#their vertical relationship was always the secure one

[whetstonefires]

Underrated element of where Jiang Cheng is re: wwx after everything is that they always had a sort of dual relationship. Two different relationship premises, superimposed on one another.

There's the one where they grew up together, as close as brothers, beating each other up and complaining and being one another's closest companions, sharing a bedroom as kids and eating at the same family dinner table, actively encouraged by Jiang Fengmian to interact as equals.

And then there's the one where Wei Wuxian was in service to Jiang Cheng's family. Not as a servant--Jiang Fengmian absolutely refused to do that, even if he couldn't adopt him. But as a disciple of Jiang Cheng's father and recipient of his charity, as Jiang Cheng's future right hand and most trusted subordinate.

It's a vertical relationship, intimate in its own way but with very strict expectations about what obligations flow in what directions; they are not identical and reciprocal as between friends and equals.

(It's my opinion that Jiang Fengmian's core deal was a deep-seated discontent with the hierarchies he was at the top of, without access to any way to actually deconstruct them or even coherently articulate his opposition. Wei Changze was his dear friend, and no one thinks that's a good enough reason for him to treat Wei Changze's son like his own, because Wei Changze was also his servant, and you can't make that circle square. That's not a way you're allowed to love.)

Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian were like brothers; Wei Wuxian served Jiang Cheng.

The personal relationship was always the most important one. To them, in their hearts. But it was the other one that was real, that had weight in the world.

And it's important to understand that neither can be held up as more factual than the other, even though they conflict. Both relationships existed, and had power.

So then when Jiang Cheng chose to hate Wei Wuxian and articulate his grudge against him, he chose to do it in the language of fealty. Because as far as he knew, his case there was secure, watertight, and it wouldn't expose him emotionally or politically.

And those are the terms in which he's been condemning him all this time: for abandoning the Sect, for ingratitude, for lack of loyalty.

For fuckups, too, and poor judgment, but some of that now turns out to have been justified and some of it was mostly the fault of enemies behaving badly, or even Jiang Cheng himself allowing himself to be pushed into making unworthy choices.

And it was all for his sake.

The thing, the thing in my opinion, about what Wei Wuxian did, about the core transfer and his silent self-destruction around keeping it secret, is that that is a hideous thing to have done between two people who love each other, as an act of love. Beautiful, but awful. As the man who was like a brother to him, Jiang Cheng has a great deal of standing to object to it.

But as an act of vassalage, it's basically perfect.

If Wei Wuxian were only what he formally was to Jiang Cheng, if he is interpreted through a lens of fealty and obligation, he did exactly what he should have done, and went beyond what duty actually required. And went to his death silently, allowing himself to be judged, taking all the burden on himself rather than let harm come to his lord.

Like, obviously Jiang Cheng was harmed by the part where Jin Zixuan got manslaughtered and Jiang Yanli walked into the line of fire in situations where Wei Wuxian was resorting to violence and probably shouldn't have, but those are one step removed from the core issue. In terms of Wei Wuxian's intentional choices around Jiang Cheng himself, at the times he was feeling betrayed and abandoned Wei Wuxian was in fact being impossibly, poetically loyal, an absolute cliche about it.

But only in terms of the hierarchical form of their relationship.

Which means that even though Jiang Cheng has a lot of reasons to still be mad at Wei Wuxian, his actual complaints that he's centered for thirteen years are basically wiped out by the revelation of Wei Wuxian's sacrifice.

Wei Wuxian was in fact doing the tragic hero loyal vassal thing, which very much includes being misunderstood and slandered by the world. (Chenqing as a name choice absolutely references this expectation, and the idea that Jiang Cheng specifically will never understand that Wei Wuxian was trying to help him first and foremost all along; he is not subtle.)

The debts Jiang Cheng has been spitefully calling in and considering defaulted were already long paid.

So if at this point Jiang Cheng keeps pursuing that same line of rhetorical attack, now that he knows, he'll be putting himself morally in the wrong, and he knows it. But if he pivots to something else, he'll both be signalling the shape of that secret to the entire world and looking like a prize idiot.

Which is already how he feels.

To actually address the remaining grievances between them, which are considerable, would require releasing those safe, open grudges to Wei Wuxian's face and then reclaiming him as a loved one. Which is, one could fairly say, more than anyone could expect.

Which is why Wei Wuxian told him he didn't have to.

Which leaves Jiang Cheng at something of an impasse.

[multimystica]

Card of the Day

The image of the 3 cards is the same as the last post but the results are different, I guarantee.

Here we go, take a deep breath, exhale relaxing, think of your situation of choice to get info/advice on and pick a card.

Now we go for the long vertical line of dots so y'all can't see the results before actually choosing a card... Edited to remove the line and add keep reading button.

Card 1 - The Magician

Willpower and manifestation! This card pretty much means you can do whatever the fuck you want right now. If you have a goal, go for it, you have everything you need to succeed, just do it right now. Whatever goal you have in mind right now just picture Shia LaBeauf's JUST DO IT!!! Take a look at this card:

Believe it or not, you're ready. Take control of your life, all it takes is maintaining your willpower. The advice for today is to align your intentions with your actions right now. Stay focused on your goals, have a vision of what you want, have the intent and take action. This is the right time to apply your power. Amazing or even miraculous things may happen for you today, the stars are aligned for you. Willpower, stepping into your power, being ambitious and determined, and showcasing your talents are main themes for today. It may also be quite useful to take a look at what resources you currently have available to you in this moment and make use of them. Again, step into your power.

Card 2 - IV of Pentacles

Caution. Okay, well, this card brings many different meanings with it (some of which may oppose each other), and it may be hard to tell which one applies to you right now. Both are about caution, security and control. I'll do my best to explain both meanings in a way you can figure out which is meant to you, but it may still be a tough one. Take a look at the card beforehand:

If you've been controlling and holding tight what you currently have - This card may be a warning to loosen up a bit. While security and control may be great at bringing a sense of peace, it may also make you loose a lot of opportunities.

If you're in a relationship in which you're afraid of the person leaving - Beware, excess of control and holding too tightly onto this person might be what cause them to feel suffocated and drift apart, which would then be a self-fulfilling prophecy. Just chill a bit and know when to give them space, do not be controlling over their friend groups, outings, etc or you might just cause the thing you fear is going to happen.

If you been just letting everything go or taking every risk you can lately - This might actually be the time to stop and hold on to some things, work on financial security, or just stay where you are and do not take a risk for today.

If your home has been cluttered - Today is the best day to declutter your home and make giveaways or yard-sales!

IN ANY CASE - Financial security is relevant at this moment, this can also be true in terms of emotional security, whatever your case may be, build a solid foundation, think twice when taking any risks today, this may also apply to communication as well. Proper balance of holding on and letting go, be it in any area of life, is very important right now. Being cautious is also relevant (if you're always TOO cautious, be less cautious. If you're not being cautious lately, THIS IS THE TIME TO BE).

Card 3 - V of Cups

Loss. The usual meaning of this card is quite short and simple, you lost (or are be about to loose) something important to you today (no shit sherlock!). This card speaks of emotional suffering and of how much attention is paid to that loss. Take a look at the card:

The depiction of the card, in this case, speaks for itself. The loss is painful no matter what you lost (be it a thing or a person it was dear to you), and your attention is drawn to it. It is a tough time to look at the brighter side of things, I get how hard it can be, but the advice this card brings is to look around to what you still have. Find comfort and peace on that which you still have, value what's still there. It's okay to suffer that loss and process those feelings in your own time, but don't forget what you still have. Suffer at first, then pick yourself up and carry on valuing what you still have in a optimistic way. In case this was the death of a person: I'm sorry for your loss, it's okay to grief, and the advice here might be to look around for people you can rely on at this tough time, you don't have to go through this alone.

[historianthesecond]

Hiii~ I LOVE who came in with the sea (very thrilled to read where the story is going!!) So I wanted to request a fic inspired on that

Maybe where mermaid!reader is married with Nikolai, and they both live in the palace, and from time to time Nikolai surprises reader swimming at the lake, so he just likes to see by the docks and watch her hehehe

Thank you! Have a happy week >:3

Hi! Sorry this one took so long kdjdjkdjk I'm not still 100% about this, but I'm struggling with writing rn so I hope you like it 🙈

Moonlight Mirror

Nikolai Lantsov x Mermaid!Fem!Reader---1.2K----SFW

Tags: Established Relationship | No Plot Pure Fluff |

Nikolai was used to hearing the sudden splashes of water around the lake while he tinkered with the Hummingbird, or any of his new ships, the movement creating waves that crashed along the polished hull.

You made him company in those strange moments in which either of you had many duties to complete in the day—you could always cuddle in bed and work until the oil lamp emptied.

It was late already, with his mind so focused he couldn't figure out how many bells had just chimed, the metallic echo falling into the still night air, the critters from the gardens around quickly restarting their melody.

Sighing, he took a rag and cleaned his hands, long streaks of black oil marking the white cotton. Nikolai put them on the seat he was just occupying, his eyes drawn to watch over the wooden rail at the still surface of the water.

You surely were enjoying the cold water at the bottom, which how a layer of sweat clung to his shirt, the summer air feeling more like the hellish breeze that blew from the ovens inside the kitchen than a break from the inclement weather.

The wooden boards of the docks creaked under his boots until he stopped at the edge of the one occupied by the ramp to climb into the ship. The water looked like a mirror, showing the almost full moon dotted with stars in the clear sky.

While he sat, ripples broke the calmness as your head surfaced, the dorsal fins around your ears shining silver against the moonlight.

You beamed, submerging your head in the water once again before appearing right in front of him seconds later.

“Hi, handsome,” you said, your hair floating around the water. You handed him a wrench that had slipped out his hands a couple of hours ago, as you always loved to look for shiny things underwater, your wedding ring shining gold catching his attention with the movement.

It was common to end up surprised at catching a glimpse of it now and then. That you were married to him despite everything you had to endure, so much that sometimes he thought it was wiser to just let you go.

His hands interlaced with yours, the wrench secured in the middle of the dock. A giggle bubbled out your lips when you felt his lips brushing your inner wrist.

"Come here, lovely," Nikolai muttered against your skin, leaning against you to carry you out of the water. He was used to feeling the smooth and cold surface of your tail, white and silver and artic blue that curled around him. "I missed you," he said, nuzzling his nose in the crook of your neck. You still smelled like the stormy seas of the north, of salt and fresh, cold wind blowing over the icebergs navigating over the infinity of cerulean blue.

You laughed, moving your tail up and down to fit better on his lap. “I was here all the time.”

“Not close enough.” To prove his point he held you closer, not caring that now his clothes were soaked. It wasn’t the first time, and it wouldn’t be the last. “This close would do. For now.”

You looked at him, some beads of water running down your face, eyes blinking between the yellow tones with vertical slits, like trapped amber, and your human ones, sweet and filled with adoration. “You wouldn’t finish anything if I were this close.”

Nikolai chuckled, hands lovingly cradling your body. “My wife truly is the wisest.”

Crooning your neck, you looked back at the shadowy silhouette of the Hummingbird, its ghostly sails carefully tied into the masts. You could reminisce about all the times you’d been aboard its tiny deck, flying one with the clouds as Nikolai pointed down at the cities you passed by, seeing colorful roofs and tall churches and schools, new bridges being built and roads open through the hills.

Your new home, you thought, leaning closer to Nikolai's warm arms around your waist. This is what home is about.

“Is she ready?” you asked, pulling his head slightly away to clean a stain of oil off his cheek.

His eyes twinkled with pride. "Yes. I fixed the engine so the turbines could help balance the hull. It seems last time I didn't oil them completely, thus why they got stuck."

Thankfully, he had crashed into a thick canopy not so far from the Grand Palace. With a visit from the physician and the Healers, he recovered enough to try his new invention again after a couple of days.

Nikolai kissed the top of your head. “Are you going to Notvy Zem with me then?” he said, a sly grin on his face.

“Are you going to use this business trip as another makeshift honeymoon?” you couldn’t stop from asking, which made him laugh. It wouldn’t help that you did go to Notvy Zem in your real honeymoon, three years ago.

“It’s almost our anniversary.”

“Your priorities astound me, Kolya.”

He smiled, trailing a path of kisses down your neck. “It’s on you for being so enticing,” Nikolai muttered against your ear, your body wiggling as you got ticklish from his soft, fleeting kisses.

You hummed, giving in quickly under his touch. “Of course, I’ll go with you.”

Truth was, Nikolai wanted to swim with you on the tropical shores of the foreign nation, there where the water was turquoise clear, colorful, and blooming with life around the coral reefs. You seldom wanted to swim with him in the lake in front of the Little Palace for how cold and profound it was, fearing something would happen to him.

"No," you said about two months before your wedding, blocking his way toward the docks. "Last time you caught a cold. It's dangerous."

"I'm healthy again, my love. I'll be fine." But you weren't convinced, dragging him back to your room where he settled with sharing a warm bathtub.

Which reminded him... "Let's go, gorgeous." You slipped out of his grasp once your tail was gone, with him standing up and unbuttoning his coat to cover you with it before you could protest. “A refreshing bath is awaiting us.”

“But my clothes—” you started, feeling the soft fabric of velvet and cotton against your bare back. It wasn’t cold to wear one, but the fabric smelled like him, like expensive cologne and brandy and burned oil, so you kept it.

“They won’t be needed,” he told you, and you were about to gasp, faking shock even if your stomach was fluttering.

Nikolai fetched them, your light skirts and silk blouse hung over his shoulder as he squatted down to lift you in his arms. You hung onto him, kissing the outline of his jaw as he walked back to the Grand Palace, the guards nodding in your direction as they were used to the view by now.

You with your face hidden in the crook of his neck, a boyish smile on his lips as he gazed down at you as if you'd been lighting up the stars that were flicking you goodnight with your hands. Words weren't necessary anymore; love was shown as clear as the sky of that peaceful summer night.

[electronicwitchcollection]

~*Kensei Smut*~

Honestly. Kensei fought me at every opportunity, he picked and prodded at everything I wrote, yet wouldn’t help nor let me move on to another fic. I’ll not be writing for him again until he learns to cooperate 😂. As a result for not speaking up, I’ve given him another use for that mouth. Neither me nor Kensei are happy with this, but I’m going to post it anyway. That’ll show him.

*my masterlist is pinned at the top of my page if you’d like to read anymore of my work 💜*

You could feel your partners explosive spiritual pressure from where you stood alone in your shared kitchen. Quite an impressive feat, since you lived a good eight blocks away from the office in the ninth division. Kensei was a fantastic partner, sweet and attentive, there wasn't anything he wouldn't do for you. His quiet strength was always there to hold you up when you needed him, silent pilar of strength in your relationship.

However, he wasn't void of any flaws. He was incredibly temperamental, quick to anger and with very little patience. Kensei wasn't easy going, by any stretch of the imagination. He lived by a strong sense of discipline and morals and reacting hostility toward those not falling in line.

It had taken you months to see past the curt and gruff exterior the Captain exuded to discover the attentive and intensely tender man that lay beneath. Not something that many were privy too. He was loyal and fiercely protective, especially over you. He showed you how much you ment to him every single day, in his own gruff way.

You could feel the annoyance pulsating in the angry flare up from where you were. Kensei had been trying to curb his explosiveness in work, after one too many complaints had been overheard. It wasn't that he wanted to upset anyone, least of all the female shinigami in his division. He was just a man who struggled to contain his emotions and express them calmly.

You sighed softly, he had been trying so hard. Knowing he would return home soon, and would turn to you for comfort, you hurried to your bathroom for a hot shower.

———————————————————

Stepping out of the steamy bathroom, Kensei's favourite deep purple silk gown wrapped around your curves, you hear the door to your home snap shut a little harder than necessary. Bare foot you walked to the entrance of your home, watching as the man who held your heart kicked off his sandals roughly, letting them hit the wall before landing haphazardly on the floor. Waiting for him to remove his captains coat and zanpakuto, you got the chance to study his handsome face.

His strong jaw was tense, harshly defining his jawline. Lips were pulled thin, likely chomping down hard on his back teeth. Nostrils flared with every rough breath, eye brows furrowed deeply. Clearly the walk home hadn't dampened the annoyance that caused the angry reaction you had felt earlier.

His light brown eyes caught your own as he left the entrance hall to walk into your home, making his way straight to you.

Without breaking his stride, large hands engulfed your waist, throwing you over his shoulder effortlessly. You yelped at the sudden change of verticality, gripping onto the back of his kosode frantically. Not once had he ever let you fall, but the natural reaction was strong. He wrapped an arm around the back of your thighs, pinning you securely as he made his way through to your bedroom.

You flounced with every determined step, the heat radiating from his frame seeped through the flimsy material covering your modesty. Equilibrium was thrown through a loop when he deposited you heavily onto the bed, bouncing lightly on the plush matress at the force.

