#they like dining in south point lol

[ratatatastic]

for everytime swaggy uses we are the champions in any post i think we need to shoot him with a paintball gun in the back

[gingernut1314]

Confidence: Sanji

Sanji x F!Reader

Summary: Sanji is taken with you from the moment he lays eyes on you at the beach. And when you come up to him at the small tiki bar, flirty and all so confident, he can't help but become fully enamored with you. You hitch a ride with the Straw Hat crew and grow ever closer to their chef, but will you let go of all the things that keep you from giving in to his enamored feelings for you?

Warnings: tiniest bit of angst, some fluff, some alcohol use, mild talk of age difference (like mild, mild--also everyone in this fic is 18+), smut (p in v, oral (f!reader receiving))

Word Count: 4.0K

A/N: Here is the first part of the four-part, requested mini-series I couldn't just keep sort and sweet lol

(@fanaticsnail I couldn't help but add in his tongue piercing cause you've brought it to my attention and I can't not unsee it and I need it in my lifeee!!)

↞ to Confidence Masterlist and original request | to One Piece Masterlist | Request Rules | Blog Navigation ↠

It doesn’t take much to get Sanji falling head over heels for you.

A beautiful lady in a bikini all stretched out over a beach towel for all to see??

He’s dying to know you in an instant--to wine and dine you with a meal prepared just for your delicate and, obviously, refined taste buds.

He hasn’t even spoken a word to you and he is imagining his life with you by his side.

His crew mates are less than love-struck. 

They grumbled and repairman him before Nami was grabbing him by the scruff of his collar, dragging him away from your beauty. A beauty which shone as bright as the sun you bathed in. Shone maybe even more so bright than the sun.

Your attention was pulled away from your book upon hearing a forlorned shout, looking up just in time to watch a flash of sandy hair and black fabric disappear into the seaside town. You gave a little shrugging humph before returning to your romance novel.

That night, you made your way into the tiki bar that boarded the beach you had reluctantly left once the sun had set, it a crowded mess of tourists visiting from the other side of the island and locals of this town.

You weren’t local, neither from the town or the island it was on, but had been here long enough to learn a few names and have a few learn yours.

You were a traveler. Someone whose broken heart drove you from your home in the South Blue to brave that of the Grand Line. 

It was a feat you were proud of in itself, having made it with no harm to your person and with just a few less berries to your name. A few thousand barries you had paid a pirate crew to bring you here, only for them to leave you stranded on this island, whose people never left and never had any reason to sail the seas. 

“Pirates.” Was the first thing the bartender you had gotten to know all too well said.

Pirates. It was very rare anyone came to this island, let alone pirates. So rare that the last time a pirate had stepped foot on this island, it had been to dump you here. 

That had been a year ago.

He pointed out two standing at the other side of the bar, one green-haired and brooding while the other was blond and flirting up a storm with Mia, the second bartender, who smiled and nodded at whatever he was saying.

The rest of them sat by the back of the tiki bar, waiting for their friends. Two were a constant stream of words and bouncing energy, while the girl looked very much unamused at their shenanigans. 

They were too--young. Too happy looking. Too un-pillagey. Very un-pirate like in your opinion and experience. 

You took your chances with the two at the bar, thinking the green-haired one looked the most captain-y.

You grabbed your drink before walking over to the two, running a hand over the blond’s broad shoulders and leaning against the bar next to him in one fluid motion. You pulled your most playful and flirtatious smile on your lips, taking hold of the curly straw in your drink as he stopped his conversations with Mia to look upon you with sea-blue eyes, one of which hid behind a lock of his blond hair.

“Hello, handsome.” You all but purred up at him. He stared down at you in something like shock. Shock that quickly turned excited and, if you weren’t just seeing things, all but enamored. 

Sanji was enamored by you. By your bright smile and voice and utter confidence as you stood next to him. A confidence he gravitated towards like you were the center of his universe.

“It’s you,” Sanji said, his breathy voice accented in a way you adored. “Such a beauty I had thought lost to me.” He continued, taking hold of your hand in his own.

“We’ve met?” You questioned, watching as he placed a soft, warm kiss on your knuckles that had your cheeks heating.

A kiss your skin burned through Sanji’s lips like the hottest of fires--a kiss he yeared to place on your lips. A kiss he wished to press along every inch of you skin you had to offer. 

“Unfortunately not madam. I saw your stunning glow on the beach upon our arrival. I’m Sanji.” You thought back to the beach. To that shout and flash of sandy hair you had seen. 

Him. It had been Sanji who you had caught a blurred glimpse at.

“Y/N. And how unfortunate indeed, right when I was in need of some help applying lotion to my back. I’m all burnt to a crisp now.” Sanji’s eyes widened as he scanned over your body, which still wore your bikini top and now a tie-on skirt. His cheeks flushed at your comment making a giggle spill from your lips.

“Forgive me. How could I have allowed such a thing happen to skin as fair as yours?” He was quick to say back in a flirty tone to match your own.

My oh my was he handsome and charming and--young. He was young. It was a fact that had you pulling your hand away from his despite the near heartbroken, puppy dog-like look he gave you.

“Allow me to make it up to you,” Sanji said, moving just the much closer in your hand's absence--needing to be closer to your glorious smile and confidence. 

“Allow me to rid myself of this horrible situation.” Sanji’s green-haired crewmate gruffed, pushing off the bar with two beers clutched in one hand, a cocktail in the other, and what looked like a glass of milk tucked against his scarred, exposed chest and the crook of his elbow. 

“I am actually looking for your captain.” You spoke quickly before the green-haired one could rush away. He narrowed his eyes down at you suspiciously. “I assume that must be you?” Sanji scoffed, gaining your attention once more. You watched him grab up the wine he had ordered, his half-obscured blue eyes returning back on you in seconds.

“That old mosshead? I think not.” The green-haired one huffed, thoroughly annoyed, before walking off towards where the rest of their crew sat. “Our captain would be one who ordered a chilled glass of milk.” He said with an amused chuckle as you watched the green-haired swordsmen hand out drinks. The milk went to the bouncy, straw hat-wearing boy who looked the youngest of the bunch. 

That was their captain?

“Come, I’ll introduce you.” Sanji introduced you to his captain, who had been very excited to meet you. You sat, drank, and bartered with their navigator for passage off this little isolated of island for the rest of the night. 

A good handful of berries had won her over and the next day you had been sailing off aboard their ship; The Going Merry.

And two months later you were still sailing with them, despite the various islands you had come across. None had felt right. None had been as full of adventure and fun as it was on the Merry with the Straw Hats. 

It had been two months you spent helping Sanji in the kitchen. Two months of dishwashing, food prepping, and constant flirting back and forth with the crew’s chef. 

Two months Sanji spent pining and pining after you. He had done everything to try and win your affections. Flirting, cooking meals, buying you gifts. But nothing. Nothing besides a thank you and a sad little look as you pulled away when he started trying to confess such feelings for you. 

But Sanji was determined to win your heart. To win your playful smile, your kind soul, and your electric confidence. To have you be his. 

So, on a night when your brightness had been overwhelming and the kitchen was all cleaned up and empty, he confessed his feelings for you. Confessed them quickly and all too rushed for his taste, but it was necessary when he knew you would be quick to shut him down--to laugh it off as more filtrations. 

“Y/N, sunshine--I am deeply and utterly enamored by you.” You stared up at him. Stared up at him as your face grew more and more panicked. A panic he felt himself become as well. He grabbed hold of your hands, holding them gently as he pulled you closer. Holding onto them as if they were a lifeline. He leaned down so he could look into your eyes--eyes that had crept into his dreams. Eyes he wished to look into until he turned to dust and returned to the earth. 

“You are who I wish to spend my days and nights with--and I mean it. You are stunning--and kind and confident. You give me the strength to find my own confidence.” 

“I--Sanji…” His heart beat painfully in his chest as you hesitated. As that panicked look turned near saddened--hurt. It was an old hurt, he knew. A hurt you had told him little of. Just enough to know you had been hurt horribly, it sending you from your home to wonder about the dangers of the Grand Line. 

“I can’t--you don’t mean that.” He pulled your hands to cradle them to his chest, where his heart beat like some drum. 

“I do. Every word.” You swallowed against the dryness in your throat. Because you wanted to accept his words. You wanted to allow your feelings to rush free to meet Sanji’s own feelings, but you couldn’t. You shook your head, feeling your eyes burn. Sanji’s face stayed so--loving. So ready to give you everything he had to give. 

“Tell me why? If you feel even an inkling of what I do for you, please, please tell me why?” Sanji pleaded--begged you. 

“Because…Sanji, you deserve someone better than me. I-I’m broken. Too old and too hardened by past mistakes and loves. And you--” You gave a sad little sigh, looking into those blue eyes of his. “You’re bright and shining and so full of life and love. You have your whole life ahead of you--dreams to keep you going and I--”

“How could I ever possibly wish to achieve my dreams without you by my side every step of the way? How could I possibly even dream if I didn’t have you near?” You shook your head to disagree, but Sanji was quick to take your face in his warm hands. Hands you grabbed onto, squeezing your eyes shut. 

“Too old, too hardened, too broken.” He said with a shake of his head, thumbs brushing over your cheeks. You reopened your blurry eyes to look up at him, to find a small, comforting smile on his lips. “Hardly. Not when you make me feel so alive. When I wake up excited to see your smile and hear your voice and bask in your utter confidence I could never get enough of. You make me feel alive--you make me feel everything you think I am without you.” 

Hot tears escaped your eyes as you reached your hands to brush over the skin of his cheeks. To brush his face gently down closer to your own, which he did eagerly. 

Noses brushed, then lips, until Sanji was closing the microscopic distances between you two. He kissed you soft and sweet. Kissed all the sweet, sweet words he had spoken into your lips. 

You kissed him back just as sweet. Just as soft. A kiss you pressed all the devotion and love you held for him into. A kiss you deepened by allowing his tongue access to your mouth--a tongue that a bit of metal was pierced under. A piercing he had shown you after you had playfully teased him about being too much of a goody-to-shoes. He said it was his own little bit of rebellion. 

Sanji’s hands moved over your back until they came to rest on your hips, grabbing you closer to him. You allowed your own hands to roam over his strong body, feeling the muscle hidden beneath his blue and white striped shirt--muscles you had seen on the special occasions he decided to train out on the deck. He grabbed your wrists just as your fingertips reached his belt.

He pulled away, looking so cutely flustered with his lips all swollen from your kiss, breath coming out in short puffs, and face almost as red as a tomato. 

“Here?” He questioned.

“Unless you wish for an audience? Then in that case, let us pick a room--” You teased, turning to walk towards the exit.

“No.” Sanji grit, cutting you off before you could keep agonizing him. He gave your waist a small little tug back into himself. “Only I get to see you--devour you and your beauty.” That playful smirk of yours pulled to your lips in a way that had Sanji’s stomach twisting and heart nearly stopping at its beauty. 

“Oh? Is that so?” You continued to tease, making Sanji’s flush deepen. You brushed your fingers over his cheek, feeling the warmth of the flush you had put there. “Then that must mean you’re only mine to see?” You traced the heart-shaped curve of his upper lips on feather-light fingertips. “To devour?” Sanji nodded--nodded in a rush that had you chuckling. 

“Yes.” He said, his voice as low and as breezy as a whisper. 

“Good.” You said just as whispery low and breezy before gently pulling Sanji back in. Back into that soft, devotion-filled kiss that sent warm strings of warmth flowing from your lips throughout your entire body. 

Sanji’s grip grabbed for your waist again, holding you close once more as he turned and guided you backward until the backs of your hips hit the island you had just helped clean. Before you could protest against dirtying it once more, Sanji was hosting you up to sit on its gleaming surface. 

“Sanji, you prepare food--” You started, but he silenced you with another warm kiss. 

“You were the one who suggested the kitchen, sunshine.” He said, kissing down your jaw and throat. Your fingers brushed through the bits of blond hair on the nape of his neck. “And I will be having one last meal for the night, so it is only reasonable I prepare it here.” 

You hummed as he kissed over your collarbone, hardly registering what he had truly said. Words that processed in your brain as he placed an open-mouthed kiss over the swell of your breast. Your fingers tightened in his hair as he licked a wet strip over your cleavage. 

“Yes. Only reasonable.” Sanji paused, those beautiful blue eyes flicking up to meet your own.

“Really?” You nodded in a yes that had that charming smile, which had stolen your heart the moment you had first laid eyes on it, cross his features. A smile that made him look all that much more bright and handsome. You felt his hands move from your hips downward over your legs, which you had wrapped around his waist. 

“You know,” You said, voice faltering the slightest bit when his hands found the bare skin of your legs, running right back up them. The feel of his warm palms and the cold metal of the ring he wore on his middle finger sent goosebumps rising over your body, their tingling only spreading and staying. “most men wouldn’t be so…eager to suggest such a thing.” 

“Most men waste without a second thought.” He said, fingers finding the edge of your underwear. His eyes lit with the same excitement you saw in him when you would compliment his meals using specific cooking lingo you had learned from listening to him talk about it. “May I?” You nodded on a breathy yes that lodged in your throat the second he began pulling the thin fabric down and off your legs. 

He placed them on the countertop with a care that you knew wasn’t needed but was grateful for seeing as those were your favorite pair. It only added to your ever-growing liking of the chef, now placing one of your ankles over his shoulder, blue eyes filling ever more in that excitement as he gazed upon your needy pussy. 

“So beautiful, sunshine. So perfect.” You couldn’t help the little whimper that spilled from your lips at the words. Words that had your body zapping and singing in need right alongside your core. 

You leaned back on your elbows as you helped along the process your pussy was begging to end. A process of trailing kisses up your inner leg and fingers that traced shapeless figures into your skin. 

“Sanji--please.” You begged, lightly tugging at him with the foot lying behind his neck. Sanji's breath brushed over your throbbing core and made another whimper fall from your lips. 

“Yes--yes, of course.” He grabbed your other leg and wrapped it over his shoulder where you hooked your legs together to pull him ever closer to your pussy, which begged right alongside you. 

Sanji placed another kiss to your inner thigh--then to the bit of skin that connected your core to your hip before running that pierced tongue through your all but dripping folds. He moaned against your taste and you felt your body burn from it. From just the mere knowledge that he was enjoying tasting you. 

He did more than taste you. He sucked and licked and devoured you like he was eating his favorite meal. 

He ate you in a way that had your heart beating fast against your chest and your body squirming in his sold grip around your hips. Ate you in a mind-numbing, pleasure-rolling way that had you moaning his name so loud you had to slap a hand over your lips to keep from alerting the rest of the crew. 

That pleasure built and built in you until it was pouring out of you in a viciously electric wave. 

Your head fell back against the countertop as you finished, chest heaving up and down rapidly.

But Sanji didn’t stop. He dipped that pierced tongue deep within you, collecting all you had given him into his mouth before attacking your clit once more. 

“S-Sanji--oh my gods--” You whimpered out as you grabbed hold of his writs, which hardly faltered under your weak attempt to pull him away. It was too good--too much for you in your recent, post-come state. “Holy--I’m gonna come again--” You whined out, feeling that electric pleasure begin to build again. An electricity that zipped and zapped around your body before releasing it in a shaking flood. 

You didn’t hold your moan back as you came yet again on his tongue. 

Sanji pulled away then, looking as if he had come himself--his eyes lust-glazed and lips puffy from use. 

“F-fuck Sanji.” You breathed, reaching for that soft face of his. He let your legs fall from his shoulder as he leaned into your touch. 

“I’m sorry, sunshine…” He said sheepishly, his nose brushing against your own. “You just tasted too good to let go.” You gave a low curse before claiming his mouth against yours once more. A mouth you could taste yourself on--a fact that had your body buzzing again.

Your hands roamed over his strong neck, over his broad shoulders, and down his chest and muscle-ripped abdomen before finding their home at his belt. Your fingers made quick work of undoing his belt, which you placed just as gently on the countertop as he had done for your underwear, before going for his button. 

“Are--are you sure, sunshine?” He asked, pulling away enough to look into your eyes. 

“Yes. I want to repay you.” Sanji shook his head the slightest bit.

“You don’t need to repay me for anything.” You kissed his chin as you unbuttoned and zipped down his pants, loosening them around the erection that had been trapped beneath them.

“But I want to.” You kissed his chin again as you slowly pulled his pants down. “Unless you wish to stop?” Sanji’s grip around your hips tightened the slightest bit. 

“No. Not unless you wish it.” You smiled, running your finger over the edge of his underwear. 

“No. I want to have you in every sense of the phrase.” A small little noise sounded in his throat that had your smile widening. Had you slowly pulling his underwear down and allowing his cock to spring free, its warm skin hitting your hand. You bit your lips as you looked over the wonderful sight, it twitching under your gaze. 

“So beautiful, sweetheart. So perfect.” You said, mimicking his earlier words and meaning every one of them. He kissed your temple.

Wrapping your fingers around the smooth bit of flesh, you gave him one, gentle pump that had Sanji all but gasping for air. He fell forward, face burying itself into the crook of your neck and hands clutching at your dress for dear life. 

So sensitive You thought as you kissed the shell of his ear. If he was this sensitive against your hand, you were eager to see his reaction to being inside you. You pumped him again as you scooted yourself closer to his awaiting cock. 

