#prime reader insert material right here

[gifti3]

Arranged marriage au with asmo

I need asmo to be in some type of royal otome slowburn manhwa

ramblings ramblings

the drama guys....the DRAMA! dont tell me a bunch of nonsense wouldnt happen

remember the post where i was like indifferent/passive aggressive asmo becoming curious about the MC fics are peak

similar thing is happening here! honestly i think theres some resentment coming from asmos side at first but mc is like ay....you do ur thing and i do mine

im not gonna make u do anything u dont want, i dont have any expectations from this arrangement. lets just try not to make each of our lives hell u know

lol i bet when asmo first meets MC after finding out that hes supposed to marry them he's like thinking "......ig theyre not that bad looking"😒 (he literally would have been flirting with them in any other circumstance)

hmmm mc needs to be apart of a pretty influential family i think since this is gonna be a political type marriage

and asmo,,,,i feel like he doesnt really engage in the specifics when it comes to politics or anything. it's just not something thats important to him. he has his side hobbies and business endeavors that cares about. But topics outside of those things are left up to his family

so perhaps one day, the head of the family (i wanna say lucifer but since i want the person in this role to give off more a mysterious vibe, where his word is final michael might be a better choice) is like... this specific family...theyre kinda important and we want them on our side so get married to their eldest who has rejected every other person ever but has agreed to marry and since u dont do much when it comes to political affairs im gonna have you do this whether you want to or not

and asmo is just like....HUH he tries to get lucifer to help him out here but lucifers like...yea dads not budging sorry lil bro (he doesnt say it like that but similar sentiment lmao)

now mc never really wanted to get married cause they didnt wanna have to go through the motions against their will and they like their life as is but their parents have been breathing down their neck about marriage for years now. And now that this BIG opportunity has present itself to their parents, it feels like the pressure is really on now! at first mc is like shit...idk if i can weasel my way outta this one

and then......they realized that maybe this could probably work out in their favor actually.....

mc agreed to married him cause asmo has a bit of a reputation as a partier and a playboy

with asmo they feel like things can stay as they are for the most part if they let him continue to do as he pleases (not like they could have stopped him if they wanted to lol)

everything can be the same, they can still live their own separate lives, just now they have the title of spouses!

and thats the plan, like i said before asmo comes in being a bit rude at first but it kinda changes to indifference and a little passive aggressiveness once MC is like...yo chill im not gonna shit on ur parade. i just wanna be left to my own things. you do you sir

yes thats the plan...thats supposed to be the plan and it was going as mc expected for a good while

but as we know if u put something or someone in front of asmo enough times hes gonna get curious

[magicalbats]

never fallen from quite this high

Rating: R/18+

Word count: 21490

Warnings: afab!reader, chubby reader, size difference, age difference, desk sex, missionary position, cunnilingus, barebacking, vaginal fingering, cum eating, a hint of enemies to lovers

A/N: I put my whole badussy into this one, guys vmsksjfe I hope ya'll enjoy the fic, and major shoutout to my longtime friend, fellow writer and quality checker for this piece @abbacchiosbelt! Everyone should make sure to check out her page while you're here! She's got plenty of goodies for you to sink your teeth into!

⭐

As far as meetings in the back office of the Northland Bank were concerned, this one was an unmitigated disaster. 

The young man seated across the table had blown in like a veritable typhoon late that morning when the sun was just short of reaching its zenith. He came with neither a formal missive or a courier to precede his arrival, catching all the Snezhnayan natives off guard and woefully ill prepared. It wasn’t hard to figure out that the branch director, a stout bespectacled man in his middle years, hadn’t known he would be coming given the way he’d nearly fallen over in a dead faint at the first sight of him. It was almost nonstop chaos after that as everyone rushed about to prepare fresh coffee and snacks, and to arrange lodgings for their guest. A few staff members even quietly slipped off at the director's behest to double check that everything was in order behind the scenes, silently disappearing off into the shadows like phantoms returning to their dark crypts.  

You hadn’t been sure what to make of it all at first, but had quickly caught on that this was someone important in their ranks. Someone with a great deal of power and influence who was in all likelihood a dangerous individual no matter how disarming his easy smiles were. 

But, truth be told, the mysterious man didn’t look like much no matter how you tried to discreetly size him up from a distance. He was tall yet lanky in build, moving with the thinly veiled grace of a warrior — or perhaps a dancer, but your mora was on the former if he was able to work everyone up into such a frenzy just by showing his face. And despite his lean physique, you could tell he was indeed quite strong simply by the way he carried himself, all boldfaced confidence and self assured the way only a man in his prime could pull off. He was definitely trouble. 

And you wanted absolutely nothing to do with him. You were just the PR ambassador, after all, and a token one at that. Your job was to help foster good relations between the icy foreigners and your fellow Liyuean’s, not to insert your nose in business it didn’t belong. 

With that in mind, you’d tried to beat a hasty retreat before anyone could notice your presence and subsequent absence, but the director was a crafty one indeed. You barely made it two full steps before he was suddenly right there beside you, as if he’d materialized out of thin air to cut off your escape route. Summarily ignoring your protests, he’d dragged you with him towards the conference room nestled in the far back of the building where the unknown youth was already waiting, depthless blue eyes dancing with good humor and mirth. The click of the door behind you had sounded like a death sentence.  

The following half hour was occupied (to your surprise) primarily with pleasant niceties and intermittent toasts over that potent firewater Snezhnayan’s seemed to like so much, but which you had primly declined. Even if the stuff didn’t make you gag at just a thought, the current situation was a bit too uncertain for you to risk compromising your faculties like that. None of the northerners in the room seemed to bat an eye at it though; not the director or his personal secretary, nor the ginger haired man who was evidently known to his colleagues as Childe. He seemed almost too casual about everything — the drinks and the banter, and the fond reminiscences of their homeland casually passed between them — to be here on official matters of business. You soon concluded that it was a personal visit, then. Perhaps even a holiday of sorts. 

You’re quickly proven wrong, however, when he unceremoniously flips everything on its head with the procurement of a sealed parchment from somewhere on his person. The director’s reaction to its contents was a stark one and it made you sit up straighter in your seat, half prepared to bolt for the exit should the need arise. But the next few minutes are a terse, confusing whirlwind as the three foreigners revert to their mother tongue, trading rapid volleys back and forth while the director’s tone of voice grows increasingly more tremulous by the minute, and you aren’t quite sure what’s going on anymore. You’re almost convinced that a fight is going to break out at any moment but a surreptitious glance at Childe shows him still at ease, apparently not even invested enough in the discord he’s sewn to give the other man his full attention. Rather, you catch him grinning over at you. 

“Is he always like this?” He poses the question lightly, the lilt in his voice bordering on playful, but you don’t trust it. Not by a long shot. 

The director sputters in thinly veiled offense but you ignore him completely, much more concerned about the yet unknown danger sitting across the table. Making a valiant effort to keep your expression pleasant and neutral, you offer Childe a polite smile. “Not usually.” 

He quirks a brow at that vague non-answer but doesn’t comment on it, swiveling his attention back around to the issue at hand. Finally pulling himself out of his confident slouch, he sits forward to take up the crystalline glass decanter sitting just within reach so he can pour more of that pungent drink into first the director’s cup and then his own. “Come now, old friend. Is this really something to get so worked up about? And right in front of our Liyuean guest too …” 

The director cuts you a sharp, slicing look and you get the sense that he was regretting the decision to drag you back here for this impromptu meeting, visibly struggling to rein his temper in with a deep, bullish exhale. Serves him right, you think bitterly to yourself. You never had any business sitting in on this bizarre exchange in the first place. 

“Apologies, my lord. I did not mean to forget my manners,” Another brief glance over at you, as if he were trying to warn you to keep your head down. As if you really needed any further incentive to do just that. “However, it is my deepest regret to inform you that I’m not confident if this branch of the Northland Bank has the means to accommodate your, ah … needs.”

Slowly, Childe lifts his strange eyes to pin the director with a look that sends shivers racing down your spine. You’d been relatively certain he was far more dangerous than he outwardly appeared but this was something far beyond even what you had anticipated. How did someone so young, still in the prime of his youth with his whole life ahead of him, manage to embody such a deep, dark sense of foreboding at the drop of a coin? 

“What are you saying, Krzysiek? Are we not in Liyue, the very birthplace of mora? There should be plenty to spare in your vaults.” 

The director hurriedly rushes to amend himself, trying to play it off with a laugh. “Yes, my lord. Of course, that is all indeed true. But even the amount of mora in circulation at any given time has its limits. You see, if I were to give you this very large sum here and now,” the director pointedly taps the parchment in his hand with a worn finger. “Then there won’t be anything at all left in our reserves. We wouldn’t be able to give out any new loans, pay our staff their wages or even let any of our customers withdraw from their accounts. I can’t imagine the owner of the bank would appreciate that very much, so I’m sure you understand my hesitation.” 

Mouth opening in surprise when you realize just how large a sum the request must be, you eagerly swing your head towards Childe in anticipation of his next response. 

Luckily for you, he doesn’t even seem to notice with the whole of his attention fixed singularly on the director, and you watch in something not unlike fascination as he slowly leans forward in his seat. “Are you an idiot? It was Regrator himself who signed that order.” He growls, flashing pretty white teeth. “Check it again, maybe a little more carefully this time. I’m not some lackey trying to pull one over on you.” 

“Certainly not, my lord. I never suggested - -“ 

“You may report directly to my colleague but I’m still a Harbinger, Krzysiek. I think Regrator would like your lack of foresight even less than not being able to let people take out withdraws.” 

A pair of sharp gasps echo inside the room and, in almost perfect unison, the director and his secretary both turn twin looks of horror on you. 

Pulse stuttering, you pointedly keep your expression blank even while the urge to reel back in shock threatens to overpower you. You’d heard rumor of the Tsaritsa’s Harbingers, whispers of their great influence and even greater strength, but the Snezhnayan’s stationed in Liyue weren’t very forthcoming about any of the details or specifics. You’d also never seen one in person before and hadn’t thought it was even possible for one to be so young as this. Childe looked like he was perhaps only a few years younger than you … three, or perhaps even four, but yet he held a title so grand? 

And judging by the way they were looking at you, you probably weren’t supposed to know that. 

Following their line of sight, Childe glances over at you and smiles. “Ah, you’re worried about our little guest here spilling the beans? People will soon start to gossip amongst themselves anyway, so I don’t think it really matters.” His boyish grin fades as he turns his attention back to the director again, tone losing all of its mirth. “I’d say you have much more pressing concerns right now.” 

Nervously, the director drags a stiff hand over his mouth to wipe away the beads of sweat starting to form along his upper lip. “Yes, my lord. Of course. You are correct.” He pauses to clear his throat. “I’m sure we can find a satisfactory compromise. Please allow me a chance to correspond with, ah, my lord directly and confirm his wishes first. Surely there are things you’d like to see or do while you’re in Liyue? This will at least give you the chance to explore the city at your own leisure while I await his response.” 

“You mean to further waste my time, Krzysiek? Is that it?” 

“No, not at all! I would never dream of such a thing and that is precisely why I brought her along.” He gestures at you then, making your back snap straight as board. You don’t think you can hide it any longer, the dread curling like a venomous serpent low in your gut, but if he sees any of the thinly veiled terror in your face he doesn’t acknowledge it. “As I said earlier, this is our personal relations ambassador at the branch and she knows the city like the back of her hand. Why, I dare say there isn’t a single stone she doesn’t know the history of. You’ll have your own personal tour guide to show you everything you might ever wish to see while you’re here.” 

Your mouth drops open in abject shock. You hadn’t agreed to that. Wouldn’t have even if he’d asked, not now and not in a million years. Not ever. 

But Childe turns his head before you can protest and anything you might have said catches in your throat when he gives you a chilling once over. Gradually, his expression thaws and his shoulders relax as he reclines back into his seat with a long suffering sigh for effect. “Fine. You have three days to get your clearance directly from Regrator then. That’s how long I was planning to stay in Liyue anyway so it doesn’t exactly change anything, although I still don’t understand why his signature on that letter won’t just as well suffice.” 

“My sincerest apologies, my lord. I only wish to make absolutely certain I do not go against his wishes in meeting yours.” The director reaches out to hold his cup up to Childe who disinterestedly eyes it for a beat before doing the same with his own, much to the older man’s visible relief. “Our ambassador will take good care of you, and see that your every need is met during your stay. This I swear on Snezhnaya’s honor.” 

“Enough, Krzysiek.” Childe grumps, clinking their glasses together. “Just don’t come up short handed when everything is said and done.” 

You watch them drink to it, tossing their heads back almost simultaneously to swallow down that deceptively clear liquid with neither a grimace or a seething hiss to show for its potency. It’s as if it doesn’t even register in their minds but you, on the other hand, felt disproportionately nauseous considering you hadn’t had so much as a sip of their aptly named firewater. You didn’t even really understand what was happening or how things had gotten to this point but if there was one singular truth you were sure of it was this: 

You desperately needed to find some way out of it. 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Dejectedly, you hand the fresh grilled skewer of fish out to Childe who takes it with a smile and a quick word of thanks. He doesn’t even stop long enough to blow on the visibly hot meat before biting into it, and you watch him huff and puff between chews to let some of the steam escape from his puckered lips before quickly swallowing it down. Your patience with him was fast unraveling, and not even because of his questionable manners. If you were honest with yourself you would have had to admit that he was frustratingly charming in a boyish, borderline clumsy sort of way. Cute, even. 

But your desperate attempt to weasel your way out of this had fallen on deaf ears, the director insistent that you were the only person in all of Liyue who could possibly play tour guide for the visiting Harbinger. You’d begged, pleaded and even threatened to resign from your position at the Northland Bank right then and there if that was what it would take for you to avoid having to deal with the situation any longer. The director had finally wavered at that, looking like he might be slowly coming around, but before he could actually relieve you of this assignment none other than the devil himself had appeared, right on cue. 

He was eager to set out and get started on exploring the city after freshening up, and hadn’t taken ‘no’ for an answer when you’d argued against it. Your pleas for a little more time with the director were likewise summarily dismissed, and before you realized what was even happening he’d thrown a friendly arm over your shoulder so he could steer you towards the door. Completely undeterred by any of your hissing complaints or threats of retaliation upon him, he pulled you straight out into the midafternoon sun where he’d made a prompt request for lunch. He was so amicably pushy about everything that you’d had no choice but to comply or risk having him drag you all over the harbor by the arm.

That hadn’t been the best start to your time together but, somehow even worse, is that Childe had proven himself to be every bit as troublesome as you’d first expected him to be. He joked too much, for starters, and his penchant for eagerly pulling you off in whichever direction caught his fancy was quickly running you ragged. Excitable and full of unspent energy, it was all you could do just to keep up with him. You’d tried to tell yourself it would only be lunch, just one place and then you would wipe your hands of him, but he was undaunted and things were still not going in your favor. 

Even stopping at a small kiosk for a quick snack was not enough to keep him standing still for very long and the two of you are soon off again in a seemingly random direction, as dictated by his spur of the moment whims and fancies. You were going to be exhausted by the time this day was finally over. 

“Hey, what’s that all about?”

Bringing your head up, you follow his line of sight to a small congregation of people flocking around a lone figure in the center of all the bustling excitement. You recognize the bonnet immediately, and a smile slowly pulls at your mouth. “That is our very own star of the opera. Her name is Yunjin, and she’s very popular among the general public and aficionados alike.” 

But when you bring your gaze back around, you’re startled (and more than just a bit horrified) to find his attention fixated on you rather than the crowd. 

“Oho, so you do know how to smile! I was starting to wonder if you just didn’t remember how.” 

“W - what is that supposed to mean?” You snip, recoiling defensively. 

“Oh, nothing,” he sing-songs right back. “It’s just that all I’ve seen you do so far is scowl and look like a skittish kitten ever since we met. I’m glad to know you like something, even if it isn’t me.” 

Childe’s lilting laughter makes the blood rush to your face, and you quickly look away so he doesn’t see the fluster you were valiantly trying to stamp down. “Forgive me, xiansheng. I did not mean to be rude. It’s just — all of this was dumped on me so suddenly and you’re …” 

“Hm? And I’m what?” 

This shameless teasing was perhaps the worst facet of his personality of all. The pushiness and the refusal to acknowledge any protests were one thing, the strange dissonance in his behavior another entirely, but this … it was vaguely reminiscent of a boy who either hadn’t yet learned his manners or didn’t care enough about the consequences to keep his mouth in check. You suspected it to be the latter, his confidence as unerring as his energy, and you would’ve had half a mind to give him a good swat on the behind had he not been nearly double your height and only a few years your junior. Unfortunately, you were in no position to correct him. 

So you school your expression into a professional mask of indifference and turn your head to pin him with the most bland look you can muster. “A Harbinger. It’s true, isn’t it?” 

He quirks a brow at you, evidently not having expected that to be your response. “Is that really what’s had you so on edge this whole time? You’re worried about my title?” Abruptly throwing his head back, he laughs up at the sky. “Goodness, I had no idea that upset you so much. If I’m being honest, you were so stoic back at the bank that I wasn’t even sure if you knew what a Harbinger was!” 

You can feel your cheeks starting to turn hot again and you quickly try to wrestle it back under control. “Of course I’ve heard the rumors! It would have been a little hard to avoid them in this position but you Snezhnayan’s usually aren’t the most talkative bunch, you know. I’m sure there’s plenty of information I’m still not privy to.” 

“Ooh, and is that your way of asking me to help you understand a bit better?” Childe sends you a slow, knowing grin, and you have no choice but to admit that you were in a bit over your head with him no matter how much you might try to fight it. He was regrettably adept at embarrassing you, it seemed. 

“It might be nice to know what I’ve got myself mixed up with.” You softly, grudgingly admit, earning a chuckle out of him. 

“Alright. I suppose I can share a few details with you, but I want to ask a few things in return. How does that sound?” 

Your head snaps up and you fix him with a surprised, questioning look. Ever unperturbed, he ruefully wags his skewer stick at you with an unmistakable, mischievous gleam in his strange eyes. 

“It’s only fair, right girlie? I’ll tell you what you want to know and you’ll tell me what I want to know. Isn’t that what alchemists call equivalent exchange?” 

Huffing, you cross your arms under your breasts and pin him with a flat look, trying to impart just how unamused you are with his silly little shenanigans. “Don’t call me that. And I don’t know anything about alchemy, but … okay. I’ll play along. Within reason.”  

Your answer seems to delight him to no end, and he promptly flies off into a rather expressive tangent about Snezhnaya, her majesty the Tsaritsa, the Fatui and the eleven Harbingers that command their numbers. He gesticulates eagerly throughout his explanation, primarily touching on rank and hierarchy, but it soon becomes gibberish that simply goes in one ear and out the other. You were not intimately familiar with the inner workings of either government or military, and you had no desire to be, but you decide to let him keep talking anyway. It was clear he was only telling you very surface level information that would neither give away too much or reveal any national security secrets, but there were still a few things you were able to glean from listening to what he did say. 

One was that the Harbingers were not only a very, very dangerous organization as a whole but even on an individual scale each was more powerful than the last. It was a little hard to believe at first when you were looking at Childe — so young and long-limbed, and seemingly unfettered by any greater concern than where his next source of entertainment would derive from, but recalling the intense shift in his demeanor back at the bank … yes, you were willing to believe he stood among the most elite warriors in Snezhnaya. Although you hadn’t seen his physical prowess in action yet (and hopefully never would) it was a decidedly good idea not to take him at face value. Doubly so for the rest of his colleagues, including the one you yourself indirectly worked for. 

The second was the nature of his visit to Liyue. He danced around the subject for the most part but he did let it slip that he was headed to Fontaine after securing the funds, presumably per his orders to personally transport the mora himself, and you supposed that did make a certain amount of sense. If he was as strong as you believed him to be then it would explain why he would have been saddled with such a task. Though, it also didn’t escape your notice that he spoke on the subject with no shortage of annoyance coloring his voice and it was hardly any wonder why. Childe was clearly the type who preferred hands-on, proactive roles that put him in the heart of conflict rather than acting behind the scenes like this. He wasn’t exactly trying to hide it, after all. 

Regardless, it was somewhat reassuring to know that many of your initial assumptions about him had been correct and you now knew with absolute certainty that you needed to be careful in how you approached these interactions with him. It wouldn’t do to somehow offend him and invite his wrath upon yourself or your family, because clearly there would be no stopping him in that case. But did that in turn mean you were stuck playing tour guide for the duration of his stay, lest you risk upsetting him?

This was turning into quite the conundrum, indeed. 

“And that’s about it.” He says at last, much too cheery for your liking. “For what I can tell you, anyway. I know it probably seems like I left quite a bit out but trust me, girlie, you don’t want to get tangled up with this more than you already are. Hopefully I was able to satisfy some of your curiosity though.” 

“You did,” you murmur slowly. Then, with more conviction, “And don’t call me that. Didn’t I already tell you that once?” 

Laughingly, he waves you off. “Yeah, yeah, I get it. But let’s put that aside for right now. It’s my turn to have some questions answered. Think you’re up to it?” 

You hesitate, wondering what he could possibly want to know. If it was information about Liyue you would have gladly divulged it without the need for this trade between you and him, but you’d long since picked up on the fact that he just liked being difficult for the sake of it so it didn’t exactly come as a surprise. It was a bit annoying though, having to humor these silly games of his like this. 

“Alright, I’ll do my best.” You say at last. “Just keep in mind that I can’t tell you something I don’t know. Your questions have to be within reason, remember?” 

“Oh, don’t worry about that. I’m sure you won’t have any problem answering this.” 

Growing ever more suspicious, you quirk a brow at him but he just offers you that same boyish grin again. If the circumstances had been any different you probably would have found yourself giving in to its magnetic pull despite your (well founded, in your opinion) reservations about doing so, but even that attractive smile was not enough to distract from who — or rather what he was, and you brace for the worst. Was he going to ask you about the Qixing or maybe Lady Ningguang specifically? The Milileth? 

Your thoughts are abuzz with the possibilities but the very last thing you expect him to ask is precisely what comes out of his mouth next. 

“Do you have any siblings?” 

Stopping dead in your tracks, you stare up at him in abject disbelief. That was what he wanted to know? 

“Hey, let’s keep it moving, girlie.” He can’t seem to get his laughter under control as he pivots on his heel and takes hold of your elbow, pulling you back into motion again. You fall in step, stumbling slightly, as he pins you with the most mischievous grin you’ve seen yet — the unapologetic rascal! “Wouldn’t want anyone to run you over, now would we? I’m not sure if my poor little heart would ever recover.” 

Lips pursing, you narrow your eyes at him in warning even while he whoops it up, drawing the attention of more than just a few passersby. How humiliating it was to be seen with someone like this in broad daylight. 

“I’m an only child.” You grit out, snatching your arm from him with a prim huff for good measure. 

Your prickly attitude doesn’t deter him half as much as you would’ve liked though, and Childe merely takes it in stride as if you weren’t doing everything in your power short of stomping on his toe to dissuade him from continuing on in this manner. So on and so forth, he eagerly poses a seemingly never ending series of questions that range from as benign as how old you were (three years older than him, you come to find) right up to your relationship status. You try very hard to shut down his more intrusive queries, refuse to humor them with a real answer, but his pushiness returns with a vengeance. Any attempt to side step or discourage him was just met with the same question worded a different way until you finally gave in with no other choice and no escape in sight. More than once he even pretended to move on from a topic to placate and soothe you before eventually circling right back around to it again when you least expected it. 

He was exhausting in the worst possible way. Unrepentant and shameless, utterly hopeless, he badgers you incessantly for the rest of the afternoon until you could scarcely tell what was what anymore. You’d never felt quite so harried or like a cornered rabbit in all your life. 

By the time you finally make your way back to the Northland Bank, hours later when the sun was sitting low on the horizon and you’d had to put your foot down about returning before dark, you practically have to drag yourself up the winding staircase just to reach the entrance. You couldn’t remember the last time you’d been so tired, and not just physically but mentally as well. Childe, on the other hand, did not seem to be flagging at all and he takes the stairs with ease and that same innate grace you’d first noticed in him earlier, bounding ahead to reach the landing first. 

Assuming he’d already gone inside, you achingly pull yourself up the last few remaining steps only to come to an abrupt halt when you find him standing there with the door held open. Waiting. For you? 

He snickers at your expression, further putting you on guard. “Don’t look so surprised. It’s the least I can do after nagging you so much.” 

That was the very definition of an understatement.

You don’t budge though, slowly curling your hands into loose fists at your sides when it occurs to you that just returning to the bank did not necessarily mean an end to your suffering. Hadn’t you already endured enough? 

He was incorrigible and confusing, and more than just a little bothersome — like a too-friendly dog with an overabundance of energy that just wanted to play and have all of your attention to himself. You may have been able to make peace with that for the sake of your own wellbeing and that of your family, but when coupled with the barrage of questions that had persisted wherever in the city you’d walked together, whatever you’d stopped to point out in an attempt to distract him from his continuous questioning … you just couldn’t seem to reconcile the problem he presented in your mind.  

If not because you were nothing more than a PR ambassador, not a babysitter, then certainly because being in such close proximity with him was looking even more ill advised than it first had that afternoon. If you didn’t know any better you would have almost thought he was actually interested in you, the way he’d asked you so many personal questions about yourself. But you do know better and you’re well aware that someone like him would never want someone like you. It’s not as if you were blind. The stature of him had certainly not escaped your notice, nor had his boyish good looks. He was tall, a bit gangly at the moment, perhaps, but that was sure to change over the years as he settled further into his own body, into his muscle mass, and finished filling the rest of the way out. And even those most peculiar eyes of his weren’t enough to detract from the high cheekbones of his face or the strong jawline that framed pale pink lips. By contrast, you were soft and round, diminutive compared to him, and not at all the sort of woman a man such as him pursued in good faith. 

Of course he didn’t want you — why would he? It was laughable, if you were being honest. As much as anyone else might have been flattered and charmed to be on the receiving end of his attention, you were finding the whole thing to be a rather nightmarish experience. As if worrying about offending a powerful Harbinger had not been bad enough, now he was teasing you too … And somehow, even knowing all this, that still doesn’t stop it from hurting just a little bit. 

You’d reached the end of your rope as far as he was concerned. You couldn’t do this anymore and you refused to be the butt of his little inside jokes any longer. It was simply too much, even for you.  

“I’m going home.” You blurt out, clearly surprising him given the way his brows shoot up to disappear beneath that haphazard tousle of reddish-brown hair. “My shift ended a while ago. I just wanted to make sure you got back without getting lost, or the director would start to worry if you were late to return.” 

Childe doesn’t even try to hide his disappointment, expression falling as he unceremoniously lets go of the door so that it swings and bangs shut with a heavy thud. The Fatui guard standing on duty, Nadia, sends the two of you a slow look from the corner of her masked eye, making your cheeks grow hot. As if you really needed an audience for this. 

“Aw, don’t say that.” He wheedles you with the added bonus of a frustratingly effective puppy dog pout to really drive the nail home. “At least come in for some coffee and pyshka. I’ll ask them to make it fresh for you, so - -“

“No.” You cut across him with enough vehemence that it earns you another surprised look, those depthless ocean blue eyes widening slightly. Good. Maybe he would finally start to take you seriously now. “I do apologize, xiansheng, but I am tired and I would like to go home and rest. I’m sure your countrymen will be more than happy to entertain you for the rest of the evening, so you shouldn’t be without ample diversion in my absence.” 

He silently regards you for a long beat, the vibrant orange and red cast of the sun washing over him to set his hair aflame, glowing like a hot, smoldering ember. Somehow that same light doesn’t seem to even touch the void in his irises, though, and a faint chill races up your spine with that realization. You’d never seen anything quite like it before. 

But then his smile slips back into place and his posture relaxes — so disconcerted by his strange eyes, you hadn’t even noticed the way he’d been holding himself, as if he were poised to strike — and you quickly take a subconscious step back. For better or for worse, Childe pretends not to notice, merely lifting a hand in farewell while the other comes to rest against his hip in a casual stance. He was completely at ease again. Just like that. 

“Goodnight, then. I hope you rest well. I’ll see you tomorrow.” 

Every single hair on your body instantly stands on end. There wasn’t going to be a tomorrow. Not with the way he was acting. “Xiansheng, I can’t - -“

“Don’t worry. I won’t ask you to be here first thing in the morning or anything like that.” He smoothly interrupts you, his expression still pleasant and amicable but somehow … sharper. You back up another step when he shuffles forward but your back hits the edge of the bannister and you freeze, knowing the top of the staircase was not the best place to try testing your luck like this. All you can do is watch as he comes closer and closer until you finally have to tip your head back to look up at him. “You’re welcome to sleep in if you want. I’d hate to put you out, and I’ll just come pick you up if it starts getting too late.” 

You swallow hard in an attempt to lubricate your suddenly bone dry throat. “I won’t tell you where I live.” It’s barely more than a whisper, but it still gets a chuckle out of him. 

“Perhaps not, but Krzysiek certainly will. Oh, don’t make that face, girlie. I already explained it to you, didn’t I? We Harbingers carry out the Tsarista’s will and our word is almost as good as hers. Krzysiek is just trying to cover his own ass by checking in with my colleague first, but if I’d really wanted to start throwing my weight around he would have given me that mora without a fuss. Don’t assume he would shoulder the same risks just to protect a citizen of Liyue.” 

He lifts his hand then, reaching out for you with a deliberate slowness, and you jerk back. Grabbing behind you for the bannister to steady yourself before you can topple head first down the stairs, you glare up at him with as much vitriol as you could muster. “Stop calling me that.” You hiss. It’s the only thing you can think to say. You believed him. 

There was no need to ask for proof or challenge that assertion, because you wholeheartedly believed he was telling you the simple truth of the matter. The director certainly wouldn’t stick his neck out on the line for you and you knew that beyond a shadow of a doubt. If appeasing him meant throwing a Liyuean girl to the proverbial wolf then that was exactly what would happen. But that doesn’t make it any easier to accept how signed and dotted your fate actually was though. 

Unperturbed, Childe retracts his hand in favor of crossing his arms over his chest instead. “So it’s a date then? I’ll see you tomorrow?” 

You don’t even dignify that with a response. Giving him a quick, bitter look, you turn and start to make your way down the staircase, gripping the bannister so tight your fingers ache in protest. You couldn’t believe him! Couldn’t believe the director for putting you in this situation in the first place. But most of all, more than anything else, you couldn’t believe you’d ever thought he was charming. The pain you’d felt at his insistent teasing was well deserved for ever being such a fool but it wouldn’t happen again. You would continue to play tour guide for as long as you were expected to, for as long as you were forced to, but he wouldn’t be getting any more laughs at your expense. 

You promise yourself that as you hit the next landing, feeling his eyes linger on your back before you disappear down the attached corridor and out of view. 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The following morning you find Childe already sitting in the lobby of the bank, slouched in a chair and talking animatedly to a masked Fatuus standing next to him. You’d wanted to avoid inviting him onto your doorstep and, having no idea what he might choose to consider as ‘getting too late’, you’d set off from home at the same time you did every day. If he would’ve allowed you to treat it like any other, you would have gladly done just that. 

But as soon as he spots you coming through the door he’s up out of his seat and making a beeline straight towards you, that big, almost dopey smile already in place. You hold your ground though, offering the coppery redhead a look of pure and utter disinterest at his approach. He was not going to get under your skin today no matter what he did or said. If you were not effectively being held hostage against your will you wouldn’t have shown up at all, and you intended to make that very clear to him. 

“Good morning!” He greets you, bright and cheery, and decidedly puppy-like. “I hope you slept well. Would you like some coffee? Tea? Maybe some delicious syrniki to start your day?” 

You quirk a brow at him, a little surprised that there was nary a hint or even a sign of that imposing, dangerously uncanny side of him today, and he wasn’t offering up any apologies for it either. He was acting like nothing at all had happened when you’d last parted ways. Well. That wasn’t entirely true. He actually seemed to be … somehow even more overbearing than yesterday. You hadn’t thought it was actually possible, nor are you sure how he’s managed to find even more energy for today, but you refused to fall for it. The guy was nothing but trouble no matter how overly friendly he tried to be. 

“No, thank you.” Brushing him off, you try to move around him but he surprises you by stepping in the way to block your path. With a huff, you cross your arms and pin him with an unamused frown. “What do you want?” 

“Aww, come on. You wound me, girlie. I thought we were getting along just fine yesterday so what’s with the cold shoulder all of a sudden?” He asks, putting an emphatic hand over his heart as if his feelings were really hurt, and your hackles start to rise. 

“How many times do I have to tell you - -“

“My, my, what’s all this?” The director suddenly cuts in, appearing beside you as if he’d dissolved out of the very shadows themselves. You jump in surprise but a quick look at his pale, vaguely harassed expression tells you he’s likely been faring no better with Childe than you had. Served him right, as far as you were concerned. 

“Good morning, xiansheng Krzysiek. I was just about to go get started on that project you gave me since I didn’t have a chance to - -“

“Nonsense!” He cuts across you so forcefully it makes you snap your mouth shut with an audible click. “Of course that can wait. What’s the rush? I’m sure you’d have a much better time showing my esteemed lord around the city, no?” 

Your stomach lurches and you fix him with a vitriolic glare but he just narrows his eyes and returns the look twofold. It seemed neither one of you wanted to be responsible for Childe today and the resulting stare down between you and your boss is a statically charged one. You’d been hoping to bide some time for yourself so you wouldn’t have to spend the entire day with him, dammit.

“Well, if you ask my opinion,” Childe offers, making you bring your attention back around to him. “I think we should go get breakfast since you don’t want any of our delicious, homemade syrniki and then do a bit more sightseeing. We had a lot of fun yesterday, and there are still a few more places I’d like to go.” 

‘Fun’ was the very last thing you’d call it. In fact, there were an infinite number of things you would rather be doing besides spending more time in his presence, and throwing yourself into the ocean was right at the top of that list. But, seeing that there was no point in arguing when you were effectively trapped, you relent. “Fine. We can grab something to eat first, and then I’ll take you wherever you want to go.” 

“Excellent!” The director barks, clapping you on the shoulder a little too hard, and you turn your head to glare daggers at him. Taking the hint, he quickly composes himself with a discreet, appropriately apologetic grumble. “I do hope you two have an enjoyable time together, my lord, and please let me know if there is anything at all you need.” 

Pivoting on his heel, Childe abruptly steps right into the older man to get in his space. “What I need is for you to stop wasting my time, Krzysiek.” He murmurs, that easy, unbothered smile playing at his mouth doing absolutely nothing to distract from the hard edge in his eyes. Growing nervous now, you take a self conscious step back to put some distance between you and them. “But since that obviously isn’t going to happen, I think we’ll be off. Ready, my little pieróg?”

The director suddenly chokes and sputters, shooting a disbelieving look from one to the other even as you suspiciously narrow your eyes at Childe. Something told you you liked this new nickname even less than ‘girlie’. “Now what are you calling me?” 

“Oh, nothing,” he teases, his demeanor flipping just like that as he reaches out to take hold of your arm even when you valiantly try to snatch it out of his reach. “That, as they say, is for me to know and for you to find out. You’ll have to earn it if you want me to tell you though!” 

And with that, the two of you are off. 

