#there is no one i'll be able to turn to and say

[32timeparadox23]

As per OP's prev tags asking for a guide to installing Revanced, I'm here to step up to the plate as someone who had an absolute bitch of a time getting it set up the first time (due to what I'll call Guide Confusion) and would like to make it easy for anyone looking to get it! So...

Welcome to Katie's Impromptu and Exhaustive Beginner's Guide to Getting Revanced (with pictures!)

(Not kidding about exhaustive btw, this got long. Brevity? Never met her)

Step 0: Preparations and Beginner Tips

So, there is a guide on Reddit, but I'm still going to write out my own version with some more explanations of the steps involved.

For example, the Reddit guide lists turning off Google Play Protect as a necessary step before doing anything else. On my phone that wasn't required, and I was able to bypass all the 'Warning! This Application May Contain Harmful Content' warnings the installs threw at me without trouble. Your phone might work like mine, or it might not let you download non-Store apps at all if Play Protect isn't disabled, and if that's the case then all you need to do to turn it off is:

1. Open the Play Store app

2. Go to your profile picture in the upper right corner

3. Find the option labeled Play Protect

4. Go to the gear icon in the upper right corner

5. There should be an option to turn off scanning apps with Play Protect

With that, Play Protect will be deactivated. With that, I'd also like to take a quick sidebar to issue a piece of beginner advice:

Downloading non-Play Store apps is generally going to give you a scary warning about how the contents could be harmful to your device. This is at least in part to discourage you from downloading anything not approved for the app store (i.e. anything they can't/won't monetize and take a cut from) but it's not an entirely empty threat. You don't ever want to be downloading and installing things onto your phone if you don't trust the source. All the links I'll be providing in this guide are ones I've personally used to get Revanced and have had no issues with, so you can do what I did and ignore the warnings on these.

As for Revanced specifically, you don't ever want to download something that isn't specifically from the official developers of Revanced or its predecessor Vanced (RIP). The links will be on the official Revanced github and apkmirror. If you find a Revanced download somewhere else, it's wise to be skeptical, especially since Revanced isn't just one download.

But before I get into that, there're two more preparation steps listed in the Reddit guide.

The second step listed is allowing unknown downloads in your browser. This I can't say anything about, since the option to allow/disallow this doesn't appear to exist on my phone. If you need to do this, my best guess would be to go to your browser settings and look around in the Downloads tab, but if you can't find it and can't download anything in this guide, I'd search something like 'allow unknown downloads for [your phone's make and model]' to see if anyone else has the same problem.

The third and final piece of preparation, however, IS entirely necessary and required: disable or uninstall your YouTube app. The reason for this is that modded apps like Revanced work on a slightly older version of the app than is up to date. You'll be downloading a YouTube APK for this — basically a copy of YouTube that can still connect to YouTube's servers. This is also the reason Revanced randomly breaks sometimes; as YouTube constantly updates, it stops supporting older versions, and eventually the version you have Revanced with will get cut from the list and it won't be able to access YouTube's servers anymore. This takes several months to happen though, so don't worry, you won't be needing to download and patch a new YT APK every other week or anything.

But I'm getting ahead of myself.

Deleting YouTube is the best play in my opinion, since it gets it out of the way and you can always redownload it through the Play Store if needed. If you'd rather disable it, though, you can do that by:

1. Go into your phone settings

2. Select Apps

3. Select All Apps

4. Zoom to the bottom to get to YouTube, open it

5. Disable it

Once you have YouTube uninstalled or disabled, it's time to move on to the non-prep steps.

Step 1: Download Vanced MicroG

You might be wondering why that says Vanced and not Revanced. This is because Revanced is the successor to the original YouTube Vanced project, which did all the same stuff but unfortunately flew too close to the sun and started selling NFTs, which allowed YouTube to slap them with a cease and desist since they were now technically making money off their ad-less YouTube mod that was barely legal to begin with. But programs to get rid of ads are like a hydra, and cutting off one head inevitably led to many others taking Vanced's source code and making their own. When the dust settled, Revanced became the best option.

However, we still need the Vanced MicroG to make it run.

MicroG on its own is basically a free, open-source software framework that mimics Google's libraries and services. Vanced MicroG is a modified version that's specifically designed to mimic GMS (Google Mobile Services). This is what allows you to log into and use your Google/YouTube account through Revanced and have everything still work as it's supposed to.

Vanced MicroG Download:

https://github.com/TeamVanced/VancedMicroG/releases/tag/v0.2.24.220220-220220001

Ignore the source code, all you need is the microg.apk file at the top of the list.

It should automatically try to install when you download it. It'll also warn you that the contents could be harmful. They aren't, so go ahead and authorize the install.

If it does not automatically install, go to your files app and navigate to downloads. If you have it sorted by most recent downloads, it'll be at the very top. Selecting it from here should give you the option to install.

And with that, you're through step one!

Step 2: Download Revanced Manager

This is what allows you to patch YouTube APKs with Revanced. It also automatically checks for updates, and tells you what the recommended version of YouTube APK is without having to go searching for individual websites or blogs for news. You can also patch YouTube Music to be ad-free with this, though you will need to download the YouTube Music APK separately.

Revanced Manager Download:

https://github.com/revanced/revanced-manager/releases/tag/v1.24.0

Once again, you want the .apk file at the very top. From here, it's the same as with the MicroG, download and let it install.

Once again, if it doesn't install automatically, you should be able to find it in your downloads and activate the installation manually.

Step 3: Getting the YouTube APK

Go into your shiny new Revanced Manager. If you can't find it, scroll through your apps. It should look something like this:

When you get into it, navigate to the Patcher tab and tap 'Select an app'. It should look something like this:

My app is actually a bit out of date, whoops. But you can see that it lists a version in there. As of the day I'm writing this, April 24th, 2025, the current recommended app version is v20.07.39. Thankfully, it is very very easy to Google 'youtube apk 20.07.39' and find exactly what we're looking for. The very first auto complete, even.

The top result there is what you want. APKMirror is a safe site that, in my experience, doesn't have any viruses in their files. Unfortunately, it does have a shit-ton of ads. Scroll past all of them until you get to a section that looks like this:

The answer to which you'll need is on the right. dpi means dots per inch; basically it measures screen intensity. Some APKs are made specifically for certain dpis and dpi ranges. nodpi means the download is for all devices — while the one above it, which lists 120-640dpi, is for devices that have a dpi in that range.

Unless you know what you have is specifically within that dpi range, select the nodpi version. Scroll down until you see this and select download.

Lol. Lmao, even.

Congratulations, you now have a YouTube APK! Don't install this one, though. Instead, go back to Revanced Manager and open the Patcher tab. Go ahead and select YouTube.

You might just be able to patch it immediately from there. If you get this, however:

Congrats, yours works like mine does. Go ahead and select the APK from storage. Make sure you're in your Downloads folder, not just your recents, as it may not show up there. It should look something like this:

Go ahead and select it. It should immediately bring up this screen:

There's a ton of quality of life stuff Revanced does aside from removing ads, like returning the dislike button. You can technically go in and select what you do and don't want in the patch, but unless you really know what you're doing, I'd advise sticking with the default settings. If it adds something you really hate, you can always repatch the APK and try again.

It can take anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes to finish patching the YouTube APK, so be patient. Once it's done, though, well... it's done! You're done! You've got Revanced! No more ads for you, and you can do background listening or picture-in-picture while you're in other apps! Enjoy!

P.S.

YouTube Music works the same way, so if you want that go ahead and grab the recommended version of that APK (through APKMirror). Patch that bad boy and enjoy your ad-free music.

Also, like I said before, Revanced breaks periodically. All you need to do is download the newest recommended APK version and repeat the process. Slightly annoying, but guaranteed 10000x less annoying than 2-3 unskippable ads before each video + midrolls.

Reminder that you can block most ads on Android. yes, including youtube ads.

Steps: Download Firefox -> Install uBlock Origin extension.

That's literally it. Enjoy ad free web browsing while we still (barely) have it!

[softsunnyy]

🚨willmack (threesome), mentions of them cumming inside you, masturbation, oral sex, both at the same time, betting, being fucked stupid by your boys, who have a lot of energy, and i think that's all 🚨

poorly written

“if we both score at least one goal each today… you’ll let us use you,” Will proposed. You nearly choked on your coffee, feeling your cheeks flush. You looked at Macklin for help, but he just stared at you, attentive to your answer. You knew then that only you were surprised by the proposal, so you looked back at Will.

“sorry, what?” you said, setting your coffee aside, resting your arms on the counter, leaning in to look at him more closely. Mack’s eyes dropped to your tits, peeking out from under your shirt, as if you wanted him to see them.

“i have a feeling we’ll both score goals today, so what better way to celebrate?” he said, smiling, and you looked at him, amused, surprised, but also interested.

there had always been flirtations between the three of you; you and Macklin had even kissed, but it had never gone that far, and the intrigue was beginning to reach you. You wonder if they're capable of keeping their word.

“okay, if you can do it, i'll be free use for you,” you say, closing the deal. Your response brought a huge smile to their faces, motivating them.

that same night, you stared at the scoreboard with your mouth open, unable to believe your eyes.

not only did they both score. Macklin had pulled a fucking hat trick. As if it hadn't cost them anything. As if they truly yearned for it so much they'd do anything to have you.

you start to feel hot, knowing what's coming. Your mind floods with ideas, with scenarios. You start to feel desperate when you see the game isn't over yet, and you resist the urge to whimper when the camera focuses on them. And they´re laughing and talking on the bench. It's like they know you're watching, impressed, and that boosts their egos.

you see Macklin smile, then spit on the ice. Will's eyes follow every move, then repeat the action.

the commentators praise your guys, and it only makes you feel more needy. They keep talking about stats, how good they are, and the great future they have ahead of them if they keep playing this way. And you're so proud of them that you'd let them do whatever they wanted to you, you don't even care. Your pelvis jerks unconsciously, making you rub against the couch, the heat becoming more unbearable, your face burning. It's like everyone is turning against you, mocking the fate that awaits you.

you see Will take a hand out of his glove, fixing his hair. His veins are prominent, his hair messy. You see him laughing with his teammates, with a different glow, eager to end the game and receive what he's earned.

Macklin looks so big, you see him sip from the water bottle, and your eyes travel to his throat, paying attention to the movement, seeing his white skin, yearning to leave a trail of bites, of marks.

you can't help it; you wanna reward them, you want them to receive the best attention for being so good. You'd do anything for them, because they earned it, because they put that much effort for you, to be able to touch you, to be able to make progress with you.

it doesn't take long for you to start undressing, your mind clouded with ideas, thoughts of them, until you're naked on your couch, your legs spread, exposing your pussy. You're grateful they're focused on them all the time, because their faces on the screen make everything easier. Your fingers are quick, sliding between your folds, rubbing your clit, overstimulating yourself.

your hand moves faster and faster, applying the pressure you know you like, while your other hand plays with your tits. You know how it is. It's not the first time you've touched yourself while watching one of their games, thinking about them, imagining a thousand scenarios after the flirting, the glances.

and yet, you need them. You need them there with you

you slide two fingers into your pussy, stretching your walls, preparing you for them, putting your fingers deep inside you. You're rough, fast, moving them with precision, whimpering their names.

you imagine they're Mack's big fingers, and that Will is the one touching your tits. You wanna feel them, you wanna know what it feels like to have both of their cocks inside of you, taking over your body, doing all the things they've promised you, all the things they've bragged about.

you want them to touch you, you know they'll be gentle, because they're always like that with you, but you want their cocks to use you.

you want them, making comments, like the ones that make you nervous in public.

the game ends when you start to feel the tingling, the familiar knot. You start sliding your fingers faster. You torture yourself, and when you cum, it's loud, your fluids wetting your inner thighs.

you leave small slaps on your pussy, causing your fluids to squirt everywhere as you start rubbing your clit, overstimulating yourself, making you arch your back and your pelvis try to move away.

you don't even know how much time has passed, but you hear them open the door with the key you gave them earlier that morning.

the two of them stand there for a moment, frozen, watching the scene before them. The smell of your arousal fills the room, and they can hear the wet sound of your pussy, along with your desperate whimpers.

they wonder how many times you've cum, but that's forgotten when you look at them, your eyes glassy, your mouth open.

Will is the first to approach, standing in front of you, making you look up at him, feeling small. His gaze is intimidating, making your breath catch. You stop touching your pussy to give him your full attention, and he can see how your body continues to move unconsciously, searching for the lost contact.

he takes your chin, leaning down, joining his mouth with yours, kissing you, devouring your mouth. Macklin reacts, and begins to unbutton his pants as he approaches, then removes his shirt, revealing his big, tempting body. He comes up behind the couch, placing his hands on your shoulders, pretending to move down to your tits.

on the tv, he can see that you were watching them, and a feeling of pride forms in his chest. You'd started touching yourself while watching them.

god, he wants to forget the delicacy just thinking about that.

Will pulls away from you, resisting the urge to kiss you again. With his hands, he helps you stand, your legs trembling, still spasming, almost numb. You watch them look at each other, then he turn you around. Will had you rest your knees on the couch, leaning forward on the backrest, your head level with Mack's dick, while Will positioned himself behind you.

Macklin caresses one of your cheeks and lets you help him pull down his pants and then his underwear, freeing his cock under your hungry gaze. Will quickly removed his clothes, but didn't immediately approach your pussy, not as you expected, at least.

it was when you licked Mack's cock from base to tip that you felt Will's tongue in your pussy, tasting your juices, wandering between your folds. The addictive taste, he couldn't help it; he started devouring you, sucking, licking. Overstimulating your poor clit, making you moan against Macklin's cock, who whimpered, sensitive from how hard his cock was.

Will lingered, listening to your pleas, your whimpers, feeling the ache from how hard his dick is.

it's an interesting scene, with him kneeling behind you, his hands roaming over your body, leaving red marks from how hard his fingers grip your skin, while you try to swallow Mack's cock, trying to be good for him, and trying to resist, knowing that you´re gagging.

Macklin whimpers, his hands shaking a little, but one of them tangles in your hair, pulling you closer, forgetting the size of his cock for a moment, making you choke, your nose brushing against his pelvis as he moves, sliding, exploring your mouth, your heat, and feeling your drool reach his base, staining your chin and causing drops to roll down his tense thighs after the game.

Will moves his tongue expertly, swallowing your juices, seeing your red pussy, your swollen clit. He feels your legs tremble, and his cock aches, wanting your pussy, feel your warmth, feel your walls tighten around him.

they didn't expect the action to start so soon. God, they didn't even know it would actually happen, even though deep down they wanted it so bad. So walking in, seeing you ready for them, so eager and proud of the performance they'd shown... was one of the best surprises. They can't let you down now.

and you try, you try to resist, even though your throat hurts, you're gagging, and you know your voice will be funny later. You can feel the weight of Mack's cock on your tongue, and it's so heavy, hot, and big. Your jaw starts to go numb from the effort, and you start moving on automatic. You want to swallow his cum, feel it slide down your throat, like it's the cure, your reward for a job well done, while you feel another knot begin to form in your lower abdomen, the product of Will, who eats you like you're his last meal.

your legs tremble, they spasm violently, and Will can see your hole throbbing just before you cum, filling his mouth, sending drops running down his chin, making a path down his neck. And he keeps going, not caring how sensitive you are and how you try to pull away. His hands keep you still while he cleans you, swallowing every drop until there's nothing left. And then he stands up, watching you eat his friend, so hungry.

god, he wants to live that experience too.

and Macklin barely resists; he doesn't even know how he does it. Maybe it's how much he wants to stay inside you, but he keeps moving, keeps thrusting, filling you, making your moans die against his skin, sending vibrations through his cock that only make his life more complicated.

Will positions himself behind you, aligning the tip of his cock against your hole, your eyes become glassy again as you feel him begin to slide inside your walls, stretching you. And he's bigger than you thought; you feel like he's splitting you, like he's not going to fit, and you didn't expect that. You pull Mack's cock out of your mouth and moan, trying to grip his thighs, digging your nails in. And he sees a string of drool still connecting his tip to your mouth, making him have to stifle a moan.

your walls squeeze him, welcoming him like a new home, and he has to be patient, giving you a moment to recover while he tries not to come right there, feeling on the edge just from the way you´re so tight, so hot, and how good you feel, like you were made for him.

when your body unconsciously moves back, he knows he can start moving, so he does, first sliding slowly in and out, while you slowly resume your actions with Mack, returning your attention to his cock.

the pace slowly begins to increase, and the position makes you feel Will everywhere. He moves fast, hard, and you try to muffle your moans by using Mack, but it's getting harder. And Mack, oh, my sweet boy, feels like he's going to cry. Every time he's been on the verge of cumming, you take his dick out of your mouth to moan, as if you didn't want to give him the pleasure, as if you enjoyed making him suffer like this, while Will takes care of destroying you.

the sound is obscene, your pussy filled by a cock, his body slamming into yours, making your ass turn red. And your fluids make a mess, staining your body, leaving trails of drool and dried arousal on your skin, as well as on your boys' skin.

your mind is foggy, you feel dizzy, a little lightheaded, your eyes want to close on their own, and loud moans come from your mouth, frustrating Mack.

