#i'd ALWAYS help people out if i thought they were stuck. like that's just common decency i think

[hella1975]

ok so here's the gossip. me and my two friends are going up to brum to see hozier in december, but one girl has been SO nasty to another one of her friends recently and its been pissing us all off. like ok so nasty one is Z, and the one she's being nasty is A. A lives two doors down from Z, and so a lot of the time Z offers lifts back and to from college because its just on the way. However they've never discussed petrol money because Z said there's no point since its on the way. But last week Z OFFERED to give A a lift home and then decided to skip class, and just messaged A being like "went home. Get the bus back" knowing A was in a driving lesson and wouldn't see that until they got back to campus, which is especially fucky because they live in the next town over so the bus is over two hours compared to a 30 minute car drive. then yesterday Z sent a text being like "you owe me this much for the 11 car rides ive given you. I want to be helpful and I enjoy helping people, but i don't like being a taxi." even though she OFFERED and just sprung this on A without ever discussing payment, despite the fact its not even like she's going out of her way because they live TWO DOORS AWAY. and like it isn't only this, Z treats A like a massive punching bag. so where the hozier thing comes in, Z is going with me. however if this bitch pisses me off too much, IM the one who has the tickets and i will literally just give her ticket to someone else. she's the only one who drives and will probably be like "oh you guys can't get down without me" try me bitch

gossip asks have got to be my favourite type of asks like idk how we even got to this point where people regularly tell me about their current personal gossip but i need you to picture me sat with you holding a glass of wine gasping and nodding at the appropriate moments

[pushingdaisies1]

Kinda hate you, kinda love you . . . ♡

(✧ ˚.) PAIRING-> James "Logan" Howlett {A.K.A} Wolverine x Reader >_< (✧ ˚.) SUMMARY -> Being an X-men was a lot for you to sign up for. Well.. you didn't have a chance to deny this safe haven. The school became your home and the people that made up the X-men like a weird little familial unit. You had many reasons for staying as long as you did, but one was more prickly and jaded. The feelings you harbored for a stern and calloused Logan were.. weird for you to feel firsthand. One day, you are stuck overlooking a danger room drill between Gambit and Logan. With the new member of your world-saving team Jubilee by your side, it's too dull to NOT talk with each other. She was a good kid, hyperactive and spirited that's for sure. You talk, and talk a lot you do to the human embodiment of the fourth of July. It makes you think a little bit too hard about yours and Logans... predicament. (✧ ˚.) AUTHORS NOTE -> Hiii!!! This is my first time writing stuff for Logan so - bee tee dubs it may be complete and utter horse shit. I'd like to thank @velvrei for helping me ignite some well-dead thoughts. Genuinely love ur work sm and reading that and a lot more new/old logan content helped TONS. This is linked to the {♡x-men animated series/x-men97♡} series. I do wanna write more for the Deadpool timeline xmen/early 2000s timeline xmen!! But after seeing the masterpiece that is Deadpool and Wolverine, I lowkey just clung to those shows. I love animated Logan!! He is even more emotionally stunted/sassy sad!! (✧ ˚.) CWS (?) -> Logan nd u are sad ppl who don't know how to voice ur feelings!! , pining from afar/one-sided not so one-sided yearning, UHM HURT/KINDA COMFORT??? MAYBE??? I THINK??? , unprompted suggestiveness from logan , mentions of struggling to connect with other ppl/fears of the future (bay bay jubilee my love) , u and Jubilee just kinda bond, off topic idk cajun dialect so..... , and u infodump as a weird suto older sister/mom in her life, this was all very spur of the moment so uhm - not proofread!!! kinda!!!!!!!

The dangeroom was a room a lot of the X-men team spent their time in. To either train for a new threat or for general movement, drills were a common theme. Especially after world-shaking events, which were always somehow a constant, the professor was the equivalent of an alarm clock. Drills this, always having to run down into the war room. You didn't mind the training sessions if it was one-on-one or even with the whole team. Sometimes though, it was almost nagging. 

Though there were little things you'd do to pass this time. If you were made to overlook it or otherwise. Most of the time there didn't need to be supervision within the training center itself. Everyone was on high alert, and off days were few and far between. Logan had been hashing it out with Gambit all morning and wanted to do a specific procedure setting. You held your head in your hands as you sighed at the grown men's demands. Gambit was a professional sweet talker, Logan wasn't when needed. Of course, you complied, understanding the sudden want for more extensive training. When Jubilee volunteered you started to not loathe the idea of sitting in on Logan and Gambit - literally butting heads. 

Jubilee was a nice kid, you felt bad for her sudden entrance into life within the school. The professor was welcoming as always. With your push and her foster parents wanting her to be safe from threats like the sentinels, she was a bonified member.

Being the "newbie" always had its drawbacks. From day one you made sure to have her back, you could relate to her whole fish-out-of-water point of view. Logan saw the way you attached fast to the kid. He was like a vault of thoughts and feelings. Thoughts and feelings he never wanted to bring up or even let alone talk about. But it made your heart flutter just a tad when he sat his hand on your shoulder, gently rubbing a thumb against it.

He had stopped you before you were about to retire to your room. In the doorway to your personal, pillow escape he made sure to reel you down to earth. "Give the kid some breathing room. I know you want to help but there's no use for you smothering her."

You were almost baffled. What was he going on about? You were just looking out for her? Deep down, you did know what he meant. He might have not been a long-term X-Men member. But he did know you and the fragments of "memories" you held so dearly close to your chest. You two were so different and yet one in the same. Before you could even argue, he gave you a small .. somewhat comforting pat on said shoulder. "Just a friendly word of advice bub, don't take it so close to heart. Oh wait, that's inevitable." He joked at you with his signature toothy grin. You couldn't help but scoff in surprise and laughter as he jabbed at you with his SINGULAR witty remark.

Logan could be many things. Rough around the edges, even a total asshole when he felt like it. But to you, he was your kryptonite. It was pathetic the way you'd always eventually be pulled to bend at that man's every word. He just did that to you, and you had no answer to it. 

Making your way up to the upper room with Jubilee, you watched with tired eyes as the door to the observation room slid open. Cold - walls and floor head to toe with this sleek metal texture. There were two chairs, right behind the control panel where the training sequence(s) would be initiated. Your eyes were trained on the window as you watched Gambit and Logan make their entrance inside the training room itself. Gambit of course was rapidly shuffling a deck of cards. They were almost flying in the palms of his hands as he prepared them. Logan was of course blabbing his big mouth, in his signature suit "lumbering up" as he would call it. Finally, as you just now sat your bottom into the smooth-cushioned observation chairs, Jubilee was already starting the conversation. Thank god for you as you were still shaking the morning off of you."So what? , we just watch them throw around with each other, or what?" She cracked with a curious glance at the two men down below. You rested your chin in the palm of your hand as you leaned back. "Pretty much, we're here just in case the system doesn't shut down in time. Sometimes it does that."

She paused before she gave you a pointed look, her chunky pink sunglasses almost falling off of her black head of hair. "We're babysitting them!?" She retorted with a sort of faux annoyance. "I mean it's 'something' to do but - come on...." She groaned as she crossed her arms, heavy in on the air quotations. Cutting in, you directed your hand to the control panel. "No no no, not just that.”

Gathering your thoughts, you pointed out each scenario on the deck. You couldn't help but crack a smile at Jubilee's small "ohs" and "ah's". With the development, you two were brought into a nice steady stream of conversation. Hunched in her seat, yellow boots crinkling in this position, she poked and prodded you about your style and so on. it was nice to be looked at with such idealization. Her eyes were huge with wonder as she jumped to questions and searched for answers. Though it was only so nice until the two of you were interrupted by the impact of a card deck. As it smacked against the window, you pinched the bridge of your nose.

Hitting the intercom, you cleared your throat. "So sorry gentlemen! You two ready or what?" You retorted as you leaned over the panel. Gambit gathered back the cards into his hands. "Me? , 'course cher! Any day I would love to stick it to da fuzz ball over der." He remarked with a scheming smirk. Logan growled as his claws immediately sprouted from his knuckles. "I'll show you fuzz ball you pest." His lip curled up almost like a predator ready to pounce.

Jubilee sat back quiet as a mouse as she watched you talk through to the two. "Alrighty alright! Save the pouncing for later." You barked with a small chuckle at the end. You couldn't help but feel buzzy at the way Logan reared his head up. Gambit was too busy swapping cards from hand to hand. But all of Logan's attention was just on you, it was always just on you.

 "Okay, how are we feeling about the ruined city for today?" You asked the two as Gambit started to twirl a card in between his middle and pointer fingers. "Yes yes yes, dat will do just nicely, right Wolvie?" He asserted - training a hard on the hard-headed "foe." Logan's voice was low and gruff as he found his stance. "Don't get so ahead of yourself Gamby." He retorted as he turned back to you in the window. "Start it up doll, before this one here loses all of his spice." He barked with a laugh as Logan jostled his mask on. You rolled your eyes with a faint smile. "If you say so, bee-tee-dubs .. don't kill each other! Please and thank you." You affirmed as the array of buttons were clicked. As the scenery shifted into a torn-down cityscape, foes were already on the two men. The only fun thing about watching over the training sessions was getting to watch fellow X-Men in action. Just not with the risk of losing your life in the process. Leaning back into your chair, you took in a nice breath of air. Peace, for now at least. Jubilee sat up more straight, letting her bright yellow duster-like jacket collect at the sides of her chair. She brought her legs to her chest as both you and she watched Gambit and Logans fighting. You could feel her eyes wander to you in the quiet. You looked directly towards her, a sympathetic smile gracing your face. "How are you feeling?" Your voice was small but warm, comforting almost. This was the first time someone had even really asked her. "I don't know... it's like everything is just changing at once. I feel like a big Rubix cube." She said with a frown as she got more comfortable where she sat. You nodded your head in almost remembrance. "Trust me, becoming an X-men isn't the hardest part. It's living like one." Admitting with a soft sort of comfort, Jubilee was already warmer than before. The training session flew by as you two just talked and talked. She lamented about what life would be like now, what she would and wouldn't miss. How she was stripped of living like a normal teenager. "I mean everyone here has already been so nice to me, but this is just gonna take a lot of getting used to. ", she would lament to you in honesty. You tried to be as insightful as possible. Telling her that living as an X-men will always be tricky. But there will always be the people around here that'll keep you steady. Her ears perked up when you listed off your so-called "anchors." She immediately butted in after you listed off the Wolverine himself, Logan. "That guy? You two seem to be always at each other's throats?" She cracked at you with an inquisitive grin. "Well I mean yeah - he can be .. overly confident a lot of the time." You were almost reminding yourself. You didn't realize how long you spent talking about your scruffy metal-clawed 'friend.' You went on and on about how he combated with you in the best possible ways. How with his time in the X-Men, he opened up your worldview in many instances. He did so much to you and for you. He was almost like your escape in a way, and he maybe shared the same view. You didn't get into the nitty-gritty details of it, 'cause ew. But the moments away from daily life hecticness within the school you and he shared were your favorite. His arms were the sweetest embrace anyone could ask for. But that's what friends do, that's what friends are for.

