#tried my best to show different facial features

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studying is hard.. i hope they look at least ok

[silkentine]

Me when they are the sisters ever: 😭😭😭 They came out soooo freaking well. I won’t lie, they took me a thousand years to finish but through the constant support from all of my buds (and my latent bisexuality), we made it 😤

Hopefully you guys know the deal by now: design choices, easter eggs, and (NEW!) closeup shots below the read more. ⬇️

I wanted Ace to have a very down-to-earth vibe and looked at Aussie beach-girls, coastal cowgirls, and vaqueras for reference. (IDK, I’ve just always envisioned Ace as part-Australian🌺 and Mexican 🏴‍☠️) Her clothing choices are mostly natural or utilitarian materials like the painted wooden beads on her top, her woven fabric and leather belts, and her denim jumpsuit. I gave her bikini top a zen-garden kind of feel because I read the first Ace’s Story Novel and I loved how idyllic and peaceful they made Sixis Island sound so I wanted to invoke that in some way.

Speaking of her painted wooden beads, they hang off the back of her top and represent her connection to Sabo and Luffy. They watch her back once she sets sail. She only wears one red glass bead earring because the other one got ripped out of her ear when a child, leaving her earlobe torn (don’t think about it too much 😢). Also, YES! she does wear a hibiscus flower just like Rouge (because I hate you and I want to make you cry, muhwahahahaha).

Also, I really wanted her to have super textured curly hair that licks behind her like flames. I am always considering whether or not a character should have long hair or not because I don’t want it to be a hindrance if they’re in a fight (or if they ARE a fighter with long hair, how to they avoid an enemy making use of that?). Ace is, of course, a Logia-type Devil Fruit User so I think she wouldn’t have trouble with people grabbing it LOL I get the feeling that she doesn’t take very good care of it even though it looks amazing. Like you’d think it would be soft and bouncy just by looking at it but if you ever get the chance to run your fingers through it, it’s a total rat’s nest and there’s sand and food all up in it. She still falls asleep while eating 😂 but she tries her best to only do it around people she can trust (woman moment 😔).

Honestly, her design is not that different from Ace’s canon look. It feels really vital to Ace’s character to have a lot of skin showing. And he’s always hanging all over himself with his hips all cocked like the weight of the world is too much to stand up straight. It is certainly not my OWN preference to make her an absolute smoke show. That’s just the character, okay? (I’m partially lying and the proof is that I turned the emblem on Ace’s hat strap into a sternum tattoo for no other reason than that it is sexy af.)

Here are some closeups of Ace:

Now for Sabo, I’ve made her very girly. I tried putting her in pants or something more militant but she told me that she’d wear the big poofy sleeves and hiked-up ruffled skirt. I think Sabo has always had a strong grasp on his fashion sense and individual flair and I truly believe that his personal style is one of the major influences for the rest of the Revolutionary Army resulting in the very flashy, queer, steampunk aesthetic (aside from Dragon’s plain-ass cloak). So of course I had to implement her nonconformist look when reimagining her as a woman and dress her up to the nines.

I’ve given her very ornate jewelry that is there to tell a story, even if she herself doesn’t know it. I like to think she picks up stuff from her travels that resonate with her, such as a damaged set of earrings with one stone missing or red cup-shaped shells featuring three nestled pearls. Another accessory that cannot go unmentioned is her dragon claw hat pin that keeps her top hat resting on top of her hair (and is definitely used as a weapon when the situation simply doesn’t call for trusty metal pipe). She also has a veil that obscures her prominent facial scar. I imagine she’s not very keen on the reminder of the incident from her childhood that took away her memories. I also kept her chipped toothed because 1) it’s fucking adorable and 2) is a visual reminder that she no longer aligns herself with the nobility who would have gotten such a thing fixed. She is so poised in almost every outward facet of her life from her dignified role as the Chief of Staff to the elegant materials in her clothing that it can be easy to forget she was also a rough and tumble forest dweller. Every time Koala remembers this, he lets out the biggest sigh.

Her hair is inspired by Gibson Girls and Elizabeth Swann from the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie. I wanted it to be fussy and tidy but fall apart when she’s in moments of distress. For example, when she remembers her sisters, her hair starts to look like Ace’s flaming mane. I’m so in love with her, I think she looks like an adorable little porcelain doll that would fuck you up. I made an effort to keep her eyes a little bit manic. I get lost in her steely black orbs (and also Ace’s warm brown ones, but we’re talking about Sabo rn).

Here are her close-ups:

Plot notes for this AU:

For this series of character designs, I wanted the expressions and outfits to be aligned with the canon plot but I don’t know if I have the heart to kill fem!Ace in my AU. I’m too attached and ASL has suffered enough!!!!! But Ace’s death is also a major defining moment for Luffy so it feels disingenuous to completely avoid it. Also a huge aspect of Sabo’s character is carrying on Ace’s will and I have so many thoughts about how the Dressrosa Colosseum scene would play out if they were all women. Oh well, I’ll cross that tragic bridge when I get to it. I’m definitely going to draw some Modern AU Girl Piece ASL though. They deserve to hang out with no stakes 😭 They are sisters!!!

Check out the tag “girl piece” on my blog for my other One Piece genderbends! 🥰

[emsprovisions]

Hello y’all! Happy Wednesday! Here’s more from top secret au 🖤

Carlos’s face softens at that. “Iris was…unlike anyone else I’d ever met before. Like I said, she was my best friend. But it was more than that, it’s like she really saw me and never cared about all the things I saw wrong with myself. She was always blunt, always funny. She always got what she wanted. She actually proposed to me. She was a couple grades older than me in high school and for my eighteenth birthday, she smuggled this whole bottle of tequila out of her sister’s liquor cabinet, barely twenty herself. We got drunk and she said we should get married and it just made sense.”

Carlos shakes his head, a small smile at the distant memory passing over his face. TK watches him, studying his facial features and taking notes, writing down questions that pop up in his mind. 

“When we moved in together, she had this set of cat figurines. She was obsessed with them, but I always thought they were kind of creepy. But Iris was like that. She liked eclectic things. Her boyfriend is a school teacher, and other than him, as far as I know, she mostly hung around with the people she worked with,” Carlos pauses as he thinks. “Though, there were some people when she was first showing signs of schizophrenia that were a little different than her usual crowd.”

“Different in what way?” TK asks.

Carlos furrows his brows as he tries to remember old details that had clearly never been relevant to the case before. “People with criminal records.”

“Do you remember any names?”

“I don’t, I’m sorry,” Carlos frowns. “I looked into them back in the day but it was when Iris wasn’t talking to me. I only knew she had these friends because of Michelle and Facebook. I seriously doubt they’re part of this, but I can try to find their names before I get off my shift, if you still want me to come over tonight, I mean.”

“Yes,” TK nods. “That would be great, Carlos.”

At that precise moment, Carlos’s radio chirps to life, calling for all officers in the area to report to a scene at Sixth Street. 

He winces and gives TK an apologetic smile. “And that’s my cue to leave. I get off at nine, is that okay?” 

“That’s fine,” TK nods. “I’ll be up late working anyways and my roommate will be at work. I’ll text you my address.”

“Looking forward to it,” Carlos grins. 

Thank you for the tags @ironheartwriter @heartstringsduet @eclectic-sassycoweyes @whatsintheboxmh @nisbanisba @strandnreyes @lemonlyman-dotcom @carlos-in-glasses 🖤

No pressure tags @lightningboltreader @reyesstrand @tellmegoodbye @chicgeekgirl89 @welcometololaland @bonheur-cafe @decafdino @captain-gillian @paperstorm @alrightbuckaroo @butchreyes @cold-blooded-jelly-doughnut @corsage @firstprince-history-huh +Open 🏷️

[starriislxt]

໒ — YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL

hobie brown x afab!reader | duration: 1.0k

description: not being able to find jeans that can fit you, you start to feel down about yourself so hobie cheers you up with encouraging words and loving touches.

warnings: minors and ageless blogs do not interact! | sfw, hurt/comfort, a bit suggestive, insecurity, mention of losing weight + fluffy ending.

notes: before this account, i had an acc called spidersthetic and i ended up deactivating it, so i can start a new one since i wanted to do other fandoms. this was my first ever fic on hobie that was based on a request and i hope you guys like it.

masterlist 𐙚 previous fic 𐙚 taglist

You were excited, your shipment from shein just arrived and you were happy because you have been meaning to update your wardrobe for a while now. You wanted to find a pair of jeans that would be comfortable on you since the ones in the store never fit you. You were going to just give up but decided to give it another try by ordering online. Hobie was downstairs in the living room so he can rate your outfits.

You rip open the packages and take out all the clothes that were in them, you try on the new shirt and jacket first and make your way down to show him thinking how cute they looked on you.

When you enter the living room, you see Hobie sitting on the couch, manspreading as he scrolled through his phone. When he sees you coming, he puts his phone down and gives you his undivided attention. “What do you think, babe?” you said as you did a little spin for him and a grin appears on his face.

“It looks really good on you love, hell it would look even good on the ground,” he smirked and you playfully rolled your eyes as your cheeks heated up at what he was insinuating. “Hobes, be serious,” you playfully smack his arm and he lets out a chuckle. “I’m being serious,” he says as he takes your hand and kisses your palm making you smile. “Alright, I got many others to try on and show you,” you say as you retract your hand away from him and head back upstairs. “I can’t wait to see them all.” 

You tried on more tops that you weren’t sure were going to fit you when you first saw them on the website but ended up fitting perfectly, you modeled a few to Hobie who loved them as well, you were pretty happy but it was now time to try on the jeans. You were very pretty nervous since it was so hard to find jeans that would fit you because of the thick thighs you had. 

You open up one of the plastics that hold the jeans, take it out of the bag, and unfold, unbutton, and unzip it, taking a deep breath before putting one foot in follow by your other foot. “Please fit me…” you plead to yourself as you pull it up but your pleading went on deaf ears after the jeans couldn’t go past your thighs which you let out a groan as you roll your eyes. 

“No no it’s okay, we prepared for this,” you take the jeans off and put them aside on the bed and get another pair of jeans that you had ordered, You thought it was best to buy a couple in different sizes to try out which size can fit you, one had to fit you, right?

Hobie scrolls through his phone, laughing at what some of his friends posted but comes to the realization that you haven’t left the bedroom in a while to show him more of the clothes you bought. He puts down his phone and stands up as his facial features took on a worried expression thinking something bad happened and that’s why he hasn’t heard from you. 

He knocks on the bedroom door before entering after hearing a soft ‘come in’ was heard, when he walks in, he sees you at the end of the bed pouting and sulking. “What’s wrong, love?” he questions as he walks closer to you noticing how your gaze was focus on the floor so he sits on the ground in front of you so your gaze would meet his. “I tried on every pair of jeans I bought and none of them fit me,” you mumble as you lazily point to the pile of jeans you now have to send back. 

You grip your thighs a bit as you break eye contact with him and look somewhere else, “I can’t find a size that will fit past my thighs, maybe…,” You let out a breath you've been holding in. “I should start losing weight,” Hobie gaze softens at the words you spoke about yourself, in his eyes every part of you was perfect, you never needed to change a thing about yourself so there was no way he was going to let you talk bad about yourself. 

He straightens his legs out and pulls you onto his lap so you’re straddling him, he softly rubs your thighs, and when you focus your gaze on his chest he takes his hand to your chin using his index and point finger to softly move your head up to connect his eyes with yours. “I don't ever want you to change yourself, every part of you is beautiful,” he says as he continues to rub your thighs, never taking eye contact off of you. 

“Don’t worry about the jeans, they’re just clothes, you have other options,” he picks up the rest of the plastic bags that were untouch and held shorts and skirts in them. “How about you try these on?” he question. “What if-” 

“No, what ifs, I know they will fit you perfectly,” he kisses your forehead, earning a smile spread across your face. You get up and take one of the bags from him that held a pretty skirt, you take it out of the plastic bag and try it on. Just like Hobie said it fits you really well and you smile as you look at him you model a few poses and do a spin for him while thinking how cute it looks on you. 

“What do you think?” Hobie was too shock to speak, he of course thought it looked cute on you, and like he said it fit you really well, it brought out your shape and hugged you in the right places. The thing he love most was seeing how your eyes lit up and a big smile on your face as you model for himl, he knew all you needed was a push, ”You look beautiful as always, love.” 

