#more ornament on things tbh

[shoutsthedustflake]

The big downtown Target on State Street in Chicago has all these tiny Louis Sullivan details if you know where to look

[cromerholt]

finally made a real ref sheet for Her. my funky lizard lady.

[bunnyb34r]

I seriously need to get my ass in gear and start cranking out crafts for craft shows (and apply 😒) but my brain is like "no ❤" and my body is like "no 🖕" so idk man

[spooky-pop]

Any tips on how to draw Poppy's hair without it looking like a legit tree? I'm struggling so hard and it's making it impossible to draw any Broppy art because of it 😔

I finally got some time to put together somewhat of an answer for this?? Again, I'm not so great at explaining things so I'll do my absolute best!

I used to struggle so much with drawing her ponytail, a lot of my older art bothers me tbh because I don't like how I approached drawing her ponytail. I tried looking up images from the movies and even the video game, and I experimented with a few different methods. I actually found that the Poppy ornaments I have on my desk served as the most solid reference material I could have. So I studied the figure and have been incorporating that into my newer works, and it absolutely changed how I approached drawing it.

Here are some photos I took from different angles to really show off the shapes, second image is how I visualize it when drawing. Thinking of the hair as "pieces" or "tufts" really help, and breaking them down between foreground and the background.

Try practicing off these images and see if it shifts the way you draw hair! Tracing helps too because it helps your brain just figure out shape language. After doing some traceovers, I then just tried sketching some very quick Poppy pony's and it already felt a lot better

And then, here are two illustrations where I'm proud of Poppy's hair because I incorporated these refs into them:

I personally feel like thinking of the hair this way really sells the volume of it, as well as showing that it's soft and fluffy as opposed to strands of hair.

But yeah! That's how I do it. The more you draw it over and over the more it starts to become natural!

[shadowmaat]

Jedi Service Corps

The Legends-fueled propaganda of "bad students get sent to the Agricorp/Services" has always bothered me. First of all, forcing kids into a career not of their choosing isn't the best way to encourage them to perform well.

The Services in general seem to get a bad rap, and TBH it's kind of bizarre to assume that every kid who winds up being taken in by the Jedi wants to grow up to be a cop. LOL!

There is so much untapped potential being ignored, and even within the four pseudo-canon branches there's a lot to explore.

Agriculture. Farmers Without Borders. LOL! It isn't just about growing plants, it's about analyzing trends, understanding ecosystems, geology, climatology, politics, etc. There's mechanical engineering so you know how to fix the machines that do the hardest labor (often illegally, given corporate software locks and so forth). Probably a lot of fiddly stuff with plant genetics, too, given similar issues with seed corporations.

Being Jedi, I'm sure they're also aware of the need to include "ornamental" plants to help with the emotional welfare of hurting/devastated populations.

Education. This field must be fucking wild. Sure, you have your future creche masters and archivists, but I imagine there are those who do public outreach, too, and go to schools to teach kids about what the Jedi do beyond waving laser swords. There's probably also a need for teachers in isolated/rural areas to help with basic things like reading, writing, and maths. Ditto areas devastated by wars and natural disasters, where kids need a safe distraction from trauma. I bet Educorp and Agricorp team up more often than people might think.

There's also the sheer variety of topics. Even something basic like history will have a wide net. Galactic history, region-specific, planetary, etc. And then there's the arts. Music, singing, dance, physical media, holo media, theatre, and so much more. There will be differences between species, understanding what they need to know, how they learn best, and what their aging process is like. Teachers to cover the full range of mortal maturity, from teaching toddlers to old-timers. And don't get me started on teaching "forbidden" topics in repressive communities.

Medical. LOL. Every. Single. Species. And often subtypes between them. So many specialists needed. And again, you probably have a number that specialize in helping in disaster areas. Hello, Educorp, let's help teach these people how to best care for themselves. Maybe Agricorp can help with showing folks how to purify their air and water. There must be SO many diseases, some of which have inoculations and so that don't. And again, figuring ways to smuggle medicine and supplies to those who need it despite the extortionist rates corporations charge. Repairing faulty equipment, finding work-arounds when the parts aren't there. Triage. Using the Force to help heal is all well and good, but sometimes they still have to get hands-on.

Even with non-emergency stuff, I imagine they're still kept busy. The idea of a Jedi "country doctor" settled in some remote area sounds delightful. Communities that get "lost" in the shuffle or otherwise overlooked. Veterinary medicine as a sub-specialty.

Jedi having a special "knack" for determining what's wrong with someone, finding early warning signs before it's too late, etc. Comforting the dying. Comforting the survivors. ALL the mental health stuff and neurodivergence.

Exploration. Jedi Starfleet. LOL! It isn't all about discovering new worlds, though. Sometimes it's rediscovering planets and cultures that have been forgotten. Charting new hyperlane routes and hoping the end doesn't pop you out in the middle of a star.

I betcha you could fold so many things into this one. Botany. Archaeology. Xenoanthropology. Medicine, of course, since new worlds/people means new poisons, venoms, and diseases. New or ancient languages? It'd help to have someone around who could work on translating. Diplomats to help you talk to people. Geologists. Zoologists. A bit of everything.

Sure, there'd be room for solo missions, but I imagine there'd be bigger ships that they'd launch from. A place to come back to so the brains can pore over everything you brought back and see what they can determine from it. And big ships (or any ships really) means pilots, engineers, general crew, logistics, and all those fun things.

Anyway, I can see plenty of room for additional corps, too, but of the ones that get mentioned in Legends there's still a huge playing field.

[wheeboo]

holidaze | boo seungkwan

SYNOPSIS. in which you take your boyfriend on a holidate down the city. PAIRING. boo seungkwan x gn!reader GENRE. fluff, established relationship WARNINGS. kissing!! n just me being very whipped for him tbh :') WORD COUNT. 1.1k

notes: these r actually pics on our date guys. i took these pics of him <3 he did this for me. anyways i def didn't write this at 4am. happy holidays everyone! why r these actually the most boyfie pics ever i'm crying sobbing dying

There's nothing more better than venturing down the city at night with the spirit of the holidays filling the air. Festive lights are hung on streetlights which cast enchanting glows on the sidewalks and reflect off the wet and icy roads. Christmas trees are scattered throughout the city, standing tall and decorated with a dazzling array of ornaments, tinsel, and twinkling lights.

There's also nothing better than spoiling your boyfriend to a little date. Seungkwan had insisted that there wasn't any need for you to pay for everything, but tonight, you were all too determined to show just how much you appreciate him, even if it means arguing who would pay for the bill at the restaurant you chose or who would buy the matching stuffed animals you spotted in a store and couldn't resist buying.

Seungkwan has done nothing but warm your heart than any gift ever could. He's already a gift to your life, and tonight is your way of reciprocating just that𑁋to make sure he feels just as cherished as he's made you feel every day, simply because he deserves it, even if he doesn't think so himself.

"Do you think they'd like it? I'm scared I got the bad scents." Seungkwan fiddles with the paper bag of scented candles in his hand, his opposite arm linked around yours as you both continue your stroll down the glittering streets.