Will notices the situation and knows what he must do.

“baby, you're not helping Mack. Come on, look how ready he is for you, or you don´t want him?” his words make your eyes widen, and you try to return to your task, but it's so difficult that you whimper, frustrated, aroused, with fat, hot tears falling down your cheeks because you wanna be good for him.

“you’re leaving us no choice,” Will says, looking at his friend, communicating with him silently, knowing they’re both thinking the same thing. As always.

you feel him slide out of you, making you feel so empty, and you whimper, begging, pleading for forgiveness, trying to keep the fun going, until his hands take you and move you to his liking. He lies down on the couch and has you sit on his lap, facing him, resting your hands on his chest as you feel his hot cock pressed against your wet pussy. That's enough to distract you, not noticing Mack walk over to stand behind you, waiting.

soon you're back on Will's cock, and this time you feel him even deeper, making a small bulge form in your belly. You try to move, to ride him, but big hands push you forward, pressing your tits against Will's chest and making it impossible for you to move much.

"ready, babe?," you heard Macklin say, but you're too fucked up, not fully understanding what he's talking about. You're quieter, more lost. You had cum a couple of times before they arrived, leaving you fucked stupid.

it's then that you feel pressure on your pussy, in the same hole Will is using, and your eyes fill with tears, your mouth opens, but no sound comes out. You feel his cock slide in, and it's big, even more, and it stretches your walls too far. And you suffocate them, both of them. Their cocks together inside you, not moving yet, but making you feel shattered, broken, completely lost now.

Will tries to kiss you to distract you, but he can feel your tears until you try to move on your own. Macklin takes this as a good sign and begins to slide in, very slowly, carefully at first. His hands caress your back, feeling how it's still quite difficult to move inside you.

they're patient, letting you get used to it, letting your pussy open wider for them, to welcome them home. The sensation is better than they expected. It's addictive. And oh, they don't think they'll ever forget it now. You're gonna have to get used to it.

your pussy is gonna have to get used to it.

because they don't need to make bets anymore. They both know they'll keep coming back to you, asking for more, wanting to bury themselves in your pussy, in your walls, whether together or separately.

they're gonna mark you, they're gonna take over your body, and you won't be able to forget that pair, no matter what.

they're just getting started now, the night is long, but you already feel broken by the way they move inside you, and they don't care. They're young, they have energy, stamina. They're gonna use your body until you can't take it anymore, and they'll cum inside your walls until there's no more room, until both of their loads join together and create white rings at their bases.

they're gonna cum inside you again and again, because that's part of the deal... right?

oh, how did you go from flirting to this? none of you three know, but are you going to complain? of course not.

you just hope that tomorrow you can get out of bed.

[sturniqlo]

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

summary: the new school year has officially begun and matt is meeting his new students; ellie's first day of school has finally arrived

cw: slight cursing, baby daddy drama (yes, already)

note: this series will be in first person pov and will change from matt to reader through the chapters, also 'y/n' won in my poll, but to not use 'y/n' as much, i've come up with 'goldie' as a nickname so ill be using both 'goldie' and 'y/n'! NOT PROOFREAD:/

masterlist | GS&GH masterlist | join my taglist

MATT

my alarms rang just in time, 5:30am. it was finally the day, it was the first day of the new school year. also meaning that it's my second year teaching kindergarten and teaching in general. my first year alone had gone great. before teaching a class all by myself, i was a teacher assistant for a fourth grade class. although it was great, i just thought i'd be better off teaching littler kids.

turning off my alarm, i laid in bed for a couple of minutes to fully wake up. as it sit up, it stretch and hear and feel the familiar cracking. for today, i was planning on getting to school early to set up a few things and decorate the class for the kids.

i had bought a few snacks but not before checking if i had any students with any food allergies. i only had one student who had a peanut allergy, so that meant no peanuts at all. when i had found that out, i was in school over the summer decorating my class, so i printed out a few signs that said 'PEANUT FREE CLASSROOM' and one on the door and a few around the class.

"morning, hun." i say as i feel the soft familiar fur against my leg as i stood up from bed. "gonna meet my new kids today, hun. can't wait to tell you all about em'." i crouch down to scratch her behind the ear as she purrs. "lets go get you some breakfast." the first thing i always do as soon as i get up from bed is serve hunny her breakfast and refill her water bowl.

as i walk out of my bedroom and make my way to the kitchen, i hear hunny meowing once she sees that im opening the cabinet that holds her food and treats. "yeah, yeah. i hear you." i chuckle, grabbing the bag of food. i pour her some dry food and top it off with some wet food. "there you go, hun."

i put her bag of food back in the cabinet before going back to my room to get a change of clothes to shower.

it was 6:17 by the time i had showered, changed, brushed my teeth and did my hair. entering my room, i throw my dirty clothes into the hamper and hang up my towel. hunny startled me by popping out from under the blanket on my bed. "shit— hunny." i shake my head.

"no, hun. you've had your breakfast already." i say as i move around the kitchen as hunny constantly meows for more food even though she still has some in her bowl. i sit at one of the stools at the small island counter and eat my breakfast as i scroll through my phone checking my email.

buried in my phone, i didn't notice just how fast the time was going until i looked at the time in the corner. 6:57. "shit—" i was behind schedule. i put my plate and cup in the sink— i'll wash them when i return home. running a hand through my hair, i make my way to my bedroom to get a pair of socks on.

"hunny, no." i grab sock that i had left on the bed before hunny had a chance to grab it, she has a things for socks. "you've already destroyed so many pairs of my socks, can't have you destroying them all." for most of the summer, hunny was the only person—cat— i talked to. that is one of the cons of living alone and being single. yeah i hung out with family and the couple of friends i have, but it's not the same of being able to have someone.

throughout the summer, i took one week and went on a mini vacation alone and left hunny with my parents. i stayed in a cabin in a small rural town. and for the rest of my summer, i dedicated it to making my teacher plans for the year. i've heard from several teachers that during the summer they only plan out the first quarter and plan the rest as the year goes.

i finished getting ready and gathering my things as i walk towards my front door. "see you later, hunny." i smile at the cat as i unlock the door. i lock the door behind me and head towards the elevator to get to the parking garage. "good morning, matt!" i hear a voice besides me. i turn my head and see marley, my elderly neighbor, standing next to me with her reusable grocery bags. "morning, marley. going shopping so early?" i ask and step in the elevator as the doors open.

"oh, you know me, i hate when the grocery stores are packed with people. i like getting there before opening time." she chuckles. "i'm with you there." i agree. "would you like a ride? i pass the grocery store as i go to work." she shakes her head. "oh no, dear. i'm okay, really. wouldn't want to make you late to work."

"really, marley. you won't make me late. school doesn't start for another hour and thirty minutes." she sighs and thinks about it. "well, if you insist, dear." she smiles. "of course."

────˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗────

"have a good first day back to work, matt. and thanks for the ride!" marley waves as she steps out of the car. "anytime, marley. have a safe walk home. and let me know if the strawberries are any good here. got a bad batch the other day" i wave back. "will do!" marley nods and closes the car door making her way to the front door of the supermarket. i drive away once i see that she's made it in.

marley is such a sweet lady. i first met her as i was moving into the building. i was unpacking my boxes when my door bell rang followed by a soft knock. and when i opened the door, there she was holding a container of cookies. "hello! i'm marley, i live down the hall. wanted to come by and welcome you to the building!" and now, every other week she brings me any dessert or pastry she bakes. and this week is the week.

as i drive to the school, i can't help but feel a bit nervous. what if my new students hate me? or don't think im a good teacher? stop it, matt. i shake my head at myself. on the bright side, i finally get to put a face to every name on my roster. i have a smaller class this year of sixteen students, last year i had twenty five students.

when i arrive to school and park my car, it's 7:25am. only an hour and five minutes until showtime. i get out of the car and grab the bags i brought full of extra supplies. i swing my personal book bag on my shoulder and lock my car making my towards the teacher entrance.

"mr. sturniolo! welcome back! how was your summer?" i'm stoped by the principal of the school. "principal mcdaniels! my summer was great, it's good to be back though. how was yours?" i return the same enthusiasm. we both conversate for a few minutes until he lets me go set up. "i'll visit your class later in the day, have a good first day." i nod at his words. "you too!"

i make my way down the hall and make a left towards my classroom. putting the bag i was carrying in my left hand, my right hand reaches into my pocket to get my keys to unlock the door. i open the door and the automatic lights turn on. "less than an hour." i mumble to myself, going to my desk. i look around the class and see that the janitors must've stopped by in the past few days because some desks and chairs were out of place. quickly, i fix those and regroup all sixteen desks into groups of four.

from the bags i had brought, i take out the name tags for every students and tape them down on the desk. i also open up applesauce pouches and packs of goldfish and place one on every desk. kids like these snack, right?

as i'm putting up final decorations and set up the project on the white board, the intercom comes on. "good morning and welcome back, faculty and staff! from the kindness of principal mcdaniels, there is coffee, tea, hot chocolate and pasties in the teachers lounge! please feel free to stop by and grab what you'd like! good luck and happy first day back!"

happy first day back indeed.

────˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗────

GOLDIE

"ellie bellie, wake up, sleepyhead." i circle my hand across ellie's back. her hands were tucked under her cheek and she had slight drool dripping out of her mouth. "it's the first day of kindergarten! isn't that so exciting?!" i say a bit louder this time. no movement from her. "ellie." i drag out her name, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear that came undone from her braid. she was a mover at night. it was no surprise considering the fact that she never stopped moving in my belly.

i run my finger over her face, caressing it. as i jokingly tickle her pouty lips. she takes out her right hand and rubs her eyes. "mommy?" her voice cracks, but still squeakier than usual. "i'm here, ells." i smile as her eyes flutter open. "is it time for school?" she yawns. "mhm, it's seven o'clock already. we've got to get you ready. we don't want to be late on your first day, now do we?" i giggle, slightly tickling her tummy as she had rolled on to her back.

"mommy!" she giggles squirming around. "what?! is it too early for tickles?" ellie nods, pushing my hand away. "okay, okay. c'mon, let's get you up and brush that crazy hair of yours." i get up from her bed and make my way out the door. "meet me in the bathroom."

i give ellie a moment to fully wake up before she's walking into the bathroom. one of the legs to her princess pajama pants was up to her knee while the other one was still in place. "ready?" i say with her brush in my hand. "mhm!" she hops on to her stool her hold on to the countertop. "brush your teeth while i do your hair, baby."

five minutes later, her teeth are brushed and her hair is in two pigtails. "alright, now that your look even more beautiful, do you want to get into your outfit or eat breakfast first?" i run my fingers through one of her pigtails. "uhm— breakfast first? i'm hungry."

"okay, breakfast it is then."

ellie hops down the stairs as i follow behind her into the kitchen. "what do you want to eat, ellie?" i open up the fridge. "white spaghetti with chicken!" i laugh at her request. "baby, it's to early for chicken alfredo. how about i make that when you get out of school?" i can already see the pout forming on her face. "fine. i'll eat pancakes and bacon." she huffs out.

"i promise i'll make your chicken alfredo for dinner, okay?" i grab the ingredients for breakfast. i grab three eggs, one for the pancake mix and two for me since ellie doesn't like the taste of eggs. "eggs?" she sticks her tongue out at the sight of them. "yes, ells. but, it's for me and the pancake mix." i clarify. "i can't taste it in the pancake, right?" she says, leaning her elbows on the counter. "nope, you can't."

"okay, good."

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"is daddy coming to drop me off with you?" ellie says as she takes a bite of her bacon. i almost scoff that the mention of her father. "i'm sure he will." i smile at her trying to give her some reassurance. in reality, i haven't heard from him at all this morning. i pick up my phone and open my messages to shoot him a text.

me

hey, it's almost time to drop ellie off. are you going to make it?

vincent

nah.

it's to early. so if you will, please let me go back to sleep and stop blowing my phone up.

is he being serious right now? ellie had been waiting for the moment that me and her dad will be in the same vicinity for more than five minutes. usually he would pick her up from my place and the most we'd speak to each other without arguing was a simple hello.

me

what the hell, vincent? you know she wants you there. can you not do a simple act of showing up for your own daughter?

vincent

y/n, please. it's too early in the morning for this shit.

me

whatever, i hope your sleep is worth it for you to miss ellie's first day of school

i turn off my phone without bothering to see what his response was. "was that daddy?" i hear ellie say across from me. "oh, yeah. he can't make, i'm sorry ells." i frown, feeling the sadness already radiating off of her. "why can't he come?" she pushes her unfinished plate away. i can't tell her the truth, i just can't. "he had to go to work early." is the first thing that spills out from my mouth. "oh." we finish breakfast in silence. "but, auntie willow will be there, you'll have us." ellie nodded, still looking a bit bummed out and i don't blame her.

"why don't you go put your uniform on, yeah?" i give her a slight smile trying to lift her mood up. "okay." she says, hopping off her chair and making her way to the stairs. i grab our dirty dishes and bring them to the sink, i'll wash them when i return home.

trying to ignore my anger towards vincent and my heartache for ellie, i make a mental to do list for things to do once i return home. it'll be my first day without ellie. yeah, there was a couple of times where her dad took her out for a while, but it was never for more than two hours. a whole eight hours at school is going to be torture.

however, with ellie starting school, that means i'm able to go back to work in the office. ever since ellie was born, i've been working from home editing pictures for one of the biggest photography business in the city. i was lucky enough to have this accommodation for this many years. i officially go back next week.

"mommy, i'm sorry. i ruined my hair." she walks into the kitchen with one ponytail instead of two. i giggle. "it's okay, c'mere ill fix it." i lean against the island counter and take the hairtie as she holds it out and proceeds to turn around in front of me. "tell me, baby. how are you feeling about starting school." i gather the loose hair on the right side. "i'm excited. i want to meet my teacher and— and make friends. do you think my classmates will like me?"

"of course they will. you're so nice, funny, smart and caring. you're very lovable, ellie belly." i tighten the pigtail and smooth it out. as she begins to respond, there's a knock at the front door. i gasp at her. "it's auntie wills!" her face lights up and she points to the door asking for permission to go open it. "go ahead, babe." she smiles and runs to the door.

"oh em gee! look at you ellie belly! you look like a big girl who i starting kindergarten today!" i hear willow say to ellie. "that's because i am, auntie wills!" i see willow with ellie on her hip enter the kitchen. "hey goldie! how you feelin'? she's all grown up, if you blink fast enough she'll be graduating high school, getting a boyf—" i toss a kitchen towel at her face. "hey— stop that! she hasn't even started the school day." i laugh.

"i'm kidding, im kidding!" she puts ellie down and she runs off somewhere in the house. "so, is villain vincent coming today?" she leans against counter next to me as i wash the pan from this morning's breakfast. "don't even get me started." i scoff and she gasps. "is he not coming? that fucking— ugh!" she groans. "tell me about it! he said it was too early to go to it. like he knows how much she wanted him there. it's the least he could do for her since he barley comes around."

"i wish you would let me punch him in the face, goldie. gosh— he pisses me off so much."

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"alright, ellie! i love you so so so much! have fun, okay? and remember you're so smart and kind. i'll be here to pick you up." i caress her cheeks as we stand near the stairs to the school entrance. "i love you too, mommy." she smiles. i press a kiss to her cheeks.

willow gets a chance to say her words of encouragement to her. "and remember, ellie. if someone pushes you, you push them harder. if someone punches you, you punch them har—" i cut her off. "alllriight— let's not encourage violence. c'mon ellie, let's get you in."

"i love you ellie! have fun!" willow says to her as i walk with ellie up the stairs. "good morning, you two!" a lady says at the front door. "good morning!" i say back with a smile. "whats her name?" she says with a clipboard in her hard. "it's elora. elora y/l/n." she nods and flips through several pages until she finds her name. "perfect, she's in room 111! i can take her from here. it makes it easier to prevent last minute tears." she whispers the last part. "oh, of course. thank you so much."

"c'mon, elora. let's go see your teacher. say bye to your mom." ellie looks up at me and i see her lips slightly tremble. "hey, hey, no tears, okay? you're going to have so much fun and make friends!" her mood changes instantly. gosh, her moods switch so fast. "okay, no tears." she says.

ellie goes off with the lady whose name i didn't catch. i turn back and walk towards willow. "okay, let's her going before i begin to sob!" i blink fast so my tears won't fall. "fuck— oops, children around, me too i'm about to cry." i still can't believe my baby is starting school. i kept her home from preschool as i wanted to teach her the basics. plus, i also thought she was too young to start school at four.

"so, how does coffee sound?"

────˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗────

MATT

it was officially that time. although it was a bit before 8:30, my new students began to make it down the hall and into my classroom with the help of staff. because they were kindergartners and possibly being away from their parents or guardians for the first time, staff had to bring them in the building without their adult to prevent any tantrums or crying. and it worked, there weren't any tantrums.

"hey, there! i'm mr.sturniolo! what's your name, bud?" i crouch down to level down with the curly headed kid. "h-hi, im peter." he gives me a shy smile. "well its very nice to meet you peter." i smile at him and check his name off of my attendance list. flipping the page up on my clipboard, i see what table he's sitting at. "alright, peter. you are sitting in the red table right over there." i point towards the table closest to the windows. "just look for your name and you can take a seat. there's also some snacks on your desk."

peter nods and walks away with his bookbag, looking around at the other few kids who were seated. over the summer, i sent out a survey to the parents of what their kids knew and didn't know. luckily for me, all of my kids knew how to spell and read their name, they knew their colors, alphabet and numbers.

i was checking through my attendance and realized half of my class was already here before 8:30. "hello, good morning!" i heard a voice. i put my clipboard down by my side and see a little girl standing in front of me with a big smile. "good morning! i'm mr.sturniolo! and who might you be?" i say with a smile. "my name is ellie!" her pigtails swing with her excitement. i look down at my clipboard and don't see an ellie, but an elora.

"elora? is that you, sweetie?" i ask. "oh— yes! my name is elora, but my mommy, my auntie, and everyone else calls me ellie!" i chuckle. "okay, would you like me to call you ellie? is that okay?" i check her name off of the paper, and she nods. "alright ellie, your desk is at the purple table, just look for your name." i give her a smile. "okay, mr.sturn— um." she stumbles her words. "sturniolo." i help her out. "mr.sturniolo!" she giggles. "if it's easier, you can call me mr.s!"

"okay, mr.s!" she smiles and goes off to the purple table.

────˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗────

"okay, kiddos! it seems like everyone is here!" i say as the close shuts behind me. i walk up to my desk and put my clipboard down. "good morning everyone! as i mentioned, my name is mr.sturniolo or if it might be a bit difficult to say, you can call me mr.s!" i look at ellie as i say that and she smiles. "welcome to kindergarten! raise your hand if you're excited to start school." as i say that, hands fly up.

not sure if they'll be saying that in a few weeks.

"breakfast should be here in a couple of minutes, but you guys are more than welcome to eat the snack i left on your desk." i look around and see a few kids have started to open their snacks.

"um, mr.s?" i hear a small voice say. i look to my right and see tommy—im a quick learner with names— holding up his goldfish. "yeah?" i walk over to him. "can you help me open this?" he hands it to me. "of course, bud!"

────˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗────

it was a couple of minutes after the kids had finished their breakfast, the lunch ladies came in with bagged breakfasts earlier, i was now holding up a big trash bag calling up each table one by one to throw their trash away. "thank you mr.s." ellie said to me for simply holding up the bag, i've learned that she has really good manners. her parents must've taught her that. "of course, ellie."

after i had collected all of the trash, i set the tied trash bag outside of the classroom so it'd be picked up by mabel or pete, the janitors from this side of the school.

it's now time for the day to actually begin.

"okay kiddos! because it's the very first day of school, we are going to do something easy today. does that sound good?" i hold up both of my thumbs and look around seeing everyone slightly nod. "sounds great! now, i have a question. who here wants to make friends?" i hear a few me's.

"does someone have any idea how we can get to know everyone in this class? raise you hand if you think you know." i wait a few seconds before i see ellie raise her hand. "yes, ellie?"

"um, maybe by talking with everyone?" she says shyly when she sees a few heads have turned towards her. "good, yes! that's a way we can make friends." i smile and nod at her. "so, i have a game we're going to play. i am going to say a letter from the alphabet, and if your name starts with that letter—" i walk to my desk and grab a deck of flash cards with each letter from the alphabet on them. "you'll stand up, say you name, favorite color and something you want the class to know about you. it can be anything you are comfortable sharing. and if nobody's name starts with a certain letter, we can list things that do start with that letter."

i look around and see everyone in agreement. "okay, are we ready to start?" i ask as i flip through the cards making sure they're in order. "alright. first letter— can everyone repeat after me? A." i hold up the card with the letter A on it.

"A!" their little voices fill up the space. "great job! one more time! A!" i say and they repeat the letter once more. "good, good. now, if your name starts with the letter A, stand up." two girls stand up. alexia and amy. "my name is alexia! i— my favorite color is pink. and um— i like to draw doggies and kitties!"

we get to the letter e, having to list things for the letter B and D. "next is the letter E!" they say the letter after me and ellie stands up right after. "hi, my name is elora, but i like ellie better. my favorite color is baby blue. and my favorite animal are cats and i really want one for a pet."

continuing through the game, we stumble across the letter M and i stand up from my chair that stood in front of the room. "okay, my name is matthew, but i prefer matt, my favorite color is blue and i have a pet cat named hunny." there were a few gasps from the kids as they found out my actual name wasn't mr.sturniolo and i explained to them that it's my last name and that's what they have to call me by.

the game soon wrapped up and everyone was more comfortable with talking to one another.

────˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗────

it was thirty minutes before dismissal and i was about to give them their last activity for the day. after we had finished the name/alphabet game, i sent them to their assigned cubbies so they'd put their bookbags and sweaters away. a few more hours later, it was lunch time and i took them to the lunch room and came back to my class for my break.

now, i'm passing around blank sheets of paper, crayons, markers and coloring pencils. "alright, before we leave. i want all of you guys to draw some flowers. why flowers? well, when flowers grow, they bloom. and each one of you are slowly growing— blooming into strong boys and girls just like flowers." as i pass everything out, i go back to my desk and turn on the desk project to project my drawing of flowers in a vase on the board. "this is an idea of how you guys can do it. and it does not have to be exactly like mine. have fun with it and make it pretty."

with that, everyone got to work.

it was five minutes before i had to line the kids up for dismissal and the class and i had just finished putting the coloring pencils, markers and crayons away. "okay everyone! you can go ahead and put your drawing in your take home folder. and once you've done that, please form a line at the door."

once everyone was situated with their bookbag on and lined up at the door, i began to explain how dismissal will work. "whenever you see your adult, let me know and i will give you a paper that has to go to them, alright?" they all nodded and the bell rang. "alright, let's go!"

the kids followed behind me and i held the stack on papers in my hand. it was a form for their parent or guardian to sign about meeting one on one with me throughout next week.

we neared the school doors that were behind held open by two staff members, there was a crowd of parents outside waiting for their child. "mr. s! i see my dad!" tommy got my attention. "yeah? alright, give this to him. i'll see you tomorrow, tommy!" i handed him a paper and he went off to his dad who stood not to far.

one by one each kid got picked up. "mr. s! my mom is over there!" ellie said to me, pointing towards the gates as a two women walked in. "okay, ells. make sure she get this, okay?" i give her a paper. "okay, i'll give it to her!" she smiled taking the paper in her hold. "alright, ellie! have a good rest of your day, i'll see you tomorrow!"

five minutes later, all of my kids got picked up and i headed back inside to straighten up my class and get my belongings to head on home.

────˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗────

"hey, hunny." i cooed as i walked in my apartment and heard hunny begin to meow. "mhm, good first day today. thank you for asking, hun." i crouched down to scratch the back of her ear, not bothering to put my bags down.

i stood back up and walked into the living room putting my bags on the couch. walking towards my kitchen, i flicked the light on and opened the fridge to get my pitcher of cold water. i chugged down a glass of water and headed to my room to change into some lounging clothes.

i'd say that today was a good first day.

as i finished changing, there was a slight knock at the door. walking out my room, i went towards my front door and opened it to reveal marley. "matt! i heard you come in a little while ago. thought i'd come by to drop these off. they're oatmeal cookies. i made them earlier today." she held a container of a dozen cookies. "thank you so much marley. would you like to come in?" i retrieved the container from her. "oh, i would love to, but my grandbabies are on their way over!"

we conversated for a bit at the door before she went back down the hall.

────˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗────

GOLDIE

"oh, my baby! how was your first day?" i crouched down as ellie came running to me. "it was so much fun, mommy! oh, here this is for you." she gave me a paper

dear parents/guardians,

as the school year has just begun. i would like to meet with you one on one sometime next week to discuss the school year and what your child will be learning. this is a great opportunity to get to me, your child's teacher, and i will get to know you and your child a bit more and see what support is needed from me.

please choose a day and time(s) for a meeting next week after school and have your child return it no later than friday. if you are unavailable to meet with me, please email me at msturniolo@sunrisevalley.edu to discuss other options. i look forward to meeting you.

- matthew sturniolo

"what's that?" willow asked as we walked out of the school yard back to the car. "oh, just to make an appointment to meet one on one with her teacher next week." i shrugged. we made it to the car and i put the paper in ellie's bookbag so i wouldn't crumble it. "guess what's ready for you back home, ellie?" i smile at her as i buckle her in. "white speggeti and chicken?!" she beamed. "mhm, it was ready right before we left to sure it was hot and ready for when you got back home." "yay!" she cheered.

i'd say she had a good first day.

────˗ˏˋ authors note ˎˊ˗────

omg!! how do we feel about this?! sorry i've gone for so long😔 i lowk lost motivation but i wrote this bit by bit throughout the weeks i've been gone. i will try my best to keep up with this series that i genuinely want to write it :D

[lukolathoughts]

Women's rights

(trigger warning. Also, please be kind as I discuss some personal issues. I will block all negative comments, but I welcome opinions.)

Hi everyone, hope you are all doing well. I knew last night was going to be rough. It happens whenever I write a blog post. As soon as I saw that story from Jake yesterday thanking Aimee - Nic's stylist for her help, I knew he would at the Bafta party. What I didn't expect was that Nicola would pose on the red carpet with him for staged and awkward looking photos. I did a double take in astonishment at his white trainers paired with a ill fitting suit, that did not match Nicola's outfit. The photos were stiff and awkward, Nicola forcing a smile of adoration and Jake rarely looking at her. It screamed PR and FAKE FAKE FAKE. This is not us Lukola's being in denial, this just simply what we see with our own eyes.

The question I posed in yesterdays blog titled - 'The crazy woman in the attic' was, what is in the attic exactly? What on earth is going on that Nicola and Luke need to go to these kind of extremes? What secret are they protecting? This cannot be the solution. Nicola, I hope your team sends you this and I will try and be as kind and gracious as possible with my opinions. Also, remember readers these are my opinions. Jakeholes, just block me and move on. As I have said, this is not the place for you.

I am going to go into a bit of personal information about me just to give you some context. I grew up in a extremely unsettled home. My father was physically violent to my mother and I witnessed a lot. I struggled with not being able to save her. I still carry this guilt to this day, and I have never been able to forgive my dad. We left when I was nine, but by that time I had seen a lot. I met my ex when I was 19 and that turned into an emotionally abusive relationship, made all the more harder as I was living with him abroad. When I came home, I was an absolute wreck and I needed that time to heal and be on my own, with support from my family and friends. I was then very lucky to meet my own Colin Bridgerton and that is where we are today. One of the habits I developed as a child to cope and hide I suppose was to watch my television shows. I love my TV shows and movies. It just settles me and I can escape for a few hours. It's no real surprise to me that I adore Bridgerton.

OK, ZG, what does this have to do with Nic? Well, I do love a strong female character and I adore Penelope and I have admiration for Nicola and all she believes in. She is a role model to me. However, the biggest role model in my life other than Buffy, is obviously my mum. She worries me to death that woman and is a Capricorn also, incidentally she is now married to an Aquarius. Stubborn as a mule, but a heart of gold, my mum. I keep going back mentally to wishing I could have done something as a child to help her. As most of you know, I'm a teacher. At the moment, I am working on a project to get young parents back into work or education in deprived areas by improving their literacy, numeracy and other skills. I have loved this project and helping these women has been fantastic. Without saying too much, some of these women have dealt with the worst kinds of abuse I have ever seen or heard. Coercive control is much more prevalent now amongst abusers. I am an empath as well, so I take a lot of this emotion home with me and I guess the fandom and Nicola and Luke have helped me channel this elsewhere and allow me to escape.

I have known gay men my whole life. My first cousin was always very open about his sexuality, even before we understood what it meant. It was just the way he was. I had a gay BFF in primary school, college and all through my twenties I mixed with the albeit minimal gay scene where I live. I have not had much experience with the trans community, I'll be honest, other than visiting the gay bars in Swansea and Cardiff with my friend S. I just don't have the same emotional connection to the trans community as Nicola does. I support rights of women. I shouldn't feel guilty for saying that loud. I fight for their right to work and education and for making a better world for their children. I fight for my own children. I write what I write as a mother myself and especially a mother to a daughter.

One of the most upsetting things in the last few years was the Manchester Bombing. On 22 May 2017, following a concert by the American pop singer Ariana Grande. Perpetrated by Islamic extremist Salman Abedi and aided by his brother, Hashem Abedi, the bombing occurred at 22:31 and killed 22 people. Most of these victims were young women and girls. The murder of Sarah Everard by police officer Wayne Couzen's in 2021 was one of the most sickening cases I had ever read and the media tried to blame Sarah for her own murder for daring to walk home alone at night. Last summer, in Southport, a mad man broke into a little girls dance studio at a Taylor Swift themed dance class and knifed to death three little girls and stabbed countless others. Kyle Clifford, broke into his ex girlfriends house and killed her, her sister and her mother with a crossbow last year also.

These are the kind of stories that keep me awake at night, not whether trans women are allowed to use the women's toilets or not and whatever else. I don't want men in our spaces and I don't think they should be. But, I give Nicola some grace, because she is raising money for a cause she believes in it. I will not begrudge her that. What I do begrudge her for is after successfully raising so much money, she then proceeds to counteract everything she was campaigning for by walking Jake Dunn down the red carpet and presenting him to the media as her 'boyfriend'. To me, this is deeply hypocritical. Jake is known to the industry as a queer actor. Jake is starring in an upcoming BBC drama about trans rights where he plays a queer role. All this has done is upset her fans and enrage the LGBTQ community. Jake's stylist Miller Mode posted a very interesting story post today saying he was a stylist for queers, weirds and beards. How fascinating is that? How many more of these posts will we see and how many of the community will start to turn their backs on Nicola and Jake? Miller mode also refers to Jake as a 'princess' and 'she'.

Jake is also doing press for his show today What it feels like for a girl and he's back on Instagram today promoting trans rights as if last night didn't happen. Maybe he and Nic wish it didn't. She has been eerily silent today so far and I'm sorry but Nic, you made your bed, now you must lie in it. That carriage scene is iconic and partly because Luke was so magnificent in delivering his love declaration. The scene is magic, with chemistry like no other. Luke should have been there last night. I find it fascinating that we have yet to see Jake and Luke interact. I think it is glaringly obvious why, gentle reader. Luke can't lie to save his life. He'd be too busy glaring daggers at Jake, and Jake in turn would be salivating over Luke. It would be hilarious and frankly, I would love to see it. I find the candid photo of Jake eyeing up the hot Love Island contestant last night poetic justice and there is the truth right there. But yet we are still vilified on SM for suggesting Jake is gay and not at all interested in Nicola. This has nothing to do with Nicola, by the way. If I was with Nic, I probably would never stop smiling, but Jake can't bring himself to do it. It's not because she's unattractive, it's because she's literally not his type. Period. She is a woman.

I will continue to stand up for women, including Nicola, but lovely you gotta throw me a bone here. You want your fans to hang around and cheer for you? Then don't repeatedly slap us in the face and undermine our intelligence. Be honest and tell us what you and Luke are hiding in that damn attic, because it isn't Jake Dunn, he's out and proud.

[casdeans-pie]

These tags by @kinky-cas and @anthropophagustiel have been living in my head rent free for a couple of days and I need to get this off my chest:

Okay but imagine Sam twists his ankle during a hunt and he's limping back to the car and Dean is like, I can't watch this, c'mon Hopalong I'll call Cas to heal you up, and Sam is like, no! no it's fine. And when Dean is confused Sam has to finally admit that he doesn't like the weird itchy feeling he gets under his skin when Cas heals him - he'd rather just put some ice on it when they get back to the bunker and let it heal naturally.

But Dean is totally baffled, and thinks to himself: Weird itchy feeling???? Getting healed feels like being hugged warmly from the inside. Like having that first sip of ice cold beer on a hot day. Like waking up with no alarm and being able to turn over and go back to sleep.

But he eventually says, Yeah, yeah the uh, itchy feeling. know exactly what you mean.

---

And then when Cas has to use his soul like a supercharge battery one day (for world saving reasons or something) they found out that it doesn't hurt him at all - it instead feels like the most intensely profound thing they've ever experienced. Grace and soul recognise each other. It feels like home.

Castiel deserved to shove his hand in Dean's chest to use his soul like a battery at least Once in the whole 15 seasons. Just saying.