 Though you always wondered if maybe you were wrong. Maybe you were holding on to nothing. Maybe there was an intimate connection between you two hiding under the surface. But you had a track record of getting your hopes up. You dashed those daydreams away as Jubilee yanked you back down into the now of things. Time flew by as the training sequence ended. Logan was immediately gloating his way out of the danger room. You and Jubilee met the two halfway. Gambit sang your high praises as he lamented about kicking Logan's ass in the drill. As the two grown men bickered Jubilee made her exit known. Since the professor was already summoning them all to the war room. Gambit waved you off with a small wink and another grand shuffle of his cards. Which just left you and logan ... fun. 

He quirked his brow in your direction as he realized your quiet demeanor. “Can you believe the guy? - come on bub you saw me!” He said in astonishment at Gambit's gambit tendencies. You crinkled your nose in a small giggle. If you were seeing straight, you couldn’t help but notice a small dash of a smile on Logan's face once he saw your mood brighten. His smile always found ways to make your knees weak and arms all jelly. “Yeah yeah, dont get your panties in a twist Lo.” You said with a twinkle in your eye. A grin followed spreading almost ear to ear.

His eyes softened ever so slightly with your jokes. He grumbled out his poorest joke yet. “Oh, I’ll show you.” He retorted before yanking you into him. Your back met his chest plate as you felt his collection of sweat. His muscled arms wrapped around your midsection as he whirled you around like a windmill. You ignited with laughter and “yucks” as you felt his sweat spreading onto you. You fought out his hold with a grimace and a sheepish chuckle, wiping your eye. “Christ man, you got all your .. muck on me!”

By now his claws were already dashed away. So his hands were now placed on his hips. He rolled his eyes as he looked you up and down. “Come on, you’ll live to see another day shrimpy.” He claimed with his eyes slowly wandering. “I look like a wet dog thanks to you.” You frowned jokingly, shaking your arms out. “On and on with you.” He remarked once again with his eyes rolling AGAIN soon after.

Closer and closer the two of you got as you both threw phony insults back and forth. Before your lips were inches away from one another. He drawled his quick mouth up and spat back something that would leave your mind in utter… shock. Was confusion the right word?  “Don’t play around with me, dimples. I know you’d like more than just my arms around you.” You quickly gasped out the pocket of air you were holding onto. A long pause was felt throughout the hall before you two darted in separate ways.

“I need to change!” You sheepishly shouted as you headed in the opposite direction of him. He did the same, mumbling whatever under his breath. “Don’t slip and fall!” He coughed out as you rubbed your face in annoyance. “Eat shit, Logan!” , “That’ll be a long time coming!” The both of you remarked to the other in unison. Both of your voices share the same sort of flustered frustration. You raced into the showers as you soon stumbled towards the sinks.

You splashed your face with cold water as your heart was still racing. Your cheeks were burning up let alone from his words. But you were soon able to catch up with your breath. Regaining your composure you looked yourself in the mirror. Gritting your teeth as you looked at the fool Logan made you. The Wolverine could be a hard-headed buffoon. Always on his way to making a snide insult with whichever X-men member was disagreeing with him. But god damn it was he your poison. You hated him and he hated you. That was the thing that kept you steady as you changed into uniform and raced towards the ongoing meeting. You knew that same smile still lingered on your face once you made your entrance into the war room. Able to brush off the team's sudden accusations as you made sure to remind everyone about the issue at hand. The Professor thanked you as he went back to discussing what new threats plagued human life. Your eyes always made their way back to Logans with small lingers. Making eye contact with you, his eye-line was diverted by you as you turned your attention back to the professor. The Wolverine was a fool, and he had already found purchase in your foolish heart. 

ꔫ✉ reblogs/interaction is appreciated <3 part two - ⭐️

[cassiopeia-grimm]

A new beginning

Explicit 🔞 NO minors allowed

⭒❃Summary - After realizing her mistake, she returns to him to try and make amends. But is it too late to make amends?

⭒❃Pairing - Davis Mitchell x F!Reader

⭒❃Contents - Fluff, Angst, bestfriends to lovers, smut

⭒❃Word count - 1611

⭒❃ A/N - English is not my first language so if you spot any mistakes just bare with me. I'm sorry if I've made any syntax, spelling or tense mistakes.

This fic doesn't really follow the plot. I'm making my first attempt at writing a fic.

⭒❃ Credits - photos (pinterest) (edit by me)

For an autumn refreshment, the air isn't too bad. It's even mild. People are playing with leaves on the ground and children are running around laughing. But here I am, in front of my best friend's house. Well, former best friend…

I wonder if he's sitting on the couch right now, watching our favorite movie by the fire. Or playing video games.

I loved these little moments with him, it was relaxing and there was no judgment or criticism, we were just ourselves. Thanks to these moments, I had a crush on him, I actually fell in love with him. How could I not be in love with him, he's adorable, helpful, loyal, funny, a little destructive around the edges but he's also incredibly sexy.

I remembered that in high school all the girls were crazy about him, everyone wanted to be him. He was one of the best quarterbacks in our high school and I was proud of him, just like he was proud of me when I passed my science report.

I remember he often won games and I was in the stands cheering him on. I wasn't ashamed to shout his name so he'd know I was there for him. Those were the best years of my life.

Even though all the girls wanted his attention, he stuck by me. He once told me that I was more interesting than any of them. I remember blushing and hiding my face on his chest. Just thinking about it made my heart beat faster. I miss her touch, her warmth…

I wish I could go back in time and tell her I loved her. If I hadn't been such a coward, I'd never have lost him. Instead, I went off to see someone else. Still, I kept thinking about Davis, how he'd managed to hold my heart in his hands.

I was stupid…

The door opens, snapping me out of my reverie. He's standing there, his gaze soft and sad at the same time. Did he know I was coming?

“(Y/N), you came?” “Wh-what? How did you…” “Come on in.”

He stepped aside to let me in, I stood there skeptical, but finally entered after his nod.

Why, did he let me in? He should hate me, though. His house was simple but very warm, everything inside was comforting. If I looked carefully, I could see that he had always kept our things in common. It brought tears to my eyes.

As if reading my mind, he approached me and smiled.

“I couldn't let any part of you go so I kept them.” “Why?” It was all I could manage to say. “Because you're part of me and I can't live without them.” “What do you mean?” I said, puzzled.

He looked at me as if it were obvious, as if all the pieces of the puzzle were in front of me.

“Come on, shall we sit down for a bit?”

He guided me to the small living room, and I sat down next to him on the sofa opposite the fireplace. There were already two mugs of hot chocolate on the base table. Was he expecting someone?

“To answer your question, I was waiting for you.” “I know you're mad at me…” “Who told you I was mad at you?” “After what I did you should be!” I exclaimed. “But I'm not and do you know why?”

I nodded so he could continue. Deep inside, my heart knew why, but it wanted to hear it from his lips. Even if the other side thought otherwise, how could such an incredible man love a woman like me.

“Because I've always loved you and even now you drive me crazy, and have since we were little. Every time my parents and I came to your house, I had…No I needed to see you.”

I couldn't help but blush at his statement, it was as if I were dreaming at that moment. I lowered my head with a smile on my lips as I realized it was real after all. “Tell me why you left with Ryan?” He gripped my chin with his thumb and forefinger to force me to look at him.

“I left with him because I thought you'd never want me.” “That I'd ever want you?” Davis questioned.

The more we talked, the closer our bodies got, until our knees were pressed together. This sudden closeness gave me butterflies in my stomach and then his gaze on me drove me crazy. How had I not noticed all this before?

“I was madly in love with you and I still am. But I want to know one thing, do you have or still have feelings for me?”

I saw in his eyes that he was looking for an answer, an affirmation. So all I could do was offer him a tear-filled smile. He wiped away my tears with his thumb and brought his face close to mine, until our foreheads touched.

“I'm still in love with you, Davis, but I was too afraid you'd reject me.” He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He put his hand behind my neck and tried to pull me closer as if he still had distance.

“I could blow up the world for you, (Y/N). Oh lord, you know how much I love destroying things, but not you, you're far too precious to me.” We couldn't help but laugh at this simple sentence, admittedly cute, but a little psycho.

Standing next to him, I take in his features. His storm-blue eyes, his thin, pink mouth, his muscles trapped in his plain shirt and freckles dotting his face and little wrinkles at the corners of his eyes. He had become even more handsome.

“You know, I like it when you look at me like that.” He smiled wryly. “But stop!” I could bet that by this time, I'd gone all red.

I put my head in his warm chest and hugged him tightly. Meanwhile, he started laughing out loud and I felt his hand move up from my neck to my head to caress it. He always knew it calmed me. “I've always loved your laugh.” “I know.”

“That's a pretty pretentious thing to say, you know?” I laughed “I'm only pretentious with you.” “But seriously, what do we do now?” I murmured, intrigued. “We could start by taking our time and then see?” “You're probably right, only time can help us.” “When you have doubts, (Y/N) come to me, okay? I don't want to lose you again.” I nodded to let him know I agreed. “I'll also come and see you if I'm not well or have doubts too.”

He took me in his arms and tightened his hold on me, as if afraid of losing me again. Before I knew it, he lifted me onto his lap and caressed my back with his two large hands.

I felt something thick and hard against my crotch and knew I was close to his cock. I never imagined it would be big and hot. I know he told me to take our time, but after three years of not seeing each other I couldn't resist another minute.

I began to discreetly rub my clothed clitoris against him. This new sensation was driving me crazy and I wanted more. I felt his hands squeeze my buttocks and push me even closer to his erection.

“Please, (Y/n) don't stop.” He moaned

He kept asking me not to stop and that's what I did, I didn't stop. I rubbed myself even harder. His grunts and groans became very loud. He couldn't stop making these obscene noises, worthy of a porn movie. The fact that it was him having this effect made me even more excited.

He suddenly took my head in his hands and kissed me with such force. It was as if something had awakened. The grip of his hands was harder but softer at the same time. After open-mouthed kisses, we pulled back to breathe. Her eyes had become darker and more intense. I'd never seen that kind of look coming from him.

“Fu-Fuuuuuck, I knew you were meant for me, darling.” My hands survey his body, touching his pecs and bulging abs, until they reach his big erection. I cup it and start making circular motions around his cock. “FUCK! If you don't stop now, I'm going to cum in my pants.” “Oh yeah?” I smiled wryly. “Please, baby go slow, you're making me super sensitive.” “Don't worry, honey, we've got plenty of time.”

I placed my lips on her neck and began to suck the soft one below her ear. I could feel shivers run through his body, smiled in victory and continued with more determination. He started moaning and grunting again, but it was more desperate envy.

“Shall we continue into the bedroom?” “I'll follow you.”

