#made to measure blinds and curtains

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The right coverings not only help beat the summer heat but also save energy and make your home look amazing!

[thedesignerblog]

Why Are Made-to-Order Curtains a Popular Choice for Home Decor?

In the realm of home decor, curtains are more than just window coverings; they play a crucial role in shaping the ambiance and functionality of a room. Among the many options available, made-to-order curtains have emerged as a popular choice for discerning homeowners. This popularity can be attributed to a variety of factors, including customization, quality, and the ability to harmonize with both traditional and modern interiors. In this article, we'll explore why made-to-order curtains, including sheer curtains, traditional curtains, sheer drapes, classic curtains, modern curtains, and embroidered curtains, are favored in home decor.

1. Customization for Perfect Fit

One of the primary advantages of made-to-order curtains is their customization. Unlike off-the-shelf options, made-to-order curtains are tailored to fit specific window dimensions and design preferences. This ensures a perfect fit, eliminating the issues of length and width discrepancies that can often arise with standard sizes. Whether you're looking for sheer curtains to add a touch of elegance or traditional curtains for a more classic look, customization allows you to achieve the exact look you envision.

2. Design Flexibility

Made-to-order curtains offer unparalleled design flexibility. Homeowners can choose from a wide range of fabrics, colors, patterns, and styles to match their decor. For instance, sheer drapes can create a light, airy feel, perfect for modern interiors, while embroidered curtains add a touch of luxury and sophistication to traditional settings. The ability to select fabric types, such as luxurious silks or practical cottons, and details like trims and linings allows for a high degree of personalization.

3. Quality and Craftsmanship

The quality of made-to-order curtains often surpasses that of ready-made options. Skilled craftsmen and high-quality materials ensure durability and a refined finish. Whether opting for classic curtains with intricate patterns or modern curtains with sleek lines, the attention to detail in made-to-order curtains enhances both the aesthetic and functional aspects of the window treatments. Embroidered curtains, for instance, not only serve as a visual focal point but also showcase the craftsmanship involved in their creation.

4. Enhancing Home Aesthetics

Made-to-order curtains are designed to complement a home's existing decor, whether it's traditional, classic, or modern. Sheer curtains can add a soft, ethereal quality to a room, allowing natural light to filter through while maintaining privacy. On the other hand, traditional curtains and classic curtains can provide a more formal, structured look. Modern curtains, with their clean lines and minimalistic designs, suit contemporary spaces perfectly. This versatility ensures that curtains can enhance any decor style, creating a cohesive and polished look.

5. Improved Functionality

Beyond aesthetics, made-to-order curtains can be designed with specific functionalities in mind. For example, sheer drapes are excellent for diffusing light and maintaining privacy without blocking out natural light, making them ideal for spaces where a balance of brightness and seclusion is desired. Similarly, curtains with blackout linings are perfect for bedrooms, providing darkness and insulation. The ability to choose these functionalities based on individual needs adds to the appeal of made-to-order options.

6. Unique and Personalized Touch

A key reason for the popularity of made-to-order curtains is the unique, personalized touch they bring to a home. Off-the-shelf curtains might lack individuality, but made-to-order options allow homeowners to infuse their personal style into their decor. Whether it's the choice of fabric, the pattern of embroidery, or the specific length and width, every detail can be customized to reflect personal taste and create a unique statement within the home.

7. Longevity and Value

Investing in made-to-order curtains often translates to better longevity and value. High-quality materials and precise craftsmanship contribute to their durability, ensuring that they remain in excellent condition for years. Additionally, the tailored fit and design flexibility often mean that these curtains can adapt to changing trends or decor updates, providing long-term value and reducing the need for frequent replacements.

Conclusion

Made-to-order curtains stand out as a popular choice in home decor due to their customization, quality, and versatility. From sheer curtains that offer a delicate touch to embroidered curtains that add a layer of luxury, these window treatments cater to a wide range of aesthetic preferences and functional needs. Whether enhancing traditional charm or complementing modern minimalism, made-to-order curtains provide a perfect balance of style and substance, making them a worthwhile investment for any home.

By opting for made-to-order curtains, homeowners can ensure that their window treatments are not only visually appealing but also functional, durable, and uniquely tailored to their living spaces.

[curtainshopae]

Elevate Your Home Decor with Custom-Made Curtains in Dubai: Why Choose Curtain Shop

Dubai’s dynamic and cosmopolitan lifestyle is reflected in its architectural marvels and stunning interior designs. As homeowners seek to create personalized and luxurious living spaces, the demand for custom-made curtains has surged. In this article, we’ll explore the transformative power of custom-made curtains for home decor in Dubai and delve into the reasons why Curtain Shop is the premier choice for discerning homeowners.

Tailored to Your Unique Style and Space:

One of the most compelling reasons to opt for custom-made curtains is the ability to tailor them to your specific style preferences and spatial requirements. In Dubai’s diverse and eclectic design landscape, cookie-cutter solutions simply won’t suffice. Custom-made curtains allow you to choose the perfect fabric, color, pattern, and design that complement your interior decor seamlessly. Whether you prefer modern minimalism, classic elegance, or eclectic bohemian vibes, Curtain Shop offers a wide range of customization options to bring your vision to life.

Precision Fit for Every Window:

Every home in Dubai is unique, with its own architectural nuances and window configurations. Off-the-shelf curtains often fall short when it comes to achieving a perfect fit for your windows. With custom-made curtains from Dubai Curtains Shop, you can rest assured that each curtain is precisely tailored to fit your windows like a glove. Our team of experienced professionals takes precise measurements and pays meticulous attention to detail to ensure that your curtains hang flawlessly, enhancing the aesthetic appeal of your home.

Unparalleled Quality and Craftsmanship:

When it comes to home decor, quality matters. Custom-made curtains from Curtain Shop are crafted with the highest standards of quality and craftsmanship, using premium materials and techniques. Whether you opt for luxurious silk, versatile linen, or sophisticated velvet, each curtain is meticulously constructed to withstand the test of time, ensuring long-lasting beauty and functionality. With Curtains Shop, you can trust that your investment in custom-made curtains will elevate your home decor for years to come.

Enhanced Privacy and Light Control:

In a city as vibrant and bustling as Dubai, privacy and light control are essential considerations for homeowners. Custom-made curtains offer enhanced privacy and light control compared to off-the-shelf alternatives. With Curtains Shop’ customization options, you can choose the perfect opacity and lining for your curtains, whether you prefer sheer fabrics to filter natural light or blackout options for complete darkness. Our curtains are designed to strike the perfect balance between privacy and illumination, allowing you to create the ideal ambiance in your home.

Climate Comfort and Energy Efficiency:

Dubai’s climate is characterized by soaring temperatures and intense sunlight, posing unique challenges for maintaining indoor comfort and energy efficiency. Custom-made curtains play a crucial role in regulating temperature and reducing energy consumption in your home. With Curtain Shop’ customization options, you can choose curtains with thermal insulation properties, helping to keep your home cool in the scorching heat and reducing the strain on your air conditioning systems. By investing in custom-made curtains, you can enjoy greater comfort and energy savings year-round.

