#it's easier when someone breaks up with you

[blxxmingrose]

hans didn’t expect those words, and the way june said them caught him off guard, leaving him unable to respond for a few moments. it was not an uncomfortable silence, but rather, it was as if something had been understood between them, and there was no more need for words. 

the smile on his face bloomed, just like something in his chest opened up like a flower in its prime. “i think love is designed like that,” he replied in the same quiet voice, careful that if he spoke too quickly, too loudly, the moment would disappear. “you give it all you’ve got, not expecting anything in return. it gives you some strength somehow.” 

as he stood there in the middle of the room, the couch leaving an empty space for him to sit but his feet firmly planted, he allowed himself to admit that this was definitely not just a father and a teacher who both happened to be in sunny’s life. they had found each other, and it was slowly becoming easier and easier to see how they fit together. 

june gave him that assurance that, in his vulnerable moments, he’d find strength. and that if june was the one who needed strength, he would be there ready and willing to do his best too. there was no way to do it halfway. 

“it’s like when you go skydiving—the freefall kind of makes you go all in. there’s no more backing down once you’re in the air,” he scratched the back of his neck, chuckling at the analogy. “not that i’ve tried skydiving though.” his brows furrowed as if deep in thought, his lips opening up slowly to speak more. “or like having a gravitational field you’re drawn to. you don’t hesitate on that pull—it's just there.” 

hans liked that analogy more. 

he finally sat down then, leaving some room between him and june, but still close enough that he could reach for the edge of the blanket june had been toying with. it felt like a simple gesture, touching the same object, but even that felt grounding. “i like thinking of you as someone i can’t help but be attracted to, magnetically speaking,” he said, breaking into a grin. 

june hummed, tilting his head as if considering how to answer, though he already knew. it had been sitting in his chest all night, threading itself into the quiet moments, into the warmth of hans’ laughter, into the way sunny had looked at him with that bright, unwavering trust. “i get why you do it,” he said finally, voice soft but certain. “why you put everything into the things that matter to you.”

his fingers skimmed absently over the blanket as he spoke, feeling the texture between his hands, grounding himself in the simple, domestic moment. “you never do anything halfway—not with sunny, not with your shop, not with… this.” his gaze flickered up to meet hans’, and for a moment, the words caught in his throat.

not with me.

because that’s what this was, wasn’t it? hans had let him in without hesitation, had given him a seat at the table, a place in their home, in their lives. and june — june had been hesitant at first, afraid to take up too much space, afraid of what it would mean to stay. but hans had made it feel easy. like it was the most natural thing in the world for june to be here, for him to be part of this quiet, warm life hans had built.

his fingers stilled against the fabric, and he exhaled slowly, letting his shoulders relax. “you don’t hesitate when it comes to the people you love,” he said, softer now, as if saying it too loudly might make the moment shift, might make it feel too big.

june wasn’t sure if he was saying it as a simple observation or if it was something more. if he was trying to understand it for himself, if he was trying to figure out how to meet hans halfway.

a small smile tugged at his lips, and he leaned back against the couch, watching hans with quiet amusement. “so yeah,” he added after a beat, as if the conversation hadn’t turned into something deeper.

[skyguytoast]

Swipe Right for Trouble - Dilf!Anakin x you

SYNOPSIS: Dilf!Anakin joins a dating site and comes away with more than he bargained for.

WORD COUNT: 5k

WARNINGS: +18, infidelity, cheating, age gap (Anakin is in his 40s and the reader is of legal age), sexting, both masturbating over video call, daddy kink

A/N: Hello everyone, this idea came to me out of nowhere and kept on hammering in my mind until I wrote it. I hope you like it, comments, reblogs and suggestions are always appreciated, kisses ;) Dividers by @cafekitsune

Sexting isn’t cheating.

Anakin repeated the thought like a mantra as he filled out the registration form. Technically, this wasn’t even a dating site. From what he’d read, it was more of a… transactional arrangement—an online space where men could chat with young women, spoil them with gifts, and, in return, receive whatever favors both parties agreed upon.  

It wasn’t as if his marriage had collapsed overnight. That would have been easier to accept. No, it had been a slow, agonizing unraveling, a gradual drift until the distance between him and Padmé felt impossible to bridge. He couldn’t only blame her long hours at work or the way exhaustion made intimacy rare. He was just as guilty—guilty of giving up, of letting the silence stretch between them for too long, of resigning himself to wanting more but never asking for it.  

Regret was useless now.  

He exhaled sharply, scrolling through the feed. Most of the profiles were deliberately vague—faceless photos, silhouettes, glimpses of lips, collarbones, and hands. The usernames were just as cryptic, an endless parade of Kitten, Doll, and Baby designed to keep things impersonal.  

Then, one caught his eye.  

The photo showed nothing but a cascade of silky hair and a princess tiara perched atop it. Something about it—the soft, innocent playfulness—made him pause. Bunny. The name made him smirk. Cute.  

A second later, the screen blinked. MATCH.

Anakin’s lips parted slightly. That was… fast. His stomach twisted, fingers hovering over the keyboard. What the hell was he supposed to say? How do you start a conversation like this?  

A sharp ding cut through his hesitation.  

You had messaged him first.

Anakin rubbed his jaw, still slightly in disbelief that he had actually gone through with this. It wasn't like him to engage in such... base activities. Especially not now. But his marriage had grown so distant, and he needed something—someone—to fill that void.

Just take a deep breath and respond, he told himself as he clicked on your message.

Bunny: Hi there, stranger~

Anakin blinked at the casual greeting, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. Stranger? He chuckled softly to himself, realizing that, in this context, that was exactly what you were. Two anonymous figures behind a screen, playing a game neither of you had fully defined yet.  

Hi yourself, he typed back, trying to match your easy tone. I like your tiara. It suits you.  

The response didn’t come immediately, and in those few seconds, doubt crept in. Was he being too forward? Too personal? Was this a place for compliments, for flirting—or just for transactions?  

Bunny: I like shiny things… and pink.

Short. Coy. Playful. The way you phrased it made something tighten in his chest. A flicker of amusement, curiosity, something dangerously close to interest.  

I’ll remember that, he replied, his fingers moving with a newfound ease. Do you have a favorite shade of pink?

It was a simple question, innocent on the surface, but it carried weight. He wanted to keep you talking, wanted the conversation to stretch just a little longer. This was a break from reality, from work, from duty. A moment that felt light, free.  

Bunny: Uhm… mostly pastel colors… ballerina pink, bubblegum pink. 

He was about to type a response when another message popped up.  

Bunny: Do you want me to send you the color hex so you don’t get my gift wrong?

Anakin laughed softly at the dig, shaking his head. So you had a sharp wit. He liked that.  

No need for that, he typed back. I have a good eye for color. And I’m not planning on buying you a gift just yet.

There. He had said it—acknowledged the possibility of yet, of something more. It was a dangerous game, but one he was suddenly very willing to play.  

Unless… He hesitated just long enough to let anticipation build. Unless you’d like to earn one first?

The reply came quicker than he expected.  

Bunny: And what exactly do you want from me to deserve it?

A slow smirk spread across his lips. He had a feeling this conversation was only just getting started.

Anakin swallowed hard, a pulse of heat rolling through him at your bold question. He could feel it—something deep and dangerous stirring inside him—but he didn’t look away from the screen. Instead, he leaned in, his fingers hovering over the keyboard as he considered his next words carefully.

Well, for starters… He typed slowly, deliberately, letting the anticipation stretch. Tell me more about you.

It was a simple request on the surface, but the words carried weight, unspoken possibilities.

What does a cute little bunny like you do for fun?

His lips curled into a smirk as he hit send, already wondering just how far you'd be willing to take this game.

But you didn’t answer right away. 

Anakin exhaled sharply, dragging a hand down his face. Damn it. Maybe that was stupid. Cringe—wasn’t that the word people your age used? The last thing he wanted was to come off like some awkward old man trying too hard. 

Before he could spiral further, his screen lit up with a new message. 

Bunny: I love going to amusement parks—feeling my hair fly on the roller coaster, the Ferris wheel, the carousel…

Anakin smirked, the tension in his chest easing. There was something so effortlessly sweet about that answer, something playful. Of course you liked amusement parks. He could almost picture it—the wind in your hair, the sparkle in your eyes as you laughed on a ride. 

And just like that, he wanted to know more.

Is that so? he typed back, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. I'll have to keep that in mind. Maybe I'll take you to a park sometime... among other things.

He paused, letting that statement linger on the screen. Let you wonder, let your imagination run wild. He certainly knew his was.

Tell me, do you have a favorite ride? he asked. One that really gets your adrenaline pumping?

Bunny: Probably the Ferris wheel, I love going there several times... I'm a little scared of the ghost train, however, I might try it if you promise to hold my hand.

A light blush crept across Anakin's cheeks as he read her message, a small smile tugging at his lips. Of course, a Ferris wheel was your favorite. He could picture it now—you sitting beside him, your shoulders brushing as you slowly rotated at the top, looking out over the park and the rest of the world spread out below you.

Don't worry, he typed, his fingers moving almost eagerly across the screen. I'd hold your hand through anything.

He paused, then added playfully, Besides, I think I'm pretty good at killing ghosts. Both the real kind and the fictional ones.

Your response was immediate.

Bunny: Oh, that’s good to know because I think my room might be haunted. Maybe you could come take a look?

Anakin sighed, shaking his head with a smirk. Gosh, you’re being so flirty.

Not that he minded. Not one bit.

Anakin leaned back in his chair, taking a moment to read your flirtatious message again. His smirk grew wider.

Well then, he replied, a playful lilt to his words. It looks like I'll have to schedule an investigation soon.

He paused, letting the innuendo linger for a moment. But he didn't stop there.

Of course, you know that ghost hunting can be quite...intense work. It may require a thorough search of every room. Every surface.

He knew he was treading on dangerous ground, but he couldn't seem to stop himself. There was something about you, a freshness and boldness that drew him in.

Bunny: in my bed too? even under the covers?

Anakin's heart raced as he read your brazen message, a flood of improper thoughts rushing through his mind. The image of you tangled in the sheets, perhaps already flushed and breathless before he even arrived, was too much to ignore.

Especially under the covers, he typed back, not holding anything back. You never know where a ghost might hide, after all. I'll have to search everywhere, just to be safe.

He paused, letting the implication hang in the air. Then added one final line.

And I'll make sure to check every inch thoroughly. For any...abnormalities.

｡･ﾟ♡ﾟ･｡･ﾟ

As the days passed, your messages became more frequent, more daring. What started as playful teasing had turned into something else—something charged, something electric.  

The flirting was relentless, a slow, delicious game neither of you wanted to stop. Anakin knew he was toeing the line, but God help him, he didn’t care. You were intoxicating—the way you teased him, the way you played innocent one moment and wicked the next.  

And every time his screen lit up with a new message from you, he felt that same rush, that same heat pooling low in his stomach.  

You had him hooked.

He knew he should put an end to this, but he couldn't bring himself to stop. It was like a drug, a dangerous high he didn't want to come down from.

Tell me... he paused, his fingers hesitating for only a moment. What do you usually sleep in at night? Or out of...

Anakin's breath caught in his throat, his eyes widening as the image loaded. The dim light of his quarters cast an intimate glow across his face, a face flushed with a growing heat that had nothing to do with the temperature. He leaned in closer, squinting to make out every exquisite detail of the photo, his eyes roaming hungrily over the exposed skin of your shoulders, the way the thin strap of your nightgown clung precariously to your frame.

His heart pounded in his chest as he watched, almost in slow motion, the strap slipping ever so slightly. He felt his mouth go dry, his tongue darting out to wet his lips as anticipation built inside him like a palpable force. And then, like a revelation, he caught sight of the swell of your breast, the tantalizing curve that promised so much more if only he could see just a little further.

Bunny: do you like to see more?

Fuck, he breathed, his voice low and rough with desire. I'd love to see more.

You send another message.

Anakin's heart raced as he stared at the image on his screen, his breath growing ragged. The sight of you kneeling there, clutching at the fabric of your nightgown, teasing him with a glimpse of the lace barely covering your butt, sent a jolt of lust straight to his aching cock.

Sweetheart, you're playing with fire, he typed, his fingers trembling slightly as they flew over the keys. Keep this up and I might just burn in the flames.

He palmed himself through his pants, unable to ignore the growing bulge that strained against the confines of his clothing. The urge to touch himself was overwhelming, but he resisted. He wanted to savor this moment, to draw out the delicious torture of anticipation.

What else do you want to show me? he asked. Where else would you like my eyes to wander?

Bunny: Uhm, I don't know, maybe you could buy me a lingerie set to wear just for you

Anakin's eyes darkened with lust as he read your suggestion, his mind racing with the possibilities. The idea of you modeling lingerie just for him, a matching set in a soft, delicate shade of pink, was almost too much to bear.

I think I'd like that very much, he replied. What color would you prefer? I'm thinking something soft and sexy, maybe a shade of pink to match your sweet smile.

