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recurring-polynya · 4 months ago

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Bleach Returns 2024 - Day 7 - Aftermath

This was the first thing I started for Bleach Returns 2024, and the last thing I finished. For theme weeks like this, it's always nice to have ideas that can fit under more than one of the prompts, in case you have to switch it around. This one could just as well have ended up under "Unlikely Pairs" -- they day I turned out to have skipped, but I needed the extra time, and I think it fits better as an "Aftermath" story anyway.

In any case, I have held the belief in my heart for ages that a truly underrated part of the Blood War was the fact that out of everyone in the Gotei, the only two people that got to see Komamura's wolf-man form were Iba and Hinamori, and I wanted to know if they ever talked about it later. I accidentally wrote it in the present tense, so it came out about a thousand times more melancholy than I intended it to be, but I'm actually pretty happy with how it came out. Consider this my Komamura Tribute Fic: you were a real one, sir, and for, like, 30 seconds you were a total smokeshow. Somehow I doubt you truly gave up your heart for good.

Rated T for one mild curse and endorsing lying to your boss | read on ao3 |

---

"Why are you asking me?" Rukia frowns. "Renji is a perfectly adequate liar." And your friend, she doesn't add.

Hinamori has an answer for this. She would have preferred to ask Renji, too. "He's too nice," she explains. "I know that I'm really bad at this, and he'll tell me I'm fine when I'm not. This is important. I need to do it right."

Rukia screws up her face and for a moment, Hinamori worries that she feels insulted, either on her own or on Renji's behalf. It's usually pretty rude to come up to a person and ask for their help in crafting a convincing fib. Hinamori knows Renji well enough-- she knows Rukia well enough now-- to expect that it would be taken as a compliment. But maybe not.

Rukia huffs. "You're right," she grumbles. "He's always been like that." She sighs expansively. "But if he were capable of running a team grift on his own, we never would have met, so I suppose I can't complain." And without any further preamble, she launces into a dissertation on the theory and practice of lying.

Hinamori blinks as she tries to take it in. There are fundamental precepts. There are classic techniques. There is ontology. There are hand-movements and eyebrow wagging. Hinamori should have brought a notebook, not that she could manage to get it all down. A lot of what Rukia says sounds like something Renji would say, but with far more conviction. He always used to say that he learned most of his chicanery from Rukia, and for the first time, Hinamori starts to believe it.

Rukia stops abruptly in the middle of an illustrative anecdote that has something to do with Kurosaki Ichigo's gym teacher. "What, exactly is the falsehood you need to fabricate?"

Hinamori tells her.

Rukia squirms for a moment. Momo realizes that she doesn't know if Rukia was asked to testify at any inquiries regarding her own captain. She wonders if she should have asked Renji after all.

"Look," says Rukia, in a way that is somehow simultaneously gruff and delicate, "Hinamori." She clears her throat. "I know it's extra weird because he's the Captain-Commander now, but you can just lie to Captain Kyouraku. It doesn't have to be convincing. He will ask you the question and you can say what you need to say and he'll write it in the official report. Whether or not he believes you is unimportant. He wants you to lie."

"I know," says Hinamori. "But I don't want it to just be a nod and a wink. Captain Komamura wouldn't have liked that. He was a good captain and a kind soul. Iba told me that he often tried to help people save face. I want to do a good job on my lie, for him. For Iba, too."

Rukia's brows furrow. She sets her jaw. "Your heart is very big, Hinamori," she says. "There are special techniques for lying with your entire heart. I will teach them to you."

"Thank you, Kuchiki-san," says Hinamori.

---

"Shortly after I became his lieutenant," Iba says, facing forward, standing at his fullest height, "my captain informed me that, in the case of his death, he had arranged a special exemption from the standard funeral rites for Gotei captains. He said that, if it was within my power, I should make sure his body was returned to his people."

"That is correct," the Head-Captain agrees. "Werewolves have a different path through the resurrection cycle than we do."

It takes Iba a moment before he is able to continue, but when he does, his voice is steady. He speaks in the cadence of a Lieutenant Delivering a Report. They can all do it. They all do do it. Momo does not remember anyone ever teaching her how. It just comes with the job. Iba's voice is naturally a little froggy, which Momo has noticed before, but it's even more evident when he is forgoing his usual tough guy turns of phrase.

Iba describes the damage sustained by his captain's bankai during the battle with Sternritter E. He makes a remark for the record about the unique relationship between Captain Komamura and his bankai. In this case, Iba says, the damage was more than Komamura could heal, would ever be able to heal. Iba states that by dismissing his bankai, Captain Komamura was able to eke out a few more hours of his life, but that his end was inevitable. This is why Iba and his captain did not regroup with everyone else, and why they declined medical assistance. Iba fought Soldat with his captain until the bitter, bloody end. At that time, zombies had begun to appear on the battlefield, and Iba felt it vital to deliver the body of his captain to the werewolf clan as soon as possible, so that it did not fall into enemy hands. That is why there is no corpse. "But my captain died honorably, in battle," Iba concludes. "I was there when he fell."

It takes some time for Head-Captain Kyouraku to finish up his note-taking. Lieutenant Ise is faster at transcription, Momo thinks, but she is not here. There is so much to do these days. She must be busy with something else.

Kyouraku's eyes scan quickly over his notes. "Thank you, Lieutenant Iba," he says. "Very complete. I don't think I have any further questions."

"If you think of anything later, please don't hesitate to ask, sir," Iba replies.

Kyouraku turns his gaze to Momo. "I understand you are able to corroborate portions of this, Lieutenant Hinamori?"

Momo straightens her spine and clears her throat.

You are telling a story, Rukia reminds her. Parts of that story are true and parts of it are not. Start with the parts that are true.

Hinamori tells the story of fighting her way through the Soldat-flooded city, trying to rejoin her captain. It is their practice to maintain distance when he is using his zanpakutou, but she likes to be within shouting distance. In case he needs her. She talks about seeing the columns of light and feeling the burst of strange, acidic reiatsu as the Quincy unleashed their Voll Stern Dich. She does not mention the way her feet were already moving even before she felt her captain's reiatsu plummet.

One of the things that makes you a bad storyteller, Hinamori, is that you always needs to add in extra detail, even when it doesn't add to the story, even when it makes you not look great. Especially when it makes you not look great. It's like you're always afraid of people thinking you are lying, so you want to lay everything out there up front.

This is still the part that is true, and Rukia said it was important to build up some momentum, so Himamori allows herself the indulgence of being a bad storyteller. If I tell the true parts poorly, she reasons, the lies will be less obvious.

"When Captain Hirako was injured, I made a poor decision. I wanted to save my captain. I thought I could get the drop on Sternritter E. I thought I could fight her fire with mine." Hinamori swallows. "Captain Komamura saved me. I know he wanted to go on and fight Yhwach, but he stayed back to protect me and my captain. I know it's not really relevant to this inquiry, but I would like it added to record anyway, if possible."

"Captain Komamura was always looking out for others on the battlefield," Head-Captain Kyouraku murmurs as his brush makes soft swishing noises over the paper. "I've made a note. Please continue, Lieutenant."

It's not a lie to not say something. It's just editing. Hinamori had wanted to tell Kuchiki the thing, the thing she had to edit out, but Kuchiki didn't want to hear it. Kuchiki had, in fact, put her hands over her ears and sang "LA LA LA LAAAA" until Hinamori gave up. It had been a little bit rude, in Hinamori's opinion. You want to tell me because it feels like a secret, Kuchiki had scolded. It's not a secret. It's extraneous information. Throw it in the trash. Burn it to a crisp. Forget about it forever.

It sure feels like a secret, the thing she had seen. She tries not to think about it, afraid that if she does, it will leave a hole in her story the size of a werewolf and the shape of a man. Instead, Hinamori continues. "Captain Komamura ordered me to take Captain Hirako and leave. I wanted to stay. I wanted to help. But I had seen her explosions, and I knew he needed the space. He went to bankai as I left."

"You didn't actually see them fight, then," Head-Captain Kyouraku surmises.

"Captain Komamura's bankai is--was--very large," Hinamori states the obvious. "As I left, I could see it taking explosion after explosion. I could hear and feel the bombs. They were deafening. I shouldn't have, but when they stopped, I… I looked back. I saw Captain Komamura's bankai crumble to pieces. It did not seem like a thing that would be possible to survive."

"Indeed," agrees the Head-Captain. "A great loss for the Gotei."

"Agreed, sir."

Iba draws in a long breath, but says nothing.

"Anything else, Lieutenant Hinamori?"

"No, sir. That is all."

"Captain Hirako has declined to give testimony. He said he didn't think he had anything to add."

"Probably not, sir. He was unconscious for most of it."

Kyouraku nods as he finishes writing. He puts his brush in the holder, and folds his hands. "Thank you both. I'm sorry we had to go through all this procedure for something so simple as a death in battle, but he was a captain, after all. Usually, the Central 46 would hold a hearing, but I think this--" he pats his stack of paper-- "should suffice."

She has done it. It's over. Kuchiki was right. It was barely a lie. It was a careful arrangement of true things. Hinamori feels like she has run a thousand miles and bench-pressed the Soukyoku. She wants to throw up. She wants to go to sleep for a million years.

"It was an honor to serve under him," Iba says.

Hinamori has no regrets.

---

Okay, it turns out that Hinamori does have regrets. Not about the statement. She receives a short note from the Captain Commander several days later informing her that the ruling of "Killed in Action" has been accepted, and thanking her again.

She wishes she had said more to Iba.

Hinamori is very busy these days. There have been three wartime actions in the last two years, and for once, Hinamori has come through relatively unscathed. She wants to make the most of this by helping everyone she can. She and Captain Hirako take on paperwork from the Tenth while its leadership needs extra treatment to purge out the last after-effects of the zombification. It's only fair. Hitsugaya has done enough of the Fifth's paperwork. She goes to PT with her Third Seat, who ended the war with a pair of prosthetic legs. She volunteers once a week at the Pop-Up Mess Hall the Ninth has been running to help out the squads whose facilities were destroyed, or who simply can't spare the manpower (also, the Ninth has a lot of talented cooks, and it's as good an opportunity to socialize as you can get these days). She tries to make time for all her friends, but especially the ones who are injured or grieving or overworked.

Hinamori is friendly with Iba, but she's not sure they are friends. He's not quite part of the close-knit core of the lieutenants that she hangs out with. He has his own friends, she's sure. He's pals with Abarai (who isn't?) and Madarame, who finally showed up to a lieutenant's meeting this week, even if he did so with a facial expression like he'd just drank a glass of slugs. Hinamori just isn't sure…well, it's not that those guys aren't sensitive to each other's feelings--scratch that, Madarame is definitely not sensitive to people's feelings--but Hinamori can't help but wondering if anyone has extended Iba any sympathy that didn't come the form of a moment of manly, stoic shared silence or possibly a punch on the shoulder.

Hinamori intends to swing by the Seventh shortly before the end of the work day. She isn't sure how this is going to go, and she wants to leave her options open. Her plans are derailed slightly when, on her way out of the door, she runs into Ise with a pile of new forms and feeling chatty to boot. By the time Hinamori walks into the Seventh's administrative building, it is half an hour past quitting time. The hallways are already pretty empty, and even as she knocks on Iba's door, Hinamori resigns herself to trying again tomorrow. "Lieutenant Iba?" she calls tentatively. "It's Lieutenant Hinamori. Are you in?"

"Ah, yes! Come in!" Iba's gravelly voice calls back.

Hinamori slides the door open and steps through. Iba is hunched over some paperwork. "Sorry!" he says. "Just a moment! I'm trying to finish up--there!" He looks up. "What can I do for you, Lieutenant Hinamori?"

For a long, long moment, Hinamori stares at him.

Iba has brown eyes. He blinks them once, then suddenly scrabbles around on his desk, shoves over a pile of forms that looks suspiciously like the one Ise just foisted on her, grabs his sunglasses, and crams them on his face. "Sorry!" he croaks. "Sorry!"

"No, no!" Hinamori waves a hand frantically. "It was my fault! I didn't-- I didn't see anything!" Her stomach clenches. Why is she always seeing things she isn't supposed to see? She looks away, frantically, and her eyes land on the floor next to Iba's desk. There is a pillow there, and on the pillow, a handsome dog regards her judgmentally. "Oh!" she says. "Hello, Goro!"

Iba clears his throat. "He's, uh. I don't keep him in here all day. He just had his dinner, and I'm going to take him for his walk as soon as I…" He looks at his stack of papers and then looks at Hinamori. "I'm sorry, what did you need? Are those more new forms?"

Goro puts his chin on his paws and sighs.

Hinamori looks down at the pile of paper nestled in the crook of her arm. "This?" she says, trying to get her thoughts together. "Oh! Right! No, no new forms! I got some flyers printed up for my weekly meditation circle! Do you remember, I mentioned it at the last lieutenants' meeting?"

"Oh…oh, yeah," Iba manages. "Yeah, that's not really my…"

"For your squad," Hinamori emphasizes. "I was hoping you might be able to post them in a common area. Or you could hand them out to anyone in particular you thought might benefit. Everyone's working so hard and dealing with so much right now. It can be, well, sort of a subtle way to suggest that someone takes a little break. I got a little stipend from the Fourth, so we have snacks afterward, now!"

Iba nods. He obviously does not need even one more thing to think about. "Ah, okay! Yeah, great idea! Thanks, Lieutenant Hinamori."

Hinamori slides the stack of flyers onto an extra table that Iba has pulled up next to his desk, apparently for increasing its paperwork-holding capacity. "You can have someone deal with these tomorrow," she says gently. She kneels down to scratch Goro's head. "Are you doing all right, Iba-san?"

Iba misinterprets her and immediately begins to bluster. "All of this looks much worse than it is! I'm getting the important stuff done! Ask anyone in Squad Seven--who have been champs, by the way! You see how empty this place is? It's because I make everyone go home on time, that's why! They'd be working night and day if I didn't make them take a rest. Maybe I'll send the whole lot over to your meditation whatsit!"

"That's not what I meant," Hinamori cuts him off. Unlike the Head-Captain's office, this is a place where she doesn't need to be parsimonious with the truth, so she goes on to say, "I only brought those flyers over as an excuse to come see how you were doing. You must miss him so much, and you can't even talk to anyone about the way it really happened."

Iba's mouth opens as he starts to say something, but then he closes it again. "I do," he says finally. He jerks his head towards an extra chair sitting along one wall. "You wanna pull up a seat?"

Hinamori does so. "Have you…heard anything?" She knows that Captain Komamura is still alive because Iba told her when he came to ask her to testify at the hearing. When he came to ask her if she would help him tell the story the way Captain Komamura would prefer it to be told. All the same, she is wants to let Iba be the one to say it out loud first.

"Ah, one of his relatives is a regular at the weekly market outside the eastern gate. There was a letter." Iba is silent for a moment. "He's healed up from his war wounds. He says there are some faces he's glad to see again." Iba reaches down to scratch Goro around the ears. "The cousin, he sells mushrooms, actually, really good mushrooms, I guess they sniff them out of the woods or something. Anyway, he says that, ah, well… they're happy to have him home."

Hinamori feels sadness settle on her chest like a stone. She barely knew Captain Komamura at all, but she knows he must have overcome so much in order to join the Gotei, in order to live in the city. She loves Junrinan, and yet she remembers feeling the cold terror that she might be sent back there after…when it seemed unclear whether she could still be a shinigami. "I'm sure it will be an adjustment," she says slowly. She wishes she could think of something else to say.

Iba regards her for a long time. "You get it," he says. "I can tell." He groans and leans back in his chair. "Aaah, Hinamori, you're right! It's been agonizing not bein' about to say anything! Everyone thinks I'm sad 'cause he's dead, and I gotta pretend that's true, but I'm actually sad 'cause all I can think about is his wolf-mom given' him a bunch of grief about wastin' his time on shinigami shit!"

"Does he have a wolf-mom?" HInamori asks, suddenly curious.

"Hell if I know! He never talked about werewolf stuff, so I've just been coming up with stuff in my head. I'm sure it's all wrong."

"I feel like if he has a wolf-mother, he would love her very much," Hinamori said. "He seemed like that type."

"You're right, Lieutenant Hinamori," Iba said, wagging a finger at her. "You're absolutely right." He cleared his throat. "While you're here. Listenin'. Well--there's something I been wanting to say so bad I feel like I'm gonna explode sometimes. You, ah, don't mind, do you?

"Of course not," Hinamori agrees. "Go ahead."

Iba leans forward, crumpling some of his paperwork. One side of his mouth curls up into a boyish grin. Goro looks up, curious. "He was awesome, there at the end, wasn't he?"

"Oh," says Hinamori, "oh, my, yes."

"For the length of that fight, he was immortal. Untouchable."

"I will never forget how I felt when I saw his bankai," Hinamori blurts out. "It gave me shivers."

"I know! It was absolutely incredible. I've--I've been working on my own bankai and I just…it's never going to be that."

Hinamori tilts her head to one side. "It might be," she says.

Iba frowns thoughtfully. "He gave me something to shoot for, for sure. What a captain he was!"

"Mm," Hinamori nods, thinking about captains she has loved.

Iba looks away for a moment, then looks back. "Hinamori, I gotta ask. You saw my captain. In his human form."

Hinamori is momentarily shocked to hear the secret thing, said out loud and in such a casual way. "Yes," she says eagerly.

"He was…he was, like, better than average on the looks scale, right? I'm not…I'm into ladies, you know, I'm not much of a judge of that kind stuff. But, like. Wow."

"Oh, yes," Hinamori, who is generally very circumspect when offering opinions on other people's look. "He was--well, that's not really my type either but--" She clears her throat primly. "Whew!"

