#plan is to get a duvet cover for it but now I can back burner that plan until I casually come across something

[thenarrativefoil]

i found the exact same silk quilt i currently have, but it's less worn AND red and IT WAS ONLY $80 im head over heels holy fuck i've been looking for a new one going on three years now.

[burning-the-write-oil]

Dame un beso

Summary: Reader finally gets to visit Javier and have some much needed time together.

Characters: Javier Peña/F!Reader

Words: 1.7k

Rating: Explicit, 18+ only

Warnings: explicit sexual references, swearing, established relationship, dirty talk, oral (f)

A/N: So this is very random and I literally got the idea the other day and wrote it all today. Thank me watching The Mandalorian, Narcos, and thirsting over Pedro Pascal. I get the hype now lol. I hope this isn’t too bad and it’s maybe half as hot as it was in my head. Enjoy! And please like, reblog, and comment!

Side note: Requests are open and I’m now accepting requests for Din Djarin (The Mandalorian) and Javier Peña (Narcos).

Masterlist

You glanced over your shoulder towards the bedroom behind you, the door open just enough that you could still see the man draped in the white, cotton sheets still asleep. His chest rose and fell steadily and you couldn’t stop the small smile that spread across your lips, before returning to your previous task. 

You’d woken up before Javier and decided to make you both some breakfast; something you both usually didn’t get around to if you stayed in bed too long. And you figured he wouldn’t be up for at least a little while longer, considering the hour you both finally tired and fell asleep. The delicious ache could still be felt at the apex of your thighs, only further extending the sated feeling in your body.

You returned your attention back to the stove in front of you, cooking together some of the vegetables you found leftover in Javi’s fridge and a few eggs. The A/C in the small apartment wasn’t the best, leaving you in a clean pair of underwear and the button-down you had carelessly helped him take off last night, the shirt open and barely covering your breasts. You barely heard the sound of footsteps across the hardwood floor before a pair of arms wrapped around your middle.

“I’m a little hurt that I woke up to an empty bed,” Javi mumbled behind you, pressing your back to his bare chest as he leaned down to press kisses along the side of your face.

You hummed in agreement, continuing to mix the food together as the kisses began to move to your jaw.

“Thought I’d make us some breakfast since I was up.” You smiled, turning your head ever so slightly to meet his warm, brown eyes.

“I was planning on eating something else.” He gently bit at the skin on the side of your neck before soothing the spot with a kiss.

You’d be lying if you didn’t feel heat start to pool at your center and you scoffed with a smirk. 

“Well, I at least made coffee that I know you won’t turn down.” You gestured towards the small dining table across the room that had two mugs of coffee on it.

“You’re an angel.” He leaves one more kiss on your neck before releasing you to go take a drink of the coffee.

You finish cooking up breakfast and turn off the burner before you turn around fully to face him, your eyes widening slightly to see him only in a pair of jeans. Unbuttoned. You tuck a strand of hair behind your ear before meeting his eyes. You’ve barely been up an hour and you already want to jump his bones again.

“What time is your flight?” You hear him ask as you walk over to grab your own cup of coffee to take a drink.

Your flight. That was the last thing you wanted to think about right now. Leaving Javi. Going back to work in Medellin. 8 hours too long to see each other every day like you’d prefer. 

“Eight.” You answered shortly, setting your cup back on the table after taking a drink of the hot beverage. 

“Plenty of time.” He teases half-heartedly, trying to lighten the mood with a small smile.

You nod and return the expression, walking back over to the stove to grab two plates from the cabinet. 

“Hey.”

You turn around to look at him at the sound of his voice, closing the cabinet.

“Dame un beso.” He looks at you expectedly with a smug smirk.

“What was that? Sorry no hablo español.” You tease him with a playful grin.

He raised a brow, challenging you to deny him.

“Dame. Un. Beso.”

You grin, walking over to him and immediately pressing your lips to his. You pull away a moment later, looking up to him.

“Come back to bed, cariño…” His voice lowers and you shiver at his words and the intent behind them.

“No tienes hambre?” You ask, feeling your resolve beginning to slip by the second. You were ready to leave the food where it was and do whatever he pleased.

“Hambriento.” He growls, slowly moving a hand down your stomach and under the band of your underwear, fingers brushing along your folds.

You exhale shakily, leaning back into him as he teases you for a moment before pulling his hand away and taking your hand to pull you along with him back to the bedroom. You follow him without hesitation, entering the room and giggling as he immediately presses his lips to yours before gently pushing you back onto the bed and climbing over you. You lay back on the soft duvet, your hands finding Javi’s thick, dark hair and carding through it. You gasp as he starts kissing down your chest, softly brushing his lips over the tops of your breasts as he slowly opens his shirt you were wearing until you were completely exposed to him.

“Te quiero.” He groans as his lips encase one of your swollen nipples and his tongue flicks at the bud. “Eres tan hermoso.”

You bite your lip, arching your back towards him as your fingers pull his head closer to you. He gives the same treatment to your other breast before teasingly tracing his fingers across your lower stomach.

“Javi, please…” You breathe, your eyes flickering open to glance down at him.

He moves up your body, pressing a soft kiss to your lips and dragging his tongue along your lower lip.

“I want to taste you, cariño.” Your eyes meet his and you nod as the anticipation builds of what’s to come.

He moves back down your body to grip the sides of your underwear, his eyes carefully watching your expression as he pulls them down your legs and tosses them to the side. His hand lifts your left leg, trailing kisses from your ankle and up your inner thigh as your heart rate continues to increase. He does the same with your other leg before his hands move towards your center, his thumbs parting your swollen lips. It’s more than obvious that you’re wet.

“Fuck, Javi.” You whimper as he brings a hand up to move your hands to his hair again one by one before his tongue licks a line along your slit.

Your moans only increase in volume as he alternates with soft licks and suction around your clit, his eyes intently watching your expressions and occasionally closing as he groans at your taste. He would occasionally pull back, licking his lips and telling you how beautiful you were before continuing his assault. It’s not long before you can feel pressure building and your breathing turn to gasps. He notices your moans increase and slowly moves away from your center, placing one more soft kiss on your clit before sitting back up. You can see your wetness all over his chin and on his mustache. You pull him down to you and press your lips to his roughly, tasting yourself on his lips.

“Fuck me…” You whimper in his ear , pushing him to the other side of the bed so you can straddle him.

He watches you with a smirk, breathing heavily as you pull his jeans down and off his legs. You kiss down his chest, your eyes drifting up to his as you kissed along the hair at his lower stomach to his hardened length.

“Stop teasing, baby.” He mumbles lowly, his eyes fluttering shut.

You kiss back up his chest, straddling him as you reach over to the bedside table to grab a condom. Opening the packet, you slide the latex over his length before shifting to position him at your entrance. You slowly lower your hips as he pushes into you, your mouth falling open as he releases a low groan. It takes everything in you to keep your eyes focused on him and to not shut them. Once your hips meet his, you begin to teasingly grind your hips, occasionally lifting them up and down until his hands roughly grip your waist. He helps move you up and down on his length, thrusting his hips up to meet yours. Your moans increase in volume as you ride him, your hands resting on his chest to help give you some leverage and he leans up to encase his lips around one of your nipples.

“You’re so good, hermosa. So fucking beautiful. I love your pussy.” You whimper as he pulls you close to his chest, thrusting his hips up to yours as hard as he can, the sound of skin hitting skin even more apparent.

He carefully helps you move off of him, sitting up and moving to kneel behind you. He kneels between your spread legs, taking his length in his hand and thrusting into you a moment later, his hands gripping your hips and your hand reaching to pull his head towards you. If it weren’t for his tight grip on your hips, you’d fall forward as his hips continue to roughly smack against your ass. You try to move your hips back to meet his thrusts as you turn your head to the side to roughly press your lips to his.

“You going to come for me?” He grunts, continuing to pull your hips back to meet his thrusts as your hand tightly grips the back of his neck.

You feel your walls clench as you nod quickly, “You feel so good Javi, fuck.”

After a few more thrusts, you feel your walls tighten and you let out a loud gasp as you come. He feels his own release hit him a few moments later, coming into the condom with a few loud grunts and mumbles of your name.

He presses a soft kiss to your cheek before gripping the base of the condom and pulling out of you. He helps you lay down on the bed before getting up to clean up in the bathroom. It’s not long before he returns with a warm washcloth to clean your center and inner thighs. 

