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komaedalovemail · 1 day ago

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komaedas have you tried straw.page?

(i hope you don't mind if i make a big ollllle webdev post off this!)

i have never tried straw.page but it looks similar to carrd and other WYSIWYG editors (which is unappealing to me, since i know html/css/js and want full control of the code. and can't hide secrets in code comments.....)

my 2 cents as a web designer is if you're looking to learn web design or host long-term web projects, WYSIWYG editors suck doodooass. you don't learn the basics of coding, someone else does it for you! however, if you're just looking to quickly host images, links to your other social medias, write text entries/blogposts, WYSIWYG can be nice.

toyhouse, tumblr, deviantart, a lot of sites implement WYSIWYG for their post editors as well, but then you can run into issues relying on their main site features for things like the search system, user profiles, comments, etc. but it can be nice to just login to your account and host your information in one place, especially on a platform that's geared towards that specific type of information. (toyhouse is a better example of this, since you have a lot of control of how your profile/character pages look, even without a premium account) carrd can be nice if you just want to say "here's where to find me on other sites," for example. but sometimes you want a full website!

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neocities hosting

currently, i host my website on neocities, but i would say the web2.0sphere has sucked some doodooass right now and i'm fiending for something better than it. it's a static web host, e.g. you can upload text, image, audio, and client-side (mostly javascript and css) files, and html pages. for the past few years, neocities' servers have gotten slower and slower and had total blackouts with no notices about why it's happening... and i'm realizing they host a lot of crypto sites that have crypto miners that eat up a ton of server resources. i don't think they're doing anything to limit bot or crypto mining activity and regular users are taking a hit.

↑ page 1 on neocitie's most viewed sites we find this site. this site has a crypto miner on it, just so i'm not making up claims without proof here. there is also a very populated #crypto tag on neocities (has porn in it tho so be warned...).

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dynamic/server-side web hosting

$5/mo for neocities premium seems cheap until you realize... The Beautiful World of Server-side Web Hosting!

client-side AKA static web hosting (neocities, geocities) means you can upload images, audio, video, and other files that do not interact with the server where the website is hosted, like html, css, and javascript. the user reading your webpage does not send any information to the server like a username, password, their favourite colour, etc. - any variables handled by scripts like javascript will be forgotten when the page is reloaded, since there's no way to save it to the web server. server-side AKA dynamic web hosting can utilize any script like php, ruby, python, or perl, and has an SQL database to store variables like the aforementioned that would have previously had nowhere to be stored.

there are many places in 2024 you can host a website for free, including: infinityfree (i use this for my test websites :B has tons of subdomains to choose from) [unlimited sites, 5gb/unlimited storage], googiehost [1 site, 1gb/1mb storage], freehostia [5 sites/1 database, 250mb storage], freehosting [1 site, 10gb/unlimited storage]

if you want more features like extra websites, more storage, a dedicated e-mail, PHP configuration, etc, you can look into paying a lil shmoney for web hosting: there's hostinger (this is my promocode so i get. shmoney. if you. um. 🗿🗿🗿) [$2.40-3.99+/mo, 100 sites/300 databases, 100gb storage, 25k visits/mo], a2hosting [$1.75-12.99+/mo, 1 site/5 databases, 10gb/1gb storage], and cloudways [$10-11+/mo, 25gb/1gb]. i'm seeing people say to stay away from godaddy and hostgator. before you purchase a plan, look up coupons, too! (i usually renew my plan ahead of time when hostinger runs good sales/coupons LOL)

here's a big webhost comparison chart from r/HostingHostel circa jan 2024.

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domain names

most of the free website hosts will give you a subdomain like yoursite.has-a-cool-website-69.org, and usually paid hosts expect you to bring your own domain name. i got my domain on namecheap (enticing registration prices, mid renewal prices), there's also porkbun, cloudflare, namesilo, and amazon route 53. don't use godaddy or squarespace. make sure you double check the promo price vs. the actual renewal price and don't get charged $120/mo when you thought it was $4/mo during a promo, certain TLDs (endings like .com, .org, .cool, etc) cost more and have a base price (.car costs $2,300?!?). look up coupons before you purchase these as well!

namecheap and porkbun offer something called "handshake domains," DO NOT BUY THESE. 🤣🤣🤣 they're usually cheaper and offer more appealing, hyper-specific endings like .iloveu, .8888, .catgirl, .dookie, .gethigh, .♥, .❣, and .✟. I WISH WE COULD HAVE THEM but they're literally unusable. in order to access a page using a handshake domain, you need to download a handshake resolver. every time the user connects to the site, they have to provide proof of work. aside from it being incredibly wasteful, you LITERALLY cannot just type in the URL and go to your own website, you need to download a handshake resolver, meaning everyday internet users cannot access your site.

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hosting a static site on a dynamic webhost

you can host a static (html/css/js only) website on a dynamic web server without having to learn PHP and SQL! if you're coming from somewhere like neocities, the only thing you need to do is configure your website's properties. your hosting service will probably have tutorials to follow for this, and possibly already did some steps for you. you need to point the nameserver to your domain, install an SSL certificate, and connect to your site using FTP for future uploads. FTP is a faster, alternative way to upload files to your website instead of your webhost's file upload system; programs like WinSCP or FileZilla can upload using FTP for you.

if you wanna learn PHP and SQL and really get into webdev, i wrote a forum post at Mysidia Adoptables here, tho it's sorted geared at the mysidia script library itself (Mysidia Adoptables is a free virtual pet site script, tiny community. go check it out!)

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file storage & backups

a problem i have run into a lot in my past like, 20 years of internet usage (/OLD) is that a site that is free, has a small community, and maybe sounds too good/cheap to be true, has a higher chance of going under. sometimes this happens to bigger sites like tinypic, photobucket, and imageshack, but for every site like that, there's like a million of baby sites that died with people's files. host your files/websites on a well-known site, or at least back it up and expect it to go under!

i used to host my images on something called "imgjoe" during the tinypic/imageshack era, it lasted about 3 years, and i lost everything hosted on there. more recently, komaedalovemail had its webpages hosted here on tumblr, and tumblr changed its UI so custom pages don't allow javascript, which prevented any new pages from being edited/added. another test site i made a couple years ago on hostinger's site called 000webhost went under/became a part of hostinger's paid-only plans, so i had to look very quickly for a new host or i'd lose my test site.

if you're broke like me, looking into physical file storage can be expensive. anything related to computers has gone through baaaaad inflation due to crypto, which again, I Freaquing Hate, and is killing mother nature. STOP MINING CRYPTO this is gonna be you in 1 year

...um i digress. ANYWAYS, you can archive your websites, which'll save your static assets on The Internet Archive (which could use your lovely donations right now btw), and/or archive.today (also taking donations). having a webhost service with lots of storage and automatic backups can be nice if you're worried about file loss or corruption, or just don't have enough storage on your computer at home!

if you're buying physical storage, be it hard drive, solid state drive, USB stick, whatever... get an actual brand like Western Digital or Seagate and don't fall for those cheap ones on Amazon that claim to have 8,000GB for $40 or you're going to spend 13 days in windows command prompt trying to repair the disk and thenthe power is gong to go out in your shit ass neighvborhood and you have to run it tagain and then Windows 10 tryes to update and itresets the /chkdsk agin while you're awayfrom town nad you're goig to start crytypting and kts just hnot going tot br the same aever agai nikt jus not ggiog to be the saeme

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further webhosting options

there are other Advanced options when it comes to web hosting. for example, you can physically own and run your own webserver, e.g. with a computer or a raspberry pi. r/selfhosted might be a good place if you're looking into that!

if you know or are learning PHP, SQL, and other server-side languages, you can host a webserver on your computer using something like XAMPP (Apache, MariaDB, PHP, & Perl) with minimal storage space (the latest version takes up a little under 1gb on my computer rn). then, you can test your website without needing an internet connection or worrying about finding a hosting plan that can support your project until you've set everything up!

there's also many PHP frameworks which can be useful for beginners and wizards of the web alike. WordPress is one which you're no doubt familiar with for creating blog posts, and Bluehost is a decent hosting service tailored to WordPress specifically. there's full frameworks like Laravel, CakePHP, and Slim, which will usually handle security, user authentication, web routing, and database interactions that you can build off of. Laravel in particular is noob-friendly imo, and is used by a large populace, and it has many tutorials, example sites built with it, and specific app frameworks.

