#the thing is i want better for the players

[aliceinborderlandsquidgame]

One hell of a team | In-ho x Wife!Reader |

Summary: You will follow your husband anywhere.

Warnings: S2 Spoilers - Violence - Different back story for In-ho - Blood - Death - Use of (Y/N) - Reader gets called "love" -

The Frontman, the man with the most power within the island, to who the guards obey without question.

Was currently trembling under his wife poited look.

"You want to enter the games?" You asked him, your tone cold and almost jugdmental.

In-ho calmed himself down. It was an idea that stayed with him after the death of the Chairman and even mor with how player 456 had insisted the last two years in finding them. He had played before and won, he knew how terrible others could be, he had walked out like a new man, used the money for himself and you. Never really gave much thoguht on how life were lost.

But, for some reason he wanted to go again.

"Im going with you"

His glass of wisky fell onto the floor, the loud crash did nothing to bother you while you ate.

"No, thats not happening. I need you here to control the games and guards" In-ho started trying to get a valid reason to why you defenetly should not come.

"Oh, you need me to? Well I need you here. With me. With our family. How do you think I would do seeing you there ? I still remember how you got when you came back from these the first time"

"That was different" The Frontman said taking a deep breath "I wont be just one more player, it will be like when the Chairman went in"

"That still does not ease my mind" (Y/N) responded "Till death do us a part and follow you anywhere" you recited showing him your weeding ring. "Remember?"

In-ho felt his chest got thight at the sight and the memory of the small yet full of love weeding you two had back when life was more simple.

"Alright, you can come with me. Its not like you would wait for my approval" he responded smiling at the end "But no one must know that we are married, you understand that ?" He added now serious

"Of course, its what makes more sense, we will just casually meet there and see how it plays" You nodded to him "And please, better clean up that glass before someone steps on it"

"On it, love"

~☆~☆~☆~☆~☆~☆~

For the most part pretending not to know each other was easier than expected. While you knew the guards knew who you two were you were still a bit scared. Specially during the green and red light, since both of you had got separated and now you were froze in your spot.

"You need to move" In-ho said from behind his arm playing along "Follow me in the next sing, alright? Just take my hand"

"Im scared, im sorry" You said feeling guilty over wanting to be there with him and starting to fail on the first game no less.

"I know, I was too. But im here, just follow me"

~☆~☆~☆~☆~☆~

You had to hide your smirk when he pressed the circle to go on with the games, you knew he would do it just to piss off Player 456 and make things more cahotic.

He went with the rest and stood besides you trying himself not to smile at you.

~☆~☆~☆~☆~☆~☆

The first approach to Gi-huns team was tense to say the least. You two had voted circle and even worse In-ho had been the vote that ended the tie.

But with his own charisma and yours you two got to be on his good side.

Till In-ho decided to talk, really you sometimes forgot who sassy he could be.

"And some picked umbrella?" He asked faking suprise when he had seen it on first hand. "Most of them died I assume"

You could see the look on player 456 and decided to be more sensitive

"Hey, dont be like that. Im sure they went in blind and did not know what it was about" You said keeping a safe distance so no one would think you two were together or knew each other before the games.

In-ho was having too much fun.

~☆~☆~☆~☆~☆~☆

That first night they both were in their respective beds. Still keeping their false relationship. However once (Y/N) was sure all were asleep she went towards In-ho who was awake like he knew she would be coming to him.

"Are you alright?" He asked in a whisper, worried that for her this would be too much.

"Im fine, I wanted to see if you were fine"

He nodded not saying a thing but taking her hand.

"Also, I saw you break that fight, really ? When did you even learn to do that ?" This made him smile and hold her hand thighter "Really! I only see you in your office all the time"

"You think I would come in here without knowing how to defend myself or you?"

She smiled at him, blushing in the dark. "No....I just thoguht all you did was be in your office and give orders"

In-ho rolled his eyes "Just wait till we are out of here, i will show you just how fit im"

~☆~☆~☆~☆~☆

The six legs game was both a chaos and funny. Honeslty you could not help yourself on hugging him and player 456 (who was slowly getting on your soft side) as you saw a team win.

However the shoots that came for these who did not survive were too much. You would swear In-ho gave the guards a cold stare because you would flinch sometimes.

"Hey, dont worry they wont shoot the ones who havent played" Player 456 reassured you with a calm tone

You nodded, knowing that even if you lost they wont shoot you or In-ho. It was still sweet to see him trying to calm you down.

~☆~☆~☆~☆~☆

"Not a word" He said during the night when you two were able to talk again.

"I was not going to say a thing, but you did in on purpose or were you really missing ?"

In-ho closed his eyes knowing you would later get the recording of him missing during the game and use it against him.

"It was all planned" he said trying to sound as convincing as he could.

"Whatever you say Honey"

~☆~☆~☆~☆~☆~☆

The game of making pairs gave you nausea because of the carousel kept spinning around. And the rounds were stress again. The worse part was getting separated from In-ho who find you seeing how two players were dragging you so they could have the number they needed.

You havent see him get that angry in years, his protective self being on as he pulled one from the neck and punched the other one.

He kept punching almost forgetting there was a game you two were supposed to play.

"Leave him we still need two more" You urged only for a guard to shove two confused and scared players besides you and In-ho.

"We got them" He assured getting your hand and going to one room.

~☆~☆~☆~☆~☆

"In-ho!! (Y/N)!!" The worried screams of Gi-hun filled the place as he looked for both of you.

Even if he had promised to try and dont get attached to new players and survive he could not help but feel a connection with both of you.

"Gi-hun!" In-ho's voice called making him look over and see him coming towards the rest with you by hand something that made him curious but decided not to ask.

"Im glad to see you two alright" Gi-hun said seeing just a few bruises on you, and noticing blood on In-ho knuckles.

You catched his eyes and went to explain "He saved me" you told the rest looking at them then at In-ho who was looking back at you "I would have not made it otherwise"

The look of love you two shared was so genuine, some wonder if you two were together but trying to be discrete to protect yourselfs.

~☆~☆~☆~☆~☆~☆

"They will most likely attack us tonight" Gi-hun explained as he showed the fork the guards had left when the food was given.

The idea only assented itself when the men returned from the bathroom, with blood on them. 

"And what do you propuse us to do?" In-ho asked all of the Xs were in a circle trying to listen to what Gi-hun had to say.

Gi-hun told the others his plan, honestly you thoguht it was nusts, it wont work. They were far suprassed on numbers but you had to shut yourself up.

You could tell your husband was both amazed by it and even kind of respecting it. Or at least that what he showed to him. He needed Gi-hun's trust after all.

~☆~☆~☆~☆~☆

"Hide well" In-ho said besides you in a low tone "We can trust the guards but till they get here we cant trust the others"

You nodded knowing that very well since this was a typical phase of the game for years.

"We will be safe" You said holding his shoulder. "Do what you have to do, dont worry about me" You tried to make him feel at ease but he could not. The only thing that scared him more than anything were the other players trying to get to you.

"Just hang in there" He responded his forehead against yours.

~☆~☆~☆~☆~☆

The fight was on its hot spot. The players were killing each other without a second thought.

Nothing like living it, even if you have seen this type of thing multiple times. Its was unnerving to see them just going at each others troath. The screams and cries were too much for a moment, the dark did nothing to help.

Thats when you felt it. Someone had dragged you out from under the bed and was now on top of you. You saw the player move their left hand ready to Strike at you. You tried to punch and defend yourself but the person on top was too strong.

A cold scream left your mouth as the forker pierced your shoulder.

You could not help it, the adrenaline and anxiety was getting on you.

"In-ho! In-ho help me please" You screamed for him, your husband the love of your life.

"Shut up, the next one will be your neck" The person said and for a moment you saw it. Dying in here and leaving In-ho.

Till you felt the person being pushed and the screams of them. You blinked trying to make sense.

It was In-ho, he had taken the fork from the player and was now piercing the neck of the player, not even leaving a chance for them to survive.

"GO HIDE NOW!!" In-ho ordered, he being scared himself and angry. He saw red when you were dragged and it was for the brutal grip Gi-hun had on his arm that he did not move faster.

You did as told getting under another bed and making sure no one could reach you.

"You fucking scum! How dare you lay hands on my wife" In-ho almost screamed too angry to see that the player was now dead. All his face and hands where covered in blood.

"Stop it!! They are dead, we need to continue the plan, the lights will be back soon" Gi-hun said taking him and pulling him away from the dead player.

"Get (Y/N), and be ready" Gi-hun told him trying to keep himself calm even when he was close to jump over and save you and In-ho. He wondered if he had hear it right, you were his wife?

In-ho did not waste time, searching for you in the dark till he noticed you. He went quick, pulling yourself out from the bed telling you its was him.

"Shh shh its me, its over dont cry Love" He said trying to make you feel better.

"In-ho?" He nodded and you cried harder "In-ho I was so scared"

"I know love I know, just a bit more alright? It will be over soon. Listen once the guards come in and we follow Gi-huns plan do not come. Someone will come and get you"

"Im going with you, im not leaving you in a bullet fight!"

"You know nothings gonna happen to me, I want you here, safe, alright?"

Finally you accepted.

"I love you In-ho"

"I love you too Love"

~☆~☆~☆~☆~☆~☆

As In-ho had said when the guards got back after the fight one took you, Player 120 tried to protest but was put back in her place by other guard.

"You are under suspect of have been part of the riot. You are now eliminated from the games"

The guard said playing his role, starting to get you out of the room while you screamed following the act.

~☆~☆~☆~☆~☆~

"Apologies Madam, orders from the Front Man" The guard said bowing once you two were outside and out of reach from the others players.

Even if you were still breathing hard you nodded. "Dont worry, just take me to him". The guard nodded.

~☆~☆~☆~☆~☆~

He knew he was needed in the control room but refused to let you alone like that. He went to your share room, his heart broke at your image, bruises and blood over you. A guard was checking your shoulder but left after he order them to.

Silence fell over both of you as he went to you and hugged you careful not to hurt your shoulder.

He removed his mask to look at you properly.

"Im sorry, I should have never let you come, I should have stopped this sooner" He said with pain in his voice

"Dont blame yourself, I told you I was going in with you. This was not your fault In-ho" You reassured him feeling sad and worried over him.

"I cant not blame myself" He gently passed his hand over your cheeck "You are the best thing in my life and I almost lost you because of my own desires, never again"

You two kissed softly grounding yourselfs. You two were safe and together nothing else matters from now. Only the love and devotion you two had for each other.

~☆~☆~☆~☆~☆~

[hyunsuloves]

super shy.

synopsis … squid game women with a timid s/o ꨄ︎.

pairings … se-mi, sae-byeok, no-eul, jun-hee, ji-yeong, hyun-ju x fem!reader (separately)

warnings … fem reader, non game au, and a few are maybe ooc?

lovely notes … two posts in two days, we rejoice again!

꩜ [ 855 words ]

se-mi / player 380 is the polar opposite of you. while you’re timid, she’s a very assertive woman who isn’t apprehensive about expressing herself.

if needed, she’d speak up or defend you from someone without a second thought. she often finds herself doing simple things like ordering your food for you or speaking for you in awkward social settings.

she finds your timidness cute at times, like when you shy away from her compliments.

“hey, you look pretty with your hair down.” “oh, thank you se-mi. it looks, like, average.” “be honest, you look stunning with it down. you should wear it like that more, pretty.”

the way she was able to fluster you every time will never get old to her. she loved to say flirty things for the hell of it, and to of course catch you off guard.

she has a habit of including you in whatever conversation she’s having, whether she realizes she’s doing it or not. it’s more of a subconscious doing of hers. though, she knows when and when to not drag you into discussions of hers.

she hates to see someone targeting you, especially if they know your shy personality. she steps in without a second thought to handle the situation for you.

sae-byeok / player 067 is alike to you in many ways. she never makes an effort to put herself out there unless completely necessary.

in social situations, she doesn’t mind stepping in and doing most of the communication for you.

she’s the first to defend you if someone tests you, because how dare someone come to you when they’re aware of your timidness? especially in her presence?

“hey, i got you. lemme know if they say something to you again.” “it’s fine. i can handle my own, sae-byeok.” “mhm. you better tell me.”

she coaxes you to keep to yourself rather than speak out. weirdly enough, she likes being the only person you trust enough to be vocal around. she likes the dependency.

no-eul / guard 011 doesn’t exactly lack courage or confidence, she just isn’t an outspoken woman. she keeps to herself most of the time, similar to you.

similar to se-mi, she likes to fluster you at every waking moment. she enjoys seeing the bashful look on your face whenever she constantly compliments you.

while she encourages you to speak up for yourself more often than not, she doesn’t mind stepping in for you.

“hey, defend yourself next time.” “i was planning to. you just.. beat me to it.” “whatever you say.”

she knows how you struggle to express yourself, but she teases you nonetheless. it’s all in good faith, though. she knows when you’ve reached your limits.

jun-hee / player 222 is similar to you in numerous ways. while she isn’t exactly timid, she doesn’t find herself speaking out in a lot of situations.

if it comes down to it, she’ll speak for you without a doubt. but if she knows you can handle your own, she’d leave you to it.

she frequently teases you for how bashful you are, as if she isn’t so similar to you.

“you’re so shy, so quiet.” “jun-hee, please shut up.” “oh, so she does speak?”

the two of you can often sit in silence for hours on end, basking in the presence of one another. you don’t speak many words because the solace between you two is more than enough.

she’s the perfect person to be around if you find serenity in quiet rather than deafening settings.

ji-yeong / player 240 is a bright difference from you. she’s very bubbly, outspoken, and animated.

you two look like an unlikely couple, like opposites that people wouldn’t expect to be together. but ji-yeong is adamant about the idea that opposites attract.

if needed, she can always speak up for you. as odd as it sounds, she enjoys speaking up for you when you’re in a non-verbal state.

“hey, want me to speak for you?” “ji-yeong, as much as i love you, i need to speak up for myself.” “okay.. but please take me up on my offer in the future.”

she feels a sort of protectiveness around you. given you’re her partner, but especially with your shy nature. it’s like a need to shield you from anything and anyone.

hyun-ju / player 120 is quite the contrast, as she was never really nervous or bashful. she asserts herself in most circumstances, unlike yourself.

she stands up for you without hesitation, mainly because she knows firsthand what it’s like to be belittled by others.

she’s been in so many situations in which others have degraded her so she knows how to deal with it easily.

“come to me if they say something else to you, yeah?” “of course. thank you so much, hyun-ju. i don’t know what i’d do without you.” “don’t mention it.”

even though it’s hard to believe, you’re able to fluster her rather than the other way around. any lovey-dovey thing you say has her gone.

she enjoys sitting in silence with you, just like jun-hee. comfortable tranquility with someone she cherishes cannot be beaten.

[gyaruhana]

hiiii!

if it is not too much to ask, could you please do player 120 (cho hyun-ju) sfw and nsfw headcanons for fem reader, plsss??(ofc, only if u are comfortable, no pressure🫶🏻🫶🏻)

Ty, and wish u a good day/night 💞

Cho Hyun-Ju/Player 120 - Headcannons

Synopsis: Hyun-Ju sfw and nsfw headcannons !!

A/N: tried my best to write for this absolute girlboss who highkey carried the series

Warnings: nsfw content, fingering, pussy eating, pretty vanilla actually

SFW:

➠ Honestly best gf one could ask for

➠ She’s so caring and ridiculously patient

➠ Showers you in compliments !! always calling you pretty and complimenting what you wear/how you look

➠ If you’re ever insecure she’s so reassuring and knows just how to make you feel better

➠ Not a lot of PDA other than some basic hand holding but she doesn’t shy away from being open about your relationship

➠ Cute dates like picnics because she’s honestly a romantic..

