#i tried to fix the top bar issue by getting rid of one of my buttons

[arcadian-vampire]

So I'm making a Neocities site :3

It's still very much a WIP-- it only really has the home page and art pages rn-- but I've been working on it for exactly two weeks :D I've been having a lot of fun with it!! Learning lots!

The top bar does get a lil chonky when viewed on narrower screens, but I'll get that figured out eventually :p

[bestiesenpai]

firsts with Gojo Satoru

Every day I’m reminded that Gojo is 6.3ft and every day I remind myself that I could still slap the shit out of him and I wouldn’t even have to reach that high. That is what brings me inner peace.

First meeting

It’s not often that the Gojo Satoru is tasked with cleaning up curses of any grade less than level 1, but sometimes while he was casually out and about he would see a few and handle them with no issue

Like the cluster of fly heads going through the street, harassing people

It takes him no time at all to get to them, a few long strides and he’s there

With a swipe of his hand, the curses are expelled, gone from the world and no longer causing havoc

“What were those things?” A curious voice asks off to the side. Lowering his sunglasses, Satoru turns to the person looking at where the curses had just been.

“What things?” He feigns ignorance and it makes you snort.

“Those flying things you just got rid of. I was watching them for a while, they were pretty annoying.” While you’re talking, Satoru is sizing you up. He can sense just a tiny bit of cursed energy coming from you, not enough to be of any use except for the ability to see curses.

Worrying his lip, Satoru debated on how much he should tell you, if anything at all. He thought you were cute, so maybe he could tell you a little bit and then lead it into another conversation...maybe get your number.

“Are you okay?” Suddenly you’re closer to him than you were before. In all his going back and forth he’d failed to see you take a few steps closer and peer at him, that curious look back in your eyes. “Try not to think too hard, mister, I wouldn’t want your pretty face to get all wrinkled now.”

Satoru actually laughs at that, his chest nearly bumping into you with how close you two are now. He even bends a little at the waist, completely caught off guard by how you, a perfect stranger, have just spoken to him.

“Ya know, that’s not the usual response I get from people.” Fixing his glasses on his head, Satoru fixes you with a smirk he knows people swoon over. “And my name’s not ‘mister’. It’s Satoru, Gojo Satoru.”

“Okay.” His smirk wavers just slightly when he realizes you’re not exactly falling into his arms, just nodding and then you’re pointing to the sky where the fly heads had been. “So Gojo, what were those things?”

First hangout

Gojo does end up telling you the truth about the flyheads and you take it better than he was expecting

He was quick to get your first and last name, maybe you were from a family of sorcerers...but you weren’t. Just a normal person who saw him expel some curses

The conversation quickly ends after he’s done explaining it to you, much to his chagrin. He’d laid on the charm thick, hoping you’d ask for his number or for an opportunity for him to ask, but none came

When he was done telling you about the curses, you gave him a brief pat on the arm, thanked him and went about your day

There was a soft smile on your face as you walked away, and the feeling of your hand still lingered on his arm

Gojo wanted to see you again, but he knew he might never

“Oh, hello Gojo.” Your voice pops up again in an unexpected place, the candy section of a local convenience store near the train station he’d just exited.

“Huh?” He turns, surprised to see you and surprised that you addressed him so casually. It was indeed you, the person he’d seen before and wanted to get to know better.

“Hm, is it not you? I don’t know anyone else that tall with white hair.” Scratching your cheek, you give him a once over.

“It is me.” He’s quick to answer before you apologize and walk away.

“Ha, knew it.” A sly grin comes on your face and Satoru grins in return, his chest tightening a little bit. Rocking on your heels, you gesture to the candy in front of you. “What’s your poison?”

“Everything.” Snorting, Satoru looks at the candy briefly, eyes scanning on all the ones he’s tried.

“Ouch, sounds like a serious sweet tooth.” Chuckling to yourself, you reach out and grab a bag of sour gummies. “These are my favorite, have you tried them?” He has and he kind of hates them, but he picks up a bag anyway and pretends to read it over.

“No, I haven’t. They’re your favorite, you say?” You nod and he holds them more securely in his hand. “Alright, I’ll get them. And this.” Snatching up a chocolate bar he knows he actually likes, Satoru walks with you to the checker and puts his items on top of yours. “I’ll pay.”

You don’t fight him on paying, thanking him with a smile and another pat on his arm. As you walk out of the shop, Satoru nearly puts his arm around your shoulder. It feels like the two of you are on a casual snack run together before going somewhere to watch a movie or something. Even though you’re a stranger, Satoru feels like you already belong together.

“Well, it was nice seeing you again.” You say, snapping him out of his delusion. “What are your plans for the day?” It’s a wonderful day in a suburb of Tokyo, near the place you’d first met. The sun is beaming but not too hot, there’s fluffy white clouds scattered around the sky and a light breeze.

“Nothing, honestly.” Shrugging his shoulder, Satoru looks up and down the street. Honestly, he did have something to do, he was supposed to meet Ijichi for a little meeting with a few other people. But if he was being honest, he’d gladly be late or even skip it entirely if it meant talking to you more.

“Really? Well if you’re into them, there’s a really good cafe just around the corner. I think you’d like it.” Oh shit, were you asking to hang out with him? Or was this more of a date? Watching you take out your phone, Satoru is confused when you pull up a GPS. “If you want, I’ll send you the address.”

Wait...what? Looking at you with clear confusion on his face, Satoru points down the street.

“Let’s go there together, since we’re already here.” Your eyes widen a fraction of an inch, but Satoru can easily see the miniscule way your face changes. Putting your phone away, you take a step down the street.

“Alright, let’s go.”

Once at the cafe, Satoru feels in heaven. It’s a space made for intimate conversations with closed off booths lining the walls and the rich dark colors decorating the space. It feels almost like a lounge instead of a cafe, but when he sees the menu and there’s no alcohol, he’s reminded of what it is.

“I like to get an earl gray and some macarons.” You tell him as you stand by the counter, looking up at the menu.

“I’m going to get that super chocolate cake.”

“That’s so much chocolate!” Chuckling, you walk up to the waiting cashier, wallet already out. “Go ahead and order, Gojo, I’ll pay.”

You don’t end up paying, actually. Gojo quickly plucked your wallet from your hands and put his money down instead. It wasn’t that he was trying to impress you by paying for everything, but he kind of was. He wanted you to know he was dependable.

Sliding into a booth, he can feel your knees knocking together, legs sliding between one another as you get comfortable. With the light from the window illuminating you, Satoru wished he could take a picture of you.

“Let me know how you like it.” Taking a sip of your tea, you watch him expectantly. Not one to disappoint an audience, Satoru takes a bite of the cake and lets out a pleased hum.

“(Y/N), this is great.” He practically moans, eagerly taking another bite.

“Knew you would like it.” You’ve got a silly smile spreading your cheeks wide, and Satoru lifts his hand up, wanting to pinch your cheek.

“You’ve got good taste.” He says instead, putting his elbow on the table to cover up his attempt at trying to touch your face. “I really like it here.”

You’re a very big reason why he likes it there.

First date

Gojo makes sure to get your number after that, he refuses to miss an opportunity like that

He can’t risk the possibility of just ‘maybe’ running into you again, he needs to insert himself into your life more than just chance run-ins

Gojo is a great texter, you’ll learn that quickly. He messages you back promptly, having riveting conversations with each other and sometimes calling on the phone as well

Whenever his phone goes off and it’s not you he automatically deflates, and has on more than one occasion answered the phone and opened up the conversation with ‘you’re not (Y/N), but I guess I have time to talk’ with a big dramatic sigh after

He asks you out the second he has a free day, just begging and hoping you’re also available

And with his oh so good luck, you are!

“How’d I know you’d pick an arcade?” You chuckle as you approach his waiting figure outside the building. Satoru is dressed nicely, but not too much. A smart bomber jacket with a plain black shirt underneath and jeans, not overdressed but more put together than his everyday look. And of course, his signature glasses.

“I have to show you I’m the best at everything.” Opening the door for you, he’s eager to get started on playing some games. “(Y/N), wander around and see what you wanna do first, I’ll exchange some money.”

“Okay.” You’ve given up on trying to pay for things when Satoru is around, he will adamantly refuse. Wandering around the arcade floor between the different machines, your eyes settle on a claw machine, a cute Pikachu plush just sitting there waiting for you.

“Gojo.” You’re bouncing on your heels watching him exchange money, and as soon as he collects all the coins you grab him by the hand and bring him to the claw machine. A light pink tinge paints his cheeks and he doesn’t look away from your hands connected together until you let go and tap on the glass. “Look at this plush! It needs me.”

“Here, try for it.” Putting a generous amount of coins in the machine, Satoru stands next to you and watches as you try to pick it up with the claw several times but fail. The plush doesn’t move at all with any of your attempts, making a frustrated whine leave the back of your throat.

“Pikachu, I love you.” You say, dramatically putting a hand on your heart and looking at the plush.

“Let me try, I’ll get it.” Confidently stepping up to the controller, Satoru smirks and taps the glass. “I’ll get the little guy real easy.”

“Mhmm, whatever you say.” Rolling your eyes, you stand close to him, eyes watching keenly as the claw moves. Grabbing onto the plush, Satoru manages to move it a good few inches towards the opening. “Satoru!” You gasp, grabbing onto his arm as he moves the plush again and it nearly falls in. His cheeks tinge a little when you say his first name.

“Told you.” He could feel himself getting distracted with the way both of your hands are now clinging to his arm, practically hugging it to your body. It only takes two more tries before the plush falls into the opening and the machine lets out a victory noise.

“Awesome!” You’re so excited that you jump a little bit in joy and actually do hug his arm tightly before letting go. Putting the plush in your hands, Satoru watches as you cutely squish it with your hands and smile.

“What other plush do you want? I’ll win them all.”

He did indeed win all the plushies and toys you wanted. He always let you try first, wanting to see if you could do it on your own, but more often than not he proved the title ‘best at everything’ wasn’t just for show.

Moving on from the claw games, you played the other arcade games around. Mario kart, random rhythm games and even scary shooters, Satoru played them all with you. Sometimes he let you win, other times he completely destroyed you. And when something scared you, he was always there to put an arm around your shoulder and protect you.

First confession

You spend far too many hours in the arcade, playing game after game and accumulating an obscene amount of claw game prizes

Gojo doesn’t joke around damnit!

He also forces Ijichi to come and drive you home lol and he sits in the backseat with you, holding your hand and playing with your fingers while you make friendly conversation with Ijichi

Carrying the bag full of plushies to your door, Gojo sets them in the threshold of your apartment before looking back at you

The open door is like a void just begging for Satoru to step into. The soft overhead light you’d flicked on was enough to illuminate a little more of your apartment, and from what Satoru could see it was nicely decorated and smelled like flowers.

“I had a lot of fun tonight.” Biting your lip, you look at him for just a moment before looking away again, rocking back and forth on your feet bashfully.

“I did too.” Satoru means it, he’s already planning the next date in his head and the best way to shove his responsibilities onto others so his schedule opens up. Grabbing your hand, he laces your fingers together and holds it up to his chest. “I hope I can see you again soon. I really like you (Y/N).”

“I like you a lot too.” You’re too embarrassed to say anything more, continuing to bite your lip and letting Satoru squeeze your hand. Slowly, the two of you shuffle closer to each other, and Satoru brushes the tips of his fingers along your face, subtly tilting it up so he can kiss you.

Just as he gets close enough to feel your breath, a sharp baby's cry sounds from the apartment next to yours and it makes you jump. There’s shuffling inside and then the door is thrown open and a tired looking man in old sweats comes running out.

“Oh, hi (Y/N)!”

“Hi Mr. Yoo. What’re you doing out?” Turning to him, you try to play off the fact that you were just caught almost kissing in front of your door.

“I realized we’re all out of diapers! I have to go get some stat.” He barely pays Satoru any attention, quickly rushing off with a brief goodbye.

Now the moment had been ruined, you were too far now and you’d pulled your hands away when the door was opened. Stepping into your apartment, you give a lingering look at Satoru’s lips before meeting his eyes.

“Text me when you get home.” You say, and with a soft goodbye you close the door and Satoru leaves.

First kiss

Getting blue balled by a baby was definitely not in Gojos five year plan

He literally can’t wait until you see each other again, he’s obsessing about kissing you

Applies lip balm like it’s the only thing keeping him alive, the man would rather swallow a jean jacket than have you kiss dry lips

Any amount of time apart from you is painful and it’s only made worse when his schedule becomes full, too tightly packed to move anything around

He’s keeping up with you through text and calls but it’s not enough for him, and he lets you know almost every time you call that he wants to be with you, be able to physically touch you and see you

When there’s a little festival in Tokyo and Nobara and Itadori are begging to go, Gojo uses it as a chance to see you again

“Hi everyone!” You’re very excited to meet Satoru’s students. He hadn’t told you he was a teacher, all he said was he exorcised curses.

“Hi!” Itadori is excited to meet you, Nobara is excited to see who’s been taking up all of her teacher's time and Fushiguro is just there, curious about you but too aloof to ask any questions.

“So I take it Satoru teaches you guys how to get rid of those curses and stuff, huh?” Your question floored them, and even Fushiguro was looking at you with wide eyes.

“(Y/N) can see curses.” Satoru steps in, putting an arm around your shoulders.

“Yeah, I guess I can see a little bit of cursed energy.” Nobara mutters. Truthfully, they were all too busy asking you questions and looking at how pretty you were to notice cursed energy.

“You guys are really brave! Some of those curses are really scary.” Shivering as you recall one you’d seen recently(and texted Satoru about), you point toward the festival stalls. “But you guys probably don’t wanna talk about work, huh? Let’s go get some food, I’ll pay.”

“Sorry (Y/N), we’re under strict orders not to accept your money.” Making an X with his arms, he and Nobara shook their heads.

“Satoru!” Slapping his chest playfully, you start to walk through the festival. “Let me pay for something, you’re gonna go broke at this rate!”

“Nope, not happening.” Keeping you close to him, Satoru makes sure you don’t pay for a single thing. He’d purposefully brought a lot of cash to this knowing that the kids would go absolutely crazy - and that he wanted to spoil you some more to make up for his absence.

As the night progresses, the students get more and more distant. Satoru had briefed them on the way that it was purely a date between you and him and that they were just tagging along and not to stick around for too long.

“This snow ice is so good!” At a more secluded spot at the festival, you and Satoru find a bench to sit at and enjoy the frozen treat he’d bought.

“Feed me.” Opening his mouth, Satoru sticks his tongue out obnoxiously while waiting for you.

“You’re gonna drool on yourself.” You laugh, quickly scooping some up and putting it in his mouth. Holding your hand, Satoru lets the ice fully dissolve before pulling the spoon out. He wants to make a teasing sexual comment, but a loud boom sounds in the sky before he can.

“Fireworks.” He whispers, looking up at the sky as it’s illuminated with bright flashes of light. You let out a noise in awe of the display, and Satoru is suddenly staring right at you. Looking at the way your eyes reflect the light, he can’t stop himself from leaning forward.

“Sa-” Turning your head at the same time he’s about to kiss your cheek, your lips connect. You gasp, and if Satoru hadn’t also been holding onto the snow ice it would have fallen from your hand.

He doesn’t miss an opportunity though, pressing firmly on your lips and tilting his head a little. Your eyes flutter closed, and you pull away for a brief moment to lick your lips before going back in. The sound of fireworks continue to boom above you, continuing to flash light across your closed eyes. It all adds to the experience of kissing Satoru.

“You taste so sweet.” He says when you pull away to breathe, keeping his face close enough that he can rub his nose against yours.

“Shut up.” Satoru can practically feel the heat radiating off your face and it makes him chuckle. Giving you another kiss, he pulls away when the fireworks stop going off. The smile you have on your face warms his heart, his cheeks a light red color to show for it.

“Looks like we’ll need more ice.” Holding up the melting treat, a little pout settles on your lips and Satoru audibly coos.

“I’ll be right back.” Shooting up from the bench, he nearly runs to the stall, already hurting from being apart and eager to get back to you.

[idrellegames]

So I had a coding question that I've been trying to find the answer for, for a while. I've tried searching up information online and such but haven't been able to find anything.

I was wondering though how exactly someone would go about creating a main menu screen with the whole being able to create a new game, load one or change the settings? Like I said I've tried searching it up but haven't been able to find anything except for information on creating a transition screen.

You’re going to need an understanding of CSS for this, but I’ll do my best to walk you through it, alongside some basic functions of the UIBar and UI APIs. Also, like pretty much anything to do with coding, there is more than one way to do something (and there may be a more efficient/effective way than mine).

Like all of my tutorials, this is written for SugarCube 2.34.1. Since this one mainly deals with CSS, I’m sure you could adapt it to another format, but I’m not familiar enough with Harlowe, Snowman and Chapbook to add specifics.

Additionally, I use the Twine 2 editor version 2.2.1. This tutorial can be used with later versions; some of my example images may look not look exactly like what you have because later versions of the editor launch test files in your default browser (the 2.2.1 version creates its own mini-browser).

Making a Main Menu Page

Step 1: Hiding the UI Bar

If you want a clear main menu page without the UI bar, you can hide it in several ways.

<<run UIBar.destroy();>>

This will remove the UI bar completely from your game. Not recommended unless you have an alternative way of adding access to the Save, Settings and Restart functions.

<<run UIBar.stow();>>

This stows the UI bar. It will still be partially visible on the side and the player can interact with it to open it. The UI bar can be unstowed manually (without needing the player to do it themselves) on the next passage with:

<<run UIBar.unstow();>>

If you don’t want the UI bar to show up on your main menu, but you want to have access to it later, you can use:

<<run UIBar.hide();>>

To bring it back, you will have to use the following on the passage where you want the player to have access to it.

<<UIBar.show();>>

You may want to use the stow/hide and unstow/show functions together. Hiding the UI bar only makes it invisible; it will still take up space on the left-hand side of your game. Stowing and hiding it makes it a little more even.

To use them together, you can do this:

On the passage you don’t want the UI bar:

<<run UIBar.stow();>><<run UIBar.hide();>>

On the passage you where you want to restore the UI bar:

<<run UIBar.unstow();>><<run UIBar.show();>>

TIP 1: Using <<run UIBar.stow (true)>> gets rid of the slide animation as the UI bar collapses/restores, so you may want to use this so you don’t have any weird animations when you menu passage loads.

TIP 2: If you main menu is the first passage of your game, you can run the scripts for storing and hiding the UI bar in your StoryInit passage and it will run it when your game loads.

TIP 3: You can also use the Config API to have the menu bar be stowed automatically when your game starts.

Pop this code into your Javascript:

Config.ui.stowBarInitially = true;

However, if you have any links that navigate back to the main menu without restarting the game, the UI bar will be in whatever state the player left it in last. If you can only access the main menu by launching the game or hitting restart, don't worry about this.

If you want to double-check the SugarCube documentation for these functions, see here.

Step 2: Tagged Stylesheets

If you want to create a menu page that has a different appearance to your game’s default look, you can do so by using a tagged stylesheets. When using a tagged stylesheet, every passage with the same tag will have its appearance overridden to match what you’ve adjusted in your Story Stylesheet.

Let’s make one called main-menu. You can tag passages like so:

You can also tag the passage a different colour to make it special passages like this one stand out.

Step 3: Adding CSS

Now that the passage is tagged, you need to add a new CSS class to your stylesheet to change its appearance.

To change the appearance, you need to decide which selectors to target and what about them you want to change. Every default SugarCube game has the same set of selectors (you can find them here in the documentation). The most important ones are:

body – the body of the page. You can use this to change the foreground and background colours.

.passages – the element that contains your game’s main text. This is where you can change things like the colour that displays behind your game’s text, the font family, line height, letter spacing, all that stuff.

For the sake of this example, I am going to use the default SugarCube stylesheet and edit it from the ground up. You can find the code for SugarCube’s built-in stylesheets here.

In your stylesheet, you will want to use the tag you created earlier as the new class name.

.main-menu

Put this with the selectors you are going to change.

Let’s start with the body.

body.main-menu { color: #fff; background-color: #000; overflow: auto; }

The color property controls the colour of the font. Here I’ve set it to the hex code #fff and the background-color #000.

So now I have a black page when I start the main menu passage, and thanks to the code for the UI bar I put in earlier, the UI bar is gone.

Adding a Background

Now, we might want to spice up the background with an image to make it more interesting.

To add an image to the background, you need to use the background-image property.

body.main-menu { color: #fff; background-color: #000; background-image: url("images/main-menu.jpg"); background-attachment: fixed; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: cover; -webkit-background-size: cover; -moz-background-size: cover; -o-background-size: cover; background-position: center center; overflow: auto; }

You can read more about the different background properties and what they do here on W3Schools, but the code above will center your background image in the middle of the page and also make sure that it covers the entire container.

IMPORTANT: If you intend to upload your game as a ZIP file containing a .index HTML file (this is recommended if you have a lot of image assets or don’t want to link to an outside host, like imgur), you will need to use relative paths with any image URLs in your game.

Relative paths mean that the file is relative to the directory it’s in. In the example above, you can see that the background URL is "images/main-menu.jpg". This means that when the file is uploaded to itch.io, it will find the file—main-menu.jpg—inside the images folder, regardless of where the images folder is located.

For reference, this is what my game assets folder looks like for Wayfarer:

Relative paths are different than an absolute path, which begins with the drive letter. For example, the main-menu.png may be stored on my personal computer in a path like this one: C:/game/images/main-menu.jpg.

If I use this absolute path in the game, the image asset will not show up for players once it’s uploaded to itch because the image is not hosted on the player’s device in C:/game/images/main-menu.jpg.

