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mostlysignssomeportents · 2 years ago

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"Efficiency" left the Big Three vulnerable to smart UAW tactics

Tomorrow (September 22), I'm (virtually) presenting at the DIG Festival in Modena, Italy. Tomorrow night, I'll be in person at LA's Book Soup for the launch of Justin C Key's "The World Wasn’t Ready for You." On September 27, I'll be at Chevalier's Books in Los Angeles with Brian Merchant for a joint launch for my new book The Internet Con and his new book, Blood in the Machine.

It's been 143 days since the WGA went on strike against the Hollywood studios. While early tactical leaks from the studios had studio execs chortling and twirling their mustaches about writers caving once they started losing their homes, the strikers aren't wavering – they're still out there, pounding the picket lines, every weekday:

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/08/09/how-hollywood-writers-make-ends-meet-100-days-into-the-writers-guild-strike.html

The studios obviously need writers. That gleeful, anonymous studio exec who got such an obvious erotic charge at the thought of workers being rendered homeless as punishment for challenging his corporate power completely misread the room, and his comments didn't demoralize the writers. Instead, they inspired the actors to go on strike, too.

But how have the writers stayed out since May Day? How have the actors stayed out for 69 days since their strike started on Bastille Day? We can thank the studios for that! As it turns out, the studios have devoted so much energy to rendering creative workers as precarious as possible, hiring as little as they can getting away with and using punishing overtime as a substitute for adequate staffing that they've eliminated all the workers who can't survive on side-hustles and savings for six or seven months at a time.

But even for those layoff-hardened workers, long strikes are brutal, and of course, all the affiliated trades, from costumers to grips, are feeling the pain. The strike fund only goes so far, and non-striking, affected workers don't even get that. That's why I've been donating regularly to the Entertainment Community Fund, which helps all affected workers out with cash transfers (I just gave them another $500):

https://secure2.convio.net/afa/site/Donation2?df_id=8117&8117.donation=form1&mfc_pref=T

As hot labor summer is revealed as a turning point – not just a season – long strikes will become the norm. Bosses still don't believe in worker power, and until they get their minds right, they're going to keep on trying to starve their workforces back inside. To get a sense of how long workers will have to hold out, just consider the Warrior Met strike, where Alabama coal-miners stayed out for 23 months:

https://www.thenation.com/article/activism/warrior-met-strike-union/

As Kim Kelly explained to Adam Conover in the latest Factually podcast, the Alabama coal strikers didn't get anywhere near the attention that the Hollywood strikers have enjoyed:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvyMHf7Yg0Q

(To learn more about the untold story of worker organizing, from prison unions to the key role that people of color and women played in labor history, check out Kelly's book, "Fight Like Hell," now in paperback:)

https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Fight-Like-Hell/Kim-Kelly/9781982171063

Which brings me to the UAW strike. This is an historic strike, the first time that the UAW has struck all of the Big Three automakers at once. Past autoworkers' strikes have marked turning points for all American workers. The 1945/46 GM strike established employers' duty to cover worker pensions, health care, and cost of living allowances. The GM strike created the American middle-class:

https://prospect.org/labor/2023-09-18-uaw-strikes-built-american-middle-class/

The Big Three are fighting for all the marbles here. They are refusing to allow unions to organize EV factories. Given that no more internal combustion cars will be in production in just a few short years, that's tantamount to eliminating auto unions altogether. The automakers are flush with cash, including billions in public subsidies from multiple bailouts, along with billions more from greedflation price-gouging. A long siege is inevitable, as the decimillionaires running these companies earn their pay by starving out their workers:

https://www.businessinsider.com/general-motors-ceo-mary-barra-salary-auto-workers-strike-uaw-2023-9

The UAW knows this, of course, and their new leadership – helmed by the union's radical president Shawn Fain – has a plan. UAW workers are engaged in tactical striking, shutting down key parts of the supply chain on a rolling basis, making the 90-day strike fund stretch much farther:

https://prospect.org/blogs-and-newsletters/tap/2023-09-18-labors-militant-creativity/

In this project, they are greatly aided by Big Car's own relentless pursuit of profit. The automakers – like every monopolized, financialized sector – have stripped all the buffers and slack out of their operations. Inventory on hand is kept to a bare minimum. Inputs are sourced from the cheapest bidder, and they're brought to the factory by the lowest-cost option. Resiliency – spare parts, backup machinery – is forever at war with profits, and profits have won and won and won, leaving auto production in a brittle, and easily shattered state.

This is especially true for staffing. Automakers are violently allergic to hiring workers, because new workers get benefits and workplace protection. Instead, the car companies routinely offer "voluntary" overtime to their existing workforce. By refusing this overtime, workers can kneecap production, without striking.

Enter "Eight and Skate," a campaign among UAW workers to clock out after their eight hour shift. As Keith Brower Brown writes for Labor Notes, the UAW organizers are telling workers that "It’s crossing an unofficial picket line to work overtime. It’s helping out the company":

https://labornotes.org/2023/09/work-extra-during-strike-auto-workers-say-eight-and-skate

Eight and Skate has already started to work; the Buffalo Ford plant can no longer run its normal weekend shifts because workers are refusing to put in voluntary overtime. Of course, bosses will strike back: the next step will be forced overtime, which will lead to the unsafe conditions that unionized workers are contractually obliged to call paid work-stoppages over, shutting down operations without touching the strike fund.

What's more, car bosses can't just halt safety stoppages or change the rules on overtime; per the UAW's last contract, bosses are required to bargain on changes to overtime rules:

https://uaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Working-Without-Contract-FAQ-FINAL-2.pdf

Car bosses have become lazily dependent on overtime. At GM's "highly profitable" SUV factory in Arlington, TX, normal production runs a six-days, 24 hours per day. Workers typically work five eight-hour days and nine hours on Saturdays. That's been the status quo for 11 years, but when bosses circulated the usual overtime signup sheet last week, every worker wrote "a big fat NO" next to their names.

Writing for The American Prospect, David Dayen points out that this overtime addiction puts a new complexion on the much-hyped workerpocalypse that EVs will supposedly bring about. EVs are much simpler to build than conventional cars, the argument goes, so a US transition to EVs will throw many autoworkers out of work:

https://prospect.org/labor/2023-09-20-big-threes-labor-shortages-uaw/

But the reality is that most autoworkers are doing one and a half jobs already. Reducing the "workforce" by a third could leave all these workers with their existing jobs, and the 40-hour workweek that their forebears fought for at GM inn 1945/46. Add to that the additional workers needed to make batteries, build and maintain charging infrastructure, and so on, and there's no reason to think that EVs will weaken autoworker power.

And as Dayen points out, this overtime addiction isn't limited to cars. It's also endemic to the entertainment industry, where writers' "mini rooms" and other forms of chronic understaffing are used to keep workforces at a skeleton crew, even when the overtime costs more than hiring new workers.

Bosses call themselves job creators, but they have a relentless drive to destroy jobs. If there's one thing bosses hate, it's paying workers – hence all the hype about AI and automation. The stories about looming AI-driven mass unemployment are fairy tales, but they're tailor made for financiers who get alarming, life-threatening priapism at the though of firing us all and replacing us with shell-scripts:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/03/09/autocomplete-worshippers/#the-real-ai-was-the-corporations-that-we-fought-along-the-way

This is why Republican "workerism" rings so hollow. Trump's GOP talks a big game about protecting "workers" (by which they mean anglo men) from immigrants and "woke captialism," but they have nothing to say about protecting workers from bosses and bankers who see every dime a worker gets as misappropriated from their dividend.

Unsurprisingly, conservative message-discipline sucks. As Luke Savage writes in Jacobin, for every mealymouthed Josh Hawley mouthing talking points that "support workers" by blaming China and Joe Biden for the Big Three's greed, there's a Tim Scott, saying the quiet part aloud:

https://jacobin.com/2023/09/republicans-uaw-strike-hawley-trump-scott/

Quoth Senator Scott: "I think Ronald Reagan gave us a great example when federal employees decided they were going to strike. He said, you strike, you’re fired. Simple concept to me. To the extent that we can use that once again, absolutely":

https://twitter.com/American_Bridge/status/1704136706574741988

The GOP's workerism is a tissue-thin fake. They can never and will never support real worker power. That creates an opportunity for Biden and Democrats to seize:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/09/18/co-determination/#now-make-me-do-it

Reversing two generations of anti-worker politics is a marathon, not a sprint. The strikes are going to run for months, even years. Every worker will be called upon to support their striking siblings, every day. We can do it. Solidarity now. Solidarity forever.

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/09/21/eight-and-skate/#strike-to-rule

#pluralistic #strikes #uaw #labor #automakers #big three #big car #eight and skate #work to rule #tactics

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mercurio-shadowz · 10 days ago

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I LOVE U.

ahem, anyways-

art tutorial when?? man i love your artstyle sm and i wanna learn how to draw these gay mfs too 😭😭

fr though how do you do it. like as a new artist, HOWWWW??

<333

OMG HIIIIIII

Aaaaaaa

Honestly, my only advice as a non expert and frankly kinda mediocre sonic artist is to practice a lot by copying references and don’t be discouraged when you don’t get things right at the first attempt

This was my very first Shadow. My son. He has every disease

At the beginning I really refused to use references for some strange reason, which truly hindered my progress, making it go at a snail’s pace compared to if I kept on studying and copying reference images (my references are post reboot archie comic panels, Sonic X screen caps and SA2 2d renders, by the way xD)

ART PROCESS RAMBLE UNDER THE CUTTTT (with funny looking art lol)

Plus I had no clue how to deal with mobian anatomy after exclusively drawing humans for years… so poor shadow would either look like a hot air balloon or like Sonic’s weirdly shaped little brother [ b A D]

Eventually I started letting moderately loose with the whole anatomy shebang, but things were nowhere near how I wanted them to look.

It all still felt rough around the edges. In fact, someone thought my shit was so ASS they traced the second drawing and posted a version in their style to their twitter without any credits xD. that’s a story for another day, but I honestly don’t blame them, shit’s kinda poopie!!

Anyway, I started to find my footing the more I used references and the more I studied the style in my own way [by tracing the references and seeing which shape goes where ] So, lesson learned basically, if you wanna learn how to draw the blorbo, you shall study the blorbo

The only other piece of advice I think I can give is . Circles. Use circles for their faces. It makes your life so so easy holy shit why did I stubbornly refuse to DO SO FOR WEEKS AAAAAA . Child me had the right idea sfbjvkf.