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addendum: storing sensitive data

if you decide to host a server-side website, you'll most likely have a login/out functionality (user authentication), and have to store things like usernames, passwords, and e-mails. PLEASE don't launch your website until you're sure your site security is up to snuff!

when trying to check if your data is hackable... It's time to get into the Mind of a Hacker. OWASP has some good cheat sheets that list some of the bigger security concerns and how to mitigate them as a site owner, and you can look up filtered security issues on the Exploit Database.

this is kind of its own topic if you're coding a PHP website from scratch; most frameworks securely store sensitive data for you already. if you're writing your own PHP framework, refer to php.net's security articles and this guide on writing an .htaccess file.

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but. i be on that phone... :(

ok one thing i see about straw.page that seems nice is that it advertises the ability to make webpages from your phone. WYSIWYG editors in general are more capable of this. i only started looking into this yesterday, but there ARE source code editor apps for mobile devices! if you have a webhosting plan, you can download/upload assets/code from your phone and whatnot and code on the go. i downloaded Runecode for iphone. it might suck ass to keep typing those brackets.... we'll see..... but sometimes you're stuck in the car and you're like damn i wanna code my site GRRRR I WANNA CODE MY SITE!!!

↑ code written in Runecode, then uploaded to Hostinger. Runecode didn't tell me i forgot a semicolon but Hostinger did... i guess you can code from your webhost's file uploader on mobile but i don't trust them since they tend not to autosave or prompt you before closing, and if the wifi dies idk what happens to your code.

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ANYWAYS! HAPPY WEBSITE BUILDING~! HOPE THIS HELPS~!~!~!

-Mod 12 @eeyes

#ask #Anonymous #neocities #web development #long post #mod 12

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schoenpepper · 3 days ago

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Just like the last anon I kinda do think that your writing and story for Ruggie SMAU was the one I liked the most. Do you think you can turn this into a fanfic? Like a continuation of what's happening in Ruggie's life after the death of his lover if you don't mind? 👀

When the Time After You Comes

Warnings: bad grammar, awful writing, not proofread, angst, major character death (you)

A/N: PSA I opened up a kofi haha it's on my bio. You don't need to tip, but if you like my work and have a dollar or two to spare, I do need to fix my phone :D Not opening comms tho just req if you want me to write anything kkk

Sunlight peeks through cottony white clouds and bathes Ruggie in all its too-bright glory. It’s nauseating, almost. The birds are chirping too loud and every face he encounters in a crowd looks to be smiling. It could be the truth. It could be his tired brain playing tricks on him—one can’t assume that a sleep deprived hyena hybrid would be very alert or active when the bags under his eyes are almost big enough to carry the takeout in his hands and his steps stagger to the point that the single red rose almost tethers over the plastic holding it in place. He’s not a pretty sight.

Oh, but you always are.

He’d asked his grandmother to take the time out of every Sunday to help clean your resting place, so even now—when it’s the first time he’s visited you in over a month—your headstone shines pristine as the day it was mounted. There are wilting flowers that he has to clear away, likely from your old friends in NRC, but he takes a seat on the grass beside you.

He can still see your smile.

“Sorry, I’ve been away forever, I know,” he places the rose atop the headstone, “I just…”

Ruggie sighs.

He ruffles a hand through his hair, fluffing up the brown and blond mess so that the locks stick up with his twitching ears. His tail taps rhythmically against the engraving of your name, as if the fur was gently caressing each and every letter. “I took up another job,” he moves to open the takeout box, “I need to pay off that loan. I know Leona’s not going to ask me ‘bout it anytime soon, and it’s a damn good deal that he’s not even taking any interest, but I can’t just sit by knowing even at your final moments I was still leeching off someone else.” Maybe it was a sick, twisted sort of possessiveness. He chose your coffin and the plot of land, and the flowers and the people at the funeral. Yet he couldn’t bring out a single dime because you would have despised that.

“I’d be dead and gone, but you would still need to live.”

You understood him. You knew he was just about ready to ignore his own wellbeing for you, and you convinced him his money would be better off feeding his family.

He could never win against you.

Ruggie stabs the flimsy plastic fork through the sauteed beef, almost breaking off the tines. It’s too salty. Not nearly as good as when you used to go to that restaurant with him.

“Maybe they skimped on quality control.”

His words hold no merit when he has to wipe the tears running down his chin.

“It’s soupy…”

After visiting, he needs to get to his part time job. Leona pays well, but Ruggie has so many things stacking against him that the world might as well be atop that list. He needs to pay for the money that the lion beastman had shelved out for your funeral. He needs to pay his own bills. He needs to pay to send the smarter kids to school. He needs to pay to keep his grandma on maintenance. In life and in death, the bills are haunting him.

Even the roses he gives every time he visits are expensive.

Red roses.

Not white lilies or whatever flowers the shops outside the cemetery are selling. He has such a different message to convey; he misses you, but most of all, he wants to express that the love he feels for you has not dimmed since the day you left. It still burns with a raging, passionate fire that allows him to keep going, keep moving, keep living and not just slump down in the back of some alley and wait to join you on the other side.

He cleans up the boxes and plastic cutlery.

He stands up, pats the dust off his pants, and looks at your name again.

It’s already carved into his soul.

“Please don’t be mad if I don’t come for another month,” he sighs, “you know I think about you every day. Just, when the finances get a bit better, alright? I’ll buy you a dozen roses in the fancy bouquets.”

For now, he’ll just have to leave you again.

Taglist:

@yummyyummyinmytumny @fsh1 @lemon-koii

#disney twst #disney twisted wonderland #twisted wonderland #gender neutral reader #twst x reader #x reader #ruggie bucchi x reader #ruggie x reader #ruggie bucchi

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mixtapedoh · 2 days ago

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hi hi this isn’t a request, more of a “i do not have anyone else to scream about this with” BUT ANYWAYSS, idk if you listen to keshi but i was listening to Soft Spot on repeat and I cannot get woozi out of my mind send help. might have to start writing for svt at this rate. anyways back to studying for midterms i go, hope you’ve been well olive!

NOT A REQUEST BUT I CAN'T CONTAIN MYSELF BECAUSE FUCK YEAH YOU GET ITTTTTTTTTTTT.

also, hi jen <3 how are you <3 i have been habitually away from tumblr and that is my fault because i saw this like two weeks ago and was going to listen to the song you sent and then. simply did not. forgive me, forgive me, i am unworthy of such correct headcanons and vibechecks, but thank you for sharing them regardless.

ʏᴏᴜ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ɪ ɢᴏᴛ ᴀ ꜱᴏꜰᴛ ꜱᴘᴏᴛ ꜰᴏʀ ʏᴏᴜ .⭒˚.⋆˙⭒.✮

.⭒˚.⋆˙⭒.✮

"so i was just talking to hoshi—" you opened the door to your apartment and set down your keys, tugging off your shoes and already mid conversation, as had become your habit, after moving in with jihoon. you paused for a half second, just long enough to wrestle off your other shoe, and from somewhere deep in the apartment, you heard jihoon's wordless sound of interest. i'm listening. "—and he is somehow under the impression that we are going clubbing with him and the others this friday."

you walked into into the main room, your steps soft and meandering, where jihoon sat on the couch, his guitar next to him and a notebook resting on his lap. he had a pencil twirling in his fingers, and when you caught his eye and asked, "do you know anything about that?" he looked down and pretended to write something.

