#items that make travel easier

[gaytravelinfo]

GAY TRAVEL INFORMATION'S TOP 10 ESSENTIAL TRAVEL PRODUCTS

Here is a curated selection of travel essentials, hand-picked by Gay Travel Information, to ensure your journeys in 2025 (and beyond) are as seamless and enjoyable as possible! 1.) Wrangler Smart Luggage Cup Holder and USB Port, Navy Blue, 2 Piece Set Product Description Featuring the Wrangler EL DORADO Smart Luggage set with the 3-in-1 Cup holder, phone holder, and USB port for charging…

[goldensunset]

in general i roll my eyes at people who complain about all the new quality of life improvements in modern pokémon games bc inconvenience and genuine challenge are two very different things. but the one thing i would definitely agree on that i don’t like in sv is the ability to access your pc boxes any time. it sort of cheapens the experience of having to carefully choose which six pokémon you’re taking before venturing into unknown danger. like i don’t think you should be able to catch a pokémon in the depths of area zero and immediately put it in your party i think you gotta be loyal to whoever you took initially. it’s about being forced to have a plan for all outcomes

[lucalicatteart]

-- Poorly Constructed Enchanted Tool --

A small tool carved from a fruit tree seed. Energy to power the enchantment has seemingly run-out long ago, and the method of recharging is unknown - but, based on the appearance, it's very likely that this was once used for detecting magic. Usually, looking through the glass center would highlight areas of higher magical energy concentration present in the viewer's environment, even if they were otherwise obscured to the naked eye. While this form of enchantment itself is highly advanced, the craftsmanship of the item is far less neat or complex than what might be typically seen in similar devices. It may have been made as part of training/practice, or as a hasty replacement for a previous tool that had broken.

[blujayonthewing]

idri's thieves' tools were inherited from her mentor; they're big and clunky in her hands and she'd maybe be better served with finer, lighter tools, but these are the ones she learned with, and she wouldn't give them up for anything

elyss's are a bespoke matched steel toolset made for her by her blacksmith friend and the party's former fighter; she asked him to make them, but she treasures them like a gift nonetheless

melliwyk's are personally handcrafted and bundled together into one fold-out multitool doohickey, stylized as an insect with various tools for its antennae and legs

felix's are a hodgepodge, obviously accumulated and/or replaced one piece at a time across a wide timespan and from completely different sources, bundled together with his other hand tools in a worn but well-tended leather case embossed with a raccoon motif

[wool-string]

[ajdrawshq]

listening to octopath music and drawing and writing stuff for my octopath pmd au so The Horrors(tm) dont get me

[ruairy]

.

[changes]

A new way to navigate Tumblr

If you use Tumblr on a web browser, you might have noticed us testing a brand new navigation on your dashboard in the last month. Now, after some extensive tweaks, we’ve begun rolling out this new dashboard navigation to everyone using a web browser. Welcome to the new world. It’s very like the old world, just in a different layout.

Why are we doing this? We want it to be as easy as possible for everyone to understand and explore what’s happening on Tumblr—newbies and seasoned travelers alike.

Labels over icons: When adding something new to Tumblr in the past, we’d simply add a new icon to our navigation with little further explanation. Turns out no one likes to press a button when they don’t know what it does. So now, where there’s space, the navigation includes text labels. Since adding these, we’ve noticed more of you venturing to previously unexplored corners of Tumblr. Intrepid!

What’s already been fixed? Thanks to feedback from folks during the testing phase, we’ve been able to make some improvements right out of the gate. Those include returning settings subpages (Account, Dashboard, etc.) to the right of the settings page instead of having them in an expandable item in the navigation on the left; fixing some issues with messaging windows on smaller screens; and streamlining the Account section to make it easier to get to your blogs.

What’s next? We’re looking into making a collapsible version of this navigation and improving the use of screen space for those of you with enormous screens. We’re also working on improving access to your account and sideblogs.

That’s all for now, folks. For questions and suggestions, contact Support using the “Feedback” category. Please select the “Report a bug or crash” category on the support form for technical issues. And keep an eye out for more updates here on @changes.

[inkcrowsnest]

Lucky Charm

You didn’t always consider yourself a lucky charm. In the beginning of your travels with the Destined One / Sun Wukong, you often found yourself in trouble. Small little misfortunes happen to you on a daily basis. A yaoguai chasing after you, falling into a stream, getting your clothes caught in tree branches. It wasn’t easy adjusting to this strange new land. It was so different from what you knew. 

But little by little, everything seemed to get better. A small observation here, a causal comment there, and the fight always ends with Sun Wukong / Destined One emerging victorious. And even they start to notice that the fights seem easier and he’s not getting as injured as before.

Destined One

[-] Before any fight, he always makes sure you’re safe. It becomes second nature for you to let yourself be picked up and placed on the highest tree branch. Out of harm, but still able to watch and see in case he needs help. 

[-] But regardless if you’re up high on a tree or just watching on the sidelines, DO will always look into your eyes and press his forehead against yours before heading off.

[-] It’s his way of promising you that everything will be alright and that he’ll be back. Since then, it’s become a little ritual between the two. 

[-] Even when his opponents get stronger and stronger, he always manages to win. But the one time he didn’t gaze at your lovely eyes and nuzzle your cheek, he was hit by countless arrows.

[-] If he didn’t believe in you being his lucky charm, he sure does now. Immediately after recovering he goes to you and pulls you into a hug.

[-] It’s not only in fighting that you bring him good luck. When he’s out with you, DO always finds the best items. Be it armor or weapons, you always seem to find them.

[-] The Destined One rightly assumes that the longer he stays clinging on to you the better his luck will be. So fully expect him to have you trapped in a hug.

Sun Wukong

[-] It starts off as teasing. 

[-] Wukong when laying his head on your lap would insist on having you groom his fur. He’s a king after all and he can’t be looking all rough. Nuzzling into your hand, he’ll grab your wrist and press his lips against your palm.

[-] It’s at that moment that a peach falls off the tree both of you were resting under. With a laugh, he’ll say how his sweet peach brought him a snack to eat. He’ll call you his lucky charm, but won’t think further about it.

[-] The next time he kisses you it’s on the cheek while he’s in the middle of a fight. Considering the foe too weak, he sent out a clone to deal with it. And enamored by your blush, both of you are surprised when the yaoguai trips and falls to their death.

[-] From then on, Wukong takes every opportunity to give you kisses. Be it on your hand, face, shoulder, or neck. He will find an opportunity to press his lips against your skin.

[-] Does he need luck. No, he’s the Great Sage Equal to Heaven after all. But if it lets him boast to everyone how he has his own personal lucky charm then he’s all for it.

[lovebugism]

Hi um, could you please maybe write something with Stevie and his agoraphobic girlfriend, who is worried she clings to him/depends on him too much for her own comfort and panics and tries to distance herself from him? (Also I adore your writing, you write for Steve so well, it hits me in the heart constantly)

thank u angel! i lovelovelove this request! — you worry steve thinks you're a burden, but really he just loves you (shy!fem!r, hurt/comfort, cw for mentions of social anxiety, 1k)

Steve can tell when you’re out of the shower. The air starts to smell vaguely of fresh flowers and warm vanilla as wisps of steam travel down the hall. He sorts groceries in the kitchen and smiles to himself when he hears your bare feet pad closer, giddy with the thought of surprising you.

You freeze in the doorway at the sight of him, looking more scared than shocked. Wet hair drips onto the neck of your oversized sweatshirt — definitely his. “What are you…?” you trail off, wide eyes darting around the kitchen, now filled with brown paper bags and new groceries.

Steve grins, pink and lopsided, as he slides fresh milk into the door of the fridge. “Hey, babe,” he greets in a honeyed voice.

“Hi…” you waver, brows still pinched with a distant concern.

“Good shower?” he asks, just before a chuckle spills from his mouth. “You were in there for, like, thirty minutes.”

You force a laugh of your own. “Yeah, it was… It was… fine— What are you doing?”

Steve meets your screwed-up features with a brighter beam. He holds a loaf of bread in one hand and chips in the other. “I went grocery shopping,” he answers.

“Okay,” you nod, then shrink inside yourself again. “…Why?”