Why Buy from Window Curtains Shop:

Expert Consultation and Personalized Service:

At Window Curtains Shop, we understand that choosing the perfect curtains for your home can be overwhelming. That’s why our team of experienced professionals is dedicated to providing personalized consultation and guidance every step of the way. From helping you select the right fabrics and designs to ensuring precise measurements and installation, we go above and beyond to bring your vision to life.

Extensive Selection of Fabrics and Designs:

Curtain Shop offers an extensive selection of fabrics, designs, and customization options to suit every taste and style. Whether you prefer luxurious silks, breezy linens, or opulent velvets, we have the perfect curtains to complement your home decor. With endless possibilities for customization, you can create curtains that are as unique and individual as your home.

Exceptional Quality and Attention to Detail:

Quality is at the heart of everything we do at Curtain Shop. Our curtains are crafted with precision and attention to detail, using the finest materials and techniques. From the stitching to the finishing touches, each curtain is meticulously inspected to ensure uncompromising quality and durability. With Curtain Shop, you can trust that your curtains will exceed your expectations in terms of beauty, functionality, and longevity.

Seamless Installation and After-Sales Support:

Our commitment to excellence extends beyond the purchase of your curtains. Our team provides seamless installation services, ensuring that your curtains are hung to perfection. We also offer comprehensive after-sales support, including maintenance tips and assistance with any issues or concerns you may have. With Window Curtains Shop, your satisfaction is our top priority, and we strive to deliver an exceptional experience from start to finish.

In conclusion, custom-made curtains offer unparalleled benefits for home decor in Dubai, allowing homeowners to personalize their living spaces with style and sophistication. With Curtain Shop’ expertise, quality craftsmanship, and personalized service, transforming your home with custom-made curtains has never been easier or more rewarding. Elevate your home decor and create a space that reflects your unique personality and lifestyle with custom-made curtains from Window Curtain Shop.

[upasnaagarwal-blog]

Blinds Curtains Shutters in Leicester 20% OFF | Lilas Interiors

Transform your living spaces with Lilas Interiors. Find latest designs of Blinds Curtains Shutters in Leicester Explore our exquisite collection of high-quality furnishings and home decor.

[justonehiddles]

Contemporary Sunroom Large trendy sunroom photo with a glass ceiling and a brown floor.

[deisegal]

Contemporary Sunroom An illustration of a sizable contemporary sunroom with a brown floor and a glass ceiling.

[tulio-design]

https://tulio.design/

Specialists in value added curtains & blinds for spaces created by architects & interior designers

Tulio Design is a technologically advanced platform which provides designer and made to measure curtains and blinds to provide textile solutions to their customers adding more value to its architects and interior designers work.

For more information, visit their website.

[type-greninja]

Sun Room - Contemporary Sunroom Large trendy laminate floor and brown floor sunroom photo with a glass ceiling

[reidmotif]

Check Your Window (He's At Your Window)

Summary: Reader discovers her window faces into the apartment of her very attractive building neighbor, Spencer. She's willing to do anything for his attention. He's willing to reward her for her efforts.

Couple: Spencer Reid/Fem!Reader

Category: Smut

Content Warning: voyeurism, lingerie, masturbation, slight dubcon (but for like 5 seconds i swear), nipple play, penetrative sex, apartment break-in.

Word Count: 3.9 k

Masterlist

It’s natural to believe you’re safe in your place of residency. You’re given locks, blinds, a security gate- all measures designed to invoke a false illusion of privacy. Of course, there are defects that no one can plan for that have the ability to shatter this illusion. 

Mine happened to be a badly placed window. 

Finding this apartment felt akin to love at first sight. It sounds dramatic, but I’m serious. Do you know how horrific real estate is these days? But when my eyes came upon piano oak flooring, the soft light of the day streaming onto a marble island, and of course, an in-home washer/dryer system, I was sold. 

Due to my inherent awkwardness around meeting strangers,  and lack of overt charm, I’d never been one to initiate introductions with my neighbors. I moved in quietly, packing up my life into neat little boxes and dispersing them throughout the emptiness of my new space. It was only then, when I realized a strangely placed window that seemed to fall exactly where I’d wanted my bed to be. 

And while examining my outlandish situation, I saw him. 

I didn’t want to assume he’d been watching me. I wasn’t paranoid like that. Nevertheless, I didn’t want to give off the aura of, for lack of better words, a creep,  so the quick aversion of my eyes from his gaze felt instinctual. Curiosity won over me a millisecond later, though, and against my better judgment, I quietly peered into the window again, wondering if the man in the glass had slipped away, or had looked away from where our eyes met last. 

What I hadn’t anticipated, however, was to be met with the unflinching stare of his eyes, far from concerned with how he came off, holding his gaze with an almost disconcerting and defiant presence. 

He gave me a subtle nod, before walking away, disappearing from view. I was left feeling.. unsettled. But also strangely thrilled. There was a certain peculiarity in knowing you were susceptible to an audience at any given moment. I vaguely recalled social facilitation as a possible explanation as to why the concept roused me the way it did, but whatever it was, I didn’t feel compelled to attach curtains or any kind of barrier to avoid the phenomenon. 

While my thoughts occasionally drifted to the man, I didn’t actually know anything about him. He lived in the building beside mine, so we didn’t even share so much as a landlord. I truly never expected to gain any insight on him besides the location of his domicile in relation to mine, and the thought didn’t bother me by any means.  I was completely fine with letting our connection stay as severed as it was. 

Fate, on the other hand, had other ideas. 

I found myself a few weeks later, struggling with an overstuffed grocery bag in front of my building, and in a terrible game of mismanaged weight and the flimsiness of grocery-store plastic, my bag gave way, scattering the contents of it across the ground. Further misfortune plagued me, as the bag in question had been holding a good pound of lemons, that rolled quite far from where I’d been standing. I immediately dropped to the ground, trying to gather up the ones by my feet in my arms, and noticed a presence nearby doing the same and bringing the runaway citrus to me. I was thankful, and was ready to express my gratitude to the helpful samaritan, until I saw a flash of recognition collectively pass over our faces as we made eye contact. 

Him. The man in the window. 

“You dropped these.” He says, his voice a little quieter than I’d expected from him, and I nod. 

“Yeah, no. It’s these bags. Not really equipped to hold a pound of lemons.” I say, trying to gather the rest to my chest, our eyes still trained on the other. 

“Can I ask why a pound of lemons?” He asks, a sort of playful lilt in his voice. 

“Lemonade.” I say, almost immediately. 

There’s a bit of confusion that flashes over his face. “Are you making a joke?” He replies, furrowing his brows a bit. 

I realize that my response might’ve come off as too deadpan, and I shake my head to correct his misconception. “Oh, no. I’m serious.” I say, offering a grin.  “I love lemonade. There’s a work party I’m attending, and I offered to make some for the office. Hence, the lemons.” I continued, gesturing at the aforementioned fruit, and feeling myself ramble slightly, but it didn’t seem to offend the recipient. 

“That.. is a surprisingly normal response, given the situation.” The man says, nodding. “I love lemonade too.” He adds. 

There’s a bit of silence as we both picked up lemons together, the man more focused than I on the task. I took the oppurtuinity within the lull of our conversation to truly examine the man, finally no longer separated by a pane of glass, and my observations all seemed to point towards one glaringly obvious conclusion. 