"My parents will love it. You don't have to worry about a thing," You reassure him with a gentle smile, giving his upper arm a small squeeze. "And even if they don't, it's the thought that counts, right?"

Seungkwan grins back, the worry lines on his forehead smoothing out. The city lights seem to reflect in his eyes like twinkling stars. "You're right. I just want them to like me, you know?"

"They already love you, trust me," You assure confidently. "Just be yourself, and they'll see how amazing you are."

Seungkwan could only shyly cower his head down to your words, the cold air nipping at his cheek that he attempts to hide away. You already know he has every right to be nervous meeting your parents for the first time tomorrow, but you also know that he'll win them over with his genuine and bubbly charm, just as he won you over from the very beginning.

The two of you trail up to a set of rails overlooking the sidewalk below and the looming buildings surrounding the area. There's some distant holiday music that you could hear from the nearby stores. Seungkwan leans against the rail, releasing a breath that creates a small mist in the chilly air, a thoughtful expression travelling across his face.

Smiling to yourself, you take out your phone and snap a few candid photos of him against the backdrop of the city lights.

"Look back at me," You call, and Seungkwan turns to face you, a small smile to his face that you manage to capture before he playfully swats at your phone. "Hey, hey, wait𑁋just a few more... Okay, I'm done. See?"

He pouts when you swipe through the photos, showing him the blurry ones and the ones where he's mid-swat like a cat batting at a toy. "Oh my God, you make me look so goofy."

"But look at these ones." You show him the two where you perfectly captured him looking back at you and smiling naturally. "You gotta post these! You look so pretty."

Seungkwan just rolls his eyes and turns away to admire the lights of the city once more, biting back the shy grin to his face. As you tuck your phone away, you walk up to him, sliding an arm around his waist and leaning against the rail beside him.

And when you both turn your bodies to face each other, your eyes gazing into his, a smile crosses your face, and you can't help but to let a hand pinch his cheek, perhaps a bit more harder than intended. "You're so cute!”

"Ow," Seungkwan winces dramatically, his hand coming up to cup over yours on his face, but he doesn't take your hand away𑁋he doesn't want to𑁋and instead leans more into your touch.

You furrow a brow, noticing how cold his face feels against your hand, trailing a thumb lightly over his cheekbone. "You're freezing, Kwannie."

The warmth of your thumb seeping through the chill of Seungkwan's skin sends a shiver down his spine that had nothing to do with the winter breeze.

"Just a little," he mutters quietly. “But you feel warm."

His dark eyes are like pools of melted chocolate under the city glow. The playful banter has faded, replaced by a quiet intimacy that settled comfortably around you both. You knew you should pull away and head back to the warmth of your apartment, but something keeps you frozen to this moment𑁋to the way his gaze seems to pierce right through you and make you feel so seen.

Then a sudden urge, soft and insistent, sprouts within you.

Your smile blooms into a full, somewhat mischievous grin as you take your hand away from his face. Leaning in, you press a gentle kiss to his cheek, right on the spot your touch had warmed up moments ago. It was a soft, fleeting peck, barely more than a whisper of your lips against his skin, but it sends a jolt of electricity through you both.

Seungkwan can practically still feel the kiss lingering when you pull away, a blush creeping up his neck and painting his skin and ears with a rosy hue. The flustered look to his face was enough to send your heart into a giddy leap, and as you cup his face again, you feel it's grown significantly warmer under your touch.

"All better now," You whisper teasingly as you continue to hold Seungkwan's face gently between your hands. "Are you blushing?"

Seungkwan lets out a scoff, lightly shoving your hand away from his face. "No."

"You are."

"I'm not!"

"You are!”

"H-How can I not when you kiss me like that?"

His words make a chuckle leave your mouth, and you stretch your arms to wrap around his neck, closing the distance between your bodies. His own hands come to instinctively rest at your waist, breath hitching from the way your closeness sends another wave of warmth through him.

But before he can say anything, you lean in and press a quick kiss to his lips, catching him off-guard once more. When you pull back, there's a playful glint in your eyes, and Seungkwan is left speechless and dazed, his cheeks now an even deeper shade of red. His gaze flickers between your eyes and your lips, and he lets out a choked laugh, a mix of embarrassment and amusement.

"You're... you're really something else, you know that?" Seungkwan stammers, his fingers playing with the hem of your coat as he avoids your eyes bashfully.

You tilt your head slightly. "In a good way hopefully?"

He leans in and presses a kiss to the tip of your cold nose, his lips lingering for a moment. When he draws back, a few snowflakes land in his hair. "In the best way possible."

taglist (open) ʚɞ @enhazen @haowrld @icyminghao @slytherinshua @jeonride @lockburn-castle @vrnism @weird-bookworm @mhlsymlysn @ryuwonieebae @yeonjuns-redhair @wonwooz1 @woohaeyo @mark-geolli @caramyisabitchforsvtandbts @aaniag @wootify

[niteshade925]

April 11, Xi'an, China, Xi'an Museum/西安博物院 (Part 2):

First up, the star of the museum, Tang dynasty (618 - 907 AD) sancai/唐三彩 pottery figurine of a rider on a horse (三彩腾空马):

More Tang-era sancai pottery horse figurines:

This one is a sancai figurine of a camel......screaming? That's a reaction pic worthy face right there:

Another reaction pic worthy face.....this time on a small gold tiger figurine (the head looks more like a bat tbh lol):

Qin dynasty (221 - 207 BC) kneeling clay figurine. This is how people sat before raised seats and chairs became a thing, and this position is called jizuo/跽坐:

Bronze parts from a horse chariot (because the chariots were wooden, it decayed, leaving behind these bronze parts):

Left: bronze crossbow (called nu/弩) trigger mechanism and arrow heads (may be from Warring States period, 403 - 221 BC)

Right: Bronze swords and daggers. If I remember right, the ones on the bottom left are yue/钺 heads

Qin dynasty (221 - 207 BC) and Han dynasty (202 BC - 220 AD) wadang/瓦当, featuring various auspicious motifs and phrases. These are part of the roof edge in traditional Chinese architecture, as shown in the diagram on the right (wadang is on the bottom left in the diagram). Honestly I think at least some of these wadang designs can be used on mooncake moulds:

A golden loong dragon, very fitting for the Year of the Dragon 🐉:

A (giant) pottery brick decorated with two loong dragons:

A pottery lantern, I believe this is specifically made to be buried in a tomb

Green-glazed pottery dog from Han dynasty (202 BC - 220 AD). It's speculated that this actually depicts a songshi/松��� dog, which was the breed that the chow chow was developed from. Note the wide head, small upright ears, sturdy protruding snout, stocky build, and the tail curved onto its back. This breed can still be found in China today:

Left: pottery female figurines, probably from Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern dynasties/魏晋南北朝 (220 - 589 AD), since this cross-shaped hairstyle/十字髻 was one of the characteric hairstyles of that time period.

Right: pottery female entertainer figurines, judging by the hairstyles, these are probably from Tang dynasty (618 - 907 AD). The hairstyle of the musicians to the sides are banfanji/半翻髻, the musician to the left is playing a sheng/笙, while the musician to the right is playing a paixiao/排箫. The dancer in the middle has a feixianji/飞仙髻 hairstyle.

