#v: repetitions of past mistakes

[mothhball]

For your drabbles: Crane teaches the reader how to ride him properly.

JONATHAN CRANE X FEM!READER

summary don't worry, he'll teach you how he likes it

warnings SMUT!! just straight up porn. p in v sex, use of pet names (pet, good girl), light choking, edging, clothed male/naked female, dom/sub undertones, female anatomy, Jon being a "stern educator" lmao

notes Thanks for the idea! I'm still working on those other requests on the side, I promise <3 I missed writing more explicit smut tbh

! MINORS DNI !

main masterlist • taglist • kofi word count: 926

Shallow breaths, aching muscles. Up, down, up, down, up –

“That’s it… just like that.”

Jonathan’s voice sounds strained from underneath you, and you look down at him with hazy eyes to catch a glimpse of his expression. His jaw is clenched, brows furrowed as his gaze is fixed on his glistening cock disappearing into your tight cunt over and over again.

Up down, up, down.

"That's it, good girl. Fuck yourself on me. Just like that, now we're getting somewhere."

The leather armchair creaks and protests under your combined weight, but Crane’s grip on your waist is keeping you right where he wants you. Obediently riding his cock. You let out a soft groan, feeling how the repetitive rise and fall of your hips causes your thighs to tremble.

“Mhm… My legs hurt…”

His response to your complaints is a hand around your throat and a harsh pinch to one of your nipples. The man beneath you clicks his tongue, lips pulling down into a displeased frown. Compared to your panting, sweating state, Jonathan seems remarkably composed. Still dressed and meeting your eyes with a combination of amusement and mock disappointment.

“Now, now. We just started. Surely you can last a little longer, pet.”

A breathy moan slips past your lips, and his hand around your throat tightens its grip as you pick up the rhythm again. Up and down. His study feels like it’s boiling, and you almost mistake Crane’s heated tongue lapping at your tits for actual fire. But the only burning is in your thighs and your pussy as his cock stretches out your slick heat every time you sink down on him. It’s such a delicious cocktail of pain and pleasure, knocking the air from your lungs every time your ass meets Jonathan’s lap.

A bead of sweat rolls down your sternum, eagerly kissed away by Crane before he leans back in the armchair. He releases your throat and allows his hands to descend along the curves of your body where they knead your soft flesh until they settle on the meat of your hips, fingers sprawled out. Possessive. If he could print out what his eyes are currently seeing, he’d make a thousand copies of you, bouncing on top of him. You’re a vision to him. Lips parted and face softly scrunched up from the mix of discomfort and bliss. His perfect girl that he invested so much time into defiling properly.

You release the iron grip you have on Jonathan’s shoulder to bring a hand down to your pulsing clit, desperate for that sweet additional pleasure. But before your fingertips can aid you in your quest, your hand is smacked away, and Crane grabs your wrist to return it to his shoulder. A warning.

“No. Absolutely not,” he chides, digging his short nails into your hips and causing you to wince and clench around his cock. “Hands off.”

Letting out a strangled noise, you clench your eyes shut, trying to focus on your movements instead of the dull ache in your legs. The prolonged strain on your thighs causes your pace to falter again, and this time, Jonathan assists you in your plight, giving you a soft pat on your rear.

“Tilt your hips towards me. You want to feel good? Grind that clit on me, pet.”

Well-trained as ever, you follow his instructions, leaning forward a little and shifting your hips. Instantly, you falter, sinking against him to press your face into the crook of Crane’s neck. At this new angle, his cock hits even deeper, sitting snug against that sweet spot just below your cervix that has you whining and squirming. A shiver runs down your spine as the man below you moves your hips with his hands, urging you to grind back and forth on him. Your aching thighs are grateful for this new method, and your clit even more as it finally gets the attention you’ve been waiting for.

You huff out a moan into Jonathan’s neck, wishing he wasn’t still wearing his shirt. But of course, the psychiatrist prefers to stay clothed while he has you riding him. It makes the difference in power even more obvious. And while you have to resist the urge to tear off his button-up, he has the privilege of seeing all of you; the privilege of licking and biting every inch of your delicate skin.

His teeth scrape over your collarbone and further up, sucking marks into your flesh and littering your throat with a beautiful array of bruises. A self-made collar, painted by his lips onto the canvas that’s your body. You’re his favorite art project by far.

The grinding doesn’t do much for him, but it’s worth it, if only because he gets to see you come undone right above him. The knot in your core tightens with every roll of your hips against his pelvis, and you’re already holding your breath to prepare for your imminent climax. But that’s when Jonathan’s hands stop you by gently pushing you back into an upright position, removing that delightful friction from your poor clit. You whine, and he shushes you, not in the mood to entertain your pathetic wailing.

“No, pet. You need to learn properly. Don’t worry… After the third repetition, it’ll become second nature.”

He pushes his thumb past your lips, pressing down on your tongue to prevent you from speaking as he works together with you to get you back into a proper bounce on his cock.

“Good girl. Let’s take it from the top, then.”

@ellebelleshelby @cilliansprincess @mcumorningstar @x0xomady @mandies24

@detroitbecomevenom @pretty-bluebird @ink5ouls @flwrs4aust @vampmary1411

@ashdrinksoatmilk @nnattu @ptolemaniac @kiss-me-cill-me @celebrities-imagines

@hanawrites404 @ilovetoxicfictionalmen @nocturnest @biblicallyaccuratebee @red-riding-wood

@luvlloyd @ribbonystar @smxkyqvxrtz @bloodandglitter207 @seaamonster

@rosiemarieyn @sagepixie @strangeobsessed @ryecosse @vegasisthinking

@paradiseprincesss

[r3linx]

⌜char.⌟ choi jiung ⌜synopsis⌟ you were getting ready to your fancy restaurant date nightwith jiung which you waited so much already, just like in every month. except you take awfully long to get ready which has him bored after a few minutes. asking you to help him occupy himself, ends up in him just ruining what you worked on. ⌜word count⌟ 3.1k ⌜warnings⌟ 18+ / nsfw, clit play, fem! reader, fingering, p in v, dirty talk, praising, pet names, degrading, hair pulling, messy writing (i guess), jiung is a little meanie if you squint really hard!!, reader is implied to have wavy/curly hair, sorry for repetitive writing and mistakes!

⌜a/n⌟ after i finished i wasn't sure if i'd want to post it or not but i decided to do it, i'll try to get more comfortable with writing smut in the future as i do enjoy it but without sharing i don't quite know where i have to improve. likes and reblogs are heavily appreciated, enjoy!! (˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶)

๋࣭ ⭑⚝ you were supposed to be on your way like..half an hour ago? 45 minutes.. yeah. yet, you didn’t seem to budge from your place. picking out the fanciest dress for your date already took up most of your time, you wanted to be absolutely ravishing for jiung tonight. it was your monthly ‘fancy-restaurant-date-night’ which you always loved by you. waiting for this with excitement such as nothing in the past few days.

successfully, you managed to choose the right attire. a skimpy, burgundy one still vivid, and the material like silk to the touch. it barely reached to half of your plump thighs, the straps thin on your shoulders, and showing a real clear image of your cleavage. it didn’t leave much to the imagination, really. your usually let down hair now made up in a pretty bun, curly strands slipping out here and there, tickling your neck and soft cheeks. everything was ready, now you sat on the chair barefoot, only pantyhose covering your smooth legs from the floor’s cold touch. the fluffy white carpet in the middle of the bedroom unfortunately didn’t reach there, so you had your feet rubbing against each other to keep themselves warm. you gazed into the mirror, examining your features, already planning your look. you wanted your makeup to be flawless too of course.

so much to the point, poor jiung went unnoticeable sitting on the edge of the bed, all ready and waiting for you to finally go. except he didn’t have any idea at the moment what time will it come and how much you’d sit there.

after being a few minutes late, he patted your bare shoulder carefully, his index finger running over the strap of your dress as he bent over to speak directly into your ear, his words shushed and soft.

“can you like.. speed things up a bit, love? you’re taking quite a long time..” to which you nodded simply, even though you knew he’d have to wait even more, but didn’t want to tell him that yet. with a small sigh escaping past his lips, he straightened back up, throwing his hands into his pocket, and sat down back on the same spot he stood up from minutes ago.

getting impatient, he called out to you again after like 10 more minutes to which you had the same response. he already knew what was going on, and yet again after another few minutes, you were still getting ready.

jiung sauntered over to you once again, placing both of his hands on your shoulder to give them a gentle squeeze, his slim finger brushing over your warm skin, starting to massage your tender muscles languidly.

“i know i know- i’m hurrying..” you murmured, pressing out a long exhale you didn’t know you held, focusing at the eyes shadow palette in your hands, gently shaking down the excess colored powder back onto the tray.

“no need to, pretty. i changed my mind, i want you to look your best. take your time.. i was just getting a bit bored, y’know.. ” he reassured with a smile as he looked at your reflection in the mirror in front of you. after years of dealing with you, he figured it’d be better to not hurry you when it already didn’t matter, so he just used it to his advantage.

he leaned down behind you, his warm breath caressing the side of your face and ear, a small smirk evident in the corner of his mouth. his hands now stopped kneading your shoulders, sliding a bit forward to trace your bare collarbone with his calloused fingers. “i like it when you’re getting all dolled up for me..” his words sent a chill down your spine as they slowly rolled off his tongue, your breath hitching as you now locked eye with him through your mirror. turning your head around you arched one eyebrow at him in confusion which had his smirk widening slightly across his face, his dark eyes having a sinister glint you knew already very well. “makes me wanna.. you know..” he continued as his hand moved down on your body, now sliding it under your arm to reach you better, giving your sides a gentle caress up and down, sneaking in a few playful squeezes at your soft hips before coming to a rest on your chest and cupping your breasts through the thin fabric. he gave the squishy mounds a gentle squeeze, his thumbs writing down circles around the outlines of your nipples poking through.

his sudden action had you in goosebumps all over, making you freeze in your place. turning your head to the side, ready to question his act, one of his hand moves to take a firm hold of your chin, roughly turning it back to look at yourself in the mirror before he pressed a soft peck to your cheek while keeping eye contact.

“you don’t have to do anything, alright? you’re making me wait.. the least you can do is keeping me occupied while i’m waiting..” he was right, you did take a lot of time by now but if he would start to mess around with you while you still do your makeup, he might ruin it, not to talk about the fact that it would take even longer for you to be done.

“but if you’ll ruin it-”

“i would never, you know that..” he cooed into your ear, giving your lobe a playful nip with his teeth. now trailing warm wet pecks along your neck, arriving at the nape and simply just sinking his teeth into your glowing, smooth skin. it was sudden act, making you flinch, gripping the brush for a second between your fingers then relaxing your hold again. his nose pressed against your skin, sharply inhaling your scent as his tongue darted out with a wet, soothing lick across the red biting mark he formed just now.

not holding himself back at this point, his hands slid further down on your body, coming to a stop at the hem of your dress, he moved it up just a couple inches and he could already reach well between your legs, he was very grateful for your choice of clothes at the moment and giving him easy access.

your breathing labored, his palms glided along the inside of your thighs, his left hand pressing flat against your flesh, guiding them apart while his other hand snaked further up, till he reached your pantied center. he felt the warmth already radiating off you, catching you occasionally taking quick glimpses downwards, as if he’d stop if you’d call out for him.

the pads of his thumbs traced lazy circles over your clit, not pressing down directly on your sensitive nub yet. thanks to the textile, which was already covered in your essence, sticking to you, it gave him a clear outline of your folds. his middle finger slipped under the band or your panties pulling away and letting it snap back against your skin in place, eliciting a hiss from your lips as he drank up all your cute expressions.

suddenly his hands grabbed into your pantyhose, ripping it simply apart, his nails digging into the material. your lips parted in a gasp suddenly as you eyed the now useless piece of clothing and the hole he created.

“raise your hips a bit..” he commanded while giving the top of your thighs an encouraging pat, but still with a gentle undertone in his voice comparing to his earlier act.

“are you trying to-”

“i said lift your hips, nothing much, should be easy to follow.” cutting into your sentence he bit back. and so you did, he hooked his fingers into the fabric, sliding it down your legs till it hit the floor with a soft thump around your ankles. you felt the hot feeling pool in your lower stomach as you realized you’re not meant to go out to a dinner anymore but he didn’t mutter a word. he saw the realization dawn in your eyes but choose to remain silent, instead he gave a soft chuckle as his hands went back to usher your legs apart while you sat on the chair.

“since you worked so hard, finish your makeup.. wouldn’t want to have you work so hard for nothing..” he nodded towards your stuff scattered across the smooth wooden table where your were reaching to pack away neatly. sliding two of his fingers to part your plump lower lips with one of his hand while his other toyed with your clit. the pad of his index and middle finger just merely ghosting over your already swollen folds. his head on your shoulder turned to scatter small bites and nips across your skin, his gaze turned down between your legs, watching intently as his hands teased you.

your muscles tensed when you felt him delve in with a harsh press of his fingers, instinctively trying to close down your legs around his hand, but to no success. "relax.. relax.." he hushed quietly

“even if we missed the dinner part.. can’t have my slutty girl hanging, hm?” he asked with a grin on his face, nudging his nose against your temple and placing a soft wet kiss on the spot. his words were honeyed and his pecks are gentle compared to his hands working on you. he pinched your little nub between his fingers while giving it a small tug, twisting it gently when a small mewl escaped your lips.

“in- push in-”

“you want my fingers inside your tight, needy cunt, baby? let me hear the magic word then..” he played with you more even if he knew you’d clearly give in, being already on the verge of going crazy. after all this time he knew everything about you, what made you flinch when touched in the right place, how a gentle encouraging with his words was already enough to have you putty in his hands and do as he says.

“please..”

“that’s right, so you want them in, hm?..” jiung nodded against your shoulder with a soft hum, trailing his fingers down to circle your entrance, giving it a little pressure by pressing down, coaxing more of your fluids out onto his hand. he smeared it across your puffy clit and the juncture of your thighs, his thumb dipping in your cunt for a brief moment, then quickly slipping free from it with a soft pop.

you were ready to beg further, inhaling but your breath got caught in your throat soon enough when his middle and ring fingers easily slipped inside you from your slickness all the way to his knuckles. it had you clamping down hard around his invading digits, your chest heaving for breath as his hand stilled, eyeing at your reactions with a small smirk on his lips.

“you stopped.” he pointed out. you didn’t understand what he meant until you finally looked up to see the eyeliner in your hands, away from you and just holding it.

“but-”

“if you stop, i do it too. now continue pretty girl, except if you want to stay with my fingers in your cunt all night.” he nudged the side of your head with his, your digits gripping at the pen. to tell the truth, imagining his words, it wouldn’t have been that bad but still, right now you needed more than just filling you up without any more stimulation.

the eyeliner in your hands were liquid. which meant easy smearing on its own.. but while jiung fingered you? the thought made you smile to yourself, which quickly turned into a surprised gasp as he crooked his fingers inside you out of the blue, fingertips brushing against your walls, grinding it before coming abruptly to a stop again. you turned your gaze towards him, eyebrows knotted together in frustration but you couldn’t help yourself anymore. not when your wetness now trailed along his whole palm and wrists, dripping it down your thighs and onto the chair’s soft material and soaking it.

you brought the pen to your eyes with trembling hands, feeling jiungs sharp look on your every action, when it would touch your eyelids. he pulled his fingers out, only to shove it back in fast, curling them against your sweet spot and pistoning them in and out frantically. his other hand found its way to tangle in your carefully made hair, gripping into your locks to yank your head back harshly now having the strands all messy in his hold. a loud yelp got knocked out of your lungs, resulting in the line being crooked but at this point it didn’t really matter anymore. you arched your back as the warmness started spreading in your core with him continuously hitting the spongy spot inside you, his fingers furiously pumping, leaving you trembling and quickly approaching your climax.

when you were about to tumble over the edge he stopped, leaving you a panting mess. grabbing onto your jaw and turning towards him, taking in the beautifully curved line in the corner of your eyes, he sudden crushed his lips against yours fiercely, teeth clattering against each other. not having the chance to recover, his finger lazily moved inside you while he attacked your mouth and his tongue darting out to tangle with yours, by now it felt like your whole body was on fire, sweat dampened your skin and forehead, your body trembling with no stop. leaning back with a string of thin saliva connecting your swollen pink lips to his before it snapped, he watched your eyes glistening with tears from the intense pleasure, threatening to spill, spit tracking down your chin and cheeks flushed. after being late from the restaurant, seeing your makeup ruined by him and you do nothing against it was the greatest apology.

and this is all it took to send a jolt across his body, straight to his crotch, making his pants tighten further. his fingers left your warm, slick pussy, reaching over to brush your stuff aside on the table, cosmetics landing on the ground with a clink. jiung’s hands found their way under your thighs, hoisting you up from the chair over to the table making you squeal in the sudden move, he eased himself between your legs, pulling you to sit on the edge, closer to him.

“you look fucking pathetic, baby.” he let out a mocking chuckle with urgency in his words, now fidgeting with the zipper of his slacks, pushing down the clothing around his ankles. “pathetic but so fucking sexy.. mascara running down your face and your hair all messy.. i know you just love getting fucked silly, hm?” he pointed out your current appearance and god it made you feel even hotter in the pit of your stomach. your cheeks tainted with a deep shade of pink, your eyes trailing down his body and catching a glimpse of the wet patch already formed in front of his boxers before he quickly got rid of them too.

the black-inked butterfly tattoo adorning his lower stomach and abs, peeked under the hem of his plain white shirt which ended just above his waist. he hiked your already short dress even higher on you, then with a firm grip on his shaft, he guided himself close to your sopping hole, pearly white droplets of his precum mixing with your wetness as he dragged himself along your slit, watching in awe. he pushed in his red and throbbing tip, letting out a quiet groan as you stretched around him, taking in his shape. you shuddered at the feeling with a soft whine escaping your chest, you wrapped your legs around his waist, silently encouraging him to push in further.

