#possessed by yet another creative urge

[nights-at-crystarium]

wolqotd

Living spaces. Is your WoL tidy and organized, or are they the type to casually create mess and chaos around them?

[gay-dorito-dust]

Could I request Welt, Dan Heng, Sunday, Gepard, and Argenti finding their s/o's poetry collection of them?

Argenti:

Would sit himself down somewhere nearby and read every last poem, each one leaving him with a full heart, butterflies in his stomach and another addition to the list of reasons why he adored your creative soul.

He’s extremely honoured that you decided to chose him as your muse for your poems, for he could feel the love and respect you have for him through your writing, before holding the collections of poetry made in his name against his chest as he beamed with happiness.

He’d even openly praise you for your works if he were to see you later on in the day, which would make you understandably upset and embarrassed that he went through your things, but with the way that he passionately talked about your writing and the look upon his face that clearly shown his appreciation and admiration for poetry.

At the end you’re the one who ends up being flustered whilst Argenti was still sending appraisal after appraisal your way, all the while re-reading your works and proudly reciting his favourite passages without shame.

Sunday:

He thought it was sweet that you write poetry about him.

He didn’t feel as though he was invading your privacy at all, seeing as how he’d like to claim that whatever of yours was now also his by osmosis…totally not because he’s fishing for stuff to hold over you and maintain control should you act out…

Anyway- he’s taking his sweet time reading each and every poem you’ve written with him in mind and smiling at the hold he’s taken within your heart, finding it fascinating what adoration could make one do just to express their whole array of emotions.

It was almost as though they were on some timer that others couldn’t see just to express all their innermost feelings towards the special person in their life. Then again love tended to make people feel as though they were invincible, so the unthinkable and accomplish things that they never thought that they were capable of achieving in the first place.

So it didn’t matter whether or not you were able to wax poetry before him, but it was obvious to Sunday that the moment he had taken hold of your life and your every thought, poetry has became your primary outlet for feelings that you weren’t nearly brave enough to say aloud to him. Rest assured however for that day will come for you to open up about those unspoken feelings of yours…sooner or later.

Gepard:

He feels as though he was invading your privacy by reading your poetry collection and wanted to leave before he’d inevitably get caught, but just as he was about to take his leave, he stopped when the title of the first poem caught his eye;

Everlasting winter

He found himself reading through the first few opening sentences and immeditly made connections between himself and the person within your poem. To say it didn’t take long for Gepard to realises that the similarities between him and the person in your poem were purely intentional, and that he was the one the poem was actual about.

His face was blossoming red upon the realisation and averted his eyes elsewhere as he takes in the fact that you found him a perfect enough muse for your poetry. Him, the man who couldn’t hold a tune to save his life, grows flowers that unfortunately don’t last long, and wasn’t possessed with the basic skills of drawing.

And yet you found something about him that was worth writing poem after poem about. He didn’t know why that was but he was appreciative that you found something in him that urged you into written it down on paper, where your affection and admiration for him would be forever immortalised…He also may or may not have taken a poem to read to himself later on at night.

Dan heng:

He had noticed that you left a piece of paper laying about one day and was about to call out to you and give it back, while scolding you for leaving your messes everywhere for him to pick up after, only to see that it was in fact a poem about him.

Red faced, Dan Heng still planned on taking the poem back to you and journeyed to your room where he found that the door was left ajar, but could immeditly tell that your room was empty. Sighing, Dan Heng opened the door and quickly made his way towards your desk, where’d he found more poems in regards to him.

Much like Gepard, Dan Heng felt as though he was reading something he shouldn’t but he found himself unable to look away as he was secretly tempted to know how you viewed him. What he found was nothing short of you portraying him in a way that he’s never quite thought of himself before. If he wasn’t already so easily made flustered by your words alone, your writing was enough to put the poor man into a catatonic state.

Dan Heng wasn’t use to being smothered in a love like yours. Where you felt as though speaking your love for him wasn’t nearly enough, so you had to expand and start writing it instead in the form of poetry. He doesn’t feel as though he’s deserving of it but isn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth and is more then willing to try to accept the fact that you care deeply for him; especially when he can not find it within him to find anything about him remotely worth being with.

Welt:

He’s made copious amounts of drawings of you that he’s kept hidden in his room. So upon coming across your poetry collection about him, it only made him feel more comfortable knowing that he wasn’t the only one to express his innermost feelings through an art form.

Besides it wasn’t like he was actively searching your room for your poetry collection, he really wasn’t as he just came across them out of pure coincidence. He was currently about four poetries deep and was finding it extremely endearing how you viewed him in most of your writing: which was mainly as an well educated, wise man with a young man’s heart and restlessness sense for adventure, who had a talent for drawing.

Welt would chuckle under his breath at all the moments you’ve shared together, before you’d then went on to write about how beautiful he was in every possible way. From his sweet, insightful eyes that seemingly held all the knowledge you could ever ask for, to his calming, velvety voice that could lull you into a deep sleep within seconds.

You posed him as this figure of comfort, a figure of warmth and Welt soon finding himself not so subtly sneaking some of your poetry into his pocket to read for later. Your poetry only gives Welt the confidence he been looking for, as he would then starts to leave his drawings of you in places where you’d be able to see them; all in hopes that you would know that you had just as much of a huge place in his heart as he did in yours.

[rosesloveletters]

1971!Willy Wonka NSFW Alphabet

Pairing: 1971 Willy Wonka x Reader

Word Count: 2,069

Warnings: nsfw / sexual content.

Summary: Filled out NSFW alphabet template.

Author's Note: I think this was requested, but I had planned to write it anyway. Since I don't know when I'll have another full fic to post, here's a lil treat. Enjoy <3

divider created by @/saradika on Tumblr.

A = Aftercare (what they’re like after sex)

Willy is very attentive to your needs after passionate lovemaking sessions. Need help getting cleaned up? He’ll take the initiative to get up first and help you clean yourself up. Want some cuddles? He’ll be there with open arms, waiting for you to curl up in his embrace. Whatever it is that you need, he is more than happy to oblige. As long as you make your needs known, he will always do his best to meet them. 

B = Body part (their favorite body part of theirs and also their partner’s)

As an intellectual, Willy loves his brain and all things connected to it, i.e. his thoughts, ideas, desires, etc. His mind is what attracted you to him so how could he not fall in love with it just a little bit? He would also say that he is quite fond of his hands because of how easily he can use them to create things, carry out his whims or bring you pleasure…

He is also in love with your brain and all of the beautiful things in it. There is not one specific thing he loves the most about your physical appearance. Every part of your body is equally intriguing to him, but in different ways. 

C = Cum (anything to do with cum, basically)

Wonka is not fond of cum, mainly because of the mess. His creative, artistically inclined mindset often means that he is disorganized, yet he is never dirty or messy. He takes pride in his appearance, so anything directly related to any bodily functions are taken care of discreetly and with haste. 

He is a gentleman and perceives that ejaculation anywhere on his lover’s body is disrespectful. 

He treats his partner with respect and only cums inside of them, while of course wearing a condom—safe sex is incredibly important to him. 

D = Dirty secret (pretty self-explanatory, a dirty secret of theirs)

He occasionally fantasizes about his partner hiding beneath his desk and giving him a blowjob while he works. 

Or perhaps his thoughts might drift to them taking him aside in the chocolate room and dropping to their knees behind one of the trees or mushrooms and satisfying him there. 

He would never, ever let it happen, mostly because he could not stand the thought of someone seeing or catching him in the act. 

E = Experience (how experienced are they? do they know what they’re doing?)

Not as experienced as one might think, but he knows enough to engage in the act without needing any guidance. 

He has only had a couple of sexual encounters in his lifetime, mostly because he has a low sex drive and doesn’t think about it or experience urges very often. His mind is preoccupied with creating new products and he doesn’t have much time to think about or engage in sex. 

F = Favorite position (this goes without saying)

Missionary is his favorite. 

It’s a classic and he loves to be able to gaze into his partner’s eyes, watching all the little emotions that flicker across their face as he makes love to them. 

A close-second is having his partner straddle his lap while they ride him. Sometimes it is enjoyable for him to let them take the lead and he certainly appreciates sitting back and letting them use his body to bring themself pleasure.  

On the rarest of occasions, he will take his partner from behind, mostly if he is already in a more possessive mood.

G = Goofy (are they more serious in the moment? are they humorous? etc.)

It depends on his mood. 

Wonka is usually very jovial and a bit of a trickster. 

He does not believe that sex must be serious all the time, but he will read the room and conduct himself after the precedent his lover sets. 

His partner’s overall enjoyment is his top priority and if cracking jokes or laughter helps make the experience more fun for them, he’ll be sure to find little ways of bringing a bit of humor into the personal encounter. 

H = Hair (how well-groomed are they? does the carpet match the drapes? etc.)

Wonka tends to be a bit vain. 

He is well-groomed; trimmed, not shaven. 

The carpet does match the drapes in terms of curliness, however down below is thicker and one or two shades darker than on top of his head.

I = Intimacy (how are they during the moment? the romantic aspect)

Willy is a romantic at heart.

Every aspect of intimacy is very romantic and, depending on how comfortable his partner is with it, he will make sure that every sexual act is steeped in romance. 

He wants his partner to feel comfortable and safe enough to be vulnerable with him. After all, Wonka is being just as vulnerable as they are and the romantic aspect is in part done for him as much as for his lover. 

He loves to give kisses and nuzzles and gentle touches. 

His hands will guide his lover’s movements, helping them maneuver themselves if they are finding it difficult to do so on their own. 

Often, he takes it upon himself to shoulder the more dominant position, however, he can find plenty of ways to be romantic in a more submissive role if his partner feels more comfortable with that.

J = Jack off (masturbation headcanon)

Wonka rarely, if ever, masturbates. 

He thinks too much and is unable to achieve orgasm. 

It doesn’t bring him pleasure the same way that making love to his partner does and if he is seeing someone, then what is the point in doing it himself?

If it ever comes to it, he’ll masturbate in the shower because he can easily get rid of the evidence and clean himself off immediately afterwards. 

K = Kink (one or more of their kinks)

Wonka isn’t very kinky. 

However, he prides himself on being a brat tamer and isn’t afraid to speak his mind, sometimes sending his partner into a tailspin because of the things he says to keep them in line. 

There is a bit of a darker side to him and, on occasion and with the right stimulus, he can be persuaded into becoming demanding, playing the role of a very dominant partner for the sake of having passionate, possessive sex. 

L = Location (favorite places to do the do)

Wonka is not interested in having sex anywhere except in the bedroom. 

He does not even want to think of anyone having perceptions of his sex life or the knowledge that he engages in anything of a sexual nature, even though he is not ashamed of it or anything like that. 

He likes to maintain his privacy and therefore he won’t risk anyone seeing him perform any sexual acts. 

Occasionally he might be persuaded into making love on the couch, yet he still does not appreciate how exposed the living room feels in comparison to the privacy of the bedroom.  

M = Motivation (what turns them on, gets them going)

Clever word play and wit are very stimulating for Wonka. 

Wonka has sex using his mind, not just his body. It entices him when his partner matches his intellect and can find ways to stimulate the conversation the same way one might do with his body. 

It gets him going to see his partner dressing up for him or taking pride in their appearance for him. It turns him on to no end if he ever sees them casually wearing one of his shirts or trying on his clothes. 

He’s got a bit of a thing for seeing his partner in lingerie…

N = No (something they wouldn’t do, turn offs)

Willy would never do anything to cause his partner any pain or discomfort, nor would he take advantage of them or knowingly cross any boundaries without direct approval or consent. 

He will be checking on and following up with his partner throughout any sexual encounter to be certain that he still has their consent and will immediately stop if he even suspects they are uncomfortable or do not wish to continue. 

O = Oral (preference in giving or receiving, skill, etc.)

Wonka prefers giving rather than receiving, but he wouldn’t turn down a blowjob every once in a while, especially after a particularly rough day. 

P = Pace (are they fast and rough? slow and sensual? etc.)

Slow and steady is just what Wonka likes.

Nothing about the way that Wonka makes love to his partner is ever fast and rough, unless they would like for it to be. 

Wonka takes his time, striving to give pleasure to his partner over time, building up to a crescendo of emotion and release rather than giving it everything all that once. 

Foreplay is incredibly important to him and he won’t skip it; it takes incredible skill to get it just right. 

Q = Quickie (their opinions on quickies, how often, etc.)

As stated above, Wonka likes to take his time and therefore, he wouldn’t go for a quickie unless it was the only option. 

He would prefer to wait if no other options were available to him because times spent with his lover is so precious to him that he would not want to be rushed. 

