May’s wheatcakes—but above all, he loved you.

You were his first real relationship, and he was your first boyfriend. So naturally, you clung to him like a lifeline. You wanted to be around him all the time, whether it was curling up beside him while he studied, calling him just to hear his voice, or texting him even if you had nothing to say. And Peter? He never minded.

But one night, everything changed.

Peter was at Ned’s place, playing video games with the guys. The sounds of button mashing and occasional swearing filled the room, but then, the conversation drifted elsewhere.

“Dude, your girlfriend is so clingy,” one of his friends joked. “How do you even deal with that?”

Peter just laughed, his focus still on the game. “Honestly? I love it. I think it’s adorable.”

But you didn’t hear that part.

You had stopped by to surprise him, but as you stood outside the door, the word clingy rang in your ears. You felt your stomach drop. Annoying. Too much. That’s what they meant, right? Even if Peter didn’t outright agree, he still laughed. Did that mean he thought so too?

The insecurity hit you like a truck.

So, you pulled away. Completely.

No more texting him good morning and goodnight. No more calling just to hear his voice before you fell asleep. No more cuddling into his side when you were together. You needed to prove—to yourself, to Peter, to his friends—that you weren’t too much.

At first, Peter thought it was just a bad day. Then a bad week. But when two weeks passed with no soft hugs, no absentminded hand-holding, no rambling voicemails about how your day went, he realized something was definitely wrong.

Enough was enough.

Peter cornered you at your locker after school, placing a hand on the door to keep you from escaping. “Okay. What’s going on?”

You blinked up at him, feigning innocence. “What do you mean?”

His eyes softened, searching your face. “You know what I mean.” He sighed, his voice quieter now. “You’ve been… different. Distant. You barely even look at me anymore.”

You swallowed hard, staring at the books in your hands. “I just—I didn’t want to be annoying.”

Peter’s brows furrowed. “Annoying?”

You shifted uncomfortably. “I heard what your friends said. About me being clingy.”

His heart clenched.

“You—” he exhaled, realization washing over him. “You heard that?”

You nodded, still refusing to meet his eyes. “I didn’t want you to think I was too much. So I figured I should… back off.”

Peter’s chest ached. He reached for your hands, his fingers curling around yours. “Baby.” He gave a gentle squeeze, finally making you look at him. “I love that you’re clingy.”

You blinked. “What?”

“I love it,” he repeated, eyes warm. “It makes me feel important. Like… I don’t know, like I matter to you.” His lips quirked into a small smile. “Sure, maybe you overdo it sometimes, but that’s just you. And I wouldn’t change that for anything.”

Your breath hitched, emotions bubbling to the surface. “But your friends—”

“Don’t matter,” he cut in gently. “What you and I have? That’s what matters.”

You swallowed, the weight of your insecurities starting to lift. “So… you don’t think I’m annoying?”

Peter grinned. “I think you’re adorable.”

A small, relieved laugh slipped past your lips, and Peter pulled you into his arms, holding you tight.

“I missed this,” he murmured against your hair.

Your fingers clutched at his hoodie, and for the first time in weeks, you let yourself lean into him.

“I missed this too.”

[velvetvisionsaurora]

Synopsis: When talented producer Y/n (known professionally as the mysterious "Celeste") accepts a position at JYP Entertainment to help Stray Kids with their comeback, she expects to focus solely on creating music. What she doesn't expect is the immediate connection she feels with Han Jisung—the group's quick-witted, sensitive rapper and producer who's been following her career from afar.

Pairing: Han Jisung x Reader

Warnings: Angst, Smut, Heartbreak

Author’s note: I will be slower to update both Compass of the Heart and Forbidden Harmony. My dad passed away (it wasn’t unexpected we knew it was coming) but things have been kinda crazy lately and I haven’t had my normal downtime or headspace to write, so I’ll need to re read everything and get my headspace back with both stories. Thank you for all the love and support for both of my stories so far! 💜💜

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Masterlist

Chapter 3: Movie Night

"This is ridiculous," you muttered, staring at the mountain of boxes still cluttering your dorm. After almost a week in Seoul, you'd barely made a dent in unpacking, too consumed with studio work and adjusting to the new time zone.

You picked up your phone, checking the time. Just past nine in the morning on a Saturday—your first official day off since arriving. The perfect opportunity to finally transform this box-filled space into something resembling a home.

A knock at your door interrupted your planning.

"Coming!" you called, stepping carefully around a precarious tower of records you'd been meaning to shelve. You tripped over a stray cable, nearly face-planting before catching yourself on the edge of your desk. "Smooth, Y/n. Real smooth."

You opened the door to find Felix's beaming face, his smile impossibly bright for the early hour. Beside him stood I.N., looking slightly more subdued but equally cheerful.

"Good morning!" Felix greeted in his deep, resonant voice that still surprised you coming from his sunny face. "We brought breakfast."

He held up a bag that emitted a mouth-watering aroma of fresh pastries.

"And coffee," I.N. added, lifting a tray with three cups. "Americano, right? I remembered from yesterday."

"You two are actual lifesavers," you said, genuinely touched by their thoughtfulness. "Come in, but... fair warning, it's chaos in here. Enter at your own risk."

They stepped inside, eyes widening comically at the disarray of boxes and half-unpacked belongings.

"Whoa," I.N. breathed, taking in the scene. "Have you been living like this all week?"

"Unfortunately," you admitted with a sheepish smile. "Between the jet lag and studio sessions, unpacking kept falling to the bottom of my priority list. Right under 'remember to eat' and just above 'basic hygiene.'"

Felix laughed, placing the breakfast bag on the small kitchen counter—one of the few clear surfaces in the apartment—and turned to you with determined eyes.