➠ You could honestly just sit in silence and stare at each other for ages and you do, in fact, stare at each other

➠ She’s always open to trying new things with you like ice skating because quality time with the person who cares about her and accepts her for who she is will always be a must for her

➠ Super protective of you !!

➠ She keeps all the creeps away from you 

➠ She actually doesn’t get jealous.. Just concerned when someone flirts with you because she hates when you’re uncomfortable

➠ Very easily slips in and openly tells whoevers flirting that you’re taken by her

➠ If they don't get the message, she'll just walk away but if they try to get physical she WILL put them in their place

➠ Overall, perfect girlfriend. I will never change my mind !!

NSFW:

➠ Prefers to take care of you so she’s actually quite gentle in bed

➠ You are her number one priority so expect her to literally always bring you to the best releases !!

➠ Honestly enjoys fingering you so she can watch your expressions

➠ Don’t be afraid to get loud. She wants you to say what you’re feeling all the time !!

➠ She, herself, isn’t very loud but she does make some comments praising you for taking her fingers so well.

➠ Gentle kisses all the way ! No matter where she’s leaving them, it’s so gentle. Your lips, your neck, your thighs- every kiss she leaves is so full with love 

➠ When she eats you out, still gentle and not messy. She’s polite with it😭

➠ Rubs soft circles on your clit when you’re close to make your orgasm that much better

➠ I feel like she’d prefer to dom but if you want to be dom, she’d let you

➠ Overall, sex with her is more gentle and loving because she wants you to know how important you are to her

"Just breathe. I'll make you feel good, baby," she says as she thrusts two of her fingers in and out of you. Her fingers reach all the right places and, just when you thought it couldn't get any better, she begins to rub your clit in a soft, circular motion with her thumb. The action forces a moan from your throat as you feel yourself draw closer to a release. She smiles as she looks at you and gently squeezes your thigh with her other hand. "There you go, don't hold back. Just cum on my fingers, yeah?"

[amiaclone]

Can you do one with the salesman and reader, where they are playing Russian roulette like the scene with him and gi-hun, and then they start falling for eachother?

Oooh never done anything like this before sure!

Salesman x gn! Reader

*You ran across the streets like your life depended on it trying to keep up with the man in the suit.*

*Like Gi hun you offered to work with him to end the games these people liked to do for a living you never won the games with Gi hun you did however survive the first game and were one of the few people who chose not to return*

*Hey! You’ve got a family even if you’re in debt to lots of money! Anything better then dying anyway*

*You were with two other guys you were in the very back you ended up losing track of them so you’re now trying to make time using there location they sent*

*You reached a dead end in the alleyway now only hearing the sounds of bins falling you immediately reached for your pockets*

*You had a knife one of the other guys had a gun….where are they?*

“Looking for someone?”

*You immediately turned your head almost instinctively and came face to face with the man you were hunting all day*

*He smirked eyeing you down like a predator would…..gross.*

“Hey pretty face long time no see.”

*He called you that the first time you met….the salesman is what you call him the one who finds players and recruits them….what a disgusting job*

“You…” *You keep your knife behind your back waiting to see if he engages any attack however he drops his case*

“If you think I’m here to kill you I would have already….i’ve been watching you for quite a bit…” *That alone almost made your spine shiver* “ I already had some fun with your “friends” anyway” *He cleared his throat keeping the same smirk on his face*

*That smirk almost filled with amusement and psychoticness what an interesting but terrifying man*

“You…..you killed them….”

*You weren’t shocked that he’d do such a thing but there was two against one! This man is obviously a threat…..*

*He however shook his head keeping the same smirk however his eyes widened a little*

“We had a game that’s all.”

*You shook your head and then out of the blue he took a step forward you followed suit taking a step back*

“What do you want?”

*You both said at the same time you quirked an eyebrow trying to keep a brave face while he had a small grin*

“I’ll answer first since a “lovely” like yourself asked.”

“I want to….play a game perhaps.”

*You shook your head*

“Why should i?”

*He seemed to pretend he was thinking*

"You're working with Gi hun aren't you? you know….you and him both have these amazing delusions about saving humanity so….I'll give you answers about the games *if* you win"

*You scoffed*

"How am i supposed to know i can trust you?"

*He seemed to take delight in that*

"Your choice. All up to you."

*You pondered in thought what will you gain? you could die but if you accept theres a chance you could find something big*

*And if you decline nothing will happen you could waste an opportunity but potentially live…..*

*Your mouth then spoke before you could even comprehend*

“What if I don’t win?”

*He laughed a bit*

“I was waiting for that! Hah….Well simple….theres a lot I could do…i could kill that lovely face of yours or…..make sure you or Gi hun can’t interfere with our business again….or…..well let’s see how it goes shall we?”

*He quirked an eyebrow waiting to see if you’d agree or not this was bad*

“I’ll agree if….you tell me what game we’re playing first…to make it fair.”

*He smirked raising an eyebrow handsomely*

“Ever heard of Russian Roulette?”

*Your heart nearly stopped beating for a second….he can’t be serious*

*Never mind he definitely is*

*He kept that same almost psychopath like smirk like he was enjoying this…*

“I suppose you’ve heard of it now… the choice is up to you will you….play with me?”

*You tensed and just blurted out*

“Let’s do it.”

*Hey you’d rather die atleast trying to stop the games but you know Russian roulette….your confident you’ll win.”

*He seemed almost shocked for a second you of all people would agree but that regained back to his usual composure*

“Well then i have it in my brief case the things we’ll use…”

*He brought me down further the alleyway and found an abandoned warehouse that had one table and two chairs facing each other*

“Since im fairly confident in myself why don’t you go first?”

*You shrugged you’d rather take the first one first declares a win i guess?*

*You put the gun and……It was fine.*

“Of course first obviously you’ll be fine…”

*He smirked a bit before taking it he placed the gun on the end of his nose*

*Clicked and nothing happened*

“You know something im just wondering….its surprising you’re agreeing to this since you chose not to go back after red light green light”

*You took it placing it on the bridge of your nose nothing happened*

“I chose not to go back because i would have gained nothing from playing a few games compared to me there’s a chance I wouldn’t have won…”

*He took it placing the gun on his forehead*

“You know….the day I met you….everything I said was and is still the truth…..you have a captivating beauty.”

*He pulls the trigger and nothing happens i take it placing it on my forehead mainly to spite him*

“Oh really care to give into more detail?”

*You said it to humour him but he seemed to take it serious you pulled the trigger and for a second it seemed like it would have killed you but….*

*Nothing happened*

“Heh well……your eyes are fairly attractive every time you look at them it’s like there brand new all over again…”

*He placed the gun on the inside of his mouth that would normally disgust you it interested you in a….weird way*

*He pulled the trigger and it clicked. Nothing happened*

“Well the eyes compliment was nice….but looks aren’t everything.”

*You placed the gun on the bridge of your nose again and it clicked nothing happened you weren’t even paying attention to care if something happened*

*He smirked*

“Well why didn’t you decide to go back? After all your debt was pretty big if I’ll say……9 billion? And you still thought you had a chance”

*He pulled the trigger on his forehead and nothing happened*

“Anything’s better then dying”

*You take the gun and pull the trigger nothing happens this is getting boring….the salesman is up to something but what? What are those handsome eyes staring at me planning?*

“Cheap answer you didn’t go back just not to die? Knowing well your debt was just gonna get bigger and bigger….”

*He took the trigger and didn’t even hesitate to pull it and……nothing happened*

“You don’t seem like you have any but i have a family and loved ones waiting for me”

“Love is a ridiculous concept”

*This goes on forever taking the trigger and none seeming to pull victory*

*Each time the two of you only got more captivated by each other*

“You know the thing you said about love”

*He pulled the trigger and faced it towards his heart*

“It seemed you have stolen it.”

*A loud bang happened that nearly shot you out of your seat*

*But he was still alive it was nothing?*

*The salesman laughed* “That trick works every time was getting a bit bored doll….i think you’ve won at something.��

*Your eyes widened a bit* “Wait i won?” *The salesman seemed in denial for a second* “I suppose for showing me that….some things that aren’t blood and murder are still interesting” *he winks*

Hope you liked it if I haven’t gotten back to anyones asks yet believe me I’ll write it im just taking my timeee

[yuurei20]

Is sebek racist? Only a fun question, do not take seriously

Hello hello! Thank you so much for this question, I have been so excited to discuss Sebek's speech patterns since Book 7 reached EN~🥳

Silver says outright that Sebek can be prejudiced at times and Lilia states in the beginning of Book 7 that Sebek is the very picture of his grandfather, from the way he talks to the way he thinks.

We as the players do not realize how literally he means this comment until later in Book 7 when we meet Baul Zigvolt and realize that their speech patterns have a lot in common:

While maybe difficult to put across in the English-language adaptation of the game, Sebek has always spoken very old fashioned.

(Ace: "Okay grandpa, you gonna take her for a buggy ride next?")

He will occasionally say "this Sebek" in reference to himself, which Baul also does. (They are also both canonically quite loud, possibly another trait that Sebek adopted from Baul).

Sebek will also infamously refer to others using the 貴様 form of "you," which doesn't really exist outside of fiction and is such a rude form that it is practically a swear word. More here ->

Sebek uses it constantly, in everyday conversation.

And see Baul using it in Book 7 just all the time, with everyone except his superiors such as Lilia and Maleanor (there is even a time he becomes very angry and uses it with the senate).

Also like Baul, Sebek will switch to the extremely old-fashioned and formal "kiden" to refer to people who have impressed him. More here ->

Sebek's battle cry of "I'll swallow you whole" even seems to come from Baul!

And another thing Baul did in Book 7: refer to Sebek as human rather than by his name until Sebek earned his respect, which we have also seen happen between Sebek and Azul.

(In a Nightmare Before Christmas voiceline Sebek refers to Zero as a ghost and then a dog, eventually settling on his name, while he refers to Jack Skellington as "Bones." Is Sebek not just calling out humans, but referring to everyone by what they are rather than who they are?*)

(Does he simply yell human more than "dog," "ghost," etc., because humans are the species we have seen him interact with the most? It was confirmed in the novels that mermaids, beast-people, etc., are all referred to as "human" within the Twst universe, which has yet to be confirmed by the game but also has yet to be disproved.)

Sebek also refers to Grim as "dire beast."

There is a significant moment where he shifts to calling both Grim and the prefect by their names in Book 7, which the prefect even has the option of acknowledging aloud: "Whoa, you called me by my name?"

In a Harveston sub-plot Sebek even refuses to use an honorific with Epel's grandmother Marja until she proves herself worth of his respect.

Silver calls Sebek out on his inappropriate use of "kisama," while both Riddle and Sebek scold him for referring to people as "humans."

Whereas Epel's rude speech patterns can be explained by how it is a part of the dialect he was raised to speak and therefore he doesn't know any better (more here ->) Sebek is consciously and intentionally speaking down to others until they prove themselves worthy--is this something he learned from Baul?

Sebek says that Baul provided him with "an enriching education," but what exactly did that education entail?

Lilia expresses frustration with Sebek's inability to adapt to society, but canonically Sebek has only been outside of Briar Valley for 6 months, while he's been emulating his grandfather for 16 years.

Lilia says that Sebek has always been close to Baul and Jamil has a line of, "When admiration goes too far, the consequences can be dire."

I always assumed this was meant to be about Malleus, and while it still might be, is it also a reference to Sebek's devoted imitation of his beloved grandfather?

And we can go even deeper if we want, though this goes into theoretical territory:

Sebek was born after Briarland had already fallen to its invaders, but he was raised in a community where the war is still living memory.

Baul fought to protect his home against those who overran the land, exploited its resources, labeled him a monster, and drove them all into a fraction of their former territory.

He remembers what Briarland was before it the invasion, he fought to save it, he failed, and he survived to help put what was left of the country back together.

And then his daughter married someone who is potentially a direct descendent of the very invaders who had spent years killing anyone who looked like him and destroying everything he'd known (with even his native language possibly disappearing: Sebek says that speakers are "somewhat rare" in modern day, as the fae have generally adopted Common as their language of choice).

Sebek: "This has been weighing on me ever since we entered Lilia's dream. That my own father's distant ancestors may very well have been involved in all this too..."

And due to the long lifespans of the fae he isn't the only one with trauma and loss that feels both recent and personal.

Sebek and his siblings were not raised amongst the offspring of those who survived the war but the literal survivors themselves, unlike the humans to whom the wars are ancient history.

Sebek: "You must remember: from Lilia, Grandfather, and Malleus's perspectives...the Dawn Knight is not likely someone they consider to belong to the 'distant past.'"

While not confirmed in-game, it is not too wild to imagine that Sebek has chosen to ally himself with the survivors rather the invaders, and especially when he has been raised to idolize Malleus, whose own mother they killed not very long ago by fae standards.

While humans have been reproducing and dying at such a rapid pace that the current generation might not know that dragons are real, the same fae that managed to escape the slaughter are still there, and are now being met with the people born of those who stole their country but to whom there doesn't seem to be much significance to it all beyond a chapter in a history book.

And that might all be very well tied up in Sebek's use of "human"! (Disclaimer: this is all just a personal analysis and one of many possible explanations!)

Not only does it seem to be a speech pattern that Sebek has adopted directly from the grandfather he adores (and from Lilia and Malleus, who are also known to refer to non-fae as "humans" and whom he idolizes), but it may also be a reminder both to himself and to everyone around that while he may be two worlds in one, he does not approve of those that tore apart the community he grew up in, lest someone wrongfully assume that he agrees with the actions of his human ancestors.

Which would make it a form of self-preservation while growing up in a predominantly fae area.

Sebek's speech patterns and behaviors might be serving as a way for him to assert his loyalty to the fae, the people whom he admires, identifies with and was raised by, and distance himself from the humans who tried to eradicate them.

(If Sebek’s mother brought his father to Briar Valley from somewhere else (possibly Sunset Savanna) as has been implied, it’s possible Sebek’s human lineage isn’t tied to the invaders at all, but this is still vague.)

*Sebek refers to Sally as "Sally" throughout the Halloween event, using her name without an honorific but at least using it, much like he did with Marja. He also chastises Trey for failing to offer his hand to Sally and help her to her feet when she falls to the ground. Does Sebek possibly have a chivalrous side, not dissimilar to Leona? Memo: must check.

[sturnslutz]

INTRODUCING... hockeyplayer!chris and shy!reader

chris had just received his fourth "F" this semester in economics. he was also the star hockey player in the school even as a freshman. everyone knew the infamous christopher sturniolo. some reasons good, some bad.

you knew chris because obviously, the star hockey player, and the well known player, but also because he was in your econ class. you had sat behind him the whole year. not from your own personal choice, but because your row was the very last one and no one sat there.

the clock just went off and chris had just got back to his seat, looking down at his paper in disbelief at the big red "F" on his paper. he grabbed his bag with a huff as you remained in your seat, watching as he walks down the stairs, speed walking to the professor. you have your headphones in so you cant hear what they're saying but you see the professor pointing up at you and both pairs of eyes staring directly up at you.

you take out one headphone, watching chris as he runs back up the stairs and slams his paper down on your desk infront of you. "you need to tutor me." "w-what?" you say as your voice comes out scratchy due to how long you haven't talked.

"please. you're the smartest 'n the class. 'm not gonna be able to play in next week's match if i don' get a C or higher on the next test." "um alright." you nod softly looking down at his hand infront of you that was gripping the desk so tightly and caused his knuckles to turn white.

