#hope Kostas is okay

[alexander-arnold66]

what's with our left-backs and shoulder injuries

[nemolfc]

𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠'𝐬 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐞 - 𝐤𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐤𝐚𝐬

• 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲: 𝐦𝐲 𝐛𝐮𝐛𝐛𝐚 @ts1m1kas

( 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭 )

𝐬𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬: 𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐧 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐲𝐞𝐭 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐦𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞.

𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐚 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐨𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐯𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐥𝐮𝐟𝐟.

𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫'𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞: 𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐲 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐤𝐚𝐲 … 𝐢𝐭'𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝟖𝟒 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬.

If someone had told Kostas that he would spend the better part of his career pining over the club’s stunning photographer, he would have probably laughed in disbelief. After all, Kostas was not one to fall in love easily. He had his fair share of flings, but nothing that could be classified as an actual relationship. Yet here he was—hoping, wondering, and longing for someone he could not seem to shake from his thoughts.

One afternoon, as the team was gearing up for their Carabao cup final against Chelsea, Kostas couldn't help but notice how comfortable she seemed around his teammate, Dominik. How could she just stand there, looking absolutely stunning in her uniform with the camera in her hand?

"You're ridiculous!" Kostas was startled out of his thoughts by his teammate and friend, Andrew Robertson, who kicked the ball his way.

"What?" Kostas asked, raising an eyebrow.

"You’ve been pining over her for the past two years, we’re closing in on three and you have yet to tell her, come on mate…" Andrew chuckled.

"It’s not easy, okay…" Kostas sighed. "Look at her, bro!" He gestured to the photographer, who was now giggling at something Dominik said. "Dominik can flirt so easily, while I just end up stumbling over my words and making a fool of myself!"

Andrew raised a brow and replied, "That’s because you think she doesn’t like you when a little birdie says that she does…"

"What?" Kostas whipped his head towards Andrew in surprise.

"Trent overheard her talking to one of the social media employees, she likes you," Andrew said.

Kostas grew silent, shaking his head in disbelief. "No way… it’s impossible."

Throughout the training session, Andrew's words continued to echo in Kostas' mind, making him wonder whether there was a possibility that she felt the same way. Despite his doubts, he couldn't shake the thought and decided to find out for himself. This led him to visit her office one morning before training, with a mug of tea and a cookie in hand, hoping to finally ease into the conversation he had been avoiding.

"Kos, good morning," she greeted him with a cheerful tone.

"Good morning," he smiled, then placed the tea and cookie on her table. "I brought these for you, I figured you could use something since you've been working for the past hour and a half."

"Aww, Kos … you didn't have to, thank you so much."

He blushed in response and waved off the gesture, "It's nothing."

"Oh please, you're always so sweet to me," she grinned. "Now, what can I do for you?"

Kostas' cheeks reddened. "What makes you think I'm here for something?"

"Konstantinos …" she raised a brow then smiled, "your cheeks are betraying you … so go on, tell me?"

The young man sighed in defeat, "Alright, you got me … I'm in a bit of trouble."

"Oh?" she frowned in clear concern, "Is everything ok?"

"Yes, everything is fine … it's just." he paused for a brief moment, unsure if he should tell her. "You know how we're playing our last match and I'm going to travel back to Greece."

"Yeah?" she nodded.

"Well, I kind of have gotten myself in trouble." he chuckled softly.

"What kind of trouble?" she asked with an amused expression.

"I lied to my mom and told her I have a girlfriend." he admitted with a sheepish smile.

"Oh my …" she giggled.

"Yeah?" he blushed, before adding with a gentle tone. "So I was wondering if … you can come with me to Greece for two weeks as my fake girlfriend."

Her eyes widened, "Oh?"

He was visibly on edge, wondering if he had pushed it too far. "I … you can say no if you want to."

"No … no, I'm not saying no, I'm just stunned," she said with a surprised tone, "I … I'd love to help, I mean you're my friend so why wouldn't I help?"

He felt a twinge of ache in his heart at that word, friend … that's all he'll ever be. "Thanks, it'll only be for two weeks."

"Hey, I'm also getting a free vacation so I will take it," she teased.

He stood up with a broad smile and then said, "I really appreciate it, you have no idea."

She smiled, "Anything for my favorite and only Greek Scouser."

Once again she managed to make him blush with her words, he replied with a gentle tone. "Thank you."

The conversation had gone better than he actually expected, as he went about with training he couldn’t help but feel a sense of excitement over the prospect of getting to spend two weeks with her, this was his chance to hopefully confess what he had harbored for ages.

__

To say she was stunned by the beauty of Greece was an understatement - she knew of the beautiful land thanks to Kostas' tales yet to see it all in person was truly an experiment for the young woman, she turned to Kostas as they were now in a taxi driving towards his old home, "Do you think your mother will like me?" she wondered with an uneasy expression.

"She will love you," he replied with a gentle tone, you're too easy to love … he wanted to add on but opted not to.

An hour and a half and they're finally at his old home, once Kostas paid the taxi driver - His mother, Areti had long stepped out with a broad smile on her face, "Ω γλυκό μωρό μου, you're finally here." she proceeded to embrace him. "I'm so happy to see you."

"Me too, Μητέρα," he smiled before gesturing to the young photographer. "Mom, this is the girl I was telling you about."

Areti turned to the young woman and smiled, "Ω, είναι σαν άγγελος όπως είπες."

Kostas blushed at the remark, "Mom please."

"It's nice to meet you Mrs. Tsimikas," she greeted his mother politely.

Areti instead embraced the younger girl, "Call me Areti sweetheart, …" suddenly she tilted her head back and called out, "Christos, come out here; your son is here."

An elderly man who bore a striking resemblance to Kostas emerged from the house, walking towards his son to embrace him. "It's good to see you, Kostas," he said.

"You too, Father," Kostas replied with a soft smile.

Christos turned to the young girl and remarked, "Oh my… she is indeed as beautiful as you described her, Konstantinos."

Kostas' cheeks reddened. "Oh Lord!"

"I told you," Areti grinned.

The young girl blushed and said, "Thank you."

Areti then turned to her husband and son, saying, "Get the bags in, this angel and I will head to the kitchen."

She was led inside a moderately small yet beautiful home, filled with warmth and love. Walking behind Areti to the kitchen, she expressed, "I cannot tell you how happy I am that Konstantinos found a girl… Lord knows I told the boy not to pour his focus solely on football."

"He's not that hard to love," she replied with a soft smile.

"He can be sometimes, always so stubborn with his feelings. But you… you changed him," Areti said with a smile.

"Me?" she asked, looking confused.

"Yes, every time Kostas comes home, you're all he ever talks about. You have changed him, from a man who poured his whole life into football to a man so driven with life and passion," Areti explained.

Taken aback, she murmured, "I had no idea."

"That's because my son is the most stubborn fool, just like his father. When I first met Christos, it took him a month to display his emotions," Areti chuckled.

"Wow," she murmured.

"Konstantinos is very gentle, while he may not always show it, he's definitely gentle," Areti observed.

"He does display his emotions with me," she said softly, smiling.

"That's because you have his heart," Areti nodded.

As the pair continued to converse, Kostas poked his head in and said, "I hope she hasn't told you anything embarrassing…"

She giggled, "She did mention she was going to show me your childhood album."

Kostas groaned, "Mom, please…"

Areti laughed, "You know I have to! Now go call your father, dinner is ready."

Kostas nodded and disappeared into the living room, leaving the young girl thinking about what Areti had shared about him. It made her wonder if Kostas could really feel the same way towards her.

__

"Dinner was interesting!" she exclaimed as the pair decided to take a stroll around his neighborhood after dinner.

Kostas smiled sheepishly at the remark, "Yeah … sorry about that, my parents can be a lot to take in."

"I think it's cute," she shrugged before adding, "It was also cute when she recounted that story of you hiking up a hill and then sliding down because you wanted to be daring."

Kostas chuckled nervously, "Yeah, more like stupid."

"No, I think it's cute," she swatted his arm and then giggled, "All of us have done stupid things in our lives. In fact, I once thought I could sneak out of my house undetected to go to a friend's party. Once I snuck back in … let's just say I paid the price."

"It's hard to picture you as a wild girl," he remarked with a chuckle.

"Why not?" she retorted with a raised brow.

"It's just …" he trailed off, with rosy cheeks. "Ever since I joined the team, I've always looked at you like you're this soft mythical creature that is like a magician with the camera."

Her lips curved into a sweet smile, "Aww, Kos, that's the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me," she proceeded to lean over and press a kiss to his cheek.

He blushed, "It's only the truth."

Their stroll continued with a brief wave of comfortable silence before she said, "It's so beautiful at night."

"It is. Whenever I feel suffocated or generally sad, I usually take a stroll and I instantly feel better," he nodded in agreement.

"I can see why. I used to climb up to the roof of my childhood home with my sketch notebook and pencil. Then under the moonlight, I just let my creativity flow," she smiled wistfully.

"No wonder you know your proper angles," he grinned.

"Hey, it wasn't easy because my first photos were bad, but I'm thankful that I did not give up," she smiled.

"I'm thankful too," he added with a smile.

