#trying to hold back on the length of the actual post lmao

[candyunicornsateme]

Always secretly liked the idea of Kenny giving his crush some sort of anonymous secret love letter yanno. Like idk does that not have the most Kenny vibes????? It's quiet and mysterious. And they wouldn't even be able to guess, because I love to think his writing voice is so different.

[yawnzune]

morning serenade | cbg (m.)

pairing: beomgyu x reader

genre/au: smut, punk band!au, frenemies?, college setting

warnings: morning sex, unprotected sex, dirty talk, praise kink, marking, fingering, orgasm delay/denial, creampie, he’s a lil possessive but wbk he’s just crazy lmao

a/n: barely fics are posted when it’s his birthday today so it made me whip this up rq since i was seeing random shits anyway after waking up. ily baby gyu, happy 23rd mwah <3

you're waking up to something heavy crushing your body on your bed.

that can’t be right. or this could be one of your sleep paralysis demons tormenting you again?

when you open one eye to check, it’s almost comical how the gurgling scream was gonna come out of your mouth but it didn’t.

grogginess from sleep mixed with shock rendered you speechless after finding a demon in the form of Choi Beomgyu, the lead guitarist of your school's punk band.

butt-naked between your legs.

“hi” his even deeper voice rumbles against your chest. it sends vibrations against your bare skin, particularly in your pussy where you're feeling a bit sore.

naked. you both are naked.

you try to remember what happened the night prior. memories start to resurface the more you stay in focus despite the man scanning your face on top of you. neither of you drank for sure but you remember kissing him which lead to a whole night of non-stop fucking.

beomgyu nuzzles your bare tits when you didn’t respond but you’re still focused on how good his messy red-bronze hair looks under the sunlight.

“what the fuck are you doing here punk?”

you tend to say the opposite of what you actually wanna say. just like you’re letting him stay on top of you instead of pushing him off.

“isn’t it obvious? we fucked” he states, a bit maniacally which should’ve concerned you about what he’s planning right now.

he giggles when you don’t rebuke him, leaving kisses around your chest.

this earns gasp from you, causing him to chuckle. you couldn’t even look at him, already closing your eyes as he continued to pepper your skin with more messy kisses until he reached your nipples, encircling his mouth briefly on both before releasing them with a pop.

“scratch that, i fucked you” he grins as he pulls himself up, allowing him to see you underneath him in full glory.

“and i’ll fuck you again”

beomgyu leans on one elbow against the mattress, his other hand touching whatever he can of your body. holding your cheek then briefly squeezing your breast down to caressing the side of your tummy.

“but..” you’ve been squirming under his touch, only halting when you feel his fingers in your cunt, checking to see how swollen you are.

“you’re soaking tho, you sure you don’t wanna?” he asks in a playful manner, fingers running through your folds and you wanted to scream.

scream his name that is, like hours ago.

your resolve's giving in, with how he’s looking at you like he’d been the whole night not helping your current predicament.

“beomie..” your legs absentmindedly close due to the sensitivity but he slaps your inner thighs, eliciting a whiny moan from you.

“go on, ask” his smile widened and you didn’t miss the glint in his eyes as your gaze stayed on them.

“f-fuck me?” you’re not used to this, asking him of all people but maybe this is why he wants you to say it more.

“that’s it? no please…” his smile turned wicked as he plunges a finger into your pussy slowly and added another one, much to your displeasure.

“fuck, please fuck me” you squeal, ignoring how pathetic you sounded. he’d tease you nonstop after this like he always does since you’ve known him but you don’t really care.

you just want his dick again before you both can go back to hating each other temporarily.

he brings you back by pulling his fingers out and you’ve never felt so empty. beomgyu adjusts himself, his length brushing against your thighs that had you whining again.

“tsk tsk, too impatient” he huffs, grabbing his dick to line it up against your soaking folds.

“n-no more teasing..” you plead again because you don’t know how long you can endure his teasing. he surprisingly obeyed, pushing in until he filled you up to the brim.

your sensitive walls couldn’t stop clenching around him, making him weaker than usual. he hates it, hates how you could reduce him to this.

“still too tight, ‘s like i didn’t fuck you a lot” he hisses as he moves his hips, increasing his pace at once. he wants to hear you moan louder for him, want to hear it as long as he can.

“gyu..too much” you’re babbling and moaning, can’t even tell him which one’s too much but you're gripping his back with so much strength to keep him closer to your body. he relishes it though, the scratch from your nails that will surely leave red marks against his skin.

“too much but you like it?” he asks and you nod, biting your lips and curling your toes at how much pleasure he’s giving you.

you’re supposed to be tired from fucking for hours but your body seemed to want more. more like you want Beomgyu more and that scares you.

he knew he found that soft spot inside you the moment your back started arching, almost hitting his face while he watched you under him. he leaned down to trail kisses along your neck, hearing you giggle each time his long hair brushed your skin.

you keep moaning Beomgyu’s name and he’s tempted to tease you just to hear you more. but he’ll take pity, you’ve been so good to him so far. he was actually worried that you’d push him away earlier that’s why he tried his best to distract you.

“..more..more..shit” your words spur him to grab your face, to keep you steady while he gives you what you ask.

“i’ll fuck you more don’t worry, after this i will” he starts, caressing your cheek, and your bleary eyes are having a hard time paying attention to him.

he’s so pretty and you suddenly wanna kiss him. grabbing his mullet, you try to pull his face into yours but he’s firm in his hold on your neck keeping you in place.

"will you let me? will you huh y/n?" he leans in as he says it, mouth open as he moans against your lips but not touching them. they're touching the side though and one small turn from you would allow that.

but his question irks you, no, his whole being does.

all you can do is nod, releasing a series of wanton moans of his name which causes satisfaction within him. beomgyu was gonna kiss you but that’s too much of a risk so he buries his head at the crook of your neck instead.

"i'll be good, so good you're never gonna fuck the others" he whispers by your ear, accompanied by a couple of desperate grunts that you’ve never heard from him before.

"good..mhmm..so good"

"yeah good? you like how i fuck you?" he goads, eager to hear your praises again like he can't get enough of it.

"yea-hngh, gyu omyfuck!" the band on your lower abdomen unexpectedly snaps, leading Beomgyu to fasten his pace even more to reach his own end.

he’s not far and seeing the pure bliss in your pretty face is enough for him to reach his peak, groaning loudly as releases inside you.

you’re both panting from another mind-blowing orgasm and eventually, he drops his body against yours.

this time, you push him off completely which earns a complaining whine from him.

“where are you going? can you even walk?” he taunts, still breathless but his tone irritates you because he’s right.

“shut up you fuckass!”

as soon as you tried standing, your legs gave away and Beomgyu started laughing. his annoying laughter echoes around that you tried ignoring even if you had hopes of him getting off the bed to hoist you up.

but of course he wouldn’t.

instead, he peeks by the edge of the mattress with that stupid mullet hair of his before he reaches out to grab yours gently. he tugs it to turn you to him, pulling your face closer and then leaning in while you stupidly do the same for some reason.

no kiss or anything, just him stopping right before your lips are about to touch. a taunting smile graces his in response to the frown etching on your face.

“awee don’t tell me you’re giving up already”

if he meant your stamina or something else, you don’t ever wanna figure it out.

.

e/n: i’m kinda out of practice for smut lmao + this is unedited so excuse 🤧. also i did not expect to post him first in this blog when i had yeonjun and soobin drafted first 🤡

[kyber-crystal]

i will follow you into the dark || bradley "rooster" bradshaw

summary: your first instinct has always been to push people away when they get too close, but for some reason, you have trouble letting one pilot go. but little did you know that he had settled into your heart from the start and has no intention of leaving. (in which you have Bradley Bradshaw wrapped around your finger, and you don’t even notice—5 occasions that solidify your love for him, and 1 time you realize it)

words: ~3.3k

warnings: angst (BUT A HAPPY ENDING, I PROMISE), near-death experiences, brief mentions of violence, also my writing LMAO

a/n: hi guys i haven't posted a full-length fic in a LONG time but here we go :) this fic won the vote so it's going up first! hope you enjoy :)

I. meet me in the middle

“Mav!”

You and Maverick turned around at the same time. “Which one?”

“The pretty one,” Rooster stated. 

“Be more specific.”

“I am being specific, Captain.”

“No, you aren’t.”

“Fine, I need your daughter.”

“You always need her for something.”

“Sorry, pops,” you grinned and clasped Maverick’s shoulder, and walked over to Bradley. “Come to kidnap me again, Bradshaw?”

“Actually, I’m hungry.”

“Then…go eat? I don’t see what any of that has to do with me.”

“I’m going to dinner, and I want you to come along,” he explained. “So, let’s go.”

“Is that why Cyclone was grumbling about someone spilling coffee all over him earlier? I knew it had to be you that put him in that mood.”

“Doesn’t matter. Come on.”

You looked back at your father, who simply laughed and motioned for you to go. The test flight would have to wait. 

It was 5:30 when you got there, but the usually-crowded cantina had only one other person inside. Rooster didn’t hesitate as he set down his car keys and slid into the booth right next to you.

“There’s a seat right there,” you pointed out. 

“And?”

“You can sit over there.”

“I don’t want to, though.”

“Alright, then.” 

You weren’t even done for the day and already, felt tired and worn out beyond belief. The one thing that had been keeping you going was Maverick’s promise to take you on a Mach 7 test flight. (With the Admiral’s permission, of course. But you wouldn’t be surprised if he had never asked.)

Rooster tells the waitress your order without blinking, and you give him a tired smile as a thank you. 

There’s no animated conversation, no loud comments or jokes or anything of the sort as the food comes out, but neither of you mind. Sometimes, all you needed to cool down from a long week was each other’s company and a steaming plate of fajitas. 

The little routine you’ve established falls into place so easily you don’t even have to think. Impromptu dinners, blasting 80’s music as the sun goes down, taking the offbeat path down to the coast with salt in your windswept hair.  Little to no words spoken, and somehow the silence speaks volumes.

But you don’t understand why he’d choose you to do this with, out of everyone. You’d expect him to drift towards someone less damaged. Someone who could keep up to his free and daring spirit and push him to his limits. Someone who had less baggage and didn’t flinch at every little touch. 

But despite all that he doesn’t leave. Even when everyone else around you seemed to, he was always there, assuring you he’d wait no matter what.

“Don’t worry about it.” He places a gentle hand over yours as he hands his card over to pay later that evening. “Let me treat you tonight.”

“Thanks…” 

He holds the door open for you as you walk out and keeps a ghost of a hand against your back the whole way to the car. You’re trying to burrow into yourself, but he doesn’t stop looking at you. The feeling of his eyes on you sends shivers running down your spine and you nervously shift in your seat. 

“You okay?” Rooster places his hand on the headrest as he reverses out of the parking lot. “You seem quiet tonight.”

“Yeah.”

“Okay.” He doesn’t press any further, assuming that you’re tired and that’s why you’re unwilling to say much. He knows. He understands. “If you ever need to talk, though, I’m one call and a 15 minute walk away. Or 7, if I sprint.”

