#so damn much work to remove all that granite

[norsesuggestions]

Swedish limestone feelings be like:

"Pah! Bedrock of vastly inferior material (read NOT granite). Could not be me!"

*starts to plan some serious dynamite based engeeiner projects, because good luck doing any infrastructure in the majority if sweden, without needing to. Just baam bam through that granite*

[moog-rt]

GO TO HELL

[Lucifer Morningstar x Fem!Reader]

➨ Prologue

Next: Chapter One

Premise:

You love your friends. You really do. But sometimes it needs reminding when one of them accidentally sends you to Hell.

Despite falling into the hands of Hell’s loveliest princess, finding a way back to the world of the living proves difficult as you tiptoe around its king.

Warning(s): blood, future nsfw (possibly?)(not in this chapter)

If you'd prefer to read on Ao3, here is the link:

Otherwise, enjoy!

♡ ♡ ♡

PROLOGUE

You were careful not to puncture the plastic biohazard bag as you struggled to fit it in your backpack. Your friend owed you big time for this one.

You enjoyed your job, but having to stay overtime was not the way you would typically choose to spend the free hours of your day. Unfortunately, one of your overachiever coworkers was closing as well, so you had to wait even longer than expected. She only left after you insisted on taking over her closing duties.

It took some convincing. You had to thoroughly explain how desperate you were to get out of some macho-man movie the guy you were seeing insisted on watching with you. It was a half-truth. You had no plans to spend any amount of time with him that night, but he had been heckling you for the past week about that fucking movie. Regardless, it did the trick since your coworker’s fiancé was obsessed with the same one, and she proceeded to go on a full rant about how much she loathed it.

All that matters is you successfully got her to leave, finished closing in record time, and finally got that damn biohazard bag zipped up safe in your backpack. With that, you were out the door and on your way to help your friend in their “time of need.”

Which basically translated to, “I need materials that are hard to acquire ethically, and if you love me, you’ll help.”

When you asked what on Earth they would ever need such a thing for, they told you they recently decided to dip their toes into the occult. What exactly that meant, you weren’t sure, and you didn’t want to know. You were just eager to drop off the biohazard bag and head home. You could see a nice hot bubble bath in the near future. Maybe a book and a fun little drink as a treat.

The brief walk to your car was surprisingly pleasant. You didn’t feel as though you were heading home in the middle of the night anymore as the days were growing longer. And it was that perfect temperature where you could wear a t-shirt or a sweater and still feel comfortable. Spring was at last beginning to bloom.

The sun was just about to set as you pulled up to your friend’s apartment building, which was thankfully only a short drive away from your workplace. You scaled a few floors until you got to their door. There wasn’t even a chance to knock before it swung open, and you were yanked inside by the collar of your shirt.

The room was dark save for a few dozen pillar candles that were lit around nearly the entire perimeter of the living room. The kitchen countertop was littered with all kinds of spices, some in containers, some in ominous Ziploc baggies, and most just spilled out across the faux granite. Looking closer at the floor in the center of the open room, there was a star with a circle around it drawn out in what looked to be salt or sugar. In the middle of it was a large black candle with a pile of what you assumed were the herbs from the counter surrounding it.

“Do you have it?” Devon asked as they pulled your bag from your hands. “We’re almost out of time. I got as much ready as I could, but this is the longest step.”

“I’m sorry. We? There is no we when you’re trying to sell your soul to the devil or- Look, I don’t know what you’re doing, but I’m not taking part,” you said as you helped them carefully remove the plastic bag, bringing it to the weird seance circle-thing. You dreaded the moment they opened it. Some of its contents were rather fresh, but some were a week or two old.

“Nobody is selling anybody’s soul,” your friend scoffed, tearing open the plastic after failing to undo your rather tight knot. You were not about to have that shit leaking out onto your personal belongings.

They instantly recoiled. You’ve never seen their face so shriveled up before. You wished you had your phone out to take a picture. They sat there for a moment before taking a deep breath and reaching their hand towards the bag’s opening.

You were going to gag.

“Stop! What are you doing?” you shrieked, stepping up to their side to stop them from actually dipping their fingers in. “Don’t you have gloves or something?”

“Did you bring me gloves?”

“You didn’t ask me to bring you gloves.”

“Then no, I don’t have gloves.”

“Can’t you just leave it in the bag?” you asked, shaking your head in disbelief. Sometimes you seriously questioned your taste in friends.

“No, the book says I have to use it to draw these symbols around the pentagram,” they said, sliding you the crustiest, dustiest book you had ever seen in your life. When you picked it up, you were worried it would crumble away from the way it crunched as you gripped the pages. Many of the words were blurred, including a portion of the title, which appeared to be in Latin.

You couldn’t understand it, but you remembered them saying it was something to do with summoning a demon. According to Devon, they can help you out with finances, academics, romance… You couldn’t help but imagine some horned monstrosity threatening your boss into giving you a raise or breaking into your teacher’s office to change your test scores.

“I can’t believe you’re actually doing this.” You carefully handed the book back to them and walked over to their desk where you knew they kept some basic art supplies. A paint brush should work fine so long as they sanitize the living hell out of it afterwards.

You sat down beside Devon and watched them slowly dip the white bristles into the biohazard bag. The paint brush came out nearly black, as if they were painting with tar, but as it was pressed to the apartment floor, it left behind streaks of crimson. You had to lean away from the overwhelming stench of it. Iron and rot.

Devon had explained to you that they were initially going to use whatever blood they could squeeze out of a steak from the supermarket. The only problem was the ritual specifically required it be human. Obviously, that only left them with two options: Prick their own finger (though they doubted that would be enough) or murder.

That was, until they remembered what you did for work.

You landed yourself a job in a medical facility testing blood samples for all sorts of diseases. Sometimes you only had to determine the blood type or whether it would be viable for donation. Once the testing was done, the blood would be discarded.

To Devon, this meant you had unlimited access to such a valuable ingredient in their twisted little plan. It took quite a bit of convincing before you finally agreed. You were worried about the possibility of losing your job. Can you believe that?

The final symbol was drawn out, and you were wondering why you were still there. You told yourself you would be in and out. You wanted nothing to do with this. Maybe it was just morbid curiosity? Never in your life, would you have thought you’d be helping your friend with some demonic ritual.

You decided it was finally time to take your leave as Devon began chanting in Latin. That was enough fuckery for one day. God knows you want no part in whatever their little séance results in.

You were barely able to get to your feet when the lines of salt began to glow an ominous red. The floor within the pentagram started to crumble away into what looked like a void as you noticed your shirt being gently tugged in its direction. You backed away, not taking your eyes off of it.

There was a blinding flash, then the room was filled with a shrill, ear-piercing noise. It was as if a thousand souls were screaming out at once. You’re sure you yelled out in alarm, though you couldn’t hear it. Covering your ears did little to dampen the volume.

You were jerked forward suddenly as the soft pull on your shirt grew fierce. Glowing red chains manifested around your waist with matching pairs of shackles around your wrists and ankles. Your eyes followed them as they led back to the pentagram. Whatever they were attached to on the other side was a mystery.

“Devon!”

Your cry went unanswered, and you spared a glance towards your dear friend. Their eyes appeared to have rolled back in their head, still chanting mindlessly.

The chains around you grew tighter, causing you to whine in discomfort. To your horror, they continued to pull you closer to the void. You tried with all your might to fight against it, throwing your weight back, legs stiffly digging into the plastic wood flooring in front of you. It was all for naught as your socks deprived you of any traction.

You only slid closer and closer to that gaping hole.

You screamed. You fell. You clawed at whatever you could get your hands on.

Then the ground beneath you vanished, and the world went silent.

Next Chapter

[stripper-patrick]

Next Lifetime 💫Michael B. Jordan pt 1.

Warnings: smut, fluff, kids, sneaky link turned into family, angst, crying, 18+, NSFW gifs, series

Tags: @rebellious-desires @mrsbanreswillseeyou @eclecticblkgirl @designerwriterchic @bvssmob

Relationship: Michael B. Jordan x black plus sized reader (Azina/Z)

<4 years ago>

I’m throwing my ass back to the music just enjoying myself during this time. I’ve had at least 4 shots and I’m feeling all of them.

I feel someone press up behind me and it’s my best friend Michael whose clearly off the Henny just as much as I am. He grinds against me and as I’m working my hips I feel his dick stiffen. A boldness surged through me, or maybe that’s the liquor, and I stand up turning to him sealing a kiss. I’ve always wanted him no doubt I just never knew how to tell him. I guess being drunk is the best way. His hands grab at my waist then snake to my ass. His sweet Hennessy flavored lips are getting me even more drunk but with lust this time. The glisten of his plump lips being out the diamonds in his grill set plastered perfectly on his teeth.

“Let’s go to my house” I nod agreeing with his request and he grabs my hand leading me outside. He hails down a cab and opens the door letting me get on first. He smacks my butt on the way in and I giggle.

“322 Barron Street please” it’s about a 15 minute ride from here.

The driver begins his route and Michael starts kissing my neck and his hand slips down my shorts. My panties are beyond soaked and now he’s rubbing my clit making me whine.

His hand wraps around my throat whispering on my ear “stay quiet ma” he rubs again and as soon as the driver turns the corner into Michael’s loft I’m bussing all over his fingers biting the bottom of my lip trying to stay quiet.

He wraps his hand around my mouth flicking my clit faster making me shake harder. He pulls out his coated fingers placing them in my mouth. I suck off my own sweet juices and he grabs my by the throat kissing me tasting myself off my tongue. The driver clears his throat and we stop giggling and getting out. He tips the driver and walks past me opening the door. As soon as he gets the door open my pants are already unbuckled and halfway off.

“Damn hold on mamas” he slurs. We finally make it up to his nicely decorated bedroom and I’m pushed backwards flying back first on the bed. Michael comes on top of me and I flip us over grinding down on his already rock hard dick. He grabs a handful of behind moaning in my mouth. I move down to his neck where I kiss it sloppily. We stop kissing for a moment and I remove my shirt while he does the same. I move down pulling down his boxers and pants in one motion wasting no time swirling my tongue on the tip of his leaking dick. A low moan fills the room and I wrap my lips around the entire tip and push my head down letting it hit the back of my throat. I let it get wet then go back up to sucking on the tip while my right hand jerks the base and my left hand cups his balls. I come off with a string of saliva and I use my palm to rub on the top directly allowing the slick saliva to give him pleasure. His stomach caves and a loud moan erupts from Michael as he looks down holding vicious eye contact with me.

“Fuck Z” I continue going to town until he grabs me by the throat pulling me up to his mouth. Michael’s tongue roams my mouth fighting for dominance as he pulls me on top of him. I grab his throbbing dick pushing it inside of my aching pussy feeling him expand my walls gracefully. He leans back laying his head on the pillow as I gasp sinking down on him until our hips meet. I place my hands on his chest and sit on my feet rocking my hips along his shaft. His eyes flutter shut as I work my magic swirling my hips in a sloppy drunken circle. He bites his lip while one hand grabs the back of my head pulling my sweaty forehead to his. The other hand grabs a handful of my ass pulling me down. His dick fills my pussy completely making me gasp. Without missing a second Keith grabs both sides of my head keeping deadly eye contact with me and thrusts his hips beating my pussy from below. I let out a mewl holding his biceps while digging my acrylics into them. I bite my lip as he obliterates hot spots I didn’t even know were there.

My entire body feels like it’s on fire as after he thrusts he gives it aches and caves for more. “You like that? You like being daddy’s lil bitch” he moans pounding me out. Michael moves his hands wrapping his hand around my throat pulling me further and growling in my ear. I try to push away as the pleasure is starting to overwhelm me and he holds me by my hips keeping me right where he wants me. The only that can be heard in the room is the slushing sound of my wetness, the clapping of my ass and his balls slapping against my ass. My legs shake already as he continues. My pussy soaks everything underneath me as I let out a struggled moan cumming harder than I’ve ever came with any other man before. Michael pulls out pushing me up onto his face while jerking himself off in the process. He wraps his hands around my hips tasting the beautiful mess he made. My body jerks and my hand instinctively moves to his head as I roll my body on his tongue. He moans at my taste sucking and lapping on my clit. I smile getting off his face and back on his dick bucking my hips wildly. Michael guides my hips keeping himself as deep as possible. He begins thrusting up again at a fast pace making my eyes roll to the back of my head. He growls again giving me a fair warning that he’s about to cum. Without thinking I scream “cum inside this pussy daddy”

I’m aching from his blows. I sit up and keep bouncing at the same pace as he holds my hips tensing up. His seed spills inside of me and I watch his arch his back when I clench my pussy creating a suction. He moans pressing into my hips more.

Michael sits up kissing me and giving me a hard spank to my right ass cheek. His dick throbs inside of me as our mixtures leaks out dripping past his balls and onto the sheets. Drunkenly I lay on top of him giving him lazy kisses. Time and liquor consumes us and before I know it we’re both asleep in each other’s arms.

…

I wake up with a headache the size of the room. I feel like if I move too fast I’ll throw up. I feel someone warmth next to me and I pause. Who did I go home with last night? What happened? I’m aching between my legs but my conscience tells me not to be scared. I look behind me seeing Michael fast asleep. I sigh in comfort knowing I’m safe. He stirs in his sleep opening his eyes and he sees me. “Morning”

“Morning” I move my legs and notice they’re weak. I pull back the covers and we’re both completely naked. Oh shit. I jump up to the best of my ability and he sits up too

“Mike what did we do last night”

“Well using my context clues we had sex” he says rubbing his eyes

“Michael do you not see an issue with that? You have a girlfriend”

“I know but I mean if I’m being honest I’ve always had feelings for you Z and clearly you feel the same way” he states. I grab my underwear shaking my head.

“Mike that’s not the point you knew we shouldn’t have acted on it especially since you’re in a relationship. This could absolutely ruin our friendship. Lemme ask you this what if we go get together and break up then what you know I’m not friends with my exes. If you can be cool with your ex y’all were never in love or still are in love. There’s no in between” he looks at me with his head hanging low. He knows exactly where I’m coming from. “I’m not tryna lose you as a person in general” Mike goes in the bathroom brushing his teeth and peeing.

I collect my clothes putting them back on and Mike throws on some basketball shorts and a t-shirt he grabs some slides and his car keys . Luckily my car is already at home since Michael and his girl Lori picked me up.

“Z I’m sorry. I know things went too far but I’m glad we at least know how we feel about each other” he says “and I don’t regret what happened last night” I nod and get in his car. He gets in the drivers seat taking off and taking me home.

…..

Lori decided to have a pool party today to celebrate Mike for his birthday. Of course he invited me and being his best friend I wouldn’t miss it for the world. Plus it’s at his new house and I’ve never seen it before. Granite we haven’t talked much or seen each other at all since our ordeal a couple weeks ago. In fact this is the first time I’ve actually seen him since that day.

I walk through their beautiful house with a bottle of champagne in my hand. I see Lori in the kitchen. Honestly me and her have never really been that close. I never really cared for her but I was always cordial with her. “Hey Lori I brought this for y’all” she looks at me taking the champagne without even saying thank you. Bougie bitch. Don’t get me wrong I’m bougie too but best believe I’m as humble and as thankful as they come. I guess that’s why me and Mike are best friends. We’re the same.

I roll my eyes and my heels click outside where I see a bunch of people lounging in the pool and on the sides with drinks in their hand. My other best friend Lamia greets me with open arms. Her perfume makes me nauseous and dizzy “Hey girl” she smiles

“Hey” I say trying to hold my breakfast down.

“Mike is over there. Have you and him talked since then?” As soon as I got home that day I got ready for work and told Lamia what happened. I shrug my shoulders as an answer.

“Only small talk and I’ve low key been trying to avoid him just so the awkward tension doesn’t arise” I say

“Makes sense” Michael begins walking over and I stride a little further away until he catches me.

“Hey ladies” he hugs lamia and I’m next. I smell his cologne and melt. “you want a drink Z” I shake my head

“I don’t feel too hot right now so I’ll stick with water for the day” he nods eyes lingering on me for longer than a second. Lori comes out running his bare back and our contact is broken. While Lori begins talking to him I slip away downing the rest of my water. The nausea is finally gone and I sit on the lounge chair going on my phone. I put on my sunglasses shielding my eyes.

While I’m relaxing in the sun I notice Michael keeps staring at me. I see the small bulge in his shorts and I can’t help but bite my lip, mouth water at the taste of his dick down my throat.

A mid-height dark skin man starts walking my way and I see he has a pearly white smile similar to Michael’s. I get a better glimpse of his face. His name is Jayson. I’ve heard about him before. I heard he’s a player and he sleeps with anything that moves.

He sits next to my feet flashing his smile at me. I sit up with a small smile on my face. “Hey I’m Jayson Mikes friend”

“Yea I know. I’m Z”

“What’s that short for”

“Azina” he smiles scooting closer. I glance up seeing Mikes eyes never leaving me.

“That’s beautiful. Fitting for a beautiful woman” he bites his lip. I take a deep breath and take my sunglasses off. I stare directly into Michael’s eyes and he’s fuming. Dimples are prominent in his cheeks, nose flared, biceps flexed from how tense he is. Jayson moves even closer and that’s when Michael comes over.

“Hey Jay what y’all talking about?” He interjects with his nose held high. A small rage burns in my stomach at how he completely ruined my chance at something. Even if I was just playing Jaysons game right back at him.

“Her name. It’s pretty”

“Oh yea the two ‘A’s in her name stands for aggravated assault. She’s crazy man she beat niggas” he laughs. He’s not fully wrong “but she’s my kinda crazy. Speaking of Azina can I speak to you privately please? Jay you don’t mind right? Course not be right back” before I even have a chance to protest he grabs my wrist and my panties are soaked by the time we enter the glass double doors of his house that Lori happens to be staying in. Just hearing him call my name rather than my nickname has me wanting to be on my knees on this cold marble floor.

“What the hell is your issue?” I ask yanking my arm away. He grabs me again taking me upstairs through the neatly decorated white hallway. We get into his gold coated marble bathroom where he locks the door. I lean against the counter and he folds his arms “why have you been avoiding me”

“I-“

“And don’t lie to me” he asserts his dominance making my clit throb. Silence and heavy thick sexual tension fill the air and I look down at my long pink acrylic nails. He steps closer sealing any space between me and him. His large hand wraps around my throat making me bite my lip “you like seeing me get all jealous? Shit makes you wet mama?”

“Yes” I whimper. And just like that I’m putty in his hands. He pulls me up to his plump lips placing a wet kiss on them. Michael pulls off my duster of a swimsuit coverup. His large hands play with my breasts and my hand moved to his hard on. He’s rock solid now. His hand moves from my breast to my bikini bottoms rubbing my clit. My hips hunk and my hands move to his bicep as his plump lips kiss my neck. My body jerks as his thick fingers slide into my hole with ease. He begins pressing my g-spot like a button making me lose my breath. Michael moves up to my ear whispering “you’re mine”

He pulls his fingers out and sucks them dry turning me around some I’m facing the huge mirror above the sink. I grab the ledge bracing myself as he rolls my bottoms down spanking me in the process. I spread my cheeks feel his warm hard dick press inside of me. He fills me up and holds my hips bouncing me back to meet his thrusts. His breaths become heavy and ragged and my mouth drops open but nothing comes out.

