#race track riot

[collecting--stardust]

Just found out about liberty media acquiring motogp and it felt like my worst nightmare came true

[makingcontact]

An Interview with Summer Intern Alex Corey

This was an exciting and eventful summer at Making Contact, especially as we had Alex Corey join us as our summer intern! Like the journalists we are, we had to interview him about his time at Making Contact. Be sure to check out his answers below! 1.Tell us about your journalism background. How’d you get into it and why? Well in the past I’ve done a wide variety of reporting, from in-depth…

[piastrixpole]

vroom vroom ~ oscar piastri & alex albon

pairing: oscar piastri x alex albon x dj!reader

genre: smau

faceclaim: charli xcx

F1updates just posted!

liked by user35, user29 and 13,478 others

DJ Y/N L/N spotted in the paddock for the third race weekend in a row 👀 Rumours are swirling about why she’s here, with some fans speculating she’s dating someone on the grid. Thoughts?

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user1: Why is she even there? Bet she doesn’t even know what DRS is🙄

user2: Not another celeb using F1 for clout…💀

user3: She’s been at three races in a row? That’s suspicious. Who’s she with?! 👀

->user12: She was a guest of Ferrari, dk about this time

user4: I swear if she’s dating one of the drivers… girl, leave😒

->user14: If it's Lando I'm gonna riot

user5: Y/N L/N as an F1 wag is the most random thing I’ve heard all year 🤔

user6: Can’t even imagine her fitting into the F1 world. This feels so out of place

user16: have you ever heard her music

user7: She probably thinks the McLaren is just a sports car and not a team😬

->user17: No, because that’s EXACTLY the vibe she gives 😂

user8: Honestly, it’s kinda refreshing. Better than another influencer or model wag. At least she has a real career

->user18: A real career? Be for real, mate. She’s a DJ

yourusername posted a story!

[pic 1: thanks for the invite @mclaren ] [pic2: 🧡]

messages!

yourusername just posted!

liked by landonorris, oscarpiastri, alexalbon, carlossainz and 547,390 others

Speedin like Piastri just to crash your party

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user22: yn hosting the afterparty is sooo iconic

user37: Imagine being cool enough to hang out with THE YN LN😭

user24: Wait, who are the guys in the last pic?👀

->user30: I swear that’s Alex Albon in the back?? Or am I losing it?

->user4: No, you’re right, that’s definitely him. Who’s the guy next to him though??

user15: Not Alex, Lando and Oscar showing up to her set. This feels surreal

-> user10: Oscar at a club? My day is made. 😂

-> user8: Honestly, the plot twist of the year

yourbsf: hottieee

->yourusername: wish you were there

oscarpiastri: great set

->yourusername: happy to have the winner's seal of approval

landonorris: we need to do a set together soon

->yourusername: win again and you have a deal norris

twitter!

alexalbon just posted!

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la dolce vita

georgerussell: Thirst trap era? Proud of you mate -> alex_albon: You taught me well

landonorris: alex.jpg when

oscarpiastri: nice pics mate

user39: Alex posting thirst traps to distract from the tea is so iconic

-> user51: It’s working because I forgot the tea immediately

user45: Oscar took these pics, didn’t he? You can’t convince me otherwise

-> user29: It’s giving boyfriend energy

yourusername posted a story!

[pic 1: favourite place]

ynlnupdates just posted!

williamsracing just posted!

liked by alexalbon, logansargeant, landonorris and 78,903 others

After a well deserved summer break our boys get back on track and we're joined by a special guest Yn Ln

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alex_albon: Who invited her?

-> yourusername: Who invited you?

-> williamsracing: Play nice albono

logansargeant: So good to meet you!

->yourusername: you too logie💙

user89: “Special guest” lmao as if she hasn’t been spotted at every other paddock recently🙄

user45: DJ, paddock favourite, and apparently besties with half the grid. What CAN’T she do?

user82: Special guest, huh? She’s been around the paddock more than some reserve drivers. Let’s be real

user99: How tf did Williams bag Yn💀

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someone's getting head tonight

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oscarpiastri: Can’t wait for our little celebration later 🧡

alexalbon: I’m not the only one 👀

user6: Did she just drop that bomb???

user8: Well, we can’t say she’s not direct

user3: I don’t even know what to say anymore. This is wild

user14: The Alex/Oscar/Yn Throuple rumours being confirmed was not on my bingo card 😅

user2: Did they just admit it?? I need a moment

user13: I know their PR teams are freaking out rn

->yourusername: let them my man dragged that shitbox into p3 AND got to see my boys drench each other in champagne🤭

[crosshairs-dumb-pimp-gf]

“All that and you still want me faster?”

Tech X F!Reader One Shot

Summary:

Some might say you have a thing for racers and this one has certainly caught your attention. You wonder if you can convince him to get down and dirty in the racing garages but it might turn out that he has a few persuasions of his own.

WC: 3234 - Read on Ao3

Content Warning: SMUT, PiV, Oral (m & f receiving) Condoms, Unprotected Sex, Tech has a breeding kink, Dom Tech, Sex in a small and uncomfortable place, Dangerous sex.

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AN: It does not normally take me this long to finish one of these but dang I've been sleepy lately.

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Your heart thumped hard against your ribcage, your eyes glued to the wide, glowing holo screens bolted over the raceway. The riot pod took the wrong tunnel, the broken one all the other ones had avoided. Your thighs squeezed together as the pilot increased his speed, a daring breakneck pace. 

You already knew you wanted him.

A rampant curiosity had been peaked when the human racer was presented at the line up. A stern but cocky salute to the projection droids. You were sure he was dead meat in comparison to the droids and species more suited to the game… but he was good. Possibly the best you'd ever seen. 

A vicious explosion on the track and he crossed the finish line, winning the race and sealing the deal in your mind. As you watched the man emerge from his pod victorious your thoughts echoed one desperate, needy plea. 

You wanted him. 

In motion already, you took the stairs fast; Trying to look inconspicuous as you slipped through service doors to the racer garages. A thin alley and thinner hope was guiding you to the bright thorofare of the dirt track. Hanger doors stood wide along the sides of the raceway. You glanced into them as you passed, searching. He had to be here, he couldn't have left already…

You stopped in your tracks, rocking back as a large man lumbered from the hanger in front of you. Oddly enough he had a child in tow, a little blonde girl giddy with excitement. 

“Hurry up then! We need to go find Cid!”

The younling called over her shoulder. 

“All that and you still want me faster?”

A lilting timber of a voice drifted out the door and it stirred something in you. You hadn't heard the racer speak, but something primal in you knew you had found him. 

“Oop, watch yerself!”

The hulk of a man gruffed out jovially as he pulled the girl from her collision course with you. The pair pushed past, continuing a banter in a familial back and forth as they went. You watched them till you were sure they wouldn't turn back before leaning around door frame to take a look inside. 

A flutter went through you when you spotted the white armor plates leaning into the riot pod. A spotlight soaked the scene in a warm beam thick with dust moats in the suddenly quiet garage. Well, almost quiet. There were quiet murmurings making their way to you as the man talked to himself under his breath. 

You came within an arm's reach of the hunched figure before clearing your throat, announcing your presence. 

He shot upright, banging his head on the lifted pod door. 

“Oh! Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you,”

He rubbed a gloved hand over the back of his head, tousling his short strands absently while he scanned over you with amber lenses. 

“Can I help you?”

“I hope so,”

Your heart started to thump again as his expression became puzzled. 

“Can you… show me the pod?”

You raised an eyebrow, inclining your head to the vehicle open on the lift. 

“I'm not sure-...”

He trailed off, scanning over your posture again.

You stood, leaning suggestively with your chest pushed forward. The tight, low cut gave him a good view of your cleavage where it was framed by the bright colored fur ruff of your cropped jacket. The sturdy skirt wrapped about your hips was short, and you caught the subtle gulp as his eyes flicked down to your thighs and the flimsy tops of the netted stockings rising from your heeled boots. He met your eyes again,

“You… want to see the pod?”

“And maybe more Mr…?”

He blinked, chuffing slightly,

“No mister, just… Tech,”

You knew that, but it was more polite to let someone introduce themselves. At least you thought so as you returned in kind. 

“So, how ‘bout it Tech? What makes this pod so… fast?”

Slowly, as if other thoughts where taking priority, he turned back to the pod. 

“This model is custom, see the fuel canisters feeding the thrusters directly? They're separate from the crystals that provide the rest of the electronics with power… it's inspired really,”

It was an interesting design, and you had seen quite a few of these machines. You casually leaned in to look, bumping the side of your breast against his arm. 

“What did you drop out there?”

“Ah, those were the shields,”

“You got rid of the shields?”

“I didn't need them,”

“Kind of reckless don't you think?”

“It was calculated, barely a risk,”

“Too bad, here I was hoping you might be a little… reckless,”

With your last remark you turned more fully towards him and leaned into his side, a soft but suggestive smile playing on your lips. 

“You're not very subtle are you?”

“It doesn't suit me to be subtle,”

You swear a small twitch quirked the corner of his mouth as he looked down at you.

“Show me the cockpit?”

“What do you want to see?”

“I want to see you behind the wheel…”

He raised an eyebrow, pausing briefly before he lifted himself into the seat with a surprisingly fluid motion. You stepped up on the bumper, took a deep breath, and slipped into his lap. You felt him stiffen momentarily, but it passed. As you relaxed against him he reflected your ease, settling you into the tight space. 

He started pointing out switches on the dash, explaining what they did, pressing his chest plate against your back as he leaned forward to reach. His breath played over the bare skin of your neck forcing you to stifle a shiver. 

“Something wrong?”

Tech's voice was low, almost a purr in your ear.

Enough show and tell. 

You slid your hands down the plastiod on his thighs, finding your way behind your hips to reach for his groin. 

“Only thing wrong is your clothes are still on,”

His breath hissed between his teeth as your hands found what they were looking for, massaging the half hard shaft through the thin pants he wore. 

“Right to it then…”

You let out a small squeak as he suddenly lifted you, using a surprising display of strength and dexterity to turn you to straddle him. His arms wrapped around your back as he pulled you into him. You leaned in to find his mouth, his thin lips pressing back roughly before he pulled back.

“Why do you want this?”

“Does it matter?”

“I like to be sure,”

“I… I saw you race,”

You stumbled over yourself as a gloved hand pawed at your top, finding the hardened pebble of your nipple beneath the cloth and giving it a sharp pinch. 

“You like racers?”

“Not just any racers…”

“Is that so?”

He pinched you again, putting a slight twist into the motion to make a jolt of heat shoot through you. 

“You're good,”

You panted, suddenly desperate,

“I've never seen someone race like you,”

“Of course you haven't.”

No chance to respond, he pulled you back to him sucking your bottom lip between his teeth. Your top was tugged down, the thin shift of the bralette underneath shifted aside to expose your breasts, still pushed up by the bunched fabric. He released your mouth, your lip sore and slightly swollen from his teeth as he slid lower beneath you, latching to one of your breasts while the other was fondled by those demanding, gloves fingers. 

You whimpered from the attention, the man beneath you more predatory than you expected but you couldn't complain. The way he suddenly shifted control to himself had made your skin grow hot, your breath heavy and a slick arousal start to pool between your thighs. 

He switched breasts, sucking the opposite nipple, evening out the sensation. There was a humm in his throat as he helped himself, bucking his hips under you so that you could feel how hard he had gotten. Your eyes fluttered at the prospect of having him. 

Your breast left his mouth with a pop as he took hold of your hair, pulling you to him to whisper in your ear. 

“On your knees.”

Your thighs trembled as you obliged, sliding to the small compartment in front of the seat as he fumbled with the faciners beneath his belt. There wasn't much room between the steering and the back of your head, you stayed leaning forward on his thighs as he withdrew his engorged member. It pressed to your cheek before you could readjust wrapping your lips around the swollen ridge of the tip. 

He guided your head to bob down on him with his fist gripping your hair tight. Tech relaxed in the seat, melting back with a sigh as he enjoyed your mouth sliding up and down his shaft. 

“More tongue, meshla,”

You flicked the tip of your tongue against his head, pressing it against the vein running the underside of his shaft as you sucked his cock. He moaned, a sweet, vulnerable sound that came with an accompanied thrust against the soft palate at the back of your throat. You gagged slightly and he cocked an eyebrow down at you, gauging your limits with another testing thrust. Tears picked your eyes and he cooed a soft praise as he bucked his hips again, grinding into the back of your throat before releasing you to gasp and gulp some air. 

“Good girl, now stand up… and lift your skirt.”

You bristled a moment, not usually one to like being told what to do, but his tone was light, coaxing, and you wanted this. 

You stood awkwardly, the dash controls forcing you to lean slightly forward as you pulled the tight skirt up over your thighs. 

“Pull your panties aside, let me see how wet you are,”

Another shudder went through you and you slid your fingers into the silky material of your thong, sliding the fabric aside to expose yourself to him. He leaned in, sliding a glove off in the process, you felt a cold brush of air as he inhaled your scent. A flush took your cheeks as he inspected you in a perverse fashion, breathing you in, tracing his fingers through your folds to gather the drip of your arousal. He eyed the glistening strand as it stretched, clear and elastic between his fingers before licking it off. 

“Perfect timing,”

The utterance was low and more to himself than anything. You noticed his eyes were on you, hooded and obscured by the amber goggles- slightly fogged from the heat of your sex. He was watching you intently as he leaned in closer, flicking the tip of his tongue against your clit. 

Your knees buckled at the sudden, intense stimulation. He didn't waste any energy or movement, pulling the hood of your labia away from the small bud of nerves and alternating between tongue and teeth on the pleasure button. You cursed, a strangled and breathy cry as he sucked you hard between his lips, drawing more blood to the organ and forcing you to a sensitive edge. 

Then he stopped. 

You bucked forward desperately, whimpering as he pulled away. He chuckled, running his thumb over your slit and testing the slickness of your cunt. 

“I think you're sufficiently aroused to take me,”

You were shaking with need, wanting desperately to come. Your hand fumbled with the tiny package in your coat pocket. 

Tech made an indiscernible noise as he watched you open the condom, but didn't protest when you leaned forward and rolled the rubber over his shaft. 

His hands were on you again, roughly turning you about in a tight circle and pulling you into his lap. He moaned softly against your shoulder as you guided his shaft to your entrance, letting him penetrate you. 

Firm hands squeezed your ass, wrapping around your hips to rock you back and forth on his cock. Slowly, his breath puffing heavily against the back of your neck. Your thighs quivered, your quim sensitive from his probing tongue and you were already close to being undone. 

“Why do you like racers?”

It was panted against your neck,

“What?”