This makes you laugh a bit. “If you say so.”

II. waiting on you

As soon as you hop out of your plane, he’s the first one there to greet you and pulls you in for a hug. You have no time to react to it because he’s so quick to sweep you up into his arms. You can smell a mix of sweat and coffee and a little bit of raspberries on him, and it helps bring you back down to reality. 

“You saw me a few hours ago, Roos…please let me go…” you mumbled into his shoulder. His grip on you only tightens further. “What’s with the excitement?”

“Nothing. I’m just happy to see you.”

Not knowing what else to do, your hands awkwardly reach up to pat him on the back. “It’s good to see you, too.”

Though you don’t say it out loud, you’re also just as happy to see him—it’s comforting to know he’ll be waiting whenever you return from something. And that, you think, is more than enough. 

Rooster carries your things for you without asking, and you’re grateful because your shoulders feel like they’re going to fall out of their sockets. Once again, he’s standing close by as you go to your quarters, ever the watchman. If he doesn’t have a hand on you, then his eyes will stay glued to you for as long as they can be. 

“Is that my shirt?” he asks as you step out of the bathroom wearing an oversized vintage T-shirt and a pair of jeans. 

“No.”

“It looks better on you, anyway.” He smirks; you fail to notice the way his gaze lingers on you a bit longer than normal. “You ready to go? They’re waiting for us at the Hard Deck. Hangman’s complaining about a rematch or somethin’.”

You lean into his side and smile, and he puts an arm across your shoulders. It feels so natural that you almost don’t notice. “Yeah. Let’s go.”

His eyes never leave you, even when he’s in the thick of the game. It’s impossible to ignore the heat pooling in your stomach every time his gaze flickers over to yours. 

Coyote notices your dazed look and nudges Payback in the side. “How is it that everyone knows that Bradshaw and Y/N love each other except Bradshaw and Y/N?”

“Because they’re stupid,” Payback whispered back.

“Ah. Makes sense.”

“So, we need to do something about it.”

“Hm…I’d say we wait it out. They’re going in the right direction.” A small smile graced Coyote’s face as Rooster pumped a fist up in victory before rushing over to embrace you. “A room full of people, yet all he sees is her.”

“You’re so right, man.”

III. rose-tinted glasses

“What are you looking for out there?” Rooster called out.

“Something pretty,” you replied as you stood by the ocean’s edge, the wind fanning your hair around your shoulders. He’s sure that he’s never seen a more mesmerizing sight. 

“I beat you to it, because I already found one,” he stated with confidence, eyes never leaving you.

“Where?”

“I’m looking right at her.”

“That’s not what I meant, silly. Do I look like a seashell to you?”

“No, you’re even better.”

You laugh once again and resume your search. Right then, a glowing scallop catches your eye, and sand dusts your clothes as you bend down to pick it up. It’s smooth and seems to glow in rose gold amidst the early evening light. 

“Would you look at that,” you breathed out, palm extended to show him what you’ve found. “It’s perfect.”

Rooster encloses his hand around yours, and you can feel the heat radiating from his skin. It’s cold out but you’re not freezing at all because he’s so close. He’s so close. Your heart skips a beat. 

“Wow…it sure is.”

He kneels down with you, and you spend the next few hours making it a competition to see who can find the most unique set of stones. A strange feeling washed over you as you watched his brows furrow in concentration. Never had you imagined to be spending Thursday night with Bradley Bradshaw by the seashore, and yet, it feels like you’ve done this thousands of times before. 

Everything seems to fall into place. 

IV. for you, i’d cross the line 

“Y/N, hey.”

“Are you drunk?”

“Doesn’t matter. Move over.”

You shifted on the bench to make room for him and he sat down next to you. This was probably his tenth time playing his rendition of ‘Great Balls of Fire’ but that didn’t matter; the man knew how to sing. You found yourself leaning into him and listening to his heartbeat, and the sensation lulled you into a peaceful trance. 

You took one good look at your best friend. Sweat lined his forehead and his face was bright red from both the alcohol and heat, but still, you were 100% sure that you’d never seen a more beautiful sight in your life. 

The way he seemed to gaze at you made your heartbeat pick up speed. It didn’t matter that he had too one too many drinks in the moments leading up to this, nor did it matter that he was always one to be rather affectionate with you. It didn’t make you love him any less—if anything, it made him all the more endearing. 

“You’re looking at me very…intensely,” you mumbled. “It’s making me nervous.”

“Sorry, sweetheart,” he murmured. “A man can’t help it when he’s in love.”

“Was that tipsy you or sober you?”

“Sober me is saying I love you.” He continues playing, unfazed, and the sound of the piano in your ears fades away into nothingness. 

It’s drunk Rooster telling you he means what he says, the confidence boost making him do things he normally wouldn’t. It’s drunk Rooster attempting to serenade you as his warm, alcohol-riddled breath falls against your neck. It’s drunk Rooster talking…but there’s a sober truth hidden behind his words that sends a shiver down your spine. 

You’re nose-to-nose as he starts to sing, and you lose yourself in a sea of gold and blue as his warm thumb grazes over your cheek. As if there’s an invisible string drawing you together, you move closer and closer towards each other. Drunk or not, he was utterly enchanting and you couldn’t turn away.

Once again…you ignore the stirring feeling in your chest at the feeling of his body being so close to yours. 

V. saving grace

You find yourself opening the door to Rooster, who has a bouquet of your favorite flowers and some large Tupperware in hand. Butterflies flutter in your stomach as you accept them and step aside to let him in. “What is this for…?”

“Thought you’d want something nice to add to the kitchen. You and Mav need to work on decorations,” he said. “Why? Do you not like them?”

“No…I’m…how’d you know these were my favorite, anyway?”

“I heard you talking on the phone to Phoenix about them six months ago,” Rooster explained, taking his jacket off and hanging it over the couch. “I pride myself on being observant like that. Also…I woke up early to cook you that pasta you always go nuts over when we drive to LA.”

“Oh.” Your heart twinged as you glanced over—that damn pasta was your favorite thing on the entire planet. You claimed that nobody could make it as well as the diner in Newport did, except Bradley himself. (He didn’t tell you how many times it took to get it just right, though. He didn’t want you freaking out over that. And besides, Maverick’s pots and pans that he borrowed had already paid the price.)

He paused for a moment after setting the container down on the counter. “I noticed you went home early today. Are you sure you’re alright?”

“I’m fine,” you lied as you put the flowers in a vase. But that was no use; he could see right through your monotone response. “Didn’t sleep enough last night.”

Bradley sees your hands tremble slightly. “Sweetheart.”

That’s all he needs to say before you step forward and lean your head against his chest. One arm finds its way around your waist to pull you close, while his free hand smoothes your hair out. A cracked sob escapes your lips and you squeeze your eyes shut in the hopes that if you kept them closed long enough and prayed hard enough, a guardian angel would swoop in and save you. 

“I’m here, it’s okay, you’ll be okay,” he murmurs. “You’ll be okay.”

“Please don’t go, Bradshaw,” you begged, voice hoarse. “Don’t leave me.”

“I’m right here, don’t worry,” he reminds you, his hand moving down to rub your back. “I’ll be here whenever you need me, I promise.” 

You reach your pinky out a bit, and the two of you link your fingers together. 

You’re never letting go, and neither is he. 

epilogue—soul ties 

“I’m trying to shake them off. They won’t let up—shit, I’m hit—”

His panicked voice cuts through the buzz of static and you can feel your whole body go numb. What if he doesn’t make it back… The thought alone is too much to bear. 

He curses under his breath and you hear something like that of a whispered prayer and several mentions of Please let me come home to her. Your heart clenches in your chest and you feel like you’re going to puke. Noticing your sudden uneasiness, Maverick grips your hand to keep you steady. 

“Bradshaw, what the hell is going on there?” Coyote nervously rubs at his forehead as he looks up at the screen. “If you die, we’re all going to kill you.”

“Left engine’s completely blown out. I have two bogeys on my tail.”

You bite the inside of your cheek until the tangy, metallic taste of blood fills your mouth. This couldn’t be happening. There already was a ghost amongst the skies, and Rooster could not afford to become the second…

“Shit. Shit, shit, shit, I’m going down, guys—” Rooster curses again, and the earsplitting sound of a large blast interrupts him before he can say much else. 

“Bradley!” you shrieked as you watched his radar signal slowly fade off the screen. “No—”

Silence punctures the air and you finally lose balance, succumbing to the black void of nothingness. 

—

10 hours later, you sit outside the hospital room in the cold hallway, a thin, tear-stained blanket wrapped around your shoulders. Hangman and Phoenix had long since given up on getting you to move, so they took turns sitting with you. 

“You should try eating. There’s In-N-Out nearby, I’ll get something for you if you want,” Jake offered. 

You shake your head. 

“Come on. It’s been all day.”

“No.”

“You’re really that worried about him, aren’t you.”

“No,” you muttered bitterly. 

“You claim to not care, yet you’ve been sitting here for the past ten hours.” 

“I don’t care. This is me looking out for him in the same way any colleague or teammate of his would. This is what I’m supposed to do. What we’re all supposed to do.” 

“Y/N.” Jake sounds a bit more serious this time, and this makes you stop trying to bury yourself within your thoughts. “Listen to me.”

“What,” you exhaled.

"The fact of the matter here is,” he cleared this throat, “Bradshaw cares about you…a lot. Not in a simple and innocent ‘friendly’ way. And if you keep pushing him away like you always do, all 'cause you're scared, you're gonna lose him for good. Losing a good man out of fear is never worth the cost."

Your heart stops.

Every hug, every word and cheesy pickup line, every lingering glance and touch and intertwined set of fingers—he'd fallen first long ago, and pulled you down with him. But you let him, and you'll walk to the ends of the earth if it means he'll hold your hand along the way. And that's when everything hits all at once—the realization comes crashing down like a waterfall. 

You were hopelessly in love with him, the man who brings you flowers every Friday night. In love with the man who holds the door open for you, gives you his favorite jackets, and stays up late or wakes up early to learn your favorite comfort meal (even if it means failing 17 times in the process and ruining Maverick's kitchen), the man who serenades you to classic rock ballads with the taste of rum on his lips. 

This was Rooster Bradshaw, and he was your soulmate.

“But I already lost him,” your voice falters as you struggle to find the right words to say, “I can’t.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. That man is going to stay waiting for you until the day his body is buried six feet underground. Deny it all you want, but he’ll keep waiting long after he takes his last breath.”

You let out a long sigh and stood up. “Okay.”

You’re hesitant as you step inside the small hospital room. He’s asleep, but he must’ve sensed your presence and his eyes flutter open. 

“Sweetheart…”

“Bradley.” He moves over a bit for you, and you sit down next to him. “You’re alive.”

“Sorry for not dying. That must’ve disappointed you,” he jokes. If he’s in any sort of pain, he manages to mask it behind a soft smile. “I’m really glad you’re here.”

“I waited ten hours.”

“You should’ve gone home and slept.”

Closing your eyes, you rest your head against his chest. “I wouldn’t be able to sleep knowing that you weren’t okay.”