Hobie gets up from where he sat and quickly walks over to you, pulling you closer to him as his hands travel from your hips to your ass, giving it a squeeze before he starts softly rubbing it and you lean more into his touch. “Thank you, I love you,” you softly spoke. “I love you more, you’ll always be beautiful in my eyes, don’t forget that.”

end of video. — all rights reserved © starriislxt 2024. do not copy, repost, translate & recommend elsewhere.

[kyoness]

Blue is the color of sorrow

Chapter 1 of a silent cry

(First story, don’t be mean but tips are 100% appreciated)

Since Gojo heard the news about Suguru he seemed.... Different. Sure, he did still have that annoying,cheerful presence you knew. But, When no one was looking you noticed how he would space out. His baby blue eyes glowed in sadness behind his sunglasses, unable to show any sad emotion. They laid almost limp against his pale skin. You've always been able to read people amazingly, even without your cursed technique which allows you to see how people are feeling if you look at them directly in the eyes. Pretty useless in a fight.

The reason you were watching him from afar was because you've been trying to muster up the courage to talk to him. You guys weren't friends, you two never interacted other than some small talk here and there before everything happened.  You only knew Suguru. But now? You couldn't say anything to gojo, I mean what would you say? He's already heard "I'm sorry" or "I understand" no though, nobody understood him. You saw that look of loneliness in his sorrowed eyes. Honestly, neither could you, but for some reason a part of you wanted to try. Why?

it was probably because growing up, you've always served people, you tired to understand, to listen, to see. It's also because You admired him, everyone did, After all he was the strongest. And yea, you admired the strongest but the way Satoru Gojo held himself high and tried to be okay, Or the way he cared for his students. If his students and him didn't have such opposite facial features you would mistake them for siblings for the way Gojo treated them. When you would stop by to drop off some papers, the annoyed glances his students gave him made you giggle. even so if you just looked a little closer at their eyes, you knew they cared for him too.

he'll get through it, he's strong. You don't need to try to console him, he'll just brush you off like he's done to everyone else. After all, you two weren't close anyways, why would he?

Oh. My. God. It got worse, so much worse. Not only was Suguru dead, your friend. Gojo had to kill him. You wouldn't even be able to tell Gojo killed his best friend from how cheerful he was being. It was all fake tho, you knew even with the bandages that now covered his eyes. Again, you were still good at reading people without your technique. It wasn't untill when you two ran into eachother in the hallway, his bandages teared down from his face exposing his eyes. That upsetting light blue that dwelled in his eyes reconstructed into a dull, numb, grayish blue.

"My bad!" He cheered as he picked up his bandages along with your papers. He wrapped his almost spotless bandages around his head, giving you an over exaggerated thumbs up and walking away.

Say something! Ask him if he's okay! Try to see him, understand him!

"Gojo!" You shout almost desperate, trying not to cringe at yourself.

"hm?" He smirked as he turned around to look at you, tilting his head to his side.

"I um.. are- why do you use those bandages now?"  You faltered. You didn't mean to ask him that, why can't you just say it?

Were you afraid of him rejecting you trying to help? That he would find you annoying, not wanting you to help him? Yea you admired him, but not to this extent to be this crazed about it. Why were you so troubled about satoru gojo? A man you've never had a true conversation with.

He pauses, you can feel his stare through the wrap he wears. "Oh!" "It's easier for me to control my technique when I cover my eyes" he brightly remarked, bringing his finger to his covered eyes pointing at them excessively.

You smile plainly at him with a nod, not even trying to seem genuine.

"Okay Gojo" you upsettingly state, slowly turning away from him and walking away.

[violetevermore24]

A Different Pride

So this fic took longer than expected. I tried my best to write Cero here and probably failed miserably at it /lh. This is mainly because it's the first time I wrote an egotistical prick like Cero.

I tried to draw the two for this because why not? Plus it's fun to draw Cero ngl, even if it was a bit challenging.

The sour grape, Cero and Reiba belongs to @eldritch-spouse. Please support the amazing artist/writer, she deserves it for making me interested and simp for her characters! 😄

CW: Mentions of Forced Marriage; Cero is his own warning; Toxic relationship; Mention of Egg-preg; Choking

Heavy footsteps of the Queen of Pride echoed the hallways with the team of imp servants scuttering about and dutifully fulfilling their roles. His towering body felt like an intimidating giant in comparison, one that radiates respect and coldness, fitting for his role as a ruler. The additional permanent aloofness only serves to support it. He didn’t even need to use his sharp violet eyes to know that his presence made the servants’ bodies tense up like statues despite working for him for several months, which was understandable given their King has the patience of a spoiled toddler and the Queen has the aura that screams ‘Test my patience and you will regret it’. 

Everyone in the mansion could tell that there was tension between the royal couple, but none dared to say a peep.

Lucian, a name he gave himself for centuries, has long blonde hair tied to the back - showing his smooth square face and forced to wear a face-cringing and stuffy suit in purple and black to match his husband. It was one he hated wearing from the amount of sweat he’d accumulated within the past few hours, and being in a hot environment like Hell doesn’t help. 

The purple scales on his hand and arms itched with the temptation to lull him into scratching it. It took all of his willpower to reign himself on an imaginary leash so he wouldn’t try ripping off his clothes just to feel a semblance of coolness brushing through his muscular body. If he did that, Cero would be popping more veins than Lucian growing more strands of grey hair, and while the image was enticing, another round of unnecessary tantrums made him mentally shove it into the depths of his mind.

Quiet frankly, the existence of Cero being the King of Pride was an indirect mockery to Lucian who he considers himself to embody the sin. So much so, that he wants the world to smite the pale demon on his behalf. 

The long and wide hallway of the mansion was dawned in hues of purple and black, in contrast to Lucian’s castle that’s in white and purple. The expensive and high-quality pieces of furniture and decorations in every corner and inch of the place would make any lower class cry in awe. 

The walls hung the many paintings of the King with his familiar yet disgusting arrogance and sharp facial features that reflected the Pride Ring it represented. The dreaded atmosphere lingered on those braved enough to walk into its unwelcoming embrace that threatened to suffocate you of all your worth.

Always striving for perfection, was what Lucian can describe as his asshole of a husband. He could hardly remember how many times he wanted to knock Cero’s ego down a peg over the course of their marriage. Hell, he sometimes thought of railing him to submissiveness every time he opened his mouth, no matter how much the idea made him grimace. The fucking demon is really edging him this far. It’s almost impressive.

He had no one but himself to blame for his predicament. His cold heart thumped when Cero showed him the contract, albeit a corrupted one, but a good one nonetheless. The way he holds himself. The way he explains the process of the contract, simultaneously expresses his pride for his skills and intelligence. It was the ideal courtship he imagined, minus the kidnapping, and he fell hard for it. Even if he didn’t, it wasn’t like he had any other choice. From what he learned, Icons of Hell are forces that shouldn’t be trifled with, and he could get severely injured in the process. Even if he did won, he had to crawl himself out of Hell and getting more injured from other demons. Whether they care about the death of the Icon of Pride or not is up in the air and Lucian won't take his chances.

Because of these raging fantasies that will lead to his ending, his footsteps quicken to speed walking pace towards the library, causing many of the passing servants to sweat drop from the intense aura he emits mixed with his resting bitch face. It’s a sanctuary for him and the one place he can indulge in his hobby while pretending he isn’t stuck in a prison that he can’t escape from. 

For once, he can fantasize a life where he was in a “better” relationship.

With someone who doesn’t say his handmade violet gemstone, an indirect ‘I love you. so. fucking. much’, that it wouldn’t look “perfect” for any artificial trinket. The gall to insinuate a dragon’s gem won’t look magnificent unless it’s turned into a fucking accessory is a personal insult to its creator. Oh if only that demon understood how much he left a crack in his Queen’s heart that day.

Just say my gem is garbage, you fuck. He huffed, brushing his blonde hair back.

Sure, the gem was not perfect, but Lucian had made countless attempts to form his scales into gems in secret for over a month, many of which were wasted because it wasn’t up to his standards, until it was exactly how he wanted to look. All those tiring days to form a singular scale into a suitable gemstone for his mate. Even, the head servant was willing to help keep his project hush-hush from Cero and give her different flavors of puddings for compensation. 

The result was an almost palm-sized, smooth purple gem with slight bumps, shaped like an oval. He vividly remembered how his chest puffed up with pride at his creation.

The failed creations still sat in his personal bedroom drawer to this day as a reminder of his endeavor and that hell forsaken reaction.

A part of his mind reminded him that it was a Pride Demon’s love language, to make everything about them and show little vulnerability, but that went one ear and out the other. 

The cold air seeps through the faint crack of the large door and embraces the newcomer as the door is pushed open and rumbles through the large and grand library, filled with thousands of books and organized into their categories. Cero had demanded that all of the servants ensure that not a single book was misplaced or damaged, lest they want to face the wrath of the Icon. An act that Lucian appreciates, almost made the edges of his lips tug up when no one was looking.

While he scans through the various shelves, one section catches his eyes and widens like saucers. There’s an entire six rows of novels with a hardcover and arranged in their perspective genres. The humanoid dragon didn’t recall ever seeing this new section and he doubted Cero was the kind to read these books, trying to search his already old memories to find answers, until one event came to mind, a complaint that he made to his husband about the lack of novels in the library and got told that his taste in books was god awful. Another petty grudge to hold against him.

The frown turned upside, forming into a genuine, rare, warm smile, forgetting his frustrations with his pompous husband. “You exceeded my expectations once again” He humored himself, as he took a random novel off the shelf and sat near the windowsill, turning to the first page. 

Lucian was already planning out his quality time with Cero in his mind, while simultaneously flipping through the pages and reading the sentences. Maybe he should start creating his second gem. A “perfect” one this time.

A serene ambiance settles into the library that day……

Why does it feel like he forgot something?

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Insecurity is an ugly feeling to have, especially for a proud demon. It will gnaw at them till they do something to prove that little whisper in their heads that whatever degradation it throws their way is completely wrong, a lie that should never be said in the first place. 

Unfortunately, Cero can’t entirely control how his feelings and mind operate. Ever since he successfully made Lucian his Queen with the contract, something he put all his blood, sweat, and tears into despite the haste, and feeling waves of euphoria from the smooth process and his obedient (he isn’t) inamorato following diligently to the lessons he planned out to be a fitting Queen of Pride.

When Lucian gifted him the gemstone he put equal blood, sweat, and tears into that Cero’s ego was stroked into a disgusting smarmy smile and chest puffed up to an obnoxious degree. Heck, he even kept the gemstone in a separate safe after admiring it like a love-struck teenager whose crush just gave him a love letter.

While he wished it was better quality, the fact his inamorato offered him physical proof of his race’s eternal love - after a lot of painful waiting on the demon’s side, was good enough. Shame, he missed the flash of hurt and anger that came when the pallid demon expressed how his lovely gem wouldn’t be fitting for any accessories. Apart from their soon-to-be new wedding rings.

He wanted to return that affection, but no matter what he does, no matter how much he shows off his talent, intelligence, and his monologue about how ‘he must be lucky to have him as his husband and King and saving him from that pig’s pen of a home’. Going as far as showing his much softer side to the stubborn dragon, yet he couldn’t make a dent in his Queen’s stubborn walls. It was as if he expected something from him but didn’t know what it is.

What is wrong with him? Is it part of the courtship? Why isn’t he giving his King his usual physical touch? The soft gazes? The genuine adoration? Why is he trying so damn hard to not show it!? Whirlwinds of countless questions without answers were eating the demon alive.

Cero’s sharp claw of his index finger taps away at his forearm, filling the halls with his frustrations that threaten to explode. 

Poor Reiba is standing near him like a deer in headlights, being careful with her pose and speech lest she wants to be ripped in half in this minefield. She was also confused why the Queen grew distant from Cero, but she figured it must’ve been a cultural difference or a miscommunication.

The door to the library was left slightly ajar, and only one person would do it. 

The cold air from the room made the pallid demon shudder, regretting ever implementing the cold stones into the library so his inamorato wouldn’t melt into a pathetic puddle while he was reading. “That idiot is still doing this?! How many times do I need to drill it into his pathetic excuse of a memory until he understands?!” 

Various images of how he will discipline his dumb Queen. Ranging from whipping to overstimulating till the dragon begged for him to stop with big fat tears. It caused his shaft to almost slip out of his slit at the mere thought of it. How embarrassing. 

The two demons brace themselves with cold resistance magic before entering the library. Cero strides elegantly towards the spot near the windowsill like it was second nature. 