[maevawrites]

'silent orders' . . . jack abbott

✦ disclaimers/warnings: medical inaccuracies, swearing, mentions of blood, oneshot, age gap but not clearly specified, jack abbott x f!resident, the use of y/n & y/l/n, fluff, like a smidge of angst, possible spelling/grammatical errors, probably more but yk the drill.

✦ note: feel free to listen to the song linked! (or don't, idrc) i kinda just add them for myself cus i'll just listen to a certain song on repeat while writing a piece. helps me get in the zone.

✦ word count: 1.1k

the case came rolling in.

a psych hold with a long history of violent episodes.

the patient—a large agitated man, was restless, and resisting in restraint. he seemed almost impossible to deescalate.

you were leading the case, trying to stay calm while throwing out orders to the rest of the team in the room.

"someone get psych down here, stat!" you called, a sense of urgency lacing your voice. you were determined to get things under control.

in situations like this, dr. jack abbott would already have things handled but he was tied up in the operating room and you were the oldest resident on the floor available.

so you had to step up.

with all the thrashing the man had been doing, he had managed to make one of his leg restraints go loose. you acted quickly, leaning in to fasten it back, but he jerked his leg suddenly, using a great amount of strength to knock you back, causing you to crash into the cart behind you.

"oh shit-" you say as you hit the cart with a loud clang! you managed to get back up, attempting to regain your balance. with the amount of shock and adrenaline coursing through you, you hadn't realized there was a gash on your arm. nothing huge or life threatening, but it was there, apparent, and deep—stinging.

"woah, you okay y/l/n?" one of the nurses asked, coming to your side to help you steady yourself.

"yeah—yeah, i'm fine. let's just get the man sedated." you say with an unevenness in your voice.

of course with your luck, jack magically came rushing in, snapping a pair of gloves on as he entered. he scanned the room like he was on a mission. assessing the situation, his eyes eventually landing on you.

he took in the chaos, the half wrestled patient and the single drip of blood on your arm.

"what happened here?" he asked, more like demand than a question.

"we're good dr. abbott. just a restless patient." you say as you brush yourself off, making your way to the side of the mans gurney. you were determined to contain the situation. you wanted, needed to get things under control. something in you felt the need to prove to abbott that you could handle cases like this. though he was your attending and there to help and take the lead if need be, you knew you couldn't always rely on him.

jack eyed you down. you were half shaken, and the gash that was now on your arm had done something to him. he was supposed to keep you safe. you were his resident. his responsibility.

"you're hurt." his voice dropped, sharp and unreadable.

"it's nothing," you deflected, you weren't going to let some little gash stop you from treating a patient. "we were just trying to sedate him-"

"i can see that." he clipped. he looked at the patient, now held down by two nurses and a security guard. he immediately took over with ease. "diaz, get a second dose ready. we'll try another IM injection—he's too agitated for IV access."

you hovered, waiting for him to tell you what to do next—you still wanted to help the patient.

"take twenty in the break room, dr. y/l/n." abbott said, tending to the man, not even sparing you a glance.

"i said i'm fine." you didn't mean for it to come out so sharp—but it did. you just wanted to stay. to prove you weren't just some resident that could get knocked off their feet (quite literally) and not be able to get back up and continue.

but jack turned to you then, and gave you that look. not exactly angry, not scolding, just... unwavering.

it was like his eyes were speaking silent orders.

he didn't have to say anything for you to understand that.

you froze.

the look he gave was the kind that pierced through the soul. the kind that made any med student at the pitt stand up straighter.

you suppressed the urge to roll your eyes and turned on your heel. "i'll be in the break room," you muttered, throwing out your gloves, and clutching your stinging arm as you went.

~

you sat slumped against the break room couch, the oddly calming silence was heavy. the gash on your arm had been cleaned up and bandaged, it still stung but it was manageable.

head leaned back, eyes closed, you let yourself breathe for the first time in what felt like hours. just a few minutes of silence would help you find some tranquility from the chaos and tension that had ensued moments ago.

the door creaked open, but you didn't open your eyes. you had a good feeling it was jack.

"how's the arm?" he tilted his head, like he was trying to assess you. more than just your arm.

you opened one eye to peer at him, "i'm fine, like i said before." you muttered.

he slowly made his way over and sat beside you.

"you know," he started, and you sat up a little, turning to look at him, "I didn't want to push you out like that but i had to."

"why though?" you asked, your voice quieter, more curious than defensive like before.

jack leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees, fingers laced. his gaze stayed on the floor for a moment, like he was trying to find the right words to say.

"because seeing you hurt-" he paused, jaw flexing, "it threw me off."

you blinked, unsure if you had heard him correctly.

he went on, "you're my resident, my job is to teach you, guide you, and back you up. not watch you bleed in the middle of a serious case."

you were silent at his words. then you finally spoke, "but i could've handled it. i was trying to handle it."

"i know you were," he finally turned to look at you, eyes locking. "but you don't have to prove that to me y/n, not at the cost of yourself."

something flickered in his eyes, protectiveness, guilt, maybe. you couldn't quite tell. but his words hung heavily between you.

"you're a good doctor y/n." he added, "a damn good one, but you're also mine to look after."

those words made your breath hitch. the way he said 'mine' lingered in your ears.

"so i'm your favorite, huh?" you teased, trying to ease the tension.

jack laughed, like actually laughed, "something like that." he said shaking his head.

"we should probably get back out there doc." he says. "duty calls."

you nod your head, gently smiling. you were ready to go back out and continue working. now knowing that jack had only snapped at you because he was trying to protect you made your heart pitter-patter. the silent protectiveness jack had over you made you feel a little more confident when walking back out to the busy emergency room.

✦ maeva’s thoughts: ahhhh thank y'all sm for +100 notes on my last post!! seems like dr. abbott is a fan favorite rn so i thought i'd deliver some more.

[lllivia]

I could help you

Ellie Williams x f!reader

Summary: Ellie helps you out 😛

Warnings: non apocalyptic scenario, cocky (slightly loser) Ellie, top!Ellie, bottom!reader, frustrated!reader, NOT proofread

It had only gone four out of the six weeks the doctor had ordered for you to have your cast on - and you were already feeling like you were about to rip it off with your bare hands (which of course was impossible). What luck was it that the one fucking time you felt like skating without a helmet, you had skidded over some tiny little pebble and in an attempt to break your fall - breaking your wrist instead.

It was so hard to do quite literally anything when your dominant hand was all bandaged up, but by far one of the worst things was the masturbation. God, it was so frustrating, it seemed like any little thing could set you off at this point after going so long without a release.

You had tried getting off of course, but it only ended up hurting you more than it giving any sort of measurable pleasure, which only built up the sexual frustration that was at this point running 24/7 through your veins.

-

"Soo what d'you wanna do now?" Ellie smirked up at you from where she sat on the floor, just having beaten you for like the 7th time in the row in street fighter - which she claimed was all because of her pure "talent"x and not because you had a useless hand that couldn't help you make any proper combos.

"I don't know - you tell me, it's not much I can do with this fucked up wrist that doesn't cause me any pain" you sighed and layed back down onto your bed, pissed that the broken bone once again came in your way of doing anything fun.

"Alright.. How about we play some truth or dare?" She chuckled, standing up to sit next to where you lay, immediately getting comfy on the familiar blankets.

"What are you, ten?" You couldn't help but laugh - you hadn't played truth or dare since like early high school. But Ellie only raised her eyebrow at you "Have any better idea ms. "I can't think of anything to do"?"

And ig she was right, there really wasn't anything. "Okay okay you got me" You smiled, never able to resist your best friends pretty face.

"I'll get you to spill all of your deepest and darkest secrets" she wiggled her eyebrows ridiculously as if you didn't already tell eachother basically anything. "So, truth or dare."

You thought for a second - she wouldn't make you do something really stupid, would she?who we're you kidding, she totally would.

"Truth I guess" you answered hesitantly, slightly nervous about what she might ask.

"Umm when was the last time you finished a book" she asked, clearly not having thought as far as to get to the questions.

"Seriously dumbass, you don't have anything better than that?" You laughed and slapped her knee, unbeknownst to you making her grin just with your closeness. "Your turn then.. Truth or dare?"

She shrugged "Dare, obviously. I'm not a wimp" her smirk showing off her white teeth as you playfully hit her again.

"Fine, you have to text the last person you ghosted and tell them you need them" It was your turn to smirk as Ellie's face dropped, both of you knowing exactly who she had to text.

"You asshole! You know it was Dina, I can't just message her now after like 4 months" Ellie grimaced, the memory of when she suddenly stopped texting the girl back now fresh in her mind.

"I didn't say I would play fair" the laugh escaping you sounded down right sinister as you watched the brunette pick up her phone and send the text before slamming it down again on your mattress.

"Your turn, and don't even think I'm gonna play nice now" she had moved closer in the excitement, your bodies almost pressing against each other - which neither of you felt like commenting on. Not wanting to ruin the chance of being so close.

Worried she was going to make you do something absolutely humiliating you couldn't help with going for what you thought was the easy way out again. But oh my were you wrong. "Truth."

"Are you fucking kidding me y/n! You're such a pussy" Ellie groaned before widening her eyes at the perfect question.

"Well it's not in the rules that I can't choose truth two times in a row" you cheesed, pure smugness dripping off your tone.

"When's.. The last time you jacked off?" She smirked proudly, enjoying the embarrassment that quickly embraced your face.

"What the actual fuck Ellie, you creep!" You gaped, once again punching her leg.

"Ow - Well, you have to say it. It's the rules!" Your best friend laughed loudly while throwing her head back. She had for sure gotten the reaction she wanted after her last dare.

You thought about it for a moment before rolling your eyes "ok fine.. I guess about like 4 weeks ago" looking away your cheeks started burning hot, there was definitely some kind of unspoken boundary that just got crossed. "But it's only because of this stupid useless hand that I can't fucking get off!"

Well shit, you had definitely said too much now.

It was Ellie's time to gape now, her mind starting to race at the simple sentence.

All she could think of doing was licking her cracked lips and blushing before thinking of something to say. "I could.. Help you? Yk.. If you want."

You almost laughed straight in her face. There was no way she was being serious right now, what the hell did she mean by helping you?

"..What?" Your almost squeeky voice sounded out, unable to stop the warmth pooling into your lower belly at the situation that was happening right in front of you.

"I could get you off" her body was fully turned towards you now, she couldn't even believe herself for being so bold. God, she hoped this wouldn't ruin the perfect relationship you already had.

"Okay" you answered breathely, you legs unknowingly starting to rub against each other slightly - something that didn't go unnoticed by Ellie.

"Okay?" Waiting to confirm what she thought she just heard, she could almost feel herself twitching in anticipation.

"Okay" you laughed breathily, what was happening right now.

Ellie didn't waste any more time, and practically jumped your bones on the spot. She didn't waste any time on formalities and crawled down your body until she reached your pajama pants.

"You're so pretty" she looked up and smirked "but you'd be prettier without these" she plucked at the band of your pants before letting it snap back into place.

"You're so fucking corny" you rolled your eyes playfully, ignoring the fact that you were basically already dripping in arousal.

"Whatever you say" her eyes never leaving you as she slid the pants down your smooth skin, however many times she had seen you change could never compare with the feeling that embraced her now while actually being the one stripping you down.

All that was left on your lower body now was your underwear, which Ellie felt the strange want to rip off with her teeth - oh how many times she had imagined you under her like this. Restraining from the action she looked up at you once again as to double check that what she was doing was alright, before finally removing your panties in a haste.

She stopped to stare for a second, taking in your beauty in case this was the one and only time she would ever do this. "You're so pretty baby, might have to break your wrist more often" You rolled your eyes playfully - even when you were basically trying to hump her face and whimpering in need.

"C'mon Ellie - just fuck me already" you breathed as she took her time viewing and kissing your thighs.

"Alright alright, no need to beg baby. I'm right here, I'll help you."

And she finally did. Her tongue gleefully licking through your already soaked folds as she held you down while you writhed. "God, you taste so good" she moaned, using two fingers to rub up and down you pussy - enjoying the slick that quickly covered her digits.

But as much as she was enjoying the look of pure need and desperation in your eyes as she teased you slowly she couldn't hold on for long before she pushed the two already lubed up fingers into you.

You immediately squeezed around her and gasped, fuck, no warning? But the slight sting from the stretch dissipated almost immediately as she started curling her fingers into you, her tongue simultaneously tracing figure 8s on your throbbing clit.

"S-shit Ellie!" Wow, you hadn't noticed how much you needed this until it was actually happening. And the fact that it was Ellie - your literal best friend and crush, that leading you towards your forthcoming orgasm was reeling you closer and closer to the edge faster than you had ever managed to do with your own fingers.

"Huh, you like that?" Her pace never slowed before she decided it was time to add a third finger, loving the feeling of you squeezing around her.

"Yes, yes! I needed this so bad" your high pitched voice sounded out while you painted for air, aggressively using your one good hand to grab onto Ellie's hair and pushing her closer to you - not even noticing as she whimpered slightly at the feeling.

"You gonna come? I mean shit, y/n, I can literally feel the way you're suffocating my fingers" She chuckled and sped up a bit as she talked.

"Mhm - yeah I'm gonna come" it seemed like the only thing in the world that was real was Ellie as she flicked her tongue one last teasing time against you.

A pleasure better than you'd ever felt crashed down all at once, almost drowning you. The warmth of Ellie's tongue never disappeared while your orgasm lasted, the girl on top of you never letting up until you were a twitching mess against her, weakly trying to push her away while whimpering lowly.

When you finally felt as though you could speak again you looked over at her already staring form, her face having a tiny blushing smile adorned all over it as she looked at you.

"Was that good?" Even after she had made you experience the most jaw dropping experience of your life she still had the nerve to ask such a stupid question.

"Yes dumbass, that was literally the best orgasm I've ever had" you grinned and layed back, closing your eyes - if you could just stay in this moment forever you would, resting as Ellie hummed and traced tiny hearts onto your bare stomach.

Well, that was so much better than playing some stupid video game.

-

a/n: I'm writing this at 1 in the morning so excuse if it's a bit wonky - ALSO SEND REQUESTS PLS, I'M OUT OF CREATIVITY 😪🙏

MAIN MASTERLIST

[sparklystarrrr]

Just saw your RiddlexKing of Hearts Reader. It’s so adorable and I love seeing Riddle be smothered in affection. But I had an idea… (this is post overblot) Riddle leaves for a minute and our sweet lil reader turns to the group and says that she knows about the overblot. She knows about all the chaos SOME of the freshman *cough Adeuce cough* cause, and she knows how stressed Riddle can get. Then, with a warm smile on her face, she threatens to come back and take care of the guys if anything close to the overblot happens again. She may not be able to do anything about Riddle’s mother (yet) but her family has enough status and power to help take care of some misbehaving boys. When Riddle returns he’s confused why all of his dorm seems on edge but his lovely fiancé is just smiling and compliments the sweets served at the party. Maybe she even says they should think about having Trey bake their wedding cake.

Sorry, went off a bit there. You don’t have to write it but the idea was just stuck in my head. I just really love when the sunshine character can be all scary and intimidating with a smile.

THATS MY FAV TROPE EVERRRRR

Queen of My Heart Pt. 2

Synopsis: Sunshine can turn into a storm very quick…

Contains: Riddle R. x Fem! King of Hearts! Reader, continuation of pt.1, kinda short sorry!

The Unbirthday party was going swimmingly. Everyone was full of joy and laughter, there was no Tyrant ordering people around, the food was delicious, and the air was shining and light. "Dear, I'm heading to the restroom for just a moment. I'll be right back." Riddle said to (y/n) who sat prettily in her King's chair. "Of course darling, be quick!" she spoke with a warm voice like the sweet honey Riddle enjoyed putting in his tea. He then pressed a small kiss upon her forehead and made his way inside the dorm house.

Little did the students of Heartslabyul know, their sweet and kind (y/n)’s attitude would sour the second her red-headed fiancé was out of her sight. Once Riddle was completely hidden from view, her aura darkened. It was like a pitch black storm cloud completely blocked out the sun in just seconds. Her warm smile became strained and her posture tightened. She gripped the end of her pleated skirt,”So boys, I got many letters from Riddle these past few weeks...” Trey, Cater and the Adeuce duo turned to her at the sound of her voice. They felt uneasy. Before they could ask if she was alright, she continued.”Care to tell me why and how Riddle Overblotted..?”

Suddenly and without any warning, the girl became dark and ominous. The air was heavy; pressing down on every single Heartslabyul boy. "U-uh, Miss (y/n), it really was an accident-" "No yeah uh, we totally didn't piss him off at all..." "Bro why would you expose us like that??" "He's perfectly fine now (n/n) and I think that's all that matters... I hope." The four boys sat at the same table as her stammered endlessly. As much as they tried to figure out a way to excuse themselves, (y/n) came back harder and stronger making them shrink back in fear.