Protruding muscles proudly shown off in his sleeveless uniform bunched together delightfully as he crawled up the bed. You held your arms open for him, allowing him to cover your body with his own. Caged between the solid wall of muscle and bed, you stared at the ceiling as he nuzzled into your neck and sighed deeply

"bad day?" You ask him softly, bring up your hands to slowly run your fingers through his hair. He grunted near your ear in affirmation, so not to accidentally snap at you. His hair was deceivingly soft, the Mohawk he sported these days grew naturally, and wasn't styled by hair products as one would assume. By the slight coconut smell protruding through the air, you could tell that he had stolen your shampoo.. again.

"you wanna talk about it?" The offer hung in the air for a moment before you felt his head shake no. This was a usual response you had come to accept, pushing the matter would only amplify the festering annoyance. You pull at his hair gently, encouraging him to straighten up to face you. Unable to part from you completely, he rested his forehead against your own, tips of your noses brushed together sweetly. Untangling your fingers from his hair, you smoothed it down the side of his face, softly cupping his tense jaw in your palm.

"how can I help?"

The answer came in the form of a bruising kiss. Your eyes fluttered closed at the feel of his lips melding against your own, stealing away your breath. Willingly, you open your mouth at the insistent tongue running across your lips, surrendering yourself to Kensei completely. Angrily the moist appendage invaded your mouth, claiming the space as his own.

Harsh breaths forcefully pushed out through his nose, fanning over your face and warming the skin on your cheeks to a subtle pink hue . Your tongue danced across the one leading yours in a rhythmic pattern, fitting in perfectly to the to and fro that made you dizzy. The kiss was controlled and disciplined, traits Kensei valued and demanded of his subordinates, though you couldn't ignore the passion and raw admiration you could feel being pushed through.

This is what Kensei had come to discover he needed when he couldn't express his distain towards the childish insubordination he endured on a daily basis with his lieutenant, who embodied everything he meticulously beat away with his rigorous training. He needed you to be compliant, adhering to his commands freely and without questioning his authority.

Something you were all too willing to give him. Kensei truly treasured you, made you feel unconditionally loved each and every day. You could give him this in return. Sacrificing your free will was a small price to pay, for what you got in return. Kensei was as skilled as a lover as he was a leader. Passionately bringing you into the throws of pleasure, knowing your body better than you yourself did.

With a final press of his lips, Kensei pushed himself to his elbows, looking down into your flushed face. You read the question behind his hardened eyes as easily as if he had spoken the words out loud. He wouldn't use your body unless you gave him permission to do so. The affirmative nod was all that was needed, he dropped a fleeting kiss to your lips before sitting back between your legs, pushing them wider to accommodate his wide stature.

Battle worn hands trailed over the silky sheen of your robe, soft strands catching on the hardened callouses formed from decades of wielding a zanpakuto. Thick fingers made easy work of untying the sash holding the robe closed, denying him view from your body. You watched as Kensei pushed the garment open, the material fanning around you on the bed.

His eyes burned where they landed, intently washing over each and every curve, memorising every blemish and scar that added complexity to your otherwise perfect skin. Ample breasts perked at his heat gaze, rosy nipples hardened under the weight of that intense stare. His hands roamed over your body, gliding over your skin appreciatively. The sharp breath you pulled when his fingers grazed over your nipples was deafening in the otherwise silent room.

Kensei dipped his head, kissing your soft stomach fondly. You were strong in your own right, though that didn't reflect in your body as it did his. Kensei's body was thick with muscles, defines pecs and rippling abs. Where's yours was soft, plush with a little weight that just wouldn't shift. Kensei adored the roundness of your curves and didn't hesitate to worship all the little details you had stared too long at in the mirror, self consciously picking apart.

He kissed his way along the lower part of your stomach, nuzzling into the flesh you hated most. Your hand darted out from habit, ready to halt his explorations when his caught your wrist, keeping it at bay. Lips pressed against your skin, Kensei looked at you darkly, eyes held in an unspoken warning.

Gently depositing your hand on the bed next to you, squeezing your wrist in a silent reminder, Kensei continued his path to your hip, sucking gently where your hipbone protruded ever so slightly. Heat rushed to the area, blood pulling to the surface in a purpling bruise that was soothingly kissed. Following down the crease of your thigh, Kensei laid himself down on his stomach.

He brushed a hand under your thigh, smoothing it up your leg to your knee and raising it from the bed. Foot planted, holding your leg up as he wanted, Kensei moved to do the same on the other side. Your sex was on full display for him, legs opened wide to allow him unobstructed access. You covered your eyes, arm thrown over them mortified at the deep inhale he gave, nose pressed into your mound.

You groaned at the first slow lick he gave at your centre, his wide flat tongue dragging against the sensitive skin of your lips. Meticulously he tasted you, long, hard swipes of his tongue opened you up slowly. Your hips rolled wantonly, urging him to quicken his pace. His hand splayed across your stomach, keeping you in place as he continued to lick through your folds.

Reaching your centre, Kensei slowly thrusted his tongue into your velvety heat, nuzzling his face into your wetness. Strong laps caressed your inner walls, sending a jolt of arousal through you. Heat spread through your lower stomach, tightening deliciously with shocks of pleasure. Kensei determinedly devoured you, wet lapping noises loudly filtering through the room.

His tongue penetrated you deeply, tasting the increasing wetness you produced. The steady rhythm inching you closer to release, fanning the embers of warmth into a burning inferno. You moaned loudly, arching your back. Your hand darted to his hair, interweaving your fingers through the grey strands pushing him deeper into your core as your hips grind up to meet that devilishly skilled tongue.

Kensei growled into your cunt, stopping his actions. Your head snapped up with a whine of protest, to meet his hardened stare over your mound, eyes flashing in warning. Detangling your hand from his hair, Kensei returned it to the bed beside you, message being loudly received.

No touching

His smouldering eyes burned into you a moment longer, accentuating the point, before delving back in to stroke you velvety heat. He meticulously began tasting as much as you as he could reach, gliding along the secret pleasure points hidden within you. Letting your head fall back into the plump pillow, hands fisting in the sheets to avoid temptations, you unabashedly moan out your approval.

Kensei devoured you like he trained. Disciplined, methodically precise and wouldn't quit until he achieved the results he desired. He was attuned to your body, every gasp memorised, any minute clench or shiver used to figure out exactly where to touch to bring you to the peak of pleasure. You had been all to willing to allow him the time to experiment and perfect the way he pleased you, selfishly relishing in the results of his determination.

"Kensei" his name tumbled from your lips like a prayer, knowing he preferred when you used his full name. The gentle roll of your hips didn't go unnoticed as his arms wrapped around you, holding your hips in a vice like grip to halt your movements. With increased enthusiasm he delved into your depths, thrusting deeply until you came apart. Fingers squeezed into the soft curves of your hips as you bucked with a shout. Pleasure ripped through you, waves of heat washed over you.

Kensei's busy tongue didn't stop the assault as you clamped down around him. Your release coated his tongue in hot bursts of liquid, wetting his face. Your legs quaked at the shattering orgasm, held firm in his strong arms. Moans freely fell, feeling overwhelmed from the lack of reprieve he gave you. Drinking down your release, Kensei twirled his tongue against your folds, cleaning up the mess he made.

Kissing his way up the length of your cunt, he settled to your throbbing neglected clit. Mouthing the oversensitive bud, Kensei kissed it firmly. He deepened the kiss, twirling his tongue around it teasingly, tracing the shape with the tip. Too soon after your last orgasm, the stimuli was too much. His breath felt like fire, burning the sensitive flesh. Thick tongue brushed against it cruelly, setting alight the hundreds of nerves hidden there.

Your arms reached high, clawing at the pillow you writhed on desperately. The sensation pushed away any coherent thought you had to the back, blinding you with raw pleasure. Teeth grazed your bud, adding varying taxtures among the smoothness of his tongue. His thumbs brushed soothing circles into your hips, silently praising you for your obedience. 

Kensei wrapped his lips around the object of his fixation, suckling gently the way he knew drove you wild. The erotic moans he pulled from you quickened in pace, steadily climbing to an obscene volume. Your cunt clenched around nothing, aching for the feeling of being filled. His suckling turned into long hard pulls, encouraging blood to rush to the sensitive area.  Body slick with perspiration, chest heaving with deep breaths you're forced into a second orgasm, as blindingly euphoric as the first 

Muscles tensed painfully in your legs as your blindly rode the wave of pleasure. Calling out his name desperately at the never ending suction he deliver to your swollen nub. "Kensei" you gasped, clawing at the pillow beneath you desperately, "Kensei, please, it's too much"

Kensei shook his head buried in your dripping heat negativity, he wasn't finished and you were going to take it. His hands slipped from your hips to cup your ass, pushing it into the air and into his hungry mouth. Slurping away your release had you seeing stars, dancing white lights filtered through the darkness of your tightly shut eyes. 

Your body was spent, bones felt liquefied in your limbs. The pull of sleep loomed ominously over you, ready to claim you once released from pleasures consuming rapture. His crocked nose brushed against your clit as his tongue delved into your core, pulsating erratically around the invading tongue. 

"Kensei, please" tears sprung to your eyes, leaking down the side of your face to wet the cotton beneath. Your body trembled, nerves alight with over sensitivity at his relentless assault. " I can't, I can't it's too much" your whine went unanswered, only spurring him on in his mission to taste every inch of you. Supporting your ass with once hand, Kensei brought the other to your cunt, easily sliding two thick digits into you. 

The blissful feeling of being stretched silenced your begging, savouring the stretch of being filled. Kensei didn't hesitate to plunge them into you quickly, curling to reach the spongy part with practiced accuracy at every thrust. His fingers squelched through your already sopping cunt, juices flowing over his fingers, wetting his hand and the sheets below. 

Kensei could feel your legs quake around him, thighs pressed into his shoulders trapping him between your legs. He twirled his tongue against your clit, sucking it between his lips in a harsh pull. Listening intently to your loud moans, Kensei felt all his pent up frustration Ooze out of him as you writhed beneath him, shouting out his name beautifully. 

You came with a yell, bucking your hips erratically dislodging the hold Kensei had on your abused pussy. His fingers slowed in you, easing you through the wave of pleasure blinding you. Your legs slumped against the mattress when he removed his fingers, leaving a parting kiss on your mound, Kensei wiped his mouth on the back of his hand before crawling up to meet you 

He laid heavily next to you, pulling your twitching body into his strong chest, his arms wrapped around you, rubbing soothing circles into your breath as you came back down to earth. Your mind was sluggish, eyes struggling to stay open as you nestled into his chest, his strong heart beat  soothingly pulsating near your ear. A gentle kiss to your forehead had you tilting up your chin, asking for a kiss. 

Kensei obliged, languidly caressing your tongue with his own, Tinted with the taste of your pleasure. You cupped his jaw, smoothing over the skin softly.  He looked relaxed, eye brows no longer in a deep furrow, tightness of his jaw released. His eyes bore into your own with so much adoration and care that it stole your breath away. 

"what about you?" You ask, brushing your knee against his hidden cock. Kensei shook his head silently, pulling you to drape over his chest as he sunk into the bed, finally relaxed. Kensei closed his eyes and fell into a dreamless sleep, holding onto you closely. 

You were all he needed.

[monster-noises]

not to be basic but 1 and 2 from that meta ask meme?

all the question are on the list for a reason Anon! no need to put yourself down for it v-v 1&2 are Excellent questions I"m happy to answer! now. I Imagine you intended this for Lazarus, But! you were not specific so you will now get a Very long post about Everyone >:3c (and by everyone I mean the main 3 characters I consider 'Bartholomew's Nasty Little Bastards')

First up, of course, we will do Lazarus! 1. What inspired you to create your oc?

The really obvious answer here is Re8, my instant consuming love for it and for Karl, the overwhelming need to like... Participate, somehow, in that world, but not being able to cross the Full self-insert hurdle.. He's basically a very Warped-beyond-recognition version of a self-insert, a guy all his own but in somewhere still very Connected to the Me. But the more like.. in depth stuff, like what inspired Lazarus to Be Who He Is is like.. I love like.. weird Art Gore, Body-As-Art kinda shit, Meaningful and disturbing.. somehow Comforting and he's kinda the perfect vessel for that. I've had the Human Taxidermy Artist thing floating around the back of my mind for a decade or so just Waiting for a place to land and Laz was a golden opportunity v-v.

2.Why does your oc look the way they do? What are your reasons for their appearance? When I was settling Lazarus's design I wanted him to have this appearance of like, a very refined and elegant individual; beautiful in a sort of Severe way, but twist it up ever so slightly so he registers as Uncanny and Gross. Beauty Hiding Filth and all that. (just think about how many Fluids get into that Velvet Ensemble on the daily, it's Not Good.) Like the way his pants cut him and the vertical lines make him just All Leg. And his pallid bloodstained skin which makes him look like a Walking Corpse, hair slicked back with its own grease.. a figure that's bewitching and unsettling to witness also yes, the hair is Both a Me thing and a Bride of Frankenstein thing.

Virgil always feels right coming Second on these things.. 1. Inspiration Virgil is ooooooooooold, he's so Old, virgil is Ancient Virgil is possibly my oldest still-in-use OC, I created him a Looooooong ass time ago. like 2010 Long Ass Time. That is to say I do not know Why she exists.

Okay, Not entirely true. I made her for a comic I was writing with my friend at the time. She was my part of the main villain pair, but I do Not remember how I ended up on Toxicologist prodigy but make it Cowboy (which was always a bit of a misnomer for the vibe but nowadays Especially he's less Johnny Cash more Nickleback) I Think, I Think, what I wanted was to have a character that contrasted the Hardest against my friends main villain? who was very Orderly and Serious and Efficient?? beats me though that was So long ago.. I was also just listening to a Lot of Nickleback-esk music at the time, which may have been an influencing factor lmao

2. Appearance Virgil's appearance is pretty simple to explain, all told! He's a Country Boy/Girl, rowdy and ostentatious, and very secure in her understanding of that part of herself. It's where she comes from, and despite his rocky relationship with home it's who he is, y'know? The brightest (and most dangerous) mind in Toxicology doesn't Have to look exactly how you'd Expect her to look now does she? (Virgil pictured here on the Right)

Now our wonderful little Ulysses vwv)/ 1. Inspiration oh this is an Interesting one!! Ulysses (and Charlie, for that matter) came from 2 distinct places to land where they are now.. From time to time I like to entertain the idea of starting a band and having a musical career of some kind, something that blends my love of folk/bluegrass, prog-rock, and power metal into a loud villainous and exhilarating sound. and a few years back, as I was getting into Bluegrass for the first time, I was struck by a Concept for a Concept Album. It was called The Book of Brother UIysses; the story of a sniveling little priest in the frontier days and his Cursed Book, following him around as he fed townsfolk to whatever entity lived in its pages until he was finally Consumed himself. I toyed with it for a bit and eventually put it back on the shelf until the Musical Fancy struck me once more, untiiiiil I was listening to friends at the table: sangfielle and had both a deep desire to do a Horror-Fantasy Western ttrpg And satisfy my ever-present desire to weasel my way into playing two characters at once.. and I pulled ol' Ulysses off the shelf again and made some.. Additions. This has evolved now into them being just like.. free floating OC's? I don't plan on making a comic out of them, I would Still love an opportunity to play them in a TTRPG setting, but I'm not Banking on it, and hey, who knows, maybe I Will make that album someday, but for now they just kinda amorphously Exist within Something resembling a Narrative in my head after a long and complicated journey...

2. Appearance Similar to Lazarus, I wanted Ulysses to be unsettling, but in a Slightly different way. He's too clean- his all black outfit is never grimy, he is clean shaven his hair perfectly quaffed, with that plastered on grin, under eyes obscured by reflective glasses the vibes are just Immediately Off. To the flip side of that I always wanted him to look kinda.. pathetic. When we see him outside of his Persona as The Keeper of the Book, as just a man that is still Human in many ways; he's just.. small, waifish, behind the glasses his eyes are big and jittery, like a pray animal caught in a snare and still trying to fight its way out..

[threew-com]

3W.com: Return to the origins of technology and see how generative artificial intelligence can improve efficiency and empower vertical industries

Since the birth of artificial intelligence, “tech ethics” has been an important topic that goes hand in hand with it and cannot be avoided by humans. With the rapid advancement of AI technology in the past two years, AI can help humans or even replace humans to accomplish more and more things. Increasingly, issues regarding AI “technological ethics” are no longer limited to inherent aspects such as morality, values, security and privacy, but have further penetrated into deeper connotation levels related to the order of human existence, art, and aesthetics. .

However, if we start from the origin of science and technology, 3W.com is still more willing to discuss the practical benefits related to efficiency improvement brought by artificial intelligence, a new technology that can greatly improve social productivity, to social life and all walks of life.