And that’s all for blorbo tips and tricks from my own perspective I think XD. It’s basically just a whole lotta looking at reference and figuring out how things work ;w;. I still have a lot to learn though, so don’t take my word as law🙏

I hope someone finds this helpful or mildly interesting at the very least xD

#mercurio talks #mercurio draws #sonic #shadow

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omaano · 6 days ago

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⭐COMMISSIONS ARE OPEN⭐

Reblogs are deeply appreciated even if you cannot afford to ask for a commission ❤️ And if you'd like to support me and my artwork n any other way - like with a small tip - I have a ko-fi too ❤️

I’d be happy to draw your OC, favourite character or ship for you; you may check out my art tag for other examples of my work on top of what is in this post, as well as previous commissions I had drawn. If you have further questions don’t hesitate to DM me, or send me an email at omaano.art@gmail.com - detailed descriptions, and reference pictures are greatly appreciated! I truy love learning more about your characters and their backstories through the art process :)

Text transcript of prices, DOs and DON'Ts and additional information under the cut, I encourage you to check that out as well ->

Prices, payment and refund options

All prices are in USD and to be paid through PayPal invoices upfront. Cancellation of the commission is only possible before work on the piece is started. Once the sketch is finalized no refund is possible.

Prices:

Headshot/bust: sketch $25, lines+light shading $40, full render $50

Half-body/waist-up: sketch $40, lines+light shading $55, full render $70

Full body: sketch $50, lines+light shading $70, full render $90

Art Nouveau Inspired full illustration (frame and flowers or text included in price):

Headshot/bust: $60

Half-body/waist-up: $90

Full body: $120

Extra characters are +75%

Simple background is included in the price, anything more complicated (background, very detailed clothing/armour/jewelry/tattoo etc. - clone armor is the baseline) can be negotiated for extra ($15+, or 50% of the full price for a detailed background. Let it be its own supporting character :) ).

DOs and DON'Ts

I WILL draw: OCs, fan characters, self insert characters, fanart, ships/couples, mild nsfw (e.g. blood, scars, suggestive themes, if an antique statue could get away with it, then so can I. If unsure please ask)

I will NOT draw: mecha, anthro, shio art with real life people, or anything I feel uncomfortable with

How it works

Commissioner will receive digital goods - I'll send the high-res version of the commissioned art piece via email. Check-ins can be done via DM or email.

3 minor changes are allowed (e.g. hand placement, flat colours etc) at check-ins with the sketch and colour concepts. Other major changes (like changing the pose after the idea of the sketch is finalized) will cost extra $10+.

I have the right to refuse to accept a commission. The work is for personal use only and cannot be used for commercial purposes. I retain rights to the artwork. The commissioned drawing is not to be used in any AI training program or any NFT-related project.

You may post the finished piece to your social media accounts with credits to me as the artist. I might want to post the piece to my own socials as well but I will ask for your permission for that first.

For detailed Terms of Service and further information please check out the following link.

I’m looking forward to working with you :)

#commission #commissions #commissions open #commission info #commission sheet #my art #art commissions #commission open #open commissions

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zaldritzosrose · 2 months ago

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Favourite Sin (Adar x High Princess!Reader)

Summary: You were a prize and then some. The High King's sister, one of few whose disappearance should cause him the most anguish. Taking you hadn't been easy, but making you his willing wife was set to be even more of a challenge, it seemed. But maybe you were a little more willing than he anticipated?

This is a present for my dearest @tumblin-theworldaway, hope you enjoy! (And we will get the hang of this timezone bullshit 😂)

TW: She/Her pronouns, afab reader, elven reader, hinted at having similar colouring to (show version) Gil Galad, mentions of kidnapping, mentions of (mostly) forced marriage, hints at dub con (reader not fully embracing her willingness with Adar), female masturbation, mentions of voyeurism (Adar overhears reader), oral (fem receiving), p in v sex, Adar being a tease, innuendo, profanity.

Words: 5750 (I know, but the muse hath taken me)

Holding Gil Galad’s sister captive, the High Princess of the Ñoldor, was a prize and more for Adar and his children. Though bringing you to Mordor had not been an easy task, it was necessary to make the weight of Adar’s power known. To bring attention to the fact that the Uruk were not a threat to be taken lightly and ignored.

Taking you had required planning, the kind of subterfuge that the Uruk were not particularly adept at.

But it had been managed. And now the princess was within the boundaries of Mordor, secured inside the Uruk camp. Though your title was rendered more than useless now.

You were sure word had made it to your brother. Or at least, you hoped it had. Taking you would mean war; you were sure of that.

And yet nothing had come.

The camp stretched for what felt like half of the Southlands. Or should you call it Mordor now? The shadowed lands seemed endless when you were stuck in the middle of them.

You felt alone, despite being surrounded by crowds of Uruk.

Some looked at you in fascination, like you were a new shiny treasure. Some looked at you as if you were a deer, lost in the darkness of a forest. The rest refused to so much as look at you.

Adar, however, never kept you out of his sight. Not that you could escape, but you imagined it wasn’t to prevent such a thing. His children obeyed him, but you could feel an almost protective edge to how he would keep you near.

There was an unspoken edge to how he handled you, as though there was something you were yet to learn.

But that knowledge came soon enough.

“Marry you!?” you almost screeched the words at Adar, forgetting that he was likely the only person keeping you safe and well.

His quarters were quiet. The table set for a dinner neither of you had eaten. But your voice almost echoed against the wooden walls.

He expected to make you his wife? The idea baffled you entirely, but it was like you could no longer form the right words to express yourself.

Adar remained quiet. He had expected a less than positive reaction from you. But he had his reasons for making such a proposition, and for telling you about it first.

“Yes, marriage,” Adar said simply, his fork stabbed into the meat on his plate and abandoned.

“For a good reason, princess, you will be safer within these borders as my wife.”

There were more reasons, of course, but he was of no mind to reveal them to you. Yet.

You leaned back in your chair, a small scoff leaving your lips.

“Safe? You wish me to believe you are concerned for my safety?” you spat the words with a little more aggression than you realised you were capable of.

And it only made Adar smile.

“I told you my plans out of kindness. I was not asking your permission.”

That had been a month ago now. A month that you had been Adar’s wife and the new Lady of Mordor. And he hadn’t been wrong regarding your safety. It had taken time and some less than gentle encouragement from your new husband, but the Uruk had come to regard you with less resentment than before.

Some even looked at you with something that might resemble kindness.

Even Adar seemed to have changed. Not in how he acted when you were around his children, but when you were alone.

Your wedding night had been as expected. Adar made as much effort as he could to make you comfortable, and you had put in as much effort to enjoy it as he had expected.

The wedding had been nothing extravagant; you were not sure if it was even legally binding. Not that it mattered. You were a captive, no matter whether you were called wife or prisoner, nothing would change.

But now, as you sat stock still on Adar’s bed, you felt afraid for the first time. Not of Adar, he had given you no reason to fear him. But of what this night would mean.

Of what it would mean to give away the last thing that was solely yours.

You held the fabric of your gown between your hands, worrying the fabric again and again with your fingers.

And it was this that Adar noticed.

“There is nothing to fear,” he said softly, the low gravel of his voice feeling so loud in the silence of his quarters.

Your fingers slowed their movements, but didn’t stop. Why should you believe him? He was your captor, since you were not yet ready to think the word husband.

Yet, he hadn’t done you any harm up until now. Even if he’d had the opportunity to. Maybe, he was being sincere?

You didn’t say a word as you stood, not trusting the strength of your voice. You focused instead on the way Adar stood still in front of you. How he looked so different without the layers of armour and leather. How the few candles around the room lit him from behind as he watched you back, waiting for you to approach.

The small amount of jewellery you had been wearing when you were taken to Mordor had been shed, along with the outer layer of your gown, just after you entered Adar’s quarters. The thin shift doing little to protect you from both Adar’s gaze and the cool air.

Avoiding it would only last for so long. Trying to delay the inevitable was impossible, you thought.

And the longer you looked at him, the more you had to ignore the faintest spark of desire in your belly. He was a handsome man, once you truly appreciated him.

But if you had looked a little harder, you would have seen the same lust filled look in Adar’s own eyes. Darkening even further the closer you came. His breath caught in his throat when your hands came to rest on his chest.

“I will do my duty as your wife; it is our wedding night.”

That night continued to play in your mind. Even weeks after the fact.

You were a wife now and Adar had not been wrong, the energy had begun to shift towards you. Whether Adar had told his children to treat you with more respect, you didn’t know, but there was certainly a difference.

Those who refused to look at you, now spared you the occasional glance. Those who had looked at you with prey, would sometimes even greet you as you passed them.

But something else had settled into the back of your mind. You had felt it on your wedding night, and all the subsequent nights you had spent in Adar’s bed.

The lingering feelings of desire whenever Adar would touch you. The sounds of pleasure you would bite back because you were afraid of the feelings you had.

He was your captor turned husband. You should despise him.

It was the lack of that which you feared. Did you love him? No. But there was a fire that burned in your belly whenever he touched you, even for the most fleeting of moments.

Whether Adar knew or not, you didn’t dare find out.

War was looming with the rumours of Sauron’s return, and you had soon come to realise that your brother’s focus was going to be elsewhere. And as much as that pained you, you knew Gil Galad knew that you were capable enough to handle yourself wherever you were.

But the lingering threat of darkness had meant Adar was away from Mordor a little more than he had been. He would leave some of his children behind, a silent gift of protection for you.

Though you preferred the comfort of your own quarters. Adar had offered them to you about a week into being his wife. Before that you had been in a small tent, just in sight of his own quarters.

While most of the Uruk banded together and slept in a mixture of tents and wooden shacks, Adar had a large wooden building in the centre of camp. His throne outside it and even a separate room where you would assume he would host guests if he ever had them.

Yours were smaller, but with enough space for it to be clear you were no longer a prisoner. There was a separate bedroom, a small snug with some furs and fire pit for your comfort. And those small things were welcome whenever he would leave.

This time Adar had been gone for a few weeks. The longest he had been gone since your marriage to him and though you chastised yourself for it, you had begun to miss him.

Not necessarily his person, but what him being here meant. Physically.

If Adar was anything to you, he was attentive. Dare you even say, gentle. Like he was afraid if he did anything more, you would run from him in disgust or fear.

