#like a properly fitted and tailored one ofc

[catgirltoes]

I feel like I'd look really good in a suit.

[justasimplesinner]

Can I ask for something fluffy? Bane and Kill Croc are huge guys, clothes must be a pain n a half to find . After a job gone bad they vent to their S/O about how utterly thrashed their clothes are and how hard it is to find new ones. The guys forget about bc well it's nothing new to them but the S/O doesn't. They take it to heart and learn how to make clothes, on the down low ofc. Like a month after the S/O shows up with a large box filled with custom outfits. Any ideas how this play out?

Reader learning how to make clothes for Bane hcs:

he mentioned that problem surprisingly often - but alas, it happened surprisingly often. it was hard to get clothes that were made out of a material stretchy and durable enough that it'd not only withstand the sudden body growth from venom but also constant fighting. if they don't rip just from him moving around, they certainly will whenever plans go awry and Batman shows up. he doesn't expect his clothes to last through all that like some kind of armor, but he'd like to at least be able to move around and not have to buy a pair of pants on a daily basis

and so, you take the matters into your own hands - research, acquiring proper materials and learning how to sew while also keeping it a secret from Bane takes it's time, but you're determined to pull through with this. you'll need to ask him for his measurements though, so it was necessary to throw in a little lie here and there, but nothing to break his trust

it was a very long and tiring process, but after a good month, you're ready to present him with some pants ranging from sweats to jeans, long- and shortsleeved shirts, sportswear, a few hoodies and, most importantly, nice luchadore costumes for whenever he's out causing havoc

he's really surprised when you gift it all to him. even moreso once you tell him you made that for him. you learned to sew and took the time to make clothes for him because he told you how infuriating it all was and you wanted to help him with his problems. he's taken aback at how much you sacrificed and how you managed to hide it all from him. he's almost tempted to tell you that if you told him in the beginning, he'd help you and pay for everything so you wouldn't have to spend money on him, but is too touched to chastise you in any way

he's really thankful for what you've done for him. he even offers to pay you for it all and probably for more in the future, but you just ask him to supply you with materials and not to worry about the rest. the smile that graces his lips is unlike any other, that fondness in his eyes practically suffocating as he offers you the most sincere 'thank you' you've ever heard

if you need help, he's always there or he can leave a few of his men at your disposal. but he also makes sure you don't overwork yourself just for him - after all, managing so much in barely over a month is not only impressive but also concerning, and doesn't want to burden you so much

Reader learning how to make clothes for Croc hcs:

oh this boy has big problems when it comes to clothes - first of all, he can't just wander into any store/tailor shop to buy something, which is a huge issue. secondly, some of his scales are sharp - like on the outline of his spine, for example - and even if there were clothes big enough to fit him, he'd rip them before he even properly put them on. and he lives in the sewers, so he'd ruin everything anyway

listen, Croc doesn't complain that often - he usually seethes/suffers in silence, but he's brought this issue up once or twice to you. because the last pairs of pants, that are in a tragic condition anyway, that he has in his possession are slowly getting too fatigued to be worn. and he doesn't want to run around naked. he asks you if you know any shops where he could find clothes in his size, he'd sneak in and steal them if he had to, but he really needs at least one new pair of trousers

spoiler alert, you don't. so, you decide you will make him clothes big enough to fit him  that won't fall apart the second he puts them on. you gather some nice and durable materials, even the thermoactive one that's used to make most sportswear (totally not because you want to ogle his chest in those tight-fitting t-shirts), get his measurements under the excuse of looking around some shops to see if they have anything to fit him, and get to work. it's an exhausting process - learning how to sew and spending most of your days working on the sewing machine to put something together, but it's worth it

he's shocked at the surprise once you present him with a new set of clothes, ranging from t-shirts to pants, casual clothes to sportswear. he just... cannot comprehend why would you do that for him? you learned how to sew just so he could have nice clothes? you sacrificed a whole month just to help him and make him happy this way? he's really... wow

he's so scared he'll ruin the clothes you made for him too, he doesn't want to make all your hard work go to waste. he doesn't want you to hate him or think him ungrateful. you'll have to assure him that if the need comes, you will make more clothes and if the material doesn't withstand, you will get your hands on a better one. and that you'll collect his laundry every week so the clothes could be clean, and no, it doesn't matter that they'll get dirty again, Waylon, that's what cleaning is for-

he's so fucking grateful, like you don't even realize. nothing could express how thankful he is that he has you. not his words of gratitude, not a multitude of 'i love yous', not the way he practically curled around you in a ball when he hugged you tight. if there's anything he can do to recompensate, he will. if there's any way he can help, he will. he doesn't want to just sit there and soak in your kindness, he wants to do something to deserve it (despite the fact that, in your eyes, he deserves it more than anyone on this entire goddamn planet)

[adashofniallandasprinkleoflunacy]

Lemme elaborate on my bartender Harry for you he’s a friend to everyone who comes in the bar quick to make easy conversations and brings new people in all the time. He probably makes the most interesting shots that have people lining up to be served. I feel like he’d dance on the bar just to get people going and at the end of the night would pick a stranger to take shots with him and dance for one song, most definitely flirty just to get some good tips and ofc just being his goofy ass self.

I LOVE this concept so much because you pegged him exactly.

He’d also be the one to not hesitate to interfere when he sees men making women uncomfortable like he wouldn’t hesitate to just lean forward on the counter a bit with a stone-faced, adamant expression and straight up just go, “You’re being a creepy arsehole, mate. Suggest you either back off or I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”

And like you said, he’d be fucking amazing at making drinks because he genuinely loves the job and loves watching people’s faces light up when they taste his concoctions and— of course— he lives for the praise people shower him with on how amazing he runs the joint. Like some bars are sketchy and dirty but Harry keeps his place tidy and clean and he has a candle burning at all times that keeps it smelling like honey and lavender.

And imagine him choosing you to do the nightly shots with and you’re both giggling messes by then end of it. He’s behind the counter drying and shelfing pints and glasses as you sit on a bar stool across from him, your arms crossed over the slightly sticky wooden surface with your chin propped on your wrists. You can’t help the way you shamelessly ogle at the way his Safe Sex t-shirt clings to the muscles of his broad back and hug his biceps, the fabric straining and stretching with his movements.

You think him to be a bit peculiar because you’d never seen a bartender wearing high-waisted black flared pants and suspenders but the attire suits him perfectly, as if the outfit concept was tailored specifically to him.

The dim lighting glints off one of his earlobes and you squint lightly, coming to the realization that he has a small silver hoop earring present. That minute detail somehow makes him more attractive than you’d care to admit.

His deep, accented voice filters through your murky brain, anchoring you back into reality.

“Never have I ever thrown up in public after drinking.”

The two of you had been playing a drinking game with the shots he’d offered, but you’d eventually tapped out when your eyesight began to get warbly, so Harry had suggested you stay here at the bar after closing until you sobered up some. You’d immediately protested, not wanting to keep him here any longer than he had to be, but he insisted it was alright because he had to stay back to clean up anyhow.

“Gets lonely here after hours. Would love it if you kept me company for a bit.”

He had said it with such an easy, genuine smile and you couldn’t deny that your legs were too numb to properly get you anywhere; you had caved.

Now you sat here, continuing to play the game but trading the shots for something much less dangerous— water. Harry had come up with the replacement and it was a smart way to nurse you back into a clear mindset.

You blink at him hazily, wading through your muddled memories carefully to try and find an answer his question.

You purse your lips as a flashback dawns on you, scrunching your nose up in embarrassment as you slowly take a sip of your water glass.