The development of the AI empowerment industry has become a foreseeable and inevitable trend at this stage, especially the concentrated explosion of large AI models in 2023 and the successful debut of ChatGPT, making AIGC one of the hottest technology tracks in the world.

But AIGC is precisely one of the emerging technology tracks that is facing the most stringent “tech ethics” trial today, because it is in the field of “content creation” that has extremely high requirements for art, creativity, inspiration and aesthetics. It is the field where human art and scientific and technological rationality collide most intensely.

So what exactly is the AIGC that has become so popular now?

We say that AIGC is essentially a content production method, that is, artificial intelligence automatically produces content — its full name is “Artificial Intelligence Generated Content”, which literally translates to “artificial intelligence generated content”. AIGC is based on deep learning technology. After inputting data (understood as various limited instructions in terminal applications), artificial intelligence generates content by finding patterns and appropriate generalization.

Content creation itself is a complex job, covering everything from copywriting, news reports, story collections, to picture creation including painting and photography, to music and film-related video production, etc., but in general it can It can be summarized into several major aspects such as text, image, audio and video processing.

Looking back at the development process of generative artificial intelligence at 3W.com, we can see that the past content creation ecology has mainly gone through several stages from PGC, UGC to AUGC, but it has always been difficult to balance the relationship between creation efficiency, creation cost and content quality. , and AIGC can help professional creators and individuals freely express their creativity, lower the threshold of content production, and achieve the efficient supply of large amounts of content.

Of course, the rapid development of large models makes it possible for AIGC to be widely used. From the perspective of AI application types, current large multi-modal models can already process a variety of information from different modalities (such as video, image, voice, text, etc.), such as natural language processing, multi-modal reasoning, computer vision and Audio processing, etc., can realize conversion and unification between modalities. Various industries are also looking forward to the timely emergence of new phenomenal applications like ChatGPT in the direction of multi-modal large models.

With the full bloom of large models, AIGC, AGI (artificial intelligence), etc., more and more products and services in vertical fields have been embedded with artificial intelligence technology in their application scenarios, and have achieved significant results, especially in the financial technology industry market. , a considerable number of innovative application products and functions have emerged. For example, multiple application functions of the 3W.com terminal application brand, such as Web3 social networking, transaction configuration and game entertainment application scenarios, have adopted a variety of new technologies in the AI field.

[coeurdewhale]

The Future of Condominium Living in Singapore: Trends and Innovations to Watch Out For

Welcome to the future of condominium living in Singapore! As the city-state continues to embrace urbanization, the trends and innovations in the real estate industry are evolving rapidly. We will explore the exciting developments that are reshaping the landscape of condominium living and transforming how people experience home comforts.

Current Trends in Condominium Living

Condominium living has always been popular in Singapore, but current trends are taking it to a new level. One of the key trends is the integration of technology into everyday living. Developers are now incorporating smart home innovations that allow residents to control their appliances, lighting, and security systems with just a touch of their smartphones.

Another trend is the focus on sustainability and green living. With climate change becoming a pressing concern, developers are implementing eco-friendly condominium features. This includes energy-efficient appliances, solar panels, rainwater harvesting systems, and even vertical gardens that help improve air quality.

Additionally, shared spaces and communal living have gained popularity in recent years. Condominiums now offer many amenities, such as rooftop gardens, coworking spaces, fitness studios, and entertainment lounges. These shared facilities create opportunities for residents to connect, network, and build relationships within their community.

The Impact of Technology on Condominium Living

Technology has truly revolutionized almost every aspect of our lives, and condominium living is no exception. With the advent of smart home technology, residents can now enjoy a seamless and connected living experience. Imagine being able to control your overall home's temperature, lighting, and/or security from anywhere in the world, all with just a few taps on your smartphone.

Smart home innovations in condominiums go beyond the basic automation of appliances. Developers are now integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into the systems, allowing residents to personalize their living environment based on their preferences. For example, the AI system can learn your daily routine and adjust the lighting and temperature accordingly, creating a customized and comfortable living space.

In addition to smart home technology, developers are exploring virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) in condominium living. VR can be employed to create immersive virtual tours of the property, allowing potential buyers to experience the space before deciding. AR, on the other hand, can enhance how residents interact with their surroundings, such as providing real-time information about nearby amenities or displaying virtual artwork on blank walls.

Sustainable and Green Initiatives in Condominiums

As the world becomes every day more environmentally conscious, sustainability and green living have become essential considerations in the design and construction of condominiums. Developers are now incorporating various eco-friendly features to reduce the environmental impact of these buildings.

One of the key initiatives is the use of energy-efficient appliances and systems. Condominiums are now equipped with LED lighting, smart thermostats, and energy-saving appliances that help reduce electricity consumption. Some buildings even have solar panels installed on the rooftop, harnessing the power of the sun to generate clean and renewable energy.

Water conservation is also a priority in modern condominiums. Rainwater harvesting systems are commonly implemented to collect rainwater and use it for irrigation or supply water to common areas such as swimming pools and gardens. Low-flow fixtures are installed in bathrooms to reduce water wastage, while wastewater treatment systems recycle water for non-potable purposes.

Another sustainable initiative is the integration of green spaces within condominiums. Rooftop gardens, vertical gardens, and community farms are becoming increasingly common. These green spaces not only improve air quality and provide a respite from the urban environment but also promote biodiversity and contribute to the overall well-being of residents.

Amenities and Facilities in Modern Condominiums

Gone are the days when condominiums only offered a swimming pool and a gym. Modern condominiums are now packed with a wide range of amenities and/or facilities that cater to residents' diverse needs and interests.

Rooftop gardens have become popular in condominiums, providing residents with a serene and green oasis amidst the concrete jungle. These gardens are designed to be multi-functional, offering spaces for relaxation, social gatherings, and even community farming. Some condominiums even have jogging tracks and outdoor fitness equipment, allowing residents to stay active while enjoying the beautiful views.

Coworking spaces are also gaining popularity in condominiums, especially with the rise of remote work and entrepreneurship. These shared workspaces provide residents with a dedicated area to work, collaborate, and network with like-minded individuals. With high-speed internet, comfortable seating, and access to meeting rooms and printing facilities, these coworking spaces are designed to meet the needs of modern professionals.

Fitness enthusiasts will be delighted to find state-of-the-art fitness studios and sports facilities in modern condominiums. From fully equipped gyms to tennis courts, basketball courts, and even golf simulators, residents have plenty of options to stay active and pursue their favorite sports and activities.

Entertainment lounges and game rooms have also become standard condominium features, providing residents with spaces to relax, socialize, and have fun. These lounges are equipped with comfortable seating, large screens for movie nights, and game consoles for friendly competitions. They are perfect for hosting gatherings or simply unwinding after a long day.

Future Advancements in Condominium Living

The future of condominium living in Singapore is set to be even more exciting and innovative. Developers are constantly pushing all the boundaries of what is possible, aiming to create living spaces that are both technologically advanced and environmentally sustainable.

One of the future advancements to watch out for is the integration of Internet of Things (IoT) devices in condominiums. IoT devices, such as smart appliances, sensors, and wearable devices, will be interconnected to create a brilliant and interconnected living environment. Imagine a condominium where your fridge can automatically order groceries when you run out, or your fitness tracker can adjust the lighting and temperature in your home based on your activity levels.

Another future trend is the development of smart cities and intelligent neighborhoods. Condominiums like Jden will be part of a larger ecosystem that leverages technology to create sustainable and efficient communities. For example, buildings will have intelligent energy grids that optimize energy consumption and distribution. Transportation systems will be integrated, allowing residents to navigate the city using electric and autonomous vehicles easily. Public spaces will be designed to be inclusive, accessible, and technologically advanced.

Furthermore, with the rise of remote work and flexible lifestyles, developers are exploring the concept of live-work-play environments in condominiums. These environments will offer residential units, office spaces, retail outlets, and recreational facilities, creating a self-contained and vibrant community where residents can live, work, and play without leaving the premises.

[gabriel-macedo]

The Power of Logic: Cartesianism and the Deductive Method

Introduction: The search for truth and knowledge has always been a fundamental goal of philosophy and science. In this context, Cartesianism and the deductive method play essential roles. This article aims to explore the power of logic, exemplified by Cartesianism and the deductive method. Various aspects related to these two approaches will be addressed, from René Descartes’ contribution to analytical geometry to the influence of the deductive method on thinkers such as Spinoza, Descartes and Leibniz. In addition, theoretical and practical examples of analytical geometry will be presented, as well as a list of defenders of the deductive method. Finally, a critique of the deductive method will be made, highlighting its limitations.

This article is divided into the following sections: 1. Introduction to Cartesianism 2. How did René Descartes contribute to Analytical Geometry? 3. What was Descartes’ inspiration for postulating the Cartesian plane? 4. Fixed Points and Coordinates 5. Deductive Method 6. How were Spinoza, Descartes and Leibniz influenced by the Deductive Method? 7. How Analytic Geometry Changed Mathematics Forever 8. Theoretical and Practical Examples on Analytical Geometry 9. List of some defenders of the deductive method 10. Criticism of the Deductive Method

1. Introduction to Cartesianism

Cartesianism is a philosophical and epistemological current based on the ideas and principles developed by the philosopher René Descartes. The term “Cartesianism” refers to the set of doctrines and philosophical conceptions that follow the fundamental ideas of Descartes.

The main objective of Cartesianism is to seek a solid and undoubted basis for human knowledge. Descartes sought to establish a philosophical and scientific system that was built from clear and evident principles, through the use of reason and deductive reasoning.

Some characteristics of Cartesianism include:

1. Methodical doubt: Descartes defended the need to subject all beliefs and ideas to a radical and systematic doubt. He sought to eliminate any possibility of error or illusion, questioning even the most basic and obvious notions.

2. Cogito, ergo sum: One of the most famous expressions of Cartesianism is the phrase “I think, therefore I am”. Descartes regarded the very act of thinking as irrefutable proof of its existence, even if everything else could be called into question.

3. Mind-body dualism: Descartes proposed the existence of a division between the mind (res cogitans) and the body (res extensive). He argued that the mind was a non-material substance, while the body was a material substance. This conception influenced later philosophical thinking about the relationship between mind and body.

4. Rationalism: Cartesianism is a form of rationalism, which emphasizes the role of reason and logical reasoning in the pursuit of knowledge. Descartes regarded reason as the primary source of certainty and truth, and believed that mathematics was a model for obtaining secure knowledge.

Cartesianism had a significant impact on the development of modern philosophy and influenced several areas of knowledge, such as science, psychology, ethics and epistemology. Although not all of Descartes’ ideas were fully accepted or followed by later philosophers, Cartesianism left a lasting legacy and remains the subject of study and debate to this day.

2. How did René Descartes contribute to Analytical Geometry?

René Descartes made an important contribution to Analytical Geometry through the development of a coordinate system that allowed the representation of points and geometric figures in the plane using numerical coordinates.

In his work “La Géométrie” (1637), Descartes introduced a Cartesian coordinate system, named after him. This system consists of two perpendicular lines, one horizontal (x-axis) and one vertical (y-axis), which intersect at a common point called the origin. Based on this system, each point in the plane can be identified by an ordered pair of numbers (x, y).

The introduction of Cartesian coordinates by Descartes allowed the connection between Geometry and Algebra. He proposed that curves and geometric figures could be described by means of algebraic equations. This enabled the graphical representation of mathematical equations and the resolution of geometric problems using algebraic methods.

This approach revolutionized geometry as it allowed a more accurate and systematic understanding of geometric figures and their properties. Analytical Geometry has become a powerful tool for the study and resolution of geometric problems, as well as for the formulation and solution of mathematical equations.

Descartes’ contribution to analytic geometry laid the groundwork for the later development of differential and integral calculus by mathematicians such as Isaac Newton and Gottfried Leibniz. His Cartesian coordinate system continues to be widely used to this day as a fundamental tool in the representation and study of geometry and mathematics in general.

3. What was Descartes’ inspiration for postulating the Cartesian plane?

Descartes’ inspiration for postulating the Cartesian plane came from various sources and influences in his life and work.

One of the main influences was his background in mathematics. Descartes was an accomplished mathematician and studied geometry and algebra in his youth. He recognized the importance of numerical coordinates for describing and representing points and geometric figures.

Another significant influence was his observation of the scientific and technological advances of his time. Descartes lived during the Scientific Revolution, a period when discoveries and advances in astronomy, physics, and engineering were taking place. He witnessed the application of mathematical instruments such as telescopes and compasses to obtain precise measurements and locate objects in space.

However, one of the best-known stories about Descartes’ inspiration for the Cartesian plane involves his encounter with a fly in a room. He noted that he could describe the fly’s position relative to fixed points in the environment, using coordinates. This experience led him to realize that, in the same way, points and geometric figures could be located and described using coordinates.

These various influences and observations led Descartes to formulate his Cartesian coordinate system, which is a fundamental component of the Cartesian plane. He recognized the importance of establishing a reference system with perpendicular axes and a common origin to accurately and systematically describe geometric figures and points.

Therefore, Descartes’ inspiration for postulating the Cartesian plane came from his mathematical background, his observation of the practical applications of mathematics in his time, and his reflections on locating and describing objects in space.

4. Descartes’ Story

In fact, the story involving Descartes and the fly in the room is a legend or myth that has become popular over time. There are no reliable records of Descartes ever mentioning this story in his own works or correspondence.

The story of the fly is often told as a colorful way to illustrate Descartes’ idea of using coordinates to describe the position of objects in space. However, there is no solid historical evidence that this story actually happened or that Descartes even mentioned it.

It is important to note that Descartes, in his work “La Géométrie”, described his Cartesian coordinate system in an abstract way and did not mention a specific inspiration for its creation.

So, while the fly story is interesting and is often associated with Descartes and the Cartesian plan, we should consider it an unconfirmed anecdote rather than a factual account of Descartes’ inspiration.

Another frequently told story is the story of the apple falling on Isaac Newton’s head, which is also considered an anecdote rather than an accurate historical account.

The story of the apple is told as an illustration to describe how Isaac Newton arrived at his theory of gravity. According to the story, Newton was sitting under an apple tree when an apple fell on his head, which would have awakened in his mind the question of what made the apple fall towards the ground.

Although this story is popular and has been widely circulated, there is no direct evidence that Newton ever mentioned the apple in his own words. It is yet another way of conveying the idea that Newton observed a physical event and, from there, began to reflect and develop his scientific theories, such as the Law of Universal Gravitation.

Therefore, like the story of the fly with Descartes, the story of the apple with Newton is considered an anecdote that helps to vividly and understandably illustrate the ideas and discoveries of these important scientists, but should not be treated as a strictly accurate historical account.

5. Deductive Method:

The deductive method is a logical approach to reasoning that starts from premises or general principles to reach specific conclusions. It follows a logical structure in which conclusions are derived from premises through a set of well-defined rules or principles.

In the deductive method, premises are assumed to be true and accepted as a starting point. From these premises, it is possible to apply logical rules, such as the syllogism rule, the implication rule or the negation rule, to deduce new information or conclusions. These conclusions are considered true if they are logically valid and follow the established rules.

A classic example of deduction is the syllogism:

1. All human beings are mortal. 2. Socrates is a human being.

From these premises, we can deduce the conclusion:

3. So Socrates is mortal.

The deductive method is widely used in various disciplines such as mathematics, philosophy, logic and science. It allows you to establish logical relationships between ideas and information, providing a clear and consistent path to reach conclusions based on established principles or laws.

However, it is important to emphasize that the validity of the conclusions drawn depends on the veracity of the initial premises. If the premises are false or do not represent reality, the conclusions deduced will also be invalid. Therefore, the accuracy and validity of the deductive method depend on the quality of the assumptions adopted.

6. How were Spinoza, Descartes and Leibniz influenced by the Deductive Method?

Both Spinoza, Descartes and Leibniz were philosophers and mathematicians who relied heavily on the deductive method in their work.

René Descartes, for example, considered one of the main representatives of rationalism, used the deductive method as a fundamental tool in his philosophy. He sought to establish a system of indubitable knowledge, starting from self-evident premises, known as “Cartesian truths”. Descartes applied this method in his work “Meditations on First Philosophy”, where he formulated his famous phrase “I think, therefore I am”. He argued that, through the use of deductive reasoning, we could reach unquestionable certainties and build a solid knowledge system.

Baruch Spinoza, another rationalist philosopher, was also influenced by the deductive method. In his masterpiece “Ethics”, Spinoza sought to develop a systematic approach to philosophy, based on axioms and logical deductions. He formulated a series of propositions from definitions and fundamental axioms, using the deductive method to derive conclusions about the nature of reality, the existence of God and human nature.

Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, in turn, in addition to being a philosopher, was a noted mathematician and logician. He also employed the deductive method in his philosophical and mathematical investigations. Leibniz developed a formal logical system known as “calculus”, which sought to formalize logical deduction in a precise and systematic way. He believed that, through the deductive method, we could reach necessary and universal truths.