“Ready, sweetheart?” You murmured into his ear, your other hand coming to run through his hair in comfort. He nodded, kissing your neck. 

You hummed as you ran the tip of his cock through your folds, lining him up perfectly against your entrance, allowing him to easily sink into you. Your hum turned into a moan as your pussy stretched and flexed deliciously around his cock, allowing him to sit within you comfortably. 

“Darling--sunshine--gods you feel so, so good.” He huffed against your throat, making you wrap your legs fully around his waist to pull him deeper within you--so that his hips pressed against yours in a way that had him gasping for air all over again. 

“So good, sweetheart.” You praised back, letting him adjust to your warmth. You nudged his face with your own, kissing at his cheeks so that you could claim his lips against yours again. Lips that, once molded against yours, spurred him to move within you. Move in small thrusts that kept him close to you. Kept every little bit of skin that was exposed to the world covered and touching. 

Breath became heavy against each other's lips. Lips that parted and allowed your tongues to dance with each other in a wet dance of passion. 

You tugged lightly at his hand to unravel itself from his white knuckle grip on your dress so that you could direct him to your clit. 

Sparks shot through your body as he began to rub circles into it. Circles that copied his shallow thrusts making your mind spin with it. 

Sanji moaned a warning into your mouth about his quickly approaching end. You nodded, wanting him to come whenever he needed to--wanting him to feel no pressure when it came to such a thing because he had already given you more than most ever would. But he held out. Held out until you were moaning your own warning, the walls of your pussy fluttering around his cock until that build became unbearable to stop. 

As soon as you came, Sanji buried himself deep and spilled strings of come into you. 

Your body slumped against Sanji’s body, which slumped right back against you. Your panting breaths melded together and filled the once more quiet kitchen. 

“Sun-sunshine?” You hummed in acknowledgment, running your fingers up and down the back of his neck. “I think--I think I might love you.” Your heart fluttered like some caged bird in your chest at his confession. 

His second confession of the night. 

“I…” You started as your mind thought of the reason you had even come to the Grand Line in the first place. A reason that had whispered sweet nothings in your ear before tearing you down on the next breath. 

This--Sanji--was not them. Sanji was different. It was something you had come to know early on. Sanji was someone you could laugh with and be around without feeling less than yourself. Without having to prove yourself worthy of his attention. Of his love.

“I love you too.” You confessed back.

Tags: @writingmysanity

[plague-of-insomnia]

Ch 212: That Butler, Going South

Please respect the spoons (time and energy) and money I invested into this post. Do not use my content without credit.

16 pages including the cover.

Basically, the chapter covers Sebastian and Ciel traveling by train to Brighton, discussing the servants’ missions as Ciel enjoys breakfast in the dining car.

(Remember that all the missions are happening simultaneously more or less, so Ciel doesn’t know how successful or not they all were.)

It’s actually quite brilliant of Yana and her team to time things like this. This chapter is a great way for fans who may have lapsed during the servant arcs to catch up again, or even for new fans lured in by the anime to get a taste of the manga.

It’s also interesting to see a how a some of the scenes mirror panels/moments from previous arcs.

For example, the shot of Sebastian and Ciel on the train together is akin to the end of the circus arc. (And admire how much her art has improved!)

Later, we get a (shocking, to me, anyway) shot of Sebastian sitting at the table with Ciel as equals, reminiscent of when they ironed out the details of the contract.

The chapter begins with the two of them on the train in their first class compartment, en route to Brighton from Reading.

Sebastian, ever the conscientious butler, notices the time and mentions breakfast, but Ciel is cautious: they’re fugitives, after all. Sebastian points out that most people wouldn’t expect a criminal to be casually taking a meal in the dining car. Seeing his point (and since Ciel is driven by his stomach lol), they go to have breakfast together.

They then discuss the servants’ missions and what they expect. For example, Ciel brings up the point that Lau can only be trusted so far, and he is the one who first brought their attention to the whole mess back in the Campania arc with Karstein Hospital. And he is a mafia boss.

But, both of them acknowledge that Bard is the smartest and most capable of the four servants (Bard, Mey, Finny, Snake), and that he managed to make it to the UK all the way from America alone. Plus, he’s trustworthy. Ciel points out that’s precisely why he paired them up. (Seeing them compliment my man 😭😭… Take that, Bard haters!)

They also discuss the mission Ran Mao and Mey are undergoing and ofc Snake and Finny. (I’m sorry but I’m tired and I don’t care as much about the other servants as Bard so I’m… not going into detail on their pages. Maybe tomorrow if I have time and spoons I’ll make an add-on to this going over those pages.)

This panel is one of my fave moments in the chapter… it translates more or less like this:

Mey: For our lord

Bard: With pride

Snake: With my life on the line

Finny: I do the assigned work and see it through to the end

Despite initially being wary of leaving their compartment, when Sebastian suggests they leave the dining car, Ciel wants to stay and stretch his legs. It’s only a few hours to Brighton by train.

Looks like next week we’ll start the arc in earnest and maybe learn how they plan to infiltrate the hotel.

Please respect the spoons (time and energy) and money I invested into this post. Do not use my content without credit.

Note: The last panel is actually Ciel speaking, so apologies for that error in translation.

[cloveroctobers]

END OF BEGINNING — LUCA : [Spring Prompts]

A/N: Not me writing this with a cold! I promise I’m not on any medicine although it may seem like it at some points lol! Gained a bit of inspo while on spring break down south which also gave me this cold! for this little thing and I also didn’t want my prompts to end on an odd number—this time!!! along with the fact that people voted for Luca to be written about (the original post maybe revisited once I get my summer prompts going so stay tuned for that!) so let’s get into it 🙂‍↔️

WARNINGS: long distance established relationship! I have a black! x oc! in mind for this one + some language.

Threw some prompts into the mix from HERE: 1. building a new piece of furniture from a flat pack together + 10. Doing laundry + 11. Making them tea/coffee (exactly how they like it)

<- read my previous anthology prompt here.

❀𖤣𖥧𖡼⊱✿⊰𖡼𖥧𖤣❀ ❀𖤣𖥧𖡼⊱✿⊰𖡼𖥧𖤣❀ ❀𖤣𖥧𖡼⊱✿⊰𖡼𖥧𖤣❀

the house smells like apple cider mixed with a hint of pine and it’s reminiscent to Luca’s favorite holiday. He’s standing in the mini entry way of the once Ukrainian church turned home, eyes fixated on how high the ceilings were and he almost forgets that this is partly his home too. He thinks partly because of the technicalities, him living in Copenhagen for however many years one would like to count; renting his own flat and with her living back in the states with her name only on the deed.

He was beginning to sound like his estranged lawyer of a father, who commonly looked at the details and wondered how that will affect things in the long run but it’s not like that mattered much to Luca. He didn’t think he was anything like that man who may or may not be a tosser and wouldn’t think once to treat her like his father treated his family. Assets were always a huge factor to Luca’s father, more than building an emotional connection to his wife or kids. Overall this is the way it’s always been between the two, Luca as the head pastry chef in Copenhagen and her as a cruise chef. The pair were hardly at either buildings to really focus on the technicalities—although both families equally had something to say about their living conditions.

It wasn’t traditional by any means but with the careers and mindsets the couple had, it simply worked and it didn’t have to make sense to anyone else but them. The couple enjoyed their space—which they both greatly provided and it made the longing just much more special once they were face to face. This marriage includes two beings in the end and not the added inputs.

Luca’s heading up the multi-level home, the dining table glass underneath the floral runner is shining and a can of glass spray is sitting on the edge of the table letting Luca know that it’s just been cleaned. Up ahead at the kitchen, there’s a candle flickering on one of the counters and that’s what’s holding a pine aroma along with a new citrus smell from a plug-in lingering nearby. The house is shockingly quiet and he expected if she were on some cleaning kick that there had to be either some instrumental or synth-pop playlist going on but that was not the case.

He peeks into the living room, eyeing her usual style of antique furniture and the wide ajar arched bathroom door tucked in the corner. He also spots a few reusable bags tossed on the cognac leather loveseat he helped pick out years ago, reminding him that he needed to check the fridge out later. Right now? He just wanted to find her. She was not in this part of the house and not sitting up on the nook crocheting with strong incense potentially burning her eyes or anything like that, which sat across from the dining area so Luca decides to head downstairs.

The first hallway he turns down, leaving his things back by the bottom of the stairs. He always felt like the downstairs was closed off from upstairs despite the white walls and hears the light beeping from the washing machine. He opens the dryer first, feeling the clean scented and warm sheets against his skin before tossing them into a rolling bin on the right then dividing the damp clothes into the dryer and hanging them up. Leaving the laundry room and around the corner to the movie room, he spots her stretched out in front of the white and wooden couch, sleeping against a balled up arm on the cool tile floor surrounded by screws and a large box that had a hole big enough to fit a foot in the center of it.

Small laughter bubbles past his lips as he squats down to get a good look at what she has going on. He loves to watch her sleep and absolutely not in a creepy way! Yet there’s no other way to make that sound less creepy besides the fact that she’s his wife! but he enjoys seeing this view in person because she appears to be at the most peace. It’s the little things like this: watching her shut the curtain to the outside world out for a while to get the rest she needed made her look even prettier to Luca. Her sharp features are still prominent in her slumber, square jaw, brown high glowy cheekbones still showcasing in the dim of the white room, and his eyes then drift to her moisturized full plump lips that are luring him in to be kissed—which erupts that thought with a snarl of a snore.

His glimmering eyes hold amusement at the interruption of admiring his wife’s features yet his brows curve in disturbance at the sound. A flat palm goes to her sweater covered shoulder, squeezing a bit before going to rub the length of her arm. They were both pretty light sleepers but with the info given to him hours prior, it takes a bit more touches to get her to wake.

She blinks harshly after flinging her body upwards, “ugh, Luca! Glad it’s you and not my sleep paralysis demon deciding to come collect me.”

He hasn’t heard her speak of paralysis in some time although he knows this is a joke—somewhat—there’s a flick of worry in his blues that he’s sure she doesn’t miss.

Luca tilts his head at this, “I’m just happy to hear that you haven’t fallen asleep with your contacts in again. And that I can confirm that I am not something from the depths of hell at least not right now, the day is still bright for you. But…your voice box is a bit questionable, babe.”

That’s exactly the kind of thing a woman wants to wake up and hear from a loved one! For as long as she’s known Luca and made him her husband, this doesn’t surprise her that he always says what’s exactly on his mind—whether she wants to hear it or not.

“I know, I know,” she replies groggily with a rub to one of her eyes, “I sound like fucking E.T. phone home right now but what am I gonna do?”

Luca shrugs his shoulders nonchalantly although his reply is sarcastic, “dunno. Maybe make an appointment to see a doctor and actually relax on your break, yeah? Just a thought.”

She’s running a hand over her once sleek bun and squints, “I wasn’t expecting you till May…”

“Great deflection wife,” Luca sits down beside her and crosses his ankles over each other while folding his arms, “Lox told me you were under the weather and I took some of my personal days a bit early instead to get here.”

She’s breathing heavily as she reaches over to playfully slap the blond’s thigh, “aw, husband! But your sister and I are definitely going to have words next time we speak. I told her, it’s fine to tell everyone’s else’s business but mine.”

It’s humorous looking back on the blossoming relationship between his wife and little sister Loxley. Loxley was currently in her early twenties and always been a force for as long as Luca could remember. She’s always been a huge pain in his arse and had a habit of making his girlfriend’s hate her. She’s also always been the drama queen and had dreams of being in theatre until she fell in love with journalism instead. Yes she did a few broadway shows but it was the writing that really stole her attention and gossiping (which led to a few bar brawls) if we’re being quite honest. It took some time but once Lox realized that she was truly the one for her brother, Lox learned to love her too.

Mostly it was a battle of, “did you talk to your wife today? No?! Can’t believe I’ve beat you to it, again! even with the shitty WiFi at sea. Careful Ca-Lu she might fall in love with me instead.”

Luca snorts, “‘course you did. So what’s wrong besides the unusual disturbing voice?”

Straight-faced she says, “just a cold.”

“That’s been going on for about two weeks?”

“So now you’re in my business too?” The woman sasses with an accusing finger.

Luca rolls his eyes with a scoff, “I don’t know if you know this but…that’s part of the task of being your husband and I don’t really care if you like it or not. Your problem is that you don’t know how to just sit down when you have the chance. You’ve been on go since New Years—

He starts and he doesn’t realize that maybe a bit of a trigger for the woman. The way her head snaps to him at the mention of the holiday should have been enough of a giveaway. Long story short: Luca planned to fly to Chicago a few months ago to spend New Years with his wife along with his mum and sister who were also spending it with his wife and wife’s immediate family. She spent Christmas in Copenhagen, He spent Thanksgiving with his wife’s family in North Carolina and the year prior in London. New Year’s Eve was his wife’s favorite holiday and although it wasn’t a big deal to Luca…it became one when The former Queen of Denmark and her royal family requested a private meal at Brimstone’s Gate.

Surely this was a massive deal and his wife knew that, she had to accept it because she knew it would be huge for the restaurant Luca put his everything into. However she had her moments where she felt like she had the right to be selfish. After all they were a couple that didn’t live in the same household or even the same country! These were the choices they made. Yes she just saw him days ago before New Years but it’s not like they didn’t plan this out months in advance knowing that her break from her contract was up that same month in December.

“Well excuse me if I like to keep busy when I have an entire house to myself that you could have helped occupy for at least a little while.” Flies out of her mouth as she turns her body to the side, reaching for the instruction paper once more.

Luca scans the profile of his wife and can feel the defense wall coming up, “Right…which is why coming a few days earlier is my way to make up for that time lost. It’s unfortunate that you’ve fallen ill though but I’ll get you back in shape.”

It was the effort that counted.

She dares a side glance at him and deeply exhaled through her congested nostrils that it almost sounds like little whistles, “help me build this table.”

Luca shakes his head and pulls one arm out to pull at her wrist, “after you nap first. I know you’re still cross with me and that cold is surely kicking your butt although you won’t admit it. I just want you to take care of yourself and if you don’t? I will.”

‘And us.’ He thinks to himself.

The woman is slowly budging as she fights back a yawn but keeps her mouth closed. Luca sends her a knowing glance as he pulls her to rest in his lap, using his bicep as a pillow, which he uses to his advantage to curl her upwards to peck her cheek and then her jaw. He wanted her lips but he also didn’t want to catch what she has so this will do for now.

“Wait a minute,” she says after his lips leaves her skin, “did you just call me ugly?”

Luca lets out a long groan which makes her cackle at how easily she annoyed him, although he claims that he has so much patience!

“I’d never and you know that, Tania.” Luca informs as he uses her name.

And she almost forgets how good it sounds coming from his lips in person. Since she was the considerate type, she didn’t plant one on him just then and snuggled back into his arm with her back to him.

Tania hums as she closes her heavy eyes, “Don’t let me sleep more than thirty.”

Luca didn’t need to take that request but to save her some peace of mind he agreed. He lasted forty five of those minutes before his ass started to ache thanks to the tiled floor. Swiftly he managed to lift Tania and himself to his feet, placing her onto the couch and wrapping a cow-printed blanket over her while she still snored away. The blond laughs to himself some more, glancing at the unmade table and the time on his phone before leaving the woman briefly.

Luca takes the time to grab his things by the stairs and heads down the other hallway to the main bedroom, placing his things back on the floor in front of the bed. He doesn’t spend much time looking around in there since Tania wasn’t in it but the space feels comfy just standing in it again. Luca’s sure once the night falls, he may feel more at ease since he gets to share this space with his wife for awhile.

So he leaves that at the back of his mind to scope out the kitchen. No shock there to find it fully stocked, which is a contrast to his own space. He was sure to have everything he needed to make biscuits or some type of pastry but never anything to make a full meal. That wasn’t his speciality—plus there were plenty of restaurants that saved him time—and he also wasn’t sure if you ate but with a cold your appetite is usually trash anyway.

He settles for making Tania’s tea.

Her iron kettle has quite the weight to it and he chuckles to himself remembering her modeling it off as she sent him pictures one fall season. She was too excited to get this purchase to have tea while discussing podcasts with her girls and cousins once out of the month whenever she was off contract.

Now here he was filling it up and finds a green tea box in one of the cabinets. He’s always known that Moroccan Mint tea was usually more Tania’s speed but it appeared that the only tea she had was Ethiopian. As he waits for the water to squeal, he clasps his hands behind his back getting lost in the thought of it all.

And before long, he’s quickly pulled back to the kettle. Picking up the iron, ignoring the scorch against his skin as he rests it on another eye on the stove before grabbing a ceramic mug that’s printed with a green chicken on the face of it. He picks it up again to peek at the contents underneath it, which reads scripted words in Italian. He can only picture Tania going through the little shops or markets in Italy to purchase this grandma inspired dish.

The steamed water brushes past his face as he pours, the tea bag plunks into the water and he’s searching for a teaspoon to fully submerge it. It doesn’t take him long to find the utensils, guessing that it’s in the drawer that’s underneath the espresso machine she barely uses, he leaves the spoon in the mug before going back into the fridge on the left for an orange, then to the right to the overhead cabinet for sweetener.