He hums some tune against the crook of your neck; lips brushing over your skin. “But I came back, like I promised. I’m okay, because you are.”

Helovesmehelovesmehelovesme.

As if he could read your mind, he leans in just that bit closer. You look up at him and your heart somersaults in your chest. 

When your lips meet, everything clicks into place and it’s like you finally found the missing puzzle piece you’d been searching for. He was here all along; it made so much sense. Everything else fades away into the background as you get lost in the feeling of him and him alone. You knew from the moment he stuck out his hand and told you with a million-dollar smile “I’m Bradley ‘Rooster’ Bradshaw, and I can make a mean lasagna or anything else you want,” that choosing him would be the single best thing you ever could’ve done. 

And you were most certainly right about that now. 

“I kept it, you know.” he murmurs as you eventually break away, “I didn’t think it would last as long as it did, but here it is.”

“What…what are you talking about?”

He fingers dip below the scoop of his T-shirt and he brings out the glittering charm, laying it in his hand. “You gave it to me ages ago. It was a while ago but I still remember the exact time and place. August 5th, 2010, 2:26 a.m. We were both on the verge of falling asleep.”

Your heart grows warmer. “Roos…”

Rooster opens the locket, and inside is a picture of you beaming as you wrapped your arms around him from behind. So young and so in love, but not yet knowing how you felt about each other. 

“I think this is what kept me alive up there. I was in the air long enough to think about and reflect on the fact that I was dying, but I knew I had to come home to you. I was dying, Y/N, but you saved me. If you didn’t come into my life right when you did then I wouldn’t be here. I wouldn’t be telling you that I love you.”

He has you at a loss for words yet again. It didn’t matter that you’d known each other for years because he would always find a way to steal your breath. The once-tiny caterpillars crawling in your stomach had morphed into giant butterflies that never stopped fluttering when he came too close.

He leans in and he’s kissing you again; this time it’s like you’re his sole source of oxygen and he’s in desperate need of fresh air. Your grip on his hand tightens as he deepens the kiss, and you pray to God that your heart won’t explode into a million pieces like it did when you thought you wouldn’t see him again. 

I’ve died and come back to life twice now, Rooster tells himself. 

And both of those times, you’re the angel that magically appears to save him from a certain, unfortunate fate. 

tags, including people who may be interested (sorry if this list seems off, it hasn't been updated in a while hahah): @sarcastic-sourwolf @totomoshi @sebastianstangirl01 @purelyfiction @lunamoonbby @hazelgirl355 @multifandom-fangirl4 @paintballkid711 @buckysbeloved @lyn-lc @spawn0fsatan @milestomaverick @teacactusworld @cherry-waved @ellabellabus07 @vitanileon @lam-ila @criminalyetminimal @whatlovegattado @queenbbarnes @yeehawnana @t-stark35 @thesunsetphantoms @danirose-0420 @callalily2000 @the-untamed-soul @shizzybarnaclee @bananaa @luvfurdogs @shalaniela @unordinare @and-claudia @lgg5989 @katiemcrae @elenavampire21 @joyfullyswimmingface @nyx2021 @cosm1cfae @ellabellabus07 @vane28282 @bittergomez @littlebadariell @tallrock35 @whotfatemywaffles @hoedameronsworld @aerangi @julia-marshal @uwiuwi

(also if you filled out the general taglist form/top gun taglist form and you're not on here, that means i couldn't tag you for some reason)

[misc-obeyme]

so i was just thinking. solomon's like super in love with mc right? so that would mean he'd have a soft spot for them and would be nicer to some extent towards the mc. but like, how much contrast? i've seen instances where he's straight up sarcastic, snarky or "lmao idc" to some extent with other characters, and do you think if the same instance took place w mc as the subject he'd act the same way? most probably not right? as an ardent solomon lover, i just find the thought funny that it would be a running joke (it more or less is a thing with all characters and mc anyway but im just imagining it w solomon) amongst everyone about how nice solomon is with mc but is whatever w everyone. to what extent do u think is the contrast in character? how nice do u think he is in general, because i see many posts about how lovely he is to mc but is it the same with everyone? and how much sweeter do u think he is to us?? i just love thinking abt this because like...im so specialz yay pls love me solomon :')

Oh yeah. Solomon is notoriously down bad for MC. (At least, this is my opinion and I know others feel the same way.)

And I think this translates most in that he does things or acts a certain way with MC that he doesn't do with the others.

He has a general respect for most of the other characters and I think he keeps things civil. Some of them he likes more than others. But in a general sense, Solomon is a smart and powerful guy who is likely always aware of the fact that he's a human among demons and angels. I think he tends to hold everybody else at arm's length out of a sense of self preservation. He eventually opens up more as the story progresses and he becomes more friendly with everyone.

But he doesn't let anyone get as close to him as MC.

I don't know if I'd say he's nicer to MC, necessarily. I would say that he has more trust for MC. He tells MC things he would never tell anyone else. He's also very protective of MC. He's unlikely to go out of his way to protect the others or to defend them to people. But with MC? He shows up when they need him. He stands up for them even when they aren't around.

And I'd say that Solomon would do anything for MC. The others might ask him for help and he's often willing to give it, but he has no problem saying no to any of them (except perhaps Asmo, but even then I think he would if it was a big deal). But for MC, Solomon would lay down his life. Nobody can convince me that a man who would travel back in time just to help bring MC back wouldn't also take a bullet for them if it came down to that.

I don't think a situation like that would ever actually happen. And I also think that Solomon would try to find other ways of fixing things - like I said, this man is smart.

Still I think perhaps the most obvious evidence of him treating MC differently comes down to how much he's been willing to tell them about himself. He's told MC about his childhood, his loneliness, the way MC reminds him of his humanity, how he's jealous of the brothers. He's said these things to MC directly. He's honest and forthright with them.

Not that he lies to everybody else - in fact, I think he's a pretty terrible liar. But he keeps his secrets. He just doesn't tell them to anyone else.

Sure, he still has some secrets from MC. But I think he's keeping them because doing so is keeping MC safe. And I think in the end, he'll tell MC everything.

And THAT is the biggest difference. Solomon loves MC, but Solomon also trusts MC with the deepest truths of himself.

[ladytauria]

Oooh for the ask game how about....voice actor au or single parent au. And pairings...hm, I'd like anything with Jason but actually I wanna see what you cook.

[[ i am working on a response to the voice actor au request as well but i think it’s going to take me a bit longer because i’m indecisive 😂 so i’m posting this one now and i’ll post that one when it’s done~ ]]

i actually have a single dad jason + eventual jaytim au in my notes. well i have more than one but this one is the most fleshed out (edit: ah… i was trying to type up a streamlined version but i ended up fleshing a couple more things out… it’s still shorter but. not as short as i was aiming for 😂)

Tim has been away from Gotham for a while—spreading his wings, developing who he is as a vigilante outside of Gotham (and Bruce). He returns after about a year, I think. During that year, Jason ended up with a kid. I have a few different ideas on how, lol, but regardless of her origin, Jason has a kid & he’s utterly wrapped around her finger, lmao. Tim knew that he had a kid but knowing is different from seeing it in person and something about it draws him in.

Tim and Jason’s territories have enough overlap that they often had occasion to work together before Tim left, and that’s true now that he’s back, too. More frequent, even, since Jason prioritizes spending time with / taking care of his kid when he can.

While he does hold Tim at arm’s length at first, after time spent working together, he starts letting Tim in, bit by bit. It’s a lot of little moments, building on each other. I think the biggest turning point is when he invites Tim over to eat before patrol, because he doesn’t think Tim eats enough real, hearty food xD And then that becomes a semi-regular thing—something Tim comes to cherish; bonding with Jason and his daughter.

He gets to know them, both of them. The tiny imperfections, the day-to-day mannerisms and habits, the little idiosyncrasies that make up who they are. And then one day, Tim looks up and realizes that he’s fallen in love with Jason, wants to be part of his and his daughter’s lives as something more than just Jason’s co-worker or friend… and that absolutely terrifies him.

Being with Jason is now about more than just… being with Jason. There’s a kid involved too, and… Tim doesn’t want to mess her life up. He’s not exactly the most stable of people.

But then something goes wrong on patrol, and Jason is captured, or cut off from everyone else. He needs rescue. The others mount a rescue, and Tim… he almost joins them. But… his first thought after, We need to find Jason, is about the kid. It’s true there are other people who could watch her, people Jason trusts… but most of them are outside of Gotham. So Tim chooses to trust the others to find and rescue Jason, and focuses on taking care of Jason’s daughter instead.

The others do manage to rescue Jason. He’s been injured & will be laid up a while, but he’ll heal. As soon as it’s okay to do so, Tim brings the kid to see him. After she’s assured that her dad is okay, Jason gets her talking about what she’s been up to while he was gone. And ofc, a lot of what she talks about is Tim, and the normalcy he did his best to give her.

She tires out eventually and falls asleep in Jason’s arms. Jason thanks Tim for caring for her, which Tim brushes off. No big deal, she’s a great kid, anyone would have done it. Jason’s not buying it though. He knows how hard it is to sit on the sidelines, for any of them. He also knows how devoted Tim is to the cause, to the Mission. Him choosing to set that aside for Jason’s kid is a big deal, even if it was only a short while.

Tim’s feelings aren’t one-sided—but Jason had a lot of the same fears Tim did. That he wouldn’t put her first. This is just one time, but it makes him hopeful for the future. So obviously Jason makes a move.

Tim argues, of course. Jason contradicts him with evidence, of the last few weeks. Of how Tim has already made her a priority, and this is just the most obvious sign yet. Tim tells him he’s scared. He has no idea how to be a parent.

“What, and you think I do?” Jason demands, brows knitted.

“Yes? Jason, you’re so good with her. You’re an amazing father,” Tim says earnestly.

Jason flushes darkly. “I— Look, I gave up on the idea of having kids a long time ago. So when I got her… I mean, you remember. I was a mess. I had no idea what I was doing, and honestly? I still don’t. I fuck up. Probably more than I even realize. But— She’s worth it. And, god, Tim. You’re good with her. I think— You could. If you wanted.”

Tim swallows around the lump in his throat. “You’d really trust me with her?”

“I already do. And—hell. It’s not like you’d be doing it alone. You—” Jason’s flush spreads to his ears and down the back of his neck. “I’d have your back.”

Tim gets misty-eyed. He agrees, on the condition that they take it slow. Which Jason agrees to, because ofc they need to go slow with this. And uh… happily ever after? Eventually?

[joelsbeard]

oh em gee i’ve literally js found ur blog and i’m in loveeeeeeee

would you be willing to give us your hcs about young!joel and readers first time?? i’m such a whore for that man<33

Hihi!! Thank you you are are so sweet 😊also thank you for the ask :) the tlou fandom for sure needs more pre-outbreak!joel content!!!! I am starved for that shit. I love hot and old ass dilf joel don't get me wrong but mannnn he was so cute when he was younger 🥲 such a lil cutie.

I've never actually thought about this because my mind always jumps to once joel and reader are in an established relationship hehe or when they're dating but not quite official yet. I'm not sure about these hc's tbh, I hope you like them!!