Harry snickers boyishly, slowly turning a pint glass in his hand as he dries the inside with a maroon dish rag. He turns his back to you again for a second, reaching up to stack it on the highest shelf with the rest of the beer mugs and you hate yourself for staring at the way his pants tighten around his unbelievabley round ass. You didn’t think it was possible for men to have such nice bums, yet here he was, fit as humanly possible and making your already warm cheeks glow even hotter.

You swallow down the cold liquid, clearing your throat softly before voicing your turn.

“Never have I ever had a drunk girl hit on me.”

Harry’s eyebrows immediately drop into a playful scowl. “That’s no fair, that’s too easy! I work at a fucking bar.”

You shrug one shoulder, the edges of your numb lips tilting up smugly. “What’s your wager?”

Harry reaches out, long fingers wrapping around the cup of water that sits before you, his plethora of rings clinking against the fogged glass. He downs a hefty gulp, jaw flexing and Adam’s Apple bobbing and you count the number of veins that protrude from his skin, which looks unbelievably soft and flawless.

He sets the glass back down, wiping his mouth with the back of his large hand and kinking an eyebrow dismissively. “Happy now?”

You grin against your forearm, eyelashes fluttering jokingly. “Tickled.”

“Great.”

Harry tosses the dish cloth over his shoulder casually, leaning forward onto his elbows against the red oak counter, propping his chin onto the palm of one of his hands. He looks down at you from over the crest of his cheekbones, a tiny smile toying with the corners of his pretty mouth.

It’s flushed the most appealing shade of dark pink, his Cupid’s Bow is delicate and sharp, the skin looking tender and supple. You shouldn’t stare but your eyes refuse to let go of the mildly erotic image.

You force yourself to focus on anything else— on the bouncy loose ringlets that decorate his scalp, curling around his ears and at the base of his neck, styled into a messy quiff at the crown of his head. It’s insane how this one random man has you wondering if it’s possible to be attracted to hair.

Harry’s voice suddenly tinges the air, low and cocky, a sly twitch of his lips tainting his words.

“Never have I ever had drunk sex.”

You choke on your breathing, body tensing up at the sudden surge in topics. It had been casual and easy banter up until that moment and now Harry’s gazing at you with his jade eyes sparkling mishcehviously in the low lights of the empty bar, the pads of his fingers tapping nonchalantly at his alcohol-swollen mouth.

You blink up at him a few times, trying to register the question fully before answering, your mind short-circuiting at the faint scent of his bold, intoxicatingly arousing cologne. You really can’t place a specific smell to it— it’s a combination of musky and fresh aromas that you can only describe as hearty and manly. It makes your stomach clench.

You find yourself answering truthfully, nodding your head shyly in response and taking a careful swing of your water, feeling it’s iciness slide down your throat and settle in your chest.

“Was it good?” Harry’s eyelashes dust his cheeks in a slow, sultry blink.

You nod again, grip tightening around the glass cup in your hand. You find yourself speaking before your brain can convince you otherwise, your tone timid and soft.

“Have you?”

Harry hums in agreement deep in the back of his throat, eyelids drooping shut for a second as if recalling a fond memory.

Your teeth are buzzing. “And how was it?”

He opens his eyes again, the green in his irises is electrified with newfound excitement at your question.

His words come out in the form of a breathy, admiring chuckle with an undercurrent of a moan. “So fucking good.”

You swallow thickly, wanting to break the intense eye contact he’s locked you in but he’s radiating a type of dominant, hypnotic aura that is keeping you glued to the spot.

Harry glances down, inching a tad closer and trailing his free hand up to the top of your cup, the pad of his middle finger lulling around the rim distractedly. He glimpses back up at you from under his heavy lashes, a lascivious smirk evident beneath his fingertips.

“Never have I ever fucked on top of a bar counter.”

You lick over your stinging lips in anxious anticipation, just barely shaking your head.

The brunette man grins fully now, moving your drink away a safe distance with the palm of his hand. He tugs his plump lower lip between his teeth, giving your trembling body a suggestive once-over, his gaze lingering at the area between your tightly clasped thighs.

“Would you want to?”

[1-800-i-ship-it]

khun modern bf headcanons?

Hmm oof i am probably not the best person to be asking this cause I dont write fics or anything but I’ll do my best

So i realized that i just wrote plot stuff but im posting anyway cause i spent way too long on this ahaha 

apologies in advance for typos that I'm too lazy to go through and correct

Enjoy the headcanons that i wrote later + plots that i originally wrote and went on a long tangent on oops

Headcanons:

Khun would be that subtle overprotective boyfriend 

He’d just kinda silently watch from afar but he’d totally kill anybody who hurt bam in any way, shape, or form

But he’d like be SUPER sweet with bam like

Pet names yall PET NAMES like khun and bam would prob both mutually melt when they call each other pet names

Khun would always help bam with hw and whatnot, let’s pretend bam’s a physics genius cause thats just how i imagine him in modern life, always has trouble with law class (he’s  taking it just for khun so he can understand what khun’s talking about) so khun helps him

Khun would be a super smooth talker, can woo a n y b o d y, exceptional at speeches, captain of speech and debate team

Khun would never admit he’s jealous but like the whole gang would know (except for bam who’s clueless as usual) 

Like bam is friendly with everybody so khun’d just be like ugh screw yall 

But then bam always confides in him and spends a crapload amt of time with him so he knows he’s just doubting himself and he’s mad at himself about it cause he knows bam is loyal to a fault and would never betray him

When bam gets older bam uses this against him hehe

Khun would also be that bf that everyones jealous of 

Everyone would want to be with khun but he only has eyes for bam

Ignores everybody else who hits on him

Side note i still stan top!bam and bottom!khun 

Khun would also be super thoughtful and goes out of his way to help make bam’s life easier whether its doing chores or smth etc, and each time bam smiles at him and expresses his gratitude khun’s heart would melt for the 1000th time

But like secretly khun really likes confident and sexy bam

They’d probably roleplay ngl (let ur imagination wonder~)

Khun would enjoy just spending time with bam :’) just cuddling and doing mundane things, they’d be super adorable together, hugs and kisses and ah just too cute-

Khun secretly likes bdsm and bam knows this 😏they switch roles from time to time, i cant decide who’s sub/dom

Khun would plan a super elaborate proposal to bam but then somehow bam would catch him off guard and then khun would just blurt it out when they’re together <3

Khun’d always be up early to cook for bam, they both morning ppl tho khun’s always sleep deprived bc hes also a night owl 

Khun is shy with pda in public but eventually he and bam decide they dont care anymore and just hold hands and act all lovey dovey to the point where shibisu cant decide if he’s a proud dad or if he wants to throw up, rak is always proud of his turtles, endorsi and hatz literally want to throw up all the time and would die before admitting that they secretly approve of khunbam

Khun is all around a model bf that i am sure half the fandom would be willing to date but im sorry guys khun’s taken cause he’s only got eyes for bam~

Plot things/idk what they’re called:

CEO!khun and intern!bam

Assassin!khun and assassin!bam who eventually get together and destroy the corrupt system

Gdi i thought of so many while having dinner but i forgot

Hmmmm

Imagine bam as jue viole grace like forced to work in a gang or smth and then khun as the gang boss 

I totally dont have a thing for badass assassin themed things pls dont judge me

Teacher!khun and student!bam (ofc it’d be near graduation if u get my drift...😏)

Idk why i thought of this but imagine idol khun o.o wait YO idol khun + assistant bam

Tutor!khun and student!bam 

I feel like im literally just saying the same ideas

Theres a reason why im not a fic writer :’)

High school sweethearts -> angst bc parents dont approve, sad forced breakup, no contact -> get back together when older after a time-lapse when they’re more mature, heated reunion 

Best friends bam and khun since preschool, since they were in the womb, PINING, both of them scared to admit it cause they dont want to ruin their friendship, meanwhile the entire gang is betting on them getting together (aka mainly rak and shibisu betting, hatz, endorsi, anaak, (insert s2 and s3 gang dont wanna spoil) everybody etc)

