#i'm telling you though i've connected the dots
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bluecapsicum · 17 hours ago
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hi Blue! I am absolutely IN LOVE with the "Reports From Unknown Places" series. If you don't mind me asking, how did you learn to draw the clouds and the sky so well? I've always found the prospect very daunting, but you draw them in a way that simply amazing! Do you have any tips for brushes/practice?
Hello!
Thank you so much for the message, and your kind words! I'm so glad you enjoy Reports.
I completely understand how one might find drawing the sky daunting. I still regularly give myself headaches when working on reports. Everyone has their own issues when it comes to drawing, though.
For instance, this might sound a bit absurd, but one of my main issues as an illustrator is that I don't think well in 3D, and I ended up realising that I was unconsciously thinking about the sky as a flat image. When I started drawing clouds as objects moving in space, everything became a little easier.
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(This is the kind of epiphany that I had. Truly a revolution in my mind. Now I can totally rotate clouds in my brain.)
This all came about as I kept on drawing more and more, sure, but the most important part really was watching clouds for myself, as much as possible, and to try and notice things every time. It's mostly silly stuff, especially at first, like oh yeah, I guess clouds produce shadows on other clouds too. Wow! Or, huh, this cloud doesn't have the same density throughout, so the light scatters differently inside of it.
Because it's all fundamentally physics, it ended up sounding incredibly simple once I had noticed it. Of course! It's all logical! I had just never connected the dots before I saw it in person.
So I also bought some books, and watched videos (all those airplane videos are fantastic), read websites, looked at pictures. Everything was helpful in one way or another. Listen, I knew about cirrus and cumulonimbus and that was pretty much it, at first. So looking at diagrams about how high cirrus are in comparison to stratocumulus, for instance, was a revelation. Looking at the life cycle of cumulonimbus explained so much for me.
These are studies I did on the side of Reports, in November 2020, then April 2021, and the third one in September 2023:
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I think I'm able to look at these and tell that I got progressively more confident because I understood what I was drawing a lot better.
If I had to say, a few concrete things I learned that work for me is being bold, not to be afraid of contrast and sharp edges, and to treat light as an actor of its own. I can't find it right now, but I once read a quote by (I think!) Cezanne that went something like "I'm not painting the mountain, I'm painting the air between me and the mountain". I think it's the most helpful thing I've ever heard for painting and drawing. It's obviously especially relevant here. The air changes everything.
Anyway, I could go for ages more, I'm totally rambling, so I'll just leave a few references I find helpful:
The International Cloud Atlas
The Cloud Appreciation Society
What's This Cloud
In the end it's just fun, and good for the soul, to spend quality time with clouds, so nothing is ever lost!
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dazais-guardian-angel · 1 year ago
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Y'all, I think I've figured it out. Operating on the assumption that the finale is indeed an alternate timeline from the manga, then someone could have written on a page of the Book to rewrite reality to lead to the events of the finale sometime during season 5's events. In other words, this would explain the INCONSISTENCIES with things that were established or at least heavily implied/assumed prior and in the manga: Chuuya being a real vampire and not in control, nothing being planned, Dazai giving sincere speeches, Dazai really being shot and saying his "last words", Fyodor's hand not being injured, soukoku not killing Fyodor while in Meursault because they literally couldn't and Dazai needing Sigma to discover Fyodor's secrets because of that, Fukuchi's goal not being one that relied on Fukuzawa being alive since he clearly intended to kill him, etc etc too many more to count
Events and explanations in the finale feeling so contradictory and out of place, and characters feeling so ooc and not acknowledging any discrepancies, makes perfect sense if you consider that, up until a certain point, this was our canon timeline — until someone rewrote the ending of the arc with the Book, starting with Fyodor injuring his hand...! We only have one example of the Book being used to majorly rewrite reality in the manga, and when that happened, the main players — the ADA members — were aware that reality was changed, even though they did have memories of the new rewritten reality. BUT, Nikolai was unaware of this during that scene, and so also were all law enforcement because of the clause written on the page accounting for that, so what if the same thing could happen in this instance, to prevent all our characters in the finale from being aware that things had changed? We literally saw someone writing Nikolai's dialogue for him; imagine someone doing that during Dazai's final speech in the episode, and during all the rest of it! I don't know who this would be, but possibly a mysterious third party who got a hold of a different page from the Book somewhere and wrote things to turn out this way, because they wanted the ADA to win against Fukuchi and Fyodor? Maybe even because... this is the only way they can win?
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Remember Atsushi asserting this plan, and how silly and too simple it sounded? What if someone else ended up doing just that, writing their own simple outcome for the ADA to win (as a narrative of course, which is probably why it had to start with the major catalyst of, again, Fyodor injuring his hand)? Additionally, if that's what happened, maybe the ending of the finale is a sort of side effect to the Book being used improperly in this way, leading to a destabilization of the timeline or a mishmash of other timelines into the anime one, leading to the alternate Fukuchi and Akutagawa we see there?
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medicinemane · 15 days ago
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Sometimes I feel like I'm going crazy
You have... very very very very very very very very smart people you know, and they're say something that not only isn't true, but literally is as opposite of the truth as it's possible to be... and you'll... gently inform them "hey, it's actually a bit more like this" and then they just kinda... go on saying literally the exact same thing
I'm not sure if it's just that... I often feel like I must be very bad at communicating, or people must just not notice/ignore a lot of what I say, but... I don't know
Like dearest friend, you've said something as absurd as... I don't know, it's hard to say without saying it, but honest to god about as absurd as saying the United States was a part of the USSR, that level of completely getting it backwards
...and it just doesn't seem to matter when I try to explain it... I legit don't even know if you read what I said
Really end up feeling like I'm going nuts sometimes
#to be clear; I don't mind people disagreeing with me (though that's not what's happened here... I don't think I came into it at all)#but all I need in order to be able to work with disagreement is just... knowing you at least heard and understood me#like if it's 'I get that you think that vanilla is a good flavor of icecream; but I really prefer chocolate'... ok; this works for me#it's that... a lot of the time it honest feels more like 'what are you talking about? vanilla isn't a flavor' where... huh?#let's take a real example; not everyone needs to agree with me on nuclear#but like... someone saying 'I get that it's way safer these days; but I still worry about waste storage'... well ok then#but if it's just like 'but it's dangerous and will explode' even after I've explained about the designs now#where there's a salt plug that with melt and drain before anything can happen; and these materials don't like to run away#...and it's not like they're asking me to back up the source; it's like I never said anything at all...#what am I supposed to do here? you feel me on that? do you start to get why I feel like I'm going crazy when that's how it often feels?#no one is obliged to agree with me but... literally just active listening would fix this... say you heard me and we're good#acknowledge that I voiced something and it's been noted#honestly... honestly my who life it's felt like I must somehow actually be invisible#...to an extent maybe I'm a figment of my own imagination; I might well be a ghost that's lonely and makes you all up#...for all the impact my actions have#or maybe literally everything I say just comes out garbled... is that it?#this post is about something very specific; but it's also about something that happens a lot with a lot of different people#on a broader scale; why is it no one else seems to be able to connect the dots#and these aren't like... conspiracy theory dots; these are like russia buys drones from Iran; therefore russia and Iran are partners#that's the kind of dots I'm talking about connecting; please tell me that's not a conspiracy theory to you... it seems plain to me#I don't know... I really don't... I don't think much I say will ever have any impact anywhere on anyone#...honestly a good 90% of the time people don't even respond to what I say#not like my posts here; I mean direct in dms or whatever; I'll say stuff and it's just silence or a new subject#again; across multiple people; it's common... it's... I think it happens more often than it doesn't#I can instantly name 4 conversations with 4 different people that's happened with lately#and that's not counting the 3 where I know the reason why it's happened#I really am something unfit to live; the evidence is endless#mm tag so i can find things later
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heian-era-housewife · 5 months ago
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Synopsis | Sukuna gives you a lesson in Heian Period courtship. Will you find these strange customs to your liking?
Content | reader x sukuna, mostly fluff, some chasing/mention of fear, nicknames "dove", "little one".
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"Ryo?" You began softly, still clutching the small poem he had left for you earlier that day. "Was dating -err- I mean courtship a lot different in the Heian Period?"
"Substantially so," he replied as he laid out your shared futon over the tatami floor.
"Was it...romantic?" You asked, climbing beneath the cotton sheets.
"For the time, yes. Though you would not have enjoyed it."
"How do you know? Did you enjoy it?"
Sliding in beside you, he took the poem from your hands and set it gently to the side, brushing stray hairs from your face as he answered. "I never engaged in such pursuits. Romance was unthinkable," he placed a tender kiss on your forehead, "before you."
"But you wrote poetry, didn't you?"
He could tell you weren't going to let this go. Heaving a sigh, he continued. "Poetry was used for many things. Heian seduction involved elements of fear, pity, and token rejection. In romance, the poetry typically came later."
You blinked. Fear? Pity? Surely he had misunderstood your question. Reading the confusion on your face, he offered a different approach.
