#since i made them with more design and less story in mind
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mathmusicreading · 11 months ago
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Blog(ger) Shift
I am, so weird and bad about original posting and about reblogging and about saving things on Tumblr and that's why my blog has been mostly inactive or the lurking consumer type. But I don't want my fears about putting myself out there, being seen and known, articulating myself well vs. having been told my whole life I'm too wordy and opinionated vs. not managing to articulate myself well enough to justify being verbose and passionate, etc. to continue to control me so much.
So for my new specific-interest sideblog that I'm not locking, I hope it being themed will help me with making more original posts and reblogging, and I'm publicizing that here to push myself and also welcome interaction.
RIP to my other public specific-interest sideblog and the fandom sideblog I took over for someone that I didn't take further and to my private sideblogs that were meant to make me reblog and save and say stuff because they would be personal and just for me. I still would like to make those happen and reblogging and posting things that matter to me here, and oh my heart for the content ideas I haven't been working on, but they're pipedreams with how I'm (not) managing my life and I keep kicking those cans down the road.
To the person who I developed a real relationship with as a beta but who by now I probably count as having disappeared on with how long it's been and my not coming back to explicitly say I still can't help and don't know when I can, I am so sorry. I'm being a coward languishing in hoping I can tell you soon that I can get back into beta-ing for you and talking, but that's turned into me not talking to you because I'm waiting to be able to say something positive. Hopefully my vaguing here can help push me into talking to you, or at least this is here for you to read if you happen to see it; and I want you to know you absolutely can talk to me, can call me out, and if you're so gracious as to still want to be friends with me and just chat despite my dropping being your beta, I'm here for you and still want to be your friend even if I don't know if I'll have the spoons to be a good one and I know my saying that preemptively isn't apology or justification enough.
Honest assessment, I'm going to curse and say my living situation and work have both become even more of a shitshow, and with those things in mind I can't begin to imagine handling a real project until basically literally a year from now.
Which segues back into the main topic of this post. My goal isn't to have my new sideblog be like an active mainblog nor to abandon this blog—people interested in that blog can and should still interact with me here given how primary vs. secondary blogs on Tumblr work, and in terms of using that blog to help make me be a better Tumblr user, I think I should make certain original posts here and reblog them there as opposed to them being original there. With my mental-emotional and time resources, I want that blog to be "active" for a given definition of active, but really I think I should see my objective as "clear out tabs and likes and photos and lists and notes and drafts, etc. from the last four months" by saving stuff there, as opposed to my goal being the original posts I want to make there, and actually my long-term goal should be to use that momentum to do the same for older digital and physical storage that hasn't been lost or stolen. In my failure to be an interesting person, do I at least manage to be fascinating as a basket-case? Ha. But, also, as expressed above the Read More, the exercise of my danmei/Chinese sideblog is supposed to be a foray into me allowing myself to be an interesting person.
#my stuff#Ok I think there were just the two posts so far to be reblogged from here to my side blog#At this point I think I can determine the amount of “me/original” put into them warrants the My Stuff tag per how I think I meant to use it#But I'm not adding the tag to those posts and am instead letting people know they should check my sideblog and the Main tag there#which actually means search for Main because I think not everything will show up since Tumblr only organizes by the first five tags?#how long have I mistakenly thought only the first five tags showed in the Tumblr-wide tags but that the others would still work on blogs oo#and probably danmei related posts will be original on the sideblog and Chinese related posts will be related here#Now back to the tags from before I went over those two posts#lol at my private blogs that have drafts but nothing posted or reblogged#I stand by my aesthetics designing all of these though#will have to do some thinking on headers and icons and blog titles/descriptions if I end up getting to the point of#clearing up and saving stuff for interests I didn't already make sideblogs for#And it's funny (sad) that for the fandom that I thought would be lasting for me personally and for fandom as a whole and I made an ao3feed#blog for given that and not realizing someone else already had after ao3feeds broke and because of my thoughts on how to organize for Tumbl#I'll still be interested for beta-ing for my friend and in my content ideas that will probably never see fruition#but I feel less than for any other fandom like I will want to go back and reread and I think that some ill feelings from this fandom must'v#affected me more than I thought. Hopefully things are more positive though because while I'm not feeling so much thinking about my fav fic#when I cast my mind about for other good writing and beautiful stories I do feel more urge and drive to reread#Hopefully it's that I still love that fic but am fatigued on the rereads I've already given it but I still have the spark of love for the#fandom and perspective will help me focus back on fondness for the community especially remembering that higher level of and more#contemporary involvement were why I could reach the threshold of having more negative experiences
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sanctus-ingenium · 20 days ago
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Camera & Action in their own original concept sketches. these were on my other blog but since ppl seem to enjoy the designs i thought i'd have them here as well
ppl may already know that pascal is no longer in the canon of inver, i decided to make a new story :)
so it's about these pseudo-AI assistant/virtual creatures called imimata (singular: imimaton). In the context of the story it's specifically about celebrity culture, virtual pop stars/TV presenters, and labour relations
[copy-pasted explanation from the other blog lol but i have a tag for it here too with a lot more posts!!]
Think of a completely formless seed that, for a fleeting moment, has the potential to become an artificial intelligence, but always changing, with endless permutations and no permanent state of being. when kept within a resonance chamber (the ‘container’ that may be analogue or digital etc), it is fixed into place long enough for it to be able to become. the chamber holds it and allows it to develop instead of dissipate away instantly. the process of development led by external forces - intentional or unintentional - is called 'encoding’. professional encoders will essentially use this shapeless state of being to encode commands, personality prompts, and rules, essentially moulding the thing in the resonance chamber into a form dictated by them. when i say unintentional, i also mean that exposure to any stimulus will always be a learning experience, and the thing will grow and develop no matter what if it first gets fixed in one place. but it’s only referred to as an imimaton once it has been encoded - no longer raw matter, but hammered into shape.
encoding is basically the socialisation of an impressionable thing into a biddable and useful form. in the early Hertzian era (when this technology took off, 1830s ish - crucially, before the commercial application of imimata, when they were curious playthings for idle Great Thinkers), encoding was a process of conversation lasting many years, often for purely philosophical purposes, literally talking at something until it talked back. prior to this, natural magnets could be used to fix a proto-imimaton, and people would think of them as similar to homunculi. in today's digital era, encoding takes the form of inserting storage media into the chamber, essentially running a program in a computer that reduced the encoding process to a few seconds and the flip of a switch. Pascal is an example of a Hertzian imimaton, composed of information stored in radio waves rather than a digital storage medium (basically - he's analogue)
outside of encoding, clauses may be placed upon the chamber itself and these are less socialisation, they do not form the building blocks of an imimaton, they are purely strict rules and routines which it is bound to follow. one such clause could involve the censorship of certain words (so that an imimaton cannot say fuck even if they would otherwise have been able to), or strict boundaries on what information an imimaton is allowed to learn. a common clause also boils down to making it impossible for one to attempt to manifest physically.
Once this was perfected, imimata entered the workforce at the turn of the 20th century.
[...]
When Pascal made his TV debut in 1969, it was hyped up for months with ads which depicted him on set and in more realistic ways (almost appearing to be photographs - some even were!), while public reaction was carefully monitored. This was highly experimental and it still was not known whether the concept of a virtual TV presenter worked, so although they did hype it up, there was a level of caution too so as not to invite negative press.
The first series did not involve public audience members but people from the broadcasting studio standing in for them (this was not made known at the time). They used a combination of camera tricks and graphics to make it feel like he was physically standing in a room with these people (bearing in mind he was strictly contained and had no manifestation outside the broadcast - he was within a container at the base of the mast tower, with a recording device which could cast his image live, so viewers at home were seeing cuts of the Pascal feed and cuts of the physical studio and audience stitched together to appear continuous)
That was part of the gimmick - it was commonly felt that an imimaton should never be permitted to manifest/should have no manifestation, so the fact that he supposedly was manifesting but friendly and contained was a draw. the ads leaned into it quite a lot - marketing copy implying that you could touch him, go on dates with him, etc but always with a cheeky wink, a "not really", the audience at home were in on the secret of it not being real. but it worked really well and was super effective to generate hype and it sparked an entire golden era of imimata and manufactured celebrities (but Pascal remained notorious for being one of the only ones that could believably interact with a studio audience in an unscripted manner, due to his 'maturity' as an imimaton, having been brought up in the 19th century conversational era of encoding, raised on a diet of talking to philosophers)
The second season of the show came out quickly and to much anticipation, and with members of the public actually participating for the first time. The broadcasters set up a wall of CRTs in the studio which would display him to people on-set, and wired up each audience member with a microphone so he could hear them too (he appeared to see them well enough through the camera equipment). he was excited to interact with them and they liked him too, but he always had this slightly mean streak which his broadcaster tried hard to soften. but the meanness worked really well in the reality/game show format where half the entertainment is watching audience members get dunked on sometimes
Episodes could be produced at a rapid pace by taping multiple at once - three identical sets were built for season 3 allowing for three episodes to be filmed at once because he could of course interact with everyone freely and essentially be in multiple places at once. this was also where the first issues showed up on-set - he began to miss his timing cues, arriving just a bit too late to the stage, or taking slightly too long to finish his nightly sign-off. this was not apparent publicly as the episodes were not shown live and could be edited, but any member of the public who was on the show was often hounded after by superfans, so some stories did come out about Pascal's 'odd' behaviour on set. there was a behind-the-scenes documentary made about the entire producing process in season 3 as well, which included some interviews with Pascal himself, but mostly consisted of his handlers and technicians excitedly explaining the broadcast apparatus and containment devices and so on.
Following The Incident, the rare copies of this film became highly sought-after by collectors.
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elodieunderglass · 1 year ago
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hi! i was just wondering if you’re getting a piece of this pie. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/voidrealmminis/rise-of-the-eldertubbies?ref=profile_saved_projects_live
Oh my goodness! Haha thanks for showing me! And no, of course, this guy is still selling my dream while claiming it’s totally nothing to do with me. I hadn’t heard about it so thank you.
For those just joining us, here is the saga of the elder teletubbies:
1. in 2017 I posted a dream I had on Tumblr. In the dream I discovered that the childish teletubbies shown on BBC’s Teletubbies are merely the children of a species that grows up to be forest cryptids as adults. The post contained a detailed character description explaining how the children’s simple antennae become more complex antlers; their coats become thicker hair; their eldritch screens are unknowable; here, look:
The adult Teletubbies have more branching, complex antlers and shaggy coats. They are less brightly coloured. They are terrifyingly large. Their strangely human faces, emerging from the thick fur, are unquestionably adult; remote, serene, reproachful. Their television screens are glitchy, esoteric and unknowable. They are cryptids whose public exploitation has undermined their rarity and their strange, alien dignity.
That’s a pretty clear description.
2. The post quickly gained attention and many people drew art, made sculptures, designed in-depth character concepts, and even made DnD character sheets and entries with detailed notes. It was 2017. The post got over 90k notes. It had an extremely clear description of the cryptid in it. This wasn’t at all obscure.
3. The post and four pieces of the concept art, including the first piece by were screencapped and posted on r/tumblr. The post included this art by the now-deactivated @finoliatav which is, I think, the first piece of art. Most screencaps don’t show that it’s animated! Once you see it you can no longer pretend that any more work needs to be done in designing these characters, really - they’re all variations on a very clear theme.
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4. A guy called Jars started drawing the BBC Teletubbies as adult Teletubbies. He noted on Reddit that his inspiration for the first one was the r/tumblr post but after that, he considered it entirely his own creative work. He drew each of the 4 BBC Teletubbies as adults using my character description and wrote a little story about how his character had stumbled upon them in the woods. He’s a good artist and his work went viral on Reddit and instagram. Those places being separate from Tumblr by the walls of the enclosure, they quickly believed the Jars was being highly original and praised him for it.
5. jars got carried away by his fame and started merchandising for all he’s worth. He’s selling elder teletubbies placemats. He got a collaborator to help him make and sell plushies.
6. Plushies of my character design applied to BBC characters. Jars sells them. To people. Who buy them. He sells these.
7. I think this is like… his job.
8. It has been years of this. I don’t think he has actually come up with anything else to sell by himself. But given that he now has millions upon millions of views on platforms I don’t use, let alone dominate (Instagram, YouTube, Reddit, TikTok) he seems to have fully subscribed to the idea that this is his THING.
9. After a while I wrote him a friendly email expressing that since my original dream was very much about discomfort with how the teletubbies were being exploited, I didn’t mind him selling his own art but that I wasn’t happy with him selling plushes based on my writing.
10. He wrote back along the lines of it all being his original intellectual property and absolutely nothing to do with me, etc, so jog on and don’t interfere.
11. I’m not entirely sure where the original intellectual property is when taking BBC characters and drawing them according to someone else’s detailed description of how to “evolve” them (branching antlers, shaggy coats, eldritch screens, serene adult human faces) especially having drawn them after seeing four separate detailed reference photos to base your own drawings on; especially when they’re the existing BBC characters from the show and not even your own. Like, Jars, you were given an entire detailed brief, several sets of references, an entire concept and a television show: the only artistic choices made here were to pick up your own personal pen and do the drawing. You have never deviated from my description, which you did not come up with yourself in any way. But okay Jars. You did some real intellectual heavy lifting here, this is Intellectual Property suddenly, and I guess this is your day job!
12. I myself actually have a day job, am capable of generating lots of other original material just for funsies, have never asked you guys for money, and I’m not generally huge jerk I don’t think. Also, I’m uncomfortable but have never been clear on how to stop him - I don’t think I can. So I don’t do much about this, apart from occasionally scream with hilarity with you guys about it.
13. Like this is the opposite of Goncharov. This is a guy making his wage on a 2017 tumblr collaborative shitpost insisting that this is the beautiful fruit of his only brain. And millions of people believe him.
14. There are now YouTube documentaries with millions of views and TikTok lore about Jars, and his lore, the Elder Teletubbies, which apparently he invented. People are making their wage talking about the history of Jars and his teletubbies lore. These documentaries are, if you can’t tell, not especially well-researched, as it is not difficult to find the original elder teletubbies art on the internet, which is all timestamped. Occasionally hilarious people from Tumblr point this out in the comments (thank you, you guys are hilarious) but the juggernaut is unstoppable!
15. Jars is now, apparently, doing a kickstarter to raise money for some kind of DnD sheets using the grown up BBC teletubbies.
16. I will point out that tumblr made and played with DnD teletubbies in 2017 for free and nobody had to pay $3000, but again. The juggernaut is unstoppable.
I have never, ever known what to do about this guy.
I have always been open to advice but genuinely never been able to articulate how it “damages” me, apart from ethical discomfort about how much I hate my writing being monetised by other people, especially when it was about my discomfort with exploitation. The juggernaut is unstoppable though. He fully intends to get thousands of dollars from this. He almost certainly will!
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narfin-frood · 8 months ago
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i've been itching to share my swap au since i thought it up, but i think i now finally have an actual baseline to introduce it with!!
the idea isn't that it's a personality swap, but a role swap, with wander and sylvia as antagonists and hater and peepers as the protags, and i have a whole lot to say about it so im gonna go ahead and infodump below the cut
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so i've renamed these two, at least, since hater's story has become less about getting over himself and more about how he sees the world Now That He's Gotten Over Himself. i'm calling him The Great (and absent) Lord Lackadaisical right now, but i don't think that's what he'd like to be called, since he's an absent ruler who doesn't really care to be in a position of so much power and would rather fuck off to all the planets with really nice hot tubs. he and Sir Peepers (his loyal knight who cannot be convinced to leave his side) travel the galaxy with hater's sweet ride (i'm not too good at designing motorcycles yet. pending).
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i haven't thought of new names/titles for wander and sylvia just yet (i cannot just call him Sitter Over Therer) but i do know what their deal is, and it's the main reason i made this au (i feel like if wander were a villain he would not in fact be a villain like lord hater or dominator because i think that kinda disregards wander's whole Shit, he'd be like screwball, and even then he'd have very strong convictions that he's doing the right thing): wander has a cult (a hivemind, kinda) and sylvia is his priest.
i think wander comes along this mushroom during a time in his life when everything seems to have been torn asunder, and instead of continuing his adventures and learning and growing as a person, the mushroom offers a solution that doesn't require much effort on his behalf. the mushroom links people together borg-style, makes them share a brain and a purpose. wander not only thinks it's super neat, but he's in such a poor state of mind when he finds it, he convinces himself it's the only way to make the galaxy a better place.
sylvia is the only person in his Ring of Friends who isn't hooked up to the mushroom, because she's actually wander's friend, and she's his ride or die. she does the things she does out of free will and dedication to her best friend, including preaching and fisticuffs.
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^^^ here's some more of my initial concept art. originally the mushroom was gonna be a tree, but i had a vision of an upside down mushroom (or several, to take the place of watchdogs) scuttling around and by god is it easy to make that look like his hat.
the thing that really really pushes wander over the edge is the sheer boredom of it all. when he's connected to the mushroom, he's very little more than the brain they all share. he can't move around, and that KILLS him (see: the hole lotta nuthin). so when hater (name pending) comes along and refuses to join him and annoys him enough, he gets suuuuper stoked about having something to really DO for once.
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anyway. this is what i've got for now. do you like it. you can be honest if you dont like it
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dcxdpdabbles · 2 months ago
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Does Menace Danny have a favorite pastime?
Clark is reassigned against his will to cover another story about the Waynes. This time, Perry had to fight tooth and nail to get a exclusive interview with the eldest Wayne child, and if Clark messed it up, he could kiss any dreams of writing on the front page goodbye.
Despite the difficulty in securing it, it was a simple piece. If anything, it was less journalism and more tabloid gossip since the topic of the article was going to be Fenton-Wayne's hobbies and the Meet the Star theme.
Perry wanted Clark to dig further and find out if the young man was willing to give any details away about his new Heir Apparent status or his love life. He didn't fulfill out state it, but Clark could read between the lines.
He wouldn't pry because Clark hated gossip on a good day, and trying to trick a child into giving him gossip to make money off made him down right evil.
