#i need to return to them. i forgot my roots

[foursaints]

taking notes, nodding thoughtfully while reading your lily thoughts and I realized I struggle to understand her as a character because everything she is in canon is so muddied by who she is in relation to everyone else. I want her to have a hermit era where she locks herself in her apartment every night learning some new little craft just for the satisfaction of mastering it and I want her to have a going out era where she’s at the bars every weekend and everyone’s watching her but she only dances with her friends and always goes home alone. Like I need to her to live her best life outside of who she is to other people, and see how that’s realized for her. What crafts would she learn behind closed doors, what’s her getting ready routine?

I’ve had friends who feel very much defined by who they are to other people and the expectations surrounding them and it’s interesting to question their conception of themselves - a lot of times, I’ve found they don’t have the words to describe themselves without invoking other people’s opinions of them, even if it’s just an attempt to diminish the reality of those opinions (ex. “I’m not *that* good at piano” etc etc). I want to know how Lily would describe herself and what she sees when she looks back on her accomplishments.

anyways. thank you always for your thoughts 💕

this is such a beautiful message, it’s so thoughtful and well-put. i agree that i find her challenging to pin down because she only (canonically) exists in relation to others but that struggle is what always brings me back to her…

i tend to see lily as profoundly lonely but in a secret way that only makes her more Singular. i think her private life (her getting ready routine!! her daily rituals!!) is extremely well-cultivated because she is used to being misunderstood/projected on but it’s the fact that she appears so self-sustaining that gives her that special halo she has. lily always has little private things it seems she’s doing just for herself (it’s to make the daily experience of Being Herself feel more bearable… she’s trying to assert borders on the nothingness by giving herself Things Lily Does) but it makes others want to watch her and guess at what she’s thinking.

the flipside of this question, to me, is also that it is addictive to be loved in the way that lily is. she doesn’t have a clear picture of who she is (profoundly lonely also means empty) and it can be freeing to have an outsider offer a flattering one for you: when she’s the object of love, she’s a beautiful intelligent witch and even apparent flaws like her temper become charming & palatable facets of this picture. it feels really good to be that girl.

i think it’s less a question of expectations and more one of definitions. her relationship with petunia interests me the most because her sister refuses to see her as Special, and if lily isn’t Special then she’s nothing at all. and that’s really horrifying but it’s also part of her reality.

to me, what happened to her (dying young and getting made into a saint, essentially) is the best thing that could have happened - because she in a sense escaped her own self and Became “that girl” permanently in collective memory. i think she’s pathologically committed to her own self-mythologizing and that’s an answer itself.

[vanteguccir]

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤSTURNIOLO'S GO TO THE SUPERMARKET * NATE DOE

SUMMARY　::　Where Y/N, younger sister of the triplets and Nate's girlfriend, participates on the 'Sturniolo Triplets go to Europe' video.

FEATURING　Nate Doe x sturniolo!reader　REQUESTED?　yes.

WARNINGS　::　none.

AUTHOR'S NOTE　::　that is my work, I DON'T authorize any form of plagiarism; copy, "inspiration" or translation! | english isn't my first language, so I'm sorry if there's any grammar error.

The car hummed softly as Chris maneuvered through the Burger King drive-thru lane, his hand resting lazily on the wheel. Matt sat in the passenger seat, holding the camera aimed casually toward the rest of the group while Nick sat directly behind Chris, leaning forward slightly to catch glimpses of the menu ahead. Nate was behind Matt with his arm draped comfortably over Y/N, who was nestled between him and Nick.

"You getting your apple pie, babe?" Nate asked, his voice low as he turned his head to Y/N, his thumb absentmindedly brushing over her shoulder.

She glanced up at him, her eyes sparkling with mock offense.

"When do I not get my apple pie?" She quipped, a playful smile tugging at her lips.

"Fair point." He said, chuckling, his pearly teeth making an appearance. Nick, overhearing, snorted.

"She’s literally more predictable than Chris when it comes to Pepsi." Nick teased, earning a playful nudge from Y/N.

"You're just jealous." Y/N shot back with a grin, sticking her tongue out at her older brother.

"Yeah, okay." He replied sarcastically. "Jealous of having a partner who steals half my fries every time we eat."

"Nate, blink twice if you need help." Chris chimed in, earning laughs from Matt.

"She doesn’t steal them." Nate answered Nick, purposefully ignoring Chris. "She claims what’s rightfully hers."

Y/N snorted as Matt turned to face the camera, raising an eyebrow.

"This is what we have to deal with every time we come to Boston, folks."

When they reached the intercom, Nick leaned forward with a gentle smile, his tone dripping with kindness.

"Hi! How are you?"

Y/N looked at the woman from above Nick's shoulder, quickly joining in.

"Oh, you’re the pretty woman who got our orders last time!" Her voice sounded warm and cheerful.

The woman on the other end chuckled.

"Back again, huh? Can you just... just give me one second?"

"Of course, no problem!"

As they waited, Nick turned to the rest of the car, holding up his phone.

"Okay, Matt, you’re getting two plain cheeseburgers. Nate, two plain cheeseburgers with pickles. Chris and Y/N, one plain cheeseburger each. Everybody’s getting fries. Chris wants a Dr. Pepper, Nathan wants root beer, and you’re splitting it with Y/N. Matt, you’re skipping soda. Y/N, you want an apple pie."

Everyone stared at him for a beat before nodding in unison.

"How do you remember that every time?" Nate asked, meeting Chris’s eyes through the rearview, widening his as if asking 'how crazy is he for that?'.

"Because none of you have the courage to make your own orders." Nick retorted smugly, folding his arms.

When the woman returned to the speaker, Y/N jumped in to help Nick relay the orders, letting him list the items while she clarified little details, like, "No ketchup on Matt's burger, please", and, "Yes, we want mayo packets".

Once it was finalized and paid for, they pulled forward, settling into a comfortable buzz of conversation while waiting for the food, the sound of Chris's fingers tapping the steering wheel with a rhythm only he could hear echoing as background noise.

Y/N leaned back against her seat, a realization look crossing her face.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you guys." She started, her voice soft but filled with excitement. "I talked to Breanna this morning. She’s so excited about the wedding. And honestly, the way she talks about Ryan..." She trailed off, shaking her head with a soft smile. "She just sounded so in love. It’s the sweetest thing. You can tell how happy they make each other. It’s amazing."

Nick nodded quickly, letting his phone fall from his hands to his lap, turning to Y/N.

"True! I texted her yesterday, and she told me about how Ryan's been so involved with the wedding planning." He commented. "I can't wait to see the decor-"

"I was the knight in shining armor in your-" Chris cut Nick's trail of though, singing a song that, apparently, was on his mind the whole day, showing how little attention he was paying them.

"Chris." Y/N interrupted sharply, rolling her eyes before looking at Nate with a 'is he being serious right now?' look. "Shut the fuck up. That’s the fourth time today."

Chris spun around in his seat dramatically, almost hitting Matt's hand still holding the camera.

"You shut the fuck up."

Before Y/N could fire back, Nick cut in, groaning loudly.

"Can you both shut your gay mouths, please?"

Chris cackled at Nick’s deadpan delivery.

"Nick, don’t call me that with your gay mouth... unless you want me to kiss you on that gay mouth."

"Great, now I forgot what I was saying." Y/N leaned back, sighing loudly.

Nate laughed at them, exchanging a shake of head with Matt while pulling Y/N closer.

Before long, their food was handed through the window, bags crinkling as Matt took them from Chris and carefully distributed everything while the youngest triplet found a space to park.

"Okay, who’s plain cheeseburger with pickles?" Matt asked, holding up a wrapper.

"That’s me." Nate said, taking both burgers with one hand while the other stayed firmly holding the cup full of Dr. Pepper.

As they began unwrapping their food, Matt reached over to steal a fry from Y/N’s box - which she had out on the car console, earning him a swat on the hand.

"Touch my fries again, and I���ll start charging you rent." She warned, narrowing her eyes.

The conversation turned light and casual as they ate, filled with the usual teasing and laughter, with comments directed to the camera. Between bites of her burger, Y/N turned to the group.

"So, are you guys excited? Milan, first fashion show, Prada? Kind of a big deal."

"Are you kidding?" Matt said, wiping his hands on a napkin. "It’s insane. I’m still trying to figure out why they invited us."

"Because you’re their model now, Matt. And they obviously also love Nick and Chris. Do you realize how many gifts you three received from them just in the last three months?" Y/N replied matter-of-factly.

Chris shrugged.

"She’s not wrong. I mean, we’re kind of a big deal there."

"She's right." Nate nodded, noticing that she had just taken the last bite of her cheeseburger. "Matt will be a real model in no time."

His hands were quick to leave his own second burger on top of his legs and pick Y/N's apple pie from the car console, opening the packaging carefully before taking the crumpled wrapper from her hands and tossing it into the paper bag at his feet, finally handing the sweet pie to her.

A bright smile stretched across her face, directed at him, silently thanking him before taking a bite.

"And I'll be waiting for Sebastian Stan's autograph."

　　　　　༻﹡﹡﹡﹡﹡﹡﹡༺

The bright fluorescent lights of the supermarket reflected off the aluminum cart Matt was pulling, the squeaky wheels occasionally echoing down the empty aisles. The five of them walked together, Chris holding the camera and making sure to record everything.

"All we need to think of is what we’re eating tonight, and then we’re leaving tomorrow." Nick said to the camera, his tone matter-of-fact.

Y/N, holding Nate’s hand tightly, froze mid-step. Her eyes widened as she turned to Nick, her expression a mix of shock and disappointment.

"Wait, no! Is it tomorrow already?" She asked, her voice laced with sadness. Her lips formed a pout as she stared at her older brother, the reality that she just had a few more days with her brothers before they went to Milan and their routine went back to the usual - them in LA, her in Boston - hitting her hard.

Nick turned his head to her, softening at her expression.

"Yeah." He said, almost apologetically. "Tomorrow is Saturday already, so we’ll have breakfast, lunch, and maybe dinner, depending on how late we leave."

Her shoulders slumped slightly, her pout deepening. Nick sighed softly before stepping by her side, putting his arm around her shoulders and pulling her against him as they kept walking.

"Come here, sweetheart." He muttered, ruffling her hair gently with his free hand. "Don’t look at me like that. You know we’ll be back soon."

Y/N let herself melt into the hug, though the pout didn’t leave her face.

"I just don’t want to be away from you guys again." She mumbled. "It’s been so nice having you here for so long."

Nate watched them with a soft smile, his hands buried on his hoodie pockets.

"We’ll miss you guys, you know? It’s been fun having all of you back." He added.

"We’ll be back in no time." Chris lowered the camera slightly, his tone unusually sincere. “Let’s not think about that now, though. Let’s enjoy the rest of these days, alright? We still have the whole wedding together."

Y/N nodded reluctantly, her spirits lifting slightly as Nick gave her a squeeze before letting her go. Nate reached for her hand again, threading his fingers through hers and giving her a reassuring squeeze.

They turned into an aisle lined with shelves of sweet treats, and Nick perked up instantly, scanning the options.

"I think we should get powdered donuts or something." He suggested, pointing to a shelf. "You guys like those, right? And then we should get milk and cereal." He looked at Chris and Matt expectantly, but neither answered, both seemingly distracted by something on the shelf opposite them. "Yeah?"

Noticing the silence, Nate chimed in, chuckling.

"Yeah, Nick, I agree. Powdered donuts sound good."

Chris snorted at Nate’s answer, glancing up from the camera.

"Yeah, sounds good." He said, finally catching on. Matt nodded in agreement, still looking at the random colorful items on the right shelf.

Y/N looked around them, quickly spotting the sweet treat. She wandered a few steps ahead, grabbing a pack for her brothers. As she walked back toward the group, she glanced at Nate.

"Babe, do we still have powdered donuts at home?" She asked him.

Nate frowned, seeming to think for a second before shaking his head slightly.

"Nah, it’s almost gone. I think there’s like one left."

Y/N frowned thoughtfully, then turned back to the shelf to grab an extra pack, tossing it into the cart.

"Alright, one for you guys, one for us."

Nick watched her as she added the donuts to the cart, then turned back to the camera.

"Okay, so tonight, we’re going to make pasta with sauce-"

"I want Mac N Cheese." Chris interrupted from behind the camera, speaking over him.

At the exact same time, Y/N also talked, turning to them from a shelf full of cookies that she adored.

"If you’re having pasta, I’m having dinner with you again."

Nick stopped mid-sentence, looking between them with exaggerated annoyance.

"Alright, listen." He said, holding up a hand to stop any further interruptions. "We can get mac n cheese to eat tomorrow..." He compromised. "And you both can stay with us tonight." He added, looking at Nate and Y/N. "Deal?"

Y/N beamed, her earlier sadness momentarily forgotten.

"Deal." She said, happily observing Matt grabbing a box of Mac N Cheese from the nearby shelf and placing it in the cart.

Chris turned the camera toward her with a grin.

"The way she’s acting like this is some grand negotiation is crazy."

"Because it is!" Y/N replied, laughing as she moved to stand beside Nate again.

"Y/N’s just excited to spend more time with us." Nathan slid an arm around her waist, pressing a light kiss to her temple.

"She loves us too much." Matt teased, earning an eye roll from his sister.

"Can’t argue with that." Y/N shot back with a grin.

Nick resumed his walk, pulling the cart and making his way to the front of the group as they approached the refrigerated section. Without a word, he reached for the milk, sliding two cartons into the cart Matt was pushing.

"Milk’s in." He announced to no one in particular, already walking again, pulling the cart with him this time.

The others followed behind, their laughter and chatter echoing softly.

As they passed the hygiene products aisle, Matt - who was looking around while talking to Y/N and Chris - slowed his pace, his mischievous grin already forming as he placed his hands heavily on Nate’s shoulders.

"Hey, shouldn’t you grab some condoms, Nate?" His voice carried just enough volume to catch the attention of the rest of the group, quickly bursting into exaggerated laughter, reacting as if he was the funniest person in the world.

Nate froze mid-step, his face going red as a chuckle immediately erupted from his throat.

"Bro, what?" He choked out, his tone both incredulous and amused.

Y/N, walking beside Chris, immediately rolled her eyes, clearly used to Matt’s way. But instead of letting the comment slide, she crossed her arms and tilted her head with a sly smirk.

"Nah, we don’t need them anymore." She quipped, her tone light as if she was talking about the weather, keeping walking.

The air froze for a split second. Matt’s jaw dropped, Chris nearly dropped the camera, and Nick snapped his head around so fast it was a miracle he didn’t break his neck.

"Wait, what?" Nick blurted, his voice high-pitched and absolutely panicked as his wide eyes locked on Y/N.

Nate froze, blinking in confusion before looking at Y/N with a gaze that screamed 'you didn’t just say that', noticing the playful glint in her eye and the way she was trying not to laugh.

Matt, however, didn’t.

"Excuse me?" He shouted, his voice filled with a mixture of horror and disbelief. "You’re kidding, right? You’re kidding!" He gestured wildly between the couple, his eyes going from them to the camera in Chris's hands and back, clearly unsure if he wanted them to keep filming or put the camera down and probably faint.

Y/N, unable to keep a straight face anymore, burst out laughing, doubling over as she clung to Nate’s arm for support.

"Oh my God, you should see your faces!" She wheezed, her shoulders shaking as tears of laughter formed in her eyes. "I'm not pregnant. We're safe. It was a joke, Matt! A joke!"

Nick groaned, dragging a hand down his face in exasperation.

"You are the worst." He muttered, though his lips twitched like he was fighting back a smile, shaking his head while returning his walk.

Chris exhaled a long, dramatic breath, trying to steady the camera above his trembling fingers.

"What is wrong with you?" He asked, his voice still tinged with lingering panic. "I almost had a heart attack, you know?"

Nate chuckled, nodding his head as he looked down at Y/N, who was still laughing.

"You’re trouble." He teased, his tone soft and affectionate, kissing her temple softly before nuzzling her hair, exhaling the fresh scent of shampoo from their shower earlier. "Pure trouble."

Matt finally straightened up, pinching his nose bridge with his fingers.

"You're not my favorite sibling anymore after that." He affirmed, shaking his head.

Still giggling, Y/N waved her hand dismissively.

"You’ll get over it." She said, sealing her lips with Nate's for only a second before walking toward Nick, leaving the others behind.

"Anyone want juice?" Nick asked over his shoulder, his attention already shifting to the brightly colored juice aisle.

"Lemonade!" Matt called out immediately, forgetting about what had happened not even 5 minutes before, spinning on his heel and heading down the aisle without waiting for anyone to answer.

He grabbed a single plastic bottle of juice, walking just some steps closer to the group before placing the lemonade bottle in front of his covered crotch.

"Come drink it, Nate." He said, wiggling his eyebrows and holding the juice suggestively.

Nate let out a bark of laughter, shaking his head as he looked at Matt and then at Chris, who was with a disbelief look on his eyes.

"You’re sick." He said, his tone dripping with mock disgust, waving his hand at the triplet.

Y/N, who had just turned back to pick some apple juice for her, froze for a second, her eyes wide.

"Oh my fuck, Matt." She muttered, running a hand through her face before glancing at the camera. "Well, my boyfriend’s boyfriend, everyone." She said dryly, throwing a pointed look at Nate, who was still laughing.

Nick, who was now at the cart putting some strawberry yogurt in, looked up sharply at Matt's figure approaching with the juice still in front of his dick, his face stern.

"Matt, put it down." He said, his tone that of an annoyed parent dealing with a disobedient child.

Matt laughed harder, but he did as Nick said, setting the lemonade by the yogurt's side with an exaggerated sigh.

"You guys ruin all my fun." He muttered, though the smile never left his face.

Their next stop was the cereal aisle, where Chris immediately zeroed in on a brightly colored box of cereal.

"Fruit Loops Rainbow Sherbet Scoops." He read aloud, holding up the box so everyone could see. His tone was a mix of awe and disbelief while reading the small descriptions.

Nick wrinkled his nose, looking at it over Chris's shoulder for a second without stopping walking.

"That looks horrible-" He began, but Y/N cut him off, her face lighting up as she stepped forward.

"No, shut up, it looks cute! I want it." She said, her excitement clear as she moved to Chris’s side to get a closer look at the box. She tilted her head as she read the description over his shoulder. "Wait, it cools your mouth? That sounds so cool."

Chris grinned, passing her the box.

"Alright, it’s yours, kid." He said, handing it over like it was a prized trophy.

Nick sighed, though there was a hint of fondness in his expression, his eyes meeting Nate’s, who just shrugged as if to say 'there's nothing you can do besides accepting it, bro, I've tried'.

"Fine, put it in the cart." He said, waving a hand dismissively. "But don’t complain to me if it tastes like toothpaste."

"It won’t." She said, grinning.

After that, he group made their way to the pasta aisle. The shelves were stacked high with every type of pasta imaginable, from spaghetti to bowties, and Nick was quick to reach for a box of rigatoni and a jar of vodka sauce, stopping in front of the cart and holding them up for everyone to see.

"Okay, rigatoni and vodka sauce." He said, looking around the group. "Do you guys want to get a different pasta shape, or is this good-"

Before he could finish, Matt’s voice rang out from behind the camera in an exaggerated baby tone.

"I want ice cream sauce..." His voice was so ridiculous that it was impossible not to laugh, and he immediately broke into a fit of giggles at his own joke.

Nick’s expression didn’t falter, his face a mask of pure boredom as he glanced directly at Matt.

"You’re so funny, Matt." He deadpanned, rolling his eyes.

"I’m kidding." Matt said between chuckles, zooming the camera in on Nick’s annoyed face before panning back to the group.

Nick turned back to Y/N and Nate, ignoring Matt entirely.

"So, are you guys okay with this for dinner?" He asked, holding up the rigatoni and sauce again.

Y/N, standing close to Nate, was quick to respond.

"Nick, you know I love vodka sauce." She said, shrugging as she placed a hand on her hip. "You could’ve picked any pasta, and I’d still be happy."

Nate nodded in agreement, his hand resting lightly on Y/N’s lower back.

"Yeah, I fuck with it." He said with a grin, his casual tone earning a laugh from Chris behind the camera.

"Perfect." Nick said, tossing the items back into the cart. "Dinner settled. Let’s find a cashier and get out of here."

The group began walking toward the front of the store, their chatter light and easy as they weaved through the same aisles. They were almost at the registers when Matt, who had been walking beside Nick, suddenly froze mid-step.

"No way!" His tone was incredulous and loud. The abruptness of his reaction startled Nick, who jumped slightly, his hand tightening on the cart.

"What the hell, Matt?" Nick snapped, his tone exasperated as he turned to his brother.

But Matt wasn’t paying attention. His eyes were wide with excitement, and he bolted toward a nearby fridge like a kid in a candy store.

"Y/N, oh my God!" He shouted over his shoulder, his voice filled with pure glee. "Look at this!"

Y/N, initially confused by his sudden outburst, followed his gaze. When her eyes landed on what Matt was pointing at, her face lit up like a Christmas tree.

"No way!" She gasped, her excitement matching Matt’s as she grabbed Nate’s arm. "Babe, it’s apple cider!" She exclaimed, giving him a light shove before sprinting toward Matt.

"I can see that, angel." Nate's soft voice echoed from behind her, a laugh escaping his lips.

Matt was already standing by the fridge, practically bouncing on his heels as he pointed to the neatly lined rows of apple cider bottles.

"I thought it wasn’t the time of year anymore!" He said, his voice still filled with amazement as he grabbed one of the bottles and held it up for Y/N to see.

Y/N joined him, her eyes wide with joy as she stared at the cider.

"This is amazing!" She declared dramatically, picking up a bottle of her own and cradling it like it was a prized possession.

"Kids are losing it over apple cider." Chris said through his laughter, zooming in on Y/N and Matt, who looked like they’d just won the lottery.

Nick, who had finally caught up with the group, shook his head in disbelief.

"You two are ridiculous." He muttered, though there was a fondness in his voice as he watched his siblings freak out over something as simple as apple cider. "Are you actually going to drink that?"

"Absolutely." Y/N said without hesitation, handing the bottle to Nate, who rolled his eyes lovingly, taking it from her before putting it in the cart.

"We can come back after LA to get more, yeah?" He said softly, his voice low enough that only she could hear as his hand found her hair, brushing a strand out of her eyes.

Y/N opened the biggest smile, her eyes meeting his full of love.

"That would be awesome!" She exclaimed, making him laugh, nodding softly.

"Alright, let’s pay and go before these two decide to move into the store." Nick said, steering the cart toward the registers.

As they made their way to the checkout, Matt turned to Y/N.

"I call first sip when we open it."

"Not a chance." Y/N shot back, crossing her arms while frowning deeply.

"Over an apple cider." Chris said sarcastically, shaking his head as he filmed them bickering all the way to the registers.

© vanteguccir

[manmuncher777]

HANDY MAN

Neighbour!nanami x reader

18+ SMUT - name calling, degradation, thirst, p in v, unprotected sex, fingering, spanking.

- You offer nanami dinner as a thank you for all his help, but when the tension builds, dinner takes an unexpected turn..

A/n - my babies, I couldn’t be more thankful for all the love on my recent posts!!! Ive just hit 500 followers, I love that 500 of you lovely people took the time to follow me. So please take this offering as a thank you!! I hope you love it as much as I do, and please remember JJK/AOT REQS ARE OPEN!! Like seriously give me stuff to write before I tweak out

Nanami Kento was the perfect neighbor. The kind of man who never forgot to return a borrowed tool, who held the elevator door even if he was in a hurry, and who always offered a polite nod and quiet “good evening” when you crossed paths in the hallway. Reliable, considerate, and so steady it was almost maddening.

You’d noticed him the day you moved in—how could you not? Tall, broad-shouldered, with an air of quiet authority that made your stomach do somersaults every time he so much as glanced your way. But he was polite to a fault, never lingering too long in conversation, never crossing the line between friendly and personal.

Until the day your radiator broke.

You’d knocked on his door hesitantly, clutching a screwdriver you had no idea how to use and praying he wouldn’t think you were an absolute idiot. He’d answered almost immediately, sleeves rolled up, revealing forearms that looked like they could fix a lot more than just a radiator. You’d stumbled through your explanation, cheeks heating as you fumbled for the right words, but he’d only nodded, grabbed his toolbox, and followed you into your apartment without a second thought.