“Is there something you need from me, Cero?” Lucian quips as he raises his head from the book. It’s always amusing to see Cero and Reiba shivering from the cold.

The pallid demon crossed his arms, glared daggers at the dragon, and a scowl plastered his white facade with patches of salmon. “You better have a good reason for leaving the door open again!” Ah here it is, his incessant whining. Classic.

Lucian internally scoffed at it, knowing full well that he did it on purpose to lure him here. Time to flatter him, much to the dragon’s dismay. “I’m so sorry, my beloved King. My carelessness has prevented me from being a worthy Queen to someone as handsome and amazing as you. Is it so wrong of me to wish to see your beautiful eyes and hear your voice that lulls me in like a siren?” He offers a small smile as an extra.

Gods above, he wants to gag and hurl from saying such cheesy lines. He couldn’t believe he stooped this low for self-preservation. 

The silence is all the answers he needs. He could see his chest puff up and a slight flush on his cheeks from his ego being preened. Even though Lucian could be bullshiting every word. 

Once Cero’s mood has been lifted, the dragon sees fit to clear up something. 

The Queen makes a hand gesture for Reiba to leave the two in private, knowing the aftermath could become worse if she stays and he cannot afford to have her get caught in the crossfire. 

The pale imp went still as statue, and glanced to her king for his input. Fortunately, Cero waves his hand to dismiss the head servant. It’s done out of curiosity and intrigue on the demon’s side, as Reiba leaves the library.

Once Lucian is sure that the two are alone, he’s the first to break the silence. “While you’re here, I want to clear a misunderstanding between us”

“A misunderstanding?” Cero raised an eyebrow. Attentively listening to what he has to say.

“I’m aware that dragons are rare species, let alone knowledge of us aside from mythologies humans created. The gem I gave you the other day. It’s why I want to explain that it’s used as a vessel to store energy for when the mother requires more stamina before labor to ensure a safe birth and usually the gem is eaten raw” He explains with his stoicness, letting it sink in.

A reminder that they can’t have a biological heir, at least to him. The demon’s face morphs into a look that says ‘So what?’ mixed with impatience and offense. “That’s it?” 

Lucian didn’t think Cero would be this oblivious to the message, but he’s not complaining. If anything, the dragon is internally elated for the grand reveal. One that will surely dig his own grave. “I wish to save this last information until I create a second gem for you, my beautiful King. But since you’re curious….” 

“Get to it already! I don’t have all day!” 

“The gem is also used as an artificial egg for same-sex couples. The process simply needs you to shove the gem into your anus and I-” 

Cero immediately grabbed Lucian’s neck in a blink of an eye before he could finish the sentence. The former’s sharp claws, which he diligently filed and maintained to perfection, are threatening to pierce through the skin. If it was possible, Cero’s face went redder than Kalymir’s entire body and radiating that same anger as he does but more mellow and dangerous. Despite this, Lucian’s aloofness never wavered, only making the demon’s blood pressure skyrocket to the moon. 

“Choose your next words carefully, pet” The venom is clear as crystal.

“My next words are exactly as I implied, my beloved King. I want to see you glow as the sun when you bear our heir” A rare soft gaze and smile stretch his face. A dragon will not back down without a fight. 

[sweetcherryharry]

Begin Again — 02

Synopsis: Harry and Y/N had a secret relationship for almost two years, until they broke up. A year later, she shows up at one of his Love On Tour shows.

(masterlist)

Y/N wasn’t sure what her best option was. She had three running through her mind, trying to decide in just a few seconds what the best possible outcome could be.

One, she could simply act as if she had never read that message. After all, she never opened his texts, she just read them through her notifications on her phone’s lock screen. She could simply reply in half an hour that she didn’t see them on time and that she was already close to her home, and that the show was amazing. 

This way, she’d simply avoid what she dreaded the most; the awkward conversation about how they’ve been. 

Two, she could simply stay in the pit and follow what he told her; wait for a bodyguard to retrieve her to get her backstage. It wouldn’t be the first time, but the difference was that this time, she wasn’t alone, and they weren’t dating anymore. She’d need to tell both Maia and Natalie about the little huge secret she kept.

They didn’t know anything about it because Y/N had become close friends with them until the pandemic ended and life returned to normal —going back to classes on January 2022— and by that time, she had recently ended things with Harry.

They had broken up in December 2021 and throughout that semester (August-December), she had been traveling with him on his North America tour, meaning she decided to take all of her classes online, even though some of them were already offered to be on campus with a facemask on.

But then, after the breakup, she came back to the California campus for her final semester, ready to graduate in the summer, which she did. There was where she became a very close friend to Maia and Natalie, so technically, she never lied to them about it.

She had mentioned months ago that she had an ex-boyfriend, and how they dated for almost two years before things got complicated and broke up. And yes, she had told them his name was Harry, but that was about it.

She wasn’t sure how her friends would react if the Harry she had told them about was nonetheless, Harry fucking Styles.

And finally, her third option would be to tell her friends that she’ll make her way home later and that they should start getting ahead. What excuse was she going to tell them? She had no idea. And honestly… she knew that neither Maia nor Natalie would want to leave her alone, so this option was almost impossible.

“Are you okay?” Natalie interrupted her thoughts, and that’s when Y/N noticed she had been stuck in her tracks, staring at her screen while she tried to figure out what she should do. “You’ve been standing there for about a minute looking at your phone.”

Maia and Natalie were both looking at her with concern, and for a moment, Y/N felt somehow bad that she was ruining their good moods with her own worries. Minutes earlier, they were thrilled, ranting about the show nonstop, and now, it seemed like the mood between the trio died a little.

Y/N was highly expressive with her facial features, which was both a curse and a blessing, and for that, she knew she couldn’t lie about how she was feeling. But, that didn’t mean she couldn’t say a tiny white lie to lift their concerns.

“Yeah, nothing to worry about,” She shrugged their concerns off, plastering a smile on her lips, “I just got a reminder of something work-related, a few things I need to get done before Monday.”

Maia groaned, “I don’t even want to talk about work right now, I miss being a university student, and simply pushing all the work for Sunday night.” Her comment made the girls laugh, remembering the stress they’d feel trying to complete a whole long assignment in just three hours.

“Stressful times,” Natalie commented with a chuckle, before checking the hour on her own phone, “It’s almost eleven, do you guys want to crash over at my apartment, or do you want to go out?”

And that’s when Y/N decided which was her best option, to leave right now with her friends and act like Harry never asked her to stay back to meet with her backstage. Her past relationship would remain a secret, and she wouldn’t have to explain everything to her friends. 

Later in the night, she’ll simply reply that she didn’t see it in time and that the show was amazing.

“Even though I’m just 23, I’m tired already. So much jumping, dancing, and screaming.” Maia replied, to which Y/N agreed. “I’d love to crash at your place and just order some takeout.”

“Perfect,” Natalie replied, and hooked both of her arms with her friends, “Shall we?”

As the three girls resumed their way to the exit of the pit —which was already more on the empty side— they talked about the number of feathers that decorated the floor. It was crazy, really, the number of colors that fans brought to each show.

Y/N loved it.

“Wait!” Maia stopped the girls, and turned to look at them with a grin, “let’s record a quick Tiktok! The one where you stand in the pit with a straight face, and the song Static plays up, and you’re like ‘the concert ended, what now?’” 

But before Y/N could say that she wasn’t sure about it, due to the fact that she wanted to leave the place as soon as possible and avoid the bodyguard who’ll come to retrieve her in a few minutes, Maia was already pulling both girls to the barricade alongside her.

In the blink of an eye, Maia had already handed her phone to a random fan who was standing nearby, and the three girls stood side by side. Y/N was wearing her green and black outfit, while Maia wore pink and Natalie yellow.

“Three… two… one!” The girl who was recording them announced to them that the Tiktok was now recording, and the three girls remained serious, their eyes locked on the camera as the girl recording took a few steps back, just like the trend. “Done! I loved it.”

“Thank you so much!” Y/N replied, taking Maia’s phone in her hands. She was beginning to feel nervous, the quicker they left, the less probability there was that she would be approached. The girl simply smiled at her, mumbling a ‘you’re welcome’ and went with her friend, leaving the trio behind.

Y/N handed Maia her phone, and the short-haired girl was quick to post it, typing a quick caption and adding the harrystyles and lotnight5 hashtags, along with tagging Natalie’s and Y/N’s users.

“Okay, now let’s go!” 

And as the trio started to take steps away from the barricade, Y/N let out a deliberately quiet exhale, relief filling her body a few seconds later as she finally crossed the exit doors from the pit and unto the outside of the Kia Forum. 

But, that relief she felt for those few seconds didn’t last long. 

As the girls started to make their way unto the hallway that led to the parking lot, the girl in the green outfit felt a gentle, yet sturdy hand on her shoulder, making her turn around to look for the owner of the extremity, who was now looking for her attention.

Y/N swore she felt her heart falling to her feet as she saw who was now in front of her. It wasn’t a regular bodyguard or another fan that had stopped her —no— it was none other than Jeff, Harry’s manager and someone she had many conversations with (both pleasant and non-pleasant) in the past. He was a friend to her, but he was still Harry’s manager, and he needed to take some decisions from time to time that she didn’t like.

He wore a facemask that covered half of his face, and to disguise himself, he wore a Kia Forum Staff vest, just like the people around the place who worked at the arena. Obviously, he wasn’t dumb enough to come out to the hallways of the Kia Forum with nothing hiding who he truly was, since he knew he’d be surrounded by fans who would recognize him.

“Y/N?” He asked lowly, trying not to raise suspicion or catch fans’ attention. 

“Hey Jeff,” Y/N exclaimed, using a low voice too, putting on a forced smile on her lips. It wasn’t that she wasn’t happy to see him, she used to get along really well with him, but the circumstances were the ones that she didn’t like much. “How you’ve been?”

She knew that there was no escaping now; she’ll face her ex-boyfriend after one of his concerts.

Great.

“I’ve been doing really well, thank you,” Jeff replied and pulled her in for a friendly hug, which she reciprocated. He hadn’t seen her in quite a while, the last time had been almost a year ago when Harry and Y/N had broken up. “How about you?” 

She could see the concern in his brown eyes, knowing that his question didn’t mean just how she had been feeling lately, but how has she been ever since the breakup. 

“Doing much better now.” She replies honestly, making him nod. “What about you? How is everyone?”

Jeff smiled, and even though she couldn’t see his lips, she could see the way his face changed behind the face mask, “Glenne and I have been great, now almost two years since we got married, time flies.”

Glenne was Jeff’s wife, and Y/N loved the woman. The four of them would hang out from time to time, and even though there was a slight age difference between the two women, they got along really well.

“It truly does, I still remember those few days before your wedding when both Glenne and you couldn’t stop rambling about your special day.” As Y/N said those words, she couldn’t help but feel a bittersweet sensation. 

She had attended Jeff and Glenn's wedding back on January 2021 and she had been Harry’s official partner to it, yet it was almost like she hadn’t been. Instead of standing by his boyfriend’s side during the ceremony and holding hands with him, she had been on the opposite side of the place, standing alone as Harry held hands with Olivia.

When the ceremony had ended and everyone moved to the party, her boyfriend finally spent the rest of the night with her. Since it had been in a private location, there were no more public appearances that needed to be done, and Olivia had finally gone home. 

It was until the party then that Harry was by her side all the time, dancing and singing, constantly telling her how much he loved her. 

Y/N had enjoyed that night so much, yet at the same time, she hadn’t.

“Yeah, I remember.” Jeff chuckled, and after a few seconds of comfortable silence, he glanced towards a door a few meters away that said ‘Staff Only’, where two guards were standing, checking that nobody tried to sneak in backstage. “He told me to look for you to get you backstage…”

She felt her nerves increase, knowing that it was all getting very real now. “I know.” 

“If you don’t want to meet him, I’ll tell him that I didn’t find you.” He gave her a way to back out of this, knowing that the ex-couple hadn’t seen each other in a very long time, and the last time they had, it had been filled with pure heartbreak and tears. “I’m still your friend.”

She let out a deep breath, weighing down her options. 

And as she did, she felt a hand squeeze her arm lightly, making her remember that she wasn’t alone. Talking to Jeff had filled her mind with memories of the countless days they had spent joking around on tour. 

Y/N turned to look at the two worried and confused faces of Maia and Natalie, slightly turning her back to Jeff.

