#what even is a normal relationship timeline?

[alexanderwales]

Pitchposting: Retcon

The main idea is this: it's a narrative game where the majority of the gameplay involves placing the pieces of your own past.

This is at least partially lifted from some tabletop games that have "retcon inventory" or "retcon friends" where you declare in the middle of play "oh, actually, it's plausible that I had prepared for this all along, and here's how I did in fact do that", even if the player would have had no way of knowing what was necessary for that. (I have not had a chance to play Blades in the Dark, but I've been told that it features this heavily.)

So the whole game would be this: slowly adding to your own backstory, penning yourself in over time, until there's no room to maneuver anymore, and shortly thereafter, the game ends. The fundamental tension of the game is that you want to keep the character as amorphous as possible, to commit to as few details as possible, but commitment is necessary to actually accomplish things.

In my mind, there's a timeline of the character's life, and that's one of the main thing you're adding to. If you need them to have skill as a pickpocket, you need to account for that somewhere in the timeline, to define how and when they acquired that skill, and whatever time period that was suddenly becomes locked in place. Some level of proficiency in combat can be explained by a rough childhood or a hobby or just bits and pieces picked up here and there, but at a certain level you need to commit to having had multiple years of real world experience, a hefty bar slotted down into the timeline.

The basic appeal to me is that it sort of turns progression mechanics on its head. If you really wanted to, maybe you could slap everything onto the timeline at once, an entire defined life with every memory, skill, and contact determined right at the start. But this would almost certainly sink you unless you knew every twist and turn of the game ahead of time. And in this game "progression" does not come from increasing skills because you got better, it comes from defining the past. (Though there's no reason you can't also have material progression as you acquire more and better things.)

This is also, somewhat, what the process of writing can be like. You nail down things piece by piece, and over time, you're penned in, unable to move except along the tracks you've hopefully laid for yourself, no ability to introduce new things.

I'm not entirely sure what kind of game this mechanic is best suited to. A narrative game would be interesting, but the player is attempting to define as little of the character's past as possible, and ... does this even work for a narrative? The player's version of events is that they're (more or less) trying to keep backstory from happening, that's baked into the concept. It creates an uneasy tension.

A less narrative game, like an immersive sim, might work better. You decide that you spent at least three years as a thief in order to "gain" (i.e. have always had) lock-picking skills, with enough room in the timeline that you can add an extra few years if need be later on.

And of course this works for skills, but it also works for relationships, which I think is fun. In a normal RPG type game, you gain relationship points over time by being a good buddy, but with this framework, you would be revealing backstory that was "there all along". And depending on your needs, you can have this be different backstory, giving certain side characters the same amorphous nature, establishing different relationships with them.

The other option (since I'm a writer, not a game designer) is to try to import this idea into a work of written fiction, which ... might work?

You have your protagonist, and they know that they're a reality-warping amorphous blob, but they have some kind of goal, and they will lock in whatever backstory they need in order to accomplish that goal, while trying to stay cognizant of the fact that whatever backstory they give themselves (and the reader) is going to pen them in further. Maybe there's a nice little magic system to make of it, though I think that would necessitate some kind of reset mechanism.

It might be hubris, but I think I could probably find the structure that would make it work. Cool scenes:

The protagonist is acting in such a way to leave all his options open, which means that he wants to avoid a fight because that would mean either confirming that he can fight or that he can't fight, collapsing the superposition, so he's going out of his way to not have to make that decision.

The protagonist retroactively was always friends with a police officer who took him in, making all the chilly conversation they've been having the result of an ongoing grudge.

The protagonist takes a big swing and fills in a whole swath of his past at once, a major investment ... and one that upends his stated goals up to this point, recontextualizing the entire novel and making it "about" someone else.

Plus all that "standard" stuff to do, like retroactively knowing how to ride a motorcycle, handle a gun, hold breath for two minutes, etc.

I don't know, I think that it could work in prose, so long as you're clever enough about how and why you're doing things, and correctly explaining things to the audience.

[pitchprowler27]

Hearts On The Sidelines Part 6

Here is part 6, ideas are welcomed. Enjoy!

The days following their date were a whirlwind of conflicting emotions for Ellie. On the one hand, Leah had been nothing short of perfect—steady, confident, and endlessly patient. On the other, Ellie felt woefully unequipped to meet her halfway. Her mind kept circling back to Leah’s words: I want to take my time with you.

What did that mean? Was she supposed to do something? Was there a timeline she wasn’t aware of?

Ellie groaned, flopping onto Bobby’s couch. He was on his third espresso martini, perched cross-legged in an armchair, watching her with an amused expression.

“Ells, you’ve been sighing like a tragic Victorian heroine for the past hour. What’s going on?”

“It’s Leah,” Ellie mumbled, pulling a pillow over her face.

Bobby let out a dramatic gasp. “The Leah Williamson? Again? Honestly, I’m thrilled, but also mildly annoyed that I’ve become your emotional support gay.”

Ellie peeked out from beneath the pillow. “You love it.”

“Obviously.” He sipped his drink. “Now spill. What did she do? Or, knowing you, what didn’t she do that you’re overthinking?”

Ellie sat up, clutching the pillow to her chest. “She’s just… perfect. And I’m… me.”

Bobby arched an eyebrow. “Care to elaborate?”

“She’s so confident and sure of herself. She knows what she wants, and she’s not afraid to go after it. Meanwhile, I’m over here panicking because I don’t know how to be in a relationship.” Ellie ran a hand through her hair, exasperated. “I don’t want to mess this up.”

Bobby set his glass down and leaned forward. “Ells, let me break this down for you: Leah chose you. She could’ve picked anyone, but she’s sitting there, texting you. That means she sees something in you, even if you don’t see it yourself yet.”

Ellie chewed on her bottom lip, his words sinking in. “What if I’m not enough?”

Bobby rolled his eyes. “Oh, please. If you weren’t enough, she wouldn’t be chasing you like a golden retriever after a tennis ball. Now, stop doubting yourself and focus on what makes you happy.”

Ellie opened her mouth to argue but was cut off by the buzz of her phone. She glanced at the screen, her stomach doing a little flip at the sight of Leah’s name.

Leah: Busy? Come for a walk with me.

Bobby peeked over her shoulder. “See? Golden retriever. Go.”

Ellie hesitated. “What if I screw it up?”

“You won’t,” Bobby said, shooing her off. “But if you do, you know where to find me.”

——————————————————————————————————————

Ellie approached the park bench, her hands buried deep in the pockets of her hoodie to keep herself from fidgeting. She felt her heart pounding in her chest like a war drum as she caught sight of Leah. There she was, leaning back against the wooden slats of the bench, her Arsenal hoodie fitting perfectly and her blue jeans slightly frayed at the knees. Leah's hair was loose, catching the late afternoon sunlight, and she looked so effortlessly put together that it made Ellie want to turn around and pretend she’d forgotten something.

But Leah spotted her, her face lighting up in a way that made Ellie’s stomach flip.

“Hey, pretty girl,” Leah greeted, her voice warm and familiar.

Ellie swallowed hard, her nerves twisting in knots, but she forced herself to smile as she approached. “Hey.”

Leah stood as Ellie reached the bench, her eyes scanning Ellie like she was the only person in the park. “You okay?” she asked, her tone gentle but observant.

“Yeah,” Ellie replied too quickly, her voice a little higher than normal. She cleared her throat and tried again. “I mean, yeah. I’m good.”

Leah smiled knowingly, gesturing for Ellie to sit. “Walk first, or sit and talk?”

Ellie hesitated. She hadn’t really thought that far ahead. “Uh… sit?”

Leah chuckled softly. “Sit it is.”

They settled onto the bench, and Ellie immediately stuffed her hands back into her hoodie pockets. She could feel her fingers trembling and clenched them into fists, willing herself to calm down. But as the silence stretched, her anxiety only grew.

Leah waited, her patience unwavering. She didn’t rush Ellie, didn’t press her to speak. Instead, she leaned back slightly, her body language open and relaxed, a stark contrast to Ellie’s rigid posture.

Ellie took a deep breath, her nerves finally spilling over. “Okay, so, um, I’ve been thinking—no, not thinking—like, obsessing maybe? I don’t know. But it’s about, you know… this.” She gestured vaguely between them, her words tumbling out faster than she could process them. “And it’s not that I don’t like it—I do, I really do—but I also kind of suck at it? Like, I’m not good at feelings or talking or—God, why am I even saying this?”

She stopped, squeezing her eyes shut as her face burned with embarrassment. Leah hadn’t said a word yet, and the silence felt deafening. But when Ellie finally dared to peek at her, Leah was smiling softly, her eyes filled with nothing but warmth.

“Ellie,” Leah said gently, her voice cutting through Ellie’s spiraling thoughts like a lifeline. “Breathe.”

Ellie let out a shaky laugh, her cheeks still red. “Sorry. I’m a mess.”

Leah reached out, her hand covering one of Ellie’s. “You’re not a mess,” she said firmly, her thumb brushing lightly over Ellie’s knuckles. “You’re just being honest. Keep going.”