Michael is pressing right on my g-spot making me lose my breath. “Daddy” I whimper.

“That’s my girl take all this shit. You wanna flirt with other niggas ima show you who you belong to” he wraps his hand around my throat quickening his pace. My eyes squeeze shut and my moans get louder. The sounds of our moans and my ass clapping fills the room but we have to keep it quiet so no one comes up here and finds us.

“You like when daddy fill you up bitch?”

“Yes I love it so much” my legs begin shaking as my orgasm approaches fast like a train. He gets close to my ear still pounding me out against the marble counter.

“Look at me when I make you cum” I bite my lip and his grip tightens on my neck. I open my eyes to the best of my ability as my entire body seizes in front of him. My body is on fire and he chuckles biting his lip “you look so fucking pretty taking all this dick like a good little whore”

I whimper jerking around and he pulls out watching my body tense up and convulse. He smacks my already shaking ass. Michael turns me around again putting me on the counter and he gets on one knee licking my pussy. He slurps you the mess he made moaning at the taste. I watch as he pulls my pussy lips back making sure to get as much of my clit as possible. My body writhes from still being sensitive and I grab the back of his head pushing him further in me. I pull off my bikini top rubbing my nipples while grinding on his face. My head falls back and he gives small licks making me even crazier than before. Michael comes up kissing my lips. I can taste myself on his tongue. He taps his dick on my clit before inserting himself again. I wrap my arms around his shoulders as he wastes no time taking me to Poundtown.

His short nails claw down my back and he buries his head in my neck. “That’s it daddy right there” my nails take through his short waves as his hips ripple through me. My moans uncontrollably get louder and he covers my mouth pounding me harder “can’t scream now can you baby?” I whimper eyes rolling to the back of my head as I squirt on his dick “that’s what I want fuck I’m bout to cum” his growls get louder and he kisses me moaning. His body shakes when he leaks inside of me. My nails scrape down his back and he empties his load inside of me.

He stays inside of me staring deep into my eyes. I can’t help this feeling anymore but I need to for the sake of our friendship. Michael’s catches me in a kiss and for a split second I ignore my feelings and kiss him back. As if he were really mine. That thought stops me from going any further “I’m sorry for avoiding you”

“I understand mamas” he kisses me again and pull out grabbing a towel he wipes off my pussy and leans down placing a kiss on my clit making me gasp. I chuckle getting off the counter with his help. My legs shake and I laugh. I grab my clothes putting them back on and making sure I look like I did before I came up here.

“Mike” I hear Lori call from downstairs. To the best of my ability I walk to the door but before I open it Michael grabs my arm kissing me again. This one was more passion than lust. I smile pulling away and open the door. To see Lori coming in. I turn around and turn him around quickly “so this is the master bathroom?” I look at him

“Yea it’s marble counters and the gold trim it’s my favorite and there’s the waterfall shower in there” we walk towards the shower acting like he was explaining me the layout of the bathroom the whole time. I hear loris heels click in the bathroom “baby the boys are looking for you at the pool” he turns around nodding

“Ard come on Z” We walk past Lori and her eyes linger on us.

Me and Mike walk outside and he can’t stop staring at me. He stands at the front of the bar with a microphone “I wanna thank every one for coming out. I wanna thank Lori for putting this together couldn’t have done this without you babe” that word ‘babe’ leaves a stinging mark on my heart as Lori steps up beside her man. She kisses him and then looks at me. I walk backwards dipping out from the crowd. I go inside and grab the champagne I brought. This bottle wasn’t cheap so if they won’t drink it I will. I pour myself a glass and start sipping it. Michael comes in and once again it’s just us alone.

“I’m sorry”

“Don’t be sorry. Look Michael as much as we both want it us being together might never happen simply because you and Lori are a thing and y’all are basically destined for marriage”

“Now you know I’ve been about you and only you for a while”

“I can’t tell cause I’m still single and you’re in a relationship” I sigh “I’m leaving this house is beautiful but you need to figure out what you really want” I extend my arms and give him a hug. He plants a kiss on my neck Mumbling the words I’m sorry again.

I grab my champagne and leave the house with a heavy heart and a cloudy mind. That nauseous feeling is back.

[bedbellyandbeyond]

Only Vampires

(Story Post)

Nari wasn't sure why he trusted these two vampires, but he wanted to know what they knew and so he followed them to their home. They didn't live more than a block north of where the library stood. They must've lived there a long time to afford such a big house, but then again, he had no idea what the housing market was like here. Either way, any active and diligent vamp over 100 years old could secure themself considerable wealth if they tried. Nari himself hadn't focused on capital during the majority of his life though, but he still did well for himself. The front doors of the house were very big, with stained glass windows, but Wesley and Everett took him around to the back door which was average sized and let no light in. This wasn't an issue right now as it was an hour to midnight, but he guessed that any daytime travel came through here, so they'd grown accustomed to it.

Inside was a small mudroom with another door at the other end. Nari waited for Everett to take off his shoes before he removed his own because wasn't sure what the traditions were in this country, but he was only further confused when Wesley took his shoes off but Everett kept them on. “Um, shoes on or off?” Nari had to ask. Wesley wacked Everett's leg with his loafer. “Shoes off, please.” Nari was relieved and did as told. “Alright.” “I'm not sure why we adopted that,” Everett said, reluctantly removing his footwear and then promptly putting on a pair of slippers. “My family always wore their shoes inside, his family wore shoes inside… Not to mention, it doesn't matter at all what Wesley wears.” “It's for our housemates,” Wesley said. “We have several housemates from across the world, you'll find Nari. The general consensus has been shoes off. We do our best to be accommodating.” He then proceeded to pull out a set of wheel slippers and socks and maneuvered them onto his chair. Nari thought for a second and then raised a hand. “I hope you don't think I need somewhere to stay. I'm well established.” “No, no,” Wesley said. “We just like to help anyone when it comes to library matters. As you may have noticed, it is not very accessible to all vamps of all shapes, abilities, and colours. We like to help anyone find the knowledge they need.” Nari nodded. “I see. So you steal the books for them.” “I told you, we borrow them,” Everett said as he led them through to the main hall. “Evie does think of himself as a modern-day Robin Hood of Knowledge, though,” Wesley said. The main hall was a lot more modern than Nari expected for a house apparently full of vampires. It was open concept with a lovely kitchen with granite counter tops. Further on was the living room and stairs, both up to the next floor and down to the basement. An elevator had also been installed beside the stairs for easier access to all floors. Nari’s hosts took him down to the basement, which was set up as a games room and study. There was pool, and darts, and even a pinball machine on one side. Some lounge chairs, a sofa, and a set of bookshelves on the other. There, they found another pair of vampires, one with her nose in a book, the other passed out on the couch, an open book on his chest. “Ah, glad some of you are here,” Wesley said going over to the reading nook. “Inaya, please meet Nari. We met him at the library.” The conscious vampire got up and smiled. She wore a hijab and had big round eyes framed with detailed eyeliner. She offered a hand to Nari. “Nice to meet you. Are you looking at a room?” “No, no, I’m just getting a little extra help with my research,” Nari said shaking her hand. “It’s nice to meet you. I’ve never met, well, a vampire like you.” “A hijabi vampire?” Inaya chuckled. “Me neither. That’s why I’m here.” “To find more?” Nari asked. “No, to learn about being a vampire,” Inaya said. “I didn’t know anything about them really until I was turned, and I didn’t have any other vampires around to teach me. Figuring out how to be a vampire and muslim at the same time is difficult. Blood is haram, you see.” “Ah.” Nari nodded. “Have the books been helpful?” “Some, yes. Wesley seems to know how to find me good reads,” Inaya said. “I’ve tried entering the library on my own, but it’s always been a hassle. They always find some excuse not to let us in.” “I understand,” Nari said rollimg his eyes. “It's a different excuse each time.” Everett went over and kicked the end of the couch to wake its occupant. “Rise, Jeremiah! Meet our guest!” Wesley frowned. “Evie, let the boy sleep. He's probably been studying tirelessly, the poor kid.” It was too later however and the sleepy vampire stirred and sat up, rubbing his eyes. The book he had been reading fell off his chest and onto the floor. The bang made him curse and scramble to pick it up. “Shit, it better not be busted… These old ass books…” “Language, Jeremiah. You know the rules,” Everett scolded. “Shit, sorry, Ev,” the vampire huffed. “Not my fault you woke me up.” “I have half the mind to discipline you,” Everett said, crossing his arms. “Yeah, that’ll look good, you pasty old Brit beating my black ass…” the young vampire mocked. He noticed Nari. “Who’s this little mosquito?” Wesley put a hand on Nari's shoulder. “This is Nari. We're helping him in his research.” The other got up and offered a hand to the newcomer. “It's Jez, but these old farts insist on calling me by my whole name like they're my damn mother or something.” Everett huffed. “Seriously, if you don't straighten out your language, I'll—” “The entire concept of vulgar language is inherently racist,” Jez interrupted, his entire diction changing just to prove a point to old Everett. “My use of swearing is not abusive, but instead cathartic, emphatic and idiomatic, forms of swearing that are not meant to offend anyone. For you to tell me what words I can and cannot say is a blatant form of oppression and reduces my abilities to cope with pain or misfortune.” Everett frowned, his lips pursed. “Fine. But could you tone it down just a bit?” “No.” Wesley came up behind Everett and patted his back. “Relax. We're all adults. Anyway, where's Paolo?” “He's in his room,” Inaya said. “Probably working.” “Ah, okay. Nari can meet him later,” Wesley said approaching the coffee table. From out of nowhere, he pulled out a book and offered it to Inaya. “I found an Arabic tome with stories from Turkey in it. I’m hoping it might help you.” “Oh! Maybe!” Inaya took the book gratefully. “I appreciate it, Wes!” “Where did you pull that book from?” Nari asked, a bit dumbfounded. “The library?” Wesley said, a little confused by the question. “No, I mean… I didn't notice it on your person before,” Nari said. “Oh! It's pocket magic,” Wesley said. “Easier than carrying them around.” “Pocket magic is some real basic level shit,” Jez said, eyeing Nari. “If you don't know that, what abilities do you have?” Nari shook his head. “…I never learned vampire magic. Well, except a blood purifying spell I found the other day.” Everett placed his hands on Nari's shoulders. “Oh dear, so you've just been going about your life with all the cons and none of the pros to the whole vampire thing? Sounds miserable!” Nari frowned. “I didn't know I could learn any of it…” “You absolutely can!” Everett said. “We will show you the basics.” “Honestly, it's fine…” Nari said. “I don't plan on sticking around long, and my partner has enough magic for the both of us…” “Your partner knows magic but you didn't know you could learn it?” Inaya asked. “They didn't try to teach you?” “He’s not a vampire,” Nari said. “He doesn't know what I'm capable of doing as one.” “What is he, then?” Jez asked. “A dragon?” “No, he's a wizard,” Nari said. “A wizard?” Wesley inquired, his voice a little concerned. “Like, a human wizard?” “Uh, yes,” Nari said. “The magic isn't the same, though he's convinced he can learn vampire stuff…” Everett started shaking his head. “Do you always engage in romantic relationships with humans?” “Yes.” Nari frowned, reading the negative energy coming from his acquaintances. “You say that like it's bad. Are you going to tell me we're not supposed to do that? It's taboo or something?” “No, it's fine! I mean…” Everett put his hands on Wesley's shoulders. “He was unturned when I fell for him…” “But we weren't trying to reproduce, that’s for sure,” Wesley said. He placed a hand on Nari’s arm. “It’s no wonder you’ve been having trouble… You can't have children with humans. It never works.” Nari clenched his jaw. “That's not…My information came to a 1-in-8 chance that a vampire can complete live birth.” “It's more complicated than that,” Everett said, pulling out one of the books be grabbed. “It's likely the one successful time out of eight, their partner was another vampire. The odds are much better with two vampires. Like, 1-in-3.” He opened to a page that displayed a large family tree on it. “Any time in history that a vampire successfully completed a pregnancy, both parents were vampires. Any pairings with children from one unturned and a vampire were from before the vampiric parent had turned. Or, there has also been the occasional time a vampire sired a child with an unturned person, but it is rarer.” Nari frowned and sat down on the couch. “But…I… Isn’t there any magic that can help?” Wesley shook his head. “Not that we've found. Your best bet is to try with a vampire.” “But I don't want a child from someone else…” Nari said. “I want one with Diederich.” “I'm surprised you even date unturned,” Jez commented. “It's sad stuff watching humans grow old and die all the time…” “Diederich isn't just any human, he's immortal too,” Nari said. “He knows really powerful skills and spells.” Jez rolled his eyes. “So, easy fix. Just turn him.” Nari shook his head. “No, I can't do that.” “I could teach you,” Everett said. “Or I could do it.” Nari glared. “No, I don't want to turn him. I wouldn't do that to someone.” Everett sighed. “Nari, I don't know what to tell you. Your goal is to have a baby with your partner. Both of you need to be vampires for that to happen. That's all there is. We don't have any other advice.” Nari looked down at his hands, his eyes brimming with tears. “So, all those times I tried… Complete waste of time...” Wesley rubbed Nari’s shoulder. “You didn't know…” He looked to Everett. “Would you give us a moment? All of you.” “Of course, love,” Everett said, kissing Wesley on the forehead. “Come along now, children.” “We are not your kids,” Jez groaned as he got up reluctantly and followed Inaya and Everett upstairs. Once they were alone, Wesley sighed and rubbed Nari's arm. “Before you turned, did you have any children?” Nari slowly and sniffled. “Yes… My son, Tae-seok. He was just a baby when I turned…” “Is he alive?” Wesley asked. “No… He passed away around the turn of the millennia…” Wesley sighed. “When did you start trying for another baby?” “We tried for several years when Tae-seok was young… But his father, Eun-young, died in a factory accident when Tae-seok was still a child. I didn't try again until well after my son passed away too.” “With your current partner?” Wesley asked. Nari shook his head. “No, my previous relationship. It was an accident… But I wanted it to work out. I had a little hope.” “I'm really sorry, Nari,” Wesley said. “It must be difficult to hear about the circumstances of your pursuit… And I'm sorry about Evie. He thinks turning people will always fix everything. It doesn't.” “But he's right though… If Diederich were a vampire, we'd have a much better chance,” Nari said spreading his hands. “If he were turned, we could try…” Wesley shook his head. “I can tell, you don't want to do that. It sounds like your experience with being a vampire has been more negative than positive and you don't want to subject someone else to that.” “I don't. Diederich is… He’s so lovely, and he's happy…” Nari said. “I don't want to take that from him.” “I understand. It isn’t easy. I don't always love being a vampire either… And I certainly wouldn't make that decision for someone else,” Wesley said. “You do realise that if you did manage to give birth to a baby, you'd be choosing a life as a vampire for them too?” Nari blinked. “Yes, but… I…” He paused. “…With Diederich, since he's unturned, I thought that they might not be…” “Well, even if you could reproduce with a normal human being, you’re a vampire. Your kids would be vampires.” Nari grit his teeth. “…I guess I just…you know, if I could have a baby again, I didn't care what they were… But now just saying it, that’s sounds so incredibly selfish… To subject my own child to the exact same curse I've suffered for their entire life…” Wesley rubbed Nari's knee. “I think you need to think about your situation and talk to your partner. Really work out what path makes the most sense for both of you, and any possible children in the mix. What's best for everyone is what is important.” Nari nodded slowly. “Yes… I just want to be with Diederich… I should go…” Wesley checked his watch. “Where are you staying? Evie can drive you over.” “It's okay, I can walk…” “No way, this time of night, any drunk vampires tumbling out of a bar will want to pick a fight, and while I'm not saying you can't hold your own, you don't know much magic and vampires around the library know their stuff.” Nari sighed and told Wesley his hotel. “I do appreciate you guys trying to help me… You’re honestly the nicest vampires I've ever met.” “Aw, it's nothing,” Wesley said going to the elevator. “Each of us understands the difficulty of being accepted in the vampire world. But we've been very lucky and those who have should give.” “So, is this sort of a boarding house for vampires using the library?” Nari asked. “Sort of… We keep the rent super cheap though because the house was paid off many, many years ago. Our housemates just split utilities. Evie and I cover the taxes and insurance.” Wesley smiled. “If you ever need somewhere to stay, we'll be here. First month is free for long term. Of course, we won't charge you if you just want to come over and visit.” Nari nodded. “That's more than generous, thank you.” They rode the elevator together and met with Everett at the back of the house. “Good talk?” Everett asked, spinning his car keys. “Yes, I think so,” Wesley said. “Inaya and Jeremiah are back in their rooms, then?” “Yeah.” Everett unlocked the door. “Alright, Nari. We won't keep you any longer than you'd like. Wes said you needed a ride, yes? Come along.” Nari blinked. “When did he tell you?” “Come on, now.” Everett placed his hands on his hips. “You really do need a rundown on basic magic. You could teach toddlers mind connection.” “I really don't know anything, then…” Nari frowned following him out. Wesley waved as they left. “Hope to see you soon!” Nari waved again before going to the garage with Everett. “You should consider coming back tomorrow night,” Everett said, unlocking the car. “Jeremiah will teach you everything you need to know.” “I might take him up on that. At least I'll have gotten something out of this trip.” “Well, there you go. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.” “Hm… Yes, I suppose.” “Oh, and you still have to meet Paolo! He’s Asian like you too! Wouldn’t guess from his name though, would you?” “You really don’t think before you speak, do you?” “Hey, respect your elders.” “Sorry, grandpa.”

[chanluster]

master | {m}

oneshot | vampire! au | 2.1k words

“There were deities much more addictive than your master’s fangs.”

s u m m a r y > > it was time for the most powerful vampire to feed. you should not keep him waiting.

w a r n i n g s > > vampire! jeongin, servant! reader i guess, jeongin is obviously extremely beautiful, shadows and magic related stuff, jeongin’s a little mad at the start, reader do be very horny, making out, jeongin is so sensual, fingering, orgasming, and very very very slight fluff at the end.

a u t h o r ’ s n o t e > > i feel dirty writing this for jeongin but ion CARE he’s got me so fucked up lately !!! was originally for seungcheol but since our little boy’s playing wild ass games w me recently i decided to change. i hope you enjoy and jeongin i’m so sorry 🖤

back to masterlist

YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE MADE YOUR MASTER WAIT.

Heart in your throat, you rushed down the murky hallways of your master’s manor, the eerie torches guiding you to your destination. The mere light curved towards the black mist, lingering around you as if he himself led you to him.

Another turn to your right, you met the double doors of the main hall, closed before you — dark, ancient writing was encrypted upon the metal, and when you touched it the element sang, glowing slightly over your presence. You pushed the door open, you braced yourself for the man who awaited you.

No, no. Not a man.

A fairytale. A legend only told in stories, a villain who haunted the nights of many.

The creature which had bound you to him.

Your eyes widened at what it exposed.