"Because I'm the only one who manages to make you look even better on Instagram," she teased.

"Also, because if you gave up, we wouldn't have met," he added with a gentle tone.

His words had managed to soften her heart, "You are one of a kind Konstantinos Tsimikas."

The male chuckled, "Hardly, but thank you."

As they paused to admire the starry sky, a wave of silence enveloped them. Rather than focusing on the stars, he found himself captivated by her, noticing how the moonlight highlighted her angelic features. God, you're beautiful, he thought to himself.

"Thank you, Kos," she smiled.

He quickly turned away, feeling his face flush with embarrassment. "Y…you're welcome."

Note to self, keep thoughts to yourself, he thought, inwardly face-palming at how odd he must look.

__

A few days into the trip, as she overslept, Kostas decided to have coffee with his mother out on the balcony. That's when Areti brought up the elephant in the room, "So, have you told her yet?"

Kostas turned to his mother, "What do you mean?"

"Twenty-six years I raised you, and you think I didn't put two and two together. You roped the poor girl into pretending to be your girlfriend, yet you did not actually tell her how you feel," Areti chuckled. "An idiot, just like your father."

Kostas groaned, "Mom."

"Don't 'mom' me," Areti laughed. "You know I'm right. Three years is a lot to carry, Kostantinos."

"I know, but it's really hard," Kostas let out a soft sigh. "I just stumble through my words and look like an idiot."

Areti smiled, "Love makes anyone an idiot. You think your father had a smooth sail before he got to me."

Kostas smiled, "I know."

"She's a wonderful angel — so kind, so sweet, and well-spoken. She is your αδερφή ψυχή."

"You think so?" he wondered, the prospect of having a soulmate had certainly crossed his mind more than once, yet he never truly believed it … until now.

"I know so. Take her out to dinner, treat her like a princess, and stop hiding your feelings," Areti smiled.

Kostas mulled over his mother's words, and the more he thought about it, the more he realized she was right. He had spent far too long with his feelings kept under a tightly shut lid. "I'll do it."

He had waited until she was awake. She stepped out dressed in her cute floral-printed pajamas. "Good morning, or afternoon … I can't believe I overslept that much," she giggled.

He offered her a sweet smile and then said, "I didn't have the heart to wake you up."

Areti piped up, "If only your father picked up this habit."

The young pair giggled, "Have you had breakfast yet?" she asked them.

"Yes, I've saved you a plate in the microwave. After eating, you better freshen up because I've told Konstantinos to show you the rest of Thessaloniki," Areti said.

Kostas grinned and then turned to her, "Go on."

She nodded and walked back inside the house. Areti waited for a moment before she whispered to Kostas, "you better do it."

"I will," he replied, watching her from where he was sitting.

__

The couple took a drive around his neighborhood before stopping at a floral shop. He picked out a few flowers before returning to the car, leaving the young girl confused. "What's this?" she wondered.

He gestured for her to wait as he gently tied the flowers together to create a flower crown. He then placed it on her head, saying, "Now you look like a true goddess."

She smiled, "you are going all out for a pretend boyfriend!"

He held back a comment about the word "pretend" and chuckled instead, "I couldn't miss the chance to spoil my magician."

"Come on, you weirdo, I have a lot to see since you promised to show me your hometown," she giggled.

He replied, "Indeed, so buckle up my sweet angel."

Their day together showed where their relationship stood. There was tension between them, but neither was backing down. When they stopped for lunch at a restaurant, Kostas greeted the owner in Greek. She noticed how at home he seemed in his hometown compared to being on a soccer field for hours. They were seated at a table near the beach. "Wow," she whispered.

"The owner is a friend of my father's. I come here often," he explained.

"No wonder you seem so comfortable here. I like hearing you speak Greek. Why haven't you taught me some phrases?" she asked.

He chuckled shyly, "Because then you'd understand what I want to keep from you."

"What do you want to keep from me?" she asked.

He hesitated for a moment before saying in Greek, "How much I love you…"

"What does that mean?" she asked.

"How much you mean to me," he smiled, hiding his true feelings.

After a quiet lunch, they exchanged small talk. Afterward, Kostas suggested a walk on the beach, and she agreed. With their shoes in hand, they walk in comfortable silence - relishing in the scenery as well as the beautiful sounds surrounding them when suddenly ... he stopped midway, and she followed suit.

"What's wrong?" she asks.

He gestured to the sunset, casting a picturesque mixture of tangerine, crimson, and coral blending in with the cerulean sky. "Look." was all he said.

Of all the sunsets she had witnessed in her lifetime, they all seemed to pale as she witnessed the sunset here in Thessaloniki, "This feels like a painting coming to life." she said in awe.

"It does ..." he replied albeit he was now paying less attention to the sunset and more attention towards her.

It wasn't until she turned to him that she noticed his gaze, "What?" she wondered with a confused tone.

"I ..." he begins, visibly gulping. "I wanted to ... I wanted to say that um."

Realizing that he was fidgeting, she gently took his hand and then said with a reassuring tone. "It's ok, take your time."

He's visibly calmer thanks to her touch which prompted him to continue, "Three years ago, I made the decision to leave Greece, a risky decision but one that ultimately paid off because ..."

"Because of what?" she said with a soft tone.

"Because of you, when we first met ... it made sense, it made perfect sense to me why I was meant to come to Liverpool, you'd stolen my heart for about three years and every moment in those years I wanted nothing more than to confess my emotions, I wanted nothing more than to tell you that ..." He trails off.

"That ...?" she prompted him to continue.

"I'll say it in Greek." he chuckles nervously, then blurted out. "Σε αγαπώ μάγο μου ... I love you, I love you more than I can truly put into words which is ironic considering Ibou likes to joke about how talkative I am." he chuckles.

She giggled, "You are very talkative ..."

"I am, but when it comes to you ... it's like you steal just about everything from me, my heart, my ability to talk, everything with you is just brighter." he smiles.

It took her a brief moment before she leaned in, "It's about damn time because ... I love you too Konstantinos Tsimikas."

With a visible beam across his features, he tugs her closer by wrapping an arm around her waist, their lips immediately molding into a perfect gentle kiss igniting the emotions within the pair.

"Finally," he whispers. "You're mine."

"Always have been," she smiles.

[fantasyinvader]

…Oh, fuck me.

As I was writing out that last post, there was a section I was left out. The proponents of the idea that it’s bad that the Church gives them duties and responsibilities and among those things is telling them not to abuse their power. Consider what we see of the masses, how Edelgard needs to spend years slandering the Church in order to get the people of the Empire to support her willingly, as well as her saying she needs to get rid of the Church in order for her reforms to happen. Considering that her path is hadou, that her goal is to centralize power on herself in order to impose her will upon the masses, how can the Church really stand in her way if they don’t have much of an army?

Because the people support the Church, believe in it’s teachings and the Church tells Edelgard not to abuse her power in a such a manner.

And this is where it hit me. Claude also uses the “duties and responsibilities” line to say the Church is bad in Hopes, and in the Japanese script he was just learning about nobles having their own hardships when fighting Kostas. And this is what really clicked.

Claude believes that he needs to erase the lines on the map in order to make a world where people won’t be othered by nationality. He believes wholeheartedly that this is a good thing to do, and this came about after he came to Fodlan. His original intent was to find something in Fodlan that he could bring back to Almyra and fix the problem there, but he saw that Fodlan was the same. We can get that he’s angry at this, wants to do something but this is where the difference between nations comes into play. Nobles in Fodlan aren’t supposed to abuse their powers, that even if Claude is leading a country he can’t simply do what he wants. And this all comes from the teachings of the Church.

Those teachings serve as a roadblock from him doing what he wants to do, what he believes to be the right thing. Therefore, he believes the Church is evil and needs to go. Then the Agarthans begin attempting to prey on this, and in non-Wind routes he refuses aid to the Church despite being opposed to Edelgard and her way of doing things. Way he sees it, it’s a case of evil vs. evil and he tries to stay out of it despite Edelgard putting pressure on the Alliance nobility and her just beginning to attack the Alliance prior to Byleth waking up.

We have Lorenz in Flower realizing that for all the grand shows of piety in the past, the nobility were just using the Church as a tool to maintain their own power because it was useful to do so. If the Church is no longer useful, they won’t bother with it. They’ll throw off those duties and responsibilities and be free to use their power as they see fit. The thing is, this very thing is brought up to Claude in Hopes during his support with Dimitri. That in doing this Claude is going to piss off everyone who supports the Church, he’s going to piss off the commoners. He’s going to create chaos as people will reject duties and act for their own benefit. People are going to suffer during this time, and they’re going to come after Claude because of it. And what Dimitri says is backed up by Edelgard’s victory in Houses, as the people are less happy living under her rule and attempt to rebel against her, and all Edelgard can do is take power for herself and force the people to follow her. Claude and Edelgard, if they win, need to be immoral rulers in a Confucian sense in order to stay in power.

This… okay, a few lines are translated as gags but this will give you an idea of what I’m talking about.

