#motions christian love life

[beautyandlifestyleblog86]

Be careful who you talk to about personal things

[lovelifecare]

இன்றைய வசனம் [25/8/2023] | Today Bible Verse | Tamil Bible Verse

[connorsui]

Twirls and Tulle

All love and Deepspace men x fem reader

synopsis: In a playful moment, you show off your dress and red-bottomed heels

Genre/ warnings: fluff and Slice of Life, light teasing and playful banter, their reactions are exaggerated in all humor, warnings? ..nah …unless u wanna fall on ur face

Note: i love dem red bottomed heels …u know which ones right? ..cuz u bet u wearing dem on this one

w.c: 3.5K

♡♡|| Rafayel

The black tulle sweetheart dress with its off-shoulder sleeves and striking red-bottomed Christian Louboutin heels were a sight to behold as you twirled gracefully, the tulle billowing around you. Rafayel, lounging on the couch with his usual air of confidence, raised an eyebrow in mock surprise as he watched.

“Well, look at you,” he said with a playful smirk. “Trying to steal the show before the ball even starts?”

You laughed and gave another spin, the dress flaring out around you. “Just wanted to see if all of this would make me look beautiful, that’s all…”

Rafayel’s eyes followed every twirl, his amusement evident. “Beautiful is an understatement… But if your goal is to rile me up, it’s definitely working. You look absolutely mesmerizing.” He sat up, his grin widening as he motioned for you to come closer. “Come here. I want to see you up close.”

You approached, and Rafayel effortlessly pulled you onto his lap, his hands resting on your waist. “Now that’s a view,” he said, his tone teasing but his touch warm and affectionate. “Just don’t get too used to showing this off to anyone else… I want you to save some of that charm for me later.”

You leaned against him, enjoying the close proximity and the playful banter. “Please! Who said it was going to be for anyone else besides you?” Rafayel’s confident yet warm demeanor made the moment feel light and enjoyable, with his teasing adding a touch of fun to the elegance of the dress.

♡♡|| Sylus

The room echoed with the soft rustle of your dress as you looked in front of the three full-length mirrors, the off-shoulder sleeves and red-bottomed heels added a refined touch to your look. Unbeknownst to you, Sylus was leaning against the doorway with a brooding expression, captivated by the sight of you twirling like a precious gem.

He pushed himself off the wall, his red eyes flashing with a mix of admiration and frustration. “You’re making it incredibly hard to concentrate,” he said, his voice carrying a rare softness. “That dress and those heels… They’re a stunning distraction.”

You paused, catching his gaze and smiling playfully. “I just wanted to see how it all moves together before we leave --- Do you think it’s too much...?”

Sylus’s gaze softened, his authoritative demeanor giving way to a more intimate tone. “Too much? No, besides, I don’t think you realize just how captivating you are in that dress. It’s making me want to tear it off you… but then I’d be ruining a masterpiece.”

His voice dipped lower, laced with a hunger that sent a shiver down your spine. Before you could react, he closed the distance between you, cupping your face gently with his hands. His lips brushed against yours with a featherlight touch at first, teasing, as if testing your resolve. Then the kiss deepened, slow and deliberate, full of restrained intensity as he drew you closer.

His hands roamed to your waist, the heat of his touch igniting your skin through the fabric. Sylus’s usual dominance was replaced with something more intimate, a rare tenderness in his movements as he pulled back just slightly, his forehead resting against yours.

“I should’ve warned you,” he murmured, his breath hot against your lips. “I don't think we are going anywhere anytime soon now"

♡♡|| Zayne

You twirled gracefully inside the elegant, spacious closet, smiling as you admired your new dress. The black Christian Louboutin heels, with their signature red bottoms, added a bold touch of sophistication to your outfit. Zayne, who had been quietly leaning against the doorframe, observed you with a rare softness in his hazel-green eyes as they widened slightly, captivated by the sight of you.

Each spin made the tulle of your dress flow beautifully, the fabric catching the soft light. Zayne, usually reserved, set his book aside and rose from his chair, his gaze never leaving you. “I didn’t think it was possible for a dress to look so... exquisite on someone,” he murmured, his voice low, tinged with admiration.

You giggled, twirling once more, letting the dress swirl around you. “You really think it looks alright? I swear to you it seemed so much more glamorous on the manne-”

Zayne closed the distance between you in a few quiet steps, his presence calm and steady. Without a word, he cupped your face in his hands, lowering his lips to meet yours in a soft, lingering kiss. The gesture was gentle but full of unspoken affection, his actions speaking volumes where his words often fell short.

As the kiss ended, a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. With a graceful movement, he extended his hand. “Now… may I?”

You placed your hand in his, and Zayne guided you into a slow, deliberate spin. His touch was steady, his hold on you protective, as if ensuring you wouldn’t stumble in those heels. There was a subtle concern in the way he held you close, as if guarding you from the world, his affection apparent in every delicate movement. His quiet nature didn’t need grand gestures; it was the way he moved with you, how he silently showed his care, that spoke the loudest.

♡♡|| Xavier

You were admiring yourself in the mirror, twirling gently when Xavier entered the room. His blue eyes widened in genuine awe as he took in the sight of you, the soft movement of the dress accentuating your beauty in a way that left him momentarily speechless.

“You… you look stunning,” he said softly, his voice almost a whisper as he cautiously approached you, as if afraid to disturb the moment.

You giggled, turning to face him. “What? Does it look strange? I wasn’t even sure this dress would look right on me, to be honest.”

“N-no,” he stammered, his cheeks flushing slightly. “I just didn’t think it was possible for you to be even more beautiful than you already are.”

You smiled at his words, then spun gracefully, letting the fabric of the dress flow around you for his viewing. The way his gaze followed your every move was endearing, full of quiet admiration.

“I could watch you like this forever,” Xavier murmured, his voice barely audible but filled with sincerity as he stepped closer, gently reaching out to steady you as you came to a stop. “You’re… incredible. I wouldn’t mind if you stayed like this a bit longer.”

Your heart warmed at his bashful tone, and you nodded, smiling softly. Xavier’s confidence grew just a touch as he took your hand, guiding you into a slow, elegant spin. His touch was light but steady, his grip reassuring yet tender. His eyes never left yours as you moved together, his calm demeanor and the warmth radiating from his gaze making the moment feel even more intimate.

The silence between you was comfortable, his presence gentle and protective. As you danced, it was as if the world had melted away, leaving just the two of you, swaying softly in each other’s arms.

I want a cute black dress with sum heels ...somebody plz donate to my gofundme so ur girl can look good on the runway 💔

[formulawolff]

xvi. interwoven - t.w.

pairing: female driver!reader x toto wolff

word count: 3.2k

warnings: smut, heavy smut, absolute filthy fucking on a yacht, penetration (i mean, must i say more?), slight daddy kink, some dominance on toto's end, cursing, oral (m! receiving!), poorly translated german, lots of soft moments, marijuana use, two idiots in love (and i mean down bad for one another), some loving n tender shit afterwards, yadayadayada

prev. | next.

“i love you.”

you blink, registering that he was hovering above you, gazing down at you. in that moment, you swear there are stars glimmering in those mocha depths, enticing you to fall even further. 

no, this wasn’t a dream. 

he was really here.

˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖

“you love me?”

“baby,” the word is shaky as he sucks in a breath, “you have no idea how much i fucking adore you. i need you in my life. i need your light in my life. you’re my sun. my moon. my stars. my everything.”

in the dim light, you catch the glitter of a tear as it streams down his cheek. reaching up, the pad of your thumb brushes it away, “toto, can i tell you something?”

“anything, my love.”

“i love you, torger christian wolff.”

in that moment, the world stood still.

the way his name dripped from your lips was oh so angelic. nothing would ever compare to that sound. no thunderous applause. no shouts of celebration from his crew. no roar of an engine. none of those could ever compare to that rich, smooth sound of your voice. 

and the best part was, it was yours and only yours. 

nothing would even come close to it, as it was one-of-one.

in his short, his cock throbs. 

fuck, just the sound of your voice was enough to send him spiraling, the blood coursing through his veins. 

he needed you. and fuck, did he need you now. 

he needed to prove to you how much he loved you. how he longed to worship every inch of your gorgeous figure. how he yearned to devour every part of you until there was nothing left. nothing but the sound of your heavenly moans ringing through the night, your back arched ever so slightly, begging for more and more until you reached your climax.

yet, he couldn’t give that to you. 

at least, not yet. 

he needed to ensure that he kept you on that precipice, hanging by a thread as he just fucked you senseless. 

“come here,” the words are nearly a growl as his hand palms the back of your skull, fingers coiling into your hair, pulling you in. 

his lips mold with yours, an open-mouthed, starving kiss. it’s fueled by pure lust, greedy and merciless as his tongue slips into your mouth, entwining with yours. he tilts your head back, cushioning it with his hand as he brings you to the rigid surface of the deck. 

there were no inhibitions left as your hips buck forward, brushing against the hardened outline of his cock through the thin fabric of his shorts. his mouth pulls away from yours, a strand of saliva following in suit. there was no time wasted, his lips reconnecting with your jawline, making their way down your neck. 

you squirm beneath him, wriggling your hips in attempts to soothe the throbbing sensation between your thighs. 

“not yet,” he pants, “you can’t have me yet, schatzi. you have to be a good girl and wait.”

“toto,” you exhale, “someone could see us.”

“and?” a hand delves underneath your crewneck, squeezing your breast, “i don’t give a fuck. if they happen to see us, then they can watch me make you cum over and over. the world deserves to know how good i make you feel.”

“can’t you get arrested for that sort of–”

“shut up,” a hand covers your mouth, swiftly cutting you off, “just let me make you feel good, schatzi. let me prove to you how good you deserve to feel.”

he rolls your nipple between nimble fingers, a moan escaping from your lips. 

“good girl. be as loud as you want. let everyone know how fucking good this feels.”

all around, the air is electric, buzzing with tension as he motions for you to sit up. carefully, his fingers hook the hem of your crewneck, tossing it to the side. the moment the mediterranean breeze hits your skin, your nipples harden, goosebumps littering your skin. his lips curl into a dazed grin, as if he was under some sort of trance. 

yet, he was under your spell, completely and utterly allured by your beauty.

“you’re stunning,” he shakes his head, bewildered by the sight of you under him, “i can’t keep it together when i’m around you.”

“well you’re really good at hiding it.”

“i have to be,” he leans in once again, “one of us has to keep it together. you’re a mess when you’re around me, you know that? you’re not very good at maintaining your composure either.”

heat flourishes into your cheeks, your hands instinctively shielding your face, “i-i don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“you can’t hide from the man you love,” he coos, the warmth of his hands a relief from the cooler air as they glide along your torso, “it’s cute, really. i think it’s adorable that you melt into a little puddle whenever we’re together.”

“i can’t help it,” you protest, the words a whine.

“like i told you schatzi,” his hands are tugging at the waistband of your sweatpants, “you’re absolutely adorable. is this okay? can i finish undressing you and have my way with you?”

oh fuck. oh fuck. oh fuck. 

that question alone was enough to send the air around you spiking, the temperature elevated by a few degrees. fuck, did he leave you hot and bothered. a flustered, blubbering mess beneath him. 