He palmed himself more firmly through his pants, his cock throbbing beneath his touch. The urge to whip out his length and stroke himself to completion was strong, but he held back, wanting to make this moment last.

And maybe... he paused, letting the anticipation build. You could send me a picture of what you'd look like in it. Give me a little preview of what's to come.

Bunny: you know my address to send

Anakin couldn't keep the grin off his face as he hit the 'Confirm Purchase' button, his heart racing with anticipation. He had splurged on the most beautiful lingerie set he could find—the perfect shade of bubblegum pink, soft and shimmery, with delicate lace detailing. He couldn't wait to see it clinging to your curves, highlighting every inch of your gorgeous body.

I took your suggestion and one upped it, he typed, smirking to himself. It should be arriving at your doorstep tomorrow. I hope you like it as much as I think you will.

He paused, his mind already filling with the filthy images of your modeling it just for him.

Send me a picture as soon as you put it on. I want to see how stunning you look.

The next day, the first message was from you.

Bunny: Oh baby, I love it, give me a minute to put on my lingerie and we can do a video call

Anakin's breath caught in his throat, his heart hammering wildly in his chest as he read your response. A video call—that would be even better than any photo. He could see you, really see you, in the lingerie he had bought just for you.

I can't wait to see you in it, he typed back, his fingers shaking slightly. Meet me on a video call in 5 minutes.

He ended the message with a winking emoji, his mind already racing with the possibilities. The room was dim, the lighting soft and intimate, perfect for a private show. He could already picture you, perched on the edge of your bed, the pink lace clinging to your curves in all the right places. 

Anakin took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves. He had to get his head in the game, had to remember that this was just a bit of fun, a distraction from his marriage's problems and the weight of his responsibilities. It didn't mean anything. 

But even as he told himself that, he knew it was a lie. This meant something, even if he couldn't quite put his finger on what. All he knew was that he wanted more of you, and he would do whatever it took to get it.

Anakin locked the bedroom door, exhaling slowly as he leaned against it. He mentally thanked Padmé for the extra shift—how ironic. Not long ago, her long hours had been a source of frustration, the widening gap between them something he resented.

And yet here he was, grateful for the distance.

Grateful for the excuse.

His fingers hovered over his phone, anticipation thrumming through him. He knew he shouldn’t be doing this. He knew this was dangerous.

But when your name lit up his screen, all reason faded.

Anakin took a deep breath as he tapped the button to accept the video call, his heart pounding in his chest. The screen flickered to life, and there you were—stunning, breathtaking, even more gorgeous than he had imagined.

His eyes widened as he took in the sight of you, clad in the lingerie he had purchased just for this moment. The soft pink lace clung to every curve, highlighting the swell of your breasts, the dip of your waist, the tempting flare of your hips. It was everything he had hoped for and more.

“Fuck, you look incredible,” he breathed, his voice low and rough with desire. “That color was made for you.”

He couldn't take his eyes off you, drinking in every detail. The way the lace seemed to shimmer in the soft light, the way it hinted at the treasures hidden beneath. He felt his cock twitch and harden, straining against the confines of his pants. 

“Turn around for me, sweetheart,” he instructed, his voice a low command. “Let me see all of you.”

You smiled amusedly. "Like this" you said happily, turning to show every bit of your skin to him.

Anakin's breath caught in his throat as you spun around, putting yourself on display just for him. The way the lingerie clung to your every curve was mesmerizing, the delicate lace accentuating your breasts, your toned belly, the gentle flare of your hips, and the tantalizing globes of your ass. He couldn't look away, his eyes roaming hungrily over every inch of exposed skin.

“Fuck, you're stunning,” he breathed. “I can't believe I bought that just for you. You look good enough to eat.”

He palmed himself through his pants, unable to ignore the ache of his hardening cock. The urge to reach down and free himself was overwhelming, but he resisted—for now. He wanted to savor this moment, to drink in every detail of your heavenly beauty.

“Lie back on the bed for me,” he instructed, his voice low and commanding. “Spread your legs, and show me what's mine.”

"Oh, baby, you're so bossy," you retorted softly, before biting your lower lip mischievously, adjusting your phone before approaching the bed. "But, I kind of like your dominant ways."

Anakin felt a thrill run through him at your playful words, his cock twitching in approval. He loved seeing this side of you, bold and teasing, more than eager to obey his every command. It was intoxicating, addictive, and he knew he could easily become drunk on the power.

“Good girl,” he praised, his voice a low rumble as he watched you adjust your phone and get in the bed. “You're going to be so perfect for me.”

He drank in the sight of you settling onto the mattress, the soft pink lace a stark contrast against the white fabric. His heart raced as you slowly spread your legs, revealing more of your smooth, creamy thighs, the lace of your panties riding up to showcase the junction between your legs.

“That's it, sweetheart. Nice and slow,” he encouraged, his eyes glued to the screen, not wanting to miss a single second of your tantalizing display. “Show me everything you have to offer.”

Anakin's breath hitched as he watched you slip your delicate hand beneath the lace, his cock throbbing almost painfully against his pants. The sight of you touching yourself, your eyes fluttering closed in pleasure, was almost too much to bear. He could see the growing damp spot on your panties, evidence of your arousal, and it made him ache to be the one to bring you to the edge of ecstasy.

“You're so beautiful like this,”he breathed, his voice rough with desire. “Don't stop touching yourself. I want to watch you.”

He couldn't tear his eyes away from your hand moving beneath the fabric, imagining how soft and smooth your folds were, how wet and ready you were becoming. His own hand drifted down to palm himself more firmly through his pants, squeezing and stroking along the hard length of his cock.

“Tell me how it feels,” he commanded, his voice a low, urgent growl. “Describe it to me in detail. I want to know everything.”

"I'm so wet for you, my fingers are slipping so easily" you whimpered, touching yourself, sighs of pleasure escaping your mouth.

Anakin groaned as he listened to your breathy words, the sound of your pleasure shooting straight to his aching cock. He could picture your fingers gliding effortlessly through your slick folds, your body responding to your own touch, preparing itself for him. The knowledge that he was the cause of your arousal was intoxicating, fueling his own desire.

‘Is that so?” he growled, his hand drifting to the fastenings of his pants. “I can hear how much you're enjoying yourself. How wet you're getting just from my command.”

He popped open the button of his pants, freeing his straining erection. It sprang forth, thick and hard, the head already glistening with precum. He wrapped a hand around his throbbing shaft, squeezing and stroking himself in time with the rhythm of your breathy sighs.

“Touch your pretty pussy, baby,” he ordered, his voice a low, dominating rumble. “Rub those pretty little circles around it, nice and slow. Pretend it's my fingers touching you, pleasuring you.”

"Your fingers are so much bigger than mine, they would feel so good in my pussy," you whimpered.

 Anakin's breath grew ragged as he listened to the obscene sound of your fingers plunging in and out of your dripping cunt, your sweet little whimpers and sighs filling the air. His cock throbbed and leaked in his hand as he picked up the pace, stroking himself faster in time with the slick sounds of your touching.

“Fuck, I'd love to sink my fingers deep inside your tight little pussy,” he groaned, his voice strained with lust. “To feel your velvety walls squeezing around me as I pump in and out.”

He could only imagine how perfect you would feel, how hot and wet and ready you would be for him. His cock ached with the desire to plunge into your depths, to stretch you open and claim you as his own.

“Slick your clit with your juices,” he commanded, his breath coming faster now. “Get it nice and wet, just like your hungry little hole. Pretend it's my tongue, teasing and circling as I taste your sweet cum.”

You moaned, your hair spreading across the sheets as you rubbed yourself harder. "tell me what to do, tell me what your good girl needs to do?"

Anakin's heart raced as he watched you come undone on the screen, your hair splayed across the sheets, your hips rocking against your hand as you rubbed yourself with wanton desperation. Your breathy moans and whimpers filled his ears, spurring on his own desperate stroking.

"You're being such a good girl for me," he praised, his voice a low, approving growl. "Touching yourself just like I told you to. So eager and obedient."

He could see how soaked your panties were, the lace darkened with your juices, your pussy aching to be filled. His cock throbbed in his fist, the head flushed a deep, angry red, leaking steadily now.

"Take off your bra," he ordered, his voice a commanding rumble. "I want to see your perfect tits bouncing free. Play with your nipples as you fuck yourself with your fingers."

Anakin's breath caught in his throat as he drank in the perfect sight of your breasts spilling free from your bra, the delicate pink of your nipples a perfect match to the lingerie that hugged your curves. They were even more beautiful than he had imagined, full and round, the peaks already hardened into tight little buds just beginning to be touched.

"Your tits are perfect," he breathed, his voice rough with desire. "Even better than I dreamed they would be."

He tightened his grip around his throbbing cock, pumping himself faster as he watched you on the screen. The sight of you touching yourself, playing with your dripping cunt and your perfect breasts, was almost too much to bear.

"Pinch your nipples," he commanded, his voice a low, dominating growl. "Roll and tug on them, just like I would with my fingers. Imagine it's my mouth, my teeth grazing the sensitive flesh."

He could only imagine the taste of you, the feeling of your hardened nubs against his tongue as he sucked and teased, bringing you closer and closer to the edge of ecstasy. His cock throbbed in his hand, the pleasure building to a fever pitch as he watched you pleasure yourself just for him.

With one hand you squeezed your breast, pinching the nipple until it hardened completely, without ever stopping touching yourself. "Uhm, talk dirty to me, tell me what you're doing, what my body makes you feel."

Anakin groaned as he watched you touch yourself with wild abandon. "I'm stroking my hard, aching cock as I watch you. Watching you play with your perfect tits, squeezing and pinching those pretty pink nipples until they're stiff peaks."

"I can feel every inch of you, even from here. The way your tight little pussy clenches around your fingers as you fuck yourself, so desperate for more. The way your breasts bounce and jiggle as you touch yourself, just the way I want to touch them."

He pumped his cock faster, the slick sounds of his stroking filling the air. "I'm imagining burying my face between your legs, my tongue delving deep into your sweet cunt. Licking up every drop of your juices, fucking you with my tongue until you scream."

"I want to bite down on your nipples, to mark you as mine. I want to suck and tease until you're writhing beneath me, begging for more. Tell me what you want, sweetheart," he growled, his breath ragged and intense. "What does my good girl need?"

"I want to cum, daddy." You whimpered, confused in your haze of pleasure, taking a few seconds to realize what had slipped from your tongue.

"Daddy?" Anakin retorted, his deep voice filling your room and making you open your eyes, your cheeks flushing.

Anakin froze, his heart pounding in his chest as the words echoed in his ears. Daddy. It had slipped out, a moment of unguarded passion and desperation. For a moment, he felt a pang of unease, a flicker of doubt. This was wrong, he knew it was. He was crossing a line, one that he shouldn't be crossing.

"I'm sorry, I, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable," you mumbled nervously.

But as he looked at you on the screen, flushed and panting, your gorgeous body on display just for him, he felt his resolution crumble. He wanted you, more than anything. And if you wanted to call him daddy, if that's what got you off...

"Shh, it's okay, sweetheart," he soothed, his voice a low, intimate murmur. "I like it. I like it a lot."

He stroked himself slower, more deliberately, putting on a show for you. "Tell me what you want daddy to do to you."

He wanted to hear you say it, to put voice to the filthy, forbidden thoughts running through your mind. He wanted to be the one to bring you to the edge, to make you scream and shake and cum harder than you ever had before.

"Beg for it, baby. Beg daddy to make you cum."

"Please, daddy, I want to cum so bad, I want you to guide me, let your voice take me to heaven" you whine, feeling the descent of your hips warming up.

Anakin's heart raced as he listened to your desperate pleas, his cock throbbing and pulsing in his hand. The way you said daddy, the need and longing in your voice, it set him on fire. He stroked himself faster, the slick sounds of his hand pumping his shaft filling the room.

"Fuck, I love hearing you beg for it like that," he groaned, his voice a low, approving rumble. "Like a needy little girl begging her daddy to take care of her."

He could feel your desperation, the way your hips were rocking and grinding against your fingers, chasing your climax. He wanted to be the one to give it to you, to feel your cunt clench and flutter around his cock as he fucked you into oblivion.

"Focus on my voice, baby. Let it guide you, take you higher," he commanded, his breath coming faster now. "Imagine it's my hands on your body, touching and stroking every inch of you."

"Fuck yourself harder, sweetheart. Shove your fingers deep inside your greedy little cunt. Imagine it's my cock, stretching you open, filling you up." Anakin murmured, his voice husky and engaging. "Let yourself go, baby. Cum for daddy. Cum all over your fingers like the good little girl you are. Let me hear you scream."

Anakin grunted and shuddered as he watched you come undone, your body convulsing on the screen as the intense waves of your climax crashed over you. The sound of your scream, raw and primal, filled the air as you cried out his name, your pussy clenching and fluttering around your fingers in ecstasy.