No honey?

“Brown rice syrup?” Luca quirks up his brows at that not expecting her to like the taste of this toasty butterscotch sweetener and lifts his shoulders, “it’s your tea.”

A teaspoon of syrup, rid of the teabag since she hated for the teabag to sit too long—Luca was the complete opposite and a slice of Orange to top it off was the answer to Tania’s tea.

When he’s getting closer to the movie room, he’s hearing Tania blowing her nose away, sounding like an elephant before he makes his presence known.

“For you, Milady.” He greets holding the mug down to her, “or should I say my own personal trumpet.”

She rolls her eyes as she carefully reaches for the tea, “shut up before I throw my snot rag at you.”

“Ew, You’re much nicer when you’re not looking like SpongeBob with the suds.”

“Aha! So you do think I’m ugly.” She sips at the tea and is visibly relaxed.

Luca throws his hands up into the air then plops beside the woman once more, shoulders touching as he awaits for some commentary while weighing the bolts in his hands.

“Not to sound shallow but…if I’m the sexy pastry chef and you’re the goddess at sea chef then what does that equal?” Luca playfully tapped at his chin.

Tania lets the tea burn her throat as she wheezes out, “two chefs that ate.”

“There’s my girl,” Luca winks, “I know that cold cloud didn’t completely wreck your brain and think I would ever belittle your looks…especially when I’m always after your heart anyways.”

Tania blows out a horn that replicates the sound of a foghorn which makes Luca burst out laughing, “you were doing so well until you decided to be corny.”

“That was actually impressive,” Luca continues laughing, “and you only have yourself to blame since you wont quit with this talk of the ugly.”

Tania pops her tongue, “I like bothering you face to face and I can’t kiss you yet so this is my best bet. Deal with it Hodgson.”

Luca rolls his head to stare at the beaming woman underneath his eyelashes with a sigh, “as you wish—only this time—Mrs. Hodgson.”

And she’s cradling the mug in the space of her crossed legs, which isn’t the best idea but she’s not getting up to place it on the laptop corner desk that was in the back of the room. That was too much work but she was determined to get this movie room table up with the help of her husband.

With a smile like that? Luca couldn’t say no.

He has the instructions in his hands while Tania already had the tools separated by category.

“Ah this doesn’t seem too hard.” Luca blew out a raspberry while Tania looked to the side to sip her tea, “what was that?”

“Huh?”

“You heard me, Tanny.” Luca keeps his gaze on the furniture piece, “you’re doing that thing where you’re peering off into the distance to some imaginary audience.”

Tania shakes her head, “I did no such thing! I root for my man and always gonna stick beside ‘em.”

Luca snorts as he brushes his mixture of dark and honey blond hair from falling into his view, “until I fuck this up and you send pics to your dad who will point and laugh and probably call me a failure for not knowing how to build this table.”

“Noooo!” Tania fights back a laugh at how well Luca had it figured out, “…that’s more your dad.”

The two share a glance before snickering.

“That makes more sense, yeah?”

Tania nods as she raises the steaming mug, “with the power of this tea and your delicious hands…nothing can stop us!”

Which ends with Tania almost coughing up a lung.

“Jesus! Keep sipping that tea, babe.” Luca reaches out to rub her thigh now as he’s squatting again.

Tania fans her hand about but does so while Luca gets to his feet to slide the top of the table towards their work space.

“How’d you get this up and down all these stairs?” Luca suddenly asked after feeling the weight of the table top, there were a set of stairs to get into the home, three stairs to the right of the entry way, and two sets of stairs to get to the lower level of the home.

Tania pushes up her bicep, “I’m secretly an Amazon warrior.”

“Who pulled a hamstring from chasing after a fortune cookie on the ground.” Luca mutters.

Tania scrunches up her lips, “but did I eat it though? Exactly. Still a warrior in my own right.”

The man sighs, “fine keep that secret to yourself then.”

“I will.” She wiggles in her seat in satisfaction.

Luca quietly gets to work then as Tania sips at her tea before stretching for the remote to turn the tv on to search for a random playlist. Before Tania can select her daylist, she feels Luca place some tools into her lap before he grabs the main part that’s going to hold the table top up.

“Can I run something by you?” He gently asks as he works on screwing the bolts into place.

Tania folds one arm against her torso while resting the elbow of the other on top as she cradles her tea, “sure you can, bub. What’s on your mind?”

“…you don’t know this but I’ve been feeling a lot ever since I missed out on New Years. Although we talked it through then and it still holds weight now which I understand…Queen Margrethe II told me something that gave a better perspective.” Luca starts while Tania nods along to show that she’s listening.

Sometimes Luca goes quiet to build suspense, which irritates Tania but taking in the expression on his face she can tell that what he’s thinking is serious business. She feels like she should hold her breath waiting on his next words but her chest urges her not to do that so she chooses to wait it out.

She could get to building like she originally set out to do today but she was sure she would mess it up now, just hearing the tick of seconds that go by on the clock on the main floor upstairs. Shout out to nerves!

“I left Brimstone’s gate.” He lets the bomb drop.

Tania exhales, “but you love BSG. Did something happen?”

“Things are meant to end to begin…which is part of what the queen told me.” Luca winks at you, “I want to be wherever you are and it seems like that’s Chicago…well for six months anyway.”

Tania is blinking rapidly, “I—Lu. I have to say I was not expecting this. You leaving Copenhagen for Chicago?”

“For us.” Luca rephrases, “which is why I wanted to run it by you just to see if that’s potentially something we can both try? Full-time. It’s not our routine but I’ve got some interviews lined up next week.”

It seems like he’s already thought this through. Never has Tania ever pressured Luca to be where she’s at or vice versa, being on different sides of the world worked—although at times it was certainly a challenge but now this was a big change. Tania got her culinary experience out in Mexico City at just nineteen (her family was reluctant to let her go considering she was the baby of the family but it turned out to be the best thing for her) before she took on the internship at Noma where she met a focused but blunt Luca and a socially awkward yet observant Carmy.

Sure it was all fun and games at the start but all that mattered because they were still standing after all these years. It was scary to think Luca gave up something he was geuniely passionate about. He was the main one out of the trio that found something in Copenhagen…it was what Chicago was for Tania. Yes she was born here but raised in the south yet she’s been in Chicago for quite some time that in a sense she wanted to build something here and was on her own.

She just had pieces of Luca when he visited and now something’s shifted.

“I don’t want you to regret doing this.”

Luca rolls his eyes, “I’m not worried. Life’s about trial and error, yeah? I’m not big on plan B’s as you know…And it’s not about being ready either, I’ve been ready since I said ‘I do,’ we were always on temporary different paths but that still led us to each other.”

“Like always,” Tania grins with a shake of her head at how many times they scraped money to catch flights back to each other—when they were speaking to each other and fighting for this relationship.

Oh you should have seen Tania and Luca in their early twenties! They were the definition of a perfect mess.

Carmy was the first to leave to New York to live with his cousin for some time, gaining the opportunity to work at a three Michelin star restaurant. Luca was offered a position at Noma which he ended up enjoying for a few years before he eventually moved on to BSG whereas Tania spent time back in her first love of culinary out in Mexico City, which led to Dubai, and Brazil and Copenhagen before ultimately deciding on being a travel chef might be her best bet. To do that on a big ass boat was even more of a mind-blowing opportunity! She didn’t like being confined to one space yet she had news of her own.

“Which brings me to this move. I don’t plan on getting rid of you at all.” Luca continues.

Tania dramatically sighs, “oh husband, you always say the right words.”

Luca snickers, “what I mean is: I took a vow, you’re my wife who I’m madly in love with and what may have worked for us then let’s me know that we can truly start what were meant to be now and maybe that’s me being here in Chicago permanently. You’ll have to show me what all the hype is since it’s apparently the best city in the world.”

Tania can’t wipe the smile off her face. Part of her wanted to think the worse, that someone got into her husband’s head to make him feel a way about them being apart for so long. However there shouldn’t be any doubts because they knew what they put into this relationship and what they wanted out of this marriage.

Each other.

Always.

Tania speaks, “I didn’t re-sign the contract.”

Luca flicks his attention to the dark haired woman in front of him and she holds his stare, “you’re supposed to be heading back in June?”

Which was the usual.

“I know and I’m supposed to have everything finalized by late March.”

Luca rubs at his jaw in thought, “did mum and Lox know about this?”

Tania laughs, “Now you know if they knew then you would have also known.”

This was true. His mum was bad at keeping secrets and Lox, as you all already know was the biggest gossip. Now Luca was thinking some things himself.

“What drove your decision?”

Tania sighs, “the boat life is tired now…maybe we can revisit when we’re our parents ages or retired.”

Luca thinks out loud, “I think I’d be a golfer and want to get a vacation home in Key west.”

Tania cringes, “yuck.”

“What are you on about?” Luca huffs.

“You don’t even like Pickleball Lu and Florida of all places? Why not Costa Rica? Or the Bahamas?”

He wasn’t sure how pickleball correlated with golf but he wanted to keep in shape even when he aged so he let it slide.

“That’s only because that fucking—excuse my French—geezer made me scrape my knees that one time in front of everyone!” Luca was clearly still frustrated over this, “Don’t you know I almost lost a shoe because of that granda?!”

Tania hides her giggle, “he meant no harm!”

“Bullocks! If I didn’t know any better, I’d say he was trying to impress you.”

Tania tilts her head to the side not recalling any of that, granted she was a little tipsy off the spritz so that was her excuse. “Well…he was very handsome for a sixty-five year old who clocked you talking shit.”

“I wasn’t talking shit!”

“Didn’t you say you’re gonna take it easy on the geezer, didn’t want him to break a hip before you kissed me?” Tania frowns as she tells Luca this, “He definitely heard you with his gorgeous self. He looked like a mix of alexander skarsgård and Payman Maadi, I remember that! And I’d let him give me lessons any time.”

Luca glares at the woman, “oh yeah? Maybe you should call him and see if he’ll put this table together for you then.”

Tania’s cooing now as she reaches to pinch Luca’s cheeks together, “easy bub, I know who I married.”

“Damn straight.” Luca dipped his head to peck the sides of Tania’s fingers, “I just wanted to make sure you knew.”

The room is tense as the pair meet each other’s eyes until Tania pulls a face. Luca scrunches his brows until she jerks her body away to let out a loud sneeze. “Sorry, moment’s ruined.”

“There’ll be plenty more now.” Luca grins before turning his attention back to the furniture, “so…the married couple is back in Chicago.”

Thankfully Tania could afford to take a longer break for some time before looking for employment elsewhere and Luca was already getting adjusted to what this city can bring. He briefly brings his attention back to the woman who suddenly decides to chug the rest of the tea, before standing over Luca to climb into his lap.

Her limbs are wrapped around him like a sloth and Luca loves how she feels against him, so soft, warm, and his. He doesn’t hesitate to embrace her back, rubbing and scratching at her back as she rocks them slowly back and forth. He can hear her smiling as she squeezes herself tighter to him as if he’s a dream that’ll pass her by and Luca feels like the piece Chicago’s been missing.

“Don’t breathe after this,” Tania says as she pulls back to grip Luca’s face, “this life i’ll give to be lived and loved by you?”

Luca smiles at the mention of their motto, hands resting on Tania’s hips and teases, “eh, i guess I’ll accept. Been around long enough, so why not?”

And he follows through this time with instruction as Tania quickly pecks his lips before sinking into a hug once more, resting her chin into his broad shoulder.

It was safe to say that this new adventure was the start of a new era for the two. Without love, choices, without purpose, and growth you’ll never know what each chapter holds.

Tania and Luca Hodgson were willing to find out as long as they knew they could look over and see the reassurance in each other’s eyes.

❀𖤣𖥧𖡼⊱✿⊰𖡼𖥧𖤣❀ ❀𖤣𖥧𖡼⊱✿⊰𖡼𖥧𖤣❀ ❀𖤣𖥧𖡼⊱✿⊰𖡼𖥧𖤣❀

[such-a-downer]

Black Butler chapter 212: The Butler, Heading South

The chapter dropped today!! Fortunately i had enough points to read the chapter!!

Here's some spoiler tidbits:

The two finally board the train, Sebastian suggested for o!ciel to eat breakfast

While in the dining car, they talked about the others and wondered how they're doing, Sebastian is still dissing as always lol

Lau is cooperating because he wants to get his hands on "advanced medical technology", according to o!ciel

Out of the rest, o!ciel says that he has no doubts with the Baldo-Lau team, he's more worried about the other three

They also talked about the servants, more like a flashback wonder, talking about the servants' former condition by the time they were taken into the Phantomhive household

Near the end of the chapter, the servants are shown in individual panels with snake dead, finny injured 😭😭😭 it's so heartbreaking

[i-write-boop-spoops]

Professor Sycamore and his S/O living together headcanons

Man, I could spend HOURS writing on this topic and I still wouldn't be done. This is literally over 1k words and I feel like I have more to say about living in Lumiose with the franchise's hottest professor.

If you've been around here long enough, you'd know I have two headcanons for Sycamore that you'd have to pry from my cold dead hands, him being a smoker and a divorcee. I mention that because they play a role in this.

Features domestic fluff, gn! reader and references to sex

Enjoy!

Moving in together just kind of… happened

No big discussion or anything

Your lease was up in a few weeks

You were keen to move into somewhere bigger, and nicer

Luckily, your boyfriend just so happened to have a lovely, spacious apartment

“Well, why don’t you just come live with me?” he asked one day while you were announcing your house-hunt

It made total and complete sense

At that point, you were already spending half the week there anyways

Sycamore's apartment is quite close to the lab

Just in one of the alleys off the south boulevard

It has wo bedrooms, a joint kitchen-dining-living area, an office, and two balconies

Situated on the top floor of the building

It has a chic, yet approachable, feel to it, a bit untidy

Plenty of vintage furniture and beautiful art-pieces

White linen curtains and embroidered cushions

Full of plants and beautiful flowers

It smells like lavender the most

Sycamore is DEFINITELY a vinyl guy

He has a gramophone that’s twice his age that’s his pride and joy

First thing he does when he comes home is dropping the needle on whatever record strikes him that day

The only time you get to chose what’s playing is if you get home first

Or if you turn up your Bluetooth speaker loud enough hehe

The last time Augustine lived with someone was his ex-spouse

In this apartment actually

He’s witnessed a home turn into a glorified flat-share, a sweetheart to a roommate

When you first moved in, the boxes reminded him of when his ex moved out

He got very anxious for a moment, fearing a repeat of that with you

But seeing your excited smile really calmed him down

The smell of fresh baked bread and pastries wafts in from the bakery down the street every morning

Sycamore smokes, but he's taken to smoking out on the balcony or in the street to keep you away from the nastiness

You might catch him smoking inside when he has friends over, or if he’s stressing in the office

Or after you fuck

He loves grocery shopping with you!

Whether it's the big shop for the week

Or just heading down to grab some bread for the morning

He’s the one who cooks most often

Which is good, because he is amazing

You are the envy of many of your friends, because not only is your S/O handsome, romantic, intelligent and charming – he can whip up a five-star quality meal for you in no time

You love attempting new recipes together

Or even just learning tips and tricks from him

You do cook on your own from time to time

Mainly breakfast

Poor guy needs as much sleep as he can get!

When you do cook dinner, it’s usually because he’s held up at the lab

He really appreciates coming home to a hot meal made by his darling

Sometimes neither of you are in the mood to cook

You walk in from work and look at each other and say "Let's go out for dinner"

And immediately turn around and leave lol

b u b b l e  b a t h s

Yes! So many bubble baths!

With candles and plenty of wine

It's a great way to unwind after a stressful day

Sycamore takes skincare seriously!

So it’s not uncommon to see him in a facemask at home

He's started to go grey

Just a few strands

He hasn't swallowed his pride enough yet to a. let it happen or b. go to a professional to colour it

So you're helping him!

Eventually he will transition to salt and pepper (very distinguished!), but not yet!!

When it’s just the two of you at home, clothes are optional

You’re used to it now, but it was real shock walking into the kitchen on your third day being there

And finding him reading the newspaper, completely naked

Not that you minded ofc ;)

Unfortunately Sycamore finds himself staying late at work way more often than he’d like to

You stay up for him, watching crap on the television, just to make sure he gets home safe and gets hugs and his dinner

He takes work home sometimes too

He prefers that, even just to hear you tottering about the place through the walls of his office

You make quite the assistant, popping your head in every now and then to see if he needs a snack or a coffee or a kiss or a blowjob to keep him going

Sometimes he does his work in the kitchen just to be closer to you

It’s funny, you never thought in a million years, you’d have a celebrity in your living room

But Sycamore’s oddly well-connected with a lot of very important people

You’ve shared a charcuterie board with Lysandre, had Diantha stay in your guest room after too many bottles of wine

Apparently Steven Stone is coming over next week?!

Your boyfriend never makes you play maid or try exclude you when his friends are over, famous or not

It’s your home too – you deserve to take part in any social activities that take place there

Plus, he thinks you’re wonderful and his friends should know you!