“so impatient now, you decided to make me wait.. so why should i give you what you want this easily?” he bit back a laugh at your disheveled, pitiful look before bottoming out in you eventually, his hand flying to grip the sides of your legs, pushing them further apart for leverage and space.

“fuck you’re squeezing me too tight.” he growled through gritted teeth, his eyes fluttering close only for a few seconds, his nails digging into your plush skin as he started to hammer into you, your slick making it easier for him to move.

your eyes burned as the soft tears mixed with the ink from your eyelids, coloring them black as they rolled down your cheeks. the table shaking from the force he rutted into you, his pace never faltering and steady. “you.. you really look like a slut.” he snarled, gripping your chin between his fingers as he forced your eyes to lock with his. "getting fucked-.. with your clothes still on, like a cheap whore.." he taunted further, his free hand moved to frantically rub on your clit, the room echoing from your heavy moans, his low grunts and wet skin slapping on skin, reassuring him further, as he was plowing into you, your hands took a hold of his wrist but unfortunately nothing but incoherent blubbering could be heard. not having the chance to even warn him before your orgasm washed over you and having your body trembling. “look at you, so beautifully fucked out..” he muttered as he guided you through your high.

without a word he pulled free from the grip of your tight walls, your hips bucking towards him, aching about the loss of contact as he left you empty and desperate for having him back. he gave his cock a few hurried pumps with his hand, his seed finally spilled onto your already crumpled up dress in thick, white spurts as he came with a loud groan, his eyes squeezing shut. a few moments later after pulling himself together with much less success, a small grin made it’s way to his face as he admired his handiwork.

to be honest when he saw just how much time you wasted on preparing yourself, he made it to his own little mission to fuck you up. loving the fact that you let him, even begged him for it, making his work so much easier. now looking at your once pretty bun, now messed up strands sticking everywhere, fancy dress now rumpled and drenched in his white sticky seed, your makeup all smudged, he was honestly proud of himself for turning you into this such a pretty sight.

“let this serve you as a lesson, baby..” kissing you gently on your cheeks, his usual tenderness creeping back while caressing you all over soothingly.

@r3linx II do not steal, modify or translate or repost any of my works. likes and reblogs are appreciated﹗﹗

[kckt88]

Kickstart My Heart

Summary:

After his last relationship ended, Aemond decided he was taking a break from women, and it was going well until his sister Helaena introduces him to her new friend.

Warning(s): Language, Angst, Mentions of Past Cheating, Kissing, Smut – Fingering, Oral Sex, Loss of Virginity, P in V, Misunderstandings, Alys.

AEMOND TARGARYEN x Y.N (PAST AEMOND X ALYS)

MINORS DO NOT INTERACT.

Word Count: 7215

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the House of The Dragon or Fire & Blood characters nor do I claim to own them. I do not own any of the images used.

Comments, likes, and reblogs are very much appreciated.

Aemond stood in the dimly lit living room of the apartment he used to share with Alys. The air felt heavy with the weight of their turbulent relationship, a storm that had raged for far too long.

Tonight, however, he was determined to bring an end to it.

Alys sat on the couch, her green eyes fixated on her phone, barely acknowledging his presence. She exuded an air of indifference, as if his existence was merely an inconvenience.

"Alys," Aemond began, his voice steady despite the tumult of emotions swirling within him. "We need to talk."

She glanced up briefly, her expression tinged with annoyance. "Can't it wait? I'm in the middle of something."

Aemond shook his head, his resolve hardening with each passing second. "No, it can't wait. I've had enough."

Alys scoffed, a derisive smile playing on her lips. "What are you talking about?"

"You know exactly what I'm talking about," Aemond replied, his tone unwavering. "I can't do this anymore. I can't be with someone who belittles me, who cheats on me, who takes advantage of me."

Alys's facade of indifference crumbled, replaced by a flicker of anger. "You're being ridiculous, Aemond. You can't just throw away what we have because of a few petty disagreements."

"These aren't petty disagreements, Alys," Aemond retorted, his voice rising slightly. "You've made me feel worthless, you've betrayed my trust time and time again, and you've manipulated me into doing things I never wanted to do. I deserve better than this."

Alys opened her mouth to respond, but Aemond held up a hand, silencing her. "I'm done, Alys. I'm leaving."

With that, he turned on his heel and strode towards the door, his heart pounding in his chest. As he stepped out into the cool night air, a sense of liberation washed over him, filling him with a newfound sense of purpose.

He made his way to his sister Helaena's apartment, seeking solace in the familiarity of her presence.

Of course, his sister welcomes him with open arms, saying he could stay as long as he needed to and as Aemond settle in and began to regain some semblance of normalcy he vowed to take a break from relationships and women.

He had been blinded by what he thought was love and lured into a toxic cycle that had left him broken and disillusioned. But now, as he gazed into the depths of his own soul, he knew that he could not afford to make the same mistake again.

"No more," declared Aemond, his voice growing stronger with each repetition. "I will focus on myself, on rebuilding my life and reclaiming my sense of worth. I will not let anyone else dictate my happiness or define my worthiness."

After that things were going great, Aemond regained his focus at work, he began hanging out with his friends again and he even started back at the gym.

His mantra of no women was doing him the world of good until one day Helaena had dragged him to flower shop where she worked and introduced him to her new friend and every single ounce of sanity flew from his head the moment her saw her.

"Aemond, this is Y.N," Helaena said with a warm smile as she gestured towards the stunning woman beside her.

Aemond's gaze swept over Y.N, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still. He felt as though the air had been knocked out of his lungs, his heart pounding fiercely in his chest.

Y.N was breathtakingly beautiful, with long auburn hair cascading down her back and piercing blue eyes that seemed to hold the secrets of the universe.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Aemond," Y.N said, her voice soft and melodious, sending shivers down his spine.

Aemond managed to compose himself enough to offer a polite nod in response, though his mind was reeling with a whirlwind of emotions. He couldn't tear his gaze away from Y.N, captivated by her beauty and grace.

As the conversation flowed between the three of them, Aemond found himself drawn to Y.N's every word, hanging on her every syllable as though it were a lifeline. He couldn't deny the magnetic pull he felt towards her, the way she seemed to light up the room with her presence.

As Y.N stood face to face with Aemond, she couldn't help but be struck by his undeniable presence. Tall and lithe, he exuded an air of quiet strength that drew her in like a moth to a flame.

But it was not just his stature that caught her attention.

Her gaze traced the sharp angles of his face, taking in the striking features that seemed to have been carved from marble by the hands of a master sculptor. Despite the scar that bisected the left side of his face and the eyepatch, there was an undeniable beauty in the symmetry of his features.

Y.N found herself captivated by the intensity of his remaining eye, a stormy grey that seemed to hold a world of emotions within its depths. There was a vulnerability there, a glimpse into the soul of a man who had weathered his fair share of storms.

But it was not just Aemond's physical appearance that left Y.N breathless. There was something about the way he carried himself, with a quiet confidence tempered by a hint of sorrow, that spoke to her on a deeper level.

In that moment, as their eyes met and held, Y.N knew that she had stumbled upon someone truly remarkable. And as she found herself drawn into his orbit, she couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement at the prospect of getting to know him better, of unravelling the mysteries that lay hidden beneath the surface of his stoic facade.

As Y.N stood before Aemond, her eyes cast downward in a gesture of shyness that was unlike anything he had ever encountered before. Unlike the confident and brazen women, he had known in the past, Y.N seemed to radiate a quiet and unassuming charm that drew him in despite himself.

Her timid demeanour stood in stark contrast to the fiery spirit of Floris, the regal confidence of Cerelle or the boldness of Alys. There was a softness to Y.N, a vulnerability that spoke volumes without her having to utter a single word.

Aemond found himself captivated by the way she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, the way her cheeks flushed a delicate shade of pink whenever their eyes met. There was a purity to her presence that stirred something within him, something he had long thought lost amidst the chaos of his past relationships.

Helaena couldn't contain her excitement as she extended an invitation to Y.N to join them at her apartment for a casual get-together.

As Y.N agreed to come over, Helaena shot a mischievous glance at her brothers, Aegon and Aemond, who were lounging in the living room.

"You should see the look on Aemond's face," Helaena teased, her eyes dancing with amusement. "I think he's more excited about this than anyone."

Aegon chuckled, casting a knowing glance in Aemond's direction. "I thought you swore off women, little brother. What happened to all that talk about focusing on yourself?"

Aemond felt his cheeks flush with embarrassment, though he couldn't deny the truth in his brother's jest. "I-uh-it's not like that," he stammered, struggling to find the right words to defend himself.

Helaena laughed, coming to her brother's rescue. "Oh, lighten up, Aegon. Can't a man appreciate the company of a charming woman without it being a big deal?"

Aegon raised an eyebrow in mock scepticism, but the corner of his mouth twitched with amusement. "I suppose so."

With a good-natured chuckle, Aemond rolled his eyes, knowing that his siblings meant well. And as he awaited Y.N's arrival with a mixture of nervousness and anticipation, he couldn't help but feel grateful for their unwavering support and teasing banter.

As Y.N arrived at Helaena's apartment, she clutched a box of delicately decorated butterfly fairy cakes that she had baked herself. The nervous flutter in her stomach only intensified as she stepped through the door, greeted by the warm smiles of Helaena and her brothers.

"Y.N, you made it!" Helaena exclaimed, her eyes lighting up with excitement. "And you brought your famous butterfly fairy cakes! I can't wait to try them."

Y.N's cheeks flushed a deep shade of crimson at the praise, her shy demeanour shining through as she handed the box to Helaena. "I hope you like them," she murmured softly, her gaze flickering towards the floor.

Aegon stepped forward, extending a hand in greeting. "I'm Aegon, Helaena's older brother. It's a pleasure to meet you, Y.N."

Y.N nodded politely, her eyes darting briefly to meet his before retreating once more. "Nice to meet you, Aegon," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

Aemond watched the interaction with a mixture of amusement and curiosity, noting the way Y.N seemed to retreat into herself in the presence of his siblings. When she finally glanced up and caught his eye, her blush deepened, and she seemed to shrink back even further.

"Hello, Y.N," Aemond greeted her with a warm smile, his voice gentle as he tried to ease her nerves.

"Hi, Aemond," Y.N replied, her voice barely audible as she fidgeted nervously with the hem of her sleeve.

Aemond couldn't help but be charmed by her shyness, finding it endearing in a way he hadn't expected.

As the evening progressed, Aemond found himself drawn to Y.N's quiet presence, his curiosity piqued by the mystery that surrounded her.

"So, Aemond," Aegon began with a mischievous glint in his eye, "do you think Y.N would be as shy in bed as she is here?"

Aemond's smile faltered, his amusement evaporating in an instant as he shot his brother a stern look. He was not amused by Aegon's insinuation, finding it distasteful and disrespectful.

"Aegon, that's enough," Aemond said sharply, his voice carrying a note of warning.

Aegon's grin widened, unfazed by his brother's reprimand. "Oh, come on, Aemond. I was just kidding. Lighten up."

But Aemond wasn't in the mood for jokes, especially not at Y.N's expense. He could see the discomfort in her eyes, the way she seemed to shrink back even further at Aegon's words. It wasn't fair to make her the subject of such crude humour, especially when she had done nothing to warrant it.

"I said that's enough," Aemond repeated firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Aegon held up his hands in mock surrender, though the smirk never left his face. "Fine, fine. I'll behave."

As the tension between them eased, Aemond turned his attention back to Y.N, determined to make her feel comfortable despite his brother's thoughtless remark. And as he caught her eye and offered her an apologetic smile, he silently vowed to ensure that she felt respected and valued for the rest of the evening.

As the evening drew to a close and it was time to say their goodbyes, Aemond gathered his courage and approached Y.N, his heart pounding in his chest. "Y.N," he began, his voice slightly nervous but determined, "I was wondering if you'd like to go on a date with me?"

Y.N's cheeks flushed a delicate shade of pink, but a small smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "I would love to," she replied softly, her eyes shining with shy anticipation.

Aemond felt a surge of relief and joy flood through him at her acceptance, his heart soaring at the prospect of spending more time with her. "Great," he said, unable to contain the grin that spread across his face. "Is there anywhere in particular you'd like to go? Maybe the cinema, or somewhere else?"

Y.N's blush deepened, but she shook her head. "The cinema sounds perfect," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Alright then," Aemond said, his excitement bubbling over. "How about we meet tomorrow evening at 7pm at the cinema? We can catch a movie and maybe grab dinner afterwards?"

Y.N nodded eagerly, a shy smile playing on her lips. "That sounds wonderful," she agreed, her eyes meeting his with a newfound confidence.

As Y.N departed from Helaena's apartment, leaving Aemond with a heart full of anticipation for their upcoming date, Aegon couldn't resist the opportunity to tease his younger brother once more.

"Well, well, little brother," Aegon teased, a playful smirk dancing on his lips, "looks like you've got yourself a shy little bird there. Are you sure you can handle her?"

Aemond shot his brother a pointed look, his patience wearing thin. "Aegon, enough with the jokes," he chided, his tone firm.

Helaena, sensing the tension in the air, quickly intervened, elbowing Aegon in the ribs with a reproachful glare. "Stop it, Aegon," she scolded, her voice carrying a note of warning. "Y.N is very shy, and I don't want her to get hurt."

Aegon winced slightly at the jab but couldn't resist a playful grin. "Alright, alright," he relented, holding up his hands in surrender. "I'll behave, I promise."

Aemond turned to Helaena, his expression earnest as he spoke. "You don't need to worry, Helaena. I'll be good to Y.N. I promise to treat her with the respect and kindness she deserves."

Helaena smiled warmly at her brother, her eyes shining with pride. "I know you will, Aemond," she said softly, her voice filled with confidence. "Just be yourself, and everything will be fine."

The next day -

As the clock struck 7 pm, Aemond Targaryen stood outside the cinema, his heart pounding with nervous anticipation. His eyes scanned the bustling crowd, searching for a glimpse of Y.N. And there she was, emerging from the sea of people, a vision of beauty in a sun dress paired with a cardigan that hugged her delicate frame.

Aemond couldn't help but feel a surge of admiration as he approached her, his lips curling into a warm smile. "Y.N," he greeted her, his voice tinged with excitement.

Y.N's cheeks flushed a rosy pink at his greeting, but a radiant smile graced her lips as she returned his gaze. "Hi, Aemond," she replied softly, her eyes sparkling with shy anticipation.

Together, they entered the cinema, the anticipation of the evening ahead hanging in the air like a delicate promise. As they settled into their seats, Aemond couldn't help but notice the way Y.N's eyes widened with excitement at the prospect of the movie they were about to watch.

The lights dimmed, and the screen flickered to life, casting a soft glow over the darkened theater. Aemond glanced at Y.N out of the corner of his eye, noting the way she jumped at the sudden burst of sound and movement on the screen.

As the movie unfolded, Aemond found himself more amused by Y.N's reactions than by the film itself. He couldn't help but smile as she buried her face in her hands during the suspenseful moments, her fingers peeking through to cover her eyes.

Unable to resist the urge to offer her comfort, Aemond gently draped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close in a gesture of silent reassurance. Y.N tensed slightly at the unexpected contact, but soon relaxed into his embrace, leaning into him with a sigh of relief.

After the movie ended, Aemond and Y.N emerged from the cinema into the bustling city streets, the cool evening air tinged with the aroma of freshly baked pizza. Aemond glanced at Y.N, wondering where she might want to go for dinner, but he was pleasantly surprised when she suggested his favorite pizza place.

"Really? That's one of my favorite spots!" Aemond exclaimed, a smile spreading across his face. "I didn't know you liked it too."

Y.N's cheeks flushed with a shy smile. "I've actually been there a few times before," she admitted. "It's delicious."

As they made their way to the pizza place, Aemond couldn't shake the feeling of gratitude that swelled within him. Unlike his ex-girlfriend Alys, who always expected him to foot the bill for everything, Y.N seemed considerate and respectful.

When they reached the restaurant, Aemond reached for his wallet to pay for their meal, but Y.N gently placed a hand on his arm, stopping him. "Let me get this one," she insisted, her eyes meeting his with a determined gaze. "You paid for the cinema, so it's only fair that I treat you to dinner."

Aemond's heart warmed at her gesture, touched by her thoughtfulness and generosity. "Are you sure?" he asked, wanting to make sure she was comfortable with the arrangement.

Y.N nodded, her smile soft and genuine. "I'm sure. Besides, it's the least I can do after you invited me out tonight."

With a grateful nod, Aemond put his wallet back in jeans pocket, allowing Y.N to take care of the bill. As they sat together, enjoying their meal and each other's company, Aemond couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment settle over him.

With Y.N by his side, he knew that he had found someone who appreciated him for who he was, and not someone who only valued him not for his family name or wealth.

As the evening drew to a close, Aemond walked Y.N back to her small one-bedroom flat, just a few blocks away from where he lived with Helaena. The gentle hum of conversation between them filled the air, punctuated by the occasional laugh and shared smile.

As they reached Y.N's door, she turned to Aemond with a shy smile. "Would you mind waiting here for a moment?" she asked softly. "I just need to grab something."

"Of course," Aemond replied with a nod, curiosity piqued by her request.

Y.N disappeared into her flat, leaving Aemond standing outside her door with a sense of anticipation building within him. He couldn't help but wonder what she was up to, his mind racing with possibilities.

Moments later, Y.N reappeared, holding something in her hands. Aemond's breath caught in his throat as he caught sight of the dragon-shaped pastry she held out to him, a soft smile playing on her lips.

"I made this for you," Y.N said softly, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "It's filled with jam. I hope you like it."

Aemond's heart swelled with gratitude and affection as he accepted the pastry from her. "Thank you, Y.N," he said sincerely, his voice filled with warmth. "I'm sure it's delicious."

As he took a bite of the pastry, Aemond couldn't help but be struck by the sweetness of the gesture. It was a simple gift, but it spoke volumes about Y.N's thoughtfulness and care. And as he savored the flavor of the jam-filled pastry, he knew that he had found something truly special in her – a connection that he cherished more than words could express.

