#it’s just that all my other connections are really recent

[burrowdarling]

The Offline Series 001

Summary: The introduction to The Offline Series, covering the last day of the regular season and the beginning of the postseason.

Pairings: boyfriend!Joe Burrow x girlfriend!reader

Warnings: This series will have mentions of adult content throughout so MDNI

Note: Hi everyone and welcome to The Offline Series! It's taken some time and rewriting, but the first part is finally here. I have plans to do specific events like the Pro Bowl Games as well as other ideas as connected standalones. I'm excited to create this small for these two and I hope you'll come along for the ride! Asks about these two are always welcome, I'd love to develop a world for them.

Word Count: 5.6k (my longest fic yet!)

Check out my Masterlist here!

Taglist: @burrowbarbie @definitelynotdomanique @one-sweet-gubler @plushkhiii @enchantedinfinity @iosivb9 @hellsingalucard18 @hotburreaux @lilfreakjez @jburrgf Feel free to comment or message me if you'd like to be added to the list!

The past few days have felt a bit tense in the house with the season ending the way it had. Of course, you had wished things had gone differently, but it only made you more hopeful for the next season to come. Things were very touch and go when it came to Joe’s mood. Which was to be expected. You were so proud of him and the way he was able to lead the team to a winning record by the end of the season. You knew Joe was beating himself up about it despite the records he was breaking and the path he was paving in the NFL as a whole. You knew he was MVP material and it gutted you that he wasn’t in the conversation with the numbers he was putting up despite the final scores of each game.

He was processing the way he always would, by himself in his own way. He was going to the gym, meeting with who he needed to, throwing himself into everything else but rest. Arguably that also meant it was most things except time with you. You hadn’t seen too much of him recently, but you could feel his lower energy in the house even when he wasn’t around. Things felt colder and you had to admit you were starting to get a bit lonely. You thought back to that Sunday when the big shift in him happened while you went around the house and tidied, not like there was much when one of your stress relievers was cleaning.

**Flashback to Sunday**

You had the 4:25 games all on at once, each game taking up their respective corners of the screen. You were hopeful that having more than the two games would provide some kind of distraction, but you knew his mind was elsewhere when he kept his vision darting between the two opposing corners of the screen. You wished you could read his mind, making sure to remain close enough if he needed you, but far enough that he was able to be with his own thoughts.

You knew that the other guys were glued in the same positions after talking with the other girls. There was a constant stream of messages in your group chat talking about how the guys were doing and sharing the experience with one another through the phone. By some miracle, you hoped the Jets and Broncos would pull this off. You had a deep gut feeling based on the Chiefs lineup that things weren’t going to go the way you needed them to. The most you could do was hold out hope and watch with cautious optimism. You found yourself copying Joe’s movements, unable to look away from the two most important games. The Jets were starting off strong and that lifted some weight, but the Broncos came out swinging so fast against the second stringers for the Chiefs. 

You couldn’t blame them, really. It was no other team's job to win or lose for someone else, but that didn’t make the game on the screen any less frustrating to witness. The amount of time the Chiefs quarterback was taking in the pocket from having no open players to pass to, it was no wonder he was getting sacked left and right. The score just kept getting higher and higher, the Bengals chances slipping away the more the Broncos scored. The Jets win wasn’t even necessary at this point, feeling worse knowing everything had gone to plan except this once game.

You kept glancing over at Joe, watching the light in his eyes fade with the passing time. You knew he was worried about the outcome as much as he tried to hide it. He wanted a chance in the playoffs, working his ass off to finish with the win streak they had, not to mention the records he was breaking for himself and on the team. If anything he turned colder, feeling the shift in him from where you were sitting on the couch. You made no move to touch him let alone speak to him when he got like this. You didn’t know which version of Joe you would get and you weren’t in the best mindset to find out.

By halftime, Joe had retreated to his office without a word and you let him. You couldn’t get yourself to turn the screen off, watching the abysmal scene in front of you at the Chiefs vs Broncos game. The amount of things that had to go the Bengals way, it felt like it was so far fetched. It really did come down to this one game. The score was so far gone, it was purely to see how far the Broncos would push it. 

Towards the end of the fourth quarter, you turned the game off and made your way to the kitchen to make something for dinner. You didn’t know if Joe would eat, but you had to at least try. You cooked his favorite, plating some for yourself and making him a plate. You walked cautiously up to his office, a warry feeling sitting in your chest as you got closer to the closed door. It was silent on the other side, able to hear a pin drop. You took in a deep breath in an attempt to calm your nerves before you faced what could be on the other side of the door.

You knocked gently on the door, hearing some grumbling on the other side before the door was pulled open. You were met with a blank faced Joe, his hair roughed up from his fingers tangling in it. You knew better than to mention a word about the game. Joe was beating himself up more than you could even imagine. You held his gaze, trying your best to keep things direct as you moved the plate in your hands towards him.

“I made you some dinner in case you were hungry. I’m gonna take a shower and get in bed to read for a bit. In case I fall asleep before you, I love you and I’m here if you need me,” you said and weren’t expecting any type of verbal response back.

He looked down at the meal you made him, watching as the slightly bit of tension dropped from his shoulders. His eyes moved back up to yours and the smallest ‘thank you’ slipped past his lips. You arched up on your tiptoes to reach his cheek, his frame always towering over you. He took the plate from your hands and gave you a nod before turning to close the door. You let him shut himself inside, knowing that all you could do at this point was wait for him to come around. You wouldn’t stop showing him small acts of kindness and support, knowing he was still appreciative even if he didn’t show it. You would always be there to take care of him and you weren’t stopping now.

**End of flashback**

You had your current read perched in your lap, trying your best to keep your mind occupied on something that wasn’t the thick feeling in the air. You were doing anything you could to keep yourself busy-reading, cooking, cleaning, even leaving earlier for work, and getting yourself a coffee in the morning rather than making it at home. You knew Joe would open up when he was ready, but the meantime wasn't always the easiest to manage. You felt your phone buzz on the couch next to you, lifting it to see what the notification was. You saw that it was an Instagram post notification from Joe because of course, you have his notifications on. It was a rare occurrence when he would post anything so you had to be in the know. You clicked on the notification, having an inkling of what it could be, but the wind was still knocked out of your chest as you read his caption.

"Season to remember, sorry you won’t get to watch anymore. Year 5 in the books." 

You stared at your phone for a moment, processing the post he made. You felt your heart break for him, unsure of what could be going through his mind while he was upstairs. Swiping through the few photos he posted along with it. The first photo being of “the big three” as everyone has been calling them. The next two being of himself on the field and the last of him and Ted. You felt like you could sense the emotion through the phone screen.

He came down from his office a little while later, his hair ruffled from constantly running his fingers through it. You could imagine him sitting at his desk, looking for the right thing to say to his fans. The movement of gripping his locks through his fingers was a way of grounding himself when he felt overwhelmed. You noticed it as the season had gone on, tending to do it more often in press conferences when all he wanted was to be at home either alone in his office or with you. He went over to the fridge to grab something to drink, spinning off the cap and taking a huge swig as he walked over to where you were in the living room. You had on some mindless TV show in the background for noise, not paying it much attention.

He came to sit down next to you on the couch, slouching into the cushions with a deep sigh escaping past his lips that he must've been holding in. You shifted to sit up criss-crossed with a blanket draped over your lap. You patted the spot on your lap gently, signaling Joe to rest his head in your lap. He moved to you without a word, positioning his long limbs on the couch to settle his head in your lap with his legs draping over the edge of the armrest.

“Take this as a chance to just be offline for a while. You spent months holding so much of other people’s bullshit all season. You deserve to take the offseason as time for you,” you spoke softly as you started to gently touch his head and felt him lean into your hand. 

Joe let out a sigh of contentment as he settled into your touch. You knew it was something that made him feel safe and grounded. You ran your hands through his hair, giving him time to process your words and respond. A break was something Joe wasn’t the most familiar with, always needing to be on and moving all of the time.

“I know you’re right. It’s just hard to shut my mind off sometimes. It’s hard to feel like I could’ve done more, still can do more to prepare for next season. I don’t want to have the same rhetoric from everyone next season like I did this year.”

You felt your heart break for him. There was an ache in your chest at his admission, feeling a small tear drop against your exposed skin. You leaned over him and pressed a kiss to his temple, letting your lips linger there. 