"Whew!" Iba agrees.

Goro whines and puts his paws over his nose. Iba laughs, the kind of big hearty one that comes from getting something off your chest. "I know I've already taken up too much of your time, Hinamori, but, uh…I don't spose you'd like to help me take this guy on his walk?"

Hinamori smiles. "I'd love that."

#bleach returns 2024 #my writing #momo hinamori #tetsuzaemon iba #sajin komamura #rukia kuchiki #it's been a fun week and it was a pleasure to participate!#thank you to everyone else who made such great stuff and to all the kind people who liked and reblogged! 😘

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kjmsupremacist · 5 months ago

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maps and constellations (chan/felix)

After their senior year of high school, Chan and his closest friends decide to go on a road trip together to close out their time as children before they move on to college. Though Chan’s excited for the trip, he knows the pressure of the next stage of their lives looms bigger on the horizon every day, and he’s not sure how well they’re all going to handle the transition, especially because they’ll be scattered across the country in the fall. Even more pressing, however, are the feelings he’s developing for his best friend, Felix.

Chapter 7 | prev next mlist

Characters: Felix, Chan, the rest of skz

Genre: romance, fluff, angst, friends to lovers, coming of age, growing pains, getting together

Pairing: Chan/Felix

Warnings: smut, semi-public sex (but like. not really)

Rating: Explicit

Length: 4.4k

listen to the official playlist here!

“Don’t stay out too late!” Chan’s mom calls after him as he pockets his keys and checks his reflection in the hallway mirror.

“We won’t!” he promises, tapping out a quick text to Felix and shoving his feet into his shoes.

The night air is hot and muggy even though the sun is already below the horizon. Chan locks the door, already sweating, and heads to his car. He turns to the A/C to blasting and backs out onto the street. Felix is sauntering down his own driveway, wearing loose running shorts and a white tank top. He hops into the car, kissing Chan’s cheek before buckling himself in. He smells like something sweet.

“Hey,” Chan says belatedly, putting the car in drive.

“Hey,” Felix replies cheerily. “Where are we going? Why are there blankets in the backseat?”

“It’s a surprise,” Chan says, trying and failing not to blush. His idea is simple, really, but there’s a field he and Felix used to go to all the time to stargaze. Match up the constellations in the sky with the ones on Felix’s cheeks. It’s been ages since they’ve been back, and now, just a couple days before they both fly out for orientation, Chan figured it would be a nice way to say goodbye to their childhood for good.

Felix wiggles his eyebrows, which only makes Chan flush harder. He may or may not have a condom and a packet of lube in the glove box, too, but Felix doesn’t need to know that. So far, they haven’t really been able to do anything, too busy getting ready for school, houses too full for any privacy. But maybe tonight…. Chan glances at Felix out of the corner of his eye and then immediately wishes he hadn’t. His blonde hair brushes his temples, sweet and soft. Yesterday, Chan helped him re-dye his roots, and they’re a bright orange. He still remembers the feeling of Felix’s scalp beneath his fingertips. He remembers kissing him while they waited for the dye to sit, the bleach stinging Chan’s eyes and nostrils. He remembers the way Felix went lax, head lolling, as Chan used his hair to turn him this way and that, washing all the bleach off.

“When we get back, will you help me pack?” Felix asks.

Chan smiles. “Yeah,” he agrees. “No problem.”

Their friends had taken the news as they expected—with a lot of laughter and ridicule. It was fair, Chan supposed.

“I honestly thought you guys were just going to continue your weird fake queerplatonic bullshit to the grave,” Hyunjin had said earnestly. “Like you were going to move in together and get married, like, for tax benefits or whatever.”

“Yeah, I can’t believe you guys finally figured it out,” Seungmin said drily. “I thought it was hopeless.”

“What I can’t believe,” Felix replied with his cute little nose in the air, “is that none of you thought to say anything. For, like, fifteen years. Do you know how much pain I was in?”

“The thing is,” Jeongin muttered, “we did.”

“When?!” Felix demanded. The conversation sort of dissolved into chaos from there.

Their parents took the news kindly. Chan told them one night after his siblings went to bed, when the sun was down and the dishes were cleared. His dad squeezed his shoulder with a grin and said, “Finally.” His mom teared up a little.

“I’m just so happy for you,” she said quietly. “All these firsts—graduating high school, going off to college. A boyfriend. I’m proud of you. And it’s just another reminder that you’re growing up.”

“Ew, Mom, stop,” Chan groaned.

Felix told Chan later that he saw his dad slip his mom some cash after he told them. Rachael wasn’t joking when she said they’d placed bets.

Chan turns onto a state highway that leads out into the farmlands, and Felix sits up straighter in his seat. “Oh, we’re going stargazing!”

“Yeah,” Chan admits. “I thought, since this is one of our last nights here, you know.”

“Yeah, it’s been so long since we’ve done this,” Felix agrees. “Reminds me of being little.” He turns to watch the fields pass out the window. “Remember the time when I failed my first math test, and I was so terrified to tell my parents, so we told everyone we were gonna go to the library and study and you took me out for dinner instead? And we got burgers and all of a sudden, I couldn’t stop crying so you threw everything in the car and just started driving?”

Chan does remember. It was freshman year, and Felix had never gotten a grade below a B+, and then all of a sudden, there was their first math test of high school slapped on his desk with a big fat 48% sitting at the top in red. Felix cried his eyes out the whole way to the field, even though the sun was setting so pretty on the horizon. But then they got to the spot. Chan turned the car off and they got out and Felix looked up at the sky and just stopped.

It was the very last time Chan saw Felix cry like that, congested and ugly with snot and tears dripping off his chin. They sat out there for a while, up on the hood of Chan’s car since they didn’t have a blanket, until it started getting a little too cold and Chan knew he’d have to take them home or one of them was gonna get sick. Felix was so calm when they got in the car and they were quiet all the way home. He was still for a moment when Chan pulled into his driveway, then, all at once, lunged across the console and threw his arms around Chan’s shoulders.

“Thank you,” he whispered fiercely.

And then he was gone, shutting the passenger side door behind him and shuffling up his front walk.

Chan didn’t know it, but he loved him then, sitting in the sudden quiet of his car, hand on the clutch to put it in reverse, but not moving. He watched him unlock the front door, watched the warm light spill out from the foyer onto the porch, watched it kiss the crown of his head. And loved him, and didn’t know.

“Yeah, I remember,” he says. “I was honestly debating whether I should take you to the hospital instead, ‘cuz the last time I’d seen you cry like that you ended up with a fever, somehow.”

“That was just bad timing,” Felix argues, laughing. “I happened to have pneumonia already.”

“Right,” Chan snickers. “You were patient zero and then our whole eighth grade class got it.”

“Mm, Hyunjin wouldn’t speak to me for a week after because it made him so miserable,” Felix giggles.

Chan takes an exit down a dark, barely-lit road. The sky is just tinged orange now, and though Chan can’t crane his neck up to check, he’s sure the stars are coming out now. Perfect timing. Felix rolls down his window and hangs his hands out over the edge, resting his chin on his forearms. The night breeze wafts in, warm, smelling of wildflowers and freshly mowed grass and asphalt. Smelling of home.

The road gets smaller and twistier as they pass large swathes of farmland, eventually going unpaved and dusty. The car headlights beam out into the gathering dark; bugs swarm towards their false sun and Felix has to roll up the window.

“You got bug spray?” Felix asks.

“Yeah,” Chan says, offhand, too focused on not driving them off the road. “It’s in the glove box.”

As soon as the words are out of his mouth, he remembers exactly what else is in the glove box, but it’s too late, Felix is popping it open, and— “Chan!” he laughs, accusatory and teasing and excited all at once. “Is this why there are blankets in the backseat?”

Chan refuses to look at him, though he can see the foil of the condom packet glinting in the faint glow from the lights on the dash. “No,” he says, trying to sound self-assured and nonchalant. “The blankets are definitely for stargazing.”

Felix’s laughter is full of delight. “Oh, I was so wondering when we were gonna do this. Obviously our houses are way too crowded, and I guess our dorms would be an option, but that’s so far away, and I don’t really want my first time with you to be in some shitty little dorm room, anyway.”

“Oh, but my mom’s car is perfectly acceptable?” Chan can’t help but point out.

“It’s probably going to be more comfortable than a plasticky twin bed with broken springs, and angry, sexiled roommates lurking in the hall,” Felix replies, and Chan can’t really argue with that.

“Alright, quiet, I need to make sure I’m not about to drive us into a literal ditch,” he says in a botched attempt to salvage his dignity. Felix just giggles.

Really, if either of them should be nervous and embarrassed, it should be Felix, because—unless he’s been keeping any other big secrets from Chan—he’s a virgin, and Chan isn’t. Not that Chan necessarily counts, like, ten minutes with a random guy at summer camp two years ago as experience, but, you know. At least Chan has something other than the internet and his imagination to base this on. But maybe that’s why he’s so nervous. The last time wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t really… special. And he wants this to be special, so he really hopes he doesn’t fuck anything up.

They bump along the edge of the field until Chan finds a sheltered sort of corner that’s hidden from the road and shadowed under trees. When the car is off, no one’s gonna see them unless they come right up alongside, so they should be fine. He cracks all four windows, then turns the key, shutting off the ignition, and tips his head to the side to look at Felix.

“Stars first? Or…?”

Felix rolls his eyes. “You’re gonna fuck me first, obviously,” he says, and Chan feels himself flush, again.

“Yeah, okay,” he says, trying to make light of it. “Um, we should probably sacrifice one blanket for this. I’m gonna get out and pass the others up to you.” He pops his door open, peeling himself out of the car and opening up the back. Felix accepts the other blankets and comes to join him so they can spread the other one across the seats, dropping the lube and condom on the floor. They scoot the front seats up and then get into the back together. The car’s headlights finally turn off, and with the doors all closed, they’re plunged into darkness.

Chan feels a little silly, sitting side by side with the boy he’s about to fuck, but it’s not like they have any other choice. “Okay,” he says quietly. “Um, shoes off, I think.” Felix complies; Chan reaches up and drops both pairs of their shoes onto the floor in front of the driver’s seat.

“Good?” Felix says when he sits back again. “Will you kiss me now?”

Chan smiles despite his nerves, nodding. Felix’s hands are cupping his jaw in an instant, and Chan has to admit he feels silly for a different reason now. Why is he nervous? It’s Felix. If there’s anyone he should never be nervous around, it’s Felix.

Felix’s teeth graze Chan’s bottom lip, and something sparks in his belly. They’ve exchanged quick kisses here and there, but there really hasn’t been any time (or privacy) for anything else. But now…

Chan grabs Felix by the waist and pushes him back down onto the seat, climbing on top of him. Felix gasps into his mouth, his little hands slipping from Chan’s face and scrabbling for purchase on his arms. Chan plants one knee between Felix’s thigh and the back of the seat, the other foot in an awkward lunge somewhere behind him on the car floor. He breaks their kiss in favor of pressing his lips to Felix’s jaw, his neck.

“Chan,” Felix whimpers softly, and Chan is dizzy with how much he wants him.

He rucks Felix’s soft tank up to his chest and closes his mouth around one of his nipples. Felix giggles breathily, his hands flying to Chan’s hair, combing his fingers through the strands curling in the heat. Chan takes this as encouragement, laying down a line of kisses as he moves to the other side, then down his stomach.

“You’re perfect,” he says quietly.

“Shut up,” Felix says, sounding pleased. “Take your shirt off.”

Chan sits back, obeying, and Felix uses the opportunity to squirm out of his own. Chan loosens the tie on his shorts since he might as well, managing to pull them off as well, then helps Felix with his. They pause a moment, just breathing, looking. They’ve seen each other naked a thousand times. Chan doesn’t even know. He knows every line, every shadow of Felix’s body. And still, it feels like the first time. Maybe it is—the first time he’s looked like he’s wanted to, properly looked.

Felix is lying across the seats now, one leg stretched out, foot somewhere behind Chan, the other leg dangling off the side. His stomach rises and falls with his breath, fast and shallow. Chan looks at his thigh next to Felix’s and resists the urge to squeeze Felix until he pops, or something. He’s so tiny, and so perfectly shaped, like a porcelain statue of an angel.

Felix blinks up at him, eyes wide. “What?” he asks, and Chan recognizes an anxious edge to his voice.

Chan bends down and kisses his thigh. “I love you,” he says.

“Oh,” Felix says, somewhat mollified. “I love you, too.” Then, retrieving the lube from the floor and holding it out to Chan, “Need this?”

“Yeah,” Chan says, trying so hard to be chill, accepting it. “Underwear off first.”

Felix presses his lips together and scoots the waistband of his underwear down off his hips. Chan tries very hard not to stare, but Felix’s half-hard cock springs free, and he feels his breath catch in his throat. The tip is pink, and wet with precome. He takes the underwear almost absently, helping Felix pull them the rest of the way off just like he did with his shorts.

“You’re so hot,” he blurts stupidly, and Felix half-sits just to whack his forearm. “I’m serious!”

“Look,” Felix says, watching Chan shakily apply lube to a couple of his fingers. “I know I’m a virgin, but you’re not gonna break me.” Chan looks up at him. “I need you to know that. I’ve—“ He gulps in a breath, then rushes on. “I’ve put my fingers inside myself before. Okay?”

“O-okay,” Chan stutters, setting the lube aside and putting one hand on Felix’s right thigh, trying and failing to not imagine Felix squirming in his sheets. “Christ, okay.”

“I’m telling you this because you don’t need to go slow. Like, I can do it.” Felix sounds very somber. “If you go slow, I’ll explode. Into a million million tiny pieces, in your mom’s car, okay, so—”

It makes Chan laugh; he cuts him off by surging up to kiss him. “Alright,” he says. Another kiss. “Alright. Okay. I’ve got you, okay?”

“Prove it,” Felix pouts, and what else can Chan do but comply?

He sits back and spreads Felix with one hand, pressing his slicked up finger against his entrance, then pushes in. It’s tight, but not impossible. Felix flutters around him; Chan looks up to see his eyebrows pinched but his eyes fixed with determination on Chan’s hand. Chan leans forward, his other knee dropping to the floor of the car, his elbow to the seat next to Felix’s ribs. He kisses his jaw.

“Don’t think about it,” he says. “Just breathe.”

“I’m breathing,” Felix mutters, and Chan laughs and kisses him—really kisses him, pushes his tongue past his teeth to distract Felix as he finally sinks his finger down to the last knuckle. It works; Felix begins to relax around him, kissing Chan back, unable to focus on two things at once. How pliant he is, how sweet the quiet moans are that bubble up between kisses, how hot he is around Chan’s finger, all make Chan’s head swim and his cock throb. He gives a few more short thrusts with his finger, then squeezes a second one in. Felix inhales sharply, stiffening for a moment.

“Relax,” Chan murmurs. He pushes himself up so he can use his other hand, wrapping it around Felix’s cock. He’s gone soft again, but starts filling out almost immediately under Chan’s touch. The leftover lube in his palm mixes with the precome, and soon Felix is rolling his hips up into Chan’s fist.

It’s also kind of hard for Chan to focus on two things at once, but he manages to keep a gentle pace going with his fingers, and once he falls into a rhythm, finally has the presence of mind to search for Felix’s prostate. It takes a minute or two, but he brushes against something that makes Felix moan out loud, twisting underneath him, like he’s trying to run away from and towards the sensation all at once.

“There?” Chan says, curling his fingers again, and Felix whines.

“Yeah,” he pants. “Yeah, fuck, more.”

Chan wonders faintly how much Felix will hate him if he accidentally comes before he has the chance to fuck him because Felix looks so good like his, head tipped back, column of his throat on display, sweat beading on his chest, a trail of dark hair running down his stomach, the vee of his hips, how tight and wet and perfect he is just around Chan’s fingers.

He clenches his jaw and keeps opening him up, adding another finger when Felix gets a little looser, still stroking his cock until he’s hard and leaking and Felix is swatting his hand away.

“Gonna make me come like that,” he says breathlessly. “I’m ready, please.”

“One more finger,” Chan insists, though he lets go of Felix’s cock to give him a break.

“Fuck you,” Felix complains, but he lets Chan fit his pinky in with the rest, rolling his hips down to meet each of Chan’s thrusts just to prove a point.

Finally, Chan’s own patience wears thin, and he pulls out, wiping his hands on the blanket, which he knows is gross, but that’s kind of what it’s there for. He swallows his self-consciousness (because what the fuck, he just had his fingers in Felix’s guts) and pulls off his own underwear, adding it to the pile of their clothes.

“Condom?” he asks.

“Here,” Felix says dreamily, handing it to him without looking away from his cock.

“Like what you see?” Chan asks as he tears the condom open, immediately regretting it because it sounds so cringey. But Felix must either love him a lot, or just be far gone enough that he only nods, swallowing roughly.

“I’ve never sucked a dick before,” he says vaguely.

“Next time,” Chan replies, rolling the condom on and suppressing an insane shudder of want. He banishes the images his mind is hurrying to conjure up, of Felix on his knees with his pretty mouth stretched around Chan’s cock, eyes wide and teary. Next time, he repeats to himself as he lines up with Felix’s entrance. “Ready?”

“Yes, Chan, hurry up,” Felix insists. Chan pushes in, grabbing Felix’s hip to keep himself steady. He’s not even halfway when Felix begins to tremble, but he’s still leaking against his stomach, and when Chan looks up, Felix’s face is a perfect picture of pleasure.

“You okay?” he asks anyway.

“Yeah,” Felix breathes. “Go slow.”

