#well there's that problem solved back to embroidery

[gloriousmonsters]

koume and kotake were like 400 years old... y'all think they raised any other kings?

[violetrainbow412-blog]

Intoxication [S. R]

Spencer Reid x fem!reader

wc: 9.2k

Summary: when Spencer and reader accidentally consume aphrodisiacs, it seems impossible to maintain control of themselves. It all comes down to who will lose their mind first.

warnings: +18, mdni!! alcohol consumption, mentions of weed, unintentional use of aphrodisiacs, explicit descriptions, oral (f receiving) fingering, kissing, porn with plot, p in v, protected sex, no y/n!

It had been just over half an hour since I entered the fraternity building, fully aware that within the first second, I’d feel the need to leave. Attending any gathering wasn’t a regular thing for me. The noise, the crowds, and the multitude of germs everywhere were reason enough to avoid them.

However, that time, I thought, why not? I had never been to one of those university parties and wanted to experience it. However, I never considered the fact that, to enjoy one, you either: a) went with a group of friends or b) drank until you forgot your name and the discomfort you felt about yourself. I didn’t have the first option, nor did I want to do the second. So, after a few minutes of reflection, I decided I would walk back to my apartment and go straight to bed.

The place was huge, and since my postgraduate program didn’t include the benefit of dormitories, I rarely found myself in places like that. I was about to leave when a hand grabbed my forearm to stop me. In front of me, smiling widely, was her. The moment I saw her, I could swear my face lit up.

“Hi”

“Spencer! I didn’t think I’d see you here.”

Without letting go of my arm, she came closer, wrapping me in a hug and planting a kiss on my cheek before I could react.

I quickly glanced at her, and in the dim light, I noticed her wearing a fitted, spaghetti-strap dress in a deep burgundy red with delicate floral embroidery that looked hand-drawn on the sheer fabric. The material, likely chiffon or tulle, clung to her figure as if custom-made. I tried to focus on her leather jacket instead because the last thing I wanted was to make her uncomfortable by staring too long.

“I was just about to leave, actually.”

“Why?” she asked, noticing my sigh.

“It’s just... I don’t know anyone here.”

“Well, that problem is now solved,” she kindly murmured.

I didn’t even get the chance to respond when she had already walked over to another girl, whispering something in her ear, probably to let her know she’d be away for a while.

Even though I wanted to decline to stay, the truth was that I genuinely enjoyed her company. Rejecting her would have been too rude. We had met some time ago thanks to the advanced classes she took, which overlapped with mine. She was younger than me, of course, but only by one or two years.

She had always been kind to me, attentive, and one could say she was a friend. After all, I trusted her enough to let her hold my hand and guide me through the crowd, despite my aversion to physical contact… and people.

“It’d be a crime to let you leave so early after finally coming to a party,” she breathed once we were both seated on a tiny couch where the noise was slightly muffled. At least she had been considerate in that regard.

“I don’t even know why I came,” I said, shifting uncomfortably. She was leaning against one side, legs crossed, looking at me with a smile. “I don’t like parties.”

“Do you like drinking?” she asked. I shook my head “Maybe that’s the root of the problem.”

“Getting drunk to the point of losing control isn’t my thing,” I replied.

“That’s not what it’s about,” she murmured almost compassionately “It’s more like… fuel for your social battery, you know? You don’t have to deal with these people. I don’t even know half of them, but the guys in this fraternity are disgustingly rich and just want to get as many girls drunk as possible to sleep with whoever they can. They won’t mind if you drink a little. Enough to have fun, but not so much you end up in some stranger’s bed.”

I thought about it for a second and silently nodded. I didn’t want to look like an idiot in front of her by saying I didn’t want to drink because, come on, what kind of university student doesn’t drink?

“I understand your point, and I don’t mean to be a buzzkill, but alcohol has a more complex impact than it seems. It’s not just something that ‘fuels your social battery’; it’s a central nervous system depressant, which means it slows down brain and motor functions. That initial feeling of euphoria or relaxation happens because it inhibits the prefrontal cortex—the part of your brain that regulates judgment and self-awareness. So, technically, drinking a little might make you feel more uninhibited or confident, but it can also impair your ability to make rational decisions if you overdo it, even if you don’t notice right away.”

I paused, gauging how much more I should say before losing her interest. Hearing no objections, I continued:

“Additionally, strong liquors, which have high ethanol concentrations, can hit your system faster than diluted drinks. And if you drink too quickly, you could easily exceed your liver’s ability to metabolize the alcohol. The excess ethanol stays in your bloodstream, raising your blood alcohol levels and increasing the risk of intoxication.”

I avoided looking directly at her, partly because I didn’t want to get distracted by her gaze and partly because I was nervous around her.

“It’s not that I want to ruin your fun, but if you’re going to drink, you should do it slowly, alternating with water, and never on an empty stomach. Not to seem smarter than everyone else, but because staying in control can be the difference between a fun night and a situation you don’t want to be in.”

I expected her to look bored, confused, or even indifferent, assuming she’d left halfway through my rambling. But when I looked at her, I was surprised by the admiration shining in her eyes, accompanied by an amused smile.

“All right, genius boy, if you know all that and basically have the perfect recipe for not making stupid mistakes while drinking, why do you still refuse?” she teased playfully. I didn’t know what to say, but luckily, she answered for me “Listen, I drove here. How about we make a deal? We can drink a little, have a good time, maybe dance if you want, and if either of us starts doing something embarrassing, the soberest one will make sure to drag the other to the car and drive them home. Deal?”

She handed me her car keys, and I wasn’t sure if the brush of her hand against mine was intentional or if she had decided to linger a little longer.

I agreed to her proposal, and a second later, she was already off her seat, walking toward where I assumed the kitchen was. No one noticed us entering, too absorbed in their own business to care if we were strangers.

There was every type of alcohol scattered around, and she took the liberty of pouring me a shot of a clear liquid, which I guessed was vodka. She warned me to drink it in one gulp, and when the warmth hit my throat, I barely managed to avoid coughing. If she noticed, she didn’t say anything.

“Tastes like… strawberry.”

“It’s good, right?” she laughed, giving my shoulder a playful nudge.

Our previous seat was already taken, so she opted for us to stand in a quiet corner. I have to admit that, although I still felt slightly awkward, the vodka was having the desired effect; making me feel more animated to talk.

Talking to her was almost hypnotic. Maybe it was the rhythmic movement of her lips, still stained with traces of what had once been red lipstick, or perhaps it was her tone, but it made me feel like I had to watch her. She never faltered when she spoke, always exuding confidence and calm, no matter the topic.

On the other hand, whenever I responded, I completely lost focus. No matter what I said, she kept looking at me with a wide smile, nodding, and even leaning closer when something made her laugh. But her laugh wasn’t mocking—no, it was as if she genuinely found my intellectual jokes or nonsensical remarks funny.

Gradually, my glass emptied, and she guided me back to the kitchen, serving us moderately but consistently. After an hour, all my nerves had vanished, leaving only a normal guy enjoying the terrible background music, unconcerned about how dirty the place was, and utterly captivated by the woman next to him.

“It’s strange, you know? I didn’t think I’d enjoy something like this. Parties always seemed so… chaotic,”

She looked around with a slight smile.

“That’s true. They’re not exactly calm, but in a way, the chaos has its charm. It lets you leave everything else behind for a while.”

“I suppose you’re right. Sometimes, you just need to disconnect.”

“You seem less tense now, huh? Are you sure it’s not the vodka helping with that?”

She moved closer, almost leaning against my chest in a friendly way, and seeing her looking up at me made my face feel hot.

“Maybe. But it’s also largely due to the company.”

She seemed surprised by my sudden boldness and let out a laugh that I interpreted as a sign of approval. We continued drinking, laughing, and soon my stomach demanded food. Even in my slightly tipsy state, I still remembered that eating would help lessen the effects of the alcohol.

I have to admit that the way I held her waist to guide her to the kitchen was entirely intentional. However, she didn’t seem bothered by the contact. By this point, I’d realized that no one really cared about what we took or didn’t take, so we felt free to rummage through the pantry.

“There are chips, pretzels, Cheetos, some cookies...” she began listing, handing me each package she found.

I grabbed a stray cookie, and suddenly, she let out a sigh of admiration.

“What is it?”

“Chocolate,” she murmured happily. It was a half-eaten, luxurious-looking golden package with no label “Do you want some?”

“I don’t think it’s a good idea. Chocolate has properties that can slightly boost energy and mood. Both alcohol and chocolate can be hard for the body to handle, especially with a combination of high sugar and alcohol content. This can lead to stomach discomfort, dizziness, or a stronger hangover the next day.”

But she wasn’t listening. She had already popped a sizeable piece of chocolate into her mouth. Immediately, she offered me a piece, slightly bigger than hers.

“You have to try it,” she moaned.

I resisted, but I have to admit that the fact she grabbed my shirt and pulled me closer caught me off guard enough to let her slip the chocolate into my mouth.

“Hey!”

“You’ll thank me later.”

It was delicious, that’s for sure. Like a pair of sneaky raccoons, we kept scavenging for snacks in the kitchen until we were satisfied. She grabbed a bag of chips, and I took the bag of pretzels.

After our little break, she poured us another round of drinks, and something inside me told me it was time to stop. I decided that would be my last glass for the night.

Let’s dance she suddenly whispered, and once again, I let her lead me toward the crowd.

I didn’t know how to dance; I think that was pretty obvious. But the situation managed to make me forget that fact.

She was patient with me and laughed every time I made a mistake. Even though there was smoke around me, probably from weed, that didn't stop me from staring intently, and even somewhat intimidated, at my friend. Beautiful, statuesque, and drunk friend.

We danced for a long time until something in her swaying movements, in the way she smiled at me, began to make my head spin. It was as if the atmosphere was charged with something more—something I couldn’t identify at first.

She leaned closer, and my pulse began to quicken slightly. Her hands rose to tangle in my neck, bringing a warm sensation that followed: my thoughts seemed clearer, sharper. I wondered if it was the alcohol, but then something different began to course through my skin.

The warmth intensified, not just in my body but in my mind as well. I felt more alert, more awake, yet the calmness of the vodka lingered, balancing the sensation. My skin felt more sensitive, as if every little touch sent vibrations through me in a more intense way.

My eyes focused more on her movements, her voice, and the way the air filled with her perfume. I wanted to get closer, as if there were an invisible force pulling me toward her. And though my body responded with a soft yearning, my mind remained present, conscious of every second.

By the way she was looking at me, I imagined I wasn’t the only one experiencing these kinds of emotions.

“Sweetheart.”

“Hmm?”

“Can we sit down for a moment? I’m completely sweaty, and the smell of weed is starting to bother me.”

“Of course.”

My hands rested on her waist, unsure of where else to go, and we stumbled out of the crowd, finding a couch to collapse onto.

I was sweaty too, and we were both breathing heavily. When I saw her lean her head back against the seat, leaving her neck exposed, something stirred inside me.

“You move well, Reid.”

“Don’t lie.”

“I mean it. You just need a little confidence,” she smiled. Perhaps the alcohol dulled her sense of personal space, which is why she leaned so close to me. “You’re so smart that, with a bit of practice, you’d be the most skilled at a lot of physical activities.”

Did she know how nervous she was making me? My face was already flushed from the alcohol, the effort, and now from the way she was looking at me while twirling a strand of her hair around her finger.

I wanted to say something else, but a voice interrupted mine: a tall, burly guy accompanied by two others who seemed to be flanking him. Probably a member of the fraternity hosting the party.

He specifically addressed her, asking how she was enjoying the party and throwing in a compliment, clearly with ulterior motives. For a moment, I felt disheartened. Of course, she could have gone with him and I would have understood. I was far too used to rejection.