That was months ago. Since then, Nanami had become a quiet but consistent fixture in your life. A leaking faucet, a flickering lightbulb, a misaligned cabinet door—he handled them all with a calm efficiency that made you feel both grateful and hopelessly incompetent.

You’d offered to pay him, of course, but he’d waved it off with a dismissive hand. "It’s nothing," he’d said, his tone as smooth as his tie. "Just let me know if you need anything else."

And you had. Often.

You’d started baking for him as a way to say thank you. Cookies, muffins, the occasional pie—anything to feel like you were contributing something to the arrangement. He never complained, though you’d caught the ghost of a smile on his lips when you handed over a batch of freshly made banana bread last week.

Now, as you stood in your kitchen staring at the cursed garbage disposal that had decided to stop working, you couldn’t help but sigh. Your first instinct was to call the building maintenance, but the thought of a stranger rooting around in your sink made your skin crawl. You didn’t trust anyone else with your space—or, let’s face it, your dignity.

Your feet carried you to his front door almost automatically, and before you could overthink it, you knocked.

The door opened after a brief pause, and there he was, Nanami Kento in all his quiet, unflappable glory. He was dressed casually for once, a simple sweater that somehow still clung to his broad chest in a way that made your throat go dry. His hair was slightly tousled, as if he’d been running his hand through it, and he had the faintest shadow of stubble along his jawline.

"Good evening," he greeted, his voice deep and even, like the kind of bass that you felt in your chest more than you heard with your ears. "Do you need help with something?"

You offered him a sheepish smile, rubbing the back of your neck. "Uh, yeah. It’s the garbage disposal this time. I think I might have broken it."

He gave a slight chuckle—so slight you almost missed it—but there was no judgment in his gaze, only patience. "Let me grab my toolbox."

As he disappeared back into his apartment, you leaned against the doorframe and took a steadying breath. You’d grown used to his presence over the past few months, but that didn’t mean he didn’t still have the ability to set your pulse racing with a single look.

When he returned, toolbox in hand, he nodded toward your apartment. "Shall we?"

You stepped aside to let him in, watching as he made his way to your kitchen with the ease of someone who’d been there a hundred times before. You couldn’t help but notice the way his sweater stretched across his back as he bent over the sink, the muscles in his shoulders shifting under the fabric.

"You really don’t have to keep doing this," you said, leaning against the counter as he assessed the situation. "I feel bad always bothering you."

He glanced over his shoulder, his brow furrowing slightly. "It’s no bother," he said simply, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Besides, I’d rather help than have you try to fix it yourself and make it worse."

You huffed, crossing your arms over your chest. "I’m not that bad."

He turned back to the sink, but you caught the faintest twitch of his lips. "Of course not," he said dryly, reaching into the disposal with a confidence that made you feel completely out of your league.

As he worked, you found yourself watching him—really watching him. The way his hands moved with precision, the way his brow furrowed in concentration, the way his sleeves slid up just enough to reveal the corded strength of his forearms.

"Everything okay?" he asked, not looking up, but his voice carried a note of amusement that made your cheeks heat.

"Yeah, fine," you said quickly, tearing your eyes away and busying yourself with tidying the counter. But your mind was already racing, the domestic ease of the moment mixing with the low, steady tension that seemed to hum in the air whenever he was around

Cooking dinner has always been your escape, a way to unwind and lose yourself in the simple rhythm of chopping, stirring, and seasoning. Tonight’s meal smells divine—garlic, ginger, and soy sauce melding together in a sizzling pan of vegetables and noodles. You hum along to the low music playing from your speaker, entirely at ease as you finish plating the food.

But as you start washing up, the peaceful evening takes a turn.

The faucet groans, sputters, and then sprays a rogue jet of water that soaks your shirt. You jump back with a startled yelp, frantically twisting the knobs to no avail. Water drips steadily, mockingly, pooling around the base of the sink.

You let out a defeated sigh, leaning against the counter and glaring at the offending fixture. There’s only one solution—and only one person who comes to mind.

Pulling out your phone, you scroll to his name. Nanami Kento. The calm, reliable neighbor who’s been your go-to for everything from fixing a squeaky door to assembling your bookshelf. He’s the epitome of a gentleman, always courteous and collected, but beneath his polite demeanor is a man who’s effortlessly, almost devastatingly attractive.

Your thumb hovers over the call button for a moment. It’s late, and you hate to bother him again, but you know he won’t mind. Nanami never minds.

The phone barely rings twice before his deep, steady voice answers. “Hello?”

“Hi, Nanami,” you say, trying not to sound too frazzled. “I, uh… I hate to bother you, but my sink is leaking. It’s kind of a mess, and I have no idea what to do.”

There’s a soft sigh on the other end, one you can almost picture paired with the slight shake of his head. “I’ll be there in five minutes.”

“Thank you,” you breathe, relief washing over you.

True to his word, there’s a knock at your door less than five minutes later. When you open it, you’re greeted by the sight of him: sleeves rolled up to his elbows, toolbox in hand, and an expression of calm determination on his face.

“Good evening,” he says simply, stepping inside with an easy confidence that immediately puts you at ease.

You lead him to the kitchen, gesturing sheepishly at the sink. “It’s, uh, doing that thing again. I tried turning the knobs, but…”

“I see.” Nanami sets his toolbox down, crouching beside the sink to inspect the damage. His large frame fills the small kitchen, and you can’t help but notice the way his broad shoulders flex beneath the fabric of his shirt as he moves.

You try not to stare, busying yourself with wiping down the already-clean counter. But your gaze keeps wandering—trailing over the defined line of his jaw, the way his golden hair falls slightly out of place as he leans closer to the pipes. His hands, large and strong, move with precise efficiency, wielding tools like an extension of himself.

“You weren’t kidding,” he says after a moment, his voice breaking through your thoughts. “It’s worse than last time. Did you notice the dripping earlier, or did it start all at once?”

“Oh, um…” You blink, trying to focus. “I think it started all at once. I mean, it wasn’t doing this earlier, and then suddenly—” You gesture vaguely at the mess. “It just happened.”

Nanami hums thoughtfully, his brow furrowed in concentration as he works. The room is quiet except for the occasional clink of tools and the steady cadence of his voice as he explains what he’s doing.

“You’ve got a loose valve here,” he says, glancing up at you. “It’s a simple fix, but if it happens again, you might want to consider replacing the whole faucet.”

You nod, biting your lip as your eyes linger on the way his forearms flex with every turn of the wrench. He looks so composed, so effortlessly capable, that you can’t help but feel a little flustered.

“Thanks for coming over so quickly,” you say, hoping to fill the silence. “I feel like I’m always calling you for something.”

Nanami glances up again, his gaze steady and warm. “It’s no trouble. I’m happy to help.”

Your cheeks heat under his attention, and you quickly turn away, pretending to fuss with a towel. “Still, I really appreciate it. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

He doesn’t reply immediately, but you catch the faintest flicker of a smile as he turns back to the sink. “You’d manage,” he says after a moment. “But I’m glad I can make things easier for you.”

The casual intimacy of his words sends a flutter through your chest, and you busily tuck a strand of hair behind your ear, pretending you didn’t notice. But you did notice. You always notice

The minutes stretch on as he continues working, and the longer he’s there, the harder it becomes to ignore the tension humming beneath the surface. You’re hyperaware of his every movement, every quiet exhale, and the way his presence seems to fill the entire room.

By the time he finishes, your nerves are wound tight, and you’re clutching the towel in your hands like a lifeline. Nanami straightens up, rolling his sleeves back down with a practiced motion before turning to face you.

“All done,” he announces, his voice calm and steady as always.

“Thank you,” you say quickly, stepping closer. “You’re a lifesaver. Really.”

“It’s nothing,” he replies, brushing his hands off on a rag. “Just a simple fix.”

“Still,” you insist, unable to stop the words from spilling out. “I feel bad that you’re always helping me out. You should let me thank you properly sometime.”

Nanami raises an eyebrow, his expression unreadable. “There’s no need for that.”

“I mean it,” you say, a little more boldly this time. “Next time, at least stay for dinner or something. It’s the least I can do.”

For a moment, he’s silent, his gaze fixed on yours in a way that makes your heart race. Then, finally, he nods. “All right. I’ll hold you to that.”

His words hang in the air, heavier than they should be, and you can’t help but wonder if there’s something more lurking beneath his calm exterior. But before you can dwell on it, he picks up his toolbox and heads for the door, leaving you alone with your thoughts—and the faint scent of cedarwood lingering in the air.

As Nanami finishes cleaning up, wiping his hands on a towel with practiced efficiency, you catch yourself hesitating. The kitchen feels too quiet now, the weight of his presence filling the space even though he’s barely said a word. He’s so composed, so calm, and it’s that very quiet confidence that makes your heart race.

Before you can second-guess yourself, the words spill out. “You know… I made way too much dinner tonight. Would you like to stay and have some? As a thank you?”

Nanami pauses, his towel frozen mid-air. He looks at you, his honeyed gaze unreadable for a moment before it softens. “You’re sure?” he asks, his tone polite but warm, as if he’s already guessed your answer.

“Absolutely,” you insist, gesturing toward the plates on the counter. “It’s the least I can do. And besides…” You offer a sheepish smile. “It’d be nice to have some company.”

He doesn’t make you wait long for a reply. With a small nod, he sets the towel aside. “All right. I’d be happy to join you.”

You busy yourself plating the food, trying not to overthink the fact that Nanami Kento is about to sit down at your dining table. By the time you’ve poured two glasses of wine and taken a seat, the nerves in your chest have settled into a low, thrumming buzz.

He’s sitting across from you, shoulders broad and straight even as he relaxes slightly into the chair. The glow of the overhead light catches on his features, highlighting the strong line of his jaw and the subtle curve of his lips. You take a sip of wine, more to distract yourself than anything else.

“This smells wonderful,” he says, breaking the silence. His voice is smooth, steady, with a quiet sincerity that makes you feel like the effort you put into cooking was worth it.

“Thanks,” you reply, fidgeting slightly with your fork. “It’s just a stir-fry, nothing fancy.”

He raises an eyebrow, his gaze flicking up to meet yours. “Don’t undersell yourself. It looks like you put a lot of care into it.”

You can feel the blush creeping up your neck, and you quickly look down at your plate. “I just like to cook,” you mumble, hoping he doesn’t notice how flustered you’ve become.

But, of course, he notices.

“You’re sweet,” he says after a moment, his tone light but deliberate. “Always going out of your way to take care of people. I’ve noticed that about you.”

Your hand freezes mid-cut, and you glance up at him, unsure how to respond. The way he’s looking at you—steady, direct, but not overwhelming—makes your heart skip a beat.

“Well,” you say, attempting to deflect, “it’s the least I can do for someone who’s always fixing things around here. You’re like my personal handyman.”

Nanami chuckles softly, the sound low and warm, and you’re struck by how rare it is to hear him laugh. “I don’t mind,” he says simply. “It’s… nice, actually. Knowing I can be useful.”

“Useful?” You tilt your head, genuinely surprised. “You’re not just useful, Nanami. You’re—” You pause, searching for the right words. “You’re dependable. It’s a rare quality these days.”

There’s a flicker of something in his eyes, a quiet pride that he doesn’t vocalize but doesn’t hide either. He takes a sip of wine, and for a moment, the two of you fall into a comfortable silence, the tension simmering just below the surface.

“Do you always blush this easily?” he asks suddenly, his tone teasing but not unkind.

Your fork clatters against your plate, and you quickly press a hand to your cheek, which, of course, only makes the blush worse. “I—I’m not blushing,” you stammer, even though it’s a blatant lie.

Nanami leans back slightly in his chair, his gaze unwavering as he studies you. “It’s nothing to be embarrassed about,” he says, his voice low and steady. “It’s charming.”

The word charming rolls off his tongue with such ease that you’re left momentarily speechless. You take another sip of wine, hoping the alcohol will calm your nerves, but it only seems to amplify the way your heart pounds in your chest.

“You’re doing that on purpose,” you accuse softly, the words slipping out before you can stop them

He raises an eyebrow, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “Doing what?”

“Making me flustered,” you reply, refusing to meet his gaze. “You’re teasing me.”

His smile deepens, though his tone remains as gentlemanly as ever. “Am I? I didn’t realize I had that effect on you.”

You let out a huff, half-exasperated and half-embarrassed, but you can’t deny the way your pulse quickens under his attention. He’s so steady, so sure of himself, and it only makes your own nerves feel all the more pronounced.

“You’re not used to being teased, are you?” he asks, his voice softening slightly, though the teasing glint in his eyes remains.

“Not like this,” you admit quietly, fidgeting with the stem of your wine glass.

Nanami doesn’t reply immediately, but the way he looks at you—calm, steady, and undeniably masculine—speaks volumes. There’s something in his gaze that makes you feel seen, like he’s not just looking at you but through you, peeling back the layers of your carefully constructed composure.

And the worst part? You don’t mind it.

The conversation drifts into safer territory after that, but the tension lingers, crackling quietly beneath the surface. By the time you both finish eating, you’re acutely aware of how close he’s sitting, of the faint warmth radiating from his presence, and of the way your heart hasn’t stopped racing since he walked through the door.

As you stand to clear the plates, Nanami reaches out, his hand brushing against yours for just a moment. It’s such a small gesture, but the electricity it sends shooting through your veins is anything but small.

“Let me help,” he says, his voice quiet but firm.

You glance up at him, and for a moment, the world seems to shrink to just the two of you. His expression is calm, his gaze unwavering, but there’s a quiet intensity in his eyes that makes it impossible to look away.

“T-Thanks,” you manage to stammer, your cheeks flushing all over again as you hand him a plate.

And just like that, you realize that dinner was only the beginning.

The rhythmic sound of water running and dishes clinking fills the air, a domestic symphony that feels oddly intimate. Nanami stands close behind you, drying the plates and bowls you pass his way, his movements steady and methodical, just like everything else about him. He’s not in a hurry; he never is, and that unshakable calm only makes your pulse race more.

You try to focus on the task at hand—the dishes, the soap, the warm water—but it’s impossible with him standing so close. His presence is magnetic, his broad shoulders and quiet strength commanding every ounce of your attention. The occasional brush of his hand against yours when he takes a dish from you feels deliberate, calculated, like he knows exactly what he’s doing to you.

The plate in your hands is spotless by now, but you keep scrubbing, needing something to keep your hands busy. You tell yourself it’s just habit, that you’re not doing this to avoid turning around and meeting those piercing eyes of his. But then, his voice cuts through the quiet.

“You know,” he says, his tone low and tinged with amusement, “if you scrub that plate any harder, you might actually wear it down to nothing.”

You freeze, heat rushing to your face as you realize how long you’ve been working on the same plate. “I was just… making sure it’s clean,” you mumble, quickly rinsing it and passing it to him without looking up.

Nanami takes it from you, his large hand brushing against yours for just a second longer than necessary. He doesn’t say anything at first, but when you finally glance over your shoulder, you catch the faint smirk tugging at his lips.

“It’s clean enough,” he says gently, his tone teasing but not unkind. “Unless you’re trying to impress someone with your dishwashing skills.”

Your breath hitches, and you quickly turn back to the sink, grabbing another dish. “I’m not trying to impress anyone,” you reply, your voice higher than you’d like.

His chuckle is soft but rich, a sound that settles in your chest and makes your heart skip. “You’re a terrible liar,” he says simply, and you can hear the smile in his voice.

You grip the next dish a little too tightly, the soap making it slick in your hands. It slips, clattering against the sink with a loud clang, and you wince. Before you can recover, Nanami leans in, his chest brushing against your back as he reaches past you to steady it.

“You’re tense,” he murmurs, his voice impossibly close now, warm and steady in your ear. “Relax. It’s just dishes.”

It’s just dishes. But nothing about this moment feels casual or ordinary. His breath fans across your skin, his presence wrapping around you like a blanket, and you’re suddenly hyper-aware of how close he’s standing, how solid and warm he feels behind you.

“I’m fine,” you manage to say, though the words come out weaker than you intended.

“Are you?” he asks, his tone dipping lower, and there’s a quiet challenge in his voice that makes your knees feel unsteady.

You turn your head slightly, just enough to catch the edge of his gaze, and instantly regret it. His eyes are locked on you, sharp and focused, but there’s something else there too—something molten and heavy that makes your pulse flutter.

“You seem a little… distracted,” he continues, his lips curling into a faint smile. “Did I do something to make you nervous?”

Your grip on the next plate tightens, and you curse yourself silently. He’s teasing you, but not in a way that feels cruel. No, it’s worse—because it feels intentional, like he’s testing you, waiting to see how far he can push before you break.

“I’m not nervous,” you lie, rinsing the plate with more force than necessary.

His chuckle is quieter this time, but no less devastating. “Of course not,” he says, his voice a velvet hum that sends shivers down your spine. “You’re perfectly calm. That’s why you’ve been scrubbing the same spot for the last minute.”

Your cheeks burn, and you drop the plate into the drying rack with a little more force than necessary. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?” you mutter, finally turning to face him.

Nanami doesn’t even try to hide the smirk tugging at his lips. He leans back slightly, crossing his arms over his broad chest as he regards you with that maddeningly calm expression. “Maybe a little,” he admits, his voice light but laced with something heavier. “It’s… endearing.”

“Endearing?” you echo, your voice higher than you’d like.

He tilts his head slightly, his gaze steady as it sweeps over you. “The way you get flustered so easily,” he explains, his tone softer now, but no less intense. “It’s… refreshing.”

You swallow hard, your pulse pounding in your ears. There’s no hiding it now—he knows exactly what he’s doing to you, and the worst part is, you don’t want him to stop.

Before you can respond, he steps closer, closing the small distance between you in a way that feels both casual and deliberate. You have to tilt your head up to meet his gaze, and the sheer size of him—the breadth of his shoulders, the quiet power in the way he moves—leaves you breathless.

“You’re not used to being teased, are you?” he asks, his voice barely above a whisper now, his eyes locked on yours.

“I—” Your voice catches, and you realize too late that you’ve stepped back, your hips pressing against the edge of the counter. There’s nowhere else to go, and Nanami is still so close, his presence consuming every bit of space around you.

He leans in, just enough for you to feel the faintest brush of his breath against your skin. “Don’t worry,” he murmurs, his tone dipping lower, “I’ll go easy on you.”

Your heart feels like it’s about to burst out of your chest, and you can’t tell if you’re more terrified or exhilarated. All you know is that you’re standing on the edge of something, and there’s no turning back now.

The air between you is thick and suffocating, charged with something neither of you have spoken aloud but both of you feel. You’re pinned by his gaze, unable to move, unable to breathe, as if the weight of his presence alone is enough to keep you still.

Then, without warning, Nanami moves.

It happens so fast you barely register it. His large hands grip your waist, firm and unyielding, and you let out a small gasp as he lifts you as though you weigh nothing at all. In a matter of seconds, you’re perched on the counter, your legs dangling, your pulse roaring in your ears.

“Nanami—” you start, but the words are cut off the moment he steps between your legs, his hands still holding you steady, his grip both commanding and careful.

He leans in close, his face inches from yours, and for a moment, you think he’s going to say something. But then his lips are on yours, and the world tilts on its axis.

“Kento. Call me Kento, please”

The kiss is nothing like you’d imagined—though you’d imagined it more times than you care to admit. It’s not rushed or frantic; it’s slow and deliberate, the kind of kiss that pulls every ounce of air from your lungs and leaves you clinging to him for stability. His lips are soft but firm, moving against yours with a precision that makes your head spin.

His hands shift, one sliding to the small of your back, pulling you closer, while the other cradles the side of your face, his thumb brushing gently against your cheek. The contrast between the strength of his grip and the tenderness of his touch is intoxicating, and you find yourself melting into him, your hands instinctively gripping the fabric of his shirt.

When he finally pulls back, his forehead rests against yours, his breath warm and uneven against your lips. His eyes meet yours, and the intensity in his gaze sends a shiver down your spine.

“You’re going to drive me insane,” he murmurs, his voice low and rough, but there’s a softness there too, a quiet restraint that makes your chest ache.

You swallow hard, your fingers still fisting his shirt as if letting go would send you tumbling into the abyss. “Kento, I—”

He doesn’t let you finish. His lips are on yours again, hungrier this time, and the sheer force of it leaves you breathless. His hands explore your waist, your hips, the heat of his touch searing through the fabric of your clothes.

But even in his passion, there’s a control to him, a carefulness that speaks to his nature. He doesn’t rush or take more than you’re willing to give; he waits, letting you set the pace, letting you guide him.

Your hands slide up his chest, over the broad expanse of muscle that feels impossibly solid beneath your fingertips. You can feel the way his heart pounds beneath your palm, and the knowledge that you’re the cause of it sends a thrill through you.

When you finally break apart, both of you panting, your eyes meet again, and the corner of his mouth lifts in a small, almost bashful smile.

“I’ve wanted to do that for a while,” he admits, his voice barely above a whisper.

You let out a breathless laugh, your fingers still tangled in his shirt. “Me too,” you confess, your cheeks flushing with warmth.

His smile grows, and for a moment, you see a glimpse of something softer, something vulnerable in his expression. “Then let me do it again,” he murmurs, his lips brushing against yours once more.

And this time, when he kisses you, it feels like the start of something neither of you can stop

The dishes now forgotten about as Nanami presses himself between your legs, hands gripping your hips with a need. Your hands now making their way through his neat hair, pulling on the strands of gold, a few of them falling into his face. His lips pressed against yours so feverishly, this kiss was faster now, more passionate now as his hands travelled up your side, his touch burning through you skin.

Your deft fingers are toying with the hem of his shirt now, giving it a gentle tug, begging silently for him to remove it.

He breaks the kiss, and you worry you’ve taken it to far. But when you see that look on his face, his glistening lips and heaving chest you know you’re both thinking the same thing

“Do you want this?” he questions, his voice low and rough.

You couldn’t get your brain to function, too full of sinful thoughts to even produce a sentence. All you can do is nod as you stare hungrily at him, his slightly more disheveled look making him even more attractive.

“Use your words darling, I need to hear you say it.” He’s holding himself back, waiting for his chance. Trying to keep to his gentlemanly mentality, but as his eyes graze over you figure sat so prettily on that counter, he can feel it slipping.

“I want this, ken.” Your voice is hoarse from the intense kiss you just shared.

Ken.

Fuck.

God that sounded so good coming from you. He needed more

Next thing you know you feel the sharp bite of the cool wood of your kitchen table, Nanami had grabbed you, sitting you on the table as his mouth met yours again. He takes his shirt off throwing it somewhere in the room and fuck

Holy fucking fuck

You knew he was built, but oh my god.

He looked like something out of a romance novel, his tanned skin stretching beautifully over his muscles, tensing as he gripped on your body that was dwarfed by his. His forearms - the veins. His fucking abs and that delicious little trail of golden hair that started at his belly button. God you wanted to see where it went, but his trousers shielded it from view cruelly.

You could orgasm from just looking at him.

“Concentrate darling” he murmured against your lips, you could feel the smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. It wasn’t your fault he was built like some kind of Greek god. You could only muster a moan in response. that gave him a chance to slip his tongue on your mouth.

He couldn’t believe he finally had you like this, all the times he had gone home after repairing something for you, imaging how he could bend you over that counter you were leaning against while you watched him work, imagining how you would look as he eased himself inside you. And now here you where whimpering into his kisses. Fuck he could hardly think straight. He was trying to be respectful, but it was hard when you were biting his lips after his kisses.

Your own shirt was soon to join his in being discarded somewhere in the room. His bare skin against yours felt fucking amazing, he pulled you close around him, one of his muscular arms wrapping around your back. Your tits pressed up sluttily against his chest and he could feel himself hardening at the sensation.

You made a mental note tot thank yourself for wearing a skirt this evening, giving nanami easy access to the skin underneath.

His huge hands trailed down to your thighs, leaving goosebumps in their wake. Your legs spread so sweetly for his as he traced over the sensetive skin of your inner thighs, his hands teasing just like his tone as they refused to go any higher than the hem of your skirt. Just dancing at the end of the fabric.

You couldn’t stop yourself, your hand wrapping around his wrist as you pushed his hand up your skirt. He chuckled into the kiss as your eagerness.

With your legs spread so perfectly for him he was able to get a perfect view of your panties, he broke the kiss for a moment as he watched his hand bunch up the fabric of your skirt as it went further and further up your leg, stopping when he spotted the colour of your panties.

They so happened to be red, matching the beautiful floral lace material of your bra as well

Fucking hell

Of course you were wearing a matching set.