Your mind was fuzzy, unfocused, he tried again,

“Why- do you- like kriffing- racers?”

His words were sporadic, the sentence choked out between rough grunts and hard thrusts. 

“I… I don't.. know,”

“I do.”

Another hard thrust. 

“You find them superior, don't you?”

Thrust,

“I guess?”

“You do.”

Thrust. 

Your head lolled back to rest on his pauldron. 

“Okay. I do, I think they're superior,”

Thrust. 

“And me? What do you think of me?”

“You were the best,”

There was no hesitation this time and his hips bucked harder at that, a satisfied groan against your neck. 

“What else? What else do you like?”

“I- ah, I like the speed,”

He had started bouncing you slightly faster. 

“Of course you do.”

He pulled you tight to him, an arm wrapped around your waist like a belt. 

“In that case, let's go for a test drive.”

He smacked his other hand against a latch pin and the casing snapped shut. 

“What?!”

But he had already took hold of the thruster, the pod lurching from the platform. It blasted a sharp whine as he turned it one handed onto the breezeway. 

Tech ground his hips against you and you pressed back against him, a thrill of terror shooting through you as the vehicle darted between other pods testing their engines. 

The races were over, only a few pilots were left doing trial runs. He steered you deftly in between them, gaining speed as you entered the track proper. He bucked his hips, taking the steering in both hands; the force of the speed now pinning you against him. 

“Tech?!”

You were alarmed, suddenly up close and personal with the blur of sponsored ads flashing along the tubed raceway. 

“I got you, move your hips,”

He pushed the thrusters forward and the pod lurched, bouncing you and driving him deeper inside you. You were picking up even more speed, a tingle lighting through your brain to join the ecstasy throbbing through you. 

“I dropped the shields to go faster, it's all about the momentum,”

You groaned as you rode him, pinned to him and helpless. Trying to ignore the breakneck speed as you hurtled ahead. 

“You'll see why,”

He turned the steering sharply, and you registered the flash of red as you entered the broken tunnel. Yelping out,

“You're insane! What do you-”

“I am not. I'm calculated.”

He locked the steering, setting the cruise to Max as he took hold of your hips again, rutting into you hard. The path opened up and you caught an eyeful of the pitched drop. 

“Tech!”

“You feel that? The adrenaline, the endorphins- they make you feel alive,”

He was planting kisses against your neck and your mind was slipping, your heart pounding with fear and unbridled lust. 

“You wanted this, the speed, the danger, you wanted to know what it felt like,”

He was right, but all you could do was moan helplessly. He reached out and adjusted the steering slightly, never slowing his pace as he ravaged you,

“Do you want everything, meshla? Do you want to feel real force?”

You were on the edge, lost in the ecstasy of him,

“Maker, yes,”

He leaned in, whispering into your ear as he slowed your hips to a measured, controlled grind. 

“Then take off the condom,”

You froze, he said nothing more, keeping the pace slow as you decided what to do. 

After a moment, and as the darkness of the tunnel once again closed around you, you reached between your legs, pulled him from you, and tugged off the rubber. It fell to the floor with a soft ‘plap’ and Tech let out a pleased sigh as he sheathed himself in you raw. 

“That's better,”

He was moving again, fast, rapid thrusts unimpeded by the drag of the synthetic barrier. He fucked you hard, fingers digging into your hips firm enough to bruise as he bounced you at a brutal pace. Your muscles clamped, and you arched against him with an oath, coming hard on his cock. He groaned against your neck, putting a hand over your pelvis as he shoved himself deep inside you, throbbing as he joined you in climax. 

Then his hands were on the steering again, turning the wheel just in time to avoid collision with a barrier. You felt him twitching inside you as he steered through the obstacles, filling you to brim with sticky seed with each violent throb. 

He turned off the course, an arm wrapped about your middle keeping himself sheathed in you until the pod was once again docked in its hanger. 

You caught your breath, his head hanging heavy on your shoulder; a peck against your heated skin in between shaking gasps.

He reached over, pulling the lever to open the casing with a hiss. You were lifted, and he tucked himself back into his pants, pulling your skirt back over your ass with a sharp tug. 

There weren't any words as you exited the pod, slumping against it as your legs wobbled. He wandered to the work bench, pulling a tool from his belt and starting to work at a piece of metal laying there. 

“My team is expecting me,”

“Right,”

You were a little sore at the brush off, not quite believing what you had let him do as he stood working with his back to you. You sighed, did another once over straightening your skirt and stockings. Making sure everything was in place… then turned to leave. 

“Wait,”

His hand closed around your upper arm, turning you back. Tech held up the piece of scrap he had been worrying over, there was a com code carefully engraved into it. 

“If anything comes of this, I want to know about it… okay?”

You looked at the bit of metal and nodded slowly. 

“Good girl,”

He pressed his lips to your temple, tucking the smooth, cold sliver between your breasts. 

“I hope to see you again…”