"Fuck yes, that's it! Cum for daddy, baby! Cum hard on your fingers like a good girl," he roared, his own orgasm surging through him as he stroked himself to completion. Thick ropes of hot, sticky seeds erupted from his cock, spurting onto his hand and stomach as he rode out the intense pleasure.

He couldn't take his eyes off you, drinking in every second of your pleasure, the way your gorgeous tits bounced and jiggled as you writhed and bucked beneath your own touch. He felt a surge of male pride and possessiveness, knowing that he had brought you to such heights of ecstasy.

"You're so fucking beautiful when you cum for me," he breathed, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. "Such a perfect, perfect good girl for daddy."

"And this is just the beginning, sweetheart. Wait until I get my hands on you for real."

"I'll wait, daddy," you whimpered, your eyes blinking back to focus on his face after your mind-blowing orgasm. "I'll count the days until it happens."

Anakin's heart raced as he heard your breathless promise, a thrill running through him at the thought of the forbidden future that lay ahead. The knowledge that you would be waiting for him, eager and ready, made his spent cock twitch and started to fill and harden once more.

"I'll be counting down the days too, baby girl," he murmured. "Already thinking about all the naughty, filthy things I'm going to do to this sexy little body of yours."

He took in the sight of you, flushed and panting, your skin glistening with a light sheen of sweat from your intense climax. The lingerie you wore, the lingering desire for you... it was all seared into his mind, a deliciously sinful memory to treasure.

"But for now, you should get some rest, sweetheart. Recover your strength. Because when I finally have you in my arms, I'm going to need you at your best. I'm going to fuck you in ways you've never been fucked before."

He reached out to caress the screen, wishing he could feel the warmth of your skin beneath his fingertips. "Sweet dreams, my little girl. Dream of daddy, and all the dirty, wonderful things we're going to do together."

"Until next time," he promised darkly, before ending the call with a smile playing at the corner of his lips.

[bbywriter]

conscious decisions | m. sturniolo

masterlist

summary: he knows he’s nothing more than a distraction.

pairing: matthew sturniolo x fem!reader

warnings: penetrative sex, unrequited feelings, rebounds, angst and smut

notes: hi guys<3 this was heavily inspired by a bts namjoon fic called fool for you by @cutechim, i loved this shit back in my bts era and if u guys are bts fans at all, go read this! school and work and everything have been so busy so it’s just another little blurb but thank you always for reading<3

word count: 700

—

Matt is not naive.

He knows this is wrong. But when you're wrapped around him—too tight and too wet and too perfect like this, he can't bring himself to care. He can't stop.

His hips snap against yours with a brutal rhythm, thrusts growing sloppier as you coax him deeper within your walls. He bites down on his own groan, trying to focus on anything other than the way you’re clawing at his back, nails dragging over his skin as your desperate moans fill the space between you.

Matt knows he should stop this. Should let you get dressed, walk out that door, and pretend like none of it ever happened. He knows it every time you show up at his place—eyes glossy as you hold back your tears.

He knows he’s nothing more than a distraction.

You’ve never said it out loud, but he doesn’t have to hear it to understand. It's in your eyes and the sadness they hold that never really fades. He should be stronger—should make you face whatever issues you're dealing with instead of letting you lose yourself in him.

But when you're like this, unravelling in the palm of his hand and whimpering his name like a prayer, he is nothing more than a man on his knees—the fool he is.

He can’t help but break a little more inside, because he knows it’s not his name you want to be saying, knows it's not his hands you want touching you like this. He knows you’re thinking of someone else, even as he’s buried inside you, giving you everything he has.

“Go ahead,” he rasps out, voice rough and strained. “Pretend I’m him. If it makes it easier.”

You stiffen, breath catching, and for a second he almost regrets saying it. But then your lips part, your gaze unfocused and hazy as you shake your head.

“I don’t—” Your voice cracks. “I don’t want him. Just—just you.”

It’s cruel. You don't know how much it makes his stomach knot and his heart rip in half, because he wants to believe it’s true. Wants to think that maybe, just maybe you actually mean it—that you’re not just saying this to make yourself feel better.

His hands tremble as he cups your face, forcing you to look at him. “You always come to me,” he whispers, hating the broken edge of his own voice. “But you never stay.”

Your mouth falls open, but no words come out—just a quiet, shuddering breath as he thrusts up into you, harder this time, dragging another breathless moan from your throat.

He's so deep and he feels so good and it takes everything you have to find the words, to focus enough to respond. "You’re so much bigger than him, Matt," you gasp out. "You fill me up so much better."

You think it’s consoling, but he wants to vomit, hearing you compare him to someone else, even if he comes out on top.

“He doesn’t make me feel the way you do.”

And just like that, he hates himself for how his body responds.

His cock twitches, hips jerking forward as if driven by instinct alone. His hand moves back to your hips, his fingers digging into the soft flesh as he grits his teeth, trying to hold on to what little self control he has left.

He knows he shouldn’t be so rough, shouldn’t let his frustration bleed into every desperate move, but he can’t help it. The way your walls squeeze around him, so soft and so warm. It kills him, that he is not the only one who knows this—the immaculate feeling of you.

Your voice splinters into a cry. “No one—no one fucks me like you do.”

His release hits hard, spilling into you with a strangled groan as his forehead drops to your shoulder, fighting to catch his breath. He can’t stop himself from following through—his hand sliding down to rub your clit, determined to drag you over the edge with him.

He knows better. Next time, he swears to himself as he presses a lingering kiss to your shoulder.

Next time he’ll find the strength to turn you away.

Next time he won’t let you tear him apart like this.

But tonight, he just pulls you closer, hoping that if he holds tight enough, maybe you’ll finally stay.

—

a/n: thank u for readinggg<3 also for my lias readers, part 2 is slowly slowly coming together! love you<3

[astrolook]

Is Your Dominant Planet Helping or Sabotaging You?

Ever feel like one planet in your chart is completely running your life? Like, no matter what, you always default to a certain way of thinking, reacting, or making the same questionable decisions? That’s your dominant planet at work. But is it making your life easier… or way harder than it needs to be? Let’s break it down.

How to Tell Which Planet is Dominant in Your Chart

Your dominant planet isn’t necessarily your Sun, Moon, or Rising—it’s the one with the most influence over your personality, choices, and bad habits. Some signs it’s the boss of your chart:

It’s in its home sign (like Venus in Libra or Mars in Aries) or exalted (like Moon in Taurus).

It has the most aspects (connections) to other planets.

It sits in a major house, like the 1st (identity), 10th (career), or 7th (relationships).

It rules your Sun, Moon, AND Rising (triple threat).

It’s the only planet of a certain element (Fire, Earth, Air, Water) in your chart.

If you have two or more dominant planets, congrats—you’re a complicated mess with conflicting instincts (but at least you’re interesting). You're like a cosmic onion.

Your Dominant Planet: The Good, The Bad, & The Ridiculous

☀️ Sun Dominant – The Main Character

Natural confidence—people notice you whether you want them to or not.

Charismatic and great at leading (or at least pretending to know what you’re doing).

Magnetic presence—people either admire you or feel deeply threatened.

Cannot handle being ignored for even five minutes.

Takes everything way too personally (the group chat going silent is not about you).

Life is one big performance, even when no one’s watching.

🌙 Moon Dominant – The Walking Emotional Rollercoaster

Emotionally intuitive—you just know when someone’s lying.

People trust you instantly (whether you wanted that responsibility or not).

Deeply caring—probably the “mom friend” of the group.

Gets attached too fast—if someone is nice to you once, they’re basically family.

Mood swings for absolutely no reason (and good luck explaining them).

Overthinks texts, social interactions, and why the barista looked at you weird.

🪐 Saturn Dominant – The Workaholic Who Can’t Relax

Disciplined and reliable—if you say you’ll do something, it gets done.

People respect you because you actually have your life together (or seem like you do).

Ages like fine wine—born a stressed-out child, but gets way cooler with time.

Takes responsibility for everything, even things that are not your problem.

Permanent resting serious face—people assume you’re judging them.

🔥 Mars Dominant – The Human Energy Drink

High-energy.

Assertive—you go after what you want and get it.

Quick reflexes—probably great at sports, fighting, or avoiding responsibilities.

Zero patience—slow walkers and buffering videos are your worst nightmare.

Occasional anger issues (“I’M NOT MAD, YOU’RE JUST WRONG”).

Thinks first, acts later… if at all.

🌿 Venus Dominant – The Flirt Who Gets Away with Everything

Naturally charming—people are drawn to you without knowing why.

Always looks effortlessly put together (even when you’re a mess inside).

Romantic AF—you love love.

Indecisive as hell—picking a restaurant is a 3-hour ordeal.

Can’t say no—people-pleasing is your toxic trait.

Might have a tiny shopping addiction (but hey, self-care).

☁️ Mercury Dominant – The Fast-Talker & Overthinker

Sharp, witty, and always has a comeback (even when you should probably keep quiet).

Absorbs information like a sponge—trivia night MVP.

Can talk to literally anyone about anything.

Mind never shuts up—sleep is a myth.

Either replies to texts instantly… or in three months, no in-between.

Talks way too fast—people need subtitles.

🌎 Jupiter Dominant – The Chaotic Optimist

Lucky AF—things somehow work out for you.

Big personality, big dreams, big everything.

Loves adventure—you’re always down for something wild.

Overestimates how much time, money, and luck you actually have.

Can’t resist saying yes to everything—major FOMO energy.

No impulse control—“Let’s book a trip right now.”

🔮 Neptune Dominant – The Daydreamer Who Might Be on Another Planet

Insanely creative—your imagination is unreal.

People find you mystical and intriguing (even when you’re just zoning out).

Deeply intuitive—you just know things before they happen.

Time management is a joke—was that 5 minutes or 5 hours? Who knows.

Has full-on fantasies about things that will never happen (but what if they did?).

Trusts people too easily (no, they will not "change" for you).

🖤 Pluto Dominant – The Intensity Overlord

Unshakable—life could crumble around you and you’d be fine.

Magnetic energy—people either worship or fear you.

Always transforming—rises from the ashes like a badass phoenix.

Suspicious of everyone (and usually right).

Constantly going through some kind of crisis.

Low-key enjoys dark, broody thoughts for fun.

So… Is Your Dominant Planet Helping or Sabotaging You?

Either way, you’re stuck with it. But the more you understand it, the more you can work with it instead of letting it run your life.

Want a full breakdown of your dominant planet & how it’s shaping your life? DM me with your birth details & email for a complete astrology reading! Look at my pinned post for pricing. 🔮✨

[criminallyyoursvn]

Since you mentioned someone requested a NSFW alphabet, can I request a SWF alphabet 👀

A = Affection (How affectionate are they? How do they show affection?) Nik is incredibly affectionate. How doesn't he show affection? He gives you gifts, touches you, compliments you, does things for you...there's no real shortage of any of it.

B = Best friend (What would they be like as a best friend? How would the friendship start?) Nik was MC's friend for a long time. He's not too different in a friendship then being in a relationship. When he cares he shows it, there are just certain boundaries present between friends. For Nik, as he's gotten older it's been easier to make friends then it was growing up. Mainly, people are receptive to him much more now than they were before.

C = Cuddles (Do they like to cuddle? How would they cuddle?) LOVES A CUDDLE. He probably never knows when to quit though 😭 like he could be cuddling for 12 hours and be like- 5 more minutes 🥺

D = Domestic (Do they want to settle down? How are they at cooking and cleaning?) yes man is looking to be a husband, a male wife, a married man. He would cook and clean, but he’s not that great of a cook and his place is already really clean since he keeps up on it really well.

E = Ending (If they had to break up with their partner, how would they do it?) He wouldn’t :) y’all in this for the long run.

F = Fiance(e) (How do they feel about commitment? How quick would they want to get married?) Isn’t scared of commitment at all, if anything he’s scared that you may be. He is looking to cross the threshold yes 🙂‍↕️

G = Gentle (How gentle are they, both physically and emotionally?) He is very gentle on the surface. But the extremes he goes to and the way he manipulates can be quite cruel. Though his heart is soft 💖

H = Hugs (Do they like hugs? How often do they do it? What are their hugs like?) Loves hugs, doesn’t do it often, he doesn’t want to initiate and put anyone off. His hugs are strong and warm. He might get too into one so he refrains from doing so unless you initiate them.

I = I love you (How fast do they say the L-word?) In his head immediately. Out of his mouth, only when it’s clear you feel the same.

J = Jealousy (How jealous do they get? What do they do when they’re jealous?) What’s the highest possible? 🤣 ruin their life, hit them with their car, kill them?

K = Kisses (What are their kisses like? Where do they like to kiss you? Where do they like to be kissed?) Desperate, passionate, practiced. He will kiss you wherever you allow him to. He loves to be kissed anywhere, but especially on his face, chest, and dic- little Nik ☺️

L = Little ones (How are they around children?) He’s good. He’s pretty good with general interactions.