“Jesus christ sweetheart, anyone would think you’ve planned this.” He meant for his tone to be teasing, but with you silence and flushed face he knew there was some truth to this fact. God you were going to be the death of him, you were staring up at him like an angel, like you were the most innocent thing ever, but Nanami knew better.

“Shit- you did, didn’t you?” His hand was braver now, ghosting over your clothed pussy as he spoke, eyes never leaving your face. You gasped at the sensation, his touch was good, but not enough - you needed more

“Bet you’ve been breaking stuff around here huh?” Your hips bucking lightly, trying to meet his hand, to get him to apply a bit more pressure. He was lightly hovering over your clit now, he knew what he was doing to you.

“Ken-“ you went to beg him, but he cut you off. His hand pinning your hips to the table, stopping the pathetic humping.

“You naughty girl, messing around just to get me to come over.”

You were fucking gone at this point, your whole body must’ve been a shade of pink with how flustered he was making you. You never expected these sort of words to come out of his mouth, but you certainly weren’t complaining.

A sharp tug and you panties were gone, he fucking ripped them off you. You gasp as you stare at him pocketing the broken material.

“Such a dirty girl..” He trails off, entranced by the sight of your glistening cunt. His eyes were predatory, and you could see his resolve break.

His thick fingers swipe through the wetness of your folds and a echoing moan is ripped from you. He brings his fingers up, holding them in the dim light of the room as they glisten.

“So wet for your neighbour, sweetheart.” He smirks at you, fingers retreating to your begging cunt. delving through your slick folds as you can do nothing but take it, his hand still pinning any movement you attempt to make. The ease at which he was pinning you was an addition to your already fucked out brain.

His fingers quickly found your clit, drawing quick circles around the bundle or nerves. Your hands gripping at the tables edge, knuckles turning white as his movements never ceased.

His jaw tightening, god you were so fucking wet for him. Those gorgeous little whines that escaped you were noises he has only ever dreamed of. He knew he needed more immediately.

He didnt waste anytime before sinking his thick digits into you, relishing in the way your eyes shut and head dropped back, your teeth biting you lip despite the moan that sounded from you. You were wrapped so snug around him, he couldn’t stop from wondering how delicious it would feel as he slid each inch of his throbbing cock inside you.

His fingers reaching so much deeper than yours ever could, brushing against that spongey spot inside of you with each thrust, his palm pressed against you clit as he moved. You couldn’t help yourself. You reached for his muscular frame, pulling him into you as you clung into him. Your head hiding in his neck, crying out for him. Your nails digging into the muscles on his back

“F-fuck” You groaned out, you could hear the sounds you pussy was making as it greedily accepted Kento’s fingers.

“That’s it sweetheart, take it for me. Good girl” he whispers so reassuring, so sensual.

He’s only been fucking you on his fingers for a few minutes, but you could already feel your orgasm impending.

His fingers were like nothing you had ever felt before, better than any stupid toy you have bought, trying to imagine him while you were fucking yourself, better than any expensive vibrator.

“Ken-Please! Ah-‘ In that moment you didn’t know exactly what it was you were begging for, but you knew you just needed more. Your orgasm have never approached so strong before, your body tingling with excitement for the orgasm that was approaching. A smile on your fucked out face, a dry laugh interrupted by a moan. Fuck this was good.

Your manners never leaving you, even as you came on his fingers as he held you close, intense waves of pleasure wagging over your body as you shook. Even as your small frame trembled he didn’t stop, he wanted you to get the most out of how good you were feeling

“good girl” he kissed you head as your breathing started to slow, your chest heaving as you tried to suck in air. You can’t even remember the last time you had cum that hard - you don’t think you ever had.

Slowly pulling your head out of the crease of his neck, staring up at him with pure adoration in your eyes, it was enough for you to confess your love for him in that very moment. But it would be best to save that for later you thought.

“Im not finished with you yet love. Bend over this table and let me fix this leaking pussy of yours.” His voice was deep, laced with the lust that filled the air.

Without a second thought you comply, jumping down off the table, bending over. Soaked cunt on full display

Kento cursed himself mentally, it was going to be hard from holding himself back from splitting you in half. You were so good, too good. The way you listened so perfectly, and that look in your eyes after you came almost gave him a heart attack.

His warm hands tracing over the skin of your ass, kneading the plump skin between his hands. Relishing in the feeling of your perfectly soft skin. He couldn’t help and admire how perfect you looked for him.

You were practically quivering from excitement. You were so wet you were sure it was going to start leaking down your legs if ken didnt hurry up and fuck you. You let out a pathetic squeal as you heard the clinking of his belt as he finally freed himself

His throbbing cock standing tall as the rosy red tip leaked pre-cum, he didnt think he had ever been so hard before in his life. His cock begging to be shoved so deep inside of you it was making it hard for him to think straight.

You waited patiently as he lined himself up with your entrance, only to be disappointed to find he was just teasing you, he slowly drags himself through your wet fold, the stimulation wasn’t enough, but it still had you mewling for him like a bitch in heat.

Even nanami couldn’t take it much longer, watching your hips try and catch him, shuffling back in a silent beg for him to sheath himself inside you. Slowly, teasingly he slipped inside, only the first few inches. But I was enough to have you moaning out for him

“Fuck, More! Kentoooo.” You begged. It felt fucking amazing to finally have him inside, but you needed more and you weren’t feeling particularly patient about it. That delicious burn of the stretch of his girthy cock was only teasing you more. Your mind whirling with thoughts of him fucking you

Those thoughts soon silenced by a swift slap on your ass, leaving the skin blotting with shades of pink as you jolt forward at the sudden contact

“Oh? Where did your manners go pretty girl?” He smooths over the redden skin, admiring how good his handprint looked on your skin “or are you too full of cock to think?”

You’re whining underneath him now, who knew he could be so mean. You loved it. Your cock drunk brain only thinking about one thing as you tried to shimmy your hips back, forcing him further into you. Your hips stilled instantly when you recieved another slap to you ass.

“Shit! Sorry ken, please fuck me.” Much better kento thought to himself. You really needed it soon, your eyes brimming with tears that threatened to spill

The golden haired man was generous enough to oblige you more polite request, slipping inside you welcoming cunt even further, balls pressing against your hips when hes finally fully inside you.

The moan that he let out was absolutely guttural, lord you felt even better than he could’ve ever imagined. He hadn’t even moved yet and you were squeezing the life out of him. And that little noise you made, he was going to be thinking about that for weeks. The way you moan so sweetly for him when he finally gives you what you want. That was something he wanted to hear every fucking day

“Good girl” praise had never sounded better than when it came from nanami, that one comment had you whole body on fire. Your tits pressed up against the hard wood of the table, hard nipples tingling against your skin.

Finally he started moving, his thrusts slow and gentle at first, before he picked up his pace, brutally thrusting himself inside your welcoming walls. It felt like he was even deeper than before, like you could feel him in your throat, not that you were complaining of course.

“So slutty for me, begging me to come over when we both knew this is what you wanted all along.” He was rambling to himself, but you were hanging on every word “Not that I care, you could break every - fuck- every piece of furniture in this house and I’d come and fix it. Just to see your face.”

God what a man, how could he be so teasing, so dirty one second. To then hit you with a sentence that had your legs and heart melting for him.

His hand gripping at your hip, while the other snuck up your back, grabbing your hair and tugging at it lightly, raising your head from the table.

He pressed himself deep into you, “you like that sweetheart huh? You like it when im sweet to you?” His movement pausing, ordering your to give him an answer

“Y-yes- Oh Fuckkkk- ken I love it” youre quivering against him once more, the sensations of your previous orgasm still lingering, intensifying ever move the man behind you was making. He seemed pleased with you answer as his hips resumed their merciless thrusting. His bulbous tip hitting that spongey part deep inside your cunt. The one that had your eyes rolling into the back of your head, that familiar rising of another orgasm soon approaching

“Fuck you- haha- so perfect for me, so tight.” You were certain you might die if he kept talking to you like this, his rough voice travelling into your ears like honey. You could listen to him for hours.

“Wanted to f-fuck you for hours, but with the way your sweet little cunt is gripping me-“ hes cut off mid sentence to a deep groan. You little minx, you squeezed around him. A broken giggle leaving your lips before he fucked it away, replacing it with those moans he was so enjoying

“Fucking brat, should cum so deep in this pussy- Oh? Does my pretty girl like the sounds of that” that pathetic noise of your whimpers giving you away, shamelessly you nodded your head, you wanted nothing more than to have his cum leaking from your used hole.

You were surely going to be the death of him, so dirty. He knew he wasn’t going to last much longer, good because neither where you.

“Oh my- im gonna-“ You tried to get the words out, but you couldnt help but gasp as the pleasure of his cock stroking against your velvety walls

“Cum for me pretty girl.” He was fucking feral now, the noises coming for you pretty pussy, those squelches. You were fucking soaked, gripping him so tight. ”Fuck- need it, come on pretty”

It didn’t take much more than that, you were gushing all over him, juices overflowing around his cock. His eyes rolling back at the sight “Kento!” Was the only thing you could think to scream as you came.

Hips hips guiding you through the ride of your orgasm, not stopping even when your thighs were shaking. The grip he had on your hair tightening now as he chased his own orgasm. God he was amazing, almost too good. You couldn’t still yourself from the overstimulation. Squirming against him, mewling for mercy.

“I know baby, I know” he tried to soothe you, his balls tightening.

He came with a moan, your name more specifically. You had never heard anything better.

Hot spurts of cum coating your walls as his hips planted himself deep inside of your begging cunt.

You both stayed like that for a moment, his head drooping as he tried to compose himself, you panting against the table as your legs still shook.

When he was ready, he pulled out of you with a light gasp, helping you up as he carried you bridal style to your bedroom. Helping tuck you into bed after cleaning you both up

You both just lay there, basking in each other presence. His gentle kisses to your head and murmurs of sweet nothing lulled you off into one of the best sleeps of your life

You should’ve invited him over for dinner ages ago.

[domesticandlovingmonsters]

M!Naga x F!Reader (NSFW)

Themes/Warnings: Nsfw, breeding/oviposition, aphrodisiac themes, monster x reader, fantasy world, mute monster Words: 4.5k Notes:  Hi Hi! Here is this month's free story! A quick tangle with a Naga. Hope you enjoy!

The front wooden door creaked softly as you pushed it open. The soft chime of the bell that hung over the entrance echoed through the shop like a lullaby. It was a much needed relief from the hustle and bustle of the city outside. 

One you traversed through all morning to drop off Isiah’s order. 

“Isiah?” You called towards the back of the store. Where a set of red curtains separated the front of the shop, with many shelves and tables of goods, from the rest of the establishment. 

You heard a returning chime, similar to the bell above the door but much deeper in tone. An answer from the shop owner who was no doubt busy and was signaling to give him a second. 

You decided to wander the store while you waited. Keeping your pack of herbs and roots securely on your back so you don't accidentally knock over anything. 

You browsed the many potions and elixirs that looked both delicious and mesmerizing as they swirled in their small bottles. 

Then moved on to the table of baked goods. Some of which still had a trail of steam wafting off of them. A fresh batch of brownies that smelled absolutely wonderful caught your eye immediately. 

Your stomach gave a hard reminder that you forgot to eat breakfast this morning. 

The sound of rustling curtains brought your attention from the mouth-watering display to the store owner as he slithered out between the silk linings. 

He wore loose veil’s of purple silks and velvet today. So thin in fact that you got a very easy opportunity to gawk at his broad chest; two thick plates of silver scales that melted into the deep navy blue of his serpentine tail. His dark human complexion split apart with his too wide smile as you hurried over to the counter. His hands folded smoothly over each other in Sign before he eagerly plucked open the pack and peered inside. 

“A successful harvest?” He had asked. And you nodded, allowing him to start pulling out various leafy bundles and thick dirt covered roots. 

“It was. Spring has apparently come early this year. I managed to get some of the things that weren’t on your priority list.” You pointed out the leather pouch of flower petals and seeds. Which made the spines along Isiah’s tail quiver excitedly. 

His hands were a blur with his response. “You treat me like royalty, (y/n). You will be compensated, of course.” 

You nodded and waited by the counter as Isiah dipped back behind the curtain, disappearing from sight. 

While you were waiting, a couple wandered into the store. They browsed briefly but seemed to already know what they were buying. Taking their time to browse any new stock but immediately take a few vials from a shelf that passed. Seeming to know the place well. 

They lined up behind you, talking idly until Isiah returned. His smile was welcoming when he spotted his two new customers. And he placed down a pouch of coins in front of you before Signing a question to the couple. 

“The usual?” He asked with a mischievous glint to his sharp gaze. 

“Of course. Why change what works?” The first customer chuckled and fished out some coins to pass into Isiah’s waiting hand. Once the coins were counted, Isaiah leaned over and pulled back the red curtains for the couple to pass through. 

They continued to chat as they disappeared into the back of the shop. But their voices were silenced when the curtain fell back into place. 

“It’s good to see business wasn’t damaged by that review article.” You said, matching your teasing words with an equally joking smile. 

Isiah rolled his eyes, flashing you his fangs in a silent hiss as he feigned anger. His hands spoke his reply. 

“To be honest, that article has increased my revenue. My loyal customers now make reservations weeks in advance so they have a spot amongst all the new bloods.” 

Isiah pushed the pouch of coins closer to you across the counter. “I doubled what I usually pay you since you brought me back so much. But I do have a request, if you’re free today.” 

“A request?” You asked, picking up the swollen bag of money to throw into your pack. “If you’re sending me back out to the wilds, I have a few more stops I need to make before I can go.” 

Isiah’s hands waved away your words and then he gestured for you to follow him through the curtains. 

You trailed along behind him. Thanking him as he held the curtains aside for you before continuing down the warmly lit hallway. 

Looking at the shop from outside, a passerbyer would never imagine the sheer size of the establishment within. The front store was big enough to have its shelving and still have plenty of space for a large sum of customers. 

But the back? It felt like you were walking the corridors of a fancy hotel three times the size of the shop outfront.

You passed seating areas with plush couches and soft rugs spread out beside roaring fires. 

Other areas included pools of crystalline water, bordered by beautiful gardens and mossy carpets. There was a bar beside a tile floor with many tables, perfectly illuminated by the soft glow of candlelight. 

The scents of the meals being cooked for customers made your stomach twist with jealousy, as you watched a throuple share a large thick crusted pizza between them. 

“You’ve redecorated.” You said, suddenly coming to the realization that some of the gardens were more lush than usual. And the extra marble pillars hadn’t been there last time. Each with beautiful carvings of scaled tails curling around the thick white beams. 

Isiah smiled broadly, very proudly Signing, “Like I said, business has been good since that article.” 

He led you past the restaurant and the pools to a staff only area. Where the delicious smells of cooked meals turned sickly sweet with an undertone of bitterness that plagued your nose. 

You politely tried not to shiver as the scent of Isiah’s mixtures coiled with your senses. 

You focused on Isiah’s hands as he explained his request, “I have a new concoction I wanted you to try.” He said, pausing to remove a vial from a crystal casing by the door. “They are strong and we have tested it on hybrids and monster kinds already; but not humans. It is safe for you to digest, I made sure of it. But the strength of its effect is unknown.” 

Isiah offered you the vial and you took it very carefully. The vial was made from very thin glass and it felt like you’d crack it just by touching it. 

You popped the corked lid and sniffed it. That sweet smell that filled the room tripled inside your nose and your mouth nearly watered. 

It was a usual reaction from sniffing anything that had Isiah’s venom imbued in it. But this was like you sucked on the most delicious lolly ever, and your skin rippled with goosebumps from the warm sensation that flooded your mind. 

You shivered and quickly placed the small lid back into place on the vial. “That is definitely strong.” You said with a laugh. Still feeling like someone had tickled along your sides, filling you with a blissful tingling. “What was the effect on the monsters?” 

Isiah’s smile was wicked and playful. His hands were slow as he translated in a teasing manner. “It sent a number of them into a rut that lasted many hours. Some are still here enjoying themselves.” 

You gawked up at the naga in front of you. 

Isiah was highly adept at making potions and goods that heightened everything and anything to do with pleasure. Using his venom, which was already a strong aphrodisiac among his kind, to cook and bake and brew all manner of edible contents.

The last substance you tested for him sent you into a lovely high of desire that you shared with a number of other testers. It had been a wonderful experience that had lasted the entire night. And left you feeling bubbly days after. 

However, in all your time working with Isiah or being around his establishment, you have never heard of his goods sending creatures into ruts. 

“Isn’t that dangerous?” You asked. And Isiah shrugged. 

“Only if their partners are unprepared. But I have many happy customers because of this. I only need to ensure that it isn’t going to comatose my human patrons.” 

You knew he was joking when he used the word ‘comatose”. His glistening eyes told you as much. But if this twisted a natural need into a burning desire to a monster, you seriously doubted you’d be making your other stops anytime soon. 

“I think I deserve a little break.” You said. “How do you want me to test it? Do I just drink it? Or do you want me to find someone to share this with?” 

Isiah’s deep gaze sharpened and your entire body heated up under his heavy stare. 

His hands Signed quickly as he leaned forward, his claws trailing over your cheek as he finished his question. “I was hoping I could share this with you. If you’d have me?” 

You smiled, ignoring the growing flustered heat that crawled its way up your neck and into your cheeks as Isiah’s long fingers continued to scrape carefully down your throat. His touch barely left a red mark but his talons left your skin tingling. “Your business will be ok without you?” You asked. And Isiah made a noise in the back of his throat that would have been a hissing chuckle if his voice hadn’t been taken from him. 

“My workers know what they’re doing. And they’ve been ordered to leave me for the rest of the day if you were to accept my offer.” 

You nodded again and Isiah gestured for you to follow him once more. 

He led you out of the cooking room and up some stairs to a room hidden behind a gilded set of doors. 

You knew this as Isiah’s office and had only been here once, when you first came here with herbs to trade for coins nearly at the start of his business career. 

You remember growing incredibly flustered when you noticed his office had, not only a desk and couches set for meetings; but also a large circle bed built into the floor. It was so large fifty people could probably lay in it, tangling themselves together, with ease. 

But now, you were growing more and more excited as Isiah took your hand and tugged you towards the nest of pillows and blankets. When you stood on the lip of the bed, Isiah coiled his tail around your legs, turning to face you and plucked the vial from your hands. 

Without taking his eyes off of you, he uncorked the glass container and pressed it tenderly against your lips. 

You grinned and obediently opened your mouth. To which Isiah tilted the glass vial up and the syrupy liquid pooled onto your tongue. 

The flavor was indescribable. A mixture of sweet honey and bitter dark chocolate. You eagerly swallowed the contents and as it traveled down your throat and settled in your stomach, you felt a fiery warmth begin to spread through you. 

Pins and needles prickled the tips of your fingers and you sighed as the familiar blissful sensation rushed through you. 

It was very instantaneous, your reaction. And you heard Isiah’s spines vibrate with delight.

So caught up in the enraptured feeling, you almost missed Isiah’s hands moving in front of you. Asking a question. “How do you feel?” 

You smiled and ran your hands along Isiah’s shoulders. The texture of his silks felt so good against your palms. And the rolling muscles beneath his scales had your thighs pinching closer together. 

Isiah shadowed your touches with his own. His large hands smoothed down along your sides. Carefully scraping his talons against any bare skin he found. 

It made your body shiver pleasantly.

“I feel like you’ve just wrapped me up in a warm blanket and put a vibrator between my legs.” It was a vulgar explanation but it’s exactly what you were feeling. 

Isiah’s smile looked almost triumphant as he slid his hands up along your sides and wound his arms around your middle. Pulling you closer, you eagerly fell into his embrace as he slowly twisted so you were lying beneath him on the mattress. 

His tail nudged your thighs apart and you pushed up against him as he settled between your legs. 

Isiah didn’t need to Sign to tease you. His wide smile, showing the tips of his fangs between his lips, said it all. 

Your fists tangled themselves in his silks as your breathing grew heavier. Not from lack of breath, but definitely from the need that was clawing at your restraint. 

“Don’t give me that look. Your venom already drives me insane. This is…by the Gods…please touch me, Isiah.” 

You felt the hiss vibrate through him as Isiah purred contently with your words. His hand snaked between you and you saw stars as your eyes squeezed close with the contact. 

Even with your clothes still on, that small amount of friction sent sparks to every inch of your body. 

You gasped as Isiah’s tongue swept along your throat. You felt the pinpricks of his fangs scratch against your skin and the sensation had your lungs emptying with a moan. 

Isiah rewarded the sound with a rather rushed circular motion between your legs. His fingers pressed deliciously hard against the bundle of nerves that screamed for attention. 

You couldn’t take it anymore. 

You needed to be naked and you needed his scales against your skin. Every inch of you needed his touch or else you were going to go mad. 

Your hands felt clumsy and slow as you tore off the layers from your travels. Isiah grinned down at you, unhelpful as he continued to rub and roll his palm against your core. You moaned and tried to wriggle away from him just enough to pull your pants away, but the damn naga trapped you beneath him with a single hand wrapping around your throat. 

Your eyes widened and your whole body burst with that fiery desire as Isiah shook his head down at you. His hold was strong but careful. Allowing you to breath and twist in his grasp, but you couldn’t pull away. Not even if you wanted to. 

Then his lips moved slowly and so deliberately that you caught every sweet syllable of the word; “Slowly”, and his gaze dipped low enough to point at your pants that were unbuttoned and your belt removed. 

You nodded and tortuously slowly, started to slide your legs out of your trousers. Isiah leaned back enough to watch your thighs become bare, displaying your folds as his tail returned to settle between your now naked legs. 

The very touch of his cool scales against your core had your hips rolling desperately. He grinned and pushed harder against you, his hand still firmly around your throat while his other palm squeezed and molded your breath between his fingers. 

You whimpered. Actually whimpered! As the subtle roll of his scales gave you the friction that you wanted. It wasn’t scratching that itch by any means but it was enough to have your head rolling back and your hips feverishly grinding against him. 

You felt Isiah shift and the cool scales were replaced by something thicker. You smiled and reached for him, eagerly gliding your hands down the largest of Isiah’s two cocks. 

His eyes fluttered closed as you gripped him and immediately started to rub him. Your pussy wetted the base of his length while your hands fondled and massaged the round head. 

Pearlescent precum started to bead at the tip and you licked your lips, imagining his weight on your tongue. 

But as much as you wanted to taste him, you needed him inside you twice as much. 

Isiah’s cock was very human-like. But only in shape, with the rounded head and the soft sheath that protected the tip. The rest was all naga. To the deep, almost black color that melted into silver at the head, to the massive size that had your core clenching with just the idea of him stretching you. You could feel the soft ridges along the underside and when you tilted your hips just right, you could catch that textured side along your clit. 

Isiah’s hips began to roll in rhythm with your frenzied thrusts. 

His eyes were half closed, lost in the sensation of your hands pleasuring him brutally as you worked him to full length. 

The second cock had not revealed itself yet. Which in the back of your mind, was strange. Both cocks were used for different things. But they were always both present when a naga was getting intimate.

The smallest was commonly used for pleasure, being the most sensitive part of the naga.

The larger of the two was always used for breeding. 

It was how certain male species of naga would lay their eggs. While others produced sperm, you knew Isiah’s species instead produced soft, pliable eggs. They were only ever fertilized when the second cock would be used after the largest. 

You didn’t know however, if this was something Isiah intended to do. And the thought of him stuffing you with his cock and then breeding you, had your mind turning into putty and your moans becoming louder.

The whispering of Isiah’s spines vibrating told you he enjoyed the sound. And Isiah moved so you were crushed beneath him as he started feverishly fucking himself between your thighs. 

Your moans turned into breathless cries as the ridges along his cock rolled along your clit over and over. 

You buried your face into the crook of his neck, kissing and biting the soft flesh between his scales as he gasped and hissed above you. Taking his own pleasure while you desperately tried to keep up with his heated pace. 

“Isiah, please!” Your begging plea was matched by your hands scrambling to move him in a way that gave you space to realign yourselves. 

Your bed partner nodded, panting as his tail twisted to maneuver himself so your hips no longer touched, but the rounded tip of his cock pressed against your entrance. 

The first second of pressure had you squeezing your eyes shut. So ready was your body, that it welcomed Isiah with a warm, very wet entrance for him to slide into. 