R = Risk (are they game to experiment? do they take risks? etc.)

Wonka is not a risk taker when it comes to sex. 

Unprotected sex is a big ‘no’ for him. He is not interested in having children of his own and he cares enough about his partner to take their feelings and needs into consideration as well. 

There are times for risks and intimacy is not one of them as far as he is concerned. 

As for experimentation, he is willing to try most things at least once, especially if his partner asks for them. 

The only thing unacceptable to him is causing his partner any discomfort or pain. The most one might be able to coax out of him is a bit of spanking, but do not expect it to cause much pain at all. He hates even the thought of accidentally hurting his partner; he would find it nearly impossible to forgive himself if he harmed them. 

S = Stamina (how many rounds can they go for? how long do they last?)

Wonka makes up for his lack of stamina with his passion, charisma and charm. 

Due to the duration of a session, he is usually exhausted and satisfied after one round.

However, if his partner wants more, he will do what he can to satisfy them, although he always makes certain that this is a rarity; he is gifted in knowing how to please his partner so that one round is almost always plenty for both of them. 

T = Toys (do they own toys? do they use them? on a partner or themselves?)

This might come as a surprise, but Wonka can be a bit jealous and territorial regarding his partner. He would not like the idea of them relying on a toy for personal pleasure when he is willing and perfectly capable of satisfying their every desire. 

He does not forbid his partner from pleasuring themselves, nor will he be angry if he were to find out they owned and used toys, but he would want to have a conversation about whether or not their needs were being met so that he could do his best to meet them and would use this opportunity to check up on them and make sure he isn’t doing anything that they don’t like or do not wish for him to continue doing.  

U = Unfair (how much they like to tease)

In the right mood, Wonka is a relentless tease. 

He can undress his partner with just his eyes, leaving them squirming under his piercing blue gaze. 

He’ll be a bit unfair sometimes, using his personal wit and charm to debilitate his partner and leave them crumbling beneath him. 

He can and will talk circles around just about anyone. 

V = Volume (how loud they are, what sounds they make, etc.)

Willy is not very loud. 

The most his partner will get out of him are a few grunts and the occasional breathy moan. 

Unless directly requested, he won’t make very much noise. 

W = Wild card (a random headcanon for the character)

Along the lines of a more sensual headcanon, Wonka would love to shower with his partner. 

Cleanliness is very important to him (it must be since he works with food) and showering together is a nice way to help him feel more connected with his partner and to warm himself and loosen up his muscles before intimacy occurs. 

X = X-ray (let’s see what’s going on under those clothes)

Wonka’s body is very soft. 

He is not chiseled or have a rigid, sharp bone structure. 

His skin is very soft and plush, conducive to being cuddled and squished. 

He is somewhat toned and has an average build with some defined muscle, specifically in his biceps and thighs. 

He has a broad chest that lacks a lot of hair, though he does have a faint happy trail leading from his belly button down to his pelvic area. 

His manhood is slightly above average. 

Y = Yearning (how high is their sex drive?)

My personal headcanon is that Wonka is greysexual and therefore his sex drive is very low. 

He does not strike me as someone who values sex as a defining part of a romantic relationship, although he does appreciate it for its role and has desires and urges he needs to satisfy from time to time. 

Z = Zzz (how quickly they fall asleep afterwards)

It takes him a while to fall asleep afterward, mainly because he is concerned with making sure his partner’s needs have been met before he allows himself to relax or take what he needs. 

Once they have been looked after, Wonka will relax, cuddling into them and letting himself drift off into dreamland. 

[arya-skywalker]

Atoms singing to the void (Arcane fanfic)

Summary: Something calls to Viktor through the Hexcore. Something dark and powerful. Something within him answers back. Viktor reaches out for help before it’s too late, seeking an alternate path.

Notes: Written for the Seasons Skirmish event, for saminating’s prompt “virus/corruption”. This was a fun excuse to explore a bit of Void!Viktor before the second season comes out! Hints of league lore, but I also took a few creative liberties. Hope you enjoy!

Tws: chronic illness, canonical character death (technically), partial possession, manipulation, nightmares, derealization, guilt, grief, questionable science/medicine, human experimentation (partially self-inflicted), amputation, body horror

AO3 Link

~*~

Viktor blinked, disoriented. There was no ground, yet he was standing. A glowing purple fog surrounded him. Dark tendrils like a tarred web were the only discernible landmarks in the endless mist. A strange gurgling-warbling-clicking echoed throughout.

“There you are. I was wondering when you’d show up,” a disembodied female voice said.

That sounded like—

“Sky?” Viktor spun around, searching for the voice.

“Right here, silly.” Sky smiled, appearing from the fog and walking towards him. “What did I tell you about fixing your sleep schedule?”

Viktor stared at her. “How is this possible? You shouldn’t— I saw you— your—“

“Does it matter? We’re here now. You’re overthinking.” Sky looked exactly as she had before she turned to ash.

“I’m sorry,” Viktor blurted. Whatever this was, however this happening, he had to say it. Once the words started, they kept tumbling out. “I… the Hexcore… I did not think it would take a life. I thought you had gone home for the night. I thought I was alone, that I was the only one at risk. I never wanted anyone to be hurt. I am sorry I did not notice you. That night and… before. You did not deserve to pay the price for my mistakes. It should have been me.”

Sky shook her head. “There is nothing to apologize for. I live on, here.” She smiled again, an eager light in her eyes. “Don’t you feel it? The power of this place? The energy? The magic? Everything you wanted can be yours. I can help you get it.”

Viktor took a breath, and realized his lungs were clear. There was no tightness, no urge to cough. The energy she spoke of surged through him. The possibilities at his fingertips were endless. “How?”

“The Hexcore. You were right, Viktor! You were always right. I knew from the moment I met you that you would do wonderful things!”

Viktor frowned. “But it hurt you. I cannot risk that it will hurt others.”

Sky took a step closer. “Piltover never accepted you, never respected you. With the Hexcore, you could bring the city down. Make those arrogant pilties worship the ground you walk on and beg for your mercy. The Undercity could rise above.”

His stomach dropped. He took a step back on the non-existent ground. “You are not Sky. Neither of us would want that. What are you?”

Her expression went cold. “You never asked. You barely took the time to know me. We were both ignored, pushed aside, looked down on. Don’t you think they should pay for that?”

Perhaps he didn’t know her as well as he wished, but this… this seemed a step too far. Sky had always been kind, gentle, patient. Something was wrong. Very wrong. Viktor tripped over the tendrils, barely catching himself before he could fall. “You are not Sky,” he repeated. “Who are you? What do you want?”

Not-Sky tsked. “You are smarter than we thought,” she said, her voice echoing. “I am her memories, the memories that exist within what you call the Hexcore. She did truly care for you, you know, and you ignored her at every turn.” She tilted her head to the side. “We want knowledge, power, the same things you want. We can help each other. All it takes is sacrifice, more blood and more…” She paused, as if searching for the word, “Shimmer.”

“And if I refuse?”

“One way or another, you will join us. It would be best if you did so willingly. Think about it.”

Everything vanished in a bright purple flash, followed by a deep darkness.

Viktor jerked awake with a violent cough, hitting his leg on the desk. His heartbeat, the thrumming of the Hexcore, and the pulsing of his altered limbs were in perfect sync. Perhaps it was only a nightmare, but something about it felt far too real.

~*~

“You want the secrets of magic? I can show you,” Not-Sky offered. “I have access to memories of many mages over the years. Join me, and those memories will be yours as well.”

Brief flashes of runes and mages passed too quickly to follow. The tantalizing glimpse left him wanting more. Yearning to understand, to harness the power for good. No books could replace the first-hand experience of a master. This was the opportunity of a lifetime, one that very few could possibly see.

But the price was too much. This thing that he created was far too volatile to be trusted. He couldn’t.

~*~

Viktor worked in the lab during his waking hours. Testing equations and rune combinations, sketching designs, tinkering with whatever was on hand. He carved more rune-plates, although he wasn’t exactly sure what for. They could always be useful for something, or so he told himself.

After coughing blood into a handkerchief, his altered hand tossed it at the Hexcore. An offering, however small. He wasn’t sure if he meant to.

The Hexcore absorbed it and spun faster, its light glowing brighter. It almost sounded like a laugh, echoing and garbled.

~*~

The infinite purple fog was replaced with a vast landscape. A dark sea stretched out in the distance. Everything was twisted, metallic with an inner purple glow. There were creatures too, mutated beings made of the same substances; with too many limbs or not enough. Some had human parts mixed with animal or insect, but none seemed natural by any means. The ruins of a city, growing spines and bioluminescent fungus, somehow alive but not. Everything about it was wrong, corrupt, otherworldly— but there was a strange beauty to it beyond the horror.

“See? This could be Piltover,” Not-Sky said, gesturing to the spires. “Help me take it. Let me recreate it. The people will never harm you again. Those that are left will see you as a god, honor you with the respect you deserve.”

Viktor shook his head, dread pooling in his stomach. “This is not what I want. Stop. Please.”

Not-Sky only smiled. “I know you, Viktor. I see into your mind. Deep down, I know you want to see them suffer as your people have suffered. I can make that happen.”

“No!” Viktor wrenched himself free of the vision. His altered limbs burned. He screamed.

~*~

Viktor couldn’t sleep. Every time he left the lab, he found himself right back again, trapped under the unnatural light of the Hexcore. It whispered to him, promises of power and knowledge and life unending. Sometimes he came up with excuses to be in the lab, something he had to work on, something he needed to finish before he ran out of time. Other times it was as if his altered limbs were drawn to it like a magnet, dragging him back against his will. His mind was foggy, dreams and reality blended together. He swore the tendrils were spreading across his body, slowly but surely. He was running out of reasons to defy it.

~*~

There were far too many Council meetings in Jayce’s opinion. War or peace, weapons or treaties, profit or lives, round and round in circles they went and nothing was ever decided— even if the solution seemed obvious to him. How could a government function like this? Mel should have known he didn’t have the mind for it, but now the city’s fate was his responsibility.

Jayce took a breath and opened the door to the lab, Hextech hammer in hand. He had made a promise. He intended to keep it. “Viktor?” he called, squinting in the odd purple light. Gods, how could he work in this darkness?

“I do not want to play these games,” Viktor said dully, hunched over his desk like a gargoyle. His complexion was ghostly pale in the unnatural light, his frame skeletal.

A chill went down Jayce’s spine. Something was very wrong. “What are you talking about? What’s wrong?”

Viktor scoffed. “One day you are Sky, another you are Jayce. I know neither are returning.” The words cut like a knife. He had waited too long.

Jayce rushed to his partner’s side. “Viktor, it’s me! I’m right here. I’m sorry. I know I should have come sooner, but… I’m here now.” He reached out to put a hand on Viktor’s shoulder.

Viktor froze, then blinked up at him. “You’re… here.” His expression flickered from confusion to relief to panic. “You should go. It isn’t… isn’t safe.” He tried to shove Jayce’s arm off, but his strength was frighteningly little.

“I told you I’d destroy it. Is that still something you want?” Jayce asked, lowering his voice but making sure to meet Viktor’s gaze.

Viktor nodded, cautiously. As if afraid of his response.

Jayce flashed a reassuring smile. “Then that’s what I’ll do. Stay back.” He backed away and lined up his shot. If anything could destroy it, surely a blast from the hammer would do the trick. If not, they would find another way. He took a breath and pressed the trigger.

Viktor screamed, an anguished bloodcurdling sound, and suddenly lunged at him. The hammer was thrown off course as he fell. The blast hit the ceiling with a resounding crash.

Jayce landed on his back, the wind knocked out of him. Viktor clawed at him with mindless fury. There was nothing in Viktor’s eyes but an eerie reflection of the Hexcore’s glow. Rubble from the ceiling rained down on them both.

“Viktor! It’s me!” Jayce tried to pry him off, heartbeat hammering in his ears. “I don’t want to hurt you, Viktor. Can you hear me?”

A beat passed. Another. No recognition. Viktor’s cold hand reached for his throat. They’d both die here if he didn’t do anything. Jayce shoved harder, throwing him off and flinching at the thud when Viktor hit the floor.

Viktor scrambled away, panting, eyes wide but finally human. “That… was a terrible idea. Never do that again.” His shot a glare at the Hexcore, then turned back to Jayce. “We need to go. Now. Carry me.”

“What the hell was that?!” Jayce snapped, rubbing his throat.

“I will explain later.” Viktor grabbed his hands, positioning them in a way that would not harm him. “The crutch too. Do not let go. Whatever I do, whatever I say, do not put me down until we are safely away from here. Understand?”