I never thought my best friend would become my boyfriend…

[viharbinger]

ahhh! you write for Jin!? doing the lords work, but i would like to request, jin sakai x theif/criminal reader. just opposites attract,

Opposites Attract!

pairings: Jin Sakai x gn!reader

warnings: violence (but it's not graphic) and I think I completely replaced Yuna with reader on this 💀

A/n: sorry this took awhile I was supposed to write this yesterday but I got Hella sick and ended up sleeping for like 12 hours 😭

masterlist

Meeting Jin was not exactly romantic as you'd think. The first thing he did was stick his knife to your neck when you got caught stealing rice from clan Sakai.

"I think anyone would know better than to steal from a samurai clan." He points the knife to your back, to which you slowly turned to look at him. "Please. I have a family to feed." Maybe if you sweet talked your way out of this, he'd let you go.

Apparently you picked a bad timing to do so as they just got back from a hunt. But then one thing led to another, and you were teaching Lord Sakai himself how to steal and sneak around. But that's later, and right now, he was this close to killing you. "If I see you again here, there won't be no next time. Leave." He pushes you out of his home, it was definitely... Not a good first impression.

The next time he sees you, you're running on your horse as fast as you could away from angry Mongols. They were firing arrows, charging after you, just barely missing you and your horse. The situation eventually calmed down when you heard them stopped coming behind you. You turned your head to look at them, and they were being attacked by a familiar figure that once held you on knife point.

You slowed down your horse, meeting the man that stopped the raging Mongols that you almost brushed death with. "I never thought anyone would have the guts to steal from the enemy." He gestures to the goods on your horses back. "I stole from you before, didn't I? And I told you... I have a family to feed." You caught your breath while joking, turning your horse away from him and running off into the direction of your village.

Jin meets you again when you asked him for help to retake your home. It was far fetched that he would even accept your request but he did anyway. He was always good in his heart, of course he would. It was surprising, considering you came to his own house again having the stomach to ask him of all people for help.

"Jin." You call his name, he seemed to be stuck and rubbing his eyes after having to kill someone behind their back. It wasn't honorable for a samurai to go against their code. "Are you okay?" You showed concern, placing your hand on his shoulder.

"I'm fine. Keep going." He reassured you, picking his sword back up. "I'm sorry you had to do that." You apologised as it was the least you could do for the situation you were in. You and Jin had to sneak against the enemies to retake your village. But if you weren't careful enough, your friends and family could fall into their hands.

"If it'll save lives.. I'll do it." He breathes in, shaking away the anxiety he felt. "You're doing a good thing, Jin. I'm grateful you're helping me." You squeezed his hand, but let go once you recollected your thoughts.

His uncle, Lord Shimura does not like you one bit. He doesn't approve of your affiliation with Jin as you're a commoner of no status and steal rice from the rich folk. You're a bad influence, he thinks, and that's definitely true because Jin is starting to follow in your footsteps.

Finally, after the successful mission of saving your village, you're both getting drunk drinking sake. And that's when you realised you've actually never seen Jin let loose and smile before. And in that same night, you shared a drunken kiss. A kiss that stopped you both from laughing and speaking, the chattering from the outside was drowned out and the only thing you could listen to was your breathing.

"I never thought I'd court a samurai of all people." You sheepishly turned away from the kiss, watching as the people in the village go on. "Nor do I, with a thief." He scratches his nape awkwardly, unsure what to do after kissing. "I think that's enough sake for the both of us, huh?" You laughed to which he smiled softly.

[dameronology]

the recent dd announcement got me feeling things for matt so can you please do number 10 from the love confession list ("please listen to me")?

i have been in love with matthew murdock for eight years now and it has still not wavered

It would be a lie to say that you and Matthew Murdock did not argue on the regular.

You were normally best friends, occasionally enemies but always lovers. But, you were both stubborn and stuck in your ways and when your ways were so different to his, it meant you butt heads at least three times a week. Sometimes it was menial things; what to have for dinner, whose turn it was to pay for lunch, which Star Wars movie was the best. Other times, it was deeper. Matt was overprotective by nature and it was only amplified with you. You knew who he was by night and what he did; in his mind, that put you in danger. Danger he tried so hard to protect you from.

It just didn't help that you sometimes put yourself in danger.

It was just gone 4AM at the Murdock apartment; everyone in the building was asleep, save for you and also for Matt, who had found you wandering around outside by yourself at this ungodly hour with a can of Pepsi in your hand and pepper-spray in the other. That went against basically every rule he had mentally set you and safe to say, it was not something he took lightly.

"What the hell were you thinking?!" he demanded. "Do you know what kind of people are about at this time? Do you?"

"Dickheads in devil suits?" you shot back. "Because that's the only people that I saw-"

"- now is not the time to start running your mouth," Matt cut you off, his tone dangerous now. "What were you even doing out there?"

"I was bored and I couldn't sleep, so I figured I'd walk over here and see if you were awake because I saw you active on Facebook like an hour ago," you explained.

"You can't..." he trailed off, taking a deep breath. "You can't just be out like that at this time, okay? There are dangerous people out there, and they might want to hurt you-"

"- you're so self-absorbed," you huffed. "Have you ever thought that people might just want to hurt me completely devoid of my relation to you?"

Matt took a deep breath, hands on hips and a facial expression that wasn't far off of you can't be serious right now. He loved you to his very core - in more ways than one - but you constantly drove him up the wall. He'd never met a more frustrating person.

"Can you..." he paused for a moment, trailing off. "Can you just listen to me?"

He took you by the arm and gently lead you to the sofa, discarding his helmet as he did. Matt realised his mistake then: you'd never been able to take him seriously when he wore all the get up. Maybe you would actually listen to him now that he was sans devil horns.

"I would lose my mind if anything happened to you," he softly said. "There are people I care about in this world but if somebody, anybody, laid a finger on you, I would rain hell on every single person in this city until I found out it was. Whether it was because of my involvement with you, or because you're just so damn annoying that they felt the need to mug you."

You grinned. "Matty, that's a lot of talk for something that hasn't even happened yet."

"You're right, but it could happen. It's not outside of the realm of possibility and I don't want you to be scared but...I just think you could use your common sense a little more," he was joking on the last part, but you knew he meant it. "I'm not always gonna be around to save your ass if you get kidnapped off the street at 3AM."

"I thought you became Daredevil entirely for my sake?"

"I didn't become Daredevil to protect you," he said. "Maybe it's my reason now...but not always."

You nodded. "Of course. How silly of me."

"I love you, okay?" Matt said. It was the first time he'd ever told you that; maybe you'd known for a while, but actually saying it was a whole other ballpark. "Never change...maybe just be more careful."

You pressed a soft kiss to his lips. "I love you too."

[batmanisagatewaydrug]

Hi sex witch, i realise that this is not an actual sex ed related question and I hope this isn't overstepping any bounds.

I'm sort of in a weird spot right now a la my sexuality and am trying to figure out if I actually want a relationship and if what I feel is romantic attraction or Friendship levelled up. I've known for a long time that I'm Demisexual or Ace, and I thought I knew that I still felt romantic attraction but now I'm less sure.

How did you come to realise that you were aromantic? In that discovery did you ever wonder if it was a sort of 'mental block' or something similar that would be better off working through? (I ask because I'm sort of stuck in that state of mind right now, and I'm just curious to see if it's a common experience or not)

I realise that this is a fairly sensitive topic, and I really don't mean offense by asking.

I also realise that no two people's experiences will be the same but I was interested in hearing about it from another person's perspective.

I hope you have a great day whether or not you give this ask the time of day.

I've asked you other things in the past and it's always been brilliantly helpful. Thanks a lot for everything you do.

hi anon,

no worries about overstepping boundaries :) this is a pretty reasonable thing to ask of someone, and I'm happy to talk about it!

there's a funny story that I tell about the moment I probably should have known, but didn't yet have the language. in sixth grade my class had an assignment that involved making a collage timeline of the rest of our lives (a proto-vision board of sorts) and I think I was the only kid in the class who didn't put getting married on my timeline. everyone else did, as far as I can remember, and most of them also included having kids. being a pedantic little fuck I pointed out to several of my friends that it was really unreasonable to assume they would find someone they liked enough to marry who liked them back, to which everyone told me (paraphrasing) to shut the fuck up and stop being a little bastard.

but it still seemed very strange to me, because even when I was very young - back when I barely had the language to conceptualize being gay, let alone aromantic - I never imagined my life with a romantic partner. romantic pairings were interesting in stories, sure, I ate that shit up from a very young age! the star-crossed lovers shit going on in American Dragon: Jake Long did a number on my developing brain, and my Barbies and Littlest Pet Shops got up to INSANE relationship drama, but for myself it never really felt, like, relevant? not unpleasant, just uninteresting.

but I still had crushes on people as I grew up, and more importantly I had crushes on people of various genders, so during my teen years I was WAY more preoccupied with repressing my burgeoning bisexuality than drawing any conclusions about my romantic orientation

spoilers: the bisexuality won.

in college I had a friend who identified as asexual at the time, who spent maybe a year trying to convince me that I was aromantic. and I didn't want to hear it! I don't know why, honestly; maybe some part of me, despite loving the community I had found coming into my queerness, was still subconsciously afraid of being too different and grappling with the consequences.

so instead I did this uuuuh real dirtbag thing where instead of just acknowledging to myself that I was pretty fundamentally uninterested in romantic relationships and that that's fine, I spent the first half of college leaning hard on self-deprecation to explain my single status. oh, me? why aren't I dating? well, I'd probably be a really bad partner. yeah, I suck. I mean, I'm so busy all the time! and I'm weird.