Ellie stared at their hands, the simple touch grounding her enough to continue. “I just… I don’t know what I’m doing,” she admitted, her voice quieter now. “Like, you’re so good at this—at knowing what to say and how to… be. And I’m just sitting here trying not to screw it up because I don’t have a clue how to handle emotions, let alone someone else’s.”

Leah tilted her head slightly, her expression soft. “Who told you that you had to have it all figured out?”

Ellie blinked, caught off guard. “What?”

“You’re not supposed to have all the answers,” Leah said simply. “No one does. And you don’t have to do this alone. I’m here, remember? I don’t care if you’re not perfect at feelings or relationships or whatever you think you’re supposed to be good at. We’ll figure it out together.”

Ellie’s throat tightened, her hands trembling slightly as Leah’s words sank in. “But what if I’m… too much? Or not enough? What if—”

Leah gently squeezed her hand, cutting her off. “Ellie, stop. You’re not too much, and you’re definitely not ‘not enough.’ You’re you. That’s what I’m here for.”

Ellie bit her lip, her eyes dropping to their hands again. “I just… I don’t want you to get tired of having to guide me through everything. I know I ramble, and I’m awkward, and I overthink everything. And then there’s all the baggage I carry, and—”

Leah leaned closer, her free hand reaching up to tuck a stray strand of Ellie’s hair behind her ear. “Ellie,” she said softly, her voice steady. “I like that you ramble. I like that you overthink, even if it drives you crazy. I like that you’re awkward and bashful and have this ridiculous need to take care of everyone around you, even when you forget to take care of yourself. And your baggage?” Leah paused, her eyes locking onto Ellie’s. “It doesn’t scare me. I want all of it. I want you.”

Ellie’s breath hitched, her heart pounding so hard she thought Leah might hear it. “Why?” she whispered, her voice trembling.

Leah smiled, her thumb brushing over Ellie’s cheek. “Because you’re worth it. You don’t have to be perfect, Ellie. You just have to be honest. With me, and with yourself.”

Ellie swallowed hard, her emotions threatening to overwhelm her. “I don’t know how to… let someone do that. Let someone in.”

“That’s okay,” Leah said, her voice unwavering. “We’ll go at your pace. I’m not going anywhere.”

Ellie blinked rapidly, trying to stave off the tears that were forming. “You make it sound so easy.”

Leah chuckled softly. “It’s not. But it’s worth it. You’re worth it.”

For the first time in what felt like forever, Ellie felt a crack in her armor, a tiny sliver of vulnerability that didn’t feel terrifying. It felt… safe. She nodded slowly, her trembling hand finally steadying in Leah’s.

“Okay,” she said softly. “I’ll try.”

Leah’s smile widened, her eyes crinkling at the corners. “That’s all I need.”

They sat there for a while longer, the park quiet around them, the moment heavy with unspoken promises. And for the first time, Ellie felt like maybe—just maybe—she didn’t have to navigate her feelings alone. The two sat in silence for only a moment but it felt like ages for Ellie. She didn’t do well with sitting still or silence. Ellie jumps up from her seat surprising Leah. She looks a little bashful and the awkwardness is coming off her in waves. “Do you think we could walk now?”

Leah just stands up and holds her hand out for Ellie to take wordlessly. She does take Leah’s hand and starts leading her down the parks winding paths. Before the silence could work its way into Ellie’s nerves she just starts talking. “Did I ever tell you how Bobby and I met?” Leah shakes her head so she takes it as a green light to continue. “We grew up together. We did everything together. He always boisterous and extroverted that played well with me not wanting to talk to anyone. He’s an army brat too so we had a lot in common. We both knew that our fathers wanted us to sign up as soon as possible so we even enlisted together.” 

Ellie let out a small laugh as she finished her story, her hands tucked into her hoodie pockets. “So yeah, Bobby and I, two tours together as army medics. We were like a well-oiled machine. They used to call us Stitch and Patch because he was great at sewing people up, and I was good at, well, patching them together enough to survive.”

Leah raised an eyebrow, smirking. “That’s… actually kind of impressive. Sounds like you two made a hell of a team.”

“We did,” Ellie admitted, her voice quieter now, tinged with nostalgia. “Even now, as paramedics, it’s like we haven’t missed a beat. Same rhythm, same unspoken understanding. Sometimes I think we’re more siblings than friends, you know?”

Leah nodded, sensing the deep bond between Ellie and Bobby. She wanted to ask more, to dive deeper into the complexities of their relationship and their shared history, but before she could, Ellie abruptly stopped walking and turned to her, an awkward grin on her face.

“So anyway…” Ellie blurted out, waving a hand in a casual, almost dismissive gesture. “How’s football?”

Leah blinked at her, taken aback by the sudden shift in conversation. Then, a laugh bubbled up from her chest, breaking through the tension. “Ellie, you just told me a story about war zones, paramedic heroics, and being called Stitch, and now you want to talk about football?”

Ellie shrugged, her grin widening. “What? I figured you’ve had enough of my deep and meaningful for one day. Plus, you know, I hear you’re kind of a big deal in the football world.”

Leah chuckled, shaking her head. “You’re something else, you know that?”

“I try.” Ellie’s tone was light, but there was a flicker of relief in her eyes. She wasn’t great with heavy emotions, and shifting the focus gave her the breathing room she needed.

“Well,” Leah began, humoring her, “football’s going well. Training’s intense, as usual, but the team’s in good form. We’ve got a big match coming up next week. You should come watch.”

Ellie tilted her head, considering it. “Might have to. Do you promise not to embarrass yourself on the field?”

Leah feigned offense, clutching her chest dramatically. “Embarrass myself? Ellie, do you know who you’re talking to?”

Ellie just stares at her and then with a small smirk replies “Of course I know who I’m talking to. You’re the incredibly hot and cocky Leah Williamson.” 

Leah’s grin turned downright wicked, her confidence radiating with an intensity that made Ellie’s knees feel just a little weaker. She closed the gap between them with a casual stride, her blue eyes locked on Ellie’s like a predator honing in on its prey. “Hot and cocky, huh?” Leah’s voice dipped lower, smooth and deliberate. “Is that really all you’ve got to say about me?”

Ellie blinked, suddenly hyperaware of just how close Leah was standing. Her heartbeat ratcheted up to a sprint, but she refused to back down, crossing her arms as a weak shield. “I mean, what else is there to say? I thought I was being generous.”

Leah cocked an eyebrow, tilting her head as her lips curved into a smirk that practically screamed trouble. “Generous? Oh, Ellie, I think you’re holding back.”

Ellie scoffed, her attempt at defiance undermined by the heat rising to her cheeks. “Maybe you’re just reading into things.”

“Maybe.” Leah’s voice was a soft hum, playful but dripping with dominance. She reached out, her fingers brushing the hem of Ellie’s hoodie before tugging it lightly, forcing Ellie to take an involuntary step closer. “But you seem a little flustered. Care to explain that?”

Ellie’s mouth opened to respond, but the words caught in her throat. Her confidence cracked under Leah’s intense gaze, and she could feel her pulse thrumming wildly in her ears. “I’m not flustered,” she managed, her voice weaker than she’d like.

Leah leaned in, her face mere inches from Ellie’s, her tone dropping into something commanding yet soft. “Liar.”

The word sent a shiver down Ellie’s spine, and her breath hitched. Leah wasn’t even touching her beyond the casual hold on her hoodie, but she felt like she was completely pinned in place. “I… you’re impossible,” Ellie stammered, trying desperately to regain control of the situation.

Leah chuckled, a low, rich sound that made Ellie’s stomach flip. “And you love it,” she teased, her voice filled with maddening certainty.

Ellie glared at her, half-hearted at best. “You’re insufferable.”

Leah smirked wider, leaning back slightly as if giving Ellie a reprieve—but not much of one. “You keep saying that, but here you are. Still standing in front of me, still rambling, still blushing.”

“I am not blushing,” Ellie countered, her voice sharp but faltering.

Leah raised a brow, clearly unconvinced. “You’re adorable when you lie, Ellie.”

Ellie threw her hands in the air, turning half away in frustration, though the movement did little to shake the magnetic pull of Leah’s presence. “I don’t even know why I agreed to this walk.”

Leah didn’t let her escape. Instead, she reached out, her hand circling Ellie’s wrist and tugging her gently but firmly back to face her. “You agreed because you like me. And I like you.” Her voice softened but lost none of its command as she stepped closer again, her presence all-consuming. “So stop pretending this isn’t exactly where you want to be.”

Ellie’s breath caught, her defenses crumbling under Leah’s intensity. Her eyes flicked to where Leah’s hand held her wrist, warm and steady, then back to Leah’s face. “You’re… really sure of yourself, huh?”

Leah tilted her head, a small, confident smile tugging at her lips. “When it comes to you? Always.”

Ellie’s heart was doing somersaults now, and for once, she didn’t try to fight it. She let out a shaky breath, her voice barely above a whisper. “You’re exhausting.”

Leah’s smirk softened into something warmer, though her dominance still lingered in the way she stood so solidly, so unwaveringly close. “And yet, you keep coming back.”

Ellie couldn’t argue with that. She huffed out a reluctant laugh, shaking her head. “You’re really something, you know that?”

Leah released her wrist but didn’t step away, her gaze locking Ellie in place. “I know. But if it’s any consolation, you’re something too, pretty girl.”