“You okay?” Maia mouthed to her, not wanting to cause a scene if her friend didn’t actually know this man or wanted to converse with him. 

She nodded, “Yeah, he’s a good old friend.” Y/N gave them a reassuring smile.

Natalie quickly glanced at him above Y/N’s shoulder, and smiled playfully, “If he has access to backstage, tell him to get us Harry’s autograph, and we’ll pay him!” She jokingly (which wasn’t much of a joke) whispered to her.

Y/N stayed silent for a few seconds, knowing that there was a small, deep part of her that would hate herself if she let this opportunity pass. Even though she was scared to talk to him, to see him again after everything, she knew that she’d regret not doing it.

Besides, her close friends deserved the truth about her so-called ex. 

“Yeah, about that…” Y/N turned to look at Jeff, and gave him a quick nod, telling him in a simple gesture her final answer, before turning to look at her two friends. “You’re about to meet him.”

sorry it took so long! but finally, here is pt2 to 'begin again' :)

taglist: @samanddeaninatrenchcoat @one-sweet-gubler @jjsgirlp4l @lovingmesstuff @gem1712 @tinyhrry @kipperthedog2004 @behindmygreyeyes @theekyliepage @winterrays @drunk-teens-doing-drugs @itsjustsel @a-strange-familiar @grapejuice-rry @tranquility-moon @tpwksummer @awkwardbisexuall @ameerakane20 @harryspirate 

[overtaken-stream]

i dont know your rules or if you have a masterlist but out of nowhere I got obsessed with King and i need more fics on him, my favorites are headcanons

so if you could write about him like yandere headcanons where he kidnapped reader who he caught insterest in

or bedroom headcanons like its canon that he is a sadistic pervert but do yo think he would like to be dommed by his s/o

I don't have any rules and no master list yet! But I'm glad you decided to send this ask! As a fellow King-starved OP fan it can be quite hard to find any content about him, especially as a Yandere, like- why, it works so well with him!! As for bedroom headcanons, I wrote this a while ago. Not exactly a straightforward answer to your question but still, I think you'll get the answer yourself. Also, I managed to fit some backstory about King😅 (most of it is actually his backstory) but I promise it explains his... yandareness... my writing style is different but I hope you'll like it. More ideas about this AU have come to me as I was working on this, so let me know if I should write part 2... Anyway, hope you enjoy this!

Warnings: Spoilers for King's real name, his backstory, kidnapping, closed-off character, murder, arson.

No matter where Alber goes, there will always be a certain darkness following him, the darkness that began surfacing inside of him ever since he became a research subject at Punk Hazard. The memories of warmth are lost to him, his family members, their faces, their love, traditions- everything from his past turned into shadowy figures that visit him in the dead of night, where he laid bare on his back, defenseless and unable to move an inch.

Alber experiences, no- has experienced those lonesome nights too many times after his escape, with Kaidou at his side, passed out drunk, there was only so much he could do under the night sky, as the sweat rolled down his chin, awake and stricken with fear, haunted by the nightmarish masks and white coats. The extreme heat lingered under his skin, with no scars to show the battles he survived on the Punk, though he could still feel the consequences of others' actions.

Each day his loyalty to Kaidou grows and so does his disdain for the people they have met on their journey. Days and months soon turned into years, years he has spent becoming stronger, years he spent with Kaidou, he has to catch up with him, perhaps matching up to his strength, but that is reaching too far, for Kaidou is strong, stronger then he'll ever be. Each second his world shrinks down to only the hero, who had saved him, his vision is blind to the islands they traveled to and conquered, blind to the beaten-up bodies they defeated. The colors of his environment blur together, lost to the intriguing laugh of his captain. He stares after the huge back, a back which he has to fill with his own will and strength, He is no longer Alber, for the boy was a shadow that no longer belonged to his body, weak, only confident in his endurance, a prey waiting for salvation. The worthless name stood on empty grounds, a new title was given to him.

He tries his best and this time, his best is enough for the man he idolizes (He has to thank his biology). He backs up his captain and engraves his name onto the burnt enemy's back, King. He takes pride in his new title, fit for Joyboy's first-mate.

He is no longer Alber. He is now the predator that the scientists have tried to research and avoid. He puts on a nobles mask, made of the finest leather. He puts on a new identity, on that day, on that land, a monster was born, a monster that happened to burry its emotions into the depths of the ocean.

King smiles.

Even after their crew gets big, annoying comments from Queen are met with aggressive glares, his facial features are hidden behind a dark mask that's acting as an intimidation factor, he holds the crew together purely for Kaidou, there is no respect tugging at his actions, sentiment hasn't had a place in him for some time now. What he first felt when he met Kaidou only brings so much to the table, so little emotion, aside from authority. The dark grows, and even if he is emitting an eternal fire, ebony covers his frames, cooling the heat and leaving him in the chilliness of The Beast's shadow. In utter darkness.

King kills, tears the bodies up, and burns them until not even the bones remain. All he does is stare down at the screaming faces, staring them down as they did to Alber. All he sees is the red light coming from the burning village. The smell of rot follows after him as he walks down the streets of an unnamed island.

In a small cottage at the end of the town, he feels a presence hiding from him. Away from the door which he bursts through. He doesn't waste his time as he strides into the person's house, in a place he can see their shaking silhouette. His steps are loud in his tiny bubble, with no fire or scream entering his field of hearing, he doesn't hear the door shut itself, but he can feel the breaths that left the person's nose, and can hear the vibrations caused by their shaky figure across the floor. In the dark of the room, he opens a cabinet to find scared!you.

And his field of vision, which was locked onto Kaidou all this time, shifts. It gets bigger as he stares into your scared eyes, glossed over with tears trickling down your face, your expression is drowned in fear as you look up at him. Unknown to the feelings running through him.

The feelings, the emotions he buried long ago now seemed to resurface, looking at your sweat-covered forehead, his eyes travel over your form, they remain frigid, even as his heart rate speeds up, even as the world around you becomes darker, even as his breathing becomes heavy.

Up until now, only Kaidou existed, for Kaidou. With Kaidou. Now the narrow view of him widens as you, a mare civilian join the everlasting space that exists inside of him. Your eyes so bright, filled with fear attract him. Your face shape, so tender and beautiful. You are the only color that exists in the dark, the only light in the endless tunnel.

The house is dark, but you emit light, you stick out even when he has stopped using Observation Haki. You make him feel warm in a way that he has never experienced before.

His heart is beating faster and faster the longer your eye contact lasts, his wind was knocked out of his lungs by the time he moved.

As he takes you by your arm, you stay quiet in fear of what he could do, quivering as he wraps his fingers fully around your arm. Your legs are frozen, acting like dead meat when he drags you out of the untouched house, they barely move when you realize the situation you got into.

He doesn't answer your questions of what he is doing or where he is taking you, his ears only picked up your voice, so angelic and clear in the sparks of fire that lit your garments, your skin and hair shining in beautiful reds and yellows, though he would enjoy seeing your natural colors. In a setting much cooler, and less tragic than this.

His world warps once again, he doesn't falter when Jack tosses a strange look his way as he gets closer to their ship.

He remains unaffected by your insults and weak attempts to set yourself free from his grasp. His natural strength is much greater than yours will ever be.

He ends up taking you to his room, barely remembering the path he took to get there and the faces he must have come across. He only lets go of you when the door is locked.

[mayakern]

I really like the way you draw expressions and how they are unique to each character even if they are expressing the same emotion! Any tips on how to practice that? I tend to draw expressions the same way for all my characters

thanks! honestly i think this mostly comes down to the characters having different face shapes and facial features. in drawings, a lot of acting is often done by the design itself, especially designs that come pre-baked with a primary expression.

this guy is basically the best example of that. he was made to scowl and the same range of emotions are gonna look way different on his face than someone else’s

ofc i don’t draw like this, but there are similar (tho less exaggerated) things going on in my art.

the other main thing, i think, comes from posing and the angle that you draw the face at. if a character is more expressive and confident, they will probably lift their head when laughing, but another character might express this in a more withdrawn manner, tucking their head in instead.

i’m no great character actor but when i draw the expression sheets i still try to consider the things i know about my character’s dispositions, what expressions they are most likely to show (or what would be most interesting to see them express BECAUSE it is a rare/difficult emotion for them) and how their temperament and their natural facial features effect those expressions.

hemlock is an innocent and earnest person who always tried very hard but has terrible luck

audra has a confident facade specifically as a form of rebellion against the people who want to see her vulnerable, but it hides a lot of pain

aerilyn is confident to the point of incompetence and has next to no real life experience in anything, leading to a lot of painful lessons

althea can only remember the last two weeks of her life but she is already world weary and exhausted (and also very, very anxious)

cassiopeia is very confident and sexy (literally played her for an TTRPG called Sexy Battle Wizards and her highest stat was sexy) and also kind of a smart ass and a bit of a (bitchy) mom friend

pearl also can only remember the last two weeks and she is 100% horny for life

[pixelmensupremacy]

If you feel like it , can I request an angsty fluff request. (Connor and Nines or Nines ) X female reader . Where Gavin berates Reader like he did with Connor in the game .. and it bothers them (LED flicks yellow red ) ...

A/N: This turned out to be a bit more of Connor x reader though I hope you enjoy it nonetheless!

Summary: The request

Word count: 1.2k

Warnings: Gavin being a dick, Connor and Nines post deviancy, fem!reader

Blending in with her new coworkers at the DPD proved to be more difficult than (Y/N) had originally anticipated.

For the few months she had worked as a detective at the Detroit police department, she had come to learn the hard way that some of her colleagues abruptly refused to have any relation with her whatsoever. Despite befriending quite a few colleagues, it still pained her she couldn’t freely chat with all of her coworkers. Yet she accepted the fact she couldn’t be friends with everyone, but what she couldn’t wrap her mind around was the rudeness detective Gavin Reed had towards her. His unreasonable discourtesy often got out of hand to the point where (Y/N) actively avoided him.

Whether it was irony or some twisted test the universe forced her to endure, she got paired with no other than detective Reed himself to investigate murders that seemed to be connected. To say (Y/N) was excited for this assignment would’ve been a lie. Well at first, she was glad to work on such intriguing and complex case up until Fowler announced Reed as her partner. Even though she tried her best to negotiate with her supervisor it was no use- she had no other option, but to withdraw and accept her fate.

Despite getting upset with the news, she tried her best to not let Gavin’s immature antics get in the way of her work. Even though (Y/N) tried to keep her composure -and even succeed for the most part- there was a drastic change in her otherwise warm demeanor didn’t go unnoticed by her android friends, who immediately picked up something different about her no one else could. Throughout the time the two androids knew (Y/N), they have learned a lot -if not everything- about her; her facial expressions and body language gave away everything about her both Connor and Nines needed to know.

Simultaneously checking her vitals and using her body language as an indicator for her mood had become a habit the two androids had developed; it was form of an indirect checkup to make sure (Y/N) was well and healthy, so they instantly noticed the worry in her features and in the way she behaved. At first, wanting to avoid further upsetting her, the two detectives didn’t question her. Yet they discussed their observations silently via data transmission even in times when she was present.

“It appears she is still troubled. Her dopamine levels are lower than usual.” Connor’s LED flashed in a glowing amber.

“I am positive she is indeed upset, but the cause still remains unidentified.” Nines’ head tilted slightly.

“For the most advanced prototype ever created, you do seem to not live up to the assets you should possess.”  The tiniest of smiles curled the corners of his lips.

“Enough.” Nines’ harsh voice took (Y/N) by surprise; she stopped talking as quick as she had begun and took a closer look at the boys. Were they communicating via telepathy?

“Am I interrupting something?” She raised her brow at them; the two looked back at her.

“No, no.” Nines began explaining “Connor was simply overloading my system with unnecessary data.” He went on, striking his predecessor with a stern look, who now looked at his feet in embarrassment.

“Okay, sure.” She rolled her eyes, buying none of it though she didn’t question them further. “Now if you don’t mind I gotta go. Duty calls.” She winked as she headed towards Gavin’s desk. She let out a deep sigh as if to collect any willpower she had left to put up with him for yet another day.

“Your ass finally decided to show up!” Gavin snickered through his shit-eating grin.

“Yeah, I’m glad to see you too, Reed!” She rolled her eyes as she sat across him, immediately busying herself with reports.

“You know it would’ve been nice if you smile for once. Hate to see your pretty face so grumpy.” He commented in his typical mocking tone.

