#there are some good points here although i disagree with a few of them

[glossgojo]

father mayhew x fem! detective reader the long awaited part-2

picking up right where we left off with part 1 you know the drill

2.2k words

i’m a sucker for some plot with p0rn, oral!fem receiving, riding, creampie, no protection don’t be dumb wrap it up, not proofread and i fear it will be obvious, lowkey yandere /they’re both down bad

the rational part of your mind told you to hightail it out of the church after you’d both fallen back on his bed sweaty and blissful. your body wasn’t cooperating, the haze of desire had clouded the stark reality of your legs being sore and the space between them aching, still leaking onto his sheets. charlie was clearly going through some kind of turmoil himself as he covered his face with his hands, shoulder pressed against yours as you caught your breath. you cleared your throat, thinking maybe it would be better to walk very slowly out of his room and back home. as soon as you tried to sit up one of his hands found your waist, “no please don’t go.” they were still warm and rough, the bandaid on his finger reminding you of how all this started. you had gotten too caught up, losing the reason you came here in the first place. maybe now was the time to get him to talk. you turned towards him and batted your wide eyes, charlie couldn’t help but do the same, his hand traveling up and resting in the dip of your waist.

“i don’t want to intrude.” you whispered it knowing that there was no point in it, you were the only ones there and from how loud you were earlier anyone who was nearby would know what you two were up to.

“you’re not i just-“ he closed his eyes, the vision of you in his bed, duvet barely covering you or the marks he left was a test to his faith all over again.

“go on,” your voice although siren-like soothed his hesitation.

“it’s the catholic guilt.” he muttered, half confessing and half ashamed of it.

“i think god will understand, you can blame me if it helps.” you tried not to find the situation ironic, he was built like a sex god and touting the sin of premarital relations. if it helped him open up you’d be the degenerate for him.

“no i don’t think i could, you look like an angel.” he said it without flinching, your lips twitched at the corner. the situation was laughable and later you’d definitely tell lois about it over some wine.

“what does that make you? the devil?” you brushed a piece of his hair back, unruly from all your tugging and nearly unrecognizable from how it usually looked, gelled back and pristine.

“in a way, yes.” you couldn’t believe that a modern man was so archaic in his thinking.

“i disagree, there’s nothing more human than succumbing to desire, no one is perfect, you can’t expect yourself to be either.” he rolled the words around in his mind, it was a nice sentiment but he was a priest he was supposed to be devoted to god and the faith alone. not the way your eyelashes fluttered or how your ankles felt on his shoulders.

“do we not all strive for perfection?” the pout on your lips was still there, it had been since he started this conversation and he wanted to kiss it away, he shouldn’t.

“you’ll always end up disappointed.” he leaned up on his elbow, looking down at you, lifting up the duvet to cover you up more, not that it helped his current situation.

“so what do you do?” his voice sent a chill through your spine, deep and gruff, like he’d just woken up. you imagined his voice would be enough to just get you off. you blinked away the thoughts, formulating a response to the best of your ability while looking into his espresso eyes.

“whatever i want, of course i have my own morality and i try to be ‘good’ but i know i’m not perfect.” religion had never led your morality, surely in some way it shaped it without your knowing, but you did what you thought was right.

“whatever you want? what do you want?” he could think of a few things he wanted, perhaps even needed, but you were involved in all of them.

“geez what a loaded question, hmm right now a shower and a snack would be nice, in general i want to help people.” he laughed at your response finding you even more endearing than before, you were so straightforward it was jarring. you watched the corner of his eyes crinkle. “what about you?”

“i want you.” he said it without a bat of his eyes like it was the most obvious answer in the world. you weren’t so nonchalant, lips parted in a small gasp and he tried not to smile at your reaction, tried not to let it etch into his bones.

“you have me.” you said it with all the conviction you could muster, it didn’t really take much if you were being honest because in that moment it was true. your legs were covered in him and the ache between them could only be filled by him. he’d haunt you for days if not weeks. your hands found their way to cradle his jaw before you knew what you were doing, titling his head down towards you, kissing him slow and gentle, as if he was a ghost. charlie thought you tasted sweet and the way you kissed him made his heart ache faintly in his chest. he moved on top of you, kissing you with an urgency you didn’t quite feel. you let him kiss you with desperation. his hands roamed down to your legs, parting them and bringing them to the side of his hips. you didn’t know if you could handle another round even if you clenched on air when his slightly hard cock rested between your chests. charlie had other ideas anyways, kissing down your neck, somehow knowing exactly where to nip at to get you to arch into him, kissing gently over the bite marks and bruises he’d left on your chest until he was under the covers, kissing at your stomach. and when he pressed another soft kiss to your clit you swore your heartbeat had moved south.

you throbbed against him, bucking into him gently as a soft whine of his name left your lips. when he licked down your slit, cleaning up his slick mixed with yours you sucked in a breath of air. it was so messy and he didn’t seem to care at all.

“this pussy is fucking divine.” he murmured under the cover of the duvet, licking your thighs clean next, nose bumping against your opening in the process making you clench on it. he didn’t mention that you smelled sweet too, he wished he could eat you for every meal of the day.

“s-such a dirty mouth.” despite your words your legs were parting more for him, he smirked against the soft skin of your thighs, holding your thigh open with a strong hand.

“might as well use it then huh?” before you could even think of an intelligible response he was delving his tongue into you with one of his fingers, pulling out everything he could as you gave, and gave, and gave. his fingers were already long and thick you knew that but the thick wet muscle of his tongue hammering into you, curling and slurping in a craze made you gush into his mouth. you imagined he was tasting himself there mixed with your cum and you felt a tinge of jealousy. his finger managed to find the spot that had you squirting earlier, his tongue quickly following and you pushed your hand up against the headboard, running from the sensation. charlie wouldn’t have any of that, tugging you by your legs right back where he needed you, in fact closer than before. his nose bumping against your clit as he fucked you on his tongue, as if you were a toy for his pleasure. the thought made you clench even harder on his tongue eliciting a groan from him, the vibrations against your core making you gasp. he was ruthless on your poor stretched cunt and just when you felt close he was pulling his finger and tongue out, playing with your puffy folds and blowing cool air on your throbbing clit.

“charlie-“ you gasped out, feeling your eyes starting to water at the desperation you felt to come.

“father.” he corrected you, clearly it wasn’t about respect, not like megan meant. you swallowed down the spit accumulating in your mouth and with it your hesitance.

“father mayhew please do something.” your voice sounded foreign, so desperate and whiny you almost cringed at it.

“so cute,” he murmured against your clit, kissing it once before licking at it, the rough pad of his tongue igniting every nerve in your body. two of his fingers pressed at your now drooling hole and you sighed in relief. he sucked at your clit as his fingers stretched you open, you were soaking his hand thoroughly practically dropping down the length of it. charlie knew he would smell you for days and when he didn’t he’d start missing it. your eyes wrung shut as you felt your orgasm approaching, the obscene sound of your gushing and his hand smacking against your wet skin filled the air as you started to see white behind your eyelids. you came so hard you were bucking up into him, shaking and squirming in his hold and he fucked you through it, cleaning up the mess you made of yourself and then his fingers. with one last kiss to your clit he lifted himself back up the length of you, kissing your lips and swirling your tongue with his, tasting the sin.

you felt like you were on a cloud, floating in pure bliss and charlie watched the way your eyelids fluttered shut when he pulled back. he’d let you sleep, in the meantime he needed to atone. you could feel him heavy and hot between your legs, clearly hard but not making any move to address it, the thought spurred on your need for more. you were surely addicted to him. his heady musk was starting to affect, you were being drugged by him and his body. you pushed at his shoulders he looked concerned as he broke off the kiss, you pushed a little more and he seemed to get the hint, falling onto his back and bringing you with him.

you straddled him, your clit bumping his hard cock, making you wince at the overstimulation. charlie pulled you along with him as he settled with his back against the headboard, his bare chest fully on display and you trailed a hand down his abs, resting on the small tuft of hair below his belly button. you didn’t know if you could take him again, but surely at your own pace it wouldn’t be too bad. at least that’s what you thought. when you were lifting up on your knees and lining him up, you still felt the stretch from just his tip.

“fuck.” charlie was on the brink of coming just from the sight of you struggling to take him. you had been so insistent on this and then in one second all your bravado went out the door. god he could just eat you up.

“need help baby?” you nodded your head weakly and he guided your hips down and you gripped at his shoulders. once you were down halfway you started to bounce up and down, trying to adjust to the pain. he felt so much deeper like this and you swore it didn’t hurt this much before. fortunately you were still dripping down his length, which helped with the friction and you could feel his precum dripping inside you. you set your own pace, grinding and moving up and down slowly. he wasn’t even fully in but the tight hug of your pussy was enough to make his eyes roll back, there was barely any room for him inside you and every twitch of his dick felt like a shock to your system. you got a bit braver, taking more of him as you leaned against him, his head was leaned back and you didn’t like how far he was, tugging him by his hair towards your lips. and that seemed to be the limit of charlie’s patience, the sharp feeling like some kind of trigger. he was kissing you back fiercely, biting at your lip as he snapped his hips up, filling you up and making you gasp into his mouth. your hole spasmed around him and he kissed you with a bloody devotion, snapping his hips as your own hips bounced down on him, a new mind breaking rhythm that ensured your legs would go weak. you were dripping down both of your thighs now, the force of his thrusts making your ass clap against his lap and you swore you were getting air from the force of his thrusts. it made the way he filled you up even more devastating, abusing your cervix and carving you out with every beat.

when it all became too much for him, he wove a hand between you both, pressing against your clit and made you come on his cock, milking him dry as he came with a few more thrusts up into you. even after he emptied inside you earlier he was still filling you up and leaking down onto his sheets, clearly pent up.

your body fell limp against him, he ran a hand down your smooth back, soothing you while he grew soft inside you. you didn’t think you could move and he didn’t really mind if you never did. you looked so beautiful on his lap almost as if you were made to be there.

[randomcreator-09]

Small Heath's Songbird (Thomas Shelby x OCY/N!Reader)

(Gif not mine > @bonniebird)

I WANNA BE KISSED LIKE THIS TOO T^T

Part One - Part Two

✨Pure fluff, No Grace, no smut... for now 😏✨

🐧Aha~ hello people of this world... took me long to finish writing this aha busy playing adult, phew. Ok context, don't get me wrong, I love the original Grace but in this fic, she's nonexistent. OCY/N is an asian heh hope that ayt with yall. ALSO this will focus on season 3, where Tommy has his arrow house already. Although his single asf and relies on whores... Until hehehe yeah boi~ XD Also this is just a character intro sorta... but there would be some important factors here that you need to know to be able to fully understand part two, so READ IT >:D muhahahahaha🐧

Own character description but it's Y/N POV

3.4k words

REBLOG TO SPREAD ADDICTION and kudos are appreciated too thank you ^^

Enjoy reading ^^

Part One - Part Two

-----

Birmingham was unkind to those who were different from them. Although England wasn't perfect themselves they still held grudges to those they deemed 'peculiar'.

You were spot on in that criteria. Small in height, jet black wavy hair, slightly slanted almond eyes, and full lips. However your skin tone was the same as theirs, coming from your European side of the family, that didn't save you from the racial slurs you'd get when you moved to Birmingham. A lot of people weren't as happy as you were when you arrived, a few looks here and there, but your used to it even in your home country. You see, you had bright blue eyes (with a little tint of green). Very unique if you'd say, but people disagree on that, especially your people. They think your the devils daughter and for it they kicked you out too.

It's been a few months since you settled in Small Heath. A kind woman accepted you with open arms and let you stay for a while in her humble home till you found yourself a job. She was a whore yes, but that didn't bother you since you've seen a lot worse than being a whore. You respected her even, for it was hard to live by selling your body to people you don't love. She offered you a job once (to be a whore) but you quickly declined saying 'as much as I respect your field of work Missus, I'd like to keep my innocence to a man I love'.

Not that you were virgin, oh no, you've definitely had made love with a few men through your travels, but none of them really stuck with you or vice versa. They just didn't feel right.

Days went by and the landlady ran to you with the daily newspaper in hand. "Look!" she said pointing at an advertisement, "Personal assistant maid needed," as you took the newpaper from her hands and smiled with delight, 'this is it' you thought. The landlady stubbed her cigar dead on the newspaper "Fuck, it's the arrow house." she said as she took the newspaper from you shaking her head. "Wha- Missus but the pay is good?!" you retorted to which she glared at you at for, "The Arrow House is owned by a notorious gangster who'd either kill you or fuck your life up with his fukin fingers!" she explained crossing her arms facing you "you can't even become a prostitute here why bother going to a devils house and be his whore?" she continued.

Your brows furrowed in question. You didn't mind being with a devil sure but to be his whore... Now that may cross a line. "Personal Assistant maid, it doesn't say anythin about being a prostitute," you tried explaining, even though you knew what she meant by that. Most men thought any woman with no man in public is a whore. However the pay was good, it included your own room, free food, and a lot of free time too! With that thought in mind you could still go for that bar singer position every Saturday in the Garrison (to which you heard from the ladies who lived upstairs who tried the position and failed miserably).

The landlady shook her head and sighed, she can't stop you now for she knew, you have decided and when that happens nothing can ever change your mind. "Suit yourself," as she walked away.

-----

The day came and you got a call back from Frances (the head maid), looks like faith was on your side on this one. Hopefully, not as his whore...

You paused to admire the beautiful house as you walked down the gravel road (unsuccessful with pulling a cab because they'd just pass by you). Red bricks stacked upon each other and gorgeous grey pillars and intricate designs adorned it. Still can't believe he lives alone in this big mansion. You huffed air in your lungs as you stride to the main door, lifting your arms to knock.

Knock knock knock

As you puffed the door creaks open to a woman in black, "Ah, you must be Y/N, come in." as she gestured you in. You stared at awe at how spacious the place was. The stairs up was beautiful with portraits of horses and perhaps you thought the Shelby brothers. "We won't be doing much today. Mr. Shelby is out of town and so tomorrow is when you'll officially start. For now get comfortable and I'll roam you around," she spoke clear and concise as you answered by nodding and 'yes Miss Florence' following her to your room.

