#skies rambles about beloved

[universeskies]

Working hard and doing Your best can get tiring too. Always make sure to relax!

This is part of Hooked on to You story That Both @thejaytapes 💙💙💙💙 And I did!! Please PLEASE PLEAE Check Him out!! He did The AMAZING AWESOME DESIGNS FOR MARINA 😭

OMGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG JUST I LOVE YOU SO MUCH HONEY!! THE STORY AND THE PURE ROMANCE AAAAAAAAAAAA💙💙💙💙

[universeskies]

The YEARNING THIS STORY HAS IS BEYOND AMAZING, HONEY😭💙💙💙💙 IM SO GLAD AND ALWAYS MAKES ME HAPPY TO SEE THEM TOGETHER!!

SOULMATES IN EVERY AU

AU in which Pearl meets Marina when she's still in the Octarian Army

[itscherrylipsforme]

A love story yet to be written: Jason Todd x Vigilante!bookworm!fem!reader

Summary: The mysterious Red Hood has been your loyal teammate since you became another one of Gotham's vigilantes. Many literature puns and "subtle" flirty comments later, he has decided that it's time to meet you when you two are not covered by the city's darkness and your secret identities

Warnings: Just dozens of references to my fave classic lit authors and novels

Requested: yes

Words: About 1570

Author rambles: God, this has been on my drafts for so long. Glad I was finally able to publish it. Thanks to the anon who sent the request, hope you like it 🫶🏼

Masterlist Characters I write for

Likes and reblogs are appreciated ღ

I do not authorize any of my works to be copied, translated or plagiarized ✗

Gotham’s skies were pitch black when you submerged, like every twilight, in its streets and roofs. Masked face, combat boots, dark sweater and jeans paired with a black leather jacket and a bulletproof vest under all of it. Pointed daggers on your belt, a pair of guns attached to your back harness just in case. Being a vigilante was not an easy side job, but you needed to do it.

Some people simply can’t watch their whole world fall apart and stare blankly. And you would certainly not stay back when your beloved city was drowning in corruption and crime. Growing up you had always been aware that they were others protecting you. Batman, Robin, and the other peculiar crime fighters that had joined them with the pass of time. But being honest, Gotham was a criminals dump, and all the help they could get counted.

 So, you decided to do you your bit. Trained hard, learned how to hide in the shadows and started to feel that what you did matter to your people. Recognition was not long in coming, although fame was not what you were after anyway. One night a camera caught you beating up one bastard who was trying to assault a young girl, next day you were on the news. Dusk they called you and you were not annoyed by the nickname, it suited you in a certain way.

You soon became another no-faced admired warrior to your neighbours. Not bad for the girl who used to be bookworm theatre kid back in High School. Becoming one of Gotham’s saviours was not one of your dreams job as a child, but life has surprising turns waiting for us. What was even more unexpected is that you ended up meeting one of the other vigilantes and that he had become an interesting fellow during the otherwise solitaire superhero’s nights.

“Nice to see you here in the dead vast and middle of the night, darling” He greeted you, after hearing your feet landing in the same rooftop he was in. Didn’t matter if he was backwards, you had started to think he had developed a sixth sense to notice your presence. You could almost bet he was smiling bellow his metallic helmet.

“Good night, Hodd” You answered coming by his side. “Shakespeare, wasn’t it?”

“Smart girl. Hamlet, more precisely” You agreeded “You arrived later than you use to”

“Missed me, geekie boy?” A little chuckle broke the silence of Gotham.

“Of course I did! I would not wish any companion in the world but you” He crossed his arms in front of his chest, his gaze locked in the city’s sky. “And admit it, you are as much a nerd as I am”

“The Tempest? Have you been rereading Uncle Willy’s plays again?” The question ended up sounding like a half-joke half-teasing “And you are right, bookworm and proud. We wouldn’t get along so easily if I weren’t. I declare after all that there is no enjoyment like reading”

A slow nod was the only answer you received. You were certain that a smile was decorating his face at the moment. But not in a million of years you could have imagined that his usual smirk was now followed by a pinkish tone in his cheeks. How long he had been like this around you? He couldn’t recall exactly. This flirting slightly hided between book quotes and glances had been part of your friendship for quite sometime now.

The only problem? He couldn’t bear with being just a friend anymore. When it had all started? He didn’t know. Maybe the night he met you. And when the two of you started patrolling together like every other night, he couldn’t help coming back to those sweet memories still fresh on his mind.

“Another superhero wannabe” that’s what he thought when he first saw you moving from celling to celling without the grace and rhythm that only years of practice can give you. And he was not wrong, you were an amateur, one who still need to practice, but you definitely were determinate enough for that. Jason was not aware of this, therefore he decided to have some fun.

“What are you doing here?” He asked jumping to your side with a voice tone much deeper than his usual one.

“Patrolling” You managed to say in a whisper, rising your head to look at him directly. Shivers run through your spine, not knowing what to do. But you would not allow him to notice your fear.

“Scared of me darling?” He leaned a little so he could be nearer to your face.

“Not even a little, I know who you are” You answered and somehow the most daring and wittiest part of your mind chose to add the next sentence “And also there is a stubbornness about me that never can bear to be frightened at the will of others.”

“My courage always rises at every attempt to intimidate me.” He finishes almost instinctively.

He stared at your for some instants, not believed the words that had just come out of your lips. Another vigilante? Who quoted Austen? The night was turning up to be quite interesting.

“You are a sharp girl, with a good book taste” He resolved. “Red Hodd, at your service” He offered you his hand and his presentation, although it was no needed.

And that’s how all started, now a few months later you two keep protecting Gotham from whoever and whatever treats it. This night had been tranquil, a seldom occurrence, and Jason hadn’t talked to much, his mind was focused on a matter which had been troubling him for weeks. When the first rays of light threaten to appear, it’s time to farewell. Not without cracking some bad puns first of course.

“But soft! What light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Dusk is the sun.” He smirked once again.

“First, that’s contradictory. Second, you seriously have to get over your Shakespeare era”.

“Does that mean I don’t get a proper goodbye?” Even with his voice modulator you could hear the teasing edge on the question.”

“Of course, you do” You tried to come up with something silly, yet sweet. “Good night, sweet prince, and flights and angels sing thee to thy rest!”

With that you made a small joking bow and left the rooftop to go back home. It had been enough; Jason had made out his mind. He was going to look for you. He needed to see the unmasked face who had been able to be the first one to win his heart. Luckily, one of his many siblings is a professional hacker.

A bookstore, somehow, he was not surprised at all when Tim found your worked there. In his jean’s pocket there was a small piece of paper with dozens of cheesy books lines that made him think of you. "You are part of my existence, part of myself. You have been in every line I have ever read." "We would be together and have our books and at night be warm in bed together with the windows open and the stars bright." “You should be kissed and often, and by someone who knows how” … And those were only the first ones. There were not enough words in the books from your bookstore to describe how nervous he was and how much he wanted to tell you he loved you. But he could at least try.