But really, Claude’s whole “Church has to go” rhetoric stems from his belief that he can only rely on himself, and in Fodlan he can’t exercise his full power with the people supporting an organization that says he must not “abuse” his power. This also causes his hypocrisy of wanting the Church wiped out and for Fodlan to adopt different beliefs, all while believing that people shouldn’t be rejected simply because of their beliefs.

And the kicker is that Claude didn’t try to get to know the Church in the first place, and in Wind he realizes how wrong he was. Rhea isn’t the one keeping foreigners out, as she has Cyril and Shamir around her while she also opened up the academy to Dedue and Petra. He realizes that the Church didn’t actually preach isolationism, and if we look at the Alliance they do trading outside of Fodlan as well. Hell, Seteth’s solo ending regardless of route reveals he works towards making Fodlan more accepting towards other beliefs, his ending works towards Claude’s goals while Claude works with the Church in his Flayn endings to bring Almyra and Fodlan together. Claude brings the Church to Almyra. And he leaves Byleth in charge of Fodlan, relying on and trusting someone else to help him with his dream, and be a leader people can rely on like they did Rhea. Then Claude goes home to fix Almyra based on what he learned in Fodlan, turning it into a trading power much like the Alliance was.

Claude realized those duties and responsibilities the Church imposes are a good thing, otherwise it would just create more Cyrils. Or he could end up like Edelgard, whose path he calls out as “hadou ” in the Japanese text. You know, where rulers lose the Mandate of Heaven. Claude’s journey is him becoming a Confucian-ideal of a leader.

I’m at this point really where each of the four protagonists all have some element of Liu Bei in them. It’s like what’s talked about in the following video. Claude was the Liu Bei archetype, the innocent child. However, Liu Bei strays from the path of virtue and is destroyed, instead becoming akin to Dimitri at his worst. Claude was in danger of the same thing happening, but believed he needed to enter the darkness in order to achieve his misguided goals. With Byleth’s help, he never goes into the shadow symbolized by the reunion in VW. Instead, he becomes fully realized and obtains enlightenment for himself. It’s only at this point can he really be the dawn of a new Fodlan. There’s a definite hero’s journey to his story.

Meanwhile, other routes see him dip his toes into the shadow. Not a full villain but not a hero either. In Hopes, he goes deeper into it with GW is him being consumed by the darkness. The closest he comes to being  a hero is the “bad” version of SB where the player drives Sothis off the path of virtue, and she uses Claude to strike back. SB was already a villain route, but facing Edelgard did not make Claude a hero.

Claude can't be a hero without his hero's journey.

[pensat-i-fet]

An accidental meeting (Kostas Tsimikas x Reader)

**A little request I got on Wattpad. Hope you like it ❤️**

Word count: 1114

Masterlist

Wattpad

"Stop whining, it'll be painless".

"You say that now, but having to watch two hours of football sounds very painful to me".

"Well", said your brother, "we are late because of you so it'll be less than two hours".

"Excuse my job for getting in the way of your hobbies. Also, why couldn't you find a friend to use the spare ticket you got?"

"They are all busy".

"I love being someone's last option".

At least being late meant no long queues at the stadium. You and your brother got to the gates and then went past security in record time. You could tell the match had started 16 minutes ago but the score was 0-0 still so you didn't miss anything important.

"It's row 5, so down this set of stairs. Follow me".

You did that and when you were about to walk to your seat, having to bother people to get there, you heard a couple of voices yelling watch out. But before you had time to react, a ball hit your head.

Everyone around you gasped and a man who was the closest to you grabbed your arms so you wouldn't fall to the floor.

"Thank you, I'm fine. I'm fine", you said to all the people around you.

Your brother moved back to where you were and held your head, looking for an injury.

"Am I bleeding?", you asked, knowing that if there was blood, you'd pass out the moment you saw it.

"Doesn't look like it. You ok? That looked painful".

"So much for a painless experience, huh?", you joked.

On the pitch, Kostas kept staring at you. He hit the ball without really looking at it. He just tried to stop the other team's attack. But when he followed it with his eyes, he could tell it was going to the stands. And when he saw you standing there…

"Did you hit the cute girl to get her attention?"

"Not funny, Trent. I could have hurt her badly".

"Go offer her to kiss it better".

Kostas shook his head and looked at the medics from the team that were going to the stands to make sure you were fine. At least you were standing and there seemed to be no blood. But then…

"Hey hey hey, stay with me", said your brother when he noticed your face getting paler and he managed to catch you before you fainted.

The medics were already there and pushed everyone out of the way to check how you were.

"It could be a concussion. We need to take her to one of the ambulances outside of the stadium and they can take her to the hospital. Anyone here who was with her?"

"Me! I'm her brother".

"Follow them".

And that's how your trip to the football turned into a trip to the hospital.

**

At half time, Klopp had to check on his player. He wasn't being himself and had almost cost the team twice.

"What's in your head?"

"Sorry. I haven't been able to concentrate since I hit that girl and she fainted. Do we know anything about her?"

His coach understood why Kostas felt so bad but he also had to think about what was best for the team.

"We could ask but how about you go to see her? You won't be able to concentrate unless you know she's fine. Just go. You won't get a fine for leaving early".

"I can still play. I…".

"Go. It's fine".

Kostas was thankful his coach understood and quickly showered and got ready to go to the hospital after asking which one they took you to.

One of the nurses led him to your room and when he knocked on the door and got inside, you were very confused. But you were awake which was a huge relief for him.

"Who are you?"

"Is she having memory issues?", he asked your brother, sounding worried.

"No, she just doesn't watch football", laughed your brother before turning back to looking at you. "This is the player that hit you".

"I didn't mean to".

"I hope so", you joked.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes. They checked for a possible concussion but I don't seem to have one. I just fainted because the situation felt too overwhelming or something".

"Thank God".

"Did you at least win?"

"Match isn't over", said your brother, staring at his team's player curiously.

"I couldn't concentrate on playing and the gaffer let me come to see you were fine".

"Thank you", you smiled. "That's nice of you but sorry for the inconvenience".

"I'm the one who's sorry. You sure you're ok?"

"Yes. I'll have a headache for a couple of days, though".

Seeing you had someone you could stay with, your brother got up.

"Do you mind staying here for a second? I need to go to the bathroom but didn't want to leave her alone".

"Don't worry. I'll stay here", said Kostas and you looked at him before he looked back at you and you lowered your eyes.

"So…where are you from? I can't situate your accent", you said, trying to make some small talk to avoid the awkwardness of the situation.

"Greece".

"That's cool. Never met someone Greek but I love the food. Or the food they make here and sell us as Greek".

He laughed. "The original is much better. I'm sure you'll love it if you try it".

"A free trip to Greece as a compensation for almost killing me sounds nice".

You were both smiling at each other when your brother came back.

"All good?"

"Yes, there was nothing he could hit me with here so we're fine".

Kostas groaned hearing that, still feeling guilty, and your brother laughed at the joke.

"Well, now I know you are fine, I can sleep tonight. And, I don't know, if you want a signed shirt or something…just ask the club and I'll sort that out".

"I don't like football. I prefer the trip to Greece, to be honest".

Your brother raised his eyebrows hearing that.

"Well, I won't go back until the end of the season. So you'll have to wait".

"It's a date!", you said, quickly realising your joke could be misunderstood and also wondering if you really meant for it to be a joke.

"Right. You can call the club so they give you a shirt and they can put it on social media. And then…we could talk about dates. Get well soon", he said, kissing your cheek and leaving.

And then he left the room, leaving your brother frowning at everything that had happened in front of him. But you were smiling. Maybe football isn't so bad.

[nicolesainz]

Is it cool that I said all that? (AB1)

Alisson Becker x f!reader

Author's note: I find it a massive offence that no one has written any fan fiction about this man. He is the finest GK in the PL and deserves some love. Also he is my new obsession even though I only like Kostas Tsimikas from Liverpool (greek scouser core). Shoutout to @joochilwell for being so kind and sharing Alison with me, I love you girl. Anyway, hope you guys enjoy!

Summary: You are friends with Kostas and after Liverpool's insane win against Manchester City, the team goes to the club to celebrate the win. Alisson has set his eyes on you and is about to mess things up just for a night with you.

Warnings: minors dni, 18+, angst, jealousy, bit of soft Alisson, bad Portuguese translation (sorry to anyone who may be offended, my native is Greek and English)

"I swear to god I will not be caring you back to your house, Robbo is caring you. I have work tomorrow." I warn Kostas with a sneaky smile, knowing he will end up drunk, singing out loud, with Klopp calling me in the morning asking me his whereabouts.

"Oh please, I will be just fine. Also don't count too much on Robertson. Mo maybe a better option." Kostas pointed out, erasing another potential helper of mine.

"Mo won't be coming. Said he was tired. I will find someone to help me take care of you. I don't worry about that." I was looking through my contacts trying to find the perfect teammate. It was at this moment that he appeared in front of me.

"Mate, you will be perfect for the job." Kostas shouts in my ear, as I raise my head and look at Alison's blue stunning eyes that were instantly locked with mine. I share a soft smile with Alisson, before he looks back at Kostas with a weirded out expression.

"What job? What did you do?" He is almost growling at his greek teammate before I save his ass once more.

