#i could only wonder how i’ll be able to focus on anything else for the timebeing

[janeyseymour]

Never In A Million Years, Unless... -part 3

Part 1. Part 2.

Summary: Melissa has an important question to ask you, in front of all of your special guests.

WC: ~2.75k

“Nonna’s ring?” Kristen Marie nearly shouts into the phone, and for a split second, your girlfriend glances down at you to pray you don’t wake up.

“Nonna’s ring,” Melissa confirms. “I’ve decided that if I’m gonna give marriage another try, it should be with Y/N.”

“What happens when you split from her and don’t get the family heirloom back?”

“Shut the hell up,” the redhead nearly hisses. “I know we ain’t breakin’ up. She’s put up with my ass for years- why would she leave now?”

“I’ll have it for you at family dinner on Sunday,” the blonde sighs.

“One thing though,” Melissa says quietly. At the hum, she continues. “You can’t tell nobody.”

“Why the hell would I say anything?”

“To get back at me for God knows what.”

“I like to fuck with you, but I don’t go messing with Y/N,” Kristen Marie promises. “Now get off the phone; I need my beauty sleep.”

“If that’s what you want to call it,” Melissa teases her sister. “Night.”

Melissa gets the family heirloom at Sunday’s dinner, and she sneakily hides it in her purse.

That Monday, your girlfriend is able to get Barbara alone before the kids all come in while you’re off preparing for this week’s lessons.

She just pulls the ring out of her purse and plants it in her best friend’s hands.

Barb’s eyes go wide. “Is this what I think it is?”

“An engagement ring? Yeah.”

“No,” the kindergarten teacher shakes her head before amending, “Well, yes. But is this your Nonna’s ring?”

The redhead nods her head. “If I’m gonna give that ring to anyone, it’s gonna be Y/N.”

“Melissa, dear, this is wonderful,” Barbara hands back the ring. “Does anyone else know?”

“Just Kristen Marie,” the second grade teacher rolls her eyes as she carefully puts the ring back in her bag. “And now you. I need your help.”

“My help?”

“When it gets nicer out, I told Y/N we could have a barbecue at our place, and I want everyone to be there… no one listens to anyone more than they listen to you.”

Your grade level partner smiles a smile that meets her eyes. “Of course. You just tell me a date and time.”

“Saturday, May 18th,” Melissa states.

“You already know the date?”

“I had some time to look over the dates while Y/N was in the shower and text with her mother about coming over that day,” the redhead shrugs. “So, can I count on you?”

“Of course you can,” Barbara grins as she squeezes her best friend’s shoulder. “Now, go help that girlfriend of yours before she loses her damn mind. I know she’s been stressed about this week, what with the benchmark testing happening and conferences coming up.”

And so, Melissa does just that. When she comes into your classroom, you seem to be up to your eyeballs in paperwork. Her eyes immediately see how tense you are in your shoulders.

“Mi amore,” she sighs softly as she comes to stand behind you. Her hands gently rest on your shoulders before she begins massaging them.

You smile at the contact and pause your work for a brief moment to crane your neck and kiss her. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” Warm lips are on yours for a brief second before she glances at what you’re doing. You’re currently getting portfolios together for your kids to show their parents at conferences.

“Babe,” she tuts softly. “Conferences aren’t for another two weeks, and we still have quarterly testing to do.”

“I know,” you mutter. “I just want to get a head start on it.”

“You’re already worlds ahead of me,” your girlfriend sighs. “Take a breather and enjoy your coffee with me.”

“Mel,” you all but whine out.

So, with a heavy breath, the redhead pulls up a chair next to you and begins to go through the paperwork with you. Only, you pause your work to admire her. Her hair is beautifully cascading down her shoulders, her eyeliner looks so sharp today, the way her glasses are on the tip of her nose gets you going, and her clear focus on something she clearly doesn’t want to do but is willing to get over it for you- it has you enamored.

“Was this your plan?” your girlfriend teases as she continues to thumb through the papers. “Get me to do your work while you just stare at me?”

You shake your head goodheartedly before planting a quick kiss to her cheek. “Just admiring my gorgeous woman.” And then the two of you are nose deep in filing the work for your five and six year olds. 

May 18th comes all too quickly, and yet somehow it feels like forever to the redhead for the day to come. But here the two of you are, cleaning your house up and down, making sure the floors are vacuumed or mopped, checking that the couch cushions are fluffed to Melissa’s liking, and just generally making sure the house is presentable.

“I think it looks good,” you say as you scrub the last of the pots that had sat in the sink to soak overnight.

Melissa hums as she tightens the messy ponytail that she has her red locks in. “I guess. I just don’t want everyone thinkin’ we live in some slum.”

You bite back a chuckle at that as you move towards her to wrap your arms around her neck. “With all due respect, we’ve been to Janine’s. We’re just fine, hun.”

Your girlfriend purses her lips as she mulls over your statement.

Before the two of you know it, your first guests are arriving at your house. Thankfully, you had the time to shower and change out of your cleaning clothes before Barbara and her husband show at your doorstep.

Not a long time has passed before everyone has shown, including all of the Abbott clan that you had invited. It’s funny seeing the way that the groups manage each other. Melissa’s family is a bit more stiff, your family is as bouncy and talkative as you, and the Abbott group moves as a group as they try to learn everything they can about the two of you.

“Ma,” both you and your girlfriend yell at your respective parents.

“What?”

“Stop embarrassing me!”

Melissa’s mother and sister are currently telling Barbara and Jacob about the shenanigans your girlfriend used to get up to as a girl while your mother is showing Janine and Gregory baby pictures that she has of you on her phone.

Both of your parents just wave you off with shit eating grins, and the two of you breathe a deep sigh. 

“Was this our best idea yet?” you ask sarcastically. “Having everyone we know under one roof to exchange every embarrassing story they could possibly have on us?”

Melissa just sighs. “I have no fuckin’ clue. I hope it’s worth it.”

“What do you mean?” you ask softly, not knowing of her plan to propose.

Green eyes look into yours as she quickly searches for an excuse. “I mean, we have a life together. They’d all intermix eventually- might as well be on our time as opposed to by accident.”

“I suppose you may be right,” you chuckle softly as you lean in to kiss her, tangling your fingers together softly. You pull her along toward the direction of the kitchen to begin prepping the burgers you know she and Mr. Johnson will be cooking up later.

“So why are we all here? And don’t give me no trash excuse,” Mr. Johnson asks the redhead as they’re making the burgers together. “There’s gotta be a real reason.”

Melissa scopes out the area, and you’re invested in a conversation with your mother and Janine about only God knows what. She leans in and whispers, “I’m proposing. Wanted the important people here.”

“The Abbott crew is that important to you?” the custodian raises a brow as he flips a burger.

“Family,” she tells him. “An’ if she says yes, will you walk with me down the aisle?”

Mr. Johnson pauses his motions and looks to your girlfriend with wide eyes. “Tell me you’re playing. I know I didn’t hear you right.”

“I ain’t, and you did.”

He claps a hand on her shoulder with a dazzling smile. “Hell yeah I will- when she says yes.”

“You really think she’ll say yes?”

“Melissa, Melissa, Melissa,” Mr. Johnson chuckles fondly. “I’m not sure about a lot of things. But if I’m certain about one thing, it’s that your woman loves you, and she’ll say yes.”

Dinner is on the table, all of your friends and family gathering around for a nice meal- all except for your girlfriend, Kristen Marie, and Barbara.

“Where the hell could they be?” you mutter to yourself as you begin to get up out of your chair.

“Just let them be,” Mr. Johnson practically forces you back into the chair. He knows what those three are doing. They’re pulling champagne flutes out of the cars and pouring enough for everyone to toast to the two of you.

“I’m sure they could use some-” You go to get out of your seat again.

“I said let them be, woman!” Mr. Johnson instructs you in an unusually serious tone. “Jesus, so stubborn, just like your girlfriend.”

You furrow a brow at his odd behavior, but you let it go. With a soft sigh, you settle back into your seat.

It’s only a few minutes later that Melissa, her sister, and her work wife come into the room. But they’re empty handed.

“Where the hell were you?” you ask as she stands by her seat next to you. Barbara and Kristen Marie stay by the door.

“I had a few things I had to prepare for,” is all she says.

“And that would be?”

She takes her stein of beer that’s been set beside her plate by you so graciously, and taps on it with a fork. You give her a look that tells her you have no idea what’s happening. But everyone’s eyes turn to her, and the small chatter that had once filled the room is gone. You don’t notice that Barbara has pulled out her phone to begin filming.

“Hey, everyone,” Melissa smiles that charming smile of hers. “I got somethin’ important I wanted to say.”

“Mel, what?” you pull her in close and whisper into her ear. “What announcement are we making?”

“Just wait, hun,” she tells you.

“I would’ve thought we would’ve discussed whatever you’re going to say to the whole group.”

“Can you be patient for like two minutes?”

You’re not so sure that you like the tone that your girlfriend has taken with you, but you hold your hands up in surrender.

She just smiles at you before shining green eyes look back around the patio at the people you love enough to bring into your home. “I got somethin’ I wanna say. Today is a special day for me an’ Y/N, and we… I wanted all of the people that matter the most to us to be here for it.”

“What’s today?” you ask quietly. Silently, you go through your mind for special dates. None of those dates are in May. “Hun, what are you-”

“Everyone here knows that I was married before. Not too keen on the idea of remarrying. Told quite a few of youse-” she glances to her mother, her sister, and Barbara. “-that there was no damned way I was ever getting married again.”

“Melissa,” you whisper as you piece together what’s happening.

She just shushes you. “And then Y/N came along and into my life, and she changed everything that I ever thought I knew to be my world. And since she started working at Abbott, I’ve come to fall in love with the best, most loving, funny, ridiculous woman that I’ve ever met. I found someone who embraced every single side of me and has loved me through it all. I- I found the freakin’ miracle that made me change my thoughts on marriage and a forever. So-” Melissa gets down on one knee and pulls the ring box out of her pocket that she’s been holding onto for months. “Marry me? Make me the happiest woman alive by becoming Mrs. Schemmenti?”

The box is opened, and the ring is sitting there as shiny as ever. It’s… it’s beautiful. “Yes,” you whisper, tears in your eyes. You lean down and cup her cheek with one hand to pull her into a warm kiss as she slips the ring on your finger. “Absolutely, yes.”

She stands and raises your hand up in the air as though she was the champion of something (she’d later tell you that she is the champion of your heart- she won the best prize there is). “We’re engaged, bitches!”

No sooner is Kristen Marie walking around with a tray of champagne flutes that each of your guests takes. 

Once she drops your hand and interlaces your right hand with her left, you get a glance at the ring. It- That- You’re wearing her beloved Nonna’s ring. You have the Schemmenti family heirloom sitting on your finger.

You go to say something to her in a hushed out whisper, but Kristen Marie shoves a glass of bubbly into your hand, and then Melissa is tapping her glass again.

“I got a couple more things I wanna say,” your now fiancee grins from ear to ear. “I just wanted to say thank you to Barb for helping make sure everyone was here. Thank you to Y/N’s parents for giving me their blessing to marry their daughter. Thank you to Kristen Marie for helping me get the ring- the family heirloom.”

“So it is Nonna’s ring?” you whisper out.

Melissa just nods with a soft smile. She presses a kiss to your temple. “And thank you, to my beautiful fiancee. For putting up with my stubborn ass for this long, and for agreeing to put up with my stubborn ass for as long as God has it planned that we’re on this Earth together.” She raises her glass before taking a sip. Everyone follows suit before breaking out into a chorus of cheers for the two of you.

It’s a bit of time before everyone has settled back into their seats for the meal, your guests all eager to get a look at the dazzling ring on your finger. But then dinner is had, desserts and more drinks are had, and it’s a perfect, perfect night.

You spend the rest of your little house party being flocked around, your friends and family absolutely thrilled that you’re the special woman that finally got to change Melissa’s mind about love.

By the time your last guests begin to file out, you have rosy cheeks from the crisp outdoor air and the champagne that you’ve had. The smile on your face hasn’t gone away though. You can’t believe that you’re actually getting married.

“I’m so happy for you, baby,” your mom whispers to you as she hugs you tightly. “Now… work on getting me some grandkids?”

“Mom!” you half groan, half whine.

Before you can say anything else though, Melissa has a hand on the small of your back, she’s pressing a soft kiss to your cheek, and she’s telling your mother quietly, “Let us get married first, yeah?”

That simple question to your mother has you raising your eyebrows and looking at your future wife with wide eyes.

The redhead just shrugs before smiling sweetly at you. She then turns her attention back to your parents. “Text us when you get home safe.” She kisses each of their cheeks softly and watches as they walk to their car.

At last, it’s just the two of you together in the comfort of your own home. Before you can even react, Melissa has you pinned up against the door, and she’s kissing you hungrily.

You can’t quite stop the moan that escapes from your lips when you feel wandering hands. “Honey.”

“God, I fuckin’ love my fiancee so much,” she mumbles into your mouth. Then she’s trailing kisses down your jawline and your neck.

It’s safe to say, you don’t get much sleep that night. And throughout all of the escapades, that beautiful rock sits on your finger perfectly. 

tags: @schemmentis @thesapphictimelady @marvel210 @itisdoctortoyousir @morgana-larkin @doesthatsuggestanythingtoyou @marvels--slut @sweetcheeksschemmenti @megamultifandomtrashposts @lemz378 @http-sam @melissaschemmentisbranzino @imaginesmultifandoms @sexysapphicshopowner @lilfartbox1 @maybe-a-humanbean @imlike-so-gaydude @a-queen-and-her-throne @notinmyvocab @melanielaufeyson @dvrkhcld @cosmichymns @sasheemo @m1lflov3rrr @ricejucie @temilyrights @emilynissangtr @squinnchy @dopenightmaretyphoon @emeraldoceansstuff @shinyfaerielights  @blkmxrvel @marvelwomenrule @sarahjohannson @casualfoxwitch @babytakeittothehead

[penelopepine]

Don't be a stranger! Pt. 9 (Final)

Part 8 Part 9

Simon "Ghost" Riley x FemReader

Content: Neighbors AU, fluff, developing relationship, establishing relationship

Immediately Simon turns to look at you. Almost wondering to himself if what you said was all in his head, but it wasn't. You were awake, and you had heard him say that he loves you.

He doesn't say anything as you seem to gain back your consciousness. Slowly blinking away the drowsiness in your mind. 

"…Simon?" 

"I'm here," He grabs your hand; squeezing it tight in his, "I'm here, love."

You smile shyly, and squeeze his hand as well, "Did I hear you right?" 

Simon doesn't know how to answer that, and before he can truly think about what to say Price makes his presence known to the room with a small cough. "I'll give you two a bit of privacy," He gives Simon a pat on the shoulder before whispering in his ear, "Simon, don't let yourself stand in the way of something good." 

With a nod and whispered words to you as well, Price steps out of the room. Leaving the two of you alone to talk about the elephant in the room. 