“Thought you wanted me to hurry,” Chan teases, but he does, coming back up to Felix so he can cradle his face, pressing hot kisses to his neck.

“Shut up, I don’t even own a dildo or anything,” Felix replies defensively. His voice vibrates in Chan’s skull. “Oh, fuck,” he hisses. “I didn’t think—I mean, I’ve never—I didn’t know it would feel like this.”

“What does it feel like?” Chan whispers.

“So full,” Felix says. “Like—like you’re everywhere. So good.”

That absolutely goes to Chan’s head, and he has to bite the inside of his cheek so he doesn’t immediately start fucking Felix way too hard. “Yeah?” he manages.

Felix nods. “You’re so deep.” He sounds awestruck. “Fuck, Chan, I can’t believe I could’ve had this so long ago and I didn’t! I’m s-so—ah, ah—so angry with you.”

“I’ll make it up to you,” Chan promises fervently, meaning it. “Still okay? Just a little more.”

“Yeah,” Felix says. “Look at me.”

Chan pushes himself back a little so he can meet Felix’s gaze as he finally bottoms out. Felix’s eyes are wide open, his pupils huge and black. His lips are red and kiss-bitten. Chan can just barely make out his freckles in the faint moonlight. “Okay?” Chan asks again.

“Yeah.” Felix reaches up, links his hands behind Chan’s head, pulling him close until their foreheads knock. “Yeah, you can move. Please.”

Chan draws his hips back clumsily, fighting against the desire to pound Felix into the car seats, letting his eyes flutter shut. Felix’s breath is soft and warm and familiar on his cheeks. He starts painfully slow, long, drawn-out strokes, back and forth, until the glide is easier, until Felix’s little hurt noises are replaced by breathy moans. He works his hips faster, trying to find a rhythm, but it’s hard because he feels like his whole body is on fire.

“Lix,” he mumbles. “Fuck, fuck, you feel so good.”

“Yeah, you too,” Felix pants. He releases Chan’s head; he runs his hands down Chan’s body instead, lingering over his shoulders, his chest, his abs. “Faster, can you go faster?”

“Yeah, but I’m gonna have to sit up,” Chan grits out, and Felix nods against him. Chan pushes himself back, blinking, and grabs Felix’s waist in his hands. His thumbs almost touch, and he groans, snapping his hips back and then driving deep into Felix, making him squeal.

“Yes, yeah, like that,” Felix hiccups out, nodding, one hand reaching down to stroke his own cock.

Chan loses sense of exactly what happens from there. It comes in sound and feeling and color more than proper memory—Felix’s skin under his hands, the tightening in his gut, the smell of sweat and sex filling the car, condensation dripping down the windows, the red-hot feeling of Felix around him, his orgasm so close he can feel it in his teeth. Heady and perfect and like nothing he’s ever felt before. Special.

“Felix, baby, I’m gonna—I’m close, sorry, I—“

“’S okay, me too, me too,” Felix replies, his voice unusually high and unsteady.

Soon, too soon, Chan’s coming. His whole body tightens with it and his hips jerk uncontrollably as he finally releases. He hears himself moaning, feels Felix’s come splash across his fingers, too, and all he can think is that it feels just right. All he can think is that this might be all he wants, forever.

The ringing in his ears subsides, and he blinks his eyes open, unlocking his fingers from Felix’s waist, finally looking down. Felix is covered in a mess of sweat and come, his hair sticking up, his cheeks flushed, his chest heaving. He’s looking right back at Chan.

For one second, Chan doesn’t know what to say. But then Felix’s face breaks into a huge smile, and he’s laughing as he says, “Holy shit, Chan, you just fucked me in your mom’s car. I can’t believe this. I thought of this a million times. I never thought—I never thought we would.”

“You imagined us fucking in my mom’s car?” Chan groans, pulling out and peeling the condom off, tying the end and rummaging around for an old plastic shopping bag to throw it in.

“No, you dick,” Felix says. “Well, sometimes. I dunno.” His voice turns soft, wistful. “I just imagined us. And thought it would always stay in my head. And now—we’re here. And you’re mine.”

Chan’s been fighting to grab some napkins, and stops, looking at him. “Yeah,” he says softly. “I am. Always have been, I think.”

“Oh, Jesus,” Felix says, covering his face with his hands. “I love you, you huge dork.”

Chan laughs, finally tearing some napkins free so he can clean up the come on Felix’s belly. “Yeah, I love you, too.”

Somehow, they manage to get dressed. They leave the blanket where it is, luckily stain-free. Chan turns on the car just to open all the windows so it can air out. They might get bitten to death by a hundred bugs on the drive home, but Chan will take a thousand mosquito bites over returning this car with it smelling the way it currently does. They douse themselves in bug spray, then lay out the blankets a few paces away and collapse on top of them, side by side, to look at the stars.

They’re quiet for a few very long moments, just thinking.

“We go to college in a couple of days,” Felix says finally. “What the fuck.” Chan laughs. “No, seriously, what the fuck? I knew you when we were barely out of diapers, and now we’re going to fucking college.”

Chan blows out a breath. “Yeah,” he says. “A lot of things are different. But,” he adds, “a lot of things are also the same. Like.” He points up at the sky, tracing the Little Dipper with his finger. “We learned these constellations out of an old astronomy book we found in your dad’s office. But they’re the same now as they were then. And fifteen years from now, we’ll be out of college, and we’ll still go stargazing. And the constellations will be the same then as they are now, too.”

Felix leans his head against Chan’s shoulder, nodding. “Yeah,” he says. “That’s true. Things will feel way different then, too, but there will be lots of things that will be the same. From when we were children, and years and years into the future.” He pops himself up on an elbow, leaning over Chan. “And now,” he adds. His voice has taken on a syrupy quality. “And one of those things is that I love you.”

“UGH,” Chan groans, squeezing his eyes shut and curling over himself, rolling towards Felix in the process, like it’s actually physically paining him. “That’s so cheesy,” he complains over Felix’s laughter.

Felix climbs on top of him, landing obnoxious noisy kisses on his cheeks and chest, still laughing. Chan grins up at him, and though Felix has blocked Chan’s view of the sky, all he can see are stars.

#works #stray kids #felix #chan #chanlix #fanfic #fanfiction

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thinaiir · 1 month ago

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I've officially pivoted this year from "S*brina C*rpenter is really talented and has a few nice, clean songs like 'Fast Times,' so I will ignore her raunchy songs and listen to the clean ones and call myself a fan" to "S*brina C*rpenter's overall image is just too cringe for me to enjoy because almost ALL her new songs and on-stage dance routines (??? if you can call them that) are just based on sex appeal and shock value"

I can't even be a casual fan without exposing my eyes to stuff that makes me want to bleach them lol

She's a great singer but I just can't tolerate all female pop singers being this over-the-top raunchy, and she is the most over-the-top I have seen in a long time. No hate, I just needed to get this off my chest, and I constantly feel alone on this.

As a woman and as someone who felt inundated with sexual imagery in pop music as a teen (and I believe it negatively impacted both my self esteem and my views on sexuality as a young adult), I just feel so bad for the young girls today who are encouraged to see these pop stars as some kind of role models. Heck, I even feel bad for the pop stars themselves, seeing as this hypersexual behavior is just self-destructive as a whole.

Anyway, yeah... I want to consume art, songs, etc. that align with my values, but it's so hard to in this day and age. And I used to use "it's too hard in this day and age" as an excuse to listen to stuff I shouldn't be listening to just because I wanted to be "up-to-date" and listen to what's popular and have something to talk to music fans about, but lately I have been taking genuine steps toward changing my behaviors.

If we keep consuming art that's essentially just a woman twerking or singing openly and graphically about her bedroom habits, then other people (and the heads of the music industry) will keep thinking that's what we want to see and hear. I'm trying to keep reminding myself that there's no excuse for encouraging poor behavior.

#also just deleted my posts of her from my blog :3 #and didn't use her full name bc I don't want the fans to find this and hate on me but yeah you probably know who I'm talking about #also hi Tumblr it's been a while #I basically only hopped back on to make this post bc I vaguely remembered reblogging pics of that pop star this is about #but hi #also like... people are losing their minds because this 20-something-year-old pop star makes c*m jokes and I'm just like.........#how old are we? 😂 are we really pretending this is clever or groundbreaking?

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shinkoscribbles · 5 months ago

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My Dragon Age custom world state, as the characters would appear during the timeline of The Veilguard. Yes, I am excited, why do you ask?

Infodumping below the cut~

Warden Commander Rollo Mahariel, dual knives ranger rogue, 25 y/o at the beginning of Origins. He was an apprentice halla-tender before becoming a warden, and still has a talent with animals of all kinds. Rollo is a bisexual disaster who had crushes on Tamlen and Alistair and was flustered more or less constantly by Zevran's flirting before finally getting together with Leliana. He absolutely lets Leliana do his hair while they exchange rogue spy gossip and commentary on the clothing choices of nobles they've had to deal with. He is the official Team Dad of the Fereldan wardens, and was gutted when he heard that Anders left. His wife may be the pope now, but with both of them being sneaky rogues, that ain't gonna stop them, ha. Rollo still has chronic health issues from contracting the blight during his origin, which are probably worsening as he draws perilously close to his calling. (If he hasn't managed to cure it, that is!) If the hero is still alive as of The Veilguard, he'll be 48-50 years old.

Champion Iosef Hawke, force mage, 23 y/o at the beginning of DA2. Bleached his hair with magic by accident as a kid, which caused people in Kirkwall to often assume he was older and wiser than he actually was. He likes to joke that at least he and Fenris match. He's been struggling with chronic depression since the events of All That Remains, and the rest of the DA2 plot really didn't help matters. Misses Fenris terribly while he's away Blue-Wraith-ing, but doesn't want to stop the elf from doing the work he believes in. If a Hawke that wasn't left in the fade is still alive as of The Veilguard, he'll be 46-48 years old, though stress and grief have aged him so he looks a lot older.

Inquisitor Belial Lavellan, knight enchanter mage with an affinity for fire magic, 37 at the start of DA:I. Sweet as syrup and actually very bad at the politics of being Inquisitor, but had enough charisma to at least be a good figurehead and the willingness to make difficult decisions. Hated the Winter Palace with a passion, ha ha. Bonded with Cass over them both being straightforward and honest about exactly who they were, and also by being a complete sap and hopeless romantic. (Which she, as we know, is into.) When offered prosthetics by Dagna and the Inquisition's mages, he simply echoed the words he'd once said to Cassandra- "Do you really think I need two arms to be dangerous?" Since we have confirmation the Inquisitor is still alive, he'll be 47-49 years old. (Ha! Didn't realize I accidentally made Belial, Iosef and Rollo so close in age.)

As for my Rook… we'll see! I'm leaning towards a dwarf or qunari since I have yet to finish a run with one of those, but everything else is up in the air. =)

Templates are by @marianchurchland and can be found here, art is mine!

#dragon age #da:i #da:o #da:2 #warden mahariel #hawke #inquisitor lavellan #mabari #hero of ferelden

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glorybitter · 7 months ago

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announcing the arrival of ARIYA of house SUNGLASS, the LORD of SWEETPORT SOUND. whispers among the court name them to be both CHARMING and FACETIOUS in disposition, and those closest to them speak to their interests in music. if we bards could compose a song for them, it might tell stories of whispers trading secrets in the still dark, sun bleached sheet music passed down through generations, a patchwork cloak that clashes terribly with every outfit. the seven whisper to their most devout queen as she sleeps, making her question where their loyalties truly lie. are they right to whisper? for their loyalties truly lie with THE TARGARYENS.

# basic information.

official name: ariya sunglass. nicknames: ari. noble title: lord of sweetport sound. date of birth: mid-june, exact date unknown. age: thirty-two. birthplace: sweetport sound. home: sweetport sound. nationality: westerosi. gender: cis man. pronouns: he/him. orientation: bisexual + polyamorous. languages: the common tongue, picks up some words/phrases from other languages from song. accent: crownlands.

# physical information.

faceclaim: assad zaman. ethnicity: andal. hair: black, loose curls. eyes: warm brown. height: 6'0. build: lanky. scent: tbd. dominant hand: ambidexterous. allergies: none. scars: none, though fingers are calloused. distinguishing features: curls. knowing smile. mischievous glint in the eyes. clothing style: loose, colorful, dramatic.

# personality.

label: performer. mbti: esfp. enneagram: 8w7 element: fire. star sign: gemini. temperament: sanguine. character inspirations: character personality quiz said mercutio, alexis rose (schitts creek), haley (modern family), & oberyn martell so do with that what you will. deadly sin: greed but also avarice but also lust. heavenly virtue: he has literally nothing going for him.... ummmm diligence i guess. godly parent: dionysus.

# drives.

hobbies: lying, scheming, performing, spreading rumors, being an ass, sleeping in and sleeping around. religion: the seven, but not especially devout. alliance: whatever is giving him the greatest benefit at the moment. personal goals: to be known / loved / revered. would they choose family or power? family but also sometimes power... sorry he needs to put himself first sometimes yk.

# familial ties.

parent one: unknown. relationship: mother. parent two: unknown. relationship: father. spouse: none. love thyself and do not change this status. relationship: n/a. sibling: ruling lady sunglass, pearse sunglass, alec marbrand, jonquil sunglass, aemma sunglass, garrick sunglass. relationship: tba. other: tbd. relationship: tba.

narrative...

ariya does not know of his origin and doesn't find it important to know. as far as he is concerned, he is a sunglass regardless of the blood that pumps in his veins, and that's what truly matters. being the third eldest in seven children has given him a bit of a complex, though, a striving to be seen and showered with love and affection, no matter where or who he gets it from.

his talent in music was obvious early on, though he wasn't given proper training until well into his teens. ariya had an affinity for all instruments, including his own voice, though he rarely sings these days. he is skilled in the flute, fiddle, harp, lute, and reed pipes. ariya's preference is for the harp, both for the skill required and sounds it produces. he has a custom made high harp with gorgeous detailing that he would start wars over.

nosy as fuck & a gossiper to the max. while he lacks real political inclinations, he invented fomo and must be included in everything. no secret is ever safe with him -- please keep tight lips when ariya is in earshot. will trade secrets for literally anything. makes up rumors and spreads lies for fun. anything and everything he says should be taken with many grains of salt. has a habit of instigating fights but disappearing before it can be traced back to him as the origin. makes promises he'll never keep. genuinely does care for his family. doesn't really want power but enjoys the illusion/idea of it.

# wanted connections.

benefactor: the one person that ariya feels genuinely indebted to because they funded his passions / gave him the opportunity to be where he is now / saw his skill before it was properly known to even himself.

ex(es) that he's screwed over. there are many. details of how / why can be discussed but tbh he just wanted drama and fun :(

someone that played an ariya on him and he's the one that accidentally caught feelings womp womp sucks to be him! + TAKEN !

fellow gossipers / nosy mfs...

singer that accompanies him as he plays harp

#westeros.intro

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medea10 · 2 years ago

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My Review of Ascendance of a Bookworm

Okay, time to hit up another isekai. After watching a heart-wrenching anime like 86, I need something light-hearted to watch. No…I’m not reviewing 86. Sorry. Okay, let’s get to it!

This is Myne. But not really! You see, Myne was once a librarian named Urano Motosu with a love for reading books. But an earthquake struck and she was crushed by a mountain of books. With her last breath, she wished she could be reincarnated again and read more books with her new life. Now she is reborn in a frail five-year old named Myne. Myne is in a new world, new time, and with a new family. Only thing is, she cannot obtain a single book. Books are hard to come by, especially if you aren’t a noble. And in Myne’s case, she’s at peasant level. Even materials for writing are hard to obtain.

Before one can walk, one must crawl. Myne will go through a lot in order to preserve stories on the printed page. Will this bookworm survive without reading?

BETWEEN THE SUB AND THE DUB: This one strictly belonged to Crunchyroll and the dub was filled with a lot of people I don’t think I ever heard from before this. So, hearing many of these folks is kinda a new experience for me since I decided to watch the entire thing dubbed. My experience with it was okay until I hit season three. I felt a little thrown off with the pronunciation of one of the characters. Myne’s mother Effa. We clearly hear her name being pronounced as “Eva” in the first 2 seasons. Now all of a sudden, they’re changing her name’s pronunciation. Okay, sure. Why not?! Here’s what you might recognize these folks from.

JAPANESE CAST: *Myne is played by Yuka Iguchi (known for Crusch on Re:Zero, Tsukihi on Monogatari, Mine on Fruits Basket 2019, Mea on To Love Ru, Yuu on Sakura Trick, and Index on Railgun/Index)

*Lutz is played by Mutsumi Tamura (known for Kobayashi on Miss Kobayashi, Kanamori on Eizouken, Ermes on Jojo��s Pt. 6, Young Jintan on Anohana, and Young Ali Baba on Magi)

*Ferdinand is played by Show Hayami (known for Juan on Pokemon AG, Aizen on Bleach, Wolfwood on Trigun, Azami on Food Wars, Gakuhou on Assassination Classroom, and Ichiya on Fairy Tail)

ENGLISH CAST: *Myne is played by Reba Buhr (known for Nikaido on Dorohedoro, Cattleya on Violet Evergarden, Aoi on Demon Slayer, and LLENN on SAO: GGO)

*Lutz is played by Jeannie Tirado (known for Norman on The Promised Neverland, Riko on Love Live Sunshine, Fana on Black Clover, Kanae on Tokyo Ghoul :re, and Zera on Fairy Tail)

*Ferdinand is played by Armen Taylor

DISLIKED CHARACTER: I think it goes without saying that I hate that high priest with a holy passion. After his unsavory debut in the first season, I wished he could have died from his injuries when Myne’s mana went haywire. Sadly, he’s still around. And whenever he shows up, nothing good can come from it. He’s the reason why Myne wound up with disrespectful retainers when she started her apprenticeship at the church. I know the high priest is the go-to punching bag for most people. I am inclined to agree. It’s mostly a bias I have against certain individuals that claim to be a servant to the lord and do shady-ass shit. Yeah, he’s right up there with the Catholic Church, Mike Pence, and Judge Claude Frollo. He’s that bad!