"That's it. Operation 'Make Y/n's Dorm Habitable Before She Gets Buried Alive' is now in effect. We're helping you unpack."

"You don't have to—" you started, but I.N. was already opening a box labeled 'Kitchen'.

"We want to," he said simply, a soft smile on his face. "That's what friends do, right, noona?"

Warmth bloomed in your chest at the casual display of acceptance.

"Right," you agreed, returning his smile. "Thank you, Innie."

His eyes lit up at the nickname, a delighted grin spreading across his face.

Felix clapped his hands together. "Okay! Let's eat first, then tackle this mess. I'm an expert organizer—you should see my side of the dorm room."

"It's true," I.N. confirmed. "Everything color-coded and labeled. It's a little scary, honestly. I caught him reorganizing my socks by shade and thickness last week."

"They were in complete disarray!" Felix protested, unpacking pastries onto plates. "Who mixes ankle socks with crew socks? It's barbaric!"

You burst out laughing, feeling some of the tension you'd been carrying all week begin to dissolve.

There was something about these two that made you feel instantly at ease, as if you'd known them for years rather than days.

Over breakfast, sitting cross-legged on the floor because your small dining table was buried under equipment, the conversation flowed naturally. Felix told stories about their trainee days, I.N. shared gossip about other idols you'd worked with, and you recounted tales from LA's music scene.

"So why 'Celeste'?" I.N. asked, curious about your producer pseudonym. "Does it have a special meaning?"

You smiled, remembering. "It was my grandmother's name. She was the one who first taught me to play piano. When I started producing, it felt right to honor her."

"That's really sweet," Felix said, looking genuinely touched. "Family is so important."

"Speaking of which," you said, "how are you both dealing with being away from your families? Especially you, Felix—Australia's not exactly next door."

Felix's expression turned wistful. "It's hard sometimes. But," he brightened, gesturing between himself and I.N., "we've built our own family here. The members, the staff—even you now."

"Me?" You blinked, surprised by the quick inclusion.

"Of course," I.N. said matter-of-factly. "You're part of our team now. Even if it's just for six months," he added, a slight pout forming on his face that made him look even younger.

"Well, I'm honored to be your temporary family member," you said, feeling a surprising pang at the reminder of your limited stay. "Does that make me the cool aunt or the weird cousin?"

"Definitely cool aunt," Felix decided. "The one who sneaks us candy and teaches us bad words in other languages."

"I can absolutely fulfill that role," you agreed with a laugh.

"Enough emotional talk!" Felix declared, jumping to his feet with renewed energy. "We have unpacking to do! Innie, you're on clothes duty. Y/n, direct us. I'll be the muscle."

"The muscle?" you repeated, eyeing his slender frame with amusement.

Felix flexed dramatically. "These guns aren't just for show!"

What followed was three hours of organized chaos. Felix took charge with surprising efficiency, creating systems for everything from your vinyl collection to your extensive array of tea. I.N. was put in charge of clothing, which mostly consisted of him holding up various items and asking, "Where does this go?" before following your instructions.

"What even is this?" I.N. asked, holding up a shapeless garment with multiple straps dangling from it.

You squinted at it. "I... have absolutely no idea. Put it in the 'figure out later' pile."

"Y/n, this pile is becoming alarmingly large," Felix noted, eyeing the growing mountain of mysterious items.

Music played from your portable speaker as you worked—a playlist that bounced between your favorite hip-hop tracks and songs by Stray Kids that made Felix and I.N. groan dramatically but sing along anyway.

"Please, not 'God's Menu' again," I.N. begged when the track came on. "I hear it in my nightmares."

"COOKING LIKE A CHEF I'M A FIVE-STAR MICHELIN!" Felix belted out at top volume, using a rolled-up poster as a microphone.

You joined in, deliberately singing off-key until all three of you were doubled over with laughter.

"Oh my god, is that a first-press David Bowie?" Felix exclaimed, carefully lifting a vinyl record from one of the boxes. "Heroes? This is incredible!"

You smiled at his appreciation. "It was a gift from a mentor when I produced my first successful track. Do you collect vinyl too?"

"Trying to," Felix admitted. "It's Seungmin's thing really—he's got the serious collection. But I'm learning to appreciate analog sound."

"We should do a listening session sometime," you suggested. "I brought some rare pressings that sound completely different from the digital remasters."

"Yes!" Felix agreed enthusiastically. "Vinyl night! We can get Seungmin in on it too. He'll probably propose marriage on the spot when he sees your collection."

"Oh no, I can't handle another admirer," you joked. "Hyunjin's attention is already a full-time job."

"He moves fast, doesn't he?" Felix laughed. "I swear he practices those pick-up lines in the mirror."

"I caught him doing exactly that," I.N. confessed, arranging your sweaters by color. "Complete with smoldering stares and hair flips."

"No!" you gasped, delighted by this gossip.

"Oh yes," I.N. confirmed. "He has a whole routine. The lean, the smile, the casual touch..." He demonstrated, flipping imaginary long hair and striking a pose that was such a perfect imitation of Hyunjin that you choked on your laughter.

As you continued working, you found yourself sharing more personal stories than you had intended—about your family, your struggles breaking into the industry as a woman, your creative process. In return, Felix and I.N. opened up about their own journeys, the hardships of training, homesickness, self-doubt.

"Chan was my lifeline when I first arrived," Felix confessed, carefully arranging your books on a newly assembled shelf. "The language barrier was so frustrating. But he'd stay up with me, teaching me Korean phrases, helping me communicate with the others."

"He's like that with everyone," I.N. added, folding a sweater with surprising precision. "Always taking care of us before himself. One time he stayed up for three days straight helping me with my vocals before an evaluation."