There he was — Yang Jeongin, the notorious beast, engulfed in midnight as he sat on his obsidian throne; his beautiful face, illuminated by the full moon revealed through stained glass windows, was laced with a strong emotion, darkened lips pursed as his eyes, closed, were nearly hidden by his slick black hair, cascading over his forehead. He adorned a silk shirt, overshadowed by his large longcoat, and his one leg was folded, an ankle over knee as the only shadows trailed over his trousers.

The vampire was darkness incarnate. Swallowed all light until, when he heard you enter, his eyes fluttered open. The colour of rubies shone in his irises, so intense it stole the very breath from your lungs.

His gaze was red. It was with this fact you realised that the strong emotion was pure, unadulterated rage.

Rage, swirling with another vivid feeling entirely.

“Where were you?” His deep, solid voice thundered in the throne room.

You tried to speak, but were met with no words upon your tongue. God, his mere presence brought you to vulnerability.

When his question was not answered, he unfolded his leg, a THUD! resonating in the room as his foot hit the obsidian steps of his throne. “Can you not even speak before me?” He taunted in his iron murmur.

“I-I…” you began, taking in a deep breath to study yourself. It hurt how ethereal he truly was. “I...I am here now.”

The shadows began to crawl towards you. “I can see that, darling.”

You felt the inky accomplices of your master, curling around your feet, shifting upon your skirts. You tried to look down, but an exterior force had you raising your chin to look at Jeongin, whose eyes had reddened even more.

His hands fisted upon the arms of his throne. “Come here.”

You did not need to be told twice.

Obliging him instantly, you walked up to the black steps, ready to kneel down before him when a small grunt escaped him.

“No, no, darling,” he said, raising a hand.

When his fingers drummed against his leather-kissed thigh, you swore you felt the floor sway beneath your feet. “Right here.”

Oh, dear Lord.

Balance uncertain, you made the final step upwards, standing right before the seated hunter of the humans. He flicked his fingers, and instantly dark mist curled towards you, a small rush of breath escaping you as the force had you sitting down — right upon his lap.

The granite hardness of his thigh had your eyes widening, a strange, mystical sensation pooling at your core. When you locked eyes with Jeongin, though, it seemed to fasten even more.

You did not know if it was misfortune or pure luck that he picked up in your shift of attitude. “Damned above, doll, I can smell the sex off of you.”

He chucked when you gulped, a little too loud. “I have not even touched you, darling,” he mused, his phantom hands encircling your waist. “Yet here you are, already frantic for me.”

Your hands fisted upon your lap, urging to have your fingers threaded in his midnight locks. “Please, master,” you mumbled, caging yourself in his otherworldly gaze. “Use me already.”

Jeongin parted his mouth, and already his canines began to sharpen. He ran his tongue over the teeth, as his other hand gripped onto your chin.

“That’s what I like to hear, doll.”

You could not answer back. Not when the creature had closed the distance, enveloping your lips with his own.

The sheer hypnotism of his kiss had a moan climbing up your throat, but his mouth upon you refused to let the sound free. He hitched his leg higher, having you engulfing in his darkness, fingers on his chin tilting your head for added pleasure.

His tongue played along the seam of your lips, and you couldn’t open your mouth faster enough. He explored your inner workings, feeling your very heartbeat under the pads of his fingertips and relishing at how it rushed with every swirl of his tongue against yours.

When he pulled away, you couldn’t suppress the whine inside you as his hand cupped your jaw, the other roaming your waist. His eyes glowed even brighter, radiating the hunger which heightened with the kiss.

“Fuck , ____, I think I want to ruin you,” he guttered.

You blinked slowly at him, running your hands up his silk-stained chest. “Ruin me then, master.”

The greatest vampire on earth had never obliged on someone else’s wishes faster.

His next kisses were harsh, roughened as he thrust his tongue inside you, fingers trailing up and down over your body. You finally received refuge in his hair, and the soft, velvety locks were, ironically, pure heaven, cherishing them more when Jeongin removed himself from your lips, instead trailing down. His mouth found solace upon your cheeks, jaw, and then down the column of your throat, emitting a gasps of pleasure from each touch.

The shadows, at his call, curled over your legs, caressing the hem of your skirts, teasing it upwards ever so slightly. The cold night air brushed your exposed skin, the dress hitching higher until the vampire’s own fingers took up the task instead. Shivers ran down your spine as his touch glided up your skin, all the way up to your thighs as the skirts bunched you at your waist.

Tearing away from your neck, the beast took a glance down at the hidden treasure between your legs, salivating to find it soiled from his labour. His hand slid over to the underwear, palming your core upon the fabric.

A lewd moan tore from your throat, much to Jeongin’s pleasure.

He carried on, a malicious smirk spreading on his face, and you thrived off his amusement till he began to pull your underwear down.

Discarding it completely, the fangs he tried to contain slid sharper when he took in your gleaming cunt, all courtesy of him.

When imprisoning you with his gaze, his blood-shot eyes seemed to glimmer with ecstasy.

“I’m taking you to Hell, darling.”

As his fingers began to brush against your inner thigh, Jeongin focused his eyes on your exposed neck, already rooted to the network of veins and arteries within your skin. Planting his lips upon a certain spot, he offered open mouthed kisses, causing you to hiss at the sheer thrill that evoked.

When his digits began skimming over the surface, however, a soft whimper escaped you, along with the double pleasure of teeth grazing upon your throat.

“P-please, master,” you gritted out, holding onto his hair for dear life. “Stop teasing.”

“Shh…” he kissed you further down your throat, and all this waiting had you sensing a deep heaviness in your belly.

You were about to complain further when the creature plunged the first finger inside of you.

A broken groan rooted out of you, his digit digging right up to the knuckle, a slow drive which had the full potential to drive you insane. The assault on your neck was prevalent, and you feared you would pass out if he drained you of your blood now.

The thought was not pondered over further when the second finger joined in, stretching out your walls and lapping up the arousal pooling between his invasion. Jeongin then began a rhythm of slowly pulling out from your cunt, and then diving back in, fastening his pace until you thought you dribbled out your responses.

His other hand gripped onto your chin, forcing your gaze to lock with his. “Are you ready?” He whispered, and although you were nearly fucked out, you understood what he truly meant. You only nodded, tilting your head to the side so you fully offered your neck to him, already bruised from the roughened kisses.

The vampire’s ruby eyes glistened. “Use your words, darling,” he rasped out, continuing his ecstatic efforts upon your cunt, thumb grazed over your clit. “I want you to say it.”

You could barely feel yourself sat upon his lap anymore, your very own throne. “Yes,” you declared in a ragged breath. “Take my blood master.”

A devil smile enveloped his spit-slick lips.

“Wonderful.”

In seconds, the creature was upon you, never stopping upon your core as he skimmed his teeth over your skin.

It was then you felt the fangs upon your throat.

Although he had done so many times, there was always a shot of pain as his canines pricked your neck, slowly, ever so slowly digging deeper into your skin. You cried out, but then the bastard thrust a third finger inside you, and the cry became a scream, so intoxicated from his mouth and fingers, working simultaneously and too damn well. Both had the same objective to decimate you completely.

Your orgasm thrummed deep within you, right on the edge and threatening ruination. You said so to the creature, attacking you on all fronts. As if understanding, Jeongin only quickened his pace, beginning to drink.

An enchanted sound hummed from him as he engulfed your blood, like the sweetest nectar of all the land if he was a little bee, flying away in the countryside. He had drunk the life out of hundreds, yet the taste of you had been the most alluring to him — he had never known why, but this mystery had him all the more attracted to you, as he sucked on your neck.

His slow drainage had you delirious — your eyes became heavy lidded, your grip nearly gone upon his locks, and you could hardly feel your legs, shaking from the soon undoing of the vampire.

“M-mas...master,” his title slurred from you, and you needed it. The final push, the last thrust forward into bliss.

And perhaps it was the endearment, the fucked out rasp or simply because it was you, all pillaged, which had him sending his three fingers plunging inside your cunt. You let out a shuddered scream, your orgasm tearing through your body, tears down your eyes as you came over his digits. His thirsting was unfinished, so you did not cease your whimpering.

Black spots entered your vision, Jeongin slowly withdrawing his fingers, skimming soothingly over your folds. All the while, he drank, a treacle of blood trailing down his chin. You thought this was the end, that maybe he did not realise that you were going to die if he kept draining you, and you tried tugging, but the strength was gone.

When you nearly went limp in his hold, only then did he slow down. With shuddering relief, he slipped his fangs out your throat, and lapped his tongue over the pricks upon your skin. After pressing a soft kiss upon the wound, he finally looked down at the mess you had made.

“Oh, no, darling,” he cooed softly, hand sliding under your head. “Undoing yourself from just my fingers?”

He caressed your locks. “I thought you would like to go all the way today—” he shushed your whining, your wish of his cock in you, “—but we might have to do that another time.”

A cruel smile caught on his face. “I do not wish for another blood bag. I quite like the thought of you staying with me for a little longer.”

Those words alone could have killed you.

He swiped your skirts down, holding onto you still. “How would you like a bath, doll?”

You nodded erratically, yet he sensed your enthusiasm with a laugh. “You are damned lucky I like you, ____,” he declared.

Even with the fucked out state, you felt yourself blush.

You are damned lucky I like you, ____.

It was this little declaration which lingered still, when, picking you up in his arms, he stood from his obsidian throne.

With the help of his shadows, as you were cocooned by midnight, you and the greatest vampire in the world disappeared from the hall.

[vetrubius]

ANONYMOUS AFFECTION

CHAPTER 2: DECEPTION POINT

W.C: 1,666

Summary: Y/N L/N is a 24 year old bartender who owns a small bar. The usual life of hers is about to change after meeting the Hero Associations Chairman, Izuku Midoriya. She’s in charge of the afterparty of the Sports Festival for the Hero Association. Watch her as she falls in love gracefully with one of the strongest hero.

A/N: Chapter 2, y’all! Planning to do a little smau too in the consequent chapters.

Warnings and genre: Angst, Fluff, Cigarette smoke, Alcohol, Cheating, mention of gun once, headache, phone conversations, texts.

The two of you sigh looking up at the smokey ceiling. “That was good,” you say, exhaling the smoke. “Maybe it’s been a while that’s why.” he hypothesizes taking the cigarette from your hand “when was the last time we fucked anyway?”. “I guess it’s been a week” answer rolling to face him. His yellow hair falling on his sides, the lips parted slightly to remove the smoke through his mouth, his yellow eyes staring up at the ceiling. He looked so sinful. But it seemed like he was in a different state altogether. Thinking about something else. “Hey” you whisper near his ear, licking the lobe of it. “You seem to like doing that for some reason. It’s….ugh” his body shivered down to the last bit. You could sense his arm hair rising and his cock slowly but painfully erecting again. He decided to latch on to your lips and bite your bottom one hard. “Somebody’s wanting some more.” he growls against your chin.

Your intimate moment with Denki is broken by your phone ringing from the hall. “Ah don’t go,  babe” he whined “I’ll be back in a while, wait.” You say gently smiling at him, giving him reassurance. You got up quickly, grabbed your dressing gown and sprinted towards the noise point. Just a second before you reach, you see the phone on silent again. “Iida..” you murmur as you see three missed calls from him. At… 3 am? Shouldn’t he be sleeping right now? You don’t waste any time calling him back, making your way to the small balcony and simultaneously tightening the drawstring around your waist. 

“Y/N?” 

“Hey, are you okay?” 

“Yeah, I called to tell you that the boss agreed for the afterparty at the bar.” 

“That’s really great!  Was it tough convincing him about the small place?” 

“No, not one bit. He was kinda into the idea.”

“Alright. That’s a plus one. Thank you Iida. You really saved my ass here.” 

“Nah, there’s a slight problem.”

“What?”

“He wants me to organise it on the 25th of November.”

-silence-

“Isn’t that a week?”

“Yeah”

“I need an advance payment for that. I’ll forward you my bank account details. And if I have any problems, I’ll call you.”

“Alright, will do. Why are you up right now anyway?” 

“If you know, you know. I hear cars behind you. Still at work?”

“Shifts getting over at 8 am.”

“Iida, you should make time for Uraraka.”

“Why do you say so?”

“Don’t you think she’ll be getting lonely? She needs you too, you know?”

“I know but she gets it. Anyway, get back to your...ahem….work” 

“You too! Do good and take care.”

“Bye-bye!!” 

As soon as the call ended, you felt the sudden urge to go back to the bar. You’d come to Denki’s place to hook up a lot of times, majorly because your room was a mezzanine right above the bar. So the two of you would never get any privacy. But right now, all you cared about was going back and attending the bar. You made your way to Denki’s room and opened the door slightly. “Den-” your eyes were met by him fast asleep with soft snores. You took your clothes, your white shirt and trousers, rolled them and dumped them in your handbag. “These will need washing, I’ll just take something from his closet.” You took the white t-shirt and a pair of track pants, and made your way to the bathroom. Tying your hair up into a half ponytail, you get out of the washroom and go to his room again. 

You put his blanket over him and exited his house with only one thing in mind. The bar. 

The walk from Denki’s house is barely 20 minutes and you love the city more in the early morning where you see either drunks or joggers. You unlock the bar gate and step inside being welcomed to the darkness again.  It’s not like you mind it but you would feel better coming back home to someone. Someone other than an empty stage and ghosts of your customers. As you finish washing the empty dishes and taking another smoke break, you start making your way up to the mezzanine. Your thoughts of sleeping are disrupted by the metal door bell ringing, showing the door opening of the bar. “I’m sorry we’re clo-” you announce, annoyed as you turn to see who the person was. The two stare into the strangers' green eyes. His green hair in motion with his face, his hands scavenging to remove the mask off his face and get as much oxygen he could consume.” 

“Hey, are you okay?” you start making your way down the steps towards him with concern. He put a finger up, gesturing you to wait. After he’d caught his breath, he stripped his mask off his face completely and looked at you. “I know you’re closed but there was this weird guy chasing me, I needed a safe space,” he said “could I have a little water please?”. Great. There goes your sleep. Tossed right in the dustbin. But right now you need to take care of him. “Ah fuck it” you murmur as you fill a glass of water from the sink and make your way towards him. 

He was as tall as you but his muscles were definitely popping. “Thank you so much.” he said chugging the water down, handing you the glass back and grinned. You have to admit he was pretty cute with that devious grin. “What are you doing out so late anyway?” you asked going behind the bar and sitting on the barstool, indicating him to join you on the table. “Well, I was jogging and as I said before, I saw this weird guy chasing me. I’m pretty sure he had a gun or something.” He said as he walked over and made himself comfortable on the stool, his eyes scanning the large shelf of bottles behind you. “Yeah, I’m the bartender and the owner of this place. Just stay for 15 minutes and leave. I’m tired” you say as your head dips between your crossed arms on the table and you feel your eyes drooping against the cold granite. “Thank you for letting me be here. My name is-” is the last thing you hear before your flake out.

.

.

.

“Y/N?” Iida shakes you gently. “Y/N, wake up.” he said, patting your head slightly. “Mhm….” you stir,  groaning while twisting your body and feeling your numb hands. Still faded out, you look at Iida with the drool dripping down on one side of your face. “Time?” your raspy voice manages to choke. “It’s 11 am. You didn’t pick my calls up so I figured that you forgot to open the bar for breakfast again. Wake up, there are customers outside,” he said, signalling the door “oh, and here’s a note I found under that glass there” he shuffles through his pocket and hands it to you. “Anyway, I don’t have time. I’m already late to wake your stupidass up.” Iida said, walking towards the door. “Have a nice day.” is what you manage to choke out before rushing to brush, change and keep the bar running again. You kept your note on the nightstand, as you went ahead with your day. I’ll read that later. 

.

.

.

.

12 midnight rolled by quicker than you thought. You bid farewell to the last customers and put the closed board outside the bar. Your day had been hectic; the usual breakfast people, cleaning floors and washing dishes in the afternoon, making a list of the things you needed at the party while contacting people and other things while dealing with a splitting headache. Taking care of this place really covers the exercises you don’t do. Wrapping things up, you made your way to your room and recollected the note Iida gave you. You entered the room and turned the lights on and looked at your phone and desk. Picking up the paper, you start reading it. 

“Hey, I didn’t get a chance to thank you since you passed out of the table lol. Anyway, here’s my number, text me once you wake up: +81 xxxxx xxxxx.” 

Keeping the paper down, you pick your phone up to text him and you’re greeted with multiple texts from Ochako, Iida and Denki which you ignore and type in the number in your new message.

While you’re at it, you decide to open Denki’s text too.

After you press send to Kaminari, you think a little. Maybe I should surprise him a little. You wear your garter and stockings on your legs and slip on your track pants, and an olive lacey bra and throw on a hoodie. You take a big chug of whiskey kept on the bar shelf once your feet hit the ground floor. “Oh, he’s definitely in for a treat” you giggle and talk to yourself as you make your way downstairs and out the door. 

You walk in the cold listening to Rude Boy by Rihanna (because why not) to pump yourself up for getting your back injured tonight. You make a left towards Denki’s lane and skip a little. Maybe I’m actually having feelings again. I guess this might work. You giggle realising how much Iida would disapprove of it. Maybe scold you a little for being irresponsible for letting yourself develop a little something for each other. But he’d wish you all the happiness in the world nevertheless. 

You make your way up in the lift to his apartment. The doors part open and you see a new pair of shoes outside his house. Damn, he didn’t tell me he had guests. You unlock the door and walk into the house. Your eyes are greeted by clothes thrown all across the floor. Womens clothes. You freeze. The sounds coming from the room verifies your thoughts. Someone else? You try to process your scattered thoughts and move your numb body towards the door. Each step feels in sync with the moans from the room. You push the door a little to see inside. Only for your eyes to drop to her.

series masterlist

[omg-imagine]

⊱ Dirty Dancing ⊰

Pairing: Keanu Reeves x Reader

Request: Please I'd like a Ke smut fic where he arrives home while Reader is listening music and doing a sexy dance (she wears a beautiful dress) and stares at her watching her dance moves, she notices him and they end up making love  -Anon

Warnings: Smut

Words: 1.6k

A/N: Yiiikes I’ve neglected my requests for too long and I’m super sorry about that! I’ll be working on the two remaining in the upcoming weeks. Also, I added another anon’s request for neck kisses on here too. Hope you enjoy!

Shutting off the car’s engine, the sheer exhaustion from shooting long, grueling hours for the last three months was finally catching up to Keanu. Though his body desperately craved hours of fitful sleep, he chose to ignore it and prepared himself to see you instead.

In a state of utter weariness, he managed to drive across the city during rush hour just to have dinner with you tonight. He had missed you dearly throughout the entire time he was away and could no longer bear being apart from you, the most precious person in the world who ultimately held his heart.

Arriving at your house a half an hour early, Keanu wanted to surprise you. With a fresh bouquet of flowers in his hand and a bottle of your favorite red tucked securely under his arm, he quietly let himself in through the front door using the spare key you had given him.

From the foyer, he could already smell the enticing aroma of food wafting in the air. Stomach grumbling, he padded down the hall leading to the kitchen where the sound of music grew louder with his approach. Keanu’s lips quirked into a delighted smile as he rounded the corner, and his eyes widened at the surprising sight of you dancing to the lively beat.