Your elbows were resting on the counter, another novel laying in front of you. When the doorbell rang announcing another client, you immediately smiled and looked at Jason. You left your seat to meat him by the door, the book long forgotten.

“Took you long enough to find me, geekie boy” You gritted him.

All his speech and quotes banished in the air with just a single sentence of yours. He finally came to himself.

“Wait, were you waiting for me?”

“Of course, I did” You chuckle, God he loved that sound “For almost two months, after all your bad pick-up lines I thought you would be ready to come and met me in person”.

“But… How have you recognized me?” Confusion was still seen on his face.

“Easy. Looked for the libraries and bookstores that had your favourite tittle. Cheeked the names of all the men who borrowed or bought them. Looked for their photos on the internet and compared them with the physical description I had from your” You shrug your shoulders as that work was nothing to you “I am a vigilante after all”.

“I have a brother who would love to meet you, you know?”

“Maybe later, but I guess you came here because you had something to tell me”.

He took a deep breath. Just a few hours, that was all he needed to win you over this time. "In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed.” He said softly, but determinate “You must allow me to tell you how ardently I love and admire you.”

Just after he finished your lips were meeting his in a soft and sweet kiss, like the ones written in romance novels.

“You have bewitched me, body and soul” You whispered to his ear.

“Actually, that’s from the movie, not the book”.

You had to kiss him again, this time with more passion, to shut him up.

[hannahbarberra162]

Struck Twice By Lightning, Chapter 12

18+ MDNI on Ao3

Shanks would be annoyingly photogenic.

You’d eventually gotten Shanks to sleep by the usual method. Namely, scratching his back and ignoring him until he passed out. He kept sighing at you and trying to extol your virtues and beauty. You didn’t take it too seriously - Shanks had always been emotional when drunk. You tried to shush him and get him to sleep -you had enough to think about without Shanks’s drunk ramblings getting in your head as well. Finally, his light snores told you he was snoozing and you could relax. You laid on your back, thinking about the night and some of the changes you’d seen in Shanks. He’d never left a party before for you, but was that really all you needed from a partner? To want to spend time with you over drinking? Then again, it was Shanks, so it was actually kind of a big deal for him. You dozed off listening to the sounds of the party continuing in the distance.

You woke up in the early morning and were unable to go back to sleep. Restless, you left the cabin and went to get a cup of tea from the kitchen. You brought it to the deck and leaned against the railing, enjoying the early morning gray skies. It was a cool morning, the sun still below the horizon, the sea wind chilling your bare arms. You were zoning out, enjoying yourself when the door to Benn’s cabin opened. You glanced over to see how many of the ladies had made it onto the ship. Benn was a popular ladies man, you’d seen countless partners come out of his cabin after a night on the town. You didn’t slut shame, either Benn or his partners, it was just curiosity.

Benn came out of the cabin alone, scanning the deck. His eyes landed on you and he lit a cigarette. Uh oh. That was not a good sign. Lighting up before he talked to you meant something was on the horizon. You gave him a nervous smile and a thumbs up. Benn sighed. He walked up to you and handed you a cigarette, which you accepted. Oh fuck, what was going on?

“Bad news, kid. Look.” Benn handed you a newspaper. You unfolded it and glanced at the cover story. There was a picture of Shanks carrying you back to the ship when you were drunk, you looking up at him starry-eyed. Below that, there was a blown up picture of you and Shanks on your wedding day - the one that you kept in your bottom desk drawer at your house.  It showed you and Shanks kissing and holding up your rings to the snail, taken moments after the one Shanks had kept. Your mouth dropped open as you continued to read the article below.

EMPEROR HAS AN EMPRESS

Red Haired Shanks, all-powerful Emperor of the Sea, is no longer the New World’s most eligible bachelor! It seems Shanks is off the market, married to a gorgeous gal. Spotted at a bar together, this rambunctious beauty can hold her own against our favorite Yonko. Just who is this mysterious woman? Come find out with our exclusive interview with a beloved friend to the Emperor and his wife...

You couldn’t read any more. You’d broken into a cold sweat. Your life was ruined. Benn gave you a light for your cigarette. Mechanically, you accepted and put the butt into your mouth.

“One of the dames from last night mentioned it to me. I got a copy to see for myself. Tough break.” You didn’t answer, your mind was whirling. You couldn’t go home, you couldn’t continue your business, the photo meant someone had gone through your house, everything had likely been looted, all your hard work over the past decade was down the drain because stupid fucking Shanks had opened his goddamned mouth at one island. That was all it took for your life to go up in flames. That idiotic old man Archie must have sold the story to Big News Morgan - he’s the only person outside the crew who knew your connection to Shanks. Because Shanks point blank told him.

Benn watched you but didn’t say anything further. You didn’t have anything you wanted to say at the moment. You were so angry. You were livid. You wanted to burn the ship down and everything in it. You wanted to go to Buggy and cry on his shoulder. You wanted to start running and run and run and run until your legs and lungs gave out. But most of all, you were angry. 

“Can I have the rest of the pack?” you asked Benn with restrained calm. Benn handed it over without hesitation. You thanked him and climbed up the nearest unoccupied crow’s nest, taking the ladder with you when you got to the top. You sat there in your anger, chain smoking the remaining cigarettes until you ran out. Your fury hadn’t abated, if anything you became increasingly angrier the longer you sat there, stewing on the loss of your life. You couldn’t go back to your life of anonymity - you’d been publicly identified to the world as Shanks’s wife. Even if you divorced him, there’d still be a target on your back. Some shitty upstart pirate or Marine would try to use you as a hostage or bargaining chip against Shanks. You might even get a bounty on your head, just for being married to Shanks. You couldn’t have an independent life - you now needed to stay where Shanks and the crew could protect you. 

You kept reading the article over and over, the words blurring together into one big mess in your brain. You should have known that asking Shanks to help you in any way would backfire. He had the unerring capability to have things work out the way he wanted, and this was no exception. You assumed Benn said something to the crew because no one bothered you or asked to come up with you. A couple hours later, you wanted to get a drink to soothe your now scorched throat, and you came down from the crow’s nest.

Shanks was up by now, sitting and chatting with some of his crew in the galley when you came down. You knew logically that it wasn’t entirely his fault, he hadn’t meant for this to happen. But you couldn’t contain your anger towards him. You stomped up to him and the conversation went silent, the men looking at one another with nervous glances. Shanks didn’t seem to notice.

“Good morning sunshine! How did you sleep last -” You didn’t allow him to finish before you threw the newspaper at his face.

“This is why I didn’t want to come here! Everything I’ve worked for is gone! My whole life is gone!” You hadn’t meant to start by yelling at him but you couldn’t stop yourself. Shanks didn’t react at first, just opened the newspaper and saw the front page.

“Well, that’s not great,” he replied calmly, “I wasn’t the most eligible bachelor anyway, that’s Beckma-”

“Shut the fuck up! I don’t want to hear any of your fucking jokes! Now I’m stuck on this ship, I can’t go home, I can’t have my business license, I can’t do anything except stay here with you!” The other crew had begun slinking away. You balled your hands at your sides, your head starting to ache.