But after the first inch, your body tensed and Isiah’s spines shivered with displeasure as he forced himself to slow and properly stretch you. 

His hands were wrapped around your hips, his claws left red dents in your skin as your hips rolled in tandem to stuff Isiah’s girth between your legs. 

He was taking too long. You could take him, you knew it. He just wasn’t at the right angle. 

You managed to regain control of your body long enough that you somehow forced Isiah onto his back. 

The naga definitely let you do it and his wide smirk only fueled your need as you mounted him. Driving your knees into the mattress on either side of his hips as you wrapped your hand around his length and angled it towards your core. 

And like the smug male he was, Isiah relaxed into the pillows and let you work yourself into a frenzy. His hands found soft places on your body to pinch and squeeze while you panted and rolled your hips down on top of him. 

Immediately, the tip slipped inside and you braced your hands on his chest, murmuring soft nothings in between moans as you kept penetrating yourself on him. 

Isiah’s eyes watched every sway of your hips as you took him. His eyes occasionally rolled closed when you sunk fast down on him or squeezed in a way that sent pleasure shooting through his body. 

But his gaze was glued to you. Locked on the beautiful display of heated need that had you taking his full length and seating yourself around him. Only when your ass sat flat against his hips did Isiah move. 

He sat up so fast you were almost knock back. But his hands wrapped around your waist and held you securely against him. 

His lips found yours in a heated kiss. One that had his fangs nicking against your lower lip and his forked tongue swept hungrily against your inner cheeks. 

And then his hands started to set a rhythm. 

Bouncing you slowly, intending to test if you could take him. But you whined and shoved his hands away. Planting your hands on his chest and instead lifting your hips away from him until only the tip of his cock was still inside, and then slamming down with a slick sound of skin slapping scale. 

The friction had you seeing stars and white flashed through your eyes as you continued to ride Isiah hard and fast enough that your thighs immediately started to burn. 

Isiah writhed beneath you. Hands locking onto your waist once more as he looked up at you with dark, hungry eyes. 

His grin was wicked. Seeming pleased to see your mouth hanging open, eyes hooded and your body lost to the sensation of being so overly stuffed your belly bulged everytime you came down. 

Then his thumb nudged against your clit and your sounds twisted, becoming louder and desperate. You clutched his wrist, unsure whether to throw his hand away or lock it against you as he rolled the pad of his finger against the fiery clutch of nerves. 

You didn’t get time to decide. 

Not long after his fingers worked you over, you felt him begin to swell inside you. His rhythm, one he smoothly kept up with you, faltered and his tail writhed behind you like a piece of string on the wind.

You heard his spines vibrate and then lock down against his scales and Isiah’s head rolled back with a silent cry as his climax rushed through him. 

His hands, locked on your waist, held you tight against his hips as he rutted up into you. You were rocked harshly above him, but unable to move an inch as he spilled inside you. 

You felt his warm seed flood you, but then something thicker began to stretch you. You gasped and squirmed, but Isiah was stronger. Keeping you firmly in place as his first egg seated itself inside you. 

His rapid pace pushed the egg deeper and deeper until you felt it snugly rest against your cervix. The foreign feeling was like a cooling agent to the fire in your stomach. 

That desire still raged but a sense of contentment spread through your mind as well. 

“Is there more?” You asked Isiah. Your voice felt like sandpaper against your throat. How long have the two of you been fucking? You felt sweat along your brow and back and your thighs burned to the point you weren’t sure if you could move them anymore. 

Isiah smirked and suddenly you were on your back again. And Isiah spread your legs to the point you gasped, and continued to pound into you. 

He couldn’t fit all the way this time. Not with the first egg inside you. But the friction and new angle had you both panting again in minutes. And you cried out as his cock swelled with his second finish, laying another egg that he kept fucking deeper and deeper until you felt it slide against the first. 

The fog started to lift from your mind. You could make out the shadows that were now cast along the floors of the office from the windows. The once blue sky outside was now pooling with oranges and pinks. 

A sunset. 

But Isiah’s rough kiss scattered the sudden shock with a new sense of need. 

Again and again, Isiah pounded into you. Soon your voice was lost to you, leaving only loud pants and squeaky moans as he penetrated your overly sensitive pussy until his eggs were sweetly embraced between your walls. 

By the fifth egg, even Isiah was exhausted. He nuzzled your neck and the spines along his tail shivered softly as he curled around you. His cock still buried as far as it could, lazily stroking himself as he reveled in his own overstimulation. 

You were a mess. Unable to think and slipped in and out of a blissful slumber while Isiah used you. 

It was only until you felt him slide out of you, leaving a great gaping emptiness, did your mind finally come back to you. 

And you reached for him as his tail slid around you. Coiling your body against the thick, cool muscle against your very warm body. 

Isiah nuzzles against your back as he moves up behind you, wrapping his arms around your waist as he settles amongst the coils of his tail. 

He then lifts his hands enough that you can see the question he Signs. 

“Is it any good?” You don’t have to look at him to sense the teasing smirk. He damn well knows it’s good. But you indulge him regardless of how scratchy your voice sounds. 

“I blinked and suddenly it was the afternoon.” You mumbled with a laugh. You shifted to get more comfortable and your sensitive walls sent flames of heat through your body as the eggs inside you shifted as well. You touched your stomach and turned your head enough to look over at Isiah. “So, what do I do with these eggs?” 

Isiah’s hands moved lazily in front of you as he snuggled more deeply into the pillows, exhausted. “You are safe with them inside you. I’m sorry I didn’t ask permission first. The scent of your heightened lust sent me spiraling. And I also have a small kink with breeding, so I lost control. I will remove them after a quick nap.”

“You’re fine. I’ve never been…bred like this before.” You admitted. Also laying your head amongst the mountain of pillows. 

You peel open your eyes when you felt Isiah’s arms moving again. 

“Do you enjoy it?” He asked. 

“Yes.” You said. Not at all ashamed to share this with Isiah. “I enjoy all manner of being used like this. I’ve just never had a Naga male do it to me.” 

“Glad to be the first.” His hands said playfully. Which you rolled your eyes at. “But it was very sexy to see you take over. I’ll happily fill you with eggs again if you ride me like that again.” 

“It’s a deal then.” You managed to mumbled before you lost the fight against sleep and were pulled into a warm, sweet sleep, nestled against Isiah’s tail.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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[liveyun]

the archivist.

life has bothered you enough that you end up taking a job at a forgotten archive. somehow, one of the barren books seem know too much about you, and so does he.

▸ pairing. namjoon x fem reader/oc

▸ genre. dark fantasy, liminal horror, magical realism, mature

▸ warnings. (for this one-shot) soft eldritch joon ? ? , surrealism , unreality, oc is a broke student, mentions of a toxic ex, time gets weird, mild possession ? ? . . kind of yearning ? , also — there’s erotica appearance!! namjoon is very gentle but also very intense, emotional vulnerability x10000. english isn’t my first language so pls excuse the lil mistakes ! !

▸ wc. 2.2k +

part of the “DEADL7NES” series

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You take the job because you’re broke.

You found the job on a half-broken bulletin board behind the convenience store, thumbtacked between a flier for lost kittens and a “no questions asked” roommate search.

The paper looked old. Faded ink. Just a time and an address.

No title, no description. No contact number. No interviews, no prior experience needed either.

Desperation has a sound — it's the growling of your stomach on the fourth day of instant ramen, the shame of unread emails with subject lines like we regret informing you.

So despite this whole ordeal sounding shady at all points, you show up.

The building looks like it’s seen some pretty tough shit.

It leans into a pocket of space between two concrete towers like a secret. Ivy coils up its bricks like veins, there are signs of ageing and neglect, but there’s a certain vibe which just screams vintage is undeniable. There’s no signboard, only a brass doorknob that’s too cold for your touch.

You step in. Dust sighs under your shoes. The air is still, too, like it’s listening.

The timing was listed at 7:00 PM sharp. A quick glance to your wrist watch tells you it’s 6:56, and you let out a small exhale of relief through your nose.

“I see that you’re quite punctual. . .” a voice as deep as sounds echoing back from vast halls startles you as you flush momentarily. you were zoned out on the small creeper plant which seems to have no roots at all, claiming the wall from the wood floorboard.

Kim Namjoon.

That’s what he introduces himself as when he steps out from behind the desk, his voice as quiet, yet raspy as the rest of him.

“I’m Namjoon. You’ll be taking care of the shelves,” he says, gesturing vaguely to the books that stretch like ribs around the room. “Call for me if you need help. I’ll be at the desk.”

You nod.

You do not speak, because his presence has stolen language from you.

It’s not just that he’s handsome — it’s that he’s unreasonably and unfairly so. Not the kind from glossy advertisements or late-night dramas, though, this. . . is different.

He is carved.

Ancient. Like a statue that forgot it was stone and decided to breathe. Like the sculptor blew the breath of life to their creation.

There’s wisdom in the slant of his eyes. Softness, too. Like an ancient, old dragon who never ages. The dragon, who believes that there’s strength in gentleness.

His hair is thick and dark, parted gently like the petals of a bloom. Dimples bloom when he smiles, but it’s rare.

You find yourself waiting for them like sunrise.

────────────────────────

You start the job.

It’s mostly cleaning — dusting shelves, sorting book returns, arrivals, fixing the labels that curl off from old spines, and sometimes even wiping, although that’s rare. Sometimes people come in, reserved and quiet, as though they too stumbled in by mistake. You suggest titles. Smile when they leave. You see the same names again and again. No one ever asks for a library card.

The place smells of paper and petrichor.

He’s always there, somewhere—at the big desk in the corner, writing into thick journals. Sometimes you catch the curve of his hand around a pen, ink smudged on his fingers.

He doesn’t talk much. But his plants are always freshly watered. You often catch glimpses of him lovingly watering his potted plant of night jasmine, admiring the tiny life with his gentle, calm eyes.

Something strange happens: your life starts to fix itself.

The rent gets paid on time. You get better sleep. An old wound on your ankle fades like it remembers how to heal. Your ex no longer harasses you over texts. Your fridge now has fresh produce instead of ancient boxes of takeout. Your stomach issues are gone, your skin is devoid of acne and hyperpigmentation, your roommate finds a better apartment and moves out, and the silence she leaves behind is warm, not cold. Your grades improve almost magically. The professor who you swore couldn’t stand the sight of you automatically starts giving you extention periods for your assignments.

It doesn’t make sense. But you don’t question it. Not when you can finally exhale for the first time in months, can buy yourself a latte without getting concerned glances from the barista regarding the embarrassingly low balance in your student card.

You feel grateful. You feel. . . happy.

────────────────────────

One evening, you’re working, as usual. You shelve a set of old poetry books and your fingers brush against a cover that looks newer than the rest. Bound in deep crimson, its spine uncracked. The pages look white instead of yellow.

No title. No author.

You pull it free.

It’s erotica. The kind that moans long and slow.

You shouldn’t read it, but you find yourself reading it. You cannot make yourself resist.

Your eyes devour the first few lines.

“Her limbs trembled like branches after rain, heavy with want.

His hands were galaxies, tracing constellations across her skin, stars burning beneath each fingertip.

She opened beneath him like dawn, and he worshipped like a man made of midnight.”

You think you’ve forgotten breathing.

“He pressed his lips to her collarbone, reverent, like a psalm sung in a forgotten tongue.

The mouth of the beloved does not ask permission.

It tastes. It drinks. It sings against the skin.

Her breath caught like a bird between palms—

desperate, fluttering, sacred.

When her eyes closed, it was not from fear.

It was surrender.

The world vanished beneath her spine.

There was only warmth,

and the memory of a name

moaned, but not spoken.

And when he took her, it was not just a body—it was a memory. It was a myth. A myth only he could unravel from her.”

Warmth pools between your thighs, unbidden, shameful, aching. You press your thighs together, hoping for a bit of relief.

“You found that one.”

You jerk. The book nearly flies from your hands.

Namjoon stands across the aisle, arms folded loosely, gaze dipped low. His eyes are unreadable—amused, yes, but something else. Like he’s expecting this of you. Like he’s seen it happen before.

You stammer. “I, uh, — I was just—”

“Curious?” he offers, head tilting slightly. The sleeves of his khaki cardigan are folded up to his elbows, showing the delicious, golden skin of his arm.

The silence thickens. Your throat works. He doesn’t approach — he just watches you. Eyes slow, deliberate, knowing. You feel exposed, naked, like the words you read clung to your skin and spelled your desire in script only he can decipher. Shame crawls down your neck like branches of a tree, swirling with the desire which bloomed in between your legs.

He smiles. One dimple appears.

You close the book and try to breathe.

That night bothers you enough to have you squirming in your bed, aching with need.

That night, you dream of slender hands roaming in between your legs and sending you to the clouds of heaven.

────────────────────────

You don’t speak of it again.

But it lingers.

The air between you two crackles differently. Some days he looks up when you pass, and the corner of his mouth lifts. Some days you catch him watching you through the reflection in the glass door. He never stares.

Just. . . observes. Like he’s waiting for you to notice something you haven’t yet.

Weeks pass.

One night, you’re working late again, alone among the shelves. The rain taps the windows in a quiet but soothing rhythm. It feels warm. Cosy. You don’t feel sleepy working late anymore, and you feel this library has become your small world. You’re humming under your breath, dusting the top of a shelf, when a heavy book slips from its place and falls with a thud. You reach down—

—and hear a click.

There’s something behind the shelf. A panel has loosened, just barely. You dig your fingers in and pull it open.

A drawer. Hidden, because you swear that you come by this shelf almost everyday and you’ve never once caught a glimpse of it.

Inside there’s a stack of thick, leather-bound books. The top one slides forward and you stumble to catch the fat book.

You lift it.

And on the first page, you see your name.

Your full name. Handwritten in that same smooth ink you’ve seen on his desk. In the same, smooth drawl you’ve seen countless times.

You flip through it. The first pages are mostly empty, and you feel like this is some sort of a very cruel joke. Frustration touches you, and soon you’re vigorously flipping through the pages untill you reach the middle of the novel, the text written in a muted shade of blue.

I. Childhood

She was a girl with small hands and wide eyes.

She knew how to be quiet,

the way others knew how to dance or sing.

Or maybe because she was often told she spoke a lot.

When no one looked, she tucked her hands in a sack of grains, finding comfort at how the grains brushing against her soft palms felt home. No one answered her questions of wonder when she asked how did butterflies learnt how to fly, or how did they get such beautiful colours in their wings.

She was always waiting for something —

not a person, not a thing.

Just . . . something.

Maybe it was kindness. . .

Or maybe a door.

II. Adolescence

At night, she’d trace the ceiling with her gaze,

as if searching for a skylight no one had built.

There was a fire in her,

but she hid it well—

tended to it like a secret she couldn’t afford to burn.

She’d try to figure out the changes she’d went through, trying to understand if she willed them, or they just happened.

And when her tender heart was thrown away by someone insignificant, she didn’t cry.

She just curled up in her bed and stared at the light

leaking in through the window

like it was your last friend,

wondering what was wrong with her,

Or if she could ever be good enough.

III. The becoming.

There is no single word for surviving.

You did it by half.

One shift. One skipped meal. One train. Years away from home.

You stitched rent money and broken dreams

into something like hope.

No one clapped.

But you kept waking up.

That was the miracle.

—

The letter that never came,

But you expected it the most.

You checked the inbox like a ritual, a routine.

It was summer—

the air sticky and humid with waiting.

That one line, that one school—

you had braided your future around its name.

But the screen stays blank.

You laughed.

Then you cried until your chest hurt

and your throat forgot how to make sound.

You touch your stomach when no one looks.

You cross your arms when you speak.

You fear being too much,

but worse — being not enough.

You pretend you don’t see the way people look past you.

But you do.

And it breaks you.

Quietly.

But you still keep going.

—

You were cleaning,

thinking of bills and bus rides.

You find a nameless book,

But the texts inside named a different spark inside you.

You tremble, not out of fear.

Your thighs press together,

slickness blooming between them like honey under sun.

You gasp when the thought touches you—

of lips against your collarbone,

of fingers ghosting down your spine,

of someone saying your name

like a prayer without God.

You are not shy.

Only aching.

—

Your days are brighter.

And your nights are peaceful.

The wind touches your cheeks gently and you don’t question it anymore.

Because you truly feels the tranquility of happiness in a very long time, so why even think about it?

The drawer.

You didn’t mean to find it.

You were lost in the puzzle of your own mind —

Dreaming of endless skies and the rain that fell.

Then the book fell.

And the drawer opened — like it had been waiting.

Inside: parchment, ink-stained and breathing.

A book too thick to belong to anyone.

Except you.

The first page had your name.

“Is this a joke?” you ponder, but it isn’t.

Now that you’ve read your story,

You taste salt. But you don’t know if it’s bitter or sweet

Because the tears which depart your eyes aren’t of sorrow, nor fear

But your heart feels heavy,

And your body trembles.

It’s because the soul remembers

what the body has not yet learned.

You didn’t realise you were on your knees now, your hands shaking as you come to an end of the novel. Your eyes burn with tears as your heart threatenes to trash out of your chest.

He is there. Right beside you.

Close enough that his warmth shouldn’t feel so cold.

Close enough that you wonder how long he’s been standing there as you slowly turn your head to look at him, kneeling down before you. Your eyes are hazy with tears, but..

His eyes— they look gentle, soft, and almost sorrowful. The kind of softness that ruins you quietly, like lullabies sung in the wrong language, tender but distant, like a poem written for someone who died too young.

But his smile. Ah, his smile. The kind which has dimples popping out, the kind which makes his eyes turn to gentle cresents.

That smile is nothing like his eyes.

The touch which brushes your cheeks is warm, but cold at the same time, as if he knew what the turmoil inside your heart was like. His fingers, his thumb, wiping away your tears.

“Now, now—don’t cry. You yourself wanted a better life, love.”

But that’s not what scares you.

It’s those eyes which don’t look as gentle as you’ve always seen them to be.

“Did you think I would do this for free, love?”

────────────────────────

[tammyu-2]

tmnt 2012! donnie, mikey and raph (seperately) x gn! reader headcanons pretty pls! the reader is super smart which led them to skip a couple grades and is in college (still the turtles' ages tho) and is in a band where they play electric guitar (and secretly write songs about their boyfriend)!! 🎀

This sounds very cute!!

2012 TMNT DONNIE, MIKEY, AND RAPH WITH A SMART BAND GEEK S/O

Swearing, I wrote this half asleep, quick drabble,not proofread read, Usage of They/them pronouns, half rushed.

We are clocking in and we are locking in

DONNIE

You were busy studying in your dorm when you decided to go for a 3am coffee run at the near by Cafe that was next to Campus. It would make sure you finished your assignment with the little power you were working on. So when you walked over to the cafe you saw it was closed due to maintenance with made you groan.

On your way back to your dorm you can't wind of someone staring at you. You reached for your pepper spray in your bag to only realize you had forgotten it on your desk. So when you were caught helpless in an alleyway with a clearly drunk man threatening you, you had been trying to calculate the perfect way out. However your tain of though was cut short by a humanoid turtle swooping in and kicking his ass.

Eventually you and Donnie got quite acquainted with as friends (although Donnie did have a massive crush on you). He would on and on about the smart chick he met that was studying in a real collage that he could only dream of doing. Donnie knew you were smart but not exactly better than Donnie smart.

"I can't seem to figure out what's wrong with my formula! The equation looks alright but the answer is all wrong and is making my gadget bug!"

"I can help..?"

"Oh no. I don't think this level of...engineering is something you'd um...fully understand."

This boy did not- oh my days he did.

"Let me look at your formula anyway."

You said looking at the whiteboard infront of his and examining the equation. Before taking his marker and correcting it.

"You see here you forgot to divide with the 0.42 because in this side equation you square rooted it to 2 but didn't put it under the 5 that you left alone. So that should be correct"

I don't do math so apologies if this makes no sense

Donnie boy was speechless and he tried to stutter out a sentence but kept failing leading him to give up on words completely. He fixed his machine using the method you corrected and you actually fixed it! He turned to you with flustered expression. No one has ever actually understood him but you did in more ways than one. Including when it came to having smarts.

Ever since then you guys have little study dates where you show him human studies that he oh-so wants to be apart of. And in return he gives you free range of his lab whenever you need to make something. He trusts you enough because he knows now your far from being stupid enough to mess it up.

He started respecting you much more and that was the thing that pushed him to confess to you and you two were a genius power couple. You guys were finishing each other's sandwiches (or sentences or whatever)

"WOW your so cool. What else have you been hiding from me? I'm sure there's nothing h-hotter- or um c-cuter than you being as smart as me."

"So about that..."

You explain that you recently started a band and it was making it to bigger and bigger gigs than before.

"YOUR IN A BAND!? MY GOSH HOW COOLER CAN YOU GET!?"

"I play the electric guitar...?"

Donnie.exe has stopped working.

When you get more comfortable with each other you sometimes have dates where you two are alone cuddling up on Donnie's bed as you strum your guitar testing the notes out lazily. You two being full of pizza and slowly drifting off in each other's side....with an electric guitar inbetween.

Whenever you have a concert he always comes to watch you in the shadows or disguised just to support you by showing interest in your growing career. Cause he really adored you.

MIKEY

He had met you at a abandoned skate park. You two immediately hit it off and He was ofcourse extremely clingy to you. He bragged on and on about you to the ninjas. You were a cute duo

"Is butter a carb?"

"Yes it technically is."

"Whats a carb?"

"So basically a carb stands for carbohydrates and what it is is a-"

You always explain things to him that he never remembers. It didn't matter you liked explaing stuff to him and he liked the way your energy spiked whenever explaining something.

He doesn't really think about you being smart that much when in comes to your relationship. Cause he litrally has a brother that is as smart but more rude and sassy about it.

On the day Mikey confessed to you, you were about to go out and get snacks for a movie night for your new boyfriend. However you phone rand interrupting your planning of your date. It had been one of your band members- wait shit! You were late to practice.

"I'm so sorry! But I'm running late for band practice.."

"YOUR IN A BAND-"

The next time you two met up you explained your band to him and Mikey had stars in his eyes. He kept on loudly saying how sick it is to be in a band! Not to mention a guitar. A ELECTRIC GUITAR

If you allow him to hold you guitar he will be jumping up and down excitedly. Like man is not sitting still at all! If you even teach him how to play he is basically on cloud nine. Oh my gosh how did he meet you!?

He takes every chance he gets to brag about you to not only the ninjas but also the bad guys. Like he's over here swooning of the thought of you while a kraang is being beat up by him.

"UGH I miss my s/o they are so amazing. Do you know they guitar AAANDDD THE GUITAR! Which is extremely dope in my opinion. "

He sighs softly, kicking another kraang that was charging at them. Knocking it over.

"The one that is known as s/o is not in the database that the ones known as kraang had mad."

"*sigh* they also had a name..."

"MIKEY OH MY GOD HELP US!?"

RAPH

He met you only after he had a mental break down and needed to release his tension by beating up things. Preferably bad guys but Raph wasn't picky. So when he found you in an allway he took the chance not caring about his looks.

You were a bit freaked out when a giant turtle appeared out of no where and started flirting with you. And after you got to know him and his brothers you two started dating.

I won't lie I think he likes that your smart and everything but if go full on Donnie mode and explain stuff to him as if he didn't know how to walk on his own two feet– then he will be pissed at you. He is the type to roll his eyes and look away bit the minute you stop rambling he will ask you why you stopped.

So now the elctric guitar situation. The one day you were watching Raph train you got sent a picture from your drummer of your band. They had gone away for the weekend and was returning him. You smiled at you phone and told Raph wich made him pause.

"YOU PLAY THE ELECTRIC GUITAR!?"

"Yes I do!"

"...holy shit your so hot.."

He wants to be serenaded but her will never tell you that. He knows about the songs you wrote for him because he found on of them when he visited you at your dorm. He thought it was cute and left it alone in hopes that you would sing it to him one day.

But I swear if any found out about his mushyness, especially you, then his reputation with be damaged for the rest of his life and he will have to runaway and change his name.

I HOPE YOU ENJOYED ITTTTTTT

I will get t you request tomorrow I am planning on posting three things tomorrow!!

But yeah hope you enjoyed- I'm falling asleep as I'm typing this so sorry for the spelling mistakes.

~Tammy<3

[innerfare]

Sabo Fluff // Angst Compilation

Summary: A compilation of Sabo angst and fluff from my multi character posts (You're Wounded, Brushing Your Teeth Together, Flowers, Type of Date, You See His Cabin, Fighting and Making Up, Paradise, Nightmares, I Love You, You're Jealous).