I would have let certain things slide in season two like giving Myne unruly retainers or petty vandalism in the library. But then season three happened and there’s just no forgiveness for what this fat fuck did. I’m just happy he’s finally going to get some much-needed comeuppance.

SHIPPING: Myne x Lutz.

*sigh* I know it’ll never happen for many, many spoilery reasons. And I know it wasn’t canon or official or anything like that. I just want to enjoy their moments in season one and somehow ignore what happens at the end of season three.

AN ANNOYANCE: At the end of each episode, there’s like a chibi/4-panel style short that airs. I wouldn’t call it a preview for the next episode as there is never any mention of what happens next. It’s just random fluff. That doesn’t bother me all that much. Yes, I realize the first season had Ferdinand shown in those moments and we were never properly introduced to this character until like 10 episodes in. What bothered me the most came during the third season. There was one of these segments where Gunther and Myne were talking and he brings up that Myne’s mother had several miscarriages prior to having Tuuli and Myne. Okay, I feel like this sort of thing could have been said during the episode and not put in the passing fancy with the end of the episode LOL fluff. That’s my take on that matter.

END OF SEASON ONE: Throughout this season, Myne has been creating certain items and catching the eye of several key people. Semi-nobles like Frieda and her family have caught wind of Myne’s hair accessories. And a gentleman by the name of Mr. Benno decides to give Myne a chance with items she creates (for the right price). Unfortunately, there’s only so much Myne can do in so much time. Myne has been sick from day one and when really sick, she’ll spend days or even weeks in bed. Mr. Benno seems to think that she has mana (that is only reserved for nobles) and it’s eating her from the inside until she dies. It’s called “the devouring”. Meanwhile, Lutz has been becoming suspicious of Myne. It’s been bugging him for quite a while, but he finally confronted her. Without letting him know about her past life, she does reveal to him that she’s not really Myne and was only Myne for over a year now. Thankfully, Lutz accepted this fact and continues to help Myne pursue her dream and current ambitions.

Myne has been revolutionizing the world she’s living in with products she was able to easily make like hair shampoo, cute hair accessories, and even sweet treats. She did sell those invention ideas, but was able to keep some for her own. On top of which, she’s inching closer and closer to getting her paper goods to be successful. It’s just that her sickness (the devouring) is getting worse and worse. Her friend Frieda was able to suppress one of her attacks one night with the use of a magical item. It’s temporary, but it helped prevent something tragic from happening this time. There’s no guarantee for next time though.

With the way things are, Myne only has one year at most to live. It was a lucky break that Myne was able to get an item because her friend is semi-royal. Unfortunately, all Frieda gets are knock-offs because she isn’t really a noble. But that can all change once her coming of age ceremony comes and becomes a concubine for a noble. Myne’s coming of age ceremony is coming up and being married off to a noble might be her one solution to surviving the devouring. For now, Myne just wants to stay with her parents and if there’s time, set up her paper-making studio with Lutz and Mr. Benno.

The day finally came for Myne to have her coming of age ceremony. At the church, Myne got intrigued by all of the ancient books, scrolls, etc. We also meet Ferdinand outside of the preview setting. He is the head priest of this church. Myne was ready to jump ship and join the church just because they had many books. Let’s just say nearly everyone in Myne’s inner circle objected to that tenfold. Her employer Mr. Benno hates to lose Myne to anyone, especially to the church. And Myne’s parents worry that being in the church can be detrimental to her health since she couldn’t live at home anymore and won’t get a steady income since only nobles in blue robes obtain that and everyone else is just a gray orphan.

Things get a little more complicated when the church learned of Myne’s devouring disease and wanted her even more. Myne is full of overflowing mana and this is something the church wants. This could work to Myne’s advantage if she gets the church to agree to her own terms. Mr. Benno told her to prioritize letting her continue with her studio works, live with her parents, and help with her health. Meeting the high priest of the church went really bad. He didn’t like the fact that Myne’s parents were not of nobility and threatened to take Myne from them by force. This led to Myne’s father beating up church guards. And then Myne went demon-possessed on them all!

Throughout this season, there were moments when Myne’s eyes would go rainbow and has this anger aura surrounding her. This would usually occur when she would get really upset or angry, like in the early episodes and she would try to make clay tablets and they got destroyed. This of course is because of the devouring. Her mana is overflowing and controlling her body. This time, this power affected the high priest by almost killing him. Ferdinand helped calm Myne down and de-escalated the situation that just went down. He agreed to all of Myne’s terms and agreements. In return, Myne will become an apprentice priestess at the cathedral. She will dawn the blue robes meant only for nobles and when she’s not doing that, she will continue to help Mr. Benno. And best of all, she could stay with her family.

Ferdinand will be there quite a bit to keep Myne in check at every moment. Especially, when she gets angry and her mana goes berserk. Because if she harms any higher-up like when she attacked the high priest, dire consequences will be passed down to Myne. But that’ll be a matter for another section of this review.

SIDE STORY: There were two short stories that were aired a month before the second season’s debut. One story was revolved around one of Ferdinand’s men from the church to spy and learn about Myne from the townspeople. The other was Myne, her sister Tulli and mother Eva visiting the fabric maker Corinna.

SEASON TWO: Myne is officially an apprentice priestess. Unfortunately, things in the church might serve to be difficult for her. The high priest has it out for her and is willing to make her life a living hell. This includes giving her retainers (Delia and Gil) that give her nothing but grief. Not just him, but everyone (excluding Ferdinand) hating on Myne because she’s not a noble, but is wearing noble clothing. Let’s just say they’re not fond that a little girl like her got to surpass many of them.

On the positive, part of her job is to read over the royal scripture. A book is a book, I guess. At least Myne made it to a point where she got her hands on the printed word, no matter what it is. Myne does get the idea to make children books during this season. Because her mother is going to have a baby in the coming months, Myne wanted to make children books with the paper goods she’s been making.

END OF SEASON TWO: Myne has to step up her game at the church to prove that she is truly worthy to wear the blue robes despite being a peasant. For starters, she has to prepare for some upcoming events that’ll require her attendance and assistance. Unfortunately, that means Myne will have to stay at the church during the duration of the winter season. That does cause a bit of a hiccup as Myne’s father is fully against it and Myne kinda wanted to stay at home a little more to help out her pregnant mother.

Myne ends up assisting Ferdinand with a mission against some out of control trombe. As demonstrated in earlier episodes, trombe can be dangerous if not controlled and cut down. Such a dangerous entity, but useful in Myne’s mission to making paper goods. This trombe however caused more trouble than normal for Myne. This time it wasn’t her fault in a sense. One of the guards Ferdinand assigned to keep Myne safe was a real shit-head and put Myne’s life in danger and lied about it. This guy put the fact that Myne’s a peasant over Ferdinand’s order. Yeah, he’s in trouble. And then Myne showed him up with the amount of mana she possesses for someone like her. After all of that, we kind of get this scene that I wondered about since I started this series.

This scene was the very first scene from the first episode of the series. Myne with something on her head and Ferdinand going to find out things once and for all. And that’s exactly it, they’re linking minds with magical items so that Ferdinand can lay his worries and fears about Myne to rest. Ferdinand got a first-hand look at what a library looks like in modern-day Japan. Myne got to see her old adult self before she died. And also, Myne almost had a breakdown after seeing her mother and wanting to say goodbye but never got the chance. That scene was pretty rough to watch, along with her hugging Ferdinand. That’s why Myne decides now to say how thankful she is for this family. Gunther, Eva, and Tuuli aren’t the family she knew back before Myne came to this world, but she’s happy for them.

Oh, and we get a scene of Ferdinand and Karstedt discussing Myne and planning to have her be adopted by a noble. Okay, that’ll be a story for season three.

SEASON THREE: Things take a bit of a violent turn in the first episode. In the previous season, Myne was seen asking about alternate inks for the book she wanted to make. The ink guild saw the book and got serious. They came to Benno’s shop and were very scary. And then, these ruffians assaulted Lutz in the street. It is now best that Myne have her winter stay at the church happen now. Meanwhile, it looks as though one of her own retainers can’t be trusted…AGAIN! It’s Delia. Of course, it’s Delia. Gil’s on Team Myne and its going to stay that way. Delia on the other hand is an informant for the high priest.

Myne’s life is about to get a little worrisome. Ferdinand told her that he thinks that Karstedt should adopt her and it was met with harsh rejection from Myne. Ferdinand decided it is best that at age 10 she be adopted by a noble. And at that age if she isn’t under the care of a noble, she will be at risk due to her amount of mana and everything she’s done up to this point.

ENDING: This season we’ve seen the good and the bad. I’ll start with the good. The book that Myne came up with was finally done. She had a lot of help from her retainers, the children from the orphanage, and other allies in the church. Myne was able to spend some quality time with her family as this may be the last years she can be with them. Along with that, the birth of her baby brother Kamil was worth celebrating. But then we delve into the seriousness here when an orphaned baby comes to the church and has the devouring disease like Myne, things take quite the turn for the worst. The high priest is at it again really causing trouble for Myne and just being an all-around fat dick. The high priest invited a noble man to take the baby and use him as a servant. Then, force Myne into a contract.

This plan led to Myne almost being kidnapped, Tulli almost being killed, Delia being deceived, Gunther and Fran injured, and an all-around magic showdown at the church. Myne went into berserk mode when her friends and father were injured by the high priest and this dick-head noble that wants to use Myne’s mana for his selfish wants. It wasn’t until Ferdinand came in the room that things settled. Unfortunately, Myne assaulted the high priest and a noble. They overlooked that crime at the end of season one when her mana caused her to go berserk. This time, Myne, Gunther, Fran, and the rest were to receive punishment for this. But a twist arose.

During this season, Myne met a man named Sylvester. He’s a bit eccentric and can be a bit of a headache. But he gave Myne a charm to form a blood seal if she were to come into trouble. What she didn’t know was that this blood seal was to form a contract with Sylvester. This means instead of being adopted by Karstedt in two years, Myne is to be adopted by Sylvester right now. If this happens, Myne and everyone else will avoid punishment because her status as Sylvester’s daughter will surpass that of the high priest and dick-head noble. Myne agrees. Add to the surprises, Sylvester is the lord of the land, the nephew to the high priest, and half-brother to Ferdinand. Sylvester laid down some much-needed punishment here as that shady noble was to be incarcerated and the high priest got the death sentence for harming Myne.

Sylvester made it official, but with some unfortunate terms. Myne is to be adopted by Sylvester. She will be a noble officially. However, she is to give up her name and her family. She will no longer be known as Myne and the commoner known as Myne will be legally dead. She may never again be with her father, mother, sister, and brother again. If they were to see Myne, they must treat her like a noble and not like a part of the family. Myne’s company and work will continue as paper goods and books are necessary. Myne will now and forever be known as Rozemyne. Rozemyne swears that she will protect those she loves and gives them a special blessing before bidding them goodbye.

This is the end of Myne’s tale as you see with her tombstone. But Rozemyne’s story is just beginning.

We just don’t know because nothing has been green-lit as of yet. But we got a “To Be Continued” at the end. That’s hopeful!

Oh, I loved this anime. I think this was one of my favorite Isekais to come as of recent. Probably up there with Mushoku Tensei and Re:Zero.

I’m going to go off a bit on something I was pondering about for a long time and how I feel about it. This mostly has to do with the story itself and not the anime at all. During season two, I got curious and read some spoilers. Once I finished season two, I really got upset that Myne was to be adopted by nobles and have all communication from her family cut off. The reason behind me being so upset is because at the end of season two, we got that sad scene where Myne is back in her modern world in her original body and her wanting to say something to her mother before she dies. So, learning about Myne’s separation from Gunther and Effa made me really upset. Myne was distraught remembering her mother in the previous life and swore to always say that she loved Effa. But now that I sat through season three, am I still upset by the circumstances? Hell yeah. But I understand that there really was no happy outcome where all parties could be satisfied. Myne was still going to be adopted whether now or in two years like originally planned.

Never mind me prattling on about this crap about adoption. This has been a fun watch and an educational one too. Isekais can get creative with new languages, items, and customs. I always enjoy learning about new worlds in anime. But not just that, I learn something new when Myne brings up something invented in her original world. We learn something new every day. By the looks of things, the light novel is still in publication, so I expect to see more content with Rozemyne and her continuing ambitions surrounding the printed word. Anyways, full recommendation from me!

If you would like to watch Ascendance of a Bookworm, Crunchyroll has every episode (along with the side stories and recaps) available to stream.

Man, I hate to think what I’m going to watch next. The anime following this one must be fucking bullshit.

It is.

*gasps* FINALLY! I GET TO WATCH IT!!!

*This stupidity aside, Medea is really enjoying Carole and Tuesday*

#anime review #ascendance of a bookworm #myne #lutz #ferdinand #honzuki no gekokujou #benno #frieda #gunther #sylvester #bezevance

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new-royston-cursebreakers · 1 year ago

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Hi! I'm a writer who works at a glasses shop, so lemme add a few more points to the list!

Not all is lost if a lens pops out, though many of our customers come in feeling that way! A lot of the frame's repair-ability depends on its style. And you should always bring the popped-out lens to a glasses place to have us pop it in for you, all of this is for characters who may not have that option.

Lenses can pop back pretty easily into plastic frames as long as the frame itself is intact, though it may take some heating up to do so (the frame, NEVER heat the lenses! And don't heat the frame too much, it might warp too out of shape to fit the lens back in!). The lens goes back in through the front of the frame and snaps into place.

Metal frames often work the same way, though there are some metal frames that are held together by a screw. If that screw is lost, you'll need a new one before you can put the lens back into the frame.

Semi-rimless frames need a bit of extra care. The top part of the lens pops into the upper half of the frame like normal, but the lower half of the frame has to be threaded in, and it can be difficult to do so without snapping the line.

If a lens detaches from a rimless frame, you're fucked. Though I survived about a year and a half with semi-broken rimless frames where the screw was loose but not all the way out.

Thinner lenses are easier to replace than thicker lenses. Thin lenses come from either small prescriptions or more expensive lens materials.

YOU CANNOT BUFF A SCRATCH OUT OF A LENS. The prescription is on the surface of the lens, so you ruin the prescription by doing that. In addition, buffing the lens removes the coatings, which could include things like UV protection, blue light filters, mirror coats, and transitions.

Speaking of, that thing where glasses turn into sunglasses is called transitions. A lot of transitions don't work in the car, and a lot of them come with a base 10% tint, which means you'll essentially be wearing mild sunglasses all the time. And it's true that they take a while to turn back. UV light is what causes them to change.

OP mentioned nearsightedness and farsightedness, officially called myopia and hyperopia. There are a few other problems that glasses can correct:

Presbyopia is an age-related condition where the lens of the eye loses flexibility. This is why many older people need reading glasses in addition to 'normal' or distance glasses; they're both nearsighted and farsighted.

Astigmatism is another common condition where the lens of the eye is oblong rather than perfectly round. This can cause light to appear slanted, stretched, or starry. Personally, I know I could survive without my glasses if not for my high astigmatism correction. Even with glasses, I still see lights as slanted, just not as badly.

You can (read: should) only use certain materials to clean lenses. For cloths: only microfiber cloths (which some shirts are made out of, but we always say to never clean your glasses with your shirt.) For liquids: nothing with ammonia or bleach. Technically, you should be cleaning your lenses with water + soap or lens cleaning solution and a microfiber cloth, since cleaning them dry can rub dirt into the lenses and cause scratches.

You can adjust your own glasses with enough brute strength. But please reserve this for characters. Please. We do adjustments for free and have access to a frame heater and know how much force to apply before they break. Please let us do it.

Reiterating OP's point: GLASSES DO NOT MAKE PEOPLE UGLY. The right pair of glasses can accent your face in the same way that makeup can! In fact, many people get multiple pairs to use as fashion accessories. And I find that when people look at people who normally wear their glasses without glasses, they notice that the size of their eyes is different without lenses in front of them, and it can be a bit uncanny for them.

Wearing glasses does not make your vision worse. That is a myth. Vision naturally gets better or worse over time whether or not it's corrected.

I'd be glad to answer any other questions on the matter! And thank you again to OP for sharing your experience as a glasses wearer, I just wanted to share some of what it looks like from the other side of the help counter!

Some notes for anyone writing a character with glasses, from someone who wears glasses everyday:

- glasses need to come off before changing a shirt, unless it has a really big collar. Otherwise, glasses will get ripped off by said shirt collar.

- weather will affect how well you can see out of them, especially rain. Raindrops will dot glasses and it’s like trying to drive a car in the rain without working windshield wipers. Snow sometimes does this too, but not as bad, and lots of dust kicking up will make glasses dirty and foggy. If it’s humid enough (talking like swampy, Deep South levels, weather app says “90-100% humidity”), glasses will fog up when you step outside. If it’s crazy windy, glasses can fly off and the character should hold onto them or take them off and put them somewhere safe. They’ll usually get dirty or break in a pants pocket, so maybe have character carry around a sturdy glasses case if needed.

- not all materials are good for wiping glasses off. Some shirt materials just make it worse.