“I didn’t think -”

“ Of course you didn’t think! You only think about how things affect you !” you hissed at Shanks. He wasn’t get riled which only made you angrier. Why did he get to be calm when he’d destroyed your world with one off hand sentence?

“How did they get this picture?” Shanks asked, looking at the paper with a frown.

“By going through my house, how else? I’m sure everything I owned is gone or destroyed.” Thinking about your house being ransacked made you want to cry - you’d spent so long finding just the right decorations and making the space your own. You had loved coming home to your cozy little abode. Even if you went back, someone else would have been there touching all your things, taking what they wanted. All your sake was probably taken, your investment in equipment now worthless.

“How did you already know Archie when we went to that bar?” you asked Shanks. It had been bugging you since you read the article. Shanks hadn’t visited your island or the one next to it before, but had been to another worthless island nearby. You never told him where you lived and the big island you met him at the first night was known for its parties - something Shanks would have sought out.

“It’s my territory.” Shanks stiffened and crossed his arm across his chest but didn’t elaborate. 

“So you’ve been to that shitty island near me but didn’t stop by mine? Please, I know what that means. How long have you been keeping tabs on me?”

“Just to keep you safe,” Shanks replied testily.

“Is that how Marco found me? And why he visited me all those times?” You were on the verge of hysteria, breathing fast. You didn’t know if you wanted to laugh or cry. All these years you thought you were free and living your own life, but really it was only under Shanks’s supervision. 

“What do you mean ‘all those times’?! I only asked that asshole to visit once , when you were really sick. How often did he come see you?” Shanks’s jealousy was rearing its head and you wanted to scream. Now was not the time to deal with his insecurity. You actually hadn’t slept with Marco, but you had become friends with him. He visited you two to three times a year and was pleasant company. Apparently Whitebeard liked your Moby sake, so you brewed a huge container once for his birthday. Not that Shanks needed to know that.

“I don’t want to talk about your fucking jealousy! You and I weren’t together! I didn’t ask you what you did for all those years - because I don’t care! ” Shanks had no leg to stand on, so he backtracked.

“Listen, it’s not that bad, you can go back -” 

“You know I can’t! It doesn’t - it doesn’t work like that.” In the middle of your last sentence, you deflated like a balloon rapidly losing air. You didn’t feel like yelling at Shanks or arguing anymore, it wouldn’t help anything. It wasn’t satisfying, and you didn’t have anything more to say to him. You were suddenly exhausted but knew you wouldn’t be able to sleep. “I just…you won.” You walked away defeated, back to the cabin, leaving Shanks sitting with the newspaper. 

~~~

You laid down in the bed, curled on your side. You watched the sea out of the porthole window endlessly. Tears occasionally tracked down your face and you didn’t bother to wipe them away. You laid in the bed for hours, watching the light change on the water. Nothing really mattered, you were going to have to stay with Shanks on the Red Force. Sailing around to nowhere, doing nothing, wasting your life. Your snail had rang a few times but you didn’t answer. You didn’t want to hear Buggy telling you that he told you so, that he was right, that things never worked the way you thought they would with Shanks. You’d talk to him later but you didn’t have it in you right now.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, you heard the door to the cabin open and shut. The bed dipped behind you. You didn’t turn around.

“If you want to go back home, I can make that happen,” Shanks said softly.

“No, it wouldn’t work.” You had gone over every scenario in your head, but you hadn’t come up with a way for you to go back permanently. You’d always be vulnerable without Shanks around.

“I’m sorry,” Shanks said while putting his hand on your shoulder. A tear slid down your cheek. Sorry or not, your life was tied to his once more. You didn’t reply. After a few minutes the bed dipped again and Shanks left the cabin. Your eyes blurred with tears now making their way to the pillow below you. 

~~~

A few days later, you still hadn’t left the cabin. You knew you were sulking but you were too sad to care. Shanks came and went, bringing you food and drinks. You didn’t say much to him, and he left you alone for the most part. By the third night, you felt ready to face the world again. Or at least leave the cabin for some fresh air. You left the cabin quietly, trying to make as little noise as possible. You hadn’t spoken to anyone besides Shanks since the news dropped and you didn’t want to hear anyone’s pity or concern. You went to your favorite spot by the bow and watched the ship slice through the choppy waters. You wondered where you were sailing to - not that it really mattered anymore. Lost in thought, you didn’t realize how chilly it was outside, you were rubbing your arms to keep them warm. You felt a warm cloak settle on your shoulders, engulfing you in a familiar scent of pine-sap. You wrapped it around yourself, enjoying the comfort.

“Thanks,” you said to Shanks, who was standing behind you. The two of you stood there, watching the water. Shanks put his arm on the railing and leaned in, bringing the heat of his body closer to you. You didn’t object.

“If you still want to, I’ll divorce you.” Shanks was speaking close to your ear. You leaned your head back on him for emotional and physical support. 

“There’s no point in getting divorced now.” There really wasn’t. You weren’t getting a business license. 

“I didn’t want the month to end this way.”

“I know.” Shanks was a lot of things, but you knew he regarded freedom as the highest priority in life. He wouldn’t have forced your hand intentionally. 

“We don’t have to be together. I don’t want you to feel like you have to do anything.” You hummed. You hadn’t thought about what you staying would mean for your relationship with Shanks. You’d been too focused on yourself and your loss of identity. You’d enjoyed your recent time with Shanks but it had been tempered by the fact that it felt like a vacation, a break from reality. You didn’t expect for the entire course of your life to change, it just felt like having fun. The two of you stood together silently as the stars began to twinkle in the sky.

“Where are we sailing to?” you asked out of curiosity.

“Back to your island. We’re going to get whatever’s left at your house. It’s the least I can do.” You were surprised - you hadn’t expected to see your place so soon. You were unsure how to feel about seeing your old life but it was thoughtful of Shanks.

“Thank you. I’m not sure what’s there. If you’re worried, your vivre card is here on the ship. I brought it with me.” You had intended to give it back to Shanks at the end of the month, freeing you of the burden. It could be a powerful tool in the wrong hands, especially for an Emperor like Shanks. 

“I wasn’t worried. I saw it already.” 

“Such a snoop,” you said easily. You hadn’t hidden it, it was in one of his desk drawers. “Sorry for yelling at you,” you murmured. You’d felt bad about yelling at him and taking some low shots. 

“It’s ok, I deserved it.” 

“I never slept with Marco.” You knew he was still thinking about it, even after all these days. Shanks had some kind of childhood rivalry with The Phoenix - he loved and loathed the man in equal measure.

“I had completely forgotten,” Shanks said, a bit too quickly. You hummed a laugh.

“Liar.”  You lapsed into comfortable silence together, your head still leaning against his strong body.

“Let’s go back to the cabin, I drew you a bath.” Your eyes opened wide, and you spun around to face him.