Perry was just going to have to be disappointed that Clark was too boring to get his meaning. It helped that Bruce Wayne was unwilling to let any other reporter cover the stroy, so Perry couldn't send one of his less straight lace reporters.
"You're back." The voice is low, nearly a whisper but with a steel that has every hair on Clark's body raise. Its not the sound of someone cowering, but rather someone about to pounce a victim.
He whips around to find Daniel Fenton-Wayne standing in the ajar door, staring at him with a tense bleak set of blue eyes. They don't quite glow, but they stand out in the darkness surrounding the boy and give the impression of spotting a predator waiting to attack in the long grass.
Clark has always been told his eyes were unnaturally blue, thats why he hid them behind such tick glasses design to make him appear as bug eyed as possible.
If people noticed the strangeness of his irises, they would just dismiss it to his glasses, magnifying his eyes.
He almost wants to share the tip with Fenton-Wayne but holds back. "Yes. I'm going to be doing your interview today. It's good to see you again."
"Bruce won't be joining us." The boy states, not moving closer. Half his face is hidden by the shadows, and were Clark a regular human, he wouldn't have been able to make out his moving lips. "It's will be just us."
"If you prefer to have your guardian or another trusted adult present for the interview, I don't mind coming back at a later date." Clark offers instantly watching the boy's face twitch. He attemps a disarming smile, but it only causes Fenton-Wayne's expression to flatter into an impassive one that rings warning bells in Clark's head.
"No. I can handle being alone. Can you?" The boy tilts his head slightly "Follow me."
Clark scrambles after the child, grabbing his bag. He has to pretend to stumble into a low table since the boy hadn't bothered to turn on the lights of the windowless hallway. They go further into Wayne Manor at a brisk fast pace without a word, though. Clark notices Fenton-Wayne glancing at him every once in awhile over his shoulder.
"Bruce said you were going to write about teenager hobbies and wanted to ask me questions about mine," the boy says in that same near whisper speech.
The pair stop before a large door without warning. It stands out for the green fairy lights hung on the doorframes, painting the hallway in an errie glow.
Clark's mind jumps to horror moives, especially with the light disoriented instrumental music playing that he can hear through the thick double doors. Against sense, he grows a little uneasy as Fenton-Wayne's large blue eyes train on his face, looking horrifyingly more blue in the green light the boy is bathed in.
"Um yes thats right." Clark coughs, shifting his feet. "I- what do you do for fun?"
"I make dolls of my classmates." Fenton-Wayne rasps,"and then I set them on fire."
Oh.
" I made one of you." The boy continues hand on the door handle. He starts to turn it slowly, but not once does he remove his gaze from Clark's, pinning him in place with his intense stare. "It can cry."
Oh.
Clark throws a wild look at the door, almost unsure if he wants the boy to open it. "W-why would you make a doll of me?"
Fenton Wayne's smile is more of a baring of teeth as he finally pushes the heavy door open. The wood groans heavily as it swings open, echoing around the sound of Clark's heartbeat in his ears. When it swings open, it reveals an equally dark room, but this one has a projector throwing a spectacular display of the Milky Way swirling on the ceiling.
Drapes were strung all over the room, and small twinkling purple lights were woven behind the clothes of a few, creating a path to a lone circular table in the center.
Unlike the door's green glow, these lights bathe the room in various blues and purples, drawing Clark's eyes to the dolls on the wall-to-wall shelves. They seemed made of yarn, with detailed clothes and sweet little smiles. Clark would almost call them cute if it weren't for the fact that he could see a replica of himself sitting on the shelves and a very telling voice box sewn into it once he activates his e-ray vision.
"Amigurumi," Fenton-Wayne remarks, making his way to the Clark doll. He gently lifts it up from the shelf, stopping to adjust a display next to it.
Clark is horrified to realize that the display is a replica of a class photo, complete with little bleachers and a sign declaring the year and school name. The twenty dolls are organized in the same positions as the life models shown in the frame photo next to them.
"What?"
"It's the type of doll I make—amigurumi. My hobby is crocheting amigurumi figures, and this little guy is you," Fenton-Wayne said, pressing the little button on the box. In an instant, the room fills with weeping interrupted by broken breathing, as if the doll were choking on its tears.
"That's the sound you'll make when I set you on fire for sleeping with my Dad." Fenton-Wayne places the doll on the center table, admiring it like a proud father. He then reaches under the table and pulls out a deck of cards, shuffling them without a care that the Clark-Doll has fallen silent. "I also dabble in cartomancy, with the help of ghost cards. Would you like to learn how you die? I'm hoping it has something to do with flames."
Clark gets his article, but when Perry complains about not having any gossip-worthy material, he slams the sobbing doll on his desk and then leans in to demand time off. His boss grants it the moment Clark starts retelling his fortune-telling session.
Perry also grew uneasy when Clark pressed the play option on his tape recorder, and Fenton-Wayne's raspy whisper blares in the otherwise silent office. "Clockwork's tower upside down, Pandora's box ripped open, and the three of Pariah Dark's artifacts. Do you see the Sarcophagus of Forever Sleep? It means you will likely succumb to fatal wounds. Pity, it doesn't look like fire will be the cause. Now I'll never know if the crying audio was close to the real thing."
As Clark heads home to enjoy his paid time off, he wonders again how someone as dizzy and well-meaning as Mr. Wyane could wind up with a creepy little kid like Fenton-Wayne.
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petermorwood · 11 months ago
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I have a sword question, if I may. Or more of a sword confusion Im seeking clarification on.
In my mind a fantasy european standard sword (that obviously doesnt really exist, but like, when a knight or someone in a story has an unspecified sword), I always imaged a straight blade with a triangular tip, both edges sharp cutting edges.
Then at some point I learned about eg scimitars that have a cutting edge and a ...blunt edge?
I was looking at your recent addition to the post about the Turkish sword, where you distinguish between an inner cutting edge on a sword v an outer cutting edge.
And then Im thinking of those enormous zweihander types that are all about momentum and do those even need a particularly sharp edge? They seem in dnd parlance to be a bludgeoning weapon not for slashing.
And while Im asking, like. Rapiers are very stabby weapons, do they have sharp edges at all or judt a sharp point?
I guess my overall question culminates something like "what parts of swords are designed for what damage and why? Is there anything all swords have other than blade and handle like can they all be used for stabbing or do some have very blunt points etc? Is it a big deal for a sword to be double-edged, does that necessitate specific training? Whats up with different sword blades?"
I realise thats a pretty enormous question that might be unreasonable to ask. Im happy with whstever response you are or arent willing to give. Hope you have a good day :)
Sharp edge / blunt edge is the setup on any kitchen or table knife you've ever encountered, and being able to put a hand on the blunt "edge" - usually called the back of the blade - not only helps when mincing herbs or garlic, but also features in some techniques of swordplay.
Other techniques employed non-blade parts of the weapon, using the pommel like a mace and the crossguard like a pick-axe.
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Whether swords should be straight or curved, single- or double-edged, was an argument which continued as recently as the early 1900s.
The last swords issued to cavalry for combat use (modern parade swords don't count) were both remarkably similar designs, straight-bladed for thrusting, adopted by the UK in 1908...
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...and the US in 1913.
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There was, of course, strong opposition from those who insisted cavalry swords should be sabres curve-bladed for cutting instead.
Equally of course, both sides failed to notice - or ignored, since a certain kind of cavalry officer was only bright as regards boots, buckles and buttons - the uncomfortable fact that machine-guns and repeating rifles had made the whole ta-ran-ta-rah "cut them down with your swords, men!" cavalry charge an exercise in futility.
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D&D, unless they've considerably upped their accuracy game, isn't much of a reference for weapon realism.
"Enormous Zweihanders" and other big swords such as the Montante were a lot lighter and more nimble than they'd seem from reading an encumbrance chart.
They had their own techniques to take best advantage of length, leverage and momentum and were indeed sharp. Given a choice between a sharp combat weapon and a blunt one, sharp makes far more sense.
In addition, a sharp blade is lighter than a blunt one simply through having less metal. It may only be a few grams of difference, but it IS a difference.
That's also the reason behind a fuller, the groove(s) along a blade.
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They're not "blood gutters", tough and cool though that may sound, but a way to reduce a sword's weight while preventing its blade from getting excessively flexible.
Finally...
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The re-enactor is wearing half-armour, but these big swords were also meant for use against unarmoured opponents. Bodyguards often carried them (they looked impressive) and those sweeping strokes could block an entire street while The Boss got away.
That's when an ability to cut rather than merely bludgeon makes all the difference. Determined assassins might try to rush a blunt sword, but a sharp one would give anyone second thoughts...
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Double-edged swords versus single-edged ones seem to vary depending on cultural preference - also on period of history and intended function.
Bronze Age European swords had straight or leaf-shaped blades with double edges...
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...while Ancient Egypt had the curved, single-edged khopesh, a shape which also turned up in Ancient Assyria (this one's in the Metropolitan Museum, New York USA).
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It's listed as a "sickle sword", an incorrect term which I wish would go away because sickles are sharp on the inside of the curve while swords like this - their grip-shape shows how they're meant to be held and swung - are sharp on the outside.
And just when "the Ancient Middle East used curved single-edge swords" looks like a handy generalisation, along come straight swords, one from Ancient Egypt...
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...another from Luristan, now part of modern Iran.
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This next one comes from Ancient Iberia (Spain), right at the other side of the Mediterranean. Evidence of trading links? Your guess is as good as mine.
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Iberia went on to use the falcata, a short single-edged forward-curved sword.
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Those extra bits round the blade are scabbard metalwork; the wood and leather scabbard is long gone. This repro shows how they would have looked when in place.
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Iberia also used a straight double-edged sword which so impressed the Romans that they adopted it, refined it and used it for several centuries. Here's one of the several Roman versions of that gladius Hispaniensis (Spanish sword), double-edged, mostly meant for stabbing but capable of very effective cuts as well.
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Here's my repro of a similar sword, the elegant "Mainz" pattern with its long point and waisted blade. Very pretty, and pretty wicked.
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*****
"Curved single-edged swords are Eastern, straight double-edged swords are Western", is another generalisation that won't work.
Here are Eastern straight swords...
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...and Western curved ones.
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*****
Viking swords were all double-edged...
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...except when they weren't.
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*****
Many rapiers could cut. Smallswords, which came later, couldn't.
Earlier rapiers with broader blades cut better than later ones with narrow blades, but IIRC even the later Italian and Spanish rapier styles include cuts directed at the opponent's face and sword-arm.
I have a notion that the modern thing about cutting with rapiers is based (like back-carry) on seeing it done in movies. IMO - more about it here - that's actually more a modern stage-combat safety thing than a period real-combat move. A fumbled cut is bruising and unpleasant even with a "safe" prop sword, but a fumbled thrust into the eye-socket or throat with that same "safe" sword can be fatal.
Even those early rapiers wouldn't sever a head or limb - a finger maybe, hence the elaborate hand-protection of swept and cup hilts - but blood from a forehead wound running into the eyes was, and in boxing still is, an efficient way to finish a fight by ensuring the opponent can't continue. One of the duels in "The Duellists" ends this way.
This example is a bit optimistic, IMO...
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...but a longsword (double-edged)...
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...or a messer (single-edged)...
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...was quite capable of disarming an opponent in a very literal way.
*****
Some swords had minimal points, being intended mostly for cutting. One example of this is the Indian khanda broadsword. The second example is also very clearly single-edged.
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Another cut-only sword without a point (but with double edges) is the Richtschwert (justice sword)...
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...though this was a single-function (and hopefully single-cut) tool rather than weapon, neither balanced for nor intended for combat.
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Hope this has helped answer the questions!
936 notes · View notes
levanterhaze · 5 months ago
Text
── GAMEBOY, BANGCHAN
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♡  ― 󠀬󠀬 fratboy!bangchan x f!reader there's no smut in this one just a sliiiight mention of it, this is just drama and angst because this chapter will tell a lot about their future relationship! contains mentions of anxiety too.
♡ synopsis ― Bangchan is the campus playboy—charming, cocky, and infuriatingly irresistible. One reckless, drunken night leads to a secret you swore you'd never have. Now, hating him is harder than keeping him your dirty little secret.
[5.5k words ]♡― i can't believe that so many people like gameboy, like, that's crazy! thanks for everyone's support. to those who ask to be added to the taglist, it warms my heart. if you want to talk about the story or anything else, i'm open to questions and conversation! don't forget to listen to the playlist and those who just got here PLEASE READ THE PREVIOUS CHAPTERS!!!! that said, have a good read.
♡― THE PLAYLIST.
♡ [part one] ♡ [part two] ♡ [part three]
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You're scared of heights, that's vertigo You wanted lights, go see a show You ran away, that's touch and go You're scared of love, well, aren't we all?
What was supposed to be a one-time thing turned into two days, then three, then four. Before you even realized it, seeing him had become part of your routine, like breathing—natural, inevitable, and far too easy to justify.
Today, though, your mind was anywhere but on him. Mrs. Baek had scheduled a meeting, nothing more, nothing less. You and Hyunjin were goofing around, hands clasped as you twirled like a chaotic, offbeat version of Jack and Rose at a third-rate ballroom. Seungmin doubled over laughing, because of course he did. That was just your dynamic—ridiculous by nature, friends for life.
Then, everything stopped. A chorus of surprised gasps cut through the room, followed by an eruption of chatter that made your spinning halt. Confused, you glanced around, searching for the source of the commotion—until you saw her. Mrs. Baek stood at the front, and next to her…
No. Absolutely not.
Your stomach flipped as your eyes landed on him. Standing there with his head tilted slightly downward, one hand gripping the opposite arm—ridiculously muscular, by the way—Bangchan looked unfairly good in a black T-shirt that was doing the bare minimum to cover anything.
Your gaze flickered to Hyunjin, then to Seungmin, silently demanding an explanation, but before either of them could speak, Mrs. Baek’s voice cut through the haze of your disbelief.
“…which is why we now have a new student to take care of the sound design. Welcome, Bangchan.”
And then—anger.
The girls whispered like they’d just witnessed the famous idol in the world. Bangchan basked in the attention, grinning at them, then at the guys. And then, of course, his eyes found you. One brow lifted, pure challenge.
No. Fucking. Way.
“Sound design? Since when?” you weren’t really expecting an answer, but Hyunjin, ever the dependable sidekick, squeezed your shoulder and offered a half-smile.
“It’s kinda his and Jisung’s thing,” he said, arms crossed as he observed Bangchan effortlessly charm his way through the group. “Jisung’s drowning in work this semester, so I guess that’s why.”
Oh, how nice. How convenient. You couldn’t care less. It was one thing sneaking around with him in secret. It was another for him to invade your space. Your special space. And worse—acting like he belonged there.
As soon as the group began to break apart, you made your exit, feet moving fast. The last thing you needed was—
“Running away already?”
You stopped dead, fingers tightening around the strap of your bag. Spinning on your heel, you found Bangchan standing there, arms crossed, smirking like he had all the time in the world.
“I don’t think that’s any of your business,” you shot back.
“Ouch.” he clutched his chest, faking a wince. “You look angry.”
“Oh, do I?” your voice dripped with sarcasm. “That’s because I am.”
Lucky for him, the corridor was empty—just the theater crew lingering in the distance.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” you demanded.
“Gonna need you to be more specific.”
You inhaled sharply. “Seriously? Sound design? You don’t even like theater.”
He took a step closer, brows furrowing.
“How would you know? We’re not friends.” the way he said it was off—something about his tone made your stomach twist. But you ignored it. “And if you actually bothered to find out, you’d know that, shockingly, I do this for real.”
You hated being proven wrong. But you especially hated being proven wrong by Bangchan.
“Look,” you sighed, arms crossing. “I don’t know what your game is, okay? But just… don’t mess things up. I like them the way they are.”
Bangchan nodded, slow and deliberate. But something flickered in his eyes—something unreadable. His stomach clenched, and he didn’t like the reason why. Because the way you said it, like having him here without sex was some kind of inconvenience, left a bitter taste in his mouth.
“Don’t flatter yourself.” his voice dropped an octave, sharp and cold. He met your gaze head-on, not an ounce of warmth left. “The world doesn’t revolve around you.”
And just like a punch to the gut left hanging in the air, he was gone. No rush, no glance back—just the weight of his words lingering between you.
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Things were a mess, and you needed to get a grip. Studying, focusing—doing something that wasn’t theater or… well, him. The last few days had blurred together, your attention split in ways you weren’t used to. And you hated it.
The library was too quiet, the kind of silence that crawled under your skin. Three art history books sat open in front of you, mocking your lack of focus. It was ridiculous. How the hell had you let some guy scramble your brain like this? That wasn’t you. It had never been you.
Frustration boiled over, and before you knew it, you snapped one of the books shut, the sharp thud cutting through the silence.
“Jesus. What did the book ever do to you?”
The voice came from behind you, smooth and amused. You barely looked up before Mingyu’s face came into view. It hit you then—how distracted you’d been at the fundraiser. Otherwise, you definitely would have noticed him before. That annoyingly charming, white-knight smile. Tanned skin. Muscles for days.
He grinned, leaning over your table, arms flexing just enough to be intentional.
“Sorry. My head's a mess.”
Mingyu nodded, taking in your exasperated, borderline fried expression. “Yeah, you look like it,” he said with a knowing half-smile, sliding into the empty chair across from you like he belonged there. No permission needed.
You sighed, gesturing vaguely at the books. “Just trying to focus.”
His smirk deepened. “Right. Because nothing says laser focus like slamming a textbook shut like it just insulted your mother.”
You huffed, but the corner of your mouth twitched.
“Well, since you’re clearly on the verge of a breakdown, I have an idea.” He leaned back, stretching in a way that was both casual and strategic. “A coffee. On me.”
You opened your mouth to answer, but your phone vibrated against the table, barely visible beneath the stack of books. A quick glance at the screen. One new message.
Bangchan: my dorm. 30 min.
Your pulse jumped. Short. Direct. No room for misinterpretation.
“Everything okay?” Mingyu’s voice pulled you back, his eyes scanning your face.
“Yeah, yeah.” you laughed, maybe too lightly. “Just… distracted. Coffee sounds good.”
His grin widened. “Perfect. Let’s go.”