"I may be in need of a helping hand in case Kostas gets badly drunk. Last time I almost broke my arm trying to carry him back to his house." Alisson's eyes land back on mine and worry with what I was faced the last time alcohol was involved.

“Don ruin her night mate. Let’s all enjoy this win. But sure, I will help you in case anything happens.” He replies to my request and i instantly relaxed at the thought of Alisson being the one that would help me.

“I owe you! Thank you so much! See you at the club in a few hours” I waved goodbye to Alison and made my way with Kostas to my car so I could drive him back to his house. Alisson didn’t seem like himself so much. He seemed tired but now because of the game. More mentally exhausted.

As Kostas is about to get off my car, he unbuckles his seatbelt and turns towards me to face me. He has a guilty look in his eyes and I instantly can tell he is hiding something.

"Spit it out, right now. What is it?" I would rather know what he is about to do, instead of be surprised at night.

"Would it kill you to dance with Alisson today? Can you keep him company? I promise I won't get drunk." He didn't want to confess this in the first place but he was so pressed on telling me so.

Why would he ask me to keep Alisosn company? We are friends and of course I would be with him at the club tonight. Why does that mean?

"Is there a hidden meaning behind all this Tsimi? Cause if there is, I have to know. There's a reason why you're confessing this to me." Is Alisosn okay? Has someone done something to him. Should I call him and tell him to come over. This sounds serious.

"He will tell you for himself. I can't ruin the magic. See you tonight." Okay, what was this all about?

I finally arrive at my house and instantly throw myself on the couch, surrounded by the paperwork that needs to be done and multiple programs for the teams next games.

I can't get out of my head what Kostas said to me. He sounded so sketchy and mysterious. Should I be worried about Alisson? I couldn't resist and I decided to text him.

"Kostas was acting a little bit weird and told me to keep you company tonight at the club. Is something wrong?"

I shut my phone and kept on organising my scattered papers, wanting to get things in order but at the same time I couldn't get Alisson out of my head. I had to talk to him.

The notification sound from my phone startled me when it echoed from my room. I rushed to pick it up and my eyes widened when I saw that it was a reply from Alisson.

"I actually wanted to kind of talk to you privately. But I can't say what I want from the phone."

So my gut about something being off was right.

"Want to come by my house? It will be better than a coffee shop." I suggest wanting to make him feel more comfortable. I know that if he is seen with any girl that isn't known to the public eye will cause many talking points and that is certainly not something he wants right now.

"If you are okay with it then no problem. I will be there soon." All the players knew where I lived so if anything occurred with their schedules or wanted to resolve an issue, they could come to me.

In an extremely fast pace, I began cleaning the apartment so it didn't look like a paper bomb has erupted. I always like to keep the house clean but with guests around I wanted it to be spotless. I managed to finish tidying up before Alisson showed up. I threw on some more clean clothes after a quick shower and was waiting for him.

Speaking of the devil, the door bell rang a few moments after I was finally ready myself. I rushed to open the door and I was greeted by a shy smile from the Brazilian goalkeeper, along with a small bouquet of red roses that were peaking from behind his back.

"Come on in. You are just in time." I said in an extremely lower manner than the one I usually greet people. Before he could get past the door, he revealed the flowers and handed them to me, trying to hide his flushed cheeks from my eyesight. I had never seen Alisson so shy. He is for sure a gentleman and a wonderful man, although whenever I see him in practice, he is all tense and angry, cursing sometimes in Portuguese.

"These are for you. I asked Kostas what kind of flowers you like, in case you were allergic to any other type or weren't your favourite." He explain and my heart instantly goes soft. He is so thoughtful that I could have cried on the spot. I gave him a big hug after I closed the door behind him. I had to tip toe a little bit given he is a very tall man.

Alisson's arms wrapped around my waist were so firm, with a very familiar and yet so secure feeling. It was a very sweet gesture from him and for an unexpected reason, I didn't want him to let go of me.

"This is the sweetest thing ever. Thank you so much Alisson. I will put them in my bedroom so they will brighten the atmosphere. Don't be nervous, take it as your home! Would you like to drink anything?" I put the flowers in a vase and left it in the kitchen counter before moving them inside my room.

"No no, thank you. I just, really wanted to talk to you. I feel like if I don't say what I want, an opportunity will be gone and then I will regret it." Oh dear it sounds serious. For a moment I was scared that he wanted to talk to me about transferring and leaving Liverpool. We had grown close to each other and I would hate the feeling of him leaving the team after so many years.

"Oh okay. Well, I am all ears. Tell me what is going on because I am getting anxious." I replied and we both sat on my couch, Alisson was toying with his fingers, trying to find the words to say what he wants.

"So, um, for the last three years, ever since you joined the team, I have, uh, I have, well, oh" He is getting more and more nervous as he is getting to the point and I take his hands into mine, wanting to calm him down.

"Hey hey hey. It is okay. You can talk to me. Look at me Alisson, please. Don't be scared. I will not judge you."

"I well, I, gosto muito de ti" (I like you very much)

Okay well, that didn't go as planed. Unfortunately I couldn't understand Portuguese, so that made the matter even more complicated. I placed my hand on his cheek, caressing it calmly. Finally I got Alisson to look at me and his blue eyes revealed to me all that I needed to know.

"Are you saying what I think you are?"

"Yes. What I have been trying to say is and clearly not very successfully, is that I like you y/n. And a lot if I am being honest. It took me such a long time to admit it but I finally did so. I just wanted you to be aware and I will completely understand if you don't wanna-" I cut him off with a soft kiss on his cheek, that instantly gave him the courage to take me on his lap and allow me to continue.

"You are a one of a kind man Alisson. I am very happy you finally admitted your feelings to me, because with the way Kostas was trying to subtly tell me I was getting worried about you. At least now I know and I am over the moon." I wrapped once more my hands around his neck and gave him a very tight hug, whilst sliding my fingers in his curly black hair.

"I don't want to force you into anything. We can take things slow. You are very important to me." I finally got a glimpse of his beautifully bright smile and without any hesitation I smashed my lips onto his, trying to prove to him how much I would love to be with him.

His hands curled up on my waist whilst my legs were curled around his waist. His kisses were poured with passionate emotions and love. I could sense a smile underneath the kisses around my neck and the only thing that echoed in the house were my giggles.

"Tu farás de mim o homem mais feliz, se me deixares estar contigo." (You'll make me the happiest man if you let me be with you.)

"I may not understand what you are saying but, És o homem mais espantoso." (You are the most amazing man)

I said that in the most silly Portuguese accent, but Alisson seemed to appreciate the effort very much.

"I think I need to learn a bit of Portuguese if I want to be able to understand you."

"I will teach you everything you need to know my love. No need to worry."

Alisson was explaining to me how he fell in love when he first saw me, how difficult it was at first to adapt to the English lifestyle and especially the Merseyside and how he was intimidated by Liverpool's rich history thinking he wouldn't be able to live up to Klopp's and the owners expectations.

Getting to know him even better than I already did, made me realise how special he is. All of his teammates speak so highly of him, whether its mates from Liverpool or the Brazilian national team. The quiet and sweet goalkeeper who was too scared to talk to me, proved to be a very smart, friendly and openhearted but most importantly passionate footballer with many dreams and ambitions.

"Oh god, it's already seven. Virgil told us to be at the club at ten. I should probably get going so I can let you get ready. Should I come by again and pick you up? Would you like that?" The fact that he suggested we arrive to the club together made my heart beat so fast and how I could I ever resist to the sweet way he suggested it?

"Of course. I would love that. So, see you soon?" I placed my hands on his chest and I earned a small peck on the lips from him, given that if it was a full blown kiss, we would have ended up on the couch once more.

"See you soon amór" He gave me a final kiss before walking out of the door. At this moment I was the happiest woman in the entire Merseyside and I had no idea this was about to get even better.

I sped to my closet to pick up my outfit for the night. I panicked when I went through all the possible options and none of them seemed fitting enough for my liking. Plus, it wasn't even going to be an actual fancy night club. More like a local one that the team had booked and some fans could tag along.

I finally found hidden in the depth of my closet my white corset, which was not too revealing but at the same time it showed of my figure in the way I liked. I decided to pair it with a pair of black jeans that would match perfectly with my louboutins. I had a quick shower after finally finding what my outfit would be and then for the final step it was hair and makeup.

Simple but chic was tonights moto, so I was in favour of letting my beach curls loose and putting on some very light makeup. A hint of mascara, my favourite red lipstick and a puff of the best perfume I had. I took a a quick look at myself in the mirror when at the same moment the door bell rang for the second time today.

I opened the door in the most giddy and exciting way, being presented with a version of Alisson I wasn't really used to seeing. He was wearing a navy blue polo, matched with a pair of black trousers and sneakers like every footballer likes to wear at a night out. A few strands of hair were falling on his forehead which made his appearance even more attractive. Although, if I am being honest, nothing could top Alisson wearing the black Liverpool kit with the number 1 on the back.

"The most beautiful woman in all of Liverpool." He kept scanning me from head to toe with his mouth agape, flushed like never before and heavy breathing. I couldn't believe it that I would be escorted to the club by the team's main goalkeeper and the biggest sweetheart I had ever met.