M = Morning (How are mornings spent with them?) Slow and passionate. He’s the type to ask you all sorts of questions and cuddle and kiss you until one of you is forced to get out of bed.

N = Night (How are nights spent with them?) Nik has a night routine, but his favorite part is cuddling with you in bed watching stuff on your phone, reading a book, or watching a movie…or other things.

O = Open (When would they start revealing things about themselves? Do they say everything all at once or wait a while to reveal things slowly?) He appears to be open, but Nik is worried if he revealed his true self that he’d be hated for it. So he makes himself as palatable as humanly possible. He doesn’t actually like being open and vulnerable. However he’d never judge you and wants you to reveal your deepest darkest desires and secrets immediately.

P = Patience (How easily angered are they?) Nik is very patient with those he cares for, for those that bother those he cares for however, absolutely none.

Q = Quizzes (How much would they remember about you? Do they remember every little detail you mention in passing, or do they kind of forget everything?) Nik literally remembers everything about you.

R = Remember (What is their favorite moment in your relationship?) When he met you, your first date, and first kiss, and first sex, and so on and so forth.

S = Security (How protective are they? How would they protect you? How would they like to be protected?) Incredibly protective of you. Of your reputation, your safety, your feelings.

T = Try (How much effort would they put into dates, anniversaries, gifts, everyday tasks?) An incredible amount of effort, but not enough that he comes on too strong. But once he knows he can go further he will.

U = Ugly (What would be some bad habits of theirs?) Lying, gaslighting, kidnapping, stalking, keeping secrets, killing people… but he can be fixed- right?

V = Vanity (How concerned are they with their looks?) Very. His looks were once a source of his greatest misery, and now it gets him everything he wants.

W = Whole (Would they feel incomplete without you?) Without a doubt. There really is no him without you.

X = Xtra (A random headcanon for them.) Nik writes little self affirmations on sticky notes on the mirror sometimes 😭

Y = Yuck (What are some things they wouldn’t like, either in general or in a partner?) Someone who didn’t like music and someone who didn’t bathe. Other than that pretty open to all else.

Z = Zzz (What is a sleep habits of theirs?) He has a pretty regular sleep schedule. Nothing really of note.

[tetraharmonic]

I love the subtle detail that he breaks eye contact when he brings up his mother, but his posture doesn't change. The triangles in his stance and the lack of any noticeable shift away from a hand on the hip suggests this is one continuous thought for him, or that he already was thinking of his mother the moment he saw the flowers. There is no surprise there.

Only, the eyes are the windows to the soul. His voice is smooth and doesn't change, he's stating fact so why would he worry about that?

So either one of two things are crossing his mind:

- He doesn't want to see your reaction, and maybe, he's afraid of being pitied because someone else's softness might weaken him into sharing more about himself.

Or

- He is afraid you will see how much this has affected him. That he, no matter how cruel he tries to be to keep others at a strict distance, he still wants to be loved and love others. Especially his mother; he's been betrayed, according to his own perceptions of situations, by so many people— but his mother will always be his mother even if she is gone. If that softness can exist for someone in his bloodline, then there's a chance it could for someone outside his bloodline. And he can't let that happen again. It just hurts too badly to risk. He cannot bear to let someone think he can be cracked, and so, he puts on a mask, trying to convince you he's not that affected by it.

His words there are especially cautious, as well. He doesn't say he's planted them because they remind him of his mother. He only points it out because he seems to have noticed they caught your eye, and seemingly, you've asked why he chose to plant flowers in the snow. He also says mother and not mom, a way of putting distance between them. More syllables buy the brain time to think, more time for him to get control over himself.

But at the end of the day, he does still tell you. He doesn't know how to open the door, being afraid of trusting others. If he doesn't look at you when he opens the door, he can't tell if you'll come in as a caretaker and guest, or a murderer in the night; he can't see the basket or the knife.

If he keeps making commands, it's a little easier to separate what he wants from what he gets.

"Hurry up and get over here. Are you going to give me a hug or keep wasting my time?"

Really means

"I want to hug you, and I'm afraid I might change my mind and deem this out limits. Please hug me before I make myself afraid of this, too."

Anywho, this has turned into a rambling post.

I don't think I'm ever going to beat the stereotypes of English Majors/ Teachers reading too much into really small things.

:( this man needs a HUG

[ariestrxsh]

the amount of hate towards the triplets i see on tiktok is insane like its literally so bad

Rant incoming!

It's so baffling to me! Like, I understand that people are upset about the tour, the lack of quality and lack of content in general, and that's completely valid, and I get that. I do agree with a lot of the constructive criticism some of the fans have offered, and I do think that with where they're at in their career, if their goal is to keep creating content and making money doing YouTube, I think they made a very dumb decision to go down to one video a week (and maybe not even one video a week if they don't like the quality).

However, I don't know what their goals are, and so I can't say what they 'should' and 'shouldn't' do in order to achieve them. I actually have a lot of empathy for them, and if that makes me a dick rider, it's fine, but they are allowed to pull back as much as they want on content. I also recognize the double bind we've put them in, where we're like "we want more content," and they give us the content, and then everyone is like "wtf this content sucks." So, why would they want to give us more content if we say it sucks?

Another thing, I know that from the outside looking in, their job looks easy, and in some ways, I'm sure it's easier than a regular job, and I'm also sure that in some ways, it's harder. The fact that they edit their own videos is crazy to me. I can only imagine the amount of time, effort, and energy that it takes from Nick especially bc that man is so underappreciated it makes me sick. Most YouTubers hire editors. Not saying they need to, but this could be why they are feeling more burnt out lately.

They also put out content three times a week for a couple of years, and that's crazy to me! Any time I put out three fics in one week, it's because I spent ALL my free time the whole week working on them, and from my perspective, that's exhausting.

I also hate the hypocrisy. If someone we all collectively love on this app or tiktok makes a post or video and is like "I'm so sorry. I need to take a break. My mental health is taking a toll," everyone would run to the comments like "Omg queen! Take all the time you need! We love you." Why do they not get that same energy? Like there are literally people on this app who make promises about fics and then don't follow through (myself included), and it's not malicious when I don't follow through! It's just because we're human and things happen sometimes that we can't foresee.

I think the triplets deserve a break. They work hard, they have to put up with a lot of weirdness and invasiveness from this fandom, and they are allowed to do literally whatever they want. It's weird to me how fans turn into haters at the drop of a hat.

If you hate them, stop watching them. But the people who spend their time hating on them and bashing on them publicly, whether the reasons are valid or not, it doesn't give off the energy they think it does.

[goldendynastys]

wonderland | cs (part 1)

summary: being the daughter of a biker gang leader in new york city certainly came with its advantages. you were strong, hardworking, and determined. anything to be the best, right? but you wanted more, something that pushed you to break away. little did you know that crossing paths with choi san and his men one fateful night would be your answer. and suddenly, life had never been worse, but never better at the same time.

pairing: choi san x fem!reader rating/genre: 18+ MDNI | yandere, angst, fluff, eventual smut word count: 10.5k warning/tags: yandere, organized crime, inspired by sons of anarchy, obsession, violence, somewhat toxic relationship, slow and fast burn at the same time (i can’t describe it), reader is innocent, angst, playful banter between san and reader, lots of fluff, pet names, i think that is it but please let me know if i missed anything (i’m new at this), i hope you enjoy reading! <3

disclaimer: all members of Ateez are faces and name claims for this story. this is entirely a work of fiction and by no means is meant to be a projection, judgment, or representation of real-life people. any scenarios or representations of the people and places mentioned in works are not representative of real life scenarios.

chapter one, down the rabbit hole (next →)

All your life, you had been somewhat lonely. Lonely in the sense that you never had a best friend, a group of people to call your inner circle. It had always been challenging, particularly because of the environment in which your school produced. Children more obsessed with status and reputation than being kind, wanting the most followers and being the absolute prettiest. Cross them, and you’ll feel their wrath. No one was safe, not even the people were as thick as thieves. Those were the ones who had the sharpest knives, ready to stab anyone with no remorse.

You had tried fitting in with that crowd, but it never worked. They didn’t want you, you would never be them. And it hurt, the rejection stung like salt on a wound. But you managed it, you ignored the gnawing feeling of never being good enough that consumed your mind. It became easier overtime, but that didn’t mean it haunted you everywhere you went.

The friends you had were sweet, but overtime you began to realize how much more mature you were than them. You were smarter, wiser, braver — something they lacked. It wasn’t their fault, per say, it was just who they were. As they grew older, they would eventually realize how immature they actually were. But some people don’t, and you believed they would never learn or grow.

Despite having them, you longed for a best friend. Someone to call your own. Your friends (while very kind) had their own person, that person they could turn to in times of need and would tell anything to. And it was never you, it would never be you. But, like you always did, you managed it. You managed every negative feeling and pretended that it never existed. It was the only way for you to persist.

With a heavy heart, you continued on with your life. Most weekends were spent cooped up in your bedroom, watching television or reading a book. No friends to hang out with, no romantic partner. It was lonely, and you often wondered if you were being punished. Punished for something you did in a past life, or for something minuscule you did when you were a child. It broke your heart, hardened it to be skeptical of anyone who spoke to you.

Deep down, you knew your people were out there. You had to believe it, even if most days felt like it would never come. You were young and had plenty of time to find them. Everything would fall into place accordingly, it was only a matter of when.

You were better off than most people, you knew that. Oftentimes, it was hard to remember the good things in life when you were focused on the bad. You had a tight knit family who would do anything for you. Though it never felt that way, considering they cared more for your older brother then they did for you. But you knew they would come to the rescue if you were in danger. With their line of work, they would do anything to keep you safe.

The Sons of Anarchy were one of the most famous biker gangs in all of New York City. Your father was the leader, your great-grandfather being the one to found it all back in the mid-1950s. It was your entire life. Rumors circulated on the work they did; mostly with illegal firearms and drugs, as well as money laundering. In all honesty, you had no idea what went on behind the scenes. You never asked, nor did your parents ever want to tell you what the work involved. It was a mutual understanding, somewhat. 

The work your parents did allowed you to live a comfortable life. Not many people could say that and it was something you would be eternally grateful for. That being said, it often made you feel like your issues weren’t that big of a deal. You were blessed with a wonderful life, a job that kept you busy, a roof over your head, food on your plate. What did you have to feel sad about? Being lonely? You had people, even if it was just family. So why be sad?

It was something that helped remind you of who you were, what you had. And while the feeling of loneliness never left you, you just had to push through. It would go away eventually, even if it felt like time was running out and you would never find your people.

The air was cold when you left the tennis courts. Tennis was your favorite sport since you were little, and you were pretty damn good at it, too. It got you a full ride to university and through your graduate program, becoming captain by your junior year. It was a lifestyle, though everyone laughed at you for saying that. But it was, it consumed your very being. The only thing that made you feel sane. 

The adult league you joined held practices every week, but was small and those people were preoccupied with other things. It didn’t matter, as long as you could make your tennis matches somewhat thrilling, it was all you wanted. If you couldn’t have a group of friends or a partner, then tennis would have to do.

Despite it being early March and still cold, it was exactly what you needed after being cooped up in a hot gym for two hours. That, and the rush of being in New York City, was truly the best feeling in the world. It brought you peace and helped you realize that life probably wasn’t so bad afterall (and then it would wear off the next day and you would be sad all over again).

Your phone buzzed in your pocket as you walked near the subway station. Rummaging through your bag, you were able to pull it out and answer it before the line went dead. “Hello?”

“Hi sweetheart,” your dad answered. “How was tennis?”

“It was good! I beat everyone out, like I always do. Next week we start preparing for our matches, so I’m excited for that. How was your day?” You told him genuinely. Though he probably didn’t care much, you liked to update your family on what you do just so you have an excuse to talk about it.

“That’s my best girl, always going for the gold. If anyone gives you a hard time, we’ll set ‘em straight,” he joked and you let out a quiet laugh. “Hey listen, do you think you could head to the grocery store before you come home? I need a couple things for dinner that I forgot to get earlier.”

You nodded your head, though he couldn’t see it. “Yeah, sure. Of course, it’s right on the way home. Just text me what you need.”

A few exchanged words and a family of rats running on the street later, your conversation had ended. Phone calls with your father were typically short, as there wasn’t much needed to be discussed between you two. You didn’t mind, you actually enjoyed them quite a lot. It was simple but meaningful.

The street you normally took to the grocery store was blocked off, most likely for construction. Sighing, you made a left and crossed the street. The alternative route wasn’t bad per say, it just took longer to get to the store, which was aggravating. Especially when you were tired and wanted to get home. Nonetheless, you braved through the streets of New York like you always did.

Growing up in the city, you were taught from a young age to mind your business. Mind your business and never make eye contact with anyone. It was the golden rule, basically. And you completely forgot about it when you saw four people standing in the middle of an alley, one of them bleeding out on the ground.