He shrugs and sets the items on the counter, rambling as he digs into another crumpling paper bag. “‘Cause I knew you’ve been meaning to do it and everything, so… I thought I’d make it a little easier on you.”

Your heart threatens to swell at the simple act of kindness. Your brain doesn’t let it, though. The mean thing can’t comprehend that he’s doing this because he loves you. Instead, it tells you he’s doing this because he thinks you can’t.

“Thank you,” you murmur sheepishly, wringing your clammy hands into a knot. “But, you know, I could’ve done it…”

Steve scoffs. “Of course, you could’ve! I just wanted to do something nice for you.” He puts boxes of something into the upper cabinets you usually have trouble reaching. With his back to you, he rambles. “And don’t worry about paying me back, alright? Consider this me making up for takeout the other night. I really did forget my wallet at home, babe, I swear.”

The memory makes him laugh now that he’s over being horrified about it. He thought about it for days, though — the way he patted at his jeans in search of something that wasn’t there, and how the excuse sounded like a lie as it fell from his lips. 

You didn’t think twice about it after it happened. You were more than happy to pay for your dinner that night, especially considering Steve never lets you pay for anything.

As his quiet chuckling fades, he realizes you hadn’t laughed about it at all. Not even the pity laugh you give when you don’t think something’s all that funny, but you don’t want to be rude. 

With a worried look pinching his features, Steve looks at you over his shoulder. “What’s wrong?”

Your eyes go wide. “Hm?”

“What’s that look for, huh?”

“What look?” 

“That one,” he says with a quiet chuckle, pointing to the concerned frown scrunching your brows and swimming in your eyes. “You look upset about something.”

“No!” you blurt before you mean to. The last thing you want him to think is that you’re unhappy with him. So quieter and less convincingly, you waver, “No. I’m not… I’m not upset.”

Steve crosses his toned arms over his chest, looking less than swayed. “Did I… Did I do something? Should I not have bought the groceries— ‘Cause they were having a bunch of sales, you know— it wasn’t that expensive, I promise—”

“It’s not that,” you assure him firmly, before going suddenly shy all over again. “I just… I really could’ve done it, Steve.”

He nods, furrow-browed. “I know.”

You swallow hard. “I just don’t want you to think that you have to do all this stuff for me just because it’s… ‘cause it’s harder for me.”

Steve’s structured face goes lax with realization. He nods slowly to himself, chest wrenching because he understands it all now — why you look so pouty about the whole thing. Because you think you’re a burden.

His sneakers pad softly against the tile floor until they’re planted just ahead of your bare feet. Steve smiles down at you and smooths his palms over your sides. “I don’t feel like I have to do anything,” he promises with a faint laugh, squeezing gently at your hips. “I like doing these things for you… ‘Cause I like you and everything, I guess.”

You scrunch your nose to keep from smiling too big. “Well, that’s gross…” you mumble.

“Disgusting, huh?” Steve concurs with a lopsided grin before smacking a kiss to your mouth.

Your lips tingle for more of him when he pulls away. Your yearning hands twist at the hem of his shirt before he can step away from you completely. “At least let me help put them away,” you plead with sparkling eyes.

Steve’s face twists. “What do I look like to you?” he scoffs. “I’m not some kinda schmuck that makes his girl put up groceries! Go finish getting ready. Or lay down or something— I’m good in here.”

“I can help!” you protest, doing everything but stomping your foot.

“I know you can. Excuse me for wanting to pamper you.”

You make a faint grumbly noise of disdain but don’t press the issue any further.

“You can make it up to me later?” Steve offers with a plush pink grin. His softly calloused palms smooth over your shoulders, wide thumbs rubbing along your collarbones. “Movie date? At the Hawk? Next weekend?”

Your chest pinches with a momentary panic, but you know he’s doing everything right. 

The Hawk isn’t crazy crowded these days, and cinemas don’t usually call for a ton of human interaction. He’s giving you an entire week to prepare yourself for it, too. Steve’s learned all your little idiosyncrasies — for better or for worse.

“Try?” Steve presses at your silence.

You exhale a sharp breath through your nose to dispel the fleeting worry in your chest. You nod. “I’ll try.”

[shotmrmiller]

pretend boyfriend but it's in a time where roads are nothing more than muddy tracks, making travel slow and cumbersome. the town's buildings are a mix of weathered wood and crumbling brick, faded paint peeling off their facades. wanted posters, yellow and tattered, are plastered on every available surface, faces of outlaws and fugitives who roam the countryside depicted in greyish ink.

the townsfolk go about their lives with a wary eye, and you go about yours with a sharp one, in search of opportunity: a cowboy too drunk off his wits to know his right from his left. the humble borough of blackthorn doesn't need any more working girls, no more ladies with hair down to their corseted waists beautifying the arms of both bounty hunters and farm hands alike.

that's fine, you reckon. you've always had a knack for survival. your deft fingers have made a living out of slipping into pockets and relieving men of their hard earned coin pouches when they lose themselves in drink and laughter. its not an easier life than that of the ladies in the saloon but it's yours, and you've learned to navigate it with equal cunning and charm.

but as people say, anything that can go wrong, will and tonight nothing seems to go right for you. just as you'd been slipping the stolen bills from your latest mark in between the swell of your breasts, he stirs from his drunken sleep, bedsheet tangled in his spurs as he struggles to rise onto unsteady feet. his movements are sluggish, muddy brown eyes blinking against the dim light of the quaint room.

you don't wait for him to ask any inane questions, you know when you've been caught with your hand in the cookie jar. you run out the door on bare feet, fisting the rough fabric of your dress to lift it above your ankles as you barrel down the stairs.

your shoulders ache from bumping into patrons as you try to quickly weave your way toward the door, your breath coming in ragged, panicked gasps. the saloon is a blur or faces and noise, the jaunty tune coming from the piano as fast paced as the galloping of your heart.

just as you reach the swinging doors, you glance outside through the dusty window panes and see someone right across the street in the patio of the drugstore.

the star on his chest gleaming even in the flickering light of the shop is distinctive. your heart sinks like a stone dropped into a well, the weight of the situation leaden over your puffed shoulders.

but you haven't made it this far while skirting around law and order without a sharp mind. your thoughts swirl in your mind as you run through options. a horse loosely tied to the hitching post out front, sleeping roll behind the saddle. you could take it but risk getting roped off by someone. slipping out the windows would draw too much attention. using the back door near the kitchen would have the owner on your arse.

shit. shit-

then you spot him. sitting alone at a table is a hulking, beast of a man. (his broad shoulders and burly frame makes him resemble more mountain than man tbh.) a small shot glass rests on the scratched surface before him, the only delicate item in his vicinity. the wide-brimmed hat he wears casts a shadow over his face but the glint in his eyes is unmistakable. maybe that's why even the other patrons have given him a wide berth. (the knotted scar that runs from the corner of his cheek pulling his lips into a permanent, twisted sneer makes the hair on the nape of your neck stand on end.)

desperation fuels your next move.

your hand trembles when you place it on the the exposed skin of his forearm that's covered in a fine layer of grime, as does your voice when you speak.

"hey-" you don't get to finish your sentence, feeling the words crumble into ash on your tongue when you realize you're out of time. the drunken idiot from upstairs is storming straight towards you, his nostrils flared, white etched on his knuckles. panic surges through you and so you move.

coming to stand behind the seated stranger, your arms cradle his large head, clammy palms flat on the sweat stained fabric of his union shirt. his body tenses under your touch, muscles cooling like a spring, but you muster all the bravado you can.