"Oh, you don't need to make up excuses... I know everything..." She said in an eerie whisper while snapping her head to the first year boys who were sweating their butts off in fear and practically shaking under her piercing (e/c) gaze. Her chaste smile was nothing but terrifying. They'd never seen a woman flip the switch on her warm and soft demeanor while still smiling happily. The whole yard of boys went silent. "You all truly have nothing else to say? My my..." She trailed in her sweet voice. "You do this again... and it'll be off with your head on my accord, got it?"

The boys nearly fainted. Every single one of them hurried out of their chairs and made it a point to bow in deep fear. "Y-yes Ma'am!" She laughed bitterly. "Very good, let the party resume!" She clapped. Suddenly, that gummy smile was plastered back onto her face while she cut herself a few slices of various cakes and tarts and other desserts. The students nodded hastily and wearily went back to eating and conversing.

(y/n)'s eyes sparkled as her red haired fiance made his way back to the party. He felt the strained feelings in the air and looked around at his fearful students who were much quieter than before. As he walked closer to his designated table with his five favorite people, he saw that his sweet little angel (y/n) was sitting and eating desserts with an adorable smile on her pink lips. Around her? Terrified Adeuce and a scarred Trey and Cater.

He sat down next to his fiance hesitantly and she began going on her sweet little rants"Oh Riddle dear, Trey really did make the desserts so well! I remember you took me to his bakery for our anniversaries, we should totally have him make our wedding cake shouldn't we?" They girl spoke happily while chomping down another bite of the creamy cheesecake.

He smiled at her, then hesitated to speak,"Absolutely my dear, but I have a question... Why are the students in shell shock..? Did something happen whilst I was away?" Riddle questioned in deep concern. "Nothing happened! I just had a quick chit chat with them. Right boys?" She looked at the four boys next to them. They quickly muttered "yes" and "yeah"s under their breath and looking down at the food in their plates.

Riddle sighed then let out an airy chuckle. He gently brought the young lady's delicate hand to his lips and pressed a kiss on it, trying to calm her nerves. The boy found it easy to read his fiance. Knowing that she'd scared all of Heartslabyul into having nightmares of her tonight? It's safe to say he was a proud future husband.

[jazeswhbhaven]

Back in the fandom again and I was looking for your blog everywhere 😿 You were probably the most memorable writer to me about WHB lol. I really adore your works 🥹...

Is it okay if I ask a request? Maybe for the kings and some nobles from Gehenna!!

How about an MC that gets easily annoyed especially if it's painfully hot outside and the sun is just literally GLARINGGG towards them.

Not annoyed as in full on screaming. But annoyed in a way it's so easy to rile them up and get their brows all furrowed up and they're like "what????"

It's more on the humorous side hehe, I think it's funny and I maybe want their reactions to lean more onto that side, but still keep their usual errr behavior or personality??

Thank you!!!

Ahh hi anon, I'm glad you were able to find my blog again!! This means a lot saying that you like my works ✨😌

I'll do all the nobles from Gehenna btw, just because ^^ I don't talk about them enough so I just feel like I should

It's the hottest day in Gehenna, so much that even finding shelter in the shade still has you sweating up a storm. Thankfully it's just for a few days out of the year, but MC is not having it at all. "God it's so hot....I'm literally melting..."

Sitri: He's quick on his feet thinking about how to cool off MC. He's aware that the shade will only bring some relief but it's never enough. Thankfully, he's brought along some freshly made iced tea, made with a special ingredient that keeps you cool and refreshed for hours! Other devils have tried to take some, but he refuses to share. This was made for MC, everyone else will have to find other ways to cool off.

Ppyong: Oh no! MC is uncomfortable and this red lump is far too small to provide shade or any source of relief. But he does know of a place where they can hang out for a while without being directly under the sun's rays. A cafe ran by most of his red lump fans and family, small but quaint! Refreshing drinks, the coolest AC they managed to make with small parts and debris collected from previous battles they had to clean up. He always wanted to take MC here, and boy do they appreciate it.

Leraye: He offers to shoot the sun down, he's pretty sure he can do it. There's no target he can't hit! But after MC talks him out of even trying so he doesn't burn his eyes out, they opt for returning back to the palace where Leraye knows of a specific secret area he usually sets up his sniping gear during battles that has the perfect amount of shade and where the breeze hits just right. Plus...he managed to get some of Sitri's iced tea to give MC anyway lol

Paimon: Oh he hates the heat as much as MC does. Sweat slows him down and melts his pretty eye makeup! But have no fear, he's always prepared when it comes to the hottest days of Geheena. Cute sun hats, portable bladeless fans from Tartaros, and a special human skin friendly sunscreen that makes it feel like there's no sun at all! He's so proud to show off these trendy objects he got from the mall and is even more happy that they work well. Not to mention he wants MC to try out his minty lip gloss, *wink*

Astaroth: This weather is actually perfect for his snake so he's not too bothered by it. Nice and warm. However, he's aware that MC's annoyance with the heat and sun can't be too healthy. To compromise for both parties, he does have this magic parasol for MC to use. If you say the right poem/mantra it will literally start snowing underneath it. MC finds this parasol odd, but at least it's working! Astaroth was also amused, saying he had gotten it from a witch because she told him it would always keep his snake warm even when it's cold. Turns out it was the opposite.

Zagan: The sun always looks flawless on this devil's sun kissed skin, so a few more rays and heat won't do a thing. However, he'd do anything make sure MC is comfortable, so he writes up a special talisman they can use that works like an all over body ice pack. He's even brought a whole stack of them just in case the one MC has on right now gets damaged. And so they don't feel left out, he wears one too. Now they can enjoy their morning walk together without much discomfort! A bonus is that Zagan tied his hair up for this occasion.

Satan: "You're pissed off? So am I...it's too damn hot!" Satan actually does not like the heat at all, especially when he has to move around and do things. It's not really the sweat, but it's more so the combination of sun rays AND the radiating heat from the ground. Plus he can't stand the jokes Mammon makes about how it shouldn't bother him since heat rises and he's further to the ground than he is 💀 So, to make it bearable for him and MC he just literally takes them around on his bike so the wind cools them off from how fast he's going. He also doesn't mind spending all day at his bike shop, the AC there is really nice.

Mammon: "Come closer to me, Master. I'll block the sun's rays for you." And no kidding does that actually help! MC is immediately shrouded in Mammon's shadow which provides quick relief from the glaring sun in Tartaros. And if that wasn't a plus already, his Ai bots fly around and spray a cool mist, similar to how you see the mist stations at Zoos during the summer. The sun is no bother for this big guy, all it does is glisten against his golden skin as he soaks it up. He could do this all day.

Beelzebub: "You know, I don't mind that you're all sweaty..." Beel ofcourse is a tease when MC is rather upset about how hot it is. Not to mention that Abyssos is mostly a concrete jungle, so the pavement is hot too. But, he's not gonna torture MC for long, offering solace by whisking them away to the grasslands of Abyssos. There's trees for miles, amazing shade, and a few lakes with water so cold you'd think it should be frozen. These are places he escapes too when he does return, and now MC knows he little hideouts. Just gotta make sure Bael doesn't know about this.

Leviathan: "If you're that uncomfortable at least do something about it." Leviathan considers MC's mild complaint about the heat slightly annoying, but they do have a point. Why is it so hot today in Hades when normally the sun doesn't shine much here? Levi opts to take MC back to the palace, where his room is the coldest compared to everywhere else. He doesn't even mind if they stay in there all day because he didn't want to be outside in the first place and he has paperwork to look over. Levi even goes so far that he's moved his desk temporarily so he can MC can be in the same room. But don't mention that...

Lucifer: "Ah, the greenhouse is normally not this warm. Here drink this." Similar to Sitri's iced tea recipe, Lucifer has his own brew that provides not only instant relief from the heat and sun, but prevents migraines, and heat exhaustion for at least 24 hours. He created this one time when Gamigin passed out from traveling the desserts of Tartaros to heal a devil. He also has changed a few things around to make sure MC doesn't ingest anything they're allergic to. But being the doctor he is, he sticks around MC just to make sure nothing happens at least until it's safe for them to be alone.

Belphegor: "Quit yer bellyachin', ain't nothin' but a little heat and sun." Well, at least for him anyway the heat has no affect on him. He could sleep through an entire damn fire if he must. But he's immediate solution to keep MC cool is to drag them to his room, turn on the AC to the lowest setting, and it's freezing cold now. The only source of heat in the room is his body and his bed. Could this have been his plan all along? Either way now MC doesn't have to be in the sun, and Belphie gets to sleep in a cold dark room. Everyone wins.

Asmodeus: "The sun highlights the best parts of you, my dear. Oh and how you look with sweat rolling off your body..." Asmo is definitely no help when the heat is unbearable in Abaddon. For some odd reason it is unusually hot though most areas in this country are shaded or cloudy. But also, MC's annoyance is a turn on for this devil in fact anything they do is, but it's not like he's going to let them suffer for too long. He knows a place, deep within the castle walls on the top floor. Nope, not his room, but another place he seldom tells others about. To MC's surprise it's filled with everything meant to cool you down during those hot summers on earth, including an indoor pool chilled to perfection. For now Asmo enjoys the amenities with MC no strings attached, but eventually...skinny dipping in said pool was gonna be on the agenda.

[ahgasegotarmy116]

Still With You | A Jeon Jungkook Series | Chapter Eleven

Summary: Making up with Jungkook isn't something you want to do first thing in the morning but you've kept him waiting for far too long Pairing : Luna (reader) x Jungkook and Jimin, f2l love triangle Word Count: 3.7k~ Warnings: Explicit language (barely lol) a/n: I know I put a poll up and this was the last choice in the rankings but this was already finished so I figured I'd just post it 😅 Start from the beginning

Opening my eyes I'm greeted with the warmth of the sun on my skin, shining through the curtains where I've fallen asleep on the couch in my living room. 

Reaching for my phone I check the time and see that I've woken up just five minutes before my alarm was supposed to go off. I'd prefer it this way honestly if it could save me from being jolted awake by that incessant ringing signaling the start of my day. 

Taking a deep breath I look up at the ceiling and start coaching myself in how this morning should all go down. Confronting someone after a fight is never pleasant but in this situation it's necessary. 

'I don't want to lose him', that has been the reason for my inaction and now it has to be my motivation to take action.

Jungkook can be hardheaded when he wants to be (sometimes even more than me), but I can't let the fear of not being able to reach him keep me from fighting for us. 

I know I need to show him how much he means to me, I know I've fallen short and I know for sure it's my turn to step up and make things right.

Sitting up I'm hit with a sudden feeling of wooziness and realize that in all the upset I forgot to eat last night. 

Well, I guess that's another motivation added to the list for getting me up and out of this apartment. I make my way to my bathroom to take a quick shower and get dressed to go before I can chicken out of this. 

I'm reminded of some of the horrible things he said to me last night as I continue to wake up but the reason they cut so deep is because most of them are laced with truth. 

I was stringing him along, I did spend time with Jimin, but I'm not dating him. I don't like the attention as much as he thinks I do, I only really care about him and it's been like that for years.

I guess since I haven't really entertained a guy for a while neither one of us knows how to act, especially since I know that he loves me now. 

Or loved...

Arriving at his door I find myself hesitant to knock since the action itself seems foreign. Between the three of us including Grey we've kinda dropped that formality, or at least Grey and I have. 

Jungkook still is a bit more respectful and texts before letting himself in. I hope we can go back to those days and that the damage that has been done can be repaired. 

Making moves to knock I'm interrupted by the sight of Hoseok coming out of his place a few doors down. 

"Oh Luna, hi! I haven't seen you in a while. How have you been?" he asks looking bright eyed and bushy tailed, a tell tail sign that he probably wasn't aware of Jungkook's drunken stupor from last night. 

"Could be better" I say now reminded of Jungkook's same response just hours ago. 

"Are you here to see Jungkook?" he asks, clearly seeing what my intensions are. "Yeah, do you know if he got home last night?" I question now concerned as to why he's asking.

"I heard from Jin that he crashed at his place after showing up drunk off his ass. He said he was mumbling something about you so I figured you might be showing up sometime soon" he relays, knowing that there's no real reason to hide the information from me. 

"Oh okay, I guess I'll go ahead and talk to him another time" I say making moves to retreat. "I could take you there if you want? It's on my way anyways" he says and I'm just now noticing he looks like he was on his way out. 

"Oh I don't want to impose" I start trying to decline his offer. "Don't worry about it, he's been out of sorts for the past week so I know that seeing you would probably help him out. I don't mean to sound nosy but we all kinda found out what happened".

I nod my head in understanding and ultimately accept his offer. 

The journey to Jin's house isn't too long but with every passing second I feel like my airways are closing up, my throat going dry. 

As I try to listen to Hoseok's rambling about some sort of new figurine that he collects I see the minutes on the gps get smaller and smaller as we get closer to our destination. Once it hits zero and he parks the car we sit there for a second. 

"Do you want me to walk you up? I told Jin we were on our way so he's already expecting you" he says hoping to encourage me to take that leap to finally try to work things out.

"No it's okay, you've already helped me so much. Thank you Hoseok really, I know I hurt him but I really do want to make it right" I say with a sad smile. 

"I know, friendships are hard and they're even harder when love gets added to the mix..." I widen my eyes and I see an amused look on his face. "Yes he told us that too, believe it or not he's been gushing about you to us for years, and it's Hobi, Hoseok is too formal" he chuckles. 

"Thank you Hobi, hopefully next time I see you it'll be under happier circumstances" I say with a pained expression. "I'm sure it will, we all know what he's like but please, don't stop fighting for him" he says pinching his eyebrows together in a pained expression. 

"I won't" is the last thing I say to him before walking up to the house. 

"Hi Luna" Jin says after answering my soft knocks on his door, doing my best to keep quiet incase Jungkook is still sleeping. "Hey" I say and he brings me in for a hug. "He's not awake yet but you can wait in the living room and we can catch up for a bit if you're up for it" he says and offers me a cup of coffee while he walks over to the kitchen, to which I accept and take a seat on his wrap around couch. 

"Here you go" he says and also brings milk and sugar so I can fix it to my liking. After doing so he retrieves the items and finally comes over to sit down on the opposite side of the couch making sure to keep a respectful distance, knowing what Jungkook's reaction might be if he found us any closer.

"How have you been? Hanging in there?" he starts taking the pressure off of me of initiating the conversation. "As best as I can be I guess. Did he tell you what happened last night?" I ask hoping to see where his head was at after our argument. 

"Well he was way too far gone when he got here so not a whole lot of it made sense other than telling me you guys had a fight and that you were cheating on him" he says recalling the sight. 

"How could I be cheating on him if we're not even dating?" I groan throwing my head back against the couch. 

"You know him, he's always been very protective of you, and I guess that with his confession he couldn't help but let out some of that possessive energy along with it" he explains plainly.

"Yeah I can tell. I got used to him being protective but everything has gotten out of control since then. You saw what happened that day on the boardwalk. How else was I supposed to react?" I ask, hoping for some sort of validation for my actions. 

"Maybe you shouldn't have shut me out" I freeze hearing Jungkook's deep morning voice that is drenched in hostility, still clearly upset with me. 

"Jungkook that's not fair" Jin says trying to come to my rescue. "It's okay Jin just let me talk to him" I talk him down, hoping that he'll give us some space to talk. "I'll be in the other room if you need me" he says and gets up to go, granting us a sense of privacy.

"What are you doing here?" Jungkook grumbles as he makes his way over to the kitchen and I decide to follow him there. 

"I came to see you" I say stating the obvious. "How did you find me?" he continues only asking surface level questions as he gets the coffee pot and pours himself a cup. "I passed by your place first and I bumped into Hobi so he told me where you were and gave me a ride here" I explain. 

"Don't call him that, only his friends get to call him that" he says clearly not happy that I've had contact with his hyungs without his prior knowledge. 

"He asked me to call him that..." I say trailing off deciding it's best not to push it. "Well I don't want you to. They're my friends, not yours" he says sternly still giving me the cold shoulder. "Noted" is all I say and do my best to give him a peace offering instead.

"I brought over some hangover soup, I thought you might like some" I say nodding towards the bag on the counter. 

Having his back to me, now looking for something that I could only guess would be some painkillers from the sight of the different medicine bottles in the cabinet, he only grunts in acknowledgement not really making an effort to show any sort of gratitude. 

"Shit" he mumbles. "I brought you some painkillers too if that's what you're looking for" I say hoping to get him to see that I really am here to help and not hurt. He lets out a deep sigh and looks over at the water bottle and the pain meds in question that I had placed on the counter and decides it's best to give in. 

"Thanks" he mumbles and takes the pills immediately. "You should probably eat something though so let me just heat up the soup for you too. I don't want you to end up with a stomachache on top of it all" I say gathering the takeout containers and assembling the meal before he can refuse.

After the food is ready I sit at the table and keep him company as he eats. 

"Aren't you gonna have some?" he questions, curious as to why I haven't served myself as well. "No that's okay, I ate something before I came here" I say making sure that he'll eat his fill and still have some left over for later. 