(at the time I know I definitely had friends who assumed I was Like That because my parents were divorced, which is hilarious old-fashioned and also categorically untrue. I was Like This way before my parents got divorced!)

it actually took a relationship ending pretty badly to make peace with the idea that maybe I didn't want a relationship at all. I won't get into the details on that, because it involves another person and we were both very young and accidentally hurt each other a lot in ways we didn't mean and I don't think anyone was the villain, but I don't want it to come across like I had one bad breakup and then swore off romance, a thing I'd previously been interested in, forever. it was more like I found myself in a really heightened situation - they really desperately needed a good and attentive romantic partner after getting out of a bad relationship, I wanted our friendship to stay exactly the same but with a sexual component - that made very, very obvious what I was actually looking for in non-platonic relationships. which was, I guess, actually pretty platonic relationships, but with genitals involved.

haha just kidding, I actually didn't get that part through my skull until I spent an entire summer crying constantly, dissociating frequently, and spending way too much time on BAD dates having even worse sex that made me feel gross! but we got there eventually.

that part probably isn't super relatable to you if you're somewhere in the ace realm, sorry about that.

anyway, once the dust settled and I felt halfway human again I was feeling vulnerable and open to change - finally willing to see myself in a new way and reckon with parts of myself that I hadn't been before. I remembered what my buddy had always said about me seeming Really Aromantic, and I let it settle on me. how would I feel, if I actually was aromantic? how would it change my life, how I thought about myself?

and if I can use a cliche with you? it felt like a weight rolling off my shoulders. I suddenly had a whole sturdy base to build a better understanding of myself on, an easy way to justify the way I lived that didn't require throwing myself under a bus.

thinking of myself through the lens of aromanticism felt like a huge, HUGE relief, and frankly I think that, more than anything, is the best way for anyone to decide if they should be applying any identity label to themselves. which brings us back to you! I actually don't believe in the model of sexuality and gender that posits a secret innate Right Answer buried in each person that they'll discover if the just find the right terminology. all of the words we use are the result of our time and place, right? people like us existed all through history with different words for themselves, and they'll exist way after us calling themselves things we can't imagine.

so basically: I came to realize I was aromantic because calling myself aromantic felt like loving myself, and if that's the case for you than I strongly recommend you do it, too.

happy pride xoxo

[happilychaengs]

jennie - the girl that didn't pass you by

a/n: i wrote this in like a day and i'm happy with how this turned out though i'm still feeling nervous of publishing this. i have two other fics that were supposed to be christmasy office stuff and they're pretty fleshed out but i'm not so proud of them

jennie kim x gender neutral reader

word count: 1,386

all fluff

The sweet and inviting aroma of roasted coffee beans filled the air as you walked in, the brisk wind whirling around as the door closes behind you. You adored this café. This was basically like your second home.

You took a look around, glazing over everything the café had to offer. Christmas classics played quietly from every corner of the building, now instilling it with that child-like wonder you felt was missing. There was some neatly handwritten chalk on the walls of the specials today. A handful of people were present, scattered around the café, all of them kind of just doing their own thing.

And finally, there was that one barista, whom you knew as Jennie according to her nametag, working the register today. You'd always only come here during her shifts. She had a gummy smile, a beauty mark under her left eyebrow which you're sure no one has noticed before, and from what you could tell from your short encounters with her, a great personality to match.

"The usual?" She knows your order by heart. Even if she doesn't know you per se but she knows of you. You nod, as you lug your bag to your usual corner. Sitting down and waiting patiently for your order, you glanced out the window as you looked over all the people passing by, going through the motions of life.

It always seemed too fast for your liking. You always thought if you got caught up with the tide, you'd never be able to stop and inevitably reach the end with a hard crash, so you've decided for yourself to avoid all of that. Tearing your eyes away, you took out one of the books from your bag that you've loved rereading to this day. The Perks of Being a Wallflower. You smiled to yourself as you saw you were nearing the end of the book again, your bookmark stuck between one of the last few pages.

But before you could start turning those pages again, you heard someone clearing their throat and noticed a cup of coffee being placed in front of you in your peripheral vision. When you looked up, it was her. Jennie.

"May I sit?" she asked, with a small smile.

"Of course," you said as you set your book down, returning her smile.

You couldn't help but want to leave the cup there after picking it up and inspecting the foam art. It was too lovely to ruin. It was a simple heart, but you could tell how much work went into it. You set it down once more.

"Not your thing?" She asked with a cute pout apparent on her face.

You shook your head, "No... it's just that I didn't want to ruin the art."

She let out a small laugh as she leaned closer to the table, her eyes wandering around your table. "Well, that's awfully nice of you but you should drink it before it gets cold Y/N."

Your eyebrows arched in confusion, a slight frown appearing on your lips, "How do you know my name?"

She laughed again as she moved her hands all around her body, signaling the outfit, "Did you forget it's a café? If I didn't know your name, that'd be a bigger problem."

Your cheeks turned a soft shade of pink as you felt embarrassed at your sudden lack of common sense, "Right... Anyways... what are you doing here?"

"I'm on break right now and thought I'd say hi to my favorite customer." A sly grin makes its way across her face, all the while you're blushing even harder, eyes downcast. "You're interesting Y/N. I just wanted to get to know you, that's all."

Her eyes make their way to the book you've set down to your left. They widen in surprise. "That's a great book."

You're surprised. Most would say that they've only seen the movie. "You read it?"

She nods plain and simple, "That's my favorite so far." And almost instantaneously, she glances up at you again, the look of curiosity and wonder playfully dancing on your lips. You look like you want to ask her more and she's happy to answer.

Then finally, you have the courage to do so. It goes on for what seems like hours, even if it's mere minutes, while you're getting lost in her words and intricate explanations. Your infatuation with her almost seems to grow into something more in this moment. Your entire sense of being has shifted into something more, and she could clearly see it.

She smiled at your demeanor while rocking her chair back and forth, "Say Y/N... do you want to hang out after I'm off my shift?"

And to say you were surprised was quite an understatement. You mean, you didn't expect her to ask you anything, let alone talk to you. All you did was admire her from a distance. Nothing more, nothing less and you thought she'd be one of those people you pass by in life. The people who make an impression on you and who just never seem to stay but she was just so different.

You just gave her a tight-lipped smile as you reach for your now cold cup much like her warning to finally take a sip, the taste of peppermint and Christmas goodness filling your senses and the sound of her giggling at your foam mustache. "Of course."

And those hours before the end of her shift just seemed to pass you by but you weren't against it for once. As she took hung her apron on the wall and walked out from behind the register, she gave you a small smile while putting on her overcoat. "Shall we?"

"Let's." And then she unexpectedly loops her arm around yours, her eyes wide with awe at the lights that had been hung up for the holidays. The white and red that seemed to gleam ever brighter with every step you took. The snowfall that seemed to make its way to you as small flakes descended upon the two of you, Jennie sticking her tongue out in amusement and catching a few. The few lights that were visible in the surrounding buildings so late at night, you could only imagine what was happening in there.

And although the two of you haven't decided where to go yet, you enjoyed this. The spontaneous and unplanned nature of it. She drags you anywhere and everywhere, somehow making it to the town square. A big evergreen tree planted in the center with all kinds of ornaments hung up, covered in snow. You sit on a bench nearby as you see her running around, enjoying the night sky and the snow that comes along with it but before you know it, you get hit hard by a blast of freezing cold on your face, your vision impaired by a soft, slushy-like substance that drips down.

You wipe it off and your eyes meet hers again. This time there's a mischievous glint in her eyes and a playful smile on her lips as there's another molded ball of ammunition in her now red, cold hands, ready to throw.

Now that you think about it, maybe it was this night that your life seemed to just get a little bit faster. A little bit more exciting as you got hit directly in the face by another wad of snow, hearing a cheer of victory from the other side. She was definitely not just passing you by. "You're done for Jennie!"

Time flies by again in your little snowball fight and the two of you are left flat on the ground next to each other, breaths rising into white puffs to the stars above. "That... that was the most fun I've had in a while." She admits with a chuckle. "We should do this again Y/N. Not just the snowball fight but you know... the whole shebang."

You let out a breathy laugh as you stared up at the night sky, filled with dazzling lights. It was almost like even the stars were all watching this moment between you two. A big grin stretches across your face as you reply, not knowing that life would move even faster with this girl by your side. "I'd love to."

[lupunsus]

Since dog hybrids are the most common, I thought I'd write about masters who use these companions to their fullest potential

By giving them jobs.

Hybrid au based on the writings made by @cinnamonest

Gn Farm/Hunting Dog Hybrids

Warning: mention of heats/ruts and how you shouldn't fuck your hunting dog hybrid until they trust you. Idk if it counts, but I thought I should still mention it, even if it isn't described in detail.

I can confidently say that a good number of people see hybrids as glorified sex toys because I said so. (And also cinnamonest did too, im pretty sure.)

As mentioned previously, dog hybrids are common, with already domesticated breeds being easier to obtain even if you look like someone with low income and living in their parents' basement. But they can't really stop you if you prove that you will take care of them, and even if you do live in your parent's basement, they'll be lumped into taking care of the hybrid anyway so it should be fine.

However, there are some cases when a specific set of people who normally use dogs for tasks decide on using hybrids. Why? Mainly because of their ability to communicate. While dogs have no problem barking your ear off, hybrids can learn to talk, allowing them to convey issues and warnings, or just be someone to talk to.

These hybrids are mainly breeds that were bred for hunting or to herd farm animals.

At first, the adoption centers had little to no dogs qualified for hunting, nor were they used to farm life, but as time progressed, there became facilities that housed these special breeds. Of course, employees needed to have a good hand and experience with normal dogs, as the hybrid counterparts are more demanding. It works out in the end. The adopter gets a hybrid, and the hybrid receives a good amount of freedom to do whatever, as long as they do their job.

Because of how free and open farms can be, however, while it isn't required for the hybrids to wear clothes, they must have on a collar with a tag at all times. It's rare for a farm dog hybrid to wander too far from the animals it's supposed to look after and protect, though. The rule is more for the hunting dog hybrids. Usually, their collar has some sort of identity tag that lets humans be aware and cautious around it unless they're prepared to lose a finger or five. Seasoned hunters sometimes help the hybrids back to their owners if they appear to be injured or stuck.

As for farming dog hybrids, they're definitely much more friendlier, but they require lots of exercise. So anyone can have them, although it's recommended for those who get out and move a lot. Keeping one cooped up inside for too long can make it feel restless and irritated, and it'll soon start becoming aggressive and trash the place to release the pent-up energy it has. So make sure to give your energetic hybrids lots of outdoor time! Having a backyard they can play in is ideal, but even just bringing it along to run errands will work. Just make sure they're properly trained to behave or have them on a harness, as they can get bursts of energy and run all over the place.

Everyone should be wary of hunting dog hybrids! While tamed, they're still as dangerous as wild hybrids if around anyone that isn't their master and shouldn't be taken in by someone who thinks it'd be cool to have one.

As for hybrids who actually work on a farm, it's basically the same as what normal dogs do. Except it may be difficult to cozy to them in that way unless their heat/rut comes around that time. Farm owners usually let their hybrids take those seasons off for breaks until they feel better. Of course, you could always help them and receive a heartfelt: "Thank you, Master!" along with many other praises they can list under the sun for being with them during such a vulnerable point of time during their life.

For hunting dog hybrids, though, they won't let you help them with their spring seasons unless you earn their trust. But hey, they say that slow and steady wins the race. Plus, you should be more worried about hunting and not fucking your companion.

There's definitely a lot more jobs dog hybrids can have, but I'll save that for another post this time.

[euclydya]

Part 9 babeyyyyyy

81. Which is your favourite plural flag? - Probably Kenochoric's tbh

^ is nice to lookie at .

82. If you have one, which is your favourite plurality related tumblr blog? - i dont think we have a favourite actually FHJDSJDJ

83. What is a fun fact about your System? - To deal with intrusive homicidal thoughts over the years we've gotten into the habit of FRIENDLY FIRE COMBAT. this means we kill each other but it has no consequences except knocking out a sysmate (whom the brain considers temporarily dead) for a few minutes to a few hours. Death is very common in our system ajahdjdjsjsjddj

84. What is a flavour of ice cream that describes you collectively? - Mint chocolate chip because Fffffuck you JAAJAJSJDJDDJ

85. Which pride flag is the prettiest, in your collective opinion? - Noooo clue tbh

86. If you collectively had to choose between being a sweet or a sour candy, which do you pick? - SOUR BABEYYYY sour candy is our favourite candy. Turn Our Ass Into A Warhead.