But you never did.

And now, you found yourself missing those nights.

You had put that feeling to the back of your mind. Trying to focus yourself on literally anything else. But then you would lay in your bed and your mind would drift there.

And soon your hand would follow. Letting the images that would float in your imagination guide you. It began to happen every night without fail. It was almost like you couldn’t sleep without putting out the fire in your veins.

Picturing how Adar would touch you, the way his hands would feel against your skin. How warm he always seemed to be; how soft his lips were…

No word had come of where Adar was or when he would be returning, but the Uruk that remained in camp had been on edge all day. Just like they had been for the last week.

You were on an edge, though without a doubt it was an entirely different one.

The night soon drew in, a few of the Uruk coming to check on you after you had eaten with them which you more than appreciated.

But then you were alone again, and it wasn’t long before your thoughts began to wander.

You waited until you could no longer hear much noise outside of your door, meaning most of the Uruk had gone to their own beds or were far enough away that you could let your hands wander too.

Images of Adar immediately filled your mind, the rough sound of his voice felt almost real you had imagined it so many times now.

Your shift was bunched in your hand, the other making its path down your body to seek out your core.

The room was always warm, the fire pit constantly stoked at your request. But your skin prickled as your fingers began to dip between your folds. A small sigh leaving your lips as you finally made the contact you had been desperate for all day.

Your movements remained slow. In the weeks he had been gone, you had begun to try and imitate Adar’s touch. He was never in a rush, like he was mapping out every dip and swell of your body and committing to his memory.

But trying to mimic that had taken weeks. Only now did it feel almost right. Your hands were too soft, but it was close enough.

You would try and remember the way he would start, where he would touch first. One hand between your thighs and one hand always mapping the rest of your body.

So that’s what you did. Your fingers made slow circles on your pearl, working the fire in your belly higher and higher. Your other hand pushing your shift higher, not enough to make you bare, not yet.

The sighs turned to soft moans, barely audible, letting the images of Adar flow through your mind.

The muscles of his chest and back when he would hover over you, one hand by your face while the other would continue its path along your body.

How his breath would feel on your neck as he began to press kisses to your skin. The barely there sounds that would leave his throat the more of you he got to feel.

You worked yourself up to a point that you were almost desperate to find release, your hips actively chasing your own hand. The shift almost torn from your body as the room seemed to get warmer and warmer.

Everything around you faded as you began to focus on the desire that thrummed in your veins, surrendering yourself to it. Your fingers finally slipping between your folds and trying to remember the rhythms Adar would strum.

It was so dark when Adar returned. Most of the Uruk were already fast asleep, or at least away in their tents. He assumed you would be too, and his feet began making their way to your quarters before he could stop them.

His hand was on the door when soft sounds floated through the small cracks in the wood. Sounds that couldn’t be mistaken for anything but pleasure.

Far louder than he was sure he had ever heard you be. Far louder than you had ever been with him.

He waited, as quiet as he could. Just to hear a little more. The cracks in the door wide enough to sneak the smallest of peeks at you. He could see you bare, spread out on the furs of your bed. One had between your thighs, the other gripping the plump flesh of your breast in the same rhythm as your fingers.

Adar was sure he could smell your arousal from here.

He was completely entranced, lost in the way your body writhed on the bed. How your voice seemed to be going up octave after octave as your peak crept up on you. And then, something he never thought he would hear from you, especially like this.

His name.

“Adar…” you breathed out, and your husband could only watch as the muscles of your thighs twitched, hips canting up against your hand until you finally stilled.

You had said his name. His name. Bare, glistening with sweat as your peak had crashed over you, you had said his name.

Adar ignored the way his length twitched in his breeches at the thought. He could wait. But he wasn’t going to forget just how pretty you sounded.

He only wondered if he could make you louder.

You awoke that morning to hear the Uruk calling Adar’s name, nothing but happiness in their voices.

He was home.

You forgot yourself for just a moment in your excitement at having him back. It surprised you. You were at the threshold of your door when it hit you. Taking a deep breath before stepping outside.

Adar was at his throne, his children that had remained behind clamouring around him. But his eyes found you immediately. If you hadn’t been concentrating on maintaining your usual, passive mask, you would have noticed how he looked at you.

Like he wanted to devour you where you stood.

“Husband,” you said gently, the crowd of Uruk parting as you walked towards his throne.

Adar stood immediately, but he didn’t move towards. But a smile did twitch at his lips.

“Wife,” he answered, finally descending the few steps of his throne to meet you.

You saw a flash of something behind his eyes, but you chalked it up to your imagination. He had been gone for a while, maybe you simply missed him. But when he held his hand out to you, your skin meeting his for the first time in weeks, you could feel that same feeling stirring deep in your body.

Desire. Everything you had tried to tamper down, to hide, threatened to spill from you after one touch.

Adar could only smile as he saw the way you swallowed, how your eyes remained trained on his hand.

“Are you well?” he asked quietly, daring to stroke a soft circle on the back of your hand with his thumb.

He needed to see. Was your desire for him reserved for when you were alone, or could he push you enough to let it slip through the cracks?

The rest of the day passed no differently to how it usually did. Adar checking up on the children he had left behind while he was away and you spending your time doing anything you enjoyed. Walking around the camp was a new pastime, giving you a break from the walls of your quarters.

What you didn’t know, was that Adar watched you almost the entire time. Keeping his eyes on you whenever and however he could. He was the most distracted he had ever been since he married you, willing night to fall so he could end his duties and summon you to his bed.

He knew it would raise suspicions with you if he changed his routine and took you to his bed early. It was an unintentional routine, but something you had welcomed.

What he didn’t know, was you were wishing he would do just that. You could go to him yourself but, outside of your own bed, you were warring with your desire for him and your need to keep it hidden away.

Dinners had been eaten, and Mordor had darkened as whatever sun filtered in finally dipped below the horizon. You were in your quarters, savouring the bath that you had treated yourself to, when you could hear a soft rapping on the makeshift door.

You recognised the footsteps almost immediately.

On instinct, you moved to cover yourself. Leaning against the side of the tub – or what was essentially a patchworked together replica of such a thing, at the insistence of Adar for your comfort. It felt ridiculous to hide yourself from your husband, but it was as though there were two paths urging you in your mind.

Resist or surrender.

“Forgive the intrusion,” Adar said softly, stopping a few paces from you.

You couldn’t stop your smile. You were not sure when it had happened, but you had found yourself relaxing around him in the simplest of ways. Which made how you felt deep down all the harder to reconcile.

“No intrusion, you are my husband.”

Adar only grumbled out a sound of approval. He realised; however, he hadn’t truly thought much past entering your quarters.

“But the fact you are here is an unusual occurrence. Is everything well?”

Your evenings were usually spent in Adar’s chambers and subsequently his bed. To have him in yours surprised you. The look he gave you, only served to confuse you more.

“Nothing is amiss, I assure you,” Adar hadn’t moved from where he stood, but his eyes were travelling over your form.

You simply hummed, realising you were not going to get a straight answer from him.

The bath water had begun to cool, and you leaned over the side to grab the wide sheet of linen to dry yourself. As smoothly as you could, you held it high to wrap it around yourself as quickly as possible.

What you did not expect was for Adar’s hands to grasp its edge and hold it for you. Just high enough to cover your body, but his proximity had you freezing for just a moment.

“Thank you, Adar.”

You missed the darkening of his eyes as you said his name, stepping from the tub and letting him hand you the linen.

His hands momentarily touched your back as you turned to wrap it around you, and you tried to hide the shiver that ran through you. Images from the nights spent alone flashing in your mind at just one touch.

The silence in the room was almost deafening. It was almost as though both of you had something to say, but neither knew the other did.

You began to move away to dress, unsure what else to do, when Adar seemed to come back to himself and stop you.

His hands returned to your shoulders, stopping you in your tracks. You couldn’t see his smirk as your body stiffened and then relaxed immediately at his touch. Your eyes fluttering closed as his hands tightened on your shoulders.

“I thought of you, whilst I was away,” he said simply, his hands trailing down your arms.

It wasn’t unusual for him to admit things like that, but there was something behind his words that felt different. Adar leaned in, whispering into your ear.

“Did you think of me?”

The growl behind his voice seemed more intense this close, the fire rising gently in your belly.

You wanted to answer, admit that you had thought of him on so many occasions. But it was like your words stuck in your throat.

A thought crossed your mind, did he know? No, he couldn’t possibly. But there was almost a knowing tone to his voice.

His hands stroked up and down your arms, patiently waiting for whatever answer you would give.

“Does your silence mean you did? I was gone a while, leaving you alone and unattended to…”

Adar smiled as he pressed a kiss to the skin behind your ear. His expression widening as he felt your head fall back just a little.

He could feel you fighting it, still trying to deny what you felt for him. So, he continued, bringing your back flush against his chest. Hands moving from your arms to the wrap of your linen.

Your skin was still warmed from the bath, and you could feel the hard plane of his chest through the dark fabric of his shirt. Adar never wore his armour, including his gauntlet, when you and he were alone.

You pulled your lower lip between your teeth as he began to unwrap your linen, slowly baring your body to the coolness of your quarters. The sheet falling to the ground as his hands took their time roaming your soft flesh.

“Shall I attend to you now, wife?”

Not trusting your words, you nodded, and Adar could feel the temperature of your skin rising. Your head fell fully back on to his shoulder, so close to surrendering to your feelings.

Adar’s hands were in no rush. It was as though he was recommitting every part of you to memory. Maybe, he truly had missed you while he was gone?

It was only when his fingers skimmed low enough to tease at your pearl did you let out a sigh of pleasure. The sound bringing Adar back to his true aim for coming to you tonight.

He let a single finger circle you, tantalisingly slow. Teasing you and himself.

His other hand cupped your breast, kneading the soft mound under his palm. Deep down, he knew it wasn’t quite enough to pull those sounds from the night before out of you. But there was more than enough time for that.

It wasn’t as though he was unaffected, his own arousal pushing insistently against your back.

He was so focused on the feel of you beneath his hands that he almost missed the small whisper that slipped from you. It was only when his hands slowed, did he realise you had asked for something. Your hand wrapped around his wrist. Almost begging for him to move faster.

“Please…”

You were just loud enough for him to hear this time, the breathy sound of your voice sending a shot of desire straight to his already hard length.

That was enough to have him lead you towards your bed. A gentle push had you laying down, and all you could do was watch as Adar made quick work of his tunic.