Ellie groaned, covering her face with her hands, half to hide her growing smile and half to regain some semblance of composure. “You’re going to be the death of me.”

Leah chuckled, her confidence never wavering as she took Ellie’s hand again, her grip firm but comforting. “Good. That means I’m doing something right.”

Without giving Ellie a chance to argue further, Leah started leading her down the path, her hand fitting perfectly around Ellie’s. The air between them was thick with tension, but for once

, Ellie wasn’t overwhelmed by it. She was drawn into it, captivated by Leah’s unshakable confidence and the way it seemed to wrap around her like a shield. As they walked, Ellie felt her nerves begin to steady, her steps falling in sync with Leah’s.

Leah glanced sideways at her, her smirk returning. “So, Stitch, you gonna tell me more about this nickname of yours? Or should I just start calling you Doctor Ellie?”

Ellie groaned, her free hand coming up to rub at her forehead. “Please don’t. Bobby already milks it for all it’s worth.”

Leah grinned, clearly enjoying Ellie’s discomfort. “Oh, I can imagine. But come on, it’s impressive. Two tours as an army medic? That’s no small thing.”

Ellie shrugged, trying to downplay it. “It’s just what we had to do. You get used to it.”

“Do you, though?” Leah’s voice softened, and when Ellie glanced at her, she saw something deeper behind Leah’s teasing exterior. “Because it sounds like you’ve been through a hell of a lot, Ellie. More than most people could handle.”

Ellie hesitated, her usual instinct to deflect kicking in. “I guess. But it’s not like I’m the only one.”

Leah stopped walking, tugging Ellie gently to a halt as well. She turned to face her, their hands still linked. “Maybe not. But it’s still worth recognizing. You’re stronger than you give yourself credit for.”

Ellie felt her throat tighten, her usual walls threatening to go up again. But Leah’s steady gaze and the warm, firm grip of her hand made it impossible to retreat entirely. “You make it sound like I’m some kind of hero.”

Leah tilted her head, her expression unreadable for a moment before she smiled, this time softer but no less confident. “You don’t have to be a hero, Ellie. You just have to be you. And for the record, I think that’s more than enough.”

Ellie opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out. Instead, she just stared at Leah, her heart pounding in her chest. It wasn’t just the words—it was the way Leah said them, like she believed them with every fiber of her being.

Leah’s smirk returned, the warmth in her eyes mingling with a flicker of mischief. “What? Speechless? That’s a first.”

Ellie rolled her eyes, though her lips twitched into a reluctant smile. “You’re impossible.”

“And yet,” Leah said, stepping closer, her voice dropping to that teasing, confident murmur again, “you keep showing up. Almost like you can’t resist me.”

Ellie’s cheeks flushed, but this time, she didn’t bother denying it. Instead, she raised an eyebrow, her voice tinged with mock defiance. “Maybe I just like a challenge.”

Leah chuckled, leaning in just enough to make Ellie’s breath hitch. “Careful, pretty girl. I don’t back down from challenges.”

Ellie swallowed hard, her heart pounding as Leah’s smirk grew wider. She was in way over her head, but for the first time in a long time, she wasn’t sure she minded. “Neither do I.”

Leah’s laugh was low and rich, filled with delight at Ellie’s rare spark of defiance. “Good. I like that about you.” She straightened, giving Ellie’s hand a squeeze. “Now, let’s keep walking before I give you too much of an ego boost.”

Ellie let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding, her nerves settling into something warmer, steadier. As Leah led her further down the path, her presence solid and unwavering, Ellie found herself thinking that maybe, just maybe, she didn’t mind letting someone else take the lead for once.

[homestuckreplay]

Seeking Friends (MUST be named John)

(page 1129-1136)

tiny jade tiny jade we got tiny jade!!!! look at them both <3

Unfortunately this is now a Grandpa Harley hate blog. That ridiculous amount of force used to kill a butterfly. (a transgender butterfly at that!!) The unnecessary show of power and dominance. And for what? To show a small child that destruction of life is his idea of fun? No wonder Jade has such a refusal to hurt animals – I feel like she’s associated with life and growth while Grandpa is associated with death and destruction. Like on the one hand, having to handle her grandpa’s death at a young age and being the only one around to clean up and stuff the body must have been incredibly traumatic for Jade, and being alone ever since can’t have helped. But I don’t think she’d be doing much better if he’d lived! This is not a tragic situation where Jade almost had a good guardian! In fact, Jade regularly acting like her grandpa is still alive could come from him being SO omnipresent and overbearing while she was alive that she never really spent any time without him, until he was entirely gone.

Although I’d say Bec is already acting like Jade’s actual guardian, as he’s clearly the one taking care of her while Grandpa is destroying the beautiful landscape with his inappropriately large firearms.

We still have all scenes occurring on a beta kid birthday, but there’s no year on this one. What does Grandpa Harley think is the right age to introduce Jade to the thrill of the hunt? Probably way too young, but Jade can already read well as she has no trouble with John’s note, so I’m gonna say this is her 6th birthday. December 1, 2001.

Unfortunately you cannot open it yet! This package has an important journey to make first. You are planning on delivering it momentarily. Good thing you already know what's inside. Otherwise you would surely be consumed by curiosity and suspense. You sincerely pity anyone who might be forced to endure such a fate. (p.998)

The reveal of Jade’s package is really cute. I think the above quote is intentionally hinting that Jade knows what’s in the package through the power of Prophecy and Visions, but it’s actually the more mundane (kind of?) reason – she already opened the gift years ago! And inside we get the fabled ‘dear jade,’ page, completing the set, plus a note that contains SO much beta kid lore that I’m so excited about.

Jade wears blue and takes up gardening because she receives this package, creating a stable time loop around these interests. This Blue Slime Ghost shirt could be the first shirt used to make the wardrobifier, as young Jade is wearing a plain shirt.

We don’t know when Jade started seeing dream visions, but from her reaction to John’s letter, there’s no indication that she thinks about things in the weird past/future, seeing herself as an agent of the timeline way that she thinks in 2009. I would bet that this is the beginning of her relationship with predestination. I also think this might have caused her to wake up on Prospit, as she’s been contacted directly by the future, and this makes her more open to temporal communication

John thought he was going to be so late with Jade’s present when he remembered how far away she lives, but he actually got it there incredibly early, so huge W for John. (and an even bigger W for the heroic mail carrier PM). Jade’s response was ‘john thats ok really! im sure will get to me exactly when it needs to and it will be a nice surprise when it does!’ and she was right. The gift was definitely a nice surprise, as tiny Jade had no clue it was coming, and if it prompted Jade’s interest in gardening and potentially her visions – a key source of guidance for her especially after she loses her grandpa – then it did happen at exactly the right time. I like the idea that all of Jade’s weirdness was prompted by the seemingly most normal character.

John has NO supernatural awareness in this letter, and is totally stumped as to why Jade’s pumpkins are disappearing – but he’s listened to her when she’s talked about her gardening woes, and his ‘i'm sure you know the fun is in growing them and taking care of them until they're ready’ is a good read; it feels like something Jade herself would say. And John gives Jade a shirt that not only matches his, but is ‘way more awesome’, so he’s really putting her first. There is something about John’s gift to Jade that feels somehow lesser than his honestly inspired gifts to Rose or Dave – it ended up being really impactful, but wouldn’t have been if she had received it in 2008, where it would’ve just related to her existing interests. But I understand that, because sometimes when someone is THAT important to you, it’s impossible to represent that with a physical gift.

John also went to a store, and to the post office! I feel very vindicated because I find the idea that John does leave the house and interact with other people but still feels alone, alienated and ‘homestuck’ way more compelling than the idea that he’s literally never left the house and yard or spoken to anyone outside his family. Similarly, he signs all the notes to his friends with ‘(john)’, so he wasn’t literally named on his 13th birthday - ‘it is only today he will be given a name’ is more a statement about independence and coming into his own. I like this official confirmation that some of the video game aspects aren’t meant to be taken literally, and I think it opens up more angles for interpretation in future.

Finally, we learn that John met Rose and Dave through Jade! So either Jade was the common link that met all three of them individually, and then brought the group together, or John and Jade were friends and Rose and Dave were friends, and Jade united the pairs. I think the first is more likely, as having received this letter, Jade will be on the lookout for friends named John, Rose and Dave, and may get hints to her meeting them when she starts seeing visions on Prospit. As usual (but also for the first time), she will have a head start while everyone else is oblivious.

As if the Package storyline wrapping up wasn’t proof enough, the adventure map shows that we really are at the end of act 3. I cannot wait to see how the act ends and where the story will go in act 4.

> Jade: Tie giant shirt around yourself like a wizard’s cape.

[not-really-a-writer]

everybody talks about how the pandemic tore couples apart, buuuut do you think that the pandemic also brought people wayyyyy closer + wayyyy faster than normal??? I happen to know a few couples who had only just started dating and then got suuuuper close suuuper fast during the pandemic (and most are still together, coincidentally) and I just thought it was interesting.

Like, under normal circumstances you wouldn't contemplate moving in with someone you'd been dating for 4 months, but during the pandemic... heyyyy anything goes!