“Just let me put this back…” you grabbed one of the books, heading for the shelf when your phone buzzed again.
Bangchan: ignoring me?
You exhaled, fingers hovering over the screen.
You: I can't. I have plans.
A pause. Then—
Bangchan: ok.
You pressed your forehead against the bookshelf, inhaling deeply, willing away the strange tightness in your stomach. It was ridiculous. It was just a text.
When you returned, Mingyu was still at the table, casually texting someone. He looked up as you approached, grinning. “Everything good?”
“Yeah.” you nodded, forcing a smile.
He was nice enough to grab your bag and help carry your notebooks, the easy charm of someone who had probably been effortlessly handsome his whole life. The café wasn’t far—just a short walk from campus—but the crowd made it feel like the busiest spot in town.
Mingyu picked a table near the entrance, the air thick with the smell of espresso and fresh pastries. Strawberry sponge cake. Cinnamon rolls. Chocolate mousse cupcakes. The kind of place that made you want to abandon all responsibilities and drown yourself in sugar.
And yet, as you sat down, all you could think about was the ok.
Mingyu ordered coffee for you both but went the extra mile, adding a slice of strawberry shortcake to share.
“Thank you. You didn’t have to do that.” you smiled, wrapping your hands around your cup, already feeling the caffeine seep into your system like a lifeline.
He shrugged. “I wanted to. You looked like you needed something sweet.”
You caught the double meaning but let it slide. He was being nice, and you weren’t in the mood to overanalyze. “Right. So… football?” Smooth. Real smooth.
Mingyu didn’t seem to mind. “Going well. We’re set for the next game, and if we keep this up, the next university sponsorship should be ours.”
“That’s great, Mingyu.”
“Yeah, but I heard drama class was saved. Good news, huh?”
“Great news. We’ve got enough for now.” you took a bite of cake, letting the sugar melt on your tongue. Mingyu watched you, a smirk tugging at his lips.
“I’m happy for you. Getting the basketball team to sell brownies half-naked must’ve been a real passion project.”
You laughed. “It was, but that wasn’t me. That was Bangchan.”
It felt strange, saying his name out loud. Different when he wasn’t there.
Mingyu frowned, arms crossing over the table.
“Bangchan did that?” his brows knitted together, skepticism lacing his tone.
You shrugged, taking another bite of cake. “That’s what I heard. Why? You guys friends?” the idea alone made your stomach twist in an oddly unpleasant way.
“No. Not even close.” he laughed, shaking his head as if the thought was ridiculous. “Just curious.”
“Well, instead of wasting brain cells on him, you should try this.” you pushed the plate slightly toward him. “It’s actually amazing.”
Mingyu picked up a fork, took a bite, and let out an appreciative groan. You grinned, clapping your hands as if you had just won a bet, then promptly stole another piece for yourself.
Being with him was easy—effortless, even. A surprising friendship you hadn't expected but didn’t mind one bit.
Back at the dorm, Eunji and Sohee were curled up on the couch, sharing a bucket of popcorn while a movie played on the laptop. Your casual entrance was met with two pairs of curious eyes locking onto you like detectives sniffing out a case.
“Where have you been?” Eunji narrowed her eyes, her fingers pausing mid-popcorn grab.
“Why?” you laughed, kicking off your shoes.
“You’ve been acting weird,” she accused, tilting her head. “Always busy, barely around.”
“Sorry, I... I've just been very busy. The theater is eating me up. And there's the exams...”
Sohee smirked. “Why do you smell like coffee?”
“What?” you instinctively sniffed your shirt, the rich aroma of espresso lingering faintly.
Eunji gasped, scandalized. “You totally went out with someone!”
Sohee just shook her head knowingly, already seeing through you. “Liar.”
“Alright, fine! I got coffee with Mingyu. Happy now?”
As soon as the words left your mouth, Sohee’s eyes gleamed with mischief. “Mingyu from the soccer team?”
Eunji, on the other hand, nearly leaped off the couch. “Girl, you rocked it! I knew you had game, but Mingyu? That man is fine.”
You groaned, already regretting your life choices. “It wasn’t a thing, okay? We’re friends. We had coffee. That’s it.”
Eunji scoffed, dramatic as ever. “Honey, nothing with Mingyu is just coffee. That man doesn’t do casual.” she clasped her hands together like she was already planning your wedding.
You sighed, exasperated. “Make her stop.” you turned to Sohee, your last hope. 
But Sohee just smirked. “I mean… she’s not wrong.”
You sighed, rubbing your temples. “Oh my God.”
“Look, you’ve been drowning in rehearsals and exams. Maybe this is a good thing,” Sohee added, ever the voice of reason.
A good thing. That uneasy feeling crawled up your spine again.
Because the problem wasn’t Mingyu.
Because you had met someone. Someone who already occupied every corner of your mind. Someone who texted you with demands instead of invitations. Someone who kissed like it was the only language he spoke.
And that someone sure as hell wasn’t Mingyu.
“Alright, I’m done.” you grabbed your things and stood up. “I’m taking a shower. Goodnight.”
Before they could say another word, you ducked into your room, shutting the door behind you.
Now, if only you could shut off your thoughts just as easily.
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It was lunchtime, and the table was buzzing with chatter. It had been nearly two days since you’d heard from Bangchan. Odd, right? The silence felt almost intentional. No texts, no glances that said too much.
You were sharing a basket of French fries with Hyunjin when suddenly, that topic came up. Jisung was DJing at another party this weekend, and everyone was planning to go. Of course, Eunji—bless her heart and big mouth—decided now was the time to bring up the perfect subject.
“You should invite Mingyu, now that you’re going out and all.”
You nearly choked on a fry, coughing like you’d just inhaled a cloud of smoke. Hyunjin slapped your back, but you could feel all eyes on you as the table went silent, then turned to look in your direction.
Bangchan, seated across from you, slouched in his chair like he didn’t care. But you knew better. The tension radiating from him was like a ticking time bomb.
“You’re seeing Mingyu?” Hyunjin’s voice dripped with mock disbelief. “How am I your best friend, and this is news to me?”
Great. Just great. The whole table was waiting for an answer, and suddenly, everything felt like it was about to spiral out of control.
“Going out with Mingyu? Really?” Changbin raised an eyebrow, clearly entertained. “I thought you had better taste, bro.”
“For fuck’s sake, I’m not dating anyone!” you shot back, finally managing to catch your breath after the shock of the conversation.
“Sure, sure. But you two went out the other day, didn’t you?” Eunji grinned, clearly enjoying every second of it.
You felt it before you saw it: Bangchan’s eyes, burning into the side of your head. His silence wasn’t just a void, it was a warning, sharp and heavy. You should’ve felt guilty—after all, you had brushed him aside for Mingyu.
“But we’re not together,” you quickly clarified, hoping to quell whatever storm was brewing behind his eyes. “And he’s practically at every party anyway. It’s not like he’s not going to show up.”
Eunji wasn’t buying it. “Still should invite him, though.”
Hyunjin tossed an arm around your shoulders, all casual but still sorta protective. “Alright, stop messing with my girl,” he said, voice light but you could tell he wasn’t having it.
You muttered a quick ‘thank you,’ relieved when the focus shifted away from you. Your thoughts drifted as you nibbled on the end of your fry, mind half on your food, half on the tension buzzing at the table. 
Bangchan, though, wasn't as distracted. He sat there, twisting his tongue inside his cheek, fighting off the surge of frustration coiling in his gut. The thought of you with Mingyu? It hit him like a wrecking ball. Not just because you had ditched him for the guy, but Mingyu.
He could hardly keep his anger in check. Only his closest friends knew the history between the two of them—and no one, especially not you, would ever guess how deep that hatred ran.
He couldn’t stand it any longer. Without a word, he stood, breaking the rhythm of the conversation.
“Leaving already?” Changbin asked, raising an eyebrow. Lunch still had half an hour left, but Bangchan didn’t seem to care.
“Yeah, gotta handle something,” he muttered, his voice sharp enough to make everyone shut up for a second.
The group barely noticed his departure. You certainly didn’t. After all, it wasn’t like anything was out of the ordinary. Right?
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The days were flying by, and with every one that passed, the auditions loomed closer. The lineup was finally set—each student would perform next Friday, the day before Jisung’s party. No pressure or anything. Your nerves were on high alert, and anxiety was practically gnawing at your bones.
And then there was Bangchan. Or rather, the lack of him. You hadn’t heard a word from him in days. During the rare times you actually sat with the guys for lunch, his seat was just... empty. And you pretended not to care, stealing quick glances and keeping your mouth shut.
Most of your free time was spent holed up in the library, pretending to study, or locked in your room, trying to convince yourself that, yes, you could totally make it through the semester without crumbling under stress. Mingyu had texted you a few times, but you’d dodged his messages so hard that even you felt guilty about it.
Not that he seemed to care. The guy was persistent. He still wanted to take you out, get to know you, charm his way into... whatever he was aiming for. Just today, he’d invited you to join him and the soccer team at some bar near campus. Apparently, they were celebrating a big win—not that you had a single clue who they even played against.
You needed to get out. Desperately. But showing up solo to a team hangout? That was a level of confidence even you didn’t have. So, naturally, you did what any sane person would—you called your emergency contact.
Hyunjin picked up before the second ring.
“Well, well, look who finally decided to return from the dead,” he drawled.
“Yeah, yeah. Roast me later. Right now, I need a favor.”
“Hm. Depends.”
“There’ll be drinks,” you baited, already knowing his answer.
He sighed dramatically. “Fine. But if I go, you have to give me the full rundown on whatever mess you’ve got going on with Mingyu.”
You exhaled sharply, tilting your head back like the universe was punishing you. “Ugh. Deal.”
Satisfied, you threw on a black fit—strappy top, skirt, boots, plus a long-sleeved cardigan for balance—and grabbed your phone to text Hyunjin.
And that’s when you saw him.
Bangchan.
Walking toward his dorm, jacket slung over his shoulder, bag in one hand. The second he spotted you, it was like his brain hit a hard reset. Blue screen. No thoughts, just you.
You, on the other hand? You just…froze. Phone still hovering mid-air like you were trying to signal the mothership.
He looked good, annoyingly so—tired, sure, but with that effortlessly undone look that made you want to fix things that weren’t even broken. And judging by the way his jaw tightened ever so slightly, he wasn’t exactly thrilled to see you looking this good either.
You could practically hear the battle happening in his head. Logic telling him to keep walking. Instinct screaming at him to drag you somewhere private and remind you exactly why you shouldn’t be ignoring him.
But no. Neither of you moved. Just standing there, locked in some ridiculous silent standoff from across the way.
That is, until a hand brushed against yours.
“Took you long enough,” Hyunjin teased, but his voice trailed off the second he noticed who had stolen your attention. His steps slowed, eyes flicking between you and Bangchan like he’d just walked into the middle of a soap opera.
You bit back a smirk, shoving down the weird twist in your stomach. “Shall we?”
Hyunjin hesitated, still piecing things together. Then, with a last glance at Bangchan—who looked like he was about two seconds away from saying something he’d regret—he sighed.
“Yeah,” he muttered, brows still furrowed. “Let’s go.”
The moment you step into the bar, Mingyu zeroes in on you like a man on a mission—half-drunk, half-thrilled, and entirely shameless about how his gaze drags over you. He grins, tells you how gorgeous you look, and hands you a shot of soju like it’s a requirement for entry.
Hyunjin, of course, fits right in immediately, the social butterfly that he is. Meanwhile, you start to relax, the initial nerves fading as the drinks flow and the unfamiliar space becomes less intimidating. Mingyu’s friends are nice—too nice. The kind of nice that feels like they're sizing you up, like you’re some kind of prize waiting to be claimed. Mingyu’s prize.
The room is loud, buzzing with alcohol-fueled laughter and drunken debates, but your thoughts are fixated on something else. Someone else. And damn it, Mingyu is right there, flashing that easy smile, brushing his fingers against yours like it’s an accident every single time. Complimenting you in ways that should make your stomach flip.
But all you can think about is the guy who hasn’t spoken to you in days. The one who supposedly doesn’t want you anymore.
Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.
With a frustrated sigh, you push back your chair and stand. You’re not even tipsy, but everything suddenly feels too hot, too suffocating.
“I need water,” you mutter, more to yourself than anyone else, and head for the bar before you do something stupid.
Mingyu appeared at your side, leaning against the bar like he had all the time in the world.
"All good?"
You forced a smile, gripping the cool glass of water like it could ground you. "Yeah. Just needed something cold."
"Glad you came," he said, smirking slightly as he looked down at you.
He’s the one you should want, the one who actually wants you.
Your gaze flickered to his lips. A bad idea waiting to happen.
Mingyu caught the hesitation, eyes darkening as he glanced between your lips and your eyes. You barely had time to register what was happening before your hands found his shoulders, his lips pressing against yours.
The guys erupted in cheers, their drunken approval ringing out across the bar.
And after that, a blur of stolen kisses, too much soju, and voices too loud to ignore.
The night air was crisp against your flushed skin as you and Hyunjin walked back toward campus. The distant hum of the city buzzed in your ears, the alcohol still warm in your veins, though the high of the night had started to fade. Your heels clicked against the pavement, and Hyunjin, ever the gentleman, walked just a step closer in case you stumbled.
“You good?” he asked, nudging you lightly with his elbow.
You hummed a response, not trusting yourself to say anything else. Your mind was a tangled mess of soju, Mingyu’s lips, and something deeper—something you weren’t ready to admit.
Hyunjin let the silence settle for a moment before he spoke again. “If I ask you something, will you be honest with me?”
You sighed, already bracing yourself. Here it comes. “If it’s about Mingyu, I—”
“It’s not.” he cut you off, tone softer than before. “It’s about Bangchan.”
Your stomach twisted.
You stopped walking, your breath caught somewhere between your lungs and your throat. Your hands fidgeted, grasping for something—anything—to ground you. “Why would you ask that?” you muttered, trying to play it off, but even you could hear the slight tremble in your voice.
Hyunjin tilted his head, studying you. “I figured it all out.”
A sharp inhale stung your chest, and before you could even think of a response, it hit you. The overwhelming, suffocating weight of everything you’d been trying to bury. The frustration, the confusion, the way he made you feel like you were something and nothing all at once.
“Oh, shit,” Hyunjin muttered, eyes widening as the tears spilled over. “Come here.”
He pulled you into his chest, letting you press your face into his shoulder. You clung to his jacket, shaking as silent sobs wracked through you. Half-drunk, half-heartbroken, you let yourself break in the only safe place you had at that moment—Hyunjin’s arms.
“I don’t— I don’t know what the hell I’m doing,” you mumbled against the fabric of his hoodie, voice barely above a whisper.
Hyunjin sighed, rubbing soothing circles on your back. “It’s okay. Just breathe.”
But it wasn’t okay. None of it was.
After a few minutes, he gently pulled away and wordlessly handed you a bottle of water he’d bought from a vending machine nearby. You took it with shaky hands, gulping down the cool liquid as if it could wash away the lump in your throat.
As you wiped your eyes, Hyunjin leaned against the streetlamp, watching you carefully. “Talk to me. What’s going on with you and Bangchan?”
You let out a bitter laugh, shaking your head. “I wish I knew.”
He raised an eyebrow, waiting.
With a deep, shaky breath, you finally let it spill. “It started as something casual. No expectations.” your fingers tightened around the water bottle. “But then he started pulling away. And I don’t know if it’s because he got bored, or if I did something wrong, or if this was always the plan. I don’t even know if I want more, but the fact that I’m this messed up over it?” you scoffed, blinking back fresh tears. “That has to mean something, right?”
Hyunjin exhaled, his gaze thoughtful. “Damn.”
You let out a wet laugh. “That’s all you got?”
“I mean, what do you want me to say? That doesn’t sound casual to me.”
Your stomach twisted. You knew that. You knew that. But hearing it out loud made it real in a way you weren’t ready for.
You swallowed hard, voice small. “I got myself into this mess. I was the one who asked him to keep it a secret.”
Hyunjin frowned, his posture shifting. “Why?”
“Because I was scared,” you admitted, the words raw in your throat. “Scared of what people would say. Scared of the judgment. You know how it is—girls get torn apart for way less. And I worked too hard, cared too much to be reduced to just that girl who’s hooking up with Bangchan.” you laughed bitterly, shaking your head. “And now? Now I don’t even know how to deal with it. Because I was supposed to hate him, Hyunjin.”
Hyunjin was quiet for a moment, his usual teasing gone. When he finally spoke, his voice was steady. “You don’t have to figure it all out tonight. But you also don’t have to go through this alone.”
Your throat tightened. “I feel like an idiot.”
“You’re not an idiot.” he bumped his shoulder against yours. “You’re just in deep.”
You exhaled shakily, leaning into his warmth as you both started walking again.
“Look, I don’t have the answers. But I do know you’re not crazy for feeling this way.” he squeezed your shoulder. “And if he’s too much of an idiot to see what he has, then maybe you should let him be the one losing sleep over it.”
You sniffled, managing a weak smile. “You’re my soulmate, Hyun.”
“Damn right I am,” he said, flashing you a grin. “Now drink your water before you pass out, drama queen.”
You laughed—actually laughed—and for the first time that night, the weight on your chest felt just a little bit lighter.
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The day had finally arrived. Showtime. No matter how many times you’d done this, stepping on stage always felt like a first-time, heart-in-your-throat kind of thing.
Up in the audience, Seungmin, Hyunjin, and Sohee were posted a few rows above Mrs. Baek, waiting for you to do your thing. No pressure.
Backstage was quiet—eerily so. You sat there, taking slow, deep breaths, wiping your sweaty palms against your thighs like a seasoned pro in pre-show anxiety management. You were next. Three minutes. One shot. No room for mediocrity.
You’d chosen a song that wasn’t just sentimental—it was a statement. A vocal rollercoaster that climbed from deep, rich lows to a falsetto so clean it could cut glass. If you were going to go down, at least you’d do it swinging.
Reaching into your bag for your water bottle, you were mid-sip when movement in the distance caught your attention.
And just like that, reality glitched. Bangchan.