Uni students with khun as a law major and bam as a cs major (both geniuses, nerd bam), roommates *insert smirk* lots of pining, blushes from them casually changing in front of each other...the rest is up to ur imagination

Khun and bam as rival sports teams coaches 

Age gap!khunbam (not a lot, somewhere between 5-8 yrs), with bam as the younger one who kept saying that he loves khun but khun just laughs it off bc bams a kid but then khun sees bam after he comes back from college and bam gets a massive glowup from clueless cinnamon roll to clueless cinnamon roll hottie who only has the hots for khun (still) and then khuns all like “fuck” *dies inside*

Single dad khun, bam as a daycare employee who keeps getting flustered by khun, khun takes interest in bam bc he doesn’t ask nosy questions like other ppl, and bam has these mesmerizing golden eyes

Tailor/dry cleaner owner!bam and office worker!khun who constantly needs his clothes to be altered so they fit exactly how he wants them to (this eventually results in awkward moments and blushing), and also dry cleans like his countless number of suits and dress shirts and whatnot

Author!khun and publishing assistant!bam (is it even called publishing assistant honestly i have no idea but u get what i mean right), khun never signs books but bam convinces him to 

Poet!khun and uni student!bam as a literature major who’s a big fan and wanted to meet khun at one of his signings but is too shy even though shibisu drags him there, accidentally bumps into khun in the bathroom, is all flustered, ends up talking to khun for super long, khun loves bam’s enthusiasm for the subject, offers to give feedback on bam’s poems, bam is literally about to combust, they have lots of meetings and khun flirts with bam who’s clueless but blushes a lot anyway, they kiss *ahem* the rest is history

Spy!khun and bam, khun realizing he doesn’t want to hurt bam, sends fake info back to his country (ruled by eduan and jahad), eduan finds out (sent khun out in the first place bc khun was a threat to him cause the ppl liked khun better), sends out an assassin to get khun, who knows this and escapes with bam somewhere, some complicated plot taht idk how to figure out but you get the drift, eventually khun rules the country with bam

Real estate agent khun and contractor bam, eventually start their own business together

Khun as student pres, also known as the ice king bc he’s turned down dating everyone who asked, bam as the transfer student who catches his attention  (bam with more of a jue viole grace complex), the silent physics genius who is also on par with khun when debating in speech and debate club 

Khun and bam as besties, always do their hw together and hang out after class (cause bam always needs help haha), something leads to them fake dating, eventually real dating 😏

Khun and bam as besties, always do their hw together and hang out after class (cause bam always needs help haha), someone (rachel, DO NOT KILL ME I HAVE A REASON) asks bam out and he doesn't know how to say no (the rest of the gang egging him to date cause they know khuns gonna be jelly) khun goes and sulks, eventually bam gets hurt and manipulated by her, khun is pissed off, rachel is reported for abuse, khun and the gang fight for bam, khun is there for bam all the time, after a while bam asks khun out of the blue if khun likes him (shibisu let it slip that khun is gay bc god knows bam is oblivious af), khun is shocked but says yes bc he cant hide it anymore, bam says he always loved khun but thought khun was straight (bc of some dumb rumor someone said) which was why he ignored his feelings and agreed to date rachel bc he just wanted to distract himself, lots of cuddling thereafter, they get together, rak wins the bet for when khunbam will get together, khunbam gets married

oh man that became way longer than i expected...anon i hope u enjoyed that? half of it prob made 0 sense ngl and idek if i answered the q properly?

kudos to you if you actually read like all my rambling :’)

[joeybelle]

Orange blossoms

Oberyn Martell x OFC

Fandom: Game of Thrones

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: PWP, Smut, Semi-Public Nudity, Semi-Public Sex, Oral Sex, Light Bondage, Unprotected Sex (not explicitly mentioned)

Setting: Once upon a time, somewhere in Essos

Words: 8200

A/N: This was meant to be short, but I guess this is my brain's definition of short. It's accidentally inspired by the kiss/snowdrop scene from the movie Stardust, but I realized that only after I plotted the beginning and felt it was incredibly familiar. If any Sand Snakes have been produced during the encounter is completely up to you. It takes place somewhere in Essos, at whatever point in time you feel like.

For an optimal reading experience, my lovely beta @llexeh would advise you to read it on a beach in the sun <3

Written with @writersmonth​ prompt “Summer” in mind, but posted early cause I have no chill

The air was hot and stagnant. The breeze that constantly caressed these shore cities seemed to have disappeared for the time being, leaving them all to shrivel under the scorching sun. Nothing was moving.

She was fanning herself with the colorful scarf she used to protect her head from the blazing sun. The awning above their stall provide enough shade to make it useless, so she’d taken it off, leaving her hair uncovered and wild, something she knew her Nana would thoroughly disapprove of. It made her look frivolous, she’d say, not like a proper, working woman. She’d also unfastened a few more buttons on her shirt than she normally would. Luckily, her Nana was napping in the back of the wagon, escaping the midday heat, so she was free to slump back into the large, wooden chair, lift her skirt up to her thighs and place her bare feet on the edge of the stand.

A drop of sweat was slowly making its way down her chest, traveling the valley between her breasts before pooling on her stomach.

There had been no patrons that morning anyway. It was much too hot, and the market was almost deserted. Although there was nothing better than a piece of fresh, juicy fruit on a hot day and she knew her beautifully stacked oranges were some of the best, none of the people walking through the market stopped by their shop. She didn’t mind. Selling citrus wasn’t the main part of their business, there were other affairs that Nana conducted in the back of the shop, but she still prided herself in the fruit she was selling.

The day went by incredibly slow. She watched a ray of sunlight slowly travel on the pavement to eventually land on her exposed thigh. She was too lazy to put her feet down and move the heavy chair, so she just stared at the strip of light warming her skin and continued to fan herself.

She noticed him the moment he entered the market. He was one of the few people actually browsing the stalls, looking at the produce. He didn’t seem to be interested in anything in particular, more like looking for something to pass the time. He was tall and well dressed in beautiful garments of warm, earthy tones mixed with yellows and gold that occasionally caught the light. Embroidered silk, if her eyes didn’t deceive her. The shoes were worn and dusty, like everything else in the city. She hadn't seen him before, so maybe he was one of those wealthy travelers sometimes passing the markets. She wouldn’t mind if he spent a few coins on her.

She watched him approach, and she’d be lying if she said she wasn’t excited to see him up close. Not that many things had happened that day and certainly none of those made her heart beat a little faster. He had black hair and beautiful, sunkissed skin. Dark eyes watched her intently from under even darker lashes.

He extruded elegance, from the way he moved to the way his garments were tailored to fit his frame perfectly. They weren’t ostentatious, like she’d seen so many others wear in these parts of the land, but everything he wore looked expensive. His robes opened in the front revealing a just as beautiful undershirt and a long strip of tan skin. The leather belt that kept it all together was hanging low on his hips, a shortsword fastened to it, hitting his thigh as he walked. She wondered if she unfastened his belt, what she would find underneath.

She suddenly felt the urge to fan herself harder.

His hand hovered over the neatly displayed fruit, barely touching the produce, but his eyes never left her. There was a hunger in them and not one that could be satiated by a couple of oranges. Eventually, he grabbed three tangerines from a pile, threw them in the air and caught them all in the same hand as he pretended to actually look at the fruit this time. This gave her the opportunity to study his profile some more. She liked the way his nose curved like he was some sort of bird of prey. She would certainly love to touch it, run the tips of her fingers along the bridge of his nose, down his cheek, caress the thin strip of facial hair that emphasized his strong jawline.

He brought a piece of fruit to his lips, making her eyes focus on his mouth. He had really beautiful lips that she’d love to be able to taste.