He walked you to the hanger door and bade you farewell. Your legs remained shaky as you retraced your steps away from the garages; but when you looked back he was still standing there, framed in the lit doorway watching you go. He raised his hand, giving you a small salute and you smiled softly before turning the final corner. 

~~~

“Tech! Are you still here? What's taking you so long?”

Omega wandered back in with Wrecker in tow. They had gotten some snacks and then gotten tired of waiting for their brother. As expected he was still bent over the workbench soldering away at something. And was he… humming?

“What are you doing?”

“Working,”

“On what? Can't be this thing still, it looks fine,”

She went to climb up the side of the pod but Wrecker stopped her. 

“Hey, uh kid… give Tech some of the snacks we brought back, he hasn't eaten since before we got here,*

Tech looked up, turning to Wrecker.

“I'm not-”

But then he caught the look from the other soldier. Wrecker raised a pointed brow at him, laughter in his eyes as he reached into the pod. He dangled the discarded rubber behind Omega’s back making Tech go pale,

“Uh… I'm starving.”

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@feral-ferrule @legacygirlingreen

[vandme12]

Your work is amazing! I've been binge reading your writing for a while now and i was wondering if i can i request ronin with an idol mc if possible?

Encore of the Devil

The lights are blinding, the crowd deafening, but you don’t notice either. Your world is the stage, the spotlight, the thousands of eyes watching your every move. You live for this.

And so does he.

He's not in the audience. Not like the others, screaming your name, clutching glowsticks like lifelines. No, he's in the shadows, watching. Just for you. Always for you.

The first time you saw him, it was backstage after a sold-out show. A shadow against the EXIT sign, a grin carved into moonlight.

"Big fan." His voice dripped honey and venom in equal measure. "Though, I gotta ask, sweetheart... if you disappeared right now, how many people would actually cry?"

He spoke in riddles and flirtations that felt like knives grazing skin. His laughter was a whisper in your ear, cold breath against your pulse. And yet, you laughed too.

"A lot," you had answered with a teasing smile. "I’d be a tragedy."

"Mm. A tragedy, huh? But wouldn't it be fun to see who really mourns you?"

It was dangerous. It was thrilling. It was... intoxicating.

That was months ago. Now, he's everywhere.

A whisper behind the dressing room mirror. A reflection in the dark glass of a limousine window. A laugh in the empty halls when everyone else has left.

"Y'know, angel, you shine so bright up there. Makes me wanna snuff out every other light in the world just so you’re the only thing left."

And it hits you. He’s serious.

This isn’t just a game to him. You are the stage, the audience, the performance. The world is just background noise.

"You’re insane," you whisper, but your heart races in a way that tells you that doesn’t matter.

He tilts his head, smirking. "Crazy for you, sweetheart."

The stage is everything. The cheers of the fans, the dazzling lights, the perfection they expect from you—it's all-consuming.

To them, you’re an angel, an untouchable god wrapped in sparkles and smiles. You say all the right things, make every moment feel personal, and when they chant your name, it’s like breathing.

You live for them.

But the truth is, they don’t know you. Not really.

Because the real you is just a person. A person who wakes up late when they can, who eats cheap convenience store snacks in the dead of night, who complains about sore feet after a long dance rehearsal.

A person who, for the past year, has been hopelessly, recklessly in love with a devil.

Ronin is watching you from the couch, arms spread lazily along the backrest, one foot resting on the coffee table like he owns the place. (And maybe he does—he owns every room he’s in, after all.)

His eyes, sharp as knives and twice as dangerous, track your every move as you towel-dry your hair. You can feel his gaze burning against your skin, not possessive, not obsessive—just knowing.

And that’s what makes it so terrifying.

"Y'know," he muses, tilting his head with a smirk, "the world would lose its mind if they knew their beloved starlet spent her nights curled up with someone like me."

You roll your eyes, tossing the towel aside. "They’d lose their minds if they knew I spent my nights curled up at all."

It’s true. Your fans don’t want you to be human. They want you to be perfect. Eternal. Someone they can project their dreams onto. If they knew the truth—the late-night junk food, the unwashed dishes, the lazy days where you barely leave bed—they’d shatter.

If they knew about Ronin?

They’d riot.

"Mm. You say that, but I think they’d love it," Ronin hums, standing up, closing the distance between you in two slow, deliberate steps. He towers over you, his grin lazy but his presence suffocating.

You look up at him, unimpressed. "Oh? And what makes you think that?"

His fingers brush your chin, tilting your head ever so slightly. Not forceful, just enough to remind you who he is.

"Because they already worship you, sweetheart," he murmurs, voice silk and sin. "And what's a god without their devil?"

Your breath catches for just a second. You hate that he can do that to you—that he can always do that to you.

So you push back.

"A god doesn’t need a devil to shine," you whisper, stepping closer, letting your fingers ghost along his wrist. "But maybe a devil needs a god to keep him from burning out."

For the first time tonight, he actually looks surprised.

Then, slowly, he laughs. Low and dark, his head tilting back as the sound rumbles through his chest. You don’t flinch. You don’t waver. You just watch as he regains control, as his gaze locks onto yours again, something sharper, something hungrier flickering beneath his amusement.

"Oh, angel, you really are somethin’ else."

He leans in, breath ghosting against your lips, his grin widening.

"Guess that means I’ll have to keep you, huh?"

You smile, brushing your lips against his in the faintest tease before pulling away. "Like you ever had a choice."

His grin doesn’t falter. If anything, it grows.

Because the thing about Ronin?

He loves a game.

And you?

You might just be his favorite player.

EXTRA! HEADCANONS!

The Perfect Fantasy, The Real You: To the world, you’re a dream. An untouchable idol, beloved by all, shining so brightly that people forget stars are just burning things in the sky. But to Ronin? You’re real. And he loves you for that. The messy, imperfect, human you.

Two Masks, One Secret: You both play your roles flawlessly. To the world, you’re the sweet, smiling idol. To the world, he’s the charming, enigmatic devil. But behind closed doors? He’s the one who listens when your fake smile falters, and you’re the one who holds his face like he’s worth more than just bloodstains and chaos.

Jealous? Him? Absolutely.: He knows you have to act affectionate with fans. He knows you have to smile at other people. But that doesn’t mean he likes it. No, he doesn’t get jealous. He just... makes sure they know their place. A look, a whispered threat, and suddenly, nobody wants to stand too close to you anymore.

The Only One Who Can Unmask Him: Ronin is always playing the devil. Always putting on a show. But you’re the only one who’s ever seen him drop the act. The one person he lets himself be vulnerable with. And that? That’s dangerous. Because if anything ever happened to you...

Chaos in Love: Dating Ronin means nothing is normal. Late-night drives where he speeds just to hear you scream. Breaking into places just because he can. Whispered threats disguised as sweet nothings. And yet, for all his madness, he’s so gentle with you. The way he touches you, the way he holds you—it’s almost reverent.

"You’re Mine, But I’m Yours.": Ronin is possessive. Terrifyingly so. But it’s not just one-sided. He doesn’t just claim you—you claim him right back. You don’t fear him, you don’t cower, and that drives him insane in the best way.

The Ultimate High-Stakes Romance: He kills people who hurt others. You dazzle crowds who would die for your attention. He whispers in your ear about the thrill of watching life drain from someone’s eyes. You sing songs that make people cry. He’s chaos. You’re light. And together?

[sheerfreesia007]

Chan Masterlist

Interview with Officer Bahng: Police themed. W.C. - 1,038 While you’re out on an early morning walk with your dog Anana you run into your crazy neighbors and have to call the police for help with their fighting. You’re not expecting the officer who comes to take your statement to be so handsome, neither are you expecting your mouth to blurt out how attractive you find him or for Anana to play matchmaker.

Sunkissed: Seeing you in a bikini themed. W.C. - 2,798 Part One. Chan has planned a fun filled pool day for the boys and you. What happens when you show up in one of your finest bikinis?

Perfect Fit: Boss themed. W.C. - 4,575 Chan had met you on his first day in his family’s company when you had read him the riot act for being rude to you all for asking if he needed help. What happens when after years of working in his family’s company you’ve become an integral part of his life and he needs you by his side for his soon promotion to owner of the company?

Login Confessions: Love confession themed. W.C. - 1,666 The house rules were no work when the two of you hung out. But what happens when Chan really needs to get out his creative idea before he loses it and confesses to you because of your need for him to relax?

You’re Losing Me (Angst): Arranged marriage themed. W.C. - 6,928 Part One. Chan’s company is failing and he needs help to pull it back from the brink. Your father agrees to help him but there’s some conditions attached to his help. Is Chan willing to do absolutely anything to make sure that his business survives?

His Little Star (Angst): Arranged marriage themed. W.C. - 4,871 Part Two. It’s been a year and a half since the divorce and Chan is still trying to salvage any business deals for his company. But when you step in to reassure an unsure investor at an event it sets Chan’s life on an unknown track.

Adrenaline High: Mafia/Mob boss themed. W.C. - 2,210 Part One. You’re a respectable person in the light of day but there’s a side to you that you like to indulge every once in a while to capture that adrenaline high. What happens when the house you break into turns out to be the mob boss Bang Chan’s? Will he have mercy on you or punish you for your crime?

Check Under My Hood: Vehicle/Motorcycle themed. W.C. - 3,544 Your car breaks down on the side of the road about three miles away from the repair shop you noticed on your drive back and forth. What happens when the owner of said shop happens to be a muscular handsome man who has a kind heart and a slight knight in shining armor complex?

Always Come For You (Requested): Requested. W.C. - 1,450 Your girlfriend’s situationship becomes unhinged after she starts to pull away from him and the relationship. What happens when he catches you alone on the street after you leave a lunch date with her?

Love at Lunch Time: Love note themed. W.C. - 2,636 you’ve been dating Chan for two months now and have started to pack him a work lunch each day with a little extra sweet surprise for him in the form of cute love notes left in his lunch box. What happens when the boys start to realize that ever since you started dating and packing him lunch Chan now takes his lunch break seriously? What happens when they find one of your sweet notes in his lunch box?

Airborne: Winter/Snow day themed. W.C. - 1,611 A day of tubing planned with the boys evolves into a tubing race that both you and Chan are hellbent on winning. But what happens when you get injured during your race?

New Year New Me: New Year’s Eve themed. W.C. - 2,506 Chan is surprised to see you at a New Year’s Eve party since usually your scene was more laid back and low key. But he can’t help but be glad that you are there when the countdown begins.

His Clumsy Klutz: Guardian angel themed. W.C. - 1,727 Chan is your guardian angel and he has his work cut out for him with the clumsiest person in the world. He tries his best every day to keep you out of harm’s way.

Lucky Number 13: Match date themed. W.C. - 2,177 Your college is throwing a Valentine’s Day Event where they pair you up with someone on a blind date. Who are you going to be paired with?

Let The Water Pour (Soft Smut): Soft smut themed. W.C. - 1,839 MDNI. Chan arrives home late from a long day in the studio and finds you already in the shower trying to wash away your own long day. What happens when he decides to join you in there?

Just a Peek: Walking in while they’re changing themed. W.C. - 1,299 You and Chan have been friends for at least three years and have become best friends through your shared careers as music producers. But one night at the studio you’re shocked to walk in on Chan changing and get an eyeful that you weren’t expecting but are not complaining about.

Drunken Streetlights: Drunken confessions themed. W.C. - 1,197 Part One. You force Chan out of his studio and on a late night walk with you just to be able to spend some time together. But when alcohol is added to the mix are there going to be some confessions that wouldn’t have happened sober?

To Love a Book Worm: Nerd themed. W.C. - 2,801 Chan is your best friend and he’s a bit of a book nerd. Good thing so are you. But when your other friends from class try to bully him while you’re both hanging out together you step up in a big way causing Chan to realize that maybe his feelings weren’t one sided like he had always thought.

A Knock on the Door, A Heart in Bloom: Receiving flowers from them themed. W.C. - 639 When an unexpected knock at the door leaves you on edge, you're ready to defend yourself—until your boyfriend Chan surprises you with a dramatic bouquet of black and purple roses for your anniversary. His thoughtful gesture and loving presence quickly turn your cautious night into a warm reminder of how well he knows and cherishes you.

The Pout That Changed Everything: Pouting their lips themed. W.C. - 2,118 A lunch run turns into chaos when Felix teases out your secret crush on Chan. Between studio antics, brownie baking, and one unexpected kiss, feelings come to light—with Felix proudly playing matchmaker and Chan’s pouts proving impossible to resist.

Melting For You: Ice Cream Themed. W.C. - 1,052 On the hottest day of the year, you and your best friend Chan brave the sweltering streets on a simple errand that turns into something far more intimate. Between shared ice pops, lingering touches, and soft kisses, the line between friendship and something deeper begins to melt away.

[moonlight-joy]

Hunting Stars

MASTERLIST

Fandom: Kraven the hunter

Summary: In a futuristic world where intergalactic hunting is a sport, Kraven is one of the most notorious hunters in the galaxy. You’re a scientist on a far-off planet studying endangered species, and Kraven arrives to hunt a mythical beast you’ve been protecting. But when the beast bonds with you, Kraven decides he must protect you as well.

Pairing: Reader/Sergei Kravinoff

The sky above Eridani Prime was a riot of color, its twin suns casting hues of lavender and gold over the rolling plains. The air shimmered with life, the calls of native creatures blending into a symphony of wild beauty. You stood on a ridge, your hands resting on the scanner strapped to your chest, watching the landscape with a sense of unease.

They were coming.

The Alliance had warned you about hunters venturing to protected planets like this one, but you never thought they’d send someone like him. Sergei Kravinoff, known across the galaxy as Kraven, was infamous. A hunter whose reputation spanned star systems, his name was whispered with both reverence and fear. And now, he was here, tracking the mythical Astralis beast—the creature you’d spent years studying and protecting.

You tightened your grip on the scanner as the soft hum of a spacecraft reached your ears. Looking up, you saw a sleek silver ship cutting through the atmosphere, its design unmistakably Kraven’s. Your heart pounded. If he found the Astralis, it wouldn’t just mean the loss of a creature you’d devoted your life to—it could mean the end of an ancient mystery tied to the galaxy’s very fabric.

The Astralis wasn’t just a beast. It was a guardian.

Kraven disembarked from his ship with the precision of a predator. Clad in dark, battle-worn armor, he moved with the confidence of someone who knew he was the most dangerous being in any room—or on any planet. His amber eyes scanned the horizon, calculating and sharp, taking in every detail of the landscape.

He’d heard the legends of Eridani Prime, of the Astralis and its supposed connection to the galaxy’s ancient past. But Kraven didn’t care about myths or secrets. He cared about the hunt, about proving himself against the universe’s most formidable prey. Yet, as he ventured into the wilderness, something about this world felt… different. The air seemed charged, alive, and the terrain whispered secrets he couldn’t quite grasp.

He didn’t expect resistance. Certainly not in the form of you.

You intercepted him near the edge of a crystalline lake, your small hovercraft cutting across the plains to block his path. Kraven stopped, his expression unreadable as he watched you dismount, your frame dwarfed by his imposing figure.

“Turn back,” you said, your voice firm despite the nerves twisting in your gut. “This planet is protected by intergalactic law. The Astralis is off-limits.”

Kraven’s lips twitched into a faint smirk. “Protected, you say? Funny, I don’t see anyone here enforcing that law.”

“I am,” you snapped, stepping closer. “And if you think I’m just going to let you slaughter an endangered species for sport, you’re mistaken.”

Kraven tilted his head, studying you with a mix of amusement and curiosity. “You’ve got fire,” he said. “But do you have the strength to back it up?”

Before you could respond, a distant roar echoed across the plains. Both of you froze, the sound reverberating through the air like a living pulse. You turned toward the source, your chest tightening.

“The Astralis,” you whispered.

Kraven’s smirk disappeared, replaced by a gleam of hunger in his eyes. Without another word, he moved toward the sound, his stride purposeful. You scrambled to follow, your heart racing as the roars grew louder.

The Astralis was magnificent. Its shimmering, scaled body reflected the light like a living prism, its massive wings casting shadows over the ground. It stood in a clearing, its golden eyes scanning the surroundings with intelligence that defied its beastly appearance. For a moment, you felt a wave of awe—and then fear, as Kraven raised his weapon.

“No!” you shouted, stepping between him and the creature. “You can’t kill it!”

Kraven’s expression darkened. “Move,” he said, his voice low and dangerous.

“It’s not just a beast!” you said, desperation creeping into your tone. “It’s connected to something bigger. Something ancient.”

“Then it’s even more valuable,” he replied coldly, stepping closer.

“You don’t understand!” you cried. “If you harm it, you could destroy everything!”

The Astralis let out a low, rumbling growl, and you felt a strange warmth spread through your chest. Its golden eyes locked onto yours, and in that instant, you felt… connected. Images flashed through your mind—a star collapsing, a galaxy forming, a sense of balance that tied all life together. The Astralis wasn’t just alive. It was a guardian of the galaxy’s equilibrium.

Kraven hesitated, his sharp eyes narrowing as he watched you. “What’s happening?” he demanded.

“It’s bonded with me,” you said, your voice barely above a whisper. “I can feel it.”

Kraven lowered his weapon slightly, his expression unreadable. “If that’s true, you’ve just made yourself the most valuable target in the galaxy.”

From that moment, everything changed. Kraven’s mission shifted from hunting the Astralis to protecting you. You traveled together, fleeing from bounty hunters, mercenaries, and rogue factions who had caught wind of your bond with the creature. Despite his gruff demeanor, Kraven proved to be a capable ally, his skills and instincts keeping you both alive.

But the longer you spent with him, the more you began to see beyond the ruthless hunter. He was intelligent, resourceful, and—to your surprise—protective. He’d risk his life without hesitation to ensure your safety, his actions speaking louder than the few words he spared.

“Why are you doing this?” you asked him one night, as you sat by a campfire on a barren moon.

Kraven stared into the flames, his expression thoughtful. “Because I’ve spent my life hunting things I didn’t understand,” he said. “But you… and the Astralis… you’re different. This isn’t about a trophy anymore. It’s about something bigger.”

You nodded, understanding the weight of his words. The connection you shared with the Astralis had shown you glimpses of a truth that spanned eons. And now, with Kraven by your side, you felt a strange sense of hope—that maybe, together, you could protect the fragile balance of the galaxy.

The final revelation came during a battle on an abandoned space station, where you and Kraven confronted a rogue faction determined to harness the Astralis’ power for their own ends. As you fought to protect the creature, it unleashed a burst of energy that illuminated the station, revealing ancient glyphs and technology hidden within its walls.

“This is it,” you said, your voice filled with wonder. “The secret it’s been guarding.”

Kraven stepped beside you, his eyes scanning the glowing symbols. “What does it mean?”

“It’s a map,” you realized. “A map to something that could change everything.”

He looked at you, his expression serious. “Then we protect it. Together.”

And in that moment, as the Astralis curled protectively around you both, you knew your journey with Kraven was far from over. The hunter had become your ally, your protector… and, perhaps, something more.

As you and Kraven deciphered the glyphs, they revealed the existence of a hidden sanctuary—a nexus point for the galaxy’s balance. The Astralis had been guarding the map to this sanctuary for millennia, ensuring that its location remained a secret. The sanctuary’s purpose, it seemed, was to regulate the flow of energy between star systems, maintaining harmony across the galaxy.

“If this falls into the wrong hands,” Kraven said, his voice grave, “it could tip the scales of power forever.”

“Then we can’t let that happen,” you replied, determination hardening your voice.

The path ahead was uncertain, fraught with danger and challenges you couldn’t yet imagine. But as you stood there, the Astralis beside you and Kraven at your side, you felt a glimmer of hope. Together, you would face the trials ahead, protect the sanctuary, and uncover the truths that had been hidden for eons.

For now, the hunter and the protector had become something more—partners in a quest that could shape the future of the galaxy itself.

Please support my work with like and comment

[revelauver]

⌕ race review!   ֢֢֢ ◝﹝monaco [ 05/25/25 ]

🏎️_⠀ ln4, cl16, op81, mv1, ih6, fa14, lh44, eo31, ll30, & aa23 are the quali top 10!

propaganda i did fall for: the 2025 monaco gp will be entertaining

i swear they only keep it in the calendar for the aesthetics, qualifying, and charles leclerc's sanity (or lack thereof)

as it turns out all ferrari needed to do to have a MODICUM of speed in monaco was to slap on the 2024 rear wing, which is taking me tf out

like wdym the solution to half the car's problems was to ctrl+v A LITERAL FRACTION of the sf-24

if the rest of it doesn't roll up to spain i'm going to riot

done projecting lets move on to the race

right so mandatory two stop did absolutely nothing for The Good Of Racing™️

i am shocked neither of the mercs pitted at the beginning with plans to run long... like there was a full opportunity to do it under the vsc and they already had nothing to lose with qualifying out of the points

strategy so ass their excuse of simply FORGETTING about the 2-stop rule until lap 60 is genuinely plausible

noooo instead BOTH of them banked on a safety car late in the race, and there was none unless we count max verstappen hold up the lead, but we'll get to that later

gabi hits the wall :( he reverses and keeps going :)

pierre rams into the back of yuki, and was literally a single wire away from losing a wheel in the middle of the track

i had two cups of coffee before this race and i am STRUGGLING to remember what happened oh my god

alonsopoints thwarted again after smoke started coming from his car... so he did the sensible thing and took the asston slowcartin down the escape route

vcarb cooking with the strategy while merc were scrounging on the kitchen floor for crumbs (isack hadjar i see you, i hear you, and i believe in any and all of your future endeavors)

to liam lawson's credit (which is finally not made up of penalty points): he started p9, created a massive train to help isack, and finished p8

george russell 🤝 alex albon

together in track terrorism

oscar piastri 🤝 slow ahh pit stops

the highlight of the race was 100% the lestappen master plan

essentially for the last 20 or so laps, max was leading the race followed by lando, then charles and then a larger gap to oscar with one pit stop left to go while the others had completed all of theirs

he had a p4 finish LOCKED IN after pitting bc there was a 40+ second gap to lewis behind oscar

so what does the man do? obviously slow down out at the front, which allowed charles to catch up to lando and remain RIGHT ON HIS ASS for the entire 20 laps to overtake if he made a mistake

obviously it's in max's best interest for the championship if charles takes the win over lando and rb strategy was kind of genius for hoping it could play out, but i prefer to imagine they actively conspired this together in the back of a dimly lit monacan night club wearing hats and sunglasses like undercover kpop idols

to lando's credit, he didn't make any mistakes. no opportunity for charles to pass, max pit in the final lap, and he IMMEDIATELY speeds up out of drs range and set the fastest lap 💀

i can appreciate how max always finds away to fuck with lando's race when they are not beside each other in finishing position at all LMFAOO

incredible weekend for lando, honestly happy for him! winning monaco is an extreme morale boost and will do much for his confidence and momentum going into spa

i was rooting for the ferrari win 💔 italian sacrificial lamb kimi was once again left to shrivel in the backmarkers for nothing (they literally left his pitstops to the very end) but ykw p2 is a miracle considering the expectations before this weekend

championship gap is down to 3 points oh my god i'll need thoughts, prayers, and a third cup of coffee for spain

contact me @ ⠀꒱⠀ . ⠀ 1-800-hot-n-fun ⠀ —— ⠀ ✧ !

[laiqualaurelote]

hello! if your still playing the directors cut game, may i ask about gig officially gigged? anything youd like to say about it! its the first fic i read of yours and i really do love it (as charles' fellow my chemical romance lover)

I am delighted to do more director's cut asks! Thank you for this one about gig officially gigged. I have previously revealed the track listing for the band's debut album (with respective songwriter credits) but I will annotate them briefly below:

SKELETONS IN THE CLOSET (Payne) - Edwin's songs are all a little to a lot macabre, and also usually have puns in the titles. It is unclear if this song is a metaphor for sexuality, or about literal skeletons in a literal closet ACES DACES (Rowland) - fun fact! 'aces daces' was the working title of in this city there's a thousand things I want to say to you. It's a reference to both the band AC/DC and the song A.C.D.C. by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, which is about a chaotic bisexual LEFT OVER RITE (Payne) - contains what Crystal deems an excessively long harpsichord solo TANPOPO NO KAMISAMA (Sasaki) - this is the band's one song to have made it abroad - it went viral in Japan and became the theme tune of a fantasy anime. Niko makes a small cameo in the anime, voicing a goddess called Dandelion Fairy STICKY CRICKET WICKET (Rowland) - this is one of the song titles taken from the canon caseboard. It is Charles' version of Queen's Bicycle Race and involves him singing rhyming gibberish over a snazzy beat GIRLS’ KNIVES OUT (Sasaki, Surname von Hoverkraft) - Niko and Crystal's riot grrrl moment! they dedicate this song to Jenny at every performance and she pretends to hate it (she loves it) RESTLESS PIANO SYNDROME (Payne) - again, taken from the caseboard. Edwin plays duelling pianos on this one. Against himself. PICK UP WHAT YOU’RE PUTTING DOWN (Rowland) - Charles has filled this song with double entendres. Nobody knows if he has done this on purpose or is oblivious. Edwin suspects it is the former, but carries on as if it is the latter. (It is the latter.) BRACELET ABOUT THE BONE (Payne) - this song, which Edwin claims is inspired by John Donne's 'The Relic', is indeed about Thomas. This bothers Charles a lot. It also bothers Thomas, not that he would ever admit it BURY THE EX (Surname von Hoverkraft) - blues rock number which Crystal first wrote during her recovery after the drink-driving incident, then sat on till she met the band LANTERN IN THE DARK (Payne) - slow rock ballad, deeply romantic, pining visible from space. Charles thought for the longest time it was just another literary reference he didn't get STAIRWAY TO HELL (Payne, Rowland)  - no need for elaboration!

(bonus track)

GOT THE HELL OUT OF HELL (WE AIN’T GOING BACK) (Payne, Rowland, Sasaki, Surname von Hovercraft) - this was basically the band messing about in the studio and riffing off each other; they liked the result so much they ended up recording it as a bonus track, and all four of them have writing credits

Thank you for this ask! I'm also tagging @nix-nihili @ghostinthelibrarywrites and @tumblerislovetumblerislife as they have asked about gig officially gigged previously

(from the end-of-year/start-of-year Director's Cut game - ask me for additional lore or meta about any of my fics last year)

[crepesuzette2023]

Ivan Vaughan writes about John and Paul

This is just a relatively brief excerpt from Ivan Vaughan's book, which, for the most part, focuses on his life with Parkinson's disease. (From what I can tell so far, it's absolutely fascinating: far more than 'simply' a memoir, it's a reflection on illness, the mind-body connection, science, psychotropic drugs, patients' autonomy...and much more.)

But since this blog is climbing the drainpipe to the John & Paul business, and there's been some recent discussion of Mark Lewisohn's claim that John was such a bad boy Ivan's mother sent her son to a different grammar school to separate the two, I thought the following might be interesting.

And the ending of this chapter also gives some context to Paul's reaction to John's murder—another topic about which ML has interesting opinions.

This isn't to pile on ML, but more...as words from someone who was there.

(CC: @mythserene, @anotherkindofmindpod) I met John when I was three or four years old. One wet morning there was a knock at the front door. My mother opened it, and looking down, found a boy a bit older than me, smiling, but preoccupied with the effort of remembering what he had been rehearsed to say.

‘I believe a little boy lives here. I wondered if you might like to come out and play.’ He stood there in the porch, rain pouring down behind him, with a pair of slippers under his arm.

‘Come on in. What’s your name? You live round the corner don’t you?’

Next day I went around to the house where he lived with his aunt and uncle. We played with Dinky cars. I was surprised by his generosity and willingness to share his toys; he was happy even for me to take some of them home. When his Uncle George came home with some sweets John readily shared them. There was an immediate bond between us. He was older, read books, and his great intelligence and experience were apparent. I accepted his leadership but I was determined to preserve my independence. From the warm security of Aunt Mimi’s control, John accepted me into his life.

John was a member of his local library and immersed himself in books so that by the age of five he was already a fluent reader. I was still in the infant school when he started at Dovedale Road Primary School, but we played together after school and weekends. There were numerous parks, a golf course, and fields full of tangled growth and trees — just right for playing cowboys and Indians. In one barren area with large lumps of hard earth we played football and cricket. We spent hours digging all tracks to race our Dinky cars. Our most exciting game, though, was ‘fires’. We would go to a large area of waste ground and simply set fire to the straw and watch the place. I have never understood why nobody stopped us.

John’s gang comprised, besides himself, Pete Shotton, Nigel Wally and me. I was the youngest and was constantly having to prove my worth. I feel privileged to be John’s friend since he was nearly two years older. He protected me against Timmy Tarbuck and his gang on the rare occasions when I made the mistake of confronting one of them.

John and I went to different grammar schools, but I used to hear about the chaos and riots that seem to be a daily feature of his schooling. I’d rather lost touch with him when I went to university, and did not see him again until sometime after I was married. Then one day, as I was playing with my little boy Jus on the steps of our house in London, white Rolls Royce turned into the road. John jumped out followed by a woman I have not met before.

‘Hello, Ivy! This is Yoko.’ (…)

My attachment to both John and Paul ran deep and occasionally I would go to great lengths in order to see them at a moment’s notice. Maybe Paul saw our continuing friendship as a way of maintaining simple values he held dear. Jan liked Paul, though she did not see much of John. She was not the least bit mesmerized by their fame. She enjoyed eating at expensive restaurants in sampling London’s nightlife, into which Paul took us from time to time. But, should the effort to come to great, she was willing to let the relationship fade.

A month after telephoning John in New York [with the news of the Parkinson’s diagnosis; their first conversation in years], a heavy parcel was delivered. It was not until I was reading the titles of the books it contained that I realized they had been sent by John and Yoko. There was one by Arthur Janov, author of the Primal Scream, and one entitled Mind Magic. How to Get Well had on the fly-leaf a message from John that read ‘to start looking’, and The Snow Leopard had a note saying ‘to relax’. This last book gave me the greatest pleasure and I frequently re-read passages from it. Its author, Peter Matthiesen, lost his son through illness and journeyed in Nepal and in Inner Dolpo on a completely pointless journey to catch sight of a snow leopard. The peace he found travels across to the reader from each page.

John’s accompanying letter urged me, in punning language, to keep my spirits high and strongly suggested that it was up to me whether I sank or swam. I must not lose faith in myself.

Ten weeks later he was shot dead. Paul and I did not contact each other about it; in fact, we never brought it up in conversation. I hardly reacted outwardly at all. The day after John’s death, however, a colleague said that he supposed I was very upset at what it happened. I heard myself say: ‘I don’t know what I feel. I don’t know that I feel much at all’. As soon as he had gone, I instinctively made my way to a room where I knew I could be alone, and I wept profusely.

-- from Ivan-Living with Parkinson's Disease by Ivan Vaughan. 1986.

[ms-wwe]

YOU ASKED FOR IT...HERE'S ANOTHER TEASER FOR AN UPCOMING CHAPTER IN RIGHTEOUS DESIRES

I stand in front of the hotel room door, my nerves are so bad it feels as if a thousand pins are stabbing me all over my body. Was I really here? Was I really about to do this? Did I really have the ability to stand here and not shatter like a broken mirror? These thoughts race through my mind as I clench my jaw so tight I feel as if my teeth may crumble under the pressure. How would I ever explain this to Colby? Do I even tell Luis? I take a step closer to the tall matte black door, and with a sharp exhale, I manage to knock. "It's after midnight, I'm sure he's asleep" I say to myself in a whisper as I quickly turn around, trying with everything in me to undo this horrible decision and make it out without being seen. Then I hear it, the door opening, and it's as though my body turns to stone, and I stop dead in my tracks, I know I should keep walking, there's no reason for me to be here, but I can't seem to make myself keep moving. "Riot?" I hear the deep scratchy voice say from behind me. It feels like I've been hit by lightning, the sting that shoots down my spine is almost sickening. I hadn't heard that voice speak my name in a decade, and I knew from the sound of it, he was just as confused as I was, yet that strange, almost supernatural pull towards one another still exists, only now, it's uncomfortable and unwelcome. I turn around hesitantly, my entire body trembling as we make eye contact, his hazel eyes still feel as if they can pierce right through my very being. His hair is a mess, he'd clearly been sleeping, his facial hair is a bit long, and it's more grey now than it was even a year ago. He's wearing an old raggedy shirt that's been cut into a tank top, clearly done by my sister, and his grey sweats have definitely seen better days. My heart has a sinking feeling as he stares at me, this was the closest him and I had been in ten years, and my mind felt like it couldn't catch up to the reality I'd managed to find myself stuck in. "Hey, Phil" I say with a nervous stutter.

[azdmathings]

Friday Red Riot!

My Buddy Tommy is a Race Car Driver on weekends at the local track. He always dresses in Red Sheers to match his red uniform, Talk about hot!

[lenoide]

The Speed Game of Love

Toto x reader | comedy, crack humor (RuPaul's Drag Race bang), romance, fluff.

Summary: Three fierce queens will race for your love, but only one will win your heart. Could it be the spicy Carla LaTurbo Slayz, the fierce Adore D. Hammer, or the queen of England herself, GiGi Reigns? Or maybe that sexy host could get some! Hosted by the hot and only Toto Wolff. Author's note: It's short and fun. Y/N has the hots for Toto, as usual. Who doesn't?! Enjoy! Let me know your thoughts or if you have an idea, here I am."

More Toto Wolff fics right here > Masterlist

-

From the racing capital of the world is The Speed Game of Love.

And here is your host...

The hot and only Toto Wolff.

(Opening music plays, and the camera pans over the bright and sparkling stage. Toto Wolff is standing there in fullness, tallness, and hotness, just a few steps away from you. As you peek in from behind the entrance, he is looking as sexy as you expected that man to be, dressed in a sluty tight suit, his eyes set on you for a brief second making your knees and other regions jiggle as he starts the show).

"Welcome to the Speed Game of Love. I'm your hot, I mean host! Toto Wolff." he winks at you before moving to his mark at the cue.

(Cheers, gaps, and a loud moan come from the sound effect console as Toto passes a hand on his hair and smiles big and bright straight at the pro camera).

"Let's meet tonight's lucky heartracers!" he gestures with both arms to his left.

(Cut to a shot of the competitors, each one dressed in their best sickening drag looks, all sitting in white bar stool chairs next to each other)

"It's the Queen of tracks! And hearts! Adore D. Hammer!" Toto approaches a fierce-looking queen. "Ready to smash some?" Toto raises his eyebrows as he asks.

"Oh, dear, I'm more than keen for some hammer time!" Adore answers, thrusting with her hips slowly.

She's rocking a sparkly, sluty version of the iconic jumpsuit in neon yellow and black from MC Hammer's iconic "U Can't Touch This" music video, but cinched for the gods along with really high-platform sneakers.

The jumpsuit is embellished with rhinestones and sequins that shimmer and shine under the stage lights. Adore's dreadlocks hung loose around her ears but with a glamorous, over-the-top twist.

Her makeup is bold and bright, with bold eyeliner, vibrant eyeshadow, and a shining golden lip. Her skin is glowing with a subtle shimmery highlight that makes her look like she just stepped out of a disco ball.

Toto gives her a chuckle before moving along.

"Next, Carla LaTurbo Slayz!" He strolls to her, mic in hand. "Miss Turbo, I heard you got some horsepower tonight! How are you, honey?"

(After he asks the question, a loud moan is heard as a sound effect).

"I'm 'fuel'-tastic, Toto!" she blows a kiss to the camera and shows some lil' leg.

She's rocking a stunning, one-shoulder gown made from the finest silk in a rich, jewel-toned red that evokes the majestic flamenco dancers of Andalusia. The dress is fitted and figure-hugging, accentuating her curves in all the right places.

Her hair is a masterpiece; a few strategically placed braids and hairpins add a touch of Andalusian flair.

Her eyes are lined with bold, black kohl and smudged with shimmery gold eyeshadow to create a sultry, seductive gaze. Her lips are painted a deep, crimson red. Her accessories are chunky gold jewelry.

"Up next, it's GiGi Reigns. Is Your Highness ready to conquer this race?" Toto turns to her, bowing first.

"Keen to have a smooth pit stop and a great finish!" an old lady's voice with a thick Windsor accent answers.

She is rocking a look that's equal parts regal and ridiculous. She's donning a velvet-trimmed corset and hoop skirt that's so big it requires its own zip code.

The skirt is a riot of colors, with florals and patterns. GiGi's hair is a marvel; think Elizabeth I's famous ruff but on steroids! Her locks are styled in towering curls that resemble a pompadour.

Her makeup is a masterpiece of over-the-top opulence. Layers of foundation, blush, and powder are applied with the precision of the era, but they make her look old, really old, with wrinkles adorning her features.

Her accessories are an array of fake pearls that look like they belong on the Queen herself.

"Let's start your engines! Close that pit wall!" Toto instructs as the obstructing divider slides from the wall. It looks exactly like a pit wall fence but glamorous, all in metallic pink, blocking the view from both sides.  

As you are about to enter the stage, an empty, small white podium is waiting for you.

"Our wag tonight is from (Y/N's City/Country). Meet (Y/N's profession/studies), Y/N, Y/LN!" Toto introduces you as you step in, smiling at him.

"Mmm, you look good!" Toto runs his eyes all over your body as he approaches you and offers a hand to help you step on the podium.

You feel the heat instantly.

"What brings you smoking gear around here? Did your engine overheat?" Toto addresses you, starting to lean closer to you.

"I'm just looking for touch at this point!" you answer, plain and honest.

(Aww noises come from the sound effect panel).

"Uhmmhu!" Toto gets closer to you than his mark on the floor suggests. He gestures to you to articulate more as he stands by your side, slowly sliding a hand down on your back.

How you react to his touch makes him smile naughtily.

In between a nervous giggle, you explain: "I tried the apps and whatnot, but nothing worked, so my friends suggested I come here to speed up the process. You know, to look for something accelerated, fast-paced." You wink at him, gaining confidence, feeling his eyes traveling down your lips and neck.

"Oh, so you like it fast-paced? Who doesn't like to get their flag chequered hard!" Toto keeps your game of innuendos, flirting with you along.

You nod and bite your lip; he arches his eyebrow slightly.

"Then, you came to the right place!" his voice is deep, and he flexes his arm so you can enjoy the view of his muscles as Toto grabs his mic. "So, Y/N, here's how the game works: You ask the heartracers some questions, and they will try to win this lap for your heart with their answers. When the time runs out, you choose who steps into your podium. Are you ready to race?"

"I AM!" you feel pumped up!

(Engine noises are heard in the studio, indicating the start of the lap).

You read one of your cue cards. "Heartracer number one, finish the following sentence: If I was your car to run me on a race, you would leave me (blank...) at the end."

"In desperate need of a new set of wheels. Oh! I would run you relentlessly from one side of the circuit to the other!" Adore answers, jumping on her feet and doing the iconic MC Hammer moves, passing by in front of the other contestants.

You laugh and nod at the excellent answer. "And you, number two?"

"I would leave you revving for more! You would want me to run you down over and over again around these corners." LaTurbo answers with a very sexual voice, sliding her hand all over her body curves.

"And you, madam, number three?" you ask.

"At the finish line... eventually! I'm a lady of a certain age, darling." GiGi Reigns' elderly voice answers, making you and Toto burst into giggles.

"If it was me, I would have you shifting gears so hard that I would end up breaking you down. But that's me!" Toto jokes, inserting his answer there. "Let's move on to the next question, shall we, Y/N?"

"YES! Let me push that pedal all the way in!" you joke back.

"All the way in?!" Toto asks, now curious, in a high-pitched voice. "Fast-paced and all the way in. Taking notes!" He swaps his cue cards around.

"I think that one's hammer is starting to show! Haha," GiGi Reigns adds, inserting herself into the conversation, bumping Adore with her hand, and both of them taking a small peek at Toto's crotch.

"Please, give head, go ahead, I meant!" Toto jokes with you.

"Based on yourself, how would you prefer to be called if you were a fuel brand?" you ask the contestants.

"Piston Pumping, you gotta keep the hammering for miles long!" Adore gives her answer in perfect branding.

"Fuel-in' Around, just kidding," Carla waves her hand.

"The Lube for The Crown, cause at this age, darling, you need some extra help." GiGi slowly spreads open her legs, making rusted noises, cracking you up again.

"I'd be, Fuel Me Maybe, you know, like tonight, after this show," Toto flirts shamelessly as the game progresses, making it clear that he's interested in none other than you.

"Final question," you go ahead. "Imagine you are an F1 team. Sell yourself to me."

"On the Hammerella F1 Team, competition can't touch us! We are faster than you can say parachute pants!" Adore D. Hammer answers.

"On El Toro Racing, we are unleashing the bull full speed, with fury and passion and with a whole lot of rhythm, ahhhh." Carla LaTurbo's every word gets more sexual somehow as she answers your question, her hands going all over her neck and legs.

Finally is GiGi's turn: "On the Motor on the Bus, The Queen's Royal Racing Team, we race round and round, vroom and vroom, all through the town." She pauses before adding, "But with protocol, dear."

GiGi's stupid answer makes you gag.

"Oh, time is up! Y/N, who do you choose from our heartracers? Number one, two or three?" Toto comes near to you again.

Fuck! He smells so good! That's an arousing cologne.

(A dramatic pause comes before you turn straight at him to give your definitive answer).

"You," you point at Toto. "I choose you!" answering aloud to everyone's... actually... to no one's surprise!

"I'd love to take you for some good ol' laps!" he blows a kiss to you. "But first, let's meet the ones you didn't choose! Say hello to Adore D. Hammer."

"Oh! This hammer would have broken you in half, dear!" she jokes with you as she looks you up and passes along, thrusting the air on her way out.

"and Carla LaTurbo Slayz," Toto again shouts, extending his arm.

"This," she closes her hand at you, moving it around your body, "Has red flag all over," she says, belittling you as she goes out, pretending to be insulted by you rejecting her.

"Finally, GiGi Reigns! Madam..." Toto bows one last time.

GiGi takes her time walking there, making grunt noises as she grabs her back, complaining, making you two lose it.

"I, TOO, CAN COMMAND THE WIND, SIR!" She screams out of nowhere in the most Shakespearean voice, catching you two off guard.

Like GiGi got possessed for a second before she composes herself and gives "royal hand waves" politely as she dramatically exits.

"WHHAAT?" you say, catching your breath between laughs.

"Ready to blow my engine?" Toto triumphantly asks, holding you up like a trophy as he wraps his arm around your waist.

"Against the pit wall?!" you joke around, laughing on his lips, standing next to it.

"Another Speed Game of Love with a... happy ending! To me!" Toto winks. "Good night, everybody!"

(You two wave at the lense before you wrap him in a passionate kiss as the camera cuts to black)

You don't make it further than his dressing room.

The audio crew picks up the loud moans and smashing noises coming from there, as Toto is still wired, and they quickly turn off the equipment.

Join us at The Wolff Pack Discord Server > https://discord.com/invite/tpgArxqbfd

[simply-ivanka]

Vice President Candidate Tim Walz - Some of his Issues Before The Voters

• The Floyd riots. Walz managed to infuriate mainstream voters when he initially refused to quell the riots and arson that followed George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis, only to enrage activists later when he called in the National Guard. Violent crime continues to plague the state.

Walz also signed a 2023 bill giving felons the right to vote except while they are incarcerated.

• Covid: Minnesota was a proud lockdown state; Walz enforced closures, restrictions and curfews, as well as a mask mandate, for more than a year. Police arrested a business owner who defied restrictions, while Walz set up a hotline that allowed residents to tattle on others who weren’t following his rules (Walz said the snitching was for people’s “own good.”)

• Spendalooza: Minnesota is racing to become the California of the Midwest, via a spending blowout that has ballooned government and depleted coffers. Walz hiked taxes, blew through a $18 billion surplus, and is on track for a $2.3 billion deficit. The money was thrown at a bevy of progressive priorities, including public education, “free college,” paid family and medical leave, and expanded government health care.

• Green New Deal: Walz tied his state’s vehicle emission standards to California regulations, among the strictest in the nation. And he signed a bill requiring state electric utilities to be 100% carbon free by 2040—an insane, and costly, fantasy.

• Culturally weird:  Walz gave his party a laugh when he declared Republicans “weird,” though it’s Minnesota that’s rapidly moved away from cultural norms under his tenure. He signed a law making the state a “sanctuary” for minors seeking transgender hormone treatment and surgery; another one mandating the dispensing of tampons in school boys’ bathrooms; and a law that declares an “individual” right to an abortion with no time limit or requirement that minors notify their parents.

Dept. of Conventional Wisdom: Walz has a jovial Midwestern style, and is often found chatting about his love of hunting or coaching while sporting a Carhartt jacket and baseball cap. Democrats intend to present him as their bridge to working-class voters and argue he’s capable of presenting progressive policy as practical and positive for most Americans. Think Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman or Montana Sen. Jon Tester. Yet Minnesota has little to show for its massive spending and liberal governance: Crime is up; education proficiency rates are down; capital and residents are leaving; inflation remains high; and job numbers are ticking down. Minnesota’s tax rates—individual, corporate and estate—are now among highest in the nation. Walz didn’t fare well with working-class voters in his gubernatorial elections. And his policy history magnifies the perception of a far-left ticket.

The real error may be lost opportunity. Vice-presidential candidates don’t usually make-or-break a ticket, but with another potential razor-thin presidential race in November—one that may very well run straight through Pennsylvania—Harris’s decision to walk away from a popular Keystone governor was risky.

[crosshairs-dumb-pimp-gf]

Disgrace Chapter 6 : Crosshair x F!OC

Where is the man Tah'nyem had come to know? Reserved, cautious, definitely not one to take risks... well there was that one time... and then... well... Regardless. Despite the ensuing chaos, she's told him to do as he likes and he has every intention of showing her exactly how he likes it.

Chapter Specific Warnings: Canon type Violence (Blaster fire, blood, strikes) stampede, attempted SA, a variety of kisses, light bondage, oral (m receiving), deep throat, inappropriate use of tools, car sex(?) overstimulation, forced orgasm, orgasm countdown, piv (unprotected) w/cπ, breeding press.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Authors note: Off to the races! and other such corny lines. I got this done in time for Kinktober AND my deadline! Woo!

Word Count: 10,500

Dynamic: Princess x Guard, Speed running Co-dependancy, A Mangy Cat and his Aggressive little Chihuahua. She's a damsel, she's in distress- she can handle it.

<-Previous Chapter - Read On Ao3 {START HERE}

Music Inspo- Love You Madly, CAKE

Listen on Spotify - Listen on Youtube

Chapter 6 -Madly

We debated staying in the box but the reality of being cornered with a several story dive onto an active raceway as the sole escape was only an attractive idea to one of us. There was time before Bly would be able to traverse the roundabout path from the opposite side of the track, though not a lot. I brought up the map of the casino compound while we figured out our next move. 

“Bly'd have goons looking for me anyways once he figured I was here, but after that little display, you he might actually want dead… fun part, killing him in turn would be a major political incident,”

“So we find somewhere to hide for the next,”

He tapped the pad to check the time again. 

“Two hours,”

Was that really all?

“Maybe we could catch a holofilm… as long as no one sees us slip in.”

I pointed to the holoplex in the west wing, not too far from the stadium.

“Let's stay in the arena, go down to the general seating and keep moving,”

“The day's races will be wrapped in an hour, where do we have to be to meet our connection?”

“The track loading bays,”

“It'll take a while for the crowd to filter out… sounds like a plan,”

I closed the map and made for the door, but hands pulled me back from the panel, turning me into another kiss, slow, firm, a delay in pulling away. 

“I'm glad he saw,”

“Mm, Let's see how long that sentiment sticks,”

But I smiled as I turned. I've never seen someone turn the shade Bly had. The memory was almost worth whatever issues it might cause.