There is not nearly enough closet space in your room for the both of you

You’re invaded the closet in the guest room too lol

Going on walks is quite common for the two of you

Even at the most random of times

It’ll be four a.m.

Neither of you can sleep

And you find yourselves throwing some clothes on and wandering around Lumiose

So quiet, so peaceful, from how it usually is

Your balconies are also a great way to observe the city

On warm mornings, you like to eat your breakfast out there together, watching the people and cars beneath you

Seeing employees rush to work, witnessing families on their walk to school

In the height of the summer heat, you spend countless evenings on your balconies

Drinking wine, holding hands, content in each other’s presence  

[dumbass-tumbler-cryptid]

I love your Story Mama's Boy.When will we get a new Chapter?

So Mama's Boy is on hiatus until I finish Cabin in the Woods. Once I finally finish that beast expect the next chapter of Mama's boy a week or two later depending on how quickly I write it. I do want to get on some kind of week to week release schedule when I get back to that fic which in my mind is writing two or three chapters ahead and posting them one by one most likely every Monday.

That being said I have been seriously missing that fic recently and like the day before you sent me your ask I had been thinking about writing a Mama's Boy Christmas special. So thank you so much for giving me an excuse to do that! Hope you enjoy it!

Note, this has details in it for things I planned way down the line in that fic probably at least 10 or so chapters down the line so...yeah lol.

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December twenty fourth and fifth never failed to stir up a myriad of emotions among the R.D.A personnel.  Some of course longed for their loved ones, left behind on there dying world. Others, with little tying them down, would celebrate without a care in the world. And then there were the ones who partook in other winter holidays or none at all. For them it was business as usual. Just another day. In years past Miles had fallen into the later category. Christmas meant nothing to him religiously or socially, so why should he stop his important work just to put on a display of fake jovialness for his subordinates. But this year was different. His whole world was about to change. 

       Miles sat at his table in the dining hall picking at, but not eating, his Christmas dinner, his eyes trained on the room's entrance waiting for her to arrive. Paz had been keeping a low profile since she started to show, only coming to meals towards the end of service. He had never waited for her before now. It was too much of a risk to be seen even looking at Paz for too long, let alone speaking to her. But tonight he would have to risk it.

     Finally, when hardly a soul was left in the room Paz strolled in, shoulders back, head held high, brown eyes blazing with the fury she would unleash on anyone dumb enough to say a word about her pregnant belly. She was only in the middle of her second trimester and yet she looked ready to pop. At some point, Miles didn’t know exactly when Paz had ditched her typical fitted jumpsuits for loose flowing dresses. Tonight she was dressed in deep green. And she looked absolutely radiant in it. 

     “Socorro,” Miles barked out. Paz startled and turned, clearly surprised that he was even talking to her after everything. She fixed him with a quizzical look, “there something important we need to discuss. Follow me.”

     Paz’s eyebrows raised, her head tilting to the side slightly as she scoffed at him. “Can I at least eat first before this oh so important discussion?”

     “There’ll be plenty of time for that. Follow me.” He strode past her, knowing she’d be hot on his heels, to at the very least, rip him a new one for daring to talk to her like he had. He led her to a cart that she eyed defensively but climbed in all the same. Miles quickly drove off.

     After five minutes of riding in silence Paz spoke, “What are you taking me far away to murder me as an early Christmas present to yourself.”

    Miles shrugged, “that’s too much work. The clean up alone would be a nightmare. Then I’d have to invent some cover up and fill out stacks of paperwork. It’d be a mess. No thank you.” She snorted a little laugh, looked away and covered her smile behind her hand. Miles kept his gaze fixed ahead of him but was smiling just the same.

    They finally came to their destination on the south side of Hells Gate. This wing was far from the main areas on base, largely used for storage. Paz glanced around curious as to what was about to happen. Miles placed a hand on her back leading her to a door. With no preamble he opened it. Paz’s eyes grew wide as she slowly walked inside. “Miles…” she gasped. It had taken a herculean effort to get everything together. Twisting Parker’s arm for permission. Drafting the plans. Building the place and everything in it. And it all felt like nothing compared to the efforts of the women staring in awe at her new apartment. “When did you do all this?”

    Miles shrugged, “in my free time.” Paz huffed a laugh as she walked farther into the room taking it all in. Miles had had the place constructed against a large observation window, the glow of the Pandoran night illuminating the living room, the light glinting of the polished dark wood of the living room set Miles had made. Off to the right was a kitchen, the cabinets loaded with pots, pans, utensils, plates, mugs, and small appliances, the fridge and pantry already fully stocked. 

     Paz made her way down the hall, Miles silently following behind her. The first door on the left was a bathroom. The next door led to a small work room. Miles had heard that Paz had been spending a lot of time in the base's small textile workshop and so had brought the shop to her, an industrial sewing machine on one side of the room, a bookshelf and computer on the other, cans of paint placed in the middle of it all for Paz to decorate her new home to her taste. Paz was surprised by the space, looking between Miles and the room. He just smiled, gently turning her to face the other side of the hall, opening the door furthest to the right. Paz’s room.

     The observation window took up the far wall. The rest of the room was fairly simple, queen size bed, night stand, dresser, wardrobe. Miles had had Lyle and Z go to the barracks and Paz’s ship to gather up all of her things, carefully placing it all in the corner of the room for Paz to organize however she pleased. They moved on to the final room of the apartment. The baby’s room. 

     Miles knew he would never be able to raise his child. He couldn’t stand the shame that always lingered in the back of his mind knowing he was going to be a deadbeat. But if he wanted to keep his position and actually stay on Pandora with his family, then he’d have to keep them at a distance, watching over them but never being with them. Building his future child’s cradle, sanding it so smooth the wood felt like velvet, patiently carving the nature motifs he knew his lady would love, it had helped alleviate his guilt a fraction. He couldn’t be there for them. But he could at least build them a home and keep them safe through his work.

     Paz slowly walked the room awestruck beyond words, her fingers trailing on the details of the furniture. She opened the toy chest in the corner, carefully inspecting the toys Miles had carved. He just watched her, Paz’s wonder filled eyes shining like jewels from the bioluminescent light just outside the window. He wanted to ask her, do you like it, but before he got the chance, she approached him, kissing him gently, so reverently tender that in an instant he missed her despritaly even with her being right in front of him. “Thank you,” she whispered, her voice shaking ever so slightly.

    He wrapped his arms around her, holding her as close as he could, “it was the least I could do.”

    They stayed like that a moment before she pulled away, “I have something I wanted to give you too,” she said, “well, give might not be the best word because I know you wouldn’t be able to keep it but…” she reached into the pocket of her dress, taking out a carefully folded picture and handing it to him. He opened it, suppressing his gasp, “…that our baby boy.”

    Miles' head shot up, “a boy!” Paz nodded, smiling. A son. He was going to have a son. The news brought him more joy than he ever thought possible. He took one last look at the picture of his son, then handed it back to Paz. “Thank you for that,” Paz didn’t say anything in response. Her soft smile never wavered but Miles knew when she was analyzing him, waiting for his next move. “The whole base is in the hangar bay gettin’ drunk and partyin’. I sure as hell won’t be missed. I’ve got a roast goin’ in the oven. Should be about ready. We could have dinner together…”

     “Maybe you could spend the night?”

      Miles smiled, “yeah, I think we could get away with that.”

———————————————————————————————-

      So it’s Christmas Day and I must have been a very good girl this year because look what Santa brought me….the camera panned to show off her new apartment, “….the place definitely needs some color. I’m thinking about painting your room green. What do you think? I know for a fact I’m painting my room purple. Maybe a blue would look good in the living room. It’ll definitely glow at night with the forest lights. We’ll get some plants in here too. And I took up knitting to make you socks and sweaters and all that but I think I can make some funky blankets for in the living room. I don’t know. I’m just throwing out ideas. I’ve never really had a home before so I’m probably gonna go overboard with the decorations. But oh well, at least it’ll have personality, right kid….

     Spider watched the video of his mama, his heart hurting seeing her so genuinely excited, knowing perfectly well that the home she gushed about wouldn’t be her’s for long. Wouldn’t be theirs for long. He turned off the monitor, rising from his spot. 

    He moved from the old lab into the hall, wandering around until he found Quaritch, lifting weights in the old hangar bay while Lyle spotted him. “Hey,” Spider yelled.

    Quaritch grunted, completing another rep. “What!”

    “How come you haven’t taken me to mama’s old apartment?” The question caught Quaritch off guard, hurriedly completing the rep he was in the middle of before setting the weights back on the rack, sitting up to face his son. Spider stood there annoyed, “we’ve been here for weeks and you never even mentioned it!”

   Quaritch stood, wiping his brow, “never came up.” Spider groaned. “Fine y’a want to see the old place? Let’s go, right now.” He stormed past him, without looking to see if Spider was following. They walked through the dilapidated halls of Hell’s Gate, going well past the point Spider had ever been allowed to go. This entire section of the base had been sealed off back when he had lived here because they had only had enough resources to keep the labs and surrounding living quarters powered. Now back under the control of the R.D.A Hell’s Gate was fully powered once again but for what reason Spider couldn’t tell. They didn’t pass a single person on their entire twenty minute trek across the base.

     “Here,” Quaritch said when they reached the room, opening the door wide for Spider. He stepped inside as if walking into a dream. His mama really had over decorated. And he loved it. She had ended up painting the living room a deep burnt orange, accenting the space with brightly colored knitted throws and pillows, painted pots that he imagined once held healthy green plants, random knick knacks and tons of pictures of the two of them together. In the middle of the room was his play pen, colorful wooden blocks and stuffed animals still waiting for the baby that used to play with them to come back. His heart stopped in his chest. In another life this would have been his home. And he knew without a doubt that he would have been really happy here.

     Quaritch awkwardly moved inside, going towards the record player on display just underneath the living room window. He picked up the record still on the player, cleaned it, then set it back down, moving the needle into position. To Spider’s surprise it was nothing but relaxing piano music.

     He said nothing to his father as he moved down the hall opening the first door on the right. His room. Mama had ended up painting it a light green that fit beautifully with the carved wooden furniture stained a dark mahogany. Inside his crib was another knitted blanket and an adorable viperwolf plushie. Quaritch appeared in the doorway looking comically large in such a small hallway. “I built this place for the two of you. Had to kick up one hell of a fuss with the higher up to get’ et  approve but they did in the end. No one wanted you and your mama in barracks after all. But they refused to give me money or resources to make it happen. I had to get creative with what was available to me. I spent every spare minute I had buildin’ this place, makin’ the furniture and all that…”

     “It’s really nice,” Spider said, though his voice sounded far away. 

     “Your mama did somethin’ similar. She spent nearly all her time sewing up clothes, and bedding and toys for y’a out of whatever scraps she could get her hands on. Did a damn fine job too as you can see. She got real creative too. She’d ask people goin’ out to bring her back different fruits and flowers and what not to make dyes so you wouldn’t be stuck wearin’ nothin but white, black and army green. I thought it was silly at times but seeing the two of you together standing out like sore thumbs but looking so happy…”

     “Stop,” Spider said, tears pricking his eyes. It hurt enough to see this place. To hear about the lengths his parents went to just for him, knowing they threw all that out the window for the sake of their mission- it was too much. “Thanks for showing me this place. But if you don’t mind, I'd like to spend some time here alone.

     Quaritch nodded sadly, the disappointment clear on his face, “if that’s what you want son.” Without another word he left.

      Alone now, Spider made his way into his mother’s room. Just like the rest of the place it was vibrantly decorated yet very well organized. Spider peeked inside the drawers of the night stand, dresser and wardrobe. Aside from her clothes in the wardrobe almost everything was empty. Or at least he thought so until he went to close the nightstand drawer only to hear something rattling around. He opened it again slowly, finding a small wrapped package with a note. To Miles. From Papa. Spider sucked in a breath as he unwrapped the gift. Inside was a small knife carved for a child. He turned it around in his hand marveling at it. 

     Slowly he found himself sinking to the floor taking it all in. His parents had fought so hard just to have him. Worked so hard to provide the best that they could. He knew that they loved him. It was so obvious from his mother’s videos and the recom of his father’s awkward attempts at parenting. And yet it hadn’t been enough. It hadn’t been enough to make them stay with him. To abandon their fight, and betray the R.D.A so they could live as a real family. It hurt. There were no other words to describe the thoughts in his head other than it hurt. So, so badly.

[bubble4u]

since taiju and terano are both chefs in the poly thing, who does most of the cooking 👀 and do they ever fight over who has the better dishes 🤭 i feel like south teases that his cooking is better to make taiju jealous hehe

Ok so funny you bring this up cause I was about to ask you as well lol and if this is Long I'm sorry

Taiju is great at fine dining type meals or meals that are restaurant level Michelin star the works. You give him a tasks and throw some ingredients together he can whip up something. His food of course is great but he does lack in some home cooked meals aspect cause while yes he make a mean ass fancy ass meal sometimes you're gonna miss those home cooked meals like those comfort meals you had when growing up. He's very to the book if you ever watched those food network type chefs like Gordon Ramsey he's that .

That's where south comes in I'd like to think taiju taught him alot but he also knew how to cook at a young age. South is better at those home cooked type meals like if you're sick you don't want some fancy ass soup you want the soup that was made for you when you were little and sick (even If it was from a can) but he also likes to venture in meal making try different countries cusines (id like to think he loves spicy foods)he will sneer at taiju and say " what would you know about this go make your beef wellingtons and shoo"

They both will bitch on who makes the better food mostly cause they know if ones right about it missing something they'll grumble and add the ingredients. Both are strong in food making but they each lack in some field cause not everyone is perfect but they'll teach each other

DONT EVEN GET ME STARTED cause if say there's a specific meal like especially from a cultural stand point (mine is menudo)you remember and you've tried to ask said person who makes it and they give those (I just eye ball it or do it until you feel is right) and they both try to recreate it and neither are there their gonna ruin that kitchen to make it right 🤣🤣🤣

It switches on who does the cooking but south does it the most taiju will do it here and there but south will do majority of the time

ALSO IMAGINE just walking in from work and seeing those two together in the kitchen and every pacing moment when one needs something or hand one something they kiss I know south would do it in exchange for handing taiju something like I'll give it to but you gotta kiss me first

[lonleygirl222]

Grab popcorn

Before I get started the names of people are changed to as follows

SKM (cousin)

Vet (skms wife)

Pman (roommate)

Adolf (roommates girlfriend)

Tsunami (SKMs friend)

This is LONG overdue. I’m so sick of people thinking they can get away with running their mouth on social media and it’s cool, like no. So I’m here to set the record straight with all the drama going on here. So sit back grab your popcorn, nachos what ever and enjoy this tea. With a capital T! There will be a part 2!

As some know my family and I started all over and moved to Texas April 2023. We moved in with SKM and her family. Me thinking everything was going to be fine and we didn’t plan on being here for a year at all. SKM told me that pman was on the fence about us moving in so that kind of made me feel some type of way. But we still ended up coming here. When we came we were aware of the “issues” between SKM and Pman. From day 3? My husband and I were put in a very weird situation. SKM was the aggressor in ALL the arguments. I’ll admit I smoke I do it because my anxiety has been out of control since moving here. But I have NEVER been an absent mom. How ever SKM would spend 90% of her time out side chugging down red bull & 5hr energy plus go through like 3 packs of cigarettes. (Idk how people wanna kiss her because she has a serious case of gum disease) so anyway. She had the audacity to tell to tell me that I’m an absent mom because I smoke weed.

Let’s go on to the first day we went to the beach with her “circle”. 3 other women who are blinded by her lies and fakery. Well one finally saw the light but yeah. I was supposed to hang and start dating one of her friends ( I’m glad it never went anywhere ) but her was engaged to her ex husbands little brother who barely peaked man hood under the age of 25. (NOT MY TYPE) anyway. I’m in the water as a lot of people were and tsunami’s “fiancé” was in the water and came up to me and asked me about my eyes no harm done there for me at least lol. But tsunami took it ALL the way up the butt and south. I wasn’t mad because at the end of the day it’s pure jealousy. I never told her about the nasty messages he sent me and he clearly couldn’t stop looking at me every time I was around. lol flattered but he’s a little boy. So SKM was the reason for the downfall with tsunami. (IN PART 2 ILL EXPOSE EVERYTHING SKM SAID ABOUT HER FRIENDS)

Anyway, so SKM “played” the good mom/ good wife role lol but I low key saw past her bull because I’m one of those people. I never told her I already knew what she would never say so I kept it pushing. When we moved in we didn’t know what to expect, she had two dogs two cats none of them were taken care of but by Pman and the kids (his kids). The dogs would use the bathroom in the house and the formal dining room was beyond disgusting. They were infested with fleas (we didn’t know about it) ~~THIS IS WHERE IT GET GOOD. ~~

My legs, my sons, and my daughters were eating by these fleas. So we’re Pmans kids. (They never spoke up to SKM because they were afraid of her.) my daughter had a doctors appointment and the doctor saw her legs and knew what the marks were. The doctor left the room and went to the hall where I went like 3 mins after. She asked me about the marks and I told her “we just moved here staying with family and we didn’t know she had fleas this bad” the doctor said she could call CPS about this. I told her please don’t do that there are other children there and we have no where else to go and to give us a chance to get it taken care of with treatments and exterminators. She gave me that chance. At this point we’re already home and things home were already weird because Pman and SKM got into because he caught SKM fist deep in vet. (Lesbian) so this mf s popped off she came up stairs to giggle and laugh about it like she was in middle school. Now her reason to be asking a fool is because she said “I HaVe 5 KiDs, i MiSsEd My WiLd YeArS” it’s like no one told you to lay on your back.🤷🏽‍♀️. It’s time to grow up and set a GOOD healthy example for your kids.. so she was already moved in another room at this time. So when we got home she decided to call my son a liar because he “used” her products when her son used it. But failed to realize I gave him stuff to use. (EXAMPLE OF A NARCISSIST: never admitting when you’re wrong) so I walked out side to tell her about the doctors appointment and tell her about the CPS thing because the flea issue was talked about a month prior to my daughters appointment. SKM knew Pman knew my husband knew. We were supposed to sit down anyway and go half on an exterminator. So before I could even tell her that the doctor WAS GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET IT TAKEN CARE OF she just jumped and said “OH SO YOURE GOING TO CALL CPS ON ME?” Like are you $tupid? If I call on you that would be calling on myself lol. I know SKM is mentally unstable (LITERALLY) but damn.