“How much for these?” he asked, showing her the remaining two tangerines he was still holding in his hand. His voice was deep and a little husky, bearing an accent she did not recognize.

She lazily put her feet down and got up from the chair. Her skirt fell to the ground, covering her legs, but her blouse had shifted to uncover her shoulder and a little more of her chest. She placed her hands on the edge of the stall and leaned closer to the stranger.

“Well,” she said, pretending just for the sake of pretending that she was thinking of a price, “for you, I’d say… a kiss.”

He smiled, his lips slowly curling upwards underneath his moustache, and sat on the other side of the stand, right opposite her. He seemed to take his time to consider as he was slowly eating another tangerine, but the new mischievous glint in his eye told her he wasn’t bothered by the offer. Not in the least.

“Isn’t it a bit steep?” he asked, leaning a bit closer, a whiff of expensive perfume washing over her.

“I promise you, my Lord,” she said, giving him one of her best smiles, one that always got her things. “You won’t find sweeter fruit in the whole market.”

“I think that might be right,” he said, inching a little closer, the intensity in his eyes making her shudder.

“And if you do, my Lord,” she said, their noses almost touching, feeling the radiating warmth of his skin on her own, “I’ll pay you back.”

He smiled properly this time, revealing a perfect set of teeth, before tangling his fingers into her hair and pulling her into a kiss. It was sudden and definitely welcomed. He tasted like the tangerines he’d just eaten, but also of something else, spicier, more enticing. His soft lips were really adept at capturing hers in a slow, but passionate kiss. He took his time tasting her, parting her lips to deepen the kiss, his fist in her hair keeping her in place, totally open for him to take whatever he wanted. And she surrendered willingly.

She was breathing heavily when he finally let go of her, but so was he. She could see his chest moving under the silk garments and it took all her self control not to reach into the opening to feel his skin under her fingertips. But she had to get herself together, she couldn’t let him unravel her so easily, so she fixed her blouse and ran a hand through her hair. Her Nana should be proud, she was playing coy for once.

She could feel herself burning, and it wasn’t the heat this time.

She moved a little further back, letting him follow the sway of her hips with his gaze. “Thank you for your patronage,” she smiled over her shoulder, twirling a lock of hair around her finger.

He frowned, accentuating the fine lines adorning his face, but his cheeky smile was still there. He jumped off the stand and moved around the stall with a speed and agility that astounded her. In the blink of an eye he was right beside her, his dark gaze fixed on her lips once more.

“And what if I’d like more?” he asked, sitting in her chair and pulling her hand to follow him, with the confidence of someone who wasn’t used to being denied things.

She smiled and sat on his knee, placing a hand on his shoulder and leaning against him as she looked in his eyes. “Then you’d have to use actual money, my Lord,” she said, touching the tip of his nose with her finger.

One arm was securely placed around her waist, holding her close, while the other hand was feeling her thigh through the flowy material of her skirt. She could feel goosebumps forming in its wake so she covered it with her own hand, making it stop before it became too much.

“What if it wasn’t the fruit I was referring to?” He lifted his head a little, trying to steal a kiss, but she was faster and swiftly got up and out of his embrace.

“That can’t be bought with money, my Lord.” She knew she was playing with fire, but she very much enjoyed it. It was a slow day, and she wasn’t one to just sit in place and rot away in the heat. If she was gonna get burned, it wouldn’t be from the sun, that was for sure.

The stranger followed her, as expected. They both knew where this dance would lead to, but she happened to enjoy the journey just as much as arriving at the destination, so to speak. So she took a step back when he took one towards her until her thighs made contact with the fruit stand and there was nowhere else to go.

He towered over her, and not because of his height, but of the raw power he radiated when he placed his hands on her hips and held her close to his chest. She brought her hands in front of her, not to defend herself, but to let them rest on the beautiful fabric of his robes. Let her fingers slide in the opening, making contact with the warm skin underneath. She could see a gold chain with a heavily ornate piece hanging from it peeking from under his shirt, but she didn’t care. Gold was expensive, but wouldn’t give her the same thrill as touching his exposed chest.

“So if it can’t be bought,” he said, taking one of her hands and bringing it to his lips, “what can I do to get another taste?” His words vibrated against the back of her hand, his eyes never leaving her flushed face.

He didn’t have to ask, he really didn’t. Her decision had been made the moment he approached her stall, but she liked the courtesy of him asking and not just taking. She was trapped between the fruit stand and his strong frame and she was sure she wouldn’t be able to escape his embrace unless he wanted to let her go. And he didn’t seem keen on doing that, considering the way he was running a finger over the exposed part of her collarbone, slipping it under her blouse and slowly uncovering her shoulder. Her breath hitched when his lips followed his finger.

“For you, my lord,” she whispered, “just a kiss.”

The second kiss was nowhere as gentle as the one before. It seemed that once he’d gotten a taste he just couldn’t get enough of her, and it showed. His hands were all over her body while she clung on his shoulders for dear life.

His smell was intoxicating. It wasn’t just the perfume—a distinctive note of orange blossoms and some deeper ones of something woody—but also the smell of his skin so close to her. He smelled like a hot, summer afternoon spent under the flowering orange trees. It reminded her of home.

His lips on her jawline, however, kept her firmly grounded in the moment. She gasped when he nipped at the sensitive skin on her neck, and then she gasped again when his hand cupped her breast, squeezing it gently. Her skin burned under his touch, and he hadn’t even taken her clothes off yet.

But she wanted him. She wanted him then and there. She wanted him to undo her, to melt her with his fiery heat and then put her back together.

A crashing sound came from inside the tent and they both jumped. He protectively put an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close to his chest and she felt a thrill of excitement knowing that whatever happened, he’d be willing to protect her.

But she knew who was at fault for the ruckus. She angrily whisper-shouted a name a couple of times, until the curly head of a much younger girl poked through the door.

“What are you doing?” she questioned? “Did you wake her up?”

“No. I just knocked over a pot. She shouldn’t be able to hear it from inside the wagon,” the girl explained, her cheeks reddening in embarrassment. “I can still hear her snoring.”

“Well, she better not wake up,” she said, putting on a pair of sandals. “And get in front, I’ll need you to take over while I’m away.”

“What?! Where are you going?”

“That doesn’t concern you.”

“And who’s he?” she asked, finally noticing the stranger who was smiling amused by the whole situation.

“That doesn’t concern you either.” The small girl shot him a distrustful look, but the smile on his face only widened. He was even more beautiful when he smiled, his whole face opening in an expression of genuine fondness. It made her smile too. “Stop stalling,” she rushed the little girl, who was still giving him the stink-eye. “Come here already!”

“No, I don’t wanna,” she protested, crossing her arms and putting on a pout. “This is your job, not mine.”

“Oh really? Shall I remind you who does your ‘job’ when you sleep in? Who did your chores this morning so you wouldn’t get in trouble?” she said, hands propped on her hips, scolding frown, the whole package. The stranger chuckled and picked another tangerine off the stall.

“You did,” she whined, stepping out with the enthusiasm of a horse sent to slaughter. “But you can’t leave, what if Nana wakes up and doesn’t find you here? Then we’ll both get in trouble.”

“You better make something up.” She tied the colourful scarf around her head, tucking some of the hair in and sent an inviting look to the stranger, who didn’t need more than that to get the hint and follow her. “Tell her I’ve gone to check on the horses.”

The little girl mumbled something else and plopped down in the chair, but she ignored her and took the stranger’s hand, leading him out of the market through one of the side alleys.

“Sorry about my baby sister. She’s at the age where she refuses to do what she’s told anymore.”

“Feisty one, isn’t she?” he said, stepping in front of her and taking both her hands in his. His face still had some of that gentleness, but his eyes had regained the playful glint they had before. “But I think you’re even feistier.”