"I noticed that in the studio," you said. "He makes sure everyone's ideas are heard, even when he clearly has his own vision."

"That's our leader," Felix said with evident pride. "Dad Chan in action."

"What about Han?" you asked, trying to keep your tone casual. "What was he like as a trainee?"

Felix and I.N. exchanged a knowing glance that you pretended not to notice.

"Han was..." Felix began thoughtfully, "always the most contradictory person. Super confident on stage or in the recording booth, but then he'd barely speak in group settings sometimes."

"He once spent an entire day communicating only in written notes because he was too shy to talk to the new vocal coach," I.N. added with a fond smile. "But then he got on stage and absolutely destroyed his rap evaluation."

"He's gotten better," Felix continued. "But he still gets in his head a lot. Overthinks everything."

"Except when he's working with you," I.N. observed with a slight smile. "Chan says he's never seen Han so immediately comfortable collaborating with someone new."

You busied yourself with organizing your desk, hoping they wouldn't notice the pleased flush you felt rising in your cheeks. "We just happen to have compatible production styles."

"Music soulmates," I.N. teased, repeating Changbin's phrase that had apparently made its way through the entire group.

"So!" you said loudly, deliberately changing the subject. "What's the plan for the rest of the weekend? More dance practice for you guys?"

Felix allowed the deflection with an amused smile. "Actually, we have movie night tonight. The whole group. You should join us."

"Wouldn't I be intruding on your group bonding time?" you asked hesitantly.

"Not at all," I.N. insisted. "Everyone would love it if you came. Right, Felix?"

"Absolutely," Felix agreed. "Eight o'clock in the big dorm—that's Chan, Changbin, Hyunjin, and Han's place. They have the larger living room."

"Well, if you're sure..." you said, secretly pleased by the invitation.

"It's settled then," Felix declared, as if it had been decided long before this conversation. "But first, we finish Operation Dorm Transformation!"

By mid-afternoon, the miracle had been accomplished. Your dorm looked not just habitable but homey, with your vinyl collection proudly displayed, photos arranged on walls, clothes neatly put away (and yes, color-coded), and even a small herb garden Felix had insisted on setting up in your kitchen window.

"I can't believe we did it," you said, looking around in amazement. "I would have taken weeks on my own. And probably would have just given up and lived out of boxes for six months."

"That's what friends are for," Felix said simply, throwing an arm around your shoulders in an easy, affectionate gesture that felt surprisingly natural.

I.N. moved to your other side, leaning his head briefly against your shoulder. "Does this mean we get permanent breakfast privileges since we helped, noona?"

You laughed, instinctively ruffling his hair. "Absolutely. My door is always open for you two, Innie."

His smile at the nickname was worth every pastry you'd have to buy in the future.

"Careful," Felix warned with a grin. "Innie will take that literally and show up at 6 AM demanding pancakes."

"I would not!" I.N. protested, then paused. "Well, maybe not 6. More like 7:30."

You laughed again, a full, unrestrained sound that felt like release after days of carefully maintained professionalism. "7:30 it is, then. I'll stock up on pancake mix. And maybe invest in some earplugs for my neighbors, because apparently Felix uses showtunes as alarm music."

"It's motivational!" Felix defended. "Nothing gets you going like 'The Circle of Life' at full volume!"

As they left with promises to collect you for movie night, you stood in the center of your now-organized dorm, a strange feeling settling in your chest. It had been a long time since you'd allowed yourself to form such quick, easy friendships in a professional setting. Usually, you maintained careful boundaries, kept relationships cordial but distant.

But there was something about Felix's warmth and I.N.'s earnest affection that had bypassed your usual defenses. And beyond that, something about this entire group that made you feel... welcomed. Included.

It was dangerous, you knew. In six months, you'd be back in LA, and they would continue their careers here. Getting too attached would only make the inevitable separation harder.

But as you surveyed your dorm, now filled with touches of their help—the way Felix had arranged your books by color, how I.N. had insisted on making your bed with hospital corners—you couldn't bring yourself to regret the connection forming.

Whatever happened in six months, this friendship felt worth the potential heartache.

Han stared at his reflection in the bathroom mirror, critically assessing his appearance. He'd changed shirts three times already, which was ridiculous considering it was just movie night in their own dorm with the same people he saw every day.

Well, not quite the same people. You would be there too.

Felix had announced your attendance at earlier in the day, casually mentioning how he and I.N. had spent the day helping you unpack. Han had ignored the knowing looks Changbin shot him across the table, focusing instead on his food as if it contained the secrets of the universe.

"Just pick a shirt already," Changbin complained from the doorway. "It's movie night, not the MAMAs."

Han scowled at his roommate's reflection. "I'm just trying to look presentable."

"For who?" Changbin asked innocently. "We've all seen you in your Pokemon pajamas. The ones with the hole in the butt."

"That hole is barely noticeable," Han muttered defensively, finally settling on a simple black t-shirt. "And I'm not dressing for anyone. I just don't want to look like I rolled out of bed."

"Uh-huh," Changbin nodded skeptically. "Nothing to do with a certain pink-haired producer joining us? The one whose name you murmured in your sleep last night?"

Han's head whipped around. "I did not!"

"How would you know? You were asleep," Changbin said with a mischievous grin. "It was very sweet. 'Y/n, your production is so innovative... Y/n, your hair smells like strawberries...'"

"Shut up," Han groaned, pushing past Changbin to return to his room. "I don't talk in my sleep, and you're the worst roommate ever. What movie are we watching, anyway?"