Genre: Fluff // Angst

CW: None // SFW

———

You’re Wounded: 

Makes a light joke, inspects the wound himself even if there’s a doctor present, will help bandage you up if you need it. Pretends to be nonchalant about the entire thing, is panicking inside. Fully realizes the depths of his affection for you, is terrified to realize it’s love.  

Brushing Your Teeth Together: 

He didn’t get his pearly white smile by slacking off. When you’re brushing your teeth together, he’ll pause to inform you he’s better at it than you, that he has the best technique, that his dentist always compliments his teeth. Doesn’t explicitly challenge you like Nami and Luffy, but can’t help but get competitive. 

Flowers: 

He’s gone for very long periods of time, so when he returns, he’ll bring you a bundle of peonies or calla lilies, but he also bought you a cherry blossom bonsai tree so you can have flowers even when he’s away. The bonsai tree ends up becoming his baby, and when he is home, he spends quite a bit of time tending to it, to the point you get a little jealous. But it brings you lots of comfort when he’s away, a symbol of your love that’s firmly rooted and eternal. Side note, he will most definitely use flowers to seduce you. 

Type of Date: 

Takes you to the aquarium or zoo, the two of you wandering around hand in hand, pointing at different animals and saying, "that's you." Also takes you on a lot of picnics (far less elaborate than the ones Sanji plans) that you spend either in silence or editing his manuscript. And he knows the lay of the land in terms of hole in the wall restaurants, quiet little nooks where you can cozy up to one another and not be disturbed. Will occasionally risk it all to take you to water parks despite being a wanted man.  

You See His Cabin For The First Time: 

His bedroom at the Revolutionary Army’s base is a total bachelor pad, and when you see it for the first time, it wasn’t planned, so he’s a little embarrassed by the state of it. He has some dirty dishes he forgot about, some dirty laundry on the floor, and a pile of books on his bed. He spends virtually no time there and probably wouldn’t even have furniture beyond a mattress on the floor if it wasn’t provided by the Revolutionary Army as part of his living quarters. That being said, he did pin Luffy’s and Ace’s wanted posters to his wall, and he has a couple of different lotions and skincare products on his bathroom counter. 

Fighting and Making Up: 

Sabo can be pretty hypocritical. He takes so many risks and claims he wants a partner who can keep up with him, but if you take risks without him to back you up (the way he constantly takes risks without you backing him up), he’ll get mad at you because it triggers him so deeply; he has nightmares about you dying, but he normally hides them from you. It usually devolves further when you accuse him of not living by the egalitarian ideals he espouses by trying to control you. Other times, you fight because he was shamelessly flirting with someone else (flirting is an instinct for Sabo and he's so naturally charming that sometimes he really just can't help it). But you two have a special spot (a pink peach tree on Momoiro Island) and whoever is ready to make up first goes there and waits for the other; he once waited two full days and nights for you. When you get there, he’ll offer you a pink peach and a sheepish grin. 

Paradise 1: 

Wandering through a flower field and picking some of the more beautiful blooms that catch your eye, sprawling out on a picnic blanket in the late morning to bask in the sweet scent, enjoying the breeze as it ruffles your hair, weaving some of the flowers you picked into a delicate crown that they wear proudly while the two of you share sweet kisses. 

Paradise 2: 

Meandering through the woods in search of the tallest, most impressive tree, him giving you a boost up to the first branch to get you started before climbing up himself, staying behind you the entire time so he can catch you in case you fall. Finally piercing the canopy and poking your heads up above the forest, his hand on your leg to keep you steady, the two of you grinning as birds fly by, basking in the afternoon sun. 

Paradise 3: 

Escaping the chaos of life and climbing a desolate hill, sharing a late afternoon snack as you stare up at the clouds and point out different shapes, saying, “that’s you,” when you see a funny one. Arguing over which one of you gets to be the dragon cloud, your argument turning into roughhousing and the two of you accidentally rolling down the hill, him laughing and kissing your cheek when he knows you’re okay and then starting the argument again. 

Paradise 4: 

Waiting until late evening to meet beneath a peach tree, speaking at first in hushed tones, worrying someone is on to the two of you, eventually forgetting about all of that and settling into easy conversation about nothing and everything simultaneously, him jumping up to pick a peach for you to have as an evening snack, you taking advantage of the last bit of light to carve both of your initials into the tree trunk. 

Nightmares: 

You’re on stage in an auction house being sold off to the highest bidder. He’s there, but he can’t get to the stage, as if he’s trapped behind invisible glass. He’s screaming his head off and throwing himself at the glass, but everyone just ignores him, the slave auction continuing as though he’s not even there, Sabo completely powerless against the injustice of it all. You’re crying and struggling in your shackles, but it’s no use. He wakes up thrashing, ready to fight anyone who stands between him and you. When he’s met only with darkness, he doesn’t relax but instead gets dressed and wanders off to find some work to do, the sound of your shackles clanking as you struggle against them stuck in his head like a sick song, the sight of Celestial Dragons bidding on you like an object lighting in him a fire that will burn down every auction house in the world. 

Wearing His Hat: 

You and Sabo were supposed to be sparring, but he wasn’t taking it seriously. You could tell by the way he kept looking over your shoulder, the way he pawed at you instead of striking when you gave him an opening. You considered complaining, but you knew better than to nag a man like Sabo. He would just ignore you like he did everyone else who tried to get on his case about something, the Army’s Chief of Staff being an expert at tuning out voices. 

So, you decided to get creative. 

The next time his eyes left your person, you swooped in. His arms went up to block you, more out of habit than anything else, but you didn’t strike him the way you normally did. Rather, you snatched his hat off his head with a victorious laugh. 

“Hey!” His eyes widened, and suddenly, his full attention was on you. “That’s mine.” 

“Is it?” You placed his hat atop your head with a mischievous smile. “If you want it back, come and get it.” 

Sabo’s expression lit up as you issued your challenge, and as he positioned himself back in his fighting form, you had to wonder if you would regret riling up the Chief of Staff.  

I Love You: 

Sabo is always taking risks. He lives a dangerous lifestyle as the Chief of Staff of the Revolutionary Army, and on top of being one of the most wanted criminals in the world, he is an incredibly reckless individual who thrives when his life his threatened. He does not, however, thrive when your life is threatened. So accustomed to being the one others are fretting over, so used to Koala telling him off for taking this risk or making that dumb decision, he is completely blindsided by the anxiety he experiences when he finds out you’ve been captured. Naturally he launches a rescue attempt, and when it succeeds, he wraps you in his arms and tells you how much he loves you. He always makes sure to say it after that, telling you in the morning when you wake up and at night when you go to bed together, the memory of not having you there to hear it all too fresh. 

You’re Jealous: 

Sabo is a flirt, and you knew that going into your relationship. It actually doesn’t bother you when he flashes that charming smile of his at someone else or swoops in to save a damsel in distress (a speciality of his) and even serves to entertain, especially on the rare occasions his flirtations are rebuked. What does bother you, though, is his tight relationship with Koala. You know it’s ridiculous to be envious, you know Koala would sooner saw off her arm than kiss the man she considers her irksome big brother, but they’ve known each other since they were little kids, and Koala has been through so much with Sabo that the pair have such a close bond. It’s not the angry kind of jealousy that bubbles up in you when Koala mentions something about Sabo’s past that she assumes you know but you don’t, just the sad kind that you try to keep to yourself. Surprisingly, Sabo notices, though you don’t realize until he hugs you from behind and mumbles in your ear that he’s glad you’re the only one who knows he has a skincare routine, his silly words diffusing your mood and acting as the exact affirmation you needed. If it’s not enough, though, he’ll happily prove his loyalty to you by challenging Koala to a karate match, though.  

———

Hope you enjoyed it! If you want more, you can check out my masterlist here!

[sweet-pea-channie]

Shadows of the Exile - Epilogue

Azriel x female!reader

Summary: Y/N uncovers a secret journal filled with years of dreams and confessions about her. As they share memories, laughter, and intimacy, their bond deepens into something undeniable—a shared life, rooted in love, fate, and playful passion.

Warnings: soft domestic fluff, emotional vulnerability, love confessions via secret journal, fated mates energy, implied smut, suggestive dialogue

Word count: 2.1k

A/N: And that's it! I hope you enjoyed this series! Make sure to like and reblog :)

series masterlist

It started with her toothbrush.

Well, technically it started months ago—when nights in Azriel’s room became every night, when her clothes found a quiet corner in his wardrobe, when her favorite mug somehow ended up on his nightstand. But the toothbrush was the moment Azriel looked at her over his shoulder, half-dressed, shadows curling lazily around his bare back, and said:

“Just bring the rest of your things. It’s our room now.”

Y/N had raised a brow. “Oh? Our room?”

He’d smiled—crooked and slow. “You’ve basically annexed it already. May as well make it official.”

It was true. His bed was bigger, warmer, and always smelled like cedar and sky and him. And she’d stopped pretending to “head back to her room” weeks ago.

So, one golden afternoon, while Azriel was on a short patrol, Y/N padded barefoot down the Town House hallway with an armful of her things: a soft robe, her healing salves, her favorite teacup, and a stack of worn herb journals bound in green twine.

The room—their room—was quiet, sunlit, familiar. The curtains moved in the breeze like lazy thoughts. She smiled to herself as she set the journals on the edge of the dresser and opened the drawer beside the bed, meaning to slide them in next to his scattered bookmarks and spare gloves.

But her hand stopped.

Inside, tucked neatly beneath a folded handkerchief and a smooth river stone she’d given him months ago, was a small leather-bound journal. Dark, unmarked, worn at the edges like it had been held too tightly, too often.

She hadn’t seen it before.

She hesitated, fingers hovering. She didn’t mean to pry. But something tugged at her—like a whisper brushing the back of her neck.

Y/N slowly lifted the book out, thumbing over the edges. Azriel’s scent clung to the pages—ink, smoke, and shadow. Her heart stuttered in her chest.

The page she opened was dated almost 4 years ago.

“I don’t know what I’m doing. She touched my hand today. I think I forgot how to breathe.”

Y/N froze.

It was her. It was all her.

She sat on the edge of the bed, journal open in her lap, the room silent but for the gentle rustle of pages. Each entry was a sliver of the man she loved—quiet confessions, fleeting fears, hope wrapped in hesitation. A slow unraveling of a heart too careful to speak, but bold enough to write.

“If she ever finds this, Cauldron help me.”

She smiled through the tears prickling at the corners of her eyes.

“Too late,” she whispered, voice trembling. “I found it.”

She turned the page slowly, carefully, like it might crumble beneath her fingers. The date at the top read:

Six years ago.

Y/N’s brows knit together. Six years ago, she hadn’t even been in Velaris. Hadn’t returned to Prythian. Hadn’t even heard Azriel’s name spoken aloud in centuries.

Her breath caught as she began to read.

“It happened again. A dream, or maybe more. She’s never clear—just light in the corner of my eye, laughter I’ve never heard in waking hours, the smell of something sweet and wild I can’t name. But every time I wake up, I swear I’ve touched her. Like I’ve lost something I never got to have.”

Y/N’s fingers trembled slightly.

“Rhys says I need more rest, but I know it’s not just my mind. My shadows know her. They curl toward the scent of dawn and pine like they’re trying to find something I can’t remember. It’s madness. I’ve never met her. But I miss her like a memory I’m not allowed to keep.”

A soft sound escaped her—a half-laugh, half-sob.

She pressed her hand over her mouth, eyes shining as she stared down at the page. She didn’t notice the door opening behind her. Didn’t hear the footsteps.

Not until his voice, quiet and rough from the threshold:

“You found it.”

Y/N startled, turning sharply to find Azriel standing in the doorway, shadows tight around his shoulders, golden eyes flicking between her and the open journal in her lap.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The air was thick—not with tension, but with something older. Deeper.

Fated.

She opened her mouth, then closed it again. Then finally:

“Az… this was six years ago.”

His throat bobbed, and he nodded. “I know.”

“But I wasn’t here.”

Another pause. Azriel stepped closer, slowly, like he wasn’t sure if she’d bolt. “You weren’t,” he said quietly. “But something of you was.”

Her lips parted, but no words came.

He exhaled, looking down. “I used to dream of you. I didn’t know it then. Just… fragments. Feelings. A laugh I’d never heard but couldn’t forget. Shadows would tug toward empty space like they knew you already.”

He looked up again, eyes raw. Honest.

“When Rhys brought you here... I didn’t know why I felt like I’d been waiting centuries. But now I do.”

Y/N rose slowly, the journal still clutched in her hands. Her gaze searched his.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

Azriel gave a small, helpless smile. “Because how do you say I dreamed of you before I knew you were real without sounding insane?”

She stepped closer until their foreheads nearly touched, her voice barely a whisper:

“You don’t sound insane. You sound like my mate.”

His eyes fluttered shut, and he let out a breath like he’d been holding it for years.

“You were always real to me,” he murmured. “Even when you weren’t here.”

Azriel’s shadows had quieted, like even they knew this moment was too fragile to disturb.

Y/N gently closed the journal and held it to her chest, not quite ready to let it go. Azriel watched her, his hands clenched loosely at his sides, as though unsure if he was allowed to reach for her.

But then she offered the journal out, not to return it, but to share it.

“You should keep it close,” she said softly. “But… I’m glad I read it. I’m glad I know.”

Azriel took it from her like it was something sacred. His fingers brushed hers, lingered.

“I never expected you to find it,” he admitted.

She smiled gently. “Then you probably shouldn’t keep your emotional confessions in the sock drawer.”

That earned a small laugh from him—quiet, disbelieving, and real.

Y/N turned back to the open drawer, where her stack of herb journals still sat on the edge, waiting to be tucked into place. Slowly, almost ceremonially, she slid them in beside his things.

“Well,” she murmured, “I guess it’s official now. Shared drawer. Shared room.”

Azriel placed his journal gently on top of hers—no hesitation this time.

“Shared life,” he added.

There was a pause. A heartbeat.

Y/N’s eyes shimmered, but she blinked it away. She reached behind her and picked up a smaller book from the floor—bound in worn rose-colored leather, her name etched faintly on the inside cover.

She offered it to him. “This is mine. One of my old ones. Dawn Court plants and remedies. A few dreams, too.”

Azriel took it slowly. Flipping it open, his eyes scanned her neat handwriting, the occasional ink smudge, a tiny pressed flower between the pages.

“You’re giving this to me?”

She nodded. “You kept pieces of me before I knew you. Let me give you something now. On purpose.”

Azriel set both their journals gently back into the drawer, tucking hers beneath his, like it belonged there all along.

Then he turned to her and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close until there was no space left to fill.

“You know,” he whispered into her hair, “you don’t have to sneak your things in anymore.”

“I know,” she whispered back. “But it was more fun that way.”

Just as the last trace of laughter left the air, Azriel’s voice broke the comfortable silence, warm and inviting.

“I brought your favorite dinner. From that little place near the Sidra. I thought... maybe we could have a cozy night in. Just the two of us?”

Y/N smiled, a soft, fond expression crossing her face as she looked at him. "A cozy dinner sounds perfect. I’ll be there in a minute."

She slipped into the kitchen, the soft scent of the meal lingering in the air, mixing with the fading light of the evening. Azriel had already set the table by the time she arrived—nothing too extravagant, but enough to make the space feel warm and welcoming. The dim lighting, the neatly placed dishes, and the quiet clink of silverware on plates spoke volumes about how much he cared.

"You didn't have to do all this," Y/N remarked with a small smile, leaning against the doorway.

Azriel shrugged, a little self-conscious. "It's just dinner. But I'd love it if you'd join me."

There was nothing extravagant about the way he’d set the table—no overly romantic gestures or grand flourishes, just the simplicity of sharing a meal together. Yet, somehow, it felt perfect. The warmth of the candlelight reflected in their eyes, the quiet hum of comfort as Y/N slid into the chair across from him.

As they sat down to dinner, a light chuckle escaped Azriel’s lips. He leaned back in his chair, looking at Y/N with an amused expression.

“I heard something interesting from Cassian and Mor today,” he said, his voice laced with teasing amusement. “Apparently, they’ve been betting on... well, on us.”

Y/N raised an eyebrow, setting her fork down. “Us? How?”

Azriel couldn’t help but grin at the curiosity in her voice. “Well, it started with Cassian being too certain that after we accepted our mating bond, all the... intimate things we’ve done were confined strictly to the bedroom—or maybe the bathroom. He’s pretty convinced we haven’t ventured beyond that.”

Y/N burst out laughing, her hand flying to her mouth to stifle the sound. “Cassian really thinks that?”

Azriel smirked. “Oh, yeah. He’s dead sure we’re the most boring of the bunch.”

Y/N’s laughter softened, but her eyes sparkled with a mischievous glint. “And what did Mor say?”

Azriel leaned forward, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. “Mor, of course, took the opposite side. She bet that we’ve done it everywhere. In every room of the house. No boundaries. Guess she know a lot more about you than Cassian.”

Y/N’s grin widened as she thought about their quieter days in the Town House, when they had only shared stolen moments, hidden beneath the weight of their own unspoken feelings.

Her gaze shifted toward the table. Her heart picked up a beat, and the quiet realization hit her: There was still one place, one spot, where Azriel hadn’t—well, “ravished” her, as he liked to say.

She smirked, her eyes glinting with mischief. She leaned toward Azriel, her voice low and teasing.

“Well, it seems Mor won,” she said with a sly grin. “But there’s still one place where you haven’t... completed the mission, Azriel.”

He blinked at her, caught off guard. “What?”

She glanced at the dinner table, then back at him, her lips curling into a playful smile. “Right here, at the table.”

Azriel stared at her for a moment, his mouth going dry. “Here?”

Y/N nodded slowly, her gaze meeting his, full of challenge. “Yep. You’ve been pretty creative everywhere else... but you’ve never tried the dining table, have you?”

His breath caught in his throat. The playful shock in his eyes quickly shifted to something darker, more possessive. “You can’t be serious.”

“Oh, I am,” she purred, her voice a teasing whisper as she leaned in closer, her fingers brushing the rim of her glass. “After all, if we’re going to be real about this, you have to make up for the fact that we haven’t fully tested every surface yet.”

Azriel’s gaze went dark with that intense, simmering hunger that never failed to make her pulse race. He straightened, his chair scraping softly against the floor as he leaned toward her, their faces now inches apart.

“You’re playing with fire, sweetheart,” he murmured, his voice a rough whisper full of barely contained desire. “But if that’s the challenge you’re setting... I think I can show you just how hot it can get.”

Y/N chuckled, savoring the playful tension between them. “Let’s see if you can keep up.”

Azriel’s smile was slow, mischievous, as he stood, offering her a hand. “Let’s finish this dinner first, but after that... you’ll be the one needing to recover. Not me.”

-

Taglist: @princesssunderworld @tele86 @quiet-because-it-is-a-secret @rose-girls-world @iluvyewman-blog @gluecksbaerchieee @lreadsstuff

[storiesabouteli]

See ya! // Noel Gallagher (Single Dad) X Reader! (Fluff).

prompt: you found a lost child and helped her find her father...

words: 2K.

 Before ending up in your lap, the child had a lost look in her eyes, searching among the miniature trees that stood at her height. Your eyes drifted from your book, and it didn’t take long for you to notice that there was no adult nearby.

 She was hesitant, her eyes filled with tears, and her dark eyebrows drawn in a painful line. Somewhere between your gentle words, she broke down, letting your hand comfort her trembling shoulders as she sobbed in despair, “I can’t find Daddy.” 

 You nodded, looking into her blue eyes, trying to make her feel safe. "I can help you," you whispered, and her little sobs began to ease. You draped your jacket around her shoulders, and her tiny hands squeezed yours.

 "When was the last time you saw him? What does he look like?"

 She searched the area with her eyes, feet rooted to the spot, her red nose slowly returning to its natural color.

 "Does he tell you to stay in the same place when you get lost? So it’s easier to find you?"

 That made her look you up and down, and despite trying to hold it back, you laughed. "My mom used to say the same thing, can you believe that?"

 Noticing her hesitation, you opened your bag to show her what was inside—a small bag for the picnic mat you’d been sitting on, your book, some lip balm, and a coin purse you opened to show her the coins. You explained you forgot the bug spray, like always, and always ended up regretting it.

 "Uncle Liam talks a lot, just like you. I like that. Daddy is really quiet and always has a serious face."

 You laughed. Her words were getting lighter, and her mixed-up letters and accent, shaped by her age, were adorable.

 "Okay, so he walks around with a grumpy face..."

 She nodded, her expression more amused now.

 "He has a lot of hair. The other dads usually don’t."

 You agreed, imagining a man with a full head of hair and thick eyebrows, just like hers—definitely a genetic trait.

 You weren’t going anywhere. You figured he’d pass by at some point, and you’d still be there, right by her side, making sure nothing bad happened to her.

 She rested her head on your arm—clearly tired, but just as clearly not ready to close her eyes.

 "He’ll find you," you whispered, watching her glance from you to the park around her.

 You had already told security and said you’d wait.

 "Sal,"

 The man’s voice was much louder than both of yours combined. That alone made your arm, which was wrapped around her, fall away as she stood and ran straight into his arms.

 You watched as his arms closed tightly around her waist, pulling her into a fierce embrace. He wore a single pinky ring, and his fingers clutched the back of her clothes with intensity. His cheeks were flushed, his eyes glossy, and when he finally opened them, he took in every detail of her face like he was memorizing it.

 "I’m sorry, I know I should’ve waited for you."

 It felt like a scene out of a film—the kind of moment you know could happen to someone, just never to you.

 She hugged him again, and he let her curl into him for as long as he thought she needed. Then he looked over at you and gave a brief smile, nodding. His gaze lingered on yours a little longer than one might expect—just long enough to feel like it wasn’t quite everyday stuff, but also nothing inappropriate given the moment.

 "It were twenty minutes, y’know? Felt like bloody eternity," he said, the thick Manchester accent curling around the words. You weren't entirely used to the sound, so you stepped a little closer to catch it all.

 The way he said it was almost like he was trying to justify himself—but with the worry written all over his face, the little pink bag slung over his shoulder, the towel peeking out, and the joy in Sally’s eyes as she looked up at him like he was her hero, there wasn’t really anything to question.

 You smiled, and when he reached his hand out for a shake, your instinct was to lean in and go for a hug instead.

 As your arms met and he caught your waist when you slightly stumbled, your cheeks warmed, and butterflies erupted in your stomach. For a few seconds, he was close—close enough to make it a little awkward. He smelled like mint gum and that kind of dad cologne you could never quite describe.

 You laughed at your own thought, then added, "I’m not from here, I get that hugging strangers probably isn’t the norm, but I’m getting used to it."

 He didn’t seem to mind. In fact, he seemed to like that you hadn’t apologized for it—though he clearly understood the context.

 His cheeks and the tip of his nose went red again, this time even more than before.

 "Noel," he said, introducing himself. He barely opened his mouth when he spoke, maybe because he didn’t think the gap between his front teeth was charming, even though you thought it kind of was. The fact he seemed shy about it only made him more attractive.

 Sal’s hand hadn’t let go of his. Noel kept her close, protectively, but the moment you said your name, she gave a little tug—almost like a reminder that she was still there.

 "And this’s my little Sally—glad she’s alright, thanks to you," he added, his accent rich with that unmistakable Manchester warmth.

 She waved, and you waved back.

 Noel tried to take off your jacket from around her, saying hers was in his bag, but Sal resisted with a stubborn shake of her head and a tiny pout—like it was her armor now. You figured it was fine, even if it turned Noel beet red.

 You were relieved, really. In the end, she was safe with her dad.

 You grabbed your bag, stood, and folded your mat to pack it away—there was no reason for you to stay anymore.

 But as you did, you heard a low whisper from him to the girl, "Ask her to come for a coffee with us."

 Then came the unmistakable shuffle of a bag and what you imagined was Noel nudging her with his elbow.

 "You ask her," her voice came back, much clearer than his.

 "I don’t even drink coffee," she murmured under her breath, trying to hold back a smile.

 "Don’t wanna come with us?" he asked just as you turned around. He did seem quieter than the uncles Sally had mentioned—he asked it like someone who was trying to sound confident but fighting off a war inside.

 "We’re going for coffee. Well, he is—I like hot chocolate," Sal added, and you nodded.

