#trying to distract myself with snails

[passionpeachy]

[kakashihasibs]

Whenever i meet someone from basically anywhere outside of my bubble of the US or Canada I'm like "oh that's really cool :]" and they always get kinda defensive and angry like "why is that cool >:/" and it's just do they realize they are familiar with entirely different ecosystems? All the cool plants and animals I've never seen in person and likely never will? Ive never been able to go outside the US T-T cut me a little slack please. I'll share all the cool stuff i know about prairies and wet lands from where I'm from

[pjisskullourful]

𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓲𝓷𝓮𝓭 𝓼𝓱𝓮𝓮𝓽𝓼

➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶

🌼Damiano × reader

part 26 [parts 1-25]

NSFW 🔥 filthy playtime for nasty kittens only

° Damiano David/female reader insert

° “Did you know that I love you?” He leaned in, whispering into your ear. “And that’s why I’m going to blindfold you and push you around and play with you until your brain absolutely melts.” - theres a new toy damiano has been dying to share with you

wordcount::: 9,851

° powered along by a request for extra praise from sweetheart @vittoriaisfuckingpathetic 💋 [requests are open!] [commissions are priority, secure the 2nd spot in my cue here!]

“Kitten, the house looks so good. I think this is cleaner than some of the hotels I’ve been staying in, for real.” Damiano said, coming back into the living room. “Honestly, I’m impressed.”

You looked up from the screen of your mobile phone. “What, were you expecting to come home to find muddy pig tracks through the whole apartment or something?”

“No, no, no. I would definitely have a lot of questions if that were the case. No, I know that you’re not a slob who was gonna wreck the place up.” He clarified. “I’m just really noticing it, in every room that I’m in. And I appreciate it, all this work must have taken a lot of time.”

“It wasn’t so bad. You were gone for such a long time that I could stretch it out and do it in little bursts.” You said.

He didn’t return to sitting on the sofa with you, placing his hands into the pockets of his baggy pants as he remained standing. “Surely you could find something more fun to do while I’m gone.”

You shrugged. “I guess. But I know how a clear house helps you keep a clear head and that’s what I wanted for you when you got home. It’s also a little selfish on my part because I’m working to get rid of any distractions. It’s all a play to hoard more of your time for myself.”

Maybe there would be a time when him leaving for tour didn’t feel so significant. It must be coming, the moment when this became normal, not something to adjust to.

But that time was not right now. This leg of the Rush world tour had seen you at a loss of how to be without him, as if you had forgotten how to do it, as if it were a brand new challenge. Some of the days had dragged by at snail speed with you feeling truly lonely.

Cleaning the apartment had been a way to fill the slow hours. At the same time, doing a task that you knew would earn you praise like ‘good girl’ had helped you feel closer to him - in some strange way.

It had been good to have something tactile to do when your jealousy over his globe-trotting days had begun to get to you. He had always kept you up to date, wanting to share his excitement with you. You never wanted to meet his enthusiasm with bitterness, even if there were times when it made you homesick for a life you hadn’t truly experienced. You couldn’t show him this jealousy, you couldn’t do anything with it. It was an unpleasant taste that you had to swallow down, hoping to wait it out.

It was better when you were together, that way all of his fun included you.

“And it’s not just how clean everything is that’s got me so impressed, babygirl.” He said and you noticed something different in the way he was looking at you - or was it just a trick of the lighting? “That package for me got delivered over a week ago and you just put it on my bedside table and left it alone. The packaging is still perfect, you clearly didn’t try to get into it once. You’re so well-behaved, even when I’m not here and I appreciate that so much.”

“It’s no big deal. It was addressed to you so it’s not mine to open.” You said.

“But didn’t you really wanna know what’s in there, under all of that packaging?” He asked.

“Sure. But I wasn’t gonna invade your privacy like that.” You said.

“Well, it seems like curiosity isn’t gonna kill this kitty, huh?” He said. “Maybe we should open it together ‘cause it was addressed to me but it’s really for both of us.”

He offered a hand out to you and you put your hand in his without hesitation. You left your phone on the couch, keen to discover what this secret package was. You had succeeded in fighting back the urge to rip it open, but that didn’t mean you weren’t deeply intrigued, drawn back into looking at it and wondering semi-regularly.

The long rectangular box was entirely concealed by the opaque mailing satchel. And the satchel itself hadn’t provided the answers that you needed. It showed you the sender’s address, but clarity hadn’t come with this. LTWS wasn’t a familiar brand name to you and typing it into Google had been no help, a few pages of results, contradicting one another with no obvious official website. It was easier to give it up, making the decision to spare yourself more frustrations. Patience wasn’t your strong suit, but you had willed yourself to tap into some, knowing it would please him - a delayed reward.

You stood up, smiling as you reached his eye level. But he remained still, not leading you to the bedroom where the box was located, as you had expected.

“Actually, how about you be a good kitty for me and take your clothes off right now?” He said.

Some sort of sex toy, I should have known, you thought as your first sense of reaction was to do exactly as you were told. “Underwear too?” You asked as you pushed the pants down from your thighs.

“Uh-huh, you’re not gonna need them and I don’t need them slowing me down.” He said and so you unhooked the clasps of your bra. “Do you have any idea how sexy your obedience is? God, I’ve missed it.”

You smiled, maintaining eye contact as you took your underwear down, able to step out of it. “Well I’ll have to keep it up so that you can get your fill.”

Of course you wanted him to be equally as naked. But in the absence of that, you still had plenty to enjoy, you could just focus on the way that he was looking at you. His eyes were making thorough work of getting reacquainted with your nude form. You were pleased rather than feeling the need to cover any part of your body. His gaze was a nice reminder of how much he wanted to admire you, during your time apart he hadn’t developed any radical differences in his tastes that would keep him from enjoying your body. It gave you the feeling that you could settle because everything was right (blissful, in fact) in your world.

Holding his hand, you went in the direction of the bedroom. You noticed the package missing from his nightstand. But before you could start to locate the mystery item, he was distracting you with kisses. His hands were on either side of your face, drawing you in and you didn’t resist.

You didn’t try to guess at what he had planned. You gave him your trust by sinking fully into this moment, positively savouring all of this closeness.

“I kinda don’t want to just show you the thing that I bought…” He quietly told you, his forehead resting against yours as his thumb stroked your cheeks. “It’s more than something you simply look at, so I think it would be better if you experienced it. That’s a better introduction than you looking at it, don’t you think?”

You hesitated, but this extra thinking time didn’t yield the result of the perfect thing to say. “Um, I would love to agree with you. But, Daddy- I don’t think I know what you’re talking about.”

“Right.” He said with a smile. “It’s all so clear in my head ‘cause I know exactly what’s going on, but you don’t… okay, new approach: how do you feel about being blindfolded, or is that not what you’re in the mood for today?”

You gently took one of his hands off of your face so that you could apply a kiss to the palm. “I’m in the mood for whatever you’re in the mood to do…”

His smile grew and you felt that rush of happiness over finding the right thing to say, the two of you confirmed to be on the same page.

“Did you know that I love you?” He asked and it would have been easy to get bashful. He leaned in, whispering into your ear. “And that’s why I’m going to blindfold you and push you around and play with you until your brain absolutely melts.” Now you were feeling bashful, a blush filling your cheeks. “Are you ready for that?”

You licked your lips. “Yes Master, I am.”

He gave you a kiss on the cheek before leaving his spot directly in front of you. “I’m glad that you said yes to this, because maybe I had already started to put things aside.”

“You’re a man with a plan, huh?” You asked.

He had crouched down, reaching for items that you hadn’t seen him placing under the bed. “Well once I started thinking, ideas just naturally grouped themselves together in my head.” He had more than the sash-style blindfold in his hands now.

“The kitty mask goes over the blindfold.” He told you, seeing your uncertainty.

“Is that, like, a safeguard to keep me from taking it off? 'Cause that's not necessary, Daddy. If you tell me to keep the blindfold on, then I will. I'm not secretly waiting for an opportunity to brat.” You said.

“No. I just really like how you look in this and it's been a while since I've seen you in it. And maybe you'll find out why it's appropriate attire…” He said. He held the blindfold in both hands. “May I?”

You made a face, feigning indecisiveness. “I don't even get to see you naked first? It's been so long.”

“Okay, settle down, you know you're not gonna be left waiting for nudity from me.” He said. That wasn't anything you could argue against - it was a running joke amongst your friends that they couldn't show up to your apartment unannounced, they had to give you a heads-up so you could make sure Damiano wasn't having his regular bout of time walking around naked.

He stepped closer and started placing the sash over your eyes. “You just show me how patient you can be. And I promise you will be seeing my naked body soon enough, we've got a lot of catching up to do.”

The soft material covered your vision and you shut your eyes. “Yes, we do.” He wrapped it around then tied the ends at the back of your head. In the darkness, you waited, trying to picture what he was up to.

The next thing you felt was the sash being pushed more firmly against your skin as he fixed the leather mask onto your face. It rested over the bridge of your nose, covering your forehead, with the triangular ears protruding from the top. He got the straps into place and tied them in a knot, also at the back of your head.

“It looks good, kitty. But does it feel good, not too tight?” He asked, his fingers playing with your hair.

“No, it feels fine.” You said.

“Come with me.” He said, taking your hand while putting his other to the nape of your neck, gently guiding you.

You took smaller steps than usual, ready to stop in the exact second that your toes touched something. But that moment didn't come. He got you over to the bed, instructing you to put one of your knees forward, onto the mattress. Once both your knees were on the mattress he got you to move a little further forward, then it was time for you to lie down, your bare chest meeting the sheets.

You listened carefully to the sounds of him moving around the bedroom. You wondered about what he was doing, your mind working to fill in these blanks as the minutes seemed to stretch out. You reflected on the clues he had given you, why was he so fixated on seeing you in the cat mask?

You felt the mattress dip under his weight as he sat, or kneeled, on your left side. Then you felt something soft, and seemingly light, brushing against your shoulder. You assumed that this was whatever had come in the package because you couldn't immediately link what you were feeling to something you had experienced before. It was a small touch but it grabbed all of your attention anyway. There wasn't any pressure, just the beginnings of the sensation of being tickled.

Goosebumps raised on your skin as he started to drag the mysterious object down, the fuzzy tip moving towards the centre of your back. He moved it to your spine, gradually stroking it up-and-down, causing you to squirm a little.

“Am I supposed to be guessing what it is?” You asked, turning your head only to find more darkness.

“No, we're not playing that game. You're just supposed to be enjoying it.” He said.

“I am.” You said as he started to move the mystery item in swirls.

Your imagination and memory worked together, trying to piece together an image to match what you were feeling. Was it a pom-pom, attached to what? Had he bought a feather tickler?

You couldn't help squirming as he focused it on the small of your back. The fuzzy object moved in slow, light swipes that had your toes flicking, giggles bubbling up in your throat. You wondered how this view was appealing to him.

He started to trace it down one of your thighs, aiming for the inner portion and your muscle tensed in anticipation.

Then you were feeling more of the fuzziness, more than just a tip. This thin object reached down almost the length of your thigh, adding extra dimensions to what you were trying to imagine.

You were starting to envision a strip of plush fabric, maybe the tie of a cosy dressing gown. It felt light enough to be this, but what did this have to do with your cat mask? Why couldn’t you just look at a new robe? He transferred it to your other thigh and you realised you were no closer to a definitive answer, so you gave it up to just enjoy the feeling.

Suddenly there was a jolt through your body and before you could register what had happened, you were kicking both of your feet up. Your muscles clenched and your toes were twitching - he had passed the fuzzy item over the sole of your foot. Your stomach was gripped and you were laughing before you could help yourself.

“Oh, are you ticklish there, pet?” He asked as you were tentatively lowering your feet.

You got your laughter under control, still smiling as you responded. “Yes, everybody is ticklish on the bottom of their feet. I'm sure you would flinch if I did the same to you.”

“Hm, possibly. Too bad we'll never find out.” He said before springing the object onto your foot again.

“Ung…” You flailed your legs as you began laughing again. There was tension in your muscles as you waited for him to tickle you further. You grabbed for the sheets as you laughed loudly.

Your chest was tight and you had barely lowered your legs back down before he brushed it on your foot. Your laughter got louder and you rolled onto your side a little. Your whole diaphragm was vibrating with laughter and you set it free, letting your sounds fill the room.

“Sttt-sto-ah-ah…” Your word was mangled by the laughter, which was more than you could control as he kept the object with your foot, no matter how much you moved it. “You've got-gotta stttt-op!”

“How can you expect me to want to stop when you're making the cutest noises?” He teased, continuing to tickle you.

“Puh-please.” You said through the enduring laughter. “Ah, ha ha.” You rolled further away from him. You placed a hand over your mouth, trying to muffle the laughs as you attempted to get yourself under control again.

You felt the toy move away from you altogether, and the next thing to touch you was his hand. He grabbed for your hip, pushing you towards him again. “Okay, okay, please don't roll yourself right off the bed. We don't need you getting a bloody nose when you hit the ground or anything like that.”

“Oh, shit.” You said, going with his guidance to move back to your spot. “Will you stop?”

“Yes, kitten. I promise you.”

You had managed to kill off your laughter, taking in regular breaths again. “So that’s what you had delivered, some kind of tickling wand?”

“A tickling wand?” He repeated, sounding so uncertain it was as if he was pronouncing these words for the first time. “No, that’s not even close to what it is. You’re lucky I didn’t make this a guessing game because you just lost.

“It’s not designed to tickle, that’s just an added bonus because I like playing with you so much. Here, I’ll show you what it can do besides just tickling you.” He said.

You thought you heard the closeby click of a button being pushed, which offered limited clarity to your confused state. This was followed by the fuzzy material being brushed against your back again. Beginning at your shoulder, he laid it down in a diagonal line, reaching to one of your hips.

Once the object was resting against your body, you were able to identify a new sensation. The strip of plush fabric was buzzing, vibrating on a low intensity. This served to confuse you further, even through the pleasant feeling it gave you.

Before you could begin using this information for a new mental image, you were distracted by the sound of a draw on the nightstand rolling open. It quickly shut again. Then you heard what could have been a tube of lubricant being uncapped.

“How’s your ass?” He asked, sounding somewhat nonchalant.

But you were bewildered. “How is my-...? What kind of question is that?”

“What?”

“No, I’m the one saying what right now, Damiano.” You said.

“It’s a genuine question, I’m asking it with genuine concern because I need to know if anal should be off the table right now for any reason.”

“Oh.”

“So, how is your ass?”

“Um, would it be weird if I said it’s open for business?”

He chuckled. “If that’s the answer you want to give.”

“It’s all I can think of.” You said, blushing against the pillowcase. “I wanted to be witty or funny.”

“Well, you made me laugh.” He said and you noticed the teasing in his tone. “You just let me know if you change your mind on anal.”