Breakfast at a little stall tucked down a narrow side street turns out to be surprisingly pleasant. Shockingly, even. You admittedly feel a great deal of relief when Childe manages to keep his hands to himself for the rest of the morning and he even seems to have given up on the previous day's inquisition all together. He neither says anything out of place nor does he undergo another of those disconcerting shifts in his behavior. Rather, he is consistent and charming again, as if that offputting display in front of the Northland Bank never even happened. Like it was merely a figment of your imagination and nothing more. 

You know better than that though, and you weren’t going to be persuaded by it. Luckily, keeping him entertained was a relatively easy task so you don’t even have to try very hard to keep things moving. After your meal, you take him to the theater hall to show him where the opera is hosted and even get a chance to introduce him to a few of the staff members who were setting up for a performance later in the evening. He does catch you off guard though when he suddenly asks about seeing the show together, not having expected him to have any such interest in the performing arts. But when you tell him it’s too late to purchase tickets when they were in such high demand he, strangely enough, accepts that answer without a fuss. 

You think it all very strange given how he’d acted yesterday — as if the world itself was his to lay claim to and everyone was expected to just go along with it — but you were certainly not in any position to complain. The more he cooperated the better your nerves would fare. 

From there, you take him to a ceramics shop, a bookstore, a calligraphy studio, a toy makers stall and even to a small perfumer after he’d mentioned having an older sister he might want to buy a souvenir for. He truly seems like a completely different person today, politely listening to what you tell him about this or that, attentively focused and tuned in. You’re ashamed to say it almost makes your resolve falter but you hold firm. After that, a lacquer studio, various boutiques and seamstress shops, a few antique stores that quickly prove much too dusty and boring for his liking. You stop for lunch at Third Round Knockout, enjoy some fine food and entertainment together, and then it’s back to the streets. At his request, you take him down to the docks and show him around the markets there, only to realize somewhere along the line that he must have some kind of background in fishing. The way he talks about it, fond yet distant, like an old hobby he might like to revisit some day, strikes an odd little chord inside you. You hadn’t expected him to have room for sentimentality when he was so busy bouncing around from one extreme to the next. 

The day wears on in this fashion until you at last take him up to the Yujing Terrace gardens, having saved (what was in your humble opinion) the best for last. Childe appears to appreciate the scenery well enough, oohing and aahing at appropriate intervals as you show him through the public grounds, but you can tell he found the docks much more exciting. Hardly any wonder there. A hot blooded young man such as himself rarely had any need for flowers or ornamental fountains, decorative lanterns or the architecture laid throughout. You got the sense he didn’t dislike the pavilion, exactly, but rather he just wasn’t as invested in it as he might be in other things … and yet he was still trying to stay engaged and interested. Truthfully, you found this more than just a little odd. You’d taken him for an entitled brat, and with good reason. 

But the whole situation was strange once you got right down to the heart of it, and you’re understandably glad to finally start making your way back towards the bank shortly after dusk has settled over the gardens and the lamps have been lit. Unlike the previous day where you’d had to all but force him to return before full dark, he acquiesces without a fuss or even any attempt to weasel another half hour out of you. Even putting his penchant for cruel tricks aside, it was almost like you’d spent the whole day with a completely different person than the one you’d first met and this was somehow the most confounding detail of all. At some point you’d started to think he was planning something insidious, just waiting for the right moment to spring the trap, so you had truly expected him to put up more of a fight about it. 

So lost in thought, you don’t realize he’s speaking until he shifts close enough to amicably bump your hip with his narrow thigh. Giving a start, you turn your head up only to find a suspiciously eager smile tugging at his rouge’s mouth and you think, this is it. He’s finally going to say something cute or shocking after all this time and, feeling vindicated, you brace yourself for another taste of his nonsense. You’d known he enjoyed provocation too much to resist the temptation forever. 

“I was saying thank you for today. You make a pretty good tour guide, if you ask me.”

You stumble a step, feeling like the ground itself is opening up underneath you to swallow you whole. That hadn’t been what you’d expected him to say at all. “You’re welcome,” you respond slowly, mouth tugging into a frown. “But there really isn’t any reason to thank me. I was just fulfilling my duties, that’s all.” 

“Aww, don’t say that. You did a great job despite all the trouble I’ve given you so I’d say credit is due. No need to be shy.” 

Heat rushes to your cheeks and you quickly look away. “I am not being shy, xiansheng. I just have no need for your praise.” 

“Oho. Is that so, girlie?” 

You suck in a sharp breath, prickling at that insufferable name he insisted on calling you every time you turned around, but you don’t get the chance to snap at him. Before you can utter so much as a word, his hand is suddenly on your wrist and he’s pulling you away from the main, bustling street into a cramped little alley. Your heart stutters a beat but you can’t quite seem to dig your heels into the ground when his forward momentum seemed to be in full swing, so you just inelegantly trip after him with a tiny squawk of protest. 

Finally stopping towards the far end of the path, Childe turns to grin down at you. Issuing an incensed huff into the still air, you give your arm a quick jerk to try and free yourself of his hold but it’s no good. He refused to budge, and you have no choice but to give up, pinning him with a look of pure exasperation. 

“What are you doing now, xiansheng? This isn’t the way to the bank.” 

“I know, I know. I just wanted to properly show how grateful I really am to my cute little tour guide. You just said you’re not shy, didn’t you?” 

Catching on that he was up to something — for real this time — you once again try to extricate your arm from him. Gingerly, this time. “I’m afraid I don’t know what that has to do with this. I think we should go back to the bank and - -“

He suddenly swoops down and silences you with a hard kiss. You jolt, gasping when his fingers tighten around your wrist to make it clear that there would be no escape until he decided to let you go. That hardly seemed the most pressing issue right now, though. Stock still, you just stand there and try to make sense of what’s happening. The sensation of his mouth against yours, his warm breath mingling with your own and the vaguely citrusy scent of him assaulting you all at once. It was just as overwhelming as the rest of him and you can’t figure out how to react. Finally, eventually, he pulls back to peer at you through the gloom of night, far from the dull glow of the distant streetlights. 

“I know you’ve thought about this. You’re so cute, the way I catch you looking at my - -“

Your free hand flies up, hitting him across the mouth as hard as you can. The gruff sound that bursts out of him is surprised, but not half as hurt as you would have liked it to be. 

“How dare you.” Your voice is a barely there, faltering hiss in the relative quiet with only the distant sounds of city life to act as a backdrop. “I’ve thought of no such thing, and you’ve got a lot of nerve trying to force yourself on me like that!” 

The look that briefly flashes across his face seems almost impressed, if not a little cowed by your reaction, and for a split second you’re sure he’s going to rise to the challenge you’ve presented. But then it’s gone just as quickly as it had appeared, replaced once again by that overly confident smile. “Oh, come on. You don’t mean that. I can see how you look at me. I’m not blind, you know.”

“I’m allowed to look at someone without wanting to kiss them!” You insist, vehemently shoving at his chest. 

To your great surprise, he actually lets you push him back a step and he releases your arm in the process. You quickly take that chance to back up towards the waiting lip of the alley but he follows you with his eyes, a predator tracking its prey, and you hesitate to make a run for it. One quick look at his long legs assures you he could outpace you all too easily. You’d never make it far against someone like him and the eager gleam dancing in those strange, strange eyes discourages you from trying. That didn’t mean you had to quietly stand there while he played his stupid little games though, and all at once the dam suddenly gives way. 

“I've had enough!” You shout at him. “I refuse to entertain you at the cost of my own dignity any longer, xiansheng! You have done nothing but harass me the entire time I’ve known you and I am done! I’m sorry, but you’ll need to find a new guide for the rest of your stay in Liyue because I refuse to do it even a moment longer.” 

“But I want you.” He shoots right back, surprisingly calm and collected given the intense state of your own emotions which only spiral further out of control at his response. 

The true meaning behind those words was obvious, and you feel the stab of it in startling high definition. Fighting back the sting of tears when a humiliated flush rushes into your cheeks, you glare at him with as much hate and vitriol as you can possibly muster. “I will not fall for it no matter what you say, xiansheng! I’m not stupid! You can have your fun teasing someone else for all I care, but I will not humor it anymore!” 

His eyes widen, brows shooting up in surprise. “Wait - -“ 

You have no interest in hearing what he has to say, quickly turning on your heel so you can march down the alley and out onto the main street again. Consequences be damned. 

Predictably, the shuffle of his boots picks up behind you and it doesn’t take long for him to catch up. The way he can easily keep pace with your hurried strides without even having to try only further annoys you but you pointedly ignore him, keeping your attention locked straight ahead. Maybe he would take the hint and leave you alone if you just pretended like he wasn’t there. 

“Hey, let’s talk, girlie. You don’t really think I was just joking around back there, do you?” When you refuse to dignify that with a response, he breathes out a quiet sigh. “Look, I’m sure I can convince you I’m being sincere if you just give me a chance, but why would you assume something like that to begin with? I haven’t given you any reason not to trust me, have I?” 

You shoot him a quick, flustered look of warning, and, to your horror, he responds with that charming, roguish smile that speaks of confidence and ego. It was clear he thought he could persuade you to his side with enough time and you weren’t so sure he was wrong about that. 

Whipping your attention back around, you desperately scan your surroundings in an attempt to get your bearings straight. You weren’t far from the Northland Bank now. Thank the archons. If you could just make it to the relative safety of its doors, you could dump him off on someone else for the night and beat a hasty retreat with your tail tucked between your legs. It certainly felt like you deserved that much after enduring all this grief from him.  

“It doesn’t matter.” You murmur, more to yourself than to him, but that doesn’t stop Childe from pouncing at the chance to keep going. 

“Sure it does. I think I deserve to know why my cute tour guide feels this way. Is there someone I need to take care of for you?” 

Finally spotting the stairwell that leads up to the bank, you hurry towards it as fast as your legs can carry you. He doggedly keeps at your heels, looming just over your shoulder the whole time, which does absolutely nothing to lessen the fast pumping adrenaline coursing through your system. 

It feels like your heart is lodged somewhere in your throat when you finally reach the foot of the stairs a moment later and, gripping the bannister with a clammy hand, you pause to look back at him. “There’s not. You can stop following me now.”

“We’re headed to the same place, I’m afraid.” He responds easily enough, still smiling that infuriating grin at you. Stamping down the urge to scream at the top of your lungs, you turn to make your way up and the procession of his footsteps trailing behind you quickly follows suit. “Seriously, I don’t mean to pry but - -“

“Yes, you do.” 

He laughs, but just keeps going anyway. “I want to know why you’d be so quick to write me off like that, that’s all. Am I not allowed to want you in my bed or something?” 

You outright choke at that, practically collapsing right then and there on the stairwell, and he positively whoops it up as if you’d just delivered the most hilarious, knee-slapping joke he’s ever heard. Your face feels like it’s on fire now while you wrestle with the urge to slap him again, thinking he more than deserved it, but you didn’t want to tempt fate like that again if you could help it. Or invite any misunderstandings with the Snezhnayan guard on duty, just another flight up and almost directly above you now. It takes every ounce of strength you possess but, at last, you finally manage to hiss over your shoulder, “Maybe I’m just not interested. Did you even consider that?” 

“Ah, ah, that’s not what you said though. If memory serves, I do believe the exact words you used were ‘I won’t fall for it no matter what you say’. You don’t think I was being serious, do you?” 

Teeth clenched, you turn to look back at him again and you’re not at all surprised to find him still grinning like he was having the time of his life. But once again, and just like every other time, his eyes give him away. It seemed that no matter what he did, they would always show an intimate glimpse into his soul and what you see in them now chills you a great deal. There’s an edge to them, a sharpness lurking just beneath the surface like a blade that has been submerged in a tumultuous ocean current. It was no less sharp for all the salt water buffeting against it though. In fact, you got the sense that it would only add to the sting of the wound once it finally cut you — and it would. Eventually. You harbored no doubts about that. 

Evidently seeing your uncertain hesitancy, Childe softens his expression slightly, as much as he was able to, at least, and moves up to stand on the same step as you. Fingers tightening on the bannister, you lean as far back as you can when he bends close to put his nose inches from yours. You’re sure he’s going to kiss you again, and the thought alone is enough to make your cheeks burn red hot in what you try to tell yourself is indignation. But, to your surprise, he merely studies you up close for a long moment before finally putting his head to one side like an inquisitive dog. 

“Let’s continue this discussion inside.” 

“What is there to even talk about?” You grit out. 

“You,” he says it softly, almost like a prayer. “And me.” 

“This isn’t up for debate, xiansheng. I want nothing more to do with you.” 

The corner of his mouth tugs, inching up into a decidedly mischievous smirk. “You say that, but do you really want Nadia to get the wrong idea? I’m sure she can hear us, you know. It’ll look much better if you come inside with me instead of causing a scene out here on the stairs. I don’t know what she might tell Krzysiek but if you cooperate, I can protect you.” 

“Blackmailing is illegal in Liyue …” 

“As it is in Snezhnaya. But the Fatui operate on a somewhat different rule set, and I’d hate to see you get tangled up in this more than you already are. There’s nothing I can do for you if you don’t meet me in the middle, girlie. Let me help you.” 

You search his face for any sign of deceit or falsehoods, desperately looking for even a hint of insincerity that would give you the push you needed to shove him away again. But he is, frustratingly enough, perfectly sincere. Or so he seems to be. And that was the crux of the problem, wasn’t it? In the short time you had known him, he’d consistently maintained that same perfect mask of earnest candor no matter what nonsense came out of his mouth … he was either a very good actor who could put most professionals to shame or he really believed what he was saying. Perhaps even a frustrating combination of the two? 

Either way, you could see that you were once again stuck between a rock and a hard place with him. You were damned if you did and damned if you didn’t. It’s been like this since the very start. 

“Fine.” You relent with a heavy, long suffering sigh. “I will go inside with you but I really don’t care what you have to say, xiansheng. You’ll just be wasting your breath.” 

Evidently that doesn’t bother him one little bit. He’s much too giddy for your liking as he bounds ahead of you, taking the last handful of stairs two at a time so he can reach the landing first. You realize why when, upon coming up after him, you find Childe waiting at the front entrance of the bank with his fingers already wrapped around the door handle, ready to pull it open for you and grant you entry. Same as the night before.  

Surreptitiously glancing at the Snezhnayan woman standing on nighttime guard duty, you’re relieved to find her pretending not to even see either of you standing there. Although she certainly was not on your side in the strictest sense, you still appreciated her discretion. Perhaps if you survived this ordeal, you would treat her to lunch someday as thanks. 

Gathering your resolve before you have a chance to change your mind, you quickly shuffle across the landing, hoping to get inside before he says something incriminating in front of her. The Harbinger looks quite pleased with himself as he pulls the door open and lets you pass through first before following right on your heels. You’re immensely glad to find the lobby all but deserted save the one on duty teller and the older man quietly talking to her about something you can’t quite make out from the entryway. No sign of Krzysiek lurking about in the shadows or any Fatui operatives loitering around. At least that would save you the embarrassment of having an audience to witness the no doubt awkward conversation that was sure to follow. Strangely, that didn’t make you feel any better about being forced to do this, though. 

Discreetly glancing up at the redhead as you make your way across the room together, you contemplatively regard him for a moment. Maybe you could still worm your way out of this situation if you appealed to his ego enough. It was worth a shot, at least. 

“Forgive me, xiansheng. I believe I misspoke earlier.” You murmur, hushed and quiet so that hopefully only he could hear. “I did not mean to insult you or imply that there was some deeper meaning in my rejection. I promise I meant nothing more.” 

“I don’t buy that for one second, girlie.” He says, thankfully matching your conspiratorial volume. “You really think I was just teasing you back there, right? You called it a game, if I remember correctly. Why would you go and think something like that about me, huh?” 

You chew at your bottom lip, weighing the odds. It didn’t exactly look good, no, but neither had the last thirty-six hours. If you gave in now and admitted the real reason for your distrust of his motivations you would simply be putting yourself on the chopping block, inviting further humiliation at his hand, and you weren’t so sure you were ready to admit your own shortcomings like that. But there was no denying his abilities of perception or his quick wit. If you tried to delicately skirt around the subject, would he just try to force your hand? 

So caught up in your own thoughts, debating between the truth or another attempt at deception, you don’t notice him slyly reaching for you until it’s too late. The weight of his hand abruptly squeezing around the plush of your waist nearly startles a squawk out of you, and you choke on it when he pulls you against him. Ignoring your incoherent blubbering, Childe tucks you into his side so he can pull you along even when your legs threaten to give out under you, turning you into deadweight against him. 

All at once you’re bombarded by a million, frantic thoughts as the scent of him envelopes you and drowns out your senses. What if someone were to see the two of you like this? What if they assumed you’d be willing to betray your homeland for this troublesome Snezhnayan man? And what if word of this got back to your mother? You’d be disowned by morning! 

But he pays no mind at all to the shy, flustered stammering going on under your breath as he steers you right past the front desk toward the stairs that are tucked off to the side. You feel faint with disbelief when the teller seems to pointedly keep her attention fixed on the man she’s speaking to and doesn’t even glance up at the spectacle when you pass. A heady rush of relief washes over you but, still, your erratic heartbeat won’t relax as long as you’re in such close proximity with Childe. No matter how good he smelled or how warm his body was, or how firm and invitingly masculine he felt against you, you just couldn’t make peace with it in your mind. 

You try to push away from him, politely at first and then more insistently, but he won’t let you go. Doesn’t even seem to register the weak struggle you’re putting up which leaves you with no choice but to stumble along beside him up the staircase and then down the curved hall. It was either that or risk having him physically drag you. 

“X - xiansheng!” You hiss at him, of course to no avail. 

“Hush. If you’d just tell me what the problem is, I could fix it for you.” He tells you lightly, giving your waist what you think is supposed to be a reassuring pinch. “I promise I’ll do whatever it takes to put your pretty little head at ease, you can count on that.” 

“You could start by knocking that off!” You give him another shove that goes completely unheeded. On one hand you were glad to be away from any potentially prying eyes now that you were up on the second floor, but on the other … you give a frightened jerk when it suddenly occurs to you that he’s leading you right past the row of smaller managerial offices (including your own) and further down the hall. “Wait — where are we going?” 

“Don’t try to change the subject.” He snickers softly. “We’re just gonna’ have a little chat in my office, that’s all. We’ll get to the bottom of this, don’t you worry!”

As if that was your main concern right now! “B - but that’s not your office, xiansheng! That room is for the - -“

“Yes, it belongs to Regrator. I’m well aware, of course, but I’m sure he won’t mind. It’s not like he’s using it right now, is he?” Pulling you up to the door in question, he reaches for the knob. All you can do is watch on in horror as he gives it a twist and the resounding click of the inner mechanism giving way echoes inside the space between your ears. You almost couldn’t believe it. Both his unrepentant audacity and the fact he’d already gained access to the owner's personal office space. 

“But how - -“

“Come on, girlie. Where do you think I slept last night?” 

You’re so dumbfounded by that information you momentarily forget to protest or fight him, and you stumble through the doorway under the ever present guidance of his hand around your middle without even fully realizing it. Only when the door creaks shut behind you do you comprehend the severity of the situation, going ramrod stiff as you dig your heels into the floorboards, but he merely pushes you further in before you can kick up a fight about it. With a sudden burst of adrenaline, you wrench away from him and spin around to find Childe already turning the lock on the door with a resounding clink of metal sliding into place. The way he smiles at you, all bright and cheerful, and innocent, turns your veins to ice. 

“Now fess up. I’ve let you stall long enough, haven’t I?” He takes a step towards you, hands coming up as if to grab hold of you again, and yours fly up to defend yourself. It’s as if he expected as much though, or maybe his reflexes were really just that quick, because he switches gears faster than you can blink. Lacing his fingers through yours before you can properly react, he pulls your arms out to either side and backs you up even further into the room. “Tell me why you think I’m only teasing you. I made sure no one would eavesdrop on us so tell the truth.” 

You jolt when your back hits the stately, imposing desk in the office, a fresh surge of fear racing through you with all the thoughts of what he could do to you like this. But to your immense relief he simply pivots to the side, half turning you to stand in front of it rather than pin you against it like you’d initially thought he would. Still, he won’t let go of your hands where he’s holding them out away from your body and you were clearly trapped in here with him and no way out. Dammit. 

Drawing a slow, stuttering breath to calm your nerves, you decide you’ll just have to be blunt with him. Even if it means humiliating yourself in the process, you couldn’t see any other way out of this. Clearly he wasn’t going to let you slink away with your tail tucked between your legs or let you preserve any of your dignity. Not that it came as a surprise considering who you were dealing with but that doesn’t make it hurt any less. 

“I’m sorry, xiansheng. I just … I know I can’t possibly be to your liking. That is what I meant by not falling for your tricks.” 

“Who said that?” He growls, drawing a quiet whimper out of you. 

“It doesn’t need to be said.” 

“Bullshit. Tell me why it’s so impossible for me to want you.” 

“Because I’m fat.” You say it plainly and without inflection, but softer than a whisper, and his eyes go big in surprise. 

“What’s wrong with that?” 

You hate the way your chest tightens, flushing hot in humiliation. You hadn’t expected the sting to your ego to hurt quite so bad when you knew you were merely stating the truth. Maybe it’s the simple act of saying it out loud that drives the nail home or perhaps it’s the way he’s looking at you as if he couldn’t possibly conceive the issue with it, but the backs of your eyes start to burn all the same. Looking at him like this, in the gloom of the dark office, you start to wonder if it’s so painful precisely because you secretly wanted his interest in you to be real, not feigned. Was there really no greater anguish than having a strong, handsome man flirt with you while knowing you weren’t deserving of any of it? You certainly couldn’t think of anything worse. 

“What’s wrong with it is - is men like you don’t like that. I’m not stupid, xiansheng. There are plenty of women who …” You give your head a shake. “It doesn’t matter. You could do much better than me, and I know that just as well as you do.” 

He relaxes his broad shoulders, chuckling faintly as he pins you with a rueful if not taunting look. “Men like me, huh?”

“T - there’s no reason to deny it.”

“Oh?” Childe’s smile sharpens, showing a brief glimpse of the dangers lurking just beneath the surface. “And what else do you know of men like me? Hm?” 

You whimper softly and he gives your hands a quick squeeze before releasing them in favor of reaching tentatively for your waist again. You simply let him do it this time; half in defeat and just wanting to get this over with, and half under the assumption that he would finally drop the act and recoil in disgust at the soft give under his palms. But that’s not quite what happens. 

On the contrary, he actually looks rather pleased as his large hands comfortably settle around your middle like they belonged there. Possessive, almost. 

“I don’t know who made you believe such nonsense but I’ll happily take a list of names though, if you find the time to jot them down for me. But I’m afraid we don’t all think the same way, cutie. I’ve been daydreaming about having you under me since we met.” 

You suck in a sharp breath, still somehow shocked by the outrageous things that come out of his mouth even now. “But you could have anyone.” It’s little more than a whisper. 

“And like I said, I want you.” 

Swallowing hard, you lift your hands to lightly rest them on his forearms. You can’t decide if you want to push him away or pull him in closer, so you just leave them sitting there for right now. “I don’t understand why though.” 

“I could show you.” 

You don’t know what to say to that. Aren’t even sure if you could respond to it without choking on whatever you may have said, because he was brash and provocative, and more than just a little combative, and you weren’t used to dealing with someone like him. What could you possibly say that wouldn’t make you sound like a stammering ninny?

But he evidently takes your continued silence as his cue to proceed, and he slowly palms his way up your sides until blunt thumbs brush the underside of your breasts. A shudder races down your spine at that much too brief contact and you whimper again, louder this time, when he adjusts his hands to cradle your chest in them. His attention remains locked on your face though, intently observing the way your mouth warbles open as if to let out a tiny, faltering mewl but you stubbornly bite it back. Turning your head so you don’t have to look at him any longer, you raise a hand to cover your mouth when he pushes up, lifting your tits slightly, so he can feel the full brunt of them resting in the curve of his fingers. 

You’re ashamed to realize it felt nice having him paw at you like this, your nipples growing stiff and pointed against the brush of his hands. It makes your stomach curl itself into a tight, pulsing knot that has your knees going weak. Grudgingly, you think it might be okay to let this go on for a little while longer. Hesitantly, you have to accept that perhaps you liked him a bit more than you were willing to admit or let on. 

That mental shift must reflect in your expression though because he suddenly grins at you, all mischief and trouble. 

“These are my favorite.” He tells you softly, almost like he was sharing a precious secret with you. Giving your breasts another slow, kneading squeeze to make you sway slightly on your feet, he bends closer until just a scant few inches remain between you and him. “The bigger the better, don’t you think? What else is a man supposed to rest his head on at night? What else should we suck and lick, and bite on until your milk floods our mouths, hm? You seem to know an awful lot about men, so tell me … what would you have us do if not worship the very fertility you represent?” 

Dragging his hands higher, he lets your breasts bounce back into place under your shirt and he watches with a great deal of interest etched across his face. You have to force your lungs to expand, inhaling painfully slow to try and steady yourself. A very real part of you was still anticipating the pin to fall, for him to realize this game of chicken wasn’t worth it and to finally drop the farce, but that wasn’t happening. You were suddenly finding yourself faced with the very real possibility that he wasn’t just running his mouth with no intention of backing it up. He really did want you. He thought you were attractive — innately drawn to your figure, not put off by it. 

And he would have you, right here and now, if you just gave him the chance. 

Childe reaches for the button on your collar with clear, deliberate intent, giving you ample time to rethink this and tell him to stop. But you let him work the first one loose and then the next, and the next, so on and so forth until your shirt was hanging open down to the waistband of your skirt. He grabs at your middle to ruck it up and possessively pinch at your love handles underneath before finally grabbing onto the hem to untuck it the rest of the way. You’re a little surprised at yourself when you lift your arms to help him get it off, but you start to have second thoughts when the cool air hits the front of your silk chemise. 

Feeling uncertain and exposed, you cross your arms over your chest to hide your stiff nipples from his line of sight. He tsk’s softly as he tosses your shirt somewhere on the desk before taking hold of your wrists, gentle yet firm as he moves them out of the way. You can’t quite bring yourself to look him in the face though, self conscious and afraid of what you might see there, so you glance down at yourself instead. The weight of your breasts under the thin, breezy material is obvious, as are the stiff points sticking out in the center of them. You may as well have not even been wearing anything at all. 

With a quiet sound, he seems to reach the same conclusion. He releases your hands so he can slip his fingers underneath the thin shoulder straps and lift that over your head too. You have a split second of thinking you’ll back out after all, that you’re not prepared to have someone as tall and handsome as him looking at your naked body, but the roiling heat deep in your gut seems to have a differing opinion. The thought of walking away from this and going home to an empty bed brings with it a great deal of distress, so you slowly repeat the same arms up motion as before. 

Childe lets out a breath you hadn’t realized he’d been holding as the silk slips away and your naked breasts are finally bared to him. That gets tossed on the desk too and then his hands are on you again, groping and squeezing at you appreciatively with renewed excitement. “These are gorgeous.” He breathes. 

“Y - you don’t mean that.” You whimper, desperately glancing around the dark room for something to focus on that isn’t him. 

“I do.” He insists, and his lips are suddenly on the crook of your neck, kissing and nipping at the vulnerable skin there between hot, rushed sentiments. “I really do. You have no idea what you’re doing to me right now.” 

You feel well and truly lightheaded when he once again palms your breasts in his hands, lifting their weight the same as before. But this time he allows his thumbs to brush up, and you outright gasp at the first contact to your nipples. The noise he makes in response sounds suspiciously like a growl and it reverberates in your veins, making you shudder against him. He takes his time casually flicking over the stiffened buds for a moment longer before pressing your tits together and leaning back to admire the meaty squish. Abruptly, he lets go and watches the heavy bounce of them before setting his sights on your waist instead. 

“Archons, you’re perfect.” He groans, digging his fingers deep into the cushiony give around your middle. “I want to fold you in half on top of that desk, you know that? How’s that sound? Huh?” 

Your mouth warbles open, cheeks burning up. “Xi - xiansheng - -!”

He stoops down to press his face against your neck, growling again, a little louder this time, and you jolt when he blindly fumbles to grab one of your wrists. With a bit more force than was probably necessary, he drags your fingers to the front of his pants and manually curls them around the weighty bulge there. Your eyes widen in stark surprise, not at the size of him but, rather, at how very hard he is for you. He’s indescribably heavy against your hand, and stiff enough to strain the zipper holding him back. 

“You want this, cutie?” 

Like you really needed to think about it at this point. “I … I do. I want you, xiansheng.” 

Breathing deep the scent of your neck, he lets it out again with a bestial huff that makes goosebumps erupt across your skin. It takes a visible amount of effort for him to unlatch himself from you, reaching to unfasten the single button done up on his jacket. This he carelessly shrugs out of and tosses to the side, eyeing you with a hungry lick of his lips before stepping into you again to take hold of your waist. It doesn’t escape your notice that he seems to be fascinated with this part of you, the way he insists on continuously grabbing and squeezing it in his hands, but you don’t get a chance to comment on it. 

He’s pulling you against him then, all but flattening you against the hard line of his body, and you suck in a sharp, frazzled breath at the press of his cock against your stomach. Never before had you found yourself in this sort of position so you don’t really know what to do, standing there just breathing him in while he yanks at the hidden latch on your skirt. You think you should be doing something, should probably be reciprocating in some way, but your overloaded brain just can’t seem to make sense of it. 

Luckily, he takes care of the decision making for you. Once the band of your skirt is hanging loose around your waist, he lifts his hand to nudge it under your chin and tip your head back. You have but a split second to realize he’s going to kiss you, and then he’s devouring your mouth, kissing you much harder and much more forcefully than he had in the alley. You realize now, as you succumb to the hungry pull of his lips, that he’d only been testing the waters earlier. He was far from normal if that had been his idea of tentative and, evidently, you were just as crazy for entertaining it. 

Greedy hands roam down your body, grabbing tight, pinching handfuls of your sides and your hips before dipping lower still. Childe takes hold of your ass like a starved man grabbing onto a lifeline and you rock forward on your toes with a muffled little squeak. He gladly swallows it down even as he kneads and pinches, rolling the meat of your backside in his palms. It’s just shy of being too much, toeing the line of discomfort, and you blindly reach back to clutch at his powerful wrist. Of course that doesn’t stop him though, and you suck in a much needed lungful of air when he finally pulls back some moments later. 

He doesn’t even give you a chance to catch your breath, quickly swooping down to shimmy your skirt over your hips so you can step out of it. You expect him to go after your garters next so he can get you completely undressed, telling yourself to relax and just breathe while you could, but nothing is ever that simple when it comes to Childe. 

To your squawking surprise, he grabs you around the waist yet again and suddenly hauls you up to perch on the edge of the desk. You can’t even think straight as he bullies your thighs apart with his narrow hips so he can settle between them, pressing himself tight against you. Unable to hold it back any longer with the weight of his cock digging into you and the hard muscle mass of his chest right in your face, you reach up to loop your arms over his shoulders with a needy little mewl. Grunting in approval, he bends at the waist to hunch over you so he can take a nipping bite at your neck and then your ear while his arms snake around you. For as deceptively gangly as they are, the strength in them is staggering and he practically crushes you against him, firmly holding you in place so he can slowly grind up into your core. 

Delirious, you frantically clutch at him when every stilted push of his cock against your panties only seems to highlight how wet you already were for him. That in and of itself would have been inconceivable not even twenty minutes ago, but somehow even worse is how that sedate, repetitive motion of his hips just seems to encourage yet more sticky slick out of your cunt. You can feel it bleeding into your panties, leaving them increasingly damp, and you grimace when they soon start to stick to your labia. 

“Xi - xiansheng! Wait a second …” 

“How do you expect me to wait after all this time, girlie? Huh?” Snarling against your neck, Childe leans further into you and uses his weight to push you back, tipping your pussy towards him. You cling to his shoulders, whimpering and whining low in your throat as he increases the pace, humping into you with even greater enthusiasm than before. “Wanna’ know what’s funny?” He laughs, breathless and hot against the side of your face. “I actually expected you to tell me a completely different answer earlier. You really caught me off guard, you know?” 

Legs quivering around his hips, you dig your nails into his back and tip your head up, gasping at the ceiling. You felt dizzy and hot enough to burn. Was he really going to make you cum, just with this? “Like — ahhn! Like what?” 

Dragging his hands down to grip your plushy hips, Childe shifts against you to look in your face. His eyes were strange and unsettling even now when you felt like you were going to shake right off the desk if he kept digging his cock into you like that, but there was something else in them now … something far removed from the light of day but no less blinding. It was like looking at ice fire — so dark and blue, yet hotter than any normal flame could ever hope to burn. You weren’t sure if you were looking into a vast, bottomless trench under the sea or the very sky itself, so deep and fathomless it would swallow you whole without a trace, never to be seen again, but it doesn’t really seem to matter anymore. You would gladly give yourself over to the void, drown in its oceanic embrace, so long as he kept looking at you like that. 

“Tell me.” You gasp when he doesn’t immediately respond. 

“I thought you were going to tell me I was too young for you.” He suddenly says, surprising you so much you have to do a double take. 

“What?” 

Laughing, he gives his hips one last, lingering roll that has you biting down on your tongue to silence yourself as he unhurriedly moves to extricate himself from you. 

“All that fuss you were making, it was the only thing I could think of. I know you were worried about my title and I probably didn’t help that very much when we parted ways last night … but still, you refused to have me even after I went out of my way to show you I’m just a man. Albeit a supremely powerful one but,” Shrugging as if it didn’t really matter, Childe bends over your lap to start unhooking the clasps holding your stockings up. He’s surprisingly gentle and patient with such a benign task and you let him do it without intervention, even when your pussy clenches at the sight of him half naked and focused on the task of undressing you. “I figured you just didn’t think I was mature enough or something like that. Not that that wasn’t bad enough but I certainly didn’t expect your real reason.”

You start to say his name but catch yourself at the last second. “Xiansheng …” You say instead. “It’s true that I’m older than you but it’s not that big of a difference from my perspective. I don’t think you’re immature. Well, not in that way, at least.” 

“Oh, is that so?” Sending you a slow, mischievous little grin, he slips his fingers into the waistband of your panties and starts to slowly slide them down over your thighs, leaving the garter and stockings in place. “Good to hear it. Because I’m prepared to show you just what I’m capable of, and I have no intention of leaving this room until you understand exactly what kind of man I am.” 

Eyes widening slightly, you watch him pull your underwear free from your ankles so he can carelessly toss them somewhere on the floor. Those big, battle hardened hands slide up your inner thighs and roughly shove them apart so he can swoop down, dragging the flat of his tongue through your wet cunt without so much as a word of warning. You jolt so hard you nearly come right up off the desk, a startled ‘oh!’ bursting out of your mouth. He pays it no mind though, keeping your legs spread wide as he devours you, swirling around your entrance to taste the excessive slick accumulated there before directing his mouth higher to knock against your clit. It’s all you can do not to shriek, chest heaving as you jerk and twist against him. 

“Wait —!” 

Coming up off your cunt with an obnoxiously loud slurp and a smack of his lips, Childe gives a breathless laugh. “There’s no time for that, girlie. Today you’re going to learn how a real man handles a woman like you.” 