“Why didn’t you start with that!? If it gets cold I’m making you reheat the water.” Taking a bath on a ship was an incredibly rare treat, something that you missed dearly from island living. Shanks kissed the top of your head. There could be worse places to be forced to stay, you supposed. 

~~~

The copper tub had been hauled into Shanks’s cabin and filled with luxuriously hot water. You added a few drops of lavender oil and bubble bath in the hope that it would relax you. You hadn’t been sleeping well, only a few hours here and there, so maybe the water would help lull you to sleep. You started taking off your dirty clothes when you realized Shanks was still in the cabin, watching you.

“What? Nothing you haven’t seen before.” 

“No, but something I thought I’d never see again. I’ll go,” Shanks said with a smile. His tenderness must have melted your brain because you hesitated. Normally, you’d sit in the bath alone until the water was ice cold. But maybe it was his sappy words, your exhaustion, or your emotional weakness, but you wanted Shanks to stay with you.

“If you want, you could…join me?” you said shyly. You had been trying to hide your need for Shanks, to protect yourself. But you just wanted - needed - him with you. For familiarity, for comfort, for stability, for affection, for tenderness, for love.

Shanks’s expression showed his mild surprise but he wasn’t one to turn down a good time. 

“Of course,” he said magnanimously. You fought the urge to roll your eyes - you’d walked right into that one. Dropping your towel, you dipped your toe into the hot water. Perfect. You gingerly got into the water, sighing happily as you submerged your body. Shanks wasn’t far behind you, getting in with less caution, causing some of the water to spill out. He sat in the far back of the tub, settling you between his legs.

“Oi, watch it. Or you’ll have to clean it up,” you said mildly. You leaned back against his muscled chest, eyes closed, arms drifting in the scented water. 

“Do you want some?” Shanks asked, causing you to open your eyes. He was offering you some sake in a small ochoko.

“Sure, why not. You must be feeling really guilty.” 

“Mmm, I am. I’m hoping between the bath and washing your hair, you’ll forgive me.” You snorted and accepted the porcelain cup.

“What do you mean ‘washing my hair?’ You don’t know anything about hair care. And how did you know I’d invite you to join?” 

“Benn and Yasopp taught me. And as you know, hope springs eternal.” You smiled, Shanks had always been good at anticipating your needs. He grabbed some bottles from the floor and handed them to you. He slowly poured water over your scalp using a small bowl, and asked for some shampoo. After you squirted it in his hand, he started massaging your scalp. You couldn’t help it - you moaned. You’d always loved having your scalp massaged and hair played with, and after a hard few days it felt like heaven. It must have been difficult to maneuver with one hand, but you appreciated his effort. 

You could feel Shanks getting hard behind you, and you were feeling a little turned on yourself. You “accidentally” rubbed your ass against him while shifting in the tub. 

“I thought you wanted to relax,” Shanks said sensually. He knew what you were after. He continued scratching and massaging your head.

“There are many ways to relax,” you answered, rubbing him again. Shanks dipped his hand in the water to stroke the inside of your thigh. 

“Would you like to try something new to decompress?” You nodded. You had an inkling of what Shanks was thinking and you were interested. Shanks picked you up in the water and angled you so his cock was nudging your opening. He started creeping upwards while pushing you down onto his length. You moved your legs so you’d be able to stay in place and take what Shanks was giving you. You groaned as Shanks bottomed out within you, stretching you over his cock. No matter how many times you took him, his girth was always something you needed to get used to. You got ready to ride him, but Shanks merely picked up the bowl he had been using before and started to rinse your hair. Oh.

“It can be difficult to unwind after bad news, but I’m here to help. Tilt your head back.” You did as he asked and Shanks rinsed the shampoo carefully, avoiding your eyes. He was incredibly hard within you but wasn’t acting like he was affected. You were aching, filled to the brim but unwilling to break the little game the two of you had going. Shanks’s deliberate attention to your hair along with his disregard of your pussy was increasing your desire, quickly. He was saying something but you weren’t listening, just focusing on the hard length of him in your throbbing cunt.

“I need some conditioner, please,” Shanks said, kissing your cheek. It broke you out of your trance, remembering the bottles in your hands. His leaning forward moved his cock within you, causing you to shift as well. 

“S-sure, here.” You squirted some into Shanks’s open palm, hoping he’d move again.

“So distracted while I work hard for you.” Shanks coated your strands with conditioner and piled your hair on top of your head. “Now we need to wait for ten to fifteen minutes. It’s really more of a mask. I’m sure we can find something to fill our time,” Shanks said, lazily rubbing your shoulder. He handed you another drink, which you took. You poured it into your mouth, then reached behind you, turning your face to the side. You pulled his face to yours and kissed him, allowing the drink to flow between your mouths. Shanks groaned, and his hand started to wander down to your breasts, taking his time in rubbing some of the soapy bubbles onto you. 

“Maybe I should wash your whole body,” Shanks rasped.

“M-maybe another time,” you said with a shudder. You wanted his hand to keep roving and make its way down but were enjoying the tease. He walked his fingers across your collarbones, causing you to lean your head over to grant him more access. He used it to kiss up your neck, bringing his hand down to your stomach, pulling you back into him. You started faintly panting with the movement.

“Mmm, so sensitive. Am I that good of a masseuse?” he said while trailing his hands to the apex of your thighs. You parted them, hoping he’d continue his journey. He was still kissing your neck, making small love bites into your skin. It’d leave marks for tomorrow, but what was the difference? The whole world knew you were married, might as well look like it. Shanks took mercy on you and gently rubbed the pads of his first two fingers right above your clit. It gave you some stimulation but not enough. You arched into his hand, seeking more.

“Oh please Shanks, please,” you whined at him, spreading your legs further. 

“How could I say no to such a polite request?” Shanks rubbed his fingers around your clit, circling it, continuing to tease you. You were panting in earnest now, feeling hazy between the water of the bath, the warm chest behind you, the sake in your system and the orgasm starting to build between your legs. You felt your legs starting to shake on top of Shanks’s strong thighs, he was stroking you quickly. After so many times together, Shanks had a wealth of knowledge on how to get you to come, at any pace he so chose. You could feel yourself pulsing on his still hard cock and hungered for more.

“C-can I - can you -” Shanks kissed the back of your neck and laughed lightly. 

“I know what you want, baby,” Shanks rumbled. “I’ll get you there.” He pushed you forward so you were leaning against the rim of the tub. With a strong thrust he surged forward, pressing himself even deeper within you. You’d already been close but the added movement had you tightening against him. He kept his hand nestled between your thighs, his attention causing the water to ripple with every movement. Shanks moved his hips in a measured rhythm, sloshing the water out of the tub. You moaned louder, pushing back against him. Finally, he set a faster pace, both with his hand and his cock, tightening the coil of pleasure you felt. Shanks leaned forward and bit where your neck met you shoulder and the coil finally snapped. You felt time slow as Shanks bucked within you, stretching out the intoxicating feeling. He was going for his own release, pumping hard within you. As you rode out your orgasm, you as he went tense and pulsed within you. You sagged against the tub as he finished his high.