This can cause some finnicky issues with the Twine 2 editor because the editor cannot find and display images from relative paths (unless you’ve put the editor in the same directory as the one you’re storing your assets in; I haven’t bothered to try this, so I’m not sure).

While working on your game in the Twine editor, you may need to use an absolute path to see what your asset looks like while you're editing. When it comes time to publish, make sure you switch it back to a relative path, otherwise the image will not load for players.

Step 4: Adding & Styling Links

Now that we have a background, we’ll want to tackle the links themselves.

Adding Links

You can link to the starting passage of your game using your preferred method—the [[ ]] link markup, the <<link>> macro, etc.

But for Saves and Settings (and also a Resume Game link, if you’re using the autosave feature), you’ll need to manually call the functions for accessing those dialogs. You can do that with this code here:

This will add a Load Game link that opens the Saves dialog when clicked.

<<link 'LOAD GAME'>><<run UI.saves();>><</link>>

This will add a Settings link that opens the Settings dialog when clicked.

<<link 'SETTINGS'>><<run UI.settings();>><</link>>

This will add a Resume Game link that loads the player’s last autosave.

<<link 'RESUME GAME'>><<run Save.autosave.load()>><</link>>

TIP: To enable autosaves on your game, add this code to your Story Javascript:

Config.saves.autosave = true;

This will autosave on every passage.

Config.saves.autosave = ["bookmark", "autosave"];

This will autosave on passages tagged bookmark or autosave.

Styling Your Game Title & Links

So this is where you can get get fancy with your CSS. For now, we’re going to keep everything within the .passage element (which is where any text inputting into the editor goes), but I will show you how to move the links and title to wherever you want further down.

Importing Fonts

First, go font shopping.

Google fonts has a very large library of free-to-use fonts that you can import directly into your game via your Story Stylesheet. After you browser Google fonts for the fonts you want to use, scroll down to the Use on Web section and click @import. Google will automatically generate the code you need to import the fonts you want to use.

Ignore the <style> </style> and copy everything else inside it and paste it in the top of your Story Stylesheet.

For this example, mine looks like this:

@import url('https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Almendra+Display&family=Nova+Cut&display=swap');

TIP: If you are importing fonts that a bold weight and italics available and intend to use bold and italics, make sure you import the bold weight and the italic versions of the font as well as the regular one. This will stop your fonts from having weird printing issues when you use bold and italics (especially on non-Chromium browsers like Firefox).

Below the import button, Google will show you the CSS rules for each font family. Keep these in mind, you’ll need them later. Mine, for this example, are like this:

font-family: 'Almendra Display', cursive; font-family: 'Nova Cut', cursive;

Basic Styling

In your stylesheet, you’ll want to target the .passage element with the .main-menu class.

.passage.main-menu { background-color: transparent; font-family: 'Nova Cut', cursive; font-size: 3.5em; text-align: center; }

Make sure there isn’t a space between .passage and .main-menu, otherwise it won’t work!

Here, I’ve changed a few properties.

font-family – this changes the font to Nova Cut

font-size – this changes the font size. I’ve used the unit em, which is relative to the element size (you can read more about CSS Units here)

text-align – this centers the text to the middle of the .passage element

I have also added:

background-color: transparent;

This makes the passage background transparent so you can see the background image. This is only necessary if you’ve added a background-color to your default passages.

Now, for the links.

Links have their own separate selector.

a means is the link as it usually displays

a:hover is the link when the player hovers their cursor over it.

It's generally a good idea to use different colours on the links—one for the normal display, one for the hover—so the player can visually see that they are hovering over a clickable link. If you don't want to use different colours, you should consider using some other visual cue to make that differentiation.

.passage.main-menu a { font-family: 'Nova Cut', cursive; color: #C57C25; text-decoration: none; }

.passage.main-menu a:hover { font-family: 'Nova Cut', cursive; color: #dcb07c; text-decoration: none; }

I’ve added an additional property here:

text-decoration: none.

This gets rid of the underline that happens on all default links in the default SugarCube stylesheet. Currently, this only targets the links on passages tagged main-menu; if you want to get rid of the text-decoration on all links, you can change the styling of your links like so:

a:hover { text-decoration: none; }

Choosing Colours

If you’re not sure where to start when it comes to picking hex codes, color-hex.com is a really helpful site. It gives you related tints and shades of for every hex code, which makes it a lot easier to find colours that are slightly darker or slightly lighter than your base hex code.

For choosing colours initially, there are plenty of hex code colour palette generators available online. One of my favourites is the one on Canva, which lets you upload an image and then it creates a colour palette from there. You might not want to use the exact colours it pulls, but checking the colours on color-hex can help you narrow down something that works for your aesthetics.

This is what our template now looks like:

Giving the Title a Unique Style

Right now, the title is styled by the .passage.main-menu selector and it’s default font size and font type is the same as the links below it.

If you want to style it differently, you can make a new class for it. In this case, I’m going to drop the .passage.main-menu and make a class called .game-title.

.game-title { font-family: 'Almendra Display', cursive; color: #ca893a; line-height: 1.0; font-size: 1.8em; text-shadow: 1px 1px #dcb07c; }

Because the font I selected didn’t come with a bold version, I cheated a bit a used the text-shadow property to bulk it up. I also had to adjust the line height. SugarCube’s default .passage styling gives everything a line height of 1.75 and there was too much space once the new font family and font size were applied.

To add this styling to your title, go into your main menu passage and wrap your game’s title in a span, like so:

<span class="game-title">GENERIC FANTASY GAME</span>

It now appears like this:

TIP: If you want to play around with your appearance, you can use your browser’s Inspect tool to see the page’s CSS and play around/edit it. Either right click and hit Inspect or hit CTRL + SHIFT + I to open the Inspect tool. Once opened, you can go in and adjust things. If you make and a change and like it, remember to copy the code over to your stylesheet before you close the inspect tool.

Placing a Title & Links Outside the .passage element

If you want your game title and menu links to be elsewhere on the page, you’re going to need re-write some of your CSS and add some additional CSS.

The first thing is that you’ll want to remove the styling from .passage.main-menu. I’ve left background-color to transparent, but you’re not going to be using this to style your game title and menu links.

.passage.main-menu { background-color: transparent; }

For the title:

I’ve created two elements, one called .main-title and one called .main-title-item.

.main-title creates a container that will hold the title. This is what I use to tell it where on the page to appear.

.main-title { display: block; justify-content: space-evenly; position: absolute; top: 10%; left: 4%; }

.main-title-item styles the actual text.

.main-title-item { font-family: 'Almendra Display', cursive; text-transform: uppercase; font-weight: normal; font-size: 6.5em; line-height: 1.0; text-align: left; color: #cf944d; text-shadow: 1px 1px #cf944d; }

To apply this to the game title, go back to the main menu passage and apply your new elements to the game’s title:

<div class="main-title"><span class="main-title-item">GENERIC FANTASY GAME</span></div>

For the menu links:

Here, we’ll do something really similar—a container to hold the links and a separate element to style them.

.subtitle { display: block; flex-wrap: wrap; flex-direction: column; width: 60%; justify-content: space-evenly; position: absolute; top: 46%; left: 8%; }

.subtitle-item a { font-family: 'Nova Cut', cursive; font-weight: normal; font-size: 3.5em; text-align: left; color: #cf944d; line-height: 1.3em; }

.subtitle-item a:hover { font-family: 'Nova Cut', cursive; font-weight: normal; font-size: 3.5em; text-align: left; color: #dcb07c; text-decoration: none; }

Go back to your main menu passage and apply the elements. Because all of the menu links will be in the same box, you only need to open/close the .subtitle element once.

<div class="subtitle"><span class="subtitle-item">[[NEW GAME]]</span>

<span class="subtitle-item"><<link 'LOAD GAME'>><<run UI.saves();>><</link>></span>

<span class="subtitle-item"><<link 'RESUME GAME'>><<run Save.autosave.load()>><</link>></span>

<span class="subtitle-item"><<link 'SETTINGS'>><<run UI.settings();>><</link>></span></div>

If you want to change where the title and menu links appear, you can use the Inspect tool to figure out different percentages and spacing until you find something that works for you.

There are a lot more things you can add (like animations that appear when you hover your cursor on the link), but I’ll leave it there for now.

Additionally, if you intend to make your game mobile compatible, you’ll want to read up on media queries and learn how to adjust font sizes and any other units of measurement for different viewports. This is how you shrink things appropriate to fit on small screens.

I hope this helps! If you have any questions, please let me know. I’m still a newbie at CSS (so I’m sure there are ways of doing things more effectively), but these are some of the things that I have helped me along the way.

[youarejesting]

Hope in the sheets.7

[Masterlist]

Beta: N/A Pairing: Hoseok x Reader Genre: Friendship, Comedy, Soft boy, Fluff, SMUT, Friends2Lovers, Words: 4.4k

Summary: You held many titles: his neighbor, colleague, wing-man… well, more likely a wing-woman, yet most importantly, you were his best friend. You had been friends since you were born. Between the two of you, you were younger; barely, but he never let you forget it. He always seemed to ruffle your hair and tease you, which could get rather annoying but he made up for it by treating you to things.

What if a drunken one night stand between you and your best friend Hoseok leads to more complicated situations? Your reckless twenties are cut short as you find yourself suddenly responsible for something a little more.

Warning: mentions a sex tape, mentions a birth tape

[First] [Previous] [Masterlist] [Next]

 “Ah! Ah! Ah!” This videotape felt dirty, Hoseok wasn’t sure why, but he was sweaty, his heart raced, as he tried to look anywhere but at the screen. The woman on the video kept making noises and heaven forbid he look between her legs. Was it warm in here or was it just him?

“As you can see the birth canal opens up wide to let the babies head come down and out and the shoulder here is the widest part, so you have to be careful to listen to your body otherwise you may tear, so here we go these are the final pushes and then the baby will slip out—”

“Hoseok, Hoseok wake up!” You called alarmed, Hoseok opened his eyes to see you and the birth class instructor standing over him.

“Don’t worry love, there is always one in every class who faints” The woman handed over some ice, “Put this behind his neck it will help slow his heart rate, nerves sometimes get the better of the soon to be dads”

Sitting up Hoseok sat up a little embarrassed, “sorry, I didn’t mean to faint”

“No, Hobi, it’s okay I feel nauseous as hell after that video too.  That looks scary as hell I don’t think I can do it” you whined. “This class traumatized me more than it helped, and what do we get a couple of cookies and some watered down juice. 

“You are so strong and I think you can do it?” Hoseok tried to reassure you and you scoffed. 

“If you're so confident you push the baby out.” Hoseok paled again swaying on the spot and you laid him back down. “You are properly scared aren’t you?”

“I am horrified,” he laughed, “I am a big chicken”

“Honestly, I am scared too but I don’t get a choice Hobi, this baby is inside me and it has to get out somehow." you shiver after confessing the fear that had been building in the back of your mind. “If I wasn’t afraid of surgery I would install the old side door”

The gesture of a flat hand across your stomach made Hoseok smile sadly. He took your hands in his. 

“I’m sorry that you have been dreading this. I will try to be someone who can eliminate your fears, little darling momma” he kissed your head. The instructor called everyone back to the mats and began explaining how to wash a baby and how to hold a baby for the first time. 

It was a fun class but you were happy to get home and rest, biding Hoseok good night. He went quickly to his house where Jimin was sitting waiting for him with a hanging clothes bag. 

“What were you so busy doing that I had to pick up your dry cleaning?”

“Y/n’s birthing class” Hoseok's face turned grave as he adopted a serious tone. “Jimin, don’t ever go to a birthing class. I don’t think I can unsee what I saw.”

“Haha, I’m not that silly, I know where babies come from. I am glad I am a man who likes men, so I will never step foot in a birthing class unless you pay me a large fortune. I mean I could watch someone give birth for money."

Hoseok shivered, making Jimin laugh at his expense. “You look pale, so let's change the subject. I bought Yoongi's old van. He sold it for some new equipment. That means I can get rid of the junk van I was driving before.”

“Can I have your old van?” Hoseok jumped on the opportunity. 

“Uh sure, but I think it’s more money than it’s worth, you can have it for free because it needs new everything.” He shrugged “I was just going to make it scrapped metal”

“Yeah I can fix it up, I got some money lying around.” Hoseok yawned, “anyway thank you so much for getting my suit. I have my first day of work tomorrow, so I should go to bed early”

“Alright, but tomorrow night celebratory drinks for your first day?” Jimin clutched his shoulder. 

“Of course,” Hoseok laughed, waving goodbye and carrying the suit to his apartment. 

“Hey man, how was your day?” Jimin shouted from his newly acquired van from Yoongi. “Get in, we can celebrate tonight” 

Jimin drove Hoseok home under strict orders to grab a nice change of clothes so the two could get ready at his house and go out celebrating Hoseok’s new job. Hoseok took the stairs two at a time leading to his apartment, his hand brushing past your old door. He missed you. He missed having you at his work, at his home, at his leisure. You two were inseparable and yet torn apart by the stages of life.

Hoseok had assumed you both would be single and somewhere in your mid-thirties you would just get married to one another for convenience. He grabbed some clothes and found the blacklight outfit you had bought for him, he pushed it aside trying to move on for just a moment. 

Instead, he grabbed a classic black button-up and a pair of black dress pants. He placed the items in a bag and headed back down to Jimin waiting excitedly in the driver's seat. He drove them across town singing along to the radio and pulled into the driveway of a beautiful home. Jimin was a sugar baby and so he accumulated a lot of money with ease.

Jimin picked up the package by his doorstep curiously and read the name, his face broke out into a smile. Opening the box he found a beautiful pair of earrings. Hoseok paused, knowing Jimin had been talking about these types of earrings for a long time, but these ones looked handmade and a little cheap, not from a brand-name store like most of Jimin’s other clients would buy.

“They are so cute,” Jimin smiled, lifting the note, reading it aloud. “I don’t have money, so I don’t ask for much, it would just be a waste of your time. Even with this, I still want you to know that I think you are really sweet the way you always help others and never forget to share compliments to those who catch your eye. I will never forget how kind and funny, you are especially at work. The way you run your fingers through your hair unconsciously, how you pout when you think, the way you can glide across the dance floor with drinks without spilling anything. You disappear behind the bar with the cutest laugh and I am completely in love with you.”

“You have an admirer,” Hoseok looked over his shoulder at the letter before asking, “I wonder who it is?”

“I am not sure who it could be?” Jimin frowned, taking the box into a spare room filled with gifts. “They seem really nice”

Once the letter was placed carefully in the room, Jimin stepped out and decided to get dressed for the night. He paused in the doorway walking back and taking the earrings. “Even though they are cheap I think I should at least wear them.”

The two got changed and Jimin posed, “take a picture of me looking over my shoulder, so I can post a picture of the earrings on my Insta”

Hoseok picked up his phone and stepped behind Jimin, ready to take the picture of Jimin’s bare shoulder, earring, and side profile. He stopped when his phone came up with the stupid storage message.

Storage full!

You can free up space on this phone by managing your storage in settings.

“I can’t take a picture,” Hoseok sighed. “My phone storage is full”

“It’s okay, I should put on a bit of makeup to make the picture really pretty. While I do that, use my computer to plug it in and delete stuff. You can save the rest onto a USB, which you will find in the top draw. The USBs should be empty.

Hoseok watched Jimin stroll into the bathroom and thought he might as well take care of this storage issue on the phone. Plugging the device in, Hoseok began going through and deleting memes and stupid screenshots he no longer needed. He went through saving many photos of you, and videos the two of you shared together.

That's when he came across the picture of the two of you dressed in your black light outfits. Both of you looking happy together in the mirror. Hoseok saved the photo to the USB. The next was a blurry picture on the dance floor, he didn’t need that.

Deleting a range of blurred photos, Hoseok kept swiping through them until he came across a video of you and Hoseok walking home. He heard you giggling and unconsciously smiled. He honestly was so in love with you.

There were a few more blurred videos and then there was a video of you two laying in Hoseok’s bed. His heart started to race as he watched you lean down and kiss him in the video. Hoseok couldn’t remember any of this.

The next video was of you removing your dress but it continued, sometimes the phone was just left on the bed face down, at other points, it was lifted and Hoseok heard himself talking as he pointed the camera at you underneath him. “I love you.” He had filmed you while you two were having sex, “I love being inside of you too.”

Hoseok felt a little guilty, while you two were drunk he took a video of you both, not only that but he felt as if he took advantage of you. The next video was taken from behind and Hoseok felt ashamed of himself for the stirring in his pants. 

“Are you watching porn?” Jimin laughed from the next room, confused as Hoseok switched to the next video. The two of you were cuddling on your side, Hoseok being the big spoon. 

Hoseok's face fell. What had he just watched? His head was reeling with so many thoughts that he couldn’t process them fast enough. He understood that it was you in the video, and you were with him. It was that night. Were you his dream girl? “I slept with Y/n?” He blurted and like being hit with a truck he came to a shocking revelation. Hoseok shot to his feet and spoke out loud hoping it would help him make sense of the situation, “Am I, I think, I might be the father?”

“Oh, Finally!” Jimin shouted, his voice carrying into the office. “I have been waiting for you to figure it all out”

“What do you mean?” Hoseok said his stomach was feeling sick, he didn’t know if he wanted to vomit or cry. The betrayal setting in, “How did you know? DID SHE KNOW?”

Jimin stepped into the room, his lips pressed together in a thin line, with a look of pity on his face confirming Hoseok's suspicion. Hoseok got up, his eyes flashing around the room in a panic. He pushed past Jimin and grabbed the old set of keys from the countertop. Hoseok escaped and drove fast. He didn’t have a destination in mind but after a few minutes of driving he ended up at a park by Han River.

Shutting off the engine, Hoseok let his hands fall from the wheel, his head resting back against the seat, letting out a loud guttural shout. He let the tears fall freely as his sobs racked his body, every breath catching in his throat as if he was choking. 

Hoseok wanted to scream, he wanted answers. They all knew. You knew. He thought he was your best friend, someone he trusted with all his secrets, and yet you kept something this big from him. The sick feeling in his stomach grew as did his anger and frustration with the situation.

How long were you going to keep this from him? When the baby was born? When the child was eighteen? Never? He had a right to know but all he wanted to know was why. 

He left the vehicle, his phone ringing with your number but he turned it off. He walked to the nearest bar somewhere dark and quiet and he drank until he couldn’t see his hands. 

“Hey mate you have to go, come on get up.” The bartender said, nudging him with an exaggerated sigh, “Mate can I call someone to come get you?”

“No one, my best friend is a liar, she is pregnant and didn’t even tell me it is my child,” Hoseok mumbled into the table. The bartender sighed again reaching into his pocket, “Who do you want me to call mate?”

“No need to call, I will go,” he said, pulling out his keys only to have them snatched from his hand. Hoseok turned to see Yoongi grabbing Hoseok’s things and thanking the bartender. “What do you want?”

“I got a distressed call from Y/n she is hysterical, I have checked in every bar and searched the nearby streets for Jimin’s old van. Yoongi threw the keys to Jimin who was waiting by the abandoned van and Yoongi scooped Hoseok inside.

Hoseok woke as Yoongi turned the key in the ignition they were headed for his home, but Hoseok had other plans. “You knew didn’t you?” Hoseok growled, “Take me to her."

“Not in this state?” Yoongi said definitely. “You are going to sober up, and then tomorrow you can speak with her.”

“You take me there right now, or I will get out of this car and go there myself!” Hoseok demanded, attempting to remove his seatbelt.

“Alright, alright sit down, I will take you to see her, but if you raise your voice at her I will knock you out and drag you back to your apartment." Yoongi turned to Hoseok with a menacing glare. "Do you understand?”

He nodded needing answers and he wasn't going to stop until you gave them to him. They pulled up outside your home and as he walked to the door he felt as if his legs were weak, ready to give way. He knocked with shaking hands.

He didn’t have to wait long for you to pull open the door eyes pink and swollen from your own tears.

"Hobi, I-" 

"Please don’t talk, you had your chance. This whole time, and you didn’t… You didn’t tell me, little darling.” His voice cracked as he held up a hand to stop you, “it’s my turn to talk, you can listen to me.”

He watched you wipe the tears away, he wanted to comfort you, you were his closest friend. He loved you so much and couldn’t bear to see you upset. “You knew we had sex, you knew what we did and you hid that from me, you fell pregnant and you hid that from me?”

“I told you when I lost my virginity, I told you when I scratched my dad’s car, I told you when I took money from my fathers wallet, or when I stole your homework. I told you when I was moving from home, I told you everything good and bad.” Hoseok pulled out the phone and played the video, the sounds of you two together filling the air. “But you couldn’t tell me, your best friend, that we did this? That I might be the father of this baby?”

“Hobi, I wanted to tell you I was-” Your tears were relentless and it looked like the weight of the world was crushing you with guilt. You looked lost, he knew there must be so much you wanted to say and explain but the words escaped you. All you could think to do was apologize, like some sort of animatronic doll with one function.

“Wanted to tell me isn’t telling me,” he frowned. “Say it, is this baby mine?”

“Yes, you are the father?” You whimpered, holding your stomach. Hoseok didn’t feel better. He didn’t feel better confronting you or getting the truth. He didn’t feel better watching you cry. “I didn’t want to ruin our friendship. You are all I have Hobi, and I love you.”

“I thought I loved you too. I thought I really truly loved you, that even though I wasn’t the father, I would step in if I could. It turns out the woman I fell in love with is nothing but a liar.” Hoseok turned away unable to see your face contort in pain from the words he was saying, “I am disappointed in you. You said you wanted to grow up, but this is so immature”

Demanding to leave, Yoongi took Hoseok and headed to the van once more, hoping that the two of you could rebuild your relationship. It was painfully obvious that you both were painfully in love, so much so, that it was breaking your hearts more to fight with one another, than over whatever the fight was about.