She laughed and ran a finger on his chest, right where his skin met the fabric of his shirt. She felt him suck in a breath and took a step closer. “I can be, if my Lord wants it.”

He smiled, looking pleased with her answer. His fingers cupped her chin, tilting her head to look up at him. “Well, aren’t you a beautiful one,” he said to himself, but his words were like sweet molasses. She snaked her hands under his coat, splaying them on the hot skin underneath. She wished she could just rip all his clothes off and have him take her right then and there, but he didn’t seem to be in any rush. Now that he knew he’d obtained what he wanted, he was going to savour it.

And savour he did. He slowly pushed her back, until her back touched the cold stone of the building behind her, trapping her once again. The passageway was offering a little discretion—although she doubted that mattered to him much—and some much needed shade. He guided her lips back to his, letting her take control this time, meeting her needy kiss, but not pushing forward. She let her hands roam over his taut chest, enjoying the feeling of finally getting to discover what was hidden under his robes.

Her hands dropped to his belt, taking her time unfastening the clasp. If he wanted things to go slow, she’d do them slow; if he wanted her to be feisty, he just needed to ask. Her lips placed teasingly soft kisses along his jawline, down the side of his neck, tasting the saltiness of his tanned skin. His robes opened with a swishing sound once the belt was no longer holding them in place.

“Your sword’s really heavy, my Lord,” she said, surprised by it, before letting it fall to the ground with a clank.

He laughed, a low and guttural sound, and pulled her closer to his chest, enveloping her in his frame. He was intoxicating, not just his smell. The way he ran his thumb over her lips before kissing them, his hands seeking her breasts through the flimsy material of her shirt; the way his fingers almost glided over the buttons, undoing them one after the other.

Her own hands explored the nakedness of his chest, the tips of her fingers tracing the ridges left by his toned muscles until they were met with the fabric of his trousers. She didn’t waste any more time and went straight to undoing them, eliciting a sigh of relief from the man currently kissing down her neck. She laughed in response, taking him in her hand and giving him a tentative squeeze, feeling him tense for a moment under her touch, before bucking his hips to get her to move.

She didn’t. Instead, she wiggled out of his embrace and slowly sunk to her knees, keeping her eyes on his face the whole time. He looked pleased. Even more so when she ran her tongue along his shaft, the smirk on his face getting a little broader, his eyes still burning into her being. It crossed her mind to tease him a little, see how long it would take until he’d lose patience, flip her over and fuck her against the wall, but he placed a hand onto her head and stroked her forehead with his thumb.

“You’re good girl, aren’t you?” he whispered in his deliciously foreign accent, as if he somehow knew what she was thinking.

“Yes, my Lord,” she said, sucking in a breath before taking him into her mouth, letting her tongue drag along the soft skin and her hands cover any length she couldn't fit in her mouth.

Of course she was going to be a good girl. For him. Not too good, though. No, that would be boring, but she’d be good enough for him to take her scarf off, stroke her head in a sign of fondness, before grabbing a handful of her hair. She didn’t let him set the pace though, and he didn’t try to shove himself down her throat, after the first try which she stopped with a frown; but he still used the hand in her hair to nudge her to move a little faster when he felt like she was slacking or she was teasing him a bit too much.

She was enjoying herself. His long coat was acting as a curtain between her and the rest of the world, where it was just her and the handsome stranger who was currently almost on the verge of spilling on her lips. No matter who he was and how rich and powerful, he was currently at her mercy and she liked that sense of power. She lifted her eyes and smiled.

"Hey! You can't do that here!" came a voice from down the narrow alley, making both of them jump. "That's not permitted!"

A guard, of course. Neither of them had taken this into consideration, but by the nonchalant and almost lazy way the stranger fixed his trousers and turned around to look at the guard, it seemed like he didn't care.

"But why is that, my friend?" He asked, picking his belt up from the ground, but not making any effort to fasten his robes back up. "Why stop people from enjoying themselves?"

She jumped back to her feet and hastily buttoned up her shirt, staying just one step behind her newfound lover, hiding behind his frame. The guard was taken aback by his smile and the threatening way he was approaching him, but she knew once the initial shock would pass, it could get ugly.

"Because it's not permitted," the guard blabbered, taking a step back.

"Says who?" The smile was still there, but it was almost menacing. By the way his hand was now on the handle of his beautifully ornate sword, she doubted he’d just back down once the fight started.

"Let's go," she whispered, placing a hand on his back and making him look at her over his shoulder. "It's not worth it, let's run."

"But…" he replied, gesturing towards the guard.

"I'll have to go back soon," she said, hoping that this would make him reconsider. "I know we can outrun him, and that's faster."

He seemed to consider his choices for half a second, before swiftly turning around and taking her hand. "Let's run then," he said, completely disregarding the guard.

They took off with the guard yelling after them, but she knew the city and how to hide better than most people, so they quickly lost him. When they stopped, they were up in the rich parts of the city. She took a few moments to catch her breath. It wasn’t so much the effort as it was the adrenaline of the chase, combined with her still very much present arousal.

"Hmm… not great where we've ended up," she said, looking around the unfamiliar streets. Everything looked orderly and well cared for, with flowering trees peaking above the tall, stone fences, with beautiful, ornate gates. It radiated a sense of luxury, from the ochre coloured stone of the pavement, to the dark roofs of the buildings in the back. "Let's find another place."

"Why? I like it here." He was already smelling some flowers that were hanging low over a fence. Yeah, she was sure he's like it there, it was probably where he'd be spending most of his time anyway. He looked like he belonged, even with his robes still undone, swords still in hand, the golden chain dangling freely against his bare chest.

She looked around a bit wary. "Too many guards. People here like their peace and quiet.” And don’t like people like me, she thought, but didn’t voice it. “A little less interruption would be nice, don’t you think.”

She took his hand and tried guiding him to a more secluded place, but he stopped dead in his tracks.

“You don’t think I can handle a few of these guards?” he asked, looking a little offended.

“Of course I do!” she assured him, and it wasn’t just to make him feel better. There was something in the way he moved that made her honestly believe he could handle himself well in a duel. “But what would be the point, my Lord?” He shrugged and pulled her closer, so she was once again in his embrace. “You’re one of those people that just like the thrill of it?”

“Is it wrong?”

She didn’t know how to reply, so she shrugged. He kissed her briefly then let go and started walking down the street, like he was looking for something. She followed him, a bit confused, missing his warm embrace. She really resented that guard for interrupting them, but at the same time, she should have expected it. His taste still lingered on her lips and his smell in her nostrils, and her skin really yearned for his touch. Maybe they could find a room somewhere, if he could afford it.

“What’s the point of life if you don’t enjoy the thrill of living?” he continued, jumping to look over a stone fence, then moving towards the next house. He checked the gate, but it was locked, so he moved on.

“I’m not that adventurous.”

He seemed to have found what he was looking for, because after looking over the fence for a few moments, he climbed it. “Really?” he asked, before disappearing into someone’s garden. Her breath hitched, especially when the gate opened a few moments later. “I wouldn’t have guessed that,” he said, leaning in the gateway. “After all, you ran away with me,” he added, taking her hand and bringing it to his lips.

“What are you doing?” she asked, ignoring his statement, still not believing that he would just jump into someone’s garden to unlock the gate.

“You… wanted privacy?” he explained, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. He took a step back, inviting her in.

“They’ll kill us,” she whispered, but followed him anyway.

He shook his head and took her hand guiding her through the garden. “They don’t have to know.”

The garden was as close to her image of paradise as something on earth could ever be. Old, majestic trees were offering some much needed shade, while flowering shrubs filled the air with their scent. There was a water fountain in the middle, sprinkling crystal clear streams in the air. It felt like the unforgiving sun was just a bad memory in there.