With a low, hungry snarl, he dives back in and your hand instinctively shoots down to grab at his hair. He pays it no mind though — in fact, he actually appears to enjoy it. Groaning hotly against your pussy, he presses his cheek to one side so he can batter your clit with his tongue, making your toes tightly curl in their little heels. The sensation is unlike anything you’ve ever felt before; intense and overwhelming, indescribably sticky and wet, and hot, and it doesn’t take long for you to start shaking in earnest. 

Unable to sit up any longer when the tremors threaten to overpower you, you slowly sink back to lay across the top of the desk but he just follows you down. Shuffling closer so he’s bent nearly in two over your cunt, Childe possessively grabs at your thighs so he can toss them over his shoulders and lock you in place. Having your legs up in the air like this is somehow both deeply embarrassing and indescribably arousing at the same time, and you writhe like some mindless beast while he eats you out. Your fingers in his hair start to cramp but you refuse to let him go when it felt like the only thing keeping you grounded to reality anymore. 

You quickly lose the fight though when he slides his hands up your thighs, over the pudge of your belly and higher still to grab your breasts. His long fingers dig in, squeezing them tight enough to hurt before redirecting his attention to your nipples. The way he pinches and rolls them has you arching hard enough to make the desk groan underneath you, legs clenching around his head in an attempt to block him out for even just a moment's reprieve. It’s a losing battle though. He’s as dauntless as ever, and he just keeps working you over with his mouth even when your thighs threaten to crush or suffocate him. 

Blindly, you claw at his wrists and forearms but it is much too late. The scale starts to tip and you feel yourself desperately clinging to the edge, scared of that free fall and what it would mean even as you give your hips one last, pitiful jerk. Just like that, the chord snaps and you plunge into the void, pussy clenching so tight over the course of your orgasm that it actually brings tears to your eyes. Your whole body seems to roil with it, wildly twitching as you choke back your moans until only quiet, gasping mewls manage to escape, but somehow it still isn’t enough. 

You’re not sure when or how it happened, but at some point you’d come to realize that Childe’s mouth on you was perhaps the greatest feeling in the world, and you desperately wanted more of it.  

“Please!” You hiss, blubbering faintly when he starts to untangle himself from you. 

“Well, well,” he taunts, clearly pleased with himself as he straightens up. “I’d say you rather enjoyed that, wouldn’t you? Who would have thought the prim and proper ambassador of the Northland Bank was so needy?” 

Groaning softly in the back of your throat, you cover your face with a still trembling hand and press your thighs together now that he’s not occupying the space between them. You didn’t know whether to beg for more of his attention or cry from embarrassment. Both options seemed perfectly reasonable in this situation, and you finally settle on some combination of the two. 

“I’ve never felt like this before, xiansheng. I'm sorry.” You let out a sound that is half sob, half groan. “My body is on fire but I — I still want you to keep touching me. I don’t really know what I’m doing but I want more. I need more of you.” 

Childe snickers softly, and the sound of him shuffling close again has your heart threatening to jackhammer straight out of your chest. “Aww. Well, when you put it so nicely …” 

His hands find your hips again, giving them a savory squeeze before dragging his palms lower to feel the give of your thighs under his fingers. One long digit slips into the band of a stocking and tugs on it, letting it snap back into place with a quiet smack. He can’t seem to stop pawing at you, kneading along the soft pudge of your inner thigh until broad knuckles brush against your cunt. You shudder at the sensation and lift your head to peer down at him, struggling to keep your voice in check when he presses two fingertips into the meat of your labia and spreads them apart. Sensitive tears sting your eyes as a fresh wave of humiliation crashes over you, threatening to drown you. To be looked at like this was not a feeling you were mentally prepared for but, carefully watching Childe’s face, you’re relieved to find that he doesn’t seem to dislike it. 

In fact, his expression actually pinches with a low, rumbling groan that makes your pussy excitedly clench. His eyes take on a distant, dreamy sort of look, and he bends down to give your cunt another savory lap of his tongue, making you twitch at the contact against your clit. Exhaling slowly, he rises up enough to crowd his finger in and slowly rubs the meaty little nub in faint, barely there circles. You seethe through your teeth, still overwrought so soon after your orgasm, but you quickly relax into it when pleasure rushes in to replace the sensitivity. 

“Such a pretty pussy,” he murmurs, drawing a quiet whimper out of you. “And so receptive, too. I wonder how sensitive it is on the inside …” 

You realize what he’s saying a moment too late, far too gone in the hazy, post-orgasmic bliss to function at your usual level, and you don’t get the chance to protest. The finger on your clit abandons it’s target in favor of a new one, slipping lower to find your entrance and — slide right in. He doesn’t even hesitate. Just a quick, sudden pressure on your interior and he’s inside of you right down to the knuckle and you wheeze, going ramrod stiff on top of the desk. 

“Shit, you’re tight.” 

“I … I’m sorry.” 

Childe sends you a quick look, his mouth already cocking into a smirk, but the expression on your face gives him pause. “What is there to be sorry about, girlie? It is not a bad thing to be tight, you know.” 

“Yes.” You agree, even though you don’t really know what it is you’re agreeing with. “It’s just … I’ve never done this before so I hope it’s not too much trouble.” 

A terse beat passes through the room, completely still and quiet save the hushed sound of bustling nightlife in the near distance. Then it seems to click, and he blinks up at you owlishly. 

“You’re a virgin?” 

“I'm sorry.” You say it again, because it’s the only thing you can think to say. 

A half choked, disbelieving laugh slips out of him and he straightens, looking at you like he’s seeing you for the first time. There’s a new understanding in his eyes now, as if everything suddenly made sense, and you quickly turn your head so you don’t have to see the way he’s sizing you up. You’d glimpsed that predatory hunger in him more than once in the short time you’d known him but had always written it off as a hunger for life and all it had to offer. Excitement and battle, and the driving urge to test his own strength. Now, though, that voracious appetite was not only centered entirely on you but it also seemed to solidify into something tangible. Something far more dangerous than anything you’d seen in him before. He wasn’t merely going to have you, take you, claim you. 

He was going to devour you. 

With a reverberating growl, Childe reaches out to palm at your lower belly and he gives it a tight, pinching squeeze. You whimper faintly in response but that only further encourages him. His opposite hand, the one between your legs, withdraws for but a moment before returning with two fingers this time, and they slide straight up into you with a wet little click. Your guts are so slippery and soft for him that there’s hardly any resistance at all even when your body instinctively tries to clamp down around the intrusion. You can feel the burn of the stretch in a far off, dreamy sort of way, but it does absolutely nothing to dissuade or discourage you. If anything, it almost seems to spur you on. 

He laughs again, low and raspy, when you stutteringly roll your hips and squirm for him, idly giving your stomach another savory pinch. “I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you this,” he says quietly, in such a soft register that you almost miss it over your own gasping breaths. “But I’m probably not the best candidate for someone’s first time. You sure you want to do this, girlie?” 

You think that’s a massive understatement. He was rough and excitable, easily carried away and impatient. Whatever he may have lacked in fine tuned precision was more than made up for in so much puppy-like enthusiasm that it bordered on being too much, and even now you couldn’t ignore how good just his fingers felt inside your pussy. You wanted him perhaps more than you’d ever wanted anything else in your life, and that wasn’t up for debate. But you hesitate to say it, whether for your pride or just the simple fact that you didn’t know how to say it. 

Faintly wheezing, you struggle to sit half upright so you can look at him, for once unconcerned with the heavy weight of your breasts or the crease along your tummy. You simply look at him, as a woman, and he looks at you as a man, primal and starved, practically chomping at the bit to sink his teeth into you. If he was the wolf then did that make you the lamb? 

“You said you would show me …” Hesitating, you quickly swallow down your nerves before they can get the better of you. “Show me how a man handles a woman like me. I’d like to see that, xiansheng.” 

The snarl that comes out of him is more animal than human, and the most frightening one you’ve heard yet. It sets your guts vibrating, heart hammering wildly in your chest with the instinctive urge to flee, to run, to hide — but you couldn’t have even if you’d wanted to. You were already trapped in his clutches, his fangs locked around your sensitive jugular, ready to tear through you and rip you open for him to feast upon. It flashes across his face, settles deep in those strange eyes. The bloodlust. The thrill of the hunt and the subsequent kill. He was the predator and you, his prize. 

You gladly give yourself over to it when he leans down to claim your mouth again, kissing you so hard and so voraciously it steals the air from your lungs. His hand stays busy between your legs, working your cunt open with those long, calloused fingers, while the other one roams over your body. Grabbing at your love handles, your tits, the small of your back where it’s arched up off the desk in silent supplication for more. More of him, more of the pleasure and the threadbare pain that comes with it. More of his fingers, more of his tongue. You wanted all of it, and you plaintively moan into his mouth when he reaches up to palm the back of your neck. Holding you in place like that, he increases the speed and the pressure between your shuddering thighs, and the incessant clicking increases with it. Already an ache was forming deep in your body and you could tell you were going to be sore for days to come but you revel in it, bask in the heightened pleasure of knowing you were his to lay claim to. 

You think you’re starting to get close to another orgasm when he abruptly pulls his fingers out with a wet little pop, and you tear your kissed-raw mouth from his to groan in disappointment. He doesn’t give you a chance to complain though, and you suddenly find yourself shoved down on your back as he crawls up onto the desk with you, pinning you under the sturdy weight of all that lean, hard muscle. Eyes widening slightly at having him over you like this, you reach up to clutch his shoulders hard enough to make the joints ache. Jostling you slightly while he positions himself, Childe issues a heady grunt into the scant space separating you from him and then you feel it. 

The nudge of his cock. The press of the glans against your slit, seeking out the warmth of your body even as he slips over sticky lips and folds. You gasp sharply, mouth hanging open in a silent scream when he finds your entrance, catches and starts to sink in. It was something completely different from the stretch of his fingers, something much more intense, and you give a small jerk against him as tears spring up in your eyes. He is firm and unbudgeable on top of you though, hissing in deeply felt pleasure when you take him. More and more of him, until your eyes start to roll back in your head. 

Twisting back against the desk, you sob up at the ceiling. It feels like you’re being crushed under him, your guts squishing and compressing against the weight of his cock bullying its way into you. He pauses, shifts slightly, and then his large hand is cupping the side of your face. The blunt of his thumb hooks under your jaw and he demandingly angles you towards him so he can kiss you again, muffling the frantic, whimpering moans you let out when he sinks the rest of the way inside. 

With his narrow hips pressed tight to the backs of your thighs, you’re really, truly trapped underneath him now. It’s so hot and heavy between you two that you can barely manage to squirm, weakly shaking and writhing underneath him instead of wildly bucking like you would like to do. You feel frantic and mindless, your neck lolling bonelessly in his hold while the room seems to spin around you at a frankly alarming speed. You’d never felt so full, stuffed to bursting, or drunk on fast pumping endorphins in all your life. 

“Archons above, you feel so damn good.” He rumbles against your cheek, voicing the very sentiment you were trying (and failing) to come to terms with in your own cotton stuffed mind. You weren’t sure if you would ever be able to fully recover from this. Not this intimate meeting of your flushed, sweaty bodies or Childe’s raucous entry into your life. 

Groaning, he starts to move. The stiff flex of his hips is slow at first, drawn out and savory, like he’s merely enjoying the wet heat of you squeezing around him, but it doesn’t last long. He begins picking up the pace in just a matter of moments, driving his pelvis against your harder, faster, until the embarrassingly loud squelch of your cunt sucking him in deep rings on a near endless loop. You lurch underneath him, clawing at his shoulders and back while he relentlessly carves out a space within you, drilling you into the desk with reckless abandon. The creak of the wood barely even registers though when you’re so swept up in the sensation, the mind numbing experience of being fucked senseless by the beast heaving above you. 

He seems almost feral now, and you can feel the ache within you growing with each plunging thrust of his cock as it drives into you again and again, reaching deep inside to knock something that has you seeing stars. It leaves you reeling, dizzy and overwhelmed, but there’s no stopping it now. Childe is like a man possessed and he eagerly ruts into you, losing himself in your pussy, and all you can do anymore is cling to him in high strung desperation. His hands are everywhere at the same time, a blur of pinching squeezes and kneading gropes, but he soon gives up on trying to press you somehow even closer to himself in favor of reaching higher to grip the opposite edge of the desk. He seems to use it as leverage to reinforce the power behind his thrusts, and he slams into you with enough force to nearly send you into a vertigo-inducing free fall. 

“Shit!” He grunts, fanning warm breath across your face as he seeks out your mouth again. “I don’t think I ever want to leave this pussy, you know that?” 

Tipping your head at him, you catch his lips in another searing kiss and he seems to sink further into you, defying all logic and reason when his body moulds so tightly to yours it’s hard to tell where one of you starts and the other begins. It’s like you’ve become one entity, one being — the wolf and his hard won prey joined together until you were one and the same. Sharing the same body, the same mind, and the same pleasure. His appetite only fed into yours and heightened it, and the reverse seemed to be true as well because he moans, low and faltering, when you lock your ankles around his waist to hold him against you. 

He surprises you then, his heaving motions stalling to an almost complete standstill while his tongue intertwines and dances with yours. Unhurriedly exploring your mouth, claiming it as his own, Childe starts to slow fuck you with a grinding roll of his hips. His cock is wedged so deep inside you it feels like he’s poking at your ribs, and you all but sob at the staggered, barely there thrusts that churn your insides and increase the pressure tenfold. It was like you were on the brink of implosion, shuddering so intensely that the desk heaves a sympathetic groanin response. 

And somewhere in the back of your mind you still manage to find the wherewithal to hope the two of you don’t accidentally break it. 

Gradually, he winds you higher and higher until you’re frantically gasping for air, practically hyperventilating even while he keeps kissing you and fucking you like he has all the time in the world to enjoy this. He just might, for all you know, and you didn’t doubt that he would make the time if he didn’t. So incorrigible, so demanding and entitled to your body … as if he thought you were made just for him and maybe you were. Maybe you’d been born just for this purpose and he, the hot headed man from Snezhnaya, was likewise meant to have you in this way. 

You whine low in your throat as the tremors threaten to overpower you and he finally breaks apart from the kiss to groan heavily into the statically charged air. The reverberation seems to bleed into you and trigger a chain reaction that has every nerve ending in your body lighting up one by one, in rapid succession. It floods your system in waves, working lower and lower until it finally hits that tight, aching coil deep in your gut and it instantly snaps. You cum with a shriek, shoving your face into the bend of his sweat dampened neck to smother the sound while you fitfully twist and jerk underneath him. Your pussy spasms, wildly milking his cock, and he moans in response with a faint tremble of his own sweaty, heaving frame. 

Muscles flexing, he rides you through it at that same, sedately steady pace until you at last start to come down from it, chest heaving uncontrollably as you try to catch your breath. You’re lost in it, soaring somewhere far outside your own body, high above the very city itself, but you’re still acutely aware of the way he seethes and grunts when he moves to push up. Lifting your head, you blearily watch him go up on his knees to kneel between your legs, cock glistening in the sparse light coming in through the window even as he takes it in hand. He strokes it, hard and fast, with his heavy lidded eyes alternating between your well used cunt and your face, panting heavily and groaning softly as his shoulders begin to shake. You can tell he must be reaching his limit by the growing strain in his voice, and it seems to finally hit its peak with a keening, borderline whiny whimper that goes straight to your pussy. 

You hadn’t expected him to sound like that, so needy and desperate, and you find it inexplicably arousing. Your body clenches with renewed excitement and you mewl, very quietly, when his hips give one last little jerk and white, creamy ropes shoot out of him to splatter across your stomach. It’s hot and sticky where it settles, and Childe outright snarls at the sight of his cum painting your skin. 

“Xiansheng - -“ 

He doesn’t stop long enough to hear you out or give himself any time to recover before he’s swooping down, hunching over your prone form so he can drag his tongue through the mess he’s made. You give a jolt of surprise, gasping in shock, but the slow look he sends you under the fall of his tousled hair assures you he was capable of much worse than this and he was not your average man no matter how you tried to rationalize it. 

The two of you take a moment to catch your breath, just looking at one another through the gloom and basking in the afterglow. He touches you with idle confidence, like he was already secure in his ownership of your body and didn’t even need to think about it anymore. Emboldened now, you allow yourself to touch him too, feeling across the definition of his chest and arms, his abdominals and hips. Just like before, his energy seems to be bottomless and it doesn’t take very long for his spent cock to start stirring again when your hands were on him like that. 

Shamefully enough, you have him two more times over the course of the long night — once against the side of the desk, standing up so he could grope you to his heart's content, and once on the ornate chaise lounge, tangled up in a mess of limbs — before finally succumbing to exhaustion in the early hours of the morning. Neither of you spoke of what would come next or what it all meant in the long run, but you didn’t really see the need to. 

There was only so much room for negotiations where fate was concerned, after all. 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Pausing outside the bank to check that your hair was still in place, you make a valiant effort to smother the butterflies flitting about inside your chest. You were a little nervous, yes, but you try to remind yourself just how silly that actually was. Childe had not only seen you naked already (which was embarrassing enough) but he had also had you multiple times, in multiple positions. Surely you should have been beyond the point of being shy around him after all of that. 

Though that’s easier said than done, of course, and you can’t quite figure out how you’re supposed to behave now. Should you just pretend that nothing had even transpired between you and him? Should you proceed with confidence and surety that he did indeed want you? He’d made that abundantly clear last night so there wasn’t any reason to pretend you didn’t believe him anymore, and you’d likewise had to accept that you wanted him too. But were you allowed to act on it? Archons, they didn’t make manuals for this sort of thing. 

He’d helped you sneak out in the early pre dawn glow when everything was soft and hazy, and you’d recovered just enough to make the walk home. You’d insisted on it, citing that you needed to bathe, among other things, and he had of course tried to convince you to just stay with him before finally conceding defeat. He’d even offered to escort you but you hadn’t wanted to run the risk of being seen together in such a compromising position. Nadia was bad enough even though she’d politely looked the other way when the two of you had emerged from the bank, completely ignoring you both, but anyone else would have been pushing your luck. Or so it seemed, anyway. The situation was just way too strange for you to say with any certainty but you got the distinct feeling that not everyone would be so willing to look the other way on this. Whatever this was.  

Anxiously, you fiddle with the front of your dress to make sure there weren’t any creases or wrinkles in the fabric. This was so stupid. You had no business acting like a lovestruck teenager over someone like him. He would have outright laughed at you if he saw you right now, and that was to say absolutely nothing of the on duty guard sending you odd looks. You were just going to have to get this over with. 

Steeling your resolve, you push through the doors with your head held high, determined to maintain a confident appearance, but it quickly falls away when you find Childe standing in the lobby with the director and about ten other Fatui agents. Your heart immediately sinks. Had something happened? 

“Oh!” Childe notices you right away, and he perks up like an excitable dog. The stormy glower he’d been wearing fades as soon as he lays eyes on you, replaced by that big, boyish grin, and you stand up a little straighter when he shuffles toward you at an unhurried pace. You weren’t sure what was happening here but you couldn’t shake the feeling that it was nothing good. “We were just discussing you, actually. Good timing.”

“Me?” You blurt out, disbelief coloring your voice. 

“Don’t sound so surprised, girlie. Of course it’s nothing bad. Come, stand over here with everyone.” 

You’re so dumbfounded that you don’t even have the presence of mind to act embarrassed about it when he casually slides his arm over your back, steering you towards the small congregation. You frantically search their faces for some kind of answer or clue but you can’t get a read on most of them thanks to their masks. The only one whose face was uncovered was the directors, and you have to do a startled double take at his pallid complexion. He looked like he’d aged ten years since you last saw him! 

“Don’t be nervous.” Childe says, giving you a playful nudge that makes you hope things were not as dire as they seemed. That quaint little notion is immediately quashed, however, when all the good humor drains from him upon turning his attention on the director. “Go on, Krzysiek. Tell her about the letter you received this morning.” 

The older man winces as if he’d been struck, his wild gaze darting from the Harbinger to you and then back again. “Ah. Yes. Yes, of course.” Forcing out a single brittle laugh, he lifts a trembling hand to wipe at his damp forehead. “Lord Regrator sent a very prompt response to my missive. Very prompt indeed. He made it quite clear that the original order had not been signed by mistake and he was well aware how much mora was in question. I’m afraid he isn’t, erm, very pleased with me at the moment but I am working very hard to rectify my mistake at the current time.” 

“And?” Childe prompts, the cold tone of his voice sending chills up your spine. 

“And I fear I owe you an apology,” the director shoots you a harried look. “It was remiss of me to put you in such a vulnerable position. It was not your responsibility nor your place to be in such close proximity with this … ah, particular situation. It was Fatui business and that’s how it should have stayed. Lord Regrator also made that quite clear to me in his letter” 

You have no idea what to say to that. Not that you didn’t agree, because you most certainly did. You’d tried to tell him all of this right after that initial meeting with Childe in the back office but he hadn’t listened, far too determined to foist the problem off on you rather than deal with it himself. But if he’d taken a moment to consider reason and rescind his decision then you wouldn’t have gotten to know Childe the way you now knew him. You wouldn’t have felt his warm hands all over your body or his searing kisses on your neck, and even for as much grief you’d endured because of it you couldn’t be mad at him for it. You were at first, and very much so, but not now. 

“It’s alright.” You finally murmur, turning to glance up at the redhead standing beside you. “Does this mean you’re leaving?” 

You hadn’t meant to sound so sad about that — for all intents and purposes you probably should have been jumping for joy — but his expression softens in as much as it ever does, and he smiles at you again. “For a little while, but I’ll be back. Liyue is a beautiful country and there are plenty more sights to see, people to fight, and things I’d like to do. You haven’t seen the last of me just yet. But in the meantime, Krzysiek here is going to make sure you’re well taken care of for all the trouble we’ve caused you.” 

Your brows shoot straight up to your hairline. What in the world was he talking about? “I’m afraid I don’t understand, xiansheng.”

“Oh, don’t worry your pretty little head. Just think of it like … reimbursement for all your hard work. We had a chat about it and agreed you deserve at least that much.” 

“But — but I can’t possibly - -“ 

“Sure you can!” He cuts across you, as boisterous and pushy as ever. Turning to face you now, he pins you with a mischievous if not challenging look that threatens to turn your knees weak. “You won’t have to work at the bank anymore if you don’t want to. You’re free to quit at any time, and I already made sure there won’t be any retaliation against you if that’s what you choose. You’ll still get your compensation for the rest of your life regardless, so, really, you’re free to make whatever decision you want.” He pauses then, seems to think about it and then quietly adds, “Well, I guess that would be for the rest of Krzysiek’s life, wouldn’t it?” 

The man in question chokes, sounding like he was right on the brink of some massive mental breakdown, but you pay him no mind. You just stare at Childe like he’s grown a second head, trying to make sense of it all. Reimbursement? For life? Did he truly think you wanted or were at all concerned about something like that? 

“Is this really your way of saying goodbye?” 

“Aw, don’t look at me with such a sad face, girlie. I already told you I’d come back, didn’t I?” Gently, he places his hand on your shoulder and you let him guide you away from the gathered Fatui who watch on like silent sentries. You were glad for his foresight in moving you away from them because with each passing moment it was becoming increasingly harder to keep your emotions in check. You didn’t know if you wanted to scream at him or cry. Of course you’d known he’d be leaving soon but so suddenly? And like this? 

You couldn’t think of anything worse to cap off this whirlwind experience. 

Softly shushing you, Childe pulls you towards the far wall and then moves to stand in front of you so he’s blocking the others and all you can see is him. You try very hard to keep the tears at bay, uncertain if they were angry or sad, but they still well up in your eyes and it makes your bottom lip warble. It was perhaps the most humiliating experience yet but he only clicks his tongue, reaching up to cup your cheek. 

“Stop that.” You hiss, trying to turn away from him, but he persists. Unable to take the hint and overbearing even now after everything you’d gone through together just to reach a tentative understanding with one another. All of it gone, in the blink of an eye. 

“Now, now,” he murmurs in a placating tone, at complete odds with the way he grabs your chin and pulls you around to look at him again. “It’s nothing to get so upset over. I told you I want you, didn’t I? Or do you still think I’m only teasing you?” 

You hesitate, eyeing him warily. A moment ago, yes, you’d started to doubt him in the face of this sudden upheaval. You’d expected at least another day with him, another chance to find the courage to ask about his intentions with you, and now there was so much that was going to go left unsaid. But looking in his face and the grim expression you find there, you realize that he really is serious. Not only was he going to come back without fail, he would come back for you. Not the scenery or the city, or for the duties he carried out for his homeland. This was just his way of making sure you were taken care of in the meantime … and you couldn’t exactly fault him for that. 

Finally, you relent. “No, I don’t think that anymore. I believe you.” 

“Good.” Breaking out into a wide, eager grin, Childe leans down to kiss you, hard and fast before you can react or swat him away. You flush red hot, stammering something about the others seeing, but he just laughs it off without concern. “Let them see! You are mine, and some day we will stand on top of the world together, mark my words!” 

You gape at him in disbelief, hardly even daring to believe your own ears, but he only takes advantage of your shock and confusion to grab your face again. Gently cradling your cheeks between both hands now, he looks at you like you’re something precious and worth protecting, crystalline irises dancing with an inner light that was all his. No exterior illumination seemed to be able to pierce that murky, tumultuous void, but this was something else entirely. It made his eyes look like brilliant diamonds refracting an infinite number of prisms that existed nowhere else on the spectrum and this … it was all for you?

Feeling your resolve irreparably shatter, you lean into him and go up on the tips of your toes so you can kiss him. “I’d like to see that, Childe. I hope you keep your promises.” 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Crossposted to AO3 here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/50380030

[putas-in-suffering]

Sugar High

Pairing: Angel Reyes x Stripper!Female Reader/You

Rating: Explicit, NSFW 18+ older

Warnings: Language, a smidge of Daddy kink, drug use (ecstasy), unprotected vaginal sex, vaginal fingering, mentions of bodily fluids, Angel rolling on X (it’s a vibe we need in our lives, trust us)

Word Count: 2.8K

Summary: You and Angel utilize the private room for more than a dance.

A/N: Sucias! Welcome back to The Cherry Stem Gentlemen’s Club🍒 This is the next installment in the Stripper-verse we’ve created. The prequel was the introduction to our novios and their ladies. You can read that part here. And we also added a part for EZ that you can read here. So make sure to check those out beforehand so you can be in the know. 

This time we get to see what Angel and you are up to in that private room. Here’s a hint: it’s pretty naughty 😏. And as we stated in EZ’s part, we named “you” for story flow purposes, but it is still very much reader insert. The stage named used is Candy, but Angel prefers to call “you” Dulce. 

We really hope you guys are ready for this wild ride because we are very much invested in this whole new universe. We got more coming for our novios and the newest club in Santo Padre, so stay tuned. Also, we didn’t explicitly say what music was playing in the private rooms for the dances, but we used and abused any and all music by The Weeknd to set the mood. We suggest you do the same.

Anyway, we hope you enjoy and share with your fellow sucias! Feedback is the preferred drug for our addiction and greatly appreciated 💖💖

(Gif credit to the astounding @angels-reyes​)

You let the low pulsing of the music direct you as you made your way over to Angel’s spread thighs. You shed your robe and basked in the way he took in your body draped in barely there lingerie. The fabric was made out of crystals that glittered under the hazy pink strobes. Almost making you glow in the low light of the room.

Angel licked his lips as you touched yourself, slowly dropping to your knees so that you could crawl towards him. You arched your back, your movements slow and measured as you slinked across the floor. His dark eyes were hypnotic, as if pulling you on an invisible string, drawing you closer.

You made it to him and ran your hands over his denim-clad thighs, biting your lip when you noticed the growing bulge in his lap.

“That for me, baby?” You purred, gesturing to his prominent erection.

“Only you, mi dulce.” He replied, his voice low and gravely from nicotine abuse. “Touch it.” He commanded.

You decided to tease him, instead running your breasts along his lap rather than using your hands. He shifted his hip upwards, needing more friction.

You tutted, pouting your lips at his impatience.

“You gonna let me do my job, baby?”

“I need you.” He confessed, reaching out for you with his ringed hand.

You used his knees to stand, letting him pull you close so that he could touch you. He ran his hands over your hips and around to your ass, squeezing the flesh with aggressive yearning. You tangled your fingers into his hair, looking down at him with bedroom eyes. He bit his lip as his fingers traveled between your legs, teasing you with feather-light touches.

Your body kept a seductive rhythm as you let him explore you, allowing him to do as he wished. Your hands grazed your rib cage and breasts, stopping to caress them as you reached around to unclasp your bra. The material fell away as it trailed down your arms and you threw it off. Your eyes were focused solely on Angel.

His hands moved quickly, cupping your naked breasts before you had the chance to. You threw your head back as you gripped his wrists, giving yourself over to him and the sensations. His lips traveled across your stomach, his beard leaving a stinging sensation in its wake.

“Come here, mama…” He beckoned, gently tugging you into his lap.

You went willingly, straddling him. Your hips grinded against him instinctively as they searched for the outline of his cock. You watched as he reached into his leather and pulled out a small bag, it’s contents filled with a handful of white pills. A heart was imprinted into the surface, indicating what their intended use was.

“Open.” He requested as he shook two pills out into his hand.

You did as he said, opening your mouth and sticking your tongue out. He placed a pill in the center and then followed up with his own, both of you dry swallowing the pills.

He pulled you in for a deep, all-consuming kiss seconds later, his hands cradling your face as his tongue twisted with yours. You returned his eagerness, anticipating the effects of the drug. It never took long, especially when you were both as desperate for each other as you were now.

“Gimme a show, Dulce…” Angel urged, slapping your ass for emphasis.

You nibbled his lips, standing back up again. You pulled his face into your chest, writhing against him as he mouthed at your nipples. Your nails dug into his shoulders, jerking in his arms when his teeth grazed the sensitive peaks.

You pulled away, turning so that your back faced him. You fit your ass into his crotch and felt him return the action. You fell into his chest, arms coming up to link around his neck as you persuaded his body to give itself over to you like yours had to him. Soon, the drug would have you both captive in it’s spell.

Angel’s touch ran the length of your body, skimming down and beneath the waistband of your panties. His calloused finger brushed against your clit and you whimpered in response. His lips were attached to your neck, sucking violently as his tongue soothed the area.

“You wet, baby?” He rasped, finger already edging past your lips to find out.

“Always.” You breathed out, shuddering when he wedged his thick finger inside of your flooded walls. Your pussy spasmed, a new rush of desire washing over you.

The drug was working.

You grabbed his wrist and halted his movement, pulling him from your depths. You met his eyes as you brought the soaked digit to your mouth and sucked, tasting yourself on him. You let your tongue dance around the tip as you licked him clean.

“Fuck…” He cursed as he thrust his pelvis up into you, rubbing his cock into your ass.

You smiled, pleased with yourself. The pink and purple neon lights began to burn brighter, illuminating him in its rays. The rest of the room fell away, the music holding you in its grasp. You felt weightless as you stood and bent over, letting Angel see the very soaked material of your panties. You wiggled your hips and let your ass shake, pulling at the sides of your panties so that the fabric rode up and inside of you.

Another slap to your ass.

With the added experience of rolling on Ecstasy, the action made your cunt quiver, your entire body feeling as if it was on the brink of immeasurable pleasure.

“Again.” You pleaded, bending all the way over to reach for your ankles.

Angel obliged your breathless demand, landing a hard slap to the other cheek. It reverberated throughout your body, seizing you in an avalanche of blind lust.

“Fuck, you’re soaked…” He said in awe, his hands spreading you as he took in your ruined thong and glistening hole.

Suddenly, his hands were gone from your body.

You straightened, hearing the shuffling of clothes and the clinking of a belt buckle. You looked over your shoulder and saw him pulling his rigid cock free from the confines of his jeans, licking his palm as he jerked himself off.

“Daddy…” You whined, grasping at your breasts and massaging the flesh. Your pussy ached with an insatiable need to be filled to the brim with him.

“Sit down right here, baby.” Angel demanded, holding his cock in his hand and patting his thigh with the other. He licked his lips as he watched you continue to dance, hips lost to the melody.

You lowered yourself into his lap, lifting ever-so-slightly so that he could maneuver your thong to the side. You braced yourself on his legs as he ran the swollen head of his cock along your slit, coating himself in you.

The feeling of his heated flesh against yours made your eyes cross, your limbs tingling and your pussy contracting around nothing.

“Lift up, baby. Let me slip in.”

You did as he said and then felt the familiar slide of his cock against your primed walls. Your body welcomed him, squeezing tight as it encouraged him further.

You moaned, head lolling forward at the overwhelming fullness. His hands secured themselves to your hips as your body lowered itself and took him in inch by inch until your ass met his lap.

“Jesus, you feel so fucking good wrapped around me, Dulce.” Angel groaned, fingers digging into your flesh.

Your hips moved on their own, ready to take part in the intimate rhythm it knew by heart. You swiveled and swayed, keeping his cock nestled inside you as the sensations intensified with every passing second. His hand glided up your naked back, resting on your shoulder as you continued to ride him.

“Shit,” He grunted as he thrust up and into you, hitting deep. “You rolling yet?”

You cried out when his cock met the natural barrier within you, making your pussy clench in overstimulation.

“Yes...”

Angel’s hips began to meet yours, increasing the speed with each drag along your walls. You bit your lip and held on, letting him fuck up into you with wild abandon. The tendrils of your first orgasm began to solidify, Angel’s cock and the drug doing just enough to send you soaring within a matter of minutes.

You came without warning, grinding down and forcing him to still so that you could ride out the wave. Your body convulsed, tensing and releasing with every lightening bolt of euphoria that ran through you. The floor melted from beneath your feet while the lights glowed as bright as fireworks on a Fourth of July night. Time stopped as you floated into space and then came catapulting back down to reality.

“Fuck, Angel…” You whimpered, clinging to his forearm as you steadied yourself. He was still embedded inside of you, but remained unmoving. You could feel yourself dripping down his cock and your thighs, the aftermath of your climax visible.

His hands ran up your back soothingly, coaxing you to relax as your body shook with residual aftershocks.

“You good, baby?” He asked, the restraint in his voice obvious.

“Mmmm…” You moaned, rotating your hips. It was a signal for him to continue, to finish what you’d both started.

He resumed thrusting, bouncing you in his lap as he chased his own glorious end. You dug your nails into his thighs, surprised to feel another swell of pleasure surge within you. You rubbed at your neglected clit, the appendage throbbing with built up tension.

“Fuck, right there baby…” You encouraged him, feeling the pace and force of his hips intensify.

“Damn...again?” He revered, hips now jackhammering into you.

“It’s the E.” You responded breathlessly, your own hips fucking him back. “Fuck…”

Another explosion went off within you. This time, it was compounded by Angel’s own orgasm as he gripped your hip and shoulder so tight that you thought he might snap you in half. He released thick ropes of cum that felt centered in your stomach, his cock making the area bulge. His body vibrated with tremors that seemed like they lasted for hours, each one shooting streaks of him deep in your womb.

“Holy fucking shit…” He expelled with a shaky breath, chuckling as he did. He rested his forehead against your back as you both collapsed your exhausted bodies into each other.

His skin was dewey against yours, a side effect of your intense sex and the Ecstasy.

“That was better than the last time we took E.” You laughed, feeling his lips ghosting along your spine.