Tang-era bronze mirror decorated with auspicious creatures and grapes. Traditionally, grapes motif symbolize longevity and wealth. This is the back of the mirror, the other side is the actual mirror, which is polished frequently and meticulously so that it may serve its purpose.

Various Tang-era hair ornaments made of silver, gold, or jade:

Tang-era sancai pottery tomb guardians:

Northern Zhou-era (557 - 581 AD) stone sarcophagus from Tomb of Master Shi/史君墓, also known as Tomb of Wirkak, dating from 580 AD:

A close up at the epitaph on the sarcophagus, which is written in Chinese and Sogdian. Translation of the epitaph from Wikipedia:

(The period) Daxiang of Great Zhou, year 2, in the first month of a rat year, on the 23rd day. So: there was a man of a family from Kish, domiciled in Guzang. From the emperor he holds the rank (of) sabao of Guzang, in the land of the Sogdians, a landowner. He is named Wirkakk, the son of Wanuk, (namely) Wanuk, the son of the sabao. And (his) wife, born in Xinping, is named Wiyusi. And Wirkakk the sabao married (his) wife in Xinping in a pig year, on the 7th day of the 6th month, on a hare day. And afterwards, here in Xianyang (= Chang’an), he himself died in a pig year, on the 7th day of the 5th month. And his wife too died on the 7th day of the 6th month, on a hare day, in the same year (as her) marriage, the same month, the same day. There is no living being which is born which is not subject to death; moreover, it is hard to complete (one’s) period in the world of the living. But this is harder (still), that, without being aware (of it), a husband and wife see one another (for the first time) the same year, the same month, the same day, in the human world (and) also in paradise, (so that) the beginning of (their) life together (in each place) may be at the same period. This stone tomb was made by Vreshman-vande, Zhimat-vande (and) Prot-vande, desiring a suitable place for (their) father (and) mother. — Epitaph of the tomb of Wirkak. Translated from the Sogdian by Nicholas Sims-Williams.

A clay model of a building for burial, if I remember right this is from Ming dynasty (1368 - 1644), I'm not 100% sure.

Traditionally, Chinese people believe that spirits of the dead will continue to exist and "live", so the dead must be treated as if they are alive, a concept known as 事死如事生. This is why ancient Chinese tombs were often filled with belongings of the deceased, their favorite and most prized treasures, and (often clay) models of houses and possessions, etc. A very famous example of this is Qin Shi Huang's terra cotta army. This is also why Chinese people today still burn paper offerings in the shape of money (mingbi/冥币; colloquially called paper money/纸钱) and items (called zhizha/纸扎) for the deceased. The biggest difference is that today's paper offerings might take the shape of modern items like laptops or cars.

Ming-era pottery figurines, arranged in a procession

A landscape painting hand scroll, and if I'm reading the plaque right (there were a lot of people so I didn't get to take a picture of the plaque), it's by famous Yuan dynasty painter Zhao Mengfu/赵孟頫 (1254 - 1322). This particular style of landscape painting is called blue-green landscape painting (青绿山水画), and is so named for its characteristic blue-green color of the mountains. Since the color was produced by mineral pigments, it's long-lasting and does not fade. The most famous painting of this style is One Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains (《千里江山图》) by Wang Ximeng/王希孟 in Northern Song dynasty (960 - 1127 AD).

And last but not least, this one surprised me too......clay water pipes from Qin dynasty (221 - 207 BC):

[merakisphere]

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Shop dozens of colours and styles:

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I've been asked where I prefer customers to shop my products from, and tbh whichever platform provides them the most convenience for them, I'd say. Etsy is nice because you can shop for other amazing handmade products as well, and have a cart full of awesome things. Shopping from my website introduces you to me and my products a bit more, and it's a more personalized shopping experience. There are pros and cons, but overall, I'm just happy to have my handmade fidget flowers up and available for sale, anywhere!

Ways to enjoy this include: Sensory Fidget \\ Candle Holder \\ Hair Accessory \\ Vehicle Ornament \\ Office Stress Ball \\ Unique Gift Idea \\ Fruit Holder \\ Christmas Tree Decoration \\ Focus Tool \\ Birthday Gift \\ Egg Stand \\ Wedding Favour \\ Concentration Aid \\ Fidget Bracelet \\ Stim Necklace \\ & More!

[milezperprower]

RAGAMASTER GANG DESIGNS/CONCEPTS!!! [UP TO DATE!!!]

zoob's is more of a rough concept, but its definetly getting close to what i imagine them to be! i referenced things like old vintage circus wind-up toys and mix-and-match toys for them! one thing i noticed in particular is that the colors on the vintage toys tended to be mainly bold primary colors with maybe some licks of green here and there, so i tried to keep that in mind while applying zooble's colors!

i also imagine that like stated before in the previous posts, the materials of their body parts are similar to the ones found in vintage toys, such as wood, tin, rubber, and hell even some springs. i imagine their head and body is made out of chipped/ worn wood, their limbs out of either rubber or springs (tin for the claw), and their wings to based on foam with stiff fake feathers, like the ones on angel ornaments!

i imagine their wings are probably more of a pain and a dead weight on zooble's back rather to be of actual use, however they CAN move them! i think they're probably too cumbersome and heavy to fly with, but tbh drawing them flying is kinda fun LOL.

the deer antler on the left side of their head is made out of birch bark, while the goat's horn is made of stone!

and yes, they DO have a functional wind up, but i have a feeling that nobody really touches because they KNOW zooble would flay them alive if they DARED to LMAO.

anyways, hopefully yall like this infodump as much as i had writing it!

id love to touch on the others but im a bit burned out after typing all that, so just take their descriptions for what you will for now

[only-lonely-star]

‧₊ ᵎᵎ ⋆ 🎃 ˚｡⋆.ೃ࿔ Halloween HCs ‧₊ ᵎᵎ ⋆ 🎃 ˚｡⋆.ೃ࿔

Warnings - Mentions of gore, Johnny’s headcanons are kind of sad tbh 😭, “laced” candy, mentions of Curtis’ deceased parents.

Author’s Note - These are miscellaneous headcanons!! I can’t bring myself to wait until Halloween to post this, so I’m doing it now! I’ve been in the fall mood for so long and this scratched my brain just right. I would kill to live in Tulsa around the holiday season in the 60s- like you guys don’t even understand. I hope you enjoy! 🐈‍⬛🍂

── ── ��⋅🎃⋅⋆ ── ──

The Curtis gang NEVER misses on Halloween, it’s their night.

I can definitely see Two-Bit going all out with his sister (I personally HC her to be younger, around 6 maybe), and decorating their porch all cutesy with jack-o-lanterns and fake spiderwebs. Two-Bit would probably take her trick or treating around 7-8 pm when it’s just getting dark. He’ll save the actual night for fun with the gang.