It feels like an eternity passes in the quiet seconds.  Simon takes Price's words to heart, and decides to finally take the leap. "You did. I said it." 

"Can…can you say it again?" 

Simon feels terrified right now; it feels different saying it directly to you, but he’s not going to let you go now that he’s so close to what he wants. “I love you. I feel as if I was made to love you.” Looking into your eyes he sees tears starting to well up, and panic hits him at full force once again. He immediately stands and pulls his hand away from yours. “I’m sorry I’ll go-” 

“Simon!” Your hand quickly wraps around his; stopping him from running out of the room, “Please look at me.” He doesn’t want to. He doesn’t want to see the tears in your eyes, but softly your voice calls out to him again. “Simon.” 

You asked him and so he does. He looks back towards you, the tears still present, but a big dopey grin has replaced your once hesitant smile. “I love you too.” 

In the blink of an eye he is on you. His hands are softly holding your face so that your faces are only inches apart. “Say it again.” His voice almost desperately asks. 

“I love you, Simon-.” 

Before you’ve even finished saying it, he's kissing you. Simon has wanted this for so long, and to hear you say it is like a dream come true. This moment is all he had wanted for the past few months. 

The kiss lasts for many moments before the two of you pull away from each other as a loud knock on the door rings out. Quickly Simon moves to sit back down on the chair just as the door is swung open revealing Johnny. Who comes practically sprinting in once he sees that you're awake. 

"Beads!" Johnny yells out, and brings you into a hug, "I'm so glad to see that you're ok lass." 

You wrap your arms around him as well laughing as you say, "I could say the same to you. My first outing off base, and we got jumped!" 

Johnny looks at you with sadness in his eyes, "I should have been paying better attention. There’s a reason you are  still living on base after all." 

"Johnny-" You try to say but are interrupted before more can be said. 

"No lass, I made a mistake leaving your side. We're lucky nothing too serious happened." 

You don't say anything else, and just bring him back in for a hug. Simon knows that Johnny is probably feeling guilty right now, and he's sure Johnny will try and make up for what happened once you're out of here. Regardless of whether you think he needs to or not. "I'm just glad everything is over honestly." You say with a big yawn. 

Simon looks your way as you two break away from each other, "That reminds me love, you should focus on resting right now." He makes sure to send Johnny a look as well; silently telling him that it's time for him to go now. 

Johnny has always been able to read his silent demands, and happily makes his way out of the room after saying goodbye to you. Once it’s just the two of you again Simon grasps your hand in his. “I meant what I said about you getting rest. You’re clearly starting to fall asleep again.” You had been actively yawning with drooping eyes for the last few minutes now. 

“Will you be here when I wake up again?” 

“I can’t think of anywhere else I’d rather be.” Simon could think of a close second though, and that would be in the interrogation room with Laswell. That is something that can be handled later though; staying here with you is more important. 

"Can I-," You start, but your own yawn cuts you off. You're leaning against the pillow with closed eyes, and Simon isn't even sure if you're aware of what you're saying right now, "-ask you one more question?"

"Go ahead, love." 

You barely open your eyes, and give him the biggest grin, "Do you wanna be my boyfriend?" 

"I want to be your everything," He whispered, watching your eyes fall shut. Simon loved you so much right now looking at your sleeping face. He's not sure if you'll remember asking that, but he'll be the one to ask you if so. He's not going to let you go now; not after everything. 

With that Simon goes and turns the light down for you, and settles down by your side once again. He's not planning on going anywhere any time soon. Everything else can just fade away into the background now that he has you. 

Simon's ready for what the future holds as long as he gets to be by your side. 

Note: That it! This story is officially done! I had such a great time writing this story, and I started talking to some amazing people because of it. I hope everyone has enjoyed it as much as I have.

If anyone is wondering the total word count for is just over 13k!

My next big story is going to be expanding on this blurb here that I wrote a bit ago. You can also check out my masterlist for other things that I have written.

Taglist: @nexthyperfix @yourdaydreamerfan @tf141gloryhole @just-pure-trash @definitelynotaclown

@141tfsan @arminarlertssword @openup-yourmind @evie-119 @v1x3n

@whos-fran @trcyyyyy @azkza @kaoyamamegami @yyiikes

@leryg0 @pansexualhailstorm @trulovekay @kdidgg @ane-sthesie

@zhongtar @shinebright2000 @blackhawkfanatic @cmbghost @prozacprinc3ss

@shizukunora @chocolate-noodles @fakeguysarehot @identity2212 @zarsghost

@mroman0111

[chukys-mouthguard]

hey! would you mind writing a mix of smut, angst & fluff for vince dunn please 😇

never not

4.5k words

genre: angst, fluff, suggested smut

featuring: vince dunn x female reader

summary: vince is traded and you try to navigate life without him, realizing it isn’t easy, especially when he comes back around

You still remember the day that Vince had been traded like it was yesterday. The two of you had been back in Mississauga for the offseason, enjoying the summer weather out on the boat when he got the call. It wasn’t entirely unexpected, but that didn’t mean it didn’t hurt any less.

Vince pulled his arm from round your shoulders as his phone rang from across the boat. Seeing his agent's name displayed on the screen making his heart sink as he quickly answered.

He’d walked to the further point on the boat to ensure you didn’t hear the conversation, knowing in his heart the likely reasoning for it.

“Yup, sounds good. Okay, talk to you later. Bye.”

His expression, though he tried to brave a smile, told you that the call wasn’t some crazy contract extension keeping him in St. Louis, but rather your worst fear.

Vince had been traded.

He sat back down next to you, kissing your head as he pulled you into his side once more. His fingers entangled with yours as he sighed, keeping his eyes locked on the water as he knew the second he’d meet your gaze he’d fall apart.

The conversation didn’t happen right away, which almost made the situation worse in your eyes. But Vince knew that the moment he admitted it, it would only be a matter of time for the two of you.

The idea of a professional athlete was inevitable, hard to avoid if you aren’t a superstar on your team. And even then, those guys sometimes pack up and leave themselves. But this was something you’d always feared, telling Vince you didn’t know how you’d handle the news. Packing up to move across the country was not an easy option for you with work and renting an apartment in downtown St. Louis.

So when Vince had finally told you the news, you knew you couldn’t follow him, long distance not being something you felt prepared for. Nor was it something you wanted. What you wanted was Vince, and for him not to leave. But that wasn’t in the cards.

“So that’s it? You’re just done?”

Vince’s voice echoed throughout the apartment as you sat on your bed, having just told him that you weren’t going to be able to keep things going long distance.

“Vince, what do you want me to say? You want me to lie and stick it out even though I don’t want this? I told you I can’t go with you, and if I can’t go with you then I don’t want to hold you back.”

He rolled his eyes as he continued packing his clothes. With each shirt he folded and placed in his suitcase another piece of your heart was breaking.

“I want you to say you love me! And that you’d do anything to be with me! You don’t think we can make it work? I’ll fly you out on weekends, I’ll be back to play the Blue at some point. You want to throw all of this away over distance?”

“I’m sorry…”

Your voice trailed off as you weren’t sure what else you could say. Nothing was changing your mind. The last thing you needed was a long distance relationship to distract you from work. Constantly wondering how he was doing, going longer periods of time not talking because of the time change, so many minuscule things that you didn’t need weighing on you.

“I wish you’d at least try before you just throw us away.”

And you did try, for Vince. But you both quickly realized that long distance when he played for a different team, wasn’t the same as him traveling with the Blues. Your schedules never aligned, and it was becoming harder and harder to make things work.

Vince finally understood your fears and realized that you were right. Despite how badly he wanted to make this work he knew that neither of you were happy being apart.

The two of you calling it quits before the start of the season. Figuring it was best to let Vince focus on a strong start with his new team. Though you couldn’t lie that you missed him. Missed the excitement of a new season, going to all his home games, getting to wear his number loud and proud. Always being Vince’s biggest support system, and likewise he was yours.

It wasn’t the same not having him around to practice your work presentations with. Bless his heart, he never understood anything you talked about, but he’d always watch you with a smile. In awe of how good you were at your job, the knowledge you had of the systems and data. He’d let you run through things as many times as you needed, never once complaining.

But as you sat at the island in your apartment, typing away at your newest presentation, you missed having Vince look over your shoulder. Constantly asking questions, trying to read through your notes and relate to the topics.

Having him there to remind you to stop and take breaks. To drink water, eat food, and most importantly to sleep. Little things of course, but ones you often would overlook when cramming for a deadline.

You missed him, you needed him.

The sound of your alarm jolted you awake, realizing you’d fallen asleep at your computer. Your notes scattered on the counter as you checked the time. You must have silenced your first few alarms, as it was already 7:30am.

“Shit!”

Sprinting to the bathroom your turned on the shower, then hurried to pull an outfit from your closet and have it ready to step into.

Tossing your hair into a bun, no time to bother with wet hair, you jumped in the shower. The fastest one of your life as you couldn’t afford to be late for your presentation.

Light makeup would have to do as you scrambled to cover your dark circles, just hoping to look presentable at this point. Your hair was the next obstacle to tackle, quickly brushing it and opting to pin some of it back and out of your face.

Throwing on the outfit you laid out and looking yourself over in the mirror you told yourself it’ll have to do as you threw on your slides, which you would swap for heels once at the office. Rushing to pack your bag with the scattered paperwork from your island as you made sure to save your presentation before tossing your laptop in your bag.

Cursing yourself on the drive to the office you tried to remember the last time you’d run late for work, especially on the day of a presentation. It not being something you did often, let alone ever did at all really. Always waking up with plenty of time to run through your notes, double check your slides, and of course make sure your makeup and outfit were perfect.

-

Rushing into the office you made it to your office, slipping on your heels as you planned to use every minute of the available hour before your presentation to prepare. Scanning your notes and slides over and over until you know the entire thing forward and back.

“Just breathe, it’s gonna go great.”

Taking a deep breath you calmed your nerves, feeling confident that things would go fine. You knew your material, you sure as hell knew how to give a presentation, and your boss had full confidence in you. She’d told you plenty of times you could sell ice to an Eskimo. That was why she gave you these difficult sales presentations, because you always got the job done, no matter the client.

“Knock knock, you ready to crush another presentation?”

Checking the time, your prep hour had gone much faster than you had hoped. Your boss patiently waiting in the doorway of your office, a smile on her face as she watched you gather your things.

“Absolutely, let’s do it!”

-

“Y/n, that was amazing! I mean, they loved it. I knew you would pull another top notch presentation out once again!”

A slight blush coming over you at the compliments, just shrugging them off as you simply viewed it as another aspect to your job.

“I'm just glad it went well, I’ve been preparing for weeks. So, I’m happy if you’re happy and the client is happy.”

“You know, I’ve been holding off on saying anything. Partly because I wanted to see how this presentation went. But, we are looking to expand our offices, and I’m thinking you’re at the top of my life to get one of the promotion spots.”

Your eyes went wide as you were sure you heard your boss wrong, never expecting to have performed well enough for a promotion on the level of office expansion.

“Promotion? Expansion? As in, relocating?”

She nodded her head as she sipped her coffee, “Precisely, not entirely sure on where that location would be yet, but there’s a couple options. Though I’m gonna need you in the best location where I know you will succeed. Can I send you an email with the details once I’ve finalized things a bit?”

Nodding your head was all you could think to do, speechless at the idea of relocating. Your boss smiling as she mentioned a few more details, your ears not fully catching her words as your mind was already racing.

“But I will send that email sometime this weekend. And, you know what, how about you take the rest of the day? My treat!”

“Wow, thank you so much! I’ll definitely keep an eye out for that email as well! Have a great weekend!”

-

“I can’t believe she gave you the rest of the day off, that’s so unlike her.”

You laughed at your friend's reaction to the kind gesture of your boss as you took a seat across from her. The two of you meeting for lunch as you opted take advantage of the free time your boss had awarded you.

“The presentation went really well, so she was feeling generous I guess. But, please tell me, when was the last time you knew of me being late for work, especially on the day of a big presentation.”

Her eyes went wide as she looked at you from behind her glass of water, “y/n stop it! How late were you?”

“Not actually late, but running behind for sure.” Your voice trailing off as you scanned the menu, your friend thinking over the last time she’d known you to do such a thing.

“I mean, being honest. I don’t think you’ve done that since before you and Vince called it quits.”

Flashing a glare at her you sighed, the topic of you and Vince being one she occasionally brought up. Saying that she wished you two could’ve made things work, that you were meant for each other. To which you always disagreed, mostly because you were trying to convince yourself she wasn’t right. That you and Vince weren’t meant to be, that the distance would’ve proven to be too big of a challenge.

“Have you talked to him lately?”

Your eyes scanned the menu as you tried to ignore the question, immediately piquing her interest.

“Shut up! You have!”

“I didn’t say anything!”

You playfully laughed as you hoped she couldn’t see the blush on your cheeks as you attempted to hide the fact that you had indeed talked to Vince.

“Fine, he texted me about the presentation. It’s been on my calendar since before we broke up, and you know Vince. He was always putting reminders in his phone to send me a text the morning of to calm my nerves or boost my confidence a bit.”

“You texted back right?”

“I’m not that heartless. I just said thank you, I appreciated him reaching out, and that was it. No fairy tail ending of us getting back together. Sorry to break your heart.”

She playfully frowned as you two ordered your lunch, then circled back to the conversation about your job.

“So you’re gonna be relocating? That’s a nice promotion! But do you know where?”

“No clue.”

Shaking your head as you traced a finger around the rim of your water glass, your mind began racing at the possibilities.

“I honestly just wish she’d tell me now. It’s all I’m gonna think about all weekend.”

Your friend noticing how much the news was already weighing on you, never having been someone that could simply not let things bother them or occupy space in their mind.

“You know what you need?”

A nervous glance came from you as you were unsure what crazy suggestion would come from her. Already thinking of a few ideas you’d turn down in a heartbeat.

“You need to spend your Friday at a Blues game, like good old times! I got 2 tickets for tonight, what do you say?”

You rolled your eyes at the suggestion, not prepared for her to have suggested that of all things she could’ve said.

“Are you kidding? A Blues game?”

“Oh come on don’t tell me you don’t have at least one of Vince’s jersey’s still hiding in your apartment somewhere.”

You tried your best to hide the embarrassed smile that was creeping upon your lips, but she’d noticed almost instantly.

“I knew it! So I’ll pick you up, 6 o’clock. We’ll have drinks, some good food, it’ll be fun!”

-

Making your way down towards your seats by the glass, the atmosphere couldn’t help but feel familiar. This arena having held such a special place in your heart for the few years Vince called St. Louis home.

You’d dug out an old jean jacket one of the WAGS had made for you a few seasons ago, it was mostly decorated in St. Louis Blues colors and logos, which you preferred. Not wanting to stand out for sporting your ex's name and number.

As you relaxed in your seat, noticing you were on the opposing teams end for warmups, you realized you didn’t even pay attention to who the Blues were playing. But as you watched the white and turquoise blue jerseys hitting the ice, your heart sank.

“You’re kidding right? Is this a joke?”