“I’m having a great time—with my friend. Thanks,” she exclaimed, cordial but curt.

“Want a drink?”

“Honestly, no.”

By the uncomfortable smile she gave the men, I assumed she was politely ending the conversation. With some reluctance, the guys walked away.

Suddenly, my breath caught when I felt her hand rest on my thigh, sliding painfully slowly down to my knee. I couldn’t even hear her words over the heat of her fingers on my pants.

“Sorry?”

“I thought you were going to say something, earlier.”

“No,” I quickly replied, smiling like an idiot because of the way she had leaned toward me. “Nothing.”

“I like listening to you. You know so many things, and you don’t make me feel dumb when you explain them. That’s very sexy.”

“Sexy?”

“Yeah,” she smiled, because I’d replied in a voice an octave higher than normal. “You are very sexy.”

Her compliment was followed by a soft, distracted kiss on the line of my jaw, which sent my brain into overdrive.

“Uhm… you… you’re beautiful. Very beautiful.”

My clumsy compliment seemed to please her, and I felt one of her nails, long and painted black, tracing circles on the skin of my knee. Each small movement felt deliberate, as if she knew exactly what she was doing.

“Did you know fireflies don’t just glow to communicate but also to… attract?”

Her voice broke the silence between us, soft but layered with a double meaning that made me lift my eyes to her.

“Yes, I know,” I responded automatically, my brain switching to autopilot. “Bioluminescent signals are a form of courtship. The light patterns vary by species and can be very specific.”

She turned her head toward me, her lips curving into a lazy smile.

“Of course you’d know that. But tell me something—do you think it actually works? Making someone notice you just by glowing?”

My throat went dry. There was something about the way she was looking at me, like she was expecting a more personal answer than a scientific one.

“I guess it depends on who you’re trying to attract,” I murmured, feeling ridiculously exposed under her gaze.

“That makes sense.”

Her hand slid slightly—barely noticeable—toward the edge of my knee. After tapping her fingers on my pants, she withdrew it.

She didn’t move from the couch, and neither did I. There was something about her posture that held me captive—the way she leaned back against the seat, relaxed yet naturally elegant. Her dress had ridden up slightly along her thighs, revealing more skin than I felt prepared to handle at that moment. I tried to look elsewhere, but it was as if my eyes had a will of their own, always returning to the same place.

“Are you okay?” she asked, her voice soft but laced with a hint of amusement.

“Yes, of course,” I replied quickly, turning my head in the other direction. Perhaps too quickly, because my neck cracked slightly in the process.

She didn’t say anything, but her suppressed laughter made me feel even more awkward. In the silence that followed, I forced myself to focus on something safer: the empty glass on the table, the flickering lights through the window, anything but the curve of her leg or the rise and fall of her chest as she breathed.

“It’s hot, isn’t it?” she commented suddenly, with almost theatrical casualness. Then, without warning, she leaned forward as if to adjust her shoe, causing the neckline of her dress to dip even further.

“Do you think so?” I muttered, my voice raspier than I intended.

She smiled, a gesture somewhere between innocence and knowing.

“Yes, definitely. Though maybe it’s because we’re sitting so close,” she said, glancing around as if she had only just noticed the temperature.

Her words felt like both a slap and a caress at the same time. I tried to keep my gaze fixed on her face, but it didn’t help that her eyes shone with a kind of mischievous intent. Then she lifted one leg, bending it to get more comfortable on the couch, and her knee accidentally brushed against my thigh.

“Did you know you have a very particular way of distracting yourself?” she remarked while toying with the hem of her dress, as if unaware of the chaos she was causing in my head.

“Do I?” my voice sounded weak, almost a whisper.

She nodded slowly, leaning in a bit closer until I could feel the warmth of her proximity.

“Yes. It’s like you’re trying to avoid something but… you can’t.”

My throat went dry. I wanted to say something clever, to steer the conversation away, anything to regain some ground. But instead, all that came out was a nervous, forced laugh.

She didn’t stop looking at me. Then, with exasperating slowness, she smoothed the fabric of her dress over her thigh—a casual gesture.

“You know, sometimes you seem so self-aware. It’s something that can be endearing, but also… well, how do I put it?” she paused for a moment, bringing a finger to her lips as if she were reflecting. “It makes you seem easier to impress.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s nothing, Reid. It’s just me rambling” her voice softened, and I felt the lightest touch on my nose as her finger grazed it. I tried to ignore the fact that her gaze had lingered on my lips “Scattered thoughts I have in my head.”

Without warning, she let out a loud exhale and leaned back into the couch, arching her back as if trying to relieve some muscle tension. I know she probably wasn’t aware of the movement, but it was what finally made me lose the little composure I had left.

“I need to use the restroom. Can you give me a moment?”

I escaped. Cowardly, completely, I got up and practically bolted toward the bathroom, desperate for a moment of peace. As soon as I entered, I realized I had an obvious problem in my pants—I was hard as a rock, and that wasn’t good. I looked at myself in the mirror, surprised at how flushed my face was. My pupils were dilated, my lips dry… What the hell was happening to me?

It quickly became clear that she was the reason for my situation.

The alcohol prevented me from feeling the embarrassment I surely deserved, and instead, I felt like my head was spinning. I placed a hand over the fabric of my pants, letting out a frustrated, pained groan.

I stayed there for a while, trying to think of something that would make my erection go away, but nothing worked. A couple of knocks on the door startled me, and that forced me to leave. Once in the hallway, I walked for a bit until I bumped into someone.

“Spencer! I’ve been looking for you. Are you okay?”

“No! I mean, yes… it’s just…”

I needed to think of something quickly—something believable, but not catastrophic. However, it was hard to concentrate with her body so close to mine, mere inches away from her noticing my situation.

“Did you throw up?”

“No, no, it’s not that. It’s nothing. I think the vodka didn’t sit well with me, uh, maybe I got dizzy from dancing, I don’t know. I think it’s best if I leave.”

“Poor thing,” she murmured, pouting “I’ll take you home right now.”

“I can take a cab.”

“Nonsense. That was our agreement, remember? If one of us was in bad shape, the other would take care of them. Plus, I was the one who encouraged you to drink. I’d feel bad if something happened to you.”

She was already putting on her jacket—she’d been holding it, probably suspecting the situation—and tried to find the keys in her pocket. My outstretched hand reminded her that she’d already given them to me earlier.

When she placed her hand on the small of my back to guide me out, my breathing deepened. The sensation of excitement coursed through me in a way I couldn’t ignore. I realized that something in me desperately wanted her. Too much.

It wasn’t an impulsive desire but a subtle one that had been building throughout the night—with every glance, every gesture. Perhaps the vodka had intensified my evident attraction to her, but whatever the reason, it had turned into something far more palpable.

It was almost as if my body was begging me to stop her right then and there, to kiss her recklessly, and maybe, just maybe, ease the relentless ache inside me.

The cool night air made me feel better, and as the noise faded behind us, I began to calm down. I fervently tried to hide the bulge in my pants, but the truth was she didn’t even seem to notice. Then again, it would’ve been strange to catch her staring at my crotch, right?

“Are you sure you’re in a condition to drive?”

“I’ve driven home in far worse states of drunkenness. Don’t worry,” she smiled.

She looked more lucid now, as if her intoxication had vanished in an instant. I decided to trust her abilities.

The drive home was silent, and I kept shifting in my seat, trying to find strategic positions to avoid embarrassment. I guess she attributed my silence to the supposed discomfort I was feeling, as she didn’t try to start a conversation.

She didn’t say anything when she caught me looking at her through the rearview mirror. It was an innocent glance, at least on my part, simply admiring her. Her lips were driving me crazy, her eyes, slightly narrowed from the lack of light and smudged with mascara, seemed the most beautiful to me. I didn’t know what she saw in me, but I think—no, I feel—that it was something she liked.

“Thank you so much for bringing me home… and for everything.”

“Did you have fun?”

“Quite a lot, actually.”

“We should do this more often.”

“Go to university parties?”

“Just go out in general. To a bar, grab some drinks, a coffee, the library if you’d prefer,” she laughed “The place doesn’t matter. What matters is that you’re there.”

Was she implying she wanted a date with me? I swallowed hard and looked at her, trying to decipher what she wanted me to do. I couldn’t figure it out.

“I’d like that, yes. We can talk about that later. Thanks again for the ride.”

A kiss on my cheek marked her goodbye, and I rushed out, eager to get inside my apartment. I was about to unlock the building’s door when the sound of a car horn made me turn around.

“Hey, would you mind if I use your bathroom? I’ll be quick,” she promised.

I needed to get to the shower and turn on the cold water, but I didn’t protest when she turned off the car engine.

Almost no one visited me in the apartment, so I kept the space however I pleased. It wasn’t really messy, but there were plenty of things on the desk and several books scattered around.

She entered, as she had said, rushing to the bathroom. It was only then that I dared to put a hand over my pants, swallowing a moan that was about to escape from my throat.

In my limited sexual experiences, nothing like this had ever happened to me, and I wondered what the cause might have been. Alcohol couldn’t be blamed, of course, but it was responsible for ruining my ability to react enough to find another explanation.

The shirt began to feel heavy on me, and almost out of necessity, I undid the first buttons to let myself breathe. I tried to ventilate my skin by tugging at the fabric with the tips of my fingers, but it was useless. I sighed.

I glanced around the room, just wanting to make sure nothing was embarrassing in view, and at that moment, she came out of the bathroom. She looked flushed and had some wet hair, as if she had washed her face.

“You okay?”

“Yes, just… suddenly felt a bit feverish”

“Let me check”

My intentions were purely medical when I cupped her face with one hand, putting the back of the other against her forehead to confirm or deny my suspicions. Of course, I hadn’t considered how close we would be. Or maybe I had, subconsciously, and that’s why I moved forward.

My choice of words wasn't the best either.

“You’re hot,”

“I don’t think it’s as much as you.”

A daring smile slid across her lips, and I held my breath as her fingers traced up to the line of my collarbone, exposed by my shirt.

“Why are you saying that?”

“Don’t you like it?”

“It’s just… I don’t understand it.”

A soft laugh echoed in my ears.

“Well, I think you’re very handsome. Would there be any other reason for that?”

I swallowed deeply. She noticed the movement of my Adam’s apple.

“No… I think… I think not. It’s the most logical thing.”

“Don’t they tell you that often?” she murmured, genuinely confused. I shook my head “That’s a shame.”

Her hand, which had been tentatively caressing my skin, moved up to my neck and pulled me just a few inches closer to her.

“Hey, Spencer.”

“Yes?”

“Could I kiss you?”

A chill ran down my spine. And without thinking, I answered yes.

Her mouth found mine with a softness that contrasted with the whirlwind of sensations inside me. It was a heady contrast: the sweetness of her lips against the intensity of the desire that had been building up in every fiber of my being.

My hands instinctively moved to her waist, hesitating for a moment, as if fearing that this might just be a product of my imagination. But she didn’t hesitate. Her body leaned into me, closing any distance that remained.

Her lips were insistent, demanding, and before I could process what was happening, her hand slid down to my chest, pushing me gently back until my back collided with the wall.

“I’m sorry…” I managed to murmur between kisses, pulling my face slightly away. My voice came out more trembly than I wanted.

She raised an eyebrow, tilting her face toward mine, her fingers now brushing my jawline.

“Why are you apologizing?”

“For this” my gaze dropped quickly before returning to her eyes. “No… I didn’t want you to feel it. It’s embarrassing.”

For a moment, I thought she would pull away, that the spell of the moment would break. But instead, her lips curved into a mischievous smile.

“Embarrassing? I thought I was the only one feeling all this tension,” her tone was low, almost a whisper, but filled with a certainty that made my breath grow even more erratic.