“I don’t think I’ve ever cum that much in my fucking life.”

His arms encircled you from behind, his hands meeting just under your breasts as he hugged you to him. You copied his position, overlapping your arms over his. You both sat in silence, basking in the afterglow. Your highs were still running through you, but now that you’d both cum, it was more like a warm fog rather than the fierce need it’d been before.

“I gotta get back. They’re gonna come looking for me.” You said tiredly, beginning to shift in Angel’s lap. He released his hold on you, allowing you the freedom to move.

His hissed while you moaned, your hips slowly lifting off his semi-hard cock. Cum leaked from your slit, following the source as his cock landed with a thud between you.

The clicking of a camera made you look over your shoulder, seeing Angel already tucking his phone away.

“Did you just take a picture?”

He smirked, finger reaching out to play in the mess between your thighs.

“Saving it for later, baby. Gotta have something to look at while you’re at work.”

You went to give him a smart ass retort about him being at the club for nearly every one of your shifts, but the words died on your lips when he slipped a finger inside of you once again. He gently massaged your walls, pushing what was left of his release further inside you. Your hips moved with him, responding immediately to the stimulation.

“Angel,” You admonished softly, not wanting to overindulge.

“Come on, baby...cum on my fingers.” He provoked, adding another digit.

“I didn’t want to.”

“But you can?” He asked, already knowing the answer.

Your body became a slave to his touch as he manipulated it. You squeezed your eyes shut as he pulled another orgasm from your depleted body. You gave him exactly what he wanted as you came around his knuckle-deep fingers, his rings nearly lost inside your walls.

“Too much.” You whimpered and pulled away, shooing his hand from your body.

He let you rest, sucking on his fingers to both clean them and savor you.

It took another five minutes for you to garner up the energy to stand and redress, Angel finally doing the same. He helped clean you off with the bandana he kept in his pocket, the both of you trying your best to seem presentable and not like you were rolling on Ecstasy.

You walked him to the door and opened it, leaning against the doorframe as he trapped you against it. The room smelled of sex. At least that was a common scent around the club.

“I’m gonna go clean up.” You said against his lips, kissing him and tasting yourself.

“I’mma head back to the guys.” He cradled your cheek, his thumb caressing just under your eye. “See you later?”

“Yeah.”

“You get off at two?”

You nodded, placing a kiss against his palm. The effects of the Ecstasy were making it difficult to separate from him. But you were still technically on the clock and had at least another two hours of your shift.

He kissed you one final time before he released you, walking down the long corridor back towards the main club. He turned to wink at you, slicking back his hair as he went. He walked with a swagger that had your body ready to risk it all again. Hopefully the high lasted for a while so that you could experience it at home with him.

You made your way to the dressing room, trying in vain to not look like you’d been fucked raw and nearly to death. Thankfully, the area was practically deserted. Except for one girl.

“Hey,” Luna greeted in the mirror at your approaching figure. She had a lip pencil angled at her full pout, reapplying the soft nude color.

“Hey girl,” You shot back, walking to your own station. “How was your dance with EZ?” You asked with a teasing lilt, eyeing her with a mischievous expression.

She laughed, but nodded as she fluffed her hair. “Good...really good.”

“Oh yeah?” You raised a brow in her direction, seeing the confirmation on her face.

“He’s...sexy.”

“The Reyes men have great genes.” You quipped, touching up your own lipstick and liner.

“He said he wanted to come back and see me.”

“That’s good!” You exclaimed, happy to see your little plan come to fruition. But upon seeing the doubt on Luna’s features, you stopped what you were doing and faced her. “Right?”

She met your eyes, hesitancy reflecting back at you. “I’ve never slept with a customer, much less dated one. I’ve never even been remotely interested in any of them. What if it doesn’t work out?”

You walked towards her, a reassuring smile already making its way onto your face. “I’ve only dated two customers. And they couldn’t be more different. The first guy was a piece of shit. Did everything he wasn’t supposed to when dating a dancer. He was jealous. And possessive. And an all around sack of shit. But Angel…”

You paused, letting her take in the dreamy look in your eyes. “He’s the right one. He supports me. He’s proud of me. He cares for me...in a way no man has before. And he and EZ are cut from the same cloth. So I think you’ll be good. But even if it doesn’t work out, just see what happens.” You finished with a shrug of your shoulders.

Her face relaxed, her posture more at ease as she soaked up your words and advice. She seemed relieved, excited by the prospect of letting a man like EZ into her life.

“Thank you, Candy...for everything.”

“Of course. I got you, girl.” You said with a wink, bumping her hip with yours. “Now, let’s get back out there because I need to make some serious cash.”

Luna laughed, following your lead as she finished up with her makeup.

“Hey, by the way…” She started, turning to face you once again. “Did you and Angel fuck? Because you sure as shit look like you did.”

“Fuck, really?” You cursed, examining your reflection.  

“Yeah, but the guys out there wouldn’t notice. They’re too busy seeing with their dicks anyway.”

“That’s the last time I let Angel fuck me here.” You huffed, walking with her to the doorway and out into the hall towards the bumping bass of the main area. She gave you a knowing side eye and you giggled, breaking your facade. “Well, at least until next time.”

Sucia Tag List:

@marvelmaree

@visintaes

@otomefromtheheart

@aquarius-smr-writing

@glimmerglittergirl

@arveeee

@fangirlingaesthetics

@maciiiofficial

@woahitslucyylu

@angelreyesgirl

@ifoundmyhappythought

@mheart27

@collegegirl83

@luna8819

@enamouravecleslivresetlechocolat

@everyhowlmarksthedead

@whatupitshuff

@noz4a2

@thesandbeneathmytoes

@minnicelli

@claytoncardenasbabymama

@brattyfics

@starrynite7114

@losolvidad0s

@prdsdjarin

@pearlkitten33

@iambabyharry

@spnaquakindgdom

@gemini0410

[ardentmuse]

Rogue Choices - Prologue (Kingsman x Reader)

Kingsman - Harry Hart x reader, Eggsy Unwin x Reader, Merlin (Hamish) x Reader  (you decide!)

Summary: As a new agent, Arthur gives you your last big assignment before you are approved to run missions on your own, only this time you get to pick your partner. And who says you can’t mix business and pleasure.

Wordcount: 5.8k (and this is just the intro!)

Warnings: fluff, sexual tension, talk of violence

Masterlist | Series Masterlist

(Note: I started this a long time ago but had to pause because Twine was doing weird things. It’s meant as a fully interactive piece, but I think we can make it work here on tumblr and AO3 with different chapter links. So I’m putting it out into the world to see if you all like it!)

PROLOGUE

Two strong raps on the door grant you a gentle, “Come in.”

As you turn the handle and enter, the smell of old books and polished wood fills your nostrils. Arthur’s office is a proper executive space. Shelves are lined with old tombs that must have been passed down for generations. The rich, plush Persian rug is worm upon the edges from years of use, but still draws the eye with its vibrant reds and subtle blues. Two large and striking leather wingbacks rest before a sturdy walnut desk, at which sits a patient Arthur, who doesn’t even bother to lift his gaze from the files before him as he hears you enter.

“Agent Kay, please take a seat.”

You do as you are bid, leaning back into the worn leather to take in the countenance of you boss. He seems tired, the grey hair of his eyebrows coming together as he squints at the documents before him. But even with the slight bags under his eyes, he is still the image of a proper gentleman. His collar is expertly pressed and his turtle shell glasses sit low on the bridge of his nose, just as you imagine Churchill’s might have.

After a few moments, he shuffles the papers aside and levels his eyes with yours.

“It seems you received the memo that I needed to see you?”

You laugh, “Your assistant nearly tackled me as I left lunch.”

“Eager kid, that one. He’ll make a good agent someday, too,” he muses, and then with a wry smile adds, “Much like you.”

“I’m already an agent, Arthur.”

“But mayhaps a good one given time,” he says, his eyebrows rising ever so slightly in challenge.

You haven’t been a secret agent long, having earned the title only a few months prior. The selection process to join the Kingsman was grueling to say the least, but you had been Arthur’s hand picked candidate. Only upon your recruitment did you understand just how much Arthur, a second father to you in so many ways, had primed you from your youth for this very role you doesn’t even know existed.

But nothing, not even Arthur, could have prepared you for the stress of being a Kingsman agent out in the field. Taking down the world’s most harrowing criminals, dismantling sex trafficking rings and stopping terrorist attacks takes a toll on the mind and body. Death is constantly right beside you, a single word or a single misstep enough to reveal your identity and get you killed. The work of Kingsman is highly classified, incredibly dangerous, and outside the bounds of traditional justice. You are a ghost, a guardian angel just outside the realm of men, leaving only vague notions of what could have been: a newspaper headline, a five o’clock story on Radio 4, a traffic jam or a flight delay. Ignorance is bliss as they say, but you now know the dark underbelly, the secret of which is the source of bliss for so many.

You sigh and hold your hand against your thigh to stop yourself from fidgeting. The shoulders on your suit, the well-fitted tweed of our Kingsman uniform, seem to tighten as Arthur continues to stare at you, waiting for your protest.

“What are you getting at?”

Arthur laughs as he pivots in his chair and presses on the spine of a book behind his desk. Instantly, the two shelves pull forward and slide to the sides, revealing an entire wall of flat screens and holograms projecting outward. You can’t make out all the details but the lower corner contains a building schematic and the top right shows the animated, scowling face of whom you can only assume is your organization’s latest target.

“Andrej Jankovic. Former Russian operative now based in Cyprus, leading what we’ve learned is the largest money laundering ring in the world. We’ve been tracking him for months, but,” he stops talking to focus on the movement of his fingers, swiping away spreadsheets to pull up live surveillance footage of the target, “As you can see, he covers his tracks very well.”

You watch on the screen as the man sips coffee in a small café. Four different cell phones lay out before him, concealed under the newspaper through which he flips lazily as he takes in the sea just outside the window. He is younger than you expect for such high crimes, with not a wrinkle in sight upon his face. His dark hair is long and flung haphazardly to one side but his facial hair in contrast is shaven with precision, just outlining his harsh jawline. He is striking in that brooding sort of way, long Roman nose and chiseled muscles. You might consider him handsome in a different life where your mind isn’t trained to notice the harshness of his brow or how quickly his eyes narrow with disdain each time someone new enters his vision.

“He is certainly… something,”

“Killed three people just yesterday for using checks,” Arthur throws your way as if that is something to marvel.

You swallow, still not comfortable with just how common death is in your new line of work.

“He’s ruthless and calculating, incredibly thorough and uncommonly intelligent. We’re never going to catch him with paper trails alone. There won’t be any. And simply taking him out leaves the whole rest of the corrupt network up and running. We need names.” Arthur swivels in his chair so he is facing you once again, resting his elbows upon the wood of his desk with a thud. “And I think you can get them.”

“Wait, really? You’re trusting me with this?”

You feel your jaw go slack. Biggest money launderer in the world, and Arthur thinks you can handle it? These past few months have felt like a probationary period, working alongside other agents, cleaning up their messes and assisting in communications and research. Your field time has been limited to sitting in corners of crowded rooms, observing more senior agents doing the hard work.

Arthur raps his fingers against the stack of papers before him.

“I think he’ll take kindly to you. If our intelligence is correct, he’ll be most susceptible to your…”

“Charm?” you insert.

“At least more than that of any other agent,” Arthur confirms. “Now don’t misunderstand me. It is not my intention to send you out alone. You will need a partner. Consider this your last test before I set you loose, Kay.”

Arthur picks up papers before him, writes quickly on a post-it that he places on the top of the stack, and then thrusts his arms forward to you.

“You have until tomorrow night to select a partner and review this research material. The jet leaves Friday.”

He doesn’t have to dismiss you with words. The way he pivots his body back to the screens behind him is signal enough that your questions will only be addressed after you thoroughly review the case.

And so you stand and make your way back into the labyrinth of the Kingsman manor to begin to wrap your mind around your new mission.

Just as the door closes behind you, a voice calls almost directly into your ear.

“Our mighty leading givin’ you a hard time, there, newbie?”

With a shocked puff of breath, you pivot on your heels to see the broad chest and shoulders of Eggsy just inches from your face. He is reclining casually against the doorframe, his arms crossing over his chest matching the cross of his ankles, all casual and cool. The cheeky grin upon his face, showing you those pristinely white teeth, lets you know your startled response is exactly what he was hoping to see.

“You’re never as alone as you think you are, my love,” he purrs with a rub of his palm into your shoulder, stilling the jump of your body at his appearance. “Rule number one of this spy gig.”

His deft hands make calculated movement against your collarbone, each brush bringing just the tip of his fingers against your pulse point, as though trying to discreetly test how much his proximity is impacting you. Your body goes stiff at the sensation, not in fear or discomfort, but in confusion. Eggsy smiles that disarming smile of his. He leans forward, his mouth finding a place beside your ear.

“You know, I think I still have quite a bit to teach you.”

The feel of his breath combined with the gentle graze of his nails against your throat make your breath hitch, goosebumps running down your chest. You hate how clear your responses are to these sorts of flirtations and so you divert your gaze to the place where the tips of his oxfords are pressed against your shoes.

At your lack of response, Eggsy drums his fingers across your shoulder, tickling you. You laugh and pull back slightly, enough to actually take in his features: his jaw, sharp and square and his skin kissed with just a tint of sun, his blue eyes glowing with humor behind his glasses. And with that last realization, you sigh. He is right. You are never as alone as you think, especially at Kingsman, with those silly glasses recording almost every interaction for Merlin or whomever to review at their convenience.

“You know, it seems everyone thinks I still have much to learn.”

Eggsy gives you a quick slap on the back, pulling his body fully from yours.

“That’s what big boss man is on you about?” he says as he begins walking down the hall, leading you out of the offices spaces and back towards the communal agent quarters. “Ill-timed joke, then. My bad, love.”

As you turn the corner into the grand stairway, you notice the chasm between your bodies. Eggsy is two steps in front and his feet light, tossing a look back towards you as he continues his talking, as if he wasn’t just holding his body only inches for your own, running his calloused fingers across the sensitive flesh of your neck and raising your blood pressure, not just giving you dazzling smiles and teasing your earlobes with his hushed breaths. That is Eggsy, flirtation and friendship, on and off, hot and cold, and always just enough honesty in his eyes in those moments to make you question which is the act.

After a long walk through parlors and the kitchens, laughing about your dogs and the antics that came out of the latest team meeting, you find yourself standing in front of the control room with the majority of your tension about your mission lost somewhere in the depths of your brain.

“Now this is where I leave you,” Eggsy says.

You turn with a huff to your friend.

“Why didn’t you tell me Merlin sent you to find me?”

The corner of Eggsy’s mouth turned upward in that too-seductive half-smile he had perfected somewhere between you first meeting him and right now,

“You’re much more fun when you aren’t stressing about work.” His eyes scanned from your body, slow and intentional, until his gaze came to rest on your lips, now just slightly parted from his clearly heated evaluation. He smiled at your response. “Much more fun.”

You shake your head at him, always the tease.

“You really believe I would have had you laughing after Arthur had you down if your mind had also been churning on what Mr. Stoic McSeriousface wanted with you?”

You pout. Eggsy knows of your friendship with Merlin, the tech head for your organization. You know he is just trying to get a stir out of you.

But before you can answer, Eggsy moves forward. You step back and find the door pressing against your back.

“You’re going to be the death of me with that pout, you know.”

After a silent beat between you, the air growing thicker as you stare each other down, Eggsy leans forward, raising his hand the way he sometimes does to brush stray hairs from your face. But instead, his hand moves beyond your shoulder, making contact with the wood of the door. He knocks hard and heavy.

“Enjoy being bored to death, peaches,” he whispers to you before slinking down the hall.

Eggsy turns the corner just as Merlin opens the door to his workspace. You take note of his expression as he looks down the hall. It really is stoic, but when his face sets upon you, it immediately changes into something soft and inviting, encouraging even.

“Kay, glad you’re here.” He opens the door a little wider and then continues, “Come in.”  

“Good afternoon, Merlin,” you say as you move into the tech space, Merlin following closely behind.

You throw yourself down on the vintage Eames lounge chair that sits in the corner of the room, placing your stack of papers on the floor as you allow yourself the joy of reclining deeply into the headrest.

Merlin pats the footrest as he passes by, inviting you to relax. He moves towards his desk, computer, and all the hundreds of gadgets that are organized upon the shelves beside.

“So, what do you have for me?” you ask as you follow through on Merlin’s request to fully recline yourself. “Details on Jankovic?”

“Yes, and no,” he says, not meeting your eyes. He takes a seat and begins typing away.

The rhythmic ping of keys give you a moment to truly observe the man before you. Merlin is a striking, almost imposing, figure in appearance. He is tall and lithe, in complete control of each moment, in a way that conveyed a refined elegance to some and a rigid intent to others. His face is a masculine stone, like a sculpture of a Roman general, piercing in its seriousness. But he brings life to the features that you love: soft hazel eyes, busy dexterous hands, and a smooth Scottish accent that makes even the sweetest words from his mouth sound husky.

After a moment, he continues on, “Jankovic has a well-trained team and multi-layered cyber systems. His security, virtual and physical, is nearly impenetrable. I do believe I have found a few exploitable flaws, almost all of which require work on the ground to hijack. If we don’t go that route, I have managed to mirror the controls for the security system at the hotel he owns in Limassol, so I will be able to be of assistance once you land.”

You stand and move beside his desk. He has months of logs, meticulously organized and color-coded and tabulated, certain sections highlighted in red, denoting times of lower security or routine system upgrades. His work, just like him, is precise and detailed.

You lean down over his shoulder to take in the schematic of the hotel, several floors of suites and an entire rooftop entertaining space. Your mind conjures images of the ocean and soft sand beaches that are visible just below, the salt air and the setting sun filling your slowly numbing senses as you sip on your second cocktail and a stunningly handsome man runs his hands down your spine to the soft of your back.

But the strong scent of cedarwood and bergamot that you know to be Merlin bring you back to the present. Or maybe it aids in the fantasy.  When he reaches over to rest his hand on your back, pushing you forward slightly to watch the tiny dots he is pointing at with his other hand, you know where your mind got those ideas in the first place.

“I’ve discovered some patterns here that I think we can exploit, unless of course you decide making your presence known to the target is a better option.”

His fingers never leave your back as he speaks.

“Stealth or charisma,” you muse, “Just like a video game.”

“If so, your video games are quite limited,” he laughs. His fingers slide across your back as he rolls his chair to the other side of the room. You feel the absence most acutely.

“I’d hope there’d at least be some intelligence or combat in these skill trees of yours.”

His fingers run over the lock in the shelving. You hear a click and then the draw opens to reveal a pristine case containing three weapons you have yet to see, each encased in foam and glass like priceless works of art.

“Perhaps some lock-picking?” he turns and offered you a smile.

“I’ve definitely maxed out my luck, at least,” you say with a tilt to the draw of weapons, each more beautiful than the next.

“And enchantment, if I may be so bold,” his words are to the drawer of weapons and not your face, but your mind fills in his devastating lip bite and the thought has you melting and feeling the shyness creep over you.

The silence hangs between you two as Merlin flicks the lock on each case.

Finally with a deep breath, he says, “My latest prototypes. You’ll need all the protection you can get on this one, Kay, so take your pick.”

“Can’t I take all of them?”

Merlin turns and shots you a look so deadly, you feel the air leave your lungs.

“And risk you losing all my hard work? Never.”

His eyes are piercing yours, wearing you down, but you try your best to hold your ground.

“I’m quite trustworthy, Hamish,” you say with a gentle bit of your lip.

“First names, now? You jest, my dear,” he says with a narrowing of his eyes that let you know he likes the words more than he wants to admit. “Now pick.”

You feel the weight of the weapon in your hand, bouncing it a little to get comfortable.

“This one. I like this one,” you say finally.

Merlin shuts the drawers and turns to you. “And it likes you, too, Kay. Very fitting.”

You can’t help but smile at his praise. Eggsy is wrong, you know. Merlin isn’t so much serious as he is careful about his work.  You enjoy the lightness he shares with you, even if it is intercut with professional talk.

“Thank you, Merlin,” you say as you holster the weapon and grab your papers.

“You’re welcome.” Merlin’s head already back in his computer and typing away.

As you reach for the door, he calls you once more.

“And Kay?”

You turn to offer him your full attention and are struck by how serious he looks, the hard lines of his face all completely turned to you and his chin dipped in a soft reverence that you hope is reserved for you alone. His voice takes on that husky quality as he breathes out the next words.

“I know you’re a little overwhelmed right now, but you are among us for a reason. You’re a capable agent, Kay. Please don’t forget that.”

For a man who often shrugs off sentimentality, he manages to find just the right words to build you up and make you smile. You feel a tiny wave of pleasure course through you, easing a bit of the weight from your shoulders.

You watch his Adam’s apple bob as he swallows. With a curt nod, the sweetness of the moment lost, he returns his eyes to the screens beside him.

You sit in the study, the fire roaring beside you, as you pour through each meticulous document that Arthur gave you. Just skimming these papers alone is going to take you all the way to your flight and then some, and that doesn’t include the time you need to devise a plan, select a partner, and prep for execution. But none of those other things can happen until you wrap your mind fully around your mission. And if that means sitting here well into the morning, transcribing and memorizing and organizing, then that is what you are going to do.

You hear the clink of porcelain upon the table beside you. A mug of tea is now perched among your discarded notes, the steam cloud in the lamplight.

“Thought a pick-me-up might be in order,” Harry, your mentor and fellow agent, says above you as he moves to the other side of the room, carrying his own mug and his own papers, though his take the form of the news, several morning editions stacked together, a few in languages in which you weren’t aware Harry had proficiency.

With the flick of his wrists, Harry opens the top paper, but unlike his usual routine of reading through the headlines and major political scandals, Harry turns towards the back, folds the paper in half, and pulls out a pen from his jacket pocket.

You take a long sip of the tea he provided you, and are pleased to discover it isn’t his usual nighttime blend but a proper English brew, one that will provide you enough caffeine to get your through this work. If Harry is anything, it certainly is thoughtful.

You work in silence for fifteen minutes or so, Harry’s long legs elegantly crossed as he relaxes himself against the couch. He drums the end of the pen upon the tuffs of the Chesterfield. You can’t help but think about how, in the past six months, you had already fallen into a pleasant routine with these men you called your colleagues. Lunch with Eggsy, briefings and shooting practice with Merlin, and long nights, just like tonight, sitting beside Harry and working in companionable silence. With Harry, words are rarely needed. He is a man whose company creates an aura of calm that penetrates even the most intense of moments. The few missions on which you have accompanied him were smooth, efficient endeavors; they left you feeling confident and poised even by comparison to arguably the most poised man you have ever met.

“Attractive, eight letters, third letter is most likely a ‘g’,” Harry asks into the air.

You lift your head from a giant list of innocuously named shell corporations to consider his question.

Engaging? Magnetic?

“Hmmm,” he muses, scribbling upon the paper, “Thank you, darling.”

You only get a few more minutes of silence before he is piping up again.

“Unstable, six letters, last letter ‘y’.”

Wobbly? Flimsy? Shifty?

“Perfect,” Harry whispers over his swift pen strokes. The roar of the fire by now was dying down, the pleasant crackle of embers scenting the room in hickory and smoke. You find yourself fighting the exhaustion that is coming over your body at the sheer comfort of your company and the ambiance the room provides.

Not thirty seconds pass by before Harry is calling your way once more.

“To proceed, four let-“

“Harry, are you trying to distract me from my work or is this crossword collaborative?”

Harry folds the paper shut and places it firm upon his lap. His eyes shift upward slowly, from your feet to your eyes, pausing upon the stack of papers spread out around you on all sides before he finds his way to your face. Harry’s lips curl into a soft smile, one that is made all the more precious by the way the fire’s reflection upon his face. He rubs at the bridge of his nose as he debates his words.

“I wouldn’t call it distracting as much as helping,” he finally decides, picking up the paper as he takes soft steps towards you.

Soft, that is the best word to describe Harry. Gentleness and patience and softness are what you associated with him most. Sure, you have seen his skills, watched him turn into a ruthless hit-man as the situation called for it, powerful and strong and confident. But the instant the bodies laid still before you, Harry’s steps grew light again. As he reached out his hand in serenity, kindly lifting you to your feet, brushing debris from your hair and asking in a whisper if you are safe.

“I’m not so sure how not doing my work is going to help me do my work,” you say as Harry pulls the footstool out beside you to sit. His back is perfectly straight despite the lack of support and you wonder if you body would ever be trained with the same precision as the seasoned agents you so admire.

“You’re thinking too much,” he says. He sits the newspaper down on top of your papers, covering up all your notes and drawing your focus to the absence of notes on his actual page. Nothing exists in the boxes, only in the margins and you notice how peculiar it appears.

“See, darling, this is you right now, taking each individual note and trying to assess it alone. If I went bullet by bullet through this crossword puzzle trying to figure out what it meant by every single word clue or question mark, I would have half the puzzle wrong.”

Harry is leaning over the newspaper now, his head awfully close to your own. The fluff of his brown curls are brushing lightly against your forehead. Despite the tickling, you don’t pull away.

Harry’s voice is low, requiring you to lean in. He wants this proximity. For what purpose, you don’t let you mind assume.

“Some clues like this one,” he says, pointing to 20-across ‘Author Silverstein,’ “Are easy to solve without context.” His hand moves to write the first bit within the puzzle: ‘shel.’

“But others,” he moves his pen to point at 4-down, ‘To proceed,’ and the three words he has written beside it: sail, toil, and till. Somehow his brain did the puzzling work of realizing long ago that the ‘l’ in ‘shel’ was the necessary fourth letter. “ Others require much more context.”

“And even still, some may seem to require context,” he says, pointing to the clue, ‘display of glee,’ which had nothing scribbled beside, “But actually require none at all, just experience and foresight.” And with that note, he moves quickly to the tiny space to which the clue corresponds and without checking anything else, writes ‘jig’ in large, bold, capital letters.

“Now how do you—“ you went to protest, but Harry interrupted you.

“Because it’s always jig. I know it could be ‘hah’ or ‘lol’ but it isn’t. It is always jig. There aren’t many other ways to get ‘j’s into the puzzle. Do a few crosswords and you don’t even have to finish reading the clue. That and emu. And Nave. V’s are tricky buggers, too.”

You sigh, “But I don’t have the experience to see the ‘j’ and the ‘v’ in our spy work yet. I just see the Silversteins and the capitals of France and the 2017 Best Picture winner.”

Harry’s hand reaches out to rub against your knuckles, comforting and supportive, “But, darling, you do. Every puzzle has a theme. Every target has his preferences. Find what is distinctive, what is rare. Trust your gut to see what doesn’t fit, what needs to be there because it can’t exist any other way. “

Harry lifts up the newspaper, revealing your workspace once again. He links his fingers with yours as he allows his free hand to run along the stack of papers before you.

“Scan,” he says, slow and emphatically. He lifts the stack like a book and flicks, one page each second with a satisfying click and swipe.

The first few pages go by with a blur. By the tenth, you are pulling out only a handful of words, though those words seem to make a story anyway: Ancoria, Konstantinos, $9,999, Ltd.

“Stop!” you say upon the sixtieth page or so. Harry’s hand grips yours a little tighter, sending a warm jolt down your spine. You see him smile out of the corner of your eyes at your apparent discovery.

“What do you see?” he asks, his shoulder brushing yours as he leans in. The rough wool of his jacket brushing against your bare arm is a pleasant contrast to the smooth skin of his palm that still pressed firmly into your own.

You use your free hand to point to the third transaction line.

“All the previous shell companies had Greece mythology names. Scylla, Nyx, Calliope. But this one is Roman: Decima. At least I think it is,” you bit your lip a little realizing this may be a stupid thing to call out, “But even if it isn’t, it doesn’t seem right. This also seems to be the only shell company for which we have names of the board of directors.”

Harry takes his pen and circles Decima with three big spins. He underlines each of the names listed on the board below and pulls the paper out of the stack and up to the top.

He draws his hands away from yours to close the pen and collect your stack together once more. He plops the newly assembled stack before you and makes to leave you. But as he stands with one knee against the footrest upon which he had been sitting, he hovers his body over you, his proximity doing little to help with the already intense heat of your skin from the fire. He leans forward and grazes his lips gently upon your forehead. As he pulls away, his hand finds your chin and he meets your gaze.

“That’s my girl,” he says with a smile before turning and walking swiftly out of the room, his newspaper abandoned to your pile.

With a renewed vigor, you dive deep into the papers, determined to see the odd inconsistencies that might provide context for the more common practices. As you continue to sip on your tea, you notice the cup had refilled and rewarmed itself. You never heard Harry enter the room at all.

The following morning, you wake with the sun. Little sleep had happened in the past day but you feel refreshed regardless. The long hours you had put in the night before resulted in quite a bit of relevant information and three distinct methods for tackling Jankovic, each with its merits and its challenges. But you are feeling confident for your meeting with Arthur, at least you were last night. This morning, you need to eat your breakfast and review your notes before providing your supervisor with your planned course of action.

You lift yourself from the plush comfort of your bed, the biggest benefit of spending the night at the manor, and walk towards your desk, which now is a much more organized collection of research: three distinct piles with three hand-written mission plans upon each.

You pull the blanket along with you, cocooning yourself as you sit at the desk and review your plans.

The first is a traditional approach: the honey-pot. In Andrej’s personal history, he has displayed a clear preference for your physical features. And even more, he has had no steady partners, just a series of lovers, all of whom were affiliated with other men simultaneously. In your time at Kingsman, it had already become clear that the type of people you took down got enjoyment out of breaking more than just the law.

Eggsy is the perfect partner for this plan. His flirtatious personality and social skills mean he can easily convince a group of people that you are a couple. With the gala at the hotel on Saturday, all it would take is a little skin and some well-placed winks on your end for Andrej to want to tempt you away from your handsome partner. And while you entertain Andrej’s attentions, Eggsy would be open to sneak into the depths of Andrej’s personal estate and gather what information was needed to take him down. Sure, this plan puts you right in the belly of the beast and therefore in the most direct line of danger, but it also gives you the best chance to adapt to new information and go with the flow.

The second plan is significantly less risky but requires more planning. A covert invasion of his security detail and hijacking of his automated banking systems would provide you all the information you needed to tear down the entire network. With Merlin’s mirror, you could cut down power to the hotel, sneak into the basement offices undetected, and bug and download what you needed. With Merlin, this plan could be flawless, with you using your combat background to take down the guards and his tech skills ensuring a full system overhaul without a trace. You would still need to get into the hotel, and the gala would work as a good cover, but unlike the honeypot, your goal would be to blend in as much as possible. It may not be the most glamourous plan, but it would certainly be the most efficient, and not to mention the most intimate, sneaking through darkened corridors and keeping as close as possible to avoid detection.

And finally the third plan would require approaching Jankovic directly, posing as British investors seeking to hide funds overseas, hoping to utilize Jankovic’s existing network to hide quite a bit of money quickly. And you’d be willing to pay for the services. You need credentials, as Andrej is a skeptical man, but he is also not the type of man who can pass up a quick cash opportunity. You could approach him at the gala, enquire about his services, and find out much from the horse’s mouth, supplementing what he tells you with the information would be able to mirror from his phones once you had him in the room with you. And in this, Harry could truly sign. A master of the art of blending in among the oddest of crowds, Harry could easily pose as the financial head of your organization, partners in crime in the truest sense. You wouldn’t have to steal anything in this plan. Andrej would give it freely, though it would require near perfect coordination between you and Harry.

As you add notes to the margins of your stacks, you look over at the post-it Arthur left on your files yesterday: Regroup noon, tomorrow. If you don’t leave now, you will be late. You throw on yesterday’s suit, scoop up what papers you need and rush to Arthur’s office.

The door is open when you arrive and Arthur is seated upon one of his couches, cutting into a perfectly roasted chicken breast as he beckons you forward.

“Discover anything useful?” he says after a swallow. He lifts his cloth napkin to his lips and waves out the door behind you. Pushing past you, his assistant cruises inside and grabs his plate with a nod before leaving.

Arthur waves a hand to the seat in front of him. You take your sit and go to speak, but before you can say a word, Arthur lifts a finger.

“Before you run me through the details, whom should I request be joining us for this briefing?”

“Um…”

And that’s a wrap for the prologue! Please let me know in the comments which route you’d like to me to work on first. :) 

All tags: @fangirlandnerd, @aerdnandreaa​, @thisisbullshytt​,  @cancerousjojian​, @whovianayesha​, @themarauderstheoutsidersandpeggy​, @luna-xxxxx​, @sleepylunarwolf​, @starryrevelations​, @potter-thinking​, @all-by-myself98​, @bananafosters-and-books​, @cutie-bug​, @igotmadskills​, @hazelandcoconuts​, @yallgotkik​, @amberkay284​, @the-new-galahad, @13ofjuly​, @daft-not-punk​

Kingsman tags: @allonsymexgirl​, @eiensteiner, @thecaptainsgingersnap​, @madamcadaver. @doct0rstrange​, @ratwrites​, @kaeleabres, @nellietara, @ediblemurderer​, @allofthekingsmen

Harry Hart tags: @un-education​, @lexicon04​, @bananzaa​, @consultingdoctorwholock​, @sparrowharkness​, @newconnorwhodis

Merlin tags: @consultingdoctorwholock​, @sparrowharkness​

[ships-n-giggles]

Paperback Prophets: Platonic Aziraphale/Reader

Summary:  Aziraphale forms a symbiotic relationship with you. Platonic Aziraphale x Reader, friendship fic. Nerds bonding over books.

Author’s Note; Thanks so much to those who liked my previous work. I like these platonic stories since I think it’s underestimated how interesting and enigmatic these characters can be when you don’t have all the facts about them. In a lot of ways, Aziraphale and Crowley are like people you can’t exactly put your finger on, but know there’s something special about them. I know a lot of reader-fiction likes the drama of the big reveal, but I think the subtlety of secrets never revealed lends its own flavor to fiction.

Just a heads up, this Reader-insert is not defined as male or female in comparison to my previous work, which was more directed towards a female character. Some of the works described do not exist, but were rather made up by me based on historical events or people whom I think would lend to the eclectic tastes of Aziraphale.

Again, if I owned Good Omens, there would be real dinosaurs and I would live in a castle by the sea. Thou shalt not sue.

____

Your family based their business on the martyrdom of your great grandfather….a victim of the Nazi Party when he refused to surrender his bookshop in Krakow, Poland. He was no stranger to the fascist movement and threw out the first attempts by the police to seize his books. He chased them out with a club, and was joined by his neighbors, and stood his ground.

There was no rude interruption in broad daylight next time. The next time, they burned him, and his books, and the entire block for his defiance.

“He was burned for protecting the language of the Jews, of Poland. Of the world.” Your grandmother told you, sitting in her lap as a small child. You knew this story by heart, but your grandparents told it so well. “His books disavowed the reign of dictators and terrorists, and they could not stand for it.”

Defiance ran in the family. And for the next three generations your family rescued more books by taking up that noblest of crimes…the theft of books.

_______

Your grandfather had founded the idea, when the ashes of his father’s shop left only a ledger of the books that were destroyed, kept in the safe along with the family tree and a Star of David that had belonged to him. The books he had kept in his shop were very old, and came from all across Europe. Some of them were even brought over from imperial Russia, before the fall of the czar. Not many copies of them were left in the world.