"yeah, i told him we'd both go." his voice did it's best to feign casual disinterest.

"you told him? you??" the surprise in your voice was giddy and sweet, bubbling like a can of coke just popped, carbonation fizzing.

jihoon still didn't meet your gaze. "you've been saying you need an excuse to wear that new outfit you bought a month ago... and we're spending that night together anyway. i knew you didn't have any scheduling conflicts." he was mumbling this last bit, and the erratic twirling of his pencil did little to hide his nervousness. "two birds, one stone."

you had the buoyancy to laugh, warm as the late afternoon sun coming in through the window. "woozi. you hate clubbing."

he had to look at you, this time. if only to see how your face would melt further into affection and tender admiration. not that he was somehow any better — all the attention made his complexion rosy, and for the life of him, he couldn't wipe off this stupid grin. "but i love you."

"ji!!" the whole of you spun into a whirlwind of motion as the lovesickness hit you square in the chest. you covered your face in embarrassment, and when jihoon laughed, it only brought you somehow closer, now standing above him, your legs brushing the front of the couch. "you can't say that! makes me blush... makes me all stupid in love."

he managed to capture your pinky with his. "it's a good look on you."

you swatted his chest with your free hand, and jihoon pulled you closer, sitting you on his thighs and kissing you deeply. you intertwined your fingers with his, and after breaking away, kiss both of his cheeks. twice. for all that jihoon loves to claim he doesn't understand romance and doesn't believe in all the mushy stuff, he certainly always tries to get it right with you.

you kiss his neck, and jihoon sighs your name contentedly. you smile against his skin before pulling away to ask, "are you really gonna give up our inuyasha rerun night for clubbing with hoshi?"

his face contorts into a playful grimace, and you can't help but laugh at the expression. "that's when loving you becomes the operating part of my promise."

.⭒˚.⋆˙⭒.✮

#olive.writes #seventeen imagine #seventeen x you #seventeen x reader #woozi imagine #woozi x you #woozi x reader #someone kiss woozi's cheeks for me please and thank you <333333 #if you ever think i'm doing well just remind me of HE and i will crumble #wrote this instead of doing work trainings yeahhhhh #honestly the main times i come onto tumblr is when i'm avoiding doing work so perhaps you'll see me a bit more these next few weeks #i'm doing literacy training and it's DRY AS FUCK #if you see typos please ignore and forgive this is short so i'm not proofreading or anything

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myown-worstenemy-2003 · 2 days ago

Text

Play It Again, Play It Again, Play It Again

A/N: Part two of the mini-series! As always I hope you enjoy it as much I did writing it! I love seeing feedback! And feel free to request something! Let me know any feedback that you have! If you feel up to it send me a request and I will do my best to give it justice!

Summary: You're invited to a party by one of your new friends. Let's see how the night ends.

Word Count: 1963

It had been a couple of months since you had broke things off with Billy. Since that you've kind of tried to keep to yourself but everyone needs someone to talk to, especially to make it around here.

What made it better was that you met a couple of mothers when you would pick up Rhiannon from daycare, and started your own friend group. All of them were around your age and their kids were already playing with Rhiannon during daycare anyway. Nancy had a brown-eyed shaggy-haired boy named Theodore. Piper had a little curly-head girl named Rosemary. And then there is Robin, she doesn't have any children but she comes and picks up Theo or Rosie every now and then, even both sometimes.

It was nice that you and Rhiannon had some friends in town finally. Especially Rhiannon, you didn't want her to be lonely.

But at this particular moment you weren't sure if you were happy that you had friends anymore.

"Come on (Y/N)! You never leave the house unless it's work or taking Rhiannon somewhere! You need to have fun sometimes!" Robin tried to convince you.

"Yeah, I'm sure I can tell you what you do everyday. Get up, get Rhi and you ready, take her to daycare, go to work, pick up Rhi, have dinner and then go to bed," Nancy said watching the kids play on the playground.

You sigh, because she was right. You don't do anything fun that doesn't surround Rhiannon.

"Who's gonna watch Rhi though? I can't really afford a babysitter right now. I can barely afford daycare as it is."

"Piper's mom is going to watch the kids, I'm sure she won't mind watching Rhiannon," Nancy suggested and Piper nodded.

"I don't know guys," you hesitated, parties have never been your thing. The last time you were at a party that's when Rhiannon was conceived and here you are.

"(Y/N), you are 24. We are never gonna be this young ever again. Just this once and if you don't like it, you can leave and we'll never ask again," Piper chimes in, sitting on the bench next to you with a book on her lap that she hasn't touch since she got here, "We all need to let loose every once and a while."

The girls nodded, you groaned, "Fine. I'll go but only for two hours. That's it."

"That'll work! You'll have fun, I promise!" Robin said excitedly.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

You were on your way to the party. Riding with a friend from work. Dressed in something more warm and comfortable than it was cute since #1 it was October and it was cold during the nights; #2 you weren't really looking for anything right now since your thing since Billy. You were just there to hang out with friends and maybe meet some new people.

As you approached you noticed that there were a lot of trucks and some haybales, and everyone else was parked on the other side of the road. You didn't even think about bringing your own chair. You figured that there was going to be enough going on that you might not need it. But past you was too ambitions compared to present you so was full of nervous at the moment.

How the hell did you do this when you were in college?

Jessica put the car into park and got out and you followed suit.

"Hey I'll see you around? Around 1?" Jessica said with a smile. You nodded and smiled back.

You stood outside of the car for a second to catch your breath.

"It's all good. Everything will be okay. Just three hours. Yeah, only three hours and then you can go home," you hyped yourself up. You brushed yourself off (like you had dirt on you) and headed toward the crowd of people gathering around the bonfire.

"There she is! I wasn't sure you were going to show!" Robin said as she walked up to you and hugged you, "Here's the rest of the gang for you to meet!"

"Everyone this is (Y/N)! Be on your best behavior!" she said, jokingly, you heard some laughing and a, 'Booooo'.

"This here is Vickie, she's my girl," Robin introduced you to a ginger with freckles. You shook her hand, "Nice to meet ya."

"You know Nancy," Robin said and you hugged her as she came up. There was a nervous looking man behind her with brown hair, Robin said, "This is her husband, Jonathan. Theo looks like him."

"I can see it," you smiled and shook his hand too. Piper came up next, "I'm so glad that you made it! We want you to have fun too."

"Thanks, it's good so far," you smiled.

"Oh yeah!" she said, she turned to look behind her, "This is my husband, Eddie. It's where Rosie gets the curly hair from."

"Hey there, I'm Eddie, like she said, nice to meet you," Eddie said, he had long wild curly hair with a denim vest over his leather jacket.

"I like your pins. Iron Maiden is the best," you said as you looked at his pins.

Eddie literally beamed, "Thank you! I collect them from music stores. These are my favorites."

"Really cool!"

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"Dude, have you met (Y/N)? She's awesome!" Eddie said to Steve.

"Is this another fantasy person that I'm supposed to learn?" Steve asked. Eddie looked at him with a weird face, "No, she's real man. She's friends with Piper and the others. She over there."

Eddie pointed to where a girl was sitting by herself on the tailgate of Piper's truck. Her legs swinging as she watched the fire crackle.

"She's got to have a boyfriend here. No way that she doesn't," Steve said, looking around for someone that was looking for her, "Is she Joe's girlfriend?"

"No man, Piper said that she's single. Not really looking for anything at the moment, just new friends," Eddie explained, "Buuuuut...you should try and make more than friends."

"I can make friends with her," Steve nodded and walked toward you.

"Good job babe," Piper said as she came up next to Eddie and fist bumped him and watched what was about to happen.

