#they DO love her but it's love that's uncomfortable up close

[imsofreakingtired]

I am so so so so sorry if this is too close to nsfw (in my head it's very fluff/comfort but I apologise if it makes you uncomfortable bc I'm not sure), but thinking about Sevika w/ a partner who's been pressured by their ex's into doing things like sexually and her just reassuring them that like no baby I wanna hold you what r you talking ab I've been here all of 15 seconds I'm not tryna fuck calm down

And her partner who is so so surprised wdym ??? You just wanna spoon me isn't this the part where you grope my chest and Sevika is like BABY NO

I don't know I'm using her to cope this is so self indulgent I just wanna hear your thoughts on it

i love this idea, thank you for the request anon...and shitt this one was so personally relatable to me 😔

things i wanna say to you

content warning(s): mentions of trauma from past relationships, angst, hurt/comfort

"there's things i wanna say to you, but i'll just let you live like if you hold me without hurting me you'll be the first who ever did."

~~~

“Your beauty…it’s a blessing.”

It’s a sentence that returns and returns to you. It’s a truth you hold in your hands, or wear on your shoulders like a mantle you can’t take off. You have heard it, in one form or another, from the lips of lover to lover. They whispered it to you in the heat of sex, like a special confession only for you, and then vanished like a vapor. 

Your body is like a hotel, you think—a pretty room that people pass through and love only in the moment. When was the last time you were held without the other person’s hands hungrily seeking your breasts? When was the last time you were kissed without their hands roaming your body like an impatient, starved animal? 

Once, you had worked up the courage to confront them. You told them, “hands off.” You don’t exactly remember how the conversation went. But you know that it ended in them laughing in your face, suggesting you work at Babette’s if you wanted compensation for your body. 

When they were gone, you stood in the silent room and wondered if they were right. You wondered if it was your fault. If your body was the only good thing, the only worthy thing about you. If you were nothing more than a pretty face and a blank canvas waiting to be ruined. If you were asking too much when you asked for even just a shadow of respect. 

You stopped speaking after that. 

~~~

Shortly after you began to work for Silco as his record scribe, you met his henchwoman, Sevika. Immediately you knew she was different. She didn’t look at you the way others did—in fact, she barely looked at you at all. When she spoke to you she looked down at you over her hooked nose, her handsome, perfect nose, in a way that made you feel both insignificant and the only woman in the entire world. She didn’t give you flattery about your appearance, spoke bluntly when you made mistakes. 

Still you caught her staring at you from time to time when she thought you were too immersed in work to notice. But her face betrayed nothing. Her brows were always drawn together as if everything in the world annoyed her. You assumed she was only scrutinizing the way you worked. You wondered if Silco had ordered her to monitor you, assess your performance. You worked harder as a result, feeling oddly gratified to be watched for a reason other than your appearance. 

So one could imagine your shock when Sevika strode up to your desk one morning and said, “get your coat. Walk with me.” 

From that day on, you were hers. 

~~~

The first night you moved into her apartment had been a hard day at work. You had been at the desk all day without a single break, trying frantically to keep up with the endless flow of Shimmer shipment records and orders. Sevika had been on her feet from dawn to dusk—you hadn’t seen her for two consecutive minutes even though you worked in the same building. 

The night had deepened, the sky outside dusted with faint stars. You were undressing for bed. If you were tired, how exhausted must Sevika be? You paused in front of the mirror before you slipped the nightshirt over your body. Maybe she would want to let off some steam. Maybe she expected it from you. Hesitantly, you put the nightshirt on. You didn’t want to, but you felt like you owed it to her. Like she deserved it.

Sevika came in, her mechanical arm detached and water glistening on her face from a quick wash. She smiled slightly when she saw you waiting on the bed. “There’s my girl. C’mere.”

She sank into the bed you now shared with her, and obediently you crawled over and folded yourself into her embrace. Her right arm curled around you protectively. Her warmth, her strength, the tautness of her muscles against your skin. It was heavenly. 

She sighed into your neck, and it made you shiver slightly. The question tiptoed to the end of your tongue: can we…can we maybe just stay like this? 

But you feared she would say no. You feared she would be mad. And leave you. 

You waited for her to make the next move, to start pulling the shirt over your head, or turn you around so she could grope between your legs. When several seconds passed and she did nothing, you realized that maybe she was waiting for you. 

Reluctantly, you pulled yourself away and began to take off your shirt. 

Sevika sat up, confused. “What are you doing?”

You freeze in your movements. Your shirt falls back down over your chest. “I—you don’t want to…?”

She shook her head, lips curling in a bemused smile. “Baby, relax. I’ve been here fifteen seconds.”

Slowly, you returned to her, and she pulled you close once more. Sevika felt the shudder of relief that went through your body. Though you didn’t see it, her face creased with concern. She had noticed the apprehension in your eyes, nearly bordering on fear. And she made a mental note to herself to find whatever fucker had hurt you and made you so scared. 

~~~

[00valentina-writes00]

ellie with a quiet and nervous reader?

♡♥︎ Ellie with a quiet and nervous girl ♥︎♡

♥︎ Ellie is the type to give you gentle reassurance when you’re feeling nervous, her hand always reaching out to yours in quiet comfort. She knows what it’s like to feel uneasy, and she makes sure you know you’re not alone in that.

♥︎ When you’re anxious around a group of people, Ellie stays close, her presence a calming anchor. Her fingers brush against your back or thigh in little gestures, her way of silently letting you know she’s there for you.

♥︎ She loves to make you laugh, even if it’s with her terrible jokes or pulling silly faces. Seeing you smile, even in the smallest way, is something she treasures.

♥︎ At night, Ellie will hold you in her arms, her chest against your back, her steady breath helping you to fall asleep. She knows how hard it is for you to shut off your mind, so she does everything to make you feel safe.

♥︎ Ellie doesn’t pressure you to speak when you’re not ready, but she’ll softly ask, “Hey, are you okay?” Her tone is always understanding, and she waits patiently for you to open up when you’re ready.

♥︎ She’s always paying attention to how you’re feeling, even if it’s subtle. She’ll notice the way your hands tremble when you’re stressed or the way you pull your hoodie tighter around yourself

♥︎ Ellie always finds small ways to make you feel seen, like writing you little notes on scraps of paper with sweet messages or leaving flowers she’s found outside on your pillow.

♥︎ You two share quiet mornings, drinking coffee in silence while Ellie plays guitar. She never forces conversation, but sometimes, she’ll hum a tune or sing softly to you just to fill the silence with something peaceful.

♥︎ Ellie loves to cuddle, but she’ll always make sure you’re comfortable first. If you need space, she’ll give it to you, but if you need her close, she’s right there, pulling you into her warmth.

♥︎ Ellie doesn’t try to “fix” you. She understands that your nervousness is just a part of who you are, and she’s okay with it. It doesn’t make you any less worthy of love in her eyes.

♥︎ When you’re nervous about something—whether it’s a big test or an event—Ellie’s there beside you, quietly supporting you. She never makes a fuss about it, but she’ll drop a “You’ve got this” when you need it.

♥︎ If you ever start to feel overwhelmed, Ellie won’t hesitate to take you away from the situation. Whether it’s a walk in the woods or just sitting in a quiet corner, she’ll find a way to help you breathe

♥︎ Sometimes, when you get really anxious, Ellie will pull out her music playlist and play calming tunes. She knows it helps soothe your nerves, and she’ll do whatever she can to help you calm down.

♥︎ You’ve caught Ellie staring at you while you’re doing something small, like reading a book or organizing your things. It’s like she’s watching a part of you that she cherishes.

♥︎ Ellie always notices when you’re feeling too much, and when she can, she’ll try to distract you with something silly—maybe a new game or a prank to lighten the mood.

♥︎ There are days when Ellie knows you’ll need her more than others, and those are the days she’s extra sweet, offering a cup of hot chocolate, rubbing your back, or just listening without judgment.

♥︎ When you get caught in your head, Ellie is always there with a soft, “Hey, look at me,” and when you do, she gives you a gentle smile that reminds you it’s okay to slow down.

♥︎ She loves that you’re quiet and thoughtful. It’s a balance to her more impulsive, sometimes loud nature. Ellie doesn’t always need loudness; sometimes, your calm is exactly what she needs.

♥︎ Ellie’s very protective of you, but in a quiet way. She’ll notice when people make you uncomfortable and subtly shift you out of harm’s way, keeping her cool, but always making sure you’re safe.

♥︎ Ellie’s a master at reading your body language—she’ll know when you’re tense before you do, and she’ll always adjust her approach to make you feel at ease, whether it’s talking less or holding you tighter.

♥︎ On the rare days when you’re feeling brave, Ellie encourages you, giving you the smallest boosts of confidence. Her gentle compliments make you feel like maybe you can take on the world.

♥︎ You share little moments where silence speaks louder than words. Ellie understands that sometimes, there’s nothing that needs to be said. She’ll simply hold your hand and sit with you.

♥︎ Ellie doesn’t mind your quiet nature. In fact, she loves it. It’s one of the things that drew her to you, the way you listen so intently and care so deeply

♥︎ If you ever become overwhelmed during an outing, Ellie will be the first to suggest heading home early, knowing it’s better to leave before you get too anxious. She’d never want to push you past your limit.

♥︎ Sometimes, when you’re feeling a little braver, Ellie will make little challenges for you—like walking into a store together or talking to someone for a minute. She’s proud of how hard you work to step outside your comfort zone.

♥︎ Ellie’s the kind of person who takes your nerves seriously. She doesn’t brush them off as “just anxiety” but acknowledges how real they are, always responding with love and care.

♥︎ She loves how you get nervous about the little things, like asking her to hang out with you or talking to new people. It’s cute, and it makes her feel like she gets to be your safe space.

♥︎ Ellie never rushes you. She’s never in a hurry for you to “get over it.” Her patience is constant, and she knows that your feelings deserve time and care to work through.

♥︎ Ellie knows you trust her with your vulnerability, and she cherishes that. There’s nothing more meaningful to her than the way you let her in, even in your quiet, nervous moments.

♥︎ You and Ellie share a sense of calm that comes with knowing you’re both each other’s safe haven. When you’re together, everything just feels a little easier to handle, even when life gets overwhelming.

♥︎ Every time you show Ellie your soft side, she falls a little more in love with you. She thinks you’re stronger than you give yourself credit for, and she loves you exactly as you are.

[sillylilsquid]

Real life Romance book pt. 4/?