“I know you worked your ass off Joey, you always do. You also earned yourself some time to unwind for a while, let your body rest. I’m excited to finally get to spend some uninterrupted quality time with you. Your mind and your body deserve to heal J, I’ll be here with you while you do. I already know you’re gonna come back stronger than ever.”

You tilted his chin up, turning his head towards you. You looked down and the gentle giant with glossy eyes in your lap. The thought brought a smile to your lips and a small laugh. You leaned over once more, placing a kiss to his pouting lips this time. You were about to sit back up, but Joe kept you in place. The kiss began to get more intense, feeling a small fire igniting within you at his tongue grazing across your lower lip. 

You were putty in his hands, body willing to do whatever it was that he wanted. Joe loved how reactive you were to his touch, no matter how small or innocent it was. 

A small moan escaped your lips, unsure of how you guys ended up in a full makeout after having such a deep moment. You finally pulled away, the angle becoming too much for you as you started to get a bit light headed. You weren’t sure if it was from having your head turned or the intoxicating pull that was Joe, figuring it had to be some kind of combination of the two. 

“Sorry hun, I couldn’t keep my head like that for much longer. I was only trying to make you feel better, not —” you were cut off from your apology with a much gentler kiss placed on your lips.

“I know that, this was one of those times I was at a loss for words to tell you how much I love you so I figured I would show you instead. I know I can get in my head a lot, I really do appreciate that you give me the space to think.”

“Of course, Joey. You know I’ll always be here whenever you need to talk. Me forcing you isn’t going to do either of us any good in the long run. You also know I’ll happily be a willing participant to your throes of affection. In that case you’re more than welcome to show me properly.”

Joe sat up and took your hand in his to guide you off the couch, moving so quickly towards the stairs.

“Don’t mind if I do, all you had to do was say the word.”

Joe was always amazing in bed, but there was something even deeper about the way he would make love to you. Everything felt ten times more intense than usual, his passion unmatched. You were left lying there breathless, the sheets haphazard over the bed with your body tucked snuggle into Joe's side. His hand gently grazes your side, slowly lulling you to sleep. Exhaustion almost overtook you before his voice broke through the silence that enveloped you.

“Thank you for everything that you do for me. I know I’m not the easiest to love, but I’m grateful for you everyday,” his words waking you from your sleepy state.

You turned around to face him, his arm falling between you as you did. You moved your hands up to cup his cheek, feeling him lean into your soft touch as you stroked the stubbled skin. You felt Joe release a breath he must’ve been holding in and let his eyes fall closed. It was the most relaxed you had seen him in days.

“Joey loving you is the easiest thing I’ve ever done, doing this with you makes the highs and lows worth it all.”

You saw a quick tear slip past his defenses, quick to wipe it away hoping you didn’t see. It was too late for him though, you were too busy doting on him. His eyes looked up to meet yours and it was over for him. Joey tucked himself into your body as if you would make the pain he was feeling go away just from your touch. The more tears streamed down his cheeks onto your exposed skin, silent sobs racked his body and all you could do was hold him. Whispering sweet nothing in his ear while stroking his back with light scratches of your nails. Your heart split in two at the pain he must’ve been feeling, it being so hard for him to let you in.

You have no idea how long you two laid there, your gentle giant finding his solace in your smaller embrace. As his tears seemed to settle and his body relaxed, the tension finally dissipated his body for good from the emotional release. Joe sniffled as he pulled back from your neck. His baby blue eyes were red, his face flushed pink. You brought your hands up to wipe any stray tears from his face. Joe seemed to be closer to his normal self, something still holding him back.

“What’s on your mind?” you asked, able to tell that there was something he wanted to bring up.

“I got an offer to attend the Australian Open and I’ve been thinking about it, it could be a different experience for me. I wasn’t necessarily gonna go, but after we talked I think I’m gonna tell them yes. I was hesitant because I was honestly still feeling so down on myself, but you’re right that I deserve to go out and enjoy the fun things like everyone else has been doing. People are gonna talk regardless so I might as well be happy while they do,” Joe said with a finality to his words and a returning sense of confidence you hadn’t seen for a bit.

“That’s awesome sweetheart, I totally think you should go. Get out of the cold in the land down under,” you joked back with him wishing you could escape the throes of the Cincinnati winter.

By the look on his face, you could tell he wanted to make some kind of oral joke but was holding himself back to preserve the moment the two of you were sharing. You felt him pull you in closer to his chest, his arms securing you in like a fortress from the outside world. You rested your head on his solid chest, letting the sound of his heartbeat bring you a feeling of comfort.

“They offered for you to join me of course, but I know you can't just take off of work that easily. I wish I could have you there with me, I really am sorry for being such a dick and icing you out,” Joe spoke as he peppered the top of your head with kisses 

“I would love to go with you, but I already finessed time to go to Orlando for the Pro Bowl Games with you, unfortunately. I’m excited for you to get that experience and can’t wait to hear all about it. I’ll be here when you get back, don’t worry,” you assured him.

“I’d hope so, don’t be surprised if I don’t let you out of my sight when I get home,” Joe warned in a teasing tone you knew all too well meant only one thing.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way lover boy,” you pushed back, giving him a kiss to his nose. “I’m starting to think I’ll have to make you a self-care plan to ensure you actually take a break for once.”

“Does this plan involve you in all sorts of positions for me,” Joe teased as he brought his hand to cup your bare breast, swiping his thumb over your peaked nipple.

You gasped at his touch, still feeling sensitive. You lightly smacked his hand away as you feigned offense. Your body’s reaction betrays you in that moment, feeling the heat begin to form in your center. You had to be the voice of reason for once, both of you needing some kind of sleep more than anything.

“Get your mind out of the gutter for once, I actually meant it seriously. If I need to take the time to make one for you I will,” you said and you meant it, “just because I work with kids doesn’t mean it can’t apply to you too.”

You worked in mental health, mainly with kids and adolescents. You were able to be a safe space for them to learn how to share, develop healthy coping skills, and work through anything that was going on with them. There were times that you could see where Joe would benefit from taking a different approach. He was such a big advocate for mental health, but he didn’t always give himself the same grace when he needed it.

“Yes ma’am, I’ll behave and take my time. I was honestly thinking of getting a massage tomorrow if you’d like to come with me. It could be a great way for us both to destress,” Joe suggested.

The idea did sound incredibly tempting, knowing you had your own knots and pent up tension stored in your body. You hadn’t gone for a massage in ages and Joe always got them as a form of restoring his body during the season. 

You rolled over, feeling Joe sniggle up behind you as he draped an arm over your waist, “you let me know when and where, you bet I’ll be there.”

Joe’s trip to Australia came and went in a flash, sticking true to his word and making sure he showed you just how much he missed you. Claiming he needed some way to ‘exhaust himself’ and get him to sleep from the massive time change he was combatting. He told you all of the stories from his time there that you hadn’t already heard over the phone while you two lay in bed. You weren’t exactly sure when you fell asleep, being lulled into slumber from the warmth and presence of your boyfriend.

That next morning, you woke up to Joe splayed out next to you. He looked so peaceful; with the thin white sheet draped across his lower half, chiseled chest on full display for you to admire. Both of you had forgotten to pull the shades over after yesterday’s activities, the morning sun casting a warm glow across his sun kissed skin. It felt like a crime to wake him, but you had massage therapists coming to the house. Joe wanted to keep things private and got a few people to come here that he’s worked with through the team during the season. You were grateful considering how tender each of your muscles felt from last night, skin heating at the thought.

The least you could do was wake him gently, shifting on the mattress so you were level with his stomach. You always admired Joe’s body and he damn well knew that. You never got the chance to do so this close and unrushed though. You took your time absentmindedly tracing patterns across his skin, lightly dragging your fingertips through the dips and curves of his muscles and hips. You dropped your lips to his warm skin, making a path of kisses up to his neck. You felt him stir about halfway through, glancing up to see a barely there smile on his lips.

You could tell he was trying to remain “asleep” to not interrupt your pursuit. You decided to have a little fun knowing he was awake. You dragged your lips up his chest, lightly sucking at the skin on the base of his neck. You felt his breath hitch underneath your lips feeling satisfied. You nipped at his ear causing a groan to come from Joe, unable to hold back his facade any longer.