Before I could respond, her lips captured mine again, this time with more intensity. The kiss was everything I didn’t know I needed: desperate, intoxicating, completely consumed by the connection between us. I felt her body press against mine, her curves fitting perfectly as if they were made to be there. And then, all my doubts, all my attempts to hold back, vanished.

My mind was a whirlwind. Every touch of her lips, every time her tongue sought mine, was like a fire I couldn’t put out. My face was hot, yes, but now not because of the alcohol, not even from the effort of holding myself back. It was her closeness, her touch, her condescending voice still echoing in my head.

She knows what she’s doing. And she’s slowly killing me.

“Hey, wait…”

“What’s wrong?”

“Do you feel okay with this?”

“A lot. Do you want to stop?”

“No. It’s just that… you’ve been drinking. I don’t want you to think I took advantage of you” my voice came out hoarse, full of doubt and repressed desire.

Her eyes met mine, firm and warm at the same time, as if her gaze could completely disarm me.

“Relax. You’ve been drinking too, pretty, and I think if anyone could make that accusation, it would be you. Do you feel like I’m taking advantage of you?”

“No”

“I’m fully aware of everything. I don’t even feel drunk anymore. The only thing that’s making me dizzy right now is you, Spencer…”

I shivered when I heard my name on her lips like that. She continued:

“I’m just as anxious as you are. I’ve been holding back all night, trying not to make this too obvious, but I can’t anymore. Please, don’t doubt me. Don’t doubt what I want. I want you”

Her confession hit my heart like a blow and ignited a spark that set my entire body on fire. My hand moved up her back until it tangled in her hair, while the other rested on her hip. The pull was gentle but enough for her to understand that my inner struggle had ended. I wasn’t resisting this anymore.

I wanted her too. I wanted her now.

“I never imagined…”

My words were barely audible as our lips brushed in a kiss that was both an explosion of emotions and a long-awaited relief. Her mouth was soft, and so perfectly synchronized with mine that I felt like the world stopped at that moment.

Her hands gripped my shoulders, anchoring the connection between us, while my thumb traced a slow path along her jawline, savoring every detail of her skin. It was more than a kiss. It was the confirmation of something that had been lingering all evening.

When we parted just a centimeter to breathe, our foreheads stayed pressed together.

“Did that clear your doubts?”

“You have no idea how relieved I am to hear you say all that,” I replied with a weak smile, the only one my pounding heart allowed me to form.

“Then stop overthinking”

The space between us disappeared again as we kissed with desperation we had both been suppressing. Her low laugh vibrated against my lips, and I couldn’t help but smile. How did she do it? How did she drive me crazy with so little effort?

But now wasn’t the time for questions. It was time to feel.

The whole world had reduced itself to him: his warm breath, his lips that wavered between soft and desperate, and the hands that roamed my waist with a mix of reverence and clumsiness, making me want him even more. Spencer had always been an enigma to me, a balance between restraint and passion that I didn't know how to decipher... until now.

I had waited for this moment more than I would ever admit. Maybe it had been the way he looked at me when he thought I didn't notice, or the warmth in his voice when he said my name, as if it were something sacred. But now, with his body pressed against mine and his doubts finally gone, I knew I hadn't imagined anything.

It was as if the pieces of a puzzle I had been trying to put together in the dark finally clicked into place, and the resulting image was more beautiful than I had ever dreamed.

Wanting to reverse the roles, it was now him who gently pushed me against the wall, and I felt the control he always seemed to have begin to crack. His breath was heavy, his body trembling slightly, a sign that this was as new and overwhelming for him as it was for me.

"Spencer..." I murmured his name again, feeling it resonate in my chest at the same time his lips moved more intensely against mine. "Can I ask you something?"

I received an affirmative exhalation, and to let me speak, his lips moved to the hollow of my neck. Although my mouth was free, the soft and wet kisses I was receiving blurred my judgment a bit.

"Tell me”

"Did you really feel bad at the party? Or was it just..."

"I didn't want you to notice what you were doing to me. Although I think at this point it doesn't matter much, right?"

Contrary to what I expected, Spencer pushed his hips against mine, as if he wanted to prove that it was true. I could even call it a claim, something that said: look what you did to me. And I wanted him to know just how much my body was begging for him.

Carefully, I moved one of his hands from my waist, and before he could protest, I guided it to one of my thighs, dangerously close to my core. I was glad I had thought of lingerie as a great complement to my dress, maybe in an attempt to feel sexy even if no one saw it. But now, he was going to see it.

Spencer understood my silent request. Those long, slender fingers, which seemed made for more than just flipping through the pages of a book or scribbling frantic notes on paper, slid across my smooth skin. I sighed as I remembered the veins tracing a map under his fair skin, like rivers of contained energy.

Until they finally reached where I needed them. And his touch... God, his touch was something else. They were hands made for discovery, for holding, for exploring, but in those moments, they seemed to be made only for me.

Spencer wasn't an overly bold guy, so it didn't surprise me that he just traced shapes above my panties, as if he wanted to diagnose my anatomy before making any move. My sighs at his ear seemed to please him.

Suddenly, he stopped kissing me, and I huffed, since I liked the attention he was giving my shoulder, until I felt his lips drop just slightly. A loud, pathetic moan escaped me when he squeezed my tits while burying his face to leave an experimental kiss.

I was barely processing that when he knelt in front of me and, carefully, took the edge of my dress and lifted it.

My legs trembled with anticipation at the thought of what he was going to do next, and then I felt his lips brush my thigh. He started gentle, kind, but soon he began sucking every bit of skin he could, and in the end, he made sure to leave bites strong enough to make me whimper.

Who would have thought that this man, seemingly so inexperienced, turned out to offer the best foreplay a woman could desire?

I squealed as I felt his kisses trail down to the fabric of my panties, pausing for a moment to lick the length of my still-clothed pussy.

“You’re dripping wet,” he observed. I was too focused on not giving in right then and there to say anything "Is oral something you're into?"

“I don’t know,” I exclaimed honestly. I didn’t care how vulnerable I looked as I confessed that no man had ever dared to give me head “You?”

“It’s an idea that piques my curiosity, yes.”

Gently he slid some of the fabric aside to clear the way for his tongue, and I felt as if my entire body was only aware of the parts he was probing, kissing, sucking. When he raised my thigh to shoulder height, deepening his thrusts, I felt like I was going to pass out.

I lowered my hand to his thick head and tried, in vain, to push him away from me. I honestly didn’t have the strength or desire to do so, much less when he had picked up the pace.

I moaned a sweet nickname out loud and then Spencer pulled away, looking up at me with glossy, swollen lips.

“Take me to bed, please.”

He didn’t need me to say it twice as he immediately stood up and took me by the waist to guide me to said spot. I was able to taste myself on his lips and for some reason that only turned me on.

Once we hit the mattress the way he laid me down was gentle and I sighed at that. How could he be so sweet all the time? I wondered. And worse yet, how much would this little adventure affect my future expectations?

Because if it was about standards, I was finding out that Spencer Reid was the standard.

Seemingly more enthralled now by my lips than my pussy, he continued with the make-out session we were having. With each touch we had, my excitement was increasing more and more. In the midst of it all I managed to unbutton his shirt and take it off to leave it somewhere on the bed; the semi-darkness of the room shielded any insecurities he might be feeling, as well as my own.

“You are painfully stunning, did you know?”

My tone was one of reproach, and he laughed at that, looking down almost embarrassed. Maybe he wasn't used to compliments, but something told me he was definitely enjoying it.

I heard him murmur something under his breath about me, while he took down the straps of my dress. My hands almost instinctively went to unbuckle his belt, and before I could do anything, he pulled away from me. Needless to say, this left me confused.

"Sorry, I..."

“You don't want to?” I murmured understandingly. I thought maybe he wasn't a big fan of these situations, and I understood, but somehow I felt hurt.

"No! Sure I want to. I want it a lot, but..." he tried not to look at me, as if avoiding confrontation "It's just that I don't have any protection here”

A laugh escaped my lips, and I feared he might interpret it as mockery, so I stretched my neck to steal another kiss.

"One would think there are many girls who pass through these sheets."

"Don't make fun of me."

"I'm not making fun of you. It's cute, actually. It even makes me feel guilty," I murmured, smiling "For a second, I was afraid something had made you uncomfortable."

"No, it's not that."

I hesitated for a second whether I should suggest what was on my mind.

"We could do it like this. It doesn't bother me."

"It's not just about avoiding an unwanted pregnancy..." he began. At that moment, I saw him return to his usual nerdy mode. "Although, of course, that counts. But there are things like sexually transmitted infections, some of which don't even show symptoms at first and could complicate things if not detected on time. I know this doesn't sound very attractive, but believe me, protection isn't just for avoiding future problems; it's also to take care of you now, so you don't have issues later: because sometimes men can transmit diseases we're asymptomatic for, and to be honest, I've never done those kinds of tests. A lot of people don't think about it, but the risks are real. And don't get me wrong, I trust you, but even though you trust me, diseases don't discriminate. And I'd like us both to have that peace of mind. Prevention is never too much."

“You conflict me deeply. On the one hand, I admire how responsible you are; it's very cute. But on the other hand, I just urgently need you to fuck me deep and cum inside me”

Spencer was surprised by my desperate whining and tensed when I placed one of my legs around his waist, trying to persuade him. But I was even more surprised when I felt him pull completely away to stand beside the bed.

"Where are you going?"

"To the pharmacy," he announced, putting a jacket over his bare torso.

"Are you serious?" I laughed widely, sitting on the bed now that my companion had moved away.

"Definitely. I feel like I can't handle it any longer, it’s physically painful, and when you talk to me like that, it just drives me crazy” he groaned, joining in the fun. It was the first time something like this happened, and I honestly thought it was absolutely hilarious “I'll be back in a minute, I swear! Please, don't go...”

"I couldn't," I murmured sweetly. He came closer, and I took the opportunity to kiss him again "Be quick. I'll be waiting anxiously for you."

Something in my tone of voice affected the man, or maybe it was the wink I gave him, but I saw him bolt out the door. I flopped back onto the bed, taking a moment to digest what was happening.

I have to admit that my classmate had always been attractive to me, but I never thought he could feel the same way. Not even in my wildest dreams did I imagine that I would be waiting for him in his bed so that, with any luck, he could ravish me without holding back.

As I reached out my arms, I could feel the fabric of the shirt I had previously removed from him, and then I brought it up to my nose, inhaling without thinking. A familiar scent hit me immediately: the mix of sweet cocktails he had drank during the party and a subtle trace of cannabis, as if the night was still impregnated in him. I could distinguish a hint of wood, perhaps from the furniture in the place, combined with a light scent of sweat that was not bothersome, but rather natural. And then, among all that, there was his perfume: a citrus and spicy aroma that evoked something fresh, but also deep, sensual, as if every molecule of his being was waiting for something more. I breathed harder, feeling that this aroma, this moment, defined him.

I didn't know why that particular night my whole body was screaming for his closeness. I was crazy about him and it wasn't the alcohol's fault, because I'd had too many drinks to know. Neither of us had ever done drugs and for a moment I was terrified by the idea that I could want to be with someone like that, with such fervor that it was worrying.

Still dizzy from the excitement of the moment, I lowered one of my hands to my crotch to get rid of my panties. I thought about him, wondering how skilled he was. Not that I doubted his abilities, but just like I’d told him that night, he might need some practice.

I started to fantasize about helping him through this situation, maybe guiding him or pampering him by just asking him to lay back so I could do all the work. Spencer was the kind of man who invited you to please him, the kind of man you wanted to satisfy because he never pressured you into it.