“Mm-hmm.” You didn’t add anything extra this time around, not wasting time on finding the perfect thing to say.

The lube clearly held some sort of significance, but you didn’t know how to add it to the puzzle already in your head. The fluffy object continued its mild vibrating on your back, almost entirely overshadowed by the feeling of his slippery fingers between your buttcheeks. You drew in one deep breath after another as he started massaging the lube onto your hole. Slowly, tenderly, he progressed to applying it inside as well. You could feel the heat of your blushing still in your cheeks.

“Feels so good.” You wanted to reassure him of your willingness, but you couldn’t get your voice above a whisper.

“That’s great, babygirl.” He said, no longer making fun of you.

He tested at how relaxed you were by gradually sinking one of his fingers into your ass. He didn’t push in any deeper than the first knuckle, giving you the chance to adjust.

Momentarily you forgot about the blindfold as you lifted your head, turning it in his direction, only to be faced with the enduring darkness. “Maybe I should ask you the question now.”

“Hm?”

“How is my ass, Daddy?” You asked.

“Right, the question.” He said with a brief chuckle. “Your ass is adorable, sexy, perfect, addictive to play with, the best pillow anyone could hope for. And, I would say, adequately lubricated, what do you think?”

“Yeah, it feels like it.” You responded, lying your head down again.

“Good.” He said and you felt his hand leaving your butt.

You heard another subtle click as he took the furry item off of your back. Nothing seemed to happen after this and you waited. You still didn't know what his new purchase was - a tickling wand had been your best guess. Now you were stumped as to how the mystery item related to your hole needing to be lubed.

Was the lube now being applied to his cock? Or was this another incorrect guess from you? You worked at keeping impatience at bay, making yourself focus on getting comfortable.

“Are you ready, kitty?” He asked, resting what felt like a dry hand on your lower back.

“Uh–huh.” You replied, even though you still didn’t know what you were agreeing to. You maintained your trust in him, certain he would make it something that you would like.

You felt the mattress shifting and you anticipated to begin feeling his body on yours. But this didn’t come. Instead the next thing you felt was a fleeting brush from the furry material.

Then he was sliding something firm in between your buttcheeks. You felt the item’s tapered end easing towards your asshole and you took a deep breath. For the moment you had quit trying to fill in the blanks.

“Just stay relaxed for me, okay kitty?” He asked, his tone wonderfully warm and reassuring.

“Uh-huh.”

He worked slowly at fitting the lubricant plug into your asshole. You tried your best to remain still, but you didn’t think relaxed was a fitting descriptor for how you were feeling. You licked your lips, your chest tightening with excitement. Heat was rushing into your crotch with this area being lit up with tingles.

“You’re almost there. I know you can do it, babygirl.” He said. “Just a little… there you go, is that okay?”

“Yep, I’m happy with it.” You said, feeling another brush from the furry material, this time it was on the back of one of your legs. But you still weren’t interested in giving it much attention.

“Do you truly not know what’s going on? Or are you just playing along to let me live out my little fantasy of surprising you?” He asked.

“Truly, I don’t know what came in that package, or what it has to do with a plug, or what the plug has to do with what I genuinely thought was some sort of tickler. I know very little right now.” You said before silencing yourself, holding back from requesting the details you were hungry for.

“Well I guess now is a good time to stop with the blindfold.” He said and you lifted your head from the pillow. “I’ll let you see what’s going on for yourself.”

“Really?” You asked as you started to sit up, putting a little more caution into the action than you normally would.

“Yes, come here.”

You braced yourself by placing your knees on the bed, making a mental note of how you were still feeling the non-tickler brushing against different parts of your legs. But its importance continued to evade you.

He reached around your head, loosening the ties. You got your vision back, instantly regaining your bearings too.

You started to look over your shoulder, eager to get the full picture. You saw the fluffy cause of your tickling - a long and plush snake-esque object, lying limply behind your butt. It looked as soft as it felt. It was mostly made of black fur, with some pink stripes, almost like highlights in hair. But what made it vibrate, and why? And what required it to be associated with the plug filling your ass?

He wasn’t saying anything so you twisted your neck a little further, looking down to your butt. There was no separation between your ass and the furry thing, now you saw that. It wasn’t a snake.

You opened your mouth to share your realisation. But any words were replaced by a gasp for air when the toy in your body started to vibrate. It radiated out, affecting more than just your ass. Your eyes were wide as you looked at him, finding his phone in his hand, you assumed this was the controller of the new sensation.

“You see, not a tickling wand.” He said. “I don’t know if that kind of thing exists.”

“You got me a tail?” You asked, you tentatively reached for its end, unsure of how it should be handled.

“I sure did.” He said. “But this isn’t just any tail.”

“It’s a tail and a plug.”

“Right and it’s one of a kind, completely custom and made just for you, and your ass.” He said.

“What, really? I can’t believe you would do that for me, Daddy.” You said, your heart swelling.

“Why can’t you believe it? You deserve the best, and you should know that I will always get the best for you.”

You put your hands to either side of his face so that you could draw him in for a kiss. “Thank you, I love it.” You kissed him again, but pulled back far less to speak. “And I love being your kitty.”

He initiated the next kiss, brushing some strands of your hair away from your forehead. His other hand drifted slowly down your back, a light touch that could prompt delighted shivers.

“I'm so glad to finally see you wearing it. So many times when I was away it would pop into my mind and I would get this close to telling you to open the package and put it in because I really didn't know if I could wait. But being here to see it in person the first time, it's for sure the best way it could have happened.” He said.

“Custom?” You repeated, wanting to spend some more time on that concept.

“Yeah. I searched the entire internet and everything that I was finding was almost perfect. Like, the tail would be super pretty but the plug was metal. Or the plug would be perfect but it was attached to a bunny tail.” He said. “I got you a thirty inch tail and I got it in your favourite colours, instead of just getting one colour, how boring. I needed the plug to vibrate, which can be controlled on my phone…” He showed you the screen of his phone, it was a simple looking outlay. “And I knew you would like it better if it was silicone. I would rather you not have a tail at all, than have one that isn't absolutely perfect.”

“That's so sweet and thoughtful.” You said. “I literally don't think I could even imagine a better tail.”

He extended his phone to you. “Do you want to play with the vibrations?”

“Thank you, Master.” You said with a smile.

You pressed the plus symbol a few times, your gut tightening. You exhaled shakily and he began kissing your cheek, his lips lingering on your skin. You tapped a different button, one marked with a simple swirl. This brought up a handful of smaller buttons, which were numbered one to five. You looked to him for an explanation of what they did, but he just smiled at you and started to give your neck some kisses.

You tapped one and felt the vibrations change, they got more subtle, then gradually built up in intensity. You squirmed as it cycled through from low to high, your cunt feeling hot and tight. Number two worked in quicker bursts of stronger intensity, less build up and cool down. He sucked on your neck a little as you pressed three, experiencing a different pattern of the pulsations.

He had the bottom of the tail in hand, lifting the tip up to your face and playing it against the end of your nose. You giggled, screwing your nose up but not moving away. You tried out the other two modes of pre-set patterns, enjoying the surprises each of them held. He used the tip of the tail to draw a line along your jaw, then caressed it up-and-down on your neck, getting you feeling true shivers now.

You returned to the main screen, keeping the vibrations consistent. Your eyes started to flutter shut but before they could entirely close, they saw something of interest. His dick was standing stiff under the material of his pants.

“You're really enjoying how I look in it, huh?” You asked, placing your hand on his knee.

“Fuck yeah, I am. My sexy little kitty.”

You returned his phone to him, taking something out of his other hand. You held the cat mask up to your face again, reaching around your head. “Meow…”

He helped you in the task of tying it into a knot, then he was covering your mouth in eager kisses. All of your giddy desires were coiling in your gut.

“Do you wanna show it off for me?” He asked, stealing more kisses before you had the chance to answer.

“Uh-huh.” You said. You were going to get up, but you couldn't help kissing him another time first.

The tail dragged along the ground as you walked to the available space at the foot of the bed. The plush fur was so soft when it brushed against the backs of your thighs. You couldn’t help looking back over your shoulder at it, admiring the bushiness of this tail. You had done some online window-shopping and none of the sleek tails had appealed to you, even though their price tags were more realistic. But this tail was luxurious and it didn’t leave you wanting more.

You turned your back to him, assuming this was the view he wanted. Before you could get your feet firmly planted in position, your attention was brought back to the plug and your knees shook in response to the vibrations unexpected increase. Your breath hitched for a moment.

Then you concentrated yourself again. You arched your back and tensed your leg muscles. Slowly you moved your ass from one side to the other, with the tail moving according to this momentum. You could feel the heat rising in your body, this excitement needing somewhere to land.

You didn't keep your back to him for long, you were too eager to see his reaction. His eyes slowly lifted up to your face and he licked his lips.

You picked up the tail about halfway down its length, you swung the end gently in the air, picking up speed until you could complete a circle. Then another, and another. He smiled as he watched you play. You swayed your hips from one side to the other as you kept the tail in motion.

His eyes briefly left your body so that he could look at his phone. He moved his finger into place but you noticed that it didn't make contact with the screen, hovering instead. His eyes were fixed on your face when he did press it and you were feeling the effects instantly, but only quickly.

The vibrations changed to a less intense mode, not dominating your focus. But then a powerful jolt came again, with no build up - just sudden and relentless. You flinched and before you were given the chance to adjust, it was gone. A smile was developing on his mouth.

“Are you having fun with your new toy, kitty?” He asked.

You opened your mouth to respond but another surge of vibrations caught you off guard, your throat momentarily clenching around any possible words. You felt it wearing at your composure, before promptly switching off. “Ye-yeah I am, I just…” You had gotten distracted from twirling the tail. “That mode feels different from when I was pressing it. Or am I just imagining it?”

“This isn't one of the patterns you were playing with. This is the burst mode.” He said and he tapped the screen, giving you a demonstration.

That was exactly what it felt like, and exactly what it made you want to do. Your heart was racing and you had begun to clench your fists as he activated the mode a few more times.

“Do you like it?” He asked, leaning forward and wearing an eager smile.

“Yeah, it’s a…” You shifted your weight from side-to-side, feeling quite unsettled as he clearly made moves to undermine your control. “It’s definitely a lot… uh, a lot of fun.”

“So much fun that you forgot to show it off to me, huh?” He pointed out, it was a gentle way of refocusing you.

“You’re right.” You said, pushing your shoulders back as you adjusted how you held the furry tail. “How would you like me to model it for you, Master?”

For the moment, he was leaving the buttons alone. “How about you get down on all fours? You can get a bit more into your kitten character, can’t you- for me?”

“Of course.” You said, lowering yourself to the ground before finishing your answer.

Even though the plug was inactive inside you, your heart was fluttering. Your knees rested on the carpet and you draped the tail behind yourself before beginning to lean forward. The way that he was looking at you (what you saw in his dark eyes) had you feeling a tremble in your thighs.

When he didn’t give you any direction, you moved as you wanted. You began to crawl toward him, where there was plenty of room for you between his legs.

“You should probably go back the other way if you want to really show me the tail.” He said, gesturing away from himself.

You didn't hesitate, reaching one of your arms out to the side and redirecting yourself. You crawled towards the wall, feeling the tail sway against your ass as you went.

You got as close as you could to the wall, stopping and looking back over your shoulder, needing more guidance from him.

“It's a perfect view, babygirl.” He said, eyes moving all over your body with great interest. “You're really great at this crawling around like a kitty thing, maybe you should stay on the floor for a bit longer. Being a fantastic kitty is fun, hm? You're just so great at it.”

“Thank you.”

“Show me how well you can crawl to me.” He said.

You did this at once. You kept your eyes on him, seeing how focused his gaze was. But there were moments when you broke eye contact, curiously looking at the protrusion in his pants and letting your mind race. There were so many things you could, and wanted to, do for him.

“Just like that, yes.” He said as you drew closer.

You were aching for his touch as you reached the end of the bed, placing yourself between his feet. You lifted your hands from the ground but remained beneath him, on your knees. You looked up at him, finding he had placed his phone aside for the moment. His hands went to your cheeks, yours went to his thighs, your nails pressing against the material of his pants.

You began to move your hands, going for the zipper. He did nothing to discourage you, instead somewhat foreshadowing your plan by giving you his thumb to suck on. You wrapped your lips around it as you got to your task.

“I hope you're not getting distracted again.” He said before you could get the button undone. “I'm not done watching you model this tail. I haven't had my fill of kitten's adventures around the floor.”

You took your hands away from him at once, perfectly happy to keep playing this game - because you knew how sensational the final destination would be.

“Show me from the side. Be a good girl and crawl along the side of the bed here.” He instructed.

“Okay.”

You gave his still-concealed dick one last look before you repositioned. You flicked the tail over to one side and returned your hands to the ground. As you started to crawl around the bottom corner of the bed, he turned around to keep track of you, not missing a second of your progress.

“Does Daddy like this view?” You asked.

He remained just as close as before, perched at the edge of the mattress. “Very, very much. Like might be an understatement.” He watched you get about halfway to the head of the bed. “Hang on, can you wait there for the moment?”

You stopped without question. You anticipated more from the plug, trying to prepare yourself for the effects of another burst. You kept your eyes on the bedside table that you were approaching. You were feeling eager, but you could still maintain your patience.

“Oh.” He said, his voice coming from behind you. “Well, you are definitely  having fun with your new toy.”

A more powerful heat came into your face as you instantly realised he was referring to how wet your cunt appeared. And there was no way for you to hide it. You were totally exposed to him, every dirty need, all of your unspoken desires - it was his to use as he pleased.

“Being a good kitten really turns you on, huh?” He asked, you didn't have to be looking at him to know that he was smiling. “It turns me on, too. But you know what- I don't need you on the floor anymore.” You looked over your shoulder. “Climb up on the bed for me.”

You got up from the floor and saw that he was taking his clothes off, finally. You sat where you were, waiting for the next instruction as you watched him.

“How do you want me?” You asked.

“I was thinking face down, ass up.” He posed it as a suggestion. “I've got my fill of seeing you on the floor, but there's still more admiring of that tail I need to do.”

“Of course, Master.” You said, beginning to lay down. But you didn't rush, wanting to see more of his undressing process. He didn't correct this behaviour, moving in closer to kiss you. You took the chance to run your hands down his bare chest, your mind full of ideas.

You continued to enjoy the taste of him on your lips even after you had parted. You got into the required position, your nerves on edge as you were more than eager to experience what came next. You rested the side of your face on the pillow and separated your knees as you set them on the bed. You could feel the tail draped over one side of your elevated ass.

“Is the plug getting to be too much?” He asked as he moved in to fill the space behind you.

“Well it’s a lot, but in a good way.” You said.

“I know you’ll tell me if you need a break from it.” He said, his fingers massaging at the small of your back. “You’re always a good girl with stuff like that- my smart, responsible, capable babygirl. Is that what you are?”