“Thank you.” You smile softly, stretching your arms and enjoying the sated feeling that fills your body again.

“Por supuesto.” He kisses your thigh before setting the rag to the side and getting into bed beside you. He reaches over to grab his pack of cigarettes, bringing one to his lips before lighting it. 

You glance up at the ceiling with a sigh before quietly watching the man beside you. You hated goodbyes.

[imagine-loki]

The Slutty Webs One Weaves

Title : The Slutty Webs one Weaves

Chapter NO. 8

ORIGINAL IMAGINE: Imagine Loki’s Asgardian wife learns women write fanfiction about him on a trip to Midgard. She’s edgy for the duration and lets him have it when they get back.

Author: lokilover9

Rating: M

Pepper returned from the lobby to an edgy Tony. "Was Hannah down there? What took you so long to answer your phone?"

"No and I was talking to someone."

"You stalled to make new friends? I worried you were dragging said witch up here in a headlock."

"Wrong. Is Loki still consoling Brianna?"

"Yes."

Pepper dropped a mini bomb and Tony disconcertedly sighed. "He isn't going to like this." The couple appeared at the guest room door. "Hey, Little Warrior. Feeling any better?"

She nodded.

"Badass and I wondered if you'd stick around. Maybe Daddikins can conjure Mario Kart? I miss you kicking my tushy."

Virginia's nervous smile had Loki encouraging it and once Tony had Brianna distracted, they slipped out of sight. She conveyed returning to the Tea shop, claimed Hannah resembled an old friend and asked which direction she'd gone in. The cashier said she did a double take at something in the lobby, appeared as though seeing a ghost and dashed towards the hotel exit without her purchases.

Loki's face became a storm of tumultuous emotions and she startled when a snap of his fingers conjured a book.

"Should I have said nothing?"

He cynically chuckled, scanning the title pages. "Ever thought your God in heaven found amusement in bombarding your life with fuckery, like the Norn's do mine? The arm of his celestial robe hanging high while he mockingly inspires you with a goblet of mead? 'Rise up, Homes. I'm off for a shag with Mary.'"

"All Midgardians have."

"Have all dragged their only friends into Alice's fucking wonderland where the big bad wolf keeps hounding at the door? Excuse me, I'm intertwining fairy tales."

"Probably half. Are you okay?"

"Right as rain, girlfriend. Right, found it. I haven't used this spell on a child and need the right measurement of ingredients."

She nervously stumbled over a pair of small shoes. "A 'spell???'"

"To make Brianna sleep. Shhh. I must concentrate."

She watched, dazzled, as tiny bottles appeared mid air and part of their contents emptied into his cupped palm. Moving it in a circular motion, they combined like fluid sand, glowed a soft white, then faded into transparent flakes as the book and bottles vanished.

"Calmly return to the main room with me?"

They did just as Tony blundered a turn at Mario. "I'ma gonna givva you such a smacka, you cartoon pisano."

When Brianna laughed, Loki waved his hand before her face from behind. "Forgive me, Min Lille."

"D..dad…"

Tony caught her. "What's up with the magically induced coma?"

"She's better off." Said Loki, sharper than intended.

Stark situated Little Warrior while he paced, grinding a fist into his palm. There hadn't been time to process any definitive plans to apprehend Brianna's captors and discovering the fourth incited a rage only her reciprocated love had contained. Now, his nerves were stretched to their limits, forcing him to convey more than he wanted, risk finally reaching out for help and configure one. Fast.

"Scotch, Snowflake?"

He sighed heavily and stopped. "I must keep a clear head and so should you. The secrecy and lies, the hiding, everything I've done has been to protect Brianna and yourselves since the instant she graced my life. If I'm to continue, we need to trust each other completely. No matter how disturbing my information, you will make no inquiries, tell no one and from here forth, do 'exactly' as I say. Should you veer off course, we leave for real and you'll be fighting a dangerous battle alone. You may regardless if I can't contain Thor's rage over this."

"A battle with who?"

"This will hit home, Tony. Give me your word."

"It's yours, Pepper's too, right?" She nodded. "For insurance, she can text you a pic of me in a chastity belt. Hell, send it to Jimmy Kimmel. Are we good?"

"I'd rather you signed a wager to become a goat. How much longer is your suite booked for?"

"Another ten days."

"Virginia, pack for a week please? I need your help with Brianna at a safe house. Tony, contact your pilot. You're going home."

"Alex is in Aruba celebrating his girlfriend's breast implants. 'Why' Loki?"

"Fuck." He muttered. "Because I'm certain Fury's involved in Brianna's existence and you 'don't' want him up your shit when you aren't there. He was fucking Hannah and six and half years ago, introduced her and Jillian to Viriginia at his fiftieth birthday bash."

Tony slid both hands down his face. "I..shit..whoa. How do you know that and who's Jillian?"

Pepper frantically retraced her memory. "Jillian...was she the petite brunette with doe like eyes?"

"Congratulations." Loki replied. "You've also met Brianna's Mother. It's all in her diary."

"WHAT?!?" Said the couple, shocked.

"Save your questions! If Brianna's the reason Hannah bailed, by now the evil foursome knows she's escaped and you're aware she exists. Were I Fury, I'd be gathering my accomplices for interrogation, initiating a low key search for the four of us and putting eyes on the Tower 'and' Thor, where he'll find Astrid. Please, 'help me.'"

"Okay, okay. Can you teleport me back?" Asked Stark.

"No. Fury knows I have that ability. If S.H.I.E.L.D's watching and never see you enter…"

"What the fuck? You think they're involved too?"

"Oh my god." Said Pepper.

Loki tuned them out and conjured a bag of burner phones. "Book a seat on the next flight out in any class. Delete our past conversations and cease using your phones to contact me. If Brianna awakens, have her call me on one of these. I'll be back before dawn."

"You're leaving???"

"Yes. To relocate Astrid and warn Thor. Wish me luck he doesn't break New Mexico."

Loki vanished into a portal leaving the couple aghast.

"Well Butch, we're up to our eyeballs in another shit storm. I should've ignored the flu and gone with you that night."

She cracked a tiny smile. "Before or after you fell asleep next to the toilet?"

Tony nodded, observing Brianna in her slumber. "And dreamt Buzz Lightyear brought me our duvet."

"High fevers induce hallucinations. That was me in a white pants suit."

"You sure sounded like 'Tim The Toolman Taylor.'

He was doing it again. Comedically rambling off topic to cushion the blow of a truth that rubbed him wrong from every angle.

"Tony?" Said Pepper.

"Hm?"

"Promise no veering? I haven't trusted Nick since Steve found those weapons on the Helicarrier."

"None of us Avengers do either. I won't, he's too dangerous. With the ability to fuck us over worse than any accusations of harboring a missing child could. Virginia..this is bad. What more was in that diary?"

"It is, but we have to stay focused. A sleep deprived, frazzled Loki discovering we aren't ready, won't want to talk. I'll get our suitcases."

Tony followed. "Did you bring a warm coat? I'll bet he conjured that safehouse in the Siberian Tundra." ***** Loki first returned to their room to collect his and Brianna's things. Time was crucial, but before seeking Astrid, he needed to tune into her ring. Left on, it steadily recorded her and using a hologram, he rewound to the day he departed Asgard and quickly scanned through the mundane.

He watched her pained reaction to his note, heard hers and Frigga's spiteful words, witnessed their treatment of Thor, heard himself being defended, their following remorse and the lies conjured betwixt Mother and son. Although impressed by Frigga duplicating Astrid's ring, he wasn't in the mood for another presumed 'lecture on morality' and fast forwarded to them parting ways in Asgard.

Night after night, he saw Astrid entering Ingrid's bed chamber and once heard his Mother in law scolding a hidden Roddy from her doorway. "Doth's thou newest mistress prefer perfuming as well? Your stench giveth you away."

He'd have laughed if not for Astrid's tears, but when forwarding to the present, she wasn't sleeping at Thor's. His means of travel would remain portals and high on adrenaline, he arrived to gather her belongings and cringed at the sounds of lovemaking.

"That's it princess. Take your Kings tallywacker like a good girl."

'Norns.' Loki conjured more burner phones, blared the living room's television and Thor came running, cock at full mast. "Brilliant way to greet an intruder, dingus."