So anyway, Pman ended up kicking her out and she ALWAYS plays the victim (EXAMPLE OF A NARCISSIST: 2 always plays the victim when wrong) she made up a lie that he threw her out lol when there is not one but four other witnesses that differ lol okay. 😂. When she left she basically gutted the place. Took ALL the kids clothes. She blamed me for smoking her flower lol when I don’t smoke flower, pipes or anything. I’m ALL VAPE! I don’t wanna smell like w€€d. But she took everything. She broke some things and blamed me or my kid for it when once it left the house it’s no longer relevant. MONTHS go by and she makes several threats to expose my infidelity to my husband. HE KNOWS EVERYTHING. So stop pushing a fake narrative to make YOU look good when it literally makes you lo0k like Quasimodo LITERALLY 😂. All you need is a church and a bell to ring. Lmfao!

I think I’ll end it here and come back soon for a part 2. lol because when I tell you guys this is good, sad, and crazy. 🤯

See ya

[ladyhoneydee]

30 Day Song(fic) Challenge: Day 19

Today's Song(fic) Challenge prompt was "a song that motivates you"! I decided to go with the orchestral theme "Run Free", from the movie Spirit: Stallion of the Cimmaron. This movie was an iconic and beloved film from my childhood, and back in college, I rediscovered its use as something that could help get me out out bed and into the dining hall when I was feeling so low that nothing else could help me up. These days, I like to listen while riding my bike or on a walk--the closest I can get to a horse myself, lol.

Fun fact: this is the first action scene I've ever written! So please be gentle, hehe. I hope to improve more and more as I practice.

To Be Enough

Game: Twilight Princess

Pairing: None. Link & Ilia friendship gets a spotlight though

Word Count: 2418

Keywords: action, race against time

The sound of Epona’s hoofbeats morphed from the dull thud of earth beneath them to the clatter of stone, and Link set his gaze forward once more: towards the bulky threat looming at the far end of the Bridge of Hylia.  He might be the hero chosen by the gods, but he was not too good for revenge. 

Read the fic on AO3, or under the cut!

Clouds brewed in the late afternoon sky overhead like potion in a brewmaster’s pot. Link stared out from the crack between parapets at King Bulblin once more. Most important was the key for the gate to South Hyrule Field: slung carelessly over his left horn, which Link took careful note of. Second place for Link’s attention was the King’s gear. His monolithic foe had apparently added two more shields since their last battle, one strapped to each massive elbow. There was no way Link would be able to get in a single swing with his sword this time. 

Well, it was a good thing Link had learned the bow for hunting long before he’d ever taken up Rusl’s tutelage and blade. 

He turned. Telma and Ilia stood behind him, waiting patiently for him to finish scoping out their opponents—the visible ones, anyway, since there were undoubtedly more bulblin forces spread throughout South Hyrule Field and Kakariko Gorge beyond that, which wouldn’t be apparent until they were more than underway, with King Bulblin defeated. At least, that was the plan. And it all depended on Link. 

He gave the two women a brief nod. It was enough. He would be enough for them to make it through, injured zora child in tow. 

He’d make sure of it.

It was twilight when they rode forward from Castle Town, but Link had no time for melancholy or strange sadness. Tonight, there would only be action. 

He tapped his heels into Epona’s flanks, and she set off at a trot. No point in wasting so much as a drop of even her considerable energy yet: he was sure they would need it at a much more crucial juncture. 

Ilia’s words still rang in his head, and he turned ever so slightly in the saddle to stare at the canvas-clad windows of the covered wagon. I will never in all my life forget your kindness, Link. But…she already had. He’d seen the way her brightening at the sound of his name had lapsed into simple heartfelt generosity rather than recognition. Had he not been kind enough in the past to be worth remembering?

No, that wasn’t fair. It wasn’t his fault she couldn’t remember him. It wasn’t hers, either. 

The sound of Epona’s hoofbeats morphed from the dull thud of earth beneath them to the clatter of stone, and Link set his gaze forward once more: towards the bulky threat looming at the far end of the Bridge of Hylia. 

He might be the hero chosen by the gods, but he was not too good for revenge. 

With another tap of his heels, Epona surged forward.

They were beneath the archway in a flash. Link closed his eyes as they passed under its shadow, unwilling to let his eyes try to adjust to the dimmer light and corrupt his vision when on the other, brighter side again. The Bridge of Hylia was long—the King barely visible on the other side through the gloom of gloaming—but those strides passed within a blink of an eye.

With every breathless pace forward, he felt his world narrow. His life was this moment, this tunnel of time. This arrow. 

He drew the string back to a full draw, raised the angle to account for the distance. Released.

The arrow shattered against one of those damned shields. 

Link felt his heart jump in his chest. He had arrows aplenty, but he didn’t have time. If he missed again, Epona would be gored by Lord Bullbo, and he himself tossed to the river far, far below. The wagon would be destroyed; Telma, Ilia and the boy taken. He couldn’t let that happen. 

The fletching of his arrow tickled his left cheek as he drew it back. He dipped the nose of the arrow down slightly below where it had before, and this time, swung its point to aim just slightly left to combat the wind blowing from the west. He inhaled, exhaled. Released.

Even with half a bridge between them, making it impossible to see where the arrow struck, Link knew the moment his bolt connected. The bellow of pain and rage King Bulblin released vibrated in his chest. 

It only redoubled his resolve. 

Another arrow. Lord Bullbo and his injured passenger thundered forward with an inevitability he almost envied. Still, Link didn’t need to look like death to be able to deal it.

When he could see the whites of the King’s eyes, Link released his final arrow, and knew with a thrumming in his chest that the shot was good. 

The shriek the fiend let out rattled his bones. Link yanked Epona’s reins to the right, and the mare barely jolted out of the monstrous boar’s path before massive horns cut through the place they’d been about to ride. As Boar and King passed, he snatched the gate key free from one curved, blood-splattered horn, and stole a wild glance at his enemy’s face.

He couldn’t be sure, but among the gore dripping down King Bulblin’s gauntlet where it clutched his face, he thought he could make out the jelly of the monster’s left eye. 

Sympathetic bile rose in his throat, but he choked it down. The King had threatened the lives of innocents; had taken them and sold them for power over the plains. Link had no room in his conscience for a creature like that now. 

Epona spun, and reared. Link aimed a final shot, severing the tendon of Lord Bullbo’s left hind leg. The beast screamed and stumbled, and crashed into the high stone wall of the bridge. Its rider was thrown free of the saddle. Down, down, down.

Link didn’t wait to see him hit the bottom. 

Hoofbeats and the creaking of wagon wheels from behind. Reassured of his party’s presence, he swung Epona around once more, and continued south. He struggled to snuff out the victorious grin on his face, and focus on the leagues left to go. 

Under the huge Deku Tree carcass that straddled the road. Under the starry sky. Under the cliffs.

Shadows on the cliff. Blocking out the stars. Bulblins.

Orange sparks in the dark. Fire arrows!

One and two and three and four. Take them down before the wagon would be in range. The angles were tricky, but Link was trickier. Bodies plummeted to the earth with a crash. From within the wagon, he heard Ilia yelp as Telma jerked the wagon out of one corpse’s path.

Too close. If only his own life were at risk, he’d run beneath the encampments without taking so much as a potshot. But he was escort, guard, protector. Hero. He needed to do better.

He tore past the wagon. If there were more ahead, he would clear them out. If there weren’t, he could open the gate before the wagon arrived. No need for them to slow or stop. Link was the one who could run free, and run free he would. 

Clear—no more bulblins. He flung himself from the saddle and jammed the key into the lock. Haste made his fingers slip, but he righted them immediately. The mechanism clicked, and the padlock fell to the ground. 

Not a moment too soon. He could hear the wagon again. 

The second he was back in the saddle, Epona jolted forward once more, feeding off of his energy. The wind of their speed made his eyes water, and he narrowed his lashes to slits. 

South Hyrule Field was quiet. Too quiet. Link fell back again, keeping in cautious line with the left side of the wagon. He wasn’t about to get too far ahead, just for some ambush to creep up behind—hoofbeats! 

Behind and to the left. He turned in the saddle and sighted the foes. Dark stains in the night, lit only by their luminous red eyes and the flaming pitch on the tips of their arrows. 

With a flurry of frantic shots, each of the lights snuffed out in the mud.

The wagon had pulled ahead while Link was distracted. It was hard to make out in the dark, but was that a—

“Link!!” 

Telma’s shout mixed with Ilia’s primal scream of fear as the bomb the kagorok dropped in their path detonated. Dirt clods and dust exploded into the air, and Link choked on grit as he galloped toward them, too late but still trying. Telma had jolted the reins again to get them clear of the worst of the blast, but with their momentum, she didn’t have the chance to pull them back on course. 

Link met her eyes as he finally caught up. “Everyone alright?” he signed, movements sharp and large with both fury and the need to be seen through the dark. 

Telma rolled her eyes so hard her head rolled along with them. “I’m fine, honey. We’ll just need to go around again.” 

Ilia hadn’t been able to see the question, but had seemingly gleaned the situation from Telma’s words. “We’re okay in here!” Her voice was strained, but Link admired the latent strength in it, simmering beneath the superficial fear.

Telma smirked at him. “Try to get the bird next time.”

Link had no time to reply, firing another two shots at the first of the bulblin reinforcements as they emerged from deeper in the field. This time, he kept in pace with the wagon and fell just behind it, taking strategic shots at bulblins when they got close enough for their shots to potentially start to land, but otherwise scanning the skies for the silhouette of another airborne foe.

He didn’t have long to wait. Again the kagorok swooped in—had they trained the damn thing?—and this time, he aimed for the explosive clutched in its talons. 

The creature shrieked loudly overhead, audible even over the blast, and by the time its broken, singed corpse plummeted to the earth, horse, rider, and wagon were already long gone. 

One section of field passed through in one piece, but Link didn’t allow himself more than a single moment of celebration. He’d learned the hard way that premature victory dances could cost you an arm and a leg.

The path narrowed again as they approached the pass to Kakariko Gorge. Link swore internally as he stared up the cliff faces: they were simply too high for him to aim well while on horseback. He’d just have to hope the bulblins glaring balefully at them from above were poor archers. 

They were not poor archers. They were prepared archers, who’d learned from their moons of encampment on the ridge exactly the angle at which to shoot; who’d watched his party take an extra lap around South Hyrule Field and learned their speed and size; who’d had time to ready their arrows and light the pitch. Their arrows struck true.

Canvas flared up, orange like the paper lanterns the Ordonians used for the celebration of the longest night each winter. He heard Ilia bellow from within the wagon, saw her flame-lit shadow through the canvas beat at the fire with the pillow from beneath the zora boy’s head. 

No. No, nothing else would happen to her. Damn it all, Link was not going to let a single hair on his best friend’s head so much as singe.

He jammed the bow down over the pommel of his saddle, hoping it wouldn’t fall, not having the time for anything better. He scrabbled for his pouch. His fingers closed around smooth, curved wood, and he flung the Gale Boomerang with his heart in his throat.

Thank Din, thank Farore, thank Nayru, thank the Fairy herself, the fire went out. It was out. It was out. 

But it wasn’t over. 

They broke through the pass at a gallop, all attempts at endurance surrendered. Link could see the packhorse’s flanks heave with the force of its every breath. The gate that trapped Kakariko within its canyon was a straight shot across the bridge Midna had restored, but only if Link did not fuck up. 

Bulblins from the right, close. Too close for him to take up the bow again. He swore soundlessly and unsheathed the Ordon Sword from his back with his right hand. It was his non-dominant hand, but it was the closest to the marauders. It would have to be enough. 

Even turned around and twisted up, Link would be enough. 

Steel cleaved through flesh and cloth and bone. Link kicked his right leg out and struck the boar his adversary had been riding squarely in the jaw, sending it careening into the side of the cliff to their right. 

Hooves over wood. The bridge. The bridge! Not too long now—

Wingbeats. Leathery. Close. No time for the bow. Why had he put down his bow!

He was not doing this again, Din damn it!

He couldn’t throw the sword. He couldn’t take anything out from his pouch. He had nothing. He had—aha!—

He reared his left arm back and threw the Gale Boomerang with every ounce of desperate strength he had remaining in his body.

The boomerang wasn’t a strong weapon. It couldn’t cut through the kagorok, could hardly even bludgeon the thing with enough force to stun. But it could tear the bomb loose from the thing’s talons, with all of the force of a great typhoon. 

The explosion overhead cracked against his eardrums and rained down flaming pieces of bird leather, and Link yelled in pain and jubilation both at the burn, because fuck it, they were through!

Key into lock. Lock onto ground. He pushed the blackened steel apart with his bare hands, and leapt aside as the wagon charged through. His body slammed against the gate painfully in the breath-held moment, but all he could feel was wild, wild joy.

In the split second of their passage, he met Ilia’s eyes through the wagon’s window. They were wide with fear, with thrill, with rage, with victory. They were wet with relief.

Even after all they’d lived through, no mirror in Hyrule could reflect his own image so perfectly as his best friend.

Link turned to Epona, and pressed a kiss to her ash-stained nose. She knickered softly. 

The reins quivered in his exhausted grip, but Link led Epona into Kakariko on his own two feet. Step by step by step, and with each pace forward, the impact of his boots on the terracotta floor of the canyon sang with the words in his heart.

It’s okay now. It’s all okay now. 

I was enough. 

[wowthatsextra]

Thank you! You’re very kind and I'm always happy to see you around.

I agree about S3- the johnny stuff was very annoying in general and he's definitely had vulnerability issues but his lack of empathy after Johnny died was hard to watch. It was kinda ridiculous how in the second half of S3 he goes through three "serious" girls- like of course there was Marissa, and it was jarring how he was all about Sadie all of a sudden until she pulled away, and he almost kissed Theresa and tried to lean on her for support until she pulled away. Like he's always been messy and I get that Theresa and Marissa are sort of representative of his dilemma between the old life and the new life and understandably that it made a comeback when high school is ending but Sadie being in the mix made the whole thing feel nonsense lol.

Makes sense about the square one thing. I also don't like how they deal with his violence issues- they're tied to Marissa unnecessarily when Marissa has never encouraged that. And I'm NOT saying that the characters should have to manage him or walk in eggshells around him, but they aren’t very good at understanding him either 😭 like everyone being patronizing to him during the Oliver situation when feeling cornered/invalidated would have only flared up his aggression. Another thing I find laughably ridiculous is Seth telling him about Trey and Marissa knowing he'd hurt himself or someone else and having no "backup" to protect/stop him if things go south. Like call an adult, take his car keys, lock him in the pool house, chain him to the dining table- ANYTHING! Like both Summer and Marissa didn’t tell him for that very reason. I know Seth had the best intentions- he was right that Ryan deserved to know, but deserving to know doesn’t triumph the possibility of him dying or killing someone 😭😭 wait until Sandy gets home omg

This is more of my issue with Frank as I've said before in the favourite ship ask but I wish Ryan was allowed to not forgive his father or at least maintain boundaries. I hate when teen dramas pull out an insta redemption/forgiveness arc for abusive parents to show a happy family ending, but even if Frank did become a better person, Ryan shouldn’t be the one feeling responsible to give him a chance. Not when that man was responsible for Ryan's (and his entire bio family's) life turning upside down and the point of the show is about finding a healthy family that is not necessarily about blood.

Glad to see you more active again, I've missed seeing you around! Now Ryan is pookie and the best but is there anything you'd change about his character? And if so, what are they?

(I promise I'll answer your ask one of these days, I just procrastinate so much :( ugh)

aww ty <333 i'm sorry for not having answered your previous to asks yet and it's fine that you haven't answered my one yet, don't worry about it :)

that's a really good question !! i would probably change him in 3x04-3x21 bc i just don't like what the characters did with him there... he was just so cold and his whole hero complex thing was used in a very weird way and when johnny died he was just not very ryan atwood... showing no empathy to marissa, dating sadie basically the second marissa and him broke up and idk i just didn't like his character arc there very much

another thing that i didn't like too much about the way he was written is that he kind of goes back to square one at the beginning of every season

that's the two main things i can think of right now but i'd love to hear your thoughts !