Soda and Ponyboy still go trick or treating even though most greasers see that as “little kid stuff” and stop around the age of 12. It’s like a tradition for them to go every year. Darry grew out of it before their parents had passed, but when they were still alive they sent him to drive Soda and Pony around town and help out with navigating the streets. He still does it to feel more at ease with them going out as well as reminiscing on past Halloweens. (This made me think of the annual ornament situation from S.E Hinton’s Christmas story 💔)

Darry always rummages through Soda and Ponyboy’s bags and picks out his favorites to smuggle from them, hoping they won’t notice. I just know he loves his chocolate bars - I’m talking Hershey’s bars and Milky Way bars.

I feel like Dally would be an even bigger asshole and blame it on Halloween.

Dally tricks, he doesn’t treat.

He’d also pull all sorts of pranks on people he knows just for kicks. He’d try and scare Tim or some shit by messing with his lights and causing loud banging sounds from outside. Tim obviously knows it’s Dally so he chooses to ignore him until he can’t take it anymore.

Steve’s favorite holiday growing up was always Halloween. He would always earn the title of best dressed for the costumes Mrs. Curtis would hand sew ☹️. She took pride in it too, she’d work super hard until he was satisfied with it. (I get superhero vibes from him, maybe even like a pirate 😭)

The Curtis household is THE hangout for trading candy (let’s be honest, when is it not?)

Johnny’s favorite holiday is Halloween because it’s one of the few major holidays that doesn’t require him to see families bonding all around him ☹️ (Also because he can roam the streets without being singled out for being a Greaser.)

I’m pretty sure (like 99% sure) it’s canon that Dally is afraid of spiders, so I think it’s safe to say he fucking HATES any of those life-sized spiders people put on their windows as decoration.

Johnny hates people dressed up as the dead, it’s just unsettling to him when people do that whole ‘fake axe in the head’ thing or plastic intestines (I hope you guys know what I mean, or else I sound like I’m literally insane.)

Halloween is Ponyboy’s second favorite holiday (besides Christmas) because he gets to dress up. I think this is so cute because I also headcanon him to do theater for school. 😭❤️ Costumes are very exciting for him because he’s so used to doing it for theater.

Darry loves to carve pumpkins with silly faces and put them out on their porch for the little kids when they stop by. I personally think he’d be so great with kids since he’s had the older brother role all his life.

Darry can’t STAND fruity and chewy candy.

Two-Bit was Mickey Mouse for Halloween when he was like five and it just stuck with him. 😭 I also feel like he could imitate Mickey’s voice so well that a little part of his inner child is screams every time he successfully does it without having a voice crack.

Cherry ironically hates cherry-flavored lollipops or chews even though everyone hands her that specific flavor to be funny. She thinks it tastes like medicine. (She likes the fruit though!)

Soda will gladly suck down the old grandma candy nobody likes. Those strawberry chews, butterscotch, off-brand candy corn - he’ll eat all of it.

Steve would totally try to make the DX all festive for Halloween and tell Soda “it’s for the kids” even though no kids willingly go to the GAS STATION unless their parents drag them along.

Ponyboy lovessss Halloween movies and usually wants to watch them with Johnny since he loves the horror portion of a ‘Halloween movie’. Johnny likes the thrill.

Two-Bit dresses up at school on Halloween. He doesn’t give a shit, it’s canon he just goes for kicks.

Johnny likes to hang with Dally and mess with people or play stupid pranks on them since he really doesn’t like the idea of trick-or-treating at sixteen.

Johnny grew out of trick-or-treating at a young age. He felt he was too mature for it since he was forced to toughen up as a kid due to his parent's constant abuse. Normal child activities feel foreign to him.

Halloween parties at Buck’s go CRAZY and Dally always looks forward to seeing those girls in skimpy ‘costumes’. (Very Mean Girls ‘Halloween rule’ inspired.)

Darry used to always be like a little photographer on Halloween eve and would take pictures of Soda and Pony and proudly show the pictures to their parents. “Pony, give me your pillowcase so i can take a photo… now hold your hat up… smile normally, not in character….perfect…”

“Careful, you gotta check that candy first, kid. people hide blades and stuff in candy,” while Two-Bit stabs Ponyboy’s candy bar with his switchblade and laughs his ass off.

I’m so ready for Halloween. I don’t care how old I get, I’ll always love dressing up and shit and just fall vibes in general. I hope you guys enjoyed this as much as I did making it.

I LOVE YOU, THANK YOU FOR READING 💋

[spinningwebsandtales]

Imagine Going On A Cozy Christmas Date With Nanami

Nanami Kento X FemReader

Rating: G

Warnings: None

Word Count: 933

(A/N:) Hello fellow JJK and Nanami fangirls! It's a painful season and I was dreading Nanami's death being animated tbh. So to combat the pain and the feels I bring some cozy happiness to y'all for Christmas! I had this planned as something different buuut an idea popped into my head and I'm running with it! Hopefully this helps ease some of the pain until something else happens! Until next time happy reading! ~Countess

The winter streets of Tokyo were aglow with Christmas lights and decor lining the different shops, trying to tempt in shoppers. Your breath fogging in the air as you tried to warm up your hands. You were waiting for Nanami to return from a street cart that was advertising warm drinks. He had told you before you left to bring gloves, but you stubbornly refused them, wanting to hold his hand without gloves getting in the way. Your nose was turning pink from the nippy air as you continued to puff away at your chilly skin. Finally the familiar slicked blond hair came into view. Unlike you, Nanami was bundled up, gloves including as he held out your warm wintery treat. Complete with mounds of whipped cream and topped with crushed peppermint, your mouth watered at the deliciously sugary sight.

You took the offered cup, taking an appreciative sip while Nanami looked on.

"You need to stop hanging out around Gojo. His horrific taste in sweets is starting to rub off on you," he stated taking a long drink of his boring black coffee.

"Please," you snorted licking at the whipped cream mustache above your lip. "Just because you like to be boring and drink black coffee doesn't mean I have to. And for your information I've always had a sweet tooth thank you. Gojo has nothing to do with it."

You cupped the warm cup in your hands, shuddering at the warmth. Nanami rolled his eyes.

"I told you to wear gloves," he tsked.

"I wanted to hold your hand to keep warm," you pouted.

He sighed but took your hand just the same, giving it a squeeze before he placed your hand and his in his coat pocket. You hummed at the coziness of his body heat as you both started back down the street. It wasn't often that Nanami could get away from his sorcerer job, so you relished every second with him. You chatted away, telling Nanami of everything that has been going on and the plans that you had been thinking of to spend Christmas with him. Nanami just listened intently, letting you ramble even when the only breaks you took were to take a drink of your hot chocolate. You had even gotten him to take a little sip. You laughed at the whipped cream on his nose before you kissed it away, savoring the taste on your tongue.

A little further down the street, as you were browsing at clothing in a store window you felt a tap on your shoulder. A young woman with a camera around her neck asked if she could take you and Nanami's picture. You nodded eagerly and Nanami couldn't bring himself to refuse. She brought you both to a gorgeously decorated Christmas photo op. It didn't take long and now both of you had something to remember the night by. You pocketed yours, making sure not to bend it so you could put it on the wall around your bed when you got home. Nanami eased his copy into his wallet. You kissed his cheek before whisking him away to another place.