~~~

We settled on the top panel of complimentary seating five floors down from the balcony. The rows were crowded as we navigated the smaller stairs between the benches. 

I rolled my eyes at Cross's suggestion to share a seat and picked out a spot middle left where we could both fit. Side by side. I was curious about this sudden cavalier attitude and lack of caution. 

Did someone spike the drink I gave him?

I pulled my hood lower as the familiar buzz of a droid flew overhead, cursing Jar'ath's name again. 

The man next to me was relaxed, watching a brutal collision on the holoscreens, the resulting explosion blooming hot in the distance to thunderous applause. The pods pit crews were running to retrieve the cockpits. 

“Did they survive that?”

He was watching the crews pry open the ejected compartments. 

“Likely… not without injury, but people don't die in these races like they used to. Ejectors and inertia dampeners became regulation,”

Plus other safety features that made getting a pod up to code very expensive. It was no wonder Riot Racing was finding an audience, but that was the natural progression of any sport. 

“If you want to see the hardcore stuff you’ll have to tune into the Safa Toma races starting off the underground in a few months,”

He didn't answer and I turned to find his attention elsewhere entirely. 

“What's up?”

“Security, on the steps, three paces back,”

I glanced without turning, catching a tall shadow looming over the stairs. 

“What about him?”

“Suits nicer than the staff downstairs, I think he's one of Bly’s boys,”

“That didn't take long,”

There wasn't a way to get up and slip out without drawing attention. 

“Maybe he'll just, gloss over us and leave,”

“Maybe,”

But he had slid his left hand between my legs to squeeze my thigh, making me jerk on the bench.

“Hey! The varp are you doing? Are you looking for a fight?”

“Maybe.”

This time it was purred into my ear as I was lifted to stand and ushered back into the aisle. The figure had already started moving towards us. We could get to the dark alcove marking the exit but we've been made. There could already be back up on the way. 

Swifty up the steps and into the shadows. The through traffic was light now that the race had begun and once we were around the corner we were relatively alone. 

Crosshair pulled us to a stop and pushed me against the wall behind him, waiting. 

The security guard rounded the corner at a casual pace… Cross pressed his side arm into the man’s ribs as he came into view, squeezing the trigger before he was even noticed. The bodyguard was down, and we stepped over him to hurry in the other direction. 

Down two flights of stairs into a busier hall and back out into the rows of spectators. There was only standing room here, and we pushed ahead to be closer to the track. 

As we hit the barrier, the pods zoomed by with a high, metallic whine and a gust that made my hair fly into my eyes. I turned away to try and straighten it, catching Crosshair craning his neck to look at the balconies above. 

“Looking for something?”

“I was hoping for a line of sight where we were, but the boxes are more steeply oriented than I thought,”

“Trying to see if more showed up?”

“If they did and I could see we could take care of this quickly,”

“Not sure that much blaster fire would go unnoticed…”

One or two shots maybe… guess you could do that though couldn't you?

I scanned the crowd around us but couldn't see any more fancy suits so I let myself relax a little, aiming my attention back to the other side of the track. 

The stands across the way were elevated over an open middle section allowing a view of the horizon. Trailing lights against the dark backdrop gave away the pods darting through wilder bends away from the cheering onlookers. 

Below the panoramic view, a wide area of standing room, also flooded with people. 

Half of Nohct City must be here tonight…

A glint caught my eye in the crowd. There were glitters and flashes everywhere, but this one sent a chill through me, like I had just met eyes with someone I couldn't actually see. 

“Cross… somethings down there…”

He caught the timid tone and pulled me against him, following my gaze to the lower levels, scanning quickly. 

“Shyte,”

His hand went to the back of my neck, pushing my head down, kneeling us below the barrier. I felt dust and small debris rain down on me. 

“What the kriff?”

“That's not one of Bly’s security… looks like we have two problems,”

Did someone just shoot at me?!

The tourists around us were mumbling excitedly, thinking the sharp crack to the divider wall was somehow part of the show. We were stuck in a sea of people, unable to tell where the pursuers were behind us and a new player training their sights on our current position. Stuck. 

“We have to try to move, stay as low as possible, use the crowd to hide yourself,”

“What if they get caught in the crossfire?”

“That's not my problem,”

He shifted me to move, tucking me to the inside of the aisle as we squeezed behind a group of tourists leaning dangerously far over the rim. 

We shuffled carefully, moving back up the way we came in a zigzag, shifting with the moving crowd to keep bodies between us and the open side of the stadium. 

I could still see the rim of the large, lower viewing area, which erupted in raised hands as the pods passed through the channel of the arena once more. 

It wasn't heard, but the first sign was a smell of burnt flesh. A man that had been standing in front of me as I moved up another few steps crumpled, crying out at the blaster wound suddenly smoking through his shoulder. 

There was a ripple of silence as heads turned to the fallen man. 

It started slower than you would expect. The audience members closest to the scene were the first to turn, wedging themselves hard between Crosshair and I as they rushed the stairs. Others forwent the stair aisles and simply started to hop up and over the stadium benches. 

I whipped my arm out to snag Cross’s outreached one as I was dragged by the sudden surge of people that began to flow between us. His hold on my wrist was strong but I was still being jostled and at this rate, might fall and halve my chances of getting out of here. 

“Wait for me!”

He had to shout to be heard over the din, and had more to say, but time had run out. I nodded and we let go, allowing me to turn into the current with better control. 

I tried not to worry at the new blaster fire opening up behind me, focusing more on keeping my footing, half carried by the throngs of panicked tourists. 

The pack was moving illogically, continuing upwards and past the turn offs that would lead back to the inner corridors. I fought the current, getting tangled and shoved as I tried to angle myself into a path out of the stadium. 