"Says the most handsome goalkeeper in all the Premier League." I took my keys and phone before grasping onto his firm and strong bicep.

"Only the Prem? I would say the world if I were you." He winked playfully at me.

"Nah, there are a few keepers that are in close competition." I couldn't contain my laugh when I saw the offended expression on his face.

"I am willing to prove you otherwise." He whispered in my ear and his hot breath hit my neck, which sent shiver all over my spine. I kind of wished I got to see this side of Alisson as well, although I didn’t expect it this soon. Not that I minded though.

“Behave” I cupped his jaw and landed a kiss before he opened the door of the club and instantly be greeted by some of his teammates.

Trent, Kostas, Andy and Dominik all surrounded him but without leaving me behind. I was welcomed by them like a part of the actual squad.

“Gonna be the life of the party tonight?” Trent cheekily asks me, having been seen by him at some of my drunkest moments.

“Nah. I need to play nice and take care of you lot. Maybe another time.” There’s a frown that quickly wipes away his smile of excitement, knowing that he could have found a shots partner.

“You owe us next time. Getting away now but not for long.” Robertson raised his glass of whiskey and downed it in seconds.

“I’ll tell you what. If you manage to score a hat trick against Crystal Palace, then I will buy you all the drink you will have at our next gathering.”

Andy almost chocked on his drink when he heard my dare.

“Fucking hat trick? Well, it is Palace but jesus christ. You are so in. Deal.” And we shook each other’s hands firmly.

Kostas and Andy left to go with Virgil and Alexis, whilst I was with Trent, Alisson and Dominik.

I had caught with the corner of my eye Dominik staring at me from time to time. I tend to catch me checking me out but I feel like the corset I am wearing is giving him what he wants so out of reflex I take Alisson’s hand into mine and squeeze it a bit.

He hasn’t understood what is going on, until Dominik opened his mouth.

“Looking gorgeous today, y/n. As you always do.” He winks at me and I have a sensation of disgust churning inside my stomach. I’m not the only woman in the club that he tends to flirt with. He even does this with the women of Liverpool’s female team.

“Thank you Dom.” I sharply reply trying to avoid all possible eye contact with him.

“You know, it’s a pity a girl like you to be all alone. Need a partner maybe?” Alisson caught on to what Dominik said and without hesitation he answered very confidently:

“Looking at him right now mate” showing off the way he was holding my hand.

Trent eyed me with a widened expression and mouthed me the phrase ‘When was this?’

I said to him that ‘It’s a long story’ and would explain it to him another time.

“Oh getting lucky big man, eh!” Dominik’s jokes weren’t funny anymore when even Trent stopped laughing.

To my surprise and fortunate luck, Gakpo came up to us and wanted to talk to Dominik privately so that was also Trent’s cue to head to the rest of the field.

“I’m so sorry, I had no idea he’d say such things.” I say in a very apologetic manner, as if I was the one hitting on Dominik.

“You don’t have to be sorry about anything my love. He was acting like an asshole and got what he deserved. Although I could’ve said more.” Knowing that Alisson had other ways to defend me as well, made me know that in any instance, he would have my back, like I would have his.

“If you don’t feel comfortable then we can head out. Go somewhere more privately where we won’t have to face anyone.” I sneakily suggested

“Actually yes. That would be great. I would love that.” Happy that he agrees with my plan, I go up to Kostas and alert him that both Alisson and I are leaving. Trent says that it’s also better we leave given that if Dominik continued to act like so, Alisson would have resorted to possible violence.

For the final time tonight, we got on Alisson's car, without knowing which destination to take. All that mattered was to leave the club and be somewhere without anyone disturbing us. Before I could suggest a place we could visit, Alisson immediately said:

"Want to go by my house?" I know he had good intentions and didn't suggest it in a sneaky way, despite how the night ended up evolving.

"Sure thing." I trusted him, I knew he wouldn't do anything to make me feel uncomfortable. And if I am being honest, I am thankful we decided to leave the bar.

The ride from the club until Alisson's house wasn't very long. Once he parked his car, we got off and opened me the door to his house like a gentleman. I was aware that footballers get paid very well money but that wasn't this much apparent with his house. It was very beautifully decorated and was very cozy, instead of a luxurious mansion.

He offered me a glass of wine as we sat opposite of each other on his couch. He seemed a little tense at first with what had happened with Dominik and it was understandable. I was as well, but we shouldn't let this feeling ruin our night.

"Can I ask you something?" He quietly asked me.

"Anything you want."

"Do you seriously think there's a more handsome goalkeeper than me? Or better? Not just in the league."

Was he seriously asking me that? I only said it as a joke. Of course every goalkeeper is unique in their own way but Alisson was special in my eyes. He was fierce and passionate every time he was on the pitch. No one was number one for me, besides him.

"Of course not. You are the most talented keeper the league has known in the last years, extremely impressive as well as massively hot." The comment in the end was the cherry on top of the cake.

"Not to mention your header against West Brom. Shook me to my core."

I leaned towards him, only to be grabbed fiercely and sat on his lap. Alisson's lips leaned closer to my lobe, only for him to seductively whisper:

"Need another goal tonight?"

Before I had the chance to reply, he lift me up and started kissing my neck, his beard leaving marks all over it, whilst his hands were dominantly sitting on the sides of my thighs, sliding upwards to my ass. My soft moans had started to sound more clear to his ears, which boosted him to continue and move us to his bedroom.

Before I decided to occupy my hands with his fluffy hair, I pulled off his shirt, whilst his grasp on me was still very strong. I was met with a body structured like a greek god's. Every slick touch of mine on his body was fascinating. Shaping his v-line and abs before taking his face into my hands and kissing him into oblivion.

It was only fair he undid my corset, which let loose my squeezed up breasts and revealed the upper naked part of my body. Alisson laid me carefully on his bed, before coming on top of me and feasting on my neck, whilst his hands were playing with my nipples. I could feel his hardened erection pushing against my jeans and my eyes rolled to the back of my head, getting a taste of what was about to come later.

"És tão incrivelmente bonita" (You are so incredibly beautiful)

His raspy Brazilian voice earned him a louder and needier moan. All I wanted was him and for him to feast on me. This man deserved to be worshipped.

"I'm yours Alisson. Oh god don't stop."

"Glad you decided to associate me with god."

Little did I know that the reason he said this, was because once his tongue slipped against my wet womanhood I was sent into heaven. I was nothing but his to please and after a night with him, no one could ever compare nor I would allow anyone to touch me.

His piercing blue eyes were glued to mine, as I couldn't remove them from the way he was trying to leave his mark on me. Every kiss and lick on my wetness was a sign that this territory has his name on it.

"Mine and only mine" he growled soft before getting up and letting me waiting and all needy. In a few swift moves he had undone his belt and removed his jeans, which finally let free to my eyesight his tightened against his boxers length.

I gulped hardly as placed my fingers delicately inside his boxers and held my cock, which sprung outside and made me gasp as I was trying to get ahold of the fact that it was going to be the death of me.

"Gosta do que está a ver?" (Like what you see?) a satisfied smile was plastered all over his face with the reaction of mine.

"I surely am. Oh lord."

He leaned forward, close to my core and rubbed his cock against it and even with a single touch, I was in desperate need of him. After Alisson teased the god out of me, I felt him entering me and in seconds I had folded, clenching tightly wanting to get used to his size.

"Fuck baby, you are so tight. So perfect." Alisson's moans were erupting sparks inside my stomach. His swift moves were as pleasurable as looking into his eyes and with each thrust, I knew I was ruined. Each push was a love confession. Each twist was a confirmation that we were made for each other.

Each moan of mine was a reassurance that I was his.

"I want to prove to you in all the ways I can that I will make you happy."

[arwainian]

Reading This Week 2024 #33

As warned, I come to you a day late because I was out of my house from 7:20am to 9:20pm. That time out was planned but also along the way my car battery died so I've sent it to the shop to get it looked at

I've really been in the zone with audiobooks this week, and I also worked on reading through the comic books I've had languishing on my shelf

Finished:

Blue Box, Vol. 1 by Kouji Miura, translated by Christine Dashiell cute manga about some students at a very sports focused high school, badminton playing boy protagonist with a HUGE crush on basketball playing upperclassman girl. pretty cute, great art

Stone Butch Blues by Leslie Feinberg I am so glad that my library system had a physical copy of the 20th anniversary edition. It felt like an honor to hold this book in my hand. As expected, I cried at several points reading this. I have to say though, the mythos that has sprung up around this book (on tumblr but I'm sure elsewhere) as a Lesbian Book really really undersells how much this book's perspective is just as much if not more Working Class. it's a book about labor and difficulty making ends meet while butch: Jess' decision to pass as a man is certainly a gender-identity based decision but crucially it is also a financial one in hopes of getting a better job. Anyway. read the actual book

Remina by Junji Ito, translated by Jocelyn Allen read to keep up with Shelved by Genre. didn't like this one

Boys Weekend by Mattie Lubchansky recommended by a friend, graphic novel where a transfem attends the bachelor party of their old college buddy while the casino town they're in is taken over by a tech-startup-cult