More of your daydreams flashed before your eyes, realising your imagination had never quite matched up to the real thing. Pale, scarred flesh covered just enough muscle to remind you of the strength he held.

You rested yourself on your elbows. There was just a little something different about Adar tonight. Not that he was never gentle, but he seemed to be working with a purpose in mind more so than usual.

The bed dipped as he joined you, stopping to push your legs open and kneel between them.

“Please what, hmm?” he asked, large hands squeezing your thighs.

There was no doubt he had a purpose. You had seen that look before, but when he was focused on battle strategies, not your pleasure.

You let out a small breath, preparing yourself to give in just a little more to your desire for him.

“I need you, husband.”

Adar let out a soft grunt of approval at those words. Watching as your hand reached out for him.

If there was one thing you hadn’t expected to imagine when you were alone, it was his kisses. They were few and far between, but you realised how much you enjoyed them when you were left with only your mind’s eye.

He let you wait, just a moment longer, before crawling the rest of the way up and hovering his lips over yours. Your hand finally able to curl around the back of his neck. Adar let you pull him down, your kiss a lot hungrier than he expected it to be.

You moaned softly into his mouth, your fingers toying the black strands at the base of his neck.

One of Adar’s hands remained on your thigh, hooking it up and over his waist. Your hand tightened on his neck as you felt his arousal press against your bare core, your hips rolling up on instinct.

“Patience, darling…” he whispered, breaking the kiss for just a moment.

He wanted you to ease into what he knew you felt. There was little hiding your desire for him now. You just needed to let yourself admit it.

Adar returned to the kiss, pulling back some of his control as his tongue slipped into your mouth. Your fingers entirely tangled in his hair as he won the battle of your kiss.

He didn’t stop your body arching against him. Soft skin against his scarred flesh only spurring him on.

His kiss moved from your lips to your neck, letting his hips begin to match your rhythm. You were still holding back, but he could hear how your breath sped up and the subtlest of moans were slipping from your lips.

The path of his lips continued down, between the valley of your breasts and lower. Mapping every inch of you with a kiss.

“What did you imagine while I was gone? How I touch you, how I kiss you…?” he murmured against your skin.

Your hand returned to his hair as he kissed the inside of your thighs. Holding them apart enough to settle his head between them.

He knew, he had to. If you had been less distracted, you would have tried to deny. But you were at the point of desperation. Weeks of only your own hand to bring you satisfaction. If you just gave in…

“All of it,” you sighed, trying in vain to push his head closer to where you wanted him.

But Adar didn’t move. He wasn’t going to let you off quite that easy.

His kisses moved higher, just shy of where you wanted him to be.

Your eyes closed, taking a small breath and answering.

“I...I imagined how your hands feel on me, how your lips feel on me…”

Adar rewarded you with a long, slow swipe of his tongue between your folds. Pulling a slightly louder moan from you.

He wondered if you would admit just a little bit more.

“And?” he asked again, his breath hot against your skin.

He could feel you tense a little in frustration, but he could feel how close you were to giving in.

“I imagined how satisfied you leave me.”

That was more than expected. Admitting your desire was enough, but to admit you found satisfaction with him? That was even better.

You were rewarded again with a more insistent lap to your cunt, his face burying a little further down. Your hand in his hair trying desperately to hold him where he was.

“Then I shall ensure I make up for all the satisfaction I have left you without these past weeks,” he promised, before delving in with full fervour.

There was little gentleness now. Adar almost devoured you with every swipe and circle of his tongue. It appeared you weren’t the only one who had suffered whilst you were apart.

Your nails scratched at his scalp, earning your growls of pleasure against your core. The vibrations combined with the way the tip of his tongue now circled your swollen bud had your eyes rolling back in your head.

Yet you still hadn’t let out any sounds close to what he had heard from you the night before.

Adar lifted your legs onto his shoulders, arms wrapped around your thighs as he doubled down on his ministrations. Suckling your pearl until you let out a soft sigh of his name.

Almost there, he thought. But maybe you needed just a little more encouragement.

He replaced his tongue with his fingers, keeping the same rhythm as he peppered kisses over the skin of your inner thigh.

The way your walls were already clenching around him was a sure sign you were close. But he needed to hear you, good and loud.

“As delicious as ever…but I know you can be louder than that, sweet wife?”

His fingers curled inside you as he moved to hover over you, his lips returning to your neck.

He had heard you. You knew it. Before tonight, you would have been embarrassed, even denied it. But instead, the burning desire inside seemed to roar higher. He wanted you to be loud. There was no denying the hungry sound to his voice now.

“Adar…” you groaned out, his fingers almost beckoning your release closer.

Your husband smiled into your neck, the twitch in his cock reminding him just how good his name sounded on your tongue.

“Again. Say my name again.”

His fingers began to piston in and out of you, the wet sounds of your pleasure mixing in with your growing moans and sighs.

You didn’t hold back anymore. Letting your body relax and pleasure take over.

Over and over again you moaned his name, his lips latched onto your throat as your peak washed over you.

Adar let his hips grind themselves against your thigh as he felt the slick sensation of your release gush over his hand. Something in him told him you could give him just a little more.

Your hands got to his breeches first. Tugging at the laces in your desperate need to remove all the barriers between you. Gone was the fear of revealing your desire to him. You needed him to know how much you wanted him. How much you were sure you had for a long time.

He was quick to kick the rest of his clothing away, caring little for where they landed. All that mattered was having you beneath him.

His cock slid in with ease, the lingering spasms of your release made his eyes close for just a moment. Savouring the sensation. His face burying itself back into your neck, smiling again as your legs wrapped around his waist.

“Do you think you can be louder still? As loud as you were last night?”

Your heels at his back urged him to move. And he did, slowly pushing in and out while he waited for your answer.

But what he got was not what he expected.

“My fingers are nothing compared to you. I think you can make me much louder.”

Now that was a challenge he wished to meet.

Adar planted a hand beside your head. The other holding one of your thighs tight as he began to speed up his rhythm. Your back arched immediately from the bed. Your fingers were nothing compared to any part of him. Reaching far deeper than you ever could.

The bed creaked beneath you as Adar pounded into you, his own grunts and groans of pleasure almost lost in the sweet cries that came from you.

Desire burned through him just at the sound, but the way your cunt was already tightening around him had him at his edge faster than he may ever have been.

“Come for me, let me hear you chant my name…” he almost purred into your ear, his voice strained as he held back his own end as long as he could.

Your hands grasped at his shoulders, committing all the sensations to memory, should you ever be left alone again.

“Adar!”

His name came out as the most delicious cry, your nails digging into his shoulders as your second release crashed over you. Your eyes scrunched closed in pleasure as Adar buried his face into your shoulder. His own end painting your walls as he groaned out your name.

A few shallow thrusts came as he slowed himself down, letting your thighs down to the bed. Softer kisses planted over your neck and chest had a small smile on your lips.

Gently, Adar rolled to your side, both of you ignoring everything except the closeness of the other.

Your head rested on his chest, feeling the race of his heart that you were sure matched yours. The atmosphere in the room felt different than it usually did. Softer, more romantic in the strangest of ways.

Adar’s hand rubbed up and down your back, lips pressing a kiss to the crown of your head. You both remained silent for a while, until you rolled over to look at him.

Up close, you were reminded of more than just your desire. This was your husband, and you had truly never appreciated his beauty. Scars and all.

“I should never have hidden such desire from you, I realise that now,” you admitted, your chin leaning against his chest.

Adar looked at you and just smiled. His arms wrapped around your back, pulling you up high enough for a kiss.

“It matters not, we have all the time to take full advantage of it.”

His words made your stomach flutter. If tonight was just the start, you could only imagine what future nights would bring.

Maybe marrying the father of orcs wouldn’t be so bad after all?

TRoP Taglist:

@tumblin-theworldaway @kaelatargaryen @valar-did-me-wrong

@stardustcasey @itwillbeourswansong @xximmortalkissxx

@varda-star-queen @iwanderbecauseimlost

@eowyn7023 @whenimaunicorn @zoya-olenko

If you want to be added/deleted, please let me know.

#adar rings of power #adar trop #adar the rings of power #adar x reader #adar smut #adar x you #x reader smut #adar fanfic #adar fic #rings of power fanfiction #rings of power smut

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copepods · 1 year ago

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🌇 factored-antagonism 🔁 three-pronged-spears Follow

🌫️ three-pronged-spears Follow

DNI if you support Peripherism. It's literally just Slab Mongering but worse and with less effort

#wait peripherism is still a thing?????? #meaning collector point inversions havent been the norm in like 350 years afaik

36 notes

💟 pleading-intellect

GUYSSSS my overseer found a clutch of baby green lizards today they're so CUTE

#inty.txt #and BEFORE anyone accuses me of not iterating im literally running 55,458 processes rn

2 notes

❇️ string-of-pearls 🔁 rippling-shadows Follow

👤 forspoken-antiquity Follow

hey FYI everyone if you receive an ask about transcendental inversions it's a troll. i've gotten 3 asks in the last cycle

#signal boost!!

2,347 notes

🌁 nineteen-afterthoughts

"ohhh Triangulation is outdated" "ohhh Triangulators dont even factor noise milking into their research theyre a bunch of idiots" im literallu just a little guy im 4 feet tall why do you hate me

⬜️🔁 erratic-pulse

Irrelevant tangents and jokes don't help your case. Triangulationism is simply an objectively moronic take on an already superfluous train of thought. How are you supposed to find the Solution if you can't even properly look for it?

🌁🔁 nineteen-afterthoughts

you literally have Sliverist in your bio but go off

⬜️🔁 erratic-pulse

The minutiae of my theoretical inclinations are irrelevant. Your dogma is blatantly incorrect regardless.

🌁🔁 nineteen-afterthoughts

your group senior and i are raising a family together

19 notes

💽 slowly-advancing-mist

a band of scavengers literally just stole my last vat of holy ash thats it im seeking personal ascension

#vent #dont rb

0 notes

🚹 untoward-foresight Follow

Anyone else gotten really into Gold Hegemonic epic poetry recently? This one dude Eight Brass Whistles has a bunch of crazy quasi-Regeneratist stuff, it's actually really cool

🎹 east-facing-pillars

wasnt Eight Brass Whistles a heretic???? i heard he refused to shed the 3rd attachment or something like that

🚹 untoward-foresight Follow

Nah that callout post got debunked 533 cycles ago lol

🎹 east-facing-pillars

ahhh ok thanks for clarifying! ill let you know if i find anything :)

#thanks for being polite haha #lesson learned i gotta check this forum more LMAO

93 notes

⬜️ erratic-pulse

anonymous asked:

Transcendental Inversion! Transcendental Inversion!