Steve walked up, "Hey, this seat taken?"

You looked over to the new voice.

Not going to lie, he's pretty cute.

You smiled, "Not at all," you slid over to make sure that he has enough room to sit.

"My name's Steve," he said as he sat down, putting his hands in his pockets.

"Nice to meet you, I'm (Y/N)," you said smiling.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

God how am I already falling in love with this woman already?

"Honestly, I love new wave music! The Cure is probably my favorite from the bunch as of right now, but that changes from month to month," you said, talking to Steve.

You've been talking to Steve for what felt ten minutes but it's actually been hour. You could do this all night.

"You know, I think that-" Steve started but then a familiar song came on the speakers and you're eyes lit up, and you jumped off the tailgate, cutting him off.

"This is my song! I've been listenin' to the radio all night long, hopin' that it would come on and here it is!"

You hold out your hand, "C'mon, come dance with me."

Before Steve could say anything, you grabbed his hand and dragged him up. He tried keeping up with you but he was too distracted by you to keep up. You had a carefree smile on your face and your body was moving in ways that was very bad for his groin area in public.

As the song came to an end, you kissed him on the cheek, "Thank you for dancin' with me."

"Play it again!" Steve yelled to see if someone could rewind the tape and start it over again so he could gain the courage to ask you out.

You smiled and yelled, "Play it again! Play it again!"

You both laughed and then heard the next song play, looking at each other almost in a trance.

"I-" Steve started to say but you looked down at your watch, "I had a lot of fun tonight Steve but I'm afraid that I have to go."

"Are you sure?" Steve asked, not really wanting you to leave just yet but understanding.

"Yeah, I gotta check on my-" you hesitated, "my pet. She's not used to being alone this late."

"I understand. Let me walk you to your car?" Steve offered.

"I actually rode here with one of my coworkers. So I guess I need to find her."

"I'll help you, who is it?"

"Jessica Cooley," you answered starting to look around for her.

"Jessica? She left already. Left with Matt Hargrave about an hour ago."

"What? You're kiddin'. I guess I'll ask someone else for a ride," you said a little upset.

"I can take you home," Steve offered, really hoping that you would take him up on the offer.

"Are you sure? I don't want to burden you. I can just have Piper or someone take me home," you said hesitant because you didn't know him, but you had a feeling that you could trust him.

"I'm sure. Come on, let's get you home."

You smiled, "Okay thank you."

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

You were looking out the window, thinking about something to start a conversation but you couldn't think of anything that wouldn't be considered small talk or just bad in general.

That was when Steve turned on the radio and you started singing along to (I've Had) The Time Of My Life.

It didn't take too long to get to your house, maybe three songs if you remember correctly, but for some reason it felt like it was taking a little longer than usual. And you weren't upset by it at all. It had been five songs already and you sang along to every song that had came on the radio.

But it was only when you getting ready to pull on your street was when Steve started to scan the radio, almost frantically.

"This is me," you said and Steve pulled into the driveway and put the car in park.

"Thank you for the ride home, I really appreciate it. I don't have cash on me right now, but I can run in and get some for gas?"

"It's no trouble at all. I don't want money. But if you really want to pay me back, let me take you out on a date?" Steve asked wearing a charming but hopeful smile on his face.

You smiled, "I would like that."

He smiled, "Sounds great, how Friday? Dinner and a movie?"

You nodded your head, "I would love that."

"Cool, let me walk you to the do-," Steve said and just as he said that, your song came on the radio.

"No way! There is no way that this song would play twice in one night!" you exclaimed excitedly.

"Come dance with," you said as you got out of the car. He followed you and started dancing in the headlights.

It was like straight out of a movie. Everything was perfect, the lights, the song, the weather, and you.

As the song started to fade out, you got caught up in the passion of dancing and the feeling of it, you kissed Steve.

It was just like everything else, the kiss was perfect.

When you broke the kiss he looked at you and said, "I'm gonna call the DJ right now and get that song played again right now."

You threw your head back laughing, "Goodnight Steve, thank you for the perfect night."

He smiled, "You took the words right out of my mouth."

#Spotify #steve harrington x reader #stranger things x reader #steve harrington fanfic #stranger things #luke bryan #steve harrington #steve harrington x you #steve harrington fanfiction

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raezlove · 2 days ago

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Dragon Age: The Veilguard

I finished it after 90 hours over the last week. I did all quests and side content available to me and was pretty thorough with notes and momentos. I was hooked from the start, definitely saw why the writing got criticized during the middle, and then was continually surprised by the end sequence.

For me this was a solid 7/10 game if looking at it from a linear story game rather than a branching rpg.

Thoughts below. Some spoilers.

Starting with some general categories then moving on to larger issues I had.

I’d say the majority of the voice actor performances were really good. There were moments throughout where they weren’t great but that was combined from the very cringe/generic writing. But when the characters needed the emotion for a moving scene, I felt it. Even characters I, at the time didn’t care for or were biased against, the voice actor’s performance made me hurt for them.

Companion cast had some gems as well as some underwhelming members. For me I was taken by Lucanis, Emmrich, Neve, and Davrin as characters. They still weren’t spared from poor lines throughout though. Bellara came around for me by the end as I had initially been biased hearing she was incredibly annoying but I also didn’t have her in my party very often for gameplay reasons. Taash and Harding I also rarely took out for gameplay reasons nor did they pull me in as companion characters.

Companion arc quest lines I enjoyed them all well enough but I liked Davrin and Harding’s the best for world and lore building,though I admit the actual quests for Harding felt lacking to me. The map locations also didn’t feel utilized as they were only ever seen those couple times. Bellara’s quest was also interesting for lore but other than the ending, which was not unexpected, felt mundane to me. Lucanis’s and Emmrich’s were decent arcs though they didn’t feel like anything groundbreaking, it just helped that I had already found their characters compelling. Neve’s was very underwhelming to me which was disappointing because I initially was quite intrigued by Neve. Taash’s was done as well as they could’ve with the direction they decided paired with their safe writing. I mean no disrespect for them wanting to include a gender queer story but something about this didn’t land. I saw someone else say it but the modern lingo in this fantasy setting made it seem out of place just for the sake of it. I don’t know how they could’ve implemented that aspect of Taash better but their writing and performance came across too stiff at times. ((This is not an issue of including lgbt characters, rather how they are written and if they are pushed to be defined solely by that one sole aspect of their identity))

Art design and world direction was never an issue for me even from the trailers (except for that first one where I thought I was watching a live service mobile trailer). I don’t mind brighter exaggerated designs or flashy colors. Nothing stood out but nothing was bad either, it was just an average design to me. As mentioned above though there were specific locations I felt were underutilized and sometimes felt included just to make the map seem bigger. I liked the character designs but outfit choices were definitely not my favorite and I wished they had an all black outfit for Rook but that’s just an irrelevant personal wish.

The callbacks to Inquisition were something I was incredibly curious to how they would handle and was looking forward to. For transparency, my original Inquisitor romanced Solas and refused to give up on him so I was holding out for my Solavellan heart to be fixed or at least something that dulled the ache. The Inquisitor appearances were about what I expected. Lavellan shows up a couple times, sends some letters, then shows up for the finale. I did get my Solavellan ending and while selfishly I wish it could’ve been more, I think it was adequate (though that kiss animation left something to be desired). It felt like an appropriate end for my Lavellan who was so sad and beaten down for so long after losing someone she loved with her entire being and after having the weight of so many people looking to her for guidance for the last decade when she never asked for the responsibility in the first place. She finally got to save her person and leave the world’s problems to someone else. As for Dorian, I’m not sure if he shows up/is mentioned more if you saved Minrathos but his appearances kind of felt unnecessary. I loved him in Inquisition but he didn’t feel properly utilized in the Minrathos story lines I saw. He could’ve just been a name in letters and he would’ve had the same impact.

