#i need to buy the golden clock

[boycritter]

the stardew monster slayer goals are like. the main thing keeping me from perfection

[nep-neptune-0]

5 AM

Xiangli Yao x Reader

Summary: You always had a habit of staying overnight at Huaxu Academy, tinkering away at your latest project; Xiangli Yao had a habit of visiting you for new ideas at the crack of dawn.

Content: fluff

Word Count: 1.5k

a/n: immediately downloaded the game after seeing an edit of him, got him through the Moon-Chasing Festival event and now I'm writing fanfic for him, sorry if I didn't portray him correctly!! I'm new to the game lmao

A few quick knocks pulled you out of your flow. What was the time? You threw a quick glance at your clock, almost 5 a.m.. That marked the 3rd night you had spent in the workshop, tinkering on your new creation. You slid your safety goggles up to your hairline, trying to blink away the blur that had settled over your vision. You really should start using the ceiling lamp along with your workbench lamp, otherwise you’d risk deteriorating your vision.   

Another sequence of knocks made you scramble up from the saddle stool, reminding you why you stopped your project in the first place. You were at the other side of the room at lightning speed. Your workshop was small, only enough to fit one relatively big table in the middle with a smaller one rammed up at the corner, decked out with tools and machines from your personal collection. The academy was generous enough to lend you various equipment, one of them being a large robotic arm with different functions that was attached to the bigger table, but you didn’t dare to use it unless it was for “serious work” as you liked to call it. 

The door wailed when you pulled it open. You really should oil it like how Xiangli Yao had suggested–

“Hello.”

Oh. 

Speak of the devil. It was always around this time he clocked into work. It was also around this time he visited your workshop, never failing to bring you breakfast, knowing you were more often than not neglecting your needs in pursuit of finishing your latest project. 

Xiangli Yao had crashed into your life just as violently as your prototype had when it hit an unsuspected Spearback. You didn’t think anyone would catch you in the midst of your experiments, since you made sure to do it in the dead of night far, far away from the city. But he had, and he was kind enough to escort you back to the academy, buying you breakfast before that. He had asked you about your creations, and without really thinking you started talking about your passion for battle focused tools and gushed over previous projects like they were your children. Afterwards, you had thought it was the first and last time you would have any kind of interaction with the Principal Investigator, but before you knew it, he was outside your workshop, asking you if you were down to discuss ideas for the next modification on his prosthetic arm. 

If you had thought a bit further, you probably would have questioned why he went to you specifically, a rookie, when there were an abundance of talented engineers and mechanics alike who could bring his ideas to life much more efficiently and with better quality. But you were too wrapped up in the excitement of creating something new you had ushered him inside, grabbing the only available chair that wasn’t on its last legs for him to sit on while you grabbed your notebook, eyes gleaming. 

The added mod had been a success after shedding blood, sweat, and tears day and night. You got to witness it with your own eyes when he asked you to head out with him at the first sign of light. The sunlight had painted him golden, and suddenly you weren’t as focused on his prosthetic as much. His movements had you entranced, not even daring to breathe in case it would disturb the vision in front of you. And that damn smile he directed towards you after defeating the enemy fully stole your breath away. Xiangli Yao was an unfair man.

As thanks, he had gifted you a saddle stool made of leather for your posture (though you still hunched over the desk like a shrimp) and for the fact your previous chair was merely a wooden one that would disintegrate at any given moment. You thought that would be it, but of course he defied your expectations and showed up a few weeks later, breakfast in hand with another idea. From then on he seemed to be keen on consulting you about potential modifications, ranging from battle focused ones to the more silly ones, like his ice maker that you had the honor to partake in creating. And before you knew it, he started spending some rare days in your workshop instead of his office, typing away and doing what scholars do while you were working on all different kinds of projects.

You had to admit you had developed a soft spot for the Principal Investigator during the times you spent together. You could never pinpoint when his visits started feeling like a part of your routine, or when you started looking forward to those moments. And somewhere along the way, you stayed behind just to catch him before you headed home, something you’d never admit to anyone or anything.

“I saw your light was on, so I thought to swing by before going to my office. I bought some Huanglong omelets–” he handed you a paper bag “–I also have an idea for a modification we could add to my prosthetic.”

That spurred you to pull out papers and different colors of pens, spreading them out on the bigger table before turning the ceiling lamp on. He had already started sketching before you even got an omelet in your mouth. 

You seated yourself on your chair and rolled to the other side of the table, eyes tracking every swipe of his hand to see the idea bloom on paper. His newest idea was battle oriented. Specifically some kind of tool that could give him the opportunity to snare and damage multiple opponents at once. You weren’t sure what went on in his head for such brilliant ideas to form, but you thanked the dragons out there for letting you witness it so intimately.

As he was sketching, he described his thought process, pausing sometimes to glance up at you for feedback, but you were busy stuffing your cheeks with omelet, barely able to sound out coherent sentences. 

Before long you had finished your breakfast, energized and ready to give some ideas yourself. You bounced ideas between each other. 

“For this,” Xiangli Yao circled one of his scribbles, “we can add a tool akin to a black hole that will detonate on the enemy I defeated, gathering the rest of them in one place while I’m charging up for an attack. I have an idea on what material we can use…”

You were absolutely starstruck.

“Xiangli Yao, the man you are.” You climbed on the table, crawling a short distance to get closer to him before rising to your knees and cupping his face in your hands, slightly shaking his head back and forth. “I’m sure you’ve heard this more than enough– but you are a genius.” 

A faint hue of pink dusted over his cheeks, and it was only then you realized how close you were to him. 

“Oh!” you exclaimed. “Sorry I got carried away–”

Your panic was interrupted by the chill of his metal hand settling over yours. He looked up at you with such puppy eyes that were swirling with an indescribable emotion you wondered how you never noticed. 

Before you knew it, his other hand settled on the back of your head, and you were pulled down. 

His lips were soft. 

The sheer gentleness he treated you with sent electricity crackling in your veins. Your eyes fell shut and you could hear your heart beating in your ears. Your free hand slid down to the back of his neck, fingertips lightly brushing against the hair before it found a place on his shoulder, and you didn’t miss the way he quivered under your touch. 

Xiangli Yao parted with a sigh, eyes fluttering open to unabashedly stare at your face. He intertwined your hands, cool metal palm against the back of your warm hand, and raised it to his lips. Then he pecked your cheek, your forehead, your eyelids, before finally giving you another delicate kiss on your lips. 

“Can’t believe I didn’t do this sooner,” he murmured when he pulled away. You exhaled a laugh.

“I can’t believe it either– oh shit!” You quickly clambered off the table with his help. “I hope I didn’t ruin any of the sketches…”  

“Even if you did, we can just remake them,”  he declared nonchalantly. “Honestly, I would gladly let you ruin my research papers if I get to take you out on a date.”

“You don’t mean that!” you gasped. “You can do that without ruining your work.”

He smiled. “I wasn’t planning on it, don't worry. I’m gonna head to my office now. Just give me a call if you have any other ideas.”

“Will do, will do.”

“I’ll come pick you up at 6 pm today.” He gave you a quick kiss before making his way to the door. “See you then.”  

You were left a blushing mess in your workshop, now a new project and a date in your hands. 

Xiangli Yao was truly an unfair man.

[cosmic-ghost-hermit]

What mask do you wear that is keeping you from the rebirth you have been waiting for?

I have a ton of prompts that I have waiting! My partner picked this one intuitively for the day so shout out to them. The decks used today are the Star Spinner Tarot, the Healing Waters Oracle and the Starseed Oracle. Take what resonates and leave the rest behind but always be open to new experiences.

_________

PILE ONE

Astrology: Leo, Pisces, Cancer

Song: Magic by B.o.B.

Vibes: Pink, blue, yellow, mice, rabbits, corvids, dice, bear, mushroom, 666, watermelon, kiwi, pancakes, hockey, activism, university, fairies, Amaterasu

Cards: The Sun, The Moon, 6 of Wands, The Waterfall, Cracked Open

Hello, pile one! The mask you wear is a mask of logic. You think you need to see it to believe it. You have a tendency to see the worst-case scenario in a lot of situations. You see life as guilty until proven innocent. This point of view is understandable but it is limiting your success. Why assume that you will fail before you have even begun? Especially, because you are so capable and a powerful manifester. You seem to believe that you deserve to fail. This belief is a subconscious belief that you can definitely remove easily if you just knew it was there. Take this mask off and you will see your dreams come true! Your manifestation will come true fast and easy it'll feel like the impossible became mundane. Spread your wings and fly my dear. You don't need to fear jumping from the nest. You have always been ready no matter who told you that you weren't. I believe in you, the universe believes in you! Please believe in yourself too!

PILE TWO

Astrology: Scorpio, Aquarius, Sagittarius

Song: We Are Golden by MIKA

Vibes: Lavender, periwinkle, gold, make-up, skin routine, hair routine, routine in general, butterflies, dragons, 444, sleeping beauty, roses, stars, crown, the sky, chocolate

Cards: King of Cups, 4 of Swords, 4 of Pentacles, Thank You, The Golden Children

Hi, pile two! Welcome to your reading. This miiiight be a little hard to hear so heads up on that. You are being held back by a mask that can't exist in the present. You are constantly thinking of what will be to the point where when you get the manifestation you were wishing for you can't even enjoy it because your mind has already turned to the next achievement to work towards. You are incredibly driven but I see how unsatisfied you feel about all that you do because of this mask. Take time to congratulate yourself! Take time to give yourself a gold star for your efforts. You worked so hard!!! Thank yourself for working so hard. Thank the world for what you have in front of you. What you will have is important to work towards but what you have now is still worthy of recognition. Look back at how much you put into what you have now. Look at all that you have achieved! It's hard for you to recall. The tunnel vision you get from the task at hand is blinding you from everything you have already done. Please see how well you have performed so far. Acknowledge yourself. Acknowledge your strength. Your inner child is screaming at me "ACKNOWLEDGE ME ACKNOWLEDGE ME ACKNOWLEDGE ME!!!!" You need to hear them because wow they are yelling loud. Don't just buy them something nice by the way. Genuinely allow them to feel happy about what they have done. Pat them on the head and tell them you see them.

PILE THREE

Astrology: Libra, Aries, Capricorn, Taurus

Song: The Call by Regina Spektor

Vibes: Pastel pink, yellow, teal, clocks, falcons, Horus, armor, coy fish, 8888, storms, renaissances festival, mermaids, libedo, strawberries, cucumbers, caramel

Cards: 6 of Cups, 8 of Wands, 8 of Pentacles, Let It Rain, Star Brothers

Pile three, welcome. You wear a mask of perfectionism. You have the belief that only you can perform tasks to the right standard. Part of this belief is good but some of it is holding you back. I am glad you have confidence in your abilities and feel capable enough to do things on your own. The problem is you feel this way a lot more than is physically healthy. You believe it so deeply it makes you over-exert yourself constantly. You probably feel super tired all the time. Part of you longs immensely for help with all the tasks you do. It feels lonely to do everything alone with no companionship. Let me tell you a little secret, my friend. Let them fail. Let people underperform the tasks that aren't and shouldn't be your responsibility. If you let things slip through the cracks it might seem like you are failing but really what you are doing by letting people fail is helping others learn lessons. You are doing yourself and the people around you a disservice by taking responsibility for tasks that need to be failed. If the people around you fail, they will be more likely to learn faster. You are robbing them of lessons and exhausting yourself in the process. That literally helps no one. The next time you see someone not doing their job properly. Let them. Let them not do their job. If someone else tries to make it your problem you tell them what I just told you, okay? It will make you a better teacher and the people around you better students. Let people fuck it up. Trust the universe. Trust people to learn even if it takes them a couple times to figure it out. Failure is the best lesson teacher.

PILE 4

Astrology: Capricorn, Gemini, Virgo

Song: Hell's Coming With Me by Poor Man's Poison

Vibes: Purple, lilac, navy blue, ibis bird, Thoth, architecture, stars, akashic records, 3rd eye chakra, crown charka, dreams, diamonds, lilys, daffodils, angels, whiskey, pyramids, curse breaker, dragonfruit, mangoes

Cards: The High Priestess, The Star, Ace of Swords, Stagnant Waters, Star Ancestors

Hi there, pile four. You wear a mask of imposter syndrome. You don't think you've done enough. It doesn't matter how much you have achieved. You never think it is enough. You are blind to how much you do. You have the belief that the world would be better off without you but the thing is. You raise the planet's vibration WAAAAY more than you believe. You have such a good heart and you are so balanced. You are kind, smart, intuitive, wise and witty. I wish you could see yourself clearly because you are truly an angel. The thing is all the things I just named are things you wish to be. You wish it as if you aren't aligned with those things already. The mask you are wearing is distorting your vision of your true self. The only thing holding you back is your perception of yourself. Let go of the past criticism that plagues you, my dear. You took that critique in stride and grew far past your initial goal. You have succeeded already. You already did it! Congratulations on being super awesome and cool! You don't need to wish upon a star anymore, baby! You are already a star yourself. <3 Change your view of yourself and you will be UNSTOPPABLE!!!

[essentiallyleaf]

day 24. car sex. with. ningning.

1286 words.

tags.

kinktober ‘23, idol x male reader, car sex, Z O O M I N, deepthroating, semi-public sex, a bit of classic existential dread.

notes.

it is so fucking late i gotta go. speedily, leaf.

It’s at times like these that you want to treasure the most precious resource you have. The sun just sank down the horizon of Alpha-Earth, giving the sky this vibrant, electric aura, from the golden and pastel blue West to the indigo East. Hundreds of headlights leave long trails of yellowish white and rusty red all along the highway, almost as if the lines were already there, and the cars just following their predetermined paths. Your right foot pushes down, getting closer and closer to the asphalt. They can call you old-fashioned, but you love the growl of the rear combustion engine, the sound of rubber on tarmac. Time. They say it gets slower as you approach light speed, you’re far from it, but it’s almost like the clock’s hands move slower as the speedometer needle reaches new peaks. Nothing feels as close to God as this. The car takes a life of its own, and you wish you could simply close your eyes and, feel. The thrill you get when you’re on top of a tall building, and part of you wants to take a step. Those are also just passing moments, you think as you lift and return to cruise speed.

Ningning is beside you like she, sometimes is. Her hand falls on your pants-clad dick and starts rubbing like it does almost every single one of those times; the other times you’re already naked. Not the first time this happens in the car, even at high speed, so you simply turn auto-pilot on (they forced everyone to install it even on cars built before 2035) and let your head fall back in pleasure as she reaches inside your underwear to caress your bare length. Your right hand naturally goes to her almost naked back, needing to feel her skin under your finger pads.

She doesn’t dress to impress; sometimes she doesn’t dress at all. And the navy skintight rags she’s wearing today, well, those almost qualify as the latter. You’re in your usual attire, combat boots, cargo pants, the ones that tighten at the ankle, a close-fitting long sleeve shirt and a windbreaker. She needs your help to lower your pants and underwear, then goes back to stroking your cock, spitting on it for lubrication and reaching down to fondle your scrotum from time to time, causing you to moan up towards the roof of the car.

“Mmmh- Ning?”

“Huh?”

“Mind speeding the process up a little?”

Ningning likes to take her time, you learned that long ago. To make you look at her as she pulls the little lever on the side of your seat to move it backwards, positions herself between your legs, and stamps one long wet kiss on your tip. Or to observe people strolling at the night market, mothers buying their sons balloons, couples eating tanghulu (“You can tell if they’re good kissers just by looking at that” “Want to try with me?” “There’s a more hands-on way”; that was your first shared kiss, and it was more than just hands, on one another’s bodies after that). Right now her blue-tinted eyes are on yours, as her mouth surrounds more and more of your cock and she starts to feel her eyes watering and her lungs lacking air. She resists for almost fifty seconds this time - a good one, though not in her top five - drawing more than a groan from you before she has to back out and seek for oxygen.

“Are you okay?” She nods quickly, her hands cleaning up some of the drool that has accumulated on the sides of her mouth. “I need you right now, Ning.”

Ningning smiles and snorts lightly like she has you in the palm of her hand, and at the same time she has to concede this one to you. You stare at her open-mouthed as she somehow rids herself of her clothes, revealing her supple breasts and thick outer lips to you, and only thanks to your tinted windows not to any car around yours. She straddles your lap and wraps her arms around your neck to kiss you deeply while you grab onto one of her plump thighs with one hand and align your shaft with her already wet slit with the other. Her eyes are finally closed as she focuses on the feeling of your tip swiping up and down her vulva, brushing on her clit at every passage.

She’d been looking outside for almost all the trip, scrutinizing every detail of the gray and neon skyline of Nu-Seoul. Ningning has always had her own, unique wide-angle lens on the world. She has a little plant shelf right below her window in her apartment. It’s in one of those old, gray, samey buildings they were plopping one next to the other back when a growing world population wasn’t just a myth; the place is small and the plaster falling apart. One day she was sitting in front of the window, staring at the new little blossoms on the orchid, or at the bland, shiny neons on the skyscraper behind it, you couldn't really tell.

“Do you ever feel like the world is moving too fast for you?” She asked, sounding dispirited.