Two men went to kick the wounded one in a harsh manner, watching as he cried out in pain. It wasn’t until you looked up and saw the lone one step into the light that you realized you were in terrible danger.

Choi San, a man who you were forbidden from speaking to and one of the most influential people in New York City.

There was a long standing rivalry between both of your families, for reasons you never understood. All you knew was that the Choi’s were evil and could not be trusted. They were the serpents among sheep, ready to bite anyone who disagreed with them. Luckily, you never had to interact with him, only at important gatherings every once in a while. But it had been years since you’d seen him, especially this close.

San was handsome, there was no doubt about that. His hair looked different, more slicked back than before. He got older, of course, but he just looked more cold, more angry. You couldn’t explain it, but something had shifted. It was working in his favor, though. 

He looked up from the man and made eye contact with you, a smirk slowly rising on his face. You walked back in fear and accidentally stepped on an empty beer can, which caused the other men to look up. One had vibrant yellow and orange hair, while the other was long and black. Smirks appeared on their faces when they saw you, too.

“Well, well, well. Look who we have here,” the one with vibrant hair spoke, saying your name as he spoke. “The one and only! Shouldn’t you be heading home at this hour, pretty? Or would you rather come spend alone time with me, we can do some special things together.”

The other one laughed while the man coughed out in pain. San said nothing, which was both a surprise and not a surprise to you. You figured he would make a snide comment like the vibrant one or shoot you on the spot. In truth, you had no idea what to say. Nothing would make this situation better, and you did not want to find out what San and his men were capable of.

Another golden rule your parents taught you was that if you were ever in a dangerous situation, no matter what, you try to run. And once you saw the man beginning to meet his death and San raise his hand, you sprinted as quickly as you could.

Years of tennis helped you be a fast runner, so escaping them would be no problem. Surely they couldn’t be faster than you, no one was. They could get close, but could never outrun you. You now understood why your coaches made you and your teammates do sprints all the time. It really helps, especially when you’re being chased by three of the most powerful, evil men in the entire city. 

You couldn’t feel their presence behind you, but you did not stop. You continued until you saw a subway stop not that far in the distance. Without a second thought, you sprinted towards it, not caring if it would take you longer to get home. Those next few moments felt like a total blur, between running for your life and going straight into the subway with no hesitation and right when the doors were about to shut. Thank God for the older woman and her dog who demanded she be let on. 

The train was quiet as it left the station. You placed your hands over your face in utter relief. What happened back there? Why was San watching his henchman beat up an innocent man? Why didn’t he hurt you immediately? Would you come home to your home destroyed and your family badly injured? The questions ran endlessly through your mind.

Whatever that was, it wasn’t good. For you or the man who was bleeding out. Surely something would come of this, it just had to, knowing who your family was. San must have records of you, it would not be a surprise if he found you and had you killed for just witnessing his crimes. The only matter was when this would occur. You wanted to be prepared for anything, any attack he wanted to strike.

You debated on telling your family what happened, who you saw. Perhaps they could offer you protection or call a meeting to see what this was about. At the same time, however, you did not want to cause panic. You did not want your family to get involved and start something that was blown out of proportion. You did not want to risk their safety, either. It might be better to wait and see if anything were to come of this, it honestly might not. If things got really serious or scary, you would tell your parents immediately. That seemed to be the right idea for this situation.

But whatever that was back there, something was wrong. Something is still wrong. What did Choi San have to hide that was so dangerous to the outside world? And were you now a pawn in this deadly game, or would you be left alone for good? Either way, you were completely screwed, and had no idea how you would manage to save yourself from this labyrinth that was tied to your last name.

──────────────────────

Days had passed since the incident. No word, no cryptical phone calls, no nothing. You had begun to think you imagined it, that it was all an illusion. But it was as clear as day. The events played out in your mind endlessly. The wounded man, the two henchmen beating him to a pulp, San arising from the shadows. You knew what you saw, there was no way that wasn’t real. Perhaps it wasn’t as big of a deal as you thought. If it was, San would have done something by now.

There was nothing, and you hoped it would stay that way. Contrary to popular belief, you weren’t a snitch. You found no reason to tell people of what was happening with others unprovoked (unless it could kill them, then of course you would step in). You always wanted to do the right thing, but that didn’t mean you had to tell someone when they were doing something “bad.” It wasn’t your concern, nor what happened with San. All of this would be swept under the rug and into the back of your memory. 

The office had been busy all day. Meetings, assignments, they all just came crashing down on you at once. It was manageable, but not fun. The days in-office weren’t terrible, but you much rather be at home, where you could work in peace. It was the afternoon now, and hopefully things would start to wind down in an hour or so. Even if they didn’t, you would make them. You’ve come to notice that at a certain point in the day, you just start to zone out and push everything to the next day. It was a good way to end the work day and get yourself more motivated for the following day.

As you typed out some notes from your marketing strategy meeting earlier, one of the secretaries had quietly walked into your workspace. No one ever heard her walk in, so it was always a surprise when she called your name while working. You nearly jumped a mile. “My God, I’m sorry,” you gasped and then laughed. Thankfully, she joined in and understood you. “You just startled me!”

“I am so sorry, my boss says I need to get better at speaking up when I enter a room,” she laughed. “I won’t keep you, but I just got handed this letter. The person who dropped you off insisted I give it to you right away. I’m surprised they even came in when they could just leave it at the security desk. Anyways, this is for you, and I will let you continue working. Sorry again!”

“No worries, Anna. Thank you! I appreciate it,” you began, examining the note. A sense of worry and fear  arose in your stomach. “Just out of curiosity, did you get a good look at who dropped it off?”

She shook her head. “No, it was an older gentleman. Kinda looked like he could be a bodyguard or something. He was really fast and I just got a call from a client demanding to reschedule a meeting. I can look back on the security camera and show you if you want?”

“That’s okay, I just wanted to see if I knew them or not. No worries. Thank you again,” you reassured the woman. She had enough on her plate as it is, you honestly didn’t expect her to go and try to find video footage. It wasn’t that big of a deal (at least, you hoped it wasn’t). 

Anna smiled and apologized once more, then headed back to her desk. Out of nowhere, two of your co-workers slowly rose from their chairs and peered over your desk. They eyed the paper closely and were very intrigued. “Ooh, a mysterious note. Who’s it from?” Peter, one of your co-workers, asked curiously.

“I don’t know, I just got it,” you answered as you examined the envelope. It was all gray, with hints of blue subtly mixed in. 

“Feels very formal. I mean, the person could have just emailed or texted you. But a handwritten note? At your job? Crazy,” Beom-soo, the other co-worker, commented. “You should probably open it now, it seems very important.”

You raised an eyebrow, an amused smile on your face. “Do you mean that, or do you just want to know what it says because you’re nosy?”

“Both. We hate coming into the office, it’s so boring. But your note just made things a million times better. We have to know!” Peter was the one to speak. “Is it a threat? Is it a love letter? Is it an ad for a product? It could be a bunch of different things.”

“A threatening love letter. A product in the form of a love letter. No, a love letter about a product that is posed as a threat!” Beom-soo rambled on and Peter eagerly agreed with him. You had to admit, the comedic timing of these two was hilarious. 

To break up the conversation, you shook your head and hands in front of them to get their attention. “It is not a love letter, nor is it a product ad or a threat. Honestly, it’s probably a thank you card for the fruit basket I sent�� a family friend. She has specific people to run her errands, including dropping off thank you notes.”

Peter furrowed his eyebrows. “Then why doesn’t she just send it to your house?”

“Because she only knows where I work, she must’ve thrown away the slip with my address on it. She does that a lot,” you explained. 

That part was true, but it was mainly because she didn’t want certain people tracking where she sent stuff too. All you knew was that she did close work with your mom and the Sons of Anarchy, so it made sense why she went the extra mile to send it to your job as opposed to your family’s home.

Hesitantly, you opened the envelope. Inside was a message, with a clear globe on the front of it, the word Veridian right in the center of it. Your heart fell to your stomach once you recognized the logo and who was behind the message. How could you not see this coming from a mile away?

It was so obvious. You honestly felt so stupid for not seeing it sooner. It made perfect sense, you just figured his henchman would kidnap you in a random alleyway or break into your home. It seemed like something San would do; at least, that’s what you assumed he would do. A letter? Completely out of left field.

The anticipation started to annoy you. Without thinking too much of it, you ripped it open. Inside was a message, which was also very obvious. Thankfully, it wasn’t a small bomb or a piece of a dead animal. You could never know with a man like San. The words themselves were simple and straightforward.

Meet me for dinner tomorrow at 7. I’ll send a car to pick you up. —C.S.

You stared at it for what felt like an eternity. That was not what you expected. Dinner? Tomorrow night? There’s no way you could go to that. How did you know it wasn’t a trap, a trap to kidnap and kill you? Or worse, lure you in while he hurts your family? San was a dangerous man, from what your parents said. He was capable of anything and you couldn’t risk being stupid. 

Another part of you, however, was intrigued to see what he had to say. It would be nice to get a good dinner, you loved food and hadn’t been out in a while. Even if it was a horrible experience, at least you had an excuse to get takeout on your way home. 

But the question that lingered in your mind was why. Why was he doing this? Well, seeing him and his henchman beat up a bloody man in an alley was obvious. He didn’t want the word getting out, so he probably staged this dinner to threaten you into silence. Whether that was money or threatening to hurt your family, he wanted you to know that what you saw could not get out. 

You were snapped out of your thoughts when Beom-soo leaned over your desk and examined the note. “Wait, Veridian Industries? That’s, like, one of the biggest companies in the city. And the wealthiest, too. Why are they contacting you through a letter?”

“Is it for a job? Because, if I were you, I would take it. I love our company, but it’s Veridian Industries. That would be like turning down a million dollars,” Peter asked. As he looked at it closer, he shook his head. “I mean, it could be a job. I mean, dinner at 7? What else could that be about?”

“You have no idea,” you answered, though you wanted to tell them what it was really for. I saw him and his goons basically murder someone in an alley. And now I think he wants to murder me. So yeah, not a job opportunity. Though I heard Veridian has great benefits.

It was silent for a moment, until Beom-soo stared at the note longer and noticed something. “Wait, who is CS? Like CS Lewis?”

“I don’t think CS Lewis works at Veridian and would write a letter to a random woman asking to meet for dinner,” Peter commented, which made you laugh. 

“Wait a minute,” Beom-soo said. He sat back at his desk and began to type on his computer. The two of you waited while he did whatever he was doing. You suspected he was looking up who wrote you the letter, and you wouldn’t be surprised if he found out it was— “Choi San sent you that letter?!”

You let out another laugh, nodding your head. “Uh yeah, I guess he did. I really don’t know why, I don’t exactly know him. Probably just a welcome back thing, since our families are kind of acquainted.”

“Woah! He just became the CEO of the company. The youngest it’s ever had,” Peter told you as he read Beom-soo’s screen. “This article says that his dad stepped down and wanted him to take on the position. San was the best fit and will do a perfect job managing Veridian. Damn, that’s impressive.”

The information intrigued you. It made sense as to why he had come back to town. He had been overseas for quite some time, for reasons unknown to you and the general public. Returning to run the company at its home base was the most realistic option. Still, being the youngest CEO Veridian ever has was interesting. You didn’t question his leadership abilities, you couldn’t ever be a CEO, it was just odd. Well, odd to you. Perhaps it was normal in the business world.

“You have to go see him. I mean, how could you not?” Beom-soo said. “Even if it’s just a simple networking thing, which it totally isn’t, it’s a great opportunity! He could be a great business deal for our company. You never know.”

“Yeah, and he’s really attractive, too. And he’s probably going to pay for dinner, so I say why not,” Peter added. “You really don’t have anything to lose.”

They had good reasons, and although it would be a good idea to go, they didn’t have the full story. You know why he wants to meet with you and it isn’t good. It’s not a risk you were willing to take. 

However, your family did have connections in the city. They would come to your aide in a second, all you had to do was send a text or call, and someone would be at your side in minutes. So it wouldn’t necessarily be a terrible idea if you went to dinner with San. People would come to save you if things went south, you wouldn’t be alone. Plus, you had free will, so if you wanted to leave early, you could. San couldn’t keep you hostage in the restaurant (he totally could, but you honestly hoped he wouldn’t. There really wasn’t a reason to).

Still unsure with your decision, you turned to the duo. “Are we sure Veridian isn’t, like, a giant scam? Like they don’t screw people over and are legitimate?” 

Both of them shook their heads. “No, I don’t think so. My cousin works there and she loves it, even the bad parts. Definitely not a scam,” Beom-soo explained.

“I heard they sever people,” Peter blurted out randomly.

You and Beom-soo turned your heads in utter confusion. You couldn’t help but roll your eyes. “They do not sever people, Peter. That’s not physically possible.”

“Yeah, and wouldn’t they have laws regulating that? And wouldn’t there be people protesting in the streets everyday about it?” Beom-soo added.