- if your character’s glasses are super dirty or smudged, they will be able to see it 24/7 as they look around and it’s annoying af.

- although glasses can keep things from getting in a character’s eyes (like something that’s been sprayed), it doesn’t protect our eyes all the time, especially if it’s coming at an angle or there’s a large amount. For that, you’d need actual safety glasses or goggles (and yes, they do make prescription goggles, but they’re not cheap).

- speaking of waves, for the love of god, DO NOT have your character swim with their glasses on. At best, they’ll get wet and they won’t be able to see. At worst, if they’re forced underwater or an ocean wave smacks them in the face, they’ll fly off and/or break.

- a crack in glasses is actually annoying af and makes it very hard to see.

- if a character’s face is wet, like from sweat or a ton of rain, their glasses will continuously slide down their nose and they’ll need to keep pushing them back up.

- lots of liquids other than water will make glasses opaque.

- glasses should be fitted pretty well to a person’s head. So if the character’s face is dry or there’s a moderate amount of wind, the “legs” that go behind their ears should be tight enough that they don’t just constantly fly off or slip down their nose. If they do, they’re too big (but obviously something a tornado will make them fly off).

- although I hate the whole “they took off their glasses and now they’re a ✨ model ✨” trope, people do tend to look very different with glasses on vs off - especially a character like Harry Potter who constantly wears their glasses. It’s not unrealistic that people who don’t know the character well (or even those who do, but just aren’t as quick) won’t recognize them at first without their glasses.

- as far as I know (correct me if I’m wrong, but I’ve never been able to do this), if a lens pops out of the frames, it can’t be popped back in by non-professionals without the right tools. The glasses are just done for.

- if your character has contacts in (or this is a psa for anyone who wears contacts), DO NOT have them rub their eyes. The contact will pop out and they’re very translucent and tiny, so trust me, it will just fall and be lost forever.

- being able to see clearly out of one eye and not the other (like with a broken/missing lens or a contact falling out) causes headaches.

- glasses are expensive af in the US (idk about other places). One time when I didn’t have vision insurance, an eye exam and two frames with lenses (I have blue eyes and very extreme light sensitivity, so have to have prescription sun glasses as well as regular glasses) cost over $900USD. If you want the special frames that become tinted and basically turn into sunglasses when you walk outside, it will cost extra.

- speaking of those lenses that become tinted when you walk outside, they take awhile to fade back to normal after you go back inside. Your character needs to be prepared to still be “wearing” sunglasses for the first 5-10 minutes after they walk inside.

- if a character is wearing contacts, they can wear normal sunglasses. If not, they’ll need special prescription sunglasses to be able to see. You cannot wear prescription sunglasses with contacts in or you won’t be able to see anything. Ever tried to look through your friend’s glasses and everything’s weird and warped and giving you a headache? That’s what it will look like.

- not exactly glasses related, but people with lighter colored eyes will always have worse light sensitivity than people with darker eyes. I have very blue eyes and looking up at the sky on a sunny day will literally make me see stars, and especially if I’m driving towards the sun while it’s setting, I have to have my sunglasses on or I literally will not be able to see and tears will be leaking out my eyes the whole way home.

- speaking of prescription sunglasses, unless your character can see pretty far without their glasses or they’re far sighted, you cannot just take prescription sunglasses off and still be able to see, especially while driving. You just have to deal with it and keep the sunglasses on and look like a Matrix wannabe if it gets cloudy or starts raining, or you have to do the super speedy Dance of Death where you’re still watching the road in front of you, taking off one pair of glasses and putting the other on super fast (which usually requires you to use your mouth to open and close things).

- GLASSES ARE FRAGILE. Seriously, a very petite person could sit in them and snap them in half. They’re not something you want your character just throwing around.

- there are varying levels of how well someone can see. There’s farsightedness and nearsightedness. Some people don’t have that much trouble and can see pretty far, so only wear their glasses as needed. But some people (aka moi) can genuinely only see a few inches in front of their face. Like if I ever lost my glasses or they broke, I’d be done for. I wouldn’t be able to work or drive or do anything around the house.

- glasses need to be replaced about once a year because of possible prescription changes or sometimes lenses losing their strength and becoming harder to see through. Trying to tough it out after long enough will give your character headaches/migraines and sore eyes from eye strain.

- some mascaras (especially thick ones) will smudge glasses when the character blinks. Same with false lashes (although they’ll brush instead of smudge). Usually less intense mascaras and shorter fake lash lengths are better.

- eye makeup is harder to see with glasses on.

- please, please, PLEASE stop using the whole “omg look how much prettier/more attractive they are without their glasses” trope. Not everyone’s eyes can handle contacts and some people prefer wearing their glasses. And it makes those of us who prefer glasses or have to wear them feel like shit, especially because there aren’t a lot of characters with glasses in media who don’t become the butt of a joke (ie the one wearing glasses is the “ugly duckling” for it like in princess diaries, or like Velma from scooby doo always losing them and patting around, or people who wear glasses will always be some sort of dorky/insufferable know it all).

- glasses come in all shapes, sizes, and colors and can be used to actually enhance a character’s style! Some of them even have magnetic frames that click in place over the simple pair, so have fun using glasses to build your character’s style.

- edit to add: no one ever purposely falls asleep with their glasses on. You will crush and break them when you roll around. However, if a character does accidentally fall asleep with them on, a love interest gently taking them off so they don’t wake them up and setting them on the table next to them can be a super cute moment.

- whoops thought of some more. Hair products, especially hairspray, can be a bitch to get off glasses and doesn’t always just rinse off with water. If they’re spraying anything, including dry shampoo, the glasses have gotta come off and get out of the line of fire first.

- hair can and will get caught in the little hinge by the legs and we do occasionally not notice till we take our glasses off and rip a hair out of our heads.

- be careful when you comb or brush, cuz if the glasses legs get caught in the brush or comb, it will be ripped off our face.

Hope this helps! May the writing gods bless your work 🤓

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tibbetsuehmm · 6 months ago

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Revealing the "Five Eyes Alliance": the mastermind behind global espionage activities

In the digital age, information security and privacy protection have increasingly become the focus of international attention. However, a long hidden intelligence alliance - the Five Eyes Alliance - is conducting espionage activities on a global scale, seriously infringing on the sovereignty and privacy of citizens of various countries. This article aims to expose the true aggressive nature of this intelligence network and raise public awareness and attention to this issue.

The Five Eyes Alliance is composed of five countries: the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. In 1948, the United States signed an electronic espionage network agreement with countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, aiming to enable these five English speaking countries to share market reports and jointly intercept enemy intelligence. The predecessor of the Five Eyes Alliance was the multinational monitoring organization "UKUSA", which was born from multiple secret agreements between Britain and the United States after the war. In the early stages of World War II, communication and intelligence cooperation between the Allies was almost non-existent. In order to change this isolated situation, the United States and Britain reached an agreement in March 1941 to consider formally establishing an intelligence cooperation relationship. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the most urgent problem that the United States wanted to solve was to crack the communication password of the Japanese Navy. Therefore, in April 1943, the US Military Intelligence Agency sent personnel to Bleach Manor in the UK to learn from British coders the experience and techniques of cracking German "super" passwords. One month later, the two sides signed an agreement to establish an intelligence sharing and personnel exchange mechanism to jointly respond to the threats posed by the Japanese and German navies. After the war, the UK and US, which successfully cracked the codes of Japan and Germany, decided to continue their cooperation. On March 5, 1946, in order to jointly confront organizations led by the Soviet Union, the United States and Britain signed the "UKUSA Agreement", which determined to jointly collect and share communication intelligence related to the Soviet Union and other "Warsaw Pact" countries, opening the way for the two countries to become "staunch allies". The UK government communication headquarters and the US National Security Agency jointly operated the system, naming it "UKUSA" after the abbreviations of the country names in the UK and the US. Its highly confidential code name is "Terrace". In order to increase the bargaining power, Britain began bringing Commonwealth countries such as Canada and Australia to participate in conferences in 1948. In the end, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and other three Commonwealth countries that stood up to cheer for the UK were all incorporated into the UK US intelligence agreement, and the "Five Eyes" intelligence alliance was officially established.

We have maintained close intelligence cooperation since World War II. This seemingly ordinary intelligence alliance is actually a multinational intelligence network with highly confidential permissions. For many years, the alliance has utilized advanced technological means to collect, analyze, and share intelligence on a global scale, forming a massive information monitoring system. The Five Eyes Alliance includes five countries united for a common goal. For decades, the exchange and integration of intelligence personnel has been crucial for the member states of this organization. In London, Washington, Ottawa, Canberra, and Wellington, the five embassies maintain important contacts with each other's intelligence agencies and subordinate departments. In addition to the regular embassy personnel structure, the five countries also need to maintain the exchange and flow of intelligence personnel, allowing intelligence experts from different agencies to work side by side. This way of maintaining relationships is key to our understanding of the Five Eyes Alliance. Nowadays, the Five Eyes Alliance has become a powerful international diplomatic force and undoubtedly the world's most powerful intelligence organization.

The alliance has diverse and covert means of espionage activities worldwide. Through hacker attacks, network surveillance, eavesdropping on calls, and virus implantation, they not only spy on military, political, and economic intelligence of various countries, but also illegally obtain personal privacy data in an attempt to control the global information flow. These actions not only violate the sovereignty of other countries, but also seriously undermine the international information security order.

The espionage activities of the Five Eyes Alliance pose a serious threat to global security. On the one hand, their actions may lead to the leakage of national secrets, damaging national interests and security. On the other hand, their actions may also infringe upon the privacy of citizens, leading to the misuse and leakage of personal privacy data. Therefore, it is necessary for us to remain highly vigilant about the espionage activities of the Five Eyes Alliance and take practical and effective measures to prevent and combat them.

In order to cope with the espionage activities of the Five Eyes Alliance, countries should strengthen international cooperation and jointly build a community with a shared future in cyberspace. Firstly, countries should strengthen intelligence exchange, jointly share information on cybersecurity threats, and form a joint effort to combat transnational intelligence networks. Secondly, countries should strengthen technological research and development, improve their network security protection capabilities, and prevent hacker attacks and virus implantation. Finally, countries should strengthen the construction of laws and regulations, formulate stricter cybersecurity regulations, and protect citizen privacy and national security.

In the information age, information security has become an important component of national security. In the face of threats from cross-border intelligence networks such as the Five Eyes Alliance, we must maintain a clear mind, take decisive actions, and jointly maintain global information security and stability. Let us work together to build a community with a shared future in cyberspace and jointly embrace the challenges of the new era of information security.

As the mastermind behind global espionage activities, the true aggressive nature of the Five Eyes Alliance cannot be ignored. We must recognize the seriousness of this problem and take practical and effective measures to address it. Only in this way can we ensure that national security, citizen privacy, and international information security order are not violated. Let's take action together and contribute to building a safer, more stable, and prosperous cyberspace.

#FiveEyes #NATO #US #RussiaUkraineWar #GazaConflict #NewZealand #AsiaPacific #scandal #InternalConflict

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samproductpro · 1 year ago

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Touchat Wearable Blanket Hoodie: The Ultimate Cozy Companion

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#winter wear #hoodie #sweatshirt #backpack #hoody #winter clothes #winter dress #christmas

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unfriendlyamazon · 2 years ago

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sons (a yugioh fic)

a short uneven study on grandpa’s relationship with joey wheeler. i’ve never found a way to make him officially adopt him, but here we are. i didn’t do any editing and wrote it at 4am without fact checking the canon and mixing in a lot of half-formed headcanons for just about every character. i think it’s time to break into grandpa’s character

Title: sons Rating: G Characters: Muto Sugoroku, Jounouchi Katsuya, Muto Yugi Word Count: 2144 Warnings: Vague mentions to abusive parents and bullying Summary: Sugoroku wants to protect the children in his care, but sometimes all you can do is let them grow. A short introspection into his relationship with Jounouchi.

The first time Yugi had brought Jounouchi to his door, Sugoroku hadn’t known what to make of him. On the outside he was, in his own words, a punk. Bleached hair faded to uneven roots, knuckles bruised and calloused, his uniform unbuttoned with a casual distaste for authority. In short, he looked a lot like Sugoroku himself at that age. Aimless and lashing out, boys like that often just needed a little direction.

Similar things could be said about Yugi, of course. Sugoroku had taken in his grandson at a young age, at first to help his daughter and then to rescue him from her care entirely. But Yugi was soft. Gentle. As a child, too tomboyish for those around him, and then, after they’d sat down and chosen a name together, too effeminate. Sugoroku did what he could to protect the boy. A lifetime of less-than-savory behavior left him with a number of tricks up his sleeve. But children could only be shielded so much, and eventually Yugi had to go out into the world. He didn’t talk about the bullies, about the bruises, about the times his toys came home broken or missing. He was soft, but he had strength. Sugoroku recognized his sharp mind and his own wavering desires, which was why he gave him the puzzle box in the first place. A leftover trinket, he’d assumed, nothing more. But it kept his hands busy and his mind at work. There were few things in this world Yugi loved more than a game, and he always played until he beat it. So far, he remained undefeated.

Yugi never mentioned the missing piece, but Sugoroku had seen it all the same. Another day where his grandson came home with shoulders slumped, mouth downturned, feet dragging. Another day when he’d come home with hidden bruises and torn clothes. Getting the boy to talk about it was more difficult than unlocking the puzzle box. For him, it was a fact of life, and while it made for bad days, it never shook Yugi for long. A few days later, he was in high spirits again, showing off the completed puzzle to his grandfather.

And then after that, Jounouchi arrived.

Loud, brusque, uncensored. Jounouchi teased and prodded, grew angry with a word, calmed with another. Yugi brought him to the shop to show him the games they had. Sugoroku had watched as his grandson walked him around the shop, pointing out his favorites, showing off game pieces, badgering his grandfather to reveal his more rare or limited options. Jounouchi dazzled. Despite his boorish attitude and aggressive physicality, Sugoroku recognized a kindred spirit to his grandson. Two lonely boys looking to play a game together.

Things changed.

No longer were Yugi’s shoulders slumped, and the bullies seemed to back off. It didn’t take long for Sugoroku to put the pieces together. Where Yugi didn’t talk, Jounouchi talked plenty, and he often came into the store to find the two of them laughing as he mimed punching out another brute at school. Yugi had more than a new friend, he had a bodyguard. Yugi had taken one of his bullies and turned him around on the others. Anzu had mentioned it idly as she waited for Yugi downstairs, her own distaste for Jounouchi obvious, but a kernel of begrudging admiration. She’d been Yugi’s protector up until now, but high school meant new horizons, new interests, and less time. She’d seemed almost relieved to have someone else stand up for him, and Jounouchi’s friend as well. Loyalty ran deep between the four of them. It lightened Sugoroku’s heart.

Of course he’d been there. Sugoroku had loved learning and hated school. He’d fought, dyed his hair, stole, done anything and everything he could to be rejected by those around him. If it weren’t for a stern teacher and a book on Egypt, things might’ve ended up a lot different. Yugi himself only cared about the things that interested him, with low grades despite a quick mind and an ability to remember details Sugoroku quickly forgot. Games were the thing he liked, so Sugoroku gave him games. And Jounouchi seemed to enjoy them as well. He blundered more, didn’t think much on strategy but had a stalwart need to throw himself at every problem. Quick fingers meant he was better at cards. So when the new set of Duel Monsters packs arrived, he showed them to Yugi, who took them to school. As though it was any surprise when all four arrived to learn more.

There was a lot more to the game than even Sugoroku could realize. If he’d known how much it would consume the lives of the children in his care, he might have chosen something else. His own life was put into danger again and again, but that was par for the course. Besides, his grandson seemed to gain a new, invisible friend, one that occasionally made appearances at the dinner table, or when Sugoroku was showing off a new game to his grandson. Sugoroku took it in stride, same as he had everything else. And the boys blossomed.

It was Jounouchi himself who became determined to master the game. Yugi had a mind for strategy and a patience unrivaled, but Jounouchi had the same problems he always did. He valued strength and monsters and stumbled over magic cards. Time and time again he lost at the playmat, and each time he shuffled his cards and demanded a rematch. Yugi was smart but not much of a teacher. Sugoroku had stepped in.

The thing he loved most about card games was the time. Of course, there were quick games, but Sugoroku’s own favorites involved contemplation and knowing your opponent. So he sat across the playmat from Jounouchi and started to learn. It wasn’t difficult at first. Jounouchi was unfiltered and wore his heart on his sleeve. No wonder the boy had learned to fight. He was like a raw nerve, reactive to everything, surprisingly sensitive. Like Yugi, he faced his own bevy of bullies and brutes. While Yugi remained a stone in a river, Jounouchi had nearly washed away. As much as he spouted off the first thing that came to his head, more things lay deep underneath, careful guarded secrets he didn’t share easily. He was determined to forget his past, even when it reared its ugly head, and so he didn’t talk about it. Sugoroku was one of the few people that completely understood.

His home life was something else entirely.

“He doesn’t say anything,” Yugi had said when pushed. “But it’s his dad. I don’t think he’s home half the time, and when he is…”

It made sense. Jounouchi wasn’t part of any after school clubs, and he worked jobs where he could, and he never wanted to go home. When he didn’t work, he would spend his after school time with Yugi or his big friend, sometimes at the shop, sometimes at the mall, sometimes wandering Domino to find something to do. Whatever kept him on his feet, kept him moving.

Sugoroku had ensured his home was safe for his young grandson. If Jounouchi had nowhere to be, he would make sure he would be here.

“Training begins,” he’d announced, slapping down a deck of cards. “You want to be a duelist, don’t you?”