These philosophers shared a confidence in the power of deductive reasoning to establish fundamental principles and reach universal truths. They considered that, through this method, they could build rigorous and reasoned systems of knowledge. His influence was significant in both philosophy and mathematics, shaping the rationalist thinking of the time and contributing to the development of logic and scientific methodology.

7. How analytic geometry changed mathematics forever:

Analytical Geometry brought a significant change to mathematics by establishing a fundamental connection between geometry and algebra. This revolutionary approach allowed for a more accurate and comprehensive understanding of geometric properties, as well as the development of new techniques for solving mathematical problems.

Before Analytical Geometry, geometry was mainly studied deductively, based on geometric theorems and postulates. Algebra, on the other hand, focused on equations and numerical calculations. Analytical Geometry, developed mainly by René Descartes in the 17th century, united these two areas, allowing the geometric representation of algebraic equations and the description of geometric figures in terms of numerical coordinates.

This fusion of geometry and algebra had a profound impact on mathematics. Analytical Geometry opened new possibilities for solving mathematical problems, allowing algebraic concepts and techniques to be applied to the study of geometry. It provided a unified language for describing mathematical relationships and establishing connections between different areas of mathematics.

In addition, Analytical Geometry allowed the development of more advanced calculation and analysis techniques. It paved the way for differential geometry, which studies the properties of curves and surfaces, and for vector calculus, which deals with vector quantities and their operations.

This revolutionary approach to Analytical Geometry also had significant implications outside of mathematics. It has influenced fields such as physics, engineering and computer science, providing powerful tools for modeling, analyzing and solving complex problems.

In short, analytic geometry changed mathematics forever by establishing the intersection between geometry and algebra. This unified approach enabled the development of new techniques, paved the way for advanced areas of mathematics, and had a significant impact on a number of related disciplines.

8. Theoretical and Practical Examples on Analytical Geometry:

Here are some theoretical and practical examples that illustrate the use of Analytical Geometry:

Theoretical example: Consider an equation of a line in the Cartesian plane, given by y = mx + b, where m is the slope of the line and b is the linear coefficient. Using Analytical Geometry, we can determine several properties of this line, such as the slope, the point of intersection with the y-axis (when x = 0) and the point of intersection with the x-axis (when y = 0).

Practical example: Suppose you are planning to build a straight road connecting two cities. You know that city A has coordinates (2, 3) and city B has coordinates (8, 9). Using Analytic Geometry, you can find the equation of the line that passes through these two points. With this equation, you can calculate the slope of the road, the distance between cities and other aspects relevant to the project.

Another practical example is the use of Analytical Geometry in graphs and data visualizations. Suppose you have a dataset with numerical values on two variables such as height and weight for a group of people. Plotting this data on a scatterplot on the Cartesian plane allows you to visualize the relationship between variables and identify patterns or trends. Analytical Geometry is used to map the data points on the graph and allow for more accurate analysis and interpretation.

Furthermore, Analytical Geometry is widely applied in physics and engineering to model the motion of objects, such as projectile trajectories or planet orbits. It also plays an important role in areas such as computer graphics, where it is used to represent three-dimensional objects in a coordinate system.

These are just a few examples that illustrate the use of Analytical Geometry in both theoretical and practical contexts. Its application covers a wide range of areas and disciplines, providing powerful tools for analysis, modeling and solving geometric and mathematical problems.

9. Criticism of the Deductive Method:

Although the deductive method is widely used and has contributed significantly to the advancement of knowledge, there are some criticisms and limitations that can be raised:

1. Dependence on the premises: The deductive method depends on the validity of the initial premises to guarantee the validity of the conclusions. If the premises are false, inaccurate or incomplete, the conclusions deduced may also be invalid.

2. Limitation of applicability: The deductive method is not always applicable to all areas of knowledge. There are fields, such as experimental science, where pure deduction may be insufficient to obtain reliable knowledge. Empirical observation and experimentation play an important role in these areas, which leads to the use of inductive methods.

3. Rigidity and inflexibility: The deductive method follows a rigid logical structure, in which the conclusions are strictly derived from the premises through formal rules. This can limit creativity and flexibility in exploring new ideas and perspectives.

4. Limitations in dealing with uncertainty: The deductive method is more suitable for dealing with situations where the premises are known with absolute certainty. However, many real-world issues involve uncertainty, ambiguity and complexity, for which pure deduction may not be sufficient.

5. Vulnerability to fallacies: Logical deduction is susceptible to fallacies, errors in reasoning or manipulations in premises that lead to false or misleading conclusions. It is important to be careful in formulating assumptions and correctly applying logical rules to avoid fallacies.

It is important to emphasize that these criticisms do not deny the importance and value of the deductive method, but point out its limitations and the need for complementary approaches, such as induction, empirical observation and experimentation, to obtain a more complete understanding of the world. The deductive method should be used cautiously and critically, recognizing its restrictions and supplementing it with other methods when appropriate.

10. What is the relationship between the Cartesian method and the deductive method? Was Descartes inspired by the power of deduction to posit his philosophy and scientific claims?

The relationship between the Cartesian method and the deductive method is very close. René Descartes, in his quest to establish an indubitable system of knowledge, used the deductive method as a fundamental tool to support his philosophies and scientific assertions.

The Cartesian method, also known as the Descartes method, is a philosophical and scientific method that consists of dividing knowledge into fundamental parts and building a solid structure from these parts. This method is based on a deductive approach, in which Descartes starts from clear and evident principles, known as “Cartesian truths”, to arrive at specific conclusions.

Descartes argued that fundamental and indubitable truths could be reached through the use of reason and logical deduction. He sought to establish a secure and universally valid system of knowledge by starting with unquestionable premises and then applying logical rules to deduce coherent and reliable conclusions.

One of the most famous expressions of the Cartesian method is the phrase “I think, therefore I am” (Cogito, ergo sum). Descartes used deductive reasoning to reach the conclusion that, even if everything around him could be illusory or uncertain, he could not doubt his own existence, since the very act of doubting and thinking proves his existence.

Therefore, we can say that Descartes was inspired by the power of deduction as a reliable tool to establish his scientific philosophies and assertions. He believed that the deductive method was capable of providing undoubted certainties and founding his system of knowledge, which greatly influenced the development of modern philosophy and scientific methodology.

Conclusion: Reason and deduction play key roles in the search for a path to truth. Cartesianism and the deductive method represent powerful approaches that have contributed to the development of philosophy, science, and mathematics. Analytical geometry, the result of Cartesian thinking, brought a new way of understanding and representing geometric space. The application of the deductive method allowed the construction of logical arguments and the search for universal truths. Despite the criticisms and limitations, reason and deduction continue to be indispensable tools for the advancement of human knowledge.

[arvistai]

Navigating the Warehousing World: Best Practices and Strategies for Successful Operations

Introduction:

In the fast-paced and competitive world of Warehouse Operations, success hinges on efficient operations and streamlined processes. Whether you're managing a large distribution center or a small storage facility, adopting best practices and strategic approaches can significantly enhance your warehouse's productivity and profitability. In this blog post, we'll explore essential tips and strategies for running a successful warehousing operation.

1. Embrace Technology and Automation:

One of the most significant game-changers in modern warehousing is the integration of technology and automation. Implementing warehouse management systems (WMS), barcode scanners, RFID technology, and automated material handling equipment can drastically improve efficiency, reduce errors, and optimize inventory control. Embrace these innovations to streamline workflows and enhance overall performance.

2. Optimize Warehouse Layout and Space Utilization:

A well-organized warehouse layout can have a massive impact on productivity. Analyze your floor plan to minimize unnecessary movement and create efficient picking and storage areas. Consider employing vertical storage solutions like pallet racks and mezzanines to maximize vertical space. Regularly review and adapt your layout as business needs change.

3. Prioritize Workforce Training and Safety:

Invest in comprehensive training programs for your warehouse staff. A well-trained team can increase accuracy, reduce the risk of accidents, and handle challenges more effectively. Safety should always be a top priority, so ensure your team is equipped with appropriate safety gear and regularly conducts safety drills.

4. Implement Lean Principles:

Applying lean principles, such as 5S methodology (Sort, Set in order, Shine, Standardize, Sustain), can significantly improve efficiency and eliminate waste. Focus on eliminating unnecessary steps, reducing excess inventory, and optimizing processes to improve overall flow and Warehouse Productivity Improvement

5. Adopt Data-Driven Decision Making:

Leverage data analytics to make informed decisions about your warehouse operations. Analyzing data on inventory levels, order volume, and workforce performance can reveal valuable insights and opportunities for improvement. Use this data to identify bottlenecks and make data-driven adjustments.

6. Foster Collaboration and Communication:

Encourage effective communication and collaboration among different teams within the warehouse. A cohesive and well-coordinated workforce can respond more efficiently to changes in demand and ensure smoother operations. Consider regular team meetings and an open-door policy to address concerns and ideas.

7. Establish Vendor Relationships and Negotiate Smartly:

Forge strong partnerships with reliable vendors and suppliers. Negotiate favorable terms and build long-term relationships to secure the best prices, timely deliveries, and improved customer service. A healthy relationship with vendors can positively impact your supply chain and overall business performance.

8. Monitor Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

Define and track essential KPIs related to warehouse operations, such as order fulfillment rate, inventory turnover, picking accuracy, and shipping times. Regularly review these metrics to identify trends and areas that need improvement.

Conclusion: 

Thriving in the warehousing world requires a combination of well-thought-out strategies, embracing technology, and fostering a skilled workforce. Arvist optimizing warehouse layout, adopting automation, prioritizing safety, and utilizing data-driven decision-making, your warehouse operation can achieve higher efficiency and success. Continuously seek opportunities for improvement and remain adaptable to changing market demands to stay ahead in the competitive landscape of warehousing. For more details you can call us +1773-609-2227 and mail us nilay@beglobalsafety.com.

[jainlakshit]

Unleash the Power of Wagon Drill Machines: Discover Somani Industries' Revolutionary Lineup

In the realm of modern industry, innovation is the driving force that propels progress. One such innovation that has taken the world by storm is the wagon drill machine. With its incredible power and versatility, the wagon drill machine has become an indispensable tool for various sectors, from mining and construction to geotechnical exploration. And leading the charge in this revolution is Somani Industries, a trailblazing company dedicated to providing cutting-edge solutions for the global market.

At the forefront of technological advancements, Somani Industries has designed and developed a revolutionary lineup of wagon drill machines that are transforming the way projects are executed. These machines combine power, precision, and efficiency to tackle the most demanding drilling tasks with ease, making them a game-changer for industries worldwide.

One of the standout features of Somani Industries' wagon drill machines is their exceptional power. Equipped with robust engines and state-of-the-art drilling mechanisms, these machines deliver unparalleled drilling performance. Whether it's drilling through rock formations or excavating deep foundations, Somani Industries' wagon drill machines are up to the challenge, providing remarkable speed and precision every step of the way.

Another key aspect that sets Somani Industries' wagon drill machines apart is their versatility. With a wide range of customizable features and attachments, these machines can adapt to various drilling conditions and project requirements. From horizontal and vertical drilling to angle drilling and core sampling, Somani Industries' wagon drill machines offer flexibility that is second to none. They are engineered to excel in diverse environments, ensuring maximum productivity and efficiency on every job site.

Safety is paramount in any industrial setting, and Somani Industries recognizes this. Their wagon drill machines are designed with a strong emphasis on safety features and ergonomic design, prioritizing the well-being of operators. With intuitive controls and advanced safety mechanisms, these machines not only boost productivity but also minimize the risk of accidents, providing a secure working environment for all.

Somani Industries' commitment to quality and reliability is evident in every aspect of their wagon drill machines. Meticulously crafted using top-grade materials and subjected to rigorous testing, these machines are built to withstand the toughest conditions. With a focus on durability, Somani Industries ensures that their machines stand the test of time, delivering exceptional performance year after year.

Moreover, Somani Industries' wagon drill machines are backed by a comprehensive after-sales service network. Their team of experts is always on hand to provide technical support, maintenance assistance, and spare parts, guaranteeing smooth operations and minimizing downtime. Somani Industries understands the value of strong customer relationships and strives to be a reliable partner throughout the lifespan of their machines.

So, if you're ready to unleash the true potential of wagon drill machines and take your projects to new heights, look no further than Somani Industries. With their revolutionary lineup of wagon drill machines, you'll experience the perfect fusion of power, versatility, and reliability. Discover the future of drilling technology today with Somani Industries and witness the transformation in your industry like never before.

[trtyiamu]

LifeCrypto: A highly curated features and secure defi protocols

About LIFE Crypto

LIFE Crypto is a multi-chain crypto wallet built on Ethereum and BNB Chain to connect cryptocurrency and daily transactions. Life DeFi Wallet, a decentralized digital wallet service, now available on the Apple App Store, is Apple’s blockchain-based wallet that allows users to transfer digital assets to users. This represents a major breakthrough in the use of hard public cryptocurrency addresses that have long been the standard for blockchain-based transactions. It also creates new use cases and evaluates opportunities to create businesses, users, brands, and more. different industries and verticals.

Life Crypto: Non-custodial Yet Easy

Life Crypto uses a unique approach to provide all crypto-related services in an environment that is not secure, but with a traditional banking system that makes it easy for anyone — even those who are new to the world of cryptocurrency — to understand and immediately start using their services to wide. . . .

A few features of Life Crypto include:

Nickname, not address: Life Wallet users can send crypto to other Life Crypto users by simply identifying a valid user. I can’t remember who owns the hard drive.

Facial recognition: Use smart devices with built-in biometrics to access your wallet instead of entering a personal key or password.

Fast transfer: One of the fastest products, Life Crypto can transfer assets quickly.

Staking: DeFi services integrated into the wallet. Share LIVE tokens without connecting to a third party service with an APR of up to 39%, Life Crypto offers more savings than a traditional bank savings account.

Multi-chain: Powered by BSC and Ethereum Smart Chains, users can instantly convert ERC20 or BEP20 LIFE tokens if they want to send tokens.

Credit cards: The following VISA/MasterCard credit cards allow users to spend their crypto assets without converting them to fiat currency, providing the ability to use Life Crypto services in real time.

Contrary to the simplicity of centralized systems, Life Crypto never collects money from users, but only from token holders, thus bringing the best of both worlds.

Life Wallet :

The LIFE wallet will have the unique advantage of being a convenient hybrid chain supporting a large number of tokens, allowing users to receive and transfer multiple cryptocurrencies with username flexibility.

LIFE will always have the greatest opportunities for speed, value and reliability thanks to an adaptive protocol that allows LIFE to connect to the most modern blockchain technology. Shopping online, ordering takeout and transferring money to your contacts is easy with Life Swalets.

Life Staking :

LIFE Tokens can earn indirect income by staking their tokens on the best production platform, as well as services such as providing liquidity to DEX Partners and Life DEX in the future.

The platform offers 30%, 35%, 39% APR for 1 month, 6 months and 12 months. Compare interest rates on any bank account (paid over the next two years). The minimum amount required to bet is 10,000 and there is no maximum limit.

Ability to view rewards and cash every hour. Lock timer to see exactly when your coins are free to move, users can bet multiple locks. At the end of the applicable dividend period, you will be able to withdraw your old shareholder tokens as well as your earned contracts.

MetaMask, Trust Wallet or Ledger are examples of computer or hardware wallets that can interact with ERC20 tokens where you can store tokens directly. You will need a certain amount of ETH in your wallet to cover gas costs. Gas prices will be calculated for each contractual relationship. For users to benefit from low fees, the BSC network is a great option where you will need a small amount of BNB for transactions.

Goals Of LifeCrypto:

The aim of the team is to connect cryptocurrencies with real business transactions, providing easy access and different types of multi-chain wallets.

LIFE Group is developing a complete product portfolio that is easy to use regardless of one’s level of understanding of cryptocurrencies or blockchain technology.

The LIFE sign is the lifeblood of the environment. Betting, app functionality, retail purchases, bank transfers and credit card transactions all depend. LIFE is the new currency.

The Opportunity in LifeCrypto

Address verification

To send cryptocurrency, one must copy and paste a long string of numbers and letters, and verify that it is the correct address before sending.

Hard

The difficult integration of crypto users in the early stages means that many potential users do not participate.

No ownership

Hosting services do not allow users to fully manage their digital assets.

The Solution in LifeCrypto

Comfortable customers

Life brings flexibility and simplicity to crypto users, allowing for hassle-free transactions, simply using the recipient’s username to send money.

Easy to use

Life focuses on great user experience, eliminating crypto confusion for easy introduction and adoption.

Full control

Life offers this convenience often associated with payment systems like PayPal, but gives users full control over their assets.