But your grandfather knew where the copies were.

He fled to England with his wife and opened a restoration firm to spit in the face of the war. It was only partially a cover for his real business. He did have the knowledge to restore books back to their original state, with tricks passed down from generation to generation. But with each restoration, he also meticulously copied the contents of the book, using a special trick involving wax, glue and cheesecloth to make a print of the papers and their imagery onto a fresh book. Then he would return the original book unscathed back to the owner, none the wiser. Your grandfather’s real job had been in building up the secret archives of the British National Library and making copies of the great universities works. No book was too rare or obscure for him. Even the controversial Hammer of Witches was copied, though your grandfather noted that the pictures were better than the instructions.

Your grandfather also had a long memory. When he saw a bookseller that dared have Mein Kampf, he would have to be held back by friends to avoid from brutally beating the clerk and smashing the windows of the establishment. In time, he has a son and his temper cools. He tended to conveniently not notice your father’s mischief, such as when your father writes rude words on the glass window of an offending bookshop.

He’s almost too cheeky to be real, and often was chased by your grandfather for his jokes and pranks. But it only endears him to others, making it easy to divert shipments of banned books.

A Clockwork Orange turns your grandfather’s stomach, but your father takes a shipment meant to be burned, creates a nonsense excuse of recycling the materials for book repair, and the publisher believes him right away. When your father first reads a nicked copy of Ulysses, he is so enchanted he actually dupes a government official into paying for the family to dispose of an intercepted shipment of the book. Your parent’s basement, your uncle’s basement, and your older cousin’s basement is full of copies of material banned by the government. But under the family firm is the treasure trove. The books copied from some of the rarest material on earth. Some of their original material have been destroyed since then.

But you save sacred trips to the secret basement for when life hits you hardest. It’s important those copies survive in the world to come.

_____

You receive the call on a Monday morning. You can hardly believe who it is before passing the phone to your grandfather. He is less involved with the business, but he might have been tempted into throttling you if you hadn’t let him talk to Mr. Fell.

A.Z. Fell and Co. was notorious among the antiquarian community. Not only was his collection as eclectic as they come, but it was also a gold mine of rare books, out of print bibles and religious texts, and treasures of the literary world that likely had no equal. How he stayed in business was the subject of fervent gossip, as he kept odd hours and was very passive-aggressive…and successful….in discouraging would be buyers. Your father’s joke was that he might let you read a few books if you caught him at the right time. But even those rare moments were tinged with a lot of rules.

Your grandfather enjoys the conversation immensely, and when he hangs up he calls for a family meeting over dinner.

“He asked for you. By name!” Your grandfather is just as in shock as you are. Though it is clear that he reveres Mr. Fell with the same kind of respect one would give a saint, he can’t help but sound a little jealous. “He wants to discuss the restoration of his collection this week. As soon as possible.”

You meet on a rainy Wednesday, scampering in the side door per his instructions at teatime.

The smell is just like the private archive below the firm, though lightly tinged with the scent of hot cocoa. More than just books are on the shelves. Reprints of paintings and illustrations, framed tapestries and busts sitting on the tables, even a tarnished suit of armor with chainmail, dressing up a half sculpture of a Greek youth.

“Pleasure to meet you.”

Mr. Fell looks like many other retired antiquarians, except he didn’t have the same strain of arthritis or suffer from a draft in his bookshop. He was in fact, far more rosy, lively, and brighter than most other people, even in occupations that were arguably more pleasing or easy. His coat is perfectly straight and tidy, though the velvet buttonholes in his vest have since lost their color.

The two of you shake hands, and you accept a mug of cocoa seasoned with a dollop of vanilla paste. In time he pulls out a ledger twenty pages thick, with tidy handwriting scribbled on a hand drawn spreadsheet.

“Given the state they’ve been in, I think it’s time the books got a bit of a good pick-me-up.” He giggles as if he’s told a private joke, and continues. “Most of my collection is in tip top shape, but I’ve put the ones worse for wear on the list. What do you think?”

The list of books makes your jaw drop. He has a Nostradamus original…never been copied! And a rare copy of a controversial Gnostic bible, one on the golden list of books not yet copied by the family. These were books that had been floating unknown, with a cringing fear they were decaying in an attic or hoarded in a bookshop with someone unaware of their value.

However, Mr. Fell was only too aware of their value.

“My only request is that you do your work here.” It’s a condition that leaves you a little nervous. Does he know your family’s secret business? “Not to be the suspicious type, but I have had attempts on these books, in both the legal and the far less legal.” He huffs into his drink. “I can set up a cozy little corner for you and give you as much room as you need. Fair enough?”

“I think so.” You empty your cup. “I’d have to ask Grandfather first. Our preservation techniques are also something of a trade secret.”

There’s a bit of a silent visual exchange. If Mr. Fell’s eyes said “what do you think you’re doing”, yours are replying with a certain “I don’t know, what do you think you’re doing” right back. But he did not invite you in to get a prime list of his collection, drink cocoa, and discuss business just to end rudely. The two of you shake hands and promise to get in touch later, and you urge the cabbie that picks you up to drive you as fast as physically possible back home.

You hesitate to show your grandfather the list of books to repair. You’re certain he’ll have a heart attack. Instead he only faints into his fussing wife’s arms.

“An original print of Goethe’s work!” He gasps, the rest of you scrambling to pass him an inhaler as he takes a breath and regains his composure. “The things I would do just to look!”

“I’d have to work in his shop. That’s his condition.” You remind him. “It would be easy in our workshop but under his nose-”

Your grandfather isn’t a pushover however. He knows that with great gambles often come great rewards. If you throw the dice right. All of you exchange looks of unease when he asks your grandmother to set an extra seat for dinner and goes to make a phone call. You’re hanging in anticipation when he asks you very calmly to work on the normal restorations.

Mr. Fell arrives very eagerly for dinner, like a schoolboy just released for summer break.

He is almost unusually excited. He is very complimentary to your grandmother’s special lamb stew, exchanging culinary stories from a visit to Rome. He and your grandfather get along like a house on fire, swapping admiring rhetoric on the evolution of Romantic-period literature and emptying out a bottle of wine on their own. Your grandfather gets to the point over a dessert of strawberry mess.

“Mr. Fell, I am unashamed to say it.” He leans back in his chair, and makes a boastful confession that puts you in shock. “I am, very proudly I may say, a most excellent thief.”

Even Mr. Fell is unable to recover his expression. “I beg your pardon?”

“What pardon? I am not ashamed!” He untucks his napkin, wiping his mouth. “I am an extraordinary thief in the meaning that I steal for a generation that has not yet been born. And I steal a medium that never loses its value, no matter how long the years may toll.”

“I see.” Mr. Fell is unsure of whether to be impressed or concerned, and you wonder if your grandfather has lost his mind. There is an entire collection of rare works waiting to be copied and he seems to be throwing out all pretenses of pretending not to want to take it! “Is this in regards to the private collection you mentioned?”

“Yes. Moreover, I stole all of those books without ever taking the original copy.”

“…forgive me but I don’t understand.”

Your grandfather stands up and hobbles to the workshop in the back. Awkward looks are exchanged at the table and you try to busy your face with scooping some of the strawberry mash into your mouth when your grandfather comes out with a yellowed manuscript. “Here. See for yourself.”

Mr. Fell hesitates, his fingers doing an odd wiggle as if to insure they do not smudge the paper. But as soon as he glosses over the title on the cover it’s his turn to gape with his jaw ajar. “But this is the Constitution of Freemasons! Those were stolen by the Nazis years ago!”

“Who do you think stole this copy eh?” Your grandfather boasts. “I insured a friend of mine who owned a copy kept it hidden long enough for me to copy it. When it was stolen, I already had this! And that is only one of many.” He crosses his arms. “I am trusting you with this family secret because you appreciate the kind of effort put into preserving the history of literature.”

Mr. Fell takes a moment to whip out a pair of spectacles, looking over the contents very intently. He must be convinced it is a real copy, because a few pages it he closes the manuscript, whipping his glasses back off and letting out a ‘whoosh’ of air through his teeth.

“I think I’m in the mood to negotiate.”

______

The Setup is arranged.

The number of books that needed repair were quite extensive. It would doubtless be a three year work involving many, many hours a day of repair. However you are only too happy to report to A.Z. Fell and Co from eight to three, everyday. Your workstation is a restored folding desk of fine cherry wood, with an engraving from the carpenter dating back to the 1700s. You have your case of tools, which you decide to leave there each day. No point in covering up anything to Mr. Fell anymore, now that your grandfather has whipped the curtain open on your family secret.

“Aziraphale please.” He insists. “Mr. Fell is so terribly formal.”

Your family’s fee for repairing the books is remarkably cheap, a cover of course to lure in potential owners of rare books not yet copied. But the real payment comes with the copies you make while you mend. Books to be saved for the future.

Aziraphale gets free access to your family’s private library and once he’s permitted a list of what’s actually in the vault, you have several copies brought for his enjoyment and to join the collection as manuscripts. You know it’s not the full list, according to your knowledge of the library, but Aziraphale is hiding a few of his own rarities, you’re sure.

You find that mending old books is a bit like surgery. You have to wear latex gloves (no powder), and pick away rotting fibers with a set of tweezers, painstakingly removing the dry rot and mending it with new thread and leather. The pages that are withering are given a careful coating of your family’s recipe for “magic paper maiche”, which is more of a joke than an accurate description of the goopy liquid. Patience is the key, and when some pages dry, you work on the bindings, resewing and completing the methodical process of putting books that are falling apart back together. Luckily these books were well loved and kept away from arid attics and damp cellars. Aziraphale locks them in their cabinets with care in-between visits, and though you do not see an alphabetical order that makes sense, you’re keenly aware he could pick the right book off the shelf with his eyes closed.

You’re not used to people hanging over your shoulder while you work. In fact your grandfather was tested severely when you crouched over him to learn how to do it, and his fitful temper sometimes made him very annoyed when you didn’t get it quite right. However Aziraphale has a way of making his presence very welcome. You attribute it to his boyishly eager expression, fascinated with the process. It’s quite flattering after all, to hold an audience so interested in the nitty, gritty details of book mending.

“This isn’t so bad.” You tell him over lunch. Your grandmother packed you both sandwiches, perhaps to continue earning Aziraphale’s good graces, and the cold cuts are served with chilled gazpacho while your host makes tea. “Father had a very graphic encounter with an unusual medium when he found out a book had been bound with human skin.”

Aziraphale is short of spitting into his cup at that, and you can’t help but admire his restraint. “Animals. Human skin? What on earth kind of book was that?” He is aghast, but clearly intrigued.

“A historic account describing the execution of the Yorkshire Witch, Mary Bateman. It had details of her life, trial, and the subsequent catastrophes that were left in the wake of her execution. It’s her own skin they bound the book in.” You shiver. “Father was glad to return it after copying it, but when he spritzed the leather and saw what it was made of, he jumped out of his seat and near gave up.” The book hadn’t sold at all, but had been more or less a memento from the court official who had recorded the trial.

Macabre stories aside, the bookshop was a temple to the things that mattered to you.

-----

“Your grandfather is quite the hot-blooded trickster isn’t he?” Aziraphale noted with a strange fondness. He had been invited for dinner on multiple occasions to talk the better half of the night about books, history, and debating the quality of culinary publishers based on their country. You knew exactly what he meant by having attended last night’s dinner. Your grandfather was so old, but he still went to work, banging his fist on the table when he laughed, and arguing his point to the bitter end. Only your grandmother could soothe his hot temper with a bit of dessert or by humbling him with a pinch to the ear and a playful reprimand. “He would have been an absolute hoodlum if not for books.”

“No, I think he’s a hoodlum even with the influence of books.” You joke. “He and his friends used to hold bridge parties until the chief organizer died, and those were some wild parties. Nowadays they like to visit for a drink at a bar and talk about their hobbies, but I think grandmother might have been a little more than relieved to know they got canceled.”

“Oh how bad could bridge be?”

He himself has never played it, so propping up the extra cards against a pair of busts, you teach him the ropes. You sometimes play with your family at big events, holidays, and birthdays, and with your grandfather as your teacher, you also are a rapacious cheat. You teach it fairly the first time, both you and Aziraphale sharing a pair of cards for the others, but the second time you destroy him completely.

He has a good sense of humor about it and concedes defeat, promising to get more friends over and try again.

The first book that is finished is Aziraphale’s first edition copy of a biography dictating the life of Oscar Wilde…written by a friend of the famous poet. You think you see Aziraphale’s name scribbled in the cover, but the name is faded out and could very easily spell Azekiel if you squint. The cover had been rotting (from what he claims was a freak incident with a cold cup of tea) and the pages were badly stained and threatening to crumble. It did look as though it were brought back to life by a miracle, and Aziraphale tells you so.

“Oh it’s just like when I got it!” He says with glee. Though it’s strange how he feels the need to cover for himself. “Not from the author of course! No, no, that’d be silly! From a friend. Bought it from a friend.”

It strikes you as bad manners to pry, so you don’t. Fortunately, you are the restorer in this case and follow certain etiquette. Your grandfather would have wheedled him for hours to get the full story.

___

You only miss one day of work when a family emergency happens. Something you and your family have been dreading.

It’s been over a year. Aziraphale’s books were resurrected from the brink of decay, you enjoyed the lunches and the visits for dinner, and the conversation. He had even let you (to the shock of all family) borrow his copy of Book Trails: Through the Wildwood. It is not a particularly well known or rare find, and he confesses with eagerness how it was a personal favorite found completely by accident. But you do not take advantage of his generosity. You read it in one night, and return the next day with a tin of cookies as a thank you. The saffron and orange shortbreads go over extremely well at tea time, and you promise to bring a favorite book of yours to read. In due time, you have loaned him all of your Walter Moers books to read, and he sometimes giggles in his chair at the antics of Thirteen and a Half Lives of Captain Bluebear. He probably can view himself as the intrepid hero in that case, who had an equal fondness for food.

It should not have come as a surprise. But you were hoping maybe your grandfather was too tough to actually fall sick.

He had been complaining of a wheezy cough after opening up a chest of books he’d procured from a friend, though he complained more of their condition…with pages that had to be replaced outright. He had labored hard with your father over the books, squawking about how normal people need to be educated in the care of antique belongings.

When you come home from the bookshop, he has already gone to the hospital.

You hurry over to take your grandmother with you, who has been whimpering softly into her hanky ever since your father caught him in midfall, choking on a breath. He didn’t wait for an ambulance, but bodily carried him to the car and likely broke half a dozen traffic violations hurrying him to the hospital. Soon the whole family is informed, and crowds into the hospital waiting room. Taking turns.

You miss your turn when visiting hours are over and are so tired that you send your father and grandmother home to take care of things while you made phone calls to his friends. Before you can finish however, you fall asleep in the drivers seat of your grandfather’s car, and remain there until late in the afternoon the next day. You’re awoken by a phone call from your father, but decide to wait to return later. A quick wash in the bathroom and satisfying your hunger from the vending machine, you take your turn at last.

“I shouldn’t be here.” Your grandfather grumbles. But he is not speaking in his big voice, energetic and impassioned. He sounds too soft, like a kitten and can’t even sit up straight. “Neither of us should. We should be working.”

“You worked for sixty years. More than that.” You remind him. “Life has a way of hitting the brakes on you.”

“Bah. You know what I mean. Our kind were meant to work.” He runs a hand over his face, though it is made awkward as he avoids the clip in his nose keeping him breathing. “How many hundreds of thousands of millions of books are there in the world? How many have been written and swallowed up by time?” It’s clear the hospital is getting to him very deeply. You don’t think he would be happy to die in this place, all clean, white, and too new. He wants to be with his wife, sleeping in his big old bed with the antiques on the wall, the cheap carpet he got on a bargain when he was still young, and his books. He wants to peer up from his desk at the family photos and eat what your grandmother cooks.

“You’ve got to take me home. A couple extra months in this place is no way to live.”

You’re planning his escape when Aziraphale calls, sounding worried. “You didn’t come in so I thought I’d check. Is everything alright?”

It isn’t. And you say it as it is.

Aziraphale arrives in a cab soon after, squeaking in a short visit with your grandfather alone. There is some form of healing presence you must miss, because when you dip back in, your grandfather is asleep and looking much more healthy and at ease. “You said you were planning a hospital escape?”

____

One of the rumors in the literary circle of friends your family keeps is that Aziraphale’s father was a British secret agent stealing books from the Nazis. You think this is more or less an endearment to your grandfather, but there were additional claims that he had gold hidden under his shop from recovering treasures and reclaiming wealth from the Germany treasure vaults.

You think it’s a little more than true when, miracle of miracles, the three of you are all in the car, driving home.

Aziraphale asks very little of you. Put this on, and don’t look suspicious. Please take the patient from his room to the examination area. Whoops. There’s been a mixup, he’s transferring to another hospital. Thank you, we’ll take him there right away! He shucks off a doctor’s coat and giddily climbs into the passenger seat as you all take off, your grandfather snoring in the backseat.

“Well that was very exciting. Hope you all don’t get into too much trouble.” He seems to be bouncing in his seat at the “heist” of sorts.

“Grandfather would likely curse me on his deathbed if I kept him in there.” You remark, pulling into the driveway. “Besides, the doctor can come see us, and he wants to be with his family.” There’s a lump in your throat, and you know where it’s coming from. “When…when his time comes.”

The silence that hangs is very sad, and you’re not sorry to get your grandfather into his wheelchair and take him in. Your father is a little more than shocked that you achieved, or would even do, all of this, but laughs anyway and puts his father to bed.

You drive Aziraphale home and thank him for his efforts.

“Anything for a friend.” He smiles brightly, but there’s a cloud over his face.

It is not easy waiting for a friend to die.

____

It’s clear that the clock is ticking for your grandfather. Aziraphale makes the most of his time and hosts a bridge game.

Your father passes it up to take up the bulk of restoration, catching up where the old man left off. But your grandmother does not fuss at the idea of her husband playing, with so little time left for him, and sends you with a wheelchair and a stockpot of soup, fresh bread, meringues and a couple bottles of wine.

The fourth player is a friend of Aziraphale, who looks as different from the portly, chipper bookkeeper as a house wren does from a vulture. “S’ alright. I know how to play.” Mr. Crowley promises, grinning as he opens the first bottle of wine while the table is set up. In spite of promises to your grandmother not to gamble, you don’t think the game is quite the same betting over cookies or candy like you do for family events and you bring a few wads of cash from the bank.

You knew your grandfather would cheat, but Aziraphale and Crowley are so rampant in their sleight of hand, round after round, that you’re certain all four of you have your own games you are playing. The rules of bridge aren’t just flouted, they are flipped upside down as each of you take turns calling the others out, sometimes failing. Crowley groans aloud when Aziraphale “magically” reveals a card hidden under your collar, and you snort with laughter when your grandfather states you all had seen it peeking from the cuff of his jacket for the past five minutes. The money switches hands so frequently that there is no clear winner by the time the food is eaten and the wine is drunk. Your grandfather had far more glasses than he needs, but he has regained his fire for the night and Aziraphale plays his collection of records in the background.

The Glenn Miller Orchestra is still playing in the background as everyone’s energy slows. Dirty dishes are stacked next to a set of books, and you absently hope they don’t join the list of books to restore when Aziraphale holds up his glass, with barely any wine left, tipsy and flushed with enjoyment. “Well that was a wonderful fiasco. Absolutely tickety-boo.”

“Tickety-boo?” You and your grandfather say at once. It is just so inherently British that it doesn’t occur to you that it might be a real word. Crowley rolls his eyes and finishes off the wine straight from the bottle, stumbling to stand up. “Right, that’s the end of the night for me. ‘M off.”

There is clear endearment as Aziraphale walks him to the door, and you see the drowsiness in your grandfather’s eyes as you help clean up and wheel his chair to the car. “This really was fun. Grandmother would be livid at all the cheating.” You remark, rubbing your eyes. It isn’t a long drive home, and your bed beckons. “But it isn’t really bridge without cheating.”

“No, I suppose not.” Aziraphale chuckles. “Do you…need some time off?”

You’re confused. But it’s clarified that he wants you to spend some time with the old man dozing off in the backseat.

“No.” You turn down the offer. “He’ll let me know when he needs me. But right now he needs these books to be alright.” You climb into the drivers seat, and wave goodbye as you pull from the curb.

_____

It’s all very normal until one afternoon when you get the call from home. To your surprise, he asks you to bring Aziraphale along.

“This house used to be a cooper workshop. For casks and things like that. They rented out the space to wineries to store their vintages.” Your grandfather explains as you push him along a familiar route away from the workshop to a back room saved for storage. “The levels go very deep, and on paper it’s supposed to be full of ducts for heating and conditioning and all that. Me and my friends worked years to get it sealed up and safe. Before we all had to collectively hide our books under our beds or in fake book covers.”

He fishes out a key hidden under his bed-shirt and unlocks a hidden door behind an old, old bookshelf.

The elevator is noisy, but it’s brief. When Aziraphale catches sight of the dark room, you can see him taking in what is decades of work. Everything organized and sorted, and packed in rows of shelves listed by author, print date, and title. “There must be at least half a million books in here at least. I could do that much.” Your grandfather muses. “I keep the ledgers secret to know for sure, but I’ve spent more money on this room than I have on my own wellbeing.”

There is a safe in the back he shows to Aziraphale. No one outside of the family has ever seen its contents before…not even his closest friends. It is the same one rescued from the smoldering wreckage of his father’s bookshop, still somewhat melted on one side. But the lock still works and your grandfather turns the well memorized combination and the safe clicks open.

Inside there is no rare book. Instead, it is the family tree, hand written with photographs leading up to the present. Marking the page with your birthday is the Star of David, still on its gold chain and kept safe all these years.

“No one else can have this.” Your grandfather states. “This is something that cannot be bought or sold. Our memories.” He lets out a shuddering breath. “Our legacy. Criminal as it may be, I’m not ashamed of how I lived my life.” Inside there is a picture of your great-grandfather before he died, in front of that little corner shop in Poland. A boy is sitting on the stoop by him, with a glimmer in his eye. Neither of them know their fate, and are frozen in a past vision of joy.

“There is nothing to be ashamed of.” Aziraphale says, very softly. It’s strange. He seems to recognize the figures in the photo. “Life is meant to be enjoyed.”

That is the last time your grandfather ever sets foot in the secret library. You all share books, stories, memories, times when life and limb were at risk, and books that changed you. Two nights later, your grandfather falls asleep in his chair after lunch and does not wake up.

____

The funeral is crowded. Even though most of the attendees are very old, your grandfather’s death draws a mass of friends, colleagues, and all of the family. Former officers of the British Secret Service, librarians and antiquarians, the entire staff from the Oxford Literary Club. You haven’t really started crying yet, though it seems your grandmother and father can’t stop.

Aziraphale shows up, with flowers, and catches you after the service is done, rubbing at your eyes and trying to regain your composure. As soon as he rubs your back and gives you comfort, there is an ethereal presence you can’t quite name that dries your eyes and lifts your spirits.

“I imagine my great-grandfather will have a laugh when he sees him.” You still have red-rimmed eyes and a runny nose, but your heart is on the mend. “His naughty son, stealing books for a living.”

Aziraphale is close by when the procession goes to a cemetery outside of London, and your grandfather is buried on the coast that he first stepped foot on when he escaped to England. Your grandmother may never fully mend from this, the love of her life, but you know she will remember him well.

When the rest of the guests depart with their condolences, Aziraphale waits longer until your father gives him leave to go, and even then he watches in worry on the sidewalk while waiting for his cab.

____

Life is quieter. But little changes, except now the key to the family secret hangs on your neck.

Aziraphale surprises you with another treasure, first edition of Treasure Island with fantastic illustrations. When you try to return it after reading, he shakes his head and pushes it back. It was a gift to keep. Not for the vault below the firm, but something that is well looked after on your shelf, with a scribbled note from Aziraphale inside the cover. It’s the kind of compliment that would make your grandfather blush with pride.

A story for the rebels and thieves. A.Z. Fell

In two more years the work is done. You have more copies in the vault than you started out with, and Aziraphale has more manuscripts for works he had not had before. Sometimes you break up work to play cards, with the enigmatic Crowley passing through just when Aziraphale mentions the idea of playing, and sometimes you both just sit in silence to read your new copies or something else on the shelf. You’ve tried to extend the lease of work to do, offering to put new covers on the manuscripts for Aziraphale to enjoy and to keep them alive for longer, and the two of you deeply enjoy the fine art of tartan printed covers. There are so many conversations. So many books.

But you cross the last book off your list and pack the dusty suitcase with your tools. There’s a fine ring of dust from where they have been removed, and you wait even longer to dust it off and give it a good polish.

“You don’t need an excuse to visit, I promise.” Aziraphale states. “And I expect you around for tea, as often as you can.”

“Same.” You smile brightly. You’re a little rosier now too after all. Who wouldn’t be with a place like this? “Grandmother wants you around for dinner more often. Don’t worry about calling ahead, she always makes enough.” You two are still shaking hands goodbye and do so until finally you know to break it off. He follows you outside to the side of the car before you finally ask.

“When we broke Grandfather out of the hospital-“ You finally express your curiosity. “-how did you get them to do it?”

Aziraphale wiggles his finger. “Just a miracle or two.”

You can’t help but roll your eyes.

You suppose he will always be something of a mystery.

The car starts up and you wave out the window as you drive away from Soho. Back home, where you have your family and your bed with all your books. Home where you keep your secrets close and remember them well.

And in his shop, an angel opens a chapter on a new book and begins to read.

[kickingitwithkirk]

She’s My Whip

Pairing: Sam Winchester x Reader

Word Count: 2250

Warnings: oral (m & f giving/receiving) sex, squirting, cursing, pornish language and other adulting things that make it 18+only

A/N:  A-Z Kink Challenge: Younger/Older  Written for @covered-byroses #cbrkinkchallange  Thank you Ms.Kelly for letting me participate in my first writing challenge

A/N: this is my first work (outside a drabble) I’ve ever let anyone read. I quit writing over a decade ago so I’m rusty as hell but working on getting my mojo back. Creative criticism welcome

A/N II: 3/21/21 I did some rewriting on this piece I love so much, fixing the things that’s nagged at me since original release.

* no beta , all mistakes are mine

*GIF not mine

“...So that’s when I knew I had closed the deal.” The guy next to me at the bar Greg, or Gary, who'd been droning on about this deal for the last twenty minutes looked at me waiting for a response.

“That’s fantastic, congratulations on closing the deal.” You responded enthusiastically, faking it like an orgasm during bad sex. 

Sipping on the glass of wine he ordered, trying not to grimace at the taste and wondering for the umpteenth time what is it with men your age? Why did they feel entitled to decide what to order you without asking?

Now in your early forties you prefer men like your alcohol, on the younger side with an adventurous edge.

Tuning out ummm, David as he continues to prattle on about his whatever. He seems like a nice guy, kinda reminds you of that character from Pleseantville, the husband who kept saying where’s my dinner.

“Excuse me, I’m sorry to interrupt your evening, but I need to speak to Ms. Y/L/N.” You both turn to see who is addressing you.

 Fuck me, he’s here.

He and his partner, Agent Dean Smith, showed up your workplace this morning about the weird event in HR department. They had every red blooded woman, and a few of the guys, drooling in their lattes. 

After your interview with Agent Smith, who’d been flirting with everyone female with a pulse during their interviews, he asked you for drinks and whatever.

It had been extremely tempting, he was ridiculously good looking with those succulent full lips, green eyes, bowed just enough for you to fit perfectly between legs and cinnamon freckles that made you wonder if he’s covered everywhere in them.

You hated to admit it’s been to damn long since any man has giving you such a through fucking, you know, the type that makes your legs shake uncontrollably when you cum and walk funny for days.

You had reluctantly..very reluctantly.. turned him down. The reason being the man standing behind you.

“And who might you be?” Ralph maybe, asks rudely.

 Agent Samuel Wesson flashes his FBI credentials at possibly John before turning to addresses you. He’s delicious, literally walking sex with those long, long legs.

“Ms. Y/L/N, could we go somewhere more private? I have some questions that need clarification.”  Unable to answer because your brain has migrated to your pussy that’s dripping wet from the sound of his deep, whiskey-honey voice alone.

Crossing your legs you clenched your thighs together trying to cover your down south problem but he tracks your movement with those indelible, fox slanted eyes and smirks.

Shit.

“Look, I don't care if your President...” Steve, IDK, says standing up to get in his face but falls short, literally, by several inches.

Biting on the inside of your cheek to stop bursting out in laughter you take a sip of the horrid wine to compose yourself because there is absolutely no way in hell your going to pass up on the opportunity to make time with this gorgeous mountain of a man who’s literally made you cum without even touching you. 

Standing up you insert yourself between them and play with Donny’s tie. “I’m so sorry, we were having such a good time, and I was thinking of asking you back to mine, but I’d feel awful if I know something and didn't help, please don't be mad at me.” You pout a bit, pretending to actually sound sorry, all the while internally cringing at the fucking drivel spewing out of your mouth to mollify whatchamacallit.

If anyone had asked you how you thought this night would have ended, never in a million would you have said that you’d be reclining on the hood of a ‘67 Impala in an empty field splitting a bottle of Knob Creek Whiskey with Samual Wesson, IE Sam Winchester, discussing everything from politics to debating if GOT’s ending was screwed up while stargazing.

Sam takes a long pull off the bottle before handing it back, “Why did you turn Dean down?” He inquires.

“I’ve been around long enough to know a player when I see one,” you take a long pull from the bottle, “and I’ve reached an age where I don’t and won’t be played.” You answer honestly handing the bottle to Sam.

He’s taking a drink when you cheekily add, “Besides, he’s too old for me.”

Coughing from the whiskey going down the wrong way Sam finally croaks out, “To old? He’s three years younger than you.” You raise an eyebrow at that.

“You know how old I am?” 

Sam starts peeling off the bottles label, “Yeah, I do. I checked out everyone who had any connection to the victim. I didn’t think you’d be interested, Dean’s well...Dean. Women are always attracted to him but then he said you turned him down and....”

“...you followed me to that bar hoping to get lucky?” It’s hard to see under the moonlight but you know he’s blushing, “I’ll admit it was sorely tempting but I turned Dean down because you're more my type.” Sam looked up in surprise. 

You shift towards him reaching for the bottle, “Look, I like younger men, it's my thing and I find I have more in common with them. Nobody thinks twice about some old fart fucking a twenty something, but if an older woman is sexually adventurous, oh my god everyone goes spar! Lots of younger men today prefer being with someone who’s life doesn’t revolve around kids, can hold an intellectual conversation and isn’t looking to put a ring on it.

I came across this British blogger in her fifties dating men in their twenties and they were the ones doing the chasing. She came up with this new term for women like us, W.H.I.P-Women who are Hot, Intelligent and in their Prime. Fucking better than that old, tired, cliche Cougar.” 

Sam ruminants over what you said, “So sexually adventurous...ever do it on an Impala?” He asks with a lascivious grin.

”Nuh-uh,“ you answer running your tongue teasingly around the bottles lip before taking a drink. 

Sam's eyes dilate as he pulls the bottle away, brushing his lips against yours to taste the whiskey lingering on them.

Opening your mouth you catch his bottom lip, sucking on it as he tangles his hands into your hair, deepening the kiss as you work at opening the buttons of his shirt. Pushing against Sam's chest he sits back a bit so you can remove it before shifting him fully onto his back, allowing you to straddle his narrow hips and making your skirt ride up revealing your cheekster panties

Sam slips his hand between your obscenely spread thighs, roughly palming your clit through the material making you hiss, reaching to pull his hand away before your cumming to fast. He takes hold your ass in both of his big hands grips tightly pulling and pushing, making you roughly glide over his rapidly filling cloth covered cock. He’s keeping you right on edge but not allowing you to cum, the friction from the grinding eliciting moans from both of you. He sits both of you upright suddenly, gripping your shirts hem lifting it off revealing your bare breasts to him.

Sam bends forward taking your left nipple between his lips sucking on it then bits down hard enough you cry out from the pain/pleasure of it. Tangling both your hands in his hair you tug until he switches breasts to give the same treatment to your other nipple. Dragging him off your chest you resume kissing him hard, both of you start fighting for dominance.

Reaching down you unzip his pants, dipping your hand in to caress him. Sam's head drops back with a groan, exposing his neck. Your lips travel down his throat, stopping, sucking a bruise just above his collarbone.

Sliding backwards off the cars hood you finish stripping him until he's lying completely naked, legs wantonly spread out across the hood. You watch him grip his cock stroking himself as you discard the last of your own clothes before climbing back on the car.

“You’re stunning,” Sam breathily says stroking himself harder.

Keeping eye contact you place your hand over his, guiding him down to firmly grip the base of his twitching cock to steady it as you move your hands around on the hood to balance yourself, bending over to flick your tongue along the underside of his shaft up to that specific sensitive area, your tongue teasing the nerves there, making Sam shiver and noisily start panting before slowly sliding up to the slit, lapping at the precum leaking from the tip before wrapping your lips around his cock and start steadily bobbing up and down, taking his ample cock as deep as you can without gagging.

“Oh fuck yesss..feels so good,” Sam moans out as his muscles jerk from the way your tongue is moving over his cock that’s suctioned tight in your mouth.

Pulling off you stroke your hand up and down his long, thick shaft, twisting towards the tip while watching Sam massage his balls.

Sam's head thunks against the windshield as his breaths coming out harsh and broken, hips bucking wildly around from the combined stimulation.

“Fuckingfuck... fuuuu...gonna…’ was all the warning he gives before spilling hot liquid over your fingers and spurting onto the Impalas hood, painting it with white splatters as you continue stroking lightly with your cum covered fingers, easing him through the aftershocks till Sam reaches down pulling you off, to sensitive for anymore touching.

Sitting up Sam cups your cheeks in his big hands staring intently at you with lust blown chameleon eyes. “How the fuck did you do that, I haven’t cum that fast since puberty.”

Instead of saying anything, you insert your cum covered fingers one by one into you mouth, sucking and licking till your hands clean of his spending. He wraps his big hand around your wrist pulling your hand away and deeply kisses you, tasting himself in your mouth. 

“Backseat now.” He growls getting off the hood and still holding your wrist gathers the discarded clothes with his other hand before dragging you with him around the car.

Opening the door he urges you to slide across the bench seat until you lying back against the other door legs spread wide to accommodate him as he’s climbing between them, somehow fitting his immense frame in the car.

Sam runs his long, slender fingers along the inside of your thighs, over your hips and stomach, studying every tremble and shiver to his touch moving to lightly stroke between your folds, inserting two fingers into your soaked channel searching for that spot. “Hmmm..” You moan out as Sam finds it.

Somehow he amazingly folds himself up and spreading his fingers to stretch your opening to delve his tongue into your core wanting a taste while continuing to stroke your thighs and hips with his other hand to keep you stimulated.

“Fuuuccckk,” the only warning you can give as you climax.

Sam adjusts the movements of his hand to keep working your swollen g spot, pushing you towards another orgasm.

The car fills with the wet squelching sounds with his fingers moving in and out of your drooling cunt as nonsensical noises come out of your mouth at the same time. 