You could tell he was trying to remain “asleep” so as to not interrupt your pursuit. You decided to have a little fun knowing he was awake. You dragged your lips up his chest, lightly sucking at the skin on the base of his neck. You felt his breath hitch underneath your lips feeling satisfied. You nipped at his ear causing a groan to come from Joe, unable to hold back his facade any longer.

He shifted quickly, tucking you under his body as his strong arms caged you into him. You giggled as he ducked his head and nipped at your neck, knowing it was where you were super ticklish. His attacks against you were ruthless, leaving you begging him through sputters of air and laughs to get him to cease fire.

“Good morning to you too,” you said, trying to regain control of your breathing. 

“I could say the same thing to you too, I’m not complaining if I get to wake up to your touch every morning,” Joe said as he ducked back down in an attempt to move things further.

You stuck your hand out as a barrier to stop him. You wouldn’t have nearly enough time with your massage appointments happening soon. You wanted to freshen up quickly to be ready for them when they got there. 

“We’re not gonna have any time right now, J. They’re gonna be here in,” you looked down at your bare wrist, a small laugh rumbling in Joe’s chest at your humor, “like 10 minutes.”

“I’ll bet you I only need three of those ten if you let me,” Joe tried to press, hoping to win you over with a morning orgasm to start your day.

You had to admit, it was definitely a tempting offer. Joe loved lazy morning sex with you, feeling the lack of time constraints and pressure. It was his favorite way to start his day when he could. There were also mornings where quickies would wake either of you up before you had places to be, connecting before your busy days. You contemplated the idea, Joe wiggling his eyebrows suggestively above you trying to entice you. You also would have the rest of the day with this being the only thing you had planned. You worked to flip yourselves to get you on top, Joe grinning thinking that he would be getting his way. You slipped off of him, throwing on some semblance of clothing and ran your fingers through your hair to tame it. 

Joe groaned feeling like you pulled a trick on him. Before he could protest you, the sound of the doorbell ringing sounded through the stillness of the house. A smile crossed your lips as you started to make your way out of the room, turning back once you reached the frame of the door. You left him alone in bed, sat up against the headboard frustrated from your absence. He looked lost, a pout formed on his lips and a prominent bulge obvious underneath the thin fabric of the sheet.

“You should probably take care of that before you come down, I don’t think your massage would appreciate it,” you said with a smirk as you disappeared down the hallway

“Oh you’re gonna get it later sweetheart,” Joe called after you, making you laugh at the promise.

You composed yourself before pulling the door open. You greeted them kindly, letting them in to get everything setup in the living room. The pair seemed lovely, telling you a bit about themselves while getting their things ready. They handed you a robe and requested you change into whatever made you feel the most comfortable. You left to change, tying the robe overtop of the bralette and sleep shorts you put on. You were exiting the bathroom when Joe made his way down the stairs in a pair of tight alo shorts. They were sitting high up on his thighs as if he had them pulled up, the glimpse at the skin making your mouth water. 

It was like he could read your mind, choosing those on purpose as a form of payback for leaving him alone to take care of himself. He dropped you a wink before passing you to say hello, taking the second to shake those thoughts from your mind for the time being. This was technically your fault, but you knew it would also make him more worked up later.

You both laid on your respective tables and let the two ladies get to work. You had never gotten a massage before, not thinking it was a necessity, but having a change of heart after the first few minutes. The lotion felt and smelled absolutely amazing, giving reprieve to your aching and neglected muscles. Your shoulders felt the tightest from how much sitting you had to do at work, constantly seated in different positions at your desk or on the floor if that’s what your clients preferred during their sessions. Sighs of content and groans of pain as she worked tumbled from your lips without a second thought. Joe was mostly silent, making you realize how often he did this and was used to it by now.

Knots you didn’t even know you had were being pressed and worked. You couldn't help the groans of relief that left your mouth, trying your best to taper the sounds. Turning to look over at Joe whose pupils were blown wide as his back was being worked on as well. You let your eyes trail down his frame, knowing exactly what was under the sheet covering his lower half. Your body was heating, feeling conflicting feelings of tension and relaxation as your masseau’s hands worked wonders at alleviating your deep seated stress. You turned your head to face away, knowing it would be for the best.

You made small talk the best you could, finding it hard to speak when certain tight areas were touched, cutting off whatever it was that you were saying. It made you wonder how Joe did this as often as he did, focusing on the temporary hurt being worth it in the end. After about 40ish minutes, they began to finish up and gave you both a few minutes to relax while they went and cleaned up their hands.

You sat up to stretch, reaching your arms above your head and appreciated the lack of pain when you did. You felt Joe’s eyes locked on your body sensing the heat in his gaze without meeting his eyes. He stood up off of his table, not worrying about wrapping his robe back around him. He came to where you were sitting, leaning into you with his hands pressing into the massage table on either side of your legs. His knuckles brushed against your exposed skin, leaving goose bumps in their wake. Joe leaned down more to meet your ear, bracing for what filth was about to come out of his mouth.

“You bet your sweet ass the minute they leave, I’m gonna have you screaming my name for so long your voice will be gone by dinner time,” he whispered, his voice husky and dripping with lust.

You glanced at the clock on the wall, seeing that it was only barely lunch time. You breath caught in your throat as Joe brought one of his hands up to cup your cheek, slipping down to lightly grip your throat. You swore you forgot how to breathe, getting so lost in the moment that the sound of running water scared you back into reality. Remembering you weren’t alone and could get caught with Joe hand around your throat at any moment made a new wave of pleasure wash over you.

You separated when you heard the footsteps begin to get closer. Heat crept up your cheeks at almost being caught in a not so innocent position, even if you were in your own home. You chatted for a few minutes while they packed everything up. You talked about tentative plans for another appointment soon, now that you knew what you were missing out on. You had barely walked them out the door before Joe was behind you in his robe. Your front was pressed against the cold material of the front door, eliciting a gasp from your parted lips. 

“Do you know how hard it was to just lay there knowing you were wearing so little beside me,” Joe said as he slipped your robe off your shoulders placing kisses to the exposed skin, “making all of those little noises of yours.”

Joe slipped the robe off the rest of your body, letting it fall to the floor. Turning you around to face him, keeping your proximity to one another so close it was hard for you to spin. He dropped to his knees before you, taking in the sight before you. He slipped off your shorts, growling at the sight before him.

You had forgone underwear, forgetting to sip some on after this morning and assuming the coverage of the shorts would be sufficient enough. In hindsight, it worked as easier access for a moment like this.

“Naughty girl, getting that entire massage while eye fucking me with this bare pussy,” Joe chastized into the flesh of your thighs, alternating between kissing and nipping at your skin.

“I was too preoccupied this morning, I guess I must’ve forgotten,” you spoke, half lying as you tried to keep your head on straight from his touch so close to where you wanted him the most.

“Likely story, you could’ve had this pussy wrapped around my cock this morning, but someone had to be a tease,” Joe said as he brought his hand down to your wet pussy.

Joe wasted no time in latching his mouth onto your center, feeling so close a release already from how strung up your body already was. He alternated between licking and sucking that your mind was spinning. You gripped your hands into his hair, tugging slightly to let him know how close to the edge you were.

Right as you were about to fall over it, Joe pulled back and stood to meet your lips in a rough kiss. You groaned in frustration at your lack of climax, irritated at how close yet so far you were from release. When Joe pulled back 

“What the hell J, I was so fucking close,” you whined, knowing you sounded like a brat.

“You’ll get there when I let you, if someone was nicer to me this morning then they wouldn’t be left hanging would they,” Joe said as he sauntered off towards the stairs, “I'm gonna hop in the shower. I want you on the bed and ready for me once I’m out and maybe I’ll let you cum if you behave.”

You were stunned in your spot for a moment. The time off seems to already be doing wonders for his mood, the downside being that he had time to be just as much of a tease as you were. You hustled up the stairs doing exactly what he asked. You were glad that your body was relaxed, not sure if Joe would be using that to his advantage. You could get used to disconnected Joe.