For now, he decided to stay hidden in the shadows, his mind rapt at the way your hips sashayed to the seductive song blasting in the background. Donning a sexy, figure-hugging red dress which he hadn’t seen you wear previously, Keanu couldn’t tear his gaze away as the deep bass thudded through the walls. Still unaware of his presence, you exuded utter confidence with every rhythmic sway and dip of your alluring body, the sensual scene sending jolts of arousal through him.

Breath hitched in his throat, Keanu could feel his trousers tightening when he noticed the skirt of your dress had ridden up a little higher on your thighs, exposing more of your soft and supple skin. All he could think of at that very second was ripping your clothes off and taking you right then and there. Three months without having you had made him very impatient and very desperate.

Eyes devouring every inch of your beauty, Keanu thought about how dinner would surely be off the table for the next hour. He had forgotten how tired and hungry he was, a surge of energy and desire taking over as a result of watching your enticing show. Presently, his burning need inside was reserved for you and you only.

“Holy shit!” you gasped after you finally glanced over to where Keanu was and caught him standing there, an irrepressible smirk flashing across his face. “God, Ke. You scared me.”

“Don’t stop on my account,” he chuckled lowly while sauntering into the kitchen, placing the items he brought on the table.

Lowering the volume of the music, you then smiled at him once he reached you. “You’re here early. The chicken is still in the oven cooking.”

“I wanted to surprise my best girl,” Keanu replied, leaning down briefly to peck your lips. His hands slowly ran down the side of your body before settling on your hips. “Is this dress new?”

“I got it this morning,” you answered sweetly. “You like it?”

Keanu nodded, mouth ghosting down your neck. His breath tickled your skin as you released a soft moan when he pressed his body against yours, letting you feel the hardness between his legs. “I love it, and seeing the way you dance in it? That was very hot and entertaining as you can tell.”

“How much did you see?” You questioned, slipping your palms under Keanu’s shirt and noticing the glimmer of amusement in his eyes.

“Most of it. You’re a damn good dancer, baby. An incredibly sexy one, too.”

“Perhaps I should give you a private show next time,” you suggested with a sly wink, fingers rising to tangle themselves in his hair. You tugged on them the slightest bit, just enough to elicit a reaction from him.

Abruptly, Keanu then smoothly lifted you up in his arms, placing you on the cold, granite countertop of the kitchen island. He stood in between your spread legs, leaning down and trailing moist kisses along your jaw and collarbone. His hand began to hike your dress up, revealing your laced panties to him as his mouth moved to that sensitive spot behind your ear.

Keanu’s breath was warm and ragged on your skin as he whispered, “Definitely next time. Right now, I’m going to show you how much I enjoyed that little show of yours.”

Lips locked in a deep, fervent kiss, Keanu wasted no time touching you wherever he pleased. Hearing your hum of approval, his long digits skimmed up your inner thigh agonizingly, swallowing the airy moans escaping your throat. You cried out the moment he pulled your underwear to the side and slid his fingers inside your dripping cunt, your wet walls instantly squeezing around them with a vice-like grip.

It had been far too long.

Pulling back, Keanu’s dark, lust-blown eyes held your half-lidded gaze as he pushed in his dexterous digits until he was knuckle-deep before drawing them out almost teasingly, causing you to whine and writhe underneath him uncontrollably. Eventually, he gained speed, alternating between finger-fucking and stroking your clit as you quickly came apart with his hand alone.

Your eyes were clamped shut, chest heaving unsteadily as Keanu retracted his thick fingers from your core. Smiling, he licked the slick essence coating his fingers, its divine taste both tangy and sweet on his tongue, a flavor that was uniquely and delectably yours. Still lost in your post-orgasmic haze, he deftly unzipped the back of your dress, allowing him to easily remove it from your limp body.

“Beautiful,” he murmured, drinking in the bare sight of you. “You’re so beautiful, baby. I’m a lucky man knowing that you are all mine.”

“I’m yours,” you breathlessly added. “Please, Ke...”

Peeling off his shirt, Keanu stepped back, and then asked huskily, “What do you need, sweetheart?”

“You…” you sighed, watching as he unbuckled his belt and pushed his pants along with his boxers down, freeing his hard, pulsing cock. “I need you, Ke. I need you inside me.”

Giving himself a few languid pumps with one hand, Keanu swiftly slid your panties down your legs using the other and tossed it somewhere in the room. Sitting up, your hands gripped the edge of the counter, waiting in anticipation as he guided his tip to your heat. Slowly, he sheathed his cock inside of your pussy, and immediately it stretched to accommodate his girth.

As he bottomed out, you placed delicate kisses down the column of his neck, and he nearly purred at the sensation. No matter how many times you and Keanu made love, he surely could never get enough of you. He would cherish each moment of it, whether it would be rough and fast or sweet and slow. What he most cared about was simply you and making sure you felt loved and adored with every fiber of his being.

You lied back down on the counter as Keanu hovered over you, his hips beginning a delicious rhythm that had you mewling in seconds. He knew the two of you wouldn’t last long, not when this was your first time together in months. Soft grunts filled your ears as he thrust in and out of you, his control gradually slipping the more you whimpered out his name.

“P-Please, Ke,” you begged, digging your fingernails into his back as he lowered his lips to yours. The pleasure was becoming too overwhelming, leaving you unable to form a coherent word, but Keanu knew precisely what you needed.

“I-I’m close, baby,” he warned, his movements faltering as the tightly-wound up coil in his stomach began to unravel much like yours. “Come with me. Go ahead, let go. Let go for me.”

With a shuddering breath, you shook in pure ecstasy while you came around Keanu’s cock. You managed to keep your eyes open long enough to watch him reach his own high, his face contorting with bliss as he released hot spurts of his cum deep inside of you. Satiated, Keanu slumped forward, carefully not to crush you as you both tried to regain your senses.  

After some time had passed, he gently withdrew his softening cock from you before grabbing paper towels to clean yourselves up. Keanu then helped you hop down from the counter, your arms wrapping around his neck to pull him into a passionate kiss once your feet touched the tile floors. You only broke away when the oven timer suddenly dinged behind him, reminding you of the dinner you were prepping before his arrival.

“Chicken’s ready,” you mumbled against his lips. “Are you still hungry?”

“Starving,” Keanu laughed before reaching down and retrieving your discarded red dress from the ground. “You should probably hang this up for later.”

“Later?” Your brows rose in curiosity. “You want me to wear it again later?”

“Yes,” he stated, dipping down to kiss you breathlessly again. “You did promise me a private show, and I want to see you dance with this on again.”

“What if I danced with nothing on?” You proposed with a teasing tone. “How would you like that instead?”

Nodding, Keanu’s lips curved upwards, already feeling himself harden by the mere thought of it. “I’m really glad to be back home.”

“Me too,” you agreed before stepping in to close the distance, your lips connecting one more time.

Permanent Tags: @penwieldingdreamer​ @keandrews​ @feminine-machinegun​ @fanficsrusz​ @thehumanistsdiary​ @rdjloverxxx​ @flaminasteroid​ @lussdew​

[totheendofthelinepal]

MAN OF HONOR (PART ONE)

Summary: You were dreading a certain wedding you were involved in, desperate to find a suitable date that could pass as your fake boyfriend. Luckily, Bucky Barnes had nothing better to do. 

Notes: NSFW (18+), Swearing

For the fourth time, your head had met the counter. It didnt help that Tony used the most expensive granite he could find, well then it again it might help with the impact. You groaned out, the thought brimming once again you had to fly away tomorrow to your little sister’s wedding. It wasn’t only the fact she was younger than you, it was the fact she was most definitely making it known she is getting hitched off before you are - which makes you the exhibit of the wedding. You weren’t prepared for all of the comments of you being old, needing to get married - kids. The whole shabang. Now two days away, you had exhausted every possible option of a date - you were at your wits end. Sitting in your misery, you heard a soft laugh above you. Flickering your eyes upward, you saw your best friend clearly amused by the fact you could possibly be acting over dramatic. 

“You know, it doesn’t help much - banging your head on the counter.” Wanda smirked, pouring you a small cup of coffee. 

“You’re right, if its not a headboard its not worth it.” You coughed out, wiping away the small ache you had collected to your forehead. 

“Just so you know, you haven’t asked…everyone.” Wanda smirked once again, bringing her coffee to sip.

You already began to shake your head, the thought that she planted was already being pushed out of your mind. There was no way in hell you were going to ask the only bachelor left in the Avengers compound.

“Are you insane?” You knitted your brow, “Mr. Grouch? there’s no way.”

“Oh come on, he’s not that bad.” Wanda defended, and she motioned to the workout facility. 

“No. Wanda. I’m not. He’s a huge pain in the ass.” You rolled your eyes, hoping she would deter already from the topic, “Besides. He wouldn’t go anyways.”

You shuffled throughout the halls, nearing the workout area. As much as you fought it, it was your only hope to show up to the wedding with some dignity. You already could feel the confusion brimming in your mind, hearing a rather modern song begin to echo as you neared the door. Sure enough, it was a song you had heard just the other day - and you remembered writing it down. You always liked chainsmokers - and their newest hit was something you had been playing on repeat. Now it was ringing throughout the workout room. Your eyes had finally caught him, and you were genuinely surprised at how good he looked. You had only had a couple of interactions with him - obviously through Steve. You had heard stories of his past, he was the infamous Winter Soldier - but in honesty it didnt frighten you that much. He wasn’t that man anymore, now he was known as Steve Rogers best friend. You watched only for a lingering moment, taking in that he had clearly been working hard in here. His hair was pulled back, a few strands falling from his workout. He was covered in a sheen sweat, and you noticed yourself swallowing now. It was no secret he was fit, his frame was incredibly large - he could took take you out in mere seconds. Which is why you hesitated, but you needed to move forward. 

“B-Bucky?” You choked out, and noticed the music was a little loud for him to hear you.

His hands met the punching bag, and you wanted to ignore it - but his low grunts from the blows was beginning to cause you to sweat. 

“Bucky?” You nearly yelled out now, and finally he turned.

He was out of breath, and you noticed the front of his black shirt was slightly damp. 

“Can I help you?” He huffed out, his expression clearly confused as to why you were talking to him.

“Uh- I was just, wondering-“ You stammered, your eyes flickering across his sweats hanging low to his waist.

“Wondering? What?” Bucky began to unwrap his flesh hand, and you noticed that they had grown slightly bloody from his harsh workout. 

“Well I have this-“ You stammered even more, “I have a wedding this weekend. I know this sounds crazy, But I’ll do something for you in return if you could maybe, think about possibly-“

“Spit it out, Doll.” Bucky sighed, closing his eyes in slight annoyance.

“I have my little sisters wedding, and I need a date. My ex will be there, and I can’t go alone in front of my family.” You blurted it all out, and you realized you probably shouldn’t have mentioned it.

“Oh right. The one you asked Steve go to, and Sam…Let’s see who else” He cleary sounded annoyed now, and you knew how bad it sounded.

“Come on, Bucky-“ You choked out.

“No really, its flattering. Being your last choice. Is it because I’m Scary?” Bucky was now teasing, shaking his head as he walked away.

“Please.” You almost sounded begging, but you didnt care, “Please, Bucky.”

He stopped in his steps, and you had hoped that was a sign of him thinking about it. 

“Fine.” He sighed out, “We’re leaving tomorrow?”

“Oh my god, thank you.” You couldn’t help your excitement, “Yes, yeah. we leave tomorrow.”

“I’m saying this now, just so we’re clear. I’m not your goddamn ken doll.” Bucky looked to you, his blue eyes nearly piercing to you.

“Yes. Of course.” You motioned, taking a deep breath, “Just, please. Be…nice?”

Bucky only glared to you, and you realized you could’ve gone without saying it. 

“Oh I’ll be nice.” His eyes traveled you, “See you tomorrow.”

You released a sigh, as if you were holding your breath all this time.

Planes Suck. That was the only thought that was in your mind, but you managed to still look somewhat presentable. Already the two of you had conflict, Bucky explaining he was going to be late - which ended up him getting a flight an hour after yours. Which led you to this moment, waiting for him in the London airport. You took the time in the airport bathrooms, refreshing your waves - changing into your dress for the Brunch your Mother had planned for the wedding party. You went with the safe option, the peach and beige dress. It was classified as your lucky dress, whenever you wore it something wonderful happened - you were hoping today was the case. You sighed out, taking yet another glance to your watch - you only had 2 hours to get to the country house, and Bucky was still nowhere to be found. You pulled out your phone, ready to call him to see what the hell was taking so long. Your eyes flickered upwards in the right moment, and you were unsure of what to do with yourself. Without control, your mouth hung open - seeing Bucky finally walk towards you. You swallowed harshly, you had never seen him look so incredibly dapper. He wasn’t kidding, he wasn’t taking this lightly.

“Close your mouth, doll. Its just an outfit.” Bucky sighed, pulling your elbow up from the seat. 

“Jesus, where the hell did you get that?” You finally choked out, your eyes still looking over the suit.

“Does it matter?” Bucky spoke softly, “It’s no tux.”

“Yeah but…shit. Thank you.” You blinked wildly, still feeling his hands guide you.

“You got it, Darlin’” Bucky had a teasing tone, already mocking you.

“Seriously, Be nice.” You already grew annoyed, knowing he was going to give you shit this whole trip. 

You had to deal with it for two weeks.

You nearly cursed the car that it took you there in a hurry, and the sight of the country house made your skin now sweat. It had been 4 years since you had been here, your mother married to the man who had lived outside of London his whole life. You were the only one who decided to stay in America, which clearly made you some kind of an outcast. But now you were back in the house that most of your heartache resided in every visit. Most of all the man you used to love also lived near here, and you had found out he was a part of the wedding party. The thought of seeing him again, it made your heart nearly burst. He had caused you so much pain, yet he went on living his life as if nothing happened. Out of nervousness, you began to chew at the bottom of your lip - wondering if you could muster the courage to actually get out of the vehicle.

“Go before me.” Bucky sighed, and you watched him already remove himself from the car.

“Are you crazy? the whole point of you being here is to go in with me, at the same time.” You sighed out, following his actions.

Bucky smiled only for a moment, “I know what I’m doing, Doll. Get your ass in there.”

You rolled your eyes, knowing there was no point in arguing - if there was one thing you knew about Bucky was that he was stubborn, and didnt take the option of no very well. You straightened your dress, turning one last time to see him practically shooing you forward. Taking a deep breath, you moved across the lawn. You gripped at your coat, the near fall weather was causing goosebumps to prickle along your arms and legs. You knew you should’ve worn something else. Once your feet had hit inside of the home you knew, all eyes slowly turned to you.

“Oh, sweetie. Why didnt you wear the blue number I sent you?” Your mother shuffled to you, and quickly your little sister caught your eye.

“Teddybear!” Your little sister nearly squealed, and you shut your eyes to your nickname. It came because you carried the small stuffed bear your father gave you when you were little - needless to say they never let you live it down.

“Please dont call me that.” You grumbled out, feeling your mother already latch to you.

“Honey, I thought you were bringing a date-“ She sighed to your ear, and you knew it was coming.

“Did he stand you up?” Your little sister looked to you in mock sympathy, and you hated Bucky for staying at the car for whatever damn reason.

Just when you thought it couldn’t get worse, you saw your ex now flicker his eyes to you - and he hadn’t changed in expression. You thought you couldn’t breathe to the sight of him, and now a woman closely to his side. Of course he had a date. You removed your coat, your mother raising her brow to the sight of the dress you were wearing. Part of you wore it to spite her. Your mother opened her mouth, and you knew she was about to say something about it - that was until you felt a pair of hands to your back. Giving you no time to process, you understood why Bucky stayed behind. Your eyes shot open, feeling his soft lips crash to you within seconds. Knowing it mustve looked odd, you relaxed to the touch - and for a brief moment you began to taste his lips. You nearly whimpered, feeling his hands grip to the small of your back - and then he pulled away. Standing dumbfounded, you had to wipe slightly at your lips - god you weren’t expecting him to taste that good.

“There you are, sweetheart.” Bucky took a breath, and you watched his blue eyes look to you in complete amusement, “I already missed you.”

You finally looked to your mother, her mouth still dropped to what she just witnessed. 

“M-Mom. this is-“

“James Buchanan Barnes, Ma’am. Nice to meet you.” Bucky flashed a incredibly charming smile, taking her hand to kiss softly.

“Why hello.” Your mother turned slightly pink, laughing at the action.

“You were right, Doll.” Bucky looked to you, still grinning, “You do get your beauty from your Mother.”

You couldn’t believe it, but you heard your mother practically giggle.

“Hi, Hello.” You sister fumbled forward to Bucky’s gaze, and he mirrored his action - taking her hand to his lips.

“Now, You must be the little sister.” Bucky winked, and you saw your sister’s lips turn in a grin, “Here’s to the lucky chrome dome who gets to marry you.”

She giggled too, and you nearly laughed at the sight.

He was good.

“Sorry about that.” Bucky placed his hand to your back, pulling you to his side, “Just can’t keep my hands off her.”

“Well, thats quite alright.” Your mother nodded to you, clearly approving.

“Still in that honeymoon stage, If you know what I mean ma’am.” Bucky winked, and you nearly gasped to the feeling his hand now at your backside.

You took it all in, and you were nearly ecstatic to the sight of your ex trying to get a better look at the two of you.

You were definitely winning.

As your family walked away to return to the party, you noticed Bucky keeping his hands to you.

“Where did that come from?” You turned to him in astonishment.

“1940s, Darlin.” Bucky sighed, pulling you into the home finally.

You managed to make it through the hell of brunch, giving you and Bucky no time to come up with a story. Most of the meal it was quick thinking, and at some point the both of you began to lose your match in stories. You still couldn’t believe that he was here, doing this for you - even if he was technically the last one you asked. Still you appreciated the gesture, but the realization came that you didn’t know Bucky as well as the others. Now here you were, your mother had planted the two of you in the guest bedroom - together.

“So I’m thinking I’ll sleep on the floor.” You coughed out, seeing Bucky already plant his suitcase to the bed.

“What are you, five? Don’t be ridiculous. We can sleep in the same bed” Bucky sighed out, opening the suitcase to grab clothing, “Shower?”

You motioned, swallowing harshly, “I’m just saying wouldn’t it be awkward, or whatever.”

He grinned teasingly to you, “Only if you make it awkward, darlin”

You took a deep breath, bringing the glass you took from brunch - thank god for alcohol. You turned suddenly, Bucky not giving a care in the world of your presence - removing his shirt.

“So we should probably discuss a story. Like how we started dating.” You choked out, “I mean my family knows everyone so it’s not like you’re a total stranger-”

You turned, not thinking anything of it - only to gasp out audibly. He was completely naked. Your mouth dropped, and you screwed your eyes shut - you even heard a soft laugh escape Bucky’s chest.

“If we’re going to be dating, might as well get comfortable, doll.” Bucky chuckled, and you felt him throw a material to your head.