The park was normally empty this time of night, with the exception for the holiday season. With lights everywhere and trees decorated in different varieties of ornaments. It was nice to take a walk through the more crowded paths. Nanami tensed as some people bumped into you, but with a bow they apologized and he relaxed.

"Don't be so tense," you squeezed his hand.

"I can't help it. Bad things tend to follow big crowds," he pulled you in closer making sure that you couldn't be separated from him. Discarding the now empty paper cups into the trash, Nanami lead the way through several groups of people. Despite the walking and your tired feet, you didn't want the night to end. But Nanami being ever the perceptive one, noticed when you had started to limp a little bit. He was able to find an empty bench in the crowded park and he sat down letting you rest for a little bit before he called it a night.

"Thank you Nanami," you whispered in his ear.

"For what," he muttered while keeping an arm wrapped around your shoulders.

"For tonight and taking care of me," you answered. "Moments like these are precious to me."

He nodded, "I work a lot and waste a lot of my time there. But I never feel like I waste anything when I'm with you."

You blushed, thankful that your cheeks were already pink from the frosty weather. You tried to look away but Nanami refused to let you. His palm against your cheek he leaned in, his lips brushing over yours softly. He tried pulling away but you held onto his coat, willing him to go further. He took the hint, kissing you fervently. You sighed against him pressing into Nanami as you lost yourself in the touch and taste of him. The bitterness of his coffee dancing on your tongue, along with the smell tickling your nose. Meanwhile Nanami could still taste the chocolate and peppermint that he would come to associate with you. He didn't care there were others around, or if they were staring. At this moment to him it was just you and him. Pulling away, he was ready to get you home, away from the crowds where he could enjoy you to himself. Walking hand in hand out of the park you fell back into easy conversation, while Nanami planned something more concrete than just spending Christmas together.

[ohbo-ohno]

CONGRATS ON 1K!!!! 🎉🎊🏆 May I please request “An old well” from the list? (Hehe, I’m a Sadako fan, I couldn’t resist) - 🕸

1k game here

how dare you make me google what "Sadako" is and see that terrifying shit. shame on you (/j)

inspired by an ancient mayan tradition where human sacrifices were shoved to the bottom of a well (which i read in a book called lotería, but i can't find sources on whether or not it's a real thing). the italics are a mayan prayer, found here

1.7k of god of rain ghost x sacrificed reader. there's actually very little ghost in this, sorry! it's mostly vibes tbh

The jewelry weighs down your every limb, dripping down your neck and arms. The mix of the drugs you'd been fed and the heavy ornaments leaves you unable to move, left lounging on the table you're carried on. You recite the prayer of the seven directions as you're paraded through the streets of your city.

From the East, House of Light May wisdom Dawn in us So we may see all things in clarity

You can hear the cheering crowds of your people. As scared as you are, you comfort yourself with the knowledge that you're helping them. If the God of Rain accepts your sacrifice, your people will have a prosperous harvest. And then, if the gods are kind, they will feast.

From the North, House of the Night May Wisdom Ripen in Us So we may know all from within

It's not much, but it's enough for you to find peace with your coming death. You picture your mother and father, bellies full and bodies healthy, and you know that it is enough. It has to be enough.

From the West, House of Transformation May Wisdom be transformed into right action So we may do what must be done

The sun shines down on you, leaving your skin tight and burning. There's not a cloud in the sky, yet another reminder of what your sacrifice is for. The rain god has not been pleased in recent months, and you are the final attempt at regaining his favor.

From the South, House of the Eternal Sun May right action reap the harvest So we may enjoy the fruits of Planetary being

You take a deep breath and let your eyes slip closed. You tell yourself there is peace in death, that you'll meet the ancestors with open arms. You are not afraid.

From Above, House of Heaven Where star people and Ancestors gather May their blessings come to us Now

A tear slips down your cheek as the table is settled to the ground. The cheering is a distant sound now, left at the bottom of the steps of the temple. You slowly blink your eyes open, and see the blurry image of your halach uinic, you ruler. He's a tall man - big and dark and broad, decorated with the scars of his conquest. His regalia nearly outshines yours.

He pulls you up with surprisingly gentle hands, doesn't even flinch when you give him almost all of your weight. The drugs you'd been given paint the world in stunning colors as they begin to settle more, and you watch with wide-eyes as the scars across his torso begin to move.

From Below, House of Earth May the heartbeat of her crystal core Bless us with harmonies to end all war

"We thank you for your sacrifice," you hear him saying, his voice muffled. He's reciting a prayer you've heard a dozen times before, before dozens of sacrifices. It's as familiar as the one you finish in your head, eyes slipping closed to give you a break from all the squirming scars.

From the Center, Galactic Source Which is everywhere at once May everything be known As the light of mutual love

"And we pray to you, Great God of Rain, of Thunder and Lightning, that you will split the clouds again, and allow us the great gift of your prosperity! We pray that our humble sacrifice be accepted, that our Woman be to your pleasure."

There's a muted sense of grief for yourself, deep in your chest. You can tell yourself again and again that you're ready to meet the dead, to beg for entrance to Death's kingdom, but it doesn't make the departure from life any easier.

"Are you ready?" The halach uinic asks, but you both know that you can't answer. It's difficult enough to open your eyes and look at him, nodding - or even speaking - isn't possible right now.

He's careful not to brush your skin as he guides you forward, hands wrapped around the gold bangles. He stands behind you, and your breath hitches.

You know what happens now. He's going to shove you into the well, where you will die and hope the God of Rain accepts your spirit before allowing you to pass on.

It doesn't make you less terrified when his handles settle on your shoulders. Your breathing shudders in and out of you, tears slipping down your cheeks.

You don't get a warning. One minute you're standing at the top of the temple, at the edge of the well, and the next you're falling through the air.

Oh Yum Hunab Ku Evam Maya E Ma Ho All Hail the Harmony of Mind and Nature

It's a terrifying thing, to fall.

The jewelry does it's job, weighting you down so you sink far faster than you would've naked. It flies into the air behind you, the thick necklaces pulling back on your neck and nearly choking you. You're forced to turn in the air, with the futile hope that your neck won't break. The adrenaline and fear gives you just enough energy to turn mid-air.

You want to scream as you watch the spot of light become smaller and smaller at the top of the well. You want to wail and cry and kick and beg, beg any deity listening to stop time, to keep you from falling.

But you have to be thankful. If you die angry, the God of Rain will never accept your sacrifice.

You let your eyes fall shut again, and pray the drugs do their job. You pray it doesn't hurt to die.

Mercifully, your prayers are answered. You can both hear and feel when you stop falling, the sudden jerk to stillness a shock, and the heavy weight of gold and emerald landing on top of your chest.

It both hurts and doesn't. You're aware that it should hurt, that you should be in unfathomable pain, that you should be sobbing and begging for the relief of death.

But there's no pain. There's a weight, a heavy cloud over your existence, but there's no pain.

It's dark at the bottom of the well. The glow from the sky is faint this far down, giving you only the impression of light. There's a glow coming from somewhere to your right, but you aren't strong enough to turn your head and look.

All you can do is breathe shallowly and stare up at the small blue circle above you.

Then, footsteps.

Loud, scraping footsteps, like the person making them isn't lifting his feet the whole way. Your breath hitches, but you force yourself to relax.