The Empire of Gold by S.A. Chakraborty, narrated by Soneela Nankani okay yeah I spent like the last 2 hours of the audiobook jumping up and down my hallway. this was pretty rad, thanks for the rec dad. if you, like me, are put off by the YA characterization vibes in the first book, the characters do grow up

only fooling yourself by volefriend on ao3

System Collapse by Martha Wells, narrated by Kevin R. Free the murderbot diaries are always great

Jonny Appleseed by Joshua Whitehead, narrated by the author recommended to me by a friend! interesting and matter of fact perspective on racialized sex work from a two-spirit person

The Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorogood, narrated by Nicolette McKenzie I'm going to come clean, I read this because I forgot the title of The Thursday Murder Club. however I really enjoyed this band of middle aged and older british ladies becoming friends and solving murders

Good Deeds #1-2 written by Che Grayson, art by Kelsey Ramsay, colors by Ronda Pattison comic about a small Florida town with unsettling supernatural stuff happening. I will be tracking down the other issues

Washed in the Blood #1 written by Kevin Roditeli, art by Rob Cannon, Kostas Pantoulas, and Vivi Ekhart the art and the lettering in this comic is crazy fun, but the story might be too "ooh so edgy" for me. I'll keep an eye out for the other issues but wont prioritize it

Crashing #1-3 written by Matthew Klein, art by Morgan Beem, colors by Triona Farrell miniseries focused on a doctor treating superpowered patients. absolutely going to find the other two issues of it, I need to see where this ends

What Feasts at Night by T. Kingfisher sequel to What Moves the Dead. it wasn't as good as the first one but it was still pretty enjoyable horror

Started/Ongoing:

The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch, narrated by Michael Page so excited to be reading this for the sff bookclub. too clever for their own good con man scoundrels are a favored character type of mine

Invisible Kingdom, Vol. 1: Walking the Path written by G. Willow WIlson, art by Christian Ward scifi comic that looked cool! a comic book shop employee recommended it to a friend, and I remembered I'd seen it at my library so I picked it up to check out (gorgeous scifi art)

little warrior by kathkin on ao3 read the next chapter :)

chapter 9 of follow the sun by verdantstars on ao3 new chapter out of a fire emblem three houses fic i like!

DNFs:

The Collected Poems of Audre Lorde this is hopefully just a temporary dnf. it was due back at the library and i did not have time to finish reading it before then. with any luck I'll check it out again when i have a bit more poetry reading motivation

Ragnarok by A.S. Byatt, narrated by Harriet Walter

Portrait of a Thief by Grace D. Li, narrated by Eunice Wong and Austin Ku

Reading Plans:

obviously The Lies of Locke Lamora is on my reading plan list bc its the sff book club pick for september! and I'll be reading Sensor to keep up with Shelved by Genre

other books I have out from the library and want to try out but may not finish reading: Bloom Into You Vol. 2 by Nakatani Nio, The Sprite and the Gardener by Rii Abrego and Joe Whitt, Female Husbands: A Trans History by Jen Manion, narrated by Kate Harper, The River of Silver by S.A. Chakraborty, narrated by Soneela Nankani

and I want to read more of the books that exist on my physical bookshelves. some of that I've been doing by borrowing the audiobook versions of them (like Jonny Appleseed and System Collapse above) but others dont have that option

[deepspacedukat]

Okay I’m sorry 😅 I was actually going to write this story style but I’m so burnt out and still have three 4 page history essays to write so I hope you don’t mind if I write the ideas instead like bullet points almost. But thank you for sticking with the story (even if it’s not really a story rn😂)

Everything had changed on the former federation space station curfews were created, you couldn’t go anywhere without Jem’hadar soldiers watching your every move, no matter how the Founders or vorta tried to spin it there was no denying the station was now a prison. Unfortunately this all was worst for Aris, none of the dominion members saw her as an actual life form. She felt even more trapped when after a few incidents it was agreed that she shouldn’t go anywhere without Leona or one of the couple of federation personal that Leona trusted out of the hand full that took the risk and stayed on the station.

It was evening and between the med bay traffic being slow and Leona being summoned to a mandatory dominion meeting for simply being a changling even if she wasn’t a founder, Aris was left to hold down the fort and keep the Med-bay running. Currently she was organizing the medical tools she had just sterilized and enjoying the chance to be alone for once. Luckily no Jem’hadar soldiers would come into the med bay anymore without reason after Leona had fussed at them and threw them out for scaring and borderline harassing the patients (and also so Aris wouldn’t get picked on and they both could relax). Aris has just placed the last instrument on the shelf when the medical bay door wooshed open, Leona’s or any other friendly voice didn’t greet her as whoever it was entered without a word. She froze, a cold shiver running up her spine for a few tortuously long moments but relaxed a little when she realized the strangers foot steps were much too light to be Jem’hadar.

“Um, hello, take a seat on one of the examination tables and I’ll be right with you.” Grabbing the necessary instruments Aris strided over towards were she heard the person sit down.

“Now, what seems to be the problem.”

“So, your the defective blind vorta I heard about.” A masculine voice spoke, coming from the mystery patient who was sitting on an examination table.

“I have a name, it’s Aris. Please use it.”

“It’s doesn’t matter your defective. You should’ve been despised of as protocol dictates.”

“I’m not defective! My mom says I’m unique, that I simply have a different set of talents and abilities. Still equally important to everyone else’s so I am clearly not defective just different.”

“…Your mother? Vorta are genetically engineered and cloned in birthing chambers. I don’t. Understand.”

“Well she didn’t give birth to me if that’s what you mean but Leona is just as much my mom as a blood one.”

“Leona?…As in the founder? One of our gods?”

“Yes.” He goes silent contemplating as Aris turns on the verbal diagnosis mode on and runs the scanner. Snapping out of his train of thought the young make vorta decides to speak.

“Kostas.”

“Huh?”

“My name is Kostas.”

“It’s nice to meet you. Now do you mind telling me what happened so I can decide on the best course of treatment?”

“It’s classified.”

Kostas stated firmly in a finite manner only for Aris to cross her arms and start tapping her foot as her murky unseeing eyes stared in his direction with impatience for that special brand of Dominion attitude.

The two vorta argued with each other for about 10 more minutes with Aris going ahead and starting to treat wounds until Leona got back seeing the commotion. Having been mentally exhausted from the Dominions crap all it took was for Aris to fill her in on before in a ‘I don’t have time for this’ attitude ordered Kostas to explain what happened. Once Leona assured the young vorta male nothing would happen to him and nothing would be said with this being doctor’s confidentiality he went on explaining and ranting on the tensions between the untrustworthy and disobedient Cardassians and Jem’hadar solders. Apparently a fight broke out and fearing he would get in trouble as it was the unit he was recently given command of, Kostas tried to stop the fight only to get caught in the middle and be injured himself.

After having his wounds treated Kostas went on his way hoping he wasn’t gone too long and would be punished in anyway plus he still had to fill out the incident report and give a debrief on the confrontation. The vorta suppressed a shiver at that for all he knew he could very well loose his rank or even life if his superiors were in a particularly foul mood. When Kostas had left Aris had gone quiet going through the motions and giving short answers not really responding like usual when Leona tried to start a conversation. Having raised her Leona could tell something wasn’t right, she tried prodding trying to get her to tell her what was wrong to no avail and ultimately decided to give the teen space. It wasn’t until later that night when they both were trying to settle down for the night that Aris finally wandered over to stand in the doorway of Leona’s room and spoke up.

“Hey…Mom?” At the sound of Aris’s voice Leona shapeshifted out of her bucket having just reversed to liquid only a few minute prior

“Yes starlight?”

“Is-is it true?” Hearing her shapeshift and feeling Leona’s gaze fall onto her. Aris though she couldn’t see tilted her head down. She’d be looking at the floor if she could see.

“Is what true Aris?” Leona frowned at Aris’s sad tone and nervous hesitation then added “You know you can tell me anything.”

“That I’m defective? Everyone seems to think that somethings wrong with me, that it would be better if-if I wasn’t…here.” Aris forced out as Leona’s eyes widened in growing horror.

”You are not defective. There is nothing wrong with you. I’m sorry everyone is making you feel like your broken and don’t belong just because your different. But your not defective your special and stronger than you know to be able to do all that you do. It’s people like you who have find the strength to make a difference, to do amazing things and see the world in ways no one else does. I’m proud of you no matter what anyone else might think or say.” Leona had pulled Aris into a hug as the teen started to cry. it didn’t matter that they sat there for hours as Aris tried to calm herself down or that Leona was exhausted, she knew her daughter needed her. This is what being a mother means, it may not be the prettiest or most fun as the changing has found out over the years, but she wouldn’t go back on her decision for anything in the universe. Aris is her daughter, she just wishes more than anything that she could’ve been able to shield her child from the coldness and harshness of the universe.

————————————————— After the day of the medical bay visit, whenever Kostas crossed paths with Aris he would discretely greet her. At first it was motivated by trying to win Leona’s favor or even a blessing as she was the nicest founder he had met, never before had a founder actually asked him or any vorta Kostas had known of if they were okay. So he figured if the blind little welp could weasel her way in then he could too. The first few times he tried to wave to her without drawing attention to himself, he had a reputation to uphold. But when he got no response he had to facepalm realizing he waved and tried to signal a blind person.