He kissed her in the shade, slowly, deeply, completely unconcerned that they were currently committing a crime. Or maybe that just added to the thrill. It did for her, at least. She’d been spirited away to this mysterious world by an enchanting stranger and she had yet to decide if she wanted to go back home.

He pulled her to the side towards an alcove. There were flowering vines climbing on the stone wall, and if it weren’t for the colourful, stained glass window in the middle of the alcove, she would have certainly overlooked it. Looked like a great place to hide from accidentally being spotted.

“My lady,” he said with a slight bow, taking her hand and inviting her in the small space.

“I’m no lady,” she said, following him through the veil of hanging vines that partly obscured the entrance.

“I don’t care.”

She smiled. She had no doubt that it didn’t matter to him, otherwise he wouldn’t have picked her from behind a market stall. He knew full well what she was, or rather, wasn’t, and didn’t seem to care. If he did, she was sure he would have introduced himself. People who cared about titles always tried to make them known. But like this, he could very well be a prince or a beggar wearing some very fancy clothes.

But there was no need for formal introductions when his lips were already pretty well acquainted with that sweet spot on her neck that made her shiver and moan. However, she wanted more than just his lips on her skin, slowly moving down her neck towards her chest. She wanted all of him, the whole experience. She wanted him to take her, mercilessly possess her, to hold her in his arms while she cried in ecstasy.

Her hands hastily went down to his trousers, trying to let him out as fast as possible, but he stopped her.

“In a rush, are we?” he said, taking her hands and placing them on his shoulders. “I think it’s my turn now,” he whispered in her ear, before grabbing her thighs and lifting her on the ledge under the stained glass window. She parted her legs to allow him to step closer to her, her skirt still an annoying barrier between their bodies. She wished he’d just rip it off in one quick motion, but instead he lifted it slowly, his fingers caressing the sides of her legs, lifting her knees to place them around his waist. His hands massaged the skin on her thighs, getting dangerously close to where she wanted them, but never quite touching her.

He was slow and deliberate. She could feel his erection through the strained material of his trousers, but he didn’t pay any attention to it. He was focused on unbuttoning her shirt, slowly revealing her breasts, a look of hunger in his eyes. But she was hungry too, and not entirely willing to play by his rules, so she let her hands slip from his shoulders and go much, much lower.

He caught her wrists and shook his head. “What did I tell you?” he asked, looking her in the eye.

“I don’t remember,” she said with a cheeky smile that was meant to rile him up a bit.

He frowned as he brought her hands above her head, but he still had a wicked smile on his face as he pressed an almost brutal kiss to her lips. “I don’t like repeating myself,” he growled in her ear, taking out her scarf from one of his pockets. She was surprised to see it—she was sure he’d lost it somewhere on the way—and even more surprised to see him tie it around her wrists and secure it somewhere above her head so she couldn’t bring her hands down.

He took a few steps back, admiring his work. By the very pleased smirk on his face, she knew he liked what he saw: she was perched rather precariously on the stone ledge, her back against the coloured glass, her feet dangling above the ground, shirt completely unbuttoned, hands tied above her head; her hair was wild and her cheeks had reddened under his scrutinizing gaze. Although she wasn’t a prude, it was the first time she’d been left in such a vulnerable position by anyone. She liked it.

“If you leave me here like this,” she said, pretending to sound menacing, “I will find you, and make you pay.” It was an empty threat, because she was sure that if she wiggled her hands a little she could easily set herself free, but she just wanted to let him know that he had a job to finish.

“Hmmm…” He scratched his chin, making her eyes focus on that chiseled jawline once again. “I’ll think about it.”

He took a few more seconds to look at her from a distance, making her feel like he was fucking her with just his gaze. She could feel something stirring up inside her, heat pooling between her legs making her want to rub her thighs together for some sort of pressure. He just watched, appraisingly.

Eventually, he took a flower from one of the vines and tucked it behind her ear. “You’re beautiful,” he whispered, lifting her chin to look at her before kissing her hungrily, his hands cupping her breasts. His fingers brushed over her nipples, the ghost of a touch almost, but enough to make them perk up. She arched her back, trying to elicit more than a fleeting touch from him.

“Greedy,” he said, kissing down her neck, making her belly squirm in anticipation. He nipped and sucked at the skin on her chest, making sure he'd leave at least one mark. She’d have to do her best to hide it in the days to come.

But her mind emptied of all coherent thought when his mouth closed over her nipple. Hot and wet and exhilarating, setting her nerve endings ablaze. She wanted to run her fingers through his hair, guide his mouth where she wanted it, force him to taste her, and please her, but the scarf around her wrists didn’t let her bring her hands down. He lifted his eyes to look at her, sensing her shift and smiled. She was exactly where he wanted her to be, completely in his power.

He hiked up her skirt, slowly sliding his hands over her thighs. She eagerly spread her legs to allow him better access, but he was taking his time, mapping her skin with his hands, just never close enough to where it ached. She whimpered when his lips left her breast. He took a few seconds to look at her, before finally letting his fingers slide over her slit.

She gasped, and once again wished her hands were free to grab him and pull him closer, to urge him to hurry, to give her what she wanted. But she realized that once it was over, she’d have to go back and this would end.

“Already dripping wet for me,” he breathed, pushing past her folds, letting his fingers explore the wetness between her legs.

He was deliberately slow. Keeping her pinned between his body and the window, drawing out small whimpers from her parted lips. She could see the coloured light dancing on his face, the smell of his perfume enveloping her like an embrace. The heat between them melted any remnants of logical thought from her mind. The only thing that remained was the feeling of his fingers moving inside of her, drawing out raspy breaths from her parted lips.

She didn’t fully register what he was doing when he tucked the hem of her skirt under the waistband until he kneeled in front of her. He nipped the inside of her thigh, hard enough to leave a mark but not to cause any real pain, especially not in the aroused state she was in. His lips placing kiss after kiss on the sore spot that were both enticing and teasing at the same time.

But it wasn’t the skin on her thigh he was most interested in. She had to bite her lip hard to keep herself from moaning when his tongue parted her folds, tasting her greedily. Her eyes fluttered shut, her head leaning back on the glass, hands gripping tightly the fabric of the scarf keeping them together.

He was really good at what he was doing. He didn’t hesitate, he didn’t fumble. He seemed to already know her intimately, or at least, read her like an open book, because with every flick of his tongue or curl of his fingers he made her tremble with arousal. She felt like putty in his hands, ready for him to make whatever he wanted of her.

Through the haze in her mind, she could hear people talking on the other side of the window. The words were muffled and her mind refused to make sense of the ones she could hear clearly, but the people sounded pretty cheery. She wondered if they could see her, the silhouette of her back leaning against the window while a charming stranger was kneeling between her legs, setting her nerves on fire. She wondered how outraged they’d be if they realized what was going on in their garden. The thought made her smile.

It didn’t matter if they did, anyway. She wasn’t willing to stop and move somewhere else and the sense of danger only added to the thrill. What would they think if they saw her like this, tied up, clothes undone, having to bite her lip not to cry too loud. She was shameless.

It didn’t take long for him to bring her to the edge, but before she could reach the much needed release, he stopped. She cursed under her breath as he got up, smirking.

“You wouldn’t want to finish without me,” he whispered in her ear, as he untied her hands.

She grabbed his shoulders and pulled him closer, crushing her lips to his. “I just might, if you don’t hurry,” she said, kissing the growing grin on his face, opening his shirt more to be able to slide her hands over his skin. His trousers were undone—she hadn’t noticed when—and he was already hard and ready.

He pulled her closer to the edge of the stone ledge and in one strong thrust of his hips he plunged himself into her, making her bite the fabric covering his shoulder in an attempt to muffle her whimper.