Like, under no typical conditions would you normally have this convo 3-4 months into a new relationship: "Wanna get out of the city and move in with my parents in rural America" <one moment of thoughtful reflectance>..."Yeah!"

I'm not making fun of it or anything, just think it's interesting because maybe our concept of 'normal relationship timelines' is screwed. Like, maybe this is a huge discovery in the post-COVID world. If these couples ended up surviving whilst others melted apart during the pandemic, maybe length of relationship isn't such a big pre-requisite when it comes to making major relationship moves and following traditional timelines doesn't factor much in determining the long-term success of a relationship.

Maybe we don't have to look so hard or so long before we leap.

[smallblueandloud]

i have to go to bed very soon so instead i'm lying here being overcome by clintasha emotions

[cluescorner]

I'm back on my bullshit

Optimus: I've loved you in every universe, even if you twist into someone I should hate.

Soundwave: I've loved you in every universe, even if it never ends well for me.

Rodimus: Every other universe can rot for all I care, I love you in this one.

[tvmblrsillyman]

:3

Sure I'll share this (OC posting below)

how it started (Circa 2018)

how its going (drew it last night using the same technique this time using Samsung's notes drawing program. But also for the funnies, this is also taking place in 2018.)

[ourceliumnetwork]

i'm just a dude and my mind is a NIGHTMARE

[puppy-the-mask]

Some Lmk Cas and Connie things;

-In the initial storyline Cas is from a border town close to demon territory, as close as human civilization dares to live. The town has lots of guards because of this. She learns swordsmanship through her brothers, who her father teaches so they may follow in his footsteps. She acts as a sparring partner enough times to get some harmless practice in and would later develop her skills in private.

-Cas' real passion is music, becoming a performer and traveling to a bigger town for work. It's the road between these towns that she utilizes her sword skills with any bandits she encounters

-Any timelines where they meet in the modern day have Cas as a normal person who plays with local bands for extra cash and would now have to learn self defense to keep up with all the weird demonic stuff going on in their life

-After fusing with the consumption Cas suffers from frequent nightmares, which spread the consumption subconsciously as a way to protect herself from the 'danger' in her dreams. Only people that she no longer sees as a threat/trusts with her life are immune to the goop and able to safely touch it. This is rare as he must instinctively trust them/ want to protect them enough that even panicked and asleep the ooze doesn't touch them or consider them a threat

-Until they come to terms with their situation and new companion Cas is highly unstable, the slightest anger or panic causes the consumption to manifest. It isn't until they finally talk with Connie that she starts learning how to control it

-While sealed away Cas covered the cave walls in songs they wrote while they were trapped as a way to pass the time

-Connie is AroAce, quite literally only interested in food. They've never had a friend before but if someone managed to become close with them they wouldn't believe they were really cared about or that the person truly understands What they are.

-If they Do then Connie will not really know what to do about it, they're caught off guard and don't like it. Hold their hand and walk them through relationships, they don't understand. But they're quietly harassing Cas into teaching them about friendship and how to care about people.

-Connie's love language is Gifts(Aka Free Food), Words of Affirmation, and Quality Time. They love receiving food and actually going out of your way to spend time with them (despite having to stick close to Cas) makes them feel appreciated. It's not often people hang around for Them rather than Cas since they don't come out much. They also never realized how nice it feels to be complimented and told they're loved.

-Connie is really protective of their friends, they don't have many so they Really don't wanna lose them.

-A relationship with them starts out with them more confused and incredulous than anything- 'Wait you're wanting to talk to me? Why??? uhm Okay?????? whatever dude go ahead I guess' But they'd catch an interest and start growing fond of the person over time

-Cas and Connie have made a name for themselves as online food critics, leaving really comprehensive reviews on all the places they've eaten at together. They also really love going to places that have those massive food challenges, they have yet to lose a single one

-Connie has a shrine in their room of all the knickknacks, pictures, and shirts they've won from every challenge. They also have before and after pictures of each meal.

-They have been kicked out of multiple establishments for eating too much, every all-you-can-eat buffet in their area has their picture up on the wall with 'BANNED' over them like a food service wanted poster

-Cas' Gems are some of the most sensitive parts of their body. The biggest gems being the most sensitive, only to touch though. She can't feel temperature through them but touch is amplified because they connect directly to his nervous system

-He doesn't wear scratchy or hard fabrics because of this, only soft or flowy fabrics over his arms or anywhere the gems would touch

-They don't let anyone touch the gems unless they trust them with their life since their life would literally be in the person's hands- the shards being a secondary life source to them

-They don't let people grab their arms when they don't have long sleeves on and don't even let anyone know about their biggest shards out of paranoia that anyone could betray them and use the knowledge of their weakest points against them. Those being the back of their neck (even small fractures cause paralysis due to location) and their Tongue (biggest shard- essentially their insta-kill button)

-The general pain scale goes as follows;

Touching- just a weird sensation, can overstimulate them if there's too much going on around beside the touching. Mainly paranoia that makes it unpleasant

Tapping- light pinch/the kind of sensation that makes you want to grit your teeth but isn't exactly Painful

Tapping with Nails/Claws/something hard- Harder pinch, instantly gritting teeth, is actually a bit painful and causes a slight ringing sensation. More pressure = more pain, could be ranked above Scratching if the person does it too hard or holds their nail down/prolongs it

Flicking- like when you pinch your hand in a door or something closes on you, a sharp pain that kind of leaves a ringing sensation pulsing through their body

Scratching- Sharp pain, feels the same as normal scratches just much worse

Blunt force- Painful, could crack the gem (even more painful) which would cause everything below it to go numb/limp

Pulling- Excruciating, Trying to pull the gem out would literally be them trying to pull out a part of their body. Like trying to pull teeth or nails- there are nerves attached that would be yanked with them.

-While they've definitely had partners over the years they've all been doomed from the start because Cas can't commit to mortals that'll die or leave her. But they leave because he doesn't commit to trusting them enough to let them touch the gems... Homie can't even make out with their S/Os without freaking out and backing down at the last minute. Or they leave because of the whole 'Sharing a body with a Demon' thing. It's a vicious cycle, a self fulfilling prophecy.

-On the last point I had a scenario/story/fake episode idea where Cas breaks up with their girlfriend -who she had been having boundary issues with- but had really wanted things to work out and tried making herself trust her. But then she pressed the tongue gem with her nail despite knowing that's the Worst One and It Hurt. So after pushing her off Cas breaks things off with her and kicks her out of her apartment. But the ex was toxic and started showing up to all their usual hangout spots and even their workplace all to make them out to be the bad guy. The plot of the episode is basically the gang get to know the ex- not knowing about the breakup or her connection to Cas- and it drives Cas to isolate from the mk crew. This leads to her spending time with the one person the ex literally Physically can not reach- Monkey King. So the two end up hunkering down in his shame temple and watching crap tv with a bunch of ben n jerry's and talking about all their shitty past relationships. Alcohol is Of Course involved on Cas’ end and they make horrible unholy ice cream booze creations- such as an alcoholic coke/rootbeer float for themself. Wukong hoards the ice cream after that lest they commit more food crimes with it. I just think it'd be funny to have them gossiping and lounging around the shame temple eating a shit ton of junk that shouldn't be humanly possible. The start of a beautiful friendship, finally an immortal that doesn't have beef with him! XD Of course at the end of the episode she'd learn she can trust her friends and talk to them about her problems instead of keeping them to herself and the toxic ex would probably end up with a restraining order or have crossed a line that causes Cas to reveal the whole Demon thing and scare her off. idk the important part was the booze and gossip with wukong- that was the entire reason i mentioned this

[emeritusemeritus]

Charming Witches [Fred Weasley]

Title: Charming Witches [Fred Weasley]

Pairing: PregnantWife!Reader x Fred Weasley, background Hermione X Ron.

Timeline: Set after canon (Fred lives!)

Summary: Ron has an embarrassing issue and unluckily for him, Fred is the only one that can help.

Warnings: Mentions of pregnancy, babies, established relationships. Sexual references throughout. Fred has a bit of a breeding kink- shock. Just a silly little drabble I couldn’t get out of my mind. Fred is a bit mean and sarcastic to Ron.

Word count: 1.6k

"You're, you know... well, sort of, um."

"You'll get there eventually Ronald," Fred jokes with a straight face, half listening to his brother's whispered fumbles whilst he pours himself and his wife a drink, not bothering to offer his youngest brother one. If Fred had even bothered to look at Ron's face, he'd have seen he was as pink in the cheeks as a bottle of love potion, his blush so vivid that he looked ready to erupt with a face full of dragon pox any moment.

Ron clears his throat, trying again, as he casts a nervous glance around the Burrow's kitchen, checking no one was hearing this. He didn't know why he'd chosen Fred of all people to have this conversation with, in theory George would have been a much better choice but he didn't have the same 'qualifications' as his twin, seeing that you and Fred had been together for absolutely years.

"Well, umm," he freezes under Fred's quick but glance, silently telling him to spit it out. "Well you and y/n, you're in sync aren't you... Sexually?"

Whatever Fred was expecting to hear eventually tumble out of his brother's mouth was not even close to the reality and he can't stop his eyebrows from shooting halfway up his forehead instinctively in disbelief.