It was almost ridiculous how unreal he looked, like a mirage conjured from some fever dream. You hadn’t seen him in days, and yet here he was, strolling in like he hadn’t been living rent-free in your mind this whole damn time.
Laptop in hand, fingers flying across the keyboard, looking every bit the sound tech genius he was. You hadn’t expected him to actually show up for this gig, but—oh, look—there he was, punching buttons like he was defusing a bomb.
Then, he saw you. And something shifted.
His fingers stilled, tightening around the laptop.
The air was heavy. The tension was palpable. Whatever was going on between you two didn’t need words—it was written in every sharp breath, every stolen glance.
And just like that, your pre-show jitters had a new contender.
"Hi," you muttered, shifting uncomfortably.
Bangchan gave you a small, polite smile—too polite. Something about it felt off. The usual spark in his eyes? Gone. And that was all it took for reality to sink in.
So that’s it, huh?
The game was over. You had your answer. He was done, and honestly? You couldn’t even be mad—because weren’t you just as much to blame?
Mrs. Baek’s voice cut through the buzzing in your head, thanking the student who had just finished performing. You’re next.
You turned away from Bangchan, unscrewed your water bottle, and took a long sip, willing yourself to focus. Breathe. Lock in. You’ve got this.
Then it happened. A warm touch on your waist—his touch.
Your body betrayed you instantly, heat rippling through your skin like a live wire. It had been days, and yet, all it took was this—a single touch—to remind you how much you’d missed him.
You spun around, frowning, swallowing hard as your gaze locked onto his.
Bangchan didn’t back down. If anything, he doubled down.
His arm lifted, caging you in the small space between you and the backstage wall, pulling your bodies so close it was downright insane. His head tilted slightly, studying you, reading every little reaction like he already knew the ending to this story.
Without warning, Bangchan crashed his lips onto yours, his free hand gripping your waist like he had no plans of letting go. His palm slid up your back, fingers teasing under the hem of your shirt, branding heat into your skin.
You barely had time to process before his tongue was in your mouth, claiming, demanding—like he was making up for every second of distance between you.
A sound slipped past your lips—a mix between a sigh and a moan, involuntary, unstoppable.
God, you hated how easily he unraveled you. And worse? You loved it too.
Your fingers curled into the fabric of his sweatshirt, yanking him closer—like you needed him just a little closer, just a little longer. Your lips moved in sync, deepening the moment, drowning out everything else.
Then—
Mrs. Baek’s voice rang through the backstage, shouting your name.
Then reality crashed back in.
But instead of nerves clawing at your stomach, instead of the suffocating pressure you’d felt moments ago, there was something lighter—something electric. Like a field of wildflowers blooming where anxiety used to sit.
You pulled back, panting, heart racing, but this time? You were smiling. Bangchan, just as breathless, leaned in, his lips brushing the shell of your ear.
"Break a leg," he murmured.
And just like that, you knew you would.
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♡ taglist ― @kenia4 @chrizrizz @meerabmalik @gnabnahcsworld @gncbnahc @jinniejjam @skzworldx @itsacatastrophe-xo @soonie1010 @4ng3l-ch1ld @justwonder113 @tsunderelino @eastjonowhere @lyracarvahall @akindaflora @victoriaaf @ebnabi @wickedbutlovely
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tayraedoll · 9 months ago
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Mine for the Taking
Yandere Alastor in rut with innocent reader. Alastor is a manipulative shit and you are all too trusting. 18+ MDNI
Part 2
Word count: 3301
TW: Alastor is his own warning, breeding kink, creampie, scent marking, mating cycles, p in v intercourse, possessive Alastor, oral (fem receiving), blood, pregnancy trapping, manipulation, one swear word I think?
Alastor has a plan for you. You do not know it yet, but YOU. ARE.HIS.
You have been his ever since you stepped foot in the hotel all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. You were newly spawned in Hell, Charlie found you in an alleyway scared and all alone so she immediately gave you refuge at her hotel. And how could she not? You were so sweet and so vulnerable, a complete enigma in Hell. Charlie was certain you would be quick to redeem. Too bad Alastor will never let them happen.
He has been completely enraptured with you since your first meeting. For one, you were a little doe which was a rarity in Hell. But it was your aura of pure innocence that ultimately drew him in. There was no reason for someone like you to have ended up in Hell, you committed no sins in your life. For Alastor, that left just one explanation for your damnation- you were sent here to be his.
Alastor has been in hell for nearly a century; in that time he has acquired status, power, and wealth. For a time, these things were enough to make him happy. But as the years drew on, he started to become quite lonely though he would never admit it aloud. Loneliness was a weakness, he vowed to never feel such a pathetic emotion; but the loneliness crept up on him slowly until it infiltrated his mind every time he found himself without company. At first, he visited Rosie to quell the thirst for companionship and that worked for a while. But overtime even his best companion could not relieve the ache in his heart. The hotel residents did little to provide any solace for him, in fact he could barely stand being around most of them for long. Until you joined their ranks.
With you, Alastor was finally freed from the constant pang in his chest. You immediately accepted him as he was- never casting any judgement on his dark deeds despite what the other hotel residents told you. In fact, you never spoke ill of anyone. You were just too good for Hell, and he will do anything to protect that innocence.
Alastor started bonding with you over books, often catching you in the library. Soon, it became a routine to spend quiet evenings together discussing your favorite stories. That is where he learned of your passion for knowledge, so eager to learn everything you could about anything and everything. This was a quality he admired but also became troublesome for him. You were eager to learn about your deer form, wanting to know how the animal aspect of your being would affect you going forward. When he caught you looking for books on the subject he was immediately irritated that you would not just come to him for the answers you sought. So in retribution for your unwitting transgression he got rid of every book about all cervid forms in hell. He wanted all your knowledge about yourself to come from him, and there were certain parts he wanted to remain hidden.
The demon buck did not tell you about the mating season, did not explain that you would go into heat and he a rut. This gap in your knowledge was by his design. He wanted to ensure there was no way for you to prepare yourself for the season, he meticulously plotted to make you his and it would be tremendously less dramatic if you were unaware of the consequences of what that entailed.
Now, finally, the mating season was upon you both. Alastor could feel the early signs of his rut, made more obvious to him due to the presence of a doe he wished to court. He'd scoured several trees in his bayou, getting all the velvet off his antlers and marking his territory, and he was feeling more aggressive. Just the other day he nearly skewered Angel Dust on a tentacle for a crude remark made in your presence. But the most telltale sign of his upcoming rut was the constant need to be around you, to both protect you from potential threats and ensure that potential competition knew you were spoken for. The moment you showed signs of estrus he would put his plan into action.
Alastor made his way to the kitchen early in the morning to make breakfast for everyone. He had carefully put together a fat and carb-rich meal for you knowing that is what you will crave as your body prepares for breeding and pregnancy. He was just finishing buttering your toast when you entered the kitchen.
"Good morning Al!", you say in your cheery, upbeat tone.
"Good morning Darling! How are you on this lovely day?", he responds as he hands the plate over to you, looking you over as he does so for any sign of change in your usual demeanor.
"Doing well. Thank you for breakfast, I am starved this morning!", you reply as you eagerly dig into the food. 'An increased appetite is a good sign',he notes mentally.
"Ah! Always happy to provide My Dear! Do let me know if you require anything else." You spend the rest of breakfast making small talk until he has to start his duties as hotelier. Before he leaves, however, he orders his shadow to stay close to you and let him know what other changes are seen throughout the day.
The morning passed silently, but come afternoon, his shadow finally reported back to him. You were in the main living area participating in Charlie's trust exercises, but you were obviously distracted and restless. Your leg kept bouncing under you, your ears constantly swiveling around at the smallest sounds, and you were having a hard time paying attention to what the others were saying. You also frequently excused yourself to use the restroom and that got progressively worse throughout the day. Normally, you would join the others at the bar for a drink after the activities concluded, but today you excused yourself saying you wanted some alone time. Alastor jumped out of his seat- restlessness, isolation, and frequent urination were telltale signs of a doe in heat. You were ready, it was time to make his move.
The demon buck shadowed away to your room and used his mic to tap on the door. The moment you opened the door all his suspicions were confirmed. You smelled absolutely divine; honey-lemon and cedarwood invaded his nostrils and he flared them, taking a deep breath that caused the sweet scent to go straight to his cock as it twitched. He cared not for formalities or manners as he pushed passed you into your room. Scanning the area, he noticed that you had made a nest using blankets and pillows in the space between your bed and the wall; the final box ticked on the list of doe in estrus behaviors- bedding in unusual places.
"Can I help you Alastor? I'm sorry, I am not feeling well and I do not want to get you sick", you look up at him with your beautiful, large doe eyes.
"Yes, my dear, you can help me. In fact, you are the only one who can", he speaks slowly, setting his trap. You are a people-pleaser, always eager to help others out and putting your own needs on a backburner. How easy it is to use that delightful little quality against you.
"What is it Al? What do you need?" you plead, desperately wanting to help your friend.
Alastor paused for a bit, formulating the best way to pose his request as he slowly untied his bowtie to better let his pheromones invade your space. "Will you let me protect you Little One?"
"Huh?" you furrowed your brow in confusion, your body subconsciously leaning forward to get a better whiff of him.
The buck began to circle you slowly, starting with wide circles that gradually got smaller with each pass so he slowly go closer to you. "My sweet doe, that feeling you currently have- that hunger in your belly, that dizziness in your head- it's because you are in heat; just like all little does like you are this time of year. I did not tell you about it because I did not want to alarm you, I was not certain the extent of which you would be affected. But with your heat, you are extremely vulnerable. There are many brutish bucks out there who would just love to take advantage of you in this state", he stops in front of you and holds your cheek tenderly in one hand. Your heart is pounding, your large eyes fixed on him with a hint of fear in their depths as you lean into his gentle caress. "I would never forgive myself if something happened to you; you are much too precious to me and everyone else here. It would make me feel better if you would allow me to be your protector. I'd never let anyone harm you, I swear it." To drive his sentiment home his other hand came up to cup your other cheek as he leans his forehead against yours in a soothing and intimate display of affection.
His proximity and unexpected admission left you dizzy. He smelled so good, musky and savory like moss and spice, and you were starting to hope his hands would wander elsewhere on your body. You were suddenly surrounded by him and yet not consumed by him enough. "Yes, please be my protector Alastor. You are the only one I trust to keep me safe", you say as you raise your hands to his wrists and grasp them like a lifeline.
His smile widens, he has you exactly where he wants you. His victory is so close he can taste it. "Seal it with a deal Mon Cher, it is the best way. Through a soul bond I will always be able to find you, help you whenever you are in need." He stands up straight again and places a finger under your chin to lift your face to his. "I promise to take good care of it, to take good care of you." He extends his hand out slowly, as if moving too fast would frighten you away. You do not even hesitate, taking his hand immediately as if selling your soul was the easiest thing you would ever do.
"It's a deal." There is a brief flash of green, Alastor's smile is so wide it threatens to burst at the seams.
"Lovely!", the demon replies as he shadow portals you both to his own room. "Now, how about a drink to celebrate this new union?" He takes a bottle of red wine off a shelf at his desk and conjures two wine glasses. "I have been saving this little beauty for a special occasion. 1982 Chateau Lafite Rothschild Premier Cru Classe, one of the best from Bordeaux, France." He poured the wine out and handed you a glass. You thanked him and sipped it eagerly, it tasted like berries and currants and had a smoky, cigar smell. If Alastor were a wine, you were sure this would be it. You hummed in approval and drank your glass eagerly, completely unaware of the crimson irises that watched you intently.
You set your emptied glass on the table and studied the decor in the room, most notably the alligator skeleton hung on the wall. When you turn back around Alastor is right behind you; you gasp, not having heard him approach. His scent invades you senses again and heat starts to pool in your belly as your mind gets fuzzy. Before you even know what you are doing you have placed your hand on his chest, playing with his shirt buttons. He cups your cheek again, and leans in to capture your lips with his in a heated kiss.
The kiss is your undoing, as you wrap your arms around the much taller demons neck, letting out a lewd moan. You need more, you feel the need to be absolutely devoured by him. He runs his hands down your back, over the swell of your ass, and along the backs of your thighs where he hooks them over his hips. You clasp your ankles together around him as he carries you over to the bed.
He deposits you gently on the mattress and follows you down, keeping his weight on his forearms on either side of you. Alastor breaks the kiss to begin trailing his lips down your throat, burying his nose and inhaling deeply at the sensitive patch of skin right below your ear. A deep growl rips up from his chest that makes you shudder underneath him, goosebumps raising all along your skin.
Propping himself up on one arm, he trails his free hand down your body, cupping your breast through your shirt momentarily before moving his hand beneath your shirt. He gently tickles the soft, sensitive skin of your belly with his claws before grasping your fleshly mounds again, earning himself a whine from you as you begin to grind your hips up into him.
Unsatisfied with the lack of skin contact, he uses his claws to slice straight through your shirt and bra in one motion before snapping his own jacket and shirt away. You take a moment to admire the little tuft of fur on his chest, running your fingers through its silken layers before he leans down and captures one nipple in his mouth. You whine and squeeze his head in your arms, his fingers tweaking the other nipple. "Such a pretty little doe, behaving so well for me. Tell me, Mon Cher, what is it that you want?"
"I want you to touch me please", you whine desperately, face heating up slightly.
Alastor chuckles,"I am touching you! Is this all you want?" He rubs his thumbs over your nipples in slow, deliberate circles. You can feel the sensation down in your core.
"No, I want you to touch me...lower", you are gasping by this point, face red with embarrassment.
"Use your words Mon Cher, where exactly do you want me to touch you?", he teasingly runs a finger down your abdomen, stopping at the waistband on your sweatpants.
"I...I want you to touch my clit, and stick your fingers inside my pussy!", you spit out as fast as you can and hide your face behind your arms.
"My my Mon Cher! How delightfully vulgar! Such a good girl, and good girls get exactly what they want." He moves your arms from your face. "Eyes on me darling, do not look away. Think you can handle that?"
You nod and rest your hands above your head as Alastor swiftly removes your pants and panties in one swipe. You fight the urge to cross your legs, as if hearing your thoughts Alastor wraps his arms around your thighs and pins them to the bed with your already dripping cunt bared to him. Your face heats up as you watch him stare at your core for a moment before he plants sloppy, wet kisses up your inner thigh. Without warning he bites down on the sensitive flesh, eliciting a scream from you as you clench your eyes shut from the potent pain and pleasure cocktail.
Alastor immediately lets go of your thigh and growls out "Open your eyes!" With a bit of effort, you manage to open your eyes again and lock onto his wild, carmine gaze. Satisfied with your compliance, he gently laps at the wound to soothe it and clean up the droplets of blood that pooled there before dragging his tongue north where you wanted him. Your heart was beating so erratically you thought you were having a heart attack.
You squeal the second his tongue connects with your puffy clit, your legs trying to clamp shut but being unable to move due to Alastor's weight on your thighs. You do not dare look away from the man, afraid of what he would do should you earn his ire. He eats you out like it is his last meal, alternating between circling and sucking your clit before plunging his long, hot tongue into your depths. You tremble within his arms, the coil in your belly tightening faster than you ever thought possible. Your enhanced senses pick up every lewd, wet sound, the smell of your own arousal, and the site of his tongue disappearing into your folds. It was all too much, the coil snapped with a force that made your body fold at the waist as your shoulders shot off the mattress; your throat let out a strangled scream of his name.
The demon buck does not give you a second to recover as he climbs back over you, pushing you back into the mattress. His lips claim yours, making you taste your own bodily nectar as he unbuckles his belt and removes his trousers. Before you even realize that he was aligned with your entrance he was pushing into you earning another gasp from your lips that he greedily swallows. He gives you minimal time to adjust before he grunts and begins thrusting into you at a punishing pace. He pulls away from your lips to rub his cheeks along yours, the sensation making you melt into the mattress as his pheromones overtake your mind.
"Tell me you're mine. Whose doe are you?! Tell me!!", he snarls into your ear.
"Yours, I'm all yours Alastor. I'll only ever belong to you!", you cry out as tears begin streaming down your face. Your admission earns you his fingers playing with your clit again, sending you hurtling towards the edge again.
"Look at you, so perfect on my cock. I am going to claim this pussy in every way possible. Your womb is mine to fill with MY seed. You will make the perfect mother to my fawns." His pace turns sloppy as you clench hard around his shaft, your mind too fucked out to comprehend his words as you moan underneath him. Your nails rake down his back, raising angry lines along the contours of his musculature. His thumb presses hard into your clit, riding the edge between pleasure and pain. By this point your whole body was vibrating, every nerve ending lit up in white hot pleasure. "Cum for me Mon Cher. Cum for me and take my seed and don't you dare waste a drop!"
His words were your undoing, like the obedient little doe you were you came hard around him. With one final, powerful thrust he painted your walls white with his spend; your cunt avariciously drank his seed up.
Alastor collapsed on top of you, not daring to pull out yet. He meant it when he said not to waste a drop of his spend. He peppered tender kisses along your face and forehead as you started drifting off, utterly exhausted and fully sated.
As you fell into unconsciousness, Alastor lifted your hips and placed a pillow under them to prevent gravity from pulling his seed from your womb. Once he was satisfied with the angle he finally pulled out. He gave you one, final kiss on your forehead whispering "Mon Cher, sweet mama to my future fawns, I will never allow us to be parted." He nestled in next to you, placing a protective hand over your womb.
There was one detail you were wholly unaware of. Unbeknownst to you, the wine Alastor shared with you was laced with a potion; the same exact potion that allowed Lilith- a human sinner- to conceive Charlie.
Alastor was not a praying man, but that night he called on all the powers that be for his seed to take hold in your freshly fertile womb.
@stattikdemon
Thanks for being patient with me on this one!