“That doesn’t mean you should-” You did it again without thinking, this time your eyes couldn’t help but fall below the waistline - your mouth dropped again, you’d never seen someone so-

“Just say we met through Wanda, I thought you were cute - so I took you out.” Bucky walked the other direction, and you nearly whimpered to the sight of his ass. You shot your hand up just enough to cover his exposed skin.

“Okay fine just-” You swallowed yet again, “Dont think you can just walk around here naked”

“Why, make you nervous?” Bucky winked, shutting the door finally to the bathroom.

You huffed out, these two weeks were going to be hell.

[duker42]

So I didn’t anticipate it being so long, but it was a good idea!!!! 🤷🏼‍♀️🤷🏼‍♀️🤷🏼‍♀️

*****WARNING*****NSFW

💜Happenstance💜

Y/N sighed internally as she listened to the smooth cadence of his voice as the professor continued his lecture about 13th Century poets and the modern English language. She could probably listen to him talk about bowel movements and she would be just as captivated.

Glancing around the classroom, she knew that she wasn’t the only one. Professor Ackerman’s classes were always heavily weighed down with females, for a good reason. The younger professor was extremely attractive, but Y/N tried her hardest to keep her expression from reflecting the dreamy eyes of the girls around her.

When the class was over, he reminded everyone about the writing prompt he had assigned and dismissed them. Getting up, Y/N frowned at all the trash that was being left behind as the other girls rushed to the front to ask Levi about different things, most of them nonsense, just for the opportunity to get a little closer to the man.

Y/N stayed behind, not for that purpose, but because she was gathering all the empty Starbucks cups and wrappers they had left behind to help him. She knew that Mr. Ackerman preferred to keep the room clean, not really liking for them to eat or drink in his class, but the relaxed atmosphere of college prevented him from really banning it.

Levi looked up from the sea of annoying brats trying to get his attention to admire the one that always caught his eye without even trying. Y/N was the prime example of how to really pique his interest. She never asked for office hours unless she really needed further information or wasn’t sure she understood. She diligently turned in fantastic papers that exhibited her talent with the written word and she always helped him pick up after those brats that made messes. Even though he had not once seen her eat in his class or drink anything other than water.

He sighed and tried to focus on what the girl in front of him was talking about. That lack of a sign was what held him back from asking her out. They were both adults and the semester was soon coming to an end. He would miss what he secretly regarded as his favorite student in his lecture hall.

~~~~~

“Remind me again why I agreed to do this?” Y/N asked as she held her cell phone to her ear.

“Because you need to have a social life! You can’t possibly get laid if you are always stuck in your apartment, in class or at work.” Her best friends annoying comment came through the ear piece.

There were days she really wanted to strangle Nanaba for creating that damned dating profile. Ever since she and Mike had found each other, she was determined to settle all her friends in relationships. Y/N had given in just to shut her up, much to Mike’s amusement.

“Okay, I sent him a message saying you were at the bar. He should be there soon!” The excitement in her friends voice made Y/N cringe. Unless he had black hair and glacial ashen eyes, she wasn’t really interested.

She hung up and looked around. The restaurant was decent thank goodness, not a typical college bar where the frats and sororities like to hang out. This was more refined. She put her phone away in her clutch and took a sip of her bourbon.

She knew she looked nice as the surrounding men’s eyes stopped on her figure more than once. She was in a little black dress, perfectly molded to her skin accentuating her curves. Modestly cut but still flattering the neckline wasn’t too daring but gave a glimpse of her chest. Pared with light make up and loose curls, she knew that the effect was appealing.

“You must be Y/N.” The voice next to her made her turn to look and she barely caught herself before her eyes widened. The man who had come to meet her was no where near his profile description or picture.

He was greasy and unkept. The type that she imagined sitting in his mom’s basement yelling for her to make Hot Pockets while he blasted his conspiracy theories across the internet. His rumpled and stained clothes gave off a lightly musty smell and his crude eyes were running up and down her like he was eyeing a steak.

“No, I’m sorry, you must be mistaken.” She lied smoothly, hoping that he would buy it. She hadn’t allowed Nanaba to put her picture on the site, just settling for a description of her features. There were many woman that looked similar.

“I’m pretty sure it’s you.” He continued, settling a sweaty palm on her arm. “Why don’t we sit down for dinner, unless you’d rather skip to dessert.”

Y/N tried not to gag as he suggestively moved his eyebrows.

“You have the wrong person, I’m here with someone.” She said, desperately looking around for someone, anyone who could save her. “He had just gone to the bathroom.”

“I think you’re lying.” His longer fingernails started to dig into her skin as his voice took on a darker tone. He wasn’t believing her lies and she sensed it was about the get ugly. She looked at the bartender, willing him to look her way to help.

“Hey babe, sorry it took me so long. Line for the pisser. Who’s your friend?” Warm lips caressed her cheek as a hand wrapped around her bare arm possessively. That voice.

Y/N looked up into Levi’s amused eyes as he glanced at her. From this distance, she could see his granite eyes harden as they turned to the man she was trying to shake off.

“You are?” His bored tone dismissed him, and the scowl on his face kept the failed date from commenting further as he removed his hand and slunk away.

“Thank you so much, Mr. Ackerman.” Y/N breathed as the man walked out of sight. Her body sagged slightly against his as she sighted in relief.

“What the hell were you doing with that piece of shit?” He asked as he motioned the bartender over and ordered himself and her another drink.

Y/N bashfully explained her situation, and watched as he shot her a look of amusement.

“You did all this so your friend would get off your back? Just tell them to piss off.” He mused, sipping his own drink and relaxing. He had been angry when he saw the ridged posture she had with that shit bag had his hand on her.

“Well, it’s not like I’m seeing anyone. And the one that I want doesn’t know I exist, so I figured why the hell not?” The extra bourbon had loosened her tongue slightly. She was by no means drunk, just more chatty than she would have been.

“Is he a fucking idiot?” Levi asked. Who the hell wouldn’t line up for an opportunity to be in a relationship with Y/N. His heart had started pounding when she told him that she was single. It seemed like everything was aligning for him tonight. He was glad he hadn’t decided to stay home.

She glanced at him with a wry smile, like he missed the joke. “No, he’s very smart. But too many others are after him, so I just pick up their trash.”

His gut clenched as her words registered. Grey eyes flashed hot as he watched her eyes turn coy. He gulped down the rest of his drink and motioned the bartender. “Check.”

~~~~~

The moment they stepped out into the crisp air of the night, Levi had grabbed her head and pulled her into a hot kiss. His tongue saying what his words failed to form.

Now he struggled to get the damned key in the fucking hole as he continued to fuse his mouth to hers greedily. He sent up a small prayer of thanks as the deadbolt finally was accessed and unlocked, throwing the door to his house open.

The two block walk from the bar to his house had been torture. Her taste still on his lips and her fragrance floating around him left him hard and aching. It was difficult to walk normally when his cock was pressing insistently against his zipper.

When they got in the door, he kicked it closed and picked Y/N up, throwing her over his shoulder as he could now race to his bedroom without looking like a kidnapper. Her squeal of surprise shot to his core, making him imagine that same sound coming from her as he made her cum all over him.

He restrained himself from running his hand up her thighs as he held her in place, sprinting up the stairs to the master suite. When he finally got to the bed, he tossed her down gently and looked at her intently.

“Say no now, Y/N.” His eyes were filled with lust as he raked them over her spread out on his bed.

She stood up and unzipped the back of her dress in response, slipped her slender shoulders out of the straps and letting it pool at her feet. His mouth went dry at the sight of her. No bra, her breasts were bare and high, nipples perking in the exposed air. Her lacy black panties covered her but were sinfully erotic in their low placement on her hips.

Levi began to rip at his own clothes, neatness be damned, throwing them away from his body as he removed them. When he was finally down to his boxers, he moved over to her, pressing his chest against hers and groaning at the feel of her skin.

“Fuck.....I’ve wanted you for so damn long.” He murmured, trailing his hands up her arms before encircling her and running down the expanse of her back. His lips were right beneath her ear and he let them wander down her neck as he pressed his arousal against her stomach.

“Nnnnghhhh.” Y/N moaned as she closed her eyes at feeling of his own hard back muscles under her fingers. “I wanted you too. So hard to think sometimes in class.”

Levi grinned as he led her down onto the bed. Nice to know she wasn’t as unaffected as she appeared. When she was centered on his bed, he pulled back and looked at her lying beneath him.

Flushed from their kisses and the alcohol, she was smooth skin and trembling limbs. He reached over to his nightstand and pulled a foiled packet from the drawer. He didn’t use them much, but how could he advise safe sex if he didn’t practice it himself.

Y/N’s eyes flashed and Levi reassured her. “It’s been a long time Y/N. Since my last relationship.”

At his words, she reached for him again. This time, running her fingers along the stiff length begging for release from his boxers. He shuddered as she traced him, the low murmur of approval from Y/N not lost in his haze of desire.

He reached for her panties, sliding them down her smooth thighs and flinging them over his shoulder, letting her legs rest on them as his eyes hungrily devoured the sight of her pink lips spreads open and glistening from excitement.

A single finger trailed down from her hip to her entrance, and he growled as he found her slick with desire. Shoving his boxers down, he kicked them off as her own eyes ran over his endowment.

He ripped the foil open and started rolling it on when her own hand took over and he bit his lip to keep from groaning with pleasure and the feel of her hand on his bare cock at it’s base. She pumped him a few times, enjoying the feel of him throbbing in her hand, as he lurched back over her.

He brought her thighs around his waist as he hovered over her, his eyes seeking approval one last time.

“Oh God, fuck me, Levi!” Y/N gasped, arching up to meet him as he drove himself into her.

They both moaned loudly. He started to move, wrapping his arms around her back, grinding deep into her core as his hips snapped forward. Her legs locked around him, keeping him from pulling out to far and he smirked as she was just as undone as he was at the sensations coursing through her.

Loud gasps and grunts echoed around the room as he set a fast pace, eager to thrust sharply into her body as she raked her nails down his back, leaving a trail of fire in her wake.

The short, hard drives into her tight walls was twisting the knife of pleasure in his gut. Tensing for that final burst of bliss as he strove to make sure she found satisfaction as well. Her hips were moving in sync with his, meeting his every move as she undulated against him. Her thighs tightened as he lowered his lips to hers again, feeling the beginning tremor of her orgasm build up around him. Pushing harder, he scooped his hips and hit that perfect angle as she shattered around him. Her walls tightened like a vice, making his jaw tighten as he grunted into their kiss.

Her own wail was sent down his throat as she cried out his name, her juices pouring out of her as she shook with the white hot intensity of her pleasure. He felt himself get closer, as she milked him deeper into her body. Giving in to the demands of his body, he drove himself into her one last time, the hardest thrust yet and stilled, his cock pulsing as he released into the condom.

In the quiet of the room, their heavy breathing mingled as he rolled to the side, pulling out of her gently. Getting up, he removed the condom as he walked into the bathroom and disposed of it. Wetting a rag, he brought it back and ignored her protests as he washed her off. Sliding back into bed beside her, he tugged her to him and let the afterglow wash over him.

Y/N sat in amazement. Her professor not only wanted her, but had just given her a mind blowing orgasm. She smiled into his chest, snuggling against his still hot skin. They came together by happenstance, but she was glad that Nanaba had convinced her to go out tonight.

Mobile MasterList

[zankivich]

Breathe: A Blurb - Shawn Mendes x female reader!

a/n: based off this story. I just really wanted some ultimate fluff with Shawn being taken care of endlessly tbh.

Trigger warning: detailed description of panic attack and active work to come out on the other side.

When he calls her it’s not good. And he knows that she knows it’s not because he never calls this late. He does his best to be aware of the time zone changes, and to not be a hinderous on her life just because he’s halfway around the world living him dream. This time he’s only in California, and she’s in Toronto, but she might as well be on another planet. His heart is thudding so fast that he can feel it ring in his ears. He just can’t fucking catch his breath and he could have called Andrew, could have called Brian, or Cez, or any of his team that were literally on the same floor of the hotel as him. But the problem is that the moment he feels like he’s losing himself there’s no one else he’d rather call.

“Baby?” She whispers across the line, voice still deep from sleep. “What’s wrong?”

He parts his lips and tries to speak but the words don’t come. All there is is the whoosh of air past his lips. He presses his hand firmer against his chest and chokes as he starts to get even more freaked out. It was bad this time. Really bad.

He hears her sit up in bed at home and all he can picture is crawling beneath the covers and holding her tight, wanting to feel her body against his because it was the calmest senesation he could think of. Right now he was anything but calm.

“Okay. Okay, I’m here.” She murmures, voice immediately so soft it feels like a caress but so firm that it rises above the ringing in his ears. “Just listen to the sound of my voice.”

“Try to breathe in and out for me. I I know that it’s scary but listen to the tempo of mine and try and match it. I need you to remember that this only temporary. What you’re feeling right now will pass.”

She takes a deep breath and he closes his eyes and tries to replicate it. And it doesn’t come very easy. And when it doesn’t come easy he gets frustrated and it sends him all the way back to the beginning. Somehow without even asking, she just knows that it isn’t working.

“Shawn? I don’t need you to try and speak right now but do you think you can make any sound at all? I need to know how bad this is right now on a scale of one to ten. And I want you to remember what your doctor said about an accurate representation of pain or anxiety. So one being that you feel absolutely fine, and ten being that you can’t focus on anything else, that this is the worst it’s been, can you give me any indication of what’s going on?”

“T--ten. Ten.”

“Thank you. Let’s count our breathing for a little while okay? Let’s see if that helps.”

Time feels so illusive when you’re trying to remember basic bodily functions. Part of him feels like they’re there for days. The easier that breathing becomes, every time he’s able to establish a rhythm for five seconds, and then ten, and then twenty, he feels like such a piece of shit for putting her through it. It was one thing to be the rock star boyfriend who was gone half the year, but to add another layer of burden of panic attack calls in the middle of the night felt so incredibly unfair. So, when he can breathe--even though his chest still feels so incredibly tight--there’s only one thing that comes to mind to say to her.

“Sorry.” He whispered, throat tight and eyes wet with tears. “Fuck--I’m so sorry. That was embarrassing.”

“Hey don’t say that shit. There is nothing embarrassing about reaching out for help. If I ever found out that you needed me and you didn’t call because of something as stupid as what time it is, I’d kick your ass the second you got home.”

He chuckled a little bit and wiped at his eyes.

“You’re right. I just--I know that when your boyfriend who isn’t home very often calls, you might want to talk about something besides re-teaching him how to breathe.”

“Well, then you don’t know me very well, Mendes. I wanna talk about whatever makes you feel good. I just want to take care of you in whatever way is meaningful and healthy. You know that.”

His fingers grow a little tighter around his phone.

“I love you so fucking much. I can’t wait to come home to you.”

“I love you too. And I can’t wait to cuddle for hours and definitely not let you go to the gym.”

“You have no idea how good that sounds, honey l...Listen, I know it’s late, and you’ve already done so much for me but I--I don’t wanna be alone yet. Can we maybe just sit on the phone a little while longer?

“We can stay on the phone until you fall asleep. You don’t have to ask my loud mouth ass to keep talking, Shawn. Let me tell you a story about the time I skipped school to go meet the Jonas brothers, broke my ankle, and got a selfie while I was crying on the ground.”

She gets him to laugh when he was crying fifteen minutes before hand. And when she laughs and snorts his whole body lights up. He feels endlessly more present than he’d felt all day. It’s the wildest thing. She doesn’t need anything from him, doesn’t want anything but his happiness and his safety and his love. He’d give it all to her if he could, and he endlessly tries. By the time he falls asleep he’s emotionally exhausted, but the sound of her voice chases him into his dreams and it’s enough to make him sleep a little lighter.

***

The fans at the airport can tell that he’s not a hundred percent. Maybe it’s the bags beneath his eyes. Maybe his smile isn’t what it usually is. But he still takes every hug and every photo despite them not listening when he tries to explain that he really needs to get home, that he really needs to get to her. It’d been a long week. And the only thing that was gonna make any of it better was crawling into his own bed with the girl that he loved.

Sometimes he had the feeling that she knew him better than he knew himself, like she could sense his emotions before they’d even made themselves known in his own head. When she’s there at the airport braving the snow and the cameras in her sweatpants, it only affirms his theory.

He sees her and immediately runs to wrap her up in his arms. In the end it’s more like she wraps him up in her arms, and he just finds a little moment of solace in the space between her neck and shoulder where he hides his face.

“Looks like someone missed me?” She giggled.

“Too much.” He groaned squeezing her tighter. “Please let’s go home?”

“Anything you want.”

She tries to carry his suitcase and there is sure to be a video online  of him rolling the wheels back over to his grasp only for her to take it back and run off towards the exit from him knowing damn well he wasn’t about to run with his guitar case in his other hand. That woman would be the death of him. Or, she might be the only one who could keep him going. Who was keeping track.

All he knew was that the second they got into the car, she put the heater on full blast and the car smelled like her perfume. She let him lean on her shoulder while she drove and didn’t ask any questions about why he was in such a funk. She was just there for him. As if it could be that simple.

When they get home she pushes his suitcase off the side, makes him set his guitar case down, and tugs instantly at his hands.

“Come with me. Let’s take a shower.”

“Babe, I really just want to lie down.” He mumbled stumbling after her into the bedroom.

“You can sit on  your little fancy granite stool the whole time, I swear. Just a shower. For me? Please?”

So, he takes the shower. Really he just sits there on the edge of the little built in chair, and watches her instead. The water is hot enough that the whole room fills steadily with steam, but it doesn't stop him from being able to see the rounded curve of where her ass meets her thigh, or the absolutely delightful way her hair curls when it gets wet. He just wanted to hold her. Or--preferably--her hold him. If a shower is what it takes to get there, then that’s what he’ll do.

She reached up on her toes to grab the removable shower head and his eyes get caught on the way her calves flex. He almost doesn’t notice her coming towards him until the water begins to hit his chest.

“What are you doin’?” He sighs softly, a smile coming tiredly to his lips.

She turns those big old eyes on him and slightly pouts her lip as if he could ever put up a fight when it came to her.

“Wanna take care of you. Can I?”

He quite hated feeling like a burden on other people, and usually he always tried to take care of things on his own. But, the truth of the matter was he was struggling. He was tired and a little sad, and even if he didn’t know why those things were happening he had to believe that she just wanted to take care of him because she loved him, or he might never make it through the day.

She washes his hair for him. At first he thinks she’s just trying to get all of the greasy product out, but when she picks up his shampoo and steps between his legs his heart beats a little softer for her. Her fingers are gentle and soothing as she massages his scalp. He finds himself closing his eyes, fingers relaxed against his thighs. It feels so incredibly comforting.No one but his mum had ever washed his hair before, and somehow this feels a little different than his spiderman toys in the bathroom while his mum tried to get him to sit still.

He gets to just be for a minute, focusing on nothing more than the pleasure of her nails against his scalp. She must sense how good it feels because she scratches and rubs much longer than he ever would in the shower. Eventually it just becomes a massage on his head and he releases a sigh that feels bone deep in him.

When she rinses the shampoo out and he can finally open his eyes, he just looks at her. And she smiles at him and taps his chin like she’s not everything to him. Like the love that she shows him isn’t insurmountable.