He shrugs his shoulders and continues to eat until I see that he looks like he's feeling a bit more alive again. He sits back and takes another drink of water before finally speaking. 

"So I'm guessing you're here to talk?" he says getting up to clear out the dishes, to which I jump up and help right away. "Yeah" I trail off hoping to have a more stable setting unlike last night. 

He nods his head and we both make our way over to the couch and end up sitting at the same distance that Jin and I had just been at before.

"So talk" he says and waits for me to explain myself. "Do you remember what happened last night?" I start off. 

"Bits and pieces. I do remember that you've been seeing another guy though, I wasn't drunk enough to forget that" he answers saying the last part under his breath. 

"I just want to clear that up real quick first so we can establish the reasons why I did what I did" he nods in acknowledgement and lets me continue. 

"His name is Jimin first off, and I met him a few days before the night you told me you love me, or loved me based off of what you said last night" he opens his mouth to interrupt but I hold my hand up telling him to wait until I've said my piece.

"He came into the store one day and flirted with me and we hit it off. He asked me to go to a cafe with him, which I did and he tried to kiss me at the end of it. I stopped him and told him I wanted to get to know him better and that we should take things slow, to which he agreed so we just kept things chill from there but he made his intensions known right away" I say and watch as his expressions change, seeing he wants to get a word in but he respects my wishes.

"In case you're wondering we haven't gone out on a proper date and we haven't kissed. On the night you and I had that fight on the boardwalk Jin brought me home and when I walked up to my doorstep there was a red envelope addressed to me" I continue and I can tell his interest is peaked.

"I picked it up and brought it inside and when I opened it I saw pictures of me with you and Grey. Some were from work, others were from us or just me inside my apartment and some were of us in random places where we were just spending time together. It even had pictures of when we went stargazing and from the day we went to the boardwalk"

I reach into my bag to take out the picture of us kissing with the first note that said 'I'm Watching You' with Jungkook's face crossed out. 

"All of the pictures had your face crossed out like this and I got scared so I grabbed my phone to try to call you but I somehow ended up calling Jimin on accident" I say and I see the way his hands grip the picture I had given him a little tighter.

"I started spiraling and by the time he picked up the phone he could already tell that something was wrong. I couldn't bring myself to hang up and call you because of what had happened between us so when he offered to come over I said yes" Jungkook tongues his cheek, a muscle in his jaw feathering.

"When he got there he helped calm me down and it felt so wrong to have someone else do what you've done for me time and time again but I knew it would've been selfish of me to ask you to come over after I had just asked for space".

I clear my throat before I keep going and I notice now that he's got his eyes trained on me, not missing a single word, needing to know what happened. 

"He spent the night, initially sleeping on the couch until I woke up from a nightmare later on that night so I asked him to sleep in the bed with me but that was it. Nothing happened" I explain and although he's still clearly tense I can tell he's happy that nothing happened. 

"I'm telling you in explicit detail because I want to be honest with you. I don't want there to be anymore misunderstandings between us. After that night I felt like we had gotten a bit closer so he asked me if I wanted to spend some more time together but I told him no because I wanted to figure out where things between you and I stand and he understood that but again told me that he still wanted to date me if I gave him the chance" if looks could kill...

"He ended up stopping by the store sometimes to just say hi and we would text occasionally but that's what the state of my relationship with him is at at the moment"

I think for a second trying to formulate my words carefully, the next part is one that could make or break our relationship. 

"I did ask for space that day for a few different reasons" I start off and I can see him squirm a bit in his seat. 

"One being that both you and Jimin confessed your feelings to me on the same night so my emotions were all over the place which is probably why I reacted the way that I did, so I apologize if I scared you" I explain and he nods, waiting for the other reasons on the list. 

"Two was that I felt like a switch flip between us even before you confessed to me. I could sense the tension building so I didn't know how to act. Third was from the way that things went down the day we fought. I do admit that I had fault in it too so I don't want you to feel like I'm blaming it all on you because I'm not" I back track a bit and he nods again.

"I had been teasing you from the start because I liked the way you would react to it. I liked the way you were getting jealous and possessive over me. It made me feel wanted and I hadn't really experienced something like that before" I confess, owning up to my fault. 

"I let things get out of hand when I kept on provoking you so I'm sorry. I didn't realize that something like that would make you so upset so it's my fault that that fight happened in the first place" I finish and take a deep breath, waiting for him to say something, finally giving him the chance to do so.

"That's a lot" he he breathes out, still trying to process it all. "I probably said some mean stuff to you last night didn't I?" he questions. I nod my head and he rubs his temples and thinks for a while before he finally starts to respond to everything. 

"That fight wasn't all your fault Luna, I played a part in it too. If anything I escalated it because of how blinded by jealousy I was. Having my feelings out in the open made me feel vulnerable and the guys knew that but they messed around with you anyways" he sighs and I nod, realizing that we were teaming up and trying to provoke him. 

"It wasn't a good decision on my part to bring you and I should've known that so I'm sorry too. I'm sorry for the way I treated you then and I'm sorry for what happened last night. Even though I don't remember everything I do know that what I did was fucked up and I should've just  turned around and left when I saw you. I wasn't ready to talk and I knew that but I missed you so much I couldn't pass up the chance to see you again" he says looking at me with true regret in his eyes. 

"I missed you too" I say quietly so I don't interrupt him too much.

"That stalker...well until we get to the bottom of that you're not leaving my side" he growls, leaving me protesting but now he's the one that's putting his hand up to stop me. "We'll work that out later but after all of this where do we stand?" he asks, slightly grimacing at the end.

"I don't know why I would ever say that I don't love you because I do. I love you so fucking much it hurts Luna" he lets out a shaky breath. "No matter what I've said in the past or what I'll say in the future I will always love you" he finishes showing so much regret. 

"I don't know...but maybe we could start off by being best friends again?" I suggest hoping that he'll be satisfied with that for now. "I'm not saying that I don't want to try and make us work, but for right now I think our feelings are too raw so we should probably take some time to heal what's been hurt" I explain, hoping I've gotten my point across. 

"I think I'd like that...but let's try to heal together this time okay? Don't push me away again. I don't care how mad you are, just stay with me" he pleads, reaching out for my hand.

"Always" I reply, squeezing his hand. 

"You've said that before" he gives me a stern look. 

"Okay but I really do mean it this time" I hold my hands up laughing at his attempt to be mad at me again. 

"You better" he chuckles before ruffling my hair. 

"I guess I deserved that" I say while blowing the hair out of my face. "Oh you definitely deserve more than that" he says standing up and stalking towards me. 

"What do you mean by that?" I say standing up and backing away from him. 

"Why don't you come over here and find out" he chuckles with a devious smile, lunging towards me which I narrowly evade and run away from him.

"Jin! Jin, help! He's trying to kill me!" I yell laughing at how silly Jungkook looks while running after me. 

"YA! I leave you two alone for 10 minutes and you're already disrespecting my home?" he scolds. 

I make a bee line for him but Jungkook cuts me off and pulls me in by my waist, my back up against his chest. 

"Jin please save me. Please don't leave me with him" I beg while he backs up into his room seeing the playful manner that has been revived between us. 

"Just don't break anything Jungkook" he chuckles and sends us an amused smile before he closes the door 

"No" I whimper out before Jungkook whispers in my ear. 

"Seems like we've gotta make up for lost time" he purrs before pinching my sides, making me squirm in his embrace. 

"Jungkook stop please you know I hate this!" I whine before he picks me up and throws me over his shoulder. "Aw pretty, we haven't even started" he smirks and starts tickling me mercilessly.

"JIN! HELP!" I yell out through gasps desperate for a savior, my prayers forever going unanswered.

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[genshingorlsrevengeance]

Silver Wolf, Acheron, and Rappa S/O giving them a sudden belly kiss

(H:SR) Silver Wolf, Acheron, and Rappa's S/O kissing their stomach

Silver Wolf flinches a little from the affectionate smooch, but her eyes simply narrow and flicks S/O away.

(Silver Wolf) "Nope."

She truly doesn't care all too much, despite what the small blush on her face is telling them, mainly their face was just in the way of her phone.

(S/O) "Come on, you can put the game down for a second?"

(Silver Wolf) "Why do you always want my attention when I'm in the middle of a game? I don't see you doing this a night or whatever."

S/O pouts at that, but Silver Wolf has a small smirk on her lips now.

(Silver Wolf) "...Tell you what, beat me at a game and I'll let you."

(S/O) "What game?"

(Silver Wolf) "Aeon Kombat-"

(S/O) "What?! But you kick my ass everytime at that!"

(Silver Wolf) "Exactly."

Acheron is taken a little by surprise, but doesn't really motion to stop it, just letting it happen.

She's more confused by it, but it felt...pleasant. It made her shudder a little, due to being able to actually feel their kiss more than anything.

It mercifully wasn't dulled out entirely, making Acheron turn to S/O with a small smile.

(Acheron) "Could you...do that again?"

S/O obliges her, giving a gentle kiss to the top of stomach, again making her shiver.

(S/O) "Are you okay?"

(Acheron) "Just curious as to why you decided to kiss there of all places."

(S/O) "Just wanted to appreciate all of the beautiful woman next to me.~"

Chuckling, Acheron moves closer to S/O and planting a kiss to their forehead, one hand gently tracing their stomach.

(Acheron) "Perhaps I should do the same."

Rappa is usually unaffected by gestures of love, and normally returns the affection ten fold.

Until she felt S/O's lips against her stomach, causing her to yelp.

(Rappa) "N-Ninja Koibito, what are you doing!?"

(S/O) "Hm? Just showing you some love, my dear!~"

Before S/O can lean in again, Rappa scoots away, hand instinctively covering the exposed skin.

(Rappa) "H-Hang on! You can't just do stuff like that out of nowhere!"

(S/O) "Psh, says the ninja! You'd do the exact same if I wore an outfit like yours!"

Rappa remained silent for a second, S/O suddenly realizing what they said.

(S/O) "W-Wait, don't actually make me wear your outfit-"

Too late.

Now S/O was on the receiving end in a matter of moments, now wearing Rappa's clothing.

And man did it feel a lot more breezey in the room all off a sudden.

Rappa took advantage of the role swap, a smooch planted on their bare stomach and making S/O blush.

(Rappa) "...You know, S/O. I think you were right.~"

Hearing her call their name took them off guard, becoming wide eyed and staring at their pink-haired girlfriend.

Before she stole another kiss, this time from their lips.

[hyperpopelinnn]

Haven't been here in a while...

Description:Joost imposed the idea of going to fryslân for a week in the summer. What happens there though...?

MDNI, 18+ POST

Warnings/tags: fluff, like slow burn to soft sex, p in v with condom, p in v without condom, creampie,

Authors note: Not proof read!,reader isn't implied to be Dutch but is implied to be able to speak Dutch,Google translator Dutch and frisian, hope you enjoy my first fic :>pls note that English isn't my first language so plssss forgive any mistakes! :)

Word count:1,732

Joost was thrilled. The past few days he's been constantly buzzing with energy - texting you every little Update, sending you the weather reports from Leeuwarden like it was breaking news

When you got on the train from Amsterdam to Leeuwarden, he was basically bouncing up and down in his seat,it was adorable to say the least.

After two and a half hours of him not letting you sleep, you finally arrived in fryslân.

You stretched your arms with a yawn, still a bit dazed from the ride, when Joost gave your hand a gentle squeeze.

"Wolkom yn Fryslân," he said,not being able to contain his big, giddy grin.

You couldn’t help but laugh. "Hope you won’t forget Dutch here," you teased, your faint chuckle barely being heard. He chuckled, already pulling your suitcase along like he was on a mission.

His response?"Hope you’ll learn some Frysk here," playfully bumping his shoulder into yours while talking.

You gave him a look — the kind that said "don’t push it" but also "you’re kinda cute for trying."

"Let’s just find the hotel first," you muttered, trying (and failing) to hide your laugh.

After finally waving over a taxi (after 4 failed attempts) you arrive at the hotel

Joost held the hotel door open with a small, over-the-top bow. "After you, mijn koningin."

You stepped inside with a huff of amusement. "You’re so unserious."

The lobby smelled faintly of lavender and wood polish, warm light spilling onto the tiled floors. It was calm, quiet — a sharp contrast to the buzz of the train and Joost’s constant narrating of every passing cow.

"Not bad," he said, nudging your shoulder as you both walked to the front desk.

The check-in didn’t take long. Joost chatted casually with the receptionist in Dutch, tossing you a little smile now and then like he was proud of showing off. Within minutes, you were riding up in the small elevator, Joost humming softly beside you.

The hotel room wasn’t huge, but it was clean and warm. A big bed sat in the middle, fluffy duvets folded neatly, and a small window gave a peek at the street below.

As soon as the door shut behind you, Joost flopped onto the bed with a dramatic groan.

"You’ve been here five seconds," you said, setting your bag down by the chair.

"And yet," he replied muffled into the pillow, "I am one with this bed now."

You let out a quiet laugh, slipping your shoes off. "I’m gonna freshen up quick. Then maybe going out for dinner?"

He raised a thumbs up without moving. "Only if I don’t fall asleep first."

"don't worry i'll wake you up" you say, walking off to the bathroom.

"can't make any promises I'll wake up" he joked, his face now turned to side on the pillow.

As you got out of the bathroom and settled in front of the mirror they had on a desk, his eyes watched you intently, after a minute he spoke up "Hey, can I help..?"

You looked over your shoulder, raising a brow.

"My face isn’t a canvas for experiments, Joost."

He grinned, already getting up and walking over. "Oh come on, I’m very precise. Steady hands. Musical hands, actually."

You rolled your eyes, but handed him the blush anyway. "Alright then, maestro. Impress me."

He took it with exaggerated seriousness, tapping a bit too much powder onto the brush. His tongue peeked out slightly as he focused, gently dabbing your cheek.

"That’s not bad," you said, checking the mirror.

"That’s not great either," he replied, examining his work critically. "Round two?"

A laugh bubbled out of you as he leaned in again, totally absorbed.

"Okay okay," you said, taking the blush back.

"That’s enough artistry for one afternoon."

He flopped dramatically onto the bed again, arms stretched out. "Now I need to get ready."

You smirked, tossing a clean shirt at him. "Then chop chop, sleepyhead."

While you were finishing up your makeup, he pulled his suitcase open and started carefully inspecting each item, fingers grazing the fabrics like he was making an important decision. You glanced over your shoulder. He looked almost too serious about it.

"Planning a fashion show?" you teased.

He didn’t even look up. "This is a fashion show."

A beat passed, then— "Liefjeee, can I pick your outfit today?"

You raised an eyebrow in the mirror. "You trust yourself with that responsibility?"

He gasped dramatically. "Excuse me? I am a visionary."

You chuckled, and before you could even respond, he was already halfway into your suitcase like a man on a mission. Holding up one top, then another, squinting like he was analyzing the emotional backstory of each piece.

"Okay but this color? This would eat. And with those jeans? No one’s ready."

He kept going—five whole minutes of pure hype, throwing compliments like confetti while tossing clothes onto the bed. "You don’t understand how lucky the world is to witness you in this fit," he said, placing his hand over his heart like it physically pained him.

Eventually, you just flopped back on the bed, laughing. "You should be illegal."

"And yet," he smirked, offering you the chosen top like it was sacred, "here I am."

Before you could even argue, he was already halfway into your suitcase, flipping through your clothes like a stylist on a tight deadline. He held up a top, squinted dramatically, then tossed it aside. Then he froze with another in his hands, turned to you with a grin, and in the most exaggerated American accent said,

"Okay but this color? This would eat. And the jeans? No one’s ready."

"let's just go out already"

Arrived at the restaurant, it was soft, cozy, the lights dim, the chairs mismatched, the air reeking of good food, the sound of people talking all over the place.

Joost looked around and let out a satisfied little "Hmm", nodding to himself.

"This is niceeee," he grinned, sliding into the seat across from you. "You see that lamp? It’s crooked. That means the food slaps."

You laughed, shaking your head. "That’s not how restaurants work."

"It is exactly how restaurants work," he shot back, already reaching for the menu but barely glancing at it. His eyes flicked up to meet yours again.

He reached across the table, gently plucking a crumb off your cheek with a teasing little smirk. "Messy eater," he said softly, but his thumb lingered just a second longer than needed.

You rolled your eyes with a quiet laugh, but your skin still burned where he’d touched. "Better than loud chewer," you shot back, watching his grin deepen.

For a moment, neither of you spoke. The clatter and chatter around you blurred out, like you were sitting in your own little world. You could feel his gaze settle—slow, thoughtful, warm.

He leaned in just a bit, arms crossed on the table, voice lower now. "Did I tell you how happy I am you’re here?"

You smiled, heart catching a little. "You might’ve mentioned it once or twice."

It made the candle between you flicker like it knew something was about to bloom..

To finish off you each got a glass of wine, or eventually it'd turn into two..?