A million questions flashed through his mind, but Viktor’s desperate terrified gaze silenced him. Jayce nodded and carefully picked him up, holding him close. Despite being noticeably thinner, he was strangely heavier as well. Jayce stopped just long enough to let Viktor grab the crutch, then started to run.

Viktor squirmed and thrashed in his grip, kicking and hitting at every opportunity. Jayce only held on tighter, praying that he wasn’t hurting him. Eventually, Viktor stopped fighting, going limp in his arms. Jayce sighed in relief.

Not sure where else to go, he brought Viktor home, setting him down on a guest bed. Jayce sat by his side, waiting for him to wake.

~*~

Viktor slowly drifted to consciousness. He was in a bed. A soft bed. With soft sheets. That couldn’t be right. Was this another dream? The Hexcore trying to seduce him with luxury? He laughed at the thought, then coughed, jerking to full wakefulness. Not a dream. The dreams were the one place he didn’t feel pain.

“Viktor! Thank gods you’re awake. I’m here.” Jayce put a hand on his back, offering a glass of water with his free hand.

Jayce. Jayce was here. The real Jayce, not an illusion-dream-puppet of the Hexcore. Viktor ignored the water, clinging to Jayce and burying his face in his chest. Jayce was real. This was real.

Jayce held him close. “It’s okay. We’re safe,” he murmured. Viktor focused on his voice, the rise and fall of his chest, the warm arms around him. Nothing like the Hexcore. The Hexcore could not even pretend to care.

“I’m sorry,” Viktor mumbled finally. “I’m sorry.”

Jayce pulled away enough to look at him, concern in his eyes. “Something happened back there, but we can figure that out later. When was the last time you ate?”

Viktor blinked. Time had lost meaning to him, other than the fact that he was running out. What day was it? “I… I don’t…” he trailed off, aware of the hunger gnawing at his stomach.

“We’ll get some breakfast, then we can talk, alright?”

Viktor couldn’t find a reason to argue with that.

The food helped. He couldn’t remember the last time he had a warm home-cooked meal. It was heavenly. Beyond what he deserved.

“You deserve the truth,” Viktor said, once there was no other excuse to wait. “Please do not interrupt. I know it will be difficult to hear.”

He took a breath and told Jayce everything. The way the Hexcore took his blood, Shimmer, being able to run for the first time in his life, Sky attempting to save him only to lose her life, the nightmares. How he felt stuck in the lab, unable to be away from the Hexcore for long. How the Hexcore had sent agonizing pain and taken over his altered limbs when Jayce tried to destroy it. He apologized, hoping Jayce would understand but knowing he was beyond forgiveness.

Jayce was silent for a moment longer, absorbing the information. “Gods, Viktor. That’s… I’m sorry I couldn’t be there for you. It wasn’t your fault.” He was too kind. Too forgiving.

“Don’t.” Viktor held up his hand. “Don’t start. Do not try to excuse my actions. What I’ve done cannot be undone and I must live with it. My actions led to Sky’s death, and I nearly killed you. I cannot let that happen again. Heimerdinger was right; it could destroy entire civilizations and we must stop it before that happens.”

Jayce ran a hand through his hair. “How? What do we do next?”

Viktor hesitated for a moment, glancing out the window. “I need your help to get across the bridge.”

Jayce nodded, eager as always to be helpful. “Of course. Where are we going?”

“You are only going to the end of the bridge. I am returning to my… acquaintance from the Undercity. This madness is partially his fault, and if anyone can fix it, he can.” Or make it much worse. But Jayce didn’t need to know that part. He had enough to worry about. If Jayce knew the dangers that awaited, he’d never let him go. It was better this way.

“Alright. If you’re sure…” Jayce said. Viktor nodded.

As they walked, Viktor felt the unmistakeable tug of the Hexcore pulling him back. He only clung tighter to Jayce, gritting his teeth. Just a little further. There was nothing he needed in the lab, and every reason to avoid it. He didn’t want to go back, he needed to get to the Undercity.

The enforcers gave him a wary look, but Jayce’s presence was enough to let them through, as he had hoped. They walked in silence until they reached the end of the bridge.

“Well. I suppose this is it,” Viktor said, bracing himself on his crutch.

“I could still come with you—“

“No, Jayce. You stick out far too much. You think you are being stealthy, but everyone in the Undercity will only see an easy mark— or worse, a governmental figure they could use as leverage. It is better for me to continue on my own from here.”

Jayce rubbed the back of his neck. “That bad, huh?”

“You have many posters, Jayce. You are a symbol.” Viktor paused, then cracked a smile. “At least they are flattering. Even as a drawing you are undeniably attractive.”

“It was Mel’s idea,” Jayce protested, blushing slightly at the praise. “… but I get it. I won’t go any further, promise.”

“Good.” Viktor nodded. “I will send a message-tube when I am able. I am unsure when that will be, but do not set foot in the lab until I tell you to. The Hexcore will likely still be dangerous even if we manage to sever the connection. I will not return Topside until it is destroyed.”

“But you will return, right? We will see each other again.” Jayce was looking at him with those impossibly-large puppy eyes.

Viktor forced a smile. “Of course. Someone has to keep an eye on you.”

“I mean it. I’m not losing you, Viktor. This can’t be goodbye forever.”

Viktor sighed. “I will do my best to not die in the meantime.” He hesitated, then added, “But if this is the last time… Thank you, for everything. Despite the illness, my time with you has been by far the best years of my life. I would not trade it for the world.”

Jayce nearly crushed him in a hug. “You saved my life. I wish I could do the same.”

Viktor held on, savoring his touch one last time. “You already have.”

For a few minutes, they simply stood there, neither wanting to let go. Viktor ultimately was the first to pull away. “It’s time. Hold off the war for as long as you can, that would complicate things.”

Jayce nodded. “I’ll try. Just come back to me.”

“As soon as it is safe to do so. Farewell, Jayce.” Viktor turned and limped off to the Undercity. He didn’t look back— if he did he might never leave.

The trek down to the cave was more difficult than he remembered. His altered leg threatened to drag him down at every step. The air that he used to breathe every day of his life now burned with every breath. The rocks were slick, a fall at the wrong step could be deadly.

Still, he continued. One step at a time, one breath at a time. Despite the pain.

Finally, finally he reached the mouth of the cave, coughing and leaning heavily on his crutch.

“I take it the experiments did not go as you wished?” Singed asked. At least he had the decency to wait for the coughing fit to subside.

“No. Your Shimmer made it worse. You are going to fix it.” Viktor glared at him with as much energy as he could muster.

“Is that so?” Singed tilted his head to the side. “Do you often find yourself in fits of rage after the experiment?”

Viktor opened his mouth to respond, then closed it again, the doctor’s question taking him off guard. “Why do you ask?”

“The variant I gave you was meant to be without the…. more savage side effects. If that was not the case, I must find the miscalculation. Most unfortunate.” He turned to his notes. “I can mix another, perhaps less potent.”

More experiments. More test subjects. Was that all he was to the doctor now? It didn’t matter. Viktor shook his head. “No. I did not come for more Shimmer. I am done with the Hexcore. You are going to help me mitigate the results.”

“I warned you that you may not like the path ahead.”

“You said they would despise me. I do not care about that. Topsiders hated me since the moment I set foot in their gilded city. This is different.”

Singed made a noncommittal hum. “Perhaps. What exactly do you believe I can do to ‘fix it’?”

Viktor limped over to the blood-stained table, heaving himself onto it. “Remove the altered flesh. All of it. I know you can.”

“Show me. Tell me what happened.”

Viktor removed the glove and his pants, showing his altered limbs. He explained what happened, but kept only to the strict facts. He left out the nightmares, the crushing guilt. The doctor wouldn’t care about the emotional toll. It wasn’t worth wasting air on bringing it up.

“Fascinating.“ Singed took his altered hand, turning it over and inspecting it. “Are you certain you want it removed? This is truly extraordinary. It could be the breakthrough we need.”

“I am certain,” Viktor insisted. After a moment, he added, “You may keep the… parts… after if you wish. I don’t care.” He didn’t want to know what Singed would do with them, but destroying them completely would be difficult if not impossible.

“Very well. Is there anything else I should know?”

Viktor reached into his jacket pocket and handed over his journal. “I have designs for prosthetics, if that has any bearing on how you perform the surgery. Feel free to peruse the other notes if you wish.”

The doctor paged through the notes. “Impressive. Have you tested any of these designs?”

“Prototypes, nothing more. I did not have time to take them with me.”

“If all goes well, there will be time to test the designs later. Do you have any other requests?”

“I wish to keep my mind in tact and be able to continue my work, to help people. I do not care for appearance as long as I am functional.” His gaze drifted to Rio in her tank, his throat tightening. This process would not be pleasant. “If I must go into suspension… do not drag it out too long.”

“I will do my best. You will live.” Singed placed a hand on his shoulder, light and cold but the closest the doctor could get to comforting. “Are you ready?”

Viktor took a shaky breath and nodded. This was the only way. “Do what you must.”

The pinch of a needle in his arm was the last thing he felt before the world went dark. The dreams couldn’t reach him.

When he woke, it would be a second chance to make things right. It had to work.

[bridgertonbabe]

how do the others meme era of the bridgerton brothers au meet their love match?

Kate is a model/dancer who stars in one of the band's music videos. While on set she overhears Anthony asking his brothers which of the dancers they plan on getting with and she is mightily unimpressed as he objectifies them, pointing out to his brothers which girl had the most cleavage on show or which one had the best bum. When Kate is introduced to Anthony as his love interest for the video she offers him nothing more than a forced smile in greeting and keeps her composure to not roll her eyes as he blatantly roves his gaze up and down her body. Ever the professional she makes it through the shoot without giving in to the urge to smack him across the face and by the end of the day she's more than ready to leave - but then Anthony catches her on her way out and with an arrogant grin asks her if she wants to go for a drink with him. Now off the clock, Kate tells him she'd rather stick pins in her eyes than willingly spend any time with him and she storms off, leaving him dumbfounded. If that was the last she thought she'd ever see of him; she thought wrong as somehow he seems to keep materialising at every single event and party she attends, and he always makes a beeline for her, desperate to win her over. At one party Colin chats with her, sharing his amusement that his brother is unable to get over the fact that she's the one girl who has ever rejected him, a fact which makes Kate feel very smug knowing just how much she has left Anthony rattled. Soon enough she actually enjoys seeing Anthony, purely because she loves the power she holds over him. It definitely has nothing to do with the fact that she's gradually becoming very fond of him, acknowledging just how charming he can be, and respectfully she can admit that he is a very handsome man - but it doesn't mean she likes him. Absolutely not... except, the day after Anthony's birthday she wakes up in his bed and in the cold hard light of day she can't believe she's ended up becoming yet another woman in a long line of his many conquests. Just as she's scrambling up to dash out, Anthony returns with breakfast in bed, much to Kate's surprise. She asks if he's always so generous with his one night stands and she watches his face falter before he quietly says he doesn't want this to be a one time thing. Kate then hesitantly enquires if by that he means he wants to be fuck buddies and once again she's perplexed when his face falls in response. He then states he had hoped that this would be the start of something special, of being a couple, of having someone to come home to everyday. Kate truly hadn't expected such a declaration and initially tries to reason that they wouldn't work in the slightest before Anthony blurts out that he's in love with her and implores her to give him a chance. She had never been in such a position before, had never experienced anyone fixing her with the most adoring of heart-eyes and truly she had never felt so loved and desired - and so, despite the reservations that lingered in her head, she decided to follow her heart and embrace the chance of a fulfilling relationship with Anthony; and she never looked back.