Your room was spacious as well. A queen size bed on the middle of the room with a window on the left side and a makeup desk on the right. The room was well lit with electric lamps on each side of the bed side and the ceiling was well sculptured with wooden structures, floor was wooden as well. Although the wall were concrete white walls. The room was on the second floor beside Miss Florence's room, away from Mr. Shelby's room, which was a relief on your side.

Miss Florence gave you an hour to get yourself acquainted with your room and said that you had to be out in the entrance where she would be waiting to tour you around. You nodded and she left.

-----

As you have arranged your things in your new room and got ready for the tour Miss Florence had in store for you, you looked at your reflection in the mirror to make sure you look alright for the day. With a nod and a smile you went out and to the entrance where Miss Florence would be.

Miss Florence, a composed and efficient figure, waited for you near the grand entrance of Arrow House, her expression warm yet formal. She nodded approvingly as you approached, and after a quick greeting, she began the tour.

“Arrow House has its own unique history,” Miss Florence explained as she led you through the main hall, with its high ceilings, elaborate chandeliers, and walls adorned with artwork of the family’s ancestors. “Mr. Shelby brought new life to it when he acquired it, though he values his privacy.”

She walked you through the elegant sitting rooms first, which, despite the muted tones and dark wood, held a sense of opulence. “These rooms are for Mr. Shelby’s meetings and guests. They don’t see much daily use,” she added, pausing by one of the grand fireplaces. The flickering light from the embers cast a warm glow, highlighting the fine detail in the antique furniture.

Next, she led you to the kitchen, which, unlike the other rooms, bustled with activity. The staff members here worked with impressive coordination, preparing meals and ensuring everything was ready at a moment’s notice. “The kitchen is where you’ll be helping from time to time,” Miss Florence informed you. “Mr. Shelby’s tastes are simple, but he expects high standards.”

She guided you through the dining hall, where a large mahogany table stood at the center, framed by polished silverware and neatly folded napkins. “It may look grand, but meals are usually straightforward affairs unless there are visitors,” she commented, giving a rare, light chuckle.

You followed her up the grand staircase, its carpeted steps soft beneath your feet. Miss Florence pointed out the various guest rooms, each one elegantly prepared, with tasteful decor, though they rarely saw visitors. “The family only uses these rooms on occasion,” she remarked, indicating the polished brass fixtures and thick curtains. “Mr. Shelby has specific guests, and they sometimes stay overnight. Best to keep everything ready.”

Finally, she took you down a corridor that led to Mr. Shelby’s private quarters. She paused outside the door of his room. “This is Mr. Shelby’s room. You’re not to enter unless asked.” She looked at you with a hint of seriousness before adding, “Privacy is highly regarded here.”

Finally, after guiding you through the upper floors, Miss Florence led you back downstairs. She stopped near a richly decorated doorway just off the main hall.

“And this,” she said, “is Mr. Shelby’s office. You’ll find him here often.” She looked at you pointedly, adding, “Best to knock and wait for a response before entering.”

Through the doorway, you could see the polished desk, papers stacked with military precision, and the faint scent of cigars lingering in the air. This room, located on the ground floor, clearly held an air of authority and was situated close to the entry—perfect for swift meetings or private business.

With the tour complete, Miss Florence gave a small nod. “Take a moment to familiarize yourself with the house,” she said, before leaving you alone in the dimly lit hallway, surrounded by Arrow House’s quiet opulence.

The sun was still out so you planned to walk around outside. The house had a small garden at the side and a horse stables on the back which was clearly Mr. Shelby's.

The house also had a porch, with a posh white table and two chairs seeing the lush green forest from afar. You sighed as you felt the breeze on your neck to your half-tied hair and crossed your arms around you feeling the cold wind trickling your skin through your clothes. The clothes you wore were expensive to say the least, your former landlady was so sad you were moving out that she gifted you a luxurious royal blue dress to wear going to the mansion.

Suddenly a warm feeling enveloped you as you flinched looking at your shoulders. A dark coat was over your body and a quick smoke flickered your eyes to see a man with a defined jaw and cheekbones. "You must be Y/N," he said as he kept his eyes on the greenery. "Shelby, but you can call me Thomas" as he offered his hands towards you.

As you raised your hands slowly to shake his you hesitated and dropped your hands back to your sides. You removed his dark coat around you and offered it back, "Thank you for the kind gesture Mr. Shelby, but I am your personal made not a visitor. I am here to work for you" you said as you continued to look down at his shoes, unable to look up his face.

"Hmm," a low grumble from the throat made you lift your head up, and there you saw his head tilted closer to yours with his piercing blue eyes straight to yours. "Well, you have beautiful eyes that I can assure ye'" as he puffed out the smoke in his lungs, standing up and taking the coat on your hands and swiftly placing them again on top of your shoulders.

You could smell the strong cologne he had on. Mixed with the scent of the cigar he was taking and blood? It was dangerously addicting.

"You'll start tomorrow anyways," as he started to walk away slowly. "Let me at least treat you as a visitor before you get all busy." as he started to walk towards the stables. You suddenly feel blood rushing to your cheeks reminiscing about his scent and how his face was close to yours.

"You following or not?" a shout from afar caught your attention and removed you from your thoughts. "Yes Mr. Shelby, following!" you shouted back as you ran towards him.

-----(Tommy's POV)

The ride back to Arrow House was a haze of smoke, blood, and lingering fury. Changretta’s betrayal was handled, his lifeless eyes now a grim reminder of the consequences of crossing Thomas Shelby. Yet as the gravel crunched beneath his vehicle and the grand silhouette of Arrow House emerged, a part of him yearned for something—anything—other than the chaos he’d left behind.

As he placed his feet unto the gravel road, the cool evening breeze carried hints of earth and lavender, a stark contrast to the suffocating smoke-filled rooms of Birmingham. He loosened his tie as he rounded the corner of the porch, lighting himself a cigar, his gaze falling on a figure in a striking royal blue dress.

She stood there, arms crossed against the chill, her posture straight but her gaze distant as if lost in thought. Her hair was tied back neatly, a few tendrils escaping to frame a delicate face. He stopped mid-stride, his breath catching for a moment. She turned slightly, and the setting sun caught her profile—soft, porcelain skin glowing against the backdrop of the lush green garden.

For a brief moment, Thomas thought she was a guest, someone important perhaps, yet there was no carriage, no announcement of arrival. It wasn’t until he noticed the plain black shoes and the way her fingers fidgeted with the hem of her dress that he realized—this was the new maid.

"Interesting."

He removed his dark coat and approached her, draping it over her shoulders in a practiced motion. She flinched slightly at the contact but didn’t pull away.

“You must be Y/N,” he said, keeping his tone low as he puffed his cigarette. He glanced past her at the garden, keeping his expression unreadable.

She hesitated, her fingers gripping the edges of the coat as if debating whether to keep it. “Shelby,” he introduced, his voice firm yet laced with intrigue, “but you can call me Thomas.” He extended a hand.

Her reaction amused him. She raised her hand but let it fall back to her side, averting her gaze. Then, she carefully removed the coat and held it out to him. “Thank you for the kind gesture, Mr. Shelby, but I am your personal maid, not a visitor. I am here to work for you.”

Thomas’s lips twitched into the faintest hint of a smirk. Her voice was polite yet firm, and her shyness intrigued him. “Hmm.” The soft growl from his throat made her finally look up.

Her eyes caught him off guard. Blue, with a hint of green—bright and unique, a startling contrast against her dark lashes and raven hair. He tilted his head slightly, letting the silence linger as he leaned closer, holding her gaze.

“Well,” he said, his voice softer but no less commanding, “you have beautiful eyes, that I can assure ye’.” He took the coat from her hands and deliberately placed it back over her shoulders, his fingers brushing lightly against the fabric of her dress. “You’ll start tomorrow anyways. Let me at least treat you as a visitor before you get all busy.”

Without waiting for a response, he turned and started walking toward the stables, the weight of her presence lingering in his mind.

“You following or not?” he called out without looking back.

“Yes, Mr. Shelby! Following!” Her voice was a touch breathless, and it brought an unexpected smile to his lips.

-----Your POV

As the gravel crunched beneath your feet, you quickened your pace to catch up with Mr. Shelby, who was already nearing the stables. The breeze carried the faint scent of hay and leather, mingling with the earthy aroma of the horses. You hesitated briefly before stepping into the barn, the dim light casting soft shadows across the wooden beams.

Thomas Shelby stood near one of the horses, his fingers brushing through its mane with an ease that spoke of familiarity. The soft nickering of the animal filled the air as he looked over his shoulder to see you standing awkwardly in the doorway.

“You don’t have to just stand there,” he remarked, his tone light but firm. “They don’t bite… much.”

A nervous chuckle escaped your lips as you stepped closer, the warmth of the stable wrapping around you like a comforting blanket. The horse he was grooming turned its head slightly, as if inspecting you. Its dark eyes held a quiet curiosity, much like its owner’s piercing gaze.

“Do you know much about horses?” he asked, handing you a brush without waiting for an answer.

You shook your head, gently taking the brush from his outstretched hand. “Not really, Mr. Shelby. I’ve always admired them, though.”

“Thomas,” he corrected, his voice steady. “If you’re working here, we may as well skip the formalities.”

You nodded, feeling a small wave of relief at his approachable tone. Moving to stand beside him, you watched as he demonstrated the technique, his hands methodical as he ran the brush down the horse’s side. You followed his lead, your movements careful and deliberate.

“This one’s name is Arrow,” he said, his voice softer now. “She’s got a temper, but if you’re patient, she’ll warm up to you.”

You couldn’t help but smile as Arrow leaned slightly into your touch, her warm breath puffing against your arm. “She’s beautiful,” you murmured, glancing at Thomas out of the corner of your eye.

“She knows it,” he replied, a smirk tugging at his lips.

For a moment, there was a comfortable silence, filled only by the rustling of hay and the rhythmic strokes of the brushes. You felt a strange sense of ease around him, despite the intimidating aura he carried.

“Why Birmingham?” he asked suddenly, his tone casual but curious.

The question caught you off guard, and you paused mid-stroke. “It wasn’t really a choice,” you admitted. “I needed somewhere to start over, and Birmingham… well, it’s not as unkind as some places.”

His gaze lingered on you for a moment, thoughtful. “People here can be… particular,” he said. “But they’ll get used to you.”

You didn’t miss the unspoken meaning behind his words—he understood what it was like to be judged, to carry something on your shoulders that others didn’t bother to understand.

“And you?” you asked tentatively, surprising yourself with the question. “Do you get used to people?”

Thomas paused, his hands stilling on the brush. A flicker of something unreadable passed over his face before he turned back to Arrow. “Only the ones worth knowing.”

His words hung in the air, heavy with an unspoken depth that made your heart flutter. Before you could respond, he straightened, dusting off his hands. “Come on,” he said, motioning toward the barn door. “It’s getting dark.”

-----

The kitchen was warm and inviting, far cozier than the grandeur of the dining hall you’d seen earlier. Thomas moved with an ease that surprised you, setting out simple plates and pouring glasses of water. The smell of fresh bread and stew filled the air, and you found yourself relaxing as you took a seat at the modest wooden table.

“Not what you were expecting, was it?” he asked, setting a bowl of stew in front of you.

You shook your head, smiling. “Not at all. It’s… nice. Feels more real.”

His lips quirked into a faint smile as he took a seat across from you. “Real’s not a word people usually associate with me.”

You tilted your head, studying him. “Maybe they’re not looking close enough.”

He looked at you then, really looked, and you felt the intensity of his gaze settle over you like a weight. The air between you shifted, charged with something you couldn’t quite name.

As the meal went on, the conversation flowed easily, each shared story peeling back another layer of the man who, only hours ago, had been a mysterious and intimidating figure. By the time the plates were empty and the kitchen quieted, the darkness outside had deepened, wrapping the house in a blanket of stillness.

Thomas leaned back in his chair, his eyes fixed on you. “You’ll do fine here,” he said softly accentuating the end remark, almost to himself.

You felt a warmth rise in your chest at his words, but before you could thank him, he stood and walked as he leaned to your side. The sudden closeness made your breath catch, and when he reached down to tuck a stray strand of hair behind your ear, his fingers lingered for just a moment too long.

“Goodnight, Y/N,” he murmured, his voice low and filled with something that sent a shiver down your spine.

Without thinking, your hand brushed against his. He stopped, his eyes searching yours, and slowly in that moment, the space between you disappeared. His lips met yours in a kiss that was both gentle and unyielding, a moment that felt suspended in time.

When he pulled back, his expression was unreadable, but there was a softness in his eyes you hadn’t seen before. “See you tomorrow,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper, before he turned and left the kitchen.

You sat there, your heart racing, trying to piece together what had just happened. One thing was certain—life at Arrow House was going to be anything but ordinary.