“yes,” you nod, a little too enthusiastically, “please. have your way with me, toto wolff.”

although his composure was gone merely minutes ago, any last shred of sensibility was now completely lost, torn to shreds. 

he was going to fuck you. 

and he was going to fuck you right here, right now. 

where anyone and everyone could watch. 

quickly, he discards his own clothing, throwing it in the haphazard pile forming only a few feet away. he needed to feel your skin against his. more importantly, he needed to feel your walls squeeze around him, taking in every single inch. 

however, he was curious. 

how did that pretty little mouth feel?

“baby,” his pupils are dilated, glazed over from not only the weed, but from lust, “can you–”

he could barely finish before your lips were wrapped around his length, tongue swirling around the tip. 

oh jesus. 

oh fuck.

“fuck,” his jaw clenches as take in more of him, spit dribbling from your mouth as your eyes close, lashes fluttering. 

you were so fucking pretty like this, your head beginning to bob as your cheeks pucker, filthy noises filling the night air. 

a hand grips the crown of your skull, applying pressure. at first, he’s unsure of the action, unaware if this was something you enjoyed. 

after all, this wasn’t just about him. 

this was about you too. 

you deserved to enjoy this. to feel good. 

to catch a glimpse of heaven. 

yet, the groan that vibrates in the back of your throat lets him know that you were satisfied, the pace quickening. toto’s head almost rolls back, the muscles in his arm spasming as he props himself up, ensuring to memorize every detail of this moment. 

“take it baby,” he praises, the notes in his tone thready with need, “keep taking it like the good girl i know you are. you’re doing such a good fucking job.”

at the praise, you feel a pulse between your thighs, your hand wrapping around the base, starting a twisting motion as you continue sucking. 

he almost came right then and there, at the sight of you between his thighs, sucking him off like your life depended on it, fulfilling every aspect of his lewd and sinful fantasies. pressure was beginning to accumulate in his abdomen, the pleasure washing over like a tidal wave. 

he was going to cum.

and fuck, was he going to absolutely fill that little mouth of yours up. 

“y-you’re going to make me cum,” the words barely escape through his gritted teeth, “fuck baby.”

the tip of this throat reaches the base of your throat, the entire length of his cock in your mouth. your cheeks are hollow, and you manage to look up, batting your lashes ever so slightly. 

fuck, fuck, fuck. 

that sent him over the edge, threads of cum coating your throat as he released, the moans shaky, his voice brimmed with pure euphoria. 

“fuck baby, fuck,” he breathes, his chest heaving, “holy shit. holy fuck. holy fucking shit.”

two hands cup your cheeks, bringing you up. his mouth finds yours, his lips oh so plush and soft. the kisses are tender, arms wrapping around your frame. 

“come here.”

you nuzzle into his collarbone, catching your breath, “did i do good?”

“good?” he echoes, “baby, that was – wow. holy shit.”

“flabbergasted?” you stifle a giggle. 

“absolutely,” his chest vibrates against your face, “but i’m not finished with you.”

“oh?” you press, “is that so?”

his body shifts, pinning you down to the deck once again, “you deserve to cum too.”

“then make me cum.”

toto cocks his head, “is that how we’re feeling? has the weed helped us find our voice?”

from his taunt, you feel heat billow into your cheeks, “maybe.”

he hums, a hand spreading your thighs apart, “hmm, i like it. but you have to remember one thing.”

“and that is?”

“you’re not the one in control,” he slams into you without warning, your weeping cunt stretching at the sheer size, “i am. i’m the one in control.”

you mewl as his hips roll, absolutely pounding into you now, “holy fuck, toto–”

“say it baby,” fingers grasp your chin, forcing you to meet his gaze, “say that i’m in control. that i own your pussy. be a good girl and tell daddy how i own this pussy of yours.” 

“y-you own this p-pussy,” you can barely form the words, let alone any coherent thought as waves of euphoria ripple throughout your being, “you own this pussy, toto wolff. it’s yours. it’s yours forever.”

“forever?” for just a second, he’s thrown off his game. 

“forever,” you affirm, nodding fervently, “i’m yours forever, toto wolff. i love you, and i’m not going anywhere.”

“oh baby,” he melts, collapsing against you, “fuck, i love you. i love you. i love you. you’re so fucking perfect. i’m yours forever. if you’ll have me.”

“of course i will,” your forehead presses against his, lips centimeters apart, “i want you forever.”

“you’re one of the best things that’s ever happened to me,” he murmurs, nothing but sincerity lacing his tone, “i mean that.”

“will you really make me a world champion?” the words tumble out, and shame burns throughout, completely taking a hold.

“i will,” toto nods. his hand finds your yours, intertwining your pinkies together, “i pinky promise i will. if it’s not next year, it will be the one after that. i will do everything in my power to help you succeed. like the little star you are, you deserve to shine so fucking brightly. i will make you a world champion, my love.”

there was nothing more that toto wolff wanted in this world.

and that was for this moment to last forever. 

“i love you, toto,” you whisper, “can we just say fuck it and get married?”

“don’t tempt me,” his cock twitches, reminding him that the two of you were still interwoven, “i would marry you in a heartbeat, my love. but there are some things we need to do first.”

“and that is?” your lower lip juts out, forming a pout.

there it was, that damn pout. 

the pout that got him every single fucking time. 

and if you happened to bat your lashes?

oh, toto wolff would be a dead man.

“well for one,” his hips thrust into you, picking up the pace, “i have to help you win a world championship. and two, i need to make you cum.”

“and after that?”

“we’ll figure that out when we get there,” his lips meet with yours, “i promise.”

your back arches, your walls tightening as he begins to fuck you senseless, hips slapping against yours. if it weren’t for the blanket he brought, you were sure there would be bruises by the afternoon. his brows furrow, knit together in concentration as one hand grips your pelvis, holding you in place while the other drifts downward, making its way between your thighs. 

“toto,” you whimper, “please.”

“i’ll make you cum princess, i promise.”

licking the pad of his thumb, it connects with your clit, going in slow, circular motions. your body tenses, your walls squeezing so tightly around him, coaxing him in even further. his tip rams into your g-spot, sending waves of pleasure coursing through. 

“that’s it,” he murmurs, guiding you to that edge, “cum for me baby. be a good girl and cum for me.”

“i-i,” you stammer, eyes tightening shut, “i’m going to cum!”

crying out, your muscles spasm as euphoria grips you, inner thighs trembling as he remains inside, in complete awe of the sight of you coming undone. 

“good girl,” light kisses pepper all over your face, “you’re such a good girl, you know that?”

you try to speak, but the words can’t come out. his arms envelop your frame, bringing you in close as he lies beside you, “cat got your tongue?”

“maybe,” you fight a yawn, drowsiness beginning to settle in, “we need to do this more often.”

“i’m not so sure about the smoking part,” he chuckles, “but the other part? yes. we should do that all of the time, actually.”

“we should probably put on clothes on, huh?” you exhale, snuggling in closer as a breeze rolls through, “i wonder if anyone saw us.”

“more than likely,” he shrugs, “if they did, oh well.”

“could you imagine? minding your own business, probably cracking open a beer to watching the sunrise. and next thing you know, you see two people fucking on the sun deck of their yacht.”

“their yacht?” he teases, tilting your head towards him, “who said it was yours?”

you wriggle, squirming slightly as the embarrassment settles in, panicking just a little, “i-i – you know what i meant.”

“did i?” he prompts, arching a brow, “would you like to watch the sunrise? i think it’s due anytime now.”

“did we stay up all night?” although your body is wracked with exhaustion, you can’t help but fight it, keeping those lids open. 

“we did,” he responds, rising to his feet. he winces, wrinkling his nose, “fuck, i’m a little sore.”

“could we maybe light another one of those joints?”

“were you a little stoner back in the day?” rather than tossing your clothes at you, he crosses over, placing them in your hands. 

“not really,” you shrug, slipping your crewneck over your head, “i smoked every now and then. i couldn’t really, because of how strict arizona laws used to be. now, it’s legal there. i tend to hit the dispensary whenever i’m home, just for the fun of it.”

“i’ve noticed you don’t really drink either,” he slides his leg through his shorts, “well, except after your win in miami.”

a shudder courses through you at the mention of that night in miami, your stomach churning, “i would rather forget about that night.”

“oh yeah?” an airy chuckle floats through the dawn, “do you remember anything about that night?”

the truth was, you did not recall a single moment of that night. from what you could remember, it was fuzzy, with no clear distinction of time or place. 

however, there was one aspect you could remember clearly.

toto carrying you to your bed, laying you down oh so carefully. helping you take off your makeup, wiping your face tenderly with cotton pads and your trusty micellar water. tugging at your clothes, cursing under his breath because you weren’t cooperating. speaking to you oh so sweetly in german, brushing those unkempt strands of hair behind your ear. staying at your place when he knew he didn’t have to, simply because he wanted to ensure that you were feeling okay in the morning.

god, you really were so lucky.

the luckiest girl on earth. 

after dealing with boys all of your life, you were finally blessed with a man. a real man, who made it clear to you that you were the one thing he prioritized the most. a man who held your delicate heart in his strong hands, guarding it oh so fiercely these last few months. a man who loved you unconditionally, no matter your state or the turmoil thrown your way. 

and you didn’t even have to second guess that. gone were the days of overthinking, begging for even an ounce of reassurance. fuck, you didn’t even have to ask him if he loved you. 

just by the way he looked at you, you knew. 

“baby,” a voice, his voice snaps you out of your trance, “geht es dir gut?” 

blinking, you realize that tears were streaming down your cheeks, absolutely soaking them. you sniffle, pulling down your sleeves to wipe them away. yet, his hand darts out, his thumb stroking along your skin. 

“mir geht es gut,” your voice trembles, “i’m okay.” 

“are you sure?” his mouth presses against your temple, an arm wrapping around your shoulder, “i was worried for a second. i thought i hurt you or something.”

“no,” you shake your head, “it’s nothing you did.”

“do you want to talk about it? i have the other joint. we can light it, and watch the sunrise. and if you want, we can talk about it.”

there’s that lump in your throat again, “o-okay.”

“baby,” his hand drifts towards your back, kneading as you bury your head in his shoulder, sobs beginning to erupt from your lips, “was ist los mit dir? you can tell me.”

“i-i just love you so much. you take such good care of me and i just–”

“oh baby,” he can’t help but laugh, placing delicate kisses along the crown of your head, “i love you, more than you could probably imagine. i’m not sure when or how it happened, but i promise you that i do. you will never have to doubt or fret over that.”

“i don’t want to leave you,” your hands cling on to the fabric of his shirt, “i hate leaving you.”

“you don’t have to,” his voice is merely a whisper, “you don’t have to leave yet, schatzi. you can stay here for a few more days, then we’ll have to fly to canada.”

“can we fly in together?”

“you want to fly with me?” his heart swells at your request, lips curving into a broad grin, “i can make that happen, my love.”