Main Story was a trip. Overall I found it intriguing and compelling, though sometimes it dragged or some missions were boring. I enjoyed Ghilan’nain and Elgar’nan as villains though Ghilan’nain was more interesting with her molding the blight. Elgar’nan was compelling as a direct comparison to Solas with their pride and arrogance. Their dragons were cool though I really wondered how we were supposed to fight Elgar’nan’s dragon after seeing its size. The end solution did make my jaw drop but also made me chuckle after because I can’t imagine how else they would’ve had the player fight that. Again, I’m biased as I loved Solas as a character for all his complexities and flaws so I enjoyed any of his scenes and appearances. I especially enjoyed the story’s direction in terms of regrets and guilt. Prison sequence was a highlight to be sure. I will also say I really wasn’t expecting them to commit to main companion cast consequences at the end considering how safe they had played it to that point.

Gameplay was a welcome improvement to me over Inquisition. I played Inquisition for the first time about 3 years ago as a mage but I played it again in the last year as a rogue. Both times I played on easy difficulty because I found combat such a nuisance. I am biased as I prefer combat systems more in the realm of Witcher 3 and Breath of the Wild so this fit in with that if a bit busier. I played my Rook as a mage and I tended to use the ability wheel rather than the shortcuts because I needed the time to process and think about what I wanted to do, also the fact I kept switching companions and their abilities depending on the situation I couldn’t remember what abilities were mapped to what buttons. Dodge and parry didn’t feel the best, although I admit that could be fully on me (especially parry). For parry it constantly felt like there was a delay in pressing it though it could very well have been made worse depending on which tv my Xbox was connected to. My issue with dodge was the fact that after a double it basically left you halted with no momentum. Again, very possible it’s just a me thing and I need to “get good” but for how much certain encounters were chaotic enough to be constantly dodging it did become annoying especially if you get hit once and then get caught repeatedly. On normal difficulty as a mage, fights usually felt fair and doable with some more challenging than others depending on wave size or vulnerability paired with specific companions. There was only one fight in a miscellaneous side quest for a haunting that I got too annoyed with and even after trying multiple companion pairings I lowered the difficulty to just get it over with because I couldn’t be bothered. For a random side quest with no real story or likely payoff it didn’t feel worth it.

Now for the largest problem I had with this game: it’s gall to call it an RPG. I don’t expect or need Balder’s Gate level in every RPG game. But this didn’t feel like it even met the level of RPG that Inquisition offered. Whether it was world choices or companion choices very few things felt consequential. For the world, I can only think of 2 or 3 choices that I felt would have any change on the world one of which is literally just a 50/50 of which city is getting destroyed. And of course for the others you never saw or heard and real consequences or reactions aside from initially following the decision. There was nothing that made me second guess myself like deciding to forgive or banish the wardens like in Inquisition, who drinks from the well, the inquisitions fate. And for companion arcs, the choices all felt underwhelming and more a direct effect on gameplay/rewards than any story ramifications. There was never a moment that felt like it mattered to the companion story or their future interactions with me or others. Nothing that felt like it mattered like making Bull choose between his friends and the Qun, encouraging/dissuading Cullen from taking Lyrium, or having a hand in choosing the new Divine. A common thought I had throughout this game was it seemed really hard to get a “so and so disapproves”. There seemed to be more instances in Inquisition where decisions would inevitably be both approved and disapproved by various characters so it was never going to be a case of pleasing everyone. I remember seeing the disapprove notification maybe three times in Veilguard. The critique of the dialogue wheel is also very valid. There is no real choice as all options typically lead to the same outcome just with a different line. You can’t even really be mean or an asshole from what I could tell. Options were sincere, joking/less serious, and stern. None of this I think would’ve mattered as much if it weren’t for the fact this was advertised as a choice based RPG when that just isn’t the case and going in with those expectations is bound for disappointment.

As a last issue it had to do with romance. I liked Lucanis. I like him as a character and I like the voice actor’s delivery. There were lines of his that made me giggle and smile. But the overall writing of the romance and their moments sometimes came across as awkward with the subpar writing. There also wasn’t the same charm I got from Inquisition when at the base. Part of that comes from the lack of actual interactions of being able to talk with your companions in the lighthouse. I hate to keep comparing it but in Inquisition you could still talk to the characters even if they had no new dialogue. In that, you’d have the moments where Solas would call you vhenan or speak Elven or like in my second with Cullen you always had the stealing away for a kiss option. It just felt warmer in a way where in The Veilguard I would get a random one off line when I stood in front of Lucanis and, while some of them were sweet, the lack of player input and interaction caused more disconnect.

So overall as a game I think it’s a good buy assuming you go in with the right framing of what you’re going to be getting. A competent story, some interesting characters, good performance, good gameplay marred by a good helping of juvenile safe writing and lack of choice.

#raereviews #dragon age the veilguard #dragon age #the veilguard #datv #datv spoilers #the veilguard spoilers #video games #veilguard spoilers #da: the veilguard #Veilguard

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ladylooch · 3 days ago

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Bones - Part 2 [ Mack X David]

A/N: This chapter is built completely from requests! Thank you all for loving these two and sending in questions, asks, etc to help build out their story. There is a part in here that gave me literally butterflies as I was re-reading it. Also, remember when I mentioned I was sweating writing Mack David smut? Yeah. It's this one. As a note, the smut here is rougher than I normally go. If that makes you uncomfortable, please skip this one.

Word Count: 5.3k

“Are you nervous?” Mack asks David as they walk arm and arm towards Boucherie in the Village.

“No? I’ve talk to your parents many times.” David chuckles, white air puffing around his mouth as he speaks. “Are you nervous, Hischier?”

“No!” She laughs. “They’re my parents. But I haven’t been under the impression that you meet many girls parents.”

“I don’t.” He confirms, a smug little smirk on his face that has Mack rolling her eyes. “I guess you’re special.” She flutters her lashes, keeping her eyes rolled.

“You’re a little too smug right now. My dad can be a hard person to win over.”

“Your dad and I have golfed, shared beers, talked shop… Why are you under the impression he isn’t already won over?”

“That was before you were dating his daughter.”

“Is this supposed to be a pep talk?” He asks her as they pause at the last crosswalk before the restaurant. He brings her hand up to his mouth, kissing the back of it multiple times. Mack’s mouth opens then closes. He has a point… what is hers?

“I suppose it’s not.” She swallows thickly.

“Maybe you don’t do this often either?”

“Yeah, I think it’s that.” She chuckles, burying her nose into his bicep. She welcomes the warmth against the cool tip. “Also, it is annoying how likable you are.”

“Good thing you’re bringing this good ol’ Iowa boy to dinner.” He drawls as his hand wraps around the door handle. He opens it up and they are blasted with the smells of butter and roar of dinner conversation.

“Don’t forget who else you are… a Ranger.” She says while stepping through the door. He laughs, then pats her ass as she walks by him. She grabs his wrist to stop him from going for the inevitable grab next. “This is a nice restaurant.” She mumbles at him.

“Sure, but I’m not very nice when it comes to your ass in that skirt.”

“Oh my god.” Mack murmurs incredulously, brown eyes sparkling as she looks up at him. He sets a hand on her hip, then scans his eyes over the restaurant. “They’re over there.” He points to a spot in the back corner with a view of the street.

Mack’s dad, Nico, raises a hand in a brief wave, then stands as they approach.

“Hi daddy!” Mack grins, then steps into his embrace. She sighs, pulling in his piney, clean scent before kissing his cheek. “How are you?”

“Good.” He holds her shoulders to inspect her closely. “You?”

“Great.” She assures, then moves to hug her mom.

“You are stunning, my baby.” Her mom, Lexi, greets her, rubbing her back during their hug.

Behind them, Nico and David shake hands.