Screams were confused with cheering as a pod lost control and slammed into the barrier wall just under the commotion, causing a plume of flames to cast the sickening scene into a flickering show of obscene shadow puppets. Our section was in complete disarray and the occupants of the private boxes suspended above leaned over to better observe the spectacle. 

I couldn't see Crosshair. Couldn't even tell exactly where the blaster fire was coming from, if it was him or not, and then visual was cut completely as the throng pushed me into the exit tunnel and out into the wide hall overlooking the Casino. 

The crowd broke and scattered allowing room to breathe finally. I backtracked to a wall near the exit, security was rushing to the area and I was suddenly hoping Cross hadn't actually started to return fire. 

A few of the suits began to coralle guests into composure while another set slipped easily through the stampede and into the stadium. 

“Miss, if you would come with us,”

A pair had sidled up to me while I was scanning faces for the token tattoo. 

“I'm fine, really, just separated from my escort,”

I tried brushing them off, not turning to address them. One stepped in too close for comfort causing me to tense. The telltale press of a blaster in my side warned me too late of my mistake. These weren't casino security. 

I jerked my arm away from the fingers attempting to close around it. 

“Go ahead and shoot me,”

I snarled, but the big men only chuckled as they snatched at me, getting a hold of an arm and my neck. They shifted my struggling form between them, making a more discreet profile as they carted me off. Not that anyone in the confusion was paying any mind. 

“Let go!” 

My screeching barely broke the din, left helpless and fluttering like a bird in the stoney hands holding me firm. 

A well dressed pair of Muun chuckled as they caught my struggle. They probably thought I was a drunk being detained, observing with amusement as I was dragged into a roped off bar. 

The noise of the casino hall grew muffled as I was pushed past tables stacked with chairs, up a stylish set of metal stairs to a raised platform overlooking the silent dance floor.

The lights were off, but the whole club flickered in a harsh blue cast from floor to ceiling tanks lining the walls. Colorful fish the same size as myself swam lazily behind the glass casting eerie shadows in the already inconsistent glow. 

I was dumped on the floor by a darkened booth in the corner, table pulled away, leaving it open to the wide, suspended floor. A flashy shirt sat silhouetted by one of the large tanks, legs crossed, and a look of controlled fury across familiar, handsome features. 

“Lady Ra,”

“Duhanis…”

He stiffened at my omission of the adopted honorifics, 

“That was… humiliating… Are you proud of yourself? Did you make your point?”

“This might come as a shock, Bly’ju, but not everything’s about you,”

“Hmm, so you didn't put your little friend up to that? That vulgar display, you in the arms of that…”

His words cut off as anger made his jaw clench. He stood up, prowling towards me with a dangerous air. 

“Your behavior is unacceptable as one of my intendeds. What’s next little Can’gulia? Spreading your thighs for Clones and Katjarls ?”

I stiffened, Crosshair passed as natborn to the unskilled observer so of course Bly'ju missed it. A wicked smirk broke through my practiced gray expression.  

“Already there Bly’ju… or did you not notice my escort is cloned? Should I describe what those Kaminoan enhancements can do?”

Even if they do marry me to you, you won't own me Bly. I'll kriff who I want. 

His face darkened in a momentary rage that he repressed with a determined clench of his jaw. 

“…I've been asking politely, Tah’nyem, but what's the point when you'll just give yourself away to anyone?”

I didn't ever like his tone, but he was rubbing my nerves raw today. I sneered, making my contempt more than known,

“Oh no, Not anyone… just anyone but you,”

I spat in his face.

The backhand was expected, an angry strike was a telegraphed one, and I rolled with it, minimizing the sting. I wouldn't be able to take many of those though, and flexed my jaw to work the burning out faster. This bantha brain wasn't gonna get the satisfaction of seeing me scared. I forced a dry laugh,

“I see we've improved that temper,”

He looked down at me coldly, loosening the buttons at his wrists. 

“You should be grateful li’ha, a half-blooded off worlder like you still holds my attention, your Vah'hadarr, I'm sorry, the governor, will give in eventually, but perhaps it's time I forced his hand…Hold her down.”

I tried to dive away, scrabbling under a table but hands were already closing on my ankles, dragging me out and back to the open floor. I shrieked in fury as I was pinned, kicking out frantically to make a connection with any part of my assailants. A few soft grunts was all I managed to elicit as my arms were easily restrained. 

Bly stood over me, an ugly expression painted over him as he made for my hips. I aimed a kick at his knee caps which was caught with a cold laugh.

“This was always inevitable li’ha, I'm just done being nice, this was the last kriffing provocation,”

I yanked my foot in an attempt to break his hold, instead, pulling my leg free of the loose, old boot. Bly stumbled slightly as the tension released, letting his guard down. My heel connected with his groin next and this time I was rewarded with a bellowing howl of pain. 

“Idiots, get her legs,”

He was wheezing, his tall form hunched and… wide? 

His shadowy silhouette seemed to double in size… It took me a moment to register through the horrid adrenaline that a figure had materialized behind Bly, erupting from his shadow,

Crack

Bly's head snapped to the side as a fist hooked into his jaw. Before he could react, Crosshair aimed another swing to land with a wet crunch into his nose, sending him backwards to sprawl on the club carpet. Blaster fire, and the security holding me down fell limp. 

I struggled up, angrily stumbling to the disheveled suit gurgling on the floor and ground my heel against the man's crotch, crushing the family jewels and ripping an undignified squeal from the battered Bly. 

“You sick Kark!”

Swinging my leg back in a swift kick for good measure, I jumped when gentle hands slid about my upper arms, pulling me back. 

“You okay?”

No.

“...I'm fine, we should go.”

Forcing the adrenaline making me shake away, I picked up my boot and made towards the stairs.

“You want to give him another kick?”

I looked back at Cross who gestured invitingly to the whimpering form of Bly on the ground. 

…

“Yeah…”

I slowly put the old boot back on and circled the large, quivering shyte stain of a man, surveying the available surfaces before giving him a hard, firm kick right to the ass. I wanted to go for the gut but the coward had curled up in fetal position. Blood was pouring from his nose which was crooked from the hard strike Cross had delivered. It was the best he had ever looked. 

“Better?”

“A little,”

He pulled me to him, cradling me as I stared down at the bloody mess. Stroking my hair and arms, but I was antsy to get out of here.

“We should go,”

“Soon,”

His answer had an odd tone to it. I stepped out from his hold but was spun back, lifted to be held against his armored chest plate. 

“Kiss me,”

“Now?”

He just squeezed me, eyes filled with a playful peevishness. 

This man’s insane, isn't he?

I pressed my lips to his, evoking a happy little groan deep in his throat as I played along. I thought I might be going a bit insane too, something new alighting within me at his possessive display. 

A gurgling, frustrated growl came from the man on the floor as he struggled to find his feet. Cross answered by squeezing my ass in an exaggerated way before setting me down again. 

Bly had finally managed to stand but before he had a chance to move or speak a blaster pulse hit him square between the eyes. 

“Crosshair!”

“Relax, he's stunned,”

“Oh…”

I had forgotten military weapons could do that  and turned to the security out on the floor. They didn't seem to be breathing. 

“Those ones are dead,”

“Ah… good…”

He chuckled, leaning to brush his lips lightly across mine. It was quiet now, and as much as I wanted to revel in the daring rescue I could once again hear the distant voices of the crowded walkways. 

“What happened out there?”

He sighed, standing straight again and turning to look off where my attention had been pulled. 

“Management seems to be working wonders in crowd control. No ones too concerned about blasters going off during the races… I didn't get the gunman though,”

“You missed?”

“No, just… once one person started shooting others joined in, I couldn't get a fix on the original, so they're still out there,”

“Sounds like a podrace… how much time do we have,”

“45 minutes,”

It would take some time to get to the loading area of the track from here.

“We should grab lunch,”

I picked up my bag from where it had been cast aside unnoticed and pulled up the holomap. I was half joking but my stomach perked up at the thought of food. 

“You think there's time,”

He moved closer to me again, fingers playing lightly over my shoulder, the touch was casual, but was becoming constant. Perhaps blanket permission was a bit hasty, I didn't account on him being so… handsy. 

“No, but I'm hungry, One of these quick stands should do, The staginging area is just past this pavilion, We’ll snag something we can walk with,”

He nodded, and grabbed a napkin off the bar, cleaning the blood off of his knuckles before taking the bag off my shoulder. I put my hood up and followed his lead, leaving the mess where it was. 

~~~

We only got lost once on our way to the shopping pavilion that stretched in all directions once you decended into the underground cavern of the spiralling complex. 

As soon as we entered the wide entrance plaza, a family of Toydarian tourists tried to stop us for pictures. They were under the mistaken impression we were a celebrity couple,  apparently recognizing us from the holoscreen display. It took a moment to untangle ourselves, letting them snap a few quick shots to keep from making a scene, before being allowed into the marketplace proper.

An internal fountain sat at the center of the forked halls, the bubbling liquid changing hues from a brilliant sea green to turquoise and back. Projections of little figures made of light danced across the surface, performing complicated acrobatics and romantic plays. Younglings delightedly tried to grab at the shimmering sprites as they splashed in the vibrant pool vaguely unattended by the tired and distracted adults around them. 

Sound echoed off the hollow stone roof filled with whispy artificial clouds painting a false pastel sky shimmering against the ceiling. 

I checked a posted stand marking our location and gestured for Cross to follow me to the left passage. As I turned away I felt him take my hand, falling in stride next to me. 

“What are you doing?”

“If they think we're a couple wouldn't it be strange to just trail around after you?”

“That was one group of tourists…”

“Was it now?”

Something in his tone had me scanning the crowd. 

Ah, varp…

The occasional group was casting glances at us, whispering behind their hands excitedly. More than a few. 

“Well that's definitely not good,”

He chuckled, leaning in to whisper,

“Just play the part.”

“We should duck into the service tunnels, there's still a shooter out here somewhere,”

“Easier if they come to me,”

“Careful now, almost sounds like you're using  me as bait,”

He wrapped an arm around my waist and ushered me along the hall past storefronts with dazling displays of poor taste and kitch. 

“Best bait around, besides, you're hungry, right?”

Kark it. I can chew the scenery.

I leaned into him, pressing against his side suggestively.

“Something sweet, okay?”

I set my stride to something more confident suiting a debutante flaunting her affair. Heads definitely turned to watch us make our way, more than just the giddy whispers from before. It was wonderous what a change of posture could do when it came to commanding attention. 

You better know what you're doing, Cross…

My pace faltered as we passed in front of a clothing store, high fashion displayed in minimal stands. I glanced down at my tailored clothes, or rather, my father's tailored clothes. 

“I need to make a stop…”

~~~

We reached the alcoved pavilion in swaggerish stride, a small bag with clothes that would actually fit me hanging off my arm. Semi permanent food stalls lined the walls and a few snack carts were littered throughout the large, circular room between hundreds of scattered cafe tables. The noise was almost unbearable, voices bouncing off the domed ceiling, the clatter of cutlery, and the occasional babbling infant. 

Cross was already dragging me to a cart near a service entrance. It was a practical choice, the loading dock was a short ways through those doors. 

I looked over the pastries on display, flakey rolled crust with caramelized spices sprinkling the tops. 

“Sweet enough?”

“Mhmm, it looks good,”

We stepped into the short line, Cross keeping me close with a hand at my back. He was standing casually but I could see his eyes systematically checking our surroundings. We were vulnerable while standing still and I silently urged the couple ahead of us to hurry the kark up. 

I took the time to really look at the room. Pillars divided the wall, disguising projection systems that were casting the illusion of being outside. It looked like the holo images were of Naboo with it's waterfalls and old, elegant architecture. As I watched the images faded, replaced with new scenery; as if we were overlooking Coruscant under the sparkling lights of night. 

I looked over the planet I had lived half my life. The projections had a convincing amount of depth to them and I wondered if the feeds were live. This particular section of skyline looked familiar…

If that gold glow over there is the memorial…

I turned slowly, scanning the horizon till I saw the obvious red streak staining the sky in the distance and tapped my companion’s side. 

“Cross, you see that over there?”

It took him a second to refocus and realize what he was looking at. 

“Is this supposed to be Coruscant?”

“It is, but you see that tall tower off in the distance… the red one?”

“Yes,”

“That's The Red Spire, the club at the top is called The Red Crown… it's where you can find me,”

His eyes narrowed, memorizing the point and landmarks. Coruscant was a massive place after all. The eagerness of it was charming me and I leaned against his chest just in time for the couple in front of us to move. 

I stepped up and motioned for two orders from the attendant, turning to relax against the pick up counter. Crosshair leaned over me, keeping his body mostly turned to the room. 

“You live at the club?”

“No… I live where you picked me up, you won't find me there though, I usually stay at Kahtzi’s in The Spire, No one looks for me there…”

“But you want me to?”

“Sure… if you don't die in some gruesome way or another,”

He made an amused tone, but his eyes went distant, then flicked back to the smear of red in the far off projected sky before it shimmered out of focus again, casting a new illusion of a distant land. 

“And Kahtzi, she's gonna… fight me?”

“Hm?”

“Jar'ath… he said she'd want a piece of me,”

I choked on the guffaw that tried to escape me.

“Oh, oh no li’nen, she'll wanna kriff you,”

He looked stunned. 

“Because… you like me?”

“Mm, it's a twisted kind of protectiveness, wants to make sure I'm not being too nice and faking it to spare your feelings or… something,”

He raised an eyebrow trying to process this… complication?

“I don't really get it either, I think she wants to give the guy I end up with pointers or something,”

“You and yours are… strange.”

“Welcome to Strange, here I thought you were a resident yourself,”

That earned a chuckle, and it seemed like processing my ‘strangeness’ was put on a back burner. 

I was handed our snacks, two spice rolls in each little paper tray, and put Cross’s next to his hand on the bar before taking a bite of my own. The flaking crust dissolved with whatever fat they used to make the layers, the spices salty and slightly acidic, all rounded off with a sweet cream filling. 

It was divine and I moaned deep in my chest in delight, closing my eyes as I savored the dessert. 

I had taken another bite before the feeling of being watched became apparent and turned to look at the man looming over me. He was once again stern with intensity. I struggled to swallow the over zealous chunk of pastry, wiping the bit of cream that had landed on my chin and licking it from my finger.

“What? You see the guy?”

He leaned down, growling in my ear,

“You didn't make noises like that when I was inside of you,”

The sudden plain vulgarity sent a heat through me, crashing to my core. My guard had been down and I could feel my cheeks flush, my eyes glazing over with sudden need… his voice was husky,

“What do I have to do, to make you sound that satisfied?”