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

Aaaaa Yuuna is so cuuutee 💗😆 Her hair is so prettyyy. But with the addition of the new Yuu I’ve come up with a theory that with the pattern the mangas have taken so far, they’ll start switching back and fourth between male and female yuus for the rest of the dorms:

Heartslabyul - Yuuken (Male)

Savanaclaw - Yuuka (Female)

Octavinelle - Yuuta (Male)

Scarabia - Yuuna (Female)

Pomefiore - Male

Ignihyde - Female

Diasomnia - Male

Just something I came up with that i wanted to share with you ^^ Also who is the manga artist for Scarabia 🤔

[Referencing the Episode of Scarabia!]

Lots of Yuuna-related asks recently (and for good reason!) so I decided to lump them all into one post :DD

Yes, Yuuna is very cute~ The alternating genders of the manga!Yuus has actually been a pretty popular theory for a while now, actually! Some believe this is meant to be the Yuus having the opposite genders as the Great Seven member of their respective books/dorms. But yeah, the pattern seems likely at this point.

The mangaka for the Episode of Scarabia is Majiko-sensei! They have previously contributed a chapter to the manga anthology. You can read more about their past works here.

I'm not sure if "[taking] care of [one's] appearance" is the right phrase to use (as it unintentionally implies other Yuus are slobs/don't care about how they present themselves, when that's definitely not the case)? Maybe it would be more accurate to say, "Yuuna has stereotypically feminine aesthetic tastes", though it's more immature and preppy than Vil's is. I think Yuuna has a cuteness that's more characteristic of Cater than Vil--but all three of them definitely have overlap in their interests in makeup, fashion, social media, etc. I feel like Yuuna would get along with them both!! We do technically see her interacting with Cater (they take a selfie before he departs for winter break) and are assumed to have already known each other due to the events of books 1 and 2. Too bad we don't really get to see them interact in those books... and that we won't see Yuuna interact with Vil for the Episode of Pomefiore. We'll have a new Yuu by then (which gets into my disappointment with never being able to fully follow a single manga!Yuu and their character arc through to the end of the main story...)💦

Yeah, it's nice to have variety in the manga!Yuus' personalities, skillsets, and interests! ^^ It makes them a lot of fun to follow, even if we know they'll only be with us for the length of one book/dorm.

I've personally really been loving Yuuta and Yuuna a lot. Yuuken and Yuuka are also nice, but I find that their general characters are kind of similar (athletic and level-headed) and don't differ enough to result in interactions unique from game!Yuu (with perhaps the exception of them being able to physically contribute to battles). This is not true of Yuuta and Yuuna, whose abilities extend to other areas and therefore have a larger impact on the world and its characters. For example, Yuuta's love of food + cooking skill has him shouting at Grim sometimes for not appreciating food, but it also becomes excellent leverage for sleeping over at Savanaclaw later in book 3. You can also see how Yuuna's outgoing personality would draw people to her and allow her to make connections.

The manga!Yuus also speak to the diversity of Yuus we see in the fandom. I know a lot of us were waiting for a girl Yuu (which we got with Yuuka), a Yuu of different body type (which we got with Yuuta), and a very femme presenting Yuu (which we got with Yuuna). Yuuken is also great because he was the first Yuu we got that actually had the ability and the confidence in his fighting capabilities to charge head-on into an OB fight.

As I state in my pinned post, manga raws generally come from Monthy GFantasy, which publishes new chapters of the Twst manga online each month. You must PAY to access those raws.

In the case of the Episode of Scarabia, the full first volume was released in today. It is avaliable on Kindle through the Amazon JP store. This is still something you would need to PAY for if you're interested in seeing the full thing right away.

I cannot provide full chapters to the public, as this is paid content that I receive from my own friends who subscribe to GFantasy and/or who bought the first volume of Scarabia on Kindle. You can make your own decision whether or not you wish to purchase for yourself; however, there is most likely a scanlation team that will put out an English version sooner or later. Again though, this would surely take some time to get done, especially when there's 4 chapters of Scarabia to translate.

[zsakuva]

I'm sure this has been asked, but I had found your stuff recently and absolutely love how the different characters are with each being just as charming as the next. My question is what is the thought/writing process? I am wanting to be better at defining my ocs and characters without falling into the same trope and behaviors the characters have exhibit. Obviously there are different methods for different people, but I'll like to know a little bit of the process for you. Do you have any tips to make the voices distinct and consistent through out a piece of writing?

Thank you!

For me, because I have a proclivity for world-building (meaning I am absolutely obsessed and must know the lore before I do anything), I like to understand the path a character has chosen. Their past experiences and upbringing have a dramatic impact on how they shape their own life, and that informs me of how a character acts, talks, and how they both see and react to the world around them.

I'll use Isaac Rhoades as a brief example (I wrote brief but this is not brief at all, my bad xD).

From the beginning, Isaac was written with a sealed heart and a cold personality. He's an articulate and smart man, a workaholic, but he lives in solitude.

I always ask myself how and why a character is who they are, and what decisions they made/experiences they've had to bring them to this point.

For Isaac, his background paints quite the picture:

Born to loving parents, and his grandfather is a successful private investigator — The early part of his childhood nurtured love and care. His mother in particular showed him what it meant to love unconditionally.

His parents are murdered because of his grandfather's choice — Isaac was taught that even the people you love can hurt you, and that nowhere is a safe space.

Learning under his grandfather — Because of his vast portfolio and cases, Isaac is taught more about the workings of the world, and how to stay cautious. There was no space for fun or games; his only objective was expanding his knowledge in many subjects that his grandfather deemed worthy.

Getting stabbed by the maid — This reinforced the thought of a perpetual threat and the need to stay vigilant. It instilled paranoia in him to trust no one.

University in England and Andrew — Here, he remembers the love of his childhood, but also the threat of losing someone else because of his own decisions, taught by his grandfather.

Learning the reason of his grandfather's decision — Isaac was taught that there is always more to one person, for better or worse, as taught by the maid. Due to this and what he's learnt thus far, Isaac decides to seclude himself so he's never forced to make that kind of choice.

Succeeding his grandfather — Being a private investigator opened his eyes to humanity's extremes: the lengths they would go for their own desires at the detriment of others, and the yearning others had to better the world. His work reminds him of his life experiences, and these beliefs constantly clash.

Isaac is distant and cold at first because his life taught him not to trust anyone—even the unassuming—and he doesn't want to let anyone in; they could either betray him, or he could lose them. And yet, despite that, his mother's teachings managed to peek through when he saw Pickle in the alley, alluding to his true nature. Through Isaac's story, his internal struggle begins to rear: desperately wanting to feel love again, but knowing the cost if he does give in and the inevitable choice he might have to make if he opens his heart again.

Isaac is articulate and smart because of his grandfather's teachings. One can assume he stayed in that house for the rest of his teenage years until he left for university, so the only person he really interacted with was his grandfather. Because of this, he's factual, precise, and seldom makes jokes because mostly every conversation had been connected to work in some form. Small talk is a waste of time, and he doesn't indulge others unless there's a reason for it. He's meticulous with when to speak and when to listen.

Isaac is a workaholic because that is what his life has been shaped to be, also likely influenced by his grandfather. He has money, but continues to work. Why? Perhaps it's because he'd be without purpose otherwise. Or is it because he feels it's his duty to continue in his grandfather's footsteps and find the one thing that matters in the ocean of bullshit?

All of this shapes who Isaac is. It wouldn't make sense for him to have the same disposition as Andrew. Though they are similar in ways (articulation, education, work addiction), they take different forms and stem from the unique experiences they've lived. Where Andrew can engage in small talk (he had a freer childhood, a rebellious and fun twin brother, and more public school education/social interactions), Isaac can't. And though they both carry the weight of their own regrets alone, Andrew chooses to live with what he has, but Isaac chooses to endlessly bear the weight of the world and live up to his grandfather's bravery.

SO. With that being said, a suggestion I can give is to constantly remind yourself who your character is with every decision they make. Is it true to them? Does it make sense for them? But remember, humans are also notoriously contradictive, and one is not the same as another. We experience and react to the same conditions in completely different ways; who you are and what you've been through can determine the outcome.

I hope this has helped in some form of way!

Again I apologise for this monstrous post have fun writing aaaaa-

[gainercontent]

Max's Body Transformation Part 3

Check out my blog for parts 1 and 2

The day Tyler suggested meeting in person, Max felt a nervous excitement stir within him. They had talked online for months now, exchanged pictures, shared stories of their gains, their routines, and their challenges. Tyler was someone Max admired—not just for his own impressive physique, but for the way he always pushed Max, encouraged him, and validated his decisions. Now, Tyler wanted to meet up, in real life. The idea felt surreal, but Max couldn’t deny that part of him was eager to see him, to finally step out from behind the screen and experience the connection in person.