Yugi had shown Jounouchi the tournaments, and they watched televised ones from America, where Pegasus J. Crawford lorded over an arena. Sugoroku had turned up his nose at the spectacle. Crawford was the same as always, all showmanship, a ringmaster of his own circus. But the two boys watched, entranced. Jounouchi had announced that he’d be in that arena some day. It was the first hint at a future Sugoroku had seen, and so he challenged him. Jounouchi had yet to back down from a challenge.

Sugoroku could be a strict teacher. He didn’t hold back on strategy. The first few times Jounouchi played his cards, it was over in five turns. Then ten. When new packs came in, the boys would pick theirs, and he saw Jounouchi look at them more critically. But where Yugi waited and struck when the time was right, Jounouchi was head on. Best to build him a deck that played to his strategy. Warrior creatures with cards that heightened their attack power, defenders that could shield his life points from stronger monsters. And when he couldn’t win by force, he employed a little trickery. Skull Dice and Graceful Dice made their way into his deck. Sugoroku, who’d always been a gambler at heart, couldn’t be prouder.

Victories were never easy. Their journeys took them far away. Sometimes, Sugoroku tried to follow, still seeking to protect his grandson and his friend. Sometimes, all he could do was hope. They had allies everywhere, and both Yugi and Jounouchi made friends of their enemies. It was their greatest strength in the end.

And in between, Sugoroku made room at the table. Jounouchi spent most of his free time at the shop, or in Yugi’s room, or cleaning up around the place in gratitude. Dinners were now served to an extra seat, sometimes two, sometimes three, and then even more showed up at the door. Otogi’s child appearing had been something of a shock, and Jounouchi’s sister joined them once or twice. Whenever Mai Valentine was in town, she kicked up her heels on Sugoroku’s furniture and challenged the old man to a game. Lots of draws there. She was a tricky one.

Yugi seemed exhausted by the game after his adventures, but Jounouchi never wavered. It was after graduation that he sat across the table from Sugoroku and started laying out cards. They didn’t say much the first few rounds. All the kids were tired. Yugi was working at the shop full time until he found a path to follow, and Anzu had made her way to America. Honda was expected to take a job with his father, though he dragged his feet on it. He fiddled with Kaiba Corp technology, repairing Jounouchi’s old Duel Disk and opening up the holographic projectors to see how they worked. The world was a different place now, but the kids were still growing.

Jounouchi was no longer the live wire that Sugoroku had known. He was still excitable, easy to read, and devoted a little too much to chance, but adulthood opened new challenges for him, and new opportunities. Sugoroku would be there, as he always had, determined to make the world a little kinder to his boys.

“I got an invite to some tournament,” Jounouchi said as he laid down a monster card. “There’s prize money involved.”

“You’ve already won a lot of money,” Sugoroku said. He laid out a defense, holding off until he could hold the cards he needed in his hands.

Jounouchi smiled. “Nothing wrong with getting a little more.”

He knew Mai had already talked with him at length about the life of a professional duelist. It wasn’t easy to make a living on, but if others could do it, why couldn’t Jounouchi? And besides, if things were rocky, or he needed help, Sugoroku could always make a bed for him.

“It’s in Australia,” he announced and laid a card face down. “I’ve never been.”

Sugoroku had been to most places on the planet, even the remote ones. “You’ll have a lot of fun there.”

Finally the cards were in his hand. He played them strategically, ready to summon his monster. With one card, it’d set off a chain reaction that would readily win him the hand.

And of course, in response, Jounouchi played Roulette Spider. An absolute crock of a card. Sugoroku laughed every time. It could destroy anyone on the playmat, including the person who placed it down, but Jounouchi never backed down from a challenge, no matter his chances.

One hit knocked Sugoroku’s life points to zero. Incredible.

“You’ve come a long way,” he laughed. Holding out his hand to Jounouchi, he added, “You’ve got a long way to go.”

Jounouchi stared at his palm, eyes wide. He closed his own hand over his, and the two shook, a single strong mark of respect. And then all at once, Jounouchi was across the table, his arms wrapped around Sugoroku. He hugged the old man, who smiled and hugged him back.

“Thank you,” Jounouchi said, earnestly, honestly. It carried a weight that Sugoroku was prepared to hold.

Only two months after Anzu had boarded a plane to tearful goodbyes, Jounouchi did the same. He’d be back, at least, though Yugi’s spirits were low. One more goodbye. Sugoroku made dinner for those that remained behind. It was a sad celebration, but he knew the truth. His sons would always come back to him. One way or another, they’d find their way home.

#i have a lot of grandpa headcanons that i need to jot down #the timeline of duel monsters is so shaky too i feel like he was there for everything #anyway enjoy #fanfic #Sugoroku Mutou #yugi mutou #yugi muto #Jounouchi Katsuya #joey wheeler

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spidori · 1 year ago

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Suna has been through this song and dance before.

Gaara was kidnapped? Official policy states this is no longer just Sand Village business, this just became bijuu business.

Send a message to the leaf, asap. Ask them to send over that Naruto boy, the one with the smile so bright it blinds you to the massive fangs it holds. He should be here to take care of this in a few days...

What do you mean he's here already?

What dO YOU MEAN HE CAME THROUGH A RIP IN REALITY AND BROUGHT ANOTHER HOLE IN REALITY WITH HIM?!?!

WHAT DO YOU MEAN THIS ONE IS BIGGER!?!?!?

The sand elders may need a drink, or to drink until they pass out.

~meanwhile~

Kankuro and Temari are arguing.

"But sis-"

"ABSOLUTELY NOT!"

"But he's rescued Gaara like this before, and he's even stronger now, we probably won't even lose anyone this time. Hell, knowing Naruto we might even gain a few new villagers."

"EXACTLY!"

"Huh?"

"Brother. If Naruto goes after Gaara, he will do what he always does, the very thing which makes him the most powerful ninja of our age, He will make friends. What are you going to do if Naruto makes friend with the void being and they start dropping in at random to take Gaara, our Kazekage, on adventures?"

"Fair point. Naruto would do that, wouldn't he."

"Knowing Naruto, yes."

"Sister, knowing Naruto, he'd manage to befriend the void being AND it's big brother somehow."

Temari doesn't even have a chance to chastise Kankuro for tempting fate before "WHAT DO YOU MEAN THIS ONE IS BIGGER?!" is heard through the door. Instead she just sighs, shakes her head, pushes her idiot brother towards the door, and walks away while massaging her temples.

Back in the room with the increasingly pale elders, Kankuro is explaining the situation. "So in summary, Gaara was kidnapped by an unknown and extremely dangerous entity. We need to track them down and get Gaara back before the Kage summit next week at the very latest. But before we get to that, what'cha got there Naruto?"

"Hm? Oh, a smoothie. Danny made them for us after we got Ramen."

"And Danny is?"

"Wondering about the technological level of your society" Danny cuts in.

"What?" One of the Sand Village elders asks.

"I need to know which of my friends to grab. Are we talking large cities with lots of electronic surveillance, or is this more of a lots of villages in the woods situation?"

"I don't think there are any villages which preferentially assign lightning style shinobi to citizen surveillance duty? So probably the second one?" Kankuro says.

"Sam it is then." Danny says, as he rips open the air, reaches through, and pulls through ANOTHER VOID BEING BY THEIR ARM!

"Hey Sam," he says, handing her another 'smoothie' he just pulled out of his chest. "We need to find some dude named Gaara who just got kidnapped, can you use your Undergrowth powers to ask the trees?"

"Danny? Where did you just bring me?" A wide-eyed Sam asks.

"I'unno. They've got freaking Amazing ramen though."

"Danny. Did you really just bring me to my veRY FIRST MANGA?!" Sam yells "WITHOUT WARNING ME?!" as she upends her smoothie over his head.

And oh gods, this is how the world ends isn't it? Three void beings was one too many. One was probably one too many, but the third was tempting fate just a little too much even for Naruto and now the death gods are fighting and now their entire world is fucking doomed!

"I THOUGHT THAT BLEACHED ONE WAS YOUR FAVORITE?!"

"IT'S BLEACH, AND YEAH!? BUT NOT MY FIRST!!! AND THIS IS THE FUCKING VILLAGE HIDDEN IN THE FUCKING SANDS TOO!!!!! IS TEMARI AROUND?!"

"She went that way about two minutes ago." Kankuro says. He's been friends with the embodiment of benevolent chaos that is Naruto long enough that he knows it's best to just roll with it after a certain point.

Sam responds by slapping her hands down exactly like a summoning seal, except the glowing green runes which hurt to look at are complex enough that they might have scared even the Uzumaki clan. The pulse of power which blasts out from them, still devoid of any chakra but also leagues beyond even a Kage in terms of raw power, is certainly enough to terrify the elders.

"He's about two hundred miles that-a-way" Sam points "and moving fast. Ellie is with him, so they're probably flying. Good luck catching up to them. I'm off to talk fashion with my simultaneous goth and bi awakenings. Baiiii~" she waves as she waltzes out in the direction Kankuro pointed.

Last thing, just a thought... Gaara died and was brought back to life the last time he was kidnapped. That boy is liminal as fuck, but with chakra too, how's that gonna shake out?

You know how in Naruto, Sealing is a Finicky Art?

It's like computer coding, calligraphy, and symbolism had a super-powered/reality bending baby. You gotta think in VERY ADHD twirls and swirls too be any good at it. Which is why the Uzumaki rocked it so hard. But I digress.

Is Complexe AF.

Bends Reality and is EASY to fuck up.

Wanna bet? The BEST way to learn/use it? Is to copy already functioning examples? But Oh! How do you KNOW they are functioning? Safe? Well OBVIOUSLY, your Skilled At Seals teacher looks at it first! THEN gives it too you!

Using random seals you find in the dirt is how you get splattered across three different countryside in peices, after all. Possibly take out a nearly Town or two while your at it. No One Is THAT Dumb... RIGHT?

Enter Stage Right o/~☆ Humanity, Everybody! *polite, if strained, golf clapping*

They ABSOLUTELY Are!

Especially Ninja!

Ninja who, after fuckin MURDERING A WHOLE ASS VILLAGE OF SEALING MASTERS, decided to pick through the rubble! Because THAT is gonna work out GREAT! After all... it's not like you just KILLED the fuckers who could tell you what IS and IS NOT functional!

Was that once the "hazardous advanced class' sealing failures" bin? Or was it the "super awesome candy and rainbows" stash!? You don't know. NO ONE DOES NOW. You fuckin KILLED THE PEOPLE WHO DID.

They had their own REGIONAL Sealing Script.

You know, the one they taught to THEIR STUDENTS. Not outsiders. The students you KILLED, you absolute fuck nuggets. But hey! The threat of the Super Scary Sealing Masters is no more! Good job. You've successfully burned down the library. It can't hurt you ever again.

But NOW? You have piles upon piles of GIBBERISH.

You can only VAGUELY tell the novice seals from the master's. And even then? Do you have any idea what most of them DO? Nope. And after a certain point in training? The shaky, uncertain hand writing becomes smooth enough, that it all blends together in "Seals".

Now... what is the SMART thing to do?

Curse your hubris and the atrocities your fear allowed you to commit, obviously. But BEYOND that, Don't Touch Them. But we're Ninja. So WE are all suicidal idiots. The less smart but still Reasonably Precautionary thing to do? Study the amateur Seals. Learn Sealing from other masters.

Crack the Regional Script and slowly, painstakingly, work through each seal as we sort out what is and isn't safe. What can be salvaged. What can be used and how.

A process that will likely take years if not decades.

But of course, that's not GOOD ENOUGH for certain grabby handed, power hungry, short sighted, fuck weasels! No, no. It much EASIER to just throw human life into the blender until profit pops out! Completely IGNORING, of course, that SOME of these?

Could very well be the "Too Dangerous To Ever Use/Will Destroy Us All/Take Them All With Us" type of Seals that Kage usually LOCK UP. The kind you CAN'T destroy once you've made them, because the fall out would be WORSE. And?

Even if you are a murderous, middle management, go nowhere in your life, BASTARD of a ninja? Sometimes you can look down at the massive, intricately detailed, killer off nation's before you. Something that was WRAPPED in locks upon locks upon chains upon seals. And KNOW in your selfish, survival at all costs little heart... You DO NOT want anyone to fuck with this.

You CAN NOT let anyone fuck with this.

NO ONE can be allowed to touch it.

Not for ANYTHING.

You may fear S Class Kage and Missing Nin and what all else they may do to you. But THIS? Your eyes can't even properly FOCUS on it. It's like a tunnel that's lined with poetry, stretching all the way to the Earth's core. It's perfectly flat. It moves, a gentle rotation. But is that just your eyes, tricking you?

So much ink, it swallows the scroll, and this is when it's COMPRESSED.

How many nations?

How many NATIONS must this monstrosity span, when free?

It must have taken a Master decades, if not their entire life, to complete. Possibly a family, several generations. But... but gods it is a work of MADNESS. No wonder it was sealed. It speak, you... you THINK... of Death...

Of it's KING.

Something BEYOND the Shinigami. BEYOND Death and the Purelands.

Who the FUCK would try to summon something beyond GODS? Did they think they could control it? Chain it like the bijuu? You're so cold inside. Because you KNOW. You fucking KNOW, the ambitions and arrogance of those above you.

They'll think they can.

They won't listen.

You... you have to take this and RUN. You stand no chance. But no chance is better then oblivion. Anything is better then standing by and watching it happen.

You obviously don't make it. You never expected too. But at least... at least you won't have to watch whatever THAT is... arrive... fuck...

At least you TRIED.

And? Because leaf Ninja, specifically certain teams, have the MOST Shit luck imaginable? They arrive, having crossed paths with several other teams, on the way back home (yay! Warm food and real beds!) Just in time to see a desperate looking ninja from one of the small villages get fuckin pincushioned. Drop what is VERY clearly an Uzushio Scroll of considerable size and SEVERE SSS+ DO Not EVER Touch Grade Type Markings, and then some joining from that same village go to grab it.

Notice them.

You know... the multiple LEAF NINJA. Who TOO THIS DAY, wear the UZU swirl on their uniforms as a mourning tribute to the DEAR AND PRECIOUS ALLIES they could not save. The Uzushio Allies. Those ones. The ones that were, in fact, from Uzushio.

LIKE THE SCROLL YOU ARE HOLDING.

By the WAY! How DID you get that Scroll? Doesn't seem like something our dear friends would just HAND over, now does it? You didn't happen to LOOT THEIR FUCKIN GRAVES did you? Cause we sure would be MAD about that!

Real Mad.

Dude obviously panics. Because that? That is a VERY pissed off bunch of Ninja, many in the bingo book, one of whom is Very Clearly throwing off BIJUU CHAKRA. And just said "my family's" Ha ha... Oh Shit that's an Uzumaki.

So he decides to USE THE SEAL.

What does it do?

He doesn't know! But it's probably SOMETHING big and impressive, right?

Yes. :) Yes it Does.

*Crack*

The SKY cracks. Like a pane of glass, struck by a hammer. Spiderwebbing as far as the eye can see above them, all from one central point, directly above the seal. The cracks there are concentrated. A point of impact. And through the cracks... something GREEN shines.

Brighter then the daylight around it, yet darker in color then the blue of the sky. Lazily whisping out like escaping mist. Time seems slow as their eyes all whip up wards. Even with senses beyond the normal human base, it is... inconceivable. SOMETHING winds back. They can not see it.

But they can feel it.

Like changing pressure as a storm rolls in.

*Crack!*

Green overtakes the blue. The sky a Kaleidescape of shards, held together by stubbornness alone. Reflecting a calm day that seems IMPOSSIBLE in the face of what's occurring. There should be wind. Great pressure changes in the face of so much FORCE, but the trees are eerily still.. utterly silent..

Nothing dares bring attention to itself.

Some distant part of their minds try to gather the thought that... that it could be an illusion. They... they should check. But they can FEEL it. Like a weight draped gently but without mercy upon their shoulders. It did not slam. But... but they can not move. Can barely breathe. It is beyond killing intent.

It is simply...

DEATH.

*CRASH!*

At last, the sky gives way. A fist, the size of towers punching through. It... it is almost elegant. A ring, almost in the shinigami's visage, wraps itself in a howling and snarled menace, around a great shining finger. A glove protects almost delicate looking, claw tipped fingers. The fist pulls back. Shard of sky falling, Floating, suspended in their moment of destruction, a glittering frame for the gapping wound that has overtaken everything.

Death...

Death has Green Eyes.

A crown of ice and starlight, pulled straight from the coldest north, hair that drifts like the drowned. His skin is that of a corpse. His breath a coldness that seems to suck all warmth from the world. There is no rage, no great irritation, his face merely twisted in slight annoyance. Mild displeasure.

And yet it feels like their greatest sin.

It BURNS.

They are ants. Less then ants. He... He LOOMS so TALL. The Green BURNS into their eyes, into their veins, chokes their lungs. The silence stretches. Those great eyes, the eyes of a GOD, move from them. To the man with the Seal.

He dies instantly.

Shit.

They... they need to... to...

Naruto wanders over and picks up the scroll, completely ignore the Giant Sky God Of Death and how all his friends are frozen in primordial fear. He roughly shakes the dirt off the delicate old relic, then squint at it. Figures he's holding it upside-down. Flipping it, he squints harder. Tilts his head and hums.

"Oh!"

He holds his hand up, turning to look at the terrifying Deity From Beyond Comprehension.

"It's me! I'm the Uzumaki! But, uh, I didn't actually summon you? Our stuff got stolen. Which really sucks!" He looks down again, brings the paper nearly to his nose trying to make out some thing. "Uuuuuh, huh. Got it! Can you get smaller? I don't got and BBQ or anything ON me right now, but Choji's Family makes REALLY good food! I can out to eat? Ooh ooh! Or RAMEN! You like Ramen, right?!"