"It may be easier...to demonstrate," he hesitated. "But as I already mentioned, you might not enjoy it."
"Try me."
Sukuna's eyes darkened. A predatory sneer crept across his features. It was as though a thousand-year craving were finally being satiated. With two little words a sleeping beast within him had come unleashed. He was free to prowl, and you were his prey.
He lunged at you with explosive force. As if on instinct, you dodged his advance, rolling from the futon and scrambling to your feet. Heart pounding in your ears, you ran from the room, steps falling fast and heavy as he took chase.
You weren't sure why you were running. It was only a demonstration, right? Besides, Sukuna would never hurt you. But you couldn't shake that look. The way he shifted from gentle lover to carnal predator. An irrational fear was taking hold.
Fear! You thought. That was the first part he had mentioned of Heian Period courtship. With gripping realization, you allowed your fright to overwhelm you, finding it both alarming and exhilarating.
Easily catching up to you, Sukuna rounded the corner quickly pinning you to the nearest wall, hot breath panting down on you as he eyed you hungrily.
"I've got you now, little one!" He growled. "Next I'm going to-"
"hnnh..." A pathetic whine escaped your lips. With his face mere inches from yours, Sukuna stopped. His eyes softening as he recognized the terror he had caused.
"My dove," he cooed, gently caressing your face in stark contrast to his actions mere moments before. "I never meant to startle you."
The whiplash was astounding. You questioned his sanity.
Dropping to one knee, Sukuna held your hands in his, sincere apologies spilling from his lips. Looking up, his eyes met yours in a gaze of pure pity.
Pity! You nearly shouted. Sukuna was taking pity on your weak and fearful state!
"Oh my gosh..." you said slowly, the point of his lesson having landed a direct bullseye. "Heian Period seduction was insane."
He broke into a wry smile, glad you were finally connecting the dots.
"Does this mean..." he gasped dramatically, "that you're rejecting my love??"
Token rejection. The final courtship component.
"But alas!" You played along. "How could I take such a cruel lover?"
"Let me show you!" He urged.
"Be gone!" You ordered.
"I insist!" He demanded.
"If you must," you cried, falling theatrically into his arms, laughing.
~~~
Back under the sheets of your futon, Sukuna eyed you thoughtfully, a soft twinkle in his eyes.
"What?" You asked.
"You enjoyed that more than I imagined," he conceited.
"I suppose I can see the appeal," you admitted, reaching for the small parchment beside you. "But, if it's all the same to you, I think I prefer the poetry."
"Me too," he whispered, kissing you goodnight. "Me too.
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Please feel free to check out the video that inspired this little story. ⚠️Trigger Warning⚠️ While the video is relatively lighthearted and informative, there is mention of nonconsentual actions and use of the "r" word in a factual context.
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kanmom51 · 2 months ago
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I didn't know this
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*p.s. - She was his gf then and his wife now, why the need to say "his first girlfriend"? First gf we knew about more like it.
OK, so here's the thing... those are JK's eyes, sue me. And the timing of that billboard falling and the keep going..
I have a draft way back from July, me talking about JM's Who MV shoot sketch. I started writing it and found that I couldn't complete it. And now with this - I didn't know this little ever so important piece of information - maybe I can talk about it a little more (bring up some of the things I was thinking about back then).
Basically a few things stood out to me while watching the BTB.
JM being JM as usual. Beautiful, talented, shrewd.
It's quite obvious that JM is involved in the direction of the MV (we were saying...), and this is one thing that stood out to me:
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3 things stood out to me. First was his use of the word people. "...people walk past me...". The second was "for now", as in the MV's "for now". And third was "that's what I'm trying to show". So yes, this was part of JM's vision. The song's meaning chasing that muse, but also the song's MV, which is more about finding that "someone", that "who" in a more understandable language to us, being romantic love.
Song is about the intangible, MV is about corporeal, if you wish.
Watching this had me also go back to the MV itself and notice a few more things I didn't notice first times around, and with that new piece of information about Taeyung and his then girlfriend now wife, and knowing just how huge ENL was back in the day and JM's close friendship now days with Taeyung, well, it just fits so so well.
Just bringing this back for a sec before moving on:
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Back to Who MV and me trying to connect some of the dots.
The scene JM is talking about, with the people, men and women, passing him by and none of them are the person he is looking for, it comes right after this:
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NO QUESTION MARK ON THERE!!!
I also noticed that before this screen falls JM's interactions, the 'people' passing him by are only women, where as after the screen falls and tells him to keep going, well, then it's not only women passing him by. Now he's not limiting himself only to finding "her"? Maybe now he's looking for "him" too? Maybe "him" is the "who" he's looking for and not "her"?
But we know that the billboard has a specific "him" on it. And even though the hers and hims are crossing his path, at this point he isn't interacting with them, they aren't the who he's looking for.
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Another interesting thing I found was that when it comes to those one on one's they are only with women. We have them before the screen falling, and after it fell and he is walking down the street people walking him by, even then, the only ones he interacts with are women. But as he is doing that, this appears on the screen as well:
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This is also right after the huge screen falls from the sky. Is this again someone or something telling him to go back, rewind, that the screen he just walked away from has the answer he's looking for?
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That he missed something, or someone...
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And we know NOTHING is a coincidence when it comes to these two, especially in their artistic decisions.
This either:
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We weren't sure at the time what it all meant.
What was JM hinting to?
What were the editors of AYS hinting to?
I know not everything about their art is about them as a couple. I've said that multiple times. Not every song is about one or the other or them and their love for each other. Not at all.
But...
That doesn't mean we should ALWAYS dismiss the possibility that it may just be about them. That some of their lyrics do have to do with each other, that some of their songs (even if they did not write the lyrics themselves) do have representation of their relationship in them, that some of their artistic decisions are about them showing their true selves and their love for each other.
We have seen songs that we just KNOW are written for the other, about the other, about their love for each other, about a moment they shared with one another, about what the other means to them. And sometimes when the song isn't there are things surrounding them that are. It can be photoshoot concepts or hints within their artistry that pay homage to the other, or that they are agreed upon hints to what they mean to each other. We have seen this with both of them during their solo journey as well.
And now with this new piece of information, which I was not aware of, coming to light I'm thinking that this isn't about a collab or a song (although I would love for there to be a Jikook song). I'm thinking that our first knee jerk reaction to this could have been the right one. That this was all about the Who. That the eyes on that screen, the one JM doesn't get to see in the MV, those are the eyes of his "Who". In the MV, but more so, you know, in real life.
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*Another p.s. - I know I've been silent since the last AYS episode has dropped. It's been a hectic week, but more so it's been hard for me to even try and put into words how I felt coming out (pun most definitley intended) on the other side of this episode. I am working on my post at the moment. The words are not coming easy, I can tell you that much. But it will come. Eventually.💜💜
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ittybittyremy · 3 months ago
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All the details Bells Hells know about Cyrus' death & everything surrounding it
I've been seeing people wondering/forgetting how much Dorian has told Bells Hells about the circumstances of Cyrus' death. So I've decided to go through the episodes!
A couple disclaimers before I start:
Orym shouldn't have made that comment to Dorian. Even if he didn't know all the specifics, knowing Dorian's brother died recently (and at all for that matter) should have stopped him from making that theoretical. Even if Cyrus' death had nothing to do with the gods, it would still be an inappropriate thing to say. He could've made that theoretical to anyone else in that group but he said it to the person with a recently dead family member.
Even though it would be beneficial for Dorian to tell BH (and for BH to learn/understand) everything about that day, he doesn't have to (and` shouldn't be forced to). Plus, it's very in character for Dorian not to tell them.
I don't want to see any comments saying "well it's implied," "BH should be able to connect the dots," or "BH should get the hint because of how Dorian has been acting." I'm bad at picking up hints irl so I won't fault BH for not connecting those points.
This post is about what Dorian has explicitly said (even though I did add a couple parts where he implies what happens).
This is all under the assumption that Dorian has not told BH everything off camera.
All timestamps will be based on the YouTube VOD.
I may miss a couple tidbits so sorry in advance.
Now to the actual information
Episode 93
Cyrus died (3:43:24)
Two of Dorian's best friends became the champions of the Matron of Ravens and the Spider Queen (3:43:28)
It all happened yesterday (3:43:38)
Opal is "not really" okay (3:43:45)
Cyrus died in battle "if you can call it that" (3:53:36)
Until that day he never thought real evil existed (3:53:46)
What he saw in the previous couple days does was "irredeemable" (3:53:55)
They tried to help Opal (3:54:59)
Dorian knows that there are forces enacting on the world that go "deeper than [he] imagined" (3:55:05)
Fy'ra Rai stayed with Opal (3:55:16)
Dariax is "all right" (3:55:20)
Opal is alive but corrupted (3:57:04)
Fy'ra Rai may be walking down the path as Opal (3:57:12)
Episode 94
Dorian doesn't explicitly mention it this episode but there is a moment where he hints that the prime deities may have somehow been involved.