Tyler suggested the Jade Buffet, a well-known spot in the city where all-you-can-eat was the name of the game. It felt fitting—Max could already feel the excitement of all the food he would consume, the possibility of pushing his limits even further. He imagined all the plates he would pile up, the satisfaction of devouring everything in sight. And Tyler would be there, right by his side, encouraging him just like he always did.

When they met at the restaurant, Max was struck by Tyler’s appearance. Tyler was even more handsome in person—fit, chiseled, with broad shoulders and a confident, easy smile. He greeted Max with a firm handshake and a friendly hug, sizing him up with a quick glance. Max, on the other hand, was now well over 220 pounds, his body soft and full, a clear reflection of his choices in recent months. But despite the slight self-consciousness, he felt a rush of excitement seeing Tyler in person.

“Looking good, Max,” Tyler said with a grin. “I’ve seen your progress pics, but in person? Damn, you’ve really packed on the pounds.”

Max chuckled, feeling a mix of pride and discomfort. “Thanks, man. It’s been… a journey, for sure. Been eating a lot.”

Tyler slapped him on the back, hard enough to make Max’s stomach jolt. “You’ve earned it. That’s what it’s all about, right? But hey, let’s see how much you can put away tonight. Jade Buffet has everything we need, man.”

They sat down at a large table, and Max immediately felt his stomach stir with anticipation. The waitstaff brought them both water, and Tyler ordered a small plate of sushi and some dim sum. Max, however, was already planning his first trip to the buffet. He stood up, eager to fill his plate. But as he walked toward the buffet, he could feel Tyler’s eyes on him. There was a sense of expectation, an unspoken challenge hanging in the air.

When Max returned with an enormous plate piled high with various dishes—fried rice, spring rolls, dumplings, and even a few plates of noodles—Tyler raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Max dug in immediately, eager to fill the void, his stomach already rumbling.

As Max ate, Tyler seemed completely content with his tiny portion. He nibbled at his sushi, took a few bites of the dim sum, and occasionally looked up, watching Max’s progress. Max couldn’t help but feel the pressure, the push to continue eating. The more he ate, the more the voice in his head began to cheer him on, just like Tyler’s quiet encouragement.

“You’re doing great, Max,” the voice murmured. “This is what you wanted. Keep going. You can eat more. There’s no stopping now. Tyler’s proud of you. You can’t back down now. You’re bigger, stronger, more powerful.”

Tyler, sensing Max’s growing hunger, leaned in, his voice calm but insistent. “You’ve got this, bro. Just keep going. You’re pushing yourself, and it’s paying off. Just think about how much fatter you ca get. This is what you’ve been working for.”

Max nodded, the words hitting him in the same way they always did. He could feel his stomach beginning to stretch, but the thrill of the challenge kept him going. He piled more food onto his plate and ate with abandon. He could feel Tyler’s eyes on him, a quiet approval in the way Tyler watched him devour the meal.

“You’re doing great, Max. You can feel it, can’t you? The power of all those calories. The satisfaction of feeding yourself, of growing bigger. Keep it going.”

The voice, ever-present in his mind, echoed Tyler’s words, reinforcing every action Max took. Each bite felt like a victory. The fullness in his stomach began to swell, but there was a strange sense of pleasure in that sensation. Tyler leaned back in his chair, his eyes gleaming with a quiet, knowing look. He wasn’t eating much, but he was enjoying watching Max indulge.

“Man, you’re making me look bad,” Tyler joked with a laugh, but it was clear his admiration was genuine. “I could never eat like that. But you’re doing great. Keep going, Max. You’re unstoppable.”

Max’s chest swelled with pride. Unstoppable. The word reverberated in his mind, his confidence growing as he shoved more food into his mouth. The voice seemed to grow louder with every bite, louder with every plate of food that disappeared.

“You’re getting bigger. You’re becoming something else. This is just the beginning.”

By the time Max finished his third plate of food, his stomach was stretched tight, his face flushed from the effort. But he couldn’t stop. He looked at Tyler, who was nursing a glass of water, still looking pleased but not pushing himself like Max was.

“Feeling good?” Tyler asked, watching him closely.

Max nodded, a small smile forming on his face as he wiped his mouth with a napkin. He felt full, overstuffed, but there was a sense of thrill in knowing that he could keep going. That he could push himself further. This is who you are now, the voice whispered. You’re a machine. You’re capable of so much more.

“Yeah, I feel great,” Max said, his voice a little strained from the amount of food he had already eaten. “But I could go for one more round.”

Tyler chuckled. “I knew you were going to say that. You’ve got the hunger, man. You’ve got the drive. But remember, it’s all about control. You’re in control of your body.”

Max paused, staring at his plate. The voice echoed Tyler’s words, urging him to keep eating, to never stop. He could feel the weight of his choices, the pull of his indulgence. He wasn’t just eating for the calories anymore. He was eating to fill something deeper—a hunger for validation, for power, for the rush that came with growing, becoming bigger.

As the night went on, Max kept eating. Tyler’s small, supportive remarks continued, but it was the voice in Max’s head that truly pushed him to the limit. With every bite, Max grew bigger, more swollen, and the power of it made him feel invincible.

Eventually, the meal ended, and Tyler paid for their food. They left the restaurant together, and as Max felt the discomfort of his bloated stomach, he couldn’t help but think about what Tyler had said—how he could keep going, how he could keep feeding himself, keep growing.

Max didn’t know what the future held, but he knew one thing for sure: he was on a path now. The voice was louder than ever, and Tyler—his guide and encourager—had made him feel like he was unstoppable.

And in that moment, Max believed it.

*****

Max felt a warm buzz of satisfaction as they left the Jade Buffet, the evening’s indulgence weighing heavily on his stomach. He was beyond full—his stomach stretched to its absolute limit, and he had that familiar, almost painful sense of fullness, but with it came the thrill of pushing his body to its boundaries. He had eaten more than he had in weeks, and the sense of accomplishment was intoxicating.

They reached the parking lot, and Tyler stopped at his car, giving Max a knowing smile. Max glanced at the car, a small part of him uncertain what was about to happen next, but the voice inside his head had him feeling invincible, unafraid of what might come.

Tyler leaned against the hood of his car, casually waiting for Max to catch up. “You’re really killing it tonight,” Tyler said with a grin. “You did great. But I can tell you’re feeling it, huh?”

Max chuckled, a bit breathless from the meal. “Yeah, I’m absolutely stuffed.” His stomach felt heavy, stretched tight under his shirt. It was hard to even stand without feeling like he might burst. “I’ve never eaten so much in my life.”

Tyler’s eyes sparkled with a mix of admiration and something deeper, something Max couldn’t quite place. “I can tell, man. But that’s what it’s all about. Pushing yourself, going beyond what you think you’re capable of. You did an amazing job.”

Max felt a rush of pride at the praise, his chest swelling with the recognition. He had worked hard for this—he had given in to every craving, every urge, and now his body was proof of it. But despite the pride, he could feel the weight in his belly, the fullness that made every step feel slower.

“Come on, man,” Tyler said, stepping closer, his voice lower now, like he was sharing a secret. “Why don’t you come sit in the car for a minute? We can chill, you look like you could use some rest after all that food.”

Max hesitated for a second, then nodded, feeling that familiar pull, the sense that something was about to shift. He followed Tyler toward the car, the voice whispering, “You deserve this. This is just another step. Let yourself enjoy it. Let yourself go.”

Once inside the car, Max sank into the seat, his stomach protesting the movement, but he didn’t care. He wanted to be closer to Tyler, to feel the comfort of his presence after the indulgence. Tyler closed the door gently behind him, then slid into the driver’s seat, facing Max.

Tyler looked at him with an intensity that made Max’s heart beat faster. “I know you’re full, Max. But you did a hell of a job. I want to make sure you feel good. You deserve a reward for that effort.”

Max raised an eyebrow. “What kind of reward?”