To start off, I don't think joel was a player in high school at ALL. Though of course, with his damn looks he could be. I might even go as far as to say I think he could sometimes give off golden retriever energy? Maybe once he gets to know you. I don't think he'd be 100% golden retriever energy lol definitely not, thats tommy haha. I imagine him only having had 1 or 2 girlfriends in high school, bc like i said i don't think he'd be a player. Flirty with multiple girls at most but I think that might be pushing it.

For some reason I feel like you would be his second girlfriend lol, with the first being eh bc you know how dating is in high school. He probably would've tried some stuff with her (😡) but still inexperienced by the time he meets you.

After some time flirting, you guys go on a couple of dates and you both really really like each other, then afterwards is when you two finally decide to take the next step 🙈

He would never pressure you to do anything you don't want, because joel miller is a gentleman!!!

Your first time would probably be at yours or his house when you were able to find time alone since he would want y'alls first time to be special

The first time you see his dick you probably panic a little and he sees the blood drain from your face because he's definitely on the more gifted side (both in girth and length ;) ), but he just pulls you in close and reassures you that it's okay if you change your mind, he doesn't want to pressure you ❤️

This is the first time y'all have ever seen each other naked and he tells you "you're so beautiful" while he kisses down your neck to your chest

Ofc he makes you cum on his fingers once or twice to make sure you're ready and comfortable, and you try to reciprocate and give him a handjob first but shortly after you start he tells you to save it for another time, otherwise he'll bust a nut before he even goes inside you because he's so horny for you LOL

You struggle a little when he first pushes inside you because he's just so big, and he tells you "take your time baby" while rubbing his thumbs across your cheeks and kissing your forehead and nose as you take more and more of him

Once he bottoms out you both sigh and you tell him to give you a minute as you adjust to him, ofc he does as you ask but you can tell he's eager to start moving inside you and he almost starts shaking with the anticipation hahahah

You have your legs wrapped around his back as well as both arms, with one hand cradling the back of his head and tangled in his soft hair as you hold his head down to yours, and he's holding himself up above you with his forearms caging your head in

Once you get used to feeling him inside you, you tell him he can start to move slowly, so he just rocks back and forth in you while y'all are making out and grinding on each other like theres no tomorrow LMAO

He lets you finish first but he comes almost right afterwards inside you, and then you guys are just laying there in your post-nut bliss✨ before he slides out of you and gets a towel to wipe you down ❤️

Then you just lay in bed together and cuddle and kiss each other as he asks you "was that okay?" and you hold his adorable face in your hands and say "it was perfect" and give him a lil kiss on the nose because he's so cute

After that, y'all be fuckin like rabbits for sure LMAO until your last days 🙏🏼 HHAHAH

I hope I did your thoughts justice hehe, i was NOT expecting to write this much lol

[thegamingcatmom]

First off I absolutely love this page, you are doing this fandom a great service and i love seeing your thoughts and opinions on the denalis💜 was just wondering how you think the sisters would react to their mate defending their honour like if someone was bothering them at the club and their mate punched them...sorry for the long ass post...seriously though your keeping the thirst for the denalis alive

-👻(hope this emoji isn't already claimed)

Hey 👻!

(That is the cutest thing, btw.)

First off: I apologize for the long wait. To you and anyone else who´s sent me an ask that I have yet to answer. I see them, and I will get to them at some point. (Some of them are sitting half-answered in my drafts actually, hehe.) 🙏❤️

Tysm for your words. I´ve said it before and I will keep saying it: It is you guys who keep the thirst alive just as much with your lovely words of inspiration. ❤️

Also: Pls NEVER apologize for the length of your ask. That goes to all of you. I TAKE EM ALL. (The longer the better actually, and my thirsty ass is not ashamed to admit it.)

NOW, to your ask:

(Content warning: It´s gonna get rather steamy towards the end...)

(From left to right: Tanya, Irina, Kate)

I think that pretty much sums up their feelings on the matter, LMAO.

Like, they´ll be torn between being worried sick because their hooman is fragile and tiny and very much breakable, and what if you´ve seriously HURT yourself with such a reckless action-

...and other things. 😏

So, the first thing they´ll do is be right up in your face. And I mean it. Like, sticking their heads together as each of them fights to be the most in-your-face, their eyes scanning you from head to toe, hands squishing your face à la fishface only to run them all over you to make sure you´re not broken.

(They tend to get a smidge dramatic in such moments. Moments where there´s a possibility you´ve obtained a scratch, that is.)

It is only when they are 100% certain you´re unharmed that their fear turns into rage. And their attention turns to-

...Yeah, you better run. You whoever has dared to try and claim what has already been claimed. Trying to put your slimy hands on them, leading to this whole mess (you obtaining not a single scratch but could have, that is) in the first place.

Ohh...they´re pissed. So pissed they´re struggling not to show some actual teeth-

How the turns have tabled. Now it´s you who is all up in their faces, trying to calm them down by whispering sweet nothings, touching their faces, gently stroking their arms and chests and just anywhere you can reach. Not an easy feat, considering you have to start anew with the first one once you are through with the last, flitting back and forth the line like you´re trying to prevent pots from boiling over.

Once you´re certain this place (the club or wherever this takes place) isn´t about to become obliberated in vampiric rage, you turn around to tend to-

(Yes, it´s three of em f*ckers.)

You don´t shout. You don´t try to punch them again (mostly because you´ve just managed to calm your still very enraged mates...no need to tempt fate). You don´t even look mad or angry anymore - on the contrary.

You´re quiet, almost too quiet. Gazing at the three of them with an expression that is a dangerous mix between tediousness and vexation because all you´d wanted was a peaceful and fun night out with the ones you hold most dear. Was that really too much to ask??

In other words: You are thoroughly done with shit.

"I think it´s best you leave," you drawl, even going so far as to incline your head in the direction of the exit.

They remain rooted to the spot, uncertainty written all over their faces. You know exactly what´s running through their heads right now - you´ve been there, a long time ago. Torn between disbelief and astonishment as basic survival instincts tell them to run, and fast. As far as their feet would carry them because whatever is glaring daggers at them over your shoulders right now, something deep down their guts tells them it is not entirely human.

One of them opens his mouth regardless, no doubt to tell you that you can shove it with a bravado that´s more show than substance. Anything to appear bigger than he is, in that moment. You don´t know whether to feel pity or admiration for his bravery. Perhaps a bit of both.

Granted, this is a public establishment and they have every right to be here just like you do. But, at this point, you really fear for what might happen if they were to stay. You are doing them a favor, they just don´t realize it.

"...Now," you cut him off before he can get started, raising your eyebrows as your gaze darts between them, hoping your tone and expression - hidden from the shadows looming behind you - are enough to get the message across:

Turns out, it is enough.

They nearly trip over each other on their way out, drawing the curious gazes of other partygoers.

Good riddance...hopefully.

You turn back around to face your wives with a sigh, hoping you can all just pick up where you left off before those three buffoons made lewd advances towards your women, almost getting themselves extinguished in the process, those idiots-

...Only to find them already looking at you, their expressions quite...odd. They strangely resemble the very trio that just fled the establishment, saving their sorry asses from meeting a rather grim fate, no doubt. There is this mixture of disbelief and astonishment on their faces, sprinkled with...something else.

This feels like your very first meeting all over again.

"...What?" you ask when they simply continue to stare at you. You know vampires don´t have the same need for movement as humans do, unless it´s to catch their prey. But this is getting...awkward.

Then, finally-

Kate is the first to recover, her flabberghasted expression slowly morphing into a, quite literally, wolfish grin as she breaks formation and nearly floats over to you.

"Well, well, well," she drawls, her hands settling on her favorite spot to pull you closer, kneading the flesh she finds there. "Look at our little spitfire, making them all run with their tails between their legs like kicked puppies..."

You release a good-natured scoff at your wife´s silliness, about to correct her by pointing out it had very likely been their looming presence behind you that sent the trio running for the hills.

However, her lips press against yours in a wet kiss before you can do so.

Not that you´re complaining.

A sigh escapes you as you wholeheartedly return it, your hands coming to rest against her chest before wandering up to cradle her face as your embrace deepens in passion.

Things are about to spiral out of control, you can feel it. Kate always has that effect on you. Her daring nature is infectious, making you feel as if the rules and expectations of society apply to everyone but you, and if she were to take you right here, right on this floor, you would gladly-

Hands on your chest yank you away then, breaking the kiss you and Kate shared. Your back collides with a wall, the hands on your chest firmly pushing you against it before a different pair of lips finds your neck. They´re running up and down at a leisure pace, only stopping to press even closer - you feel something wet - before they continue. Then, the pressure of teeth clamping down-

Tanya.

"Now, now, sestra..." Kate´s voice grumbles through the haze, barely a whisper to you, before you feel hands settling on your backside again, squeezing as they try to pull you closer. "Sharing is caring..."

The other side of your neck is being attacked then, and all you´re able to do is crane your head back, offering yourself up like a sacrifice to the gods as each of them devours you in a way that is far from holy-

"Tsk..." Ice envelops your hand then, the chill touch chasing away most of the dense fog that had settled just about everywhere. "Trust the wolves not to leave a single crumb..."

It´s you who is floating now as Irina pulls you close, handling you with an urgency that is so different from her sisters´ as she demands her share. Hands come to rest against your backside again, but they don´t squeeze. Instead, they simply hold on, only tightening their grip to pull you closer before lifting you up until the only thing that remains grounded are the tips of your toes.

"What a delight you are, maličký..." A flowery fragrance wraps around you as your mate´s forehead comes to rest against yours. "Defending the honor of three poor maidens in distress..."

Nothing about your wives is even remotely maidenlike.

The thought makes you snort, which earns you a rather firm clap! on your bum before her lips silence the squeak that wanted to slip out just then.

"Hm...she was quite the sight, was she not?" Tanya´s hand runs up and down your back in a near soothing manner, a stark contrast to the forcefulness she displayed just moments before.

"I think some gratitude is in order..." Kate purrs from somewhere behind you as she draws closer, her heeled boots click-clacking on the hardwood floor. "What do you say, sisters? Shall we show our savior just how grateful we are...?"

After that, everything seems to blur together. You don´t know how you got there, but you´re home before you realize it. The bedroom door closes behind you, clothes fall, and you come to the conclusion that-

Who the fuck cares?

OR:

This is one of the very rare times where your wives don´t mind sharing you...

.

.

.

...So don´t be an idiot by questioning any of it.

So...

This got a lot steamier than I thought it was gonna be. But, somehow, I don´t think any of you are complaining... 😏

Things that have stoked the fire here:

Alibi (that song I swear)

Rhaenyra x Someone kissing (don´t wanna reveal too much in case any of you hasn´t seen it yet)

.

.

.

Right so, I think it´s safe to say that one should never approach a hooman and their three drop dead gorgeous yet very much capable of ending your existence vampire-wives on their Girls´ Night Out.

Just...don´t do it, resist the urge. You´ll thank me for it later.

OR:

You have the power of the (Un)holy Trinity at your hands, and ppl would do well to remember that...