In a daring moment of impulse, Aemond leaned in, his heart pounding in his chest as he closed the distance between them. Their lips met in a gentle kiss, a tentative exploration of the unknown, and in that fleeting moment, time seemed to stand still.

It was unlike anything Aemond had ever felt before – a surge of warmth and electricity that coursed through his veins, igniting a spark that set his soul ablaze. In that moment of intimacy, he felt a connection with Y.N that transcended the boundaries of mere physical attraction, a deep and profound understanding that resonated to the very core of his being.

As they parted, their eyes met in silent communion, the intensity of their gaze speaking volumes without the need for words.

As Aemond and Y.N's relationship blossomed, they found themselves drawn to each other like magnets, spending every available moment together exploring the intricacies of their budding romance. Their days were filled with laughter and shared experiences.

One sunny afternoon, as they lounged in Y.N's cozy kitchen, the scent of freshly baked goods wafting through the air, Y.N suggested that they try their hand at baking a sponge cake together.

"It'll be fun," she said with a smile, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "And besides, I've been dying to teach you how to bake."

Aemond chuckled, a hint of nervousness creeping into his voice. "I'm not sure I'll be any good at it, but I'll give it a try."

With Y.N's patient guidance, they set to work, measuring out ingredients and mixing them together with care. Aemond couldn't help but feel a sense of pride as he watched Y.N work her magic in the kitchen, her skill and expertise evident in every precise movement.

As they popped the cake into the oven and waited for it to bake, Aemond found himself growing more and more excited at the prospect of tasting their creation. When the timer finally beeped, signaling that the cake was done, they eagerly pulled it out of the oven and set it on the counter to cool.

With bated breath, they sliced into the cake and took their first bite, only to find that it was a little on the dry side. Aemond's cheeks flushed with embarrassment, but Y.N simply laughed and reached for the whipped cream, insisting that it would make everything better.

Together, they devoured the cake, laughing and joking as they shared in the simple pleasure of each other's company.

As Aemond and Y.N sat together one evening, the warmth of the fire casting a soft glow over the room, Aemond felt a sudden urge to confide in her, to share the depths of his past with the woman he had grown to love.

"Y.N," he began, his voice quiet but resolute, "there's something I need to tell you."

Y.N turned to him, concern etched into her features. "What is it, Aemond?"

Taking a deep breath, Aemond launched into the painful tale of his relationship with Alys – the belittling words, the constant infidelity, the toxic cycle of breaking up and getting back together.

"It was a dark time in my life," Aemond confessed, his voice heavy with emotion. "I was lost, and I didn't know how to break free from the hold she had over me."

Y.N listened in silence, her heart aching for the pain that Aemond had endured. She reached out and took his hand in hers, offering him the comfort of her touch.

"I'm so sorry you had to go through that, Aemond," she said softly, her voice filled with empathy. "But you're stronger now."

Aemond nodded, a sense of gratitude washing over him for Y.N's unwavering support. "Yes, I have," he replied, his voice tinged with determination. "And I owe it to you, Y.N. You've shown me what it means to be truly loved, and I'll never take that for granted."

As the night worn on and the two of them shared kisses, the unspoken question of what was going to happen next hung in the air.

“I-I’ve never done it before” muttered Y.N shyly as she pressed her face into Aemond’s chest.

“It’s ok. We don’t need to do this, not until you’re ready” replied Aemond stroking her hair softly.

“B-But I want to. I want you to be my first” whispered Y.N.

“Only if you’re sure, I don’t want you to feel pressured into anything” said Aemond firmly.

“I’m sure Aemond. I want this-I want you” exclaimed Y.N as she took his hand and led him to her bedroom.

Despite his experience, Aemond had never so nervous in his entire life, his hands shook as he slowly undressed himself.

Y.N gently tugged off the dress she was wearing and Aemond could feel his mouth watering at the sight of her delectable body.

“I-I don’t know what to do” muttered Y.N her cheeks tinged pink.

“It’s ok-I’ll take care of you” replied Aemond as he directed Y.N to sit on the end if the bed.

“I trust you” replied Y.N quietly.

Aemond smiled as he knelt on the floor, lowering his head between Y.N’s legs.

“Aemond-“ shrieked Y.N her eyes rolling into the back of her head as Aemond’s tongue swept across her slick wet folds.

Y.N bit the back of her hand to keep herself from screaming as Aemond began using his long fingers to tease her entrance.

“Let me hear you”.

“A-Aemond. Oh god. Please” begged Y.N

Aemond pressed two fingers inside Y.N, moving them against a spot that made her entire body shake, his tongue moving against her folds, his lips wrapping around her pearl.

“I know your almost there. Let it happen my sweet. Come for me” whispered Aemond.

Y.N arched her back and let out a scream as her pleasure erupted.

Aemond crawled up Y.N’s body, placing gentle kisses on her skin as he moved higher and higher.

Y.N blushed furiously when she saw that Aemond’s chin was shining with her slick.

“Calm yourself my little bird” murmured Aemond.

“I-I’ve never-” mumbled Y.N putting her hands over her face in embarrassment.

“Was that your first peak?” asked Aemond as he gently pulled away her hands and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips.

Y.N blushed and nodded quickly, jumping when she felt Aemond’s cock against her.

“Don’t worry, I’ll go slow” whispered Aemond as he reached down and took hold of his hard cock rubbing it along Y.N’s wet folds.

“Ok. I’m ready” replied Y.N, her heart pounding.

Aemond hesitates for a moment, his brow furrowed.

“I-don’t have a condom”.

“Oh-I have some” replied Y.N.

“You do?” questioned Aemond.

“I bought them from the pharmacy and-“ replied Y.N, her face flushed.

“-It’s ok-where are they?” asked Aemond.

“I-In the drawer” uttered Y.N.

Aemond nodded and briefly moved away from Y.N, he quickly opened the drawer and pulled out the box of condoms.

“Are they the right ones-there were so many different kinds and-“

“-They’re good” replied Aemond as he opened the box and took out a condom.

Y.N closed her eyes as Aemond ripped open the foil packet and rolled the condom down his length.

Aemond leaned forward again and placed a series of kisses along Y.N’s neck, his hand gently cupping her breast before he sucked the rosy bud into his mouth, his tongue rolling around the stiffened peak.

“L-Let me see you” whispered Y.N.

Aemond released her nipple with a soft pop and frowned.

“It’s not a pretty sight-I wouldn’t want to frighten you” replied Aemond.

“Nothing about you could frighten me Aemond-“ breathed Y.N

Aemond hesitated for a moment before he pulled off his eye patch, revealing a sparkling sapphire. 

“Beautiful” whispered Y.N as she took Aemond’s head in her hands and placed a kiss upon the scar.

Aemond smiled before he knelt between her thighs, supporting himself above her on his forearm while his other hand guides his cock to her wet centre.

“Oooh Aemond” exclaims Y.N

Aemond slowly pushes the blunt head of his cock inside. Just the tip feels okay but then he’s pushing inside, and it stings, Y.N clenches her eyes shut as his cock fully slides into her, his hips coming to rest against hers.

“Are you ok?” asked Aemond.

“It hurts,” cried Y.N

“Do you want me to stop-I can pull out” whispered Aemond.

“N-No g-give me a moment” whimpered Y.N.

Aemond stops, holding himself above Y.N, she can feel his cock throbbing inside her.

For a few silent minutes, Aemond begins to press gentle kisses all over Y.N’s face and neck, then after the sting has faded somewhat, Y.N gently moves her hips.

“I-I think you can move”.

Aemond exhales shakily, pulling out halfway only to thrust right back in.

“You’re taking me so well little bird,” whispers Aemond soothingly, thrusting again, harder this time.

Gradually he gets into a rhythm, his movements slow but powerful.

Y.N brings her hands up to his shoulders, clinging to him as his thrusts shift her up and down the bed. The wooden frame creaking slightly.

Aemond makes a strangled sort of sound and lowers himself onto Y.N even more, kissing her passionately.

His cock still thrusting in and out.

Y.N kisses him back, threading her fingers through his silky hair.

Aemond breaks the kiss, breathing heavily.

Y.N can feel herself clenching around him as his cock keeps hitting the same spot inside her.

“Ooo Aemond-f-faster. P-please”

Aemond groans as he begins to move faster pounding into her, their skin slapping together.

“Aemond-Aemond-”

“You’re so fucking��perfect little bird, mine all mine” growls Aemond.

“Y-Yes, yours all yours” moans Y.N squirming as he pleasure peaks and she explodes.

Aemond lets out a long low groan, his hips bucking wildly. His cock twitching as he spills into the condom.

Aemond’s hips finally stagger and stop. He buries his face in the crook of her neck, resting for a moment before he slowly pulls out.

“Are you ok?” asked Aemond.

“I’m fine” whispered Y.N smiling breathlessly.

In the days following their intimate moment together, Aemond's behaviour began to change, his once carefree demeanour replaced by a sense of unease and agitation. He grew increasingly distant, his mind preoccupied with thoughts he refused to share with Y.N.

As they sat together one evening, the air heavy with tension, Y.N couldn't help but notice the way Aemond's eyes flickered nervously towards his phone every time it buzzed with a new message or notification. She reached out to touch his hand, a gesture of comfort and concern, but he withdrew from her touch, his expression clouded with frustration.

"What's wrong, Aemond?" Y.N asked softly, her voice laced with worry.

Aemond's jaw clenched, his patience wearing thin as he snapped at her in a fit of frustration. "Nothing, okay? Just leave me alone."

Y.N recoiled at his harsh words, hurt flashing across her features as she withdrew into herself, uncertain of how to respond. She had never seen Aemond like this before, his normally calm and collected demeanour shattered by whatever demons haunted him.

As the days passed, Aemond's behaviour only grew more erratic, his temper flaring at the slightest provocation. He withdrew further and further into himself, shutting Y.N out.

Things didn’t improve and a few weeks later when Y.N was walking to work, and she spotted Aemond talking to a dark haired woman.

There was something about the way they interacted that made her stomach churn with unease – the woman's lingering touches, the way Aemond seemed visibly uncomfortable in her presence.

Unable to tear her eyes away, Y.N watched in silent horror as the woman leaned in and planted a kiss on Aemond's lips. A surge of pain shot through her chest, the betrayal cutting her to the core as she struggled to process what she had just witnessed.

Without a second thought, Y.N turned on her heel and fled, the tears streamed down her cheeks, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she fought to escape the suffocating grip of heartbreak that threatened to consume her whole.

Aemond was frantic, all his calls and messages to Y.N went unanswered, his desperation grew, a gnawing sense of dread settling in the pit of his stomach.

Determined to make amends, Aemond made his way to Y.N's flat, his heart pounding with nervous anticipation. He knocked on the door, calling out her name in a voice tinged with desperation, but there was no response – only silence echoing back at him like a cruel mockery of his pain.

Growing increasingly frantic, Aemond tried again and again to reach Y.N, but each attempt was met with the same resounding silence. And as he stood outside her door, his pleas falling on deaf ears, he felt a sense of despair wash over him, knowing that he had pushed her away with his own foolishness.

But it wasn't just Y.N who turned her back on him – even Helaena, his own sister, greeted him with a cold shoulder, her expression tight with disappointment as she refused to meet his gaze.

He had expected her to be upset, but the fury in her eyes was more intense than he had ever imagined.

"What were you thinking, Aemond?" Helaena snapped, her voice trembling with suppressed emotion. "Y.N saw you with Alys. Do you have any idea how much you've hurt her?"

Aemond's heart clenched at the mention of Y.N's name, the weight of his guilt pressing down on him like a leaden weight. "Helaena, you have to believe me," he protested, his voice thick with emotion. "It wasn't what it looked like. Alys kissed me, I didn't want her to, and I pushed her away immediately."

Helaena's eyes narrowed in disbelief, her jaw clenching with frustration. "Do you expect me to believe that?" she demanded, her voice rising with each word. "Y.N saw you with Alys, Aemond. She saw it with her own eyes."

Aemond's heart sank at the realization of the damage his actions had caused, the truth of Helaena's words hitting him like a punch to the gut. "I swear it's the truth, Helaena," he pleaded, desperation creeping into his voice. "I would never hurt Y.N like that. You have to believe me."

Helaena's expression softened slightly, a flicker of doubt crossing her features. "I want to believe you, Aemond," she admitted, her voice softer now, tinged with sadness. "But you need to understand the gravity of the situation. Y.N is hurting, and it's because of you."

Aemond bowed his head in shame, the weight of his guilt threatening to crush him under its unbearable burden. "I know," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "And I'll do whatever it takes to make things right. I just hope that Y.N will give me the chance to prove myself to her."

As the rain poured down in torrents, soaking Aemond to the bone, he stood outside Y.N's flat, his heart heavy with regret and longing. He knew she was inside, just beyond the closed door, and he couldn't bear the thought of leaving without at least trying to make things right.

With a trembling hand, Aemond knocked on the door, each rap echoing loudly in the quiet of the rainy night. "Y.N, please," he called out, his voice raw with emotion. "Please let me in. I need to talk to you."

For a moment, there was only silence, the sound of the rain pounding against the pavement the only response to Aemond's pleas. But just as he was about to turn away in defeat, he heard the faint sound of movement from inside the flat.

Seconds stretched into eternity as Aemond waited with bated breath, his heart pounding in his chest. And then, finally, the door creaked open, revealing Y.N's tear-stained face, her eyes red and swollen from crying.

Aemond's heart clenched at the sight of her pain, a wave of guilt washing over him like a tidal wave. "Y.N," he breathed, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'm so sorry. I never meant to hurt you. Please, let me in. I need to explain."

Y.N hesitated for a moment, her gaze searching Aemond's face for any sign of sincerity. And then, slowly, she stepped aside, allowing him to enter the warmth and safety of her flat.

As Aemond stepped over the threshold, he felt a sense of relief wash over him, knowing that he had been given a second chance to make things right. And as he closed the door behind him, he vowed to do whatever it took to earn back Y.N's trust and forgiveness,

Taking a deep breath, he began to speak, his voice trembling with emotion.

"Y.N, there's something I need to tell you," he began, his words coming out in a rush. "Alys has been-she's been bombarding me with messages. She told me she was pregnant."

Y.N's eyes widened in shock, her breath catching in her throat as she struggled to comprehend the gravity of Aemond's words. "Pregnant?" she whispered; her voice barely audible.

Aemond nodded, his expression grim. "Yes," he continued, his voice heavy with regret. "But I demanded a DNA test. I couldn't-I couldn't just take her word for it. And she kept refusing, insisting that the baby was mine."

Y.N's hands flew to her mouth, her eyes brimming with tears as the full weight of Aemond's confession settled over her like a dark cloud. "Oh, Aemond," she murmured, her voice choked with emotion. "I-I don't know what to say."

Aemond reached out to take her hand, his touch gentle and reassuring. "I'm so sorry, Y.N," he whispered, his voice thick with remorse. "I should have told you sooner. I should have been honest with you from the start."

“Yes you should have” replied Y.N.

"I refused to believe Alys," he confessed, his voice strained with emotion. "So, I kept insisting on a DNA test. She resisted at first, but eventually, she agreed."

Y.N's eyes widened in realization, the pieces of the puzzle falling into place as she understood the gravity of Aemond's revelation. "That was the day I saw you with her," she whispered, her voice barely above a whisper.

Aemond nodded, his heart heavy with remorse. "Yes," he admitted, his voice barely audible. "I'm so sorry, Y.N. I never wanted to hurt you. I was just trying to protect myself, to make sure that I wasn't being manipulated by Alys."

Y.N's mind raced with conflicting thoughts and emotions as she processed Aemond's revelation. The image of Alys kissing him, coupled with the news of her pregnancy, had led her to assume the worst – that Aemond was the father of Alys's unborn child.

"Aemond," she began tentatively, her voice trembling with uncertainty. "Does-does that mean you're the father?"

Aemond's expression hardened, his jaw set with determination as he shook his head vehemently. "No, the DNA wasn’t a match" he declared firmly. "I'm not the father, Alys kissing me was just her last desperate attempt to try and manipulate me."

Y.N's breath caught in her throat at his words, a wave of relief washing over her as the weight of uncertainty lifted from her shoulders. "Oh, Aemond," she breathed, her voice filled with gratitude. "I'm so glad to hear that."

Aemond reached out to take her hand, his touch warm and reassuring. "I would never betray your trust like that, Y.N," he vowed earnestly. "You mean everything to me, and I would do anything to prove that to you. I love you"

Tears welled up in Y.N's eyes as she looked into Aemond's eye, seeing the sincerity and love shining brightly within them. "I know, Aemond," she whispered, her voice choked with emotion. "And I forgive you."

But Aemond wasn't finished yet. With trembling hands, he held up a soggy cardboard box, the remnants of his failed attempt at making her a cake. "I even tried to make you a cake," he confessed, his voice laced with self-deprecation. "But it's all ruined now."

Y.N couldn't help but laugh at the sight of the ruined cake, her heart swelling with affection for the man standing before her. With a playful grin, she knocked the box out of his hand, sending it tumbling to the ground, before throwing herself into his arms and kissing him passionately.

"Aemond," she whispered against his lips, her voice filled with love and gratitude. "I love you too."

As the days turned into weeks and the weeks into months, Aemond and Y.N's relationship blossomed anew, their love growing stronger with each passing day.

And as they stood side by side, hand in hand, they knew that they never wanted to be apart again. So, after much discussion and deliberation, they made the decision to take the next step in their journey together – they would move in together.

With excited hearts and eager anticipation, Aemond and Y.N began the process of finding their perfect home, a place where they could build a life together filled with love, laughter, and countless cherished memories.

And when they finally found the perfect apartment, with its cozy rooms and sunlit windows, they knew that it was meant to be. With smiles on their faces and love in their hearts, they signed the lease and began the process of making their new house a home.

With their love blossoming stronger each day, Aemond felt the time was right to take their relationship to the next level. He knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life with Y.N, and he couldn't wait another moment to make her his forever.