“will you, please?”

“of course,” when it came to you, he was going to make damn sure all of your needs and wants were fulfilled, no matter the cost, “i’ll make it happen. i promise. now, let’s light this, and watch the beautiful sunrise. from the looks of it, it’s going to be absolutely breathtaking.”

as toto reached for the lighter, the sun peaking through the mountains, there was only one thing on his mind, nearly consuming him whole.

you wanted him, forever. 

and by god, he was more than determined to make that wish of yours come true. 

no matter what it took. 

now, the two of you were interwoven, your souls bound together by the promise of forever. 

he didn’t have that on paper.

your pinky interlocked with his was enough.

˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖

taglist: @k3ira13 @prettiest-at-the-party @martwll @annewithaneofthegreengable @zoeyjadetice2010  @sinners-98-world @laura-naruto-fan1998 @nebarious @joalslibrary @swifth0lic @statuewoman @strangegirl974 @thatgirlthatreadswattpad @m-1234 @whoisss @msbyjackal @annaaepf1 @paigelouise @bborra @bblouifford @upsteadsstuff @omgsuperstarg @younxii @toldyouitwasamelodrama @kravitzwhore @persona1lies @pucksandpower @gisellesprettylies @wonderwolffs @xxforeverinadayxx @theseerbetweenus @simply-the-best23 @ringdingdingdingx

as always, thank you for all the continuous support! if i forgot to add you to the taglist, or if you would like to be added, please let me know! i love you all so much! <3

[betterlifeinoverall-rethabilep]

Vital Faith Shows Itself In Changed Living

Firstly, we would make a clear distinction here between moral action and mere religious activity. In truth, there is already too much of that popular type of activity which does little more than agitate the surface of religion. Henceforth, it’s never-ending squirrel-cage motion gives the impression that much is being done. Whilst actually nothing really important is happening, and no genuine…

[fangirl-dot-com]

Chapter 24.5 - You Can Throw A Party

Ok, so this is shorter, but I really didn't know what else to put. But I hope it satisfies everyone's wants and needs! This got super sappy, but I loved the ending and I hope you do too!

Like always comments, questions, concerns, asks, reblogs, and likes are appreciated! Love you all and enjoy :D

The grid didn’t know what to expect when they finally arrived at the address that you had sent. Sure, they were expecting a house, but a plain and simple one. Not the giant ass mansion that their Ubers pulled up to. 

Charles looked at Pierre. 

“Is this the right house?” 

The Frenchman just shrugged his shoulders. Lando and Oscar had ridden with Alex, Lily, and Logan, who arrived at pretty much the same time as everyone else. Max and Arthur had apparently arrived early, since they weren’t staying in an extra hotel. 

Why the rest didn’t just accept your offer to stay there was your guess. But as the group of 17 guys gazed at the giant estate, they were rethinking their options.

The rest didn’t really know what to say. 

“I volunteer Lando to knock first!” Oscar called out before pushing the Briton toward the door. 

“Hey! Why me? I vote for Logan?” 

“Excuse you? I’m not the party animal Mr. Worldwide.” 

“Is that supposed to be an insult, Mr. Eagle screech?” 

“Well, if the boot fits.” 

“What did you just say?” 

“If the boot fits.” 

“Can you two please calm down?” the familiar voice of Lewis asked as he got out of his car with George and Carmen. Both were wearing similar outfits to everyone else. Light button ups with shorts. He was about to say something, but the front door opened. 

Arthur just stood there, looking weirdly once everyone didn’t move. 

“Are you all going to stand there arguing or come in?” he called out. Once the group got the go ahead, they all walked swiftly to the door. 

They thought the outside was huge, but the inside seemed to be even bigger. At the giant bar in the corner, the drivers found you siting and talking to Max, who already had a gin tonic in his hand. Arthur came over, putting a hand on your waist and a kiss on your head. Max spotted the group first and left you alone with your boyfriend. 

Logan’s jaw dropped as he witnessed the move. 

“When did that happen?” 

He pointed at the two of you, causing the rest of the drivers to look. Charles smirked at the sight of his brother and you being cozy. 

Max leaned over, “He asked her out after her crash at Suzuka.” 

Charles shivered at the memory of that day. 

He also added, “He’s been in love with her since their first season of Formula 2. I remember him coming home after he met her. ‘Charles, I think I just found the love of my life’.” 

The grid let out a bunch of “awes” at the new information and laughed at Charles’s impression of his brother (even though he could have just talked normally and sounded the exact same). They watched as the younger Monegasque place another gentle kiss on your forehead as you looked up at him, love evident in your eyes. The two of you were so soft as Arthur was gently rubbing your leg as you animatedly talked to Vito. 

You finally laid eyes on the rest of the drivers, smile widening as you slid off the stool you were sitting on. 

“Anyone want a drink?” you questioned, motioning to the bar. 

They were silent for a moment, before Fernando said, “Yes please.” 

That was the start of a wild night. It wasn’t too long before the drinks were being poured and refilled. Since you had started drinking here and there, you stayed safe with little fruity drinks. The grid was shocked at what your house had to offer. 

They were the first few to show up, but multiple personelle started coming after a while. It looked like the party was truly open to whoever wanted to come (except to one certain 6-foot baguette driver). Your entire team was talking the workers from other teams as well. It was a full house, and everyone was getting along – even Toto and Christian. That duo made your eyes bulge as you saw them getting along as they played pool. 

You took the group on a house tour. Charles wanted to cry at the sight of your car collection in the garage. Logan and Alex definitely took turns taking pictures inside the Evo. The next place you took them was the track. 

The drivers whined as they looked at the shiny karts. 

“Where did you get these? I don’t recognize the model,” Carlos mentioned, while crouching down to look closer. 

Your smile grew as you brushed one off. “My manager has his own line. I bought some off of him once I found out about the karting track.” 

The next few things went quickly. The girls really loved the giant bedrooms that the house had to offer. You had a smirk on your face as Carmen was complaining to George. 

She huffed. “Why would you want to stay at a hotel when we could have stayed here?”

George gawked at her, trying to come up with an excuse. 

You took this as a sign to pipe up. 

“Actually, I had my people bring your stuff over. I think after the party, everyone won’t want to leave.” 

Carmen, Lily, and Alex all squealed at the announcement. You could see George, Alex, and Charles all visible relax once their girlfriends were satiated. You knew that they would want to get into the pool at some point. 

They were speechless at the sight of your paddle court as well as the laser tag room. Once the tour was over, you let everyone just free. After a few rounds of paddle and karting, you made your way back into the main living room. 

You quickly found yourself cuddled up to your boyfriend. Your head was nicely tucked into his neck as your legs were draped over his legs. He was currently talking to Christian and Geri about how endurance training. You definitely saw the outcomes of the extra gym time as you glanced at his more defined muscles.

After everyone had their share of the house, Lando got his hands on the DJ set that you installed just for the party. 

“Who’s fucking ready for this?” he yelled out, starting up the first song. That was cue for you and Arthur to get up and start moving. You’re pretty sure you saw Toto getting it down to Right Round. 

Logan of course had to ask for Free Bird and completely ripped his shirt during the guitar solo. Oscar just stayed in a corner, shaking his head with a hand over his face. If his Lily was here, he’d probably not be the American’s babysitter, but tonight he was girlfriendless and babysitting duty was placed on him. 

Once a few more songs had played, Arthur suddenly left your grasp. The night was winding down as it neared 3 a.m., so you thought he was going to get ready for bed. Yet, he walked over to Lando, showed the Briton a song on his phone, and walked back to you. 

A soft melody filled the air. The partiers (Logan, Daniel, Fernando, George, Carlos, and Charles) were all passed out somewhere. 

Your eyes widened at the familiar guitar plucking. You smiled up at Arthur. 

“You didn’t.” 

He rolled his eyes. 

“It’s your song Cheri. Of course I did.” 

You placed your head on his chest as the two of you penguin danced. Max was on the side with Christian and Vito, watching the whole thing. 

“Nothing ‘bout the way that you were treated ever seemed alarming till now

“So you tie up your hair and you smile like it’s no big deal” 

You sighed as you listened to the lyrics of the song Arthur picked out for you. Tears wanted to fall, but you wanted to bask in the moment. Arthur gently placed his head on yours, holding you ever so tighter. 

“You can let it go

“You can throw a party full of everyone you know and not invite your family, ‘cause they never showed you love. You don’t have to be sorry for leaving and growing up.” 

The drivers who were left on the floor all watched as the crowd slowly broke up, letting you and Arthur just be together. 

Geri leaned her head on Christian as she watched the two of you just hold each other. Max was videoing for Kelly as she couldn’t make it. 

Alex had nudged Charles very hard so that he could wake up and possibly film it for his mother. The Monegasque might have also let out a few tears at the sight. 

Lando, who had been at the DJ booth, turned the sound up a bit higher, really letting the song echo throughout the whole house. 

Everyone was now watching as Arthur was now slightly spinning you. Your giggles could be heard by those around the two of you. Your eyes fluttered shut as you leaned back in.

The warmth and love around you was everything that you asked for. 

Vito, who was off to the side, looked out the window to a bright star in the sky. He smiled softly as the one star twinkled, almost winking at the Italian. He chuckled as he if he was going to tell a funny joke. 

He softly whispered, “She finally found the family she needed. You’d be so proud of her.”

The star twinkled once again, almost in response. 

Vito looked back at the dance floor, just you and Arthur together, surrounded by everyone who loved you. 

Your family. 