Tyler’s smile widened, and without another word, he leaned toward Max, his hands gently resting on the sides of his stomach. Max sucked in a breath at the touch, feeling a jolt of warmth spread through him. His belly was so full, it almost felt strange to have someone touching it, but Tyler’s hands were gentle, soothing.

Max felt Tyler’s fingers work in small, firm circles around his bloated stomach. The pressure, the way Tyler massaged him with such care—it was unlike anything he had ever felt before. He let out a soft sigh, his body relaxing into the touch. It wasn’t just about the physical relief; it was the sense of comfort, the way Tyler’s presence seemed to ease the discomfort that had been building in his gut.

“That’s it. Let go,” the voice in his head murmured. “You’ve earned this. He’s rewarding you. Let him help you.”

Tyler’s hands continued to knead his stomach, the pressure easing the fullness and giving him a sense of release. He felt lightheaded, almost intoxicated by the sensation of Tyler’s touch and the flood of positive reinforcement from the voice in his mind.

“You did so well tonight, Max,” Tyler whispered, his voice low and almost hypnotic. “You’re really growing. I can see it in you. Your body—everything about you is becoming fatter, chubbier.”

Max could feel the heat rising in his face, a flush spreading across his cheeks. The words, the praise, felt good. They felt right. They made him feel like he was on the right path, like he was becoming exactly what he was meant to be.

Tyler’s hands stopped for a moment, and he leaned closer, his lips hovering near Max’s ear. “You’re getting fat, Max,” Tyler murmured, his breath warm against Max’s skin. “You’ve done such a great job. I’m proud of you.”

Max’s breath caught in his throat, the words sinking deep within him. He was proud of himself too, for pushing his limits, for surrendering to the hunger. And Tyler was there, right beside him, validating every choice, every step he had taken.

Before Max could respond, Tyler turned his face toward him, his lips brushing against Max’s. It was a soft, tentative kiss at first, but it deepened as Max leaned into it, his body still aching with fullness but overwhelmed by the sensation of being desired, of being accepted. The kiss was slow, exploratory, and the tension in Max’s body melted away as he let himself sink into it. He could feel Tyler’s hands still on his stomach, a gentle reminder of the relief, of the connection they shared.

The kiss broke, and Tyler pulled back just enough to look into Max’s eyes, his expression soft and sincere. “You’re amazing,” he whispered again.

Max felt a swell of gratitude and excitement. He had never felt so accepted, so seen, and for the first time in a long time, he felt like he was exactly where he was supposed to be. The voice in his head had led him here, and now Tyler was here too, guiding him, encouraging him, making him feel invincible.

Max leaned back, resting his hand on his stomach as he closed his eyes. “Thanks, Tyler. I couldn’t have done it without you.”

The night felt like a new beginning—Max wasn’t just growing physically, but in ways he hadn’t anticipated. And with Tyler by his side, he knew he could keep pushing forward, embracing every moment, every change. The road ahead was wide open, and for the first time, Max felt ready to walk it.

*****

Max leaned back into the seat, feeling the weight of the evening press into his body. The fullness in his stomach was a constant, heavy presence, and he was floating in that space between satisfied and overwhelmed. The weight was intense, but there was something about being with Tyler that made him feel safe, like he could just surrender to the moment and everything would fall into place.

Tyler's voice cut through the haze of Max's thoughts, pulling him from the comfortable daze he'd slipped into. “I’ve got something special for you,” Tyler said, a mischievous smile tugging at his lips. He opened the back door of the car, reaching into a small cooler nestled behind the passenger seat. Max couldn’t help but watch him, curious.

Tyler pulled out two cases of Boost VHC, the high-calorie drink that had become a staple for Max’s increasing appetite. He could already feel the weight of the cases, the promise of calories that would push him further, expand him even more. Max’s eyes widened at the sight.

“Tyler…” Max murmured, his voice tinged with hesitation. He was already so full. The thought of drinking more seemed almost impossible, but there was a part of him that knew—he couldn’t say no.

“You’ve done so well, Max,” Tyler said, his tone coaxing, encouraging. “You’ve eaten all that food, you’ve made amazing progress. Now, we just take it one step further. You’re going to feel incredible after this. You deserve it.” His voice was warm, full of care, but it carried an unmistakable edge—one that Max had come to recognize. Tyler wasn’t just supporting him; he was guiding him, pushing him forward, just like the voice in his head.

Max was so full he could barely move, his body already stretched to its limits. He felt sluggish, bloated, but the weight in his stomach was strangely comforting. He let his eyes flutter closed for a moment, unsure of how he could possibly drink more.

But then, Tyler’s hand was on his shoulder, shaking him out of his thoughts. “Max, you’ve got this. Don’t worry about how much you’ve eaten. It’s about the obese piggy you’re going to become. Drink it, and feel how much bigger you get. Just trust me.”

Max didn’t respond, just nodded weakly, feeling the pull of Tyler’s words, the authority in his tone that seemed to fill every corner of his mind. Tyler opened the first case and pulled out a cold bottle, twisting off the cap with ease.

“You’re going to drink this down for me, okay tubby?” Tyler asked, his voice low and soothing. Max could feel a strange warmth spreading through him at the command. He was so full, but part of him couldn’t resist.

Tyler gently lifted the bottle to Max’s lips, helping him drink as he massaged his swollen stomach, his touch comforting, guiding him. Max felt himself relax into the sensation, allowing Tyler to feed him. The liquid was thick and creamy, more like a treat than a drink. The voice in Max’s head swirled with Tyler’s words, and for a moment, they seemed to blend together into a single, undeniable force.

“Drink it, Max,” the voice inside him urged, louder now than ever. “You’ve come this far. You’ve worked so hard. Let go. Let it fill you. You’re not weak—you’re strong. You’re in control. You need this. You need to grow.”

Max took another gulp, his stomach tightening as the liquid slid down his throat, but the voice continued, urging him on. “You’re becoming exactly what you were meant to be. Bigger. Stronger. More. Drink it all, Max. You deserve it. Tyler believes in you. I believe in you. Keep going.”

Tyler’s voice merged with the internal voice in Max’s head, creating a constant rhythm of encouragement that drowned out any doubt or discomfort. “That’s it, fat boy. Drink it. You’re doing amazing. This is what you’ve worked for. This is what it’s all about. You’re pushing your limits, and it’s worth it.”

Max could feel the pull—his body protesting, but his mind lost in the harmony of Tyler’s praise and the voice inside him, both pushing him, urging him to consume, to keep going. As the bottle emptied, Tyler grabbed another, twisting the cap off with practiced ease.

“You’re incredible, Max. You’ve got this. You’re not stopping here. Drink more.”

The combination of Tyler’s encouragement, the sweet, thick drink, and the insistent, now unified voice in his head created a powerful force that drowned out the discomfort. Max drank, his stomach stretching further, his body shuddering slightly with each swallow, but the voice inside him seemed to smooth over the resistance, giving him no choice but to keep drinking.

“Yes,” the voice whispered, now one with Tyler’s. “Keep going. There’s no limit now. There’s only growth. You’re doing what you’ve always wanted. This is who you are. This is who you’re meant to be.”

By the time Max had finished the second bottle, his stomach was so swollen it was almost painful to move. He was breathing heavily, his shirt tight against his skin, but his body felt oddly light, despite the pressure. His chest heaved with each breath, but his mind was buzzing with satisfaction, with the certainty that this was exactly where he needed to be.

Tyler gently cupped Max’s face, guiding him into a kiss, soft and slow at first, but with an undeniable intensity. Max felt everything in that kiss—the praise, the encouragement, the weight of the moment, and the undeniable pull of the voice that had been with him all along, now seamlessly merged with Tyler’s presence. It was more than a kiss. It was the affirmation that he was on the right path, that he was exactly where he needed to be.

As they pulled back, Tyler’s eyes searched Max’s face, a deep understanding between them. “You’re a real piggy, Max. I knew you had it in you.”

Max could only nod, his mind swirling with a mix of pride, fullness, and a strange sense of peace. He had done it. He had given in, and now, in this moment, it felt like everything had fallen into place. The voice inside him, the pressure to grow, to feed himself, to be more—Tyler had helped him reach a place where it all made sense.

Max was no longer fighting it. He was embracing it.

And in that moment, he felt like he was ready for whatever came next.