----- End of part one (Part Two on December 24th [to be updated here])

Part One - Part Two

-----

🐧See what I did with the GIF and the ending huhhhhhhh ^w^ anyways hope ya'll can wait till 24th ehe🐧

Like this post to be tagged in Part Two ^^ (and to be added to my Taglist)

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@shizpostluver @hagarsays @shannieshoo

@mysteriouslysweetmagazine @the-ruler-of-death @cillianmurphysdimples @hippiedippiekitty

@sl-newsie - @hippiedippiekitty - @tumbrburgerking712801 - @candlesenthusiast - @floweradroble1123

@dragonsneversharetheirtreasure - @wonderlanddreamer - @rogers060967 - @thomasfell -

@captainstank01 - @imdoingbetternow - @dodicesimamas - @shelbywhiterose - @savexsangster -

@stairwayto--hell

@feasibilities - @valeeeez -

@mythicalcowboyatheart

- @mistyorchid -

@luluartpop

@remembering-angels - @zanytalecherryblossom-blog -

- @thebunnybabyblog -

@shannieshoo - @athenakeene - @melissaspersonalblog - @jonathancarneswifey - @that-one-gothic-murder-of-crows

@pretty-little-sl4t - @random-weirdo - @asmutwriter - @sisterkait

@thebunnybabyblog - @tabbilee

@sleepysnoofy - @giulssssss - @dragonsneversharetheirtreasure - @wakasaswifee

@high-speed-r - @jasthoughtss - @ddawgg1 - @honeyplum06

@isabbellagonzalezz18 - @catnoodle32 - @schumacherismylover47

@kysosa - @star017 - @emmi1753 - @immyowndefender - @jasthoughtss

@mattxxamryli - @immyowndefender - @tonka666 - @liuyuxin

@restingbeauty - @sadstargirl2 - @enolaja - @watermeezer - @amelyyyyyyy -

@ryecosse - @joanna01dave - @cillianmurphyapologist - @angelsainz55

@crazy4swayzee - @mipiaccionodilf

Like this post to be tagged in Part Two ^^

[endzithefangirl]

"I'm gong to put 'being a WAG' on my CV" part 2

Authors note: The part 2 of this to celebrate Maxie winning the Brazil GP! Sorry it took so long, your girl is a STEM student, life got busy. Also now you know the inspo for the TechCEO!Reader.....

Summary: You come with Max to the Brazil GP to see many things: a win, an engineer.... and to have a long chat about Alexa....

Warnings: English isn't my first language, no use of Y/N, female reader, famous reader, swearing, also slight jabs at Max's dad and a few others...

Word count: 2.9k

It was the first race you had come to watch in a while. You desperately wanted to attend the one in Austin, but you got stuck in New York for work. But here you are, in Brazil, being driven to the paddock at 6:30 am for a delayed qualifying session that was probably going to be in the rain. You were worried about many things: the fans, your looks, the fact that Max's dad was going to be there, and the possibility that Max's ex-girlfriend might also be there, although Max reassured you that they were on friendly enough terms where it wouldn't be a problem.

Also, Max winning. He hasn't won since, like, April. He's been doing better recently, but he still hasn't won. And Norris was getting closer and closer to that number one spot. It was an incredibly chaotic morning. In that pre-qualifying session, Max was doing everything to avoid a repeat of the weekend before. On top of that, he was trying to end a months-long winless streak.

Great.

"Well, at least I brushed my hair today..." you mumble, looking at yourself in the phone camera. You still didn't know how to dress like a WAG. You were wearing jeans, the Red Bull jacket Max got you a while ago, some boots for the rain, and your hair down and brushed, which for you is a big thing. You also put on concealer. Miracle.

You were incredibly sexy to Max, though. Unfortunately, you both knew his father and the fashion police on social media might disagree. He didn’t mind, though. He actually preferred you didn’t wear a high-fashion, tight dress. It would have just been a distraction, not to mention, he wouldn’t see you in anything but a hoodie and a pair of sweatpants in the flat anyway.

"Did you know," you say, trying to make conversation to distract from the anxiety, "that your engineer Michael and I went to college together?"

"Really?" he asks, genuinely surprised. If he was honest, he had no idea what the engineers were like outside of their job. The rain was coming down harder, hitting like stones against the windshield.

"Yeah. So, if he got into MIT, he must be good."

Max chuckles, nodding as he looks at the road in front of him for a bit. His engineer was good, but then again, Red Bull didn’t hire anyone but the best and the brightest from the top of the class. He needed people who could handle the race and perform well under pressure. Suddenly, Max turns to you.

"Remind me again, who graduated top of the class at MIT?"

"Allen Chen..." you say, confused.

He laughs loudly before turning back to the road, his eyes fixed ahead once more. He was impressed that you didn’t even have to think for a second before listing them. That was very much like you.

"God, you’re a nerd..." he mutters affectionately with a smile.

"Says you," you laugh. "It's really raining, huh?"

Seeing your reaction to his little joke made him feel all warm inside. Knowing your sense of humor, you had absolutely no idea what you were doing to him. It was also making Max forget about the race, but at this point, he knew it was a rain delay anyway. "Yeah. Feels like we're in a carwash."

"Well, as a big enjoyer of the laws of physics, the best advice I can give you is to go slow on the turns but speed up when going uphill... There is an uphill, right?"

Max actually paused and turned back to you with a grin. It’s funny how you can switch him from hot to cold so swiftly. He still wasn’t convinced you weren’t doing it on purpose. But he couldn’t help but be amused and also impressed. "There are two hill sections, yeah. You sure you never thought of becoming a race engineer instead of becoming a nerdy billionaire?"

"I was gonna be one, but I had to drop out of college, you know, to run the company."

"You had to?" he said with an amused smirk. Max was well aware of the fact that you could buy out the entire campus if you wanted to. But he’d be lying if he said your workaholic tendencies didn’t slightly concern him.

"I tried, but it was really hard. And also, I had to move to New York—"

"Babe, you can run your business in every country imaginable and you’re telling me attending one university was too much?" Max knew he was being a smartass about it. This was more than just the workaholic in you, though. You were also a very stubborn creature, to say the least.

"Okay, I just went to college to get the visa, there, I said it. You happy?"

He chuckles, the car coming to a halt as you arrive at the paddock. The rain is hitting the sides of the car loudly. Max turns to you with a playful smirk. "See, was that so hard? But I’m happy if you’re happy, babe."

You walk out, people with umbrellas waiting for you. There were people taking your pictures as you walk into the Red Bull garage. You introduce yourself to everyone new, and a few of the engineers want pictures with you.

"Hey, we went to MIT together," you say to Michael.

"You remember?" he says, shocked.

"Of course I do," you say before Max pulls you to walk back to the driver’s area.

Max had been watching you talk to the engineer and the others with a faint smile on his face. You had been able to charm all of them within 30 seconds. It wasn’t particularly surprising, but he was still amused. He didn’t think many people realized just how captivating you were.

When you’re done talking to Michael, Max takes you to the Red Bull garage.

"That was easy. How did you make friends with my mechanics so fast?" he asks with a small chuckle.

"You might be a legend to regular people, but I'm a legend to nerds."

"Do I want to know how that happened?" he asks, amused. He knew you had always been incredibly smart and talented, but he had no idea you actually had a bit of a nerd fandom attached to you.

"I’m running a billion-dollar tech company," you say, shrugging.

He looks at you for a moment, his eyes wide. He always somehow keeps forgetting that you’re a goddamn genius. Because whenever he looks at you, he can only think how goddamn beautiful you are.

And yet you say stuff like that as if it’s normal.

You kiss his cheek. "I'll leave you to go ride fast. I'm gonna see if Michael will let me sit with them during quali." Max smirks as you say it before you kiss his cheek. He’d always found your ability to go from incredibly sexy to super nerdy to be insanely attractive. It was one of the things that made him fall in love with you in the first place.

"Sure thing, nerd. Have fun." Max jokes before giving you a kiss on the forehead.

You stayed with the engineers during quali, both because it was super interesting and also to avoid Max's dad in the front of the garage.

And then the rain fucked it all up.

All up.

Max was out of Q2.

He was 17th.

You all saw him and his dad raging in the front of the garage.

The whole quali was a mess, with so many crashes, slips, and generally poor driving in the heavy rain and fog.

As Max got out of the car, soaked and drenched from the rain, he slams the door shut in sheer anger. This whole quali was a shitshow from start to finish. So many poor decisions, so much poor driving. He wasn’t even the worst offender. And he was still only P17. In the garage, he could still hear his dad going on a rage, but he just couldn’t. Max was too annoyed and frustrated to listen.

"Well, that was shit," you say, turning around to Max from where you were sitting.

He didn’t even notice you were nearby until he heard your voice. He turned around to look at you, his hair and shirt completely soaked from rain and sweat. But he couldn’t help but smile at your comment.

“That’s putting it lightly…”

"They definitely fucked you all up with that delayed yellow flag," you say, taking off the headphones and walking over to him slowly. "Save my seat for the race, guys."

He’s about to open his mouth to answer when he finally notices the headphones around your neck and realizes you had actually been in the garage the whole time. Despite how bad the day had been so far, he’s still very impressed that you’re here in the garage and not in some skybox with champagne in your glass. As you come closer, Max can’t help but wrap his arms around your waist and pull you close, not caring how soaked he is.

You hug him back. "It's fine. At least you didn't crash like some of them. Take a breather and then you'll do great at the race later." You take a Snickers out of your pocket. "Calm down now. You're not yourself when you're hungry. Here, eat a Snickers."

He raises an eyebrow as he sees you take out a Snickers from your pocket. It wasn’t the most normal thing to have in a pocket, but somehow it wasn’t surprising at all. It was definitely very you. He also couldn’t help but think that you were probably the type of person to carry emergency snacks around in case anyone was hungry.

“How many of those do you have on you?”

"A few. They're for you if you want them. You know I'm a Mars person," you say, showing him the inner pocket of the Red Bull jacket he got you.

He smirked slightly. The fact that you were so casually admitting to carrying around a little bag of Snickers for him was hilarious. But knowing how much you care and how much you want to make sure he’s doing okay, it wasn’t actually that surprising at the same time.

“Of course you are… Can I have another one?”

He unwraps the second one and pops it into his mouth, chewing on it slowly as he looks at you. Max takes a seat in the chair behind him, his legs spread wide as he leans back, exhausted.

“…come here…” he says, pulling you to sit on his lap. You blink as you realize what he wanted.

He looks at you with a pleading look in his eyes. He usually wouldn’t ask for something like this because he knows you weren’t the type for public displays of affection in the slightest. But for some reason, he was feeling particularly needy, and he knew you would most likely not refuse if he looked at you this way.

He’s surprised at how easy it was to convince you, but it probably has to do with how terrible this weekend has been and how miserable he looks. Or maybe you’re just extra nice today. Who knows…

As you sit on his lap, the other engineers laugh.

"That's right. I know how to code and I get laid," you say, making them all laugh. "You should go have lunch and then be ready for the race."

He hums in agreement. He knew you were right, but he was still very reluctant to let go of you now that he’d finally gotten you to sit with him. He’s well aware that the others are probably still watching you.

“One kiss, please?”

You roll your eyes and give him a quick kiss. You ruffle his helmet hair as you stand up. "Go."

“See you after the race?”

You nod and wink. Max’s heart skips a beat as you wink at him, and he gives you a small smirk in response. There was something insanely attractive about your confidence and how well you handled yourself in this environment.

Before the race, you came to the front of the garage to wish Max good luck. You saw him talking to his dad in Dutch. "Hey, just wanted to say good luck," you say from the door.

His dad noticed you first as you came in from behind Max. Both Max and his dad turn to look at you, Max’s features immediately softening as he sees you. He had to hold himself back from just immediately coming up and giving you a hug… his dad was standing literally next to him… He takes a deep breath, his voice still sounding a bit tense and nervous as he looks at you with a forced smile. “Thanks, babe… Thanks for coming…”

"I'll be with the engineers. Just be calm; it's gonna be a good race regardless."

Jos, Max's dad, nods at you politely. You smile at them both and then leave.

Max watches you leave, his smile turning much more genuine right after. He really did get lucky, being able to be with such an amazing person. Even his dad seemed to acknowledge it with a respectful nod in your direction.

Max looks at his dad, taking a breath as he can somehow feel a lecture coming.

".....Ik denk dat als je het uit moet maken met de dochter van een drievoudig wereldkampioen... Je hebt haar in ieder geval vervangen door iemand die heel rijk is...." his dad said.

Max looks at Jos, his face already turning into a frown as he starts his little speech. He already had his suspicions as to where this is going, but he knew he won’t be able to stop him anyway, so he just listens.

"...... Ze is een beetje raar. Maar... Niet de slechtste die je hebt uitgekozen..... Denk je dat zij mij kan helpen met het installeren van het volledige camera-AI-systeem op mijn nieuwe plek?"

The question takes him off guard a bit. He didn’t expect his dad to actually say something like that at all. He looks at him for a moment, his expression conflicted. On one hand, he didn’t like the idea that his dad wants to ask you something like this. On the other hand, he’s well aware that you would excel at something like that… “I wouldn’t be surprised…”

Max won the race. After a red flag and on-and-off rain, Max was the winner of the Brazil GP after a 10-race no-win streak. You run to the barrier with Christian, the Red Bull team principal, cheering with the team as Max comes into the garage. Max parks the car in the garage, exhausted by the long and hard race, but elated by the victory. He gets out of the car, helmet in hand, as he walks up to the rest of the Red Bull team, adrenaline still running through his veins. He looks around at everyone, giving them all some high-fives and handshakes as he walks through the garage. But he’s most excited to see you, standing by the side, cheering together with Christian.

Max immediately makes his way towards you and Christian. He gives the team principal a high-five, but his main focus is on you, of course. He looks at you with a tired but joyful smile as he finally comes up to you.

“Hey there…”

"Whoooo! That was one hell of a race!

He wraps his arms around your waist, hugging you tightly, not even caring that he got you all drenched with rain and sweat. “That it was…” He gives you a quick kiss before going to do the post-match interview and then into the cooldown room.

As he stood on the podium, you cheered loudly from the bottom.

"Hey there champ," you say, coming through the door of the trailer a bit later. "We were thinking of dinner? And by we I mean your dad and I.... He has an Alexa?" you say, confused.

Max looks up from his phone, his face brightening almost instantly as he saw you in the doorway. His eyebrows raise in surprise at the mention of his father. Though he supposed it wasn’t really a surprise, the two of them were supposed to go out to dinner together after all.

“An Alexa?” Max asks, a look of bewilderment on his face.

"He asked me if I could set him up an AI house helper, and I was like, 'an Alexa?'"

Max nods and shakes his head, amused, a little chuckle leaving his lips at the thought of his father coming up to you with those kinds of requests.

“You’re gonna have to be careful, he’ll be asking you to install a whole AI security system in his house next…”

"....he does know my corporation is a partial owner of Ring cameras, right?"