You had spent the rest of the night crying until pure exhaustion took over your body and you fell asleep. No matter how many times you texted or called you got no response. You had left almost fifteen voicemails before you became too hysterical to speak. You were emotional and trying your hardest not to break down long enough for you to think things through. 

It took four days and sitting in the bottom of the shower for ten minutes before you came to a decision. Even before Hoseok knew he was the father, you had planned to do it on your own. You weren't weak and you knew for certain that you would be okay. You had planned to raise this child as a single mother, you had hoped to tell Hoseok before all this happened, but you had planned for it just in case something like this did happen.

You could do this without Hoseok, but that didn't mean it didn't hurt, that you weren't mourning the relationship you had lost. You picked yourself up and put on a brave face crying only when you were alone as you single-handedly funded Ben and Jerry's company with the amount of ice cream you consumed.

You arrived at the next prenatal appointment. You watched all the couples cooing at their bellies and the little sonogram photos, as you sat alone quietly rubbing your belly and thinking how much you loved this child.

It strengthened your bond between you and your baby. You were working hard at your job, not ready to go on maternity leave as you didn’t know how financially stable you would be. You also worried because, without the distractions of work, you realized how alone you truly were and how much you missed Hoseok.

You wanted nothing more than to go back in time and take it all back. You wanted to get the courage and tell him. You would give anything to wake up beside him the morning after and just let yourselves deal with the aftermath.

Your mother's words echoed in your head, only able to be drowned out by the sound of your baby's heartbeat through the doppler, as the ultrasound technician measured your sweet little baby girl.

She had done no wrong and deserved only good things. It was on your way home from the scan that you decided to enter the baby boutique. You knew you were filling a Hoseok shaped void in your chest but you didn’t care, purchasing clothes, socks and shoes, and a tiny beanie all in mint green, white, or grey. At the checkout, you saw a small personal travel doppler for eighty dollars. It wasn’t as strong or as reliable as the one at the clinic but you bought it anyway. 

It was the first thing you did when you got home, you put the gel on your stomach and pressed the doppler to your tummy, and listened to the tiny heartbeat and the swishing of the umbilical cord. The tears didn’t stop and that heartbeat in your belly was the mantra to which you swore to live your new life.

You were no longer living for yourself, you were living for your daughter, whom you loved so dearly. You stopped looking for Hoseok through the seventh and moved into the eighth month of your pregnancy feeling semi-okay.

Called by the marketing director to meet with the client, you followed him with documents, “Why did you pick me?” you asked

“You are the only one fit for this job,” He said, which made you feel odd, surely the pregnant lady wasn’t the first choice. However, you obeyed his orders, grabbed your coat, and followed to the restaurant where you were met with an unbelievable sight. 

There was Hoseok standing by a beautiful woman dressed in a suit. Not only was it a punch to the chest, but it also left you self-conscious, resembling a chocolate egg. The way your body was so rotund did not do wonders for one's self-esteem.

Hoseok didn’t notice you until you stepped up to the table, your director announcing your arrival and greeting the young woman with a kiss on each cheek. “This is my hardest working assistant Miss Y/n,” The director said and you wondered again why he had chosen you to accompany him to the meeting.

“Well let’s get to business” the client smiled. You sat at the table and they brought out menus. “I will have the salmon en papillote, with a nice chardonnay.” 

“I will have the same,” the marketing director said, attempting to look cool but you weren’t so sure.

“We will have the Steak au Poivre, I will take medium rare and she will have hers well done. What is in the side salad?” Hoseok asked and you looked up over the menu shocked by his audacity.

“We use a mesclun mix for its various colors and textures, with Lebanese cucumbers and avocado for a fresh and creamy taste and a drizzle of classic french vinaigrette” the waiter smiled politely. 

“Skip the salads and instead vegetables would be preferable for both.” Hoseok closed the menu and looked up, the waiter looked at you for confirmation and you nodded handing over the menu.

“Have you two met before?” The client asked curiously and Hoseok shook his head, “It’s just you ordered for her?”

“She is pregnant so the best meat option is beef well cooked, and the salad would most likely make her sick due to the acidity in the vinaigrette.” Hoseok continued,  “the vegetables, though plain, will be easier to handle and will benefit her better than a salad. It is something I learned in a birthing class once”

“Yeah, and you haven’t been back since.” You scoffed, drinking your water trying to calm yourself so you didn’t explode with anger.

“I didn’t think I had to, seeing as I am not the father of any children.” He said dryly back and you stood up throwing the napkin at him, tears welling up in your eyes. You didn’t care if he didn’t like you and refused to acknowledge your presence ever again, but saying that about your child was not okay.

“You take that back, Hoseok." You almost shouted but restrained yourself due to the setting, Hoseok didn’t appear to move and you tilted your head back and took a shaky breath. “I am sorry, it seems I am feeling ill, allow me to leave first”

You stepped out the door and headed down the road trying to find a cab when a hand grabbed your arm. Disappointed when it turned out to be the marketing director. “I rescheduled our meeting, I am sorry, you had to deal with something like this, it must be stressful being so pregnant”

He touched your belly and you were a little uncomfortable. This man was a little too interested in your pregnancy. At first, you thought he was just a nice boss who was looking out for you, but it was clear he had some strange thoughts running through his mind.

When he said he would drive you home, you told him you had an appointment. Even then he was determined to take you to the appointment, but you waved down a cab and jumped in quickly. You arrived at Jin and Tonic for a much-needed appointment.

“I want a drink” you sighed and Seokjin gave you water and you looked up seriously. I want an actual drink Jin, I am going through the worst year of my life.”

“Worse than the time you tried to become a volunteer at a homeless center, where some weird lady cut chunks out of your hair, so you had to shave it off?"

"Then you got into a fight with Hoseok because he drew an arrow on your head while you were sleeping and everyone called you Aang,” Jimin added as he shed his small jacket, showing off a pretty choker chain necklace with a rose pendant. “Cause you said that was the worst year of your life.”

“This is worse,” you said. “At least I was the one angry at Hobi and I forgave him quickly, now he is angry at me and even denied being the father of our baby. That’s not even the worst of it. My boss has some sort of pregnancy fetish and keeps trying to touch my belly and I am not here for it”

“Pregnancy fetish?”

“It’s not sexy, I am swollen from the neck down, I couldn’t see my feet this morning. I just hope I wore the same shoes. My bladder is so squished I am peeing all the time, I am hormonal and sweaty, and I can’t fit into my favorite pajamas.” The hysterical sobbing was muffled by the bar and it made Jimin giggle behind his hand. He walked around to give you a hug and Jin presented you with an ice cream sundae in an effort to cheer you up.

“Dance with me, pretty lady,” Yoongi said, finishing his drink and taking your hand. He led you to the dance floor where you were slow dancing like you used to. “You are still as pretty as always. Okay, you may not feel beautiful right now due to all those things, but I promise that you are.”

“Thanks, Yoongi.” You tried to get close enough to hug Yoongi but your belly prevented you from doing so, he stepped behind you and wrapped his arms around you slipping his hands under your belly and swaying. He was trying to take some of the weight to relieve some pressure on your back. “You are amazing,”

“I am, aren't I.” He laughed, swaying you softly.

Tags: @brbkpop @take-u-2-an0ther-w0r1d @munchyn @unadulteratedlyunique @jinhitwhore @knjkitten @jooniesdimples70307 @the-snowbear25 @kb-bangtanenthusiast @moments-of-melancholy @levantelux @theadorkablezaza @crustycaitlin @verasays​  @usagiserenity530 @carmxx​ (Please remember to have your tag settings on so you can recieve notifications about updates)

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[of-a-chaotic-mind]

Getaway Car

Summary: Reader finally explains some things to Dean and enlists him to help them with it.

TW/CW: Dean Winchester x Reader. Angst.  

Requested?: Yes, a lovely Anon said, “Could I request a Dean x reader based off of the song Getaway Car by Taylor Swift??”

Word Count: 1,372

A/N: This one kicks off with a flashback which will be italicized. This is also probably not what you had in mind but this is all I could come up with. I’m sorry if it’s shit. Requests are open and as always love to all!

Prompt: Getaway Car by Taylor Swift

[A/N: I know I’ve used this gif before buuuut I like it so here it is again lol]

Your POV

    A group of bodyguards tear off after us as Bela and I take off running across the alley way to the parking deck where she says our getaway car is waiting. She leads me to a sleek, black, Chevy Impala and climbs into the passenger seat, I climb into the backseat and yell at the guy in the driver’s seat, “Go, go, go!” The guy peels out of the parking deck and I don’t bother to look back as we put distance between us and that building.

    Finally, after several hours, we stop at a bar where Bela and I have a car waiting which I go to get in but she heads for the bar, “I need food and a drink before we head out.”

    I sigh and follow after her as do the two guys to which the Chevy Impala belongs to. Once inside the dim light of the noisy bar, I make myself comfortable at a high-top table and am soon joined by the two guys and Bela after they put in orders at the bar. Bela takes a seat on my right and hands me a drink. I take a sip as the shorter of the two guys takes a seat to my left and the other sits across from me. Bela clears her throat, “I suppose introductions are in order. (Y/n), these are the Winchester brothers, Dean,” she motions to the one sat on my left, “and Sam,” finishing by motioning to the one across from me.

    I nod, “Nice to meet you. You guys hunters too?”

    They both nod and Sam answers, “Family business.” I nod in understanding as Sam and Bela drop into a conversation about some nerdy subject but Dean seems rather interested in me even though he’s pretending to pay attention to what Bela and Sam are discussing.  

    Sometime later, after the food has been delivered, thankfully Bela ordered me a nice, big, juicy burger, and we’ve eaten most of it Bela drops from her stool to go hustle in poker and Sam dips out to the car, mentioning something about grabbing a book for Bela. This leaves Dean and I alone. Out of the corner of my eye, I notice him watching me. I wipe my mouth and swallow the fries in my mouth, “What?”

    He shrugs, “Nothing, just wondering.”

    ��About?” I inquire before tossing a couple more fries into my mouth.

    “How you and Bela met and why you still hang around her,” he replies, “She betrayed us pretty soon after we first met her.”

    I laugh, “She’s my cousin and she doesn’t have anyone else. It’s kind of hard to get rid of her.” He nods as he goes back to his food.

    The rest of that night, he and I spent getting to know a little more about each other and somewhere along the way, I found myself way too interested in him. That’s when I decided that I would leave tomorrow morning with Bela and pray that I’d never run into him again. Unfortunately, Bela had other ideas. When she later returned to the table, she announced that Sam had found the four of us a case and we’d be going with them the next morning.  

    I suppose that in retrospect, I should thank her. She set into motion one of the wildest rides I’ve ever been on. Dean and I grew pretty close over the span of just a couple of weeks and by the time Bela decided it was time to part ways from the Winchester brothers, I stayed behind with my boyfriend, Dean. All of that, however, led us to where we are now. I’ve just gotten back from a case a few days ago that I took on my own without telling the guys. It’s not the first time either. Every now and then I get uncomfortable being so close to them and I have to dip out for some time to myself.

    Mine and Dean’s relationship hasn’t been smooth sailing but it’s been manageable. The first few times I left without saying anything aside from a note that I’d be back soon and was on a case, he shook it off pretty quick but the more cases I took by myself, the longer it would take for him to shake it. I’ve realized that once again, my fear of letting anyone get too close has caused me to push him too far away. He’s hasn’t said a word to me since I got back from my case three days ago. I make my way to his room and knock softly on the door. He opens the door but quickly turns his back to me and sits down on the bed. “Dean, I-” I try to explain but he interupts me.

    “If you want to leave just leave. You can’t keep coming and going like this,” he doesn’t even look at me but I can hear it in his voice that he’s hurt.

    “That’s not it. I-” I begin trying to explain again.

    “Then what is it? Do you have another boyfriend that you have to tend to or something?” he asks heatedly.

    “Damn it, will you let me talk?” I respond in frustration, “I don’t have another boyfriend. I just get claustrophobic sometimes. It’s hard for me to withstand being as close with someone as I am with you for very long because my gut always tries to tell me that it’s about to blow up in my face.”

    “So, you’re saying I smother you,” he scoffs, “I get it I guess I just love you too much. That’s fine I’ll just stop that then.” There’s a strong tone of sarcasm and a tinge of spite in his words.

    “What the hell did you expect, Dean? You should’ve known from the jump that I have issues. Hell, the first time we ever saw each other, you were driving the freaking getaway car. Does anyone in our line of work ever actually manage to have healthy relationships and decent mental health?” I ramble, “I can’t help that nothing in my life has ever been good and permanent. I’m just conditioned to expect the worst.”

    “You don’t seem to be trying to change that conditioning. Am I not worth it?” he spouts back.

    I huff as I take a seat on the other side of the bed with my back to him, “Dean, I’m trying. I really am. Most of the time when I’m away I’m thinking of ways to fix this. I just never can come up with anything solid or that works because I just repeat the freaking cycle a few weeks later.” By now, I’m struggling to hold back tears. I really do want to try to make this work. I love him too much to just give up but it’s proving hard to do it alone. I know I’m hurting him and that makes me hurt worse because I can’t seem to do anything about it. “I can’t do it alone, Dean. If you still want me to stay then I need your help,” I whisper.

    He sighs and I feel the bed shift as he gets up and makes his way over to kneel in front of me, “I’m sorry. I should’ve said something sooner and been more cooperative about it. I just couldn’t help but think the worst.” I refuse to look him in eye and stare at my hands as he wraps them in his own, “Let’s start by communicating, okay? From now on when you need a breather just let me know so I can give you some space.” I nod and he lets go of one of my hands to raise my chin so that I am looking at him. “I love you. I’m right here and I’ll do whatever you need me to do to help you fix this.” I nod so he stands and pulls me up with him to wrap me in a hug. Maybe I can do it this time. I really want to get to where I don’t have to take breathers so much but that’s going to take some time. I’m just happy to have his help now.

Masterlist

Taglist: @emiijemii​ @akshi8278​ @deandaydreaming​ @castiels-majestic-wings​ @desimarie12​ 

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

From Eden: Two

Warnings: noncon sexual acts, mentions of mental illness; tags to be added throughout series

This is dark!Bucky. Your media consumption is your own responsibility. Warnings have been given. DO NOT PROCEED if these matters upset you.

Summary: The mc suffers from agoraphobia. After a new neighbour moves in across the street, her home becomes even more of a prison.

Note: Yo, so here’s part 2! I hope you all enjoy. As before, there is a transcript at the end for anyone having issues with the images.

Thank you so much for your patience! And support!!

As always, if you are so inclined, please like, reblog, and comment. <3

Transcript:

Sunday

I called Dr. Tisha this morning. I told her about the neighbour. She said it was nice of him to help with the garden but ignored me when I mentioned the broken gate. I don’t know if she believed me. It didn’t seem like it. 

She’s coming by tomorrow to check on my progress. That means I can’t keep those magazines on the dining table anymore. The last time she made me throw half of them out. She didn’t listen when I told her some were so old they were priceless. Sometimes it feels like she doesn’t listen to me at all. Well, what do I pay her to do then?

I haven’t been back outside. I should water the garden as it’s only getting hotter but I don’t appreciate the unwanted audience. An intruder!

Later

I still haven’t found the courage to venture out. I made sure the bike lock was still in place from the front door. It is. Though, if that man’s metal hand could break the old lock, it will likely shred the chain lock. 

Thinking about it makes my heart race. I should go lay down. I’m dizzy and the humidity is making me sick to my stomach. Or maybe it’s something else.

Monday

Dr. Tisha came by early today.

I showed Dr. Tisha where I kept my medicine in the bathroom cabinet, the pills divided into the days. I check off each day on the calendar so I don’t forget either. She said that was good. The last time she was here, it was because I’d stopped taking the pills so I hope this made her happy.

Then she walked through the house, she said she was happy to see the top of the table this time. I laughed but it wasn’t really funny. Then she went to the kitchen and checked all the drawers. 

She found some books hidden under the sink and asked if I’d ever read them. I mean to but haven’t yet. She took them to the guest room where she found the bins of books stacked in the corner. Better than last time when they were a pile on the carpet. 

She said I have too many things. Too many things that aren’t mine. She says it’s okay to be sad about grandma but that holding onto all her stuff won’t bring her back. Like I don’t know that! I do know! But she left me these things so yes, they are mine.

Then we went to grandma’s old room. It’s the same as it was. As it’s always been. Dr. Tisha frowned and went to my room next. 

She asked me about the broken bed frame. I told her it was nothing. I made sure to replace the duvet I’d dragged out the couch to sleep without threat of rolling onto the floor in my sleep. Not that I sleep very much.

She opened my closet and found the magazines. That didn’t impress her either.

We had tea in the kitchen and talked. She asked me how I was feeling. About side effects and all that. Besides the occasional bout of nausea and vivid dreams, I’m fine. She agrees.

Then she asked about the tall shelf of vinyls in the living room. Which one is my favourite? I told her the old Vera Lynn record reminded me of grandma and it was still on the needle.

Then we argued. She wants me to get rid of the ones I don’t listen to. And the magazines in my closet! And she wants me to go through all the books, too. 

She also suggested that I think about redecorating. I told her I didn’t want to do any of that. I like the house the way it is. Who is it hurting if I have a few extra books laying around?

She calmed me down after I raised my voice. She made me count my breaths and explained that I don’t have to get rid of everything, just a little. She says it would help with my progress. And, she said, I could probably make a healthy profit off a yard sale. 

Well, I don’t care about the money, I don’t want to have a sale. I don’t want to deal with people and them thumbing through grandma’s thing for pennies. 

Dr. Tisha said she’ll make some signs and we’ll have the sale on Saturday. My task for the week is to decide what to sell and prices. We argued again but not very long.

When she left, I started crying. Everywhere I look, I see grandma and this place is empty enough without her.

Tuesday

Lorena showed up today.

I gave her my list, it wasn’t very long. She asked about the bike lock and I asked if she could stop by the hardware store and get a new mechanism. She asked me if I even knew how to fix it. I said I’d figure it out.

I told her about Dr. Tisha’s idea for the yard sale. She said it was a great idea. I still don’t agree but she offered to help me sort through the guest room. I shrugged and asked her how long she’d be at the store. She said the usual and left.

I waited by the door. I watched the front gate for her return. She had the combination to the bike lock now and could let herself in. I just wanted her to come back and drop everything off so I could be alone.

When she did return, she wasn’t alone. I saw her at the gate, fumbling with the lock. As the gate shifted open, a metal arm reached past her to push it all the way. The man held a paper bag in his other arm as Lorena carried the other.

He was smiling as he spoke to her and let her pass. He followed her to the door and he saw me before I could back away from the slated window in the door.

“Open up,” Lorena called as she tapped the door. 

I didn’t know what else to do but open the door. When I did she handed me her bag and reached for the one the man held.

“Sorry, but… I can’t let you inside.” She said glumly. “But thanks for the help.”

“No problem.” He glanced past her and I tried to hide behind her but he’s taller than her. He’s very big up close. “You have a great day. Both of you.”

“You, too.” Lorena said and he strode away.

When the gate clattered closed I waited until I was sure he was gone. I dropped my bag and rushed to check the lock. He’d secured it. Good.

I went back to the house and locked the door too. Lorena already had both bags on the table.

“He didn’t mean any harm,” She said as she unpacked the groceries. “He was just helping me so I figured--”

“You shouldn’t have let him in.” I told her.

“He was only in the yard. He didn’t come into the house.”

“I could have helped you.” I said.

“When’s the last time you went past the gate?” She asked as she pulled out a small plastic bag and slid it across to me. It was the new lock. “That should fit, if you can figure it out.”

“That’s not the point, Lor,” You slapped the table. “You let him into my space. A stranger!”

“He’s your neighbour. I’ve talked to Dr. Tisha and you know you’re supposed to be working on your socialising. This yard sale will be a good first step.”

“This yard sale is bull shit,” I was so angry I could have yelled. “I like being alone. I like it here. This is my home and these are my things!”

“Calm down.” She set down the carton of milk and neared me. “Look, I’m sorry. You’re right. I should’ve asked before I let him past the gate.”

I felt so tired. Suddenly weak, like the air had been let out of me. I felt bad for being so mad with her after she went all the way to town for me. 

“I’m sorry I got upset.” 

She forgave me and I forgave her. She convinced me to fill one bin for the sale before the end of the day. She left shortly after. Her and Shelby are going to see a movie. I’m watching one too. An old black and white movie Grandma had on her shelf of cassettes. It’s interesting but the edges are fuzzy and the audio is muffled.

Oh, well, I’m tired. And I’ll be sleeping on the couch anyway.

Wednesday

I tried to fix the lock today. I haven’t been outside that long since last week. The garden needs to be watered.

I took out grandma’s old toolbox, the tools half-rusted but intact. I got what was left of the old lock off easily but the new one was more of a task to get in. I had to open the gate to get it in. The holes for the screw were off-kilter but I couldn’t turn the lock enough to get them to line up.

Then he showed up. That man. Bucky. The lock slipped out as he scared me and my screw driver hit my shoe. My toe still hurts.

“You need some help?” He asked.

I shook my head and tried to close the gate on him but he was already picking up the mechanism and screwdriver.

“I can do it.” I sound like a dying mouse. I reached for the lock but he didn’t even seem to notice. “Hold the door steady and I’ll just--”

“I can do it myself,” I said louder but he still didn’t seem to hear me. Or chose not to.

He reached around the gate and pulled it closer to him. I grabbed the bars and he slid the lock into place. His metal fingers shifted it and aligned the holes.

“Do you have the screws?” He asked.