“Uhhh...to much….can’t…”  your barley able to pant out pushing on the seat back trying to get some leverage to move away from him.

“Yes you can, cum for me again, I want to see you squirt, ruin the seat.” Sam growls out pinning both of your hands in his left one against the doors window.

You can feel it starting deep inside, begging for release, but your massively overstimulated and your body keeps fighting it.

 “Just let go, I know you can,” Sam says in a calm, level voice, stark contrast to his animalistic actions, “let it happen…let go!” Your bodies shaking violently, hips thrusting up off the seat as your orgasm hits so hard you silently scream, your inner muscles spasming your release, flooding over his wrist and hand onto the leather seat below.

He briefly continues the steady movement of his fingers then gently pulls them out as your walls continue clenching around nothing.

Releasing your hands he picks up your discarded skirt wiping your overused pussy tenderly, cleaning you up as much as possible before lifting your hips and placing the old army blanket on the seat and lying down behind you spoons your quivering body till it’s calmed.

 “You ok?” He asks softly stroking your arm, soothing you. “Yeah, better than ok,” you drowsily murmur, “what possessed you to recreate the night we meet?”

“Wanted to do something special for our fourth anniversary.” He lovingly replies nuzzling your neck.

 “And your birthday,” you feel Sam make a face at being reminded he is now thirty-six. “Why is this one bothering you, they never have before.”

 “Its stupid,” he sighs, making you turn your head enough to look at him. “Dean noticed that grey hair and..”

“..gave you shit about it. You could ignore him.”

“Mission impossible, it’s Dean” Sam says, sighing again.

“Hmm, well then there's only one option...Winchester him.” You say looking serious.

Sam smiles at your suggestion. It had been to damn long since he had pranked Dean and payback was way overdue. 

“See, with age comes wisdom, grasshopper”

[ings58444683502]

Explaining No-Fuss Products Of ebook creator

Explaining No-Fuss Products Of ebook creator - https://youtu.be/x2BDIZEfLwE

Sqribble Software is packed with professional layouts, seriously great looking covers, and surprisingly, is completely insect cost-free. You can really use Sqribble to fill your publication with professional material, so you do not have to write a word. This allows you to put any kind of LINK you desire, and Sqribble will immediately pull the content from that web page and also insert into your publication.

Sqribble eBook software program is absolutely amongst the most effective e publication makers in the marketplace that is packed with attributes that every web marketing specialist would love to have. And an additional added advantage with the Sqribble software is that that is very cloud-based to guarantee that you might access the certain software from anywhere you are. Right here you can remove material from Sqribble's big collection of exclusive label posts which you can use completely free, without attributing writers or connecting to the resource.

Individuals associated with advertising and marketing spend a lot of time developing advertising and marketing materials in the type of eBooks, white papers and also records to include toughness to their advertising pitches. The software is solely created to supply a very easy to use drag as well as decline interface to supply marketing specialists to produce e-books at simply a press of a button. This function is viewed as a massive as well as for marketer as it saves them a great deal of effort and time.

One more fascinating function of which you can't find in other eBook creators is the capability to include programmed material to your digital publications. There are likewise various other various eBook creator devices offered online that assist you to construct expert eBooks effectively. Sqribble is a powerfuleBook creator tool that can aid you develop books within a matter of minutes. Rather, this cloud-based eBook creator offers you the simple to use ways to develop and also release your eBook from square one.

Sqribble has plenty of integrated templates that makes it feasible to produce an eBook of any type of specific niche easily. You can hire an author that produces ebook with Sqribble or Designrr with Sqribble if you want someone to compose it. This will aid produce the buzz that you need in regard to the release of your ebook with Sqribble or Designrr.

Sqribble simplifies the whole style as well as product advancement procedure and likewise thus preserves online entrepreneurs great deals of cash and also time. You can't simply place a lousy e-book online; you need to have the ability to produce a magnificent electronic book that readers intend to read it.

Watch the Sqribble Ebook Creator Review here: https://youtu.be/x2BDIZEfLwE

Related tags:

"como usar sqribble, designrr vs sqribble, is sqribble legit, sqribble affiliate, sqribble affiliate program, sqribble agency website, sqribble alternative, sqribble apk, sqribble app, sqribble avis, sqribble bonus, sqribble clickbank, sqribble commercial, sqribble coupon code, sqribble cracked, sqribble customer service, sqribble demo, sqribble demo video, sqribble discount code, sqribble ebook, sqribble ebook creator, sqribble ebook creator review, sqribble ebook maker, sqribble ebook software, sqribble ebook software reviews, sqribble español, sqribble fiverr, sqribble francais, sqribble free, sqribble free alternative, sqribble free download, sqribble free trial, sqribble hack, sqribble honest review, sqribble juice, sqribble jv, sqribble jv page, sqribble jvzoo, sqribble kindle, sqribble logiciel, sqribble login, sqribble machine, sqribble nauts, sqribble pdf, sqribble pricing, sqribble prime, sqribble pro, sqribble professional, sqribble professional edition, sqribble pros and cons, sqribble questions, sqribble quiz, sqribble refund, sqribble review, sqribble review 2020, sqribble sign up, sqribble software, sqribble software download, sqribble software review, sqribble support, sqribble templates, sqribble trial, sqribble tutorial, sqribble tutorial español, sqribble upsells, sqribble vs, sqribble vs designrr, sqribble youtube, sqribble youtube channel, sqribble yt, sqribble.com login, sqribble.com review"

Explaining No-Fuss Products Of ebook creator

https://www.reddit.com/r/bookmark/comments/gyb7y4/clearcut_ebook_creator_plans_whats_needed/

[twsted-princess]

A Meeting in Shadows

A little something for @dragongambler, our Lovecraft D&D inserts first meeting. I need to dust off my writing skills so why not.

Our scene takes us to a town, a normal town just like the rest. In this ordinary town sits a tavern and as the sun sets the tavern becomes alive with sounds of drunken laughter, the calls for more of ale, and the quiet playing of a lute as the patrons enjoy themselves a night. The pub wasn’t terribly crowded so there were tables in the back which was perfect for a warlock trying to read in semi peace. Raiden was the warlock in question.

With a small tankard of water in one hand and their other hand skimming over the page of the book, they read through the history of R’lyeh a sunken supposedly holding a terrible monster, that sentence got a chuckle out of them as they personally knew the “monster” in question. The candlelight flickered as they turned the page and looked up from their book to see the door open and a figure stepped in. They were wearing a cloak and once the figure was seated the cloak was removed, there sat a fairly pretty young women. Her lilac dress barely touching the ground and the illuminating candles made her blue eyes gleam. She let out a sigh and brush her light brown hair off her shoulders, immediately some the guests were gawking at her and there were some murmurs of drunk men trying to get their buddies into talking to the maiden. 

Raiden just rolled their eyes at the men, the girl looked slightly nervous and given her looks it was obvious that she was of nobility. She was prime flirting material and right in the center of a potential cockfight. The first of the men stood, although he did have quite a bit to drink. He stumbled with a sense of pride towards the girl and placed his elbow on the table, trying to still be smooth.

“Sooooo.....you’re not-” a alcohol induced hiccup broke up but he continued “from around here aren’t cha?” A grin grew on his face as the girl forced herself to smile at him and shook her head, “N-No I’m from up north” was all that came out. “Well, seeing as your sitting here by your lonesome self, why don’t you join me and the rest of the boys for a drink?” he says as he gestures back to the table “We’ll keep ya company for the night....and maybe in your bed if you want to~”. His grin grew devilish as his eyes practically undressed her, the young lady’s smile dropped and she took a breath in before speaking. “My apologies, but I’m already betrothed to someone and he would be very displeased so I ask of you to cease your flirting.” her words were firm but gentle as if it’s a first warning but he didn’t take the hint “Ah don’t worry about it. Your husband’s not here and surely he won’t find it~” “He will know and he’ll be deeply mad.” She said as her eyes wondered around for a another seat away from the perverted buffoon. Her eyes fell on Raiden and in a silent plead of help they moved out the chair next to them. She then got up, excusing herself from the conversation and hurried to Raiden’s table. She was taken back a bit by Raiden’s bright red eye with black sclera while their other eye was a light blue but she didn’t mind it for that long. The flirter scoffed and drags his feet back to his table. “Thank you” was all the maiden said as she sat next to the reader, Raiden smiled and placed an order for another water to the bar maiden. The two exchanged names, Melanie was the maiden’s name and Raiden smiled “It’s nothing really, you should be more careful. Don’t you have guards or someone to protect you? You are a noble after all.” 

Melanie eyes drifted to the table at those words, “I- I do have guards.......but I wanted to get away for a bit since they were breathing down my neck ever since we left.” Raiden’s brow cocked as Mel took her tankard and sipped “Let me guess, parents order?” A nod from the maiden confirmed their guess and she cradled her cheek with her hand as she watch the candle flame dance. “Really it’s all because of who I’m engaged to. My parents and everyone don’t understand when I say he’s a good man. They think he’s just a chaotic monster out for world domination”. That caught Raiden’s attention, a being of chaos? It sounds too familiar but they needed more, “Who are you marrying in question?” they asked and as soon as those got out Melanie looked around, as to make sure no one was listening in. “Please don’t panic when you see this but-” Melanie then lifted up her long hair and turned to show Raiden her back, they scanned until they found it, a inverted black ankh on the back of her neck. The mark of the Crawling Chaos himself Nyarlathotep. As she turned back away she looked embarrassed, but Raiden only smiled and patted her on the shoulder. “So the Black Pharaoh took you as his bride?”    Melanie blushed at the word “bride” and nodded, a genuine smile grew as she thought about her soon to-be husband. Raiden’s smile grew as well and Mel looked at them with a confused look “You’re not weirded out by that? Usually people would think I’m a maniac when I show them that.” Raiden just gave her a knowing look, “Not really but I now know i just found a kindred soul.” Melanie tilted her head at the statement and Raiden simply pointed to their red eye “How do think I got this?” Mel then asked “So...are you married to an unknown god?” Now it was Raiden’s turn to blush and they waved their hand in front of them “W- Well not exactly!!! But um- if Cthulhu wanted to I......” They stammered for a bit until they words got un-tied “So let’s get this straight. We’re both people who’ve gotten into contact with these unknown gods and now we’re on a mission involving them right? Let’s join forces and learn together!! I’ll be able to learn more about these dark forces and you might be able to married your husband as soon as possible, what do you say?” Melanie’s face lit up, her smile was full and bright as the two clanked their tankards together at this newfound team.  

And thus in this normal town a friendship is created, with a new adventure just beginning for the duo.

[ariellblogus]

The Internet is a crowded place. I lately learn there are over 83,000 new weblog posts revealed each hour. Each hour!

So is it even potential to face out in a crowd anymore? Completely. It is in case you have a technique to publish and promote partaking content material.

Need to know what actually drives visitors? From brainstorming your material to scheduling your social media shares? Comply with these content material advertising ideas, and you’ll get observed. Huge time.

1. Begin By Asking Your Audience What They Want

There’s individuals out there who will inform you, “Just write 500 words a day about anything, and you’ll get traffic”. BS! Worst of all the content material advertising ideas on the market.

You might get some visitors, however at what value? A disjointed viewers who you’ll shortly lose in case you don’t work out what they actually need to study from you.

Let’s take a look at some methods you possibly can help clearly determine what your readers need.

Use Popup surveys:

That is the only method is to literally ask your readers what they need to study. I exploit a WordPress plugin referred to as Popup Surveys & Polls to ask questions like, “What are you struggling with in your business?” and “What do you want to learn more about?”.

Each visitor to my website will get surveyed with out me having to raise a finger.

Ask your e mail subscribers:

Use the email autoresponders that go out to your new subscribers to ask what they need extra of. Hey, they agreed to offer you one thing as sacred as their e mail tackle. Meaning they belief you.

Show them you trust their judgement, too, by asking your subscribers to reply with a few sentences explaining what would get them to maintain opening your emails. Information is power.

Analysis your competition

In the event you haven’t established an viewers but, research what’s working for different bloggers who are successfully reaching the viewers you’d wish to have. Google’s search results offers you a reasonably good concept of this.

Simply enter a key phrase phrase like “content marketing tips” to discover what is already rating on the primary web page for that material. Dig into some of these posts and you’ll start to see patterns.

2. Focus On Creating Evergreen Content

What’s evergreen content? It’s content that continues to realize search engine visitors long after it’s been revealed. That is a type of content advertising ideas I’m so glad I paid consideration to early on. For a extra detailed rationalization of evergreen content, take a look at this submit by Neil Patel.

To ensure the content material you publish is evergreen:

Does it stand the check of time?

Ask your self, “If someone reads this article 10 years from now, will it still be relevant? Or will they say, “Oh yeah, I remember when that was actually popular/true/in style/etc.”

Write content material that’s related all yr round.

For example, on my insurance website, I’ve obtained a submit referred to as 6 Secrets and techniques For Recruiting And Retaining Younger Brokers that gets visitors each single day of the yr. Distinction that with one other submit on my website referred to as Memorial Day Weekend Is The Most Harmful Weekend On The Roads. Are you able to guess which one is extra evergreen?

Think about removing publish dates from your posts.

There’s debate about whether this could even be filed beneath “Good Content Marketing Tips”. However I feel it’s value contemplating. Give it some thought. Ten years from now, when somebody finds your submit of their search engine outcomes, will they still click by way of if your publish date is previous and rancid?

three. Inform Stories & Be Your self

The artwork of storytelling seems to be popping up lots nowadays in numerous posts about content advertising ideas. And for good purpose. Individuals naturally need to connect with other individuals. So how are you going to do this with your personal on-line content?

Give actual life examples

For each primary idea you present to your viewers, give them an example. Inform a narrative. Convey up the time you have been goofing around and operating with the trash can from the road again to your home and tripped and fell inside. (My spouse still laughs her butt off retelling that one!)

Embrace the psychology of storytelling

Scientific studies and loads of other lists of content material advertising ideas have proven that we’re hardwired to recollect tales over details. Tales draw readers in. They help individuals make connections between what they already know and the new stuff you’re throwing at them.

Domesticate relationships

If this one appears misplaced in an inventory about content material advertising ideas, assume once more. Individuals need to develop a relationship with you, even when they’re just reading your phrases. Let your character present in what you write. For good instance of someone who writes in their very own voice, take a look at this blog submit creation guidelines from Sara Moss.

For example, my 4 years of school in Boston, after which marrying a Rhode Islander, tends to deliver the slang phrase “wicked [insert subject here]”. I don’t cover that in most of my blog posts. And the reason is that’s how I might speak if I have been having fun with a conversation with you in actual life.

4. Do (Sensible) Key phrase Analysis

Going the “publish and pray” technique isn’t the neatest of content material advertising ideas. It’s essential deliberately develop your content round keywords your ultimate viewers is looking. Luckily, there are tools out there to make key phrase analysis simpler than just guessing.

Google Keyword Planner

The Google Keyword Planner is an effective place to start out getting key phrase ideas. Just pop a couple of keywords or keyword phrases into the planner and…BOOM! Keyword ideas a a lot are ready for you. Just be mindful, these are the same keywords everybody else is seeing in the event that they used the identical search criteria.

To dig deeper for some keyword gems, copy and paste the web site tackle of considered one of your rivals into the “Your Landing Page” subject and then search. Right here’s what you may see in case you search the phrase “bakery shop”.

Buzz Sumo

When you’ve grabbed some key phrases from the Google Keyword Planner, bounce over to BuzzSumo and enter a couple of those keywords into their search subject. What you’ll get is an inventory of posts which are performing greatest for that key phrase phrase (ie: getting a ton of social media shares and web site visitors).

This can change the best way you get your content advertising ideas. Sift by means of the outcomes to get an excellent feel for the kinds of posts you may need to create. Here’s what popped up once I entered the phrase “content marketing tips”.

Google Advertisements

Seems like an unlikely place to do keyword analysis on your content material, doesn’t it? However just assume for a second. Whenever you Google one thing and see advertisements on the prime and sides of the web page, meaning you’ve searched for a keyword that marketers are paying good money for to target individuals identical to you.

Right here’s a few things to concentrate to:

Variety of advertisements on the page – The more you see, the extra in style the subject you just searched for. That’s good.

Advert copy – Refine your key phrase analysis by paying close attention to the language marketers are using to get individuals to click on on their advert.

Your personal Google Analytics results

Google used to point out you just about each key phrase visitors searched for to seek out your website. Gone are these days, my good friend. But they do nonetheless show you some keywords. Use your Google Analytics account to seek out the keyword phrases that slip via.

What you’re more likely to find are key phrases you’re not intentionally making an attempt to rank for. Use these to create new posts which might be unique variations of what you originally wrote on that matter. Look for a twist or a special approach.

In the event you’re seeing the key phrase phrase “content marketing tips” show up, attempt writing about “content marketing tips for small businesses”. The chances are infinite.

5. Create Engaging Titles

You possibly can write the shiniest, sexiest submit about constructing an effective buyer referral program. But when you’re title is “meh”, you possibly can overlook individuals truly studying it.

Writing engaging titles is crucial for content advertising success. It’s what will get readers to click on in your content material and then share it. Pay shut consideration to those next few content advertising ideas.

Lure them in.

Does your title pull the reader in? Does it beg for an answer or rationalization? An awesome example of an attractive weblog title (and an excellent submit on the subject itself) is: Easy methods to Write Killer Titles That Can Sell a Fur Coat to a Wookie. I still reference again to this submit right now when writing my titles.

Maintain it brief.

The cutoff point for what search engine outcomes display is round 60 characters. So maintain your titles brief and to the point.

Hold it relevant.

Nothing hurts your bounce price greater than utilizing a deceptive title. In the event you trick visitors into considering they’re about to get one thing they’re not, your submit gained’t present up close to the top of search outcomes for long.

Embrace your keyword phrase.

Absolutely embrace your keyword or keyword phrase in your title. For extra punch, put it at the start of your title

Make it an inventory.

By far the preferred blog posts on the internet are record posts, or “listicles”. These appear to stand the check of time more than some other sort of weblog publish. For those who take nothing else away from these content material advertising ideas, write an inventory publish.

And when applicable, use odd numbers in your listing. There’s plenty of studies that present readers are likely to view odd numbers as more reasonable.

6. Make Your Content Easier To Learn

This subsequent set of content material advertising ideas is crucial for maintaining visitors on your page longer. Longer “dwell time” is sweet in your Google rankings.

Based on CoSchedule, lower than half of your blog readers truly learn past 100 words. For probably the most half, this has to do with readability. So how do you repair this?

Write like Hemingway.

Ernest Hemingway was the grasp of writing brief sentences. You ought to be, too. ‘Nuff stated.

Hold your paragraphs brief.

I’m a former high school English instructor. It nonetheless makes me twitch once I see articles that drone on and on with no breaks. Maintain your paragraphs to no more than 3 or 4 sentences. It’s simply simpler on the eyes.

Guide your readers with headings.

Not solely do headings assist with web optimization (once you use h1 and h2 tags). Additionally they help readers who’re in a hurry scan your publish for the main points. Headings assist them shortly determine whether or not it’s what they have been on the lookout for or not. In case you information them along, they’ll stick around longer to dig deeper.

Use photographs, video and bullet points.

Utilizing rich media and bullet points additionally assist break up your content into more usable chunks. Not to mention, content with photographs and video get shared more ceaselessly than content material without.

7. Optimize Your search engine optimization

Search engine marketing (search engine optimization) is the stuff baked into your content material that gets it found when individuals put keywords into sites like Google. Loads of bloggers promoting content material advertising ideas say optimizing your search engine optimization is the primary approach to get long term visitors to your web site.

The simplest option to be sure to’re optimizing every publish is to make use of a WordPress plugin like Yoast web optimization. Here’s how it works.

Focus keyword

Start by getting into your keyword or key phrase phrase it into the Focus Key phrase section. Yoast will then guide you thru optimizing your submit round this key phrase.

search engine optimization title

Your search engine marketing title is what exhibits up in Google’s search results. It needs to look good if you’d like readers to click on. Yoast warns you when your title will get too lengthy or doesn’t include your keyword phrase.

Meta description

Your Meta Description exhibits up in Google’s search results right under your search engine optimisation Title. Should you don’t fill out this part, Google will pull in roughly the primary 160 characters of your blog publish.

So, in the event you’re following these content material advertising tips to the “T”, it’s to your advantage to make use of the Meta Description to make sure your key phrase phrase exhibits up in search results. It’s your commercial to lure searchers to learn your content material.

Page Evaluation

This part incorporates more advanced indicators of whether your submit is on monitor or not for being nicely optimized. Yoast makes it simple by shade coding every item purple, yellow or green. Principally, all you need to do is repair each merchandise until all (or most) are green.

Those I give attention to probably the most are: inner links, photographs, key phrase usage and readability score.

8. Make It Straightforward To Share

Should you’ve adopted these content advertising ideas and finished your job proper, your posts will begin seeing some visitors. It might solely trickle in at first. So ensure that your content is straightforward to share.

Use social sharing buttons

Each web site value their salt has eye-catching social sharing buttons to permit visitors to share your content material with one or two clicks. I exploit SumoMe on my websites. It’s extremely versatile and there are free versions of all their plugins.

The SumoMe Share plugin lets you:

select your most popular social buttons (even which buttons present up on desktop vs. cellular).

choose the place(s) on your page to show the buttons.

determine whether or not or to not display the variety of shares (per social community and complete for all networks).

handle which pages/posts on your website to show the share buttons.

Click on To Tweet

If you want to entice your readers to share your content material on Twitter, there’s no better WordPress plugin than Click To Tweet by TodayMade. Give it a shot by clicking the textual content under.

Make your pictures straightforward to share

The same folks that developed the Share plugin I mentioned above have additionally created a depraved easy strategy to make any picture in your website shareable. And it’s cleverly named Image Sharer.

Once installed, just choose which social sites you need to show when guests hover over photographs. That’s it!

Give it a shot by hovering on the image under and sharing it in your favourite social website. Notice how the whole title “10 Content Marketing Tips To Drive More Traffic” is about because the default share textual content. Fairly cool, huh?

Embed alt textual content in your pictures

Probably the most missed content material advertising ideas is using alt textual content in your pictures. Because serps can’t read what’s in your photographs, it is advisable to inform them what your picture represents. That’s where alt text is available in.

Whether you’re utilizing WordPress or another editor, you’ll be capable of enter alt textual content to describe your image. Ensure that to make use of your key phrase phrase the place relevant to offer your publish a bit of increase. For instance, I’ve included the phrase “content marketing tips” into several of my alt text tag for this publish.

Embrace your Twitter deal with in sharing plugins

Encouraging readers to share your content material on Twitter is a superb begin. Simply don’t overlook to attribute your arduous work to yourself.

A lot of the sharing plugins talked about here can help you embed your twitter deal with within the tweet that’s generated once they share it. Simply examine the settings for every of those plugins and you’ll discover something like this:

9. Enlist An Army Of Promoters To Unfold The Word

As with something in life, if you wish to spread the word, you want individuals’s help. With regards to advertising your content material, nothing is more necessary than creating a core group of influential associates to carry your message far and extensive.

Use the “buddy system”

As you share content, you’ll naturally develop a smaller core group of “buddies” who like what you’re throwing down. Most of my peeps are within the insurance coverage business, and most I’ve never met in individual. But we’ve turn into so intertwined, it’s like we’re all in class collectively.

If I’m writing a publish like this on content material advertising ideas, I simply ship my buddies a fast e mail to let them know I feel it’s proper up their ally. 9 occasions out of 10, they share it, without me asking them instantly. When you make somebody really feel particular by giving them one thing unconditionally, you’ll by no means need to ask for a favor.

Give first to get what you need

Be a giver. Not a taker. This works notably properly on Twitter and LinkedIn. Retweet. Retweet. Retweet.

On LinkedIn, develop relationships with different contributors by commenting on their posts and sharing them together with your community. Don’t overlook to tag them! And in case you hold the dialog happening their publish, they’ll discover you and certain return the favor the subsequent time you publish something.

Harness the facility of Twitter lists

Make an inventory in Twitter of people that persistently favorite or retweet your tweets. If they’re displaying you’re keen on, then placing them in an inventory will make it simpler so that you can:

frequently retweet their content, to keep the love practice shifting.

know who to tag in your future tweets which might be relevant to them.

10. Use Social Media Scheduling Instruments

The final and most powerful of those content material advertising ideas is to keep your content editorial calendar full. These instruments make it straightforward to constantly share your content material to drive extra visitors to your web site:

CoSchedule

In a current submit, I went into detail about why CoSchedule is my go-to content material advertising calendar. In a nutshell, it’s a drag-and-drop advertising calendar with straightforward social media scheduling.

Probably the most powerful function about CoSchedule is the power to simply re-schedule previous blog content. Plus, it integrates tightly with WordPress, allowing you to schedule social media shares earlier than you even publish your weblog.

I grew my Twitter following by 17% in the first week of using CoSchedule just by rescheduling previous content material.

On a aspect observe, CoSchedule also places out a whole lot of great content material advertising recommendations on their blog. You may need to verify them out.

HootSuite

Earlier than discovering CoSchedule, Hootsuite was my principal content advertising calendar. What I exploit it for now’s scheduling posts to LinkedIn Groups.

I can make the same publish to 30+ Groups in one go utilizing HootSuite. Their API nonetheless permits this, whereas CoSchedule’s doesn’t. It saves me hours of time every week. And my posts to LinkedIn Groups get clicks and shares for weeks after being revealed via HootSuite.

Buffer

The first two social media scheduling tools I discussed are nice for sharing your personal content material. However I exploit Buffer solely to schedule shares of different individuals’s posts (You down with OPP? Yeah, you realize me!)

I spend about 10 – 15 minutes each morning reading by means of my Twitter and LinkedIn feed. Anything that’s value sharing gets “buffered” using their Chrome plugin or my iPhone’s “Share Via” button.

What are your favorite content material advertising ideas?

I hope these content advertising ideas have impressed you to make some constructive modifications in your general content material advertising technique. By implementing just some of these, you need to see a big improve in visitors to your website.

Above all, write about one thing that interests you. You’re potential to persuade individuals you care about your subject is crucial to them clicking and reading your posts. In the event you’re not enthusiastic about what your writing, none of those content material advertising ideas matter.

I do love to hear from you. So let me know which content advertising ideas are driving probably the most visitors to your website in the feedback under.

The post 10 Content Marketing Tips To Drive More Traffic appeared first on Tech Amender.

[moonlifesims4ccfinds]

The Internet is a crowded place. I lately learn there are over 83,000 new weblog posts revealed each hour. Each hour!

So is it even potential to face out in a crowd anymore? Completely. It is in case you have a technique to publish and promote partaking content material.

Need to know what actually drives visitors? From brainstorming your material to scheduling your social media shares? Comply with these content material advertising ideas, and you’ll get observed. Huge time.

1. Begin By Asking Your Audience What They Want

There’s individuals out there who will inform you, “Just write 500 words a day about anything, and you’ll get traffic”. BS! Worst of all the content material advertising ideas on the market.

You might get some visitors, however at what value? A disjointed viewers who you’ll shortly lose in case you don’t work out what they actually need to study from you.

Let’s take a look at some methods you possibly can help clearly determine what your readers need.

Use Popup surveys:

That is the only method is to literally ask your readers what they need to study. I exploit a WordPress plugin referred to as Popup Surveys & Polls to ask questions like, “What are you struggling with in your business?” and “What do you want to learn more about?”.

Each visitor to my website will get surveyed with out me having to raise a finger.

Ask your e mail subscribers:

Use the email autoresponders that go out to your new subscribers to ask what they need extra of. Hey, they agreed to offer you one thing as sacred as their e mail tackle. Meaning they belief you.

Show them you trust their judgement, too, by asking your subscribers to reply with a few sentences explaining what would get them to maintain opening your emails. Information is power.

Analysis your competition

In the event you haven’t established an viewers but, research what’s working for different bloggers who are successfully reaching the viewers you’d wish to have. Google’s search results offers you a reasonably good concept of this.

Simply enter a key phrase phrase like “content marketing tips” to discover what is already rating on the primary web page for that material. Dig into some of these posts and you’ll start to see patterns.

2. Focus On Creating Evergreen Content

What’s evergreen content? It’s content that continues to realize search engine visitors long after it’s been revealed. That is a type of content advertising ideas I’m so glad I paid consideration to early on. For a extra detailed rationalization of evergreen content, take a look at this submit by Neil Patel.

To ensure the content material you publish is evergreen:

Does it stand the check of time?

Ask your self, “If someone reads this article 10 years from now, will it still be relevant? Or will they say, “Oh yeah, I remember when that was actually popular/true/in style/etc.”

Write content material that’s related all yr round.

For example, on my insurance website, I’ve obtained a submit referred to as 6 Secrets and techniques For Recruiting And Retaining Younger Brokers that gets visitors each single day of the yr. Distinction that with one other submit on my website referred to as Memorial Day Weekend Is The Most Harmful Weekend On The Roads. Are you able to guess which one is extra evergreen?

Think about removing publish dates from your posts.

There’s debate about whether this could even be filed beneath “Good Content Marketing Tips”. However I feel it’s value contemplating. Give it some thought. Ten years from now, when somebody finds your submit of their search engine outcomes, will they still click by way of if your publish date is previous and rancid?

three. Inform Stories & Be Your self

The artwork of storytelling seems to be popping up lots nowadays in numerous posts about content advertising ideas. And for good purpose. Individuals naturally need to connect with other individuals. So how are you going to do this with your personal on-line content?

Give actual life examples

For each primary idea you present to your viewers, give them an example. Inform a narrative. Convey up the time you have been goofing around and operating with the trash can from the road again to your home and tripped and fell inside. (My spouse still laughs her butt off retelling that one!)

Embrace the psychology of storytelling

Scientific studies and loads of other lists of content material advertising ideas have proven that we’re hardwired to recollect tales over details. Tales draw readers in. They help individuals make connections between what they already know and the new stuff you’re throwing at them.

Domesticate relationships

If this one appears misplaced in an inventory about content material advertising ideas, assume once more. Individuals need to develop a relationship with you, even when they’re just reading your phrases. Let your character present in what you write. For good instance of someone who writes in their very own voice, take a look at this blog submit creation guidelines from Sara Moss.

For example, my 4 years of school in Boston, after which marrying a Rhode Islander, tends to deliver the slang phrase “wicked [insert subject here]”. I don’t cover that in most of my blog posts. And the reason is that’s how I might speak if I have been having fun with a conversation with you in actual life.

4. Do (Sensible) Key phrase Analysis

Going the “publish and pray” technique isn’t the neatest of content material advertising ideas. It’s essential deliberately develop your content round keywords your ultimate viewers is looking. Luckily, there are tools out there to make key phrase analysis simpler than just guessing.

Google Keyword Planner

The Google Keyword Planner is an effective place to start out getting key phrase ideas. Just pop a couple of keywords or keyword phrases into the planner and…BOOM! Keyword ideas a a lot are ready for you. Just be mindful, these are the same keywords everybody else is seeing in the event that they used the identical search criteria.

To dig deeper for some keyword gems, copy and paste the web site tackle of considered one of your rivals into the “Your Landing Page” subject and then search. Right here’s what you may see in case you search the phrase “bakery shop”.

Buzz Sumo

When you’ve grabbed some key phrases from the Google Keyword Planner, bounce over to BuzzSumo and enter a couple of those keywords into their search subject. What you’ll get is an inventory of posts which are performing greatest for that key phrase phrase (ie: getting a ton of social media shares and web site visitors).

This can change the best way you get your content advertising ideas. Sift by means of the outcomes to get an excellent feel for the kinds of posts you may need to create. Here’s what popped up once I entered the phrase “content marketing tips”.

Google Advertisements

Seems like an unlikely place to do keyword analysis on your content material, doesn’t it? However just assume for a second. Whenever you Google one thing and see advertisements on the prime and sides of the web page, meaning you’ve searched for a keyword that marketers are paying good money for to target individuals identical to you.

Right here’s a few things to concentrate to:

Variety of advertisements on the page – The more you see, the extra in style the subject you just searched for. That’s good.

Advert copy – Refine your key phrase analysis by paying close attention to the language marketers are using to get individuals to click on on their advert.

Your personal Google Analytics results

Google used to point out you just about each key phrase visitors searched for to seek out your website. Gone are these days, my good friend. But they do nonetheless show you some keywords. Use your Google Analytics account to seek out the keyword phrases that slip via.

What you’re more likely to find are key phrases you’re not intentionally making an attempt to rank for. Use these to create new posts which might be unique variations of what you originally wrote on that matter. Look for a twist or a special approach.

In the event you’re seeing the key phrase phrase “content marketing tips” show up, attempt writing about “content marketing tips for small businesses”. The chances are infinite.

5. Create Engaging Titles

You possibly can write the shiniest, sexiest submit about constructing an effective buyer referral program. But when you’re title is “meh”, you possibly can overlook individuals truly studying it.

Writing engaging titles is crucial for content advertising success. It’s what will get readers to click on in your content material and then share it. Pay shut consideration to those next few content advertising ideas.

Lure them in.

Does your title pull the reader in? Does it beg for an answer or rationalization? An awesome example of an attractive weblog title (and an excellent submit on the subject itself) is: Easy methods to Write Killer Titles That Can Sell a Fur Coat to a Wookie. I still reference again to this submit right now when writing my titles.

Maintain it brief.

The cutoff point for what search engine outcomes display is round 60 characters. So maintain your titles brief and to the point.

Hold it relevant.

Nothing hurts your bounce price greater than utilizing a deceptive title. In the event you trick visitors into considering they’re about to get one thing they’re not, your submit gained’t present up close to the top of search outcomes for long.

Embrace your keyword phrase.

Absolutely embrace your keyword or keyword phrase in your title. For extra punch, put it at the start of your title

Make it an inventory.

By far the preferred blog posts on the internet are record posts, or “listicles”. These appear to stand the check of time more than some other sort of weblog publish. For those who take nothing else away from these content material advertising ideas, write an inventory publish.

And when applicable, use odd numbers in your listing. There’s plenty of studies that present readers are likely to view odd numbers as more reasonable.

6. Make Your Content Easier To Learn

This subsequent set of content material advertising ideas is crucial for maintaining visitors on your page longer. Longer “dwell time” is sweet in your Google rankings.

Based on CoSchedule, lower than half of your blog readers truly learn past 100 words. For probably the most half, this has to do with readability. So how do you repair this?

Write like Hemingway.

Ernest Hemingway was the grasp of writing brief sentences. You ought to be, too. ‘Nuff stated.

Hold your paragraphs brief.

I’m a former high school English instructor. It nonetheless makes me twitch once I see articles that drone on and on with no breaks. Maintain your paragraphs to no more than 3 or 4 sentences. It’s simply simpler on the eyes.

Guide your readers with headings.

Not solely do headings assist with web optimization (once you use h1 and h2 tags). Additionally they help readers who’re in a hurry scan your publish for the main points. Headings assist them shortly determine whether or not it’s what they have been on the lookout for or not. In case you information them along, they’ll stick around longer to dig deeper.

Use photographs, video and bullet points.

Utilizing rich media and bullet points additionally assist break up your content into more usable chunks. Not to mention, content with photographs and video get shared more ceaselessly than content material without.