LIFE Crypto & Hedera collaboration and the benefit of this collaboration

LIFE Company has announced a partnership with one of the most advanced L1 on the market, Hedera. LIFE will evolve to enable HBAR transfers to LIFE wallets and support the entire Hedera ecosystem. This is a great partnership for LIFE as Hedera not only has amazing blockchain performance with low fees, high TPS and fast transaction confirmation, but they also have an amazing list of partners. The ecosystem includes Google, IBM, and Boeing. The partnership also covers the entire HBAR platform. The 2023 plan further reinforces that the LIVE community has a lot to offer. Plans include mall operations, DEX, web browsing, on/off, project integration and general improvements.

Roadmap

TEAM

The Life Crypto team consists of experts with Oracle, Microsoft expertise and extensive blockchain knowledge. By combining their knowledge, they understand the current issues facing the decentralized industry and Life Crypto is the culmination of their efforts. Developing a crypto environment that offers services not available in a traditional environment, along with DeFi and banking, Life Crypto sets the stage for real crypto asset opportunities where anyone can use the service and enjoy the benefits. of electronic money. .

LIFE Crypto Social media link:

Website: http://www.lifecrypto.life/

Whitepaper: https://lifecrypto.life/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/LIFE-Whitepaper-3.0.pdf

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LIFElabsHQ

Telegram: https://t.me/LIFECrypto_TG

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lifecrypto/

Blog Owner

Bitcointalk : TrTyiamu

Bitcointalk profile : https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=2696234

Address: 0x24397ad3ef4e65af0f72c09a0454619be6c62939

[evaninnings]

LifeCrypto: A highly curated features and secure defi protocols

Introduction

LifeCrypto is an innovative payment network that provides a platform for transactions. The platform aims to provide seamless cryptocurrency payments and transfers with cross-chain (blockchain) exchange capabilities and globally compatible payment infrastructure - the LifeCrypto platform works by deploying deploy new blockchain applications such as games, NFT and DeFi. The LifeCrypto Infrastructure seeks to become the basis for supporting cross-chain smart contract relationships between the LifeCrypto platform and the trusted ecosystem built by its active community.

About Life DeFi Wallet

Life Defy Wallet is a highly secure and multi-chain, non-custodial wallet that allows users to trade digital assets via usernames. Users can exchange Life's native tokens for hundreds of different digital assets, enable/disable fiat ramps, and buy and sell usernames and NFTs from local markets. Life DeFi Wallet is on its way to becoming the most used app for all crypto-related people.

Life Crypto: Non-custodial Yet Easy

Life Crypto uses one method to provide all crypto-related services in a non-custodial environment, but with a traditional banking system like this, everyone - even novices familiar with the crypto world - is easy to understand and use crypto- coins. Start using decentralized services right away. .

Features of Life Crypto

Nickname, not address: Live Wallet users can send crypto to other Live Crypto users by knowing the correct username. No need to remember which complicated address belongs to whom. Face ID: Use your smartphone's biometric tools to access your wallet instead of entering a private key or password. Instant Transfer: You can instantly transfer assets to Live Crypto at the fastest speed. Staking: DeFi services are integrated into the wallet. Issue LIFE tokens without connecting to a third service. With an APR of up to 39%, Life Crypto offers great savings compared to a traditional savings bank account. Multi-chain: When running on both BSC and Ethereum Smart Chains, users can instantly switch between ERC20 or BEP20 LIFE tokens if they wish to send tokens. Debit Card: The upcoming VISA/MasterCard debit card allows users to spend their crypto assets without converting them to fiat, providing a direct Cryptocurrency service for use within the real world. With services that rival the convenience of centralized systems, Life Crypto never holds user funds and only has access to token holders, thus providing the best of both worlds. two worlds.

Life Welcomes VRA to their Ecosystem

The LIFE team has announced an exciting partnership that will help Veracity Tech join the $LIFE ecosystem. Veracity is an open ledger ecosystem designed to combat advertising fraud, provide open access to infrastructure for publishers and advertisers, and reward users for viewing content. . Videotapes. With vertical products in advertising, e-sports and video players, Veracity complements its ecosystem with patented 'proof of view' blockchain-based technology. The $VRA token, used to fund advertising campaigns, stack through VeraWallet, and distribute Watch & Earn rewards, is a single utility token at the heart of the Veracity ecosystem. . Verasity's roadmap for 2023 includes the NFT marketplace, VeraVerse, to compliment its eSports service and provide a new utility for the $VRA token.

Life Staking

LIFE Token holders can earn passive income by staking tokens on the site's best-in-class staking platform, as well as providing liquidity to future partner DEXs and Life's own DEX. The platform offers 30%, 35%, 39% APR for 1-month, 6-month and 12-month terms. Compare that to any bank account rate (given over the next two years). The minimum bet amount is 10,000 and there is no maximum. View your hourly bonuses and withdrawal options. Lock timer to see when your coins can be moved, users can always bet to lock. At the end of the staking period, you will be able to withdraw the previously accumulated tokens. Metamask, Trust Wallet or Ledger are examples of software or hardware wallets that can interact with ERC20 tokens, where you can store your tokens for life. You need a certain amount of ETH in your wallet to pay for gas. Gas will be charged for each smart contract contact. For users to enjoy low transaction fees, BSC network is a good choice and you need less BNB for transactions.

Earning way from Life Defi Wallet

The LIFE wallet will have a clear advantage as it will be cross-chain compatible and support multiple currencies, allowing users to receive and transfer multiple cryptocurrencies with flexible usernames. LIFE is always the best choice in terms of speed, cost and reliability, thanks to an adaptive protocol that allows LIFE to connect to the most modern blockchain technology. Shop online, order food and send money to your contacts with Life Wallet.

Team

The Live Crypto team consists of experts with Oracle, Microsoft experience and extensive blockchain knowledge. Based on their knowledge, they understand the challenges the decentralized industry is currently facing and Live Crypto is the culmination of their efforts. Live Crypto has developed a cryptocurrency ecosystem that offers banking and non-custodial services as well as DeFi in a traditional environment, opening up the possibility of converting crypto assets into real money. Suddenly, everyone can use these services and enjoy the benefits of cryptocurrency.

The end

Life Crypto is one of the best projects I have ever seen. This job is more advanced than others. As everything in the project is completely clear, it can be said that the future of this project is very bright. We hope that the investors will benefit from their investment in this project. As the project is progressing as per the roadmap so far, I am confident that the project will reach a better state. Because they are, but most of the big investors are the ones who put money into the project

MORE INFORMATION :

Website: http://www.lifecrypto.life/ Whitepaper: https://lifecrypto.life/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/LIFE-Whitepaper-3.0.pdf Twitter: https://twitter.com/LIFElabsHQ Telegram: https://t.me/LIFECrypto_TG Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lifecrypto/

Author

Bitcoin username: Evaninnings Bitcointalk profile Link: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=2679482 Telegram Username: @Centrillion Address: 0x3868322378eDABCE8A464B197E74B807332Bc393

[astrolovecosmos]

Vertex: What We Can’t Control

Vertex is a point located in the right-hand side of a chart that represents the intersection of the ecliptic and the prime vertical. In astrology, it is considered an auxiliary or extra Descendant. Some astrologers refer to the Vertex as the “third angle” of a chart.  It is associated with wish fulfillment, awakenings or realizations, the idea of destiny or fate, and some use it for moments that are life changing such as meeting your spouse, a death of a loved one, birth of a child, etc. My focus isn’t on predictive astrology and because of this I don’t use Vertex often in my own readings. Vertex can be popular in synastry but I also don’t typically incorporate it into those charts. I analyze it from the perspective of how we approach what we can’t control, realizations, and our view or approach to wishes and “fate”. 

Vertex in Aries: There is a pull or call to be a leader in some fashion. This person may also feel like they are constantly fighting against “fate” or has a focus on making their own destiny. This person can feel like they are always falling into situations where they are forced to lead, fight, or assert. Defining the self may be important to feeling fulfilled. Self-expression and honoring the importance of the individual can help them feel more stable in a chaotic world. 

Vertex in Taurus: Anyone familiar with that scene from Frozen 2 where Olaf goes “we’re calling this controlling what you can when things feel out of control”? That is the first thing I thought of for Vertex in Taurus. The fear and frustration surrounding what they cannot control can be real. In terms of fate many describe this position as being about finding inner security and being more independent. For many Taurus placements there is the reoccurring theme of learning to overcome fear of the unknown, let go of control, to find flexibility, but most importantly to cultivate inner stability. With Vertex this individual may find themselves falling down a rabbit hole of unpredictable fate, but none of that should matter as long as they understand the power they hold in their own actions and decisions. 

Vertex in Gemini: Here we see someone who tries to get a handle on the unknown or their own destiny via learning as much as they can about the world, themselves, the occult, science, etc. Communication is also important to them in easing anxieties or feeding curiosity. They love to theorize or talk hypotheticals. Here we almost see a reflection of their polar opposite Sagittarius - there is a desire to find meaning in the world. Communicating their needs, fears, and wants can be helpful with feeling fulfilled or like they are on the right path. 

Vertex in Cancer: All of the water signs have a powerful relationship with the idea of fate and Vertex. Here we see themes of strong intuition, attachment, or maybe even psychic abilities. There is a close tie to their fate, whether they are making their own destiny, getting hunches about what path to take, or have world swallowing doubt and fears. Their relationship to the unknown, the instability of life, and to ideas of destiny are deep and felt strongly. With Cancer there is a focus on protecting and nurturing the self and others. They need to be careful of focusing too much on taking care of others or taking on their feelings. Reexamining family, making a new family, or dealing with family cycles or trauma may be in the cards for them. Attending to the inner child or wounded self is important in making themselves sane in such a crazy world. 

Vertex in Leo: Individuality, creativity, self-expression, and empowerment are themes surrounding this Vertex. To become the best version of yourself could summarize this placement when talking about destiny. To adapt or cope with a world that is outside of their control they must create their own world or path. To stand out and/or lead the way is what will help them feel most fulfilled in life. Authenticity is a buzzword now-a-days but that trait or way of being is a necessity for Vertex in Leo as they plummet through the universe. Feelings of grandeur, uniqueness, power, or nobility may go through them sometimes. While they need to be careful of not letting this go to their head or tripping them up - these feelings of power are important in shaping their own future and self. 

Vertex in Virgo: Much like Taurus there is a fear of the unknown or not being in control. To find inner stability could be a struggle. The focus for Vertex in Virgo is to find a way to feel purposeful, needed, or useful. This gives them a sense of direction and stability. This Vertex prefers routine, predictability, and structure. They may be overly practical in terms of fate - believing there are no other influences that determine their life other than them. Similar to Vertex in fire they can have a “I make my own destiny” attitude. Vertex in Virgo may have a pull to work on their intuition. The Vertex sits on an axis like all other points in a chart. The opposite sign is the Anti-Vertex which some astrologers believe to be how we shape our fate or what we have to offer in relationships and life. With Virgo Vertex and Pisces as the Anti-Vertex there is an opportunity to hone their intuition. On the subject of helping others or finding meaning - it is listening to their feelings and hunches that might lead them to how they can do this. 

Vertex in Libra: Trying to see their fate in other people or believing other people are their fate is associated. Learning to create their own destiny or standing on their own or standing out can be a lesson surrounding this Vertex. Finding peace by connecting with others and feeling less alone is also associated, especially in terms of dealing with what cannot be controlled or foreseen. Cooperation and adaptability are strengths needed to feel whole. 

Vertex in Scorpio: There is a lot to be said about willpower here. This person likely is a strong believer in making their own destiny. Strong premonitions and hunches can lead them into believing in a higher power or feeling in tune with the spiritual or unknown. Scorpio is pulled to master their turbulent emotions and intensity as well as conquer and understand the mysteries inside themselves. It’s about learning self-control but also when to unleash. To transform and do all of the hard work in the background so that when life throws you curveballs you are ready. They master themselves, master their life, master the universe. 

Vertex in Sagittarius: It is through faith in themselves, the universe, or that everything will turn out okay that this person gets through the unpredictability of life. There can be a desire to find meaning, especially through spirituality, religion, or a unique philosophy. Sagittarius is a sign that chases truth and by chasing it they can make sense of the world. Being in the role of teacher and student helps them feel right in the universe. They must always be searching, learning, and exploring. 

Vertex in Capricorn: In a world they can’t control this person can face a lot of challenges. They can be tempted into acting authoritative or controlling. However respect and self-authority are important for this person to feel more stable, concrete, fulfilled. To lead others with a level-head and patience is the best route for them. Even better is to focus on their own success and lead by example. This placement is prone to a highly realistic and sometimes negative view of the world and possibly the idea of destiny. This placement can bring about big rewards and depth when they listen to their heart and to loved ones and when they focus. 

Vertex in Aquarius: Aquarius is known for not fearing the unknown and embracing the unpredictable. When Vertex is in this sign there are lessons about acceptance, tolerance, cooperation, and communication. It is the craziness of people and the harm people can do that gets them wanting to become a hermit or to leave the narrative. There can be a temptation to hide away from intimacy, passion, and attachment. The Futurama “I don’t want to live on this planet anymore” meme is for them. Being boxed in by the idea of “destiny” might not appeal to them. To feel fulfilled in life is to feel connected and belonging. Embracing all different types of people and relationships can help them feel more sure of the world, of humanity. 

Vertex in Pisces: This person likely is a strong believer in fate and destiny. If you are one who believes in psychic abilities, this could be a strong indicator for some. This person should be careful of getting lost in wild dreams or a big picture that doesn’t include themselves or include others in their lives. Fate may have big plans for them but it is through their loved ones and how they can help others that they feel most fulfilled. They may feel like life is always throwing them into situations where they are forced to help or to empathize. Learning discernment and protection is important. They don’t need to help or heal everyone, in fact it is in their choice who to help that might make them feel the most sure and solid in life. 

[xelasrecords]

Wedge the Knife Under My Skin

Han Jumin x MC

Kind of grotty. This is my vigilante shit.

I'd told myself to write fluff after the angst in Cold Wrath, but here I am with an even darker story. I couldn't get this idea out of my head after listening to High Infidelity by Taylor Swift. The result is a self-indulgent tale of infidelity on an unnamed deadbeat boyfriend with Jumin. Don't read it if you're uncomfortable with characters with questionable morals.

TW: NSFW, graphic depictions of toxic relationship including dubcon, blood, emotional abuse, physical abuse (not with Jumin); cheating (with Jumin)

Words: 3.8k

Masterlist Read on AO3

He finished inside her. She felt nothing, only her boyfriend's body going lax on top of her, his full weight crushing her ribcage. This sensation was nothing extraordinary; she felt it with him all the time.

He turned her jaw to look at him, empty eyes meeting his. "Do you always have to be this quiet?" he grunted.

"What do you want me to say?"

"You always throw things back at me." He tossed her head aside and lifted himself off her. Pulled up his jeans and buckled on his cheap synthetic belt, the belt he would slash across her arse when he was fuelled with liquor rage.

Did she like it? She never thought much of it. Her enjoyment did not matter in the face of his.

He tucked in his shirt and put on his grimy shoes. Checked himself in the spotty mirror and ruffled his hair, not once glancing at the reflection of her naked body behind him. In the dark, she didn't bother to cover herself with the blanket; it wasn't like he cared about her bare breasts now that he was done with her. She didn't bother asking where he was going either. No knowledge, no reason to be livid. It would be an achievement if he could get a rise out of her.

The door slammed close, and only then did she fold into herself. It gave her a rush of power that he could see her, touch her, take anything he wanted from her, but he could never see through her. Her vulnerability, she guarded close. She would never give up that privilege for him. Everything she let him access was an outer shell she had no use of.

The air was stuffed. Her skin was moist from the earlier fucking, sweat seeping into the rumpled bedsheet. She lay there until the humidity was unbearable, overflowing cotton in her ears and nose. In lethargy, she stepped into the shower, although she knew no amount of scrubbing would cleanse her from him. She stuck two fingers deep into her core and pulled out a string of white cum, letting the trickling showerhead wash it away.

Cleaning wasn't as much of a repulsion as it was a routine. Some things you could only do if you harboured a love long dead. She scrubbed hard, flakes of dead skin rolling away from her reddening arms and legs. The more of him gone, the better. Then she threw on a freshly laundered loose tee and pants and left his apartment. He was not the only one who could leave things behind.

One train ride later, she found herself in front of Jumin's penthouse. The security recognised her and let her pass without questions. She knocked on his door and waited, droplets from her wet hair sliding down her back, printing vertical streaks on her shirt. It was uncomfortable, but she liked that feeling, the feeling of feeling something real.

Jumin opened the door, bleary eyes and tousled hair, taking in her appearance in a long appraising glance. "Is it raining outside?"

"I took a shower."

"Under the rain?"