“Great to see you again, David.” Nico grasps David’s shoulder as their hands connect.

“You too, sir.”

“Oh no. Nico is more than fine.” He assures. “Don’t forget, Connor Wood is my son-in-law, so anything is better than dude.”

They all laugh.

“Be nice to Connor! He loves those girls so much.” Lexi defends, picking her napkin back up before sitting down. Mack and David shrug their jackets off, giving them to the host to check in the restaurant’s coat room. “You should have seen him puppy dogging over Lucie this afternoon. I don’t think she lifted a finger.”

“Yeah, thought he might start feeding her bites of food.” Nico shakes his head.

“You used to be like that with me.” Nico smirks at his wife, his dimples poking into his cheeks before he turns to her.

“I love you.” They smooch.

Mack has to look down at her menu to stop herself from swooning out of her seat. She has always admired the deep love that her parents have for one another. Growing up, it was gross, but as she has gotten older, their relationship is one she aspires to. Truthfully, Lucie and Connor are gross to her too, but those two love each other more than anything else in the world. Mack glances over at David as he runs his hand along her right thigh. He senses her gaze and smiles reassuringly at her. She brings her hand down and spreads her fingers along the back of his hand on her thigh.

These days, Mack isn’t as envious or dreamful about that kind of love. She’s getting it from the man on her right, even if those three words remain unspoken between them.

Dinner passes with soft conversation about hockey, Mack’s most recent trip and an upcoming one she has next week. Her parents beam at her with so much pride, happily filling David in on all the ways they knew Mack would be a great writer as she was growing up. This perks David in his seat and he starts asking questions about what Mack was like as a child. Mack is sure none of it is surprising to him. She’s always been the quiet, unproblematic middle child with only a sprinkle of drama here and there.

“She was a welcome transition from Lucie.” Lexi chuckles into her wine glass.

“So what was Soph?” Mack asks after a sip of her own wine.

“Too spoiled.” Lexi narrows her eyes at her husband.

“Soph? No. Luc? Yes.” Nico laughs. “Mack didn’t let me spoil her often. She was always about fairness and independence. I would try to make her snacks when she got home from school and she would pull out some she made for herself in the morning.” Nico shakes his head.

“She still hates being spoiled.” David confirms. His fingers brush at her shoulder where they are wrapped over the back of her chair. “Hates being the center of attention. Even on her birthday she’s got that wrinkle in her nose if you try to make the day about her.”

“I have tips if you need them. We will text.”

“Great.” David laughs as the last of their dessert plates are cleared. “Any chance you’re going to let me buy dinner?” He asks Nico.

“No. Not when you make my daughter look that calm and settled in New York. I’d pay anything for that.”

They all look over at her in the dimly lit restaurant. Her cheeks flair red. Is it really that obvious to them?

“When do y’all head back to Switzerland?” David asks, taking the attention off his girl. She smiles down at her wine glass, twirling the delicate stem.

“Tomorrow. We have to get back for a charity event.” Lexi answers. “But we will be back for Christmas.” She shares brightly. “Mackie, we are going to stay at The Greenwich.”

“Oh my god.” Mack murmurs, closing her eyes in bliss. “You will love it. If you rent one of their penthouses, they decorate it fully for Christmas.”

“That’s what we did. We figure this way you and Lucie can have the year off for hosting us and we can host you again. Like the old days.” Lexi winks.

“Stockings?”

“Of course. There is a fireplace. I’ll get one for David at the Christmas market when it opens in December.” Lexi winks at David, then takes a sip of her wine, ignoring her daughter’s cautious look. Butterflies twist in Mack’s stomach as she imagines her and David’s stockings hanging together on the mantle.

“What kind of holiday traditions did you have growing up, David?” Her mom asks.

“Our big one was cutting a Christmas tree on our land. We have huge acreage and my family has made it a priority to make sure we always have trees to choose from. The back fourth of our plot is all evergreen trees.”

“Wow, that is amazing! We always have to go to a farm to get a real one. Although there were years we phoned it in with a fake one. Mostly when we had three young girls and Nico was still playing. Did your family do stockings?”

“We did. It was my mom’s favorite tradition. But after she passed, no one really wanted to continue it.”

“Oh. I’m so sorry, honey. I can’t imagine how difficult the holidays are for you without your parents. We would love to incorporate anything we can into our holidays this year.” David glances over at Mack, trying to gauge her reaction to her mom’s words. Mack looks back at him with kind eyes and an open heart.

“Stockings would be great. Maybe I can bring some homemade Baileys for you all to try.”

“Oh. Yeah. Sign us up for that.” Nico answers immediately. “How is the farm looking?” Nico asks as he settles the bill.

“Ah, we are done for the season. The hands are working on a lot of winterizing and maintenance. Sending up prayers that the winter isn’t too cold for the animals. But we had a good year.”

“I can’t believe you got our daughter out there."

“Oh quit, dad.” Mack scoffs. “I live outside for a living.”

“Sweets, no offense but you live in luxury resorts for a living. Outside is stretching it.”

“That is not true! That’s only part of the time. I stay with locals too. Just because I didn't like camping with you and Lucie doesn’t mean I'm allergic to the outdoors.”

“Well you kinda were when you first got there.” David points out to her, reminding her of the days she woke up with swollen, itchy eyes and a plugged nose.

“Ah, yeah because I was breathing in new things! I’d never been to the Midwest. There was a lot of dust and hay.. and corn.” David chuckles.

“Humid too. No, but she did great. We got her a few pairs of boots and a hat. She fit right in out there.” Mack and David share a knowing look at his exaggeration. By the end, she was comfortable in Iowa, but it certainly didn’t start out that way.

“Well hopefully next summer Lex and I can come see your place?”

“Yeah. I’d love that!” David nods excitedly. “We’ll get you on the John Deere. The internet will love that.”

“I would love that too.” Lexi smirks, rolling her almost empty wine glass against her lip.

The group begins to collect their things. Lexi and Mack discuss meeting for breakfast in the morning as David and Nico focus on David’s upcoming games against two division rivals. At the front door, David holds Mack’s coat open for her to step into while Nico does the same for Lexi. Both women bundle up, then wait for their men to do the same. Outside, a humid fog has begun to slip it’s way into the city. Light snowflakes had fallen during their dinner and turned to wet droplets that cling to the sidewalk now.

“David, it was so great to spend time with you tonight. We are thrilled to have you as part of our family.”

“Mom.” Mack mutters, rubbing at her forehead. They need to cool it on the ‘part of our family’ stuff. Her and David are still new at this… At least that’s how she is choosing to gaslight herself this evening.

“We will see you at Christmas?” Lexi pushes forward despite her daughter’s protests. Mack can’t help but laugh and shake her head.

“As long as Mack’s okay with it.” David politely answers her mom.

“Let me know if you need me to put in a word for you.” Nico jokes, slapping David into a hug after his wife.

“Can you chill?” Mack murmurs into her mom’s ear as they hug.

“Baby, you’ve always needed a push.” Is her mom’s only response. “I love you. I’ll see you tomorrow for breakfast. Bring David too!”

“He has practice. Love you too.” Mack moves to her dad. “Bye daddy.” He squeezes her tight, then kisses her cheek.

“Love you, sweets. Looking forward to tomorrow. You two get home safe.”

The two couples turn in opposite directions in the cool night. Mack and David’s connected hands swing back and forth as they head down the wet sidewalk towards her apartment. At a busy intersection, they stop and wait for the signal to allow them to cross.

“Tonight was amazing.” Mack sighs into his arm as she kisses his bicep over his jacket. He turns to smile down at her.

“Your parents are awesome. I’ve always enjoyed them before with Woody and Luc, but it was nice to be there tonight as yours.” Mack smiles, blushing a bit in the dark night. The light changes, allowing them to cross.