Playing with myself, I sniffed his shirt again, desperately wishing I could have the source of said scent with me, until my brain was filled only with daydreams in which he was the protagonist and my fingers were replaced by his. That's why I didn't notice when he opened the apartment. And that's why I didn't know he was watching me from the door frame until I heard him let out a ragged sigh.

Being caught in that position made me feel embarrassed at first, but the way he practically lunged at me and kissed me more decisively than before, I figured he liked seeing me like that.

"Busy?"

I was caught off guard by his sassiness and I knew he was proud of it by the smile I felt on my neck.

“I guess you found what we need, right?”

“Uh-huh”

“Have you read any books on female anatomy?”

“Quite a few”

“So I guess you know a lot about sexuality, don’t you?”

“In theory, yes. Unfortunately, I haven’t had many opportunities to put it into practice.”

A smile spread across my face, which luckily he couldn't see because he was too busy leaving a trail of kisses along the top of my torso.

“How unfortunate, considering you’re a scientist. I wouldn’t mind becoming an object of your study, though, you know?”

He subtly slid the straps of my dress and revealed my bra, from which a considerable part of my boobs protruded, which he happily kissed.

At the same time his hand came down to caress me, making me shiver with anticipation, resting on just the right spots. It was the least I could expect from such an intellectual man, one who definitely knew about the thousands of nerve endings concentrated in my clitoris, which he was definitely tapping into to satisfy me.

“May I?” he whispered, looking at the little underwear he still had on.

I nodded immediately and arched my back to make it easier for him to unbutton it, which didn't take too long. He was practically worshipping every inch of my skin, which, combined with his gentle yet firm fingers rubbing me, was driving me crazy.

We both moaned in unison as he pushed a finger into me. It felt just as good as I had imagined.

I had read somewhere that, physiologically, women need more time to achieve an orgasm and although none of my exes had cared about that, this one seemed to know that fact. Maybe that was why he was giving me such attention, which I was undoubtedly grateful for.

“Honey…” I choked out “you’re doing great, really, really good, but would you mind if we replaced those fingers? I want to feel you inside me,” I practically begged.

I never begged, I felt like a fool doing it, but if that got me the intensity of the kiss he gave me, I wouldn't mind starting to do it.

Spencer pulled away from me, searching for the packet of condoms he'd run off to get, and while he unbuttoned his pants I got rid of my dress, which by this point was just a mass of fabric around my waist.

My body wasn't perfect, but I figured that wouldn't matter to him. Besides, I doubt he'd be rude enough to mention it.

“Need a hand?” I joked playfully, noticing that he was struggling to open the silver package.

“I’m sorry, I’m just a little nervous,” he said to himself, hoping I wouldn’t mind too much.

I wanted to reward him for treating me so well a few moments ago and I took the package from his hands, placing my palm on his chest until I laid him down against the mattress. Once in that position it wasn't difficult to get rid of the wrapping to place the piece of latex on him, thinking that I didn't have a single complaint about his body.

My hands on him made him nervous and I watched him turn into a mess as I began pumping his cock up and down to make sure he had the condom on properly.

“You don’t have to hold back. I like the sounds you make,” I exclaimed in a velvety tone, trying to sound as genuine as possible “That way I know you’re enjoying it.”

“I don’t think I’ll be able to hold out for much longer,” he confessed, as my hand continued to move along his length. Although I wished I could take better care of him, I understood the situation.

“Your wish is my command”

He didn't complain when I put each leg on his sides and he bravely hardened as I teased him for a moment before sinking my pussy onto his dick. I started slow, trying to make him last as long as possible, but with each second it was getting harder to keep up a pace.

I tried my best to ride him, trying to give him the best experience as a thank you for all his hospitality. And from the whimpers coming out of his throat I assume I was doing my job well.

At some point his hands ended up on my hips, guiding me as he pleased. Sometimes he pushed me down, as if he wanted to get to the bottom of me, and other times he manipulated me so that the thrusts were fast.

He wasn't lying when he said he would cum in no time, as the repressed desire added to the previous sexual actions had him on the edge of the abyss. I knew he had reached orgasm when he closed his eyes and his hips slammed against me, in erratic movements.

I kept riding him a little longer, chasing my own climax, and when I got it I put my hands against his chest, arching in pleasure. Spencer, breathing heavily, grabbed my wrists in his hands and then pulled me so that I was against his torso, my lips too close to his.

He placed his palm on my cheek and pulled me in his direction, seemingly asking for a kiss. I granted it.

“Are you satisfied?”

“I am,” I sighed wryly. It was cute that he didn’t know that sometimes girls don’t even make it. “How was it for you?”

“I'm speechless.”

I laughed and, to a certain extent, felt flattered that I had left a man who knew a million ways to express himself in that state.

We enjoyed the high we had just had for a few minutes and waited for our breathing to slow down; when our sighs took the same rhythm, he spoke again.

“You should go to the bathroom. It’s, uh… healthy for you to do it after every encounter.”

I reached for the garment he had been wearing and, trying to protect myself from the cold air, I put it on over myself.

“Do you mind lending it to me?”

“Nu-huh,” he hummed, eyeing me as if I were a cupcake. I would later learn how affected he was to see me using his clothes to slide out of bed.

When I came out of the bathroom he already had his boxers on, probably wanting to maintain modesty, and when he went to attend to his needs I also looked for my panties. It wasn't long before he returned to keep me company.

“Do you want to cuddle? I’d feel like a whore if I just left”

“Yes, of course I want”

He made sure to throw anything that was on the bed onto the floor and patted the pillows to make them more comfortable. I settled into the space next to him, leaning against his chest, right at heart level.

One of his arms was holding me from behind and in some strange way that made me feel safe; protected.

“Your feet are frozen, are you cold?”

"Not much"

“Do you want me to get you some socks?”

“I’m fine, Spencer,” I laughed softly. I brushed my cheek against his skin and tried to snuggle closer to him. “It’ll just get colder if you leave.”

“Did you know that the human body is incredibly efficient at maintaining its temperature? When two bodies are nearby, like… now,” he paused, settling a little closer to me, “heat transfer occurs due to thermal radiation and direct conduction. Essentially, each body generates heat that helps the other maintain a stable core temperature.”

“So you’re like a human blanket”

“That’s right. In fact, in situations of severe hypothermia, sharing body heat in this way can literally save lives.”

I raised my head to look at him and noticed an excited gleam in his eyes, the one he always had when he shared something from his vast knowledge.

“I’ve been thinking quite a bit about what you said earlier, about female anatomy,” seeing him frown, I continued, “No field of study considers one experimentation enough, right? Everything needs to be replicated two, three, four times. Ten times if necessary.”

“Your guess is quite accurate.”

“Say no more. We must give everything if it is in the name of science”

From the smile on his face, I knew that my joke had pleased him and that my proposal seemed to please him. To seal the deal I reached up and kissed him softly. We remained silent for a while, him caressing me over his own shirt and me enjoying the closeness.

“I like you a lot”

“I had a feeling,” I teased, earning a soft laugh from him “I really like you, too."

He pressed a kiss to my forehead and for some stupid reason a blush crept up my cheeks, even though we had just had sex. I carefully placed myself on top of his body and buried my face in his neck, feeling him hug me around the waist.

It didn't take long for him to fall asleep, I could tell by how calm his breathing was becoming, and I tried to enjoy the peace he emanated a little longer, until, eventually, Morpheus picked me up in his arms too.

@spoolsofgreenspoolsofblack @shuichiakainx @gghostwriter @cafters @weallhaveadestiny @your-left-sock @jaeminsmilk @tmrs-basilisk @kristennotstewart @lostinwonderland314 @f4tpo3s @lortheswiftie @dark-unicorn222 @samsienichole @blackholegladiator @gretaandthatsit @cherrysprlte @halfbloodwriter @piercethefic @reidingandallthat @ariel-23-19 @zorrasucia @ihatethecrowdsyouknowthat @juluina @kylakins88 @tinainaction @sadroses98 @dumbbunnys-safes @bowerfeithwk @freyafriggafrey

Thank you very much for your interest! I hope you liked it, if you feel like it, let me know what you think :)

[not-a-space-alien]

Desperate Daybreak Chapter 3

In this chapter: Valen talks to vampire cops and meets a new ally.

Warning for this chapter: use of a homophobic/transphobic slur, misgendering throughout, police intimidation

MMSS masterpost

DD masterpost

On AO3

***

Valen wasn’t sure how many different ways there were to say “I didn’t kill my husband.”  He’d said practically every variation of it so far.

After the initial rounds of Who the hell is this? and Does Mrs. Kithrara have a brother? and Valen having to literally pull out his ID to prove he was in fact the recently widowed Valen Kithrara, the two officers sat him down in the foyer and refused to stop grilling him and asking him the same questions over and over again.  He was sure if Lex and Ari weren’t there, he would have broken down and simply confessed to the murder just to make it end.  He really wished he could hold one of their hands, but making sure they had their silver armor so none of the vampires around could touch them was much more important than that.

The two cops had obviously watched too many movies glamorizing solving complicated murder cases.  They had even designated themselves as good cop and bad cop, which was as patronizing as it was stupid.

The one who’d designated himself good cop tapped his pencil on his notepad.  “Look, we know you killed him, so why don’t you make this easier on all of us and just tell us how you did it.  This doesn’t have to be hard.”

Valen squirmed in the uncomfortable elaborate embroidery on the upholstery of the fancy chairs of the Kithrara estate’s sitting room.  “For the last time.  I wasn’t even on this side of the border.  I was hundreds of miles away.”

“You hired somebody, then,” bad cop insisted.  “If we pulled up your phone records, we wouldn’t find any suspicious calls to this side of the border?”

The idea that Valen could have hired a human to kill him, from one of the many, many vampire hunters he surrounded himself with, was so far from their minds that they just assumed Valen would have had to contact a remote vampire assassin to pull it off.  Humans were just so non-existent as a threat in their minds.  He almost wanted to point it out, if it wouldn’t have just opened another can of problems for him.  “I only cross the border to come buy supplies, and I barely ever call anybody over here.”

“So if we pull up the phone records, we won’t find anything suspicious?”

“No, I’m positive.”

“So you wouldn’t have a problem with it if we pulled up the phone records?”

“For God’s sake, pull up the phone records then, if you must!”

“Maybe we will.  It’d be easier if you just told us, though, you know.”

Valen struggled to hold back tears.  Don’t let yourself be humiliated in front of these men.  Not more than you already have.  “If I had anything to tell you, I would have.”

“Hey,” Ari butted in with a growl.  “Can we get this over with?”

One of the cops looked disdainfully at Ari.  “Mrs. Kithrara, can you keep your thrall quiet?”

Ari scowled.  Valen went to put his hand on Ari’s arm, then withdrew before he could burn himself on the silver.  “It’s all right, dear, just let me handle this.”

Lex leaned over to whisper comfortingly in his ear.  “You can do this.”

Despite finding massive comfort in the words, Valen looked up and was horrified to discover the two men were giving him a bemused expression, like they were watching a fully grown man be comforted by his mother, or perhaps a pet.

They thought he was pathetic, it was obvious they did.  He was on the verge of a breakdown just talking to them, and he seemed to need the comfort of a human.�� He might as well have just pulled out a coloring book and crayons for how it changed their view of him.

But as much as he hated it, he knew that sometimes that could be to his advantage.

“I don’t even know how I would kill someone,” Valen said, finally letting the tears leak out.  “How could anyone even do such a thing?  It’s unthinkable!  To kill my husband?  Such violence… It feels like just yesterday I was right here beside him…”

The two cops softened, now that he was behaving how they expected.  Submissive.  Womanly.  Cowed.  Weak.  He hated it.  Oh, he hated it.  But it was working.  He dabbed at his eyes.  “I’m sorry for losing my composure… I’m just not mentally well, you know.”

“We know,” one cop said sympathetically.  “You poor girl.”