"If you are relying on the help of the gods, champions, I can't say that I trust them anymore" (2:30:17)
Episode 102
No explicit mentions here BUT we begin to get Dorian's opinions of the gods. That's not what this post is about so I will move on
Episode 103
More of Dorian's views on the gods and we finally get another (sort of) explicit mention
"The last I conferred with a god, they cared very little about the feelings of anyone around us." That god being the Spider Queen (1:37:01)
The reason I say "sort of" is because Dorian doesn't say this is in regards to Cyrus' death (even though we the audience knows this). Orym and Fearne could've easily assumed that this was in regards to their EXU times.
Episode 109
Get an idea of what "getting dark" means. Matt describes Opal as "a humanoid shape of white hair and a black crown dripping and black oil and ichor. Opal stands dark and still" (2:19:13)
"Opal the Twice-Crowned, born a fractured, dual soul. A being of unknown potential, manipulated by cult and betrayer gods alike to walk a violent path without agency, a pawn for the gods and their whims." Raven Queen describing Opal (2:19:32)
Opal has a spider form (different from three-armed Opal) (2:49:20)
Episode 110
Dorian remind Bells Hells that Opal is now the champion of the Spider Queen (51:29)
Laudna says "hang on, because didn't, the last time you saw Opal, wasn't she trying to brutally murder you?" (52:22). I guess BH knows it was the Spider Queen? I'm a bit confused because Dorian never explicitly told them this but maybe it was an off screen thing
Dorian: "I'm not certain any information we would get from her would be particularly reliable" (52:30)
What does Bells Hells know?
As far as they know, the day before Dorian reunited with Bells Hells:
Cyrus died in a (sort of) battle.
They tried to help Opal but she is corrupted, she is still alive though
Fy'ra Rai stayed with Opal
Dariax is safe
Opal and someone else are now the champions of the Spider Queen and Matron of Ravens.
Dorian discovered real evil existed
The title "Opal the Twice-Crowned"
Opal's spider form (but different the three-armed Opal that Dorian saw)
Opal is not a reliable source of information right now
What does Bells Hells not know?
Wildmother refused to help
Matron refused to help
The Spider Queen killed Cyrus (? tbh i'm confused about this one)
Dorian came here because Opal casted mass suggestion
Dorian abandoned Dariax
Opal's memories are either gone or altered
Opal with three arms
The whole Ted thing
And much more
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kaizokuou-ni-naru · 9 months ago
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Hello!
First of all, thank you for your blog, it is pure linguistic gold to me (especially since I'm learning Japanese).
Remember when you mentioned a parallel between Zoro's nickname 閻王/enou as a parallel to Rayleigh's 冥王星/meiou ? Well, the dots connect to your post about the gorousei's planet-themed name since Pluto's name is 冥王星/meiou- makes sense, it's the japanese name for Hades and Pluto in Greek and Latin mythologies. But where it gets interesting is when you realize that all Ancient Weapon-based Greek/Latin god names have 王/ou in the name of their star equivalent : 天王星/ten'ousei for Uranus (where you have the kanji for sky/"celestial"/heaven), 海王星/kaiousei for Neptune, and what I mentioned earlier for Pluto. None if the gorousei's star name equivalents have this. All theories aside (like the parallel you can establish between the 3 Ancient Weapons and some Straw Hat members), what can you tell us about the Earth (地球/chikyuu, if I'm not wrong) ? Can you think of any instance where this term stood out, or if Mr. Oda used the kanji but with a different pronounciation ? Or if he used the term at all instead of borrowing the english word.
If you can't find anything, it's okay though! I just couldn't help but mention the link between the gorousei and the Ancient Weapons through the kanji, haha
TRUE! this also connects with something i noticed awhile back, which is the fact that the name of the sea kings, 海王類/kaiourui (sea-king-species), matches with the name of the planet neptune (aka poseidon), 海王星/kaiousei (sea-king-star). which is why they're sometimes called neptunians in translation!
so the gorosei are the five closest non-earth planets, and then the outermost three planets- uranus, neptune, and pluto- are the ancient weapons, 天王星 (heaven-king-star), 海王星 (sea-king-star), and 冥王星 (dark-king-star).
the most interesting thing i can say about your actual question is actually that, unless i've missed it, i don't think we've ever gotten a name for one piece's planet? i don't think it's ever been referred to as earth/地球 or any other specific name. normally the only term used for one piece's world is 世界/sekai, 'world' more generically. so that is still something of a gap in this assemblage, as is the lack of a clear association for imu.
but since we're talking about the solar system i would be remiss if i didn't mention we've also of course got the sun accounted for.
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shadowwolfsage · 4 months ago
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DJ ARC 4
Jaune: (after letting another song play out) Alright well tonight's been great, so while I'm still riding the high, and with my girlfriends permission...
Neon: Go get 'em babe!
Jaune: Okay, so this song is one I wrote for someone I'veheld a torch for for a while. She's amazing, but people only ever seem to focus on her looks. She's so much more though. Sure she's an absolute ten out of ten beauty, but she's also one of the best fighters I've ever seen. She always looks out for her friends, giving up her own time to make sure others are doing okay. She's basically the big sister for her entire team, but no one ever seems to notice. So I wrote this song as a bit of a joke based off of that.
With RWBYNPR in the audience
Yang: *elbows Pyrrha* Damn. Lover Boy has it bad, huh P-Money?
Weiss: Yang, before you continue can I say something?
Yang: Yeah? Wassup Ice queen?
Weiss: Before today, Arc only ever performed under his Alias, and only appeared wearing a hologram mask.
Yang: wait really?
Weiss: Yes. Until today, the dance that you were put in charge of, and stressed over. You couldn't find a DJ, and Arc stepped up, knowing his cover would be blown, and choosing to reveal himself instead. Now, why do you think he did that?
Yang: (slowly starts connecting the dots)
Jaune: (over speakers) So this song is dedicated to the pun loving, badass brawler Yang Xiao Long. Yang? I hope you get a laugh out of this, and maybe tomorrow we can grab a bite to eat, just you me and Neon? And to the rest of you I say. Stop staring at her boobs.
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Yang: Yang.exe has experienced an unexpected crash due to file publicconfession.zip trying to open Bi-panic.jpeg. Please wait while systems attempt to reboot.
Ruby: HAH, so this is what its like to see your sister embarrassed in public. *snaps photo* I'm so telling Dad that she's in a three way relationship like he was.
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angelofsmalldeaath · 5 months ago
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work song — a.h.b.
a/n: full disclosure, i've posted this before on tumblr for something else. but i love this piece very much and i think it fits for him and this song so well 🤍 (it's gone under quite a few edits too, though)
cw: mentions of death but of well that's a given
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the artist flicks through the feature. 
her name is printed in big letters on the cover of the monthly issue, her face—smiling and excited—next to the centrepiece of her latest art collection: cupid and psyche. 
the painting is stunning, a riot of bold colours and patterns, but at the centre is a man, his face hidden, his red-brown curls tousled. his body is relaxed, she thinks there's an air of carefreeness about him. 
and she'd know that for sure, after all that day is etched into her memory. 
when she feels a familiar pair of arms wrap around her, she smiles. 
“you're rather proud of the feature, aren't you?” his voice holds a little teasing note. she's stared at the feature for close to thirty minutes now, discreetly pinching herself in the same spot on her arm. (it sports a tiny, barely-there bruise now) 
“good,” he nuzzles his face into her neck, softly kissing the skin, “you should be. the exhibit was fucking gorgeous.”
“mmm, because you were the centrepiece?” fondly, she teases back, but the memory flashes in front of her eyes—the bustling art gallery, him in a corner, wearing a plain hoodie and jeans and a cap hiding half of his face, absolutely brimming with pride. 
she remembers the journalists asking about the man in all the paintings, the one whose face no one can see. “he's my muse,” she says every time, “this collection is dedicated to him.” 
“someone's going to connect the dots,” he walks around her, settling himself next to her on the settee. instantly, they rearrange themselves into a tangle—her legs on his lap, his arm around her, her head on his shoulders, his head on hers. “if they looked carefully, they'll make the connection.” 
“sweet boy, we have been each other's muse for years now and no one's found out. i don't think they're going to start now. besides,” she snorts, “i think the art world thinks i've made you up in my mind. won’t be the first time an artist's gone insane.”
he laughs a hearty laugh. “maybe you have. you always say i'm too good to be true.”
when she can't think of a retort, she sticks her tongue out, shrieking away as he smothers her in kisses. 
“seriously though, it's fun writing about you. singing about you. and i love seeing myself through your eyes.” suddenly he sounds all sober and serious. she thinks his voice even wavers slightly at the end. he blinks quickly though, and just like that the brightness in his eyes is gone. 
“love it when you write about me too,” she teases, “love being told i give you a toothache just from kissing you.”
“oi! i put my heart into that! it's a precious memory for me.”