“Maybe we should keep that little fun fact secret from him for now…”

You hug him tightly, more intimately as he stands up. He hugs you back, his arms sneaking around your waist to hold you tight against his body.

“Could you do me a favor?”

"What do you need? An Alexa?"

[minus-plus-zer0]

Beauty Pageant Headcanons

♡ Genre: Fluff ♡ Pairing: Bakugou x Reader

You entered the U.A. Cultural Festival's beauty pageant, with Bakugou acting as your coach.

How the hell did this happen? Well, you both lost a bet with Ashido, that's how.

The girl ships you two pretty hard, and although she doesn't always say it directly, it's obvious from her behavior. She rigged the bet in her favor just to get you together like this.

Bakugou's livid, but you hold him back from committing murder. You're really good at keeping Bakugou out of prison, it's like your second Quirk at this point.

So instead Bakugou turns his attention to you, and he starts ranting about how it's not TECHNICALLY murder if they don't find the body, but you're not having it and you're really just fighting for Ashido's life here.

Ashido knows not to invest in life insurance, but instead to invest in YOU. That's why she's letting you deal with this while she scurries into hiding for the foreseeable future.

Anyways, you and Bakugou are stuck together. Lucky you!

He's blaming you for this, since he knew it was a trap by Ashido. But you were just too cute and sweet, too willing to go along with whatever Ashido was planning, and that's what got you into this mess. He's really trying to convince you to not defend her at every chance, like you do with EVERY Bakusquad member he attacks, but it's hard to find his arguments persuasive when her life is in mortal peril, so you dismiss his anger pretty easily.

He HATES having his anger dismissed, and this only makes him more pissed. You try to calm him down, like you always do, all sweetness and smiles.

You're actually not even 100% against the idea of entering a beauty pageant, so it was easier to convince you than it was to coerce Bakugou into even being here. He can't understand your giddiness right now, it's more confusing to him than Ashido's.

But Bakugou is yelling your ear off while you check out the various clothes available on the clothing rack. You're trying to find something real cute and your style, but there's nothing that catches your eye. You're still looking through the racks and you're a little worried nothing is gonna look good on you.

Bakugou notices you worrying and he criticizes a lot of the outfits available here. He's got an eye for fashion, given that his parents work in the industry. But he usually doesn't pay attention to fashion magazines, models, beauty pageants, it's all stupid useless shit to him. That's another thing you disagree on.

But you're a bit embarrassed about wearing any of these outfits around him, knowing he's so critical. Regardless, he's grabbing some clothes off the rack and pushing them towards you and directing you to the changing room to try it on. Shyness be damned.

You put on the first outfit he gave you, but it's showing a bit too much skin and you're wondering what the heck was running through his mind while he picked this.

He's telling you to show yourself already so he can judge it but you're no fool. You say you can check it over yourself haha, no need to see this and to embed it into your memory forever haha!

Well he doesn't agree. "Stop being shy and get over here!"

"Make me!"

He can't exactly do that, now can he? He's flustered at the thought.

"...Can you please come out? I won't fucking judge you, alright?"

'Please' is a rare word coming out of his mouth, and you're one of the few he tells it to. So you do as he asks.

You emerge from the changing area, wearing the outfit he picked. He's checking you out in a thoughtful and not creepy way.

"That one doesn't work," he says, paying no attention to your offended expression. "Try the next one."

This goes on for the next few outfits. You didn't know what he was looking for, but he wasn't getting it. To be honest, you weren't really fond of how some of the outfits looked on you either, which made the whole thing more disappointing. Your earlier giddiness is gone.

"Can we stop?" you ask. "It feels like I'm ugly no matter what I'm wearing."

Bakugou opens his mouth to speak, then closes it. He looks like he's thinking his next words over carefully. Then, the words fall right out of his mouth before he can stop them.

"You're NOT ugly. They're all gorgeous, but none of them are the best. We need the best to win."

You're shocked he just called you 'gorgeous', but he's shoving you back into the changing room before you can keep looking at his embarrassed face.

After trying on some more outfits and being repeatedly shoved around by a red-faced Bakugou, you emerge one final time. Still red, Bakugou is now grinning like a serial killer and you hope that means good things.

"Perfect." Bakugou's grabbing your hand and he's pulling you out of the dressing room. "We gotta go practice your routine!"

Before you can even comment on his reaction, you're at an adjacent private training ground for contestants. You're distracted by trying to get him all tomato-faced again. You're pinching his cheeks saying "Where did that other guy go? The one whose face could change colors? You looked so similar, was he your cousin?" but Bakugou's warding you off and telling you to work on your form.

You spend a few hours perfecting it until Bakugou's finally happy. By the end, you're questioning Bakugou about why the heck he even cares so much, but he's telling you that it's getting late and you both should shower and get some dinner.

Post-shower and dinner, you're looking around for Bakugou who's been avoiding you all evening. You're a little hurt. You text him asking him why he's ignoring you. He finally texts back, saying he's not ignoring you and to come over.

You're allowed into his dorm room, and he's waiting for you on the balcony. He's out here alone in the dark, with the balcony lights on and with nothing but his phone. His screen shows your texts.

You take a seat beside him and then pinch his cheeks.

"Ow! What was that for?"

"For avoiding me like I've caught a disease! Bakugou, I thought we were buddies?"

He's grumbling to himself. "I wasn't trying to hurt you, dummy."

"Then what were you doing?"

He's looking away from you and you're trying to catch his expression. Then, he finally meets your gaze, embarrassed but determined.

"I know you care a lot about this crap, and it'd make you sad if I didn't even fucking try to help out. It's not my fucking thing, but I'll make sure you win."

He looks a little torn before he says the next thing.

"Because I love you, alright?"

You're kissing him now and he's shocked, you almost wish you could've taken a photo of that cute flabbergasted face before he pulls you in by the collar, kissing you back. It's his first kiss and you stole it right from under him, and he couldn't be happier.

The big day comes. You've prepared as much as you can with your (now) boyfriend the night before. Ashido is nowhere to be found, she'll likely in the crowd somewhere.

You complete your routine as planned, it's very cute and it's very you, but it wasn't a crowd favorite. Nejire ends up winning anyways. Bakugou doesn’t get it, all he’s seeing is you after the contest is over, happy as hell he picked out that outfit for you because you look great in it as he's kissing you passionately.

To him, he still knows you're the best in his heart, and that's what matters most. He's happy knowing that he got you and that Ashido's days are still numbered.

You enjoy the rest of the Cultural Festival, and you and Bakugou make sure to find some private alone time now and again…

Until Ashido texts you, saying "So have you asked him out yet?"

[glossdebut]

hiatus announcement 2: calmer this time

i’ve had time to think.

i want to thank everyone for being patient with me during my silence while i’ve tried to figure out the future of this account. 

i promise you i’ve read each and every one of your kind and supportive asks and dms and replies, of which there is an overwhelming amount (on ao3 too!). i’m choosing not to reply to all of them at this time, but just know that i appreciate each and every one of you who has taken the time to reach out. 

the day after i made my initial hiatus post (since deleted), i spent about three hours at the gym in an attempt to burn off some of my anger 💀 i highly recommend it tbh. it put me in a much better headspace for the rest of the weekend to sit down and write this post. 

although i’m obviously heartbroken about the reason for this hiatus, i do think it’s coming at a good time, all things considered. i’ve mentioned before that i’m getting married in june, and i think that it’s time for me to focus the majority of my energy on getting the planning for that done.

so, here’s where i’m at: i am going to be gone until mid-june. gone meaning completely logged out of this account. touching grass to the fullest extent, because i really think it’s necessary for me to remind myself that i have an entire life outside of kpop. friends and family and a loving fiancé who all deserve my undivided attention during what is meant to be such a happy and important time in my life.

after i get married and bts reunites, i will check back in. reassess where we are re: accountability. if no statement has been made, i’m probably going to continue my silence until bts releases new music. and then i’m going to scour the credits and look for the names of anybody affiliated with vendors/yijeong. and then i will reassess again. 

bts have been such a huge part of my life since 2017. eight years! i have devoted eight years to loving and supporting these men. but it gets to a point. i have to draw the line somewhere, i have to take a step back and really look at their actions (and lack thereof) in recent years and decide if these men reflect my values and morals. that is a personal journey for me and i do not begrudge anyone for not doing the same. especially if you’re younger than me. i know that if i had been put in this position a few years ago i would’ve reacted very differently.

so, let me clear some things up from my initial post. i was angry when i published it, and i know for a fact some things got lost in translation. you can agree with me or not, that’s your prerogative—and as someone pointed out in the replies, this is a public forum. you have a right to disagree with me publicly. just know that from this point forward i will not engage. i know where i stand on this and i don’t have the time or energy to fight strangers on the internet about whether or not bts are infallible.

bts have built their careers on being capable of change. on humbly owning up to their mistakes and doing the work to unlearn their own biases. on educating themselves. on speaking out about misogyny, racism, international issues that many other kpop groups don’t dare to touch on. we have seen this time and time again. it’s what made me love them in the first place. 

but the thing about change is that it has to be consistent. it isn’t a one and done type of deal. and in recent years, they have accepted collaborations and associated with people that, in my opinion, completely contradict their message as a group. 

i’m in no way asking bts to be perfect. they are humans capable of mistakes and lack of judgement. i’ve given them the benefit of the doubt over and over again. to be completely honest with all of you, i still AM, although i’m taking a much larger step back this time around. but the bottom line is this: they work with loud and proud zionists like scooter braun and pharrell and benny blanco. jimin was featured on a song with kodak black, a convicted rapist. hoseok collaborated with don toliver, an accused rapist.

and now, they are closely associated with jang yijeong/el capitxn, whose company that he OWNS collaborated with kanye west. a nazi. on a song with a klan hood as its cover, on an album about being a nazi.

and while i recognize that hybe/bts did not play any direct part in this collaboration, i don’t think it’s unreasonable to want answers regarding yijeong’s future with hybe. especially since yoongi himself spent an entire tour cycle calling this man his close, personal friend.

for those of you who think that i’m pinning all of the blame on bts, believe me when i say that i’m not. i am unbelievably disappointed in yijeong and dmed him when his story was still up to let him know as much. regardless of whether or not he ever sees it. and before anybody tells me (again) that he has posted an apology: i saw it. if you chose to accept it, again, that’s your prerogative. for me personally, i think that a collab with a nazi warrants something more thoughtful than a “we’re sorry if we made people feel uncomfortable.” i sincerely hope that yijeong has learned from his mistakes and will make better decisions moving forward, but these are actions that i personally can’t forgive, apology or not. i was never an el capitxn stan, and i will not be supporting him from this point forward. 

when you buy a bts album, the money isn’t just going to them. it goes to the people who work with or for them, and some of that money IS going towards these peoples’ ideologies. even if bts themselves aren’t spouting zionist/nazi rhetoric, if they work with people who believe in those things, we are putting money in their pockets. whether we like it or not, the people bts choose to associate with DO say something about them, at least to me. and i truly hope they recognize that and choose to speak out. contrary to popular belief, they DO have the power to. as shareholders and partial owners of their company, they have much more power and freedom than the average idol group.

knowing what i know about yoongi as a person, it’s very hard not to give him the benefit of the doubt. in some ways i still am. but i need to hear some kind of confirmation that my gut is right. i still love him. i still love ALL of them. how could i not? i have since 2017. and knowing how self-critical yoongi can be, sometimes to his own detriment, i want to believe that he would be THANKFUL for his fans checking him about these kinds of things. the same goes for the rest of the tannies. i don’t think that i’m any less of an army for being critical of them. 

army twitter is, of course, ignoring it. letting it blow over. refusing to recognize that their influence is huge and that THEY could force a statement out of hybe if they caused a big enough stink. i’ve barely even seen any tweets about the situation at all. but whatever. i saw/SEE the way they interact with boycotters. they see it as a betrayal to bts to let their numbers go down. bts have been politically active on the international level for nearly the entirety of their career, but these army clearly don’t care about palestine, so why would it be any different in regard to any other apartheid regime?

all of this is to say, we’ll see what happens. the future of this account is unknown at the moment. and that makes me unbelievably sad, but i’m doing what feels right for me. 

this in no way negates everything bts has done for me in the past eight years. i am not villainizing them, nor holding them to a higher standard than i would hold any other celebrity i have invested my time, money, and emotions into. i am simply giving them time and space to prove that they are still the same seven men i have loved all along. maybe i’m wrong, but i think they would respect that.

i also recognize that 5 out of 7 members of bts are still actively in the military. i assume there are limitations on what they can say during enlistment, which is a big part of the reason that i am giving them TIME. everybody who loves bts is excited to see them together again! me included! i am not trying to overshadow that, but please understand that i need some clarity for my own peace of mind.

i want to close out this post by reiterating that i am in no way trying to force my opinion onto anyone. you don’t have to feel the same way as me. you don’t have to do the same things as me. you are your own person and how you view bts, how you consume their content, is entirely up to you at the end of the day. i am not here to judge anyone. 

but i feel like i owe it to all of you to tell you where i stand on all of this, agree or disagree. i’ve built such a wonderful community on this account over the past few months, and i’m not ready to let it go. thank you to each and every one of you who has read my fics and interacted with me. i love you all, and i hope to be back soon.

edit: obviously if you’re reading this after 04/28/25, you know that i ended my hiatus early (or, more accurately, shifted to a semi-hiatus). that being said, the opinions i shared in this post still stand. i will continue to share my opinion as i see fit, and if that makes you uncomfortable, you are welcome to unfollow/block!

[flowerandblood]

ONE YEAR OF FLOWER&BLOOD

✨🎉🌙✨🎉🌙✨🎉🌙✨🎉🌙✨🎉🌙✨🎉🌙

Exactly one year ago I posted my first chapter of the My Best Friend series. Nowadays I think it's something awful and I don't even try to edit it because I'd have to write everything from scratch, but I've left it for people who feel attached to the story. I remember getting about six likes and one comment on the first day and that huuuuge interest made me eager to create chapter 2 and then all the others.