"can i get your number? jus' so we can talk about where we can meet." he says as he takes his phone out of his pocket and hands it to you. you nod and take the phone, your glasses falling slightly down your nose in the process. he notices this and lifts them back up gently. "there ya' go, honey." he says, much gentler than before as your face flushes and you type your number into his phone.

he notices your shyness, but decides to not say anything about it. you hand back his phone, your fingers grazing over each others. "ill text you soon, yeah?" he says as he steps back and takes his paper as he looks down at you waiting for your response. you nod and let out a simple hum. he smiles and mutters a "thank you" before walking down the stairs once again, out of the room.

your gaze follows him out of the room before you and the professor are the last ones in the room, and you stand up, storming down the steps. "jack, seriously? you just had to make the chris sturniolo talk to me and force me to be his tutor? cmon. thought you were better than that." he just simply shrugs. "relax, kid. chris is nice when he wants to be. he was the one who asked me first if you're a good tutor, and i just recommended you. that's all. its also a good experience to help put yourself out there. your mom asked me to help put more opportunities in front of you. now, pack up your stuff. you staying here for lunch or you going out? i have a couple more things i need you to help grade on."

mr.smith, or known as jack to you, is your uncle on your mom's side. hes you helped you decide your major in business, and hes always trying to get you out of your shell. no one besides the two of you know that you guys are related, and he grades you like everyone else. you just happen to get all A's. you also stayed in his class during lunch and talk like never before, and help him grade assignments.

later on, you're in your dorm, thankfully by yourself as you didnt get assigned a roommate and huddled in bed, reading. chris hasnt left your mind all day, and he still hasnt texted. right when you decided to call it a night and in the process of turning off your bedside light, your phone dings. "fuck." you mutter as you sigh and pick up your phone. a random number pops up and below is a text.

"hey honey, its chris. can i come over now???"

you roll your eyes, typing away.

"chris its 11 already, i was about to go to sleep.."

"please. i know its late but this is one of the only times im free. we'll be quick, promise."

"fine. im in dorm 11 in building 453. code to get in is 5678."

"ill be there soon. :)"

you sigh, standing up and putting your glasses back on. you had no urge to impress chris, but felt it was more than polite to just tidy up. you put on a pair of shorts and sat in your bed with your computer infront of you, as you sit in a tanktop and silk pajama shorts, patiently waiting for him.

your thoughts are interrupted at a knock as you let out a soft, "come in." he lets himself in, smiling softly at you, and you didnt miss the way his eyes raked over your body. "hey." he says as he shuts the door, setting his stuff down on your desk. you smile softly, looking down at your computer.

"you wanna work on your bed or at the desk?" he says as he sits down on your fluffy desk chair. you shrug. he sighs, grabbing his stuff and walking over to sit next to you on your bed, sliding his shoes off on the side. your knees bump against each other and he makes no move to move his.

"so, mr. smith said you were the smartest in the class and could really help me. 's that right now?" he says as he smirks and leans on his arm that was against his leg. you shrug once again, mentally cursing out your uncle. "um, i guess." you say, not louder than a whisper, even though you were in the comfort of your own room.

"'s okay, honey. no need to be scared of me. im jus' complimenting you 'n acknowledging your smartness or whateva' 's called." you laugh softly at this and he smirks once again. "im not scared." you say softly, looking up at him through your glasses. "no? then why cant you talk to me, hon?" you shrug once again.

"i don' really talk to anyone." you embarrassingly admit. "you should. 'm sure all the boys would be after you if you did. you're beautiful, y'know that right?" he says as he sits up again, brushing a strand of hair behind your ear.

you were aware this was most definitely a tactic of his to get into girls' beds, but you couldn't pull away. you shrug once again. "hm. wan' me to prove to you how pretty ya' are?" you nod without hesitation and he smirks as he leans in and kisses your lips softly, humming against them. his hand falls to your hip as you lean back, gripping your soft comforter under you.

he pulls away and sets your computer and his papers on the floor next to you and he turns back to you, reaching under your shirt, rubbing his hands around your hips and stomach as he kisses you again. you shudder from his cold hands but quickly lean back into the kiss. you pull away as you feel his hands, go further up. "'m a virgin." you quickly admit as he smiles again, reaching for your glasses, taking them off and putting them to the side.

"thats alright, baby. dont worry about it. ill take real good care of you." he says as he rubs your cheek. "do you trus' me?" you nod and he reaches for your shirt, lifting it over your body. his eyes rake over your bare chest as he smirks and leans down and kisses all over your chest.

you gasp as your head falls back, your hair falling down your back as he kisses around your soft tits, and licks the bud of one before sucking on it as you moan softly and he hums against it at your reaction.

as time goes on, your mind cant even process how you got in this position. you were under chris as the both of you were naked and he's been teasing you with his tip against your folds for the past 10 minutes.

"cmon baby. i know you can use your words. say what you wan', 'n ill give it to you." he says as he smiles at your stubbornness despite you being crazy shy. you shake your head no as you cant even imagine yourself asking chris for his dick.

he sighs, shaking his head as he grabs his length tapping it against your clit, and sliding it through your folds which was practically dripping now. "then you aren't gettin' it." he shrugs as he looks down at your already tired face despite barely doing anything.

"f-fine. please put it in me, chris." you practically whisper. he tuts as he shakes his head again. "needa be louder than that. i know you can." you let out a choked sob at his words. "shh dont cry, baby." he coos as he leans over, wiping your tears, still not letting his smirk off his face. "jus' needa hear you say it a bit louder, that's all." "chris please put it in me!" you yell as he nods, smiling. "thereee we go." he says he starts stretching you out, inch by inch, shushing your whines and hisses while whispering sweet praises to you.

he finally bottoms out, and stays still until you give him permission to move. he notices the bulge in your belly and almost cums on the spot. he accidentally thrusts slightly into you as you let out a hiss. "sh-shit. sorry baby." you disregard his sorry as you shake your head. "you can move." you let out with a breath. he nods. "let me know if you wan' me to stop." you nod as he starts moving in and out of you at an unbelievably slow pace.

after a bit, you allow your pain to turn into pleasure. "go faster." "yeah? you sure?" you nod as he begins moving in and out of your soft hole faster than before, grabbing your hips for stability. you moan as you grab the sheets next to you as he continues going faster.

"f-fuck. squeezing me so damn tight, baby. 'm not gonna last much longer." "me either!" you say as you let out a almost pornographic moan as his hips slam into yours, and your bedframe repeatedly hits the wall. you know for sure your poor neighbors could obviously tell what was happening, but you nor chris paid any attention, purely focused on the pleasure created within each other.

"'m gonna cum, chris." you say as you clench around him. "me too. wan' me inside you?" you nod rapidly as he nods letting out a breathy laugh at your eagerness. with a final moan, you come done all over him as your thighs shake. chris thrusts a couple more times before groaning and stopping his movements, burying himself inside you as white spurts fill you.

as he finishes, he pulls out and notices cum sliding out of you, and he lets his finger collect it all and push it back into you, causing a wince to come out of your mouth. "sorry, didnt want any goin' to waste." he says as he chuckles.

his body falls down next to you as the two of you catch your breath. "y'alright?" he says softly as he traces shapes over your stomach and kisses your shoulder softly. you can only let out a hum and a nod and he nods back. "we gotta figure out another time to study, but cant promise i actually will after this." he chuckles again as you roll your eyes. you look down at your body, and embarrassment flows through you at the sight of your naked body being completely in the open, and open for chris to see.

"chris y'gotta go, its late." you say softly. "wan' me to leave already? damn was i that bad?" he says with a chuckle as he sits up on his elbow. you shake your head no immediately. "n-no. not at all. its just getting late and i need to be up for work early tomorrow." he nods, understanding. "alright." he lets his feet fall to the ground as he puts his clothes back on and you let your blanket fall over your body. "ill see you later, yeah?" he states as he collects his papers off the floor and stands up, brushing a hand through his hair.

you nod, humming. "y-yeah. we'll figure out a time you can actually study." he laughs at this, nodding. "sure, baby. see you." and with that, he walks out, leaving you only with your thoughts, but not with chris, but with how you lost your fucking virginity.

@muwapsturniolo @lovergirl4gracieabrams @m4ttg1rl @lypsiiii @tyummyz @sturniqlo @emely9274 @shadowthesim @mattsobvimyfav @sturnl0ve @wastelandzella @fallininlust @chrisslut04 @angeliijay12-blog @sophand4n4 @vainilladollie @slutforchrissturniolo2 @ncm9696 comment to be added or removed.

dividers by @bernardsbendystraws.

[raymurata]

I love this take. I think it would be interesting if we'd seen the Archive (not Anaris, not a mask Anaris put on someone) actually do something dangerous to make the player fearful. Or share extremely dangerous knowledge, but neither of these happens. As far as we're actually shown, the Archive is just a rude spirit paying lip service to Anaris.

Diegetically, it's Bellara who tells us that the Archive might contain dangerous knowledge, and blames it for what happened to Cyrian. She expresses a lot of guilt over the Evanuris' actions and keeping their lore, which I don't love, but it's definitely IC for her. I think it'd be okay if we had to make this decision with the fear-mongering coming from Bellara, and Bellara alone. She's a character and she's got some emotional hang ups here that make her especially anxious. That's valid.

But the problem is that the game itself is the one fearmongering the player. The UI, which is literally not a biased narrator or a layered character but the thing that exists outside of the narrative to set a clear tone of what you are doing and what the consequences will be, is the one telling you "By freeing the archive this knowledge will be safely contained. By keeping it it will always pose a risk." It's worded as 'safe but costly choice' vs 'risky but rewarding choice', so the GAME is the one saying, factually, that "thedas will be safer if the books are burnt," and that's my issue.

They don't let you decide for yourself whether this knowledge is dangerous. They let you pick that option despite its inherent danger, according to them.

Characters get to spout as many fallacies as they want without me criticizing the writing for its shortcomings. The UI doesn't get the same treatment. I know it's pedantic, but analyzing who says what in a story is part of reading a story.

DAV should have left it at "keep the archive (knowledge will be studied)" or "free the archive (knowledge will be destroyed)" without further commentary and then we'd have your take (with Bellara's guilt and Cyrian's death providing the "if you would personally feel safer if the books burned" side of the ethical conundrum to the player), and it'd have been a lot better.

Also, when you put all of this in the context of how the elves have been treated in Thedas for a thousand years (but for that you need to have played the other games, since this one completely glosses over such an important piece of DA lore), and the stuff Bellara says if you free the archive, it gets real weird for the narrative to zoom in on THIS repository of knowledge alone as being dangerous, but that's something else entirely.

Bellara's main choice and DAV's implicit (or accidental) stance on book burning

Okay, so. Prefacing this with -- I enjoyed the game. I'd even play it again. That being said, one of its biggest flaws is trying to deliver something so morally sanitized it shies away from giving its characters (aside from Solas) and plotlines (aside from Solas's) real nuance. And in the same breath, they end up sending messages that I doubt they intended to send.

Bellara's main decision is particularly annoying to me.

First, I find her arc to be lacking -- She starts the game grieving her brother and blaming herself for his death despite not being responsible for it, then she finds Cyrian again only to grieve him again, so she's back to the start, only this time she has had the guilt removed from her because Cyrian tells her what she needs to hear, and the blame is placed on a big bad evil. Fair, fine.

But I don't like the cinematography of that scene at all. There was plenty of time for Rook and Bellara to react between Anaris grabbing Cyrian's foot and throwing him at the wall. People in Thedas have survived way worse injuries, too, and Bellara literally has healing at her disposal. Why doesn't she even try? His death is clearly plot-driven but it doesn't take her arc forward all that much? But again, that's fine. Not too bad.

But then the choice I have to make for her is whether or not to keep the archive, why? At no point in the game (please correct me if I'm wrong and missed canon information that contradicts me. That would make me way less angry!!!) do they tell us that it was Bellara using the Archive that summoned Anaris, or that it could summon him at will. As far as my interpretation goes, the Archive is, as its name says, the equivalent to a library curated by a comically self-aggrandizing jerk. At no point do we hear it share any actually dangerous lore either, do we? No blueprints for nuclear weapons...

So why does the game choose this wording:

Now, unless the Archive has powers we are unaware of, what this is saying is basically "burn the ancient elven library (it will be safe)" or "don't burn the ancient elven library (it will be dangerous)" and, for a game that is so irritatingly set on giving you only 2024-morality-board-approved goodTM and unproblematic companions and allies... Why does it tell me that burning books is the safe option, ESPECIALLY given that these books are priceless historical artefacts from a marginalized and subjugated ethinic group who have long lost their history to genocide? Like, wut?? Even if the Archive were in fact a dangerous weapon, the game shows us through the Veil Jumpers' vault that they have trained capable scholars and developed (or are developing, with Bellara spearheading it) safe tools to study and keep these artefacts. How condescending is it to tell them that they won't be able to safekeep this one? How pointless? (and her cutest armor AND best skill are locked behind that choice? outrageous lmao.)

And what pisses me off is that they had everything set up already, they just had to deliver it differently. If they told us explicitly that the archive is Anaris' phylactery and that keeping it would mean allowing Anaris to eventually come back? THEN we'd have a real danger. NOW there is a non-fascist risk to maintaining knowledge.

Or what if the only reason Cyrian is back is because Anaris brought him back? What if Cyrian's life is therefore tied to Anaris', and you had to choose between letting Anaris live (perhaps that results in him getting imprisoned in the Archive, tampering with the information in it and destroying its historical value forever, plus Anaris might one day figure out a way out) or killing Anaris for good even knowing that Cyrian will also die again if you do (but then the Dalish get to keep the archive and all the knowledge in it, and Cyrian's sacrifice is not in vain)? Or maybe... The Archive is a spirit, isn't it? Drive home the fact that being tied to that device was a cruel thing Anaris did to it, and keeping it there is just as cruel, even if it would mean giving the elves access to information. Make the wording "free the archive" really mean something here, and the player really think that the knowledge will be lost. Then maybe have it that, if she frees it, it gives her information freely and with its own interpretation of that knowledge, and THEN it leaves (so it's not forever but there is a reward for being compassionate). And if she keeps the spirit in the device, then it is always rude and it gives her information curated by Anaris' point of view, but it is available to all upcoming generations. It'd be real nice and nuanced to pit her compassion against her drive for knowledge. If this were DAO or DA2, you wouldn't make the choice FOR HER. You'd make the choice yourself because you are the leader, and if you chose to keep the spirit, you'd garner lots of negative points with Bellara (and with Emmrich) because, let's be honest, she is written as inherently more compassionate than driven, and she'd resent you making an oppressing choice even if it is well-meaning and good for her people (just like Alistair resents you killing Isolde even if he understands it was a difficult choice).

I just... So many ways it could have been an actually weighted choice, or that it could have affected your relationship with Bellara (and other companions) as Bioware RPGs were wont to do. They had a good set up, but the landing was absolutely bonkers.

[mcytegg]

Ash: I genuinely don't understand why you left Lala, and then left the Foundation like immediately. It can't just be because Minute killed you, that makes no sense.