This is it. This is the moment you meet the God of Rain and beg him to accept your sacrifice.

He appears above you in pieces. A head of hair, a mask, a neck, a shoulder, a torso.

He's large, like all gods are presumed to be, and wearing a mask of bone like you've seen painted across temple walls.

"Another one?" He rumbles, voice low and echoing.

It's jarring to hear a god speak. His voice is both loud and quiet, both echoing and muffled, for you and for everyone. He's cloaked in black and bone, a picture of death, but his gift to your people is life. He's a contradiction, in every sense of the word.

"Please-" you choke out, voice weak and quiet. You have to fight to get the words past your throat, the drugs leaving you a prisoner in your own body. "Please... accept.... my hu... humble sacrifice.... and.... and...."

He sighs, stepping away. "Quiet."

You listen immediately, praying you haven't already ruined everything.

"They're always so slow," he mutters to himself. Before you can realize he's come back, you're lifted into his arms, held like a baby.

The part of your mind untouched by the drugs screams at this blessing, this gift, but the part of you still high only goes limp.

"No wonder you humans need so much extra help. Can hardly even speak yet."

Your eyebrows furrow, and you feel the pointless need to defend yourself. "It's... drugs...."

"What?" He looks down at you. "You're still alive?"

The best you manage is a hum.

"Huh. None of you have ever made it this long. Good for you, I supposed. Drugs, you said? Why on Earth would you be on drugs?"

"So..." you take a breath. The air is musty and cold down here, unpleasant in your mouth. "So... no... pain."

He snorts. "That does make sense. You humans are very sensitive, it can't be pleasant to hit the ground from such a height."

You'd laugh, if you could. Who knew gods could be talkative?

You're laid out on something cold and rough, almost like stone beneath your naked back. A hand presses into your stomach, forcing you to lay flat.

"I don't think any of you have made it this long," he muses to himself. "At least, not in recent centuries." His hand is warm as it strokes over the sensitive skin of your concave stomach. "You're very thin for a human. The ones they send have been getting thinner and thinner every year."

"Famine..." you whisper, rapidly losing your ability to speak. You can feel yourself fading now, can feel the first inklings of pain beginning in your head.

"Hmm. I suppose I have been putting off my duties for a bit too long."

A few tears slip down your cheeks, your body going cold.

"Well, I suppose you are a rather good sacrifice. Determined little thing, aren't you?" His warm hand cups your cheek, turning it to the side. You whine when that makes the pain ten times worse, lips quivering. "Hush, little one. Would you like the pain to go away?"

You try to look up at him. It takes several tries, every part of you slowly losing it's numbness. Everything is excruciating.

"There you are," he hums again, thumb stroking just between your eye. "It has been a while since I've had an assistant. I might keep you to myself for a bit."

If you were at all capable of anything but crying, your eyebrows would furrow. As it is, you can't do anything but sob.

"Alright, hush now," he shushes, other hand coming up to cover your eyes. "Let go, little human. Things will be very different for you when you wake up."

You're helpless to obey, closing your eyes against the pain and welcoming the sweet oblivion of death. You feel the God of Rain by your side the entire time, hand resting over your eyes. It's painful, but his presence brings you some peace.

You hope your sacrifice was worth it, hope that he'll bring water to your people again.

[the-punforgiven]

So that teaser image dropped and I must say

I am DEEPLY fascinated with how similar in design this armor is to the carian knight's set!

With the helmet being an ornately embossed close helm with a visor that tapers upwards into a point, and a very large, noticeable crest at the top, it seems incredibly intentional tbh

Also the armor having a distinct robe-style surcoat with notable ornamentation overtop of it (the embossed gorget in this mystery person's case, and that brown... thing? In the carian knight's set) with the surcoat also being held in place by a belt (Plus additional Brown Thing for the Carian set lol)

They also both have a well engraved center line down the breastplate, and they even both have a cape!

There's also a distinct double-gauntet sort of shape in the forearm, though this mystery figure's seems more articulated at the wrist. The sort of secondary gauntlet shape halfway up on the forearm also appears to be leather(?) on the mystery person's left hand, which strikes me as VERY interesting since Miquella's followers have been known to borrow from Carian design in the past, as is the case with the Miquellan Knight's sword

This armor seems overall a bit heavier than the Carian set but their design overlaps in a lot of ways that feel VERY intentional to me! Needless to say I am EXTREMELY curious who this new figure is lol

[empty-dream]

Ngl from the moment I first saw her till now, I've always thought that Archetype: Earth from the late 2000s Melty Blood is one if not THE most beatiful and dangerous character Nasuverse ever produced. Hell, she (along with Arcueid) is the first one I'd think of when asked who is the most beautiful blond character ever. I don't know how to articulate it better, but everything about her exudes "inhumane beauty."

There is this dispassionate yet cruel royal aura around her. Big puffy ballgown that's screaming "princess." Feet-length hair that follows the rule of thumb: "The longer the hair is, the stronger the character is." Her slitted vampire eyes are also obvious culprit, but it's not just because of them. Nasuverse vampires and some other species have those same eyes, but hers is just different. I think it has to do with her expressions. Like if you get crushed in front of her, she would just walk away without even blinking or sneer because she is the one who crush you. It's like she's far removed from mortals, with the dignity and cruelty of a higher being. Which she actually is.

And for me it's something that's never been produced again. Not even when Takeuchi has evolved in terms of drawing and coloring skills. It's just one of a kind. Which leads to this thought below.

Tbh idk if this is a hot take and idc either way. Ever since her remake version came out, I've never felt as moved with the new design. (Idk which came first, FGO or Tsukihime Remake artwork.) Like, yes the art is still so gorgeous but some things felt off and I didn't know what exactly those are. And it kinda bugged me from the back of my mind for months. So after awhile I tried to decipher the answer myself.

Let's put aside the Saberface syndrome Takeuchi lately has because that's obvious reason from the get go.

Both have the same puffy white-blue ballgown with golden accent. But the Melty Blood version lacks ornaments like chockers, ribbons and tassels—accessories that royalty would wear. It's as if the Melty Blood version just throws the gown on without second thoughts. I've always considered Archetype Earth as both a supernatural regal big shot and a wild natural phenomenon, so the fact that she dresses like a princess in a pretty simple way enhances that image.

Personaly I like the Remake's blue shade better, but I can't help but be more familiar with the original one lol.

I guess the ankle-length dress is also a notable point. I know the actual combat sprite in Melty Blood has floor-length, and the picture above is her using her power so the hem gets elevated from the wind or something. But I still find the ankle-length to be weirdly unique because most of the time I see this type of ballgown reaching the ground like in the new design. That it somehow shows the heels and ankles just kinda fits the whole "this is not a normal human princess" thing going on.

Hairstyle. From the look of it, it seems the remake version is very emphasized as short hair with longer hair underneath, like Jeanne's. In fact I do dub it as THE Jeanne hair. The thing is, while Jeanne is feminine and dignified, she is noted to be tomboyish back in the day and did went to war leading men. So the combination works. All I'm saying is, that hairstyle has the feminine-yet-tomboyish combination vibe for me. That is not the kind of characterization I get from Archetype: Earth.