The man in the window was hot.

He appeared older than me, yet his age did nothing to diminish the beauty of his features. His doe-like eyes seemed to shine with the same curiosity that I felt towards him. His hair was a bit longer than I’d expect from a man his age, but it suited him. The smooth slope of his nose had a certain charm to it, and his cheekbones were impossibly sharp. I wanted to run my thumb over the bone, and kiss him senseless until we could barely remember our own names. 

“I’m (Y/N). You’re free to come over.” I say, a little more rushed than I’d wanted to. “For the lemonade, of course.” I add, trying to not drop the ball when it came to inviting this gorgeous man over to my apartment. 

“Spencer.” He replies, offering his name to me. “I'll keep it in mind.” He says, smoothly. He flashes me a kind smile as he places the last of the lemons into my other bags or directly into my hands. 

I’d hoped “I’ll keep it in mind” meant “within the next few days or so” but waiting seemed futile after a certain amount of time had passed. He never came, and I even stopped seeing him as often through the window in passing. In hindsight, it was rather naive to genuinely expect a near-stranger to come to my apartment, on account of an invitation that could have been interpreted as a thinly-veiled proposition.

It felt a bit dull, his lack of interest. I’d had a taste of his attention, and for some reason, I was hooked. It was irrational, and illogical, but I couldn’t help the desire I felt simply at the thought of this man. And in a mixture of perversion, desperation and pure brainlessness, I tried to use the one thing that had rarely failed me in the past. Sex. 

I reasoned by telling myself it wasn’t like it was guaranteed he’d see me. 

And it wasn’t as if I was standing directly by the window, exposing myself for his pleasure, and his pleasure only. So hey, if he saw my figure adorned in lacy lingerie in passing, and felt compelled to act on that in any way he chose, well. No harm, no foul, right? 

So that’s exactly what I did. To my benefit, it was one of the hottest summers D.C had ever had, so the lack of clothing worked in my favor.  I’d always felt quite confident in my own skin, so lounging around in bras, panties, barely-there cover-ups around my apartment didn’t strike me as the oddest thing to do.  I felt comfortable, and in turn, possibly seducing the man in the window. Win-win. 

And “win” I did, in some way at least, because I noticed the arrival of lingerie correlated in a sudden uptick in the times I’d see Spencer taking a longer-than-normal glimpse into my apartment. It was fucking exhilirating, to have his regard in this strange, taboo way. I’d find myself imagining him, surrounded by a sea of sheets and pillows slowly stroking his cock to the images of my scantily-clad body. I had no real way of verifying if this was the actual case, but the fantasy was enough to bring heat to my cheeks and an ache in my panties. 

It started to drive me a little crazy, however, when after a week of this,  literally no tangible reward came from the fruits of my labor. While I’d enjoyed his eyes on my form, that seemed to be all he was capable of. He seemed completely at ease with just watching (to my utter dismay) and it seemed the action I wanted him to take was sorely out of reach. 

Reflecting on his shy, soft demeanor from the one time we’d spoken, I concluded that he might not be as forward as I am. It made sense; he never seemed to have visitors in his apartment and, seeming to be in his 40s without a stable partner, he probably wasn't accustomed to a woman's attention in this way. He didn’t exactly exude “womanizer” anyway from what I knew about him, and I began to connect his lack of initiative to these points.

 It didn't deter me from continuing my attempts though. At best, I was at least providing a lonely middle-aged man some sorely needed imagery in the meantime. I’d always been a giver, anyhow. 

It’s reasonable to assume there’d be some payoff down the road, right? 

Wrong. I continued to wear increasingly revealing lingerie, going as far as just walking around naked once in a while. Nothing. I was a fucking saint at this point for continuing this for him.

It didn’t help that my mind insisted on taunting me with what I couldn’t have, as a moment of spare time in my day would constantly be preoccupied with thoughts of him in my bed, pinning my hands down and kissing up and down my neck. I’d imagine him pounding into me, or bouncing up and down on his cock, bringing us both to the throes of pleasure. I couldn’t halt the depravity of my thoughts, no matter how hard I tried.

What I also couldn’t stop, was the slow descent of my fingers into my panties one night, finding a delectable mess within them, signifying my deep arousal associated with the man. It’d been a long few weeks,  the smell of summer and heat encasing my apartment, and a profound craving I couldn’t resist. I breathed out a sigh of relief as I began rubbing the small nub, alternating between up and down motions, and then a slow, circular rub. Little moans poured out my lips, before I quickly shed my panties entirely, watching a string of arousal stuck to them, kicking them haphazardly to the side, wanting more access to my clit. 

My eyes naturally closed as I found myself lazing towards the precipice of release. Soft sighs and moans filled my apartment as I let my fingers rub a bit more desperately. I could see flashes of him again behind my eyes, his hand on me, instead of my own,  mirroring the actions I was performing. A gasp of his name came tumbling out of me as the image became clearer and clear, my eyes opening almost frantically as I felt myself closer and closer. 

That’s when I got the strangest sensation, and felt a pair of eyes on me. I jolted my head to the left, and saw Spencer, who was clearly watching at this point. His gaze was entirely trained on me, and similar to the first time he saw me, our eye contact didn’t deter him from his observation. 

I refused to let it either, and kept my gaze trained on him. I was entirely exposed. I wouldn’t have been able to stop my actions if I’d had a gun to my head. It just felt too fucking good. A moment more of eye contact from him, and I felt the familiar clench and release from my body, waves of pleasure wracking my body. I let out another moan, but not once did my eyes leave his, as my back arched against my sheets, a silent plea on my part being conveyed.  

Come here. What could you possibly be waiting for? 

I watched him disappear from the window as I finished, both literally and figuratively, and panted, wondering if finally, finally, my prayers and fervent supplications would be answered. 

After about 30 minutes, my anticipation was replaced with severe disappointment when I realized even after then, he wasn’t coming. I could no longer see him in the window, and at this point it seemed a little silly and pathetic to continue expecting him to come. 

Maybe he was just entirely sexually inadept. That could be a possibility, right? How much more explicit could I get than this? I’d masturbated in front of him! Albeit, through a window, but masturbation regardless! Was this seriously all he was willing to do? 

I roll my eyes at the thought. I came to accept that maybe, truly, there was nothing I could do to get this man to fuck me the way I deserved. Fine.

As I closed my eyes to get some necessary rest after my endeavors, I made up my mind that I’d buy curtains tomorrow. Fuck Spencer Reid, and his absolute inability to take any action in his goddamn life. Fuck this apartment. Fuck everything. 

Was I dramatic? Yes. Was I still right? Also yes. 

Despite the sour mood I’d taken to bed with me that evening, my dreams were anything but. The idea of Spencer Reid holding me down, whispering sweet and dirty nothings alike were all still incredibly tantalizing to my subconscious. I could hear his voice in my ear, soft pink lips brushing against the shell of my ear, a deep pressure imprinted onto my body, keeping me in my bed. 

“Wake up, sweetheart.” He murmured, beckoning me out of the peaceful cocoon of sleep. 