Ro: I wasn't wanted.

posting the clip bc it genuinely makes me feel unwell but i also want to yap abt how insane ash and ro's entire convo makes me feel. like in this clip alone, the silence from them BOTH after ro says he wasn't wanted was so loud.

cause like earlier in the vod ro tells zam that although ash was one of his day 1 teammates, it was more against his will then not. like he felt like it was forced and more like ash's underling then his teammate. so him not actually feeling like he was part of the lala legion was obviously an issue that had roots from the very start, and these feelings only worsened and grew until eventually he ended up leaving the team AND the foundation (who only made his feelings of being unwanted and unvalued as Himself worse) to join the players, who actually seemed to genuinely want him on their side.

even AFTER he fucks up massively and ends up accidentally killing bacon w the arrow cannon instead of literally any of their enemies, they still want him there. despite their frustration and anger at him, he is still someone they want by their side. they don't kick him from the team or kill him like the foundation did the moment he fucked up, they accepted that he made a dumbass mistake as Their teammate and they dealt w the consequences of it and figured things out together.

bc he was more than just another person fighting by their side!! hes an idiot but he is THEIR idiot teammate roshambogames who they wanted to fight alongside them and thats what mattered most to him. feeling accepted and cared for by the people intent on ending the server in spite of his flaws and mistakes meant so much more to him then being w the people trying to protect it who only rly saw him as what he could Provide for them as a spare loyal member of the team.

and ro's convo w ash rly only confirmed to him that he was never valued as anything more than another teammate in the lala legion or the foundation bc ash Immediately disregards ro's words and calls it bs. and whats crazy is that ro was incredibly confident and sure of himself during their convo until ash started digging into him— calling him selfish and nothing but a violent person looking for an excuse to kill people and cause chaos. ash never seems to actually Listen to what ro has to say, he hears what he wants to hear, he berates ro yet begs for him to come back in the same breath. it was only after ash began doing this that ro began ro falter and lose some of his confidence, and its after ro begins to sound more uncertain that zam immediately gets clown to message ro to get out of there.

i assume it was zam bc clown was too busy hunting jumper to pay attention to ro's yaps w ash, and bacon nd zam were both watching it go down. and after rejoining the call, ro almost immediately gets his confidence back and all of the uncertainty he began to show bc of ash's words went away. they found jumper very shortly after ro rejoins which is also when zam and bacon start encouraging ro and boosting his confidence as well, making sure that he feels just as valued as clown is in this fight.

which is very 🥹🥹🥹 bc i'm growing attached to the players in general but it also feeds into my love for drastics too bc it rly does confirm to me that zam is probably the person (behind mapicc ofc) who makes ro feel most confident and comfortable w himself bc he understands ro better than most, and makes the effort to support him in the ways he needs to be supported so he feels seen and cared for.

[taffywabbit]

oops i accidentally wrote a review for zelda II: the adventure of link

(originally posted to Cohost on Feb 22, 2024. you can ignore this if you want, i just wanted it archived somewhere before that site disappears)

Finally beat Zelda II for the first time last night (I forced myself to finish it before starting Splatoon 3's Side Order DLC, because I knew if I didn't push through to the end of the Great Palace THIS time then it'd be years before I tried beating it again. This is probably my 4th or 5th attempt at this point). Not that this is a particularly hot take by most people's standards, but I don't think it's all that good, at least from a gameplay standpoint.

I don't regret playing it though, because I think I'm finally able to put my finger on the stuff I actually disliked about it vs the stuff that was honestly fine, or even (very rarely) actually good? I'm kinda fascinated by it, honestly. Sequels where they immediately screw around with the first game's formula (to mixed results) are neat! FE Gaiden is another example that comes to mind (hey they should give Zelda II the Shadows of Valentia treatment, that could be really cool actually).

Obviously Zelda II has a reputation for being kind of a rough experience. It's an NES game, and NES games are often susceptible to being frustrating, buggy, hard to control, or overly punishing. Sometimes, all of the above! And for what it's worth, the original Legend of Zelda was a tough and sometimes very cryptic experience as well. But I feel like the two games are challenging in drastically different ways, and I think TLoZ ended up being the formula that was retained in the long term primarily because its method of challenging the player overall did a better job of inspiring curiosity and exploration. Despite narratively being a direct sequel (with a really badass story premise that is unfortunately not really conveyed at all in-game) Zelda II took a different approach to nearly every element of the original's gameplay, which is a pretty bold move I suppose. Whether or not it succeeds at anything is fairly subjective, but it's undeniably had a lasting impact on the series, as well as the people who grew up with it (and then they went on to make some really excellent mid-2000's flash games inspired by it that I frankly enjoyed a lot more than this... and also a weirdly solid licensed Adventure Time game on the 3DS? I should go back and play that sometime, it's really fun).

Where to start with this...? Uhhh, the EXP-based leveling system where you choose what stats to put your points into is interesting! It creates a risk-and-reward system for fighting enemies instead of avoiding them, whereas in most other Zelda games besides BotW/TotK, the only reward for killing monsters is "they are no longer bothering you while you solve puzzles, and also sometimes they drop rupees/hearts/ammo". It also introduces a bit more player choice in what areas you'd like to get stronger in first, which is cool! I just wish it actually mattered in a way that let you feel powerful for even a moment. Instead, leveling Life (which is functionally just defense) is never enough to actually make you feel like you can afford to take a hit - the expectation seems to be that leveling Attack, Life, and Magic is something you do purely to keep up with how badly every single thing in this game wants to stomp you into the ground and soak up a million hits and waste all your magic. You CAN skip out on leveling one stat to prioritize another, or even try to evade tough combat situations entirely, but if you aren't leveled enough and in the exact things the game expects you to be WHEN it expects you to be, you'll immediately bump into some new asshole who jumps out of nowhere and can cut you down in 2-3 hits. Leveling doesn't make you tangibly stronger, it merely keeps the game barely playable.

This actually ends up being the core problem I have with Zelda II's design, far more than just the combat being clunky and overly punishing or the levels being visually samey and super hard to navigate. In most Zelda games (and also in a lot of other RPGs!), you get a better sword or a new power or item, and it opens up exciting new options for both exploration and combat. In Zelda II, you level up or earn a new item/spell, it's useful for maybe 20-30 minutes, and then it's immediately nullified. Wow, you got the Fire spell! Now you can finally deal with Tektites and Basilisks (which are immune to all other attacks) on the way to the next area! Well, I hope you had fun with that, because Fire doesn't work on most things you run into afterwards.

Easily the biggest game-changer is when you unlock the Downward Thrust sword technique, and finally have another option for combat besides just crouch-hopping and poking monsters with a dull butter knife. It's satisfying to use, it looks cool (by this game's standards), and it even has some utility for crossing hazards or defending yourself against swooping enemies! Cool! Unfortunately, they don't let you play around with that for long either, before nearly every enemy you see starts rolling up with helmets or shells that make them immune to attacks from above, and you never really get anything like that again (the Upward Thrust exists later, but it's far more situational and frankly not very fun or intuitive to use). Rather than feeling like you're being given tools to overcome challenges and stay above the difficulty curve, it feels like you're constantly just slightly underequipped for everything (even if you grind to earn extra stat levels) and any edge you're given is swiftly taken away from you. (Except the Reflect spell, which is ALWAYS a banger after you get it because it makes your shield Actually Do Its Damn Job after nearly every enemy starts shooting projectiles you can't block. Good work, Reflect spell.)

I feel like I grew up hearing plenty of people talk about the overall difficulty of Zelda II, though most of the complaints about its puzzles were surface-level jabs about the short cryptic NPC text, and none of that prepared me for just how ridiculously obtuse its mandatory puzzles/secrets can be. I genuinely have no idea how anyone would EVER find the Life spell - pretty much your ONLY source of healing outside of towns, since there are no hearts to pick up in this game - without some kind of guide. I was FURIOUS when I finally looked up where to find that lady's mirror and discovered that you have to walk into one of the houses, go over to the table that looks EXACTLY like every other table in every other house in the entirety of Hyrule, crouch, and press B, and you'll just pull the mirror out of nowhere. This type of interaction does not exist ANYWHERE else in the game and there's no in-game hint to indicate that you should try this. Absolutely maddening.

This and its predecessor are both games that seemingly expect you to have the physical manual on hand to help you find secrets, but at least in the first game, the way the game was designed was consistent enough that you COULD feasibly find your way to the end of it without a guide. Bombable walls in dungeons always being located in the center, things like that. It had rules and it could generally be trusted to follow them. Zelda II, in comparison, has a final level (the Great Palace) in which there are numerous rooms that look IDENTICAL and if you make one wrong turn you can go through the entire [very difficult and dangerous] dungeon on a path parallel to the one you need to be on, only to hit a dead end and be able to see the spot you're supposed to be reaching on the other side of a wall. Except you would also never KNOW you need to get there, because it looks like another dead end full of monsters but there's actually a completely invisible hole somewhere in the floor over there that drops you into the hallway leading towards the final boss. Also there is no map. TLoZ had a map. I don't know why this game doesn't have a map. Possibly because if you try to look up maps online, most of the dungeons feature non-Euclidean spaces? Idk, even a Super Metroid-style grid map would've done wonders here.

The combat is... fine? I truly don't understand how anyone thinks it's GREAT though. Zelda II is kind of like a version of Castlevania where you don't have a whip and instead have to stab everything at extremely short range, and also sometimes enemies have shields so you have to crouch sometimes to stop them from blocking you. It feels tense and high-stakes but only because, as I mentioned earlier, you really cannot afford to take stray hits in this game. Most enemies chew through your health at an alarming rate, even with the Shield spell active, and there's almost no way to replenish it unless you use a Life spell (which costs a huge chunk of your magic, possibly softlocking you if you end up in a place that requires other spells to progress). I got better at the combat over the course of my playthrough, but I never felt like I got good at it - most of my victories against strong enemies felt like pure luck and there were rarely consistent strategies for success. All of this combined with the fact that Zelda II has limited lives (and I mean LIMITED - there are only six 1-UPs in the entire game, which can each only be collected once) and getting a Game Over anywhere outside of the final palace will send you all the way back to the starting area, and it makes for an incredibly stressful experience. Even making use of savestates to lighten the fear of death can only do so much to improve it.

Overall, I think that Zelda II is a game that has a lot of really promising ideas, but then just absolutely flops when it comes to the execution. I didn't have a better way of organizing these but here are a few examples of elements I DID particularly like, even if they didn't always stick the landing:

I like the idea of the RPG leveling system in theory, but wish it was more empowering in practice and actually let the player make meaningful choices instead of just being required to survive. Choosing to hold off on a Life upgrade and instead save up just a little longer to boost your Attack feels awesome, until you time one of your inputs wrong and get destroyed. In a game with better-tuned difficulty and combat, this system would be great!

I REALLY like that Zelda II introduced a magic system to the series! I think it's cool as hell to have Link learning and casting spells to protect himself, solve puzzles, and exploit enemy weaknesses, instead of relying purely on items. (It's honestly weird to think that a system I associate so strongly with classic Zelda gameplay has only actually showed up in 4 of the games?? I guess you could consider the runes/hand abilities in BotW/TotK to be kind of like modern spells, or the slowly-refilling energy gauge in ALBW to be the most recent iteration of a Magic Meter, but both are highly debatable. Anyways I just think they should let Link shapeshift into a fairy again, that was cool.) But most of the spells in this are fairly situational and your access to magic refills is so limited that you rarely have the freedom to experiment with the spells' secondary functions (hey did you know the Spell spell turns most enemy types into slimes? that's wild. I wish I'd known that sooner).

The overworld functioning like a traditional JRPG, with top-down exploration broken up by semi-random enemy encounters, was something I honestly didn't hate. It's a little weird for Zelda, sure, but I could see it working well to support other systems in a more polished game. Overworld encounters that switch you into a type of gameplay other than turn-based JRPG combat are something I've always been fascinated by!

Anyways, weird game! I'm glad I finally got closure so I could figure out how I personally feel about it, independent of whatever the random youtubers I watched as a teenager thought. And now I never have to play it again :)

[dustcrumbs]

Ok, but in all honesty, I find it funny how similar Dust and Crosses story are

Cross n Dust both killed their entire AU, trying to stop something out of their own control.

Cross n Dust wanted to protect the people they loved the most.

Cross n Dust were both blinded by their own selfishness to see through their wrong doings.

Cross n Dust both struggle to communicate or express what they want.

Cross n Dust both don't know what life they want to lead.

They're both pathetic in their own ways but still intertwine in their choices.

And yet, Cross was the only one given more than one path. He was given more chances to find a place he belongs in. People cared about him more.

He was wanted.

Dust wasn't.

Don't get him wrong. He doesn't want to be saved. But he does wonder why no one had tried. Why no one had attempted to even throw a chocolate bar at him for some support, to give some hope, just something to tell him he's not alone in this.

Sure, you could argue that they seen the many variants of Cross pass through. He bonded with more people through these times.

But then why wouldn't they want to save a variant of the classic sans that they all love? The one who is the start of many people's stories. Why would they leave him to suffer with nothing left to defend? They don't know this specific variant, but they didn't know the specific Cross we know either. It was just a familiar face.

Oh, because they don't want to interfere? There isn't anything left to mess with, no other people. The player would've quit a long time ago, and that would mean that the timeline no longer serves a purpose. There won't be an impact on the timeline if you took the only thing existing in it. Leaving him to torture himself instead of bringing him into an omega timeline, seriously?

Oh, but he's a murderer! So what? Cross was tormenting and destroying/stealing parts of AU's, and they still let him into the omega timeline. He eliminated his entire AU and wiped it clean. Wouldn't that be more threatening than a guy who just killed only his(small) kind and not the global population?

Idk, I just think Dust would notice this and be absolutely pissed. Especially with how Cross views himself and the people around him. Cross is basically taking things that Dust can only dream of for granted. He says he doesn't have a home, but he doesn't understand what a home truly is. And Dust can't understand what makes him so special. Was it because X Gaster wanted to use him as some chess piece while Dust was a discarded tissue? Are people's lives truly dependent on what they can do over who they are.

Dust genuinely doesn't know. He feels betrayed by those who don't even know him. Dust is full of hate that there isn't any hope to see in a life other than crime. Crosses existence only solidifies that idea. After all, who would support him? Killer wouldn't. He isn't even sure Horror knows who he is. It's not like he would want him to. He doesn't need someone else to tell him how they'd have lived his life. How they would do something smarter. He's tired of people thinking they're better than him. When all of them are just hypocrites.

Anyways, sorry if I misspelled or made anything sound weird

Skibidi crumbs OUT!!

[lagerloutfic]

a tough as balls year for little old me, but as the old proverb goes, no matter the horrors there is always ao3 in bed. writing and reading.

doubled down on my love for hockey and feel like i understood the game better, imbued more of the narratives, and discovered more players to be stupid about.

stopped trying to fight being an f1 girlie and threw myself in head first. what a gorge little community of freaks (affectionate) who like to watch the zoom zoom.

here are some things i wrote. not sure if i love them all, but they were all glorious distractions and so i'm hopelessly fond. not a single word could have happened without @crunchycrispy, the eternal muse.

hockey stuff

🐶 got that dog in him | E | 7.1k | the connor mcdog fic haha...oh boy. the good news is i am not alone in thinking how much connor looks like bowie and the bad news is, we're all going to hell. despite living in fear someone is going to cancel me for bestiality, i loved writing connor/bowie pov and imagining my life as a pampered little pooch, beloved by all. on my wishlist for 2025, tbh.

💦 warm ride | E | 2.3k & wrap me round your wedding ring | E | 6.8k | William Nylander/John Tavares | eurosleaze 4 DILF captain shame writing willy is a true joy, thoroughly recommend everyone have a turn. this was darker that i usually go because i don't like to hurt my own feelings but i'm happy with how wet and pathetic JT turned out and the whole structure of part 2. 😈 love drunk off this hump | E | 8k | Frederik Andersen/Auston Matthews | the gang's all here and they are fucking idiots this might have been the most fun thing i wrote this year? just good vibes, silly times, a thrilling ensemble of dickheads being stupid hockey bros. everyone should jerk off with the homies, the thesis.

🥛 no use crying | E | 38.6K | Brock Boeser/William Nylander | milk bar fic sex-worker AU ummmm, look. i just wanted to write boys with big milk jugs. do these fellas know each other? no. does the world make sense? nah. did i have a fun time, YES.

🦷 different kind of buzz | E | 3.5k | Macklin Celebrini/Will Smith | | pain, teeth & horny 4 hockey | those fucking rookies, goddamn actually can't believe we are witnessing the birth of a new pairing right under our noses, but it's happening. we are living in the historical moment! thank you to all the sickos who are writing willmack, posting the content, thinking the thoughts. the real MVP of this season, along with @fast-burn for making it spesh.