He raised his glass slightly, "To Fryslân—and to having you here."

You clinked yours against his. "To Joost dragging me to the middle of nowhere."

He laughed, that full, carefree kind that always made your chest flutter. "Rude, but fair."

A few sips in, the buzz started kicking in—warm, cozy, a little light-headed. He rested his chin in his hand, eyes soft as they scanned over you. "You look really good tonight," he said, casual but sincere.

Your cheeks flushed. "That the wine talking?"

He grinned. "Nope. That’s been brewing all day."

You tried to fight the smile tugging at your lips, but it was no use. The mood had shifted—still playful, but there was something else simmering underneath. His hand found yours across the table, his thumb brushing over your knuckles.

The air outside had cooled, but neither of you felt it—your cheeks warm from the wine and something heavier hanging between you. He called an Uber, his hand brushing your lower back as he guided you in.

. His hand slid over, resting gently on your thigh. Warm. Intentional. You didn’t look at him—just leaned slightly closer, and that was enough.

His thumb started tracing slow circles. Not fast. Not urgent. Just… there.

You glanced down at where his hand sat. "Getting bold, aren’t we?"

His voice dropped, barely above a whisper. "Been thinking about you since before dinner. You looked too good."

The car turned a corner, headlights casting brief shadows over his face. His expression didn’t change—still that same soft hunger.

You bit your lip and said nothing.

The rest of the ride was quiet.

Heavy with silence that wasn't awkward—it was charged. Anticipation threading between glances, between breaths.

When the driver finally stopped in front of the hotel, Joost didn’t move right away. He looked at you. You looked at him. And this time, you were the one who reached first.

"Let’s go."

Entering the hotel, he grabbed your hand, interlocking your fingers with his before stepping into an open elevator, pulling you in behind him.

The elevator ride? A whole experience.

He picked you up effortlessly, lips crashing into yours—he didn’t feel like bending down when he could just hold you instead. You melted into it, your mouths moving fast, kisses messy, eager. Tongue brushing your bottom lip, asking—no, begging—for permission.

The elevator dinged.

He stepped out like it was nothing, still holding you, still kissing you when he could. At the door of your suite, he fumbled with the card, finally managing to unlock it without letting go of you.

The second you were in the room, he kicked the door shut behind him and carried you to the bed—surprisingly gentle, like he’d been rough with everything except you.

"God, been waiting all day for this, schatje," he groaned, climbing onto the bed with you. His hands cupped your cheeks as he pulled you into another kiss, deep and eager. One hand trailed down to the neckline of your dress, tugging it down your shoulders, his fingers a little shaky with anticipation.

He broke the kiss for a breath, a string of saliva still connecting the two of you. "You know you’re the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen," he murmured, eyes drinking you in. That smile you gave him was his favourite.

You didn’t reply—just crashed your lips into his again. Your hands worked at his belt, fumbling slightly from the rush. He grinned into the kiss, helping you unclasp it with one smooth motion, letting you unzip his pants. He lifted his hips slightly, letting you slide them down with ease, leaving him in his boxers

Finally separating for some much needed air, he was quick to take off his shirt, leaving him in only boxers. But his eyes never left yours. "Y’know I think this is a bit uneven," he murmured, voice dropping as he laid you back against the pillows, trailing kisses from your collarbone downward. His fingers moved to unclasp your bra with practiced ease, and once it slipped off, his boxers were gone too—when, you didn’t even notice.

His eyes lingered, dark and hungry, fingers lightly tracing down your sides. "Zo fucking mooi…" he murmured, voice low and hoarse, like he couldn't believe you were real. His mouth followed his hands, lips pressing hot kisses down your chest, nipping gently, sucking a mark just above your heart.

He decided to take it a step further, putting one of his hands on your little panties, pushing it to the side, thumb circling your clit.

When your breath hitched, he grinned against your skin. "Je houdt hiervan, hè?"

(You like this,don't you?)

You could only nod, whimpering a soft "Joost…"

His hands slid lower, palming the back of your thighs before yanking you closer with a strength that had you gasping. "Been thinking about this all fucking day," he muttered, voice rough now, impatient. "Every time you smiled, every time you leaned in—I wanted to ruin you right there."

Then he hooked his fingers in the waistband of your underwear, pausing just long enough to tease, "Mag ik…?" (Can I...?)

The way you whispered "alsjeblieft"—needy and breathless—had him growling low in his throat.

As his fingers dipped under the waistband, he paused again—just for a moment—pressing a kiss to your hip. Then he leaned over, opening the bedside drawer like it was the most casual thing in the world. His hand returned holding a small silver packet, flashing you a grin that was far too pleased with himself.

"You put those there?" you asked, breathless, eyes narrowing in suspicion.

He chuckled, tearing the foil with his teeth. "Misschien," he said with a shrug, his accent thick and teasing. "Let’s just say… I had a good feeling about tonight."

"You’re unbelievable."

"Unbelievably smart," he corrected, leaning in to kiss you again, slower this time. “And definitely not about to take chances with the prettiest girl in Fryslân.”

He laid you down on your back, pulling back from the kiss.

He tore the wrapper open fast with his teeth, sliding the condom on with a low grunt. His eyes met yours, pupils blown wide, and for a second he just looked at you—like you were the only thing in the world he could even see.

But halfway through, when you were clinging to him, gasping into his mouth, he pulled back slightly, panting hard.

"kan het niet meer, schatje.. " (can’t do it anymore, baby.. ) he whispered, voice breaking into Dutch from the haze "Baby.. mag ik.." “Zonder… wil je dat?”

(Without… do you want that?)

The need in his voice made your stomach flip. You nodded, tugging him closer again. He pressed his forehead to yours for a second, breathing shaky, before pulling off the condom and slipping right back in—both of you moaning at the feeling of it, raw, real.

You could feel the knot in your stomach forming, nails digging into his back, god, this felt good. You barely had time to think before he spoke, voice rough against your ear,

"On your hands and knees, liefje."

You blinked up at him, not immediately reacting, your mind hazy from what you had just experienced. He chuckled lowly at your dazed state, his hand sliding down your back.

"Kom op, op je handen en knieën," he repeated, firmer this time,the Dutch rolling off his tongue so easily made you crazy.

Without even giving you a second to recover, Joost gripped your hips, lining himself up again.

You barely caught your breath before he pushed into you in one deep thrust, knocking a whimper out of you.

Joost’s fingers dug into your hips, hard enough to leave little bruises for tomorrow.

You barely had time to catch a breath again before he pulled you back onto him, forcing himself deeper inside you than you thought was even possible.

The new angle had you arching deeper than ever before, a broken cry spilling from your lips.

It was overwhelming, the stretch, the fullness, the wet heat between your legs — your mind went entirely blank.

"Fuck," Joost groaned above you, his voice wrecked and low. "Taking me so good, schatje."

You could only whimper in response, thighs shaking, body helpless against the way he used you — still so gentle, still so loving, but so goddamn much.

He slowed down for a second, keeping you pinned there, buried as deep inside you as he could go.

His thumb found your clit again, rubbing sloppy, desperate circles, pushing you over that edge again, before you even had a chance to recover.

The only thing you could hear was his heavy breathing, the obscene sounds of your bodies, and the low, messy praises falling from his lips.

"mooi... mijn meisje," (Pretty... my girl) he groaned, voice absolutely wrecked with need.

His fingers dug into your waist, guiding you back onto him, setting a brutal pace, the sound of skin slapping filling the room.

Your arms gave out, forehead pressing into the mattress as he rutted into you, the stretch almost overwhelming.

You barely registered his hand snaking around to your front, rubbing messy circles over your clit, chasing your second orgasm.

“Kom voor me, schatje. Laat me voelen.”

(Cum for me, schatje. Let me feel you.)

His words were low, desperate — begging.

When you finally came, clenching around him, Joost cursed under his breath, thrusts growing uneven before he buried himself deep one final time, spilling inside you with a broken moan.

He stayed inside for a moment, panting against your back, almost collapsing over you.

When he finally pulled out, he couldn't help but watch, hypnotized, as his cum slowly leaked out of you, thumb gently pressing against your entrance to push it back in.

"Zo vol van mij," (So full of me.)

Your body was shaking by the time he thrusted into you again, and again, grinding himself deep inside you, spilling into you with a broken groan against your neck.

The feeling of him filling you up had you shuddering, tipping into another orgasm you didn't even know you could reach anymore — a third, messier, sloppier high that left you sobbing into the sheets.

You could feel it, his cum leaking out of you already, your thighs trembling from the overstimulation, but he didn’t pull away immediately — he stayed there, chest pressed to your back, his hand still splayed wide over your stomach like he was claiming you.

Finally, after a few heavy breaths, Joost pulled out with a groan, and you whimpered at the loss.

He smirked, grabbing a tissue half-heartedly from the nightstand to wipe you down a little — though his thumb still lazily spread the mess over your inner thigh with a teasing glint in his eyes.

“Ruined you," he murmured, the grin on his face visible.

You were too fucked out to argue.

Instead, you just flopped back onto the bed, boneless and hazy.

Joost chuckled softly, rolling over onto his back next to you.

He reached over to the nightstand again — this time, for a crumpled pack of camel blue.

He lit one, took a slow drag, and then turned his head to look at you, messy and glowing in the soft hotel room light.

He offered the pack toward you with a satisfied look on his face.

“Want one?”

[marielle555]

Astarion is a strong character. In any case and regardless of what happened to him.

I've seen statements online like “AA fans call UA is weak” (maybe you've seen that too). Of course, this source will never run dry. They always invent something new, twist the story, distort the meaning of their opponents' statements to the point of impossibility, in general, you can't get bored. If earlier I naively thought that their “arguments” were based on lies about “Cazador 2.0”, “loss of soul” and trying to prove that “AA doesn't love Tav” (this nonsense, of course, is alive and will live forever, as long as there are those who desperately need “right messages” sent to them in the form of a sexually attractive vampire boy, but in such a way as to say that “he is happy” with the torments of hunger and in eternal darkness). Well, one must, I guess, somehow justify “I don't let him ascend” as the only right way and still remain “white-glove” at the same time.

So one should start claiming that those who help Astarion Ascend are supposedly calling UA weak. And prove that UA is strong. Well, yes, Astarion is a strong person. There's nothing to prove, he has an iron rod. The fact that he was able to survive and preserve himself, keep his mind, his personality after 200 years of slavery and torture, an internally weak person is not capable of that. How long did it take for Theon Greyjoy in Game of Thrones to be broken by Ramsay? Velioth broke Cazador, but Cazador couldn't break Astarion. Astarion survived in conditions in which a person, who has always lived in increased comfort and does not understand what reality is (who may consider Astarion's rational desire to ascend and be able to live a full life and protect himself and his beloved as “moral weakness” or “fear”) simply could not have survived. Or would have wised up quickly.

And the fact that Astarion didn't have someone around to help him see his scars during the ritual doesn't “make him weak” or change his character. It's just that after the Ascension, Astarion starts to show off that strong character of his openly, and if denied, Astarion is too depressed. “I just feel numb.” “I'll have to. But that doesn't mean I have to like it.” - Even from this line you can understand how hard it is for him, in addition to having to accept that he will never get what he longed for, that he will no longer have a full life, but instead will have to live “some half existence, hiding in the shadows for the rest of eternity”, he also has to play a role, thank Tav and make up stuff about “breaking the cycle of power and terror”. Because “I am - well, not ‘happy’ with how things turned out. But this does feel right.” Astarion has a much harder time in the UA situation than AA, but he doesn't lose his fortitude and in the epilogue he talks about looking for an opportunity to walk in the sun again. And when he finds it, there will be nothing stopping him anymore, no “heroes” around. Unless he's in a romance with Tav, because his love for Tav is really his weakness and vulnerability. Either way, Ascended or not.

It would be better for them to try to prove where Astarion's consorts are calling HIM weak. It's impossible not to see that he's feeling bad in UA's route. The inability to read (or, as usual, the intentional misrepresentation of their opponents' words) probably equates the fact that the Ascension ritual frees Astarion from physical ailments and weaknesses, the fact that Astarion is certainly made stronger (physically and magically) by the ritual, and the fact that those who help him along the way consider his “version” of the UA to be a weak and insufficiently “toxically masculine” man. As well as the “ah, they're talking bad about UA”, they “don't give UA a chance”, as if, holy shit, there really are a couple of “hot vampires” in the game, one of whom is perfectly “toxically masculine” in order to sexualize him, and the other not so much, and here's this poor sensitive guy getting berated and not given a chance. I should probably get used to this type of thinking though, I mean, they hate Astarion, if he's Ascend, and yet call themselves fans of him. When a person has a split inside into “two different people,” it's called dissociative identity disorder, and what do you call that case where they “split” the other person? I guess with such a syndrome of “Astarion's dissociative disorder” it must surely seem that those who hate Redemption Arch (as a playable feature, as a path, as a choice, just hate playing it) must dislike Astarion himself along the way and consider him weak.

Yes, Astarion himself (not his consorts) on the UA route considers himself "I'm still nothing, aren't I? Just an expandable frail spawn who will burn to a crisp soon enough", he hates what Casador did to him. "Unmaking what you made me" (Astarion's response when Casador asks him what he's doing).

Without the ritual, Astarion will forever be what Cazador did to him, it will be incorrigible, he will forever be a spawn. And says this line to Astarion then when Tav asks: “All right, what do you need?” Astarion: “I need your eyes. In a manner of speaking.” Before the ritual itself, without any attempt at persuasion, Astarion believes that Tav will help him.

And to say that we think Astarion is weak because of it - well, that's like me saying about a person with a disability, who was not allowed to be healed (for example, in a cyberpunk setting, they were not allowed to install an implant for “ethical reasons”, which not only would have healed them, but made them stronger than a healthy person) that they feel bad about their illness and with the implant they would be stronger, and a devout believer against cybernetization would claim that I was insulting that person by calling them sick and weak. I wonder who would be “sexualized” by fans of such a character, helping them heal and get an “unethical implant”? Cyborg? Why I hate the UA route, I wrote here. But Astarion himself is a beautiful and strong character, he copes even with it. And handles it the way a strong man handles it, a strong man who “just feels numb”. The only weak character I have contempt for in this version of the game playthrough is Tav, not Astarion in any way.

Astarion, who “heroically” rejects the ritual and sympathizes with those 7000 spawns, can only exist in Astarion Origins, where the player creates “their Astarion” by shaping the character's personality as they wish. There is no such Astarion in a game with Tav/DU, there is an Astarion who was denied help in a ritual. Astarion can only make one choice - wish such a Tav to die screaming (as he wishes every companion who doesn't help him) or accept it. Astarion's Choice.

Here's what Astarion thinks of these spawns he's “supposed” to sympathize with:

“These people died years ago, trust me on that. All that's left are feral spawn, desperate for blood.

If we release them, how many people will they kill? Tens of thousands? Hundreds of thousands?”

Astarion without Tav, who no one helped Ascend, won't let the caged spawns go free:

“As for those wretches in the cells - if I don't get my freedom, neither do they.”

Astarion breaks the staff and dooms the spawns in the cages out of anger, out of the pain of anger at his not being allowed true freedom, and let them suffer as well.

“But if they die and I ascend, I won't have to rely on the parasite to walk in the sun. I'll be free - truly, completely free. Isn't that what you want?”

And… The pain and doubt in his voice when he asks: “Isn't that what you want?” Astarion has one major weakness and vulnerability, and that's Tav. And not just because he really needs Tav's eyes right now and their connection through the tadpole to see his scars. Tav is the only person he loves. Tav is the best thing that has happened to him after two hundred years of torture, pain and humiliation. Perhaps this love of his, how much he loves, and how much he is attached to Tav, and how much he needs love and acceptance from Tav, is a consequence of his trauma. And his approval of that persuasion is not an approval of Tav keeping him from Ascension. It's an approval that he believed Tav's motives, he understood, why his loved one wouldn't help him. Why the one he loves so much won't let him become truly, completely free, won't help him start living a real, full life. Tav convinces him of their motives, and if he believes that they are not doing this out of malice, that it is really in their heads, in their value system, what they say is true and they believe it, then Astarion agrees to become what they believe in. With pain in his eyes and a full understanding of what he will have to sacrifice for that love and that belief. He doesn't know what a real relationship is or what true love looks like. He doesn't think he deserves better. He was used as a tool, he was tortured, no one ever cared about him, and he could only learn to survive - Astarion begins to connect with the world for the first time after two hundred years of slavery and torture. AA has a heartbreaking line, “I was trying with you, you know. In the only way I can try.” (if you reject his proposal, in a dialog three days after that, and such pain in his eyes and such an expression on his face, it's just impossible to watch).

UA has a bitter line, “I will endeavor to please” in response to Tav's cruel line, “Then don't mess it up” in the graveyard scene - he will still try to earn even the love of someone who is incapable of love.