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reallemonmeat · 3 months ago
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wipes giant sweat bead ummm... um you guys liked my last post abt aetherangel a lot... sweats.... um.... heres some more of her crosses my fingers
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Aetherangel is my second transformers oc and my favorite... i made her first for Transformers One 2024, but i have also written other versions of her for Transformers Prime and Transformers Animated
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TFA -^ (sadly design is a wip still) this is also where that animation i made with her got popular (click here)
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TFP -^ (also a wip aaghhh i dont draw her coherently a lot)
more about her below cut -vvv (there are more images and a lotttttt of explanation of her in other continuities if you're into that kinda thing!! feel free to skim them or just skip to the images below the stories at least :D)
⬇️⬇️⬇️
AETHERANGEL
she/her (they/them is fine sometimes)
she is transfem and bisexual (IM MAKING THE ROBOTS WOKE!!!!!!!!!!)
on earth, she would be an A10 Warthog, but generally she's a flying bot.
Aetherangel is a strong warrior. Don't let her intimidating appearance trick you into thinking she isn't soft-hearted however. She's often very anxious, bittersweet, and poetic - but very tough bold when needs be. At least, until it comes to anyone she's loved in some way.
Her main story in different continuities usually consists of her being betrayed greatly, and forgotten.
She is often paired with my partner's oc Malachite, whos in a couple of the images below (heres a cute one! i sure hope nothing horrifying happens between these two!)
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her pairing with Malachite plays a big part in her downfalls too.
The extreme pain she goes through, especially through betrayal, changes her view on others and the world quickly. She becomes pretty cynical, or her mind bends so much from what she's gone tthrough. It depends on the continuity.
(I will now explain her a bit in the continuities of TFONE, TFP, and TFA. sorry if these are worded weird or are strange, im not the best when trying to type english for some reason sometimes, and i havent gotten a lot of SOLID stuff down so these might be loose and hole-y in some spots aouuguhh)
Transformers One 2024 Aetherangel (this one is pretty lengthy! this is the first ever version i made of her. tfp and tfa wont be as crazy however)
In tfone, Aetherangel was a warrior. She was one of the strongest of Iacon. After the fall of the primes and Sentinel's upbringing, she changed her path and became an artist. She would use art to express her hard-to-explain emotions regarding her identity and place on cybertron, and to express her love for who inspired her, Malachite. (I will now explain a little on my bf's oc malachite, since it's important to know)
Malachite was a popular icon of iacon. He started off small, with the name of Oxidize, and he was only a humble broadcaster. He then changed his name, got a new shiny paint job, and rebranded himself. He created music for the masses, and a label for other bots to create music too. But Sentinel Prime wasn't too fond of Malachite's rise to popularity. He felt like Malachite overshadowed him. After Sentinel Prime drops by for a little "visit" (nearly killing the mf bc of his insane pride), Malachite - who is a great smooth talker - convinces Sentinel Prime on how he could help spice up how Iacon views him. To make Sentinel Prime truly an 'icon of iacon'. After some charming, Sentinel Prime makes Malachite his Royal Advisor. (a lot of this is to my memory sorry if i got it a little muddy kev🥀)
Back to Aetherangel; she was a little off-put by Malachite's sudden new place as Royal Advisor, but still very proud of him. She continued to create art and music, while Malachite began to spend less and less time with her. A lot of her songs would be hidden away from others, as most of them overtime became only stress relievers and yearning.
Overtime, as Sentinel Prime's Royal Advisor, Malachite saw what was really up, and his true colors began to show more. Corruption. And they were only shoved a little more by Sentinel's servos.
Aetherangel has a split-spark (sibling) named Razorvoid (i posted about them once but not many ppl cared lol) who cares about her a lot, and can put a big influence on her. Razorvoid is very protective of his sister, sometimes too protective because of his paranoia, which turns into rebellion after Sentinel Prime had rule over Iacon for a while. Razor was okay with Mala before, but began to grow some disdain for him after he had been the royal advisor for a while. However, Aetherangel still had a place for Mala in her heart. But she didn't care much for Sentinel Prime, much like her brother. Her brother wasn't the maturest all the time, or could be a bit extreme. And the both of them found the concept of miners to be a little strange, at least, in if it was ethical. Aether already carried these thought processes, but Razor's rebelliousness amplified them a little. Razor would often start fights with guards, or sneak things in for miners after a while. He had a chance to talk to a few when he would sneak, and got to know they're were basically no different at all from him and other cyberteonians, other than the missing cogs. Razor became a friend to many miners. Aether would sometimes help Razor with these exchanhes too, and would even help him sneak into some pretty important places to steal (the second part more because she felt like she didnt have a choice with her brother's crazy antics sometimes lol) These would escalate in Aether having to get involved in Razor's fights with Guards at some point, and this time, did not end well.
Sentinel grew a disliking to Razor and Aether very much so. They were shady. He became aware of Malachite's relationship to the two - ESPECIALLY with Aether - and had an idea on how to actually take care of them.
Sentinel felt Malachite had not yet proven his loyality to Malachite. He had not forgotten thst embarassing moment he first attacked Malachite when they met over his pride, and wasn't sure if he could trust Malachite because of their first impression. That Malachite - also being revealed to be good at manipulating people when he needed to save his spark - would turn against him anytime.
Razorvoid had gotten off pretty easily from the last fight, which was.. alarmingly strange to him. He chose to stay wary of his surroundings, but never thought too much about needing to be wary of Aether's in response to the consequences of last fight.
Sentinel used this incident and told Malachite all about how Aether mustve grown jealous, and how she might even threaten him. He bent a lot of the 'evidence' to make Aether seem way worse than she actually was. Malachite was perplexed by this. He felt he had to find Aether and confront her about her recent behavior, and ask if any of this was true. Upon meeting up, Aether grew irritated that Malachite only cared about the recent incident, and this seeming to be the only reason he had came to see her in a long time. She was upset, and wasn't afraid to show him that. Unfortunately, in Malachite's head, her anger seemed to make him think Sentinel Prime might have been right, especially after Aether did get a tiny bit physical when Malachite kept pushing and eventually questioned her on everything Sentinel said about her. Due to her impulse, Malachite only felt it was confirmed, but ran away.
Aether grew angrier and shared her frustration with Razorvoid. Malachite's ignorance fueled an outburst in Aether, which seemed new for her average behavior, but wasn't too surprising looking at how her recent activities and her emotions in regards to Malachite not seeing her could affect her behavior. She told Razor she would help steal and give more things to miners, to Razor's concern yet slight delight.
Afterward being the next day, Sentinel Prime had ordered for Aetherangel to be taken and brought to Sentinel's, and Malachite would have to be responsible for the next task. He needed Malachite to prove his loyalty, and he wanted this to be a warning to Razorvoid. This would be Razor's true punishment, and why they had let him off "easier" the last time.
Malachite was still scared of Sentinel Prime. He felt like he was walking on eggshells a little around him. He really didn't want to finish this task he was given in regards to what he would have to do to Aetherangel, but he felt like if he didn't, his head would be on display in Sentinel's room. He was broken by what he saw in Aether as of recent, but that broken feeling turned into anger. Overnight he could only remember other times he was with Aether, but his new perspective had warped all of his memories and convinced him that she was only an envious leech.
Aether was thrown at the ground, at Malachite's heels, and Malachite had lots to say to her. His anger spoke to her, and she - who was already struggling with her identity and recent regretful behavioral issues affecting her identity - was convinced by his rage warping all of the memories together. When he told her that she was a horrible bot, she had believed it. She wept on how she was selfish, but Malachite couldn't falsely agree more, sadly.
Sentinel Prime had tasked him to end Aetherangel's life.
Aetherangel had already accepted whatever fate would come her way, but Malachite had another plan. He was not ready to offline who he had seen as a Sparkmate, despite his anger. And instead of offlining her, he took her apart as much as he could, and took her cog. He made her mostly unrecognizable, and sent her off to the mines, while also making it seem like he had killed her in Sentinel Prime's optics.
Aether had been damaged so badly, that her memory had been lost. She woke up in a cave, a few bots surrounding her in horror, and the cogless bot Ratchet tending to her open wounds of where many of her features had been torn off. She was renamed as AA-0, was referred to by others with masculine or neutral pronouns and terms. Her memory erasure made her forget anything about her previous identity, so she didn't mind it too much. Of course, she still felt masculinity regarding her was strange, but she never thought about it too much since she felt like she didn't have time to as a miner. AA-0 couldn't really get along with others, as she felt very distant and out of place even more so. However, Arcee and Jazz were a couple bots who would stick with her anyway, as they did not want her to feel alone.
Meanwhile, after Malachite's deed was done, he was the one to tell Razorvoid that Aetherangel had been recently apart of "an accident", and had gone offline. Razorvoid was deeply distraught, but didn't believe a single word Malachite would say. He KNEW he had to be apart of this. He KNEW this had to be a warning. And he felt horrible. He felt guilty. He wanted to only protect his sister, but his impulsiveness only dragged her farther down than him. Ravorvoid had had enough of Iacon, and made a journey to the surface. After hiding away, the High Guard had found Razorvoid, taking him as a spy at first, but then letting him join.
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Transformers Prime Aetherangel
in TFP, aetherangel was a great warrior for the autobots after the war on cybertron broke out. her sibling Razorvoid had been taken prisoner and was damaged severely, and Malachite had been taken as prisoner, but was forced by Megatron to serve him in short. Megatron wanted Malachite on his side for his incredible strength, but also because not only was he very good at manipulating others, but Malachite was also a suck up himself. Megatron used his very old relationship with Aether against him in proving that he would be a great asset to the decepticons, and would be loyal to Megatron no matter what.
Aetherangel was shocked to see Malachite on the active battlefield, and shocked to be so easily put on her knees all over his betrayal towards her. the long fight ended with Malachite isolating her, tricking her into thinking he had decided to spare her last second, and quickly stabbed right through her. He wanted it to be quick so she wouldn't have to suffer for his cowardice. He held her close, and in her last dying seconds, she tried to pry herself out of his arms at her tears, and went limp before she could escape his pitifulness. (my bf and i wrote this in full, ill have to ask him, but if anyone is interested let me know and ill ask him if its ok to share :D)
i havent gotten to plan this far ahead, but i plan on making her come back as a zombie at one point and it fucking with malachites head 💔
Transformers Animated Aetherangel (currently very much a WIP)
In TFA, Aetherangel and Malachite were both in Sentinel's bootcamp. (Malachite was still named Oxidize then, so ill call him that during this.) Aetherangel wanted to become an autobot elite guard. But that was all put in shambles when Longarm (Shockwave) was testing the waters to see how far he could go with his crimes against the Autobots and still stay a secret, and used Aetherangel as a scapegoat when he murdered Skyfire (skyfire, not the jetfire in tfa. this is theeee skyfire. we picked him bc hes kept out of media a lot so we thought it would make sense, also bc he has two names, so skyfire being one in tfa as well would fit if that makes sense.)
being framed for murder and Oxidize turning on her, she was punished and they bent her horns down since they thought that was her main weapon for killing skyfire. She became a decepticon and grew cynical. she liked to make fun of her enemies and not take them serious by shutting them down when they would try to talk back to her, and she would make fun of them.
i plan at one point she would take out bee's voicebox (i feel like this would be an arc for like 2-4 episodes, maybe 3, and bee gets a fix eventually..) mostly because of what happened to waspinator being similar to her, and because she finds him very annoying.
Shattered Glass color design bonus!!
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THANK YOU SO MUCH if you read even a little bit of anything, even if yoy skimmed. i know i wrote a lor, but i hope at least one person cares a tiny bit :D oc stuff barely gets people to like it so i hope this didnt drive people awya auughghgjdkaaaaaaa
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hooffuloftootsierolls · 6 months ago
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In light of the reveal of Abel's complete design, have this dumb doodle i made on magma a week ago based on an interaction my bsf @plushtoothpanic acted out while we were joking about Vivziepop's lack of diversity(the dog character is his sona).
Also, rant below involving Abel, I don't want this to become a critical blog since Hazbin has held a special place in my heart since 2021, but oh my God I am so sick of the shit that Vivzie is pulling
Making Adam white was already quite a choice, I had a pretty specific vision of a dark-skinned curly-haired man before his face was revealed. Although I had been expecting a biblically-accurate Adam, I didn't mind having him white as long as Eve wasn't made white as well.
Abel's design throws this out the window.
First let's focus on Abel being the child of Adam and Eve. This means Eve is white, and likely also blonde. Historically, the first humans were East/South African, and not white. Ok, well what about biblically? The popular depictions of biblical figures are mainly European interpretations from when Europe adapted the Bible and made all the figures pale, like them. It's more likely that the dark-skinned writers that originally complied stories into the Bible meant for the figures to look more like them. It would make more sense if one or both of them was dark.
Saint Peter is a whole nother' piss drawer that I don't wanna open, but whitewashing an actual human being that existed is just so gross.
Now, the other thing I wanna talk about that talks less about race and more about theories surrounding Abel being blonde... People were already theorizing that maybe one of the kids was Lucifer's spawn because of the implied affair with Eve. It wasn't the most popular theory but now it's making a comeback with the reveal of Abel's complete design.
I dislike this theory(besides the fact that it's just stupid) because
1. Cain is Adam and Eve's firstborn son. Abel is their second. Even if Eve and Lucifer had an affair in Eden, that would result in Cain, not Abel. Also we aren't entirely aware of Lucifer's powers involving entering the living world but I doubt he can canonically go there, or at least not after Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden, since Hell was made as a punishment for him and any mortal that sins and I don't think he would be able to waltz back to Earth that easily. I suppose maybe they could be twins and Cain could just have been the first one born, but I don't think that's usually what "firstborn" implies, or how it's generally interpreted?
2. This is gonna look really bad on Lucifer's part?? Like, this implies that Lilith left Adam for Lucifer, then Lucifer got with Eve(possibly cheating on Lilith if she wasn't aware/didn't consent to the affair) and cucked Adam for a second time???? Lucifer would straight-up be getting the Stolas treatment where they keep making him more and more shitty then try to justify it anyways. Cmon guys.. I wanna be able to cheer for Lucifer too but he doesn't seem remorseful at all for anything he's done, more like he's been playing the victim for a decamillennium despite being a possible cheater and the one who destroyed Adam and Eve's life.
3. How would this be plot-relevant at all?? My closest guess is to make a disconnect from Adam like "oh he was never my ACTUAL father anyways" and also to try and make a bond with Abel and Charlie being blood-related so he would decide to side with her or something. Also on top of that I hate the whole trope of someone suddenly not giving a fuck about the parents who raised them in favor of their biological parents who didn't raise them. It's a dumb trope and if this theory is canon and they pull something like that.... ughh.
yeah. Overall, too many Aryans, pleasepleasepleaseplease pleaseeep please don't make Eve white even though I know they will anyways, and if that stupid theory is true then Lucifer is a snake-tongued, home-wrecking, unfaithful pile of shit that is disguised as a poor depressed dad that the fandom eats up and woobifies. Not that I don't want him to have flaws, but he doesn't seem very sorry for what he did(he has his whole snake and apple motif, that's like saying you feel guilty for a murder then using the hyper-specific murder weapon as your symbol) and also Abel being his son would be such an unnecessary plotline that would make him look soooo so so so so much worse because he wouldn't have much of a wholesome excuse for that.
The only good things I'm getting out of this are that I can post about Abel without having to tag it as leaks and also people are cracking jokes about Abel being the son of Lucifer and Adam
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physalian · 1 year ago
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What No One Tells you about Writing #3
Opening this up to writing as a whole, because it turns out I have a lot more to say!
Part 1
Part 2
1. You don’t fall in love with your characters immediately
But when you do, it’s a hit of serotonin like no other. I’d been writing a tight cast of characters for my sci-fi series since 2016 and switched over in a bout of writer’s block this year to my new fantasy book. I made it about ⅓ through writing the book going through the motions, unable to visualize what these new characters look like, sound like, or would behave like without a ‘camera’ on them.
Then, all of a sudden, I opened my document to keep on chugging with the first draft, and it clicked. They were no longer faceless elements of my plot, they were my characters and I was excited to see what they could accomplish, rooting for them to succeed. Sometimes, it takes a while, but it does come.
2. Sometimes a smaller edit is better than a massive rewrite
Unless you’re changing the trajectory of your entire plot, or a character’s arc really is unrecoverable, sometimes even a single line of dialogue, a single paragraph of introspection, or a quick exchange between two characters can change everything. If something isn’t working, or your beta readers consistently aren’t jiving with a character you yourself love, try taking a step back, looking at who they are as a person, and boil down what your feedback is telling you and it might demand a simpler fix than you expect.
Tiny details inserted at the right moment can move mountains. Fan theories stand on the backs of these minutiae. One sentence can turn a platonic relationship romantic. One sentence can unravel a fair and just argument. One sentence can fill or open a massive plot hole.
3. Outline? What outline?
Not every book demands weeks upon weeks of prep and worldbuilding. I would argue that jumping right in with only a vague direction in mind gives you a massive advantage: You can’t infodump research you haven’t done. Exposition is forced to come as the plot demands it, because you haven’t designed it yet.
Not every story is simple and straightforward, but even penning the first draft with your vague plan, *then* going back and adding in deeper worldbuilding elements, more thematic details, richer character development, can get you over the writer’s block hurdle and make it far less intimidating to just shut up and write the book.
4. It’s okay to let your characters take the wheel
I’ve seen writing advice that chastises authors who let their characters run wild, off the plan the story has for them. Yeah, doing this can harm your pacing and muddy a strong and consistent arc, but refusing to leave the box of your outline greatly limits your creativity. I do this particularly when writing romantic relationships (and end up like Captain Crunch going Oops! All Gays!).
Did I plan for these two to get together? No, it just happened organically as I wrote them talking, getting closer, getting to know each other better in the circumstances they find themselves in. Was this character meant to be gay? Well, he wasn’t meant to be straight, but you know what, he’d work really well with this other boy over here. None of that would have happened if I was bound and determined to follow my original plan, because my original plan didn’t account for how the story that I want to tell evolves. You aren’t clairvoyant—it’s okay if it didn’t end up where you thought it would.
5. Fight. Scenes. Suck.
Which is crazy because I love fantasy and sci-fi, the actiony-est genres. Some authors love battle scenes and fistfights. It comes naturally to them and I will forever be jealous. I hate fight scenes. I hate blocking and choreographing them. I hate how it doesn’t read like I’m watching a movie. I hate how it could take me hours to write a scene I can read in 5 minutes. I hate that there’s no way around it except to just not write them, or put in the elbow grease and practice.