I found the box on the bunch of rocks just beside the gate. I handed him each long screw and he easily twisted them into place.

“There ya go,” He gave the screwdriver back and smiled.

I closed the gate, as good as pushing him out of the yard. He let me but looked confused. I took the key from the box and slid it in the slot. I turned it and the click slowed my racing heart.

“I still don’t know your name,” He said.

I didn’t tell him and left him there. You think he’d get the clue.

Thursday

It’s not even 5am. I woke up in a sweat. The fan is dead and the house has grown stolid, even as the night air slips through the open window.

I thought I’d closed it more but it is wide open and the power is out. There is an eerie silence as the buzz of the fridge is entirely gone and the house is pitch black. 

I swear I saw something move in the window. Maybe a bird?

I tried to get back to sleep but it’s too hot. I guess I’ll just sit and wait for the sun to rise. It’s already starting to.

I want to go out in the garden today. I just hope that man doesn’t bother me again. I hope the lock is still in place.

Friday

Well, yesterday was fine. The power came back on at noon as I watered the garden and trimmed some overgrown plants. The freesias had grown despite my neglect. 

Today was just as boring. I read at the patio table for a while but then the phone started ringing. Dr. Tisha was checking in. She said she put the signs up yesterday and hoped the turn out would be good. She asked me how much I got done. I lied and said a lot.

Now I’m going to go sort through the guest room and toss a few records on top to get her off my back. I guess I’ll just have to hide under the table tomorrow.

Saturday

Everytime I think I’m doing better, it all goes so bad! 

Dr. Tisha and Lorena arrived early to set up the yard sale. They unfolded a table just inside the gate, leaving it wide open, and helped me arrange everything on top of it. I was nervous and tired. I didn’t sleep very much.

I waited nervously and the first customer showed up. Gladys, an old friend of Grandma’s. She bought an old pin cushion and the Miles Davis record. I should have kept that.

I watched mostly as Dr. Tisha and Lorena took the money and helped people, both familiar and not. 

Dr. Tisha made me introduce myself to them at least. I hated it but they were mostly friendly. A woman with two children, I think she said her name was Essie? She said she liked my shirt. That was nice.

But then he showed up! I ignored him at first as he played with the ornamental cowbell. He took that and a few records from the table. He didn’t even seem to notice Dr. Tisha or Lorena as he came to me.

I kept my head down as I lined up the thimbles beside the painted sewing box.

“How much for the records?” He asked. 

I didn’t say anything and went to the other end of the table. He followed and I turned back and went back to the other end again. He followed me. Again.

“Now,” Tisha stopped me. “What are you doing? He asked you a question.”

I looked up and blinked dumbly. “What? I didn’t-- I was--”

“Bucky,” Lorena greeted him as she neared. “Tisha, this is the neighbour who helped with the groceries the other day.”

“Oh, hello,” She held out her hand as she blocked me from getting away. “I’m Tisha.”

She introduced me then and told me like a child to say hello. I did, quietly.

“Are you… the one who gave her the flowers?” Tisha asked.

“I did.” He smiled. “But I guess she already has enough.”

“She’s shy,” Tisha lowered her voice. “She’s working on it. Now,” she turned to me, “how much do you want for the records… and bell?”

I didn’t know what to say. The man watched me and I felt as if I would melt.

“Come on.” Tisha poked me. “We talked about this, right? This is your sale.”

“Ten dollars each,” I doubled the price. “And twenty for the bell.”

“That’s a bit pricey,” Lorena said. I shrugged.

“Sounds fair to me,” The man took out his wallet as he leaned the record on the table beneath the bell and used his leg to keep it from falling. “I’ve never listened to these bands before and I’m trying to expand my library.”

He held out the money. Tisha had to elbow me to get me to take it. I snatched it from him and counted it. Another elbow as Lorena kept me from turning away.

“Thank you,” I said to him. 

“I hope you enjoy the records,” Tisha offered gently before she pulled me aside.

She took me closer to the house as Lorena watched the table. She lowered her voice. “What’s going on?” She asked.

“Nothing.” I lied.

“Nothing? Why were you so rude to him?”

“I don’t like him.”

“You don’t know him.” She insisted.

“I don’t want to.”

“Look, I know you’re uneasy around men, but he was nice. And he’s your neighbour. You’ll be seeing a lot of him so I think you should at least try to be friendly. And remember what I said about friends?”

“My only friend is dead.” 

I was so upset I ran inside. And now I’m locked in my room, waiting for them all to just go away.

[chemicalpink]

Power and Control ♡ Jung Hoseok

Pairing: Jung Hoseok x reader

Genre: smut, angsty

Word Count: 3.4k

Warnings: Sugar baby themes, power dynamics outside the bedroom, unprotected sex 

Summary: Women and men we are the same but love will always be a game and I’m gonna make you fall.

A/N: Well this was a stubborn one. Like seriously took me a whole month to try and write Hoseok as a villan-y character and at the end... i kinda failed BUT I really liked this one. Thanks for waiting. I hope you are doing great with life aside from all that is going one. Take care. I hope you like this one! 

Hoseok wouldn’t dare to try and label what you and he had as conventional, hell, he wouldn’t even dare to try and label himself as conventional, quite the contrary, because really, what’s a broke college-graduate-to-be got to do when a beautiful, empowered woman like yourself is seeking out a sugar baby deal? Say no? He would have to be stupid, plus, it’s not like you two are 10 or so years apart, you’re just 2 years older than him; plus, the deal was simple enough, apart from a disclosure contract and a few sessions of experimenting what you two liked with each other, it had been easy enough to fall into a routine.

Said routine meaning two to three sessions a week, some weekends together and playing as arm candy in most of your business parties, to which he would then find his semester’s tuition fee paid off, the latest limited-edition Supreme collection on his college dorm and one time, an all-included vacation to Europe for Christmas.

As time went on, nearly a year into it, it had become harder and harder to keep coming up with excuses as to how exactly he was being able to afford such a luxurious way of living without it being apparent that he had worked for it, especially when his closed group of friends were clearly struggling with it all (he might have asked you once to pay for Namjoon’s tuition fee after he got injured and couldn’t work for the month, the guy so in the clouds hadn’t even noticed the debt gone), and you know, Jung Hoseok isn’t a man with fragile masculinity, he knows exactly who he is, so even if for him being a sugar baby was really no big deal, the constant assumption of sugar babies having daddy/mommy issues sure was in the back of his mind every time he so much as the thought of sharing his lifestyle with his friends crossed his mind (cause he did not have daddy/mommy issues, thank you very much).

“Hobi, this just got here for you, I thought we had talked about your shopping addiction?”  Namjoon said as he passed him by on his way out the kitchen, coffee mug in hand, small package on the other, placing it on the kitchen counter before turning to look at him. Hoseok so much as fake laughed his worst laugh trying (and most probably failing) to not make his roommate any more suspicious. 

See, the greatest excuse for the time being all those months ago, when you had started gifting him stuff and sending it to his dorm, was saying that he ‘might have developed an addiction to online shopping’. He had talked it out with you, and you agreed to start delivering the gifts on your sessions. Hoseok hummed while taking the package from the counter “I just- I had this coupon and I had to use it” Namjoon wasn’t even paying attention to him anymore, he could clearly not have said a thing.

“Hey, hyungs would you mind if I-OH MY FUCKING GOD IS THAT BOX FROM THE NEWEST CHANEL COLLECTION???” Taehyung was… quite a melodramatic man when it came down to his expertise: fashion; which was one of the reasons Hoseok could kind of breathe around his own home. Namjoon didn’t know shit about fashion. But Taehyung would a hundred percent not fall into his ‘I got a coupon’ facade for a split second. His throat ached to instinctevely deny the younger’s claim but he knew it would do no good. Hoseok had once committed the deadly mistake of wearing one of the perfumes you had gifted him for his birthday to one of their nights out and that man right there, Kim Taehyung, had known from a sniff that he was wearing a thousand dollars Paco Rabanne Luxe Edition 1 million 18 carats. How exactly? He wouldn’t dare to ask. Taehyung knew his fashion. But the night didn’t seem to come to an end soon enough with his friend’s questioning. “Hoseok-hyung, how did you get access to one of the most exclusive collection previews of the world? I mean, I’m all for Gucci, but go off I guess”

So they are talking about it. May the gods have mercy on his unable to lie for his life soul.

“It was a gift from uh- my distant rich- auntie?” both Taehyung and Namjoon turned to look at him in the most sceptical way possible, but soon went back to their conversation.

He was going to have the talk with you later, for the second time. As if on cue, his phone dinged with a text from you, very out of character, if he may add, you two kept it on the line of the contract that bound the two of you, no texting, no calls, no nothing. He was busy with school most of the time and you were probably busier with your business stuff anyways.

From: Y/N [12:38]

You got my gift?

To: Y/N [12:38]

Yeah. Now apparently I have a rich distant auntie that is sending me expensive af gifts.

To: Y/N [12:39]

But then again, who am I to complain, right?

From: Y/N [12:43]

Great. Wear it tonight. 10 pm sharp. Long day.

Over the course of the months with you, he had learnt quite a few things about himself, first, he had an expensive taste, he just couldn’t afford it. Second, you knew his love language was being gifted things, and lord, did you take advantage of that to keep him wrapped around your finger. Third, he always felt as if you had come to know him inside and out so clearly, you had come to read him like an open book but he couldn’t say the same. You were a reserved woman, he knew that. With your position and all, it made sense. But he was just as cold to people he wasn’t close with, so he had to have some upper hand at it. Even after spending days on researching you he always came empty-handed. Sure, you two fucked, kissed, hanged out, but there was just this sense of chemistry lacking as if you two melted together when naked but once the fog cleared, it became a constant battle to gain control over the other. You had gifts to win him over. He had his charm and amazing bedroom skills to keep you grounded. You made it work. Kind of.

He arrived at your place a few minutes before 10, making himself a drink at the sky bar in the middle of your living room as he stared outside the floor-length window to watch Seoul’s night sky and lighted ground of the busy city, your heels clicking on the floor when you entered the space.

“Oh you got here early?” he turned around to watch you dispose of your jewellery in the entrance table, stealing glances at him every few seconds “I didn’t think you would actually listen to me and wear it, do you like it?

Hoseok lifted the glass to his lips to sip the alcohol. The poorly lit room brought a new light to you that deep down he had known for a while but he wasn’t willing to accept, the tiredness behind your eyes luring him in, making him imagine for a second that the setting was much more domestic than what it really was “Got off classes early and yeah, it does the job, thanks”

You made your way to the bar to fix yourself a drink, all the while he couldn’t stop staring at you, the imposing aura you always exuded sending shivers down his spine, his mind racing. He could already picture you bent over the couch for him as you took a seat and waved him over.

He couldn’t even begin to comprehend how much time went by when your lips found his, your dress riding up your thighs when you moved to straddle him, hands finding your ass, tongues fired up with evident desire as you ground down on his hard length “You texted me first today” you broke away from the kiss to look at him funnily, for the first time in the almost a year knowing you, he could see the slightest of vulnerability in your eyes, fondness, for him. So after all, you were wrapped around his finger “Are you falling in love with me, miss Y/N?” 

Your answer was very much in character, sucking his jawline while your hands worked their way down his pants to free his cock, stroking him a few time to bring it to a full length, his head throwing back into the couch in pleasure as you retorted teasingly “Think you’re going to break my heart, Hobi?” 

He knew then that your favourite game had begun. A constant game of tug and pull to lead the sex that had become a routine for both of you.

He had somehow worked his way under your dress at the same time as he pushed his pants to his ankles and removed them, giving your clothed core just the right amount of friction you were seeking and providing him with the perfect moment to flip you both over on the small space, a smirk taking over his factions “You might be good looking baby, but you’re not a piece of art”

“God I need you so much right now” you whispered at him, before tracing the expanse of his back under his newly bought sweater, distracting him enough for you to take his place on top, aching core approaching his face as his smile didn’t seem to get any bigger “Dinner’s served”

“My favourite,” he said before beginning to suck on the inside of your thighs, working his way to where you needed him the most, hot tongue wetting your already drenching panties for a few seconds before he pushed the cloth aside and gripped you even closer to his face, teeth nibbling at your folds teasingly, drawing a loud moan out of you, walls instinctively clenching as his tongue traced you whole, lewd noises filling up the room, subtly grinding up to him as he traced circles on your clit before eating you out once again, up until your thighs started trembling against his head, yours thrown back in ecstasy at the pleasure. His face glistening with your juices once you let him take control over the situation.

Hoseok’s deft fingers rid you of both of your remaining pieces of clothings as you tried to catch your breath, fully aware of what was about to go on after you had your fun with him. Your exposed skin hits the coldness of the floor as Hoseok rolled both of you down the couch, making you shiver as a smile is plastered in the younger’s face; you close your eyes for a split second, not needing to know that for the time being, Hoseok was pumping his hard cock to ready himself for you, small fluttering kisses adorning the space just below your neck as he approaches your ear silently “I was thinking… a Tesla would be a great combo with my brand new Chanel collection, you know?”

A small laugh leaves your lips before you open your eyes to see him hovering above you, eyes  travelling your face, a few strands of hair covering his “You are not sweet talking me into buying you a Tesla, Hoseok”

“I was thinking more of fucking it out of you” it is then that he enters you in a swift thrust, letting you adjust for a few seconds before moving experimentally at the new angle for both of you that was your living room floor, his hand coming up to place your right leg over his shoulder, gaining him better access to have you whimpering below him, just the way he liked. Long, skilled fingers caress your clit as he keeps a steady rhythm inside of you, feeling the warmth enveloping him and your walls clench around him as he speeds up his pace on your nerve bundle.

“Oh g-Hoseok I’m gonna cum” your voice is strained and he feels it as the opportunity to wreck you harder, the movement of his hips hitting all the right spots within you, he can feel your leg cramping on his shoulder as a wave of pleasure hits you and he has half a mind to pull out and release himself on your stomach, both of you breathing heavily as the need starts to fade and it all comes to an end. 

You see, if you asked any of Hoseok’s close friends, they would describe him as pure sunshine, and he was, kinda, at least for the most part of his life, but he was also a man determined to get what he wanted in life, which was why, he was currently pondering his next move. After your little session at your living room floor/couch, he had felt a shift in the air, a longing between the two of you, and that only went on for the next few weeks as you would drop your cold facade and text him small things, as he kept on receiving packages at his dorm (without Tae or Joon knowing, thank fuck) and he had found himself thinking about you non-stop. It was pretty obvious, and if someone had known about your existence, they might have pointed it out, cause it was so obvious even for himself, that the tug and pull game of yours, had made you both fall for the other somehow. Which really, wouldn’t be a problem if it wasn’t for that shitty paragraph on your contract that seems to keep replaying itself inside his mind. If you started becoming too familiar with each other, you would revoke the contract. He had agreed and signed it, thinking that it is just too weird for someone to grow acostumed to another if they just fuck and leave afterwards, but apparently somewhere he went wrong. And he clearly needed the money. You had yet to come to realise your newly found dynamics so he was living on borrowed time. And he had to act quickly.

Hoseok wasn’t really a strategic man, but luck always seemed to be on his side, so it took a mere week to come up with something. He had been visiting the hospital where his sister worked (per his mother’s request) just hanging out, which probably wasn’t even allowed to, but Jiwoo had insisted to wait for her lunch break as it was a slow day anyway. So he did.

“You’ve never told me how you paid off your tuition without dad’s help, Hobi” his sister commented as she went through some papers on her desk. His mind crashed. Error 404. Flee the country. It is one thing lying to his friends about his way of living, a completely different story when family starts asking.

“Oh I’m a- personal assistant of some CEO” he answered, turning to look the other way towards the entrance, almost nonchalantly, but life liked to have fun with him, so of course just as he is trying his best to keep you out of his mind, you had to be walking right through the door, not as outstanding as he is used to see you, but the aura you exude that is so uniquely yours is unable to miss out. You two didn’t talk on personal life, but he had researched you over the months, trying (and failing) to gain some type of useless power over you. It seemed like whatever wasn’t business, wasn’t you. So he had to play dumb.

“Who 's that?” he asked his sister, just as you were rounding the corner, Jiwoo turning to look at your disappearing figure

“Oh, that’s Y/N”

“Y/N like Y/N Y/L/N? the CEO?” the idea of maybe getting into acting and winning an Oscar crossed his mind, his sister hummed in thought

“I guess, Y/N is quite an unusual name right?” she resumed whatever she was doing before adding “But this girl couldn’t be her, she comes to visit her sister religiously every Friday”

“Is she sick?” so your cold uncaring demeanor was really just a front you put up for people.

“You’re starting to sound like a pervert, Hoseok”

He really wishes he could say he dropped the whole sick sister thing after that day, but the longer he thought about that, the cleared it was for him that if he was looking for an upper hand for you not to drop him out of the whole money deal once you realised you had both infringed the contract that brought you two together, this was it. He had immense self-confidence, if he said so himself. But there was something about going against you that wasn’t exactly easy to warm up to. He tried several times to come up with a plan but came empty-handed so he guessed he would just have to go with the flow. 

“You’re so wet already” he grunted as you felt his member teasing your entrance, his hand gripping your hair to bring you to face the mirror beside your bed. Hoseok had decided to drop by after he knew you were done with work, taking you by surprise at the unscheduled session, but then again, who were you to complain about the man, who in less than five minutes and some lazy kissing on your bed had both of you riled up and on all fours at his complete mercy “We’ve got some things to talk about, Y/N” 

You tried to turn your face to look at him directly instead of the mirror but he just tightened his grip as he thrusted forward forcefully, making you grip your sheets tighter attempting not to tumble over, a pleasurable sting on your scalp “I’m listening”

“Friday. Lunchtime, what exactly were you doing at the hospital?” he asked and could already feel your though exterior crumble, he just had to hope that whatever big secret it was having a sick little sister was enough for him to keep the upper hand in the situation.

Just as fast as that surprised look had appeared on your face, it was replaced with determination in your eyes as you pressed yourself back onto him, purposely clenching around him in the way you knew drove him crazy “Maybe I’ll talk. If you fuck me hard enough”

So he did.

“So what do you want in exchange for keeping my Friday’s whereabouts a secret?” you asked as his clothes were thrown at him

This was it. “I want my full tuition paid off before you call it quits on us”

You turned to look at him, laughing a little “Hoseok, a human vulnerability doesn’t mean that I am weak” you made your way to the bathroom “You’ll have to work harder for it”

Each day that went by was filled with dread of having his whole lifestyle crumbling down in a second, it had been so long since he had even so much as heard about you. Until he wouldn’t stop hearing about you (kind of) He remembers waking up to a 5am text from you telling him that he couldn’t have peace without a war, but if he was being completely honest, he was kind of asleep at the time so he couldn’t comprehend half of it. But it all became clearer when his phone started blowing up with texts, from Taehyung and Namjoon, to his sister and his parents. Apparently, you had a very expensive shopping spree in his name, delivered especially with lots of love to every person that could, and most certainly would question how exactly he had the kind of money to afford the luxurious gifts that they were all receiving. 

From:Y/N [9:02]

You start at 10. 

To: Y/N [9:02]

Y/N What’s going on?

From: Y/N [9:05]

Welcome to the team, board member Jung Hoseok.

So perhaps you would always have the upper hand when it came to power and control of whatever it was you two were playing. You had no doubt and no obstacle to ruin his whole life. But he guesses that his upper hand is shown in the fact that he could keep you from doing just that.

[askmeforafic]

Everything will be just fine (We moved the furniture so we could dance)

Arthur’s birthday fell late March and this year it also fell two days after his break up with Deborah “Call me Debs” Smith. Obviously he didn’t choose that time to break up with her but it had been coming for a while.

They met while at a charity night that Arthur’s work were sponsoring and Deborah’s had been in charge of the advertising for so they had been working together for weeks before the actual event happened. She had been clear from the start that she was interested in him in more than a professional way but he had managed to keep them on track until the charity night happened. Arthur’s boss after a few too many on the night suggested that Arthur be used after hearing that one of the guys they had lined up for the date auction portion of the evening  had fallen ill and couldn’t come.

That had been early October and the cracks started to show by Christmas when she invited herself to his works Christmas night out and had insisted on going to a market the day him and his friends were going to do their mini Christmas. Most of them went home for Christmas so over the years they had started to do their own version the week before but he was late by almost an hour and a half which would have been more if he hadn’t threatened to leave her alone at the market so he could still make it to Percy’s before he served dinner. The argument the next day was so explosive that Arthur’s neighbour came over after with brownies and wine for him but they made up  or rather she appeared the next night in a long coat and thigh high boots and nothing else. That set the pattern until the final fight where even the smallest thing was brought up before she screamed at him it was over.

The original plan had been to go for dinner and then to see Wicked after a lazy morning in bed and a flying visit to see Morgana for a home-made lunch.  Deborah was reluctant to go to Morgana’s for lunch saying that they could meet her at a restaurant but it was a tradition between them since they were teenagers that the other made them lunch for their birthday. Instead it was something she had hurled in his face during their last fight – why didn’t he want her to know why it was a tradition? Did Merlin know? Why was he allowed to know but she wasn’t? Was Merlin more important than her? No, don’t answer that.

Instead he was dragged out of bed by Morgana who had used her spare key to barge into his house and destroyed his kitchen while making them pasta bake. She had, however, brought several bottles of the red wine they both liked and helped him polish off two before leaving and telling him that she wouldn’t let him waste today but after that she was giving him two more days of sulking before he was being dragged to that new tequila bar she heard about. When he went back to his living room with a new bottle he found the menu for The Princess Bride playing and an unopened bag of caramel popcorn. By the time he finished that and was just deciding what to put on next there was a knock on the door.