Because he doesn't think he deserves better. He even gives some fake theatrical approval, when Tav wants to “add” Halsin to their relationship, when Astarion himself certainly doesn't need any Halsin. And he clearly feels bad about that relationship. And he agrees to have sex in a brothel because of Tav, he's experiencing PTSD, but he won't even rebuke Tav for it afterward with a single word. He'll forgive the cheating with Mizora. He will never even think about the fact that such a Tav doesn't deserve him. He thinks himself unworthy of Tav's love, he idealizes them. He won't think about the fact that the very desire for “payback” or “redemption” for a loved one is not love. That the desire to “fix” someone and “make them better” at the cost of their suffering is not love. Anti AAs very rarely mention the most important thing in their posts, much more important of course is the topic of “power”, where what “message” and how much “masculinity” is needed for their favorite “toxicity”. Hunger, sunshine, feelings “the arousals and appetites of man”, even his own reflection to see, after all, these are usually either unworthy of mention or presented as something like “challenges,” which Astarion, of course, heroically wants to take on.

The line of Persuasion for Tav looks exactly like this. “I want you to live a life you're proud of” (how I wish Tav would burn in the sun afterward and Astarion would stand there and watch it). “You can't be proud of this.” Translated as: “I don't care how you feel or how you feel, be the way I want you to be, you can consider yourself a good person for that”.

If Tav betrays and abandons the UA in the finale, he tells them, “How dare you! After all I've done for you - after everything I've sacrificed!” And what else did Astarion sacrifice for Tav except one thing - the chance to find true freedom, sunshine, and feel alive again?

UA takes Tav's attitude for love and accepts the suffering he will have to go through because of it. And behaves the way his “fixer” wants him to. He doesn't fully trust and thinks Tav might leave him, he's afraid of losing Tav and he's not sure about this relationship. AA thinks “you are degrading yourself by staying with him,” but he is happy, if Tav agrees to be his Bride and after receiving this true confirmation of an eternal bond, he starts to trust, opens up. AA suffers greatly, when Tav rejects him and this bond. That said, he expected this… It confirms his opinion of himself, that he, as he is, is not worthy of love. This goes nowhere in the case of refusing the ritual, Astarion adjusts, hides the real himself. He's more honest and frank with Tav in the non-romantic epilogue, in the romance he's silent about how he really feels about having the sunlight taken away from him again. And about how he will do anything to get that opportunity again. AA in the romantic epilogue, after 6 months with a loving consort is calm, confident and happy.

Also a very interesting “argument” - all of Astarion's problems in the Spawn state are better than the “illusory” benefits of Ascension. And everything is bad for the Ascendant, for he is “morally weak”. In general, I wonder how it is - how can concrete physiological facts be illusory?

Hunger, the sun, the reflection in the mirror, the taste of food and wine, “the arousals and appetites of man will return to him”. The benefits of Ascension are illusory, just as the sun itself, air, water, the fact that the Earth is round and revolves around the sun is illusory, as are many other things that simply exist by themselves as fact. As exist all things that exist regardless of anyone's belief or disbelief, simply because they exist. “Moral weakness” is just that, an artificially created concept, it is illusory. The very concept of morality is illusory, morality has been different in different eras (sometimes even radically different). Morality is a social construct that applies specifically to the society that accepts this particular morality, morality is a tool of management, regulation of people's behavior. Morality is simply the notions of right and wrong, good and bad, and the set of norms of behavior derived from these notions that are accepted in a particular society and at a particular time. One cannot be “morally strong” or “morally weak”, one can accept/not accept this or that form of morality, conform or not conform to this or that notion of morality. “Astarion doesn't conform to your ideas of morality” would be true, but ''morally weak'' would not. Morality doesn't exist, it's just some conventional characteristic that serves to evaluate certain things in a particular society in a particular historical period. Releasing 7000 hungry spawns is so “moral” that in terms of realism in DnD, it should have resulted in bloody chaos throughout the city. A bloody night in Baldur right after defeating the Brain, when the city is already severely weakened by the massacre with the Illithids. Perhaps there would be no Baldur, just ruins, where anarchy reigns and gangs of spawns rule. “Moral lessons” and “messages” sometimes don't mix well with realism and logical calculation of the consequences of certain player actions.

Astarion is not a dummy or a toy, to be “personality changed” by Tav. He has his own personality and his own desires. Astarion does not become “good” or “chaotic-neutral” if he was not allowed to Ascend, Astarion remains “neutral-evil” (if we give value to such a concept as alignment). It is not alignment that makes a person happy. But alignment is a convenient system to describe a character's worldview, and there are certain rules that affect a character's alignment change in DnD. In order for your action to affect your alignment change, you must have freedom of choice and decision, there must be no insurmountable circumstances that prevent your character from doing what they would like to do. The fact that Astarion basically can't Ascend on his own, unless someone helps him see his scars, makes refusing to do the ritual (or helping him do the ritual) a choice that affects Tav's alignment change, not Astarion's. If Larian wanted to show Astarion's change of alignment, there would have been an option in the game for him to Ascend without Tav's help (drawing his scars on a piece of paper, for example), and then, if Tav had convinced Astarion to refuse, or he himself, like Shadowheart, could have done it, Astarion could have changed his alignment. It's especially funny to read the “arguments” that since Astarion didn't redraw his scars, when Tav drew them in the sand, that means he didn't want to Ascend. They would have made up their minds - whether they revitalize the character to such an extent, that he himself “off-screen” decides, what to do in the story, or whether the main thing is the “message” and what the authors wanted to say (I have only one opinion on this - it doesn't matter who “wanted to say” what, but what is important is what is really said and shown in the story of the game). In this case, Larian most likely wanted to make an “arch of redemption” for Astarion (which could be combined with his past as a corrupt magistrate from EA and possibly look like “payback” for his past sins). Whether by choice or due to the demands of those back in the EA, who wrote to them demanding they “fix Astarion”, it doesn't matter so much anymore. And as a romance bubblegum for players, who play just to have fun, and they need a sexy male companion for a romance, they won't pay too much attention to his well-being, emotions and will calmly eat up the “bittersweet” ending as a good one, if they're told so, this story arc also fits very well. That said, this storyline fits logically with the evil companion's poorly completed quest (for the world “good”, for him “bad but not fatal”) and doesn't break the character's IP. A logical commercial move - after all, the romance of Ascended Astarion is unique and unusual, it's not “mass-market”, and besides, whining about morality in games, “evil is wrong”, etc. has been in vogue lately, we all know that, and creating an evil character without “moral options” to “fix” him might not have been a very good decision in terms of taking into account the subsequent network hysterics about him. And in order to make the “redemption arc” possible and logically plot-wise fitting with Astarion's character without violating his IP, the best option was to take away his ability to make his own choices, leaving him with only the option to accept this “redemption” or leave the group. This blends with his story (his scars) and gives additional story beauty to the romance of the Ascended, when his beloved becomes his eyes and they go through this ritual together (“I did. We did”).

Astarion's ”strength of personality“ does not depend on whether he has undergone the ritual or not. Astarion always remains himself. It's just that in one case he is “with all the masks, lies and deception still included” and in the other “no masks, no lies, just the truth because he has the confidence to push his arrogance in your face without fear”. Helping him in the ritual or refusing to help him characterizes Tav, not Astarion.

[cannibalfogdreams]

So mini-biggish? rant about Remmick, Sammie, White Culture and just media literacy. Because, no, Remmick cannot be just popped out of his heritage and the historical context of greater Irish relations with indigenous and black communities. I have thoughts that are all over the place and TBH this shit is gonna be all over the place, sorry.

Also-- I'm very fucking disappointed in the people calling Remmick and his actor ugly. Like, I'm sorry, if you don't like a character? That is not an excuse to target a real persons characteristics.

So proud to be one of the people shipping Remmick and Sammie. Like people are fr MAD MAD and saying etc etc about it being white fujos meanwhile I'm blocking all these miserable as people.

Literallly hanging out with all the black folks in the tag thirsting over Remmick and also shipping like, uh-oh? Do I smell a party pooper? BloCK! Anyways, Remmick would be so pro-swallowing---

He is an antagonist but sorry I don't think he's the VILLAIN of the story and YES I have read Coogler's interview where he basically says the same shit. Also, people keep reducing Remmick's desires when he said very explicitly that it was to be a two way street. You can HEAR in the soundtrack ( which I've been listening to multiple times ) the intermingling of beats in Remmick's jig.

He wants what Sammie has and he is trying and he MAY have been able to form that kinda community that Sammie was capable of in life, but he's just not that guy. If he could do it on his own he would have and the music playing for him does imply a mixing does occur.

ALSO?! Since when was it said that he was trying to use Sammie's music for evil or to make other fucking vampires? XD He's trying to bring back the spirits of his ancestors and community experience - not turn more people into vamps with Sammie's abilities. As Coogler said, the intention of love and freedom is 100% true and not a disguise for anything. The issue is, is that Remmick only sees himself as the savior. He is an antagonist that thinks he's the protagonist.

You can have an antagonist that does evil things. He can be the villain of someone's story, and through his actions, his forceful nature, he is villainous. But the goal isn't straight assimilation 'I don't see color and we're all gonna be Irish now' because he looks at black culture and loves and it wants to see it mix.

"I want your stories. I want your songs. And you're gonna have mine."

Additionally, I love when Remmick gives his 'mock' baptism. Like, he said he'd gone through all that stuff and been taught it but uhhhhh he seemed to be VERY angry at it even being mentioned and attempted. Sympathetic. But so pissed. Cuz remember, the vampires of this movie are people who are stuck in their bodies and downright fueled by their anger and lust for satisfaction.

And I'll be honest! Remmie acts like a normal ass vampire? He's very Dracula coded. ( keep in mind Dracula was written by an Irish author and so was Carmilla )

Two of the most aggressively sexual and hungry ass vampires we continue to obsess with. The nature of a vampire is sexual, obsessive and, literally, hungry for life. Remmick saw a community that was alive and keeping on no matter what they were going through. They were still being themselves and I wonder if there's a chance that Remmick may feel a particular kind of way about how other Irish are this time assimilated into a 'white culture'. We have this conversation every other week that 'white culture' is a force that seeks to erase people's backgrounds to reinforce white supremacy.

At least in America, perhaps to Remmick, his community is dead. They have assimilated and erased their heritage to fit into this larger pool of racism.

[astral-prayers]

jack whose heard of you from murmurs and gossips from his fellow dorm mates, thinking about how it's only been a short while since you've mysteriously gotten into this world with how much trouble follows you. jack pities you, somewhat. but he wouldn't be found near any radius with you. he's not really that interested on being a part of your.. "shenanigans", savanaclaw's already an exuberant bunch of competitive try hards. but. whenever he hears the accomplishments you've done–managing to acquire a gemstone from the abandoned mines, being able to make two students work together without making any shady deals, standing against the housewarden of heartslabyul–all the air of trouble, mischievousness, and thievery immediately dissipates.

jack didn't really made much out of you at first, obviously. you tend to stick with your usual... chaotic friend group. he surmised that they made you feel at home, and practically make you clean up their mess but that's something only a bystander would think of so jack holds that thought off, undoubtedly he'd be like you too if he's in a world so far from what you've been used to. jack's thoughts about you is as blank as your interactions together, but it's altogether much more positive than your other schoolmates views towards you.

the first you talk to him, or rather even acknowledge that he also went to night raven, was just a simple bump in the hallway. it was almost lunchtime, only one more subject and every student's favorite time would come. there's a commotion going down the hallway, the garden's brimming with people doing their things, and jack's too caught up with his studying that he didn't register walking towards someone. there's a small yelp that elicited from your side, one which jack's ears perked too–he reacted pretty fast too, his hands surged to hold your arms before your awaited fall. just in time, he thinks. but he blinks, and sees that it's you; the Prefect, the one who's been plaguing the student gossip. jack's ears are straight up by that point and you wallowed out a "sorry, i didn't see where i was going!" and he huffed. "no need. i'm sorry i didn't see you too." he says, too aware of his tail wagging side to side, too aware of how your heartbeat's palpitating, and maybe a bit aware of some savanaclaw students looking at both of your way. but you don't seem to mind, maybe you're used to it (he thinks, yet again.) "no, no, it's my fault! really! i saw you were walking clearly while i was.. you know.. just waltzing about. really, i'm sorry." and jack cracks a curt smile, he retracts back his hand from your arms and fixes his cuffs before shaking his head. "it's okay, we we're both preoccupied with something." and you smile, and jack's feeling his tail puffing up, then he looks sideways and says; "i'll be going now. you should too, you'll be late to class." before anything else–before he does or says anything–jack starts walking. but the universe, or maybe You, seems to have other plans. "Wait! I never got your name–" you yell, albeit it could be considered a whisper too, you don't know, jack doesn't know. but what he knows is that he turns around and looks at your eyes, and says: "Jack Howl, nice to meet you." too fast but not too slow to notice your eyes crinkling in delight and a smile so sunny he starts to smile too. and then you reach out your hand for him, before saying the name he's heard people utter from the mouth he's heard others would spew out miracle sounding magic. "nice to meet you too! i'm the Prefect of ramshackle dorm, Jack!"

[wigglesdtuff]

do you have any favorite one piece panels? or robin panels? from the manga :)

Sorry I took so long, I just have SO much I want to talk about. Since I have another ask about Robin panels, this one will focus on my favorite panels in general and I'll focus on Robin ones on that ask! These also aren't all just panels, some of them are pages/spreads. Some are emotional, some are aesthetic, and some are just funny. These are ones that impacted me specifically, and not all of them are like. Super iconic moments or ones I see a lot maybe? Some of them are. I'm rambling, this is a really long post. Sorry. I just love One Piece...

This is one of the first panels that hooked me in when I saw spoilers for Gear 5. It stuck with me SO much when I finally started the journey. There's so much joy and light in it, and intrigue with why Robin is sitting to the side. This panel will live in my heart forever.

I don't need to explain the emotional impact of the Summit War Saga, but I cannot applaud Oda enough for having the end of it being our hero weeping that he has his crew that he loves and that they're a light to the darkness he just went through.

I have a lot of attachment to characters who are young and have to grow up early, and Momo is like an insanely good example of this. But ALSO the way Luffy encourages his autonomy and his choice and hypes him up to fight for his own freedom alongside him. I just love these brothers.

It's a similar story with Bonney for me. The way he encourages her to fight for herself and what she's lost for her freedom - something SO important for her and Kuma - makes me cry. The faith she has in the future because of Luffy is just. So. Good. The things this manga has to say about joy in laughter, freedom, and creativity means SO MUCH TO ME. There's also something so special about the way she says she's been looking for him, and he responds that he's been with her the whole time. It's so.

I just think this is one of the best pages in the manga. Genuinely.

More Kuma, but I find this panel from the chapter that's technically "unfinished" to be so fucking gutwrenching. I know a lot of it was due to time constraints and Oda's a busy guy, but the way he couldn't finish THIS particular chapter honestly? Added to the emotional impact for me? I could totally be wrong, but to me it felt like he got too emotional working on it and combining that with the time constraints he had to turn it in as it was, and I personally love seeing an artist's hand in their work.

The whole Roger flashback shook me to my fucking core. This part and when he finds the poneglyph on Skypiea specifically.... Ugh. Ough. I can't wait to see this story come to an end, but I don't want it to end.

I can't not talk about Brook, but his encounter with Big Mom is so incredible for him as a character. We once again see how unshakable his loyalty is, and calling an emperor "young lady?" Oh my God the balls on this skeleton. Also, I adore Big Mom, she's my favorite villain. I'll have to gush about her sometime too.

I have a very special connection with Toko and Hiyori specifically. I also lost my dad (though I have a complicated relationship with him, he ultimately did what he could for me and I will always love and miss him deeply in a way that it's hard to express) a few years ago. The horror of losing a loved one and only being able to laugh is. So powerful, Oda was insane for SMILE. However, there's also something I'm attached to 'cause I remember very distinctly the day he passed, I went to lunch with some friends to have company, and I remember my friend telling me later that she knew I would be okay because I was laughing. It didn't really stick with her the same way it did with me, but for some reason that thought stuck in the back of my mind. IDK I'm rambling, but I find the message of laughter in One Piece being tied to freedom very very important to me.

Speaking of Hiyori, I gotta say, 1044 is what got me into One Piece, but I didn't see ANYONE talking about Hiyori's role in that chapter when I saw the spoilers, so I didn't even think about it until I read it myself. When I tell you her entire scene with Orochi gave me goosebumps I am being so fucking serious. She did not, and I repeat, she did NOT "interrupt" Gear 5. She fucking HERALDED IT.

(Here's two that I just find so incredibly funny with or without context) I feel like I'm missing some and I'll come back and edit them if I think of them, but these are the non Robin centric ones that have really stuck with me. I know there's some in Arlong Park and all that that I'm missing, but yeah. It feels wrong to cut it off here but if you made it this far, thank you for reading!!

There's also the Mural, but that one is like. Fucking crazy and we don't know the FULL significance yet so I'll leave my thoughts on that until later.