I remember the excitement with which I waited and then replied to comments, not believing that people were actually waiting for the next chapter. At the time I was literally not following anyone, which was good because I wasn't comparing myself to anyone.

Eventually I felt I was ready to try writing other series and a few were successful enough that I decided to stay here permanently and create because it made me happy. Up to that point, everyone had been very kind to me and I started following more and more blogs, wanting to feel part of the fandom, to make friends with everyone. Now I know that was the biggest mistake I made.

Seeing things that didn't interest me, fanfic's whose way of writing couldn't draw me in, I felt frustrated, while at the same time fearing that if I stopped following someone, that person would see it as an affront. At the same time, The Impossible Choice, my biggest project until The Fall from the Heavens (which I'm currently editing and re-editing, while inserting on AO3), began to be written.

Just when I thought I had reached the pinnacle of my abilities (which wasn't true), I also started to clash with anonymous hate messages, probably the worst of which were those vilifying me and my husband, and those regarding my one-shot with Micheal Gavey. I know now that taking it personally and getting involved was my big mistake, and the fandom was shaken by drama that got out of hand.

I was a few steps away from deleting my blog at the time, but my husband talked me out of the idea (thankfully, as my stories aren't saved anywhere else − I'm only now moving them to AO3).

That's when I first realised that some people here I don't even like, and they probably don't like me. I wondered, why are we following each other then? Why are we pretending to have any courtesy? It was only later that I realised that to be considered someone's friend, you have to reblog their work and preferably agree with them even when they write hurtful things.

Since I've depleted my circle of those I follow to about 20 people, since I've blocked dozens of people and tags, there's been blissful silence (with the exceptions of when I write about behaviour in the fandom that I find toxic and someone accuses me of causing drama, but I'm used to it now). I've also never written happier than I do now.

Ideas come to me on their own, I don't feel uptight about what other big people will think of me, whether they reblog it, approve of it or not. I don't give a shit and life is beautiful! Although I can be emotionally unstable, I'm only 70 people short of crossing the next milestone of 3,000 followers, and that's BIG for me. It amuses me that I keep getting messages that someone is going to block me or stop following me, and you guys keep coming. It's gratifying.

I'm going to keep writing for you guys, and I'm sure during season two you'll also see my posts describing my impressions after the episodes in which I hope to involve my husband. I'll also keep you updated here on how I'm doing with my book I'm creating in my private life.

Apreciation

@ewanmitchellcrumbs

Ange. I know that sometimes I'm fucked up, but I want you to know that you've made this place so much more bearable for me that I can't imagine it without you. What I appreciate most about you is that you can talk and discuss, that you always try to understand the other side, that you are empathetic, warm and kind. I feel that, like friends in everyday life, we can also tell each other about things we disagree about, and there are not many people like that here.

On top of that, you are very talented and your stories are always a pleasure to read, even when they are short, you are able to build the plot and atmosphere perfectly, something I have always admired. Thank you for every kind word and understanding.

I still remember your first message to me via ask, referring to the fact that I didn't want to write a pairing with a mermaid because someone else was writing about it at the same time. My heart melted then, it was so nice!

@targaryenrealnessdarling

Liz, Queen of Angst! Your calmness and composure puts me in awe. You're disgustingly talented when it comes to writing and you have a super-sweet personality. When you started following me I began to squirm with delight, and when you started reblogging my stuff? My goodness!!!

@persephonerinyes

You've been engaging and reblogging my stories for as long as I can remember. Always involved, your thoughts make me smile. Thank you for being with me for so long!

@zenka96

You've been here with me since the dawn of time. You know that I love you. Your support from the very beginning really makes me feel like I have a friend here.

@huramuna

I am so proud of you! I remember your asks when I wrote Glass Cuts Deepest, your illustrations for me and your uncertainty about whether you should start writing yourself. I'm so happy for you and that you are so successful! You deserved it.

@black-dread & @aegonx

You are my favourite gif makers. Your work always leaves me in awe, you are amazing! I know how much work you put into it and somehow you make even the worst lit scenes look wonderful!

@summerposie; @0eessirk8; @melsunshine; @immyowndefender; @bellaisasleep; @kckt88; @thedamewithabook; @happinessinthebeing; @queenofshinigamis; @travelingmypassion; @mefools; @fan-goddess; @toodlesxcuddles; @ammo23; @troublesomesnitch; @mariahossain; @out-of-life; @apothe-roses; @heavenhatesme; @whitearemydarkestnight; @liv-cole; @blackswxnn; @echos-muses; @watercolorskyy; @at-a-rax-ia; @tssf-imagines; @snh96; @hiatuswhore; @exitpursuedbyavulcan; @darylandbethfanforever9; @the-dendrophile-bookdragon; @opheliaas-stuff @zaldritzosrose

Your comments and reblogs make me want to keep writing. You make me laugh, you comfort me and you support me. I know I'm definitely forgetting someone, but I want you to know that I love everyone who comments on my stories and there is nothing better for me than responding to your reactions and questions! I have known some of you for so many months that I truly consider you my good friends!

lottie-blue-star; aveatquevale-; aemondtargaryenwifey marvelescvpe; alphard-hydraes-blog; herejusttostan; li0nn3stuff; alexandrawho; vilmakamunen; angelinap09; theloveablestargirl; rose-blue-19; xxxkat3xxx; flosaureum; mandiiblanche; librawh0re; jasminecosmic99; ivvypg; rojocarnation; killmanduh; tokkiiidoll; wolfdressedinlace; angelofvivianne; nina2697; starwarsgirlsimmer1; katsucker; ipostwhtifeel; aemondsdelight; ilswemoon; tigrigri; pasta-rask; roselibrary; lystargs; gemini-mama; nikstrange; tempo-rary-fix; coffeeobsessedtrencher; gwuinivyre; dreamerbythewayx; diiickbrainn; mothmankit

And everyone else I missed and whose icons I would recognize from afar. I know that you have been with me for many months, often in silence or communicating anonymously. Your silent support and presence is something wonderful for me, knowing that you have been with me for so long and read all my posts!

Thankyouthankyouthankyou!!!!

[blighted-elf]

I finished Avowed tonight. I absolutely loved it.

I love this IP so much. It's one of my favourite fantasy universes, and I truly think Avowed is a worthy addition despite a couple issues. I hope we get DLC and a sequel (or two or three) one day. I also hope for more Pillars of Eternity games.

If you're a PoE fan and are considering this game, I encourage you to give it a try and ignore the many bad faith bad reviews. If you've never played either of the PoE games, I encourage you to go play both of them first and then pick this one up.

My criticisms and praises under the cut. Some minor spoilers.

For the bad: - The launch price is absolutely and unforgivably ridiculous. Wait for it to go on sale or find it through other means until then. Avowed is not a particularly long game (about 60 hours for a completionist run) and although it released with very few bugs and issues, no game should cost $140 (AUD). This of course falls on Microsoft and not Obsidian, but still a very important thing to mention. - Although I enjoy grinding for materials (MMORPG player here hiii), I think Avowed is a bit extreme and could use a simple rebalance to either decrease in materials needed to upgrade armor and weapons, or have more drop. It gets to a point where you've completely cleared all enemies and can't upgrade your gear unless you buy from the merchants, sleep, then buy from the merchants some more x 10. I ended up using a mod that gives you more materials when they drop and found it to be much more balanced. - Has a loose class system and as a result of that, there was zero class reactivity and it's something I missed. Giatta and Yatzli kept nerding out about wizard things and I couldn't say anything about it. Whereas in PoE, your class opens up many new dialogue options and situations. For the good: - As with all Obsidian games I've played, I found the companions and other characters extremely compelling and interesting. This is a game that will have you actually interested in random shop keeper #11's backstory and wellbeing. I liked each of the four companions and enjoyed the found family aspect to the group. They all argued and disagreed at times, but still had believable reasons to want to stick around. None of them kiss the protagonist's ass and I find that so refreshing. It makes the choices you make that much more emotional and difficult. - Aside from class, there is a lot of reactivity in other areas. Your godlike nature, your background, your choices will all be brought up throughout the game. This is super appreciated from a roleplaying perspective and will give you extra reasons to replay the game. - (Here as the minor spoilers) I love how, depending on your character and the choices they make, the villain in my playthrough could have been the saviour in yours (and vice versa). You can change your mind, and potentially suffer the consequences of that. You get to really play around with themes of head/heart, duty/hope, tradition/nature, among other things. You can be as lawful or as chaotic as you want - relative neutrality is also an option. I spent the whole game wondering who was going to execute my Envoy first (she survived though, thankfully).

[martinsluvr]

coffee and basketball

pairing: kate martin x fem reader! 2022-2023 season!

warnings: fluff! friends to lovers trope!? small mention of drinking! mentions of anxiety/fear of love!

authors note: pls be gentle this is my first fic

—

dec 5th 2022 ~ post iowa win against iowa state (dec 4th). score 70-57. kate martin with 13 points.

reader’s pov

the energy in iowa city was booming after last night’s win. i’ve been working at this coffee shop in iowa city since my freshman year of college and i’ve become accustomed to talking “game talk” my entire shift the day after a game, and if any of the players decide to stop in to do homework or for a quick drink, i sympathize as i watch them get trapped into nonstop conversations about basketball. iowa city is extremely proud of and cherishes our women’s basketball team, and quite frankly you never hear the end of it when you’re living here.

our coffee shop gets quite busy everyday, and my shift passes by with ease. as i’m finishing making the last order i took before clocking out, i see two familiar blondes walk in.

“hiiii!!! great game you guys!! your usuals today?”

“hey y/n thank you, yes please! how are you? when are you actually going to come to a game in person!” monika exclaimed. after working here for so long, we’ve developed a genuine friendship, sometimes catching up for a drink or just enjoying each other’s company in our apartments.

“i know, i know.. i promise i will before the season ends!” i laughed as i made their drinks. “kate, you did really good last night, i really wish i could’ve been there”.

i could see kate blushing out of the corner of my eye as I finished making their drinks, and monika nudging her. “y/n i am going to drag you to the next home game myself, kate always looks around and hopes you’re the-“ monika was interrupted by kate obnoxiously faking a cough attack. i laughed, blushing and handed them their drinks. as i handed kate her drink, our fingertips slightly touched and we made eye contact.

“in the meantime maybe we can go to open gym tonight? i can rebound for you and give you time to reenact some of your moves from the game for me” i said as i smiled up at kate with my eyebrows raised. although i was NOT short, yet kate disagrees, she was still 8 inches taller than me as I stood at 5’4. “we can meet at my apartment at 6 if you’re up for it”.

kate knew what i was doing. i knew what i was doing.

kate’s pov

my palms were immediately sweating. i looked down at her and honestly just forgot every single thing she’s said since i walked in because i cannot stop looking at her eyes and how well they compliment her dark hair, she just dyed it - i can tell. My eyes scan over her exposed tattoos on her arm and i quickly look back into her eyes so i don’t look like more of a creep than i already do.

“6pm is good. i’ll be there. at 6”, i tried playing it cool. she laughed, shaking her head and saying her quick goodbyes as she had to rush to her 2 o’clock class.

“you know you said 6 twice. i think she knew what time considering SHE asked YOU” monika explained while almost tumbling over laughing. “i mean kate, you should’ve seen your face. you two have been doing this for a year now. why have you not made a move on her? she’s clearly interested in you”

i sighed, “monika I don’t know. i really do like her but it’s just scary. i don’t know if i can commit to something, especially right now. basketball is our life and how will someone ever be able to fall in love with me if i can only see them for a few hours a week?” monika rubbed my shoulder and brought me in for a hug.

“just because you are a D1 athlete does not mean this is your entire life. you still deserve to have a life outside of basketball, and if anyone, she would be the most understanding” monika said, “you’ve got to make a move before she gives up. i know she’s into you kate. you deserve to feel and be loved”.

she really always was right.

we spent the rest of the day doing homework together and making lunch. as it got closer to 6, i could feel the knots in my stomach getting worse. luckily, we lived in the same apartment complex so it was a quick walk to her apartment.

5:55pm and i’m already at her door. is that too early? too desperate?

i knock a few times to let her know i’m here. i could just say i came early so i could see her cats

i looked down twiddling my thumbs, patiently waiting.

“coming!” i heard faintly from her apartment. she opened the door and quickly embraced me.

“kate hi! i just have to feed my cats before we leave so just come in for a minute” she said while frantically trying to feed her cats before they tried jumping into the food. i stepped into her apartment and patiently waited, laughing as her cats were jumping up her legs and meowing.

“you know, i’ve always been a dog person but i love your cats. they are just so adorable and have such a personality” i remarked.

“hah yeah, you can take them whenever. they are the best for cuddling but feeding them is still terrifying” she laughed.

she collected her bag, which i offered to hold, her water bottle and keys. we locked up her apartment and walked down to her car.

“midnights?” we asked in unison, both laughing after realizing we jinxed each other. i adore that she loves taylor swift almost as much as i do. i plugged in my phone to her aux and shuffled the album. as we started driving to our practice gym, i couldn’t help but steal glances at her, imagining what it would be like if we were more than friends, if i wasn’t so scared, i thought. i wouldn’t be afraid to hold her hand or her thigh while one of us drives. i wouldn’t be afraid to kiss her at every red light. i wouldn’t be afraid of love with her.

we pulled into the parking lot and i quickly grabbed both of our bags, and we made our way inside. no one had the practice gym booked for tonight, so it was just us. i put in my code to enter the gym, and we settled our stuff down.

“so.. what are we doing today coach kate” she smiled widely at me. i grinned and grabbed the rack of basketballs, pulling it next to the free throw line.

“well, let’s work on some free throw shots first”.

reader’s pov

after an hour of rebounding for kate and even taking some shots for myself, i decided to line myself up at the free throw line. i was never one to play sports, but i’ve always loved watching them. i’ve always been so jealous of people’s hand-eye coordination, as it never seemed to work for me which led to me burying myself in studies and clubs for years.

i try to fix my form like kate taught me, then launched it.

miss.

again, i grabbed another ball and launched it.

miss.

and again, and again. miss. miss. miss.

kate stifled a laugh watching me, and as i turned to glare at her she put her arms up in surrender.