"Brother!" Thor exuberantly bellowed on approach.

Loki conjured a dagger. "Hug me naked and tallywacker gets beheaded. Where's Astrid?"

"At the Rosewood."

Loki frowned. "You let my wife, who hops realms on a fucking whim, stay at a hotel???"

Jane came rushing down the stairs in a Betty Boop robe and he arched a brow. "Hi, Loki. It's only for two nights and she offered to give us time alone."

Thor's smile faded. "I didn't hear anything in the guest bedroom. Did you bug our house?"

"Yes, brother. 'I', snagged a side job installing covert surveillance on Midgards superheroes. Spark another spliff and do cover your cock?"

Jane did with a decorative plate from the dining table. "Astrid's room number is 718."

"She won't be returning. Do not leave, answer the door, your calls, or open the blinds. I 'will be' returning, but briefly."

In a flash, he was gone and Jane looked up at Thor. "I can't call in this soon, my vacation just ended."

"Loki wasn't asking, Jane. Something's awry." ***** Astrid had risen early and after seeking ice, dropped the bucket upon discovering Loki in her room. Accustomed to wearing Midgardian attire, her blue jean leggings contoured her shape, highlighted by a white tank beneath a second of mesh knit. Her blond waves cascaded down her breasts and she looked so virginal without makeup, his loins ached.

"Hello, my lovely."

Unsure what Thor had conveyed, she hesitated approaching. "Hi. I would offer you a drink but..." She knelt to gather the cubes and hide a falling tear. "I hav..haven't any liquor."

Loki lovingly gathered her into his arms. "Astrid."

"Forgive me, Min kjærlighet." She sobbed. "I made you run when needing me most."

He kissed her lips and cheeks. "I ran for a multitude of reasons, but have left Brianna sleeping to come for you."

"You knew I was on Midgard?"

"Not until recently and you mustn't be angry with Thor for not conveying so. He stayed silent at my request, even to Jane and was oblivious to our location. You mean the world to me as does Brianna now too, but something's gone wrong and I fear you're both in danger. It would take too long to explain and there's so much I must before you meet."

"Then let's return to Asgard. Wouldn't we be safe there?"

"We can't yet."

She slowly slid from his embrace, confused. "Brianna's in danger, yet isn't with you or Thor. She's with Tony and Pepper isn't she?"

"Yes, my lovely, but you can't be angry with them either. They've been wonderful to her."

"I'm not, I'm sad again. Everyone knew about her before me. What does that say about 'us', Loki? Are we okay?"

He embraced her again. "Yes. Darling, Tony, Pepper and Thor knew of her before I did too and you knew before Jane."

"Really? Wait, Thor lied to myself and your Mother?"

"Astrid, please. He had to, they too might be in danger and Brianna will panic if I'm not there when she awakens. Come with me to a temporary location until everybody's situated?" Loki kissed her hands. "It means being shielded from Heimdall for a while. If not, Thor can..."

She hastily kissed him. "I'm not returning to Asgard without you."

Loki wanted to bed her until she wailed his name so loud, her voice cracked every window in the hotel. "Prepare thyself, my lovely. You're going underground."

While she checked out, Loki ventured to Alberta and created her a lesser version of their bedchambers in Asgard.

Astrid caressed the beds plush duvet of greens and gold. "You replicated everything."

He conjured her luggage. "I wanted you to feel at home."

She smiled. "I'll be okay, Loki. Go."

With a newfound determination, Loki returned to Thor. "I thank the Valhallas you've dressed."

"You've seen me naked before, brother."

Loki addressed Jane. "He was playing nude hide and seek in the backwoods with some maidens, late for another archery lesson. Our father sent me searching. Without appearing rude, may we please have a moment alone?"

She frowned at Thor. "I'll be in the garage inflating my bicycle tires."

Thor waited for the door to close. "You could've said we were teens. How have we been compromised?"

"Clever, brother."

"Are Brianna and Astrid safe?"

Loki nodded.

"Flying human and Virginia?"

"Not if Jane talks."

A loud growl from Thor soon had her running back inside. "Holy shit on a pogo stick!"

He was standing in the living room holding their heavy glass coffee table above his head with Loki in his face. "Throw that and it vanishes before landing."

"Then I'll break something else!"

"This is why I kept information from you! Think rationally, Thor. Your neighbors will post this all over social media. How will that benefit any of us?"

He gently placed it down. "Brother, he..a child?"

"I know, but please let me handle it my way?"

"She's your daughter. I respect that. What do you need from us?" Loki eyed Jane and Thor sighed. "Yes, you can trust her."

When he was done talking, she hurled on the carpet while Thor pondered murdering Fury.

Loki used magic to clean it up. "You have my instructions. No interfering."

"We understand, brother. Go." ***** After leaving the Savoy, Hannah had rushed to the nearest pharmacy and returned to her hotel, spitting sparks. "That lying bitch! Her little brat does have powers!" She checked out, checked into another across town and called her boyfriend. He answered from a plane on it's way to England.

"Hello, pretty lady. Did you enjoy your heart throbs play? Wish I could've come."

Hannah eyed the stolen silk tie Tom had used to bound her wrists the night before and deviously grinned. 'I don't. Hiddleston and I hooked up.' "Tom was amazing." 'With a dick that makes yours look microscopic.' "How was Mrs. Finkelsteins second facelift?"

"Useless, but she's rich. I bought you some new lingerie."

"Did you keep the receipt? I'm breaking up with you."

"Hannah, why? What will I tell my parents?"

"Life doesn't always work out as planned? Don't miss your connecting flight to Sweden. Bye."

She hung up, turned her ringer off and opened a box of black hair dye. "Now that I'm screwed, so are you 'Pepper Potts' and your billionaire boyfriend."

[fortheloveoffanfic]

Love; Lost (pt.4)

-John Wick x Reader (A/n- Not sure what happened, but I really couldn’t get the sumt out for this one. Also, I had to see this through, so there’s gonna be one more part *shrugs*)

Part1  Part2  Part3

Warnings-  Slight SMUT/NSFW, pregnancy

Y/n stood behind John as he unlocked the front door, her overnight bag slung over his shoulder. When they stepped over the threshold, John tapped the switch that would turn on the hall lights, and sensing their presence, Dog came bounding to towards them, running straight past John going to Y/n who was already kneeling on the hardwood, arms open to receive him in a hug. “He might love you more than he loves me,” John chuckled softly.

“Not true,” Y/n smiled, “We just haven’t spent enough time together these days.” Dog happily lapped at Y/n’s face and she giggled quietly, even as she was knocked off balance by his jubilance.

Slightly alarmed, John put the bag down, gently urging his dog to slow down, “Easy boy, we’ve gotta be more careful with Y/n now.”

Giggling, Y/n playfully rolled her eyes, “Relax John, he’s just excited. And so am I, I missed my first baby so much!” She cooed, holding Dog’s face in her hands, succumbing to his love, and eagerly raking her nails along his shiny grey coat. 

John knelt on the floor next to Y/n, watching her out of the corner of his eye as Dog excitedly shared his attention between them both. Briefly, he wondered if they’d ever get to the point of being a family but quickly tried to brush the nagging thought off, good things came with time. Besides, just because things weren’t perfect then, that didn’t meant they’d always stay the same; they’d come so far in just a few hours. 

Eventually, when Y/n and John stood again, he led her to the master bedroom, placing her bag on the chair at her cleared vanity, dutifully getting out her pajamas; a pair of shorts and a silk camisole, while she freshened up in the bathroom. When she was finished, emerging with wet hair sticking to her skin, warm water flushing her cheeks and towel landing high on her thighs, John swallowed thickly, trying to pretend that the sight of her so under dressed didn’t affect him, John slipped into the bathroom himself.

He reemerged, dressed in a pair of comfortable sweats and another white t-shirt, toweling off his dark locks. Y/n was sitting on the bed, smoothing some lotion onto her arms, most of her hair swept over one shoulder, her neck exposed. A little over two months ago, John would have crawled onto the bed, surprising Y/n by hugging her from behind while burying his face in her neck. But then, he didn’t know where he stood; if that night meant anything or if it was just the consequence of a bad day.