I felt a few more wet and warm kisses trailing up and down my neck, the sweetest sensation of pleasure being granted to me with every touch he gave. 

“Need you to wake up, pretty girl.” He mumbles. “You really are so pretty up close.” His voice is slightly patronizing, and it does nothing to help the excitation that was steadily growing inside of me. 

Suddenly, I became incredibly aware that the stimuli I was receiving didn’t appear to be a byproduct of my psyche, but rather- he was here? My eyes opened slowly to realize I wasn’t at all mistaken, the soft brush of his brown hair against my neck slightly tickling me as I came to. 

“Atta girl.” He mumbles, his lips still mapping out every inch of my skin. Out of pure instinct, a slightly alarmed moan came from me, still unsure if I was dreaming or not. Surely I had to be dreaming. I had to be, because how the fuck did Spencer Reid get into my apartment? Into my bed? 

“You want this, yeah?” He murmurs, taking a second to gaze down at me. I realized he’d been on top of me this whole time, and the pressure I’d felt in my dream was his skin on mine, trapping me in between his strong chest and the soft sheets adorning my mattress. “I know you do. Saw your little show and everything.” He breathes out, desperately, almost. 

I know I should’ve thought about it. Perhaps I should’ve pondered on the idea of letting a man who’d just broken into my apartment full access to my body as he pleased, but there was no time. He was here, and how could I have ever said no to that? 

There’s an equally as desperate and breathy, “yes” that escapes my lips, and before I can finish saying the word, he dives down, meeting my lips with his, absolutely devouring me with no hesitation whatsoever.  If I'd thought his previous ministrations were delightful, this was absolutely heavenly. 

I moan softly into his mouth, wanting to tangle my hands in his hair, or latch them onto his shoulders and sink my nails deep into the skin that resided there- anything to show even a semblance of control in this situation, but it seemed Spencer had already thought of that, pinning my hands against the mattress so tightly, I couldn’t have moved if I’d exerted every last bit of strength into it. 

“God, the first time- first time I saw you.” He mumbles in between kisses. “With those lemons. I knew they’d fall. Saw you through the window across the street and practically ran. Wanted to meet you so badly.” 

A small whimper escapes me, and I can’t help but get wetter at the thought. I knew he’d been watching me through the window, but the idea that I captured his attention, outside of my apartment, in the most mundane of situations only served to heighten the arousal I felt, my thighs rubbing together for any kind of relief. 

He notices the movement and grins, planting one last kiss on my lips before slipping down. His hands cup the backs of my knees, forcing me to spread my previously shut legs. 

“You had the prettiest voice.” He breathes out, examining my glistening heat. “Fuck. Couldn’t stop thinking about how you’d sound, screaming my name.” He leans forward, planting a chaste kiss on my clit that caused an incredibly breathtaking jolt through my body. 

“Spencer-” I moan, my head rolling back as I felt it, my back arching slightly. 

“Yeah, just like that.” He mumbles, clearly pleased. “Good girl.” 

His hands traveled upward from where he’d been situated between my legs and squeezed my breast blindly. It didn’t feel like it was for my pleasure, but rather that he was desperate to touch anywhere he possibly could. Anyone else, and I might’ve been annoyed with the incessant touching, but with him? 

 It was so fucking hot. 

“That goddamned lingerie.” He mumbles. “The things I wanted to do to you. Did you know that?” 

I looked at him through hooded lids, unsure what he meant, and he took my diversion of attention to quickly tweak one of my nipples, eliciting another surprised moan from my mouth. 

“I’m so much stronger than this, usually.” His large hands continue to squeeze and grope at my breasts. “But you.” He whispers, a hint of a growl making its way into his tone. “Had to push the limits. Practically begging me to come here and take you.” 

I let out a gasp as I felt his hands trail down my stomach, the cool touch of his fingertips causing the muscles to tense up there. 

“I’m gonna do it.” He whispers, his face only illuminated by the moonlight streaming through the open window, but I could still see the dangerous glint in his eye, thrilling me even further. “Fuck you exactly how you want it.” 

Before I’m able to react to the sentiment, he’s grabbing onto my hips and turning me over, a yelp drawn out from me. 

“Hands and knees.” He says, in an authoritative tone that doesn’t leave any room for any disagreement. I comply quickly, much to his elation. 

“You’re so good for me, yeah? Gonna ruin you. Just how you want.” 

There’s a hint in condescension in his tone, like he’s making fun of me for wanting to be fucked this badly, but I can barely pay any mind about it, especially when I feel his cock slotting itself betweet my folds, separated only by his boxers, a shaky moan coming from Spencer. 

I can feel his hands leaving my hips and the slight lean away as he quickly shucks off the fabric, and within the next second, he’s pushing into me, providing me with a stretch and fulfillment that was so much better than I could’ve ever imagined. It doesn’t take him long to set a fast pace, the sound of our skin slapping and the smell of sex permeating the room. 

“Fuck, you feel so good.” He moans out, and I let out similar noises in tandem. 

I can barely find it in me to stay coherent. I want to scream how good he feels, how big his cock feels in me, how close I was- but instead the only thing I could manage was the borderline scream of his name and loud sobs of pleasure, fully at the mercy of the man behind me. I can feel the way I clamp down on him, absolutely imploring him for as much as he could give me. 

“Gonna come for me, yeah?” He says, feeling the clench of my walls on his cock.  “Come on, pretty girl. Give me what I want.” He murmurs lowly, leaning down closer to my ear. His hand shoots out a moment later, beginning to rub my clit, similar to how I had been doing a few hours earlier as he watched me, and the memory and sensation of it is enough to hurl me off the edge, my walls tightening around his cock as waves of pleasure wracked through my body.

It seemed that was enough for him as well. I felt his hips still, and a sudden warmth at my deepest point. He let out a groan of relief as he thrusted once, twice more, and then pulled out, his cum slipping down my thighs as he plopped down next to me. I’d already collapsed the second he pulled out, panting as I came down from the orgasm. 

“You good?” He mumbles, wearily, and I can feel him moving aside my hair to kiss at my shoulder. 

“Mhm.” I murmur back, a small sigh of relief escaping me. There’s a beat of silence, before he breaks it.

“Tomorrow.” He murmurs. “Wanna go out with me?” 

I raise an eyebrow, turning at him with a playful expression- as playful as I could get in this state anyway. “Where to?” 

“Target.” He mumbles, still stroking my back lazily, his eyes shining with something less intense than lust now, but still enough to turn my stomach over with butterflies.

“Target?” I say, squinting my eyes. “Why Target?” 

“We’re buying you some curtains.” He says, a small grin appearing on his face. “And maybe a stronger lock.” 

I giggle at that, rolling my eyes a bit.  “But then you don’t get to see me anymore. I kind of liked what we had going on.” 

“I did too.” He whispers, his tone slightly vulnerable now. “But I like this a lot more.” 

A small smile plasters itself to my face as I nod.

 “Me too.” I whisper back, biting my lip. 

A mutual understanding passed through the both of us as we smiled at each other in the dark, and for a split second, I imagined myself possibly loving this more someday. 