"if ya got a problem with me," your voice is steady despite the fear that's settled at the base of your spine, "take it up with my husband."

the drunk comes to an abrupt halt, his anger momentarily replaced by confusion, uncertainty, as he glances between you and the human(?) shield you're clinging to.

the room has fallen silent, all eyes on the unfolding drama. they watch with bated breaths, even the bartender had paused mid-polish, his hand frozen on the glass.

the man wavers, his resolve crumbling like freshly tilled dirt before you. but the final nail in the coffin is when your 'husband' grabs onto your arm and leads you to sit onto his lap, both your legs fitting on top of his one, feeling the tarnished buckle of his leather belt even through the couple of layers of your dress on your arsecheek, his arm cinching tightly around your waist.

his skin feels rough, scarred, yet warm, beneath your hand. (embarrassing that this surprises you.)

you can feel his voice vibrate from his chest and sink into your bones when he aids you in this mess you've created. "ya 'eard m'wife. piss off 'fore i make you."

his mouth twists into an ugly line but concedes defeat, telling your 'husband' to "keep his wh-wife on a tighter leash unless she's keen on ending up on a missing poster alongside the wanted ones."

when you turn in his lap to look outside the window, watching the drunk unsteadily get on his horse and leave, you give the man you're on a muted thanks and move to get up only-

the arm around your waist feels more like an iron band. you're can't get up. you can't leave. your feet don't even touch the wooden floorboards of the saloon. you turn your wide eyes toward him, lips parted in surprise.

he doesn't seem as surprised as you.

"wha'? thought you could jus' up and go 'bout your way?"

you open your mouth wider, to scream maybe, you aren't sure but he cuts you off with a sharp suck of his teeth.

"make trouble and there will be trouble. i'll drag your pretty arse to the sheriffs office by the hair."

the realization of what he is keeps you utterly frozen in place, any fight you'd had bleeding out of you.

a bloody bounty hunter. no wonder everyone had kept their distance.

"i'm gonna be finishin' this bottle and you'll be a good wife and draw me a bath in our hotel room."

(he plucks the dirty money from where you'd kept it and tosses it on the bar top, carrying you straight to where he'd hitched his horse and plops you in front, your back to his barrel of a chest. "youll bathe with me, gotta have you clean for our consummation.")

[heretherebeturtles-comic]

Hello! Many people have said this but ill say it too, I LOVE YOUR COMIC SO MUCH ( ´ ▽ ` ).｡ｏ♡

I really wanted to ask you about how you do the backgrounds? (Something i struggle with) whats the process? Like from start to finish, also, to do the rise backgrounds do you use reference from the show and generally real photo of ny? Or do you come up with them? And last question- The shadow and light on the background- Like HOW

i know it’s a lot of questions but i’m just so curious qwq and wanna learn to be better, thank you again in case you read this and respond, in case you don’t, i hope you have a nice day and a wonderful life uwu keep up the great work! (≧◡≦) ♡

Backgrounds are a really broad subject and I'm always a little overwhelmed when asked this question. Just like drawing the human body, backgrounds take time, repetition, and practice!

My answer got a bit long, so it's going under a read more :) but if you digest info better in video format I found this on youtube

It pretty much goes over everything I wanted to say, but in a much better way. I wish I had found it before writing all this out lol

ok, first of all, I'm not a teacher nor was I built to be one of those cool helpful art tutorial people who do a full coloured tutorial filled with illustrations. This is just going to be a messy "how I do backgrounds / environment layouts from start to finish." kinda thing.

... lets start with a sight tangent.

Sketch from Life!!!

If you want to get better at backgrounds I recommend doing some sketching out in the real world!

When I was first getting into doing backgrounds I went to cafes and parks to just sketch the buildings and objects. Sketch rocks, flowers, clumps of grass, garbage cans, bottles, tables, street signs, etc. If you are drawing a tree observe how the trunks twist, how the bark flows, or how the leaves are bunched.

If you can't leave the house the same still applies! Sketch the interiors of your house, the walls, or common objects like chairs and bookshelves. How are objects stacked? items on the floor?

If you aren't comfortable with drawing outside or in public you can take some photos to draw from! They are good for practice and you can use them again as references later. Alternatively you can find pictures online of buildings and objects to sketch as practice.

All spaces have objects in them, it becomes easier to draw those kinds of spaces when you already have spent time observing and sketching them.

ALSO! They don't have to be good sketches! It's just to build out your mental catalogue and strengthen your perception of perspective.

now the actual thing...

BACKGROUNDS

(the pictures used for this are my own. I dug them out of my 2022 folder)

Backgrounds have slightly different rules based on what you are making them for. Videogame Environment Concept Art vs Animation Layouts vs Comic Backgrounds vs Illustration backgrounds.

They all follow the same basics, which I will go over here, but the intention and function of those designs are going to be different. It's all about how you set up the scene and what it's purpose is!

Brainstorming and Thumbnailing

I like to think about a location as though it is a character. An abandoned old house with creaky sagging floorboards is very different from a futuristic space ship with sharp metal floor panels. A gas station has a very different feeling from a library.

I usually start by asking what is this location's story? Why was it built and for what purpose? What kinds of things does this room need to fulfill that purpose? You don’t need solid answers, but its good to be thinking about it while you are working.

Next, sketch some ideas for how this place is going to look. For me, this usually involves drawing the idea from multiple angles and then making lists & small sketches of the objects I think should be filling the space.

Example: The main character of my original work is a Wanderer. They collect a lot of things on their travels, but those items have to be small enough to be easily carried in a backpack. I wanted his room to be in the corner of an attic, walled off by curtains, and filled with trinkets. You can see some of my brainstorming above.

References

I only look for references after I've done some sketching and planning; this is to solidify my idea first so that I don't accidentally copy anyone else's work. I will make a moodboard with pictures of lighting, colours, items, rooms with specific ceiling beams, old chairs, etc. basically whatever I feel fits the vibe.

Honestly, I don't use references as much as I should. For ROTTMNT fanart I look at backgrounds and screenshots from the series to study the style. I also reference actual photos of NYC to get a feel for how Rise condenses the visual information.

In general, it's good to have references of real life objects/locations, because there are so many details like cracks in pavement, stickers on polls, crowning on buildings, fancy fencing, weird chair legs, etc. that you might not think of. It's the imperfect details that can make a location feel more alive.

Perspective

Once you have your chosen sketch we move to.... the infamous perspective boxes. Doing backgrounds is just learning to be comfortable drawing So Many boxes and carving items out of them.

Many better artists than myself have made videos on perspective, vanishing points, and all the technical bits. Videos like THIS ONE and THIS ONE are helpful (this post is great too!!). There are probably a lot of classes to be found on Skillshare or Schoolism. I learned a lot of this in my college art course, so I can't give you a specific video which helped me.

You can get by and be a good artist without learning this stuff. There are quite a few successful artists who have admitted they never bothered to learn perspective (one of these people even made a whole graphic novel series).

I personally avoided properly learning this stuff until I was in my 20s because I thought it would be boring and difficult to do. tbh I really wish I had learned it earlier because it's so much fun to make those silly little boxes imo. It looks scary and complicated but, just like drawing humans, it just takes time, repetition, and practice to develop the knowledge and skills.

Cleanup

You have your boxes and lines! Cool! Now to make a scene out of it. Fill in the details, get everything placed were you want it! Generally, the lines of each item will point back towards the horizon line, but they can have different perspective points.

Generally you would want to clean it up and get your room completely sketched before doing the lineart. I tend to combine the steps (not recommended)

Lineart

I've mentioned how I do this before. Closer objects have thicker lines and more detailed inside. Further objects have thinner lines and less detail. I didn't quite achieve that balance with the image below, but it's close enough.

Colours and Shading will have to be a separate post. In the meantime, I highly recommend the book "Color and Light" by James Gurney. I used to borrow it from my local library and a good chunk of my knowledge was learned from it :)

[messrmoonyy]

- Amor vincit omnia

Marcus Acacius x Fem!reader

Summary: Marcus returns from another military campaign and finds you tense with the unrest building in Rome, thanks to your brothers blood thirsty ways. And so he helps take your mind off it.

A/N- this purely self indulgent. Marcus has me by the throat. He has done since trailer 1. Tough men who melt for their woman!!! I am so here for that. Watching the movie and seeing how he was with Lucilla? I was a goner. So. Here’s this.

Warnings- 18+ | likely inaccurate/ooc Marcus as this is my first time writing for him. And writing for this time period. Not mentioned but kind of implied age gap. Smut: unprotected p in v, slight fingering( wc-4.5k )

Being born into royalty guaranteed you a life of luxury. Stability. No need to worry or want for anything. But that didn’t mean you were happy.

Your brothers had all the power the empire had to offer. And you? Very little.

They kept you hidden away for the most part. Even your quarters in the palace were on the complete opposite side to your brothers. Like a prisoner in your own home. Kept away. Out of sight. You couldn’t leave unless they allowed it, and even in that rare occurrence you were not to be let out of sight.