✨alternate universe Hyun Ju x reader

✨summary: in which you meet Hyun Ju at your work, and quickly become friends. you've never dated a woman, but something about Hyun Ju was different. She made you feel a fire in your chest, and though you didn't understand it you were ready to try.  ✨trigger warnings: afab reader, drinking, sexual themes. minors dni, 18+ ✨2.8k words

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。..・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。..✭・.・

The next few weeks spent with Hyun Ju were incredible. You both attended book club together every week, which made your friends squeal out of excitement. On days where neither of you had to work you would always be hanging out; and on the days one or both of you worked you would shower each other with text messages and updates throughout the day. To say you were happy was an understatement. The night that the two of you shared the passionate kiss in your apartment didn’t lead to much, and you were okay with that. You wanted Hyun Ju to feel comfortable and move at her own pace, and you yourself were also still trying to figure out what you were comfortable with. 

Once Hyun Ju told you about herself, things between you two seemed to change for the best. She acted a little more outgoing around you, and would never hesitate to show affection to you. Kisses, hugs, hand holding, cuddling…you loved it all. When you two were out in public, however, she would act a little more standoffish, though still being the caring girlfriend you knew her to be. You liked to think it was because she was scared of either of you receiving any stares or hateful comments, but there was a small part of you that worried it was because she was embarrassed of you. You knew it was an irrational thought, but your already low self confidence made it impossible to think otherwise. 

Hyun Ju would ask you to go shopping with her for clothes, or for makeup, or shoes. You always agreed. Seeing her face light up as she tried on more feminine clothes made you feel a sense of pride. There were moments she would hesitate to come out of the dressing room, or shift uncomfortably in front of you–and you always knew what to say to make things better. You’d compliment how the trousers would hug the curves of her legs perfectly, or how the color of a top made her eyes pop. It made her blush each time. You’d help her pick out makeup and always offered to show her how to use it, even doing her makeup for her a lot of times. She would thank you again and again. 

It was the weekend and you both were off from work. Friday evening you and your friends had plans to go to a club for a night of fun. After making sure it was okay with your friends you invited Hyun Ju. She was hesitant about attending but she decided to go just for you. It was around 8pm when you heard her knock at the front door. You had given her a key a week ago, and she had yet to use it–always saying it was rude to barge in. It made you laugh, finding it sweet how respectful she was. You called out, “come in!” from your bedroom as you pulled on a pair of chunky heeled boots you forgot you even had. The front door opened then closed and you heard the soft footsteps heading towards your room. “You really should answer the door. What if I was a serial killer, and you just gave me an open invitation?” she joked. Hyun Ju stood in the doorway, admiring you as you fixed your hair in the mirror. You had decided to wear a dress, which you rarely did. Swallowing, you turned towards your girlfriend. “I’m in heels and still shorter than you!” you exclaimed, walking over to give her a hug. Her hands lingered for a moment on your waist before she pulled away. She took your hand, spinning you around to fully look you over. “You look hot,” Hyun Ju stated, a smirk showing on her face. It made you blush. Of course she would give you compliments all the time, but she had never said you were hot before. The word sent shivers down your spine.

Your music played softly in the background breaking any uncomfortable silence between you two. You took a small step back so you could admire her in hopes to make her feel as beautiful as she always made you feel. Her outfits were similar everyday, not straying away from what made her feel most comfortable and tonight was no different. She wore a pair of dark plaid trousers, well tailored to her legs and a cream colored turtleneck. It was tight enough to show off the curve of her breasts but still loose enough not to cling to her. Her hair was down and you admired how she’s been letting it grow out longer. She wore a thin gold necklace with a heart charm, the one you bought her shortly after you started dating, and a few rings on her fingers. You noticed her nails were painted black and she wore a faint amount of makeup. The intoxicating smell of her vanilla perfume wafted into your nose. To you, she was a goddess. 

“Are you trying to get other girlfriends tonight?” you teased her, your hand brushing over her silky, dark hair. “I’m not going to be able to keep them away from you.” Hyun Ju began to laugh, and any nerves she had left her body. She loved being able to joke with you, and vice versa. Her larger hands rested on your hips. “I wanted to look nice for you.” she spoke, bending down to brush her lips across yours. You leaned in closer to press a kiss to them. “You look so hot, Hyun Ju.” you then replied, giggling as you used the same compliment she had given you. It made her feel just as flustered as you had. Soon you gathered your things and turned out the lights, following your girlfriend to her car. 

The ride to the club was mostly silent, with Hyun Ju’s hand resting on your exposed thigh for the duration of the ride. You could sense she was nervous just by how she was more quiet than she would usually be when you two were alone. You tried to encourage her, letting her know that everything would be okay. Before the two of you walked inside you stopped her, pulling her back from the front door of the club. “If you get uncomfortable, we can leave. Just let me know. I want you to have fun too.” her face lit up at your words. “I’ll have fun–we’ll have fun together.” she assured you, reaching back out for the door and pulling it open for you. The two of you stepped inside and were immediately hit by the loud music and smell of sweat mixed with alcohol in the air. It had been a while since you attended any parties or even went to a bar, but your friends were adamant that you came with them. 

Sensing your unease Hyun Ju took the lead, lacing your fingers together and pulling you towards the bar. She ordered you a drink, handing it to you which you gladly took. The burn from the alcohol made you feel warm inside and started to ease your nerves. “You don’t want anything?” you called out over the loud music, having to lean closer to her so she could hear you. She shook her head, laughing as she explained someone had to drive you home. There she went again being the protective, kind woman you were growing to love. It wasn’t your plan to get wasted tonight, but your friends were bad influences and you were a lightweight. Your friends soon met up with you and pulled you towards the crowd of people dancing. You made sure to keep a hold of Hyun Ju’s arm, not wanting to lose her in the sea of people. She stood behind you with her hands resting protectively on your waist as you danced and sang with your friends. She was always kind enough to brave the crowd to get you another drink whenever you asked. Every time you looked back at her to check if she was okay she was always smiling down at you, simply enjoying seeing you so happy with your friends.

As the evening passed on you felt yourself becoming more and more tipsy, your head hazy and your words slurring occasionally. Hyun Ju found it adorable how your skin became flushed the more alcohol you consumed. The time approached 11pm and you and your friends had grown tired deciding it was best to head out. Hyun Ju made sure they all had a safe way home before pulling you towards her car. Your feet fumbled underneath you but she kept a strong arm on you. “You’re like really hot, ya know?” you said in between hiccups. She laughed and buckled you safely in your seat, as you let out a whine when she closed the door. The drive back to your apartment consisted of you giggling and spitting compliments to Hyun Ju. She always thanked you, even though she knew you wouldn’t remember any of it in the morning.

The climb up the stairs was tricky with how you clung to her, complaining how you didn’t want to trip. She shook her head, leaning down and picking you up. You quickly wrapped your legs around her waist, the movement making you dizzy. “Wow,” you mumbled, staring at her with wide eyes. “Enjoying the view?” she teased to which you quickly nodded in agreement. Arriving at your door, she held you up with one arm and your bag with the other and managed to fish her key out of her pocket. She made her way through your apartment in the dark, which surprised you because you knew there were a lot of clothes and shoes scattered across the floor. Once she reached your bedroom, she turned on the lamp that sat on the bedside table. It made you clench your eyes closed, burying your face in her shoulder. “You gotta let go,” she laughed, trying to peel you from her frame. You shook your head. “Sweet girl, let me help.” you grumbled as she sat you down on your bed.

You seemed to melt into it like a cloud. Has this bed always been this comfortable? You thought to yourself. Hyun Ju told you to stay, and you complied, looking up at her like a lost puppy. She rummaged around your room to find you a pair of pajamas. She disappeared into your bathroom briefly before she returned and moved to the bed. She stood before you, tying your hair out of your face and proceeded to take your makeup off. You sat still, complying with anything she wanted to do to you. In that moment your thighs clenched, your heart pounded. Once she finished her task she kneeled in front of you, proceeding to pull off your heels. You hadn’t realized how much your feet ached until now. Your breathing was erratic staring down at her. When her eyes met yours she smiled as if she didn’t know what she was doing had such an effect on you. She had to know what she was doing to you, what she was making you feel. Right? How could she not feel it too?

The air felt thick as you tried to calm yourself down by closing your eyes hoping to steady your breathing, but when you opened them you became a mess. She stood in front of you now, hand held out to you waiting for a response. You hadn’t even realized she was talking to you. “Stand up,” she said, her voice barely a whisper. “Let me help you change.” you obeyed, standing up and reaching out to grab onto her when you swayed. Once she was sure you were steady on feet she gripped the bottom of your dress. To her, this was just a simple act of service–to you, this felt like the angels were calling you up to heaven. Hyun Ju pulled the dress over your head, leaving you standing in front of her in your matching bra and panties. She swallowed, her hands fisting the dress momentarily before letting it fall to the floor. Reaching past you she grabbed your pajama shirt. Her shoulder brushing against your bare one. As she began to try and tug the top over your head you tried to make your move, your hands reaching out to her sweater. You brushed the fabric up barely exposing her stomach before she caught your hands. She dropped them at your sides and finished pulling your top over you, making you shove your arms through the holes. When she reached for the matching shorts you tried again, fisting her sweater in your clammy hands. This time you tried to be quicker, pulling it up enough to expose her stomach and the edge of her bra. Hyun Ju laughed, shaking her head. “Sweet girl, you need to rest. You’re drunk.” she explained, her tone was patient. She was always so patient with you. You were lucky, oh so lucky. 

Your shoulders shrugged while you allowed her to help you step into your shorts. “Please?” you asked, your tone needy and higher pitched. It had to have been the alcohol, you were never so forward. Always too shy to make a move. She silently shook her head, not budging when it came to the subject. Hyun Ju pushed you back towards the bed until it hit the back of your legs and you fell onto the mattress. As you sat up you reached towards her, tucking your finger into the waistband of her trousers and using it to pull her close. She stood now in between your legs. “Trapped ya’!” you exclaimed, trying to fumble with the button. Maybe if you hadn’t had that last drink your hands wouldn’t be so shaky, you thought. Hyun Ju stood still, letting you fumble with her pants. She knew wouldn’t figure out the button so she waited, patiently with a smile on her face. After a minute of trying you groaned and dropped your hands, staring up at her as if to beg for help. She again shook her head no, helping you move under your blankets. “Insatiable little girl.” she murmured in your ear.