“I try to stay on pace”

“I feel… impotent. Like there’s nothing I can do, to change it”

“Do you think it’s on you to change it?”

“I think it’s on me to try.” She turns her gaze towards you, you let out a little sigh.

“When it’s just the two of us,” You sit beside her and wrap your arm around her back. “We can make what we want of our time. Make it speed up, slow down… It’s just ours. No one will ever take that away from us”

What you’re making of it now is pumping your dick in and out of her pussy while gripping onto her full asscheeks while she whimpers in your mouth at the sensation of her hole being stretched. She loves that feeling like she loves the feeling of wet grass on her feet when it’s raining, though meadows are but a distant memory in a city eaten by cement and desolation. Her soft, tight walls squeezing you in a humid embrace. You were wrong; this is what makes you feel like you’re touching the Infinite, reaching Eternity. Ningning moaning in bliss on your lips, on the crook of your neck, on the headrest of the driver’s seat. Her hands not finding rest, switching between your pecs, your jaw, your hips, and her own heat, digits circling at frenzied pace on her clit. You speed your thrusts up, time slows down. It’s a race ending in a photo finish; you can see the end, it’s close for both parties, but you never seem to reach it. Take a look at her pleasured state, savor the moment. Savor her tits as well, feast on them, then slap her ass once, twice. She wasn’t expecting it, her instinctive reaction is to drag her pelvis forwards towards you, giving you a different angle to attack. Exploit that to hit every crevice, every little patch you weren’t able to before, and as she contracts around you in one long, then multiple short and rhythmic flexes of her lower abdomen, each accompanied by a scream that fills the entire cockpit, you have your own release. Spill cups and cups of milky substance into her womb, every spurt coinciding with an upwards thrust and a small bite on her shoulder, as you continuously groan in complete bliss. Then it’s silence, a second, or an eternity, it doesn’t matter anymore, before she talks again.

“Back seat for round two? I want it from behind”

-

footnotes.

now i can’t unsee the asthma periods. you cursed me @erospandemos. gaspingly, leaf.

[sometimesanalice]

Like I Can (Part 3)

Summary: After yet another bad date and tired of swiping on apps, the Dagger Squad steps in to help you out by setting you up on a series of blind dates. Much to Rooster’s dismay.

Warnings: fluff, swearing, slight angst. Minors DNI

Length: 7.2K

Pairing: Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw X Female Reader

Part 1 | Part 2

(All’s well that ends well❣️ Enjoy!)

You’d been on edge all day. 

Having slept terribly the night before, you’d woken up early and giving up on the idea of going back to sleep had ended up at a sunrise yoga class, hoping that some movement would help you clear your mind. By the end of the hour you were even more frustrated than you were before you arrived, the poses feeling unnaturally forced instead of flowing seamlessly as they usually did. 

So much for some goddamn inner peace.

Work was even worse. You had arrived to find that the espresso machine was broken. And whoever made a pot on the ancient drip machine, that was undoubtedly pulled out of a dingy storage closet somewhere, clearly hated everyone else since it tasted like tar. You could barely focus enough to clear out your inbox, when your work nemesis started breathing down your neck about a proposal that wasn’t due for another two weeks. 

Time was dragging on. And every time you looked at the clock thinking it had been at least an hour since you’d last checked, were continually shocked to see that barely fifteen minutes had passed by. Thankfully it was Friday, so your boss didn’t care when you called it a day and left at lunch. It was better for everyone this way.

You had tried painting your nails, but didn’t have the patience to let them dry and smudged them trying to open a package of crackers. Ignoring the crumbs that got everywhere as you ate them while working the cotton pad over the remnants of your pretty pink polish. Your new favorite show didn’t hold your attention like it usually did and you found yourself mindlessly scrolling on your phone, missing most of the plot you’d had to restart it. Twice.

Not even the scenic drive along the coast to the restaurant you were supposed to meet your date at had done anything to alleviate your nerves.

You had been surprised at the choice of location when you had received the text message with the information about this particular date. As much as you enjoyed going to the Hard Deck, you were very much looking forward to drinking something other than a beer. Sure, Penny could make a mean spicy margarita, but sometimes an overpriced aesthetically pleasing cocktail just hit the spot better than anything else. 

But most of all, you were thankful for a change of pace and the privacy this offered you. You had never been one for the spotlight, and dating on display had left you feeling drained.

You’re sitting in a surprisingly comfortable wooden wicker dining chair on the outdoor patio of the new trendy fusion restaurant you’ve been dying to come to. From your spot tucked away in the corner you can see the ocean waves rolling in and back out again. The golden rays already promising a stunning sunset later in the evening.

The foliage of the giant potted monsteras and birds of paradise made the terrace feel like a lush oasis, and contrasted stylishly against the large painted terracotta tiles on the ground. The pergola that covered it was dotted wisteria amongst the other climbing greenery, and numerous oversized hanging rattan sconces. The dainty lights woven throughout reflecting off the wine glasses on the table.

This was exactly what you needed. Too bad you couldn’t let yourself enjoy it, the twisted knots in the pit of your stomach had served a constant reminder of your nerves all day.

You had used this date as an excuse to finally buy the deep green floral dress you’d had your eye on for ages. The gentle drape of the neck was subtly sophisticated, while the high slit on the side added some serious sex appeal. 

There was nothing wrong with a little retail therapy you had told yourself as you’d swiped your credit card. If you looked good, maybe it would help you to feel good.

In all honesty, it probably had a little too much sex appeal since you couldn’t stop fidgeting in your chair trying to get the silky dress cover up more of your thigh that was currently displayed rather provocatively. It felt like the more you tried to get it to lay right the more of your leg was exposed. 

It probably didn’t help that you couldn’t stop the restless bouncing of your leg. You weren’t usually an antsy person, leg bouncing had always been more of Rooster’s anxious habit than yours.

Maybe you’ll feel less exposed once you draped the linen napkin across your lap. You’re tempted to do it now, but you don’t want to disturb the artfully laid out tablescape before your date has arrived.

It had been three weeks of back to back truly terrible dates. You could see the finish line now, but you couldn’t say that it wasn’t wearing on you. It had sounded like fun in theory, but now you weren’t so sure you would said yes again if you were offered a do-over. 

You were tired. 

Tired of going through the motions with men who could hardly be bothered to do the bare minimum. Tired of trying to sell the best version of yourself. Tired of putting on a show when all you wanted to find was an easy kind of love.

And this particular date had you more on edge and anxious than any of the other ones you’d gone on.

Even if you were pressed, you could not remember a single thing about the guy Payback had set you up with on your most recent blind date.

That evening you hadn’t even bothered trying to put together a cute outfit for the meeting. Instead, the only real effort you’d opted to put in was painting your lips a bright red as an attempt to psych yourself up for it. You didn’t usually wear such a bold color, but when you did it never failed to make you feel more brilliant.

And while you couldn’t remember anything about your date, what you did vividly remember was the fight you got into with Rooster that night.

You had been coming back from the restroom and on your way back to your date when you had bumped into him rounding the corner. 

“Sorry, that was my fault,” he’d said as he reached out to steady you with hand going to your waist, dropping it once he realized it was you. “Oh, hey.”

Glancing over to your date who seemed absorbed in some game he was playing on his phone, you figured he wouldn’t miss you if you spent a few extra minutes away to catch up with Rooster.

He had been acting really distant lately, taking a couple days to respond to texts rather than a couple of hours like it usually took him. Natasha had told you about the rigorous training they were being put though, and you had assumed it probably had something to do with that. However, you couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off between you two.

Rooster was already pulling away from you and taking a step towards the bar when you reached out grabbing his wrist to keep him with you. Looking around for a quiet place to talk, you’d heard him sigh behind you, but still held on to him as you made your way to one of the high-top tables in the corner by the empty stage. 

You’d stopped and let go as you turned towards him, only to find him already looking at you with an expression that landed somewhere between expectant and exasperated. The cuffs of his shirt straining around his biceps as he crossed his arms over his chest. 

“Well?” he grunted out.

Was he mad at you? You couldn’t think of any recent arguments you’d had recently that would explain the harsh tone he was using with you. 

“Is everything ok? I feel like you’ve been really off lately. You know I’m always here for you, right?” Your hand was already reaching out to touch him, but you resisted the urge not wanting to further agitate him.

“Nothing’s wrong. I’m surprised you even have time to talk to me with all these washouts you’ve been wasting your time on. You’re the one with the busy social calendar, not me.” He was looking over the top of your head avoiding your gaze now, the bitterness in his voice had stunned you. 

“Seriously? What is the matter with you?” 

He’d never been so intentionally callous with you before and it hurt. 

“Listen, if there is an issue me dating the people your friends have been setting me up with, you need to let me know,” you’d said pointing a firm finger at him, your anger rising. “This was supposed to be a fun no pressure situation, but I don’t want to be in the middle of this if things are getting heated between you guys. It’s not worth it to me. But you don’t get to ignore me for days and then claim that I’m the one avoiding you.”

He made a noise of frustration as he dragged both hands through his curls. You could see the flex of his jaw as he’d clenched his teeth together.

“Look, I’m sorry,” he ducked down to that his eyes were level with your, and you could see the remorse in them. “You’re right, that was shitty of me to take it out on you. I’m just… tired.”

You’d simply nodded at him, feeling like you weren’t on the same page as him didn’t sit well with you. “Phoenix told me about your new training program, it seems intense,” your voice sounded small even to your own ears.

“Yeah, the training,” he’d sighed out pausing for a moment as he weighed his words, rubbing at his chest, “It’s taking a toll on me, but that’s my problem. I mean it, I’m sorry.”

“Are we good?” you searched his eyes, your friendship with him was so important to you.

“You and me? We’re good, kid. Always.” He’d reached out and squeezed your shoulder before heading back to where the group was gathered together pretending like they weren’t just watching your argument play out. 

Needless to say, your head was somewhere elsewhere entirely as you made your way back to your date. You’d felt bad being so distracted, but your mind just kept playing the argument on repeat. It was like your brain was trying to pull apart every little word to decode something that you didn’t think was there.

After Payback’s friend had left, you rejoined everyone else around the pool table. You couldn’t tell if the mood was off or if it was just you reading into things, since they hadn’t been prodding you with questions like they usually did.

Natasha was in the middle of giving you a glowing review of the man she had been bragging about since she first offered to set you up, when Rooster came to sit with you both.

“He’s just your type. He’s an engineer, so he’s smart. He’s got that whole glasses wearing and floppy hair thing going for him. And he’s funny. Rumor has it that he talked back to his Rear Admiral one time and got away with it because the guy had found him amusing. I fully expect you to name one of your future children with him after me.”

Rooster had surprised the pair of you when he stood up so violently that he almost knocked over the beers on the table. 

“What the fuck, Bradshaw?” Nat had exclaimed as you both worked to rescue the teetering bottles from becoming casualties from his sudden movement.

You had no idea what he was going to say as an explanation for why he’d jumped out of his seat the way he did, but what he ended up unexpectedly announcing instead of answering Nat’s question had sent you into a tailspin.

So now here you are in a restaurant you’d be dying to go to, fidgety and anxious in a probably-too-expensive-and-probably-too-provocative dress for a first date with the guy who Rooster was willing to break his long-standing rules for to set you up with.

To say you were feeling the pressure was an understatement. No one knew you like Rooster did. He’d seen you at your best and at your worst. He wouldn’t just pick any random guy he knew, he would be picking the one who he thought would be the best for you.

The thought should be comforting, but you couldn’t shake the feeling of uneasiness.

You pick up your phone again and double check the time in the text that Rooster had sent you with all the details for your date with his friend. 

It was either that do that again or moving the ever-so-slightly crooked gold salad fork back into place.

You’re about to open Instagram for the third time since you sat down, turning when you hear a throat clear purposely behind you.

“Hey, sweet girl.”

For Rooster, when you’d first agreed to participate in the bet with his friends those dates started off as annoying inconveniences. Just inconsequential disruptions that got in the way of his time with you.

You were his best friend and at his bar, yet he felt like he’d hardly seen you these past couple of weeks- or at least not as much as he would have liked. 

Sure, he got some time with you here and there at the end of the night like when you had late night tacos on the beach. Or when he’d taught you his favorite pool trick, well more like attempted to teach you, he loved how stunningly bad you were at the game. But he felt like he was competing with these idiots his friends had picked out for your time and your attention. 

He wasn’t used to sharing you. In the past, if you had a date that conflicted with something spontaneous he wanted to do or something that the group had planned together, more often than not he could get you to move it or cancel completely.

He’d never been above a little bribery to get his way, he knew what you liked.

You going on dates wasn’t a new concept to him, but seeing them paraded in front of him was a different story. And he was getting really tired of watching you from across the bar while feeling like you were out of reach.

The more of them you went on, and the more he heard Natasha crowing about having the perfect man for you the more agitated he felt. The worse that feeling in the pit of his stomach got. 

The evening of date for Payback’s pick, they’d all seen you walk in through the doors of the Hard Deck wearing that shade of red lipstick. You’d wore it so well. His friends had immediately started speculating about what it meant. Phoenix had called them all idiots, and while he couldn’t claim to know anything about make-up and those things, he did know you didn’t just wear that color for no reason. 

He had vague memories of his mom putting the color on when they’d go greet his dad, at least he like to think those were his memories. Or maybe they were just something he’d created in his head from all the time he had spent looking at old photos of his mom and dad together, her smile always outlined in the color. His favorite was the one where his dad’s cheeks were covered in bright red lipstick kisses as he smiled indulgently down at his mom while a young Bradley was propped on her hip clutching his prized F-14 Tomcat. He had that one framed on the end table next to his couch. 

And seeing that color on you for a date with this random guy had rattled him.

He’d felt so terrible later that evening when he took those feelings out on you. Hating himself as he lashed out at you. Hating himself as he saw your face fall and the hurt in your eyes. Hating himself for being the person who made you feel bad.

And the crux of it all was that you weren’t wrong, he had been deliberately distant by being slow to reply and ignoring texts from you. He wasn’t proud of it, but he didn’t know what else to do. He’d hoped by creating some space that it would help him to try and get his head back on straight. 

He’d let you assume that he was tired from the new training program they were being put through. What he didn’t tell you was that he was already outperforming everyone on the team, and that he hadn’t had to do any extra push-ups in a week and a half. 

He was tired because he hadn’t been sleeping, and he couldn’t sleep because every time he tried to close his eyes all he could see was you on these dates. Replaying them in his mind’s eye wondering what the outcome would have been had they not gone so terribly wrong each time.

The what-ifs swarming around his brain day and night like agitated hornets.

While he had been quick to apologize for being a dick, the sharp pain that settled behind his sternum wouldn’t subside no matter how much he had tried to rub it away.

He didn’t know what was more unbearable, the idea of losing you to a chance encounter of circumstance. Some meet cute courtesy of the universe that he couldn’t see coming until it was too late, when it’s already too far out of his hands and out of his control. To see you grinning that smile so bright, the one so wide it made your dimples appear, as you introduced that guy to him. 

Or sitting here night after night analyzing every little thing as you date the people some of his closest friends had picked out for you. Watching and hoping that these dates would just be funny stories you told on drunken nights out rather than the story told at your wedding about the night that everything changed when you met your person. Of having to be happy for you even as you pull away from him.

His ears were ringing and he’d felt his stomach drop. 

He could see it now, a day when your life ran parallel to his rather than entwined as he was used to. Of you with a partner. With children. Of him as ‘Uncle’ Rooster, demoted to the rank of ‘longtime friend of the family’ rather than a core member of it. 

The thought of it making him feel sick. 

All evening he had been moving around like a ghost completely lost to the thoughts in his head, but now it felt like he’d been shocked by a live wire. He’d pretty much jumped out of the chair he had just settled in, almost knocking the beers in front of him off the table completely. 

“I want in, I’ll do it,” he’d blurted out, interrupting the conversations that had continued on around him while he had been spiraling. “This whole thing has been a complete shit show. I can’t watch this anymore. I know a guy, I’ll set it up. I’m in.” 

His hands were sweating as he hoped no one would call his bluff. He’d made it a point to actively avoid looking at you. You had such an uncanny way of reading him. 

“I don’t know, Bradshaw. You’re a little late to the game, aren’t you? I’ve been saving the best for last, and I’m ready to collect my winnings.” He’d expected some shit from Hangman, but he never would have guessed it’d come from Phoenix. 

Feeling his anger flare up, he reached into his back pocket and fished out a $100 bill from his worn leather wallet, double the original entry fee. He slapped it down on the table, leaving no room for any further discussion, “I’m the one setting her up for the next date.” 

He’d caught a look between Hangman and Phoenix, but he couldn’t be bothered to read into it as he tried to keep his temper in check.  

He wouldn’t lose you. Not to someone who didn’t deserve you, especially when he already knew the person who could make you happy.

“Alrighty,” Jake had drawled out, as he pocked the bill. “Looks like we have another player. I look forward to taking your money.” 

He’d extended his hand out and they’d all shook on it, reaching Phoenix last her grip firm and her smile sharp. And that was that. 

Now he was here at the new popular restaurant he’d heard you talking about a few weeks ago, his feet cemented to the tiles beneath him just gazing at you. 