They brought you out for appearances sakes. Let the people of Rome see you at the colosseum from time to time. Let your face been seen to greet people at their frequent feasts, eat with them but remain silent. And then be sent away before they indulged in their hedonistic pleasures for the evening.

But your appearances being at only prestigious events, meant you mingled with the nobility at times. And along with that, had come to know Romes beloved General.

You’d been enamoured from day one. The first time you’d gotten to actually talk to him, the way he had looked at you like you were one the goddesses before him. The way he wanted to know about you. Listen. Had sat with you for what felt like hours as you gushed over how much you adored Virgil and Catullus. And though your brothers desire to hide you away kept you lonely for the most part, it also meant they rarely had their eye on you when you were inside palace walls. Which allowed for many a secret rendezvous.

Like the one you were presently waiting on.

Stood in the large arched window of your chambers, looking at the gardens below, the only place you could really roam freely. The flora bright and lush even in the twilight. Flowers that you couldn’t even name, buds and seeds brought back amongst the many stolen items from the Generals travels. His conquests under command of your brothers.

One of those conquests that was being celebrated presently. Past the gardens you could see the city alight with celebrations still. The rich throwing parties in their homes and gardens, whilst Romes lesser subjects suffered. The fires in the streets there to keep warm, not to light up lavish parties and celebrations. Celebrations like the ones presently in the palace. Which you cared very little for, but it did allow for a much easier meeting with your lover, as he was already inside palace walls. Eating. Drinking. Dancing maybe. Making himself seen for appearances sake when really all he was really waiting for was to get to you.

All he’d have to do is slip through the crowds and disappear from sight. Take the well practiced walk to your chambers. And hide away with you for the night.

And so. Eventually you heard a knock on your door. Firm and short. Then the sound of someone entering without being given vocal permission.

You didn’t need to turn around to know it was him. No one else entered your room without asking first. Your staff wouldn’t dare, even though you were always kind to them. Considerate. Far gentler than most nobles would deem necessary. They still knew their place. And they knew to obey you.

But Marcus knew he could enter without permission. He had done it often enough. Though he would always wait by the door once inside for you to speak. Acknowledge him. Wait to be fully welcomed into your space.

You were silent for a few short moments. Eyes still transfixed on the lights in the distance past the palace gates.

“ Rome is alight with joy at your return “ you finally spoke up, eyes still watching the glow of the lights in the city. Listening to the sounds of the happy crowds as they danced and cheered. Chanted and sang in drunken joy. Mingling with the cry’s of those that begged for food.

Events like this could distract them from the utter misery most of them were suffering each day. But not completely.

The tensions in Rome were rising. And it made you uneasy.

“ unnecessary celebrations “ Marcus murmured. He never had liked the fanfare. The attention. He was a soldier to his bones, not a fancy nobleman who liked to flash his privilege around and indulge in such festivities.

“ my brothers don’t seem to agree “ you responded. If you focussed enough you could hear the music somewhere in the palace “ through they will take any possibility to throw a party “

You heard Marcus stepping a little closer but he didn’t say anything for a few moments.

“ I was expecting them to bring you out “

“ I told them I was unwell and not up to it “ it had been a lie. But you didn’t want to go down there and force a smile onto your face. Sit still and pretty, when your mind was elsewhere. And had been for weeks “ I sense unrest in the near future “ you said quietly. Eyes still fixed on the celebrations “ it makes me uneasy “

“ you say that as if there is not always a lingering unrest in the empire. Men will always want to be gods. Emperors will always want more. More. More my darling “ Marcus said. His voice low and collected. It made you turn your head a little to the side to glance his way.

“ maybe so. But it is different this time Marcus “ you spoke, voice a little firmer as if to make him listen. Understand your lingering fears for what was beginning to boil under the surface of Romes imperial strength.

He stood there in a state of silence for a moment, a hand twisting one of the rings on his fingers as he seemed to take in what you said. Then, he let out another short exhale before speaking once more.

“ I am not sure of what’s about to transpire.” He admitted a little bluntly “ But I’m starting to sense it too. Like a storm, just waiting to happen. The people are starving. They sleep with empty bellies whilst emperors gorge themselves.”

He looked over at you, a concerned look apparent in his expression. He stepped in closer once again. He was within touching distance now. And he spoke again, his voice becoming more hushed like there was someone else there with you. Always scared someone may be listening in. The walls would always have ears “ It worries me. Greatly ”

“ me too “ you admitted quietly. If it came down to it and the people revolted. Or the senate conspired… you would be defenceless. Not only were you a woman. But the sister of the emperors. The emperors that more and more people in Rome were starting to despise. Would you be used as an example? Sent to the colosseum? Beheaded and your head staked outside the palace doors? There was a never ending list of how it would end for you. And none of the outcomes were particularly pretty.

Rome enjoyed punishing those it felt deserved it. Whether they truly did or not.

“ but it does no good to dwell on such thoughts “ you said after another few moments of silence. Fidgeting slightly with the fine material of your stola.

Marcus was behind you now. If you thought hard enough you could swear you could feel his body heat through the gold of his ceremonial armour.

“ so you do not think of the possibilities?”

“ no “ you said maybe a little too fast. It made a soft chuckle escape his lips and his hands landed on your shoulders. His touch was like magic. Like it has shattered the tense feeling not only in the air around you but in your limbs.

“ I know you too well my lady “ that made you smile. Just a little. A small twitch in your lips

“ that you do “ you smiled softly, turning your head to brush your cheek softly to his fingers. He squeezed your shoulders softly, a silent request for you to turn around. And you did, tilting your head slightly to the side as you looked up at him. Your hand coming up to scratch softly at his beard.

“ and you must know if things should collapse in the city… if I should- “ he sighed and cut himself off for a moment. You got the idea he was planning something. Something he wouldn’t, or couldn’t, tell you. But you trusted him implicitly. And you knew that if he wasn’t telling you it was for good reason. That when the time came he would tell you what you needed to know “ just know my lady, my loyalty does not lie with your brothers “ he said after a few beats of silence “ my loyalty, as it always has, lies with you “

You would’ve known that without him having to say it. But it was always nice to hear. Especially in a time where you felt so utterly and completely helpless. Alone.

But it also made you realise how much your time may be precious. Your time with Marcus specifically. If he was planning something, something big. It would be risky. Worse than any barbarian filled, untamed part of the empire. If he were to try conspire-

“ I do not wish to discuss it anymore “ you said and ran your fingertips over the cool gold of the laurels on his head “ war and death. What is morally right and wrong… it makes my head ache so deeply “

Marcus was a good distraction. He always was. He kept you sane.

“ and such a pretty head. What a crime for it to come to any pain “ his fingers skimmed some of your hair behind your ear, that gorgeous smile of his on his face that only you really got to see. It made you so weak in the knees. The way his eyes crinkled, those beautiful little lines that formed in the corners. You laughed softly at his words, always so appreciative. Complimentary.

You didn’t know what was going on with the tensions building in rome. You didn’t know how much longer Geta and Caracalla could keep their tentative grasp on things. But one thing you did know. Was that Marcus Acacius was devoted to you entirely.

And you to him.

“ I did miss you greatly “ you whispered after a few moments, realising you hadn’t mentioned it “ each time you are away… I… I am sure I spend the majority of my day on my knees praying to the gods “

Marcus’ large hands moved then to gently cup your face, his calloused palms rough against your perfectly smooth skin in a way that shouldn’t have felt as nice as it did.

“ you know I will always come back to you my lady. Always “ he murmured, his thumbs brushing against your cheeks “ never, and I mean never think I would leave you willingly. The gods themselves would have to rip me from your side, and even then I wouldn't stop fighting to come back to you."

You smiled softly and let your eyes close for a moment, your hands sliding up his arms to gently wrap your fingers around his wrists. Like he may vanish any second

“ oh how I missed you “ you whispered.

Marcus looked down at you with a mix of fondness and sorrow in his eyes. His sweet, lonely, girl.

As his head dipped down you instantly tipped your head up to meet him, his angular nose brushing against yours for a moment like he was waiting for permission to kiss you. He didn’t need it. But he always wanted it

“ kiss me my darling “ you whispered, lips so close to his they brushed as you spoke. And in a beat he granted your request. His lips capturing yours. It was like every drop of tension immediately vanished from your body, stepping closer to him so that your chest pressed to the solid force that was his.