Pulling the door of the adjoining bathroom closed, John discarded the towel on its allotted hook, clearing his throat to get her attention. “Hi,” she smiled lightly, placing the little bottle under the yellow light of the lamp on the oak nightstand.

“Hey,” John returned her smile, the room already a bit more comfortable by just the gesture. 

“You coming to bed?” Swinging her legs to the top of the mattress, Y/n shifted until she was under the covers, patting the spot next to her.

Frowning, John sank down on the bed, reaching for Y/n’s hands over the duvet, “You don’t want dinner?” 

“Nope, I already brushed my teeth,” Y/n dismissed, and after a moment of hesitation, John left to do the same and then properly got into bed, propped against the headboard, he rejoined his hand with hers. “I’ve missed this,”  she said, leaning in to kiss him, her hand sliding from John’s, up his arm.

“So have I,” he returned, his lips working in sync with Y/n’s. Their kiss deepened, turning heated and sensual. Boldly, Y/n let her hand on John’s bicep fall to grope his crotch, rubbing him through his sweatpants, smiling when his breath caught and he started hardening under her palm.

John reached around Y/n’s waist, his hand slipping beneath her top, roaming her back, urging her closer. Growing braver, Y/n temporarily stopped her ministrations, only to invade John’s boxers. He moaned when her fingers enclosed his shaft, pumping slowly as she spread around a bead of precum with her thumb.

Feeling him hard in her hand sent arousal pooling in her center and when John’s rough hands traveled downwards, cupping and squeezing her ass, Y/n whined; needy and eager for more than juvenile second base. “John,” she pleaded, her free hand gripping a fistful of his t-shirt, trying to pull him on top of her as she laid back.

Y/n’s hair was fanned out around her on the fluffy white of the pillow like a silky halo, her wanton state deliciously inviting. John helped Y/n out of her tiny shorts and her flimsy panties, just before she used the tips of her feet to shove down his sweats and underwear. Sitting up for a minute, John pulled his t-shirt over his head, ruffling his hair a bit in the process, and tossing it to the side. Next, was Y/n’s pale pink camisole and the sight of her topless left him sucking in a sharp breath; her breasts were fuller than before and John couldn’t believe that he hadn’t really noticed when she was still dressed. 

Noticing his lustful stare, Y/n chortled quietly, “That’s kind of your fault.”

“I wasn’t complaining,” John lowed his face to Y/n, catching her lips first before trailing lingering kisses along her jaw and down the column of her neck. He planned on taking his time with her that night, savoring every moment and taking the time to worship Y/n in a way he hadn’t in a long time. 

Her nails raked along John’s back, her hips bucking to meet his when he spent some time sucking a love bite into the silky skin just above her collar bone. John’s hands held her at the dip of Y/n’s waist and her legs tangled with his, her heels rubbing up and down his calf. Her breaths were slow and ragged, the occasional plea escaping parted lips every time his erection would brush her inner thigh. 

John’s mouth reached Y/n’s chest, he closed his lips around her nipple, something that she always enjoyed, though, that night, she yelped in pain and he immediately he pulled away, chocolate eyes wide with worry, “Did I hurt you?”

“No,” Y/n cupped his cheeks, “Well, yes, but it’s no big deal, just maybe avoid the girls for now?” She giggled quietly, trying to lighten the mood.

“Are you sure? Maybe we shouldn’t be.....you know,” John winced at the mere thought of hurting Y/n. Besides, he could wait, it would be hard, but for her, he’d do it. 

“John,” Y/n pulled his face down, kissing him, smiling at how his hair tickled her cheeks, “It’s fine, we can have sex, I want to.”

“Yeah, but I don’t want to hurt you or the baby,” one of his hands left her waist to caress the side of her face, “I can wait.” Logically, John knew that it would be okay if they continued, but he couldn’t stand the thought of making her uncomfortable on her first night with him in so long. 

“It’s fine,” Y/n stressed, “Don’t you want to be with me?” She pouted, lower lip pushing out. In another circumstance, for instance, if she were fully clothed, it might have been simply adorable, but while she was naked and beneath him, John couldn’t do anything more than find it arousing.

“I’ll never not want to be with you,” with his reassurance came another series of kisses peppered onto Y/n’s neck, that time as he inched into her. Y/n moaned loudly, her fingers curling in John’s hair, the rest of the world slowly becoming nothing but a blur.

The next morning met Y/n awakening to the spot next to her empty and cold. With a groan, she patted John’s side a couple times, making sure that he really wasn’t there, though, when she cracked her eyes open, she realized that her hands hadn’t betrayed her. John wasn’t in bed, and he apparently hadn’t been for a while. 

With a heavy huff, she propped herself into a sitting position, taking a minute to collect her bearings. The room was one she knew by heart, and sitting there, she felt more at ease that she had been in weeks. Y/n had missed her home. She had missed John too.

Glancing at the alarm clock on John’s side, she found that it was near ten in the morning. She’d slept in longer than she had in months. Just before Y/n could start wondering where John had gone off too, the strong aroma of food cooking and coffee tickled her nose. For a minute more, Y/n continued there, though, afterwards, a pang of hunger struck her, motivating her to get out of bed, find some clothes, brush her teeth and head downstairs.

When Y/n found John in the kitchen, he was at the stove, dressed only in his low riding sweats from the night before, turning a couple pieces of French toast in the pan on the electric stove. It always surprised her that John was such a good cook, it wasn’t exactly the type of skill set that one expected from a world famous assassin, though, Y/n supposed that his culinary skills was more the result of being alone for so long as opposed to working for the Russian mob.

“Are you just going to stand there, or do you want breakfast?” Y/n could hear John’s smile softening his words. She hadn’t made the slightest peep since walking into the room, opting to lean on the wall with her arms folded at her front, but John never needed an announcement to know he wasn’t alone in a room.

Giggling quietly, Y/n padded towards him, barefoot and the hem of John’s t-shirt ticklish on her thighs. Hugging him form behind, she pressed a kiss to the center of his back, then proceeded to press her cheek to his skin. Even if they had yet to speak on the topic of their relationship, Y/n, at least for a while more, wanted to pretend that nothing had changed. “I’d much rather stand here.”

“I realized,” John chuckled, turning off the burner and shifting in Y/n’s embrace so he could hug her back, “Good morning,” he finally offered her a proper greeting, pressing a deep kiss to her lips.

Y/n’s palms slid to cup the sides of John’s neck as she leaned into him, “Good morning,” she returned softly when their kiss ended. Things hadn’t been like that in so long, far before Y/n had left, but that morning, things, even for a bit, seemed to return to a lighter time, when relations were better between the two. When John was still a man in love, who could easily forget the horrors of the world when Y/n was in his arms and when Y/n wasn’t reading so much into every protective gesture. After a few more doting pecks and lingering hugs, they pulled away and Y/n asked if she could help him finish up.

“You can help by sitting down and having something to eat,” he said, firm but teasing as he handed Y/n a plate with a couple pieces of toast.

“Well then you have to let me clean up,” she pouted. It was an agreement they had before she left, one would cook and the other would clean, that way, the work would be shared. 

“No, I don’t,” already, John was packing the dishwasher with things he was finished with,  afterwards moving to wipe the counters, “What I need to do is make sure that you take it easy.”

Huffing, Y/n rolled her eyes and frowned, setting her plate down. It was just a little thing, but already, she was annoyed. Probably more than the situation warranted too. “This is never going to work out if you keep being like this you know.”

Tossing the dishcloth to the sink, John leaned his hip on the opposite granite counter, mirroring her stance, “Come on, lets not do this now. Just have breakfast and-”

“When do you want to do this?” Y/n’s gaze hardened as she solidified her position. Maybe it was hormones, maybe it was just her tendency to be stubborn, but she wasn’t about to just let the matter go; she had put it off for too long anyway. “We can’t keep playing house and pretending everything is okay John, cause this isn’t going away.”

“Okay,” he sighed, exasperated, “Fine,” he gestured his surrender with his arms, planting them at his sides afterwards.

“Don’t just say fine. That’s how you want us to deal with this?” Her glare shot daggers his way and Y/n could feel her anger bubbling. John had always been a man of few words, but Y/n would think that their relationship was worth a lot more that four letters, “Because if you do then-”

“I’m saying fine because you haven’t even told me what’s wrong yet,” his gruff voice rose and octave as he pushed off the counter top. Internally, Y/n cursed herself for tearing up that easily. Spotting the shine in her eyes, John’s shoulder slumped; it wasn’t like he woke up that morning intent on upsetting her, “I’m sorry baby,” he frowned, approaching her, placing a gentle hold on her shoulders, “Just tell me what’s wrong.”