All in good time. Right now, I was going to sleep, protected by his soft, strong arms. That was enough for now. We’d finally gotten what we wanted. 

woah!! trying to finally get back into writing semi regularly i see. i hope this was enjoyable. this is one of those pieces i'm kind of unsure about, so please, please interact if you liked it! likes, comments, reblogs, anything! or let me know if you didn't! i live for feedback of any kind. thank you for reading anyhow, i am very grateful for it <3

also lol if it wasn’t obvious i listened to “she” for fic inspo lol. linked below

[levelheadedcarpentry]

Looking for made to measure curtains? Our expert team can create custom curtains tailored to your exact specifications. Get the perfect fit for your windows today.

[ninguitar]

୨୧　 𝓡OSES　˒˒　KMJ

─── ﹙🎶﹚in which kim minjeong tries to win you over, but to no avail do you notice—too blind-sighted by the already established close friendship between the two of you. resorting to desperate measures, she realizes she's only ever loved you.

pairing. kim minjeong x f!r genre. fluff wc. 800+ notes. n/a, tag @sed7ction (MASTERLIST)

now playing ⋆ roses by jaehyun

WITH THE DIM GLOW OF YOUR LAMP casting a warm light all across your room, the loud breeze hit against your windows. you leaned against the backboard of your bed, a book and a laptop cradled on your lap. while you did your homework, you softly hum along the lyrics of your songs, rain droplets crashing against your window.

before you could submit your assignment, the blaring noise of frantic, consecutive knocking against your window interrupts you. a soft groan escapes your breath, as you sit up groggily. unlocking your phone, you catch a glimpse of a myriad of notifications from none other than your best friend, kim minjeong.

god, if it was some stupid question about your guys' project.

tossing your phone onto your bed, you draw open your curtains, only to be met by minjeong's signature shit-eating grin plastered on her face. "are you serious?” you mutter, it's twelve in the morning—what was the korean girl doing here?

before opening your window, winter rolls her eyes, a rock in her hand, ready to throw it. rubbing your eyes, you struggle to open the window fully, meekly sliding it open slightly. beckoning winter to crawl under, you watch winter's face contort into a mixture of incredulity and sheer annoyance.

as the korean girl slips herself under your window, you scoot over your bed, nudging her slightly. "it's like midnight, what are you doin' here?" you grunt, your hands resting on your laptop before continuing your homework.

before you could scold the korean girl, she kicks her shoes off, situating herself next to you. with her disheveled appearance and tousled hair, you had already known she ran here frantically, beholding urgent announcements.

kim minjeong was unpredictable; you knew that, and everybody at your guys' school knew that. it was common sense, even.

nonetheless, your hands rest on your keyboard before concentrating back on your homework; though, winter puts an end to it, as her hand curls around your wrist, her thumb hovering over your knuckles softly, almost like on instinct.

"'s important, i promise," winter coos, her lips almost pressed up against your ears, making you shudder slightly.

you struggle to fight between a smile playing on your face or a thin-line, as a scoff escapes your breath. as you watch winter adjust her position, your eyes trace her figure, fixating on the way her cheeks were a bit flushed, your heart practically doing flips at the way your dim, cozy light illuminated her features.

were you meant to feel this way when you were in the presence of your best friend who you've known for years? who knows.

"pinky promise?" you mumble under your breath, your breath jagged.

"pinky promise," winter interlocks her pinky with yours, your hand shaking from the utter coldness of your room.

both of you knew it was a childish act to be still pinky-promising each other, but in one way, it was a small tradition between the two of you, that neither of you could never break. by pinky-promising each other, you knew she'd keep her word, and vice-versa.

yawning in defeat, you meekly nod, beckoning for winter to start talking, or you'd inevitably fall asleep much quicker. the metronomic waves of your heater only made the tension burn between the two of you.

as words try to leave the tip of winter's tongue, her hands brush against yours, making you more on the edge—agitated, even.

"i— shit," she mutters, stammering on her words, as her hands grip onto yours firmly on instinct, with her manicured nails digging softly against your hands—though not enough to make you bleed.

"what, did something bad happen- are you moving, minjeong—" you frantically mumble out, already troubled by the thought of winter moving away.

"i like you; i always have. whenever somebody asks me, 'who's your person?' i have always thought about you. my world practically revolves around you. that- those stupid, little, expensive figurines you like, i only bought them for you, y'know; i just… i love you," winter sheepishly admits, heat flaring to her cheeks.

your eyes widen, bewildered by the thought of your best friend liking you. "you- fuck, winter," you mumble under your breath, before your hand cups winter's jaw, pressing your lips against winter's velvety ones.

savoring your kisses, winter's hands immediately find their way to your neck, her thumb rubbing against the nape of your neck. winter could barely stop, only taking breaths in-between. at this rate, you could be making a mantra out of winter's name with the way you just wanted to be close to her—to be in her presence, specifically.

pulling away from winter, you catch your breath, "god, minjeong…"

"what? moonstruck?" she teases you, a shit-eating grin playing on her face, as her manicured nails trace over your arms, making you tremble slightly. her eyes were still etched on your lips, and you couldn't help but feel your weight against hers.

"shut up, minjeong."

even with the way winter had been so, so nervous and afraid she'd ruin your guys' friendship, she was still the same smug person she always was. before you could continue your train of thought, winter's lips continued its trail down to your jaw, whispering praise against your ear ever-so-slightly.

"i love you, forever only," winter drawls, and really, despite your initial annoyance, you could listen—on and on—to kim minjeong's decade-long rambles of how much she liked you.

(roses) you wanna be mine, baby (roses)

(roses) i said you wanna be mine, baby (roses)

[upasnaagarwal-blog]

(via Blinds Curtains Shutters in Leicester 20% OFF | Lilas Interiors)

[snailpaste]

Shanks & Mihawk × Reader who gets Migraines

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Featuring: Mihawk & Shanks (separately), gender neutral reader, headcanons

AN: I suffer from hemiplegic migraine disorder which is NOT live, laugh, or love, so I wrote this. This shit isn't proof read or anything, i'm rawdogging it sorry. Just found this in my tumblr drafts dated December 12 last year and i've decided to post it before I forget it exists again. This has never & will never be beta'd or rereadso if it's clunky... c'est la vie😭

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MIHAWK

Though he doesn't personally suffer from migraines, he almost immediately knows how to help soothe you from the get go

He'll move you to a quiet, dark place, making sure to cut down on any stimulation that might make things worse for you. Closing the blinds, letting in some air through the windows.