He opened it forgetting that he was only wearing grey jogging bottoms, an old stretched out tank top with Ibiza written on it in highlighter pink and his hair looked like he’d been dragged through a hedge backwards. It was a relief then when it was Merlin on the other side of the door with a huge smile on his face and a bag of Chinese food in his hand. He smiled as Merlin immediately reached out and pulled him into a hug, pinching his side as he heard Merlin whisper “Happy birthday Princess” into his ear.

Arthur reluctantly pulled back from the hug while grabbing the bag from him and heading back into the living room. “You’ve been spending too much time with Gwaine I think, you never use to call me that” he threw over his shoulder.

“And whose fault is that? I would’ve hung around you more if Deb” Merlin paused here to roll his eyes. “Hadn’t insisted it was weird when she broke in and we were on the couch because Morgana called dibs on your bed and you still refuse to sleep in your spare room”.

By this point he had taken off his jacket and shoes and headed into the kitchen to grab plates and cutlery, he spotted the bottles on the counter that were still unopened and picked one up. Leaning on doorway between the two rooms he tilted his head towards the bottle, passing it to Arthur and getting everything else from the kitchen before making himself at home on the couch. Arthur immediately started plating up the meals for them as Merlin grabbed the remote and queued up the original Jumanji on Netflix. They quickly fell into a comfortable silence eating and being absorbed into the movie.  

--------------

They both sighed as they readjusted after finishing their meals, Merlin leaning into Arthur’s side and Arthurs arm automatically wrapping around Merlin’s shoulders. They stayed that way through the Jumanji remake and the rest of the bottle of wine.

Arthur tightened his hold on Merlin while the end credits rolled, not realising until then just how much he missed the casual contact and intimacy between them. It was, unfortunately, one of the valid points that Deb had when they had their final argument. He and Merlin were a lot closer and comfortable with each other than most men were with their friends. He didn’t understand what her issue with it was though, she’d seen him with Leon and Percy too and they were just as free with their affection. Arguably more so given they’d known him for almost their whole lives where he hadn’t met Merlin until he transferred to their high school until the start of their third year. They had fallen into an easy friendship after a misunderstanding on the first day where Merlin thought he was bullying Elyan, Gwen’s little brother. Thankfully it was cleared up quickly and by the end of their time in high school they were rarely seen without each other.

“You know that I didn’t mean to ignore you or make you feel like I was choosing her over you don’t you?” Arthur murmured into Merlin’s hair, absentmindedly stroking up and down Merlin’s arm.

Merlin tilted his head toward Arthurs with a confused look on his face, his nose scrunching up as he tried to work out what had prompted that confession. “I know you didn’t mean that you prat, I’ve told before you can’t get rid of me that easily. You knew that when you signed up to be friends with me, no girl or boyfriend is going to change that - they haven’t before.”

“I…..uh…I was just thinking about that last fight and how she asked if she was more important than you. Which is ridiculous because I’ve known her less than six months and I’ve know you for more than six years. Why did I let her convince me that spending less time with you would fix the cracks in our relationship? You didn’t cause them; me and her being different people did and no amount of trying would change that.  I don’t know, I think the wine’s gotten to me and I just wanted to know that even if she almost messed up my birthday she didn’t mess up us.” Arthur scrubbed his hand over his face and drained the last of the last dregs in his glass.  

Arthur stood up and held his hand out to Merlin who silently turned off the TV and grabbed Arthurs hand and allowed himself to be led to Arthurs room.  He knew that although Arthur may blame the wine that he was really effected by their lack of closeness in the past few months. They stripped down slowly and with the ease of knowing that neither of them would judge the other.  As they slid into bed Merlin turned his back to Arthur knowing he would want to hold Merlin after his confession earlier.

They both slept in the next morning and woke up feeling more content than they had felt in a long time. Arthur grabbed them both shirts from his drawer and agreed to make breakfast if Merlin could find them something to watch. As he was making the pancakes he heard Merlin drop something, not an unusual sound from him but Arthur wanted to make sure he was okay. When he walked out of the kitchen he heard the words that had caused the remote to drop.

“Ladies and gentlemen of the United Kingdom, given the current situation the decision has been made to enact lockdown measures.”

-------

After that it was as if time was simultaneously too fast and too slow, April passed in the blink of an eye it seemed but then some weeks passed like they were drenched in syrup. They fell into a pattern quite quickly, Merlin had his work send him a laptop to work on articles and they both used the living room  to work preferring to have someone to talk to while they worked. They traded off making lunch and dinner and reminding each other that they needed to move and stop working.

No matter how the week was - good, bad, quick, long they always ended it the same way by sitting on the couch watching movies and cuddling.  They started by going through all the movies they had said they were going to watch while Arthur had been with Deb and then started working on their old favourites.  They made a point of always wearing their most comfortable clothes while they were watching films, ordering in, opening (and finishing a bottle of wine) and changing the way they watched them.  Some older ones they watched on dvd, some of them on Blu-ray and some on Disney+ (which Merlin made Arthur get a subscription for at the start of lockdown).  The only official rule was that they didn’t talk about anything outside of the house during the movies.

The other rule was unspoken – no matter what had happened during the day, how shitty their bosses had been or if they had argued with each other they always went to bed at the same time and they always shared Arthur’s bed. Sleeping curled around each other always made them feel safe and any frustration or arguments between them were forgotten by morning.

It was the 27th June and that night him and Merlin decided to order in from Merlin’s favourite Italian just around the corner from Arthurs. They had splashed out on Arthurs favourite wine and decided to watch Beauty and The Beast and then Tangled. Between the food, movies and wine Arthur was content but when Merlin curled further into him he felt a rush of affection. Looking back on the time they had spent trapped in Arthurs house so far for all the frustration and anxiety it had caused them he could only feel a wave of correctness flow through him. That this was how it should always be, this house being his and Merlins home, the bed being their bed, them having a routine as a couple and being domestic with each other.

Arthur wasn’t blind, he’d known from the second he met Merlin with his bright blue eyes flashing and plush pink lips that he was going to be handsome. At the time Merlin’s limbs flailed about without warning and he hadn’t grown into his own yet but Arthur knew know that he had and while he still flailed occasionally that he was now the heartbreaker that Arthur knew he would be. He wasn’t sure when Merlin had captured his heart, he knew it was before they went to university but in the time between when they met and then he couldn’t tell. All he knew was that Merlin had taken it as if it was always rightfully his and by the time Arthur realised he knew that he would follow Merlin anywhere. Which was why he had never told him, Arthur was given the chance to have this man by his side and he wouldn’t give that up even if it meant never knowing how Merlins lips would feel on his own.

Just as he was having this realisation Tangled finished and in the moment before the credits rolled he saw them in the reflection of the TV. He saw Merlin laid along the length of the couch, his head resting on Arthurs chest and Arthur himself curled around Merlin, his forehead resting on the crown of  Merlins head. He got up and offered Merlin his hand as he done every night but this time he stumbled into the table pushing it back and when Merlin went to take his hand he hit the wrong button on the remote to turn the TV off. Instead of turning off it the channel changed to a music channel with a new song starting to play.

The song washed over him and when Merlin put his hand in his he couldn’t help but pull him towards him instead.  Merlin stumbling into him and resting his head in the crook of Arthurs neck, his other hand automatically reaching for Arthurs shoulder. He started to sway them together as Taylor Swift crooned to them about how there was a mysterious haze about her Lover. The longer the song went on the more he wanted it to apply to him and Merlin, he wanted Merlin to be his lover and to tell the world about it.

As the song faded out he looked down at Merlin, only to find that Merlin was staring up at him. Overcome by the evening’s effect on him and Merlins effect on him he leaned down and fit their lips together. Arthur sank into the kiss, feeling Merlin do the same as they kept swaying around their living room.  Eventually they broke the kiss and continued to walk towards their bed as they continued onto their bed never breaking their hold.

Later they would talk about their relationship and Arthur would ask for Merlin to make this their home. They would tell their friends and deal with Gwaine’s sending them a cake with the words “congrats on getting your heads out of your asses”.  They would deal with that after they had spent their first night together as a couple and then made breakfast in their underwear trading soft kisses as they danced around the kitchen.

[marinaaniseed]

Dark ‘n’ Stormy Pt. 7

3,866 words. If you read my earlier post, you’ll know this took a slight turn.

Summary: Thor & Y/N go out for dinner. It doesn’t go as planned. Some Asgardians are mean. Drunk Y/N gives them what for. There is NSFW smut at the end.

Contains swears, drinking, smut, self-esteem issues...the usual, really.

Thoughts, feedback, amusing insults...all are welcomed.

Everything was going well until you walked into the pub. One gentle hand held yours, keeping it warm, as you walked through New Asgard. You heard the pub before you saw it. Probably not the ideal place for conversation, but as long as there was dinner, and there was Thor, it would be fine.

Thor held open the heavy door, and a few people turned to glance at you before the whole place turned silent when they saw who was following you over the threshold. The barmaid kept pouring the pint, even though the tankard was overflowing. One man dropped his bottle, smashing it on the floor. Several people were gingerly dropping to one knee, seemingly unsure if this is what they should be doing.

Looking back at Thor, you could see the panic rising, watching him become overwhelmed by it all. It’d been a long time since he’d been around so many people, except on a battlefield. Even longer, really, since he’d been surrounded by Asgardians.

You were about to say something, to let him know that it was ok, that you could leave if he wanted when a man in an ebony tunic that matched his hair approached you.

“Your majesty,” he rumbled, bowing deeply. “It is an honour to have you with us in my humble establishment. Please, allow me to seat you.”

Thor really didn’t want to be there, with everyone staring at him, but he knew the trouble it would cause if he declined. He nodded his assent and the two of you followed the man to a booth at the back of the pub.

“Please, allow me to take your cloak, m’lady,” the man said, and you unfastened it, handing it over, before sliding across the vermilion leather. Thor joined you, albeit less easily, his stomach resting on top of the table.

“Let me get you some drinks,” the man said, hurrying off without asking you what you’d like.

You didn’t think you’d ever seen anyone look more uncomfortable than Thor did now. And although the other patrons had resumed their drinks and conversations, it was notably muted in comparison. That didn’t stop you from seeing the stares or overhearing snippets.

“-I’ve never seen him in here before…”

“Who is that woman he’s with?”

“What’s wrong with Asgardians? What does he even see in Midgardian women?”

“-used to be a really attractive man.”

“How did she get him?”

“-will help him lose the weight.”

“Thor?” you asked, taking his hand and rubbing your thumb over the back of it. “Do you want to go?”

“No. Yes. I don’t know. I don’t want to be here. It’s too much. All these people I’ve let down. But I don’t want to be rude.”

“It’s ok, we can have our drinks and then go,” you soothed.

The ebony-haired man returned with a tray laden with drinks. You hoped he was serving several tables, as they do in North America, but no. All of the drinks were carefully deposited on the table in front of the two of you. Thor must’ve looked as confused as you did, because the man bowed a little, before addressing him.

“Your majesty, I thought you might like to sample the beverages we’ve been creating here in New Asgard.”

“What-what are they?” Thor asked, realising that you wouldn’t be going anywhere in a hurry.

“These two are what the Midgardians call gin. They also have different kinds of beer that we have learned to make. We have a pale ale, witbier, imperial brown ale, imperial stout and saison. Aquavit. Cider And, of course, mead,” he said, smiling at you both. “We’ve been unable to produce wine so far, but we’re still working on it.”

“Th-thank you. How much is this?” Thor asked.

“Nothing, it is an honour to have you here, your majesty,” he said before excusing himself.

You could see Thor wince every time the man said “majesty”. It was hard seeing him like this, but you knew, too, that it must be quite jarring for the Asgardians to have seen their leader shun then, having brought them to this strange planet.

“Well,” you exhaled, grabbing the gin. “Let’s start with the strongest and work our way down.”

“Is that wise?”

“Probably not. But it’s like being in a chili eating contest. You start with the hottest one first and then your mouth will hurt so bad, you won’t notice the other ones.”

“That’s...an interesting approach,” Thor huffed, managing to laugh a little. “Tell me then, what is this gin?”

“Erm, well normally people drink it with a mixer - most commonly tonic - but from the looks of things, this is neat. It mainly tastes of juniper, not sure if you had those on Asgard? I’d say sip it. If it’s smooth, you can probably just sip the whole thing, like a good whisky. If it’s rough as arseholes, sink it and move on.”

“You certainly have a way with words,” Thor said, trying not to laugh, despite his continuing unease.

“Yeah, well. Some of us weren’t brought up in a royal court. Skål, as the Norwegians say,” you said, lifting your glass.

“We say that too,” he enthused, clinking his glass with yours.

The gin was...not good. Paint stripper gin is probably how you would’ve described it. The first sip caused you to splutter and cough, and Thor didn’t seem to be holding up much better.

“Yeah...that’s not great. But it’s also not a traditional Asgardian drink, is it?”

Thor shook his head.

“Right, let’s down this gut rot and get rid of it.”

Thor was certainly impressed by the way you grabbed the glass and chugged away at it, despite your grimace, until it was all gone. He followed suit and waited for you to tell him what was next.

Plates of bread, meats, fish, cheese and berries appeared at some point. You tried a little of each, but in all honesty, Thor ate the majority, which was fine by you. He enjoyed his food, took pleasure in it, you could see the hint of a smile each time he tasted something particularly good.

You felt a little bad for him, squeezed into the booth, his tummy rounded out in front of him onto the table. Only a little bad though, because you were enjoying the sight of it, so soft, so big, so round, right there in front of you. It took all your restraint not to slide your fingers between two of the buttons of his shirt to touch it, feeling it bloat as he drank and ate.

Around the time you started drinking the cider was when it really went wrong. It was one of those ciders where the sweetness belied its strength. The noise in the pub died down at just the wrong moment, so that your conversation with Thor was interrupted by a woman getting rowdy at the bar, staring over at your table and pointing.

“-just so pathetic, just look at him! Getting fat, drinking all the time, parading his Midgardian whore for all to see! We all know what those storms are about! Bet she’s only after him for his-”

The rest of her tirade was drowned out by Thor, roaring as he stood up, sending the remaining drinks flying. Without a word, he stormed out, leaving you soaked in beer, cheeks burning, with everyone staring at you.

You shouldn’t have said anything. Should’ve kept your dignity. But you were several drinks in on an almost empty stomach, and pretty much nothing was going to get you to hold your tongue. You stood up on the leather seat, so that everyone could see you, slowly clapping your hands.

“Amazing. Well done. Do you have any idea what you just did there? He finally feels well enough to be a part of your society and this is how you treat him?”

“He abandoned us! After-” the woman at the bar tried to continue.

“Shut the fuck up,” you snarled, glaring at her. “This is hard, for all of you, I get it. You’ve lost everything. But it’s not his fault. He did the best that he could and his best wasn’t good enough. He brought you here, I guess because he thought it was the best, the safest place that he could think of.

“The last few years have not been kind to any of us. But how the fuck do you think he feels? His mum, his dad, his brother. They’re all dead and there’s no way that could be undone. He found out he had a sister and then she tried to kill him, taking his eye in the process. You don’t have to like everything that he’s done but try to see it from his perspective.

“He got banished here...but who among you wouldn’t have tried to take revenge if someone ruined an event you’d looked forward to your whole life? When he brought Jane Foster to Asgard, do you think he feels good about the fact that the dark elves attacked and killed people? No! Of course, he doesn’t! His own mother was one of them. But if someone you cared about was sick, and you knew where they could get help, wouldn’t you do it?

“And after that, when he disappeared? He was trying to find the infinity stones. To stop Thanos. Yeah, it didn’t work, but he tried. Which is more than the rest of us can say. And again, when he went to forge Stormbreaker. There are some things in life that cannot be fixed with muscle or lightning or even sheer force of will. None of us could’ve done any better. I doubt any of us would’ve held up as well as he did for as long as he did. He thinks it’s his fault that half of us got dusted. But that’s all on Thanos.

“Who among us has not drowned their sorrows or eaten their feelings to try to forget what has happened? Hmm? He has been fighting for you, trying to protect you, for as long as he has been able to. What are five bad years in the grand scheme of a life that’s already lasted over 1,000 years? He needs you more than you need him now. He needs his people to show him love, compassion, understanding. Fight for him, and protect him, just like he has protected you.

“And, so what if he doesn’t look how he used to? That is not a good measure of who is and what he has done. Even though he couldn’t bring back his family, he still fought to bring back yours, losing his friends in the process. And this is the thanks he gets? You’re lucky he’s far kinder than I could ever be. You’re lucky he’s even here at all, trying to look after you, in his own way, even when he can’t look after himself.

“And me? I’m not a whore. I fuck because I enjoy it, not for money. I don’t know where this distrust, disdain, dislike for people like me comes from, but here’s the thing. You are on my planet now. You need to get used to us and accept us, or you can fuck right back off into space. I’ve lived on this planet a longer than you have, and let me tell you, yes, there are some terrible fucking people out there, but on the whole, we’re an alright bunch. But treating us like shit will not make your stay here any better.

“Now, I’m not going anywhere. I’m here to work, and I’m here to help. And I will come here every lunchtime for as long as I live in New Asgard, and tell you about life on this planet, and help you to adjust if that will help. But I will not be the subject of rumour and jealous gossip, and I will not have you talk to him, or about him, like that, after everything he has sacrificed for the people of Asgard. Maybe, just maybe, the reason he likes Midgardian women is that we actually listen to him, instead of thinking of him as a piece of meat, a notch on your bedpost to say that you bedded the mighty Thor, instead of getting to know who he really is. You were the people who put him on a ridiculous pedestal, who made him out to be perfect, infallible, and he is the one who has to suffer.

“Right,” you announced, grabbing a glass and draining the dregs that weren’t covering you or the table. “My apologies to those of you who were polite, I’m sorry for interrupting your evening. To the rest of you, I hope you’re ashamed. I hope you think about what has happened here, and if he ever has the courage to venture out again, I hope you behave with a bit more decency.”

You slammed the glass, grabbed your bag and jumped down to the floor, and were almost at the door when a hand on your shoulder stopped you.

“What?” you hissed, whirling around.

“Your-your cloak, m’lady,” the ebony-haired man replied, offering the heavy garment to you.

“Oh right, yes. Thank you. And I’m sorry about that.”

“No, no it’s ok. It was...refreshing. I think people needed to hear that.”

***

With the cloak slung over your arm, you storm out into the dark night. You’ve no idea where Thor went, so you circle around to the right. He’s sat on the ground, back against the cold wall of the pub.

“Hey,” you said, announcing your presence before sitting down on your cloak next to him. “I’m sorry, that was uncalled for. She shouldn’t have said those things.”

“No...but she did have some points. I am pathetic and fat and I drink all the time. My father once told me that I was unworthy of these realms, unworthy of my title, unworthy...of the loved ones I have betrayed! And he was right!” Thor heaves, angry tears running down his face.

“That’s not true, Thor,” you said hugging him to your chest. “I’m sure he was angry when he said that but I don’t think he meant it. The ones who love us most say the things that hurt us the most because we value their opinion the most. I couldn’t do what you do, to keep trying, when everything you say or do or don’t is a public matter and open to the scrutiny and opinion of everyone.”

“I thought I wanted to be king, I thought I would be good…”

“And you are. Were. Whichever. I’m sure your father must’ve done things that the other Asgardians didn’t like,” you assured him.

“Ha, yeah. Just ask Brunnhilde.”

“Well, there you go. People often remember the past as being better than it was. Sometimes they need to be reminded that you have feelings too, and that you’re allowed to make mistakes.”

“Yeah, I, uh, heard you. In there. Telling people…” Thor admitted, a little embarrassed.

“Ah.”

“You were quite loud, I was impressed. I didn’t realise Midgardian women could be so loud. I thought it was just the men, like Stark.”

“I’m sorry for embarrassing you.”

“No, no, not at all. You’re just the latest in a long line of wonderful women who’ve defended me over the years. My mother, Sif, the Valkyrie...thank you for standing up for me. It means a lot that you, who have known me for such a short time, would be the one to defend me. That is what Asgard seems to have lost, a willingness to fight for what is right. But they have already fought so much, I don’t blame them.”

“It’s a sorry state of affairs if your only defender is an angry drunk woman,” you smiled, trying to make light of the situation.

“I’ve gone into battle with Brunnhilde, sometimes an angry drunk woman is what you need,” he laughed. “I’m sorry tonight didn’t go as planned.”

“That’s alright, my sweet bear. The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men, gang aft agley.”

Thor knows you’ve said something profound, in a language similar, but different to your own. Anything more than that has him stumped, and his face shows it.

“That’s Rabbie Burns, he was a Scottish poet. It basically means that the best-laid plans often go wrong.”

“Oh right, I see. My brother liked poetry and books and things. I guess you could say I preferred more physical activities.”

“Oh, is that so?” you ask, arching an eyebrow at him. “How about we go home and do some physical activities? More gentle than this morning though, it was a struggle sitting in there,” you said, nodding your head back towards the pub.

Thor doesn’t need to be asked twice.

***

You arrived back at Thor’s, having collected your meagre belongings from the hut. He’d been surprised by how little you had, but you assured him that the majority of your stuff was in storage back home. The posy he’d picked for you had also made its way to the cabin.

“Do you think you’ll go back?” he’d asked and you’d responded with a shrug. He knew better than to press the issue.

You were glad to get back. After the initial rush of adrenaline, you realised how cold you were with the now sodden dress sticking to your legs.

“Thor, would you mind helping me out of this?” you requested as he gently put the backpack containing your belongings on the floor.

“Certainly.”

You could’ve done it yourself, but you just wanted Thor to be close to you, to feel like he was helping. To feel like he was valued.