Sniffling, Y/n pulled away a bit, swiping at her eyes, “There’s so much wrong John,” sighing closed her eyes and leaned her head back, trying to pull herself together before continuing, “You’ve changed so much within the last year. You always to keep me here, and saying that its for my safety, but maybe I’d be safe if you were actually home. We stopped going out, I hardly ever got to work and the worst part was that you were never even here, I was alone, all the time. And I never knew where you were, or when you were coming back. I felt like a pet or something,” Y/n didn’t meet his gaze, instead, she opted to look towards the window.

“Y/n,” he breathed, swallowing tightly, “I never meant to make you feel like that, but there was so much going on, and I couldn’t drag you into it, it wouldn’t have been right.”

“That’s it?” The explanation that he offered seemed almost laughable. After everything, he couldn’t even give her a couple details on what ‘so much’ was? “John, maybe this was-”

“Okay,” he cut her off again, “I’m sorry. Just let me explain,” Y/n gestured half-halfheartedly with her hands for him to continue, and after thinking for a minute, he did, “I started trying to get out last year. I wanted to be done with the mob and the High Table and everything else. But to get out, I had to make some friends, and then kill some enemies. If they knew the reason,” he paused, moistening his lips before clarifying, “If they knew about you, then they’d come after you, and I couldn’t risk it. I just wanted to keep you safe Y/n.”

Why hadn’t he just said that in the beginning?

“How do I know you’re not just saying that? John,” Y/n sighed, her eyes teary again, “I don’t what you to say whatever you think is going to bring me back; I can’t live like that again.”

“I know,” John tentatively planted his hands on her hips, “I promise its the truth. I wanted to get out so I could....” And just like that, his face lit up with an idea, “I can prove it to you, just wait here,” kissing the top of Y/n’s head, John jogged up, headed up the stairs to the bedroom.

When John returned, it was with a little velvet box in hand. Once again standing before her, he flipped it open, “The night you left; I came home early, because I wanted to surprise you,” dragging his lip through his teeth, John took a deep breath, hoping it would make Y/n believe him, “Y/n, a long time ago, I promised that the day i could find my out, I’d marry you. And now, I’m closer than I’ve ever been, just a couple loose ends, and I promise, that life will be behind me. Behind us. Please, please believe me.”

Y/n searched his eyes for the truth, and looking into them, she found the most honesty that she’d seen from him in a while there, “Ask me,” she breathed, “If you still want to.”

“I want to,” John assured her. Granted, he’d originally had a much more elaborate proposal in mind, John sank down on one knee, one hand holding Y/n’s the other gripping the box with the ring, “Y/n,” he began, “Will you marry me? And forgive me, of course.”

That time, the tears came freely, and her breath caught in her throat, heavy with all kinds of emotions, “Yeah,” her watery smile was more than John had hoped for, “On both counts.”

“Chuckling,” John breathed a long anticipated sigh of relief, removing the ring from where it sat and slipping it on to the designated finger, right where it belonged. The large diamond stood out on her otherwise bare hand and after admiring it there for a few seconds, John stood, dropping the box as he scooped Y/n up in his arms. Their kiss was deep and filled with love. He couldn’t believe it, she had said yes.

Y/n clung to John, relived that they’d mended their relationship. All she ever wanted was right there in her arms, “I love you,” she mumbled against his lips.

“I love you too baby,” John set her down, one large hand sliding to her stomach, “We’re going to be a family.”

“We are.”

*******

Tagging- @harrisongslimited​ @cynic-spirit​

[malereader-inserts]

Dancing in the Rain

Fandom: Twilight Pairing: Emmett Cullen x Male!Reader Summary: Emmett just want a cute couple moment, you’re not having it Word Count: 654 Request: @marc-isthename  “Speaking of highschool movies, how about a short “dancing in the rain” with my big boi Emmett or any of the wolfbois please“ A/n: I will be doing the Peter Parker Series! Just give me time to get ahead of the game before I post it, chapter one is actually done, idk if it will be a slow burner because frankly, I’m not the best with slow burns (i get so impatient like JUST KISS) might start posting when I have chapter three written.

“You want to do what now?”

Emmett smiles wolfishly as he watches your eyes flicker above your open laptop to look at him, you cannot believe what you were hearing as you shake your head, eyebrows knitted together as you looked at him with judgement in your eyes.

“Listen judgy,” Emmett pokes your feet, that was covered by your duvet, “It’s cute.”

“I’m not getting wet,” You insisted, pointing at him, “You’re getting my floor wet!”

Emmett looks down and sees your carpeted bedroom floor slowly turn a darker shade, he looks back at you to see you scowling at him. He had run to your house when he saw it raining, he’s been wanting to do this spontaneous plan of his for a while.

But, when it comes to dancing in the rain, it’s entirely up to the skies above, unless he could find a vampire with weather powers, he was just sitting and looking out.

“I can’t dance,”

“I know you can!”

“Don’t start with High School Musical,” You looked at him disapprovingly, shaking your head, “If I agree, will you get off my case?”

“I’ll love you forever,” Emmett sings, leaning against your bed and gently headbutting your forehead, before pressing a kiss upon your lips.

You shake your head, chuckling as you closed your laptop. Emmett waits for you as you got changed, he looks outside the window and sees the rains not wanting to stop. Every time it rains, it happens during school and you’ve made it clear to Emmett that you do not want to miss any of your lessons as much as you want to.

Plus, he knows that you get easily embarrassed, so the thought of dancing in the rain in the school car park was a no go. Emmett turns around to see you all dressed, it was simple but he had heard you fall onto the floor as you were jumping into your jeans.

“Come on!” 

Emmett forgets he’s a vampire as he grabs your arms, zooming down the stairs with you laughing uncontrollably. Slamming your front door open and pausing, you grimace at the thought of getting wet and possibly getting sick.

But, you changed your mind when you see Emmett practically buzzing to get out there and splash you as if he was a little kid. You pushed him outside as you jump on his back, a big strong vampire could carry his equally tall boyfriend outside.

You started to screeched as Emmett started to spin around as you hold onto him tighter and burying your face into his back.

“Em!”

But, all you could feel was his back rumbling with laughter as you released yourself from his hoodie to run away from him, only for him to grab you around your waist to swing you. As you wiggle free, you jumped into a puddle, splashing Emmett.

Ignoring the water that was slowly seeping through your socks as Emmett catches your hand and twirling you under his arms, and you do the same to him, laughing like two idiots. At that moment, you couldn’t care less about looking like a moron risking the chance of getting ill, you couldn’t care less that you were embarrassing yourself as Emmett entangles you into a stronghold.

Your arms crossed over yourself whilst holding his hands, Emmett burying his face in your neck, before leaving a kiss trail from your collar to your cheek.

“You’re a sap, Em.”

“Only for you, babe,” Emmett declares sincerely, whipping you out of his arms.

Yours and his arms outstretched each other as you slowly wrap your arms around his waist and his arms slung over your shoulder, slowly swaying in the rain. 

“I love you,” You tell him, his soft smile turns into a grin.

“I love you too.”

At that moment, nothing could be ruined, as you catch his lips into a sweet passionate kiss in the rain.

[starshinegoblin]

It’s So Nice and Warm Here

Notes: @ruensroad - here’s my attempt at another au-arranged marriage for JinYi. :D I’ve had snow showers all morning and this is a result! :D 

----

It was the clink of the heavy lid of the fire pit that roused Jingyi from his sleep. He took in a heavy breath exhaling before attempting to open his eyes. His vision blurry as he takes in the room. The light is still dim from it being so early, and he can make out soft the gold and dark blue blobs moving about. Not bothered by the disciples moving about their rooms he closes his eyes, shifting to get a bit more comfortable from where he’s gotten a little stiff while he’d slept. The warm arm loosely wrapped around his waist tightens just a bit. A reflex from the other to keep him close as he sleeps. 

Jingyi smiles fondly as his husband snores lightly. He opens his eyes again hearing almost inaudible footsteps approaching the bed. One of the disciples is approaching the bed to light the incense burners on their side tables. Jingyi let's one of his hands extend out stopping the disciple. Their gazes meeting and with a flick of his gaze towards the door, the disciple bows ushering the other ones out. 