[madame-wilsonn]

To Build a home

MASTERLIST

Summary: Tommy takes you on a journey filled with surprises

A/N: this is my humble attempt at writing for Modern!Tommy for the first time (check out @retromafia headcanons about modern!tommy, they are amazing!!)! I could have written it with...regular Tommy but it made more sense this way. Also this is part of my sweet @peakyswift​ followers celebration with the prompt “you’re the only thing that matters.” (congratulations again my sweet mae!! You truly deserve it and more and I couldn’t be happier for you!!💗). I kinda turn into some sort of realtor in the beginning so if you want me to sell your house in the future, dms are open lol. I don’t really know what else to say, it may seem a bit rushed because I really wanted to post it before the deadline but, nonetheless I still hope you enjoy it!

Word count: 2,587 words

Warnings: it’s pure fluff, really but I do need to warn you about my writing

“Will you tell me where we’re going at some point?”

Tommy smiled, his eyes still on the road as you analyzed his features, trying to find a clue, anything that could tell you what he had been so adamant to show you.

“You’ll see when we get there, just be patient, love.”

You pouted, crossing your arms over your chest dramatically.

“I hate being patient.”

The man chuckled as you passed a gate, driving through immense grounds. At the end of the way, a manor stood, imposing and yet one of the most sumptuous place you had ever seen. Tommy parked the car in front of an old fountain as you stared at the structure, blown away by its elegant facade.

“What is this place?” you managed to ask as your boyfriend extended his hand, helping you to get out of the car.

“You like it?”

He didn’t need you to reply, the look of pure amazement on your face was enough for him. He kept his hand in yours, guiding you to the hall of the house.

You were met by a huge, wooden staircase, several paintings adorning the walls in the most distinguished way. Tommy guided you through the rooms swiftly, proving he had already been here before. Probably more than once if he managed to not get lost in the maze of splendid bedrooms, grand bathrooms and elegant parlors.

He took you to the dining room, a spacious place with a long table, enough to invite your whole family. Tommy stood behind you, his head resting on your shoulder.

“We could have those huge family dinners you always wanted to throw here.”

You nodded, already imagining all your loved ones around the table, laughing at John’s jokes, listening to Polly’s countless stories of the boys as kids. You thought about the big chandeliers shining on your flushed and happy faces, your heart full and warm as delicious food was set on the table.

You then went to see the kitchen, another huge room. Bigger than your whole flat, the kind you only saw in cooking shows or in luxurious restaurants.

“Well…for someone who can only manage to make pasta, I’m not sure what I can do with all of this”

Tommy chuckled, passing his arm over your shoulder.

“I’ll hire a cook and maids, of course. You’ll never have to lift one finger, just say the words and you’ll get whatever your heart desires.”

You let out a shaky breath as your fingers traveled across the counter.

“It’s really beautiful, Tom”

The man only stared at you, a soft smile stretching his lips as you walked around the room.

“Come on, now. I need to show you something else”

You followed him, a questioning look on your face. You passed by the hall again and Tommy took you to the other side of the house. He showed you the main office - his little cave, like you enjoyed calling it - and then an empty room.

“You told me once you had always wanted to learn the piano.” he whispered to you, his hands on your shoulders as he pushed you inside “we could put one here, right in the middle. And we can add sofas and chairs so your friends can visit. I already asked, the room is exposed south which means you’ll get natural light most of the day and you’ll have a great view over the garden as well.”

You turned around, your heart swelling in your chest. You reached to softly let your fingers run across his jaw in a back-handed caress, leaning in to kiss his cheek.

“I love it.”

He let you take a better look of the room, leaning against the wall. You looked like a natural in front of the huge windows, bathed in sunlight. This was the right place for you. He could already see all the happy moments you would share here, he could make you happy. You would have everything you ever needed, everything you ever dreamt of and he could be here to see it, to see your smile every morning, to see you fall asleep peacefully, knowing he could offer you that.

“Alright, now, one last surprise”

“Isn’t all of this enough surprises?” You chuckled but he only shook his head.

“No, I have something else for you”

You followed your particularly secretive boyfriend through a few corridors, holding his hand before he stopped in front of one particular door.

“Close your eyes, love.”

“What’s behind the door, Tom?”

He raised his eyebrows at you and you rolled your eyes before complying to his request. You heard him turn the knob and gently lead you inside. He cleared his throat, announcing you were now allowed to look.

You were about to tease him for making things so dramatic but the words never left your lips. Instead, you let out an astonished gasp, your hand leaving his to drop on your chest. You tried to contain the turmoil of emotion washing over you as you took in the magnificence of hundreds and hundreds of books, walls of shelves filled with all kinds of works, from philosophy to mystery or romance, the greatest pieces written by the greatest artists ever known in front of your bewildered eyes, waiting to fulfill your insatiable imagination.

“So?”

The question was obviously rhetorical, Tommy only had to look at you to see how much you loved his present. But there was still this small part of him that needed to hear it from you, hear you say it, assure him he wasn’t just making it up.

“Tommy…you…” you let out shakily, walking back to him.

You caressed his cheeks, tears brimming in your eyes as you wrapped your arms around him.

“I love you so much.”

The man chuckled as he hugged you close to him, whispering the words back to you. There was nothing else on earth worth more than this. Your dazzling smile and your shiny eyes overflowing with emotions in an everlasting state of  bliss. He realized in this moment he would do anything, anything if it meant being the one to make you half as happy as you were now.

He passed a hand through your hair lovingly, leaving a kiss there.

“You’ve always dreamt of having your own library so here it is, it can be yours if you want it” he offered with a smile.

You let out a shaky sigh, giving another look to the room. It was even better than anything you could have dreamt of. It was huge but felt welcoming and warm at the same time. You could already say this was your favorite place in the entire mansion, the inner daydreaming girl you were filled with a sudden rush of happiness.

“It’s beautiful, really, I don't know what to say!”

Tommy chuckled, his arms still holding you.

“Who would’ve thought a room filled with book was enough to make you speechless, eh? I should’ve brought you here much sooner!”

You playfully hit him on his arm, beaming at him.

You came back to the front of the house, next to the car after Tommy finished his visit with the stables and the garden. It was always a sweet sight, the way his eyes would light up every time he would talk about horses, how proud he was of them. He may be a scary businessman most of the time but you enjoyed the softer side of him, the one only you got to see.

“Alright, I still have the house until the afternoon so I was thinking we could have a little picnic here” he proposed, opening the trunk of the car

“Yeah and uh...where are we going to find food? Because I'm not eating mushrooms and berries from the forrest, darling”

As an answer, he pointed towards the small basket he had put in the car early this morning. You walked over, frowning as you took in the contents of the trunk.

“You...prepared a picnic?” 

He smiled proudly as you stared at him, completely dumbfounded. Will he ever stop surprising you?

“I passed by that bakery you liked and got us those sandwiches from last time - yes, no onions - and also grabbed the fruits you bought at the market on Saturday”

You chuckled, shaking your head.

“I am the luckiest girl on the planet, hm?” you asked, wrapping your arms around his waist.

“Only because you make me the happiest man in the universe”

“Sap” you mumbled as you leaned in to kiss his lips.

You pulled away, grabbing the basket as he took the blanket, closing the car as you explored the grounds for a nice place. Finally, you settled for a spot under a beautiful oak that could shield you from the sun. 

It felt good to be here. The first warm days were slowly showing themselves after a long and unforgiving winter followed by a rainy start of spring. It was even better to spend the day on this gorgeous estate, leaning against a tree with Tommy’s head resting on your lap.

You had eaten your lunch, chatting about a bit everything - your friend’s birthday gift that you needed to buy; the shirts you spotted for him when you went shopping; the new movie that came out at the cinema - and somehow you ended up practicing to throw berries in his mouth because, he was the best at this game and you...well you were lucky if you manage to at least get close to his face. Nevertheless, no matter how many times he showed you, you didn’t seem able to improve whatsoever which only gave him excuses to tease you.

Now, you were simply enjoying the nice weather. You were almost sure he had fallen asleep and that you would as well, slowly drifting off to a realm of peaceful reveries.

There, you saw yourself under the oak, Tommy running behind a small toddler who didn't seem capable to sit down for more than a minute. You could see evenings spent watching the sun set and observing the stars shining bright above, holding each other. You could see horseback rides across the land and walks during warm afternoons, falling leaves and glistening snow.

In all the scenarios your limitless imagination created, you could only picture joyful moments. And in all these scenarios, Tommy was by your side.

The sun had covered the land in a gentle, golden embrace as your dreamy, almost surreal day came to an end.

You had gone back to the car, leaving your belongings in the trunk as Tommy took you aside. He gently grabbed your hands in his, dipping his soft cerulean eyes into yours.  

“Alright, look...” he sighed, trying to find his words. “I had given up on the idea of having…something good like this. I didn’t think I deserved it - still don’t on most days - but now, I have you and…and you make me feel like maybe it’s not a loss cause.” He began, his trembling hands searching for support in yours. “I wanted to find a place where you can be happy with me, where we can grow together and maybe, someday build a family. Of course, I didn’t bring you here to pressure you or make you feel like you had to say yes. The last thing I want to do is force you into something you're not ready for. But I saw this place and I couldn't stop thinking about it and about you...us, how much the fresh air could be good for you, far from the noise of the city and you’ve always said you wanted to move out at some point so I thought...but honestly, if you don’t like this house, I can find you another.” He rambled. “And if you just don’t want to leave London then it’s good too, we can stay in London and come here on weekends. Or not. We don’t have to come here if you don’t want to. ”

The man let out a heavy sigh as he realized how confusing his speech must sound like, far from his usually assured and clear words. It was just a part of the effect you had over him, how you managed to turn him into a rambling mess when he was feared by most. Thomas Shelby had the whole world at his feet and you? Well, you had Thomas Shelby down at yours.

“I need to give the owners an answer soon and that’s why I wanted you to see it first, have your opinions about it. But I’ll do whatever you want, it’s your call: if you don’t like it or if you’re not ready for this, it’s good too, eh? I don’t care about houses or any of that. I just need you to be happy, the rest doesn’t matter, only you.” He concluded his long discourse, searching into your expression, into your soul any indication of how you felt.

You gazed at him for a moment, taking the time to appreciate the earnestness painting his eyes in the most gentle tone. He didn’t show himself like that often, this raw vulnerability he kept hidden under layers and layers of the façade he managed to build with the years but when he did, trusting you with the most concealed parts of him...you swore you fell in love with him all over again.

You smiled softly at him, allowing your hand to leave his so you could let your fingers trail over his jaw.

“My love, there is nothing in the world that could make me happy like you do. No amount of money or gold or houses can give me what you give to me every single day.” You licked your lips, choosing your next words carefully. “I do see a future with you here and yes, this house is the closest thing to perfection but I can’t and I don’t want to build a home here if it’s not with you. I need you to understand this, first. I don’t want you to believe that…in order to make me happy, you need to buy me this house or any other thing. The only source of my happiness is standing right in front of me, whether it is in a luxurious apartment or a manor or even a tiny shoe box!” He chuckled at your words as you cradled his face in a tender gesture. “But to answer your question: yes, I do love this house and I do want to start a family here - not now, of course - but some day. I want all of this with you. I do, Tom, I really do.”

A weight seemed to have lifted over his shoulders as he realized he could have it all with you by his side. The ideal future he had long lost hoped for now seemed so close to reach, he only needed to extended his hand a little bit and take it.

Tommy kissed your forehead in such a way you thought you might begin to cry. He grabbed his phone from his pocket and gave you another look.

“We’re really doing this?”

You smiled, you beamed, your whole self incapable to contain the overwhelming contentment you felt at the moment. You nodded at him through your teary eyes, your cheeks hurting from grinning so hard.

“Yes, yes we are.”

He kissed your soft lips sealing your promise in the most delicate way. 

[indigowallbreaker]

I dream of supports between Hapi and Marianne!

(also if u got a notification that i followed u just now it's bc i accidently hit unfollow while trying to click on the ask button oops)

(I've done that too it's so annoying lol)

Another pair I've never thought of interacting! Hapi doesn't have any Deer supports, which is tragic. Marianne is a great place to start~

Not sure if this would be a C support (might be too heavy handed for a starting scene) but they absolutely have to talk about Hapi's monster-summoning sigh making Marianne uncomfortable. At first, maybe Hapi tries to hang with Marianne (person who avoids people as much as possible and person who people avoid. Perfect pair, in Hapi's opinion). But Marianne gives her that speech about only bringing harm to those around her and that Hapi should just leave her be.

Eventually (post-skip?) Hapi learns the truth about Marianne either because you just Learn Things in Abyss or because Marianne explains it (she knows Hapi’s curse, Hapi might as well know Marianne’s. Fair is fair.).

I’m not sure how many supports they would have but the last one definitely has a scene like this: Hapi comes into the dining hall to see Marianne enjoying some after lunch tea. Hapi asks if Marianne has felt any urge to run to the south lawn today.

“Um, no. I have not. Why do you ask?”

“Because I’ve been there yawning all afternoon to see if you’d show up.”

“W-What?! You were summoning monsters?”

“Relax. Chatterbox and a few knights sorted it out. The point is that my yawns summon monsters and you never once left the monastery today.”

“What does that... oh!”

“Bingo. You weren’t attracted to my yawning, so you can’t be a monster. You can stop worrying now.”

This probably flusters Marianne to no end XD It would also be nice to draw a parallel between “Talks to birds” Marianne and “Cats always run away from me” Hapi but I’m not sure how to work that in myself.

Give me Cursed Magic Girls leaning on each other!!!!

[iaf]

Jwcc Ghost Hunting AU

(aka buzzfeed unsolved au)

- Darius, Kenji, and Sammy believe in the supernatural

- Ben, Yaz, and Brooklynn are all skeptics

- Brooklynn + Darius lead the group through haunted houses, buildings, and what-not. B is in charge of the camera and D narrates (he does most of the research)

- Brooklynn loves the true crime aspect of these "hauntings". Her inner detective activates and she swears she can solve these cases if given the proper resources.

- Kenji helps the gang with all their trips and destinations. Thanks to his dad's influence and connections, he can hook them up to restricted areas and provides transportation.

- Kenji claims he can handle these trips yet he's terrified of ghosts, but he's with his close friends so it's all worth it.

- Sammy always has the best ghost stories. Whenever they're on a drive to a local haunted residence, she shares stories about her dogs or the ranch animals sensing an unseen presence. Or about how her abuela's sister is a medium and all the scary things they've heard spirits say. Or about demon sightings her cousins have claimed to seen. (This stories freaks out Kenji)

- Yaz is usually unphased by all the supernatural stuff She tags along for Sammy and also because she's intrested in the true crime aspect like Brooklynn, but won't admit it.

- She sometimes pranks the group by whispering "boo" at the most unexpected times. She keeps them all down to earth and in check.

- Ben is the toughest skeptic of them all. He always points out the logical explanation to all the strange occurrences they face and rarely gets spooked.

- Ben's in it for the adventure, silly antics, and cool rundown building aesthetics. He gets to explore being out of his comfort zone with the safety of his friends.

- They split into groups whenever necessary like if they need to explore different floors or rooms. The pairs are different and they bond as friends by learning more about eachother.

- Things go south more often than not such as driving to the wrong location, old floorboards breaking, individuals getting separated from the group, low video storage, random wildlife attacking, rats, other residents reporting/calling a disturbance, and so on.

- Its really just a bunch of teens getting into trouble late at night for the views lol

- Then after every expedition, they either stop at a gas station to pick up slushies or dine in at a 24hr diner

[gunsatthaphan]

~ Monthly BL Breakdown: November 2021 ~  

Disclaimer: All shows can be streamed here, here or here! For more info about shows, check out their MDL pages!

- Updates coming every month - feel free to add stuff! -

What came out this month? (green tick = seen or currently watching)

🌟 Love With Benefits - November 1st (Thailand) ✅

🌟 Nilundon - November 7th (Thailand)

🌟 2Gether The Movie - November 11th (Thailand - cinemas)

🌟 Utsukushii Kare/My Beautiful Man - November 18th (Japan)

🌟 Money Boys - November 19th (Taiwan - cinemas)

🌟 Baker Boys - November 24th (Thailand) ✅

🌟 Paint With Love - November 26th (Thailand) ✅

🌟 Loveless Society - November 26th (Thailand)

🌟 The Couple - November 27th (Thailand)

🌟 Mr. Cinderella - November 28th (Vietnam)

Monthly likes/dislikes

❣️ Baker Boys & Paint With Love are my highlights this month. They both had amazing kickoffs; I’m loving the humor in Baker Boys and the vibes in Paint With Love. It feels different and especially Tae’s character is so on point lol I love it. Another thing I cherished a lot this month were the Between Us specials! They were consciously incoherent but super sweet and they made me even more hyped for the series!! 🤩 Another obsession this month remains Bad Buddy bc episode 5 was a masterpiece. Also the Not Me trailer. Holy hell.