He could tell from where he was standing behind you that you were nervous by the way you were opening and closing apps without truly looking at anything. He knew it was a habit of yours when you were feeling anxious, something for your hands to do as you tried to distract yourself.

He had sweet talked the hostess over the phone into reserving the best spot on the outdoor terrace, and you looked so beautiful sitting there wearing his new favorite color. Your hair is held back by a delicate golden clip on one side leaving the line of your neck exposed, the sea breeze picking up a few wisps.  It makes his teeth ache with want.

He knew you were gorgeous, he’d stared down enough men at the Hard Deck to know that others thought so too. However, he’d never let himself sit with those thoughts for too long, not trusting himself to keep his mind from wandering. 

You were his best friend. 

And best friends don’t think about how the other would look so perfect in their bed, that pretty green dress forgotten on the floor. 

Best friends don’t think about how perfect you would look under his arm.

Best friends don’t think about how perfect you would look with his ring on your finger.

Best friends don’t think about how perfect you are for him.

Best friends don’t think about how perfect he is for you.

Him.

It was a good thing he didn’t want to just be your best friend anymore. 

He’d already done too much thinking, done too much waiting. He wasn’t going to miss his moment. 

Taking one more deep breath, he made his way to you.

“Rooster? What are you doing here?” He was the last person you’d expected to see when you turned your head to see who had been trying to get your attention, “Are you ok? What’s wrong?”

Did he get emergency orders? Did your date get in an accident? 

Your anxiousness was quickly morphing into panic, you’re already half way out of your seat when he puts his hand on your shoulder, his thumb stroking the skin there reassuringly. 

He is standing there looking completely at ease, as if he belonged there, “Nothing’s wrong, sweet girl.” 

And there it was again, you hadn’t been sure if your ears were playing tricks on you the first time he’d said it. That simple term of endearment silencing the alarm bells that were going off in your head, the edges of the lush restaurant softening around everything except him.

“Your mom always called me that,” you say softly. 

You cherished all the memories you had with Carole, the woman who had been such a significant figure in your life for so long. You knew your mom still sent Rooster a cake every year to celebrate her birthday from whatever bakery was closest to wherever he was stationed. 

“I know, I remember,” his voice so warm and deep, “She loved you.” 

He says it so simply, so sincerely. As if his presence here hasn’t just completely untethered you and sent you adrift in a sea of bewilderment.

The writhing snake that had made a home all day in the pit of your stomach finally disappeared, only to be replaced with the fluttering of wings that you were desperately trying to ignore. 

You’d been so shocked when Rooster had exclaimed that he was going to set you up with someone, your mind had been whirling so much at the time you could barely focus on anything that had been said in the aftermath of his announcement. Maybe you had missed some caveat he’d come up with for his participation in the bet? That could make sense, considering how adamant he had always been in the past about never getting involved in your love life. 

He was standing there looking so good in his best short-sleeved button up shirt, the one that was scattered with vibrant palm leaves that fit snugly against his body. And wearing the white slacks that usually had you looking anywhere else in the room to avoid acknowledging the way they clung to your best friend’s thighs and ass. If only he knew how weak they made you. 

There just has to be a logical reason for why he’s here, but the soft smile on his face was rendering your brain uncooperative. 

You were getting tired of feeling like you were missing something that should be so obvious, “My date is supposed to be here soon, are you going to hover in the back like you have been at the Hard Deck? Or are you just planning on pulling up a chair and third wheeling up close and personal?” 

“Why would I need an extra chair,” he asks as he pulls it out and eases his large frame down onto the wicker seat, “When mine’s already free?” 

You move to open your mouth when the waitress arrives, asking if you had your drink orders selected. 

“I’ll do the Bourbon Sidecar. You feelin’ like a gin, sweet girl?” You just nodded at him mutely, still desperately trying to catch up. “And the Clover Club for her, please.” 

It’s what you were planning on ordering to calm your first date jitters before had Rooster arrived and sent you into a complete tailspin. He hadn’t even looked at the thick textured cardstock of the drink menus that were strategically placed just to the right of the golden soup spoons on the artfully laid out table. 

The butterflies were threatening to break free from the tightly locked cage you had attempted to shove them in. 

The waitress took down the drinks, and you watched her as she crossed the patio pausing to tap away on the screen of their POS, trying to give yourself a few more moments to collect your thoughts. 

“Bradley. I don’t understand, what’s going on?” He’s sitting there looking so secure, so steadfast, so sure. 

His cheek ticks up, “I like it when you call me Bradley. Why did you stop calling me that when you moved out here?” 

“You’re avoiding the question.”

“Why did you stop calling me Bradley when you moved out here?” he asks again, leaning in. How does he expect you to answer a question, when your mind is going 1,190 miles an hour? 

“I don’t know,” you start with a halfhearted shrug. “You’ve made a name for yourself in the Navy, you are ‘Rooster’ to everyone here.” You open your mouth to say more, before closing it quickly.

“There’s more going on in that head,” you feel his foot reach out tapping against yours under the table, before leaving it there a steady presence. “Tell me.”

You know you can tell him anything, but this feels different.

The intensity of his stare has you fighting the flush you feel spreading across your cheeks.

It wasn’t something that you’d ever given much thought to before, but you know if you answer truthfully now that he’s asked you it’s going to leave you feeling more exposed than you’ve ever been with him. 

You sit up more fully in your chair deciding to be brave, “I mean, we haven’t really truly been in the same place since we were teens, and things are so different now. It was easier to start calling you ‘Rooster’ or ‘Bradshaw’ like everyone else, because it didn’t make me feel like I was piece from a different puzzle trying to force myself into a new picture. I wanted to fit into the life that you’ve built here, to feel like I still have a place with you as you are now.”

You’re actively fighting to keep your eyes on his. It would be so easy to look away or to laugh off your confession, but for whatever reason, you don’t want to take the easy out. 

“I never knew you felt like that, but I wish I had,” the look in his eyes is softer than anything you’ve ever seen from him before. “I like being Bradley to you, I want to be Bradley to you. You aren’t just a piece to me, you’re the whole picture. You’ve always had a place here, exactly as you are you are now.”

It’s never been like this between the two of you. It feels like you both are saying too much and not enough all at the same time. As much as you find yourself wanting to sink into these intoxicating yet unfamiliar feelings, you know you’re still holding yourself back.

God, he is so handsome. You had been right, the sunset that was just starting was stunning, but the way golden beams were hitting the lightened strands of his curls was spectacular.

You’re almost too afraid to ask, but it’s unbearable not knowing, “Why are you here right now, Bradley?”

Of course, the waitress chooses that moment to return with the drinks. 

She sets them down in front of you, the skewered raspberries sitting daintily on the side of your glass are suddenly the most fascinating thing in the room. You vaguely hear him saying you both need more time and that he’ll flag her down when you’re ready to order. 

He waits for her to leave to attend to her other tables before turning his heady gaze on you once again.

“I thought I’ve been making my intentions pretty clear here, sweet girl.” 

He takes a sip of his Sidecar before continuing, the slight bounce of his leg the only thing giving him away that he might not be as self-assured as you’d originally thought, “I’m here for our date.”

There’s no hope of containing the butterflies now. You’re a lost cause. 

“Bradley.” You can only imagine the emotions he is reading on your face. It would absolutely break your heart if this was some kind of bad joke.

“He’ll never love you like I can.” 

“What?” you ask sounding every bit as dazed as you feel.

“Sorry, sorry,” he says shaking his head slightly, huffing out a little laugh at himself, “I got ahead of myself.”

You watch as he resituates himself in the chair, wiping his hands on the front of his slacks before restarting. 

“Watching you on those dates has been hell, I don’t want to be jealous of some guy you gave a second glance. I don’t want hold back, not when we can be so much more,” he reaches across the table, taking your hand between his two large ones, “I thought having you as a friend was enough for me, but how am I supposed to sleep at night knowing that I could be the one who makes you happy and then do nothing about it? That I’m the only one who can love you the way you deserve to be loved?”

You’ve always known he’s cared for you, that was unquestionable, but to be loved by Bradley Bradshaw? It was something you’d never let yourself imagine, let alone dared to hope to for. It had been kinder to spare yourself from the heartache that came with hope. But now? With him sitting right here in front of you saying you could have him like this?

Was this how he felt flying in his F-18 every day?

He gets up and rounds the table coming to your side, hooking an ankle around the tapered leg of your chair pulling you out a bit. You’re suddenly very thankful for the probably-too-expensive-and-probably-too-provocative for a first date dress you purchased when you see the way his rich brown eyes turn molten as he gets a glimpse of your exposed thigh.

He settles into a crouch before you, his warm hands seeking out both of yours, “You don’t need Phoenix or anyone else to set you up, because he’ll never love you like I can. Let me show you how good it can be. Let me be it for you, sweet girl.”

The man in front of you is everything you could have ever possibly wanted for yourself. And to be the one who could get to keep him forever? There’s no doubt in your mind, it’s worth everything.

You’re sure you will have to have a more serious conversation about what this means for the two of you, but that can wait for another time when he’s not in front of you with his eyes so earnest. So hopeful. To another time when he’s not wearing his heart on his sleeve as he patiently waits for any kind of response from you.

It would be so easy to lean in and kiss him right now. 

So easy to learn what that mustache would feel like against your skin. 

To learn how his lips and tongue would feel against your own. 

To learn how his mouth would move with yours.

But what’s a couple more hours when you’ve had years to build up to it.

“Well then, Lieutenant. I guess you better show me how it’s done,” you bring your hand up to cup his face, your thumb gently stroking along his cheekbone. “But I’m warning you now, I fully intended to give you as good as I get.” 

Being on the receiving end of a Rooster smile was something special, but it had nothing on the beaming grin that Bradley Bradshaw is giving you now. 

“I wouldn’t expect anything else from you,” he says as he lands a lingering kiss on your cheek before standing and pushing your chair back in for you. “You’ve always known how to keep me on my toes.”

He returns back to his surprisingly comfortable wooden wicker chair, stretching his leg to rest it against yours. When the waitress comes back you both end up picking your meals at random, having been too absorbed with each other to actually bother reading the menu. 

You’d barely eaten all day because of the knots in your stomach, and now you were starving. Thankfully, Bradley at least had the commonsense to ask the waitress to pick her favorite dish as a third entrée “for the table”.

It feels the same in many ways, he knows what to say to make you laugh and what to bring up to get you fired up. And you know what questions to ask to keep him talking and how to push his buttons just right. 

But it’s also different when he doesn’t bother to hide his knowing smirk every time he catches you looking at his lips. And it’s even better when you don’t bother trying to hide yours when you catch him doing the same.

Afterwards, he takes your hand in his as you slowly make your way to the parking lot, his fingers lacing between your own. He surprises you when he leans against the Bronco, murmuring something about not wanting to let your pretty dress get dirty. His long legs extended wide as an invitation for you to come stand between them, his strong hands stroking the silky material of your dress on your hips as you step closer. 

You’ve been ignoring the pull low in your stomach all evening, the tension between you two the most luscious feeling you’ve ever experienced. The combination of his heat, his woodsy smell, the headiness of his gaze on you almost too overwhelming. 

Almost.

Your hands settle on his broad chest, playing with the button of his shirt now a bit nervous. Your faces closer than you’ve ever allowed them to be before. If what you’re hearing is the sound of the waves or the roaring of the blood in your ears, you couldn’t say.

You know he is waiting for you to make the first move. You see the moment when he’s about to say something, knowing him the words would be wonderfully reassuring and perfectly Bradley.

Why would you want to talk when his mouth was already waiting like a question. Why would you want to talk when you could learn what it’s like kiss him instead?

So you do.

When your lips meet his for the first time it feels like the sweetest kind of devotion. 

bradleybradleybradley

His mustache scratching satisfyingly at the skin of your upper lip. His mouth tasting like the Sidecars he sipped on throughout the night and something that was just fundamentally Bradley. 

Your hand moves on its own to stroke the side of his neck, your fingers seeking out the line of the longest scar that adorns his skin there from that night all those years ago. 

Your heart is beating wildly in your chest as he licks his lips before bringing his face down to yours again. Your other hand tightly clutching his shirt in anticipation.

He’s always been so in tune with you, so when he tilts your head just right before leaning into the kiss it feels like a homecoming. 

thisthisthis

One of Bradley’s hands makes its way up your back, pressing you closer to him as the other bands more securely around your waist. And when his tongue skims your lower lip, you sigh into his waiting mouth thankful for his strong grasp on you. 

Nothing your mind could have imagined would have ever come close to the perfection that is Bradley Bradshaw’s mouth moving against yours. Nothing has ever felt so good, so right.

When he pulls away, you’re both over fighting back the smiles that feel like have been permanently fixed on your faces all evening.

“I’m don’t want to call it a night yet,” he tells you, as he brushes the hair back from your face. His smile turning playful, “What do you say, kid? Wanna go get some milkshakes?”

“Depends,” you reply cheekily, “Can I drink it in the Bronco?”

Wrapping both arms around his neck you draw him back in towards you again.

“Anything you want, sweet girl,” he promises against your lips.

The next night at the Hard Deck, you entered the bar with Bradley’s arm draped your shoulders. 

His team whooping loudly when you pull him in for a kiss as he handed you a Blue Moon. They’d declared the drinks were on Bradley that night as they’d swarmed you both in celebration. Maverick pulls you aside to give you a warm hug, whispering “I knew you’d get here” in your ear before releasing you.

Now that you had let yourselves cross that line from friends to more, the pair of you are entirely too aware of the other. Never content to be too far away from the other. Your eyes like magnets, each seeking out the other to find them already looking back.

There’s nothing friendly about the way he has his hands on your waist. Nothing neighborly in the way his hands rub your shoulders. Nothing platonic in the way he rests one hand on the back of your neck, his thumb making teasing circles.

And there’s nothing friendly about the way you run your hands through his curls when he’s at the piano. Nothing neighborly in the way you slide your hand into his back pocket. Nothing platonic in the way you rest your hand on his chest, your finger tracing the line of his collarbone. 

It has always been so easy with him, even as you explore in this new area of your relationship.

You’d been orbiting around each other all night, when Jake yelled out to heckle you both about indecent exposure, threatening to call his cop friend if Bradley didn’t “get his ass over to the pool table in the next thirty seconds.”

He’d peppered your face with kisses before you’d shooed him away, laughing when you realized he had swiped your beer and had taken it with him.

“So you and Bradshaw,” Natasha states as she settles down next to you.

That makes you smile.

“Yeah, me and Bradley.” 

How could you have possibly thought you’d want anyone else other than him? You were a goner from the moment you’d turned and saw him standing there at the restaurant. Your golden boy.

You turn towards her, putting a hand on her arm, “I’m sorry that you didn’t get a fair shot at the bet. I really do appreciate the effort you all went through. I mean, Bradley would have had it in the bag anyways. But still–”

“Oh, don’t worry about it,” she waves a hand, cutting you off, “We had a team meeting and changed the rules of the bet anyways. I still won, so it’s all good.” Her smile was nothing less than mischievous. 

“Wait, what?” 

“We could all see from Rooster’s reaction during that disaster of a first date with all the dogs that he was completely hung up on you. We didn’t want to wait for him to figure it out, so we decided to adjust the terms a bit to help him out,” she laughs at your clearly baffled expression. “We reached out to the cringiest people we knew and set you up with them instead. And then took bets on how long it would take Rooster to get his head out of his ass and go get his girl.”

“Oh my god, seriously?” The revelation has you bursting out in laughter.

“Yep, well except for Bob. His date was a genuine accident, bless him. I’ll be honest, I didn’t even bother reaching out to anyone. I was betting on Rooster getting it together before I needed to step in,” she explains while wearing the most self-satisfied smirk on her face.

Of course Natasha Trace had bet on him. On you.

You couldn’t wait to tell Bradley how you had both been so absolutely played by his team. 

You loved these people. You loved your life here in San Diego. 

“I’d apologize for putting you through all that, but it looks like it worked out well in the end,” she says knowingly nodding her head towards him. 

You’re fully watching him now as he bends over the pool table looking amused at something that Hangman says. 

Bradley looks up catching your eye and shoots a wink in your direction, a grin taking over his whole face. You already know you’re wearing a matching one.

“I wouldn’t change a single thing.”

Thank you so much for all the love on this one! I’ve loved sharing this journey with you all! Happy Valentine’s Day Everyone! 

If you want to know what happens next for these two you can check out my masterlist! 

Written as part of @roosterforme’s #Love Is In The Air TGM Fic Challenge!

Song Inspiration Sam Smith’s “Like I Can”.

Thank you Jordan (@gretagerwigsmuse) as always for being the ultimate hype girl! 