“I can only imagine you need some comfort,” the other said.  “I’ll give you my phone number for if you find yourself lonely now that he's gone.”

“Jesus Christ,” Ari muttered.

“Mrs. Kithara, is it really necessary to have both your thralls here?” He said it like it was gaudy and in poor taste.

Valen went red.  “Surely they aren’t being that disruptive.”

“No, no, I get it,” Ari said.  She tapped her knees and stood.  “I can’t keep my mouth shut, so I’ll wait outside.”

The two cops looked at her funny, like she was a dog walking itself by holding its own leash in its mouth.  “Uh-huh.”

“Do be careful,” Valen muttered, having nightmare visions of someone accosting Ari outside the door.  “Don’t move too far away.”

Ari waved him off casually and opened the door.

There was another vampire outside–way across the grand entryway, frazzled as though looking for something.  His head snapped towards Ari as soon as the door opened, and with the preternaturally fast clackclackclackclack of dress shoes on tiled floor, he was in front of Ari blocking the doorway immediately.

“There you are,” he said, and Oh, that’s Tessie’s voice, and Valen should have guessed by the subtle gold nail polish and the just barely noticeable discomfort at being in men’s dress clothing.  Valen wouldn’t have recognized it if he hadn’t seen the exact same thing in the mirror every time he put on women’s dress clothes. This was undoubtedly the Tessie he'd spoken to on the phone. “My client has the right to legal counsel!”

The two cops rolled their eyes and snickered.  “Sure.  So where were you?”

“I told you to come get me when Valen arrived at the estate, but apparently you can’t even be trusted to do that!”  Tessie stormed over and plunked into the chair beside Valen.  She was taller than him, although that was hardly a feat.  She had ashy, dark skin and eyes that were leaning more towards golden than red.  “I was looking for you because I had to hear that Valen was on site from one of the maids.”

“Sorry.  We couldn’t find you.”

“Uh-huh, I’m sure you looked all over the grounds.  Convenient that it gave you a few minutes to terrorize my client without my being here.”  She dropped a manila folder of documents onto the table.  “Any questions for Valen will now be addressed to me, and Valen will consult with me about the answers before you get them.”

Relief swept through Valen.  Oh, Tessie was a superhero.  Finally, someone who could and would just stand between him and this whole situation.  “Thank you,” he said meekly.

“Now.”  Tessie threw one leg over the other.  “I understand neither you nor the Kithrara family want me or Valen here, but Valen has the legal right to this estate and he has the legal right to an attorney, so we’re–”

“She,” one of the cops broke in.

Tessie’s manicured fingers stopped on the documents she was shuffling.  “What?”

“She has the legal right to an attorney.”

“The man has facial hair and everything,” Tessie muttered.  “Heavens above.”  She cleared her throat and raised her voice again.  “Anyway, the legal right to an attorney, so unless Valen prefers a different legal consultant–”

“I don’t,” Valen broke in quietly.

“–Which she doesn’t, you have to talk to me if you want to question Valen about the circumstances of her husband’s death.”

The two cops scowled.  “Fine, though I don’t know why they let someone like you be a lawyer anyway.”

Tessie peeled her lip into a smile that looked more like an animal snarling.  “Have you explained the basic facts of the case to Valen yet?”

They both fidgeted.  “That’s not how we were–”

“Members of the nobility have the legal right to have the established facts of a case in which they are a suspect explained to them fully before being obligated to answer any questions about it.  Decree 1,489 section 3 clause 8.”

“But we were just gonna–”

Tessie whipped out a notebook and started jotting things down.  “Officer… Davis… refused… to… establish… case… facts…”

“All right, all right, sheesh.”

“Oh, I like this one.”  Ari shut the door and sat back down. 

Valen swept his hair out of his face and crossed his legs with renewed confidence.  “Yes, if there are case facts, by all means I would like to hear them.”

One of the cops sighed and took out his notepad, flipping it back to an older page.  The bastard had a stack of notes ready to go, but hadn’t told Valen about it until someone came and threatened him with legal action!  Valen was so outraged he almost forgot to pay attention. 

“On the morning of May 4th, at 3:30AM, an incident occurred with four males of the Kithrara family who were together on an outing–Xavier, Priscus, Mordecai, and Sebastian.  There were four witnesses:  Xavier’s coachman, Priscus’s limousine driver, and two passersby.  The Kithraras were exiting the grounds of a theater and returning to the private lot to get to their vehicles when an unknown assailant propelled a wooden stake through the chest of Mordecai Kithrara, followed immediately by a second through Xavier Kithrara.”

“The limousine driver ran off at this point,” the other cop broke in.  “As did the two passersby.  Cowards.  No loyalty to their betters at all.”

“The coachman hid in the carriage but reportedly heard multiple gunshots, which according to him incapacitated both Priscus and Sebastian.”

“He didn’t go out to check until several minutes had passed,” the other cop sneered.  “No loyalty at all.  Cowardice.”

Even the first cop was looking annoyed by the commentary at this point.  “Anyway.  By the time police were on the scene, Xavier, Mordecai, and Priscus were all dead from wooden projectiles.  Sebastian’s body hasn’t been recovered yet.”

“He’s dead?”

“He’s presumed dead, but no one knows where he is.”

“Goodness,” Valen said.  “I hope he’s all right.”

The cop who’d designated himself as bad cop slammed his hands down on the table, making Valen jump.  “I bet you do!” he accused.  “As if you didn’t orchestrate this!  The order of assassination is perfectly lined up in such a way that it would be clear Priscus would inherit Xavier’s estate in the moments before his own death!  Mordecai dying before Xavier eliminated him as an heir, and the gap between Xavier’s murder and Priscus’s murder ensured the estate would go to you.”

Oh, so that was why they were convinced he must be behind it.  Valen did have to admit it looked suspiciously convenient that he would end up benefiting so much from this extremely specific series of murders.  But…

“I had no idea Priscus bequeathed the estate to me in his will,” Valen protested.  “Even if I’d wanted to kill him, I had no way of knowing it would benefit me!  I hadn’t been in contact with him for months!  When was his will last updated?”

“That’s besides the point,” came the reply.  “It’s also convenient that Sebastian Kithrara, the only person in any position to contest your claim, is conveniently missing.”

“I would never hurt Sebastian!” Valen gasped.  “You can’t be serious!”

Tessie stood, her chair scooting back.  “These are some very serious accusations to make without any evidence, officers.  Do you have anything that will hold up in a court of law?  Need I remind you that the nobility are explicitly entitled to the assumption of innocence in the absence of evidence, as per Decree 981, section 106 clause 4.”

“Mrs. Kithrara married in, and they've been separated, so she hardly counts as nobility, right?”

“Priscus Kithrara explicitly declined to sign divorce paperwork on multiple occasions and stated he didn't wish for their union to be dissolved.  And women who marry into nobility are entitled to all the legal rights of a born noblewoman, as per Decree 367, section 33, clause-”

“You and your clauses,” said Cop #1.  “I’ll show you claws.”

Tessie sat back down and started writing.  “Officer… Davis… threatened… physical… assault… against… a practitioner… of nobility law…”

Cop #1 crossed his arms stormily.  “Whatever.  We’re not gonna get anything out of the missus while this yahoo is here.  I think we’re done here.”

“I think we are.”

“Well I thought we were, first!”

“Well I concur!”

“Well you’re probably a faggot anyway!”

“Officer… Davis… leveraged… crude… language…”

“Don’t think this is the end of this.  The investigation is ongoing.”

And with that, the two cops absconded out the main entryway.

Valen watched them go with some relief.  “Goodness,” he murmured.  He unclasped his hands to find that they were sweaty.

“I don’t know where you came from,” Ari said to Tessie, “but thank you for saving our asses.”

“This is Tessie,” Valen said.  “We spoke on the phone earlier.”

Lex’s eyebrows went up.  “Oh, you’re Tessie?  Valen was so excited to meet you.”

Valen blushed, trying not to look excited for anything.  It wasn’t proper.  “Mrs. Tessandrax, these are my associates, Alexis and Ariana.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you!”  Tessie went to grab Lex’s hand, before Ari broke in:  “Bad idea, sorry.”

Tessie pulled back.  “Oh?  You–Oh, you armored plated them!  That’s so clever.”

“I know they aren’t entirely safe here,” Valen said.  “I would rather no vampires touch them without permission.”

Tessie clasped her hands together, as though trying to restrain herself from shaking their hands anyway and burning herself.  “Very clever.  Yes, it’s so good to meet you.  I haven’t gotten to meet many humans who were, er, cognizant.”

“Right,” Ari said.  “So, pardon me for bein’ rude, but to get right to the point:  Why are you helping Valen?  Why’d you call him here and bust in to beat those cops back?”

“Right!”  Tessie's hair bounced as she gave a little hop, then she seemed to settle down, mimicking Valen’s attempts to restrain his enthusiasm.  “I know an opportunity when I see one!  This whole affair with the Kithrara estate is going to take years to untangle, and you’re going to need a good lawyer to guide you through the process.  And one who, perhaps, can help you navigate this in a way that benefits humans, as well.”

“Really?” Lex said. 

“I’m sympathetic to the plight of humans, and I’ve heard Valen is, too.  If we play our cards right, we might be able to shut down the blood farms entirely.”

***

Taglist

@tomato-whump @dragonfireridge @taterswhump @whump-cravings

@scoundrelwithboba @pigeonwhumps @whumpsday @whumpy-writings @fuzzydarkpebble

@melodicnommer @thecyrulik @snake462 @gt-daboss @appelsiinilight

@star-rott @mottinthemainpot @corvidat @melancholy-in-the-morning @whumplr-reader

@honeycollectswhump @dragonqueenslayer6 @whumpycries @starfields08000

[improbable-implosions]

A little mend here that I was pleasantly surprised worked, I fixed the fraying bits on my book-shaped wallet! Figured that red thread works quite well with the themes of War of the Worlds.

First up, we've got some simple stitches perpendicular to the edge of the wallet, think a blanket stitch but the thread doesn't run through the loop created. Honestly, there are probably more complex ways I could have stitched that vinyl "leather" back onto the fabric and cardboard of the book structure, but I figured these simple stitches would be faster, and work just fine.

Second, on a slightly larger tear on the "spine" corner, I did some randa stitching! This actually draws from a style of embroidery I'm almost completely unfamiliar with, most popular in Brazil, so I may be labeling it wrong. If you know better, let me know! It's a sort of baseball-stitching like process, I was roughly following this video as a tutorial: https://vm.vxtiktok.com/t/ZT8TNMKw9/

and also this one to understand how to get started: https://vm.vxtiktok.com/t/ZT8TNrMML/ (Excuse the tiktok links, but I am not immune to the allure of short video on occasion! I even have posts of my own, every now and again)

I actually need to do similar rim-lining on the other three corners, as the adhesive is starting to come off, and that'll hold it still enough to solve the problem.

Also, some miscellaneous adventures in hemming patches properly! A process that proved MUCH simpler once I found my rolled hem foot. These two patches came out quite good, actually! straight stitching, for the most part, and relatively even folds.

It was much simpler to get the hems just so on a larger patch like this one, thankfully! I'm actually really pleased with the way this one in particular came out, and hopefully, I can make something pretty with it on the thigh of the jeans it goes with. (yes, that's why the patches are numbered, so I can keep track of where they go in the stack!)

Even despite how well things went overall with the patches, I still fumbled, got a bit hasty in trying to get the corner of one of the later patches through the machine. Said haste had me trying to shove shove, cram cram the fabric through the foot to get it hemmed, turns out, don't do that! Results in bending the needle on my machine! Oof!

Luckily, the machine came with some spare needles, so it only slowed me down a little bit!