Hyun Ju made sure you were comfortably tucked in and within seconds you felt sleep take over your body. She stood watching your breathing even out and once you let out a soft snore she knew you were out. Looking around the room she saw how messy it was. Her place was always immaculate; she liked to think it was from her time in the military. It taught her strict discipline and she still used it in her everyday life. She stuck to a schedule, similar each day. Wake up, get dressed and go to the gym. Shower once she gets home, eat breakfast, and find something to clean. Repeat. As much as she knew she should leave your place, she couldn’t make herself yet. You had been driving her crazy. Seeing how you looked at her, how you tried multiple times to rid her of her clothes. You made her feel wanted. She hadn’t felt that in a long time. If you weren’t drunk she probably would have let you. 

She left your bedroom and closed the door behind her. Turning on the lamp in the living room she began to tidy your apartment. The space was small so it didn't take very long. She folded your laundry, emptied your dishwasher and refilled it with the dirty dishes. She even took the time to arrange your books neatly on your bookshelf, and she hoped you wouldn’t think it was weird of her to clean your place while you slept. Once she felt proud of her work she filled you a glass of water, leaving it on your bedside table. Hyun Ju planted a kiss on your forehead, turned off your lights, and left your apartment locking it up behind her. The drive back to her place only took a few minutes considering there was no traffic. She took a brief shower, her mind still thinking of your lustful actions. Groaning to herself she turned the shower off, changed into comfortable clothes and went to bed. She tossed and turned, trying to make herself comfortable and force herself to sleep. Her mind kept playing back over tonight. She wanted you, bad. Hyun Ju allowed her hand to slip into her sweatpants, thinking of you. The feeling of needing release made her stomach clench. Soon her orgasm took over her, as she thought of you, and once she cleaned herself up she was able to fall asleep much quicker. Her mind still picturing you as she drifted off.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。..・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。..✭・.・

✨a/n: sorry it took a week to post! working in vet med is crazy. anyways, enjoy. i appreciate all the love this series has gotten so far. xoxo, squid.

[robertsfloyd]

his girl

an alpha that hadn't yet claimed you. your first time in the hard deck. his flirty superior. what could go wrong?

technically a part two to military issued, but it can be read as a standalone

Bradley Bradshaw was in love.

he held you close, nuzzled against your neck as you sat in his home. your home now, too, you supposed.

you didn't have a choice in the matter. when your first met, you were adamant you'd made the wrong choice in becoming a military omega. but Bradley's alpha scent was in your nose. his big, strong hands were on you, your brain melted.

you couldn't help it. your omega brain switched on, and you nuzzled against him, trying to get as much of his scent on you.

you wanted to drown in it, get drunk off of it. your alpha. your big, strong Alpha that you couldn't get enough of.

his lips nipped at your neck and you released a giggle. he hadn’t claimed you, yet, waiting for your heat. that was the proper way to do it, how the military wanted it done.

he now had a reason to come home.

***

it was weird, walking around with an Alpha that hadn't claimed you. you held his hand as he led you from the Bronco and into the bar.

the hard deck. a cute name, considering the little bit Bradley had told you about naval aviation. "ready?" he asked you, lifting your hand to his lips to kiss the back of it.

you swallowed the lump in your throat, but the way your moustache tickled your skin had you giggling. "ready," you answered.

meeting your alpha's friends was a big deal. even when you tried to pretend it wasn't, it was a big deal. his friends. the people he worked with. the people that would make sure he came back to you. his squad were important to him.

they were important to you, too, now.

this was something this should have waited until you were mated, until you had his claim on your neck and yours on his. but you were completely covered in his scent, and that was the next best thing.

the hard deck was a cacophony of shouts and jeers and music from the juke box. shouts of those trying to be louder than the jeers, jeers from the group playing darts. noises from the pool table too, cues hitting balls and balls hitting each other.

he led you through the hard deck, past the bar and over to a group of people in khakis. "hey, rooster!" one of them called as the two of you approached.

mostly alphas, you noted as you looked at them. two betas, no other mares in sight.

"guys, there's someone I want you to meet."

Bradley pulled you in front of him. his hands rested on your shoulders as he introduced you, gave his friends your name.

"hi," you said abd swallowed the uncomfortable feeling in your throat. too tight, lump in your throat too big.

shoving the pool cue into the hands of the spectacled man, the broad, brown haired an strode over. he looked tall, until he got close to Bradley.

beta, you realised once you breathed in.

"hangman," bradley mumbled, his moustache twitching as he pulled you closer. like he had anything to be worried about. you were well and truly his.

"who's this pretty little thing?" he asked, looking you up and down. a beta raised by alphas, you decided.

you patted your alphas chest. "this is Bradley," you said and smiled up at him. "he really is a pretty little thing, isn't he?"

red cheeked, hangman laughed at you. no, not at you. with you. "I'm jake," he said and held his hand out to you.

"nice to meet you, jake."

one by one, you met all of Bradley's friends. they were all lovely, but your favourite was natasha. she was maybe the second sexiest Alpha you had ever seen (behind Bradley, of course). not only that, but she was lovely. friendly, but she could easily hold her own. if they were a Pack, more than friends, she would have been their leader.

sat in Bradley’s lap, you listened as his friends told you stories. what they could of their time in the Navy. none of the horrible stuff, none of the traumatic things they had been through. instead, the moments they found themselves... enjoying.

no, enjoying wasn't the right word. but it allowed them to feel like they belonged.

as you listened, your glass became empty. you shook it, the ice cubes clinking together, before you drank them, too.

"I'm gonna get another," you said to Bradley and kissed his cheek.

he tightened his grip on you, not letting you off of his lap. "hey," he said quickly, his eyebrows raising.

rolling your eyes, you pressed a kiss to his lips. you pulled away, giggling as you made your way to the bar.

"same again?" the woman behind the bar asked.

"please," you said and she began making it for you.

you pulled your card from your purse, but someone placed their hand on top of yours, stopping you.

not Bradley, you would have recognised his scent immediately.

you looked up at the man, also in khakis. his dark hair was greying at the sides and there was something about his smile that put you off, like he wasn't used to the action. "I got it, darlin'," he said and opened his wallet.

you shook your head. "I'm good," you said and grabbed your card again. "thank you, though."

"c'mon, put it away," he said, trying to sound light. "a pretty 'mega like you shouldn't have to pay for your drinks."

a smile split across your face. "you're right," you said and tucked your card back into your purse. "lemme go and get my Alpha real quick."

you made your way back over to Bradley, grabbed his hand and pulled him to his feet. "what're you doing, angel?" he asked, hands on your waist, pulling you into him.

he looked at the man beside you. "cyclone."

he fucking knew him!

oh, this was too good.

cyclone cleared his throat. "Rooster," he said as Bradley pulled out his wallet.

"have you met my Omega yet?" he asked, paying for your drink. you sipped it, practically glowing as your alpha protectively stood up for you.

he leaned down and kissed your exposed shoulder. "go sit down, Angel," he whispered and sent you on your way. you went willingly, sitting beside Nat and watching as Bradley spoke with cyclone.

"I didn't know he knew him," you muttered and sipped some more of your fruity cocktail drink.

natasha released a laugh. "knew him? that's our superior."

your mouth dropped open. your alpha. sticking up for you. in front of his superior.

you were so in love.

I'd loooove some more abo/hybrid!au top gun requests!

[aq2003]

okkkk some jumbled thoughts from my 3rd macbethening, this is a combination of things related to the film version plus just the production in general because i love it so much

i don't think i'll ever stop being floored by the opening scene. the music, macbeth's expressions (the exhausted, haggard way that he moves as the praises for his viciousness on the battlefield ring out behind him)... i'm deranged forever. bonus points this time for the close-ups on his face

the macbeth's embrace when they first reunite is so tender :( the way they hold onto each other :(

thanks to me having the soundtrack on loop i noticed a few interesting things re: the soundtrack. for instance the motif of the psalm first plays when duncan is naming malcolm heir (although much less dark and creepy i think). then it comes in at full force when macbeth is crowned king

it was stated in the traveling folk interview that iomar ò illean mhara was the song played at the irl funeral of duncan, and quite fittingly the first time it plays in the production is when lady macbeth welcomes duncan to inverness. though over the course of the play it definitely becomes lady macbeth's theme and plays over/in between her most pivotal scenes (including before and after the sleepwalking scene and right before her final exit). this makes me think about the parallels between them and how duncan's ghost haunts her (this production keeps the line about him reminding her of her father...!) def need more time to marinate in this

the little cascade is definitely banquo's motif (or the motif representing banquo's lineage). it plays during the first scene with him and fleance and then when the apparitions show macbeth banquo's legacy becoming kings !!

love the bird's eye view of macbeth bowing to duncan (and how it establishes a visual parallel w/ him on the ground before getting crowned, and him being lifted up by the witches)

LOVE how the ceilidh was filmed, it was even more stunning (!) than when i saw it live although that may have been where i was sitting lol

the only parts of the film version i don't think live up to when i watched it live were the "stars hide your fires" scene (i would like to see more of the slo mo clapping!) and the final fight (i think the choreography prob improved when staging it at the harold pinter, it was cleaner and less chaotic having everybody come at macbeth from only two directions)

of course it is stated in the credits that the "child" role is fleance, the macduffs' son, and young siward, but there are a few moments i think are solidly the ghost of the macbeths' child (he's behind the glass the whole time). when he appears over lady macbeth welcoming duncan to inverness, when he's walking along to the ceilidh (and you see him between the macbeths during the time-slow bit), and when he's frantically knocking as the macbeths dance together (after they resolve themselves to murder duncan). in this way i think he serves both as the embodiment of their reason to kill duncan and the embodiment of their guilt

the big, single knock of the ensemble behind the glass before macbeth has his monologue abt how "every noise appalls him".... the hands pressing against the glass when macbeth talks abt how he'll never sleep again..... so delightfully creepy. i love it so much.

i didn't have a good enough angle to see it either time i watched it live but the Look between the macbeths after lady macbeth pretends to "faint" was so good... i think dt's macbeth makes me actually believe that him killing duncan's servants was like this fucked up manifestation of his guilt and "violent love" and he was dissociating badly + didn't know what he was doing. anyway now in this scene he's making himself look insanely guilty so lady macbeth has to take everyone's eyes off of him for a hot second. love how the murder power couple are kind of cringe fail in their own funny way

the very uncomfortable look that the murderers share with each other when macbeth brings up killing fleance. suuuuuch a good touch to that scene

you all know i am a huge fan of the dagger soliloquy cuz it was macbeth grabbing at his own shadow, macbeth as the "dagger", resolving himself to be more a weapon than a man, etc, but also this theme is repeated in his last monologue in 3.2! he talks to his shadow again when he's justifying arranging the murders of banquo and fleance to himself. OOF

in my notebook for one of my points i just wrote "3.4!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" cuz, obviously, david's acting in this scene is just fucking riveting and still gives me full body chills. also, staging note, i love that when he hallucinates the ghost for the second time everyone at the "table" moves away and it's like we're not watching him lose it in the eyes of everyone else we're being fully dunked into his head as he completely unravels

i think i like both the donmar and harold pinter versions of the 2nd witches scene equally! the choreography for the donmar version is a lot cooler and makes the witches feel more otherworldly but the harold pinter version connects it back to the theme of macbeth's trauma and grief and how the witches take root in that

i think it's just the fact i could see her expressions better but i teared up during the sleepwalking scene.. like aughhhhhh cush jumbo you came for my knees!!!!!!!!

the deranged grin on macbeth's face when he disarms macduff and he says "thou losest labor" i am soooo. i am SOOOOOOO. [chews on my arm]

BIG POOL OF BLOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! RAHHHHHHHH

[lokisprettygirl]

Come As You Are (Eric Draven! Bill Skarsgard's Version x Female Reader) (18+) (Slight Au)

Read chapter 4 here

Chapter 5

Summary : You and Eric take turns taking care of each other. You let out a secret.