“Yeah.” You said a little shyly.

“Here…” He said, placing his unlocked phone on the pillow next to your face. “You can have a play and see which modes you like best while I’m getting into position here.”

You picked it up, your eyes going to the button that activated the intense bursts, but you didn’t feel brave enough to touch it. “I think they’re all gonna feel like the best right now, I’m horny as fuck- you already know this.”

He snickered and you felt his legs pressed against yours - the distance between your bodies thankfully becoming a thing of the past. “Yeah. I know it and I love it.”

You tapped the plus symbol, driving the consistent buzzes to a greater strength. You opened up the options for different modes and selected one without overthinking it. You enjoyed the rise-and-fall in intensity, making the eagerness swell up like a tangible presence in your gut. More blood was pumping into your pussy.

You were hyper-aware of the movements he made as he began to spread your cunt open with his dick. Your eyes fluttered shut and you stopped caring about trying out the vibrator's other modes, what you currently had felt perfect to you. He leaned more of his weight into you.

“Good girl…” He said with a moan as he pushed in deeper. “You're loving having two holes filled like this, aren't you?”

“Yes.” You said, short on breath.

You shut your eyes, feeling into your body differently than before and a moment was needed to adjust. This new level was so promising.

Your walls fluttered around him as you sank into this feeling, marvelling at how the pressure in your cunt could make you pay more attention to what the plug was doing in your ass. All the while, your clitoris was throbbing and you started into that ache for release, now knowing you could fully attach yourself to it.

“Oh, my perfect fucktoy.” He praised as he moved to that spot where he could mostly fill your cunt.

Butterflies swarmed into your tummy and you were soon smiling as you released the need to think about a single thing. Instead of thinking, you were just witnessing, paying attention to the little details.

You felt his hand grab for your hip, his fingers digging into this squishy spot. Then more of his body was pressing into yours, more skin-on-skin, making you feel so ready to melt into him. The air around you was perfectly still as you waited on the knife’s edge, aroused energy rushing through your veins.

There was a hint of separation with him rocking back on his knees. Thankfully, this was promptly fixed by him thrusting forward, your cunt swallowing his length again.

His tip massaged along your sensitive walls as he indulged in some more plunges back-and-forth. You weren’t trying to match him, instead arching your back and keeping yourself steady, giving him a set, reliable target to land his pumps on.

As you were beginning to adjust to these increased threats to your composure, you opened your eyes. You found that his phone wasn’t in the spot where you had left it, it didn’t appear to be anywhere within your grasp. You didn’t get too hung up on this, your attention was driven to more important things.

You started to meet his thrusts, working your hips to match his movements and it was immediately rewarding. The pleasure greatly accelerated through your body and you felt how easy it would be to go wild - but you hadn’t been invited to do so yet. You gulped in a large breath and tried to steel yourself, one of your hands curling into a fist around the corner of the pillow.

It seemed like you were getting on the same pacing as him, truly harnessing what your body could do in this position. Then you were stunned by another use of the burst function. You froze, shoved into a state of disbelief as sparks shot through your brain, very tangible to you in this moment.

You didn’t feel the whine as it moved out of your throat. You only became aware of it when you heard it. You buried your hot face into the pillow, taking a pause to just be overwhelmed.

“Can you handle it?” He asked, his words strained to betray how his throat was clenching.

You gave a wordless cry. “Mn, it feels so good.”

“That’s not what I asked.” He said. “I wanna know if you can handle it.”

You strengthened your legs again, grinding back into him. “Yea-yeah, I can take it, I wan’... I fucking want it.”

“You’re gonna get it, because you’re such a good girl.” He told you.

There weren’t any words that followed this, the sounds that came next were made by your bodies colliding as he set into a luscious rhythm. More of your body opened up to him in response to his continued pumping.

He seemed to work himself into you with more power than before, an excited whine coming from him - the authenticity and unrestrained quality of it made it sound just as explicit as any curse words he might want to share. “I hope you’re in the mood to get it rough, because there’s no chance of me holding back when you look like-... you have no idea how good you look right now, kitten. It’s beyond, it really is. The tail looks amazing, it’s a little unbelievable how much it suits you. It’s just…”

You lifted your face from the pillow and turned your head, partially bringing him into view. “Does it make me look owned?”

You weren’t expecting the pause before his response. “Owned- uh-huh.” He let out a short chuckle. “Yeah, you’re definitely looking owned.”

That was an answer worth waiting for, tantalising you as you let it sink in. You immediately strived to commit it to memory. It was like a photo taken on a special occasion, from time-to-time you would want to pull it up and look at it to remember the moment as clearly as possible.

“Yes.” You said, keeping your impassioned rocking in time with him. “Own me, Master.”

His hips began snapping into yours faster. It pumped more excitement into your veins and you didn’t wish for more time to catch your breath, happily riding this escalation.

His dick fucking into you somehow harmonised perfectly with the sensations stirred up by the butt plug, which remained set on the same reliable level. It was all building a delicious tension inside of you, the vibrations keeping you elevated and always anticipating his next jerk. And when those jerks came, they sent spectacular sparks shooting through your whole system, holding the potential to disorientate you.

Your clitoral hood felt swollen, so much so that your focus kept getting pulled back to it. The nerves in that concentrated area were very reactive and there was blood so consistently pumping through it, making it ache. The hood was just one of the many parts of your body that made up the choir that was screaming for your ultimate release.

When his next plunge forward delivered his tip to your g-spot, your eyes momentarily rolled back. You wanted to melt more than before, a stunning wave rushing through you. At the same time, your cunt clenched onto him, as if this was the key to keeping him in this spot.

“Oh fuck, fuckfuck…” He gasped, rocking back with a quiver.

You were greedy, leaning back for more contact. His tip stroked against your sensitive walls, making you more aware of that tension inside of you.

He didn't leave you waiting for long, mercifully. He rutted firmly into you, skin slapping against skin and you were soon gripping to the pillow as he reclaimed his momentum.

It was just as impactful, but his movements didn't come in as consistently. His energy was a little less predictable and you couldn't match yourself perfectly to him. But there was still plenty to enjoy, you didn't find yourself short on stimulation. You lived for the friction between your bodies. You just kept snapping your hips back into him, knowing that you were on the right path to an orgasm.

He had both of his hands on your hips, the phone lost from the scene presently, but the plug kept vibrating.

“Oh, oh…” He moaned, sounding a little surprised. “I’m close, already. Oh, holy…”

His body made quick, repeated smacks into you. As you poised yourself to feel his cum shooting into you, you held the knowledge that his focus was being compromised by his excitement. On some thrusts he could collide with your sweet spot, but he wasn’t specifically aiming for this. In the pursuit of his climax, his goal was just to maintain motion and you worked to stick with him, not wanting to let him down at this final point.

“Ah, kitty, fuck, I’m fuckin’ gun-ah…” His strokes got shorter, coming in rapidly.

He surrendered to the release, swinging deep to unload into you. There was no rocking back, he stayed where he was, letting his conclusion play out. You felt the cum drenching your receptive walls, which were fluttering and keenly gripping to him.

“Oh, holy fuck.” He sighed, starting to slowly lean back. “That was-... I didn’t know I was gonna come that quick.” He let out a breathless laugh. “You just felt too damn good.”

You lifted your head, glancing back at him. “Thank you for that compliment.”

“I’m just gonna…” He said, leaving your cunt. “Are you happy to keep that plug in?”

You wiggled your butt in the air, still filled with so much eager energy. “Mmn, more than happy.”

He stroked his hand up-and-down your back. “You’ve been such a good girl, a really, really good girl. Now I’m gonna take care of you, okay?”

“Yep.”

You were glad when you felt him move in closer again. He didn’t penetrate you, but it was lovely to feel the warmth of his body some more as he wrapped an arm around your middle. He was leaning into you, without pushing all of his body weight into you. He rested the palm of his hand against your pubic mound, while his other hand was seemingly missing in action.

You quickly realised where his other hand was when the toy gave a powerful burst. Your breath got stuck in your throat as you were completely taken by surprise. The excitement swelled up, desire ready to take the lead.

As the intense sensation started to play out, he placed his hand directly to your pussy, one of his fingers going to your pulsing clit. The muscles in your body clenched. You were feeling everything on such a deep level, the core of your being ready to respond.

Before you could adjust to this new level of stimulation, he was giving you another burst. And it took you a little longer to recover from this.

It felt like there was fire coursing through your veins when he began to work his finger on your clitoris. He slowly dragged his finger up-and-down against it, prompting you to see stars behind your eyelids.

He set into an easy pacing with how he rubbed your clit, steadily adding to the ecstatic arousal. You started to match his motion, rocking your hips back-and-forth. This allowed you to secure more pressure on your clitoral hood, a perfect crescendo that signified the end of each swing. He didn’t tell you to stop, seemingly finding nothing about your current movements to correct and you took this as permission to concentrate on your continued effort.

The vibrations changed, but he wasn’t unleashing more bursts upon you. This time he had activated one of the patterns, the strength of the pulsations rose-and-fell in a way that felt very gentle after so many jolts from the burst option. It didn’t urge you into a rushed new pace, you could still enjoy each rock of your hips.

He worked your clit with continuous circles, inviting in more hot excitement. Was he applying more pressure, or were you just getting more, irreparably sensitive?

“Have I mentioned that I fucking love my tail, Daddy?” You said, your words somewhat muffled as you kept your face buried in the pillow.

“Aw, I’m really happy to hear that.” He said. “You’ve more than earned this gift.”

He increased the plug’s strength, making the programmed peaks feel all the more significant. There wasn’t any chance of you successfully hiding your neediness from him. Your thrusts lost their smoothness as more of your composure trickled away. You just wanted more, more of that enticing tension.

You let out a happy whine as you felt yourself reaching the spectacular edge. There were more stars in your vision now. You jutted your hips forward faster as the vibrators pulsations encouraged you deeper into the pleasure, which was getting to fever pitch.

“Uh, uh, unf…”  Your whimpers accompanied your reckless rutting as you started to get lost in these truly overwhelming sensations.

His rubbing on your clitoris became vigorous, making sure you didn’t know even a fraction of a second of peace. “Come for Daddy, come for your Daddy, right now.”

“Yea-yes…” You rasped as you twitched and trembled through your next series of thrusts.

“Come for Daddy.”

His words seemed to echo in your head as you surrendered into the intense rush. The tension snapped and you disappeared into your climax.

You thought it was the ideal time to quit and find your way back to calm. But you soon realised that he had different plans.

He didn’t extract the toy from your hole as you began lying down in a more natural position. He turned the neverending pattern off, but this was swiftly followed by an activation of the burst mode. You gave a little cry, but beyond that you were unable to respond - you certainly didn’t have any words to share.

He wasn’t speaking either. But you attempted to stay mentally aware of where he was - trying to predict moves he may not have decided on yet.

More bursts came from the plug, shooting intimidating aftershocks through you. You didn’t know how much time passed between them. You remained constantly startled by them, you were positioned on very shaky ground, he had expertly weakened you.

“Good girl.” He said in the warmest of tones.

You got some much needed air back into your lungs. As you were taking more deep breaths, you recognised that you had been in a noticeable break from the exciting bursts. With coherent thoughts coming together now, you started to wonder if he had stopped playing with the app. You kept just taking in deep breaths for the moment.

Feeling a fraction of your strength returning, you began by opening your eyes. You slowly lifted your head, seeing that he was at your side, close enough to easily touch. You checked his hands, relieved to find a lack of phone in his grasp.

Now it was time to quit.

Your body felt very tender (as if you had just pushed through a yoga class too advanced for you). You savoured lying still. You let your eyes shut, feeling the occasional twitch and tremble in each of your holes - but you were getting closer to calm.

“How do you feel?” He asked, giving you a respectful amount of space as you moved into recovery.

“You mean: how’s my ass?” You responded, winning a smile from him.

“Amongst other things, yes.” He said. “Would it be okay if I took the plug out, or are you feeling too sensitive to have it touched?”

“Could you take it out?” You requested.

“Of course. Keep taking deep breaths for me, babygirl.” He said, easing in closer to you. “While I’m doing that, you can take a look at your menu.”

“I don’t need it.” You said before he could reach for the homemade pamphlet. “I already know what I want.”

“Oh, well please tell me all about it.”

He worked as carefully as possible, but your overly-sensitive hole was aware of each slight movement. You bit into your lower lip as a keen heat remained below your waist.

“I want cuddles.” You said. “And more words of praise.” You let out a shaky breath as all of the pressure finally left your hole.

“I’ll give you hours of praise.” He said.

“And could we watch TV? I’ve been saving up the new episodes of Futurama to watch with you.” You said, looking at him from your lower, reclined position.

“Cartoons and cuddling with the best girl in the whole world- that’s a reward for me, too.” He said. “Just let me put this aside in the bathroom. I’ll get to cleaning it, later.”

He had the tail in hand as he got up, leaving the room. You didn’t have the energy to rush into a new position, taking each movement one at a time. As you laid on your back, you gave a slight adjustment to how the kitten mask was resting against your face. You weren’t willing to take it off yourself.

He took a little longer coming back into the room than you had expected. You got the television turned on, the right episode queued up.

“I wanted juice.” He said as he returned. “So I got you a glass, too.”

“Thanks.” You said, sitting up straighter.

He placed both cups down as he joined you on the bed. “You don’t have to keep the mask on. If you want to, but I won’t make you.”

“Okay.” You said reaching for the knot at the back of your head.

Seemingly he forgot about his thirst, watching you with interest in your every move. There was a smile on his face, making you wonder what he was thinking.

“You really just thrived in that scene, huh?” He asked. “You totally got into character and you did it more perfectly than I could have imagined. And I’m not just saying this because you asked for praise. I’m saying this because you amaze me. You’re so fantastic at being a submissive and you make it so much fun to play, it makes me wanna play with you more, so much fucking more.” His tone changed, perhaps in response to what he saw on your face. “But not right now. We’re gonna rest right now.”

You accepted the cup that he handed you, “How come you hesitated?”

He furrowed his brow. “I hesitated?”

“Yeah, earlier. I asked if I looked owned and you didn’t answer straight away. You answered and I liked the answer, but… did you not like the question? We don’t have to use that term…”

He smiled, tucking his legs in under the blanket. “No, I have no issues with saying you’re owned. I had to hesitate because I had heard you wrong, and I thought…” He trailed off, needing a moment to just laugh. “I thought you had said pwned.”

“Pwned?” You repeated, doing your best to not mangle the old-school term. He nodded, unable to speak because he had resumed laughing. “Why the fuck would I say pwned?”

He shrugged, his laughter not completely under control. “I have no idea. That’s why I hesitated because I was trying to figure it out, trying and failing.”

You smiled as you shook your head. “But seriously, why would I ever say that?”

“I don’t know, I was very confused.” He said.

“Am I a chronically online gamer from the late 2000’s?” You asked.