I much prefer the original one, just make it fully long behind the sidebangs. It's a bit vague but even if the original is actually short hair with longer hair, it is far less pronounced.

Note that I actually haven't read or got majorly exposed to the Tsukihime remake, so I don't know if there is already an explanation or characterization change for her in Tsukihime. Things I get are from FGO and since I think FGO kind of expands her characterization more, I can let it slide with its design choices. When it comes down to it, I just have my own taste and interpretation as well.

[auslanderka]

— my little piece for a spooky sports event made by my dear @koushuwu! || event post ; event masterlist

fandom : slam dunk

ship : mito youhei x gn!reader (f!reader in my mind)

TW/tags: spooky sports anime event, horror movie night, characters aged up, established relationship (wife-husband), slighty 18+, minors dni

Note : tbh I don't know how to write typical spooky stories but this was created, in general I don't celebrate halloween at all and all the traditions are for me "dry theory" from English class ; I feel like it's a little silly and boring but if by some miracle you have wandered here - enjoy.

Note 2 : and okay this fic. I dedicate this writing piece to @gothintegra - it's possible that you like horror movies and probably youhei wouldn't need to comfort you during horror movie night (I realized this as I was finishing writing haha) but it doesn't change the fact that I wrote with you in mind. it's my little "thank you" for your kind words when things were very bad for me in early september, I hope you enjoyed it!

— contains eng grammar problems and mistakes as well —

The living room of your small apartment looked fabulous. If that's the word to describe the room decorated with pumpkins and other ornaments you found in the store's Halloween & autumn section. Like every year, you created a mood to warm up the ugly weather that was starting to be more and more outside the window.

Youhei leaned over the candles in the shape of small pumpkins lighting them while you placed two mugs with hot chocolate decorated with marshmallows  in the shape of little ghosts on the table. Next to them were two plates of cookies, which you had been making all morning while Mito was still at work. The pleasant smell of shortcrust pastry, baked apple and cinnamon wafted throughout the apartment.

It was October 31st. A day when ghouls came out of their hiding places and people spent time at dress-up parties. You and your husband decided to spend the day together and make a movie night. You two just didn't agree on the choice of movie genre. Youhei wanted horror movies, and you wanted anything that wasn't horror.

"so what are we going to watch tonight?" you asked while correcting the cushions on the couch. Mito smiled broadly and disappeared into the hallway for a while. He returned with a paper bag full of rented DVDs from a nearby rental store. Seeing his face and the package you made the mental sign of the cross. You may not have been religious, but the sight of that one evil smile on his face made you know you had to prepare for the worst.

"you and your ideas" you groaned, picking up one of the dvds from the table. The cover itself was already rejecting; you didn't even want to think about what was the plot.

"hey, it's October 31st!"

Youhei stood on the other side of the table grinning widely. He had been saying for several months that they would have a movie marathon in October. At first you thought he was joking. You had been together for quite a long time, Mito knew very well that you are fearful and horror movies weren’t films you reached for with pleasure. You had seen maybe one or two in your entire life, not of you own volition, of course, but it let you know that it was not your favorite film genre.

You looked at Youhei and already knew you wouldn't give you a break so easily.

*

When he turned on the second or third movie, you sat next to him on the couch quite stiffly. You kept your gaze fixed on the TV, but at every louder sound of music or screaming you flinched or jumped up feeling the hair on your head go astray. Horror wasn't your favorite movie genre as you once again found out. Youhei sat next to you resting his head on his hand and watching you for several minutes in concentration with a lazy smile on his face.

He gently grabbed your hand lying on your thigh at which you jumped up making a silently frightened sound. You looked at him feeling your cheeks turning red and slapped him lightly on the shoulder seeing his amused face.

"hey" Mito chuckled smiling slightly and clasping his hand tighter on your arm. He pulled you close so that your cheek rested against his chest. Closed your eyes snuggling into his shirt.

"I don't want to watch it," groaned quietly, hoping that Youhei would give you a break tonight and the scary movie night would end with two horror movies watched.

"It's just fiction." he chuckled quietly feeling your arms tighten more tightly around him. He sighed quietly, put his arms around you and kissed your neck gently. Still cuddled in, Mito glanced at the TV, which he had turned down a few minutes ago without you even noticing.

After a while, however, he lost interest in the movie and the mindless carnage that had just played out on the screen accompanied by the screams of the blond-haired actresses. He grabbed you tighter by the thighs and pulled you closer to him. He rested his forehead against your shoulder, closing his eyes and inhaling the soft scent of your perfume. A scent you used only in the fall.

His hands carefully slid out from under the material of your loose cotton shirt and he moved them as gently as he could along your sides. At such moments, Mito always noticed how petite you were compared to his hands. He also had the impression that you had lost a lot of weight recently due to stress and excessive work. His grip became stronger.

"It's just a fiction. You are not in danger of anything." whispered in your ear.

Your skin was pleasantly soft and warm. You raised your hands, allowing him to pull off your shirt. A cheeky grin appeared on his face at the sight of your black lace bra, which contrasted sharply with your pale skin. The faint light of the candles set on the table and bookcases in the dark living room further accentuated your assets. He leaned in. His lips gently touched your hot skin, leaving a gentle kiss on your collarbone. You felt a pleasant shiver along your spine. You took his face in your hands and forced him to look at you. The corners of your mouth lifted, seeing dark eyes gazing lovingly at you. Nothing had changed since high school. All these years, he gazed at you with the same infatuated eyes. You leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on his forehead, and he let the air out of his lungs loudly.

Your delicate hands moved down the nape of his neck, pointing upward toward his dark hair. His hair, which had always been perfectly styled, was now disheveled and in the mess you liked so much. This was a private Youhei. Your Youhei. One that only you and perhaps his closest friends knew. You weaved your fingers into the strands, smiling slightly. He placed a gentle kiss on your shoulder and then began to move his lips toward your neck.

"I hate you..." you muttered quietly ignoring the screams coming again from the TV behind you.

"And that's why you married me." he winked at you at which you sighed quietly. It's a good thing you were sitting, because your legs probably would have refused to obey you.

[hotanlvr]

Wrong Has Never Felt So Right

William Agar

Summary: William’s reluctancy to admit his feelings doesn’t get him far. Your mere touch bringing him feelings he definitely shouldn’t have.

Warnings: Hand jobs, that’s practically it tbh.

Notes: this is my first time posting on here so i apologise if i’ve done anything wrong, I also posted this on ao3:

~

Entering the house, a palpable chill hung in the air, as if the temperature within mirrored the frosty demeanor of its inhabitants. The ambiance echoed with a wintry stillness, leaving every room enveloped in an icy atmosphere that went beyond mere temperature—a coldness that seemed to seep into the very essence of the space, settling in the corners like an unspoken frost.

“Take a seat.” You gestured to William, and he did so, setting his bag beside him on the floor. William’s eyes followed you around the room, as you began to rearrange small things on the mantelpiece, paying attention to the details of your home.