He'll settle down next to you, letting you get as comfortable as possible before gently wrapping his arms around you and soothing his palms down your sides

He stays quiet for you, letting you wait it out with your head pillowed on his chest or buried under the soft blankets and rubbing his thumb against your own to ground you

If it helps you, he'll cup your temples gently to help reduce the pain, soothing his fingers through your hair and gently kissing your forehead

Mihawk can always tell when you're asleep, he can hear it in the way your breaths are slower, deeper, more relaxed. If you'd prefer him to stay with you, he'll pick up a book, turn his bedside lamp to the lowest setting, and read until you've woken up or feel better

If not, he'll slip from the room silently and finish any chores or work you may not have completed. He keeps a pot of tea and your favourite drink with some pills on the ready, and occasionally checks in on you

Always intent on making sure he can care for his lover, Mihawk reads up on ways he can help you further, or preventative measures

Mihawk is so in tune with his lover that he'll notice your triggers before you do. Maybe it's the light from your laptop, or the glare from the clouds, maybe it's the weather, stress, or too much caffeine. Whatever it is, he notices

He'll go out of his way to help negate your triggers- wether it's buying a screen cover or shades to help protect your eyes, adding decaffinated coffee to the shopping list, making sure you drink enough during the day or reducing as much stress in your life as possible

If you suffer from hemiplegic migraines, he was definitely worried the first time it happened. He had no clue what was going on- were you having a stroke? Was this some kind of sickness he'd brought back to the island from overseas? He didn't panick, knowing it'd only make things worse for you, but he stayed awake the entire night watching over you in his arms with a sick feeling in his chest

He needed a lot of reassurance that you were fine once you recovered - and still made the doctor he'd sent for check you over, just to be sure

SHANKS

Shanks had heard of migraines, but with no real experience with them, he only knew them as a "bad headache". That was, until he saw just how badly they effected you

The first you'd told him you thought you had a migraine coming on he'd pressed a kiss to your cheek and told you to go take a break. He wasn't expecting you to be gone for more than 30 minutes tops, so when you still hadn't come up deck after 45 minutes he started looking for you

He wasn't expecting to find you huddled up under your messy bedcovers, the curtains pulled shut and a pillow covering your ear to smother the jovial laughter and taunts from the crew above. His heart had clenched when, after closing the door behind him and calling your name out softly, you'd curled in on yourself even more

He'd slowly sat down on the bed and reached over to tilt your chin towards him. As soon as he did, he saw the way your brow was furrowed in pain, the way your eyes watered, and shifted over to wrap his arms around you and soothe his fingers across your eyes, frantically murmuring: What's wrong, darling? What's the matter? It's okay you can tell me baby. I know, I'm here love. I'm here.

The first time your more severe migraines occured, Shanks was genuinely scared. He'd lost too many people he loved already, he couldn't face losing you. If he cried into your neck that night after he'd made sure you were fine, nobody else would need to know.

After the first time and you explaining your symptoms, Shanks makes sure to do everything he can to make it easier for you. He makes sure that as soon as you feel any symptoms coming up, you go straight back to your shared cabin, no questions asked, and rest

The ship doctor, Hongo, hooks you up with some meds and makes a list of what to order at the next stop, lightly scolding you for not coming to him sooner

Despite his lack of knowledge on your type of migraines, Shanks's... extensive, history with hangovers has made him privvy to all the tips and tricks to help you out

He's clingy and doting at the best of times, and whenever you're feeling sick it's upped to the max. Expect him to take care of everything for you. Chores are off the table until you feel like a human being again, as are whatever jobs you're trying to overwork yourself on

He can leave you alone with regular check ups, or he can take the time off (at Beckman's expense) to take care of you. Massages? Snuggles? A bath? Cuddles on a quiet ship while the crew go off to stock up, being soothed to sleep by the gentle rocking of the ship and your lovers warm body pressed against you? Anything that works

[sleepymarimo]

𝕤𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕒𝕣𝕞𝕠𝕣 (fantasy au!)

summary: you're to be wed in order to bring more greatness and glory to your kingdom. to narrow down your suitors, it's decided that they will participate in a jousting match. a particular jouster riding a reindeer and wielding three lances catches your attention. you really hope he wins... pairing: zoro x gn!reader cw: none (i think?), small bit of angst, but mostly some fantasy based fluff, helmeppo jumpscare an: thank you all for being patient with me! i hope you enjoy it. i don't really write fantasy so i hope it's alright! also why are there no gender neutral terms for prince/princess?! wc: 3.9k way longer than i expected it to be when i made the poll lol

the sun rises over strong stone walls, illuminating the beauty that is your kingdom. you're in a deep sleep, your expression relaxed. all of that changes when a multitude of royal attendants scurry inside, light flooding your room as the curtains are peeled open.

"good morning, your highness." one of them chirps, ushering you off of the plush bed. "today is the day! oh, aren't you excited?"

your eyes open and you need a second to adjust to it all, letting yourself be guided to who knows where. the light is blinding and disorienting, as are the hands on your back and shoulders pushing you towards the dressing room.

the day?

oh.

the day.

the fog in your head starts to clear and you register the commotion going on outside of the castle. the horns, the cheers, the utter liveliness of it all which contrasted with the dark pit growing in your stomach. with a quick sideways glance out a passing window, you confirm that today is in fact the day- the day of the jousting tournament which will determine who’ll take your hand and rule alongside you.

before you could even reply, another attendant, an older one who has been by your side since you were a child, grabs your hand and gives you a warm smile. "all the suitors will adore you, your grace. you'll make this kingdom so proud! whoever wins your hand is sure to be strong and worthy."

swallowing a lump of anxiety, you return her enthusiasm with only a small smile as you feign excitement. from there, you're prepared and pampered for the occasion.

multiple attendants step in and out of the lavish dressing room, carrying clothes and hair products and shoes and jewelry. measuring tape is wrapped around nearly every part of your body to ensure a proper fit, nothing allowed to be out of place for the big day. you're bathed and clothed and sprayed with an insane amount of fragrance.

hours later, when the sun is high in the sky, you're guided to the jousting grounds which lay just outside the castle.

armored escorts surround you, ensuring your safety and holding the crowds at bay. the many citizens smile and wave as you pass by. you return their gestures with polite greetings of your own, satisfied with their trust in you.

your eyes glance towards the large stone walls which surround the kingdom. tapestries line them, colored in your favorite hue and sporting the insignia of the kingdom. the jousting arena is bustling with nobles, clergy, merchants and citizens. on a platform, above the rest of the stands, is where your parents sit and await your presence.

they're sitting tall and proud, oblivious to the unease growing within you.

your steps are a little awkward as you make your way to your seat, one of your undergarments having been fitted a little too tightly. it was almost impossible to relax your muscles unless you wanted seams digging into your flesh. when you finally reach your seat, nestled between those of your parents, you give them each a respectful nod and put into practice those lessons in formality they made you partake in.

"mother. father." you greet, taking your seat. shifting, you take a second to find a comfortable position before sitting tall and placing your hands neatly in your lap.

your mother's eyes lighten up, a hand coming up to gently pinch at your cheek. "oh, don't you just look so darling..." she coos, humming in approval as she eyed your attire and hair.

crossing his arms, your father simply states your name as a way of greeting you. his focus is on the arena, which is still being prepared. the jousters aren't anywhere to be seen. presumably, they're in the stables adjacent to the arena and preparing their lances and steeds for the upcoming matches.

"this kingdom needs someone strong." your father muses, casting a glance in your direction. "be prepared to take the hand of the one who wins this tournament. remember, it's not just nobility that are participating- this was an open invitation event, free to any and all who deem themselves worthy."

feeling uneasy, you just nod. with a shaky breath, you patiently wait for the jousters to line up in the arena.

it's a half hour later when all the contenders are lined up on their steeds, lances up and sitting tall as they await the introductory announcement. you're stunned by the number of potential suitors. there were at least fifty. you can't blame them for wanting a shot at the throne.

musicians blow their horns, playing a welcoming tune, before a royal attendant clears their throat and begins to speak.