Taglist:

@sehnsuchts-trunken @top-hhun-main @itscheybaby @prettylittlelauraa @startrekfangirl2233 @marantha @callsign-viper @teacupsandtopgun @itsizzythebell @shanimallina87 @angelbabyange @boltgirl426 @oneelleandaneye @mizzzpink @cornishkat @torres-espana @uzumegui @dont-talk-me-down @fandomunite2107 @alana4610 @20th-centu-fairy-girl @pariahsparadise @pono-pura-vida @donttouchmycarrots @nina-sj @eg-dr3amer3 @whaledots-blog @a-beaverhausen @misty-inferno @angellwingsss @hangmanscoming @mandolin22 @theweekndhistorybook @lilpeekabooze @high-bi-imgonnacry @ahintofkiwistrawberry @mrsdaamneron @ruewrote @spiderman-stilinski @jayniebop @melllinaa @my-soulmate-is-mycroft @mandolin22 @imaginecrushes @soleilgrec @keyrani @finelytaylored @phantomxoxo @viridianphtalo @chicomonks @artemissunn​ @hey-assbutt35​ @mayempress​ @eddiemunsonreader @averyhotchner​ @caatheeriinee07​ @rileyanntoinette​ @lublycho

[charliedawn]

Do you still accept orders? If so, I'd like to see a post about how slashers would react to seeing a nurse as a single mother with a baby in her arms and taking him to work. I became obsessed with the idea of ​​her carrying her baby in a carrier while she works. Note: I need our Uncle Bates in love with this baby!

HAPPY FRIDAY THE 13th !

Norman Bates:

Norman was surprised when he first saw you with a baby. It had been a few months since he had last seen you and he didn’t know why you had decided to suddenly leave until…He opened the door and here you were, as radiant as ever and with a baby in your arms. You then asked him to watch your baby for a second as you walked in and brought your luggage in with you.

Norman looked at the absolute sunshine in his arms and it didn’t take him long for him to love him. He immediately started singing a lullaby to the baby while gently swaying him left and right.

"Hush, little baby, don’t you cry; Uncle Normy’s going to sing you a lullaby. Hush little baby don’t say a word; Uncle Normy’s going to buy you a mockingbird. If that mockingbird won’t sing, Uncle Normy’s going to buy you a golden ring. If that gold ring turns to brass, Uncle Normy’s going to buy you a looking glass. If that glass begins to crack, Uncle Normy’s going to buy you a jumping jack. If that jumping jack is broke, Uncle Normy’s going to buy you a velvet cloak. If that velvet cloth is coarse, Uncle Normy’s going to buy you a rocking horse. If that rocking horse won’t rock, Uncle Normy’s going to buy you a cuckoo clock. If that cuckoo clock won’t tick, Uncle Normy’s going to buy you a walking stick. If that walking stick falls down, you’ll still be the sweetest little baby in town…"

Michael Myers:

When he saw the baby in your arms, Michael smiled and understood that you had left for a very good reason. The other slashers were a bit shocked or surprised at the sight of him. You showed your baby to them with a proud smile and all the slashers seemed to adopt the child pretty quickly. But then…Michael realised that you had brought a baby in a SLASHERS’ asylum. He looked at Penny and Pennywise who used to eat children, at Jack who almost killed his own kid, at Jason and Brahms who could crush the little one in their big arms, at Freddy who was well…Freddy.

The moment you had to leave the baby alone for a moment to get back to work, all the slashers looked curiously at the kid…Before anyone could touch the baby however, Michael had swooped him in his arms and glared warningly at the other slashers.

Yeah. That baby won’t leave Michael’s sight.

Penny/Pennywise:

MAYDAY ! MAYDAY ! BABY IN DANGER ! I REPEAT ! BABY IN DANGER !

Penny is working on himself. Yes.

And he had a kid himself. True.

But that doesn’t mean he can be left unsupervised with a child.

If you care about that baby, do not leave him alone with Penny or Pennywise unless it is absolutely necessary.

And if you have to leave him in one of the Penny Brothers’ care ? Choose Pennywise. Pennywise has better self control. And the baby has better chances of survival with Pennywise than Penny.

Pennywise would keep the baby at bay.

Penny could hurt the child without meaning to.

Biting him. Eating a leg or an arm. And he would then smile happily at you with blood around his mouth and say that he didn’t know that babies were so fragile. So, be very careful.

Jack Torrance:

Jack was having a drink at the bar when he saw a baby crawling towards him. He looked around and saw that you had gone to discuss hospital business with another nurse.

He looked back at the baby who was still crawling towards him. And then, the baby attempted to stand up and Jack’s eyes widened as the little baby started staggering forward.

He smiled and was about to call you to witness that incredible performance when the baby started losing balance and threatened to fall.

Jack’s pint of beer dropped and crashed to the floor in his hurry to grab the falling baby. He fortunately managed to catch him in time and you were relieved when you saw it.

For the rest of the afternoon, the baby sat on Jack’s leg while he was drinking his second pint of beer. You even smiled as you noticed that your baby started imitating him with the milk bottle that Jack held to his mouth.

Brahms Heelshire:

Brahms was happy to hear the news and he smiled when he saw the baby. He begged you to let him hold him and was thrilled when you agreed. He took the baby in his arms gently and smiled softly at the baby in his arms before carrying him to his bedroom.

Brahms then proceeded to give him a full tour and show the baby all of his toys and plushies. He then set the baby down in front of his pile of favourite plushies. The baby chose one and started drooling on it enthusiastically.

The plushie was the baby’s first gift.

And years later, your baby would know and remember the nice masked man who had given him that plushie. Brahms stayed alongside you and watched the baby grow. They played and had much fun together. And even when your baby became an adult, Brahms kept watching over him…to the very end.

Freddy Krueger:

You actually just dumped your baby in Freddy’s arms and left. Both the baby and Freddy stared at each other in surprise before Freddy looked back up at you.

"What ? No no no. Hey ! Get back here ! Get that thang away from me !" He shouted, but you ignored him. You knew that Freddy didn’t like babies, but you had no choice. He was the closest to you and you had things to do.

Freddy sighed in defeat when he saw that you weren’t coming back before looking down at the baby who was staring at him with those weird big baby eyes…Freddy was crept out and scared.

"Whatcha lookin’ at, ya lil’ shit ?"

The baby grinned and even laughed. Freddy raised his eyes to the sky and shook his head in disbelief.

"Great. Now, even the baby’s makin’ fun of my ol’ ass…" He sighed.

"Ass !"

Freddy was stunned when he heard that word out of nowhere. Who the heck said that ? He then had a frightening thought and looked down at the baby who was still staring at him with that wide innocent smile. He scoffed and shook his head in disbelief. Yeah right…As if. He even thought he had imagined it for a second before the baby spoke again.

"Ass !"

Freddy’s eyes widened.

Oh shit…

You were gonna kill him. But, since he was already one foot in the coffin…He grinned down at the baby.

"Yeah. That’s right. Ass. Now, let’s see if you can say tits, yeah ? Come on. Repeat after Uncle Freddy. Tits."

[rowaelinsdaughter]

can i pla request rowaelin x reader where reader doesn’t know they’re mates and feel guilty for being attracted to both of them meanwhile rowaelin are internally begging for her to notice the bond

GUILTY

a/n;;; i got a little carried away but i loved writing this :")

WARNINGS;; guilty feelings, long chapter

she shouldn’t be feeling this. she should have done something earlier. but there was no coming back… she was in love with the queen and king of terrasen, and she felt guilty.

everything started with aelin. she entered one day to her bookstore looking for some books for her to read and to send some of them to her friend, dorian havilliard, the king of adarlan. she was going to bow when aelin told her not to, she had enough of it in the castle, she said. 

she asked her what books she was looking for. romance with some spice scenes she said. and while she entered the storehouse, aelin was cleaning the sweat in her hands. she gave her the books and told her to come back if she wanted anything more. of course. 

and she came back twice a week, sometimes she ordered some books, sometimes she didn’t buy anything… but she had the feeling that the queen of terrasen was in her bookstore for another reason. and one day she came with the king of terrasen. he was beautiful, they both were. you had been feeling something for aelin. her attention towards her, how she would always come to her bookstore when she knew for sure there were better bookstores in orynth. 

6 months passed, and she loved them. both of them. in the past few months, they had taken her out on dates, she had read with aelin in her castle room, rowan had helped her with the store… they had done things they shouldn’t have done, but they did, and now she was in love with the queen and king.

she was reading with aelin in her room, like so many days. they had decided to read the same book together and then comment on it. as they finished the last page, aelin said. “i don’t have words to describe it”

“me neither” she looked to aelin and found her eyes on her mouth. she pressed them together but aelin was still looking at them, she was going to say something when aelin kissed her. her tongue entered her mouth, she tasted like lemon verbena and kissing her was like being in heaven. but she was married to rowan, she was a married female, she had a mate. she pulled apart.

they were breathing fast, but she managed to speak “i can’t, i can’t” and she left, running to her home, leaving aelin in the room with tears rolling down her face. 

a month passed and she didn’t hear of them or saw them, as if they had already forgotten about her. but it was easier this way. it’s better this way.

it’s better this way. 

it’s better this way. 

it’s better this way. 

but she wasn’t better.

she missed them.

she missed spending the afternoon reading with aelin.

she missed going to walk with rowan.

she missed laughing with aelin and how rowan’s eyes would light up. 

she missed them like she hasn’t missed anyone. 

she had felt it the day aelin kissed her, had felt it when rowan would take her hand, a tug in her heart and a voice in her head. go. it would say. go, where?. go, just go. and it was her mother’s voice, who had told her to go every time she was with them. and know she knew what she meant. go with them. go where you feel safe. go where you are loved. go with your mates. 

mates.

she was their mate. 

and she felt guilty for it. for loving them, for being their mate. and she cried. cried for a love that was impossible. 

she had fallen asleep, her eyes red, and her mouth dry. but an incessant knocking on her door, had awakened her. she looked at the wall-clock. 2 am. barefoot, she made her way to the front door, and when she opened it… aelin was there. 

her blue and golden eyes were red from crying, bags under them, and her usually shiny hair was dull, without life. she knew rowan was near, keeping an eye on the street. 

“i need to talk to you” aelin whispered.

should she let her enter? do it. 

so she did. 

she led aelin to the couch, as she sat down, she watched as aelin started to pace. “i know that you may not want to see me or rowan, and i know i should have come the day you left, but… i didn’t know what to say or how to explain what we have, that you are our mate, and” a breathy laugh “gods, this month apart have been like being in hell, because that is what our lives feel without you. hell. we’ve been trying to tell you for months, but we were scared you would run away the moment you knew it.” she walked to her and she watched as aelin kneeled before her, taking her hands. and the tears she thought were dry, started to flow again like a waterfall. 

“but i want you to know that i love you. rowan loves you. we love you. because you are the light in our nights. you are the piece we were missing. so please, let us be yours.”

she kneeled before aelin. moving her hands away from her, she took her face with her hands, cleaning the tears with her thumbs. “i love you aelin, and i love rowan. i love both of you” aelin pressed her forehead with her’s, and a cold wind opened the window, and they watch as a hawk entered the room, and then turned into rowan. he walked to them and kneeling, he embraced both of them. he had heard everything. 

she felt the bond sing with happiness as she melted into her mates.

well done, darling… i love you. i will always love you.

EPILOGUE

she heard a little voice talk to her. but she was dreaming and that voice… she knew that voice. 

“hi there baby” 

evalyn. 

she wasn’t dreaming then. 

she blinked a few times, getting used to the sunlight that entered the bedroom. she watched down and she saw her. her silver hair was knotted, but her green eyes were bright as she talked to her belly. 

“good morning darling” she said to the little girl.

“good morning mommy” she called her mommy, while she called aelin mama. she looked again at her belly. “you think she can hear me?”

she let a low laugh. “of course she can” she said, stroking her hair. evalin climbed higher until her head was resting on her breast, and she hugged the little girl. 

aelin and rowan watched her two girls. 

we did it rowan. 

we did it, fireheart.

all rights reserved to ©rowaelinsdaughter. no tranlations allowed. no copy theme. don not copy my work.

tagging;; @throneofsapphics @danikamariewrites @hellwantfuckme @shadowdaddies

[pixydustworld]

The clock above the fireplace read 11:35pm. 25 minutes until midnight. They had exactly 25 minutes to consummate their marriage.

Hermione wondered how the ministry would know if her shiny new husband didn't come inside her.

She drank more champagne.

“It doesn't have to be painful.” Malfoy said, staring above her head at the wall, seeming eager to over analyze the wallpaper, “There are ways for it to be.” He took a deep breath. “Enjoyable.”

“I’ve had sex before.” Hermione said.

“You have?” His voice was a touch surprised.

Hermione narrowed her eyes.

“Loads of times.” Hermione scoffed (three times, to be specific, and it had been almost a year since the last time) “I’m an expert.”

Malfoy had the audacity to look relieved. “Good.” He said, “I’m glad you’ve had pleasurable experiences. When — when, we, consummate — ”

“Fuck.” Hermione said at the same time as him.

“— fuck,” Malfoy practically hissed, “Just. Just think of them.”

Hermione nodded. “Right.” She said, “Sure.” He was staring at her. Waiting for something; her permission, perhaps. “You can think about other people, too.”

The first time she’d had sex, Harry had been soft, if not a little too gentle. In the tent, surrounded by darkness and the ever present promise of death, their fumbling hands had met. It hadn’t been painful, but it hadn’t been overly pleasant, either. It just had been them.

The second time she’d had sex, Ron had been eager to please her, but it had felt off. Like a sneeze that wouldn’t come, like an itch just below her reach — overall, it had been unremarkable and unfortunately for her and Ron’s budding romance, a little unsettling.

The third, and subsequently final time, Hermione had decided that she needed to stop having sex with immediate members of her very small friend group, and Seamus Finnigan had been happy to oblige her.

In the middle, he’d gotten a leg cramp and accidentally headbutted her.

She’d gotten a bloody nose, and Seamus still wasn’t able to make eye contact with her without cringing.

Then, the marriage law had been announced, and Hermione had been too swept up in writing motions and testifying in court to worry about the elusiveness of her own sex life.

“Did you ever think you’d get married?” Hermione asked to rupture the silence that had stretched on for a bit too long. It seemed like a fitting question to ask, given their predicament. “I was never sure.”

Malfoy smiled and Hermione felt her stomach twist. This would all be much easier if he wasn't so handsome. “It was never my choice.” He said, “I always knew I’d marry someone my father chose for me. Perhaps that’s why I accepted all this — the lack of choice, that is something I’m familiar with.”

“You, however, fought to the bitter end.” He continued, “very valiantly, I might add. As is your nature.”

“It didn't work.” Hermione said softly. Admitting defeat to Draco Malfoy never seemed possible before — but now? It felt almost inescapable, the partnership that was materializing between them. Like the golden thread of fate was tightening around their wrists.

“You’ll figure out a way to make them suffer.”

“Not my nature,” Hermione said, finishing her glass of champagne, “That’s yours.”

The clock read 11:40pm. It seemed they could no longer avoid fate.

“If we don’t consummate,” Malfoy was saying, voice sounding far away, “And the punishment is a fine, I can pay it. I won’t pretend I’m not above bribery, either. I — we — have a lot of money. Perhaps we could buy the Minister an island? Do you think he’d like that?”

“Harry said the punishment was prison time.”

“Hm.”

Hermione stood from her chair by the fire and smoothed the nightgown over her legs, fingers trembling slightly. “Thank you,” She said, “For offering to pay a fine for me. And for hypothetically bribing the minister of magic with an island. But I think — I think this is just unavoidable. We’ll be okay.”

He smiled again, soft like the fuzzy clouds at sunrise. Hermione had never really noticed how his smile changed his entire face. “Yes,” he said, watching as she moved across the room, “We’ll be just fine.”

She lay down on the bed, closer to him now then she had been in years. The last time they’d touched had been when he’d clutched her shoulders the day of the trials, fingers tight around her flesh. When he’d apologized to her in that dimly lit hallway, tears tracking down his cheeks, uncaring of who saw.

Hermione found dwelling on the past did no one any good, but for once, she was glad he’d done so; if only for the growth that accompanied him with the passage of time.

Glad, that if this was going to happen, she would face the future with this version of Draco Malfoy.

Malfoy shifted, looming above her, his fingers finding the strap of her nightgown, twisting the fabrics softly before firmly pressing his hands on either side of her body. The mattress refused to creak, the only sound in the room their soft breaths.

“On or off?”

He waited politely for her answer, but his hands betrayed his tension, clutching almost angrily at the sheets, in danger of ripping them. Rich people, Hermione thought, could afford to rip their sheets. They could simply buy new ones.

“On.” Hermione said in a thick voice.

“On.” Malfoy agreed. “I’m going to touch you now.”

“Yes.” Hermione wished she was someone brighter, someone like Ginny or even Lavender. If they’d been assigned Malfoy, the room wouldn’t feel so thick and heavy. They’d be able to smile — they wouldn’t be frozen beneath him, skin as rigid as the bones underneath. “Alright.”

“You’re so much smaller up close.” Malfoy murmured, surprising both of them. “From afar, it’s easy to convince myself you’re a titan, towering above us mortals. But here, I think it’s undeniable.”

“I was taller when we were kids.” Was the response Hermione decided to give him. “Do you remember? I used to be taller than Harry.”

“I remember.” His thumb was rubbing circles against the top of her thigh. Just touching the skin, nothing scandalous, but Hermione felt a bit like a puritan seeing ankles for the first time.

“Do you think our child will be tall?” She asked, “Like you are?”

His touch faltered for a bit, a crack appearing in his perfect facade. For a moment, his eyes were bright, hungry. Then, he resumed his lazy touch, fingers slowly tracing down her legs, beneath her nightgown.