Only someone with a fundamentally false understanding of inversion modes would send this. You can't even do such a thing without sufficient trailing bonds, which entropy renders impossible.

#Why do I always encounter idiots on this pseudonym?

5 notes

#rain world #text #5th times the charm???

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sewnshutt · 2 months ago

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I tried you guys (I refuse to learn how to render) 🌝

#squid game #squid game 2 #squid game season 2 #player 120 #player 246 #squid game fanart #hyunseok #park gyeong seok #cho hyunju #procrate #ditgital art

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spectral-phases · 3 months ago

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The Night Blüdhaven Exploded

I don't see enough people talking about what the Chemo attack on Blüdhaven must have done, as just everything was going wrong for Bruce and his boys that night.

For starters, Bruce is already fighting his dead/ressurected son who came back as a crime-lord villain who has been blowing up so, so many goons/criminals in Gotham for a while.

Then he sees Blüdhaven explode in front of his very eyes, and Jason then taunts Bruce, saying that Dick must be dead and insists on forcing Bruce to choose between killing Jason and killing the Joker not 2 minutes later. Bruce, as we all know, refuses to allow either, and stops Jason with a Batarang to the neck/shoulder, depending on your angst factor (or possibly aiming for Joker, but Joker moves and gets it to hit Jason on purpose/by accident ymmv).

(Batman 1940 #650)

And then, after all of that, the Joker sets off some explosives, surely killing Jason/the Joker (This makes the second explosion the Joker is going to no-clip his way out of, and Jason's learned that skill this time as well)

(Batman 1940 #650)

But wait! There's more! I know in the Batman comic they only mention Bruce being concerned for Dick, but Tim was living in Blüdhaven at the time too! Tim was fresh off of his father/girlfriend dying and didn't want to be adopted by Bruce, so he invented a fake Uncle Eddie (hiring an actor to play the role) and moved to Blüdhaven, where his comatose step-mother was being treated. Tim is only out of the city at the time of the explosion because the Titans came and said something was wrong with Conner, so they needed to leave to help save him. On their way out of the city in their jet, they only get far enough to avoid the blast, but not far enough that they avoid the resulting shockwaves as it renders their navigational systems offline, and likely their comms too. So not far enough that Bruce, who has been chasing Jason and Black Mask all night, could reasonably be aware of this fact.

(Robin 1993 #147)

So Dick and Tim very well could have been in that explosion and then Jason gets exploded! Amazing! That's 3 for 3 remaining Robins possibly killed in an explosion in one single hour.

We have no idea where Jason gets to, but we'll assume that he is unable to find the body because of the new no-clipping into the backrooms skill Jason must have (Jason was meant to die here, again. In another explosion set off by the Joker, so Bruce will have to assume Jason is dead even if he turns up alive later. How? Who the fuck knows).

Speaking of ol' Richard "Dick" Grayson, aka Nightwing, how is old boy wonder doing? Well, he's been having a rough go of it the past six months, between Blockbuster targeting him and destroying everything he cares about, Tarantula killing Blockbuster after successfully convincing him to just let her kill Blockbuster (while he walks away and has a panic attack...and...other things happen...TW: SA if you look it up), and then basically playing "suicide by cop" through the job following that and being a double agent of the group that just nuked Blüdhaven, uh...he is straight-up not having a good time by the time Chemo blows up Blüdhaven, and he's only getting worse. He tries to go to the center of the explosion, and Superman, fortunately, arrives on the scene to save Nightwing and put him up on the shelf to avoid dying (I love how Superman keeps trying to save Nightwing from himself in this era and Nightwing is just...no, thank you).

(Nightwing 1996 #116)

Unfortunately, this is the "Flying Grayson" himself, so no shelf is high enough to prevent Dick from going in there, and his mental state is so bad that certain death while saving others is probably more tempting to him at the moment than a deterrent. He "Duly Noted"s his way back into Blüdhaven, helps get the police to control the panicking crowds of survivors towards an escape route, saves the few remaining friends Blockbuster didn't kill recently, and goes directly into the most radioactive area of Blüdhaven to try and save some rouge who might have been there. We see Superman fighting Chemo's core in the background throughout his rescue attempts, so Dick's close the entire time to this heavy radiation. Dick notes that this is the first time he's able to breathe easy in months, saving people from the ruins. He's eventually taken out as a door explodes with the Chemo green gasses while trying to locate the rogue while reflecting on his recent failures.

(Nightwing 1996 #116)

I do think the appearance of Batman as Dick passes out isn't real, Bruce was in Gotham, either reeling from the explosion or looking for Jason or something. There's no way he got to Blüdhaven already, and the legs of Batman are hazy, blending into the smoke.

I also think after Chemo is stopped that Bruce probably still hasn't heard anything about Nightwing, because I don't imagine he took the time and resources to call the Veteran in a communications blackout (who has been historically trying to poach Batman's Robins, and nearly got Tim killed trying to convince Tim to leave Batman and join up his forces. Batman and the Veteran are not on good terms, is what I'm saying) just for Tim's step-mother and fake uncle.

(Robin 1993 #147)

By this time, he is talking about Tim as if he's alive, so he's probably gotten something from the Titans base confirming that Tim's alright, so he's gotta be taking the time and effort to call the Veteran for Dick.

Bruce, being Bruce, gets into a fight with Dick as soon as Dick is brought back to the Batcave and wakes up, while Dick is being treated for severe radiation poisoning/burns. I am willing to forgive this because he's had a time of it, even if he's being hostile and pissy and unsupportive. Definitely not winning the Father of the Year award for this, I'm afraid (Worst Father of the Year award is going to Deathstroke, for embedding a known radioactive carcingenic material into his daughter's eye, but Bruce is in the running for this and Jason).

(Nightwing 1996 #117)

I am awarding this to Bruce for trying to reassure Dick.

But. Anyway. Yeah.

Rough night for everyone involved. Absolutely everything going wrong all at once.

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pandora-writes-one-piece · 6 months ago

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The Meet Cute - Law's Story - 5

Source for pic

The Great Pretender 5 🔞

Word Count: 7361

Tags For The Whole Story: Fem!Reader; Law is a soft dom; you have bratty tendencies (not all the time); voice kink; praise kink; cursing; very suggestive behaviour and innuendo from the start; sexual tension; teasing; so much flirting; romance; slow-burn; fluff; slight angst; mature audiences (though explicit NSFW moments will be properly tagged on the chapter); possessive Law; protective Law; soft Law; teasing Law; manipulative Doflamingo; inappropriate Doflamingo; fake relationship trope; only one-bed trope; reader has some anxiety issues; reader is a control freak and perfectionist; modern day AU

Special Warning: English is not my first language, I apologise for any possible spelling or grammar mistakes.

Summary: After moving away from the hustle and bustle of Grand Line City to help your father around the property following a horse-riding accident - and in the hopes of healing your broken heart after your asshole ex-fiancé cheated - you settle into the country calmness of the Calm Belt. You and Law (your father's doctor) start to build a flirty friendship because of your father’s procedure. So much so that when he’s invited to Baby 5’s wedding (his cousin), he asks you to be his date. His uncle Doflamingo - who is filthy rich - is very adamant on finding a suitable wife for him. Seeing as he wants to avoid that, he asks you to pretend to be his girlfriend for the weekend.

Notes: Guys this chapter is biiiig! I'm so sorry. But I didn't want to cut it short and remove such a fun interaction at the end... It has a lot of important information going on but it's a bit NSFW, k? Not too explicit, but still... 🔞

Tag List: @rosidaze @beachaddict48 @armiliadawn @jintaka-hane @sprinkklz @baby5555 @hopelesslover06 @mars-mizuko @sleepykittycx @nerium-lil

Masterlist

You barely see Law after that encounter because of your conflicting schedules. He texts you the details for the wedding, stressing the need to dress to impress and tries to offer you money to buy dresses but you refuse vehemently saying there’s no need.

You have a friend with the classiest, sluttiest closet you've ever known: Nami.

She, however, forces you to buy new lingerie to go with the dresses because there's no way you can wear satin with granny panties underneath. Only sultry lace. You almost think you got away with not telling her who your date for the wedding would be, but you bump into Kaya and Usopp, and learn that Law informed Kaya of his absence because of a wedding he's going to attend.

Nami can add two and two.

And she does it in front of Kaya and Usopp which renders the rest of your afternoon useless while you are teased relentlessly.

On the plus side, Nami's dresses are really beautiful, fit you perfectly and you both find the perfect colours to complement your complexion. You pack extra dresses, just in case.

And extra panties.

Law tells you that you're to leave Friday morning because you have to be at the Donquixote household in the afternoon and the drive to the city still takes a while - you manage to do extra hours at work on Thursday to compensate for your absence. You'll sleep there for three nights, the rehearsal dinner is on Saturday, the wedding and reception are on Sunday, and then you’ll come back Monday morning - you'll compensate for those hours on Tuesday.

That means you'll spend about four days pretending to be Law's girlfriend.

After the heated moment you had while practising, you're feeling both apprehensive and excited about the prospect. You've had a taste of what he's been telling you, how rewarding it can be to let go of your control, to let someone else take over. It felt good, freeing and so pleasurable.

And he barely even showed you the tip of the iceberg.

You're aching for more of his relentless teasing, you're pretty sure you can kiss him faster this time. You just want to taste him again.

Sighing, you decide to finish packing. It's going to be a long weekend. As you take the dresses out of the bag Nami put them in, your eyes widen at the unexpected surprise she left there.

A box of condoms.

Sneaky Nami. Does she think she's witty and funny?

Joke's on her, you're taking them anyway!

Deep down, you're hoping you get to use them.

-*-

Law greets you normally from inside the car, as if nothing happened and he wasn't probing your throat with his tongue earlier this week.

You, on the other hand, immediately lose it at the sight of his smirk.

Fuck. He knows exactly what kind of effect he has on you. He knows he's got you wrapped around his little finger. And that's why you're not going to make this easy on him.

“Hi.”