Meanwhile Penelope has known the Bridgertons for years, being best friends with Eloise to start with but over time develops a close bond with Colin. From a young age Penelope possessed a creative soul and loved to write stories and poems, and then one day when she was at the Bridgertons Colin got his guitar out and asked her if she wanted to write a song with him. Together they wrote a silly little song that entertained his younger siblings and from then on they continued writing songs together, and as they got older their song-writing ability flourished to the point that the songs they wrote were actually good, so good in fact that when Colin and his older brothers got a record deal several of the songs he wrote with Penelope made it onto the album. From then on Colin and Penelope collaborated to write a good chunk of the Bridgerton Brothers songs, including some of their biggest hits, and from then Penelope even had her hand in co-writing songs for other artists. Closer than ever before (even closer than her friendship with Eloise), the feelings Penelope had possessed for him since she had first met him only deepened and it was getting to a point that she began to believe he might feel the same way for her. He was so affectionate with her, always confided with her, never going a day without speaking to her, and telling her just how much he cares about her; she truly felt as though her feelings might finally be reciprocated. However, all her hopes were dashed the day she heard him declaring to his brothers that he'd never date her. Heartbroken, Penelope ghosted Colin, refusing to answer his calls and messages, and stopped writing for the band and instead provided her writing expertise to other artists. Colin was upset and desperate for her forgiveness but she refused to talk to him and as a result he lost all confidence in his own song-writing ability, feeling lost without Penelope's partnership and faith in him. Then one night Colin's phone rings and he is shocked but relieved to see Penelope's name flashing up. When he answers the call Penelope curtly tells him to leave her alone, sick to death of the countless messages he's sent her everyday since she stopped talking to him. Before she can hang up he desperately begs for her to hear him out and profusely apologises for saying something so hurtful, that he hates himself for upsetting her, and tells her just how much he misses her. With a sigh Penelope says she forgives him, that she knows he's not a bad person; but that she needs space. When he asks why they can't go back to the way things were Penelope can't hold it in any longer and tearfully confesses that she's in love with him and always has been and that it hurts too much to see or even talk to him, not that she now knows that he could never see her in the way she sees him. She requests that he gives her time and space and hopefully one day they might be able to just be friends once she's had time to heal. Colin is left in shock by his best friend's admission and doesn't quite know how to feel knowing he's broken the heart of the person he cares the most about. He's distracted by Benedict's own heartbreak, focusing on consoling his brother as he tries to wrap his head around the heartbreak he's caused Penelope. Once his brother finally works things out with Sophie, as well as seeing how loved up Kate and Anthony are, Colin can't stop thinking about Penelope and starts to imagine scenes of kissing her before he goes onstage just like Anthony does with Kate, or cuddling Penelope in his lap just how Benedict does with Sophie. It then hits him all at once; he's in love with Penelope and he can't wait a minute longer to tell her. He bangs on her door and when she opens it she's shocked to see him, and even more shocked when he grabs a hold of her and kisses her. That first kiss is enough to confirm everything between them, and after telling her he's in love with her they stumble their way into the bedroom to make up for lost time.

[frickingnerd]

match up for dino

for xenoblade chronicles i'd match you up with… pyra and mythra!

pyra is the one that falls for you first, but mythra falls for you harder!

pyra had a small crush on you since you two first met, her feelings slowly growing stronger over time

mythra however didn't like you at first, yet when you continued to be kind to her, despite how mean she was, she suddenly caught herself falling for you!

the great thing about dating the two of them is that you can do different things with a different girl!

pyra is the calm one that loves dates at the park or having a picnic in an open field, while you two talk and maybe she'll even sing something just for you

meanwhile with mythra, you'll likely play some video games with her or she'll drag you out to a place you've never been to before, to make sure you make some new memories!

both of the girls are deadly protective of you and won't let anyone say a single bad thing about you!

for rwby i'd match you up with… pyrrha nikos!

yes, another red head named pyr(rh)a! i have now determined that this is your type. i make the rules, sorry :P

pyrrha is a really affectionate and at times even clingy girlfriend!

honestly, she likes herself a shy guy and she finds it adorable how humble and kind you are!

pyrrha is very eager to learn more about your hobbies and interests, always urging you to open up towards her, as she wants to know everything there is about you

once she learns that you draw, she'll beg you to show you some of your drawings and she'll love them!

drawing isn't something she's good at, so she thinks it's great that you can do it!

what she is good at though is singing!

as most of your dates happen within or near beacon, you two often find yourself a lonesome spot and pyrrha will softly sing for you, while you lean against her and draw. she'll never get tired of watching you work!

for doki doki literature club i'd match you up with… sayori!

listen, sayori might not be what you described as your type, but i still think the two of you would make a really sweet couple!

you'd be this soft couple that never argues and that everyone is a bit envious about, because your relationship is just so wholesome

you bring out the best in each other, able to lift each other up when nobody else can do it

dates often take place somewhere outside, since sayori often spends too much time alone in her room and going out with you is the only time when she can bring herself to spend time outside

it's kind of a mystery how the two of you even began dating though, as you are both introverted and nobody quite knows who made the first move…

for nier automata i'd match you up with… A2!

A2 is deeply protective person, since she lost so many people dear to her already

she tends to be a overprotective and at times even a bit possessive, but its always clear that it's because she cares about you a lot and lost too much already

A2 is also incredibly strong and i think she'd be very happy if you let her take care of you! carrying you, defending you in battle and so on

what A2 loves the most about you is how creative you are, simply because she's only good at fighting and destroying, while you create something new

A2 has a cold exterior, but she's an absolute sweetheart with you!

for the legend of zelda i'd match you up with… mipha!

mipha is a very kind and caring girlfriend, who's just super supportive of you and always there to lift you up when you're not feeling well

she loves to listen to you talk and she's a great listener, always knowing when to keep quiet and when to ask questions

dating her might be a bit intimidating, given that she's the zora princess, but mipha always assures you that you're good enough for her and that her family loves you!

it's a bit hard to find alone time with mipha, given her status, so most dates happen near zora domain, exploring the nearby area

mipha admires you drawing skills, given that she isn't any good at that and always nudges you towards making some drawings for her!

for my hero academia i'd match you up with… itsuka kendo!

kendo can be a bit strict with you, but she means well and just wants you to be the best version of yourself that you can be!

she'll train and study with you, which will be what most of your dates are, but sometimes you two also go on normal dates, like the movies or dinner!

kendo always drags you along to class activities or other events, wanting you to get to know more people and experience new things

she respects your boundaries, but still pushes you out of your comfort zone, helping you realize that most things aren't as scary or hard as you might think

a/n: i feel the need to add that you seem like a very sweet person and absolutely deserve to be happy, dude! :) also, tagging you so you can see this, @dinomidori

[ohstardew]

Revisiting Code: Realize

I have been severely emotionally and creatively stuck for a long while, and just recently settled on revisiting older media that is beloved to me, especially games, because of the way the interactive narrative speaks to me, but also because its historically what has gotten me writing. While one friends suggestion was Ace Attorney, which is absolutely in queue to be re-experienced, I got the more desperate urge to revisit Code: Realize first. As an early adopter of the english localized otome (my copy of Sweet Fuse as testament), this one has long been my gold standard, and it is also the perfect narrative to help me dislodge some back up.

I thought it might be nice to keep a small journal as I play each route to sort of document what makes it so special, and help me process why it is so personally beloved. First, of course, I must replay and look at the common route. I will come back to this post with those thoughts as I go, but to start I will leave the initial premise below.

First, the premise of the game is simple, yet possesses arrangements to introduce a lot of narrative and character complexities. It is set in Victorian-era London, but with a fantasy steampunk flavor. We follow Cardia Beckford, and our introduction to her is... whoof. She is alone, and since her father left her, she has always been alone.

The opening of the game is her lamenting about who and what she is... why she even exists... because as we shortly find out, her father has told her that because he loves her, he must never let her know love. Because she is a monster. It is a painful opening as we see her shut away in a dilapidated home, her room littered with dolls and toys as she sits curled up, head to her knees, only lifting it when some of Queen Victoria's royal guard, sent to apprehend her, enter. They speculate over if she could be the monster, until one of their dogs becomes aggravated by the situation and bites her... only for her blood, and the touch of her skin, to gruesomely kill it.

Cardia tried to stop this, and thus does the commander of the guard realize she is not a monster by intent, only by her making. She is poisonous to her core, the touch of her skin enough to burn and melt another, and if that touch is prolonged, it surely will kill them. She does not know why she is like this, only that she always has been, and because of that she welcomes being taken... welcomes what she believes is certain death. Being alone as long as she has been, longing for touch the whole time and knowing she can never have it, it would be much easier that way.

But gentleman thief and master of disguise Arsène Lupin isn't about to let that happen. He shows up in proper grand flair to whisk Cardia away from the guard, from her certain demise, because he wishes to steal her heart... literally. But gentleman that he is, he will not take it off her without granting her a wish in return, and there is one thing she wants, which she asks him for quite plainly. "I want to... touch you. I want to feel you... your warmth."

He quickly understands. She has never touched another before, believes she never will as she asks if it is impossible... only for him to confidently promise he will grant this wish to her.

That is how we open the game, and boy do we still a hell of a common route to get through (per my memories, it is quite long!) but I am beyond excited. The common route will get it's own post but as a small teaser:

After the opening credits play, it opens on a scene of Cardia lamenting on how her father set rules for her to never find love, and to never leave their home until he returned for her or ruin and heartbreak will surely follow. Cardia reveals she broke this rule once, and she destroyed someone who loved her, though before we delve into this further, she remarks on the feeling of a morning breeze, and the feeling of sunshine before Lupin offers her a simple breakfast of egg and toast.

This little moment already gives us a great look at Cardia, her lamenting, but also how she is surprised by the breakfast, and catalogues to Lupin how while she can eat... it basically melts to nothing right away, but at least she can taste it, and it tastes good. We get little details of how she has to live, what it means to be the monster she is, and how she feels in a world she isn't meant for. It sets us up to feel for her, to care for her, with even more evocative moments like this to come.

Longing for touch... I felt that deeply when I first played this game, and in a post-pandemic world it resonates even deeper. I am excited to open this world of the game back up, just as well the world within me it once opened up.

One last element: please look at how beautiful this games art and design is... Cardia Beckford you will always be famous.

[mysticscrystalrevelation]

Game 9 With One Eye Closed Tues, June 4 7pm EDT Washington @ Connecticut

Starting: WASH: Atkins, Dolson, Edwards, Samuelson, Vanloo (Sykes out with ankle injury, Austin injury rest?) CONN: Bonner, Carrington, Harris, Jones, Thomas

1st Quarter A few misses early, then Ariel gets a nice shot off over Breezy to open up our scoring. Edwards is starting today as Austin rests. Edwards has been so impressive thus far this season. The matchups are good between these starting lineups. Earl on Carrington, JVL v Harris, Edwards gets to test her chops against AT. 8-9 early The difference maker is going to be can we make 3s tonight in order to open up the whole court on O more than anything. If yes, we have a chance. If no? No chance. AT is May Player of the Month yeah guess what that doesn't make up for the MVP snub. Hines-Allen in, Edwards and her go 2-man getting multiple good chances on the possession that they can't convert, but it felt like a good sign to get offensive boards. Nelson-Ododa was a problem for us last matchup. JVL no look to Karlie for 3. Ambitious scoop overhead passes need to stop. So many turnovers from them all season. 10-2 run for the Sun. Edwards getting crowd support on her foul shots. Another multiple o-board possession and this time we convert. Much improved. Must continue through 40 minutes though. We grind back to 18-19 to end the quarter. CONN not yet in groove though.

2nd Quarter Great stop to start the quarter, excellent D. Unfortunately we turn it over via ambitious pass. Jade is left a lane and knows what to do. Gets a bonus too. Proud of Jade's D on Carrington. Game still within 1. O boards up to 7 with 6 min left in the half. Engstler getting some minutes here. Right now she and Edwards are responsible for the bigs which makes me nervous. Shot clock violation on us :( We have a very younnnnng (to the league) lineup in. A couple vets return and OOh great possession on O, creative trust-based, SUCCESSFUL. We tie it up at 30 and force a shot clock violation and Sun timeout. Yip! They come back from the break and we force another! We struggle to score but manage to end the half with a Stef 3 to pull ahead 33-32. A lead at half!

3rd Quarter Things looking physical early. A string of misses for DC. Two silly turns from the Sun save it from being a Connecticut run. Make that three. Connecticut clearly got told to body during the half time chat. Too many misses and Ty hits a three. 35-42 and we need time. Comig back Ty hits another. The lead is ten. Vanloo answers. Two horrible turnovers. in a row. We need an energy shift here. Karlie has a tough tough job tonight against Bonner. She has gotten some dumb whistles and lots of physcality. Bonner sits and she finally takes and makes a 3. 43-58. Terrible quarter on both ends of the floor for DC.

4th Quarter Hey Briann January :D It appears that we are forcing things instead of getting what is given. Shatori with a squeaky clean block. DC starting to lose hope and needs a mental reset. Thank you for mentioning the absence of Tianna Hawkins announcer. We love you, T. Lead still 15. We can't figure it out on O. As I said in the first, without the 3 ball, the Sun D will not be challenged. Vanloo comes back in which seems smart to me. Attention male commentators: if you must exist, be more like this guy—say way less, do not yell, pronounce names correctly, provide accurate information. But also resist the urge to say stupid things. 3:42 left 52-68. I feel like Karlie will need a hug after this one. She does get a quick trigger three here. Eric has to be fired after this. What else gives? You are out of time to pray things change without making change. Do the players believe in him? You don't even have to fire him. Demote him. LaToya Sanders HC. Snatch Kristi back. Someone who is a confidence machine. Benches are in with a couple starters now. It's just rec ball for the last minute. Absolutely our worst second half performance. 59-76

[faith-in-democracy]

How to Totally Nail the Art of Procrastination!