🏒 let's call this the playoff hockey coping strategy collection 🏒

absolutely bonkers time where i dealt with playoff hockey through fanfiction. actually do not remember half of these, so that's cool.

say it, say it again | E | 4.1k | Leon Draisaitl/Connor McDavid | soft dick fic.

but close ain't close enough | E | 6.3k | Leon Draisaitl/Connor McDavid | get your captain pregnant with help from your girl

go ahead and try a little crazy on me | E | 4k & don't you even try and explain | e | 12.1k | Leon Draisaitl/Arturs Silovs | winner's room goalie fucking | whomst among us was not enchanted by arty during that series? probably the most enjoyable voice to write, i do really want to write a part three where everyone gets freaky in spain so someone bully me until i do it.

better put that business to bed | E | 2.8k | Leon Draisaitl/Connor McDavid | voice kink

just the touch of your hand | E | 3.4k | Leon Draisaitl/Connor McDavid | McDepression and spanking

if i could make a wish | E | 2.8k | Leon Draisaitl/Connor McDavid | omg, MORE McDrepression?? Get a new theme, girl!

i'm gonna tell you right now, they're all i'm thinkin' about | E | 7k | Leon Draisaitl/Connor McDavid | you are never gonna believe there's a THIRD McDepression fic out there by moi. This time with a cute outfit!

🏎️ f1 stuff 🏎️

👀 unsafe release | E | 18.2k | Alex Albon/George Russell | when that childhood friend becomes hot and weird and scary it's your girls first f1 fic! started life as a quinn/petey fic lol okay who is she? this was HARD to write. new fandoms are tricky, there's so much to learn. but good to be sobbing into the google doc at a million am, it builds character etc etc

🌪️ a lasting advantage | E | 18.7k | Alex Albon/George Russell | okay but actually i wasn't done with these bitches more of the same, but with extra mental breakdowns and lashings of shame! buttsex, finally, and a beloved OC.

💬 hot rookie slagsss | M | 5.7k | Alex Albon/George Russell/Lando Norris | horndogs in the groupchat i just wanted to write something with dialogue so i didn't have to bother with all the bits in between and text is so fun for that. so fun to thrash this out with @latecomersprivilege and @ctimenefic. it takes a village, y'all.

flippin' hell. when it's all laid out like that it's really something. what's next? i literally have no idea! how fun! thanks to anyone who interacted with me this year, the likes and comments and stupidity keep the motor running. open mouthed kisses for all xx

[sangreprince]

Em's Big Long Sappy New Year's Post Under The Silly Cut©

Hey y'all, I wanna say thank you so much for sticking around this year. It's been a wild ride, and this blog has gotten WAY more love than I ever thought possible. I still have yet to start working on the big post I wanna do that shouts out all of my moots, but still I'm so incredibly thankful to all of you who have been here this whole time.

And I know this is supposed to be a positive thing, but I also want to be real for a second here. This year's been tough.

I don't talk about it a lot but I've been really struggling with stuff, and it's things I don't hear talked about a lot. So here goes. I wanna talk about some mental health stuff I've gone through and where I'm at now. Maybe it'll make somebody's 2025 easier than my 2024. It'll end when the orange lines do.

─────────

I'm not a terribly social person, I prefer one on one interactions much more because it gives me a lot more energy to give people and makes me a lot less anxious than group stuff. I have to be pretty exceptionally comfortable to reach the same level of comfort with a group that I can easily find with individuals. And this year what I've really come to understand is how that happens.

I find that when I introduce myself into a group setting, I compare myself to others a lot. And that really sucks. It's not fair to me, or the people around me. I think a lot of it comes from coming from a 'pull yourself up by the boostraps' type household where failure just isn't an option, and I still think I struggle with the idea that I'm 'failing' if I'm not the best at a certain thing. And if I compare myself with other people, I'm never ever gonna be the best at everything because naturally somebody else is gonna be better at some things than you.

For me this habit has been a really big issue in my relationships in 2024 because I've gotten more involved in friend groups. I don't think I'm over this bad habit, but here's what I've learned: You can't compare yourself to others, because you're not them.

You can't be everybody's best friend because people don't need that. I don't think I could even handle more than a few very close friends ( But I don't think I'm necessarily super 'close' with anyone as I think most people only see what I want them to see, and I have immense trouble with actually showing people every side of who I am just because I'm still struggling with feeling comfortable with being truly vulnerable around people and not comfortably vulnerable )

This is hard to admit even as I'm writing it, but I think deep down I learned this year that I have an intense need to prove myself to somebody that doesn't exist. An idea of this 'perfect' version of myself I've conjured up in my head. And to those close friends who've seen me lose it damn near self-flagellating myself because I wasn't the best friend somebody has or best player on the team: Thank you. For being honest with me. For grounding me and splashing the proverbial water on my face and taking me out of my own headspace. This kinda growth is hard, and overnight change is... Unrealistic at best but I try and take your grace and trust that you place in me every day and overcome one step at a time.

And I hope that one day, I can repay the kindness and patience you've shown me. I'm not used to having friends, frankly. I didn't have any, not really, until about 2019/2020. I've always been a recluse, somebody who shied from getting close to anyone as a consequence of abuse. This ( I theorize ) has affected me down to my sexuality, identity, and habits I've taken into other relationships. I've only had true, close friends for about four or five years of my life total.

I am not used to it. And I fear, at times, this is painfully obvious. So to those who I call close : Thank you. You are what keeps me going. You are what I work towards and what I carry with me. I hope that one day I can get out of my own head about this stuff, about this notion I feel to constantly prove myself in some way or another. And I want you all to know that you're the reason I'm determined to make this change, no matter how hard it is or how long it takes.

─────────

Anyway... Now for the shoutouts. This is less heavy than all of the above and in no particular order of significance as I'm just going off the top of my head: I would include everybody I love talking to but oh my god I would be here all day and besides y'all are getting that in the future anyways so. This is just the short list of personal thank you's!!!

@espelharr You, much like the radiant Viktor you write, have been a catalyst of change for me in a lot of ways. You've helped keep me honest, and been honest with me. We're pretty close and I'll admit, it makes me a little quiet and a little nervous because I'm really not used to having somebody I would consider a friend like that. You are among a very small group of people that I can confidently say I dearly trust. I admit it's kind of alien to me. I honestly don't know what to say with regards to it because I'm not entirely sure I've developed the social skills to develop a relationship beyond what we have.

In other words, you've maxed out my friendship meter and exhausted my dialog. Well, not actually. I never shut the fuck up and you know that perfectly well. I know we're both goin through out shit but if I could give you one gift as a token of my appreciation, it would be to let you see yourself for one minute how I see you every second of every day of every year that's to come.

And that's coming from somebody who has no idea of what's to come. But if you'll have me, I'd like to be a part of it. Through thick and thin, wind rain and snow.

Thank you, friend. I am proud to call you this. You get the long post because it's the last bit of Em "I wanna step out of my comfort zone and be vulnerable" before I retreat into my ball again.

@lronwilled Shep I'm still so confused how you infected my friend groups and became so close to me LMAO LIKE IT JUST KINDA HAPPENED AND I can maybe pinpoint like. One or two instances of maybe where it began but I still honestly have an immense amount of appreciation for all the patience and kindness you've shown me. I'm incredibly glad to have met you and started to actually talk more and I hope in 2025 I can maybe finally give you more than one reply a year and oh my god I haven't replie-

@untoldwithin / @avatarwithin YETI... I adore having got to know you and plot stuff like we have. Your portrayals conjure the voices of those you portray to my mind, and talking with you about ideas is always such a blast?? I love seeing you on the dash and love doing things just as much. Here's to a 2025 filled with a LOT MORE of all of the above, I'm so ready for it!!

@plasticsouled / @fearedelight Sal I hope you know how much I love seeing your silly little self on the dash. Even your main blog with muses I know nothing about are stuffed full of life and so much passion that it makes me so glad to be here and be a part of it. You're a fantastic writing partner and I'm so thankful to have met you in the last quarter of this year, and I really hope we can expand on everything we have and more in what's to come!! I love our silly lil shippy stuff and being able to talk is always such a joy and I go pspspsppsp for you to give me any and all thoughts whenever you have them because I can't get enough.

@primegrim / @mirkc / any of your other blogs PICHU I'm so glad to have met you this year and had somebody to ramble with. You write like a thousand blorbos but I'm grabbing each and every one of them with both my hands. Being able to talk and plot and do whatever else is such a blessing and I'm so glad you're here with us. if possible I'd take all your characters and raise them up like Simba, I'm such a fan 24/7 no questions asked.

@jinxe RAY MY BELOVED you have been here with me since the Volibear days and I'm so thankful for it. I've made this known several times but your lil meow meow will always be at my heart and you alone have made me appreciate her as a character so much more than I ever thought possible. I wish you were here more because I would be GRABBING YOU at all possible times.

Honorable Mentions:

You guys already know I love and appreciate you so much, and this is by no means all inclusive. If you're not on here I probably just forgor because this post is already long and emotional for me so skdjhfsdkj here goes!

@rotdame / bloom @soulcluster / NERD (I had to) @luxcruor / sailor @curscdtm / nathy @decaeys / my favorite stinky goth irl toreador @venstm / Ray :3 @hexsreality / Itzel @edgymuses / Jolyne @nameaprice / Xena @pompedia / POM @erobret / FERGIE :D @blueheals & @heirashari / Evie @avernusfuries HANNNN- gets slammed through a wall @spiderwarden & @coldjustness Melody @lunaetis / Hina @blackrosesmatron / lucy

Thank you.

All of you.

Here's to a good 2025.

[gyaruhana]

hiiii can i please request a smutty (18+) fic of kang daeho x reader

so the idea is during the first few lights out (when the fights havent started yet) when it was daeho's turn to keep watch while the other slept, he overheard reader (who was in a nearby bed) twisting and turning in bed whilst moaning ang whimpering his name so blablabla things escelate (u can fill that part however u want) and it leads to daeho slowly fucking reader trying to keep quiet as to not wakeup any other players😣😣🙏🙏🙏

bye ive been thinking abt this idea for so long ive just been waiting for someone to write it😭😭😭

Kang Dae-ho/Player 388 - Keep it quiet

Synopsis: How could Dae-ho possibly stay focused when you were right there, moaning his name?

A/N: Finally dropping this Dae-ho fic too !! He's just a cutie really

Warning: smut content, just gently fucking tbh.. actually there's slight somno !!

In a death game like this, the idea of a relationship was the last thing on anyone's mind. Especially with tensions being so high between everyone due to the voting system put in place. You, yourself, were on edge and too focused on the lingering threat of death to divert your attention to other things like romance or friendships.

Most of the time, you stayed close to the little group you had joined with people you trusted now since they had saved you before and kept you safe. However, even with your little group that had a previous winner of these twisted games, you still felt on edge because Gi-hun had stated that an attack from the opposing side was not out of the question. The idea that someone might come and get you when you slept was unsettling but, if someone was going to keep watch with your newly-formed sleeping schedule, you suppose you'd feel much better. Especially if the person keeping watch tonight was Kang Dae-ho.

As much as you tried to avoid thinking about relationships because you could all die tomorrow, you couldn't stop thinking about Dae-ho. You couldn't explain why he made your heart race every time he'd talk to you. Hell, even a simple glance from him was enough to make your cheeks flush red. He just always treated you like a gentleman should treat a girl and you couldn't get him out of your head now. 

Apparently, he even came into your dreams now.

It was lights out and everyone but Dae-ho was asleep. He kept his eyes peeled, looking for anything or anyone suspicious. He wanted to make sure everyone was fine and that nothing was being plotted. It would be a disaster if an attack happened and more people had to lose their lives. He scanned the dark room for any movement that might just be barely noticeable. However, his focus was immediately broken when he heard a whimper.

He snapped his head toward the sound only to see you who was very much still sleeping soundly in bed with the blanket completely encasing you. His eyebrows furrowed in both confusion and worry before he looked away. Maybe he misheard you or you were just dreaming. He was sure you were fine so he didn't think about it again.

Well, at least he wasn't going to think about it until he heard the very clear sound of you moaning his name. His head looked over to you immediately in disbelief. He was in pure shock for a few moments and he sat there still, frozen, trying to process what was happening and whether this was just a dream. He really didn't believe that you were moaning his name so he stood up quietly and walked over to you.

Surely it was a mistake, right? You couldn't actually be moaning his name, right?? But then he heard it again and it made him flinch. He was in total shock once again as he watched you moan his name out and writhe. He had liked you for a while but he didn't think you would reciprocate his feelings. At least, he didn't think you liked him before this. Now it was clear that you did since you were having a less than appropriate dream about him which made you squirm and quietly cry out as you pleaded for more. He'd be lying if he said that your moans of his name didn't make him hard. He could feel his head start to spin at the idea of you needing him so badly - of you needing his cock. 

Fuck, maybe he should wake you up? But he really didn't want you to stop. Your moans were music to his ears and it’d be a shame to make it stop. He stayed still for a moment before coming to a not so smart decision. He slowly climbed onto the bed with you before whispering your name quietly in an attempt to coax you awake slowly. 

It was quiet for a moment and he suddenly got nervous that maybe you had actually woken up. He wasn’t even sure what to say if he did wake you up. He couldn’t just outright say he heard you moaning his name - that would be awkward. Thankfully, you suddenly let out another moan making him sigh quietly in relief. He gently placed one of his hands over your mouth to muffle your voice so as to not have anyone else hear you and wake up. 

He bit his bottom lip as he thought long and hard about what to do next. He knew he probably shouldn't do what his dick wanted him to but he also didn't want to wake you up because you were clearly enjoying the dream. It'd be rude to make it stop. He swallowed nervously before letting out a shaky breath and deciding to just go for it. He could deal with the consequences that may come later. 

Without another thought, he slowly slipped your pants down. He knew it was probably stupid to be doing this but he was so hard and he needed to feel you wrapped around his cock. He quickly pulled his own pants down along with his boxers and crawled on top of you slowly so as not to rouse you from your sleep. He didn't know what was possessing him to do this but he slowly leaned down and gently kissed your neck. The sweet sound that came out of your mouth when he did was muffled by his hand but, God, it still sounded amazing. 

He lowered a hand down to push your panties to the side and he could feel how wet you were, your slick connecting to his fingers. He had to hold back a groan because of it. He couldn't believe you were this wet and all because of him. You must be having a really good dream and Dae-ho convinced himself that it would be a good idea to make it a reality.

He lined himself up with your hole and slowly rubbed his tip up and down to gather your wetness on his cock. “Oh my god..” he said quietly as he felt your hole pulse against him. He wanted to feel you so badly now. The idea of making you moan out his name as he thrust into your tight hole had him going insane. When he pushed his tip in, he swore he almost released on the spot. You were so tight and he had never felt anything so amazing before.

“Baby, you're so tight..” he mumbled as he buried his face into your neck. He slowly inched himself deeper as he bit into your neck to muffle his whines. He was embarrassed by how sensitive he was and how he was getting so loud when he was only halfway inside you. He decided to get it out of the way and finally managed to push all the way in to your cunt. He shut his eyes tight and tried to get used to the overwhelming feeling of your walls wrapped around his cock. HIs hands went to your waist as he gripped it tightly.

He was just about to start moving when he heard you speak. 

“Dae-ho..?” You spoke and, when he looked at you, your eyes were open now. His breath hitched nervously as he looked at you with wide eyes. Fuck, he had been caught. “Shit, I'm sorry. I just heard you making those sounds and I couldn't help myself,” he says as he hides his face in your neck again.

“Please let me fuck you. Please,” he begged as he rolled his hips against yours slightly in order to try to coax you into giving him what he wanted. The sweet moan you let out made it impossible for him to hold back now and he decided that he was going to take what he wanted.