“Why is it all wet?” he asked as he grabbed the hem of the dress to help pull it up and over.

“The dress or me?” you smirked.

“The-the dress…” You really were the worst, he’d decided. He couldn’t keep up that mouth of yours. Oh, that mouth of yours, and what it could do, what he wanted it to do...

“Well, when you left the pub, you sent the drinks flying, and I ended up wearing some of them,” you explained as he lifted the fabric over your head.

“I’m truly sorry, I can’t seem to do anything right,” he mumbled, folding the dress and placing it on top of the dresser.

“That’s not true, Thor.”

When he turned around, the sight of you took his breath away. Stood there in your lingerie and your boots, he felt himself grow erect in seconds.

“If I’d have known that was what you were wearing underneath, I wouldn’t have bothered to take you out,” he said, trying not to ogle you too much. The tiny scraps of fabric between him and the most sensitive parts of you were more arousing to him than seeing you naked. The bites and bruises mottling your skin should’ve made him feel embarrassed but it excited him even more. He’d left those marks, and you’d allowed him to do it. That was the powerful thing about it. You allowed him to do it. Because you enjoyed it, because wanted him to do it, because you wanted him.

Because you wanted him.

“See something you like?” you smirked again. He just nodded in response, his tongue too stupid to say what his mind wanted to express. “Let me show you something you do very right.” You stepped forward, grabbing him by the suspenders, pulling him towards you as you backed yourself up against the wall. Once he was pressing into you with his round stomach, you ran your fingers up into his hair, pulling him down to kiss you. You could feel his hardness digging into you.

What was left of your lipstick was firmly smeared around Thor’s mouth when he stepped back from you. After the disaster of the rest of the evening, you wanted it to have a happy ending, so you slid the suspenders off his shoulders and down his strong arms, before unbuttoning his shirt and jeans, freeing his stomach.

“Mmm,” you purred as you pressed hungry kisses to his skin, hands caressing all that you could grab. “I think we should get you out of this, don’t you?”

Thor removed his clothes and let you guide him to the bed. He saw the way you looked at his hard-on and hoped you could read his mind. He’d never experienced anything like it when you’d taken him in your mouth during the shower.

He silently thanked the Norns when you settled between his plush thighs and began licking his shaft, one hand caressing his inner thigh. When you began to suck him in earnest, working your way down slowly, until you had him fully inside you, his breath came in noisy rasps. Your forehead nodded into the downy underside of his tummy and he cursed the fact that he couldn’t see you over it.

“Stupid...fat...gut. Wish...I...could...watch...you,” he huffed.

You pulled off him and stood up, much to his dismay.

“C’mon, get up. Come over here,” you commanded and he obeyed you, unsure of what you had in mind, but trusting that he’d like it. You got him to stand near the mirror, side-on, before dropping to your knees.

“Look in the mirror, Thor.”

The sight alone nearly made him explode. He could see it all. Him, big and powerful, standing over you, as you slowly took him back inside your mouth. Breasts jiggling behind the black lace, the swell of your backside, tinted various shades of purple. He held his tummy, feeling the heft of it, almost admiring it, so that you could take him deeper. Playing with his balls and stroking the sensitive skin of his inner thigh, he watched you blink back tears as you took him deep, repeatedly, between your delicate red lips, never looking away from the mirror. That’s what really did it for him, the way you maintained eye contact with him in the mirror. It was the kind of thing that would’ve made even Fandral, for all of his womanising, blush.

He kept his word to Brunnhilde, and refrained from causing a storm, as he came in your mouth, hard. Generous as ever, you swallowed it all, licking him clean as you withdrew. Bending down, he scooped you into his arms, hugging you close as he carried you to bed.

“Darling, thank you. That was amazing,” he rasped, his breathing still ragged. It was all catching up with you and you could feel yourself drifting off as he held you against his plush chest underneath the duvet. You were in the dip in the middle, as seemed to be the norm.

“Thor?”

“Yes?”

“If I’m going to live here, can we get a new mattress, please?”

“Yes, yes of course.” And with that, you were out like a light. Thor cursed the fact that the light was still on but he didn’t have the heart to move and wake you, so he lay his head back on the pillow, content to let you use his chest as yours.

@morganhoran1671 @innerpaperexpertcloud

[gulshanrewariblog]

Mynah 🐦 v/s Mrs. Sudha – by Gulshan Rewari

Images and references courtesy: Google Search

One day Mrs. Ritu Sudha noticed a couple of Mynahs sitting on the air conditioner unit, mounted high on the wall in the verandah, outside her bedroom. She immediately crossed her fingers in delight, expecting some good fortune to descend upon her as those were her favorite birds. Ever since her childhood, she had strongly believed the superstition, ‘One for sorrow, two for joy,’ and undoubtedly counted upon it. But as she saw littering of straws and leaves around the place, almost immediately her feelings turned negative and she realize the obvious. She went to investigate the unwanted visitors, fluttering about all over the verandah, like they were making an annual inspection usually required at the onset of summer season in northern India for the AC service. On sustained observation, Ritu’s worst fears came alive as she discovered that they were in the process of building a nest on the unit. But to be absolutely sure, she mounted on a wooden stool and stretched high on her toes and saw the birds, particularly the one smaller in size and probably a female, carefully weaving a nest of twigs and straws, while the other was feeding it with the constant supply of raw material. Struggling on her toes, she couldn’t hold on for long and quickly dismounted to the ground with a thud as her feet entangled in the nightie she was in. She cursed under her breath and hurried inside, looking for something to scare the birds away, vowing to teach a lesson they will remember for life.

Myna or Mynah, as it is commonly called in India is an omnivorous bird with strong territorial instinct that has adapted extremely well to the urban environments. It is one of the most invasive birds that had just about met her match in the equally stubborn Ritu, who was now looking at ways to dismantle their unfinished abode. After weighing in countless options, she returned with a long handled broom, and placed it over the unit to scare the birds that kept coming back repeatedly like they were going to attack. After some lull in the activity, when she thought to have managed to convey the message across, the bird, together with her partner, kept moving the broom little by little until it fell down. Frustrated Ritu sought other remedies while barging in and out of the verandah and muttering under her breath. Witnessing something amiss, tall and lanky, Mr. Ravi Sudha couldn’t resist his curiosity to inquire, and got instantly sucked into the matter. Now both of them were exploring ways to get out of the situation that had presented itself that morning. Ravi’s morning tea was dependent upon finding a quick fix to the problem at hand.

But nevertheless he tried to reason with his wife, ‘I thought this was your favorite bird.’

‘Not if it is building a nest and making a mess of my verandah,’ she snorted back.

‘But she isn’t alone, her partner is with her and you would see them every day,’ he reasoned.

‘No way can I have them create a nuisance at my place,’ she said with finality, gesturing with her hand to dissuade her husband from making any more argument for it. Mr. Sudha understood that this pair of birds would have to breed elsewhere and pretended to help her in whatever she was doing.

Originally, a nursery rhyme about the number of magpies seen, tells if one will have bad or good luck. As the superstition goes;

One for sorrow, Two for joy, Three for a girl, Four for a boy, Five for silver, Six for gold, Seven for a secret, Never to be told. Eight for a wish, Nine for a kiss, Ten for a bird, you must not miss Eleven is worse Twelve for a dastardly curse.

The whole poem, barring first couple of lines, was of no consequence to Ritu, who since her childhood was a firm believer of sunshine horoscopes, numerology and fortune teller tales and their remedies. If she had heard that bird’s nest in the house was inauspicious then so be it and no one could challenge or change her beliefs. After few of Ravi’s suggestion were rubbished and shown way to the dustbin, she called up her mother and dissected the whole issue with her in detail. Putting to use her mother’s advice she got on the stool once again and sprinkled the unit with turmeric powder, red pepper and some other herbs and waited behind the pillar. Ravi, getting hopeful for a cup of tea which was a necessity with his morning paper, requested politely that he would keep vigil while she prepared the tea inside, but Ritu was having none of it that morning. ‘Can’t you wait, don’t you see how important this work is?’ she shouted, while peeking from behind the pillar to see if her trick was working.

The birds were taken aback for few minutes, inspecting and smelling the impediments that lay so elaborately spread out their way, but soon settled on the unit to wipe everything clean with their feet and resume the construction of their new home. Ritu, who was by now shaking uncontrollably with rage, sprang out of hiding and ran wildly towards the AC unit with her raised arms to scare the birds away. But the determined birds would fly off for a while and again get back to their task high on the unit, leaving fuming Ritu to her misery below. She stood there brandishing a long wooden rod, discouraging them from doing their task but at the same time being extremely cautious of not touching and damaging the unit. The sun was beginning to beat hard on her soft skin and it was becoming increasingly unbearable to stand there and keep waving the rod like a flag in the stadium, without being ridiculed by the neighbors. Ritu left the battlefield dejected and miserable to step inside to the comfort of her bedroom and plan her next strategy.

Ritu phoned few of the staff members of her now shut school owing to the nationwide lock-down on the account of Covid – 19 pandemic. By evening some suggestions that looked promising, were acted upon and items like black paper crow, a stuffed monkey, (full of dust) belonging to her son’s infancy years and a fake egg were collected from various nooks and corners of the house and placed on the AC unit while the birds were away. Ritu felt glad when she went out in the morning to check to find all items intact on the unit and the birds absent; and the lucky husband got his tea that morning with the newspaper. Ravi wanted to comment that day as well but decided against it realising fully well his views on the matter wouldn’t be tolerated. He was anyways content that his morning tea was served without him being bothered in any way; but somehow he wasn’t convinced that the matter was done and dusted as yet.

Ravi was jolted out of the depths of his newspaper when he heard an alarming commotion outside his bedroom and he leapt towards the verandah to witness the adamant birds, now in the company of their friends, being helped to slowly push the fakes down the unit one by one. All of Ritu’s dreams of the securing a victory were being shattered with bang and she grew out of control shouting at everyone around in hope to scare the birds away. Two of her neighbors ran inside, confused and terrified of her behavior but not the birds that were quickly getting rid of everything placed there to commence their activity. Indoors once again, calls were made by Ritu and new tenders invited for the complete dismantling and decimation of the invader’s abode. Many plans and strategies were discarded and new sought from her friends and family members but all the while Ravi was kept out of the consultations.

In the end when nothing measured up to Ritu’s expectations, Ravi suggested something she was forced to consider as it made perfect sense. Suspicious still, she examined the idea with her mother and friends and only after being given a go ahead by them, she decided to implement it. Two of her peons were summoned from their homes and upon their arrival, a big ladder sought from a neighbor to climb up and measure the gap between the top of the unit and the ceiling. Once that was established, card-boards of that size were searched by all concerned in and outside of the house. With cues once again from Ravi, two empty shoe boxes were pressed and glued into the gap leaving no space for anything living or dead between the AC unit and the ceiling. Now there was no way anything could be built there and everyone left immensely satisfied and relieve at the same time.

Ravi’s efforts and ideas bore fruits and he was treated to some delicious meals in the following days by Ritu, whose victory was glorified by her relatives and friends and her resolve for all things important in life were appreciated immensely. She subsequently started to accompany her husband in the verandah for morning tea and occasionally glanced towards the AC unit to make sure of her victory.

“I feel bad that I didn’t allow them to settle here, but the dwelling in the east brings bad fortune. I wish they had chosen the back unit instead,” she lamented one morning sounding dejected. Ravi was tempted to say something but decided against it and just smiled. In the times of the lock-down, people were always indoors but lot of Ravi’s time was spent in and around the verandah particularly at the dawn and dusk and he noticed something intriguing.

It was when the clouds, were being as adamant as his wife, in keeping the Sun from being out on the horizon, Ravi noticed a mild movement around his AC unit. It was followed by a faint sound of flapping of wings and there in an instance emerged a beak out of nowhere from behind the unit and from a tiny space between the unit and the wall it was mounted on, flew a Mynah, swiftly disappearing into the dense surrounding of the neighborhood. Ravi let out a small cry and hurried on to inspect the site that had appeared so calm till moments ago. On studying very minutely, he detected a small hole plucked in the shoe box from where the bird had appeared. It looked like the perfect game of chess where clearly his wife was checkmated all ends. The birds had cleverly used the opponent resources to house their new family. After being certain that the mynah had laid eggs that had probably been hatched by now, Ravi leapt toward his chair before his unsuspecting wife could lay the tray of two tea cups thereon the table and pretended to admire the cloudy weather. Ritu looked little apprehensive about the nervousness of her husband but didn’t make much of it since he was quite odd in her eyes anyways.

While sipping on his tea and hiding behind the newspaper, Ravi went into a deep thought as to what should be the course of action to counter this new development. The daily stomach bulging feast, sweeten by pampering, was on the line. Moreover the calm prevailing over the family during the pandemic was a welcome change for him and his two children who were also surprised with the sudden generosity of their mother. If he didn’t do anything about the situation, sooner than later his wife would notice the presence of the birds and turn this serenity on its head into a storm.

He sat thinking for a while and then blurted, “Ritu do you know the whole poem about Mynahs.”

“I don’t and have no interest in knowing,” said Ritu, little surprised at the sudden topic.

“But I googled it and learned that more than four of these birds bring in Gold and Silver as fortune,” declared Ravi, who wasn’t ready to give up so easily.

“No I have had enough of these for now,” rebutted Ritu, who wasn’t having any of it.

Ravi remained calm and showed her the poem and explained to her that if they had let the birds nested, they could have called good fortune upon themselves. Ritu reluctantly agreed to the fact that whatever she had done wasn’t quite right and wished none of it to have happened. That day was the most difficult to pass as Ravi decided to wait till the next day to break the news to his wife. At night he again lamented the events that had occurred in the last few days and brought Ritu to agree to regret her deeds.

In the morning Ravi waited patiently under the AC unit for the bird to emerge while Ritu was in the kitchen preparing tea. He patted the unit lightly with the wooden rod to stir things inside the shoe box and soon a parent hopped out of the hole to make an inquiry. At that moment Ravi, in hope to break the story, shouted to beckon his wife. Before Ritu could approached he exclaimed, “God has listen to our prayers and guided the birds to make the nest here in this shoe box.” He excitedly showed her the birds and hugged her tightly hoping to deter her from making a scene. Ritu was too stunned to react and got carried away with her loving husband’s display of affection and slowly but surely embraced the situation. She reclined to the fact that God had mended her wrong doing and although she had lost the battle of jealousy and hatred, she had won the war of good fortune and peace.

[alleycat97]

Sleepover

Pairing: Eliana x MC

Description: Tired of her mother and sister fighting, Aria needed a break from trying to hold the family tigether. Close to exhaustion and no place to go, she finds the one person who can make everything better, Eliana.

Disclaimer: Not my characters. Please enjoy!!

...

“I know you took it! If I find out you took it, I’ll be mad at you forever!” Alexis stomped out of the room angrier than ever.

Your mother tried to plead with her, only getting angrier with her youngest daughter, she already told her she didn’t take her cherished sweatshirt but Alexis wasn’t satisfied with that.

From the first day of this vacation, from the day of her fathers funeral, Alexis and yall’s mother have been going at each other, sometimes for the silliest of things. No matter how hard Aria tried to get them together and see the light, no matter her efforts to bring them together. Whether it be a spa day, making drinks by the pool or coming together at the annual clam bake, the victories were only temporary.

Aria would make ground on her sister and mother only to have another thorn burst her bubble and she would have to restart. You would think her explosion at the breakfast table would have knocked some sense into her family but it was looked over and here they were, arguing over a sweatshirt. This summer was hopeless and Aria was done trying to hold her life, her family, and her fathers legacy together.

“THATS IT! I HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF YALL’S CRAP!” Aria exploded, making her mother cover her mouth in shock and stopping Alexis in her tracks.

“No matter what I do, how hard I try to bring you two together, the worse off we are! Maybe we should just sell this stupid house! Maybe we should get out of this stupid town and never come back and never see each other again!”

“Aria...You don’t mean that.” Her mother tried.

“Oh? This family is a disaster because you two cannot get along! I’m tired of being the glue.”

“Where are you going?” Alexis asked.

“Its none of your business!” Aria yelled out slamming the door leaving her family members shocked.

Aria walked in frustration to wherever her feet took her, that just so happened to be a familiar cowboy bar downtown. It was late but a few patreons were there enjoying the music, drinks, and mechanical bull.

Aria slid onto a bar stool with her head slumped low. Then she slid up from behind the bar,

“Well hello to you.” Eliana greeted. “Aww why the long face?”

Aria let out a long sigh, “Its my mom and sister again. They’re fighting over Alexis’ lost sweatshirt.”

Eliana couldn’t help but giggle, she knew of Aria’s situation but the reasons kept getting sillier, “Well what’s so special about this sweatshirt.”

“It was my dads and he gave it to Alexis. She always wears it.” Aria explained.

Eliana didn’t need to figure out why it was special to the girl now. “So what happened?”

“Alexis came running downstairs freaking out over it. She couldn’t find it and automatically started blaming mom because mom told her it was time to get a new one.”

“So do you think your mom took it?” Eliana asked while she prepped some customers drink.

“Honestly? No. If anything mom probably took it to get patched up. Mom has tons of issues with dad being gone, so getting rid of his stuff is helping her get rid of her baggage. Hince the reason for selling the house. But she knows that shirt is special to Alexis, she would never.”

“So Alexis blew up at your mom and wouldn’t let her explain herself, you tried to intervene like usual but finally blew up for good?” Eliana asked wiping the bar down.

“Yes. And this time, idk. I’m so tired of trying to be the peacemaker. Dad would be so disappointed but I’ve done all I can do, I don’t K...know...why they can’t get along.” Aria tried fighting the tears but they overwhelmed her.

“Oh sweetie.” Eliana placed her hands in Aria’s and leaned over the bar. “I can’t say I fully understand your problem because I’ve never been there. Being the youngest of 3 older brothers and all. But one thing I know is that they are my family and no matter how much I may hate them at any given moment, I’ll always have their back.”

There was something magical about Eliana. It didn’t matter how awful she felt, or how bad her day was going, Aria knew the moment she saw the woman, her problems would go away. She was literally the most precious thing she had ever seen. From her talks about her turtles, to drawing doodles with her tongue sticking out, the woman was serious in everything she did and it was the cutest thing Aria had ever saw.

“Do you want something to drink? Maybe calm your nerves?” Eliana asked.

“No thank you. I should get going, I’m gonna go lay on the beach.” Aria said rising from her stool.

Eliana bit her lip in wonder, “Aria it’s 11pm! Just go home?”

“I’m not going home. For tonight anyway. I can stay on the beach, atleast it’s peaceful.”

Eliana cleared the register and stowed away the cash and quickly flipped the sign to ‘closed’ before ushering the straggling patreons out.

“Eliana what are you doing?” Aria quizzed.

“You’re coming home with me. It’ll be fun, like a old fashion sleepover.”

“But...but...can you do that?” Aria asked amazed.

“Well I just did. Come on so I can lock the door.”

Aria couldn’t contain her smile and excitement, Eliana grabbed her hand and they walked a few blocks to the woman’s apartment.

“Don’t laugh, it’s not much, but it does the job.” Eliana said pulling Aria through the threshold into her tiny apartment.

Aria looked around at the immaculate apartment, it was super cute with a beautiful view of the ocean. It wasnt large but for Eliana it was perfect.

“Are you hungry? I can fix you something if you would like?” Eliana asked trying to be a good host. Aria could tell that she was nervous.

“Oh no thank you. I’m fine. Come sit silly.” Aria said patting the couch.

Eliana did as asked and sat down beside Aria who gladly put her arm snuggly around the girl.

“Eliana relax. I can hear you thinking.” Aria said laughing at Eliana and her fidgeting.

“I’ve never actually had a sleepover before. I don’t know what to do.” Eliana let out. That was her greatest weakness and fear. Everything Eliana did had to be planned out thoroughly, she didn’t half ass anything and it had to be perfect.

“The Eliana Flores has never had a sleepover!?” Aria laughed out. Seeing the down look on her face, Aria stopped teasing and pulled her closer. “The best thing about a sleepover is there is no rules to go by. We make it up as we go.”

“Really? But I thought we had to gossip and do each other’s nails and talk about nonsense.” Eliana asked.

“Well yes. But we can do whatever you want to do. It’s your house, I’m just glad to be here with you.”

Eliana stretched her arms and let a yawn escape, “Sounds like someone is tired.” Aria laughed.

“I’ve been up for hours researching my turtle. I’m starting to get worried. It’s been weeks and I can’t locate her.” There was the passion Aria loved.

“Well how about we get some rest and I’ll help you search tomorrow, the least I can do for you taking me in.”

Eliana smiled, “Just as long as you talk to your family.” Aria had to agreed.

Eliana stepped into her bedroom and came out packing a pair of sweats, “Here Aria, these should fit you.”

Aria practically ripped them out of Eliana’s arms with excitement and stripped down baring it all for Eliana to see and hopped in her sweats wearing a huge smile.

Eliana stood in shock at the sight of a nearly naked Aria before she put her sweats on.

“Well? How do I look?” Aria said modeling the slightly baggy sweats, rapping her arms across her front hugging herself tightly.

“Oh. Um. You look. Yeah.” Eliana couldn’t put together a proper sentence earning a laugh from Aria. “So that’s means I look good?” Eliana nodded.

Aria sprawled out on the couch preparing to settle in when Eliana spoke up, “You can stay in my bed if you want. I can sleep on the couch.”

Aria got up and looked the woman over with a devilish smirk, “I got a better idea.” Aria grabbed Eliana and pulled her inside her room and hopped on the neatly made bed. “We will sleep together.”

“Oh” Eliana stuttered. “Ok, ju...just let me change.” Eliana grabbed her pjs and headed for the bathroom but was cutoff by Aria.