“I hope they inherit all your goodness.” Malfoy said roughly, “And they inherit all my height.”

Hermione had never thought about being a mother, never considered that a possibility — she certainly had never expected to become a parent with Draco Malfoy. But a life with Harry had inadvertently prepared Hermione to adapt to her environment, like those frogs that change genders.

“I’ll need to stretch you a bit.” Malfoy was saying, sliding down her body. Hermione wondered when she should start calling him Draco. Surely, soon, with the home he'd seemed to have made for himself between her thighs. “Please, just try to relax.”

“Right.”

His hot breath on her center was the only warning Hermione received before he was licking her, tongue twisting its way inside her cunt, thumb lazily rubbing her clit. She was wet, not an embarrassing amount, but not enough for him to grunt his approval, the vibration sending a shudder skittering up her spine.

“Oh,” she gasped, hips squirming against his hold, “Wha — what are you doing?”

“Shh,” he hushed her, words mumbled against her cunt, “It’s rude to interrupt.”

Then, he closed his lips around her clit and sucked, his sloppy noises filling the room. Distantly, Hermione heard someone babbling, broken cries and unfinished sentences — it took a moment to realize that voice was her own. Heat, like fire, like a dragon, spread across her body.

He was pressing her to his face, fingers digging into her flesh; each time she withered away from his tongue, his lips, even his teeth, his grip tightened, an arm pressed against the flesh of her stomach.

Finally, finally, finally, she felt one his fingers slip across her folds, sliding through the wetness. Malfoy’s fingers were so much thicker than her own, entering her with a bluntness she wasn’t accustomed to, twisting her open. Fucking her slowly, with no clear intention of quickening his pace.

“After the war,” Malfoy said, licking up her cunt with leisure, “When we were at school, I wanted to be near you every second. It was like waking up and realizing I could actually see the sun.”

She remembered, even now, through her trembling limbs, how he’d looked at her during their 8th year. It hadn’t been a predator's gaze, but one of blatant observation. Like he was truly seeing her for the first time; finally allowing himself to look.

“What a gift it is.” He murmured against her, a second finger sliding to join the first, a pleasant burn beginning to overtake Hermione, bubbling over the surface, spreading across her flesh, “The privilege to bask in your warmth.”

He devoured her until she came with a wail, on an exhale, head tossed back. Hermione twisted and twisted and twisted away, but his hold was firm. It hadn’t been like that with the others, rarely, it had even been like that with herself.

“Will that be enough?” She sniffed.

He pulled his cock out for her to see.

“Three fingers, then.” Hermione said, voice unsteady.

It was 11:53pm by the time he’d stretched her to his liking.

“Hermione.”

Hermione jerked at the use of her first name. “Yes?” She hiccuped.

He squinted up at her, hair falling over his eyes. He really looked like a stupid fairytale prince, even now, with his face glistening, wet with her, it was completely unfair. “Think of someone else. It’ll help this part.”

To her credit, Hermione tried to follow his directions.

Visions of Harry’s eyes morphed into gray, Ron’s arms around her torso tightened, the way she imagined he would clutch her to his chest — Seamus’s moans grew deeper, like his voice.

It seemed all roads led back to Draco Malfoy, and Hermione was too tired to contemplate the importance of that realization.

Earlier, he’d called her valiant. Brave. Said it was part of her nature, woven into her bones. If she had nothing left, she’d still have her bravery. Perhaps, it was time to use the courage everyone insisted she possessed.

“I’m not thinking of anyone else.”

Malfoy looked like someone had shot him. “What?”

“I’m not thinking of anyone else.” Hermione repeated loudly. Maybe he had a minor head cold and was having difficulty hearing her, “I’m thinking about you.”

“But I told you to think of the others.”

Hermione rolled her eyes.

“I’m not a dog.” Hermione scoffed. “I don’t blindly follow your orders.”

She ignored the way he smiled at her.

She felt him then, between her legs. Warm and heavy, a weight on her thigh, a promise for what was to come. “I’m,” Malfoy looked upset, angrier than before with the sheets, “I’m sorry that this happened. That it’s me.”

“I’m not.” The orgasms had loosened her limbs, a crack across a frozen pond; speaking to him seemed easier now, less world shattering. “I’m glad it’s you. I’ve fucked both my friends, it’s only natural that I’d carry on to my enemies next.”

“You think I'm your enemy?”

“No,” She sighed, “I think you’re my husband.”

“Say that again.”

“Husband.” She repeated. “You are my husband.”

“And you are my wife.”

Earlier cowardice forgotten, Hermione smiled up at him, all teeth. Malfoy blinked, like someone had turned on the lights. “ I’ve thought about you fucking me before.” She said softly, “Have you thought about me?”

Malfoy groaned, like he was in pain. “Constantly,” he said. “An agonizing amount. It’s time for me to fuck a baby into you. I’ll fill you up, alright? Will you let me?”

Hermione managed a confident nod.

The feel of all of him, tossed her head back.

Unfair, completely unfair, that this experience belonged to him, when already so many parts of her were his, too. His ownership over her mind had been a subtle acquisition, but this new feeling, the one burning through her, seemed to happen all at once.

“Such a good girl,” Malfoy grunted, “allowing me between your thighs.”

Then, he began to move, and the entire world seemed to tilt off axis.

Everything seemed to melt away, all that remained was Draco, the drag of his cock inside her.

She weakly clutched his arm when his fingers slid to her clit again, rubbing slow, agonizing circles. He smiled at the tears that stuck to her eyelashes, and it was a little mean.

“I won’t last,” he managed to say, “come on my cock, that’s a good girl, let me feel it.”

She felt when he came inside of her, heat spreading across her stomach. Winced slightly, when he kept fucking her, soft thrusts, fucking his cum deeper inside her.

“Have to make it stick.” He slurred.

“We can try again.” Hermione sighed, finally allowing her fingers to drag through his hair. Soft, softer than she thought it’d be — felt him twitch inside of her when she spoke. Wondered if her voice alone had the power to bring him to his knees.

“Has no one ever made you come before?” He hummed, “Does that job only belong to your husband?”

“You’ve never had a job in your life.”

She felt his smile against her skin. “Then I’ll need lots of practice.”

[marzipanandminutiae]

ok yeah I'll bite what the fuck was Diane's problem because holy SHIT

What The Fuck WAS Diane's Problem, indeed. I lost contact with her since I quit that hellhole, and I'm not sorry. (Please picture a petite, thin, golden-blonde white woman around age 50 wearing high-end boho/athleisure clothes.) But her Fun Quirks included:

being like. weirdly dedicated to our crappy retail job at a company run by a former real estate bro. we sold fancy stone tableware and got commission, so she would hang around after her shift in case someone she'd talked to earlier came back to buy. to make sure SHE got the commission from the sale. we each had individual passcodes for the register, so she could clock out at the correct time and still get sales credited to her. a few times she got mad at me for "stealing" her sale (read: ringing someone up who she'd previously talked to, like an hour into my shift)

pushiness. EXTREME pushiness. she had amazing sales numbers, probably because she wouldn't take no for an answer. I once saw her chase a man down who had walked away from the shop, because she'd chatted with him but he hadn't bought anything. she chided me for "letting him walk away" afterwards

toxic positivity. I once commented, during a shift change, that the market where we worked seemed slow that day. with a big sweet smile, she told me to NEVER say that because we needed to be giving off positive energy that we'd get lots of sales. um. okay

as previously mentioned, being super-pumped at the idea of our boss taking our stool away and mad when I pointed out that that was, how you say, literally illegal in our state (because "nobody needs to be sitting; it doesn't look welcoming!")

her email was something like DianeLastnameSolutions@gmail.com. very business-y. I asked what her other job was. turns out that was just her personal address; she didn't have a business or a side gig or anything

She let everyone think she was a manager. We didn’t have a manager; just the owner and the salespeople.

She tried to gaslight me into thinking she had been there as long as I had (she hired on a year after me) and therefore had seniority. Again, none of us had power over each other

the stealing from the register thing, which was just bizarre. at 23, working my second post-college job, I was desperately trying not to get in trouble; at 31 I would stand my ground more. In short: the exact amount I’d taken in cash went missing a few hours into my shift, when Diane was hanging around as usual. She knew where we hid the register key when we went to the bathroom, nobody would have looked askance at her rooting around in the stall, and when I called her panicking after mid-shift drawer count, she was ADAMANT that I must have forgotten to take the cash from all three customers who had paid me that way.

To the point where, when I called the boss to report the incident and hesitantly said “I think I might have forgotten-“ she barked at me “NO. YOU KNOW. YOU KNOW THAT’S WHAT HAPPENED. YOU DON’T THINK; YOU KNOW.”

I did not fucking forget to take cash from three separate customers and if this happened today, her response would raise a huge red flag for me

There was no camera on the register area so I could never prove anything. But money went missing from the drawer “overnight” after two other people’s shifts, who hardly seemed like thieving types, and Diane was all too ready to cluck over their alleged crimes. And since she was always gunning for more shifts…I don’t know. It was just very weird.

She ultimately got her wish when almost everyone else quit- and then became burned-out by manning the stall single-handedly. Womp womp.

[ghoultrifle]

There's a First Time For Everything Chapter 3 - Pleasure As It Was Intended

WC: 5k

Previously on FTFE: Dewdrop wants to try penetration. He has a few toys in mind but struggles to get the courage to buy them, fearing it will invalidate his gender. With Rain's support, he finally purchases the toys.

Summary: The toys arrive and Dewdrop gets to work, after a quick hyping up from Swiss

Notes: I am incredibly proud of this chapter and hope you all like it as much as I do. It's my first time writing porn with feelings so please hype me up :')

CWs: Sexual content, toys, gender dysphoria

And a big thanks to @v-ternus for being my sounding board <3

Read below the cut or on AO3

Dewdrop hears a knock, a brief rap on his bedroom door. He glances at the clock that sits crooked above his desk, mail time, he thinks. Peering through the peephole he can see Special walking away, making his way through the ghoul dorms, stopping occasionally to drop a parcel.

A small, nondescript box sits outside Dewdrop’s door. Imposing, menacing. It’s been carelessly thrown to the ground, evidenced by the rugged angle it sits at. He’s… angry. Angry that it’s been treated with such disregard; the contents of what must be assumed by Special to be another bong, or perhaps a new outfit, merely chucked outside his door like it has no significance to the fire ghoul.

The parcel quickly finds its way inside Dew’s room as he removes it from the doorstep with the same care as one might handle a bomb. He treats it like it’s a feral cat, holding it by the scruff of its neck lest it bite him. Inside the box, as far as Dewdrop’s concerned, are the items that determine if he’s worthy as a ghoul. That if they don’t end up inside him by the end of the day, he’ll be a failure.

Dewdrop decides he won’t let it get on top of him, he can’t afford to, doesn’t quite trust himself to sit alone all day with the parcel. So he throws himself into his duties. A couple of hours with Mount helping him re-pot his ever-growing plants. Lunch with Cirrus, Dewdrop laying in her lap as they watch some shitty reality show.

He spends the afternoon with Swiss, supposedly for band practice, but that never happens when it’s just the two of them scheduled. Sure, they do some practise but it’s mostly Dew dicking around with his guitar as Swiss vocalises with the disjointed sounds. They’ve been at it for a few hours when Dewdrop’s mind fades back to the parcel, still unwrapped, waiting for him on his bed.

“Howdoyouusesextoys?” Dewdrop blurts out.

Swiss isn’t sure he heard right, there’s no way Dewdrop doesn’t have a kinky treasure trove full of toys. “Woah woah slow down cowboy! What did you say?”

He’s met with another mumbled string of sounds that vaguely sounds like it mentions toys. It’s Dewdrop’s demeanour that leaves Swiss worried, though. The ghoul that minutes ago he was having to wrestle the guitar off as he played some shitty meme song, now taking shaky, uneven breaths and avoiding eye contact like Swiss is Medusa.

“Hey, droplet, I’m not teasing you, I just need to hear what you said… I can’t help you if I don’t know what you want,” Dewdrop opens his eyes, tries to take deep breaths. But deep breaths don’t help when it feels like he’s suffocating. He feels a grounding palm smooth over his stubble, sees those big golden eyes shining back with nothing but love for him, he remembers why he chose Swiss.

He inhales, looking away briefly to ask, “Bought sex toys for Rain to use on me. Dunno what to expect, I guess. Thought you might know,” the room is still as both ghouls take in what Dewdrop just said, before he remembers to clarify, “They’re uh internal toys like dildos ‘n vibrators ‘n shit. I’ve never put anything up there before, figured a whore like you would’ve though,” he chuckles, trying to lighten the mood as Swiss stares on in a mixture of confusion and offence.

“Ohh I see, come to the resident slut for advice? Well you’ve come to the right place. Whatcha worried about? We both know Rain’s been around, it’s not like he doesn’t know what to do.”

“No, I know Rain’s gonna be fine with it, it’s me that’s worried. What if it feels weird or if it hurts or if I like it so much I detransition?”

“What if?” Swiss poses, something Dewdrop hadn’t considered, what if? “You and I know full well Rain won’t do anything if you’re not enjoying it.”

“Swiss!” Dewdrop groans in frustration, dragging out the ‘s’ at the end of his name, “I just wanna, you know,” he motions vaguely at nothing with his hands, “get some pointers, some tips?”

“Well you’re right, they do have tips!” They both laugh at Swiss’ poor attempt at humour, “I do faintly remember the first time I used a dildo, if you wanna know about that?” he asks. It’s becoming clearer that Dewdrop just wants assurance that it’s going to be alright, even though he knows in his heart that it will be. The multi ghoul receives a sheepish nod in return.

“Alright, well I was on my own so all I had was ‘ol faithful to warm me up, get me nice and open,” he smirks, doing jazz hands showcasing his thick fingers, “I really took my time getting myself nice and wet. I was pre-T so there wasn’t much to get hold of but I did the best I could, really stroking myself until I was basically leaking. Then I just lubed Glenda up and put her in, wasn't much resistance. I played aroun-”

“Hold up, your dildo’s named Glenda?!”

Swiss scoffs, “What about it? I’m not the one that’s too scared to put Glenda in my pussy,” it’s all in good humour, they both know it. And hearing about Swiss talk so honestly about it has put Dewdrop at ease. He feels like he can laugh now, like he can breathe again, deep breaths full of all life has to offer. “Anyway, I played around with the angles until it hit that fucking dynamite spot, you’ll know it when you hit it,” Swiss promises, a smile creeping across his face as he reminisces, “and the rest was history. A lil bit of thrusting here and some stroking there and I came so hard I cried,” he deadpans, as if he’s not recounting a story of him masturbating.

“Seriously, spitfire, you’ll love it, I’m sure,” and it’s all Dewdrop can do to pray to Satan below that Swiss is right.

Dinner runs without a hitch, Dewdrop eats a respectable amount for a guy so nervous about his imminent gut-rearranging. And more importantly, he thinks he’s managed to keep it a secret, Rain still doesn’t know the toys have arrived. The water ghoul is living in blissful ignorance to the sweet, tender sex that will follow their usual post-dinner makeout session. That for the first time, Dewdrop will be an active recipient of pleasure, and he’ll enjoy it; at least that’s what he hopes.

It starts as it does most nights, Rain playing footsie with Dewdrop, sliding his scaly foot up and down the fire ghoul’s shin, making those dumb heart eyes at him. Dewdrop swears if Rain was a cartoon, his eyes would spend half the time booming out from their sockets in adoration for his mate, it’s endearing really. Following their adolescent flirting, Rain excuses the pair of them from the already emptying table; if the way Aurora looks at Cumulus is anything to go by, they’re not the only ones with evening plans.

They get as far as the dorm corridor before Dewdrop boxes Rain against the cold, stone wall. The taller ghoul freezes, a forward move from Dewdrop. He can’t quite bring himself to move when Dew begins to mouth at his neck, angling for Rain to bend down and kiss him. Instead he basks in the heat on his jaw as Dewdrop sinks his teeth into Rain’s pale flesh. He moans and the vibrations in his throat only further encourage the shorter ghoul.

“What’s gotten into you, spitfire? Normally you can at least wait until we’re back at yours,” Rain asks as he brings a hand down to knead at Dewdrop’s barely-there ass.

Between sucking and bruising the ghoul’s neck, Dewdrop speaks up, “Hyping myself up.”

“For…?”

“Toys,” Dewdrop whispers, seductive yet laced with a tinge of worry.

Before leaving that morning, Dewdrop had the foresight to at least unpackage and clean the toys, even he was smart enough to know that cleaning toys is a real mood killer, especially for a ghoul already on edge about the whole thing. If there was anything that Dewdrop could prepare for in advance, he was going to do it.

So, laying bare to the world on his bedside table were the toys, sitting proud. Rain didn’t notice them immediately, too focused on the fire ghoul attached to his neck, trying to manoeuvre them into Dewdrop’s room without either of them tripping or stepping on each other. They catch his eye as his mate backs him up towards the bed until his knees give, ungracefully stumbling onto the mattress. Hurried hands fly between them to undress each other. Dewdrop’s fingers filled with nervous energy, struggling with his jeans and Rain, the ever helpful boyfriend gently undoing the button and sliding them down, taking in Dewdrop’s form, just a binder and boxer briefs now. “Fuck he’s handsome,” Rain thinks, verbalising his thoughts to the grinning ghoul above him.