Your friend tried to laugh it off, but she could tell you weren’t joking. What she failed to tell you was that the Blue were playing the Seattle Kraken, Vince’s new team.

It felt like a set up for some crazy movielike scenario where the guy and girl are reunited after breaking up, only to realize they were meant to be together after all. Except, you weren’t ready for that, you weren’t sure you even wanted to see Vince. The breakup hadn’t been too long ago, but you were still trying your best at life without Vince. Clearly not doing so great with almost being late for your presentation, but you were navigating those things. On your own.

Vince had seen you from the moment he stepped on the ice, taking note of the jean jacket you had on. Bringing a smile to his face knowing that you’d kept it even after the breakup. But as he saw you get up from your seat and head for the stairs, he knew you weren’t thrilled to see him.

“Y/n I get it, I should’ve told you but, I knew you wouldn’t come. I promise this isn’t part of some elaborate plan to get you two back together. It just so happened to pan out this way.”

Your friend ran after you to stop you from leaving, grabbing your arm as she pulled you away from the crowd on the concourse.

“Bullshit it’s not. You didn’t buy these tickets, did you?”

Her eyes fell to the ground, not able to hide the fact that you’d read her like a book.

“Vince bought the tickets, didn’t he? That’s why they are on the Seattle end for warmups.”

“Don’t act like you don’t want to see him y/n! You said it yourself, this morning you overslept and were late to work. When is the last time you’ve done that? Things have changed since you and Vince broke up, you can’t deny it. What’s wrong with seeing him play tonight? There’s no reason we can’t watch the game. No one is saying you have to see afterwards, unless you choose to. But, he wants to see you. He misses you.”

You tried not being angry with your friend that she’d been keeping this from you, that she’d been talking to Vince behind your back. But this wasn’t how you ever wanted to see him again, being misled to come to the arena with tickets he bought for you. No matter how hard you tried to not be upset by it, you were.

“Things have changed since we broke up, but that’s for me to deal with and get used to! It doesn’t mean that I have to take him back. Maybe I don’t want to see him. Maybe I don’t miss him. Did you ever consider that?”

She could see how upset you were, your voice shaky as you tried to pretend that the words you spoke were true.

“Is that how you really feel?”

Her tone was a bit sarcastic, though she didn’t mean to be. Tears threatening to fall from your eyes at any second as you tried your best to be strong, this not the place to break down over your ex and the feelings you still had for him. The pain of knowing he felt the same, that he’d orchestrated this night in an attempt to simply see you again. No guarantee that you’d even want to see him.

But you couldn’t convince yourself it was that simple. That he just wanted to see you from behind the glass, occasionally stealing glances when he was sitting on the bench. And you weren’t willing to stick around to find out what other surprises or ideas he’d had planned.

“I’m sorry, I can’t be here.”

Without giving your friend the opportunity to stop you, you turned on your heels as you hurried through the crowd. Calling yourself an Uber while you tried to hold it together. Figuring it was better to allow yourself the freedom to cry as much as you needed from the comfort of your apartment versus the busy St. Louis streets.

-

Once inside you didn’t make it past your living room before you finally had let yourself break down. It was truly the first time you’d let yourself feel the emotions and heartache of losing him. You’d forced yourself into your work, prepping for presentations, distracting yourself from the idea of life without him. That you never really allowed yourself to feel what that was like. And the idea that he was feeling the same, it all hit you like a freight train.

The soft knock at your door jolted you awake, scanning the apartment as you were unaware you’d fallen asleep on the couch. Checking the time you wondered how long you’d been asleep for, 11:45pm.

Slowly making your way to the door you assumed it was your friend, having seen a few missed texts and calls from her. But as you opened the door, you revealed the last person you’d thought to see.

“Vince? What, why are you here?”

Your tone came off a bit cold, though not intentional, as you were still waking up and now this. He took a deep breath as a soft smile crept across his lips.

“I, I needed to see you. You didn’t stay for the game, so I knew this was my only chance.”

He didn’t bother letting you invite him in, in fact it had been your shared apartment at one point in time. His eyes scanning the kitchen, then the living room. Noticing you’d not taken the opportunity to redecorate. Especially paying attention to the pile of picture frames that sat on your dining table, still holding the memories of you and him.

“Why’d you do that?”

Vince looked to you confused, holding tight to a framed photo of the two of you the night he’d won the Stanley Cup.

One of the best nights of both of your lives.

As the clock ticked down to zero, you jumped up and down with the other WAGS. Tears running down your face as you screamed at the top of your lungs. Vince had done it, the Blues had done it. They won the Stanley Cup.

All the times he’d gotten to be proud of you for crushing a presentation at work, for getting a raise, or a promotion. Now it was your turn to be so incredibly proud of him.

The moment you found him on the ice you couldn’t let him go, his arms wrapped around you as the two of you cried. Knowing how hard he’d worked to even get an opportunity on NHL ice, it had all paid off.

“I fucking love you so much.”

You pulled him in for a kiss as he spun you around, careful not to trip over his own skates.

“I’m so proud of you baby!” The compliment spilling from your lips as your hands held his face, never wanting to forget this moment. The pure joy on his face, the look in his eyes knowing he’d done what only a select group of players will ever do in their careers. Wishing you could live in that moment forever.

“Why’d I do what?”

“The tickets, why did you come up with this elaborate plan to get me there?”

Vince set the frame down, walking further into the apartment as he took a seat in the living room.

“Because, I had to see you y/n. From the moment I left, I knew, it’s always been you. And, I couldn’t come back here and just ignore the fact that you exist.”

“Did you consider the idea that maybe I didn’t want to see you?”

Vince laughed at your comment, knowing it was a lie no matter how hard you tried to sound convincing. He could see that you wanted to just hold him, feel close to him again after everything. He could see that you wanted so badly to admit to him that you were glad he’d attempted to see you, because life without him sucked. To put it plainly.

You wanted so badly to tell him that things weren’t the same without him. That you couldn’t sleep, you were running late to work, that you missed him like crazy. But you knew nothing would change. You’d tell him how you felt, and by the morning he’d be off to the next stop on the team’s road-trip. And soon enough, you would be heading off to somewhere new yourself with the promotion coming for your job.

It seemed pointless to even bother him with your emotions and your feelings, despite how much you could see he wanted you to be honest with him.

He stood up from the couch as he closed the distance between the two of you. Noticing the scattered notes on the counter, assuming they were from a late night cram session for today’s presentation.

“How did it go today?”

You noticed him tilt his head in the direction of the kitchen island, letting out a sigh as you tried to look anywhere but his eyes.

“Um, great, actually. Didn’t start out that way. But, I crushed it. And, I’m getting promoted because of how well I did.”

A smile grew on his face at the news, loving to hear that you were still killing it at your job.

“That’s amazing! I’m so proud of you, seriously. But, why did it not start out great?”

Shaking your head you knew you couldn’t lie, Vince knew you too well and would see right through you. Watching as you nervously picked at your nails, searching for the words to say.

“I overslept, and was running late.”

“You overslept? Since when do you oversleep? And run late for a presentation, you’ve never done that.”

“Because I don’t have you Vince!”

You didn’t mean for your words to come out so harsh, your voice a bit louder but not really yelling as you retreated to your bedroom. Not knowing where to go but not wanting to face Vince, not wanting him to see you finally break down and let him know that you did in fact miss him.

“Y/n, talk to me, what do you mean you overslept because you don’t have me?”

Trying to distract yourself by aimlessly folding laundry, you shrugged.

“I don’t know Vince, it’s just, things are not the same without you. I never overslept when you were here. You helped me prepare for all my presentations, made sure I got enough rest. Made sure I was eating, drinking, everything. You were everything. And without you everything is different. But, it doesn’t matter how I feel. Any minute now I’m getting an email from my boss that is going to tell me what new city I’m getting relocated to, and none of this will matter because you’re going back to Seattle. And nothing is going to change. So just forget it, please. It doesn’t matter.”

Not wanting to cry in front of him, you attempted to retreat to the bathroom. Vince immediately grabbing your hand to stop you. Seeing that these weren’t emotions or thoughts that didn’t matter, and it was clear that you were feeling the same as him.

“It does matter. All of that matters y/n.”

He tucked your hair behind your ear, his hand resting against your cheek as his eyes scanned your face. Stopping to meet yours as he saw how much you were hurting.

“It matters because I love you, I miss you. So fucking much. And you’re right, things are different. Everyday I wake up and wish I could do anything to go back to the day I got traded and convince you right there to move with me. I would do anything I could to have you with me again.”

His forehead rested on yours as his hands now traveled to your sides, a grip on your hips as your hands played with the hem of his shirt.

“And I know you feel the same way, no matter how hard you try to convince yourself you didn’t want to see me, I can see it on your face you’re fighting with yourself to be strong. But, if this is the only chance I have. If you’re off to somewhere new yourself, and if you truly don’t want to see me after this,”

He closed the distance between you, crashing his lips to yours as your hands instinctively pulling him closer. Missing the feeling of him so close, the feeling of his lips on yours. Not caring that in the morning he’d be gone, and you’d go back to trying to navigate life without him. But for now, it felt right, and you couldn’t let him go.

“Please, just give me one last night to remind you how much I still love you.”

[seraphinitegames]

The Wayhaven Chronicles—Update 15/Sept/2023

As I’m fast approaching my end date for planning, I’m barely able to contain myself for getting writing! :D

Though I have got a list of some ‘housekeeping’ I want to do once I get started. There’s definitely some things I’ve learned with coding that I can streamline, so I’ll be adding those in before I get going on the opening scene (which hopefully will certainly leave an impact…;D).

I’ve also got to make a final decision on a certain new stat I’m thinking of adding.

I’m wondering whether to add a stat for ‘Agency Reputation’. This wouldn’t be like the hidden stat that tracks how the overall supernatural community views the MC but would show what your colleagues at the facility think of your character.

It would be a text-based stat and would be things like: heroic, feared, resilient, etc.

But there’s already personality stats and new Agency skill stats, so I’m not sure adding something ELSE would be a good idea. Might just be too much to track for me for coding, as well as too much information for the player.

Yet, I do really like the idea of making playthroughs even more individual, but I guess something like reputation is something I could headcanon for my characters…so I’m undecided.

(I realise it seems like I’m blabbering, hehe! But I like to share, if I can, the process of how I work these things out and so you can get a sense of where I’m at and why things do or don’t get added!)

The Book One refresh is really coming on a pace too! I’m only getting the weekends to work on that as I like to focus on Book Four during the work week, but I’m still managing to push on with it. I’m also taking the opportunity to note down anything I may have forgotten from Book One as I go, as I can clearly remember the big moments, but the smaller ones are still impactful and I might want to bring up in future books.

Hope you all have the most fabulous weekend! We’ll be offline, so I’ll talk to you all again next week!

[avatarmerida]

Stay

I can’t focus on other thing rn becuse @turquoisespace35’s mythology AU has taken over my brain so here’s a little drabble I wrote for it based mostly on this and this part 💛💚

———

“I don’t want you to go.”

He said it as firmly as he could. He had practiced it over and over again but still his voice shook. She had been honest with him from day one and there was still so much he hadn’t told her. He knew it might be selfish, might be impossible, might be too much, but he also knew she wouldn’t want him to hold it in. It wasn’t an order or request or even an invitation, it more like like a dream.

Once the moon entered the sky the gates would open and she would be able to leave. No one had ever been able to leave before. How ironic the one person who could was the only one he didn’t want to. He didn’t have a good reason or solid argument. It wasn’t logical or practical but it was true. He just knew that he wanted her to stay with him, everything else was just noise.

“What?” She asked in a tone Hunter couldn’t quite place. Was she shocked? Offended? Scared? Or had she just not heard him?

“I… want you to stay,” he tried rephrasing it. Maybe this was more honest. He didn’t want to be too honest too quickly because he knew what he really wanted was too much. He wanted every minute of every hour to be touched by her presence. He wanted to experience every sunrise and sunset with her. He wanted to cover his dreary island with vibrant flowers for her and sit beneath the apple tree as they exchanged stories. He wanted stories with her, he wanted to make memories they could revisit and share and have more time together than they had apart. He wanted the complicated simplicity she has shown him for the rest of his days. He wanted to ensure she knew nothing but kindness and gratitude for the rest of hers.

But above all he wanted her.

“But Hunter, I have to go back…” she started just as he knew she would.

“I know, I know,” he stammered, looking at the ground. “I know you do. I know you have a life back there. I know you have friends and your fathers and a future but I just… I needed to tell you. I know it’s crazy but I just needed to tell you or I’d regret it but Willow I just… can’t imagine the island without you.”

She smiled. “I have to go back,” she said again, scooting over to sit closer to him, reaching over to bring his face up to see hers. “To tell everyone how wonderful you really are.”

“What?”

“The emperor can’t keep spreading these lies about you,” she said softly, a few of his snakes nuzzling her hand to help express Hunter’s joy. “You’re not a monster and I won’t let him keep sending soldiers here to hurt you. All these statues, I know they were made out of fear. I know you would never try to hurt anyone. I know you’re kind, and sweet, and smart and me going back alive and unharmed will prove that. I need them to know you like I know you.”

I don’t care if they know me, he though. I only care if you do.

“And when I come back, I’ll bring you the sweet bread my dad makes and we can have a proper picnic when we watch the sunset and maybe figure out how-.”

“You’d come back?” He said breathlessly.

“Of course I will,” she said simply, scratching the closest snake to her on the top of its head. Will, she had said. Will, not would. A promise not a possibility. She didn’t even hesitate. “I’d miss you too much. All of you.”

“But why?” It would be easier to stay away, it would be understandable. He didn’t want it to be true so he wasn’t sure why he wanted her to put more thought into it. He just couldn’t understand how she could be so sure of him.

“Because I like you.” Again, she didn’t hesitate. She didn’t flinch. If she needed to lie she could’ve said anything, but Hunter knew she didn’t need or want to lie. She never had before.

“I… I like you too.” He said softly and the snakes hissed at him to speak up! They agreed! Say it again! Say it louder! Say it with confidence! “We uh, all like you.”

Her hand remained on the side of his face, her thumb gently brushing his cheek. She did this often, saying it help her memorize his features. The fact that she found them worth remembering made Hunter’s heart spin. He leaned into the touch and placed his hand over hers, intending to hold it there as long as she would allow. “So it’s settled then.”

He more than just liked her. He liked apples, he liked to read, but she was more than sustainably or a way to pass the time. She was his whole world.

“But what if they don’t let you come back?” He whispered, feeling unshed tears stinging his eyes. They had sent her here to die and when they saw she hadn’t, what would be next? Would she be celebrated? Would they send her to islands with more to fear to test her abilities? Would they deem her sentence unserved and try to kill her again? “W-what if they don’t believe you or what i-if they-.”

“Hey,” she cut him off and pressed her forehead to his. The snakes rested atop her head and by her checks, her calmness contagious. Their silence gave Hunter a moment of peace, a chance to focus on this moment with her. She was not worried. Somehow she was so sure of everything. She was so sure of him. She was so sure of this. “Have I ever lied to you?”