“the memory of me taking care of you when you were burning up a fever? the memory of you demanding more kisses?”
he giggles like a teenager, hiding his face in her hair. it's fun to rile him up like this, so she continues, poking him in the ribs. “oh, oh, is it the memory of you passing the flu to me?” 
“we took care of each other though!” he traps both her hands in his so she won’t be able to poke him more. a second passes, and he can’t resist kissing the knuckles. “and so you deserve to have a song written about you. or a whole album works too i think.”
he pauses for a little then tuts. “actually, no. don't wanna tell anyone it's about you, that'll ruin the magic.”
“ruin the magic?” 
“of being your muse and having you as mine. a hundred years from now, when people would see your art as the artwork of this generation, and my music as the tune of our times—”
“tune of our times...”
“yeah, quit laughing at me!” he flicks her nose, kissing it right after. “so when my music becomes the tune of our times, i think people will see it then. they will make the connections.”
secretly, she loves the idea—that their love might transcend time and space, heaven and hell through their art. that decades from now their names might be whispered together, even though they aren’t just yet. 
“of course, we'll be buried together by then. same grave by the way, very romeo and juliet of us.”
“that's morbid!” she laughs sharply, “what will the epitaph say?”
he hums for a bit, thinking. his eyes flutter shut for a second or two, almost like he needs to focus on the half formed thought until it's a complete sentence. then he excitedly clears his throat and gently holds her face between his hands. 
“here lie the artist and the muse; inspiring each other in death as they did in life.”
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feelbetterlove-books · 3 months ago
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Hello I'm just dropping in to try and help spread some good vibes in the Bucktommy fandom, inspired by @thatmexisaurusrex so here are five headcanons:
Tommy got really into The Great Pottery Throw Down during the early days of quarantine, and he figured he could always use a new hobby, so there's a small kiln and a wheel set up in his garage. The wheel has been neglected a while, since Tommy found that he likes hand building much better, but when Buck finds out about it he goes down a rabbit hole learning about ceramics and he ends up being amazing at throwing, finds it very relaxing. There's already a bunch of Tommy's sculptural work decorating the house, but by the time Buck moves in there's also a lovely set of matching plates and bowls in the kitchen with a monogram of their initials stamped on them. A vase that's filled with fresh flowers every week. Their mugs came from Tommy's experimental efforts, all mismatched and they choose a different one to use every day based on their moods. Eventually, they work together to make a bird bath for the yard, which leads me to:
When Tommy's helicopter goes down, he's injured badly enough that a hospital bed gets set up in the living room and he barely leaves it for several weeks. During that time, Carla is hired to help take care of him and though Buck is there to keep him company as much as possible, he knows how boring a stretch of time off recovering can be. So, to help keep Tommy busy, he sets up a series of bird feeders outside their bay window where Tommy can look out with a pair of binoculars and identify and document all their visitors with a field guide and sketch book. He becomes Obsessed with this, names many of the frequent flyers, continues on to spend an extravagant amount of money on bulk bird seed every year, and makes sure the hummingbirds always have plenty of sugar water. Once he's healed, he and Buck, who is equally invested, plan hikes and trips around bird watching. They don't have any indoor pets but they love all their feathered friends.
Tommy was born a few days after Halloween and it has been his favorite holiday since he was a kid. He gleefully goes all out celebrating it and as a gift to himself, adds more decorations to his collection every year, some of which stay up inside permanently. He's this close to buying the 12 foot skeleton and Buck is not talking him out of it. They are beloved by trick-or-treaters for the display and the fact that they hand out full size candy bars. They prove they are very capable of executing a killer couples costume and scaring the socks off the 118 with some creepy antics at the party they host annually, but nobody can complain because it doubles as Tommy's birthday party.
The next time Buck hears about submissions being open for the firefighter calendar, he absolutely insists Tommy send in his photo. When he becomes Mr. June, (Buck's birth month, happy birthday to HIM) and is photographed for it stepping off his helicopter, stubble accentuating his cleft, flight suit only half on, tits out, sleeves tied around his waist, removing a pair of aviators, Buck loses his mind and buys so many copies of the calendar. The whole 118 and Harbor crew gets one on him. He has one in his locker displaying Tommy year round and one at home to actually use. He even mails a copy to his parents in PA and generally tells anyone who will listen about his hot firefighter pilot model boyfriend without a care for the teasing and groans he gets back, that's his man!!
I've seen a good amount of appreciation for Tommy and Buck's scars and tattoos and wrinkles, but off the top of my head I think Tommy's moles and freckles have been a bit overlooked. If we got to see more of his skin, you can tell he has a lot of them, on his stomach, arms, back, and chest, and Buck LOVES them. He can't really say why he finds them so attractive, but trust that he is kissing and tracing them every chance he gets, connecting the dots of his favorite constellation, and it makes Tommy feel so wanted. Maybe Tommy has some faint stretch marks around his pecs and shoulders too, from when he got really beefy and those little details that most people don't see but he knows well enough to draw on a map are Buck's favorite.
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partyanimal167 · 9 months ago
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A Win-Win Situation PT 2- Rayleigh x F!Reader
Part One
Hello~ I've been chilling all day, and I wasn't sure what I was going to write on my days off, but I got a request for a continuation! So how could I saw no especially considering it's Rayleigh 😊
CW: modern au, black fem reader, age gap, suggestive, daddy kink, half-assed jealousy trope, brat taming, spanking, established relationship, MDNI
Things were certainly different now. Your car was always in perfect condition even though you rarely drove it. Your boyfriend was sweet and always considerate of you. Life was good, so you were a bit surprised to see the man react the way he did.
It took you over a week to realize that Rayleigh had been courting you. Sure, the way things turned out wasn't necessarily common, but maybe all those orgasms fogged up your mind since mechanics don't normally drive you home after leaving your car at the shop.
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You were a bit confused when you arrived a few days later to a car that certainly had more work done than originally planned: tires rotated, new catalytic converter, washed and waxed, and an oil change. You were further confused when the price for the repair was certainly less than what you were quoted.
"Come on now sweetheart, you thought I wouldn't keep my word?" Rayleigh had winked.
You didn't know what to think, but the dots finally connected when the man showed up to your house with a fresh bouquet of flowers and asked to take you out on a date.
"Told ya, I'd fix that boyfriend problem."
And things just came so easily. You two got along great, and it was kind of nice learning about the older man and all his journeys. He always beamed at you when you talked about your day or your plans for when you were off next. Rayleigh always made sure to spoil you no matter what.
Even now, he was all smiles from a corner as he watched you play pool with Shanks, Scopper, and some of the other rascals he had known over time. It wasn't an upscale bar, but the neighborhood joint had seen their patronage for years. People came and went to enjoy a glass and have some fun.
Your shot is getting better, Rayleigh thought to himself. He hummed away in admiration until he saw a hot-shot your age approach you. The young man smiled and shook your hand before placing a peck on it. Rayleigh could tell you didn't think much of it since you went on talking with the man animatedly, and he showed you a couple of trick shots.
You decided to take a breather and joined Rayleigh at his table. "Having fun, sweetie?"
You nodded as you hugged onto the man's arm. "Yeah! I was just talking to this guy over there. It seems like we ended up going to the same school."
Rayleigh hummed. "Oh really? Did you know him?"
You shook your head. "Not really. We just-,"
"Here's a tequila sunrise from the gentleman at the bar." the drink was placed in front. You both looked up, and the man winked from afar and waved.
"Oh jeez," you chuckled nervously.
"Go ahead and enjoy it, princess. I don't mind."
"Really?"
"Mmhm."
The two of you sat and chatted away, but Rayleigh couldn't get over the slight glances in your direction--the ones you were totally oblivious to with your back turned. Rayleigh laughed at a joke you made and took a deep breath.
"Oi! We startin' another game! I'm feeling lucky," Shanks waved you over back to the pool tables.
You finished off your drink and looked up expectantly at your man. "Wanna come with?"
"In a minute," You went off across the bar, and Rayleigh couldn't help but watch the way your hips swayed with each step and the peek of skin just above your belt. Rayleigh polished off his beer.
"I'm shocked she'd be into an old geezer like you. You must be rich."
Rayleigh turned and looked up to see the cocky young man standing in front of him--peering down. "I don't like what you're implying, young man. You don't seem to have a problem spending some change on her." Never mind, that the drink had top shelf liquor. Rayleigh could get you that and more if you just said the word.
"Hey, there's nothing to be ashamed of. I hope I can be pulling baddies in my golden years, but I'll take her off your hands for now."
Rayleigh knew he had to keep his calm. He wasn't really concerned about you ditching him. You two had a good thing going. More so, with Shanks and the crews here, things could get messy quickly. Rayleigh didn't feel like being banned from this bar again.
"Just watch." So Rayleigh did uninterestedly as you played on with the boys and laughed and smiled. A competition of sorts started with you and Buggy against the young guy and his friend.