"Hyunjin's choice tonight," Changbin answered, following Han like an unwanted shadow. "So probably something with beautiful people being dramatic and tragic while staring meaningfully into the distance."

"Great," Han sighed. Hyunjin's taste in films typically ran toward romantic melodramas that left everyone either in tears or existential crises.

"He's been talking about this one for weeks," Changbin continued, flopping onto Han's bed uninvited. "Something French. With subtitles."

Han grimaced. "I'll probably fall asleep halfway through."

"Not if you're busy watching someone else instead of the screen," Changbin teased, waggling his eyebrows suggestively.

"Don't you have somewhere else to be?" Han asked pointedly. "Like literally anywhere that's not here?"

Changbin grinned, clearly enjoying Han's discomfort. "Nope. But seriously, what's the deal with you and Y/n? You've been weirdly quiet about her since that day in the studio."

Han busied himself with arranging items on his desk that didn't need arranging. "There is no 'deal.' We work well together professionally. That's it."

"Professional. Right," Changbin nodded. "So you're not bothered at all that Hyunjin's been flirting with her all week? I think he's planning to sit next to her tonight. Probably do the whole yawn-and-stretch arm move."

Han's hand stilled momentarily before he forced himself to continue his pointless tidying. "Why would that bother me? Hyunjin flirts with everyone. He flirted with the delivery guy yesterday."

"To be fair, that delivery guy was pretty cute," Changbin mused. "But you're changing the subject. And you're not even slightly jealous that Felix and I.N. spent the entire day with her while we were stuck in dance practice?"

"They were helping her unpack," Han said stiffly. "That's what friends do."

"And what kind of friend are you being?" Changbin challenged. "The distant, mysterious type who only talks about music?"

Han frowned, feeling called out. "I do talk to her."

"Discussing chord progressions and beat patterns doesn't count," Changbin countered. "When was the last time you asked about her life? Her interests? Anything not music-related?"

Han opened his mouth to reply, then closed it again, realizing he didn't have a good answer. Despite their incredible musical chemistry, he'd carefully kept most of their interactions confined to work. Partly from professionalism, partly from the lingering awkwardness he felt around you that disappeared only when you were creating together.

"That's what I thought," Changbin said, taking Han's silence as confirmation. "Look, I'm not saying you need to make a move or anything. Just... be her friend. Get to know her. You might find out you don't even like her that much once you talk about something other than music."

Han doubted that very much, but he nodded anyway, if only to end this conversation. "Fine. I'll try to be more... friendly."

"Groundbreaking concept," Changbin deadpanned, getting up from the bed. "Maybe start with making eye contact for more than two seconds without looking like you've seen a ghost."

"I don't do that," Han protested.

"You absolutely do," Changbin insisted. "You look at her like she's simultaneously the sun and a scary movie jumpscare. It's hilarious to watch, actually."

Han threw a pillow at him, which Changbin dodged easily.

"Now come on," Changbin said, heading for the door. "Chan's ordered pizza, and if we don't claim our share, Hyunjin will eat it all while insisting he's on a diet."

As they headed to the living room, Han mentally practiced casual conversation starters, determined to follow Changbin's advice and interact with you normally tonight. Just friendly. Nothing more.

He could do friendly. Probably. Maybe.

The scene that greeted you when Felix and I.N. escorted you to the larger dorm at precisely eight o'clock was one of cheerful chaos. The living room had been transformed into a makeshift theater, with cushions and blankets arranged on the floor in front of the large TV. Pizza boxes were stacked on the coffee table alongside bowls of popcorn and an assortment of snacks that would make any nutritionist weep.

"Y/n!" Chan called out when he spotted you, waving you in. "Glad you could make it!"

"Thanks for having me," you replied, suddenly feeling a little shy about invading their personal space. This wasn't the company building or the studio—this was their home.

"We've been looking forward to it," Seungmin said, appearing from the kitchen with drinks. "Movie nights are a tradition."

"And now they're better because you're here," Hyunjin added smoothly, materializing at your side and slipping an arm around your shoulders. "You look beautiful tonight, by the way. That casual elegance is very hard to achieve."

You laughed, easing into the familiar pattern of his flirtation. Over the past week, you'd come to understand that Hyunjin's attention was largely playful—more a game than serious intent.

"It's just jeans and a t-shirt, Hyunjin," you pointed out, gesturing to your casual attire. "I don't think 'elegance' enters into it."

"You could make a trash bag look like haute couture," he responded without missing a beat, earning groans from several members.

"Down, boy," Changbin called from across the room, echoing his words from your first meeting. "Let her at least get inside before you start your routine."

"Routine?" you asked, raising an eyebrow at Hyunjin.

"I have no idea what he's talking about," Hyunjin insisted, but the slight coloring of his cheeks suggested otherwise.

"We've seen the mirror practice," I.N. stage-whispered to you. "All of it."

Hyunjin gasped dramatically. "Betrayal! From our youngest!"

"Just speaking truth, hyung," I.N. replied innocently, earning a playful swat from Hyunjin.

Hyunjin guided you further into the apartment. "I saved you a seat," he said, pointing to a spot on the floor beside him, piled with extra cushions.

"That's very thoughtful," you said, genuinely touched by the gesture despite its obvious motivation.

As you settled into the offered spot, you noticed Han enter from what must be the hallway to the bedrooms. His eyes found you immediately, then flicked to Hyunjin's proximity, something unreadable crossing his face before he schooled his expression back to neutrality.

"Han!" you called with a smile, patting the space on your other side. "There's room here if you want."

He seemed momentarily surprised by the direct invitation, looking a bit like a deer caught in headlights, but nodded, making his way over. "Thanks," he said quietly, sitting down beside you with a careful distance between your bodies, unlike Hyunjin who had no concept of personal space.