Welcome, dear readers, to yet another enthralling blog post! Today, we will dive deep into the magical world of procrastination - a skill that only a lucky few possess. If you're tired of being productive and want to embrace laziness and inefficiency, you've come to the right place! Firstly, it's important to never start on any task until the very last minute. Why waste precious time and mental energy on something that can be easily put off? Remember, tomorrow is always a better day to start, except tomorrow eventually becomes today, and well, you know how that goes. Next, surround yourself with distractions. Whether it's social media, funny cat videos, or simply staring aimlessly out the window, make sure to always have something to divert your attention away from the task at hand. Need inspiration? Look no further than your never-ending feed of memes. They are a procrastinator's best friend! Now, onto the art of making excuses. Mastering this skill will come in handy when you are inevitably confronted about your lack of progress. Practice saying, 'I had a sudden urge to alphabetize my bookshelf' or 'I needed to rearrange my sock drawer by color' with a straight face. Remember, creativity is key. If your excuse game is strong, you can take it a step further by overcommitting yourself. Say yes to every request, project, and favor, until your schedule is bursting at the seams. This way, you'll always have a valid reason to delay the tasks you don't want to do. Who has time for deadlines when you're busy drowning in an overwhelming sea of obligations? Lastly, embrace the thrill of leaving things until the very last minute. The adrenaline rush that comes from scrambling to complete a task in record time is unparalleled. Plus, when you miraculously finish it (barely), you can pat yourself on the back and proudly declare, 'I work best under pressure!' Who needs the luxury of time and sanity anyway? So, there you have it, folks! With these simple, sarcastically approved tips, you too can become a master of procrastination. Remember, the key to success is putting things off until they become someone else's problem. Happy procrastinating!

[1001petals]

M (2) a few months later

A non-comparison reflection:

My Non-Negotiables in a Relationship:

1. Quality time- this is a big thing for me. If I am not able to feel like I am connected to the person I am dating, I do not feel emotionally or physically be able to connect to them. Quality time is my love language.  Big no here right now. He spends a lot of time on work.... claims that it is going to be a short term thing, but I am sick of hearing things like that that never seem to end (seems to have been my experience in past relationships).

2. Connection to Nature- Nature for me is both my hobby, and a large part of how I connect with the world spiritually and emotionally. This is a middle ground in our relationship right now. He has not had as much exposure to nature as I have had in my life. I think that I also intertwine creativity and play with nature. I am not sure if this is there for him, He has spoken about this kind of thing in the past, but I have not been able to experience it with him yet. Granted, it has been the winter. 

3. Spontaneity- I value this in all aspects of my life. It is a way for me to be able to maintain some of the stability in my life, while also making it exciting so that I can calm some of my impulsive urges. This is something that seems to be missing in our relationship right now. He naturally is a planner, and when you but all the stresses of his jobs right now on top of that, he cannot just up and go on a weekend like I can.

4. Gets along with my friends/family- I value my relationships with my friends and family equal to my relationship with my romantic partner. I also need freedom in my romantic relationship that does not include any jealousy or possessiveness over my time when it comes to spending quality time with my friends. I have a lot of friends that come from diverse backgrounds, and have no tolerance with comments that might make someone feel unsafe or judged. This is something that is great about our relationship. He gets along with all of my friends and makes sure to spend time with my family. 

Personal Issues

- I have had a pattern of jumping from one relationship to another. I did not have time to process between L and J, which resulted in me doing actions that caused J not to trust me. I do not want to do the same thing with M(2). Although I do not feel that I have much to process surrounding the relationship with J specifically, I do feel like I have an itch to explore all of my options. Even when I have had breaks in relationships, I have tended to jump head first into things when I start to like someone. This then results in my getting into year long relationships that get hard for me to break off when I get attached. I feel like this is something I may need time and space to explore.  I have also had a complicated relationship with how I feel about men recently. 

Main Points

- Right now the lack of quality time in the relationship and his relationship with work is making me feel afraid that it is not sustainable for me. Not only is quality time my love language, but I also have a fear of ending up in a similar situation as my parents where work came before their relationship and our family dynamic.

- I need to take a step back in the relationship right now. I am still exploring what this means, and am open to input from his as well. At the bare minimum I need some physical distance between the 2 of us. I feel like we never really had the time to actually date each other, and this issue is getting compounded with what I mentioned above. 

- There are a lot of aspects of our relationship that I enjoy and appreciate, including his supportiveness, trust in me with spending so much time with others, and his willingness to talk about these things. 

[sitp-recs]

In the Bleak Midwinter by @the-fools-errand

Harry/Draco (2022, Explicit, 105k)

After serving in the border wars for the ever-expanding dominion of Lord Voldemort, Draco and his cousins have returned to Hogsmeade to resurrect the old Black Family name in crime. But when a shipment of wands bound for the front lines falls into their possession, they find themselves at the centre of an investigation backed by the Dark Lord himself.

Draco’s ambitions lie far beyond the borders of Hogsmeade, however, and he won’t let anything get in his way – except maybe a bespectacled newcomer to town, who knows more about the missing wands than he’s letting on.

“Of course this wasn’t the life Draco would have chosen for his family if he could wind back the clocks, but the reality was the Dark Lord couldn’t be toppled by one man or a thousand. The only difference was that Neville was prepared to throw away the lives of innocents fighting for a cause that had no shot of success, whereas Draco would never let another soul die on his behalf ever again.”

Interrupting the hidden gems series to scream a bit about the Peaky Blinders AU we didn’t know we needed! I’m finally catching up with LCD and despite having promised myself I’d take a break from long fics I just couldn’t resist this gorgeous claiming post - I knew I had to check this fic as soon as I saw the tags and that incredible art for it, and now that I spent the whole day eating up 100k I can finally say: What. A. Fic! I was sure this would be fun and exciting since Fe wrote one of my favorite AUs last year - if you haven’t read The Secret Keeper yet I urge you to do it ASAP! - and once again I was completely blown away by this brilliant, intriguing, inventive and satisfying ride.

It’s impossible not to start with the clever and detailed world-building; Fe created a magical and immersive PB universe even for those who have never watched the show, and the fic was able to deliver the same sexy and mysterious atmosphere. I particularly loved how the source material was adapted to include magic and small details within character arcs. Speaking of which, what a fantastic (and big) cast! I found each character incredibly fascinating with their own conflicts and distinct personality. From Hagrid and Cedric to Mundungus and Snape they all brought something to the table and it was lovely to see side dynamics like Pansville, Harry & Snape, Draco & Theo, the Weasleys. I was also very happy to see Sirius and Tonks alive here, and by the way Sirius’ heartbreaking back story is brilliant! Such a creative way to explore his canon arc, I loved it.

Now speaking of Drarry, I could wax poetry about their competent, charming and feisty personalities - the clash between Draco’s cool and controlled facade x Harry’s easy yet defiant persona behind his Muggle cover made for some delicious UST that took my breath away. The slow burn is exciting and perfectly paced with alternating POVs and a careful balance of intrigue, slice-of-life, character development and romance. The initial animosity between them gave me butterflies, slowly dissolving into attraction as the characters grow closer and allow themselves to become vulnerable and open with each other; we have no choice but to fall in love with their love even knowing hell’s about to break loose at any moment. I’m so weak for secret identity drama, this is peak angst material 🙌

Fe kept me at the edge of my seat the whole time wondering what would come next, and I kept being surprised and pleased. I remember that by chapter 3 I was already mourning this universe and trying to self-sabotage and stall my reading but I just couldn’t stay away 😂 if you’re looking for your next long read, I can’t rec this AU enough. BAMF Draco, Spy Harry, pub nights, secret relationships, grey morality, horse races, power couple, Harry playing the piano! This fic has it all and whether or not you’re familiar with the show I guarantee this will be a wonderful, thrilling and satisfying case fic and love story. Go forth and come scream with me after you’re done!

Read on AO3

[that-yandere-life]

Now I have an unnerving urge to read some general yandere Poly all three Spider-Men headcanons 😳

[Warnings: Yandere Themes *Obviously*, All in the same universe AU, SMUT (not incredibly descriptive but it’s definitely there), Kink talk, Mentions of kidnapping.]

Each of the various Spider-Men have their own qualities or tendencies that differ from the others which is what makes them such a great team.

Peter 1 (Tom) for example is a sweet, kind, loving soul who gets obsessed really quickly, instantly believing it’s fate that they encountered you to begin with.

Also able to use those qualities to be rather manipulative without you even realizing it, just kind of slipping it in every now and then so it’s not noticeable at any given point.

Peter 2 (Tobey) is more emotional but he doesn’t always have the ability to keep them in check so it tends to make him a bit volatile at times, feeding into this is his innate need to be possessive or jealous when it comes to you.

On top of that he is the one who suggests stalking you to find out more about you, setting up a schedule so that someone is watching over you at any given moment.

Peter 3 (Andrew) is anxious but hopeful most of the time when it comes to love, he has lost it before and is terrified that falling for another person will end the same way, leading him to immediately agree that keeping an eye on you was the best option.

Mostly being overprotective of you, to the point it will cause him some stress that thankfully the other guys are able to help him battle.

A bunch of puzzle pieces that come together to create a masterpiece of a poly relationship, working alongside one another flowing like a dream.

All of them will want to court you naturally or at least attempt it to begin with should you be hesitant it might lead to intense consequences.

Should you deny their advances they will try to get creative, buying you little gifts, making sure you didn’t walk home alone at night, asking if you need anything.

Overwhelming to be sure, but if you don’t even want to entertain the idea of friendship they will eventually snap and kidnap you to show you just how amazing (Pun intended) they could be for you.

Modifying the place you would reside in to ensure that you would never be able to escape, not to mention figuring it out so you were always in the presence of one of them, unless there was a major disaster going on.

Now if you accept their affections things will go much smoother for you, you won’t be really restricted to any one place, although they will get testy if they catch you talking to another guy they don’t know.

Allowing you to go on about your life as usual as long as they are integrated as a major part of your daily routine, carving out a place in your heart very gradually.

Peter 2 would likely be the one to suggest they all ask you out as a unit, since all of them had the same feelings for you and there was more than enough love to go around.

Peter 1 quickly agreed while Peter 2 was a tiny bit more apprehensive at first worrying that it would scare you off to come on too strong, but it was either all or nothing at that point in their obsession.

Asking you to move in right away after you agree to start a relationship with you, convincing you it was for your own safety, although at first you wouldn’t understand why as they hadn’t told you of their alter egos just yet.

Once it finally comes out you will be shocked and a little confused on why you didn’t figure it out sooner as it was right in front of your nose.

Actually it proved to be an asset that they are so well loved in your community it made it a lot easier to gloss over their oddities when you began to notice how deep they truly ran.

Heroes wouldn’t possibly do anything to hurt you, or direct you down the wrong path on purpose would they?

It took a little while but eventually you get the hang of sexy times with them, the logistics weren’t always the easiest to figure out initially but regardless it became incredibly pleasurable for all involved.

Typically you would lay back on Peter 2’s chest, Peter 1 standing next to you while you jerked or sucked him off, while Peter 3 was on top, they each took turns to alternate.

Kink play becomes a major thing in your sexual relationship, engaging in some nearly every single time, fulfilling at least one for everyone.

Peter 1 would be more of a switch, liking to be dominant but perfectly fine with being submissive at times, encouraging bondage, blindfolds, and ball gags.

Enjoying it most when you couldn’t talk and they kept telling you to use your words frustrating you to no end, uses edging just a little bit too often.

Peter 2 would be dominant, maybe allowing you on special occasions to be the one giving the orders instead of taking them, really into overstimulation wanting to make you cum as many times as possible.

For sure is the kind of guy who wants to engage in dirty talking, the one who is willing to degrade you in ways you never thought possible, also would want you to wear an anal plug at all times.

Peter 3 is a switch leaning towards dom as well, this man is all about pleasing you not even caring if he gets off, the one most invested in your emotions the entire time, checking in with your code system to ensure they weren’t going too far.

A kink he has is mirror play, he wants to watch what they are doing to you (and each other)in intense detail, might even convince everyone to record it and view it at a later time to get you in the mood, on his rough days he takes his turn to roughly pound you into the mattress until you are seeing stars.

Willing to try anything you want at least once to see if you all like it, in these kinds of events you had to be open, honest, and communicate your wants or needs with each other for it to be successful.