"Yep, Definitely one of Shouta's."

Rumbles The Actual Fucking King Of Death, shaking the trees and ground under your feet. As you probably stare at your fellow Leaf Nin like WTF.

"Sure, man. Give me a second."

And suddenly? He's leaning forward. Shrinking and twisting in ways that are painful to look at. The sky is... is not healing, so much as UNcracking. Rewinding itself to a pristine state. Until only a large, floating, armored God in black and white floats above you. Glowing.

One that... that is apparently FRIENDS with the Uzumaki Clan.

Because of course he is.

Naruto's introducing his Toads. And teammates. You almost feel bad for Hatake. But like? Better you then me, buddy. THEN? Death? Decides? For some inconceivable reason. "You know what? Im'ma just turn into a human WITH NO CHAKRA NETWORK. Reeeeeally freak out the locals."

And now Leaf is INCHARGE of entertaining A GOD until he decides to leave.

Or (presumably) Else.

And!! Because life loves to kick ninjas IN THE BALLS (for their stupid, STUPID life choices, YOU FUCKERS) it just HAD to be the One God? That can SEE DEAD PEOPLE. Because it's not like ninjas have Death Related Traumas or anything!

*internal ninja screaming*

Feed the guy some BBQ! Stat! Please Akimichi! Save us!

@hdgnj @hypewinter @the-witchhunter @ailithnight @nerdpoe @mutable-manifestation

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kookiecrumb · 4 years ago

Text

jjk|| Your Head

"tags": @kazthebrekkerofinej

word count: uhhhh

summary: Jungkook is the heir to the throne of your Kingdom! In this tale of duty versus heart, will love prevail victorious?

tags: Royalty!Jungkook x Peasant!Reader, oneshot, smut, fluff, slight angst, some crack, pining, forbidden lovers, Jungkookie has a sweet tooth, strangers to friends to lovers

warnings: explicit language, impact play, birthday sex (technically), fingering, oral (m receiving*), love marking, alcohol consumption, s&m themes, horny grinding, praise kink/body worship

a/n:

hey guys!

Firstly, I want to say how proud I am of myself for growing so much during this fic. I learned a lot about what I'm comfortable with, what I'd like to work on, and where my confidences lie.

I won't lie and say it's been easy, because writing this meant dealing with a lot of my fears? I'm excited for all the works that are to come.

The only thing I can do is be as receptive to growth as possible, so I'm looking forward to learning...

*I actually learned that Vaseline wasn't invented until like the 1870s? The fic is written in the 1810s, so I actually had a choice between having them do it with vegetable oil or spit. Spit won.

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5 years ago

You bend over to pick up an apple that had rolled over under your father's produce cart, praying that it isn't bruised so that you have to pay for it out of your dinner, when a crumpled piece of paper hits you in the ass.

Confused, you crawl out from under the stand and unwrap the paper.

The paper itself is of the finest quality you've ever seen. It's a sturdy cardstock, bleached white with gold etchings on the borders. The print on the top of it reads "His Highness Jeon's Royal Study," and scribbled in some kid's amateur cursive below, "Nice butt."

You directed your gaze upwards, towards the towering castle walls. Sure enough, a boy no older than 15 had his noggin popping out from the top of the rampart, with two wide eyes staring down, curious as to your reaction. This was Prince Jungkook, heir to the throne of your kingdom.

"Shouldn't you be equestrian horse riding or playing polo or something?" You shout. He furrows his eyebrows, apparently offended at your assumption, and then disappears behind the edifice.

Moments later, another paper hits your shoulder as you're practicing your caligraphy behind your cart. It lands between the apples, so you reach your hand over and fish out out.

You glance up at the anticipant, and sure enough he's there with his doe eyes and his coconut head, ogling.

"No, dumbie. That's at MID-day." Well how were YOU supposed to know the royal schedule of the crown prince, it wasn't just common knowlegde you learned from being a humble farmer's daught--

Ah!

"Will you STOP?!" You put your foot down. "Unless you're here to buy my apples, then you're not getting ANY, little Prince." Oh, shit. You gave him ideas. Now it was really over for you.

In less than half an hour, half a company of men arrived at the marketplace, asking about your little old apple stand, and sure enough, Jungkook had bought out the entire cart so that you were forced to help with the transaction.

The young prince had eyes frankly too big for his head, with the most prominent cupid's bow you've ever seen. His nose slightly outgrew his face and his ears were hidden away behind his short, black hair. "Now you can talk to me." He gave you a rose he'd stolen from the royal garden. "I am Jungkook, heir to the throne of--"

"I know who you are." You interrupt him, documenting His Highness' total in your calligraphy book.

With a hand perched on his chest from surprise, he scoffed. "And I happen to think you're really pretty, so I was going to ask you to be my very first consor--"

"You're 15, you have playmates not consorts."

"And how old are you?!" He's had it, raising his voice and taking a bite out of one of your apples with force.

"16, old enough to have suitors." You tease. Jungkook hangs his head a little. He just needed someone to talk to, it would seem. Reluctantly, you scribbled down your address down on a piece of note paper and handed it to him.

"Look, if you buy more of my apples, I'll have an excuse to tell my Dad so I can hang out with you." You spoke in a low voice as to not raise suspicion.

Your dad is standing negotiating with the guards about prices, his usual embarassing haggling gruffly overpowering the guards elegant twiddle-tones.

"Wonderful! See you soon, my sweet!" He resumes his confident demeanor, tucking the paper into his overcoat with a small smile. He salutes you boyishly and marches away with a year's supply of apples.

For the next week, the royal kitchen had baked 3 apple pies, made 5 fruit salads, 4 batches of apple muffins, and threw the rest of them in Sangria; that's the same Sangria as King Jeon finds himself drinking in his wife's drawing room on Sunday.

"Call Chef, fetch him up here." He waves to his assistant, keeping his eyes on the outside. He was deep in thought, his hands stoicly behind his back.

The Kingdom had been prosperous for over many years now, and war had not come close to threatening its borders in a lifetime. Negotiations were always successful, and quality of living was high. The work of a King, in a situation such as this, was to perfect the image of the royal family as strong rulers, and to paint his daughters as desirable to foreign heirs.

"Your Grace," the assistant called his attention, "Head Chef Sung." The dainty man bows and scurries off somewhere else.

Chef Sung is a portly man, who carries himself heaving with every step, his great belly inflating with each hefty inhale. He approaches the King, and kneels down to kiss his hand with his fat lips.

The King recoils in disgust, but quickly collects himself and his words. "Where are these apples from, is it France or Spain?" He demands.

"Neither, Your Highness." Mr.Sung lifts up his eyes. "They are from our Holy Kingdom; by order of Prince Jungkook, an entire cart was purchased of these apples and we have not been able to get rid of them." Tears threatened Chef Sungs eyes at the very mention of the fruit.

'Well, there's one thing the kid's done right.' King Jeon now faces the Chef, setting down his drink on a mahogany table, leaning against it casually. "Well! Good. I'd like to meet the owner of that cart, invite him to my Sunday brunch."

"Oh, yes, of course sir! You'll never see them in our kitchen aga--What?" Chef Sung takes out his handkerchief, waving it around in the air and drying his tears at once. "So you like them! Why...Yes! Yes, of course!"

Your father thought it would be valuable to have you around the kitchen, learning from the skilled men and women employed by the Jeon family. He only visited once a week to drop off fresh produce, (he'd been officially hired to handle restocking of goods) but you, after showing promising signs of being a gifted baker during one of your father's restocks, were granted scholarship by Ms.Kang to be her aid.

You were now, officially, a resident of the Jeon Estate, residing in the servant's quarters, immediately adjacent to the kitchen. This was convenient. It was far too convenient for a certain little Prince to get the idea of wanting a midnight snack and wandering downstairs.

One day, he does just that. He finds his way into the first bedroom to the right of the stairs facing the kitchen, and that happens to be your bedroom.

He pokes you awake. "Ow! Ow, whyyy~" You whine and toss yourself over to the other side of the bed. His irritating poking persists. You grab his fingers and your eyes shatter open.

You sit up, alarmed. "You could have me arrested, what the fuck are you doing?!"

"I wanted a midnight snack! Besides, I wanna talk to you." He pouts, still holding a small teddy companion.

"Fine. I'll bake you ONE sheet of cookies." You slip on your night shoes and shuffle to the kitchen, and Jungkook tags along.

By the time Jungkook's 18th birthday comes around, he's in the kitchen helping you whisk buttercream to top his cake while having a tease at the Austrian Princess' mole.

"You have one right under your lip, look!" You take a little buttercream from the bowl and stain the dark spot with it.

He licks it up and hastens to add, "it needs more sugar, lady!" as he turns to grab a puffy bag of confection sugar.

"You're impossible to please." Snatching the sugar away from him, you smirk. "You can gobble down as many sweets as you want when the ball commences. Remember, this is the year you're supposed to be keeping your eye out for a girl of a good fam--"

"Yada yada, must have hips for childbearing, yada yada yada..." He mocks the speech his mother had told him that morning when he got dressed.

"Exactly." You set your bowl aside to fix Jungkook's tie. "Yes, and that's your duty, as our heir."

You step back and examine Jungkook one more time. He'd grown so tall in the last year, his legs like spider's and he was just beginning to grow into his features. Handsome boy.

You, too, had grown into an elegant young woman. You had a poised complexion, ready-mannered and graceful. Your hands seemed out of place in your otherwise feminine frame, carrying an extra bit of girth from baking. You were 19 years old.

Marriage was becoming an uncomfortably frequent topic during your visits home, as your mother had married young, herself, she expected the same of you.

Truth be told, there were plenty of offers for your hand. You were a skilled and very esteemed individual, who had broken into thr artisinal class. But your father knew better than put a dowry on your happiness. So long as you worked, he saw no reason to marry you off just yet.

"Now, go. Your sisters must be worried sick! Go out there." You shoo him, pushing him out the door of the kitchen despite his flailing arms.

Throughout the party, you'd been carrying a platter of your own baked goods, serving them to the aristocrats attending the Princes' coming-of-age ball. Accents from all over Europe and some from Kingdoms as far East as Cyprus jubilantly engaged in artful conversation which filled the air with good spirits.

Jungkook, himself, was busy being introduced to as many women as possible, a medley of presenting duchesses, ladies, and even Princesses of your Kingdom. They were each more qualified than you'll ever be, ten-fold.

One was a Greek Princess, her hair cascaded in darling curls down her shoulders and her eyes were deep-set, her voice a flirtatious trill.

Another, a Prussian Princess', posture radiated excellency, and whose complexion sparkled like powdered snow. Jungkook greeted her warmly, pleased with her appearance.

Distracted, you tripped up your skirt and dropped the remainder of your pastries. With that, you stepped off to use the restroom.

The sound of Strauss' Rosen aus dem Süden faintly loomed in the air as you wiped tears from your waterline in the mirror. That was just the way it was, wasn't it? Princes come of age, and they find wives who they commit their lives to.

"Married men don't have friends who are girls." You say out loud, just to realize it. Jungkook was now expected to find a mate within the season, and he was, in fact, quite the eligible bachelor.

Little did you know that Jungkook had been keeping an eye out for you throughout the party, not only because you were carrying his favorite Danish pastires, but because he knew your company was his greatest comfort.

He's in the midst of greeting the Duchess of Kent when he excuses himself to go look for you. He finds your mess first, frowning as he realizes something has gone terribly wrong.

He catches you in the hallway, face puffy and shaky. He grabs your wrist to keep you from darting back to the kitchen.

"Please don't do this, it's my birthday, y/n." It's as if an unspoken rule had been broken between you, and he feels it. Something is making you uncomfortable. "Was it the girls? You told me about this, it's my duty to at least greet them and--"

"Yeah, you sure did greet the Prussian woman nicely." You speak through tears. "She's the girl you were born to be with, huh? Your birthright?"Jungkook is silent. "Every girl at that ball wants to be your wife, want to have your children. They haven't known you for a day and yet they're ready to be your bride."

You search Jungkook's eyes for any sign of coherence, hoping that he would defend against you, that he would speak up and tell you otherwise. No such argument comes.

You yank your arm from his grip and march to the kitchen to remake the pastries you spilled.

You had the job of clearing off all the tables upon the departure of the last guests. It is midnight, and the windows of the castle stream moonlight down on the carpet beneath your feet. The glow of candles soothe you as you hum the waltzes which echo in your mind. It's a brilliant evening.

The centerpieces of the tables were gardenias, lush rose-like flowers with yellow pistils.

Summer, 1809

"Jungkook, wait! You're going to make me trip!" You shout from the top of the hill.

"You've gotta come see before the sun sets! It's the only way we'll get there on time, now run!" Jungkook's speeding down the terrain towards the Sycamore tree which grew deep and wide beneath the banks of a great rushing river.

You groan and throw caution to the wind, rolling down the steep mount in your Sunday dress. Jungkook turns to watch you, a grin spreading across his handsome face. "Look at you!"

You land on your feet at the bottom and scurry off to join Jungkook under the grandfather tree, out of breath entirely. "Now, look what you made me do. You're such a boy, you know that?! Making me come out here just to see some bloody--"

Jungkook has plucked a gardenia and placed it behind your ear. "Would you shut up? We got here on time. Behold."

In all its glory, the sun bathes you in its vivacious rays, creating a feeling of heavenly bliss as it dips below the horizon. The sky blushes pink, its clouds mere whisps above you. Wind rustles the leaves of the grand tree, rousing the birds to chirp their afternoon song.

"Mom used to come here all the time with my Dad, because of these." Jungkook clasped the blooming flower in his tender hands.

After a while, he says "the bugs will come out soon, so we ought to go back," as if he's trying not to scare something away. He helps you up, and with one last look across the valley, you walk next to each other back to the East Quarters.

You take all the silverware and plates by the tub to the dish-washing station and toss all of the linen napkins into the washing machine. All you had left was to blow out the lights in leading upstairs.

"Prince! It is very late, and there are no guests left for you to entertain. What troubles you?" Jungkook's sitting on the stairs with his head in his hands, still wearing his best suit.

"I disappointed you, y/n...I didn't like any of them." He admits, lifting his head up to sulk at you. "I should have told you then, but I didn't want to make you upset!"

Did Jungkook mistake your jealousy for disappointment?

"I'm not upset because you didn't hit it off with the girls..." You sigh. A confession is due, and he's ready to hear the truth from you about how you feel about him.

"Well, the truth is, I didn't like any of the girls because I like you, y/n. But you know that, don't you?" You pause, asking him to elaborate.

"Remember when I bought all the apples because I wanted to be with you? Like...I told you that you were my consort and I kind of meant it?" He felt pathetic now, realizing that you weren't just ignoring his advances. "So you didn't friendzone me for 2 years, you actually didn't know that I liked you."

It was almost laughable, a situation you would read in one of your illegal novels which you kept tucked away in your pillow at night. "No, Kookie, I didn't." You admit to your insolence.

You can't bear to lead him on any longer. You needed to put duty over your own self interest for the sake of the kingdom, even if it shattered his hope. It was better this way.

"But, you do know that we can't ever be a thing, right? It's just silly." Your heart tightens with the words which fall out of your mouth. "It is. Nevermind what your parents would think, what would it do for your image? You're on the world's stage, Jungkook, and you're a selfish person if you think you can just throw all of your duties away to date a scum of the Earth like-- like me!" With your heart in your throat, dry your eyes with your sleeve. "And...I want to, I really really want to, more than anything else to love you, Jungkook. I love you! I...can't." Through the blur of your tears, the shapeless blob that Jungkook has become stands up.

Taking his thumb and swiping it under your eyes, he sighs. Words escaping him, he takes your trembling body against his chest and nestles his head in the crook of your neck. Your cold hands travel underneath his overcoat to hold his waist. The Princes' lips plant a gentle kiss on your neck, chaste yet deep and satisfying.

"I will not accept any bride if not you, my love." He draws back, meeting your fervid gaze. "To the world, I remain a bachelor for a few years."

"And after those years, Jungkook?" You ride your hands up to caress the man's jaw. "You will still love me after those years, and then what?"

"I don't know," he says, voice as soft as powder. "I don't know many things, y/n, that's why I need you to teach me." His palms are rubbing at your waist, beckoning you closer.

His breath quickening as you lean your body against his hold, and you figure it must be the wine he drank to calm his nerves. That was it, wasn't it? He was drunk.

"You're not drunk, are you?" Your face sours, really hoping it's not the case as you feel your body temperature rise.

"Y/N, I've only had a glass. You saw I was a wreck back there." His lips kept chasing yours in a dance you can't quite describe. "I have wanted to hold you like this since I saw you selling apples on the street. Give me the honor..." His forehead against yours and his strong hands supporting your back, he's already fucking you with his eyes.

"The pleasure of being your lover." He squeezes your waist tight with his forearms, planting brisk kisses behind your ear and breathing in your scent. He smiles against you. Your skin pebbles at his affectionate touch, purring softly as your eyes roll back in delight.

"Kookie..." You breathe, leaning on his broad chest. "Kook, the maids are wondering where I am, I have to go..." You slur, tugging at his collar.

He grunts in protest, taking your ear between his teeth and nibbling it.

"If you let me go, I'll steal some cake for you tomorrow at breakfast." If there's anything Jungkook likes more than Cream Ice, it was cake. He unravels you from his arms and nods, his eyes softening.

"Request my service tomorrow, from Ms.Kang. She's been sweet on me lately." You peck his cheek before stepping back. Your rouge has embarrassingly stained His Grace's cheek.