He always kissed you like you were delicate. And he’d confessed such thoughts too. Like he was too brutish and strong. That he didn’t have a place kissing someone as gentle as you.

But it never took much convincing to urge him on.

You let yourself melt into it, let him hold your face so tenderly as he kissed away your fears and your stress. Even if just for tonight.

You had missed him. Missed this. The familiar tickly, scratchy feel of his moustache and beard against your soft skin. The way his large hands that were so stained in blood, used to such violence and anger, being soft. Gentle. Tender as they slipped into your hair. Twisting the strands around his fingers to anchor himself to you.

“ take me to bed “ you whispered against his lips when you both had no choice but to pull back slightly, breaths mingling in short soft pants “ give me the tender affections i so deeply crave “

“ you know I could never deny you my lady “ he murmured with a smile that made a small, soft laugh bubble past your lips. It was true. He never would. You were the only woman, only person period, who could make this man weak in the knees. He’d drop to the floor and kiss your feet in utter submission if you asked it of him.

He scooped you up into his arms with a smile, carrying you across the room to gently deposit you on your bed. You looked up at him with a coy smile as you lay amongst the plush linens.

From your spot you watched as he made swift work of removing the outer layers of his ceremonial armour. Watching a man who was conditioned to need to be protected at all times, need to be strong and prepared, remove the precious clothes… it always felt like a privilege.

You giggled softly when he climbed onto the bed with you, moving over your body in just his tunic now, propping himself above you on his elbows.

“ my beautiful one, like a goddess laying in wait for me here “ he murmured, brushing the backs of his fingers to your cheek “ as tempting as Venus herself “

“ I am no goddess my darling “ you whispered, leaning slightly into his touch as your eyes locked onto his.

He kissed you again. Like you were a source of air. And his large hands wandered, the fine fabric of your stola being pushed up your body, then over your head. His hands and lips everywhere. Mapping out every inch of your skin as if he didn’t already have it committed to memory.

“ always so soft “ he murmured as his lips descended between the valley of your breasts, your back arching up as if to chase the feeling even more.

“ let me feel your skin on mine “ you whispered. Hands weakly tugging on his tunic. He didn’t need to be told twice. And it soon had joined your stola on the floor, a blissful sigh leaving your lips as he pressed his body to yours. It felt like being reawakened. Like the shackles keeping your mind so locked in a sense of fear and unrest… shattered. The feel of his war ravaged body against yours. So soft and pristine. Never having done a days hardship in your life. It felt… right. So unbearably right.

“ my little dove. So perfect and all mine “ he whispered as he kissed at your neck, his hand sliding down your body. Following the curves and the lines, the soft feminine dip of your waist and curve of your hip. Tracing a gentle path down until it settled between your thighs, fingers brushing through the soft thatch of curls and then along your slit.

“ your body is already preparing itself for me “ he murmured next to your ear, his thick fingers gliding through the slippery slickness between your thighs. It was a little embarrassing. All you’d done was kiss, feel his hands running over your body. And yet you were soaked.

“ you see how much I have missed you?” You whispered, your eyes locked onto his as he lifted his face from your neck.

“ I missed you too my darling “ he whispered, and you whined softly as one of his fingers gently pushed into your welcoming warmth “ every night I lay sleeping on that ship I dreamt of being inside you once again “ his words made your cheeks flush, the thought of him on his way to a brutal battle. But thinking of you. Wanting to be home with you.

His fingers that were usually covered in blood or dust or sweat. Now dripping with the essence of you. The metallic scent of ichor nowhere to be found, just the heady scent of your arousal clinging to his fingers instead.

“ Marcus “ you whimpered softly as his fingers slowly pumped in and out of you, the soft wet sounds mingling with your breathy pants. So weak from something as simple as his hand.

“ shh I know little dove “ he murmured and kissed your forehead. Your cheek “ your body always welcomes me so warmly. So readily. How I dreamed of being in this moment again with you “ his words were like honey, your body melting into the bed with their combination of his touch. He pleasured you as naturally as he held his sword. A man able to kill and give pleasure as if they were one and the same. A rigid dichotomy you didn’t wish to think too much about in that moment.

“ I dreamed of you too “ you whimpered “ every night I wished you were laying beside me “ he smiled and curled his fingers up, making a gasp escape your lips and your hips buck.

“ such filthy thoughts for a princess “

When he deemed you prepared enough, he withdrew his fingers. Sucking your essence from them in a way that never failed to make your cheeks burn.

“ the filthy one here is you my love “ you whispered, making him chuckle as he settled between your legs, using his knee to nudge your thighs apart, you let out a steady exhale. You could feel the heavy weight of his hard length against your leg and it made you chew on your bottom lip.

“ are you ready for me little dove?” He whispered, gently brushing some hair back from your face. He always gazed upon you like you were the most beautiful creature.

“ yes. Yes I am ready “ you replied and turned your head to kiss the palm of his hand that had settled against your cheek “ please Marcus. I have waited so long. So patiently. Do not make me wait a moment longer “

His eyes lingered a little longer. Just to be sure. Always wanting to be sure. Before wrapping his hand around his throbbing length and notching it at your weeping entrance.

You whined and arched your back when he pushed forward. Your body had missed him, missed the stretch. The weight. The fullness. And it welcomed him home with a practiced familiarity. Like the space inside of you was carved out specifically for him and him alone.

You watched his face intently, a hand on his cheek to take in every single emotion. The way his brow furrowed as soon as he felt your body envelope him, slowly sliding into you and stretching your walls so perfectly around him. A deep moan falling past his lips.

“ you feel so good. Always so good my flower " He whispered, his tone deep and husky. He knew you took no other lovers. Unlike your brothers that seemed to be making their way through every single concubine in Rome. Your body was his. For him. His eyes his hands. And so it had been a while since you’d last taken him. Since before he’d left for Numidia. And he knew this. So he was even more gentle than usual "Just a bit more. You can take all of me, I know you can." He gently encouraged you, his hand moving to gently push at your thigh. Opening you up just that little bit more to him, his eyes drifting down briefly to watch the way your body eagerly accepted him in.

“ I’m okay “ you whispered, a shaky exhale leaving your lips “ I can take it “ you agreed, urging him to pepper your face in soft gentle kisses. He never wanted your discomfort.

“ that’s my sweet girl “ he murmured and kept pushing on until his pelvis was flush to yours, the soft curls at his base tickling your skin in the most delicious way “ there we go. That’s it”

He remained still for a few moments, your eyes locked on his as you took deep and slow breaths. Adjusting. Your body reacquainting itself with his.

“ ready my flower?” He whispered and kissed your cheek. You simply gave him a nod, your hand sliding over his strong bicep and squeezing softly.

He remained still a moment longer, then gently began to move within you. Every thrust was slow and deep, almost teasing in nature. Slow, long, drags. Pulling out almost completely before sliding back in at an agonisingly slow speed "Good, little dove... That's my girl..." he whispered, his voice still reassuring and gentle. One large hand shifting to gently knead at your chest, trying to relax you as much as humanly possible " you take me so well “

Soft, sweet moans escaped your lips as he settled into a steady but oh so deep pace. Your hips already beginning to ache at having to stretch so wide to accommodate his broad body, but it was a welcomed ache. It made you feel alive in a way you only felt with him.

“ oh Marcus “ you gasped your hand slipping to grasp the back of his neck, fingers tangling in the curls there that were already damp with with a sheen of sweat that was glowing on his skin.

"Oh gods..." He groaned, closing his eyes at the blissful sensations you offered him . The tight heat, the sound of your breathy little moans. He knew and you knew that they didn't always have time for slow, passionate lovemaking, but he was enjoying every single moment of it. He didn't want it to end. The general wanted it to last forever. As did you.

But there was also an underlying desperation lingering between the two of you. Of how much you had missed each other. How desperately you needed each other.

And his hand moved away from your chest to grasp your free hand, interlocking his fingers with yours and pinning it down against your bed sheets.

“ Marcus “ you whimpered in some pathetic kind of way. A plea. For more. More. Always more. More of him. More of the two of you. Just. More.