“You can let it go. You can throw a party full of everyone you know 

“You can start a family who will always show you love 

“You don’t have to be sorry, no.” 

y/n.jpg has posted (imagine insta can post 12 pics lol)

y/n.jpg did someone say party?

tagged: arthur_leclerc, landonorris, maxverstappen1, vito_official, charles_leclerc, carlossainz55, danielricciardo, georgerussell63, fernandoalo_official, carmenmmundt, yukitusoda0511, pierregasley, francisca.cgomes, alexandrasaintmleux, logansargeant, oscarpiastri, lewishamilton, alex_albon, and lilymhe

liked by christianhorner, y/n.nation, lestappenlove, maxiel4ever, and 357,295 others

rookie_on_top I just wanna know how big her house is

formulafan1 I know the guest list must have been INSANE

logan2sargeant I heard that pretty much everyone on the grid was there ouioui_bagette there were other pictures from the drivers and it seemed like the team principals were enjoying the time as well

ozzydown_under81 so this is where the catering money went to?

madmax33 how did max get on Vito's shoulders and what even is that shirt????????

maxverstappen1 it's a mindset vito_official your thighs are amazing man maxiel4ever HOLD UP

logansargeant I swear I'm not as think as you drunk I am

y/n.jpg he's gone...Oscar?? oscarpiastri on it

y/n.nation we have lando back on dj duty, Charles is acting carefree, Nando and George are back together partying, Yuki and pierre got into the karaoke room?, and apparently Logan ripped his shirt open during Free Bird

logansargeant hell yeaahhhhhh! EAGLE SCREECH RAWWRRR oscarpiastri get back here

y/nxarthur did anyone else see that video lando posted and then took down?

y/n&co I did! looked like Arthur and y/n were slow dancing together rookie_baby this and then Arthur's post?? they aren't as secret as they think lol

lilymhe never drinking that much again, but thanks babe for the fun night!

alex_albon no problem y/n.jpg she wasn't talking to you

gridkid everyone is probably wasted

y/n.jpg you'd be correct

sebvettelfan aahhh this reminds me of the good days when they could just party

TAG LIST: @fionaschicken @glitterquadricorn @laura-naruto-fan1998 @treehouse-mouse @sam-is-lost @kagatinkita @fangirl125reader @megatrilss1885 @myxticmoon @angsthology @cmleitora @fly-me-away @graciewrote @ashy-kit @slutofmultifandom @aexitizen-ln4 @sugarvibez @vellicora @thatgirlthatreadswattpad @33-81 @hoetel-manager @xcharlottemikaelsonx @jayda12 @ilove-tswizzle @justme2042 @itsjustkhaos @nikfigueiredo @stopeatread @cha-hot @sadg3 @iloveyou3000morgan @s4turnsl0ver @alessioayla @torchbearerkyle @leptitlu @awekbachira @shreks-sugar-daddy @v1naco @stan-josie @mellowarcadefun @badassturtle13 @beskardroids @callisposts @poppyalice2001 @juniper-july19 @lizzypiastri

[judeisbae]

Till' Death Do Us Part

In which: After a night full of celebration, love and alcohol, the newly weds Jude and Y/N finally get to experience one another in a brand new way. tags: Virgin!reader(religious), Virgin!Jude, soft!sex, semi experienced Jude, semi experienced reader. warnings: Praise!kink, mentions of alcohol, mentions of smoking, mentions of semen, cursing, unprotected sex (lmk if I missed anything)

enjoy ->

1:23 am, Ocho Rios, Jamaica

The loud, upbeat music flooded the venue, so loud that it was impossible to hear the voices of those around you, but you could hear Jude's words of affection oh so clearly. In the middle of the crowded dance floor, the two of you clung to each other as if it was the first time in years you had been in one another's embrace. With your head tucked at the base of his neck and his hands adorning your hip and lower back, the two of you stood, eyes closed fully experiencing each others affection. "I think we should head to our room love, have our first bit of alone time as a married couple y'know" you whispered in Jude's ear, tilting your head up and gently grazing your lips against the lobe of his ear. Jude, pulling back to make eye contact with you, gave a smile filled with content, nodding his head in agreement to your statement.

Hand in hand, the two of you stumbled through the crowd after having more than a few glasses of champagne during the reception, giving smiles and "thank you for coming"s to your guests. Walking away from your beachfront venue heading back up the steps toward the hotel, giggling like teenagers on your first date. Reaching your room door, the two of you smile at each other, making your way through the door. "Y/n" Jude called to you, bringing your attention to him, patting the area on the mattress next to where he was seated, motioning for you to sit next to him. Settling onto the bed next to Jude, taking his face into your palms you inch closer to him, eventually allowing your lips to melt against his. The kisses you two shared were always tender and gentle, but this was different, new. Both of you wrapping your arms around one another, sighed a breath of contentment into the kiss. Softly pulling back, Jude spoke in a gentle tone, "Y/n, I want to make you a promise, different from the one we made earlier. I want to promise you that I will forever prove to you, day after day, that what we have is the most important and dear thing I've ever experienced in my life, I promise to continue to show you how much I love you, in every way possible. The feelings you give me compare to nothing else. I owe you everything Y/n, thank you for always supporting me, and loving me everyday, through everything" . Tears brimming both your and his eyes as his sentence came to a close. "Jude you're like actually making me cry right now please", You sniffed with a laugh, "But in all seriousness, Jude you mean so much to me that I struggle to put it into words each day, I swear at this point I could go longer without food and water than I could without you," both of you laughing at your statement.

Placing his hand on your cheek, Jude pulls you back into the kiss. Sinking into his touch, you let out a soft moan, "Jude I think i'm ready to have sex with you, for so many reasons" you say as you pull back abruptly, Looking you in the eyes with his, that in this moment, seem to shine brighter than the stars, he responds out of breath, "I think I am too, love". The two of you fall back into your kiss, his hands making their way around your waist and up your back to toy with the zipper of your cocktail dress. As he begins to pull the zipper down your back, your hands slide down from his shoulders to his chest to begin to undo the buttons on his shirt. Being raised in a very Christian household, the ideology of sex being a gift from God for married couples resonated with you, and you had decided to honor this through your life, you and Jude had met at around 15 years old, the age where sex is absolutely in the air amongst teens, pressure on young couples to just "get it over with". A little bit into your relationship with Jude, you had explained to him your feelings towards sex before marriage. Jude had admiration for you and your firm commitment to your beliefs. He made a promise that he would be with you, whether or not the two of you had sex. You were more than appreciative to have a man like him in your life.

Jude's hands moved back up to slide the thin dress straps off of each of your shoulders, once again pulling away from the kiss, his head dipped, delving into the crook of your neck where he began leaving a trail of warm, open mouthed kisses all the way to the curve of your shoulder. Your hands that previously fiddled with the buttons of his shirt, moved to the back of his head. Jude's actions had you longing for him, a heat floating down to your lower abdomen, turning into a growing wetness between your legs. You pushed Jude's shirt over his broad shoulders, his hands leaving your sides so he could pull them out of his sleeves. Focusing his attention back onto you, Jude gently pushed you down onto the bed, with his hand on your side for support. Standing up, he moved to the foot of the bed and began undoing his dress pants, with your eyes fixated on the skillful movements of his hands, you slowly pushed your dress down your sides, shimmying your hips to prevent it from bunching there. Once it was finally down you pushed it off the side of the bed. Jude has also finished removing his pants, he stepped out of where they lay at his feet, left in his gray boxers that left little to the imagination.

As he climbed back on top of you, you couldn't help but let your eyes wander, down to his chest first, then to his abs, toned and faintly shining in the dim lighting of the room, then to his well accentuated v-line. The sight of him like this was something to you knew would be burned into your mind. Your eyes trailed back up to his, meeting once again, his already fixated on your face. Jude placed one hand on your hip, toying with the side of your black lace underwear. His kisses began once again on your neck, gradually moving down to your chest. Jude had never done this before, the only reason he had somewhat of an idea of how to do any of this is because he had spoken to some close friends, done some internet surfing, and payed extra attention to all the things that seemed to excite you during the times the two of you made out, all in an effort to please you to his best ability in this moment.

Jude kissed your breasts where they spilled out of your bra, going down your stomach with hot kisses, exuding adoration. When he reached the band of your underwear he looked up at you giving a warm smile, Jude pressed a kiss to your clit through your underwear, letting out a muffled "I love you" while he did this. Hooking his fingers under the side of your underwear, he slowly pulled them down, leaving you in just your bra. When your underwear reached your ankles, he placed them to the side. He placed the first, open mouthed kiss onto your pussy, which was soaked with anticipation. The feeling of his lips against your desperate cunt sending a wave of heat through your body, causing you to inhale sharply, hips bucking upwards towards his face, your body practically begging him for more. Jude of course, granted this, delving down to your opening and separating your folds with the delicate tip of his tongue. Jude began his movements on your cunt, the feeling of his lips, tongue, the stubble on his face, and his two large hands gripping you're thighs, was unimaginable, and incomparable to anything you've ever felt.

Jude's face was buried deep between your legs. Your moans filled the room, increasing by octaves the closer you got to your high. As you finally arrived to your orgasm, Jude's grip on your thighs tightened, in response to your involuntary squirming. He pulled away from your cunt, face glistening with your slick, he flashed you a smile, melting your heart that was still racing from your high. Still in a daze, you quickly removed your bra, straddling Jude, who was now sitting on the bed next to where you previously lay. Placing a quick kiss to his lips, you shifted your focus down towards his lap, one of his hands found its way between the two of you. Jude positioned himself at your entrance, his tip prodding at the place you needed him the most. He used the hand that rested on your hip to begin to lower you onto him, the feeling had a light sting, which was soon overpowered by a full feeling as he bottomed out inside of you. One of Jude's hands came up to your cheek to lift your face, causing you to make eye contact with him. He had an endearing look in his eyes, Jude had always looked at you like you were an angel roaming this Earth, admiration in every glance, you truly were his everything. Your movements were slow, you lifted your hips with shaky breaths, your eyes still not leaving his, even as they began to flutter.

Sinking back down onto him, you let out a breathy moan. Jude's head began to fall back, his prominent Adam's apple grabbing your focus. The two of you, moving in sync, basking in the newfound feeling. Your pace increased, riding him with passion. As your movements continued your hips began tiring, Jude took notice. He bucked his hips, now fucking into you from beneath, the feeling was indescribable. His lips then met your chest, leaving kisses on and around your breasts. As you felt him begin to twitch inside of you, you pulled him into a kiss, the two of your moans clashing. The heat in your stomach grew into a flame, your cunt fluttering around him. The two of your climaxes were seconds away. "Jude please don't stop, so fkn' good" you cried out, throwing your head back simultaneously. Both of you finally arrived at your highs his cum inside of you only added to the sensation of fullness in your cunt, the room was filled with passionate moans, whispers of affection, and the sounds of the heavy breaths from the two of you. Bringing his attention to your eyes, Jude moved to kiss you, the kiss was slow and loving, almost like a silent gesture of his gratuity. "So happy to have you as my wife love", Jude smiled, pulling away.

"first round 2 in the shower?"

[aurianavaloria]

KoH - To Rival Eden (Baldwin IV x Reader)

Fandom: Kingdom of Heaven

Pairing: Baldwin IV x Fem!Reader

PoV: Split (Baldwin - Fem!Reader)

Length: Short (<4k words)

TW: Vague mentions of leprosy

A/N: Well, here we have it, the much-anticipated sequel to "What Good May Come"! I took your feedback into account regarding Y/N's preferences, as well as circumstances and relationships, and created another chapter in this little romance. As in the previous story, I've done my best to keep Y/N as generic as possible with a personality that seemed to fit what is currently popular. I hope you enjoy it as much as the first, and once again, thank you all for being awesome! 🤗

Baldwin could hardly believe his good fortune.

Tiberias had spoken truth: she loved him.

He hadn’t slept a wink that night after she left his chambers. Had barely paid attention to his physicians’ work as he’d given his failing body to their care for the hundred-thousandth time in his short life. Whilst his mortal shell continued its slow and endless march towards inevitable disintegration, his heart and mind were soaring above the clouds, his spirit filled with a fire he hadn’t felt in years.

Lady Y/N loved him.

He lay in his bed, eyes staring up into the canopy’s shadows, yet unseeing of anything that was actually there. Instead, he saw her sitting before him as she had that evening, the smile dancing across her lips, the color in her cheek…

Thus lost in his thoughts, all he had to do was close his eyes to still feel her warmth in his arms, the touch of her hand upon his own… still smell the sweet perfume that cloaked her in its allure. Even as his fears screamed at him that every moment he spent near her was a risk he was selfish to take, that the poison coursing through his veins could destroy her like some fetid rot devouring a perfect flower, all he desired was to hold her again… to imagine what her hair would feel like slipping between his silk-gloved fingers…

These visions of her swirled in his mind all night long and into the next week, until he thought he might go mad with them. He had never thought much of the songs of the troubadours before, dismissing their melodramatic lyrics as nothing more than mere fantasy.