“I don’t know about that, but maybe I will look happier if you shut up for once.” She gave him the fakest of smiles, fighting the growing urge to punch him in the face.

“Now let’s stop bitching and get back to work. These reports won’t write themselves.”

“What the hell is your problem?”  (Y/N) raised her voice, catching the attention of the two androids that happened to have witnessed the whole situation.

“Unlike you, I just want to get my job done.” Gavin stated as he typed away at his keyboard, not even glancing her way. She scoffed in response.

“You’re un- fucking -believable!” She stormed into the breakroom; tears formed in the corners of her eyes- she couldn’t bear it.

“Go after (Y/N)“ Nines’ LED flooded with multiple colors as he transferred the message to his predecessor, who already thought the same thing. "I’ll take care of detective Reed.” Connor shot him a brief look of puzzlement only to notice the bright red of his LED, but decided against stopping him- whatever was coming Gavin’s way was most definitely deserved.

Entering the break room, Connor was met with the sight of (Y/N) silently sitting on a table, the soft sounds of sobs being the only noise that echoed in the empty space.

“Detective” His hand gently landed on her shoulder; carefully, he rubbed her skin through the fabric of her clothes in a soothing manner, in hopes of calming her down. “May I help?”

“How?” Her head rose from the palms of her hands that have guarded her vulnerability, being her pained look, only to reveal the hopelessness woven in the (E/C) of her eyes. “There’s nothing we could do. No matter how many times I tried to be nice and understanding nothing seems to do it. He just hates my guts.” Another set of tears rolled down her cheeks, followed by a hiccup.

Connor had never seen her like this and he soon grew to resent it; the feelings of anger and disappointment grew within him. How could he have not noticed the root of the problem earlier? He quickly pushed these thoughts aside, for he had a far more urgent task- to take care of his friend.

“Humans tend to do many unreasonable and irrational things, one of them being their communication with others.” He began explaining all the while he filled a glass of water to give to (Y/N). “I came to learn that from my very first interaction with a human. Believe it or not, I had difficulties with detective Reed myself.”

“Really?” Curiosity flashed in her puffy eyes. “But you two hardly ever communicate. What’s your secret?” She sipped at the water; her gaze fixed on him in anticipation.

“That’s a long story.” He gave her a reassuring smile.

“Aw don’t leave me hanging.” She playfully hit his arm.

“Okay I’ll tell you… one day. Are you feeling better?” His soft brown eyes searched hers.

“Yeah. Thank you, Connor.” She pulled him in for a hug; speechless, leaving him speechless. Cautiously, he wrapped his arms around her form. He sighed in delight- the mission was a success. Right then sudden yells caught their attention. Looking at the direction the commotion came from, the two noticed Nines, holding Gavin by his collar.

“I have a feeling Gavin might want to avoid the three of us all together.”

[domainedewinter]

First kiss, first...

Summary: When Aemond comes home late and tries to avoid the presence of Aegon and his friends during yet another party, he finds himself playing a game that will take him further than he could have imagined.

Warnings: TYPICAL TARGARYEN INCEST, profanity, innuendo, he/him pronouns, fingering, oral m receiving, SoftDom!Aegon, MxM, begging, nsfw.

Rating: 18+, MDNI

English is not my first language.

The evening was in full swing at the Targaryen family home; Otto, Viserys and Alicent had gone on a business trip for the weekend, Helaena had also left to spend a few days with her cousins ​​and Aegon had taken advantage of this free time to invite friends to do what he did best ; drink, laugh, dance and have fun.

It was already well into the night when the front door closed in an unsuccessful attempt at discretion. Lying next to a huge sofa, on a soft, thick rug, Aegon tilted his head back to see his little brother trying to slip away upstairs so as not to be seen.

“Aemond, brother! Come here!”

It made him freeze but obey and join them. He had grown from a child to adolescence and it was safe to say that puberty had worked miracles with Aemond. He was tall, finely muscled and his facial features now reflect those of a dangerous man but no longer those of a child.

However, he came calmly and leaned against the door frame, looking over the few people who were passing a cigarette, which he suspected was something completely different given the smell, were drinking alcohol, all lying down or sitting down to chat.

“You’re not going to go and hide upstairs! It’s not polite, come say good morning.”

“The day isn’t even up yet.” Aemond replied, frowning a little, as if he wanted to show his displeasure.

“Don’t play with words, come here and say hello.” Aegon held out his hand towards him and it was a sighing and grunting Aemond who accepted anyway and took his brother's hand, being pulled to the ground. A nod was all Aemond was willing to offer to the people at his house, most of whom he only knew by name.

“Have a drink, it will do you good.”

Without flinching, Aemond took a glass and tasted the strong but sweet liquid, trying to settle in without looking uncomfortable, which evenings like this made him do.

“We were starting a little game, join us, you’re still all alone up there, come out of your cave, little brother.”

Aegon's friends laughed but Aemond didn't give up and nodded. “Whatever my big brother wants.” He added in a mocking tone which amused the guests just as much, drawing a proud smile on Aegon’s face.

They spent part of the night playing, drinking a little more and when the more tendentious questions came, Aemond became less talkative, which one of their friends, a Stark, noticed immediately. Holding out an empty beer bottle that served as a talking totem or something, he smiled.

“How many people have you fucked?”

Uncomfortable, Aemond shifted a little where he was sitting, straightening up. And it didn't take much for the young Stark to understand.

“Damn, no one? Okay, so let me change my question. How many have you kissed?”

But the uneasiness did not dissipate in the features of the youngest Targaryen and Aegon made an outraged face.

"What? No, no, no, not under my watch!” He leaned back on the sofa and stretched his legs, looking at Aemond. “You’ve never kissed anyone? Baby bro, you make me look like a completely incompetent brother in your education.”

A mocking, somewhat forced laugh passed Aemond's thin lips. “You are in no way responsible for my education, lighten your conscience.”

“Bullshit. This field is mine and I am shocked to learn of such a lack of knowledge and practice on your part, dearest brother. We’ll fix this.”

This time he didn't give him time to respond to his outstretched hand and grabbed him by the wrist, forcing him quickly to come close to him. Aemond fell on all fours in front of his brother who smiled with an air that was as amused as it was benevolent for once.

“Trust me, I know what I’m doing, anyone can attest to that.”

Aemond could only briefly look at those around him, a redheaded girl nodding with a small encouraging smile. Defeated and a little foggy from the alcohol, he let himself be guided by Aegon who made him come astride his lap, one of his hands going up to his cheek, which he caressed before his thumb came to touch his soft and untouched lips.

“Let me teach you something.”

He came to meet him, pulling Aemond against him and their lips touched. The sensation was strange at first, Aemond's heart having accelerated considerably to the point where he was certain he could discern its outlines. Several times, Aegon's lips placed a kiss before he tried to pull his head back but the elder's hand had slipped to the back of his neck and prevented him from doing so. “No, no, that’s not a real kiss. Let me in, let me make your mouth my new favorite place.”

Red rose to Aemond's cheeks, burning him pleasantly, something he never thought possible and if at first he didn't dare open his mouth, his brother's teasing and wet tongue got the better of his resistance, parting his lips to give him what he wanted. So the kiss took on a whole new dimension; Aegon's tongue caressed his, knowing exactly what he was doing while taking care of his lips which he sucked gently in spurts before once again busying himself with devouring him with passion.

Aemond relaxed and learned how to respond to the kiss, first by imitating his elder and then, when he had a little more confidence in himself and having identified what he wanted and could do, he began to kiss him back, biting perhaps a little harder on Aegon's lips which he wanted to see swollen and red by his care.

When the kiss ended, his breath was short, his eyes bright with desire and his own lips swollen with pleasure and shiny.

Aegon's hand caressed his cheek, putting his thumb in his mouth before giving a small smile, kissing his lips so gently, almost coyly.

"Did you like it?" He asked, whispering against his brother’s lips, resting his forehead against Aemond's.

But the younger did not need to respond as a significantly hard bump hit Aegon's stomach and he laughed softly against his brother's lips.

“Oh, I think you really liked it.”

Tangling his fingers in his brother's long silver hair, Aegon pulled him back to him, smiling against his ear. “Now that I have started your education, maybe I should continue it, hmm? What do you think, baby brother?” He asked, illustrating his words with a movement of his pelvis, discreetly rubbing against Aemond's manhood from which a growl resonated.

“I was stupid to believe that you would learn on your own, after all, it's a role that I have neglected far too often but, don't worry, I will teach you everything your body needs to know."

[tazahan]

Hello! Bi-Yuan and Bi-Huǒ are really interesting ^^ Would you like to share a little more about them? You don't have to do it if you don't want to.

I love your art! 🧚‍♀️

Oh my, thank you! I never thought a person would interested in my delulu OC children! Sorry if this bit too long. So Bi-Yuan is the firstborn of Bi-Han and my OC Aila. Just like his father, as a firstborn son, he was already saddled with the obligation of being his father's successor to become the future Grandmaster since he was still young. Unfortunately, while having similar facial features to Bi-Han, he did not get his Cryomancer power, but rather my OC's power, Heliokinesis. This has an impact on their relationship as he grows older. However, he is a calm individual despite the power he has. Like his uncle, Kuai Liang (no-no don't get me wrong, He is 100% Bi-Han's biological son :v) Bi-Huǒ is the second son who unexpectedly inherited Bi-Han's power while his appearance shows the opposite. Fun fact. When he was born, Bi-Han expected him to inherit the same power as his mother or his brother. So he named him Huǒ (fire) bc of the bright red hair he has. But turns out that when Bi-Huǒ grew older, his ice power showed up and made his name ironic. Unlike Bi-Yuan, he was the one who was a bit rebellious, grumpy, and stubborn. I imagine Bi-Han's copy but he is ginger. Although Bi-Huǒ is a cryomancer, he never had the ambition to desire his older brother's position as the future Lin Kuei Grandmaster. Instead, he has his own dreams and gets his own position in his mother's clan. Bi-Huǒ is the tallest in the family. Bi-Huǒ also has another name, Bjorn. Because he inherited stronger features from his mom's side who is from a Viking descendant clan. Bjorn was the name that was inspired by their grandfather's pet name (my OC's dad) when they were both still kids. He always called them ''My little Bjornar". Yeah, the type of grandparents who spoiled their grandchildren rotten lol.

So yeah they were both born amongst two different clans and cultures. Half-blooded.

But don't worry. Bi-Han has vowed to himself that both of his sons would never end up like him, with the help of his wife. He tried so hard to be the best role model and gave them what he didn't get with his own father. He is still strict, cold, and harsh, yes but he never forgets his duty to not make his sons uncomfortable by his ruthless demeanor. My OC balanced them with warmth and love. Both of them have goofy sides from their mother. So they do not always look serious all the time just like Bi-Han. They support and love each other But also sometimes there is sibling rivalry between them. I imagine their brotherhood like Gumball and Darwin or Oggy and Jack lmao.

[saintjosie]

Ok from a transfemme to a trans woman - how do you makeup? I've been wanting to get into it for so long but the first time I tried was an absolute disaster, and I can't find any tutorials that go through the absolute beginner basics

tbh, you have to just keep on doing it even though it’s a complete disaster. i started my transition in 2020 but i was doing makeup and “cross dressing” for nearly 8 years before i considered myself to be trans. and it was years before i was able to do makeup to the point where i felt good about the way that i looked every time i did it.

that being said, there’s no guide that’s gonna be able to tell you everything you need to know but i’ll try to give as many tips and jumping points i can in order for you to try out things and figure out what to look up.

- make up is different for everyone - everyone has a different face shape, eye shape, cheekbones, jawline, complexion, etc. and the way to do makeup that looks good for you specifically is going to vary a shit ton based on those things. when you look up stuff, look up how to do makeup for a certain set of features. figure out what face shape you have, skin types for foundation, etc.

- there’s no one right way to do it - i do a bunch of things that are “technically incorrect” because i’ve tried it the “right” way and it just didn’t work for me. so i figured out something that i liked instead and make that a technique i used regularly. also even though people will say you’re supposed to do certain things, a different technique might yield a different result. as an example, conventional wisdom will say use primer, foundation, then a translucent or setting powder, then a setting spray. recently a very popular technique has been using moisturizer, then setting powder, then setting spray, THEN putting on all your other makeup and supposedly it lasts longer. there’s literally no “correct” way, it’s just whatever works.