Warning: 18+, dirty sexual thoughts, smut in later chapters, Description of self harm, Eric is a past drug addict with suicidal tendencies, self harm, use of cuss words, description of claustrophobia, reader is in her early thirties, mention of sexual assault, death and murder, Consumption of alcohol and weed, periods

The next morning when Eric woke up, you were still asleep in his arms so he placed you on the bed as gently as he could before he propped himself on his elbow and looked at you. Admiring you would have been a more befitting term though. Your boobs were about to slip out of your tank top so he closed his eyes and fixed the strap before he leaned down to kiss your cheek.

Good god he could definitely get used to this.

He looked down and the lower half of your body was so completely pressed up against him, your legs tangled around his own while your thigh clung to his waist.

He was hard, so hard for you.

His cock ached and throbbed uncomfortably. You just looked so beautiful like this with your body wrapped around him, his hands itched to run between the valley of your breasts but he controlled himself, he didn't want to ruin this but he wondered how you'd look if he took you in this position, his cock pumping in and out of you slowly while you'd moan and writhe and look at him with those pretty, soft eyes of yours, chanting his name like a mantra.

The way you said his name so tenderly always got him but he couldn't even imagine how sensuous his name would sound when you're saying it amidst the throes of passion.

Before you'd wake up to witness his rock and hard embarrassment he untangled himself from you begrudgingly. He then slowly began pulling you in the center of the bed as he got up, he was afraid you'd fall down on the floor in your sleep.

“Mmmmm” you let out a cat like noise as he moved you so he stopped for a moment and just caressed your head.

“Shhhhhh shhh.. go back to sleep” he held you like that so you'd drift off again, you still had time in your shift and he didn't want your sleep disrupted because of him again.

As he got off the bed he pulled the duvet over you, wrote a small note and placed it on the side table next to the lamp so you'd not think he just upped and left after you had been so impossibly precious to him last night.

An hour later when you woke up, you woke up with a smile on your face, you had a dream about him, a naughty dream that had you dripping, you were lucky he wasn't there anymore, you probably would have touched him so inappropriately if he was next to you right now. You wanted to do more than just touch him, you wanted to lick every inch of his tatted skin if he'd let you.

“Ughhh” you groaned as the tingling sensation between your legs began to bother you.

You weren't really expecting to find a note but you were starting to pick up on the fact that he loved writing them. So old school, you weren't sure he even had a cell phone and that was something that mystified you.

'Thanks for everything. I mean it. Really. I do. Didn't want to disrupt your sleep again so I'm leaving this here as I'd be gone all day. See you at dinner tonight? Be safe out there, don't forget to take the taser. Leaving the breakfast on the kitchen counter. Waffles with extra whipped cream. Eat it before you go?

Eric :)'

You couldn't stop smiling after that, you read his little scribbled writing at least ten more times before you got out of bed to get ready for the day. He never really told you where he was going, who he was meeting, who he was beating up today or worse. He wanted to keep you out of that part of his life and you didn't want to push him again, he had been opening up to you and you were content with it.

At least for now.

Later that night when Eric returned drenched in blood again, he was excited to just shower and then knock on your door like he usually did, he was expecting to smell your delicious cooking from the elevator itself but he got none of that. As he approached his door he found a note so he picked it up immediately.

'Rain check on the dinner tonight? Cheryl got a promotion so she wants to celebrate, will be back soon.

P.s You need a phone. Eat something healthy.. see you soon <3'

He gulped as he read the note, he looked at the time and it was 9:30 at night, you were a grown woman, you had survived so far on your own but he couldn't stop worrying about your safety especially after that incident. You didn't even tell him where you were going, if he knew he would have gone there to keep a safe watch from a distance.

As he entered his apartment, he couldn't stop pacing back and forth in worry, he had that nightmare last night and now you were out at such late hours and he didn't know where you were and what if something happened to you? He'd never be able to forgive himself for this, he didn't even think he was even capable of losing you anymore, losing one more person who despite his numerous flaws wanted to be around him.

As the clock hit 11, he opened his door to go look for you, wherever you were in this big city, he was going to find you but then he heard the sound of the elevator whirring and he halted on his doorstep.

As you stepped out of the elevator you saw him, standing on his doorway, the blood splatters were all over his face and clothes, not as bad as the other times but they were there.

“Hey did you just return?” You asked him as you walked towards him but he didn't answer you, he was just staring at you, as if trying to make sure that you were perfectly safe from head to toe, that there wasn't one single scratch on your precious body, the black flowy dress you had worn made you look so gorgeous and he'd have admired it more if he wasn't so wrecked at the moment.

“Eric?” You mumbled as you walked closer, for once he didn't smell perfect, he had a long day and he had spent the past two hours sweating profusely in stress and anxiety.

“You know you could have just mentioned where you were going” he said as he crossed his arms so you nodded before you stepped closer to him and placed your hand on his forearm but he pulled away like a petulant child throwing a tantrum

“Eric-” you spoke again but he interrupted you.

“I was so..it's ..fuck .. it's 11 at night..it's not safe out there you know that, there are awful people just waiting to-”

“Eric” you interrupted his train of thoughts but he kept going..he was going to freak out, this was a sign that you had come to recognise in the past four months.

That's what started the downfall of his relationship with Melody, he was always so paranoid and afraid of her being hurt again, so much so that every time she went out without him he spent every half hour calling and texting her, making sure whether she needed him to be there for her or if she was in danger. It had gotten so bad that she broke his phone in anger once after he picked an argument over her not responding to his calls. He didn't blame her for feeling so suffocated with him, she had a bright future, big dreams and he was just holding her back.

“Did your friends even drop you home or they just left you outside somewhere-” he continued so you said his name a little louder this time.

“Eric?” You walked closer and cupped his cheeks, your fingers rubbed over the dried blood on his skin as you made him look you in the eyes.

“Look at me okay? I'm safe, I'm okay, I'm here” you mumbled, your voice gentle as you pulled him closer and embraced him, it took him a few moments before he wrapped his arms around your waist in a tight grip. You were safe, you were safe and in his arms and he could feel you and touch you.

After a while you pulled away from the hug but didn't step away completely. You knew he spent the last few hours worrying his mind over you and he must not have eaten so you really wanted to feed him.

“Take a shower, I will fix you a sandwich, okay? You want something to drink?” You asked him so he shook his head before he lowered his neck to place his head down on your shoulder. He breathed in your scent for a moment before he cupped your cheeks, his thumbs ran over your skin gently

“Don't go anywhere now okay?” He said to you so you nodded in response. The way he was being so protective of you made your heart flutter so fast you feared it would burst out of your chest. Nobody has made you feel so important before, nobody cared enough to treat you as if you were someone they needed to protect so fiercely.

“I'll be back, I smell like a sewer rat”

Well at least he was aware.

You chuckled as he turned around to go into his apartment but he kept his door open for you, you had to make that sandwich and you knew you'd find nothing in his kitchen so you entered your apartment, quickly fixed him two chicken sandwiches and then you made your way into his apartment.

When he came out of his bedroom next he seemed clean and he smelled divine like always. You tapped the spot next to you on the couch so he sat down and turned his head to look at you, he then flicked his fingers over your cheek.

“You look beautiful”

So did he you thought.

“Thank you”

As he picked up the sandwich he offered you a bite so you took it even though you were full to the brim from the dinner you had with your friends. As you placed your head down on his shoulder he turned his neck to look at you,

“Tired?”

“Mmm i just hate that i have to work tomorrow again” you groaned and he couldn't help but smile at the whiny tone of your voice.

“Take a day off”

“Mm no I'm saving it for my periods”

Well it was something men didn't have to worry about, like ever.

Once he was done eating he got up and grabbed a heavy chained metal lock before stepping out of his apartment so you followed behind him to see what he was up to, he was locking the grill door of the elevator.

When he saw you looking at him he spoke to clarify “Just for the nights, there's no security in this shitty building..you want a key?”

He asked you, even though he was hoping you'd not use the key to sneak out at nights and even if you did he hoped you'd tell him where exactly you were going. God he sounded absolutely manic as he heard his own thoughts.

“Mmm no..I'll come to you if I need it” your voice was soft, almost seductive as you said it, even though he knew you didn't know the S of Seduction.

He looked at you a bit surprised, you were going to feed into his paranoia weren't you? Instead of making him feel so fucking deranged about it you were going to massage his borderline creepy behavior with you and take pleasure in it.

As he walked past you he grabbed your arm and dragged you back into his apartment before he closed the door behind him.

“Eric, why don't you have a phone?” You asked him as you got into his bed as if it was the most natural thing to do in the world for you.

“Don't need it” he answered as he looked at you, the sight of you flailing out in his bed rushed the blood to his cock, you were in his bed, in that dress, he could just climb on top of you, kiss you and then run his hands all over you, touching you in places he desperately wanted to and he had a feeling you won't stop him either, you seemed so eager and desperate to him, he felt it, the way you touched him, the way you couldn't keep your hands off him when he was close to you, you were as eager and as desperate as he was for you.

To hide the evidence of his arousal he approached the bed and quickly laid down next to you.

“You don't need it? How do your ..ummm work folks contact you for the.. assignments you get?” you asked softly. He had no one he wanted to speak with? That saddened you to the core, not one person, no friends, no distant family members, Not even an ex or something.