[valy-gc]

Chapter 2

Chapter 1

Stranger Place

You’re still trying to get your bearings when the silence is shattered by the echoing groan of massive double doors swinging open behind you. Instinctively, you whirl around. Light floods the hall, pouring in from the corridor beyond, and with it comes a procession of figures—at least a hundred, maybe more.

Your breath catches. At first glance, they look like ordinary people -though all wearing the same clothes except for one- but the details are all wrong. One man’s wings shimmer faintly, feathers shifting as if alive. A boy with dark furred ears keeps glancing around, his sharp eyes catching the light. Another figure, taller and with a set of twisting horns, strides confidently at the back.

But it’s the man leading them that draws your attention.

He’s tall, exuding a presence that demands respect without effort. His white coat flows behind him like a cape, the hem brushing the polished stone floor. His piercing blue eyes fix on you with an intensity that makes your stomach twist. He doesn’t look angry, exactly—more like he’s trying to solve a particularly vexing problem, and unfortunately, you’re the problem.

“You there,” he says, his voice smooth but sharp enough to cut through the tension. “What are you doing here? And how did you get in?”

You open your mouth, but nothing coherent comes out. What are you doing here? You were in a library, you think, but that already feels like a half-forgotten dream.

The man narrows his eyes. “Well? Speak up.”

You stammer something—an apology, maybe? A declaration that you have no idea what’s happening? His frown deepens, and he glances at the group behind him.

“Odd,” he mutters, mostly to himself. “You’re not supposed to be here. Students arrive by carriage, not… whatever this was.” He gestures vaguely, as if indicating the entire situation.

Students? Your confusion must show on your face because the man’s expression shifts slightly. Not softer, exactly, but less impatient.

“You are a new student, aren’t you? You’re wearing the ceremonial robes.”

Ceremonial robes? That’s impossible. You look down at yourself and freeze. Gone are your familiar clothes. Instead, you’re wrapped in a flowing white robe, intricate gold embroidery glinting faintly in the low light. The fabric feels impossibly soft, like woven light, and yet it’s undeniably real. It’s the same strange clothes the others persons are wearing.

Your head snaps back up. You want to protest, but the words falter. What can you even say?

The man sighs, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “Of course. Something unusual had to happen today. Why not? Just… get up. Let the others pass. We’ll sort this out in a moment.”

You scramble to your feet, heat rising to your face as the procession walks past, their eyes flicking toward you with varying degrees of curiosity and wariness. They gather around a massive, perfectly round pool in the center of the room. The water’s surface is so still it looks like glass, reflecting the faint light above.

The man gestures for you to follow and walks toward the group without waiting. You trail behind, trying to ignore the way your strange robes whisper with every step.

When he reaches the pool, he turns to face you. His gaze is assessing now, as if he’s trying to piece together a puzzle.

“My name is Solon Arclight. I am the headmage of Fablewood Academy. And you,” he says, “are about to participate in the Resonance Ceremony.”

Fablewood Academy? Resonance Ceremony? The words mean nothing to you. Solon seems to notice your blank expression, and for the first time, he looks genuinely perplexed.

“You don’t know what that is?”

You shake your head.

He blinks, then frowns. “Everyone in Scriptoria knows what the Resonance Ceremony is.”

Scriptoria? That word hits like a jolt, unfamiliar yet heavy with significance. It spirals through your mind as Solon continues speaking, though his words are drowned out by your racing thoughts.