Peter only shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know, I was just saying something that my uncle told me. It makes sense, we don’t really know what they do over there. Who’s to say they aren’t planning to start severing people?”

Beom-soo placed his hands on his face and sighed. “I’m not doing this,” he began, then proceeded to say your name. “Go to the freakin’ dinner. This guy is very… cute, I’ll leave it at that. But if he’s sending you a letter at your job asking to meet for dinner, do it. You never know if you don’t try. I’m still kind of confused as to how he was able to get this here, but I’m not going to question it. Go to dinner, and if it sucks, then you know.”

“I have this as my current place of employment on my LinkedIn. Plus, he has connections too, and probably asked where he could find me,” you explained. After taking a deep breath in, you nodded your head. “All right, I am going to do it. I’m going to have dinner with Choi San. Feels weird to say, but why not. If it sucks, then I know not to do it again.”

“That’s the spirit!” Peter exclaimed. “I’m really happy for you. You’ll have to tell us about it the next time we’re in office.”

“Yeah, and ask if he’ll give us an exclusive tour of Veridian. It seems awesome!” Beom-soo added.

“I’ll try,” you laughed. “Thank you for your help, I appreciate it. Truly.”

“Anytime!” Peter said, Beom-soo agreeing.

The three of you had to continue working, but your eyes kept drifting to the letter. An uneasy feeling was in your stomach. You were worried, as anyone would be if you saw a man nearly murder a man in an alley and he invited you out to dinner. But it was also exciting. You really had no idea what you were getting yourself into, or if it was the right decision.

Your parents never spoke to you about their business, what went on their day-to-day. They just told you who to stay clear of, including Choi San and his family. They weren’t good people and did a lot of terrible things. It had been ingrained in your head for a while, hence why you sprinted away from him once you recognized who he was. Of course, you wanted to be conscious of this when meeting with him, but you wanted to know why he reached out. To see what he really wanted. 

A part of you knew you were falling into a dangerous game by going to this dinner. However, the other part wanted you to be this game, to challenge yourself and see who you were at your core.

──────────────────────

Your stomach was in knots. The entire day, your nerves have been at an all-time high. It made sense, you were meeting San for dinner tonight and you weren’t sure what would happen. While you hoped you were in way over your head, you had to be careful. San was capable of many things and could easily put you and your family in danger. Who knows what could happen tonight.

The day felt so slow, you had begun to count down the hours until you could go home and get ready. And it felt neverending, like time slowed down. Thankfully, you were able to leave work a little early and have time for yourself. Even then, you weren’t able to calm your anxiety.

You wondered how San was able to find where you lived. But of course, he was Choi San, and had multiple connections in his network. It wasn’t hard for him to find your address and send a car. Still, the ability to do that amazed you. 

Since this has never happened to you, you didn’t know what to do. As awkwardly as ever, you decided to wait in the lobby of your apartment complex. Your parents and brother were out at a meeting, so you just texted them to let them know of your plans. They probably wouldn’t interrogate you too much, assuming it was with an old friend who was visiting the city. You just hoped the driver wouldn’t make you wait too long.

And right at six forty-five, a sleek black car pulled up to the entrance. It was very nice, nicer than any car you or your family ever owned. A gentleman came out and walked up to you, opening the back door. “Your ride, Miss,” he spoke, saying your full name to confirm it was you.

Taken back, you nodded your head. “Yeah, yeah that’s me. Wow! This is really fancy. Thank you,” you told the driver and took a seat. It amazed you how many features there were, from the music options to the TV and movie options. You knew San and his family were rich, but you had no idea that was what it could look like. You didn’t even want to know what his house looked like (or houses).

The New York City traffic made the drive a bit longer, but you loved it. You yourself could never drive in the city, you were too worried of getting in an accident or driving on the wrong side of the road. But you always loved looking at the cars and taxis, all going different places. It amazed you how people could drive amongst the chaos, going to a variety of places in the city. Everyone had a different story of why they were there and how they got to that point. As cliché as it sounded, it was just something you admire about your home. It gave you a small sense of peace, that there were people just like you.

The restaurant seemed busy, from what you could see on the inside. Waiters were scattered all over as people came and went. In a quick motion, the driver parked and opened the door for you. Thanking him gracefully, you took a deep breath as you opened the door. Almost immediately, you wanted to go home. Everyone was dressed to the nines and looked so sophisticated. Meanwhile, you were dressed in a plain black dress that you got at a thrift store. You were like a small fish in a large pond, and it felt very obvious. At one point, you felt like everyone was staring at you (but they really weren’t, you were just overthinking, per usual).

With another deep breath, you walked up to the hostess stand, where she greeted you with a nice smile. “Hi! Welcome to The Inception Room, can I have your name?”

Nervously, you spoke up. “Hi, I don’t think the reservation’s under my name. I think it’s under Choi San?”

You cringed at your words and how stupid you sounded. Did everyone know who San was? If not, then it wouldn’t be a big deal. He was popular in the city, but not everyone kept up to date with CEO’s and business people. It’s not like he was an A-list celebrity. The more you talked it out in your head, the better you felt.

A subtle smirk appeared on the hostess’ face as she placed a menu down. “Follow me.”

This was it, you were going to die. She was going to take you to the basement where San would torture you. Kill you, even. You nervously followed the woman, thinking of how your family will react to your death and if you can reach them in time. You never thought your life would end this way, so sudden and abrupt. You didn’t even get the chance to finish your book. Hopefully they have libraries in the afterlife.

Rather than being led to a backdoor, the hostess brought you to a private table in the back, with a few other patrons surrounding you, but not too close. A wave of relief washed over you, but your anxiety was still through the roof. “Here you are, someone will be right over to take your order. Enjoy!”

“Thank you,” you thanked the woman as she walked away. 

Once she left, you were able to get a clear look at San, who looked… interesting. He wore a white long sleeve button down with a black tie, his jacket on the back of the chair. Glasses sat on his eyes, but he removed them once he saw you and put them in his jacket pocket. Holy shit, he looked good. Almost as if he was on a date. No, why on Earth would this man go on a date with you? He probably had multiple women he was seeing and brought home every night. This was just… a meeting. A meeting to discuss what happened. Yeah, that sounds right. 

A smirk slowly crept on his face as he stood to greet you. He said your name so smoothly as he took your hand into his. “It’s good to see you. You look very beautiful tonight.”

“Thanks. Best fifteen dollars I ever spent at a thrift store in Queens. Wait, am I even allowed to say that here?” You asked, looking around in embarrassment. “I meant the best fifteen hundred dollars I spent at a boutique the Queen of England used to shop at in London.”

No one responded, which made San laugh and your face became a little red. “You’re funny, funnier than I remember. No need to worry about that stuff, no one here is paying attention to anyone but themselves. Come, we have lots to talk about.”

“Yes, yes we do,” you agreed as you took your seat. The menu had a variety of options, all out of your paygrade. You didn’t want to say anything right away, so you pretended to look interested in what they had to offer. All of it sounded appetizing, it’s just the price that got you. “So many great options, do you come here frequently?”

“It’s my favorite restaurant in the entire city. Well, not including fast food. I think they have great food and they are great for hosting work dinners. I’m close with the owner,” San explained. 

You nodded your head. “Wow, that’s super cool. I’ve never been here, mostly my work events take place at some center with a lot of conference rooms. I’m happy to be trying something new.”

“It’s a great place, you’ll love it,” he reassured you. “You’re still at Silver Star, right?”

“Yes. I figured you’d know that since… well, the invitation I got yesterday,” you casually remarked. “Unless you had your assistant write it for you and you just signed off on it?”

“No, no I wrote it. I had one of my colleagues drop it off on his lunch break. Cute little company you work for, it fits you,” he answered, his eyes glued to the menu. 

You nodded your head slowly, finally realizing what he meant. “Ah, makes sense. I, um, I saw on the news that you're the CEO of Veridian now. That’s amazing, and a very big honor. I mean, the youngest to ever run the company? Insane.”

San laughed. “Thank you. My dad stepped down and needed a replacement, so he met with his team and they agreed that I should take over. I’m truly grateful. It’s a lot of responsibility, but I’m handling it well.”

“Oh for sure, but you’ll do fine. Veridian is a great company from what I hear,” you reassured him. Silence fell between you for a few moments, but you looked at him and your surroundings, hoping it would blow over soon. “Do you guys sever people?”

“What?” San asked, his eyebrow raised.

“Nothing,” you shook your head quickly, closing the menu. You worried too much about how quiet was and your mouth acted faster than your head. Hopefully it wasn’t a big deal, you honestly didn’t care. It would be something funny to joke about.

Luckily, he only smiled and ushered the waiter to come over. Only a bottle of red wine was ordered, since it was clear you two still needed more time picking what you wanted. “I hope red is okay with you, this place has the best, I get it all the time.”

“I love red! I’m not picky about my wine,” you told him. “But I glimpsed at the prices and that’s the only thing I can afford, even if we don’t split it. I’m embarrassed and I should of said something right away, but I got distracted and–”

San cut you off before you could finish. “Don’t even worry about it, it’s on me.”

But you rejected his offer, shaking your head. “No, no I can’t let you pay for all of this. It’s too much and I feel really bad. I can split it with you, I’ll probably just have to save a little extra next week. And have ice and soup as my food. It’s really no big deal, I shouldn’t have said anything.”

“No, I mean it, it’s on me. I invited you out here on a work night. The least I can do is pay for the meal. I honestly do not mind,” he reassured. 

Though it didn’t feel right to you, you eventually agreed and let it go. This broke the ice and left a gateway open to discuss the real reason why you were here. It had to come out at some point, you weren’t going to leave here without answers. A giant lumped form in your throat as you asked the question of the night. “So, are you ready to talk about why I’m actually here? I mean, we both know it’s because of what I saw, and you haven’t killed me yet. I think you have some things you want to say, so why are we here?”

San chuckled, taking a sip of his water and looking right at you. The eye contact intimidated you, but you held it. It made you feel stronger, somewhat. But before he could answer, the waiter came back and poured you both glasses of wine. You put in your food order, while San just told him his usual. “They know what I like,” he said once the waiter left. 

“I see,” you said. “As I said before, I want to know why I’m here. And I know it’s not because you wanted to treat me to an expensive dinner.”

He furrowed his eyebrows. “What? Can’t a guy take a pretty girl out to dinner just because he can?”

You gave him an amused look, taken back by his words. “You do not think I am pretty.”

“I do. I think you’re very beautiful,” he told you with a straight face, saying your name to add emphasis. “And I typically don’t say that on the first date.”

“First date? Yeah, okay,” you playfully rolled your eyes. You took a sip of wine and gathered your thoughts. “Anyways, we’re getting off track, and I’m starting to think you’re deflecting to avoid answering the question.”

San shook his head, trying to hide his smile. “All right, I’ll stop. I’ll cut straight to the point,” he cleared his throat. 

You felt a shift in the conversation, the playfulness now being turned into a serious, direct one. The nervousness came back to you even stronger now. But you could manage it, no matter what. This was the entire point of dinner, it wasn’t going to be all fun and games. It was good that you broke the tension and could talk about it freely now.

“I did invite you here because of what happened the other night,” he started, which was more than obvious. “What you saw wasn’t a real reflection of me. I mean, it doesn’t define all that I am and what I stand for. Something happened, and I was double-crossed by someone I thought I could trust. He was going to murder me, so I had to do what’s necessary.”

You were stunned at all the information. It was unexpected, you assumed it would be something more simple or even a lie, but his words seem genuine. As much as you wanted to know what happened, you figured it would be better to not push it. You didn’t really want to know, it seemed too dark and disturbing. “Wow,” was all you could manage. “Very upfront, I appreciate that. Is the guy okay? I mean, if he did betray you, that isn’t cool. But I hope he’s not . . . like, rotting in the middle of an alley.”

“He’s not, I made sure to get him out before anyone noticed. I don’t know how he’s doing now, but I really don’t care. Fair question, though,” San answered. 

You shrugged your shoulders. “Just figured I’d ask. But um, if you’re worried that I’m going to say something to my dad or brother, I promise I won’t. I know that doesn’t mean much, but I have no intention of saying anything. I honestly don’t care, it doesn’t involve me.”

The food had come and was placed before you. As the waiter walked away, San said something that took you back once more. “That’s not entirely true.”

Too focused on trying your meal, you finished chewing before you processed what he said. “What?” You asked, very anxiously. The dish made you feel more calm when speaking to him, probably because your hunger had subsided.

San finished his next bite and cleared his throat. “I don’t know how much you know about what your family does, but it’s not good. For any party involved, myself included. A lot of shit is happening and it will be very dangerous. That guy in the alley? He was an asset to me, someone I thought I could trust. He knew stuff about your family, other families, my family. It won’t be safe out there much longer.”