“ I know my darling. I know. I’ve got you sweet one “ he whispered and readjusted his position, thrusting into you with a little more urgency. Harder. Deeper.

He began groaning louder, letting himself go in a way he had once confessed he never had with previous lovers. Always wanting it done quick. Emotionless. But not with you, never like that with you. He let his walls down. It was more than just a means to an end with you. It was special. Passionate. It was love.

His hips continued to push hard against yours, your body jostling with each deep thrust he granted you "There you go, my love. Look at you taking all of me." He praised, holding onto your hand tightly like he was scared you’d vanish "You don't know how divine you look right now..." he murmured into her ear, dropping his head to pepper your neck with kisses. Careful not to mark you, gods forbid your brothers should pay attention long enough to see “ the most ethereal creature “

“ I missed you so “ you whimpered, your arms tight around his neck to hold him close “ I missed you “

“ and I you my love… you feel so perfect… so tight. So wet. Perfect for me my flower “ he murmured against your ear, his teeth playfully nipping at your soft skin " I missed you my dove..." he breathed your familiar pet name like a prayer as he made love to you, every movement of his hips bringing you both closer to ecstasy. And ecstasy you knew would be more earth shattering than ever after so long without his touch.

He whispered softly in your ear , his lips grazing your skin. Praising you. Loving you. Over and over "I've missed this, my love. I've missed being inside you, feeling your body against mine. I promise to never to leave you again" you knew it was a empty promise. That he would leave again. That the emperors would call him away.

But you didn’t call him out on the fact. Too lost in him. The feelings he gave you.

“ I love you my darling “ you whimpered as the familiar tension started to grow deep in your body, with every thrust hitting the most incredible spot inside you. It made tears spring in your eyes. But not out of sadness or pain. Out of utter joy and happiness at having him back in your arms even for a short period.

“ and I… you little dove “ he panted softly, his head lifting as his eyes locked on yours. He knew your body well. Knew the signs of your impending climax and he kissed your lips before speaking again “ you’re close sweet one “

You nodded and grasped at his face to keep his eyes locked with yours “ finish with me?” You pleaded “ please “ he nodded and kissed you again, picking up his pace ever so slightly, one hand pushing your thigh up as if to let him get impossibly deeper.

And a few more deep strokes had you stumbling head first over the edge. Your orgasm so blinding you were certain it made your vision blur. Every nerve in your body sparking like hot coals. And the way your walls spasmed and clenched down around Marcus was clearly his undoing too. Delivering one final, deep thrust before he groaned loudly, spilling his seed into you in a way that you would never tire of. No matter how risky the situation was.

Your body trembled as your climax finally dissipated. Going weak and boneless as you sunk into the linens below you, panting softly as you still clung to Marcus. Who was fighting the urge to just drop down against you too.

But he carefully rolled off you, pulling you against his side immediately. A soft kiss to your forehead and a large hand stroking down your spine. You were certain this was what pure bliss felt like. Maybe you’d died and fallen into the elysian fields. Peace and bliss and love.

“ I love you “ he whispered and kissed your head again as you lay composing yourself against his chest “ and I meant what I said little dove…. My loyalties lie with you. And if- “

“ shh “ you said softly and lifted your head, placing a finger to his lips “ not now. Let us just enjoy this moment together “ you didn’t know how many of these moments you would get now. They had always been special and each moment was to be cherished. But even more so now.

You didn’t know what the future held for Rome. Or for you. But you knew Marcus would be at your side. And that was enough for now.

[orimuraa]

⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ i’m a fool of love for you - nishimura riki

꒰ 𝔖𝘺𝘯𝘰𝘱𝘴𝘪𝘴 ꒱┆a special confession with a button ⨾

۶ৎ student!nishimura riki x fem student!reader┆fluff┆confession, cuteness┆ wc 723

⤷ 𝐲𝐞𝐣𝐢’𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬: happy birthday to my riki!! in his bday paper interview, he said that in japan, they confess by giving the second button to the person they like so this is inspired by that!

꒰ঌ ℬℴℴ𝓀𝓈𝒽ℯ𝓁𝒻 ໒꒱

today was the day both you and riki graduated high school. the day that riki would finally pick up the courage and confess to you, his childhood friend and childhood crush.

in japan, it's a tradition that kids confess to their crushes on the last day of school by giving the person they like their second button.

before school, riki had loosened the second button on his school uniform so it would be easier to take off later.

the day went by in a blur and it was a bittersweet day for both you and riki. the school that you had made so many memories in would no longer be your school and you would both be traveling away for a future.

riki's palms were insanely sweaty as the day was coming to an end. he had already ripped off the second button on his uniform and placed it in his pocket for safe keeping.

now was the struggle of giving it to you.

from as long as you can remember, riki has always been very protective of you and always looked out for you.

it wasn't until around 8th grade that you started catching feelings for the boy.

he had started to grow into his features more and he shot up during the first year of high school. he lost his baby features and quickly matured, the goofy kid you once knew masked by the new riki.

but that didn't mean you liked him any less. he was still the same sweet riki to you, he just changed quite a bit when he was at school.

he had a "cool" and "mysterious" aura to him as he walked the hallways with you, chatting away by his side.

people always thought that he never liked you as he never looked like he was engaging with you, but you both knew that riki was always paying attention to you.

he was always listening to your every word and he would attentively nod here and there. he liked you since forever and as he grew up, he found it harder to hide away his feelings.

so here you were today, the two of you hiding away your feelings. but riki intended to change that.

"hey ynnie! wait up!" the deep and husky voice called from behind you. turning around, you're greeted with nishimura riki smiling down at you, his breathing a bit labored as he probably ran up the stairs to catch up to you.

"oh hi ki! whatcha need?" you smile, facing the boy fully. riki felt his head go blank the moment you smiled at him and he completely forgot everything he had just rehearsed.

"o-oh, uhh i uhhh just wanted to give you something.." his words came out as a stutter at first but then softened into a mumble.

you watched as he reached into his pocket, pulling out a small object and motioning for you to hold out your hand.

he gently placed the small item in your hand before sheepishly looking at the ground.

it took you a minute to realize that it was a button. but not just any button, riki's second button.

for confirmation, you look up and see that riki is in fact, missing the second button on his uniform.

"ki...why didn't you tell me sooner?" your voice soft so that you didn't throw riki off.

"i- i just didn't know how to tell you and i didn't want to ruin our friendship...it's alright if you don't feel the same though, i don't want this to pressure you.." he rambled, his gaze still on his shoes.

"noo ki, i like you too! i have for a while...and i guess that makes us two fools in love.." you laugh, the sound echoing around the hallways.

the open windows allowing the soft breeze to blow in, the cool air feeling refreshing in the now suffocating hallway.

"hah, yeah i guess.." riki laughs back, finally looking you in the eye. "so does that mean you'll be my girlfriend?"

"yes!! a hundred times yes ki! i've waited so many years for that question!" you squeal, throwing your arms around riki's tall frame.

you two stay wrapped in each other's embraces for a bit before riki's pulling away to look you in the eyes.

"i'm glad i waited for you, my love."

𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬: @en-diaries, @k-films, @k-nets

⚘. Perm taglist: @vmpivory, @yuvany, @seozii, @pinknjm, @greentulip, @jomisu, @nxzz-skz, @ancnymcnzjy

[latenightdaydreams]

https://twitter.com/archivetic/status/1758334384585769157?t=hoktjLg2x8FmpQRqmJJPeA&s=19

Can you write about Knight!Konig and princess reader just like the video above? Konig takes her virginity and slaps her puffy pink unused pussy before he puts his humongous cock into her.

I LOVE KNIGHT KÖNIG!! Also😮‍💨 to be in the woods with König in that woman's position would be a dream.

I made up fake kingdoms so it is easier to self insert for the story!

Knight!König x Princess!Reader (fem)

MDNI🔞

Master List

>cw: fem/afab. non-con, bondage, p in v, oral

2.7k word count

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You are the youngest princess from the Kingdom of Cerdon, a rich kingdom not known for its generosity. You’ve been asked to travel to a neighboring kingdom to court the prince for allegiance. The Kingdom of Falgar, known for its strong military, would be able to provide your kingdom with the protection it needs and yours will provide the poor nation with gold.