“I love you.” He whispered kissing her palm. “Thank you.”

“I love you too, Shawn. Always.”

They stumble out of the shower and dry themselves off pulling on the bare minimum of clothing before quickly getting into bed. He doesn’t even had to ask. She simply opens her arms and legs and lets him nestle himself perfectly on top of her. Her chest is soft and he can hear the even rhythm of her heartbeat  against his ear. It’s the most calm he’s felt in days.

“I missed you so much.” He sighed gripping the material of her shirt in his fingers.

She runs her nails in soothing rhythm along his back and he practically purs at the feeling of it.

“I missed you too. When you called last night? I actually couldn't sleep. I just had a feeling that something was off. It’s so hard to be away from you and not know what’s going on.”

“I know what you mean. Like that time when your mom was sick and I didn’t know what was going on, but something just felt off, so I called to check in?  I think we might be on another wavelength.”

“Well at least it has its upsides. If I’m gonna be worried sick, I’d rather be able to help you through when you need someone. You can always call me. You know that right?” She murmured rubbing her fingers through his hair.

He nodded softly against her chest. “I know. I just don’t like making you have to do it all the time. I should--I’ve gotta get a handle on it myself sometime.”

“Why? Where’s this rule that says you have to go through this shit alone, Shawn? You think you have to take the world onto your shoulders and you just don’t. And no one wants you too. I would rather you call me seven days out of the week at three am than you try and figure this shit out by yourself. We’re supposed to be a team, remember?”

“We are a team. We are.” He murmured sitting up just enough to look her in the eyes. “Please don’t be angry with me. I’m just trying to make sure I don’t rely on you all the time. Even if you’re willing it doesn’t mean that I should. You can’t always be there, babe. You can’t. It’s impossible.”

She huffed gently beneath her breath. “I’m not angry with you. I just think sometimes...sometimes you take on too much. And you don’t really let me in until it’s already gotten on top of you. I just wanna help.”

“Okay. I’m sorry. I’ll try and do better. I just know that no one’s ever taken care of me like you do. No one’s ever loved me the way that you do. I just want to give it back to you. I love you so much.”

“I love you too. Just come here and let me love you.” She whined.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him close enough to kiss him. His body felt like jelly against hers and it was all because of her ability to make him feel completely at ease in his own skin. Her love and her tenderness and her passion was everything to him. He falls asleeps in their bed, lying right there on her chest, and it’s the kind of comfort he could never buy no matter how many records he sold. It was simply her. Just her. And God was he lucky to have her. And maybe, just maybe he actually deserved her kindness, her love, her everything. Maybe.

[if-you-built-yourself-a-myth]

Idea from @shipper-of-love and @marciscaspar 

Robbe and Sander return to the hotel for their wedding

“Oh, fuck,” said Sander as soon as the crossed the entryway into the penthouse suite. “You did not let me take you here. This is trippy as fuck.”

Robbe shrugged, dropping their suitcase next to the bed. “I thought it was kind of romantic.”

“You would. Your standards are so low.”

Next to nothing had changed since that night five Decembers ago. No one had bothered to change the shitty migraine-inducing wallpaper with all the spirals on it, nor the positioning of the ugly furniture. The same comforter—or at least, the same pattern of comforter—draped over the bed in the center of the room. Robbe cursed himself for not bringing a duvet cover or something.

It was Sander’s idea to spend their wedding night here, to rewrite its history of heartbreak with something untainted and pure. He wanted to enjoy the little details, like the yellow curtains on the window and all the odd paraphernalia scattered on the dressers, because had been too stoked to do so the first time. Robbe couldn’t think of a better place to seal their love than the place that almost called it into question. He agreed right away. Also, whatever happened in the shower here was fucking magical, and they were both up for reliving that moment.

“People can totally see this window from the street,” Sander noted, looking out over the passers-by below. “I will make note of that.”

“Yeah, they saw your dick last time.”

“I bet they were jealous of me.”

“Doubt it.”

Sander slapped Robbe playfully on the shoulder, and it stung a little bit where his ring connected. His ring. Even five years after their first kiss, Robbe still hadn’t completely processed that Sander was his, and he was Sander’s, and they were going to spend the rest of their lives together. It seemed far too good to be true. He watched the gold band as Sander drew his hand away, admiring the reflection of the fluorescent bulbs off its shiny surface. Forever.

“You’re right,” Sander said as he looked towards the bathroom. “They were jealous of you, because—” He waggled his eyebrows, as if Robbe hadn’t already gotten the message.

“Gross.”

“You didn’t think so.”

Robbe made his way over to the bathroom and peaked around inside. In fact, not everything had stayed the same in the penthouse suite. The tiles on the floor were shiny and new, white instead of burnt ivory. In place of the glass-case shower, a claw-foot tub stood juxtaposed to a shower with opaque granite walls. Both Robbe and Sander knew that something would happen in that shower come morning.

For now, they were both too damn tired.

Instead of a reception, Robbe and Sander had elected to have a paintball tournament on the beach where they met, like the one they’d had all those years ago. Once all their friends were in masks, Robbe could imagine no time had passed at all. He watched them shoot and dive. Aaron joined with Jens’ new boyfriend to take Jens and Moyo down in the first fifteen minutes before going after Zoë. The only difference now was that there were more people to play—the dates of his friends—and Sander spent the whole game at his back.

His mother told him once that the wedding day was more for your friends and family than it was for you. Robbe headed back into the main bedroom, stripped off his tuxedo, and slid underneath the ugly covers. He decided that this day had been just as much for him as it had been for everyone else, especially since it meant Sander would be beside him in bed for the rest of his life.

Sander strode over from the window, winked at Robbe, and took off his tuxedo like a striptease. First the tie, carefully undoing the knot and pulling it out of his collar with prolonged eye contact. Next the suit coat, emphasized with a ruffle of his hair. Each button on Sander’s shirt received its own moment of glory. Robbe watched his idiotic boyfriend… no, husband… remove the layers one by one with antagonizing slowness. This, this was a fever dream.

He knew there could never be another besides Sander. He’d said as much in his vows. We will take on the world together, minute by minute, and I promise I will love you from every minute to the next. Jens told him that it was too sappy for a respectable wedding, but he’d cried anyway when Robbe recited it to Sander at the altar.

Sander surprised everyone by not quoting a David Bowie song. I promise it will always be you and me, one hundred percent, in every universe.

The kiss that followed? Chernobyl.

Sander crawled into bed next to Robbe, and Robbe could see that he too was staring at the ring on his finger. Why was the wedding band so mesmerizing, when Robbe had worn the engagement ring for the past three months? Sander bought it from a jeweler’s when they went on a trip to the Netherlands. But no, the simple band was better. The mid-size diamond on a ring meant I want you, and the wedding band meant I have you.

“You know,” said Sander, relaxing into Robbe’s arms, “I stand by what I said last time.”

“What did you say?”

“We should’ve gotten married naked.”

Robbe laughed and pushed Sander away. “You really want Jens to see you nude?”

Sander considered the idea and shrugged. “Jens is a handsome guy. I could see us having a wonderful relationship.”

“Jens is in a wonderful relationship.”

“Pft, you really think Netherlands-guy is going to last?”

“Why shouldn’t he?” Robbe leaned close for a kiss; Sander pulled his head just out of reach.

“No, you don’t get to push me and then kiss me. That’s not how this works, Mr. Driesen.”

Robbe closed the distance between them again and wrapped an arm around Sander’s waist to pull him closer. “I’m not Mr. Driesen. You’re Mr. Ijzermans.”

Their lips had barely brushed each other when Sander pulled away again. “We should just switch last names.” He balanced precariously on the edge of the bed.

The perfect opportunity. Robbe seized it. “Nah. Hyphenate.” He pushed Sander the rest of the way off the bed, laughing when he heard the tell-tale thump.

“I would like a divorce,” came Sander’s voice from the floor.

It must have been past midnight by now. Time to get to sleep. The lights in the suite could turn on and off by clapping, a fact Sander used to annoy Robbe for around ten minutes before he made to effort to get back onto the bed beside him. Feeling their skin pressed together beneath the blankets felt better than last time. Sander’s body went still against Robbe’s as he closed his eyes. No scratching at his skin. No rushed breathing or rambling. Plus, they’d eaten dinner after the paintball game, so Sander shouldn’t be craving burgers in the middle of the night.

“Wait, before you go to sleep!” Robbe nudged Sander until he rolled over, then held up his right hand between them. “Pinky promise you’ll put on clothes if you get hungry?”

“Are you for real?” Sander laughed.

“Shake it!”

Sander let out an exaggerated sigh before he gave Robbe his pinky to shake. “I pinky-promise. Go the fuck to sleep.” He rolled over, and Robbe buried his head in the crook of his neck.

Robbe liked the hotel a whole lot better when he woke up in the morning, Sander still enveloped in his arms.

[8emmy]

(Not So) Sweet Home Velaris - Chapter 3 - To the sister who icy exterior is too hard to defrost

Sweet Home Alabama AU: AO3 lint to Chapter 1, Chapter 2 and Chapter 3 Song Choice

"Nesta?"

Her name hung in the air. Nesta, like most humans, had many regrets and right now, coming home was one of the worse choices she made. Maybe she should have been forthcoming with Thomas regarding the whole separated from my ex with a divorce pending instead of playing a mysterious lover with no back story to speak of. But she didn't, and now she's in her childhood home that doesn't look all the same with her sister who Nesta hasn't spoken to but has been receiving a weekly newsletter regarding the lives of her sisters through Elain's email account.

"Um... Hi Ellie." Nesta's voice was soft and raspy. She couldn't look at Elain's face; instead, she trained her eyes to Elain's hairline. It was as if the air only got thicker.

"Nesta?" Feyre's voice follows from behind Elain. Nesta's eyes follow the sound to see paint-stained overall-wearing Feyre step out from the kitchen to the living room. Feyre and Nesta have not been in the same place together since Feyre visited Nesta in the city to beg her to come back home. It was a horrible fight that ended up being a catalyst for more to come in the future. The two sisters were so in like with there mother with how stubborn and strong-willed they were that even as kids, they fought more than they got along.

"Hi, Feyre."

"When did you get in? I didn't hear a knock." Feyre walked over, standing next to a gaping Elain who didn't know if she should hug Nesta or wait to see if she wasn't a hologram.

"No one in this Cauldron damned place locks there doors," Nesta replies.

"Who needs to lock doors when you know where the low lives are, and what they're interested in is not you," Feyre replied.

"Crime still happens."

"Not here."

"That's what everyone that gets robbed says."

"Not true."

"How would you know."

"I have said that plenty of times and have not," Feyre knocks on the wood crowning that framed the archway, "been robbed."

Nesta also knocks on the archway, "Let's hope that it doesn't."

The reunion was watched by the sisters' friends from the kitchen. It was odd to see how Nesta acted when she felt that she had nothing to worry about. Cassian was still in the kitchen. He stuck his head in the cold refrigerator looking for a beer. He grabs one from the very back and opens it with the corner of the granite countertop.

"Look at our city slicker sister, Ellie. All dressed up and not on a Sunday," Feyre says, using one of their mom's old sayings. Their mother used to say "all dressed up and not on a Sunday" to their father when he came back from the paper mill in all his overall glory.

"I had a coffee date with a client before my flight," Nesta says, straightening out her dress. She felt, once again, overly dressed up. Both her sisters had their hair pulled up in ponytails. Elain's legs were covered in dirt patches, most likely from weeding on this fine afternoon.

Feyre hummed before noticing Nesta's weekender bag slung over her shoulder. "Decided to crash at home instead of a fancy hotel?" Feyre crossed her arms.

"There are no rooms available. I called every hotel in the Steppes."

"And you think you can surprise us and expect a bed?" Feyre's left eyebrow raises.

Elain pipes up, "You can have my room. It's no problem at all." Elain goes to take Nesta's weekender bag, but Feyre stops her by putting her arm out.

"Ellie," Feyre was trying to convey that Elain should take a step back and let her sister's talk.

"Feyre," Elain raises her voice, "I have offered my room." Elain pushes Feyre's arm out of the way and takes Nesta's bag. She makes her way up the stairs motioning Nesta to follow her.

"When you're done up there, we need to talk," Feyre says before turning to stalk over to her friends.

Nesta doesn't watch Feyre walk over to her friends; she didn't even look at them to begin with. Instead, she followed her sister up the stairs that were no longer carpeted to the second floor. The upstairs got a smaller facelift compared to the living room. The carpet was also removed, showing old oak floors. Upstairs were only three bedrooms and a shared full bath. Nesta's old room faced the road, Feyre's toward the woods on the left and Elain's faced the backyard so she could look over her garden.

Elain walked over to her door. Bright pink butterflies of all different sizes adorned the door as well as a glittery "E" that branded her room since she was six. Elain opened the door and placed Nesta's bag down next to the dresser. Nesta stood by the door frame, looking into a more mature version of Elain's childhood room. Her bed was pushed by the window that overlooked her beloved garden with sheer muslin curtains to let in light. Next to her bed was a narrow bedside table that held a pile of books on botany. An ivy plant stood on her vanity; its veins long were guided up the wall to her window.

"It looks like a forest in here," Nesta says, looking at all the houseplants Elain hoarded. Air plants hung down from the ceiling along with succulents that took every surface left.

"Feyre said that I could only have ten. I was able to split up a couple, so I have almost twenty plants in here. Isn't it just lovely?" Elain asks, touching a plant as she gave Nesta the grand tour of her small room. She pointed out every plant telling Nesta not only the Latin name but also the pet names she gave them.

"I would have offered you your old room, but Feyre had made it into her studio." Elain grasps her elbow behind her back.

"Better than a home gym, at least it gets used," Nesta says. A part of her was sad to know that her old room was gone. That Feyre painted over Nesta's former space. But she knew that to be foolish as she didn't live here anymore and who would expect to have an untouched time capsule to come back home to when she planned never to come back.

"How did you like my newsletters?" Elain asks, taking a seat on a bean bag that lay beside her bed.

"It was very informative. How did you get my work email?" Nesta asks, taking a seat on the bed.

Elain looks up at her sister with a broad grin, "the great thing about the internet is that you kind find all sorts of information. All I had to do was find your LinkedIn to find out where you worked. From there, I went to the firm's website and searched your name and downloaded the v-card that kindly gave me not only your email but your assistants as well. Becky is really nice. She deserves a raise."

"I don't give raises that's human resources. And you have been in contact with Becky?" Nesta asks. Becky was an older legal assistant that was quiet and very much to herself. She was reliant and easy to work with. Nesta liked her, but now not so much knowing that she has been emailing her sister.

"Well, you don't answer my emails. Becky, just lets me know if your alive or not."

Nesta hums.

"Don't worry about Feyre," Elain says patting her sister's knee, "She's still a bit mad about the whole Cassian fiasco. But she is very happy to see you."

"Thanks, El. I am not too concerned. I understand that Feyre doesn't like my life choices, but they're mine, not hers."

"I think she feels like you not only threw away Cassian but also her. You caught off all contact with everyone. You sort of punished all of us." Elain's voice strains trying to hide her sadness.

"I am sorry. I just wanted to concentrate on my studies," Nesta tells her sister. ______/p>

Feyre takes Cassian's beer, taking a long swig before giving it back. "Happy to share, Fey," Cassian sarcastically says, putting down the beer on the counter.

"My sister's shows out of the blue," Feyre turned her attention to her boyfriend Rhys, who followed her to the kitchen table, "Didn't call, didn't text, she just showed up because there was nowhere else to go. We were her last choice, ha." Feyre places her head in her hands. Rhys rubs her shoulders, but Feyre shrugs him off.

"She spent almost five years with no contact, not a text, and she shows up out of the blue in my house wanting a bed?" Feyre huffs.

Cassian rubs at his neck. He knew this was partly his fault. If he signed the divorce papers, Nesta wouldn't be here. She would be with her fiance living it up in the big city. She wouldn't be small town Nesta that would sneak out of the house for a quick joy ride around town in the wee hours of the morning. Not the small town Nes that would grab lunch with him during the workweek. Not his Sweetheart. He was selfish. He knew this. And he was very hardheaded, but this was for love. This was his last chance to show her... what? What could he possibly have that would make her remember that she loved him and only him? He picked up his beer and took a sip.

"Cassian, why is she here?" Feyre looks over at him expectantly.

Cassian shrugged his shoulders, "Your guess is good as mine," he lies through straight teeth. Rhys looked at him with raised eyebrows. Cassian glares at him, daring him if Rhys wanted another rematch of kitchen wrestling. Rhys looks back down at his girlfriend.

"This doesn't make any sense. Why would Nesta come back?" She looked helplessly at Rhys.

"The hell we know," Armen takes her seat in front of Feyre. "Nesta does as Nesta pleases."

"That she does," Mor confirms taking Cassian's beer and finishing it, "thanks."

"No problem, I love only having two sips of my beer..." Cassian huffs, taking the empty bottle and putting it into the recycling bin next to the back door.

_____________

Elain helped Nesta unload her bag. Inside held another work dress, a pair of nice jeans, a green blouse and a pair of white tennis shoes along with her other necessities. Elian grabbed a couple of hangers from her closet, insisting on helping hang the clothes.

"That's everything?" Elain asks, surprised to see so little.

"It was supposed to be a short visit," Nesta explains.

"Why are you here?"

"Cassian hasn't signed the divorce papers," Nesta sighs, watching Elain raise her eyebrows.

"Your divorcing Cassian?"

"We haven't been together for almost seven years. I have made a home in Orilon. A long-distance marriage defeats the idea of getting married in the first place," Nesta explains, watching Elain move from the closet over to the bean bag where she flops down.

"I mean, I understand that... It's just that you and Cassian were supposed to be together forever, raise a family-"

"Look how well that went, Ellie." Nesta didn't intend to be so harsh, but Elain hit a wrong spot.

"I'm sorry," Elain apologizes.

"I know. I just don't want to talk about that right now." Nesta instead steers the conversation over Elain's garden and her new job as a florist. Elain animatedly described what she was growing and how she organized her planters. Nesta let her talk.

After a while, Elain gets up and stretches her hands out for Nesta to grasp. Nesta took hold of her sister's hands and was pulled up from the bed. "We should really get some food in you. You're getting so thin," Elain says, pushing Nesta out of her room.

The two sisters made there was down the stairs holding hands. Elain walks with purpose as they enter into a quiet kitchen. Feyre looked like she was holding court with Rhys beside her. Mor leaned against the table, looking down at Armen, who had a newspaper open to the crossword. Azriel was coming from the backyard wearing an apron and holding a plate of burgers. And Cassian was facing the sink.

"Hi Azriel," Nesta greets.

Az waves his hand in greeting, "Nice to see you, Nesta."

"Armen, Mor," she acknowledges. She removes her hand from Elain's grasp and wraps her arms instead around her waist.

"Nesta, you are looking lovely today," Mor smiles, "loving the dress." Leave it to Mor to still give a compliment to a person she hasn't seen in years.

"Thanks."

"What did the cat drag in?" Armen says, her eyes staring directly at Nesta before going back to the crossword puzzle, "It's a five-letter word, think people."