*****

Max sat back in the car, his stomach a bloated, heavy mass as he processed everything that had just happened. He was beyond full, feeling like he couldn’t move, but also strangely at peace in a way he hadn’t experienced in a long time. The warmth from the Boost VHC drinks still sat in his gut, settling comfortably, and the voice in his head whispered contentedly. The moment felt surreal.

Tyler’s eyes locked onto Max, that same intense, guiding look he had seen before. He smiled, a slow, knowing grin that seemed to hold secrets Max hadn’t yet discovered.

“You’ve done a good job tonight, Max,” Tyler said, his voice low and soothing, yet charged with an unshakable confidence. “But I know you’ve got more in you. You’re not done gaining yet. This is just the beginning.”

Max blinked, feeling the full weight of the words as they hit him, a strange mix of satisfaction and something deeper—something that stirred deep inside him, something that yearned for more. The voice, now a part of his thoughts, echoed in time with Tyler’s words.

“You can do it. You know you can. You’ve always wanted more. You’ve always been meant for this. You need it. 230. That’s where you need to be.”

Max's heart skipped a beat, his breath catching in his throat. The idea was absurd, and yet it felt right. 230… The number felt like a promise. A place of validation, of reaching his peak. The voice pushed him, urged him, made him feel like there was nothing standing in his way.

Tyler leaned in closer, his hand resting gently on Max’s bloated stomach, and Max could feel that familiar pressure build in his chest—the hunger, the longing, a sense that he couldn’t turn back, that he was already too deep into this to stop now.

“You’ve made amazing progress, but 230, Max…” Tyler’s voice was almost a whisper, yet every word felt like it was imprinted directly into Max’s mind. “That’s where the real magic happens. You’ll feel incredible when you get there. You know it. I know it. We both know it.”

Max could feel it now—the pull of Tyler’s words, the soothing yet insistent force of the voice in his mind, both merging, becoming a part of him. He couldn’t escape it. It felt like a cycle he couldn’t break, like each step forward led to a greater sense of purpose, a deeper connection to this version of himself that had been growing and changing over time.

“Yes,” the voice in his mind urged, coaxing him forward. “230. You deserve it. You were meant for it. Give in. Let go. Let yourself grow. You know what you need to do.”

Max let out a shaky breath, his body both exhausted and yet strangely energized by the promise of what was to come. He looked up at Tyler, a mix of uncertainty and excitement swirling in his gut.

“230…” Max repeated, his voice soft but resolute. He didn’t feel like he was in control anymore, but somehow, it didn’t matter. The decision was made. He was committed.

Tyler’s smile widened, his eyes lighting up with pride and approval. “I knew you’d get it. I knew you’d say yes.”

Max felt a rush of exhilaration, his body tingling with excitement, the pressure in his stomach only adding to the thrill of it all. He felt alive, connected to something bigger than himself. And as the voice echoed in his mind, it no longer felt like a choice—it felt like destiny.

“Now,” Tyler continued, his voice almost a whisper as he leaned closer, “I’ve got a gift for you. Something that’ll help you get to 230 faster. You’re going to love it.”

Max didn’t ask questions. He was beyond that now, fully immersed in the moment. Tyler opened the trunk of the car with a satisfying click, and Max glanced over, his curiosity piqued. Tyler reached inside, pulling out a large, insulated bag that seemed to be packed with something heavy.

With a grin, Tyler handed the bag to Max. “This,” he said with a wink, “is your next step. It’s going to take you further. You’re going to feel unstoppable with this.”

Max opened the bag carefully, excitement bubbling up inside him. Inside were several more cases of Boost VHC—enough to keep him going for days. Along with the drink, there were a few extra surprises: high-calorie snacks, protein bars, and a few other indulgences Max hadn’t even thought of. Tyler had thought of everything.

“Now, you’re all set for the journey,” Tyler said, his voice full of pride. “Drink up, fat boy. Keep pushing. I know you’re going to hit 230 in no time. Your stomach is bigger than you think.”

The voice in Max’s head buzzed with energy, affirming every word Tyler spoke. “230 is your destiny. Keep drinking. Keep growing. This is who you are.”

Max’s hands shook slightly as he reached for another bottle, his mind racing with the thought of what was to come. He didn’t hesitate. With Tyler’s voice in his ear, guiding him, and the echo of the inner voice filling him with resolve, he unscrewed the cap and took another long drink, the liquid slipping down his throat, bringing him closer to what he had agreed to.

Tyler’s touch was gentle on his shoulder, a constant source of reassurance as Max felt the weight of the decision settle into his body. He was committed now. 230 was just the beginning.

And with that thought, Max felt something inside him snap into place, like all the pieces of the puzzle were finally falling together. The cycle was complete. He was on his way to becoming something bigger, and there was no turning back now.

Max smiled to himself as he finished the bottle, feeling both powerful and content in the moment, ready for whatever would come next.

Part 4 will be posted next Wednesday

[zourrystylinson]

28th february fic rec!

so very excited for the 28op drop!!!!

i miss you, i'm sorry (2K) by leivol6

Louis spends some time with zayn in his hotel room after his LA show. they smoke. they fuck.

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love of my life (80K) by likelarry | @likelarryfics

Harry is 36 and recently divorced after he's finally come to terms with his sexuality.

Louis is the 28 year old who helps him find his way and is everything Harry has ever dreamt of.

The one where Harry struggles to really accept who he is and Louis is there every step of the way.

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wildflower (112K) by blueskiesrry | @blueskiesrry

“You look like a wildflower,” Louis comments, shielding his eyes from the sun, the crinkles near them even more prominent in this light.

“What?” Harry’s words stumble over a surprised laugh.

“With your hair all fluffy like that.”

Harry’s fingers automatically find their way into his hair as he silently curses the humidity out on the water.

“He kind of does, doesn’t he?” Elizabeth adds.

Louis tilts his head to the side, smile softening and blurred around the edges. “Our very own long-stemmed wildflower.”

-

or: a 1950s hollywood story spanning half a decade where harry and louis are constantly growing towards, away from, & around each other and everything harry wants are things he can’t have.

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Tattoos and Temptations (67K) by refusethyname | @gonebylouist

“Love,” he drawled, the word dripping with sinful allure, “I’ve got tattoos that are older than you,” he murmured, his voice a rough whisper, his breath warm against Harry’s lips.

Harry tilted his head, a teasing smirk of his own tugging at his mouth despite the rapid beat of his heart. “What can I say, I like experienced men.”

Louis chuckled low in his throat, a sound that sent heat rushing through Harry’s veins. “Cheeky little thing, aren’t you?” he murmured, his hand sliding up Harry’s back to tangle in his curls. He tugged lightly, just enough to tip Harry’s head back and expose more of his neck.

“You’re the one winding me up.”

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Can we please get back to Loving (5K) by umbroshirt

Harry's mad and Louis doesn't know why.

Or, the silent treatment fic I thought of the second Written All Over Your Face came out

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Remember Me Before You (293K) by kingsofeverything | @kingsofeverything

Desperate to find a new place to live after he comes home to find his boyfriend cheating, Harry moves into a loft with three strangers.

A New Girl AU.

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Fragments of Forgotten Lives (160K) by freakingmeout | @freakingmeout28

Louis has been missing for over a year, but the first thing he remembers is waking up just a few weeks ago. Everything before that is a blur - no memory of where he’s been or who he was. Now, trying to rebuild his life in Manchester, he finds solace in therapy and a deepening connection with a fellow survivor.

When Harry, a stranger to Louis but someone from his forgotten past, recognises him on the street, everything shifts. Despite the amnesia, something about Harry feels familiar, like a lifeline. As fragments of his lost memories begin to resurface in vivid, unsettling nightmares, Louis clings to the comfort Harry brings. Together, they embark on a journey to uncover the truth of his missing year, unlocking hidden secrets, unspoken bonds, and a past that refuses to stay buried.

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[series] such a beautiful dream (112K) by staybeautiful | @harruandlou

“I had a sex dream about Harry.” Louis slapped his free hand over his mouth after the words slipped out.

Zayn paused, his hand freezing as he was about to take a bite, his head snapping up to look at Louis. Louis could relate, it’s how he’d felt that morning after he’d woken up. He’d laid in bed for fifteen minutes trying to figure out what had happened, why it had turned him on so much, and then patiently waiting for his erection to go down.