 The thought of letting them walk away without you was starting to feel oddly wrong. 

 It hadn’t been a quick thing; time seemed to slow down like it was what everyone needed. Noel waited for you to order and helped Sally choose a pie, placing both her drink order and his. Sal was chatty in a way he wasn’t—not that she was a motor-mouth. She sat on his lap, her cheek resting against his chest, and sleepiness seemed to wash over her. Every now and then her arms would wrap around his waist, and he’d kiss the top of her head, and she’d close her eyes. The girl looked just like him.

 “Y’alreet, been ‘ere long?” 

 “No, I moved last week. I live just down the road from the stadium. It’s been nice,” you said, shifting your gaze from Sal to his. He nodded, eyes still on you, and you held his gaze. The colour returned to your cheeks, and you found yourself liking that more than you meant to.

 “I like the weather... I might miss the vitamin D, but it feels cosy.”

 He laughed—that wide, almost toothless kind of laugh he had. He scratched his face, more precisely his jaw, then looked away for a moment before turning back to you.

 “There’s a café just on the corner near you, one of the best around. You should check it out.”

 You nodded, already knowing it—you’d been there before.

 “You two should take me there,” you said, your attention drifting to the menu again, then back to him before your words fully sank in.

 Noel wasn’t slow, but fatherhood had softened that kind of awareness a bit. He chuckled, and you raised your brows as if to say, I mean it.

 Sal would still be dreaming if it weren’t for the smell of cocoa at the table. You had to admit, seeing him as a dad stirred something different in you. He’d folded napkins under her cup and plate, and she did make a mess, like any kid. There were moments she paused to play with the cutlery or tried dipping her finger in the hot chocolate, and Noel had to step in—but always calmly, speaking softly. Even if it took a moment, she eventually understood.

 He also respected her pace. Even while talking to you, he made it clear he was there for her, never rushing her to match your rhythm. In the end, she couldn’t quite finish her pie, and Noel had to take the last bites for her. And she made a point of putting spoonfuls in his mouth.

 They were adorable. It was unfair he felt the need to apologise for having lost sight of her for a few minutes earlier. 

 In the end, he insisted on paying the bill. But since Sal needed to go to the bathroom, you were the one who got the check and ended up breaking that agreement.

 “It were on me—just a thank you, like,” he said.

 The older lady taking payment overheard and whispered, “He’s a bit gruff like that with everyone.”

 That made Sal giggle, and the furrow between Noel’s brows softened even as he shook his head.

 “He hides it well,” you teased, sweetening his cheeks again. He responded with, “Right, next time’s on me then.”

 You smiled brightly, your teeth showing more than before.

 “Sal, we’re gonna see each other again,” you said. She looked just as excited about it as you.

 Noel picked her up, and she immediately clung to his neck. The sight of him with this blonde girl, her pink bag slung across his shoulder, was oddly comforting.

 “We’ll return your jacket...” he worried, but you dismissed it as unnecessary with a shake of your head.

 “Want mine? You might get cold.”

 He was about to set her down, but you touched his shoulder gently.

 “Noel, it’s fine. I’m not cold.”

 He nodded, and you later realised maybe you should’ve taken it. Sal had turned your jacket into a blanket. It wasn’t that cold, but she was cuddled into it and had now actually fallen asleep.

 “So,” you whispered, hands in your pockets, not avoiding his gaze.

 “D’you come t’the park often, then?”

 “Yeah, usually late afternoons. My place still doesn’t feel much like home, y’know?”

 He understood, "We do an’ all."

 “That’s alright. I’ll be here tomorrow,” you said, biting your lip, a soft smile playing on your mouth. 

 Noel thought it was sweet how easy it was to read you—how you didn’t hide when something pleased you. Like the little hum you let out with your first bite of brownie. Or the relief on your face when Sal found him. Or how you lit up when he blushed.

 “I’ll be here, same time, waitin’ for you... and for Sal. Gonna get her some presents, maybe bows or a bit o’ cake...”

 You were still smiling, and he stepped closer, opening his free arm. You didn’t hesitate—wrapped your arms around him. The scent of mint and cologne filled your lungs, getting even better as he gently stroked your back from top to bottom.

 Before you pulled away, he placed a short kiss to the top of your head—and it felt right.

 He stayed with you until your taxi arrived.

 “Thank you,” he said after a long, comfortable silence between you two, eyes meeting, not needing to say anything more.

[monsterboness]

chopped

summary: lars has a surprise for his wife

pairing: lars ulrich x female reader

warnings: fluff

word count: 1197

a/n: an ode to lars' hair rip (obviously this takes place just before load was released)

When Lars had told her that morning that he wanted to make a ‘big change’, she wasn’t exactly sure what he meant. Did he want a new car? To change up his drumming style? Maybe he wanted to move them across the country. 

Stop worrying, it’s probably nothing, she told herself as she waited for him to come home.

The new album had been a long time in the making and was close to done, they just needed to shoot some photos for the booklet. She’d spent the ten months of recording with Lars when they’d all relocated to Sausalito and had enjoyed the change of scenery, but now she was ready to go back to L.A. and finally listen to the finished product that had been kept secret for so long.

Plus, she just wanted to have Lars to herself for as long as she could before he was packing up for tour again. If she closed her eyes, she could just imagine him right next to her: his head buried in the crook of her neck as he slept soundly, the scent of his cologne filling her senses, the feeling of his beautiful long hair as she’d run her fingers through it.

That beautiful mane was the only thing she could think about at that moment; how he took so long to dry and style it when he came out of the shower, the smell of his shampoo and conditioner, how soft and thick it was when she ran her fingers through it, how he groaned when she pulled on it during sex. 

Just as she was about to get lost in her thoughts, she heard the click of the front door unlocking before it creaked open. It was roughly eleven-thirty at night, much earlier than she usually expected Lars to come home. By this point in their relationship, she knew that he liked to work late at night, sometimes into the early hours of the morning. Something must have been going on if he was home so sharp.

“Baby?” he called through the house from the front door. “You home?”

She jumped up from her seat in the living room and raced to the front door, ready to see him and his gorgeous hair, only to be greeted by…

A hat. Why is Lars wearing a hat?

She shook the thought out of her mind and moved forward to hug him.

“Hi, honey,” she said as she greeted him with a hug. “How was the session?”

“Oh my god,” he said as he returned her hug and kissed her forehead, “great, but exhausting. I’m just glad that it’s finally finished.”

“So that’s it?” She pulled back slightly to see him. “No more recordings or photos? It’s all done?”

“All done,” he said proudly. “And now you can have me all to yourself.”

“Thank God for that,” she breathed as she rested her head on his shoulder. “I was starting to think you didn’t want to ever see me again.”

“I would never do that to you,” Lars said as he took hold of her face and lifted it to his. “It’s just that this album took longer than it was supposed to.”

“I know, I’m just messing with you,” she said before kissing him softly.

“Anyway, can we go eat? I’m starving,” he said as he broke away from her and headed off to the kitchen, her hand in his.

And still wearing that hat.

“What was this ‘big change’ you were talking about before?” she asked him once she took a seat at the island counter. “Surely it’ll have happened by now.”

Lars gave her a confused look before remembering.

“Oh, that!” he said as he rooted around in the fridge. “That was so long ago I forgot.”

“Well, don’t leave me hanging, what is it?”

“Okay, close your eyes.”

She hesitated a second before closing her eyes and covering them with her hands, making a show of his ‘big reveal’. She heard a brief rustling of fabric and something being placed on the counter, which only made her more curious.

“Okay, open ‘em!” 

She took her hands away from her face and opened her eyes, only to wish she’d kept them closed.

“What do you think?” Lars asked with a smile, showing off his new very short hairstyle.

“Who are you and what have you done with my husband?” she said in disbelief. 

In the entire time she’d known him, Lars had had long hair that he was very proud of and took very good care of. Seeing him without it was just… Weird. He looked like a completely different person, and if he didn’t have that smile that he always gave her, she wouldn’t have recognised him at all.

“Hey, I’m still me,” he said as he rounded the counter to stand next to her. “Me and the guys just wanted to do something different with our hair.”

“You and the guys? So you’ve all cut your hair?” 

“Yeah, well, not all at the same time, Jason cut his hair years ago and then we all ended up doing it. It wasn’t a collective decision or anything.”

“Next you’ll be coming home with tattoos,” she said, trying to recover from the shock of seeing her husband practically bald.

Lars laughed and hugged her sideways, kissed the top of her head before pulling her head into his shoulder. “Yeah, that’s not going to happen anytime soon, honey.”

“I wouldn’t be opposed to that,” she said in a slight singsong.

“Not fucking happening,” he said and let go of her to find something for dinner. “You’ll just have to settle for short hair instead.”

They made dinner together in relative quiet, having run out of things to say and Lars needing the quiet after such a full day around other people.

“You don’t like it, do you?” Lars asked quietly when they were getting ready for bed.

The question took her by surprise. She wiped her hands after applying her lotion and turned to face him.

“It’s not that I don’t like it, it’s just…” she trailed off, trying to find the right word. “Different.”

“You time to get used to it, I get it,” Lars said from his place in the bed. “I need to get used to it too. I just know that tomorrow I’ll get up and try to brush it like I normally do.”

She climbed into bed with him and cuddled up to him, their noses almost touching.

“It does feel nice,” she said as she stroked his hair. “It’s really soft.”

His eyes drifted closed and he smiled softly as he let her run her fingers through his hair. He shifted slightly and wrapped his arms around her waist to pull her on top of him, lying flat on his back.

“You’ve still got enough length for me to pull on it,” she said, gently tugging at the ends to prove her point.

“See, I still thought about you,” he said before kissing her softly.

“But you’ll grow it back out eventually, right?” she asked, her voice muffled by his lips.

“Hmm, we’ll see about that.”

[cece693]

Numb (Tony Stark x Gender Neutral! Reader)

Something that I had saved and forgot all about.

Summary: You didn't understand Tony's decision; he'd left you with a gaping hold in your heart. It was easy to feel anger and resentment, but was it really a surprise how things ended?

tags: slight comfort, post-endgame, Tony's dead, reader handles the loss, mourning, last words/message

You stood there, numb, as Tony's heart drifted farther down the lake, a small, fading dot on the horizon. The weight of what you had done pressed down on you, and without a word to anyone, you turned away, heading home. As you stepped into the house and climbed the stairs to your bedroom, everything appeared the same—yet it all felt different. The one piece that truly made this a home was now gone forever.

When Tony sacrificed himself, it was easy to be consumed by anger. How dare he leave you like this, sobbing and begging for him to return, all for the sake of Earth? After everything, after all the times they had wronged him, it was you—the one person who never turned their back on him—who was left behind. That anger still simmered beneath the surface, but now it had dulled into a numbness that spread through your entire being.

Pepper, Happy, and Rhodey had all tried to comfort you, offering words meant to soothe the unbearable loss. But their attempts only made it worse. They didn’t understand—they couldn’t. What they had lost was different from yours. Tony was your husband and he'd failed your wedding vows. Through sickness and health—the battle with Thanos had no place there.

All you wanted was to be alone, to sit with the emptiness that had taken root inside you, to feel it in its entirety without anyone trying to take it away. That emptiness, as hollow and painful as it was, felt like the last piece of Tony you had left.

Looking around, your vision blurred with unshed tears, taking in the sight of the room. It was a mess, but that was typical when living with Tony. The wardrobe door was flung open, shirts haphazardly hanging half in, half out. His favorite jacket was draped over a chair, and a pair of mismatched socks lay abandoned on the floor. It was like he had just stepped out for a moment, like he would walk back in any second with that roguish grin, asking if you’d seen his watch or where he left his keys.

Your eyes moved to the messy bed, and you couldn't help but collapse onto it. Bringing Tony's pillow to your nose, you inhaled deeply—taking in his familiar cologne and the faint scent of oil and metal that clung to everything he touched. As you lay there, your mind replaying happy memories, something caught your attention.

Hesitantly, you reached out and picked it up, your fingers trembling as you recognized the Stark tech design. With a deep breath, you activated it. A hologram flickered to life, and there he was—Tony, looking at you with that familiar blend of warmth and determination that only he could pull off.

"Hey, love." his voice was soft, almost soothing, but there was an undercurrent of sadness. "If you're seeing this, it means I'm gone. And I know you're angry, probably cursing my name right now. Believe me, I didn’t want to leave you. God, I wanted to stay more than anything."

He paused, as if searching for the right words. "But…you know me. I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t try to save everyone. It’s who I am—who I've always been. I know that’s not an excuse, and it doesn’t make it hurt any less. But I need you to understand that I didn’t choose them over you. I chose all of us. I couldn't bear the thought of a world where you weren't safe."

Tony’s image flickered slightly, and you could see the pain in his eyes. "I hate that I hurt you. But you…you're stronger than you know. And I need you to keep going, to live your life, even without me in it. Because, in a way, I’m still here. I’m always with you."

He took a shaky breath, and his voice softened. "I love you. I’ve loved you from the moment I laid eyes on you, and I will love you until the end of time. Forever, remember? That’s what we promised. And I’m keeping that promise, even now."

As the hologram continued, you could hear the faint background noise—a gentle clinking of dishes, the hum of a movie soundtrack. Your heart ached as you recognized the scene: it was the last day you spent together. The day you cooked dinner side by side, the laughter you shared, and the quiet intimacy of watching a movie on the couch.

Now everything made sense. Tony’s extra affection, his words of love, and the lingering touches—they were all part of his farewell. It was as if he had known he wouldn’t have another chance to show you how much you meant to him. The realization hit you like a wave. How long had Tony known his fate? How long had he been preparing to say goodbye, knowing he had to make every moment count?

As the hologram began to flicker and lose its stability, Tony’s image took on a more solemn, resigned expression. His voice softened even further, as if he were speaking directly to your heart.

“I have to go now. But remember this—no matter where I am, my love for you will never fade. It’s with you always, even in the darkest moments. If there's an afterlife, I'll be waiting for you.” The hologram shimmered one last time, and with a final, loving glance, Tony’s image faded into the darkness. Clutching the device to your chest, the tears that you have been holding back finally spilled over.

[the-s1lly-corner]

Flowers and cherries for my Lover (Jason Voorhees x Reader)

HELLO HI UESYESYES THIS IS A LITTLE LATE BUT I FORGOT IT WAS HIS BIRTHDAU IM SORRU KING

Word count: 1.5k

Notes: gn reader, human jason, it's been a minute since I've watched the films so some details may be off, short and sweet, you surprise him with flowers and pie, admin has never been to new jersey so he doesnt know what the weathers like so bare with him, not proof read and rushed so this isnt my best work (but tbf when do i proof read or use a beta reader LMAO)

CWs: Canon typical violence mentions, death of a loved one mention

Summer in New Jersey was rough. It wasn't so much the heat- as annoying as the saying was, it was always the humidity that would do you in. Even within the cabin you could hardly keep the back of your shirt from sticking uncomfortably to your skin… and it was made even worse as you lowered yourself on your haunches in the dirt to pluck the natural flora up from the dry grass. Your skin was slick with sweat- the nearby lake only made things even worse… the air felt heavy in your lungs as it pushed through your thick throat- the moisture smearing the red stains on the tips of your fingers… you'd try your best to scrub away the mess before you stepped outside but alas you were properly messed. If anything your current activity only made it cover more of your hands. You'd worry about that later- it wasn't like you were covered in blood. Not like how Jason would be when he returned from… dealing… with trespassers who decided they were too good for their nice and cozy homes in town. Because why would you make love to your partner in the comfort of your own bed when you could break into some old abandoned summer camp cabins- you couldn't even begin to understand how someone could get it on with such… a mood… but who were you to kink shame?

The latest group of teenagers coming in for some summer fun were kind enough to… lend… you some fresh cherries. When was the last time you got your hands on some fresh fruit? Sure there were blueberries, and sometimes strawberries… but you were hardly a gardener. Nor were you a hunter but your lover was more than willing to provide for you. It's like he lived for it. Alas the cherries still had their stems and pits- and it took forever to pick them out with your nails. But beggars couldn't be choosers. Hopefully the faint sting that clung around your nails from the juices would be worth it when you were able to offer a slice of pie to Jason.

But for now, the pie was currently back in your shared cabin cooling on the window sill- away from Jason's eyes but maybe not far away from his nose. Whether he noticed the scent or not you couldn't tell. Always without fail around this time of year he would retreat into himself and sit alone in one of the backrooms of the cabin. You knew exactly what he was doing, and what was in there. At least what was once in there. All that remained of his mother was her faded blue sweater- her remains buried after you had managed to convince him to give her a proper burial. That… was a long conversation- but each week he made sure the flowers at the site were replaced with fresh ones.

The nail of your thumb dug into the stem of a daisy- deeper… until it cut through enough to pick it from its roots. Another one for the bundle accumulating right next to you. Who needed going to a flower shop when you were in nature's domain? …You didn't pick too many. Always too cautious to take too much from the land around you- but you couldn't help yourself but to gather enough for a small bouquet.. even your hand struggled to fit around the group of stems; it was for Jason after all. You rise to your feet, careful not to fall back on your ass as your legs tried to readjust to standing upright after spending so long pinned under your weight. Even as the air stuck your clothing to your body you couldn't help but feel accomplished. There wasn't much you could do to celebrate Jason's birthday out here, especially since he really disliked the idea of you heading into town just for groceries… the cherries really were a dream come true.

The pie was exactly where you had left it- still untouched… still warm, but cooled enough to hold it in your hands to put it on the table. The picked daisies made their new home (at least until they started to wilt and die) in an ancient looking vase that's been there long before you stumbled unintentionally into Jason's life. The paint was faded and chipped, but it looked like it belonged on the old wooden table. It really meshed well with the old table cloth draped over the surface- it was your idea to put it there to hide the wear and tear.

With that there wasn't anything left to do to prepare- there weren't any streamers for you to string up on the walls, nor any balloons to blow up. …But now that you thought about it would that even be something Jason would be into? He didn't exactly… seem like the type to enjoy the business and colors parties usually bring even if it would just be the two of you alone in the cabin. One last nudge to put the pie closer to the middle of the table to at least try to make the scene more presentable. …and one last swipe of your hands over the table cloth to smooth out the wrinkles… …..and one last shift of the vase with the flowers to-

Your teeth click together as you allow your eyes to scan over the table. This was probably as good as it was going to get… and you were left with some extra desires. Alas you would be denied the chance to try to bolt around to find something- anything- to spice up the dining area as the floorboards creaked under you.

You hadn't even heard Jason open the door, or leave the room in your focus. In all honesty you didn't even fully process his heavy footsteps behind you as you backed further from the table to try to shift your views on it. Your back met his chest and in an instant you whirled around to stare up at his mask- nicked and scratched, the pain chipped and flaked off. The squeak that ripped from your throat was downright pathetic as your hands flew up defensively- before freezing tensed in the air. The giant man either didn't notice the table yet or just wasn't all the interested. You could nearly feel his stare burning on the still stained tips of your fingers. To be fair… while it didn't look exactly like blood it did look like they were hurting. The seconds between him making a careful grab for your hand and you trying to quickly splutter out an explanation felt almost terrifying. He'd never hurt you, and even if he got angry he'd never direct it at you- not when he believed someone or something might have been the cause of any injury.

The rough skin of his thumb lightly brushed over the back of your nail- and when the red didn't smear off he seemed to tense against you. "It's just cherry juice don't worry-" You shifted your hand around his fingers and squeezed him for added reassurance. He squeezed back… and tilted his head to the side.

So he didn't notice the pie.

"I… those campers from a few days ago- they had cherries," You explained with a flick of your eyes to your hands, before jerking your head over your shoulder. Finally Jason's gaze shifted from you. Another shift of his hand against yours, another squeeze as he silently took in what you've prepared for him. His silence never bothered you, and you weren't expecting him to break it now. Or ever, really.

"…I figured… that I'd use them for your birthday before they went bad- it was between a cobbler and a pie… and you see more like a pie person- but I think there's enough to whip up a cobbler if you'd prefer that-" Your words picked up their speed as his stare continued to focus on the table behind you… it wasn't like you could pull away either with him still keeping a hold on you. "…I got you flowers too, the uhm…" Your mouth suddenly felt dry. "the pie didn't feel like it was enough- I really wanted to do something nice for you, because I know-"

Another squeak was forced out of you as Jason's hand suddenly left yours, and slipped under your arms. Under- behind- before tugging you flush against his chest. He was warm, but you didn't care that his radiating heat added to the hot flush of your body. Nor that his coat felt itchy against your sweaty skin, or that it smelled a little… like it needed a wash…. "Oufh-" You shifted your head out of his chest- chin resting to his collarbone. His hands fumbled against the flat of your back… tapping, drawing lines… before it clicked that he was signing into your back.

It was almost.. silly… but the idea that he was torn between holding you and expressing his feelings to you made you feel soft and mushy inside.

Your stained fingers twitched at your sides before they buried into his jacket- returning the embrace. "…I love you too," You mumbled against his shirt as you lowered your face back into him.

"Happy birthday," The words were hardly clear but his hold against you tightened.

Maybe you didn't need to worry about decorations and music for him… of course anything you'd end up doing would be enough for him.

[slytherin-princess-x]

Aren’t you lonely?

Tom x reader

Part 2 is here

The chill night air nipped at my exposed skin as I sat beside Tom on the Astronomy Tower. Our relationship, if you could even call it that, was an enigma. He felt a palpable need to protect me, a silent, watchful guardianship that I hadn’t asked for, but found myself strangely comforted by. The sprawling grounds of Hogwarts shimmered below, bathed in the ethereal glow of the moon.

Tom sat ramrod straight, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon. He was a study in contrasts: sharp angles and soft shadows, a quiet intensity that both intrigued and intimidated me.

“Aren’t you lonely?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper carried away on the wind.

He didn’t turn, his voice a low rumble that vibrated through the stone floor. “I am alone. But lonely? Never.”

I shifted, pulling my cloak tighter around me. “That isn’t healthy, Tom. People need people.”

He finally turned, his dark eyes, usually so guarded, seemed to pierce through me. “People betray each other. They lie and hurt each other. I’d rather keep to myself. It’s…safer.”

His words were laced with a bitterness that hinted at a past I couldn’t even begin to imagine. Understanding flickered within me. He’d built walls so high and thick, he probably forgot how to climb them.

I leaned a little closer, the sharp scent of pine and parchment clinging to him. “You haven’t hurt me.”

He inhaled sharply, turning away again. The silence stretched, heavy and thick, punctuated only by the soft rustle of the wind. Then, so softly I almost missed it, he spoke.

“I will.”

The words hung in the air, a cold, hard truth. He didn’t say 'might,' or 'maybe,' but 'will.' It was a promise, a warning, a certainty. He knew himself, perhaps better than he wanted to. He knew the darkness that resided within him, the potential for cruelty and destruction. He knew he was capable of causing pain.

A shiver ran down my spine, but not from the cold. It was the frisson of danger, the thrill of the unknown. A sensible person would retreat, would run far, far away from someone who freely admitted their capacity for harm.

But something held me rooted to the spot. Perhaps it was the flicker of vulnerability I’d glimpsed in his eyes, the haunted expression that told me he hated that part of himself. Or maybe it was simply the rebellious streak that always led me down paths I shouldn’t tread.

I drew another breath, the night air filling my lungs. "I’d take the risk.”

He remained silent, his back still to me. I couldn't see his face, couldn't gauge his reaction. Time seemed to slow, each second an eternity.

Finally, he spoke, his voice barely audible above the wind, "Why?"

I didn't have a clear answer, not one that I could articulate. It wasn’t logic or reason that dictated my response. It was something deeper, a feeling, an instinct.

“Because,” I began, my voice trembling only slightly, “Everyone deserves a chance. And maybe, just maybe, you need someone to…to take that risk on you.”

The silence returned, longer and deeper than before. I waited, breathless, unsure if I'd said the right thing, if I'd made a terrible mistake. The weight of his gaze, though I couldn't see it, felt heavy on my skin.

Then, slowly, almost imperceptibly, he turned his head, just a fraction. Enough for me to see the faintest glimmer of something new in his eyes. Something that wasn't quite hope, but perhaps, just perhaps, a flicker of curiosity.

The night stretched on, the stars silent witnesses to our unspoken pact. We sat together, two souls perched on the edge of something dangerous, something undefined. I didn’t know what the future held, what kind of pain he might inflict. But for the first time, Tom didn't seem quite so alone. And maybe, just maybe, neither did I. The risk, whatever it was, felt worth taking.