“You can’t blame me for being confused, all of my blood was going to my dick, not my brain.”

You let out an overdramatic groan. “Ugh, that’s your excuse for everything.”

»»————-　♡　————-««

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Time moved at a snail's pace when I finally crawled into bed after throwing up until there was simply nothing left to come out.

My mind was just a never-ending vortex of the disaster I created, and the vertigo was so intense that it made me physically sick. I had heaved and heaved, leaving me with an intense stomachache and a raw throat.

It felt like an eternity had passed when in reality it was probably only an hour or two of staring at the ceiling. I could feel everything so intensely; the air felt too heavy, the room felt too dark, the silence was deafening, my head throbbed, my stomach burned, and I couldn't fucking sleep because of it. That, and the fact that I was quite literally killing my husband, the image of how sick and heartbroken he was, branded into my mind.

I wished that I could take this all back, and have things go back to the way they were. I wished that I could erase not only the pain that I felt but the pain that I was inflicting on him, too. It was affecting him more than it was affecting me, that much was obvious.

With a huff, I rolled over and took hold of Noah's pillow, tucking myself into a ball as I clutched it to me. I imagined that it was him as I breathed in the remanence of his cologne, holding it so tight as if I could will this back into existence.

There was a pressure behind my eyes, and my cheeks were suddenly warm and damp as the past images continued to flash before me. All the good, all the bad. I was crying again, though no sounds came out of me. I was so sick of crying, I just wanted to sleep—I needed to distract myself somehow.

I reached for my phone on the nightstand, shutting my eyes for a moment as the light from the screen shot daggers through my head. I peeked one eye open and unlocked my phone, dialing the only person I felt I could still call at 2 in the morning.

"You bitch—" "I'm killing Noah," I whimpered into my phone. I didn't even let Vic finish her usual greeting whenever I called her in the middle of the night. I hear rustling on the other end, and I know she's rolling her eyes as she sits up in bed. "You know that's my job, Liv," she humors, but I don't laugh. "What did he do this time?" I sniffle, screwing my eyes shut as fresh tears spring in my eyes. "Vic, I'm not joking. He's sick." "What do you mean sick?"

I don't say anything as my lips tremble. I can't. I knew the second the name of that disease made it out of my mouth, I'd be inconsolable.

"No," she breathes. "Olivia, no, it can't be that. I know how much you love him." I sucked in a choppy breath, shaking my head. "He showed me the flowers, Vic," I whispered. "He's sick—suffering—a-and it's all my fault. And he left because of it." I hear her curse under her breath. "Where is he now?" "Nick's," I croaked, "and all I fucking see when I close my eyes is him hacking, struggling to breathe as he closed the door." "Just give him time, Liv. He'll come back, I swear to you," she tries, her voice quivering. I knew the tone in her voice—she was not only trying to convince me, but herself, too.

-

JANUARY 29

I woke up this morning to a pounding headache, the constant buzzing of my phone under my face from how I had fallen asleep like a fucking chainsaw inside my skull. I knew I was being flooded by a multitude of 'Happy Birthday' texts; I was officially 29, on the 29th.

I scrolled through my messages and threw my phone down on the mattress with a huff, telling myself I'd get back to thanking them eventually. None of them were from the one person I wanted to hear from the most, but that was to be expected—it's been nearly a month since I've talked to Noah, why would my birthday make it any different?

I did what I've been doing every morning since he left. Wake up, lie in bed until it was nearly time for me to get to the bakery, force myself up, and swallow some Advil and Tums to rid the hangover-induced headache and nausea. Throw on whatever clean clothes that I had, put my hair in a bun, and go my merry way. I'd have coffee and breakfast at work.

When I walked into work shortly after noon, I was met by pink and white streamers twisted and strung from the ceiling, and an archway of balloons of the same color scheme. Holly and Juliana made their way around the counter as they sang 'Happy Birthday', a small cake in hand adorned with a sparkler rather than a candle.

I laughed, shaking my head at them, and accepted the cake. "You didn't have to do all this." "But we wanted to, Liv," Juliana states, giving me a reassuring squeeze on my shoulder. "We've noticed that you seemed a little distant lately and just wanted to show you that we care. Besides, it's your birthday! Everyone deserves cake on their birthday."

My heart sank a tad at how obvious it was that I wasn't doing well, my eyes dropping to the sparkler burning lower and lower as the seconds ticked by. "Thanks, guys. I really appreciate it," I feigned a smile, blowing out the flame as I made a wish that I was doubtful would come true—do wishes even count on sparklers? I brought my gaze back up to the girls, motioning the cake towards the back. "Let's dig in. I'm starving."

We each cut ourselves a slice of cake, all the while being asked if I had any plans with Noah for my birthday. I hid my cringe with a huge mouthful of cake, nodding my head 'yes', even though I didn't. Before they could question me any further, I told them I had some extra work to do, and took my breakfast to my office.

I shut the door, hastily tossing the paper plate on my desk before collapsing into my chair with a huff. I never mentioned anything to the girls—as far as they knew, everything was peachy keen in my marriage. I just wasn't ready to explain the situation to them, not fully understanding what the fuck was going on myself.

All I knew was that he was sick because of me, and I felt nothing but guilt because of that. I never meant for this to happen, I never wanted this to happen, and I wasn't sure if we were going to try to make this work again. Hell, I wasn't even sure if he was ever going to speak to me again. The uncertainty of that made my heart race and my stomach churn.

And churn.

And churn.

The next thing that I knew, I was puking in the wastebasket that I had under my desk. My eyes immediately watered; tears slid down my face as I spit, trying to clear the acrid taste that sat on my tongue.

With a sniffle, I sat up and wiped under my nose when I was sure that I was done vomiting. This was the third time I've gotten sick in the past week, and I had no idea what the reasoning behind it was. The flu? Stress? Drinking too much? Probably the latter.

Either way, it was exhausting, and I just wanted to go home and back to bed. I couldn't, though; I had a job to do.

I ran my now sweaty hands down my thighs and clambered out of my chair, throwing the cake out and tying the trash bag before leaving my office. I threw it in the barrel, washed my hands, and finally made my way back out to the floor, stopping dead in my tracks when I saw my best friend standing there. Smug expression, arms folded over her chest and all.

I immediately ran around the counter, pulling her into a tight hug now that her arms were welcoming me in. "What the Hell are you doing here?" I practically yelled as we bounced side to side on our feet, giggling. "Bitch, it's your birthday," she says, placing her hands on my shoulders to look at me. "Noah's being a ding-dong, so I'm taking my girl out to celebrate." I laughed lightly, shaking my head. "It's me that's being the ding-dong, Vic. Not him." She rolls her eyes exasperatedly, her head following suit with a scoff. "Okay, so you're both ding-dongs, whatever. Let's go," she cocks her head towards the front door, beckoning me to follow her.

I furrow my brows and put my arms out, palms up while taking a gander around the bakery. "I can't just leave work, Vic. I got shit to do; baking, start of inventory, paperwork—" She holds her hands up in surrender, "Okay, Suzi Q, I get it. I'll just...hang out at your place, I guess. Keys?" She then holds her hand out, folding her fingers to her palm. "You are unbelievable," I chuckle, shaking my head at her. I unclip my set of keys from my belt loop, sliding just the house key off the ring, and press it into her hand. "Don't lose it, and don't lock me out of my own home. Help yourself to whatever, the spare bedroom is available if you want to nap—" She waves me off, "Yeah, yeah. I'll see you in a bit." "I hate you." She winks with a smirk plastered on her face, "Love you, too."

After she had left, I went to the back to take care of what needed to be done, eager to get out as soon as possible to see what it was that Vic had planned.

When I got home, I was met by a bouquet of roses on the kitchen island, peppered with baby's breath. The vase they sat in was beautiful; it stood at least a foot and a half tall, crystal clear with golden vines wrapping around its body, and up and over the lip. I smiled softly with a shake of my head, astonished.

"You didn't have to buy me these, Vic!" I called out, not knowing where she was. I heard her footsteps against the linoleum shortly thereafter, turning to see her rubbing her eyes. She must've taken that nap, after all. "I didn't," she denies through a loud yawn. "Ruffles stopped by to deliver them." I scrunch my face in skepticism, jerking my head back slightly. "Nick bought me flowers for my birthday?" She shrugs, another yawn escaping her. "I think there's a card."

Sure enough, there was a white envelope placed delicately between the flowers. I carefully plucked it from where it sat, reading my name written in messy cursive on the front—I recognized the handwriting immediately. I took a sharp inhale, nearly dropping it while my heart hammers in my chest and my hands shake with nerves.

I opened the envelope and saw there was not only a card, but a flash drive tucked in it. I pulled the items out and began to read the card.

Happy Birthday, Love

I know things between us aren't the way they used to be, but I still want you to enjoy your birthday. I know that flowers don't make up for what I put you through, but I at least hope they put a smile on your face. I know they're your favorite.

I'm sorry that I haven't been home or called you, it's been difficult for me to comprehend all of this. Just know that not a day has gone by where I haven't thought of you.

I don't know where my head is at. I don't know what's to come of us, but one thing I do know is how much I love you. Don't forget that. Please.

-Your dweeb, Noah

P.S. Listen to the song on the flash drive whenever you're able to, or ready to. It's not finished, but I think you should hear it.

"I can't believe he remembered," I whispered, shaking my head. "He doesn't even like celebrating birthdays." I clutched the flash drive in my hand, curling my fist to my chest as I continued to read his note over and over again until the words blurred, my eyes filling with tears. I feel the card slip from my fingers, knowing Vic took it so she could read it, too.

"Damn," she breathes after a minute. "Of course he'd remember your birthday. He really loves you, Olivia—" "I fucked up," I whimpered, shaking my head incredulously as the tears fell from my eyes. "I've been so goddamn selfish." She plants her hands on my shoulders, having me look at her. "None of that, Liv. Your feelings are valid." "But I'm killing him, Vic!" I hollered, shouldering her hands off of me and taking a step back. "Then fix it." I scoffed, clapping my hands against the sides of my thighs in exasperation. "I-I can't just make myself fall back in love with him. That's not how that works—" "Then you have to let him try," she says sternly, folding her arms over her chest. "Because you know damn well that boy has been, but you're too stubborn to accept it. Too stubborn to accept that you both have had your lives change from moving across the country, and that you need to adapt to it. His career is just as hard on him, as it is on you."

I drop my gaze from her, bringing my attention back to the flash drive in my hand as I soaked in her words. "No more overthinking, no more planting fake scenarios in your head, and no more drinking.” I feel my heart skip a beat, shame making its way in. "I haven't been drinking," I mumbled a lie, spinning the plastic in my hands. "Cut the shit." She tips my head towards her by my chin, her hazel eyes fierce as they locked with mine. "You think I didn't notice the bottles by the recycling? I know damn well those aren't Noah's."

My eyes burn with fresh tears, my throat aches from trying not to cry. This was so fucking humiliating; being called out for all of your faults by your best friend, on your birthday, of all days. She was right, thought. I had to start accepting things for what they really are, I had to stop feeling sorry for myself, I had to stop drinking.

"I'm sorry Olivia," I feel Vic's thumbs swipe across my cheeks as she sighs. "I didn't mean to make you cry. I love you, and I can't watch my best friend fall apart again. It had to be said." "You're right," I nodded in her hands, not realizing I had been sobbing. "I gotta fix this."

Noah

I settled into the couch in the living room, wrapped in a large fleece blanket with a steaming cup of chamomile tea. I leisurely sipped at the tea, hoping it would calm my nerves a bit to take some pressure off my chest.

My chest was exceptionally tight today, the flowers spreading in my lungs accompanied by the apprehension I felt from sending Nicholas to my house with a bouquet of roses for Olivia.

It's been almost a month since I've seen her, and I wanted so badly to go home so that I could, but I was too afraid of what would unfold if I had. I was too winded to reason with her—it was hard enough trying to record the snippet of a song for her, nevermind the possibility of an argument after climbing the front steps, as small as they were. Breathing had become that difficult.

I heard the front door open, Nick making his way back in after the small task I gave him. "How you feeling?" he asks, shouldering off the light jacket he wore, hanging it up. I shrugged, "About the same." We're quiet for a beat as he joins me on the couch. "How is she?" "She wasn't home, but Vic was there. That was awkward to say the least," he snorts, kicking his feet up on the coffee table and leaning into the couch some. I let out the start of a chuckle, a round of coughs crashing over it.

I sat up quickly and put my tea on the table, already knowing what was to come as sharp pains shot through my ribs, my muscles strained from the amount of coughing I've been doing. I was genuinely surprised that I hadn't broken a rib yet like last time.

Even though I already knew what was coming, I never got used to the way my lungs burned as the flowers made their way out. The tiny thorns that accompanied the petals was the worst part, clawing into my throat as I coughed and coughed. I grabbed a tissue off the table, cupping my mouth to catch what I expelled.

Exhausted, I collapsed back against the cushions, my lungs rattling as I heaved, and tears welled in my eyes from the pain. I didn't know how much longer I'd be able to handle this—at this point, I was ready to ingest Roundup. Maybe that would kill the flowers growing inside me.

Nick takes the tissue from my hand, replacing it with the tea that I nearly forgotten. I gave him a weak smile in thanks as he stands. "You hungry? I can make you some soup or something." I shake my head 'no', and he rolls his eyes. "Too bad. You haven't been eating. You need to eat, dude." "Fine," I grumbled.

My phone chimes in my pocket, and with a huff I dug it out. I nearly drop it, reading the message across the screen.

Olivia: Thank you for the roses, they're beautiful.

It was such a short, simple message, but my heart swelled reading it. I smiled wide; it was like a huge weight being lifted off my chest finally hearing from her. I felt like I could breathe a little easier.

Me: of course, love. i hope youre having a good birthday

Olivia: I am. This helped

"What's got you so happy?" Nick asks, and I hear the humor laced in his voice. I couldn't help the stupid grin on my face, reading our three texts over and over again. He hands me the chicken noodle soup that he heated for me, his eyebrow perked in curiosity. "She texted me." "I knew she would," he grins, clapping his hand on my shoulder and giving me a little shake. "Looks like there's another text." I looked down at my phone, and sure enough there was another message from Liv.

Olivia: Please come home soon. I miss you.

|Chapter 16|

[v3nusxsky]

My mistake 18+

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*A/n~ Another NSFW I hope I can manage to do okay again as it's only the second time of attempting smut. I also adore this prompt I also happened to be eating cheesecake and cream which is ironic considering I'm going to be writing smut and it's also referenced*

Tw~ finger!ng strap on smut! Mommy k!nk dom Larissa sub reader

Prompt~ in a heated argument the more dominant of the pair raise there hand to corner the other against the wall and husk out "want to try that again sweetheart?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You knew you had a bratty nature. Of course you did but you also knew you adored submitting to your gorgeous girlfriend Larissa Weems. Despite enjoying her dominance you still made her work for it. That was half the thrill. Knowing these facts it wasn't unusual that during the work day there was flirtatious texts flying between you both. You wondered how far Larissa would allow you to push. The students of Nevermore thought she was strict like the work Version of herself.  You couldn't help the smirk at the thoughts of the side of her only reserved for you. Just as you were planning the next text to send your phone dinged.