He was joking. She could detect it despite the utter seriousness in his tone. It was a skill she was secretly proud of and felt possessive about; she'd be jealous if anyone else could read him as well as she could.

She smiled at him, the first one in a while. "The rain must have a huge grudge against me if it only went for my head."

He smiled back with a slight frown etched on his forehead. "Please come in. You'll get sick if you leave your hair in that state. I'll fetch a towel for you."

She trudged behind him without questions. She excelled at following people, which she sometimes thought was the purpose of her existence. If someone had spent their whole life being told what to do, they would have two choices. They could either resist and make their own choice, or resign because they didn't know what they wanted. She knew she was the latter, a fact that she'd long accepted. It was an easier way to live. Why form your own will when it could be taken away from you at any moment?

They entered a spacious guest bathroom and Jumin procured a towel from the cabinet. He held it out to her. Her arms remained limp at her sides.

"Aren't you going to take it?"

"Dry my hair for me. Could you do that?"

She was studying her reflection in the polished mirror, but from the corner of her sight, she noticed Jumin's body tense up, a small tick in his jaw appeared and left in a blink. Eventually, he came up to her, careful to position himself at a distance behind her, eyes meeting through the mirror. It was gilt-framed and enormous, bigger than them combined. A powerful executive director, a girl full of nothingness inside. What a tantalising picture.

Jumin took a handful of her hair with care, gently wringing it one at a time and massaged her scalp, fingers occasionally brushing against her neck. She didn't bristle. She had even stopped looking at him. Something deflated inside him when he saw that he had no effect on her, and pushed this disappointment into the darkest nook in his mind. He had no right to feel hurt because of her.

To her, it was not an easy matter to restrain her arm. She wanted to enclose her fingers around his wrist. She wanted to lean back to feel his warmth on her, every dip and rise of his body an uncharted map she wanted to explore. She couldn't. She couldn't even hold his intense gaze, not when it could drive him away. She wouldn't be able to stand the disgust on his face if he knew about the foul thoughts running in her head.

Jumin was aware something had happened with her boyfriend, but he held back from questioning her. Their friendship was simple. She would come looking for him from time to time, and he would let her in every time. Loneliness could swallow his penthouse whole, but it would shrink back into his chest the moment she arrived. He suspected she knew of the power she held over him, and took great satisfaction in extorting reactions out of him.

Jumin could never compose himself around her, but what did he care?

He let her hair down and crossed the bathroom, approaching the hanger with a towel slung on his forearm. "Do you need to dry your hair? I have a hair dryer if you wish to use it."

"Why do you have one? You don't use it."

"You come here sometimes."

She trailed after him. "But I don't shower here."

"Occasions like this might happen," Jumin replied without looking at her, hanging the towel on the metal bar and straightening it out. "It's good to be prepared."

"No need for that. It'll dry on its own."

They were standing much closer now. Silence crept between them. Jumin wondered if she was doing it on purpose to get a rise out of him, if she could feel the burning heat beneath his cheeks and was fuelling the fire.

If that was what she wanted, then he'd help her see to her goal. He'd prolong her stay here.

"Would you like to eat? It's too late for dinner, but my chef left some fruits in the fridge," Jumin offered.

"I already ate cock earlier." She shrugged. "You know how flaccid and bland it was? So bland that I wanted to bite it off just to get a taste out of it. A literal Bloody Mary cocktail."

Under normal circumstances, Jumin would be taken aback by the crude remarks, but this was her. It startled him to know the things he could tolerate about her. Rather than finding it repulsive, it piqued his interest. Not that he hoped to be savagely mutilated, but her words made him want to crawl into her brain and dissect it, to study the wiring that made her the person she was.

Goodness, her ideas of mutilation had already got to him.

"So why didn't you bite?" Jumin asked. "He's hurt you more than that."

"I don't hate him enough to do it."

"Sometimes I don't think you can feel strongly for anyone."

She reached out to him then, scrunching the collar of his shirt. "That's not true," she said, steel in her voice.

"Then tell me." Jumin bent down, close enough to see himself mirrored in her eyes, but not too close that his vision would blur. "Is there anyone who occupies your every waking second and proves to be too great a distraction? Is there"—he moved closer and she almost leaned in—"anyone you're willing to do anything for?"

Her breath hitched in her throat, but she didn’t back down. Her hands slid down to his shoulders. "If I tell you the answer, would you hate me for it?"

His eyes flitted to her lips before returning to her gaze. "Would it be wrong if I say I wouldn't?"

"Does it matter? He's probably getting his sorry dick up some girl in a club anyway."

Jumin brushed his thumb over her bare lips. They were crusted with brown scabs, most likely courtesy of her boyfriend. She had told Jumin in an off-handed manner once that her boyfriend enjoyed hurting her and flaunting it like a prize to his friends, like, see, only he could leave marks on her. He got off on that, she claimed. The sole proprietorship of her body. Her frail frame a canvas bearing war wounds, a war that she never fought in. No matter how much he abused her, she just let him.

She never felt strongly for herself.

Jumin hated how she talked about her pain like it was a casual tea-time conversation. Sometimes she'd laugh even. Of course it hurts, but the sting never lasts long, she'd said. Doesn't that matter more?

It doesn't, Jumin had replied. Not when the scars remain. But he was powerless to get her out of the situation she was tangled in. All he could do was wait. She just needed time to come to her senses, he told himself. Time was money and he could afford it.

And yet, would she like it if he barged in and bought her way out? Would she even budge? He wanted her to be safe even if she hated him later. He wondered if this desperate, helpless need to help was merely because she was her friend. He didn't want to venture his thoughts further than that.

But now, her eyes were longing, desiring something from him. Jumin suspected his told the same secret. With his thumb, he dragged her bottom lip down and instinctively, she parted her lips, allowing him to slide into her mouth. In a slow, drawn-out motion, she pressed her lips around his finger, gently sucking on it while licking it, just once, to see his reaction.

He did not react. He couldn't even if he wanted to.

From his vantage point, Jumin could see her heaving chest that she tried to disguise, her collarbone exposed by her drooping t-shirt. She was irresistible and thrumming with need. He had been blind. How could he presume she didn't want him when she was hanging onto him like this, anticipating like this?

He pulled his thumb out, and she grazed it with her teeth, not letting go without resistance. His fingers that rested on the nook of her chin tightened their grip. "Should I take your bite as a sign that you hate me?"

She locked her gaze on him. "Don't taunt me."

But when did Jumin ever listen to commands?

Instead, he gave her what she couldn't ask for, what she couldn't speak into existence. Jumin dragged his lips across her shoulder, moving with purposeful nonchalance and leaving featherlight kisses on her collarbone. It was a brush, a ghost of mouth against skin. There was an invisible force that held him back from latching onto her, like if he did, it would cement the unspoken rule that they were toeing around, and she would wake from the trance and push him away.

He focused on her shivers instead, on her quickening breaths and the movement of her hands gliding down his arms, seizing his lean muscles beneath the sleeves. With his mouth, he charted his way up from her neck to the back of her ear. "Then what do you propose I do?" he muttered, his voice guttural.

It was her sweet provocation.

Half-relieved that Jumin wanted the same thing, half-contemptuous that he could see through her desire and use it against her, she raked his hair roughly. "Suck on my neck. Hard."

He toyed with the outline of her shirt, bunching it between his fingers. If she dared to buck her pelvis forward, he could graze her hipbone.

"Why?" Jumin's question was a challenge.

She turned her head to look at him. He was so close that their noses almost touched. "It would look good on me."

"Why would you want anyone to look at it?"

"It would be a mark from you. Why wouldn't I?"

Weighted silence hung in the air. Jumin was deliberating, assessing every little truth on her face. Give it all up, she seemed to say. It wouldn't be a real kiss. Our lips wouldn't touch. It wouldn't be real if we didn't let it.

"If that's what you wish." He swooped her in with one strong pull, an arm around her waist while the other hand buried in her damp hair, their bodies pressed against each other. He could feel the contour of her breasts, nipples perking through her thin shirt, and she could feel his hardened member against her stomach.

Jumin sucked hard on her neck and she moaned, a pleasant sting shot right down to her core. She hadn't felt like this for so long. It was as if the oxygen was cut from her lungs and fresh air rushed back in just as fast. It didn't make sense, but she could finally breathe again. He brought her alive.

Jumin trailed up, sucking on another spot. She gasped, her grip tightened around his arms and her hips ground against his bulge, wishing he would put it into her. His right hand was holding her head still, tilting it sideways to give him better access to her skin, but his left hand had slipped underneath her shirt and was roaming up, up, up, tracing the outline of her breast with his knuckle, never quite touching where she needed to be touched.

It was unbearable. She wanted him everywhere but lacked the courage to take one step further in this dangerous stunt. If she pushed Jumin to tarnish his integrity, he might loathe himself after he came down from his high. He might regret it and close the door in her face the next time she dropped by. Then she would lose her only friend.

She was selfish, and this was a dangerous territory.

"Jumin," she breathed out.

He stopped and pulled back slightly, his hand cupping the underside of her breast. The eyes searching her face were feral. For a moment, there were only rapid breathing and tension so magnetic that no force could have ripped them apart. It took everything in her not to chase after him, to give him a taste of her, to pleasure him back.

Jumin pressed his forehead against hers. "I wish I could lay claim on every inch of your body and soul and preserve them for myself."

His lips were so close, so close, but she couldn't lean in deeper than this. "You have me, you know that," she whispered.

Jumin closed his eyes. "Not really."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. I will take whatever you give me. If this is all I could receive from you, then I will accept it."

But would it be enough? The question floated unspoken between them, but it was something they already had the answer to.

Jumin took his hand out of her shirt and she felt the loss of it like her lifeline being cleaved in half. She touched the marks he left and smiled. "This is good. I won't forget it."

"I doubt you will."

She walked back to the mirror and stretched her neck, inspecting the blooming violet bruises. He'd picked spots that would be noticeable, impossible to hide. It was intentional and they both knew it. Jumin was standing behind her again, this time resting his hand on her shoulder without hesitance.

"I finally got something from you that I can keep," she said.

You already have my heart, he wanted to say, but this wasn't the right time. One misstep and she could run. Would there ever be a right time with her? He wasn't sure, but he couldn't afford to gamble for it. Instead, he bargained with her. "You can ask for more, but there will be a price to pay. I don't hand out favours for free."

She clasped her hand on top of his, her heart wrenched. "I'm already paying for it."

Jumin blinked slowly as if to say, I know, I'm sharing the load with you, and squeezed her shoulder. "You should go home before it gets too late. I'll have Driver Kim take you back."

"I better head down then." She meant to say, I wish I could stay the night, but she knew he would let her, so she left without another word.

Dawn had broken when she arrived at her boyfriend's small, suffocating studio. She had not slept, but she was lit up from within. Her frayed nerve endings had been patched back together and were now firing with electricity. In this state, she could believe that the strength she needed to break through her empty shell was not so unattainable.

Her boyfriend was already asleep in his bed, smelling of sweat and cigarettes and vodka and floral perfume. It wasn't her scent. She hated flowers since he would occasionally bribe her with a bouquet of them when his outbursts got too brutal.

Fucking petals and thorns.

She crawled in beside him, watched him sleep, and carved her fingernails into his naked chest. She scratched down, hard, until small bubbles of blood formed. Unlike her, he hated being tainted. She watched the droplets burst into tiny scarlet pools, the cuts not deep enough for the blood to drip down the covers. She picked on the flayed skin around them before wiping the blood away with his abandoned shirt. Anything of his felt filthy if she touched it directly.

There was momentary joy in slashing him apart, but it was always replaced by more intense malice because she could never completely break him. She simply did not hold enough power over him.

Her boyfriend stirred awake. When he saw her, he grabbed her hair and forced her to look at him, making her slip and fall on top of his fresh cuts. She made a disgusted noise. "Where the fuck were you? I waited for you the whole night."

She kept her tone impassive. "While you were fucking another girl?"

"Not my fault I can't get it up with you." He sat up, pulling her with him and struck her cheek three times. He was still holding back, so it didn't hurt as much. "Fuck, you're a shithead. There's something wrong with you, seriously. Stop making that face."

"What face?"

He squeezed her neck and she gasped. It was tighter than she was used to. She couldn't breathe. "I bet you were whoring yourself out while I was gone. No man in his right mind would want your body, get that?" He twisted her nipple hard and she yelped in pain. "Answer me when I'm talking to you."

"Please." She clawed at his hand.

"Useless bitch. You should be grateful I still love you." He threw her aside, head hitting the headboard.

She was still coughing when he hovered over her, slathering detestable kisses and detestable hands all over her body before pulling her pants down and inserting his sloppy cock into her. It felt like grating on cardboard. It was the second fuck tonight, she thought. Or maybe the first seeing that it was already past midnight.

Tonight was a new day. She got a new day and a new soul so really, whatever her boyfriend did to her couldn't bother her. This could be the last time if she was brave enough. Maybe she could give him another head and just fucking off with it.

"What's this?" He stopped moving, his sharp annoyance breaking her out of her reverie.

"What?"

"You got two fucking hickeys on your neck."

She sighed. "You gave me them, remember?"

"I did?"

"Yeah, when we were doing missionary and you said I look beautiful."

He let out a derisive laugh. "I'd never call you that."

"True, but you did choke me and kiss me there after."

"Right, that I did."

"Yeah."

A fucking fool.

She turned her head away from him while he continued to pound into her. Another mindless, boring routine that she wouldn't miss. His grunts were the noise she wanted to erase from her memory. With his head beside hers, she wished he could smell Jumin on her, a proof that he did not have special admission to her body. If she were a better person, she would tell Jumin to find a better woman. And if she told her boyfriend about this thought, he would dismiss it as her childish fantasy. As if there was anything childish to being used like a sex doll.

You're a kid, you know that? You don't know what you're doing, he would say. If you did, you could've made me happy.

Outside, she would assent, but inside, she would cackle. This pathetic moron thought he had her wrapped around his fingers when it was the other way around. He could only hurt her because she let him, and on some primal level, she probably liked it. It gave her a kind of sadomasochistic pleasure to be wrecked without having to be responsible for it. She could make the person she loathed bear all the blame.

Her boyfriend was so easy to manipulate, a simpleton, really. How could he believe that he was the one who marked her skin? Nothing he did could ever be as lovely. He couldn't come close to anything Jumin was.

She did not deserve Jumin, but the bruise was beautiful, oh, so beautiful.

-

Footnotes because I'm obnoxious and a certified Hermione Granger:

MC referring to herself as a girl instead of a woman is a direct effect of her boyfriend belittling her. No matter how much she passively hates him, his words have skewed the way she sees herself.

Unreliable narrator. Despite MC claiming that she can't feel angry with her boyfriend in the beginning, it's shown through her actions in the last scene that she's repressing a lot of resentment.

Double usage of dirty/polished mirrors is intentional.

Just in case anyone gets funny ideas, what her boyfriend does to her is NOT BDSM or degradation kink etc. She never consents and he lashes out of anger so it's abuse.

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[booksofkingdomsandcourts]

Thinking About Nesta and Lucien Friendship Hours

(Modern AU version)

Nesta can’t fucking stand Lucien at first, but the longer he and Elain are together and the more Cassian mellows her out, the more they start to get along

And you know, maybe they’d still hate each other if they, like, lived together, but only seeing each other at the occasional family function? A highlight in both of their books, though neither would ever admit it

Eventually, Lucien becomes Nesta’s favorite brother-in-law (though she’d never say it out loud both because Lucien would be insufferable about it and because Rhysand’s dramatic ass might decide to die of heartbreak)

Their relationship sort of has Gay Best Friend vibes but instead they’re just “my sister’s husband who is totally secure in his masculinity and thus is always ready to do a face mask at the drop of a hat” vibes

Like Nesta LOVES her girl gang but “The Valkyries,” as their group chat is called, are ride-or-die, happy yelling and late nights and loud laughs and hoe behavior. Lucien provides a counterbalance, a Treat Yo’ Self, self care vibes kind of friend

But that doesn’t mean he isn’t ALWAYS down for gossip. Cassian caught Rhysand and Feyre doing it WHERE? (Lucien would never look at Feyre’s art the same way again) A sleazy guy at the club said WHAT to Gwyn? (And Azriel lost his shit about it, wonder why) Emerie is supposedly in a secret relationship with WHO? (Rhysand’s cousin Mor)

Lucien loves manicures, but much to his dismay, Elain actually doesn’t care for them since she’d just mess them up gardening. Lucien tried to insist that even without getting her nails painted it’s still good for her skin, but she’s not interested. But she insists he goes and enjoys it, since they make him happy

So Lucien invites Nesta once, on a whim, and pretty soon they have monthly manicure appointments together that they DO NOT miss

As they talk and gossip at these appointments, they eventually realize they share a mutual love of books. Generally speaking, they have different tastes—Lucien likes nonfiction and historical novels and the occasional realistic fiction or fantasy classic. Nesta is all smut, all the time, but she does like it when her porn has plot. That’s not a requirement though.