Eventually Kostas started visiting the medical bay just to loiter. Before he knew it and to his horror Kostas realized he actually really enjoyed Aris’s company especially the banter and the occasional sarcastic comment or dry humor from Leona chiming into the conversation. Uncomfortable, confused, and somewhat disturbed with himself, the young vorta started avoiding the medical bay and Aris whenever he could. It wasn’t until he overheard a conversation about how upset Aris was to finally have a friend her age to relate too and then be ghosted that he begrudgingly made the decision to bring some Zippleberry pie as an apology. Over the following weeks after that incident the two young vorta took turns bringing each other food and somehow making the sweet gesture a competition. One of the times Leona couldn’t stop from snorting in amusement and shaking her head as Aris stormed ahead of her to one of the Rex rooms muttering about how the homemade Ribbleberry ice cream she made for Kostas beats the carvernut cookies he made for her previously.

As the two developed a flourishing friendship that could eventually turn into more it was cut short with the end of the great Federation and Dominion war going to be coming to an end soon. Within the next few galactic standard weeks with the Dominion being stretched thin due to the Cardassian revolt the federation is able to win back the space station that is now once again known as Adhara 12. —————————————————————

Also yes I’m the author so I’m allowed to say that after the war and the fall of the dominion or at least the former dominion that Kostas and Aris are eventually a thing. Aris has been promoted to a doctor and the head of her own medical bay while Kostas was able to go the the federation academy and become an intelligence officer. Leona unlike Odo decides to return after visiting the great link and goes on to continue medical work but now travels all over to visit war torn worlds healing those broken in the war or by dominion rein. Of course in between these long missions she returns to visit Aris and occasionally Aris (and sometimes Kostas) joins Leona on off station missions. Also Suka’klan befriends a federation officer (this is the Jem’hadar and federation officer scenario I came up with a while back we’re in battle they run into each other and are like “Are you going to kill me?”) Turns out like the jem’hadar Goran'Agar in the ds9 episode ‘Hypocratic Oath’ he isn’t addicted to the White. He ends up letting her go and it’s awhile before they see each other until in the final battle timeframe there’s a building collapse and the federation officer that befriended him digs him out and brings him to safety actually getting him to medical attention which is something the Dominion doesn’t do for soldiers. So Suka’Rhex ends up on the Adhara 12 security team and they work together busting criminals.

(Also what started off as bullet points turned into me lying 🤣 have a good night DeepSpaceDukat)

OH MY GOD, AZORA, NEVER EVER APOLOGIZE FOR CASUALLY TOSSING A STORY INTO MY INBOX!!

I cannot adequately express just how much I love this! Everything I type out seems like it's not enough, so I'll just say a simple thank you! I love Aris and Leona and Kostas! I know you sent this late last night, but I wanted to give this the proper read (and reread) that it deserved and save it for today.

I hope you slept well, my dear friend! 💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙

[sarnai4]

More questions for you! If you'd like to know more about the different kinds of sorcery in Changing Waters: Jiol, please view this post. Okay, question time now. Whatever wins will have some concept art made. (Also not me deliberately excluding coral manipulation this time because I don't know how to draw coral yet...one day. One. Day.)

Below are the book synopsis and links!

What rests deep in the ocean? Mermaids? Monsters? Magic? All that and more.

Far below where any human can survive, there is a kingdom called Jiol. Kostas is a 14-year-old sorcerer who resides there with his mother and friends, but it is not their home. A home is filled with love, not fear and death. It is merely where they try to survive while the royal guards, the Patrollers, constantly raid the village. They kill anyone with tails, webbing, or fins—anyone who mutated for this underwater existence.

To protect innocent lives from the unending attacks, Kostas must get stronger even if this involves going behind his mother’s back. Training, sorcery, and seers are the villagers’ only hope against the Patrollers and a royal vizier who is as cruel as he is powerful. If Kostas cannot succeed as a protector of the village, Jiolans like him will be massacred to the point of extinction.

First 3 chapters on Ao3

Amazon Link (and written out https://a.co/d/819WYr6)

[princeszoboszlai]

in my correct opinion domi should grow a ponytail and also wear one hoop earring and one dangly cross earring. visualise this with me.

Okay, walk with me here anon.

If we're saying Dominik has the ponytail in full effect AND he's got the earrings. I say he goes full Kostas and also wears glasses/sunglasses. Does he need them? No. But he'd love a fashion statement.

OR BETTER YET! Crop tops.

Dominik with the long hair, the dangly earring and just . . . Light clothing. Crop tops or low rise pants. Just a little more revealing shit.

After the comment, I hope he full send stops looking like "the perfect Hungarian boy" and just goes full silly little gay model look.

[66trentaa]

wtf i just tuned in and the first thing i saw was klopp falling over 😭 hope kostas is okay tho

[lomltrentarnold]

hope kostas is okay :((

[hallucinatc]

@clouudxx​, based on x.

[ alec ] — morning, gorgeous! i'm sorry i had to leave so early today. how was breakfast? [ alec ] — how does your schedule look after 2 pm? i have a meeting in vancouver if you want to take a break from school

[makeyour-request]

— Emilia Clarke & Kostas Martakis ‣ Request by emilianidasblog.

[thecyrulik]

Yet Another Purring Vampire?

Hello friends and foes, recent talks about the concept of some vampires' ability to purr in various situations gave me no choice but to join with this little piece. I am unafraid to admit this is quite self-indulgent and written for a very specific audience of me and about 5 other whump blogs I saw enjoyed the concept.

Tagging at the beginning of the post so you can see what's this about quickly and decide if you care about the piece at all (also tagging some of my vampire squad and the people I know have their own purring vampire OCs - ignore as you wish): @hold-him-down (thank you for helping with this nightmare of a language) @whumpy-writings @whumpsday @deluxewhump @ceph-the-writing-spook @wolfeyedwitch - I apologize for random tags, but consider me a toddler running up to people on the street, showing them a drawing they made and were super proud of while the parent is 2 steps behind and a little embarrassed. LMK if you want off the list if I ever write part 2

MIND THE WARNINGS ON THIS ONE: mouth whump, defanging, dehumanization, restraints, forced drugging, it's not intended as torture but it is, collars, lab and med whump of sorts.

The metal parts of his cage clinking in irregular intervals have brought him onto the edge of madness. He wanted to snarl and hiss and bite at the humans who put him in his cage, who chained him and muzzled him and bound him in silver and brought misery upon him, but he couldn’t do anything.

They dragged him to gods knew where and it took ages and he wanted to snarl and hiss and snap but no one paid him any mind. The cage bumped with every other turn or change of terrain and he was as miserable as could be without being directly tortured, for now at least.

Kosta hissed as the carriage bumped and made him hit his head on the silver cage bars. Hissing didn’t help him at all, and he imagined none of the other protests would work better but he still couldn’t help himself. Maybe that way he would prove to his captors he was a thinking, intelligent being?

Heh. Hunger made him foolish and naïve, it seemed. It was obvious the hunters wouldn’t care about his thinking abilities at all. Kosta knew they all thought vampires were all half-feral beasts that killed every time they fed and left an awful mess behind. They would also do everything they could to keep thinking that way. He had no way of making them see either, especially now when they kept him starving and in pain. He’d love to drain any of them right away. If they really want a beast, he’ll show them a beast, he thought, full of simmering rage.

***

“Goddamit, Jim, pull it down, down!” the wide-shouldered man at his side shouted. Another one, Jim, whose blood smelled like fresh hay, returned to Kosta reluctantly. The vampire snarled again, struggling hopelessly against his restraints. Jim grabbed at the chain attached to a metal collar on his neck and pulled sharply. Kosta let out a strained sound, panic rising in his chest as he was being choked by the thing.

“Okay, good. Hold it down like that. I need it still for a couple of minutes,” the wide man – a doctor? A scientist of sorts? – explained, his annoyance palatable. Jim grunted somewhere under the table Kosta was lying on, and the pressure on his neck eased just a bit.

“Stay down, bloodfuck, and I won’t have to choke you again,” he said, a little out of breath. Kosta hissed, but stayed still – for now, of course.

“I don’t get it. I gave it so many sedatives it should be barely able to breathe on its own, so why is it still fighting?” The doctor seemed like he didn’t really expect an answer as he prepared… something, on a metal table next to the one Kosta was bound to. The vampire felt the slurred way his thoughts moved in his mind, so the drugs definitely worked partially. He kept still, now hoping he could make them believe he was out of it so that they’d get careless, giving him an escape opportunity.

The doctor returned to his side, strange tools in both his hands. Kosta stared with more confusion than fear as the man nodded to someone in front of him. Before the vampire realized there was another hunter at his other side – fucking wonderful, you didn’t notice a human standing next to you, for this kind of sloppiness you deserve everything they do to you – a sharp piercing pain started on the left side of his chest. He gasped, his head lifting against the metal collar, his fangs jumping out without any decision on his side. At the same moment, the doctor was pushing one of his tools inside his mouth. His fangs locked on the metal parts, and he couldn’t move his jaw at all.