In between turns, you sipped another free drink and cracked jokes. Rayleigh was hot under his skin, but he felt his eye twitch when he saw the man "squeeze" by you and placed his hand on your hip for a brief moment. Rayleigh rolled his eyes. How corny.
So he stood up to join the group and caught you in a hug as you cheered. "We won, babe!"
The old man chuckled as some of his hair moved into his face and placed a kiss on your forehead. "Good job sweetie. I told you you'd get better."
You giggled before grabbing your things. Rayleigh watched as you realized something. You grabbed pen and scribbled on a napkin. "So cool to meet you again! Hopefully we'll run into each other soon." you handed it to the guy and kissed his cheek.
Rayleigh felt the last strike tick, and he caught Shank's glance while you said bye to everyone. Rayleigh knew he probably looked the same, but Shanks knew. He grinned with amusement and mouthed, 'Be nice to the girl.'
Rayleigh smiled as he helped you into your jacket. He smiled as he walked to his car and opened the door for you. He smiled as he drove and you both sat in comfortable silence.
You had no idea.
~~~
"Say it again."
"I'm sorry, daddy!"
"What are you sorry for, dear?"
"I'm sorry for being a slut!" you wailed as you the spankings finally ended.
"Mmm, I don't know what you mean. I'm a good girl." you pouted and chuckled.
Rayleigh smiled too sweetly as he flipped you onto your back and trapped you from above. Tears peeked out of your eyes, and you looked all soft and innocent. But the grin was telling a different story. "Tch, you should be nice sweetheart. You shouldn't go leading another man on just to anger daddy." he chided.
"Oh, you're lying now too?" Rayleigh shook his head as he kissed his teeth. "I've spoiled you too much. Seems I need to fuck the brat out of you. Give me my good girl back, slut." Rayleigh. grunted before bringing your lips together.
Rayleigh knew you weren't sorry now, but by the time he'd be done with you, you'd know not to try his patience again. But no matter, you had the fun of teasing the old man and the roughed up sex that came after.
Easy win-win
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I was this close 🤌🏾 to making this a threesome with Shanks lol, but I couldn't get my brain to do it. So we'll hog ol' Rayleigh for ourselves.
@dannie-pooh28
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abiiors · 7 months ago
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Veee could you write something with matty where reader is also an artist (a way less known one) and its just pure fluff with both of them being inspired by one another?
Feel free to ignore ofc!!🫶🫶🫶
muse - matty x reader
a/n: this took a very different direction than originally planned and got slightly existential sorry about that 💀💀 but i hope you like it regardless <33
divider by @/cafekitsune
cw: mentions of smut, talks of death, general fluff and sappiness.
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the artist flicks through the feature.
her name is printed in big letters on the cover of the monthly issue, her face--smiling and excited--next to the centrepiece of her latest art collection: cupid and psyche. the painting is stunning, a riot of bold colours and patterns but the at the centre is a man, his face hidden, his jet black curls tousled. his body is relaxed, she thinks there's an air of carefreeness about him.
and she'd know that for sure, after all that day is etched into her memory.
when she feels a familiar pair of arms wrap around her, she smiles.
"you're rather proud of the feature, aren't you?" matty's voice holds a little teasing note. she's stared at the feature for close to thirty minutes now, discreetly pinching herself in the same spot on her arm. (it sports a tiny, barely-there bruise now)
"good," matty nuzzles his face into her neck, softly kissing the skin, "you should be. the exhibit was fucking gorgeous."
"mmm, because you were the centrepiece?" fondly, she teases back, but the memory flashes in front of her eyes--the bustling art gallery, matty in a corner, wearing a plain hoodie and jeans and a cap hiding half of his face, absolutely brimming with pride.
she remembers the journalists asking about the man in all the paintings, the one whose face no one can see. "he's my muse," she says every time, "this collection is dedicated to him."
"someone's going to connect the dots," matty walks around her, settling himself next to her on the sofa. instantly, they rearrange themselves into a tangle--her legs on his lap, his arm around her, her head on his shoulders, his head on hers. "if they looked carefully, they'll make the connection."
"matty, we have been each other's muse for years and no one's found out. i don't think they're going to start now. besides," she snorts, "i think the art world thinks i've made you up in my mind. won't be the first time an artist's gone insane."
matty laughs. "maybe you have. you always say i'm too good to be true."
when she can't think of a retort, she sticks her tongue out, shrieking away when he smothers her in kisses.
"seriously though, it's fun writing about you. singing about you. and i love seeing myself through your eyes." suddenly matty sounds all sober and serious. she thinks his voice even wavers slightly at the end. he blinks quickly though, and just like that the brightness in his eyes is gone.
"love it when you write about me too," she teases, "love being called a gemini and a sexy girl, such poetry."
"oi! i put my heart into that! it's a precious memory for me."
"the memory of us fucking in the new bath for the first time?"
matty giggles like a teenager, hiding his face in her hair. it's fun to rile him up like this, so she continues, poking him in the ribs. "or waking up the next day with a head cold because we stayed in the cold water for so long hmm?"
"you took care of me though, and so i think you deserve to have a song written about you. or a whole album works too i think." then matty tuts. "actually, no. don't wanna tell anyone it's about you, that'll ruin the magic."
"ruin the magic?"
"of being your muse and having you as mine. i think a hundred years from now, when people would see your art as the artwork of this generation, and my music as the tune of our times--"
"tune of our times..."
"yeah, quit laughing at me!" matty flicks her nose, quickly kissing it after. "so when my music becomes the tune of our times, i think people will see it then. they will make the connections."
secretly, she loves the idea--that their love might transcend time and space through their art. that decades from now their names might be whispered together, even though they aren't just yet.
"of course, we'll be buried together by then. same grave by the way, very romeo and juliet of us."
"that's morbid!" she laughs sharply, "what will the epitaph say?"
matty hums for a bit, thinking, his eyes flutter shut for a second or two almost like he needs to focus on the half formed thought until it's a complete sentence. then he excitedly clears his throat and gently holds her face between his hands.
"here lie the artist and the muse; inspiring each other in death as they did in life."
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mangomonk · 1 year ago
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edit: here's the full fic based off this drabble! pt. 1 and pt. 2
an idea about goodie two shoes!remus that's been bouncing around in my head
remus is straight laced — he follows the rules to the t, tries his best in his studies, is polite and diplomatic to the teachers and the other students — all because he feels he can't afford to stray from being a good citizen. he's exhausted but he's afraid that if he does something wrong, the other students will look at him and if they look at him for too long, they'll know. he's dry and sarcastic and himself around the marauders, but outside of them, everyone only ever has glowing words for remus. polite. helpful. charming. remus prides himself on his princely behavior.
the only thing is that recently, he's begun to hear murmurs. "why doesn't remus lupin have a girlfriend?" he overhears one hufflepuff fourth year ask her group of friends. He knows they're really only whisperings, but remus, afraid of being seen as other, can't help but fixate on them, especially when he hears similar sentiment. "he receives plenty of confessions, but he only ever gives a vague rejection."
before he can even help it, remus is stuck into a spiral of anxiety. though he knows it's foolish, he can't help it. he's sure that everyone will connect the dots. first it'll start with the question of why he's never accepted a confession after all these years, and then soon, someone will guess that there's something wrong with him. and then everyone will see right through him.
after a particularly rough full moon, coupled by his growing anxieties, he accidentally snaps on a random girl. he doesn't even really remember her name or what he said or what even led him to snap at her, but once he does, he feels a strange mix of guilt and pure relief, as if the burden of holding up this princely facade has been lifted off his shoulders. and then he feels horror. she's staring back at him in pure surprise and all remus can think is, she's going to tell everyone what i'm really like. paralyzed in fear, all remus can do is mumble a half-assed apology before turning on heel and high tailing it out of the library.
"if you're so worried about this, why not just get a temporary girlfriend?" james suggests later at dinner, mistakenly taking remus's silence as anxiety about the girlfriend rumors, and not how he had blown up on some girl — remus didn't tell them, he was still panicking trying to figure out a plan for damage control. he couldn't help but keep watching her across the great hall, on edge every time she said something to a friend. if only he could keep watch.
"it's not that easy, prongs," remus says, forcing his voice to be even. if i get a girlfriend, she'll find out easily after i disappear each month. not to mention remus in general not wanting to subject someone to his lycanthropy.
"seems easy enough," sirius says, nodding past his shoulder. "you have another confession lined up."
"er, remus," a ravenclaw girl says from behind him. he recognizes her from his potions class, but all he can feel is a sense of dread as he notices a few other students turn around in growing interest. "i've fancied you for quite awhile now, and i was wondering..."
remus has a hard time listening to her as his nerves grow. if he rejects her in front of all these people, are the rumors going to spread? out of the corner of his eye, reflexively, he spots the girl he had blown up on earlier leaning to whisper something to her friend. "i'm sorry," remus says, forcing on an apologetic smile. before he can question himself, his nerves gets the better of him. "i actually have someone i like right now."