"Did my very pregnant wife give it away?" He snarks, leaning against the counter and taking a sip of the beer he'd poured, openly enjoying the discomfort his brother was radiating. "That might have been your first clue."

Ron somehow looks paler underneath all the blushing and Fred is revelling in his ability to make his brother squirm.

"Well, yeah I suppose," Ron mumbles, beginning to get defensive and deeply regretting opening up to the trickier twin.

"Calm down Ronald," Fred says, "you and Granger having bedroom troubles?"

"No!" Ron bites back a little too quickly but his resolve breaks under a few seconds of Fred's probing gaze, arms folded in an unconscious power stance. "Maybe."

He's quiet again for a few moments and Fred is uncharacteristically patient whilst he waits for Ron to collect his thoughts.

"How many times would you say is normal, like in a week?"

"Don't know if there's a 'normal' Ronniekins," Fred says with a shrug. "Most days and twice on a Sunday?"

Though he hides it this time, Fred revels in the look of utter horror Ron's eyes convey and it's like he can see the cogs in his brain working on overdrive, emitting smoke as they crumble and break. Evidently, his answer was light years away from what Ron had hoped for. He knows that his wife being ready to pop at any second only helps Ron believe his words and he mentally thanks Godric Gryffindor himself for the overly fortunate timing.

"Don't think it matters mate really; as long as you're both expecting about the same." This time, Fred actually thinks he's being reassuring.

"She just wants to read all the bloody time, even in bed! It's like I'm a bloody afterthought."

"Have you even met your girlfriend?"

This time it's Fred who pauses when he meets the icy glare of his younger brother. He sighs and a slightly awkward silence falls between the pair as they both try to think of how to fix whatever was going on in Ron's mind, hoping that two head were better than one.

"You two alright?"

Ron jumps out of his skin when he hears your slightly concerned greeting upon seeing the two brothers, Fred especially, in near silence.

"Don't tell me you forgot I was here," you joke to Ron, walking over to Fred as he holds out your waiting drink. "Been your sister in law for five years! Plus the bump makes me pretty memorable," you add with a smile.

"I'll say," Fred says with a wink, the cheeky glint in his eyes ever more sparkling as he looks at your bulging tummy, unashamedly ogling your pregnant form. You gently nudged him, silently telling him to be quiet but as you do so, you catch a slightly glare aimed at your husband from Ron.

"Am I interrupting? " You ask outright, sensing tension.

"No," says Fred almost immediately.

"A bit," Ron admits, cringing slightly before he lets out a loud yelp, having been smacked upside the back of the head by his older brother for his disrespect. He grumbles slightly under his breath, absently rubbing the back of his head where Fred's hand had connected to him and let's put a deep sigh.

"You're a girl," he says, averting his eyes anywhere except directly on your own.

Fred snickers at Ron's feeble and clumsy attempt at starting the conversation but opts to take a long swig of his beverage to avoid anymore laughter spilling out, though his delight still shines through his eyes.

"Only when it's not a full moon," you jest, trying to slice through the awkwardness Ron is emitting.

"Forget it, you're as bad as he is."

"Firstly I'm offended," you say, reaching out for his arm gently as you feel his begin to pull away, ignoring your husband's opposition. "Secondly, yes I'm a girl... go on."

"Well," he pauses, gathering courage, long ginger lashes covering his shy eyes that still raise no further than your ankles, "say Fred suddenly didn't want sex."

"Wouldn't happen."

"Fred shush."

"Well... say suddenly he wanted to read at nighttime over having sex."

"Again, wouldn't happen."

"Fred!" You hush him again, this time more firmly.

"How would you go about trying to, you know, fix it."

You were certain you'd never seen Ron this vividly pink in the cheeks before, he looked like he'd been decorated up to display in Umbridge's office.

"That's the problem? Hermione wants to read instead of sex?" You ask, not really seeing the big issue, but trying to say it gently so that you didn't spook him.

He nods, "but it's all the time," he adds, justifying his gripe.

"Well," you say, lowering yourself into Arthur's seat at the head of the kitchen table only a few feet away, unable to stand much longer. "Play her at her own game."

"Eh?" The brothers ask in sync, their faces scrunched into an almost identical confused expression. You simply shrug.

"Make yourself less available to her, pull back a bit," you say, taking a sip of your drink to wet your lips. "Start reading in bed just like she does, act like you're not interested in just sex."

"So I act like I'm not bothered even though I am?" He asks, still not following what you're saying.

"Sort of," you say, trying to find a better way of wording it.

"Reading's always been her favourite thing to do hasn't it? Join in on it. I'd bet on my life that she has a fantasy of you in bed shirtless reading beside her. Stop making advances, let her come to you."

"That's actually quite clever," he says after a few moments of consideration.

"It's been known."

"Shirtless?" He asks with a frown, seemingly fixating on that point.

You chuckle nodding, "well you have to still appeal to her, you don't want it to just be a study session do you?"

"Right, right," he says with a nod, a slight smile returning to his face before it dramatically falls away in an almost comedic move.

"I don't have a book."

"What do you mean you don't have a book?" Fred says in a flabbergasted manner, earning a slight but unconscious raise of your eyebrow. Though you didn't comment on the irony of his words considering you couldn't remember the last time you'd seen him so much as skim the daily prophet.

"I don't really have one," Ron mumbles quietly, "unless my quidditch annual counts."

"It doesn't," you say firmly.

"So I need a book," Ron says firmly, as if he was cementing the plan in his mind, nodding along with his thoughts until he finally makes eye contact. "Thanks y/n," he says with a smile and a nod of his head before he walks away, a bounce in his step.

"Think it's actually gonna work?" Fred asks as you pry yourself out of the chair and walk to stand next to him as you place your empty cup in the sink.

You let out a little chortle and shrug, "well if it doesn't, at least Hermione can read in peace."

Laughter bursts out of Fred and he pulls you close, bump nestled between you as he delights in your words, realising you had absolutely no idea if the plan would work.

Later that evening when everyone was preparing to leave the Burrow after another wonderful family dinner, Ron pulls you and Fred to one side before he left, away from the eyes and ears of everyone else.

"Thanks again for earlier," he says, clearly feeling more at ease about his issue. You smile warmly in reply, happy to help.

"No problem little brother," Fred beams, as if it was him that had offered any advice.

"Oi Ron," you call out quietly to get his attention as he turns to leave. With a smile, you reach down into the bag on your shoulder and pull out an item you'd gleefully searched for in Fred and George's old bedroom after the conversation. "Just incase my advice doesn't work."

Ron frowns reaching for the item you were handing him, a frown that only deepens as he reads the title of the book he was now holding. Fred's laughter is sudden and booming as his eyes land on the once familiar item that had him cracking up laughing, realising instantly what it was.

Twelve fail-safe ways to charm witches.

"Oh piss off."

Taglist part 1

@ferntv

@aigowen

@that-lame-ghoul9000

@jules-with-stars

@sleepiemocha

@seppys-return-to-madness

@wtvbabes

@the-mrs-malik-styles

@cedslover

@nisapoosworld

@dashhhhkaaa

@ghostlytv

@nerdymesss

@costheticbabe

@cliffburtonscig

@lildrunkjkk

@levylovegood

@jewelsrules

@jphxnix

@asuperconfusedgirl

@staceys-moms-thighs

@nighttimewrites

@egghasnoleg

@mel119g

@angelrioter

@minatozsana

@quinny921

@blahhh819

@comicgollum20

@moonieseyelash

@marisimps

@xslashers

@70s-chic

@shadyunknowncreation

@rockabieesstuff

@moon-2424

@chx-la

@malenk

@jimmywoosimp

@soulessfictionaddict

@twistedlaces1909

@brookiecookiez0

@nightowlgirl

@fiathefirst

@rybrewer82-blog

@cryb4by-te4rs

@rainingsky37

@learninglinesintherainn

@autumnboo126

@kpopgirlbtssvt

[writersblockiskillingme]

Hook with the daughter of Ariel or something like that. With them being in a secret little relationship but he’s always trying to come up to her and flirt with her. Maybe Uliana finds out and freaks out the rest is up to you

Secret | James Hook

Pairing: James Hook x fem!reader (Ariel's!sister!reader)

Summary: Once Uliana figures out your secret, everything comes crushing down.

Warning/s: angst, but with a happy ending, fluff, keeping secrets, fight, short fic, possible grammar and/or spelling mistakes

Author's note: It's here, hope you enjoy!! Also, I made the reader Ariel's sister because in my head, it fits the timeline.

Honestly, nobody had any idea how it happened. You were Ariel's sister. He was a pirate. How in the world did you manage to end up together?!

Well... truth to be told... it happened so suddenly, just like when the storm in the middle of the sea happens. Nobody really expects it, but it arrives it crashes you with its whole might. Leaving you breathless.

It was a normal, sunny day when you met him. You were walking down the corridor, just trying to get to Merlin's class. Clutching your book in your hands, you found yourself outside as you came face to face with Hook. In the middle of the courtyard. All alone. His back was turned to you, and with that finding, you felt the sigh of relief leave your body pass your lips. It doesn't matter, you thought to yourself. So you decided to keep walking. You did not want to be late to class.

But it seems like the luck wasn't on your side that day. He turned around and walked up to you as he yelled out.