“No ma’am. Strip for me.”

Eliana’s jaw hit the floor. “You want me to strip?”

“It’s only fair Ellie, you saw my goods. I think the host should return the favor.”

Eliana nodded and slowly stepped out of her jeans and pulled her shirt off. Earning a satisfying moan from Aria. “Like what you see?” Eliana confidently spoke.

“Mmmmhm. I do I do I do.”

Eliana feeling confident finally pulled on her pajamas and Aria couldn’t help but laugh at the cuteness before her.

“What’s so funny?” Eliana inquired.

“Those pjs are the absolute cutest!” Aria squealed. It was just simple sleeping shorts and cami top covered in little sea turtles.

“If you hadn’t noticed I’m kind of obsessed with turtles.”

Aria pulled Eliana in bed and they quickly crawled under the covers. Eliana laid on her side like she normally did, and Aria slid up behind her, pulling herself firmly against Eliana and laid her arm securely over the woman.

“I know. That’s what I like most about you my little nerd.” Aria placed a kiss on Eliana’s cheek and the duo drifted off to sleep.

[angrylizardjacket]

convenient {Roger Taylor}

Anon asked: can you do a roger taylor imagine where you were just one of his flings but you keep coming back to each other and one night you’re at a show and he won’t stop looking at u and finally u confront him about your feelings like bitch i love u and he’s like o shit same but seriously any fluffy roger imagine would be fine cause i love my mans ajdjjskdj

Anon asked: heyyy, i really enjoyed always been close; i thought it was a beautiful mix of sweet and realistic. i was wondering if you would write something similar for roger with lots of like,, jealousy and elements of pining and sweetness and all that good shit. anywayssss, thank you so much for even reading this, love your work!

A/N: 3228 words. I realised I had only done one male!reader fic and I’m so sorry, I’ll try to correct that imbalance!! Um, light smut?? So yeah, male pronouns for reader.

Roger had never been shy about his sexuality in any sense of the word; he’d lived his late teenage years through the sixties, practically drenched in rock and roll and counter culture, sexuality, and more importantly sex, had never really been a huge moral issue with him.

And that’s how it starts with you.

You catch his eye from behind the drums at a gig, at least when Tim's not blocking his way, and you're hovering by the bar, a drink in hand, laughing at something the person beside you said, and even as he looks away, goes back to concentrating on his drumming, he can't get your smile out of his head.

You're not from around here, dragged here by some friends who swear up and down that the band is worth the trip, and you humour them, comfortable at the peripheries with a revolving door of friends keeping you company when they're not dancing. You're not much of a dancer, which is unfortunate because you're friends are right, the band is really quite good, some of their songs really have the crowd moving, but you're too self conscious in the new environment to even awkwardly bop, like you'd been known to do from time to time. The band is attractive enough, the bassist and guitarist looking like every other pair of rock and roll, uni-band, frontmen you'd seen in the last year, and you can't see the drummer for the drumkit on the stage, but you're pretty sure he's blonde.

"Having a good night?" During the break between sets, you're pulled out of your own thoughts by a voice beside you at the bar. Looking over your shoulder, you see a guy leaning against the wooden counter top, smirking, and 'oh no, he's cute' doesn't even begin to cover it. What's really killing you is probably his choice of open, button-down shirt in the middle of winter, but the doe-eyes and soft-looking blonde hair are also strong contenders.

"Yeah, it's great!" You respond easily, trying to keep your cool, "actually I'm pretty glad I was dragged out, these guys are good." And at that, his smile actually brightens.

"Well fuck, you're nice too, I think I'm obligated to buy you a drink." And he's already ordering you a pint as the bartender places his own in front of him; she doesn't make him pay for either.

"I- sure." You may not be known for dancing, but you're also not known to refuse free drinks from attractive strangers. "What do you mean 'too'?" You ask, and he turns back to you, taking a sip of his drink. There's a moment where he looks you over very pointedly, and you feel your heart beat a little faster as you avert your gaze for a moment.

"You, looking like that, complimenting my band?" After a beat, the bartender puts the drink down between the two of you and the realisation of what he's said sinks in, "you certainly know your way into a man's..." and he takes a very long, very pointed sip of his drink, refusing to break eye contact with you, "heart."

"Your band?" Is all you can think to ask, flustered by his forwardness.

"Roger. I'm the drummer." And it takes you a moment to realise that it's not an affirmation, it's his name, and only because he's holding his hand out to you.

"Y/N." You respond, taking his hand to shake it, before accepting the drink in front of you.

"You sticking around for the rest of the show?" He asked, shooting for casual, and you have to laugh a little at that; somehow his complete lack of subtlety was endearing.

"I think I might; maybe I can buy you a drink after the next set?" You ask, and Roger can't keep the pleased little smile from his face.

"I drink for free during the show," he says bluntly, and your heart sinks a little at the gesture being refused, but he holds out his cup, as if for a cheers, "how about after?"

Despite his earlier confidence, he's gentle, careful even, and it's about the time he's going down on you that you realise he probably doesn't have a lot of experience with guys; he's obviously got some experience, it not even that he's doing a bad job - he's really not - he just fumbles here and there, seems a little uncertain at times.

"Good, you're doing- doing really good." You're a little breathless, and it comes out as a half-moan, hand fisted in his hair.

"Thanks." He replies automatically, a little awkward, made a lot awkward with your dick in his mouth, and you actually have to let go of him to muffle your laughter. He's pulling back too, unable to help the laughter that escapes him, a little embarrassed and grinning brightly.

"Come here," you coax him to you, smiling as you press his lip to yours, moaning against his mouth as his hand takes over where his mouth had left you hard and wanting more despite both your amusements at the situation.

You've got no delusions regarding the night; it's fun, Roger's fun, and the next morning you catch a bus back to your home while he's still mostly asleep. Mostly. When you shift off the bed, pulling on your underwear, he reaches out, fingers grazing down your back, warm, a contrast to the cool morning air.

"Get home safe, okay?" He yawns, and turns over, away from you. You don't take it personally.

You don't think about him much after that, actually no, that was a total lie, you don't admit you think about him a lot after that, the blonde boy who made you laugh despite only knowing each other for less than a few hours, the drummer with energy to spare and a moan like music. Your friends tease you about the whole situation, nothing too mean, usually just about how you hadn't wanted to come out, then it turns out you didn't want to come home, but they're also the first to suggest going to see the band play when they come to your local pub.

It's been almost a month since you've seen him, and you're not exactly nervous, just unsure of what to expect. And you're late, spent too long fretting over what to wear, walking in at the end of the first set.

"Fancy seeing you here." He grins at you like you're old friends and something tightens in your chest at the realisation that he does in fact recognise you.

"I should be the one saying that, this is my local pub after all." You say, thanking the bartender as she passes over your drink.

"Local, huh?" He muses, and you tip your glass towards him in a silent confirmation before taking a sip. He orders his drink with a look on his face like he's saving that information for later. He doesn't stick around for the whole break, heads over to a crowd where you can see someone telling an animated story, and you tell yourself you aren't disappointed.

It turns out the band's gotten rid of the old bass player, and the man telling the story was the new singer. He's a much better front man, would be incredibly captivating to watch if you could ever take your eyes off of Roger.

"You have a crush, don't you." Your friend's voice in your ear breaks your trance, and you jump. She laughs, but it's not unkind.

"Yeah, I slept with him once and now I'm madly in love." You snorted, voice full of sarcasm, and you looked at her through narrow eyes.

"You gonna hook up again?" She asked, and you made a noncommittal noise, hoping she couldn't sense how much you wanted to. "Tonight?" Okay, yeah, she could definitely tell. You make another, more grumbly noise of affirmation in the back of her throat. "Is this the second time you've ever met up with him?"

"I don't think the first time counts as meeting up, we met at the bar for the first time." You tried to reason, words spilling from you before you can register that you're digging yourself into a deeper hole. She just looks smug. Looking back at Roger, you see he's watching your little argument with an amused smirk, and he gives you a wink when he finally has your attention. You both look away, and your friend just gives you a shit eating grin.

He's more sure of himself this time, lets himself relax more, and there's that strangely endearing quality about him again, where he's got you laughing and moaning in the same breath, and he grins like he knows exactly what he does to you. You're definitely not complaining. In fact, part of you hopes he never stops looking at you like that.

He's a late sleeper, it turns out, because when you get up to shower the next morning, you come back to him still there, bundled up and hogging your duvet now that he's the only one in the bed, expression surprisingly peaceful. Going about your morning routine, you fix yourself breakfast and drop in front of the television, uncertain as to whether or not you should wake him. Usually hook ups just left, sometimes if they were awake you'd make them breakfast too, but Roger was just... still asleep. You didn't want to disturb him.

Once you're finished breakfast, you head back into the bedroom to make up your mind about what to do with him, but he's awake, looking at the ceiling, blinking as if to clear the sleep from his eyes.

"Sorry, I'll get going in a minute." He assured, and you shrugged awkwardly.

"I can, I don't know- do you want breakfast?" You asked, and he turned, frowning a little.

"You don't have to do that." He assured, already moving out from beneath the covers, searching around for his clothes.

"Just thought I'd offer; shower's there if you wanna use it." You added, and he gave a nod of confirmation, a murmur of thanks. He heads past you into the bathroom, and after he closes the door, you hear the water turn on.

You're laying on the sofa reading when he emerges, hair still a bit wet, and you say a quick prayer that you don't blurt out whatever comes to mind, because Christ, he looks so clean and soft and his hair is curling a little at the ends where it's drying and you've never wanted to make a mess of something as badly as you do now.

"Thanks, I'll see you around." He grins at you, already heading for the door. You, shooting for casual and not wanting to give away exactly how much you wanted him, didn't even get up.

"'course you will." You tell him, and his grin gets a little bit more sincere as he looks over his shoulder at you.

You see him again soon, but not how you wanted to, and definitely not how you expected to. It's the middle of a pub crawl, almost eleven, and you're already feelings the booze hit a little too hard. There's a side door to the pub that you're grateful to find when the smell of smoke and alcohol is getting too overwhelming, but the moment the door closes behind you and the noise of the pub dims, you realise the alley you'd stepped into is occupied.

After a beat of getting your sluggish mind around the situation, you look over at where the sound is coming from, before it abruptly stops, and you find yourself making direct eye contact with a very startled Roger, blushing, before a pretty brunette stands abruptly from where she'd been hidden out of eyesight behind a trashcan, her cheeks now bright red.

"Hi." Is what your mind thinks is the best thing to say in this situation, but you don't give either of them time to answer, before you're turning, almost falling and wrenching the door open. "I gotta go, don't let me stop you." The words spill from your mouth as your heading back into the bar, looking for a drink, your head suddenly feeling far too clear.

It doesn't hurt, it shouldn't hurt.

The next time you hook up, you're not sure how to feel at first, you're both a little drunk, and he's got his hand on your cock in the back of his van between sets. It's messy and quick, and when you finish, he fishes a box of tissues from the glove compartment.

"Hey, I'm sorry about- about last time." He works diligently to help you clean yourself up, not looking you in the eyes. "Like last time we saw each other, you know?" It was almost a full five weeks ago, and you can see a fading hickey just beneath the collar of his shirt.

"Don't worry about it." You assure him, still a little breathless, head leaning back against the inside of the van. "Hey, hey I can-" And you make to reach for the fly of his pants sitting up once you're cleaned up, and he moves back, fond smile on his face.

"I've still got another set to go." He smiled gently at you, something about the sight makes your heart melt just a little, despite the situation. "But I'm free after that."

You're still seeing a few people here and there, people who aren't him, but it doesn't feel right. It's weird, you've only been with him twice, well three times now, but it feels like the most natural thing in the world. And then it keeps happening. Often. Often enough that you become a regular face around his shared apartment, and yeah sure, sometimes Brian can't make eye contact with you over breakfast, but that's technically Roger's fault.

It's not every weekend, you still have a life to attend to, sleep to sometimes have amid your busy schedule, but maybe once a fortnight you find yourself heading out to one of Smile's gigs (and maybe Roger starts telling you their upcoming gigs, hoping to see you there).

It started out as sex, sure, but the moment you hear Roger call out 'there's my guy' when he spots you sitting at the end of the bar, a little hunched over, when you'd come in late, you realise you might be too far gone for him. It's Summer now, and he's wearing a part of red shorts that show off far too much of his legs, and a tight t-shirt, and your brain stalls for a minute at the sight.

"You can't call me that." You hide your flustered, embarrassed, fond smile in your drink, and he claps you on the shoulder.

"Why not? At this point you're like our number one fan; you're our guy." And he's beaming, high from the adrenaline of performing, bright and excited for the night.

That's not what you said, your mind wants you to tell him, but you can't bring yourself to say it. Because you're his guy, and you're fun and convenient and at their gigs, and in his bed even though he's got scratch marks that you didn't leave, and underwear in the corner of his room that doesn't belong to either of you, and this isn't a crush anymore it's bigger than that but he's still got other options he's trying to follow, and you've got a good thing going here so you can't ruin it.

"You okay?" He's standing so close now, you hadn't even realised, so lost in your own thoughts. He's got his thumb lifting your chin where you're hunching further over the bar, not looking at him. He's become careless recently, casually affectionate even while at gigs, and you relish the attention, forgetting how lonely you'll feel the next day without those casual touches.

He's smiling at you like you're the only thing that matters to him, and you just want to kiss him.

But you think it'll hurt if you try.

"Yeah, I'm fine." You assure him, and he's called away by Brian so he can't dwell on it. You leave during the next set. You're pretty sure he doesn't even know he's leading you on.

It feels like some kind of masochistic torture, dragging yourself to see the shows for a few more weeks, always leaving before the gig ends, always leaving alone. You're still bright when you're talking to him, playing pretend like everything's fine, and he seems none the wiser apart from where you don't go home together anymore, but the moment you head towards the door, you see girls and guys swoop in on him, like vultures, and you know you've made the right decision.

The fourth time you go to leave, you don't even try and say goodbye; it's a lull between songs and he sees you putting on your jacket-

"Hey, Y/N, could you hold up I'd like to talk to you after this set, thanks." He says directly into his microphone, and he expects you to wait, which you do, and he ignores Freddie's snide remark about the interruption.

"What's gotten into you, is everything okay? Are we okay?" The two of you step outside of the pub, into the breezy Summer night.

"Dude, there is no 'we'." You cross your arms over your chest, avoiding his gaze, heart already sinking. But then you hear the words spilling from his mouth;

"Of course there's a 'we', there's been one ever since you first offered to make me breakfast and let me use your shower and didn't just kick me out, okay?" He cried, voice strained with a sudden vulnerability you hadn't heard before. You were silent for a long moment, mouth agape, eyes wide. "But I don't know how to do that, so fucking around was good enough for me. I don't know how to do sappy, real shit." There's silence for a very long moment, and he looks suddenly very nervous.

"I think I'm in love with you." Is what you hear yourself saying, and relief breaks over his face.

"Thank fucking god; I think I'm love with you too." And he can barely finish the sentence before you're kissing him again, wrapping your arms around him and pulling him close. It's almost desperate the way he holds you, like he's been holding back and now he can finally hold you as tight as he wants, and God if you aren't feeling the same way.

"I'm glad to see you two kiss and make up," Brian's voice comes from the door and you and Roger break apart, but don't let go of each other, "trust me, Y/N, he's been insufferable, I almost miss hearing you two go at it at three in the morning-"

"Perv." You roll your eyes at him, though Roger just smirks.

"But we've still got a gig to finish." And with that he heads back inside. After a beat, you and Roger turn back to each other, amused and a little hesitant.

"I should head back inside, I hear my boyfriend's in the audience, I wouldn't want to disappoint him." And when Roger says that, your heart soars. He's smirking, but you can't help your bright, sappy grin.

"Yeah, my boyfriend's in the band, I wouldn't want to miss it."

[jack-andthestalk]

Stuck on you, Only you, Chapter 12.

This chapter was probably the hardest for me to write because I bounced over and back about it constantly, second guessing everything. It would not have happened without @balfeheughlywed, who instinctively knows what I need to hear and the best way for me to fix what is annoying me.

“Will ya stay a while?” Jamie asked as I turned to leave his apartment, when I quirked my eye at him, he added hurriedly “just to talk I mean…” a pink colour filling his cheeks amusing me. “Ok” I replied softly “Just for a little while.

He took my coat and nervously hovered over me.

“Will ya sit? So I can speak to ye, I have some things I would like to say,.” I nodded and he guided me towards the couch, he disappeared into his kitchen for a minute and returned with two tumblers with what I suspected was whiskey. “I have no wine.” He said apologetically.

  I took the whiskey “this is good, thank you.”   He sat on the couch beside me, his arm draped loosely across the back, the other holding the tumbler on his lap and his long legs stretched out in front of him.   “I should have checked before calling like that this morning, I ken I only made things worse for ye.”   I nodded “it wasn’t the best moment, I had just told Cathal what had happened between us and ….well then you showed up.”   Jamie bit his bottom lip, “I’m sorry…its just well…after last night, I had to see ye and all logic went out of the window….”   

                             “I feel terrible to betray him like that, it goes against every moral code I possess.”  

Jamie nodded, “I honestly don’t think we could help it Claire, but I do ken that"

  “Do you really though? Because the irony is not lost on me that you believed that once Jamie, you were convinced I had done the same to you… that is partly why we are in this mess…”      

 He peered into his glass for a moment before continuing

 “I…started suspecting something was going on between ye and him long before I…well I did what I did.”   “how long?” I asked quietly.    

He met my gaze, “do ye remember after ye came home from getting yer hair cut short?”  

His hand rose slowly and touched my hair, eyes glinting tenderly while he watched me. “Yes” I replied lowering my gaze slightly “you were quite enamoured with it as I recall?”   A broad smile broke out on his face and he stretched himself, “Oh god I was aye….if I ken rightly we spent the rest of the day in bed?” colour filled my cheeks and I glanced demurely downwards, Jamie just scoffed and continued. “Anyways…as we were lying in bed…I asked ye why you cut it…do ye remember?” I nodded. “you reminded me you needed it cut for Bosnia?” “Yes” I replied weakly. “Well I ken ye remember the argument that happened then and I’m no proud of it but if I am honest that is when it started for me…”   I recalled the argument. Jamie has asked me not to go to Bosnia, he was convinced that something would happen me.   “It was silly really something I would have gotten over in time, it was just fear of something happening to ye…death was a big fear for me after Willie, I couldna bear the thought not having you with me…but I reacted badly.”  

I nodded, “I tried to pull out of it but I would be letting the other medical students down that I was traveling with.” I admitted.   “Aye I ken.” He said wryly. My head shot up “I never told you I was thinking of not going?”   No he shook his head “but Tom did”, my eyes widened. “What?”   Tom was my classmate and one of the medical students that would be traveling to Bosnia with me, a friend, and more importantly the man Jamie convinced himself I was sleeping with.   “Aye he called around one day yer were no home, said I was holding ye back that I was using ye as a crutch…that if I loved ye I wouldn’t treat ye in such a way, making ye reconsider Bosnia.”   He sat forward suddenly on the couch “Its only now Claire…with a clear mind that I can see that more than likely he was in love with ye and was just trying to protect ye from what he seen as an awful man…who dinna appreciate ye, and I ken that was no far from the truth at the time…since Willie died anyway”  

I opened my mouth to protest, but he waved his hand dismissing me, “its no matter now, it was no your fault he was in love with ye and I ken now you dinna even suspect it”   He sighed deeply and ran his hand through his hair, “but ye see from then on I couldna get rid of the idea that ye must have given him reason to feel that way about ye…and that is when the trouble really started…and for those weeks while ye were gone, and once ye returned I was convinced that ye were sleeping with him, maybe in love with him too” he pressed his lips together and rolled the tumbler around in his hand.  

“God Claire I am half afraid to tell ye the things I did in case ye will run out of here and no come back.”   I was about to say that won’t happen but he continued talking.  

“But there has to be truth between us….so I need to tell ye.”   “I was obsessed by it, you and him.” He exhaled and I heard the tremble in his breathing. My stomach tightened with unease.   “I hated myself so much over what happened Willie, I dinna believe anyone would want me, and especially not you, cause you kent I could not save him.”   “Jamie” I said reaching for his hand to squeeze, “you know now that it wasn’t your fault.” He nodded, his throat bobbed as he struggled to swallow.     “I was fixated” he continued, “Checked yer messages on your phone, listened to your voicemails, He scoffed, running his hands through his hair, “I’d follow ye sometimes when I was really bad….”   I had an idea, Jamie had grown moody, introverted, questioning me constantly, completely unlike him. “I was aware you were suspicious” I said carefully.   He nodded “aye, god I am mortified even saying it out loud; I have only ever told the counsellor and you.”   “Go on” I encouraged,   Another sigh and this time he peered into his tumbler as if to see if there was anything floating in it.   “that night ye told me that I was driving ye crazy…that ye were going away for a couple of days?” he glanced at me quickly for cognizance.  

  I blinked and tipped my head to continue, “Well I followed ye and ye went to his house.”   I opened my mouth to protest, but he put up his hand quickly “I ken now Claire ye dinna delay there…but at the time I believed ye were staying with him,I watched ye go in and then it was like my world exploded I went to a pub and got steaming drunk, foul temper and pity fuelling me.”   He bowed his head slowly “well ye ken what I went onto do ….” He trailed off. “But then on the Sunday morning Jenny kept ringing and ringing my phone…I barely remember answering it I was so out of it…and I wasna half listening until she started bollocking me about you….I didn’t follow her for a minute…and then while she was giving out she said ye spent the weekend with her and mam.”  