87. Your body always morphs into what the current fronter(s) look like, would you want this power or not? - we're not out to anyone irl so no oh god could you imagine. wait that'd be so funny with our factives. Our mom walks into our room and fucking Mark.ip.lier is there. help

88. Is there a Hatsune Miku in your System? - ........ Yeah we used to have a couple but they've since been absorbed HDJDSJSJDJD

89. Who has been in your System the longest (if you can remember)? - this thing. Formed sometime in 2010.

... But then there's also sysmates apart of the First Wave. Those guys formed years before but we thought they were imaginary friends at the time.

People in the first wave include Anatoly and Callisto (Umbreon and Espeon respectively; introjects of the starters from Pokemon Colosseum), Dewy (from Dewy's Adventure), Ooccoo (from... Zelda? We've never even played a Zelda game.), the King of Sorrow (from Klonoa), and 02 (from Kirby 64). All of these guys formed when we were in single digits. This does not include other sysmates we're now aware of but have since disappeared like Togepi, Misty (yes. from Pokemon.), Gary the Snail, etc.

I'd say Anatoly and Callisto are the eldest since we got Colosseum at the age of like 3-4 (they did NOT form with those names btw, they recently came out of dormancy like last year fjdjsjdjd as a kid they were just Umbreon and Espeon) but idk for sure. I know Ooccoo formed because of Brawl and we were like 8-9 for that one. We got Dewy's Adventure when the Wii JUST came out. We'd have been... 7, maybe 8 depending on when we actually got one cuz I doubt it was on launch. No clue about Sorrow though cuz Lunatea's Veil came out in 2001 and that's. Yeah no.

I think Sorrow formed when we were at least 5 cuz we found out about Him through youtube. So uh. yippee?

Same goes for 02 though wdr when she formed. We vividly remember that was during the Restaurant Era™ (our parents owned a restaurant when we were a kid and we were stuck there very often .) though. And we were at LEAST 5 for that.

But we consider Ticky Tacky to be our "first" starmate despite obvious proof of that not being the case in retrospect DHSJjdjdj

Y'KNOW I FORGOT ABOUT KING THE KINGDRA. started off as a teeny lil Horsea ofc and was our first ever "imaginary friend" (can you tell Misty was our fave growing up.) and evolved over the years. She's fucking huge now btw. "5'11" my ass She's like 10 ft tall she's SCARY AHAHAJSDJDJXJSJDJD

90. If you collectively had to choose, would you rather only eat sweet foods or only eat savoury foods for the rest of your life? - OUGH.... depends on the sysmate. I know if Wil were answering this they'd choose sweet foods without a second thought. I asked my subsystem what they thought and Mal just screamed at me. um. I'd choose savory tbh!

-Tulip

[onceuponanightmareisawme]

I saw a comment from a few years ago you made on a post about how a happiness has come to you that you never thought you could know. It made me choke up - I hope it kept coming and coming. I hope your life is beautiful.

Greetings wonderful person,

I am currently writing this through misty eyes and a heartfelt grin. I am so grateful for your message. It really means a lot to me. I only come on here once in a while to spill my heart out when the time feels right, and I'm so touched that the comment I happened to make a few years ago made such an impact.

You'll be glad to know that the happiness that has been gifted to me has only continued to grow. There's been some ups and downs as with anything, but I wouldn't trade any of them. The man that has bestowed upon me 'the happiness I never thought I could know' is so amazing, I am in awe every time I have the chance to message him or see him in person.

I made a joke yesterday that his mission in the future was going to be to see how much he could make me blush. His response was, "My mission is to make you feel loved like you’ve never known and what true happiness really means. You are my everything, and I love you so much."

If I were to be told 3 years ago that I would meet the love of my life and be happier than I could ever fathom, I'd have called them crazy and that I didn't believe in true love, it was a spinster's life ahead. Joke's on me.

I found a broken man who had all but given up completely, and I saw myself. It scared and intrigued me enough to stick around. Then, we both began to heal just by talking and realizing how much we have in common (it's like looking in the mirror, a bit creepy at times with the amount there is). We have stuck by one another during the dark days and celebrate when the storms pass.

He recently told me that I helped him find his center again - little does he know that he saved me. I still haven't told him that he saved me from myself. Every time I try to, the words get stuck in my throat, and it never feels like the right time. I have a sense that he knows to some degree, but my soul feels at home when I'm in his presence, and all of my troubles fade away like music on deaf ears.

One day I'll tell him, but for now, I'm more than content with the cheesy grin I always get when he texts and the feeling of our foreheads pressed together as we simply bask in one another's presence.

And you'll be glad to know that we are already planning our forever home. He has children already, and they are such sweethearts, I am so honored that he has given me the chance to meet them and get to know who they are as people. I always loved the idea of having children of my own blood, but alas, it isn't something that I will ever have the privilege of knowing. He's made mention of various things regarding my potential relationship with his children, and I cry every time that he trusts and loves me enough to even utter the words.

Besides that, he is my biggest supporter and advisor, and he makes me feel like an actual person instead of another cog in the machine called Life. Because of him, I wake up every morning excited to be here and grateful that I get to see the sun shine. I am truly happier than I ever thought I could know, and it's only just begun.

[smokeys-house]

Puukko’s Travel Log 2

Passage from Puukko's Travel Log

I'd ne'er put much thought into flying. Snork has though, it seems. A ship that can fly, quite the thing! Imagine, another golden age fer piracy, all the way up in a different wild blue. 'Cept o'course if ye fall overboard, it's less Davey Jones an' more broken bones. At least the burial's still free! I Imagine the hole you'd make oughta be at least six feet deep. Maybe they ought t' tie rope to one another so they just dangle over the side a bit instead? [A small doodle of a grumpy looking moomin with an eyepatch dangling from a rope in the clouds below a flying ship fills the gap before the next line] 

Apologies on the grim jokes. Somethin' 'bout adventurin' brings back a bit o' the old me. Beneath my admittedly cuddly exterior these days, turns out I'm still a rough ol' sea dog at heart. Moominmama stuck a big ol' jar of things in my bag when I weren't lookin'. Lots of thoughtful things, little though they may be. A fine letter, as well. Her handwriting's a mite prettier than mine. Gon' stick it the next page over. She's a kind woman, and I've no doubt within her lies a raucous beast. Her husband writes about his "stormy youth", but I'd bet Moominmama's got some memoirs of her own t' write. 

Made landfall somewhere flat and dry in what I assume is Italy. Bound t' be a long trek to civilization, but that's all part o' the journey. Snork dropped me off, headed somewhere else. He said somethin' 'bout "making some adjustments" afore he goes off t' find his precious cargo. It's not often I find myself feeling that perhaps I'm in over me head, but if I'm not over me head, I'm at least over me snout. Got to thinkin' so much on people, and being in a strange place, and whether I'll like the food or what have ye, I ne'er even thought on where I were landing or even where I were going. Fixin' t' make camp fer now and see that I can't find my way toward something a lil more populated come morning. The adventure's only just begun. 

Day 3

Signed Puukko

--

To Miss Puukko, from Moominmama 

Hello dear. It was lovely to have you, if only for an evening. You're always welcome at Moominhouse. Moomintroll seems to think you a legend like from his fairytales! How fun an idea. I hope you don't mind the intrusion, but I've left with you some treats to help you feel more at home on your journey. I'm sure Moominpapa won't mind missing a pinch of tobacco or a drop from his still. You'll be gone before he notices, anyhow. There's a number of things here, but don't be hasty to enjoy them right away. You'll know when you need them! Stay safe out there, dear. The world's changed a lot since you came to the valley, and pirates aren't quite as common as they used to be. 

I hope whatever you're looking for, you find it. Or maybe you're hoping it'll find you. 

Warmest regards,

 Moominmama and the Moomin family. 

A large glass jar with a red cloth pinned under the lid. It's filled with a variety of things, most of which are labeled in Moominmama's handwriting. Some have a small note attached, as well. Below the letter, Puukko has inventoried the jar's contents in her journal. 

A satchet of tobacco from Moominpapa's pipe bag

A small portion of raspberry jam

A pouch of loose tea, it smells sweet but medicinal. "should you feel ill, or for sour moods"

A dram of whisky, courtesy of Papa's still. "just a taste, don't go overboard!" 

A tin of some kind of balm or poultice. "one of grandma's recipes, for cuts and bruises"

An off-white kerchief with a rose embroidered on it

A few cookies. "filling, but not too much"

A single serving of spices with a fish drawn on its wax-paper bundle

[confessions-official]

My birthday is in a day, but I'm really not excited for it like I should be. I just always feel like no matter what age I am, no one is ever going to take me seriously. I remember when I was little I'd always look up to people in this age group and think they were awesome, but now I feel embarrassed around everyone because of my age.

And it doesn't help that I talk quickly and a lot (and I show almost all signs of ADHD, but I haven't been diagnosed so I can't say anything). And it hurts a little bit more every time whenever I'm trying to talk about something but all anyone does is space out or smile and nod. Or ignore me. Or interrupt me. Or let out an unenthusiastic "wow that's crazy" and walk away. Or they just don't understand what I'm saying when I feel like I've said enough. The smiling and nodding is such a common response that whenever I speak up everyone just automatically defaults to it, even when I'm not about to talk about my interests. I'm just so genuinely immersed in these things and proud of them but absolutely no one gives a shit when I try and show it. I don't want to be stuck with my thoughts, but what's the point of speaking up if no one cares.

It's all just so distressing. I just want to be a normal human being, and not treated like a rambling five-year-old with a never-ending story to tell. I hate how this works.

So hey. Happy birthday to me.

.

[krawkpaladin]

Winning the Peace - Inspirations and Core Concepts

So, I've already posted about making a game for the first time, and to help organize some of my thoughts I'd figure I'd go through and explain what inspired this game idea narratively and mechanically, and a bit of delving into my ideas for the core systems in the game.

Narrative Inspirations

The idea from this game had always been kicking around in my skull since high school, after one evening when my parents brought home a DVD from the local library. That night, we watched the film Charlie Wilson's War, which is a highly fictionalized account of the book of the same name which talks about Operation Cyclone, or How the USA Managed To Destabilized Afghanistan For Decades To Stick It To the Soviets. While the film is generally uncritical of Operation Cyclone and the people involved in it, it does have a brief moment towards the end where Senator Wilson is shown trying to get funding to help rebuild Afghanistan, and because the Soviets have pulled out, so has any interest in funding. The narration goes "We won the war, but we lost the peace."