"Nesta," Nesta provides.

"Thanks." Armen to her pencil next to her wine glass and starts to write down a word that was most defiantly, not Nesta.

"Look, Feyre. I came here for a reason-"

Cassian once again jumps in, "to help me look over contracts."

"No, to get my divorce finalized." Nesta glares at Cassian, who shrinks away once all eyes were back on him.

Feyre looks mildly shocked. "Cassian, I thought you didn't know why Nesta was here? And also, I thought you dealt with the divorce. Rhys said you signed the papers ages ago."

Cassian rubs the back of his neck, "About that..."

"He has been putting me through hell, that's what he's been doing." Nesta huffs, "I was supposed to be here only for a few hours to persuade this barbarian to sign the dotted lines, but he has refused to do so again."

"Varian isn't here," Cassian tries to explain. Feyre looks at him knowing full well that it wasn't Varian that was keeping him signing. To think of it, not a single soul besides Nesta knew that Cassian was using an empty excuse.

"Nothing has changed in the last two years."

"Okay," Feyre cuts into the conversation, "So, you came here for a day trip because of Cassian being Cassian and were never going to let me or Elain know that you were in town?"

"Well, yes..." Nesta says before adding in, "and no. I was sure you guys would be busy, and I had no time in between me coming here and leaving as I made this excuse that I was at an overnight conference. And know I have to call... I need to call work and let them know that I will be extending my days off." Nesta concluded, not saying that she needed to actually call Tomas.

Feyre looks at as if trying to dissect the truth from Nesta's eyes. Rhys looks at Nesta, and then to her ringless finger, his eyebrows shot up. "Where's your ring, Nesta?"

Nesta glared at him, cursing him out in her head. "What ring?" Feyre and Elain ask.

Putting her hand in her dress pocket, she takes out the engagement ring and slips it on. Their friends all look at Cassian that was gulping down a freshly opened beer. All of them looked sad for him on his behalf. And he hated it.

"I didn't want to through to many shockers at you in one day," Nesta explains, twisting the diamond ring around her finger. Elain picked up Nesta's hand and looked at the diamond. It was bigger than her first engagement ring but was still simple in design.

"It's very pretty," Elain reassures Nesta. Nesta gave her an uneasy quip of her lips.

"Who are you engaged to?" Feyre asks, not moving but was staring at the ring.

"Tomas Mandray, I met him at university. He's a real estate agent." Nesta supplies.

"Nesta Mandray doesn't sound right," Armen says, dropping her newspaper in expect the lovely piece of jewelry. Armen loved jewellery. Her inspection was more similar to Claire's. Armen to Nesta's hand up to the light and began to look at the shimmering diamond. "But very nice, simple, but very nice." She says about the ring. She looks over to Cassian, who was now busing himself with prepping the burgers. Az watched Armen carefully. "It seems," she says directly at Cassian's back, "that Tomas knows how to keep a woman." Cassian's back stiffens, but he continued to grab ingredients.

Mor looks at Nesta, "that's very nice. When's the wedding?"

Nesta could lie, but with Rhys's big mouth, there was no hope in getting away from the truth. "Four weeks from now. That's why I came here personally to get Cassian to sign."

"And where are our invites?" Feyre asks, "Did you think we would busy to attend out eldest's sister's nuptials?"

"It's going to be a very small wedding, and it's so expensive the city."

"Of course," was all Feyre replies. The air was thick, and Nesta was, once again, regretting her life choices.

[phroyd]

WASHINGTON — Standing in a packed amphitheater in front of Mount Rushmore for an Independence Day celebration, President Trump delivered a dark and divisive speech on Friday that cast his struggling effort to win a second term as a battle against a “new far-left fascism” seeking to wipe out the nation’s values and history.

With the coronavirus pandemic raging and his campaign faltering in the polls, his appearance amounted to a fiery reboot of his re-election effort, using the holiday and an official presidential address to mount a full-on culture war against a straw-man version of the left that he portrayed as inciting mayhem and moving the country toward totalitarianism.

“Our nation is witnessing a merciless campaign to wipe out our history, defame our heroes, erase our values and indoctrinate our children,” Mr. Trump said, addressing a packed crowd of sign-waving supporters, few of whom wore masks. “Angry mobs are trying to tear down statues of our founders, deface our most sacred memorials and unleash a wave of violent crime in our cities.”

Mr. Trump barely mentioned the frightening resurgence of the pandemic, even as the country surpassed 53,000 new cases Friday and health officials across the nation urged Americans to scale back their Fourth of July plans.

Instead, appealing unabashedly to his base with ominous language and imagery, he railed against what he described as a dangerous “cancel culture” intent on toppling monuments and framed himself as a strong leader who would protect the Second Amendment, law enforcement and the country’s heritage.

The scene at Mount Rushmore was the latest sign of how Mr. Trump appears, by design or default, increasingly disconnected from the intense concern among Americans about the health crisis gripping the country. More than just a partisan rally, it underscored the extent to which Mr. Trump is appealing to a subset of Americans to carry him to a second term by changing the subject and appealing to fear and division.

“Most presidents in history have understood that when they appear at a national monument, it’s usually a moment to act as a unifying chief of state, not a partisan divider,” Michael Beschloss, the presidential historian, said before the speech.

Mr. Trump planned to follow up his trip with a “Salute to America” celebration on Saturday on the South Lawn at the White House, marked by a military flyover and the launch of 10,000 fireworks on the National Mall.

Mayor Muriel E. Bowser of Washington has warned the gathering violates federal health guidelines. The Trump administration, which controls the federal property of the National Mall, pushed for the celebration, ignoring a mayor whom officials view as a political rival.

Most politicians, including former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., the presumptive Democratic nominee, this year were forgoing any of the traditional holiday parades and flag-waving appearances. The vast majority of fireworks displays in big cities and small rural towns have been canceled as new cases reported in the United States have increased by 90 percent in the past two weeks.

Mr. Trump’s itinerary Friday and Saturday, however, had a different message: The sparkly, booming show must go on at all costs in the service of the divisive message and powerful images he wants to promote.

“We will not be tyrannized, we will not be demeaned, and we will not be intimidated by bad, evil people,” Mr. Trump said, referring to his political opponents and their supporters.

In response to Mr. Trump’s event in South Dakota, Andrew Bates, a spokesman for Mr. Biden’s campaign, said in a statement, “Our whole country is suffering through the excruciating costs of having a negligent, divisive president who doesn’t give a damn about anything but his own gain — not the sick, not the jobless, not our constitution, and not our troops in harm’s way.”

Under the granite gaze of Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt, Mr. Trump announced plans to establish what he described as a “vast outdoor park that will feature the statues of the greatest Americans to ever live,” an apparent repudiation of the growing pressure to remove statues tied to slavery or colonialism.

As he arrived, Air Force One performed a flyover of Mount Rushmore. His campaign promoted the stunt online, calling him “the coolest president ever.”

In the amphitheater below, few in the packed crowd practiced any social distancing as people waved signs that referred to CNN as the “Communist News Network.” As he observed a flyover by the Navy’s Blue Angels, Mr. Trump sat on a packed dais with the first lady, Melania Trump, the national security adviser, Robert O’Brien, and Mark Meadows, the White House chief of staff, none of whom wore masks.

As the president departed Washington for South Dakota on Friday, at least five states — Alabama, Alaska, Kansas, North Carolina and South Carolina — reported their highest single day of cases yet. Newly reported cases of the virus were rising in all but a handful of states, and many large cities, including Houston, Dallas, Jacksonville and Los Angeles, were seeing alarming growth.

Throughout his presidency, Mr. Trump has tried to bend events to his will, often using social media to drive home his alternate version of reality and, thanks to the power of repetition and the loyal support of his base, sometimes succeeding. But the president’s attempt to drive deeper into the culture wars around a national holiday, during an intensifying health crisis that will not yield to his tactics, risked coming across as out of sync with the concerned mood of the country at a moment when his re-election campaign is struggling and unfocused.

“I don’t think it will work, because what he is trying to do is pretend that the situation is better than it is,” Mr. Beschloss said.

Mr. Beschloss compared Mr. Trump to Woodrow Wilson, who presided over the influenza pandemic in 1918 by trying to pretend it was not happening, and to Herbert Hoover, who in 1932 tried to project that the Great Depression was not as bad as people were saying.

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“People voted him out because they felt he did not understand the suffering,” Mr. Beschloss said, referring to Hoover.

Mr. Trump has consistently played down the concerns over spikes in new cases, even as many cities and states have had to slow or reverse their reopenings, claiming that young people “get better much easier and faster,” that the death rate is declining and that the virus will “just disappear.”

On Thursday, he lauded his administration’s response, referred to the surge in new cases as “temporary hot spots” and focused instead on what he said was evidence of the economy bouncing back.

“A lot of people would have wilted,” Mr. Trump said at a news conference where he praised the latest job numbers. “We didn’t wilt. Our country didn’t wilt.”

Despite his rosy outlook, the coronavirus on Friday for the first time infiltrated Mr. Trump’s family circle. The president’s elder son, Donald Trump Jr., and his girlfriend, Kimberly Guilfoyle, had traveled to South Dakota separately with plans to meet up with the president. But they left before Mr. Trump’s arrival once Ms. Guilfoyle tested positive for the virus and said they planned to cancel all coming events.

Mr. Trump’s show, however, went on without missing a beat. In South Dakota, Mr. Trump enjoys the backing of Gov. Kristi Noem, a Republican, who had invited him to make the trip, which amounted to a second attempt to get his campaign back on track after the disappointing turnout at a rally last month in Tulsa, Okla.

In recent weeks, South Dakota has had one of the country’s most encouraging trend lines. The state has averaged a few dozen new cases each day, including 85 announced Friday. There has not been a day with more than 100 new cases in South Dakota since late May. Ms. Noem said Friday night that many attendees at Mr. Trump’s Fourth of July spectacle had traveled from out of state to attend.

In Washington, however, officials remain adamantly opposed to the celebration planned for Saturday, which White House officials defended as a gathering people could enjoy safely. Administration officials noted that the celebration in Washington was scaled back from last year’s event, when Mr. Trump turned the holiday into a salute to the military, with tanks on the streets of the capital and flyovers from Air Force One as well as aircraft from each branch of the armed forces, as he delivered remarks from the Lincoln Memorial.

Kayleigh McEnany, the White House press secretary, said this week that Mr. Trump had recommended following guidelines set by local authorities only on wearing masks — not on social distancing overall. “The C.D.C. guidelines, I’d also note, say ‘recommended,’ but not required,” she said. “We are very much looking forward to the Fourth of July celebration.”

This year, the National Park Service said it was taking extra safety precautions on the National Mall, installing more than 100 hand-washing stations throughout the area, up from 15 last year. Officials also said they had 300,000 cloth facial coverings on hand to distribute.

“We are committed to providing the American people with a safe and spectacular celebration of our nation’s birthday in Washington D.C., which will honor our military with music, flyovers and fireworks,” a spokesman for the park service said. “We are doing so consistent with our mission and historical practices, and we hope everyone enjoys the day’s festivities.”

On Friday, Mr. Trump spent the day at his golf course in Sterling, Va., before he departed for South Dakota, and White House officials said they had no safety concerns about the trip.

But the virus had already shown it can infiltrate the administration, and the White House has experienced the dangers of staging large gatherings as the pandemic rages. Vice President Mike Pence postponed a planned trip this week to Arizona after Secret Service agents set to accompany him tested positive for the coronavirus or showed symptoms. And at least eight campaign staff members who helped plan Mr. Trump’s indoor rally last month in Tulsa, have tested positive, either before the rally or after attending.

Before the president left for South Dakota on Friday, Trump campaign aides were circulating on social media a doctored image of Mount Rushmore, featuring Mr. Trump’s face carved into the stone next to some of the nation’s most revered presidents.

“Mount Rushmore, improved,” one aide wrote.

Phroyd

[lightdeficient]

PROBLEMS with TS4: Realm of Magic

So this was the pack for The Sims 4 so far that I’ve been the most excited about. I am gonna say it again but I prepared a savefile dedicated to witches with over 400 sims that have unique backstories, are fleshed out with traits, careers, relationships, clubs, skills, custom builds, and heck even phone cases! I was so sure they were gonna NAIL this pack like they did with Vampires, and although many parts of the Vampire Pack were a bit ‘excessive’ in my opinion, that’s a great problem to have because it’s usually the other way around.

So with TS4: Realm of Magic we get the new world Glimmerbrook, which looks very similar to Granite Falls (TS4: Outdoor Retreat), but is a bit more magical and has its unique quirks. I like this world a lot and I think it’s drop-dead gorgeous and was hoping they would recycle some Granite Falls assets for this pack since it takes a lot of their budget to create a new world with new plants and objects, and I would rather have that part of the budget go to spellcasting, which is what the pack is actually about. Glimmerbrook is awesome, with the exception of their non-functional messed up houses that are missing doors and have weird missing textures that if you’re anything like me, you will need to fix to be able to play in, which is annoying when you have to do that for every new save you start. We should just be able to throw ourselves into the game and not have to fix things before we get to the fun stuff... Not everyone likes renovating houses for hours like Lilsimsie, and even she’s mad, so.

Then we also get the magical realm, which looks really cool and has a fascinating story behind it, but to be honest I don’t know if I’ll use it that much because it kinda kills the story behind it when you see regular old townies walking around in the realm and using magic like they’re part of that secret world, like no. Just no. This renders that world essentially useless for me and a lot of other players.

The Create-A-Sim items are kinda lackluster, but the ones we do get look awesome and I like that they tackle different styles of spellcasters with their gothic, preppy, shady and hermit kind of clothes. I have so much CC I don’t necessarily yearn for more CAS content, but it is fun to get new meshes to see what CC creators will do with them! I’ll take it!

The Build items look phenomenal and I just want to praise EA for giving us a brand new style of content and also A FULL SET of objects (Except missing cupboards for the new kitchen, damn this is getting old), but it does kind of become less versatile when some objects have magical effects attached to them, like the desk for example. It’s cute and all, I get it, but I might want to use that desk in a normal house and now that house will have a complete set except for the desk because it’s too magical for the story I’m telling with them. I wish they just removed the magical effect completely or at least made two versions. Or I just use another desk, it’s not too big of a deal.

Now to the Gameplay... HERE WE GO RANT TIME

Okay so, first of all, I think the spells and potions we get are pretty lame as they don’t really add anything new to the game. They don’t add any new gameplay features or mechanics like if you remember Genies from TS3, they had an ability to control sims which temporarily added them to your household with a cool effect where you could literally have full control over them like your own sims and make them behave pretty much however you want. Why didn’t they add any mechanics like this? They basically only recycled vampire powers, made base game cheats into spells, or stole the SimRay ‘Freeze’ interaction from TS4: Get To Work, and they don’t add basically any new animations aside from the ones the spellcaster uses, which is also like two, one for casting on others and one for casting on self, so it looks super repetitive when they cast spells frequently. And to rub salt in the wound, we don’t even get any new spells when we have other packs like TS4: Seasons, which is such a missed opportunity on making weather spells, or vampire and witch fights with TS4: Vampires? Why do these start feeling more and more like independent games instead of packs meant to EXPAND our game? 

Also, spellcasting is just so glitchy, I mean the spellcaster doesn’t even face the target of their spell, so it just kind of breaks that feeling of “Oh my sim is doing this!” and feels more like a “My sim is doing.. something? OH the sink is fixed!” you know? And when they’re really close to the sim they’re casting on their animation will clip through them like, oh the quality... And I’m not gonna lie, I was kind of hoping for less whimsical and magical glitter effects in this pack than we had in previous games because I view magic as a hidden force and not as glitter flying everywhere, but damn this pack has like NO EFFECTS, when you cast ‘Strangeify’ on a sim, they literally BOOP (Shoutout to Romeo) into their green and witchy face. I get it’s not easy to do a transition, but come on, add a smoke effect to cover up that hard transition AT LEAST? And just the utter lack of reaction from the person being cast on totally breaks it even more. They just stand there like completely unaware their face was just messed up, or when you make two sims fight or kiss, they just walk there and do it immediately with so little notice like it’s a cheat, and it’s even hard to even find the sims that are being cast on because it just looks so ordinary. Isn’t this a magic pack? We could get the “vampire mesmerize effect” at least to show that the sims are commanded?

Even if spellcasting weren’t glitchy, it’s still way too overpowered in my opinion. Sure we have curses to mess things up for us, but you can just make a Curse Cleansing potion, Copypasto it infinite times and never have any problems. I also wish that there was a potion for setting your sims age back by just one day instead of “BECOME IMMORTAL” or “FREEZE AGE”. It would give us reason to keep making potions and trying to keep our sim alive, giving us actual gameplay and story. 

The Familiars, in my opinion, are just so silly. You know how Kids Room Stuff added Voidcritters which are the sims equivalent of Pokémon? Well now you can have them as a witch familiar, so apparently, spellcasters are actually Pokémon trainers? Why would you even put those things in here like they are not supposed to exist? And we only got a Raven as our only normal familiar. I will probably only use those ravens and I wish they could sit on your shoulder or something like in previous games but no, they just flap around endlessly behind you like some seagull on the beach facing a strong wind. I know technically we only got one Voidcritter but the other ones are just weird too. I can understand some phoenix, fairy, dragon or Sixam owl being in the game but the rest are literally Pokémons.

Final breath is normal sims that drink potions can’t get cursed... Why?! This would have been a perfect way to mess up sims lives?! And now normal sims can only get positive things from drinking potions? That’s so lame and so overpowered.

I am beyond disappointed in the game pack and this has been a horrible year for the sims with Strangerville and um, Island Living, which both lacked in depth and gameplay. Unfortunately, not even a fraction of this will be fixed by EA, so I pray that some talented modder fixes this game pack because let’s face it, modders continue to do it better. I adore this franchise and can’t help but sit here and rant about this mess, and don’t think I’m bashing EA or anything but damn they need to step up their game because they’re throwing dirt on their whole fanbase.

Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk.

[anotherspnfanfic]

Rainy Night

A/N: So I had a friend pick 2 random numbers and these were the prompts that matched those numbers. They’re bolded. Bit of angsty/fluffy with some comforting Dean.

Word count 1400 ish

[[MORE]]

She never could have possibly imagined this was how her night was going to go. She had gone to work that morning, just like every other day. Today, the clients had seemed a bit more rude and pushy than usual. She was ready to unwind with a glass of wine and a good movie with her fiancé.

She got off late and stopped to pick up some take-out, because she wasn’t in the mood to cook, and headed home.

She never expected to walk in on him with one of her friends. She was so shocked, she had simply turned around and left, slamming the door hard on the way out.

He had chased after her all the way to her car with pleading apologies and excuses. She hadn’t listened. Instead, she got in her car and started to drive.

She wasn’t sure where she was going. Just away from him, as far away as she could get.

About 45 minutes later, she felt one of her tires blow. She pulled over to the side and hit the steering wheel in frustration. She picked up her phone, “No service, great. Who would I call anyway?”

She had the spare pulled from the trunk and was about to jack up the car when it started to rain. She sighed, but continued changing the tire as quickly as possible.