“Shanks, I can’t - enough, please,” you mewled at him, almost reaching overstimulation. He removed his hand from between your legs and sat down once again. He pulled you back into his lap. You wanted to fall asleep immediately, water or not.

“Perfect timing, we can wash the mask off now.” You were enjoying the afterglow, and didn’t remark on his comment. Shanks washed your hair delicately and brushed it afterwards while you dozed off. When he was done, he got out of the bath and got a towel for the two of you, humming to himself. He wrapped you up and carried you to the bed, drying you off quickly. You got under the covers, warm, pampered, tired, and feeling a little better. You reached up and touched your hair - it did feel remarkably soft. He’d done a good job.

“Thank you, Shanks. That was really nice. Could get used to it.” 

“I hope you do.” He climbed into the bed next to you, pulled your back to his chest. Your life might be in shambles, but at least you had someone who cared. 

[universeskies]

I genuinely don't understand either XD But this is giving Me Pearlina Vibes. Pearl DOESNT UNDERSTAND and Marina is like "THIS IS ÑIKE, JUDD ANCIENT HISTORY!"

Mostly cause of Pancakes vs Waffles Splatfest (Yaaay Pancakes!) But like it's SO FUNNY TO THINK ABOUT IT.

this is so sad.

[4acoffee]

Hold Me Tight (Or Don't)

Headcannon that if something happened to upset them, there would be more people to comfort Deku than Katsuki. u know what I mean.

Words. 1.0k~

Notes. I'm sorry I always write bakugou so sad, but hey, it gets me the notes. I hope this makes up for not posting much bakugou content in awhile.

Masterlist

Several years after his unexpected retirement, the crushing death of All Might shook the whole world once again.

And it was no quiet affair, people from all around the globe came together to pay their respects for the fallen hero. His loyal students made certain that everything the Symbol of Peace sacrificed for the people he loved would never be forgotten.

Standing amongst the hundreds of solemn people dressed in black like ants at his funeral, made you realize just how small and insignificant you really are.

The selfless actions of one man led to the gratitude and inspiration of so many when he did everything in his power to leave this world better than it was when he first came into it.

While you didn't know him personally, you met him through your friends from high school. Sweet, bubbly Midoriya who you went to school with, would never miss an opportunity to ramble on and on about his childhood hero.

Seeing him grieve now made a wave of sadness envelop your heart in a choke hold. His regularly bright, emerald eyes that held all the worlds hope in them, glistened with shed and unshed tears.

The great Symbol of Peaces' successor, wept for his fallen mentor, with his friends who mourned with him.

Rain began to pour from the skies as you moved to join them. A melancholy smile worked its way onto your face at the irony. It seemed as if the heavens itself lamented at the loss.

You silently thanked the weatherman for being accurate in his predictions for once as you unfolded your umbrella.

The others around you did the same, some deciding that it was a sign to leave and retreated to their cars. Looking around, you paused when you caught sight of one figure hunched over near the lavishly decorated tomb for the hero.

The distinct ash blonde head was unmistakable, and you noticed that his usually annoyingly sharp and messy hair was drooping sadly from the downpour and lack of an umbrella.

You spared a glance at Midoriya to see that he was not covered by just one, but multiple umbrellas from several people over his place on the ground. Even Kirishima and the rest of his closer friends were standing with him.

While Midoriya had more than a handful of people to rub his back comfortingly and murmurer reassuring words to him, ― you realized that no one seemed to notice just how hard it was on the #2 hero.

Everyone seemed to have forgotten that Deku was not the only hero mentored by their beloved champion.

He looked so fucking alone — abandoned.

Suddenly, you wanted to slap yourself for not noticing earlier. His dark clothes befitting the occasion were soaked through from the rain and stuck uncomfortably to his skin, and you didn't miss the way his shoulders shook with silent shudders.

It made you almost uncomfortable to see him like this, with his usual attitude, it felt utterly wrong to watch someone like him look so broken.

Even if offering to assist did get your ass hurled into the outer reaches of space, you couldn't sit idly by and watch him suffer like this.

You moved to make your way to him when he suddenly collapsed onto his knees. Startled, you hurried your pace, your breath catching in your throat when you saw the state he was in.

Hand curled tightly in his hair in a way that looked painful, he looked up suddenly when you moved your umbrella over him. Your grip on it tightens when you see his eyes all glossy and red with tears, it makes the carmine of his irises look dull and lifeless.

Water runs in rivulets down the sides of his face, a mix of droplets falling from his hair and streaks of tears you couldn't really tell apart.

It made your chest hurt to see him like this, as you carefully kneeled down next to him. How could you have not noticed earlier? You can only imagine how this whole situation must be eating up at him. You didn't know him as well as your other friends, but you've spent enough time with him to know just how much he looked up to the former symbol of peace.

His eyes never left yours as you both watched each other in silence. It seemed he couldn't even find it in himself to look angry at you for bothering him. He sounded so horribly fragile and on the verge of breaking down when he spoke to you, "What do you want, huh?" His voice cracked and he pulled tighter at his hair, "Shouldn't you be with Deku?"

A sudden cough racked through his body and that seemed to unleash another load of tears from his tired eyes. You watched him carefully and reached out to gently pry his hand from where it was twisted in his unruly hair.

It was rough with scars and trembled sorrowfully in your grasp and you squeezed it in what you hoped was a reassuring manner. He gasped out one last sob and met your eyes again.

"Oh Bakugou, it's ok to feel sad right now. I'm gonna be right here if you need me."

Bakugou stared at you, he looked terribly beautiful and miserable at the same time, and you swore that you would do anything too never see such an expression on his face ever again.

His lips trembled and you thought he was going to say something when a sudden tremble shook through his body, and he chocked out another sob. His head drooped towards you almost violently, and you dropped your umbrella. Pulling him towards you and holding him on your arms as he gripped at your smaller figure tightly. Like you would crumble to dust before him too if he let go.

The rain seeped through your black funeral gown and chilled your skin, but you only clutched him tighter. You would hold him as long as he needs. Until he feels whole again, until you never had to see his pretty red eyes look so dead ever again.

Your heart ached for the broken hero in your arms under a crying sky.

[lightwing-s]

Alfred's point of view of food!vlogger reader when they reach for the same apple and her talking about jason please🙏🙏🙏

Jason's pov

“Oh! I’m sorry sir,” Alfred heard you say after accidentally touching hands when you reached for the same apple at the stand. “You can have it”.