"So what are we watching?" you asked, trying to include both of them in conversation.

"'Portrait of a Lady on Fire,'" Hyunjin answered immediately, his eyes lighting up. "It's this amazing French film about forbidden love and art and looking—really, it's about looking and being seen. The use of negative space and the absence of musical score creates a visceral tension that—"

"It's about two women staring at each other for two hours," Han muttered, though there was no real annoyance in his tone.

"That's reductive and you know it," Hyunjin protested. "It's a masterpiece of cinema. The New York Times called it—"

"A very long movie about very intense staring," Changbin finished from across the room. "We've heard the speech, Hyunjin."

Hyunjin pouted. "You philistines have no appreciation for art."

"It does sound interesting," you said diplomatically. "I like films that take their time developing relationships."

Hyunjin beamed at you. "Exactly! The slow burn is what makes it so powerful."

You felt Han shift slightly beside you, and when you glanced his way, there was a faint color in his cheeks that hadn't been there before. Before you could wonder about it, Felix was calling for everyone's attention.

"Alright, movie rules!" he announced, standing in front of the TV like a game show host. "No talking during emotional scenes, bathroom breaks only during approved pauses, and anyone who falls asleep has to do the dishes tomorrow!"

"That rule was specifically created because of me," Han whispered to you conspiratorially, the first time he'd initiated conversation outside of work. "I can't help it if French arthouse films are better than sleeping pills."

You stifled a laugh, pleased by this glimpse of casual Han. "I'll poke you if you start snoring."

"I don't snore," he protested, then paused. "Do I?"

"Like a chainsaw," Changbin called from across the room, apparently overhearing. "We could record it and use it as bass in the next track."

"It's more like a cute little whistle," I.N. corrected. "Like a baby dragon."

"A chainsaw being operated by a baby dragon," Lee Know clarified helpfully.

Han threw a piece of popcorn at Changbin, who caught it in his mouth with impressive accuracy, causing a round of applause from the others.

As the lights dimmed and the movie began, you found yourself acutely aware of being sandwiched between Hyunjin and Han. Hyunjin made no effort to hide his attention, leaning close to whisper commentary about the cinematography or pointing out particularly beautiful shots. Each time he did, his arm would brush yours, or his breath would tickle your ear.

"See the way the light falls across her face?" he murmured. "Symbolizing her awakening desire."

"Or maybe the window was just open," you whispered back, making him clutch his heart in pretend offense.

On your other side, Han remained quiet but present, a different kind of energy emanating from him. You noticed he would tense slightly whenever Hyunjin leaned in, though his eyes remained fixed on the screen.

Halfway through the film—which was genuinely captivating despite Han's earlier dismissal—Hyunjin stretched dramatically before letting his arm settle behind you, not quite touching but definitely encroaching on your space.

"Subtle," you murmured, giving him a sidelong glance.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," he whispered back, his eyes innocent but his smile anything but. "I'm just getting comfortable."

"Mm-hmm," you hummed skeptically. "Is this move number three in your mirror routine?"

He groaned quietly. "I'm going to kill Innie."

Despite your teasing, you didn't move away, amused by his transparent tactics.

From the corner of your eye, you saw Han glance at Hyunjin's arm, then back at the screen, his jaw tightening almost imperceptibly.

On impulse, you reached for the shared bowl of popcorn at the same moment Han did, your fingers brushing against his. He jerked back as if burned, nearly upsetting the bowl.

"Sorry," he whispered, looking mortified.

"It's okay," you assured him, pushing the bowl closer to his side. "Here, you take it."

He hesitated, then took a handful, his eyes still not meeting yours. The moment of easy camaraderie from earlier seemed to have evaporated.

You turned your attention back to the film, trying to recapture the narrative thread you'd lost during these small interactions. On screen, the two women were growing closer, their glances loaded with meaning and unspoken emotion. It was beautiful and tense, the restraint making every small touch significant.

Beside you, Hyunjin sighed appreciatively at a particularly poignant scene. "See how she looks at her? That's real longing," he whispered, his voice low enough that only you could hear.

You nodded, genuinely moved by the performances.

"Some emotions are too powerful to express directly," Hyunjin continued, still whispering. "They have to come out sideways—through art, through glances, through proxies."

You looked at him, surprised by the insight. "That's... actually really profound, Hyunjin."

He smiled, softer than his usual flirtatious grin. "I'm not just a pretty face, you know."

"I never thought you were," you said honestly.

"But you admit you think I'm pretty," he pushed, his playfulness returning.

You rolled your eyes. "And there it is."

He seemed pleased by this, his eyes lingering on yours a moment longer than strictly necessary before returning to the film.

You sensed movement on your other side and turned to find Han watching this exchange, an unfamiliar expression clouding his features before he quickly looked away. Something about his reaction tugged at your chest, though you couldn't quite name why.

As the movie progressed, you became increasingly aware of the subtle dynamics playing out on either side of you. Hyunjin's attention was flattering but performative—a game you both understood the rules of. But Han's quiet presence carried a different weight, one that affected you more than you cared to admit.

The film reached its emotional climax, the forbidden romance between the characters culminating in a scene of heartbreaking beauty. You felt a suspicious moisture in your eyes and blinked rapidly.

"Are you crying?" Hyunjin whispered, noticing your reaction.

"No," you lied, swiping discreetly at the corner of your eye. "Just something in my eye. Probably Felix's glitter. That stuff gets everywhere."

"It's okay to be moved," he said, his usual playfulness momentarily set aside. "Art should make us feel things."

You nodded, slightly embarrassed by your emotional response. When you glanced at Han, you found him watching you with a soft expression that made your heart do a peculiar flip. Unlike Hyunjin, he didn't comment on your tears, just silently offered a tissue.