“No.”

“So when I say I’m coming back, I’m coming back,” she said with confidence. “I’m not gonna let the emperor or the rules or anyone stop me. I don’t know how they’ll respond but I have to try. You deserve that. But no matter what, I will be back with you.”

“I just… want to keep you safe.” He admitted, turning his head to the side to kiss her hand before bringing it down to their side. Their fingers danced together until they delicately intertwined as though they could not be kept apart. He knew she could take care of herself. He knew she was strong and tough and smart. But he also knew how cruel the outside world had been to her and he would do anything to ensure she was only treated the way she deserved to be treated for the rest of her days. He looked down at their hands, how they fit together so naturally. They shouldn’t work, but they did.

“You have,” she whispered, resting her nose beside his. He could feel her breath hovering across his lips. There was something else in her voice, as though he had done something else. As though she knew there was more he wanted and she was waiting and wanting to tell him he had that too.

This would not be his last night with her. They would have more long walks talking about nothing and everything. They would have more quiet evenings making up stories and blissful mornings gathering berries and finding reasons to be near each other. But there was something that a night like this inspired. Maybe it was the chatty snakes atop his head who had been constantly pleading with him to do all of this much sooner. But the sunset seemed to linger to offer them the ambience, as though telling the moon it could not come to open the gate until Willow had a farewell worth remembering. Until she knew exactly what she was returning to.

“I just… want to keep you… because…”

He didn’t give her a chance to ask for him to clarify as the small space between them vanished as his mouth covered hers. His other hand rose up to cup her cheek as he dared to repeatedly press his lips to hers. He wanted her to know it was purposeful. He wanted to give her the chance to pull away, but she seemed just as drawn to him as she titled her head to follow him as he moved.

Their lips had touched once before, after he had shown her the spot where the sunset was the brightest on the island. It has been only a moment and he had convinced himself it was accidental, that she had merely been trying to see him better.

But this, oh he knew what this was. He wanted her to know too. It was all the words he couldn’t say, that he didn’t know how to say, that hadn’t been invented yet. The snakes went crazy and hummed and hissed as they tried to process the emotions he felt. But it was too strong and too new and so they trusted him to sort it out for himself, not wanting to spoil anything. It was every time he wanted to be closer to her but walked away, it was a question and explanation all in one, it was natural and unnatural at the same time. His feelings for her were so simple, but that was what made them complicated. This was a goodbye and hello wrapped into one. This beautiful, building contradiction that she returned with vigor, reaching out to place her free hand on his waist to pull him closer.

“Well I guess I don’t have to leave right away,” she said softly as he pulled away for a brief moment to breathe. Her breathing was labored and her face was flushed as she let go of his hand to wrap her arm around her neck to bring him back down to her as she deepened the kiss. Hunter felt as though he was about to burst, feeling her lips form a smile against his. They were so soft and Hunter was so focused on how comfortable and warm he felt that he relaxed and crashed into her, nearly falling off the bench as Willow proceeded to kiss him with power and eagerness. But Hunter managed to steady them, not intending on letting clumsiness end the moment early as his whole world held him tightly.

He moved his arms to the small of her back, holding her just as tightly as he was convinced he was about to float away and only she could keep him bound to the earth. They both knew that her mission would not be simple, would not easy. They didn’t not know how long they would be apart. They didn’t know what trials awaited them. They only knew what they meant to each other, and they believed that this feeling was strong enough to endure anything and everything.

Willow let out a small laugh, and Hunter didn’t think much of it. He loved the sound of her laugh, the more of her that could be in the moment the better. But then her laugh became louder and a Hunter became worried he was doing something wrong. He had never kissed anyone before but he was fairly certain it wasn’t usually a laughing matter. As he slowly pulled away to see the cause, she followed him not wanting to leave the moment. She laughed again.

He looked and saw the source: the snakes were peppering her face with tiny kisses of their own.

“Sorry, hehe, it tickles,” she giggled as the snakes continued, much to his horror (though he could hardly blame them). But he quickly got over it, as the sight of her laughing in the rosy pink light of the setting sun drew him back in as he lunged forward to reunite their lips.

This time he did cause them to fall off the bench and Willow laughed as she was surrounded in affection. She hadn’t even left yet and already she missed him.

As Hunter and Willow continued to prolong their farewell, they didn’t notice the moon enter position. There was no urgency to act when it did, they had a few hours to seize it. But as the door opener slowly, three soldiers cautiously entered the domain. Swords at the ready, hearts determined, Luz, Amity and Gus walked forward to recuse their friend. A year of training had prepared them for anything, they had no idea what the monster was capable of. Luz scanned their surrounding when a familiar laugh made her cast her eyes down to the ground. She drew her sword and called to the others in panic.

“Oh my Titan, the monster is trying to eat Willow’s face!”

[ashlynredonovitch]

Hello! I love your work! Wondering if I could request a Wonka fic where y/n is having a panic attack and willy finds her and helps her through it! then noodle comes in and they all have a lil family moment ^_^ (willy and y/n are platonic!)

Hi anon! thank you so much for the request! Sorry they have now taken a while longer to get out. My whole family was hit with the flu, including me, and I'm not able to write much because I just keep getting headaches. Hope you like the story!

Warnings: panic attack, anxiety, slight mention of a possible ED if you squint, malnourishment

Hope you enjoy!! :)

Panic

I just finished folding more of the laundry after it finally dried, thankfully finished after the long day of doing laundry with the wash crew. We had taken so long that Scrubitt and Bleacher hadn’t let us eat for an extra hour and a half, and since we still hadn’t gotten it done, I took the rest of the load so the others could go eat. Noodle would bring me my dinner later anyway if I didn’t eat. 

It was my fault anyway, I just was going slow today. I was on barrel duty for the majority of the day, and if the first step of the laundry is slow….the rest of it is slow as well. So I automatically felt bad that I was the reason for withholding everyone’s dinner. 

Scrubitt hadn’t let me eat though, so I would just have to wait for Noodle to bring me my food in a couple hours when she could sneak it in. I was craving something though. It gets worse if I’m thrown in the coop because then you don’t get anything at all. At least I’ll have a chance tonight. If only Willy was here. Him and Noodle are getting more milk for his chocolates while they had a chance to escape before roll call. 

I knew the panic was building up, but it just felt like I could ignore it. The feeling in my stomach from how hungry I was felt like a gnawing pain, I couldn’t even focus as I just collapsed in the corner of my small room. My mind a a million thoughts, but I probably couldn’t even try to name one, all of my focus was on the half-tempting smell of the food my fellow workers were consuming. 

I hate crying, I hate it. The feeling in my chest as it gets tighter and tighter to the point I can’t breathe, I hate the feeling of uncontrollable tears that can’t stop. For some reason though, I can’t, there are no tears. Just painful attempts at a breath. 

“She’s in there. I didn’t want to disturb her, but I’m worried,” I hear Piper say as I heard two sets of footsteps down the narrow hallway, oh, it couldn’t be. I’d be too lucky. 

A light knock was on my door, but I couldn’t even begin to try to lift my head up. 

“Y/n?” The voice questioned through my door, before gently opening it. It was apparently my lucky day. “Hey what’s going on?”

“I- I can’t-” I started before my own breathing stopped me. It felt like I was being choked. 

Willy looked concerned as he examined every inch of my face, or what I could tell from where my head was on my knees. “It’s okay, you’ll be okay. Noodle, go grab a towel!” He hollered as I could see that he tried to reach out to put his hand on my shoulder. 

Apparently once he felt my trembling shoulders he decided I wasn’t well, even without me answering. As Noodle ran in with a towel, Willy instructed her to put water on it. “You’re trembling terribly, here take this.” He offered me his plum-colored tailcoat as he put it over my shoulders, as I stayed curled up in the ball. 

“Thank you,” I managed to whisper out as he tried to loop his arms under me to help me stand. 

“Of course, you know I’d do anything to help you, y/n.” He says earnestly as he guides me over to my small bed. “Here, get under the covers.”

He instructed Noodle to do something else gets that I couldn’t hear. Which I soon would understand as Noodle rushed in with the extra blanket from Willy’s own bed, as he laid it across me. It finally felt like my chest wasn’t being weighted down with a boulder, the comfort of my friend greatly easing my mind. However….

“Y/n, have you eaten anything today?” Noodle hurriedly asked when she stopped. That’s when Willy looked frantically over at me as well, as he sat on my bed. 

“No, I made everyone fall behind earlier, so Scrubitt wouldn’t let me eat.” I say as the tears started to slow, hopefully the last of the bunch as Willy slowly massaged my scalp with his hand. 

“I’m gonna go fix that, I’ll be right back.” She said as she skidded across the floor. 

Not before I let out a quiet “don’t get thrown in the chicken coop” causing the man behind me to let out a quiet laugh. 

“I was really scared when Piper said you isolated yourself in here.” Willy told me, as I tried to look up at him from where I was laying. 

“Sorry,” I told him nonchalantly, I didn’t want anyone to worry about me. 

“Don’t you dare apologize, you were having a panic attack, I just got worried. How about after you get some actual food in you, I’ll make your favorite chocolate to cheer you up?” He asked as he continued to rub my head. 

I smiled as I felt the other muscles in my body relaxed, “that sounds really nice.”

“You’re safe now, y/n, Noodle is going to get you dinner, and then we’ll find some funny combination for tonight’s chocolate.” He smiled at me as I listened to him talk, nodding my head at his eagerness. Never had someone been able to help me through an attack that quickly. Even though it had felt like hours, Willy just had a certain charm about him that made it easy to relax. At least now I know someone is there to help me should the need arise again.

[blakeswritingimagines]

Dear Y/N

My dearest

How many days have I spent in your thoughts and dreams? How many nights have I spent with you in my heart? Just a glimpse of you, and you had immediately become the center of my world. You are my only reason to exist, there is nothing in this world that can replace you. All I want is for us to be together, for me to be yours and you only mine. How I wish I could hold you in my arms, and keep you close to me until the end of time. My love for you is so intense that it defies all logic. It consumes my every thought, it burns through my entire body. You are the reason I live, the reason I fight. Your smile, your eyes, your soul, you are everything. There is not a single day that goes by that I don’t think of you, there is no dream I don't have about us. Being apart from you feels like a fate worse than death, you drive me wild, and you’re in my head all the time.

Every single second that I am away from you, feel like an eternity of suffering. I am constantly desperate for your presence. When I am near you, my body responds in the only way it can. I crave your touch, your embrace, the way your breath would feel on my skin, the way your body would fit against mine. The sound of your voice would drive me insane, I would do anything just to hear you say my name again. Your scent would be the only thing that I would be able to focus on, the way it would cling to my skin. The way you would wrap your arms around my neck, and how your body would feel in my arms, my mind would go blank. The sound of your laugh would be the only thing I would be able to hear. You would be the only thing in my mind, my only desire. Without you, I feel like I’m only half a man. I would give up everything just for you.

The feeling of you in my arms is the most wonderful experience in the entire world. When I hold you close, it’s like time stands still and I forget every worry, every pain. All I can focus on is how perfect you are, how perfect we are together, the way our souls connect on a level no one else could understand. I am completely under your spell, addicted to your presence. I am powerless to resist you. I want to feel the heat of your body against mine. I want to run my fingers through your hair and explore every inch of you with my lips. I want to wake up each morning, with you next to me, and see you as the first thing when I open my eyes. I want to be closer to you than anyone else in the world, closer than your own reflection. I want you all to myself and make sure the world knows you're mine. My world does not exist without you in it. You are like a drug that my soul is addicted to, I am obsessed with you and there is nowhere I would rather be than by your side. Your body is my temple, a place of worship and pleasure. My body is yours to do what you want with, I want you to devour me, to use me, I want to be yours and yours alone.

I need you, more than I need air, more than I need food or water, more than I need anything else in this world. I need to hear your voice, to feel your heart beating against mine, to taste your lips with every kiss. I want to spend every single moment of my life looking into your eyes, admiring every inch of you, loving you, and protecting you. You are the only one and will only ever be you, the one I would die for, and kill for. Every dream I have, every fantasy I imagined, every thought of the future, leads to you. I want to spend my life making sure you’re happy and safe. I would burn the world, just to see you smile, I would move mountains if it meant I could hold you in my arms. My world is nothing without you in it, a life without you is not a life worth living. You are my world, my obsession, my love. My thoughts are plagued by visions of you and me together. I imagine us living in a house by the sea, waking up to the sound of the waves, holding you in my arms every morning when we wake up. When I’m in battle I’ll picture your face, your beautiful eyes looking at me, and I fight harder to survive, so I can come back to you. When I close my eyes, you’re the only thing I want, you’re like a poison that is slowly infecting my heart and mind.

You have no idea what you do to me. There is not a single moment of the day that I don’t think of you. You drive me wild, the way your eyes light up, the way your hair falls over your face, the way your body moves. Your very presence makes me feel things I never thought I could feel. You have me wrapped around your finger, I will do anything you want, just to hear the words “I love you” from your lips. My love for you is like a fire, burning deep inside my soul. It consumes me, it courses through my veins, it ignites every cell in my body. My heart beats faster, my breath hitches in my lungs, and my body trembles when you’re near me. Your touch is like magic, it sends shockwaves through my entire body, setting every nerve ablaze. You have the power to break me and heal me all at the same time, to bring me to my knees. My body is yours to use as you want. I want to feel your hands all over me, your lips on mine, your fingers running through my hair and down my back. I want to feel your body pressed against mine, your skin touching mine, our hearts beating in time. I crave your touch like a drug, it’s an addiction that I can’t get enough of. Every cell in my body is alive with desire, yearning for your closeness. I am completely and utterly under your control, and I would do anything to keep it that way.

My love for you knows no boundaries, it is limitless and eternal.

I am entirely at your mercy, for there is nothing in this world I wouldn’t do for you. I am yours completely, every fiber of my being is intertwined with yours. I will love you until the day I die, and even beyond that. There is nothing in this world more important to me than you, you are my reason for existence. I am fully consumed by you, body and soul. I ache for your touch, your voice, your presence. Every thought, every dream, every desire leads me back to you. There is no power in this world that can quench the fire of my love for you, it is an inferno that rages inside me, consuming everything in its path. You are my world, my universe, my everything. And I would do anything, anything at all, just to be with you.

Yours eternally.

[my-little-random-world]

Fina: What’s going on? Where’s everyone going?

Isidro: Well, Julia is missing. She’s nowhere to be found.

Fina: What? What could have happened? Did someone take her?

Isidro: Well, we can’t rule out anything, but that doesn’t seem likely.

Fina: Oh my God, then what?

Isidro: Well, Jesús was going to take her to boarding school. Maybe this is her way of rebelling, but it’s just as dangerous. She could get lost, fall somewhere, get into trouble.

Fina: My God! Jesús must be having a terrible time. What can I do to help?

Isidro: No, there are already a lot of people helping. I don’t think we can do anything. If something happens to that girl, I swear...

Fina: Father, nothing will happen to her.

Isidro: The De La Reina family is having quite a day. It seems the saying is true, daughter: misfortunes never come alone.