“here, let me help you. we’ve already gone over this y/n, are you missing on purpose?” she questioned. i shook my head, my breath getting faster the closer she got to me. i faced the basket with the ball in my hands hoping to hide my blush.

“here, move over a little” kate said as she put her hands on my waist, moving me to the right a little. “now put your right hand here, and your left hand here” she said as she guided my hands from behind. all i could focus on was her breath on my neck and how close our bodies were without touching. “now shoot”

straight net.

“see! you can do it! but, can you guard me?” she questioned as she quickly knocked the new ball out of my hands, dribbling away from me.

“kate, of course i can guard you” i laughed chasing after her. we played 1 on 1 for a few minutes, her scoring on me multiple times and me not even able to keep the ball in my hands for more than a minute. as i jumped up to block her shot, i tumbled over her as we both fell to the ground. her arms were quick to grab my waist to ensure i fell on her instead of the hard wood court.

“kate!” i exclaimed laughing, “you could’ve hurt yourself and lisa would have actually hunted me down and killed me!”

we were both laughing as i rolled off of her and laid next to her on the ground. she turned over to look at me with a wide smile. we grabbed each other’s hands as we helped each other up, yet i stumbled into her again.

“a little clumsy tonight aren’t we?” she teased. her hands hesitant to continue holding my waist as we stood centimeters apart.

“i guess you just make me a little nervous” i confidently stated. our eyes stayed locked in for a minute, and for a split second i swore i saw her look at my lips, until she quickly pulled away almost breaking out in a sprint to our bags.

“we should get going, the janitors will be here soon to start locking up” she hurriedly said.

with a heavy sigh, i walked towards the exit grabbing my keys and water bottle as we made our way to the exit.

-

the car ride to the apartment complex was silent. i felt uneasy. is it me? is she just not into me? i thought. as i pulled in to my spot, kate offered to walk me back up to my apartment. the walk was long,

and silent. as i got to my door, i pulled out my key as fast as i could to unlock the door. “thank you for walking me kate, goodnight” i said as i tried rushing into my apartment. before i could shut my door, she put her hand out to hold it open”

“wait y/n,” she hesitated, “there’s been something i’ve been meaning to do for a while now”. kate strides towards me, reaching out to put one hand on my hip and one hand on my check, quickly pulling me up towards her and before i knew it, she kissed me.

she really kissed me.

her lips were soft. i could feel our smiles through the kiss and my heart nearly beating out of my chest, i wonder if she felt it too. kate pulled away first, looking down at me smiling, moving both hands to my cheeks.

“goodnight y/n” she said as she kissed my forehead. she backed away towards the door, and left before i could say a word.

i sheepishly slid my back down the cold wooden front door and made my way down to the floor. between the heat on my cheeks, tingling sensation on my lips, and the sound of my heartbeat thumping through my chest, nothing else in the world mattered in that moment. i delicately brought my finger to my lips, trying to relive the feeling through the sensations. my cheeks were hot and hurting. 'have I ever smiled this big in my life?', I thought. my legs slightly shaking as i slowly got up, making my way through my apartment to my bedroom. everything was bright even with all of my lights off. i sat down at my vanity, staring at myself in the mirror. through the slight shine of the exposed moonlight, i could see the red and pink flush all over my face. my phone buzzed in my sweater pocket. 

i had a great time, the text read, see you tmrw for my usual? :)

i held the phone to my chest tightly, feeling the coldness of the screen through my clothes, but nothing else was cold. everything was warm because she kissed me.

[thewomancallednova]

TNG season 1 overall thoughts

I don't really have a formal rating systems, because that would require too much effort, but i did briefly review my notes on the past twenty-seven episodes and sorted them into the categories "sucks", "bad", "mid", "good" and "great". This season got:

3 sucks

4 bad

3 mid

6 good

10 great

which i think is pretty neat. And clearly I like season 1 a loooooot better than the average Trekkie in the internet.

I just can't help it I'm drawn to the weirdness and the possibilities that went unexplored.

Actually, looking back at the release order, I can totally understand people getting a negative impression of TNG early ona. It starts with a mediocre two-parter, a pretty bad TOS remake, a racist episode and then a pretty good episode that features a species which would be portrayed way differently (and more popularly) later on. Like, I can see how that wouldn't inspire confidence. And in fact, It took me almost two weeks to get back to watching TNG after Code of Honor

anyway, so what are some thoughts on the season?

I really don't like Picard. I disagree with him philosophically, I think he's a jerk (especially the way he treats children. Not liking/wanting them is totally fine, but maybe try not to show your disdain for them actively to their sad little faces?) and most importantly he is in the way of everyone else. To my surprise, I think my favourite character here is Riker. Which I absolutely did not see coming. And Riker is brimming with captain-ness. This is a man who is perfectly qualified to be a starship captain, was offered a command, but decided to do a tour on the Enterprise instead, to be offered a better/more prestigious captaincy afterwards. Whenever he isn't actively commanding he has the same energy me and my peers did in our last week of school. Like we already got everything done, we just gotta hang out here for a little longer for formal reasons, but it's very care-free.

All of which is to say please make Riker the captain, please please please please please he yearns for the chair, he deserves it! And of course that would leave open the XO spot, and I don't think at this point Data would be that actively interested in it, so I say make Geordi XO. Geordi is easily the other standout this season (perhaps more because of my perception of him based on the latter seasons), but his arc in the command division is really neat, and I think the show would've profited a whole lot from following up on it. Having a less experienced XO would also be a great change of pace to Riker, who's on the opposite end of that spectrum.

While I liked Tasha, I think killing her off and making Worf security chief was an overall good move, both because the actress wanted to leave and because Worf's position in this show was so poorly defined. He was cast last and I don't think any thought was given to him beyond "Klingon the bridge!!!". I have no idea what his position is (before he becomes acting chief of security), he only gets one episode that is focused on him, and apart from that episode there are a whole four scenes where his character is explored (two conversations with Tasha about martial arts, one with Wesley about fitting in on the Enterprise and one where he banters with Geordi). Every other line he gets is either generic Starfleet crew line (hailing the other ship, shields at x% etc.) or a one-liner about how he is such a strong Klingon.

Wesley! I gotta say I don't get the hate. He does well, Wheaton is a good actor, it's cute how he wants to be in Starfleet, it works. The only thing that was a bit annoying early on was the number of "adults dismiss Wesley before he says the crucial plot information" moments, but they really did dial that down. But they also dialed Wesley down, at least it seems to me like he didn't appear much in the final stretch of the season.

Crusher! She's pretty cool! Although I did looking back, they really didn't give her a ton to do. She had a few excellent medical moments (Symbiosis and Conspiracy come to mind), but apart from that we got a bunch of references to her unrequited(?) love of Picard. I think it's telling that this is an aspect of the show that is rather prominent but I completely forgot about it. I guess we'll see how that continues in twenty-three episodes...

Data! Mixed feelings here. I think Data in a vacuum is great (and he's quite good in an oxygen-rich atomsphere too! *badum tiss*), there's a lot to like, like his friendship with Geordi, his talks with Wesley, his commentary on how he feels about human behaviours that he doesn't exhibit, his info-dumping that is rudely interrupted on too many occasions. But also I really, really dislike that they gave him an origin story. And like. To be clear, my issue is that it is an origin story of how he came to exist, as opposed to one that showed why he is the way he is as a person. To compare to Spock, Journey to Babel shows us why Spock is the way he is (to some degree): Because that's his parents and that's the conflicts he has with them and now he just is like this. The Spock-equivalent of Datalore would have been an episode all about the medical challenges his parents went through when they were trying to conceive. And I think doing this with Data takes away from the "Data is just as human as the rest of us" thing that the show is clearly going for early on. Maybe I'll change my mind on this after The Chase, but who knows.

Troi! I dunno, I feel like no one working on this show really had any idea what a ship's counselor would be doing exactly, or how their work could be incorporated into the show. We get some good bits of course (talking to Picard in We'll Always Have Paris and Armus in Skin of Evil), but overall, she's just usually on the bridge and says "i sense that the plot is happening there". I guess, this is one of the drawbacks of episodic television, as actually showing her doing therapy with the main characters would import a lot of continuity

But actually, speaking of continuity, there was a fair bit of inter-episode referencing, certainly a lot more than in TOS! A lot of previous episodes get mentioned during the investigation in Coming of Age, which in turn lays the foundation for Conspiracy. Other recurring elements include the holodeck, the Ferengi and Wesley's evolution.

TNG also does a lot with categorizing other cultures, which is unsurprisingly a mixed bag. We are presented with a few beings that are "superior" to the Federation, chiefly the Q, but also the Traveller, the Aldeans and finally the Romulan Empire. Then we get some peers to the Federation, with the Ferengi and the Ligonians, and more ""primitive"" people in the Edo, the inhabitants of Angel One, the Ornarans and the Brekkians. At least that is how I think Picard sees it in his head. I was kind of hoping that after watching the whole season, some sort of interesting thought would spring from that, but it really didn't. I do in general like the portrayal of the Federation as not just the hegemonic power of the known galaxy, and the Romulans, Ferengi and Ligonians definitely help with that.

Apart from that the show also has some less typical aliens, with the energy beings Picard joins with briefly in Lonely Among Us, the inorganic life form in Home Soil, the holographic people in The Big Goodbye and 11001001, the space jellyfish from the first episode, the crystalline entity, perhaps most intriguingly Armus and of course the parasites from Conspiracy.

And maybe it's just me, but those are some of my favourite episodes this sason (and Encounter at Farpoint. But the jellyfish stuff was fine, certainly).

I think it's also interesting how often we see aliens that look just like humans here, whereas later Trek would at least put some random shit on their foreheads. And like honestly, I don't mind the human-looking aliens. Like, even with minor modifications, most aliens in Trek look like human with a tiny extra bit that usually is completely irrelevant to the plot. And at that point it feels almost a bit more unbelievable to me that an alien species would evolve to look just like us, except like with a few more bones on their forehead or something. So I think my preference is for them to keep human-like aliens, unless you can't easily distinguish them via clothing. So we should see non-human-looking aliens in Starfleet, in episodes with multiple alien species interacting, and of course with recurring species, so we can immediately recognize them. But apart from that I'm cool with humans in space.

So they only used the saucer seperation twice, but how often would they realistically have had to use it anyway? TNG is a pretty peaceful show, so I think they just could have kept using saucer seperation in the occasional moments where you can see danger coming, without having to overuse the effect.

Speaking of I LOVE how little killing there is in this show. Apart from set-up deaths (everyone on this ship was killed by some illness etc.) so few people die here. I think that's really good, especially comparing to the more exessively violent. Like in Picard season 1 over fifty people are actively shown to die (and that's not counting the thousands of drones ejected into space). And that includes both named and unnamed characters. In TNG season 1, twenty people are shown to die. I dunno, I just really appreciate this reverence for life that TNG has going.

So yeah, bring on season 2!

[jayextee]

Virtua Fighter (1994, SEGA Saturn)

So I said I'd be reviewing Saturn stuff I play.

Straight up, I'm a fan of this series. I'll try to be impartial as I can through this review but, heads up, I love it. Spoilers, I guess?

VF1 was not my first VF. Back in the 1990's my Saturn was bundled with Sega Rally, Panzer Dragoon Zwei, and Virtua Fighter 2. What an absolutely legendary trio of introduction games, there's no wonder I fell in love with the console immediately; and indeed, looking back I'd still say they're three of the system's finest. Play them. Now.

So, anyway, spoiled rotten by the amazing Vee Eff Two always made the first game seem quite basic to me. Threadbare, even. Except, those visuals. I couldn't get my head around them; in a good way, I assure you! Contrary to everything I'd heard at the time about VF1's graphics being "bad" and the texture-mapped VF Remix being released as an 'apology' for it, I thought those flat-shaded polygons were stylish as all hell. And I was here for it. And I'm still here for it.

Aside from how stylish the aesthetic is, it's got some problems and they're much-publicised. Polygons in the fighters can flicker between light levels or on/off entirely, and certain camera angles (usually during replays, or the intro) cut off parts of the arena that aren't even too far away, that's a hell of a myopic draw distance. And I'm not sure whether this is a side effect of me playing the game on Saroo or not (because I don't remember it from back in the day) but I've been witnessing certain HUD elements flicker when the action gets hectic. Bit messy.

But the thing is, the game really shines I think. Although the basic punches and kicks of every fighter are identical, they've got real character and strengths/weaknesses and all eight of them are real fun to play (even if I get the most mileage out of my main, Sarah, who I play most in every VF game). It's real fun to just slap these boxy fighter around, y'know?

But also, the game's strong in other areas. Not its meagre content, something also oft-discussed due to being constrained to arcade, versus, and a ranking mode; but the sound. Oh lawdy, that sound. Where do I start?

Music's catchy as all hell, even with the occasionally-grating reliance on that 'get go!' sample (oh, hi there end credits theme), but aside from one or two tunes that do this, there are some BOPS. Jeffry's theme, looking squarely at you. Hell, Sarah and Dural have some bangers too -- probably why both of them made it unchanged into the later Fighters Megamix.

But the sound effects, oh my, the sound effects. I'm more about how well sounds communicate the game's action over how 'nice' they might sound; but VF delivers in both areas to my ears. Firstly, there are different 'hit' sounds for different kinds of impacts (with a very clear 'reverb' to that thumping 'counter hit' sound, something Saturn VF2 didn't do right if I remember correctly) and it's never unclear what the audio is telling me. But also, they sound great. Hitting sounds crunchy and has impact, I dare say this is a really iconic bunch of effects here. If I were to levy a single criticism in this area, it's that vocal sounds are few and far between; but the sequels addressed this. It's good!

And that, to me, is the crux of how I feel with VF in modern times. I don't disagree with my older self that it's somewhat basic compared to later games, but as a streamlined VF experience; or even possibly an introduction to the series' staples and tenets; it's good. Not as great as the series would later go, but still incredibly fun.