But now he had tasted that very pain of love of which they sang, and he knew they were right.

Love was insanity.

Unfortunately, it was an insanity he had to endure through nearly a week’s worth of increasingly-numerous duties that forbade his interaction with anyone other than his advisors and court petitioners. Conversation on such matters proved his only respite, for when he was finally left alone once more, she haunted the depths of his mind.

And as his quill slowly glided through the practiced motions of his signature upon his latest letter, his aching heart wondered if he haunted hers the same way…

He hoped and prayed she had not taken offense to his exclusion of visitors outside his immediate council. It was all such ill-timing, and yet the administration of his kingdom could not wait for courtship. He could not afford the distraction of anyone else’s presence amidst such delicate matters, and there were some things that he refused to delegate to others.

That he could not trust to others.

The thoughts of sharing those tasks with a queen he truly loved and adored above all else, however…

Plunk!

He abruptly sat back in his chair, squeezing his eyes shut.

That was it. It was time for some fresh air.

Rising slowly to his feet, he reached for his hooded cloak where it hung nearby. Without even being asked, his servant Ihsan wordlessly appeared from the shadows to help him don it, moving with quiet grace.

“Shall I accompany His Majesty?” the Christian Syrian asked, aiding Baldwin in pulling the hood over his head. Jerusalem’s sun was bright today, and harsh on the ill king’s eyes.

“No, I shall walk alone, I think.”

“As you wish, sire.”

And loyal Ihsan melted into those shadows once more, as quickly as he had emerged.

With that, Baldwin began making his way to the palace gardens, keeping his pace measured as he followed the long halls, close to the wall should he need it for support. Alas, his numbed foot would allow for nothing else. Yet, even so, he didn’t wish for this stroll to be a hurried one, crammed in between the endless sessions of his work. He needed time to center himself – to clear his mind and ease his heart.

His hood low over his mask, he still squinted against the sun as he emerged into the palace gardens. The strength of its rays had only seemed to intensify in recent years, even as their warmth had faded; his body hardly felt it, now, beaming down upon him, as if he had already hovered between the land of the living and the dead. But his eyes most certainly did, and he kept his head dipped low, his mask half-shadowed by the hood of his cloak.

Anyone else who had chosen to wander the gardens the same as he soon found themselves departing, as usual. The king was instantly recognizable, even cloaked like this, his presence garnering immediate notice by his courtiers. Their dread of his disease they always attempted to cover with pretense – the courtesy of yielding the space to their liege-lord as they offered deep bows and curtseys. Yet they always slipped away with the hiss of whispers swirling in their wake…

His lips twisted in amusement at the thought that his experience behind a mask had made it easier to see past theirs.

Thus, he largely ignored them as they bestowed upon him their customary greetings, their well-rehearsed gestures of obeisance. And the answers he gave in reply were just as superficial. They deserved nothing more. Little by little, they left as he slowly made his way along those meandering paths, bordered by every plant native to these lands, flowering or not…

All but one.

At the end of one of the paths, perched upon a bench before a towering hedge, was Lady Y/N.

She sat with a small book open in her lap, her garb a simple green bliaut with a matching embroidered belt. A brilliant white veil over her hair, pinned to the barbette that looped beneath her chin, shielded her downturned face from the sun. Even from this angle, he could see the slight smile that played across her lips, and he felt his own mimic the expression beneath his mask.

The sight of her thus made him pause his stride, and he considered backtracking to the previous fork in the path and leaving her to her peace. Yet another part of him desired nothing more than to speak to her – to self-indulgently converse, even if only briefly, with this sweet angel of a woman he’d neglected for the sake of his divinely-mandated duty.

What resulted then, was an indecisive hovering, a prolonged pause at the bells of the lovely flowers that brushed his silken sleeve – blossoms whose aroma was now all but lost to his dulled senses. But none of the velvet-petaled jewels gracing this paradise of a garden now compared to the one he could not tear his eyes from, yet hadn’t the heart to approach…

================

Jerusalem’s palace garden was a sanctuary as peaceful as the cloister of any church you’d seen and perhaps twice as beautiful. The open air was filled with the scent of the exotic flowers that had been meticulously cultivated there, surrounding visitors in an alluring embrace. The cool shade beneath the towering hedgerows and elegant palms had been too tempting to resist, and, with a new book of poetry in hand, you’d made a beeline for an empty bench in the farthest shadowed nook you could find.

Gardens such as these were haunts for lovers, or so you’d been told. Some had even been designed in such a manner that encouraged clandestine trysts – a convenient niche here, a cleverly-planted bush there…

Alas, there were no such surreptitious visits in your near future. No, you’d merely come to the gardens this day for some fresh air and relative peace and quiet.

It was with great eagerness that you had rushed to the bench, sweeping your skirts beneath you and opening the book upon your lap. It was a loan, in fact, from Sibylla; the princess had been spending more time with you in the past week, indulging in light conversation mostly revolving around scholarly interests and pastimes. During the course of one of these discussions, she mentioned having received a few books from France and, quite unexpectedly, asked if you would like to borrow one of them.

Such a generous offer had been impossible to refuse, and your eyes had lit up as the princess passed you the small, leather-bound book of poetry, which you handled with utmost care.

The plan was to spend an upcoming evening sharing what the two of you had enjoyed most about the tomes over refreshments.

It was something you rather looked forward to.

Now, you were fully immersed in the book, your eyes drinking in the copyist’s hand as it swirled across the delicate vellum pages; it was a work of art in and of itself, to say nothing of the words it held within. So engrossed were you that, for a long moment, you failed to notice you were being watched…

But then, suddenly, a slight movement from the periphery of your vision caused you to glance up, and for a brief second, you thought you saw an angel. You quickly realized, however, that it was not.

The awestruck smile that tugged at your lips was perhaps a bit uncouth, but you couldn’t help it. Angel he was not, and yet the king was still radiant enough that you wouldn’t have been at all surprised to see a pair of wings upon his back or a fiery halo ringing his head. The hooded cloak he wore, trimmed in gold, was such a blinding white in the midday sun that it almost blurred his outline, and the half-concealed silver mask with its perfectly-chiseled countenance could easily be mistaken for the face of a saint…

“Your Majesty!”

On reflex, you stood, abandoning the book on the bench before starting to dip into a curtsey, but the upwards flash of his gloved hand stopped you mid-movement.

“I require no epithets or courtesies from you, Lady Y/N,” he replied as he wandered down the path towards you. “I should hope that I may abandon such performance in your presence.”

The warmth in his voice heated your cheeks. “Very well… Baldwin.” This was only the second time you’d dared to speak his name without a title preceding it, and it felt oddly right on your tongue. “If that is the case, then I must also insist that I am simply Y/N.”

His hooded head dipped. “Of course. Y/N.”

Something about the way he said your name made your heart flutter, and you glanced away briefly even as you sidled nearer to him. “It is good to see you again. Baldwin. You are well, I hope?”

“I am now,” he replied softly. Now you could look up into his silver-clad face and see the glitter of his eyes beneath the shadow of his hood. In their impossibly-blue gaze you found a softness that belied the sharpness of their hue.

“I… missed you,” you breathed at last, your voice lowering. “I must admit, I’ve worried for you. Lord Tiberias assured me all was well, but… well, you’ll forgive me for being a bit distrusting.”

A low chuckle emanated from him. “If there is anyone you may trust with his honest assessment of matters, it is Tiberias.”

A chuckle of your own escaped you in response to his jesting remark before he continued in a far more serious tone, “I must offer you my sincerest apologies, Y/N – here you’ve given me the most beautiful gift anyone has ever bestowed upon me, and I’ve done nothing but neglect you in return. Already, I fear I must seem a poor partner in courtship.”

Your mouth opened a little in shock at that. “Absolutely nothing of the sort! I understand you are busy. I know you wouldn’t have isolated yourself like this otherwise.” A light smile played upon your lips as you met his eyes again. “I’m just glad to see you again now.”

It was then you reached forth, brushing his nearest forearm lightly in reassurance. The damask silk of his sleeve was so very soft and smooth beneath your fingertips. And warm. Though from his body heat or the sun, it was difficult to tell…

Suddenly, another movement out of the corner of your eye had you glancing past the king at a visitor on the garden path: a small tabby cat – silver with stripes of black – trotting along the hedgerow towards you.

“Oh, look!”

You pointed, and Baldwin half-turned to follow your gesture, another quiet chuckle following once he realized what had caught your attention. “Ah, a palace mouser, I see. Either that or a street cat has managed to breach the walls.”

His choice of words elicited a light laugh from you. “Perhaps he is a scout, then. Come to assess our defenses.”

The two of you watched as the cat slowed a few paces away, looking up at the both of you.

“Mrow?”

It was a questioning little sound the tomcat made as he hunkered close, sniffing first at the toe of Baldwin’s shoe before doing the same at the hem of your skirt. For a moment he merely stood there, his banded tail a waving S in the air as he continued to take in king and lady with shining green eyes.

“Mrrp.”

A quiet trill followed as the cat proceeded to bump up against your shin, tail curling about as he wound his way behind you before bumping against Baldwin’s calf in the same manner. He paused, staring upwards, and then he repeated the pattern, his path creating an infinity knot around both your feet.

“Aww, I think the darling wants attention,” you cooed, bending at the waist towards the little feline as you held out your hand. You were rewarded with another bump up against your palm, whereupon you happily scratched behind the cat’s ears, a grin plastered to your face.

“I would greet him as he wishes,” Baldwin remarked beside you, “but I fear I’d lose balance and keep going.”

You glanced up at him. “Well… we can’t have His Majesty tumbling face-first into the roses, can we?”

“No, I do believe that would tarnish my reputation for being upright.”

A snort escaped you at that. Baldwin’s sense of humor never ceased to amaze you – that he could find humor at all amidst his terrible suffering was a testament to his fortitude.

Confident that the cat was comfortable with you, you then reached for him, moving to pick him up, which he allowed with surprising ease. Palace mouser indeed, and obviously used to human company; you were certain no street cat would allow such familiar handling so soon…

“Oh, look, he has little gloves, like you.”

Your observation of the cat’s stark white mittens, curled as they were overtop your arm, had Baldwin chuckling lightly once more, and he nodded in reply, his own gloved hand slowly approaching. “So he does. Alas, I fear his bear weapons mine do not.”

He paused long enough for the cat to sniff again at his fingers – which he did – before gently stroking the top of the creature’s head between his ears. Almost immediately, a rumbling purr emanated from the feline’s throat, his eyes half-closing. Despite the near tentativeness of Baldwin’s movements, the cat seemed quite satisfied with the attention, though a part of you wondered how much the king himself gleaned from it…

“Can you feel that?” you heard yourself ask.