"Ahoy there, mermaid!" He smirked as your eyes met. "Skipping class again, I see. What's your excuse this time? Lost your voice singing to the fishes?"

James Hook, now leaning against a stone pillar, hook on his right hand and a mischievous glint in his eyes as his eyes scanned you.

"Hook, I unline you, am actually trying to now get there in time." You rolled your eyes at his teasing but decided that maybe it was time for you to finally tease him back a bit. "But don't worry, I've got a treasure map to Merlin's class. Care to actually join me?"

You saw a little tint of blush forming on his face, but you must have imagined it. And just as you thought that this would be the end of your conversation, he did something that left you stunned.

"Merlin's class? That's the real curse of Neverland. But I'd follow you anywhere, little mermaid." He gave you a wink, smirking.

You found yourself blushing, but no... it... it can't be. Luckily, you quickly regained your composure and continued your, playful, rivalry banter.

"You know, pirate, I've heard rumors about your hook. Is it true you lost it in a duel with a giant squid?" You leaned over closer to him.

"Aye, but it wasn't just any squid—it was the one that stole my heart." He smirked as he leaned down, closer to your face. "But now, here I am, a one-handed pirate with a penchant for trouble and a weakness for mermaid smiles."

You found yourself laughing at his flirting. You couldn't help it, it was just so... so endearing.

"Well, Captain, I've got a secret too." You said, with a little smirk planted on your face. "I've hidden my voice in a shell. Only the right kiss can unlock it. Interested?"

And so you did that for a while until you two were actually late for Merlin's class. You walked in, and Hook did not. But there was no way that you would admit to anyone, even your friends, why you walked into the class flushed, cheeks pink, with a stupid smile on your face.

You do, of course, realize that this was a bit abnormal. He was a pirate and part of Uliana's crew. You were a mermaid princess, daughter of the Triton himself. It was not normal, but as the days passed and what was a true rivalry, banter turned into just pure flirting, you found yourself not really caring.

As weeks passed and the flirting continued, somehow, you found yourself having a pirate boyfriend. After all of that, Hook and you started dating. Somehow.

And it was better than you ever expected it to be. You sometimes felt like, outside of Uliana's crew, you were the only one that he was nice to. It was... perplexing. But you loved it.

However, you both agreed that you should keep your relationship a secret for a while for both of your sakes. You weren't dumb. You both knew how your friends would react if you told them that you were dating. So that's how it all started. Secret stolen glances when nobody was looking, passing notes in class, stolen kisses when you were all alone, and, of course, flirty teasing banter.

That's how you found yourself, pressed against a tree in the school's courtyard, Hook with his hand by your head, his hook under your chin, trapping you.

"You're a siren in a landlocked school." He spoke, looking into your eyes. "Your voice could raise sunken ships, and your smile—well, that's my undoing."

"Tell me, Hook, do you ever dream of flying?" You asked as you started to trace your finger along his hook. "Not in a ship, but with wings made of stardust?"

He looked at you, captivated.

"Every night, my dear. And in my dreams, you're the compass guiding me through constellations." He leaned down towards you, your lips almost meating until something happened. Something that would change this forever.

"Hook!!" The terrifyingly hight and mighty voice rang out along the school courtyard.

You both turned around and froze as you came face to face with Uliana, Hades, Maleficent and a few more people that joined the courtyard when they heard yelling.

"But reality has a way of clipping my wings." Hook sighed as he moved away from you slowly, your heart speading up and breaking at the same time.

"Are you out of your mind?!" Uliana screamed. "What are you doing with a mermaid?!"

That's when you noticed something. Yes, Hook moved away from you, but his hand with his hook that was under your chin was now placed on your waist, still holding you close to him.

"Calm down, Uliana." Hook spoke up, looking at him.

"Calm down?!" Uliana yelled, absolutely fuming. "Are you seriously telling me to calm down right now?!"

"Yes." Hook said, "Yes, I am."

"Don't play games with me, Hook." She threatened before throwing a glance your way, smirking as she plotted against you. "If you don't stop doing whatever you're doing with this one, you will no longer be a part of my crew."

A moment of science was heard around the courtyard, and you know that it was over. He couldn't give up on his crew, and you most certainly did not want him to, so that means that your relationship has reached its inevitable end. Your heart was breaking as you looked on the ground, slowly moving away from Hook.

"You won't do that." He spoke up, his voice strong, ringing out. "We won't end our relationship." He turned to you and brought you closer to him once again, smiling at you before turning to Uliana with a determined look.

"You know that you need me whether you liked it or not. So, no, you won't throw me away from the rest of the crew. And even if you do, it doesn't matter. I still have her, and that is something that nothing will be able to change." He spoke as her face was formed into pure shock.

"So good day." He sarcastically bowed before he ruined around with you and walked away.

"Don't worry, she'll come around." You looked at him. "Maybe..."

"I honestly don't really care." He shrugged, his eyes ringing with truth. "I have you now, little mermaid, that's all I need and so much more, really."

->

->

->

TAGLIST:

@xoxo-h3arts @i-am-fork @a-homosexual-homosapien @snixx2088 @heartsfromcoco @ariaroseloklover @isafran1125 @gayfrog29 @mystic-mae

[countlessimagines]

Downfall [ Five Hargreeves x Reader ]

Summary: No matter the timeline, you and Five never get your chance.

A/N: well I think I can agree with everyone that season four was not good… so my way of coping is making angsty imagines for it… I’m trying to cope with the fact this is the last time we will ever see them ): This is also super short, apologies

Warnings: Season Four Spoilers

MASTERLIST LINK

-

Five had seen multiple timelines with Lila throughout their time spent together. And in almost every single one they saw, you were dead by the hands of him or vice versa. Eventually it became normal to see you mourning Five or him taking revenge for you.

Lila could see how distressing it was for him to see every timeline play out the same for the both of you.

Fate never seemed to be on your side, and even in your timeline, Five never had the courage to tell you his feelings. Despite spending six years by his side, being his roommate, helping him with cases, being there emotionally for him… he never seemed to catch on to the fact that you held feelings for him, too.

On one of their multiple train rides, Lila tried to address what the two of you meant to each other, but Five didn’t want to acknowledge it.

Because he feared the moment he’d open up, fate would play it’s cruel trick again and guarantee he would never see you again.

So he buried it deep within himself so it would not haunt him.

-

For you, it was mere hours you had last seen Five. You had helped Allison and Claire rescue Klaus from being buried alive, and had found your way to Lila and Diego’s home.

Everything seemed to be alright, and although you could sense something was wrong with Five, you didn’t have the energy to ask, simply from the long day you were all having.

However, you didn’t fail to notice the looks Lila and Five were sharing. It made not only you suspicious, but Diego as well. It was started to grow more and more tense as he pried information from them.

It almost felt as if your heart was being ripped out of your chest, being stomped on by the universe, as Five and Lila confessed of their infidelity.

You weren’t sure if you wanted to console Diego or slap Five.

You decided on the latter before storming out of the house. Diego tried to stop Five from chasing after you, but Five was quicker and blinked to your side.

“Let me explain.”

“Get away from me!” You screamed as you exited the house. Nobody followed the two of you, so you only assumed Lila was in the hot seat.

“(Y/n)! Stop acting like a child and listen.” Five grabbed your arm and whipped you around to face him. He was close now, his breath fanning your face.

“How could I listen to the fact you and Lila shared such an intimate relationship while I have been waiting years for you to do the same with me.” You made sure to throw your words in his face, making all of your emotions clear as day. Pretending to not hold feelings for him was beginning to weigh you down, so you needed to let go of those weights now.

“All we did was kiss,” Five said it like it was the most simple action in the world. “One kiss and we realized our mistake immediately. We got wrapped up in our own little bubble and forgot the important things. I just… I couldn’t handle seeing you die anymore…”

“What?” You pushed away from him. Had he seen a timeline with you dead?

“I… we don’t get a happy ending in any timelines. No matter what we do, we fail to be together.” Five sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “I lost hope that even if we got back, it would lead to our demise.”

You didn’t know what to say to him as your heart began to beat uncontrollably.

He looked into your tear filled eyes and said, “I want to be with you, but I don’t want to kill you.”

“I don’t want to be with someone who, after forty years in the apocalypse, couldn’t even keep his heart on one person for seven years. It doesn’t matter if you realized your mistake, Five. I’ve been here the whole time waiting for you. I took care of you when you came home bloodied. I stayed up with you while you had panic attacks. I made sure that you had coffee brewed every morning.”

Five felt ashamed he had let everything you had done for him go to waste with his one mistake. “I don’t expect you to forgive me.”

“Maybe I’ll be the bigger person and actually forgive you, because I know deep inside I am that person. And I for sure know you aren’t because you kissed your brother’s wife, Five.” You scoffed and wiped away your tears. “Good luck with that.”

You began to walk towards your car without another word, and Five just watched as you left.

He was smart enough to know that if he chased you, it would lead to a grave.

And not too long after, he would sacrifice himself with his family, his last thoughts only consisted of you and how much he failed your relationship. Some selfish part of him hoped that he’d come back, to be able to see you again.

But the more rational side of him knew that he would never touch you again.

Because for once, you would be able to live in a peaceful timeline without him there to cause your downfall.