“Well, good. You definitely made them fall in love with you tonight.” Mack smirks. “My mom is already planning your Christmas stocking stuffed full of pine scented soaps and creams.” Mack laughs. “You and Connor can go to practice smelling the same.”

“I can’t wait.” He murmurs. “I’ve missed that stuff.” He says honestly.

“Yeah.” Mack responds with a serious tone. “I would love it if you came to Christmas with my family.” In case he isn’t sure her stance on it, Mack wants to clear the air. She wants him there, can’t imagine not having him there to be honest.

“Mackenzie Hischier….” David trails off teasingly.

“What?”

“You into me?”

“A little bit.” She smiles at him, then pushes up on her tip toes for a smooch.

“Tell me something. Your parents the only ones who fell in love tonight?” He tucks a piece of her hair behind her ear. Mack bites her lip briefly, then shakes her head slightly. “No?” He questions, a slow, heart-stopping smile stretches his lips open.

“I fell in love with you way before tonight.”

David chuckles incredulously. His fingers thread through the brown hairs by her temple. Their noses touch, nudging together in an intimate touch.

“When we first met, I never thought I would hear those words coming outta your mouth, honey.” He reaches down to grip her chin, then sets his longing lips on hers. “I love you, Mack.”

Butterflies burst in her stomach. Her blood pounds through her veins with rejuvenated life. This perfect man loves her. She inhales heavily, then pushes it out, creating a white cloud between their faces.

“I love you too.” She pulls him back down to her with a tight grip on his jacket. “Maybe you could come upstairs with me and show me how much?

“Be careful what you ask for, honey.” He murmurs against her mouth. “You’ve got an early morning with your parents tomorrow. Wouldn’t be good for you to show up unable to sit.”

“Yeah, they might uninvited you to Christmas.” Mack snickers into their next kiss. He bites down on her bottom lip, then slowly releases it back into place.

“That look… right there.” He says, thumbing her bottom lip again. “That’s what got me.”

“You know where it looks the best?”

“Hmm?” He asks, knowing already.

“From down below while I’m riding you.”

“Let’s go.” He leads her forward. “Enough with this yakety yack.”

Mack threads her arm back through the crook of his elbow. He holds her hand there with his, attempting to warm it up as they pick their pace up.

Right now, she’d follow the man she loves anywhere.

- - - & - - -

The following Tuesday, Mack is in the office, researching a city she wrote down on a spare receipt she had in her purse from her last assignment. It’s a remote spot in the Swiss Alps that she has never heard of before, but supposedly it has the best view of the range. Debatable for Mack who has seen some pretty incredible spots in her home country.

Her phone lights up to her left. A picture of David graces her screen and she smiles. He must be up from his nap now. He should be getting ready for their game against the Islanders. Mack had thought about going with her older sister, but both her and Lucie didn’t feel like making the trek through traffic to sit in an opposing arena.

“You’re in big fucking trouble.” David’s rough voice comes over the second he hears Mack pick up.

“Oh? What did I do this time?” She asks, an amused smirk drifting her lips up.

“This book.” She straightens away from her computer, crossing her legs and twirling in her chair to look out the window.

Mack has been cruising through a dark, romance series that has kept her up late on the nights when she is with David. Even when they fall into bed with each other, Mack waits for David to fall asleep and goes back to keep reading her book. Naturally, David wasn’t enjoying that and demanded to read the book that holds her interest more than him. The section he read happened to be an extremely sexy part of the book that had him gaping at her in surprise. His green eyes had darkened. “You like this stuff?” He asked her excitedly. When she nodded, he walked over to his travel bag and plopped it into his bag for the quick roadie to the Island.

“Ahhhhh did you get to the garden scene?” She asks presently.

“Yeah I fucking did, baby. Had to stoke one out before I got ready tonight. Imagined it was you and I in that book.” Mack smiles, closing her eyes and imagining him stroking himself to images of her and him recreating the scene.

“When you get home?” She prompts.

Silence.

“Don’t be playing with me, Mackenzie.”

“Oh the full name.” She chuckles as she stands up, walking closer to the window. A few snow flakes flitter about in the crisp November air. A heated flush rolls over her skin as her boyfriend moans on the other side of the phone.

“Baby, I’m gonna fuck you so hard tonight, you’re gonna see stars when you cum.”

“Sure.” Mack chirps him. “Guess you better go get a win tonight.”

“You better go get your pregame nap in.” He insists back to her. “You’re not sleeping tonight.”

Like Pavlov’s dog, the sound of a key in the lock later has Mack drooling. She sits on the couch in unassuming clothes, eyes feral as they watch the lock flip open. David steps in. He immediately throws his bag and keys on the floor. His left foot kicks the door shut loudly behind him and he rips at his tie.

“Get over here.” He demands. “I’m hard as fuck and need you on my cock right now.”

Mack’s stomach drops from her body at his words. She stands and glides across the room into his awaiting arms. His hands grip her tightly, almost piercing through her hips with how greedy he is to touch her.

“You read that slutty shit at work, baby?” He rumbles down at her. Mack bites her lip then nods. “And out here after you sneak out of bed from me.” Again she nods. “You roll your pussy against this couch too? Hmm? Touch yourself to get some relief?”

Oh boy. Heat creeps up Mack’s cheeks.

“Answer me.”

“Yes.” She blurts out then drops her gaze from his. It’s too intense. Too much with the way he looks at her, all consuming like she’s his next ten damn meals.

“Show me.”

“I..” Mack sighs heavily then shrugs her shoulders.

“Mackenzie, get on that couch and show me how you touch yourself.”

“So no isn’t an option tonight?” She asks him slowly.

“No is always an option but you didn’t say that, did you?” He holds her chin in place so she can’t look away from him again. She bites her lip anxiously. “So get on that couch and show me how you touch yourself.” David’s other hand comes to her stomach and he gently guides her backwards one step, then another. Mack grabs his wrist and pushes it away.

“I can walk.”

“For now.” He deadpans his classic response.

She walks to the couch with her shoulders rolled back, easy glide to her gait. Behind her, David’s heavy footsteps follow. When she gets to the couch, she sits on it, resting her back against the arm rest. Her boyfriend shakes his head slowly, then grabs an ankle. He twirls her easily on the leather couch so she sits with her back against the cushion instead. Then, without taking his eyes from hers, he grabs the edge of his coffee table, pulling it closer. Mack’s eyebrows furrow for a moment, then smooth out like she knows exactly where this is going.

Tonight is about power. Although she knows she will give into him completely, she isn’t quite ready to end this game of control. Mack slides her hands into her pajama pants and panties, slowly dragging them down her thighs. David watches from above, popping open the buttons on his dress shirt. His tie hangs completely undone down both sides of his naked chest. Mack grabs the two ends, twisting them together to pull his mouth down to hers. Then she kisses him with teasing, light tongue, leaving him chasing her lips when she pulls away.

“Thought you wanted a show.” She drawls, putting her fingers on his mouth and pushing him back. David’s head knocks back away from her mouth, heavy breath falling from him. He licks his lips greedily, then tosses her discarded pants to the floor.

David sits on the table after pushing magazines with her stories in them to the side. He picks up her left ankle, then sets her foot beside his right thigh. Then he does the same with her other foot.

“Show me something.” He relaxes, letting his hands hang off his big thighs. The seams of his dress pants are working overtime with how thick he has become in the early part of this season. Mack loves reaping those benefits.

She brings her feet off the coffee table and sets them on his thighs instead then she widens her legs to show him her glistening folds. She’s soaked- from his behavior and the third book in the series that she had been reading before he came home. Her pussy lips are swollen with need, aching to be touched to reach a release. Mack puts her fingers forward, curling them in a come here motion. David understands the assignment. He rolls his tongue over her fingers then swallows them into his mouth for a moment. His velvet tongue stroking her skin has her inner walls collapsing in anticipation.