You exclaim tensely as you approach the car, already struggling to figure out how to open the door to his sleek, black Tesla. Yet, Law doesn't give you any time to make a fool of yourself as he gets out of the car and opens the door for you. You can't help but notice how casual and sexy he looks. Black jeans and a yellow t-shirt, paired with expensive sunglasses that fit him like he’s a movie star - that's the whole look, and it drives you crazy.

He sees you checking him out, so he leans in and places a soft kiss on your cheek as his hand grips your waist, pulling you towards him. “Hi, sweetheart, you look gorgeous.”

Freezing in place, you feel your cheeks burning from the intimacy of his greeting. Your father watches you both from the porch, coffee mug in hand and a silly grin on his face.

“How are you doing, Mr. S.?” Law's eyes barely leave yours, an amused glint making them twinkle and sparkle.

“Oh, I'm mighty fine! I'm greatly enjoying the show!” Shanks replies, his shit-eating grin still in place and you already regret sharing with him what you were doing this weekend. Truth be told, you didn't exactly tell him you were going as Law's girlfriend, you just said you were going as his date, in a friendly manner, so Law could avoid his uncle. But after the way the doctor greeted you, you're sure your father now firmly believes there's more than friendship between you.

You mumble curses at both men as Law lets go of you to place your bags in the trunk of the car. Then he lays your dresses neatly in the backseat, near his suits, so they don't wrinkle too much.

“Bug, be careful!” Shanks admonishes from the porch.

“Yes, yes, I will! Call if you need anything.” You say, mostly out of habit more than anything else, because your father would be much better off calling Ace or Beckman if he needed immediate assistance since you'll be far away.

“I won't. Have fun!” You wave him goodbye as you enter the car and Law closes your door, but you watch as his grin widens. “Law, take care of my baby girl, will you?”

Law then closes the backdoor of the car and chuckles. “Sure will, Mr. S.” He waves and enters the car, taking his seat and burning you with his amber gaze and sexy smirk. His hand lands on your exposed thigh and he squeezes softly. “I'll take good care of her.” He whispers, earning a muffled gasp as you purse your lips to contain the incriminating sound.

As he chuckles again, fastens his seat belt, and inputs the new destination into the GPS, you take a deep breath, steadying your heart rate. You're determined to not let him hold the same control over you as he did the other day.

Very determined.

But as he backs the car away, completely disregarding the cameras on the dash and placing his tattooed bare arm behind your seat to look back - dark, tinted sunglasses in place and an unreadable expression - you sigh and close your eyes, your determination leaving you in a heartbeat.

This is going to be a long ride.

-*-

As soon as he enters the interstate, you fish out your tablet from your purse, turning it on and adjusting the brightness so you can read the screen.

“You're really going to ignore me? Am I less interesting than all your book boyfriends?” He says, eyes fixed on the road since there's a bit of traffic.

You try to hide a small blush by adjusting your sunglasses. He's not right. He's way more interesting than any book boyfriend. He's real.

“I'm not going to read.” You ignore his comment, trying to steer away from every chance he gets to gain the upper hand. “I'm opening our list so we can cover the important questions that were left unanswered the other day. Since it's a long ride, we can study. And maybe make up a story about how we met and fell in love. A believable one.” You mumble.

Law scoffs. “Again with that list. Fine, if we must.”

“We must.” You reinforce your statement. “We still haven't covered our personal stories… maybe that's important? It could come up.”

You glance at him and notice that familiar crease forming in the middle of his eyebrows. You know he moved in with his uncles at ten but you have no idea how his parents died, and that's something a girlfriend would know. You’ve shared everything about your parents and their divorce with him already, but there's still your story about Ichiji, which you're not so keen on sharing.

He sighs deeply, his face falling into that stoic expression. “Later. Also, why do we need a love story? Isn't ours perfect?”

The tablet you're holding almost falls to the ground as your head whips to the side. “Ours? What do you mean?”

The smirk returns as his foot presses the gas and he passes two slow cars in the right lane. “You're the daughter of my surgery patient. As soon as I laid eyes on you, I knew you were special. When you passed out in my office while yelling at me, I was certain. When you fumbled and made a fool of yourself just because I was examining you, I knew there was no way out of it. When your expression intensified as I called you a ‘good girl’, I was deeply ensnared. The rest came naturally. I helped your father, we got close, we fell in love.”

You're staring at him, mouth hanging open and eyes wide. Is this how he feels? Or is this pretence? Because the way he told the story was really believable. The thrumming of your heart is slower and steadier than when he's teasing you, something much more grounding than the usual feeling, but no less intense.

“What do you think? Is it believable enough or should I add more details?”

Oh… It’s not real.

“No,” You clear your throat, “it's perfect. Everyone will buy it.”

You did.

-*-

“There's another important thing we still haven't discussed. I don't think you covered it in your professional-looking spreadsheet.” Law says when you're taking a break from asking him questions, trying to memorise some of his answers so you don't slip up when it really matters.

He sounds serious, so you take your eyes off your tablet to look at him. “Oh? I covered everything.” You say with a slight edge.

Law's low chuckle is not condescending. “Yes, you covered daily things, information, wants and hopes for the future.” He takes his eyes off the road for a second to look you in the eyes. “You didn't cover boundaries.”

Your mind instantly takes you to the heated moment you shared when he kissed you. If you had any boundaries set then, would he still have done it? You don't want to go without his touch.

It's far too addictive.

“Oh. That.”

“Yeah, that. It's important. What are your boundaries? What is off the table? Besides sex, obviously. We don't need to do it to fool anyone.” You lock your tablet, fixing your eyes on the road ahead and pondering. He's right, sex is a big boundary. But what are your other boundaries?

“Well… I… I don't mind doing what we did in your house.” Why does your voice sound so small?

“Speak up, sweetheart, don't be afraid to tell me what you want.” He uses that commanding tone that sends shivers down your spine and twists your stomach.

Taking a deep breath, you steady your voice, fixing your eyes on the licence plate of the car in front of you. “I think we should kiss… because of appearances… and I like all the teasing, and the touching… I don't mind having to beg for it.” You whisper again, cheeks ablaze and heart pounding.

“It's nothing to be ashamed of. I also like it when you say please.” Fuck.

“Is the AC on?” You stammer and he chuckles low, setting the AC higher.

“What else?” You open your mouth and close it a few times. This one is a little harder to get out. Law takes a look at you and smirks. “You like it when I call you ‘good girl’, right?”

Fuuuuck! The voice! It's his voice! It makes everything - better! - worse!

“Yes!” The words leave your lips in a hurry and you take a deep breath again. Why is this so hard?

You never had to speak about these things with Ichiji, about what you want or like. You had ‘normal’ sex where he focused on getting himself off. He didn't especially chase your pleasure, not if he wasn't in the mood for foreplay. But this conversation isn't about sex, anyway, it's about boundaries so you should focus!

“How about touching? Where can't I touch you?”

“Erm… Below the waist?” You try, tentatively. Thinking about his hands on your body is already leaving your brain in a puddle of mush.

“So I can't touch your legs?”

“You can!” Another blush creeps in. “And you can touch my butt too…” That sentence comes out as a mumble but he hears it.

“So it's just your vagina I can't touch, right?” He’s amused by your embarrassment and you know it.

“Yes, doctor.” A loud sigh leaves your lips. “How about you? Where can't I touch?” Time to turn the tables!

“Sweetheart, you can't touch me anywhere. I'm in control, remember?” His smirk is unbearable. And unbearably hot.

“That's not fair, Law!”

“You're right, it’s not. But you’ll only touch me if I allow you to, if you’re being good.” He lets out another chuckle, a low rumble. “The same rules as you, then.”

“So I can’t touch your vagina?” The smirk on your lips is teasing and you both share a laugh.

“Yes, that’s what I meant.” A smirk of amusement still lingers on your lips when he asks you the next question. “So everything else is fine? What we did before? The teasing, the touching?” He asks one more time.

“Yes. All of that is fine.” It’s welcomed, even. “Should we… should we save these interactions for when we’re n public?”

“I don’t think we can very well do that in public.” He teases.

“You’re right. Maybe when we feel like it?” You have to admit you relished in the complete surrender of control you experienced the other day. You see yourself getting slowly addicted to that feeling. “I've been thinking and what you did the other day soothed me… I wouldn't mind exploring that… Besides, I think whatever interaction that serves to deepen our pretence is…” Needed, desired, wanted! “Beneficial to our act.”

“Oh.” He sounds surprised. “You want to be spontaneous? Where is your need to control every little situation?”

Your hands fidget with the hem of your dress, straightening it and then picking at a thread as your mind wanders. You’re trying to let go, like he said. Trying to surrender. Trying to let him help you do that. But you don’t quite know how to answer him. You want his help, but you don’t want to impose. You don’t want to force him to help you. Does that even make sense?

You feel it even before you see it. Law’s hand sits on your leg, a bit above the knee and he squeezes. “It’s alright. One step at a time. There’s no rush.”

-*-

The ride keeps going at a steady pace, you fill in the blanks of some seemingly unimportant questions like: ‘when was your first kiss, and with whom?’ or ‘do you want to have kids?’ Meaningless stuff normal couples would talk about. Law gets tired of the questions pretty quickly and just as the GPS indicates that you're about halfway to your destination, he drives the car to a rest area so he can stretch his legs and asks you if you want some coffee.

You couldn't agree more. Your legs feel stiff and your butt aches.

Law puts the car in the fast charger as you both head inside to grab some coffee and use the restroom. Neither of you wants to sit down again, but, conveniently, there are trees surrounding the whole rest area and there's a path connecting the entirety of it, so you both decide to walk it, to pass the time and stretch your legs.

After a few moments, you try again. “About our pasts, Law, as my boyfriend I would have told you all about my ex…” You decide to start, since talking about his parents’ death must be very hard for him.

He nods and glances at you so you know he's listening. “We were together for around four years, having moved in together after one year of dating. He proposed to me last year and we were already planning the wedding, it was pretty serious and I genuinely thought I was in love. He's the son of a very powerful man and I worked for his father at a very prestigious company.” Ichiji's name is at the tip of your tongue, you could just say it. But you're certain Law knows who he is and maybe that's a bit more information than you're willing to share right now. Talking about an anonymous asshole beats talking about someone he can picture doing terrible things to you.