- blend the shit out of everything. this is the one technique which pretty much applies for everyone. blend blend blend blend. i like using a beauty sponge. run it under the tap for a second (literally a second, you want it moist not wet) to wet the sponge and then use dabbing motions to blend your makeup.

- asking for help at makeup stores helps A LOT. i’ve had really really good experiences asking for help at makeup stores even though i was super uncomfortable with the idea at first. i found that a lot of people were judgement free and even very gender affirming even when i was presenting masc. and i live in the south!

okay now to more granular stuff - here’s the basics of what i would consider to go into a “full face” makeup routine - primer, foundation, concealer, highlight/contour, setting. eye makeup would add additional things - eyeliner, mascara/lashes, eyeshadow. lips add additional things as well - lipstick, lipliner. ill try to go through the entire process and add my fav products or two. (i should probably make this into a video series tbh)

1) primer - it protects your skin and makes your makeup stay longer and look better. use it.

- my fav: the ordinary - high fluidity primer

2) color correcting concealer - an optional step for transfemmes like me with darker colored facial hair. using a reddish or orangish color correcting concealer or lipstick over the areas where your facial hair shows through the skin will neutralize the shadow that shows through foundation. add a little bit, sparingly, blend with a sponge.

- my fav: la girl color correcting concealer orange

(the best one of these is made by dragun beauty who is a trans woman…but who did blackface…so don’t buy her shit)

3) foundation - figuring out your color is hard. look up a guide, ask in store, try a bunch of different ones. there’s a difference in coverages. full coverage means its made to cover everything. buildable means you need to apply and blend a few times and is good for if you don’t want heavy coverage everywhere. don’t use too much otherwise you’ll look like a plastic doll. unless you want to look like that then go nuts. blend the shit out of it so that it doesn’t cake up.

- my fav: juvias place bc it’s full coverage and actually has my skin tone as an asian person

4) concealer - this is different from color corrector and i usually do this after foundation. this is just a touch up for any blemishes, dark spots under eyes, pimples, shit like that. just use a tiny tiny dab and blend. this is also hard to get your color right so get help if you can.

- my fav: colourpop concealer, or nars concealer if you’re a fancy bitch

5) blush - i don’t really use blush much but blush is one of those things where you should look up a guide for how your face is shaped. positioning blush in different ways will help shape your face in different ways.

6) contouring - okay this is the hard one. i can’t tell you how to contour your face because this is one that varies a shit ton from person to person. the basic gist of it tho is that you are using a contouring stick, bronzer, or palette to add shadows to your face. when you put on foundation it makes everything an even color and makes you look flat, so contouring is basically drawing those shadows back in to contour your face. you can do this in so many ways even for your own face so imo, you experiment and see how you like it. typical places for contour to go will be under my cheekbones, on my nose bridge, sometimes under my jaw to slim the face.

- my fav: i can’t remember i’ll come back to this one

also i drew this diagram a long time ago to help myself get the idea of where i wanted to put it on my own face and i went from there. the brown was contour and the other color was highlight. i don’t do it like this at all anymore but it helped to get the basic idea at first.

7) highlight - the opposite of contour where you’re making certain parts of your face brighter to contrast the darker parts. typically goes on your cheekbones and nose.

- my fav: watts up by benefit

8) translucent powder/setting powder - okay so this one can either go after foundation, before blush, contour, highlighter, or here. basically it’s a powder that goes evenly over your whole face to help your makeup stay where it is. personally i usually do it after foundation instead of here but either works. basically you take a powder brush (the big floofy ones) and then put it all over lightly.

- my fav: nyx hd finishing powder

9) setting spray - it’s a spray that you put on last to help your makeup stay where it is. shake up the bottle real good and just mist it all over.

- my fav: tarte shape tape stay spray

okay i’m tired now and that’s plenty for now. i’ll update with lip and eye stuff later.

[petitelepus]

Hello, I hope you are well. I really liked what you wrote for DS and I'm curious what you think of me. I am a girl with dark black hair and almost black eyes. If you look at them in the sun you can see their warm brown color. I'm the same height as Shinobu, but I'm chubbier than her. If I were a hunter, I think I would use poison too. I have facial features that are not sharp and that those around me find cute. My friends find me cheerful and smiling, that's true! I am someone who is almost always smiling. Just because I don't know you doesn't mean I won't smile at you❤️. I love talking and chatting. If I really find a common area with the other person, I can talk to him until the morning. My friends say my conversation is fun and relaxed. This is good for me! I don't want to bore anyone with my speech. They say my eyes sparkle because of the things I love and when I smile! I am someone who cries easily. Even though I really don't like this habit of mine, I cry over everything. I love books, reading, learning new and different things, and cats! Insects really scare me. I can go far and happily sacrifice my life for those I love! I am happy with easy things and sad with easy things. I love sweets very much. I don't hate anyone easily. I love to think, dream and get lost. That's why sometimes I can't hear what you say. Whether I want it or not, I attract a lot of attention in every environment. And I can be really quite loud sometimes.

What you do with it is entirely up to you❤️. I hope it was understandable because I use translation😅. As a Turk, I love you and your articles. I hope you have a wonderful day✨

I match you with adult Tanjiro Kamado!

The young man fell most likely to your kindness and that smile of yours that never seemed to waver. You're kind to everyone, no matter if they are complete strangers to you and that is kinda how you and he met.

Tanjiro doesn't mind it if you use poison since every Slayer is different and they must use their quirks and traits to their advantage. Your shortness is cute, you have an adorable face and about your chubbiness, he thinks there is more of you to hug and love!

The more time he spends with you the more he learns about you and how you are a genuinely kind and cheerful person, always trying to make the best out of the bad situation.

You love chatting with people and hearing other Slayers tell stories about Demons they've hunted and Tanjiro's are most interesting, you could listen to him talk for hours.

Tanjiro loves how you always smile, but he thinks that if you're hurt then you are allowed to drop that smile for a second and show what you may really feel.

Even if you insist that the smile you are wearing is genuine, he wants you to know that he is there for you. You don't need to fear, he is as loyal as he is kind and he would never leave you.

This is the part where you cry out loud, was it either joy, sadness, or even relief. Tanjiro doesn't mind your crying, it's one way of showing of love and passion.

Your eyes are definitely unique and he really likes them and how much feelings they hold. While you may smile, your eyes are honest.

Tanjiro really admires and respects you because you are genuinely a good person who would sacrifice your own life for those you hold close to your heart.

He is similar to that, but he can't die just yet before he has returned his sister back to normal and he doesn't want to leave her or you alone in the world, so please, try to stay alive for his sake?

Tanjiro always remembers that you have a sweet tooth and if he is out traveling and hunting Demons, he always makes sure to get you something sweet as a gift.

Sometimes when you start daydreaming and get lost in thoughts Tanjiro looks at you and tries to figure out what you might be thinking. A recent book you read or perhaps the cute cat you saw earlier?

Nezuko likes you also since you don't immediately want to kill her for being a Demon since you can't feel a murderous aura from her. You would most likely smile and ask why Tanjiro traveled with a Demon, but hearing him tell you that Nezuko is his little sister, you would be filled with joy and you would immediately accept her and offer some sweets for her.

Tanjiro just falls for you harder for being so kind to his beloved little sister and he has Nezuko's approval to court you.

[saltymongoose]

I had my mind full of what the main four boys looked like and read through the main storyline links in the masterlist for some clues. I tried my best to recreate with some artists liberties taken. You won't believe how hard it was for me to drop distinct facial features.

The sharp teeth and paw hands were pretty fun to draw. And trying to remember every major injury on the main three to give them those scars.

Thank you for making the enjoyable Au. :)

OMG dude, these are absolutely fantastic! :D First off, I really love how you showed different muscle definitions with them. It's a broader detail that I noticed really quickly, and it really works to visually show how different they are from a passing glance.

As for the finer details, I like how you made their hands and claws different too. Especially with Doc; having his claws filed down for surgery makes a lot of sense, and it's one of those small things that shows how much thought you put into all of their designs as well. Even the teeth and the scars you drew can tell the viewer a lot about them (again, Doc having less than the others because he doesn't do as much fieldwork). You even tried to keep in mind the injuries they actually sustained too, wow. I'm completely blown away by the attention to detail here. I just love these so much, they're wonderful; thank you for sharing them with me! :) ❤❤❤❤

[sweetbillwriting]

Love Just Happens

Part 13 - Higher Love

Characters: The future's Bill Skarsgård and others close to him. The rest is my own characters.

Setting: This story is set in the future but because it's hard to say how the world is then (and it isn't that important for the story) the future is similar to our time now, even with fashion and so on.

Warnings: 18+, age difference, smut, alcohol, ageism, drugs, cheating (sort of), jealousy, posessiveness, drunkenness, threats, family issues, toxic relationships.

Notes: This chapter can be triggering.

People pretended to not look at Bill when he sat in the archipelago's restaurant. He didn't look so different from other Swedish men when you looked at him from afar but when he looked up people immediately recognized those big green eyes. They were hypnotic and hard to look away from. He knew people would look at him when they thought he didn't notice and he let them believe he didn't notice. After a while they would stop looking at him when they realized he didn't do anything else besides drinking his beer and fidget with his phone. But he also knew they would stare again when his company would come. He saw her from afar, dressed in white like an angel. Aurora wore light blue jeans and a thick looking fleece jacket in white. He smiled at the vision of her and he saw others doing the same. She had on a pair of chunky sneakers and no makeup but was still so beautiful. She looked at Bill who leaned out over the railing to see her. He was dressed in the bomber jacket and a cap but she could still recognize him, his facial features were way too telling.

He did a salute with two fingers and she smiled brightly while jogging up the stairs to the outdoor seating and walked up to him.

"I'm just going to…" she started before sitting down.

"Would you like something to drink?" Asked a waiter. It wasn't the kind of place that took orders, not even for Bill but he guessed the waiter felt differently with Aurora.

"Oh," she giggled and sat down. "I’ll have the same as him." She nodded towards Bill who showed his glass' logo to the waiter. "Finally some sun! This country is so gray!" She continued. Bill smirked and took a sip of his beer.

"Yeah, I can't believe you can actually handle it. You have such a sunshine personality," he said and looked at her with a smile.

"I couldn't really handle it in the beginning, in November I started to give up." Bill looked down at his glass while the waitor gave Aurora her beer.

"Was it Mattias that made you survive?"

"No, we had just started dating then. Must it be love that keeps you going?" She asked and smirked a little. Bill looked at her a little confused.

"But you moved here for him…" he questioned.

"No? I bought the house long before I even met him." She looked out over the water. "I thought you understood I bought it to be with you?"

Bill didn't know what to say, he just sat and stared at her profile and the wind playing with her hair. She turned towards him, fixing her hair.

"After I stopped hating you I started to look for a house here."

"Hating me?" It wasn't that he was surprised to hear that she hated him after the break up, he was more surprised that she said it to him.

"Yeah? You disappeared when I've just lost one of my best friends and my manager. And then my father died and my dog and…" She smiled a bit sadly but tried to mask her feelings. "I was just angry that you weren't with me."

Bill lowered his eyes and nodded.

"I'm really sorry… I wish it would have happened another way…"

Aurora shrugged her shoulders and let the waiter serve them small bowls of snacks.

"And then I thought I should maybe mend everything with you. Get a house here, try to find people to work with here but while trying to fix that I heard you had a girlfriend…" She was totally honest and looked at Bill with open clear eyes. She didn't have anything to hide and just wanted him to know that she actually had tried, that it was he who had jumped into a new relationship way too fast.

Bill sat quietly and thought about what she had said with a heavy chest. She had moved here for him. She had made plans on how she would be able to get him back while he let Hilma and her sons move in. Because he couldn't handle being alone.

"Things went really fast between me and Hilma…" he said and looked at Aurora carefully. "She was without an apartment after the split with her ex so I let them move in…"

Aurora smiled sadly and shrugged her shoulders.

"To not be alone? Or to have more kids?"

Bill took out his snus box from his jacket pocket and stuffed a bag under his lip, he needed the nicotine.

"Both… I guess. It went so fast I don't even know…"

They sat quietly again, watching the ocean and the sun lit cliffs. Aurora had been angry at Bill several times, because he disappeared but then also for him jumping to a relationship so fast after they had broken up. She didn't feel special at all when she realized he had a new girlfriend just six months after their break up. She on the other hand still saw him as the man of her life and she hadn't been with anyone else and searched for ways for them to be a couple again. She had gone to Sweden anyway after realizing he was in a relationship, to not let him affect her life. She had bought a house and gotten new contacts, she wouldn't just throw it away.