You sit with a deep purple dress with golden hand embroidery along the hem, your hair pulled back exposing your delicate shoulders. You sit in the study with a book open on your lap while you gaze out of the window. A guard walks up to you and clears his throat to get your attention.

Turning your head slowly, your sad eyes meet his gaze.

“My Princess,” he bows before you, “I’ve been requested to bring you to the throne room.” He stands back up and steps to the side, waiting for you to stand and follow him.

“Why?” You’ve always been known as the defiant princess.

The guard sighs and turns his head to you, “Princess, the King is summoning you. You must come with me.” His voice stern, not wanting to deal with your antics.

Slowly you close the book in your lap, placing it on the seat next to you and standing. You adjust your dress and straighten your posture.

“Okay, let’s go.”

The guard escorts you to the throne room where you see your father and mother sitting at their thrones with an extremely large knight standing before them. You walk in and bow to the king, your own father and you hated it. You take a seat on your throne next to your mother.

“Princess y/n, this is Knight König, from the Kingdom of Falgar.”

König nods at you, his helmet covering his face completely. His eyes fall to your cleavage as your chest rises and falls with every deep breath you take; he can tell that you’re feeling nervous. What a sweet looking young woman you are.

The Queen, your mother, turns her head to you with a sad look in her eyes. One that makes your heart drop into your stomach. She gives you a weak smile before turning her head and looking at Knight König.

“Well, I suppose you know why we have called you here.”

You lean forward in your throne to see your father. He talks without looking at you. He can feel you looking at him, but you’re his youngest and the thought of this possibly being the last time he sees you hurts his heart; he has to be a strong man right now.

“Knight König here is going to be escorting you to the Kingdom of Falgar. Your items will be packed by the help and sent after you.”

Your heart pounds in your chest as you frown. You knew this day would come, but you always thought that you would get a date so you could prepare. You look back at König and your father.

“I don’t want to go.” You say in a shaky voice.

The Queen closes her eyes and takes a deep breath, she knew you would fight this which is why they surprised you with it. They didn’t want to risk you trying to run away. König rolls his eyes but you can’t see it because of his helmet.

Typical spoiled brat… König thinks to himself.

“This is not up for discussion; the arrangements have already been made.” The King's voice booms.

With tears threatening to fall you cross your arms and glare at your father. You watch as your mothers drops her head.

“I don’t mean to speak out of turn, but we must leave before the sun begins to set.” Knight König speaks up in a soft tone.

Your head snaps in his direction with a look of disdain on your face. “No one asked you to speak!”

“Y/N!” Your meek mother snaps. “You will leave now! No more of this.” Tears begin to stream down her eyes as she stands.

You stand quickly and latch on to her, wrapping your arms around her in a deep hug, both of you crying as she pets your hair.

“Please behave, your kingdom needs you. Think of their wellbeing.”

Her words stung. Since you were a child, you’ve been well aware that your role as a Princess was to be educated, beautiful, and versed in the arts so you could be a worthy trade. You’re a human, not a piece in a chess game. You’ve always hated not being able to live life for yourself, always being told what to wear, how to look, what hobbies to learn. Your life is a gilded cage. Now you’re being sent away with this ogre to a poor Kingdom.

Your mother pulls away and walks away from you, leaving the throne room. You look at your father and he still avoids your gaze.

“Prinzessin,” Knight König approaches you with his hand extended for you to grasp. “We must leave now, Bitte.”

Your face mixed with sadness and rage, you take his hand and you let him lead you outside. He walks you outside to see the most beautiful black horse you’ve ever seen, but no carriage.

“I’m not riding on that the whole way there.”

“Would you rather walk?” König says quickly, annoyed with what he has seen so far of your attitude.

You cross your arms and glare at him.

“Let’s go, now.” He pulls you towards him and lifts you by your waist, putting you on the horse before getting on himself with you sitting in front of him.

Before he took off, you look back to see one of your older sisters standing outside and waving good-bye to you with a sad look on her face. You weakly raise your hand and wave back. König notices and he looks down at you before taking off quickly.

“You will be okay Prinzessin,” König attempted to comfort you.

“Don’t speak to me!” You were in no mood to speak to the man taking you from your family, from your cozy life.

König had to bite his tongue, feeling his anger rise as you snapped back at him. You need to be taught your manners.

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The sun started to set, your shadows growing long. König begins to stir the horse towards the woods. You notice and protest.

“Shouldn’t we be going to an Inn? It’s getting dark.”

“Yes, but now we are camping in the woods.”

You're stunned by his words. Camping? In the woods? Where wild beasts live and thieves crawl. Has he gone crazy?

“I’m not camping in the woods.”

“You have no choice, Princess. Your little tantrum put us behind schedule so we didn’t make it to the Inn on time. The roads are dangerous after dark.”

He lied, your emotional outburst didn’t put you behind schedule at all, he just went a different route so he can have you sleep in the woods. He wants to teach the spoiled princess a lesson that things can’t always be her way.

He gets off the horse and drags you off of it, you protest and hit his arms. You don’t have to be manhandled, you’re capable of getting off the horse yourself. König pushes you a little when he puts you down, you’re really testing him.

König grabs the bedroll from the back of the horse, you’d have to share it. You continue to stand by the tree with your arms crossed and just looking at him.

“How am I supposed to sleep on the ground?”

“You’ll be sleeping on a bedroll, not the floor.” His voice has an edge to it now.

“Take me back to my kingdom now!” You shout in a demanding voice, not wanting to spend another second here.

“You’re a spoiled brat.”

Your eyes went wide, did he really just say that? No one has ever spoken to you this way before. “Uh, excuse me?”

König stands up and turns to face you, you only see blackness in the small visor area of his helmet. His size and the fact you cannot see him makes him very intimidating. König takes two steps towards you.

“I said you’re a fucking brat!”

You narrow your eyes at him and cross your arms. He grabs one and pulls it away, grasping your arm tightly. You try to pull away but his grip doesn’t loosen.

“A brat that needs to learn a fucking lesson.” He moves his other hand to your neck and pushes you back against the tree.

Fear mixed with lust rushes over you. At this moment you’re just a young woman and he’s just a man. You’ve never had someone treat you this way before, like a human. You’re a princess.

“Stop!” You try to squirm away from him.

He moves his hand from your neck to your other arm and he swings you around, slamming you down on the bed roll. You begin to protest and kick, kicking his helmet in the process exposing his hardened and scared face. You both look at each other for a moment, him expecting you to be disgusted but you don’t seem to be. 

König fixes the helmet and begins to wear fabric from the bedroll and binds your wrist together, ripping extra and shoving it into your mouth to keep you quiet. His eyes travel over your body looking at how your breast jiggle as you struggle.

“Quiet, just how you should be.” He gently taps the side of your face and chuckles mockingly at your situation. “Don’t worry, I’m going to teach you how to be a proper woman.”

Your protest is muffled but the cloth in your mouth as he pulls up your dress. You move your arms trying to pull them out of the knot that he’s bound them into. König pulls off your underpants. His large hands gripping your thighs and pulling your legs wide apart to look at your pussy. He pulls off his gloves so he can touch your bare skin.

“My, my, my, look at this pretty thing.” He moves a finger down your untouched pussy, dragging his fingers through your public hair enjoying the softness of it.

You glare at him as he touches you, fighting the feeling of pleasure it gives you when you feel him touch your clit. Since you are royalty, you had to remain chaste until marriage and you’ve never had a man touch or see you like this. The feeling is…good.

He moves his other hand to spread your folds and look at your pretty pink pussy, your tight hole…

“So soft and pink,” He brings his face closer as if to smell you before leaning back.

He raises a hand and slaps your pussy hard, making you whimper and jerk forward. He smiles to himself watching your puffy pussy jiggle slightly as he slaps your pussy again, and again, and again. Finally, he drops your legs and leans back. His hands begin to fumble with his armor, pulling away his tassets and codpiece. His cock already hard underneath his armor.

Once he releases himself you look down at his cock and your eyes widen at his size. He notices and laughs.

“I’m about to ruin all other men for you, Meine süße Prinzessin.”