“Barely,” was the quiet reply, a lengthy pause following before he withdrew and added, “I relish moments like these while I can. There will come a day when I shall feel nothing with these diseased hands, glove or not.”

His words shot like an arrow straight to your heart. As much as you both tried to ignore it, to look past it, the truth of the matter was that Baldwin was slowly being eaten alive from the inside out, and it was only a matter of time before it utterly consumed him. Just this simple encounter with a sweet palace cat was enough to bring reality crashing down around both your ears.

And you hated it.

Swallowing, you cleared your throat and then bent to set the curious feline back on his feet. “Let’s let our intrepid little friend here continue on his way now, to do the noble work his kind has been mandated to do, yes?”

Once released, you gave the cat one final pat on his head and he was off, trotting away down the path before promptly disappearing under a bush.

“Y/N?”

The softness of your name upon Baldwin’s lips suddenly brought your attention back to him, and then there was his hand on your cheek, cupping your face gently as his eyes searched yours. You could feel the concern in their depths, his gaze probing your own for answers. No doubt he sensed the shift in your mood – you never had been the best at keeping your emotions hidden…

“I wish I could do more for you,” you whispered before he could ask. “I wish I could… I wish…”

There were so many things that you wished. You wished for him to be healthy again. You wished you could lift the many burdens from his shoulders. You wished you could rid his court of the treacherous vultures just waiting for his final breath to tear apart the corpse of his dream. You wished you could send his enemies running for their lives beyond the desert sands. Alas, you could do none of that.

But you could do this…

Without a word, you swiftly closed what gap was left between you, wrapping your arms around him in a tight embrace.

Instantly, he stiffened, his hands clamping to your shoulders on reflex, their grip tighter than you anticipated.

“Y/N…”

“Hush!” you hissed, interrupting any warning he felt impelled to give you. “Let me do this… let me do it, and let yourself have it!”

You could feel him tremble in your arms, his breathing uneven. For a harrowing moment, he was naught but a statue, indecisive – no-doubt waging a war in his own mind, if you knew him by now as well as you thought you did…

Whichever side flew the banners of Propriety and Precaution, though, evidently lost the battle, as a shaky sigh escaped him at last, a quivering hiss of breath between the lips of his mask.

“God forgive me.”

And then, in a move that made your heart flutter wildly again, his own arms slid around you, pulling you into him and shrouding you in sun-soaked silk. The pungent scent of herbal salves alongside crisp linen followed, piercing past the exotic fragrances of the garden flowers, although you detected the distinct note of roses rising amidst it all – perhaps from the oils the physicians applied to soothe his ravaged flesh. He cocooned you in this warmth, the hardness of his mask as it rested atop of your head a sharp contrast to the softness of the rest of him. And thus he held you tight, tighter than you had expected him to, your ear pressed to his chest where you heard the quickened thumping of his heart.

For one blessed moment, nothing else existed. Perhaps he was an angel after all, just awaiting the wings set aside for him in Heaven. For here he held you in earthly Paradise amidst a garden to rival Eden, shining bright as the light of the sun that enveloped you both in its purifying rays, and you knew peace…

You heard the raggedness in his breath, however. The unsteadiness of his hold. Pulling back from him, you promptly swept his hands up in your own, tugging him towards the bench. “Come. Sit. Stay with me a while and forget your troubles, if only for a few moments. If you can spare them, at least.”

His regard held an almost painful tenderness as it met yours, his voice dropping to a silken timbre. “That and more, should you but ask.”

Your eyes never left his, then, as you led him with ease to your chosen perch. Scooping up Sibylla’s book, you made room for him to sit beside you there, and as he slowly settled himself, letting out what sounded like a sigh of relief, you were keenly aware that your legs were touching, hip to knee…

“Do you like poetry?” you inquired, choosing to ignore how your heart continued to race a little at his continued close proximity.

He glanced sideways, his eyes flicking downwards towards the book in your lap. “As much as the next person, I suppose. Is that a new acquisition?”

You grinned up at him. “Princess Sibylla loaned it to me, actually. We’re planning on discussing it in a few days.”

He nodded slowly at that, seeming to approve. “My sister is in need of good company. I am glad to hear you are getting along well with her.”

“She terrified me at first,” you admitted with a laugh. “But I think she truly wishes for us to be friends.”

Baldwin’s gaze leveled at you behind the mask. “And you were not terrified of me?”

The question was a soft one, wavering slightly, though from recent exertion or emotion, you couldn’t quite tell.

A gentle smile tugged at the corner of your mouth. “Never.”

For a long moment, his eyes searched yours, and you couldn’t help but let them. Their color, their shape, their intensity… they were so beautifully expressive that it didn’t matter that his mask concealed everything else. When they looked at you, you were almost certain you could feel what he felt in your own heart. And what you felt now was more warmth. This time, though, it blossomed from within as those eyes relaxed into a half-lidded stare that was so much like that of the cat you’d just found…

Aware of the blush heating your cheeks at such a look, you finally tore your gaze from his and cleared your throat. “Would you like to hear a bit of this? It’s rather good…”

“Yes, I very much would,” he answered, his tone an almost distant one.

With that, you opened the book where you left off, taking a breath before beginning to read aloud. You hoped he didn’t mind romances, as that was precisely what this one was – a chivalric tale of doomed love…

Any self-consciousness you possessed about the contents was banished, however, the moment you felt his hand curl around your waist.

It was so light a touch it barely registered at first. But then you saw the flash of white out of the corner of your eye, bright upon the green of your gown. Felt the slight weight of that hand upon the curve of your waist. Almost instinctively, you leaned into him in response, and his grip tightened a little.

“I am not hurting you, am I?” you asked quietly, concerned about the effects of any weight against his fragile flesh.

“You could never hurt me,” he replied in a whisper.

And that was the moment you felt his head rest against yours as you continued to read.

Thank you all very much for reading! 😊I hope you enjoyed! ✨ And if you have any other ideas for Y/N, I'd love to hear them!

[petrssecrethideout]

I'd hoped I would get at least a few days of peace after having to move back in with my dad, but within a few hours I heard honking outside the house. I waited for it to die down as I unpacked my stuff, before going outside to see the one person I couldn't face.

I knew Hunter better than anyone, but now i barely recognized him. the man in front of me had hundreds of pounds on the man I left, his bulk replaced with cut muscle. He had grown a beard too, changed his haircut. He looked so good it made my stomach turn.

"Took you long enough," Hunter said, lounging in his truck bed. I could see the flare of his lats even as he relaxed. "What the hell were you doing?"

"Unpacking," I said trying not to show any guilt or discomfort "What do you want?"

Hunter responded by tapping the tailgate, a motion that just meant to come sit down. I did without thinking, just like i had seen him do for me. It was the most common thing we used to do, besides almost get caught fucking. It was just nice to... talk.

Now, I could feel the body heat radiating off of him as I leaned back against his arm, feeling his bicep against my back. I'd never been so close to so much muscle in my life. I was in awe, mostly just confused on how it happened. I looked down to see his shorts, the only thing he was wearing, were much shorter than I was used to. He used to be afraid of wearing anything that cut off above the knee, too afraid of "looking gay". He must've changed a lot.

"So, how have you been?"

"Pretty good," Hunter said his accent just as thick as ever. "I got a job down at the the steel factory that pays pretty well, and I'm going to the gym again. I think I might be the biggest guy there now."

"I'll say! How the hell did that happen?" I exclaimed.

"Well," Hunter "One of my buddies told me about this Mutant Juice stuff, and I just thought it was some kinda hoax, but it was fucking crazy. Expensive as hell, but I think I'm getting my money's worth. I thought I'd just stop after a round or two, but at this point I think I'm just gonna keep growing until it stops working. Just get real fucking big, bigger than anyone else around here. Maybe I could even be on the ads for this stuff, flexing all of this muscle wearing almost nothing. I think I'd look pretty good like that, don't you?"

He knew what he was doing, and it was working. I needed to feel him, to hold him, to rip those shorts off and just have him again, but something still stopped me.

"You like all of these muscles?" Hunter said, reading my expression. He slowly bounced his pecs. "You always did stare at me a lot. God, did I love it. Still do. Something about the looks you give makes me feel like a fucking beast."

I could feel my dick straining my pants, begging for release. I couldn't do that, not yet. I had to find something else to talk about.

"How's your family?" I asked, veering the conversation away form anything too horny.

the words poured out of my mouth, but it immediately got Hunter to stop bouncing his pecs. Something in his expression changed, he looked... pissed.

"We haven't talked in almost a year. After you left without a word I told them, and... it didn't go well. I got a place of my own after a while." Hunter said

"You weren't..." I could feel my own heart shattering. This wasn't what was supposed to happen. I was the weird one, the freak. His life was perfectly mapped out, just like all of the men around here that had come before him. A decent job, a christian marriage, kids before 25. He had a happy life ahead of him, and I selfishly ruined that.

"I didn't stop being gay when you left. Even if that's what you wanted." Hunter said, his voice filled with a cold anger. "I was just...alone."

I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes. I tried to blink them away, before I felt his arm wrap around me and pull me towards his torso. the feeling of being in a hug of his was enough to get me to cry.

"I missed you." I said.

"I missed you too." Hunter replied as he sniffled from crying. "Y'know, for someone so smart I don't know why you sent that letter. Dear Hunter, I love you, I'll never forget the time we had, but please forget about me. I can't ruin your life. What the hell did you think was gonna happen?"

"I was trying to be all poetic, and self-sacrificial, and... yeah it was bullshit but I thought I was corrupting you. I still kind of do."

"You ain't doing shit. All you did was help me figure out who I actually wanted to be, which is gay and fuckin' massive. I'm just glad I can finally do both of those things now without anyone telling me I can't."

My head nuzzled into his neck as I thought about the man I was currently holding growing even larger. My hands couldn't even fully reach around his back as it was, what was I going to do if It got even wider?

"I'm glad to have you back, even if it won't be forever." Hunter said.

"Maybe next time you could come with me?" I asked, a question I knew would get shot down the last time we talked. He loved his family, and his hometown too much to ever leave, but he had changed a lot since I left.

"Sure. we'll do it together."

[cococharm]

Just found your blog I’m so excited! Finally someone that writes for dpr!!!! Can I request something with dpr Ian. Whatever you want really maybe something cozy and cute ? -love Vivi

Shaping Love

Pairing: boyfriend!DPR Ian x reader Genre: fluff, romance, slice of life Warnings: established relationship Characters: 3320 Summary: After a long day, Christian and Y/n decide to go on a pottery date. AN: Thank you so much for requesting this, I hope you enjoy reading this. It’s my first time writing so I hope it meets your standards as I'm not confident in writing. (I rewrote this 4 times)

I glanced at Christian as we ventured into the pottery studio, excitement bubbling in my chest. The fragrance of clay and the peaceful murmur of the wheel occupied the room.

The instructor welcomed us with a warm smile, directing us to our stations. Christian looked around with childlike wonder, his eyes lighting up as he took in the tools and materials. I couldn't help but smile at his energy, feeling a surge of love for him.