It was almost as if your heart stopped. Your parents had kept you out of their business for as long as you could remember, for reasons you never questioned. Maybe you wouldn’t understand, maybe you weren’t ready, but you just carried on with your life. You knew your family would do anything to protect you if it really came down to it, but why didn’t they tell you about this? You had the right to know if you and your family were in danger, so why haven’t they said anything? Did they not know enough yet? Did they need to work some things out? A million questions ran through your mind as you tried to figure out what was happening.

“Wow! That's, um, a big surprise. I’m not involved in what my parents and brother do, they’ve kept me out of it. They haven’t said much about this situation, either, so it’s a total shock,” you admitted, though you were embarrassed to say that you didn’t know much about what your parents do. Maybe you should ask more questions and get as much information as you can. It could be something you could work towards on your own time.

San nodded his head. “Yeah, it’s all still coming together. I’m trying to put a stop to it before it all falls apart, but it has not been easy.”

“Oh for sure, I can’t even imagine. So, like . . . can I ask how this involves me? I mean, I know my family is involved, but I just mean me specifically, because I genuinely don’t know,” you asked.

“Yeah, no, you have a right to ask,” San started. “I don’t know all of the details yet, your family is good at keeping things confidential. But if shit hits the fan, you’ll be in danger. I know you believe your family has your back, but even they won’t be able to handle this. And I’m not sure you will, either.”

It was silent, you had no idea what to say. The things he said about your family, it didn’t feel right. Sure, you were naive in this space, but you knew when things were true or not true. You were worried that this went deeper, there was something he wasn’t telling you. You wanted to press on and see if you could get more information, but you thought it was best if you held off for now. If you were to meet with San more, you probably would ask at some point later down the line.

You continued to eat and think about your response. San did as well, he seemed understanding of how you were feeling. “All right, I was not expecting that, either. But I appreciate you telling me, I needed to know. What do you think I should do to avoid this? Just so I’m prepared if I have to, like, go to war or something.”

San laughed once more. “You always know how to make someone laugh, even in serious situations,” he smiled. “I have an idea, and it might catch you off guard. But . . . I think you should come stay with me.”

You spit out your wine, coughing loudly. People started to look and San nearly jumped out of his chair to help you. “Shit, maybe I should have said that better. Are you okay?”

It took you a moment to finish coughing and to get it out of your system. “Yeah, yeah I’m good. All good, just . . . holy shit. That completely caught me off guard. Okay, um, that’s a very big step for the first date. I don’t . . . yeah, that definitely blindsided me. Um, why d-do you propose that?”

San had some water before he answered your question. “My family is more at an advantage than yours. You aren’t involved with them that much, but it will still be hard for you to salvage your reputation. Stay with me, and I can protect you. I can make sure no one even looks at your direction. If the truth is aired, I can try and help them, too.”

“Yeah, but that’s an if. If the truth gets out. We might not have to worry about it if you put a stop to it. I appreciate your concern, but I don’t know you at all and quite frankly, our families do not like each other. I just don’t think it is the smartest idea. If shit does hit the fan, then I can protect myself just fine. I’ll figure it out, I always do. But thank you for all of this. Really, I mean it,” you explained in hopes that he would not get upset with you.

He was taken back by your choice, but he didn’t push further. “No, you’re honestly right. It was a good idea in my head, but it’s probably not realistic. I’m sorry, I was just jumping ahead and wanted to prepare.”

You shook your head. “No, you’re totally good. I’d be the same way, and it’s not a terrible idea. If I just knew more of what was going on, then I would be open to considering it.”

“Yeah, I get it,” San said.

By that time, you had both finished your plates, and the waiter came by to collect them. He left a dessert menu before he left. “Do you want to order dessert?”

“Can I take it to-go? It’s getting late and I have to be up a little early for an important work meeting,” you asked.

San nodded his head in a reassuring way, and you quietly thanked him. Silence rose again as you two looked at the menu, deciding what you wanted. The brownie looked delicious, but the key lime pie looked wonderful. The ice cream did, too, but you could easily get that at the grocery store. Now that you think about it, the cheesecake also seemed really good. It was topped with raspberries and–

“You would do anything for your family, right?”

The question took you out of your thoughts. A puzzled look arose on your face as you looked at San, unsure of what he meant. “What?”

“The way you speak about your family, you just seem like you would do anything for them. I can tell you care for them a lot,” San explained. 

You hesitated for a moment. “Well, yeah, they’re my family. Of course I would, I love them so much. Wouldn’t you?”

“Yeah, family is everything to me, too. I’m curious because I just never see you at any events. I see your parents and brother all the time. I see how highly they think of him and how proud they are that he will be taking over as the leader. It must have been a lot of work to get him to that point.”

It felt like a harsh pinch on your arm, a reminder that your parents focused more on your brother than they did on you. It was nothing unexpected, you knew that for a long time, the reminder hurt no matter how hard you tried to forget. You tried to hide it, but the irritation in your face made it hard to do so.

You nodded your head and smiled, like you always did. “From what they told me, it was. But my brother has always been smart and he figured it all out. I am very happy for him, I know he will lead the Sons of Anarchy very well.”

A small smirk formed on his lips. “That’s good. I can’t even imagine how hard they worked to make him get to the place where he’s at now. It would be a shame if they lost all of that and would have to start over. You know how dangerous this life can get.”

It was obvious what he was doing, he was trying to get you to change your mind. Smart, but your mind was set. “For sure, I understand why my parents have kept it from me for so long. I don’t know how they do it.”

“I don’t even know how I do it,” San joked. “I’m just saying, they focus on your brother a lot. If they lost everything, wouldn’t they be so happy to hear that their daughter was the one to save them? The underdog, if you will. The protection, the status, the resources – they would still be there. And it could be all because of you. Now wouldn't that be special?”

The waiter came by and took your dessert order (you decided on the key lime pie while San chose the peanut butter brownie). You barely broke eye contact with him as you did. He was getting under your skin, implanting his words in your mind. But it wouldn’t work, you were firm on your decision. 

On the other hand, he did have a point. Things could turn horribly if San was telling the truth. Accepting his help would mean protecting yourself from those dangers, saving your family from that pain. They focused so much on your brother, it would be nice for a change if they acknowledged your accomplishments. You got nothing from tennis or your grades, and it hurt you. Of course, you didn’t want that to be what they finally recognized, but it was better than nothing. The idea of it seemed nice, but it would only happen if things did become bad. If everything was fine, then what was the point?

San slipped his credit card to the waiter without even looking at the bill. Must be nice, you thought to yourself. When he made eye contact with you again, you were ready to respond. “That does seem special, my parents would definitely be relieved if I got them out of danger. But I think it would be no different if it were my brother saving them, or my aunt or our neighbor. Besides, that’s only if things got bad. Who knows if it will? I mean, that’s what we all want, right?”

“Of course. All I’m saying is, your actions would be appreciated either way. If you chose to step up and save the family no matter what, it would be something your parents would never forget,” San offered. 

It was silent again, because he has a good point. Everything could go completely fine and nothing could come about this, but your family would still be proud. They would still be so happy you protected them and would recognize your efforts. You won in either scenario, whatever way it went.

“You don’t have to make a decision right now. I know you want some time to think about it,” San told you, both of you thanking the waiter as he tipped and signed the check. “I’ll give you my number when we get outside, you can call or text me at any time to let me know. I won’t be upset if you decide not to, I just wanted to offer another perspective.”

You nodded your head and grabbed your purse. San slipped on his glasses and jacket, letting you walk out first. His hand was on the small of your back as he guided you out of the restaurant. You began to worry that people stared at you as you walked out, like they would tell your family or someone bad about who you were with. It was all irrational, however. Like San said, everyone was too busy focusing on themselves.

San spoke to some people briefly before you walked out, exchanging smiles and quick hugs. You could only offer a small smile since you didn’t want to intrude on their time. The city air was busy, per usual, but it was nice to be back in reality after everything. It was a reminder that you still had your life, that everything was still normal (somewhat). 

“Do you only wear glasses for show?” You asked as you followed him to a nearby parking garage. It was easier for the car to pick you both up from there, he explained earlier. Hopefully he still wasn’t trying to kill you. “You took them off when I came in but put them back on when we left. Is it just a signature look you’re trying out?”

A smile crept on his face as he laughed. “Kind of? They help me when I’m reading long documents for work or if I’m on the computer, but I take them off when I have meetings with people like this. I’m starting to like it, though, do you?”

You shrugged your shoulders. “It’s not bad. It kinda suits you in this light, so maybe not for every occasion.”

Another laugh fell from his mouth and you let out a small one. “Noted,” he smiled. 

Before you could say anything, a car had pulled up right in front of you. You assumed it was for you, since San wasn’t in a rush to say goodbye. He quickly took his phone out of his pocket and handed it to you. “Put your number in and call me once you have made a decision. Like I said, take as long as you need, I’ll be around.”

“Thanks,” was all you could muster. There was a lot to think about and you were too exhausted to say anything else regarding that. You stepped into the car and held the door open. “And thank you for dinner, seriously. I appreciate it so much, it was good to see you. Congrats on the promotion!”

San leaned on the door, smiling. “Anytime, it was good to see you, too. I’ll see you next time, Princess,” he said, adding your name for emphasis. 

You gave a small wave and shut the door, trying your best to avoid the color rising in your cheeks. The nickname was unexpected. Some would find it cringy in other situations, but the way it rolled off San’s tongue was so smooth, so nonchalant. It worked well, though you’d never tell him that. 

As you drove off, you nearly vomited in your seat. Well, not really, it just finally hit you that the night was over and you didn’t have to be nervous anymore. You were alive, San didn’t kill you. He was nice, nicer than you thought. But you could finally be at peace and not have to worry about your every move.

His words stuck with you. The danger of the families he mentioned and how he was trying to stop it. You couldn’t tell if San was lying, it was hard to decipher. Why else would he ask you to stay with him in exchange for protection? He randomly invites you out to dinner as a warning and offers a way out of the chaos. It was just so odd and not what was going to happen. 

It seemed ridiculous, if you were being honest. Staying with him? How would that even work? Your parents would never let you, nor would they believe you if you just randomly told them you were moving out. There had to be another reason why San offered this to you, it didn’t add up. You certainly weren’t going to go through with it.

Sure, it would be nice to finally have your family’s approval and have them be proud of what you’ve done. They showed all of that to your brother, and while you loved him, you had enough. When would it be your turn? Haven’t you done enough?

And it would be nice to have a close friend, too. You had no idea what San’s intentions were or if he was seeing someone, but it would be nice to have someone to talk to. He knew about your family’s line of work and was smart, you could confide in him about what was going on and learn more. He could also help you with some work issues, helping you solve problems you were stuck on. 

You were in over your head. It was a nice dinner and that was that. You weren’t going to live with San, you were going to go on with your life as normal. He could just be an acquaintance, someone you saw once in a while for coffee. That in itself was nice, despite wanting more from someone (platonically, of course).

All you knew about your life was that it was normal, or as normal as it could get. Little did you know, however, that this was only the beginning. The world you once knew was going to change, you had entered a world where you could not look back. It scared you, what you might encounter. But what you will come to learn is that the experience would be the best thing to ever happen to you. Even if it left you questioning everything you once knew.

──────────────────────

San had returned home later that evening, a little before eleven. There were some things he needed to take care of before he wanted to go to bed. They didn’t take long, and he was home earlier than expected.

His friends Song Mingi and Jung Wooyoung sat at the kitchen counter in his penthouse. They were playing some sort of card game. Wooyoung was losing, which was evident from the frustrated look on his face. Mingi was celebrating, laughing at the money and other things he accumulated from the game. It was always fun watching these two play, because you never knew what was going to happen.

Wooyoung looked up from his cards and smirked. “Look who’s finally back. Did she agree to move in with you? I bet she’s coming here tonight, who wouldn’t be able to resist Choi San’s charm?”

San shook his head as he set his keys on the counter and grabbed a bottle of water. “No, she declined. I gave her my number to see if she’ll change her mind.”

The two men scoffed. “I knew she wouldn’t give in, she’s not that naive. I told you to just bring her here and show her the place!”

“Aw, relax, would you?” San scolded his friend. “She wouldn’t have come if I had dinner here. Besides, I’m not worried. She’ll come around, I know she will.”

Wooyoung smirked, making his next move in the game. “You sure about this, boss? ‘Cause it’ll all go south if you can’t convince her.”

“Don’t worry,” San smirked. “I have her right where I want her.”

The trio looked at each other before erupting into laughter and pound hugs. With a swift motion, San brought a chair over and began to watch his friend’s game, eager to see how it would unfold.

Choi San wasn’t afraid of many things. He had been tough from an early age. Your immediate rejection of his idea didn’t startle him, he would be surprised if you didn’t. It only fueled him more, motivated him to get what he wanted: you under his roof. It wouldn’t take long to do, even if you were stubborn. San had ways of making things happen quickly, and if he wanted something done, he would make it happen. That included you. 

Soon enough, he would have everything in the palm of his hand. This was only the beginning, but San was prepared to handle whatever chaos the new world was going to throw at you and him. Anything to keep you safe, even if it left him questioning the person he was going to become.