"oh," the ravenclaw girl squeaks, disappointed. "sorry, i didn't know—"
"that's okay, i haven't made it very clear," remus cuts in hurriedly, his gaze fixating past her. the ravenclaw doesn't even have a chance to ask — she likely wouldn't have asked anyways, but remus points to the girl from earlier. "—that i like her."
ANYWAYS can you imagine the hurt that would ensue if they eventually start dating (fake on his end, real on hers... he picks her because 1) he never expects her to agree to date him after that incident, 2) he can keep an eye on her or blame his behavior on having a crush) and eventually he grows comfortable to not have to put up this goodie two shoes facade but she finds out it was just to cover his ass yeah... im hurting
EDIT: full fic below pt. 1: i thought that i was dreaming when you said you loved me pt. 2: i've been dreaming
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sublimecatgalaxy · 1 year ago
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Ahhh it’s been so long since I’ve been on here n I saw ur writing for PEETA?! I’m currently rereading the series n On Mockingjay and want to cry everytime he’s mentioned. Anywhoo can I request telling Peeta ur pregnant (obviously after the war is won and all that) in honor of baby #2 I’m due with in a October?<3
GIIIIIRL CONGRADU-FUCKING-LATIONS!!!!! I'm so so so happy for you, so so so so so happy omg. I hope this is exactly what you wanted it to be.
I also wanna reread all the books before the next Hunger Games movie comes out, so excited for that one.
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There's a haze across the lake outside our house, steam rising up from the warmer water as dusk settles upon the surrounding acreage. The sky is a pale orange, like Peeta's favorite color, and the stars are already out, speckling across bare sky like freckles.
My hand wanders down to my belly, though it's not growing yet, I know what's growing in there as I think to myself now, sitting on the edge of the peer as I take a deep breath in, filling my babies lungs with the most genuine of oxygen.
He doesn't know yet, I didn't want to tell him until he finally had a break from all the stress he's been under the last few years, finally bridging the gap of his therapy and coming up perfectly clean from all the capitals torture.
He's finally him again.
"Hey, there you are." Peeta's voice behind me makes me smile to myself, realizing this is a better time than never to finally rip the bandaid off and tell him our big secret. "I've been looking for you."
"I'm right here. Where I always am." I smile up at him and I watch his eyes trail over me as he sits down beside me, legs swinging off the dock beside mine. It's so still, everything is quiet except for the frogs singing their song.
"You okay?" He asks quietly, pressing a kiss to the side of my head while he wraps an arm around my shoulders, pulling me into his side. He smells like the pastries he was just working on inside, warm hazelnut and caramel wafting all the way from the open kitchen window to the pier.
"I've never been better." I grin, looking up at him with heart eyes, my whole body buzzing with love as I stare up at him through my lashes.
"What's got you so happy?" He asks, brushing some hair from my face as his thumb brushes against my bottom lip and I giggle giddily, giving his knee a gentle squeeze.
"I have a secret."
"Oh yeah? Can I know what it is?" He asks with a silly smile, eyes flickering from mine, all the way down to my lips.
"I'm nervous," I say through a small, worried smile and his expression softens to something so wholesome, so caring as he worriedly looks across my expression.
"Don't be nervous. It's me."
There's a pregnant (pun intended) pause between us as I think of how to bring this up in a way that's not just blurting out 'you knocked me up', even though that would probably make him laugh. My mind wracks the conversations we've had about having babies, making a family, and he's never given me one ounce of fear that he may not want it with me.
"You always wanted to have babies right?" He pauses, brows furrowing together as he gives me a slow, drawn-out nod.
"It was always the plan after I was de-conditioned... right?" He asks, leaning a little away from me so he can get a good look at me and for a moment I think that he's connecting the dots in his head.
"Right." I huff, giving him a bright smile. "So..."
"Oh my god." His realization is sudden, eyes widening and his smile spreading across his lips as quickly as the thought comes into his head. "Really?" He asks and I giggle, head tossing back in laughter as Peeta grabs my shoulders and shakes me. "You're joking? You can't mess with someone like this-"
"I'm pregnant." I squeal and he throws his arms around me, tugging me to his chest as a small cry escapes him and suddenly, all of the pain of the last few years closes like a book just as another one opens.
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jamelslivres · 5 months ago
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Hama
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Let's start with the canon(ish) timeline:
Assuming that the young woman with the hair loopies is Katara's grandmother Kana and she's around the same age as Hama, I'm going to say that both are in their early-twenties. This is because Kana needed time to emigrate from the Northern Water Tribe. Yue got engaged at 16, and the healer Yagoda thought Katara was old enough to be engaged at 14. Judging by these engagement customs, Kana was probably engaged and then left around 16/17. To give her enough time to cross the world and settle in, I'd say that she and Hama must be around their early 20s.
During "The Puppetmaster", Hama says "the raids started over sixty years ago". Based on this, Hama is in her 80s during the events of this episode.
As she is describing her escape, Hama says she "walked free for the first time in decades". This could mean anything, but given that she hasn't started graying yet, I'm going to say two decades. Making her in her 40s when she first escaped.
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Now, when did Hama get to the village we see in "The Puppetmaster"?
I've collected the relevant pieces from the show and discussed them. I truly can't make up my mind on this point, so I'd love to hear what others think. Let me know if I missed anything or if you guys have different interpretations of the evidence.
Here is what is said in the episode:
A merchant explains to a customer that he won't have any ash bananas until next week. The customer then says 'oh right, the full moon'. The merchant then says that he can't lose another two delivery boys to the full moon.
This interaction, to me, can be used to justify that Hama either has or hasn't been kidnapping people in this specific village for a long time:
Kidnapping in the short time interpretation: The merchant looks to be around sixty or slightly older, so he'd have been around when Hama came to the village (if she arrived immediately after escaping in her 40s). Let's assume he's been running this business for that long. If Hama started kidnapping people near immediately, I'd assume the lost delivery boys incidents happened near the beginning of that time. In this case, up to four decades ago. The merchant might not bring up those incidents to a customer who is (two?) decades younger than him and might not remember that incident. Since telling the customer is kinda bad marketing and makes the merchant look irresponsible or reckless. This could imply that these incidents are more recent.
Kidnapping in the long time interpretation: The customer doesn't need to be reminded that the full moon is that night. He knows it instinctively and doesn't need the merchant to connect the dots between the two day journey and the full moon disappearances. This awareness of the moon phases could imply that this has been happening for long enough that people have been habitually paying attention to the moon for a long time.
2. The guy who tells Aang, Sokka, and Toph about Old Man Ding says he's the "only one person who ever saw it and lived".
The word "ever" here implies that this might have been going on for a long time. However, local legends are quickly made and inflated, so the timing might just naturally be exaggerated.
3. Old Man Ding interaction, in which he says, "I'm not ready to get snapped up by any moon monster".
Honestly, I don't know what to make of this. To me, this reads like a semi-recent event, but I don't have anything to really back this up. Apart from maybe Ding saying he's not ready to get snapped up by a moon monster in response to a conversation about his age, which could imply that he was already old when this event happened.
Fun fact: the credits say "old man dig" even though the subtitles and voices clearly say "old man ding" (: 
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Now for some speculation:
If Hama escaped in her 40s, the earliest she could have gotten to the village was forty years ago. In my opinion, that is a LONG time to be kidnapping people and not get caught. However, she does only have the opportunity to kidnap people once a month, but still that seems like a really long time. This brings me to the part of this that is just me asking questions (so again, please let me know what you think!)
When did Hama start kidnapping people?
Did she go to other villages before she came to the one we see in this episode? If so, did she kidnap anyone in those previous villages (I'd guess yes)? If she was in other villages, was there a point before she started kidnapping people, or did she start immediately (I think it could be interesting if she struggled with it for a bit, then gave into the urge. Or even if the urge didn't appear immediately)?
Did she ever try to go home? If so, did she find that she wasn't able to let go of the need for revenge, and leave again?
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bupia · 1 year ago
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Bael<3
What if I said 16 with Swiss on the smuts
STOCKINGS
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"What do you like?" - "I don't know..." "Then how about we find out together?"
There's a smut under the cut, +18 only, please.
(AFAB!Reader: Swiss likes to get on his knees for a little dom reader. GHOULS RUT TALK; teasing; dirty talk; swearing; fingering; oral sex; cunnilingus)
Available on AO3
Day 25 | Day 27
As you diligently scrawled notes onto a pile of scattered papers, the rhythmic tapping of knuckles against your door stirred you from your deep concentration. Startled, your furrowed brows cast shadows on your face, and you couldn't help but wonder who would be at such a late hour.
With a heavy sigh, you pushed aside your work, your curiosity now piqued. The thought of who might be on the other side of that door loomed heavily in your mind. Copia would certainly not be the one knocking; his aura of authority never allowed such mundane gestures.
"Come in," you called out, your voice cutting through the silence with a hint of impatience, curiosity, and perhaps a dash of annoyance.
The door creaked open cautiously, revealing a tall and imposing figure in the doorway. As the figure took a deliberate step inside, the dim light in your room cast a shadow that eventually revealed him. It was Swiss, one of the Ghouls serving the Ministry.