He muffles a yawn with the back of his hand as he decides that he should probably get up. The two of them had their duties after all - him with his teachings and of course Jin Ling as a sect leader. Jingyi would always rise first, thanks to his birth sect’s perfectly kept schedule, then he would wake his husband. A task that he’d come to enjoy a lot. 

Jingyi carefully removed Jin Ling’s arm so that he could slip out of bed. He grinned seeing Jin Ling roll on his stomach laying in the warm spot that Jingyi had been in. He looked away to keep from falling prey to his own racing heart’s desire into the hanshi. A pot of tea had been started for them and some trays of fruit laid out on the table. He spared another fleeting glance at Jin Ling before heading to the table. The room is warm but the wooden floor beneath his feet is cold sending a shiver through him. After, He tightens up Jin Ling’s thin golden inner robe that’d he’d worn to bed, he glides over to the table reaching down to grab a few chunks of pear. 

The movement behind the the shade makes him go over to the window peering out into the courtyard. It was just like being home in Gusu. The once vibrant garden covered in a thick layer of snow with heavy white flakes showering down on top of it. An ache for a visit to his childhood home formed in his chest. It had been a while since they’d gone to visit his family. Maybe he could see if Jin Ling would like to go after the pass had opened back up. He let out a sigh eating the last piece of pear in his hand before turning back to go to their bathing room. 

While Jingyi bathed quickly, he knew the other wouldn’t. Jin Ling loved the warmth of a good bath. So, he made sure the water was hotter than the one he’d made for himself. This time when he stepped out of the bathing room, he was wearing his own dark blue inner robe with small silver clouds stitched on the collar, a design from Gusu where the inner robe was thicker but still soft to the touch. His hair was still a little damp but he had it pulled up with one of Jin Ling’s golden hair pins. 

He couldn’t help but chuckle seeing that Jin Ling was still laying where he’d left him earlier. The only difference being the thinner silk sheet below the duvet had been pulled up to cover him. It didn’t take long to cross the room to their bed. Jingyi sat down on the edge of the bed, reaching out to gently pull down the silk sheet till pooled at the dip in his lower back exposing his beautiful sun kissed skin. His eyes tracing an invisible design connecting together the other’s freckles. 

The desire he’d pushed away earlier returning with a wave of want. Unable to resist, Jingyi leaned down retracing the design with soft kisses. He smiled feeling Jin Ling stir with a shiver. He didn’t stop though, moving aside Jin Ling’s hair so that he could kiss the nape of his husband’s neck. 

“Staahp.” Jin Ling complained tiredly at the feel of Jingyi’s cold nose on his warm skin. Goosebumps rising on his shoulders, “It’s cold”

“But it’s so nice and warm here.”  Jingyi whispered low, nuzzling behind the other’s ear making him shiver for a different reason. 

“Don’t start something you can’t finish.” Jin Ling replied, with a huff. 

“Mmn.” Jingyi teasingly hummed, nuzzling lower to one of Jin Ling’s more sensitive spots in the curve of his neck. 

“This is your last warning, husband.” Jin Ling warned. Instead of answering him, Jingyi let his teeth lightly graze his neck. Jingyi didn’t have time to react as Jin Ling moved swiftly flipping their positions. Now, Jingyi lay on his back with his husband above him. The heady look in the honeyed eyes telling him that they were going to be late this morning. 

“What about class?” Jingyi asked in a tone too playful for the pout on his face.

“Oh, now you worry about your students, but what of your husband you just so rudely teased?” Jin Ling countered,  yanking out the hair pin in Jingyi’s hair. He tossed the pin to the floor, not caring where it went. Long Inky black hair spilling on the bed and off the edge. Next he’s tugging the ribbon loose from his husband’s forehead. A smirk forming on his lips as a plan formed in his mind of just how to punish his husband.

“Your elders? What will they think when their sect leader arrives late?” Jingyi continued to tease, a smile sweeping across face as he held his hands up to stop Jin Ling from leaning down. Jin Ling laughed, taking hold of Jingyi’s wrists pinning them above his head. He wasted no time wrapping the crisp white ribbon around the other’s wrists. 

“That my husband should have listened when I warned him.” Jin Ling said, tone low and sultry, before leaning down to capture his lips in a demanding kiss that makes Jingyi forget the world exists except the two of them. 

///

Gif Credit: Guzhuangheaven

[fencer-x]

Belated end-of-year fic meme

So, it’s already 2020, but I couldn’t technically post this meme until Erised reveals went up, so I’m posting it now! These are just some comments and discussions about the writing that I did this year. High word count, low fic output--that’s pretty normal for me!

GENERAL STATS

List of Fics Posted:

Fandom: Harry Potter Every New Beginning (141k, explicit; Eighth Year fic + time traveling) Pensieve For Your Thoughts (22k, explicit; pinch hit for HD Erised 2010, Eighth Year fic w/a fair bit of dubious consent going on)

Fandom: Promare spend some time with me (i really like your company) (73k, explicit [to be on the safe side]; canon re-write)

Total number: 3 Total word count: 236,239

Ship/character breakdown: Ship breakdown: [Harry Potter] Drarry, Hermione/Ron, Pansy/Parvati, and little tiny hints of other ships; [Promare] GaloLio, background implied Gueira/Meis

Characters that had the main focus: I'm happy to report I wrote from Draco's POV for the first time! My HP fics so far have all been Harry POV, so it was actually fun writing from Draco's POV, though I think most of my fics work better from Harry POV. Promare fic was from Lio's POV mostly because that's what the fic called for, and it was interesting--not sure if I'd go for that POV on the usual (update since I drafted this post: I think, strangely enough, I prefer Lio’s POV, as I’m well into fic #2 from his perspective). Promare fics focused, also, on Mad Burnish, which I really enjoyed writing (I'm much more of a Mad Burnish fan than Burning Rescue, so perhaps that's why XD)

Details

Best/worst title?

Best title: This is gonna be very subjective. I'm actually happy with all three of the titles?? I think Every New Beginning, though; because it's only after you finish the fic that you realize it's a (SPOILER ALERT) spoiler for the entire story. I like that little detail :D

Worst title: maybe spend some time with me (i really like your company)? I actually like the title, but it's a little bit OF a cop-out, just lifitng a line from lyrics, and it's difficult to google XD (update since I drafted this post: YOU FOOL, YOU’RE DOING IT AGAIN FOR YOUR NEW FIC NOW, WHY??? YOU CAN’T TRACK THAT)

Best/worst first line?

Best: I am far less comfortable with opening lines than closing ones. But I guess my favorite of these three is, /Kray Foresight liked to think himself a patient man./ The others are kind of generic, and it was interesting writing this bit from Kray's POV. Not a fun headspace.

Worst: /In retrospect, he should never have trusted a book that came from Pansy./ Not a terrible opener. Not an amazing one. In my defense, I was pressed for time when I wrote it, and I probably would've stewed over it a little longer to pick something with a bit more hook, but it did the job.

Best/worst last line?

Best: I'm satisfied with all of them, but I liked the entire epilogue of ENB, so the final line is probably my favorite: /He devoured his breakfast in record time, then Banished his tray and dishes back to the kitchen before tossing aside the duvet and padding into the bathroom to deliver his complaints about the turkey bacon to the chef in person./

Worst: It was tough finding a place to end the Promare fic that felt satisfying, so probably this one: /The distant whir of chopper blades whistling through the air grew louder and louder, and Lio leaned in to press his lips against Galo’s, lingering as long as he possibly could before whispering, “…Why don’t you start by teaching me how to ride a motorcycle?”/

General questions:

Looking back, did you write more fics than you thought you would this year, less than you thought, or about what you predicted?

More! Because if I'd gone by my original plan, I'd have completed precisely one (1) fic this year in Every New Beginning. I was well into drafting my next fic after that when I tripped headlong into the Promare fandom, and I was eager to get that fic out before fandom died down, so I poured myself into it. Then the Erised fic was a pinch-hit, so I wasn't expecting to write it at all.

What pairing/genre/fandom did you write that you would never have predicted last year?

Well. Promare didn't exist last year, so 8D I also probably wouldn't have predicted I'd write any Pansy/Parvati and find it cute.