He noticed a pink blush taint your cheek, matching the color of your light sundress. A shy smile plastered on your face and apologetic eyes.

“It’s no problem,” he said. “These apples look pretty inviting and I’m sure there are plenty to feed an entire cloud of bats.” you laughed at his joke and he gave you a genuine smile in return. It’s been long he got to hear a similar sound, as life with Bruce had been growing gloomier by the day, and he missed his boys and their mess around the house, even if they always led him into more work. He was in desperate need of a glint of happiness.

Rainy and somber skies traded for bright and sunny ones. He was glad to leave Gotham for once, and felt a light sensation in his chest upon waking up this morning. “I’m sure you could find some great recipes to use these apples in.” he told you.

“They’d taste amazing, but I’m actually looking for strawberries. It’s been hard finding…”

“Good ones these days?” he cut you mid sentence. “I’ve been wanting to make strawberry tarts for a while but I don’t seem to ever find really good ones.”

“Isn’t it!?” you answered loudly. “Gosh, my boyfriend loves strawberry tarts and I’ve been having the same problem. What is it with their harvest recently, has any super villain decided to ruin them for us?”

It was now your turn to get a laugh out from Alfred, who accompanied you in a search for decent strawberries so you could feed your dear boyfriend his beloved tarts. He listened to you rambling about how sweet of a boyfriend yours was, and how much of a gentleman he was too. He was getting to know how you two got together when perfect looking, big and bright red strawberries popped in your line of view.

“Those look so good, Alfred.” You said, wrapping your arm around his and dragging him along to the stand where the strawberries were on.

“Well, Y/n. Now your boyfriend can get all the dessert he wished for.” You giggled, and you two started selecting the best ones out of the bunch. Then, you seemed to notice something familiar in the distance, and moved slightly away from where you once stood.

“Jason! Babe!” he heard you call someone he could only imagine was your boyfriend. Following your gaze, he saw a familiar tall build he would recognize anywhere, and laughed by himself at the coincidence. You both had the same person in mind when thinking of the strawberries, and were talking about this same person without noticing it was the same one. The world sure could be funny sometimes.

A funny feeling began to grow in his heart upon this realization. Seeing the way you looked at him, and the way Jason looked at you in return made his old heart warm up and this lightness fill his body. All those sweet words you’d been saying were meant to his Jason, and he was so, but so, glad they were. So he stood there, like a proud father, watching as the largest smile spread in Jason’s face. One he hadn’t seen a long, long time.

“My new friend, Alfred, and I were just chatting about how difficult it’s been to find such good strawberries these days, isn’t it?” he heard you approach him again, dragging Jason by the hand. When Jason looked at him, he gave Alfred a soft smile, not as big as the one he gave you, but just as honest.

Extending his hand, he greeted the boy as he arrived at his side. “Nice to finally see you again, Master Jason.” And nice to see you happy again, too.

a/n: i finally could finish something, i'm so proud of myself lol

[mzannthropy]

Sam Claflin's Upcoming Roles

It has been a long dry season for a Sam fan! While we patiently wait for the release of Bagman, allow me to indulge in a bit of rambling about Sam's projects in production, post-production and in development. (As of August 2024)

Bagman - probably a mid horror film, I'm okay with it. Sam plays a father protecting his family from the titular monster. I like his looks in the trailer. The kid who plays his son is cute.

All The Devils Are Here - originally titled Animal. I like this title better. Seems a very low key movie, they seemed to have filmed it without anything being announced about it. The synopsis is: "Secluded in the middle of Dartmoor, four thieves find themselves hiding out with nothing to do but count the money and time to kill." Sounds like it could get quite dark, and I like that! Suki Waterhouse is in it, but I suspect she is not one of the four thieves (although she might be), so it is possible her role is a smaller one. What I'm really hoping for with this one is nice scenery. The director, Barnaby Roper, is also a photographer, so I think the shots of Dartmoor will look gorgeous, even the film will turn out to be bad. I like seeing Sam play villainous/shady characters.

The Count of Monte Cristo - one of the most beloved classics in the world, and Sam as one of the most beloved, iconic heroes! When I first heard of Sam's involvement with this, I refused to believe it for it felt too good to be true! (Silly me--I should know to trust Sam.) I will be counting down time once the release date is confirmed. I will also, more likely than not, go absolutely nuts over it. Bring on all those disguises!

Lazarus - likely a typical Harlan Coben thriller series, (not based on a book but an original idea), you know what to expect from them. It's the nearest thing we get to Sam as a detective. Made more special for me by it being filmed in and around Manchester, where I live. I'll get to see Sam walk the same streets I have! He's also an executive producer, a job he's lately been taking on.

Watch The Skies - this is an animated film, so it's a voice role. It's been in production for a long time (at least 5 years as Sam was still married to Laura Haddock when they recorded, she's also in it). "On a thrilling chase around the earth, an alien castaway and the earth kids who rescue him discover that life, love, and adventure are the same throughout the galaxy." I like that, might turn out to be a really cute kids' film.

Perdition - set in WW2, Sam is an American soldier pursued by a Nazi officer. Getting ahead of myself by tipping it to be his best film yet. (Will go back to this to see how right or wrong I was, lol.)

Barbaric - this is the best fucking thing ever, even though I know almost nothing about it. The description is enough. This is the type of role I've wanted for Sam since forever. A barbarian cursed to do good, with a talking horny axe voiced by Patrick Stewart as his companion? A medieval fantasy with equal measure of gore and humour? Is the universe giving me everything I wished for?

[universeskies]

Aaaaaand as The Pearl to My Beloved @thejaytapes Marinaaaa 💙💙💙💙💙💙 I LOOOOOOOVE HIM SO MUCH! And it felt like I just got through a rough fall through many buildings to see incredible and Rad and Amazing Loverman like Him. Wow, such handsome Tigerfish💙💙

There are so much plenty, AND plenty of Pearls even when its quite difficult times, You will definitely FIND THAT AWESOME Flow to Your Ebb. Never give up and ALWAYS have That amazing Great search!

Who is gonna be the Pearl to my Marina....

Who's gonna be the one to add chaos in my life? The one to inspire change? To tell me that when you mix together colours together, you'll get a beautiful rainbow? The one to hold my hand when it gets tough? The one that will help me chase my dreams? The one to help me sleep at night?

Will I ever find my north star? The thing I've been searching for all of my life?

Will I ever find... a beautiful pearl?

[insomniphic]

FOR THE DAILY ONE-SHOT VALENTINES WEEK SPECIAL

Tried to finish this today but couldn’t so I guess we’re doing the second part tomorrow 🤷‍♀️

‼️Reminder that these One-shots are NOT CANON whatsoever.‼️

<— Prev

DAY 2: STARS (Part 1)

“I promise you, Narry. The sights here are great!” His lover rambled on, clasping onto his hand as they dragged him down the pebble road, talking over the sound of rocks shuffling underneath their weight — blending well with the crickets hidden in the grass, and forest, that bordered them from the town. “And I double, double, checked the weather today, just to make sure. It’s clear skies!” They craned their neck to grin, the soft glow emitting from him creating a warm portrait that he’ll imprint in his mind forever; just like every other moment.