“Wanna use ‘em on me? Was thinking get the dildo out the way tonight?”

“Fuck can’t wait baby, gonna make you feel so good. How do you want to do this?”

Dewdrop answers with a gentle push to Rain’s shoulders, settling him down in the middle of the bed before shedding his underwear and climbing atop the water ghoul, back to chest. The weight of Dewdrop is really nothing to complain about, spread over Rain’s body, it’s barely uncomfortable, more of a weighted blanket if he had to compare it. Besides, if it’s what his droplet wants, he’ll be damned if he doesn’t give him exactly that.

With him, Dewdrop brings the toys, laying them carefully by Rain’s hip alongside a bottle of lube. Once settled, he takes a moment. What for, he isn’t really sure. Maybe to calm himself down, but he feels an odd sense of relief, of readiness. He isn’t scared anymore. He wants it to happen, he’s excited even. Perhaps that’s why he’s slowed down, to appreciate and bask in the feeling.

As he lays on Rain, his golden hair resting perfectly on the water ghoul’s neck, Rain lifts his head up to meet Dewdrop’s scalp pressing long kisses into it. “So proud of you baby,” he whispers between them, hand idly thumbing the silicone toy by his side. Rain was truly happy with the idea that Dewdrop would never try penetration, he was content to live out their lives as they were. With that, he could sense Dewdrop’s hesitation, how he became disengaged during sex if Rain’s hand ever veered too low. But the way he acted didn’t seem to be fear, no, Dewdrop’s face would turn pensive, as if he were pondering what if? A poignant question the fire ghoul now knew the answer to. Well perhaps not the answer, but he’s certain he’s explored his feelings enough to know he wants it and he wants it now.

The binder still clinging to his chest is becoming uncomfortable at best with how Dewdrop’s sweating at Rain’s sweet words of encouragement and that familiar cold hand roaming his stomach. It’s itchy and riding up at the bottom but he doesn’t care, he’s too caught up in the moment, something he doesn’t think he’s ever experienced. To not be hyper aware of every sensation but instead to be dialled in on a specific feeling, it’s bliss.

Against him, Dewdrop can feel Rain pulsing, leaking onto the small tuft of hair at the small of his back. It feels odd, to be the one selflessly experiencing pleasure, Rain gladly putting aside his own needs in favour of pleasing his mate.

“My sweet baby boy, I can feel you leaking, may I?” Rain asks, bringing deft fingers to Dewdrop’s entrance, hovering, waiting for permission. Dewdrop need only bring his hand over Rain’s before the water ghoul gently swipes over his folds, bringing his slick-soaked hand to his mouth. “Oh Dewdrop you taste divine. Thank you for sharing this part of you with me.”

It’s not even an attempt at dirty talk but it makes Dewdrop’s stomach jump nonetheless. He’s finally starting to believe Rain loves him as he is. While Rain is preoccupied salivating over the taste of the fire ghoul, Dewdrop flicks open the cap on the lube as he squirts a generous amount onto the head of the light purple toy

“Would you do the honour?” Dewdrop asks weakly, offering the slicked up toy to the water ghoul.

“Want to let you have this moment Dewdrop,” Rain replies, this is Dewdrop’s journey, he’s just along for the ride. Dewdrop teases his entrance, letting the purple head get even wetter as he drags it along his folds, collecting slick as small whines escape his lips. It once again surprises him how at ease he feels. After years of turmoil, worrying that he’s faking it all, he’s never felt as sure of his identity as he does in this moment.

“Whenever you’re ready droplet”, Rain coos, placing chaste kisses on Dewdrop’s neck. And with that Dew pushes in, slowly but steadily moving the toy until his hand lies flush with his skin. It’s an odd feeling, a completely new, foreign sensation but it doesn’t feel wrong. Far from it. It brings with it an overwhelming sense of familiarity too, an instinctual need. He knows exactly what to do. It’s not rocket science, Dewdrop knows this, but he’s still taken aback by just how easy it feels. It’s with that realisation he cautiously begins to pump the cock in and out of his dripping cunt.

As Dewdrop lay atop Rain, knees bent and feet planted on the mattress, the fire ghoul finds a respectable rhythm, butterflies in his stomach every time he thrusts the silicone deep inside him. He can’t believe he’s put it off for so long, denying himself divine pleasure. Filling the room along with the slick sounds of Dewdrop fucking himself are the sweet words of encouragement spilling from Rain’s lips like a burst dam.

“So proud of you, droplet, can hear just how much you like it.”

“That’s it, keep going, fuckkkk just like that.”

“Feel how hard you’re making me? Shit- that’s all you, spitfire. You and your insatiable body, such a good boy.”

The words imprint themselves on Dewdrop’s brain, burned in forever. Rain’s not telling him how pretty he is or groping his chest, he’s appreciating Dewdrop for exactly who he is, a man. And for once, he’s not jealous that Rain has a dick, doesn’t spite him for it. Because he, too, is experiencing pleasure and he got it all wrong, he doesn’t need a penis for that. Sure it would be nice but right now he feels pretty fucking incredible. Rain’s words have such an effect on Dewdrop that he’s becoming too worked up to keep a steady rhythm, the stimulation is too much to concentrate on keeping it going. He crooks his head back, asking silently, and Rain just knows what he wants.

The dildo changes hands, Rain now in charge of Dewdrop’s pleasure, entrusted with making the fire ghoul feel good, and boy does he deliver. Pressing pretty kisses to Dewdrop’s neck, his hand fumbles for the toy. The transition is near seamless and Dew melts. It felt good before but shit Rain knows what he’s doing, angling it just right to make Dewdrop cry out a choked moan- Swiss was right, Dew did know when he hit that spot. The spot that makes his stomach churn in the best way as he listens to the slick nosies and the sound of Rain’s skin slapping against his inner thigh as he pumps Dewdrop full.

He’s writhing on Rain’s tense body now, hips canting towards the stimulation, rocking into the water ghoul’s cock, smearing pre against the small of his back. Dewdrop can’t bring himself to care about the torture he must be inflicting upon his mate. He’s been so selfless all these years, he’s giving himself tonight to be completely selfish about his needs.

His orgasm starts to build and he vocalises, “Oh fuck I- I think I’m close fuck please don’t stop. Please. Keep going. Fuck. Rain. Ah. Keep-” Rain shushes him to give his permission. Not that Dewdrop needed it, but to let the fire ghoul know Rain’s not going anywhere.

“Lean into it darling, let go for me. Such a good boy, taking it so well. So proud of you, baby,” and with those words Dewdrop is clenching around the toy as his cunt spasms and he whines high and reedy, uncaring about pitching his voice lower, he doesn’t need to perform for anyone, not right now, anyway. Rain can feel Dewdrop’s release coating the toy in such copious amounts it’s running off and onto the water ghoul’s digits. 

Dripping onto his balls, Rain can feel just how wet Dewdrop is as slick gushes out of his hole. Rain wants nothing more than to gather his boy’s slick and jack himself to an almighty climax, but not tonight. There’ll be plenty of nights for that to happen. Tonight is all about Dewdrop. Rain would truly be happy to never cum again if it meant Dewdrop could finally live in pleasure instead of pain. Rain’s had his good times, he’s lived his life; Dewdrop’s is only just starting.

Dewdrop’s still in a state of awe. He did it. He got off. On just internal stimulation. A feat he truly never believed he’d be able to do, despite his years-long curiosity about it (okay, the base of the dildo relentlessly hitting his clit might have been part of it, but still, it’s all connected, right?). As he comes down from the first high of the night, Rain babbles nothing but praise, eager for his love not to drop after such an intense high. He knows how easy it would be- post nut clarity is no joke and Dewdrop’s worked himself up about this so much, it wouldn’t take a lot for him to spiral. To feel that shame creeping up, enveloping him in a thick coat of inescapable humiliation at him, a man, enjoying being fucked like a woman. So Rain doesn’t let it happen, showering him with enough praise to make anyone blush, rocking his dick against Dewdrop every so often to remind him that he’s desirable.

Hair sticks to Dewdrop’s face as he pants, still overcome with euphoria from the intensity of his orgasm. He suddenly feels himself clenching around nothing, opening his eyes to see the toy in Rain’s hand. Fuck- it’s dripping in cum and oh Rain’s bringing it up towards them, past Dewdrop’s face and he’s moaning as he takes it hungrily in his mouth, to the hilt, moaning into it. “Wanted to test the theory it taste even sweeter after the event, my love,”

“And…?” Dewdrop probes.

“What do you think, droplet?” The water ghoul smirks, brining the toy to Dewdrop’s swollen lips, “See for yourself.”

A tentative tongue makes its way to the tip of the dildo giving an exploratory lick. It’s not nice per se but there’s something about being able to taste his own release that makes it that much nicer. Still, he’s not sure it tastes divine but perhaps Rain is really that in love with him.

“Ready for round two?” Dewdrop questioned, a grin adorning his blissed out face.

“Fuck- really? Anything for you, Dewdrop. How do you want it? Want me to pump you full again, or I could eat you out? Perhaps you-”

“-m not ready for you to touch me there yet I don’t think, sorry,” he blurts out and Rain’s heart sinks. Not at Dewdrop’s sentiment but that he feels sorry for it.

“My spitfire, that’s more than okay. You don’t ever have to be ready, this is already more than I ever imagined we’d do together. Satan, I’m so lucky to have you. Want to try the vibe instead?”

And just like that, Dewdrop’s inspecting the vibrator, hands travelling over the plane of the toy, feeling the ridges before testing the mechanism. Slowly twisting the dial at the bottom, wondering if it’s broken until- buzz. It’s intense, the blood being drained from his fingers as the toy throbs in his hand.

“Easy, Dewbug, we’ll start off slow and build up to that. Trust me, I know what I’m doing,” and Dewdrop does trust him. It’s finally sinking in that Rain truly does have Dewdrop’s best interests at heart.

Dewdrop spreads his legs once more, cool air hitting his clit despite it being almost hidden beneath his curls. He clenches on instinct, cringing when he feels another glob of his release make its way to the pool collecting on Rain’s lithe body. It surprises him. He doesn’t feel disgust or shame at his body’s response to the fucking incredible action of Rain’s hand, he feels proud he was able to cum for Rain, to be a good boy.

“Fuck baby, still leaking, huh? So good for me,” Rain whispers.

With that, Dewdrop hears the familiar rumble of the vibrator. A sleek, black thing, phallic in size but not in aesthetic. The mechanical whir fills the room, though it’s not as overbearing as when Dewdrop cranked the dial all the way, it’s a more subtle hum.

Rain hesitates, bringing a hand up to rest on Dewdrop’s stomach, “Droplet, can I touch you?” he asks.

“You just fucked me silly with a dildo, of course you can do it with the vibe,” Dewdrop replies, enamoured by his mate but slightly confused nonetheless.

“I mean- your uhm chest, Dewdrop. Want to feel your heart beat as I take you apart.”

He ponders, the purr of the motor a backdrop to his thoughts. It’s not like Rain would see his chest, or even really feel it, hidden behind the thick wall of his binder. And thinking about it, even if he did, Dewdrop’s not sure he’d mind. Rain’s carved out their time together as a place for Dewdrop to truly be himself. The offer has always been there to not bind, to raise his voice back to its natural pitch, Rain made it unequivocally clear that he doesn’t mind. But Dewdrop always has, until now.

A small nod accompanied with a hushed yes is all Rain needs to start. After years of spending almost every waking moment together, Rain knows when his mate is being sincere. Enthusiastic consent is the only consent is a great general rule but their connection goes deeper. The non-verbal signs, the way Dewdrop’s breathing steadies when he feels safe and his eyes search for Rain’s to ground himself. The way his eyes scrunch and his lips curl up almost imperceptibly when he’s around Rain. It’s not apprehension, it’s nervous excitement about experiencing yet another new sensation, even if it is through the plate of his binder. And Dewdrop knows Rain would never go further than he wants, not without explicitly asking. So he lies there safe in the knowledge that creeping fingers won’t find their way under the hem of his binder, but will freely roam atop it, mapping out Dewdrop’s contours.

Whimpers accompany Rain’s renewed movement, vibrator making feather light touches to Dewdrop’s dick as his other hand plants itself over the fire ghoul’s chest, the wide span covering him almost entirely. It’s like being jacked off by The Flash, the plastic beating down on his clit with an unrelenting pace while Rain keeps his hand steady, letting the toy do all the work. Moans fill the room as Dewdrop squirms atop Rain.

“Does it feel good, baby? Yeah? Keep making those noises for me, fuck.”

All the apprehension, the years of turmoil, only for Dewdrop to be a whimpering, writhing mess within an hour of getting his (and Rain’s) hands on himself. It’s funny really, in hindsight. And he’s glad he can finally indulge himself in these fantasies, that his mind allows him to enjoy himself.

With that thought, Rain’s deft hand cranks the dial, the buzz turning to a roar as the vibrator near shakes under Rain’s digits. Bringing it back down to Dewdrop’s clit, the fire ghoul shouts, “Oh fuck Rainy- shit- I- awgh- so much- I,” he’s trembling under Rain’s touch, hips bucking into the vibe, desperate to get off on the stimulation that’s both far too much and not enough.

The hand on Dewdrop’s chest begins to roam, firm touches tracing his body, committing it to memory. The first time of many, Rain’s sure, if the wanton moans leaving Dewdrop’s lips are any measure to go by. His hands brush over the light smattering of hair on Dew’s stomach and Satan below Rain wants to worship Dewdrop’s body forever, remind him each and every time just how fucking hot he is. It would be an endless back and forth of Rain smothering him in compliments and Dewdrop not believing a word. But perhaps with enough time, he’d come around.

Rain’s hands continue their ministrations as the squirming ghoul above him becomes louder with each circle of the vibrator around his dick. The water ghoul is just about to check in when Dewdrop interrupts him, “Close! Ah- shit- I’m about to cum- please- don’t stop- just like th- ahh fuck,” he hisses. It only spurs Rain on, increasing the pressure and finally turning the vibe up to the maximum intensity. Drawing circles around his clit, occasionally dipping below to gather Dewdrop’s pre and cum from his first orgasm. The slick noises that fill the room, combined with the insane amount of stimulation Dewdrop’s receiving, have him spilling almost instantly with a cry, “-m cumming, fuck Rainy thankyouthankyouthankyou fucking ahh.”

A minute passes, at most, before Rain is turning down the dial and smoothing his hand over Dewdrop’s binder, fixing it’s twisted state on his chest. Sure that his mate is finally satiated, now is definitely the time to make sure his mental state doesn’t drop in that post-orgasm haze. Cum-drunk is the best way to describe Dew, a wide smile on his face, eyes barely open, and chest heaving as he recovers from one of, if not the most, intense orgasms of his life.

“How are you feeling, droplet? You were so good, took it all so well.”

“I feel… like I want to go again. Want you to fill me up, fuck, that was so hot. I think I said it a moment ago but thank you for indulging me Rainy, there’s no one I’d rather pump me with a toy,” he finishes with a kiss blown to his mate.

Rain giggles at Dew’s sentiment, ever the romantic, “Maybe not tonight, sweetheart, already gone stiff, not sure I could guide you through another orgasm. And wouldn’t want you getting greedy, hmm?” He jokes.

Stiff, Dewdrop thinks, shifting in place to confirm his suspicion, shit he’s still hard. “Wait, don’t you want to get off? Only feels right after what you gave me.”

“I’ll be fine, handsome, there’s always tomorrow.”

An idea worms its way inside Dewdrop’s mind, “We could use the vibe, could jack you off, make you fuck my fist?”

And how could Rain so no to his puppy-eyed boyfriend and his incredulously horny suggestion. Dewdrop sits up, kneeling over Rain’s legs. Vibrator in hand, he starts it up and closes his fist around Rain’s weeping cock. Rain shudders at the sensation, at finally having something more than the friction against the small of Dewdrop’s back. It’s intense, the fire ghoul wasting no time in jacking the vibe up to the maximum setting, hell bent on just getting Rain off, and he isn’t complaining. “Oh Dewdrop I love you so much, fuck- don’t know what I’d do without you in my life- ahhh keep going, ‘m already close,”

“Aww baby, can’t keep going just a little longer? No? I don’t blame you, the show I put on was fucking hot, wasn’t it?” 

All Rain can do is nod fervently in response to Dewdrop’s questions. His ruddy head sliding through the fire ghoul’s slick hand, sliding up against the hard plastic of the vibrator. The mix of hot and cold drives him crazy as he utters more confessions of love to his mate. It’s not like it’s the first time he’s said it, but it feels so much more real, knowing he’s seen this vulnerable side of Dewdrop. The smaller ghoul always feared that if he let this side of himself be seen, he’d be left, upset and alone for eternity. Seeing that Rain still loves him after tonight, well fuck if that doesn’t encourage him to make Rain scream his name.

“Wanna hear you,” he mutters.

“Oh yeah, baby? What do you want to hear? You’re being such a good boy for me, gonna bust all over your hand.”