She removed all the lugnuts and kicked the tire lightly expecting it to shift. It didn’t budge. She kicked it harder a few times, still nothing. She picked up the tire iron and hit the tire still to no avail.

She dropped the tire iron and a harsh sob racked her body as she sank to the ground. All of her emotions from the day hitting at once. After a few minutes, she looked up. Just as she began considering how far she could walk, a set of headlights came into view.

“Great. Top off my night with getting murdered and dumped out here in the middle of nowhere,” she mumbled to herself.

Despite her not moving to flag them down, the car slowed and pulled over to a stop behind her car.

She tried to wipe away her tears, suddenly glad the rain would likely cover that she had been crying.

She saw the door open and a foot step out. That was all she could make out past the still-lit headlights. She heard the door squeak as it closed, and then she saw a set of bow legs backlit as they approached.

“You alright, sweetheart?” His voice was deep and soothing, somehow removing some of her fear of the stranger.

She scoffed, “I’m super.”

“You need some help?”

“I was thinking of just camping out right here,” she said.

He disappeared to the trunk of his car and returned a moment later. “May I?” he asked, holding up a blanket. “You’re shaking.”

Just then realizing how cold she was, she nodded. He gently draped the thick wool blanket over her shoulders and immediately moved to look at the tire.

He kicked the tire and hit it with the tire iron, just as she had. He had no better luck than she had. He laid down and scooted partially under the car so he could hit the tire from the other side.

“Son of a bitch. That thing is really stuck,” he announced a moment later as he stood. “Can I give you a ride somewhere instead?”

She looked away, not wanting him to see the tears in her eyes, “I don’t even know where I’d go.”

“Well, you can't just sit there all night. How about you let me buy you a cup of coffee. You can warm up a little, at least,” he suggested, reaching out a hand to help her stand. “I’m Dean, by the way.”

She considered her options, quickly realizing she didn’t really have any. She slowly reached out and allowed him to help her up, introducing herself as she got to her feet. She was surprised when he opened the passenger side door before walking around to get behind the wheel.

They were quiet as he drove. Before long, he pulled into a little town and into a small diner’s parking lot.

“Where are we, anyway?” she asked as she followed him out of the car.

“You were only 10 miles up the road. How do you not know where you are?”

“You know when you drive somewhere but you don’t really remember the drive? I honestly don’t even know which way I turned when I hit the highway.” She avoided eye contact.

“North. That is, assuming you came from Seattle. We’re in Granite Falls.”

The waitress made her way over as soon as they sat down, “Evening, guys, what can I get ya?”

“Two cups of coffee,” Dean requested, and then turned. “You want pie?”

She hesitated momentarily. “Sure.”

“And two slices of pie,” he finished the order.

“Thanks,” she said.

After the coffee and pie were on the table, he spoke up, “Can I ask you about that ring? Seeing as it seems a bit like you’re running from something.”

She looked at the ring on her finger. She pulled it off and dropped it on the table. “Fucking cheating bastard,” she fumed before she could stop herself. “He knows when I get home. And they were in our bed. It’s like he wanted to get caught. And her! I thought she was supposed to be my friend.”

“Damn, sorry I asked.”

“How much do you think I could get for that thing? I don’t have that much stuff. I could just sell it and buy new stuff.”

Dean picked up the ring and looked at it carefully. “I hate to add to your night, but the diamond in your engagement ring is fake.”

Her jaw dropped. “That dick. Wait, how do you know that?”

He chuckled, “That is a long story. But it is definitely fake.”

She shifted her gaze towards the table as she felt more tears welling up.

“Look at it this way, at least you found out before you tied the knot,” said Dean. “Finish your pie. No asshat is worth wasting pie.”

She laughed for the first time that night.

“There’s a smile. You’re pretty when you smile.” He reached over to gently wipe a stray tear from her cheek.

She finished the pie and they had refills of their coffees. Then she pulled her phone out. She was surprised to find only one missed call.

“Thanks again. I’ll just call a cab or something, get my car towed in the morning.”

“Where are you gonna go?”

She shrugged.

“You look exhausted. There’s a motel right down the road. Let me drive you over there so you can get some rest.”

She couldn’t resist raising an eyebrow at him.

“That wasn’t a line. I meant a room by yourself… unless you wanted it to be a line,” he said with a cocky smirk.

She took a moment to finally, fully, take him in. He was gorgeous: bright-green eyes, chiseled jaw, perfect lips, and so many freckles she couldn’t begin to try to count. “Tempting… very, very tempting, but probably not a good idea.”

He pulled up to the motel office and parked. He watched as she hesitated opening the door. She stopped and turned to face him.

“Um, this is stupid. You just met me, and I’ve intruded in your night enough already, but, do you, maybe, want to watch some crappy on-demand movie with me?” she asked, shyly. “I’m exhausted, and I should sleep. But my mind isn’t going to shut off that easy… and I kinda don’t want to be alone in my head.”

“Yeah, sure, movie it is,” he agreed. She turned to get out of the car finally before he grabbed her wrist to stop her. “My brother and I actually already have a room, if you wanted to just watch it there.”

She knew, logically, she shouldn’t be so comfortable agreeing to such a thing. She wasn’t sure why, but she trusted him more than she had anyone else in years. “Yeah, that works. Thank you.”

He smiled, “You don’t have to thank me, sweetheart. I’m just glad to help however I can.”

Tags: @deanwasscaredbyacat @babypieandwhiskey @muchamusedaboutnothing

[ashglory-writes]

another heart’s asylum - chapter 1/10

Who’s ready for a good old-fashioned bodyswapping adventure???  A huge shoutout to Rana​ for looking this over for me, thank you so much!!

[Read it on AO3] - | Next Chapter

~ 2.8k words, rated T, f/f Chargestep (Serena/Julia), contains spoilers for Retribution!

What would you do if you woke up in your girlfriend's body? Hopefully the same thing you would do if you woke up in your enemy's. Otherwise, you might have a problem on your hands.

As it so happens, Julia Ortega has a problem. So does Serena Basri.

There's a vise strangling Serena's spine when she wakes. The pain reaches down to the bone.

This is agony she hasn't felt since Heartbreak – or rather, its aftermath. Nothing has ever hurt as much as that year she spent in 'recovery' after the Farm doctors removed her pain-gate.

To this day she doesn't know if it was punishment for her first escape, or if it had just been so damaged by the fall that its removal was a necessity. All that matters is that they hadn't given it back; that even if it was not meant as punishment at first, that is what its absence had amounted to in the end.

Sleep's haze lifts from her mind, already racing. Wrongness prickles at her thoughts. There's something off about everything here: situation, location, her own self.

Observations swarm like flies around a carcass: the too-soft and too-warm mattress; her arms, longer than they should be; the glint of metal out of the corner of her eye; the shape of her body, soft where it shouldn't be and dramatic in its curves and angles; but worst, and most damning of all, is the silence.

It's not the smothering blanket of telepathic dampeners, nor is it the round-cornered smog that comes from anti-telepathy drugs. She's experienced both forms often enough to be certain. This is just pure, knife-like absence.

It's not unlike being in her puppet's body, especially that first time she slipped into Eden's unpolished, granite-grit shell. But Eden's body is broken in like a new pair of shoes now, worn soft and comfortable, flexible, almost as if it were her own.

It's disconcerting that she's ended up in someone's body without knowing how. But Serena can sort out the how and the why of it all later, in her own body. Away from this pain.

So she closes her eyes, and prepares to loose her soul from this shell...

And nothing happens.

She opens her eyes, staring down at a pair of hands that aren't hers but are intimately familiar nonetheless. Revelation seeps through her mind like groundwater through earth as she registers the blots of silver and chrome peeking through the synthskin of her palms.

These are modded hands.

These are Julia's hands.

Serena's first instinct is to deny the absurdity. She can't be in Julia's body. It's just shouldn't happen.

She knows she has dreams. Some that seem impossible to disentangle from memory, that feel so real she has immediately check herself for injuries the instant she wakes. This is no dream.

Still, these are undeniably Julia's hands. When she cranes her head to look around, she begins to recognize the angles of Julia's bedroom, the stupid bedside lamp, the sleek carpet, the heavy curtains pulled shut over arching windows. Serena is in Julia's body, in her apartment– her life? Involuntary sparks dance up and down her fingers as her distress grows.

There's no trace of Julia's mind lurking in the corners. When Serena possesses people she quashes their thoughts under her own consciousness, but they don't just vanish. They're still there, thin and clinging to the inner walls of the skull, waiting for her permission to inhabit themselves again. The only time that she has ever been inside a truly silent mind is when she makes the jump into Eden's body, and even then she can still feel the indentations left in the brain from a lifetime of someone else's thoughts.

Search as she might, nothing feels odd about Julia's head. The same, however, can't be said about Julia's body.

Give the mind enough time and it can grow used to anything, even pain. That doesn't mean that it's vanished. Only that Serena has had time to adjust, and knows to brace for the flood of fire that spills out from her spine when she forces herself off the bed.

She doesn't have time for pain to hold her back. She's had to push past adjacent hurts before, and with even less on the line than what is at stake now. Because a sudden, terrifying, thought has just come to mind: if she is here, her mind in Julia's body, then where is Julia?

The simplest assumption is also the worst case scenario. She is in Julia's body. So if Julia is in hers...

Serena had been too tired last night, to do much more than peel herself out of Nihil's armor and collapse. Everything is out in the open in her hideout: her tools for working on the prototype regenerator; the nanovores; her notes, her plans, her schemes-

And worst of all, Serena herself. Her body.

Every emotion she's capable of feeling vanishes all at once, replaced by only dread. If Julia really is in her body, she has no more secrets to keep, no layer of deniability to hide behind. That thought terrifies her more than any other.

Plans overwrite plans in Serena's head. Everything at this point is only conjecture, but if there is any chance at all that it's true then she cannot leave it be. There will be a fallout, and she needs to be prepared to do damage control. And oh, she’s had so much practice at damage control, no time to rest between one crisis and the next.

So, step one: get in contact with Julia. Find out how much of the truth she knows, though Serena can't imagine that Julia won't have pieced together the entirety of it. Julia is ignorant, perhaps willfully, but she isn't stupid. Even she will have to accept the truth when she's forced to stare the ugly truth in the face.

The question, then, is: how does she do that?

Julia's brick of a mobile phone is easy enough to find, left charging by the bedside table. Serena hefts the thing in her hands, considering. Julia seems so confident that her apartment is untapped, unbugged. Secure. But a phone like this, carefully insulated against any flareups, has to be built to specification. And she knows that Julia uses it for Ranger business.

There's a high possibility that this phone is monitored. And if she calls Julia, who must be equally – if not more – bewildered at their circumstances, there's too high a chance that one of them will let something slip. Say something they shouldn't. Holding her tongue has never been one of Julia's strengths.

Serena growls to herself. Calling or texting is out of the question, and it's by very deliberate design that she hasn't left Julia another way to contact her.

That leaves one option. And that means Serena needs to get dressed.

As she staggers her way to the doors of Julia's closet, it's second nature by now to avert her eyes from the full-body mirror mounted to the wall next to the closet door. Still, skin flashes in the corner of her vision: deep tan, interrupted by pale streaks of scars.

No orange.

No orange, and it takes actual effort to shake herself out of the realization that this really isn't her body. That this is a human body, rugged and real. For the briefest instant she almost fools herself into believing that this could be her.

Then reality catches up to her, in the form of light winking off of silver rivets along Julia's body. Serena has to turn away from the mirror, something that tastes half like guilt sticking to the back of her tongue. Enough gawking at Julia's body, wishing that it really was hers.

Serena throws on the first set of clothes she gets her hands on, not bothering to make sure they go well together. It's Julia's closet; any old blouse and pair of pants should look nice enough. Habit has her shrugging on a jacket as well, unnerved by her shirt's short sleeves. All of this still feels too light, too exposed, but she's Julia now. And Julia Ortega isn't afraid of anything.

Mercifully, there's no one else in the apartment that's up and about save the doorman. It's early enough in the morning that she greets who she thinks is Julia with a yawn and a simple wave, content to leave it at that. Serena returns the greeting with a smile, hating how easily her mind conjures up Julia's guileless grins, how at home they feel on her face.

Public transportation is an unfortunate necessity that Serena doesn't like dealing with, even on her best days. This is... definitely not one of those. No matter if she's in Julia's body or not. Luckily, Julia's car keys sit heavily in her pocket, and somewhere in the years she's been gone, Julia swapped out her ostentatious sports car for something a little more subdued.

It's still a nice car, Serena thinks, sleek and shiny, because Julia doesn't settle for "serviceable" when she can have "great" – but what does that say about her? The way Julia sees her?

Serena's hands tighten around the steering wheel, her own upset electricity biting into her palms. With a grimace, Serena pushes that thought away. It's just one more to add to the avalanche of things she can't acknowledge if she's to preserve this tentative happiness between her and Julia.

Though once the dust of the current disaster settles, says a spiteful part of her that she just can't ever seem to silence, there may not be much of anything left to preserve.

A car like Julia's stands out in the suburbs. There's nothing to be done about that. All that Serena can do is drive out as far as she dares, and hope that there's nobody willing to brave the city's precarious, landslide-prone fringes this morning. Luck seems to be on her side today: the few people around seem to all have business elsewhere, and no one strays anywhere off-road. Still, she misses her telepathy deeply, unable to satisfy her paranoia by scanning the area for any too-curious minds.

The long drive over has wrung her out. The grating ache in her spine had proved impossible to ignore. She knows she makes jokes about Julia's age, but she hadn't expected this exhaustion. She refuses to let the emotion curling like wispy smoke through her gut be guilt.

So, deciding firmly to not be guilty, Serena climbs down into the labyrinthine tunnels that sprawl out beneath the outskirts of Los Diablos. She has business here.

Everything looks as she remembers, though there's precious little to be disturbed. On the one hand, it's a good sign that nobody has traced her back to this entrance. But on the other, it means nothing; there are dozens of pathways all leading to her hideout, her sanctuary. Julia could have left through any one of them and she would be none the wiser.

Serena picks up the pace. Her footsteps echo through narrow corridors. While she likes to wander, normally, she cuts through the passageways as fast as she can now. The twists and corners are as familiar as breathing, but Serena doesn't make for the main entrance. The path she ends up on is slightly more circuitous than she would prefer, but she can't rely on the main doors being accessible. A side entrance, just one of many potential escape paths, is what she needs.

At last she reaches her destination: a broken down chamber attached to the water plant. It may have been a garage at some point, perhaps, but what matters is that the walls have decayed enough that there's space for her to slip into the main building, even accounting for Julia's excess of height.

The lights are off, though grimy sunlight streams in through the high open windows of the power plant. It's no worse than the tunnels, and just enough to barely see by, though everything within is cast in dim shadow. Serena hesitates when she fully squeezes through the gap.

With the benefit of, quite literally, a new perspective, her lair reminds her of Heartbreak. Musty, broken things scattered about everywhere, and a bitter foreboding that hangs in the heavy air, perceptible even without telepathy. Is this what she's been surrounding herself with?

No. Stop. Focus. So many thoughts she needs to pack away, to ignore for now – or, preferably, forever.

So Serena takes a breath, and calls out into the solemn quiet, "Julia?"

No answer. But her ears catch on a breath of a sound, the barest hint of soft cloth shuffling against cloth. Then breath after ragged breath. She immediately snaps her head in the direction of the noise, scanning the gloom for its source.

There, by her workstation: the silhouette of a lump of a person rather than an actual person, curled in a fetal position, arms wrapped around the head. Serena begins approaching gingerly.

"Julia, can you hear me?" she tries again. It must be disconcerting to hear your own voice speaking to you, and Julia has even less frame of reference for this sort of thing than Serena herself does. She doesn't know how much of Julia's instincts or her own remain, coiled tight and waiting like the tension in a spring, so she moves slowly, so as not to jostle the hornet's nest. Caution is her ally here.

It's not until she's right up next to her own- Julia's- her body that she recognizes what's happening. She has to forgive herself a little, for taking so long; she's never seen this from the outside before. The Farm had always taken care to separate the telepaths from each other when one of them was showing weakness. Breaking down.

For once, Serena's thankful for the blank silence in Julia's head. The same void that she had cursed many times over the years now wraps her in a blanket of immunity. Otherwise...

Serena's never really stopped to take stock of just how much her powers have grown, especially in the wake of Heartbreak. A telepath's instinct tells her that if she weren't in Julia's body right now, her mind would be pulped like an orange just from proximity. No wonder everyone had been avoiding her hideout; self-preservation works even when you don't know what it is you're running from.

But Serena knows what she's facing. And she knows she's not fleeing.

Seeing herself laid low like this leaves an unpleasant taste in her mouth. It's not any easier than when she had to have Eden stitch her up after a fight gone wrong. Somehow, it feels worse, actually.

Is it because it's Julia shivering on the ground, and not you?

Serena's gotten adept at ignoring her own thoughts. She can't afford to have Julia collapse in on herself, in Serena's body, under the sudden deluge of new powers beyond her ability to control. The ship has long since sailed on pretending that she only wants Julia to calm down to avoid any irreparable damage to her own body.

So she kneels down by Julia's hunched form, pushing past the way her spine protests the motion. Gingerly, tentatively, she rests a hand on Julia's shoulder. Only a thin nanomesh suit separates skin from skin. She holds steady through the full-body shudder that shakes through Julia's entire body.

"Listen to my voice," Serena begins, keeping her tone soft. She doesn't think that conscious thought is close enough to the surface for Julia to be able to understand her words. But from past experience, she knows that her overloaded brain will latch onto the comforting thought-void static, the warm murmur of soft nonsense.

"It will feel like an ocean, at first. Like you're drowning in it..."

Step by step, she talks Julia back from the brink. In the absence of telepathy, she can only rely on how Julia trembles beneath her palm. The shaking that was almost violent dies down as she speaks, slows. Julia's ragged breaths evens out.

And at last, she stops shaking. Serena lets her words trail off, though she keeps her hand where it is. Solid, tangible, real.

Julia cracks an eye open. Then the other. Something akin to vertigo sweeps through Serena when she stares into her own green eyes. There's a consciousness behind them that's not her own, and a part of her wants to recoil at the primal, visceral revulsion that the thought conjures.

She watches Julia lick her lips. Her voice comes out as half a whisper, hollowed out. "...Serena?"

Swallowing against the tension, Serena nods. "It's me, Julia."

Julia stares at her blankly in the face for a moment. Then she looks down to her arms, the way the sleeve of skinsuit is pulled up just enough to-

Serena grits her teeth, eyes flickering away when she catches a glimpse of orange streaks. Her eyes come to rest on her armor, lying dismantled by the workstation. Nihil's distinctive helmet lies on a bench, blueprints and maps and all other manner of clues scattered on the tables like fallen leaves.

Her stomach clenches. And then so does her heart, when she sees Julia follow her gaze, and how the puzzle pieces itself together in Julia's head.

Damage control, Serena reminds herself. She's good at that, if nothing else.

But nothing prepares her for the sheer depth of fury in Julia's eyes, nor the despair in her voice, when Julia asks, "Serena, what the hell is this?"