Amidst the ebb and flow of the silence, William’s inner thoughts wove a tapestry of admiration for you. A cascade of appreciation, like gentle whispers in the chambers of his mind, acknowledged the nuances of your presence—the way your elegance painted the room with warmth and how your grace seemed to defy the ordinary. Each unspoken word carried the weight of genuine admiration, creating a silent symphony of affection that only he could hear. His gaze, softened by an affectionate tenderness, lingered upon you with an unspoken language of love. In the quiet moments when your eyes meet, a warmth radiated from his expression.

“I attended an art exhibition today.” You say while handling an ornament from the mantle piece, inspecting it as if you had no idea it existed. William looked up, hoping to be met with your eyes, but you still faced away from him.

“Oh..and how was that…?” As he spoke, an involuntary quiver danced within the cadence of his voice, betraying the vulnerability that sought refuge beneath his words. You finally turned around to meet his gaze, his head suddenly lowering down after a few moments, a clear blush creeping onto his face.

“It was…interesting. Such beauty captured within a canvas, it is truly an alchemy of skill and perception.” You slowly walked over to where William was sitting, and sat beside him. His body immediately tensed up, his hands gripping his knees tightly, his knuckles turning white. He nodded as you spoke, carefully taking in all of your words, listening at the sound of your voice, so softly spoken and gentle, just the sound of it warmed his heart.

“Did you see anything in particular that caught your eye?” William inquired, hoping to keep the conversation with you going. He shifted in his seat slightly, starting to feel slightly more comfortable.

“I saw a beautiful painting. It depicted two young women, who were bathing in the female only part of the house.” You tell him, a glimpse of discomfort in your voice.

“Were they?” William asks abruptly, his eyes widening at each of your words. It’s clear the topic is making him uncomfortable, yet he longs to hear more.

“And the…nakedness of the two women coupled with an exquisite ability to convey the arid landscape of the middle east was…breathtaking…”

You leaned back in the seat, a picture of casual ease, your mood suddenly becoming more tranquil as the conversation progressed.

“It was while Henry and I were sitting, looking at this painting, that he…” Your words trail off, and William shifts slightly closer to you, silently asking for you to carry on.

“He…? What happened?”

“He touched me. He touched me…like this…”

In a fleeting encounter, your fingers brushed against the back of his hand with a delicate grace. The contact, gentle as a whispered secret, created a subtle connection, leaving a tingling trail of warmth in its wake. It was a fleeting caress, a quiet invitation to the intimacy of touch.

A subtle shiver ran through his body, and an involuntary tension gripped his muscles as arousal wove its intricate spell. It was a silent response, a physical echo of desire that resonated in the exquisite tension sculpted by the anticipation of what lay ahead.

In an unexpected burst of movement, he swiftly rose from his seat, abruptly grabbing his bag from the floor. He held it tightly against his lower body, as if to hide something.

“It is best if I leave now. We will speak again soon, I’m sure. Good day.” Mid-stride, he headed for the door, but a sudden interruption caused him to pause just before walking through. He turned back around to be met with your gaze, his eyes widened uncomfortably.

“What are you hiding, William?” The unexpected surge of emotions reflected in the dilation of his pupils, causing him to look away from your gaze, staring beyond you at something.

He shakes his head dismissively, looking down at the floor. He opens his mouth as if to speak, but quickly cuts himself off.

“I-I’m sorry…this is wrong of me, I should not feel such feelings towards a lady like yourself.” He hangs his head low, avoiding eye contact with you.

You step closer to him, close enough to hear his erratic breathing. William’s cheeks immediately heat up, turning red, his gaze now shifting to the floor.

“What feelings shouldn’t you have?”

“I-…Feelings that are…reserved between a husband and wife, not us.” There’s a long pause, before he starts speaking again.

“I must admit, your touch has not left my mind…something inside of me longs for it again…” He finally looks up at you with hooded eyes, his flustered expression making your heart skip at beat.

William’s words caused something inside you to stir, a newfound confidence. In a split second, you push him against the nearest wall, making his eyes widen even more.

“W-what are you doing..?” He asks in a harsh whisper, trying to fight against your strength, but of course, he fails.

“Is this not what you want?”

“Well…yes, but…it is wrong! We cannot…”

In a spontaneous gesture, your lips meet, a brief yet effective silence falling like a veil. The kiss, a hushed plea for quiet, spoke volumes in the unspoken language of shared intimacy, momentarily eclipsing words with the warmth of a tactile connection.

William’s hands let go of his bag, dropping it between you, and then swiftly kicking it out of the way. His hands involuntarily held your hips, pulling your body closer to his as he deepened the kiss. In that instant, time seemed to pause, and the taste of shared longing lingered, marking the end of a prolonged yearning with the sweetness of finally being kissed. Oh how long he’d waited for this moment.

It didn’t take long for all of his emotions to turn physical, the evident feeling of his manhood pressing against your thigh causing you to feel more aroused than before. Knowing that a mere kiss choked physical reactions such as that from him wasn’t helping to relax the confidence surging through your body.

William’s hands moved from your hips to your waist, his gentle fingers caressing your clothed skin softly, causing a quiet noise to leave your lips. Your hands move down his body, slowly moving along his chest and stomach, before coming in contact with his clothed erection, making him whimper quietly.

Your hands work to swiftly unbutton the constraints to his growing problem, hurriedly working to free him. When you did, he moaned breathlessly at the feeling of you taking him into your hand. The coldness of your palm in contrast to the warmth of his length causing him to shiver.

“Oh- oh, darling…it is so wrong..” He shakes his head frantically while looking into your eyes with an innocent desire.

You slowly started to move your hand, flicking your wrist ever so gently, watching as William’s eyes roll into the back of his head. He gulps hard, the feeling of your hand around him was something he’d never experienced before, but it was definitely something he’d imagined of.

Of course he had thought of such things about you while alone, his hands roaming his own body, wishing they were yours. His helpless whimpers and pleas of your name leaving his lips, begging you as if you were actually there with him. Your longing friendship had brought so many intimate moments that ended up being simply platonic, but caused William to have doubts about your relationship, always imaging that you could be more than just ‘friends’.

But here he is, his head thrown back and his eyes squeezed shut in pleasure as the very woman he fantasies about, has her hand around his throbbing sex, her hand working so perfectly on the most sensitive part of his body, her fingers gliding over the many veins he has.

Whines of pleasure left his lips as you pumped your hand faster, and you watched as the head of his cock disappeared and reappeared from your tightened palm. A wave of pleasure courses through him, rendering his body temporarily powerless against your intoxicating embrace. Muscles gave way to a delicious weakness, as if the very essence of pleasure had momentarily stolen the strength from his limbs. It was a blissful surrender, a physical manifestation of ecstasy that left him bucking his hips into your hand.

As he came, he let out strangled noises of moans, your name also leaving his lips in a whine. It was a heavenly sight to see; William’s head thrown back, his hair sticking to his forehead, his face flustered, and seed spilt over your hand and his clothes.

William finally tilts his head forward, his eyes meeting yours. With an undeniable urgency, he closed the gap between you both, pulling you into a passionate kiss. The world around you blurred as the force of the embrace conveyed a hunger for connection. He pulled away to say:

“You have no idea how I had longed for that.”