Grabbing you by your bound arms he pulls you up to your feet again. Your shoes have fallen off, your feet getting covered in dirt as you walk along the ground. Sharp sticks poking the sole of your feet. He pushes you up against a tree, you try to shake free but he just pushes you harder.

König begins to pull the skirt of your dress up with one hand as the other keeps you against the tree. Once your ass is in view, he spanks it lightly and lets out a pleased sigh. You mumble something he can’t understand and he doesn’t care.

Holding his fat cock he gids it to your pussy. Without prep or warning he shoves his girthy long cock right into your virgin hole. Your eyes widen as your hands grasp at the bark of the tree in front of you. The sharp stinging pain of him tearing through you sending a new sensation throughout your whole body.

König shoves himself all the way into you, letting out a loud groan. “Mein Gott, I’ve never been with a virgin before… or a princess for that matter.” He chuckles.

Slowly moving back before grasping your hips with both of his hands, his fingers digging into your flesh. He begins to fuck into you rapidly, his heavy balls slapping against your swollen clit as his hand move your hips to match his rhythm. The sound of flesh hitting flesh echoing in the quiet woods. He lifts one leg to get a better angle and goes deeper into you. You roll your head back as he does, your whimpers barely heard.

He quickly pulls out and begins to stroke his cock, “Fuck, you’re so tight I already feel like I want to cum.”

He kneels and shoves two fingers into your pussy making you moan loudly. König smirks and looks up at you as he fingers your sweet tender pussy. Your legs begin to shake. You move your body slightly as if trying to get away but you don’t really want to. This is an amazing feeling.

König knew you were close so he pulled his fingers out and shoves his cock back into you. His eyes watching your face as your eyes flutter. He reaches out and wraps his fingers around your throat to pull your head back to rest your body against his.

“Good girl, I knew you needed this.” König whispers into your ear. “Let me fuck that attitude out of you.”

He closes his eyes as he thrust his hips up into you. Your tight silky walls cling to his sensitive cock. He listens to your muffled moans as one of his hands snakes up the front of your dress and squeezes your breast tightly. He squeezes your neck slightly as he feels your body tense, your legs tremble under you and your body goes limp.

He drops to the floor with you, both of you landing on your knees as he bucks into you quickly. His hands moving to your hips

“Cum for me,” he pants.

You lean forward and rest your body on the tree. Your knees are getting scrapped up but you don’t even care. Your muffled moans grow louder as your eyes fully roll back. You feel naughty, you shouldn’t be enjoying this; but it’s something you’ve always wanted to do. And with a Knight? Father would explode with anger.

König thrust into you slowly as you calm down from your first orgasm. His hands reach all over your body, enjoying the sensation of your soft tender skin. Once he feels your body relax, he pulls out.

“Good girl,” he slaps your ass again. His hand reached to your mouth and pulled out the cloth that was shoved in. “Stay on your knees.”

He stands before you and you look up at him. He lists his helmet so you can look into his eyes as he cums on you. “Look at me Prinzessin, tongue out.” He turns you to face him, grabbing your jaw gently.

You look up at him as he begins to stroke his cock, using the creamy cum you left all over it as his lube. His other hand caresses your face gently. His eyes close as he lets out soft moans, his cock begins to throb as it spurts cum all over your face and in your mouth. The cum getting on your hair and in your eye, making you close the one as he continues to look up at him.

You swallow what was on your tongue, enjoying the bitter taste, as you look up at him with a dick dizzy smile. He slaps his cock on your face a few times before leaning over and slapping you across the face.

“You liked that?

You nod your head with a blush on your face. Your once clean dress is now covered in dirt, your hair in shambles, and your face covered in cum. You feel real.

“Gut,” König smiles down at you.

Magically this horrible journey doesn’t seem so bad anymore.

[splatanastamprr]

Been thinking about this a while so as the Shattering Spirits are being rolled back soon here are my thoughts on the Sky Economy. a VERY long post.

Event Spacing (1)

I joined right after Season of Prophecy ended, Season of Dreams was to start in about 3~ weeks? not sure since it was a long while ago.

Later seasons I notice rather than getting up to a month of season downtime, we now get as little as less than a week to break between seasons. Season gaps became slim. Hardly time for off season daily candle quests that make racking up normal candles easier.

On top of this, “Days Of —“ Events became more and more prominent, being mashed on top of Travelling spirits and new off season cosmetics that cost white candles. There’s no room to breathe, its almost a punishment to players who’ve taken breaks from the game after burning out from having to candle run consistently just for new items. Cosmetics that they miss out on get price hikes from their original value in reruns with the new ticket system. It’s a cycle of fomo and it’s what’s killing the playerbase in the first place.

The lack of spacing seems pretentious in a way, since nearly with every update, a new game breaking bug is rolled out, makes it feel ironic since season down gaps have been cut for seemingly no reason.

Ticketing (2)

A while ago TGC added the ticket system denoting inflation in the sky economy, it was made to remedy the fact people can’t keep affording everything with candles.

Yes it did help somewhat, as the tickets are very easy to collect, but with 3 new ftp cosmetics that are bought with these tickets and some things costing up to a weeks worth of tickets it’s easy to have to skip these items because some people just don’t want to do more daily searching on top of the already daily quests from the questgiver.

Returning items not only are insanely expensive but additionally do not equate the energy spent grinding in their original release (The Days of Sunlight towels from last year have no right being that expensive whatsoever.)

Candles (3)

Early 2021, around March the Daily Light “Chevron” was rolled out as a way to farm light without feeling the pressure to grind insanely hard daily (since very many people were asking for a way to get candles more leisurely, since candle running was very time consuming)

It became redundant as the prices for candle items was driven up very far. Not to be so “back in my day” but genuinely the need to candle run extensively in the way we do now wasn’t as big as it is now.

This is funny. Because now I see people asking for the same thing. A faster, less grindy way to candle run.

the first in game event I participated in was the first Days of Bloom, the cherry blossom cape was 70 candles (which to me was VERY expensive at the time). The following year’s wisteria cape cost 105, then the next tulip cape cost 110. The first price driveup was already kind of nuts to me (is the cape really worth a 35 candle mark up to the first one?) It’s hard to even prepare with the aforementioned small event gaps, it’s punishing to newer players and players who’ve skipped events out of burnout without any time to prepare for candles unless you pay real money to get candles quickly.

Assuming an average person clears their chevrons daily (15-17 candles) and heart trades with their friends (-3 for every person traded with) it’s hard to afford everything that comes your way. Travelling spirit prices are near doubling what they used to, items now costing over 100 candles with the inclusion of the batshit expensive nesting shop it really burns people out knowing you can’t afford everything you want in a game you already grind daily in. It’s demanding.

IAP items (4)

Do I even have to talk about this. The Sunlight Chunky sandals cost more than you can buy actual sandals. Why are in game cosmetics costing up to $25 USD. Huh. I could buy a whole meal for that.

Cute little items cost only a dollar before but now they’re like $3 and its kind of bonkers to me. I have to pay $3 whole dollars for a tiny jellyfish on my shoulder. is this not crazy. im not crazy right? dont wanna get deep into this but jesus my wallet

So why do I care so much? (5)

Sky is a game I hold near and dear to my heart. But I notice people including myself have stopped playing for the same, very painful reason. The fact that Sky is very buggy with little to no compensation to players as well as the Economy being so. So very bad. as well as the shithole that was shattering (the hype for that season was so crazy because yay lore!!! no actually Fuck you crab stunlock 100000)

I know people will be “Well you don’t HAVE to buy — item”, but the game’s userbase is driven completely on grinding for new cosmetics. The active playerbase is driven on just candlerunning. The lore is interesting but there’s hardly anything in game to go off of, there’s little to no curiosity for what the game is and it’s story because it gets more and more arbitrary as TGC refuses to talk about it in game. (Jenova Chen saying that games are not an effective storytelling format really pisses me off sorry)

The cycle of fomo that is essentially required to keep the playerbase going just makes me feel like this game is made on popsicle sticks and prayers (thanks aspen for this line). I can’t find myself to love sky in the same way I used to as a moth.

anyways this is really messy. Sorry. but like damn this is kind of a sad thing to me. made this post because a rant on yt got misogynistic in the middle out of nowhere so i wanted to give my own take minus the misogyny