What in the world is Scriptoria?

~~~

Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10

[kxttsstuff]

Borrower Age & Education 

🐿️;; When a borrower is born, they're already considered a child, not a ‘baby’ in the human way of seeing it. Because of that, they already have very important responsibilities on their backs. And their very first task is to learn how to walk, which they learn to do in their first month of life. This is why it is said “Borrowers are born working”

🐿️;; Borrowers are surprisingly fast learners, and it enhances their ability to adapt to multiple situations and skills that require a creative or a physical input. They also have a natural sense of curiosity, to learn how things work. To be curious for a borrower is healthy and normal, but when it's too much, it can lead to the awful consequence of being caught.

Education

🪡;; Obviously, borrowers normally don't have access to formalized forms of learning like schools or colleges, most of them would be what humans call homeschooled so that means most of their knowledge comes from his family and community. That also means families can prioritize certain skills over others, skipping them entirely or even teaching extra things, so this will list the most general possible of things borrowers learn since their early childhood in order to be considered independent and fully capable once they reach adulthood.

🪡;; Most commonly, borrowers learn by example and observation, some parents might do something once and expect their child to figure it on their own. However, children get involved in almost any task or chore.

🪡;; All of these skills are almost never restricted to gender.

🪡;; Regarding mentality, borrowers are heavily encouraged to learn patience, perseverance, resilience, and develop quick problem-solving, decision-making, and critical-thinking trains of thought. These are all traits that portray a borrower as well educated.

🧵;; Sewing, embroidery and knitting. Borrowers learn to make and modify their own clothes according to the materials available and the season. Parents give children their first set of clothes, but they are encouraged to modify them themselves as they grow, or even start making their own.

🏹 ;; Hunting, skinning, tanning, tracking and crafting traps. Even though borrowers tend to prefer just borrowing food, in times of scarcity they'll resort to hunting so they must know different strategies for different prey, how to fight them, how to make full use of it, and are desensitized from a young age to what this entails.

🏥 ;; First aid. Borrowers are taught from a young age how to perform CPR, how to disinfect, stitch and cauterize wounds, make splints, treat poison, treat choking, bites, burns, and even panic attacks.

🔥 ;; How to ignite a fire without matches, to keep warmth, to cook food or to ward off predators. As well as learning how to obtain potable water in different circumstances.

⚔️ ;; How to craft and use weapons/shields of different kinds. They also learn how to make a variety of knots for this purpose, but also to make other tools or even shelters. Also, hand-to-hand combat.

💪🏻;; Techniques of self-defense, and evasion. Weapons aren't usually the response of a borrower at feeling threatened, so they must learn how to avoid a fight to escalate; by running, hiding, dodging, being stealthy or camouflaging.

🪚 ;; Making of shelters, miscellaneous tools, and basic carpentry (mainly to maintain their homes and furniture)

🌸 ;; Knowledge about the local fauna and flora. For most modern borrowers, “local fauna” might refer to cats, dogs, rodents and bugs.

🍓 ;; Foraging. Borrowers close to the wild might be more specialized in this. Those living in homes could identify edible plants and fungus, and in what stage of growth they are, as well as identifying herbs with medicinal value.

❗;; Specific communication-based skills; these might be unique based on gesture, sounds, symbols, or other non-verbal means of  borrower communication.

❓;; Basics of human psychology, biology and behavior; like why humans do some things and how to ‘read’ them. This knowledge might probably not be accurate to reality, but it has worked for them in the long-run. This can intertwine with their culture, generating fear-inspiring stories that ward off curious borrowers. They're also often expected to learn how to adapt to human routine.

📚 ;; Cultural values which often include the borrower rules, oral storytelling, resource management, risk assessment, environmental awareness and cooperation/teamwork.

🔢 ;; A very rudimentary math, mainly used to tell the time, counting things and do basic operations.

[iantimony]

it's tuesday!

last weekend someone taught me how to catch crayfish when wading and this weekend i successfully grabbed one!! proof at the end of the post.

listening: guess (charli xcx, billie eilish): old roommate put this on for me and helloooooo. it's so. yeah. (link is the official music video, warning for flashing) it led me to this playlist cunty trashy slutty skanky which, first of all, excellent playlist name; second of all, what a fucking combination of songs?? something about the juxtaposition of nirvana -> kesha -> korn, etc is. insane in a good way.

last week was bandcamp friday! i last-minute got a few things: finally got sammy rae's "good life" and "let's throw a party", and preordered their newest album "something for everybody". i still need to buy my ticket for their concert near to me this fall. then i got sad snack's full discography for like $5 (the no children ska cover lol), the altogether's "when we were kids" which has been a go-to comfort album for me for a bit, shakey graves "deadstock" anthology, and finally the dear hunter "antimai".

i've been back on the podcast grind, just casually keeping up with stuff like mbmbam sawbones lpotl etc as they come out. most recent mbmbam (episode....730?? jesus christ) has some REALLY funny bits, notably towards the beginning where the cincinnati tornado sirens were being tested and griffin made a comment about the air raid sirens going off again and travis was like ?? dude i'm not in the fucking blitz??? it was very good. there was something else towards the end of the episode that also made me laugh out loud -- oh yes i just went and relistened to the last minute and it's the wish at the end, "i wish my cat would know what it means when i flip him off". so fucking true griffin. i was considering going to one of their tour dates but unfortunately they will be in the nearest city to me when i'm out of town for my second wedding of the fall. ah well

reading: most fallow. lots of little articles for my research.

watching: shane dawson and the art of the constant rebrand - jimmy robins: little retrospective about a guy who i never really liked and haven't thought about in years. i guess he's still around ??? okay. not gonna embed it so you don't get jumpscared by his face.

playing: this is a partial share with watching but last weekend my old roommate and i hung out with one of our friends with the intention of having dinner and crafting. however. we were so tired from kayaking earlier that day that we just ended up watching friend play stray and not crafting at all. it's really cute! i did get Very emotional at the beginning when the cat fell! i was like no!!!

my friend mostly played it but i did do a little bit, it was lots of fun. there was a very funny bit where friend, getting really in the mindset of Being Cat, pulled out a battery pack from a fan and was like "hehe i'm gonna drop it off the roof!" and did it before we could stop her, we were like wait we might need that to solve a puzzle -- but the answer was no it was fine, which is good, because it ended up dropped on a completely inaccessible rooftop ledge below, oopsie.

making: !!! ALL REDACTED !!! i will be able to post some of it next week. i do not know if beloved mutual celestialtourguide reads these regularly but just to be safe. allegedly the glaze kiln WILL be done by wednesday so i will finally know how fucked my guys are. if they're very fucked it'll be like. well, okay, i guess my gift is just money now,

other redacted item is embroidery related!

eating: mostly leftovers from last week, i think im gonna make crisped chickpeas with herbs and garlic yogurt from deb smittenkitchen to use up a zucchini that i have languishing in the fridge. it'll be a nice light lunch.

misc: THE PRELIMINARY EXAM DOCUMENT EXISTS. rejoice. however this comes with the caveat that i don't have a date set yet because i am in the trenches of trying to solve a Very specific problem with my software. the solution is a complete unknown to me as of now. it is in the stage of "putting key words in quotation marks in google scholar and going down the list emailing all the authors like heyyyy help please", which is scary. at least one other person has done something semi-similar - in fact they have my advisor in their acknowledgements thanking them for her editing help lol - so i'm hoping i'm nearly there. because once that is resolved i can FINALLY set a date, which, assuming i pass, also sets the earliest point at which i can give my thesis defense! scary!!

anyway. crayfish proof. it looks like im squishing him way worse than i actually was, he got released and swam away safely do not worry

[lesbianaglaya]

wait hi please elaborate on your process of gift giving, im taking notes

happily :)))

planning ahead. okay so it depends first of all on how well you know the person. for my close friends + family (who are generally the people im getting gifts for) i try to listen and make note of when they mention something that might be a good gift! for example my mother was just talking about a rice pearl bracelet she had as a child that she wore till it fell apart. I know a local jewelry store that is both in my price range and makes things in my mother's style, looked on their website, and found a very similar bracelet that i could afford. gift found! planning also involves thinking ahead . im getting that for her for christmas, which is months away, but i know near christmas she'll be reluctant to mention things like that because people get weird about wanting gifts. it can also be less intense than that. my friend's birthday is this week, but a few months back i saw a necklace I knew she'd like at a charity sale and bought it. having the present ahead of time aslo helps prevent desperation in the days leading up to the event!

asking. It is so totally cool to ask people what they want. often they will prevaricate but if you say i am getting you a gift no matter what and you will be helping me by giving me ideas and they will concede. for example here my friend likes wool socks. i knit. i make them wool socks as gifts. i know to do this because i said 'i am going to knit you something. what would you like' and they told me! if youre worried about ruining the surprise the trick is to elevate their suggestion. to continue with the socks example, im not only making my friend a pair of wool socks, but i found a 1950s mens checked sock pattern that really fits their style! even just the added historical aspect, i know, will make my friend more excited about the gift.

utility. i think this is what really matters actually. i try to always find a gift idea that the person will absolutely use. fun little kitschy stuff is fine especially if youre in a rush, but its never going to be really exciting. giving people something that is helpful really makes receiving the gift exciting. getting someone who sews a needle book, or someone who loves music concert tickets allows them to see as soon as they get the gift how it makes their life more fun, or easier, or solves a problem for them. utility is used pretty generally here — a bracelet isnt necessary, but i know my mother will wear it. the goal is to find something that wont sit in a drawer forever till it gets donated.

for people you dont know as well, gift cards are great. try to figure out something they will (again) find useful, get them a gift card, and then elevate it by including a handmade object like a piece of embroidery, homemade cookies, a handmade pretty paper box, etc. if youre not at all able to make things thats also fine! this is where utility can be let go a little. go to a local souvenir or gift shop and find a small thing that suits their taste. this immediately makes the gift card feel way more personal and thoughtful. If youre short on cash, for people close to you offer a service: a baking day with your mother, a movie night with a friend where every time youre the one who gets up to refill drinks, a scavenger hunt youve invented at a free museum together. the real key is a personal element. even a handmade card that suits the person can be more exciting to receive than an expensive gift that isnt their style or taste.

[budapestistanbul25]

Sunday 22nd June

Had a good nights sleep and a later start today. It is quite cool outside but not surprising as we are in the mountains. We are going to be catching taxis to the railway station and then taking the express train to Sofia. I believe it will be 3+hrs so we will get there late afternoon. We then have the afternoon to ourselves to explore and to sort our own meals.

We had our suitcases driven To Sofia and we had taxis to take us for a 25 min drive to another town where the express train to Sofia departed. Our driver went the scenic route (although it was scenic so a bonus for us) and we were the first taxi to leave and last to arrive😏. All the taxi drivers drive like rally drivers while using their mobiles. Speed signs are ignored. Seat belts are not always available and the drivers never seem to wear them. Seems you need to like living on the edge to use Bulgarian taxis🤣.

We arrived early to the station and as it is a 4 hr trip we went hunting for some takeaway lunch options. I found a little shop on the station with one older woman serving. The shop was hot and she was exhorting everyone to close the door between her shop and the station. Not sure why given the station was significantly cooler than her shop. She had some filled pastries and happily described them to me in Bulgarian 😁. Looking very knowledgeable I chose the one I wanted (spinach filled pastry as spinach was the only word I could decipher 🤣). When I was to pay she held up 2 fingers having shown great insight and established I didn’t speak Bulgarian 😂. I got the idea of 2 but 2 what? I just handed over a low denomination Lev(the local currency) and got a handful of Bulgarian shrapnel for change.

The train was on time and we had allocated seats we were told in advance. However as on nearly every train I have been on there is always someone who doesn’t read both the carriage and seat number on their tickets and tries to claim your seat. We had to dislodge 2 such people this time. Anyway they were seen off. This is the best train I have been on this trip. It is clean and roomy, fairly smooth and travelling at a reasonable speed and only few stops. Still takes 4hrs+. I have checked out the toilets 3/4 way into the trip and they are larger than usual and better than most. I never imagined I would ever be riding a Bulgarian train to Sofia! We almost made it and then a few minutes outside of Sofia we were told we had to get off this train and get on another for the final 5 mins or so😏. Anyway we did it and arrived on time into a nice station at Sofia. We decided to catch the metro then walk a short distance to our hotel. The metro is very modern and efficient. Our hotel is in the centre of town and walking distance to a plethora of sites, food, shops and parks. The hotel is very posh and the room large and well appointed and I could use everything without having to problem solve😂- except the coffee machine. This one is fancy and doesn’t use pods so I just boiled the kettle and had herb tea. Still getting a kettle and cups in rooms is a novelty as most don’t do it.we all get excited when we see a kettle😂. I am on the 9th floor and it has lovely views. Did the usual arrival routine and then actually had time to shower and change before going out to dinner. The restaurant Raluca chose is very popular and even on Sunday night we had to have a 6pm booking to get in. Amazing inside with lots of home made and embroided items in traditional patterns. Some of our group do embroidery and they were checking the items for authenticity and gave them the stamp of approval. We had the usual meal as a group ie with trying different local food and drink and doing lots talking and laughter. Then a gentle walk back to the hotel via a park full of people drinking,talking and walking dogs. It is very vibrant. So ended another great day.

Left to right: station, at dinner tonight, view from my room in Sofia

[starcorvid]

Hiya! Was hoping to learn more about your fish! 12 + 18 for Coquina and 8, 10 and 20 for Basalt? I loved reading about Basalt’s dynamic with the founders and their embroidery! Excited to know more about them! :}

HIII IM SO SORRY i mean tto answer this AGES AGO and work just swallowed me whole

okay okay fishes!! aaaah theses r really good ones sjdsf

12. What is Coquina’s favorite food or dish?

Mkay so Coquina would probably tell you it depends on your definition of food. In terms of bug snacks, they favour grasshoppers the most - just the right amount of crunch and they’re really cool bugs! Now, for a favourite dish, Coquina would probably say salty grilled fish with herbs! They’re a big fan of the crispy texture the scales gain, and the mix of it with the softer meat. Their most favourite is the way rutile makes it, with a little sap syrup cooked in with gives it just a tinge of sweetness. Plus Coquina likes watching Spinel fish, and they know fishes get the same snacks as them, so they’ve got respect for em.

18. How does Coquina approach problem solving? Do they try to think through the problem, attempt to brute force the issue, or stumble across solutions accidentally?

Ooooh that’s a rlly good one!! Coquina definitely goes more the brute force way with most issues, which often hast them accidentally stumbling across solutions. They actually could think through their problems pretty easily, but they entirely lack the impulse control for it lol. They rather try things and see how it comes out than try to predict chains of reaction to find a solution. When they can’t manage to solve a problem, they trust Tor wholeheartedly to be able to think up a solution, given Tor’s way better at it than them anyway lol.

8. Does Basalt wear something other than the canon outfit/space suit?

Yes!!! I’ve actually gotta update Basalt’s design lmao, but out of their space suit they favor wide and baggy pants and sleeveless tops! They enjoy mending and customizing their clothes, mostly with embroidery but also with patches of various shapes and patterns. They prefer to prioritize comfort and ease of movement for day to day life, and usually keep all their tools and things in a big crossbody bag that is terrible to sort through (and terrible for their back too… rip).

10. Does Basalt have any piercings or tattoos? If so, what and where?

They do!! Basalt has two earrings in their right ear and one in their left, little orange hoops, which mostly matches gabbro’s earrings! Gabbro DOES have two more in their left ear, but basalt’s left ear got ripped up quite a bit in a childhood accident and they can’t pierce the remaining scar tissue really well.

They’ve also got a tattoo on the inner side of their right arm, the nomai word for ‘fish’, of which Hal has a matching one! Basalt very much enjoys having permanent reminders of the people they hold close, especially post loop.

20. What is Basalt’s favorite planet?

I think Basalt’s is probably Brittle Hollow, simply for how many discoveries there are to make there!! One of their favourite places to watch the supernova is in the Southern observatory, in which they’ll also drag gabbro every once in a while. (One day, they’ll manage to convince riebeck. One day) They also looove fooling around with the gravitational pull of the black hole, they would spend loops back to back just jumping over it and flinging themselves across the inner crust or the planet (to various amounts of bodily harm).