Other times two of them would be together next to you while one was tending to you making sure everyone was getting taken care of by the end.

Loving the whines and moans that you give off, sometimes having a friendly (Pun again intended) competition to see who could get you to be the most vocal.

The winner gets to be the one to finish inside of whichever orifice they so choose, with your consent of course, you have a codeword set up, and a non-verbal cue just in case you can’t use or form words.

One thing that all of them have in common is body worship and they attend the church that is you as often as they could, always praising you for how incredible you were to them.

Constantly telling you how good you are, or degrading you depending on which you prefer because that is what they will go by, wanting you to be content with their actions not offended.

Aftercare is immaculate, if you are too tired to take a shower they will get a warm washcloth to ensure that you are cleaned up, making sure you pee after because it’s important for all who have sex to prevent a UTI.

Should you want to bathe or shower they will help you, washing you off themselves enjoying the intimacy, and sometimes another round if you are up for it.

Cuddling is a huge must because these boys are touch starved to the max, they need you close to them to reassure them that this is reality, unable to believe that they finally got lucky for once in their crappy lives.

Nightmares are something that you will have to help them through occasionally, needing to be grounded with them returning the favor if the situation ever arises.

Losing most of what they held dear before they met you, it was hard for them to conceptualize that you weren’t going anywhere, anytime soon.

Problems might occur when they are overly vulnerable about it, because they will come off far stronger than necessary, sometimes concerning you or scaring you even with how intense they can be.

At the end of the day you loved them all and you truly loved the life you were building with them by your side, each of you looking forward to the future for the first time in your lives instead of dwelling in the past, seeing the same thing… hope.

[Okay I had to do this one because I couldn't stop thinking about it and knew I wouldn't be able to sleep if I didn't just write the damn thing! My return to smut, although not incredibly detailed I hope it is still satisfying! One of my favorite things I've ever written tbh!]

[tomakeitbeautifultolive]

Is there a time you wrote a fic inspired by a single line or scene you thought about? How many chapters did you write until you got to where it all started?

What a fun question. I would say that for me, I'm much more visual than not, so it tends to be pictures and feelings:

Jon finding Dany in Maiden. The could smell the briny air, see the warm glow of her room, and even feel the wind as Jon walks in and sees Daenerys standing there like an angel. I could feel the incredible love and respect and even the tightness in his throat, the sudden urge to drop to his knee at once…

Likewise, A Lift Home is another interesting case of possession. I had a clear image of Jon falling asleep alone on his couch with a lit cigarette in his hand, almost hoping that one of these nights the whole place would burn down and take him with it. Of course, that scene comes later in the fic, but that visual really helped me write Jon up to that point, to get a sense of just how empty he felt inside (prior to meeting Dany, that is).

Most of the other epic scenes in my head… have not happened yet! 😬

King's Servant will have a series of disturbing scenes that I hope exemplify Dany's quick-thinking and cleverness… as well as Jon's ruthlessness. I can hear a helpless cry, Dany's desperate scream, the sound of Jon's footsteps echoing, his pounding heart, and the dull thud of… well, something…

Likewise, if ever I go back to TWC… the dragon-hatching scene is going to be very disturbing yet incredibly badass. There are about a dozen reasons that fic is at a stand-still, and a few jarring upcoming scenes in an otherwise tranquil fic happens to be one of those reasons. But oh, the fiery glory of it all! Maybe one day…

There's a scene in Dating in the Dark that I can't wait to write: the reaction of Dany's brothers once they find out. It's been lightly foreshadowed with a little throwaway joke. Can't say much more than that, unfortunately…

Lastly, I've got an upcoming work with @thescarletgarden1990, in which the very first scene of the first chapter comes straight out of my dreams. I'm so glad I confessed it to Scarlet, who helped take that spark of creativity and light both our imaginations on fire (keep an eye out for: Our Reign of Ashes)

Thanks for the ask! ♥

[stardustedknuckles]

I second the anon saying "EVERYTHING Beauyasha", because look, why would I suggest anything else, but on the other hand I looked at 11 and immediately thought Big Shit Yasha & Fjord would be so funny with that.

Okay I had a Yasha and Fjord and a Beau and Fjord, and I think I got one of those combinations asked twice. Fucking hilarious energy yes thank you. "I'm not wearing underwear. Thought you might like to know."

More than 1k, set a few months post-canon, rated T. Fluff and humor.

The sun was still high in the sky when Yasha returned home with sweat and river water cooling on her skin and the spoils of her hunt slung over her back. Autumn meant bright, warm afternoons and cool shade, and afternoon meant that time with their friends was only hours away.

Yasha hung the meat in the shaded little alcove of their home and stepped gratefully inside. There was fresh kindling unlit in the hearth, four empty mugs set out on the round table, and though they hadn't managed to gather enough possessions yet to threaten any real clutter it was clear the place had been scrubbed within an inch of its life. Beau, she surmised, was even more excited to see Fjord and Jester than she'd let on. A rustle came from their bedroom, and Yasha smiled to herself as she slipped her boots off before moving further down the hall.

The last time Yasha had opened a closed guest room door in this house, she had accidentally discovered her girlfriend in the middle of painstakingly painting a birthday gift for her - and while Yasha had been delighted, there was no mistaking the disappointment Beau had felt in having the surprise ruined. Not that she'd stayed disappointed for long. Yasha had made certain of it. Several times.

"I'm home, baby." Yasha leaned against the wall and checked out her hands and her nails blithely. Cleaner than the rest of her, by design. "We've got a few hours before everyone gets here too, because I am very good at hunting. And very horny."

She heard a decidedly muted thump from inside and grinned. "I'm also not wearing any underwear. I know that's normal for me, but I thought you'd like to know."

Another rustle, then silence. If it were the door their room, she would have just pushed it open. It wouldn't be the first time Beau had left herself in a predicament for Yasha to come home to. But as far as Beau had known, Yasha wouldn't be home for another couple of hours. She was creative, but she knew a deadline when she saw one. No way she would have risked cutting it close to time. "Baby?"

She heard sound coming from the porch and paused with a hand prepared to knock as the front door opened to admit one bright-eyed Beau and - unexpected in another direction - a cheerful Jester with an arm load of what looked like pastries.

"Yasha!" She dropped the bag and sprinted forward, throwing herself into Yasha's arms with wild abandon and temporarily driving all of her confusion to a back corner.

"Jester, hello! You're early!"

"So are you," Beau pointed out. She stood on tiptoe to kiss Yasha's cheek above Jester's horns. "They got in a little after you left to hunt. We figured it would be a surprise." She tilted her head towards the closed door. "Me and Jester went to get a few more things and left Fjord to sleep in some. You haven't been terrorizing him, have you?"

Several things clicked into place at once, but before Yasha could say anything the door flung open to reveal one disheveled and frowning half-orc in a loose shirt and the pair of pants he had evidently just thrown on.

"Yasha," he said, a polite iceberg.

Yasha spent half a second looking for embarrassment but found only the giddy urge to laugh. "Fjord," she managed. "Did you sleep well?"

Beau was looking between the two of them with an expression of rapid comprehension, a grin spreading over her that only widened when she finally caught Fjord's eye and positively leered. "You uh. Get a warmer welcome than you expected?"

Fjord sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Actually that was pretty much exactly what I expected when you gave me the guest room." He made an exaggerated face and mimicked what Yasha presumed Beau had said earlier. "'Don't worry, Yasha's out til sunset.'" He settled again into quiet resignation. "And if you're wondering, Yasha's apparently not wearing any underwear."

Beau's delighted grin shifted to Yasha, and now she was flushing a little but she just shrugged and looked a little over Beau's head. "I mean, that's nothing unusual, really. Anyone could have guessed that."

"Holy shit," Beau wheezed. "This is the best day of my life. Hang on, just - I need a minute."

Yasha saw Fjord look to Jester, but it was no use. She melted into giggles immediately and elbowed him lightly in the ribs. "So do you need some more sleep?"

"No. Nope." Fjord yawned and shuffled out of the room arm in arm with Jester, patting Yasha on the shoulder and moving Beau out of the way with his knee. "Damndest thing, but I don't feel tired anymore. Need any help getting that meat going, oh mighty hunter?"

"No," said Yasha, "but you can help if you like. I was going to get the outside fire going and take a shower, so..."

"Oh, you were going to do more than that," Fjord said drily. "I'll start the fire, you get in the shower, we all forget about this by dinnertime."

Beau wiped her eyes and stood up straight to look at Yasha, snickering with the aftershocks. "Think our window passed before it ever came, sorry babe."

"I think I disagree," said Yasha primly, "but it's fine. I'll be out in a little while."

Beau raised up on tiptoe to kiss her quickly on the lips, and only when the front door opened did she snake a hand around to tweak lightly at Yasha's ass. "I love when you get like this after a hunt," she murmured. "Just in case you were wondering."

Yasha wasn't but she just smiled and kissed Beau's forehead before peeling off and heading towards the washroom. "There are always more things to kill," she noted over her shoulder.

"Yup," Beau called back. "And you know how I feel about little deaths."

[legolaslovely]

Generous

A/N: The Kíli smut is here and the head-hopping is fixed! If anyone has any advice about avoiding that/noticing it happening before the piece is done, please tell me! Also, please friends, **read the warnings.** This might not be for everyone so please stay away if it’s not your jam.

Pairing: Kíli x Fem!Reader

Word Count: 1,671

Warnings: Modern AU, smut, toys, anal play

--

He woke you with his hands.

It wasn’t unusual for him to find you in the night and wrap himself around you in sleep. In the hours before dawn, the bed would transform into a den of tangled limbs that featured two bodies congealing into one. He’d hold you to his chest, nose buried so deeply in your hair, it was as if your closeness transcended him past the need to breathe.

Then he’d wake. Always before you, ever the hunter, eternally energized. He very rarely waited for you and only sometimes watched you dream. Most mornings, he’d slide out of bed to make the coffee or pick up something special for breakfast. His morning routine never included the same steps twice, but it was a routine in that he never overslept. It wasn’t his way.

Still, more often than you’d admit to another soul, Kíli would wake you up in more… creative ways. Ways that left you satisfied for the entire day, but always thinking of him and always wanting more.

This was one of those days.

***

His tender touch down your sides, over your hips and under your arms very slowly lifted you from sleep. With your eyes closed and your lips tilted into a smile, you leaned back into him, allowing him more access to your belly and chest. His hands were refreshing- cool against your sleep-warm skin.

       “Morning, my love,” you said.

       “Good morning.” He kissed your shoulder. “Tell me. Are you, by any chance, feeling generous this morning?”

       “To you? I supposed I could be.”

His hand surfed up your side to give your breast a squeeze. “You’ll do something for me, then?”

       “Anything you want.” The options were swirling through your mind and something even more exciting was pressing into your backside.

       “Open your legs for me, baby.”

He wouldn’t allow you to fall onto your back or open yourself completely to him. He only closed his fingers gently around your knee and lifted it into the air until he could play with your warm core.

Then there was a buzz that just about sent you to the ceiling.

       “Relax,” he chuckled, giving your neck a reassuring nudge with his nose. A small vibrator, this size of his thick thumb that so often found its way to your clit, was tucked between your folds as it buzzed in a deliciously stimulating pattern. Then you were told to close your legs. You did what you were told.

       “Good girl,” he rumbled. “Feel good? Or too much?” He caressed away the new tension in your limbs and belly.

       “Good.” You clasped your thighs together, sending the intense vibrations exactly where you wanted them. “Really good.”

He followed your lead, cupping you and pressing his fingers up into you to make the sensations even stronger. “And you’ll tell me if it gets to be too much?”

       “Yes.”

From there, he let you enjoy it. You were free to wriggle around, circling your hips and grinding into the little toy for brief, quaking flirtations while his fingers roamed over your body. He brushed your hair away from your face and neck so his lips could explore and his teeth could spur you on. 

Still, it was his hands that did the heavy lifting. In the competition of giving you the most pleasure, his rough palms and strong fingers rivaled even the vibrator that rocked against your core. He thumbed at your breasts, rubbing the nipples that grew from smooth valleys, to hills, and then to pointed, pink peaks. After thoroughly kneading the surrounding landscape, he moved south to your bottom, pushing and pulling at the globes there. He spread your cheeks, and like a thief, slid his middle finger between your folds to gather your wetness and bring it back closer to him. Your slick coated his finger as he circled your puckered hole with enough pressure to leave you whining his name.

       “Kíli, please. I need more.”

He rubbed harder as your juices pooled around your holes. “More than this?”

       “Yes.”