We settled in front of our wheels after donning our aprons. The instructor gave us a brief demonstration, her hands moving skillfully to shape the clay. I watched, captivated by the transformation from a lump of clay to a lovely, delicate pot.

“Ready to give it a try?’’ Christian asked, his voice brimming with excitement.

I nodded, putting my hands on the wet clay. As the wheel began turning, Christian sat close to me, his hands cautiously working on his piece. We exchanged glances and laughed silently.

From the get-go, my attempts were awkward, the clay wobbled and collapsed under my touch. Christian chuckled next to me, his laugh a comforting sound. He was also struggling, his pot looking more like a bowl than a pot, but he was having fun and that's all that mattered.

He came closer and said, “Let me help you.” his hands covered mine, guiding my movement. Together, we coaxed the clay into a steadier structure, our hands working in a state of harmony.

The feeling of his hands over mine, strong yet gentle, sent a thrill through me. We were shaping the clay, and as it were, molding a piece of our relationship. The wheel spun smoothly, and the clay began to respond to our touch, rising and forming a simple but elegant shape.

“You're a natural,” Christian teased, his breath warm against my cheek.

“Only because you're helping me,” I replied, leaning into him.

As the instructor strolled by, she gestured approvingly at our progress. “You two make a great team,” She remarked.

Christian grinned, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “We do, don't we?”

We worked on our pieces for a while longer, lost in the rhythmic motion and the tactile pleasure of the clay under our hands. Eventually, we both had something resembling pots, albeit a bit wobbly and imperfect.

“Not bad for our first try,” Christian said, inspecting his creation with a critical eye.

“I think they’re perfect,” I said softly, admiring the unique quirks of our pieces. “Very much like us.”

Christian gave me a tender look as he turned to face me. “I liked that. Imperfectly perfect.”

We carefully placed our pots on the drying racks, our hands canvassed in clay but our hearts full of warmth. The instructor offered to fire them for us, and we thanked her, already looking forward to seeing the finished products.

As we cleaned up, Christian reached out and took my hand, his fingers intertwined with mine. “I’m grateful that you’ve agreed to join me today,” he said, his voice earnest. “This was… special.”

I squeezed his hand, having a flood of affection toward this man who always found new ways to make our time meaningful. “It was perfect. I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.”

The evening sun cast a golden glow on the streets as we left the studio hand in hand. The memory of our pottery date would be another cherished moment in the gallery of our love, a testament to our beauty of creating and growing together.

[beautyandlifestyleblog86]

Ask, and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock, and the door shall be opened unto you. Matthew 7:7

[lifeontoast]

Slow Dance

Christian Bale!Bruce Wayne x reader

Another Advent treat for you all! This time, a little something for the DC fans. Enjoy!

You were in the kitchen with Bruce. The charity Christmas galas you had to attend with him at this time of year were just so tiresome. You wished you never had to go at all, but you knew it was important for Bruce’s status that he attended - and that meant that you had to go, too. You had got changed out of your ridiculously fancy outfit and into your Christmas pyjamas.

You were cooking dinner and he was sitting at the table, reading the newspaper. Some article about stocks or the like. The radio was playing quietly in the corner, as it so often was. The station had been infected with all the Christmas hits. You were ever-so-slightly swaying to the drum beat, totally unconsciously. Dancing was something that you quite enjoyed, you had to admit. Though not whilst being watched by hundreds of people who would just as soon step on you than look at you. Being Bruce Wayne’s partner certainly had some interesting side effects.

Suddenly, the opening notes to your favourite Christmas song started playing; it had a slow beat, perfect for dancing. You wanted to share this romantic moment with Bruce, the love of your life.

You had been together for a few years, each one more loving than the last. To be honest, you were thinking about asking him to marry you.

So, you glided towards Bruce, keen to capture him in a dance. Bruce was a total flirt, and he wasn’t afraid to admit it either. You loved his flirtatious remarks, and especially when he called you beautiful or gorgeous or stunning. It always made your day. He could always cheer you up whenever you were down with a simple, sunny smile, and you loved him for it.

You reached your destination, stopping in front of Bruce with a grin. He was so absorbed in his newspaper that he hadn’t noticed you yet, so you held out your hand for him to grab. He looked up and met your eyes lovingly. He stood in one, fluid motion, and placed his arms around you. You had never felt safer. Slowly, the two of you began to sway to the beat, and once again caught each other’s gaze; completely full of love.

The song seemed to last forever, and you felt the happiest you had felt in a while. With him, nothing else mattered, only the two of you. You heard the quietest of creaks and ever-so-gentle footsteps, and Alfred appeared at the door, unbeknownst to you. He had come to ask Bruce for some advice, and to tell him his post had arrived, but instead he stopped, smiled, and left the two lovers to their waltz.

Finally, the song finished, but you kept on swaying, not wanting to disturb the perfect peace of the wonderful moment you were in. If it were possible, you would have stopped time and stayed like that forever. Bruce stopped, though, and slightly surprised, so did you. You just held each other for a minute. At last, he brought you slightly away from him, looked into your eyes, smiled that gorgeous smile and kissed your forehead gently, before pulling you back into a hug.

And people say that romance is dead.

…

A/N: Thanks so much for reading, and I hope you’ve enjoyed it! You guys rock!

[transbookoftheday]

🏳️‍⚧️🏴‍☠️ Trans Books To Read If You Love "Our Flag Means Death" 🏴‍☠️🏳️‍⚧️

Can't get enough of Our Flag Means Death? Read some trans pirate books!

On Mar León de la Rosa's sixteenth birthday, el Diablo comes calling. Mar is a transmasculine nonbinary teen pirate hiding a magical ability to manipulate fire and ice. But their magic isn't enough to reverse a wicked bargain made by their father, and now el Diablo has come to collect his payment: the soul of Mar's father and the entire crew of their ship. When Mar is miraculously rescued by the sole remaining pirate crew in the Caribbean, el Diablo returns to give them a choice: give up their soul to save their father by the harvest moon, or never see him again. The task is impossible - Mar refuses to make a bargain, and there's no way their magic is a match for el Diablo. Then Mar finds the most unlikely allies: Bas, an infuriatingly arrogant and handsome pirate - and the captain's son; and Dami, a gender-fluid demonio whose motives are never quite clear. For the first time in their life, Mar may have the courage to use their magic. It could be their only redemption - or it could mean certain death.

(The audiobook for "The Wicked Bargain" is narrated by Vico Ortiz!)

In a world divided by colonialism and threaded with magic, a desperate orphan turned pirate and a rebellious imperial lady find a connection on the high seas. Aboard the pirate ship Dove, Flora the girl takes on the identity of Florian the man to earn the respect and protection of the crew. For Flora, former starving urchin, the brutal life of a pirate is about survival: don’t trust, don’t stick out, and don’t feel. But on this voyage, Flora is drawn to the Lady Evelyn Hasegawa, who is headed to an arranged marriage she dreads. Flora doesn’t expect to be taken under Evelyn’s wing, and Evelyn doesn’t expect to find such a deep bond with the pirate Florian. Neither expects to fall in love. Soon the unlikely pair set in motion a wild escape that will free a captured mermaid (coveted for her blood) and involve the mysterious Pirate Supreme, an opportunistic witch, double agents, and the all-encompassing Sea herself. Deftly entwining swashbuckling action and quiet magic, Maggie Tokuda-Hall’s inventive debut novel conjures a diverse cast of characters seeking mastery over their fates while searching for answers to big questions about identity, power, and love.

The Lost Boys say that Peter Pan went back to England because of Wendy Darling, but Wendy is just an old life he left behind. Neverland is his real home. So when Peter returns to it after ten years in the real world, he's surprised to find a Neverland that no longer seems to need him. The only person who truly missed Peter is Captain James Hook, who is delighted to have his old rival back. But when a new war ignites between the Lost Boys and Hook's pirates, the ensuing bloodshed becomes all too real - and Peter's rivalry with Hook starts to blur into something far more complicated, sensual, and deadly.

In the Christian Republic, homosexual people are given two choices—a camp to "fix" them, or exile to the distant islands populated by lesbians and gay men. Sixteen-year-old Jason chooses exile and expects a hardscrabble life but instead finds a thriving, supportive community. While exploring his identity as a transgender boy he also discovers adventure: kraken attacks, naval battles, a flying island built by asexual people, and a daring escape involving glow-in-the-dark paint. He also has a desperate crush on Sky, a spirited buccaneer girl, but fear keeps him from expressing his feelings. When Jason and his companions discover the Republicans are planning a war of extermination, they rally the people of the Rainbow Islands to fight back. Shy, bookish Jason will have to find his inner courage or everything and everyone he loves will be lost forever.

Book titles:

The Wicked Bargain by Gabe Cole Novoa

The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea by Maggie Tokuda-Hall

Peter Darling by Austin Chant

Rainbow Islands by Devin Harnois

[nepentheisms]

This is it; this is the Big 'Un that's been knocking around in my head since the bookclub's inception.

When it comes to mentions of the biblical parallels in Trigun, I've seen that Wolfwood is most frequently discussed as a Judas figure. I think it's important, though, to note that carrying out the Judas role to Vash's Jesus was a job he was ordered to take, and it's one he went through the motions of following while having the ulterior motive of killing the one who gave him the order in the first place. In fact, when Wolfwood does turn traitor, it's actually Knives and the GHG he chooses to betray. He ends up Judas-ing the guys who assigned him to the Judas mission - that's some sweet irony!

And as Wolfwood's time in the story draws to an end, he takes the path completely contrary to Judas' ignominious end by suicide. He instead takes a leap of faith and dares to place his trust in Vash's vision for humanity's future. His faith remains imperfect, but in the midst of all his doubt and uncertainty, he persists anyway.

This last stand of his becomes Wolfwood's ultimate affirmation of his devotion to Vash's ideals, and he effectively becomes a martyr, which places him far outside the image of Judas. In fact, I think that when we look back on his character arc as a whole, we can see how it more neatly lines up in trajectory with the story of another apostle: Peter.

Like Peter in the gospel narratives, Wolfwood finds it difficult to have the kind of faith that is asked of him. Vash goes into his battle with Rai Dei insisting to Wolfwood that he can finish the conflict without taking a life, but Wolfwood intervenes against Vash's wishes because he was worried about Rai Dei's next move. Peter sees Jesus walking on water and goes out to join him, but with the rough winds blowing around him, Peter becomes overwhelmed by fear and begins to sink. After these failures of faith in their respective stories, Peter and Wolfwood are then chastised by the men they follow.

Matthew 14:31 (NRSV) - Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"

And it's these struggles with doubt, these moments of fear and cynicism overtaking faith that are so instrumental to the Christian perspective on salvation with its message of "You are flawed by nature, but you are loved beyond all comprehension nonetheless. Accept this love that it may save you and change you."