“Shh. We have to be- quiet,” he whispered as he started thrusting into you. Waking someone else up right now was not an option which is why you both needed to be quiet. He made sure to keep his thrusts gentle so you wouldn't be too loud but it honestly made it feel a million times better. You could feel every inch of his cock slowly push in before he pulled all the way out only to thrust back in again.

He let out small grunts into your ear as he kept his slow yet deep pace. You didn’t expect him to be so long but he was. Every time he pushed into your hole, you swore you could feel him fill you up entirely. He slowly slipped his hand underneath your shirt and brought his hand to your chest to squeeze at your tit. 

“You're doing so good for me, baby. Oh my god,” he whispered quietly as he thrust in with a little bit more force. He could feel himself getting closer to a sweet release so he grabbed your thigh and lifted your leg to put it over his shoulder. The new angle made him reach even deeper inside you as he continued to thrust and it was leaving you dizzy with pleasure.

His thrusts slowly became sloppy until he couldn't handle it and started leaving kisses all over your neck to try to mark you desperately. “Please let me cum inside. I wanna pump you full of my cum,” he begged as he started to thrust faster. You mindlessly nodded your head as you put your arms around his neck. In no world would you ever deny Dae-ho the chance of emptying his load into your womb. You’d gladly let him breed you anyday.

Your nod encouraged him to go faster and, before he knew it, he was releasing inside you with a growl. You released with him and he slowed his thrusts down to bring you back down from your high before stopping altogether and collapsing on top of you.

“God, you're so perfect,” he spoke before before bringing his lips to yours and kissing you for the first time that night. The kiss was gentle yet passionate and he poured all his feelings into it. When he finally pulled away after the both of you were breathless, he pressed his forehead against yours and closed his eyes. After a few moments of silence, he smiled and let out a breathless laugh before opening his eyes again.

“I think I love you,”

[fruitbasketball]

yes, you just named three real tests that Paige had her freshman year. Compare that how many real tests every other NPOY candidate had (hint: it was a lot more because they all played in real conferences). also you seem to forget they lost to Arkansas and should’ve lost to Baylor lmaoooo. you all spend SO MUCH time critiquing other players, saying they didn’t deserve their awards, but can’t stand when someone says it about Paige? A bit hypocritical wouldn’t you say?

so i did mention that they lost to arkansas!! super cool that you missed reading that!! lets exercise our literacy more ❤️❤️❤️

“should’ve lost to baylor” what the fuck does that mean 😭😭😭 did you have the script?? was it not followed?? you sound dumb as hell bro “should’ve lost to baylor” oh but they didn’t! and i’d argue that if you win a game you “should’ve lost” - you’re passing the damn test

the crazy thing is that even though you’re saying they don’t play in a real conference (which you’re right about!) or didn’t face enough real tests… uconn has still made the final 4 the most consistently over the past few years. those girls are PREPARED for march. honestly - you’re making my argument. you’re saying that paige played mickey mouse teams ALL SEASON and still showed tf up in march?? she still dropped 28 on a kim mulkey baylor team? she still took her team to a final 4? sounds like npoy shit to me. you can whine and kick and scream all you want - the truth is that paige deserved that award.

i also noticed that you failed to rebut the stats she was putting up (on a team full of fellow hs all americans and t10 recruits btw) OR all the other awards she won just because of the hype! i hope you don’t think you’re winning this argument pookie!! you sound stupid as fuck!!

you better watch who you’re calling a hypocrite fr 😭😭 i urge you to look through my page baby, bc i am also the first person to critique paige when she’s fucking up. when she shoots 2-11, when she gets outplayed, i will SAY THAT.

but what i’m not gonna do is lie. it’s so fucking pointless to have this discourse. you know you’re wrong, you’re just grasping at straws. you couldn’t even attack 2/3 arguments, you failed to rebut the 3rd, and now this is just embarrassing for you.

it is so so sad to see people bullshitting like this. we don’t gotta lie either way!! you don’t gotta lie and act like she played better than she did in certain games, you don’t gotta lie and act like what she did her freshman year wasn’t really fuckin impressive and wasn’t historic. i WILL critique paige when NECESSARY - but what i’m NOT boutta do is discredit one of the most historic freshman seasons in ncaa history.

[daizedndconfused]

What gifts would you give the ninjago characters? Hope ur having a happy holiday

aww thank you!! i had so much fun haha but let’s get into this

gifts id give the ninja

kai

to be funny id give him like an absurd amount of hair gel with his name and face on it i think it’d be hilarious

as a genuine gift i’d get him fireworks. THIS MAY SEEM ODD BUT HEAR ME OUT. he’s hot headed we all know that and i feel like he’d have so much fun going into the middle of nowhere and lighting a bunch of fireworks

i’d ALSO get him tickets to a rage room. personally i’ve never been to one but k really want to and i think kai would THRIVE. he gets to whack the shit out of things for funsies and LEGALLY!! what could be better??

cole

id get him a record player and some old records to go with it

i’d also get him a new guitar because (again if you read my fics yk how i feel about this) he’s probably been wanting a new one for so long but doesn’t actually ask for one cause they’re expensive (DONT CARE ILL BUY IT!!)

i would get him lego lily flowers because…yk that was his moms name and they’ll never die cause they’re legos

jay

a new video fr or like a gift card for game stores cause he needs to play something new im begging

i’d also get him legos but like i’d get him a really big one that’s at least 1000 pieces cause he goes through that shit sooo fast

anddd id get him a lightsaber because ik he’d have fun with it

zane

to be funny (again cause i’m hilarious) id get him a snow cone maker

as a genuine gift i’d get him a STACK of beautifully bonded classic literature along with some cute sweater cause they’d look good on him ik it

lastly i’m getting him a heated blanket… he’s gotta be tired of being cold all the time just be cozy pleaseeee

lloyd

i’m giving him an entire comic book series (or at least a good chunk cause there’s so many in one series

i’d also give him a cute framed picture of when he was a kid because my poor boy did NOT get enough of a childhood

on that similar note i’d give him things he used to like as a kid like action figures cause he defo collects them

nya

my girl nya gets an old motorcycle that i found for cheap that she can take a part and make better. ik she’ll add whatever the hell she wants to it and make it an absolute MACHINE

i’d also get her a leather jacket with like a little lightning bolt on one sleeve and a drop of water on the other she loves jay after all

again to be funny id get her a do not disturb thing to put on her door cause she needs rest sometimes and ALSO one of those little mini punching bags cause home girl also has some anger issues

[ouiouibaguettt]

Adore You

wbb masterlist

YN -> your name.

8,5k words

The sun was setting over Brooklyn, casting a warm orange glow across the apartment that YN Curry shared with her girlfriend, Sabrina Ionescu. It had been a long day for YN, and the weight of the news she’d received just hours ago was pressing heavily on her chest.

The sound of the front door closing pulled her from her thoughts. Sabrina strolled in, her bag slung over her shoulder and a smile on her face. “Hey, babe,” she greeted, dropping her things by the door and making her way to the couch. “You good?”

YN forced a small smile, but Sabrina immediately caught the tension in her expression. “What’s wrong?” she asked, her smile fading as she sat beside YN, placing a hand on her knee.

There was no easy way to say it. YN took a deep breath, her voice trembling slightly as she said, “I got traded.”

Sabrina blinked, her brows knitting together in confusion. “Traded? What do you mean?”

“Liberty traded me” YN repeated, her voice soft but steady. “To the Golden State Valkyries.”

For a moment, Sabrina just stared at her, the words sinking in. “Wait… what? Are you serious?”

YN nodded, her throat tightening. “It’s already done. I’m leaving for San Francisco next week.”

Sabrina leaned back, her jaw tightening as she processed the news. “Why? Why would they do that? You’ve been one of our best players. This doesn’t make any sense.”

“It’s just business” YN said, though the words felt hollow. “They probably needed to free up space or get some assets in return. Trades happen all the time.”

Sabrina shook her head, frustration evident in her posture. “This isn’t just some trade, YN. This is you. This is us. How am I supposed to—” She cut herself off, running a hand through her hair.

The room fell silent, the air thick with unspoken tension. YN reached for Sabrina’s hand, her touch gentle but firm. “I didn’t ask for this, Sab. If I could stay here, I would. But I don’t have a choice.”

Sabrina looked at her, the hurt and frustration in her eyes slowly giving way to something softer. She squeezed YN’s hand, her voice quiet. “I know it’s not your fault. I just… I’m going to miss you so much.”

______________________________________________________________________

The evening before YN’s flight to San Francisco was bittersweet. The apartment was littered with half-packed boxes, and the reality of the situation was finally sinking in for both of them.

Sabrina sat cross-legged on the bed, watching as YN carefully folded a stack of jerseys to pack in her suitcase. “You know, this is going to be weird,” Sabrina said, her voice light but tinged with sadness. “Seeing you in a Valkyries uniform instead of Liberty blue.”

YN chuckled softly, setting the jerseys aside and moving to sit beside her. “I’ll still be the same player. Just… with a new logo.”

Sabrina gave her a small smile, but her eyes were glassy. “It’s not just the jersey, YN. It’s everything. The games, the road trips, coming home to you after practice. I don’t want to lose all of that.”

“You’re not losing me” YN said firmly, taking Sabrina’s face in her hands. “We’re going to make this work. It’s just a flight away, and I’ll call you every day. I promise.”

Sabrina leaned into her touch, her lips curving into a faint smile. “I’m holding you to that promise.”

YN leaned in, their foreheads touching. “I love you” she murmured.

“I love you too” Sabrina whispered back.

Their lips met in a slow, passionate kiss, the kind that spoke of love and longing all at once. Sabrina shifted closer, her hands trailing up YN’s back as the kiss deepened. For a while, they forgot about the boxes, the distance, and the uncertainty of the future. In that moment, it was just the two of them, holding onto each other as tightly as they could.

When they finally pulled apart, Sabrina rested her head on YN’s shoulder, her voice soft. “You better kill it out there in San Francisco. Show them exactly what they got.”

“Oh, don’t worry” YN said, smirking. “I plan to.”

______________________________________________________________________

The transition to the Golden State Valkyries was as smooth as YN Curry could have hoped for. The team welcomed her with open arms, and being back in the Bay Area meant more time with her family. Steph and Ayesha were thrilled to have her close, and the buzz surrounding her addition to the new franchise brought a wave of excitement to the WNBA community.

But even with the warm reception and promising start to the season, YN couldn’t shake the ache in her chest. Brooklyn had been her home. Sabrina had been her home.

Sabrina sat in the Liberty locker room, scrolling through highlights of YN’s Valkyries debut. Her girlfriend had been spectacular, dropping 22 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists in her first game with the team. The crowd had chanted YN’s name, and social media was ablaze with praise.

Sabrina should have felt nothing but pride. Instead, she felt a gnawing sadness. YN looked so happy out there—so settled in San Francisco. Sabrina couldn’t help but wonder if YN missed her as much as she missed YN.

“Hey, Ionescu” one of her teammates called, snapping her out of her thoughts. “You good?”

Sabrina forced a smile. “Yeah, I’m good.”

But she wasn’t.

Later that night, Sabrina called YN, her heart racing as she waited for her to pick up.

“Hey, babe” YN answered, her voice warm. “What’s up?”

“Nothing much,” Sabrina said, trying to keep her tone light. “Just wanted to hear your voice.”

“Well, you’ve got perfect timing” YN said with a chuckle. “I was just about to call you. How’s everything in New York?”

Sabrina hesitated. “It’s fine. Same as always. How about you? How’s San Francisco?”

“It’s… good” YN said, though there was a hint of hesitation in her voice. “The team’s great, and the city’s beautiful. But I miss you.”

Sabrina’s breath hitched. “You do?”

“Of course I do” YN said, her voice softening. “Every time I step onto the court, I think about you. It’s not the same without you here.”

Sabrina closed her eyes, letting the words wash over her. “I miss you too. More than you know.”

For a moment, neither of them spoke, the silence filled with unspoken longing.

______________________________________________________________________

Two weeks later, Sabrina found herself on a flight to San Francisco. The Liberty had a short break in their schedule, and she wasn’t going to waste the opportunity to see YN.

When she arrived at YN’s apartment, the door flew open before she even had a chance to knock. YN pulled her into a tight hug, lifting her off the ground as Sabrina laughed.

“I can’t believe you’re here,” YN said, her smile brighter than the California sun.

“I missed you” Sabrina admitted, her arms wrapped around YN’s neck.

“I missed you too” YN said before leaning down to kiss her. It was a kiss filled with love and relief, the kind that made all the distance and late-night phone calls worth it.

They spent the next two days together, exploring the city and soaking up every moment they had. YN introduced Sabrina to her teammates, who immediately teased YN for being so obviously whipped.

“She hasn’t stopped smiling since you got here,” one of the Valkyries joked, earning a playful shove from YN.

“Can you blame me?” YN shot back, pulling Sabrina closer.

When it was time for Sabrina to head back to New York, the goodbye was harder than either of them expected.

“You’re going to kill it out there” YN said, holding Sabrina’s hands tightly.

“So are you” Sabrina replied. “Just… don’t forget to call me after every game, okay?”

“I promise” YN said, leaning in for one last kiss. “I love you.”

“I love you too” Sabrina whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

As Sabrina walked away, YN watched her go, already counting down the days until they could be together again.

The distance was tough, but their love was tougher. Even across the country, they were each other’s biggest cheerleaders, proving that no trade or time zone could come between them.

______________________________________________________________________

The weeks apart began to feel heavier. YN was thriving in San Francisco with the Valkyries, her name echoing through arenas as she dominated games. But as her career soared, her relationship with Sabrina felt like it was plummeting.

The calls became shorter, the texts less frequent. Sabrina was drowning in her own demanding season with the Liberty, the weight of expectations and the ache of missing YN wearing her thin. Their once easy conversations now felt strained, every exchange laced with unspoken frustrations.

It happened late one night. Sabrina had just finished a grueling game, her body aching and her mind racing. She checked her phone, hoping for a message from YN to brighten her mood. Instead, she saw an Instagram story: YN out with her teammates, laughing and carefree at a team dinner.

Jealousy and exhaustion clawed at Sabrina’s chest. Without thinking, she called YN.

“Hey, babe” YN answered, her voice light. “What’s up?”

“What’s up?” Sabrina repeated, her tone sharp. “I don’t know, YN. Maybe the fact that I haven’t heard from you in three days?”

YN frowned. “Sab, I’ve been busy. We’ve had back-to-back games and team stuff. You know how it is.”

“Yeah, I do” Sabrina snapped. “But somehow, you always seem to have time for everyone else.”

“That’s not fair” YN said, her voice hardening. “I’ve been trying to balance everything, just like you are. You’re not exactly calling me every day either.”

The words spilled out before Sabrina could stop them. “Maybe this isn’t working anymore, YN. Maybe we’re fooling ourselves thinking we can do this.”

Silence.

When YN finally spoke, her voice was cold and distant. “If that’s how you feel, Sabrina, then maybe we shouldn’t.”

Before Sabrina could respond, the line went dead.

The days after the call were unbearable. Sabrina threw herself into basketball, hoping it would distract her from the gnawing emptiness inside her. But every time she stepped off the court, she felt the weight of YN’s absence like a physical ache.

Across the country, YN was equally miserable. She’d put on a brave face for her teammates, but inside, she was breaking. Every time her phone buzzed, she hoped it was Sabrina. But the silence between them stretched on, and with each passing day, the distance felt more permanent.

“You okay?” one of her Valkyries teammates, Iliana Rupert, asked one evening after practice.

“Yeah” YN lied, forcing a smile.

“Bullshit” Iliana said, crossing her arms. “You’ve been off for days. If this is about your girl, fix it. You’re miserable, and it’s making the rest of us miserable too.”

YN sighed, her shoulders slumping. “I don’t know if it’s fixable.”