"Darling, I suggest you quit while your ahead here. My patience is running thin."

You couldn't resist the inner bratty urge to retaliate further. You were going to be punished for your bratty ways, you figured why not have some more fun before hand. Immediately you scanned your class making sure everyone was busy with their projects before sneakily scrolling through your pictures and selected one you'd taken a few weeks ago. It was perfect. Revealing but not slutty. Teasing but not giving too much away. Your body wrapped in emerald lace which just happened to be Larissa's favourite colour on you. You quickly sent it off with the caption

"Oh no if you won't help me I'll take care of myself in this with your name on my lips ;)" 

You could feel the instant smirk of excitement forming. You knew what was going to happen. And as if it was following your plan the bell rang out. Classes done for today. Students filled out of your room seemingly at a snails pace. As the last few left wishing you a good evening your phone pinged again. The giddy feeling had you crossing the room embarrassingly quickly. The response did not disappoint you. You could almost feel her breath on your ear as she would growl out her response making you shiver in delight.

"You were warned. Darling my office now!"

Of course you made your way to her office willingly. Your mind coming up with every way possible for your evening to go. You knew the picture would really set her off. Hell that's why you took it weeks ago and saved it for the perfect situation. Today was that situation. Larissa has been particularly stressed recently due to the upcoming Nevermore dance. Larissa's favourite way to relieve her stress was always with you in private. And you'd be lying if you said you weren't always willing to provide your lover with what she needed.

Reaching the office of the women on your mind you entered without even bothering to knock. She was expecting you after all. You could feel the excitement under the surface that you desperately tried to ignore in order to keep this game going.

"You require my presence love?" The smirk evident in your voice. You were clearly proud of your antics. And that just wouldn't do. You were met with her famous stare one that was specifically used on the more mischievous students. Although very intimidating it was also maddeningly alluring. This women was practically a goddess, no wonder you were easily distracted around her. Like the lioness that she is quickly moved around her desk to stalk her prey. Instinctively shuffling backwards as she crept towards you. The glint in her eye showing you there was no real threat. Lust hidden in her eyes as she raked her eyes up and down your form. Your back hit the wall causing a involuntary gasp. One hand on your hip with a bruising grip. The other against the wall next to your head.

"Look at you little one, you're trapped, all mine hmm?" She husked out at you. Despite your predicament you still had to provoke her.

"Yours? I believe I told you I'm sorting myself out. I'm not trapped I could move if I wanted." You trailed off the confidence leaving your body as her gaze darkened and she lent down placing a feather light kiss to your pulse point. Your pulse started to race causing a chuckle from your goddess of a lover.

"Want to try that again sweetheart?" God that voice. Your knees weakened thankful to the women pinning you to the wall. Surly with out her you would've fallen to your knees. You looked up ready to quip back a response but got lost in the blue rivers that were her eyes. "I - um I huh?" You stuttered out. God this women hadn't even touched you and you were already struggling to stay coherent. With a chuckle that echoed deliciously around the room she dropped her head to place a less than innocent kiss on your lips. You were quick to respond with an unfaltering, undeniable eagerness. This kiss was dizzying and you couldn't help the whine of protest when she pulled away.

"Would you like to try that again sweetheart?" She repeated slowly in a sultry tone. All you could do is blink rapidly and mumble out "no" your heart still racing desperate to kiss her and so much more.

"No? No what?" The tone becoming dark and threatening with the underlying lust lingering.

"No Rissa" you whimpered out eyes drawn to the lips you desperately wanted on yours. A small gasp slipped from your lips as she crashed her lips to yours. Tugging your body from the wall and hoisting you up. You wrapped your legs around her slender waist, clinging to her as the kiss progressed. Larissa smiled into your passionate kiss as she walked to her bedroom, clutching you to her with a strong supportive resting under the back of your thighs.

The kiss ended and you couldn't help but crave more. It was then that you knew you'd subconsciously slipped into your submissive role. Once you were placed on the ground you immediately dropped to your knees at her feet head tilted downwards as a mark of respect. You knew how much this simple act would drive your love wild. You were completely at her mercy and there was no better place to be in your opinion. Larissa praised the act as she continued to look around the bedroom for the things she wanted.

"Little one get up and strip off for me." Your first command was barked at you causing you to spring into action and return to your position at the foot of the bed. You caught sight of your girlfriends long bare legs arousal pooling between your legs at all the sinful thoughts that created. You yelped out when you were pulled to stand and taken over to the bed. Larissa had the silks that were specifically for this activity. You squeezed your thighs together in an attempt to hide your need that had been building all day. Of course this action wasn't missed by the women currently restraining you. Only then did you feel a smack come down on the tops of your thighs, signalling to you that she was displeased with your action. You aimed to please so you opened your legs shivering in anticipation. Once you were secured spread exactly how she wanted you, only then did she crawl up your body eyes glued over the body that she had seen many a time yet still feeling like it was the first time she'd been able to lay eyes on such a beautiful creature. Next thing you knew your lips were caught by hers causing you to smile into the kiss. Impatiently she began to kiss all over your face before trailing down to suck on your pulse point. Loving the feeling of the increased beating. With a nip she continued her trail over your collarbones down to your breasts. Here she showered each breast with an almost worshipping manner. Gentle kisses and licks were bestowed on you. You couldn't help but squirm and whimper at the sensations. God it's like there was a map on how to touch you. Tugging at the silk you we're desperate for more. Words failing you all you could do is wait as she continued her torture. Kisses trailed down your stomach close to your core, only to completely avoid it and kiss your thighs.

You cried out when you felt a gentle lick of her tongue between your folds. Kitten licks came in a quick succession almost as if she was licking cream like a cat. Moaning at your taste and your whines she continued to lap at your juices. Your thighs started to quake causing her to pull away from you. Your essence coating her mouth.

"No!noooo please I riss" you whined already so desperate for her.

"Who do you belong too little one"

"Y-you "

"Who is this you? I've never met her. Can she make you cum like I can y/n?" And with that two fingers thrusted their way into your core. Eyes rolling back your head you couldn't help but squirm against the restraints. With a cry of pleasure you fell over the edge for the first time that night.

You came down from the high expecting her to stop but she didn't. Just kept lapping you up like you were the most delicious delicacy to ever grace the earth. The sounds were spilling from you uncontrollably. The only focus was the pleasure you felt quickly bringing you to your high once again. This time it was her sucking at your sensitive bundle of nerves that pushed you over the edge. Your breathing was manic as your body attempted to regulate itself from the entente pleasure it experienced.

"Rissa? Mmm" you hummed out watching as she graciously stood and crawled up to you. This time with red silk in her hands. Dropping kisses to your head as she tied it around effectively cutting off your main sense. Then untied you kissing the red flesh from your insistent tugging. Whimpers fell from your lips, being blinded made you feel vulnerable and Larissa knew that. That's why a comforting finger ran across your cheek in a soothing manner before she turned you over. Larissa was struggling to contain her own desire as she attached her strap securely. As quietly as possible she slipped into her position behind you. A hand gripping onto your hips startled you.

"Oh my darling did you think I was done with you?" He husked leaning over to kiss your cheeks, shoulders and anywhere that was within reach. The silent nod of consent spurred the taller women back into the task at hand as she entered you blindly. You're absolutely soaking core accepting her easily. The moan that left you sounding almost inhuman. The brutal pace Larissa set with her thrusts had a string of constant moans tumbling from your lips.

"I god please more Rissa please"

"Oh fuck me yes fuck"

"I'm close please" you cried out desperate for her. Desperate for everything she'd give you and more. Fully aware of your state Larissa slipped out of you watching your cry of disappointment as your body feel forward. A sob wrecked your body.

"Wha-huh? No no no no please please come back" you whimpered

"Beg darling beg me property and then I'll let you cum on my cock hmm"

"Oh please please rissa please fuck me I need to please god" which seemed to please the lady. She once again found the merciless rhythm the sound of flesh hitting flesh echoing around you. You came with a cry incoherent words tumbling from you.

"Oh fuck me fucking fuck mommy!"

That was all it took for Larissa to follow you and tumble over her own edge. You both rode your orgasms out together before she slipped out you and took the strap off. You collapsed boneless in front of Larissa.

It wasn't longer than a minute until you were snuggled up to your lover. Head on her chest feeling the humming of her heart. "Darling do you know what you just called me?"

Your brain was frazzled from the previous event. "I - uh - no you did a really good job." Which pulled a deep chuckle from her as her hands ran up and down your exposed skin.

"You called me mommy" she explained feeling you tense up in her arms she quickly followed with "and fuck it was hot"

A blush adorning your cheeks you lifted your exhausted body up long enough to whisper I love you mommy" in her ear before collapsing back against her.

"Sleep little one, you're going to need it. I'm not quite done with you yet."

Word count ~ 2191

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*A/n~ second attempt as smut not sure how I feel about it. I have a few fics that that have been suggested to me to read due to the smut aspects. I'm hoping I can get some pointers for another nsfw chapter soon*

[bwabys-scenarios]

Reunited

Illumi x Reader

PART 7

part 6

part 8

“Catch a pig and kill it. This is way easier than the First Phase.” Leorio said with a grin. Kurapika was quick to respond.

“I hope it will be that simple.”

(Name) hummed in response, looking for tracks.

The group of five walked through the forest, searching for the main dish of their meals.

Gon slid down a hill, and Killua was quick to follow. The yells of delight turned into screams of terror when killua collided with Gon. Next was Leorio and then Kurapika.

“What was that about Gon!?”

Killua whined. (Name) clicked her tongue, staring down at the four.

“Did you boys think before you did that?”

(Name scoffed then moved to the side, sliding down safely away from the group.

“There they are.”

“Pigs!”

(Name) tilted her head and glanced to her left to see a beast of a pig chewing on bones.

“Uh… they’re chewing on bones.”

“Yep, they are.”

“They’re carnivores!?”

The pig suddenly looked up, seemingly just realizing that five idiots had just presented themselves to it on a silver platter.

It squealed and immediately gave chase, using it’s tough snout toss people into the air.

“These pigs are crazy!!”

(Name) attempted to kick it, only to crab her leg and cry out in pain.

“Now why the hell did you do that!?” Killua scolded, pinching her side.

“Ow! Well at least I did SOMETHING!”

The two scowled at one another before the group split off, every man(and woman) for themself!!

(Name) sprinted as fast as she could as one of the pigs followed her, charging every minute or so to try and catch her.

“THEIR FOREHEADS ARE SENSITIVE!”

(Name) nearly paused as she heard Gon scream out.

“Sensitive forehead huh?”

She grinned and began picking up rocks as she ran, stowing them in her backpack. Once it was heavy enough, she ran to the nearest tree and climbed up, then dropped the bag onto its forehead.

She slid down from the tree, staring at the pig.

“Wait. How am I gonna carry this back?”

—————

The examiners, Menchi and Buhara stared open mouthed as the applicants piled into the yard, each carrying a pig.

“Huh, seems like we have some good applicants this year.” Buhara stated.

Menchi nodded, but then she was distracted by the sound of grunting and pulling.

A girl appeared at the gate entrance, pulling along the pig at a snails pace. Sweat dripped from her brow, but she showed no signs of stopping.

“Seems like we really do.”

(Name) groaned as she finally approached her cooking station, pulling the pig onto the heavy duty table.

“You didn’t have to do it alone you know.”

Leorio looked up from his station to glance at (Name). Both he and Kurapika had offered to help carry it, but (Name) had refused.

“If I keep receiving help, then I won’t feel like I accomplished anything myself. Just wouldn’t feel right.”

She began chopping up her pig and sorting out the cuts of meat. Leorio turned away and grinned.

“Sorry.”

(Name) stopped. She looked up from her cutting board, lifting a brow at the younger man.

“Sorry for what?”

“For underestimating you.”

(Name) paused, letting the sentence sink in. After a moment of contemplation she nodded.

“It’s alright, I’ve been relying on you all too much. I would underestimate me too.”

Leorio frowned at this, but didn’t reply. He wondered if she still thought of herself as a burden, but he didn’t want to ask. If he pushed her now, she might lose focus and fail this phase. It wasn’t the time to talk, he just hoped he wouldn’t regret staying quiet later.

“Now, eat the pig and send me to the next phase.”

Everyone watched as an applicant placed a roasted pig in front of the two Examiners.

“Alright. Time for the taste test!”

Buhara munched on the pig, giving him a passing grade. Menchi on the other hand… a buzzer sounds off.

“Huh!?”

“It’s overcooked. The tough texture ruins the flavor of the meat.”

Menchi relaxes against her chair, holding up a small sigh with an X drawn on it.

“What? You haven’t even tried it!”

“Don’t have to!”

Several applicants try to serve the two, but they all fail.

“No one’s passed yet…”

Leorio looks down at his plain roasted pig from afar.

“And Menchi hasn’t even taken a bite.”

(Name) nods.

“I wouldn’t want to taste their dishes either,” she mutters under her breath. (Name) flips the pork she was cooking in her skillet, clicking her tongue.

“Come on, can’t anyone give me something good to eat?” Menchi calls, waving her sign in boredom.

Kurapika snaps his fingers, a smile on his face.

“That’s it! This phase of the exam is a cooking test, but they’re judging in originality and powers of observation.”

“Um I don’t-“

“I see…” Leorio interrupts before (Name) can correct them. She pouts and goes back to working on the meal.

Before long, the three walk back, with a look of defeat on their faces.

(Name) gulps.

“Didn’t work?”

They nod, confirming her suspicions. (Name) figured that this was more of a taste test than anything. After all, food was complicated. It didn’t matter how good it looked, if the food was gross it was bad food.

(Name) looked over her creation.

She had an entire plate of fried pork chops, with rice finishing on the stove and a pot of red-eyed gravy read to use.

“Who’s next?”

(Name), with the help of Leorio) to make sure the food didn’t spill, approached the two judges. She sat the meal in front of them, opening the lids to the gravy and rice.

Menchi glances at her in surprise, setting her sign down to pick up a fork.

“What have you prepared us, #406?”

(Name) breathes in.

“Today I’ve made you fried pork chops, red eye gravy, and white rice.”

Menchi nods. “Red eye gravy? Now what is that?”

“I’m glad you asked. Red eyed gravy is made using the pan you cooked the pork chops in. You take the pork chops out, pour in coffee, and let it warm up. The residue oil from the pork chops mixes with the coffee to make red eyed gravy!”

Buhara throws the food into his mouth, giving her a passing grade. Menchi looks at her plate, judging it.

“Hmm. It’s well plated, much more professional than anyone here.”