In Peter's case, although he is singled out multiple times for his failures (e.g. denying Jesus three times), he still holds a special place of prominence among Jesus' disciples. The 21st chapter of John features a conversation between Peter and the resurrected Jesus in which Peter affirms his love for Jesus three times (a reversal of the three times he denied Jesus), and Jesus responds by instructing Peter to care for his flock. After Jesus ascends to Heaven, Peter continues the work set out for him in building the early church until his eventual martyrdom, which, according to church tradition, occurs via upside-down crucifixion (see Caravaggio's rendition here). Interestingly, Wolfwood's martyrdom also involves lots of grievous bodily harm being dealt by crosses.

So the saint gets brought to death's doorstep, and that brings us to the infamous whiskey bottle

Others have already pointed out that "The Bride" likely refers to the Bride of Christ. This excerpt from the Catechism of the Catholic Church sums up the concept:

The unity of Christ and the Church, head and members of one Body, also implies the distinction of the two within a personal relationship. This aspect is often expressed by the image of bridegroom and bride. The theme of Christ as Bridegroom of the Church was prepared for by the prophets and announced by John the Baptist. The Lord referred to himself as the "bridegroom." The Apostle speaks of the whole Church and of each of the faithful, members of his Body, as a bride "betrothed" to Christ the Lord so as to become but one spirit with him. The Church is the spotless bride of the spotless Lamb.

Now Peter is of particular importance when talking about the Church as an institution, because in the Catholic tradition, Peter is believed to have been granted a distinguished position of authority as the very foundation of Jesus' church, and every Pope is considered a successor to Peter in their occupation of the Church's highest office.

So Peter = Pope = the head of the Bride of Christ. And if we take the reading of Wolfwood as a Peter analogue.... you see where we're going. The Bride of Christ has been sanctified through a powerful demonstration of sacrificial love and prepared for the wedding to the bridegroom, but right here Yasuhiro Nightow subverts the biblical metaphor to devastating effect. The wedding doesn't come to fruition, because Vash can't bring himself to step into the role of the heavenly bridegroom. In this moment, he just feels all too painfully human in his grief. Wolfwood ascends - celebrated across the sky by those he saved with his selfless love, but Vash descends - acting as an ordinary person mourning the loss of a loved one.

John 13:36 (NRSV) - Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered, “Where I am going, you cannot follow me now...."

[moltengoldveins]

so, I am already Adoring the discourse on The Creator, the new sci fi AI film that came out recently, but I’ve yet to see anyone talk about the fascinating religious undertones to the whole movie? Like, I’m Christian. I’ll be the first to admit my bias here: I tend to look for faith and spiritual undertones when consuming media because it’s an integral part of the way I see the world. but this movie was SO COOL?? Like, the Complete Lack of any sort of faith shown in the American characters in contrast with the AI and the Asian characters, a total shift from the modern cultural idea that religion and AI are incompatible. There are monks that are droids and simulants. The kid uses her technology powers by making a “praying” motion. There’s a robot preaching a pretty classic Judeo-Christian Messiah narrative to a bunch of kiddos. There’s only ONE American character given any sort of obvious religious identity and it’s that One Trooper Lady when she mentions Valhalla. This is such an interesting decision and I’m fascinated to know what y’all think of it. NOT TO MENTION (and this is by FAR my favorite part) the fact that the religion and the AI conflict and the treatment of human life are all implicitly bound up together. The Americans believe that the AI are ‘just programming,’ that they aren’t real, that they don’t have souls. The New Asians don’t. And that seems to bleed into the way they treat Humans as well? The kind girl near the beginning of the film, clearing the blast zone with Taylor, panics when she sees an AI online for the first time because she recognizes that he behaves like a person, while Taylor is cold, unresponsive, and insists that it’s just programming. The Americans SAY they value human life because humans are really people and AI aren’t, but they treat civilians and combatants, AI and Humans, Exactly the Same. Almost like, if you reduce one thing with a soul to ‘just programming, not of value’ that starts messing with the way you treat Everything Else. The New Asians, as far as the narrative tells us, don’t plan on retribution for the war. They’re careful with civilians, to a certain extent (I don’t love the van scene with the kiddos tbh :( feel like that was out of place? And the AI lady, the girlfriend of Taylor’s friend who was killed as well, interesting nuances there) and they treat one another like people ought. There’s very little distinction given between the more android and more human AI, which I think is awesome, and the climax of the arc of Taylor’s character happens In A Temple. The end of the story is a message of hope for reunification in heaven AND hope for reunification on earth. That’s. That’s so cool. Like. I think that’s the coolest thing I’ve seen in Ages. I can’t Ever remember seeing that kind of message done in a story that isn’t painfully preachy. One thing that often bothers me about modern film and media is the idea that religion and spirituality has to be handled in one of three ways: entirely unmentioned, preachy to the absurd, or blatantly disrespected. It’s not a universal problem, but it’s pretty widespread. I couldn’t tell what faith the directors ascribed to in this film, but I could tell they were discussing it intelligently and I LIKED THAT. I liked it a lot. I can’t speak for anyone but myself, my tastes, and beliefs: I’m willing to bet a lot of Christians won’t like this movie because they’re hung up on the lack of a blatantly Christian or preachy narrative. I’m willing to bet a lot of other people won’t like it because it tackled spirituality at all. But I liked it, because it looked at the world we live in and spoke of what it saw. It wrestled with the topics of death and life and souls and heaven and national pride and racism and capitalism and love and what it means to be a good person and it did it really well, and I admire that.

please please let me know what y’all thought of the movie? I’m really interested in knowing what people picked up on or thought the movie was saying. God bless y’all, and have an excellent weekend :) 💜

[hischierswhore]

failed dates

pairing: Christian Pulisic x Reader

TW: minor cursing // disrespectful guy who doesn’t understand what ‘no’ means

You were currently sat alone at a table for two at some fancy restaurant, whose name you couldn't remember. The other people around you seemed to be occupied with their dates, reminding you that yours had once again failed miserably.

The guy you were on a date with started by flirting with you heavily, then immediately becoming belligerent when you rejected his advances. You continued on with the date, as you thought that maybe he deserved a second chance. But you couldn't have been more wrong.

Things only got worse from there, with him continuing in his attempts to persuade you to accept his advances. By the time you'd finished dinner, he was in full blown argument mode after you repeatedly rejected his advances. He clearly wasn't used to rejection, and it stung his ego a little bit.

By the time the evening was over, you felt absolutely no desire to give him another opportunity. He continued to speak some nonsense you were blocking out, but you quickly focused when you heard him say "I can't wait to have you in my bed tonight". That was your final straw.

"Excuse my language, but who the fuck do you think you are? I believe that I've made myself very clear that I don't want to sleep with you, or anything of the sort. If you can't handle this level of rejection, then I suggest you stop wasting my time." You replied, glaring back at him before getting up to leave.

"Find yourself a new ride" He spat as he walked out of the building and drove off. You mentally cursed as you realized that maybe having him drive you to the date wasn't a good idea. You sat back down, realizing you had nowhere to go. You thought about calling Uber, but you didn't necessarily feel like paying god knows how much for a ride, so you called the only person you could think of.

"Hello?" His voice was raspy on the other end of the line.

"Oh, you were asleep. Neverm-" He cut you off.

"No, I'm awake. What's up?" He attempted to make himself sound as awake as possible.

"I wanted to see if you could pick me up? My date left me stranded at that restaurant you usually go to for team dinners" You heard motion in the background as you spoke.

"I'll be there in 10" He assured you before hanging up. Ten minutes later, you heard someone calling your name. You looked around and saw that Christian, your best friend, had arrived to take you back home. He made eye contact with you and rushed over to your table.

"There you are. You ready to leave?" You nodded as he grabbed your jacket from your hands and held it for you. He held his arm out for you to hold onto as you walked back to his car, which you kindly accepted. You made your way to his car, with him opening the door for you, which was something he's done since the day the pair of you met.

As you settled into the passenger seat and he settled into the driver's seat, you felt like he had a question to ask.

"So what happened with this one?" He was used to you going on terrible dates by now, but this was the first in which you'd called him to pick you up.

"He was just so disrespectful. Kept trying to make advances towards me, which I rejected multiple times, but he wasn't getting the hint" You sighed as you leaned your head on the window, staring out into the busy London night life.

After a moment of silence, you looked over at Christian, only to find his grip on the wheel tighter than ever before.

"He definitely sounds like an asshole" He mumbled as he continued driving.

"Yeah, nothing special about him. At least I'm in better company now than I was before" You joked, always finding light in situations like this.

"I'm just glad you're okay though" He moved his other hand to yours, gently caressing the back of your hand. It was interactions like this that made you love him more than any other friend, because you knew that he genuinely cared about you.

The rest of the ride back to your apartment was silent, soft music playing in the background to fill the silence, though it was a comfortable silence.

A few minutes later, when you arrived to your apartment, you & Christian both stayed in his car for a bit longer. You sensed there was a bit of tension in the air, though you couldn’t figure out why.

“Can I ask you something?” Christian spoke up, with you letting out a quiet ‘mhm’ in response.

“Why do you keep going on these dates with such, excuse my language, shitty guys? What are you looking for in a guy that you can’t seem to find anywhere?” He looked at you and noticed you were fidgeting. You felt his eyes burning into you as you hesitated, not feeling quite ready to reveal the truth to your best friend.

“I’ve been trying to find you…” You mumbled just above a whisper, hoping he didn’t catch it.

“What was that, princess?” His hand continued to gently trace circles on the back of yours in an attempt to calm you down.

“I said I’ve been trying to find you, Chris” You sighed as you looked up to meet his eyes, though you noticed his eyebrows were raised and he had a look of confusion written across his features.

“I don’t understand”

“This whole time I’ve been trying to find someone like you. Someone who’s sweet, caring & just makes me feel comfortable in their presence. Someone who makes me laugh and allows me to be myself, but no one compares to you. I’ve been trying to find these things in someone, but you’re the only one, Chris. I never said anything because I didn’t want to mess up what we have; I can’t risk losing you” You moved your gaze back down to your lap, where your fingers went back to fidgeting.

“You could never lose me, princess. You’re stuck with me forever. Never in a million years did I think you would say that to me, but I’m glad you did. I’ve been watching you go on these failed dates and wondering when it’ll be my turn. Wondering when it’ll be my turn to show you how you deserve to be treated. And you’re telling me now that it’s always been me?” He questioned, to which you mumbled a quiet ‘yeah’.

“Can I kiss you?” He asked as you nodded.

He gently grabbed the side of your face as you brought yourself closer to him, your lips making contact as you shut your eyes, melting into the kiss. It was a rather gentle kiss, but it was soft and sweet, perfect for the moment. You felt him smile against your lips, leading you to smile as well. The kiss lasted for a while, both of you pulling away as you both needed air.

You rested your forehead against his, closing your eyes and enjoying the moment.

“I love you, Y/n” Christian whispered.

“I love you too, Chris”

~~~~

taglist

@ithinkimokeei @myheartgoesvroom @mounthings @tall-tanned-tattoo @itsnotgray @alwaysclassyeagle @charlewiss @pianoisland @chelseagirl98 @lovelynikol16 @username-envy @pulisicsgirl @lizzypotter14 @bracedes @thoseboysinblue @swimmingismywholelife @neverinadream