"So how do you live now?" Asked Bill curiously.

"Ehh… I have an apartment with mom in New York and both of us have sold the houses in LA… And I do what I want? So now I'm here, working on some new material." She smiled a little. She was on her way to ask him the same question but swallowed it. It felt different asking him that after he asked her. Maybe because his life seemed more complicated.

Bill wiggled his glass back and forward because he knew it was his time to tell.

"I live with Hilma and her sons. They don't visit their father very often so they are most often at home. My two youngest daughters live with me every other week while my oldest has chosen to live with her mom… She hates the boys and so do my other daughters but they can't choose their home… I just want to be with them and I regret my impulsive behavior to let Hilma move in before I knew her sons. And in two weeks I finally get a break from them to work in England."

Aurora looked at him with big eyes. They had always been honest towards each other but this truth was more than she was prepared for.

"And she wants a daughter. With me. But I don't want any more kids." Bill chugged the rest of his beer. "I'm going to get another one." He stood up a little awkwardly and walked up to the bar. It was nice saying the truth to someone, it was probably why people went to therapy. He had always had an easy time saying the truth to Aurora. She rarely judged and when she did she always had reasons for it. He ordered a new beer and looked towards her where she sat looking out over the ocean. She had really wanted to be with him, even if he was difficult with his children and how locked in he was in Sweden. And he was the only reason why they weren't a couple now.

He walked out to Aurora who sat and thought about what Bill had just said and tried to digest it. That sexy, confident man she had been together with would have never got himself in such a situation and on top of that he now said he didn't want kids? They smiled at each other when he sat down and Bill looked at her with big eyes, prepared for her to comment on what he had said.

"So you don't want any more children?"

He shook his head and looked down at the table.

"I've learned to appreciate what I got."

It was quiet but he felt her knee against his under the table.

"Yeah… Are you happy?"

He laughed and shook his head to himself.

"Isn't that like the hardest question to answer?"

"Bill… Don't complicate things now. I don't need a philosophical view on the word happiness. I just wonder if you're pleased with your situation."

He looked at her, the eyes, the lips, the long hair and the little diamond around her neck. He cleared his throat and looked down at his beer.

"I miss my kids. I miss having alone time with them… I miss being really intimate with a woman. I miss passionate, dirty sex." He looked her deep in the eyes and he could see how she got pink from her throat up to her cheeks. He licked his lips slowly and he could feel how Aurora watched his tongue intensely. The tongue that had made her come so many times. When she looked at Bill she understood why guys like to see her suck on a lollipop because she wanted to see Bill work those lips and that tongue.

"What do you miss?" He asked and lowered his chin so he looked evilly sexy. She wondered if he did it on purpose and swallowed nervously.

"Em…" She laughed off the nerves and didn't dare to look at Bill's sexy expression.

"I guess I miss a best friend… A male best friend. And I miss getting my pussy eaten," she didn't look up at Bill but she smirked because she knew he would react to that.

"He doesn't eat you out?" Bill dragged a hand through his hair and messed it up. "Are you serious now? He doesn't lick your pussy?"

Aurora hushed him because his voice had suddenly gotten louder.

"I just think he has performance anxiety. I've told him about you…"

Bill looked at her curiously with a raised brow. Aurora sighed and rolled her eyes.

"...That you're the only one that has made me come that way."

Bill smirked pleased and leaned back in his chair with a proud smile. Aurora felt her cheeks heat up by seeing Bill being cocky and tried to hide her smile in her jacket.

"Should I teach him?" He smirked, picking up his beer glass.

"Oh just stop it!" Aurora said but she couldn't hide her smile. A new glass of beer was set down in front of her even if she hadn't ordered and the waiter just waited for her smile as payment. Bill looked awkwardly at what was happening and thought back to when they were in a relationship, he had not been so thrilled if a waiter gave her so much attention. While Aurora said thank you and small talked with the waiter Bill saw her boyfriend walking up the stairs. The guy that didn't dare to eat the finest pussy because he had been there before. Because he owned it. Aurora turned around and looked at Mattias, who gave a strained smile by seeing her sitting with her celebrity ex and also receiving way too much attention from a young waiter. He sighed to himself, especially when he felt Bill's eyes on him. It wasn't a friendly look.

"Hey…" said he carefully to them and laid his hand on Aurora's shoulder. She looked up at him with a warm smile and Bill held his breath while looking at them.

"Hey Matty," she said sweetly and turned her face up so they could kiss. Mattias didn't settle with one little peck, he kissed her several times, a bit too heated for the public. The waiter looked at Bill with a pointed look and shook his head before he walked away. Bill continued to look away while listening to the sound of smacking lips. Aurora giggled and pushed Mattias away.

"Stop now, people will think you're trying to eat my face," she said and dragged out the chair next to her for him. Mattias smirked and looked at Bill awkwardly playing with his beer glass.

"Hey man," a pleased Mattias said as he sat down next to his girlfriend and laid his hand on her thigh. Bill gave him a strained smile and a nod. Both Mattias and Bill looked at Aurora who took a big gulp of her beer. Bill looked at her amused because she really chugged the beer while looking so neat and pretty. Mattias furrowed his brows.

"Are you drinking alcohol?"

Aurora wiped her mouth on her jacket sleeve and gave Mattias a smile.

"Yeah? I've been with Bill, it's not like anything will happen," she smiled towards Bill who smiled back, he was suddenly happier when she looked at him. Mattias gave him a skeptical look, like he was bad news.

"She has drank with me before, you know?" He looked at Mattias amused and looked more smug than he thought.

Mattias gave him a sour look in return.

"I know that… I just don't know if you remember the risk with her drinking in public."

Aurora sighed.

"Can you both stop talking about me when I'm here? And I trust Bill, okay?" She said turning towards Mattias. She laid her hand on his chest to calm him down. He pressed her small hand against his chest and smiled at her. She was his even if her annoying actor ex-boyfriend sat opposite them. Bill started to regret that he came to this but he also knew he wouldn’t have ever known that Aurora was in Sweden because of him if he didn't. He would just have to suck it up and pretend to not have a jealous monster on his back.

"So-"

"I'm going to just go in and order. Do you want something?" Mattias interrupted Bill as he stood up. He didn't even bother looking at Bill, he just looked at Aurora who glowed in the sun.

"I'm okay," she said and lifted her beer with a smile.

"You can buy me a whiskey. Just make something good," said Bill and took out his credit card from his wallet.

"Sure, I hope you like it smokey," Mattias said without taking Bill's card. Bill looked at Aurora when Mattias left.

"What?" She asked.

"He isn't so socially skilled…" said Bill with raised brows.

"Neither are you," she said with a smirk and looked after her boyfriend. Bill bit the inside of his cheek with an annoyed expression.

Mattias had bought them all a glass of whiskey and a beer. Bill bit their tongues to keep from commenting on it.

"So… You work with music… Anyone I know?" Bill asked and tried to mask his annoyance with a friendly smile.

Mattias started to enumerate names, many were quite big and Bill nodded like he was impressed. He wasn't, the name dropping thing had never been something that impressed him. Aurora spun her whiskey glass around awkwardly because she knew Bill wasn't the one to react to names. His phone book was full of them.

"And you? An actor?" Mattias asked with a little smirk. Bill looked at him with a smile.

"Among other things."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Now let’s leave the "I work with this" conversation and talk about something else! Have any of you seen that new movie with my friend Sonny?" Said Aurora with a big, proud smile.

Bill looked at her with furrowed brows and then at Mattias that looked exactly the same.

"Eehhh… No? He's quite… bad?" Bill said with an ironic face. Mattias laughed a little.

"I can imagine, he paid for some time in the studio to record a song and… He's bad." Mattias said with a laugh.

"No, does he sing too?" Bill said amused.

"And does his own songs. It sounded like Itsy Bitsy Spider but about how sexy he is."

The both of them laughed. Aurora was glad to see them bonding but it was annoying that it was around making fun of her friend.

"You're so mean! The both of you! Sonny is so sweet!"

"But he should do what he's good at! Making TikToks and doing that TV-show… God, what's it's name again?" Bill said and looked towards Mattias who was also Swedish and maybe knew.

"Top Dogs? No, no! Underdogs!" Said Mattias and chugged his whiskey. Bill laughed and threw his head back. Aurora looked at them confused, even if they spoke English she had issues following the conversation.

"It's this tv-show where dogs compete in agility and shit… Did he say that he thought his dog's father was a rat? Or what did he say?"

"Yeah! And he didn't let it go! He said it over and over like it was fact!” Mattias laughed.

"Okay, okay. Sonny may not be the brightest but…" Aurora sighed because the rat comment was stupid it didn't even feel real. "He must have just said it to get attention?"

"Does that make it better? He wanted attention that much?" Bill smirked at her. She hit his cap with an annoyed face.

"Yeah yeah!" She resigned.

They continued to talk about people and other light subjects but later on they also talked about heavier stuff. Like the friends they have had and lost to addictions. Aurora told Bill about Timmy that had been so deep in his addiction for a year now he looks like a wandering corpse. She got a bit emotional and Bill took her hand by reflex because comforting Aurora was like comforting himself, it hurt seeing her sad. Mattias probably felt the same because he moved closer to her and kissed her face several times. The alcohol had gone up to their heads a bit and the men didn't react to how the both of them looked at Aurora like she was pure magic.

"Is it snowing?" Aurora said as she looked up at the sky. She held both of the men's hands after drinking up her third whiskey. Her head spun a bit.

Bill looked up at the sky and saw small snowflakes fall.

"Yeah, it does…" he said while playing with her long nails.

"Fuck…" said Mattias as he stood up.

"Time to go home?" Continued Mattias to Aurora.

"Yeah…" she let go of their hands and stood up. She felt the world spin and giggled a little. Bill looked at her disappointed, he was a little drunk and didn't want to let her go and neither did he want the evening to come to an end.

"Do you want to come with us? It’s only seven o’clock, we can eat something together! Ohh Bill… You can cook! He's a great cook. The best!" Aurora said enthusiastically and clapped her hands.

"Okay?" Mattias said, there were mixed emotions in his answer but he gave Bill a smile.

Together along with several other guests they walked down from the outdoor sitting. Some people laughed a little, including Aurora when both her boyfriend and her ex-boyfriend reached their hand out to help her down the stairs. She took their both hands and smiled sweetly at them. She knew neither of them had really that gentlemanly thing in them but she made it come out in both of them. They knew this too and felt a bit awkward when they realized how the both of them were putty in her hands. They were competing even if the competition for now was friendly.

×××

It wasn't easy finding anything to actually cook with at Aurora's place and Bill wondered what she lived off. Pasta and juice?

"I haven't been home for a few days…" she said, a bit embarrassed and pulled on her oversized sweater like his youngest daughter used to do. She had changed clothes and was just dressed in a big white knitted sweater and pink silky pajama shorts. Bill smirked a little and took out the pasta.

"Then pasta it is!" He said it like it was something fantastic. "Do you have olive oil?"

Aurora thought about it with a finger tip against her lips.

"I think so?" She started to look through the pantry that she seemed to use as storage for 300 candles in different pastel colors. Bill sat down by the kitchen island and enjoyed seeing her naked legs and the shorts getting eaten up by her ass when she leaned into the pantry. Mattias was in the living room playing with the speakers that seemed to have checked out. Bill took a sip of his whiskey when Aurora made a sound of triumph and pulled out the olive oil.

"Nice!" Bill said after he had swallowed the whiskey. Aurora giggled and put it down in front of Bill who stood up to cook the pasta.

They could hear that Mattias succeeded in getting the speakers to work and one of Aurora's songs started to play.

"No! Turn that shit off!" She shouted and took Bill's whiskey glass and took a sip from.

"No! Don't turn it off!" Shouted Bill. He knew she thought it was awkward to have herself as background music but she should be proud, she was really talented. And so sexy.

While Bill prepared a sauce with olive oil, garlic, and other spices Aurora ran out to the living room to turn off the music. Bill smiled to himself and drank more whiskey but his smile became stiff when he turned around hearing Aurora's playful scream and Mattias carrying her on his shoulder.

"Matt! Let me go!" She kicked with her legs. It was hard to know if she liked it or not because she giggled at the same time as she sounded annoyed. Bill looked at her while she continued to beg about being put down.

"Maybe you should put her down?" Bill said seriously.

"Yes please! I'm going to puke soon!" Aurora said with her head hung down Mattias' back.