[pardonmydelays]

taylor swift lyrics that keep u up at night?

*takes a deep breath*

remember looking at this room, we loved it cause of the light now i just sit in the dark and wonder if it's time.

(oversharing in the tags)

[hanzajesthanza]

welp the option i like the least won. i guess witcher tumblr books/games fandom has spoken…

however, the tags contain the best takes, and now i know who has true wisdom

i'm loosely categorizing these:

that is exactly something his young self would do

#nope he doesn't smoke #he would try it but then not like it very much (via @cookielessthan3)

#i don't think he'd smoke but if he did #he would smoke not even desperately but destructively (via @fishesfisher)

#i think he smokes in situations where he finds it fitting but doesn’t actually get anything out of it #and as such only does it to - in his eyes - fit in more (via @sanguivorouscorvid)

very nice herb

He's very knowledgeable in weeds that's all I'm going to say (via @meanpersonaart)

#he knows all about herbology and stuff #and some people do smoke but not drink #you cant really get rowdy on cigarettes #i could see him starting smoking in order to make quitting drinking easier #i feel like all of these are very possible honestly (via @vampire-connoisseur)

#hed smoke herbal cigarettes (via @geminipdf)

feat. hanza blunt rotation and bonus vampire headcanons

#i think he might as a part of the hansa #but im thinking more like calming herbs #not necessarily cannabis but i think he might have his own herb blends that have different affects #I could imagine him offering the hansa to share a herb blend to smoke for specific affects #something calming after a battle or before going to sleep #something that sharpens your senses a bit in the morning (lol so maybe just a cigarette??) #something healing for allergies and asthma #and if it were a ritualistic kind of smoke i think he'd take a puff himself #but i doubt that he would just for himself #i get the vibe that probably not very many herbs are useful specifically for vampires #their bodies are different #do you catch my drift? (via @voihelevetti)

we understanded

#i don't think regis would use anything that is potentially addictive #don't think he'd willingly take that chance again #the hidden option though… 😌😌 i can see him making that exact joke #returning to tumblr to partake in very important discussions i am. (via @onlymagpie)

#he wouldn't use addictive stuff #but he would use stuff to relax him surely. like #he definitely wouldn't use tobacco #you could argue that he wouldn't use anything #but i think (him being kind of a doctor) he would use anything that doesn't have serious cons #now #i never smoked #so idk if pot has some side effects #but in some medical cases it can be beneficial (via @lilly-of-the-valley-artblog)

#maybe in his youth? But later definitely not because of the addictive potential (via @easily-obsessed-with-things)

#why is the least real option winning 🤨 #not serious #but come on. #1 makes sense but his issue was with abuse more than addiction #whereas tobacco offers a very mild high and usually is just like a maintenance thing like coffee #i could see him just not bothered by smoking OR picking up smoking to help quit drinking #4 albo could be #i need to turn off autocorrect since my phone keeps changing the default keyboard to polish… #my answer is the least popular apparently #maybe you all just dont get him like i get him (via @vampire-connoisseur)

and my bias

#yes 3rd option #i think he generally wouldn't except in some extreme situations so i think that counts as a yes (@smoothedsmoothie)

by the way this is something along the lines of my answer

i am just joking. ... or maybe i'm not. damn it... "it's a principle. i never break any principles once i've adopted them." hmm... but we know he has his breaking point. in the end. he breaks...

i think the reason i have brought this subject up is because breaking his principle in regards to drinking was something very individual. he went off... he flew off... and came back. and the rest of the company was none the wiser! well, that is...

(side note: when someone drinks, you can smell the alcohol on their breath. there was blood all around at stygga castle when the fighting happened, but... do you think geralt could smell the blood on regis' breath? that's too much for this post)

but breaking his principle in regards to smoking (in a modern AU, i am imagining this) requires it to be enabled socially, by another, someone who currently smokes, giving him the cigarette. and he would only be around his friends. so what would they do in their love for him? enable or prevent the self-destruction? what a heavy weight...

also because he wears all black so i guess it would look cool in art (don't smoke btw)

i’ve had enough. i need to seek answers

[5a-alf]

I fear Kevin Day is the type of person whose struggle always came second. He funcioned enough that while everyone knew he wasn't alright, it was also nobody's problem, as someone else was actively having a harder time and they took precedence. He internalises all his problems and keeps going and going but he is fueled by alchool and sheer desperation a 100% of the time. If he were to stop for even a second he wouldn't know how to start again.

Did he ever, at somepoint in his life -away from the ex foxes, a pro player, married to Thea- wish he had it worse, just so that maybe it would have been his turn being saved? Being first? How badly would he feel, just one second after thinking it, because he knows damn well he has enough trauma to fill a stadium and he isn't actually jealous of his friends that had it worse, he isn't . That's a fucked up thing to think, stop it, stop it.

Would he still drink himself into a stupor to shoote the ache, to banish the thought? That's the help he got, when he was at his worst, a drink, and then two, and then a thousand. And it worked, it made him go, it picked him up when he was down, and now he can't get down without crashing.

Did he wish to be saved? Did he hope somebody, anybody, took the time and put in the effort to help him, just because they saw him down, not because he begged, but because they noticed he could use a hand. Or two, actually. Was it torment, to always be under the spotlight, yet never been seen? Did he run toward fame hoping the more eyes on him meant it would be easier to be noticed?

[multiocular-mushroom-art]

francis madoka magica crozier

(the witch designs are here and also posted separately with some lore under the tag 'the soul gem passage')

[thewalrusespublicist]

overthinking paul mccartney BUT it is my opinion that his no cuddles testimony is about how he feels about that time rather than what he thinks literally happened. like he feels like he held something back with john and george, like he was a little protective of his space and his ego and especially as things got bad didn't really want to put himself out there all the way and face yet more rejection, and it comes out like "we weren't cuddly" because it's a translation of how he feels being projected back across the whole relationship. and he's very old and has done a lot of drugs. but he's in his eighties so it's probably relatively easy to be like "god they were just babies we were all so young and dumb i should have just held them and told them i love them literally who cares if the dumb baby is mad at you and makes a face and says you're a loser you've gotta offer affection anyway." which yes repression but also is something that's really only possible in retrospect.

Hi anon!

Yeah you know what I agree with this. I think the whole 'non-affection' thing partially started from a lie, not-lie that kind of warped into a 'truth' over time. One reason for it was the aftermath of John's death where Paul's comments were all over the place because he was all over the place. There's some in the mid 80s where he was going 'yeah we weren't that close and didn't open up to each other because men but also we were the best of friends' (this was like in the same sentence btw). I know he told Julia later it was because he wanted to play down the relationship, which is a very Paul thing to inexplicably do. I think then that 'oh we weren't affectionate' thing stuck as part of his narrative.

The second was I believe as you said, some retroactive projecting on an emotional regret onto the landscape of the past. The thing about John's change and transition from the 60s to the 70s was it was clearly a bit baffling to Paul. He never understood John and Yoko in his own words and he never quite got why John turned on him. When you're as self-loathing as Paul and faced with that, if one of the criticisms you constantly face is that you're too aloof and closed off to let people in (we know George critiqued him for his 'pleasant insincerity'), you might cling to that as a reason for the whole shit-show. We know Paul regrets not putting his arms around John and saying listen when it comes to the break-up, suggesting that he sees physical affection as part of being open and openness as a potential solution that he didn't do. It's also weirdly self-soothing. If he blames the break-up on not being more emotionally available, he can also rationalise it and take some of the 'blame' off himself. He was a 'northern man', how else was he meant to behave? It's not on him if he couldn't open up.

God actually it just hit me, if Paul associates physical affection with being truly open and honest it does shed a whole new light on the fact that Paul keeps going back to physical affection when asked what he would do if John was alive. Ow.

[roobylavender]

im really sorry if this question ends up being repetitive: but, if not for bruce’s over reliance on dick to regulate his thoughts and emotions, why would dick grow up into feeling like he needs to repress his emotions so much and his eagerness to act as people’s support? i know youve spoken about wolfman and his altering of their relationship but if ntt is generally an accurate portrayal of an adult dick, to me this nevertheless sounds like the consequences a parent-child relationship where the responsibilities are titled too much towards the child

i suppose this could also segue into asking for recs that would help me better understand your interpretation of their relationship 👀

not repetitive at all! to me the irony of wolfman's depiction of dick lies in that it is simultaneously something you can logically ascertain from prior canon but not for the reasons actually presented by wolfman. if that makes sense. he does extra work that isn't actually necessary to help explain why dick would act the way that he does because there's plenty of reasons for it without rewriting his history with bruce to have always been suppressed and edgy and dark. to me it makes far more sense to capitalize on the inevitable disconnect between bruce and dick as an adult and a child. batman: full circle is a good example of that dichotomy (and although it was published in the early 90s it built on mike w. barr's prior understanding of the relationship between dick and bruce that he wrote into the early 80s). bruce's primary concern for the people he works with is never standards or finesse but safety. he worries constantly about others coming to harm under his watch and with a child in particular those worries were exacerbated. he ran a tight ship not because he believed dick had anything to prove but because the only way dick could keep being robin was if he went about it safely. that was obv easy for an adult to understand. but not so much for a child

to bruce these worries were practical and par for the course (as well as an expression of his love and protectiveness) but for dick their consequences formed the crux of his entire world. as a child he idolized everything about bruce. his heroism. his work ethic. his skill. his resolve. his preparedness. if dick couldn't live up to the standard he set for himself in idolizing bruce then what could he ever hope to amount to? that was the thought constantly going through his head. and it's why the bulk of his childhood and primary tenure as bruce's partner was so precariously protected by the fact that nothing bad ever really happened during it (and admittedly this framing is convenient because even chronologically speaking nothing very significant happened in their history with each other until dick left for university in 1969) (i know dixon opted to write that whole shtick with dent in his version of events but personally i never found it necessary to do so). there is enough there in the idea of dick working hard for the course of a decade to embody who he believed bruce to be that lends itself to it eventually being difficult for him to healthily express himself once the rift between them actually began to emerge

because what about bruce was there to actually see that was broken and dark before dick became an adult? i know a lot of dick fans hate batman #408 because they don't like that it enforced "retirement" upon dick (which i personally believe is a conclusion they come to because of the way batman #416 re-framed the same scene) but to me that's an inaccurate reading of the text. batman #408 was about bruce (admittedly far too belatedly) recognizing that he could not in good conscience continue to ask dick to go out and be a vigilante on what he considered to be his own "orders". he viewed dick's close call with death at the hands of the joker as something directly of his own making. although their tenure with each other had been wonderful if dick wanted to continue to be a vigilante it had to be on his own terms and of his own volition. obv that was logical to bruce and it was something dick managed to accept in the moment. but it's still hard to go from always having a purpose alongside someone you idolized to finally being entrusted entirely to forge your own

in general i like the idea of dick the adult becoming privy to all of the personal problems and conflicts that come with being a vigilante. he was conveniently shielded from a lot of those problems as a child because all he had to do was be bruce's partner and hope to live up to the title. bruce had no reason to trauma dump on him or talk about his worries and concerns at length with him because it was never supposed to be dick's job to field those worries and concerns in the first place. he was a child. the only thing bruce wanted to do was to help channel his emotions through an outlet and provide him with a home to grow up in. but when you become an adult often that dynamic shifts. you're still not responsible for fielding those worries and concerns but you can perhaps be trusted with them. that's why i like the framing in batman #408 of dick now being a man. it's a subtle way to frame the double-edged sword of adulthood. the world is in your hands now but so will be the horrors that come with it. coming to terms with the real world that bruce lives in should be hard for dick. coming to terms with who bruce is when he's not perfect should be hard. coming to terms with how quietly bruce kept his grief because he did not see fit to overwhelm a child with it should be hard. that dichotomy of dick both wanting to be bruce's brother and his son should form the crux of their conflict with each other because you can't hope to be someone's equal and someone's protected at the same time in that kind of relationship. for dick to transition into the position of equal he has to expose himself to the fact that bruce is not in fact an idol but someone irrevocably human. and that should interfere significantly with his head and his own standards for himself

[gxlden-angels]

^ Bearer of the curse (Had to be the one to tell my therapist that some southern christians say "Daddy god" unironically)

[starpros-sunshine]

You know. I'm part of the fraction "to each their own and let people handle their lives however they see best fit". But I do feel the need to say that I have seldom seen such an idiotic assumption as that breaking up with someone four days before someone's birthday when you also want that someone to do something for their birthday even though you know you and your soon-to-be-ex will both have to be there won't end with that person just not doing anything with anyone for their birthday. Partially because nobody wants that kind of awkwardness after a fresh breakup and also because the soon-to-be-ex has the lovely habit of wallowing in self pity and making everything about how they have it so bad. You know I just think in such cases you should've waited a week with the breakup. I don't care how much you want to fuck that other guy but I really think you should've waited a week.