Thanks a lot for your lovely ask! 💋💋💋

[rookinthecrownest]

🖊️ + the first oc you created!

Oohh this one's a tough one - I've made so many OC's for so many fandoms so I'll settle for the first real OC I made for Dragon age, and that's probably Iris Trevelyan actually.

Like yes I played DAO and DA2 but I feel like I didn't really start making up intricate headcanons/ideas for fics until I played DA:I.

Iris in my first DA:I playthrough actually romanced Cullen. And I could not tell you how it started, but eventually down the line, I thought back to how much I loved Alistair in DA:O and how excited I was to see him back in DA:I. Then my brain was like 'okay now make them kiss'. Why Iris specifically and not another Inky? Couldn't tell you.

Iris's story is cool to me bc I wanted her to be this really serious researcher/academic. Actually, she was SUCH an academic, I headcanon she was one of the pioneers of early neurology in Thedas. She essentially pioneered research neurosurgery in order to map out the functions of different nerves in the body. The way she did this was she used a metallic probe to conduct little currents of lightning magic to stimulate different parts of animal/human brains, to map out the peripheral nervous system (okay, if I stimulate this part of the brain, the right leg twitches, etc.). She also used the same technique to ablate certain parts of the brain to see what deficits would result if you destroyed certain regions of the brain - localizing where speech, and understanding language, memory, personality, vision, coordination, etc. are stored. She's published several manuscripts on these subjects. Iris had to fight to be able to do said research and spent a lot of time under Templar guard when she was doing her experiments, especially since they usually required live subjects.

And as I was making her I was thinking like, how interesting would it be to see this hyper-focused academic taken out of her little bubble, put up on a religious pedestal, learn to play the game (courtesy of her bffl Vivienne), learn to navigate politics and things on a grander scale than her little laboratory in the Circle tower, achieve all these great feats, and then ... what happens next. When Corypheus is defeated and all is said and done, does she go back to being a mage-scientist? Can she even go back to doing that?

And thus I started thinking about her and Alistair together. And the political turmoil in Thedas post-Corypheus and how to navigate that with an Inquisitor who is so forever changed by what happened. She felt like she had to keep everyone at an arm's length during DA:I in this fic-idea, so she doesn't even end up romancing Cullen (though I imagine he might have pined after her for a bit ... lel).

The angst of pairing her with an Alistair who's Warden love broke up with him before the final battle and then DIED. Too good. When I have time I definitely need to actually write this fic because it's like...haunting me lmao.

I think I love Iris because she definitely has a bit more of a vindictiveness to her than my other OC's. She harbours a lot of resentment towards her ultra-Andrastian family for basically disowning her - going so far as to blame her mage gifts for ruining her younger sister's future marriage prospects, to using her name for clout in social circles once she becomes the Herald. She does NOT take well to that and refuses many of their attempts to reconcile. Girlie can hold a grudge. It gets even worse when they catch wind she might be marrying into royalty and they're trying to get her to find favourable matches for her sisters.

And now I'm thinking of the insanity of potentially throwing Sebastian Vael, Prince of Starkhaven into the mix (among Alistair and Gaspard). Oh man. Someone stop me ;-;

Other things about Iris:

She's TALL! 6ft 1., lanky/athletic build (from training as a Knight Enchanter with Viv), and prefers storm magic when she's not in the thick of the fight.

I'm still debating if I want to keep her hair black. Previously, I wanted both of her eyes to be a bright Fade-green, but I think I'm actually going to change that. Her left eye, the same side as the mark (i think) is like a bright fade-green, her right is grey. She's ... intimidating to say the least. Iris has a fairly commanding presence. I think she's sweet at heart but a lot of that has been lost given the life she's lead.

Maybe a certain King of Ferelden can soften her back up again!

Tysm for the ask <3

[jackalope-with-a-pen]

nobody freak out, but I'm actually making a new post here less than a month after my last one. it's a miracle! anyway.

my pulp musicals brainrot is in full force right now and while most of that energy is going towards art for Pulp Musicals Fortnight 2024 (the event my dear friend Snarky is running this August) I also have multiple fic ideas for pulp that i am really excited for!

Most of them are continuations of my first Pulp Musicals fic, If This Is Truly The End, Then Everything Was Worth It (Even If This Satellite Is To Be Our Grave). oh my god why did I make the title so long, lmao This fic is set in an alternate universe where Benjamin joins the others on their adventure to South America—and beyond, but they don't know that just yet!

I've absolutely fallen in love with this AU, and with Radiant Sunsets (Samuel/Benjamin/Margaret) so I'm actually planning to skip back and write about the relationships between these three & the events leading up to their time together on the Sagitta.

Right now I have no less than ten fics on my to-write list (of varying length! I think some of these are gonna be fairly short, even with my long-winded tendencies), the first of which takes place before episode one. I'm in the process of writing it, and (at least for now) it's called Keys To The Press And Keys To The Door.

(I also have vague plans for one fic set AFTER If This Is Truly The End, and there will be others as well, but I'm trying not to get any further ahead of myself lmao)

The other big fic idea I have is one that I tried (and failed) to hold off on but the brainrot is strong and I've started plotting it anyway lol. I was looking at Morgan's entry on the pulp wiki, saw this—

—and after briefly lamenting the fact that episode 4 probably won't have my favorite bosun who's fairly good at guitar, I started thinking about Morgan trying to find a way back to the Ellen Austin and the year 1874, and then I never stopped. (I have over 5k words on my brainstorming doc. help. 🥲) I'm not quite sure where this one is going yet, and I probably won't start ACTIVELY working on it until after episode 4 is out so I can have more lore to work with, but I am thinking about this idea so much and I am very excited about it.

so, yeah! that's what I've got cooking for writing stuff these days. my other wips are on the back burner (and even these ones are less of a priority right now than all the art I wanna make, I have... so much to do) but I'll get back to them eventually! Probably. I hope. 😅

[antisocialxconstruct]

Okay the reassurance of beloved friends and mutuals has given me back the momentum to actually post this lmao

2.5k, Maksim decides he trusts Ilya enough to test his own limits, everything goes better than expected �� (nsft but pretty tame, just their usual amount of D/s)

---

“Are you sure?”

“... Mhm.”

Maksim knows he doesn't sound sure. In fact ‘sure’ is probably overly optimistic, but he is… willing. And how could he not be? After he let himself dip into Ilya’s thoughts again, felt the way their mind sizzled and squirmed when their hands were on him, the way new ideas bubbled up to the surface. After the way they lit up as soon as he made it clear what he was offering. He can't even remember exactly what he said, just a nervous jumble of “I want to try” and “I didn’t mean to pry I’m sorry” and “just manage your expectations,” but the look on Ilya’s face still told him everything he needed to know. He believed them, back when they said they didn't care about sex. They never pressed, they never asked, they never even nudged the conversation that way. But he believes them now, too, when they wholeheartedly accept the invitation.

“Ah- just-” he practically recoils back into the chair as Ilya leans in, grabs both their wrists to keep their hands from wandering. It doesn’t really gain him a lot of space when they’re already in his lap, but they get the message well enough. “Just… let me set some rules.”

Concern flickers across Ilya's features, and as they regard him for a moment he gets the sense they're about to ask something, or maybe back off because he seems too uneasy. But all they say is “of course.”

Then Maksim has to do some hasty, I didn't think this far ahead type mental math, trying to gauge where his own lines actually are. He relaxes his hold around Ilya's wrists, lays them against his own torso around the bottom edge of his ribcage. “No lower than this,” he says, surprised by the firm assertion of his own tone.

Ilya nods gently, more to themself, trailing their hands slowly up his sides to rest on his chest, watching him, measuring his reaction all the while. “Under the shirt?”

“Mm…” Maksim pauses to consider again, letting one of his hands come to rest on the back of one of theirs. “Back and shoulders only.”

Ilya continues their exploration, letting their fingers slip past his shirt collar to wander over the skin beneath. When they lightly rake their nails back up the length of his shoulder blades and earn a soft gasp and a shudder out of him, they grin. “That is going to make some things tricky,” they say, and their tone is still light and playful but when they roll their hips against him it sends a stab of more unpleasant tension through his core. He grabs their thighs this time, and to his relief they once again immediately recognize that the gesture means stop.

“I don't want… any…” he trails off with a frustrated sound in the back of his throat, grasping desperately for the right words. “Any attention. Or stimulation. No hands, no other friction, or…”

“You don't want to cum at all?” The flat, earnest inquiry is enough to dislodge an awkward cough-laugh out of him. He's always been grateful for Ilya's directness, the frank way they can steer him out of his anxious dithering, but it still takes him by surprise sometimes.

“... No,” he affirms, and braces for the inevitable follow-up questions. He at least trusts Ilya enough to believe they won't criticize, but it would make sense for them to be confused, concerned that he's not fully invested, not even really enjoying himself. This is stupid. That familiar, paranoid little voice in his head again. They’re not going to play along with this. You can’t say yes to sex and then say no to all the things that actually make it sex. But how is he supposed to explain that tipping point, the unpredictable moment where pleasant sensation becomes grating overstimulation, the way anxiety over looking like he's still enjoying himself blots out any actual enjoyment?

And yet when he meets Ilya's gaze they still have him pinned under that look, the one he's struggled to define despite seeing it enough to know that it’s reserved just for him. The almost imperceptible little quirk of a disbelieving smile on their lips, at odds with the sharp, hungry focus behind their eyes–like they’re about to eat him alive, and they can’t believe how lucky they are to get the chance. Then they lick their lips and nod. “Okay.”

Okay. It really is that simple.

Before he has the chance to twist himself around that revelation Ilya sits back, making a point to let their hands settle on his shoulders. “What about for me?” they ask, and when Maksim answers the question with a bemused stare they clarify, “what are you comfortable doing?”

“I’ll do anything you want,” he replies automatically.

Ilya chuckles. “I want you to set boundaries when you need to.” Maksim knows that trick now. Ilya isn’t shy about making demands, giving orders, but when they feel like the power balance has tilted just a little too far for their comfort, they also won’t hesitate to gently push Maksim’s autonomy back into his own hands. He’ll be grateful later, when he’s fully in his right mind again.

Still, he has to admit, “I don’t… I don’t know.” Then he winces, preemptively embarrassed by his explanation as it takes shape in his mind. “I haven’t… done enough of this to know…”

Ilya considers him for a moment, drumming their fingers against his collarbone, then pulls back a little more, lifting their weight off his lap with a smile that he might have read as sheepish, on anyone he didn’t know so well. They only withdraw enough to settle back down straddling one of his thighs. “Then we’ll start slow,” they say, something new creeping into their tone, a weight and texture that makes Maksim shiver almost as much as the way their hands slide back up over the soft skin of his throat. “You don’t have to do much at all but look pretty for me. And I know you’re good at that.” Palms on either side of his neck, fingers grazing the edge of the spinal implant. Light, gentle, but a steady enough pressure to draw his focus in, blur the edges of everything else. “Let's keep going. Everything above the shoulders is fair game?” Maksim hesitates, not sure what entails ‘everything’ to them, so they elaborate, those wandering fingers traveling up along the curve of his scalp as they ask, “hair?”