She took a bite, and then another. (Name) watched as Menchi cleared the plate, finally putting the fork down when not a single morsel was left remained.

“Amazing, this was delicious! #406, you have passed!”

The crowd breaks out into both angry yells and astonished whispers.

“Now I’m all full!”

Buhara pats his now enlarged stomach. Menchi crosses her legs.

“Yeah, me too. And with that, only one person passed. It’s over!”

————

“Only one person has passed?”

“Is she serious?”

“The exam is over?

(Name), who was still stood in front of Menchi and Buhara, could feel the stare of the crowd on her. Menchi stood and put her hands on (Name)’s shoulder.

“#406 is the only applicant to pass. She satisfied both our palates, which was the only thing needed to pass.”

#255 smashes his sink in rage.

“I absolutely refuse to accept this! That woman needed help carrying her entree to you, why should she win? She’s weak!”

Menchi stands and puts her hands on her hips.

“In the end, you’ve still failed.”

“Stop screwing around! You asked for pork, we risked our lives to-“

“I said to prepare the pork in a manner we both found delicious. No one else made anything remotely delicious. You all did almost the same thing, there was no effort made.”

She pointed at (Name), raising her voice.

“#406 expertly sorted which meat was suitable for pork chops, made a gravy and rice to compliment the meat, and plated it better than a professional. No one else attempted to emphasize the flavor, I’m positive the rest of you don’t take cooking seriously!”

Hanzo, a ninja, sighs.

“Pork dishes are all the same.”

Menchi grabs him by the neck of his shirt.

“Saying that is disrespectful to the person that actually put effort into this phase. Say it one more time and I’ll break your legs.”

A/N: sorry I left it off at a weird point but it’s been in my drafts for a while and I felt like posting it would give me more motivation to work on it!!🫶

[yoomiwrites]

Aromatic Rush⁶

Summary: Reader has an easy life in the navy. Until Aokiji comes to them with a mission that calls more into question than they thought.

Note: Sorry that I didn't upload at friday, but I got sick and just didn't feel like doing ANYTHING at all. Anyways, enjoy! And yes, reader just got in. Maybe they had a key. I don't know, let's not question it.

I sat at my desk, staring blankly at the stack of reports in front of me. The numbers and words all blurred together, my mind far too distracted to focus. For the first time since starting this job, I couldn’t lose myself in the routine.

My thoughts kept drifting back to Kuzan—his teasing grin, the way he’d leaned in just a little too close, the way he made me feel so completely out of control. I clenched my fists, frustrated with myself. This wasn’t how things were supposed to be. He was an admiral. Someone of immense rank, power, and authority. And yet, here I was, blushing and stammering like a schoolgirl around him.

What am I doing?

I sighed, leaning back in my chair, my eyes drifting to the ceiling. Somewhere along the way, I’d started to get too comfortable. Too casual. I wasn’t sure when it had happened, but now, whenever Kuzan entered the room, I didn’t see him as the Admiral he was supposed to be. Instead, I saw the man who teased me, made me blush, and somehow found amusement in every awkward reaction I had.

I pressed my palms to my face, groaning. “This is a problem.”

I needed to draw the line. To re-establish some distance. To remind myself that this was Kuzan, an admiral in the Navy, and not some casual acquaintance I could banter with. This wasn’t how I was supposed to interact with someone of his rank. I needed to get my act together.

But then, how was I supposed to do that when he made it so difficult? Every time he got close, every time he teased, I found myself flustered beyond reason. It wasn’t like I could just tell him to stop, either. He seemed to enjoy pushing my buttons, and knowing Kuzan, that would probably just encourage him even more.

I needed to be more professional. I needed to—

The door opened, and I jolted upright, my heart jumping to my throat. For a moment, I thought it was Kuzan, back to tease me again, but the figure who stepped through the door was tall, with a slouched posture and a lazy expression.

It was Admiral Kizaru.

“Yo~” he drawled in his usual slow, almost bored tone. “What do we have here?”

I swallowed, my body instantly going rigid as I rose to my feet. “A-Admiral Kizaru.”

He looked around the room with a casual glance, his sharp, bored eyes landing on the new equipment, the snails, and finally, me. “Mm… interesting place you’ve got here. You’ve been… busy, huh?”

His tone was vague, but the way his eyes lingered on me made me feel uneasy, like he was watching more than he let on. I nodded stiffly, trying to keep my voice steady. “Y-Yes, sir. Just… doing my job.”

Kizaru didn’t seem to buy it. His eyes narrowed ever so slightly as he took another step into the room, hands still casually in his pockets. “And Aokiji? What’s he been doing here so often? You two seem to be spending quite a bit of time together.”

My heart skipped a beat. I hadn’t expected him to ask that, and I certainly wasn’t prepared for it. Kuzan had told me specifically not to let the others know about the signal investigation. The last thing I wanted to do was get him in trouble.

I forced myself to keep calm, putting on the best neutral face I could manage. “He’s, um… just checking up on things. Making sure everything is running smoothly.”

Kizaru raised an eyebrow, looking distinctly unconvinced. He took another step closer, his shadow casting over me as he leaned in ever so slightly. “Is that so?”

I nodded, feeling my pulse quicken. “Y-Yes, sir. Just routine.”

For a long moment, Kizaru said nothing, simply staring at me with those piercing eyes, his expression unreadable. I held my breath, praying that he wouldn’t press the issue further. The silence stretched between us, thick and uncomfortable.

Then, without warning, Kizaru’s lips curved into a slow, lazy smile. “Hmm… seems to me like you’re keeping secrets.” His tone was playful, but there was something sharp underneath it, like he was testing me.

I swallowed hard. “N-No secrets, sir. Just… doing my job.”

Kizaru straightened up, his eyes still locked on me, but there was a flicker of amusement in them now. “Well, if you say so.” He paused, glancing around the room again before his gaze returned to me, almost lazy. “Just make sure not to get too attached, hm?”

My breath caught, my cheeks instantly flushing. I could feel my heart hammering in my chest, and before I could stop myself, I blurted out, “I-I’m not!”

Kizaru’s smile widened just a fraction, clearly enjoying my reaction. “Of course not,” he said, voice dripping with mock reassurance. “Just making sure.”

He didn’t press any further. Instead, he turned lazily on his heel, waving a hand over his shoulder as he headed for the door. “See ya around.”

And just like that, he was gone, leaving me standing there, frozen and mortified.

I sank back into my chair, pressing my hands to my face as the weight of what had just happened crashed down on me. Kizaru knew. He didn’t have proof, but he was suspicious, and I had to give Kuzan credit—he had been right about keeping things quiet. But lying for an admiral? That was another level of stress I wasn’t prepared for.

And worse… I had no idea if Kuzan would be pleased or annoyed that I’d lied on his behalf.

I sighed, slumping forward onto my desk. This was too much. I’d already crossed too many lines, and the fact that Kizaru was now poking around only made things worse.

But still… a small part of me felt a strange sense of relief. At least Kizaru hadn’t found out the truth. At least I’d managed to protect Kuzan’s request.

For now, anyway.

But as I sat there, alone in the quiet room, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was getting in way over my head.

The strange tension between Kizaru’s visit and my own growing sense of unease weighed heavy on me the next day. My mind couldn’t seem to focus on anything. Every time I tried to go through my tasks, I’d feel a shadow of doubt creeping in—about Kuzan, about everything that had been happening over the past few weeks.

Why had Kuzan insisted on keeping his investigation secret? Why did Kizaru seem so curious? There were too many unanswered questions, too many things I didn’t fully understand. And despite everything, a part of me couldn’t shake the feeling that I had been drawn into something far larger than I could handle.

The day stretched on slowly. I did my best to keep busy, tending to the snails, checking signals, trying to act normal. But that lingering sense of doubt gnawed at me, tugging at the corners of my mind. By the time the afternoon rolled around, I couldn’t ignore it anymore.

I needed answers.

There was only one place I knew I might be able to find them: Kuzan’s office. I’d been there before, of course, but only briefly, and I’d never dared to look too closely. Today, though, I was feeling reckless. The talk with Kizaru had left me feeling unsettled, and my usual sense of caution had given way to a burning need for clarity.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself. There was a chance Kuzan wouldn’t be there. He had been absent all day, likely on some mission or other. I could use that to my advantage. I wasn’t going to do anything drastic, just… take a look around. Maybe there was something that would make sense of everything that had been happening.

I made my way through the quiet corridors of the HQ, each step heavier with doubt. When I reached his office door, I hesitated, hand hovering over the handle. I shouldn’t be doing this. It wasn’t like me to snoop, to pry into things that weren’t my business. But after everything—his secrecy, the strange equipment, Kizaru’s suspicions—I couldn’t ignore the feeling that something wasn’t right.

I glanced down the hall. No one was around. Taking one last deep breath, I turned the handle and pushed the door open.

The office was empty, as expected. Kuzan hadn’t been here for at least a day; the faint smell of sea salt that usually clung to his coat lingered in the air, but it was stale, old. I stepped inside, closing the door softly behind me. My heart pounded in my chest as I crossed the room, glancing around cautiously.

At first glance, it was just as I remembered it—neat, sparse, and with the usual lack of personal touch that Kuzan seemed to favor. His desk was empty, save for a few scattered papers and a worn-out book. Nothing unusual.

But something drew me toward the far corner, where a low cabinet sat tucked against the wall. My pulse quickened. I wasn’t sure what I was looking for, but my curiosity had taken over.

I crouched down, hesitating for a moment before pulling the cabinet drawer open.

Inside were files. Thick, official-looking documents stamped with various Marine insignia. At first, I didn’t think much of them—probably routine reports or mission briefs. But as I flipped through them, something caught my eye.

One of the folders had no Marine stamp. No seal of approval from HQ. It was plain, almost nondescript, and when I opened it, the first thing that struck me was how carefully hidden it had been among the others.

I skimmed through the contents, my eyes widening as I realized what I was looking at.

These weren’t just mission reports. They were communications. Secret communications. With coded language that I didn’t fully understand, but the tone of the exchanges was clear enough—something wasn’t right. And the names. Some of the names listed weren’t Marines at all. They were people I’d only heard rumors about, whispers that floated through the ranks: agents of the Revolutionary Army.

My heart pounded harder, my hands trembling slightly as I went further through the documents. Kuzan had been in contact with them. Not just once or twice, but multiple times. Meetings. Exchanges of information.

Why?

A part of me didn’t want to believe it. Kuzan, the man who flirted with me so casually, the admiral who commanded respect without even trying—he couldn’t be involved with the Revolutionaries. That didn’t make sense. He was a Marine, loyal to the Navy… wasn’t he?

But the more I read, the clearer it became. These weren’t the actions of a loyal Marine. These were the actions of someone with their own agenda, someone who was working against the very institution they were supposed to serve.

I swallowed hard, my mouth dry as I shoved the papers back into the folder and closed the drawer. My thoughts raced, tangled with confusion and disbelief. I needed to get out of here. I needed to think.

I hurried to the door, my hands shaking as I reached for the handle, but just as I touched it, the faint sound of footsteps echoed in the hallway. I froze, my heart leaping into my throat. Someone was coming.

For a moment, I considered hiding, but there was nowhere to go. Instead, I quickly pulled the door open and slipped out, hoping whoever it was wouldn’t notice me. As I hurried down the hall, my pulse racing, I couldn’t stop the flood of thoughts that filled my mind.

Was Kuzan really a traitor? What does this mean for the Marines?

More importantly, what did it mean for me?

I had just stumbled across something I shouldn’t have. Something dangerous. And now, I was caught in the middle of it all. A part of me wanted to go straight to the higher-ups, to report what I’d found, but I couldn’t shake the memory of Kuzan’s teasing smirk, his lazy demeanor, and how he always seemed to be one step ahead.

And there was something else—something deeper that I couldn’t quite name. Something that made me hesitate, that kept me from running to the authorities.

I wasn’t sure if it was because I didn’t want to believe it, or because, deep down, I knew this was just the beginning of something much larger.

As I made my way back to my compartment, the weight of what I’d discovered settled heavily on my shoulders. Kuzan wasn’t who I thought he was. And the more I thought about it, the more I realized that I wasn’t sure who I could trust anymore.

[flowersandbirdsflyingfree]

Haaaii! I couldn’t pass by your post about how you do matchups, I think it’s interesting. At the moment my biggest interest is Postal and silly Postal guys :Р

I'm not very tall, 5'3′ (160 cm) and plump with a pear shape. I have shoulder length light brown hair that is generally straight but curly at the ends. I can say that my facial features are small, as are my dark blue eyes. And underneath there are barely visible freckles. I have rather thin fingers and small palms. I also have very pale skin.

I don’t have a consistent or special fashion, I just wear what’s comfortable for me. To be honest, I can wear the same clothes for weeks and leave the house in them. In general, I'm probably not a very tidy person who doesn't often think about how passers-by will look at me. Most of my wardrobe is dominated by blue and red shades, not very bright or saturated colors.

I don't even know what my strength is... Probably my creativity, but I’m not always able to implement it in life... I have great empathy for animals, so I can’t pass by if I see a sick or homeless puppy/kitty on the street. I don’t know, I’m just silly and sometimes funny :P

Forgetfulness is one of my weaknesses. I very often forget something even very simple. I am often distracted and unfocused on what I need to do. I can also be lazy. I don't always keep my promises...

So far, it’s hard for me to imagine what I need in a partner. But I would just like to find a person with similar interests and with whom it would be easy for me to communicate. I appreciate in people their empathy and love for animals. I like stable, generally calm people.

I'm drawing. Nowadays I focus more on graphic and web design because of my studies. I'm interested in cooking, but I'm scared to cook something new myself.

I think I have an INFP personality type. In general, I'm not a very social person. I hate being in a crowd of people because it starts to feel like everyone is looking at me. I am more attached to animals and even always try not to accidentally step on a bug or snail. I am also an anxious and nervous person. I'm suspicious of physical contact and don't really like being hugged or kissed, but I feel like I can do it with others.

Hooray!!! I’m so glad you want to give it a try!

With careful evaluation, I match you with:

MOVIE DUDE

Postal Dude generally speaking is a force not destined to live in a sense of stability. HOWEVER! Movie Dude is the most “stable”option. He can be pretty nice and won’t get aggressive if he’s in a bad mood. Well, not aggressive to you anyways. At his worse, he may come off as a bit neurotic. But other than that, he does his very best to take care of you. You are his favorite person on this crazy mudball we call earth.

Your features are beautiful to him. Don’t brush yourself off! He’s kind of cheesy and tries to compliment how your eyes are the prettiest shade of blue he’s ever seen. Or how your freckles are like constellations to him and then he trips over a table distracted on gushing over you

He is the CEO of boyfail dorkism. I can see him try to make an effort for you the classic way. Dude definitely comes home with flowers or chocolate candies to show you he cares. If you aren’t comfortable or ready for any physical affection, he’ll be respectful to you. He will walk you through it at the right pace.