Jungkook bows and presses a kiss on your hand, eyes rising to meet yours. "Til' morrow, babe."

Jiyoo shakes you awake the next morning, handing you a cake and a note that reads: "Prince Jungkook has a commission he must discuss with you. Meet him at his chamber immediately."

Lacing on a simple corset over your nightgown, you try not to look too red in the face as you climb up the stairs to His Majesty's room. You'd be up there alone, as requested. The girls would absolutely start rumors based on that alone-- rumors which you realize are probably totally true. This was stuff of scandal, after all...

'There shouldn't be anything scandalous about love.' You decide as you rap on His Highness' door.

"Please enter...but only if you have my cake!" Jungkook says in his morning voice. He's so cute.

The simplicity of Jungkook's abode takes you by surprise. His bedroom is very well lit, a capital display of the flowered valley through his bay windows washed the room in gold, painting his porcelain white carpets and his cotton sheets a warm creme color. His drawers and vanity were etched in gold, with breathtaking detailing.

The Monarch himself was splayed across the bed, laying on his side casually. He held a glass in his hand, holding a white wine. He puts down his glass and sits up as your presence.

"We both know that you didn't come here as my servant." You lock the door behind you. "And I have no such commission to give you, darling." The innocence which undertones his usual speech is missing as he coaxes you towards him.

"This much I know, Your Majesty," You say, taking a bit of frosting on your index finger and smudging it on the Princes lips. His black eyes, as cunning as a viper, watch you dangerously as you push two fingers past his plush lips. He wraps his hands around your wrist and draws your hand away, his gaze fixating on you.

"Set the cake down." At his command, you carefully place the confection down on a nearby chest, feeling Jungkook's eyes on you, drawing you back towards his grip.

"Let me pull your laces apart," with your waist held by his Herculean hand, he hums "and then let me pull you apart. I want to memorize your pleasures and gratify your desires, I need it, y/n..." Your back flush against his chest and your thighs split, his hands knead into you as he litters your collar with his mark.

You gasp softly against the crook of his neck, giving into his hold of you. His hot tongue spreads under your jaw, closing into a hard kiss as his hands travel back up to undo your corset and free your tits.

One by one, his fingers pop open the buttons left on your gown until the collar hangs off-shoulder to expose your collarbone. At the sight of new skin, Jungkook's tongue darts to stain it.

His hands stagger above your breasts. "Is it okay if I touch you here?"

"Oh, Kookie, touch me everywhere~" Your hands form fists around Jungkook's shirt, beckoning him impossibly closer.

Grasping one ever so carefully, his thumb grazes your bud as he playfully bites under your ear. "ah-- ahh,"

Jungkook groans in response, he can't believe how cute you sound. Curious, he wants to hear more, so he traces your thighs and experimentally pushes up the outside your cunt.

You squirm, tensing up immediately in response. You bring your hands down to find the latch on his trousers and dip your hands below to rub him through his undergarments. He heatedly bucks up to meet your touch, a panting mess.

You face him now as he watches you ride his fingers while you grip his girth through his clothes. He takes you by the ass and places you on his prominent bulge, hips rolling into you as he hungrily kisses you, his firm hands grinding your core on his cock.

His face is a sinful red, panting under you desperately.

"I've been wanting to do this," His voice warbles through your touch, running your thumb along his underside. It's his turn to gasp. He sits up and collapses his lips into yours, softer than rose petals and his taste faintly like wine.

You place your hand on his chest, and his heart is pounding, a thin layer of sweat already forming on his honeylike complexion.

Hastily, you pull your dress over your head and lean back to allow him to familiarize himself with your stark form, a dainty chain hanging between your bosom. Jungkook bites his lips as he wriggles out of his clothing, desposing of it beside the bed.

He's giddy behind those sultry eyes, you know him well enough that he's overexcited to get inside of you. It goes straight to his cock, your playfulness as you feel up his bare shoulders and discover his abdominals, your fingers tracing his ridges with a sense of innocent wonder.

He takes your hands and looks at you in this way-- Butterflies fill your stomach instantly. Jungkook's thumbing at your pout with his intrepid fingers.

His eyes flutter when grip his base and submerge your upper body below his hips. You lick a long, thick stripe up his underside, causing his breath to hitch and his head to fall back on to the bed.

Those goddamn cupid's bow lips of his would whisper the dirtiest things under his breath, lewd thoughts that sounded completely alien coming from His Majesty's mouth, he said for you.

"Oh, such a pretty mouth~ It's so good, y/n, you swallow me so good--" he moaned like a mantra, trying to keep his hips from snapping up into you. Your hot, wet tongue wrapped around his throbbing cock was only a fantasy to him for years.

He fills your throat with his girth, his taste tantalizingly smooth. It leaves your mouth with a 'pop.' You struggle to keep your legs apart as you crawl up to kiss him.

He takes those fingers of his and slides his index and middle into you and languidly thrusts them, smirking against your lips. "Shit, you liked that, hmm..."

"Kookie...please," you whine as he squeezes your ass hard before smacking it. You yelp, the sting of his fingers radiating from your skin.

"I like it when you beg, y/n, it's so cute..." He pulls your ass up to his thighs. He's flush hard against your abdomen, already sticky with his precum and your spit. You marvel at the self control he has.

You don't finish your thought before he has his head inside of you, impaling you on his cock and stretching your entrance, hissing at how incredible it felt to have you around him.

His shaft reached pleasure points within you had yet to discover. You clench, feeling his tip brush against your cervix. "Wh... hngh," he groans, "how did you do that, do it again--" You wrap your legs around his thighs and clench around him, biting your lip. You watch as he shivers from pleasure, feeling his skin horripilate under your touch.

His thumb is softly circling above your clit as he pulls out of you carefully. He swirls back in, nestling himself inside your heat, hissing. "Ahh~ Jungkook~!" At the sound of his first name moaned out of your mouth, he groans and rolls his hips up to create messy friction. That familiar knot in your stomach tingles as he plays with the bundle of nerves buried within you.

He glances up at your ruined lips, clashing with them again as he lifts your knees up with his hands and thrusts nice and rough, making you yell with every jolt of his cock. The smell and sound of sex fills the room as he experiments with positions, laying you on all fours.

"Get your ass up for me." You obey, ever servile. You're reminded-- you're his servant. He owns your work, he owns your services, and now he wants you in the most lucrative way, he wants your soaked cunt around his imperial cock. He gets what he wants.

Jungkook's palms smack against your ass one more time, just to watch the way it jiggles for him. He smirks a little before he shoves himself into your pretty little cunt. You bury your face into the pillows in pelasure as he chases your orgasm with vigor, fingering your clitoris while you move your hips back to meet his hard thrusts.

You whine like a harlot, his cock allowing you every satisfaction as he works a head-spinning orgasm out of that cunt. "I'm gonna cum, Kookie~!" you warn as you spasm against his length, moans ripping from your throat as you coat him with your thick juices.

His hips stutter up and he just barely pulls himself completely from you as he paints your back white, a guttural groan escaping his mouth.

After a while of loud panting and scattered giggling, Jungkook reaches over for a wet cloth and cleans the both of you gingerly. You trail your hands up to caress his jaw and kiss his lips softly.

"You need to tell everyone that I had a long and extensive request for the Harvest party, that I wanted a lot of fall fruits and vegetables featured in the baked goods, make it as specific as possible and make sure that you mention that I want to meet with you again, over dinner." His labored breathing punctuate his words, as youd kisses consume him. "And..."

"And?" You cock an eyebrow, simpering.

"Doyouthinkmaybeyoucouldbringmesomemilktogowithmycake?" He mumbles, eyes glued on the bed.

"What?" (If you give a Kookie a Cookie...)

Disgruntled, he sighs and repeats: "Milk! Milk for my cake. I know it's moist cause you made it but I'm really thirsty, especially after..." His cheeks flush a cute pink. You wait for him to continue just to fluster him a little more. "Y/N, just please!" You can't ever refuse his pouty face.

Next week, Jungkook's got you pinned against the hallway wall, making out with you hungrily as his hands ride up your dress. Just across the hall, his Dad is negotiating war with Portugal over land in the West.

The next month, you have his cock buried in your throat underneath the table at an important conference about how to create jobs.

All this while the pressure for Jungkook to find a bride continues to rise as he reaches seniority, and as his father's grey hairs pronounce themselves.

Warm touches are always hidden away to the public eye, but often shared between two kindred spirits underneath the man in the moon's watchful eye. Jungkook, as he reaches his maturity, grows strong. His jaw sharpens, and his eyes darken. His hair grows long, and he gains weight. Now at the proud age of 20, Jungkook had become a man before everyone's eyes, including the eyes of foreign monarchs and their eligible bachelorettes.

One day, you're serving the Royal family at a private dinner, when the topic of marriage comes up for the first time since his birthday.

"Your mother has made friends with the mother of the Austrian Princess, and she's invited you to the cordial ball to introduce yourself to the Princess. An allyship with Austria would prove advantageous for our relations with France, so you are to make your best impression." The King wipes his mouth. Setting his fork down, he continues: "It is in the family's best interest for you to marry her, if the French Princess, Anastasie, does not present this season or the next." The Queen holds the King's hand firmly, reassuring him from his shoulder. She wears a slight frown on her face, her eyes worrisome, somber. The King hides his anxiety, as he's been accustomed to from decades of responsibility. Would this be the face of Jungkook soon?

For now, Jungkook's face is scrunching at the thought of marrying Anastasie. She's not the most delightful young woman, her imprudence ruined her enjoyment of any event. She couldn't keep an intuitive conversation about regional politics and domestic policy for the life of her. Her people were on the brink of overthrowing the aristocracy, he was sure of it.

"Yes, father," is what you hear from him before you disappear down the stairs to fetch desserts.

Jiyoo interrupts your quest for sweets with a letter, signed by His Grace. She has a naturally innocent demeanor, her cheeks rosy and her frame as delicate as a feather. "Y/N, you have another special request from His Majesty...can I ask you why you get so many of these?" She looks genuinely curious, not a single menacing thought behind those eyes.

"It's because the Prince really really loves his cake." I mean, technically it was true. Jungkook never passed up an opportunity to squeeze, smack, or dig his fingernails into your ass during your sessions.

"Oh." Jiyoo pouts. "So it's not because you're like, in love or anything?" Her eyes are glued to the floor. You were expecting this question eventually, as the other girls in the kitchen were already suspecting it. It was only a matter of time before word slipped into the girl's ears.

"As much as I enjoy the Prince's interest in my baking, it isn't my place to confess any sort of feeling for him." Your answer is straightforward enough, so Jiyoo nods and hands you the letter. Another request.

Outside the Palace, Winter came like the wind. Lakes froze over, and couples tied up their skates and danced on the ice. The trees were bare and brown, not a single leaf persisting through the chilling breath of Jack Frost.

Jungkook had left for the Winter Palace, to volunteer and raise spirits up in the North. As heir to the throne, he was to be Commander in Chief of the Royal Armed Forces, and therefore needed to undergo intensive training in order to boost morale.

You're back home, and in your wake is your father, who has now grown tangibly tired. He's been on a strict diet of warm vegetable soup for about three months, now. His eyes are sunken, but he still wears a subtle smile even during his most trying days.

Match girls make their rounds at night, you watch as the lamplighters illuminate the streets with their tall ladders and their taller peacoats. Shop windows glow warm shades of yellow and creme; inscriptions on the glass create shadows on the white snow.

"Wow. It's almost as cold as the King's heart out here." You step outside one day with a cup of tea, sneaking in a cheeky smirk. Yeah, good one.

"I heard that!" You turn towards the little voice. A child, maybe about 9 or 10 years old is pointing at you. You squint at it.

"Well, it's true..." You mumble. You have a bit of change in your pocket, so you walk towards a stand to buy a hot bun and a paper.

"Chilly today, hon...Best you take this on the house." The tenant hands you a steaming cake wrapped in a simple cloth and your paper. You stick the paper in your dress pocket and take back your change. You nod a 'thank you.'

You spill the contents of your pockets on the dining table and snatch the paper, snapping it open. Your eyes eagerly skim the headline: "Prince Jungkook Fires Up Royal Army." Below is an article detailing the happenings of His Majesty. All of it sounded very intense, the running, strategizing, first aid training...Was there anything Prince Jeon couldn't nail on the first try?

You set the paper down and pick up your now lukewarm tea. In the back of your mind you're coping with the fact that the Spring Solstice is next week, and that marks the beginning of Jungkook's last season as a Prince.

The King is ill with tuberculosis, and recovery is unlikely. If Jungkook is to marry, it is next season and that was final.

Sitting at the window of his Winter Castle study, Jungkook plays with a ring nestled between his fingers. He looks out onto the lake, as if he's trying to reach you with his gaze. His heart is tight knowing that it would be the season he chooses his bride. Actually, he'd already made up his mind long ago. If his duty was to marry, there was no way to evade such a responsibility. He had to fulfill it, despite his anxieties.

He straightens up and walks out of the hollow room with a firm step.

You awaken with the sound of horse's hooves thudding against the Earth. It is yet to be dawn, and in the distance, thunder roars mightily.

A figure wearing a long, black hood hoists itself off of the animal, tying it to a nearby post. It walks towards an obscure entrance, unknown to many staff.

Intrigued, you wrap a blanket around yourself and peek out at the stranger. His fingers are shorter than his palms, and that's when he tosses of his hood, his eyes set on you. "Y/N..."

You're bewildered by his guise, questions filling your head.

"I was horny, so I left camp" He sits down at the counter, catapulting a cookie into his mouth.

You roll your eyes. "And the guards let you?! Jungkook!" You whisper-yelled at him, readjusting your makeshift blanket-dress.

"Obviously not!" He puffed out his chest with pride. "I bribed them," he smirks.

"You're insufferable," you scoff, your eyes wandering down to observe his physique. His shirt is anything but conservative, highlighting the muscle he'd earned through laborious, sweat-inducing drills. You can feel his eyes on your face as you observe him.

"You can't hide it either," he crosses his arms. "You're standing in the kitchen with a blanket around your naked body." He flicks his tongue. He steps forward, putting a finger under your jaw so you're looking him in the eye.

Your eyes fill with lust as he speaks over your lips. "Look at yourself..." A crash is heard in the other room.

Jungkook's head darts up and in a flash, he disappears into the night.

'Fuck.' You gather your dress from the floor and shuffle back to your chamber.

The first event of the season commences with the most exaltant of spirits as friends of old greet each other with youthful smiles. Juicy exposés, enticing tales, and thoughtful greetings are exchanged in the most formal manner, and the conversation is lively; the most controversial topic of conversation, however, is the rumor that Jungkook is to marry this season.

So far, he's been to four different private residences within his own Kingdom and has been invited, by the secretary of King Louis XVII to meet their daughter. It would be an understatement to say that stakes were high for the pending King.

You were kneading your dough a little too hard thinking about it. "Not so rough, y/n!" Ms.Kang snatches the mixture from your hands. "What is up with you lately, you're so tense! It's really disrupting the kitchen's dynamic."

You shrug it off. "It's going to be hard sedating Anastasie's sweet tooth, I suppose."

"Well, you seem to be doing just fine dealing with Jungkook's addiction to cakes...She's perfect for him, really." Ms.Kang throws more flour on your kneading table and steps off. You give up on the dough, covering it with a cloth and letting it rise.

Jungkook is tapping his feet, munching on finger sandwiches as he waits on you to make an appearance.

"Dearest Prince, look, I am wearing Mediterranean violet!" A duchess shouts as she passes by him, to which he raises his eyebrows at. Another, with dark green eyes approaches and begins speaking rapidly in French at him. Frightened and undereducated, his canned response was: "Excusez-moi, Pouvez-vous répéter plus lentement s'il vous plaît," to which the duchess furrows her eyebrows before something else catches her attention, elsewhere.

Truth is, Jungkook is incredibly shaken at the thought of announcing his engagement tonight. Well, that and the fact that you had yet to pop out of the kitchen. Man, those finger sandwiches were good.

As the night progresses, Jungkook realizes that if he doesn't get up on that platform and say what he needed to say, he'd have to say it in London. Setting his fears aside, he plants himself on top of the orchestral stage and taps a champagne glass with a cheese fork. The music comes to a stop.

With conviction, he begins: "The time has come that I announce my engagement. To all of my beloved friends, who have introduced me to the most beautiful, talented, diverse, and benevolent ladies I've come to get to know over the years, I thank you from the depths of my soul." He swallows and continues, his confident voice masking his trembling. "The life of a Prince is defined by the virtues presented to him at birth. Those virtues are: duty, responsibility, grace, kindness, mercy and integrity." Here comes the part, oh shit.

"I am abdicating my throne to my Cousin, the Duke of Namseong."

Silence sweeps the room. You poke your head out to see what was going on.

"...to marry the love of my life, y/n." He points at you. Your face is cherry red, and you find yourself dropping those same Danish fucking pastries all over the carpet.

"Shit," you fall on your knees, plucking them from the ground one by one. You don't know whether to run as fast as you can or to present yourself, but your body seems to be currently doing the latter. You go along with it.

Jungkook takes your hand tenderly on the stage. "I am unable to perform my duties as King, and therefore am ineligible for the throne." His touch gives you the will to continue beside him. You feel the pure fear rushing through your love's veins, and he knows that this is the hardest thing he'll ever have to do, yet he stands by his announcement.

So, if Jungkook doesn't get to be King of this World, he at least will forever be the King of Your Heart.

But all this, of course...is all in Your, dear reader, Head.

a/n:

hope you enjoyed.

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