"No! My woman!" Mattias said it like he was a caveman.

"Let her go now," Bill said walking up to them and helped Aurora down, who seemed to be all dizzy and her face was red. Mattias laughed and kissed her hard.

"Sorry babe," he said and kissed her again. Bill gave Mattias an annoyed look but then walked back to the food and his glass of whiskey.

They ate together in the living room, with whiskey. All three of them were quite drunk and ate with a great appetite.

"O M G! You're magician Bill! I should hire you as my cook!" Aurora said with a mouth full of pasta. Mattias swallowed his food hard and looked at his girlfriend and looked at her ex with big eyes.

"It's okay…" he said even if he had gotten a second portion.

Bill smiled and looked at Aurora. Her lips were shiny with olive oil and she licked them over and over. She did a little happy dance while eating. Bill put his bowl down on the table and looked at Mattias who watched him. He had also finished eating and had moved closer to Aurora.

"Do you smoke?" He asked Bill with his hands behind his head. Bill leaned back against the backrest and just continued to look at Mattias for more information.

"Green?" Mattias said with a smirk.

Bill hadn't smoked weed in a few years but it did sound nice. He used to just smoke with close friends but now thought he would make an exception. It wasn't like Mattias would gossip when Aurora was there too.

"Sure," said Bill and smiled a little. He looked at Aurora who had put down her bowl and looked between the men. It was obvious she was quite drunk and changed the music so she could dance by herself. Bill looked at her while Mattias fixed joints for them. Once Bill had been good at rolling but now felt he couldn't even remember how to begin. He continued to watch Aurora. She didn't even dance sexy, just by herself in her own world. She was mostly cute but he still felt it stir in his jeans. Mattias gave him a joint and looked at his girlfriend.

"Do you want one, babe?"

She opened her eyes and looked at them a little embarrassed because of her dancing.

"No, I can just take some drags from you," she said and smiled a little. Bill looked at her and took a drag from his joint.

"So you don't hate smoking all the time?"

She giggled and sat down in between them as before.

"This smells better," she said with a shrug.

Bill smiled a little and leaned his head back and let the weed do its thing.

"Do you still have my tattoo?" He asked after a while. Mattias sat close to Aurora holding out his joint for her so she could take some drags. Mattias gave them both a look and sighed. Aurora, who felt the weed go up to her head, giggled and stretched her legs out over Bill's lap.

"Yeah…"

"Can I see?" He asked and dragged his hand over her naked shin with the joint between his lips. His eyes looked sleepy. Aurora just continued to giggle and looked at Mattias who was occupied with playing with something under her sweater.

"Is it okay?" She asked Mattias, who nodded. Bill smiled pleased and moved closer to her so she could pull up the sweater and show him the heart. Bill smiled with an exhalation and put his joint down on the ashtray so he could drag his fingers over it. He also saw a frilly part of her bra. White with strawberries and he dragged a finger over it too. Somewhere inside of him a voice said that this was weird but he continued to drag his fingers over the tattoo and the frill while her boyfriend had a hand on her naked stomach. Mattias leaned down to look at what Bill was touching and smiled dopily.

"You have the bra you have got from me…" he said and kissed her cheek. Aurora just giggled and didn't say anything, she had started to find it hard to find the words in her head.

"You can show him if you want to…" said Mattias pleased and laid his head back on the headrest. Right then and there he felt like he was showing off his shiny toy for Bill and didn't think about anything else other than making him jealous of what he got. Aurora looked between the men and continued to giggle.

"Bill?" She just said looking at him while she pulled the sweater up a bit. Bill looked at her with heavy eyes and bit his lip.

"Yeah… Show me…" he said with a smirk and took a drag of his joint, pleased. Aurora stood up with a wobble, by both the weed and way too much whiskey. Bill laughed a little at her but became quiet when she pulled off her clothes. It wasn't even sexy lingerie, just a cute little white set with strawberries but Bill felt himself get hard at once. He usually got horny on weed and now it was even worse.

"Sit in his lap a bit, it's okay…" said Mattias and smirked like he had created Aurora himself. Aurora gave him a look.

"Really? No?" She just said, still having problems finding words. She giggled again and Bill dragged his hand over his crotch. He just wanted to fuck her. Mattias could watch.

"It's okay. He can borrow," said Mattias and smirked at Bill. He could see how Bill wanted his girlfriend and just felt pleased in the moment. Aurora just continued to giggle as she straddled Bill's lap. She could feel that he was hard against her bum and wiggled teasingly over his erection.

"Fuck…" Bill dragged his hands over her thighs but then took hold of her cheeks so he could look her straight in the eyes. They looked at each other for a few seconds, both smiling.

"Ah fuck… Why are you doing this to me? I love you. Yeah I love you more than anything…" he said softly and dragged his hands through her hair, down over her collarbones.

×××

Bill's head was pounding like his heart was in his head and groaned with pain. He wanted to stretch out his long body but realized he couldn't because someone was sleeping against his chest. He looked down at Aurora who laid in just her underwear set over him, while he had his upper body bare. At first he couldn't remember anything but then he recalled the weed, Aurora in his lap but also he vaguely remembered him having some sort of declaration of love for her. He looked down at her and dragged his finger over her cheek and under her nose so she wiggled it like a little bunny. He smiled lovingly and forgot his headache by the pleasure of having her close. He dragged his finger over her lips and then took her hand that laid on his chest and kissed her wrist, while doing so he could see Mattias sit on the other side of the couch watching him with a pissed expression. Bill had almost forgotten he was a part of the night before, maybe he didn't want to remember it. Bill looked back at him with big eyes. He had his girlfriend against his naked chest. He had his half naked girlfriend almost on top of him.

"Ehh…" Bill said as he tried to sit up without waking Aurora. Mattias just continued to look at him.

"I want you out of here. Now. And never, ever contact Aurora again. Or else I will fucking kill you," said Mattias angrily with a hard expression. Bill swallowed hard and tried to stand up without waking Aurora. It wasn't really that he was afraid of Mattias but he could also see why he was angry and why it probably was best for him to go as soon as possible. He would also have killed himself if he was Mattias.

Aurora scrunched her body into a little ball when he had let her go. She got cold when Bill's heat disappeared. He looked at her with a heavy chest and knew he would contact her, even if Mattias had threatened him. He pulled on his t-shirt and hoodie and then looked at Mattias who continued to watch him with that hard expression. It really looked like he wanted to kill him and by the little Bill could remember right then he understood him. It was obvious to him that he had done everything in his power to take Aurora from Mattias, right in front of the man's eyes. He walked out to the hallway and grabbed his stuff. His phone was dead and in the hallway mirror he realized that he looked just as dead. Pale and dark circles under bloodshot eyes. He looked at Aurora's dogs that stood and watched him but then walked out from the house with a sigh. What the fuck had actually happened? He was happy that it didn't seem like they had had a threesome but he also felt that he probably would have been up for it. He walked to the port and realized the next ferry wouldn't come for another hour. He groaned loudly and sat down on a bench. He hadn't felt this sick in a long time, especially not with extreme anxiety. Was this how you got with age? Weak with memory gaps? But the worst thing was that he was also so sexually frustrated he thought about jerking off behind a tree. Fuck, this was awful, he would never smoke weed again, especially not with Aurora. She made him totally wacko.

It wasn't easy traveling on the ferry or walking home. He had gotten seasick on the ferry and sat with his head between his knees and he didn't have the energy to walk home so he took a taxi but then got car sick instead. When he came up to the apartment he knew he looked like a wreck but no one looked at him when he walked in because Hilma stood having a loud verbal fight with the mother of his children. Bill didn't have energy for a fight, he just felt for a shower and then jerk himself to sleep but both the women looked at him upset.

"Where have you been??" Said Hilma, upset with her arm crossed. His ex looked at him also with annoyance.

"Ehh… I fell asleep… At a party?" He said tiredly and felt he was close to puking just leaning down to take off his boots.

"A party?” Said his ex and then gave Hilma a look, like she was amused that Bill did such things without Hilma.

"I've called you so many times!" Said Hilma as she walked up to Bill but then took a step back. "God, you smell horrible!"

Bill didn't say anything, just walked into the bedroom where Hilma's sons jumped in the bed. He felt a need to scream at them but didn't even have energy for that. He was just tired, had anxiety and was sexually frustrated. And hungry. He needed to eat something, he thought while taking off his clothes. Both the women looked at him from the door opening.

"Bill! Can you like, try being an adult?" Said Hilma. His ex smirked a little. She didn't like Hilma because she thought she didn't have any control of her kids.

"Yes! What is it?" Bill said annoyed and turned to them. He stood in just dark blue boxers and rubbed his face with his palms.

"I just said you maybe can take the girls tonight because I must go to a thing," said his ex.

"Okay?" Said Bill and wondered what the problem was.

"My mom is coming tonight, Bill. We can't have four kids running around then!" Hilma said, looking at him annoyed. He really looked like a mess, bloodshot eyes and a shine to his skin because of the car sickness. Bill sighed loudly and sat down on the bed. Even if it was a mess at Aurora's too, he was now regretting leaving her house. He would rather take a fight with Mattias and then sleep long and hard with Aurora on his chest and then fuck her slowly and soft.

One of the boys threw a pillow at his head and he sighed loudly.

"Hilma, I think we need to talk. But my daughters are always welcome here. Okay?" He said annoyed. His ex smiled pleased and looked at Hilma.

"His daughters come first. And it is his apartment," she said with attitude to Hilma.

"But you should realize he is your ex! You broke up five years ago!" Said Hilma angrily.

"And soon you will too. We both know Bill never got over his little twenty year old… Pop princess," said his ex before she left the apartment. Hilma muttered angrily in the hallway while her sons started to run around her. Bill sat with his head between his hands. He didn't have energy to say anything but there wasn't anything to say either. He had never gotten over the little pop princess. Had he cheated? He didn't know but it didn't matter, having a declaration of love to Aurora instead of his girlfriend was worse.

He was surprised that Hilma let him chug yogurt and then take a shower. He thought he didn't have energy for anything but when he stood there the pictures of Aurora in her little strawberry set wiggling in his lap came up in his head and he jerked off fast and quietly then he shut himself in the bedroom. He didn't want to think about that Hilma's mother would be there soon, and his daughters. Hilma would probably say that he should cook while she drank wine with her mother and he was forced to check the kids too. He closed his eyes and imagined Aurora next to him. It wasn't anything sexual, he just imagined her sleeping close to him and dragging her long nails over his scalp soothingly.

×××

Bill woke up when someone shook his shoulders and called his name. Hilma stood over him and looked down at him. She looked pretty with her long dark blonde hair in a high ponytail. She had those model high cheekbones and was a real stunner but he wasn't in love with her and even if he had believed he had been in love with her he knew he would never be. He was awful.

"Mom comes in an hour, can you just… Get some clothes on?" She asked with an annoyed voice. Bill could hear her sons fighting in the livingroom and already felt horror for his girls to be with the boys. He sighed loudly.

"I'm going to take the girls out… We haven't done anything with just us for a long time." He sat up in bed and rubbed his eyes. Hilma made a sound of offense.

"You mean you will not meet mom and you will leave me alone with the boys another night?"

Bill looked at her sarcastically with furrowed brows.

"You leave me alone with them so often! Even if they aren't my kids!"

"Of course they are! They are all our children!" Bill laughed unamused.

"No. My kids would never act like they do," he muttered and stood up. "I'm going to take my girls out for some dinner and then you can take care of your sons," he said and walked to the wardrobes to find something to wear.

"You're so fucking mean sometimes! You kinda act like I am just a tenant!"

Bill sighed even louder and made a sound of resignation.

"It's because this doesn't work! This hasn't worked for a very long time and you know it too! You treat me like a babysitter and sperm bank!"

Hilma threw a pillow at him.

"No! You said you wanted kids with me! You are the asshole!"

"Maybe I am! But now I just want to be alone with my daughters and…" he thought about Aurora but swallowed it down. Hilma was quiet.

"You mean you're breaking up with me?" She said stunned after a while and looked at him in disbelief.

Bill looked at her with his hands on his hips and sighed.

"Yes… Yeah…" he dragged his hands through his hair and looked at Hilma who looked around confused. After a while she stood up and started to walk towards the door.

"But mom will be here soon so…"

"I’m going out with the girls," Bill carefully said with a low gaze. He just heard her close the bedroom door but he still could hear her sons through the wall.

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