So on a crisp autumn evening, with the setting sun casting a warm glow over the world, Aemond led Y.N to his favourite spot in the park. As they walked hand in hand, their laughter floating on the gentle breeze, Aemond's heartbeat with nervous anticipation.

Reaching a secluded clearing surrounded by trees ablaze with fiery hues, Aemond paused, his heart racing with emotion. Taking a deep breath, he got down on one knee, his eyes shining with love as he looked up at Y.N.

"Y.N," he began, his voice steady despite the butterflies in his stomach. "From the moment I met you, I knew you were the one. You've brought so much joy and love into my life, and I can't imagine spending another day without you by my side."

Y.N's eyes widened in surprise, her hand flying to her mouth in shock as she realized what was happening. Tears welled up in her eyes as she listened to Aemond's words, her heart overflowing with love for the man who stood before her.

"And so," Aemond continued, his voice trembling with emotion, "I want to spend the rest of my life making you happy. Y.N, will you do me the honour of becoming my wife? Will you marry me?"

The words hung in the air; the silence broken only by the sound of their hearts beating as one. And then, finally, Y.N's eyes filled with tears of joy as she threw herself into Aemond's arms, laughter bubbling up from deep within her soul.

"Yes, Aemond," she cried, her voice ringing out with pure happiness. "Yes, I will marry you!"

And as they stood together in the golden light of the setting sun, their hearts overflowing with love and happiness, Aemond slipped a beautiful ring onto Y.N's finger, sealing their love with a promise that would last a lifetime.

[where-them-kinomiya-at]

ngl, i feel like episode 4.. it's a great example of v-force's attempts at stakes not exactly working out. like, i don't quite know how to explain it but it just feels kind of silly, especially once you get hit with the BEYBLADING ROBOT.

psykick also just... doesn't really land, like you compared gideon to volkov but.. idk, gideon feels a lot more like a saturday morning cartoon villain, y'know? meanwhile volkov feels like a genuine threat. my best guess is that since psykick is kind of distant from the rest of the cast and we mostly just see random goons they don't really have the presence that volkov and borg have

i think a big part of why the digital sacred beasts worked so well is because of how they hit you with the gravity of the situation. it's not like, "woah!! how will our heroes get out of this one?", or atleast it's not like that for most of it, as soon as you see what happens to yuya you realize that yeah, this time they AREN'T screwing around. the fact that we actually get a glimpse into team cybers helps aswell

overall, it's hard to define what exactly it is that v-force misses that s1 succeeds at (g-rev has tonal issues of its own but that's an entire other can of worms), but it's definitely There

Sometimes I feel like it was not Gideon but Dr. B that was the problem. Gideon felt truly evil to some extent but we got to see more of Dr. B who was working for him. He was your everyday psychotic scientist who was batshit feral and that might have ruined the entire vibe.

The people working under Volkov have a terrible and dark past. He was less of a scientist and more of a genius menace and this fact stands out in comparison to the villains in v-force. V-Force picked up elements from season 1 but the introduction of new villains might have been jarring. They were different and had nothing to do with anyone’s childhood. It was all the present, making it less palpable in comparison to s1. This in fact is a huge mistake taken from the writers of this season. They should have associated someone’s background to the villains. This is exactly why the Yuya/Wyatt arc saved the entire first half of V-Force. The interaction between Rei and Salima (practically everything after the Yuya arc) saved it as well.

Also Barthez and Volkov’s connections are basically a repetition of Dr. Zagart and Gideon’s but again…it wasn’t just anyone..it was Volkov. Hence it was deeper.

Overall the inner conflicts, conflicts within every team, misunderstandings, the characters’ uncertainty and their musings and panics were a few elements that were executed very well in this season, much better in comparison to the other two. The Kane/Zeo betrayals for Takao +his rival Ozuma, Yuya for Kai, Salima for Rei and Mariam for Max were some awesome interactions this season and it does make me wanna go watch V-Force again.

Also V-Force antagonists are criminally underrated. I love Ozuma and I think he deserves fame too.

The GRev part is definitely true. I see all it’s flaws now and the one season that used to be my favourite has managed to tick me off real good. In my eyes it’s no where close to s1.

[bravcguardian]

FULL NAME: Yumeno Himiko Yukihira Hiyori DATE OF BIRTH: ZODIAC SIGN: GENDER: Female. PRONOUNS: She / Her SEXUALITY: Bisexual.

MAIN FANDOM: Danganronpa.

CHARACTER STATUS: Alive.

Himiko was an apprentice of a skilled magician who she proclaimed as her master, as a guide in her journey of self-improvement as a magician herself, the one that only she seemed to addressed as the Greatest Mage (the "Archmage"). She was training under him until she surpassed him as a talented magician, starting to receive an overwhelming number of fans.

However, she realized that it was only her popularity that keeps increasing in number, not the praise and recognition that she believed her master should be receiving. This fact frustrated her, and she stated that she would never surpass him as a magician.

「 I. ／ Himiko 」 Pre-game.

Being window-to-window neighbour of some purple-haired guy was one of the few joys she had, mostly because she would always yell at him that they'd be late to school regardless of attending different ones, they would part half-way even if it was a one-sided friendship, the red-head appreciated his company plus they both were danganronpa fans.

Now, when it came to her own school… Dream Forest Girl's High wasn't something she enjoyed, not particulary popular but neither an outcast, she enjoyed to spend her days leisure like any other would but it always felt that something was missing, her days couldn't be this monotone and repetitive. So, what was missing?

「 II. ／ Himiko 」 In game.

Takes place at any point within the game.

「 III. ／ Himiko 」 Post-game.

After K1-B0 quite literally teared down the place and Saihara destroyed the killing game with Maki and her ( what she felt was minor ) help, they were out in a chaotic world without anyone or anything to go back to… because they could never possibly recover the lives they previously had, unable to remember. Incapable of ever doing so.

Truth be told, once they managed to settle down in a somewhat big appartment enough for three people, they slowly tried to re-adjust to this real world, this tragic reality.

「 IV. ／ Himiko 」 Simulation verse.

What if none of this was real? After being mentally scarred and emotionally drained, that thought was comforting as well as a delusion since this… everything, all of this was, without doubts, real. But that wasn't the case, it turned out that this was just a simulation and, as soon as they beat the game, Himiko woke up crying and being greeted by people she didn't recognize, ' congratulations ' were words spoken to her but she passed out shortly in utmost shock.

Most of the details went above her head, something about a program, something about graduation… All she cared about was that her friends were alive, despite how much she mourned and cried, despite being reassured they'd go through recover and therapy even… she was grateful that Tenko and Angie were alive, especially Tenko as Himiko now tries to actually behave like a friend.

「 V. ／ Himiko 」 Obey me.

One of the youngest witches to be alive that managed to enter the Royal Academy of Diavolo without making a single mistake which was an impressive feat given she was widely known across all realms to be as lazy as the Avatar of Sloth himself her magic was powerful though short-lived and her body was, sadly, quite fragile hence why she was mostly seen asleep.

Nevertheless, she does have a pact with Satan due to mostly wanting to learn how to increase her power ( no greed behind ) but just wanting to suprass herself, pushing past her limits despite being aware how that alone could impact her health. A case of knowledge doesn't occupy space in one's mind, learning was a powerful ally, a tool needed in order to survive.

Note. She's a background character, and can act as a support character but, by no means is she MC.

「 IC. / Yumeno Himiko 」 「 Yumeno Himiko／ INQUIRY 」 「 Yumeno Himiko ／ MUSINGS 」 「 Yumeno Himiko ／ VISAGE 」 「 Yumeno Himiko ／ AESTHETIC 」 「 Yumeno Himiko ／ MANNERISMS 」 「 Yumeno Himiko ／ HEADCANON 」 「 Yumeno Himiko ／ INTROSPECTION 」 「 Yumeno Himiko ／ ROMANCE 」 「 Yumeno Himiko ／ CRACK 」 「 Yumeno Himiko ／ WISHLIST 」

[uniathena7]

Unlock Your Productivity: Master the Top 25 Excel Shortcuts in 2025

Are you overwhelmed by the sheer amount of data you work with daily? Do you find yourself spending endless hours navigating through Excel menus? It’s time to work smarter, not harder. By mastering a few essential Excel shortcut keys, you can save time, boost your efficiency, and focus on what truly matters.

If you’re in Namibia or anywhere else, learning Excel shortcuts isn’t just about convenience; it’s about transforming your workflow. Whether managing financial reports, organizing large datasets, or simply trying to streamline your daily tasks, these shortcuts can make your life significantly easier. Let’s dive into the must-know Excel shortcuts that every data professional, student, and business owner should have in their toolkit.

Top Excel Workbook Shortcut Keys

Let’s start with the essentials. Workbook shortcuts help you navigate and manage your spreadsheets effortlessly:

Ctrl+N: Create a new workbook

Ctrl+O: Open an existing workbook

Ctrl+S: Save the current workbook

Ctrl+W: Close the current workbook

Ctrl+Page Up/Down: Switch between worksheet tabs

These foundational shortcuts are crucial for anyone who frequently works with multiple workbooks. if you want to learn about all Excel shortcuts related to Workbook you must check out the Mastering Excel Spreadsheet & Workbook — Formulas And Functions free course on UniAthena

Formatting Shortcuts: Clean Up Your Data Quickly

Formatting data can often feel like a tedious chore, but these shortcuts will make it a breeze:

Ctrl+1: Open the Format Cells dialog box

Ctrl+B: Bold text

Ctrl+I: Italicize text

Ctrl+U: Underline text

Ctrl+Shift+”*”**: Apply the default number format

Alt+H+H: Choose a fill color

Mistakes happen, and data formatting often needs tweaking. Knowing these shortcuts ensures that adjustments are quick and painless.

Advanced Shortcuts: Go Beyond the Basics

When you’re ready to take your Excel skills to the next level, these advanced shortcuts are indispensable:

Ctrl+T: Create a table from selected data

Alt+=: Automatically sum selected cells

Ctrl+Shift+L: Apply or remove filters

F4: Repeat the last action

Ctrl+Shift+:: Insert the current time

Ctrl+;: Insert the current date

These shortcuts are particularly useful for professionals who handle large datasets or need to automate repetitive tasks. if you want to go beyond this and even learn some advanced formulas you must check out the Essentials Of MS Excel — Formulas And Functions free course.

Shortcut Keys for Pivot Tables: Analyze Data Like a Pro

Pivot tables are a powerful feature of Excel, and mastering these shortcuts will help you make the most of them:

Alt+N+V: Insert a Pivot Table

Alt+J+T: Open the Analyze tab for Pivot Table tools

Ctrl+-: Remove selected rows or columns from a Pivot Table

Ctrl+Shift+*:: Select the entire Pivot Table

Pivot tables allow you to summarize and analyze data efficiently, making these shortcuts invaluable for business intelligence and reporting tasks.

Bonus Tips: Start with the Basics

Before diving into advanced shortcuts, get comfortable with universal commands that work across Microsoft applications:

Ctrl+C: Copy

Ctrl+V: Paste

Ctrl+X: Cut

Ctrl+Z: Undo

Ctrl+A: Select all

These shortcuts are not only fundamental but also frequently used, making them an excellent starting point for beginners.

Take Your Skills Further: Free Resources for Namibians

If you’re in Namibia and want to take your Excel skills to the next level, consider exploring free courses and certifications. Platforms like UniAthena offer a Mastering Excel Spreadsheet & Workbook — Formulas and Functions course. Additionally, their Essentials of MS Excel — Formulas and Functions course is perfect for those looking to dive deeper into advanced functionalities.

For a more comprehensive learning experience, enroll in the Diploma in Microsoft Excel program. These resources are tailored to help you learn Excel in a short amount of time while earning certifications that can enhance your career prospects.

Conclusion: Empower Yourself with Excel

Excel isn’t just a tool — it’s a career accelerator. By mastering these 25 shortcuts, you’ll not only save time but also enhance your productivity. Whether you’re a student, entrepreneur, or working professional in Namibia, these skills are universally applicable and highly valued.

Don’t stop here. Take advantage of the free resources available to build your expertise further. Upskilling with Excel can open doors to new opportunities and make your daily tasks a breeze. Why wait? Start your journey to Excel mastery today.

[siflooping]

adding into this to say that i think it'd be a great exploration of like. ok let me try to word it.

edit this ended up being Way Too Fucking Long so its under a readmore. AND i broke it into two parts (added a bit of siffrin Braintime Thoughts (bad) to the next rb). i got wordy bitch disease!

so first there's the stuff that's relevant to sifloop in both canon and an au like this. loop is someone who changed so much from the Torment Nexus they were put in that they felt completely removed from who they used to be, who feels like the trauma they experienced is all they are. who loathes the person they used to be with passion, thinks that they were stupid and pathetic and needy. their past self who always felt like such a disgusting and terrible person that they assumed even their loved ones were put off by them and always one mistake away from hating them. who thought that they were objectively fundamentally unloveable.

and then loop meets someone who IS who they used to be, as a separate, distinct person. the person they, for a very long time, considered to be worthless, unloveable, repulsive by nature. they get to see themselves in third person, to interact with them as a person rather than an abstraction or their past self. and he's. well. just some guy (gn)? to someone on the outside of their head he's not horrible, mean, disgusting, selfish, monstrous, or any of the innumerable negative things siffrin as a person has always believed to be. they're just. a little guy? who is actually. kind of funny and endearing, who does his best, who loves their friends so much it hurts. who loop ends up genuinely enjoying the company of and caring about.

which i think is neat vis a vis self-perception, self-compassion and the extemely subjective way one usually sees themselves! i just think it'd be interesting to see an angle of this where sif like. remains as they were in act 1 instead of being put in the torment nexus and how that'd influence the rship.

there's no way loop WOULDN'T feel extremely bitter about the difference in their circumstances! i'm 50/50 as to whether theyd direct that towards sif as is at first (why does HE get to not suffer?! Why did THEY have to suffer where he didn't! it's not fair!). or if they'd instead direct it to like, the universe at large? in the 2hats fight they say they hate their country, the universe, the stars, but notably (to ME!) they never say they hate siffrin.

tbh i think either way they'd end up kind of hot and cold, both bitter and protective. prolly v possessive either way bc like that is LITERALLY who they were as a person before the timeloops tore away their personality and body! it's THEM. they're ALL that remains of the "original" siffrin. so if anyone gets to have him, to keep him, it should be loop! they went through hell, then had to do it AGAIN in a different flavor by watching one of their family members go through the Torment Nexus. and break out of it where they couldn't. and of realizing the reason the Torment Nexus existed, that both loop and one of their family members were pushed to the brink in a hell of repetition is bc of a Wish they accidentally made. they lost EVERYTHING. so. SOO! they deserve to have this at the very least (as a treat).

toxic yuri aside, i think non-looperrrrr siffrin's company would be unexpectedly comfortable & comforting to loop bc like. they know exactly how siffrin thinks bc you know. they used to be siffrin. esp since this siffrin isn't changed by the timeloop experience. so there's no anxiety over what he may be thinking of them (be it negative or positive) or if they secretly hate loop, because they can tell very easily! so hanging out with this siffrin would be like... reading a book you've read a million times, watching a play you've watched so many times you know every beat, or like comfort food. i knowww they'd do the equivalent of when cats act like them laying on your lap and purring is totally a coincidence, incidental, circumstancial, and does not indicate anything, you mean nothing to me, what do you mean you're going to the kitchen come BACK DONT LEAVE ME. fun for the whole family!

ok wait you know what'd be interesting and more importantly hilarious. sifloop, but in an au where someone else from the party is looping. can you fucking imagine

[techtired]

The Winning Edge: Advanced Digital Proficiency Skills to Impress Employers Every Time

With job openings at a three-year low in April 2024 (per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics), it's now harder to land a great job. This reality may seem even more daunting if you're on the job hunt. But there's no need to worry—we're here to help you stand out. Understand that most employers look for the right and helpful skills when hiring candidates. If you have those skills, you significantly increase the chances of getting hired. Digital Proficiency Skills to Impress Employers This article will explore some advanced but easy digital skills. Learning these skills can make you the top choice for employers. Let's begin! Mastering Google Suite and Office 365 To excel in today's workplaces, you need more than a basic knowledge of Google Suite and Office 365. You need to master them to set yourself up for success. Start with Google Sheets. Explore macro scripts to automate repetitive tasks. Or, use Microsoft Power Automate to link Office 365 apps for smoother workflows. Learn advanced data analysis tools in Excel, like PivotTables. Or, use real-time collaboration in Google Docs. Also, take specific online courses or webinars on advanced features, especially AI in Microsoft. Regular practice and exploring built-in help guides can also enhance your understanding. Demonstrating fluency in these tools shows potential employers that you are prepared to handle complex tasks and improve office efficiency. Learning All Mac Keyboard Shortcuts Most of us use keyboards daily. Yet, many are unaware of the full range of shortcuts that can dramatically boost productivity. Beyond the familiar Command+C (copy) and Command+V (paste), Mac has many shortcuts to speed up your work. For example, mastering the upside-down question mark on Mac (¿) is as simple as pressing Option+Shift+?. This trick is important if you work with a Spanish employer. It can boost your efficiency. To use Mac shortcuts, learn commands that manage apps. It's worth the time. Learning all these shortcuts will save you time and increase your speed. It also highlights your capability to handle digital tools adeptly—an attractive trait for potential employers. Leveraging Version Control Systems Version control systems are essential tools for making software, managing projects, and creating content. Systems like Git help teams track changes and collaborate. They show how a project has changed over time. These tools are vital for programmers and anyone on digital projects who needs regular updates. Imagine a team working on a website. With Git, different people can work on other parts of the site at the same time. It keeps a detailed history of every change. So anyone can easily see who made a specific change. If there's a mistake, it's easy to go back to an earlier version without messing up the rest of the work. You must learn four key skills to use Git. You need to save changes, create branches (separate versions), combine updates, and fix conflicts. To get started, look for online guides with step-by-step tutorials. Practicing with real projects, even personal ones, can really help you learn. Mastering version control will boost your productivity. It will also show employers you can handle complex projects. Utilizing Browser Extensions Knowing how to use browser extensions can make you stand out when looking for a job. These small programs improve the functionality of your web browser, helping you get things done faster and smarter. With the right extensions, you can organize your work. They can help you save time on boring tasks and manage a lot of information. These are all important for any job. This can be helpful for jobs that need good time management and organization. For example, a password manager can keep things safe and make logging in quicker. A research tool extension can speed up information collection and study. That's great for marketing and project management jobs. Also, using browser extensions shows you know how to use the latest technology. This is good to discuss in job interviews. It matches what companies want: use resources well and make work easier. Basic knowledge of AI and Machine Learning Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are rapidly changing industries. AI focuses on creating smart systems that learn and make decisions, while ML develops algorithms that improve with experience. These technologies are used in many ways. Examples include customer service chatbots and data analysis for targeted marketing. Learning the fundamentals of AI and ML opens doors to exciting career opportunities in this rapidly growing field. Employers want professionals skilled in these areas. So, it's a valuable addition to your skill set. To Sum It All Up As the job market gets more competitive, advanced digital skills can set you apart. Each skill boosts your productivity. It also shows you understand modern tech. This makes you a top candidate for any forward-thinking employer. Start honing these skills today, and watch how they open new doors in your career path! Read the full article

[qtoconstrution786]

If you’re new to SketchUp, it’s easy to make mistakes that can slow down your progress and hurt the quality of your work.