Taglist: @yootvi @littlemadamred @smut-anarchy @redeemingvillains @nodoubtily @voidofsunlight

[destinygoldenstar]

🌟A Player Returns?!🌟 - Total Drama Viewer Reacts to Disventure Camp Season 3 Episode 11 “Last Second Chance”

Previously on Disventure Camp:

Jake fucked up everyone.

And I still stan him.

And the merge has been divided into two. And Evil is winning.

The season can't just be the villains getting out everyone else, and then they just shake hands and say "May the best one win".

That'd be boring.

But also, how are these guys gonna get out of this?

IDOL???

Or Gabby flips. One of the two.

Gabby's not in this image cause I wanted it to be even. And Gabby was in the last image, so I didn't want to draw her again straight away.

Yul's not in this image cause Fuck Yul. You know the rules at this point.

We're just gonna see what happens. Cause I have no idea.

"I guess I'm calling them the 'heroes', but wow, you'd think heroes would be nicer to one another."

DO NOT CALL THEM HEROES.

WITH HEROES LIKE THESE, WHO NEEDS VILLAINS?

I mean I guess it's more interesting than what Total Drama did, that's for sure. Where they just had the Heroes be so overly nice and sappy and have no beef at all. And then have Duncan be turned into a hero and hate that. And they gave Cameron a villain arc despite that not fitting at all.

Yeah I prefer this. It's fun to watch people suck.

AND it's more realistic.

"And today, no one will be voted out!"

Oh it's non-elimination, that's nice.

...reunion?

No it's just Oliver reuniting with the ground after he gets shoved out of a plane.

Um, EXCUSE YOU JAKE.

WHY ARE YOU HANGING OUT WITH ALEC?!

GO BACK IN THE MUD WHERE YOU BELONG!

"Must be rough, huh?"

Alec, shut the fuck up. You don't get a voice in any of this.

"What are you talking about?"

"You ruined my life! What are you talking about?! You don't get to be sympathetic towards me!"

"Other than Ashley, your whole alliance voted for you last night."

Bold of you to assume they were an alliance to begin with.

Yeah no, everyone hates Jake.

That's the Number 1 Rule Of Merge Camp.

Rule # 1: Fuck Jake.

Rule # 2: Fuck Yul.

Rule # 3: Treat Riya Like A Queen.

Rule # 4: Worship The Mighty Overlord Golden.

"Whatever. I don't care about Tom anymore."

I am NOT convinced about that with the way you said that. AND this face.

Or maybe that's just me in denial.

Denial? Anger? Bargaining?

I don't even know what stage of grief I'm in anymore.

Either way,

"I fell out of love with Tom" MY ASS.

"Crazy how we were the only ones to not vote for you."

Are you trying to persuade Jake to your side?

Cause uh... I think this is the stupidest way you can possibly go about it.

Yeah you didn't vote him off. You voted his only friend here. THAT'S WORSE, DUDE.

If Jake actually flips to the villains, I'M CALLING BULLSHIT.

"Yeah cause you guys voted Ashley. That doesn't exactly make me feel better!"

YOU TELL HIM OFF!!

"The plan was you originally."

Really?

No, he's lying. I don't buy it. There was no indication last episode.

"Why would you save me?"

"Because Golden likes you, and uh, you know, she'd probably smite us if we went through with that."

No Alec, I've been rooting AGAINST Jake this entire time.

It was YOUR vote that changed my mind.

"You're not going to believe me, but... I like you, Jake."

...

Huh. Good to know he's honest.

About the fact that I don't believe him. And I don't think Jake does, either.

"I think you forgot something, Alec. Nobody likes me. That's the rule."

"Some people call you overdramatic, but, honestly, you've been keeping this camp mighty interesting."

AND THAT'S WHY WE KEEP THE CHAOTIC CHARACTERS AROUND, Y'ALL.

BECAUSE IF WE GOT RID OF ALL THE CHARACTERS WITH NEGATIVE TRAITS, THE SEASON WILL BECOME BORING.

THIS IS TOTAL. FUCKING. DRAMA.

NOT TOTAL THERAPY!!!

*clears throat*

Anyway, thank you for that, Alec. I owe you one.

How many times do people need to be reminded that? Seriously? We've been saying this since the old times of Total Drama.

"I know you're trying to coerce me into working with you Alec. Just... get out of here!"

👏

OH MY GOD HE GOT CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, AND IT STUCK!!

THANK YOU!

This is why Jake is my favorite character.

He straight up said, "NO. NOT AGAIN. NEVER AGAIN. I AM NOT FALLING FOR ANYONE'S BULLSHIT. EVER. AGAIN. YOU NOT ON MY SIDE? I'M NOT ON YOURS. TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO BETRAYED ME: GO FUCK YOURSELF!"

That is glorious.

This episode just started off really strong.

I've been really enjoying these couple of episodes.

"I don't give a rat's ass about Jake, but Riya gave me some acting lessons to try and befriend him."

Oh did she?!

Oh my gosh, Riya giving Alec acting lessons, CANON?!

I LOVE THAT. OH MY GOD.

They're so nice together, actually. I can totally see Riya doing that.

"You have to smile! Real sweetly! No not that sweetly, you look like a village idiot high on Nerds Candy. If you want this next showing to work, you have to look him in the eye, and say, with the kindness in your non-existent heart, 'I like you, Jake.'"

"No Riya, I don't think this is gonna work. I hate smiling."

Riya's just walking circles around everyone else. Smartest villain here. Most queen-like villain here. And also the most ruthless.

"I shot him with a paintball by accident and he went all agro on me!"

Okay here's the weird thing about that, I BELIEVE HIM, BUT THE WAY THAT WAS ANIMATED AND SHOT MADE IT LOOK LIKE HE DID IT ON PURPOSE.

"Oops. Sorry."

YOU ARE IN A GODDAMN TREE!! YOU HAVE CLEAR VISION!!

"I'm not the enemy Aiden. Are you blind?!"

Apparently he is blind.

*rewinds*

YEAH HE SAW. HE AIMED AND FIRED.

There ain't no way he didn't see him. HE'S IN A TREE!!!

I believe you, Aiden. But at the same time, I don't. If you know what I'm saying.

I don't believe the editing team, how about that?

"Whatever. Play the blame game if you want."

Yeah Tom saw it too. He saw the footage.

I knew I wasn't stupid. I looked at that TWICE.

"I'm worried for what's coming."

The three queens are peeping around the corner as we speak, WATCHING YOUR EVERY MOVE, WAITING TO EAT YOU ALIVE AS YOU STAY TIED UP HELPLESSLY!!

MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!!!

...is it bad I'm kinda rooting for evil?

"What if we can flip Gabby back to us?"

Hey, that's what I said!

"Well we-we can't just give up!"

Kudos to Tom for being the one 'hero' actually fighting.

Hero sounds wrong. We need to call them something else.

Village Idiots. Till I can think of something else.

"We have nine finalists, and nine sorry losers."

"Good riddance to them all."

An instance where Grett feels like her old self again.

"Today, your past might come back to haunt you!"

OH NO IT'S NINA!!!!!

YEAH, THE PAST IS COMING BACK TO HAUNT THEM ALRIGHT!

I REMEMBER WHEN SHE TRIED TO KILL EVERYONE!

Anyway hi guys.

The only one I'm not happy to see is James.

"OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD!!"

Of course everyone is in DREAD and Gabby's like "YAY!! FRIENDS!!!"

Why are you distant?

I thought you guys left on on good terms.

Game-wise, obviously.

"And now, one of them are about to get back in this game!"

OH...

OH MY GOD I DIDN'T THINK ABOUT THAT.

That never crossed my mind. My brain NEVER went to "Comeback Challenge"

OKAY. SO THIS JUST GOT INTERESTING.

"Each of you will be tasked with helping them on this course."

"The challenge will be completed in pairs that Nina will decide. The winning pair will not only have the eliminated contestant return... but both of the pair members will receive immunity for the next elimination."

Okay. Gotcha.

"Ellie will go with Gabby."

Of course.

"James will go with Yul."

Yeah yeah yeah, fuck both of them.

"Lake with Aiden."

Nice.

"Tess and Ally will go together."

Aw, I was really hoping it'd be her and Hunter.

"Riya with Connor."

XD

OF COURSE.

"...shit, maybe I shouldn't have slayed so hard in that showing."

Connor's wrath is gonna haunt your ass.

"Fiore with Alec."

Again, of course.

"Ashley with Jake."

Aw nice!

...that kinda undoes the emotional impact of her elimination though cause it was literally last episode.

"Miriam with Tom. And Hunter with Grett."

Okay.

They really don't know what to do with Grett besides "Be abused by Yul", huh?

"This could be the miracle the heroes needed!"

Yeah, I'm assuming. Cause otherwise everyone is screwed.

Okay, my prediction. Who's coming back?

I THINK IT IS EITHER ELLIE OR HUNTER.

I feel like NEITHER of their stories are wrapped up.

Hunter and Allyson are shown prominently in the opening that they have drama and conflict. One that got cut short by his elimination.

If Allyson is going to have a prominent role in this story, Hunter has to be there. He has to be the emotional anchor of this group. AND he's a challenge expert, so that makes him a savior.

OR it could be Ellie, but she's an ANTI-HERO. SHE FLIPS.

Her knowing what the villains are capable of makes it so that her winning gives the others a false sense of security. And she is able to persuade Gabby to flip back and take full control of this game.

Meanwhile she continues her arc about whether or not her girl is more important than the money.

James, hell no. Lake, I don't see anything they could do with her. Miriam, no. Connor, I feel like they completed his arc already. Fiore, too much of a prompt up for the villains that kills tension. Tess and Ashley, they were very recent, so they're not coming back.

Yeah, Ellie or Hunter make the most sense to me to come back. So that's what I'm going with.

*chugs water*

My throat has been scratchy all day.

"I won't forget the mushroom!"

I won't forget it either. That was a happy memory.

"AND I'D DO IT AGAIN! BAP BAP! AND I'D DO IT AGAIN! BAP BAP BAP!"

I hired a hitman to kill Yul last episode because he directly insulted me. If James is that hitman and he does what he needs to do, I might forgive him for everything and put him in the Stan Tier.

Where did you get motorcycles from?

I ask that when these are the same people who bought a spaceship.

IS THAT A BOMB?!

THAT LOOKS LIKE A BOMB!

Sounds simple enough. But this DOES sound dangerous.

"What do you want?"

What did he do?

"We have to make sure no one but you returns to the game."

Yeah, pretty much.

"How do I know I can trust you?"

Uh, you were the one who betrayed him. Just saying.

"Hey, I've proven my loyalty to you."

"But after all I've done?! I protected you this whole game! I helped you win the zombie apocalypse challenge, saved your life in the cave, covered up your plans so no one would suspect you're a PSYCHOPATH, and you STILL eliminate me?!"

THAT'S ON YOU, YOU DUMBASS.

...AND YOU BEING LOYAL TO HER WAS A MISTAKE.

"Who was it that helped you survive the first few eliminations?"

Ashley and Jake.

"I really wanted to save you. I felt bad that everyone was ganging up on you."

Did you now?

"We've been dominating the game since you left."

XD

OF COURSE THE FIRST THING RIYA DOES IS GLOAT.

"For my next showing, I was thinking of a little dominance, ya know? Try it on me. A crown would look real nice on my head. And you bowing to me and addressing me as your queen and savior."

NO RIYA HE'S NOT A SERVANT!

"Do you even feel bad for voting me out?"

Yes.

But she will not admit that.

"Why would I? I'm fine without you."

The saddest part is, is that the reason she continues this behavior is that she's getting no consequences for her actions.

All her horrible deeds are what's making all her plans work.

This bad stuff gives her success.

And if being good gives her failure and having a good friend makes her look bad, she's not gonna take it. Cause she's scared of being a failure. Being herself is a failure.

"I'm going to win that money, and the adoration from millions of fans."

Yeah, but is that any way to live, that's the question.

She has no life outside of this. It's completely meaningless at the end of the day.

Money is hollow. Fans are hollow. The only reason they have worth is because society gave them worth.

"I guess I'm the stupid one for believing you were better than that."

Yeah. Pretty much.

THE EYE ROLL XD

Riya they can never make me hate you.

"It's just like the Season 1 finale all over again!"

Aw yeah! MEMORIES!!

"You think you can ghost me for a year and still be friendly?"

Oof. Yeah.

A year? For Jake they said two.

What was Miriam doing contacting Tom for that one year?

"If you wanted to get away from Jake, why didn't you just tell him?"

Because he doesn't. That's not why he did it.

"The last time you saw him, you told him clearly to wait until you were both better."

And Tom didn't think he was better.

NOT EXCUSING TOM, MIRIAM IS COMPLETELY 100% CORRECT.

"Well, he waited Tom, he waited a long time for a single message from you! You know how stressed out he's been this past year?"

The Jake angst is real.

He has family issues, right? They hinted at that last season and earlier this season. I remember.

"I-I didn't know-I'm sorry. I was too scared to face him. I-I didn't want to mess up again!"

WHY IS THIS TOO DAMN REAL?!?!

The journey I went through to understanding Tom as a character is insane.

"It's not muscles and fast legs that make you strong. Having the courage to face your fears, even if that means you could get hurt... that's what makes you strong."

👏

HE NEEDED TO HEAR THAT!

THAT IS ACTUALLY PERFECT.

Makes sense he wouldn't know this because of his background and his really messed up backstory. He already got hurt so bad it's plastered all over his body that he's a failure. He's not good enough.

So he hates himself to a degree where he runs away from a good thing.

You're a weak man, Tom. A weak, weak man.

And I love you.

"So you're Yul's girlfriend?"

XD

This is awkward.

"We have literally never had a single interaction up till this point. But first impressions, you're Yul's girlfriend."

That's depressing that this is the first character trait that comes to mind.

It's depressing, cause I used to LOVE Grett, but now I'm just like... eh? I mean she's ALRIGHT, but get the fuck away from Yul.

"What? You think he's gay too?!"

Why is this a running gag? It's not funny.

As a gay myself, I kinda feel insulted by this joke.

DO NOT ASSOCIATE ME WITH THAT BITCH!

"He didn't seem like the type to have a public relationship."

Why? Cause if he did, everyone would know he was horrible?

"Well, our fans love us together!"

MY ASS.

"Neither of us were very favorable to the public until we got together."

Huh. I guess everything is better with a ship involved.

I don't care. This ship was a MISTAKE.

"Why is everyone so obsessed with what others think?!"

Because UNLIKE YOUR GIRLFRIEND, some characters here actually HAVE well established character backgrounds and reasonings as to why this is important to them.

"Because we have a social life, unlike you."

Oof.

I don't even hate Hunter, but you roast him, queen.

The fact that this issue is NOT even unique to Allyson, and there are several characters like Grett, Tom, Jake, Riya, and fuck, even Yul, going through the same thing, but their struggles with it are far more compelling and better explained and BETTER OVERALL. EMBARRASSING.

Seriously why couldn't the hate comments thing be GRETT'S arc? IT FITS!!

IT'S A LOGICAL PROGRESSION FOR HER BEING SO LOOKED DOWN UPON BY HER ENTIRE FAMILY.

SHE WANTS TO BE SEEN AS A SUCCESS, DAMMIT!

WHY DID YOU SHIP HER WITH YUL INSTEAD?!?!😭

Oh that's... that's gonna do it. Yeah.

That's smart.

"Mind your own business, gramps."

"She's right. Just leave them be, Connor."

"No!"

XD

NOT RIYA ENDORISNG THE CHILD!!! XD

THAT'S ACTUALLY VERY FUNNY.

"This won't be my next showing, but in the future when I'm grey and retired, I'm gonna make a romance movie with Alec. We're gonna get married, and we're gonna adopt Fiore. And I will forever endorse her to look after herself by teaching her the art of sabotage. And you can't do anything about it Connor, because is MY future kid, and not yours."

(Connor) "NO RIYA YOU CAN'T DO THAT TO ME!!!"

"Connor just listen to Riya."

XD

NOT ALEC TOO.

OH MY GOD THEY HAVE THE SAME BRAIN CELL.

"Is this what you've been teaching this little girl, Alec?"

Uh, have you met Fiore? She taught herself.

NOT ALEC LAUGHING SO GENUINELY. OH MY GOD.

I LOVE THAT FOR HIM?! HE NEVER SMILES OR LAUGHS.

"Still the same old Yul. Hold on tight."

And buck him off before he can.

"You don't have to pretend to be awful around me. It's a character, right?"

James, are you stupid?

This ain't no act, he's just a douche.

Riya is screaming at you in the background, baffled by your stupidity that a man like him could pull off the act she does.

"DEAR DUMB-ASS: EVERY THOUGHT IN YOUR MIND IS DUMB. EVERY WORD YOU SPEAK IS DUMB."

James isn't dumb. I'm talking about Yul.

"Being nice is the character, and it's fucking miserable! It's like putting your feelings up for prostitution!"

I appreciate that Yul is completely honest that he is completely hopeless and shallow.

"Oh no! I have to have MORAL DECENCY! OH THE HORROR! OH I THINK I GOT IT IN MY NAILS! EEEEEEWWW!!!!"

"Remember when I pretended to date Aiden for my followers?"

Yeah.

You were a fucking CREEP.

I may have taken back the mean things I said about the ship, BUT I DO NOT TAKE BACK THAT.

I just don't like James, I think that's my biggest issue.

Aiden deserves better.

"Well, now I'm happier than ever before!"

Wow.

YOU SUCK.

"Hey, remember when I sexually harassed a trans boy and exploited him for views and money? Because of my awful behavior, I'm living good and I'm so happy!"

THAT'S WHAT HE SAID.

And James is a HERO character! For crying out loud! He's not even a villain like Riya, where we're supposed to be against her getting rewarded for her behavior! WE'RE SUPPOSED TO LIKE THIS GUY.

"And all I had to do was be myself."

Yourself sucks ass, James. I'm sorry.

I feel like that wasn't the dialogue's intent, but that's what that I read that as. I feel like they just didn't finish editing the scripted dialogue in this scene XD

"Being myself is not what people want."

The most correct thing Yul has ever said in his life.

"Once I win this game, I won't have to fake for anybody ever again."

Because I will be dead.

I will much rather take a Riya win than a Yul win. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

"Is it that hard to be normal?"

Normal?

This came out, what, ten months ago? I think it was still relevant.

Yeah... the norm sucks. I don't think James should encourage such.

I'm not elaborating any further.

Also your boyfriend is trans. That's not 'normal'. But you wholeheartedly accept him.

You contradict yourself, man.

"It should be normal to call out ugly fat people."

I HATE how Yul is making me want to talk about real life. Cause I've been avoiding it for weeks now and I don't want to be reminded...

Guys, I'm not offended cause it's talking about me. I'm not fat. Not even- *brain fart*

Look, I'm quite skinny. I'm a bit on the underweight side. And I am fully aware of that.

That does not mean I have no empathy for fat people. I have friends who are overweight and are shamed on a daily basis.

This should not be the norm. But apparently it is. It's very sad.

"Just focus on the road!"

"Tree? You got it!" *Slams into tree*

...

DAMMIT, I WANTED TO ADD TO THE COUNTER.

Doesn't work every time.

"Where did you learn to ride a motorcycle, Ashley?"

Yeah doesn't she live on a farm?

"Rodeo shows always have cycle halftimes!"

Do they?

I don't live anywhere they have rodeos, so I don't know.

Oh they do.

Huh.

I learned something new today.

"Why is everything about you just so... cool?"

"Guess that's just how God made me."

The writers. The writers made you.

You were too good for this world.

"I'm sorry for ruining your dreams for the money, I-I know it was important to you to save the farm."

As you should be.

But you're gonna make it right.

"How can I be like you, Ashley?"

No, that's not your answer.

"Acknowledging your mistakes was a big step. Now, just try to think things through before putting any of your thoughts into words or action."

I don't think he needed to be told this AGAIN. But whatever.

DRILL IT IN HIS HEAD.

I already talked about the greetings. Just see my Episode 5 reaction.

I mean did the rules SAY they had to get there on motorcycle? I don't think so.

OKAY XD

GABBY'S A BEAST, AS USUAL XD

"I am determined. DETERMINED, I SAY!!"

"We won't get very far on those wheels."

RUN. JUST RUN.

"There has to be a way to solve this."

NOT GRETT YAWNING XD

WHAT A MOOD SHE IS THIS EPISODE, AND I LOVE IT.

"I don't want to be negative, but the challenge will be over before we're even halfway up the hill."

Yeah, sadly.

"We won't lose anything by trying!"

SAY THAT TO THE NINE PEOPLE HERE WHO TRIED AND LOST.

"Should we sabotage the other gliders?"

"Try it, and I'll throw you both off this hill!"

OOOOHHH ASHLEY IS NOT MESSING AROUND!!!

She really went from, the willing babysitter looking after the child. To "Fuck children, I hope I never have them!"

"I'll pulley, you wear the harness. Cool?"

"Uh uh uh! My hair looks perfect today. There's no way I'm going down in that murky water."

XD

RIYA IS SUCH A MOOD, OH MY GOD XD

She doesn't want to win this. She doesn't want Connor back. She doesn't need immunity. She's in one of the most secure positions in the game ever.

She actually GAINS by losing here.

So yeah, flex your hair, queen.

"I'm about to... to throw up..."

NO GABBY! DON'T GIVE UP!!!

COME ON, YOU NEED YOUR GIRL BACK! DO IT FOR YOUR GIRL!!

"You're going to blow your heart out, Gabs! We should stop."

OH NOT ELLIE PRIORITIZING HER LOVER'S HEALTH OVER HER SHOT AT COMING BACK.

"No! I want you back in the game!"

AW HONEY DON'T CRY 💔

IT'S OKAY! SHE'S GONNA BE OKAY!

"I'm working with the villains in your place."

"That's hot, babe."

Aw, this is so cute, though. As sad as it is.

"Don't get too attached though."

Yeah.

"There's no honor among thieves."

"Basically, you can't trust people like that to have your back."

"You have to be ready to turn on them before they turn on you."

ELLIE GIVING GABBY THE SAINT'S ADVICE?!

LET'S GO?! ELLIE SAYING SOMETHING SMART?!?!

And it's when she's OUT of the game. Goddamn.

But yeah, she's-she's gonna take this to heart and turn on them.

"Hey guys, how about next time, we reunite on vacation instead of a cruddy reality show?"

Yeah XD

This was not your best move.

"Really wasn't my brightest idea."

Awwww.

"I'm happy to be here! I need to prove myself to everyone. Have the comments about me online changed at all?"

...you missed the message. You COMPLETELY missed the message here.

HOW WOULD YOU RATHER BE HERE WHERE YOUR HATE COMMENTS ARE EXPOSED, INSTEAD OF HAVING A GOOD TIME WITH YOUR POLYCULE THAT LOVES YOU AND YOU'RE AWAY FROM IT ALL?! HOW?!?!

"The last few episodes, people seemed... divided on you."

And that's only because NO ONE in universe is a Jake stan.

"Divided?! What more do these people want?!"

OH NO. YOU HAVE A HUMAN FANBASE.

YOU CAN'T APPRECIATE THAT SOME PEOPLE LOVE YOU. NO YOU HAVE TO IMPRESS EVERYONE.

YEAH, EXCEPT YOUR LOVERS. THEY DON'T COUNT.

"A Falcon Punch?!"

*snickers*

Okay I ruined the joke by pausing. That was-that was good.

"Social media hurts more than it helps. You shouldn't take it seriously."

You would think she'd know this already because she's a STREAMER. AS A GODDAMN CAREER.

SHE WOULD NOT HAVE THIS CAREER IF SHE WAS IMMATURE ABOUT THIS SORT OF THING THE ENTIRE TIME.

AND SEASON TWO, THIS WAS SOMETHING SHE ALREADY FUCKING KNEW.

JUST SAYING. IT MAKES NO SENSE.

I hate repeating myself.

"Tess, this could decide my streaming career."

...okay, elaborate then.

HOW does this ruin your career?

"Why is it so freaking difficult to have people like me?!"

...no, you're not gonna elaborate.

HOW DOES IT RUIN HER CAREER?

HATE COMMENTS ARE NORMAL.