“You seem pretty happy that ‘stargazing’ won on the wheel of mundane dates tonight.” Narry laughed, giving their hand a gentle squeeze as he swayed his other arm that held the bag carrying their essentials.

“So what? It was my idea.” They chuckled, decelerating their eager pace to stride along with their partner.

“Hey now, I’m not denying that it’s a great idea.” Narry hummed leaning to their side to give them a quick kiss on the temple. “Believe me when I say that I’m just as excited.”.

Stars out of all things. He’s got his fair share of experiences with “stars”. In fact, the most logical explanation for his identity, as a being, would be to call him as one of those specks out there.

Narry huffed, a small attempt to hide a random chuckle. It’s taking a lot out of him to not say something his lover would categorize as “cringey”:

“Why look at all of that stellar activity when I’m right here?” Or maybe something else like, “Am I not the light of your life, already?”

Ah… he could already see the eye roll and the incoming punch to the shoulder — all while talking about how stupid his attempt to flirt is. Sadly, he’ll have to hold that idea back for a future moment. His beloved seems quite eager to make this opportunity special for them.

His eyes change focal points from the dim green path, to up at the musty clouds of gray covering any of the beauty. He strained his eyes as far as he could and noticed the awaited empty patch of clouds coming to blow their way. A speed that would take longer than it should. A gust whistles past them and he takes his attention away from the observation, listening back in on his jewel’s ramblings. He’ll save those worries for later.

“—I mean how could I not be excited, honestly? You cooked the meal for tonight, we’re out of town to the point where it’s quite, we get to experience some nature, I get to be with you and do the things I’ve always wanted to do,” they listed, a warm smile widening on their face as the reasonings became more heartfelt than the last word, and Narry couldn’t help but blink and gape his mouth slightly in awe. Sometimes he forgets that affection exists; that he’s capable of it. And with his lover saying those kinds of lovey-dovey things? He’ll be quickly reminded.

Narry shuts his parted lips and pries his hand away from their hand just to run it up their back and wrap his arm around their shoulder, pulling them into where they have to trot with a slight tilt. “Do you know how much I love you?” He whispered against their hair.

They quiet down, the crunching of the gravel echoing louder during that moment of silence. “No, I don’t need to know,” they began, “I’m just happy to hear that you know how much you love me,” they smiled contentedly as they came closer to the hill.

“I do.”

===

Next —>

[universeskies]

"FRESHEST SCOOP! Happily Married Couple Pearl and Marina, also Off The Hook duo! Are seen doing some happily wed shopping! Lots of brand shopping on The Time. Pearl is more than happy to be with Her Wife and Marina sporting a loving tattoo!"

You could Say they are Hooked on to Each other, hehehee @thejaytapes 💙💙💙💙💙 He did the AMAZING Design of Marina in Our story 😎😎💙💙💙💙💙

[theneonfennec]

Phoenix please tell me everything about your OCs. 😍

HEHEHE WELL IF YOU INSIST- Okay but no legitimately I have like, 27 stories I work on with varying degrees of frequency, probably 5ish that I consider "Major Projects" in that I come back to work on them often and there's a ton for me to talk about. I've shared bits and pieces over the years over at @telebeast, my main art blog, but I've gotten increasingly apprehensive about showing off messy or WIP works over there. I'll use this moment though to ramble about one of my most Beloved homegrown blorbos!

It would be impossible for me to NOT talk about Murphy Nye. She's a character who went from a little idea to a favorite in record time during the autumn of 2022. She's a conspiracy theorist, OBSESSED with finding proof of aliens. Over time, she's made herself more and more paranoid about others interfering with her search, to the point where she spends most her time in seclusion, digging up evidence and watching the skies. She's blunt, loud, and extremely high strung. I intentionally wanted her to embody tropes often seen in male characters, but almost never in female ones (Though, if you asked her her gender, she'd probably just respond with "What are you, a cop?"). Her story is a tug of war between isolation and connection, her journey towards finding her people. Oh yeah, and her encounter with a real life alien. If any of that sounds interesting, I highly recommend giving @evidence-of-the-unknown a look. It's my webcomic telling her story! Great for folks looking for queer science fiction with a focus on characters and over-developed worldbuilding. And if anyone has more specific questions about her, I'd be happy to answer them! (though, some things may be spoilers >:3)

[universeskies]

I CAN HEAR THE YAPPYAPAYPAAAA SOUNDS FROM STAR FOX SNES 😭😭😭😭😭💙💙💙💙💙💙💙 THIS IS SO GOOOOD, MI AMOR!!! I JUST ADORE SO MUCH HOW YOU DRAW AND ANIMATE!!!!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

The yapper...

[thedemonicpup]

Midnight Skies and Chocolate eyes

By Ripley Salem

              Chapter 14: Eyes don't lie. 

Steve feels Eddie's hand twitch in his own, his eyes widened “Eds? Eddie? I'm here it's Steve and Robin is here too” Steve looks at Robin “His hand just twitched, Rob he's waking up” Steve says smiling. Robin smiles back as she looks at Steve and looks back at Eddie “uh…Steve…look!” Steve looks over to Eddie once more to be met with a pair of chocolate eyes looking at him “h…hey Big boy..” Eddie hoarsely Whispers, Steve's eyes Flood with happy tears as he hears Eddie voice once more “hey eds, I thought I lost you” Steve smiles at his beloved “did you uh…did you hear me?” Eddie smiles weakly at Steve and nods to groan in slight pain.

Steve gazes doesn't leaves Eddie's chocolate pools, Steve smiles “eds…I meant every word…I don't want to live without you” Eddie finds the strength to softly squeeze Steve's hand “death could never keep me away from you stevie” the doors open again and a parade of doctors file in, they all stop as they see the man they had just recently pronounced dead alive and breathing this was something of a miracle, the head doctor rushes over to check Eddie's vital signs once more, “how? This is most troubling. He was pronounced dead not too long ago and now he is alive, his vital signs are normal.” Steve and Robin both look at each other and then back to the doctor both of them start rambling in sync “well he was dead apparently like you said and steve/I held his hand and he kissed him and I don't know what happened but the monitors started going off and then his hand twitched and then he was looking at us, we think that he heard Steve talking to him asking him to come back to him but he is here and alive and we don't know how but we are happy he is back and Steve/I want to marry him and Robin/I is going to be the maid of honour and and and…” both Robin and Steve look at each other very confused just as confused as the doctors. They once more speak in sync “Did we just? Word vomit? Yes” Steve shakes his head and chuckles “well that's a first” 

After sometime Eddie is sat up and is more able to speak he smirks at Steve “you want to marry me huh big boy?” Steve starts to stutter and blush furiously “y..yes I do..uh this night has been all kinds of what the fuck, one minute I was at home in bed the next vecna got to me and then boom I was in the upside down again, I saw Gareth down there…Eddie I'm so sorry he didn't live..he was really badly hurt and the demogorgon was on my ass it was either save us both or let him die and I survive” Steve drops his head 

Robin looks at Steve confused “Emerson? Steve, he is OK at home. What are you talking about?” 