I was about to end the review there, but there's one talking point I forgot to mention. Everyone seems to forget to mention it; which is why it's important for me to, even awkwardly-inserted into the tail-end of a ramble such as this. And that is, how well VF moves.

I'm not even kidding, it beat contemporaries like Tekken and ToShinDen to the punch and yet none of its rivals had animation anywhere near as damn good as VF's. Some movements are a joy to watch onscreen (such as that backflip with seemingly no other use than CPU Kage stalling for a time over victory) and absolutely cement that aesthetic in my mind as being "better than people in the '90s knew". Of course, I gather from YouTube comments here and there that I'm not alone in preferring this game's look to the later Remix and that assures me that I'm not quite as weird in that as my schoolfriends of the waybackwhen insisted. It looks good. It sounds good. It moves good. It plays good. It's good. 4/5

[may-lutlone]

So, while I was playing Reload (great game 10/10), I was brainstorming about using the android that kills Shadows in P5. So, I came up with an AU where Akechi is an Anti-Shadow weapon. Well he is inspired by one.

Of course, there are fanarts (better than mine) or fics where he is that Anti-Shadow weapon, but I have never really seen anything dwelling into lore that much? I just saw the concept being thrown around or Phantom Thieves just being a part of Shadow Ops (feel free to correct me, I haven't been everywhere in Persona fandom ehsjskks) So here's my take, which contains spoilers for Persona 5 (obvs) and some angsty themes:

Spoilers obvs!!!!!!!!

-Wakaba killed Akechi during one of Metaverse's experiments (oops),

-she felt so guilty about it that she secretly retrieved his consciousness from there,

-using plans for an Anti-Shadow weapon

by the Kirijo Group that she somehow got hold of (maybe she stole it, maybe she just got it idc), she rebuilt him as an android and put his consciousness there (although it exists with the programming, because she wasn't that knowledgeable about robotics - she was a cognitive psicentist at heart, after all),

-was it a good decision? idk but Wakaba kinda strike me as a scientist who would think that was an excellent idea,

-Akechi disagrees, he hates her for that because now he is forever stuck as a thing that is forced to listen to orders (being forever stuck in one body also doesn't feel right I suppose),

-but they have a neutral and professional relationship that revolves around exploring the Metaverse (Akechi can still use Loki, just like Aigis can use Palladion),

-Conspiracy, learning about this, hacks Akechi-android to use him as a weapon in the Metaverse (so he still is a Black Mask, although everything is done completely without his input),

-Akechi then kills Wakaba, which she anticipated and before that she had given Futaba a copy of her research and Akechi’s plans - although she said to never use them without a really serious reasoning,

-yada, yada, yada we're in original game timeline,

-Akechi as a Detective Prince doesn't exist,

-but he does exist like a obstacle in Palaces/Mementos that hunts down the Thieves,

-let’s just say they would be able to fight him back around the time their lvl in Okumura's Palace,

-Morgana doesn't know wtf Akechi is,

-Joker has some suspicion that Akechi isn't just a machine, but he doesn't really voice it at that point,

-when they are in Futaba's palace, on one of the wall arts (the one where Wakaba works on something and Futaba is begging for her attention) they notice that Wakaba was working on one of Akechi's parts (probably his arm idk),

-so they ask Futaba (post-change of heart) what’s going on, but she has to do research,

-when Futaba joins the team, Akechi always targets her (due to his resent to Wakaba),

-they finally learn what Akechi is and that he is malfunctioning (y'know being a serial killer weapon) due to being hacked, so they decide to help him (bonus point if they can get him on their team),

-so in Okumura palace arc they set on changing the CEO heart and capturing Akechi (who is also there, because he has to get rid of Okumura),

-during the fight in that Palace, Futaba manages to free him from Conspiracy’s control (bonus point if he awakes to Robin Hood),

-when they get him back to Leblanc's attic, Futaba repairs him (because I feel like she would be into robotics just like her mom) and they learn that even if he is on their side now, he doesn't remember who he really was (even first his name, only Akechi).

So, my AU would revolve around Akechi re-learning about his past (he can bond over his amnesia with Morgana) and being as human as possible.

I have a few ideas that I probably will draw (or write, who knows), but that's all for now. Thanks for coming for my ted talk.

Bonus comic - very messy, sorry:

[raayllum]

In bluesky, you address yourself as a amateur analyst. Why exactly? A lot of your metas are well thought out and detailed.

Good question I had to think on, anon. I think it's two-fold:

On the one hand, it's a protective measure. I've had people critique me for talking about my degree, assume incorrectly that I'm speaking from a place of authority Over Them when I do offer up analysis on... anything, harass me over it, etc. I've had a superiority complex read onto it too many times, even when most of the time I bring it up at all is to clarify/give context as to what lens(es) I am approaching media from and why, which is not typically how people approach media if they Haven't been trained in it. (More of what I mean here.)

So no, I'm not quite an amateur, at least not professionally. I regularly scaffold lesson plans/analysis from just the blurb of books I've never read for students, accurately, of what they should be thinking about where they read or what the story is doing, ie. A few months ago, I did a syllabus breakdown of why the chosen texts were interrelated and how for Hitchock's The Rope, Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood, and Fight Club, among others. I am not familiar beyond like 1-2 minutes of research on any of these weeks, but it was still very clear very quickly to me WHY they were being grouped together, for example.

That said, people online (generally) don't seem to like the reminder that I do teach and write analysis in a somewhat professional lens (I'm not doing like, university level research, although I do tutor university students in Humanity subjects like English, history, and philosophy). I think the notion of it makes people feel insecure if they disagree with me, and I'm just too old and too secure to fathom why because I've always disagreed with people and felt confident about doing so without taking it personally ever since I was like, 13? (Holding the Unpopular Opinion in fandom of Actually Liking/Appreciating The Source Material's Choices will do that for you.) I got/get corrected or have things brought to my consideration all the time; it really goes back to 1) not all arguments are created equal and 2) even when created equal, sometimes someone has a good to great point that is just really poorly argued (again, what I critique and teach my students to do effectively). It's not / never personal, even though I actually have more at stake / potentially tied to my sense of self, but people with less have taken it way more personally, and that's not fun. I'd rather people call me stupid every time (mostly because I don't care and it's not actually personal) than think I'm gloating or whatever; my self esteem does not come from external sources, and therefore isn't threatened by them.

All of the above is also why it's not in my tumblr bio anymore, because it is always easier to discredit / depreciate yourself first than for people to think you've put yourself on a pedestal, and then judge you or bash you 'accordingly'. So if I can remove a source for conflict that's a headache, I will do my best to do so every time.

Two: Amateur, to me, captures that I do what I do out of love (and I do) and with always more to learn (truly and luckily). Analysis is my job, but it's also my hobby. So describing myself as an "amateur analyst" is (hopefully) less intimidating, more honest about where I feel I am emotionally, but similarly captures that deep analysis / meta is where my interests lie in fandom and life, and always have. (I miss being surrounded by more like minded people in my English classes who taught me things every day.) Also the alliteration. I love me some alliteration.

[shannonsketches]

Do you think Bulma was pissed at Vegeta when Cell was defeated? I mean, he did cause a lot of damage. Do you think she held resentment against him for letting Cell reach his perfect form or showing disinterest for their son? If so, do you think he cared that she was pissed at him?

Shout out to the tag preservation society because I could not find my ramble about this in my search but I mentioned a bit in my ask about Vegeta’s growth that I like to headcanon that Bulma’s anger came to a head in Cell’s final evolution and Vegeta’s arrogance in letting it happen. But I hc that after being personally credited in Goku’s suicide note, Thanks Bestie, ultimately she was more interested in making sure Chi-Chi and Gohan and Trunks were taken care of.

I personally hc she and Vegeta got on the same team in the days leading up to the Cell Games’ announcement, and Vegeta spent the time immediately after just trying to be out of the way and useful to Bulma and her father, feeling he owed them results he’d failed to deliver. (I mentioned her not really expecting much out of Vegeta in terms of being a father here! I hc his neutrality toward the baby hurt her at first but she eventually realized it wasn’t necessarily cruelty as much as it was his culture. His undeserved anger toward adult trunks was super annoying however because she took it as part of his stupid insecure peacocking)

I also think Vegeta is so exceptionally good at punishing himself that Bulma often struggles to have anywhere to go with him. He fucked up bad. She agrees. Vegeta’s used to failure being a death sentence, but Bulma’s very solution-driven (especially after a good cry). No sense sitting around at a pity party. We’re still alive and we build something good with the pieces we still have.

Plus, again, while Vegeta had the most direct failure, from where Bulma’s standing, everyone but her, Trunks, Yamcha, and Gohan had some personal responsibility for Perfect Cell.

She was outvoted on solving the problem from the beginning. Someone pointed out in a reblog that Piccolo let OG Cell go. Krillin refused to use the trigger Bulma built for him. Goku never told anyone that his plan was to have Gohan be the star player (including Gohan). Everybody fucked up. All of them put their own interests above Earth’s safety. Each of them only regretted it once it got out of their own personal hands. Vegeta was just the loudest about it and the last defense they had at the time. Bulma trusted Krillin to handle it. Krillin trusted Vegeta to handle it. Vegeta also trusted Vegeta to handle it. Then Vegeta (begrudgingly) trusted Goku to handle it. Goku trusted Gohan to handle it. Trunks caught the punishment for the miscommunication, and Gohan was left footing the bill for (several of) the adults in his life insisting on playing hot potato with planet earth. All Vegeta could do in the end was pitch in some change (ha,) to make sure Gohan could cover it.

Bulma (imho) feels that they’re all guilty for what happened, and I don’t think anyone disagrees. Although I do also think that Vegeta feels the weight of guilt more heavily than anyone has placed it on him. I can’t remember if it was in the anime or not, but I really enjoyed the interpretation bit in the Kakarot game in which he quite literally fights Gohan for blaming himself for Goku’s death (after Piccolo advises him to seek out Vegeta to learn more about controlling his growth and power as a Saiyan).

It’s mentioned in the Vegeta Growth ask, but tldr yes I do think he cared that Bulma was pissed at him. She is one of the few people whose intelligence he respects, even if he doesn’t share or understand all of her opinions. She’s easily agitated but she’s rarely Hurt, and since she has a lot of respect for his prowess and intelligence too, I think her irritation with him is something he can dismiss, but her disappointment is a deep chest pain.

This is a separate essay and headcanon but the tldr of something I think about a lot is that Vegeta is used to his presence being bad news. He worked very hard to earn his horrific reputation. He’s used to Nobody (outside of maybe Nappa and Raditz, who still both fear him) being happy to see him. And despite seeing him work, and knowing the kind of harm he can cause with damn near zero effort, somewhere along the way a strangely compassionate and moderately unhinged person decided she liked his company.

I think the idea that she might not want it anymore is a vulnerability he tries to deny and get out ahead of, and keep control over by keeping his distance. I think her opinion of him is something he tells himself doesn’t matter, but clearly does, because despite himself he is also a strangely compassionate and moderately unhinged person who decided he likes her company too.

I will always be here to scream the take that Goku is an excellent goal post and a positive influence but Gohan, Bulma, and Trunks are the primary motivators for Vegeta’s character arc from BBEG to one of Earth’s most fiercely loyal guardians.

[samieree]

Dawn of the North || Game of Thrones

Robb Stark x OC

Description:

King Robert Baratheon wanted to get rid of every Targaryen. Apart from Daenerys and Viserys, he hadn’t dealt with the two remaining hidden in the shadows of the Crown.

Amalthea has been living from day to day for three years, traveling with her companion throughout the lands of Westeros.

Shortly after Joffrey Baratheon takes power, war breaks out, declared because of locking Ned Stark in the dungeons of the Red Keep and accusing him of treason. Amalthea finds herself in the middle of this conflict only because her heart beat faster for a handsome young man two years ago.

Prologue

Two years. A lot and a little, although now that she thought about it, it had been a very long time for her. She was sitting in the inn with Ryledia - her companion and closest person. Every day she thanked fate for inheriting her unremarkable light brown eyes. They would be harder to hide than her silver hair, which was almost always carefully hidden under a dark red wig. Her mother cut her over-hip-long hair off for this, so that her daughter would be safe while living under the rule of a man who would be willing to cut off her head just because of the color of her hair.

Throughout that year, she tried not to think about her parents and the decisions she made that day. She scratched the back of her neck and looked at Ryledia. They sat next to each other. Her dark-haired companion was always very protective of her, she was the one who took the seats on the edge, she was the one who kept watch longer if they had to sleep outdoors. She was also the one who did the hunting.

Together they come up with a plan if they needed to rob someone of a few coppers or silver if they couldn't hunt anything.

This was the first time they had traveled this far. They didn't plan to go to the North at first. After all, it was colder there, so they needed thicker clothes to keep them from freezing at night. Ryledia was the one who always wanted to see these lands and the people who inhabit them, to find out if the rumors were true.

"There's nothing like a mug of mulled mead, is there?" Ryledia asked, offering Amalthea a mug.

The young - only fifteen years old at the time - girl grimaced, but took a large sip of mead sl it would warm her up a little from the inside. She didn't like the taste. Apart from good quality wine, she did not like alcohol. But well, they couldn't afford that very often. Unless Amalthea batted her long, dark eyelashes a little and talked someone into buying them some.

Ryledia never liked it when she did this, but when she really wanted something good, she turned a blind eye and silently kept her hand on the hilt of her sword, in case she needed to react quickly.

"It depends on who." Amy replied, wiping her mouth with her hand and pushing the mug across the table back to her companion. "You seem to like being here."

"You know, it's nice to hear someone agree with you." what she meant was that the vast majority of Northerners shared her opinion about the perfumed southern knights, who were tough until the first blow landed on their face.

"I think there are still quite a few marriageable girls who would disagree with you." Amalthea was part of this group herself, although it couldn't be said that she admired... for example Loras Tyrell, like most women her age who even heard about his beauty. Yes, she smiled slightly to herself at the thought of thick curls, but she didn't consider it a wonderful topic for hours of conversation.