When they’re sufficiently wet, Mack glides them from his mouth. She wastes no time stroking them over her clit. David drinks in her movements with sparkling eyes. Mack rolls her bottom lip into her mouth, trying to control her breath in steady pulls rather than the rabid gulps she wants to do. After a few twirls of her clit, Mack’s fingers find her entrance, sliding in a knuckles length before drawing back out. Her fingers shimmer in the lamp lighting, electing a soft hum of appreciation from the man between her legs.

“You are so pretty right now.” He murmurs encouragingly. Mack blushes under his watchful gaze, then she slides her fingers back over her clit. The wetness collects on the prints of her fingers with each stroke. Then she dips them back to stuff her entrance again. This time, she goes all the way in, back and forth to build a steady tempo. Her wet fingers pull up her puffy lips, wetting her clit again.

“Can I touch you too?” He asks her as her fingers disappear into her hole again.

“Mhm.” Mack agrees.

David grabs her left ankle, lifting it to his shoulder as he leans closer to her finger filled core. Mack twists her fingers, plunging deeper. Her eyes close, head falling back. She repeats the same motion, noting the tightening of the coil inside her. She sighs happily, then speeds up her motions. David’s lips press to her calf, forming goosebumps that spread far and wide across her skin. Her nipples tighten. He brings a hand to her right breast, rolling her nipple. She thumbs her left one in time with him, thrusting her fingers deeper into her core. She rolls her finger tips across her velvet button and gasps excitedly when David adds one of his fingers with hers. Together, they fuck her hole until the needs has built enough that Mack’s legs shake.

“Fuck, that was gorgeous.” He compliments her as they slow down, letting her fall after her orgasm. “So damn sexy I about came in my pants.” He shows her as he stands, pulling his pants down to lift the tension off his stiff cock. By his head, a dark spot has seeped into his grey underwear. Mack sighs, then runs her still soaked fingers over it.

“Do you trust me?” He asks her. Mack nods without even needing to think about his question. “Go over to that window.” He points to the big ones on the far end of the living room. Mack looks over her shoulder at them, then back to him with apprehensive eyes. “The lights will be off. No one will be able to see us.” He assures her. “But that book has me thinking about how hot it would be to fuck you in public where people can see."

He slides his pants down his legs until they pool at his ankles. He steps out of them, tossing them onto the chair behind him. Next, his underwear joins them, exposing his gorgeous cock to her. Mack’s apprehension wanes when she gets it in her hand. Her tongue comes out, curving along the slit to lap up a bubble of pre-cum. She kisses his swollen head with an open mouth, tongue gently licking him with each press of her lips.

“I’m waiting for you, Mackenzie.” David says tightly.

Oh, she got distracted by his cock and forgot he asked her to go over there. Obediently, she rises to her feet. David halts her for a moment to take off her shirt, then has his hands graze over her ass as they fall from her body.

“Hands on your breasts, honey.” He demands as he walks up behind her. She puts her hands over her bare chest, then looks back over her shoulder at him. He pushes her forward until her right cheek presses into the cold glass. Mack swallows loudly, exhaling harshly as he rolls his head through her slick folds.

One hand goes to Mack’s hip where he eases her back onto him. He exhales a soft ‘fuck’ when he is sheathed inside of her. Then he brings his other hand to her throat. Mack whimpers.

“Okay?” He checks.

“Yes.” She chokes out desperately.

That’s the last word Mack is able to speak.

The tempo David sets borders on deranged. Relentless. Nothing soft or loving about it. Instead he plows into her with reckless abandon. His massive cock splits her open in the best way as he keeps her upright with his hand securely on her throat. She gasps from surprise and pleasure. Her fingers tighten over her breasts, nipples stabbing into her warm palms. The different temperatures from the front of her body to the back where David heats her up create an exquisite layer of pleasure for her.

“You like being fucked like this, huh?” He grits out to her. “Rough and fast? Like those girls in that book.”

Mack’s head rolls forward, nose hitting the glass. David pulls her back into him roughly. Mack falls off the glass, arched at an impossible angle by David’s hands. His thumb presses into the left side of her throat, then his fingers follow on the right. Mack brings her hand up to his wrist, gripping him just as tightly. David turns her face in his hand so he can see her. She’s blissed out, almost comatose from the pleasure. He grins at her as she orgasms around his thick girth while being fucked raggedly.

“Good girl.” He coos to her, releasing his grip on her throat.

His right hand slides down to her leg, lifting it up. Mack focuses forward, seeing their reflection in the glass and groaning. They look so hot like this. His big body towering over hers. Her being bent by his hands and will. She releases her breasts, watching them fall back into place in the glass. Then she wraps an arm around his neck behind her, bringing his head closer to her. As he glides back into her pussy, they kiss. Mack moans into his mouth. David swallows it, then stuffs her mouth full of his tongue in rhythm with his pumps into her.

“Fuck.” Mack groans. With this angle, he feels huge inside of her, almost painfully so.

“You can take it.” He reminds her.

Then he makes her.

Harsh slaps fill the room with David’s thrusts into her. Mack clutches onto him for dear life again, holding his face to hers as she gasps and groans.

“Yeah, there.” She begs. “Mmmm. Oh.” The back of her head hits his shoulder again and his mouth chases her face. He kisses her jaw, then nudges her head to the side so he can bite her throat. “Yes.” Mack moans.

“You take cock so well, Mackenzie. Made for this big one, eh?” He bites her throat again, sucking, leaving a huge red welt where his mouth was. Mack whines, tugging his hair to pull him away. She collects his mouth with hers.

Her orgasm ignites inside of her again. Mack brings a hand to her clit to help it along. She rolls the swollen bud with two fast fighter, matching David’s tempo. Her walls collapse around him, making him sweat again. His hips pump faster, shaking her breasts harder. Mack closes her eyes, letting her orgasm take her away completely. Her mouth drops open, away from David’s and she squeaks as she erupts like a volcano.

“David! Fuck! Yes!” She yells. David grins against her throat as her head falls away from his. He sucks her skin delicately into his mouth, pumping her through it, then spilling into her with a longing moan of her name.

Mack’s legs shake as he drops her right leg from his grasp. He holds her tightly to his chest, feet spread wide to balance their weight out. Mack’s eyes lazily open, hooded as she looks out at the building across the street where people go about their business.

“Wow.” She finally exhales to him.

“Yeah. That was… I don’t know if there is a word for it.” He responds. Mack chuckles. She feels that way about sex with him a lot.

“So you like the book?” She asks him as he turns her in his arms. His hands go down to her butt, cupping her cheeks gently as her head rests under his chin.

“Mhm.”

“The boys give you a hard time at all?”

“Not after I read a paragraph out loud to them.” David chuckles.

“You did!?” She laughs.

“Yeah! Woody was hooked after the first line.”

“He is a slut.” Mack jokes.

“What are we then?”

“Whores.” She grins proudly.

“That’s my girl.” He lifts her into his arms, walking her away from the window and towards the hallway. “Shower? Bed?” He asks her. HIs gaze trails along her throat, zeroing in on the three red marks on her left side. “We better do a shower. Gotta get some warm water on these. Sorry, honey.”

“No you’re not.” She laughs. “You like when everyone knows who I belong to.”

David smiles, a sparkle in his green eyes.

“Honey, you don’t belong to me. You’re a humming bird, buzzing around from here to there, and sometimes you sit still long enough for me to have you.”

Mack startles a bit, looking away from him. No one has ever hit the nail on the head that directly with her. He knows her so well, understands how she craves freedom and independence without judgement.

“Hey.” He calls her back to him, pausing in the bathroom doorway. “I’ll never clip your wings, okay? I love you like this.” Mack nods. David continues forward.

David always says the right things at the right times.

But still, even with a perfect partner, Mack can’t lose the small part of her that feels that itch to fly.