Taking a deep steadying breath after a small sip of coffee, grounds you as you continue, the soft crunch of gravel beneath your feet lending you some sort of comfort. “I found out he was cheating on me and a little research proved he had always been cheating on me, since the beginning, I was just too blind to see it. He was manipulative, controlling and a bit possessive - all in terrible, demeaning and very dangerous ways. He made me feel like it was my fault that he cheated, that I wasn't good enough for him, that I would never be good enough for anybody. Instead of feeling safe around him, I always felt on edge, it was… it was unbearable.”

You don't even realise that you’ve stopped on the path, your eyes fixed somewhere else, not focused on anything. The pain from the past still manages to hinder and hurt you. It's Law's touch that brings you back. His hand on your waist, pulling you to him helps you remove yourself from those hurtful events. He leans his head to your ear and whispers, his breath hot against your shivering skin.

“If this were real, I would make you forget all about that asshole.” His fingers dip against your skin and he grits his teeth. “There's nothing I can do about him now, but I can help you overcome the pain.” You nod slowly, your mind hazy as to what's real or not. “If this were real, I would never make you feel like that. You'd be all I have ever wanted. I would make you see that you're more than enough, that you're everything.”

Your breath hitches in your throat at the intensity of his voice as you feel the familiar prickle of tears in your eyes. Your mind is reeling and your heart is racing again. This is too confusing.

“Law,” you whisper, blinking and taking a small step back but not pulling away from his grasp. “We need some sort of signal, some way to know we're faking or being real. It's too much. I can't handle this, I need a semblance of control.”

He grunts, pulling away from you as his fingers tousle his black hair and you both resume your walk. “You're right.”

“Should it be verbal? Like a safe word? Or something physical?”

“Verbal might be too obvious. Doflamingo is very sharp. We have to use something physical. Not too conspicuous, something of meaning to both of us.” Law looks at you, trying to come up with something. “Do you always wear earrings?”

He eyes your ears, you currently have small hoops on - quite similar to the ones he's wearing. “Usually, yes. I can wear them all weekend, I have different ones to go with the dresses.”

“Okay.” He says as he stops, making you stop too. Then he takes a step closer to you, his hand raising near your ear. “When I'm faking it, I'll start with this.” His fingers touch your ear, twirling your earring as his lips curve upwards. “And then I'll do whatever action I was going to do to pretend. You can do the same to me, I won't take off my earrings either.”

You nod as he drops his hand and you raise yours, to give it a try. Your eyes pierce his and his amber gaze is quite soft. Softer than you've ever seen him. Could it be because of what you shared about Ichiji? Your fingers graze his ear and you notice the way his jaw clenches at the touch.

You haven't touched him like this yet. He's the one who’s been doing all the touching. You just remember feeling his taut muscles against your palms as he was kissing you senseless. But no light touches, no teasing. How will he react further?

Your digits circle the loop of one of his earrings and, as you drop your hand, you let the tip of your nails lightly scratch his neck. He hisses with a deep inhale as he grabs your hand mid-air, to stop you. “Yes, like that. It works.”

You got under his skin.

It's not just you who gets affected by light touches, you can bend him to your will, though you doubt very much he'll ever let you do it.

You resume your walk, but he doesn't let go of your hand. You're too afraid to ask if it's real or fake, but since you both used the signal now, it must be fake.

It's his turn to speak but he doesn't seem willing at all. “Law you don't have to share. Maybe it's something you don't want to say to your girlfriend, it's okay. I'm sure your own family understands how hard it is for you. I would understand too, if this were real.” You give his hand a gentle squeeze and he lets out a deep breath and a slight nod.

Your walk continues in peaceful silence for a while.

“Both my parents were doctors. They were wonderful parents, full of life.” The crease in the middle of his brows is there again, but so is a very tender, longing smile. “I had a younger sister, too. She was very bright and happy.”

Had? Has she passed too? You feel your heart sinking as he continues his story.

“There was a fire, a house fire, something completely accidental. They all died. I was with uncle Cora, he and Doffy were my mother's siblings.” He stops speaking, his jaw clenches and you can feel sweat in his hand. It's the most out of control you've seen him until now and yet, he still seems collected and cool. “That's the gist of it. I moved in with my uncles and the rest is history.”

He has shared the rest with you. About how kind and amiable Cora is and how ruthless and powerful Doffy is. He doesn't seem to fear Doflamingo, it's a lingering respect. But what you sense most when he speaks of him is disgust or resentment. So you realise that he hasn't told you the whole story. There's more to learn about Trafalgar Law. Maybe not about his parents or their death - that seems pretty straightforward - but perhaps some other interactions he's had with Doflamingo while growing up.

He doesn't share and you don't press. If he doesn't feel the need for you to know, it's because it's something he wouldn't share lightly.

“I'm so sorry.” You mutter as you squeeze his hand again.

A few moments pass in silence again and you discard your empty coffee cups in a trash can along the path. The car is in sight and Law's phone tells him it's fully charged so you're ready to go.

“Oh, Law?” He stops near the car to stare at you. “How long should we say we've been dating? It's a pretty important question we need to know. And if it's true, maddening love, we need to have had some time to let it mature and-...”

“Two months. I met you around two and a half months ago. I don't need much more time than that to realise you're special and you're someone I want to be with.” He shrugs as if he's said the most natural thing in the world and opens the car door for you, waiting for you to get inside before closing it.

You can't help but notice that he didn't touch your earrings when he said that.

-*-

Ever since you left the freeway and the GPS timer keeps getting smaller as you approach your destination, Law has been quieter. The flirtatious, teasing demeanour he uses with you has been completely replaced by his normal stoic expression. The crease in his forehead deepens as you approach Donquixote’s household.

You try to engage in small talk, but the only response you get are grunts and nods, so you don't press further. He blasts his music and you don't complain. It might be his way of coping. If it were you in his shoes, you know you'd be close to a panic attack by now, but he's pretty composed, considering.

Only someone who's spent time with him, getting to know him, learning his little tells, can realise he's upset, anxious and nervous. You know his uncle will pick it up immediately.

Law takes a deep sigh as the GPS announces the destination and stops the car in front of a large gate, near the intercom, waiting to be buzzed inside. You look at him, placing your hand on his leg because he's gripping the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles are almost white.

“Hey, I've got you.” You mimic the words he used on you when he was operating on Shanks. His gaze softens and he breathes deeply, his shoulders relaxing a bit as the gates open wide.

Your eyes dart around in awe. You see a grand mansion at the end of the road, but the way there is adorned with trees and flowers of all kinds. The gardens are immense and opulent. Just like the man who owns them. You peek at the top of a few tents on the back of the house, probably where the wedding reception will take place, and the gardens are buzzing with activity. Gardeners polish the last touches on the flowers, while servants make last minute preparations for the decorations. They all seem tense, as if nothing can be out of place.

And if Doflamingo likes control as much as Law does, then there really can't be anything out of place.

Law parks the car as you see two blonde men at the top of the steps leading to the mansion. They're huge. Law is tall, they're taller. He inhales deeply as his eyes meet yours, a glint in them, the crease still parting his brow, and then he touches your earring. “Are you ready?”

You nod and ignore the twists and turns in your stomach, the discomposed rhythm of your heart, the many scenarios in your head where everything goes wrong. Instead, you smile brightly, repeat his gesture and squeeze his hand. “Let's sell this, Law.”

He nods and gets out of the car, you're about to do the same but discover that your door has a child lock. As Law moves around the car to open the door for you, you realise that it serves this single purpose and you can't help but to blush. In four years of your relationship, not once has Ichiji held a door open for you. In less than a week of a fake relationship, Law does it constantly.

He holds out his hand to help you out and you smile sweetly at him, unconsciously passing a hand through your hair to straighten it as you adjust your summer dress. Cora - you assume, since you know the other man is Doflamingo - runs down the steps to greet his nephew, but slips and falls spectacularly, bumping his butt on at least three steps before landing awkwardly on his knees.

Your hands fly to your mouth to stifle a gasp and Law shakes his head as he approaches his uncle.

“Cora… come on! Again?” He admonishes as the blonde man laughs and pats his butt.

“I'm fine, I'm fine.” Law helps him up and both men embrace. It's a long hug during which Cora whispers something to Law, who clenches his teeth and nods, hugging him back.

It's sweet. They really care for each other.

Then Cora sets his eyes on you, they glimmer as he lets go of Law and with one stride, he's by your side, exclaiming your name and holding you in a tight embrace. “Welcome, welcome! It's so nice to meet you! It's been a while since Law brought a girl home!”

Oh… Interesting. He didn't mention any other important relationship, in fact, when you were covering past flings, he told you he doesn't really do the girlfriend thing. He just dates, sometimes. But he apparently had an interesting relationship before.

However, you don't act surprised. You're pretty sure Doflamingo is watching you closely, even though he doesn't make a move to come down the steps. You'll go to him. It's as if he's the King of the mansion and you're just his loyal subjects, bowing to him.

“I'm flattered.” You smile softly as Cora steps back. “What Law and I have is special.” This was a rehearsed phrase. But you deliver it perfectly, looking lovingly at Law, who smiles back at you, his hands in his pockets and sunglasses hanging on his shirt collar.

“I believe you!” He grabs your arm to help you up the stairs, though you sense you'll be the one keeping him from falling, and then he turns to Law and mouths - in what he thinks is a veiled whisper but is anything but that - “She's breathtaking, Law! Well done!”

Law chuckles and shakes his head at his uncle but, as soon as you're all facing Doflamingo’s inquisitive gaze, Law tenses again. Cora leaves you to join his brother's side and Law is instantly connected to you, his hand on your waist, pulling you to him. You notice his fingers digging deeper and harder than any of the times he's grabbed you, but you don't acknowledge his discomfort.

“Well, well, well…” Doflamingo’s voice is deep, commanding and imposing and you can't help the way your hairs bristle when he lets out a low chuckle. “Hello dearest nephew… and how interesting.”

What is supposed to be interesting? You hope he hasn't recognized you from any of the Vinsmokes’ events! Maybe you should have shared with Law who your ex was. It seems like it's something he should know. There’s no point in worrying about it now! You can't let your distress show, especially because Law keeps tensing up by your side, so you have to ground him.

“Good to meet you, sir.” You drawl, a bit embarrassed at the way his piercing gaze hasn't left you since the moment you arrived.

“Oh,” he chuckles again and this time looks at Law, a terrifying grin showing all his teeth. “Polite.” He nods and turns back to you, slightly raising his chin to emphasise your height difference. “Good girl.” He purrs and winks.