Steve gasps and rubs his head “w…what? He's OK?” 

Eddie looks at Steve with concern “stevie…you're not OK are you? The nightmare?”  Steve sighs. 

Steve gives in and nods “I think so, but it seems all too real I don't know what is going on with me”

[antonio-chandranis-dream-blog]

it's fine to keep dreaming. earth year 2005 a.d.

What I ate this morning… Right. I stole my brother Raj’s junky chocolate éclair for his own good. He tried to kill me, but Fernando held him back. After that, I went and spoke with Layla. She told me she couldn’t save me from Alejandro Caldera-Altaha. She’s so dramatic. All I wanted was a little hint for how annoying our exchange might be… Gatekeeping-ass seer.

I went to where Alejandro was—simply standing by the seashore! We are still vacationing by the City of the Starry-eyed, and much too close to the father I cannot stand. Why always this city? Not that I care for the plans of adults, even our fabled mentor’s, Kiyotaka Miura.

I didn’t wait. >:( I told Alejandro I’d throw his prize into the sea!

Do you know what he said? He smiled at me as he said it— “I fucking wondered if you would.”

I obviously—I obviously had to open my damn trap and say, “If you put it on my wrist for me, I’d have to wear it.”

“Why?” The one he names Alejandro—the one I have known for eras as Shakir—asked. “Because it’s something everyone expects.” “But would you suddenly want to?” Shakir sounded so curious—he is that kind of young man. “You just said you were going to drop it in the sea.” “Something like this… I’d hate it. You’re such an idiot. Still, if you—”

He said, “I would never do that.”

Alejandro Caldera knows, you see—we’re supposed friends, and nowhere near lovers. The world knows. Through our streams, those million eyes always… They’re always waiting for him to announce his beloved—Alia, or Khalida, or… Diego… No.

Anyway, I was an idiot and had to go and yell, “So what do you want me to do?”

He said, “I really thought you’d throw it into the sea. I feel like the girls—Alia or Konna or someone—would challenge me to a duel for daring to insinuate anything. Honestly, they’d just have killed me. Those journos really wouldn’t stop talking about them earlier during the interview… I couldn’t give it to Diego. It’d be way more awkward, considering how much they talked about meaning. I couldn’t—”

Alejandro really wouldn’t shut up. I can’t even inscribe half his ramble—I only memorized that much, and the rest was worse yak. He brought up Leo being unreachable and Fernando and how they’re not even close anymore and how he barely knows Maria—why are you even bringing her up, then!? What is wrong with you!? I had to yell at him—

“You’re seriously acting like you have no real friends! Anyone in the world would’ve accepted the bracelet from you—”

He said, “You already know they made it something so meaningful. Diego or Fernando or Leo would’ve just gone along with it, but my entire life would be upturned. Does it mean what we’ve all been waiting to know? The elemental potential of the era! Anyway, I wasn’t sure what you would do. I thought you’d throw it into the sea.”

In truth, Alejandro Caldera-Altaha doesn’t care about being a proper mage. He’s just as simplistic about our magecraft as you unfathomably old Earthians. If I look at the skies in my world, maybe I could see your star, the Sun, 100,000 lightyears away… Or maybe not.

I could care less.

I never paid enough attention to how far away it was in my classes.

I told him, “I won’t wrap the bracelet on your wrist.”

Alejandro said, “I never expected you to.”

“You want me to throw it into the sea.”

“I thought that you would.”

“You really wanted me to give it away, didn’t you? Start a drama with your whiny-ass brother.” I thought I might as well have said it.

Like an idiot, Alejandro said, “After you threw it into the sea, I thought I’d push Diego into a dramatic retrieval mission together with your brother. Since Diego is the one who still talks to Fernando. I was wondering how Fernando’s been.”

I was…

Close to—

I—

He was close to brea—

Stop.

I was…

So infuriated. Seething, even. So mad.

I just said, “You didn’t need me to start your stupid game with my brother—”

He sounded upset too, by then. Over what? He said, “You could’ve just pretended you didn’t open the damn book!”

I… Well, I finally paused.

I mean. I just told him, “You fucking know I wouldn’t let you think I couldn’t solve a puzzle that you gave me. Like duh I solved it. Hello?”

The idiot burst out laughing so soon after looking unhappy. He laughed for a while. I don’t know why he found it so funny.

“You never would be able to resist! It really is so like you, Antonio.”

>_> WTF.

Why did he find it so funny? He went back to smiling like the idiot he is.

He said something so stupid. He said, “Give me back my family’s book, too.”

I told him, “No way. That’s my real damn prize from you. My pillow now, even.”

He turned to me and said, like he might as well be talking to Alia or Konna or Diego or Fernando or Leo, “That’s such shit!” Though around them he would’ve been so much cuter—for the streams and all that, just, “I can’t believe you!”

He is a man of respect. ( <_< )

I told him, “Don’t give me things you don’t want to lose.” I am a man of respect too, of course.

He said, “I imagined you might find it interesting. I can’t parse some things I was hoping to, in the end.”

I think he needed me for it, and so the book wound up more important than the magical Alejandro-fetching bracelet in the end.

>:")

We wound up less caught up in our bullshit. He finally lightened up, and the seashore was my home again. I'm sure I won’t remember what made me mad soon enough—an Alejandro whose goals I understand is all I will ever need. I know it.

I know.

[strxnged]

JUNE MY BELOVED HOW ARE YOU DOING

OH ELLIE!! MY DEAR!!! i'm doing so well. today was a special day and i do hope you won't mind my rambling.

up here in canada we've been having a dreadfully strange winter, and i've been yearning for rain and spring. after three months of snow and huge temperature fluctuations, finally, today, we got rain. and i hadn't even seen it in the forecast, but my boyfriend and i were leaving the bookstore we had visited (for the sheer enjoyment of the pretty displays and public piano) and he said he thought it was going to rain.

i asked him if he was okay with a detour. he seemed intrigued, and i assured him that it was not going to be a pretty detour, but a detour nonetheless. he agreed and voiced his curiosity. we drove for a few minutes to a park on the outskirts of town—neither of us grew up in this city, and so it was new to him and hard to remember directions to for me. we pulled in and stepped out into the slush of the parking lot.

we had only just made it to the entrance to the path when we noticed the rain had begun. i turned to him, and asked him if he wanted to turn back. he shook his head. we kept on.

my makeup ran, and our coats were soaked, and our feet grew cold. our hands, too—but we held onto each other. as we reached the halfway point of the loop, we slowed to admire the rain and the slush and the naked trees and birdsong and each other. i took my (wet) glasses off, tilted my face back, and let the rain swallow my sensation. after a few moments, my boyfriend kissed me, and we kept on.

i've never been kissed in the rain before. maybe i've been kissed when it's been sprinkling, and i've dreamt about it plenty of times. all i can think is that the little, hopeless, sophomore june, three years ago, would have had weak knees at the experience, no different than i.

i've often thought that my truest self has rain careening over their face. right there, in that moment—i was freezing, damp, uncomfortable, oh-so-alive. and there, not alone for a change, i was admired as myself.

no, it really was not a pretty detour. not unless you find beauty in grey skies, in wet socks, in running mascara and cold lips and aching grip. not unless you find beauty in keeping on when the rain comes.