7. Optimize Your search engine optimization

Search engine marketing (search engine optimization) is the stuff baked into your content material that gets it found when individuals put keywords into sites like Google. Loads of bloggers promoting content material advertising ideas say optimizing your search engine optimization is the primary approach to get long term visitors to your web site.

The simplest option to be sure to’re optimizing every publish is to make use of a WordPress plugin like Yoast web optimization. Here’s how it works.

Focus keyword

Start by getting into your keyword or key phrase phrase it into the Focus Key phrase section. Yoast will then guide you thru optimizing your submit round this key phrase.

search engine optimization title

Your search engine marketing title is what exhibits up in Google’s search results. It needs to look good if you’d like readers to click on. Yoast warns you when your title will get too lengthy or doesn’t include your keyword phrase.

Meta description

Your Meta Description exhibits up in Google’s search results right under your search engine optimisation Title. Should you don’t fill out this part, Google will pull in roughly the primary 160 characters of your blog publish.

So, in the event you’re following these content material advertising tips to the “T”, it’s to your advantage to make use of the Meta Description to make sure your key phrase phrase exhibits up in search results. It’s your commercial to lure searchers to learn your content material.

Page Evaluation

This part incorporates more advanced indicators of whether your submit is on monitor or not for being nicely optimized. Yoast makes it simple by shade coding every item purple, yellow or green. Principally, all you need to do is repair each merchandise until all (or most) are green.

Those I give attention to probably the most are: inner links, photographs, key phrase usage and readability score.

8. Make It Straightforward To Share

Should you’ve adopted these content advertising ideas and finished your job proper, your posts will begin seeing some visitors. It might solely trickle in at first. So ensure that your content is straightforward to share.

Use social sharing buttons

Each web site value their salt has eye-catching social sharing buttons to permit visitors to share your content material with one or two clicks. I exploit SumoMe on my websites. It’s extremely versatile and there are free versions of all their plugins.

The SumoMe Share plugin lets you:

select your most popular social buttons (even which buttons present up on desktop vs. cellular).

choose the place(s) on your page to show the buttons.

determine whether or not or to not display the variety of shares (per social community and complete for all networks).

handle which pages/posts on your website to show the share buttons.

Click on To Tweet

If you want to entice your readers to share your content material on Twitter, there’s no better WordPress plugin than Click To Tweet by TodayMade. Give it a shot by clicking the textual content under.

Make your pictures straightforward to share

The same folks that developed the Share plugin I mentioned above have additionally created a depraved easy strategy to make any picture in your website shareable. And it’s cleverly named Image Sharer.

Once installed, just choose which social sites you need to show when guests hover over photographs. That’s it!

Give it a shot by hovering on the image under and sharing it in your favourite social website. Notice how the whole title “10 Content Marketing Tips To Drive More Traffic” is about because the default share textual content. Fairly cool, huh?

Embed alt textual content in your pictures

Probably the most missed content material advertising ideas is using alt textual content in your pictures. Because serps can’t read what’s in your photographs, it is advisable to inform them what your picture represents. That’s where alt text is available in.

Whether you’re utilizing WordPress or another editor, you’ll be capable of enter alt textual content to describe your image. Ensure that to make use of your key phrase phrase the place relevant to offer your publish a bit of increase. For instance, I’ve included the phrase “content marketing tips” into several of my alt text tag for this publish.

Embrace your Twitter deal with in sharing plugins

Encouraging readers to share your content material on Twitter is a superb begin. Simply don’t overlook to attribute your arduous work to yourself.

A lot of the sharing plugins talked about here can help you embed your twitter deal with within the tweet that’s generated once they share it. Simply examine the settings for every of those plugins and you’ll discover something like this:

9. Enlist An Army Of Promoters To Unfold The Word

As with something in life, if you wish to spread the word, you want individuals’s help. With regards to advertising your content material, nothing is more necessary than creating a core group of influential associates to carry your message far and extensive.

Use the “buddy system”

As you share content, you’ll naturally develop a smaller core group of “buddies” who like what you’re throwing down. Most of my peeps are within the insurance coverage business, and most I’ve never met in individual. But we’ve turn into so intertwined, it’s like we’re all in class collectively.

If I’m writing a publish like this on content material advertising ideas, I simply ship my buddies a fast e mail to let them know I feel it’s proper up their ally. 9 occasions out of 10, they share it, without me asking them instantly. When you make somebody really feel particular by giving them one thing unconditionally, you’ll by no means need to ask for a favor.

Give first to get what you need

Be a giver. Not a taker. This works notably properly on Twitter and LinkedIn. Retweet. Retweet. Retweet.

On LinkedIn, develop relationships with different contributors by commenting on their posts and sharing them together with your community. Don’t overlook to tag them! And in case you hold the dialog happening their publish, they’ll discover you and certain return the favor the subsequent time you publish something.

Harness the facility of Twitter lists

Make an inventory in Twitter of people that persistently favorite or retweet your tweets. If they’re displaying you’re keen on, then placing them in an inventory will make it simpler so that you can:

frequently retweet their content, to keep the love practice shifting.

know who to tag in your future tweets which might be relevant to them.

10. Use Social Media Scheduling Instruments

The final and most powerful of those content material advertising ideas is to keep your content editorial calendar full. These instruments make it straightforward to constantly share your content material to drive extra visitors to your web site:

CoSchedule

In a current submit, I went into detail about why CoSchedule is my go-to content material advertising calendar. In a nutshell, it’s a drag-and-drop advertising calendar with straightforward social media scheduling.

Probably the most powerful function about CoSchedule is the power to simply re-schedule previous blog content. Plus, it integrates tightly with WordPress, allowing you to schedule social media shares earlier than you even publish your weblog.

I grew my Twitter following by 17% in the first week of using CoSchedule just by rescheduling previous content material.

On a aspect observe, CoSchedule also places out a whole lot of great content material advertising recommendations on their blog. You may need to verify them out.

HootSuite

Earlier than discovering CoSchedule, Hootsuite was my principal content advertising calendar. What I exploit it for now’s scheduling posts to LinkedIn Groups.

I can make the same publish to 30+ Groups in one go utilizing HootSuite. Their API nonetheless permits this, whereas CoSchedule’s doesn’t. It saves me hours of time every week. And my posts to LinkedIn Groups get clicks and shares for weeks after being revealed via HootSuite.

Buffer

The first two social media scheduling tools I discussed are nice for sharing your personal content material. However I exploit Buffer solely to schedule shares of different individuals’s posts (You down with OPP? Yeah, you realize me!)

I spend about 10 – 15 minutes each morning reading by means of my Twitter and LinkedIn feed. Anything that’s value sharing gets “buffered” using their Chrome plugin or my iPhone’s “Share Via” button.

What are your favorite content material advertising ideas?

I hope these content advertising ideas have impressed you to make some constructive modifications in your general content material advertising technique. By implementing just some of these, you need to see a big improve in visitors to your website.

Above all, write about one thing that interests you. You’re potential to persuade individuals you care about your subject is crucial to them clicking and reading your posts. In the event you’re not enthusiastic about what your writing, none of those content material advertising ideas matter.

I do love to hear from you. So let me know which content advertising ideas are driving probably the most visitors to your website in the feedback under.

The post 10 Content Marketing Tips To Drive More Traffic appeared first on Tech Amender.

[autisticplumeriaartthings-blog]

The Internet is a crowded place. I lately learn there are over 83,000 new weblog posts revealed each hour. Each hour!

So is it even potential to face out in a crowd anymore? Completely. It is in case you have a technique to publish and promote partaking content material.

Need to know what actually drives visitors? From brainstorming your material to scheduling your social media shares? Comply with these content material advertising ideas, and you’ll get observed. Huge time.

1. Begin By Asking Your Audience What They Want

There’s individuals out there who will inform you, “Just write 500 words a day about anything, and you’ll get traffic”. BS! Worst of all the content material advertising ideas on the market.

You might get some visitors, however at what value? A disjointed viewers who you’ll shortly lose in case you don’t work out what they actually need to study from you.

Let’s take a look at some methods you possibly can help clearly determine what your readers need.

Use Popup surveys:

That is the only method is to literally ask your readers what they need to study. I exploit a WordPress plugin referred to as Popup Surveys & Polls to ask questions like, “What are you struggling with in your business?” and “What do you want to learn more about?”.

Each visitor to my website will get surveyed with out me having to raise a finger.

Ask your e mail subscribers:

Use the email autoresponders that go out to your new subscribers to ask what they need extra of. Hey, they agreed to offer you one thing as sacred as their e mail tackle. Meaning they belief you.

Show them you trust their judgement, too, by asking your subscribers to reply with a few sentences explaining what would get them to maintain opening your emails. Information is power.

Analysis your competition

In the event you haven’t established an viewers but, research what’s working for different bloggers who are successfully reaching the viewers you’d wish to have. Google’s search results offers you a reasonably good concept of this.

Simply enter a key phrase phrase like “content marketing tips” to discover what is already rating on the primary web page for that material. Dig into some of these posts and you’ll start to see patterns.

2. Focus On Creating Evergreen Content

What’s evergreen content? It’s content that continues to realize search engine visitors long after it’s been revealed. That is a type of content advertising ideas I’m so glad I paid consideration to early on. For a extra detailed rationalization of evergreen content, take a look at this submit by Neil Patel.

To ensure the content material you publish is evergreen:

Does it stand the check of time?

Ask your self, “If someone reads this article 10 years from now, will it still be relevant? Or will they say, “Oh yeah, I remember when that was actually popular/true/in style/etc.”

Write content material that’s related all yr round.

For example, on my insurance website, I’ve obtained a submit referred to as 6 Secrets and techniques For Recruiting And Retaining Younger Brokers that gets visitors each single day of the yr. Distinction that with one other submit on my website referred to as Memorial Day Weekend Is The Most Harmful Weekend On The Roads. Are you able to guess which one is extra evergreen?

Think about removing publish dates from your posts.

There’s debate about whether this could even be filed beneath “Good Content Marketing Tips”. However I feel it’s value contemplating. Give it some thought. Ten years from now, when somebody finds your submit of their search engine outcomes, will they still click by way of if your publish date is previous and rancid?

three. Inform Stories & Be Your self

The artwork of storytelling seems to be popping up lots nowadays in numerous posts about content advertising ideas. And for good purpose. Individuals naturally need to connect with other individuals. So how are you going to do this with your personal on-line content?

Give actual life examples

For each primary idea you present to your viewers, give them an example. Inform a narrative. Convey up the time you have been goofing around and operating with the trash can from the road again to your home and tripped and fell inside. (My spouse still laughs her butt off retelling that one!)

Embrace the psychology of storytelling

Scientific studies and loads of other lists of content material advertising ideas have proven that we’re hardwired to recollect tales over details. Tales draw readers in. They help individuals make connections between what they already know and the new stuff you’re throwing at them.

Domesticate relationships

If this one appears misplaced in an inventory about content material advertising ideas, assume once more. Individuals need to develop a relationship with you, even when they’re just reading your phrases. Let your character present in what you write. For good instance of someone who writes in their very own voice, take a look at this blog submit creation guidelines from Sara Moss.

For example, my 4 years of school in Boston, after which marrying a Rhode Islander, tends to deliver the slang phrase “wicked [insert subject here]”. I don’t cover that in most of my blog posts. And the reason is that’s how I might speak if I have been having fun with a conversation with you in actual life.

4. Do (Sensible) Key phrase Analysis

Going the “publish and pray” technique isn’t the neatest of content material advertising ideas. It’s essential deliberately develop your content round keywords your ultimate viewers is looking. Luckily, there are tools out there to make key phrase analysis simpler than just guessing.

Google Keyword Planner

The Google Keyword Planner is an effective place to start out getting key phrase ideas. Just pop a couple of keywords or keyword phrases into the planner and…BOOM! Keyword ideas a a lot are ready for you. Just be mindful, these are the same keywords everybody else is seeing in the event that they used the identical search criteria.

To dig deeper for some keyword gems, copy and paste the web site tackle of considered one of your rivals into the “Your Landing Page” subject and then search. Right here’s what you may see in case you search the phrase “bakery shop”.

Buzz Sumo

When you’ve grabbed some key phrases from the Google Keyword Planner, bounce over to BuzzSumo and enter a couple of those keywords into their search subject. What you’ll get is an inventory of posts which are performing greatest for that key phrase phrase (ie: getting a ton of social media shares and web site visitors).

This can change the best way you get your content advertising ideas. Sift by means of the outcomes to get an excellent feel for the kinds of posts you may need to create. Here’s what popped up once I entered the phrase “content marketing tips”.

Google Advertisements

Seems like an unlikely place to do keyword analysis on your content material, doesn’t it? However just assume for a second. Whenever you Google one thing and see advertisements on the prime and sides of the web page, meaning you’ve searched for a keyword that marketers are paying good money for to target individuals identical to you.

Right here’s a few things to concentrate to:

Variety of advertisements on the page – The more you see, the extra in style the subject you just searched for. That’s good.

Advert copy – Refine your key phrase analysis by paying close attention to the language marketers are using to get individuals to click on on their advert.

Your personal Google Analytics results

Google used to point out you just about each key phrase visitors searched for to seek out your website. Gone are these days, my good friend. But they do nonetheless show you some keywords. Use your Google Analytics account to seek out the keyword phrases that slip via.

What you’re more likely to find are key phrases you’re not intentionally making an attempt to rank for. Use these to create new posts which might be unique variations of what you originally wrote on that matter. Look for a twist or a special approach.

In the event you’re seeing the key phrase phrase “content marketing tips” show up, attempt writing about “content marketing tips for small businesses”. The chances are infinite.

5. Create Engaging Titles

You possibly can write the shiniest, sexiest submit about constructing an effective buyer referral program. But when you’re title is “meh”, you possibly can overlook individuals truly studying it.

Writing engaging titles is crucial for content advertising success. It’s what will get readers to click on in your content material and then share it. Pay shut consideration to those next few content advertising ideas.

Lure them in.

Does your title pull the reader in? Does it beg for an answer or rationalization? An awesome example of an attractive weblog title (and an excellent submit on the subject itself) is: Easy methods to Write Killer Titles That Can Sell a Fur Coat to a Wookie. I still reference again to this submit right now when writing my titles.

Maintain it brief.

The cutoff point for what search engine outcomes display is round 60 characters. So maintain your titles brief and to the point.

Hold it relevant.

Nothing hurts your bounce price greater than utilizing a deceptive title. In the event you trick visitors into considering they’re about to get one thing they’re not, your submit gained’t present up close to the top of search outcomes for long.

Embrace your keyword phrase.

Absolutely embrace your keyword or keyword phrase in your title. For extra punch, put it at the start of your title

Make it an inventory.

By far the preferred blog posts on the internet are record posts, or “listicles”. These appear to stand the check of time more than some other sort of weblog publish. For those who take nothing else away from these content material advertising ideas, write an inventory publish.

And when applicable, use odd numbers in your listing. There’s plenty of studies that present readers are likely to view odd numbers as more reasonable.

6. Make Your Content Easier To Learn

This subsequent set of content material advertising ideas is crucial for maintaining visitors on your page longer. Longer “dwell time” is sweet in your Google rankings.

Based on CoSchedule, lower than half of your blog readers truly learn past 100 words. For probably the most half, this has to do with readability. So how do you repair this?

Write like Hemingway.

Ernest Hemingway was the grasp of writing brief sentences. You ought to be, too. ‘Nuff stated.

Hold your paragraphs brief.

I’m a former high school English instructor. It nonetheless makes me twitch once I see articles that drone on and on with no breaks. Maintain your paragraphs to no more than 3 or 4 sentences. It’s simply simpler on the eyes.

Guide your readers with headings.

Not solely do headings assist with web optimization (once you use h1 and h2 tags). Additionally they help readers who’re in a hurry scan your publish for the main points. Headings assist them shortly determine whether or not it’s what they have been on the lookout for or not. In case you information them along, they’ll stick around longer to dig deeper.

Use photographs, video and bullet points.

Utilizing rich media and bullet points additionally assist break up your content into more usable chunks. Not to mention, content with photographs and video get shared more ceaselessly than content material without.

7. Optimize Your search engine optimization

Search engine marketing (search engine optimization) is the stuff baked into your content material that gets it found when individuals put keywords into sites like Google. Loads of bloggers promoting content material advertising ideas say optimizing your search engine optimization is the primary approach to get long term visitors to your web site.

The simplest option to be sure to’re optimizing every publish is to make use of a WordPress plugin like Yoast web optimization. Here’s how it works.

Focus keyword

Start by getting into your keyword or key phrase phrase it into the Focus Key phrase section. Yoast will then guide you thru optimizing your submit round this key phrase.

search engine optimization title

Your search engine marketing title is what exhibits up in Google’s search results. It needs to look good if you’d like readers to click on. Yoast warns you when your title will get too lengthy or doesn’t include your keyword phrase.

Meta description

Your Meta Description exhibits up in Google’s search results right under your search engine optimisation Title. Should you don’t fill out this part, Google will pull in roughly the primary 160 characters of your blog publish.

So, in the event you’re following these content material advertising tips to the “T”, it’s to your advantage to make use of the Meta Description to make sure your key phrase phrase exhibits up in search results. It’s your commercial to lure searchers to learn your content material.

Page Evaluation

This part incorporates more advanced indicators of whether your submit is on monitor or not for being nicely optimized. Yoast makes it simple by shade coding every item purple, yellow or green. Principally, all you need to do is repair each merchandise until all (or most) are green.

Those I give attention to probably the most are: inner links, photographs, key phrase usage and readability score.

8. Make It Straightforward To Share

Should you’ve adopted these content advertising ideas and finished your job proper, your posts will begin seeing some visitors. It might solely trickle in at first. So ensure that your content is straightforward to share.

Use social sharing buttons

Each web site value their salt has eye-catching social sharing buttons to permit visitors to share your content material with one or two clicks. I exploit SumoMe on my websites. It’s extremely versatile and there are free versions of all their plugins.

The SumoMe Share plugin lets you:

select your most popular social buttons (even which buttons present up on desktop vs. cellular).

choose the place(s) on your page to show the buttons.

determine whether or not or to not display the variety of shares (per social community and complete for all networks).

handle which pages/posts on your website to show the share buttons.

Click on To Tweet

If you want to entice your readers to share your content material on Twitter, there’s no better WordPress plugin than Click To Tweet by TodayMade. Give it a shot by clicking the textual content under.

Make your pictures straightforward to share

The same folks that developed the Share plugin I mentioned above have additionally created a depraved easy strategy to make any picture in your website shareable. And it’s cleverly named Image Sharer.

Once installed, just choose which social sites you need to show when guests hover over photographs. That’s it!

Give it a shot by hovering on the image under and sharing it in your favourite social website. Notice how the whole title “10 Content Marketing Tips To Drive More Traffic” is about because the default share textual content. Fairly cool, huh?

Embed alt textual content in your pictures

Probably the most missed content material advertising ideas is using alt textual content in your pictures. Because serps can’t read what’s in your photographs, it is advisable to inform them what your picture represents. That’s where alt text is available in.

Whether you’re utilizing WordPress or another editor, you’ll be capable of enter alt textual content to describe your image. Ensure that to make use of your key phrase phrase the place relevant to offer your publish a bit of increase. For instance, I’ve included the phrase “content marketing tips” into several of my alt text tag for this publish.

Embrace your Twitter deal with in sharing plugins

Encouraging readers to share your content material on Twitter is a superb begin. Simply don’t overlook to attribute your arduous work to yourself.

A lot of the sharing plugins talked about here can help you embed your twitter deal with within the tweet that’s generated once they share it. Simply examine the settings for every of those plugins and you’ll discover something like this:

9. Enlist An Army Of Promoters To Unfold The Word

As with something in life, if you wish to spread the word, you want individuals’s help. With regards to advertising your content material, nothing is more necessary than creating a core group of influential associates to carry your message far and extensive.

Use the “buddy system”

As you share content, you’ll naturally develop a smaller core group of “buddies” who like what you’re throwing down. Most of my peeps are within the insurance coverage business, and most I’ve never met in individual. But we’ve turn into so intertwined, it’s like we’re all in class collectively.

If I’m writing a publish like this on content material advertising ideas, I simply ship my buddies a fast e mail to let them know I feel it’s proper up their ally. 9 occasions out of 10, they share it, without me asking them instantly. When you make somebody really feel particular by giving them one thing unconditionally, you’ll by no means need to ask for a favor.

Give first to get what you need

Be a giver. Not a taker. This works notably properly on Twitter and LinkedIn. Retweet. Retweet. Retweet.

On LinkedIn, develop relationships with different contributors by commenting on their posts and sharing them together with your community. Don’t overlook to tag them! And in case you hold the dialog happening their publish, they’ll discover you and certain return the favor the subsequent time you publish something.

Harness the facility of Twitter lists

Make an inventory in Twitter of people that persistently favorite or retweet your tweets. If they’re displaying you’re keen on, then placing them in an inventory will make it simpler so that you can:

frequently retweet their content, to keep the love practice shifting.

know who to tag in your future tweets which might be relevant to them.

10. Use Social Media Scheduling Instruments

The final and most powerful of those content material advertising ideas is to keep your content editorial calendar full. These instruments make it straightforward to constantly share your content material to drive extra visitors to your web site:

CoSchedule

In a current submit, I went into detail about why CoSchedule is my go-to content material advertising calendar. In a nutshell, it’s a drag-and-drop advertising calendar with straightforward social media scheduling.

Probably the most powerful function about CoSchedule is the power to simply re-schedule previous blog content. Plus, it integrates tightly with WordPress, allowing you to schedule social media shares earlier than you even publish your weblog.

I grew my Twitter following by 17% in the first week of using CoSchedule just by rescheduling previous content material.

On a aspect observe, CoSchedule also places out a whole lot of great content material advertising recommendations on their blog. You may need to verify them out.

HootSuite

Earlier than discovering CoSchedule, Hootsuite was my principal content advertising calendar. What I exploit it for now’s scheduling posts to LinkedIn Groups.

I can make the same publish to 30+ Groups in one go utilizing HootSuite. Their API nonetheless permits this, whereas CoSchedule’s doesn’t. It saves me hours of time every week. And my posts to LinkedIn Groups get clicks and shares for weeks after being revealed via HootSuite.

Buffer

The first two social media scheduling tools I discussed are nice for sharing your personal content material. However I exploit Buffer solely to schedule shares of different individuals’s posts (You down with OPP? Yeah, you realize me!)

I spend about 10 – 15 minutes each morning reading by means of my Twitter and LinkedIn feed. Anything that’s value sharing gets “buffered” using their Chrome plugin or my iPhone’s “Share Via” button.

What are your favorite content material advertising ideas?

I hope these content advertising ideas have impressed you to make some constructive modifications in your general content material advertising technique. By implementing just some of these, you need to see a big improve in visitors to your website.

Above all, write about one thing that interests you. You’re potential to persuade individuals you care about your subject is crucial to them clicking and reading your posts. In the event you’re not enthusiastic about what your writing, none of those content material advertising ideas matter.

I do love to hear from you. So let me know which content advertising ideas are driving probably the most visitors to your website in the feedback under.

The post 10 Content Marketing Tips To Drive More Traffic appeared first on Tech Amender.

[itstakingtoolongtoload-blog]

The Internet is a crowded place. I lately learn there are over 83,000 new weblog posts revealed each hour. Each hour!

So is it even potential to face out in a crowd anymore? Completely. It is in case you have a technique to publish and promote partaking content material.

Need to know what actually drives visitors? From brainstorming your material to scheduling your social media shares? Comply with these content material advertising ideas, and you’ll get observed. Huge time.

1. Begin By Asking Your Audience What They Want

There’s individuals out there who will inform you, “Just write 500 words a day about anything, and you’ll get traffic”. BS! Worst of all the content material advertising ideas on the market.

You might get some visitors, however at what value? A disjointed viewers who you’ll shortly lose in case you don’t work out what they actually need to study from you.

Let’s take a look at some methods you possibly can help clearly determine what your readers need.

Use Popup surveys:

That is the only method is to literally ask your readers what they need to study. I exploit a WordPress plugin referred to as Popup Surveys & Polls to ask questions like, “What are you struggling with in your business?” and “What do you want to learn more about?”.

Each visitor to my website will get surveyed with out me having to raise a finger.

Ask your e mail subscribers:

Use the email autoresponders that go out to your new subscribers to ask what they need extra of. Hey, they agreed to offer you one thing as sacred as their e mail tackle. Meaning they belief you.

Show them you trust their judgement, too, by asking your subscribers to reply with a few sentences explaining what would get them to maintain opening your emails. Information is power.

Analysis your competition

In the event you haven’t established an viewers but, research what’s working for different bloggers who are successfully reaching the viewers you’d wish to have. Google’s search results offers you a reasonably good concept of this.

Simply enter a key phrase phrase like “content marketing tips” to discover what is already rating on the primary web page for that material. Dig into some of these posts and you’ll start to see patterns.

2. Focus On Creating Evergreen Content

What’s evergreen content? It’s content that continues to realize search engine visitors long after it’s been revealed. That is a type of content advertising ideas I’m so glad I paid consideration to early on. For a extra detailed rationalization of evergreen content, take a look at this submit by Neil Patel.

To ensure the content material you publish is evergreen:

Does it stand the check of time?

Ask your self, “If someone reads this article 10 years from now, will it still be relevant? Or will they say, “Oh yeah, I remember when that was actually popular/true/in style/etc.”

Write content material that’s related all yr round.

For example, on my insurance website, I’ve obtained a submit referred to as 6 Secrets and techniques For Recruiting And Retaining Younger Brokers that gets visitors each single day of the yr. Distinction that with one other submit on my website referred to as Memorial Day Weekend Is The Most Harmful Weekend On The Roads. Are you able to guess which one is extra evergreen?

Think about removing publish dates from your posts.

There’s debate about whether this could even be filed beneath “Good Content Marketing Tips”. However I feel it’s value contemplating. Give it some thought. Ten years from now, when somebody finds your submit of their search engine outcomes, will they still click by way of if your publish date is previous and rancid?

three. Inform Stories & Be Your self

The artwork of storytelling seems to be popping up lots nowadays in numerous posts about content advertising ideas. And for good purpose. Individuals naturally need to connect with other individuals. So how are you going to do this with your personal on-line content?

Give actual life examples

For each primary idea you present to your viewers, give them an example. Inform a narrative. Convey up the time you have been goofing around and operating with the trash can from the road again to your home and tripped and fell inside. (My spouse still laughs her butt off retelling that one!)

Embrace the psychology of storytelling

Scientific studies and loads of other lists of content material advertising ideas have proven that we’re hardwired to recollect tales over details. Tales draw readers in. They help individuals make connections between what they already know and the new stuff you’re throwing at them.

Domesticate relationships

If this one appears misplaced in an inventory about content material advertising ideas, assume once more. Individuals need to develop a relationship with you, even when they’re just reading your phrases. Let your character present in what you write. For good instance of someone who writes in their very own voice, take a look at this blog submit creation guidelines from Sara Moss.

For example, my 4 years of school in Boston, after which marrying a Rhode Islander, tends to deliver the slang phrase “wicked [insert subject here]”. I don’t cover that in most of my blog posts. And the reason is that’s how I might speak if I have been having fun with a conversation with you in actual life.

4. Do (Sensible) Key phrase Analysis

Going the “publish and pray” technique isn’t the neatest of content material advertising ideas. It’s essential deliberately develop your content round keywords your ultimate viewers is looking. Luckily, there are tools out there to make key phrase analysis simpler than just guessing.

Google Keyword Planner

The Google Keyword Planner is an effective place to start out getting key phrase ideas. Just pop a couple of keywords or keyword phrases into the planner and…BOOM! Keyword ideas a a lot are ready for you. Just be mindful, these are the same keywords everybody else is seeing in the event that they used the identical search criteria.

To dig deeper for some keyword gems, copy and paste the web site tackle of considered one of your rivals into the “Your Landing Page” subject and then search. Right here’s what you may see in case you search the phrase “bakery shop”.

Buzz Sumo

When you’ve grabbed some key phrases from the Google Keyword Planner, bounce over to BuzzSumo and enter a couple of those keywords into their search subject. What you’ll get is an inventory of posts which are performing greatest for that key phrase phrase (ie: getting a ton of social media shares and web site visitors).

This can change the best way you get your content advertising ideas. Sift by means of the outcomes to get an excellent feel for the kinds of posts you may need to create. Here’s what popped up once I entered the phrase “content marketing tips”.

Google Advertisements

Seems like an unlikely place to do keyword analysis on your content material, doesn’t it? However just assume for a second. Whenever you Google one thing and see advertisements on the prime and sides of the web page, meaning you’ve searched for a keyword that marketers are paying good money for to target individuals identical to you.

Right here’s a few things to concentrate to:

Variety of advertisements on the page – The more you see, the extra in style the subject you just searched for. That’s good.

Advert copy – Refine your key phrase analysis by paying close attention to the language marketers are using to get individuals to click on on their advert.

Your personal Google Analytics results

Google used to point out you just about each key phrase visitors searched for to seek out your website. Gone are these days, my good friend. But they do nonetheless show you some keywords. Use your Google Analytics account to seek out the keyword phrases that slip via.

What you’re more likely to find are key phrases you’re not intentionally making an attempt to rank for. Use these to create new posts which might be unique variations of what you originally wrote on that matter. Look for a twist or a special approach.

In the event you’re seeing the key phrase phrase “content marketing tips” show up, attempt writing about “content marketing tips for small businesses”. The chances are infinite.

5. Create Engaging Titles

You possibly can write the shiniest, sexiest submit about constructing an effective buyer referral program. But when you’re title is “meh”, you possibly can overlook individuals truly studying it.

Writing engaging titles is crucial for content advertising success. It’s what will get readers to click on in your content material and then share it. Pay shut consideration to those next few content advertising ideas.

Lure them in.

Does your title pull the reader in? Does it beg for an answer or rationalization? An awesome example of an attractive weblog title (and an excellent submit on the subject itself) is: Easy methods to Write Killer Titles That Can Sell a Fur Coat to a Wookie. I still reference again to this submit right now when writing my titles.

Maintain it brief.

The cutoff point for what search engine outcomes display is round 60 characters. So maintain your titles brief and to the point.

Hold it relevant.

Nothing hurts your bounce price greater than utilizing a deceptive title. In the event you trick visitors into considering they’re about to get one thing they’re not, your submit gained’t present up close to the top of search outcomes for long.

Embrace your keyword phrase.

Absolutely embrace your keyword or keyword phrase in your title. For extra punch, put it at the start of your title

Make it an inventory.

By far the preferred blog posts on the internet are record posts, or “listicles”. These appear to stand the check of time more than some other sort of weblog publish. For those who take nothing else away from these content material advertising ideas, write an inventory publish.

And when applicable, use odd numbers in your listing. There’s plenty of studies that present readers are likely to view odd numbers as more reasonable.

6. Make Your Content Easier To Learn

This subsequent set of content material advertising ideas is crucial for maintaining visitors on your page longer. Longer “dwell time” is sweet in your Google rankings.

Based on CoSchedule, lower than half of your blog readers truly learn past 100 words. For probably the most half, this has to do with readability. So how do you repair this?

Write like Hemingway.

Ernest Hemingway was the grasp of writing brief sentences. You ought to be, too. ‘Nuff stated.

Hold your paragraphs brief.

I’m a former high school English instructor. It nonetheless makes me twitch once I see articles that drone on and on with no breaks. Maintain your paragraphs to no more than 3 or 4 sentences. It’s simply simpler on the eyes.

Guide your readers with headings.

Not solely do headings assist with web optimization (once you use h1 and h2 tags). Additionally they help readers who’re in a hurry scan your publish for the main points. Headings assist them shortly determine whether or not it’s what they have been on the lookout for or not. In case you information them along, they’ll stick around longer to dig deeper.

Use photographs, video and bullet points.

Utilizing rich media and bullet points additionally assist break up your content into more usable chunks. Not to mention, content with photographs and video get shared more ceaselessly than content material without.

7. Optimize Your search engine optimization

Search engine marketing (search engine optimization) is the stuff baked into your content material that gets it found when individuals put keywords into sites like Google. Loads of bloggers promoting content material advertising ideas say optimizing your search engine optimization is the primary approach to get long term visitors to your web site.

The simplest option to be sure to’re optimizing every publish is to make use of a WordPress plugin like Yoast web optimization. Here’s how it works.

Focus keyword

Start by getting into your keyword or key phrase phrase it into the Focus Key phrase section. Yoast will then guide you thru optimizing your submit round this key phrase.

search engine optimization title

Your search engine marketing title is what exhibits up in Google’s search results. It needs to look good if you’d like readers to click on. Yoast warns you when your title will get too lengthy or doesn’t include your keyword phrase.

Meta description

Your Meta Description exhibits up in Google’s search results right under your search engine optimisation Title. Should you don’t fill out this part, Google will pull in roughly the primary 160 characters of your blog publish.

So, in the event you’re following these content material advertising tips to the “T”, it’s to your advantage to make use of the Meta Description to make sure your key phrase phrase exhibits up in search results. It’s your commercial to lure searchers to learn your content material.

Page Evaluation

This part incorporates more advanced indicators of whether your submit is on monitor or not for being nicely optimized. Yoast makes it simple by shade coding every item purple, yellow or green. Principally, all you need to do is repair each merchandise until all (or most) are green.

Those I give attention to probably the most are: inner links, photographs, key phrase usage and readability score.

8. Make It Straightforward To Share

Should you’ve adopted these content advertising ideas and finished your job proper, your posts will begin seeing some visitors. It might solely trickle in at first. So ensure that your content is straightforward to share.

Use social sharing buttons

Each web site value their salt has eye-catching social sharing buttons to permit visitors to share your content material with one or two clicks. I exploit SumoMe on my websites. It’s extremely versatile and there are free versions of all their plugins.

The SumoMe Share plugin lets you:

select your most popular social buttons (even which buttons present up on desktop vs. cellular).

choose the place(s) on your page to show the buttons.

determine whether or not or to not display the variety of shares (per social community and complete for all networks).

handle which pages/posts on your website to show the share buttons.

Click on To Tweet

If you want to entice your readers to share your content material on Twitter, there’s no better WordPress plugin than Click To Tweet by TodayMade. Give it a shot by clicking the textual content under.

Make your pictures straightforward to share

The same folks that developed the Share plugin I mentioned above have additionally created a depraved easy strategy to make any picture in your website shareable. And it’s cleverly named Image Sharer.

Once installed, just choose which social sites you need to show when guests hover over photographs. That’s it!

Give it a shot by hovering on the image under and sharing it in your favourite social website. Notice how the whole title “10 Content Marketing Tips To Drive More Traffic” is about because the default share textual content. Fairly cool, huh?

Embed alt textual content in your pictures

Probably the most missed content material advertising ideas is using alt textual content in your pictures. Because serps can’t read what’s in your photographs, it is advisable to inform them what your picture represents. That’s where alt text is available in.

Whether you’re utilizing WordPress or another editor, you’ll be capable of enter alt textual content to describe your image. Ensure that to make use of your key phrase phrase the place relevant to offer your publish a bit of increase. For instance, I’ve included the phrase “content marketing tips” into several of my alt text tag for this publish.