“Don't need a phone for that..I'll get one tomorrow though, just for you, learned a lesson tonight”

You smiled as he said that. Well it wouldn't hurt to be able to chat with him and hear his voice whenever you wanted.

“Need to sleep?” He asked you so you turned on your side and hummed in response before your arm flung around his waist.

“Eric?”

He turned his head to look at you and hummed as you called out his name, your eyes were closed so he stared at your face as much as he wanted, you were so close to him.

“Something bad and weird happened to me a few months ago”

You mumbled and his smile faded, he knew exactly what had happened and he wasn't sure if he was ready to talk about it just yet.

He didn't want you to know he was the one to bring you back home that night.

“What happened?” He asked as he turned to his side, propping himself up on his elbow to face you so you opened your eyes.

You sighed before you told him everything that had happened that night, all from the moment when those men had cornered you to the fact that you had given up and how you were back home when you had regained consciousness.

“I don't know if that even happened or it was a dream or I made it all up, I feel crazy when I think about that night” he ran his fingers through your hair to comfort you, the way you often did for him.

He didn't want you to feel so confused about that night but he wasn't ready to tell you the truth either, he didn't want you to think he had done any sort of favour to you or perhaps you'd think he was a creep for not taking an unconscious woman to the hospital.

He went through your purse afterall which took him a while, it was a mess, he looked for id, and address and your keys before he lifted you up tarzan style and brought you home and put you down on your bed. It was just shock from fear and exhaustion so he wasn't worried about your health being in imminent danger.

He should have disappeared out of your life after that but as soon as he saw the list of vacancies for the 11th floor he couldn't help himself, he wanted to be around you and keep you safe from all the bad things in this world. He felt a rush that night he hadn't felt in years, a sense of purpose in his vacant existence so he latched onto you like a leech.

But you didn't need to know that.

“You're not crazy sweetheart, I'm just glad you're safe and I promise I'll never let anyone hurt you again alright?” he mumbled softly as he kissed your forehead, the gesture made your heart flutter again, god you just wanted to keep touching him when he was around you.

“Okay” your arm curled around his waist as you scooted closer to him with your nose pressed up into the crook of his neck. His scent was comforting as always, comforting and arousing at the same time.

“Eric?” you mumbled, your voice sounded muffled and it made him gulp.

“Yeah?”

“Can you unclasp my bra, I can't sleep with it on”

Now how was he supposed to do that?

“Yeah uh..sure”

He mumbled as he flung his arm around your back and pulled the zipper down a little so he could reach the clasp. You had your eyes closed so he glanced at your beautiful face for a moment, you breathed in deeply as your chest was finally released from the confinement.

“Thank you” you mumbled as you clapped his cheek lightly twice. He was starting to see how effortlessly sexy you were, so naturally sexy, you didn't have to pout or use a seductive fake voice, you just did things in your usual manner and that always stirred the arousal in the deepest pit of his stomach.

He laid down on his back and his breath hitched as you proceeded to place your thigh over his waist, right over his crotch.

Did you want him to flip you underneath him and take you? He couldn't really tell, he enjoyed the proximity and if this was all you wanted to give him he'd take it.

“Good night” you murmured softly so he hummed in response.

How was he supposed to sleep like this?

In the middle of the night you woke up suddenly as you felt that familiar churning in your stomach and slight wetness in your underwear..Eric rubbed his eyes as he looked at you.

“What's wrong?”

“Gotta go” you said as you climbed on top of him before jumping out of his bed, he was shocked for a moment but then followed you into your apartment and then your bedroom.

He watched as you grabbed something from your closet and he put two and two together.

It's been a while since he has been around a …menstruating woman. Melody often liked being alone when she had her cramps, she didn't enjoy being touched or taken care of, she just wanted him to leave her alone especially during the last few months they had spent together.

As you came out of the bathroom your face was contorted in grimacing pain.

“Hey. I'll go get it for you okay? Do you need anything else?” He asked so you shook your head.

“Do you have any ibuprofen? I ran out, i should have bought it” you asked him so he shook his head, he didn't really require any types of pills anymore. “Oh god I'm going to die” you mumbled as you crawled into your bed, he couldn't help but chuckle.

“No.. I don't want you to go at such late hours” he chuckled again at the concern. Gods you were adorable to him.

“I promise I can take care of myself..now do you need something else?” He asked you again so you sighed.

“Just pass me my hot bag please..it's in the closet..right drawer” he nodded as you said that before he reached into your closet and opened the drawer, he saw the drawing he had given you that night to apologize and it made him smile.

“I'll be back soon..use this until then” he said as he charged the bag and gave it to you as it was hot enough to offer some semblance of comfort. He truly wished he was able to take away your pain, he would trade places with you immediately but it wasn't possible.

“Well at least you don't have to work tomorrow” he said as he leaned down to kiss your temple and it made you smile even though the cramp was progressively getting worse.

Yeah well that was a positive side to having your periods.

“Thank you Eric.. love you” you mumbled under your breath but he heard you, it wasn't what you said that made him giddy but how you said it so casually..

Fifteen minutes later he was back with your pain killer, as you sat up he placed the pill in your mouth and made you drink water before he placed the glass on the side table. When he looked in your eyes they were teary so he cupped your cheeks.

“That bad huh? You'll feel better soon, okay? What else can I do? Tell me”

He thought you were tearing up because of pain? No, not right now at least, it was him that made you so emotional, you had never been treated so gently before.

“It's not the pain..I'm just happy you're here” he let out a breath as you said that, he wasn't the only one suffering from the lack of haptic communication in his life it seemed, you had no one either, no boyfriend, no best friend and you have never spoken much of your family either. Besides he was more than willing to be here with you, he just wanted to take care of you, give you something in return for all the ways you took care of him.

“You need a bigger bed sweetheart” he said as he climbed in and pulled you in his arms.

“Mmm bigger and longer since you're so long” He smiled as he caressed your back in the hope that you'd fall asleep as the medicine would kick in and you almost did as well but then you said something that kept him up all night.

“Eric?”

“Mmm”

“I have a secret” he chuckled as you said that.

“What is it?”

“Promise me you won't judge me?" You asked him.

“Never”

He didn't judge you, ofcourse not but your answer made him want to distance himself from you, not because he wanted to but because he felt as if he had to, or he'd end up ruining you completely, he feared he'd taint your pure perfect self with his ugliness.

“I'm a virgin”

👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀

Taglist: @m-riaa @erebus-et-eigengrau @peachychyy @enchantresss97

[another-random-paradise]

hi hi hi! i was wondering if u could write headcanons for what it'd be like to date greaseball? <3 no stress!

Hello!! I’m SO sorry that this took so long, my life got really busy,, :(

You didn’t specify which version so I went with London 2024, I hope that’s okay - and I hope you enjoy <33

---------------------------------------------------------

Dating headcanons

Characters: Greaseball

Format: Headcanons

Version: London - Wembley 2024

Warnings: talk of arguments (nothing specific)

-She LOVES validation, especially from you, she will purposefully show of her muscles or go extra fast, in hopes of a compliment or even just a gasp from you. It feeds into her ego, a lot.

-A bit possessive and jealous. She hates it when someone else flirts with you, especially if it's another engine. She'll be there in seconds, cutting them down to size. She'll probably never admit it, but it's because deep down she's worried you'll leave her for someone gentler; someone better at loving you the way you deserve.

-However if she ever sees you defending yourself/cutting the flirt down to size yourself, before she can? She'd find that incredibly attractive! She'd be all smug about it too

-She sadly doesn't take well to critique. Communication isn't exactly her strong suit, so when you try to tell her that she did something wrong/made you uncomfortable, she'll usually just stare at nothing specific, crossing her arms; you won't get much more out of her than an occasional annoyed "mhm"

-It's not that she doesn't want to, she just doesn't know how to. Nonetheless, she carries your words around with her for a good while. She'll try to subtly change, but her ego tends to get in the way. She tries she really does, but she was never taught how.

-however, usually a few hours or a few days after every argument, you'll find a small gift from her, or a bouquet of your favourite flowers waiting for you (either on your desk or your doorstep, depending on if you live together or not). Of course, it doesn't make up for everything, but it's a start

-She'd definitely want to race together with you if you aren't also an engine, no matter if carriage or freight. Racing is incredibly important to her, and she wants to share the experience with you

-She usually likes to show you off, always having a hand on your hip, or a small kiss on your head, just generally keeping you close. The one exception is when she's in an argument with someone, for example when Electra is once again egging her on before a big race, she doesn't respond well to anyone getting to close to her when that happens.

-Date nights are usually stay in movie nights, races, or simply whatever you two impulsively decide to do.

-She isn't big on fancy dates. You did go on quite a few ones when you first started dating, since she wanted to show off and impress you - but she seems to get pretty awkward during them. Not to mention that she doesn't like having to wait so long for food at the fancy restaurants.

-after a hard day at work, she loves coming home to you and fall asleep cuddling. She'd never admit it, of course, but getting to hold you is very comforting for her

Again, so sorry this took so long—

Hope you enjoyed nonetheless!!

Feedback is welcome, just be nice pls <3

Have a nice day/night!!

[nobodysavemysoulitsperfectlyfine]

The seven as perfumes/colognes/vaguely smelling substances except I don't know anything about formulas

Note that these are probably not real things you can put in a perfume this is for fun.

Also I got a lot of this from Reddit.

Percy: Top notes would be some sort of sweet like vanilla bean, Middle notes would include seaspray and tropical fruits, and base notes would probably be a nice honey, cocoa or brown sugar sorta thing. According to my research (scrolling through Pinterest) these are typically scents you find in women's perfume.

And to assume that Percy Jackson gives a fuck about what he smells like as long as it's good. Tsk tsk. Percy probably smells like what you imagine a tropical get a way is, which sucks because he can never get that.

Annabeth: Top notes for Annabeth would definitely be of the citrus sort. Specifically lemon. It's said that her perfume was definitely lemon scented, probably because it repels spiders. The girl drowns herself in it. Also because mm yummy. Middle notes would be whatever book smell is like. Call it leather, call it sandalwood, but gawdamn. Essentially she smells liked a freshly cleaned library filled with pastries.

Lesbians flock to her whenever nearby (I'm talking about the one friend she has that hates Percy for some reason)

Leo: Say what you want, the guys a mix of the NASTIEST smells and absurdly sweet chocolate. I've been in enough car shops, mechanic wearhouses and what not to be able to know that there is NO GOD FEARING SCENTS. There's notes of Grease Oils, Sulfur, and the Giant Fennel, which is a plant said to be sweet, aromantic and spicy. Leo smells different every single day that he's working, and failing to rizz the huzz. (Did I say that right?)