What’s your favorite story this year? Not the most popular, but the one that makes you the happiest.

SSTWM, I think! I've had SO much fun with Promare so far, and getting to explore a slight twist on the canon, building out the Burnish society and delving into relationships I wished I'd seen explored further in the canon was really satisfying. I'm glad I wrote it.

Okay, NOW your most popular story.

...And it's also my most popular story this year, too, by pretty much every metric AO3 can give me: hits, kudos, and bookmarks (ENB has more comments, but it's also been out rather a lot longer). The Promare fandom is hot hot hot right now (no pun intended), so I expect that contributed.

Story most underappreciated by the universe?

Probably my pinch-hit right now, if only because I wasn't able to show it off when it got posted because of the Erised rules. It's also a one-shot, whereas ENB is a multi-chapter monster.

Story that could have been better?

Wish I'd had a bit more time to play with my Erised submission, but them's the breaks with pinch-hitting! I'm satisfied with how it came out, but me being me, I love writing longfic and would've wanted to make something more of it.

Sexiest story?

Pensieve For Your Thoughts, very much so :D

Saddest story?

Every New Beginning, definitely. It's not a sad fic, per se, but it's quite sad in places, and the overall plot is not a happy one. It has a happy ending, but you'll want to read the tags carefully before checking it out.

Most fun?

SSTWM, getting to flesh out the Burnish colony--LOTS of fun. Gueira and Galo's rivalry in particular was a hoot XD

Story with single sweetest moment?

I think this bit from SSTWM:

“But maybe I can do something a little more my style?”

“Your style?” Lio repeated, dubious, and Thymos brought a hand up, resting it just over his heart. Lio tried not to let his eye linger on the spangling of scars covering his bare arm—was he not freezing, nearly naked as he was?

“When I was recovering in the hospital after the fire Kray rescued me from, he used to come and visit me. Sometimes he’d bring food, or toys, or games—but this one time he brought me a book. It was about firefighters—firefighters from all over the globe, way back before the Great World Blaze, even. That’s where I learned about the ones from that Asian country, see. But there was this one chapter about firefighters from this huge city—looked a lot like Promepolis, actually—and it was so huge, there used to be thousands of these firefighters who worked day and night to keep it safe. And when someone wanted to join their ranks, they had to get up in front of all their peers and speak an oath.”

Lio held his breath, though he wasn’t quite sure why, and tuned every nerve in his body to Thymos in that moment.

Thymos closed his eyes, his hand still splayed over his heart. “‘I promise concern for others, and a willingness to help all those in need. I promise courage: Courage to face and conquer my fears. Courage to share and endure the ordeal of those who need me. I promise strength of heart to bear whatever burdens might be placed upon me, and strength of body to deliver to safety all those placed within my care. I promise the wisdom to lead, the compassion to comfort, and the love to serve unselfishly whenever I am called.’” He opened his eyes, fixing Lio in place. “I promise. All of it.”

Lio’s heart was thudding mercilessly in his chest, and he worried that if he opened his mouth to speak, it might just leap right out. He swallowed thickly to keep it in place and then rasped, “...Grand words for a glorified member of a bucket brigade.”

“Was hoping you’d be impressed I remembered it, after all these years.”

“I am,” Lio said, taking great pains to ensure his sincerity came through.

Hardest story to write?

Pensieve For Your Thoughts; I dislike anything resembling noncon, and while I'm satisfied with what I did, if I'd had more time, I would've found a workaround so the consent wasn't nearly as dubious. I think my recipient liked it, though, so all's well! I also find writing porn difficult, and that story was like 70% porn XD Why I did that to myself, we'll never know.

Easiest/most fun story to write?

Every New Beginning, especially all the bits of Harry and Draco getting closer; I love writing their banter, LOVE IT. I wish I could write a story that's nothing but banter. Someone pay me to do that please.

Did any stories shift your perceptions of the characters?

I love Lio, but we don't get too much characterization in the film; it was therefore kind of eye-opening writing from his POV. Of course no fan's characterization is going to be quite the same as what the creators might have imagined, but I still enjoyed what came out of it.

Most overdue story?

Eh, two of them weren't on any sort of deadline whatsoever, and I'm pretty sure I got my Erised piece in before the deadline! So we were good this year :)

Did you take any writing risks this year? What did you learn from them?

I used NaNoWriMo as a 'goal' for finishing my Promare fic--I not only finished the fic, I also completed 50k of it during November, so I technically beat NaNoWriMo too! I learned that if I really want to hit a goal and feel like I have to, I have the complete and total capacity to do that. It's just a matter of will for me.

What are your fic writing goals for next year?

To finish my next Drarry fic, aka the one that was supposed to come after Every New Beginning but got pushed to the back-burner by the sudden insistent arrival of Promare in my life. I also want to write for Erised PROPERLY this year and organize a Promare fanwork event around the one-year anniversary :D

[joulethieves]

love potion--

companion piece to @doctorcid’s postgame skypirate boyfriend drabble 

vaan wakes in the dead of night. odd, it is, for him to rouse at this hour from sleep - especially in this bed, of all in ivalice - but it would appear the owner of aforementioned bed is not present beside him where he should be. from beneath the excess blankets, vaan can see the glow of a nearby magicite night-lamp on balthier’s desk; a soft beacon in the strahl’s cabin darkness. though the spot next to vaan is empty, he can hear balthier in the room, the man’s movements quiet but nearby nonetheless.

he chances a peek over the edge of the lavish duvet to find balthier standing over his desk of a polished oak, a desk that would be lovely if it weren’t so littered with layers of maps curling at the edges, strewn with compasses and sky jewels, feathers, trinkets and the like. balthier holds a box in his hands and vaan recognizes immediately that it is the gift given to balthier earlier that day - a custom alchemy kit, ideal for mixing powerful curatives in nothing short of a style of flourish. vaan grins, moreso at himself than balthier; he knew the gift would be perfect for his mentor-turned-lover. the dalmascan’s knack for white magicks has his palette attuned to every curative ever mixed, and he can say safely that balthier makes not only the strongest, but the best-tasting, to boot.

truth be told, it’s kind of a gift for both of them, though the custom engraving vaan ordered on the polished silver makes it for balthier and balthier only. just, well, as long as he isn’t mixing ethers for any other white mage in ivalice, though that goes without saying.

across the room, the soft warmth of the magicite lantern kisses the hard edges of balthier’s noble profile. vaan watches from his private little vantage point and is struck, again, by the notion that balthier is the most beautiful hume he’s ever seen.

so he expresses it in the only way he knows how:

“nerd,” vaan teases quietly, and he smirks as he watches balthier startle and turn, though his hands still cradle the box in his hands protectively. “i knew you’d love that as soon as i saw it.”

he can’t see balthier’s reaction clearly in the angle now, but a shift in the light on his face suggests he is smiling, close-lipped. “you hit the mark on this one,” he responds, voice as soft as the lamplight. vaan shifts a little, reveling in the overstuffed down comforter that is reminiscent, vaan thinks not for the first time, of sleeping on a cloud. not that he’s ever slept on one. but being in balthier’s bed seems close enough.

“i always hit the mark,” vaan retorts, and balthier runs his hand along the box’s contents; vaan can imagine the pads of his fingers, dried from winter wind and gunpowder, tracing along the velvet that molds around each custom piece. he preens a little, beneath the duvet. getting gifts for anyone now is a near-constant gesture; his life of a sky pirate allows himself the indulgence of such excesses to a point where penelo, at least, has admonished him on his frivolity. but vaan pays her no mind. for too long have they lived growing up with their grimy hands against shop windows, and now if vaan sees something he knows would be a great gift, he very well buys it, dammit.

balthier, at least, never complains at the lavish gifts. which is well and good, because their time apart spent in all corners of ivalice has the older sky pirate constantly at the forefront of vaan’s mind, and he sees something that reminds him of balthier nearly on the daily. but indeed, this particular investment hit the mark. vaan is thrilled balthier is so taken with it, though it’s not like he gave the pirate much of a choice to admire it at first - they rather quickly jumped to dinner and then to other things shortly after, much in the fashion of their impassioned yet sporadic reunions. 

“where did you find such a thing?” balthier asks, and holds the box near the lamp again to admire the polished silver of an alcohol burner. it’s compact, all of it - the kit is designed for travel, quick-fixes, tight spots and a quality finish. 