Fina: And why do you say that? Did something else happen?

Isidro: Well, Jaime, Marta’s husband, is dying. He and Marta gathered the family to give them the news. It seems they’ve known for some time but didn’t want to make it public.

Fina: And they said it just like that—that he’s dying? Because I see him at the clinic, and honestly...

Isidro: Well, that’s all Damián told me. But we should be discreet for now.

Fina: My God, poor Marta. Poor Jaime.

Isidro: Didn’t she tell you anything?

Fina: Yes, but I don’t think I reacted the way she expected.

Gaspar: Isidro, Fina, I have to close up. I’m going to join the search.

Fina: Yes, eh, I also want to help. I’ll tell the girls to close the shop and...

Isidro: No, no, no, the shop should stay open, just in case the girl shows up there. Let’s go.

Gaspar: Let’s go.

—NEXT SCENE—

Marta: Until Julia shows up, I won’t be able to focus much on the shop. I hope you all can manage without me.

Claudia: Of course, Doña Marta. The last thing you should worry about is us.

Marta: Just be alert in case she shows up here. We don’t know where she’s gone or how far she’s wandered, but if she’s lost…

Claudia: Oh God, I hope not, Doña Marta.

Marta: She knows this place like the back of her hand. She might decide to come back here.

Claudia: My goodness, poor thing. With how small she is, isn’t there something we can do?

Fina: Doña Marta! My father just told me. Is there any news?

Marta: Nothing yet.

Claudia: It doesn’t sit right with me to just stay here with my arms crossed while she’s out there alone.

Marta: Everyone’s out searching for her. There’s not much more we can do.

Claudia: With your permission, Doña Marta, since Fina is here, I’ll head to the chapel to see if anyone there has seen her.

Marta: Thank you, Claudia.

—NEXT SCENE—

Marta: This is a nightmare, and once again, it's all Jesús's fault. If he hadn’t decided to send her to that boarding school, none of this would’ve happened.

Fina: I know. It’s no wonder she doesn’t want to go.

Marta: Why does he want to separate her from the family? He really has no heart. Too many things, Fina—I can’t take it anymore. Too much bad news.

Fina: My father told me about Jaime.

Marta: Yes, I already took care of that. But I had to endure your unfortunate reaction.

Fina: I didn’t realize it was so—

Marta: My husband is dying! I know your father is too, and I’m sorry. But you accused me of giving you a cowardly excuse!

Fina: Please stop, Marta! I know my reaction was childish and stupid, and I was only thinking about myself, but please forgive me.

Marta: Jaime is dying. He has an inoperable tumor and has been having attacks and other symptoms that he’s been hiding from me until recently. We can no longer hide it from the family.

Fina: Has something else happened?

Marta: Last night, I found him collapsed on the living room floor. For a moment, I thought he was… You don’t know what it’s like to see someone you love so vulnerable.

Fina: Oh, but I do, Marta, believe me.

Marta: Forgive me, you’re right.

Fina: No, forgive me for my reaction yesterday. If there’s anyone who’s honest and noble, it’s you.

Marta: You know I’d go to the ends of the earth with you, but I can’t abandon Jaime now.

Fina: I know. I understand completely, really.

Marta: And I’m so glad you understand. It’s been unbearable to keep this secret and not be able to vent.

Fina: I wish you could’ve told me earlier. I know Jaime asked you not to, but you didn’t have to go through all this suffering alone.

Marta: Jaime is scared. Hiding it has been his way of delaying the inevitable. But even if he kept you out of it, rest assured that as long as you’re nearby, you’re by my side no matter what happens.

Fina: Always. I suppose you’ve sought a second opinion, right?

Marta: There’s nothing to be done. The end is closer than ever.

Fina: I just can’t understand it—he’s so young. He has his whole life ahead of him, a job he loves—it just doesn’t make sense.

Marta: What are we going to do now?

Fina: I don’t know, Marta. I don’t know.

Marta: I want to be by his side until the end, but it breaks my heart to think I’ll have to be apart from you, especially now when I need you more than ever.

Fina: Oh my love. In that case, I think I have a solution.

Marta: What solution?

[oldworldghost]

Telling stories to Pinochio fron Lies of P about Fairytales or whatever crap reader made when reader is bored !!

[Preferably former librarian Reader x Pino :3]

Tell me a story and I'll tell you I love you

↳ Anon I absolutely love this prompt, so I had to write a little something for it. This is definitely more focused on Pincchios' feelings for you as opposed to the actually story telling bit, and I think by the end especially it kind of stops being about the request a bit I am so sorry LMAO. Let me know if you want hcs or something else instead! :D

↳ This is currently unedited, I’ll do that tomorrow!

Pinocchio sits beside you, head resting limply on your shoulder as he finds himself falling deeper in love with you.

You’re sharing one of the many stories in your knowledge with him, something old and undoubtedly picked up from your time as a librarian. Something – Pinocchio thinks – that only you know now, expect maybe Antonia, but he’s seen you catch even her by surprise with fanciful worlds and characters. It’s an insurmountable act of love, to hold so much in your mind and with such care. No details [at least from his knowledge] forgotten, no characters left aside for fear of boring the crowd. Every bit just as important as the other, no matter how minuscule it is.

Some part of him wonders if you do the same for everyone else, collect the lore of the hotels final inhabitants with the same wonder you share for characters. What do you remember about him? Pinocchio likes to think that you hold onto everything he’s shared with you, sprinkle him across the stories of your own making. Maybe he’s something that inspiration can be found in, someone you admire more than anything. Built up in your mind like the greatest of heroes. You could care that much, he thinks, and he could even be your favourite.

Maybe you’ve even found Pinocchios’ love for you spread across his pages. He doesn’t see how you could miss it, there’s so much that he doesn’t even know what to do with it except sink in it. Day after day, night after night. He’s sinking even now, nestled into you side in one of the hotels many unused rooms.

It’s your voice that keeps Pinocchios’ attention. You’re onto the part of the story where a great battle takes place, the last defence of mankind against a dark and terrible lord. Both the lords strongest servant and a king have been slain, and yet despite the story nearing its peak Pinocchio finds himself unable to focus on your words. He catches phrases, can understand your tone and the pronunciation of speech, but it’s difficult to put the meaning together. Any other day and he’d be engrossed in it, hanging of every syllable like a starving animal, but today his mind is preoccupied.

The feeling in his chest is growing unbearable, and he wonders if his gears will simply cease to work as a result. It might not be the worst thing in the world, to die by your side. He might even be able to call it a pleasure, a privilege.

Still, Pinocchio doesn’t particularly care for the idea of his own death, especially not when there are more pressing matters on his mind, and so with a bout of almost uncharacteristic boldness he sits up. You don’t pay him any mind, not until hands – rougher than he means them to be – turn your body towards his. Lamely your sentence finishes, head tilting to the side and eyebrows knitting together in a look of confusion and mild amusement.

Pinocchio takes the opportunity to look at you, really look at you. Blue glass eyes take in every detail, every curve and dip and mark, your breathes growing shakier as he leans in. There is a mole under your left eye, he notes, a faint scar running across your mouth. He traces it with his finger and your breath hitches, an incoherent mumble of something that feels like it’s his name. Moonlight shines in above your head like a halo, and Pinocchio thinks you couldn’t look anymore gorgeous than you already do. He wonders if he looks as beautiful to you as you do to him. The sparkle in your eyes, the glint of what could be called awe suggests that he does. Pride and love fill in Pinocchios’ chest until he’s moving without thought, leaning – sinking, always sinking - into you. Lips, clumsy and adoring, press against your own in a fleeting kiss, pulling away before you’re given the chance to respond.

You see the man before you grow from confident to timid in the moonlight, as if coming to the realisation of what he had just done.

“I-” Pinocchio cuts himself off, going to speak only to be met with his own silence.

He doesn’t know why words aren’t forming, and for a moment he wonders if something malfunctioned in him during the kiss. You can see the gears turning in his head, a question forming on the tip of your tongue. This time, Pinocchio cuts you off instead of himself.

“I’m in love with you. I’m sorry to be so sudden, but I,” he takes a moment to steady himself, “I could not be quiet about it any longer.”

A breathless laugh bubbles in your throat in response, a smile curving its way on your mouth as you go to speak, “I was wondering if you did. For a puppet you’re not exactly the most subtle person I’ve met.”

It’s Pinocchios’ turn to be surprised.

“You knew?”

“I was hoping I did. Never said anything because I didn’t know if you felt that way or if it was wishful thinking on my part. Hell, didn’t even know if you could actually feel such a thing. I mean, I know my stories are good, but I didn’t know if they were that good.”

“You... feel the same.”

“Of course,” the smile on your face is crooked and it takes everything in him not to kiss you again, “you’re a very hard person not to love.”

“Say it, please.”

You laugh once more. It is the sweetest sound he’s ever heard.

“I love you, Pinocchio. More than anything,” his heart feels fit to burst, “now can I please get back to my story? We’re nearing my favourite part and I’d like to be done by morning.”

“Yes, please. I would like that.”

As Pinocchio settles back into your side something in him clinks into place. He is unsure what it is, but as your hand slides into his and your fingers intertwine Pinocchio thinks that this is what it means to feel at home. The feeling of love only deepens, tearing it’s way further still into the recesses of his being. It will leave him bare and broken before you, he is certain of it.

Listening to you speak; Pinocchio can’t think of a better way to be swallowed whole.

[meiliarotten]

Team Fortress 2 Kinktober Time Two: Electric Boogaloo

Day 1: Ongoing Treatment (Massage)

🔞MINORS DNI🔞

Pairing: Medic x Male!Reader

Summary: Medic tries a new method of treatment on you, leading to some interesting results

Tags: Male reader, massage, lube, on an operating table

Word Count: 4.4k

The Masterlist

“You really think this will improve my performance?” you asked skeptically, watching as Medic set up the small massage table in his examination room. It looked brand new, spotless and pristine, a sharp contrast against a room with blood speckled floors and miscellaneous surgical tools scattered about the counters.

“Well, it is only a hypothesis for now, but it’s one I’m fairly confident in!”

Knowing Medic, that statement instilled little confidence in you. Still, a massage? It seemed simple enough. Then again, even that made you suspicious. Nothing Medic chose to do in his spare time was simple.

“Are you doing this for everyone?” you asked, trying to pry for any further information, anything that could hint at this being a veiled attempt at vivisection.

Medic shook his head. “Nein, not yet. I want to make sure my theory is correct first. I suppose you will be a sort of experiment for me!”

“Oh, of course,” you said. Even with the evident roll of your eyes, your sarcasm seemed to be lost on Medic, who clapped his gloved hands together with a wide grin.

“I knew you would agree! Now, if you would just undress for me and get under the sheets…” He motioned towards the massage table. You couldn’t help but wonder where he had even found the thing. It was clean and new, and it struck you as somewhat humorous that this table was probably the most sterile thing in the room, so much so that it took you a moment to process what Medic had said.

“Wait, undress?” You were almost embarrassed by how scandalized you sounded, like a pearl clutching old woman. Still, it was a startling request.

“How else will I be able to work your muscles thoroughly?” Medic said, matter of factly, as if it was the most normal thing in the world. “Don’t worry, I’ll be in my room until you're ready. I have to prepare some things anyway!”

Before you could ask any other questions Medic had disappeared into his room, behind a door that led directly into the main operating room. It seemed that you were left to your own devices. You could easily flee, but seeing that there were far worse things Medic could ask you to do, you ultimately decided that a massage really wasn’t that big of a request. With a sigh, you shook off any lingering dread and undressed, situating yourself beneath the white sheets on the massage table and waited.

Medic returned just a few minutes later, seeming pleased to find that you had not run off. You heard him approach the table, the click of his boots echoing in the operating room. “Let me know if you feel uncomfortable at any moment, taube.”

You made a soft sound of acknowledgement, and just like that, this strange little procedure was underway.

He drew the sheet away, just beneath your lower back, leaving you feeling surprisingly vulnerable. You tried to rationalize that Medic had seen you even more exposed in the past. The ex-doctor had literally seen the inside of your rib cage, yet something about this seemed far less clinical, especially when ran his hands down the length of your spine. His gloves had been removed, and his movements were smooth and steady. You took a deep breath, recognizing the mild scent of lotion. He really had gone all out for this.

With your head facing downwards it was difficult to tell where Medic was standing at any given moment. All you could focus on were his hands making their way over your back, every so often lingering in a particularly troublesome area. You couldn’t deny that it certainly did feel nice. Aches and pains that you had been trying to ignore for weeks seemed to melt away beneath his touch.

“How does that feel?” His voice broke the silence that had settled over the operating room.

“Good,” you murmured, your eyes drifting shut as you eased into his touch.

“Perfect. You’re doing very well too, so nicely relaxed,” Medic said, moving a bit lower down your back.

You couldn’t really focus on anything else but his ministrations, the power and size of his hands as they worked their way over your back, skillful fingers working muscle by muscle. And while you tried to avoid such thoughts, you couldn’t help but imagine them in other places, cupping your face, holding you down, stroking, caressing…

Your eyes shot open when you felt a familiar stirring. Oh no. Now was really not the time for this. In fact this might just be the absolute worst time to get an awkward, for-no-reason erection. Well, maybe not exactly ‘for-no-reason,’ but still.

Maybe you should have known that letting someone that you had always considered rather attractive put his hands all over you would lead to some less than wholesome thoughts, and some very embarrassing consequences of said thoughts. You had hoped that your initial suspicions that Medic was going to turn you into some kind of live specimen would dull such ideas, but here you were. Medic hadn’t shown even one sign of turning this into a practice in vivisection, and you were getting hard.

In your panic you barely noticed how low Medic had gone until he was at your hips, his fingers pressing into the flesh there.

“The hip has the second largest range of motion of all the joints in the human body,” Medic mused as he carefully located all the areas he deemed in need of work, seeming completely ignorant of your current predicament. “It’s such a powerful part of the body, which is why it’s so important to keep it working at peak condition.”

You barely resisted the urge to dig your fingers into the edges of the massage table when Medic began to work on your hips, carefully mapping out areas of tension and then working them thoroughly. This was most certainly not helping your condition. You tried to tell yourself everything was fine. This would be finished soon and you could take a few moments to calm down. After that you could tell Medic you felt much better and be in your way, never to speak of this again. You just had to wait it out.

After what felt like an eternity Medic moved on from your hips- only to continue at the backs of your thighs, this time working through the sheet rather than directly on your skin. He had no fun facts about anatomy to impart on you this time around. Instead he simply got straight to business. You swore if your heart beat any faster you would go into cardiac arrest right there. Then again, at least that would finally stop the blood from pumping southward.

You were just thankful that you weren’t facing Medic. He wouldn’t see you biting your lip as you tried not to gasp beneath his touch. The most he would see was the clenching and unclenching of your fists, which could easily be passed off as fidgeting. He also wouldn’t see how aroused you were, since you were face down. Now, if only this unconventional treatment would end so you could flee.