For whatever reason, that line stuck with teenage me. It was the first time I had ever heard that phrase as a teenager, and something about it was very compelling to me. After all, a lot of fiction just assumes that after the main conflict is over, things just sort of fix themselves (until the sequel, anyways). The story either ends with the audience safe in the knowledge that things will get better, or goes forwards to some distant denouement where the audience sees that yes, things did in fact work out.

Later, as I got more and more into the RPG space in college, I saw that in most games, the social/speaking component was not very involved. Of course, not everyone is an excellent orator when roleplaying, so it's a bit unfair to ask the bard to ad-lib their inspirational speech when they have a +12 on their sheet, but usually that was a few instances spread out between characters doing things. Not just combat, but feats of strength, adventuring, casting spells, unlocking chests, etc. There weren't very many heroes whose value lie primarily in their words in a lot of the early TTRPGs I encountered, those primarily being of the D&D and Shadowrun and Pathfinder variety.

To that end, I wanted to emulate stories that were more like Twelve Angry Men, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Ikiru, and more recently A Memory Called Empire. The common thread that pulls all of these stories together in my mind is specifically that the protagonists are primarily speakers. None of them get deeply physically involved in the major issues in their stories. They accomplish their deeds through their words, their rhetoric, their ability to convince other people the right thing to do.

So with all that, I ultimately created the first idea of this game that I am calling Winning the Peace. A game where the players take on the roles of political figures in their city after its liberation from the Dark Lord. Where what they say and how they say it is what affects change, not how well they can swing a sword or cast a spell.

Mechanical Inspirations

I didn't really have the mechanical vocabulary to make this sort of game though until I was introduced to what I am going to call the mechanical cornerstones of the game: The Quiet Year and Free From the Yoke. Free From the Yoke has helped me to visualize and understand how to have the player characters and the people they represent (called Communities in the game text) interact, as well as how to construct them, and the Quiet Year forms the basis of how conflict is introduced into the game.

The Quiet Year is a cooperative storytelling game about a community that was forced to leave their homes and rebuild somewhere new. Using a deck of cards as prompts, players imagine their community and draw out important places and structures on a map, changing things as they go along and are prompted by the cards. There is tracking of projects, abundances and surpluses, and contempt within the singular community, but the game only ends when the Ace of Spades is drawn from the deck (and the deck is separated by suit, so you'll get through at least 3/4ths of the deck regardless). Still, this idea of the Oracle Deck, which is also cleverly used to delineate the passing of time, has hugely informed how Events that the players will have to vote on will be generated in the game.

Last year, at about this time, I had the opportunity to play in a game of Free From the Yoke. About one year later, we had finished the planned length of the game and I really enjoyed it. Free From the Yoke is based on Legacy: Life Among the Ruins from the same publisher, but instead of a weird post-apocalyptic future, takes place in a medieval Slavic land where the spirits of the Land are real and the people have just won their independence from the Empire. While the core concept of the separation between characters and houses is present in all of the Legacy games, one thing that really stuck with me in Free From the Yoke was the concept of quick characters, which are kind of minor PCs that can be made up on the spot so that you don't have to either wrangle all of the main PCs together for an adventure or just have a solo affair going on with one character. The primary construction of player characters (Representatives, in game terms) and Communities was primarily inspired by Free From the Yoke, and Representatives especially take more inspiration from quick characters instead of a full-playbook character. Ultimately, I do want more focus to be on the Communities than on the Representatives, as Representatives will come and go. Also, this is going to be a PbtA game, which Legacy games are also based on. So yeah.

The final thing I want to talk about is, well, kind of an anti-inspiration. If you're a fan of RTS games, you'll maybe be familiar with the term C&C-style economy. Named for the Command & Conquer series of games, a C&C economy is one in which the player has 100% control of all aspects of their base-building, construction, research, and pretty much anything else that affects the game. If you've ever played a 4X game like Civilization, you've engaged with a system like this. I want to avoid this in Winning the Peace. The idea that you can perfectly mold your Community does somewhat go against the core story tone I'm hoping to achieve, so while resolving events in certain ways (i.e. what is voted on) does directly affect Community stats, the Community moves are all reactive in nature and are not always positive. I want players to feel like they are controlling their Representative, but their Community is not necessarily something they can control, only act in it's best interests when possible. I'll get into this more when I discuss Community Moves in a later dev diary.

Thanks for reading everyone! If you are interested in keeping up with these, I will be tagging them as "Winning the Peace ttrpg dev diary" for easy searching. I'll try and get these out once a week until I submit for the game jam towards the end of the month.

Now that you've made it this far, here's a reward: my two cats, Baby (top) and Zuko (bottom), being totally adorable by the window.

[masterjedilenawrites]

*gets close to mic and whispers*

It's Rosa, b#®ch!

Jk ily, now here's my submission for the surprise date thingy and lemme tell you, I'm sooo happy they're still open.

Now, about me, hmm, where do I start... am a bit of a weirdo, I guess, or well, I've been told that I am a very unusual personality. If you'd like, I could provide some insights on my physical appearance, but I deliberately left that out, as I believe that falling in love has little to do with bra size and eye color.

I am a very private person; I take some time to warm up and won't do that with anyone, but once I am comfortable, I am very passionate, talkative and have been told I have a wicked sense of humour. Also, while I am fairly introverted, I am by no means shy or a pushover; in fact, I have no problem speaking my mind, even if others think it is weird. I do have a clear idea of what I want, but I am not stuck on it and always open to new things and perspectives.

In my free time, I draw and paint a lot, experimenting a lot with different mediums and styles. I also enjoy gardening and cooking, reading, and spending lots of time alone in nature, be it on walks, with my boat on the river or also rock climbing. I am very interested in history, particularly military and art history; trying to reconstruct how the daily life of the people really was like is very interesting to me. And the thought that all of it already happened and nobody can change it also is strangely comforting to me. I also love systems; building them and exploring them in my mind to make sense of the world.

My MBTI type is INTJ and my Enneagram type is 4w5 (I find tests like these very interesting, because they help me make sense of my own and other people's emotions which I struggle with at times).

I value smartness (even though I think of myself as arrogant for it), creativity, uniqueness and individualism. What really annoys me is things like drama, gossip and being forced into smalltalk.

I am into men, and character-wise, I'd love any of the clones, or, if that's not possible, a villain.

Sorry this got so long, I got - once again - carried away, but thought the more information I provide, the more accurate does my match get.

Thank you so much in advance!

Rosaaa! First of all, love getting to know more about you from this. You seem very cool, and I wanted to make sure you were set up with someone just as cool too, so I've called in a favor to set you up with a very special clone. (But I'm also nervous what you'll think about this one since he's not a common character 🙃)

Your date is...

✨Blackout!✨

Not much is known about this guy, and he prefers it that way. He won't necessarily go out of his way to maintain his mystery, but he will also prefer your date be in a part of town he knows his clone brothers don't frequent. He'll say it's to explore a new place, but secretly he's nervous and doesn't want anyone to know. What if you don't like him? What if he messes up the date somehow? He'd be so embarrassed.

Thankfully he doesn't have anything to worry about, at least as far as the date is concerned. He walks up to you with his helmet beneath his arm and you can't help but comment on what seems to be a hand-painted design. This immediately launches you two into conversation about art, which leads into sharing about all the crafty projects you've both been working on, which then turns into chat about other pastimes you share. You'll be amazed at how much this guy does in what little spare time he has, and he'll be equally enthralled by how easy it is to talk to you.

You'll have walked side-by-side in conversation all over the city, barely aware of your surroundings as you learn more about each other. Blackout regrets that time slipped away so quickly, he'd wanted to treat you to a drink or dessert or something. His nerves return at the end, worried he didn't take good enough care of you to warrant his ask for a second date. If you gave him another chance, though, he'll definitely prove himself worthy of your affections. You'll be one of the rare few in the galaxy he lets close.

✨

Want to be set up on a blind date with a Star Wars character?

[piastrisun]

i know i'd go back to you.

pairings: charles leclerc + fem reader.

summary: the two cross paths again as they realise letting go was what they needed to find their way back to each other.

genre: hurt/comfort.⠀word count: 4.5k.⠀ warning: none.

notes: back to you by selena gomez. first request!!!!! everyone cheered (me). ty so so much. <3 when there’s more than one space between paragraphs it means it’s a time jump. i hope it’s not tedious and it's understandable.

PART ONE.⠀ ⠀PART TWO.⠀ ⠀ ALTERNATIVE ENDING?

autumn is just a step away, the crispness of the air hinting at change. it has been almost three months since your relationship with charles came to an end, yet the memory of that night clings to you like the lingering summer heat. time moves forward relentlessly, but you find yourself stuck, your heart unable to catch up with the weeks.

the leaves begin to turn brown, their vibrant hues echoing the transformation stirring within you. new york is everything you imagined it would be—vibrant, chaotic, alive with possibility. the art program consumes your days, each moment pushing you to create, to dig deeper into your passion. but when the city finally quiets down at night, that familiar ache returns. you think of him. even though leaving was the right choice, part of you wonders if you’ll ever feel completely whole again.

your small flat in brooklyn is a world away from the life you had with him in monaco. it’s yours, it’s freeing. it offered you a fresh start, a chance to rediscover who you are outside of the life you are used to. but even in the midst of pursuing your dreams, there’s a void. you’ve been in touch with all you family ever since you left, they say this heartache is normal, that healing is part of the process. but as the weeks turn into months, you can’t shake the feeling that you’re waiting for something—though you’re not sure what. maybe it’s an apology, a sign from the universe, or even a call from him. the silence between you remains unbroken, thick and impenetrable. and while you never ask them directly about charles, you know most of them can sense what’s going on beneath the surface. especially friends in common, they always seems to know.

however, most of your time there has been incredible, a dream come true in so many ways. you learned things you wouldn’t have in home, met so many wonderful people, and a new world so full of life. maybe this program, this city, was what you needed to find yourself, but did it mean losing him forever? you thought the decision to leave everything would give you clarity. that it would finally help you breathe again, and it does. but also creates a different kind of weight, pulling at your chest whenever you think about what could have been, about the life you envisioned together.

meanwhile, charles wakes up to another empty morning in his flat, a space that once buzzed with shared laughter, quiet conversations, and the small comforts of your presence. now, there’s only silence. he moves through his routine on autopilot, each action reminding him of your absence. he never told you to leave—never wanted you to—but he knows his choices, the way he let life pull him away from you, drove you to walk out the door. the guilt hangs heavy, like a shadow he can’t shake. since you left, everything feels hollow to him. he goes to work, travels for races, puts on the show the world expects of him, but inside, he’s always thinking of you. of the last look you gave him, the hurt in your eyes. he wishes he could go back, say the things he didn’t, fix the cracks that were already starting to show.

the apartment is a constant reminder. your favorite books are still on the shelf, your art supplies untouched, like some part of him hopes you’ll walk back in and pick up where you left off. but he knows better. he knows he failed you. he knows he has to apologise. you needed space to grow, to explore your art, and he, without realizing it, held you back.

in a desperate attempt to make things right, he searches for ways to show he understands. he wants you to know that if you decide to come back, he’s ready to be the person you needed all along. though he’s unsure if you will return, he clings to that hope. maybe one day, he’ll find your way back to you. he’ll always go back to you.

the knock at your door startles you, pulling you away from the last-minute packing for your evening out with some friends from the art program. it’s a celebratory dinner, a chance to mark the end of an era before possibly returning to monaco. you weren’t expecting anyone, but when you open the door, the last person you imagine seeing is arthur, charles’ younger brother. he stands there, his posture tense, his eyes filled with a seriousness you’ve rarely seen from him. his presence instantly shifts the atmosphere, and the excitement of your evening fades. this was something serious.