“That fast enough for you, my Lady?” he chuckled in her ear, giving her a few moments to adjust.

“Oh, shut up and fuck me,” she snarled, scraping the back of his neck with her nails, but that only made him laugh harder.

However, he did do what he was told. He did fuck her. In long, hard strokes that would have driven her through the glass if she hadn’t been holding onto his broad shoulders for dear life. He held her ass in his hands, keeping her in place for him to ram almost furiously into her, as if this was the first and the last time he’d be having sex.

She was moaning loudly now, completely indifferent to the people on the other side of the window—if they were going to hear her, she could only hope they liked the show. He didn’t mind, more than that, he seemed to really enjoy it every time he managed to make her a little more vocal, chuckling slightly in her ear and thrusting harder.

She had her face in the crook of his neck, breathing in his scent every time she inhaled, her lips brushing against his hot skin. She could taste his sweat on her lips. His low grunts made his chest vibrate against her breasts and she pressed herself flush against his shoulders, wanting to feel as much of him as humanly possible.

The almost frenzied pace he was setting quickly brought her to release. She trembled, arching her back and letting out a long sigh as her orgasm took over, numbing her mind and setting her ablaze.

He lasted a little longer, but in the end he succumbed to his own climax collapsing into her arms with a hoarse, almost wild growl. She could feel his raspy breaths in her hair as he pulled her closer to his chest.

They stayed like that for a while, entangled in a silent embrace, just holding each other as close as possible. It was a comforting feeling holding someone and not bolting out of there the moment you’re done. It felt a bit surreal. She could still hear the people going about their lives on the other side of the glass, but she felt like she was in a completely different world from them. Here she was calm and satisfied and oddly at peace.

Eventually, she climbed off the ledge, letting her skirt fall to the ground, watching him refasten his garments.

“I’ll keep this,” he said, placing her scarf around his neck and tucking it under the shirt, so only a small part of it was visible above his collar. “You can have this in exchange, if you’d like,” he added, producing from his pocket a delicate fan, made from some sort of carved wood. “Since I’ve stolen your scarf, you might have more use of it that I do.”

“Thank you,” she said, taking it from his hand, leaning in for a languorous kiss.

He helped button up her shirt, his forehead pressed against hers, his fingers trailing the shape of her breast giving her the impression that he hadn’t had enough. But the voices were getting louder and more defined. She jumped a little, her breath catching in her throat, when she heard a gate open and close nearby.

“Let’s get out of here,” he said when the noise settled a bit, holding her close to his chest as he listened intently.

She nodded and let him lead the way. She was a bit sad having to leave the idyllic garden, but she knew that sooner or later she’d have to go back. His hand was warm, fingers tangled with her own and she allowed herself to enjoy his presence a little longer.

The streets were still pretty much deserted, the heat just as awful as before, but the city seemed varnished in a deeper shade of gold. The sun had gone down considerably, and she feared she’d been missing for too long for it to go unnoticed. But she still stopped on the side of the road to admire the brilliantly blue sea underneath them and the ships floating in the distance.

“Have you ever been at sea?” he asked, snaking a hand around her waist, pulling her into his frame. He was even more beautiful now, the golden light accenting his features. He looked almost regal.

“No,” she answered, letting her head rest on his shoulder. “I’ve been on a fishing boat once, but I’ve never left the port.”

“Would you want to?”

She giggled. “Where will you take me?”

He smiled and kissed her temple. “Where would you like to go?”

“Braavos. To see the Titan.”

“It is an impressive view,” he said, but he sounded like quite the opposite. “It gets boring fast,” he replied to her amused giggle, and dipped his head to kiss her neck.

“Hey! You there!” came a somewhat familiar voice from behind them.

It was the guard from before, now red with anger, breathing heavily, like he’d been running. Had he been looking for them? For all that time? She’d already forgotten he existed, but by the way he pulled out his sword and menacingly propped himself on his bowed legs, he didn’t seem to have done the same.

“Can I deal with him now?” said her temporary lover with a very exasperated look on his face, his accent becoming a little more pronounced. He was cute.

“Of course,” she replied, although she knew that he’d already made a decision. His hand was already on the hilt of his sword, and his eyes had a mischievous glint. “Who am I to stop you?” she added, running her fingers through his hair. Making him look back at her.

This was probably going to be the last time she’d see him, so she made sure to take a long, good look, have his features embedded in her memory for years to come. She smiled. Her heart was a little heavy knowing that she’d have to go, but so happy that she’d got to meet him.

He kissed her deeply, passionately, and she desperately replied, clinging onto him like her life depended on it. For a brief moment time stood still, and it was just the both of them once again, two lovers trapped in a frozen moment in time, entangled in each other.

But then the real world claimed them once again, and she had to go.

She looked back one more time, admiring his elegant fighting stance, before running down the stairs. She could hear their boots hitting the pavement, the clanking of swords and an occasional curse word, but she didn’t stop. She kept running until she was back in the familiar market that had been her home for the past few weeks. She stopped for a moment to fix her clothing and her hair before appearing in front of everyone, but she knew she was flushed and sweaty and the smile on her face was probably a little too wide for it to go unquestioned.

“Where have you been?” her Nana asked the moment she stepped into view, one of her greying eyebrows arched to heavens.

“To check on the horses,” she said with the confidence of someone who had been lying to her Nana since she’d learned to form coherent words.

“Don’t believe you. You don’t smell like horses,” she croaked.

“Well thank you, I try.”

“Listen here,” she said grabbing her arm, and making her turn to look her in the eye. “Don’t you dare try to be clever with me. When I found you and took you in you didn’t even know how to blow your snotty nose on your own. I bathed you, I fed you, I clothed you—”

“ —I put a roof over your head,” she mocked the older woman as she continued saying the same speech she and her sisters had heard ever since they could remember. It was always the same, how she’d done so much for them and how ungrateful they were. But she knew her Nana would tire easily and forget about the whole thing in the end, especially if she’d make her favourite tea, with an extra sugar cube. So she pretended to listen, and occasionally bowed her head in pretended shame.

The old woman’s yammering was interrupted by a ruckus coming from one of the gates. They both leaned over the stacked fruit to get a better look, just in time to see the beautiful stranger dressed in golden robes run through the market, sword out and a very satisfied grin plastered over his face.

“Oh no, not him,” the old lady groaned, her face turning from anger to annoyance.

“Do you know him?” she asked, her heart beating a little faster as a group of visibly out of breath guards followed the stranger. “Who’s he?”

“The devil incarnate, that’s who he is,” she grumbled, walking back and busying herself with some pots in a corner. “The Red Viper they call him, and rightly so. That damned Dornish prince,” she said to herself, then frowned at the growing smile on the girl’s face.

“Dornish prince, you say?”

“Is that the only thing you heard? He’s bad news, you stay away from him!”

“Is he?” she asked, but her eyes were scanning the area, trying to get another glimpse of him. Her fingers brushed over her lips, his fiery kissed still fresh in her memory.

“Stay away from him, child!” she repeated her warning, pointing a finger at her nose. “If you see him walking down the street you run like the hordes are following you.”

She smiled and collapsed in her chair, once she was sure he’d left the market. “Of course. Wouldn’t want to get involved with someone like him. Dornish prince…”

“You’ll get burned one day, ” the old lady snorted, “and then you’ll regret this smart ass attitude of yours.” She turned on her heels and entered the tent behind the stall, still mumbling something about how she’d sacrificed everything for the girls and this was how they treated her. She wondered what the Dornish prince had done to her to hate him that strongly. Probably owed her money, there were few things she loved more.

“Mhm, I’ll stay away from him,” came a mocking voice from the tent, before her youngest sister stepped out. “What if I tell her where you’ve been this afternoon?” she said with a shit eating grin on her young face.