As if on cue,, Medic’s hands left your body and you heard him walking away. You lifted your head from the table, watching him retreat towards the counter with a victorious look on your face. You were done, right? The feeling of relief faded as you watched him apply more lotion. Maybe you could wait out a few more minutes-

“Now, I need you to turn over onto your back for this next part.” Medic’s words interrupted your thought process, and more importantly, immediately sent you into panic mode.

That wasn’t happening. You were calling it quits. You sat upright on the table suddenly enough to actually startle Medic. “Uh, actually I think I’m alright!” you stammered, holding the sheet in front of yourself and sitting with an awkward posture to try to hide any tell-tale signs of your arousal.

“Oh, is something wrong? I could easily adjust the pressure if it was uncomfortable,” Medic said, looking genuinely concerned. It was a look he rarely gave to his patients, ironically.

“Oh no! Nothing was wrong. This actually helped a lot! Seriously, I feel so much better! So I’ll just get out of your way now.” You were speaking hurriedly and with obviously fake enthusiasm, not doing a great job hiding your panic. You scrambled for your clothes, which were nearly folded on a nearby counter that was meant for the placement of surgical tools. “I’m sure you have experiments or other things to attend to. You’re a busy man-”

“Where exactly do you have to rush off to?” Medic placed a hand on your shoulder. It wasn’t firm, in fact he was basically just resting his hand on you. Even so, the small gesture was enough to stop you in your tracks.

“Medic?” you stammered, meeting his eyes hesitantly.

“You’re still so tense despite all the work I’ve done so far.” A wicked grin spread across his face, making you shiver- but not with fear. “Maybe I’m simply focusing on the wrong areas. Is that right, taube?”

His hand drifted down your arm. The act would have seemed mundane if it weren’t for the implications. You barely resisted the urge to lean into his touch or to follow after the sensation when he pulled his hand back.

“God damn it,” you muttered, defeated, knowing by now you were too aroused- and more obviously, too hard- to remain in denial. The sheet that you had inadvertently dragged with you when you jumped off the massage table did little to hide anything. “You already know what I want, don’t you.”

“Perhaps. But I want to hear you say it, just so I can be absolutely sure.” There was a hint of genuine curiosity in his voice. He was asking for your permission, trying to see if you truly wanted this. Even so, he managed to do it in the most sexually frustrating way possible for you.

Because you did want it. You wanted him so badly, even as a small part of you screamed that you shouldn’t. He was your coworker after all, and it would be terribly unprofessional. However it wasn’t long before reality came crashing down to remind you that this wasn’t just any coworker. This was Medic. Any semblance of professionalism went out the window the first time he split open your rib cage in order to perform open heart surgery while his pet doves tried to root around in your guts. You had nothing to lose with this man, and so you decided you were done being shy.

“I want you to fuck me,” you said, blunt and to the point. You felt the heat rise in your cheeks but you ignored it, completely focused on keeping your composure for now.

Medic laughed, actually looking a bit surprised before quickly collecting himself. “Not wasting any time with innuendo, I see! Well then, in that case-“

Medic leaned towards you, and in a moment of bravery or perhaps recklessness, you closed the distance between the two of you. Leaning forward, you pressed your lips against his, swiftly cutting off whatever he had been planning to say next. He made a soft noise of surprise before returning the kiss fervently, quickly taking control of the situation and teasing your lips apart with his tongue.

You choked back a moan, holding onto his upper arms to steady yourself as you felt your knees grow weak. It wasn’t fair, how easily he could make you melt as he worked his tongue against yours. His hips began to grind against yours, and you parted with a gasp, suddenly quite aware of your own arousal.

“Fuck,” you whined, unable to resist bucking back against him, desperate for any kind of stimulation. “I want you.”

“Eager little thing,” Medic whispered, his lips against your ear. You could feel his teeth bared in a wide grin and it sent a shiver down your spine. To your dismay, he pulled away from your grip, and you could barely resist the urge to move with him, to groan and press your body against his. He seemed to consider you for a moment, looking as if he was sizing you up before he spoke again.

“Bend over my operating table, taube.”

You were almost embarrassed by how quickly you obeyed, immediately leaning over and bracing yourself against the surgical table Medic had motioned towards. The grip you held on the edges of the metal surface almost turned your knuckles white, and you had to remind yourself to calm down. Barely anything had even happened yet, and you were already feeling nervous.

Medic’s footsteps and the sound of a cabinet opening made you crane your neck, trying to see what was going on behind you. You quickly noticed that he was retrieving something, and you recognized the small tube he held as surgical lube. You weren’t sure what else you expected. At least he was using something that was actually meant to go inside the human body. You wouldn’t put it past Medic to try to make some kind of experiment out of his sexual encounters.

When he made his way back towards you, you could barely keep from trembling. Whether it was from anticipation or nerves, you didn’t know. “You locked the door, right?” you asked suddenly, trying to distract yourself from your own anxiety, especially as you heard the cap of the lube being removed.

“Of course, taube,” Medic said, pausing and taking note of how nervous you were. Your body language was tense, and you fidgeted by running your fingers along the edge of the table. It was obvious this was new for you. “Just try to relax for this next part. I’ll go slow.”

Hearing such gentleness in Medic’s voice was unfamiliar, but not unwelcome. It did put you at ease, at least for a few moments. Logically, you knew what to expect, but even so, no amount of logic or expectations could prepare you for the actual feeling. Having Medic inside you- even if he was just using his fingers at the moment- was entirely new, exhilarating, and nerve wracking at the same time. You couldn’t help but tense up at the unfamiliar sensation.

“You’re very tight.” Medic’s tone was tinged with concern. Your face flushed with warmth, as if it could get any redder, and you were actually thankful to be bent over the table. If you had to look Medic in the eye you would probably disintegrate on the spot.

“Sorry, I’m trying to relax,” you muttered, practically pressing your face into the cold steel of the table.

“It’s alright, liebchen. Let me know if you want to stop”

There was a promise in those words, a sense of safety, a decree that no matter how much you submitted yourself, you were in control. This could stop whenever you wanted. That feeling alone allowed you to calm down and focus on the physical sensations rather than the emotional ones for a while.

“That’s it, just try to focus on how good this feels,” Medic said, curling his finger in just the right spot. You jerked against the table in surprise, gasping. Medic immediately picked up on your not-so-subtle reaction, continuing to aim for that sensitive area which would have you seeing stars before long.

You clutched onto the edges of the metal table, now squirming with pleasure rather than discomfort as Medic opened you up little by little. Soon he was able to add a second finger without much trouble, allowing him to apply more pressure. You couldn’t hold back your moans as Medic massaged your prostate, his fingers pulsing steadily as a fair amount of lube dripped down your ass.

“It’s starting to feel quite nice, isn’t it?” Medic asked, as if he couldn’t hear all the sultry noises you were making, as if he couldn’t see how your body was shivering as he pleasured you, preparing you for something that would feel even better. Your apprehension had dissolved at this point, and you found yourself bucking back to meet the steady thrusting of Medic’s fingers, desperate for more. You wanted to be filled so badly.

“Good boy,” Medic crooned, pressing his other hand against the small of your back, tracing his fingers down your spine and making you shudder. “You’re doing so well for me.”

Good boy… Oh god, you hoped that wasn’t going to awaken anything in you, although the way you thoroughly failed to hold back a moan was certainly telling. Of course, that just had to be the moment Medic pulled his fingers out of you, barely acknowledging the pitiful whine you made at the loss of stimulation.

“Get up and lay on the table for me, on your back.” He wasted no time ordering you around, his words calculated and measured. Even so, he was unable to keep the lust completely out of his voice. You could hear it in the unusually low tone and, more obviously, you could see it in the tenting of his pants.

You quickly turned around and hoisted yourself onto the table, eager for this to continue, desperately wanting to go even further. Medic smirked, glad to see that you were more than willing to follow his commands. Perhaps you even enjoyed being ordered around. That would definitely make for an interesting experiment in the future.

However, there were other matters to attend to at the moment- like the fact that Medic’s erection was still trapped uncomfortably behind layers of fabric. You watched breathlessly as he unfastened his belt, pulling his jodhpurs low enough to free his cock. He glanced back up at you and chuckled. You looked painfully hard, aching for his touch, precum already dripping down the length of your arousal.

You watched, gripping the edge of the table for dear life as Medic reached for the bottle of lube and poured the contents onto his palm generously. He slicked himself up, lazily stroking his cock, and your eyes were glued to his every move. The soft groans he let out as he did so were so erotic, and you desperately wanted to hear more. You wanted to hear them right against your ear as he pounded into you.

“Ready, mein täubchen?” he finally asked, grinning at you as you practically trembled with anticipation.

“Yes, please!”

Medic made a soft sound of approval as he pressed himself against your entrance. “So eager. Such a good boy for me.”

Alright, so that was definitely going to awaken something in you. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, you didn’t have the chance to dwell on that too much, because Medic was finally inside you, drawing a harsh moan from your throat as he entered you with a quick thrust. His pace slowed the moment he hilted inside you, allowing you to adjust to this new and very welcome sensation. Even as you tried to buck against him, he doesn’t give in, refusing to go any faster until he’s convinced that you're relaxed enough for it. It was sweet that he cared enough about your pleasure to hold back- but god damn it, you wanted him to fuck you into the table already.

That said, the transition from slow and steady to rutting like animals wasn’t prolonged at all. The moment Medic found himself able to thrust into you with little to no resistance, he picked up the pace. It wasn’t long before he was slamming his hips against yours, now chasing his own pleasure as well.

You covered your mouth with your arm, the last bit of self awareness you had telling you that you should probably at least try to muffle some of the embarrassing sounds you were making. That wouldn’t last long however, as Medic almost immediately pulled your arm away, pinning it against the table with a growl.

“Don’t you dare hold back now. If you want to come, you’ll let me hear just how badly you want it.”

Honestly, you were lucky that you didn’t come just from that. He released your arm, but the memory of how he overpowered you so easily was still fresh in your mind, a not so gentle reminder of who was in charge here. Still, you were hesitant.

“What if someone hears us?” you asked, still somewhat aware of the fact that there were in fact other people residing in the base.

“Let them hear, I want them to know that you're mine.” Medic leaned down, pressing his lips to your neck before biting the sensitive flesh. The sound that escaped you was louder than you thought you were capable of. You arched against him, gritting your teeth as you grappled with how the pain complimented the pleasure. He hadn’t bitten you hard enough to break the skin, but it would definitely leave a mark.

“So, you enjoy a bit of pain?” Medic asked, looking down at you like you were simply the intriguing result of an experiment. Maybe he had found a way to turn this encounter into one of his science projects after all.

The only response you could give was a nod and a low moan as Medic dug his fingers into your hips. You keened as he proceeded to drag his nails over your thighs. The stinging sensation along with the red lines that were left behind felt like trophies to you. You never had the opportunity to explore masochism, but it seemed like it was indeed something you enjoyed if the way you were moaning was any indication.

“Gute junge, singing so nicely for me. I want to hear just how loud you can get…”

A slight shift in angle was all it took. All too suddenly Medic was thrusting right against that sweet spot he had been teasing with his fingers earlier. Of course, his fingers really couldn’t compare to this.

“Oh fuck!” you cried out, bucking your hips involuntarily. “Medic!”

He was so used to hearing you scream his name like that in battle that hearing it in this situation was almost disorienting. Medic held onto the edge of the metal table to gain more leverage as he began to thrust harder. Your arms were draped around his body, and you tried to pull him close to you, as if he was the only thing keeping you grounded in the moment. Tears began to prick at the corners of your eyes, the sensations slowly becoming more and more overwhelming.

“It’s alright,” Medic whispered, bringing a hand up to caress your cheek and soothe you, brushing away your tears with his thumb. “You’re doing so well. Doesn’t it feel good?”

“Fuck yes! Don’t stop!” Your hold on him tightened, fingers digging into the fabric of his coat. With the adrenaline running through you, it was a wonder that it didn’t tear in your grasp.

“That’s it, hold onto me if you need to.” Medic’s breath hitched, that dominant tone faltering slightly as you felt him shudder against you. “Gott, I’m getting close.”

You didn’t want this to end, but a part of you was thankful to see that at least your stamina was pretty much equal to Medic’s. You knew you were getting close as well, the tight coiling pleasure inside you about to snap at any moment. You wrapped your legs around Medic’s hips, pulling him further into you with each thrust.

“Please touch me!” you begged, knowing that last bit of stimulation would be enough to push you over the edge. You needed it so badly.

Medic didn’t respond, but you felt his hand dragging down your body, lower and lower until he gripped your cock. He stroked you in time with his thrusts, and any noise you made was muffled by his lips pressed roughly against yours. You couldn’t last much longer like that, and your whole body trembled against his as you spilled over his hand and onto your stomach, moaning against his mouth as his tongue explored yours.

You were just beginning to come down when Medic pulled away suddenly, his body going stiff with a low groan. His own climax overtook him just a few moments after yours. He rode out his orgasm with a few more uneven thrusts, making you gasp as you began to feel overstimulated.

When he finally went still, neither of you had the energy to move. Your arms were draped over Medic’s shoulders, holding him close to you as you both gasped for air. You weren’t sure how long it was until you managed to catch your breath, but shortly afterwards both of you decided it would be wise to get your clothes back in order. The last thing you wanted was one of the other mercs to come in looking for treatment only to come across this scene.

You got dressed in silence. It wasn’t an awkward silence though, it was actually rather comfortable. Every so often you stumbled, limping slightly, and Medic allowed you to maintain your balance by holding onto him whenever your legs seemed about to buckle beneath you.

“Sorry,” you murmured, face flushing as you leaned heavily against Medic.

“It’s completely normal,” he reassured you with a soft laugh. “You may struggle to walk normally for a little while.”

You nodded, praying that none of the other mercenaries would catch you in the hall walking back to your room with a tell tale limp. Even if you managed to hide the limp, the hickeys on your neck may give you away just as easily. And of course there was also the possibility that they had overheard you moaning this whole time. You just prayed none of them would be willing to bring it up if they did.

“That was really good,” you said, laughing to yourself as the afterglow began to set in. Fully dressed now, you still leaned against Medic, both due to shakiness and also because of the simple desire to be close to him. “Knowing you, this was probably your plan from the beginning, wasn’t it?”

Medic smirked at you, brushing a strand of thoroughly tousled hair out of your face. He paused, simply admiring you for a moment before responding. “Perhaps it was. Can I assume that this will be a regular occurrence from now on?”

Despite his smug expression, Medic seemed to be choosing his words carefully. It was actually rather cute. You mirrored his smirk, responding by pulling him into another kiss by his tie. He made a soft sound of surprise before eagerly reciprocating.

It was safe to say that this was in fact going to be an ongoing treatment.

[smash-64]

2023 Game of the Year Countdown #1 The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie Nintendo Switch, 2023

For a fourth time since 2018, a Trails game takes my #1 for the year.