“Want you to say my name,” Dewdrop says, unsure if it’s a question or a statement, but Rain knows exactly what to do.

Dewdrop braces himself on Rain’s chest and the heat of his palm pushes Rain over the edge, “Oh Dew, fuck you treat me so well my Dewdrop, I fucking love you, don’t you ever forget it,” he cries out to anyone who could be listening, and he’s sure there are people getting their fix on the sounds emanating from the room. Dewdrop keeps his hand steady as ever, watching Rain’s cock spurt thick white ropes, seemingly endlessly, twitching as the water ghoul cants his hips with an ever waning intensity.

“Fuck, I love you too, Rain.”

And Dewdrop means it with no hesitation. He’s not sure any other person could have made tonight as incredible as Rain has. He’ll never understand what he did for Satan to reward him like this, but he doesn’t need to know, just having Rain is enough.

[midnight-vixn]

You want some thirsts?! Have a random sprinkling of headcanons from the smut fairy.

Satan growls. No moans, no gasps, not much talking. Just variations on growls, usually the deep bass-y rumble deep in his chest as he watches your face. He even growls his praise into your ear.

Asmodeus is an absolute GOD with his fingers and he'll play with you at any chance he gets. Under the table during a lesson? Don't mind him. RAD meeting? Best be quiet, gorgeous~. Movie night under a blanket? You'd better hope Mammon doesn't clock on.

Speaking of Mammon, he gets greedy for your pleasure. He's drawn one orgasm out of you, he wants more. More. MORE. It's like his brain switches off and he just needs you, his sin fully takes over and he just indulges in you until it's sated.

Diavolo loves having you "dressed" in dainty golden chains, jewels and precious gemstones. You're not his queen, you're his goddess, his deity, and he'll worship you the second you ask. He'll gift you with beautifully scented oils, perfumes and lotions that leave his bedsheets with a tiny lingering scent of you, even after they've been washed. Underneath your RAD uniform you just wear these little gold chains and jewellery so expensive it would make Mammon cry. But it's for Diavolo's eyes only.

Solomon is always in control. Whether he's on top or power bottoming. However, he's good at making you think you're in control. He keeps up the façade well until he starts getting close and the "switch" flips and the next thing you know you're pinned under him and he's absolutely feral above you. Smothering your face with kisses and giving bites to your neck as he wills himself to last just that bit longer as he enjoys your tightness around him.

Lucifer loves going down on you, maybe more than Beel, maybe. There's something about just playing with you that drives him insane. Maybe it's the fact you can't stop moaning his name with your fingers threaded into his hair. It's pure lust and passion, no thought going through your mind other than him and his name. That stokes a kind of pride in him that he's not felt in a long time. Knowing that you can think of nothing but him.

I had to physically lay down for a minute after reading all these sldksksk

I’m a firm believer that all the boys growl if you get them worked up enough during sex but Satan growling the most is so fitting!! He has this primal instinct that comes out when he fucks (I think Beel growls just as much)

Yesssss Asmo being willing to play with you/please you literally whenever you ask is such 🤤 the same goes reversed though, he’ll let you touch him whenever you want he has zero shame, though he prefers to be in his room where things can get extra steamy he’ll gladly let you rub his growing erection under the desk in class.

Oh yes yes yessss Mammon is soooo greedy for you!!! For your kiss, your touch, your taste, he constantly needs more!! If you think you’re only fucking for one round with him you’re sorely mistaken

Oh goooood Diavolo showering you in riches, gifting you expensive dainty jewelry to wear, maybe even expensive lingerie to wear under you uniform and only he knows about it. Mmmmm Diavolo who buys you a choker/collar with a little heart charm that has a D engraved on it 😵‍💫🤤 just so everyone knows who you belong to.

Solomon is a switch you’re right say it louder👏🏻 he loves to be under you and watch your fucked out face as he fills you up but will just as quickly flip you over and ram into you like a toy.

Lucifer being so in love with eating you out that if you give him a certain look and spread your legs apart he’s instantly hard. He’s pulling you away to the nearest vacant room and pulling your underwear off so he can worship you with his tongue.

[bumblinv]

---  omaticayan (house) cats ☆ﾟ.*･｡ﾟ

feauturing neteyam, kiri, lo’ak, tuk

headcanons of them as literal house cats bc the entire omaticaya clan are just 3-meters-tall, walking, blue forests cats with bows. change. my. mind.

: ̗̀➛ tuk ; tabby kitten

“what breed is she?” 

“just a little girl”

you don’t know her exact breed

no one can blame you tho, she was jus a baby left by her mother in your backyard, that you took in

could be a mix of all sort of breeds, but to you, tuk was your little girl 

the moment you took her in, she was severely malnourished. so you feed her with your own hands, bathe her, sleep with her each night

she was like your own child

and you’re ready to fight every single person in this planet if someone dare to lift a finger againts her

the bravest little kitten you’ve ever know

but the silliest too, 

her entire body went wet as she got in, headfirst, into her bowl when she first learned to eat wet food

and one time she jumped into your aquarium to ‘catch’ the fishes

she would snatch pieces of wings from your plate and holds on it for her dear life when you tried to take it away from her </3

you would crochet matching hats for you and her

overall, the best lil girl ever

_

: ̗̀➛ lo’ak ; bengal cat

do i need to say more

he’d run all over the house, pouncing at every moving thing in sight, playing with his toys for hours, and getting to high places you never knew he could reach

one time he somehow got to the house’s roof. it freaked you out

you were convinced that this little bundle of energy is literally a cheerful puppy in cat’s clothing

with his adorable little coat, that took some time to put on, you take him to the park each morning. this is mandatory, or else he’s too energize to sleep at night and would start knocking things over at 3am (wich you learned the hard way)

at the park, his curious self would sniff everything and anything. a tree, a man’s leg, until he got too curious to a little winged fella, that a pigeon once pecked him on the head

he befriended every single dog and cat around the park, but would get a little salty if new people tried to touch him

at night, when finally, his energy went to 0%, he got cuddly. really cuddly, he sticks to you like glue

and i know he would sleep on your chest and suffocates you in your sleep

_

: ̗̀➛ kiri ; persian cat

she so bougie ngl

and a little moody too

you wont need an alaram clock, cause every morning, at the exact same time, she would sit on your face and starts screaming for food

i hope your wallet thick as hell cause i know she would only eat whole foods, like those healthy (and super fucking pricy) food rich cat persons feed their cats

kiri right there eating salmon and chicken breasts, and you’re left slurping your sad instant ramen 

things we do for our cats ammirite

half of your life savings went to her

from grooming money, for buying her expensive foods and vitamins, to all her essentials like her high tech self cleaning litter box(?)

she spoiled as hell

but i know she still has the audacity to scratch your hand and legs

don’t get me wrong, she loves you. the two things she dislikes the least was you and the big blue fish living in your pond (it was rotxo) 

_

: ̗̀➛ neteyam ; golden retriever

I KNOW I SAID CATS

but none of yall could deny

even as a person, he got that golden retriever personality 

always have a smile on his face, tail wagging every time

calm and loving, 

would befriend every other animal you foster, you sometimes find them all cuddled up together

have i mention that he loves cuddling? 

but remember he’s huge

would crush you every time he cuddles into your lap

but you never minded, cause he’s the sweetest, most gentle giant 

[veedestinysblog]

𝐒𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧?........

You and miles have been dating for over 4months and those past months were the best, but lately he's been acting weird more than usual. He's been replying late to your texts, never picking up he's calls not from you neither he's mom, which considered you since he would never ignore his mother.

He also been canceling date nights , anniversarys, party's for his moms promotion or when that one time he come 4 hours late to your big basketball tournament , it was the biggest moment of your life and he had missed it, you have had enough off this and you knew what you had to do but it would have torn you apart.

I know haven't been posting for like almost two years, it mad crazy, I'm truly sorry for not posting, I might make a second of this if I'm not a lazy ass bitch but yeah. I love y'all and thanks for the support on the last two, byezz my loves, leave a like and follow if not I'll find your grandma. (Btw I'm joking do not banned me please🙏 😭)

( e42miles fic)

•𝑷𝒂𝒓𝒕𝟏•𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕𝟐•𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕𝟑•𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕𝟒•𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕𝟓•𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕𝟔•𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕𝟕•𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕𝟕•𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕𝟖•𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕𝟗•𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕𝟏𝟎•𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕𝟏𝟏•𝑷𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝟏𝟐•𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕𝟏𝟑

𝑁𝑒𝑤 𝑌𝑜𝑟𝑘 𝐶𝑖𝑡𝑦 ; 𝐵𝑟𝑜𝑜𝑘𝑙𝑦𝑛

𝑆𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑜𝑠 𝐷𝑖𝑎𝑠 𝑅𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑡

𝑆𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑑𝑎𝑦;12:30𝑝𝑚

It was almost pass midnight and miles was still no where found, try texting, calling, even e-mailing yet still no response, I was starting to get worried, as I sat there with puffery eye, dry throat with a lump , slowly watching the clock pass time, each tik repeated over over through room, each one louder than the last , as my eyes began to get heavier as just as felt them bout to close I heard a knock at the front door.

As I slowly picked myself up from the couch and walked towards the front door, as my hand slowly touched the handle of the door nob the coldnees from the metal sending chills towards my warm soft hand, as I gently turned the nob,my heart racing so faster it probably could have been heard right out of my chest, as my hands began to shake uncontrollably, as I swallowed hard licking my lips, as I took a deep breathe in and out as I then opened the door. As a familiar set of braids come into view my heart immediately started racing, my breathe becoming uneasy, as the full features than came into view, I knew it was now or never.

As he stood in front of me with those beautiful hazel golden eyes, as I followed down to his hands , he held a banquet of my favorite flowers, and in the another hand was all of my favorites , a box of chocolates, name brand clothes and jewelry, a teddy bear and snacks of all kind. I mean it's sweet but he can't keep buying his way out of things, beside how does he even have money for them? , my eyes slowly met his gaze which just made me tear up, that smirk he once had quickly disappeared the moment he saw how upset I was, I then walked away towards the kitchen as he followed behind not before putting everything down and closing the door behind him. As I reach the kitchen, I played nervous with the necklace he got me for my birthday last year, as I wipe the tear away and opened the refrigerator reaching for the bottle of cold tequila, I then walked around the tables island towards the sink to open the bottle while he stood by the frame of the kitchen.

As I felt his eyes burn hole in the back of my head, as I brought the bottle towards my lips feeling that burn go down my throat from the liquor, as I swallowed not before turning towards him, as my eyes began to fill with tears creating my vision to become blurry, his expression fill with confusion and considen towards me and my actions, " mami don't do this " he said in a low dangerous way, as I looked him dead in the eyes and taking another sip of tequila show him I didn't need to listen, " where were you?" As the sound of my voice echo through out the house, as he chose to stay quite, the sound of my breathe becoming more clean, as the wind blew the trees breaches against the glass against the window, as if this were a horror film, as I tapped my finger nails against the wood of the tables island repeatedly , as I felt my throat burn towards the liquor , I then inhaled not before bringing back the tequila towards my lips, as I was bout to take another sip, the bottle was pulled out of my hands and thrown in the garden can, as I was still in shock towards the action of miles, immediately felt range flow through me, as soon as my eyes met with his, I couldn't hold back anymore and immediately started to go off on him, "WHO THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?! " I screamed at him with anger, my blood boiling, my mind spinning, my eyes tears started falling like nothing, my heart racing at maximum speed, I felt faint, " ' who do I think I am ? ' , I'm your fucking boyfriend, and this is fucking not you, so better tell me what's going on?! " my body shaking, my hands sweating , my breathe uneasy, I couldn't think straight, I was about to have a break down right in front of him, but I can't make him see how valuable I am , as I felt my head spin even more I couldn't take it anymore,as I slowly walked towards him, looking deeply in his gaze as his features became more mutual with the dim lightening from the kitchen light.

As his eyes followed mine, searching for answers to why I was being this way , " do you know what today is? " I said in a low tone where it came out more of a whisper , the sound of sadness, sorrow, anger and frustration, his expression still confused towards my question, I thought I knew would this boy was, I thought he cared, loved me, but no matter how hard I try to keep this relationship a float, it will forever find away to sink to the bottom. The silence was so loud. I could practically hear all of the busy cars on the street, sound o birds, the sound of rain drops on the window, I took a deep breathe in and I knew this relationship has would never last so why try, " Hailey i-" as he wanted to speak I instantly cut him off, before he could even get a word out, " I think you should go " , I said trying my best to keep it together, try not to cry, I then broke eye contact, knowing that if I looked at him any longer I would be sobbing. I then back up keeping a few distance from us, as he blankly stare at me with glossy eyes, he looked deeply hurt from those exact words that had left my lips. I brought my arms over my chest as I keep my eyes towards the ground , the air around us becoming intense, " listen i-.... Look what ever I did I can make it up to I promise, please don't do this " I could hear the hurt and desperate in his voice, as much as it hurts I can't keep feeling like this isn't not healthy towards this relationship, it's toxic if he doesn't see that , then it can't really be up to him.

As tried my best to maintain my tears but it's just silently rolled down my cheeks, as I inhaled, my lungs taking in the cool air that surrounded us, my fingers tips gripping onto the material of the sweater I wore, hitting down on my bottom lip until I could taste the blood, my heart racing, I could feel the uncomfortably from this situation as he stared deeply into my warm gaze, " tell where you were miles" I said trying not to sound to hurt, if it has to end like this then he has to tell me why he wasn't here, why he didn't make time, what was so important that he can't bother to call or texts me back, my eyes began to burn from all the tears I had shade , I started to bite the inside of my cheek while nervesly playing with the 𝑴 necklace he brought me, as I clutch on to the necklace hard, the cold silver brushing against my warm hands, as I waited patiently for miles to answer wisely towards the practical question, "simplemente no puedo.. " he spoke in a low tone fill with miserable and dismal, why couldn't he not tell me?, why does he have no trust or faith in me?, he has been everything I have ever asked for yet, there was never truly trust between us, the silence around us created tension, thicker atmosphere a more disloyalty confidence, sometimes he made me believe or I thought was real but I guess it was all just fun and games.

I knew that at the end of the night I might not want to ever be in an situation like this ever again, I felt so hurt by him , I dont know if I will ever bring myself to love again, " then this conversation is over" I said not holding back anymore, not wanting to feel this way it not good for anyone, especially someone who you really thought one day would have been the father of your kids but they will always find a way fuck up something good, as I walked out of the kitchen and towards the door, walking fast down the halls while miles quickly followed behind, as I come close in view with the front door, reaching my hand towards the nob and turing it so now the door was wide open letting in the cold winter air, as I left the door open I bent down over to the gifts he bought me and shoved the items into his arms with full aggression, he knew what I was doing which why I saw tears pour from his peers, as I push him towards the door trying to get and his gifts out , he refuse to leave force himself back into the house, " no I'm not going " he said walking feather into the house, he now stood in front of me, as the wind blew through the door brushing against my skin letting the hair stand, my eyes stained with tears, as he keep his eyes on mine, " then tell me where you were " you could hear the sound of hurtful in my tone of sound, he walked closer decrease the distance between us, as I slowly backed up he just kept on coming closer making my heart racing extremely fast, my breathe caught in my throat making no air way to breath .

As my bare back was now pressed up against the cold wall, as he continue to looking deeper into my gaze, " do you really want to know " I couldn't tell if that was a threat or warning, as I nodded my head in a into agreement, as soon as I realized what I had just done immediately regret my response , my head started to spin lightly, which made everything now seem more complicated , as I tried my best to keep a force mind it hit me, " I'm...... The prowler.. " my heart started racing, my eyes wide at his words my entire body froze , my whole world had just been turned upside down, did I even know who he was, I felt nauseous, my stomach twist and turned, while my head kept on spinning , those words repeating over and over in my head.

The sweat dripping from my head, " what?.. " the soft tone in my voice, was filled with confusion, hurt and betraly, my eyes burning , my has shaking uncontrollably, my throat dried up , as I slowly walked away from him in complete fear, while holding my head in confusion, my surroundings started to spin around me making me sick to my stomach, as I stood near the staircase with my back towards him, " leave... " my vision began to blurrie while my face began to heat up, anger, miserable and dismal , I knew this hurts him more than me, he treated me with nothing but kindness, honestly, respect and care but I guess if you truly loved someone you would stay with them expect their lifestyle but in this case I can't be live in constant fear or to wake up one day that his no longer here, I wouldn't have been able to live with myself. As I could hear him walk closer towards me, I stared blanking at the stairs with tears felling, felt uneasy with him near, " m-miles... please leave.. " I said as I clutch onto my arm , digging my nails into the sensitive part of my skin, know there would be a mark, I was just tried of this toxic cycle of our relationship, this needed to stop, but God I'm going to miss those late night calls, those roll casters rides, those photo booth pics I keep in my phone case, those sick days we spend together, those in the class love notes that the teachers would get a annoyed with, those cheesy texts messages, those spa days with have when I'm either upset or sad a out something, those sunsets or sunrises we have and all of that is now going to disappear never again, he knew there was no point in him trying to argue my answer would have stayed the same .

The next thing I know he's out the door, and right after that door closed I busted out in tears, I cried none stop that I felt my heart was going to give in, I just sat there by the bottom of the stairs as my heartbreaking crys filled the quiet and empty house.