Introduction

SketchUp is a powerful 3D modeling software that allows users to create and manipulate 3D objects with ease. It’s popular among architects, designers, and hobbyists alike. However, like any software, it has a learning curve, and beginners often make mistakes that can hinder their progress.

The purpose of this article is to help beginners avoid these common mistakes by providing tips and tricks to improve their SketchUp skills. We’ll cover ten mistakes that beginners make and provide detailed explanations and examples of how to avoid them.

Mistake #1: Not Using the Keyboard Shortcuts

Explanation of Keyboard Shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts are combinations of keys that perform a particular action in SketchUp. They are an essential part of using SketchUp efficiently and can save a lot of time.

Advantages of using Keyboard Shortcuts

Using keyboard shortcuts can help you work faster, be more productive, and reduce the risk of repetitive stress injuries. Instead of clicking on buttons and menus, you can use keyboard shortcuts to access the tools you need quickly.

Examples of important Keyboard Shortcuts

Some of the essential keyboard shortcuts in SketchUp include:

Spacebar: Activates the Select tool

Ctrl + Z: Undo your last action

Ctrl + C: Copy selected objects

Ctrl + V: Paste copied objects

Ctrl + A: Select all objects in the model

Ctrl + Shift + S: Save a copy of your work

Read more

[ofviolentdeath]

i mean. i gotta. ava/teyo.

Name: Miguel

Gender: male

General Appearance: heavily tattooed, hoodies, casually messy hair

Personality: Charming and manipulative as fuck

Special Talents: Shifting and reaping (specifically he can literally just rip the soul from a living person, it’s fucking terrifying)

Who they like better: Neither really

Who they take after more: Teyo

Personal Head canon: He honestly gets along amazingly well with Val’s kids and it’s really helped bridge Val’s business stuff with Teyo’s and ho boy, that is not a thing that should have happened because it gives both of them a scary power boost. Miguel is super proud of this.

Face Claim: Tom Maden

@linesofmagic

[starlessea]

Ultimate Guide to Proofreading

Here’s the next installation of my writing tips series!

[Just a quick disclaimer: this isn’t meant to discourage anyone! We are all still learning. These are just some tips you may want to consider when editing your writing].

As a language / linguistics student, I tend to focus on the grammar, or just the overall presentation of my writing. Obviously, if you’re writing online or self-publishing, without a beta reader that is, then no one is going to scrutinise you over the small things.

However, it can elevate your writing SO MUCH if you simply proofread it. Often, I find myself taken out of the immersion of a story because a typo is so glaringly obvious. Most of the time, we can gloss over them and they don’t impact the reading experience too much - but if your work is littered with small errors, they tend to pile up.

Proofreading is an easy way to get your readers to stick with you - and it often doesn’t even take that long! You just need to know HOW to proofread, and it will save you time. 

1) Spell Checkers

I know this seems really obvious, but I read so much work that could be improved tenfold just by being copied-and-pasted into a spell checker. You can literally type ‘spell checker’ into Google, and use an online service.

Personally, I use Google Docs. I just Ctrl+A, Ctrl+C, and Ctrl+V my work into it - and it will underline the spelling mistakes in red, and the grammar errors in blue. 

It’s as easy as that.

2) Consistency and General Grammar Points

This section is by NO MEANS an exhaustive list, but I’ve just compiled the things I’ve noticed the most when reading online. 

American English vs. British English:

This one is quite self-explanatory. If you’re going to use American spellings, then use them consistently throughout - and vice versa with British. Some common ones to look out for include:

color / colour

neighbor / neighbour

humor / humour

(US/UK respectively)

I found a good article here that gives a more comprehensive list.

Homophones or the Question of Verb / Noun:

You may want to double-check that you’ve used the right form of a word (verb / noun) - especially if they sound the same. 

affect / effect

hoard / horde

practice / practise***

*See this article.

allowed / aloud

were / where

I know these can sometimes get a little tricky for non-native speakers - especially since English is really quite a weird language. But these are the most common errors I’ve picked up on.

A lot of the time, things like Google Docs won’t spot these - so it’s good to be aware of the TYPES of errors you’re trying to find.

Also, remember that Google Search is your friend. I can’t even count the number of times I look things up when writing - THERE IS NO SHAME IN IT. It doesn’t take long to check if you’re using a word in the correct context, or the correct form of the word.

Showing Possession:

A lot of people tend to get confused about using the genitive marker, apostrophe ‘-s’ to show possession. See the examples below:

[Disclaimer: don’t judge my name choices...]

Jade has a bag. That is Jade’s bag.

Jade Simpson has a bag. That is Jade Simpson’s bag.

Jade Simpson lives with her husband, John Simpson. They are the Simpsons.

That is the Simpson household. That is the Simpsons’ house.*** 

*This is the one most people struggle on. There are two Simpsons, so the apostrophe comes at the end to show PLURAL possession (i.e., belonging to BOTH Jade and John).

This is Jess. That is Jess’ bag.

Here, the above can be written as Jess’s, but the extra (-s) usually gets ellided if it is following an ‘s’.

Another thing people get confused about is its/it’s. 

In English, ‘it’s’ = a contraction of ‘it + is’ (NOT TO SHOW POSSESSION). ‘Its’ is the possessive form in this case.

E.g., The dog lost its collar; it is brown = The dog lost its collar; it’s brown (the collar is brown).

Punctuation Consistency:

Personally, I don’t mind what style of punctuation you use. Whether you put your full stops INSIDE your quotations, or OUTSIDE;

E.g., “Go away.” vs “Go away”.

or if you sometimes like using hyphens in place of a comma; likewise with capitalisation, and whether you decide to capitalise certain nouns etc.

But, whatever you choose, BE CONSISTENT WITH IT.

You don’t want to give your readers whiplash by changing styles every couple of lines. Otherwise, it’s like you’ve chosen one academic referencing style for your essay, only to switch it half-way through. It’s confusing. It may seem like a nit-picking point, but people will notice it - and it’s good written practice to focus on being consistent.

3) Formatting:

Dialogue:

PLEASE PLEASE start a new paragraph/line if SOMEONE NEW IS SPEAKING.

Your readers will be so confused if you don’t properly distinguish who is speaking. It takes away from the reading experience when you think one character has said a line, but it turns out to be another. 

Don’t just rely on “[...]” John said. We should know if someone new is speaking by the format, not just the name that follows the dialogue.

Paragraphs:

Don’t let your work be one block of text. Break it up and make it more digestible for your readers. Try to start a new paragraph for a new topic, place, thought, etc. You can find some really great guides online that go into more detail. Personally, I think it’s quite a stylistic thing - but you should still be consistent in how you choose to establish your paragraphs.

4) Other Things to Look out For

Detography: Have you written a word twice?

Pronouns: Are you using the following correctly?

their/they’re/there

your/you’re

Tenses: Are you sticking to the same tense? Are your verbs all conjugated in the same tense? Do you switch tense half-way through?

Repetition: Are you relying on the same words a lot. Are you using the same verb / descriptive word very close together?

For this, I just make a quick Google search:

E.g., “said synonym” or “angry synonym” - it adds variety to your writing.

Character Names: This seems obvious, but make sure you’ve spelt them correctly throughout - same goes for place names etc.

5) READ YOUR WORK ALOUD

I really can’t stress this enough. Even after studying language, literature and linguistics for as long as I have, I still miss so many of my own errors if I don’t read my work aloud. My editing process literally involves:

Write the draft

Read over the draft and correct any glaring errors

Copy and paste into a spelling/grammar checker

Re-read the new work and edit again

Read aloud and edit as I go

Final read through

Obviously I don’t do this every time - but it shows just how easy it is to miss mistakes when you’re still finding them during step 6.

6) Bribe a Beta-Reader (or a Friend)...

This is a really helpful step if you are able to find someone willing to check over your work. Often, we become blind to our own writing after we’ve read over the same thing a number of times. It can be really useful to get someone to take a look at it with fresh eyes!

Disclaimer: These are just some things I’ve noticed that I tend to look for in my own work. Also, I want to make a point of saying that English is a strange language, so please don’t be discouraged if you’re a non-native speaker feeling confused. I still get confused!

Also, please feel free to ask me any questions! I might not always be available to give a full beta-read of your work, but if you have any queries relating to grammar etc., don’t hesitate to drop me a message!

[imasimpforshanks]

hi! i love your stuff so very much!!

can i request the angst alphabet with zoro?

thank uuuuu ❤️

Angst Alphabet - Roronoa Zoro

a/n: hiya!!! thank y’all so much!!<3 hope you enjoy this 😌

A-Accident (would they blame themselves if you died in an accident?)

He may not blame himself entirely if you were to die in an accident. But Zoro would think himself weak. How could he possibly become the words greatest swordsman if he can’t even protect his s/o.

B-Break up (How would they break up with you?)

Before breaking up with you Zoro would start to distance himself a little to try and make it easier on the both of you for when he does break up with you. Other than that, he is likely to just come right out and say exactly what he wants to say. He’s brutally honest and straightforward so he won’t try to sugar coat anything or beat around the bush.

C-Crying (how would they make you cry?)

Zoro does this horrible thing where he likes to overwork himself to the point of exhaustion. No matter how many times you tell him to stop and express your concerns for his health, he just doesn’t listen. It hurts seeing the man you love more than anything exhausting himself.

D-Death (how would they react to your death?)

Speaking of overworking, after your death he works himself harder than he ever has before. Day in, day out he’s training. He trains every possible minute to distract himself from your death and make himself stronger to ensure he never loses a loved one ever again.

E-Emotion (what is one emotion they would try to hide the most and how would they do it?)

Being openly vulnerable is something Zoro doesn’t like to do. He really only shows his vulnerable side with his s/o and even then, it took him a really long time to do it.

F-Fight (do you two ever fight? How big are the fights? What do you fight about? Etc.)

Very rarely do your fights get serious. Your fights are often just light-hearted teases and jokes towards one another. Where its always followed by laughter or eye rolls.

If your fight was to get serious, it would result in a lot of yelling at one another and with Zoros blunt personality, a lot of hurtful words (which he ALWAYS apologizes for in the end).

G-Guilt (what is the biggest thing they feel guilty about?)

The events of Sabaody weigh heavily on Zoro’s mind. He was the first one to get sent away by Kuma, so feels as though he failed not only his captain, but the whole crew as well. He wasn’t there to protect them, to help them. Instead, he was a complete failure. And, because of his weakness his captain had to fight and suffer alone.

H-Heartbreak (what would cause them pain in the relationship? How would they deal during a break-up?)

During a break-up Zoro does what he would in any other situation: workout. He keeps himself occupied by working out, and actually he drinks a little bit more than usual too. It could even get to the point where the rest of the crew feels as though they need to step in.

I-Injured (how would they react if you are badly injured?).

He turns dark. Basically, a demon in human form. Moves you from wherever you are so that you’re out of the way of more danger AND THEN HE TIES HIS BANDANA ROUND HIS HEAD BECAUSE THIS SHIT IS SERIOUS.

J-Jealousy (what do they do if they are jealous?)

Its ridiculously obvious when this swordsman is jealous. He gets super grumpy and tries to intimidate the other person. He’ll stand right behind you and honestly, that’s intimidating enough on its own. But, if the other person doesn’t get the hint he’ll place his hand, ever so casually, on his swords.

K-Kill (would they kill for revenge?)

Ever since joining the Straw Hats, Zoro doesn’t kill others (its not something Luffy wants his nakama to do, so Zoro doesn’t do it). However, that mindset goes straight out the window depending on who he’s taking revenge for (i.e if it’s for his s/o).

Most of the time Zoro just leaves them wishing they were dead. (this seems to be a common thing amongst One Piece characters).

L-Loss (what is their greatest loss?)

I would actually say losing some of his pride. Zoro is a poud man, who refuses to lower his head to anyone. However, after receiving the message from Luffy to train and meet up again in two years, Zoro knew he had to lower his and beg Mihawk for his guidance. It was definitely a hit on his pride, but, honestly… He doesn’t regret that one bit – anything for his captain.

M-Mistake (what is the worst mistake they ever made with you?).

During one of the few big fights you guys have had things got really heated and the fight ended up getting so off topic. Insults and mean words were being thrown out left and right. Zoro got so caught up in it all that he said something that targeted one of your deepest insecurities. He knew he had screwed up so badly when you walked away without even saying anything.

N-Nightmares (how often do they have them? What are they about? How do they deal with it?).

He doesn’t often get nightmares, but when he does they tend to be about Sabaody and when the crew got separated from one another (or really any other incident where he was unable to help properly). After he wakes up, he gets straight out of bed and starts working out – determined to make sure nothing like that ever happens again.

O-Outrage (how and why would they get mad at you?)

Zoro doesn’t get mad at you for much, mainly if you pay any attention to that shitty cook, like seriously, he doesn’t understand why you have to give Sanji any attention when Zoro is literally your boyfriend….

P-Past (what has happened in your relationship that changed the way you saw each other?)

Even though you never found out exactly what happened on Thriller Bark (its something Zoro refuses to tell even you), it made you realize that you need to step up and not rely on Zoro so much because although he may act like it, he’s not actually indestructible.

Q-Quality (what is their most dangerous/toxic quality?).

(SORRY I FEEL LIKE I’M BEING VERY REPETITIVE HERE AH BUT YEAH…) He never allows himself to heal from an injury properly. He always starts training immediately despite Chopper’s best attempts to stop him.

R-Rejection (how would they react to you rejecting their confession (or the other way around)).

If you were to reject his confession, he’d probably try to justify it to himself by saying “yeah actually it’s probably better this way. I don’t need anymore distractions in life.” But, he would definitely be a little down in the dumps about it. He made himself vulnerable for this and it didn’t work the way he wanted.

S-Scars (battle or self-inflicted)

Zoro has many scars. The scar over his left eye was a result of his two years of training with Mihawk, though no one knows the exact cause of it – only that it appeared during those two years. Zoro also has a scar on his chest from his very first encounter with Mihawk. He may also have scars on his ankles from the time he tried to chop of his own legs on Little Garden (I can’t recall if these are actually scars or if they healed completely).

T-Trust (have they ever broken your trust?).

This answer is short and sweet: No. Never. Not even in his wildest of dreams. Loyalty is basically Zoro’s entire character. He would never violate your trust. If he did… well Zoro, wouldn’t be Zoro anymore. (only thing he’s done that comes close is keep you from finding out what really happened to him on Thriller Bark).

U-Urge (how badly do they want to see you after you guys separated?)

Honestly, he is probably one of the few who are able to cope with missing you the longest. He still wants to see you of course – your presence is reassuring, so he definitely prefers when you are around – but he can handle not seeing you for a while by focusing on the task at hand and just remembering that this separation isn’t permanent.

V-Vicious (what do they do when they lash out on you?).

Similar to what I’ve said before, he says some really harsh things. He has always been blunt and straightforward, but when he’s lashing out at you he tends to make things a little more personal.

W-Weak (what makes them feel weak how do they try to avoid it?).

Zoro hates losing. Not because he’s competitive or anything but because losing makes him feel weak. Whenever he loses he feels so far away from his goal. To make up for this he works out. He trains and trains and trains until he can no longer move. He will keep going until he never loses another fight.

X-X-ray (what do they hate and show it most obviously?)

Obviously, he shows his hate of Sanji very frequently. The two pirates are constantly arguing and at one anothers throat.

But another thing he hates is people getting in the way of his dream. He agreed to join Luffy so long as he didn’t get in the way of his dream – and if luffy were to get in the way Zoro made him promise to commit seppuku (although whether or not I think Zoro would actually make him do that anymore is a different thing that I could go on about for a while so imma stop there…).

Y-Yearn (what is one thing that they want but can’t have?)

Zoro wants to be the world’s greatest/strongest swordsman. It’s not currently a title he can have, however, day-by-day he is getting just that much closer.

Z-Zero (what do they do/say in your dying moments?)

I don’t think a lot is said or done by Zoro in your final moments. He probably whispers a few thank you’s and I’m sorry’s. He won’t mourn properly until he’s completely alone.

[duchessanon]

Revenge by Tom Bower - final thoughts

I’m tired, v tired. This book was a mission to finish but I did it with some skips in the pre-Henri years. Here were my thoughts on finding freedom 2 years ago as comparison.

Were there juicy revelations?

I guess the Reitmans story was the most promoted one (she was allegedly an asshole to the people she worked with and stole some shoes).