“Good,” Maksim sighs, the tail end of it turning into an undignified grunt as Ilya takes a fistful of his hair in one hand and coaxes his head back a little further. He raises his hands in turn, gripping blindly at their shirt before hesitantly allowing his hands to settle on their hips. They rock forward slightly, almost experimentally leaning into his touch.

Their other hand grazes the line of his jaw to cradle his chin, and when their thumb comes to rest against his lips he parts them instinctively even before they ask, “mouth?” When he tries to catch the tip of their thumb between his teeth they flick it away. “Answer me.” The order comes sharp enough to make Maksim flinch. 

“Good,” he insists, “it's good.” Even to his own ear he can tell how quickly things shifted–he's not asserting boundaries anymore. He's just begging. Ilya rewards him by pushing their thumb between his lips, letting him run his tongue along the pad of it and feel their skin against his teeth as they thrust deeper once, twice, driving him down out of the realm of conscious thought, into the depths where it’s just Ilya’s hands, Ilya’s voice, Ilya’s body pressed up against him. When they withdraw he has only a moment to fuzzily lament the sudden emptiness before they lean in to fill it with their tongue instead. Ilya's hands bury themselves in his hair again, and he moans into the kiss as the pressure prickles across his scalp before Ilya pulls his head back further, baring his throat to them. Tongue, lips, hot breath, and then Maksim inhales sharply as their teeth come together against his skin, sharp and firm enough to tease the idea of breaking through. He squirms underneath them, grasping at their back and shoulders in a bid to press himself closer as a desperate whine escapes his throat. He doesn't even know if he's trying to ease the pain or if he wants them to bite down harder, but he knows his desperation pulls an approving rumble from Ilya as they grind against him again.

A moment later they let go, leaving him to catch his breath as they place gentler kisses against his skin, work their way back up his neck and jaw. “Hey,” they’re speaking softly, but there’s an insistence even behind the single word. They untangle their fingers, lace them together across the back of his neck, but they stay pressed in close enough for him to feel their words against his cheek. “Promise you’ll tell me if it’s too much.”

He probably doesn’t react to that quite the way they expected. His head is still spinning, and he only processes the words enough to process the idea that Ilya is worried about him, that they’re trying to accommodate him, and that awareness twists in his chest until he can feel it catch in his throat. The first response he manages is just a weak, shuddering little sound. Then he balls his fists tighter in the fabric of their shirt and chokes out “I love you.”

Ilya laughs again, presses their forehead briefly to his cheek before placing a kiss there, still remarkably light given the moment. “I love you too,” they breathe, and pull back just enough to look him in the eye. Their thumbs are a firm pressure against the sides of his jaw again, urging him to hold their gaze. “Now promise me. You won’t let me do anything that upsets you, you’ll tell me to stop if you change your mind.” Maksim offers them a dazed nod, but he’s struggling to hold onto the last few threads of rational thought that understand why this is important. Not when the rest of him wants so desperately to be dissolved, swallowed down, subsumed until there isn’t enough of him left to even know what he wants. “Say it,” they insist, although without the hard edge of their last demand. This isn’t an order from his master, it’s just a request from his partner. “Promise me.”

“I p… I promise,” he manages, and with those words manages to bring himself back enough to comprehend what he’s promising–that he won’t suffer just to make them happy. He won’t allow himself to be coerced, shamed or guilted, retraumatized. Ilya tilts their head, eyes him expectantly, until he adds, “if it’s bad we stop.” Then a deep breath, in and out through his nose, willing himself to sound steady enough to put real intent behind his next words. “I want this.”

Evidently that’s good enough. Ilya answers him with another kiss, which he breaks off with another gasp as their thumbs slip down from his chin to cross around his neck. Ilya prompts him with one last question uttered into his ear. “Throat?”

They might as well have saved him from drowning just to shove him back under the water. Even the simple anticipation of pressure shortens his breaths into unsteady gasps. He wraps his hands around their wrists, and this time he’s suddenly and profoundly certain. He wants them to squeeze.

“You know what I want to hear,” they press, nipping at the skin below his ear while their hands remain a frustratingly stable loop around his throat. “Is it good for you?”

“Yes,” Maksim huffs, and shudders when their hands tighten ever so slightly. “Yes, yes, it’s good.” Every word brings a little more pressure, pushes him deeper, further out of himself.

“And are you going to be so, so good for me?” Ilya’s question comes breathy and coarse as they start a slow rutting rhythm against his thigh.

Maksim nods eagerly, not trusting his voice past the vice around his throat. But he shifts his hips slightly, instinctively wanting to give them better purchase, better pressure, and is rewarded with a groan and the pinch of teeth around the shell of his ear as Ilya drives themself toward their own release. As their teasing recedes into more soft, irregular sounds, a thought coalesces in the thick syrup of Maksim’s thoughts–this is right. This is what he always needed; to give up control, to have the burden of decision making lifted away from him, to be put to use entirely for Ilya’s needs. A tool. Or a toy.

He barely notices when the choking grip recedes and Ilya wraps their arms around his shoulders to hug him closer, picking up speed and panting into the crook of his neck, pressing irregular kisses into it. He still echoes their grip on him, his mind a dizzying chorus of desperate, needy pleas that he can’t quite focus into words beyond use me, use me, use me.

It’s only the sudden hitch in Ilya’s breath and the way their shoulders tense that makes him realize he’s clutching them tight enough to press the tips of his claws into their back. Still, as they shift to meet his eye their hooded, unfocused gaze and the flush across their cheeks don’t suggest they entirely minded. So when they grab his face again, smother him under another deep, forceful kiss, he keeps them held close enough for the pinprick tension to remain, and as a result he presses himself into the final eager, determined rolls of their hips, feels the growing tremor that crests over them, swallows the broken, gasping moan that rises up from their chest to spill past their lips against his. And he keeps them there, as close as they can get, as they fight to catch their breath and their climax is chased by a second, softer aftershock.

He has no idea how long they stay like that, Ilya melted against him and face tucked down under his chin, Maksim with his arms wrapped around them like he fears he’s solely responsible for keeping them from sliding down to the floor. He’s still trying to arrange his own thoughts back into some semblance of order with Ilya stirs with a deep, contented hum and finally lifts themself up to regard him.

“That was good,” they purr, but when Maksim just nods, still a little bewildered, they sober slightly. “Are you alright?”

Maksim nods again. When that doesn’t seem sufficient he says, “yeah.”

Ilya combs their fingers through his hair, offering him a lopsided but reassuring smile as they smooth his presumably tousled curls back into place. “What are you thinking?”

“It was… easy.” He catches one of their hands and nuzzles his face into it, lets his eyes fall closed as they stroke his cheek with their thumb. “I didn’t think it could be easy.”

[popppyfur]

TELL ME ABOUT ARO/DEMI POPS PLEASEEEE

I've been leaning more towards cupioro lately but aroflux Poppy is real to me!! Please!! I must know your thoughts on this, fellow arospec Poppy truther!

GRAHHHHH talked about demi poppy a little bit here so I'll try to elaborate on that a lil more !!!!

I'm really fond of the idea of poppy being this really affectionate and lovey person but finding little to no desire about liking someone in That way. She's full of love!!! And she gives it away in spades!!!!! She goes so overboard w it that sometimes it's hard to tell whether she cares about someone in a 'special' way or if that's just how she treats everybody. Mostly, it's the latter.

I like to think that her lil dopey attitude towards creek in the first movie felt more along the lines of her acting like what she Thinks shes Supposed to Act Like. (after the betrayal maybe she'd be like: ugh I'm never doin that again). I don't think there was ever a time someone would question why she always seems to be an arms length away while deep into a big hug, but she'd FEEL the questions in some trolls' looks anyway, and maybe thatd be the starting point of that lil nagging question in the back of her mind. Why can't she find it in herself to see someone That way?

You tell me if she ever gets like, some kind of desire to actually BE in a relationship. it's fun to explore either idea!!!!! I think it's plausible, whether it be her just wondering what it's like bc people hype it up soooo much, or maybe it's bc it's what to be expected of someone so affectionate like her. Maybe only having one parent w no partner her entire life loosened her up to the idea that she doesn't have to be with anyone, but the concept still feels so tempting sometimes, maybe it just takes a while to draw it out of herself???

At some point maybe she does just come to accept this part of her, and though maybe there's a bit of longing to know about the type of affection that she just DOESN'T feel. She is still so so so SO full of love that it doesn't matter if she never does, bc she'll always find a way put that love into the people she cares about.

And if she's actually demi. Well, I really think she'd still be a bit dense towards the feeling. Almost like she's denying herself the possibility to be in love w someone. Like oh I really like this person more than usual because my feelings are just all over the place sometimes. This Does Not Mean Anything At All. I just think the idea of poppy being scared about LOVE, something she's supposed to be incarnate of, about feeling this way for the first time in her life Ever after accepting that she'd Never feel it, is REALLY Funny. Like I said on the first post. Hold her hand please she's terrified bc she doesn't know how to deal LMAO

[novemberdevils]

Ok you said yell at you on Tumblr so : ahhh this story is so good! I just love the characterization you have, and the interwoven media/social media is very very well done - it really is a fascinating way to get a different pov without giving us a different pov at all! though on that note actually I have a question: who's pov are we getting in those asides in the news updates? Is that always Jack's? I think there were a couple that I didn't think was Jack so much as like... Some sort of reader standin or third party from the framing for some reason.

Also Nico what is going on in his head I'd be so curious for like your take on where the key points in his journey were (you know, once we get through the journey) assuming you don't reveal them directly later on! I'm kind of feeling like he's mostly just attracted to/fascinated by Jack right now and has been kind of holding Jack at arms length because he can't see past the self-centeredness (like that Bahrain scene where he assumes even Jack's envy is self-centeredness instead). Jack is just such a mess right now that's uhh probably for the best for Nico honestly since Nico seems like he's at least a mostly functional mess but I'm afraid we all know that's not gonna last in the face of his attraction and eagerly await his reaction once he discovers he is in too deep and then hooray what a mess we will get!

Anyway I've got so much speculation on this fic in a random note where I'm trying to figure out what's actually going on but I will hold myself back and wait for you to write the answers haha thank you so much again and I am extremely excited for more!