I couldn't answer, his whole demeanor had changed. The kisses had been playful, daring, and charged with mischief… but this was a possessive lust tinged with a bit of hurt pride. He leaned in closer so that his breath tickled my neck, his lips brushing my ear. 

“I don't plan on holding back with you…”

“Ooh, you better not…”

…

A child let out a high pitched scream, snapping us back to reality. We separated partially, and I finished the sweet I had been working on while Cross picked up the first of his. He took a bite and made a similar noise to my groan of pleasure, eyebrows raising at the mix of flavors. 

“Good, right?”

I chuckled, and he went back to scanning the crowd. 

“Let's move,”

He said suddenly, picking up our paper cartons and quickly shifting me to the other side of the stand, weaving us towards the service doors. 

I casually glanced over my shoulder and caught what had spooked him. A slight figure, dressed plainly for the tourist crowd, walking swiftly in a little too straight a line in our direction. 

Show time.

I picked up the pace to be even with Cross as we got closer to the double doors that would lead to a wide tunnel for staff and deliveries. 

We didn't look back as we pushed through, the heavy doors hissing on their hydraulics, shuffling quickly passed workers who turned their heads questioningly as we went by.

“You got a plan?”

“Working on it,”

We had looked over the public blueprints of the back halls. Most things weren't listed but the outlines of rooms had to be shown for emergency purposes. There would be a few turn offs before we reached the side entrance to the loading docks. 

“We need to get rid of them before meeting our connection, for now, act normal like we don't know they're there,”

I quickly ate my remaining pastry roll, somewhat skipping along to keep up with Cross’s long stride. He kept his arm around me though, squeezing me occasionally to his side and leaning to give my temple little pecks as we walked. I could feel him scanning behind us whenever he did. 

“Alright, we'll end this quickly,”

He gave my ass a squeeze as we passed the last few employees, backing me against a door alcove, leaning in as if to kiss me. Instead he whispered,

“Once we're through get on my back, and hurry,”

I nodded and he pressed the panel opening the door behind me.

 As soon as it shut he knelt, and I climbed on, crushing my bag between his back and my front. The charging pack concealed under his cloak pressed into me uncomfortably but there wasn't much time to adjust as I wrapped my legs around his hips. 

“Can you hold on?”

“Easy,”

He nodded and after sizing up the gap in the hall, put one foot on the wall, braced himself and then the other foot on the opposite. We climbed carefully like this, upwards like a spider, till we were nestled into the space above the door. He found foot holds on the framed doors, and leaned against me in the ceiling corner. 

“Hold. Very. Still.”

I didn't move as he carefully braced against me, taking his hands off the walls and drawing his side arm, aiming it below us. 

A few, shaking breaths, and the door swished open. The slight figure from before stepped into the narrow connector hall, carefully sweeping and seeing nothing. Cross squeezed the trigger, and they were down without even a whimper. 

“Brace yourself,”

Crosshair let go of the footholds and we dropped to the floor. He stumbled a little from the uneven weight but we landed sound and I was put down again. 

The assassin's pockets were turned out; nothing but a small data stick and their petite blaster in a leather holster. 

“Here,”

He undid the belt and handed me the small gun.

“I’m not sure I should… not exactly trained like you,”

“Take it, next time someone grabs you just shoot them, it's not like it's hard,”

In today's headlines, Elite Sniper, shot in back of head after too much sass…

Eyes narrow, I took the belt and drew the gun, gripping the small handle, feeling the weight of the little pistol. It felt nice… right. 

Crosshair had hit the projection on the data stick, the file inside was simple. A list of names. 

Lieutenant Jerimnah Hervos - Confirmed Petty Officer Kuregt Talosi - Confirmed Aviation Specialist Kerna Holotsa - Confirmed Petty Officer Suito Jurlois - Confirmed Comms Specialist Gurino Frasolti - Confirmed Clone Commander CT-9904 - Unknown  Comms Specialist Hailla Jua - Confirmed  Nav Specialist Tai Kinu - Confirmed  Civilian Tah’nyem Ra - Unknown

“What is that?”

Kerna’s name was on it, and mine, but Crosshair's was the only clone code on the list… it couldn't be a complete ships dossier. 

As I watched, the status by our names switched from ‘Unknown’ to ‘Active.’

“I don't know…”

I wasn't sure he was telling the truth.

“Let's hope we don't have to find out,”

He pocketed the data stick, and before I could blink my back was pressed against the wall, hands in my hair pulling my head backwards as my lips were roughly claimed by the tall figure pressing against me. 

He lifted me slightly, pinning my hips with his to grind his codpiece between my legs. The hard metal hurt in a delicious way and I groaned as the embers from earlier were breathed into new life with my desperate gasping against his lips. 

Hands slid over my breasts, the silk of the fabric transferring the heat from him to feel more distinct than if it was direct contact. 

I let out a little whine when he pulled away, his raspy voice coming to me as a pant,

“Soon… soon,”

He nuzzled my hair as I slid back down to standing. I didn't want to wait, waiting was making me… irrational; Reaching for his belt, sliding fingers around the edge of the codpiece, feeling how tight the fabric underneath had gotten. 

He found my lips again, unhooking my fingers from his armor. 