They also have a special place in their heart for the attlerock, given it’s Esker’s moon! It was their first stop, and one of their most frequent through the loops and after.

thank you so much for asking abt my fishes!!

[design-college]

Textile & Apparel Design in India: Trends, Careers & Courses Explained

Textile and apparel design is a creative field. It blends fabric science and fashion. It is about how clothes are designed, made, and styled. This field has roots in tradition, but it keeps evolving with time. India has a long history in textiles and now it is becoming a modern design hub.

What is Textile and Apparel Design?

Textile design focuses on creating patterns and textures on fabrics. Apparel design deals with designing clothes for people of all ages. Designers study materials, colors, shapes, and trends. They draw ideas, select fabrics, and work on garment construction.

Many designers work in teams. Some sketch ideas, others handle stitching or digital design. It is a mix of art and technique.

Trends in India

Fashion changes fast, but some patterns stand out in India. The design world follows both global and local styles. Here are a few strong trends:

Handloom and craft-based designs are back

Organic and natural fabrics are used more

Traditional styles mix with western cuts

Prints and embroidery stay in high demand

Digital design tools help speed up production

Designers look at culture, market needs, and customer tastes. They keep trying new ideas but respect classic styles.

Courses in Textile and Apparel Design

Design colleges offer courses that train students in both textile and apparel work. These courses cover theory and practice. Students learn how to draw, stitch, and think like a designer.

Course options include:

Diploma in Textile and Apparel Design

Bachelor’s in Fashion Design

Master’s in Apparel and Textile Design

Most courses include studio work. Students create their own collections and attend workshops. Some programs include industry visits and internships.

Topics often include:

Fabric study

Pattern cutting

Fashion sketching

Digital design software

Garment construction

Skills You Learn

Students build both creative and technical skills. They learn how to use fabric well and how to design for real people.

Some useful skills include:

Fabric selection and handling

Color matching and styling

Garment fitting and alteration

Presentation and portfolio design

Courses also teach teamwork. Students work in groups and solve design problems together.

Career Paths in Design

Textile and apparel design leads to many career paths. India has a big textile industry, so there is space for new talent. Many students work in fashion houses or export firms. Others start their own labels.

Career options include:

Fashion Designer

Textile Designer

Apparel Merchandiser

Pattern Maker

Costume Designer

Production Assistant

Some people work in studios and some in factories. Others join movie sets or retail companies. Freelance work is also common.

Why Choose Textile and Apparel Design?

This field is for those who like art and fashion. It allows personal style and creative thinking. Every season brings new themes and new challenges. Designers enjoy variety in their work.

India’s growing design sector offers many chances. Cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and Ahmedabad have design schools and fashion events. These places help students learn, grow, and connect.

Final Thoughts

Textile and apparel design is a mix of craft and creativity. It lets you design something new and express stories through fabric. This field is growing in India and gives space to those who enjoy hands-on work and visual ideas. If you like colors, patterns, and style, this might be the right path.

[alaminseoexpert]

Top 10 Amazon Niches to Start Selling in 2025

Are you planning to start or scale your Amazon business in 2025? Choosing the right niche is one of the most important steps to succeed. With consumer behavior constantly evolving, staying ahead of trends is key.

We’ve researched current market data, trends, and competition levels to bring you 10 promising Amazon niches that are perfect for new and experienced sellers in 2025.

1. Eco-Friendly Household Products

Consumers are becoming more environmentally conscious, and eco-friendly home goods like bamboo brushes and reusable paper towels are gaining traction.With rising environmental awareness, customers are actively looking for sustainable options.

Product Examples:

Reusable kitchen towels

Compostable trash bags

Bamboo dish brushes

2. Health & Wellness Accessories

As people focus more on self-care, products like posture correctors and acupressure mats are in high demand. The wellness movement is here to stay—and growing.

Product Examples:

Acupressure mats

Posture correctors

Infrared therapy devices

3. Home Organization & Storage

With more people working and living at home, items like drawer dividers and storage bins are selling well year-round. People are spending more time at home and want clean, organized spaces.

Product Examples:

Drawer organizers

Stackable bins

Under-bed storage

4. Kitchen Gadgets & Tools

Unique and useful kitchen tools—like mini waffle makers and multifunctional slicers—remain popular for both cooking and gift-giving. This niche is competitive—but also full of opportunities if you find a unique twist.

Product Examples:

Multifunctional slicers

Mini waffle makers

Silicone baking mats

5. Pet Supplies

Pet lovers are spending more than ever, making pet grooming tools, interactive toys, and travel accessories solid sellers. Pet owners love to spoil their furry friends. This niche is evergreen.

Product Examples:

Pet grooming gloves

Travel carriers

Interactive toys

6. Home Gardening Tools

Gardening kits, grow lights, and planters are trending as people enjoy growing their own herbs and plants at home. People are embracing indoor and outdoor gardening for relaxation and sustainability.

Product Examples:

Seed starter kits

Grow lights

Self-watering planters

7. Work From Home Accessories

Ergonomic office tools like laptop stands and desk organizers cater to the remote work boom and sell consistently. Remote work is no longer a trend—it’s a lifestyle.

Product Examples:

Laptop stands

Desk organizers

Ergonomic mousepads

8. Beauty & Skincare Tools

At-home beauty tools such as facial rollers and LED masks are popular for buyers seeking salon-like results without leaving home. Consumers are turning to at-home self-care instead of going to salons.

Product Examples:

Facial cleansing brushes

Ice rollers

LED therapy masks

9. Craft & DIY Kits

DIY sets like candle-making or embroidery kits attract creative shoppers looking for fun projects or unique gifts. Perfect for hobbyists, parents, and gift-givers.

Product Examples:

Candle-making kits

Paint-by-numbers sets

Embroidery starter kits

10. Travel Essentials (Compact & Practical)

Now that travel is back, compact travel items like packing cubes and toiletry bottles are top choices for organized travelers. As global travel rebounds, smart travel gear is on the rise.

Product Examples:

Compression packing cubes

Travel-size toiletry bottles

RFID-blocking passport holders

Final Tips for Choosing a Niche:

Use tools like Helium 10, Jungle Scout, or Keepa to validate data.

Look for low-competition keywords and consistent demand.

Always check Amazon’s restricted product list before choosing a niche.

Ready to Start Selling?

The earlier you enter a promising niche, the more time you have to build your brand and dominate it. Focus on solving real problems, offering great customer experience, and using smart marketing strategies.

[strixessabre]

The store is still around. I haven't had anything worth wild to make lately. I crashed. I burned. Landed in some comfortable arms. I deactivated the IG for personal reasons as well as social media burn out. The fucking weird pressure to create daily and to act like nothing is wrong was weighing far too heavy. I needed space. It'll come back when I feel ready to deal with social media.

Strixes is still open for commissions, and of course sales. I can make anything anywhere. Last night I was pressing buttons in my car for a show I did. So I'm open and happy to create still. Just to make art to sell and think of something unique for the shop had fallen flat. Album art? Easy. Making some jewelry for the shop, solving string theory problems.

For once I treated myself to some buttons shown below. Believe it or not I keep the rejected pins and have made maybe a few for myself. I made myself 12 buttons just for this Saint of owls. I have made a fun set of buttons recently that was about the only thing I can think of.

Indulge, buy some goodies. I've been brainstorming and thus far I have a project that requires time. I don't want to put stuff out when mentally I'm not well, or would personally want a specific item. I've been hunting around for ideas and tinkering with dead things. I want you all to get quality items and artwork from me. What's up in my store now are things I can happily handle. I personally don't feel comfortable putting up half assed work for your hard earned money frankly. I know how fucking hard you work to buy my embroidery, I know 4 buttons means you treated yourself. I know my bone jewelery is probably a chunk of your food bills. I at least want to do the best work possible so you can treat yourself to quality items and the extras I toss in are worth it. I know some of you pick between a treat and bills. So it's only right I make your money count.

I will have the yearly pride buttons up don't you worry, DONT YOU WORRY.

Strixes' Sabre will never die. Wear art. Explore the woods. Read fucked up books.

( Strixes' Sabre )

[acf-lab]

Innovative materials to help the machinery industry, ACF vibration damping pads become the new choice for large-scale equipment damping damping

With the progress of science and technology and industrial development, the performance and efficiency of large-scale mechanical equipment has become a key factor in promoting industrial upgrading. However, the vibration and impact problems generated during the operation of the equipment have been one of the important factors restricting its performance improvement. Recently, a new type of shock absorbing pad called ACF artificial cartilage material has attracted wide attention in the machinery industry, becoming an innovative choice to solve the vibration problem of large equipment.

It is understood that the traditional rubber shock absorbing pads are prone to aging problems after a long time of use, resulting in a decline in the damping effect, and may even cause damage to the machine itself and the surrounding environment. Especially in large machinery and equipment, this problem is more prominent, to the enterprise's productivity and equipment maintenance has brought great challenges.

In order to solve this problem, Linzhi Technology has developed ACF artificial cartilage material. This material is developed according to the principle of cartilage tissue, with excellent vibration damping performance and corrosion resistance, shock absorption up to 97.1%, as well as good environmental protection and processing performance. It is made of industrial shock absorbing pads, shock absorbing rings, shock absorbing bearings, composite shock absorbers can effectively absorb and disperse the vibration energy of the machine operation, reduce the vibration and noise of the machine, improve the precision and stability of the machine. Compared with the traditional rubber, TPU shock pads, ACF shock pads have higher damping performance and longer service life, and are not susceptible to the effects of temperature, oil and chemical substances and aging. ACF material molecular structure designability and diversified shape characteristics, but also with other metals, composite materials, and the composition of more composite multifunctional vibration isolator device.

According to the relevant mechanical engineers back, ACF artificial cartilage material is also excellent in impact resistance, able to withstand large impacts without deformation, long life, lightweight and small size. This characteristic makes it perform well in large mechanical equipment and become an ideal choice to solve the vibration problem.

At present, more and more enterprises have begun to use ACF vibration-damping mats to replace the traditional rubber vibration-damping mats. The person in charge of a well-known textile embroidery manufacturer said: "After using ACF vibration damping mats, our equipment and floor vibration problems have been effectively solved, and production efficiency has been significantly improved. At the same time, due to its excellent corrosion resistance and impact resistance, we have also reduced the frequency of needle breakage repairs and lowered operating costs."

It is reported that the shock absorbing pads made of ACF artificial cartilage materials are not only suitable for large mechanical equipment, but also can be widely used in shoes, human body protection, electronic protection, automobile collision avoidance, construction, rail transportation, aerospace and other fields. Its excellent performance and environmental characteristics bring new shock absorption solutions for various industries and help enterprises realize sustainable development and industrial upgrading.

ACF artificial cartilage material made of vibration damping pads in solving the vibration problems of large machinery and equipment reflects the significant advantages of science and technology is the first productive force. Its excellent performance and wide range of application prospects make it become the new darling of the machinery industry vibration damping upgrade, for the sustainable development of enterprises and industrial upgrading provides strong support. With the continuous progress of science and technology and the broadening of the field of application, I believe that the ACF material vibration damping pads will play a greater role in the future, bringing more innovation and breakthroughs in various industries.

400-6543-699

www.acf.com

[myinternshipjourneymroyal]

Entry 4: Challenges you faced

While I thoroughly enjoyed both internship opportunities, they weren’t without their challenges. One major challenge was the travel time from home to the organisations. To get to either, it was over an hour’s commute each way, through peak hour city traffic. To minimise this as much as possible, I organised to attend both internships on the same day; DSR during the day, and North in the evenings. This worked out perfectly and meant that time was used effectively. This was also cost-effective on saving money on petrol, and lessened my carbon footprint through minimising driving time.

There were also instances of communication delay, or no communication at all. I experienced this at the beginning of my internship at North, where I did not hear back from my internship supervisor there for a few weeks during the period of filling out the paperwork. This meant that I started my internship a week later than anticipated, as the paperwork needed to be filled out prior to commencing. It took from the 3rd of February 2023 to the 20th of February, including a follow up email to check on the process, to receive the paperwork back. On tasks at DSR, there was a communication delay, in which I didn’t receive all the necessary information or aspects to fully complete a task. To work around this, I completed the tasks to the best of my ability, and always ensured to follow up with additional emails.

Paperwork follow up. (Royal, 2023).

Another challenge was knowing nobody who worked in either organisation, and while this was a great opportunity to network, it was also a bit nerve-wracking.  I took the time to get to know people and familiarise myself with them, but also to show them who I am and the skills I offer. It did help that at NMFC, I had a fellow student there who was also completing the internship. We supported each other and were able to problem solve any issues that arose together. One issue was not having the correct number jumper for a player, as it was awaiting embroidery of a logo – instead we selected another jumper for the player to wear that day, and registered it on the team list.

However, one of the biggest challenges I faced was external. I had a close family member pass away suddenly two days before his wedding, which not only turned my world on an axis, but my family’s as well. While I didn’t miss any days, this still played on my mind constantly and certainly impacted me mentally. To work through this, I leant on those around me, and focused on everything that I enjoyed doing.

I used my time management skills effectively, and used the practice of timetabling – which has been proven to improve productivity and planning (Cope, 2021; Gade & Yeo, 2019). This allowed to set prioritised tasks, both relating to the internship and not – such as studies, events, work and other commitments. This ensured that I used my time wisely and was as productive as possible.

References:

Cope, S. (2021, April 1). 18 effective time management strategies and techniques. Up Work. https://www.upwork.com/resources/time-management-strategies

Gade, L., & Yeo, H. L. (2019). Work–Life Integration and Time Management Strategies. Clinics in Colon and Rectal Surgery, 32(6), 442–449. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0039-1693011

Royal, M. (2023, February 16). Paperwork follow up [email].

[jilliannoel14]

I started out by knocking out the stencils prints. I decided to do a goldfish with 3 different sized bubbles coming out of its mouth. With no particular reason behind this choice, I did it for the pure curiosity of seeing how it would turn out. I traced my fish onto the contact paper. I crafted together my screen with the voile fabric, embroidery hoop, tightening it as I went. I then taped out the parts I wasn’t printing on after I drew out the paper measurements onto the screen. I mixed my emulsion with the black acrylic ink and plopped it on the top of my screen after creating registration marks for mypaper and elevated cardboard for the screen to sit on top of. I did my first passover and my first print came out great. It was a bit difficult to keep the paper aligned perfectly with the screen so I had to problem solve a bit by taping down half of it. With the next set of prints I also learned I didn't need to ink all the way to the edge of the paper.

I did the same starter process for my silk monotypes except putting a 1” border around the paper. These also turned out well. I knew ahead of time that flooding the screen might prevent a lighter image appearing on the paper so I really didn't run into any bad prints. The first one was a bit light but the rest came out great. I did try to print the ghost of my stencil but the emulsion just covered it all back up so the ghost didn’t show up. It was also hard to see the print on the one I printed on the eco printed paper because the paper started out so dark from the original stains. I reused my butterfly stencil from the gelatin project which was a fun thing to see reappear back into my work.

The acrylic resist prints were the hardest (middle). I chose a bible verse personal to me: "Fearfully and wonderfully made." I did the same beginning process as the other two print types above, as well as tracing out the letters and adding the acrylic resist on top. The first print shown in the image on the bottom came out pretty bad. I definitely didn't paint enough acrylic resist on so I had to go back and do another layer. It didn't turn out perfect but you could still clearly read the letters so I will take it. I printed on two of my silk monotype paper prints and an eco print paper as well!