Whatever your writing kryptonite is, don’t be too hard on yourself. It won’t ever replicate the movie in your head, but our audience isn’t privy to that movie and will be none the wiser of how this didn’t fit your expectations, because it’s probably awesome on its own. It could be a fight scene, sex scene, epic battle, cavalry charge, courtroom argument, car chase—whatever. Be patient, and kind to yourself and it will all come together.
6. Write the scenes you want to write first
And then be prepared to never use them. It can be mighty difficult working backwards from a climax and figuring out how to write the story around it, but if you’re sitting at your laptop staring at your cursor and watching it blink, stuck on a tedious moment that’s necessary but frustrating, go write something exciting. Even if that amazing scene ends up no longer working in the book your story becomes, you still get practice by writing it. Particularly if you hate beginnings or the pressure of a perfect first page is too high, you’re allowed to write any other moment in the book first.
And with that, be prepared to kill your darlings. Not your characters, I mean that one badass line of dialogue living rent free in your head. That epic monologue. That whump scenario for your favorite character. Sometimes it just doesn’t work out anymore, but even if it ends up in the trash, you can always salvage something from it, even if that’s only the knowledge of what not to do in the future.
7. “This is clearly an author insert.” … Yes. It is. Point?
No one likes Mary Sues, because a character who doesn’t struggle or learn to get everything they want in life is uncompelling. The most flagrant author inserts I see aren’t Mary Sues, they’re nerdy, awkward, boring white guys whose world changes to fit their perspective, instead of the other way around—they don’t have anything to say. I’m not the intended audience to relate to these characters and I accept that, but I don’t empathize with the so-called “strong female character” who also doesn’t have flaws or an arc either.
A good author insert? When the author gives their characters pieces of themselves. When the “author insert” struggles and learns and grows and it’s a therapeutic experience just writing these characters thrown into such horrible situations. They feel human when they’re given pieces of a human’s soul. They have real human flaws and idiosyncrasies. I don’t care if the author wrote themselves as the protagonist. I care that this protagonist is entertaining. So if you want to make yourself the hero of your book, go for it! But make sure you look in the mirror and write in your flaws, as much as your strengths.
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dolliethv · 10 months ago
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One Of The Girls.
summary: English is not my first language, so if you notice any mistakes I'm sorry!! Hiii, this is a pretty TO long story, I wanted to write something with a lot of sexual tension and a lot of smut, read it calmly and I hope you enjoy it xoxo!!
Pairing: Jude Bellingham x fem reader!!
Word count: about 6k
You weren't sure if attending Jude's party was a good idea, but something inside you—maybe the excitement of Halloween and the thought of celebrating with your group of friends, or perhaps the hope of seeing him—convinced you. Jude's huge, new house in Madrid, decorated with lit pumpkins and fake cobwebs, gleamed in the distance, full of people already enjoying the night.
You stepped inside, and strobe lights danced on the walls, while laughter and music filled the air. You grabbed a drink as you passed by the improvised bar, trying to relax. You hadn’t taken more than two steps when you felt that familiar gaze tracing your body. You slowly turned, and there he was, Jude, leaning against the wall, his eyes fixed solely on you.
You wished the ground would swallow you because your damn group of friends was headed straight toward Jude Bellingham’s group. Of course, they all knew each other.
After your friends had chatted enough with the other group, you decided to take the lead.
"Couldn’t you put a little more effort into your costume?" That was the first thing you asked when you finally looked him in the eyes for the first time that night.
Curious about what he was actually dressed as?
Seriously? A simple cop uniform? You could bet your life on the fact that men have zero originality—they always go for the easy option. Lord, give me patience.
You absolutely hated basic Halloween costumes. Anything that took less than ten minutes and minimal effort didn’t deserve attention. It might seem a bit over the top, but given the number of creative ideas this particular holiday offered, you just couldn’t stand it.
Not when you even designed and made your own costume for the occasion.
But it was funny how quickly Jude changed your mind.
Basic is good. Basic is great. Damn it.
"What’s your costume supposed to be, anyway?" Jude continued, his voice calm but his body still a bit tense.
"It’s Suki from Fast and Furious!" Drew, one of Jude’s friends, shouted loud enough that the music barely muffled it.
He wasn’t even trying to hide his blatant staring, but truthfully, neither of you cared. You turned and headed off with your friends to who knows where.
You knew you looked good. You’d worked particularly hard on your outfit for tonight, so you had no reason to hide. Everything was perfectly planned, from head to toe.
Minutes passed, and you tried to convince yourself there was no reason to panic, but there were a lot of people, and your outfit was a bit too revealing. So, when you felt hands around your waist, you were ready to scream for whoever it was to back off.
"It's me."
Oh my God, you almost had a heart attack.
Jude pulled you against him, your back pressed to his chest, his left hand settling on your hip while his right extended around your shoulder to not-so-gently push people aside. The tall, dark-haired boy didn’t take long to start moving you both, making space with his prominent frame when people were too slow to get out of the way, shoving them until he cleared a path for both of you.
Stupid party, stupid Jude Bellingham. It was his fault you ended up there anyway. Jude may not have seen your face, but he definitely felt how tense you were in his arms.
"Why the bad attitude?"
Bad attitude? You didn’t know much about attitudes, but all your limited knowledge vanished when he pulled you even closer.
You cleared your throat briefly, your words followed by a slight shake of your head.
"Am I the one with the bad attitude?" you replied.
Because truthfully, you’d been on your best behavior since you got to that house. Or at least trying.
Jude loved driving you crazy; he thought you looked damn adorable acting tough at barely 5'1".
"By the way, you look amazing."
It was a great move, saying something so flattering to ease the tension.
"Thanks," you murmured, not caring whether he heard, your eyes glued to the back of the guy Jude was elbowing out of the way.
Two stomped-on feet and a "Are you gonna move or what the hell are you waiting for?" later, you were finally out of the chaos.
Well, as far out of danger as you could be at a party and in a house full of mostly strangers.
However, Jude didn’t stop there. He guided you to what you vaguely recognized as the first hallway on the right, his hands never leaving your body. It wasn’t unpleasant for you, not at all, but you both drew more than a few curious stares. It didn’t bother you much now that your closest friends knew. Other people’s opinions of you were never the most positive anyway, but you were surprised at how little Jude seemed to care, considering it was his house.
When you finally stopped, you found yourselves where you’d suspected a few moments earlier, slightly sheltered from the loud music. There were a few other people around, but they were far enough away not to intrude on your conversation.
Jude released you a few seconds before turning you around and wrapping his arms around you again, pulling you close as he leaned against the wall.
"I like your hairstyle; it’s cute," he said, grabbing a lock of your hair between his fingers. "Scratch that. Actually, I love how sexy you look with your hair down."
You were starting to seriously regret the day you told Jude you wouldn’t mind being complimented daily because it was getting out of hand.
How were you supposed to function properly when Jude kept looking at you with dark eyes?
You swallowed hard, shifting your gaze to the side of his face to avoid dealing with the intensity of his stare. You needed to say something and had to do it now.
"People were staring at us."
Of course, your voice trembled, and of course, out of all the things you could’ve said, you picked the one with the most potential to ruin the moment.
Jude was being very open tonight, and while you didn’t dislike it, it was new and somehow made him even more intimidating. All you could focus on was trying to stay afloat, despite involuntarily melting into the warmth of his touch and the comfort of his voice.
"When you look like that, baby, of course, people are going to stare."
You were getting nervous so quickly that it was unreasonable. Your breathing was already picking up, and butterflies were fluttering, one by one, to the point that you could no longer distinguish between those in your heart and those in your stomach.
This was exactly why you shouldn’t stay away from Jude for too long.
"News travels fast, Bellingham. Especially when you’re the footballer of the moment."
But with Jude, you didn’t have to worry. Jude could take care of both of you, and maybe you shouldn’t trust him, but God, it felt so good to be protected.
You desperately wanted to kiss him. Every brush of his thumb against your skin was electrifying. You needed to be closer, needed more, and this time, it had nothing to do with lust.
It was the kind of need you hadn’t felt before, the kind that demanded an exchange of feelings, even if not through words. Even if you tore off your clothes and pressed skin to skin, chest to chest, heartbeat to heartbeat, it wouldn’t be enough. You wanted to be inside Jude’s mind, to share all his thoughts, to experience the unknown, to finally understand each other, but you were too scared.
You couldn’t get there just yet.
"Your costume is stupid," you finally said, your voice coming out a bit more determined.
Jude’s lips curled into a smile, which quickly turned into a laugh that disappeared just as fast, but it was definitely something worth remembering.
"You’re so good at flirting," he purred sarcastically. "Tell me more."
You thought you might be able to keep a straight face, but as soon as you saw him smile, you followed. There was something so addictive about it, maybe the fact that you didn’t see it often, but it definitely made Jude ten times more attractive.
And he was already too attractive to begin with. God.
"It really is stupid," you confirmed your own thoughts, your fingers trailing up to fix the collar of Jude’s cop uniform. "But you look so sexy. I don’t know why I’m so into this kind of stuff."
You knew you weren’t the only one. It’s not for nothing that women love men in uniform.
"You don’t like the uniforms; you like the authority behind them. Or should I say, you’re afraid of it?"
Even though you had the same smile, Jude looked completely different, but he was right. You always felt uneasy around any kind of authority figure.
Watching Jude—with the quite noticeable height and body size difference compared to you, with the sleeves of his uniform stretching around his biceps every time he moved—you couldn’t blame yourself for feeling a bit nervous.
And to top it all off, a pair of very real-looking handcuffs hung from his belt.
So yeah, you gave up your principles about liking the basic for one night, but Jude had chosen a really good costume to spark your imagination.
"Honestly..." Jude grabbed your chin and pulled you even closer, his eyes fixed on your lips. "I wouldn’t mind being a cop if it meant I could make pretty things like you tremble."
As if he needed to be a cop to do that. Idiot.
As if you didn’t already find him intimidating enough without the costume. As if your knees didn’t buckle and your body didn’t heat up every time Jude looked you in the eyes for more than three seconds.
"I think that’d be an abuse of power."
Very socially aware of you, but it might be more believable if you stopped looking at him like you wanted him to take advantage of you. You know it's wrong to think that.
Jude hummed, sliding his thumb over your lower lip before pressing it and pulling it down. The movement was so sudden it made you hiss. It was almost embarrassing how willing you were for Jude to do whatever he wanted, to play with your body however he pleased, without questioning the reason.
"It isn’t if you enjoy it."
Their heads tilted to opposite sides, moving closer with lips tingling from the desire to kiss. You could feel Jude exhale before gently pressing his body against yours and brushing his mouth against yours when—
"Bellingham!"
Both grimaced, and you quickly jumped back, your hands starting to smooth out the wrinkles in your clothes. You didn’t turn around or look at Jude; you didn’t want to know if someone had really seen you and didn’t want to deal with it.
Jude’s friends weren’t the type of people he enjoyed talking to, so it would be weird to find yourself in a situation where you had to pretend to be a bit interested in what they had to say.
"Oh, hey," Jude responded with much less enthusiasm as the sound of footsteps grew louder.
"Good party, man."
You recognized the characteristically deep voice and immediately tried to move a little further from the sound. You opted to take the empty space next to Jude, and to avoid seeming rude, you looked up, meeting Trent Alexander’s eyes before giving a small nod in his direction. The man nodded back with a shy smile resting on your lips.
"Hey y/n, you look great!!" He said.
"Thanks."
You knew him, or at least you knew who Alexander was. In your defense, you knew all the people in your circle of unfortunately extroverted friends. You knew he was a guy with too much money, another footballer, not surprisingly—very attractive—and also much kinder than many other rich and attractive people.
However, you started to feel anxious.
Alexander didn’t seem to notice your discomfort, even after greeting you. But then the guy lowered his gaze, not going below the level of your skirt, but enough to make you wonder— is this guy checking me out?—God, men are all so bold.
Suddenly, Bellingham cleared his throat, subtly but enough to move you a little out of Trent’s view.
Oh, okay.
"Sorry to bother you, but my friend here won’t stop saying she wants to meet the great Jude Bellingham."
Unaware of the presence of someone else before, you moved your gaze to Trent, where a model-like tall girl was giving all her attention to Jude.
You were annoyed by how attractive she was. You couldn’t imagine how she looked in Jude’s eyes. You weren’t a fan of the cliché thought of hating other women over men, but damn, this feeling was hard to handle.
"Can you blame me? He looks even better than I imagined," she said loudly.
Then you looked at how that girl was dressed.
She was obviously someone very bold, and you were all for female empowerment, but if she came any closer to Jude, you’d have to break her neck.
If Jude hadn’t noticed her before, he definitely was now, shamelessly scanning her figure until stopping on her chest a bit longer than necessary. When he looked back at her face, he gave her a playful smile.
"She knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to ask for it. My kind of girl."
Sorry, what? His type of what? Is he really giving me a hint?
A fake and shy smile spread across the unknown girl’s face as she tilted her head slightly and flipped her hair back, exposing more of her neck and collarbones.
"Oh, yeah?" She asked, her voice interrupted by laughter. "What else is your type?"
Me?
The girl started tracing circles with her index finger over the lower part of her collarbone before dragging it down, outlining the beginning of her breasts. They were quite exposed; it was hard not to notice them, but there was no worse way Jude could handle it than staring at them, his expression not hiding what he was thinking.
Bellingham took a step towards her, immediately placing his right hand on her hip without gripping it, just touching a bit, while moving to whisper something in her ear.
There was absolutely no damn way Jude was doing this in front of you, there must be some kind of reality error. No fucking way, you were really holding yourself back from pulling him away from her and giving him a beating.
Once the brunette straightened up, they were both smiling, and you couldn’t hear it, but you read it from the girl’s lips.
"I got lucky tonight."
Well, you had never considered yourself a crazy person, or at least not one who acted out of her mind with no regard for social norms.
Nevertheless, at that moment, you could barely stand.
You had no doubt about it anymore; it was too strong not to recognize, too powerful to ignore. You were jealous, so jealous that all you could think about was violence and all you could see was red.
"I’m leaving," Alexander suddenly said, visibly uncomfortable with the looks being exchanged.
You didn’t even have time to thank him mentally before the girl grabbed his arm as if her life depended on it, sweetly smiling at Jungkook and saying:
"I’ll be waiting."
And with that, they left.
The crowd made them disappear in less than a minute, leaving no trace. All you could focus on now was the unshakable smile on Jude’s face.
You despised him.
None of this was part of the plan.
Jude’s plan was to keep you without sex for a while, make you show how much you missed him, make you feel so needy that you’d give in to anything in seconds. Bellingham thought nothing could compare to the feeling he’d have once he saw your desperation, the ease with which he’d let you go, giving him the upper hand in the situation.
He was wrong.
Something better than a proud version of you was a version willing to admit, to admit that you were jealous, and he made you realize it after this little outburst.
"Where were we?" He asked as if nothing had happened, his attention slowly returning to you, clearly displeased at his side.
-I might have overstepped a bit- you thought. Relax.
Since Jude did everything he could to avoid giving you more than a glance while talking to that girl, wanting to make it as real as possible, he was enjoying watching your reaction.
You stared defiantly at the wall opposite them, obviously trying to transfer all your anger to her instead of Jude.
Seeing you cute probably wasn’t what you was looking for, but Jude found it absolutely adorable.
"Is something bothering you, sweetheart?" He gently brushed a lock of hair from your forehead, his voice laced with false concern.
"No."
It wasn’t a very convincing lie with your teeth clenched and a blank expression on your face.
"Mm, I think it is."
"Good for you."
Jude had to stifle a satisfied smile. The way you responded with the first thing that came to your mind showed you weren’t thinking much before speaking.
"Not in the mood for a conversation anymore?"
You closed your eyes.
But you couldn’t do that, not when it was exactly what you wanted to do. He couldn’t be the first to break, admit his lust, show that he wanted to be with you so much that he’d trample his pride.
Not again.
“You know, I never took you for a jerk who got jealous so easily.”
If it were physically possible, your jaw would be hitting the floor. The air caught in your throat and your lips hung oddly open as you looked at Jude and found the lack of concern on his features.
Being honest was the easiest way to get through to him.
“How dare you?” You asked offended, pushing Jude away as hard as you could.
His balance seemed to falter as you failed to move him an inch, but he did successfully sway on his two feet, before Jude grabbed your wrists.
“How dare I what?” He asked you with an amused smirk. “Does she make you jealous? I was just having a conversation, babe.”
“No, not that.” You finished your statement with an irritated groan, violently breaking free from his hold. “You’re an idiot. Go have a conversation then.”
“Should I?”
The look you gave him only said one thing. “I fucking dare you.”
“Do you think you’ll be able to find her?” You couldn’t help the sarcasm. “You didn’t look at her face even once.”
Well, if it wasn’t obvious, you screwed up. The chances of her living without Bellingham mentioning what you wanted him to not notice were now basically non-existent.
“She didn’t put that on so I would look at her face.”
You had never looked so angry, your head shaking in disbelief and fists clenched on either side of your body. You looked like you were really struggling not to slap him and Jude couldn’t blame you. That was the point, after all.
“Oh, wow.”
He was already on his way to calming her down, his hands reaching for your waist, when you raised his in defense.
“Don’t touch me.”
You even pointed with your index finger in warning, wagging it when Jude didn’t stop.
“I’m not joking, I’ll slap you, don’t touch me- mhppm-”
With one hand around your waist and the other pressing against your jaw, Jude had you backed up against the wall in no time. Despite your earlier threats and your bad mood, you surrendered into his arms quickly, melting into the touch, your soft moans being muffled by Jude’s mouth. The longer it went on, the more eager you became, tugging at his uniform, trying to pull him closer despite your bodies already being together.
When he pulled away, you were a mess. It was being a fight for him to refuse your touch.
“We can go to my room…”
He whispered against you, before moving lower.
“Talk…”
He pressed a kiss against your chin
“I’ll make you laugh…”
And then one on the side of your jaw
“I can make you cum…”
You shuddered at the proposal.