[nikovraskol]

this is gonna be very long winded so apologies in advance!

I’ve noticed that the readers ages of 16, 18 and 21 feel more important since they’re like a checkpoint for important parts of their lives. 18 is when they butted heads with their family more often, 21 is when they died and 16, well that’s the age that the returned to.

what would it have been say at 16 they were on autopilot so they went to breakfast and Alfred (and by extension the rest of the family ) didn’t realise something was off about them until later?

what if they returned at 18 instead of 16 when their relationships were more volatile with the bat fam?

or heck maybe at 21 a month, week, day or hour before getting shot- say if they were able to contact the police beforehand or at least call Alfred for help if they were shot but the last timeline warned them enough that they avoided lethal wounds?

(bonus: Bruce or the others - I’d expect Jason to pop up from a seedy alley- finds them after being shot and on the verge of dying, but they’re saved just in the nick of time)

(bonus bonus: they get greedy and kidnap surprise adopt multiple different versions of reader and their batfams go nuts because they “went missing”)

GRR come over here and kiss me on my hot mouth i'm feeling romantical also i will carress you for picking up on the age thing.. like damn u actually read my shi

masterlist

at sixteen, if you were to go to breakfast and act on autopilot! then congrats! you'd be able to leave (for a month). it'd be difficult because bruce wouldn't check on you so you couldn't ask him for funds. but if you were to ask alfred maybeee he'd give it to you, so long as you don't say what it's for, of course.

so then, you're living happily, peacefully even. for two months, you live your life like a normal person! until one fateful evening when you're casually lounging about -- someone knocks on your door. weird, but okay.

you open the door, and there stands fucking batman and robin just. standing there.

"we're here to--"

you slam the door on their face. now, because you've acted on auto-pilot, they didn't interact with you in the same way they did in the og story, so you're understandably confuddled. because? why the FLIP is your estranged family at your door?

over the course of the next few days, strange events occur. you go to the diner down the road to get some food and red hood slides into your booth wordlessy. you're walking home after going to the store and nightwing literally APPEARS and offers to carry your groceries. your phone's battery is mysteriously depleting fast, flipping orphan and spoiler show up at your school, hanging around.

worst of all, no matter where you go -- there's that bat-shaped shadow following you. if you look up, you'll see the outline of his cowl, and if you lock eyes he will swoop in, to save you -- of course! so keep your head down, savour your freedom for as long as possible but don't ever get too comfortable.

at eighteen? ooh i feel like a fly mischeviously rubbing it's hands together.

twenty-one year old you waking up eighteen, well, dare i say, it's better than waking up sixteen.

eighteen you had preemptively distanced yourself from the family for you. you're a legal adult, so you can work -- and best of all? (you can smoke ciggerattes) you have actual friends.

up until your eighteenth birthday, your every waking thought was on how to be better, to get better -- so with you becoming a legal adult -- well you understood that there isn't much for you to do anymore, you began to focus less on yourself and more on you. despite that, there was still the nagging feeling heavy in your chest that you'll never be accepted, never be apart of them -- there was a part that yearned for that acceptance, however late it maybe.

so your sudden disinterest wasn't alarming, not really. until you've finally found a good place, in a nice area. you're packing your stuff casually when bruce walks into your room for the first time in fuuck knows how long (because alfred asked him to).

"where are you going?" he is flabbergasted, but keeps a cool expression on his face as you give him the most diabolic side glare ever.

"i'm... leaving?"

lmao, no you're not! all of a sudden this calm procedure turns into a whole thing. give bruce the name of your landlord, he wants to see if they're good -- in fact, he can buy the house off of them so you don't have to pay a thing!

dick and jason are literally scanning every part of your new apartment, top to bottom, every single thing.

"this is not safe, these windows don't even have locks." jason sighs, analysing your windows with such scrutiny it makes you uncomfortable.

"this chain is broken! tut, tut, you can't live here!" dick adds on, ignoring the fact that the chain on your door is fine and that one chip on it won't get you killed.

tim begins to talk to you about finances, but he overexplains it using words you can't even begin to comprehend -- you're pretty sure he's doing it on purpose, what with the smug grin on his face.

"didn't bruce buy the building?" you ask, your eyes narrowed as you watch him scribble down numbers and whatnot.

"..no comment."

while those buffoons are doing that, you're being pressured by damian to stay.

"why must you leave? to live in a crappy old shack? just stay in the manor, it's safer for you." he's literally DOWN your neck with these types of comments. meanwhile, you're reeling 'cause what the fuck is going on?!

whether you give in or not is up to you -- just know, you will one way or another return to the manor.

as for the last one, let's say you get transported back five minutes before getting shock. which pisses you off 'cause what're you supposed to do in five minutes!?

nonetheless, you manage to get away with being shot once instead of five times, so you have enough energy to limp away -- and then you bump into red hood.

oh damn, oh damn, wow, so he's going to shoot you to -- or that's what you think, what you don't expect is for him to pick you up and literally shoot your offenders.

wow, okay.

you get taken back to the manor and you're literally reeling as they fuss over you, "how could you be out so late!?" this or "why do you need a job!?" that.

it's a shortcut to being locked in the manor, they take care of you like you're incapable, dick spoonfeeding you despite your protests, tim sitting silently besides you which makes you stress because he's so unnerving, cass hovering around you -- bringing you everything you need, sometimes you don't even realise you need it until she brings you a glass of water because you 'looked thirsty' (???).

this isn't just restricted to when you're recovering. you nearly died because of their negligence! so they pay extra attention to you, just so you don't get any silly ideas about walking gotham alone at night. honestly? what were you thinking, it's a good thing they're here to protect you.

(also side note ; the idea of jason being NEAR (name) when they died, but not knowing is so eghsudg to me, like he'll learn about where they died after finding the crime scene and he falls into a pit of despair because if he had taken the right route, if he had followed his instincts, he could have saved you.)

as for the last, last one. let's say you're a random variant of (name) from another universe and you've gotten transported without knowing it, you walk home morosely.

as you open the door, you are greeted with countless different versions of you -- all of them wearing the same expression of confusion. you don't know how to react when dick spots you and shouts, "we got another one"

guys if u sent an ask or request I WILL get them done.. i'm just being a lazy bum, thank u for the kind words tho everyone <3

[iveleftitwithyou]

casual | paul lahote x reader smut

NSFW | 18+ | minors DNI | word count: 2.38k

warnings: smut, dom!paul, slight angst, mention of fighting, i think that's it?

------

i asked you guys if i should post this now or incorporate it into ruderal, and the result was overwhelmingly to post it now, so here it is with some plot adjustments! i've been OBSESSED with this song by chappell roan and knew i needed to make it into an imagine, although this song is probably about a woman lol. highly recommend listening to the song as you read this. this is my first time EVER writing smut so i hope its not too bad - as always, let me know what you think :)

ALSO this is in an alternate timeline where the guys are all like 21+ and so is y/n :)

------

Paul’s hand lingered on your thigh as he drove the winding road back to Forks, his thumb rubbing small circles on your outer leg. the radio hummed with a song you couldn’t manage to pay attention to, instead focusing your gaze on the motion of his finger on your bare thigh. while you assumed the gesture was meant to comfort you, it did a lot more than that. you hoped that the darkness would obscure Paul’s peripheral vision enough for him to not realize you were ogling his muscular arms and unusually large hands. his veins protruded in a way that drove you crazy for some reason, and as much as you were still upset with him, you couldn’t help the rush of hormones that flooded at the sight.

Embry had made some stupid joke about you at the bonfire at Emily's that night, a common occurrence when you hung out with the pack. he didn’t mean anything by it, you joked around with each other like that all the time, but Paul had been extra sensitive for the last few weeks as he spent more hours on patrol. Victoria’s looming presence and the mystery murders happening around Washington meant the reservation needed increased protection, and the men in the pack had to step up. Embry’s comment led to a fight where the pair both phased, snarling and snapping until they both came to their senses and things went back to normal. you hated when Paul shifted because of you, even if it was just indirectly your fault like it was tonight. 

you two were meant to be casual, despite Paul having imprinted on you, as you had just gotten out of a long-term relationship and weren’t ready to commit to someone again. you’d been seeing each other casually for months, hanging out, and getting to know each other better. as much as you were hesitant to let him into your life completely, you couldn’t deny your attraction to Paul. he’d been nothing but a gentleman thus far, bringing you flowers on dates, opening doors for you, and following your boundaries to a T, terrified to mess anything up with you. of course, his physical form was unlike anything you’d ever seen - you were lucky that he preferred to hang out without a shirt on. things had gotten hot and heavy between you two a few times but hadn’t gone farther than some very intense making out. though, the way Paul’s hand touched you now was enough for you to throw those boundaries out the window; you wanted him - no, needed him.

you focused your eyes back on the road in front of you, only being able to see as far as the truck’s dim headlights illuminated. breathe in, breathe out, you reminded yourself, trying to calm down the butterflies in your stomach. you were unsuccessful, and it didn’t help that Paul’s hand was inching closer and closer to your hips.

suddenly, his hand snaked further inward and his grip tightened, engulfing your inner thigh. your breath hitched, and you unsuccessfully tried to mask it as a cough. you saw Paul smirk out of the corner of your eye, but he didn’t look over at you. 