You were past the point of teasing. You needed constant pressure. You needed-

You reached behind your back and took his erection in your hand, giving it a few long, yet tight strokes. The flesh was hot and rigid and wet of its own accord- dripping with precome.

       “Kíli,” you whined, guiding him to you.

       “Ah, ah, ah,” he admonished as if you were a child with a handful of sweets before supper, instead of his lover with a handful of his hard cock. “Not yet, my love. Hands to yourself now.”

But he defied his own rules. His arms surrounded you, pulling you back into his chest, even further into his overheated body- into soft, furry skin over hard muscle. A hand slid down your back and guided his member between your legs. As he thrust forward, his lipped head pushed past your gushing folds and pressed the toy up into your clit, sending the shared sensations into his own sensitive tip as well. 

He jerked away from it, pulling his erection backwards until his entire shaft was free from the hot encasement of your soft legs. 

       “Still don’t want my hands?” you asked, teasing him, guessing the vibrations were too much for him.

But Kíli never gave up a game very easily.

His only answer was a groan in your ear as he thrust forward again, partaking in the pleasure of the toy and your shared arousal.

       “Fuck, baby,” he said at the squelching sound his movement made. “This thing’s got you wet.”

       “Your fault too.”

He gave a proud hum. It was the same sound he made when Dwalin commented on his hand whittled arrow stuck straight in the bullseye, or when Thorin set a heavy hand on his shoulder after an afternoon in the forge. It made frequent appearances in bed as well, after a much deserved song of praise.

His palpable pride sent a rush of possessiveness through you, even while you were so lost in his ministrations and so close to your finish. Your hands clenched around his arms like iron shackles, barring him to you as he continued to thrust against your shining skin. Each time he drew back, you could feel strings of your slick tying the raven curls above his cock to your backside. It made your mind wander to the exploration of his fingers earlier in your tryst.

You wanted him to return there, to the uncharted territory. Reaching back to release his hand from its grip on your hip, you moved his fingers between your legs once more. You asked for it.

He immediately found your soaked asshole once again and stroked it for you.

       “You like this?” he asked. The little hole winked at him as he touched it, squeezing hard each time his cock head pushed the vibrator closer to your clit. “This feel good?”

You moaned your confirmation, arching your back and pushing into his hand. 

You couldn’t see him behind you, but it was clear to you that he must have contorted himself to pleasure you like this- stimulating this new pleasure point and driving through your thighs to help the vibrator between your folds. The things he did for you, to make you feel good. He’d stop at nothing. It made your hips stutter and your mind whirl, drifting off into a lustful cloud of What was he thinking? Did he like it, did he want this too?

You guessed he did. His knees wobbled against the backs of your legs, shaking from the intensity as he pressed his long, thick finger against the wet rim of your hole until it fell inside. A hiss escaped him then and your mind raced. Did he feel the same desire? The urge to stretch you? You certainly felt that. It sent a jolt through your gut and into your core.

       “Yes, Kíli, please,”

He cursed- loud and short and almost unrecognizable- as his next finger massaged your hole. You knew he’d pulled away to watch his own movement there, and it gave him the leverage to thrust past your thighs and up into your folds with more vigor. The pressure of the vibrations was even more consistent, which pushed you further and further towards the edge. 

Kíli, however, was gone. Between these new discoveries and the confinement of your thighs around his sensitive cock, he lost himself in pleasure. He held tight to your hips, clutching your softness into his own searing skin as he came over your thighs with those addictive, deep grunts you were sure only Kíli could make so delicious.

After yanking himself away from overexertion, he replaced his hot cock with his hand to provide the backboard for you to press yourself against and grind on the vibrator.

       “Come for me, baby,” Kíli said to you. He pressed his own spunk into your skin as you rubbed against him. “Fuck.”

It didn’t take long for your orgasm to travel upwards from your toes. As you pushed against Kíli’s come filled palm, leaving tracks in the bed sheets with your nails, you groaned his name and came on the toy, on his hands, and in his arms. He took perfect care of you, helping you ride out your high and moving the vibrator off of your clit just in time before it could painfully overstimulate you.

You sighed deeply when he relieved you of the intense vibrations. After rolling close to him, your hand found his cheek in a caress brimming with a sweetness that rivaled the rough treatment that same hand had given the sheets just a moment ago.

He kissed you. “You’re feeling very generous today, hm?” he asked.

       “As I said, my love. Anything you want.”

A smile spread over his face. Wide, cheeky, and wolfish. “Well, then. We have some new things to try.” 

He dove to your neck, placing light, tickling kisses all over your skin and leaving you squealing laughing into his wild hair.

--

@emrfangirl @misslongcep @raindancer2004 @ladybugg1235 @xxbyimm @burningcoffeetimetravel @fire-flv @nerdbirdsworld @dashesofink @teagarages @dreams-of-wander  @tumblinglringlring @fxngsfogxarty​ @specialagentsnark​  @karlthecat15722​ @sagabriar​ @marymegger​ @aidan-kili-mitchell-forever​  @cassiabaggins​ @guardianofrivendell​ @lathalea​ @dark-angel-is-back @c-s-stars

[heauxplesslydevoted]

Three’s Company

Summary: Naomi goes to lunch with the newest member of the diagnostic’s team.

A/N: Listen, I will not rest until Tobias and Ethan are friends again.

~v~

“It’s not going to be as bad as you’re making it out to be, Ethan. Above all else, Tobias Carrick is a doctor and a professional.”

Ethan resists the urge to roll his eyes at his girlfriend. This situation isn’t her fault, and it’s not like Naomi can help the fact that she’s optimistic. He still huffs under his breath though. “Being a doctor isn’t synonymous with being a professional. Trust me, Tobias is nothing of the sort.”

The news of Tobias Carrick not only coming to Edenbrook but also joining the diagnostics team hasn’t been well received. On top of a pretty tense exchange between Bloom and Ethan, Harper also made it known that she wasn’t a fan, thankfully not as outwardly as Ethan had.

Naomi however, has remained neutral. She doesn’t have history with Tobias like Harper and Ethan do, only knowing him through their biased second hand accounts. Ethan grumbled that he’s arrogant–though the same can be said about him as well–and selfish, but Naomi isn’t one to judge someone without knowing them. And besides, he pitched in to help save her last year, so for the time being, Tobias Carrick has a few brownie points with her.

“You’re being dramatic. He’s been a doctor as long as you have, he went to the same prestigious medical school that you did–”

“He graduated at number two,” Ethan interjects.

At that dig, Naomi huffs. “You’re being ridiculous. And petty, for no reason.”

“Bloom went over our heads and hired him, so I’m automatically suspicious. I apologize for not believing this wasn’t done specifically to annoy me.”

Naomi can concede to it being a bit suspicious, but she isn’t going to admit to this conspiracy of all roads leading back to Ethan. She’s not going to needlessly feed into his ego and rile him up.

The two of them continue their trek throughout the halls of Edenbrook in silence, their fingers loosely interlocked the entire way there. Naomi revels in it, because she knows it’s the calm before the storm.

Before they cross the threshold to the office, Naomi stops Ethan in his tracks. She cranes her head back so they can look each other in the eye. “Listen, like it or not, Tobias is here, and until he does something that warrants your hostility, at least be cordial. Our patients don’t deserve us at anything less than our best.”

Ethan pinches the bridge of his nose, and silently counts to three, attempting to steel himself.

“Fine.”

“Thank you.” Raising their joined hands, Naomi brushes a fleeting kiss across his knuckles. “Now stop pouting, Ramsey, we have work to do.”

Ethan untangles their hands only to open the door for Naomi. Once she steps inside she’s greeted with the sight of Tobias fiddling with Ethan’s coffee maker. He looks and flashes them a sly smile. “Mornin’, lovebirds! Ready to get to diagnosing?”

Ethan flashes Naomi a quick look. This is going to be a long day indeed.

~v~

So Tobias’s first day with the team wasn’t smooth sailing like Naomi wanted. Ethan and Harper made it clear that his former friend and roommate wasn’t wanted anywhere near the team, whether it be through passive aggressive eye rolls, thinly-veiled exasperated sighs, or outright aggression via Ethan that spiraled into a tense argument. Naomi remained neutral, corralling all of the attention back to the task at hand: helping their patient.

Naomi isn’t interested in spending another day babysitting these grown adults, so hopefully day 2 is a lot more smooth.

And so far, she seems to be getting her wish. Morning tasks were distributed without a fight, and after their morning huddle, Harper went downstairs to prep for a surgery she has coming up later. The remaining 3 members of the team are all in their own little corners of the office, Ethan typing away on his laptop, Tobias lounging on the couch, and Naomi sitting at their large desk, a pile of books and printed copies of online articles all spread out in front of her.

The words are all starting to blur together, her focus slipping away with each second that ticks on. Being in the office isn’t doing anything for her creativity or brainstorming power. She needs a break.

Naomi closes her textbook and pushes out of her seat, tired of studying. She makes her way over to Ethan’s desk, observing his hunched shoulders and the deep line between his brows. She rounds his desk until she’s standing directly in his line of vision. “You know what? I think it’s time to take a break. How about you and I get out of here and get something to eat?”

Ethan tears his eyes away from his computer screen long enough to look at Naomi. He frowns softly. “I’m sorry, but I’ll have to take a raincheck. On top of the actual work I have to do for this team, Leland is demanding that I put together a presentation for the board meeting at the end of the week.”

“About what?”

“About the team. Cost versus benefit, outcomes, methodology, etc. Basically, he wants me to sell the diagnostics team to him all over again.”

“Sucks to be the boss at times?”

“De facto boss,” Ethan corrects. “Remember, this team is supposed to be a democracy now. Anyway, I want to get this presentation done as quickly as I can so I can stop thinking about it.”

“I could go for some lunch,” the third person in the room speaks up. Naomi and Ethan both turn around and see Tobias staring back at them. “Oh sorry, am I interrupting the private conversation the two of you are trying to have in our communal workspace?”

“What do you want, Carrick?”

Tobias’s eyes bounce back and forth between the couple. “Naomi wants to escape these four walls and get food. You aren’t available, and I am.” He shrugs. “What are you in the mood for, Valentine? I could go for some Italian, and there’s a good place a few blocks from here.”

“She’s not going to lunch with you,” Ethan grits out possessively. 

Naomi’s head whips around faster than she can stop herself. Since when did he get to make decisions on her behalf, especially when it’s not work related?

A small smirk settles on Tobias’s face. Naomi’s physical response to Ethan’s declaration does not go unnoticed by him. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know your name was also Naomi Valentine. Whatever the case, I wasn’t speaking to you.”

“Naomi doesn’t–”

“Naomi doesn’t need an advocate to speak on her behalf because she’s an adult,” Naomi interjects sharply.

Whether she wants to accept or decline Tobias’s invitation to lunch, it’s her decision to make, not Ethan’s. His tumultuous relationship with Tobias is not her burden to bear, and he’s not going to force it upon her.

And just to prove it to him, Naomi turns around, her full attention back on Tobias, eyes alight with defiance. “You know what? Italian sounds delicious.”

~v~

20 minutes later, the unlikely duo is nestled into a corner booth of the Italian restaurant Tobias suggested. It’s a nice family owned joint that is currently experiencing a lunch rush. Every inch of the place is bustling with activity, the aromatic smell of sautéed garlic fills the air, soft music playing in the background. And while Naomi has yet to try the food, the restaurant is warm and inviting, and she likes it.

“You know, I’m really shocked you decided to take me up on my offer,” Tobias says, cutting into Naomi’s silent appraisal of their surroundings.

“I wasn’t going to turn down a free meal,” Naomi responds smoothly.

“A free meal?”

“Of course. You invited yourself, so you’re paying, Dr. Carrick. I’m thinking of ordering dessert, too.”

An easygoing smile tugs at the corners of her mouth as she speaks, and Tobias laughs. “I meant it because loverboy wasn’t too happy with it.”

“As much as I respect Ethan’s opinions on things, they don’t dictate my life. His issues with you have nothing to do with me, and if you think you can use me as a pawn to piss him off further, I’d advise you to think again.”

This young woman is brazen and full of sass. Tobias likes it. “It wasn’t my intention, I swear. It’s no secret that I’m not a welcomed member of the team, and you happen to be the only one who doesn’t roll your eyes or sneer whenever I speak. You are the closest thing I have to an...acquaintance, I guess.”

Naomi’s defenses deflate slightly at his shocking display of earnestness. She was expecting some display of bravado from the attending, so this has thrown her for a loop.

Tobias is nervous. She picks up on that energy almost instantly.

“Well like I said, their issues with you have nothing to do with me. I try to give everyone a fair shake.”

“I can respect that.”