The simple, thoughtful gesture touched you more than Hyunjin's deliberate attentions. You took the tissue with a grateful smile, and for a brief moment, Han's eyes met yours directly, something unguarded in his gaze that made your breath catch.

Then someone sniffled loudly from across the room, breaking the moment.

"Lee Know, are you crying?" Felix called out in disbelief.

"No," came the defensive reply, followed by an obvious sniff. "I told you, I'm allergic to Hyunjin's cologne. It smells like he bathed in it."

"I used a reasonable amount!" Hyunjin protested.

"If by 'reasonable' you mean 'entire bottle,' then sure," Seungmin quipped.

Laughter rippled through the group, dispelling the emotional tension of the film's conclusion. As the credits rolled and the lights came back on, conversations erupted about the movie's meaning and impact.

Hyunjin launched into an impassioned analysis, his arm still casually draped behind you. "The entire film is about the gaze—who is looking and who is being looked at. It subverts the traditional male gaze by—"

"Some of us are still processing our feelings," Seungmin interrupted, throwing a pillow at Hyunjin. "Save the film school lecture for tomorrow."

"What did you think?" Han asked quietly, turning to you while the others debated.

The direct question surprised you, especially given his reticence throughout the evening. "I thought it was beautiful," you answered honestly. "The restraint made every moment of connection feel earned."

He nodded thoughtfully. "I liked it more than I expected to," he admitted. "Hyunjin usually picks movies that are all style, no substance, but this one..." he trailed off, searching for words. "It felt honest somehow."

"Exactly," you agreed, pleased by his insight. "It wasn't trying to manipulate emotions, just present them authentically."

A small smile touched his lips. "Like good music."

"Like good music," you echoed, returning his smile.

Hyunjin's voice broke into your conversation. "Y/n, you have to back me up here. The final scene with the orchestra—pure cinematic perfection, right? The way the music finally enters after two hours of silence?"

Before you could answer, Chan announced it was time for a quick bathroom break before the group voted on whether to watch another film or call it a night.

"Prepare your arguments, people," Chan said. "Democracy in action."

"Democracy where Chan somehow always gets the final say," Lee Know muttered.

"I heard that," Chan called over his shoulder. "And I am deeply wounded by your accurate assessment."

As people dispersed temporarily, Hyunjin leaned closer. "Want to sit on the couch for the next movie? More comfortable," he said, his invitation clearly extending beyond seating arrangements.

"Actually," you began, trying to frame a polite decline.

"Y/n promised to show me something on her phone," Han interjected suddenly. Both you and Hyunjin turned to him in surprise. "That production technique we were discussing yesterday," he added, looking at you with barely concealed desperation.

"Right," you played along, though no such conversation had taken place. "The sidechain compression example. Very important. Revolutionary, even."

"Can't it wait?" Hyunjin asked, looking between you with suspicion. "We're having movie night."

"It'll just take a minute," you assured him, already standing up. "Professional curiosity. You know how it is."

Han scrambled to his feet beside you, relief evident in his posture. "We'll be right back."

Hyunjin didn't look convinced but shrugged gracefully. "Don't take too long. I'll save your spots. And I'll miss you every second," he added with an exaggerated wink.

"I'm sure you'll survive," you deadpanned.

As you and Han moved toward the relative quiet of the kitchen, you raised an eyebrow at him. "Sidechain compression example?"

He had the grace to look sheepish. "Sorry. I just... you looked like you needed an escape route."

You smiled, touched by his perceptiveness. "My hero," you teased lightly. "Saving me from Hyunjin's cinematic analysis and wandering arm."

Han ducked his head, but not before you caught the pleased flush spreading across his cheeks. "I know how he can get sometimes. Especially with people he's trying to impress."

"And he's definitely trying to impress me," you acknowledged with a small laugh. "It's like being hit with a charm fire hose."

"With about as much subtlety," Han agreed, visibly relaxing now that you were away from the group.

"It's flattering, but..." you trailed off, leaning against the kitchen counter.

"But?" Han prompted when you didn't continue.

You considered your words carefully. "But I'm here to work, not to get involved with anyone. That no-dating clause exists for a reason."

Han nodded quickly, perhaps too quickly. "Absolutely. Totally sensible. Relationships complicate things."

"Exactly," you agreed. "Besides, Hyunjin doesn't really mean it. It's just how he interacts with women."

"True," Han said, though he didn't sound entirely convinced. "Still, if he ever makes you uncomfortable—"

"He doesn't," you assured him. "It's actually kind of nice to have someone who's so enthusiastically in my corner, even if it's just for fun. Makes me feel welcome."

Something flickered across Han's face—disappointment? Hurt? It was gone before you could identify it.

"Well, we all want you to feel welcome," he said, his voice overly casual. "Not just Hyunjin."

You studied him for a moment, sensing there was something more he wanted to say. "I know that, Han. And I appreciate it—especially from you."

"Me?" he asked, looking genuinely surprised.

"Yes, you," you confirmed with a soft smile. "Our collaboration has been the highlight of my time here so far. I've never connected with someone musically the way I do with you."

His expression brightened, whatever shadow had been there completely vanishing. "Me too. I mean, same. I feel the same way. It's like—" he made a gesture with his hands, fingers intertwining. "—our ideas just fit."

"Exactly!" you agreed enthusiastically. "Like we're completing each other's musical sentences."

He nodded eagerly. "And you always know exactly where I'm going with a melody before I even finish it."

From the living room, Chan's voice called out, "Second movie voting in one minute! Get your drinks and get back here!"