Breaking from tradition, this Trails game has no sidequests. It has a very linear story, although technically there are three linear stories and you can jump from one to another for most of the game. In many respects, this is the “Trails in the Sky the 3rd” for the Cold Steel series. Not only is the story more linear, but we get redemption arcs from past villains, and we also get an absolutely disgusting amount of playable characters. Chrono Cross has 45 playable characters, and people often say that’s too many. Well…Reverie has 50. And each of them gets at least a little time in the spotlight. It’s fantastic for Trails fans, and I adored it. I put 150 hours into this game and I’m not sure I could have put less time into it.

Playing the game on Switch, there were definitely a few times the game chugged, so I can’t give the game a perfect 10. Many of the cutscenes in Crossbell City were bogged down by the sheer number of NPCs, and was noticeable to me, a person famously unconcerned with performance. I can see why people advocate for playing this on PC or PS4, but the portability of the Switch trumps all else in my mind. This is really the only downside I experienced with the game, although it did not affect my enjoyment at all.

Having three linear storylines to follow in any order you want is phenomenal. You can keep going with characters you love, and are never forced to stick with the ones you don’t for very long. And with having a linear story, the pace of the game is potentially sped up a little bit from the traditional Trails experience where sidequests can often lead to very long delays in the main story.

The story itself offers a ton. Obviously I can’t spoil a game that is the 10th in an interconnected, on-going series, but I’ll just say that once the main story is over…the postgame story is equally as interesting and gives fans a peek at some of the series-long questions and issues brought up in previous entries. 

Combat is fairly standard as far as the Cold Steel games go. I love Trails combat and this game tweaks little, as nothing was broken. It’s perhaps a little bit more difficult than CS3 or CS4, since the Break mechanic was pretty OP in those two games and it has been toned down slightly, but you can still take full advantage of it if you’re smart and plan well. I also like how some of the accessories drastically increase specific stats, so min/maxing is actually fun in this game. I was able to get Tita Russell’s attack and HP to absolutely absurd heights in this game. She is no longer baby; she wants power!

As previously stated, almost every single character gets their time in the spotlight. Some more than others, of course, but the fact that we get 50 playable characters, yet every one of them gets a chance to shine is a wonderful piece of work by the developers and writers. I’d say that perhaps Musse gets very little, but she had more than enough focus in CS3 and 4. Even Machias gets his own episode, and he is so often forgotten that even I forget about him at times.

Music is good as always when it comes to Falcom. I appreciate some of the battle tunes, like Elegant Prowess, and the game has its own unique sound that sets it apart from CS3 and 4. Maybe not to the same extent that Sky the 3rd sets itself apart from FC and SC, but the tracks unique to this game sound different enough that they are easy to pick out. There are dozens of returning tracks as well, since we revisit quite a few places from previous entries. 

My favorite character is Estelle Bright, and I was glad to see a focused effort to put her in the spotlight more often. She wasn’t in CS1-3, and played a more supporting role in 4 than anything else. Meanwhile, Lloyd and Rean ran the show. Estelle is not one of the main storylines in this game, but it’s nice to see her back with some of her famous one-liners.

Overall, I can’t really say enough about the game. It’s an amazing JRPG experience, but one that requires playing the 9 previous games in the series. Maybe that’s a daunting task to some, but the good thing about trying out a Trails game is that there is always another one to play afterward.

[ambrosialsyrup]

Part 1: As Your Lover - Headcanons

Warning(s): Gender-neutral reader, OOC?, not proof-read.

Fandom: The Tale of Food

Summary: He loves you. You love him. What more needs to be said?

Notes: Sorry it took so long and thank you for the patience ;-;. I originally planned like one or two paragraphs each but…uhh, oops. I blame my brain. I’ll release the second part next week and after that comes angst. That or whoever my first ask is.

Yuxiang Pork

A truth within the many lies he tells.

A scam artist to the very core of his nonexistent heart. It’s a wonder to many how and why you fell for such a man and a mystery of how you two got together. Do not pay attention to those prying eyes, his Muse, focus on him and only him. Look away from the distractions of reality and indulge yourself with him.

For your smile he’ll present the most wondrous magic tricks. The simple, the complicated, and the ones you love. He’ll do them all. Yuxiang will tell jokes about anything and everything just to hear your laughter. Could you see through them? Aiyaya! He’s really getting too careless now isn’t he? No matter, he’ll tell you a new one and more until he can hear you laugh.

Pet names are an absolute must in his eyes. Coming up with a new one everyday is no task for him but there are some he likes sticking to. Like Darling, Lover, my Muse, my one and only, etc. all of which are meant for you alone.

Affectionate words and quick pecks anywhere on your face are to be expected with him during the day. He’ll steal you away from whoever your attention is aimed towards, now now, what’s that anger for? He’s an awfully jealous man and as your strongest food soul and your lover, it’s only right that he’s given your utmost attention no? Don’t worry, he’ll give you back to them once he’s gotten a hundred kisses from your lips.

At night and behind closed doors you will be able to see him as merely Yuxiang Pork. Not the scam artist and your lover but simply your lover. A kind food soul steeped in lies for the sake of another. That was always the case with him and will continue to be so but this time and forevermore, it’s for you.

~

A card bursted into flames in your hands, not hurting you, as the ash flutters down to the floor of your bedroom. The moon high up in the sky as the only witness to what has and will occur between the two of you tonight. Another trick he had shown, another card you had picked, and another lie you’ve seen through.

He chuckles looking at your expression. Are you mad at him now? You really are interesting, wanting to see his truth when in reality his truth was in you. Even at night his eccentricities and flair are still there, rooted deep in his soul, but with you he’ll be gentler.

Tucking your hair behind your ear, he leans in as close, just enough to whisper these words into your ear.

“I love you, My Muse.”

Laughing as you pushed him slightly back in shock, your face red with embarrassment obviously not expecting him to be so forward all of a sudden. Not after how much time he spent showing you tricks. All to lead to this moment of witnessing your flushed face as he moves in even closer. Your eyes darted elsewhere…now that won’t do.

Gently lifting your chin up to face him with one hand, the other brushing over your ear before making its way behind your head, he smiled softly. A smile unlike the cocky smirk he always wore in front of others as he misled them once again. Something reserved for your eyes alone, like how your eyes are meant for him alone.

Yuxiang Pork leans closer and closer, his lips hovering above yours as his dark blue eyes pierced into your pair. A mischievous yet passionate twinkle in those dark blue depths. Tonight, he’ll hide you away from everyone else, even the moon itself.

“Don’t look away now, My Love, the night has only just begun~”

Dezhou Chicken

Logic in an illogical world.

A romance that occurs primarily behind closed doors. Despite this, everyone saw it coming from a mile away. How his eyes always followed you wherever you went. How his ears would tint with red whenever you teased him. Even Ah-Fu noticed and nudged him towards confessing to you with great embarrassment.

Never have you seen him happier than the day you two became lovers.

He’ll go along with your plans, whatever they may be, as long as they do not cause you harm. Feel free to prank him too, he’ll act like he doesn’t notice, even if it’s dreadfully obvious, and play along with you. As long as you can continue to smile and laugh at him with the pair of eyes he adores. Just be careful of what “punishments” will come after the prank. Oh no, he won’t arrest you…it’ll be a different kind made just for you.

Dezhou sort of nags you like he nags his brother. It’s a habit of his to worry too much about people he loves. He trusts in you and your ability to lead others but please do remember to take care of yourself, My Dear, seeing your happy and healthy is all that he wishes for. And sometimes, you’d have to nag him about his work ethic and strictness. You worry about him and he worries about you…in the end, you two have come to an agreement to always tell the other if they’re pushing themselves too hard.

Pet names are to be said only behind closed doors. He still refers to you as Master out of respect but, “My Dear” is his most common name to use for you when not with company. Old timey it may be but the love and adoration he holds towards you as he says it is eternal.

Fleeting kisses and gentle reminders are what’s shared in the morning. Give him a call and he’ll help you with whatever you need. Be it calculating the total grain that’s come from today’s harvest or simply for another kiss, he’ll gladly do them all (Oh? What are you shying away from now? Did you not think he’d do it?). The morals and rules he follows are stern and true but for you, he’ll give leniency.

Dezhou isn’t too openly affectionate with you, though there have been times where he’s forgotten that another party was there and may or may not have stolen a kiss or two from you. Is he satisfactory? Would you prefer it if it was longer? Or would you like it if he’d not do it at all? If so, he’ll have to do more research and ask around for more advice. Do forgive him if he’s not as romantic as you’d like, he’s still trying to understand what being a good lover means but he’ll do his best to be by your side. Always and forever.

~

Amongst the sea of people, your figure was the only thing he could see. His hand holding yours as you took the lead, pointing to the many different stalls and vendors lined on the street as you maneuvered your way through the crowd. The aroma of freshly cooked street food filled the air along with talks and well wishes for the new year exchanged between people. Some were dressed in red, others gold, but most were dressed in their ordinary winter clothing as the frost of winter did not let down even during celebration.

Children ran to see the “dragons” dance and gleefully laughed whenever one came close to them before hiding behind their caretaker’s leg. Others were playing with friends as their caretakers talked about the year before it was to come to an end. Dezhou Chicken glanced up at the Moon, a full moon, before his gaze returned back to you. Still leading him through the crowd with an excited expression on your face.

Only five minutes left to show him your favorite spot, five minutes until the fireworks are to appear in the sky.

You didn’t appear to be bothered by this notion, your hand still firmly grasping his, as if nothing in the world could stop you. Dezhou smiled softly, following you to wherever you were going to take him as the crowds got thinner and thinner until there were only a few people roaming the area.

And then you stopped. Your hand left his as you turned around to see his reaction. Your footsteps thumped against the wooden boards as he looked around to observe the spot. It was a small bridge not too far away from the festivities but far enough for the noise to be dulled. The scenery was pleasant too, though not clearly visible as it was night, and gave an ideal view of the firework show that was soon to begin.

“It’s a good spot.”

He nodded, finishing his observation of the area just in time as the few people started to count down. Your eyes were glued at the sky, pointing at it as if to say to him to focus on that as the fireworks officially began. With a loud consecutive bang, multiple fireworks leapt into the night sky, filling it with vibrant colors that lit up the dark.

In truth though, Dezhou could not pay attention to any of it. Not when your figure lit up by the fireworks was the only thing in his eyes that he could see, that he loves.

Taking your hand into his, he pulled your attention away from the lights as leaned close to you. So close that you two were only a breath away, lips barely touching. His free hand cupping your cheek, a soft yet playful smile on his face as cool eyes captured your twinkling ones. You can tease him later about this but for this moment in time, let you and him be the only two left in the world.

“Happy New Years My Dear.”

Claypot Rice

A peaceful rest in a meadow.

Should your troubles start to weigh on your shoulders far too much, then lay down and take a rest with him. Sure you two may get in trouble later but for now, focus on the present. Claypot Rice wasn’t sure when you fell for him or what attracted you to him in the first place but he isn’t going to complain. Not when he gets the privilege of tugging you away from tiring duties to recharge with him.

He’s not the best lover you could ever ask for. Claypot Rice knows that, he knows that too well. His laid-back personality and nonchalant demeanor makes it seem more like he’s a close friend rather than a lover. In an effort to make up for that, he reminds you time and time again that yes, he loves you. You chose him and he chose you. Nothing can change that, not even a month’s worth of free delicious food.

However, he is one of the more openly affectionate food souls in this list. The ways in which he loves you is by peppering your face in kisses randomly, hugging you from behind to surprise you, and carrying you away to rest with him. Just grabbing your hand may do for the latter but he wants to put in all the effort possible as your lover. He may not be as strong as the others in Kongsang but he still is a food soul you know?

Pet name wise, it’s usually always “Sweetheart” or “Sweetie” when he’s just woken up. Your name and title has been officially replaced with that nickname to him. Even in the presence of others he’ll still say it but if you really want him to stop, then he guesses a shorter form of your name will do.

Claypot Rice is the same during the morning and the night. There’s really no difference in how he treats you as he doesn’t have anything he wants to hide. Being honest and true with your lover is the most important thing in a relationship besides loyalty (at least that’s what Har-gow told him) and he doesn’t see the point in hiding his love for you.

He’ll cook for you whenever you ask, he’ll lay down with you to cuddle if you’re tired, and he’ll always listen to you no matter what you have to say. Such a peaceful and uneventful love may not catch everyone’s attention, but it's the normal things in life that need to be cherished. Just like how his love for you is something he’ll cherish forever.

~

Once again Claypot Rice had successfully pulled you away from the mountain of duties you have to take a nap with him on the farm. A smile he gave and a hand you took. Taking you away from the shade of the ceiling into the bright sunlight showering the farm. It’s a sunny afternoon, no clouds in sight as he led you to one of the many spots he liked sleeping at. A tree at the corner of the farm offering shade to those underneath its shadow. A quaint place away from the noise of the animals and watchful eyes of the other food souls.

Letting go of your hand, he sat down on the vibrant green grass and patted the spot next to him, an invitation of his that you, once again, accepted. It was silent for a few seconds before he turned to you.

“You’re so energetic Sweetheart, I really don’t know how you do it.”

And it’s true. Claypot Rice truly did not understand how you could do it. A single person managing over a hundred food souls, a restaurant, a farm, and multiple other things that weren’t just on Kongsang. How can anyone, let alone a single person, manage that?

That’s why he’s there to give you a break. A break from your duties, from the expectations around you, from the world itself.

Laying down on the ground and using one arm to pull you down with him, he moved closer. His arms wrapped around your body as you two laid on the soft grass. Eyes staring straight at your own as he moved his arm upwards to brush some dirt off your face. Nothing else in the world mattered at this moment, not when he was peppering your face with kisses. Kissing everywhere on the face until the only spot left was your lips. Claypot Rice smiled.

“I really am the most fortunate person in the world.”

[existentialsophism]

Ok so I’m gonna post this here bc my mom is giving me the silent treatment and it might hit (maybe idk it’s very long)

Neurodivergent Ramblings

I had so much shit as a kid like being told I was off topic and absent minded and wandering around the classroom and yet somehow nobody had me evaluated for anything???? You have a master’s in child development and you never saw this coming??? You fucking moron!!! I lost friends and my grades failed because of that. I had to figure out why I was so weird on my own while I was being constantly bullied and manipulated for being different. I learned to hate myself before I even learned how to socialize. I wasn’t physically abused but the mental strain of masking and trying to pay attention in classes was so draining I almost killed myself several times once I got to college. It’s made me wonder if life is even worth living. And now I find something that works and I’m not even guaranteed that I’ll be able to continue because I’m not a cishet upper middle class white boy who will perfectly slot into the diagnostic criteria. That and all my shit overlaps and is impossible to separate. And now that I know shit is wrong with me I can’t even fucking access the shit that makes it better. Oh you mean I need someone to professionally tell me I can’t focus in class?? I FUCKING KNEW THAT HOW STUPID DO YOU THINK I AM YOU ASSHOLES?????? WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU THAT YOU HAVE THESE RESOURCES THAT I CAN’T EVEN USE BECAUSE A DOCTOR DIDN’T CERTIFY THAT I’M NOT LYING ABOUT BEING DISTRESSED BY THIS????? DO I FUCKING LOOK DISTRESSED ENOUGH TO YOU??? I’M FUCKING CRYING OVER THIS AND YOU THINK I’M LYING OR SOMETHING???? I get not distributing stimulants without a diagnosis, I get it. But if the thing helps, and you’re a doctor who can control its dispersal, why don’t you just do it anyway??? I’m not even guaranteed a diagnosis because even though I have all of the symptoms it’s apparently not good enough for a self-assessment which doesn’t take into account the fact I also have autism and those two overlap/cancel each other out, which means I’m not guaranteed to get the shit I know would allow me to function like a normal fucking person.