👎🏻 Nothing I specifically disliked but lemme just say that if that My Broccoli series is actually happening then WabiSabi’s credibility is compromised lmao. I’m still waiting for the SIKE moment but it looks like it’s not a joke which..... if the plot ends up blowing me away then maybe we can talk. But for now it’s ridiculous lol.

New show announcements

🎥 Season of the Lost Forest (novel adaption) - Date TBA (Thailand)

🎥 Bungee Jumping of their Own (starring NCT’s Jaehyun) - Coming 2022 (South Korea)

🎥 Tinted With You (starring ACE’s Jun Hee) - Coming December 2021 (South Korea)

🎥 The Witcher (novel adaption) - Date TBA (Taiwan)

🎥 Club Sapan Fine ss2 - Date TBA (Thailand)

��� 춘정지란 (manhwa adaption) - Date TBA (South Korea)

🎥 Cupid’s Will (starring EarthMix) - Date TBA (Thailand)

🎥 Dangerous Partner - Coming January 13th (Japan)

��� Future The Series (starring Boom Nattapat and BigBoom Jirayu) - Date TBA (Thailand)

🎥 Cafe In Love (starring Nanoob from LoveSick) - Date TBA (Thailand)

🎥 Our Dining Table (manga adaption) - Date TBA (Japan)

🎥 Pumpkin Time (gender swap theme) - Date TBA (South Korea)

🎥 Cherry Magic the movie (sequel) - Coming April 8th 2022 (Japan)

Other news from the bl world

❗️Tul Pakorn confirmed in an interview that him and Max will have another project together next year. It is likely to be the novel adaption of “Transplant The Series”.

❗️NCT’s Jaehyun will star in a remake of "Bungee Jumping of their Own” (the Thai remake was Dew The Movie), which is set to be released in the second half of 2022. Lee Hyunwook will play his counterpart.

❗️The new version of KinnPorsche is set to air in April 2022.

❗️Studio WabiSabi announced their lineup for 2022/2023: Between Us (starring BounPrem), My Only 12% (starring SantaEarth), Absolute Zero (starring TorMix), We Are The Series (no cast announced yet), My Broccoli (starring Boun), Dear Doctor The Series (starring NutKarn, filming has started)

❗️The upcoming thai bl “My Ride The Series” has been announced to air in January 2022.

❗️The director of FUTS tweeted about filming a sequel with the hashtag #FishUponTheSky2 but deleted the tweet shortly after, which sparked rumors for a possible season 2.

❗️A second season for the mix-bl drama “Club Sapan Fine” has been announced. OabGun have been confirmed as the mains, along with Up, PunPun, Max and others. Filming has already started.

❗️EarthMix will most likely star in the upcoming BL novel adaption “Cupid’s Will”. They were seen shooting the pilot trailer which will probably be part of the upcoming GMMTV 2022 lineup. 

❗️The cast for the upcoming bl “Till the World Ends” has been announced. Art Pakpoom (What the Duck) and Best Anavil will be the main pairing, along with Michael Kiettisak (CIWYW) and others.

❗️ACE’s Jun Hee has been confirmed as part of the cast for the upcoming bl “Tinted With You”, which is set to be released in December.

❗️Korean singer Holland revealed that he is currently filming a BL.

❗️The streaming platform LINETV has announced its shutdown by the end of the year. There is no further information on if and how their content will remain available yet.

Upcoming shows & movies for December

☝🏻 What She Likes - December 3rd (Japan)

☝🏻 Never Too Late (part-bl) - December 6th (Thailand)

☝🏻 Not Me - December 12th (Thailand)

☝🏻 Komorebi - December 17th (Taiwan)

☝🏻 GenY 2 - December 21st (Thailand)

☝🏻 Tinted With You - December 23rd (South Korea)

☝🏻 Love at the End of the World - December 30th (Philippines) 

[yoonia]

Threads [M]

➬ Title | Threads

➬ Summary | Life is full of surprises, just like how people are full of secrets. Just when you had thought you have been lucky enough to have your life figured out, life decides to throw you a curve ball when you least expect it. And there is nothing you could do to avoid it, except to hope that you could hold your secrets as tightly as you possibly could before everything blows up into smithereens.

↳ Pairings | Yoongi x reader, Namjoon x reader

↳ Genre | Slice of Life!au, One-sided Love!au, Smut, Angst, Infidelity, Mutual pining

↳ Ratings | +18 / M for Mature

↳ Warning | Sexual tension, infidelity, mentions of drinking, drunken foreplay/sex (consensual), clothed foreplay, dry humping, thigh riding, hand job, breast play, explicit mature scene.

↳ Word count | 7,2k words

➬ Music Companion | Axel Enderlin - breathe

➬ Author’s Note | Written as a commission for @yoonminpls | I’m so sorry this took forever, and so sorry that I took quite a turn after our last talk lol. I hope you’ll enjoy reading this. Thank you so much for commission me!

Dazzling lights are shining above your head as you walk past the marbled floor hallway. The steady pacing beneath the bright lights soon becomes alluring enough to slowly soothe the tension rolling down your body, but only to the point until it becomes no longer enough to numb your nerves.

You have grown used to these hallways after walking down this very same path at least once a month for the past year that everything had inevitably become familiar to your memory. The crystal lamps hanging from the ceiling, the champagne coloured wallpapers, the shining marble floors, and the humming sound of the guests chatting and eating while being hidden behind these doors you are walking past by.

In previous cases, you would have felt exhilarated and calm when you walked by this path. Tonight, you are feeling none of it.

Years ago, you would have never found yourself strolling in this place so leisurely with the restaurant’s hostess leading the way, as if you truly belong in a place like this. This dining space, located at the top floor of one of the fanciest restaurants in the city, houses rooms that provide privacy for important guests who would require secured, personal spaces to dine in. Behind these doors, private businesses, important meetings, celebrity meet-ups, or even personal affairs are all being held.

The first time you had come here, only a little over a year ago, you were invited on the purpose of a business meeting with the man that you had been conversing through video calls and emails for many months before. It was like a dream come true when he found you through your franchise business and offered you a promising opportunity for the future of your career and business by merging your brand as a part of his business. It took a while for you to be convinced, for you to trust him, until you finally came into an agreement to work together, a decision which had become the reason why you had upended your life by moving here to South Korea in order to make it all happen.

During the first week of your arrival, he had invited you to dine with him in one of these rooms, and you had been meeting up with him for tons more appointments ever since. Each of those meetings had been filled with talk of business and the topics which had led you to move here.

Tonight, you are meeting him for a personal matter that does not involve work.

It was 6 months ago when your time spent with him had no longer been about the business, when things had suddenly begun to evolve into something else. Somewhere between the rigorous negotiations and dealings, something had shifted between you. The respect had grown into attraction, and the attraction had been mutual and instant—or perhaps it had blossomed since way back when you were corresponding with each other from across the ocean—that you had agreed to start seeing each other exclusively the moment he had laid his feelings out in the open.

If only you could do the same. Because the attraction you have for him is there, still equally strong as the way you had first felt it growing inside you, but there is something else that had been brewing which had left you questioning everything.

Keeping your head up high, you try the best you could to keep your composure as to hide the turmoil that you have been carrying since you got here. The longing you feel inside your heart of seeing him again after being gone during the holidays grows stronger as you are getting closer to where he is, though the feeling is accompanied with a certain contriteness that is clawing at you from within.

“Here we are, Miss _______,” the hostess opens the door to the executive private room at the end of the hall, allowing you to enter. Humming a soft ‘Thank you,’ to the hostess, you step into the room while she shuts the door behind you and the man who has been in your mind for the entire time you had been gone welcomes you with open arms.

“It feels so good to finally see you again.”

His gentle voice brings a smile to your face. You fall easily into his arms to embrace him, to feel his presence and breathe in his warmth.

“Yoongi, you have no idea how much I’ve missed you,” you hum softly as you wrap your arms around him, pulling him close to you. His chest rumble as he chuckles gently.

“I missed you too,” he whispers to you with his broken accent that seems to have been growing less noticeable the more he uses English to speak with you. He moves gently as he kisses your forehead and then your cheeks, then he gives a soft peck on your lips right before he finally lets you go.

You just have to resist the urge to pout or frown, both for the fact that he is still holding himself back when he is kissing you and for knowing that the reason for him doing it is currently present in the room. You turn to the dining table as Yoongi guides you to your seat, meeting Namjoon’s eyes as he stands across the table to greet you politely, ”It’s nice to have you back, Miss _______.”

“It’s nice to see you too, Namjoon,” you greet him, though you quickly avert your eyes before you find your face burning from staring at him for a moment too long.

In the past, it had always felt awkward to have Namjoon around whenever you were spending time with Yoongi. It had taken you quite some time to get used to him being there even in these private appointments you have had with Yoongi, to learn that he is simply a part of the package that you had to accept if you want to spend more time with Yoongi and to be able to speak with him comfortably.

Tonight, however, you have an entirely different reason as to why you are feeling uncomfortable sitting right in front of him and to be under his scrutinising gaze. But you have no choice but to sit right across from him as Yoongi helps you seated right next to his own chair. You decide then that you just have to keep looking away from your date’s associate until the night ends. Though the reprieve you get from avoiding his gaze doesn’t get to linger when Yoongi suddenly speaks.

“It feels so lonely without you around,” says Yoongi in his own words, though his voice is quick to be replaced by Namjoon’s as he translates for your date.

“I’ve only been gone for less than a week, Yoongi,” you respond with a smile, keeping your eyes on your date the entire time.

“Still a long time for me,” is his answer. The warmth in his eyes shows that he had meant every word, and you just have to keep your eyes on Yoongi’s face to remind yourself that he is the one giving you this. And you never let your eyes stray even as Namjoon follows to translate those words on his behalf, the same way he had always done it for Yoongi.

You are touched by the thought of Yoongi waiting for you. Touched by his words. Yoongi can be a bit poetic in expressing his thoughts whenever he wants to and he knows just how to choose the right words to express himself.

But even if you have him in your thoughts, he is not the one who makes your heart clench tightly upon hearing them. It is odd, when you know that those words had come from Yoongi, but your heart stirs only because another man’s voice is the one relaying them on you in a way that you could understand.

As if those words had not come from the man who you have been dating for the past half of the year, but from the man who is only present as his translator.

The feeling lingers in your body, clogging your throat that you find it hard to respond. Thankfully, Yoongi isn’t reading too much out of it and he carries on to speak. “How was your trip home?” he asks. “I’m sure it was nice to see your family again.”

The joy of reuniting with the people back home trounces over the uneasiness that you have been feeling, enough so that Namjoon’s voice translating every word that came from Yoongi no longer bothers you.

“It was good. Great, I mean. I didn’t get to do much of the things I had wanted to and I didn’t get to meet everyone, but it had given me quite the nice break. It’s hard to enjoy it when I keep wanting to come back here and be with you.” You reach out to grab Yoongi’s hand as you share your excitement, wishing that you could have brought him with you to meet your family as they had known about him for quite some time.

Yoongi smiles broadly as he lets you take his hand. As he listens to you speak, he entwines his fingers with yours, needing to feel the bond that he had missed for when you were away. He pulls your hand up to his lips, then begins kissing your knuckles gently as he speaks. His soft voice and the soft kisses he is giving you are driving your head spinning, until you hear Namjoon speaking on his behalf to translate everything he said.

“Yoongi says that he is glad to know that you got a chance to be with your family and have enough time to take a break after working so hard for the past month. Perhaps you should take a vacation more often once our business starts running more smoothly,” he says, relaying everything that your date had every intention to express to you.

You turn to Namjoon, finally, only to thank him for his help. But then your words fade on your lips the moment you catch him smiling to you warmly from the other side of the dining table. And it doesn’t help when he continues with, “I’d like to add that I personally agree with Yoongi. You looked terribly exhausted and stressed lately. I’m sure your work has taken a toll on you, but it’s obvious to me that the break has done you a lot of good. You are looking more refreshed now compared to the last time we met.”

“Thank you,” you answer him with a small smile. All of a sudden, Yoongi’s touch feels too much on your skin. What had felt comforting and warm now feels like it is burning you to ashes, but you have no power in you to pull your hand away from his hold.

Namjoon’s eyes move to your entwined hands just as Yoongi pulls back first, his gaze that had seemed hard when Yoongi was kissing you slowly loosens, and you are beginning to feel like you can breathe again.

A knock on the door becomes the perfect distraction just as the tension in the room begins to rise. Though you soon find that perhaps you are the only one feeling it, when Yoongi only sits back and responds lightly with, “Yes, come in,” before the waiter enters with the food and drinks that he had ordered.

“I ordered—your specials,” Yoongi says, making you smile at his effort of trying to talk to you more without Namjoon’s help. You are also grateful that he wants to continue to speak to you, and how he always does it by keeping his eyes looking deep into yours, anchoring you to his axis that you find no will to look away. Not even when you can feel Namjoon’s eyes on you the entire time you are returning your date’s gaze.

“Thank you,” you whisper to him. Yet Yoongi breaks the moment when he kisses the back of your hand then turns away, instructing the waiter about the order while making sure that everything is set in place.

You dread the fact that you have no other distraction but the silent gestures from the waiter. Though you are glad to have the waiter taking his time to give you a chance to breathe, you still feel a bit restless, overwhelmed by all the attention that keeps coming from both sides.

You had never thought that you would be in this spot when you had agreed to start seeing Yoongi exclusively aside from all the business matters. You had known then that he had grown dependent on his best friend to help translate his speech while he was dealing with his work, but it must have slipped out of your mind, too deep in your attraction to Yoongi that you completely disregarded the repercussion of your arrangement—that Namjoon would need to be present so the two of you could converse comfortably in your special dates, just like how he had always been there to assist Yoongi in his business meetings as his personal translator.

Never once had it crossed your mind that his presence would bother you so much. You had slowly grown accustomed to him being at Yoongi’s side when you met up with them while working together. You had thought that it wouldn’t be any different if you had him present in your dates.

You have never been more wrong.

Because just as different Yoongi can be outside of the conference room, his best friend would also strip out of his professional mask, showing you what he is like when he isn’t relaying conversations surrounding investments and business expansions. Just like how Yoongi appears more relaxed outside of work, stripping down to his humble and goofy smile while letting his shoulders drop easily, you would find Namjoon joking and laughing more freely unlike the strict way he handles his business.

To make it worse, you would find yourself talking to Namjoon and getting to know him better whenever you have found a chance to. From finding the same interests on trivial things—like art, music, films, even plants—to sharing the same hobby and the same taste in music. It had led you to start seeing him in a different light. The same light that would make a woman fall to a man.

And it would have been better if it had never gone any further.

You had never intended to let it grow, but there is no denying that the attraction you have for Namjoon has been growing rapidly ever since the third or fourth time you had gone into these dates with Yoongi. Sometimes, you would find it coming onto you like intense wave engulfing you when he is near, unbearable and too hard for you to simply ignore. Other times, it comes subtly, just as smoothly as the warmth you feel from being with Yoongi, his presence would be looming on the side to make himself known.

Yoongi’s gentle voice as he speaks to the waiter slowly fades when you can no longer help it and lift your eyes to look across the table. And your breath gets knocked out of your chest almost instantly when you find Namjoon’s eyes locked on you.

Something transpires right the moment your gazes meet each other. It sparks through the air, like an unspoken bond that is completely twisted, and real, and perhaps a bit stronger than what you have shared with Yoongi. Something that is dark and sinful, but would be enough to make you feel more alive, if only you would dare to reach for it.

But you also know that you can never allow it to happen.

You had made your decision, and there is too much at risk to make a mistake now. There are too many things to lose—your heart, everything in your life that you had built for yourself, and your future—if you ever let yourself fall into temptation and if you choose to pursue it.

Something inside you is telling you that perhaps Namjoon could feel all of it too—the pull that is drawing the two of you together and all the reasons why he could never give in. Although you also realise that you may never know what he has in mind, for his deep gaze has never truly shown you anything and he had never given you other sign of his admiration aside from the small tempting smiles that he had been secretly sending you when Yoongi is not looking.

Just like the one he is giving you now.

The gentle sound of the door clicking close, followed by the soft scraping sound of the chair when Yoongi returns to his seat, all snaps you right out of your trance. Within moments, every spark in the air fades, and Yoongi’s presence takes over your senses again.

“Let’s eat, I know you’re hungry,” Yoongi says in words that have no need for any translation. If his voice had surprised you then, it would be nothing compared to what he does next, when he suddenly leans in, pressing his lips gently on yours, as if he is deliberately taking his claim on you right in front of his best friend.

His smile is broad and proud when he finally pulls back, while your face burns with bashfulness and your chest feels warm with his public display of affection that he no longer seems to consider hiding. With a nod, he urges you to eat once more before helping to serve your favourite meal, and the dining room falls into a serene mood where everyone is sharing the meal cordially as if the night is just like any other nights.

You are grateful that you have the marvellous dinner to pay attention to, grateful that you never had the chance to see Namjoon’s reaction from the kiss when both men immediately fall into a conversation over the fancy meal and the exquisite wine they are sharing. The picture-perfect scene of this dinner date may be able to hide the winding storm in your thoughts, but you take all that you could have so you could avoid spilling your secrets and ignore the fleeting moment that had just passed between you and Namjoon.