"We should head back," you said, reluctantly breaking the moment. "Before they start without us."

Han nodded, pushing himself off the counter he'd been leaning against. But before you could move, he spoke again, the words coming out in a rush. "Would you want to work on some tracks tomorrow? Not at the company, just casually. I have some ideas that aren't really for the album, just... things I've been playing with."

The invitation surprised and pleased you. "I'd love that. Your place or mine?"

"Yours might be quieter," he suggested. "Our dorm gets pretty chaotic on Sundays. Lee Know practices dance routines in the hallway, and Changbin has this habit of bursting into rooms without knocking to share 'spontaneous lyric inspiration.'"

"So basically musical jump scares?"

"Exactly," Han laughed. "Last week he nearly gave me a heart attack shouting about metaphorical butterflies at 6 AM."

"It's a date," you said, then immediately backtracked at his widened eyes. "I mean, not a date-date. A work date. A friendly music session between colleagues. A collegial, professional, absolutely-not-romantic arrangement between two music people who make music. Together. But not, like, together-together."

Your rambling only made things worse, and you felt your face heating up. Han's lips twitched, clearly trying not to laugh.

"Right," he agreed, a small smile playing at his lips. "Between friends."

"Between friends," you echoed, finding that you meant it. Despite the initial awkwardness, there was something about Han that made you want to know him better—not just as a musical collaborator, but as a person.

As you both headed back to the living room, you found Hyunjin had indeed saved your spots—though he'd rearranged the cushions to create less space between your position and his, while widening the gap to Han's place.

"Compression technique all sorted?" Hyunjin asked innocently.

"All sorted," you confirmed, settling back down. "Revolutionary stuff. Music production will never be the same."

"I'm sure," Hyunjin said dryly. "I particularly enjoyed how this urgent technical discussion happened right after I offered you a seat next to me on the couch."

"Pure coincidence," you insisted, patting his hand condescendingly. "Don't take it personally."

"Good, because we're watching a horror movie next," Felix announced gleefully. "I won the vote!"

Groans and cheers mixed around the room, with I.N. looking particularly distressed. "Can I sit with you, noona?" he asked, already moving closer with his blanket. "I hate scary movies."

"Of course, Innie," you said, making room for him on your other side, which consequently pushed you closer to Hyunjin, who looked entirely too pleased with this development.

"It's not even that scary," Lee Know said dismissively. "Just some haunted orphanage with creepy children."

"That's literally my worst nightmare!" I.N. protested. "Besides, you scream louder than anyone during these movies."

"I do not!"

"You climbed onto Changbin's lap during 'The Conjuring,'" Felix reminded him. "And refused to go to the bathroom alone for a week."

"That was a calculated strategy to get out of chores," Lee Know claimed unconvincingly.

As the lights dimmed again and ominous music filled the room, Hyunjin leaned in close. "Don't worry," he whispered, his breath warm against your ear. "If you get scared, I'm right here."

You rolled your eyes but smiled despite yourself. "My hero," you whispered back, deliberately echoing the words you'd said to Han minutes earlier.

From beyond Hyunjin, you caught Felix watching this interaction with interest, his eyes darting between you, Hyunjin, and Han. When he caught your gaze, he raised a meaningful eyebrow that you chose to ignore.

The movie began with a typical horror setup—teenagers in a remote cabin, making obviously poor decisions. As the first jump scare hit, I.N. yelped and buried his face in your shoulder, his hand clutching your arm.

"Tell me when it's over," he mumbled against your sleeve.

You patted his hand reassuringly, feeling a surge of protective affection for him. "It's just a movie, Innie. Nothing to be afraid of."

"That's what the first victim always says," he mumbled pathetically.

On your other side, Hyunjin used the excuse of another scare to slide his arm around your shoulders, this time making contact. "For support," he explained with an innocent smile that didn't fool you for a second.

"How chivalrous," you said dryly, but allowed it, partly because moving would disturb I.N., who was now practically hiding behind you, and partly because it was comforting in its own way to be surrounded by their attention—I.N.'s innocent dependence and Hyunjin's playful flirtation.

But as the movie progressed, you found your eyes drifting to Han, who sat slightly apart now, watching the film with apparent concentration. Once, he glanced your way, his gaze dropping to Hyunjin's arm around your shoulders before quickly looking back at the screen.

The slight tightening of his jaw made something twist in your stomach—not unpleasantly, just... complicatedly.

A particularly violent jump scare made everyone react—I.N. squealed and disappeared completely under his blanket, Felix shouted something in English that was definitely not PG-rated, Seungmin knocked over his drink, and even Lee Know flinched visibly.

"I'm going to need therapy after this," I.N. whimpered from his blanket fortress.

You laughed, rubbing his back through the blanket. "I'll protect you, Innie."

"Promise?" came his muffled reply.

"Promise," you assured him. "No scary movie monsters allowed near my favorite dongsaeng."

This earned a small smile as he peeked out from the blanket. "I'm your favorite?"

"Absolutely," you confirmed, ruffling his hair affectionately.

"Hey!" Felix protested from across the room. "I thought I was your favorite!"

"You can both be my favorites," you laughed. "Different categories."

"What's my category?" Hyunjin asked, not wanting to be left out.

"Most determined," you replied diplomatically.

"I'll take it," he nodded, seemingly satisfied.

For a moment, you allowed yourself to imagine what it might be like if circumstances were different. If you weren't here temporarily, if there wasn't a contract clause, if professional boundaries weren't so important to maintain.

But they weren't different. In less than six months, you'd be back in LA, and this—whatever this was—would be a memory. A good one, hopefully, of creative collaboration and unexpected friendship. Nothing more.