“Pull it out. No point in it bleeding out on my table,” the doctor said and Kosta felt as the sharp thing was being pulled out of his chest, metal scratching on his ribs. He could barely breathe, his lung punctured, freeing the air and collapsing when deflated. Even if he didn’t have that strange metal bit in his mouth, he wouldn’t be able to say anything at all, so he just glared and tried to breathe slowly as the wound in his chest healed slowly oh so slowly.

“Ah. Lovely. Perfect access, and on the first try!” the doctor sounded disgustingly pleased with him. He leaned over Kosta’s face as he inspected the inside of his mouth. “Listen to me, vampire. I’m going to collect your venom now.”

When Kosta didn’t answer, the doctor raised his eyebrows in pleased surprise. He seemed to have forgotten the bite guard – because that’s what the metal thing had to be – or maybe he expected the vampire to snarl or hiss anyway.

“There’s two ways it can go. One, you do as I say and let it flow like a good little beastie. Two, you fight me and I drain your venom glands with a syringe.”

The vampire felt a low grumbling rising in his throat. There was some shuffling behind his head and then the young hunter’s face appeared just above him.

“What is this noise? Is it the vampire?” Jim asked with a hint of disbelief.

“What did you expect, son? It’s a beast and it wants to get free. Come on, hold its head down, I can’t see anything like this.”

Kosta felt a warm human hand push one of his shoulders down to the table just as the metal band started pressing on his throat once again. Another one – the stabber – brought a lamp that shone brightly in the vampire’s face, forcing his eyes closed for a moment.

“So how’s it gonna be?”

He growled again, sure that his sentiment was clear without words.

“We’ll see about that. Morgan, push his chin up?”

Another two hands, one on his jaw, the other one on his forehead, pulling his head back, baring his throat to the doctor. Kosta felt dread pooling in his stomach like icy water, burning and paralyzing at the same time. The man’s hands smelt of his blood, sourdough-like and warm. Kosta stopped his growling and braced for whatever was coming.

The stab of pain was white and blinding when it finally came. Kosta’s body tensed, but the drugs in his system and the hands on him kept him down and unable to escape as the doctor searched for his gland with a needle. Quiet hissing and weaker, more bearable stabs told him that the doctor found this task harder than anticipated. Every time the needle got close to his gland, he shivered and whimpered.

“Fucking finally.”

Kosta sighed with relief as he felt the change of pressure in his mouth. The pull of the syringe was uncomfortable and humiliating, but not terribly painful. He closed his eyes again and breathed a little easier. The tears stayed at bay for now.

The discomfort grew slowly but surely. Kosta fought bravely, pulling at his restraints, the voiceless vibrations in his throat rising against his will. He counted the seconds in his mind but kept losing track.

Just after he thought he could not bear it anymore, the pressure stopped.

“Ah. Just look at this. Beautiful.”

He knew it wasn’t addressed to him, but he still looked. The doctor held a vial filled with yellowish liquid towards the light. Kosta didn’t find it beautiful at all, and it seemed the other hunters didn’t either, standing as they were, silent and grim. Well, at least they didn’t enjoy torturing him as much as the doctor.

“One down, one more to go. Come on, work with me, leech.”

He forgot about the pain as he lunged towards the man, screeching as much as he could with the bite guard in. The doctor jumped back nervously and Kosta felt bitter satisfaction that was quickly drowned by the pain of being choked again. Jim must have put all his weight on the chain attached to his collar.

The atmosphere slightly more tense now, the doctor hurried to prod at the other gland with his needle. He cursed and cursed, searching for the right angle, but there didn’t seem to be one at all. Kosta still kept his eyes shut tight, his throat vibrating almost voicelessly being his only comfort, primitive as it may be.

The stabbing stopped.

“Listen to me, vampire. Here’s what we’re gonna do. Either you’ll release venom from your other gland on your own–“

Kosta snarled, putting as much contempt as he could in that sound.

“–Or I will just pull your fang out to get better access.”

Purring and growling switched to almost whining without any conscious choice on Kosta’s side. Still, he opened his eyes, now surely glistening with tears that waited patiently to pour down once he broke down. He sent his most venomous glare towards his torturer.

“Suit yourself.”

Another metal clinking, humans moving around, muffled voices. Kosta realized his hands were shaking against restraints, so he tried to press his palms on the table. The human hand on his forehead moved back, fingers slipping softly into his hair. A second later the grip tightened and his head was tilted back once again.

“You’re sure you don’t wanna do it the easy way?” the man holding his head said. Martin, was it? Something like that, but Kosta’s exhausted mind didn’t feel like making sure it was the right one.

He simply shook his head, as much as he could.

The first pull took him by surprise. His thoughts were floating around, clouded with pain and misery and fear and hatred and the need to keep himself from crying – he didn’t even notice the pliers in his mouth until it was too late.

The pain was excruciating. Kosta felt his whole body was on fire, electricity running from his mouth down his spine and back again. He shrieked. There was no way something this simple could be this painful, right?

The fang didn’t go out with the first pull, so the doctor tried again. Kosta shrieked and wailed and growled, tears pouring freely now down his cheeks, the pain rendering him unable to do anything but fight hopelessly even as it made things worse.

“Sir, how about a break? I can’t keep it down,” Martin– Miller– the one holding his head suggested, his voice a little strained.

“How about you try it? Someone stronger than me could probably do it better. I’m a scientist, not a fighter,” the doctor pointed out. Even in his pained and drugged state, Kosta noticed he said “fighter” as if he meant “cockroach”.

He was allowed a couple of breaths more. The purring in his throat rose again, helping marginally with the pain and the terror as he waited for more torture.

“Okay. Jim, hold it tight.” The hand released his hair, but a different one landed on his forehead again.

The next try, he heard it before actually feeling it. A wet ‘pop’ and a clunk of pliers preceded the worst thing Kosta has ever felt in his life before. His face was wet with tears and blood droplets from the pulled fang. He stopped paying attention to his surroundings, purring so loud it muffled all the other sounds. It did nothing to help with the pain anymore, but he couldn’t stop himself from doing it, hoping to at the very least ease his terror.

The needle entered his venom gland yet again. It felt so bland compared to the paralyzing pain before, that he barely reacted at all. There was some shuffling near his head again and the small hand on his forehead was switched to the bigger one he remembered from earlier, the one smelling of sourdough. Fingers moved through his hair there and forth, the same slow pulsating rhythm as his purring.

By the time the venom gland was empty, Kosta blacked out completely.

next

***

I do have some more ideas how to continue it so just let me know if you liked it at all

[daydreamsonacloudyday]

Wait a minute... is the scarred-up turian that Liam mentions to everyone in his banter supposed to be a reference to Garrus?

@omegastation maybe one of your followers would know?

[emblemxeno]

Three Hopes thoughts so far

I’m posting extremely late where I live, but I gotta vent about the demo for a bit.

I’m not finished with my first route yet, I will the next day as I am exhausted. (I didn’t play the demo as soon as I downloaded it, so if my thoughts seem short, that’s why. I have like, 6 hours of total game time)

I’m doing Scarlet Blaze first like I said I would, and man... IMO this story’s pacing is too fucking fast. We expose Tomas after the third battle, which is just two weeks after we get to the monastery. And there’s no actual weeks, it just skips straight ahead to the fights. 

Which, okay, I like not being shackled to monastery activity, but straight after that we expose Thales, and then Edelgard becomes Emperor, and then the timeskip happens. This all is in the manner of an hour, two hours at most.

The inner details are kind of what I expected. Ladle takes out the Slithers first (ignore the fact that the first bandit attack on the students still happened on Ladle’s orders presumably, this game doesn’t care to extrapolate on that I guess)

Idk if this is the same with other routes, but Jeritza was the Eagles’ professor for me, and I can already tell the stans are gonna eat it up as “confirmation” that the Teacher Theory is true. Even though that theory hinges on the the idea that Ladle never intended for Kostas to kill Dimitri and Claude, when both 3H and Three Hopes proved that she did.

Besides that, wow! Ladle and Hubert abusing the church’s trust and then turning around by manipulating the public through the rebuilt southern church to denounce Garreg Mach’s legitimacy. Who could’ve seen that coming. /s

Also Monica is here I guess. Apparently she’s still alive despite being kidnapped a year earlier. After exposing Tomas, her character so far is “Ladlegard Simp #2″ and likes competing with Hubert for recognition. What a stunning addition to Fodlan’s cast. /s In all seriousness, I hope in the full game she does more to impress.

For the actual game.

How mechanics at base camp are introduced is well paced at least, I never feel overwhelmed.

The gameplay itself... is kinda slow? Maybe it’s my muscle memory from FE Warriors 1, but there are times I feel I’m not getting anywhere in terms of defeating enemies as fast as I could be. I know I’m doing things right, I hit the stun guages with the right characters, I’m using combat arts and magic at when I feel is the right moment...

I don’t think it’s cuz I’m overleveled, I’m at most 2 levels under the mission requirements.

Regardless, the characters are fun. I like each of their unique traits, and I can tell you’ll be able to do some fun builds.