[thecurlyginger]

What does Gale like to do on hot summer days?

@the-real-housewives-of-waterdeep you are a blessing during my hour of need!

Well, well, well - with his golden tanned skin, I think it's safe to assume Gale, even with his proclivities toward reading and studying, has a tendency to venture outside - especially without the orb's ticking clock threatening a good time with the looming threat of its hungering bane. After all, what good was his adventure in the world outside his books, marvels physically before him and not mere description or illustration, if not to inspire Gale to embrace more?

Summer brings delicious fruit into the Waterdeep markets, and in the late morning (because he does not wake at an hour even neighboring sunrise), Gale will stroll to buy berries and stone-fruit, happily enjoying some of his bounty as he continues through. If a paperboy is among the carts and tents shouting the day's headlines, Gale is inclined to read up on the latest news of the city and the Sword Coast beyond, eager to comb the text for anything pertaining to his old companions.

Before you think him ill-prepared, rest assured that he sets aside his heavy robes and dons linen pants and light colored shirts to reflect the heat, further emphasizing the hue of his sun-kissed skin.

Now, if his darling Tav is beside him, Gale will dote on his spouse, ensuring that they're keeping cool, offering to conjure water at a moment's notice or indulge them both with flavored ices. There is no shortage of taverns to seek shade and a chilled ale in if they're caught outside when the sun is its cruelest in the early afternoon, but he's quick to lead them home so he can return to whatever book or lesson plan awaits him, lounging on the bench outside beside Tav, reading by the light of the sun setting and then his arcane lights at nightfall.

During the most blistering of summer evenings, when the darkness is not enough to snuff out the heat, he has no hesitancy in stripping to his underwear (or even less) with the windows open. And with his considerable talents at his disposal, a frost cantrip is easy to perform, ice at the ready to cool down... or perhaps warm up for the night's entertainment.

[the-iceni-bitch]

Watch as Our World Has Begun

Relationship: Jake Jensen x Ari Levinson (bear and cubby, NLLYL AU)

Words: ~2.6k

Summary: Their first time together is life changing.

Warnings: explicit language, explicit sexual content (m/m sex, anal fingering, lots of foreplay, unprotected anal sex but they both got tested beforehand, size kink, dirty talk), established relationship, first time together, so much fluff, declarations of love, all of the feelings, SMUT!! 18+ ONLY!!

A/N: I LOVE THEM! Oh my god, I’ve missed them so much. I actually wrote this all in one sitting and I hope you guys enjoy seeing our boys again!

I am no longer doing taglists so if you want to stay up to date on all my fics, follow my sideblog @the-iceni-library and turn on notifications!

Jake’s hands were shaking when he finished washing the last dish. He stared at the sink, trying to figure out what to do about the bear who was looming behind him.

Tonight was the night. He’d packed an overnight bag and everything. As soon as Ari said he wanted to make Jake dinner at his penthouse it had been like a clock started ticking down to when he was finally going to have his massive boyfriend inside him. It was about time, too. Five dates and two months later and he was ready to explode.

It helped that you had been there to hype Jake up. In fact, you’d been trying to get him underneath Ari pretty much since you got back from your honeymoon and we’re very annoyed that your efforts hadn’t paid off until now. But you were still there for Jake, you’d even managed to convince him to get waxed. He had never thought he would be the dude to get all of the hair in his taint ripped out, but you managed to convince him to do the weirdest shit. It did feel kind of nice, though.

“Baby.” Ari chuckled when Jake jumped about a foot in the air when he pressed his chest to his back, hushing the man when he made a soft sound of need and kissing his temple. “Do you wanna watch some TV or go get ready for bed?”

“Bed!” Jake blushed when he said it very enthusiastically, grinning sheepishly when Ari turned him around and gave him that gorgeous smile that made him melt. “I mean…”

“Oh, I know what you mean, cubby.” Ari cupped the younger man’s jaw and kissed him softly as he began to walk him back towards the bedroom. “Keep breathing, baby.”

“Whoops.” Jake giggled and blushed even more, moaning when Ari pressed his giant hand against the small of his back until he had to stand on his tiptoes while his man deepened the kiss. “Although, if you’re gonna kiss me like this, my lack of breath is not totally my fault.”

“Ugh, I love when you get sassy.” Ari slapped Jake’s ass with a playful growl before tossing the blonde onto the bed and crawling on top of him.

Neither of them could say anything when Ari smashed his lips to Jake’s and groaned, every inch of their bodies touching while their tongues met and Jake buried his hands in the older man’s hair. Jake couldn’t stop whimpering when Ari gripped his hips and rolled his body against his, sucking on Ari’s tongue and pulling on his hair as he wrapped his legs around that thick waist that spread into even thicker shoulders. Ari let out a deep purr that made Jake’s eyes roll all the way back, and it just went on when Jake whined so prettily he thought of going to buy a ring right then and there. But instead he just ducked lower to lick Jake’s throat.

Jake needed him so much, needed to feel his bare skin. He pushed Ari back just long enough to yank the man’s shirt over his head and gasp before Ari’s tongue was in his mouth again.

“Jesus Christ.” Jake groaned when Ari bit his jaw and he looked down at his bare torso, the golden tanned skin and the dark hair and the muscles. “How the fuck are you even real?”

“Look who’s talking.” Ari grinned at Jake when the blonde pushed his hair out of his face while he leaned over him, starting to slide his fingers under the edge of the younger man’s shirt so slowly. “With this tiny waist and your perky ass? You’re a little wet dream, cub.”

“You mean this ass?” Jake was finally starting to feel more relaxed, laughing softly when he rolled over and popped his ass up in the air so Ari could smack it again.

“You’re fucking adorable.” Ari leaned down and bit Jake’s ear, pushing the t-shirt over his baby’s head and starting to kiss his way down his spine until he reached the small of his back and paused. “Oh my god, baby… you have a tramp stamp?”

“Oh shit!” Just like that Jake’s nerves were back, trying to roll back over unsuccessfully while Ari stared at the tattoo he had completely forgotten he had until this moment. “It’s nothing!”

“Well now I’m extremely interested.” Ari laughed and nipped at Jake’s hip when the man groaned and buried his face in the pillows, furrowing his brow while he took in the intricate lettering that covered the small of Jake’s back. “It’s beautiful. I don’t recognize the language, what is it?”

“Elvish.” Jake’s voice was muffled when he kept his face buried in the pillow. Leave it to his nerdy impulses to derail what was supposed to be some mind blowing sex, he knew he should have gotten the thing removed.

“Uh-huh, and what does it say?” Ari kissed the tattoo lovingly and hummed against Jake’s skin when his baby huffed out a frustrated breath. “C’mon cub, I’m not gonna leave it alone.”

“Fine.” Jake looked at his boyfriend over his shoulder and blushed beet red, rubbing his eyes and sighing before going into the ridiculous details of his stupid tattoo. “Just remember that I was drunk when I got it. Have you seen or read the Lord of the Rings?” Jake spluttered when Ari shook his head and had to blink a few times to recenter himself. “Okay, well… we’ll fix that later. Anyway, there’s a riddle to get into the mine of Moria and I thought it would be hilarious to put the riddle right above my ass… it says ‘Speak friend and enter.’”

The look on Ari’s face was unreadable and it made Jake want to hide under the covers and never leave. Then his man started turning red, and then his body started shaking, and all of a sudden he was laughing uncontrollably and Jake couldn’t help but join him.

“Stop laughing! Ari!” Jake’s sides started hurting he was wheezing so hard, but he loved the sound of Ari’s laugh more than anything in the world. “My twenties were kinda crazy, I would do anything on a dare!”

“Aww, baby!” Ari guffawed and rubbed his cheek into the small of Jake’s back before climbing back up the man’s body and kissing his cheek. “I love you so fucking much, oh my god.”

“You… what?!” Jake felt like he had emotional whiplash with all the left turns this night kept taking. He had not expected to get the first declaration of this man’s love for him after revealing his ill advised tattoo. “You love me?”

“I mean… yeah.” Ari’s gaze was soft when he finally managed to take a deep breath, turning Jake over and resting his forehead against the blonde’s while he licked his lips. “I love you a lot. Like… endgame love.”

“Oh…” And just like that Jake felt like he was floating on air, his heart thumping against his ribs so hard he was worried they were going to break. “I love you too.”

“Yeah?” Ari kissed Jake tenderly and sighed when he nodded, holding him close and sliding his tongue between his lips while they started grinding against each other again. “Say it again, baby.”

“I love you.” Jake moaned when Ari sucked a bruise against his jaw and reached to grab the lube from the bedside table. “I love you, Ari.”

“I love you, Jake.” Ari started undoing Jake’s jeans when the younger man whined with need, biting his collarbone gently when he felt Jake’s fingers working at his fly in turn. “I fucking love you.”

Jake arched his hips and panted desperately while Ari tugged off his jeans and boxer briefs, pushing Ari’s pants off as well and keening when he felt the heavy weight of the older man’s cock resting against his hip. He already knew this was it for him, he was a goner for this man. And he’d never been happier.

“Baby, you’re so smooth, Jesus.” Ari growled against Jake’s cheek when he lubed up his fingers and slid them between Jake’s legs, rubbing their noses together when Jake hitched a knee over his hip to open himself up more. “You do all that for me baby?”

“Mmhm, yeah… ooooooh my god.” Jake’s breath hitched when just one of Ari’s thick fingers slipped inside his clenching hole, his head tilting back so the older man could lick and suck at his throat. “Ohmyfuckingjesuschrist…”

“Yeah, that’s so good, Jake.” Ari cupped the back of Jake’s head while he kept stretching him open, pressing gentle kisses over his neck and jaw while the blonde whined. “Right there?”

“Yes… ah shit!” Jake was going to lose his mind and they hadn’t even gotten to the second finger yet. But Ari was already rubbing his prostate while his thumb teased his taint and it was utterly unfair how good this man was at sex.

“Shhh, relax. Breathe for me, cubby.” Ari slid in a second finger and smiled against Jake’s skin when he felt the younger man’s cock twitch against his thigh. “Oh honey, gonna make me addicted to making you feel good, that look on your face. You’re so goddamn perfect.”

Jake couldn’t answer him, he could only moan stupidly when Ari pressed his thumb into his taint harder while he scissored his fingers. If this was how he was feeling from just prep, how was it going to be once Ari was inside him? He couldn’t dwell on that thought, though, because suddenly there was a third finger stretching him wide and holy fucking shit the man’s fingers were thicker than most of the cocks Jake had taken in his life.

Ari sucked on that sensitive spot behind Jake’s ear and the man’s entire body arched off the bed. The blonde started babbling mindlessly, begging Ari for more, telling him he was ready. He was practically sobbing, he needed his bear so bad.

“Please… oh god…” Jake shook and bit his lips when Ari curled his fingers one last time, turning his head so he could rub his nose against a bearded cheek while he whimpered pathetically. “Ari…”

“You ready for me, Jake?” Ari rolled until he was laying on top of Jake, smiling when the blonde nodded as he pulled his fingers out of him.

The two of them gazed deeply into each other’s eyes while Ari pushed Jake’s knees up towards his chest with just one massive hand while the other smeared lube all over his throbbing cock. Neither of them said anything about it, but they were both unbelievably happy that they had gotten tested before tonight so a condom wasn’t needed. All they wanted was to feel every inch of each other with no barriers, and now they would.

Ari’s eyes were intense as he lined himself up with Jake’s hole, his broad chest pressing against Jake’s knees while he swallowed Jake’s breaths. He pushed his hips forward slowly, screwing his eyes closed and letting out a low, guttural noise when the tip of his cock caught on Jake’s rim for just a second before sliding inside. The way Jake clutched at his shoulders and choked only made things more intense, the two of them holding on for dear life as their bodies joined.

“Oh god, baby…” Ari shuddered when his hips met the backs of Jake’s thighs, grinning like a fool and cupping the younger man’s face in his hands while he breathed deeply. “You feel so fucking good, Jake, you okay?”

“Yeah…”

Jake was more than okay. He ran his hands up Ari’s shoulders until they were tangled in his hair, gasping into his mouth when he began giving small thrusts of his hips. The movements Ari made were smooth and sensuous, deep strokes that seemed designed to make Jake feel everything. It should be unnatural that someone could move like that, that someone so large could be so deliberate and delicate with someone else. But there was very little that was natural about Ari Levinson.

“There ya go… look at you, baby.” Ari held Jake’s head so tenderly as his movements grew more pronounced, kissing the corner of his mouth while he dug his knees into the mattress and leaned into it. “Tell me how you’re feeling, cub, lemme hear it.”

“I feel… feel so good… so fucking good, Ari.” Jake almost choked on his own tongue when Ari ground into him deep, pulling on the older man’s hair and arching his back to meet Ari’s thrusts. “Oh god, you’re so deep, don’t stop.”

“Never.” Ari leaned back for just a second, letting Jake wind his legs around his waist before pressing their bodies together again and kissing the younger man’s collarbone. “I’ll never stop, Jake. I love you, tell me you love me.”

“Love you.” Jake whimpered when Ari gave a pointed thrust of his hips, his wide stretched hole fluttering around the older man’s thick cock when he started getting sloppy and desperate with his movements. “Love you so fucking much, oh my fucking god.”

Jake didn’t think he would ever be able to stop saying it. His life was forever changed from this moment onwards. There was no picture of his future he could come up with that didn’t have Ari in it, that didn’t involve him underneath this man as often as possible and giving himself over to him completely. He felt like his cock was in his throat, like his guts were getting constantly rearranged in addition to his heart.

Ari moved his face back to Jake’s as he started thrusting faster, his firm abdomen rubbing against Jake’s leaking cock while he rested his forehead against the blonde’s. He kept his eyes fixed on Jake’s as he kissed him deeply, smiling against his lips and groaning when he felt Jake starting to clench. His thumbs ran over Jake’s cheeks lovingly, his breath leaving him in a low grunt when Jake looked at him with those big blue eyes as he started moving more vigorously when he felt Jake’s body getting tighter.

“Give it to me, Jake.” Ari growled when Jake squeezed his waist with his lithe thighs, his lips insistent while he punched his cock into his boy’s tight little hole. “Oh fuck, I wanna feel you come for me, cubby. Please, baby.”

The sound of Ari begging him pushed Jake over the edge with a shout, his cum exploding out of the tip of his cock when Ari drove against his prostate and made his body arch off the bed. His eyes rolled back in his skull and he threw his head back as he sobbed through his orgasm, Ari’s lips on his throat and his groan making his entire body vibrate while he kept clenching and fluttering around Ari’s fat cock. Jake moaned when Ari started to swell inside him, wrapping his legs even tighter around Ari’s waist as the older man nipped at his bottom lip.

“I want it, bear.” Jake licked Ari’s lips and brushed their noses together. “Come inside me.”

“Whatever you want, cubby.” Ari ground his hips deep and pressed his palms against the mattress on either side of Jake’s head, grunting as his movements started to stutter before he started to tense up. “Always whatever you want.”

Ari tossed his head back and practically roared as his cum flooded Jake’s ass, his eyes screwing shut while he vibrated and pumped his seed as deep as possible. That was a sight Jake decided he was never going to get enough of, the way Ari’s body rolled and his tongue flicked over his lips as he made those delicious noises perhaps the most beautiful thing he’d experienced in his life. Jake smiled and huffed out a breath when Ari collapsed on top of him, laughing when his bear growled pleasantly and nuzzled into his throat.

“Mmm, that was incredible.” Jake sighed and let himself melt into the bed, purring when Ari wrapped his arms around him. “I think you may have broken my brain a little bit.”

“Yeah? Well I love that.” Ari grinned when he gently kissed Jake’s lips, chuckling when he rolled so Jake was laying on top of him. “And I didn’t even need to solve that riddle.”

[crimeronan]

Yknow if Vee gets the idea that Luz is a sadist /Before/ she asks Hunter for help, there is a world where the reason Hunter refuses to help her is because she says if he helps them escape, then Hunter can be free from both the Emperor and his equally cruel and evil Princess. Which just triggers Hunter's immediate "I Don't Fucking Trust You" reaction and he immediately rejects them, and fully buys into Belos saying the Basilisks are manipulative and deceitful creatures afterwards

i'm going back thru my inbox for blorbo things i forgot about and i do really Love this. vee is like hey i've noticed you're weird and nervous and clearly upset about hurting me!! i don't like hurting things either!! we are!! the!! same!! let's go somewhere that isn't full of people who like causing pain!!!!

this DOES have me thinking, like. AU of an AU. where vee Much more accurately clocks hunter's fear as being For luz, rather than Of luz. maybe hunter comes down with obvious injuries & vee is like "wow those look bad. he is going to kill you??" & hunter's like "i'm normal. and fine" & vee is like "ok. what happens to luz if you die"

i can see this being a pretty persuasive argument. especially because it's been Heavily implied that belos would regularly threaten luz behind closed doors to make hunter comply with shit.

POV you are fourteen-year-old princess luz noceda it's the middle of the night and your golden guard has just come into your room n said "okay i need you to pack a bag. and also.... to get cool about a bunch of stuff Really quickly,"