That was what you told yourself as the horror movie reached its predictably bloody conclusion, and I.N. finally emerged from hiding against your shoulder, and Hyunjin reluctantly removed his arm as everyone stretched and prepared to call it a night.

That was what you repeated silently as Felix walked you back to your dorm, chatting about plans for a shopping trip next weekend, and as you confirmed your music session with Han for tomorrow with a casual wave that belied the anticipation you felt.

Just temporary. Just professional. Just friends.

But as you got ready for bed in your newly organized dorm, you couldn't quite shake the memory of Han's expression when he saw Hyunjin's arm around you, or the warmth you'd felt when he offered you a tissue exactly when you needed one, or the way your heart had skipped when he suggested working together outside the studio.

Just temporary. Just professional. Just friends.

If you repeated it enough times, perhaps you'd start to believe it.

The problem was, you weren't sure you wanted to.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Next>>

Taglist: @iknow-uknow-leeknow @loveconsumingmedia @lze325 @hanniesbubuwife @offl-ine

[olderthannetfic]

Quote from a post: "the things created within fandom aren’t real - an individual fic can’t cause actual, material harm to a reader, even if it contains tropes that would be harmful or distressing if they happened in that reader’s real life; an author’s use of certain tropes or interest in certain characters is not indicative of their actual morals and values in real life; thought crimes are not real crimes - but fanfiction is produced by human beings who are themselves products of the societies and communities in which we all live, and these societies and communities all have flaws and failings.

which is to say, those of us who prefer to read male friendships as romantic do need to be aware that, no matter how enlightened on gender and its foibles we think ourselves to be, we are nonetheless influenced as modern humans by a modern tendency to discourage platonic physical and emotional closeness between men - especially straight men - on the grounds that two men having this sort of relationship is inherently queer and, in being queer, implicitly sexual [an understanding of queerness which is another powerful societal influence on our thought, even if we know we don’t agree with it.]"

Okay this is from a big post from a big fandom account here please don't speculate who it is this is not about them specifically and has nothing to do with them i genuinely respect this poster and they are nothing but a supportive space and don't have any anti-nonsense. But I wanna talk about this point that they are making "the society is queering straight friendships" which is something also the anti-fujoshi crowd is saying and honestly I can't agree with that point.

I don't think its us the people who make fandom are queering the relationships between two straight men but the patriarchal system we live under and straight men themselves are doing it to themselves. They can't show love and affection to each other lest other dudes will call them gay not because there are secret fujoshis around that sexualize them. They can be vulnerable period lest everyone calls them whiney like women. I feel like (and most of the things I say here are vibes, not facts) men having close friendships with other men are green flags, and most women are excited to see men who have exact the strong relationship that are portrayed in media.

I'm confused by this talking point to be honest. I also understand that by saying everything I said above I sort of said the same thing as the original poster. In a sense that society is the problem here and we live in a society as we know, but... idk I feel like what they say is "we live in a society where everyone by default is sexualizing male friendships" which sounds like the standard anti-fujoshi talking point to me.

And regarding the point of romantic relationships being prioritized over platonic— I feel like is a complete bullshit to be honest.

Romantic relationships are prioritized over platonic ones across the board. Straight couples leave their straight friends behind when they get further into relationship too! I don't understand this impulse to constantly talk about romantic vs platonic thing when its about queer ships, and maybe there is somewhere straight ship discourse about romantic vs plantonic but its not as big as with mlm or wlw ships.

And honestly even with this take I feel like romantic relationships are also not prioritized but rather are more encouraged. And there is difference between encouraging and actually prioritizing I think.

(I want to add here that I'm not aroace so maybe its a blindspot and from that identitys point of view the dynamics might be different)

In reality I think both are equally hard to obtain and maintain. I always felt like the fandom being so shipping focused was not about people being hellbent on romance but just the fact that good love stories are few and far between both in fiction and IRL and we can't help but try to make something at least remotely good, or interesting or satisfying.

Again, my main problems is: 1) I don't agree that romantic relationships are prioritized to that high degree over the friendships like everyone claims. 2) I don't think that every single person is actually a secret fujoshi waiting to make any straight male friendship gay. 3) Fandoms are romantic ship centric because people just want more narratively satisfying romantic stories that are underrepresented in media (or they don't get to experience it IRL) rather than they are vehemently against platonic ships.

I don't know this hopefully came out coherent.

--

The person who wrote that sounds like a pretentious twatwaffle, and I am so sick of seeing otherwise reasonable people spout that crap. That's been true since the 90s and probably before.

The reality is that Western culture enshrines male friendship as the highest form of affection possible. This goes back to the Classical world. And, yes, they were probably fucking too back then, but the thing that all of the media is about is friendship.

The entire backbone of Western culture is built on the idea that men are spiritually, biologically, inherently more capable than women of this highest form of relationship. Romance is the big thing for women because we're not eligible for The Pure And Holy Friendship Between Two Men.

The epidemic of male loneliness is real, but we haven't gotten any less "Bros before hos". Fandom and m/m shipping behavior are irrelevant to this.

--

Furthermore, fandom has plenty of people who don't focus on shipping.

AO3 was built by slashers, so ship type is a top-level category, and the site obviously signals that it's about shipping and particularly non heterosexual shipping since you can filter out het.

Past sites often had more metadata that wasn't around ships (e.g. FFN's genres that work like bookstore genres) and almost never let you get rid of het. You might have been able to filter in The Gay, but straight stuff was literally unmarked.

~We do need to be aware of~

Bite me.

This naggy phrase is everywhere, and nothing good comes of it.

The only thing we need to be aware of is that Blorbo is great and s/he should be mashed together with Other Blorbo. If that's in gen adventures, you do you.