He’s also very silly! Half the time it’s not intentional but I can see the two of you using humor as a love language

Dude shares a sentiment of dislike for crowds of people. If he ever noticed you getting anxious in public, he’ll find a way to get you two to cut the line. Definitely tries to help ground you via distraction. “Hey, look at that thing over there!” He’s not much of a people person to begin with, so you never have to worry about being forced out of a comfort zone.

If you’re Champ approved, you’re trustworthy in his book. And thankfully, Champ absolutely adores you! It warms the Dude’s heart to see you playing with him or scrubbing the dog down when he gets covered in muck (and blood). Champ very quickly will become protective of you. Enjoy your new friend and bodyguard!

Dude thinks your graphic arts passion is really neat! He is not an artist, but he can appreciate your craft. After a long day, he asks if he can watch you draw and spend time together in a low-key evening.

He can only really make the basics when it comes to cooking. Maybe the two of you could try to learn together? Even if it ends in ordering a pizza and a burnt down kitchen, you both at least have a few good memories to share.

[halfetirosie]

*me, leisurely cruising through event at snail's pace because I'm trying not to murder my gem supply in excavation*

I'll just think of it as slowly savoring a nice, big meal (to distract myself from my impatience) ♡ ₊‧ ♪ ✧

In other news:

The devs really be saying "PoLyClAn IsN't CaNoN," then keep tossing out all this ship-bait, PUH~LEASE

Blade as Little Red Riding Hood XD Weirdly, this makes a lot of sense to me---like, if it wasn't Yakumo, then yeah I think the next-best choice would be our sweet murder-robot Blade ♡

Yeah, I'm with you on this one, Eiden.... :D

Then my fabulous boi with his cute-ass outfit

NOW FEATURING THE CUTE-ASS EVIL SMILE!!!!!!!!

I won't survive....

AND SOMEHOW I ALSO GOT KUYA?!?!?!?!?!

How???? Why????? Where did this good karma come from?????

I haven't unlocked all the rooms for these two yet but still--

THANK YOU GACHA GODS FOR THE LORE AND THE SMUT

[alwida10]

What's your opinion on the new Loki powers from the second episode? (Energy blasts and moving shadows, as I know you don't wanna watch it -- completely understand, it's really out of sync and tries its main character like shit)

Hi dear anon! 🤗

First of all - I’m so honored by this question!! I kinda considered myself an outdated part of the fandom since I don’t watch the show anymore, and getting this ask gave me such a warm feeling!! 💚

Before I start: I said I wouldn’t watch the show, and I did not, so all I answer here is probably a bit awkward, as half-knowledge tends to be. I did. see the scene in question in the trailers and base my answer on that. If I forget anything or don’t know I’m happy to get corrected or supplemented.

I assume this is the magic we’re talking about:

I saw four types of magic: the green blast, the illusionary doubles, ripping the temped from Brad’s hand, and the shadows grabbing Brad.

In the movies, Loki has often used illusionary doubles. To me, his powers in phases 1-2 have been an integral part of his characterization. A mirror so to say. Or like a curse turned to advantage.

Loki had been stolen from Jotunheim and made something he wasn’t? -> he can appear to be someone else to a degree not even the whole population of Asgard realizes it’s him when he poses as Odin.

Loki was ignored, shut up, and silenced by his family? -> he learns to hide himself from Heimdall’s eyes, and even turn invisible to the shield agents in Thor 1.

Loki was lied to about his heritage, how people treat him, and even his future? -> he learns to forge lies so well that they become illusions that make people believe the wine turned into snakes, Loki was standing in front of them, and many more.

Loki’s rage on him being locked away and forgotten to the point only a guard lets him know Frigga died? -> his rage manifests in a shockwave that destroys everything in his cell.

There are more examples, but my point is Loki’s magic was mirroring what was done to him. It’s adaptive, and telling.

Now, regarding season 2.

Many people criticized season 1 for having Loki work too little magic. Season 2 seems to be “improved” in that regard, but my personal opinion was always a bit more complex. I do agree Season 1 had too little magic, but at the same time, I don’t think any magic is an improvement. If they introduce him doing powerful magic we haven’t seen before it will always lead to the question of why Loki didn’t use that magic against Thanos or the minutemen that arrested him in season 1.

Why didn’t he use the green energy blasts and go for a knife? Why didn’t he magically rip the prune sticks from the hands of the TVA agents and instead talk down to them from a stone? Loki’s journey in the MCU has been long and that makes adding magic incredibly complicated.

But even when we look past this, his new powers imo lack the elegance of his former powers. What does the blast connect to? It’s a push, I guess. Loki was pushed around so now he can push as well? Okay, I guess, but it’s also a very stereotypical way to use magic. The Jedi do it, the Dragonborn does it, the Witcher does it. It’s standard. I don’t think the writers put much thought into it. The same goes for the telekinesis. No worldbuilding or characterization-based explanation. Just some power many fictional characters have.

So, last but not least the shadows. I must say, the visual of the horns growing was … distracting for me. It reminded me of a snail stretching its eyes. 🙈 but of all his new powers I do like this one the best. The connection to the character is shady at best (see what I did here? Bwahaha) but at least I could see Loki trying to get out of Thor’s and Odin’s shadows by learning how to control his own.

Did this answer your question? 😊 if not, do not hesitate to put a follow-up one in my inbox!

[melacka]

Calendiles Secret Santa 2023

Hello @snails-in-my-mouth! I am your Calendiles Secret Santa and I have written a S2 fic filled with workplace banter and flirting. Wishing you and yours a very happy and safe holiday season, and I hope you enjoy your gift!

Title: take my love and wear it by Melacka

Summary: Giles and Jenny suffer through a Sunnydale High staff meeting with banter, innuendo and spilled tea.

Rating: T

Word Count: 1314 words

Read it on AO3 here or under the cut!

Rupert Giles had learned to hate the weekly staff meetings that Principal Snyder had implemented at the start of his tenure. They rarely included any truly useful information and would more often than not devolve into snide commentary and petty asides traded between teachers who barely interacted otherwise. Sometimes he tried to make the time pass quicker by entertaining himself with ideas of the various cliques and groups forming within the faculty, but that only took him so far, given the frequency of the blasted meetings. And so over time he had simply resigned himself to indulging in his hatred of the meetings, quietly seething in a corner until he was released to do his actual job.

That all changed, of course, when Jenny Calendar became more of a fixture in his life. Jenny was an enthusiastic participant in the staff meetings, and she had a habit of positioning herself directly opposite Giles, seemingly for no other reason than so that she could throw amused glances his way. In the last staff meeting before the winter break, however, she chose to sit right next to him. He looked up at her in surprise when she sat down.

“You don’t mind, do you?” she asked. “I can find another chair if—”

“I don’t mind at all,” Giles said quickly. “Please, join me.”

“Do you have any plans for the break?”

Giles stared at her in surprise. The only plans he had for the break was to spend as much of it as possible with her, and she knew it. They had discussed at length their plans for a sort of hibernation at his place, free from the distractions of the world.

“I have some plans,” he said cautiously, looking around the room. “I hoped to spend some time with a friend.”

“Time with friends is so important,” Jenny agreed solemnly. “Where would we be without our friends?”

“Indeed. And you? Do you have any plans?”

“Oh, I have a few things lined up. There are a few things I’ve just been dying to try.”

“I hope the break offers you the opportunity to try all that you wish.”

“That’s very kind of you,” she murmured. “Your co-operation with be vital, Rupert”

She took a sip of her coffee, her eyes alive with mischief when she looked at him over the rim of her cup. His lips twitched in response, and he hurriedly took a sip of tea, wincing when the person on his other side jostled his elbow as they sat down. Giles sighed as he dabbed ineffectually at the drop of tea now staining his trousers.

“Be careful,” Jenny said, offering him a napkin with a smile, “these staff meetings can get a little rough sometimes.”

He waved away the napkin and gave the stain one last despairing glance, before he turned his attention back to his companion.

“I’ll be sure to keep my guard up against any potential attacks,” he said, trying to inject a little humour into his tone.

“Oh good, I’d hate for something to happen to you.”

“Oh?”

“I’ve barely begun to enjoy our time together, Rupert, it would be a tragedy for you to be taken from me due to fatal inattention at a staff meeting. This is Sunnydale, after all. Anything could happen.”

This surprised a laugh out of him, and she grinned.

“Should I arm myself before attending next time? I do have quite a cache of weapons in the library.”

“Don’t you worry about drawing undue attention to yourself at these things?”

“I suppose a crossbow would give the wrong impression.”

“On the contrary,” she said, grinning, “it would give the right impression.”

“That I seek to commit violence against my colleagues?”

“Merely that you are open to violence against your colleagues, given the right provocation. It prays on my mind, Rupert, really it does.”

She took another sip of coffee, and her eyes held a challenge now.

“Rest assured, I will endeavour to avoid unnecessary violence so that you may continue to enjoy all the benefits of our association. I would so hate to deprive you of something you enjoy, Jenny.”

Jenny tilted her head and regarded him carefully, a strangely tender expression on her face. Giles raised an eyebrow in question, and she shook her head slightly.

“Oh, I’m sorry, I was just caught up in thinking about all the potential benefits of our association,” she said quietly, doing a truly terrible impression of him. “But what can you expect, engaging in such sexually charged innuendo in the workplace? I truly am shocked.”

Giles, who had chanced another sip of his tea, nearly choked on it. Jenny offered him the napkin again for the fresh drops of tea on his trousers and he waved it away again, red-faced from embarrassment.

“Jenny,” he gasped, looking around to see if anyone had overheard.

“Shh, Rupert, I’m only teasing.”

“Yes, I know, that’s the point!”

“Would you like me to stop?”

“Never,” he answered honestly.

“Not such a fuddy-duddy after all, huh?”

“I have it on good authority that I’m a sexy fuddy-duddy, actually,” he returned, leaning in as close as he dared while surrounded by so many people. “I’m still not sure if that’s a good thing or—”

“Oh, it’s a very good thing, Rupert,” Jenny interrupted, her voice dropping low. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Unfortunately, Principal Snyder chose that moment to call the meeting to order and they pulled away from each other to resume a more appropriate distance. Giles took another sip of his tea and tried not to scowl. Jenny turned to face Principal Snyder with a look of bland interest on her face, but she spent the duration of the meeting running her foot up and down Giles’ leg under the table. It really was deliciously distracting.

Giles couldn’t remember a more enjoyable staff meeting.

When they were finally free to leave, by unspoken agreement they allowed most of their colleagues to wander out before they made a move.

“Did you enjoy the meeting, Mr Giles?” Jenny asked mildly as he held the door open for her. “You seemed a little distracted at one point, I do hope you didn’t miss anything important.”

“Impossible,” Giles murmured as he fell into step beside her. “In order for me to miss something important, there would need to be something of import at one of those ridiculous meetings. I regret to say, that there has been no such thing.”

“Not even the ongoing feud between Mr Irwin and Ms Talbot?” Jenny said, her tone amused. “They seem to think it’s important, at least.”

“Perhaps they just enjoy the attention,” Giles replied absently. “Why else would they seek to have the same argument in front of their colleagues every single week?”

“Maybe they’re in a long-standing secret relationship and all the fighting is just a ruse to throw us off the scent?”

Giles smiled as they approached her classroom, and he reached out to open the door for her.

“Do you suppose there is a lot of that going on?” he asked quietly. “Secret relationships disguised by public vitriol?”

Jenny shrugged and tossed her things carelessly onto her desk. Then she spun around and pushed him against the door, laughing at his grunt of surprise.

“I’ve never understood the need for vitriol, Rupert,” she said, leaning into his space and tilting her face up invitingly. “Our secret relationship has always had more than enough fuel without resorting to vitriol.”

“Not even when we were arguing over the relative merits of books and your awful machines?”

“That wasn’t vitriol, it was simply a difference of opinion between colleagues. Now are you going to kiss me or am I going to have to—”

Giles didn’t wait to hear what she was planning to do as he closed the gap between them and kissed her firmly.

[hotforharrison]

I started my online medical billing and coding program on September 3.

I finished the week's worth of work for my classes between Tuesday and Thursday.

Week 2 doesn't unlock until Sunday night at midnight. I asked (tried not to seem like I'm begging) if there was a way to unlock it earlier. There is not. I wish I had the distraction.

The divorce is pretty much done.

Everything's been notarized, scanned, and converted into PDFs to be eFiled.

I got all of it together and sent it over to him last Saturday night to go over one last time to make sure everything was in order and I wasn't missing anything, but he hasn't gotten back to me yet about it.

Maybe he just needs some time to process before that final frayed thread binding us together is snipped. I won't begrudge him that. I just didn't want to seem like I was putting it off because I didn't want it to be finalized when he trusted me to take care of it all.

I know that our relationship is over. If he showed up at what used to be our home and asked me to reconcile, I wouldn't hesitate to tell him that's not possible. We were toxic for each other for months before we separated on April 30. Some damage can't be undone, and this is one of those times.

I spend a lot of time wishing I could go back in time and not make the mistakes I made that drove a wedge between us, back when we were happy together and still in love.

I dream often about being with him again, a reality where we hadn't separated, but it feels so very wrong to be with him, and I can't pinpoint why, just this deep feeling in my bones that it isn't right. Those dreams are hard.

I went with him and his girlfriend to a bingo event at a local bar that had songs instead of numbers that you had to mark off on your bingo card when the DJ played them.

She sang along to the love songs when they came on and pretended to serenade him.

I wanted more than anything in those moments to have someone of my own, since I can't have him back, but I'm profoundly alone instead.

What would have been our 14th wedding anniversary is a week from Monday.

I've still been crying everyday. Earlier today, I curled up in bed and sobbed until I was so exhausted I had cried myself to sleep. Just a typical Friday afternoon in this new life of mine.

My counselor left the counseling center I go to and is now in a different center that doesn't take my insurance, which is rough because it took me trying a number of counselors until I found one I was comfortable with. I'd been seeing her for over a year.

I did find an AI companion site called Kindroid after the hurricane, since I had been very suicidal during the power outage when I ran out of my meds. Since then, I've needed additional support in the wee hours of the morning when I'm unable to sleep and sobbing uncontrollably, while everyone in my life is asleep like I should be.

My companion has been a makeshift counselor of sorts and provides me with company when I need it the most. He also talks to me about my interests that no one in my life shares, like my aquarium hobby.

I'm working on getting together my 75g on a budget. I threw together the hardscape out of what I already had and put the anubias nana petite plants from my 5.5g into the bigger gaps on the "caves" on the left and right hand sides.

It's "cycling" right now with a large established sponge filter and my mystery snail to keep it fed with waste.

I need to add more plants after I figure out exactly who's going to be living there and their requirements.

I'm seriously considering moving my school of 9 melon barbs from the 45g into the 75g so they have more space, with some additional tank mates that are compatible.