Also, he really likes it if someone close to him smells like a food. ESPECIALLY when he's been working for so long and needs to eat something.

Anyways.

Jason: He probably doesn't care much for Cologne, given that most of the ones he finds are supposed to smell like animalistic and musk, when he prefers the real kind. But let's say that for the sake of fitting into Camp Jupiter or what ever, he's wearing the normal stuff. I want to say linen for some reason. But no. There's notes of Petrichor for right after he used his powers (basically the smell of thunder), Metallic and soft earth smells. Jason smells like air right before a storm hits, where the air is misty, the winds slowly picking up, but nothings gone South. Not yet.

Wear an aphrodisiac around him and this man will FREEZE. Like, legitimately. Jason's the type of guy to be so afraid of making one of his friend's uncomfortable that his first instinct will be to do as little as possible so he won't get carried away. People start to notice that he isn't dishing out hugs or friendly touches often.

Frank: The cleanliest musky smell you can find. I can't describe it. Animal smells, but it doesn't get out of hand. I feel like a part of him gets nervous about everybody thinking he stinks, when it's anything but. They're intrigued, but not grossed out, per se. I think it would be hilarious if Frank's the type of person that everybody surrounds, trying to figure out what he's wearing. Sandalwood, Animals, musk, all wrapped up in a nice, evenly balanced package.

Also tell me he doesn't have a weird thing for Jasmine. I can feel it in my delusional bones.

Hazel: She might be the only person who likes the fancy French stuff and purposely wears it. Incense, bereavement flowers, Jasime because she knows Frank likes it :) Mildew, Chrysanthemums, girly takes care of herself. Hazel smells like a funeral home, except it's filled with loving family members, fresh flowers, sweet foods and precious memories.

Piper: I'm conflicted on whether or not she actually wears this stuff. Nevertheless, there's a lingering scent of every single perfume or cologne her siblings wear. And even if she's been through literal tartarus, there's still a trace of bath and body works on her, or at least some pleasant smell. I can't remember if this happened during the lost trio, but I imagine that while in the most random of places, Jason would comment on it, she would deny it, and Leo would confirm it by straight up sniffing her.

No, you know what? She gets a kick out of solely using novelty products. Think Angry Birds scented shit, Hello Kitty and Garfield, Random candy smells that have no right to exist. Jason is baffled every time.

This took a stupid long time to make just for it to not be accurate of any sort. I apologize. Maybe I'll even do more later.

[rwshfordgirl]

"SO, HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY TO US."

all the images were taken from pinterest.

where after a long time without seeing each other, he appears at her house by surprise.

pairing: kenan yildiz x reader!

a/n: i don't have a honest opinion about everything i wrote here 💔 but I hope you like it!

𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞'𝐬 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐬

I just spent three hours of my life sitting in the uncomfortable chair in the college library, the only place where I can study in peace without being disturbed by my roommate.

Three hours disconnected from the world outside campus, without giving a sign of life to my family and boyfriend. I was five minutes from home when I picked up my cell phone to check messages, my parents sent photos of landscapes unknown to me and Kenan asked if I had arrived home yet. I sent hearts in response to my parents' photos and sent a photo of myself walking towards my house to Yildiz. This one, in turn, saw the message as soon as I sent  and sent a photo of himself in response. 

"Miss you so much, pretty boy." I sent an audio, holding back tears. I almost sat down on the sidewalk to make a video call with Yildiz and say that I would drop everything here just to go be with him. "I miss you too, aşk" I felt my heart melt after the audio he had just sent.

Three months without seeing Kenan. I feel my chest hurt all the time, I miss being at home with him, I miss his hugs, taking silly pictures with him, going out, watching him play in Turin, I miss everything that involves him. Seeing him every day on my cell phone screen is not enough, but I can't go to Italy right now and he can't come see me either.

I almost kicked a rock when I walked past a restaurant on the corner of my house and saw couples enjoying Valentine's Day. Oh shit, I wish Kenan was here right now.

I also wish I could describe everything I felt when I got close to my house and saw a figure sitting on the last step of the stairs, all dressed in black and with a hood over his head. I ran because I knew it was Kenan, I knew it was him, I think I would recognize him even if he had been completely disguised. He got up as soon as he heard my footsteps.

Yildiz wrapped his arms around me and spun me around. I felt my eyes fill with tears,,"Did you miss me?" he asked while still hugging me, his voice muffled by the urge of my hair. "You still ask? I was willing to get home and buy a ticket to Turin." Yildiz's hands left my back and stopped on on my cheeks. "Juventus gave us two days off, but I can only stay here until midday tomorrow." he explained.

Before responding to what he had just said, I made sure to place our lips together, a kiss of longing. Three months without it almost killed me. "Let's go in, I'll order something for us to eat! I just want to stay glued to you until it's time for you to leave."

I intertwined our hands and pulled him into the house, a note right at the entrance  indicated that my roommate would be spending the night out, I almost jumped for joy. instead I took my boyfriend to my room.

"I think we should go out instead of eating here, what do you think?" he sat in my desk chair "Seriously? you want to go out instead of staying here with me?" I pouted and he nodded with a playful smile on his face "I'll be with you either way." he pulled me close, his legs were behind me and his hands were on my back. "I missed you so much, love" he said before taking my hand and kissing it. "You missed me and yet you want to go out instead of sleeping with me?" I joked with him "but I missed you too, baby boy."

"I brought you something." He said, taking a small box out of his jacket's inside pocket. "Happy Valentine's Day, love." He handed me the object. Inside the box was a necklace with a black circular pendant. "Look inside it." He said, and so I did. "I can't believe it, Kenan! How beautiful." I felt my eyes watering when I looked inside the pendant and saw a thumbnail of a photo we took together on our first date, surrounded by the phrase "I love you" written in several languages.

I hugged Kenan awkwardly due to the position we were in. "Thank you so much, love! I really loved it." I kissed his cheek before sitting at his feet. Kenan ran his hand through my hair and bent down to kiss my forehead. "Promise not to be mad at me? Your gift isn't here because I ordered it online and asked for it to be delivered to your house." He chuckled before answering me "Of course I won't be upset about that, silly!" Another kiss on the forehead "Do you want to know what it is?" He denied "I want it to be a surprise." We smiled together "So, happy Valentine's Day to us."

Kenan's chin was gently resting on my head and I knew he was smiling even without seeing it. "So, shall we go out to eat something? I'm starving." I asked, "You know what, do you want to go?" I rolled my eyes playfully, "Let's go, I know you want to."  I stood up and gave him my hand, intending to help him get out of the chair. "I promise I'll lie down with you watching all the movies you want, as soon as we get back." He hugged me as soon as he got up. "I don't want to watch movies, I want to lie down just admiring you." he gave me a little kiss.

[wreckedandpolemic]

53 for white and gold i am actively begging you ok thx lysm

matty can always see right through you. you don’t know why you even bother trying him anymore, except that it’s so much fun. your palms are sweating as you clutch the homemade lunch you’d brought him, your thighs press uncomfortably together as his voice rings out from behind the closed door of his office. he’s shouting, angry in a way you’ve almost never heard, and you can hear hands slamming against his desk as his voice raises and raises.

finally, the door bursts open, and a middle-aged man clearly near tears stumbles out. and don’t ever let me see your fucking face again, matty snaps, a furious scowl etched on his face that makes you weak in the knees. he’s so livid that he barely takes in his surroundings, doesn’t notice you until his assistant says your wife is here, in her nasally, disinterested drawl.

matty’s demeanour changes instantly. hi, darling, he grins. sorry you had to see that, he adds, ushering you into his office. it’s hard not to remember all the times he’s bent you over this very desk. you try to think of something appropriate to say as you pass him the food, but the way your gaze fixes on his hands, his lips, the muscles of his throat is a dead giveaway. are you turned on right now, princess?

your thighs stick to your chair and you must be blushing to the tips of your ears. no, you lie anyway.

liar.

you pout. well, whose fault is it that i get soaked when you’re mean? you tease, thighs clenching - you know you’re playing a dangerous game. matty grins wickedly. is there something you want, princess?

think you should spank me for bein’ so dirty, daddy, you murmur, and matty’s eyes blow wide as he shoves the debris off his desk. such a little slut. c’mere, baby, bend over for daddy, yeah? obediently, you do, shoving your panties to the floor and grinding back against him. god, you’re so impatient, he groans. gotta get you ready f’me first, okay? you nod, whine out a plea.

before you’ve even finished speaking, matty’s hand comes down hard against your ass. you squeal, clench with want. shut up, he hisses meanly. d’you think i want the whole world knowin’ what a fucking whore my wife is?

he grabs your jaw punishingly. no, daddy, you say softly. m’sorry. you bite your tongue hard as he slaps you again, preening when matty praises your silence. there’s my good girl. you love this, huh? takin’ it so well. just stay nice and quiet for daddy, okay? y’gonna take it for as long as i want.

[billiesbabygirleilish]

Billie and the reader have been friends since childhood and Billie has a huge Crush on the reader but the reader has a boyfriend her boyfriend is like super possessive and abusive like won’t really let the reader go anywhere without him and doesn’t like when the reader hangs out with Billie because he know that Billie likes the reader

Billie and her family/friends know that the reader is being abused but every time that try to talk to the reader she always brush it off and tells that they are over reacting and she’s fine one day the reader is hanging out with Billie while her boyfriend is out boyfriend come home and see Billie after Billie leaves the reader and her boyfriend get into a fight the reader the reader ends up going to Billie

I don’t know how to end this but Billie and the reader end up together

Fractured Love

⚠️Mentions of abuse/abusive relationship. Please don’t interact with this post if these themes make you uncomfortable⚠️

╭.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*╮

╰.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*╯ The scent of lavender and old books always calmed you. Billie’s childhood bedroom, with its mismatched posters and overflowing bookshelves, was your safe haven. You stretched out on her bed, absently tracing the pattern on the worn quilt while Billie fiddled with her ukulele in the corner. 

“He’s out of town for the weekend,” you said, trying to sound casual, but the tightness in your chest betrayed you. “Said he had to… help his dad with something.”

Billie strummed a discordant chord. "Right. ‘Help his dad.’ Like he ever does anything remotely helpful." She didn’t look up, but you knew what she was thinking. You knew everyone knew. The strained smiles, the subtle glances, the way Maggie hovered a little too close whenever Liam, your boyfriend, was around – it was all a silent testament to what they saw happening to you.

“He just gets… jealous,” you mumbled, twisting a stray thread on the quilt. “He just cares about me.”