“if i told you, you wouldn’t like it any more,” vaan admits from the bed. balthier snorts.

“i could have ventured a guess; what business had you in archades as of late?”

vaan yawns and shifts. “a delivery for tomaj; everyone in the north wants cactoid liquor and he’s reaping the benefits. pays well, too. it’s kind of a funny story, actually; remember that archadian gentry from years ago? he gave me a chop for finding him an alchemy apprentice?” balthier makes a noise of accord, and vaan continues. “well, i ran into him on the streets and we caught up. it got me thinking about you, and i thought i’d ask him where to get a nice kit; told him i had some nerdy friend who mixes the best potions on this side of the nebra. turns out the basement of the magicks shop is filled with that kinda stuff for curative alchemy and other geeky trinkets.”

balthier shakes his head as he nestles the alcohol burner back in its velvet-molded encasement. “for someone so thoughtful, you’re awfully derogatory to the man who hand-muddles mint for your ethers,” balthier admonishes, and vaan blows a raspberry from his side of the room.

“come back to bed and be a dork tomorrow. you can mix me something special at breakfast before the hunt.”

balthier snaps the wooden box shut and places it gingerly atop the maps. “planning to be throttled that bad by the beastie, are you?”

vaan grins when balthier rejoins him in the nest of covers; he is surprised, but not unpleasantly so, when the older man scoops vaan in his hold immediately. “nah, more planning on you to be, and me to fix it. vitality before violence, if you like; s’what you said the first day we met.”

balthier kisses the back-shell of vaan’s ear, and the dalmascan can feel balthier smile against him. “vaan, how touching,” he begins tenderly, nuzzling into vaan’s hair with a yawn. in the darkness, balthier finds his hand and threads his fingers through vaan’s. “i never knew you listened to a word i ever said.”

“shut up,” vaan laughs under the cloud-softness of the duvet, but he squeezes balthier’s hand greedily and they fall back asleep together for the first time in months.

[floraexplorer]

Life on a European Tour with a Chilean Psychedelic Band

There is a giant shrimp staring down at me.

Its beady black eye is the size of my head, and it feels extremely judgemental. Around its hard-shelled body falls a cornucopia of foodie abundance: a halved avocado, bulbous raspberries, a veiny sugarsnap pea, tumbling slices of lemon.

Elsewhere, blue tinged butterflies perch happily on ears of waving corn while red chillies float languidly in empty air. A snail inches its way past a bunch of purple grapes. I can almost see its wet antennas twitch.

With my head angled upwards, I stumble without realising. I think I might be in someone else’s trippy, cosmic dream. Possibly one which belongs to Salvador Dali.

Wait, where actually am I?!

Standing beneath the psychedelic mural which covers the huge curved ceiling of Rotterdam’s central food market is actually a good metaphor for my current situation.

For the last few days I’ve been living a life completely unlike my usual one – driving around Europe in a converted van with a band of South American musicians on tour. Because why not?

This five piece guitar band flew into the UK from their home country of Chile in late March, accompanied only by their acoustic guitars, ukeleles, mandolins and a couple of drums.

Throughout April, the band were scheduled to play sixteen gigs in nine different countries – and when the opportunity arose for me to join them for some of the dates, I jumped at the chance.

Our shared home for the week was Isabella, a horse box converted into a fantastic tour bus thanks to its owner’s prowess with creating insulation from patterned Turkish carpet, securing doors with bungee cords and warming us up with a wood-burner stove.

Despite its modest appearance, Isabella is actually surprisingly roomy. Six or seven people can sleep inside on bunk beds, two sofas which convert into sleeping spots, a fair amount of floor space and a duvet-mattress hiding above the driver’s seat.

So how does touring actually work?

I met up with the band in London at a venue close to my flat, and after watching them play for the first time we jumped into the van, setting off for the Channel Tunnel and the French countryside.

In just seven days the van careered through five different cities – London to Paris, then onward to gigs in Ghent, Rotterdam, and Amsterdam – but despite being in such gorgeous locations, the necessities of tour life meant there wasn’t always a chance to explore our surroundings.

Often the bulk of our sightseeing was conducted through Isabella’s wide windscreen instead!

Newsflash: touring with a band is not as glamorous as it sounds. Each day meant a new gig venue to play in; each evening meant a new part of the world for us to park the van and sink into sleep.

Mixed into that daily process? Driving multiple hours along busy motorways; deciphering errant addresses for out-of-the-way venues; unloading the band’s gear on the pavement and hauling it inside before their soundcheck began; and hunting down local food to sate sudden onsets of hunger.

Moving so quickly through Europe was surreal in itself, too.

I watched in fascination as the urban landscapes changed: elegant Parisian buildings transforming into wonderfully higgledy-piggledy ones in Belgium, the bizarrely brilliant architecture of Rotterdam, and finally the bridges and canals for which Amsterdam is world-famous.

When we did have a spare afternoon, it was wholeheartedly embraced. We snatched up moments to devour croissants in French bakeries, drink beers beside the Siene, soak up bursts of sunshine – and occasionally indulge my obsession for street markets.

Making the unusual accessible

Of course, the huge benefit to exploring Europe alongside a merry band of touring musicians is experiencing everything through a musical perspective.

Instead of solely being tourists, we were welcomed in with open arms by the teams of people working at each venue, who offered us coffee, use of kitchens and showers, and cooked up evening meals – often in parts of each city which I’d never have known existed.

In Ghent, Belgium, the Chileans played inside the sprawling redbrick buildings of a former military hospital. Before their gig began, we sat out in the evening sunshine to eat a communal dinner of vegetable curry and lentil salad alongside the Belgians who ran the venue space and the French band who were also playing that night.

This is what tour life is like, apparently: immediately being welcomed by strangers who know you through the music you play, or your association with it.

Each evening I sat back and listened to the Chileans play their set in a different venue.

One crooked room had old cinema seats set against one wall; another was more of a mosh pit; and a third, effortlessly quiet thanks to its thick black curtains, invited the audience to sit on the floor.

After each gig (and a fair amount of scoring complimentary beers from the bar), I usually made my way to the van to sleep – but occasionally we managed to score accommodation somewhere made of bricks and mortar instead of metal.

The best experience? Sleeping in a building on a bridge in Rotterdam, which dates back to the 1900s and used to be a squat. Now it’s home to over thirty people and a rather playful kitten, with unparalleled views across the river and a fantastic sense of hospitality.

Sometimes a room filled with mattresses and blankets is the most generous thing a person can offer!

How has tour life affected me?

By the time I left Amsterdam on a ten hour bus ride back to London, it was with a huge grin on my face. My feelings of openness and freedom were bigger than ever, and my desire to get back to proper travelling has been completely reignited, too.

I used to travel so much and absolutely defined myself as a pretty low-maintenance backpacker, but three years of living in a London apartment makes it very easy to feel like creature comforts are necessary for a normal life.

Yet during my time in London I’ve also had to deal with a lot. Anxiety, unhappiness and family emergencies have all been weighing me down, and if I’m honest? It’s all been pretty exhausting.

So I was amazed to see that a complete lack of personal space in a van didn’t affect me the way I thought it might.

I wasn’t precious about where my various possessions were scattered; didn’t seem to care too much about not showering or washing my hair; and loved the nights we spent with the wood-stove burning while seven people fell asleep in a van.

I don’t often realise how much pressure I put on myself to self-motivate – and how much I chastise myself when I don’t achieve what I’ve expected. But sometimes it’s necessary to relinquish responsibility in life. And if you’re not quite able to let go of it yourself, sometimes you have to let other people take control.

Not planning or scheduling my life for a week was such a relief. Instead, I followed five Chileans and a Scotsman as they set about the tour life — and I was stupidly happy because of it.

Since I left them in the Netherlands, the boys have been playing gigs in Denmark and Sweden and Germany, while I’ve kept track on social media. Next week they’ll play in London again and I’ll get to spend some more time with my little van family.

A week of touring re-taught me how to chill. How to relax into the situations that I can’t control and which I too often allow to rule over my mood and mentality.

I’m keeping hold of this feeling as I look out towards the horizon again. I’m in a good place. Better than I have been for a while, I think.

Have you ever been on tour with a band? How do you think you’d handle the #VanLife? 

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