You welcomed Swiss with a warm smile as he entered your room, the corners of your lips curving upward in a friendly greeting. "Swiss, what brings you here tonight?" you asked, your curiosity tinged with politeness.
He nodded, closing the door behind him. "Hello," Swiss replied, his demeanor serious but not devoid of a subtle charm. "I was looking for Papa."
"I'm afraid you won't find him here at this hour," you regretfully informed Swiss, concern etching your features. "He's already left for the night."
Swiss let out a frustrated sigh. "Did he?" he murmured, a trace of tension in his voice. "That's a problem."
"A problem?" you questioned, your head tilting slightly to the side. "Did something happen?"
With a soft, reassuring laugh, you shook your head. "Well, you've already made the trek here at this late hour," you playfully remarked. "So, please, tell me what's troubling you. Maybe I can be of some help."
Swiss nodded as he slowly made his way toward your cluttered table. "You're right," he conceded, his steps measured and deliberate. "It is late, and you shouldn't be here either. But I won't question why you're still working."
You chuckled at his remark, leaning back in your chair. "I'm here because there's always an endless list of tasks to complete, Swiss, my dear," you explained. "And it's perfectly okay to reach out to me when you need something."
"Alright," Swiss agreed, now standing before you on the opposite side of your table. His gaze met yours with a sense of trust and vulnerability. "So, next time, I'll remember to ask you."
You nodded with a light-hearted giggle. "So, tell me," you encouraged, leaning forward, "what's going on? What's troubling you? Tell me everything."
"Do you know about... rut?" he asked.
"Rut?" you repeated, connecting the dots. "Ah, yes, I've heard about it. Ghouls go through it, right?"
Swiss met your gaze, relief evident in his eyes that you were aware of the matter. "Yes, we do," he confirmed.
"And yours is coming soon?" you inquired, your voice laced with empathy.
Swiss gave a solemn nod. "Yes, it is."
You blinked, somewhat unsure of how to respond to this personal revelation. "Well, I... I don't quite know what to say, but I appreciate you sharing this with me."
"You don't have to worry about saying anything. I wasn't expecting you to know what to say about that," he assured you.
"But what can I do for you?" you asked.
Swiss hesitated, reluctance and vulnerability in his expression. "I came here to ask Papa for a thing," he admitted.
Your curiosity piqued, you pressed for more information. "What thing, Swiss?" you inquired.
He let out a sigh, as though wrestling with his own thoughts and hesitations. "I was thinking that maybe..." Swiss began before trailing off and shaking his head. "No, forget it. It's stupid."
You stood up from your chair and approached him with a comforting smile. "Hey!" you exclaimed, placing a reassuring hand on his arm. "What's the problem? It's not stupid. You can tell me."
Swiss's words spilled out in a rushed. "I was thinking... that probably Papa could let me have some of the siblings so I wouldn't suffer that much during my rut," he finally managed to articulate, though the words were still somewhat jumbled.
You took a moment to process his request, and then nodded slowly, your voice gentle and understanding. "I see," you said, emphasizing each word to acknowledge the gravity of his concern. "That doesn't sound stupid at all, Swiss. It's a perfectly reasonable thing to ask for."
Your words seemed to bring a hint of relief to Swiss's tense demeanor. "You think so?" he inquired, searching your eyes for further assurance.
"Of course," you replied, your voice soothing. "I guess it's a little... plausible to think this could work."
As you seated yourself on the edge of your table, casually crossing your legs, Swiss's gaze followed your movements, lingering for a moment. The intensity of his stare on your crossed legs didn't go unnoticed.
Swiss stammered slightly as he attempted to regain his composure. "I... I guess so," he replied.
You began to express your thoughts, your words carrying a note of hesitancy. "I think that only Papa would be able to help you find the perfect sibling for you, Swiss, but I..."
Before you could finish your sentence, Swiss's sudden approach caused your words to trail off, your curiosity piqued by the urgency in his movements.
"What if I choose it?" he posed the question, his eyes fixed intently on yours.
Your nervousness became palpable as you contemplated his request. "You want to choose one of the siblings?" you inquired, your voice trembling slightly.
"One sibling only," Swiss clarified.
"I... I still think you would have to talk to Papa..." you started to say, but Swiss's next words left you momentarily speechless.
"What if I had already chosen it?"
Your eyes widened in surprise, and you stammered, "W-What? Who?"
Swiss's whispered words sent a shiver down your spine as he leaned in closer, his face mere inches from yours. "That could be you," he murmured.
Your gaze locked with his as you processed his proposal. "Me?" you repeated, your eyes reflecting a mix of surprise and curiosity.
Swiss started to explain, "Only if you want to, of course."
You paused, your thoughts racing as you contemplated the idea. "I think it would be interesting... I guess..." you began, your words hesitant. "But, I don't think... Swiss, are you sure?"
"I'm sorry if it sounded rude," he began, "it's just because I'm already here, and you are already here too, and..."
Your curiosity heightened as you probed further with a questioning "And...?"
Before you could fully grasp the situation, Swiss dropped to his knees in front of you, and your eyes widened in surprise. "Swiss!" you exclaimed, both shocked and intrigued by his boldness.
He disregarded your astonishment and gently traced his fingers along your calves, his eyes locked onto your legs. "And those..." he murmured, the realization dawning on you that he was talking about your stockings. "Tell me... tell me what do you like?" he urged.
Your response came hesitantly, as you admitted, "I don't know."
"Then what about we find out together?" he inquired, punctuating his words with a tender kiss on your calves.
our nod of consent triggered Swiss's eager exploration, and he wasted no time. His hands roamed along the entire length of your legs, his touch growing increasingly urgent. His grip on your thighs tightened as he pressed intense, fervent kisses against your stocking-clad skin.
To your surprise, his desperation and intensity kindled a desire within you that you hadn't anticipated. You found yourself becoming increasingly aroused, a feeling that was both thrilling and unexpected. Unable to resist, your hand found its way to his hair, and you gently pulled his head back. Your eyes darkened with newfound desire as you gazed at him.
Your teasing question dripped with playful seduction as you continued to tug at Swiss's hair. "Do you want it that bad?" you purred, your voice laced with desire.
His response was breathless and filled with longing. "Yes... I do... I do..." Swiss admitted, his heavy breathing underscoring the intensity of his desire.
With a sensual bite to your lower lip, you observed the desperation in his eyes, and it ignited something primal within you. Your hand moved from his hair to his face, gently cupping his chin and lifting his head to face you.
"Are you sure?" you inquired, your gaze narrowed with mischievous lust, seeking further confirmation from Swiss.
In response, Swiss emitted a desperate groan of desire, his need palpable, and he nodded vigorously, his eyes locked onto yours.
A sultry smile curled on your lips as you leaned in closer, your breath tickling his ear. "Well, then," you whispered, your voice husky with desire. "You're going to have to earn it."
Swiss's eyes widened with excitement, anticipation coursing through his veins. As you lowered your body, his own body tensed with longing, and his breath hitched when he felt the soft, warm press of your lips against his. The kiss was slow and deliberate, but it grew increasingly passionate, fueled by the mutual desire between you two.
As your tongues intertwined in a passionate, hungry kiss, Swiss couldn't contain the guttural groan of ecstasy that escaped his lips. The taste of him was intoxicating, and your mouths opened wider, inviting a more profound exploration. Your tongues danced together in a sensual rhythm, each stroke and flicker sending shivers of pleasure through both of you, while Swiss's soft, wanton moans were muffled by the intimacy of your kiss.
The lingering kiss held both of you in a sensual trance, and Swiss relished every second of it. He held his breath, savoring the taste and the electrifying connection between you. When your tongue brushed against his once more, he gasped, his heart racing with desire.
Your hands roamed his body, exploring the contours of his shoulders, arms, and chest, leaving a trail of tingling sensations in their wake. Swiss began to rise slowly from the floor, the passionate kiss unbroken, and his hands found their way to your hips, pulling you closer to him.
Breaking the kiss, your eyes were glazed with desire, and a seductive smile played on your lips. "Now, let's see how good you are at earning it."
Swiss's expression was one of pure delight as he grinned in response to your suggestive gesture. When you pointed to the floor, he obediently knelt once more, anticipation in his eyes.
Your hands began to tease the fabric of your habit, pulling it upward to reveal more of your legs. Swiss couldn't contain his desire, emitting a low, primal growl at the sight. You giggled softly, your fingers playing with the hem of your habit, revealing more and more of your legs. Your eyes never left his, and you could tell that he was watching every move you made, drinking in the sight of your exposed flesh.
"Show me how much you want it, Swiss," you breathed in a seductive whisper, your eyes aflame with pleasure as you watched him hunger for the sight of your legs.
Swiss's hands slid up your thighs, his touch a tantalizing dance of desire. His fingertips grazed the lace tops of your stockings, sending waves of pleasure coursing through your body. He momentarily paused, his own desire evident as he reached for his exposed bulge, closing his eyes and groaning in sheer ecstasy.