YAS PLEASE YELL AT ME ALL THE TIME! i love hearing words about my fics i will say it one million billion times because it is true. thank you so much!! the characterization was something i was nervous about before i started posting the fic so getting comments about it makes me feel a lot better lol. thank you thank you

the social media stuff is the absolute biggest pain in the world to code but it is so fun to write -- i'm glad i decided to include that stuff even though i am filled with self-hatred every time i have to code a page of tweets lmao. and to answer your question, for the most part it's stuff jack is reading at some point in the narrative (not necessarily at the exact point it comes in the story if that makes sense?) because he very much is a guy who reads stuff about himself. including some of the more indycar-related tweets, he does pay a little attention to that side of things both because he likes the series and because trevor is in it - which means most of the peeks into the indycar sphere via the twitter sections are coming from zegras fans, since that's the perspective jack gives the biggest fuck about lol. but there definitely is stuff i just include for fun, like i think i had a whole article section that was Just about jamie drysdale. that subplot is definitely subplotting. actually that gives me an idea. or multiple. thanks anon you are fueling some new nonsense in me

anyways. short answer is a lot of it theoretically comes in the sense that jack is reading those tweets/articles, while some of it is more just me fucking around. but it's majority stuff about the title fight and jack and nico and their teams and not as much about the midfield or the backmarkers (unless they are jamie drysdale oops)

currently i am just vagueing about nico's inner thoughts LMAO but i do in general know what's going on up there in terms of him, and i plan to reveal some of it directly later in the fic, but i would definitely be willing to go more into it on here as the fic continues! i've said in a couple of other ask answers i think that i don't want to really spoil anything -- which means i end up vagueing a lot lol sorry i know that's evil of me -- but all Will be revealed eventually. at the moment they are both being massive idiots about everything

they are definitely both their own messes. they are both kind of awful at dealing with their feelings, the awfulness just manifests in different ways. jack is someone who will deny it and pretend it isn't happening right up to the moment it blows up in his face, whereas Okay i'll let you have this one, nico will acknowledge that a feeling is there, but then he'll ignore it anyways. and i lovelovelove hearing about the speculation and assumptions and all that fun stuff, so if you ever want to share any of the things you are speculating about i would love to hear it :) obv you can keep it to yourself if you'd prefer lol or you can only tell me when you speculated correctly, but idk the fact that people are invested enough in something i wrote to speculate about it makes me very happy. you have made my little writer heart very full today. thank you anon!

[thewildsophia]

WordGirl//Dr. Two Brains x Reader

A/N: Back on my bullshit again lmaoo. Idk why but my sister reminded me of how 6-year-old me was in love with Two Brains back in like 2010. Anyway, I'm very disappointed by the shattering lack of fanfics for this guy. So, like always, I made my own headcanons for him. I actually do have a full fanfic drafted out for him, but I'm not sure when it will be finished.

A/N pt 2: LMAO I FORGOT TO TAG THIS PERSON. So I got the idea from an ask on @cheese-induced-madness ‘s page about an affectionate reader and wanted to do my own version of it.

A/N pt 3: so apparently it wasn’t cheese induced madness who posted the prompt I was referencing??? I had to search for it again but it was actually by @dearest-painter. Sorry!

Words: 1489

"Read More Link" placed due to length

Dr. Two Brains x Affectionate!Reader

I imagine it’s in Reader's nature to be both physically and verbally kind, but with Dr. Two Brains their affection is multiplied by like 100 lmao.

And Dr. Two Brains LOVES it omg.

Two Brains is also affectionate in nature but doesn’t show it often until you and him become official. I mean, he loves his henchmen but he doesn’t always treat them the best :/

You and him are probably both touch-starved sorry I don’t make the rules. But that’s okay because you have each other.

You would often try to be in physical contact with him as much as possible: brushing shoulders, holding hands, bonking heads, anything really that allows you to touch him. It’s your own brand of affection and he doesn’t mind the unconventional choice of touch.

I feel like he’s also weird with the way he chooses to show physical affection. Like yes, he enjoys hugs and holding hands, but he also gives little love bites while kissing you or he straight up just walks up to you and bites your shoulder. He’s very careful with his teeth tho.

You often try to keep him calm while he’s working on things. Squeaky doesn’t let him rest much, so Two Brains gets antsy when he’s not being productive.

He may have been working on something for hours on end without taking any breaks, so you’ll walk up behind him, rest your chin on his shoulder, and lace your fingers with his, stopping his motions. He’d ask you what’s wrong before you’d hug him, wrapping his own arms around his waist and kissing his cheek. 

He’d giggle at the ticklish sensation of your lips on his skin and shake from being embraced so tightly. You’d whisper sweet nothings into his ear before letting go of him and allowing him to turn around and face you. 

If you told him to take a break, he’d do it in a heartbeat for you. 

You’d cook sometimes for him, and other times he’d cook for you. Most dishes have cheese in them, but occasionally he’s able to eat something small without cheese and squeaky not getting upset at it. 

I could see you two carrying each other around the secret hideout at random times. Like you could be doing your work or cooking and he’s on your back. Or Two Brains may be working on some invention and you’re on his back, arms wrapped around his neck and legs hugging his waist. 

You can’t tell me he doesn’t have the strength to do so. And since I’m tall and strong you’re also strong. Sorry, I make the rules now lmao. 

You also like to carry him with him facing you and peppering kisses across his face and neck, leaving him a flustered and stuttering mess in your arms. 

Sleeping with this man (not like that (¬_¬") ) is so random and never consistent. He sleeps at random times, sometimes late at night, other times in the middle of the afternoon. 

The only consistent thing is how he chooses to sleep with you.

He often begs you to go to sleep with him even if you just woke up. He says that you calm him enough to actually fall asleep and that you keep squeaky at bay. 

If you just woke up you’ll lay with him until he falls asleep and then go back to whatever you do. If you were just about to go to bed then there’s no problem!

I will say that this man is ALWAYS all over you. He often likes to lay on you lmao. Even if he didn’t start off laying on you - like if you two were originally just next to each other - you’ll wake up in the morning barely being able to breathe because this man is laying on you like you’re the fucking mattress. 

Two Brains will apologize with this small voice and it’s hard to stay man at him. 

He also likes to snuggle into you. Two Brains likes to lay his head under your chin and face in your neck where he’ll kiss you while his arms wrap around your waist with legs tangled. 

He likes it when you gently comb your fingers through his hair, being careful of the mouse brains, and whisper quiet words of affirmation to him. He falls asleep FAST. 

Little. Spoon. Fr.

This man just LOVES to be held and you hold him so gently okay??? 🥺

He feels secure in your arms. You hold him firmly yet carefully and he’s never felt so loved than in those quiet moments. 

Two Brains probably gets a little jealous when you also dote on his henchmen. He knows that it’s just your nature to be kind and physically affectionate, so he doesn’t actually get mad when he catches you squeezing their shoulders or hugging the two together. 

He’s just a little jealous that it isn’t him you’re holding (ᗒᗣᗕ)՞

He gets over it fast when you run up to his and rest your head on his shoulder. Or better yet you, literally, sweep him off his feet and deposit the both of you somewhere else.

When it comes to dealing with the mouse brain, your verbal affection shines. 

There are some days when Two Brains and his mouse brain disagree with each other, the mouse brain usually berating Two Brains. You’re there to comfort him and get the mouse brain back in line.

Because of that, the mouse brain doesn’t particularly like you. It thinks you're nothing more than an obstacle in the way of acquiring more cheese. When Squeaky took control he forced Two Brains to push you as far away as possible. It hurt, but you knew those weren’t the actions of Two Brains himself.

When Two Brains was allowed to be himself again this man was crying, BEGGING for your forgiveness and him affirming how much he loved you and didn’t want you to leave him.

You told him you were never mad at him and THREW himself at you. Bro had you pinned down on the ground just by laying on you and crying into your chest. He didn’t move for a few hours lmao.

Two Brains gets flustered a lot. He’s not used to much verbal affection considering he’s a villain and all. Even when he was just Steven no one really paid mind to him in that way.

So whenever you say something simple like, “You look handsome today, as you do every day.” or “You’re so pretty <3” he absolutely loses his mind. This man is blushing and stuttering like a little schoolboy omggg.

He also just really appreciates hearing you say kind things about him; Two Brains doesn’t have the best self-esteem. He’s more than confident in his intelligence, but not so much in the physical department.

He knows that he looks…odd. Not many people found him attractive when he was Steven, and even less now as Dr. Two Brains. So hearing you say he’s pretty and that you love him makes his day every time.

But he doesn’t just receive compliments from you; He makes sure to voice just how much he loves you the same way you do. 

He says casual things like, “You’re so sweet.” or “Oh, look how pretty my S/O is.” It’s so cute really, he can’t help but blush whenever he’s trying to compliment you. You just make him so nervous sometimes because you’re so beautiful/handsome (whatever you prefer) to him.

In more intimate movements like when you two are cuddling or just enjoying each other’s presence in the few fleeting free moments, Two Brains is much more confident in what he says. He’s not as much of a blushing mess as when you two are around his henchmen or Wordgirl. He’ll whisper how much he loves and adores you, pressing gentle kisses to your skin in between breathless praises.

However, if you say even the simplest of compliments to him in these moments, all of his previous confidence leaves his body and he’s back to the muttering, stumbling mess he usually is. 

Call him pretty, call him smart, call him kind he absolutely loves every word you say about him. Just be careful with how much you say in one sitting because one complements too many and he’ll start crying from how much he loves you.

Two Brains is a sucker for praise. His henchmen often praise him for his intelligence and ingenuity with his creations, but this man will do anything for you to praise him.

Two Brains will make inventions based on your late-night ramblings or he’ll cook and clean for you; This man would pull the stars out of the night skies as a gift for you if you only said the word.

Dr. Two Brains is completely and totally infatuated with you and he’s so lucky that he’s found someone who is equally infatuated with him.

[cookinguptales]

I promised I'd update on the efficacy of blazing that post once it was done and I... think it's done. So here's some thoughts on the experience. Put under a cut for length, but maybe some of you will find it interesting, especially if you're interested in trying to market your own art.

Now that the blazing is done, it's a little difficult to see how much good it did. I actually got more impressions than they promised, so I can't say that they didn't hold up their end of the deal. And I certainly got more attention on the post than I did just by putting it in the tags or posting it on my own blog.

I got 45 likes on the post, as opposed to the 1-2 I often get when I just post things to the sideblog. Five reblogs from strangers. It seems like Tumblr would release it in little bursts, so I'd see nothing for like 6 hours and then I'd get like 10-15 notifications all at once. That made it really difficult to tell whether all of those likes were people who'd seen the blazed post or whether one or two people were reblogging it each time and that was driving the likes.

I'm apparently supposed to get a report about the campaign, but it's been 12+ hours and that's not here. It also still says the post is blazed when I look at it, so I'm not really sure what's going on there. The impressions aren't still going up so I don't think it's actually blazed, but maybe it just says that until the report is assembled and emailed to you.

I'm assuming that the report isn't automated? And that's why there's a delay. Which I suppose could be a good thing, if it means an actual person is looking at it.

I got quite a few hits on AO3, but I'm not sure it's many more than I would have been getting already. I've already been getting a surprising amount of momentum on AO3; I was already getting 100+ hits a week on the fic before I blazed the post. (Which is kind of shocking, compared to other original fiction I've posted on AO3, and I'm very pleased with it.)

I'm also not sure how many of the people who liked the post intended that as a bookmark so they could come back and read the story later, perhaps over the weekend. (Weekend readers happen a lot when you post long fic on AO3, and considering about 32k is up on AO3 now, I suppose that qualifies.) So it's hard to say whether the blazing gave the post (and project as a whole) actual legs or not.