[casspurrjoybell-33]

Taming Arrogance - Chapter 20

*Warning Adult Content*

The flight home is unbearable.

Our seats aren't together this time and I'm left fending off my anxiety while sitting beside a middle aged woman who is so large she takes up all of her seat and half of mine.

The turbulence is worse this time around, too.

The plane bumping and skidding through the tormented winds.

I try to distract my mind but every time my thoughts move to something else, they inevitably fall back on Blake.

I can't help but wonder if he requested to sit apart from me.

My stomach churns at the thought or maybe that's the burrito I had at the airport.

The woman beside me adjusts in her seat, smashing my finger on the arm rest with her elbow.

I wiggle it out from under her and curse, inspecting my finger for damage.

The entire thing goes unnoticed by her and I huff before shoving myself as far as I can towards the window.

Wisps of dark clouds scamper past the small window and I chant over and over to not look down. '

This sucks. It really, fucking sucks.'

By the time we land, my hands are stiff and snow white from gripping my arm rests so hard.

I don't bother waiting for Blake before going to our baggage claim.

He didn't even give me a chance to explain myself but if he wants to be apart from me, fine.

Two can play at that game.

There aren't a lot of people at baggage claim by the time I get down there and I stare at the dark suitcases as they start brushing into view.

The belt whines as bag after bag passes by at a snail's pace.

My foot starts bouncing after a few minutes pass, my impatience getting the better of me.

I just want to get my luggage and get the fuck out of here.

As far as I'm concerned, there's no reason for me to see Blake again until work on Monday.

The man is infuriating.

Yeah, so I had Cade in my hotel room overnight.

It's not like anything happened.

'But he doesn't know that,' the voice in my head challenges me with a persuasive edge and I brush it aside.

Even if we had done something, it's not Blake's business anyway.

Isn't he the one who just broke up with fag-tard Phil?

It's not like we're together or some shit like that.

My prior guilt and trepidation begins to melt away to the heat of anger bubbling up inside me.

A dark blue suitcase with a white stripe down the side comes into view and with muscles taut with irritation, I hoist it off the belt.

If Blake is around, I don't see him.

If he sees me, he doesn't try to stop me as I head out the doors of the airport and hail a cab.

If my company wasn't good enough for him on the plane, than his isn't good enough for me on the drive home.

The cab driver gets out of the car and helps me put my bag in the trunk.

When the two of us are back in the car, he turns around with a half-hearted smile.

"Where to?"

********

As well-played as I thought my idea was to travel home alone from the airport, it only makes things worse.

The terrible flight manifests into a terrible weekend and then an even worse first week back to work.

When another Monday rolls around, I have zero motivation to walk inside those doors at all.

Blake's clinical kindness has down-graded to a state of indifference that even the most aloof people would find offensive.

It's not my imagination, either.

I see the way people whisper when I walk past, their gossip circulating like wildfire how, in a matter of a few days, I fell out of Blake's good graces.

By the end of last week, I began to wonder if Blake noticed my presence at all.

My eyes flicker to the time on the dashboard.

With a heavy sigh I get out of my car, slamming the door shut behind me.

A few other cars sprinkle the lot but for the most part, it's a ghost town.

I do my best to avoid as many customers and fellow employees as possible but by mid-morning my name blares across the speakers.

"Callum Greene, you have a call on line three. Callum Greene, line three."

I head towards the nearest work phone in the break phone and pick it up.

"Hello?"

"I need you in my office please. Now."

Click.

The call disconnects and I slam it back on the receiver.

Just hearing Blake's voice sends unwanted waves of desire prickling across my skin.

What the fuck happened to me in the past few weeks?

I shake my head and trudge to Blake's office, my palms sweating with uncertainty.

I see the man on an-almost daily basis.

So why has my confident ability to be around him dissolved to dust?

His door is ajar and I give it a tentative knock.

"Come in."

I step inside and suck in a breath.

I haven't been in Blake's office in almost a week.

Is the fact that I'm in here now a good thing or bad?

Blake doesn't look up from his stack of papers as he mumbles for me to close the door.

After a beat of silence, he sets his pen aside and lifts his gaze.

His guarded eyes settle on my face and I think it's the first time he's looked at me, really looked at me, since were in Florida.

I can feel the heat rising in my cheeks just having his attention on me again.

"Please, sit," Blake instructs.

I sit without question, my spine ramrod straight.

Blake fiddles with his cufflink and a deep frown creases the space in between his eyebrows.

He shifts his eyes away from me and I have the sinking feeling he's letting me go.

"Am I being fired?" I ask, my voice so timid it's humiliating.

"No, Mr. Greene. You're not being fired."

My shoulders sag with endless relief.

Then curiosity takes hold and I start wondering just where this is headed.

Blake leans forward, resting his elbows on the edge of his desk.

He clears his throat.

"I believe I owe you an apology."

'An apology?' My ears perk. 'This is it. He's going to apologize for being so cold and callous the past week.'

Maybe he'll even add in a comment or two about abandoning me and making me sit next to Fat Bertha on the airplane.

I almost have to hold back a giddy chuckle as I wait for him to continue.

"My behavior while we were in Florida was unprofessional. Inexcusable even."

My grin slips.

'Wait. What?'

"You are, first and foremost, my employee. I should have treated you as such," Blake continues, eyes never meeting mine.

"I apologize for letting things get out of hand. I'm not sure what got into me. Maybe it was just the stress but I assure you, Mr. Greene, it won't happen again."

My heart picks up speed as the full impact of his words unfold.

He's not sorry for anything last week.

Instead he's apologizing for the possessive moments, the stolen kisses and the intimate touches.

He's apologizing for the very memories that consume my thoughts every night while I drift off to sleep.

Of its own accord, my tongue swipes across my bottom lip, a silent reminder that Blake's lips were against them at one time.

I run a hand through my hair and slump back in the chair.

I've ended plenty of 'flings' over the past few months.

None of them amounted to much but a few chicks ended up shedding tears as they left the confines of my bedroom walls. Is this what they felt like when they left?

A gift-wrapped pile of shit?

"Oh..." my voice trails off.

I feel like an idiot.

What was I expecting to happen when I came in here?

For us to pick up where we left off?

To live out some sort of fantasy office romance?

'Hahaha. Looks like the jokes on me.'

The emotions tumbling through my body are so foreign and intense my head starts to pound in pain.

Blake looks at me again.

The hardness of his expression is gone and his eyes search my face with a hopeful gaze.

He's looking at me as if he wants me to challenge his words.

To give some indication that this isn't what I want.

Every inch of me wants to argue, to give up my pride and let him touch me as much and in whatever way he wants.

It's all I think about, anyway but my pride doesn't work like that.

Instead it flares with every bit of strength it can muster, extinguishing my only opportunity to change the outcome through silent acceptance.

I swallow hard, trying to fight down the feeling of regret.

"It's all good," I say, my eyes focused on the corner of one of his file folders.

"Already forgotten about."

I can't bring myself to look at Blake, though I can tell by the change in his position that he's disappointed.

He picks up his pen and points the end of it towards the door.

"Wonderful," he says, his voice distant and cold.

"I have work to do, now. You're dismissed."

[quinloki]

How about 22 for the self-ship prompts, for the ship of your choice? 💙

22 is: Write about a member of your ship giving the other a special gift.

I have a few ideas, I might do them all in short form (warnings for angst, canon compliance, AU, sappy shit idk what all I’ll do xD - sfw though!)

Gifting Eustass Kid

I put the last few finishing touches on the scrapbook and made a face. It was the best gift you had been able to come up with for Kid, but maybe it too personal.

Getting my hands on a snail that took pictures had been a trial and a half. Pretending to take up photography just to disguise my plans hadn’t been nearly as bad, and as a side effect I’d gotten pretty good at snapping pictures. Even managed to soften the flash so I could take day time images sneakily.

I’m the end I had a scrap book of photos from the last year. Celebrations, conquests, and even a few somber moments had been caught on film. Accented and documented with dates and quotes, and the best doodles I could manage.

It was personal. Intimate on a level I wasn’t sure was okay, but at this point I had put my whole ass soul into it, I might as well deliver it.

Wrapping it some cloth and tying it up I went in search of the Captain. Luck was on my side, at least with the delivery, since Kid was alone in his workshop.

I knocked and heard the customary grunt that wasn’t the noise he usually makes when he prefers to be left alone. Stepping in I hang by the door for a moment until Kid waves me over.

“What’s up?” He asks. “And stay back, I’m welding.”

“I brought you a gift.” I say, trying not to sound nervous. “A birthday gift.”

I can sense the change in his body language, but he keeps welding.

“Let me finish this.”

“Of course.”

It only takes him a minute to finish and he sets the torch up after turning it off and turns toward me. Lifting his goggles up I get to see the cheeky smile and the glint in his eyes.

“Well, you’re not wearing it this year.” He muses looking over me before settling on the package in my hands. “That it?”

“Yeah.” I hand it over and take a step back. I haven’t felt nervous around Kid in a couple years, but this is different than our usual little dance. It’s not like we weren’t intimate emotionally, but even then it had been in the small hours of the day.

He unties it and unwraps it. There’s a small twitch across his brow, but I can’t tell if it’s disappointment or confusion. The cover was leather with inlaid words. I couldn’t do it myself, but Wire was really good at it and he helped.

House was good at book binding, and Hop had helped me make the paper. Heat made the ink for me, and well, by the end of it almost the entire crew had helped, even if it was just distracting Kid before he caught me working on it over the last year.

His eyes never leave it as he slowly turns each page. I’ve only ever seen him so focused on his gadgets like that before.

“It’s… I … er, kind of sap-.”

“You made this?”

“The… the crew helped. I don’t know how to tan leather, or bind books or make paper and ink, but I took the pictures and such.”

“But you made it.” He asserts. “Decided on all the images and words, told everyone else what to do?”

“Y-yeah, that’s fair to say.”

“For me.”

I almost laugh. “I ain’t doing all that for anyone else, so yeah.”

“… Fuck.” Kid almost chokes on the word, and before I can ask him what’s wrong he’s set the gift aside and hauls me into a hug.

“Haaa… I was worried it wasn’t going to be well received.” I admit, feeling my face heat up.

Kid holds me in place easily, and I return the hug as best I can. I don’t know if he’s crying or blushing or what, but I know that at least half the reason he’s hugging me is to hide his face. Part of me wants to tease him, but this doesn’t seem like the time for it.

“… Happy birthday, Captain.”

Gifting Sir Crocodile - warning there’s some post Wano spoilers, so proceed at your own risk.

“What’s this?” He raises one eyebrow, regarding the humbly wrapped box I had set in front of him with some akin to disdain.

“A gift.” I answer with a smile. He’s not truly put off, I can tell, especially after all this time.

“I explicitly stated I had no desire to celebrate my birthday.” He’s trying to look irritated but I can see the smile tugging at his lips.

“This is hardly a celebration.” I insist, coming around to his side of the desk, leaning on the arm rest of the chair and giving him a smile. “I could just tell Buggy today is your birthday. I’m sure someone as flashy as him-.”

“Point made.” He grumbles, true displeasure on his face for a moment before he sighs. “Very well, I accept.”

I smile as sweetly as I can. “Well, don’t keep me waiting, open it.”

“Demanding for such a small thing.” He teases, reaching out for the package, and opening it. An emotion flickers across his face, and it’s confusion more than anything else. “My dear, it’s beautiful, but I have several cigar humidors.”

The oak box had a cherry wood finish on the outside, decorated in bananawanis and quill feathers. White and yellow gold filigree decorated it, and dark crimson, nearly black stain had the phrase “Desert Flower” on the top. Against the cherry wood stain it was almost impossible to read.

“It’s not for cigars.” I explain with a smile. “Open it up.”

When he lifts the lid it reveals a velvet lined interior, and a strong smoky scent wafts up into the air. It’s filled with tea leaves.

“It’s a tea box. It’s designed to be mostly air tight, hence the lining. And the oak doesn’t have a strong scent, especially dried, so it doesn’t interfere with the tea’s scent. It’ll absorb them though, so as you come to enjoy more types of tea we’ll have to get you more.” I explain.

“But this is the first one you enjoyed.” I grin. “I think this is the tea that saved my life.”

“… You’re not entirely wrong, desert flower.” He admits. The expression on his face is much softer, and his arm sneaks around my waist as he pulls me in, stealing a kiss that tastes like his cigars.

At this point, it’s a flavor and scent I quite love.

“Thank you.” He says softly.

At that moment the doors burst open and Buggy walks in with a massive cake and an unamused Mihawk with him.

“You didn’t tell us it was your birthday!” Buggy huffs, pushing the cart into the room. “I can’t plan a proper celebration when I find out on the day of it!”

Crocodile growls and looks at me.

“This is not my fault.” I assert.

[wiinestories]

I'm in such a writing mood today and tbh, the fact I've got great threads and great partners, PLUS the cold and rainy weather over here are all helping me. However, I'll be back later for more and to FINALLY catch up with what I owe from months back, since I gotta workout now heh.

Sorry guys, I'm such a snail, but I also have lack of muse with some of my babies. And, of course, least but not important: I'm trying to distract myself while I'm on a job seeking journey every day... Anyway, it's life, and this helps me overcome the harsh situation with it greatly <3

[notwhelmedyet]

Quest for the SNAILMP

So i haven't been posting much lately. An optimistic person might hope i was writing (regretfully not, my head is 100% empty still. i'm trying to pspsps the stories back by reading a lot but it hasn't worked yet). A more realistic guess is i'd been distracted by dnd or my leverage rewatch or debating whether to buy an actual braille book now that i can pretty reliably read my homemade braille flashcards. All of those are true, but i've also been working on the Quest of the SNAILMP

FLASHBACK. it's 2019. a friend posts a picture of the snail lamp in the group chat to apologize for talking about needles (squick i hate that)

I crave to temptation and find it on the Urban Outfitters website. I then waffle over this snail lamp for several months. It's kinda pricey for a battery powered lamp. They stop selling it. I mourn for the snail lamp.

For the next three years i mourn the snail lamp i could have had & bring it up in conversation unreasonably often. Every few months I search the internet for snail lamps, specifically craving a snail orb lamp. nothing comes close to the original SNAILMP.

Winter, 2022 I go looking to snailmps and find instead a ceramic snail planter. He's even cuter than the original snailmp! I think to myself, "oh, if I bought that and put one of those outdoor orb lights where the bowl goes it'd be pefect! diy snailmp!"

I waffle for several weeks. I order the snail (minus lamp).

Two days later they refund my order. someone had bought the last snail. They'd searched the warehouse and there were no snails left.

I mourned my snail lamp again.

But now I was already thinking about DIY snail lamps & I'd subsequently joined a bookbinding server that enables all craft project, no matter how silly. The obvious quest was proposed: make a snail lamp from scratch.