"It doesn't count." she muttered and looked over her shoulder to see if anyone was already carrying their food.

Meanwhile, a man in his early thirties approached their table and threw a few coppers on the table. This immediately caught the attention of both girls, they even had the same reaction: frowning in surprise. Then the man added three more coins.

"But only because she's pretty." he said, pointing at Amalthea. Immediately afterwards, he leaned over the table and extended his hand towards her. Ryledia suddenly stood up.

"Touch her with even a finger and you'll lose your whole arm." she growled, glaring at the man. He was over a head taller than her - and it's worth mentioning, because Ryledia wasn't short herself, she was about ten centimeters taller than Amalthea - but she wasn't the kind of person who would chicken out over it. Especially since he dared to consider her closest friend a whore he could buy.

She was about to draw her sword, but the man was faster and aimed a punch at her, forcing her to crouch in order to dodge it, and she didn't have time to draw her sword before he was close to her.

There weren't many people in the inn at the time, and those who were sitting at their tables didn't look like they wanted to get involved. Even when Ryledia was grabbed by the front of her shirt and thrown to the ground.

Amalthea's first instinct was to step back, sitting now against the wall. She never had to fight, only to run away. It is true that she always had a dagger with her, attached to a garter or to her belt - if she was wearing trousers. Ryledia often scolded her for her preference for the two dresses she had left, but understanding the girl's reason for wearing them, she tried to accept it. Even though they were definitely less practical than pants, especially in a situation like this.

After throwing the older girl on the ground, the man turned towards Amalthea again, but not for long, because Ryledia stabbed him in the foot, effectively drawing attention to herself - unfortunately, it resulted in her getting a kick in the stomach so hard that it made her cough.

Fear finally began to turn into determination to do something and Amalthea reached for her dagger, but before she could draw it to somehow stop the man from hurting her dear friend again, the three of them heard someone else draw a sword.

"M-my Lord…" the man immediately stepped away, raising his hands and bowing his head. Amalthea saw his hands suddenly begin to tremble. She leaned out and saw several men.

Two of them stood out, they were dressed slightly differently, more richly. They had better furs, silver decorated their clothes. She only realized who had come to their aid when she noticed the silver direwolf on the chests of both of them. Ryledia noticed the same thing when she managed to get up off the ground before someone offered to help her with it - yes, she hated when she had to accept someone's help. She wanted to at least do this much herself if she couldn't protect Amalthea.

"Why did you hit that woman? What did she do to you, didn't let you sit beside her?" said the elder Stark, Lord Eddard. Fortunately, they decided to come here after the hunt.

"I'm afraid he expected more than a chat over mead, father." Robb looked at the coppers lying on the table and then his eyes fell on the girl sitting almost against the wall. "Are you alright, my Lady?" he approached and extended his hand towards her to help her get up from the bench.

Amalthea was not like Ryledia. She accepted the young man's hand and even smiled gently.

"I'm okay, he didn't manage to touch me." she felt a gentle warmth on her cheeks, while looking into the boy's blue eyes.

If girls swoon over Ser Loras, does he look like Robb Stark or even better?

She wasn't sure if her legs were shaking because she had just experienced one of the worst moments of her life, or because she had never felt like smiling like an idiot because of a man until now. Probably because of both of these reasons, and it was the same with her rapidly beating heart.

"This is definitely not enough for compensation." Ned said, looking at the few coppers still on the table.

"No, my Lord, please…" the man fell to his knees, but in his heart he was grateful that nothing had happened, because he was aware of the punishment he would face for rape under Lord Stark's jurisdiction.

Amalthea remembers that the man didn't get a very severe punishment back then, but because he raised a hand against Ryledia, he had to pay dearly and lost two fingers with the threat of losing his entire hand if he was ever caught doing something equally indecent.

Sometimes she has the impression that Ryledia suffered more later, on their journey, because of how much she talked to her about Lord Stark's eldest son.

Only in the evening did she realize how much she was annoying Ryledia, and she endured it in silence, so as not to say something she might regret later. She decided never to bring up this topic again, and instead to sink into her thoughts and there talk to herself about this handsome boy. As the days, weeks, and finally two years passed, she stopped thinking about him. Only occasionally did his image pierce her thoughts when she saw someone with similarly blue eyes or whose hair was arranged in almost the same curls.

Well, her racing heart came back to her now that she had the chance to see him again after those two, long years.

And it wasn't just her pulse that accelerated.

~

-> Chapter I ''Beginning'' -> general masterlist -> Game of Thrones/House of the Dragon masterlist

[saveahorserideaneddie]

i think some people get so lost in this idea of eddie being this loner loser type that they don’t realize that eddie diaz does in fact have game— he just doesn’t want to

like this man has had women flirting with him COUNTLESS times yet he always brushes it off/ignores it bc he’s not interested

just bc his three serious relationships have failed due to his inability to commit to them over his husband doesn’t mean that he couldn’t go out and pick up people if he wanted to…. again, he just doesn’t want to.

we also have to take into account that ana and marisol both stayed with this man FARRRRR too long for him to not have any bedroom skills

like that man treated both of them like glorified babysitters yet they both stayed with him and actively chose to be w him/were upset when the relationship ended…. you cannot tell me that their bedroom activities were not clouding their judgement there.

eddie canonically is a crippling people pleaser due to his desire to please his family…. he quite literally gets off to pleasing people in bed which is why he probably hasn’t realized he’s gay; he thinks that he has a duty to please his partners, and take no pleasure for himself (although his pleasure comes from giving pleasure) so the fact that he ‘seems’ satisfied in these relationships is clouding his judgement of what he actually wants bc he thinks he doesn’t deserve what he wants (and also comphet pressuring him into thinking that what he wants is wrong but that’s another topic)

to say he’s bad in bed bc he’s “solely focused on the pleasure of his partners” is just blatantly incorrect…. whether he’s good in bed or not is objectively about whether he leaves his partners satisfied, which we know CANONICALLY he does…. im not saying he’s a fucking freak in the sheets who’s the best they’ve ever had, but you can’t negate the fact that there is evidence within the plot that people find eddie very attractive, and that the few times he’s been with someone onscreen (in this case shannon and marisol since we never saw anything of the sort onscreen between eddie and ana), they have canonically been very satisfied and pleased with eddie’s prowess to the point where shannon came back to him solely for sex, and eddie was having to run and hide from marisol to avoid having sex.

this man canonically fucks, and getting into the psyche of his own sexuality/pleasure isn’t the point here- the point is that objectively in canon eddie is found to be very attractive, snd has left his partners very satisfied, so because of that you can’t say he’s objectively bad in bed or that he has no game.

bc again: just bc he doesn’t accept the advances doesn’t mean the advances aren’t there.

(also this idea that eddie has zero friends when he quite literally plays poker w a bunch of the lafd outside of work ASIDE from the 118 and has also been shown to be friendly with multiple parents from chris’s school…. i understand that we love to hc eddie as this loner boy w no friends, but objectively he has a lot of friends in his life, he just choses to trust his 118 family the most— that doesn’t negate his other friendships though.)

anyway, i just think s lot of people don’t quite get the point of an object question; when you try to start expounding on the fact that eddie subconsciously isn’t deriving pleasure from sex as proof that he has no game and is bad in bed when onscreen we’ve seen that sex leaves both him and his partners satisfied as well as people flirting w him left and right your argument is teetering more into headcanon territory rather than what we’ve actually been shown— headcanon is one thing in fics but as far as what we’ve seen, eddie canonically IS the sexy macho guy he tries to be— even if he subconsciously wishes he could be that for buck.

(again, don’t take this as a personal attack if you disagree: i just think we as a fandom have a tendency to ignore objectivity at times for questions like that poll and there are some moments where digging deeper than surface level either isn’t required, or delves too far into nuance that you start to negate the entire reason the question was asked to begin with which was asked objectively)

[xtess0]

Under his spell

⚠️: contains 18+

one shot

I got inspired by the song under your spell - snow strippers and one story on here which I read few months ago I can't think of their user now.

You as a last previous valkyrie, were minding your business on Asgard. No longer serving Odin but you had close relationship with him and his sons. Thor's coronation as a new king of Asgard, was today. Everybody were invited and you had to come. What caught your attention was Loki's gaze at his brother walking down the red carpet to Odin, you could tell he was jealous and had something mischievous on his mind. You knew him pretty well and knew that the Loki standing there was just his tricky spell. You got out to search for him in the hallways, you call out.. „Loki wherever you are, you're not going to trick me" you continued looking around until you saw him staring at you from the other side of the hallway. „And why's that?" he said loud enough, you thought of what to answer him. „I could have read your body language, you're not as unpredictable as you think you might be."

He was at lost of words getting annoyed by your presence and that you caught him. But he was also interested in the fact you're the only one who have been deeply focused enough, to notice he's got something on mind. He comes up closer to you, leaving some distance between you. He looks you down as he's much taller. „I see.. well you are a attentive one I must admit." He grabs your chin making you look up at him, locking his eyes with yours. „You're prettier from up close that's for sure." You were speechless, by his sudden confession and mention of your beauty. Although, you pushed him away and stepped further. „You're a terrible womanizer, you only play with women for fun. I will not get touched by you." he chuckled in amusement by your comment. „Oh dear, I might've spent a few nights with some women.. But none of them was this attractive." You crossed your arms and stare him in the eyes. „Why are you suddenly trying to get into my panties?" He looked offended and mad, but all he could get out was „Im not."

There was an interruption. Frost giants got into the vault, you rushed there and Odin with Thor were already there. „Frost giants!? how did they get in here, I thought you had a promise!" Thor yelled out to his father. „I dont know. Important is to know they haven't stole anything and everything is on it's place." Odin said calm, while you and Loki just looked at each other. „They broke your promise! They're not trustworthy!! We must get revenge." „I dont allow that. A worthy king doesn't seek war. But must always be ready for it." Odin said to Thor in response slightly getting angry with him.

You and Loki followed Thor to the dinning room seeing him frustrated. „We must get revenge.. There's no other way they must fear us!" „I really dont think that's a good idea Thor. We are forbidden to travel through the 9 realms however we please" Sif said in response. On the other side of the situation, Loki and you were facing each other. „Was that you who let them in?" You asked as if you were 100% sure it was true. „No." He looked unsure as he said that and wasn't holding eye contact with you. Which only led you to believe your theory. „You did. You're a terrible liar you know, though you're the god of mischief and tricks you're horrible at lying" He was looking away but then stared at you furiously, a lot of thoughts on his mind and no wise decisions making. He just said what was on his mind and didn't regret a word. "And why are you speaking princess? You pay so much attention to me because I attract you so much to the point you desire my touch and sexual stuff." You couldn't get out a single word as you were caught off guard by his sudden comment. You couldn't agree but also couldn't disagree.

Later that evening you were going through the library, hoping to find something about magic and scourers in general. But what you found instead was Loki right behind your back. What the hell was he doing here!?! And how did he get here so silently!? You turn around and look up at him, none of you spoke first. But Loki was the first to break the silence by doing a move. He leaned in closer pressing you against the giant bookshelf and resting his hand on one of the shelfs. „You're quite nosy for a little girl. You do realize this is the private library for sorcerers right. You do not look like one to me" You stare up at him nervously about the mention of private library. You were in a place you weren't suppose to be. „Well no one is around to stop me." He smirked and lean in closer to you, closing the distance between your faces. „I am now. Do you really wish to know how magic works?" You're completely lost in his words and eyes. Most preferably, lost in his eyes now rather than words. He understood your body language and smiled to himself, he used magic spell on you. But you didn't feel anything different, then he pulled away and was about to walk off. But before reaching the door he turns around „Get out of here before somebody else finds you"

The next day

You find yourself craving someone's touch.. his touch. Your body is on fire you can't understand what spell he has put on you. There was nothing you could do but pay him a visit and have him to break the spell. By his room now standing hesitant to knock. He opened the door just before you could do anything, as if he knew you were there. „Missed me so soon?" He smirked and found your desperate face amusing. „Get the spell off me. NOW!!" He chuckled at your comment and replied to you.. „I can't, you must find out yourself what to do with it" He winked at you and left the place. You tried everything, cold shower, teas, painkillers and even pleasing yourself. None of it worked and your body was more and more hot, sweaty and trembling. All you could do at this moment was to take off your clothes but how do you get rid of it!?

The desire for sex was getting higher and higher, you thought maybe if you sleep with someone it'll be gone but who?? you pass by people and people but none of them drives your attention. Not even Thor.. You fear, if you sleep with any of them forcefully it'll get worse, your last choice was Loki.. As soon as you spotted him your heart raced and the desire was raising, you grabbed his wrist. „I need you.. I must have you.." He knows what's going on and smiles at your begging.

He drags you to his room, kissing you roughly behind the locked doors. „I see you finally found the cure for this spell of mine~" You couldn't believe the "cure" was to sleep with him. On the other hand, you didn't mind since you had feelings for him for some time.. All he did to you was making you feel better so you let him do whatever he pleased. „Loki.." You moaned his name as he was in between your thighs, showing you a good time with his tongue. However he wants to be inside of you already, but can't be so fast.. His fingers teasing your hot pussy, he was circling around your clitoris and changing the speed of going in and out so you dont have orgasm yet. The big part comes on and within 7 minutes you come together, he gets off of you and lays down. Both of you were breathing heavily gasping for air, as you do catch some he speaks up „I knew you wanted this, even without the spell, I'd have you sooner or later riding me roughly." You just gave him a weird look, knowing he was right.

knock, knock

„Loki are you in there? why's your door locked and where's Y/n, I must have a word with her." Thor said behind the doors and both of you panicked. „She.. went out for a walk she'll be back in a few." Thor sighs and left. You look at Loki that's lying next to you, your faces up close he wanted to kiss you so badly again.. He leaned in and perched a soft kiss on your lips. „Let me take care of you.. Y/n."