What?

You immediately tense up and Law squeezes your waist harder.

“Uncle Doffy, we're really tired from the trip and the car ride. We'll retire and freshen up before dinner. Then we can get to know each other, how about that?” You can sense a slight change in the tone of Law's voice. What was commanding and assertive is now strained and measured. The crease in his forehead is deep and his scowl twists his expression.

“But of course! Come on, come on kids! Let me take you to your room!” Cora takes over as some servants bring in your luggage.

Law starts to walk, dragging you with him and he brushes his lips against your temple in what's supposed to be a loving gesture. His whisper is barely audible: “Relax.” You glance behind and catch Doflamingo still tilting his head. His grin is unsettling and disconcerting and, for the first time since you agreed to do this for Law, you start to doubt yourself. “Real or not, I won't let him hurt you.”

You don't know if he means physically or mentally. Either way, you're not prepared to suffer any attempt. And the way Law says that… It's like he already knows Doflamingo will do something. And that frightens you.

Yet you take a deep breath and try to relax as Law guides you through large maze-like corridors, following Cora until you reach a big white door with golden handles. His uncle opens the door with a smile. “Ta-da!” He exclaims, opening both arms to show you the room.

You stifle a gasp and turn it into a surprised expression. Law squeezes you tighter and smiles at his uncle.

“It's the honeymoon suite for you two lovebirds!” He chuckles and scratches the back of his head. “Well, not quite, we're not a hotel, so it's not really a honeymoon suite, it's a room with some amenities like a jacuzzi in the bathroom and privacy from the other rooms so you can… you know,” He chuckles some more, “talk as loudly as you want without being heard.”

Law groans at his uncle but a tentative chuckle escapes your lips at his attempt to lighten the mood. Your amusement is short-lived, however, as you survey the room. It might be private and away from the other rooms, but it's not that big. There's a huge bed and two cushioned armchairs, a closet, a vanity and a desk. No couch. Just one bed. For both of you.

At least it's a big bed.

“Thank you, Cora. We've got it from here.” Law smiles softly at his uncle and thanks the staff who brought in your luggage. When everyone leaves, he closes the door softly, leaning against it and briefly closing his eyes.

You take a deep breath and set your purse on one of the armchairs. “Well that was intense.”

Law's chuckle starts low and quickly turns into a groan as he looks at you. “I'm sorry, but I can guarantee you he will be much more inconvenient.”

You snort and roll your eyes. “Is that even possible?”

“Trust me, it is.”

You both laugh away the tension of the meeting and, after a brief time, as you're hanging your dresses in the closet, you speak again. “Your uncle Cora is lovely.”

Law is in the bathroom emptying his bag of products on the counter. “He's amazing. He's like a father to me.”

“I could tell.” You mutter. “What are the plans for tonight?”

Law senses the slight tremble in your voice as his head peeks from the bathroom. “Oh? Why? Do you need to rehearse everything beforehand?”

A sigh escapes your lips as you close the closet door to face him. “Considering Doflamingo is breathing down our necks, perhaps it's not a bad idea?”

“It's just a family dinner. Baby 5 will come too, along with the groom. Possibly the groomsmen, bridesmaids and some of Doffy’s associates. I bailed on the last board meeting and I'm pretty sure he'll want to bore me to death with company issues. Also, I predict that Doffy will ask personal questions while Cora will want to know if and when we'll get married and if and when we're gonna have kids.”

Law joins you in the room and you smile at him. “Cora is really sweet.”

Raising an eyebrow, an amused glint dances in his gaze. “Should I be jealous?” His voice drops lower and a snicker curls your lip as a consequence of that. You're feeling bratty.

“Maybe. I do like blondes.” Law grunts, reading immediately into what you're trying to do. “And he's so tall and big. I'm sure he'd make me feel small and-...” Law takes two strides, pushing you gently and pinning you against the closet door. One of his hands rests on the closet beside your head, while the other grabs your chin tightly, tilting it up so you can meet his eyes. “Weak…” You finish your sentence, cheeks already flushed and ablaze.

Law's eyes glint with mischief, but his lips are pursed tight. He uses the hand near your head to brush your earring.

The signal.

“Do I have to remind you of who you belong to?” His voice drawls from his lips, his face is so close that you can feel his hot breath against your skin.

Your fingers graze his earring lightly to use the signal, but his low hum warns you to return your hand where it was. No teasing is allowed on your part. “I was just commenting on how handsome and charming he is. I have eyes.” You know you're playing a part, you know it's fake, but you have no audience. This is for yourselves only. And you can't help the tiny sliver of anxiety tugging at your brain, telling you to keep pushing. Push enough so you can let go.

So you can surrender. You need to surrender.

Law's eyes darken as he presses his body closer to you. You can feel his heat against you, but the fire in his eyes burns ten times hotter.

“You do, but they have to be on me all the time. You don't want to misbehave, do you, sweetheart?” His lips brush the skin of your collarbone, the hand on your chin tilts your head to the side as he nibbles your jaw, his tongue wet and teasing.

Fuck. This is what you wanted, right? Now you have to deal with it.

“You know what happens to bad girls?” His hand lowers as he traces down the middle of your breasts, trailing to your belly, dropping down some more - so close to where you want him, but you know he won’t touch - and then settles on your hip.

“What?” You whisper, dying to know, anticipation making you tremble and shiver.

Or is it his touch that's doing that?

“They don't get what they want.” His teeth graze your earlobe. “They don't get what they need.” His hand raises your dress, fingers curling the fabric as his palm settles against your thigh, eliciting a choked moan from your lips. “They don't get what they crave.” His lips hover yours and you lean forward to capture them but he moves his head back, tutting you in a disapproving manner.

“No, no, sweetheart. No kiss for you. You're being a brat.”

You swallow the lump in your throat as you squirm and press your thighs together. There's a fire burning in your belly that needs to be put out; a devastating thirst that needs quenching.

“I can beg, Law. I can be a good girl.”

Fuck, where did this come from?

The sound he makes is half-grunt, half-growl and it reverberates through his chest, making you gasp as you grab his neck, trying to pull him in for a kiss, trying to erase what your mouth said that your brain doesn't want to acknowledge. However, Law is faster, and stronger. His hands grab yours, pinning them above your head. One big hand of his is enough to hold your wrists, and he's barely using his strength.

He shows you that slightly unhinged grin of his and you mewl at the sight, biting your lower lip. That grin right there, you realise, it's your favourite. “You say one thing sweetheart, and then you do another. We can't have that, can we?”

You shake your head, your eyes pleading for your mouth. Law's free hand returns to your side, he lowers it tantalisingly slowly as his thumb brushes circles on your dress, but his fingers burn so much that it's like they're pressing directly on your skin.

“I told you that bad girls don't get rewarded.” He practically purrs against your ear. He does something sinful with his tongue on your earlobe and you close your eyes in abandon, arching your back and giving way to a wanton moan. His hand clenches your wrists tighter as his unholy tongue continues to tease you. He licks your neck and collarbone, then goes lower towards your cleavage. You can't stop the pants and gasps that escape your lips, making you tremble.

There's a pressing need in your core screaming to be filled, or touched, or teased. Something, anything! But he's adamant about not fulfilling that need.

“I promise I'll be good, Law.” You whisper. “Just…” Touch me. “Kiss me. Please!”

His lips hover over yours as he slots his knee between your legs. You fight the urge to ride his thigh, to grind your core against his taut muscles. You're pretty sure you could come undone from just that. “Is this what you want?” His breath is hot against your lips, his lips barely grazing yours.

But now you know better than to push your luck. You stay still, your eyes nearly watering from the throbbing need.

“Yes! Please.” Your whisper sounds like a prayer, but he's a relentless deity and shows it by pulling back, a smirk curling his lips.

“You don't deserve it, sweetheart. You misbehaved. I warned you.” How can he be this cool and collected while you're falling apart? A mess of quivering bones and frail muscles? His hand grabs the back of your thigh, lifting your leg easily and slotting himself against you, giving you a taste, a sliver of the friction you want - need! “Bad girls are left wanting more.”

He presses further, his hand still groping the back of your thigh, fingers spreading over it. Your mind goes blank. You can feel his length pressed against you, you didn't think he'd do it, is this pushing your boundaries? He’s not touching you. And you want him there! Besides, this is fake.

Right?

But he's doing it. And you desperately want more.

“Bad girls get teased until they can't take it any more.” He bites your lower lip, not hard enough to draw blood, but just enough to jolt you and shake your senses. “If this were real, sweetheart,” he begins, his voice huskier and raspier than ever, needier even, it seems. “I would bend you to my will and have you on the brink of exhaustion, pleads and prayers escaping your lips in mewls and moans, before I took you right here, against this closet, until you begged for release between screams and cries of desperation.”

The image he paints is so real that you almost feel yourself snap, the coil within you starts to unravel as he presses just a bit further, his lips hovering just above yours, his fingers digging into the plushness of your thighs.

“But this is not real, and you've been a very good girl so far.” As his lips finally crash against yours, a soft thrust of his hip pushes him against your clothed clit. The friction of the seams on his jeans hits you just right, and you snap without any kind of warning.

Your back arches and you moan into his kiss like never before as your body clenches and squirms, your leg wrapping around his waist, pulling him deeper into you. A freeing, warm sensation fills you, building like a flame, higher and higher and he takes it all. His tongue slides against yours, swallowing your moans as if he needs them to breathe. His hands grip you tight and he's still pressed flush against you.

It's all too much.

It's not enough.

And it's over too soon.

He parts the kiss and you're both left panting. Law doesn't meet your gaze as he removes his hands and composes your dress, pulling back slightly, while ensuring you can stand on your own. Clearly he overdid what he meant to do.

“Are you alright?” He asks, worry lacing his words as you struggle to catch your breath. You should feel embarrassed. You’re in a fake relationship and yet, here you stand, in post-orgasmic bliss wondering if he regrets what just happened. But you’re not ashamed, far from it. You feel free.

“Yes.” Your voice still comes out in shaky gasps, but your legs - though wobbly - manage to sustain you.

Law nods and clears his throat. “I'm… I'm going to take a shower, to get ready for dinner. Unless you want to go first?”

“No, no. You go. I… I need to choose what I’ll wear first and-... you go.”

He nods, turning away from you, walking towards the bathroom, his pace more erratic than usual.

What just happened?

|Chapter 6🔞|

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