"ladies and gentleman!" they announce, their voice ringing through the arena. "today, we will be witnessing a jousting tournament which will decide who will take the hand of-"

"hold it!" comes a high pitched voice, sounding displeased and almost whiny.

the crowd's attention turns to a lanky looking blond man with a cleft chin, who sits atop a white steed. he wears armor that looks much too big for his scrawny form, his expression disgusted.

the crowd breaks into hushed murmurs and mumbles, recognizing the man. "that's prince helmeppo!" one of the bystanders exclaims.

he raises a hand and points it toward another jouster, his tone sharp. "that jouster wields three lances!" he huffs, eyes narrowing as he puffed his chest. "and he rides atop a reindeer instead of a horse! dear king, i believe that he is at an advantage and should be disqualified."

your brows rise at the, well, audacity of this man. it sends a shiver down your spine to think that he was a potential suitor.

the attention of yourself and the entire crowd then turn towards the supposed three lanced jouster, who looks tense. he wears a steel helmet with a visor, so you can't exactly see his face.

"huh?" he exclaims, caught off guard by the sudden attention. "why're you talkin' about me for?"

the blond laughs upon hearing the jouster's informal manner of speech. "oh, you're just a commoner! no wonder!"

the unknown jouster and prince helmeppo exchange verbal blows until your father stands up from his seat and puts an end to it. "enough!" he orders, the arena falling silent. he looks between the two men, eyes narrowing at the reindeer and three lances. "it is true that your style of jousting is...odd. it may put others at a disadvantage."

the jouster tightens his grip on one of his lances, his frustration evident.

"if it were up to me, i'd have you disqualified. however, it is not my hand you'll be taking." your father says, gesturing to you. everyone's attention is on you, including the jouster, and you squirm in your seat, your face warm. "your highness, make a choice."

your mouth feels dry and you focus your attention on the jouster. even though you can't see his face or his expression, you swear you catch a glimpse of his steel gaze from behind the eyeholes of his helmet.

"i..." you let out a sigh and straighten up, your voice firm. "i will allow the jouster to participate in the tournament!"

cheers ensue, and so does the tournament.

the matches are all riveting. the sound of steel on steel reverberates through the air. people yell in excitement, clap their hands and make it known that they have favorites. you're on the edge of your seat the whole time, but your focus is on him.

the jouster with the three lances.

his style is interesting, almost captivating to watch. he holds a lance in each hand and lifts his visor just enough to place the last one in his mouth. it gives you a glimpse of his strong jaw and nose, the rest of his face a complete mystery to you.

every match he takes seriously, not caring much for taunts or mind games. his posture is consistently strong and poised- a true warrior. you wonder if he truly is a commoner and not a knight in disguise.

he takes out competitor after competitor. unfortunately (and you don't know how), so does prince helmeppo. before you know it, it's the time of the final match.

the two men are on their respective steeds, staring each other down from across the arena as the announcer gives a final speech. the crowd is on edge, a good majority of them rooting for prince helmeppo while a designated few display their fondness towards the reindeer riding mystery jouster.

the announcer raises a horn, about to signal the start of the match.

however, before he can do so, the sound of thunder echoes throughout the kingdom. the crowd audibly sighs in disappointment, the pitter pattering of the rain drowning out cheers and music.

both the jousters lower their lances, their postures relaxing.

the king grunts in displeasure, rising from his seat and acknowledging the spectators, as well as the final two contenders. "the match will be postponed. we will continue tomorrow at approximately midday." he pauses, thinking over something before he goes on. "a celebration will be held in the castle to compensate for such a delay. you are all welcome to join."

your father's invitation seems to reignite the earlier enthusiasm, and the crowd slowly starts to make their way towards the castle.

guiding you back are your armored escorts, who urge you to return to the safety and warmth of the castle walls. while being guided away, you can't help but look back at the finalists.

prince helmeppo speaks with his royal attendants, commanding them to take off his armor and bring him some dry clothes. his attitude towards his servants makes your nose wrinkle in displeasure.

the other jouster, though, doesn't seem to have any attendants or other individuals with him. he doesn't seem to mind the rain either, patting his reindeer and feeding it... cotton candy?

you don't have time to question it, as one of your escorts ushers you forward.

in the castle, a grand dinner is held for the people and jousters. the whole banquet hall is alive with food and music and drinks. it's a little overwhelming having so many people come up to you, but you do well to stay strong and treat them with kindness.

it's made all the worse when prince helmeppo comes your way, giving you a smile that makes your stomach ache. really, how is this guy a finalist?

"your grace." he all but purrs, kissing your hand for a bit too long. "i look forward to winning your hand tomorrow. i can assure that i'll treat you well."

your laugh is forced, but he can't seem to tell. you quickly retract your hand and subtlety wipe it on your clothes. "you're too kind..." you tell him, voice strained. "i, uh, need to attend to some royal matters..."

with that, you scurry off.

since the festivities were so lively, you were quickly able to evade the attention of your escorts and your parents. with light steps, you navigate through the castle walls and sneak out via passageways used by the servants.

it's late when you finally make your way to the stables, finding solace in the silence. since most of the citizens were in the banquet hall, you didn't worry much about being seen. you remember prince helmeppo's words and shiver in disgust. honestly, you preferred the company of the horses at this point- at least they weren't as snobby.

as you walk through the stables, petting some of the friendlier palace horses, you hear a bleat a few stalls down.

your eyes widen when you catch sight of the reindeer, curiosity taking over as you carefully approach him. it looks just as interested in you, it's head tilting while it stomps the ground with its hooves. on the stall, the name 'chopper' is engraved into the wood. a piece of metal reflects the moonlight and you realize that one of his horns had, at some point, fallen off before being reattached.

one of your hands raises to touch the cool metal and you let out an appreciative hum when you realize just how sturdy it seemed. did the jouster patch him up? perhaps he was sweeter than he-

"what are you doing?" comes a familiar, gruff sounding voice from behind you.

the cool metal suddenly feels burning hot and you quickly pull away, holding your hands in front of you as a bout of nervousness strikes through your core. how did you not hear the sound of clinking armor? you don't turn around, not having the guts to do so.

"sorry!" you say quickly, clearing your throat as you revert back to your formal self. "i mean, my apologies, jouster. i was simply-"

he exhales, the sound rattling in his chest and seeming to echo in his helmet. "you don't have to do all...that." he says, referring to your scripted, overly formal words. "it's fine."

he seems oddly calm for being in the presence of a royal.

the muscles in your shoulders relax and you allow yourself to slump slightly. you turn around and, as you thought, he's still fitted in his armor and helmet. now that you were in front of him, you noticed just how massive he was. for a second, you're almost intimidated, remembering that you're alone and without any escorts.

"i... i didn't see you at the banquet." you state, curious to learn more about the enigmatic jouster. after all, he could very well be the one to take your hand tomorrow.

he shrugs, nonchalant as ever as he took a step closer to chopper and placed a hand on the reindeer's head. "went to a tavern."

his blunt response pulls a thoughtful hum from you, leaving you unsure of what to think.

when it came down to it, it was either him or helmeppo. as of right now, you just felt trapped. you knew that by this time tomorrow, you would arranged to marry one of them.

something about that thought has you feeling a little too vulnerable, enough to want to hide your face from him. you enter one of the empty stalls and rest your weight on the wooden walls, sliding down until you were sat on the floor.

you didn't care that your clothes would grow dirty. you didn't care that some of the hay was digging uncomfortably into your skin. your head and heart were too full for you to really give it much mind.