You both knew he wanted it, that was not in doubt. The question was how far he would go to get it.
“You will have my full attention.” With sarcasm.
Another kiss, just below your ear.
“All you need to do is ask.” He made sure you were looking at each other when he spoke, eager to see your reaction. “Tell me you don’t want to see me with someone else.”
You noticed how your body completely gave out, all hope in your eyes. Your excitement was replaced with panic as your pupils dilated and your mouth opened and closed without saying a word.
The offer was so tempting, the promise so real, so possible. I hate it.
You wanted it so badly, but it was a matter of pride and even though you were the prouder of the two of you, it was clear that you still had a hard time taking a step back from him.
“If I need to ask for attention, then I don’t want it.” You replied with a dry tone.
“If you change your mind, you know where to find me.”
Your jaw clenched at the implication. You knew it.
With the girl dressed in a bad porn nurse costume.
(...)
“Can you stop looking at him? I’m talking to you.”
The words of Odessa, your best friend, barely reached your ears, your thoughts overwhelming you in an almost pleasurable way.
You watched as Jude’s hand wrapped around an unfamiliar waist for the umpteenth time that night, causing your own fingers to grip your knee tightly.
This time it was a redhead, dressed in something that was more meant to cover the most private parts of her body than disguise, but who were you to judge? Right?
There was clearly a set pattern that you noticed during the time you spent sitting, gaping and staring in Bellingham’s direction. People would come up to say hello, most often women, their hands touching as much as they could without being inappropriate and a few minutes after sharing a few words they would come over with eyes fluttering in a way that could only mean one thing.
The first few times it happened, your heart nearly stopped beating. You were sure you knew what was about to happen next- Jude would take her by the hand and lead her to his bedroom.
But it didn’t happen. Not with the curly-haired brunette, not with the six-foot-eight leggy blonde, not with the one he was feasting on now.
Is he not interested? You asked yourself.
A raspy growl rumbled somewhere deep in your throat before you grabbed your glass and clumsily emptied it down your throat, not caring how the liquid spilled from the corners of your lips and down your chin.
You called out to your friends, as you abruptly stood up, almost tripping over someone sitting between them.
“Let’s dance.”
Your lips formed a smile at the thought of Jude seeing you with someone else. It was childish, yes, but you didn't really care.
You were about to execute your plan, but when you turned around, you found nothing worth your attention. The spot Jude was occupying all this time now had other people in it, no sign of the brunette in sight.
You wished you could say that it didn’t affect you.
So you turned your back on your friends and walked in the opposite direction, your newly gained good mood now ruined. You thought maybe if Jude admitted to being jealous, you could too. It would make it less embarrassing.
If Jude was here, surely he could get something better.
Yes, if Jude was here. If he wasn't fucking someone else.
"Having fun?"
A familiar voice reached your ears, close enough to feel the vibration of the sound, making you shiver, thanking God the place was too dark for anyone to notice as Bellingham's proximity made your entire body shake.
You kept your eyes on the empty glass in front of you not quite sure how you were going to respond with his mood.
Any words or actions from you from now on could be detrimental.
"Don't you want to talk to me?"
Silence.
"Okay, I'll go then."
Jude didn't even move. He didn't pull away, nor did he lean back. He stood right where he was five seconds ago, the same annoyed, mocking smile on his features.
"You're still not jealous?"
You weren't just jealous, you were seething with it.
"I am, actually. Tell anyone and I'll make sure it's the last thing that comes out of your mouth."
Admitting jealousy was a big deal for you, especially since you didn't know if Jude felt the same way. Also knowing what was coming after this.
"There's not much that can brighten my mood right now."you entered the room, "I just needed courage for what I'm about to do." locking it once the door was closed.
When you turned around, your eyes met and Jude felt something he hadn't felt in a while, it felt like he didn't really know anything about you.
He wasn't blind to the progress you'd made in the different areas of your relationship, but there was still a lot left to say, explain, discover, and - in a situation like this, when you seemed to be a completely different person - he was surprised at how much he still had to get to know you.
"Yeah? And can I know what it is?"
He longed to feel you again on other parts of his body and even more so when your hot mouth landed on his mouth as you said-
"Punish you."
It wasn't that it hadn't crossed Jude's mind that you might do something like this all night, but still, hearing you out loud was enough to bring a smug smile to his lips.
"Oh, really?"
It would be a lie to say you didn't find it fun.
Things were definitely taking a different turn than he had planned, but then again, ever since the party started, all of his plans were ruined, so he was surprisingly not opposed to the idea.
He was actually very intrigued.
You hummed in agreement and within seconds your hands were back on Jude's body, this time being bolder and freer with your movements.
It was the first proper touch that night and Bellingham thought he was ready, but he really had no idea how much he had missed this until he experienced it again. He struggled to keep his eyes open, but the feel of your palms and the heaviness of your fingers prevented him from doing so.
Your hands moved in opposite directions, one sliding down his abdomen and the other circling the side of his neck. With the pad of your thumb, you traced circles on his skin, massaging and releasing some of the tension.
He had a hard time trying to keep from getting an erection from the moment he laid eyes on you when you arrived. Now... now it was impossible.
"You know..." you started saying.
Jude heard your whisper, but could barely register it due to the heat that was beginning to creep steadily down his body, fading only for a moment when his belt got in the way, but then coming back stronger, with a grip more powerful than before. Bellingham would be ashamed to admit that his breath hitched as soon as he felt you where he wanted it most.
“I’d rather have these for myself, but you left me no choice.”
It all clicked, both metaphorically and literally, in his brain and out loud, but Jude couldn’t move fast enough to stop it.
The handcuffs were already dangling from the tip of your index finger as you swung them teasingly back and forth in front of his face.
Oh. Interesting.
The way you could overpower Jude in a mere second was wonderful.
“What makes you think I’m going to let you do that?”
You pursed your lips briefly as if contemplating his answer.
“And what makes you think I’m going to ask for your permission?” You replied.
“Maybe that drink was too much after all,” he looked at you with a smirk. “Looks like you’re confusing roles.”
Judging by his expression, you didn’t share the same opinion.
You pushed him until the back of his knees hit the bed.
Jude didn’t stop you or object, instead sitting on the edge as he was pushed down, curious to see how things would play out.
“Are you threatening me, baby?” He asked, leaning back on his forearms.
You looked perfect from every angle, she was so sure of it now.
Your free hand gripping Jude’s jaw and squeezing it a little in annoyance.
“My name isn't ‘baby’.”
You slid your fingers down the side of Bellingham's throat where the smear of a lipstick still rested on his skin.
As you stared into each other's eyes, you looked so angry that Jude couldn't help the heat spreading throughout his insides.
"Wouldn't that make you even more angry, baby?" He emphasized on the nickname on purpose, arching an eyebrow mockingly.
The sound that came out of your throat was quiet, but he didn't miss it.
-Even her grunts are cute.-
"Shut the fuck up."
It was clear that you weren't usually the type to get angry to that extent, and even if you had been, you were the type to never act on it.
"Keep your hands behind your back if you don't want to lose your most prized possession."
You felt it before you understood it - a pressure of something hard and unfamiliar against your crotch. Something unwanted.
And it came, a sign. Not too big, not too flashy, not too obvious, but painful and threatening.
Your foot moved so abruptly that the tip of your shoe met the tip of Jude's cock and hit dangerously close to his balls.
You did it. I got you.
"Good choice."
With one swift movement, his crotch was free again, but his hands were bound at the wrists by the steel rings.
You pushed him down onto the bed and pulled his shirt open, leaving his chest completely bare.
“Shit,” you muttered at the sight. “You’re lucky to be attractive.”
“And you’re lucky to be able to see me like this.”
You sent him a questioning look. “Oh, I am? Who hasn’t gotten to see you like this? Because from what I’ve witnessed, you don’t exactly have a criterion when it comes to who you let undress you.”
“You seem really upset by that thought, sweetheart. Are you scared of having a little competition?”
“And what makes them my competition? They’re not as pretty as me.”
“But they’re a lot more obedient.” He replied.
Pure shit.
There’s nothing Jude likes more than how disobedient you are.
“You know my legs are always open for you.”
"Baby..."
"You know you can take anything you want from me, anywhere you want... any way you want..."
Every syllable that came out of your mouth was filled with confidence. Your fingers caressed his jaw as if he was teasing, barely grazing the skin before pulling away and touching another part.
"You have such a dirty mouth." The boy said.
"You want it around your cock?"
Holy shit, did you really say that?
"Yeah."
You hummed, acting like you were considering it.
"But I think you acted like shit, I don't think you deserve it."
"You're lucky that I'm tied up right now, otherwise I'd fuck you until you were ruined."
You seemed to take it as a compliment, your thighs clenching tightly around Bellingham's hips to feel him better.
"Oh yeah? You wanna fuck me?"
As if his massive erection wasn't proof enough already.
“Yes, baby. So bad.”
His confession brought a satisfied smile to your face.
“You wanna see what I got under there?”
“Show me how pretty you are.”
But you didn’t take off any clothes.
You just started riding one of his thighs, your movements teasing and slow.
“Shit. Take this off me.” The dark-skinned one said.
“And why would I do that?”
God, this was getting so frustrating. Jude wanted nothing more to do than watch you choke on his cock until you remembered how to talk to him properly. You shifted a little on his lap, creating a small but effective friction.
“Baby…”
“Suck.” You claimed.
Shit. Usually, Jude was the one giving the orders. Usually, you were the one with Jude’s fingers inside your mouth, too. He opened his mouth obligingly and you immediately pushed two of your fingers in, letting them rest on the tip of his tongue before pushing them fully into his mouth.
“You like having my fingers in your mouth?”
Jude couldn’t help but like the mess he was turning you into.
You withdrew your fingers without warning and brought them to your own mouth, sucking and moaning lewdly as you looked directly into Bellingham’s eyes.
“You’re so fucking dirty.”
Your hand trailed until it was just above your breasts, eyes still on Jude’s as you squeezed your tits.
Jude didn’t even have time to react before he saw you move up your own body and rub through the material covering your pussy, touching up and down a bit teasing the boy in front of you, leaving a wet spot when you pulled your hand away.
“Move your hips for me. Can you do that for me?” That innocent tone you set made Jude explode. And he didn't need to be told twice.
He put all of his weight on his arms, his palms and heels sinking deep into the mattress, and he lifted his hips so hard that you jumped a little on his lap.
Without further ado, he thrust up, fast at first, to give you a taste of his desire, but then slower, nicer, dragging his length over your underwear-covered clit.
You decided to go a little further and freed Jude's cock, so damn big and veiny. You pulled off your underwear and started rubbing yourself. It was so damn delicious the difference in size and how the head of Jude's cock rubbed against your clit.
But what kind of punishment would it be, giving him something he so craved? You knew. You had prepared better.
So when you forgot about everything except the repetitive motion you were supposed to follow, when your moans were finally released loud and clear in the way only he had heard them before, when he could already feel the pleasure, you lifted your hips.
Bellingham groaned in frustration, closing his eyes as he fucked into the air, unable to stop his body from seeking the orgasm he had just been denied.
“Untie me this very instant.”
He may not have sounded angry at his ragged breathing, his body still recovering from the denial, but he was and he would gladly show you how terrifying he could be if he gave him the chance.
You smiled sweetly, dropping your weight onto his lap, a movement so sudden it left him breathless.
“No.”
"I wasn't-" He trailed off, a small sound escaping his mouth from another roll of your hips on his axis. "I wasn't asking."
"Fuck, did I tell you how big you are?" You replied, your small body shaking as you pulled away and sat on the edge of the bed. "You should learn not to play with me Bellingham, I'm not one of those girls, don't get wrong with me."
You pulled up your underwear and pulled back up the shorts that barely covered your ass and the small miniskirt accompanied by a pink belt that was hooked with straps to the leggings that reached just above your knee.
"Shit, shit, shit..." He replied frustrated.
"I'm sorry but now you'll have to fix this on your own." You turned around and walked away.
Jude Bellingham is totally lost.
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rickybobbydan · 7 days ago
Text
4. Monaco Mistakes
Daniel Ricciardo x Fem!driver OC
Summary: Things reach a tipping point in Monaco, but what will come of it?
Warning(s): Slowburn
Words: 1.5K+
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Monte Carlo, Monaco – May 2014
From the balcony of the Ferrari team hotel, Monte Carlo looks less like a city and more like a jewel box cracked open under moonlight.
Yachts glitter in the harbor like polished teeth, each more ostentatious than the last. The cliffside roads shimmer under amber streetlamps, glinting off designer storefronts and marble balconies blooming with orchids. There’s laughter drifting across the marina, music rising from some rooftop party hosted by a sponsor, a team, or someone with a last name that opens doors.
And Solana Villarosa? She doesn’t want to be part of any of it.
She should be. Technically, she was invited—expected, even—to mingle with sponsors and charm them into extending contracts and marketing dollars. Smile beside Fernando Alonso in her tailored team suit and Louboutins. Let the investors swoon over her statistics and the story of a Mexican-American girl from Riverside making it big in Ferrari red.
Instead, she’s on the balcony in a hoodie two sizes too big, her hair still damp from the shower, barefoot on cool stone. A damp towel lies crumpled near her feet. She leans against the railing, fingers curled around the ironwork, eyes trained on the city glowing below like it doesn’t know how to sleep.
Practice had gone well. P4 on the timesheets. Ahead of Kimi. Ahead of Ricciardo.
Her lap through the swimming pool chicane had been so sharp it made Sky Sports double-take.
Enough to spark whispers. Enough to rattle names once carved in marble.
But her mind isn’t on lap times.
It’s on him.
Daniel Ricciardo hasn’t said more than five words to her since Sepang. Nothing beyond neutral nods in press conferences or the occasional glance across the paddock like he’s keeping tabs but doesn’t want her to notice. Except she always notices.
She feels him in a room before she sees him. Her pulse jumps every time he walks by. It’s maddening.
The balcony door clicks open behind her.
She doesn’t move. But her body tenses, shoulders drawn tight.
A familiar voice breaks the quiet.
“Didn’t think you’d be up here,” Daniel says.
She turns her head slowly, and there he is—hoodie up, curls damp from the sea air, a six-pack barely visible in one hand and two sweating bottles in the other.
Solana arches a brow. “Didn’t think you would be.”
He offers one of the beers. She takes it without a word. The glass is cold against her palm, grounding.
“Everyone’s at the Red Bull yacht,” he says, leaning against the railing beside her. “Wasn’t in the mood for champagne and fake smiles.”
“Same.”
They stand in silence. Elbows almost brushing. Monte Carlo glows below them like a dream half-remembered. From this high up, the circuit is invisible—just the echo of rubber and speed lodged deep in the walls of the city.
Daniel exhales. “It’s mad, right? This whole place. Like someone dropped a Bond set into a tax haven.”
Solana cracks a tired smile. “We’re driving million-dollar cars through billionaires’ backyards.”
He chuckles—low, real. “Yeah. That sounds about right.”
The silence that follows isn’t uncomfortable. Not yet. It’s the kind that waits. That listens. That wonders if one of them will finally say the thing neither of them has been able to voice.
She doesn’t know how to ask the questions that have haunted her since Malaysia.
Why did you look at me like that in Sepang? Why do you pretend I’m nothing in public and then steal glances like you’re drowning?
So instead, she says, “You were right.”
Daniel’s brows knit. “About what?”
“The spotlight. One good race and I’m a headline. One mistake and I’m just a PR stunt with cheekbones.”
He doesn’t laugh. Doesn’t brush it off. “Yeah,” he says quietly. “It does that.”
She looks at him. “You humiliated me in Malaysia.”
“I know.”
He meets her eyes fully now—no dodging, no performance. “I didn’t mean to. I was pissed. At the setup. At myself. And… yeah. That you were faster.”
She doesn’t blink. “I don’t make it look effortless.”
“You do,” he says, voice rough. “And that’s the problem.”
Her jaw tightens. “So you resent me.”
“No,” he says—too fast. “Maybe.”
The word hangs there, fragile and ugly.
Solana turns, leaning her weight away from the railing. The beer rests untouched in her hand. “Because I don’t play nice? Because I don’t flirt with the press? Because I didn’t walk in with your blessing?”
His mouth tightens. “That’s not what I—”
“Then what?” she cuts in. “Since Melbourne, every time I show up, you act like I’ve taken something from you.”
He runs a hand over his face. “I just… I don’t know how to talk to you.”
She stares at him, stunned by the honesty.
Daniel breathes out hard. “You’ve been in my head since the second you walked into the paddock. And every time I try to say something that isn’t dumb or defensive or loaded, it just… doesn’t come out right.”
She’s still watching him, lips parted, expression unreadable.
Daniel’s voice softens. “When you smiled at me in the press line at Sepang… I didn’t know whether to kiss you or push you away. And I panicked. So I said something shitty instead.”
He takes a small step closer.
Her breath hitches.
“Solana…”
His gaze drops to her mouth. His voice turns quiet—nearly reverent. “You scare the hell out of me.”
And she doesn’t know who moves first—but they’re close. Too close. The world narrows down to shared breath and humming silence and the sea air tangled in her hair.
And then—he stops.
Pulls back a fraction, eyes tortured.
“I can’t,” he whispers. “Not yet.”
Her heart freezes mid-beat.
She backs away. “Right.”
She walks past him, jaw locked tight, hoodie sleeves pulled low over her wrists.
Daniel doesn’t follow.
For the first time in months, he doesn’t say anything at all.
The Next Day – Qualifying
Solana is stone-steady behind the wheel.
The SF14-T vibrates beneath her like a live thing, barely contained. The cockpit is a sauna—hot, narrow, claustrophobic—but her breathing is calm. Focused. The noise of the outside world���interviews, politics, Ricciardo—melts away the moment she flicks the engine mode to Quali and guns it out of the garage.
Monte Carlo doesn’t forgive mistakes.
Every apex here is a coin toss between brilliance and disaster. She threads the car through Sainte Devote with inches to spare, kisses the inside wall at Mirabeau like it owes her something, and absolutely sends it into the tunnel—flat-out in seventh gear, sparks flying from the floor as the car scrapes the incline.