“Only one way to find out” Iliana said with a shrug. “But sitting here sulking isn’t it.”

______________________________________________________________________

It was a week later when Sabrina finally cracked. She couldn’t go another day without YN. She booked a last-minute flight to San Francisco, her heart pounding the entire way.

When she arrived at YN’s apartment, she hesitated before knocking. When the door opened, YN stood there, her expression a mix of surprise and guardedness.

“Sabrina” YN said, her voice neutral.

“Can I come in?” Sabrina asked, her voice shaky.

YN stepped aside, closing the door behind her. They stood in silence for a moment before Sabrina spoke, her words tumbling out in a rush.

“I’m sorry” she said, her eyes filling with tears. “I was frustrated and tired, and I took it out on you. I didn’t mean what I said. I don’t want to lose you, YN. You mean everything to me.”

YN crossed her arms, her gaze softening but still wary. “You really hurt me, Sabrina. You made me feel like I wasn’t enough.”

“You are enough” Sabrina said, stepping closer. “You’re more than enough. I just—I was scared. Scared that I was losing you, and I didn’t know how to handle it.”

YN’s eyes brimmed with tears. “You could’ve just told me that.”

“I know” Sabrina whispered, her voice breaking. “I’m so sorry.”

YN stared at her for a long moment before letting out a shaky breath. “You’re such an idiot.”

And then she closed the distance between them, her lips crashing against Sabrina’s in a desperate, heated kiss. Sabrina responded immediately, her hands tangling in YN’s hair as she poured all her love and regret into the kiss.

YN pulled Sabrina closer, their bodies pressed together as the kiss deepened. It was messy and passionate, filled with the intensity of everything they’d been holding back.

When they finally broke apart, both of them were breathless.

“I love you” Sabrina said, her forehead resting against YN’s. “I’ll do whatever it takes to make this work.”

“I love you too” YN said, her voice soft but sure. “Just… don’t shut me out again, okay?”

“I won’t” Sabrina promised, sealing her words with another kiss.

That night, as they lay tangled together on the couch, the weight of the past weeks melted away. It wouldn’t be easy, but they both knew their love was worth fighting for.

______________________________________________________________________

The air between them had lightened after Sabrina’s heartfelt apology. While the distance and challenges of their careers remained, their love felt stronger, more resilient. Both of them made a conscious effort to prioritize each other in ways they hadn’t before, and it showed.

A few weeks after their reconciliation, YN found herself finishing up practice when one of her teammates, Kate Martin, jogged up to her with a mischievous grin.

“Someone’s here to see you” Kate said, jerking her thumb toward the entrance.

“What?” YN asked, confused. She turned toward the doors and froze. Standing there, leaning casually against the wall, was Sabrina.

“Sab?” YN breathed, her heart skipping a beat.

Sabrina’s face lit up at the sight of her, and she pushed off the wall, walking over to YN. “Hey, baby,” she said, her voice soft and full of affection.

“What are you doing here?” YN asked, her grin widening as she wrapped her arms around Sabrina’s neck.

“Had a few days off” Sabrina said, pulling YN closer by the waist. “Figured I’d spend them with my favorite person.”

YN laughed, her cheeks flushing. “You’re ridiculous.”

“You love it” Sabrina teased before leaning in to press a soft kiss to YN’s lips.

Around them, YN’s teammates let out exaggerated groans and whistles.

“Get a room!” Iliana called, making the rest of the team burst into laughter.

YN pulled back slightly, her face warm. “Ignore them” she whispered before kissing Sabrina again, earning more cheers from her teammates.

The next day, YN had a rare morning off, and Sabrina was determined to make the most of it. She’d woken up earlier, sneaking out to grab breakfast from a nearby café.

When YN finally stirred, Sabrina was sitting cross-legged on the bed, a tray of pastries and coffee beside her.

“Morning, sleepyhead” Sabrina said with a playful smile.

YN groaned, rubbing her eyes. “What’s all this?”

“Breakfast in bed” Sabrina said, holding out a croissant. “Figured you deserved some spoiling.”

YN sat up, her hair a mess and her face still soft with sleep. “You’re too good to me,” she mumbled, taking a bite of the croissant.

“Not possible” Sabrina said, leaning over to kiss YN’s cheek.

YN turned her head, catching Sabrina’s lips with her own. The kiss was slow and sweet, the kind that made Sabrina’s heart feel full to bursting.

“I could get used to this” YN said when they finally pulled apart.

“Good” Sabrina said with a grin. “Because I’m not going anywhere.”

A few days later, Sabrina accompanied YN to a Valkyries game. She sat courtside, wearing YN’s jersey with pride, her eyes glued to her girlfriend the entire time.

When YN hit a game-winning three-pointer in the final seconds, the crowd erupted. YN turned immediately toward Sabrina, pointing at her with a triumphant grin.

After the game, YN jogged over to Sabrina, ignoring the cameras and fans. She leaned over the barrier, pulling Sabrina into a kiss that left no doubt about her feelings.

“You’re amazing” Sabrina said, her hands resting on YN’s cheeks.

“No, you are” YN said with a laugh, kissing her again.

That evening, the two of them curled up on YN’s couch, a movie playing in the background as they talked and laughed. Sabrina had her head resting on YN’s chest, their fingers intertwined.

“Do you ever think about the future?” Sabrina asked softly, her voice almost hesitant.

“All the time” YN admitted, brushing her thumb over Sabrina’s knuckles. “And you’re always in it.”

Sabrina tilted her head up to look at YN, her eyes shining with emotion. “You mean that?”

“Of course” YN said, leaning down to kiss Sabrina gently. “You’re it for me, Sab.”

Sabrina smiled against YN’s lips, her heart feeling impossibly full. “I love you” she whispered.

“I love you too” YN said, her voice steady and sure.

______________________________________________________________________

In the weeks that followed, YN and Sabrina found a rhythm that worked for them. They were still navigating the challenges of their careers, but they did so together, their love a steady foundation.

And though the road ahead wasn’t always easy, they knew they could face anything—as long as they had each other.

______________________________________________________________________

The room was dim, the only light coming from the soft glow of the city streetlights outside. YN and Sabrina were lying side by side on YN’s bed, the air between them comfortable, filled with the quiet hum of the world beyond the walls.

YN’s head rested on Sabrina’s chest, her fingers absentmindedly tracing small patterns on her girlfriend’s shirt. They hadn’t said much in the past few minutes, both lost in their thoughts, savoring the peace they had found in each other’s presence after a long day of practice.

Finally, Sabrina broke the silence, her voice soft but steady. “Do you ever think about the first time we met?”

YN smiled, the memory flooding back instantly. “Yeah,” she said, shifting slightly to look up at Sabrina. “I do. You were laughing with your teammates, and I swear, I couldn’t take my eyes off you.”

Sabrina chuckled, tucking a strand of YN’s hair behind her ear. “I remember thinking you were so focused, so intense. You’ve got this drive that’s impossible to ignore.”

YN’s eyes softened as she looked at her. “And I remember thinking that you were way out of my league, but I was too intrigued to stay away.”

Sabrina grinned at that, her heart swelling in her chest. “You were nervous, weren’t you?”

YN nodded, her smile a little sheepish. “I was terrified, to be honest. I had never felt that kind of pull toward someone before. But then you looked at me, and I couldn’t stop thinking about you after that.”

They both fell into a comfortable silence again, the weight of the moment sitting between them like a secret only they understood.

______________________________________________________________________

The first time YN saw Sabrina play was during a Liberty game. YN had been in the stands, her family cheering on their respective teams, but her eyes were fixated on one person: Sabrina.

She had always admired her skills on the court, but seeing it firsthand was something else entirely. Sabrina’s movement was fluid, her vision on the court precise, and her leadership undeniable. YN had felt an overwhelming sense of admiration, but also something more, something deeper. As Sabrina hit a clutch shot in the final seconds of the game, YN couldn’t help but whisper to herself, That’s the woman I want to be with.

When they first kissed, it had been during a quiet evening, just the two of them. After dinner, they had walked to the balcony to watch the sunset together. There was a sense of calm in the air, a mutual understanding that something was happening between them. Their first kiss was soft, tentative, full of sweetness. It felt like the beginning of something that couldn’t be undone.

The first date was nothing like either of them had expected. Sabrina had insisted on cooking for YN, and despite her usual confidence, she had been nervous in the kitchen. YN had teased her about it, but it only made the evening that much more memorable. After dinner, they ended up staying up late talking, sharing stories from their childhoods, their dreams, and their hopes. And when Sabrina had leaned in to kiss YN again, YN had kissed her back with a certainty she hadn’t felt before.

Their first night together had been filled with the kind of intimacy that didn’t need words. It was a night of discovery, of finding new ways to touch, to hold, and to understand each other. The moment they shared wasn’t rushed, it wasn’t about anything other than the undeniable connection they had built.

The first “I love you” had been a quiet confession, whispered in the dark. YN had been surprised when Sabrina said it first, her voice trembling with honesty. But YN had known. She had known in that moment that she loved Sabrina, too.

And then, of course, their first argument. The tension had been building for weeks, a mix of unspoken fears and insecurities. But it had been necessary. It had brought them closer together. It was through that argument that they realized how deeply they cared for each other, and how important it was to communicate, to always be there for one another.

______________________________________________________________________

YN shifted again, rolling onto her side to face Sabrina. “You ever think about the future?” she asked quietly, her voice filled with uncertainty.

Sabrina’s eyes met hers, soft yet searching. “I think about it all the time.” She reached out to trace YN’s jawline with her fingers. “But I never know what’s coming. I know I want you in it, though.”

YN smiled at that, her heart swelling in her chest. “Me too. I don’t know where my career will take me, and I don’t know what’s next for us. But I want to keep doing this—being with you. No matter what.”

Sabrina nodded, a small smile playing at her lips. “I’m not going anywhere, YN. No matter how far apart we might end up, I’ll always be there for you. We’ll make it work. You and me.”

The weight of Sabrina’s words settled into YN’s heart, solidifying the bond between them. She had always known that nothing would come easy—nothing ever did for them—but the promise Sabrina had made gave YN hope.

YN leaned in and kissed Sabrina, the kiss deep and full of the love that had been growing between them since the day they met. It was an unspoken promise, a vow that no matter where their journeys took them, they would always find their way back to each other.

After a moment, they pulled away, both breathing a little heavier. YN rested her forehead against Sabrina’s. “No matter what the future holds, I want to face it with you by my side.”

Sabrina’s eyes softened, and she kissed YN’s forehead gently. “We’ll take it one step at a time, together.”

And for the first time, YN felt at peace with whatever the future might bring, because she knew they would face it together.

______________________________________________________________________

The court was packed with fans, the atmosphere electric. It was the final game of the season, the game everyone had been waiting for—the game where Sabrina Ionescu and YN faced off against each other. But this time, it wasn’t just about basketball.

YN had been planning this moment for weeks, crafting the perfect proposal for the woman she loved. The team had been in on it from the start, all of them eagerly anticipating the big moment. But for now, it was all about the game.

Both teams had been playing fiercely. The Golden State Valkyries and the Liberty had been neck and neck throughout the entire match, neither team willing to give an inch. Every pass, every shot, every rebound felt like it was going to determine the fate of not just the game, but something far more important.

As the game neared its end, the score was still tied. YN’s heart raced—not from the pressure of the game, but from the anticipation of what was coming next. She could feel the tension in the air, the weight of the moment pressing down on her shoulders. This was it. Win or lose, she was about to ask Sabrina to spend the rest of her life with her.

The clock ticked down to the final moments of the game. YN dribbled the ball with purpose, sweat dripping down her face, her eyes fixed on the basket. Sabrina was guarding her closely, her focus unshakable. They were both determined to win, but only one of them could walk away with the victory.

YN’s heart pounded in her chest as she made her move, weaving past Sabrina with a burst of speed. She faked left, then pivoted right, jumping for the shot. The ball flew through the air in slow motion, and for a brief second, everything went quiet.

It landed perfectly in the net. The crowd erupted in cheers as the buzzer sounded, signaling the end of the game. The Valkyries had won.

As the celebration began, YN caught Sabrina’s eye from across the court. There was a look in Sabrina’s eyes—pride, respect, and something deeper, something more vulnerable. YN could see it, too: Sabrina’s love for her, no matter the outcome of the game.

The teams exchanged congratulations, but YN’s focus remained on one thing. She didn’t need to celebrate the win just yet. She had something more important to do.

______________________________________________________________________

Back in the locker room, YN’s teammates helped set up the final piece of the plan. A massive poster was rolled out in front of Sabrina, who had just come in, still wiping the sweat from her face.

The poster was large, with bold, playful letters sprawled across it. On it, YN’s message waited for Sabrina, who stood frozen, her breath caught in her chest as she read the words:

“Will you make me the happiest winner in the world by marrying me?”

Sabrina’s eyes went wide, and her hand flew to her mouth in shock. YN was standing beside the poster, waiting for Sabrina’s reaction. She had kept this secret for months, but now, with Sabrina standing in front of her, it felt like the most important moment of her life.

YN took a deep breath and stepped forward, her heart beating faster than ever. “Sabrina,” she said, her voice thick with emotion, “I’ve spent every moment since we met thinking about how lucky I am to have you in my life. You’ve shown me what love is, what partnership is, and I can’t imagine my future without you in it.”

She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small, velvet box. The ring inside sparkled under the locker room lights as YN dropped to one knee.

“Sabrina Ionescu,” YN continued, her voice trembling but full of love, “I don’t care if we win or lose. I just want you. Will you marry me?”

Sabrina stood there, stunned, tears filling her eyes as she processed the question. The noise of the celebration around them faded into the background, and for a moment, the world seemed to stop.

Her eyes flickered between the poster and YN, her heart overflowing. She had never expected this moment to come, not like this. But now, standing before YN, her love for her was so clear, so undeniable.

“YN…” Sabrina whispered, her voice cracking with emotion. “Of course, I will. Yes. Yes, I will marry you!”

A cheer erupted from the team as Sabrina leaned down to kiss YN, pulling her into a passionate, lingering kiss. The crowd’s noise, the victory, and the game all melted away in that moment as they celebrated their love, finally knowing that no matter what came next, they would always have each other.

The locker room was alive with joy and laughter as YN and Sabrina were surrounded by their teammates, all of them congratulating the couple. There was a warmth in the air, a sense of family that only basketball could bring.

“I knew it” Breanna grinned, throwing her arm around Sabrina’s shoulder. “You two are so obvious.”

Kate laughed. “We all knew something was up, but didn’t want to spoil the surprise.”

Iliana and Marine Johaness hugged YN, teasing her about her nerves earlier in the day.

As the team celebrated, YN and Sabrina shared a quiet moment. Sabrina rested her forehead against YN’s, both of them savoring the reality of what had just happened.

“I may have won the game” YN said softly, smiling as she looked at Sabrina, “but this is the win of my life.”

Sabrina kissed her again, this time with all the love they had shared and all the promises of their future together.

“Yes, we did” she whispered against YN’s lips, “and we’ll win every day, as long as it’s with each other.”

And in that moment, YN knew: with Sabrina by her side, the future was full of nothing but victories, both on and off the court.

______________________________________________________________________

The excitement leading up to Sabrina and YN’s wedding was palpable. Every day was filled with wedding plans, dress fittings, and coordinating with family and friends. The entire WNBA family seemed to be in on the planning, especially with their close-knit group of teammates and friends. YN and Sabrina made it clear that this was a team effort, and they couldn’t wait to have their loved ones by their side on the big day.

Carla Leite, their “first child” according to the inside joke they shared, was especially involved. She was always there to help YN with the small details, like choosing the perfect flower arrangements and making sure the wedding favors were just right.

Kate Martin, the couple’s “second child,” had taken it upon herself to help with organizing the wedding party. She was determined to make everything perfect, down to the tiniest detail.