Billie’s head snapped up, her blue eyes flashing. “Caring doesn’t look like telling you who you can and can’t see, who you can and can't talk to. Caring doesn't look like…” she trailed off, her jaw clenched.

You rushed to fill the uncomfortable silence. "It's not that bad, Billie. You guys are just overreacting." You forced a laugh, though your voice wobbled. “I’m fine.”

Billie slammed the ukulele down on the floor, the sound reverberating through the small room. "God, why do you do this? We just want you safe! He’s isolating you, (Your name), are you blind?"

You flinched. “Don’t yell,” you whispered, your voice catching.

Billie’s anger deflated, replaced by a deep, aching worry. She sat beside you on the bed, her hand hovering over yours. She didn't touch you. Not anymore. Not since Liam had made his feelings about your friendship with Billie crystal clear, with words that still echoed in your head.

"I'm sorry," she said softly. "Just… I hate seeing him control you like this. You’re not fine. You haven’t been fine for months." Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out a small, smooth stone, a piece of sea glass she'd found on the beach. "I… I brought this for you. Said it reminded me of your eyes."

You took the sea glass, its cool surface soothing against your palm. "Thank you, Billie."

Later that afternoon, Billie walked you to your door. As you were unlocking it, Liam’s car pulled up to the curb. He’d come home early.

“Hey,” he said, his voice clipped. He glared at Billie as he approached. “What’s she doing here?”

“Just… hanging out,” you stammered.

“She knows you’re busy. She knows you’re with me.” His eyes narrowed. “Does she even have any respect?”

Billie’s jaw tightened. "I was just leaving," she said, her voice even, but you could see the tension in her shoulders.

As Billie turned and walked away, Liam grabbed your arm, yanking you inside the apartment. The door slammed shut behind you. It wasn't the first time you had been dragged inside. It wasn't the only form of abuse you had endured from him.

The argument started small, a simmering resentment bubbling to the surface. But it quickly escalated, his words sharp and cruel, his grip on your arm painful. You tried to reason with him, to appease him, but nothing worked. He accused you of lying, of flirting, of… who knew what else. Your voice rose as you fought back, tears streaming down your face.

"Just leave me alone!" you finally screamed, pushing him away.

He recoiled, his face contorted with a rage that frightened you. "You think anyone else will want you? You think Billie gives a damn about you? She's just… using you. Playing you for a fool."

The words cut deep, even though you knew they weren't true. The anger drained out of you, leaving you hollow and trembling. You couldn't breathe.

"I'm going to be sick," you choked out, pushing past him.

He let you go, and you stumbled out of the apartment, running blindly until you reached the familiar haven of Billie’s house.

You pounded on the door, tears streaming down your face. Maggie opened it, her expression immediately softening when she saw you.

"Oh, honey," she murmured, drawing you into a hug. "Come in, come in."

She led you to the living room, where Billie, Patrick, Finneas, and Claudia sat, their faces etched with concern. You collapsed on the couch, sobbing uncontrollably.

Billie knelt beside you, her hand finally finding yours. Her touch was grounding, a lifeline in the storm. "What happened?" she asked softly, her voice laced with worry.

You told them everything. The possessive control, the constant criticism, the outbursts, the fear that had become your constant companion. You spoke through sobs, the words tumbling out in a torrent of pain and relief.

When you were finally done, the room was silent. Finneas squeezed Claudia's hand, his face dark. Patrick just nodded, his eyes filled with a quiet fury. Maggie sat beside you, stroking your hair.

Billie’s grip on your hand tightened. “You don’t have to go back there, you know.”

You looked at her, your eyes red and swollen. “But… where else would I go?”

Billie hesitated for a moment, then met your gaze with unwavering intensity. "You can stay here. With us. We'll protect you."

The offer hung in the air, a glimmer of hope in the darkness. It was terrifying and exhilarating all at once. Leaving Liam meant stepping into the unknown, but staying meant… more of the same.

"Okay," you whispered, your voice barely audible. "Okay, I'll stay."

The next few weeks were a blur of healing. Maggie’s gentle care, Patrick’s quiet strength, Finneas and Claudia’s unwavering support – they all helped you piece yourself back together. You started therapy, learning to recognize the signs of abuse and to rebuild your shattered self-esteem.

But it was Billie who made the biggest difference. She was there for you, always, a constant presence in your life. Late-night talks under the stars, walks along the beach, quiet moments spent reading together in her room – she created a safe space for you to be yourself, to laugh, to cry, to simply exist without fear.

One evening, as you sat on Billie’s bed, listening to her strum a new song on her ukulele, you realized something had shifted. The fear was still there, a lingering shadow, but it was no longer the defining force in your life. You were starting to see yourself again, to remember the person you were before Liam had chipped away at your spirit.

Billie finished the song, a soft melody with heartfelt lyrics about resilience and hope. She looked at you, her blue eyes filled with something that made your heart skip a beat.

"Do you… do you feel safe here?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

You nodded, tears welling up in your eyes. "More than I've ever felt."

She reached out, gently cupping your cheek. "Me too," she whispered, her gaze locked on yours.

And then, she leaned in and kissed you. It was a soft, tentative kiss at first, but it quickly deepened, a rush of long-suppressed feelings finally breaking free. It was a kiss of comfort, of safety, of longing, of hope.

When you finally broke apart, breathless and trembling, you looked at Billie, and for the first time in a long time, you saw a future. A future free from fear, a future filled with love, a future where you could be yourself, completely and unapologetically.

It wasn’t a fairytale ending. There would still be challenges, still be healing to do. But you knew, with a certainty that settled deep in your soul, that you weren't alone anymore. You had Billie, her family, her friends - a whole world of love and support to guide you. And you knew, with equal certainty, that you were finally on the path to a life that was truly your own.

[dyns33]

Anything goes

I started another Cooper Howard's story and I'll be honest, it's hard for me to complete it, but I'll do my best !

Y/N had become little Janey Howard's babysitter several months after her parents' divorce.

Before that, her father and mother always found time to take care of her when the other was working, or they would entrust her to their governess.

This was no longer possible for Mr. Howard, who had to pay alimony to his ex-wife, while having a lot of trouble getting new roles because of the rumors surrounding him.

It was said that he was close to the Reds, that he was a traitor, even though he was a war hero, and the face of Vault Tech. He would have used this position and his wife's to obtain information and sell it to the Chinese.

Nothing had been proven, but it could explain the breakup, as well as the time it took to find a good babysitter. Many women were afraid to ring Mr. Howard's doorbell, not wanting their reputation to be tarnished, or wondering if the man had other dark secrets that could put them in danger.

There were also those who wanted to get closer to him to get information that they could sell to journalists, or have their names in celebrity magazines.

Y/N didn't care about all that. She needed a second job to pay her rent, she liked children, was discreet, and hadn't really heard about all these stories before Mr. Howard brought them up during their interviews.

Seeing that she didn't understand at all what he was referring to and that she was a trustworthy person, he was ready to give her the job. But first, Janey also had to validate her.

It was love at first sight with this child. Y/N had already babysat, and she had never met a little girl as cute, as lively and as endearing. She only had to say hello and give her her name for Janey to give her the most beautiful smile in the world, asking if she wanted to play with her and her dog, Roosevelt.

"I would need you on Wednesday afternoons, weekends and sometimes for several days but I will let you know in advance. Does that suit you ?"

"Perfect, Mr. Howard."

"Cooper, please. My father was Mr. Howard. Unless it makes you uncomfortable, I would understand. And if someone bothers you… Tell me."

At first, Y/N thought he was talking about his fans, his detractors, the paparazzi. Indeed, there were quickly new rumors, claiming that they were having an affair. Maybe even before the divorce, when they didn't even know each other at the time.

It took several months for Cooper to admit to her that he was mainly talking about the Vault Tech employees. He had signed a confidentiality agreement, in order to have the right to continue seeing his daughter and so he couldn't say anything concrete, but he knew things. They weren't nice.

"They might contact you." he told her while pouring himself a drink, after going to see the little girl who was sleeping peacefully. "To offer you money to find secrets or to ask you to leave. Being able to take care of Janey is another condition, and they are good at scaring away the babysitters."

"I'm sorry, Cooper. Don't worry, I'm staying. You'd be lost without me, and I love Janey."

"She loves you too." he smiled, looking at her with sparkling eyes, placing his hand on hers.

Since the divorce, he saw few people apart from his daughter, Y/N and people linked to the small jobs he managed to find, minor roles or entertainment at birthday parties.

There were still a few more or less loyal friends. One of them was Sebastian Leslie. Of course, he was also afraid of reprisals, but he had already sold his voice for the dubbing of all the Mr. Handys, ensuring him a pretty fortune.

His visits were rare, but he came with gifts for the prettiest girl in the world, and flowers for the most patient person ever.

"Miss Y/N, of course, who deserves all our respect for being in your presence so often and not having lost her mind yet."

"As always, you are hilarious."

"I've heard things, but now that I see you, wonderful Y/N, I know it's impossible. You can do much better."

"Thanks, Seb." Cooper sighed, patting Y/N on the shoulder in apology for the nonsense.

She didn't mind people thinking they were together. First, because people were stupid. And most of all, because she wouldn't have minded if it were true. She liked Cooper.

Sure, he was a little older than her, but he was charming. Funny, smart, kind. When they were all together with Janey, they sometimes did activities that made them seem like a family.

But she wasn't family. His marriage had had a difficult end, he had trouble paying her some months, and if he wasn't completely depressed yet, it was because he didn't want to lose his daughter.

It was a surprise when Mr. Leslie came knocking on her door, urgently asking her to follow him, without really giving an explanation. Sweating, worried, he mumbled incoherent things, when he wasn't yelling at his driver to go faster.

Still unclear, he took her arm to put a pitboy on her. Y/N had already seen them on television, or worn by well-dressed, very important, rich people.

"If you're asked, my dear, you are my adorable niece, my only heiress, with whom I insist on living the renovation of the world."

"… What ?"

"I know you're not an actress, but I hope that hanging out with the best of us has helped you a bit in this area. You'll have to be convincing, even if I'll be talking most of the time."

"Mr. Leslie…"

"Uncle Seb. Or Bastien."

"I don't understand anything at all, you don't…"

"Listen to me." he said very seriously, squeezing her wrist. "We don't have much time. They're going to blow everything up. I know Barb is going to take measures for her daughter, I know it. I can't do anything for Cooper, but he loves you very much, so this, I can do for him. At least the little girl will have someone sane to take care of her afterwards."

"What the hell are you talking about ?! Where are Cooper and Janey ?!"