The big one for me was that Camilla is a royal racist (allegedly!). But bower isn’t clear on it at all. First he said cam made comments about future archies hair, then he says Megri suspected she’d been racist towards Archie. But he doesn’t mention if cam said the skin tone comments so idk what’s going on here

Mistakes

There were a LOT of editing issues in this book. He said Megri started dating in July, then he said June. He called Omid Omar. He got basic details of clothes wrong. Those are ones I picked up as a non-meg follower. I would guess there are more and it reduces the credibility

Sources

There were a lot of references in this book and that was good to see. HOWEVER when u look into the references, a whole load are tabloid articles who used unnamed sources. Plus for all his piss taking of Omid being their “spokesperson”, Finding Carolyn Freedom was cited a LOT.

Tom Markle thinks he’ll die at 80 and other repetitions

Not once, not twice, but three times did I have to read that markle men die by 80 so Tom thinks he will too. There was a hell of a lot of repetition. Especially bc he would talk about issues mentioned in Oprah throughout the book. But then had a whole chapter on Oprah where it’s all repeated. And sentences were literally copy and pasted too which was getting on my last nerve.

Anti-megness

I couldn’t get out of my mind that this man called meg a brazen hussy bc she waved from a car. It was clear he didn’t like her and there was a lot of misogyny eg painting her as a witch that put a spell on Henri. That was pissing me off at the start. But later on it got more balanced bc during her royal life there were a lot of defence for her. To give him credit he used a lot of those views in there. Overall though, he h8s them both IMO!

Q from @betweenfrocksandbooks - it bad? Is it passable? I read FF I'm pretty sure this one can't be worse. It can't be, right?

It was loooong. Bc the og finding freedom was out in 2020, this felt 100x longer with those extra 2 years. Honestly I enjoyed FF more bc of the unintentional comedy of the stupid over-descriptions of everything. This one was a lot more factual but the constant citations made it more like reading a Wiki entry than a flowing narrative. Plus it was bias against meg in the way FF was for her. So I guess it’s personal preference.

Anyways I’m NEVER READING A ROYAL BIOGRAPHY AGAIN. Until Henri’s autobiography. Goodbye xo

[captainsspnanon]

C2E51 - Xhorhaus - rewatch reaction

Watched an episode of Leverage earlier for the fun mindless feels, time to jump into CR and actually process shit!  XD  Which I can, because I’m no longer sick, and so thinking is able to be done again!

(I do want to take a second to say that I really do love the tunnel episode, even though I barely frickin said anything.  It’s a good fun episode, and I LIKE the fact that it is so repetitive at times, because it emphasizes the state that the party is in, but it doesn’t get bogged down by it to the point that the players get bored.  Matt apologizes for it at one point, but he shouldn’t have because he did it perfectly right!  I also like that they only skimmed the Underdark, the monotony interspersed with bits of action honestly felt more intimidating IC than just heading into the Underdark for a dungeon crawl.  YMMV)

I FORGOT THIS WAS THE V-DAY EPISODE!!!!   Let’s just say that I’m thirsting after everyone and it remains that way all episode and leave it at that XD

I LOVE it when Sam’s ads are goofy as fuck but also REALLY REALLY GOOD at the same time.  This poem was soooo good!  The incorporation of dnd terms and dirty talk worked PERFECTLY.

Introduction of the potions!!  I forgot that he made them himself, didn’t buy them or get them from a fan.  NGL, they are really really freaking awesome and super beneficial.  If I ever DM a game in person, it’s one thing that I would genuinely considering making or getting.  Moreso than a lot of other things, personally.

Liam getting rid of his level four spells because of the error he had made the previous game.  I hope that this is something that he wanted to do on his own, but I feel like it might have been because of backlash that he’d gotten after the episode. :(  Just knowing some of the nastier parts of the fanbase, I feel like there were probably accusations of cheating rather than just a mistake.  So I like this bit, but it also makes me very sad.  ….it also makes a good fic! https://archiveofourown.org/works/17843060 Still on my feet somehow, by ArbuscularMycorrhizal. Recommend for a nice little hurt/comfort Caleb action.

BEAU ASKING CALEB FOR ARM WRAPS I totally forgot about this moment and it is SO sweet, even though it’s not played out that way.  First of all, huge props to Marisha for taking the moment of rescuing Nott and deciding that it would burn her arm wraps, completely sensible but something that would so easily be overlooked in many campaigns.  Secondly, the fact that she’s comfortable asking Caleb for it and he’s completely willing to share?  SIBLINGS.  Thirdly, Laura/Jester ragging on Liam/Caleb regarding the smell will never not be funny.  Especially because I can see myself on both sides of it, either playfully bringing up something over and over, or mildly exasperated at the fact that IT’S DONE and doesn’t apply anymore!

Oh god Fjord pretending he has Sending and teasing Jester!!!

Awwww, Jester apologizing to Caleb, Caleb being cool with it, and then getting rid of the wraps entirely.  AWWWWWWWWWWWW

also I want to know what the fuck that beast thing was because holy shit that sounds terrifying.  But this is another aspect of this journey which I really adore the choices that Matt’s making.  This is twice now in the trip that they’ve had some sort of creature go past them without noticing, and it adds a level of depth and fright to their journey.  It’s the tension of it, the suspense, rather than the stressful combat type tension, and I think it works SO well. Difference between a thriller and an action movie, essentially.

Ah, I misunderstood how Liam was resolving the spell issue, and now that they did the long rest, him not wiping out his THIRD levels, but just knocking off a fourth level, it works.  Also confirms that the internet yelled at him, though he seems very blasé about it.  Still. (to be fair, I don’t mind people mentioning when others make mistakes, but I feel like it doesn’t need to be told TO them. Going ‘oh hey, Liam used an extra fourth level! Wish he hadn’t done that’ versus ‘LIAM YOU CHEATED YOU USED AN EXTRA SPELL’. I’m perfectly willing to talk here about how I’m not a fan of Molly, but I would NEVER say that to Taliesin.)

The athletics checks when climbing up the incline really leaned into telling the story.  Granted, obviously the individual PC bonuses made a difference, but Caleb CONSISTENTLY failing, Fjord and Caduceus failing once, it just fits so well!

Here’s some thoughts that are probably way off base, because I don’t remember the details of the war.  One thing that Matt always emphasized (or seemed to) was how it was pretty equally awful.  Both sides had been in tensions for years, decades, and how the provocation flamed both sides into action.  However, right now, the Muck Men leader is talking about how Xhorhas captured the Ashguard Garrison, but then just held it for a month without really doing anything.  We know that the Kryn sent a troop to Felderwin – as much as it’s speculated that it was to hit a farming town, it does seem like it was targeted to where they maybe thought the Luxon was (the experiments perhaps inducing a Luxon like effect that they tracked).  It’s going to be fun going back through this war and looking at all the aspects of it.  Yes, Essek triggered it by giving away the beacons, but I had thought that it was closer to flames. Here, however, it’s presented as less aggressive by the Dynasty, as stated by an Empire human no less.  I’ll have to keep my eyes open, see how that changes throughout the campaign.

I like how Matt made this guy super nice, knowing that he was going to get taken down very quickly.  Provides a bunch of information, is surprisingly respectful to the Kryn, offers supplies for no cost or trade, BOOM DEAD.

(technically he’s not dead, but whatever)

Also, as soon as I say all that stuff before?  Matt immediately puts them in a situation where the Kryn seem like obvious bad guys – they just come out and murder everyone.  I really appreciate how he never gives a clear cut ‘these guys are good, these guys are bad’. (though also to be fair, pretty sure the general opinion is that the dynasty is better than the empire, among fans and cast)

Hmmm...is the two shadow figures attacking with the main fighter while the echo is out something available as an echo knight as it is now?  I’m looking at the features and it doesn’t seem to apply. May have been a concept that was found to be too powerful to include with the class, or an NPC only ability.  Probably just early tinkering and concepts.

LOL Extract Aspects fiddling.  First you have to use a ki point, then you have to hit and you get one thing each hit, then you have to hit but you just get told certain info.  They get there eventually.

Cloudkill, so they are at least level 9.  Party is level 8 right now, so it’s tough but not insurmountable.

I do feel like it’s kind of a dick move for Sam to be telling Laura that she needs to roll con saves for Nugget and Sprinkle, when they are non-combat. It’s legit, but it’s still a dick move.  I like the way that Matt treats them essentially as objects UNLESS they are actively part of the combat.  “I’ll say for the purposes of FUN--” THANK you Matt.

You guys…..this episode is taking me SO LONG to get through!!!  I don’t know if it’s just the combat I’m struggling with or what.  OVER TWO WEEKS at this point (as of May 12).  I started watching this right after I posted my episode 50 reaction.

Fuuuck, I forgot just how hard they got rocked in this fight!  They’re just getting put to pieces!  Unfortunately, Marisha is having very crappy luck with her attacks at advantage, if she’d been able to hit and re-stun him, the battle could have swung in a very different way.

Oh shit, just looked on the wiki for mage dude.  First of all, he’s named: Lythir VaSuun, which makes sense ‘cause I do remember that he’s the Bright Queen’s dude.  But also!  He’s level 11 or more.  So I take back what I said (nearly THREE weeks ago at this point) about it being tough but not insurmountable.  I don’t think this was a battle that they were supposed to be able to win.

For all that Fjord’s big moment is Aeor was so shocking, I’m seeing more moments of it during the campaign itself.  When the roc is flying down and attacking the group of bugbears and the Nein decide to lie in the grass to try to hide, Fjord uses Major Image to create a mastodon running in the direction of the bugbears.  Sure, they’re ‘monsters’ rather than ‘people’ at the moment, but there’s still that aspect of Fjord that carries through of making far more ruthless decisions when he needs to benefit his team.  It’s very beneficial to pick up on this during the rewatch because it makes the Aeor decision less shocking, less out of the norm.

(also you can tell I’m not talking much.  I have NO CLUE why, but this episode is just so hard for me to get through!  Maybe it’s because I’m really impatient for them to get to Rosohna, and I know that it’s still a few episodes away?)

(paused to do my language lessons for the day [yes in my early thirties I’m trying to pick up another language because I’ve forgotten pretty much all that I ever learned], going back into it.  WHAT is with this episode and me just NOT focusing???)

Yanno, with the tensions being high with the war and everything, I’m surprised that Beau (A HUMAN) asking to RIDE ON A BUGBEAR LIKE A RAFT INSTEAD OF SWIMMING didn’t incite further anger or violence.  Like, the fucking arrogance of a HUMAN to treat another being like an OBJECT!! Matt didn’t lean into this, but I kinda wonder what it would have been like if he did.  Maybe he was just holding off on the revelation of how humans are treated until they actually got to Asarius?  (omg I almost typed Bassuras.  If you know, you know)

Baron Visco.  I’m like, 99.9% sure that they never see this dude or look for him and he becomes one of Matt’s forgotten little plot threads.  Though I suppose if they didn’t short-cut into the Bright Queen’s Favor (ehhh? Eeeehhhh??  see what I did there????...okay I hate myself for that one XD), maybe he would have been a thread for them to go to in order to work on gaining trust.

Nott and Fjord fucking with each other.  THERE IS NOTHING BETTER.

I’m still not sure if I would call this quiiiite consensual tattooing.  She’s bribing him for a tattoo essentially.  Yes, he’s free to say no, but it’s not like she just offered without anything and he said yes.

Ah, the introduction of the Luxon, and Jester doesn’t even share with the group yet XD

@suicidallyreckless

[nothinggold13]

Peter the High King

“By his own words, he is Peter first. [...] When the people called him Magnificent, he still begged in quiet repetition to be called Peter.”

A thought in 25 parts.

Dedicated to @awfullybigwardrobe44 for being my editor & also listening to me rant about this analysis for the last month, as I got way too excited about the phrase “Peter the High King.”

I. "That [...] is Cair Paravel of the four thrones, in one of which you must sit as King. I show it to you because you are the first-born and you will be High King over all the rest." [The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe]

It is one thing to be King; it is another to be High King over others. The distinction is lost on Peter. He is still just a kid, and he has not yet tasted his first blood. All he knows is that he will look after his brother and sisters. He is, after all, the first born; it only makes sense that he will lead the other children. There is no fear. In the moment, he feels it plainly.

II. "And Peter became a tall and deep-chested man and a great warrior, and he was called King Peter the Magnificent."

In his eyes, “Magnificent” is an unexpected and undeserved title. For all he is, and all he is seen to be, he is still, in his heart, just Peter. He finds no love for the war that has made him into a warrior. Fears he had once never imagined have long since become his constant companions. But Peter is a King. Like all his duties, he bears this one well. There is peace in springtime, and there is joy in peace. Peter still breathes. Peter still believes. The people still call him Magnificent.

III. "And in a few years, if all goes well, King Peter has promised your royal father that he himself will make you Knight at Cair Paravel." [The Horse and His Boy]

The boy Shasta does not know the King Peter the Faun speaks of. He does not even know enough to recognize both the respect and familiar affection with which the Faun speaks. Tumnus knows the High King well, after all—as does Corin, who the Faun thinks he is speaking to. They know the High King well enough that there is no need to refer to him as such. They may call him King Peter, but only “King.” The title remains out of love and humble admiration, but his name stands firm out of deeper love and friendship. There is no need to call him “the High King,” as others do, and there is no need to call him “Magnificent.” They are familiar with him. They are family. He may as well, in their eyes, just be Peter.

IV. "For though the fancy of a woman has rejected this marriage, the High King Peter is a man of prudence and understanding who will in no way wish to lose the high honour and advantage of being allied to our House and seeing his nephew and grand nephew on the throne of Calormen."

If Peter could hear these words, he would laugh before settling into the depths of his anger. In all the conversation between Rabadash and his father, Peter’s name has never been mentioned. He has been, in their discussion, a nameless, vague, and distant figure. “The High King of Narnia,” they say, “their High King, not ours.” But now Rabadash risks his name, almost as if it’s an appeal; almost as if Peter is listening in after all. There is little cold in the warmth of the High King, but few have heard a laugh as cold as the one Peter would give at this. The inanity of the Calormene Prince’s words would amuse him before they enraged him; for in all his years as High King, Peter has never heard anyone misuse his name so badly.

V. "For though my brother, Peter the High King, defeated the Tisroc a dozen times over, yet long before that day our throats would be cut[...]"

Edmund gets it right. He often does. “My brother,” he says first. “Peter,” he says second. The familiar comes before his title. And Edmund knows, of course, that even if he’s just Peter - even if he’s the High King second - Peter will not suffer such an injustice. If “the High King Peter” is a prudent man, “Peter the High King” is a genuine one. In love and in brotherhood, Peter will always protect his siblings - or, Aslan forbid it, avenge them. He is and ever will be Peter first. He is and ever will be their brother.

VI. "For the truth was that in that golden age when the Witch and the Winter had gone and Peter the High King ruled at Cair Paravel, the smaller woodland people of Narnia were so safe and happy that they were getting a little careless."

This is how the legend starts: In the Golden Age of Narnia, the people were safe and happy. This is how the legend starts, before it is twisted and gilded and lost. In the Golden Age of Narnia, Peter is High King. Perhaps no one notices, but the narrative frames him as he wants to be framed: Peter first. His name comes first. He is a person before he is a king or a myth or a hero. This is how the legend starts, but the narrative is lost when the people need heroes instead.

VII. "’If I had but my cordial with me,’ Queen Lucy was saying, ‘I could soon mend this. But the High King has so strictly charged me not to carry it commonly to the wars and to keep it only for great extremities!’"

Here lies the cost of the title. Lucy doesn’t know the weight Peter took upon himself the day he told her not to carry the cordial into battle. Lucy can’t understand it. Not yet. But Peter has seen the hurt it has caused her to make terrible choices on fields of blood; the devastation she experiences each time she saves one and loses another. Peter is the High King because he needs to be - because someone needs to be - because he is the oldest. The High King must lead the others. The High King must protect the others. So Peter takes the choice away, and with it, he hopes, the hurt.

VIII. "And Lucy told again [...] the tale of the Wardrobe and how she and King Edmund and Queen Susan and Peter the High King had first come into Narnia."

You wouldn’t know it to listen to her, but Lucy doesn’t remember the tale so well on her own. The details of their coming are blanketed in snow; even to Lucy, the story sounds more like a fairy tale than history. But she knows well that among fairy tales, some truths still stand. There are truths like hope; like how the White Witch’s winter is all but forgotten in these peaceful days, but is remembered for the hope in the wide eyes of the young girl who saw it as a wonderland rather than a curse. Even now in Lucy, that hope remains. There are truths like change; like how the betrayal of a boy once desperate for affection became the groundwork for a king to grow in justice. Though all know Edmund is no traitor now, they know it is these past missteps and mistakes that have made him wise. There are truths like courage; like the queen who followed Aslan to his death, yet does not fight in wars. Courage exists in gentleness, in dedication, and in love, and Susan shows them this every day. There are truths like the death and resurrection of the Great Lion, which remains forever the source of salvation for all of Narnia — not for only one. And, perhaps least of all, another truth remains in the fact that Peter is still Peter. The High King was a boy once, and somewhere in their hearts, he is a boy still. It’s funny how as Lucy tells the tale, her beloved older brother takes the form of a brave, terrified child. He is in all their minds a warrior and protector, yet they can see him clearly even at the beginning. It’s funny, but it’s real.

IX. "'It is my sword Rhindon,' he said; 'with it I killed the Wolf.' There was a new tone in his voice, and the others all felt that he was really Peter the High King again." [Prince Caspian]

He is Peter first, when they look at him. His voice is far from mythic. It is Peter’s voice; the voice of man and boy and king and brother. They are reminded by the name of Rhindon how the Wolf’s blood was shed by unwanted bravery - an unwilling thrust. Rhindon is not the sword of a fearless warrior; it is the sword of a dutiful knight. Susan and Edmund and Lucy have never known the legendary Magnificent King. They’ve only known Peter.

X. "But at least you can try to be a King like the High King Peter of old, and not like your uncle."

Peter becomes a fairy tale in the eyes of the frightened Prince. The legendary High King - over all Kings of Narnia, under only Aslan - is, all at once, an idol. Brave and benevolent and wise, he is something to be striven for. The High King Peter is king first, man second. The stories paint him in golden light, and in the damaged remnants of copied portraits in Cornelius’ study, he appears to wear more a halo than a crown.