Embrace your Twitter deal with in sharing plugins

Encouraging readers to share your content material on Twitter is a superb begin. Simply don’t overlook to attribute your arduous work to yourself.

A lot of the sharing plugins talked about here can help you embed your twitter deal with within the tweet that’s generated once they share it. Simply examine the settings for every of those plugins and you’ll discover something like this:

9. Enlist An Army Of Promoters To Unfold The Word

As with something in life, if you wish to spread the word, you want individuals’s help. With regards to advertising your content material, nothing is more necessary than creating a core group of influential associates to carry your message far and extensive.

Use the “buddy system”

As you share content, you’ll naturally develop a smaller core group of “buddies” who like what you’re throwing down. Most of my peeps are within the insurance coverage business, and most I’ve never met in individual. But we’ve turn into so intertwined, it’s like we’re all in class collectively.

If I’m writing a publish like this on content material advertising ideas, I simply ship my buddies a fast e mail to let them know I feel it’s proper up their ally. 9 occasions out of 10, they share it, without me asking them instantly. When you make somebody really feel particular by giving them one thing unconditionally, you’ll by no means need to ask for a favor.

Give first to get what you need

Be a giver. Not a taker. This works notably properly on Twitter and LinkedIn. Retweet. Retweet. Retweet.

On LinkedIn, develop relationships with different contributors by commenting on their posts and sharing them together with your community. Don’t overlook to tag them! And in case you hold the dialog happening their publish, they’ll discover you and certain return the favor the subsequent time you publish something.

Harness the facility of Twitter lists

Make an inventory in Twitter of people that persistently favorite or retweet your tweets. If they’re displaying you’re keen on, then placing them in an inventory will make it simpler so that you can:

frequently retweet their content, to keep the love practice shifting.

know who to tag in your future tweets which might be relevant to them.

10. Use Social Media Scheduling Instruments

The final and most powerful of those content material advertising ideas is to keep your content editorial calendar full. These instruments make it straightforward to constantly share your content material to drive extra visitors to your web site:

CoSchedule

In a current submit, I went into detail about why CoSchedule is my go-to content material advertising calendar. In a nutshell, it’s a drag-and-drop advertising calendar with straightforward social media scheduling.

Probably the most powerful function about CoSchedule is the power to simply re-schedule previous blog content. Plus, it integrates tightly with WordPress, allowing you to schedule social media shares earlier than you even publish your weblog.

I grew my Twitter following by 17% in the first week of using CoSchedule just by rescheduling previous content material.

On a aspect observe, CoSchedule also places out a whole lot of great content material advertising recommendations on their blog. You may need to verify them out.

HootSuite

Earlier than discovering CoSchedule, Hootsuite was my principal content advertising calendar. What I exploit it for now’s scheduling posts to LinkedIn Groups.

I can make the same publish to 30+ Groups in one go utilizing HootSuite. Their API nonetheless permits this, whereas CoSchedule’s doesn’t. It saves me hours of time every week. And my posts to LinkedIn Groups get clicks and shares for weeks after being revealed via HootSuite.

Buffer

The first two social media scheduling tools I discussed are nice for sharing your personal content material. However I exploit Buffer solely to schedule shares of different individuals’s posts (You down with OPP? Yeah, you realize me!)

I spend about 10 – 15 minutes each morning reading by means of my Twitter and LinkedIn feed. Anything that’s value sharing gets “buffered” using their Chrome plugin or my iPhone’s “Share Via” button.

What are your favorite content material advertising ideas?

I hope these content advertising ideas have impressed you to make some constructive modifications in your general content material advertising technique. By implementing just some of these, you need to see a big improve in visitors to your website.

Above all, write about one thing that interests you. You’re potential to persuade individuals you care about your subject is crucial to them clicking and reading your posts. In the event you’re not enthusiastic about what your writing, none of those content material advertising ideas matter.

I do love to hear from you. So let me know which content advertising ideas are driving probably the most visitors to your website in the feedback under.

The post 10 Content Marketing Tips To Drive More Traffic appeared first on Tech Amender.

[imgonnabeyourbubblegumwitch]

Penguin Classics Challenge -January

The Picture of Dorian Grey - A Review 

Here there be spoilers...

I've read this book before and watched the film with Ben Barnes but it was so long ago that, other than the concept of the titular picture, I couldn't remember anything. Literally nothing. It didn't really come back as I was reading, in fact I remembered a lot of stuff that didn’t actually happen (though maybe this is stuff that happens in the film - we all know how many films see source material as a vague suggestion, and following a quick google search I'm certain a lot of what I thought would happen did come from the film). That being said I did know Dorian died at the end (I did say spoilers!). This did not have any effect on the ending which still packed a huge punch.

This book was absolutely gorgeous. It posits theories about morality, about humanity and society wrapped up in beautiful imagery so that it only sometimes feels like you are reading an essay on the human condition by the confident Philosophy undergrad who always wants to tell you their take on life. It's ethereal - an impression rather than something concrete and substantial. While with other books a lack of substance might be detrimental, I felt it worked here. Dorian Grey, in his attempts to live life to the full, attempts to do everything and anything not caring for the consequences because he can quite literally hide them away. He can have endless fun, but endless fun probably would start to blend together in a hazy, lazy blur of people, faces, names, houses and clubs. The details we do see are the little bits that make each experience different: details of clothing or an item of furniture, scents, smells. Impressions.

 We also get snatches of witty dialogue as pretentious young (and then not so young) men attempt to verbally fence with everyone around them (looking at you, especially Lord Henry Wotton). The women of the novel get involved too and sometimes I found myself struggling to keep up with their rapier flick, rapid fire mode of speech. I often also struggled with keeping up with Wilde himself: he writes with the run-on sentences your English teacher always warned you about. Here's an example from the first chapter and a prime example of Wilde forgetting his readers who may need to breathe every now and then.

"From the corner of the divan of Persian saddle-bags on which he was lying, smoking, as was his custom, innumerable cigarettes, Lord Henry Wotton could just catch the gleam of the honey-sweet and honey-coloured blossoms of a laburnum, whose tremulous branches seemed hardly able to bear the burden of a beauty so flamelike as theirs; and now and then the fantastic shadows of birds in flight flitted across the long tussore-silk curtains that were stretched in front of the huge window, producing a kind of momentary Japanese effect, and making him think of those pallid, jade-faced painters of Tokyo who, through the medium of an art that is necessarily immobile, seek to convey the sense of swiftness and motion."

Yeah. That's one sentence. I don't know about you but my English teacher would have wept.

But here, again I think it works. I am not a very careful reader at the best of times: I find reading difficult as I tend to get lines mixed up, I forget the beginning of sentences, I get words jumbled and I'm always doing that thing where I just insert stuff I think should be there. You'd think this book would have been a nightmare for me and in lots of ways it was. But the paragraph length sentences also helped contribute to the sense of whimsy, the sense of impressions that are fleeting, dancing from moment to moment. I'd forgotten what Wilde was saying at the beginning of the sentence, but that doesn’t matter because most of the time it doesn't matter to the plot. It was a description, usually beautiful, and even though it's now faded from memory that impression is still there.

The only time these long sentences did get a little tiresome was in chapter 11 when Wilde suddenly develops a fondness for lists and goes through all the beautiful things Dorian Grey collects from  jewels, to fabrics, to perfumes, to musical instruments. There are stories and descriptions of all these things and though beautiful, they were too much altogether and began to tire. Depending on how much credit you want to give Wilde, you could say this was demonstrating how all these beautiful things altogether began to become meaningless for Dorian Grey too. Alternatively you could say Wilde just got distracted and listed a bunch of stuff he thought was cool.

I've talked a lot about what I liked about this book but I do have a couple of things that I didn't like so much. They are kind of related: the characters and odd pacing. I could write for days on this but because this is supposed to be a review, not an analysis I'll try to stay brief. In terms of character, I enjoyed the early part of the novel where we see the contrast between the young Dorian Grey, the earnest painter Basil Hallward, and the cynical Lord Henry "Harry" Wotton. I enjoyed reading about all three men, even if I didn't always like them - especially Dorian. Their interactions were thought provoking both in the questions and theories they posited through their dialogue, and my own questions. Did Lord Henry Wotton really believe everything he said, or did he just enjoy the effect he created? Did Lord Henry truly corrupt or Dorian or was all that in him all along, and his narcissism and uncaring nature would have revealed itself anyway in time?

However, and this is where the pacing complaint comes in, we lose track of Basil Hallward as Dorian becomes uninterested in him, while Lord Henry features but flits and out. This makes sense as, as Dorian gets older, he appears to distance himself from the painter, while Lord Henry is still in his social circle. However because of the pacing we spend a lot of time with the three men early in the novel, then Dorian's life moves forward very quickly in jumps and almost the next time we see Basil it is for Dorian to murder him. It would be interesting to see Basil watching the fall of the young man he once idolised, seeing his denial and his attempts to pull Dorian back onto the right track. Instead this is all condensed into the scene that becomes his final.

This aside I thoroughly enjoyed the novel. The pacing I did feel as I read the novel - Jim came out of nowhere and disappeared very quickly as another example - but the additional depth to the characters was something I only really felt when I'd finished and looked back. Nonetheless the ending was perfect. You knew where the book was going, but the ending still managed to hit me. After Wilde's long, winding descriptions and meandering paragraphs the blunt brutality of the final paragraph and then sentence packed the perfect punch.

All in all, this book will definitely be going on my read again list.

The Picture of Dorian Grey: 5/5

[emotionaldepravity]

Rules

Basics:

- You can request up to 3 characters at a time. Please don’t ask for more. I can’t promise I’ll answer them.

-Unless specified or if it is a personal headcanon, I’ll try to keep the the reader gender neutral. 

-I do headcanons, rankings, maybe short scenarios, maybe prompts and maybe letter requests.

-If you request {character’s name} headcanons, I will just delete the request. Please at least be specific on the general topic i.e. relationship, platonic, with a sick reader, first time with s/o, anything that gives me a prompt, etc. The more specific the more likely I’ll do the request. It’s easier to get inspired that way.

- NSFW material (gore or sexual) can be requested since I’m over 18. However, if it makes me uncomfortable I won’t do it. Definitely no incest.

-I will write yandere.

-I will write poly requests as well.

-Angst is allowed. This includes topics like suicide/ self harm, but if the prompt is worded in a way that makes me uncomfortable then I might not fill it.

- Underage characters in relationship stuff is okay as long as its SFW and is under the assumption that the s/o (significant other) or self insert is the same age as the character. 

-I’m not so sure about character x character stuff, but I might do them if I feel comfortable with it. Character to character interactions are perfectly fine though.

-This blog is just something to help me get back to place where I feel like a person again. Criticism is fine, but please let it be constructive.

-If you have a question about anything, please ask! I’d love to see if I can clarify anything for you.

-Also feel free to talk to me! 

For a specific fandom here are my rules:

One Piece Specifics:

-I’ll write pretty much whatever minus incest.

-I can’t think of any character that I refuse to write for, but I will update this if I can think of some. Maybe Chopper, but I’m not going to fully say no.

-I am not currently up to date with one piece so just keep that in mind.

Fate Specifics:

-No sexual or suggestive content will be written for the Lilys.

-I have seen the Unlimited Blade Works route, Fate route, and Fate Zero.

-Any servants or master from above will be the easiest for me to write for, but I will be willing to write for other servants and masters depending on if I can get an impression from them from research/ FGO. If you aren’t sure whether or not I feel comfortable writing for them, please ask!

-I’m currently in Camelot in Fate Grand Order, and I saw like 4 episodes for Apocrypha if that helps anyone.

-I refuse to write for Jason, Jack the Ripper, and Blackbeard. Please don’t request them.

Fire Emblem Specifics:

- No sexual or suggestive content for character that look underage even if they are 1000X years old. It feels wrong to me.

- I’m not going to write for Lyn, Hans, Catria, Oboro, Veronica, Edelgard, Fjorm, and Cordelia. No exceptions.

-Characters that I might write for but it highly depends on the ask: Faye, Celica (normal and fallen), Tsubaki, Peri, and Leon.

-Let me also say that I will write for Villains, minus Hans, no problem even if others might not. Please request them. :3

-Games: I have played/familiar with Heroes, Blazing Sword, Sacred Stones, Awakening, Fates (all routes), and Shadows of Valentia. I’ll do the lords or villains from any game, but be aware that there is a chance that they will be based on their Heroes appearance if I’m unfamiliar with the character/ my research goes poorly. Blazing really should be treated like I haven’t played it, but I still have it here anyways. Hector and Eliwood will be easy to write for, but I’m not so sure about anyone else. Sorry.

-Again, ask just to be sure because I am willing to try almost anything.

Tokyo Afterschool Summoners Specifics:

-Basically, my headcanon is that they are at university instead of high school because of how they are treated in game.

-I’m not writing the middle school kids in anything sexual or suggestive obviously. 

-If I find out later on that there is a character that I am uncomfortable writing for I will add them to this section.

Transformers Specifics:

-I have seen: Armada, Animated, Prime, and Robots in Disguise (2015).

-I am currently watching/ reading: MTMTE (I’m like on Issue 30 something) and  Cyberverse (I’m still on like season 2).

-These above are the continuities I feel comfortable writing for at this point.

-If the character you want to request isn’t from these or you want a different continuity added then uwu convince me to watch or read it. 

-Only thing I might be nervous about are character x character requests, but, like the other fandoms, I’ll decide to take them on a case by case basis.

-If there is a specific AU you want to request, feel free to! If I don’t know much about them right now, I’d be happy to learn!

Dragon Ball

-I have seen DB, Z, Super (anime), and GT.

-I have NOT read the Super manga. Please don’t send spoilers for it in requests.

-Again character x character is not my strong suit, but I will still consider it.

-I don’t have any characters I am refusing to write for in general at this time.

-I won’t write nsfw for Pan, Marron, or Bra since even in GT none of them are adults. 

-I will write nsfw for Goten and main timeline Trunks as long as its with the understanding that they are from GT. For clarity, everyone that is an adult is also fair game. 

-If you are wanting a character like Trunks who has several canon appearances then please be specific on which one you mean. For example, if you are wanting Future Trunks, then say Future/ Mirai! Trunks and if you want Main timeline Trunks then use GT! or MT!. If you just say trunks I am going to pick the one I want to write for. This also applies to someone like Broly as I would write DBS Broly and DBZ Broly as different characters. 

-I am currently undecided for Cabba, Kale, Caulifla, and Kefla for nsfw content. I was under the assumption that they were underage, but I’m truly unsure at this point. I’m willing to listen to other people’s thoughts, but if it doesn’t make me uncomfortable, I’ll fill the request. 

[livingcorner]

How to Build a Wooden Planter Box

Download Article

Download Article

You're reading: How to Build a Wooden Planter Box

Want to exercise your green thumb, but don’t have the space? Maybe you have the space, but your soil is too harsh to be cultivated easily? A wooden planter box is a cheap, easy, and effective way to solve these problems! Planter boxes can be made any shape and size, and out of a variety of materials. You can learn how to build one of these planters quickly and with little damage to your wallet.

Sizing and Cutting the Wood

1

Decide how large (or small) you want your planter box to be. Your decision should be based on how many plants you want to have in each planter, as well as the size of the area where you will be putting your planter. For this article, we will build a smaller box that is about 4 feet by 2 feet (121.9 by 60.9cm).

2

Purchase your wood. Untreated wood or cedar will work well for this project as they are both easy to work with and can hold up against the natural elements your planter will be exposed to. For a small 4×2 ft (121.9×60.9 cm) planter, you can buy a 12-foot (365.76-cm) board, which you will cut down to form the sides of the planter. The width should be at least 10 inches (24 cm).You will also need a piece that will act as the bottom or floor of the planter if your planter is going to be used on a deck or similar surface. If the box will be over soil, you can place a layer of flattened cardboard boxes on the bottom to act as a weed barrier.[1]

Pressure-treated lumber contains chemicals that will kill plants in the box and can things like arsenic to your food if you are growing vegetables. A safe alternative is using ACQ-treated wood, a process which does not use any toxic chemicals.[2]

3

Cut the wood down to the right sizes. Use a measuring tape to measure out each side. Mark the places where you will make your cut with a pen or pencil. Use an electric saw or standard hand saw to cut the pieces to size (two 2 foot boards and two 4 foot boards), taking care to make the cuts as straight as possible.[3]

If you do not have a saw of any kind, or prefer to not make the cuts yourself, you can ask the workers where you purchased your wood to cut it down to the measurements you need. You may need to pay a small fee, but some lumber and hardware stores will cut your planks down to size for free.

Attaching the Boards

1

Create pilot holes in two of the boards. Pilot holes are holes drilled into the wood to ensure that the wood won’t splinter when you insert the screws into it. You only need to do this on the two end boards (the shorter boards). You should make three pilot holes, 3/4 inch (1.91 cm) from the end edge of the board. The middle hole should be centered in the middle of the width of the board.

2

Fasten the boards using galvanized screws. Galvanized screws are better for outdoor planters because the galvanized metal can stand up to the elements and will not rust. Line the boards up so that the boards with the pilot holes are positioned on the outside corners. Use a drill and drill bit to make sure that each screw goes through each hole and into the adjoining board.[4]

You can also use a screwdriver, rather than a drill and drill bit.

3

4

Drill drainage holes in the bottom of the box. Turn your now fully-formed box over and use your drill to create four or five drainage holes in the bottom of the box. These holes are very important, as most plants will develop diseases if they get ‘soggy feet’, meaning that their roots sit in very wet soil for too long.

Read more: How to create a low maintenance garden

If you have constructed a much larger planter box, you should consider adding a few more drainage holes.

Again, if your planter will be over soil, this is not necessary. Simply use flattened cardboard as the bottom of your box.

Adding the Finishing Touches

1

Place a layer of nylon or vinyl screen inside the planter. Doing this will protect the wood of your planter. Cut the screen so that it is the same size as the board you used for the bottom of the planter. Lay it in the bottom of the planter and fix in place with some small nails. Make sure that you remember to drill drainage holes in the screen that line up with the drainage holes in the bottom board if your box has a bottom.[6]

2

Sand any rough edges. Doing this will give your box a nice finished look, but it is not absolutely necessary to do. Take a sander or a piece of sandpaper and run it along the edges and corners of the box. Run it along the sides of the boards to vanquish any potential splinters.[7]

3

Paint, prime, or stain the outside of your planter. Pick out some paint that matches your backyard or home’s decor, or stain your planter to really bring out the wood’s colors. You can also choose to leave your wood alone, as cedar is a beautiful wood all by itself.

Do not treat the inside of your planter, as this may contaminate the soil and your plants. Instead, use a plastic liner (with holes) to protect the wood.

4

Add a thin layer of gravel, then add the compost or potting soil. The gravel will help to drain the planter box. The type of soil or compost you use will depend on the types of plants or flowers you intend to add to your planter box.[8]

5

Add your flowers, plants, or whatever seeds you plan to cultivate. Don’t forget to water! For ideas on types of flowers and plants you can add to a planter box, click here.

6

Enjoy your new planter box!

Community Q&A

Add New Question

Question

What do I make the bottom of the box out of?

Andrew Carberry has been working in food systems since 2008. He has a Masters in Public Health Nutrition and Public Health Planning and Administration from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.

Food Systems Expert

Expert Answer

Question

How long should the piece of wood be?

Andrew Carberry has been working in food systems since 2008. He has a Masters in Public Health Nutrition and Public Health Planning and Administration from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.

Food Systems Expert

Expert Answer

Question

Can I set the planter box on rocks?

There is no reason why not. I am building 4 planter boxes to put in an area between fences and the whole area is rocky. I am not putting bottoms on them because once they are filled with dirt, the rocks should provide good drainage.

Question

Where do I buy the vinyl screen?

You can purchase screen at Home Depot, Lowe’s, Ace Hardware, etc. I prefer fiberglass screening, it seems to last longer, and I line my planters with landscape fabric.

Question

Can the box be placed on grass or soil?

Yes, but consider adding ‘feet’ to elevate the box off the grass or soil, or it will rot.

Read more: Your Complete Guide to Growing a Successful Vegetable Garden

Question

How deep should it be?

If you use 12-inch-wide boards (1″ x 12″ x 8 ft.), the planter box will be 1 ft. deep by default.

Question

What size of galvanized screws should be used for this planter?

Many sizes would work depending on the wood that you use. When working outside, deck screws are a great choice, probably 2 inch deck screws.

Question

What sort of wood should I use to build my planter box?

Cedar, redwood, and pressure-treated woods are all great choices. Cedar and redwood are both naturally resistant to insects and weathering. Pressure-treated wood uses chemicals to make it insect and weather resistant, so it may not be great for areas with children or pets. Cedar and redwood are safe for children and pets because they are natural, but they can also be more expensive than pressure-treated wood.

Question

How many drain holes do I need for a 6′ x 2′ planter box 3′ with legs?

Drill holes every 6 inches for drainage, or use the cut end (boxed end) of the cedar to place them randomly.

Question

How do I put legs on a planter box?

3 X 3 boards are the best. You can even attach wheels to the bottom of them for mobility. But, when raising your planter off the ground, you will need to add thin strips of wood to the inside bottom of the box for support. The corners of the bottom board will have to be cut to accommodate the 3×3 legs. If you don’t want the legs to be visible from the dirt surface, don’t bring them up to then top of your box.

Show more answers

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Video .

By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube.

Tips

You can take these plans and scale them down for a window box.

Warnings

As always, when working with tools, don’t forget to use the necessary eye and hand protection.

Things You’ll Need

Four lengths of wood. We used 2″x9″ (two 4′ lengths two 2′ lengths)

Another board cut to the size of the bottom

Drill or screwdriver and galvanized screws

Piece of nylon or vinyl screen

Small nails and a hammer

Planting soil

Plants or seeds

About This Article

Article SummaryX

To build a wooden planter box, start by cutting some wooden planks so you have 2 that are 2 feet long and 2 that are 4 feet long. Then, use a drill and galvanized screws to attach the ends of the planks so they form a long rectangular box. Next, cut out a wooden board for the bottom of the box and drill a few holes through it for drainage. Finally, secure the board to the bottom of the box with the drill and some more galvanized screws. To learn how to add the finishing touches to your wooden planter box, scroll down!

Did this summary help you?

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 619,889 times.

Reader Success Stories

“I want to thank you because I couldn’t find any idea for my FFA banquet. I’m an 8th grader and I’m assistant…” more

Did this article help you?

Source: https://livingcorner.com.au Category: Garden

source https://livingcorner.com.au/how-to-build-a-wooden-planter-box/

[michaelandy101-blog]

eight Specialists Weigh in on the Previous, Current, and Future Evolution of Hyperlink Constructing

New Post has been published on http://tiptopreview.com/8-experts-weigh-in-on-the-past-present-and-future-evolution-of-link-building/

eight Specialists Weigh in on the Previous, Current, and Future Evolution of Hyperlink Constructing

For over 20 years, SEOs and content material entrepreneurs have constructed hyperlinks throughout the net to get their content material in entrance of their target market.

As Google grows smarter, so do these link-building SEOs – gone are the times of spammy hyperlink schemes and black hat web optimization. Enter fashionable hyperlink builders who’re centered on inserting top quality, related hyperlinks on websites assured to drive an important metrics: conversions and income.

However how far have we actually come, and are there any classes we will take from the previous to tell the place we go from right here? We requested eight hyperlink constructing specialists their ideas on this very query, in addition to what our readers can do to remain forward of the hyperlink constructing curve!

For extra hyperlink constructing suggestions, be sure you try our latest replace to The Newbie’s Information to Hyperlink Constructing:

Learn the Information!

How essential are hyperlinks, actually?

Traditionally, hyperlinks have been a sure-fire method to construct authority and visibility for what you are promoting. Nevertheless, as Google begins to concentrate on different ways equivalent to consumer expertise, will that change how hyperlinks issue into search visibility?

Russ Jones, Search Marketing consultant at Moz, says that the worth of a well-placed hyperlink isn’t going wherever: “Google will find more and more ways to extract value from the link graph and click stream data. The link remains king.”

Britney Muller provides that “If Google disappeared tomorrow, would you still get qualified traffic to your website (via your link profile)? That’s exactly how I believe we should be thinking about link building today.”

Backlinko founder, Brian Dean, has a special perspective:

“I think links will be less important as time goes on,” he says, however agrees that they’re going to at all times be a significant a part of the algorithm. “Links are actually a really good signal! Especially today with Google more focused on E-A-T, links are a great way to size up whether a site is credible or not. Without links, they’d have no real way of knowing if the content on a page is legit.”

Has the definition of a “high quality link” modified?

The brief reply is sure, and (shock!) it depends upon your objectives.

Within the early days, SEOs examined Google with sketchy hyperlink schemes. These low high quality hyperlinks provided a fast repair of hyperlink juice, and a lift in rankings. In the present day, hyperlink builders have ditched the black hat ways in favor of a extra related and consumer-focused strategy, and high quality over amount.

Carrie Rose, CEO at Rise at Seven, has this to say: “The definition of a high-quality link has massively changed over the years. Relevancy is a huge topic online right now — but what does a relevant link actually mean? Ultimately, we track that based on is it a link that is driving traffic to your website, of whom are your audience? Too many link building strategies focus too much on ‘link juice’ and SEO metrics such as DA — but care less about link engagement metrics. SEOs, link builders, and digital PRs should care more about understanding where their audience is, high traffic websites, and gaining links from there instead.”

Russ Jones agrees: “I believe that Google has dramatically increased the degree to which the relevancy of a link matters,” he says, including, “Google has placed greater influence on links that come from topical authorities as they combat issues like fake news and link spam. If this is the case, it means that link builders need to narrow their focus and fight for links from industry peers.”

As relevancy turns into extra essential, our specialists encourage different hyperlink builders to concentrate on the viewers slightly than the outlet.

Tamara Sykes, Public Relations Specialist at Postali, believes that “It’s obviously great to get a backlink in a recognizable outlet like the Wall Street Journal. However, if your audience isn’t there, it only serves half of its purpose. You’ll get a ‘vote’ from a high DA site to prove that yours is more trustworthy, but it may generate little to no traffic because the audience isn’t as invested in what content you have to offer.”

Domenica D’Ottavio, Advertising and marketing Supervisor at Fractl, prefers to diversify her hyperlink portfolios, noting that prime high quality hyperlinks can imply various things in several campaigns.

“The definition of a high-quality link can change depending on your goals,” she says. “Not all links are created equally for every business. In my opinion, the ideal portfolio has a 1) high volume of 2) relevant and 3) high-quality backlinks. If you’re a business in the personal finance space, for example, you might want a mix of links from sites like The Motley Fool, CNN Money, and smaller finance blogs like The Penny Hoarder, Budgets are Sexy, or I Will Teach You To Be Rich.”

Lastly, as with most issues in marketing and web optimization, Andy Crestodina of OrbitMedia reminds us that there are additionally a half dozen different elements to think about together with DA, comply with vs. nofollow, outgoing hyperlinks and far more! So be sure you take these elements into consideration as you develop your hyperlink constructing technique.

Image Source

The function of hyperlink constructing in web optimization is stronger than ever

Growing top quality content material and distributing that content material to revered websites in your goal market could be a particularly scalable and cost-effective method to construct and preserve authority in your area of interest. So, it’s not stunning that hyperlink constructing and digital PR is quickly changing into a core technique for a lot of manufacturers.

Carrie Rose highlights the truth that hyperlink constructing and digital PR industries have grown quickly:

“The responsibility to create good quality content and improve trust to a site no longer purely sits within SEO. Having a good link building strategy which is performing well can improve trust, authority, and therefore rankings for a site. High quality links and high traffic can also increase traffic in the masses… It also has a huge impact on branded search (the holy grail).”

Brian Dean agrees, saying “Content and links have always had significant overlap (after all, people generally link to a page based on the content on that page). But the tie between the two is stronger than ever. That’s because many other tried-and-true link building strategies (like large-scale guest posting) no longer work. Which means your link building efforts largely rely on the content that you’re putting out.”

Surena Chande believes that, general, the standard of hyperlink constructing campaigns has improved since Google’s E-A-T replace: “We’re producing more topic-relevant campaigns for our clients rather than thinking solely about ideas that would land coverage,” she says, including that SEOs and hyperlink builders are actually working collectively to “reevaluate their concepts and ensure they are true to a brand.”

Getting buy-in is simpler — in case you concentrate on the metrics that matter

Due to the additional visibility lately, our specialists agree that it’s simpler than ever to get the buy-in from higher-ups. “I don’t need to tell an executive that a link is like a vote. They know that now,” says Russ Jones. “I don’t have to say ‘80% of purchases online begin with a search’. They know that now, too.”

“Link building has a way of showing direct results for executives and stakeholders and therefore becomes easier to get the buy-in,” Carrie Rose says. “Traditional PR, creative, or offline marketing strategies are receiving less and less budget and attention because of its inability to prove ROI and we see that budget reallocated to link building and digital PR efforts.”

Andy Crestodina agrees: “Just show an executive the Moz Link Explorer ‘Compare Link Profiles’ report and they’ll get excited …or upset. Once a stakeholder sees the data, they usually want to take action. The key is to guide the ideas away from the spammy actions and toward high-quality content marketing and influencer outreach.”

With much less inner training and campaigning on the government stage, entrepreneurs are actually confronted with more durable questions round how their particular methods influence ROI. To take action, our specialists suggest maintaining issues easy and taking it sluggish.

“It’s important to explain that Domain Authority moves very slowly. It takes patience,” Andy says, including, “it’s a proxy metric for PageRank. It’s not Google. Focus on the actions, not the reports.”

When you want some assist breaking down metrics, try Andy’s Whiteboard Friday:

Russ Jones breaks issues down even additional: “Report simple campaign statistics such as: ‘referring domains and referring traffic are increasing’. Coupled with a generic metric like DA or PA, this gives stakeholders the most important answers about the quality of the link building campaign. Second, we report the increased traffic and rankings relative to competitors based on the work. It is important, though, to provide context wherever possible. If a competitor has been out-spending you and acquiring more links because of it, we shouldn’t let that go unreported.”

Tamara Sykes finds that it’s useful to supply some background on websites that hyperlink to her content material. “I go as far as to share what that website’s purpose is, who its audience is and the website’s SEO stats,” she says. “This helps me paint a picture of why this link is relevant to a brand, rather than sharing a number that only shows ‘Hey, we got 12 backlinks’.”

The place ought to hyperlink builders focus?

Google is getting higher and higher at recognizing top quality, related hyperlinks. “They’re super good at identifying links that don’t fit with a natural pattern. And it’s not just obvious black hat spam,” Brian Dean says. “Google can also filter out many grey hat approaches (like mass guest posting), which basically only leaves a handful of link building approaches: digital PR, targeted outreach, and content designed to get links.”

So in relation to hyperlink constructing technique, the place ought to hyperlink builders and digital PRs focus their efforts?

Get artistic

Take a look at out new content material mediums to face out from the pack!

Carrie Rose notes that, though we’re seeing extra automation in marketing, “Robots can’t manufacture creativity. That’s where the best links come from — where content is more creative than their competitors and brands are getting links others can’t replicate.”

Andy Crestodina recommends creating new instruments and authentic analysis that options bite-size, shareable nuggets equivalent to stats, graphs, and infographics. “These are 100-times more link-worthy than anything else on your domain,” he says.

Construct relationships

Because the market turns into extra saturated, it will likely be particularly essential for hyperlink builders and digital PRs to deepen relationships with revered publishers and authors of their trade. However you don’t have to overthink it.

Andy believes that slightly personalization goes a great distance: “Link building has a bad reputation for a good reason: spam. Spammers send cold emails to website owners, clogging our inboxes with the same messages.”

However how do you construct these connections within the first place?

Heat up the dialog by partaking with that creator or editor on social media! Domenica D’Ottavia makes use of Twitter to attach. “Twitter is an excellent tool for building those relationships with journalists,” she says. “Attain out to them, like their stuff, reply and retweet, present them you are an actual particular person… Once you lastly outreach them along with your hyperlink constructing undertaking, they will acknowledge your identify out of your interactions on Twitter and might be more likely to reply positively to your PR pitch.”

Others agree that the ROI of mass outreach continues to say no, remembering the times of in-person hyperlink constructing. “Believe it or not, I used to CALL people, introduce myself, explain how interesting I thought their ‘X’ business was,” says Britney Muller. “I’d ask some questions and then weave in a thoughtful proposition of us linking to each other’s websites.”

“People are becoming numb to any non-targeted outreach,” Brian Dean provides. “If you are good at personalization, there could still be a chance of securing links but the bar of what qualifies as ‘personalized’ is higher than ever. Now you almost need to mention their dog’s name to get a response.” (Observe to all of the hyperlink builders on the market: my canine’s identify is Ginger.)

Study extra about nice outreach from Britney’s Whiteboard Friday on the topic! 

Faucet into influencer networks

Influencer marketing is a rising area and, no, it isn’t only for shopper manufacturers and Instagram. Leveraging specialists to raise your content material can seize the eye of your goal publishers and viewers.

Surena Chande says that “utilizing expert commentary is one of the strongest and most overlooked techniques in link building. If you have clients who are experts in their field or have access to the CEO, you can utilize them to build links with minimal effort for both you and your client.”

“Link building is influencer marketing,” says Andy Crestodina. “You’re pitching an influencer (usually blogger or editor) with a request, usually some kind of collaboration. When you combine influencer marketing with original research, you have the ingredients in place. Your content supports their content. Links begin to appear spontaneously. You’re attracting them. Do it right and high DA sites will link to you every few days. Magic.”

Image Source

Capitalize on trending matters

In a information cycle that’s consistently altering, sizzling matters can rise and fall within the blink of a watch. However when you’ve got your timing proper, you may trip the pattern wave to safe additional eyeballs from editors and readers.

“I believe that the pandemic, particularly the early stages in 2020, taught the industry a very harsh lesson in the form of reactive outreach and campaigns forming one of the best methods of outreach,” Surena Chande says. “I was so used to conceiving campaign ideas for large-scale interactive pieces, and the unpredictability of the situation taught us that we had to quickly change our approach to link building.”

“Jumping on a trending topic and creating a project or link building campaign around something that’s already earned the attention of journalists” says Domenica D’Ottavio, however notes to proceed with warning. “While newsjacking is a clever way to earn a ton of links very fast, it’s also pretty risky. You have to work around the clock to get your idea created before the topic has lost relevance, and it might flop if you’re too late to respond, wasting your investment.”

Our specialists additionally advise to remain on prime of the information throughout the net, learn articles from quite a lot of publications weekly, examine what journalists are asking for once they put out #journorequests, and analyze what angles they tackle matters as they go viral. This may guarantee that you’re effectively positioned when it comes time to pitch your content material.

Conclusion

On the finish of the day, hyperlink constructing has undergone some main modifications within the final 15 years (doubtless for the higher!), however what’s previous is new, and most of the identical guidelines proceed to use:

Related content material will at all times carry out as long as you goal the correct viewers

Hyperlinks stay a significant a part of how Google decided the experience, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness of a website.

Creativity and timeliness in hyperlink constructing might be rewarded

Huge thanks to our knowledgeable contributors:

Andy Crestodina

Britney Muller

Brian Dean

Carrie Rose

Domenica D’Ottavio

Russ Jones

Surena Chande

Tamara Sykes

Source link