The only thing you can hope for now is that you would be able to survive the night completely unscathed, that you would leave here without having anyone’s heart getting bruised and broken, even if the secrets you are carrying is bleeding you from the inside.

This is torture, you quickly realise as the night carries on and Yoongi still insists to spend more time with you.

“It’s my turn to take a leave,” he had briefly told you at the end of the dinner, right before he invited you and Namjoon to have some drinks at the private bar downstairs after dessert. “I am forced to go on a business trip. I’ll leave on Monday, and this would be a longer period of traveling as I am going to be away for nearly a month. Though I hope that I can make it less and not more.”

You had turned to Namjoon on purpose this time, watching him nodding his head as he translated every word that Yoongi had given you, confirming them to be true.

“We’ve only met tonight. Do I not have another chance to see you before you leave?” you had immediately complained to Yoongi, dreading the thought that you would have to part ways again so soon.

“I’m afraid not,” he said, his words were once again relayed to you through Namjoon, though you could still see his remorse in his eyes when he had spoken. “Which is why I want to stay a bit longer so I can have more time with you tonight.”

And you had agreed.

If only you could ask him to spare you from sharing a room with Namjoon during the extended period of time.

It had been easier when your meetings and dates with Yoongi had been short or when you didn’t have to be in the same room only with both of them together. You had thought that leaving Seoul would have helped clarify your thoughts, to give you a chance to let this silly attraction to the man you are not supposed to care too deeply about to dwindle. But here you are now, feeling like you are being torn apart as you cannot stop the electric sparks that keep surging through your skin from each accidental brush you feel against Namjoon’s arm or the way his deep gaze sends you fidgeting in your seat.

You are completely lost to know just what to do, when your heart gravitates toward Yoongi, yet your body is reacting to every part of him, humming and screaming with pure desire even without him touching you.

You have no idea just how the desire and these sinful thoughts of him keep appearing inside your head whenever Namjoon is around. The desire you feel for him keeps coming to you in images of the things you want him to do to you, and you can only wonder how it has come to be when they all appear like flashes of memories instead of simply random imagination filling your head. Has your brain totally lost it that it simply begins creating a realistic image of Namjoon in a completely different manner than the one side of him that you had grown accustomed to?

When you see his long fingers, you suddenly see an image of him running them up your thighs, tracing your skin and rising goosebumps in its wake. You see him touching you between your legs, creating friction against your center that would be enough to send you shuddering in pure bliss. You can see him gripping your flesh while he entraps you in his heat, pressing you against him while you rock in pleasure, the same pleasure that he would have been able to bring to your body through his touches.

When he talks, every fibre of your being vibrates the same way they would if he had whispered his words up close, right against your skin. You would close your eyes and feel his warm breath, his lips ghosting on your neck with each whisper, teasing you with barely-there kisses that would be enough to send your body humming, craving for more.

You have been seeing these images of the two of you together not only when you are awake and looking at him after a few drinks in the same way you are now, but also at night, whenever you are asleep.

You cannot remember how it started, but he had been coming into your dreams. It would always start the same way, by finding yourself in a dark room, your back pressed to a wall, while he towers over you, trapping you between the wallpaper covered wall and his broad chest. His smug and confident smile would be on his face as he comes to you, but it would be you who pulls him close, until your bodies collide with each other in a fiery embrace, hands reaching out to graze every part of uncovered skin you could touch, lips tracing trails of hot kisses and love bites that would bring out the fire inside your core to the surface.

In your dreams, you see yourself riding him to pleasure, his hands guiding you as you erupt into a blissful release, his lips latching onto your pulse before taking your perky breasts into his mouth.

The dreams have always felt so real that you would always wake up in the morning with your core clenching tight, pulsing with the contained release, while your panties would soil with your arousal. You would always feel the ghosts of his touch while you are lying down in your bed, while your head is spinning with the wave of desire that remains, your chest heaving breathlessly as you calm the rapid pace of your heartbeat and the flushing heat burning on your skin where Namjoon had touched you in your dreams.

Your whole body shudders as the memories of your lewd dreams come swarming inside your head. A warm, strong hand comes around you, pulling you into a calming warmth to bring you back to the present.

“Cold?” Yoongi asks you as he looks at you with a concerned look on his face, making it hard for you to breathe when the guilt becomes too much. The guilt you feel from hiding these sinful thoughts that you have for another man and the temptation that comes with it.

“Not really,” you answer him sheepishly, though you don’t stop yourself from leaning into his warmth. Yoongi surprises you when he pulls back, only to wrap the jacket that he had discarded off of himself earlier over your shoulders.

Your eyes are lifted, turning to the man who is sitting right across from you while Yoongi helps you with the jacket, and the calmness you feel instantly fades. Your breath gets caught in your throat when you are met with Namjoon’s eyes.

A dark shadow curtains his eyes as he watches you. No words are spoken, and his lips are covered by the rim of the glass that he is drinking from. But you can feel it, the wave of tension that comes rolling out of his shoulders, a flame of rage comes flashing from his gaze.

You refuse to believe that they are all meant for you, that he feels any certain jealousy from the way your lover is treating you. You refuse to believe that perhaps he feels the same to what you are feeling for him.

And you refuse to find out the answer. Because if you ever find any inkling of his attraction to you, it would only make it harder for you to ignore this, to pay no heed to the way your body is humming with pleasure and glee under his attention, and to walk away from the intense attraction you have for him that just keeps on building stronger no matter how hard you have tried to stop it.

“Remember to text, call, video call, everything, just don’t go silent on me and contact me or give me news whenever you have a chance to.”

Yoongi’s lips turn to a smile when he answers, “I promise.”

“And please remember to take care of yourself. Remind Namjoon and your assistant to make sure you wouldn’t miss your meals and that you would take breaks when you need to.”

“I will,” he says with a chuckle.

You are standing right in front of your apartment building, still wrapped in Yoongi’s arms as both of you are finding it hard to let go before he would have to leave. You try to hold him back as much as you possibly could, making sure that you have the chance to say all the things that you want him to remember.

Moments like this one had been rare, where you have him for yourself as much as you are for him, so you try to embrace it before you would let him go for the night. Being in his arms, with his gentle voice whispering his small promises and his lips brushing kisses all over your face, the thought of the man now sitting in Yoongi’s car to wait for him has effectively left your thoughts.

Namjoon must have decided to give Yoongi a chance to be alone with you, to allow his best friend to relish on this moment while he still can. And there is no need for him to be here to assist Yoongi anyway when you are the one who does all the talking while Yoongi listens to you with an amused look on his face.

Because his problem had never been about not being able to understand your speech, but only because he had no confidence in speaking it as he had no proper practice on his English in the past.

“I’m going to miss you a lot while you’re away,” you whisper to Yoongi while cupping his face with your palms, wanting to memorise his smile to last for the whole month he will be gone.

“Me too,” Yoongi whispers. “I still do.”

When there are no more words that could be shared between you, Yoongi leans in, kissing your lips more properly, just the way you had been expecting him to. His lips come crushing on yours passionately. His tongue sweeps across your mouth before slipping between the seams, drawing your moan as he deepens the kiss.

“I’ll be waiting for you to come home,” you whisper breathlessly when he pulls apart.

His lips curl to a lazy smile from hearing your words, before he responds to you in his mother tongue by saying, “And I’ll be waiting for the moment when I’ll return to your arms.”

There is no need for a translation when you can feel his sincerity. You can even see it in his eyes. And the limited knowledge of his language that you have started learning in secret for the past month is just enough to help you understand what he is trying to say.

After giving you one final kiss, Yoongi finally lets you go and turns to his car. You remain standing on the steps to your building, watching his car as it drives away with Yoongi inside, until its tail disappears down the block.

One month.

A month would be an ample enough time for you to do everything that needs to be done, to get things sorted out before it would be too late. The news about his departure may have shocked you earlier, but then you began to find some resolve in the situation that may help fix things.

At one point during the date you had with Yoongi, you have decided that you are going to use the time he is away to figure out what these feelings you have been hiding even mean. Perhaps you could even use the time to learn more about Yoongi’s native language more thoroughly and to get acclimated to it.

Perhaps by then, you would be able to speak to your lover more fluently and he would no longer need Namjoon by his side whenever he wants to be with you.

Perhaps by then, your treacherous heart would stop longing for the one who is completely untouchable, completely forbidden for you to have and to hold.

You know that your determination are hanging by some flimsy threads, but you also know that you can make it. You have to, because every other option you have would only break you into pieces, and you would not be the only one hurting.

Namjoon has been silent during the car ride home. He hadn’t said a thing since the moment the car had driven away from your apartment building.

It helps that Yoongi has been distracted by his phone call to notice the change in his mood, too busy in making last minute arrangements to make sure that everything would be in place before he takes off from Seoul next Monday. Looking out the window, Namjoon keeps his clenched hand hidden from Yoongi’s sight. He has had his nails buried into his skin ever since he watched Yoongi parting ways with you earlier, taking his sweet time to embrace your warmth, to kiss your soft skin, to breathe in your essence—

As the memory fills his head, Namjoon finds that not only is his hand has grown tight, but also his jaw as he clenches his teeth. He can never understand just how these conflicting emotions that he has been feeling had started to grow and exactly what he is supposed to do about it. Yoongi is not only his business partner, but also his best friend, his companion for life, and he was supposed to only feel nothing but respect to you as Yoongi’s current girlfriend.

Then why is he feeling this way? Why does his chest feel so constricted when he saw the way you were smiling to Yoongi when he kissed you, or when he saw those glassy eyes staring at Yoongi’s back when he left?

He is so lost in his wandering thoughts, in the questions swimming inside his head, that he fails to notice that Yoongi had ended the call until he speaks.

“Hey, Namjoon? I want to ask you something,” he hears his friend asking, sending his heart pacing rapidly in his chest.

He tries the best he could to keep himself calm when he turns to his friend. “Yeah, what’s up?”

Yoongi looks out the window while sighing deeply, and Namjoon grows tense in his seat. Does he know? What does he know? What—

Every thought disappears when Yoongi finally turns to look at him, smiling sheepishly when he finally asks, “I was wondering if you could help me with something.”

Namjoon almost stutters when he asks, “Help with what?”

“My English?” Yoongi chuckles. “You know I’ve been learning and practising, but I figured you could help teach me how to speak more fluently and way faster rather than if I continue taking those online classes.”

“You need me to teach you to speak English?” Namjoon finds himself asking. “What do you mean?”

Yoongi looks conflicted for a moment before he sighs. “During this trip, I’d like you to force me to continue to speak in English so I can get used to it. Help me speak on my own during the meetings. We’ll also have some spare time between working, so maybe we can practice then too.”

Namjoon feels the urge to laugh. He cannot believe what he is hearing, though he probably should have expected for this moment to come. “It’s just so you won’t need me again, huh?” he asks. “You’re really going to improve your English speech for her?”

Yoongi merely shrugs then looks away, no doubt hiding a shy smile. “I would have to, if I want to take things further. I can’t exactly drag you into our bedroom when we need some time alone, do you? Or what, not speak at all while I make love to her?”

Namjoon swallows hard. His chest suddenly feels even tighter that he feels like he is losing the ability to breathe. “You’re getting serious with her,” he blurts out his thoughts before he could stop himself. And he doesn’t stop there. “I thought the only purpose you had when you pursued her was only to make sure that the investment and merger between your business and her franchise would fall through, to simply smooth things out until it happens. When did this ever change?”

Yoongi shakes his head. “Honestly, I really have no idea. You’re right, at first I only wanted to make sure that I’ll be on her good side until things would fall in my favour. But I had also asked her out because I liked her, aside from the business deals and wanting to get closer to her. I had known for sure that she shares the same notion when she agreed to date me. I didn’t expect to have my feelings grow into anything more, but—” he stops, and the smile that appears on his face feels like a knife being pierced through Namjoon’s chest, while the words that come out next feels as if his best friend is deliberately twisting that knife even deeper. “Yes, I want to see where this would lead. I’ll talk to her about our relationship and ask her to be my steady girlfriend the moment we get back from this trip, maybe talk about a possible future for us. A future that has nothing to do with work.”

Namjoon finds himself speechless. Yoongi’s confession has been completely unexpected that he finds no word to say.

“I’m happy for you,” Namjoon finally says once he has gotten himself together. Behind his smile, there is a genuine happiness that he feels for watching his friend gathering the courage to be able to gain what he wants, and a trace of bitterness for losing something that he had secretly longed for. “If she says yes to going further with the relationship. Alright, I’ll help you in any way I could.”

Yoongi’s smile widens with relief plastered all over his face. “Thanks, man. I knew I’d have your back.”

Nodding his head, Namjoon chooses to stay silent and simply gives his friend an encouraging smile. Yoongi’s phone rings right before the air between them grows awkward with tension, giving a chance to Namjoon to look away as Yoongi answers the call.

Looking out the window, Namjoon lifts his fingers to his lips, tracing the tips of his fingers along his own bottom lip. He always finds himself searching for each invisible trace that only he could feel each time he starts longing for a time in the past which he could never come back to.

He could still taste how sweet your lips when he kissed you, how soft they felt when he nibbled your lips between his teeth until they grew swollen. He could still remember the soft scent of your perfume when he closes his eyes and breathes in, and how your pulse felt under his kiss when he pressed his lips at exactly the right spot. But most importantly, he could still hear the soft sounds you made when he managed to find all your sensitive spot and when his delicate touches had come at all the right moments.

He shouldn’t be doing this. He shouldn’t have even kept this memory for so long. But that one night will forever linger in his mind even if he feels like a devil for keeping all of this to himself.

It was a night full of mistakes. A night that was filled with all the sins and secrets that he would forever keep hidden and all the mistakes that he should never return to. And yet, erasing every memory he had about that night would be the last thing he has in mind. Especially now, knowing that Yoongi has no plan in letting you go.

He shouldn’t have stayed for the drinks when he joined you and Yoongi on the party that night, but he did, simply because he knew that Yoongi would need his help if he wanted to speak with you and simply because he was not ready to part ways with you when you had looked so beautiful in your fancy dress. He should have said no when Yoongi had asked him to join you on your ride home to make sure that you would arrive at your apartment safely when Yoongi was too drunk to take you home and you have had a few glasses of drinks too many.

He knew that he should have left the moment he had dropped you off in front of your building, but your grateful smile and the way you were swaying on your feet lured him back to your side.

The next thing he knew, he was walking you up to your floor with you clinging on his side as he walked you down the hallway to your apartment. The next thing he knew, he was stumbling into your warm home, being pulled into your arms when he still refused to let you go. And then he was pressing you against the wall, his lips were tracing down the column of your throat while your fingers were entangled in his hair, pulling him tightly into you to stop him from pulling away.

He was so lost in your warmth that he couldn’t stop kissing you, he couldn’t stop tasting your skin and taking your sweet lips in his, and he continued breathing in your sweet scent that had lingered in his memory even after months had passed. He was so lost in your touch and in the sound of your moans that he did nothing to stop it when his thigh found its way between your legs, when you began pressing and grinding your covered heat up and down his toned muscles until your whole body shuddered in pleasure, all while you were rubbing your palm against his covered bulge, rubbing him one until he came near to soiling his own pants with his release.

“You are so beautiful, ______,” he had whispered to you then, right before he leaned down, snapping the top of your dress to the side just so he could capture your hardened nipple between his lips.

“Namjoon, that feels so good,” he heard you moan as you arched your body towards him, urging him to take more, before you gave him what he had needed the most.

Whenever he closes his eyes, he would rewind every single moment from that night as he still remembers every part of it as if they had only happened minutes ago. He remembers how your body moved so wantonly, rubbing your covered center harder against his thigh while you reached down, pulling his zipper down with your dainty fingers and freeing his cock from its final restraint. He remembers how your small hand was wrapped around his girth, stroking him in the same rapid pace your hips were moving against him, how his fingers reached down between your legs until he could feel your covered clit, where he had then begun to rub in circles, tempting you again and again, pushing you towards the edge of your limits until you were coming into your panties and he was spilling his release all over your pretty dress.

The only thing that Namjoon hated from that night was how he had only stopped himself from burying his cock deep into your heat when he looked into your eyes and saw what had transpired in them when your gazes met.

Guilt.

The same guilt that immediately burned his chest from the betrayal that he had done, the betrayal that he had shared with you. The guilt had trampled the pleasure still rushing through his body when he realised that he was touching you and sending you to pleasure while his best friend was lying in his bed, clueless, after he had put his trust on your safety completely in his hands.

The scent of his desire mixing with yours still permeated in the air when he carried you to your bedroom and tucked you in your warm bed. His chest was still tight with his rapid heartbeat and the remaining surges of his climax when he watched you slowly falling asleep. And you were deep in your sleep, whispering Yoongi’s name in your soft moans when he turned and walked out of your apartment, leaving you wrapped under your blanket with only a glass of water and some pills accompanying you right beside your bed.

He knows that he should never give in and shatter all the fragile threads that are holding him together and holding him back from pursuing something that is completely forbidden for him to take.

In his silence, Namjoon promises to himself that he will do everything he could to help his best friend, before he would walk away, leaving behind everything—every sin, temptation, every guilt—while keeping this secret down to his grave.

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