“Like… my Niall’s Harry? Harry Styles?” Zayn clarified, his face bewildered as if trying to comprehend what had just happened. “Do you even like Harry?”

“His last name is Styles?”

or Louis woke up after having a sexy dream about his best friend’s boyfriend’s best friend resolved to never think about it again. He hardly knew Harry, so what difference would it make? But when they are thrown together only a few days later, Louis had to admit, his subconscious might have been onto something.

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I Could Fall In Love With You (55K) by tippitytap

If Louis were asked to describe Harry's role in his life, the answer would have always been quite simple: best friend.

Since last year, the answer might have also been: housemate and co-parent to the cats.

What Louis didn't think would ever happen was that the answer would one day change to: the man he was falling deeply in love with.

or: Right at the beginning of a nationwide lockdown might be the worst time to fall in love with your childhood best friend and housemate. But if Louis knew one thing, it was that Harry and he would always find a way through life together.

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I Can Pull It Together (6K) by louislittletomlintum | @louislittletomlintum

Harry's eyes drifted to where Louis’ arms were slung over the back rim of the spa, exposing his underarms again. This time his fine hair was more apparent, wet from the spa and curling a little where some droplets of water hung.

Harry wanted to lick them.

He blushed almost instantly when the thought came through his brain, hoping it wasn’t obvious and that the general heat on his face would disguise his embarrassment. He’d never thought anything like that before.

or the one where Harry accidentally discovers a new part of Louis he really, really loves.

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Le Sol De La Chambre (60K) by Fandom_Larry

Louis owns a boudoir business. Harry wants some pictures. What happens when an innocent omega ends up posing for an overly handsome alpha? They end up on the bedroom floor.

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💸 -> visual of my wallet after this 28op drop

stat time!

1,095,493 words read (-35% than last month)

19 fics read (-21% less than last month)

19 authors (-5% less than last month)

feel free to send me an ask if you have read a fic ive recommended! i'd love to talk about the fic with you <3

[calissarowan]

So I was watching Unicorn of War review season 7, and it was really hitting home for me how weak the Winx wound up being, and part of the problem is that they can’t just create infinitely more and more powerful enemies, because technically, Darkar and Valtor were the height of power and danger. But it means the Winx get downgraded to fight them, while still gaining new powers that are meant to make them stronger. It’s just a mess, really. But we have a way around that that the writers themselves built in! The Winx lose their powers in season 6. Lost, gone, nothing, nada. Does it make a lot of sense for a random book to do that? No, not so much, but we can say that the Winx’s powers get trapped inside the Legendarium or something. So, then Bloom can give her friends sparks of her flame, and most of Bloom’s powers are gone too, that’s why it’s only sparks, just enough to restore a little strength. The Winx are fighting practically without magic until they get Mythix, which taps into the Legendarium world and lets them access their full powers again, which were also trapped inside the Legendarium World. So then the Winx can have their showdown with the Trix, and let’s say Acheron, at full power, but then, they have to lock the Legendarium so Acheron can’t keep summing stuff and surprise! That severed their connection to Mythix, and thus to their full powers inside the Legendarium. So, they’re effectively back to the beginning. So come season 7, by the time that school year starts (because they’re at Alfea, for convenience), only one or two of them have actually managed their transformation and the rest are still working towards it. They still have all the knowledge and skill that they did before, they’re just weaker. So they gotta earn their fairy forms again, work from the ground up. We all loved Charmix and Enchantix, I would a hundred percent watch them gain those again. Maybe we see them conquer some of their faults they’ve acquired in the recent seasons. Musa can get her new Charmix by breaking up with Riven and acknowledging they had issues, and she was a big part of them. Stella gets her Charmix by undoing the wish she made for her parents to get along because as much as we all understand that wish, changing people’s emotions and thoughts using a wish feels wrong to me. I don’t know about the others, I’m sure I could think of some, but the point is, they’re spending season seven just trying to get their transformations, maybe a couple earn Charmix, and since they’re weaker now, still a force to be reckoned with but weaker, then we can use weaker villains, and Roxy gets more of a spotlight because she’s stronger than the Winx for now, and they need her help. And then our weaker antagonists can work, and we can explain why they’re all crawling out of the woodwork with the fact that the Winx, great unstoppable guardians of the universe, are back to base level forms and thus, easier to defeat, so it’s easier to carry out all their evil plans.

Those were just my random thoughts, but really, I think that could work; it wouldn’t be all that hard to make it work, bring the Winx to a lower level and go back to the forms we all loved.

[bucephaly]

It's kinda shocking to me how few people seem to know how prevalent the 'my great grandmother was cherokee' myth is and how it's almost never actually true, especially when it comes with things like 'never signed up' or 'fell off the trail' or 'courthouse burned down destorying the documentation' etc etc.

People just don't even seem to know the history like.. when the Trail happened. My great great great grandfather was 2 years old during Removal in 1838, so peoples 'my great grandmother hid in the mountains!' is so clearly wrong. And we have rolls. From before and after removal, rolls done by cherokee nation and others by the government, rolls that were not stored in one random flammable courthouse. It's not difficult to find the actual evidence of ancestry.

And just.. there are lots of ways those family stories get started. It was a practice during the confederacy to claim cherokee ancestry to show one's family had 'deep roots in the south' that they were there before the cherokee were removed. Many people pretended to be cherokee and applied for the Guion-Miller payout just to try to steal money meant for cherokees - 2/3rds of the applicants were denied for having 0 proof of actual cherokee ancestry. [We even see lawyers advertising signing up for the Miller roll just to try to get free money.] And the myth even started in some families in the cherokee land lotteries, where the land stolen from us was raffled off, including the house and everything that was left behind when the cherokees were removed. We have seen people whose families just take these things stolen from the cherokee family and adopt them into their own family story, saying that they were cherokee themselves.

If you had some family story about being cherokee and you wanna have proof one way or the other, check out this Facebook group run by expert cherokee genealogists that do research for free. Just please read the rules fully and respect the researchers. They run thousands of people's ancestries a year and their average is only around 0.7% of lines they run actually end up having true cherokee ancestry.

[deadexclamationpoint]

I gotta wonder if mcr's (mis)classification as emo has anything to do with the fanbase's reluctance to branch out and explore music more widely. Not that that's all mcr fans, but it's a definite tendency. I know when I was younger I tried to get into emo because I loved mcr, but not much I found appealed to me. I had no idea where to actually look to find music with some of the things I liked about mcr. It wasn't until I started watching interviews and reading analysis and stuff that I learned more about what artists and genres they were actually drawing from and suddenly some things made sense lol

[realtapiocafan]

still can't get over how insanely pretty they are

i will be Thinking on these two specific photos for a Long Time... ja'marr looking slightly surprised at whatever obj is showing them on his phone... ceedee looking at ja'marr so fondly while resting his chin on his hand... then ja'marr laughing and grinning as hard as he can - oh you can sense the Joy through the screen, hear that contagious hahaha ...

and i will literally never shut up about ceedee's loose bun, it looks so fucking good wtf... ooh ceedee has two (2!) piercings... all of them having intricate hand tattoos... ja'marr wearing like... five (wow) rings... lmao wait is ceedee charging his phone midgame?

also the Narrative of flying halfway across the world to fucking Paris, just to sit courtside at an NBA game with your friends (instead of just meeting up in your home state like normal folks do).... 😭😭😭

[icewindandboringhorror]

Recent-ish things ~

[clownboybebop]

if your loved ones go out of their way to be nice to you, it’s because they want to 🖤 no self respecting person with healthy boundaries would go out of their way like that just to hold it against you later. i don’t know your friends but if they turn it on you later, they’re not honoring their own boundaries and have a lot of internal work to do. i know that these facts don’t necessarily make the feelings any easier to manage. i hope you can find a way to trust that they just love you and want to do nice things for you because of it.

[uharuz]

i'm not an aroha i never really have been but i heard about fly and now i am crying

[waywardsalt]

there is undeniable opportunity to make bellum x linebeck fucked up but i dont have it in me. im a sucker for it just being fine with a side of like. light nautical crimes against nature but i cant make it toxic or w/e after a certain point. theyre chilling

[dbphantom]

you know if you guys voted for stretch armstrong i probably would have shut up a lot sooner tonight

[empyreanmirror]

i hope you know im selectively uploading things to protect you all from lies of p content