"why're you doing this?" you ask with slight resignation in your voice, hoping you wouldn't offend or anger him. "the title? the berries?"

for a second, he doesn't answer.

his armor clinks together as he moves, then you feel a pressure on your back as the wood gets pushed inward. you quickly realize that he's sitting on the other side of the stall, right behind you.

you're back to back, so close yet just out of reach.

the next thing you register is the sound of his helmet sliding off. his action is a little surprising and it makes your heart skip a beat. you really wanted to see his face...

"i don't care about any of those royal titles." he says with a hint of indignation. his voice is clear now, not muffled by his helmet. the deep and rough timbre of it catches you a little off guard. "the only title i want is that of the world's greatest jouster."

your eyes widen a bit, before your brows furrow. "so, you want the berries?"

he sighs in frustration, armor clanking together as he crossed his arms. "i don't want-" he stops for a moment, clicking his tongue and taking a deep breath. his tone is notably softer when he speaks, more calculated. "the arena where i learned to joust is being shut down. my old mentor can't afford it, so i'm doing this to get the berries and..."

from there he trails off, but it's pretty clear what his intentions are. you imagine all the other jousters in training, children who won't be able to practice their beloved sport. you can't help but feel a great deal of respect for the jouster, even if he seemed a little rough around the edges.

yet, the notion is also so over the top. becoming a king just to keep an arena running? he'd really be willing to bear the weight of being a royal, just for all the young jousters in training?

the utter absurdity of it has you chuckling ever so slightly in disbelief.

"somethin' funny?" he asks with an underlying note of exasperation, getting defensive.

"no, not at all." you reassure, finding yourself smiling uncontrollably. your voice softens, true admiration lacing your next words. "i think it's very noble of you."

your words stun him into silence. if you could see him, you'd have a clear picture of his clenched jaw and reddened cheeks.

some amount of minutes pass, the distant sounds of the celebration ringing through the air. your head races with thoughts about the future. this jouster had earned your respect, that much was certain.

with a sigh, you make your decision.

"i'll give you the berries." you say, determined and unwavering. "i'll talk with my father and have them sent to the arena.”

his surprise is evident as he quickly straightens his posture, armor clinking together in a frenzy. then, it's quiet. his voice cuts through the thick air, more gentle than you've ever heard it.

"why?" he asks, not understanding your intentions. he wasn't used to free hand outs, especially from royalty such as yourself. everything he had was earned, and he liked it that way.

"because you need it." you reply simply, digging your fingers into your clothes until your knuckles turned white. you realize that with this choice, helmeppo would ultimately be taking your hand. "you don't have to show up tomorrow. go home and help your students."

he lets out a small grunt, a hint of irritation and wariness in his tone. "and you?"

even though you know he can't see it, you shrug your shoulders. you resign to your fate, knowing that your happiness was never guaranteed. it's a role you take with a heavy heart, but you find some solace knowing that others will benefit from your sacrifice.

"i'm sure i'll get my happily ever after." you say with some self-depreciation, smiling at the ceiling. "eventually."

there's silence, then more silence.

finally, you hear the familiar sound of his armor shuffling together as he stood and made his way towards his reindeer companion. you can hear him prepare the reigns and open the stall door. the sound of hooves echo through the wooden walls as he guides the reindeer outside, but there's a pause.

"thanks." he says, genuine and grateful.

you bite at the meat of your inner cheek, keeping your voice strong. "you're welcome, sir...uh-"

"zoro." he interjects, sliding his helmet back on. "roronoa zoro."

"zoro." you echo back, smiling as you said his name.

he walks off, until you can't hear the sounds of armor or hooves. dropping your head, you let yourself cry.

the night passes slowly, time crawling by at a snail's pace. a sense of defeat is instilled within you as the sun starts to rise. when your attendants dress you, you even tell them to get you clothes which coordinate with the colors of helmeppo's kingdom.

the arena is packed, everyone eager to witness the spectacle. but you know what the outcome will be.

helmeppo is on one side of the arena, gracefully sat on his steed as he awaited the arrival of his competitor. when his opponent doesn't show up, spectators begin to murmur and gossip. after twenty minutes pass, there's no need to go on any further.

the announcer clears his throat, musicians preparing to play a closing tune in light of a winner being chosen.

your eyes close as the announcer begins to speak.

"by reason of absence, we have chosen to disqualify-"

"hold on!" comes a familiar voice, the crowd gasping as the jouster approached on his reindeer. his armor rises and falls, as if he's taking deep breaths. it goes silent and his next words are eagerly anticipated by many. would he make some sort of declaration? a noble speech of redemption?

his arm comes up to rub the back of his helmet as he clears his throat. "i got lost."

some spectators boo at him.

your breath catches in your throat and your lips tremble. he came back?

the exhale that leaves you is shaky, full of relief. zoro takes his place on the other side of the arena, steeling himself and giving chopper a solid pat on the side.

"i ain't gonna run from a damn fight." he growls, readying his lances. “gotta finish this the right way.”

helmeppo is more than displeased, already preparing for a win. he raises his lance and the spectators hold their breaths. the announcer lifts his hand and starts the count, then the two men charge at each other.

you watch as they get closer and closer, lances drawn, but as they're about to make contact, you can't help but close your eyes.

a metallic thud.

silence.

then, cheers.

when you open your eyes, a smile grows on your face when you catch sight of zoro sitting proudly on his cotton candy loving steed. his three lances are still poised and ready, his armor shining in the sunlight.

the announcer declares a winner and you're given permission to head down to the arena. you pay no mind to helmeppo, who lays on the ground and throws a fit.

zoro hops off his steed when he sees you approaching, tucking away his lances.

when you're in front of him, your voice is barely above a whisper, trembling and just loud enough for him to hear. "thank you. you could've just taken the berries… you didn’t have to-”

he huffs out a laugh, hands coming up to remove his helmet. your expression falters in awe. that's what was underneath the whole time?

"yeah, well, you don't make bein' royalty seem so bad." he coolly replies, rolling out his shoulders with a gruff exhale. "and i sure as hell wouldn't wanna marry that dolt of a prince."

his moss-green hair is slightly slicked back from the helmet, a light sheen of sweat on his face. you meet his steel gaze, warmth spreading in your chest. your eyes trail over his face and he seems to sense your surprise, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

"think i'll make a good king?" he asks, a tad smug as he tucked his helmet under one of his arms.

his question has you letting out a laugh, your worries dissipating into nothing but excitement for the future. "i think we can make it work, your highness."

he rolls his eye and extends a hand toward you, palm facing upwards. you take it and he offers you a lopsided grin, giving your hand a quick squeeze. his gaze shifts to your clothes and he lets out a playful scoff, bringing you closer.

"by the way, you'd look a lot better in green."

and you lived happily ever after...

thank you for reading!!