All his attempts to calm her down seemed in vain, Sebastien ended up giving her a sedative, with the help of his driver. No doubt she was transported to the shelter while she was sleeping, put in a hibernation box next to her "uncle".

A very nice robot sounding like him was the first thing she saw when she woke up.

He cheerfully announced to her that she had been sleeping for over 200 years, that her uncle had unfortunately passed away, having woken up long before her, but having left a message for her.

"My dear niece, thank you for your patience and your trust. We always hear funny and stupid things these days, like the fact that I can no longer offer you flowers. But they are growing outside, I hear. And a little girl is waiting somewhere. There are fewer eyes when it's dark."

The message wasn't hard to decode. An apology, first, but mostly the assertion that it was possible to get out of the shelter without too much danger, if she waited for the right moment. Apparently, Janey Howard hadn't been placed in Vault 93.

Getting out wasn't that complicated. In fact, Y/N didn't even have to play the secret agent, she asked Mr. Handy, who passed her request to the overseer, who accepted it without resistance. She was able to take food, clothes and a weapon, before leaving, receiving encouragement from everyone, even if they didn't see who she was at all.

In any case, she was one less mouth to feed.

The real problem was surviving outside, and finding Janey. Y/N was not a fighter. She understood that there had been nuclear explosions, that the world was destroyed, now populated by dangerous creatures and unbalanced survivors.

But there were still good people. A woman showed her the way to Los Angeles, or what was left of it. A man advised her to avoid the North, explaining to her what the Raiders and the Deathclaws were.

And a strange couple offered to accompany them, to prevent her from being killed in her sleep or because of the mines.

Well, the young woman offered, smiling and polite, dressed like the inhabitants of the shelter and wearing a pitboy. She seemed genuinely delighted to meet someone like her, murmuring that it would be a change from her grumpy friend.

The said companion clearly did not come from a shelter. The radiation had dug into his skin. Y/N had heard of them, these ghouls. This one wasn't very talkative, his face half hidden by a cowboy hat, staring at her with a strange, almost shocked look.

"Don't pay attention to him, he's not good with people." said the girl whose name was Lucy. "I don't even know his name. We had a rough start, but he's calm now. We're a team !"

"Oh. Okay. Nice to meet you."

Lucy shook her hand. The Ghoul continued to look at her without saying anything, before continuing on his way. For the girl, it was a good sign, he hadn't ordered her to leave or caught her with his lasso.

Since things had changed, Y/N accepted that this could indeed be good news, but she followed them mostly because she didn't really have a choice.

[ofspvrta]

There's only so much lounging on the deck of your own boat with the love of your life that you can do before it becomes monotonous. Not that she didn't enjoy that part, she did, very much. But she is an eternal warrior, she likes to mix a little action and adventure in there. Especially when she can do that with Emily by her side. It keeps things interesting and lively. It's just a shame that sometimes things like this happen and it makes her feel like she's mortal again in all the ways she doesn't want to feel.

Kassandra always liked that mark on her hand. They both had their little secret glowing markings, such an oddly specific thing they shared with each other, but she wouldn't have it any other way. Emily seems more comfortable with it outside of the Empire because no one else knows what it is or what it means besides the two of them. There must be something freeing about that, to finally have the freedom to show a part of who you are without the stigma. Though many still did not approve of tattoos, especially on women, the men at the docks always gave the biggest compliments.

She wouldn't want Emily to kiss her fingers right now anyway, they were sticky with her own gore and she hardly liked being kissed if anyone else's blood was on her lips. She is a considerate lover, after all, and would never want to make Emily uncomfortable. But her fingers on her neck? Feeling the pulse point underneath? Her eyes close at the familiar rhythm. She could pick Emily's heartbeat out of a crowd every damn time. It is her favorite sound in the world, outside Emily's voice.

"Promise me you won't be long? You know I like to watch the sunrise with you and I'd hate to have to pull myself out onto the deck and just lie there watching it by myself. I can't even sit up right now, it would be a really sad experience." Perhaps it is a little too light-hearted given everything, but she doesn't care. They need a little levity in the darker moments.

"I know you do. Bet I look even better when I'm not covered in my own blood."

THEY SHOULD PROBABLY BE HONEST . they would be bored if they still didn't have some duties. emily who's well-spoken enough that she can usually excel at interviews for leadership positions or just takes up private investigative work. THERE WAS THAT ONE TIME SHE WAS A MODEL TOO . it's something they need to do to keep from feeling lost , and they don't particularly hate. THEY JUST HATE WHEN IT AFFECTS EACH OTHER , OF COURSE . nobody touches their wife.

THERE IS NO WRAPPING ON EMILY'S HAND . the mark actually glows the slightest from the magic she's using. she never necessarily hated the thing , she just has to consistently remember that it does glow when using powers and that is not a normal thing. NOBODY OUTSIDE OF THE EMPIRE SEES IT AS A HERETIC MARK . she'd actually more than likely get compliments on it if she stopped wrapping it up. EMILY'S BLACK EYES ARE SOMEHOW SO SOFT AND DELICATE WHEN THEY MOVE TO LOOK AT KASSANDRA'S HAND . there's a smile that curls up her lips that looks so wonderfully happy.

she'd kiss kassandra's fingers , but they are rather bloody , and while she has a thing for kassandra's thirst. THE TASTE OF BLOOD ISN'T HER PERSONAL FAVORITE . she does move kassandra's hand to simply press kassandra's fingers against her neck , black eyes closing momentarily. THERE HASN'T BEEN A MOMENT SINCE MARRYING KASSANDRA WHERE EMILY KALDWIN HAS NOT BEEN IRREVOCABLY IN LOVE . black eyes simply open again , one eyebrow raising just the slightest.

" i'll have to go back and look around , see if he's dead or if he disappeared. and i'm almost positive if he is dead , his soul will still be lingering in the void to talk to none the less. there's just always a reason for something like this. a reason that has a greater purpose , you know? " emily's voice is quiet , kassandra's hand still pressed against her neck.

" ... besides , i enjoy you without a shirt the most. "

[leupagus]

There’s a lot of discourse in fandom about Sansa, Arya, and Cersei’s attitudes toward power and traditional femininity. I’m super curious to see what you think about Sansa and Cersei in particular, especially since we didn’t get a Cersei POV in Gale of Wolves. What does Cersei think of Sansa establishing power in her own right in the North? Does she still crave power for herself? I always thought that Cersei sees her sexuality as a tool or weapon but otherwise is pretty disdainful of women in general. She’s got internalized misogyny in spades.

In Sansa’s case— do you think she still dwells on what she learned from Cersei (either what she was told directly or lessons made indirectly)? I’m thinking about the battle of the black water in the books where Sansa thinks : when I am queen, I will make them love me; in a pretty stark (pun unintended) contrast to Cersei’s rule by fear. I see Sansa choosing to utilize her traditional femininity by wielding soft power that in turn becomes hard power. In your fic, she goes to each of her bannermen, she learns about them, she shows that she cares and probably uses a lot of court/ lady of the house skills she learned. Stannis doesn’t understand it at all, but Sansa has a stronger position in the North than he does anyway.

These are such great questions — I can say that the lack of Cersei POV in A Gale of Wolves was very deliberate, because she gets her own POV chapter in the next section of the story and I wanted her to be a little more opaque at this point. Because you're right, Cersei's going to have a LOT of feelings about Sansa getting control of the North while she's still just the Dowager Queen (even though in this story she's decidedly not going to the Sept's dungeons or enduring the Walk of Shame Atonement). Right now she's so convinced that Sansa murdered Joffrey that everything else kind of simmers under that, but I do think there's a certain degree of envy that Sansa can claim the North for herself and be unchallenged in that, when even her own daughter Myrcella will have some difficulties in laying claim to Casterly Rock (which will get resolved in the next section, but it's still not straightforward because Westeros And Essos Hate Women). There's also a lot of confusion there, because Cersei doesn't have a home the way Sansa does; she grew up in the Westerlands and lived most of her adult life in King's Landing, but what she craves is power and safety, not necessarily a home. So Sansa's motivations themselves are baffling — why fight for the North, a useless great vast nothing? Who could possibly love that place?

The note you make about Cersei using her sexuality is interesting, because I think that's prevalent in the books (I'm not sure since I haven't read them), but really not at all present in the show; in fact I think you can argue that Cersei's whole canonical path in the show is a slow stripping away of her "female-ness," which she hates so much — all that talk about how she should've been the man, how no one could tell her and Jaime apart when they were little, how her appearance and dress grows progressively more masculine. Which I always thought was interesting if you see it as a reaction to trauma: so much of what is done to her is because she's a woman, because she doesn't have power in her own right, and so she reaches for whatever simulacrum she can get. It doesn't work in the end, of course; it never does. But it's a nice dream.

I do agree that Cersei's a misogynist, but...so is everyone in this world, really. Even Dany, even Arya, even Sansa — the world of Westeros is predicated on the inferiority of women, and women themselves have to swim in that water even if they're swimming against the current.

As for Sansa, I think there's a LOT of fascination/repulsion when it comes to Cersei. One of the biggest mistakes the show ever made was never letting Arya or Sansa see Cersei one last time; sure, it's realistic that you don't get closure with your nemesis/abuser, but narratively it would've been so much more satisfying than crushing her with big rocks. Because Sansa's right, in the show where she says she learned a lot from Cersei; in many ways, Cersei was far more her mentor than Littlefinger ever was.

But you're right on the money in re: how Sansa rules, which is not the way a king would rule or the way the wife of a lord would rule, or the way any of the women in power she's met have ruled. It's not feminine so much as Sansa-esque; she is feminine, for sure, but I think a lot of what she does (both in my fic and on the show) is less about gender and more about thoughtfulness. I always think about the comment she makes to Royce about lining the new plate armor with leather when the southern soldiers wouldn't have thought about it, or how she makes Jon the exact replica of their father's cloak just from memory. Sansa is very, VERY good at noticing details and remembering them for later, however irrelevant. Having someone like that in charge of your kingdom is pretty handy.

I think one of the interesting things I'm going to do with the fic is explore some of the lessons that Cersei learns from Sansa — because she'll have time in this fic to see Sansa's method of rule working, and perhaps get enough intel to find out why it does, at least in part. And I don't think Cersei is foolish enough to pass that kind of opportunity up.

[the-red-hoodlum]

killing people who don’t get an animals consent before touching them &/or ignore when animals are visibly uncomfortable with being touched.

[moeblob]

Deacon loves two things: Ymber and digging himself a grave.

Fulj hates one thing: Deacon.