No wonder I’ve never been able to relax, that’s an adhd thing. Even during sex or something I can’t relax, every single action is intentional because I have 15 separate thoughts at once about whether or not I’m doing enough or what I could do to make the other girl feel good too or whatever. I hate it. I want to just turn my brain off and be puppy, but I can’t. I have the autistic inability to turn my brain off and the adhd inability to relax. And it’s exhausting. I get headaches a lot from the sheer mental effort it takes to be alive. I’ve been awake for an hour and I think I’ve done more thinking than the average person does in their whole week. How lovely it would be for my mind to be quiet. Or even just for me to be able to control it. I can’t control my own mind so I try to control everything else in my life and get distressed when I can’t. I usually try to channel it into helping my friends and the people I love but I’m bad at that so it doesn’t even work.

I never really struggled academically as a kid because class wasn’t that challenging and I was privileged enough to have had a really strong foundation. That allowed me to look like I was actually able to hang in school when really I was just good at taking tests and not much else. I constantly forgot homework and materials for class even with my mom reminding me and half packing all of my stuff for me, I’d forget about projects until the night before, I’d have trouble with little details in later math classes which resulted in me not doing as well as I could have, it’s all shit that is part of adhd that not a single person thought to tie back to it. Because apparently you can only have adhd if you’re struggling in school or some shit. The autistic ability to control my actions didn’t help either since I could just mask everything “abnormal” about myself for my own mental and physical safety, which further contributed to everyone around me thinking nothing was wrong, and now everyone thinks I’m just trying to be trendy or label totally normal neurotypical experiences. Somehow they think that my suffering is just for attention or something?? Why would I choose to be like this? I hate it! It’s a disability! Why would I choose to be disabled?? I don’t get why neurotypical people think they can bully kids for being weird and then tell them everything they’ve been bullied for their entire life is normal actually. Why am I being gaslit by the entire world?

[timeless-fanfic]

Misguided Hearts: Chapter 2

Jealousy's Grip

Word Count: 1448

Andrew x Reader

Andrew’s eyes followed you wherever you went. It was becoming an obsession, though he wouldn’t admit it to himself. Every time you and Philip were together, a gnawing sensation crept up his spine, twisting his thoughts into darker corners. It was irrational, but Andrew couldn’t shake the idea that something was blossoming between you and his closest friend. And the more time he spent around the two of you, the worse it got.

This morning was no different. You and Philip stood a few paces ahead, deep in conversation as you walked together toward the well. Your head was tilted slightly, and your laugh—that laugh—echoed in Andrew’s ears. Philip must have said something clever again. He always knew how to make you smile.

Andrew trudged behind, unable to join in, bitterness creeping through him. He tried to focus on the daily tasks, the mundane activities of fetching water, or helping prepare for the day ahead, but his mind refused to settle. He was only half-listening to the chatter around him as other disciples moved about, his attention entirely on you and Philip.

"Are you coming with us today, Andrew?" Philip’s voice broke through Andrew’s thoughts. He blinked, realizing that the two of you had paused to wait for him to catch up.

"What?" Andrew asked, trying to keep his tone neutral, though the irritation simmered just beneath the surface.

"I was just saying," Philip continued, a broad smile on his face, "that we’re heading to the next village soon. Thought you might want to join us." He glanced at you, and you nodded, your eyes bright with anticipation.

Andrew’s heart skipped a beat. The idea of spending more time with you should have excited him, but all he could think about was how it meant more time with you and Philip. He clenched his jaw, forcing a small smile. "I don’t know… I’ve got some things to take care of."

Philip shrugged, completely oblivious to Andrew’s inner turmoil. "Suit yourself. But we’ll miss your company, right (Y/N)?" Philip turned to you, and you smiled warmly, nodding in agreement.

"Yes, of course, Andrew," you added. "You should come with us."

There was that smile again, the one that always made his heart race. But instead of feeling happy, Andrew felt a surge of jealousy. He couldn’t stop himself from wondering if you smiled like that when you looked at Philip too. He hated the idea.

"I’ll think about it," Andrew replied, his voice tight. He quickly turned away, pretending to be interested in something else—anything else—so he wouldn’t have to watch the two of you together for another second.

As the day wore on, Andrew found himself unable to escape the growing tension inside him. He was barely able to focus on anything. Every time he caught a glimpse of you and Philip talking, laughing, or working side by side, his heart clenched. The worst part was that Philip seemed so unaware of it all. He wasn’t doing anything wrong; he was simply being himself. But that didn’t stop Andrew’s mind from twisting every interaction between you into something more than it was.

By mid-afternoon, the group had gathered to rest in the shade. You and Philip were sitting together, your heads close as you exchanged a quiet conversation. Andrew, sitting on the edge of the group, found it harder and harder to ignore the nagging feeling in his gut. He could feel his fists clenching as he watched from the corner of his eye, struggling to maintain a calm facade.

The others were talking and laughing around him, but Andrew barely heard any of it. His mind was elsewhere, consumed by thoughts of you—with Philip.

"Andrew?"

Your voice pulled him out of his thoughts. He looked up to find you standing in front of him, a gentle smile on your face. You knelt down beside him, and for a moment, the tightness in his chest eased as you came closer. But then you spoke.

"Philip and I are going to the market later to get some supplies. Would you like to join us?"

Philip and I.

Andrew’s jaw tensed. There it was again—the two of you. Always the two of you. He could feel his control slipping, the jealousy he had been fighting so hard to keep buried threatening to spill out.

"I’m… not sure," Andrew muttered, avoiding your gaze. His voice sounded harsher than he intended, and he saw your smile falter just a little.

"You’ve been distant all day," you said softly, concern flickering in your eyes. "Is something wrong?"

Andrew’s heart clenched. You were worried about him—you cared about how he was feeling. But instead of feeling comforted, it only made the jealousy burn brighter inside him. How could you be so kind, so thoughtful, and yet still be so blind to what was happening?

"I’m fine," Andrew snapped, harsher than he meant to. He immediately regretted the tone, but he couldn’t stop himself. "I just have a lot on my mind."

Your expression shifted, a flicker of confusion and hurt crossing your face before you quickly masked it. You were about to respond when Philip called out to you from a short distance away.

"(Y/N)! Come look at this."

You hesitated for a moment, glancing between Andrew and Philip, clearly torn. Andrew could see it in your eyes—you wanted to stay, but something about Philip’s presence was drawing you away.

"I’ll talk to you later, okay?" you said gently, placing a hand on Andrew’s arm before rising to join Philip.

As you walked away, Andrew felt the jealousy surge again, stronger than ever. His thoughts were racing, swirling with frustration and bitterness. Why did it have to be like this? Why couldn’t you see how much he cared about you? Why did you have to spend so much time with Philip?

The rest of the afternoon passed in a blur of emotions. Andrew barely spoke, and when he did, his responses were clipped and short. The others seemed to notice his unusual mood, but no one asked about it—not yet, at least.

Later that evening, the group gathered around the fire to eat. You were seated beside Philip again, though you spared Andrew a glance from time to time, as if checking to see if he was alright. But Andrew was anything but alright. His mind was consumed with jealousy, frustration, and something else he couldn’t quite put into words.

As the fire crackled and the conversations around him grew quieter, Andrew found himself watching you again. He couldn’t help it. You were the center of his world, even if you didn’t know it. And every moment you spent with Philip felt like another step further away from him.

He watched as you leaned over to show Philip something, your heads close together. Philip laughed, a genuine, carefree laugh, and Andrew felt his fists clench involuntarily. His heart pounded in his chest, and he couldn’t hold back the frustration any longer.

Without thinking, Andrew stood up abruptly, drawing the attention of those around the fire. You looked up, surprised by his sudden movement.

"I’m going for a walk," Andrew muttered, not waiting for a response. He quickly turned and strode away from the group, his emotions swirling in a tangled mess.

The cool night air hit his face as he walked, but it did little to calm the storm inside him. He wasn’t sure where he was going—he just needed to be away, to clear his head, to think.

But no matter how hard he tried, his thoughts kept coming back to you. To the way you smiled at Philip, to the way you laughed with him, to the way you seemed so comfortable in his presence. It hurt more than Andrew wanted to admit.

As he wandered through the darkened streets, Andrew’s mind raced with all the things he wished he could say to you. He wanted to tell you how much he cared, how much you meant to him, how every moment you spent with Philip felt like a knife twisting in his chest. But he couldn’t. He didn’t know how to say it, didn’t know if you even felt the same way.

And then there was Philip. How could he be angry with his friend, who hadn’t done anything wrong? How could he harbor these feelings of jealousy when Philip was simply being kind, as he always was?

But no matter how hard Andrew tried to reason with himself, the jealousy wouldn’t go away. It clung to him, tightening its grip with every passing moment.

[futurequibblerjournalist]

This blog has inspired me to write a long, emotional piece like your Trempe de Seuer (but not! I'm anti-plagiarism), but I don't know what ship to do or even how to begin. Do you have any advice? Suggestions? I'm so new to all of this.

This has fully made my day honestly chfncjnfj to think that my silly little story has inspired someone makes me so happy!

As for advice I can tell you what I did lol. Basically trempé de sueur came to me after I read Call Me By Your Name. I watched the movie afterwards and I wanted to write something that captured that freedom of summer, the soft buzz of insects in the air, the sound of running water, the feeling of sweat against skin, the smell of salty air in your nose. Just,, summer love essentially. It was supposed to be a one shot but it just spiralled. It was also meant to have a much sadder ending than it ends up with. It was also meant to be mostly focused on romance but instead it kinda ends up as more of a character study and a bit of a coming of age fic?

I think pulling from a feeling or a feeling you experience in a specific setting is a good way to start. Do you want it to be focused on romance? Family dynamics? Friendships? Character growth? Where do you want your character(s) to be at the beginning of the story and what do you want them to have learned by the end?

As for the ship, I would say go with someone you know you’ll be able to focus on writing for so long. This is so ironic cause I was also going to say write your favourite ship but like,, jegulus is not my favourite ship yet my two longest fics are both about them lmao. I don’t know what happened there. They fit the story I was trying to tell well and rather than trying to change the characters to fit the story I did it the other way around and ended up with a story I’m honestly much happier with cjnfjcndjcndj

I also wrote in a kind of different style than what I usually do? I was inspired by the kind of slow writing where you really get to experience what it’s like to be in the scene I’m writing. Hopefully that came across chfncjfnjc but yeah, getting inspired by books with writing styles that inspire you is also a great way to add to a story too, it kinda challenges the way you tell your story.

I also created a playlist and a moodboard for trempé de sueur specifically that has helped me visualise things a lot. I’ll also sometimes put on some ambiance “music” with like,, birds twittering and general summer sounds etc to get in the mood lol. I would imagine it would work well doing a crinkling fireplace for a fic that takes place in a warm inn with a snowstorm outside or loud rain noises for a good rainy day, I did that when writing the last bit of the scene in chapter three for trempé de sueur

I think that’s all the advice I’ve got? Or just,, jumping off points really! Also!! I think it can be super fun to bounce ideas off of other people! Not in a plagiarism way obviously but just friends helping out friends and such,,,

I’m gonna do a smidge of promo here lol but I have had a great experience in @starman-server! We bounce ideas back and forth and do writing sprints quite often and they’re also great motivators for writing longer fics! There’s also just regular chatting and stuff but yeah,, a server (either like this or this one, wink wink come join us we’re very fun) is a wonderful “tool” as well. Also sometimes it’s just fun to talk about your fic with likeminded people!

Either way,, I hope this could help you in some way! My way is in no way the only way to do it but yeah cjfncjfn. If there’s anything else honestly feel free to come back in here or drop me a dm or something chfncjfnjc

[karasbroken]

I have this problem where I end up writing lots of what's going on in my character's head, and barely anything about what they're actually doing. Not only does it make for very static writing, it makes fics longer then they should be. It's probably a couple more weeks to finish this off.

A big motivation for fics is the chance to weave in bits of plot holes, unexplained events and character notes, that the writers didn't have time or interest in fixing in canon. Part of the inspiration for Pulling Punches was to come up with another way they made money, asteroid mining in this case, since it's rarely mentioned. Another impetus was trying to get John and Aeryn to be horny enough to actually kiss in the next episode. I'm managing the former much better than the latter. Why is writing them spicy so darn hard? Anyway, here's the only bit I wrote this week I actually like.

John leaned his arms on the edge of the cockpit, watching her hands and the lights on the controls. “Are you ok? Did you hit your head again?”

Aeryn saw his hand coming and ducked sideways before he could touch her hair and probe for injuries. “No. Something about being in the wake of starburst put me under, I suspect the sudden acceleration. It happened the last time too.”

“Last time?” It took him a microt. “Oh.”

She wondered how he thought she’d ended up in a cell with him without being rendered unconscious first. At least this time it had been brief. Her Prowler had been closer to Moya when the envelope wrapped around it. “It was harder on my ship. How much of the roothinum did we manage to pull on board?”

“Ruthenium,” he said quietly, slowly enough to make the pronunciation clear, but his thoughts seemingly elsewhere. “We got enough. The first asteroid, and most of the second before we had to bail. Rigel’s looking over the quality, now. We won’t be rich, but we should be able to replace the most important stuff. Once we figure out where we are and find another mall.”

Right. The unplanned starburst had scrambled Moya’s navigational systems. The commerce station they’d been traveling to could be almost anywhere, now, just like their enemies. She didn’t focus on that part, though. Being lost mattered less when you had nowhere else to go. They had something they could trade for currency, whatever that meant, wherever they were. “That’s something.” Her head was splitting, a familiar pain by now. But risking her life and her ship carving up asteroids with her pulse cannon hadn’t been completely pointless.

John didn’t say anything, just nodded, leaning on his elbows against the Prowler, watching her with an intensity she found uncomfortable because she didn’t understand his mood. Not triumphant at a plan almost succeeding. Not angry with her. Worried? Guilty? Sad? For what? Humans had too many inexplicable emotions. She could ask, he might tell her what he was feeling, but she didn’t want to talk.

Aeryn wanted a lot of things. Analgesics, a positive diagnostics report, real food, a quick frell, a cold shower, hot rez’lak, and her bunk for ten arns of sleep. Crichton couldn’t, wouldn’t, or shouldn’t help her with any of those. But he probably wanted to talk. He usually did. “This is going to take a while,” she said, starting a different test of some additional subsystems. “I’ll come up to Command when I’m done.”