“Soon, we have to go,”

~~~

We casually slipped into the loading dock, passing droids operating sparking tools. The wrecked pods were in the middle of a wide track running the length of the hangar style structure being loaded into a larger towing barge. There were hundreds of participants, and they scattered about sorting out their pods and dock numbers. 

“What do we do now?”

“Loading dock 54, we're meeting the captain of team 88,”

I scanned the bays. Luckily the entrance we used dropped us in the middle of the docks, we were already in the fifties. 

“Wait!”

I let out a delighted little squeal and pranced over to the pod parked at dock 54, throwing myself over its shiny yellow nose.

“Hey baby, did you miss me?”

Crosshair was slowly tailing after me, puzzled by my draped form over the racing vessel. I felt silly not noticing, but a lot had been happening since the race started. 

“Cross, meet my baby, Cowardly Jyck,”

“It's yours?”

“Mhmm, I'm not allowed to pilot it… obviously, but it’s mine, I own the team,”

Well, my father does, and manages it. Explains why they didn't bother to send anyone for me, we were already here. 

“Why would you name a racer ‘cowardly?’”

“Mm, it's fitted for defensive piloting,”

I stroked the paint job, noticing a large gash in the black and yellow stripes on the back hull. 

“Oh baby, what'd they do to you?”

“Oi, ger’off me pod, woman!”

I sighed, sitting up to straddle the vehicle. 

“Hello Sevill,”

The small woman looked up at me. 

“T… I sai’ geroff,”

“You know damn well it's my pod,”

“Like varp, I'm d’pilot,”

I gyrated my hips against the hood of the pod sticking my tongue out, causing Sevill to roll her massive eyes. 

“Ya finna ruin d’paint job,”

“Looks like you already did,”

Crosshair cleared his throat, raising his eyebrows in amusement, but also pointedly glancing at the living mechanics who stopped working to stare in our direction. 

I slipped off the pod. 

“An who's dis, den?”

Sevill stepped back so she could see more than Cross’s codpiece. 

“Don't you recognize T’s scandalous new squeeze?”

A Ga'haiian I recognized had approached after Sevill. 

“An ‘ow I'm s’posed ta do dat, den?

“You're telling me you kept your eyes on the track the whole time?”

She pointedly cocked her head at the gash in the side of the pod. 

“Dunny' see what dat's got to do wit it…” 

Sevill grumbled, but stepped away to start working on strapping the pod's engines into the loading flat. 

“How've you been Ger’nahei?”

“Not as good as you apparently, your team places top ten and you've got yourself a new toy,”

She was pacing about Cross, scanning down his sleek armor. To the Clone’s credit, he seemed to be getting used to my peer’s lack of boundaries and base level respect. It was amusing seeing how small he looked next to Ger’nahei, who stood a full head over him. 

Being full blooded Ga'haiian, her skin was slightly darker than mine, her hair pure white and tied into braids that pulled the silvery strands away from her face. Her frame was built to handle the strenuous life of being on the move with tons of mechanical equipment in tow. She was the Captain of team Yellow Jyck, and I gave her a big hug around her middle. 

“If I knew you guys were racing today I would have come down here sooner,”

“Well, as we established, you had your… distractions, besides, your Vah'hadarr has never been very specific, wouldn't be the first time he left out important details,”

“Mm, it's like he thinks no one will actually have to use his contingencies…”

It was a bad habit of hubris, overconfident that his first plan is foolproof and no one needs to know about the details but himself. 

“So we're hitching with you guys?”

“Sort of, the cab can only fit the two of us, and we're supposed to keep you off the check point registry,”

Sevill had popped the pit team and the little droids began guiding the flat packed pod onto the small freighter through gate 54. 

“You two will be riding with the pod, you'll need to be loaded in before they weigh the crate so… load up Missy,”

“I'm riding… in the back?... The back of a freighter,”

“That's right,”

Ger'nahei laughed at my miffed expression. 

“C’mon, I'll show you,”

Cross leaned in as the tall woman walked ahead, trailing the pod as it locked into place in the truck’s hold. 

“Looks like we'll be alone,”

He walked ahead to follow her, introducing himself as I had failed to, leaving me with the implications of what was to come once these doors closed on us. I shivered in anticipation, the incredulity of riding in cargo melting into something dull witted and needy.

I snapped out of it and hurried into the open truck. The pod was locked into the back nearest the door, it's engines folded underneath. Connector cables were strewn  about everywhere and after I picked my way through them I found Crosshair and Ger'nahei chatting over a bank of heavy tools clipped into the wall. Sevill popped through a smaller door on the side of the truck towards the front… I noticed there wasn't direct access to the cab.

Alone indeed.

“Dunny touch me tools,”

Sevill harrumphed as she passed the chatting pair. 

“Dunny touch d’pod, in fact dunny touch any’ting, including me cot”

She gestured to the small bunk tucked near the tools. 

The front end of the hold was set up like a makeshift workshop, besides the tools and the cot, there was a low workbench clean and tidy and a small cubby behind a folding door. 

“Freshers ‘hind the door here, just a piss pot but better dan notin’... Enjoy”

She bowed in a sarcastic manner, collapsed the pit droids and left out the side door again. 

Ger'nahei and Cross finished their exchange and she moved to close the back doors, locking them in place. 

“Touch whatever, just be quiet and sit tight till we're on the road, if you jiggle the scale the jigs up early,”

She walked to the side door glancing back in at the two of us,

“It'll be three hours till we get to East Station, More if traffic goes to shyte, You'll be let out there before the container is loaded to the border train, get comfy it’s gonna be a while,”

The door was shut and bolted from the outside, leaving us in muffled silence. 

Crosshair dumped the duffle on the cot, followed by his rifle, placed more carefully, then the cloak falling in a rumple over everything else. The engines rumbled to life beneath our feet, causing us to sway as it started to pull from the slotted bay. 

His gaze fixed to me, poised across the bay against the shifting pulls of gravity. He crooked his finger in a beckoning motion. I raised my brow in challenge,

“Maybe you should use your words,” 

His eye gave a small twitch, then the corner of his mouth. Words fell between his lips in a hiss,

“Come to me, Tahny,”

A demand that would normally make me bristle instead sent a ripple down my spine, warming me, spurning me into motion. One step, across the rocking floor, another, and I was in his waiting arms. 

As his lips fell upon me, hot against mine, lacking in the careful restraint that had floated through us throughout the day, a sliver of reservation dropped through me. Almost as if my instincts were calling in one final check, one more, ‘Are you sure?,’ in the form of old Hyretta’s voice from a smoke laden card game ages ago…

“Never invite a man into your bed twice unless he's paying,”

The old call girl had chuckled, puffing on her death stick. 

“You'll never get rid of him, baby girl,”

I had lived by that till now, well not the… paid part, but as there's yet to be a bed maybe I've found the loophole. 

Cross seemed to notice my distracted air, biting my lip to bring me back to him and I wrapped my arms about his narrow hips. Confident my attention was where it was supposed to be he darted his tongue out to sooth the nipped skin before slipping it into my mouth. I sucked on it, greedy for the chaos that was whatever we had started doing with our lives. 

He shifted to lean back against the hood of the strapped in pod, pulling me to rest against his chest. I cradled his head, elbows to either side of his slim face and stroked the tender scar over his ear. His hands dropped to grip my ass, pulling my hips in to grind against his still armored groin eliciting a pathetic mewl of need as he kissed me rough and unrelenting.

“Just take me Cross, I need this…”

“Mm, not yet, I'm too worked up to last long like this…”

He pulled back in an attempt to cool off slightly, I had different ideas. 

“We'll just…”

I slid off him, fingers going for the edge of his codpiece. He didn't protest as I clumsily pulled it from the magnetized fasteners, dumping the metal piece and his belt with the growing pile on the cot. 

“...reset a little,”

I smirked triumphantly as I leaned back in, stroking the obvious bulge straining against the tight black fabric before slipping my fingers into the waistband. He groaned as I undid the pull strap and eased them down over the dark patch of hair they hid, letting his cock swing free. I took him in hand, biting back a soft moan myself. 

He was already heavy with blood, the vein along the underside swelling as my fingers gently caressed the velvety length of him. His eyes were on me, I'm sure he knew of my intentions long before I slid to my knees to nuzzle his exposed member. 

His eyes fluttered as he fought the urge to close them, sighing low as I slowly, teasingly lapped my tongue up the main vein, flicking over the edge of the swollen head before letting it rest against my lips. He was musky from the sweat of the days activities, the masculine scent sending little waves of lust through me. 

“Should I continue?”

My lips brushed his head, causing his cock to bob from a violent twitch, tapping my lips as his breath got heavy. 

“Kriff, Tahny, please do something…”

His hips bucked in frustration wanting in my mouth already. I obliged, opening with a little ‘ah’ allowing him to thrust in, massaging him with my lips as his head ground into my pallet and he sighed in relief. I bobbed shallowly at first, pressing against the ridge of his head with my tongue, working his shaft at a comfortable depth. 

The trick was not to overstimulate him the first time, I relaxed my tongue to a more passive role, guiding him away from my teeth, bobbing a rhythm matching his shallow thrusts against the softer tissue near my throat earning me a series of soft little moans as he desperately pressed against the resisting tightness. He was right, not gonna last long at all. 

Something was going on outside the truck, we shuddered as the vehicle stopped and a loud whine echoed around the hold, though it didn't do much to distract us. 

His hands found their way into my hair, lacing into the shorter strands in the back. He kept me at pace, thrusting and pushing me down on him as his breath slowed to a ragged pant. 

The cargo bay suddenly dropped, not far, but enough to displace us, bouncing against the hood of the pod and thrusting his cock past the barrier of my tonsils. I whimpered at the sudden stretch, tears pricking my eyes as air was cutoff, but held fast at the strangled cry that had Crosshair twitching in my throat. He came, pushing as far as he could till my nose was tickled by the soft patch of hair at his base. 

Easy… easy.

I calmed the instincts that wanted to clamp down at the invading rod, desperately seeking the balance needed to sooth my muscles from spasming. 

We both tensed as someone jiggled the side door to a sharp reprimand from what sounded like Ger’nahei. 

I tapped the plate on his thigh and he jumped, releasing me and sliding his softening manhood out from where it was still hugged by my throat allowing me to gulp air. 

“Better?”

I finally asked once my breathing was again even. He was looking at me, kneeling between his legs; Eyes teared up, wiping at the glistening saliva that had dripped down my chin with the back of my hand. 

“Not even close…”

“Good, we have time though…”

We had just finished being weighed and hadn't even left the loading station yet. I stood and wobbled to the tiny closet refresher as the truck set into motion again, splashing a bit of water from the sink on my face.

When I turned back, Crosshair was still sprawled on the hood of the podracer, everything tucked away where it was supposed to be. He was taking in the wall of tools for maintaining the pod, fingers taping his chest plate idly as if he was deep in thought. 

“A credit for your accounts?”

“Hmm”

“Just looks like your brain’s whirring”

“I'll keep my schemes to myself,”

“Scheming is it?”

I slinked to him, lifting myself back onto his chest with a foot on the pod's bumper and laying my head against the plated armor. He wrapped an arm about my waist and I clenched my teeth, trying to suppress the jolts the touch was sending through me. He may have gotten some relief but my need had only grown hotter and more demanding.

He pretended not to notice but his fingers started to tap more deliberately on my waist where the fabric was thin, the skin underneath soft and vulnerable. I could hear a low rumble through the chest plate, an amused response to the little twitches, the attempts to mask what he was doing to me somewhat obvious. 

He struck quickly, fingers grabbing into my sides and ass, hugging me tighter to him. The shock sent a wave of tingles snapping my spine to press into him more and I cried out from the sudden waves of ecstasy. My face flushed, I was getting too sensitive.

“Who knew such a brat could be so cute?”

“Euch… cute?”

“Cute.”

“That's it, put me down,”

I struggled against him, mockingly… but it took a bit of effort to make the show convincing. 

Kriff he's strong…

He cupped my chin, tightening his other arm to still me. 

“You’re cute. Deal with it.”

He cut off further protest, pressing his lips to mine causing me to hum into him. I caught his bottom lip with my teeth tugging it a little too hard. He just moaned softly as my teeth slid off the tender flesh, clicking as his lip freed itself. 

“I'm done scheming,”

He announced, sliding off the hood of the pod, leaving me standing rather wobbly and bemused. Scooping something from between the cables, he lifted himself to the open cockpit of the pod and sat on the back of the chair, feet on the seat. A tap tap to his thigh to summon me and I picked my way over to the side of the racer. 

“Up there?”

“Up here,”

“Little tight don't you think?”

His lips quirked at that and I crawled up the side and into the cockpit, kneeling on the seat between his legs. A length of knit cord was strung between his hands, being untangled and wrapped into a neater spool. 

“And what are we planning with that?”

“Stand up and you'll see,”

I hummed incredulously and he smirked,

“Not used to being helpless?”

I looked up at him through my bangs. It's not that Kahtzi and I hadn't used restraints, it was more that Kahtzi was a harmless tooka kit in comparison to the man in front of me.

“Honestly, I've only really tied myself up… Kahtzi doesn't have a knack for it,”

“So you've never been in restraints you couldn't get out of…”

“Pretty much,”

He chuckled, stroking my hair reassuringly.

“Always in control, aren't you? Don't you trust me?”

…

“With my life,”

His eyes shone brightly, reflecting the dim work light from the bench as he scanned my face, searching… I tried again. 

“I trust you Crosshair,”

I reached up from where I knelt between his knees, cradling his chin in my hands. 

It's okay… 

He swallowed hard, raising me to stand and lean back so that my hips nestled against the steering module, handles to either side of me. It slightly protruded over the edge of the pod's hood in its locked position. 

Pressing one of my wrists to a handle, he wrapped the cord around loosely a few times, sliding the end back under the loops created to tighten the binding. This was repeated on the other handle till I was tightly tied leaning against the pod’s dash. 

“Try those,”

He was focused on my wrists and I pulled at the ropes as requested. They seemed to tighten at my little tug. He made a pleased noise,

“Not going anywhere…”

He undid the holster at my waist and gave my hip a light smack, hopping out of the pod and walking out of view. He was by the tool wall, but I couldn't turn far enough to see what he was doing. 

“And now you torture me for information, right?”

“Something like that,”

Very reassuring.

Some rustling, tapping, a few clicks and footsteps pacing back in my direction, Crosshair appearing before me again a moment later. 

I raised my brow in question at the cord dragging after him. He whipped it around for more leverage as he climbed into the cockpit again, settling into the shallow bucket seat in front of me. He was holding something but I still couldn't figure it. 

Our knees were about even like this, his tucked between mine, spreading them further as he pinned them with his own. 

He brandished what he had brought with him… a sort of narrow sander with a soft pad buffer attachment. I was starting to put two and two together. 

“I don't think that's what that's used for…”

He just shrugged, wrapping one of Sevill’s clean work towels around the padded head for more cushion. 

“Don't think you can handle it?”

I wasn't sure anyone could, not like I'd ever admit that though, so I shrugged, the cords creaking around my wrists.

His hand slid up my thigh, settling into the joint that creased the soft fabric, thumb tracing the seam running up the groin of my pants. The tingles ran through me, delicious and warm as he gently massaged the soft mound underneath causing me to sigh from the ache of it all. He was subtly shifting the fabric, moving the seam from where it might cover the folds creating an even surface that clung to the shape of the labia beneath. 

“If you need me to stop, say so,”

Leaning in, he kissed the outline of me and I inhaled sharp through my teeth as his skin warmed the suede over my barely guarded vulva. Then, the tool clicked on. 

I looked down at him, that mischievous look back in his eyes as he drew his lips away from me replacing it with the towel dampened buffer. 

My body jerked instantly at the intense vibration. It had more power behind it than the toys Kahtzi and I had and my knees tried to buckle at the zap to my nervous system. Cross still had my legs pinned in a splayed position, and I hung from the steering wheel a moment before the next jolt had my back arched. 

I was choking on the gasps that tried escaping me as I thrashed against the bindings at my wrists. It felt good, it hurt, it was too much and my brain couldn't take it. My legs were working again, attempting to kick, propell me over the hood and away from the stimulation.

“Don’t run from it, Tahny.”

His voice was commanding as he pushed the tool against me. Applying pressure from the flat, vibrating surface in rhythmic beats, finding and matching the gasping breaths I was still managing between violent twitches. I was getting close fast, but it was almost difficult with just how strong the sensation was. 

“You're gonna cum Tahny, you hear me?”

My back was arching, the ropes holding me in place getting tighter. I was trembling and taught and hooked on his words. 

“Nod if you're still in there,”

He chuckled, started to push the vibrations into me with a rough, static pulse. 

I nodded weakly. 

“You're close, I can see it, so you're gonna cum -stop struggling- when I say so,”

His words sparked the fuse, the motions against my clit growing more forceful the rhythm staying steady. 

“Three…”

It was like a wave was rising in me, looming over the shore of my senses,

“Two…”

He was counting me down, the very act of it serving to push me further, the wave higher.

“One… Cum now, Tahny.”

He pushed the attachment against me, held it there, and the wave crashed, flooding in and over me. 

“Oh kriff Cross!”

I stood rigid as the orgasm flowed through me like an electrical current, painfully intense. My knees tried to close around him like a vice only to meet the unyielding barrier of his legs holding me… then tension released me and I crumpled. 

The tool clicked off. 

“Good girl.”

His hand replaced the buffer, gentle and soothing against the swollen, overstimulated flesh. I whimpered as even the small brushes of his fingers rocked through me.

“How many of those till we break that pretty little brain of yours…”

My eyes widened and he chuckled, the sound more predatory than amused. 

“Some other time, I've been wanting this all day,”

He grabbed my knees and flipped me up to lay over the hood of the pod with a thunk, anchored by the steering handles, hanging slightly upside down towards the sloped nose. My legs were pushed together and up over his shoulder as he stood, hands undoing the fasteners to the altered slacks. 

The pants were pulled up halfway, a string of moisture clinging to them to glisten in the light. He eyed it hungrily as he twisted the cloth to bind my legs at the knee. His eyes roved down the backs of my thighs to the bud nestled between them, lingering on the slightly faded bruises from our previous coupling. 

“You didn't tell me these were here…”

He ran a gloved finger over the discoloration on my flesh. 

“I didn't think you were interested,”

“I'm interested.”

He leaned in to drag his teeth over the light bruise and I sighed at how good the gentle contact felt. He closed his mouth over one, sucking the soft flesh forcefully to leave another little mark. 

Slipping his gloves off, he traced a cool digit up my folds, pressing on the sensitive button to pull a sharp squeal from me, before retracing it's track down to plunge into my wet slit. 

I jerk violently again, the coolness of his skin feeling like ice against the blood hot walls squeezing around it. The pressure of it against the over stimulated nerves lining my depths made my legs tremble. I was far too sensitive, and let out a little, strangled cry. 

“Don't over react… it's just. One. Finger.”

He punctuated each word by drawing out and then back into me none too gently and I moaned, squirming under his attention.

“You're gonna cum again as soon as I'm in at this rate,”

He had taken his cock from his blacks, stroking his length, recovered and rock hard for the task ahead. His finger kept working my cunt, dragging along where the nerves were thickest in painfully slow motions while he pumped his shaft. 

I was panting already, the pleasure of being pushed so far making me nearly incoherent as I struggled to watch what he was doing, I wanted him more than ever.

He withdrew his finger, drawing over and lubricating the skin that was pressed together between my closed thighs. He licked the digit clean, holding my eyes to make sure I watched, before guiding his cock to my ready opening. Sliding it up and down, teasing me into making desperate little whines. 

“Hurry Cross…”

“Eager for me?”

“Very,”

Dignity can go kark itself.

His eyes darkened with lust and he lined his head up to my quivering sex, pressing in slowly, letting me feel every stretch, every tantalizing inch as he filled me, pushing hard till he was buried to the hilt. 

I sobbed at the sensation, the electricity that ran through me as I was massaged from the inside grew with every inch I took. With that final push the dam broke and my over sensitive tissue clenched around him as I came again, the stimulation already too much; voice strained from the horrid tension,

“Kriff…”

He didn't let me recover, instead, swinging his hips into motion, pulling out to slam back in hard and I arched my back moaning heatedly. It felt too good, my flesh hot and swollen to feel everything; the curve of his shaft, the flair of his head…I swore I could make out his veins as they pulsed against the walls that gripped him. He groaned, teeth scraping along the fabric on my calf before he plowed into me again, picking up pace. 

My brain went foggy, the waves of pleasure swallowing me till I was blind with it, euphoric mist and glitter. His hand was tugging my top open, a button pinging off the metal as it popped from its thread, roughly grabbing my handful of bouncing breasts, pinching the nipple. His other arm was wrapped around my legs, keeping them braced to his shoulder as they shook with each violent thrust. 

That false tranquility had fallen over me, my senses completely overridden by pleasure, the pod had become a cloud and nothing mattered besides the cock hammering into me, making me feel like this… light and airy and good. 

His cheek was pressed against my calves and he smirked down at me. He had quickly picked up on the signs I was close again and was intent on driving me there. It looked like his stamina was holding strong. 

I soared higher, my brain buzzing as my breath switched from gasps to a ragged heaving. The walls of my quim throbbing around him, making him groan as he brought me to climax. My back arched again, and I fell silent, lungs arrested by the taught muscles throughout me. The static from my brain spread hot over my skin, until my fingers and toes began to tingle. 

Then I was limp, completely spent.

He wasn't finished with me, and shifted to hold the tight bunch of fabric at my knees down to my middle, folding me in half, leaning over me with a more animalistic ferocity. His hips snapped into me, ruining me with aggressive, wet pops of skin against skin and a vulgar, lost groaning from deep in his throat. I hung over the hood of the pod helplessly, feeling fluid running from my ravaged cunt down my ass onto the dash and hood. I didn't want him to ever stop, I didn't know what would happen if he stopped, if I fell from this high.

There was no more mounting pleasure, I had plateaued and now swam in a haze of ecstasy, tingles swirling into life with every stroke of him pressing against my insides. Pain didn't exist here, thoughts didn't either, just him and this strange little idea I supposed was me hanging above everything else. 

“You still in there, Tahny?”

Barely 

“Crosshair…”

It was more sighed than said, and I struggled to focus my eyes on him. His breath hitched in a feral groan and he grabbed my thighs, pulling me closer to sheath himself as deep as possible as he came. His twitches echoed through my own muscles, sensitive beyond belief to the small jerking motions against my clenched sex clamped around him. 

Then he too, was still, besides the occasional kiss to the back of my calf between his ragged panting.  

We were both gasping to catch our breath, easier once he could pull out to unfold me, and I willed my heartbeat to return to something resembling normal as he eased my legs to hang back in the cockpit around his own. 

He had started tugging at the knots to undo the restraints while I finished gaining my composure.

“Whoever taught you that,”

I finally breathed, still partially upside down.

“Remind me to send them a ‘Thank You’ holo.”

He stopped his motions and stood up to lean over the dash, looking me straight in the eyes with nothing but befuddlement. 

“Are you kriffing mad?”

~~~

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@feral-ferrule

[eriexplosion]

i was reading your tags about Cid and i for real was so convinced that she would have a role in s3 in tracking down Tech and bringing him back to his brothers. that seemed like the perfect redemption arc for her, and a nice callback to her still owing Tech for riot racing for her, AND a way for her to star making amends with the batch (and Phee) after betraying them. really sad that neither Cid nor Tech appeared at all in s3. hopefully in a future show! 🤞

ABSOLUTELY same, I thought for sure that was what they were learning towards because they did go out of their way to make it clear she didn't want to turn them in and they brought her up again in season 3 without killing her offscreen. I'm curious if, as we dive further into the underworld via Maul, she'll come back up again.

(And, I mean, she does still owe Tech, who had that very foreshadowing sounding line from Phee about 'don't run off with any pirates or smugglers' that implies he might turn up somewhere related. I do think that he's CX-2 who simply didn't die when impaled because this is Star Wars, so all we would need is a way to get him from Point A to Point B to make that work but 🤔)