I NEED TO KNOW HOW THIS RUINS HER CAREER, CAUSE OTHERWISE, I DON'T UNDERSTAND YOUR THOUGHT PROCESS, AND I DON'T FEEL ANYTHING FOR YOU.

You know how many shows and creators have divided fanbases? You have your fandom. You have your hatedom. That's normal. It happens all the time.

That has not stopped these shows and creators from thriving in publishing their content and being successful.

"Don't you remember when we first met? The gamer girl that I knew just wanted to help people and be positive."

"You were a completely different and far more logical and likeable character Allyson. Those were the good times. I wish we could go back to that."

Me too Tess. Me too.

Look, Season 2 Allyson was B Tier for me. She wasn't the most interesting character in the cast for me, but she was likeable. She was very cute. She was pleasant.

I don't know who this girl is.

"We love you Ally, no matter what some stupid people online say."

Awwwww that's cute.

These two really are partner material.

Is she gonna take this to heart now? God I hope so.

"Now that doesn't mean you shouldn't try to kick everyone's butt and win."

NO don't encourage THAT. SHE'LL DO IT.

"Huh. You know, how that you mention it, there IS this one blue haired boy I've always wanted to kick the ass of right off a cliff."

"I don't need to be back in the game. I'm pleased with what I have done."

Good on Tess for finding her place in the world.

She knows this isn't her fight.

XD

I FORGOT GRETT WAS HERE!!

SHE'S BEEN FOURTH WHEELING THIS WHOLE TIME XD

"Oh my god this healthy couple is so SICKENING! UGH! What is my luck this season?!"

😂

Grett, I am so sorry.

"James is fine. He won't shut up about how much he misses you."

Aw. That's cute.

Though you say that, but he didn't bat an eye when he finally saw Aiden again in person.

Gabby HAD a reaction to seeing HER love again. What's your excuse James?

"I've been dealing with some new issues. Namely, Jake."

Lake is probably gonna go, "Oh he acts like that because he's in love with you this whole time!"

"I feel bad for the guy."

"Don't. He's a complete ass."

Jake Stans and Jake Haters be like ^

"We get to stream the episodes at the motel, Aiden."

Oh really? That's interesting.

So they know all the context.

"I think he genuinely wants to change."

"Doesn't seem like it."

Well you can't see everything. You're a character.

"You know, I've never told you this, but at the end of our season, I had the worst couple of weeks of my life."

Really?

"My parents said I was a horrible example for my brothers. I felt so bad and regret ever changing myself. I got angry and... unstable."

Kinda wish we saw that. That sounds interesting.

"Is that why I didn't hear from you after the show?"

You didn't?

Maybe I forgot. I thought you two were friends.

"I just needed some time alone. Therapy groups also helped, but I was able to finally stop hating myself and learned to control my emotions."

Good advice. I go through that too.

It's kinda wild to me. I feel like Lake was one of the most emotionally reserved characters in the show.

"Don't lower yourself to Jake's level. He's a lost cause."

XD

"The bar's pretty low, Lake."

"Everyone deserves a chance to right their wrongs. I mean, James proved that to you."

Yeah, he TECHNICALLY did.

Dammit Aiden, you gotta learn the SAME moral, AGAIN.

He's always stuck with the shittiest guys on the cast.

THIS DOES NOT LOOK SAFE!

I'm like scared the rope is gonna snap or something.

"Do I look like manual labor? Ugh! That should be a job for... those people, where the fuck is Rosa?!"

*Restrains from punching desk*

NOT AGAIN. I'M NOT PUNCHING MY DESK AGAIN.

WHERE THE FUCK IS MY HITMAN?!?!?

DO NOT EVEN BREATHE HER NAME, YOU SLUR!!

ROSA WAS AMAZING AND I MISS HER!!! FUCK YOU!!!

"Hey Riya. We need to get Fiore back in the game. Anyone else could potentially end the villain's streak."

"Oh don't worry. I'll make sure the old man goes nice and slow."

Oh that's a cute evil laugh. I love that.

"Is this the fastest you can go?!"

Slams him into the water.

"Is that fast enough?"

"I can hear you!"

"Do I look like I give a shit?"

NO REMORSE TO SHOW.

SHE DON'T CARE. 👑

"Why is it so hard for you lot to play fair?!"

Hey, if you think about it, they're kinda doing you a favor.

"Sounds rich coming from a loser."

Ouch.

OH-OH WHAT ARE YOU DOING-?!

YOU'RE GONNA BREAK THAT-

YEP.

...actually that's genius.

"You bitch!"

"Thank you."

OH NO JAKE!!!!

NOT AGAIN!!!

Oh yeah there's water.

Yeah they're gonna be fine. This is Total Drama.

No one dies in water no matter how far or hard they fall.

"Riya broke the pulley! They're all sabotaging this challenge to get Fiore back in the game!"

...

I feel like that should've been obvious.

OH SHE'S ON A RAMPAGE!!

SHE'S SLAYING EVERYONE!!!!

"For my next showing, I shall reenact Chris McLean's first ever challenge! Plummeting a hundred feet into a lake of sharks! All they need now is this chicken hats!!"

NO RIYA CHRIS MCLEAN WAS AN EXPERT AT HIS CRAFT! YOU CAN'T JUST COPY THAT!!

That laugh is...

I love her. She's a MONSTER. But her evil laughs are so sweet to my ears that I completely forget that.❤️👑

I don't really care about your safety. I'm gonna be honest.

OH CONNOR'S CLIMBING. OH NO.

No shot that Fiore actually comes back here.

THAT WOULD LOBSIDE THE GAME. I DON'T WANT HER BACK!

"We've got this! Nothing's in your way."

"SURPRISE MOTHERFUCKER!"

"How did you get up?!"

"DAMMIT! I SHOULD HAVE CUT THE ROPE! I WAS SLAYING SO HARD I DIDN'T SEE A BASIC ERROR!!"

"You do realize if I lose, you won't get immunity next round?"

She's not in ANY danger in the game even if she doesn't. Your point?

"As long as you're gone, I couldn't care less. Now you know how it feels to have a helper who makes you lose."

OOF.

GIRL. NO.

I mean she has PTSD from being stranded alone in diving where she was close to drowning, so... it does make sense why she'd hold a grudge over something that traumatizing.

OH NO THEY'RE GOING!!! THEY'RE GOING!!!

NO!!!!

OH MY GOD ASHLEY YOU'RE A HERO!!!!

Wait so who wins now?

OH.

OH.

"There's no way I'm letting you get me on that thing!"

"WANNA BET?!?"

This is Riya's karma. She gets dragged off a cliff.

DO NOT LET GO!

"You're just delaying the inevitable. In the end, you will always lose."

Oof.

I am not defending that. He does not deserve that.

RIYA'S IMMUNE!!!!🎉

...oh and I guess Connor's back too. Cool.

"Connor? Who saw that coming?"

NOT ME. I'LL SAY THAT MUCH.

What is Connor gonna do now that he's back? That's what I'm wondering.

"Perhaps this man is smarter than I thought."

You didn't think he was smart before? He helped expose you.

"My biggest advantage is coming in with new underwear!"

TOO MUCH INFORMATION.

"Imagine how crusty these guys are after twenty days."

I ALREADY HATE THAT YOU'RE BACK.

"And Riya, your day of reckoning is coming."

OOF.

RIYA KARMA ARC IS STARTING.

Connor is back, and he is Riya's karma.

That's his role.

"I'll do what you told me. I love you."

"See you in the finale. Love you too."

GABBY FOR THE FINALS.

Also this is so sweet.

First time James has acknowledged Aiden is there.

Though I admit, this kiss is cute.

AWW BUT THE LAKE HUG THOUGH ❤️

"Bye babe. I hope you're feeling better."

"After seeing you, I do."

What was the point of making Allyson and Hunter beefing a major thing to advertise then? It barely amounted to anything.

"No matter what anyone says, we will always be your number one fans."

STOP IT. ❤️

POYCULE COUPLE GOALS.

"Sorry Fiore. I tried."

"Eh, at least I had a good time."

Hey that's something I guess.

"What do you say Miriam? Ready to ride a horse?"

"With this old hip? I'll pass."

Aw. Come on Miriam, where's your young spirit?

"Just kidding! Get me on one of those raging bulls! I can take em"

Oh okay XD

…also where did Tom go?

"This is all very moving."

"Boring!"

XD

"Where's the BLOODSHED?! Come on!"

"Oh, h-hi Derek, I didn't think you'd be here..."

Oh dammit. I forgot these two existed.

And I'm not happy I got reminded.

I do not care about this storyline, AT ALL.

"The last few I've had to do was myself."

Oliver was with you, what are you talking about?

"I don't really know what to tell ya, Trev. I'm moving up in the world, man."

I don't see what Trevor even sees him. AT ALL.

He's just a douche.

He's perfect for Krystal. But he's still a douche.

"How about uh, Saturday?"

"Sorry dude, but Saturday I'm hitting up the bars with Krystal."

Yeah, he does not care about. If he did, he stopped caring.

"I just thought we could spend some time, you know? Just the two of us."

What did I say before? The level of "I don't give a fucks" I can give right now?

I'm feeling my exhaustion. It's 3 AM. And I didn't feel it till these guys came on screen.

I just want this episode to be over.

"Krystal's really not that bad once you get to know her."

Yeah, surprisingly, Krystal has not done that much malice this season. She's actually improved greatly since Season 2.

Gabby?

What's going on with Gabby?

OH MY GOD WE FINALLY SAW BLABBY!!!

SHE'S BACK!!

Why are you scared? This is YOU!

Unless this is her demons.

Shit...

Gabby's going through it.

SO... CONNOR'S BACK.

I DID NOT SEE THAT COMING.

I didn't think there was gonna be a comeback at all.

Uh... it was nice to see everyone again. Idk what much else there is for me to say.

Riya slayed this episode. But now? SHE IS GETTING KARMA.

THAT MAN IS GONNA MAKE HER REGRET THE DAY SHE STEPPED FOOT ONTO THIS SHOW.

I say this as a Riya stan, that's gonna be glorious

Idk what else they have in store for Connor though to warrant him coming back. But I'm willing to hear them out.

He IS one of the most underdeveloped characters of this All Stars cast. So maybe this will change that.

I don't even hate Connor, I'm just struggling to emotionally connect with him. But I want to.

That's all I gotta say. I'm going to bed.

[emicczyk]

I think my favorite anime representing freedom is Gintama. (Before someone says something about AOT, in my opinion, Eren will never truly represent real freedom. Just false freedom he imagined for himself and his loved ones).

(Regarding One Piece that is amazing represention, i would love to write about it next time and show how beautiful it is in showing it)

When it comes to anime that represents the concept of freedom, Gintama stands out as a profound yet often overlooked masterpiece, it captures the nuanced, multifaceted essence of freedom in a way that is both unique and deeply human.

Freedom is subjective; its meaning varies from person to person. It’s not always about breaking physical chains or overthrowing oppressive regimes. It’s about finding the strength to live as you wish, embracing what makes you happy, and forging connections with those who make life worth living. Few characters embody this ideal as beautifully as Sakamoto Tatsuma.

Sakamoto’s story is a testament to resilience and the power of self-determination. Once a pacifist who chose to fight in the war against the Amanto, Sakamoto did so not out of obligation but from a deeply personal conviction. Even when his hand was permanently injured, rendering him incapable of wielding a sword; the very symbol of a samurai, he didn’t falter. Instead, he found another path. His dreams of freedom, not just for himself but for Earth and its people, became his guiding light.

Though he couldn’t fight conventionally, Sakamoto redefined what it meant to be a warrior. He took to the stars, becoming a diplomat and a merchant, using his charisma and ideals to build alliances and bring people together. His dream extended beyond borders, beyond Earth itself; his vision of freedom was boundless. To him, freedom was the ability to pursue his dreams without constraint, and he never let go of that.

Gintoki was his motivation, he found a reason, when Gintoki stayed on earth he could catch the stars, he wasn't alone.

What makes Sakamoto’s journey even more inspiring is his unwavering compassion. He didn’t just seek his own freedom; he made it his mission to liberate others. Whether it was freeing slaves and offering them a place in his crew or helping Mutsu break free from her past, Sakamoto consistently showed that freedom isn’t just an individual pursuit; it’s something we share with others. His relationship with Mutsu, in particular, is a beautiful example of how freedom can be transformative when extended to others.

Even after Earth was liberated from the Amanto, Sakamoto didn’t stop. For him, the stars represented endless possibilities. Earth, with its newfound peace, had become too small for his boundless dreams. Yet, he never forgot his friends or his roots, always ready to return and lend a hand when they needed him. His actions show that freedom isn’t about abandoning responsibilities or severing ties; it’s about staying true to your ideals while cherishing the bonds that matter.

Sakamoto isn't bound by a single nation allegiance, or cause, which exemplifies personal freedom that he reached, like he reached to the stars.

Gintama as a whole explores the interconnectedness of freedom and love. Gintoki, at the heart of the series, is a character who embodies this theme. He helps others find their freedom; whether it’s Kagura discovering a new life on Earth, Tsukuyo reclaiming her identity from the confines of Yoshiwara, or Kondo freeing Hijikata from his haunted past. In turn, these bonds give them, their own sense of belonging. Without his friends; Kagura, Shinpachi, the Shinsengumi, Tsukuyo, Sakamoto, Katsura, and so many others - he wouldn’t have a home to return to. Gintama shows that freedom isn’t isolation; it’s the love and connection we find in the people who accept us for who we are.

At its core, freedom is about being true to yourself and pursuing the dreams that set your soul on fire. It’s about having people who support you and a place you can call home; a place you can return to when you need strength. Sakamoto, Gintoki, and the rest of the cast demonstrate that freedom isn’t a destination; it’s a journey, one enriched by love, laughter, and the bonds we form along the way.

It's about doing what makes u happy,

freedom of begin yourself,

freedom of having people you love,

freedom of having dreams and pursuing them.

True freedom is the courage to live authentically, surrounded by those who inspire and uplift you.

[d-lanx]

Ok now I’ve slept and the hype over last night is over I’ve had time to actually think about what could happen. So my theories are below the cut. I've almost definitely forgot something so might add to it or tweak it later.

Firstly, Drew possibly feuding with Damian? He was eliminated by him and seemed shocked. Then there’s the whole thing about drew apparently storming out after the show and complaining that someone messed up and eliminated him too soon and “had to get their moves in”. I'm assuming this is probably part of a storyline. So I guess damian? Reminds me of what they did when punk returned. Which also means drew on smackdown as they’ve previously been hinting at :( tbh I’m still surprised. The bloodline story he had was interesting, I was sure he was gonna have a match with Roman at mania. And I feel like it would be weird to briefly go after Damian for something seemingly unrelated to the bloodline, and then to go back to Roman. So I’m assuming this will be a feud till mania. But it does feel very random.

Seth I think might be doing something with Roman reigns. There seemed to be a lot more focus on their dynamic in the match tonight. And now Roman has no title it would be even easier to have a blood feud. Also kinda tired of Seth v punk tbh cos it’s not really as fun when the two of them can’t even talk about half of the shit that actually happened when punk left. Tho a three way match between the lot of them to tide us over til mania would be pretty good. Tho I feel if that happened it would be a mania match, not something for elimination chamber so maybe not. Cos I have thoughts about punk rn.

With punk I’m wondering if the favour might be to garauntee him a place in the chamber match, or to otherwise get him a title match/chance to qaulify for one. I was so sure if he went for a title it would be with gunther cos they keep mentioning him and they had those house show matches. It seemed like only a matter of time before he was back in the title picture. But now I’m wondering if it might be Cody. I was surprised to see punk vow to go for Cody in that promo before the rumble after so much Gunther setup (again, he was constantly mentioning him thru the drew and Seth feuds and they had their house show match). And I’m wondering if this is why. Cos they wanted to pull the trigger on Jey and it only made sense for jey to go for Gunther so they shifted punk to Cody.

The punk/cody promo was interesting with punk being worried for him, and Cody seeming burnt out. Then they seemed to have Cody snap in the match last night. I’m wondering if we’re finally gonna get psychotic heel Cody now for punk to feud with. The thing with Cody is that after his storyline to get the title, his title loss will need to be something just as major.

Punks first wwe title since 2013 would be very major. And I can’t imagine them doing a story of his first title in so long and have him be a heel. Cos all the nostalgia fans r gonna be rooting for him no matter what. So it’s not really worth it to try make him a heel. Plus I think it’s an interesting idea that punk, the former burnt out champion fighting a heel Cody, the current burnt out champion, right after warning him about said burnout.

Yes punk was pissed about his loss last night, but if this is what they do then he won’t be going full heel, just typical angry punk with dirty tactics.

Of course this could all be wrong though. Punk might go after Seth again, or wind up in a three way feud with Roman too after the rumble drama. But the thing is, neither Seth or Roman caused him to lose so aside from Seth going mental afterwards, I can’t see why punk would want Seth when hes been so adament about a title ever since he finished his match with seth back on the first netflix raw. Still not sure how I feel about Seth v punk tho considering how mid the punk/seth feud has been. It’s dramatic, sure, but Seth’s arguments really fall apart when u think about them for more than 5 seconds and consider all the other stuff that happened that they’re not talking about, and punk looks weird not mentioning it.

Of course this all leaves out cena. If he wasn’t here I’d be certain of the Cody/punk feud. But with him I’m not so sure. It’s entirely possible that punks promo with Cody was just to provide a bit of foreshadowing before he actually snapped in the match. And that we’re gonna get heel Cody v cena. Cos I do find it hard to imagine that cena won’t be in a main event on his last mania in the wwe. But I also find it weird that they would have cena take the title from Cody if he’s not gonna be sticking around for long after mania. Also from the sounds of things, Cena won't be on TV till elimination chamber. And if they keep that up all year, with him not being on tv and only doing the PPVs its gonna be annoying if he's the champ and never around. It seems like a weird way to end Cody’s title.

And tbh both of these Cody feuds, I feel if they happen, would lead to the title change. But that means a year long reign for Cody. I was so sure he would keep the title longer. But then again, after the major drama to get it, it needs a major place to lose it, like at mania. And I suppose after Roman they don’t just wanna lock into another multi year title reign. They might want the belt to move around a bit more and give more people chances at a title match. So yeah.

It’s hard to say for sure cos it means we now have 3 world title feuds to consider. There’s not enough belts to go around. I saw some theories that punk would use his favour to get a title match before mania, get the belt and then take gunthers place to face jay. But that feels a bit too convoluted for a 2 month storyline. It would be hard to have punk as a face in even the early days of that kind of story if he's going after Jey, and I find it hard to believe they would try to make him heel for his first title back in the company. Cos they won’t be able to get anyone to boo him. Plus I’d be surprised to see him get a title at elimination chamber instead of mania, again cos it’s such a major thing in his career.

So I don’t really know. All I know is I don’t really wanna see Seth v punk anymore. And Seth v punk v Roman could be good, but I’m still not fully sold on that yet, I guess cos Roman and punk haven’t done a whole lot of talking. Also if they did this, it would have to be Roman v punk at mania cos what tf else could they do? The three of them all have very different relationships with each other and they would need to just focus on something. They’ve already done of lot of Seth with each of them, so maybe do Roman v punk and focus on that a bit more and build on survivor series. I just can't see them going for a 3 way feud instead of them trying to get the title. Presumbably all three will be in the chamber match, but then what? All three of them AGAIN at mania??

But the issue I’m still having with that, is that it leaves out the favour. And the favour has been hyped up so much it needs to be something significant. It doesn't have to be like "give me a title now", but rather "get me in the chamber match". Last night I legit thought when punk stepped up to Heyman, he was gonna cash it in, and have it be to get him back in the rumble somehow. Obviously they didn’t do that, and tbh it’d be a bit beyond Heyman's authority to just put him back in, but the point is it’s gonna have to be something important. And if it turns out to be a place in the chamber and he still loses, I feel like it would be a waste. So maybe the chamber and he wins? But then what about cena?

If jey v Gunther wasn’t happening, u could have cena and punk as faces going after Gunther and Cody and do whatever. There was so many storylines that needed finishing and they decided to revive jay v Gunther which we already saw last week at snme and the whole build to that was just incredibly fucking boring. I love them both, but their feud was just boring, and I thought they only did it to fill the card because they didn't want anything too major when they had the rumble literally the next week.

I still feel snme should be for tag titles and mid card titles to give some of those people more tv time, cos otherwise some of these mid carders only really do anything of note at rumbles (still annoyed tozawa lost his sport to ishowspeed for a meme, i liked otis and maxine, but what has tozawa done of any significance on tv??).

I like jay and Gunther individually but their feud has been dull. It’s just been your average “I’m gonna win because I believe in myself :D” and that’s it. Just like his snme Gunther feud. And just like his ic title feud. It’s a repeat of Sami v Gunther, which I also didn’t care for for the same reason. Also Sami didn’t really do much with his reign, and I feel like that’s gonna happen to jay, just like his IC title run.

I get they wanted to pull the trigger on jey, but there’s just so much other stuff going on that needed finishing. I feel like they should have waited till mitb, have jay win that, and get a title that way once all this other stuff is finished up. Cos there’s no need for him to go after Gunther specifically, as there’s not a lot there aside from gunther’s “I don’t think u can do it” lines. So just have him go after whoever is champ after mitb. But obviously it’s done now so they need to make the most of it. It would be a good opportunity to build jeys character some more beyond being the yeet man, cos otherwise this feud is gonna tank over the next 2 months.

Also, my theories all rely on Cody going heel. If it turns out that isn’t happening, then it’s so fucking over. Cody v cena or punk as a face v face would be so shit. And in either of those feuds, it just wouldn’t make sense for cena or punk to be the heel, and there’s not enough real bad blood between any of them to have a feud without heel/face dynamics and be basing it on fans personal opinions of them like with Seth and punk.

So yeah, Cody’s apparently gonna be gone for a little while. Fingers crossed he’s gonna be coming back as a heel.

Also if they even try to do Logan Paul v cm punk I’m gonna end it.

So yeah I’m feeling a lot about last night and I’m really confused what they’re gonna do. But I can’t see cena not being a main event in his final mania and also not getting a title. So I’m gonna guess it’s cena v Cody and jey v Gunther as main event title matches, then Roman v punk, Damien v drew, and then Seth v ???. But still confused why they keep hyping up future punk world title matches and not fucking doing them. It’s getting annoying. And still no idea where the favour comes in. They need to hurry up and use it tho before people get sick of the edging with that as well. And after all this build up, it needs to be something major.

I was so sure cena and punk would win the chamber and rumble matches, then we’d have Gunther v punk and heel Cody v cena, so I’m not sure what to think now. And I can’t really come up with a good theory without leaving some major plot point of person out completely. Maybe I’m not thinking enough. But I’m still mourning that Gunther v punk match we could have had. It would have been so good. They’d have sassed each other to no end, and I imagine their matches would be really good too, based on what I saw in their house match.

But then again, hhh did say in the post show that they dont want to always go for the obvious match, so maybe jay will go for cody after all? Also I really hope we dont get cena as champ if he's not even gonna be on tv aside from ppv matches. I get that he's ppv talent, but theres plenty of other people of tv who do promos and little scuffles but mostly/exclusively do only ppv matches: like seth, roman, punk. They've done the odd thing on tv, but most of the time, they save their matches for ppvs. If cena's not even showing up between ppvs, theres gonna be almsot no build for anything. I really hope that's not a pattern that's gonna happen all year. But he did say in the post show that he's going to Hungary to film something and won't be back until elimination chamber next month. So yeah, no build. Maybe that's why they didn't have cena win the rumble? cos he's not gonna be around for a title to be worth it?? but I still find it hard to believe he's not gonna get a world title at mania. But who knows. Maybe we will somehow magically get that Gunther v punk match after all.

Still not sure how I feel about everything after last night. There were so many storylines that could have been explored, and I feel like jey and Gunther could have waited. The way it's been so far, I just think it's going to be a boring feud and the match is just gonna feel like a waste of a main event spot. But I imagine my feelings on the rumble could change again after raw so who knows. Maybe hhh secretly has some sort of master plan that I’ve yet to realise and I need to just shut the fuck up and wait. But I enjoy theorising so leave me to make my silly theories, I swear I’m having fun.

But one final thing, there better actually be a cena v punk moment at the chamber or I'm gonna flip. Why the hell did they all stand in the ring together and just stare at each other?!! Pls I need to see Punk v cena one last time.

Anyway I probably forgot something here so might add to this theory or change something later if i remember something else or someone points something out to me.