While I'm happy to get 45 likes, especially if even a fraction of those people actually read the story, it's unclear whether that's actually going to translate into more readers going forward. Like blazing got a lot of likes but very few reblogs, and that could just be because people haven't had a chance to read the story yet, and it could be because people wanted to be supportive but don't actually want to read the story.

One thing that's true about fiction (and art in general, I guess) is that word of mouth is pretty imperative. The best book in the world simply will not move if people don't know about it. And advertising might get the project to more eyes, but one person telling their friends/followers about it would probably have a much further reach than paying for a few thousand impressions.

Look, I might be shitty at marketing myself, but I have actually worked with authors who are better at it lmao.

What I'm saying is, I think it's too soon (or too difficult) to tell whether doing this got me 45 new readers or 45 people who stopped scrolling enough to be like "yeah, I'll like that" or potentially many more readers than 45 if any of those people read it this weekend, enjoy it it, and tell people they enjoyed it.

I know that any creative on tumblr kind of pulls their hair out about the likes/reblogs thing if just because we're always mindful of how many people even know that we created something in the first place, but... idk, I have hope that this at least got a few more eyes on this project than it would have otherwise.

That said, actual money was involved here, so... ROI? Hmm. I mean, there might be a few more readers, which is what I really want. Monetarily, unless there's a big influx of subscribers or something this weekend, probably not. I did actually get two new Patreon subscribers over the last 24 hours (something I'm thrilled about, tbh) but I don't think either of them were from the campaign. One explicitly told me where they'd found me (bluesky) and one was anonymous but intimated that they'd been wanting to read this for a while and only now did so, which tells me that they were already aware of it prior to the campaign.

I'm not doing all this for the money, precisely, but money is a consideration when you're spending money to advertise a project. I love this story and I desperately want other people to love it, too, but I'm not made of money, either. I can't keep spending money on this if it's not making any, after a certain point. I'll just have to let it do its own thing.

So would I blaze this post again in the future? Hmm. Maybe. I'll wait a few days and see if this actually translates to people who read the story, keep reading the story, and maybe tell their friends about the story. I'm not opposed to funneling the money I get from Patreon back into a campaign once a month, if the campaign actually does anything.

Like, I'm not exactly making much from Patreon, but running a low-level blaze campaign with what I get isn't the worst thing in the world. Feels kind of like an easy-come, easy-go situation, financially. At least this hobby won't be costing me money, if you get me.

I unfortunately have to be pragmatic about my hobbies lmao. But at the same time, if I think about it like "well, I spend money to get thread for embroidery" I guess it's not a terrible expense for, again, a hobby. Just maybe not a lot and not often -- and only if advertising actually results in people reading it!

I guess you really only need to hit the right person at the right time once, though... On tumblr, if the right person reblogs something, you can go from two notes to two thousand notes in an hour. And if the right person talks you up on any social media site, that could lead to an explosion of new readers in a way that none of your own efforts ever could.

Trying to reach that one person kind of feels like trying to win the lottery, though. lmao. Like I said, I don't have the personality for marketing! I feel guilty and annoying when I talk myself up and gambling stresses me tf out. I do not have the hustler mentality. I just wanna write stories. haha.

This is long and meandering and I gotta go take a shower, so I'm gonna leave it here! But I'll update in a few days when I get my report and when people have had a few days to read!

[ermbabyel]

Hi! I just saw your submission to my matchup trade and I'm more than willing to do it with you! Here’s my half for the trade (Mystic Messenger/Stardew Valley)!

• Name/Nickname: Kaitlyn / Kit

• Age: 20

• Sexuality: Lesbian (However I don’t mind being shipped with fictional men at all!!)

• Pronouns: She/Her

• Age Range: 20-30

• Likes: Gardening, Cats, Ocean Life, Video Games, Coffee, Disney Movies (Frozen, specifically), Fall Out Boy (favorite band) || Dislikes: Fireworks, Hospitals

• Hobbies: Journaling, Writing, Reading

• Love Languages: Gift Giving

• Ideal Type: Someone to joke around with, who listens to me, who hypes me up 24/7

• Personality: I’m very shy at first and it takes some time for me to get used to new people. I tend to be very outgoing when in my friend circle and never really go out of my way to meet new friends, they always just come to me somehow. I like to believe I give good advice and am a good listener, and I back my friends up 100% of the time. I love to laugh and make jokes, and pretend arguing over stupid stuff that doesn’t matter is one of my favorite activities. I could ramble on and on about my favorite activities and I can tend to be stubborn when it comes to my favorite things.

• Astrology Sign: Scorpio

• Aesthetic/Style: My style fluctuates based on my mood of the day. Some days I will be wearing band t-shirts (usually Fall Out Boy) and ripped jeans, paired with a cat beanie, and some (silver) jewelry. Other days I could wear nothing but pastels and pink, paired with lots of sanrio and hello kitty accessories.

• Anything else you can think of: Appearance wise I wear glasses, have green eyes, blonde hair thats a little past shoulder length, and I’m 5’2.

(I’ll have your matchups posted within the next day!!)

Hello~! I’m so excited to do their matchup trade with you. I hope you enjoy your matchups~

Your Mystic Messenger Matchup is…Saeyoung~

I think this man would love you to bits~!

He would be SO flustered when he meets you, but tries to play it off by cracking jocks. But we know this man will eventually FOLD hard lol.

Seven is your #1 hype man, constant praises and compliments every single minute of every day lmaooo. This sweet boy just wants you to know how much he loves you!

Absolutely LOVES your Hello Kitty/cat accessories! He will ask you from time to time if he can wear some of your accessories and will give some fashion advice here and there.

Playful banter all day long…this man is not holding back! Sometimes Yoosung will watch you two banter and tease back and forth as a form of entertainment lol.

He’d also be the type of person to ask if he can try on your glasses lmao and have you try his on just for the fun of it.

We all know Seven likes to invent gifts and let me tell you this boy has a few ideas up his sleeve! He wants you to use his gifts as mementoes of his love for you.

I believe Saeyoung would love how much of a good listener you are. He has gone through SO much and appreciates being able to confine in you when he gets flashbacks from his past. You are his safe place~ 💜.

Your Matchup in Stardew Valley is…Abigail~

I was debating between Leah and Abigail, but ultimately chose Abigail! I just think you two would mesh really well~

You caught Abigail’s eyes the first time you walked into The Stardrop Saloon. She’d be absolutely fascinated by your piercing and would ask you so many questions about them lol.

She’s also the one to try to hide her feelings and might get annoyed when Sam or Sebastian tease her about it. But she’ll build up the courage to ask you out on a date!

This girl does not mind your ramblings at all and actually finds this trait of yours quite charming! She’ll ask you what your writing or journaling and will watch you with a gentle gaze as you get lost in your ramblings~

She can be a bit of a spit fire, but I think that’s something you can handle pretty well. I mean you’re not afraid to fire back when Abigail gets a bit sassy…all in good fun though!

You’ll be the type of couple who share each other’s clothes lmao. I think you’d be the one to get her hooked onto listening to Fall out Boy…so expect someone your band shirts “mysteriously” disappear.

I think you’d be the mom of the friend group with Sam and Sebastian. Sam is a bit of a dumb-ass and would appreciate someone to watch out for him lol. And Sebastian also needs a listening ear when he feels troubled by what he’s been dealing with at home. Abigail just appreciates how kind-hearted you are with her friends as well as with her.

I think Abigail would love your more outgoing side. I can see her trying to get caught up in some of her adventures like going to the mines, for example. She’d also would love to lay in bed, snuggled up with you and listen to your writings at the end of the day.

I hope you enjoyed doing this trade as much as I have! I hope you have a good day/night~! 🥰

[chxna-cheeseycake]

So like at 12 years old I used to be a major and I mean MAJOR Zane fangirl. Zane Ro'Meave was my everything as a kid frfr like I would deadass defend his every action when I was 12. Like even in his MCD form you best bet that 12 year old me was using their every waking breath to stand up for Zane. I would see someone make a valid point about Zane being a dickhole for killing Jeffory and I guarantee you my 12 year old self would still try to find a way to defend Zane. That's just how much I was fucking in love with him bro. This man's straight up shaped my whole personality as a kid because his existence is why my main persona/online alias is Zana. Deadass before I gave her a heavy revamp, my persona was straight up just a female version of Zane 💀 And I always find it kind of funny because I created her long before we got canon genderbents so like... Jess you copying me gurl??/j Anyways, I was such a Zane fangirl that I even cut my bangs at 12 to try to look similar to him. I had wannabe emo bangs in 6th grade because of this fucker. He ruined my life I tell you. I never technically got rid of them either, I just let them grow to be the same length as the rest of my hair. No one in the present day will ever know about it but I will always remember. It's a memory of my middle school days that will never leave me.

And then there's the dramatic irony that after rewatching MCD and Mystreet now, Zane is no longer my number one fave anymore. It's fucking Dante now. Of course I will always love Zane, that bastard clearly holds a special place in my heart. But ultimately, Dante did in fact steal Zane's place as my number one favorite Aphverse character. He pushed Zane off the goddamn podium and snatched up the first place medal for himself. And I have no problem with that. But I just know my 12 year old self would be in pure shock if they saw that I ditched Zane for Dante lmao. Yet at the same time, I can't help but look at this in a poetic sense.

As a child I know I had such an attachment to Zane because I related a lot to him with being that person that was kinda seen as weird because I was quiet and wasn't a social person. I also had a few friends like Zane but just like him, I met some of them through a single friend that interacted with me first cuz I was far too socially awkward to speak to literally anyone. But now that I'm older, I don't really relate to Zane anymore. I'm not a full on social butterfly but back when I was 12, I couldn't even talk to people my own age that weren't friends because of my shyness and socially awkward personality. But now I'm not like that anymore. I would still say I'm a quiet person ofc but nowadays I don't freeze up and immediately get awkward when people I don't really know try talking to me. Sometimes it can still happen but I just don't really do that anymore. I don't think I actively made this choice though it just sorta happened. Growing up will just do that to you I guess lmao. And that's probably why I don't relate to Zane as much anymore and have now gravitated towards Dante. I grew up and now I find myself being more attached and sorta relating to Dante way more now than Zane. Zane's still cool to me but he's just not my fave anymore because I'm not the same person I was when I was 12.

That got way more deep than I was actually expecting lol. But I still stand by my point regardless. Zane was a huge comfort to 12 year old me but not anymore. I still love his character but he just doesn't bring me that same comfort like he did when I was 12 because I don't need that type of comfort anymore. Dante however is my new comfort character probably because I relate to him more now than I did as a kid. I barely paid attention to Dante when I was 12 but look at me now. He's all I ever seem to post about on this blog lmao. Honestly, seeing myself go from having Zane as comfort character in the past to now having Dante as my comfort character kinda brings me a peace of mind because I think it truly represents all the healing I've done over these past years. Even if it is a little silly to think about it in a deep and poetic fashion like this but I don't really care, thinking about this topic just brings me this sort of warmness I don't really know how to explain. I feel like maybe some people will understand what I'm trying to get it. Hopefully. Anyways, hope y'all enjoy my stupid thoughts and rambling because honestly I don't even know what I'm typing anymore skssjkdsdjknon