Through the Swimming Pool chicane, the tires barely kiss the kerbs before she corrects with delicate precision.
She’s in the zone. That zone.
The car dances. She’s no longer steering—she’s translating instinct into motion. She's flying.
The radio crackles in her ear. “Box now, Solana. That’s P4. Second row.”
Static. And then Marco, her engineer, practically yelling over the roar of the pit wall: “That was magnificent!”
She exhales only once she crosses the finish line.
When she pulls into the Ferrari garage, the mechanics are on their feet. Cheers and claps echo under the awning. Someone offers her a cold water bottle the second she unclips. Her hands are shaking now, but it’s the adrenaline—pure and clean. Her helmet comes off in one smooth motion, curls sticking to her temple, neck slick with sweat.
Fernando Alonso is waiting at the back of the garage, arms folded, smirking with pride. He claps her shoulder, firm and approving.
“Strong lap,” he says. “Track position will matter tomorrow. Don’t let them take the inside at Loews.”
“I won’t,” she says. Her voice is steady. Grounded.
Marco is grinning like a maniac. “You’re getting faster every weekend. That last sector? Chef’s kiss.”
“Gracias, Marco,” she mutters, half-smiling. “Let’s make it count.”
She steps out into the pit lane, still buzzing, heartbeat ticking behind her ribs like a metronome.
The media are already swarming the barricades—Sky Sports, Canal+, ESPN Latin America. Flashes pop. Voices rise.
But her eyes sweep right—toward the Red Bull garage.
And there he is.
Daniel Ricciardo.
Helmet in hand, race suit unzipped halfway, fireproofs damp with sweat. His curls are matted to his forehead, his posture casual—but there’s something restrained in the way he leans against the wall.
His time was good. But not good enough.
P5.
Behind her. Again.
She watches him watching her. Not with smugness. Not with disdain. But with something else entirely—complicated, unreadable, suspended between guilt, respect, and something deeper he doesn’t know how to show yet.
No jokes this time. No raised brows. No sly comments.
Just quiet, simmering acknowledgment.
And he doesn’t look away.
She meets his eyes.
And for a moment, it’s like the noise around them disappears—the reporters, the fans, the radio static, the ocean beyond the pit lane. There’s just the two of them, locked in this strange, combustible orbit.
He doesn’t look away. But he doesn’t approach either.
And for now…for today…that’s enough. 
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everestgale · 3 months ago
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Do you have any Skeptunist headcanons you'd like to share?
[kicks down the door] IT'S MY TIME TO SHINE!
So, uh, I should probably warn everyone, it's 1500 words worth of random headcanons. And that's not even all of the HCs I have, I know there are a couple I'm forgetting... So yeah, it's gonna be long. I am so sorry, dear anon, I went a little crazy-
Well, have these old doodles of them that I think forgot to share before [I genuinely can't remember if I put these on my Tumblr before], just so that this isn't just one giant block of text. These are from like February or so, but I updated them to match their new designs [I gave them mouths], yippee!
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Warning: I squish and stretch these guys like playdough, especially Opportunist. And by that, I mean they are likely very, very OOC, especially as they get further from the events of the game time-wise. So if you're looking for an accurate analysis and representation of how these two would interact, you might not like this post and my headcanons.
Also for context: this is all set in my main post-canon [post-Unknown Together ending] AU, where voices and vessels start off separately, and it would take a long, long, long while for them to meet. Without voices making vessels worse, and vessels making voices worse, everyone gets to slowly address their problems. Essentially, it's "everyone gets therapy" /j
With that said, Skeptunizm:
1. I like to describe the way they start their relationship / get to know each other with the word "curiosity". Opportunist is always scheming, always playing games, always trying to gain an upper hand. His mind is one giant puzzle, and Skeptic is very much curious about it and is drawn to figure out how Oppy thinks and what's going on in that rat brain. Oppy, meanwhile, is very much a suck-up, always looking for people to cozy up to, and so Skeptic, with his intelligence and general levelheadedness, feels like a natural choice for Opportunist to try to gain the favor of. He is interested in Skeptic, curious to see if he could get his trust and get him to join his schemes. Skeptic, of course, isn't stupid and doesn't fall for Oppy's tricks, but he's doing an investigation of his own, so he plays along. And so there they go, spending a lot of time together, naturally drawn to each other and curious about each other's strengths-
Okay, I know this is less "headcanon" and more of a "hear me out" on Skeptunist, but I had to write down exactly why I got so interested in these two in the first place. This is what started this train, and now I can't get off /silly
Here are some of my actual HCs:
2. One of the first HCs I made for these two: they are both yappers and will not shut up unless you interrupt them. In Oppy's case, he likes the sound of his own voice (/j), or rather, he likes to brag and talk all about his wonderful accomplishments (they are all greatly exaggerated, and no one buys it). Skeptic, meanwhile, is bursting with weird esoteric knowledge and interests, and he will talk about it all if not stopped. And part of the reason why they get along so well is that they actually *listen* to each other's endless yap: Skeptic listens to Oppy because he likes trying to piece together which parts of his stories are exaggerated and which parts are true, and of course, he's also taking extensive notes on Oppy and his bragging tendencies (still gotta figure out the rat). As for Oppy, I think at first, he is half-listening to Skeptic out of politeness, just to get on his good side, but at some point, he genuinely gets interested in some of the topics that Skeptic talks about, especially ones he thinks could be useful for his schemes and general persuasiveness, like psychology or linguistics/pragmatics. So they both talk a lot, but they also listen to each other-
Oh god, these are all so long- Well, more are under the cut!
3. Skeptic likes to investigate and learn about his fellow flock's experiences with the Construct, and since he and Oppy never really met there (outside of Razor and MoC, but they haven't even talked to each other once during those), Skeptic is extra curious about what the routes he was in were like, what the Princesses looked like, how he acted during said routes, and so on, and so forth. Of course, he knows that Oppy was a notorious betrayer and backstabber, but he wants to hear about it from the man himself. Generally though, Oppy avoids the topic (until they get closer) because he doesn't really like talking about the Construct (the only exceptions are Wraith and Witch, which he talks about quite a bit as an explanation to his hurting right ankle and back, but that's more of an Oppy HC)
4. On the topic of Oppy's ankle, once they are actually in a romantic relationship, Oppy will sometimes pretend that his ankle hurts (or back, but usually ankle) just so that Skeptic can carry him places. Skeptic can very easily tell when Oppy is lying, so sometimes he goes, "You're not fooling anyone, Oppy," but sometimes, he plays along and goes, "Fine, just this once though" (it will happen again). Though, if Oppy's ankle actually genuinely hurts, and he's having trouble walking, Skeptic can usually tell that, and he will very gently carry him around even without asking. God, these birds make me so sick-
5. On the topic of the game routes, I'd like to think they would also bond over their experience with HEA (now that Skeptic is there instead of Paranoid). I feel like neither of them is particularly fond of that route (especially the "lit torch" ending), and I actually had a fic idea where Skeptic comforts Opportunist after the latter wakes up from an HEA-flashback-nightmare. Yes, I did also reference that idea in my "It was in your nature" fic. I will write that idea one day. Maybe-
6. Oppy is really good at figuring out everyone's likes/preferences without ever asking them directly, and of course, he did so for Skeptic, too. So whenever he brings Skeptic gifts, he just oh-so-happened to know that Skeptic's favorite flowers are irises, that he likes super dark chocolate, and that his favorite dessert is carrot cake. Skeptic tries to get Oppy to divulge where he learned these from, but Oppy just charmingly smiles (the answer is Smitten, and Skeptic figures that out fairly quickly, Grey brothers my beloved <3)
7. On the topic of Oppy figuring stuff out without asking, I don't remember if I ever mentioned this on my Tumblr, but I used to HC Skeptic as touch-averse aroace / demiromantic ace. If you've seen my recent Skeptunist art, you can probably tell that I've since changed my mind (and finally decided that he is a demiromantic ace), but I do still think that Skeptic is pretty particular about hugs and prefers certain gestures over others. He doesn't think it's that big of a deal, however, and wouldn't complain about that to Oppy, and if he ever mentions it, it'd be more of an "isn't it interesting" kind of statement. Oppy does his best to respect these preferences because as much as he is an annoying little rat, he doesn't want to make Skeptic uncomfortable, especially once he genuinely grows to care about him <3
8. On the topic of physical touch, I HC touch-starved Oppy (because of that one PatD line where he asks the Narrator about what Dragon's hand feels like) who desperately tries to hide that fact from everyone. Skeptic eventually figures that out (with some help from Smitten), and while Oppy is not happy about that, he does actually really appreciate physical contact: hand holding, hugs, cuddles, and more, though, of course, he will never actually admit that out loud.
9. They enjoy playing games together, specifically card games or stuff like chess. For chess specifically, a friend suggested this idea where Oppy, at first, has no idea how to play chess besides the basics, and so when they play, it's them mostly just chatting, and Skeptic barely paying attention to the game (he doesn't want Oppy to feel bad about not understanding the game)... but over time, Oppy actually learns different strategies and whatnot, and while Skeptic isn't paying attention, Oppy just puts him in checkmate. Wait, I actually have an old crappy sketch of that idea.
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There you go, them! I had a few other HCs related to them playing board games with other voices (mainly that they would be scarily good at a game like Codenames together), but with the HEA update, I actually think now that they both would have trouble playing board games on a "voices game night" so they (along with Hero) don't really participate in those, at least not for a while.
10. Oppy is very embarrassed to admit that he hates and has trouble sleeping in pitch darkness. Skeptic, meanwhile, is a night owl who will stay up until 4 am reading books or writing random notes, so Oppy likes falling asleep in Skeptic's room since he always has a light/candle with a very soft/warm light. Yes, this is all set up for cuddles. No, I am not sorry /silly
11. Skeptic writes his notes almost exclusively shorthand, and none of the voices can read what the hell they say. Except for Opportunist, who learned shorthand just so that he can understand Skeptic's notes (and do just a little bit of snooping). Skeptic is fully aware of what Oppy is doing, but he doesn't mind, most of his notes are random nonsense anyway.
12. Skeptic often gets very lost in his readings/investigations/writing/whatever, and other voices often have to remind him to eat and take breaks and stuff. Of course, Oppy is one of them, and he constantly pokes fun at Skeptic for his terrible eating habits. But he also definitely brings Skeptic snacks and lunch, and also frequently takes him places just so that Skeptic actually takes a break (I certainly did not write a fic that started from that idea). In general, Oppy does a lot of small favors for Skeptic, which originally started as him trying to get on Skeptic’s good side, but as they got closer, it just became part of Oppy’s love language, if that makes sense. I imagine neither of them is good with words, so both express care in literally any way that’s not words /lh /exaggerated. 
13. They banter. A lot. It’s EG ship, and EG cannot live without banter. So of course that’s included in the ship [aggressively nods]
…Again, I am so sorry, this ended up so long, and it isn't even all of my HCs, those are just the ones I could remember off the top of my head like that. I, uh, am not okay about these birds. Please send help /lh /j
Anyways! Thank you for asking, I'm sure you got way, way more than you were expecting, I hope you enjoyed reading my silly HCs for my favorite silly ship! As long as it turned out, I do love yapping about my voices, my designs, and my silly HCs, so I genuinely always welcome these kinds of asks!!
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deadlyangelofpurity · 1 year ago
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You know with how safe edgy Viv's shows I don't see why the setting is in Hell. I feel like Viv shot herself in the foot by doing this because it seems like Viv wants the praise of being considered edgy but she's too cowardly to follow through so we're trapped in this weird limbo where Viv wants to be edgy but is obviously putting on the brakes.
I think part of the problem Viv is quite immature.
Despite Viv being an adult, it is very evident in her writing style that she hasn't quite matured past the edgy teen phase and whilst her animation and drawing skills are good despite the questionable character designs, her writing is by far the weakest part of her skill set. It doesn't help Viv seems very impulsive and changes her mind on a whim and is willing to turn the story upside down at all costs as it's why Helluva Boss went from a dark comedy to Stolitz melodrama soap opera.
Not to mention Viv has amassed the wrong kind of audience for this show. Let's be honest with ourselves, despite Viv's show being rated adults, I am like 99% certain that at least a fairly large chunk of Viv's audience are teenagers and young adults at best who have been watching her since her channel got popular and most of these people primarily care about shipping and tend to be...immature and more volatile. I think that's partially why the writing is so juvenile because Viv is scared of alienating her audience. I think that's why she made Ozzie care for consent and Bee being concerned over people overindulging because Viv didn't want to make them unlikable at the cost of consistency. It's also probably why Lucifer's more evil pilot incarnation got changed into some wacky silly uwu depressed boy.
Viv seems to play favorites and she doesn't hide it. It's very obvious that when Viv favors a character, they become more likable almost instantly or at least she tries to make come off that way, though it's more noticeable with people like Stolas, Fizz and Lucifer. Compare their initial impressions in their debut episodes and you'll see a stark difference. I also think Viv is overall way too close to her fanbase because she takes ideas from them and she ain't subtle. Vaggie being a fallen angel was a fan theory that slipped into canon, Stolas and Blitzo meeting as kids was based off fan art and Hell, Chaggie wasn't even her idea(which probably explains how dull and unnecessary their relationship is) because a crew member made it and Viv being impulsive put it into canon despite Vaggie and Charlie acting more akin to best friends and honestly given how Vaggie's fallen angel backstory makes things so weird, I genuinely think she'd be better not existing in this series.
Honestly I'd at least respect Viv if she at least stuck with her guns here. Instead she's pretty much playing ping pong in terms of consistency because Viv's version of Hell is more or less Detroit but painted red.
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willbyersabyss · 5 months ago
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Vecna isn't possessed
Ever since it was revealed that the Mind Flayer possessed Henry when he entered Dimension X as a child, a few scenes leave me with more questions than answers. The rules the show set up around possession don't align with Vecna being possessed.
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This scene doesn't make any sense. Henry has been there before. The Mind Flayer has been there before. Whether this was Henry or the Mind Flayer talking, both of them should've recognized Dimension X. If Vecna is possessed, what was the point of showing us that he controls the particles? This entire scene would be a red herring.
There's one other thing that doesn't quite add up. How did they exorcise the Mind Flayer out of Will again?
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Right. So how is it that Vecna has been burned multiple times, yet he's still possessed? His entire character design is built off of the burns he sustained after being banished. They're not insignificant. They tell us something about his character.
When they set Vecna on fire, there were no particles. This means that Vecna was not possessed. The particles had to have been exorcised before that point.
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When Henry was banished to Dimension X by El, he was struck by lightning multiple times and this started his burn journey. We didn't see the particles come out of him here either, but what if they did after he disappeared into the clouds? The smoke he controlled could be the particles that were inside him. He was released from the Mind Flayer's control. El "made" him into Vecna.
But wait. This still doesn't explain why Henry didn't recognize Dimension X or the Mind Flayer. If he truly had the particles removed after being burned, Henry should be in control now, right?
Wrong.
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The more the Mind Flayer possessed Will, the less he remembered about himself. The same thing happened to Henry when he was possessed as a child. Henry lost himself and his memories. He was possessed for far longer than Will, perhaps to the point of no return.
If Henry completely lost his memories and personality, but was later exorcised, who would he be? Would the memories return? Well he clearly doesn't remember entering an alternate dimension and getting possessed. So what if they don't come back? That would mean that post-banishment, he's neither Henry nor the Mind Flayer. He's someone else. He's Vecna.
There are a few jokes about grappling to identify Vecna/Henry/001 and I think that's the point. These names are separate identities. Henry is completely human, a version of him that no longer (at least not fully) exists. His child self. 001 is a mix of Henry and the shadow. In this identity, he fights to adapt to both ways of life. Vecna is not both, he's neither. Vecna is a shell. There's nothing there.
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But he does remember some things. Vecna told Nancy his backstory. Pieces of his Henry identity are there, but only the bad parts. In the play, Henry visits Patty after he murders his family. This is nowhere to be found in his retelling. This is why his mindscape is pieces of a memory. The story is broken.
Vecna only remembers the things the Mind Flayer forced Henry to do, but he believes he did it of his own volition. Any sense of who Henry was before possession, or any parts that existed during the fight for control, are lost. "To become the predator I was always born to be." There is no before or after. He has always been evil in his own eyes. He doesn't remember being possessed. Vecna adopts evil ideologies because that's all he knows and sees.
Now Vecna controls the monsters and the Mind Flayer. He "reclaimed" his control when he entered Dimension X. But the fight is still with his identity. If there is time fuckery and Vecna indeed possessed himself, it would continue this fight. He would be forcing himself to become the predator. This may be why he gets defensive when El says that he isn't the monster. It contradicts his world view. He wants to continue the cycle.
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Since Vecna is a shell, this could explain why he steals minds. He's trying to piece together an identity for himself. It could be that he's adopting other people's personalities as his own, or he's searching their minds for information about himself. There may be vague traces of Henry that he can recall, enough to know who to search for.
It may even be the reason why Will parallels Henry so heavily. Vecna's recreating his past in search of his memories. He sees something special in Will. A power? Will and Henry/Vecna are foils. Vecna sees the bad in people, Will sees the good. These characteristics are extremely important to the finale. Once Will knows the truth about Vecna's past, he's likely going to search for remnants of Henry within Vecna's mind. It could be that Henry is trapped, unable to break into his vessel of a body.
The DND lore could point to Vecna trapping Henry's soul within his mind. "Vecna confronted his own death and imprisoned it in a castle on the gray sands of an alien world, where it wails in eternal torment." Vecna's mindscape has screams on loop and twisty towers that imprison his victims. What if he mourns his own death by holding his old self prisoner?
We know they filmed at the Creel playground and that Will was involved in some memory sequence. Memories are a saving grace. Will may be able to reach through to the Henry's soul using memories and free him. In doing so, Will would break the cycle.
So yes, Henry was possessed. 001 was also possessed, but suppressed due to soteria. Vecna is not. Once the particles were removed and he took control over the shadow, he started his identity as Vecna. A vessel. Will is going to find a way to get through to Henry, freeing him from the prison he has trapped himself in. This may return Vecna's body to a mortal state, allowing them to defeat him.
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