But that doesn’t bother them. They’re both voracious readers, and soon they’re practically in competition for how many books they read a month on Goodreads

Then they start trading recommendations, and pretty soon each month when they see each other they assign the other a book to read and report back on the next time

Since their friendship is carried out mostly in their monthly manicure book club that’s just the two of them, the others don’t even realize they’re actually pretty close

But it’ll show in moments like when Elain asked Nesta to bring Cassian over to help her set up her new vertical-growing hydroponic something-or-other and the new shelves she bought for her tools

And when they come back inside Nesta and Lucien are sitting on the couch, lavender candle burning, hair back, face masks on, drinking wine and arguing about the latest Sellyn Drake novel Nesta made Lucien read

And they just have to accept that whatever that friendship is, no one will ever really understand but the two involved

[thesunshinebunny]

When the world falls apart, the only thing we can hold onto is ourselves (Part V)

Series Master list

pairing: canon Eren Jaeger x reader

content: Angst, unstable relationship, breakup, smut/nswf+18, major character death, violence, blood (obviously), war (pretty obvious)

summary: War and hate. It’s what defined the world at this exact moment. You failed your comrades, and by failing them, you failed yourself. Your relationship is hanging by a thread and your enemies will not only be found on the other side of the sea, but also in the mind of the person you love the most. How will you take the reins in the face of so much destruction?

Chapter summary: Eren and reader meet face to face and are determined to put an end to the tension that has been building around them since Eren returned from Marley.

Word Count: 7.9k 

The light wind blew the few leaves that had fallen from the trees around me at the same time that it generated a slight comfort, as if the same wind was hugging me and holding me between its countenance. The branches moved to the beat of it sweet music and danced a slow tango around two figures ready to end the other. We were both facing each other, each positioned perfectly and vertically above the other's line of sight, only a few steps separated, perhaps two meters apart, but still the difference wasn’t an obstacle to inspect each other.

Eren standed stiffly on the muddy floor, a position that was becoming a habit lately every time he was about to confront someone, either with words or with blows. His shoes were dirty and torn, some small holes showed through the cloth. Strands of hair fell on his forehead and some were stuck to the skin due to the mud and earth that the footsteps threw into the air. His eyes...just as empty of any light and life that might exist.

His jaw was clenched as well as one of his fists, I didn't find any sign his hand was hurt or his palm was bleeding and dropping a few drops to the floor, so I assumed it wasn’t in his plans to transform here and now. But that didn’t mean that I could be calm.

As for me, surely Eren was looking at me the same way a wolf looks at a little sheep or a poor dwarf white rabbit, one of the most defenseless animals in the food chain. Apparently I was the meal and it was time for lunch. But I was very sure that Eren hadn’t limited himself to looking at me with that horrible analogy, he’d surely noticed my torn and bloody clothes, as well as dirty with mud and some other things that I wanted not to investigate or put my nose in them. He had probably also noticed the multiple scratches on the skin of my arms and on my face, wounds already dry and in the process of healing thanks to the sweat from adrenaline and the race through the forest made in a few minutes. He had probably noticed little strands sticking to the crook of my neck and cold sweat dripping down my spine.

I don't doubt he surely noticed the fire burning in my eyes, my gaze radiating determination, a determination to get out of this place as unscathed as possible and find a way to fix this whole damn situation. He would have noticed how my figure was a reflection of his, I wouldn’t move if he didn’t move, I wouldn’t stop squeezing a finger if I didn’t see he stopped squeezing his. It was like being on the other side of a mirror, copying each and every one of the other's movements.

"So ... wanna make the first move?" My breathing was ragged, however neutral my face might be. Inside I was afraid, I was always afraid, it was a normal feeling and sensation. I was already used to feeling this unconditional fear when going out into the world.

The wind blew around us again, it was like a sweet melody cradling my ears, it was like feeling a hand caressing my battered face, a caress that I hadn't felt for a long time. If the moment had been different, it would have taken me some time to close my eyes and enjoy the breeze. If I did that right now, I would end up badly beaten and dejected, perhaps dead as well.

The breeze was dancing for a few seconds and stopped short, as if the world and time itself had stopped, only the two of us were able to move and yet neither did. Everything around us was silent, not the chirping of a cricket or the footsteps of an animal could be heard. Neither did any footsteps or voices from the other Jaegeristas, completely ignoring their locations, while ignoring the whereabouts of my beloved horse. It was just me and Eren in this little airless bubble.

Seconds of silence and in an instant Eren stepped forward and instinctively I stepped back, letting my left foot hold much of my weight on this. I was leaning back with the possibility of running if necessary, but knowing Eren I would only run a couple of meters before having him on my back and holding me like we’re playing hide and seek. My hands were raised to my torso, palms facing the ground and in position to become fists or grab something, whatever was out of the trees to counter or defend myself.

It wasn’t a position that I wasn’t completely unfamiliar with, was like reliving the old days as cadets in training, each one trying to search for the opponent's strengths and weaknesses, evaluating the chances of attack and their effectiveness. It really was like self-defense practices, practices that Eren put so much effort and determination into. I used to watch him from afar when my partner ended up on the ground given the multiple blows to the stomach that I had so proudly learned from my father. I used to see his frustrated face when Annie managed to knock him down with a simple leg movement or when Reiner was too abrupt to the point of knocking him to the ground from his high height. And yet, no matter how many blows and humiliations the poor boy felt when practicing self-defense, he never stopped fighting and asking for more blows, as if violence and physical damage were his only form of training. Already in the first practices I knew he was completely crazy, that he had something bad in the head, but his determination and that sparkle in his eyes when he got angry at losing, in the same way that a small child gets angry when they don’t have what they wants, was what caught my attention the most.

I used to fight him repeatedly in these same practices, being positioned in the same places we are now, one of us with a flabby wooden knife, but capable of doing a lot of damage if we didn’t use it properly. I was already used to the agile movements that I could perform with a simple kitchen and hunting knife, living much of my lifetime in the middle of a small town lost in the woods. I was used to defending myself and attacking animals with little rational intelligence, which made them much more dangerous than a simple human. I was equally used to dodging punches, and punches, able to redirect them and hit the weakest points of my prey. But I wasn't used to the low blows this boy was capable of. I always had to cover my back because I didn't know when he was going to jump on me and throw me to the ground, like the first time I knocked him down with a blow to the chin and when I was about to change partners, he grabbed my back and neck to throw myself on the floor and make me eat dirt. I didn't know if even throwing him to the ground multiple times he would go against my leg and bend it, hitting my head not only against the floor but also against his shoulder. I didn't know when he would apply the same technique Annie had taught him weeks ago. Unarmed or with a damn wooden knife Eren was dangerous because he was willing to keep fighting, even if he was going to fight dirty, without rules or codes.

I have faced him multiple times throughout the three years of training and in each confrontation there was something new that surprised us both, be it his various angry movements or my simple stances and punches capable of stopping the fight in any way. And that same uncertainty was also reflected in the times we went out to fight with what, at that time, we thought were simple and common titans, unable to deduce the actions of the other, evading death many more times than we could count.

And all that uncertainty and determination on the battlefield started with simple training with the wooden knife. A wooden knife.

A knife.

I withdrew my hand from in front of me and with great care I directed it towards the back pocket of my pants, without stopping looking at Eren who had taken advantage while I wandered in my imagination to approach and settle half the distance that separated us. When my hand reached the pocket, I stuck my thumb and forefinger inside it, grasping a small doctor's knife which I apparently had unconsciously put away in the morning when I finished treating my last patient. I secured it tightly and kept my hand behind my back until Eren again took a big step towards me and, in a protective movement, I positioned the knife in attack mode, eye level, as if was a real fight knife.

"Well that's not very fair-"

With a clean flick of the wrist the small knife rested on my thumb and forefinger and I tossed it to the side, striking perfectly even on the bark of a tree. It had been nailed cleanly and the sound it generated on impact gave certainty that it would be difficult to get it out of that place. Eren never moved from where he was, he simply followed the movements of my hand and at the moment of impact he inspected the cut on the bark before turning his gaze to me.

“I am unarmed… without weapons, without my movement gear, just my bare hands. But it still wouldn't be a fair fight, would it?"

In the four years that we were officially in the legion, at no point had we taken a day to practice our close combat as we did before. You could say that our fighting days were over on the night of our graduation. Although those days were behind us, I was completely sure he had never stopped training, he would continue to launch those unpredictable movements at any moment, let alone his unnatural power.

"You have your titan powers and each hit that hits you will heal, instead I will continue to bleed and spend days with a black eye and broken bones, if that is the case"

I saw what his fists could do to someone like Armin and what they had done to my neck and nose, if this fight went on longer than it should or turned in a bad movement, my body was going to end much worse than it already was; I was even beginning to think that maybe Eren would go as far as turning into a titan and crushing me once and for all. I had to be careful and hoped luck was on my side to make it out alive a second time.

“Come on, let's finish it once and for all” In position and waiting for the first hit, this is how they taught us and this is how I would be mentally prepared from now on, until the moment of my death, even if it were in a few minutes.

He was the first to cut the distance between us, raising his fist to my face. His knuckles slammed into my arm, propelling it toward the contour of my face by the wave and force of the impact. His other fist tried to hit the pit of my stomach, but I could catch his movement and block him with my other arm, hitting him to no effect with the bone. I raised my left leg to hit him on the ribs, but like me, Eren was faster and dodged just in time, avoiding my foot and moved it to the side. As I touched the ground again, I raised my leg again and this time I managed to hit him on the hip, propelling him forward and hitting his body again, this time with my right knee on his face.

His body didn’t move from where he had fallen to the floor, sensing that my blow hadn’t been strong enough to unbalance him, but to mislead him for a second. His face was thrown back by the impact of my knee and I hit him again in the same way, this time right in the center of the face, right on the septum and the mouth. My hand lunged for his hair, grabbing his already disheveled manbun and pushing his head back, my other hand was about to hit right in the neck area, but before I could even put my fingertips on him, his fingers closed tightly on my wrist and twisted it outward, drawing an uncomfortable groan from my throat.

His other fist managed to make a hook towards my chin causing me to loose the grip on the manbun, my legs were unbalanced and I felt blood spurt into my mouth, and one of his feet rose high enough to hit me in the chest and pull me towards him. back and hitting the head squarely against the hard dirt floor. Eren wasted no time and took a short leap towards my figure and placed his hands on my neck for the third time that day. It was like reliving the restaurant scene, me on the floor and him finding a way to position himself on me and immobilize me.

"God, what about you and your choke kink?" With my throat so battered in such a short time, I could barely speak and what I managed to get out was nothing more than hoarse and breathy moans, as if my voice was breaking little by little.

Both of my hands went straight under his armpits holding them in the shape of a sword and digging the bony ends into his weak skin. His arms loosened, giving me the chance to elbow him on the back of his neck and push him away from my body. I put my hands on the ground and got back to my feet with my arms and legs now muddy and dirty, but what was my intention to put myself on guard ended up turning into a new face fall down to the floor, having one of his legs hooked on my knee and making any escape movement impossible. I hit him hard with my free leg on the knee that was hooking me, managing to displace it and perhaps break it on the spot given the creaking sound that echoed through the bark of the trees. With my leg released, I turned around and now that same leg was on his broken knee, applying pressure to the floor, and my other leg took a moment to impact right on his face. His body was now flat on the floor and I positioned myself on top of him without wasting time, pulling his arm back and hitting his ribs with the elbow of my free arm. One, two, three blows, until I felt an impulse bring my body back to the floor as well as a blow on my left cheekbone. I hadn't seen his fist come to my face when he lunged against my body to get me off.

His knee hit me in the pit of my stomach, curling into a fetal position and his fist slammed again into my cheekbone. I tried to scratch his arm the same way I did with his face hours ago, but I failed miserably, as if the pain of the flesh peeling off his skin didn't affect him at all. So I hit his knee with mine, moving him off my stomach, driving him to the ground, and back hitting him on the ribs. Eren lifted his body for a moment to avoid taking any more impacts and gave me enough time to place my legs under his chest and stretch them towards and send him flying against the tree behind him.

Now I could easily stand up, but the pain in my stomach made it difficult for me to breathe and to be able to stand firmly on the ground. I took quick strides towards his body and when my foot was about to hit his face, Eren wiped away a considerably thick branch from the ground and struck my face with the tip, impacting the leaves and small branches on my wounds and throwing me to the ground from the burning. I was in four against a tree, behind me I heard how the dry leaves crunched under Eren's feet and how he was getting up to jump on my back; But this time, I was faster and managed to turn around to hit my leg on his neck for a good time and throw him again towards a crooked tree on our side, hitting his neck against the bark and tearing the skin with friction. From where I was lying I could see blood coming out of his neck, it seems he had torn the jugular area and was bleeding. I could also see the pain on his face and how his body was getting rid of the tension that the fight had caused.

We were both gasping for air, at the moment neither of us could take it anymore and both bodies were asking for a limit, but I knew it was a matter of time before Eren fully recovered and a new fight would take place again. If there was a moment to act, this was perfect. I tried to get up, but my back didn’t give in to my directions and I was thrown back to the floor. My eyes were fixed on the tops of the trees, which let a few rays of the sun slip into our little forest bubble. The sight was almost angelic, if it weren't for the multiple blows that were burning like a bonfire. I saw how some leaves fell slightly accompanied by the wind which had blown again when our fight ended. I felt physical and mental relief as I listened as the smoke rose from Eren's skin, quickly healing his wounds, but still suffering from the bleeding in his neck. My vision began to blur, nothing that was in front of me was seen clearly and I was afraid I was about to faint.

Ahead of me I began to see a familiar sight, quite familiar indeed; the training days, Eren and me in our younger years. I saw us in one of our first confrontations, being completely dirty from the sandy earth but still standing on our two feet, our eyes like daggers about to be thrown at our opponent. Each one prepared to deliver what seemed like the last blow and define the confrontation before ending the day and heading off to the canteen for dinner, ready to define our fifth confrontation with hatred for the other in the veins. Eren, as not, was the first to approach and to be dodged by a young me and give him a poor punch in the face. He complained about the impact, backing off for the next instant to pounce on my shoulder and hook me on the knee to finally throw me sideways to the ground for the fourth time in that three-hour workout. I groaned in pain and grabbed onto my shoulder, injured and battered from so many blows. I stretched out on the floor, in the same way that presumably I was now and I stared at the orange sky, observing how little by little the sun was setting on the horizon and fine dark blue lines welcomed the night.

"Ha, how many times have I beat you today?" his voice and breathing were ragged but still I could tell the false vanity and self-centeredness in his words. He had hunched over his knees resting his tangled hands on them and brought his face closer to mine, covering my beautiful sight and replacing it with his horrible green eyes. I fixed my gaze on his damn crooked smile, the same one he gave to any asshole he had the guts to challenge and finish. I closed my eyes to avoid looking at him and in less than a second I moved my leg over his, hitting his balance and causing him to fall headlong to the floor, hitting the side of his temple. The blow echoed across the ground, earning laughter from some of our friends and whispers around us. I didn't stop to listen to what stupid people might be saying about what had just happened, but stood up heavily, still having a semi air of victory over my body, I wiped my hands on my pants, which deserved a full-fledged clean, and I ducked down to his figure on the floor.

"Not so bad for a country one, huh?" and with that I turned and walked towards the canteen, hoping to be in time before Sasha ate my slice of bread like most nights.

Back at my self lying on the muddy, doughy ground, my breathing come back to normal before my vision returned to having the leaves of the trees in sharp focus. I felt a great heaviness on my body and at the same time I felt like a feather, as if I was experiencing an out-of-body episode ... or was simply rambling. I got up in the same way as in that wonderful memory which for some strange reason happened to appear in my consciousness, and I leaned back on a tree before compiling myself and dragging my feet on the leaves.

"That’s it, I’m done" To be honest, I couldn’t do this anymore. To be honest, I wanted to disappear from the face of the earth and reincarnate in another life, many years in the future. To be honest, my sanity couldn't keep fighting anymore, but I was too cowardly to take my own life. I was tired, not only tired of fighting, but tired of this damn world that the only thing that achieved was to put us in a circle of hatred and anger between each other.

I took a few more steps towards some side of the forest, knowing that I had no idea where I was going, if it was the same side I came from or another completely different, heading right towards the hands of the Jaegeristas. Likewise, if they caught me, they would take me to the others. Would it have been worth it to have escaped from the beginning? Surely not, but I was praying with my few walking neurons that I had managed to take a little time out of them.

"I can still going"

I heard him say a few meters behind me. I could still hear the smoke coming from his veins, this time with much more vigor, a sign that he was about to heal completely. Damn bastard, he'd perfected his healing technique over the years and it didn't take more than five minutes to heal all of his wounds.