  My throat was closing up imagining all that had happened that weekend, I vaguely wondered where Jamie was when he took that call…was he still with her?   He was absorbed in the story and I hadn’t the words to ask, so I just stayed silent.   “I started shouting at Jenny to tell me what time ye got there at…and when she told me I knew ye couldna have spent longer than a few minutes with him….in order to make Lallybroch at the time Jenny said.”   His head was bent, held up by his two hands, elbows resting on his knees, “Jesus Claire…I think the first thing I did was put down the phone and run to the toilet to throw up….pure panic.”   My eyes filled with tears thinking of me coming back from Lallybroch full of hope, invigorated by Jenny and Ellen’s optimism that Jamie would be ok, that we needed to talk, sit down and thrash all our issues out, speak about his brother’s death how it was affecting him…I planned the whole way back to Edinburgh. No Idea that once I walked in the door Jamie would tell me he had picked up a girl in a bar and gone home with her. That he did it on the presumption I had cheated on him, and he was out of his mind with rage, jealousy or whatever I dismissed his reasons, I don’t think I even believed him because how could he expect me of cheating it was the furthest thing from the truth.   “When ye walked in the door and I had to tell ye…god it was one of the hardest things I had ever done…cause I knew ye would leave and my heart was just broke…I remember thinking I was having a heart attack and I thought good cause I dinna want to live anyway.”   “Jamie” I said in a breath, He lifted his head and I could see his eyes were filled with tears, he gave a half laugh. “I was a fucking disaster…I dinna blame ye for running then and I won’t blame ye for running now…I hope to god ye won’t but I canna blame ye”   I ran my hand across the couch and put it on top of his. He sat like that for a long time.   Eventually I cleared my throat, “Jamie can I ask you something?”   “aye off course, anything.” He squeezed my hand.   “When Jenny rang you…were you still with that girl…at her place I mean?”   I don’t know why I had to know, torture perhaps.   Jamie shook his head incredulously “God no I dinna stay with her Claire…I…I”  

  He stood up suddenly, and walked to the fireplace, his back turned to me. He sighed deeply, his head fell back slightly.   “I dinna know if ye want to hear…but since ye asked that maybe I should tell ye about that night…”   “Jamie” I said cautiously “I don’t know how much I want to hear…”   He turned suddenly facing me, “I did go home with her aye and my intention was to…well ya ken my intention and things did happen to get to that point …”   My stomach wrapped in on itself.   “When it came down to it….”   He rasped his hands through his hair, “Its no a good idea to be too far gone on yer girlfriend if ye wanna cheat Sassenach…” he muttered wryly.  

He ran his hand down the back of his neck, biting his bottom lip considering how to continue, “Do ye ken Claire, that ye only have to be in the same proximity as me but I’m aroused?”, his cheeks blushed a furious shade of red and I knew he was struggling to tell me what he needed to. His question was more rhetorical so I let him compose himself a little and continue.   “Sex” he said bluntly, there is something about ye that drives me crazy, yer body calls me, when we lie together its ….I dinna even ken how to describe it only that I have never experienced anything like it before….”   I swallowed hard and nodded for him to continue.     “Ye see I was angry and sore and I wanted to punish ye and that was enough to spur me on initially…but when I ….”

He raised his eyes to heaven and ran both hands through his hair. “God this is hard to say, he said exhaling loudly.”   “well you had better” I muttered out.   “its more than just being in love with you Claire, I respond to yer heart and yer body…ye make me hum with need.” Jamie paused and swallowed, “ in my anger…it dinna occur to me that well that another woman wouldn’t make me feel like that…”   He shook his head and sighed, “I  dinna want her and when I looked down at her, I…I knew then it didna matter what ye had done…only yer body calls me like that, and when ye have that…that draw with someone…anything else is just a cheap imitation, I was drunk, stupid and angry…but I loved you, I love yer body, and the way it makes me feel, I love lie’n with ye, and I love when I can hold ye after and ya sleep in my arms…”  

He paused for a moment “I couldna perform,” he said quietly.

I blinked rapidly trying to make sure I understood, seeing my confusion he said “I was in her bed naked and not aroused, I dinna think I can make it any clearer.”   “Oh” I said rubbing my palms down my thighs nervously.   “Why didn’t you ever tell me this before?” my mouth suddenly dry.   “Claire…after ye found out what I did, would it really have made a difference that I fancied ye too much and subsequently could not bed another woman?”  

I shook my head, “I suppose not… I didn’t exactly ask for details.”   “Aye” Jamie agreed grimly. He came and sat beside me again, rubbing his thumb over his palm tensely “I ken now what real jealousy is not just paranoid disillusionment.” He half grumbled under his breath.  

I narrowed my eyes questioningly, and he snorted gloomily. “All that torment I put myself through with you and Tom, and it all in my imagination…then when I came to London and met you with Geillis outside the hospital, and Cathal came along putting his arm around ye…” Jamie bit his bottom lip, “god it’s consumed my mind since…picturing it,  you with him day and night, him taking yer body… I wanted to kill ye for it….and I ken I have no right.”   Jamie took both my hands in his, turning to face me.   “Its so much more than just love Claire…yer the other half of me, in body and heart.”

[ikemen-obssessed]

‘Will a hug do instead?’

Ray x Anastasia 

Written by: @ikemen-obssessed

Nearly another month had passed since she had decided to say goodbye to her old life and stay in Cradle. Of course, she never did once regret it. But she did miss the sound of her parents’ voices on the other side of the phone, the job that she adored, not to mention the comfort of the friends she had made during the time she had stayed in London. At least, that was what he thought.

He noticed that as the days grew nearer to the night of the full moon, she seemed to be less energetic than usual. On the rare occasion when he found her without company, her expression almost seemed listless. Her eyes had an edge of remorse in them, a shadowing darkness covered half of her face as her mind was lost in deep thought. 

He was completely clueless about what to do. He loved her more than anything. But he couldn’t put his own feelings aside anymore, not after he had tried to do so two months ago when she had left to fix things in London before she could permanently live in Cradle. Just the sight of her empty seat at meals, the absence of her infectious laughter, it all left a colossal hole in his heart. One that, until she had returned, felt like it couldn’t be fixed, despite the efforts of his other officers. 

Unfortunately, throughout the week he had been so caught up with work that he didn’t have enough time to himself to think of how he could lift her spirits. 

That morning, when he had woken up, he was enfolded in an almost desperate warmth. Anastasia’s golden hair was covering most of his face, finding hers so close to his that he could taste her breath. Directly on top of him, he looked upwards to find an almost forlorn resting face. The very sight of it caused an aching pain in his chest, and all he wanted to do was hold her tight and comfort her in any way he could as he felt her crushing embrace tighten around his waist.

The image of her lonely face remained in his mind throughout the whole day, reminding him of how this was so much more important than the never ending piles of documents and reports he had to read through. Except he still had no idea about what to do, so he took Seth’s advice and went out to buy something that he thought might cheer her up. Too bad that they live in the same place as Fenrir, though

The sun was already starting to set by the time he had finished reading the most recent reports Sirius had handed him, claiming that “You need time to think about how you’re gonna handle things with Anastasia. You’ve had that look on your face that means you’re worried about her for the past few days” as he stepped back out of the room wearing a wry grin.

He tried, he really did try. He thought long and hard about what to do, imagining himself in her own situation. But he couldn’t think of anything, because he couldn’t imagine being in her situation, which only made him feel even worse than he already did. In the end he went to Seth, who suggested getting ingredients for something that she loves to eat. But most of the stores were closed since it was a Sunday, and he managed to buy some of her favourite sweets. He left them in one of the kitchen cabinets since he knew he would take a couple of hours to finish work.

When he opened the cabinet, the shelves were empty. Instead, he found a paper note which was written in completely rushed yet neat handwriting. And you can guess whose fault the disappearance of the sweets were. It said ‘sorry, I got hungry. Luka, if you needed those sweets please don’t hurt me. I really wanna eat the pasta you made for dinner and i can’t do that if I’m dead’

Fantastic. 

He rapped on the door once before entering her previous bedroom. She often came here when she needed to clear her head or wanted some time to herself. The occurrence of this was very rare, which only increased both his guilt and his will to help her.

He didn’t make any noises as he sat on the other end of the bed, causing her to turn towards him with an alarmed daze. 

“keep dozing off like that and you’ll get yourself in trouble one day” he muttered under his breath, trying to rid the gloomy atmosphere that the room seemed to have. However, he got no reply. Only the view of the back of her head

After what felt like an eternity of silence, he finally cracked.

“So... uh I went to that candy shop you like and bought those weird gummy things you love. Then Fenrir ate them. I went back to the store and bought some more.... but uhhh... I forgot that I hadn’t eaten since breakfast. So I might have eaten them. When I went back the shop had closed. I’m so sorry. On a better note, I kind of get why you love those things. I asked the guys if they had anything and Luka gave me the chocolate bar he was eating. But Fenrir came out of nowhere and ate it. I don’t know whether I feel sorry for you or myself anymore” his voice was gruff, yet his emerald eyes immediately showed honest confusion as he heard her sweet, honest laughter. 

She finally met his gaze, and noticing his misunderstanding, began to explain, her voice finally back to its usual cheerful and soft self. 

“Ray, thank you for going through all of that for me. But you really didn’t have to do all of that, after all, I’m the one who should be putting all that effort into a gift for you”

“Huh? Why? Is it our anniversary?” his voice was worried, along with his expression. He dreaded the thought of missing even the most pointless celebration with his girlfriend, let alone something like this.

“Please don’t tell me you forgot its your birthday!” 

Ray started to choke on thin air. After he had calmed down from the shock, he eventually managed to spat out:

“Anastasia, my birthday is a week away! 7 whole days! You don’t need to follow Sirius’ example and buy next years gift a month before this year’s birthday!”

At this she turned away from him once again, completely avoiding him as she explained

“Ray, I don’t know what to get you! The guys said to get you books, but you’re room is a library in itself” her voice dropped to a faint whisper, “as long as everyone else is happy, you’re happy. And I love that about you. But it also made me worry because I’m exactly the same. Which is why I started to think about going back. To London.”

Once again she turned to face him, making direct eye contact, her shimmering yet worn out eyes reflecting his own.

“I thought you might find it interesting to read books about where I come from. I’ve been questioning whether I should go or not since I realised the full moon wasn’t too far away. But I made up my mind just before you came in”

She now sat cross-legged on her bed, shifting slightly so she could rest her forehead against his. The heat of his body radiated against her cool skin. He had no idea what to think, he was so caught up in his own issues that he didn’t stop to think about other problems that she felt concerned her.

“I don’t want to leave you. Not now, not ever. I know its selfish of me, but i want to be by your side. Always. I’m sorry i couldn’t think of anything to get you, but i promise i can help Luka and Sirius with the cooking. Oh, and if you want, i can ask Fenrir to duel with you and bet on drinks. But it doesn’t count as a date if your girlfriend isn’t there, alright?” she began to laugh at the thought of Fenrir and Ray on a date, despite the tiny bit of jealousy she may have felt.

“You-you’re so amazing and thoughtful and never think about yourself...” trailing off, he pressed his burning lips against hers in a brief kiss, despite the sparks that seemed to fly between them.

“Mmm- but since we both failed at getting each other a present, I’ll hug you instead.” he managed to get out before wrapping his arms around her neck and waist, leaving her in a delightful warmth which she craved more of.

“Anastasia,” he lightly kissed the top of her head, “you don’t need to get me a present. And nothing is worth not seeing your smile everyday, you know.”

“Oh, and, Fenrir needs no encouraging to challenge me. But I might just leave you here when we have those drinks if you think about leaving me again”

“Ray!”

“What? I’m kidding. Or not. You’ll have to stay with me if you wanna get an answer so bad.” he grinned at her, looking down at his chest to find a hint of a teasing smile on her face, her eyes lit up with their usual azure brightness.

“Please don’t ever change”

“What? Of course I won’t but... where’d that come from?”

“Heh, never mind”

[leanbanana]

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A box pops up showing information about the certificate.

Click the Certificate Information link.

In the box that pops up, click the Connection tab.

(Edited 2/10/17: I have added a more up-to-date answer in a comment: How to Export Certificate from Chrome on a Mac?) I don't know of any workaround at the present.) (Edited 2/24/19: is correct, this no longer works. If you don't hold down Option when you drag, then you will instead get the certificate contents in human-readable form, which can also be handy. Note: If you did not follow the steps above in exactly the order stated, you may need to first single-click within the Chrome window so that TextEdit doesn't become hidden when you Option-click.

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[sheepiling]

I DOWNLOADED MY FIRST MOD AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

So, I was getting really tired of how un-vibrant Sims 4 is. I didn’t really notice it/care at first, but once Sage was born I found myself constantly fighting the lighting in the game and setting up temporary lamps everywhere when I took screenshots just because of how un-flattering the Sims 4 lighting is for sims of color. (I mean I’ve had mixed race couples since gen 1 but the focus was always on the founder/heir so if their partner wasn’t as well lit up as they were I didn’t pay much attention to it, but Sage is the first heir to actually have darker skin genetics passed down to him ‘cuz apparently in sims world recessive and dominant genetic traits are reversed... or at least in this family they are rip) 

But anyways, I don’t want to spend time editing my screenshots so I just got a lighting mod for the game. OwO;; 

I just want to make a post now and tag it with wcif because I really don’t download much and if I ever do get cc in addition to this I’ll just post and wcif tag that too so anyone that’s curious can easily see what I’ve got quickly~ 

I also want to add that I’m going to go very in-depth about the installing process because I am not tech-savvy at all and it took me a whole evening to figure all of this out, so if anyone else is in the same boat as me I hope this helps! XD 

Also before I start explaining things I just want to add that before you start changing things, ALWAYS BACK UP YOUR GAME!! Make a copy of The Sims 4 folder that’s in your documents, AND the one that’s in your Origin Games folder that’s on your C drive (or wherever you installed Sims 4). 

First I downloaded NoBlu and NoGlo 

The links to the page their downloads are located along with information from the creator are right there in that title~ 

Those two mods work together, so I suggest getting them both! The NoBlu removes the blue tint that shows up at night time and indoors too I think, and if I understand things correctly the NoGlo removes that blue tint from your sims themselves so they don’t look blue-ish in contrast to the rest of the world that’s now been stripped of that blue tint. 

Like, the point of the blue tint that’s in the game is to make it so you can see things better in the dark, but from what I can tell it also makes day time seem darker too at certain times of the day. So getting rid of this will make night time darker if no lights are around, but I think it makes day time brighter and the lights at night time is brighter too and your sims just react more naturally to lighting~ 

When downloading NoBlu, just pick one of those three files that are there. I picked NoBluLightingReplacement.package 

For NoGlo, there’s two files there, and I downloaded both of them. They’re the NoGloRemover and the EyeSpecularRemover 

NoGlo and EyeSpecularRemover are applied to each sim in cas just like cc, so I’m not sure if I’ll bother using them. But I haven’t had this NoBlu lighting mod for very long so if I end up noticing my sims glowing in the dark with a blueish light then I’ll probably bother to put that on everyone. Maybe. 

These two mods are really easy to download! It’s just like downloading CC, just get the file and put it in Documents -> Electronic Arts -> The Sims 4 -> Mods 

Then I got ReShade 

This mod took me quite a while to figure out... (I’m just sort of challenged when it comes to things like this which is why I don’t use much mods/cc in the first place)  😓 

So this is a program that you can install into a lot of different games, it’s not made just for sims 4, but it works really well on sims 4! The website to download this is https://reshade.me/ 

Additionally, THIS VIDEO is the most helpful tutorial for installing it that I could find (imo). I also want to add to always read the README text files that come with mods when you download them... I’m sure you probably already do that but I’m an impatient derp that couldn’t figure out some things until I read the readme...  >.>;; 

Also, I had an issue when installing ReShade, and I’m just gonna explain everything I went through in case anyone else is having a hard time too, ‘cuz it took me quite a while to find the info. I needed. I also want to add that I use windows 8.1 (unfortunately that’s the only operating system that’s compatible with my laptop, so no windows 10 or 7 for me, I already tried, rip) so the issue I had could of been caused by 8.1′s wonkyness. But I don’t know for sure. 

After it asked me if I want to download a collection of standard effects, and I clicked yes, it said it failed. The program was properly installed into Sims 4, but I had no effects or textures (which is the whole point of getting this...) 

But! This can be fixed by downloading the effects manually and putting them into your bin folder yourself. THIS FORUM on ReShade’s website has this answer and a link to the download for the effects and textures. The very first answer under the OP’s question is the one with the download~ I’m very thankful to that helpful person. Also, I’m just linking the forum instead of the responder’s link itself b/c once you click on their link it downloads the file. It’s not a link to a file share or anything, it’s just the direct download. The ReShade website probably has these up for download on their website somewhere too... But I’m trash at navigating websites that I’m not used to so I have no idea where... But I would assume it’s there somewhere... 

After you have that file, slap it into your sims 4′s bin folder (tutorial I linked before shows where that is). Now, this alone is not all that you need to do. Now that it’s in the file, you need to go into the game and open the ReShade interface. Then you go over to settings and you need to copy paste the path for the program to find the effects and textures. There’s two separate boxes, one for effects and one for textures. 

To do this, go into the shaders folder that’s in your reshade shaders’ folder in your sims 4′s bin folder. Then in the bar at the top of your file’s window that shows all the files you’ve gone into, click on it and copy it. Then tab back to your sims 4 game and paste that info into ReShade’s effects box. Then go into your textures file and do the same things for the textures box in ReShade. 

When you paste them into the ReShade interface they should look something like this: 

C:\Program Files (x86)\Origin Games\The Sims 4\Game\Bin\reshade-shaders\Shaders 

C:\Program Files (x86)\Origin Games\The Sims 4\Game\Bin\reshade-shaders\Textures 

Of course, if you didn’t install this on your C drive it might be a bit different, but you need to find that from wherever you installed Sims 4. 

Once you’ve done all that the issue should be fixed and it’ll now load up all 60 effects and textures that you’ve downloaded every time you start up Sims 4 or tab back into your game after alt tabbing out!!!!! ................. 

So, hooray for it working properly now, BUT GOODNESS DOES THIS ANNOY ME. So like. If you’re going to download a preset from someone else (youtube tutorial I linked already shows how to do that) then I suggest keeping all the files you’ve downloaded. Especially if you’re switching between multiple presets for different occasions. There’s lots of ReShade presets all over tumblr, btw. So have fun looking them up if that’s what you want to do! 

But I’m not doing that. I don’t need all of this. It’s giving me a lag for no reason. SO I DELETED A WHOLE BUNCH OF EFFECTS ‘CUZ FUQ THIS LOADING TIME. 

Be careful not to delete anything important, though. In the shaders folder is the only folder I deleted anything inside of. Anything that was installed in the reshade-shaders folder I left alone. But inside the shaders or textures folder that’s inside of that reshade-shaders folder should be fine to delete things. BUT DON’T DELETE FILES THAT IT NEEDS TO RUN~ 

Anything that is a .fhx file you need to keep. Anything that is a .fx file is simply the effect itself and is safe to delete. I didn’t delete anything in my textures folder because when I downloaded the whole thing from the forum the textures folder didn’t have much in it. This might be different if you were able to install correctly in the first place. 

Anyways! The files I ended up keeping were all the .fhx files and the following effects: Colorfulness.fx, Vibrance.fx, and DPX.fx 

Colorfulness and Vibrance increase the saturation and vibrancy of your game and DPX is one that overall birghtens everything (I think). There’s lots of other effects that do the same things as these but those three are my favorites. Well, I don’t use DPX, it makes it a bit too bright for my eyes, but I decided to keep that one because whenever I’m able to get Seasons, if rainy/snowy days make the game seem way too dark I might want to enable DPX just for those days. 

But for normal sunny days, just checking Colorfulness and Vibrance is enough for me~ I didn’t even mess with the sliders on how much you want it to effect the game because I don’t want to deal with those kind of advanced settings. I just pushed the check mark box on those two and done! 

Now that I only have 3 effects and then the few textures that I never use but aren’t hurting anything by being there, it doesn’t even have a loading time to get ReShade to run properly when starting up my Sims 4 or tabbing back into it. ReShade is just ready to go right away! 

So if you’re wanting to brighten up your game, but have a slower computer and most lighting mods and/or ReShade being the way it normally is lags your game too much, you could consider doing what I did!  :D 

Also, with ReShade, you need to change the way you take screenshots now. Doing it with the C button just takes a picture of your naked game, not the ReShade effects. 

So, ReShade’s default hotkey for taking screenshots is Prt Scrn, so you can use that button now or you can change which button you want to take screenshots in the settings tab of ReShade’s interface. But the point is just pushing C doesn’t capture the ReShade effects so you’ll need a different button! 

Also! In ReShade’s settings tab, you need to change the screenshot format if you want to upload your ReShade screenies to tumblr! Its default is set to Bitmap, which tumblr doesn’t support, so change it so it saves as a PNG file instead!!! 

You can also change the path for where it’s going to drop your screenshots off at. The default is set to Sims 4′s bin folder, so if you want it to drop off screenshots in a different folder that’s dedicated to just screenshots and doesn’t have your game’s other important things in it, you’ll need to change the path for that (it’s the same as when you changed the path for it to find the effects and textures, just copy paste where you want it to go). 

Keep in mind that if you move the folder you told ReShade to dump its screenshots at then you’ll need to update the path in ReShade’s interface or it won’t be able to find the folder and you won’t get your screenies~ 

So yea! That’s all the info. I have!! I hope this helps someone that wants to use ReShade but has been confused about it like I was!! 😂 

Also sorry if my explaining things is long and confusing. This is just how thoughts flow in my brain so.. um... yea.  >.>;