“hey,” he says, cutting off your attempt to greet him, and stepping inside without waiting for an invitation, as if the urgency of his visit is enough reason to intrude. “i know this is unexpected. and i’m not here to pry, believe me.” he reaches into his jacket pocket, pulling out a plane ticket and placing it in your hand. “this is your way back. you need to go home.”

you blink down at the ticket, heart stuttering in your chest. “what—what is this?” you start, but arthur keeps talking, his voice calm with conviction.

“you and charles are meant to be together. i’ve never seen two people more right for each other than you two.”

you blink in shock, staring down at the ticket in your hands. “wait…”

you open your mouth to protest, but arthur cuts you off again. “look, he’s been a mess without you. he won’t say it, probably doesn’t even know how to. he doesn’t want to hold you back again. not after everything.” his voice softens, eyes searching yours for a flicker of understanding. “i don’t know if coming back is what you have in mind, but if it is, just consider what i said.”

“does he know you’re here?” you ask, your voice barely above a whisper, the weight of the moment pressing down on you.

arthur shakes his head. “no. and i’m not planning on telling him. this isn’t for him, not entirely. it’s for you, too,” he says, his gaze unwavering. “i know you’ve found something here, and i’m not saying you should give it up. but if there’s a part of you that still loves him—” his voice lowers, “and i know there is—you should go back. it’s not something you can just walk away from. not forever.”

his words hit harder than you expected, leaving you standing there, speechless. arthur knows you nearly as well as charles does, and he’s never been one to get involved unless he truly believed it was necessary. and here he was, standing in your tiny flat in new york, asking you to come home. your time on the other side of the world has been everything, but you can’t deny his words. you don’t want to abandon what you’ve built here, but you also can’t avoid the thought of charles, waiting for you, even if he hasn’t said a word.

arthur’s voice is softer now, almost pleading. “just think about it. you’re doing amazing things here, i know. but are you really happy without him?”

you look up at him, emotions swirling, and for a moment, all the memories of charles come rushing back—his laugh, the way he used to look at you when you talked about your future together, his bright eyes, the warmth of those moments, and the plans of the wedding that never happened. the ticket feels heavier than it should.

arthur gives you a small, understanding smile, sensing your hesitation. “don’t wait too long, alright?”

for days, the plane ticket sits on your bedside table, untouched, as you try to avoid the decision in front of you. everywhere you go in new york reminds you of him—his voice, his presence, as if he’s been a part of this city with you all along. you wonder what he’s doing, if he’s thought about you, and what would happen if you went back.

the night before your flight is scheduled, you stand by your window, staring at the skyline, trying to convince yourself that staying is the right choice. the city has given you so much, but your heart still belongs to monaco—belongs to him. the pull toward him is stronger than you can ignore. in the quiet hours of the morning, something shifts. without thinking too much, you grab your suitcase, the ticket in hand, and head to the airport. your heart pounds in your chest as you board the plane, unsure of what’s waiting for you on the other side.

when the plane lands, the air feels different—heavier, somehow. but the familiarity settles around you. after checking into a hotel, you debate calling him, texting him, but something stops you. it’s not your turn to make the first move this time. instead, you send a quick message to arthur, letting him know you’ve arrived. his response is immediate: you did the right thing. but what if it wasn’t? what if charles isn’t home? what if he’s moved on? what if he doesn’t want to see you at all?

days pass, and you intentionally steer clear of the familiar spots that once felt like home. each corner brings a rush of nostalgia, a reminder of the life you built together. the park bench where you’d spent lazy afternoons in each other’s company, the part of the town in which he proposed—each place holds memories that now feel too heavy to bear. you feel like a ghost in a city that should feel welcoming, yet instead feels foreign and haunting. the sun sets and rises, but you remain in a haze, caught between your desire for freedom and the pull of the love you left behind. you stroll along the waterfront, watching the yachts bob gently in the harbor, their beauty stark against the turmoil inside you.

then, fate, or whatever it is, intervenes. you catch sight of charles in the distance, at the café you were going to get into, the one both used to love, the one you were about the scent of freshly brewed coffee fills the air, mingling with the warmth of sunlight streaming through the large windows, casting a golden glow that feels almost magical. as you step inside, a wave of nostalgia washes over you, but it quickly gives way to something sharper. your heart races the moment your eyes meet his across the room. he freezes, surprise evident on his face, clearly unaware you were back in town. his expression shifts from shock to something more vulnerable.

a whirlwind of emotions surges within you—excitement, fear, and a deep-seated ache pulling you toward him even as your mind races with uncertainty. yet, the familiarity of it all wraps around you like a comforting blanket.

he stands there, momentarily rooted in place, his eyes searching yours as if trying to unravel the months and emotions that have drifted between you. in that split second, memories flood back with stunning clarity: the late nights spent talking until dawn, sharing dreams that felt boundless, the whispered promises of forever.

charles swallows hard, the tension in his shoulders relaxing just a fraction as he takes a hesitant step closer. “hey, you’re back,” his voice is gentle, almost hesitant, as though he’s not sure if you’re really standing there in front of him. his shoulders relax, but his eyes remain locked on yours.

you offer a small smile, trying to steady the rush of emotions rising in your chest. “yeah. summer’s over, so it’s not that unexpected.” you let out a soft laugh, an attempt to bring lightness into the conversation, to ease the weight that’s hung between you both since the moment you parted. he chuckles, a sound you’ve missed more than you’d care to admit. it feels like home. “sorry, terrible joke. how have you been?” you ask, curiosity and nervousness intertwining in your voice.

charles tilts his head slightly, his expression softening as he mirrors your question. “do you want the truth, the lie, or a vague answer?” his lips curve into that playful smile you remember so well, the one that used to make your heart skip a beat. you nod, the tension easing as you laugh softly, choosing the third option to keep things light. “i’ve been… okay, trying to figure things out.” he runs a hand through his hair, his fingers lingering for a moment, as though buying himself time. his eyes flicker with a thousand unsaid words before he asks, “you? how was your summer?”

you swallow, a mix of pride and hesitation bubbling inside you. “it was good, actually. i painted a lot and explored some really cool places.” there’s a pause, a slight hitch in your breath before you add, “could’ve been better, though.”

his brows knit together, curiosity tugging at him. “why?” his voice is genuine, concern etched into the way he looks at you, unaware of the depth behind your words.

but before you can answer, you both step forward, the line moving as the barista glances your way. his attention shifts for a moment, but not before his gaze lingers on you, a thoughtful expression crossing his face.

“i’ll have the usual,” charles says, stepping up to order. his voice is calm, but there’s an underlying warmth to it. “two americanos, one with almond milk, and a blueberry scone, right?”

your heart swells with unexpected emotion, the simplicity of the gesture somehow making your breath catch. “you got it,” you whisper, almost to yourself, but loud enough for him to hear. he turns toward you, his smile quiet; he could never forget your picks. you try to hand him the money for your coffee, but he pushes your hand softly back to you, what he usually does to avoid letting you pay anything.

you both fall into silence as you wait for your coffees, the air between you thick with unsaid words. it’s familiar and yet uncharted at the same time, like returning to a place you know by heart but with the awareness that everything has changed.

when the drinks arrive, charles hands you yours, his fingers grazing yours for the briefest moment—a spark, a connection that neither of you can deny.

“can we talk?” his voice breaks the silence as you step out of the café, the bustling streets surrounding you, but it feels like you’re the only two people in the world.

“yeah, sure,” you nod, bracing yourself for whatever comes next, though your heart has already begun to race. you walk side by side, your steps falling into a rhythm that feels as natural as breathing. he glances at you, his gaze soft, almost vulnerable.

“i’ve missed you,” he admits quietly, as though he’s been holding those words inside for too long. you stop, turning to face him, the weight of everything between you hanging in the air.

“yeah, i’ve missed you too,” you say, and it’s the truth. the ache of missing him had never really gone away.

“i’m so sorry for the way things went,” charles continues, his voice low but steady. “i didn’t mean for things to end the way they did. i never wanted to lose you. you were right to do what you did. i see that now.” his hand reaches up, almost instinctively, brushing a stray lock of hair from your face, the familiar touch sending warmth through you. “i was too caught up in my own world to realise how important your dreams were.”

you look down for a moment, the weight of his words settling over you like a bittersweet memory. “you didn’t want to lose me, but you pushed me away,” you say, your voice soft but resolute. “i needed to do something for myself, and you made me feel like i had to choose between my art and us. it hurt.”

charles closes his eyes for a brief second, his expression pained. “i know, i’m sorry. i wish i could take it back,” he whispers, his voice thick with regret. “i was hurt, and it’s not an excuse. i should’ve been supportive. i should’ve let you chase your dreams without making you feel like you had to choose. and i should’ve spent my summer break there with you, even if it was just for a month.”

“you should’ve been, yes,” you agree, the truth hanging between you both like a fragile thread. “but it’s okay. you’re apologizing now, and i accept them.”

his relief is palpable. “i would’ve understood if you didn’t. i acted like an idiot,” he says, though there’s a sadness in his laugh. his eyes meet yours one more time. “you’re brilliant. you know that, right?”

a soft smile pulls at your lips, the tension in your chest loosening just slightly. “oh, whatever, charlie. you’ve apologised.”

his laughter comes easily this time, and something inside you softens. the nickname slips out without you realising, but it feels right, like muscle memory.

“what have you been up to since i left?” you ask, the question laced with curiosity, but also a cautious hope.

he hesitates for just a second before the excitement builds in his expression. “about that. i want you to see something,” he says, leading you forward. you follow him without question, your heart racing as you both make your way to his apartment—the one that used to be yours too. a block away from the café, your footsteps fall into a familiar rhythm.

when you reach the building, the air feels thick with memories. his fingers brush against your arm, guiding you in as if nothing has changed, and yet everything has.

“i found an amazing art consultant here,” charles says as you walk through the door. “she can connect you to a lot of artists across europe. i contacted her and showed her some of your work. she loved it.” his voice is filled with excitement, his eyes bright as he watches for your reaction.

your breath catches. “you have to be kidding me,” you say, your heart swelling at the thought of him doing this for you.