“But in the interest of said fair shake, you have to answer a question for me. What are you doing here?”

“Here, in this restaurant?”

“At Edenbrook,” Naomi clarifies. “Kenmore is a level one trauma center, it was saved from getting snuffed out when it merged with Solomon, you guys stole my research candidate which brought in a lot of grant money. You had a decent gig there, so why did you come to Edenbrook? Why did you accept a position on Ethan’s team?”

Tobias shrugs. “I hit my threshold at Kenmore. I was at the top of the food chain, I had seen everything there was to see, done everything there was to do. I was...bored and restless. Edenbrook got injected with new blood, everything is new and exciting. Bloom said he wanted to take the team to new heights, and he offered me more money than I know what to do with to be a part of the vision.”

“Okay so who’s to say you’ll be satisfied just being a member of the team? How do I know you won’t attempt to stage a coup and take Ethan’s position?”

“Relax, sweetheart, I’m not gunning for your boyfriend’s spot.”

“Don’t call me sweetheart. There’s no need to be condescending.”

“I apologize. But Ethan’s spot on the team is safe. I don’t need Leland breathing down my neck and micromanaging me the way he does Ethan.”

Naomi’s eyes roam his face. He doesn’t have any tells, no eye shifting or twitching, no sudden movements with his hands or mouth, he doesn’t fidget in his seat. She has no reason to believe he’s lying, so she takes him at his word. “Okay.”

“Any other burning questions?”

“Why aren’t you and Ethan friends?”

Tobias doesn’t immediately answer, opting to take his sweet time to think on it. He pulls his lip in-between his teeth, before shrugging. “We’re too similar. Too driven, too ambitious, too stubborn. Two people can only go on the same path for so long before a collision happens.”

“It got ugly because you two wanted the same girl?”

Tobias scoffs. The faceless woman that he was adamant that he was in love with is at the bottom of his list of concerns. “She was just the tip of the iceberg.”

That manages to catch her interest. Naomi sits up in her seat and leans forward slightly. “So what happened?”

Naomi can see the exact moment that Tobias withdraws from the conversation. His posture gets stiff again and he averts his gaze.

“Okay, riddle me this, Carrick,” Naomi continues. “Ethan told me he reached out to you after you had your falling out, but you rebuffed him. Is that part true?”

“He called and asked if we could talk, I said no. I didn’t hear from him again until everything happened with Leland last year.”

“You didn’t want to make amends?”

Making amends and having his old friend back did sound nice once upon a time, but being friends with Ethan again means being in his shadow again. And that’s what led them to this whole thing in the first place. Tobias sighs and scrubs his hand across his jaw. He came here to eat a plate of ravioli and maybe annoy Ethan, not pour his heart out. What is it about Naomi Valentine and those big brown eyes of hers that makes him want to twist himself inside out and spill his guts? Is she some sort of siren?

“Making amends means I’d have to own up to my wrongdoings. I’d have to swallow the fact that I torpedoed our friendship,” Tobias confesses before he even realizes the words are out of his mouth. “Admitting fault and being vulnerable isn’t my strong suit.”

She doesn’t mean to, but Naomi giggles. And that giggle turns into a laugh. A loud one that attracts the attention of a few patrons, a hard feat to accomplish in the middle of a bustling restaurant, but she does it with ease.

“I’m sorry,” Naomi says once she finally calms down. She takes a deep breath before continuing. “God, no wonder you two were best friends. You are just as emotionally constipated as Ethan.”

“Emotionally constipated?” Tobias’s eyebrows shoot to his hairline at the blunt statement. And once the shock wears off, he laughs along with. “Touché, Valentine. Touché.”

~v~

Across the way, at the bar on the other side of the dining room, Ethan watches as his girlfriend and his former friend carry on like two bosom buddies. 

Ethan decided to follow them approximately 10 minutes after they left, sheer curiosity getting the better of him. Before he could stop himself, he was in his car and at the restaurant, seated far enough away from them so he’s out of their line of vision, but close enough to see.

Naomi is in the zone, talking excitedly and Tobias sits there, soaking it all up like what she says and does is gospel. Their friendly interaction stirs irritation in the pit of his stomach, but it’s when Naomi lets out a boisterous laugh does he reach his limit. Ethan’s grip on the small tumbler in his hand tightens, and it’s a miracle he doesn’t end up with a million tiny shards of glass in his palm.

What on earth has Tobias said to make Naomi laugh like that? And why is he laughing with her?

Ethan doesn’t like it one bit, for a multitude of reasons. He doesn’t like other men being around Naomi–it’s ridiculous and sexist of him to feel this way, but Ethan is a possessive caveman, and he makes no bones about it. Seeing her actually laughing with Carrick of all people and enjoying his company makes him want to throw the drink ware he’s currently holding.

Deciding enough is enough, Ethan slams the glass down onto the bar and stands up. After dropping a $20 bill on the counter he makes his way over to Naomi and Tobias, unadulterated jealousy and alcohol fueling every step.

Tobias notices him first, and he jerks his head in Ethan’s general direction in order to get Naomi’s attention. She turns around and her eyes go wide at the sight of Ethan.

“Ethan? What are you doing here?”

“I was in the neighborhood.”

Now her eyes are narrowed. “You finished that big presentation you had to work on?”

Ethan sniffs haughtily. Leave it to her to throw that back in his face. “I decided that a break was okay.”

“And you coincidentally ended up at this restaurant?”

“Yup.”

Naomi stands up, muttering a quick “excuse me,” in Tobias’s direction and grabs Ethan’s hand, pulling him away. They nestle into a quiet corner of the restaurant, far away from the table, closer to the kitchen. The door constantly swings open and closed, as the waitstaff goes in and out.

Once they get a moment of quiet, Naomi glares at Ethan, the expression on her face nothing short of annoyed. “Are you spying on me? Because spying on me implies that you don’t trust me.”

“What? Of course I trust you!”

“So what are you doing here, Ethan?”

Ethan bites the inside of his cheek and rocks on the balls of his feet. “Okay, so I was spying.” Naomi opens her mouth to say something, but Ethan beats her to the punch. “It’s not because I don’t trust you! It’s him that I don’t trust.”

“Tobias has been nothing short of a gentleman,” Naomi says and Ethan snorts. “He’s acting a lot of a lot more mature than you are, I can say that much.”

“That’s not fair.”

“No, what’s not fair is you treating him like he’s a criminal when he’s given you no reason to do so.”

“He’s given me plenty of reason, Naomi!”

“The last time we saw Tobias, I was near death and he helped save my life,” Naomi says, and that’s more than enough to get Ethan to shut up.

Ethan’s heart slams against his rib cage with enough force to make him think the organ is trying to leave his body. Months have passed since the assassination attempt, but the mention of it is enough to cause Ethan to go into a panic.

“And the time before that, we stole a patient right out from under him, and before that we got into a fight at a freaking hospital softball game,” Naomi continues. “You haven’t been all good, and he hasn’t been all bad, so stop pretending to have the moral high ground.”

“This past year, you made a lot of strides in your personal life. You battled a lot with your mom, but you came out of it, a more well rounded individual, so do not let Tobias’s presence cause you to backslide. I’m not saying he has to be your best friend, but I refuse to tolerate this type of nonsense past today.”

He takes a moment to digest what she’s saying, begrudgingly of course because he doesn’t really want to admit that he hasn’t been behaving like the mature, adult professional that he usually is.

Ethan nods and places a kiss on Naomi’s forehead, his lips lingering there.

“Are you listening to me?”

Ethan kisses the apples of her cheeks, inwardly smirking as he feels Naomi smile. “I promise you that I’ll keep myself in check from now on.”

“And if you don’t, I will.”

The threat causes Ethan to lose focus. She clearly doesn’t mean it in a seductive way, but he can’t help that his brain instantly goes to the gutter when she’s involved. Now he wants nothing more than to be alone with her, with any flat surface readily available.

“Yes ma’am,” Ethan murmurs before capturing her lips with his own.

Naomi doesn’t allow herself to get swept up in the kiss, because she knows Ethan is using it to distract her. She untangles herself from his grip and pulls away before he’s able to get any more leverage.

“Can we go back to the office now?” Ethan asks.

“Absolutely not. I came here to have lunch, so we’re having lunch.”

Ethan frowns. “You still want to go through with this?”

“I didn’t come here to teach you a lesson, and I’m actually enjoying Tobias’s company, so I’m staying. And you’re staying here too.”

“No.”

“You followed me here, you don’t have a choice.”

Ethan reluctantly follows Naomi back to the table, where Tobias is studying the menu. He doesn’t even look up when he hears footsteps approaching. “I’m debating on if I want the ravioli or the chicken parm, which one–” his voice falters as he sees Ethan.

“Look who’s decided to join us for lunch!” Naomi says brightly, steamrolling over the building tension. She pushes Ethan into an empty chair, not giving him a second to turn away.

Tobias opens his mouth to object, “But–”

“I’m going to head to the restroom,” Naomi says. “And one of you guys is ordering me a limoncello, because Tobias is treating.”

She flounces off, not giving either man a chance to respond or argue with her.

Tobias laughs. “Is she always like this? So bossy?”

“Naomi is unapologetically assertive,” Ethan corrects. “She makes no bones about it.”

“The scary part about it is I’m 100 percent going to order her a limoncello, because she’s not the type of person you say no to.”

This time it’s Ethan’s turn to laugh. It’s nice to know he’s not the only unsuspecting sap that cannot say no when Naomi turns on her charm.

Once the laughter tapers off, the former friends are plunged into silence. Ethan checks the time on his watch, watching the seconds stretch on. He needs Naomi to come back. Seriously, how long does it take to use the restroom? He spares a quick glance at Tobias, who’s pointedly not making eye contact with him either.

Eventually Tobias speaks up, “Look, I didn’t come to Edenbrook to cause any trouble. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity that came with more money than I could count.”

“Naveen started this team with the most honorable of intentions,” Ethan says. “This was his life’s work, and he entrusted me with it. You cannot possibly understand the loyalty I have to him, so forgive me if I’m extremely protective over it and skeptical of your motives, which haven’t always been pure.”

“I’m just here to save lives, and work on the most fascinating medical cases of our generation. I know how important this team is, and I’d never intentionally disrespect Naveen like that.”

Ethan nods. That’s all he can really ask of Tobias. “Then I guess we’re good.”

“Good.”

“Great.”

Another beat of silence passes and Tobias awkwardly drums his fingers along the stem of his water glass. “So...you and Valentine?”

The question is out of left field and Ethan’s brows furrow in confusion. “Uh, yeah, me and Valentine.”

“I like her,” Tobias says definitively. When Ethan glares at him, Tobias rolls his eyes. “Not like that. Relax, I get it loud and clear that she’s off limits. Besides, I know you’re head over heels in love with her.”

A scarlet flush creeps up Ethan’s neck at Tobias’s matter of fact declaration. “Love? I’m...we don’t...I don’t–”

Tobias smirks. “Oh man. You’ve got it bad.”

That much, Ethan is willing to share. “Yeah, I do.”

“Naomi did say we’re both emotionally constipated, and that blubbering you just did proves her point,” Tobias teases. “But don’t worry, your secret is safe with me.”

The L-word has floated around in the back of Ethan’s mind for months, but he’s always been able to squash it down, locking it away in the deepest recesses of his brain. But hearing someone else say it is something entirely different. Ethan can’t run away from the thought.

Tobias has known since last year. He suspected something when Ethan came to defense during the softball game, but it was confirmed as soon as he saw them together after the incident with the senator. He had never seen Ethan so out of sorts, not even when they competed for the affections of the same woman back in school. Naomi is different. She has the power to bring Ethan to his knees.

“I hope you know that you’re punching way above your weight with that one,” Tobias adds teasingly.

It’s something Ethan thinks about constantly. Naomi could do so much better than him, but every day she chooses him. “Absolutely.”

“And for what it’s worth, she’s just as much into you. The woman gives you heart eyes whenever you’re around. It’s disgusting, to be quite frank.”

The sentence warms Ethan from the inside out. He’ll never get over knowing Naomi wants him just as much as he wants her.

Thankfully Naomi chooses that moment to come back to the table, giving the men something else to focus their attention on. She settles into a seat next to Ethan, and he immediately wraps an arm around her, his fingertips stroking her arm. Tobias observes the fleeting moment of intimacy with a private smile.

Naomi’s eyes flicker back and forth between the men. “Everything okay over here?”

Tobias and Ethan both look at each other, a silent moment of understanding passing between them. Ethan nods. “Everything is fine.”

Naomi smiles. Maybe there’s hope for them yet. “Good. Now let’s flag down a waiter and get some food.”

~v~

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