“I’ll throw you in the sea and leave you to the fish.” The young girl shuddered as she was terribly afraid of deep waters. While she wasn’t serious with her threat, younger siblings sometimes had to be reminded who was older and in charge. But she was sure that no matter how much they bickered, her younger sister would never tell.

“He left these on the stall before you left,” she said, taking three gold coins from the pocket of her skirt. “For the fruit I assume. I didn’t tell Nana, she would have asked questions.”

She frowned at the money. Their whole stall was worth less than that, let alone three tangerines. She knew she had to give the money back, but there was no way she could run after him and catch him now, so if their Nana didn’t know… well…

“Keep one,” she said, taking the other two from the girl’s open palm. “Take good care of it, this is probably the most money we’ll ever have.”

“Really?” The young girl hopped from one foot to the other in excitement, shoving it deep in her pocket before anyone could take it away, and running inside. Their Nana, even though she loved them a lot, never allowed them to have any money. She was a really stingy woman, but she assumed that part of it was also due to the fear that if they’d have their own money, they’d leave. It was an honest concern, for she’d always dreamed of leaving the nest.

Once the atmosphere went back to normal, with her Nana in the back preparing something to eat and mumbling at her youngest, she took out the fan and studied it. It was sandalwood she realized, and now she knew where the woody scent on his skin came from. Tiny golden suns matching the ones on his robes were encrusted all over it. Dorne. She’d heard of it, but it was so far away it was covered in mystery. That would explain his foreign accent and the foreign looking clothes. She wondered what Dorne was like. She wondered if he’d take her there.

She propped her feet on the stall once again, hiking up her skirt, smiling when she noticed the red mark on her inner thigh. She started fanning herself, the perfumed air moving an unruly strand of hair from her forehead. It smelled like sandalwood and Dornish princes. And orange blossoms. And kisses under the unforgiving summer sun.

She kept fanning herself.

[bludhavenbird]

SO! Since my blog’s starting over from scratch--One of my main motivations to restart was to properly document my cosplay progress as I get back into this hobby that I’ve really missed and ofc re-upload work I’ve done in the past.

That being said, first post up will be the MadMax!Nightwing variant look I put together last year. 

The initial inspiration for this actually came from tumblr user thewelshqueen back when she did a Mad Max Fury Road inspire Wonder Woman cosplay. I remember sending a few questions their way over what the process looked like for their cosplay while also sharing that they’d inspired me to give it a shot too. In the months before SDCC 2016 rolled around, I approached my friends with the concept of extending the theme to a myriad of DC characters and before long we all set to work!

Now admittedly with our limited time and budget we didn’t get to roll out as many of the characters we wanted or customize each individual look to the extent we hoped but it was still a super fun concept and one I really hoped I’d get to revisit later on--and now the opportunity’s coming! 

I’m busting this one back out and I’m gonna be revisiting/refining this cosplay in preparation of another MadMax!DC group with a more Titans-centric theme consisting of Nat as Starfire, Emanni as Raven and myself as Nightwing. I’m super excited to get another shot at this one, and I’m super pumped to see the group together once it’s all assembled at WonderCon2018!

I’ll try to periodically post updates as I continue to modify and evolve this look, especially since I’m trying to push myself to better document my cosplay work and progress. In the meantime, enjoy some of the limited progress shots I DO have from last year! I added some notes in each image about the process but I’ll put more technical stuff under the cut in case anyone’s interested!

Images (1-2): From concept to realization - I was lucky enough to remember which sketchbook had some of my original sketches for the cosplay. Obviously, the look is heavily based on Max’s own design. Early on I toyed with a more ‘war boy’ type of look for Dick, but I kept getting pulled back more towards being influenced by Max simply due to the visual possibilities involving the Nightwing insignia on the Shoulder piece and jacket. 

The henley in the original design was scrapped in favor for a grey t-shirt that, while not very well visible in the last picture is actually a self-designed ‘Bludhaven Police Department’ shirt. Due to further backstory development in the revisit of this design, that shirt’s gonna be scrapped for the cosplay and I’ll have to find a replacement for it.

Image (3): In hunting for a jacket, I knew I wanted to go with something non-contemporary. I opted for an 80′s style jacket for a few reasons: The original Mad Max was released in 79′, a secondhand jacket would already have a nice worn in or used look, and most importantly -- 80′s jackets provided me a better chance of finding a base jacket that would actually fit. I kept an eye out on eBay and ended up finding a nice women’s Bermans jacket for a decent price. It’s actually worth noting the jacket in the final image is the second jacket I bought for this cosplay, simply because the first one I bought was a different company and style, and ended up way too big for me. Before any painting could be done, I first had to remove the jacket’s iconic shoulder pads and then I actually went to a local tailor to have the sleeve professionally removed because I didn’t have the proper tools on hand to attempt that modification with any real confidence. One thing to note here is that the entire right sleeve has been removed, unlike the iconic half-sleeve that Max  sports. 

Image (4): I ended up buying two types of paint for the jacket. The base white coat shown here is the initial couple layers of white Tulip fabric paint. I’d never modified or painted anything other than a denim vest before, so there was a lot of research and trial/error involved here. In the end, even though Angelus paint is designed to be applied to leather-type surfaces, I knew the white would be necessary to get a nice pop of color and I figured the white Tulip fabric paint would help prevent wearing/cracking of any additional paint layers on top. So far over a year later of a handful of wears and tub storage in the garage, it’s held up well! Luckily, this is a cosplay that can only benefit from cosmetic wear or damage, but you always want that to be controlled chaos, so I’m hoping to prevent any possible cracking or chipping here.

Image (5-6): Close ups of the base coat. I think it took 2-3 coats of the Tulip paint to have a nice even color, and the borders during the painting process were maintained with blue painter’s tape.

Image (7): At last, the Angelus paint was applied! As previously mentioned, this portion was the biggest headache. I needed to keep track of how many coats each portion of the jacket had to make sure it stayed even, and after hours and hours of applying and staring at blue paint, you end up not knowing if you’re where you want to be in terms of the overall look or opacity of it. That said, I think I probably ended up applying about 9 coats of blue paint to the jacket before I allowed myself to call it done?? It’s tough to say, but if I think back that feels about right. 

Image (8): A WIP shot of the cosplay with the majority of the pieces together, no makeup. Here you can see a glimpse of the BPD shirt I designed for the cosplay, as well as the finished jacket complimented with painted fingerless gloves. The shoulder piece makes its first appearance here to, but just with a base coat of black applied at this point. I had originally bought youth football pads for this with the goal of modifying them myself using a Mad Max cosplay site for a tutorial. But lack of time/resources/money led me to try and search one out. I ended up finding an Etsy shop were someone sold dystopian costume pieces, including shoulder pads. I lucked out in finding a piece that seemed like it would fit me, and that (thank all higher power) rested on the same side my sleeve had been removed. 

Originally, the shoulder was a black padding piece with alternating yellow stripes, but I repainted it to match the insignia and arm line of the jacket as best I could. 

Looking back, I think there’s some more modifications I want to try and apply to pull it further away from Max specifically to just fit into the world overall. I think I’m gonna try to add more spikes, diy defensive feathers on the look, and once that’s done I’ll apply Fuller’s Earth to give the overall costume a further desert wasteland worn and weathered look to really tie it all together!

There are some other parts of this cosplay I haven't documented here, in part there were pieces I had to abandon because I ran out of time! But I’ll try to upload stuff as I revisit the boots and escrima sticks along with the other pieces that may evolve as I prepare this cosplay for WonderCon 2018. Please keep an eye out if you’re interested! For those that read this mess, hopefully it was somewhat interested or maybe even helpful in your own cosplay pursuits. Feel free to hit me up with any questions regarding the process or products I used, especially if you’re thinking of trying them out and are unsure about anything.