“never,” he says softly. “this could be your bridge back into that world.”

as you step into the flat, the familiarity of it hits you like a wave. everything is exactly where you left it—the photos, the little trinkets, even the paintings you’d made that still hang on the walls. you feel a warmth in your chest, realizing how much he’s held onto. even if it was just a three-month breakup, it felt like an eternity.

“you still have my things,” you say, a mix of surprise and emotion coloring your voice. “you have everything.”

“why wouldn’t i?” he asks softly, his gaze filled with a tenderness you hadn’t expected. he leads you down the hallway, guiding you to a room you hadn’t stepped into for a long time.

“i—” charles pauses at the door, his hand resting on the handle as he inhales deeply. then, with a slow exhale, he opens it. “i cleared out the office and turned it into an art studio,” he says, his voice quieter now, almost unsure. “in case you came back, even if you didn’t. i wanted you to have a place to create, to feel inspired again.”

you step inside, your breath catching in your throat as you take it all in. the room feels like a dream, filled with all the supplies you’ve ever loved, organised exactly as you would’ve done it yourself. your pieces hang on the walls, even the new ones you had mentioned years ago. and there, on a shelf, is a small drawing he made for you when you first started dating—two figures, you and him, holding hands with the words, ‘i’m so lucky you fell in love with me’ written beneath.

“wow, you really thought about this,” you whisper, your voice soft as you take in the gesture, overwhelmed by the love behind it.

“every day,” charles admits, stepping closer, his voice thick with emotion. “i’ve been a mess without you. and you deserve to have everything you ask for, even when you don’t.”

your heart swells, and before you can stop yourself, the words tumble out: “i’m always going to love you, you know that?”

his eyes widen slightly, but there’s no hesitation when he responds. “i’m always going to love you too,” he says softly, his hand finding yours.

“i want to get back together. i want to do it right,” he adds, his voice steady but filled with hope. “if you take me. i don’t want to rush anything, but i want you to know that i’m here to support you, wherever that takes us. and i’ll do anything for you to trust me again.”

you hold his gaze, the weight of his words sinking in. “no running away,” you say, your heart in your throat. you want this, of course you do. “we have to do things right; it has to be different.” the way things had been left months ago didn't change how you perceived him; nothing ever could. he’s still the person you fell for nearly ten years ago. all you want from him is honesty, a genuine conversation about everything. and he’s finally doing that.

“i won’t,” charles promises, his voice unwavering. he steps closer, gently cupping your face, his thumb brushing your cheek with tender affection. “i promise you. i’m not going anywhere. not again.”

you search his eyes, looking for sincerity, willing yourself to believe him. “you need to mean that, charles. i can’t go through the hurt again. it would destroy me.”

he swallows hard, the weight of your words hanging heavily between you. “i do mean it,” he assures you, his voice steady yet tinged with urgency. “i’ve missed you too much to let you go again. i’ve been lost, trying to exist in a world that felt incomplete without you. i can’t let that happen again. and i won’t ever disappoint you again.”

you breathe deeply, feeling the truth in his words. “okay,” you murmur softly, allowing the warmth of his touch to pull you closer.

your lips meet his, and suddenly, the world around you disappears. the kiss is slow, yet filled with all the longing and love that had built up during your time apart—two hearts finding their way back to each other. his hands cradle your face as if you were something fragile, and you lean into him, your fingers tangling in his brown hair, the kiss deepening, passionate and full of the promise that this time would be different.

when you finally pull apart, his forehead rests against yours, both of you breathing heavily, overwhelmed by the rush of emotions. a playful smile tugs at charles’ lips. “so… boyfriend and girlfriend again?” his eyes glimmer with happiness, his grin widening as though he can’t believe this is real.

you laugh softly, shaking your head in disbelief. “oh, no,” you tease, a playful smile spreading across your lips as you brush your hand across his chest. he flinches for a moment, eyes widening in mock alarm, before recognition dawns and a grin breaks through. “we’re getting married, remember? you can’t back out now.”

his laughter fills the room, rich and full, as he leans in to kiss you again, this time gently, his lips brushing yours with sweet tenderness. “even better,” he whispers almost against your lips, and you can feel the smile on his face, the joy in his voice as he kisses you once more; he can’t stop it now. “just want to make sure i’m up to the task of being the best husband ever.”

charles gently pulls even you closer, his arms circling around you in a way that feels both familiar and entirely new. you sink into his embrace, your cheek resting against his chest, where you can feel the slow, steady rhythm of his heart. the hug feels like coming home. his arms tighten around you, and there’s a tenderness in the way he holds you, as though he’s afraid to let go, afraid you might slip away again.

when you finally pull back just enough to look up at him, there’s a softness in his eyes that mirrors everything you feel. and in that moment, with his arms still around you and the world outside feeling miles away, there’s a sense of relief in the air, a comfort neither of you thought you’d feel again so soon.

“you told someone we called it quits?” you ask, your voice teasing but with a hint of curiosity laced within it.

charles looks down at you, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “not exactly… just my family.”

you raise an eyebrow, playfully. “especially arthur, i’m guessing.”

he pauses, his smirk fading into a look of mild confusion, brow furrowing. “what do you mean?” he asks, his tone genuinely puzzled, not quite understanding where you’re going with this.

“oh, don’t bother, love,” you say with a knowing smile, your voice teasing. you think of how arthur, and perhaps even a few others, conspired to push you both back together. you’ll share the details with charles eventually, and the image of his reaction makes you smile. you know he’ll laugh, maybe even shed a few happy tears at the gesture.

he narrows his eyes in mock suspicion but decides not to press the issue. instead, his hand gently rubs circles on your back. “okay… but answering your question—everyone else thinks we only postponed the wedding.”

your eyes widen in surprise, and you pull back slightly to look at him. “oh! so you knew we could work it out, huh?”

he flashes a playful grin, the spark in his eyes returning. “sometimes i do know things, you know?”

the two of you burst into laughter, the kind that leaves your stomachs aching a little and your faces flushed with joy. it’s a bright, carefree moment, the kind that had been missing for too long.

as the laughter fades, you rest against him, your head finding its familiar spot on his chest, the rhythm of his heartbeat steadying your own. he presses a soft kiss to the top of your head, and for the first time in a long while, everything feels like it’s falling into place.

“we’re really doing this again, aren’t we?” you murmur, your voice filled with hope.

“we are,” charles whispers back, his arms tightening around you. “and this time, i’m going to get it right.”

he kisses you again, gently but with all the love he has in his heart. the world outside seems distant, unimportant, as the two of you stand in the stillness of the moment, wrapped in each other’s warmth. and as you look up at him, the man who had once made you question everything but who now stands here, ready to give you the world, you know that this time, there’s no more doubt. only love. it’s not just a new beginning—it’s the continuation of something that never truly ended. the end of one chapter and the start of forever.

©⠀piastrisun original work. please don’t translate, claim or repost any of my writing, 24’.

[faithhearted]

Though Ben was quite the catch, at least in her opinion, the fact that he didn’t currently have any prospects of his own (outside of their atypical entanglement) did speak volumes. Bekah, however, chose to assume the fault must have rested upon his partners, even if she was a little biased. 

Of course, that was before he mentioned bringing Shakespeare into the bedroom. With a dejected sigh, she shook her head and ran a hand down her face. 

“Is it sad that I can’t tell if you’re serious or not? 'Sides, you’d probably chastise me for my habit of paraphrasing rather than be turned on.” 

Regardless, Bekah scribbled down ‘Shakespeare’ under Ben’s name, if only for the humor of it. 

The sudden self-conscious look consuming his expression told her he was becoming a little more serious, more honest on the matter. 

"I've never been intimate in nature...there's always been a sort of appeal in that, just being out in the elements. Though not in a park where anyone could just come across us, 'cause the world doesn't need to see my bare arse." 

Before she could toss a quip, he held up a finger, "And there'd be a blanket involved, 'cause I'm not eager to get dirt in my hard-to-reach places."

“I wouldn't be opposed to that. We’d need to think about where we could try it without risk of being fined,” she chuckled, “I'd suggest the beach, but we’d probably run into a similar issue.” 

Something told her that the famous kiss scene in From Here to Eternity wasn’t quite as romantic in reality as it was on screen. It made her wonder if people like Burt Lancaster or Deborah Kerr ever faced such trivial problems, like getting sand in their nooks and crannies while trying to sell an iconic moment in cinema. 

She must have gone quiet for a little too long again, because Ben nudged her while smirking, "And what about yourself? Though my question is toward your kinks, not your preference for dirt-free romps."

“Oh, uh…” tapping the pen against the paper, she took a second to mull it over. There were certainly a lot of common kinks that came to mind, but nothing that immediately stuck out as something she was desperate to try. 

That’s when a few rather racy images monopolized her thoughts, no doubt turning her cheeks pink as she smiled sheepishly. 

“If we do doggy style again, maybe we’ll try it in front of a mirror.” 

Bekah lightly winced, worried Ben would quickly connect the dots and understand it was because she wanted to see him take her. With a quick clearing of her throat, she used her free hand to rub at the nape of her neck. Her next sentence was practically a mumble, as she was even more abashed by the second suggestion. 

“Or start out watching each other…you know...”

What, are you twelve? She reprimanded herself, Just say the damned word, you coward! 

“Masturbate.”

The word tumbled from her mouth like a helping of alphabet soup. She held her breath, bracing and waiting for the crippling and inevitable judgement to hit.

"They say those who can't, teach," Rebekah teased. "I wouldn't sweat it though. You're pretty good at plenty of other things."

"You're right," Ben agreed. "After years in the classroom, I'm an excellent finger-painter. Not that my fifth graders are too keen on that, of course, but why not live a little?"

Rebekah nudged him with her elbow, grinning as she pulled the blank paper forward. "Based on what we just did, I can't imagine you're more vanilla than ice," she reassured.

Ben snorted. "And what's so kinky about missionary? That's the oldest one in the book. And from behind? Intermediate at best."

Not that he was an expert, but the less Rebekah knew on that front, the better.

She nudged him again. "Of course, we're gonna write it together. Gotta kill time while we wait for 'za anyway."

"Don't say 'za,'" Ben admonished, though he was smiling. "Back when I taught kindergarten, one of my kids called pizza 'za,' and I don't think that's the effect you were going for."

Not that "za" could be considered sexy to begin with.

Rebekah glanced at him. "Okay, level with me, Ben. Is there anything remotely kinky you've ever wanted to try?"

He hummed, pretending to mull it over. "Well, maybe going down on you while you recite Shakespeare...though that'd put me in the wrong position for this whole thing to work."

Chuckling, his expression grew a touch self-conscious. "I've never been intimate in nature...there's always been a sort of appeal in that, just being out in the elements. Though not in a park where anyone could just come across us, 'cause the world doesn't need to see my bare arse." He held up a finger. "And there'd be a blanket involved, 'cause I'm not eager to get dirt in my hard-to-reach places."

Leaning forward on his elbows, Ben nudged her with a smirk. "And what about yourself? Though my question is toward your kinks, not your preference for dirt-free romps."