And then there was Breanna, Sabrina’s best friend, who was the unofficial maid of honor. Breanna kept the energy high throughout the wedding preparations, checking in with both Sabrina and YN to ensure they were okay and offering plenty of advice, sometimes in the form of hilarious anecdotes. “I mean, you both look so happy,” she’d say, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Sue Bird, as always, played the role of the “mom” in the group, making sure everything was running smoothly and providing wise words of guidance whenever things got stressful. “Don’t worry,” Sue would assure them, “I’ve seen it all before.” It became an ongoing joke between Sabrina, YN, and Sue that she was their ‘mom,’ but everyone knew that Sue’s support was invaluable.

Marine, YN’s best friend, had been by their side since day one. She was always there to help YN with her personal style and wedding details. Whenever YN was indecisive, Marine would laugh and say, “This is for our best friend!” making sure that every decision reflected YN’s true personality.

Gabby, YN’s other best friend, had taken charge of the bachelorette party, ensuring that it would be the most memorable night ever. The night was filled with laughter, stories, and dancing, and Gabby wouldn’t let YN escape without a reminder. “You’re getting married to the love of your life!” she would shout with enthusiasm.

Diana, Sabrina’s other best friend, had become the go-to source of emotional support for both YN and Sabrina. Whenever they needed someone to talk to, Diana was there with a listening ear and a sarcastic remark to ease the tension. “You both better be ready for this wild ride,” she’d tease, knowing that Sabrina and YN had a lifetime of memories to make.

YN’s brother, Stephen, played a significant role in the wedding. Not only was he an amazing source of support for his sister, but he will also gave YN away at the wedding. Walking down the aisle with Stephen will be a moment YN would never forget. YN couldn’t help but smile at how much her family meant to her.

Klay Thompson and Jordan Poole, both longtime friends of YN, made sure the bachelor and bachelorette parties were filled with fun and unforgettable moments. With their easygoing personalities and humor, they kept the celebrations lighthearted. “You better show up to the game ready to play,” Klay would joke, adding to the fun of the wedding planning process.

______________________________________________________________________

Finally, the big day arrived. The wedding venue was a beautiful outdoor location, with stunning views of the city skyline in the distance. The ceremony was set in a lush garden, with flowers everywhere and the sound of birds chirping in the background. YN could barely contain her excitement as she stood behind a white curtain, waiting for her moment to walk down the aisle.

Sabrina was already standing at the altar, a vision of beauty in her elegant wedding dress. YN’s heart skipped a beat as she caught sight of her. They had waited so long for this moment, and now, it was here.

Stephen stood beside YN, his face full of pride. He gave her a reassuring smile as he helped her adjust her veil. “You’re going to look amazing,” he whispered.

As YN took her first step down the aisle, she saw Sabrina’s face light up with love. Every step felt like a dream, and before long, she was standing face to face with the woman she would spend the rest of her life with.

“I do” Sabrina said softly, her voice filled with emotion.

“I do” YN replied, her voice shaky with happiness.

Sabrina Ionescu-Curry

The crowd erupted in applause, and as they exchanged vows, the world seemed to disappear around them. All that mattered was the two of them, committing to each other for eternity.

The reception that followed was full of laughter, music, and dancing. The wedding party was a whirlwind of energy as Breanna took over the dance floor with her signature moves. Sue, as always, had the best dance partner in the room, as she swirled around the dance floor with YN’s brother, Stephen.

Gabby and Diana made sure that no one was sitting down for too long, coaxing even the shyest people onto the dance floor. Marine and Iliana shared funny anecdotes from their playing days, while Klay and Jordan kept things lighthearted, teasing the couple with playful jokes.

As the night wore on, Sabrina and YN found themselves in a quiet moment together, away from the crowd. The night had been everything they dreamed of and more. Sabrina pulled YN close and kissed her, their love evident in every touch and every glance.

“I can’t believe we’re really married” YN whispered against Sabrina’s lips.

“I know,” Sabrina replied, smiling. “It’s just the beginning, though.”

And as they kissed under the stars, surrounded by their closest friends and family, YN knew this was just the start of their forever.

The night ended with YN and Sabrina stealing a private moment under the twinkling lights. Their friends and family had left to continue the celebrations, but the two of them stayed behind, savoring the intimacy of their love.

“I love you” Sabrina whispered, brushing a stray hair away from YN’s face.

“I love you too” YN responded, leaning in for another kiss, their hearts full of promise for the future.

As they walked hand in hand, together forever, the future felt bright—filled with endless possibilities, love, and the knowledge that no matter what came their way, they would always have each other.

______________________________________________________________________

Sabrina’s move to the Golden State Valkyries was a huge step in her career. After spending several successful years with the New York Liberty, the opportunity to join the Valkyries was both exciting and daunting. The move meant she’d be closer to YN, who had already settled into the team, but it also meant adjusting to a new city, new teammates, and a fresh start in a new chapter of her professional life.

YN was ecstatic about the move, but she also understood how big of a change it was for Sabrina. She knew it wasn’t just about basketball—it was about building a future together, something they’d discussed in the past but never quite envisioned so soon. But now, with Sabrina finally in San Francisco, everything felt even more real.

Sabrina’s first night in San Francisco was one of the most memorable moments for both of them. After moving all her things into her new apartment, Sabrina took a long breath, standing at the window and looking out at the city lights. YN had come over after practice to help her settle in. The familiar warmth of her presence was just what Sabrina needed after a hectic few days of travel and packing.

“You’re really here” YN said softly, walking up behind Sabrina and wrapping her arms around her waist. Sabrina smiled, leaning into her.

“I’m really here” she said with a soft chuckle. “I can’t believe it.”

They shared a quiet moment, gazing at the city lights. It felt like they had waited a lifetime for this, and now it was finally happening.

Later that evening, after a cozy dinner together, they sat on the couch, sipping wine and talking about their future. The atmosphere was intimate, and for the first time in a while, they allowed themselves to really dream.

“I was thinking,” Sabrina began, her voice tentative. “Now that I’m here, closer to you… What do you think about… maybe starting a family? Like, down the road, of course, but…”

YN’s eyes softened at the question. They had talked about children before, but the idea of it becoming a reality was something new. YN was in full support of the idea, her smile widening as she reached for Sabrina’s hand.

“I’ve always wanted kids with you” YN said, her voice filled with warmth and sincerity. “Whenever you’re ready, I’ll be right there with you.”

Sabrina squeezed her hand, feeling a rush of emotion. The idea of becoming parents together felt so right. She had always known she wanted a family someday, but now that she had YN by her side, the thought of having children seemed even more real.

“Maybe we can start trying soon?” Sabrina asked, her voice quiet but hopeful.

YN nodded, her smile growing. “Yeah. Let’s take our time, but whenever you’re ready, I’m ready too.”

The conversation was lighthearted, but beneath the surface was an unspoken understanding of the future they both wanted. It was a future filled with love, basketball, and a family of their own.

As the conversation drifted to more personal topics, the closeness between them was undeniable. Sabrina reached out to brush a strand of hair from YN’s face, her fingers lingering against YN’s skin for a moment longer than necessary. Their eyes locked, and the spark between them flared up once again.

Before either of them could say anything more, Sabrina leaned forward and captured YN’s lips in a kiss. It started slow, tender—almost sweet—but quickly deepened, as both of them melted into each other. YN’s hands roamed to Sabrina’s back, pulling her closer, while Sabrina’s fingers tangled in YN’s hair, the intensity between them building.

The kiss was filled with the kind of passion that only comes from knowing that no matter what happens, they were meant to be together. They paused only for a breath, but their lips found each other again in an urgent embrace.

“You’re mine” Sabrina murmured against YN’s lips, her breath shaky with emotion. “I can’t wait to build a future with you.”

YN smiled, their foreheads touching. “I’m yours, always.”

And with that, their lips met again, the kiss heated with the promise of what was to come—both in the future of their relationship and in their dream of having a family.

The morning after their passionate night, YN woke up to find Sabrina already up, preparing breakfast in the kitchen. The sight of Sabrina, wearing her favorite Golden State Valkyries hoodie, standing there making pancakes, made YN’s heart flutter. Sabrina had always been a mix of fierce and caring, and seeing her in this domestic moment made YN realize just how much she loved her.

Sabrina turned to look at YN, giving her a playful grin. “I made breakfast. You didn’t think I was going to let you starve, did you?”

YN chuckled, walking over to her and slipping her arms around Sabrina’s waist from behind. “I could never starve with you around.”

Sabrina leaned back into the embrace, resting her head on YN’s shoulder. “You know, I think I’m really going to love it here.”

YN smiled softly, kissing the top of her head. “Me too. This is just the beginning.”

As they enjoyed their breakfast together, the conversation drifted back to their dreams of a family. They talked about where they would want to live—whether they’d stay in San Francisco or move elsewhere—and how they envisioned their life together.

“I love the idea of a little basketball team running around the house” YN said with a grin, nudging Sabrina playfully.

Sabrina laughed, nodding. “Yeah, but we’ll need to make sure they get your shooting skills, not mine.”

YN smirked. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure they’re perfect.”

The talk of the future felt like a natural progression in their relationship. They knew there would be challenges ahead, but together, they were ready to face whatever came their way.

The morning passed in a comfortable silence, their hands intertwined as they sat on the couch, planning their next steps. They had their entire lives ahead of them, and the world felt a little brighter with each passing day.

Later that night, as they lay in bed, their limbs tangled beneath the sheets, Sabrina kissed YN one last time before they both drifted off to sleep.

“You know I love you, right?” Sabrina whispered, her voice barely audible as her thumb traced the outline of YN’s hand.

YN smiled, pulling Sabrina closer. “I know. I love you too, always.”

And with that, they closed their eyes, content in the knowledge that their love was enough to carry them through whatever came next—whether that meant building a family or facing the next season of basketball together.

Whatever the future held, they would face it hand in hand.

______________________________________________________________________

The news had come just months after Sabrina and YN had made the decision to start a family together. With the help of IVF, Sabrina was pregnant. It felt like a dream come true, one they’d talked about for years. The journey wasn’t easy, but it was worth every moment.

As Sabrina’s belly grew, so did the love between them. YN couldn’t help but smile every time they saw Sabrina rubbing her stomach, talking to their future child. Every day was a reminder of how far they’d come and how much love they had to give.

During the months of Sabrina’s pregnancy, YN couldn’t stop touching her belly, marveling at the life growing inside her. There was something magical about the way Sabrina’s stomach would move when the baby kicked, and YN loved being a part of it.

One evening, as they sat on the couch, YN had their hand resting on Sabrina’s belly. The baby gave a little kick, and Sabrina looked at YN, her face lighting up with excitement.

“Did you feel that?” Sabrina asked, her voice full of awe.

YN smiled, nodding enthusiastically. “Yes! Our little one is already playing basketball in there.”

Sabrina laughed softly, rubbing her belly lovingly. “I think this one will be a mix of you and me. We’ll have to teach them how to shoot, right?”

“Definitely” YN replied with a grin. “But you know, we’re going to have to get them on a basketball court as soon as possible.”

The two of them shared a laugh, their hands intertwined as they both looked down at Sabrina’s growing belly.

______________________________________________________________________

The day arrived when they finally learned the gender of their baby. Sabrina was nervous but excited, and YN was right there by her side, holding her hand.

Sabrina opened the envelope slowly and looked at the piece of paper inside. She smiled and turned to YN with tears in her eyes.

“It’s a boy” Sabrina whispered, her voice full of emotion.

YN’s heart skipped a beat. A boy. The thought of having a son made everything feel even more real. YN smiled widely, leaning in to kiss Sabrina.

“We’re having a boy” YN repeated, almost in disbelief. “I can’t wait to teach him how to play, to be like us.”

Sabrina’s face lit up as she rested her hand on YN’s. “I’m going to teach him everything. He’ll be amazing.”

______________________________________________________________________

As they prepared for their baby’s arrival, the conversation turned to who would be the godparents. They both agreed right away—Steph, YN’s brother, would be the godfather, and Breanna, Sabrina’s best friend, would be the godmother.

“I want Breanna to be the godmother” Sabrina said, her voice full of conviction. “She’s been like a sister to me, and I can’t imagine anyone else being a part of this.”

YN smiled, knowing how much Breanna meant to Sabrina. “I think Steph will be the perfect godfather,” they agreed. “He’s going to spoil him.”

Sabrina grinned. “I know. He’s going to be so proud. He’s already a great uncle.”

The excitement about the baby’s future kept building with each passing day. With the godparents chosen and the nursery almost ready, all that was left to do was wait.

______________________________________________________________________

Finally, the day came. Sabrina went into labor, and YN stayed by her side the entire time. The contractions came strong and fast, but Sabrina stayed calm, knowing she wasn’t alone. YN never left her side, holding her hand and whispering words of encouragement.

“You’re doing amazing, babe” YN said softly as Sabrina squeezed their hand. “Our little boy will be here soon.”

Sabrina smiled, even though it was obvious she was exhausted. “I know. I can’t wait to meet him.”

When the moment arrived, and the baby’s cries filled the room, Sabrina and YN exchanged a look of pure joy. Tears filled their eyes as they held their son for the first time, both of them in awe of the little life they had brought into the world.

“He’s perfect” Sabrina whispered, looking at their baby. “Look at him, YN. He’s ours.”

YN nodded, tears falling down their cheeks. “I can’t believe he’s here. I’m so in love with him. And with you.”

The days following the birth were a whirlwind of new parenthood. They named their son Jackson, and every moment spent with him felt like magic. Sabrina and YN were both in awe of their son, spending hours holding him, talking to him, and soaking in every precious second.

YN would often spend time sitting on the couch, Jackson nestled in their arms, while Sabrina watched them with a smile.

“I can’t believe we have a little boy” YN whispered one evening, looking down at their son. “This is everything I’ve ever wanted.”

Sabrina kissed YN on the cheek. “Me too. We’re going to be great parents.”

As the days passed, their love for Jackson—and for each other—only grew. It was clear that they were ready for this next chapter in their lives.

______________________________________________________________________

A few weeks after Jackson’s birth, YN was back on the court for a game with the Golden State Valkyries. They’d been missing their family and were excited to play, but nothing could compare to the sight of Sabrina walking into the arena, holding Jackson in her arms.

The crowd went quiet for a moment as Sabrina walked to the sidelines, and then they erupted in applause. Sabrina smiled as she made her way over to YN, and when YN saw her, they couldn’t help but rush over.

“You came” YN said, their voice full of surprise and joy.

Sabrina nodded, her eyes sparkling. “Of course. I couldn’t miss seeing you play. And Jackson wanted to see his mom in action.”

YN gently took Jackson from Sabrina’s arms, kissing the little boy on the cheek. “I love you, buddy. You’re going to see your mom score some points today.”

Sabrina laughed, her heart full of happiness. “I think Jackson’s going to be a huge fan of yours.”

YN grinned, leaning down to kiss Sabrina deeply, a moment of quiet love amidst the noise of the game. When they pulled away, YN smiled at their son, feeling like the luckiest person in the world.

“I’m going to make you proud, Jackson” YN whispered before returning to the court, their heart full of love for their family.

After the game, Sabrina and YN headed home together, Jackson between them in his car seat. The night was peaceful, and YN couldn’t help but reach over to take Sabrina’s hand.

“I love you so much” YN whispered, squeezing Sabrina’s hand.

Sabrina smiled softly, her eyes glancing at Jackson in the backseat. “I love you too. You’re the best mom.”

YN grinned, feeling the warmth of the moment. “We’re a family now. And there’s nothing better than that.”

When they got home, they cuddled on the couch with Jackson, the three of them together. It was perfect. The future was unknown, but with Sabrina and Jackson by their side, YN knew they were ready for whatever came next.