XI. "It may have the power to call Queen Lucy and King Edmund and Queen Susan and High King Peter back from the past, and they will set all to rights."

There is an old rhyme about Adam’s flesh and bone. There is another about the returning of spring. Few remember the latter, it seems, as a new Son of Adam comes of age. Faith is put on the heads of four children. But Peter remembers well, if he could only be asked, that it is by Aslan’s teeth and mane and blood that the earth is reawakened. It is He that will set all to rights, not the ancient Sons and Daughters. Peter remembers well, though the horn has not yet called for him. Peter remembers well, though when he comes, no one will ask.

XII. "’I'd much rather not have to vote.’ // ‘You're the High King,’ said Trumpkin sternly.”

The decision is placed in his hands, and the weight of it on his shoulders. It is clear by Trumpkin’s tone that he is not looking for majority rule; if the party were split unevenly, Trumpkin would still make the High King choose. Peter never asked to choose. “You’re the High King,” he’s told, and the words scold him, remind him, immortalize him. It shouldn’t be his decision. Peter once trusted Lucy more than he trusted himself. Peter once trusted Aslan more than all his siblings put together. He knows this, but he can’t see Aslan now. In fear, Peter votes to go down. Lucy cries.

XIII. "If you all go, of course, I'll go with you; and if your party splits up, I'll go with the High King. That’s my duty to him and King Caspian."

Peter doesn’t know what scares him the most about this. Two things have been made clear. The first is that Trumpkin, even if not maliciously, would leave the others alone. He would leave them behind, if Peter led him to. Lucy is 9, and Edmund just turned 11. Susan shivers even without cold. They look little like the Queens and King they used to be. And all at once, even if he has no other reason, Peter will follow Lucy in spite of reason. He can’t leave them alone. In spite of himself, in spite of his fears, he will follow. For that is his second - and perhaps greater - fear: when they make it to Caspian, he will still be alone. He sees it clearly. Trumpkin has decided that it is not the four ancient sovereigns on which the fate of Narnia rests. Now it lies on only one. Trumpkin will go with the High King, he says. Peter wonders now whether that means he will be followed or dragged.

XIV. "It's the High King, King Peter."

As he is introduced to the young King Caspian, Peter flinches at each word. They land at first like blows; clumsy punches, but painful all the same. Then, Peter realizes, they settle like cuts instead. He wonders how many it would take to bleed out. He sees the depth of it now. He is Peter last, in the eyes of the Old Narnians. They don’t want Peter; they want the mythical High King of old. So that is how they introduce him: “It’s the High King,” they say first. Second, they call him “King” again. And then tacked on to the end of his title, as if it were specification rather than identity, is his name.

XV. “’You say, Caspian, we are not strong enough to meet Miraz in pitched battle.’ // ‘I'm afraid not, High King,’ said Caspian.”

Every time Peter looks at Caspian, he is painfully aware that Caspian is just a boy. Every time he looks at Caspian, he is reminded that he, himself, is just a boy. Caspian has not figured it out yet. In the wide eyes of the future king, Peter is a mythic hero. It is no wonder he is awestruck. Yet when Peter looks at the other boy, he addresses him by name. Names are a kindness. The kindness is not returned. It is not Peter they look to; the Old Narnians have made it clear that it is the High King that will save them. He yearns to shout that he cannot, to have it out of his hands, to tell them that Aslan will save them instead. But, as always, he swallows these fears. He has a solution, after all. Confused child though he is, he’s already come up with a solution. He could never leave them wanting. The Narnians have hung their hopes on him, and he hopes, in turn, that his answer will buy them time until Aslan acts. They cannot all fight. They cannot face Miraz in battle. So Peter does all he can do, and lets them bleed him dry instead.

XVI. "Peter, by the gift of Aslan, by election, by prescription, and by conquest, High King over all Kings in Narnia, Emperor of the Lone Islands and Lord of Cair Paravel, Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Lion…”

It slips from his tongue as if rehearsal has become nature. By his own words, he is Peter first. Always, he is Peter first. By the gift of Aslan, he is all other titles, but even his most beloved titles are secondary to him. When the people called him Magnificent, he still begged in quiet repetition to be called Peter.

XVII. "There's a man for you! Uses his enemy's arm as a ladder. The High King!  The High King! Up, Old Narnia!"

There is a secret here; a secret so old and buried that even Peter himself has almost forgotten it. Because the secret is, for all his fear and doubt and unworthiness, Peter loves his title as a part of him. The rousing cheers of Trumpkin remind him. He knows once more what it is to be High King: it is his greatest burden, but in equal measure, it is his greatest gift. The Narnians rise up with him. The Narnians’ strength is his strength. The High King is just Peter, but Peter is the High King.

XVIII. "But the other creatures all cheered and rose up in honour of Peter the High King, and Queen Susan of the Horn, and King Edmund and Queen Lucy."

When they rise up for the Kings and Queens, they rise up for Peter. It’s like forgiveness, almost, for being man instead of myth; permission to be a boy instead of a man. He does not feel the weight of his title here and now. The memory of the crown he once wore feels, in this moment, more like the flower chains Lucy used to place atop his head. In their cheers, Peter feels that even in the Narnians’ adoring eyes, he is Peter first. The High King will be remembered. Memory, however, is no longer legend.

XIX. "'I've never understood why they belong to Narnia,' said Caspian. 'Did Peter the High King capture them?'" [The Voyage of the Dawn Treader]

Edmund and Lucy don’t know why these words feel as fresh as the sea air, but neither can deny that they feel even more at home now that Caspian has said them. They don’t know how Caspian first referred to their brother, and they don’t know how it was wrong. They don’t know the way Caspian said “High King,” as if Peter were modelled in precious metal. Caspian does not see him that way any longer. Time and memory change things. Perhaps they make idols out of men, but they can, in fact, turn gold and stone into flesh again. Edmund and Lucy don’t know, but they don’t have to know. It’s enough to feel. In love, Peter comes first again. In love, they know when it is right. And so the air is clear when their brother’s name is said, and wounds are healed in a world far away.

XX. "I am one of the four ancient sovereigns of Narnia and you are under allegiance to the High King my brother."

The words are flung like stones, and Edmund knows not what he does. This is, in the end, Peter’s fear. “High King” is a title easily weaponized by greed and pride, and now Edmund clings to it even though it isn’t his to possess. It’s not his fault; Magic is often stronger than loyalty, and sometimes even loyalty doesn’t know it’s own rules. The words are a grievous error, but no one knows to correct them. As Edmund argues with Caspian - both still children beneath all their growth - Peter is thrown under their feet. He is nameless in pride. He becomes Edmund’s brother secondly, and only that so Edmund can lay claim to what he desires. It’s an unintended betrayal. No one will remember it. Magic is often stronger than anger, too.

XXI. "That look is in the face of all true kings of Narnia, who rule by the will of Aslan and sit at Cair Paravel on the throne of Peter the High King." [The Silver Chair]

The High King’s throne is not a physical place; Cair Paravel has long since fallen to ruin and been rebuilt on the coast. Peter never sat in the throne that sits there now… but it is his throne still. In the figure of the High King there still lies a truth which can never and must never be lost in the kingdom of Narnia. For all the ages that lie between them, the throne is still his. Yet the comparison does not lie in that figure; it lies instead in the person. The legend has changed; the narrative has ordered itself after him once again. Memory does not recall a mythic High King, crowned in gold and light. Instead, memory falls on a soft boy who grew into a good man. Memory falls on the flesh and bone rather than steel and gold. Memory falls on Peter.

XXII. "I charge you in the name of Aslan, speak to me. I am Peter the High King." [The Last Battle]

It has been said that who he is always comes first, and what he is always comes second. Sometimes that is only partly true. Sometimes there are names and titles of greater importance and truer power which must come first. As Peter clenches his fist and screws up his courage, it is to Aslan’s name he clings. As Peter asks the vision in front of him to speak, it is to Aslan’s power he appeals. And when, at the end of his address, he does mention his own name, it is not from a place of authority. It is a plea. “I am Peter,” he begs, “Peter the High King. You can trust me. You can speak to me.”

XXIII. “‘Sire,’ said Jill coming forward and making a beautiful curtsey, ‘let me make known to you Peter the High King over all Kings in Narnia.’”

To be High King means and has always meant many things to Peter. He’s 9 years older, now, than when he was first given the title, and he has lived 24 years since then. He barely remembers how in those first days it hardly carried any weight at all. It had been, at the time, his natural role. For him to take that responsibility had just made sense. But Peter feels it heavier now — he feels everything heavier. The weight of the crown has never left his mind, even after nearly a decade. Peter hadn’t known in those moments Aslan first spoke to him — when he first promised him all of this — what it would be to be King, let alone a king over others. Peter knows now, and he knows well. It is the weight of a world; it is blood and sweat and tears; it is the sting of the sword, and the crack of the whip on his own flesh. It is the crash of the ocean, and the salt on the table. It is the lilt of the music echoing through empty palace halls. It is the rhythm of dancing feet, and laughter through open windows, and the patterns in the stars. And, above all, it is not a burden; for all the hurt, it is instead a promise. Peter is the High King, and always will be. The High King is a boy named Peter.

XXIV. “Tirian had no need to ask which was the High King, for he remembered his face (though here it was far nobler) from his dream.”

And it lifts: the heart, the music, the feet, the head. Everything lifts. The heaviest weights mean little in the end. The heaviest weights are worth it all to bear. And Peter is noble now, isn’t he? He is noble to his brother and sister - maybe even to the sister who won’t admit to any of it. He is noble to the friends who seat him at the head of the table. He is noble even in the eyes of a king who bore weights Peter never did. Peter lifts the other king off his knees. Eyes lift. Everything lifts. The weights are lifted off.

XXV. "'Peter, High King of Narnia,' said Aslan. 'Shut the Door.'"

It is to Peter that the command is given: it’s given to the boy who faltered, who doubted: to the boy on his knees. It is Peter, after all, who slayed the wolf, well before he held any title. And yet, as always, his title follows. Once more, Peter will do that which only the High King can. Once more, Peter will serve. Once more, Peter will obey. Even if he falters, or doubts, or falls again to his knees, he will do what he has been charged to do. The door will shut. The key will turn. The weight will be forgotten. It is understood. Peter trusts now; trusts in a reason for his crown and his calling; trusts Aslan even where he didn’t before.  There is no fear. In the moment, he feels it plainly.

[osita-iza]

Helloo! I like your writing a lot!! If you don’t mind can i request the rva + v, and saeran with mc who’s really sensitive? Like she cry when someone raise their voice, or when she feel someone becoming distant to them? Im sorry if my english is bad 😅 thank you!! I hope it’s not burdening you

Thank you so much anonie! Don’t worry, It wasn’t a burden at all!!! Sorry if it took longer than you wanted, I’m taking two summer classes right now, and they’ve been a lot of work these past couple weeks. As a Certified Sensitive Bitch, I found this request really interesting. I tried to make all of their stories different to keep it from being repetitive. 

I hope you enjoy it!! Requests are open <3

Possible spoilers: Jaehee’s Good/Normal Ending, some of Saeran/V/Seven’s routes. 

Warnings: Slight swearing, not much. 

RFA+V+Saeran: With a Sensitive MC (especially to yelling or distant) 

Yoosung 

He was stressed. He was just on edge. It doesn’t mean he doesn’t love you. This exam season will determine whether or not he’s accepted to vet school. It’s normal for him to be stressed. He’s just a little stressed… 

You made dinner that night, keeping your headphones in so your music didn’t disturb him. You had finished almost all of your finals last week, only having one this week, so you decided to help him out. 

You put his dinner in front of him as you sat down across the table. You were on your phone as you ate, and he would take a bite every once in a while. 

You tried to focus on your phone. You really really did. 

...But he had literal bags under his eyes; something you hadn’t seen on him in a long time. You made dinner half an hour ago, and Yoosung had taken about two bites from it. 

“Yoosung, have you eaten anything today?” 

“What?” He glanced up from his textbook for a moment, not even long enough for you to look into his eyes. “Oh, yeah! Uh… I ate a little bit after you left earlier.” 

“I left at 9 a.m. for class,” you said, “Yoosung, you need a break. You need to eat.” 

“MC-” 

“You’re gonna burn yourself out,” you insisted, “At this rate, you’ll collapse during your exam.” 

“Can you just leave me alone? God just because you don’t know what you’re doing with your life doesn’t mean you have to drag me down with you!” He yelled. 

You weren’t sure if you were more hurt or angry; your glare mixing in with your tears. “Oh, fuck you.” 

Yoosung finally looked up at you with wide eyes. You never cussed at him. Should he be more worried about that or your tears?

You sniffled and covered your mouth, already feeling your throat burn as you tried to hold back more tears. Your hands were shaking, just wanting to scream at him about how you just cared about him, how he went for a low blow, how you needed to know that he was alright. 

Yeah… he was more worried about the tears 

“Just because you’re stressed about your exams doesn’t mean you get to yell at me,” you said with a shaking voice. 

He didn’t know what to say, so you both just stared at each other for a moment. With a sigh, you grabbed your bag and walked to the door. 

Yoosung’s mind finally caught up with his body, and he ran up to you to grab your wrist. “Wait- I- I’m so sorry!” You stared at where your hands connected. Yoosung took this as a sign to continue. “You were right. I didn’t take a break all day, and I took it out on you. Will you take a break with me... Eat with me?” 

“...I can’t deal with being yelled at.” 

He pulled you into a hug by your hand. “Then I’ll never yell at you again.” 

You were still hurt, but you could feel his promise through his hug. “Wanna eat then?” 

“Of course,” he said as he pulled back to kiss you on the forehead, “Especially since you made it, so it’s made with extra love!” 

You smiled at him as you puckered your lips, and he kissed you. 

“So you forgive me?” 

“Mostly,” you said, “I think I need a couple more kisses to fully forgive you.” 

Jaehee 

Jaehee wasn’t the type to yell 

She was raised in a household that didn’t want her. A household where her aunt always yelled. 

While everything her aunt did hurt her, it was the yelling that taught her to shut up. 

So she learned to disagree calmly. Or not at all. 

You were the one who protected her. You stood up for her. To her you were the epitome of strength. 

You looked at Jumin, one of the richest men in the country, and told him that he was being entitled with how much pointless work you gave Jaehee 

You saw the woman who would work herself to the point of passing out, and you comforted her and showed her that she wasn’t alone 

So when a customer began berating you for mixing up his drink with another customer’s (which you already apologized for and fixed), she was angry but not worried per se 

You were the strongest person she knew

She would just give you a treat after he left, and you’d be fine

You could handle yourself. 

“I just don’t understand! You have one fucking job- to make coffee and give it to customers. How do you mess that up?” His voice gradually raised in volume with every word

The anger in her body was building up with every word he said. She was debating before she heard a sniffle, and Jaehee turned around to see tears shining in your eyes

You took a deep breath and spoke in a low volume. “Sir...” 

Oh hell no... 

Her heart broke, releasing that anger throughout her body. 

“Excuse me sir,” Jaehee said, standing next to you and putting her hands on the counter between you both and the customer

“What do you want?” he said 

“You have absolutely no reason to be yelling at the employees here-” 

“She-” 

Jaehee’s glare seemed to get darker as she spoke over him. “She has already gotten you your correct drink. Offered you a refund. And apologized for the mistake. And even if she didn’t, there is no reason to yell.” 

“This doesn’t concern you.” 

“As one of the owners of this establishment, this absolutely concerns me. I will not tolerate a customer blatantly insulting someone in this premises. I have to ask you to leave, and you will not be served here in the future.” 

He stared at the both of you for a moment before he threw the coffee cop on the ground and walked out of the cafe. 

You grabbed one of the napkins and wiped at your eyes. “I’m really sorry, Jaehee,” 

She pushed your hair out of your face and held your face in her hands. “You have nothing to be sorry for. It was a simple mistake, and you apologized,” 

“No… for crying,” you sniffled. “I know I should be able to handle it-” 

Jaehee shook her head. “No, you shouldn’t have to handle or deal with people yelling at you. And you won’t ever have to deal with it when I’m around, okay?” 

“O-okay.” 

Later that night, after the cafe was closed, she would have a better conversation with you. She wanted to know exactly what set you off, how she could help you calm down if it happened again, everything. 

And she promised you -with her words and a kiss- she would never yell at you. 

She knew you would protect her, but she would protect you too. 

Your sensitivity was the reason why you were able to see the pain she was in, even through a screen 

She would not let anyone use that sensitivity against you. 

Zen 

You were both really emotional 

It’s what made Zen a good actor. It’s what made you able to understand people around you. It’s why you two were a good match, able to handle each other’s waxing and waning of moodiness. 

But while your emotions made you cry, Zen’s emotions made him loud. 

I mean, he was in a biker gang. He had to learn to be loud 

He also had a bit of a jealousy problem. And he swore up and down that your coworker had been flirting with you at the company’s holiday party

He was pacing in the living room. Some of his hair was framing his face because he kept messing with his ponytail. You were sitting at the kitchen table, just tired as you watched him. 

“Are you really telling me that you don’t know he’s into you?” he said. Zen’s voice rose in volume with every word, not quite yelling it but getting to it. 

“Because he wasn’t, Zen. I wouldn’t let someone flirt with me, do you really think that low of me?” 

“That’s not it! You’re missing the point here!” He shouted. 

It was silent, save for his deep breaths. Zen was facing the wall, and he clenched his jaw. 

“... I’ll just go home,” you said, voice croaking. 

That made him turn around, and his eyes widened as he saw the tears shining in your eyes. 

His feet and emotions turned 180 degrees. 

“No, no, no, no,” he said as you stood up. He grabbed your wrists, trying to keep you from leaving. “Please, don’t leave. Let’s talk about this.” 

“What’s there to talk about? You’ve already made up your mind,” you said, “And I’m not gonna sit here to just get yelled at,” 

“I promise I won’t yell anymore. Please…” 

You glared at him as you wiped at your eyes. “If you yell at me one more time, I’m out.” 