However, you were in control, and you moved your leg to nudge his hand away with your foot. "Earn it," you purred in a husky voice, a challenge lacing your words.
Swiss opened his eyes, his gaze transitioning from your eyes to your stocking-clad legs, and his dark, hungry desire intensified.
"Yes," Swiss responded in a low, throaty voice, his eyes remaining fixated on your legs.
A sultry smile played on your lips as your eyes sparkled with pleasure. "Good Ghoul," you purred in approval.
The sensation of Swiss's fingers dancing across your skin was electrifying, leaving a trail of goosebumps in their wake. You couldn't contain the moan of delight that escaped your lips as his hands explored your thighs, your head falling back in ecstasy, and your eyes fluttered closed.
Swiss's touch was exquisite, and as he squeezed your thighs, a guttural moan of pleasure flowed from your parted lips. His fervor was evident as he pressed his face against your thighs, his breath hot against your skin.
"Please," he begged, his voice a low, guttural growl, laden with desire. "I need to have you." His hands continued to move upwards, massaging your inner thighs.
"Mmm... that feels so good," you sighed.
The sensations coursing through your body were intoxicating, and you reveled in the feeling of Swiss's hands on your skin. Desire swirled within you, and you could sense the growing wetness between your legs. Swiss's evident pleasure mirrored your own as he planted tender kisses and tantalizing bites along your legs, sending waves of pleasure rippling through you.
"I think we can do better than that," Swiss said, his voice thick with desire.
Swiss's words, heavy with desire, fueled the already fiery atmosphere in the room. His hands took hold of your skirt, pulling it even higher, revealing the lacy edge of your underwear. Your breath hitched in anticipation as his exploration continued, his fingers sliding over the tops of your stockings and moving upward, inching closer to your core.
With a skillful touch, Swiss spread your legs wider, granting him better access to work his magic on your inner thighs. You struggled to suppress a moan, biting your lip to keep from voicing your pleasure too loudly.
"Do you?" you asked, your eyes locking onto his.
Swiss's voice was filled with unwavering determination as he insisted, "Yes, let me give you the real pleasure, please."
Your agreement was met with a sultry smile, and the air in the room was heavy with lust as you gave your consent. "Very well," you replied, your voice dripping with desire. "Will you help me?" you purred, raising one leg, an invitation for Swiss to assist you further.
Swiss understood your request and proceeded to pull your stockings down slowly, savoring each inch of skin he exposed along the way. His sensual touch sent shivers of pleasure through you, and soon, the stockings were removed.
As Swiss stood up, you reclined on the table, your eyes locked onto him. His hands moved toward your underwear, and you raised your hips, offering your assistance as he slid it down and removed it, leaving you exposed before him.
Swiss's hungry gaze locked onto your exposed core, the flush of arousal evident in the swollen folds of your flesh. He got on his knees once again, his deep inhalation of your scent was a sensual prelude, his nostrils flaring as he savored your fragrance. His tongue snaked out, and a shiver of pleasure coursed through you as he tasted you, his gentle lapping drawing forth your juices. Your breath hitched, and a soft, needy whine escaped your lips.
"Ah! Swiss..." you whimpered.
He continued his intimate exploration, whispering in a husky voice against your core, "You taste already so delicious..." His words sent waves of desire coursing through your body, igniting a hunger
Swiss's tongue continued its unhurried exploration, each tender kiss and caress drawing forth shivers of pleasure from your body. A low, guttural growl escaped his lips, and he pressed his mouth against your wetness, his suction creating an intoxicating sensation. He devoured you hungrily, his lips and tongue leaving you gasping with pleasure.
Your hands gripped his hair, fingers tangling in the soft strands as you moaned and writhed under the intensity of his ministrations. Swiss's skilled hands continued their exploration, wandering over your trembling body with purpose. When his fingertips brushed against your sensitive clit, a surge of electric pleasure shot through you. You moaned and quivered under his touch, your desire building with every caress and stroke.
"Oh, fuck!" you moaned, your voice laced with a potent mix of surprise and pleasure. "That feels good... keep going."
Swiss's relentless touch was driving you to new heights of pleasure, and your soft moans filled the room. Your hips lifted off the table, urging him to continue his sensual exploration. His hands were a symphony of delight, moving lower to stroke your outer labia, teasing your clit, and then dipping inside your wetness.
"Oh... Swi-Ah! It feels so good... more... please..." you purred.
Your moans and gasps were music to Swiss's ears, and a pleased smile graced his lips as he continued to stoke the flames of your desire. His other hand caressed your inner thighs with feather-light touches, gradually moving upward. Your body was aching with desire as you squirmed beneath Swiss's skillful touch. Ragged breaths escaped your lips, and your hips involuntarily bucked forward, seeking more intimate contact between your sensitive flesh and his expert hands.
Swiss's teasing words brought a sultry smile to his lips as he reveled in the power he held in the moment. "Do you want it now, hm?" he taunted.
Your response was an urgent plea, a moan of need escaping your lips. "Sto... Oh! Stop teasing me, just touch me, Swiss..."
The tables had indeed turned, and Swiss's desire was mirrored in your own as you both craved the culmination of your lust. The mounting desire between you and Swiss continued to fan the flames of your arousal. His skilled fingers returned to your clit, and he rubbed it vigorously, sending waves of pleasure coursing through your body. You couldn't hold back your moans of ecstasy, and the room echoed with the shared passion between you two.
"Yes-yes-yes-yes-yes! Ah, Swiss... more... please, please, be a good ghoul and give me more..." you begged, your voice laden with aching need.
Swiss eagerly complied with your request, pressing his face against your wetness. His tongue started to explore your slick folds, moving with an insatiable hunger, while his fingers continued their relentless work on your clit. He shifted his attention to your clit, sucking it hungrily, drawing forth moans and gasps of pleasure from you.
"So good, so wet, so hot..." he whispered against your wetness. "So sweet... so good for me, only for me, mine," he declared, his tone carrying a possessive edge.
As he opened his mouth wider, a wave of searing heat coursed through your body. Your back arched, your pelvis pushing upward in a desperate plea for more of the intoxicating sensations he was delivering. Desperation and need coursed through your body, and your hands found their way to Swiss's hair, gripping it tightly as you held him close to your throbbing core. Your moans filled the room, and the air was thick with the shared desire between you two.
"Keep going... Oh... Swiss! yes, yes! Don't stop..!" you cried out, your voice filled with ecstasy and longing.
Swiss's relentless expertise and unyielding passion pushed you further into the realm of ecstasy. His fingers joined the fervent dance, sliding into your depths, searching out your most sensitive spot. Your body writhed and quivered with pleasure, every sensation intensified as he worked his magic on you.
"Yes, yes, yes, yes, right there, right there, yes!" you moaned, your voice punctuating the intensity of the pleasure that coursed through you.
Your cries of pleasure escalated, and Swiss responded with an intensified dedication. He sucked harder, his tongue swirling around your clit, while his fingers thrust deeper and faster into your hot, wet entrance.
"Swiss! I'm going to cum!" you exclaimed, your voice laced with desperation and longing.
Swiss, driven by your desire, urged you on with a husky command. "Will you? Cum for me, give it all, just for me."
Your moans intensified, echoing in the room as your body quivered and shook with the building pleasure. Swiss increased his efforts, sucking you harder and flicking his tongue over your clit with ever-increasing speed. Your breathing grew ragged, and you teetered on the precipice of an earth-shattering orgasm.
The culmination of your shared desire hit like a tidal wave, and you could hardly form words as your body convulsed with pleasure. "I... I... Fuck-Aah!"
Your body stiffened, and an electrifying orgasm crashed over you, sending shockwaves of pleasure rippling through your core. Your walls contracted around Swiss's fingers, and your juices flowed freely over his face from your swollen core. The grip on his hair tightened as you held him close, feeling him drink in every last drop of your sweet nectar.
As your orgasm subsided, Swiss slowed his pace, his fingers still working inside you. A pleasured hum escaped Swiss's throat as he pulled away from your core, taking a deep breath to savor the lingering sensations. He brought his fingers to his mouth, sucking them clean.
"Fuck, you are perfect," he murmured with a chuckle, a pleased and satiated look in his eyes as he stood up.
Your breathless question hung in the air, and Swiss responded by wrapping his arms around you and gently lifting you from the table, setting you down on its surface. The sensation of your sensitive core pressing against his bulge through his pants sent shivers of delight through both of you.
"What do you think?" he teased, his voice laced with desire.
You bit your lower lip, the spark of desire still alight in your eyes, and you began to grind your hips against his hardness, coating his pants with your juices.
"I think you should bring me to my chambers because you definitely earned it," you purred, your voice husky with desire.
Swiss nodded with a devilish smile, a spark of anticipation in his eyes. He held you firmly, lifting you from the table in his arms, ready to take you to your chambers where the night would continue to unfold.
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