"Well I can't!" I screamed reluctantly, as if I was trying to convince myself to give me a break, even if that break meant losing the battle against a terrorist group.

My feet kept moving over the leaves until they hit a fallen tree branch and half caught up with it, causing me to lose my balance and fall sideways onto the bark of the same tree. I instinctively placed my hand and with the fall, the hand didn’t stay sufficiently attached to the surface and drifted to the side, scratching my skin and exposing the raw flesh. I rested my healthiest shoulder on the surface and held my hand. The blood came out slowly, in time with the rapid pumping of my heart, the palm was throbbing and I felt that throbbing not only in that area but also in my ears and in my chest. I blew on the wound to remove the small traces of dirt and grime on the flesh.

"I'm tired of continue fighting, I'm tired of fighting with you and I'm tired of this world, I'm going home"

"What home?" ok, of all the things Eren could have said right now, or all the things he said to me over the past few weeks, this was the one that had hurt the most, the one that had touched my heart the most.

The image of my mother being killed in front of me by a bullet in the head at the age of ten, the image of my father or what was left of him returning to my village after years in training, the image of my family's house destroyed and split in half, while parts of the steps were burned and made charcoal. The image of a cabin in the middle of a field, far from the city, calm, empty and silent, the one that for a couple of years was my residence and now it was used by the queen herself to give birth to the heir. All those images appeared in my mind without invitation to haunt me in a matter of seconds until I gave my answer.

"To what is left of it" I broke away from the surface of the tree and devoted myself to looking ahead and following the path that at first I was taking.

“Wait” behind me the sound of the smoke had stopped and the only thing I could hear was the rustling of the leaves under Eren, who was getting up and standing on his feet.

I ignored his claim and kept walking, always looking ahead and taking good care of where I stepped, I wasn’t in the mood to rip my other hand or fall back on the one that was already badly hurt.

“I said fucking wait” was the only thing I heard before feeling his hands on mine and my shoulder.

I no longer know how many times my back was hit against a surface, I just knew that at this point it would be full of bruises or most likely my back would be a whole bruise, having all the skin covered in a nice purple or black color. My head suffered the same fate, chunks of bark digging into my scalp and some snagging on my hair. Strands got tangled over small branches halfway out of the trunk and pulled my head that way, putting me in a very uncomfortable position. The hand Eren was holding stretched forward, threatening to stretch it further and dislocate my shoulder in the process, the other hand holding my shoulder tightening more and more against my flesh while holding the bone in an impossible way with his long, slender fingers.

If my heart wasn’t already racing too much, the pulsations went crazy when I felt his hand leave mine calmy and position my arm at my side with great care to move to free a lock of hair from the bark and position it behind my ear. Then he stroked my cheek in the same way he had done so many times before. His thumb wandered over my shallow cuts, pulling out the dried blood that had accumulated, and made circular motions over my badly injured cheekbone, as if he was trying to remove the pain that he himself had caused. I leaned my head to the side trying to prevent him from keep touching me, fixing my gaze on the floor, on his feet, on mine, and I hid my face behind the few strands that were loose.

“Look at me” his voice was nothing more than a whisper, only the silence of the forest gave the opportunity to hear him clearly.

My gaze remained embedded in the grass that surrounded the tree below our feet. His thumb, now positioned on my lower lip, forcefully applied pressure downward on the open flesh, parting my two lips and sticking his finger in just enough to play with the tips of my teeth. His index finger came under my chin and forced me to turn my head in his direction.

“Fuck. Look at me! ” His eyes penetrated mine and for the first time in a long time I could see a small glow reflected in them. But that glow, I guessed, wasn’t good at all. It wasn’t the same kind Eren had when he was fifteen, knowing he had the whole world ahead of him and he could be of use to humanity, but instead was the same kind he had before annihilating with extreme anger his opponent.

We stare at each other, his face getting closer to mine. I could feel his breath on my skin and his thumb was still playing with my teeth. The hand that was holding my shoulder began to caress the skin that was visible outside the shirt, over my neck, also sore and full of scratches.

In an attempt to get him to leave my lip alone, I bit down on the tip of his thumb, not hard enough to rip off a piece of meat, but hard enough to make him fucking pull his finger out of my mouth. He waved his hand trying to ease the pain and grabbed my other cheek, stretched it out, pinched it and left a red mark on the area, burning me for a few seconds.

"I missed you back in Liberio" He grabbed a lock of my neck and twisted it between his fingers, playing for a moment and pulling the roots so that my head leaned forward.

The fingers on the skin of my neck continued it’s movements, sometimes going towards the back of my neck, scratching the beginning of the root and pulling a few strands. The caresses were soft, like the massage of a feather, it gave me chills up my spine at the same time that I was having trouble breathing with each step of his fingertips on the bone of my neck. He stopped playing with my lock and cupped one of my cheeks in the palm of his hand, his skin cold compared to mine, warm from adrenaline. It was a somewhat invasive sensation, but at the same time, comforting and uncertain. His thumb again made circular motions over the wounded skin but this time avoiding the scratch marks.

"I missed the warmth of your cheeks and the shapes of your hands" His face moved closer to my neck, his nose brushing against the bruised skin and his breath tickling the tender spots between my neck and collarbone. His breathing made me shudder from head to toe, as if lightning had struck my body.

"Eren" it was pathetic to see how with a simple touch, my body responded so submissively.

I was trembling and not from the wind that blew from time to time over us, but from the multiple caresses on my neck; my cheek being forgotten and now the waist was being the focus point, his lips playing with my mental stability as he delicately rested on me neck, but not enough to lean on and kiss it. My brain was telling me everything was wrong, that I shouldn't be doing this, but my body asked for more, asking for a break, relax and let go. My innermost desires were screaming, begging, to be released, imploring me to succumb and break the tension that was obvious to them, but less to me.

What seemed like endless minutes, were limited seconds before I felt Eren's lips on my warm skin, his hand now resting completely on my neck and my waist, drawing me closer to him, at the same time that he imprisoned me against the tree. I was in the middle of two hard walls and unconsciously I didn't feel like moving. His soft lips compared to his hands and his acting from the last year, roamed under my chin and collarbone, making a path up and down, always repeating the same line of kisses that he left behind. The more kisses he implanted, the more aggressive, open and needy they were, all the while getting wetter and leaving a trail of saliva all around. His knee shifted between my legs, separating them and lifting me to sit barely on his leg, my crotch gently placed on his covered flesh and with each movement his leg applied the necessary pressure to begin get pathetic moans out of me.

"Better keep quiet, you don't want others to find out about our whereabouts" he growled through his teeth as he continued attacking my neck. Now I was sure that, not only would I end up with scratches, but also a few hickeys if Eren wasn't careful enough. What would be more embarrassing? They founding us hot and bothered against a tree or the fact that I was getting carried away sexually with the most wanted person in Paradis?

"Fuck, Eren ..." the hand on my waist tightened and I grabbed onto him, pulling me impossibly closer, fusing both bodies, one against the other's chest.

His hand guided my body back and forth, continuing to generate pressure on my core, a sweet agony that built very slowly, too slow for my liking. My legs were starting to feel numb from the bad posture Eren had me in and were shaking as his leg touched a weak spot. His fingers intertwined with my locks, tightening them and pulling my head back, having better access to my neck and being able to run his teeth through the fine skin. Eren always had a damn habit of biting, and biting hard, not to the point of bleeding, but under the circumstances, I doubted he had enough self-control to even mind ripping the skin. When his fangs aggressively bit my collarbone I grunted in discomfort, but even that feeling, the pleasure was much better. It hurt and it felt good.

Another bite, this time reaching the shoulder. His hand left my hair in peace and stretched the shirt, revealing more clearly his work on my neck and how the curve of my shoulder became more visible under the fabric.

My breathing was shaking, my hands resting on his biceps trying to find a point of balance, my nails dug into his jacket and my leg trying to curl over his for fear of falling. When his teeth came into contact with my shoulder again, aiming for the bone, I screamed in pain, pressing my body against his to dissipate the burning of his teeth on the broken skin. He let go of my shirt and squeezed my cheeks, fixing his eyes on mine violently and commanding me to shut up.

"Stay quiet if you don't want me to fuck you raw until you bleed" Before such a comment I was speechless, my neurons could not connect and I was left blank; the only thing in command now was my animalistic desire.

"Make me"

His lips slammed against mine, needy and eager. They were dry, too dry, and every brush against mine hurt, but neither of us cared about having two pairs of chapped and possibly bleeding lips. All we cared about was melting into each other. My hands dug into the hollow of his neck and his bun, which was already disarmed and strands fell on his forehead and sides, some fell right in front of his eyes, tickling my forehead and eyelashes.

I felt his hands descend to the curve of my butt and grab a good chunk of both cheeks before fully holding them. A little pressure and I was already jumping so I could hold on comfortably. Now we could both feel the center of each other, hot, throbbing and twitching. Every move Eren made to hold us together against the tree sent chills through my entire body, his notoriously erect and hard member rose in the right places and my moans were drowned out by his savage lips.

My nails dug into the back of his neck as I felt a stronger and more violent thrust on my sweet spot. I wanted it, needed it, and desired it. I wished this lustful feeling was the only thing I felt, that I would succumb and refuse to feel any other feelings. I wanted to give myself to him and use me if it meant letting go of all the negativity that had accumulated for weeks. I wanted to remove his clothes from him, to feel his sculpted, chunky muscles on the palms of my hand, wanted to feel his chest throbbing and warm on mine, wanted him completely. I pulled the jacket off his shoulders, getting stuck in his arms. Eren dropped me on the floor with a spear and took off his jacket to leave it god knows where.

"Hey! What the fuck- ”He didn't take long to kiss me again, now with his colossal body on top of mine.

I felt small under him, much more submissive, the sensation of his hands prowling the ends of my torso, reaching under the shirt and feeling my skin burning didn’t fix anything to the situation. His fingertips tickled my stomach, making me shudder every time they made their way to my abdomen. His tongue played with mine, distracting me from his deft fingers and his wickedness as he moved towards my chest and began to work on my nipples. He was a teassing bastard. His fingers poked and twisted one of my red, erect pebble. It was torturous to feel like between the puncture and the circular movement he took the time to stretch it and make it harder. With his other hand, he held my hip next to his, keeping it in it’s place as he balanced his hips against my pelvis. My legs opened involuntarily to better feel his member and in an agile movement he positioned himself between them, reconnecting both hips and placing them on both sides and holding him at the waist. With this, neither could escape the grasp of the other and we slowly melted away with each thrust and twist.

His hand came out from under my shirt and he started unbuttoning my shirt, one damn slow button at a time. Having my chest semi-exposed, his lips wandered towards my clavicle, passing the corner of my lips, the cheek, the jaw and the already sensitive neck, causing a groan to come out unexpectedly. His lips on the crook of my neck, his hands on the skin of my abdomen and his crotch on mine, I felt like I was exploding. I didn’t know where to put my hands, they went through his tousled hair, his shoulders, his biceps until they ended up under his shirt, feeling insecurely on the fingertips as touching his marked abs.

Every time I had the opportunity to admire his sturdy and worked body, it never ceased to amaze me how well puberty had done to him. His body able to surround me and cover me against the floor, pressing so that we could both feel the heat emanating from the other. I hadn't been able to tell him when he was in prison, but seeing him hunched over and exposing his torso and back muscles really had a great effect on me, seeing him wet, being able to discern some drops falling from his head onto his neck, was like seeing an oasis and I was a thirsty one, eager to sink my face into its sweet waters. I had been deprived of touching them at the time, but now that I was doing it, it wasn’t enough, I needed to see them with my own eyes as my fingers ran over them, while I ran my nails and left small marks that would dissipate in seconds. 

The hand back on my chest was the boost I needed to lift his shirt up to his neck. Eren detached himself from me for a few seconds and got rid of the garment in the same way as his jacket, but he didn’t attack my neck like I so much wanted. Instead, his eyes stayed glued to my chest, seeing the work his deft fingers had done on my swollen nipples.

"Fuck" he growled as he ran his eyes over my semi-naked submissive body on the grass.

He bent down to level with his desired pebbles and caressed them with both hands, both giving them equal attention. I let my head fall back, closing my eyes and enjoying the sensation, but there was a moment when his fingers weren't enough anymore. I brought my hand up to his head, running my nails over his scalp, and pulled him forward, leaving him inches from my needy nipples. Eren got the hint because he quickly ran his tongue over one of them while the other was still torturing with his thumb and index finger. His mouth closed on the nipple and he sucked like it’s the only thing able to keep him alive, too painful but that didn't matter to me. He left a trail of saliva when he separated from the bundle with a 'pop' and dedicated himself to giving the other the same attention. I groaned at the needed action, causing his dick to hit my core. I was losing his mind, it was too much and at the same time, it wasn’t enough. I needed to continue, I wanted it with every fiber of my being. My nails had nothing better to do than run down his back and my legs wedged closer to his waist. I felt his dick throb and couldn't help thinking of the veins that ran through it, ending on his pretty and red head, he pre-sum that was surely coming out and wetting his pants, I couldn't help but wish to had him inside me and feel those same veins brush my velvet walls and go crazy with each thrust.

As my thoughts wandered of what was to come, Eren's lips left my nipples and focused back on my neck, this time on the side where my scar was. He left little kisses around the shoulder and around the mark, running up and down the shape, ending a little above the chest. His action was too sweet, too tender compared to his wild and hungry movements. My eyes widened instantly, if his intention was to make me uncomfortable, he had done it. If the intention was to ruin the fervid and hectic moment by reliving the scariest moment of my life, he was damned succeeding. How could I keep my composure when he was kissing the mark I had "earned" by going on a mission to rescue him? How could I stay calm when the memories of an onslaught of titans haunted my mind again, ready to devour me while I was lying on the ground with my movement equipment displaced and my shoulder immobilized by the bleeding wound? The memory of a stone flying towards my face, dodging it at the last moment and ending up hitting my shoulder bone, dislocating it, tearing the skin and flesh and noticing how the blood spurted out, soaking my shirt and jacket. My breathing started to hit, and not in the good way, and apparently Eren wasn’t realizing or hadn't taken it the wrong way.

It was like a bucket of cold water in pure winter. My mind suddenly cleared and every trace of heat my body ever had dissipated, leaving only a cold, stiff container.

"Wait, wait...no, no, this is bad" I put my hands on his shoulders and jerked him off.

"Why?" His eyes didn’t deign to inspect mine. Any normal person in their right mind, just by looking at my pale face could deduct that something was wrong.

"Why? I- You are the number one enemy in the world and of the military police, I would have to give you up and not making up with you right now"

I was babbling as well as shaking. I got up and settled onto my legs, sitting stiffly on the ground. Eren had come to the side before my body crashed against his when I got up and he was looking at me without any expression, as if nothing had happened, as if the only one who had been feeling something, even if it was a minimal sensation of pleasure, it was me, and that made me feel sick.

"I would have to be angry, make you shit on the floor and take you to pieces towards the wall Sina" at any moment I was going to throw up, I knew it. I knew my body perfectly to know that in every moment of tension and panic, my stomach would start to annoy me, to go into spasms and hit me internally. "I shouldn't be doing this with you"

"Is that so bad? Listen to your desires, follow your instincts? " His hands came to rest on my waist and without any permission from me, he placed me on his lap, both of us being face to face, chest to chest.

His words entered my ears and stayed reverberating in my mind. What to do? I was doing everything wrong, but at the same time they felt so good. I wanted to continue thoroughly, but I knew that morally it was wrong, more than wrong, it was horrible what I was doing, anyone could tell me that. I felt bad about myself, but ... deep inside me, there was a small feeling that was getting bigger and bigger and wanted, screamed, to be released. I was so indecisive and overwhelmed that all I could do was cry.

Pathetic. I was really pathetic.

I lowered my head on his shoulder, keeping the tears from being visible to this callous shit. His hands on my waist didn't feel at all comforting as he began to move his thumb in a circular motion. My hands formed into fists and I hit his shoulders repeatedly, each hit receiving a kiss on the head. My energies were exhausted at the very begining and I rested my fists on my waist, my head now barely suspended in front of him, not looking at him.

"I hate you" he kissed my shoulder.

"I know" another kiss, this time on the other shoulder, on my scar.

"I fucking hate you" my knuckles turned white from how hard I was clenching my fists.

"I know" he kissed a tear that had escaped my lashes and was running freely down my cheek.

"You're a piece of shit"

I opened my eyes to find a pair of beautiful turquoise eyes, bright and full of life. Eren placed his hand on my cheek, running his thumb every time a tear fell down it. He leaned down and captured my lips with his sweetly, the tears falling and falling, faster and faster and more forming in my closed eyes. The kiss had a salty taste, my heart was about to leave my chest and when Eren broke away I knew that I wasn’t going to be able to take it anymore.

"…I know"

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