“I promise I won’t.” 

You sat down and talked through it- calmly this time. After you worked through the original fight, he had to ask. “Was it the yelling that made you cry?” 

“I’ve always had a problem with yelling, even as a kid. Annoyed my parents to no end,” you said, already feeling the headache coming from the tears. 

“I’ll work on that then. I won’t be the reason you cry. Never,” he said, “And you don’t have to hide your emotions from me, okay?” 

You nodded, and tried to keep yourself from crying again because of how soft his eyes looked now. “Okay.” 

“Good. Because I want to take care of my princess.” Zen smiled and kissed you. 

The only reason he wanted you to cry was because of his amazing acting performance, never anything else. 

Jumin 

His father had a new fiance, and Jumin was in charge of the contract between C&R and her family’s company 

How his father didn’t see the obvious motive in that… but the company wasn’t horrible, so Jumin decided to keep his mouth shut 

That didn’t mean he was happy about it though… 

Without realizing it, he was falling back into old habits 

Jaehee was complaining more and more in the chatrooms about the workload, which Jumin was brushing off 

He was leaving for the office earlier and earlier in the mornings. Coming home later in the evenings. He started bringing work home too, something he never did before. 

You could probably count the hours that you guys were spending together on one hand. You knew he was busy with work and it was understandable that he would be distant

But… you needed Jumin. 

You moved out of your crappy apartment with a faucet that always leaked even though you called maintenance about it at least every month into a penthouse where you could have everything taken care of with the snap of a finger 

To say it was a lot would be the understatement of the fucking century 

The only constant you had- the only thing that felt that home- was Jumin 

Maybe you should do something? To make him feel loved? 

So you told his personal chef to take the day off, you were cooking tonight 

You went to the nearest grocery store, trying to not feel like everyone was staring at you when the bodyguards followed you in. 

This grocery store was a lot more boujee than the one you went to as a kid (or an adult for that matter). One of the bodyguards could see you were just wandering down the aisles, so he took pity on you and led you to where the ingredients were. 

You thanked him profusely before you began cooking in the kitchen, which also took you a bit longer to get a hang of. 

Apparently rich people have different stoves… good to know 

Finally you finished cooking dinner, right when Jumin got home. You assumed he would be home later than he said he would… and you were right 

“Hi Jumin!” you said as he shut the door 

“Hi, love,” he sighed as he kept walking, making a beeline for his home office 

You followed him a couple of steps. “I made dinner! It was one of my favorites as a kid. I was wondering if you wanted to try it-” 

“I’m really sorry. I have a lot of work to finish up tonight. I’ll be sure to try some tomorrow.” He turned around to kiss your forehead before walking into his office, shutting the door behind him. Not even sparing you a glance. 

Your throat began burning as tears began shining in your eyes. Without a word, you walked to the living room and sat down on the couch. You covered your mouth as the tears fell. 

Of course Jumin doesn’t want to spend time with you. You can’t even keep yourself from crying because you’re not getting attention. He didn’t even do anything! He didn’t yell. Didn’t snap at you. His emotions are always in check; he’s always rational. 

Meow

Elizabeth jumped onto your lap, and you held her close to your chest as you wheezed for air. She kept meowing as she cuddled into your chest. “At least you want me around, Elizabeth,” you whispered. 

“Why is Elizabeth meowing so much? It’s distracting” Jumin asked as he walked into the living room. His eyes widening a fraction of an inch when he saw your teary face

You looked Elizabeth in the eye. “Snitch.” 

He frowned, sitting next to you. “Darling, what’s wrong?” 

“Nothing, I’m just being overly emotional.” You said, pulling Elizabeth back into your chest. “It doesn’t matter.” 

Jumin frowned and put his hand on your leg, squeezing it lightly. “You were able to empathize with my emotions. Ones that I didn’t even know I had, let alone articulate. Your strength is your emotions; a strength I can never replicate. Don’t dismiss your emotions, please. Especially not with me,” 

Well now you were going to cry again. 

You leaned closer, and he wrapped his arms around you. He rubbed your back as you let out the last of your tears, leaving an imprint of your wet cheeks on his button up 

When you could finally breathe normally, you spoke up. “I went to the grocery store today- to buy things for dinner. And I was lost, but I didn’t want to ask a manager because the bodyguards were right there. And so Mr. Park ended up showing me where to go. And I come home, and it takes me half an hour to just figure out how to work the stove because there are so many knobs that do nothing, and god damn they don’t even say what temperature you’re heating up to clearly! And then I taste the food, and it tastes nothing like how it did as a kid because the ingredients aren’t the generic brand.” 

“May I ask where this is going?” Jumin furrowed his eyebrows. 

“I changed everything about my life to the point where making my favorite meal isn’t normal for me anymore,” you said, and he frowned. “Don’t get me wrong. I know that’s part of the Jumin Han package, but it’s only worth it if I’m getting Jumin Han too” 

“What do you mean?” 

“We’ve had dinner together twice this month,” you answered, “I wasn’t raised to handle this. I can only handle this if I have you. I can’t do it otherwise,” 

Jumin frowned. He kissed you slowly, making sure to savor the feeling of your lips against his. When was the last time he kissed you like this? He couldn’t remember. 

“I’m sorry, love.” 

“I know you’re busy-” 

“Still. I can’t imagine my life without you. I should be treating you as such. And I promise I will be doing better from now on.” 

You spend the night eating dinner and relaxing in the living room. 

After that night, Jumin makes sure that you both get to eat dinner at least twice a week. Nights where you both just focus on each other, and there’s no work. 

(Sidenote: Jumin’s new work-life balance trickles down to Jaehee, and she swears she would give you her first born if you ask for it because of this) 

Saeran

Being an ex-cult member came with a lot of challenges 

He had made a lot of progress. The anger and aggression he had mostly subdued as he got help, and he was proud of himself (first time he had ever felt that). He even had a job now; something he had never even dreamed of. 

But today he had like three customers scream at him. One of them even doing it in front of his manager, meaning he got an extra lecture. 

Saeran decided to walk home from work instead of taking the bus, seeing it as a way to burn off some steam and avoiding a confrontation with a stranger. 

He groaned as he got home and took his shoes off before he heard the TV show pause. 

Shit. 

He forgot today was your day off. 

He went to rush into your bedroom, avoiding the living room you were sitting in, but you followed him in with a smile, wanting to talk to your boyfriend. “Hi Saeran. How was work?” 

Saeran clenched his jaw. His immediate reaction to scream. Instead he clenched his fists. He couldn’t yell at you. He couldn’t lose his temper with you. He couldn’t. 

“Rough day.” 

He sat on the bed, and you frowned from the other side of the bed. 

“Do you wanna talk about it?” you asked, voice soft. 

He rested his elbows on his knees, dropping his face into his hands. His hands were shaking already. “I think I need to be alone right now.” 

“Okay… if you change your mind I’ll be in the liv-” 

“For the love of god, would you shut up?” he yelled, not even sure where it came from himself, “I already told you to leave me alone, so could you fucking listen for once in your life?” 

It was silent, save for your deep breathing. You turned around, shutting the door behind you. 

He felt nauseous. 

You were incredibly patient with him, almost more patient than Saeyoung. You didn’t ask for a lot. You just told him that you couldn’t handle yelling, never had, and you probably never will. It always made you scared. 

You didn’t outright tell him not to yell at you, but he figured out that’s what you meant when you said it quietly to him one night. 

And he promised himself he would never do that to you. Saeran put you through enough already; he couldn’t scare you now. 

Saeran took a shaky breath. His body both tense and loose at the same time. He couldn’t relax, but he also wasn’t in control of his body. 

He sat on the bed for who knows how long before he stood up, ready to apologize. 

The TV was still paused in the same time as before, and you weren’t in the living room. 

His heart began racing. 

What if you left? Were you safe? Did you leave him? Did he ruin this in the matter of minutes? 

Saeran’s hands gripped onto the cushions of the couch as anxiety took over his body. 

Then he heard a sniffle and a gasp coming from the bathroom. It was clear what you were doing. He felt both worse and better. 

Saeran knocked on the bathroom door, and the whispering noises somehow got quieter. “Can I come in?” 

Your voice croaked. “It’s open.” 

His heart tightened as he opened the door. Your eyes were puffy and red. Tears still attached to your eyelashes. “...Hi” you muttered, refusing to look at him, instead focused on the towel in your lap. You must have used that to muffle yourself. 

“I- I’m sorry. I was trying to keep myself from yelling, but I lost control when I shouldn’t have. I know I shouldn’t have. I’m so sorry…” 

You nodded, still refusing to look at him. He wanted to hug you. Pull you in, rub your back, stroke your hair and promise you that it would never happen again. But he had promised himself that it would never happen in the first place before. 

You were always the one comforting him. This was the first time he had done it for you, made even worse that he was the reason you needed to be comforted. 

You let out a whimper and wiped away your oncoming tears. “Yelling just scares me and hearing it from you-” 

Saeran stepped towards you, grabbing your shoulder and pulling you against his torso. You could feel how tense he was; you were practically leaning against a wooden plank. He was really trying. 

“I… I promise I’ll try better next time. I don’t like you being scared of me or seeing you like this and knowing it was me. It won’t happen again,” 

You looked up at him, and he patted your head on instinct. You furrowed your eyebrows, too confused to really be scared anymore. 

If anything was gonna make Saeran seem less scary, it was gonna be his concerned eyes as he struggled to comfort you. “You’re trying right now, huh?” 

“I am. And I promise I’ll try harder.” 

“Can I have a kiss?” 

He leaned down and kissed you. “Do you want to go watch TV? So I can make it up to you.” 

You nodded and as you cuddled into his side, holding onto his hand tightly, Saeran pulled out his phone. 

He wrote out an email to his therapist: 

Can we move up my appointment? 

He was gonna try better. He wouldn’t do this again. 

V

January 26th… The week of their anniversary

Or at least it would’ve been

Don’t get it twisted. He loved you. More than he had ever loved anyone else before. He would never trade his experiences with you for her. 

But it was the week of their anniversary. 

That Sunday was supposed to be their wedding date. 

Monday was explainable. 

People just want their alone time sometimes 

So was Tuesday… 

And Wednesday… sort of 

But four days of your boyfriend that you lived with not talking to you?

That was not alright 

You made more of an effort Friday, hoping that if you pushed him for a conversation, he would speak up about whatever was bothering him 

You both had been home for about five hours now. You had tried starting a conversation about ten different times. 

You couldn’t anymore. 

If you talked again, your voice would probably crack. So you went into the bathroom, cried it out, and went to bed early. 

Both you and V were praying for this week to end. 

Sunday was their anniversary, and V told himself that everything would be normal afterwards. 

But Saturday was your breaking point 

When V left for rehearsal, you got your phone, dialed Seven’s number, and sat down on your bed. 

“Hey ho! What’s up, MC?” 

Does Seven even know?... “Has V told you anything this week?” 

“What?” Seven asked, and you could hear him shuffling around on the other end. “Is something wrong?” 

Shit you were already crying. You wiped at your nose and sniffled to clear it. “N-Nothing. He’s just been really quiet this past week, so I was worried.” 

“Quiet?” 

“Yeah, he hasn’t really talked to me at all really,” you confessed. Hating that your tears were running down your face. Holding in your emotions was like trying to stop a tsunami with a spoon. Your voice cracked, and you hoped that Seven was dumb enough -just this once- to just let it slide. “I was just wondering if he talked to you about anything that I should be worried about.” 

“MC, are you crying?” he asked. 

“Is that a yes or no, Seven?” 

“MC-” 

“Seven!” you snapped back before covering your mouth to keep any sounds from escaping. “I’m sorry for yelling. But has he?” 

“No…” 

“Okay, thanks for talking to me though. I hope you have a nice day.” You heard him try to say your name, but you hung up before he could finish. He called a couple more times, but you ignored it. 

You cleaned yourself up and went to work 

Your chest was heavy when you got home, and V cleared his throat as you took off your shoes 

“Hi,” you said, “Have you picked what to have for dinner?” 

He stared at you for a moment with furrowed eyebrows. “Uh… I was stuck between the Chinese place and pizza place.” 

“I’m good with either.” 

It was silent for a few moments as you went through the mail, avoiding looking at him. “I talked with Luciel today.” 

There it was… 

“Can we talk?” 

You nodded and sat down at the table. 

You spoke up before he could. “Why have you been distant this week?” 

“My anniversary and expectant wedding date with Rika is Sunday,” V explained, “I was reminded of her, and my first instinct was to distance myself again.” 

You wanted to be mad at him, but you understood it. “Are you okay?” 

“I’m… getting better. I wouldn’t say I’m good, but better than the beginning of this week,” V said 

You took a deep breath, hating the burning in your throat as tears appeared in your eyes. “You could’ve just said that, and I wouldn’t have pushed you to talk more about it,” you breathed out and wiped at your face, “I thought…” 

He furrowed his eyebrows and grabbed your hand. “You thought what?” 

“Sometimes I worry that you’re only with me because I was conveniently there when you were going through everything,” you confessed. And he felt his chest tighten. “So when you did pull away from me, even though it was just for a moment… I was scared.... I was scared that you realized that too,” 

He leaned over and kissed you, tasting the salt from your tears. “I promise, I love with all my heart. I appreciate that you were there for me, and I cared about you then. But I’ve fallen in love with you a little bit every day, over and over and over again since then,” 

You smiled at him as crying took over again, and you wrapped your arms around his neck. He held you as tears wet his shirt, rubbing your back as you did. “I love you,” you said into his neck, the words garbled. 

“I love you too,” V whispered. “And I’ll remind you of that everyday if I need to.”

Saeyoung

Saeran was hurting right now. Saeyoung knew that. He was just scared. It was scary to be in the mental health ward. To be away from Mint Eye, all he knew for years. 

But when Saeran yelled at him… That he abandoned his brother. He hurt everyone around him. That Saeran was better dead than with his brother. 

That Saeyoung didn’t deserve love. The only thing he was good at was corrupting people. 

… It was hard to not let it sink in. 

Because Saeran was just saying everything Saeyoung had told himself before. 

So Saeyoung was silent as he drove home. You and Vanderwood were working today, so he was silent as he cooked dinner. 

And he was silent when you came home. Only saying hi and that dinner was done before grabbing his plate and eating at his desk. 

There was a pit in your stomach as you followed him. “Is something wrong?” 

“No.” 

“Then why are you avoiding me?” you asked. 

“God. Why are you even still here?” he snapped, turning to look at you. His eyes weren’t even angry just… empty. “You had your party. Mint Eye is gone. The agency isn’t after me… so why are you still here?”

And then he turned around to face his screen again. 

That pit in your stomach had traveled all across your body. And god was it heavy. 

Your throat burned. 

The walls were closing in on you. 

And there was Seven. Just sitting at his desk typing. 

You wrapped your arms around you. Making yourself smaller, as if that would save you from the suffocation. 

You were just frozen. Slowly you stepped out of your shared room and walked to the front door. 

Silent, just like he was, you stepped outside. 

As if the fresh air was caffeine, your body woke up, letting the tears run down your face. 

You stumbled into the lawn outside and sat down, letting the damp grass cool your burning skin. You covered your mouth as you sobbed. 

Over and over again. Sobs and whimpers, muffled by your hand, would rack your body. You would finally calm down and take a deep breath. And the coldness would burn your throat and set you off again. 

A headache echoed in your head as you laid on the grass, staring up at the stars. Finally too exhausted to keep up the crying. They reminded you of Saeyoung. 

Fuck him for ruining stars for you. 

“What the hell are you doing, kid?” Vanderwood asked as he crouched next to your laying body. 

“Looking at the stars.” Your voice was raspy, barely there after your meltdown. 

“Are you okay?” they asked as they sat down next to you. “It’s late, ya know? It’s not safe out here.” 

“I’m not going inside.” 

“Hey-” 

“Thanks for your concern.” 

With a huff, they stood up, and you heard the security questions before the door opened. It shut. Crickets. 

The door opened again. And someone sat next to you with a sigh. You’d recognize that cologne anywhere. You pulled your knees up to your chest and wrapped your arms around them, refusing to look at him. 

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said those things.” 

“It’s not even what you said. It’s how you said it,” you responded, still avoiding his gaze. “It was like we were back in that fucking apartment.” 

“What?” 

“I was back in that fucking apartment. There was a bomb, a kidnapper, and you refused to even look at me. Everything was out of control. I felt like the exact same bomb was in the bunker back there. It was just happening around me- to me. All I could do was just wait. Just sit there waiting!” 

Unlike before, where he didn’t want to say, now he couldn’t speak. What was he going to say? Was there something he could say?

You were so calm the entire time you were at the apartment. Crying only after Saeran broke in. At least the only time he saw. How many times did you cry when he wasn’t looking? He thought he was the only one freaking out because you seemed to only be focused on him. 

But you couldn’t control the bomb. Couldn’t stop Saeran. Stop Rika. Couldn’t even tell the RFA the truth. 

But you wanted to help him. That was the only thing you could do. 

Seven didn’t see the panic attacks in the shower. Or you crying into your pillow. 

“I can’t do this again Seven. I can handle all of it. But not this. I can’t just sit here and watch you do this all over again. Over and over and over again! I can’t-” You sobbed, and Seven pulled you into his chest. 

He shut his eyes to keep his own tears from falling. Your back rose up and down as you gasped for air, his shirt becoming wet. 

Seven rubbed your back slowly and kissed the top of your head. You pulled away; your eyes finally dry. “I won’t push you away again. I promise I won’t cut you out.” 

“Saeyoung…” you mumbled. 

“No. I mean it,” he said. “I’ll do whatever it takes. I won’t shut you out again. I won’t make you go through that again.” 

He looked you in the eye with a smile that disappeared for a moment. “I promise, okay?” 

“Okay.” 

“Do you want to stay out here or go inside?” 

“I want to stay out here a little longer.” 

“That’s fine.” He held your hand as you laid out on the grass again