you once again reminded yourself to breathe as the ache between your legs became more apparent. his hand loosened its grip and continued its journey towards your core. half of you thought about stopping him purely as punishment for fighting with Embry, but the much louder other half wouldn’t dream of it right now.

you couldn’t help but let out a small groan as his hand finally reached your jean shorts, his fingers tracing the seam that ran between your legs. the slight pressure he applied drove you absolutely crazy as you wished for more friction.

the sound that escaped your lips seemed to do something to Paul as he let out a breathy groan of his own. “alright, that’s it,” he mumbled, turning the wheel toward the side of the road. he must have known exactly where you were because he easily pulled the truck behind a set of bushes that obscured most of it from the road. any passerbys, which were few and far between at this time of night anyway, wouldn’t notice the vehicle.

almost as soon as he slammed the gear shift into park, his lips were on yours. he kissed you with a passion you’d never felt before. you melted into his lips, reminding yourself for the third time that night that if you didn’t start breathing, you would pass out. he gripped the back of your head, tangling his fingers in your hair as you continued to make out. his other hand traveled down your arm, to your hip, and unbuckled the seatbelt you’d been wearing. in one swift, but slightly awkward motion, he disconnected your lips for a brief moment and grabbed each side of your hips, pulling you across the center console onto his lap. you were careful not to lean too far and hit the horn with your back as you settled onto him, silently thanking Paul for owning such a spacious truck. your knees settled on either side of his legs. 

as you sat down on his lap, you brushed his hardening length with the same seam of your shorts his hand was just on, eliciting a quiet moan from both of you. impatient, Paul once again gripped your scalp and slammed your lips together. you allowed your hands to slip underneath the hem of his shirt, feeling the outline of the muscles on his bare abdomen. this feeling, combined with the warmth radiating from his bare skin, drove you insane. 

“take- it- off-” you mumbled in between kisses, tugging the hem upwards. you were unsure of where the forwardness came from, but you didn’t stop long enough to be embarrassed. 

“you don’t get to tell me what to do,” he snarked half-jokingly but obliged.

the moonlight streaming in from the windshield was just enough for you to be able to see the outline of his pecs and abs, and you really couldn’t help but stare.

“like what you see?” he chuckled, noticing your eyes widening at his physique.

you nodded, unable to form words, instead opting to smash your lips back together with all of the strength you could muster. you’d had enough of looking flustered - you wanted to take initiative.

you raised your hips again, pushing your abdomen against Paul's and lowering yourself onto his member. you rocked your hips back and forth as he moved his lips down your cheek, then your jaw, and eventually to your neck. the friction as you continued to grind against him elicited a low growl against your neck as his lips attached to your skin. you moaned embarrassingly loudly as he sucked at the delicate skin, but you couldn’t find it in yourself to be sheepish. in fact, the only emotion surging through your body right now was pure desire for the god-like man leaving a series of hickeys on your neck.

“Paul, that’s gonna leave a mark,” you whined. you knew you’d regret letting him do it in the morning but right now you wanted nothing more than for him to mark you as his. you wanted to be his.

“don’t want anyone else getting any ideas. you’re all mine,” he retorted, lifting his head up to look you in the eyes. his were almost completely black with lust. “say it.” he commanded, holding your jaw tightly in his hand. “say you’re mine.”

“i’m all yours, Paul” you panted, your hips continuing to move back and forth on Paul’s lap as you stared into his dark eyes. despite your relationship still being undefined, truer words had never been spoken.

“good girl. now shut the fuck up and get back in the passenger seat.” his harsh words did nothing to discourage you from obeying as you scrambled to sit back where you were a few minutes prior. this was a side of Paul you had only seen when he was angry: dark, commanding, dominating. usually, you would have to try to calm him down when he got like this, but right now, you were very much enjoying him telling you what to do. you already missed the warmth of his body on yours as you climbed back over to the other seat, but you instinctually knew better than to voice your complaints right now.

Paul leaned across the console, reaching his hand between your knees and under the seat to move it back as far as it would go. once he was satisfied with that, he reached across your lap and pulled the reclining handle, his other hand helping to lower the seat back slowly so you weren’t sent flying backward.

“scooch back” he ordered again, and you moved your hips backward on the seat, supporting yourself with your elbows on the very edge of the seat near the headrest.

you were confused as he opened the driver-side door and hopped out of the truck. you watched as he opened the passenger-side door, it becoming clear now what his plan was. you pulled your knees towards your chest as he climbed back in, kneeling on the floor mat in front of you. god damn, this truck was spacious, and you were incredibly grateful for that right now.

his large hands fumbled to unbutton your shorts. he pulled the zipper down and you lifted your hips, followed by your legs, so he could slide them off. not wanting to wait another second, he pulled your underwear to the side and connected his thumb to your clit. you let out a loud gasp at the sensation and he chuckled proudly, knowing how good he was making you feel. Paul rubbed small, tight circles on the sensitive nub for a few seconds before you felt a finger dip into your wet folds. a guttural moan escaped your throat as you finally got the sensation you had been waiting for since his hand had rested on your thigh earlier in the night.

he added a second finger shortly after and continued to pump in and out of your heat, his thumb continuing its circular motions on your clit. you could feel your orgasm building inside of your core, and it was almost euphoric knowing it was Paul making you feel like this.

“Paul, i’m gonna-” you moaned, getting close to the edge. “what the fuck?” he’d removed his fingers altogether upon hearing this and you were not happy about it. 

“patience, princess.” he chuckled, making eye contact with you once again as he raised his fingers to his mouth to taste you on them. you were still pissed at him for teasing you like that, but the sound he made as he licked your wetness off himself almost made it worth it. almost.

“let’s take these off, shall we? or should i rip them off?” his fingers slipped under the waistband of your underwear.

“don’t you dare,” the one rational brain cell you had left replied, lifting your hips for him to slide them off like he did the shorts. you liked this pair. Paul held your hips back down as he spread your legs open, leaning his torso over the seat until you could feel his breath between your legs, amplified by the wetness that had come with the teasing.

“god, you look so fucking good” he took a second to admire the sight before him before he groaned lustfully and connected his tongue to your cunt. he made quick work of finding all the right spots to hit, causing your legs to tremble and your eyes to roll back in your head. at this rate, you wouldn’t last long, but you never wanted this moment to end.

“oh, fuck,” you moaned as he continued to circle the sensitive nub with his tongue. you had never felt this connected to someone before, not any of your exes. no one had ever made you feel as good as Paul was in this moment. as he continued the motions of his tongue, you realized Paul was perfect for you in every way, including this one. it was like pre-nut clarity.

you felt the pressure building up again, somehow even stronger than last time, unable to contain your moans. “fuck, Paul, i’m gonna cum” you groaned, arching your back against the seat as Paul continued to hold your hips down harshly against it. you figured there would be bruises there tomorrow, and the thought of him marking you up even more only exacerbated your growing orgasm.

“cum for me, princess” Paul mumbled against your clit, giving you permission to let go. it only took a couple more swipes for you to come completely unglued against his mouth.

Paul gradually slowed down his motions, guiding you through your orgasm as your hips attempted to buck against his face, craving the stimulation. eventually, your brain started to function again, and the first thing you thought was that that was definitely the best orgasm you’d ever had. you couldn’t tell Paul that, though - it would boost his ego way too much, and he already had a huge one to begin with. the second thought that went through your head was that you were ready for Paul to be your boyfriend. no man could eat you out that good and get away from you.

he admired his work as you panted in front of him, a smirk of pride on his face. he loved knowing he was the one who made you feel so good. he raised himself up on his knees to hover over you, one arm resting on the seat to support himself as the other snaked behind your back to pull you to his chest. you wrapped your arms around his back, settling your face in the crook of his neck. your breaths were soon in time with each other, basking in the body heat radiating from the both of you.

you could have stayed like that forever, but after a few minutes, Paul pulled back slightly to look you in the eyes. he seemed deep in thought before he smiled and opened his mouth to ask you a simple question: “is it casual now?”

------

part 2 here :)

[leclarifies]

i love you. it's ruining my life. (MV33)

✰ max verstappen x popstar!ex!reader ✰

summary: you and max have been broken up for four years now, going no contact for the entirety of those years. never bothering to contact eachother but he invites you to one of his races one day after the last show of your tour, who were you to say no?

genre: angst (im sorry)

wc: 3k

a/n: AHHH, THIS WAS WAS A DOOZY!!!!! i loved writing this (i mostly just like hurting myself more than anything). kind of dark themes tho, ooc max bc he vvv loving and would never cheat on his lover. thank you so much for 100 followers btw!!!!!! i wrote this as a 100 follower special :3 thank you so much for my supporting my short journey as a tumblr writer, you guys inspire me to write even more for you guys. can you imagine that's it's been a week of writing and i've already gained 100 followers?? i love you guys so much.

warnings: mentions of existing relationship with kelly, cheating

"thought of calling ya, but you won't pick up. another fortnight lost in america." - taylor swift, 'fortnight'

isn't it ironic that careers can really separate you from what truly made you, you? being a popstar, touring for months on end, surrounding yourself with new people, new opportunities, made it hard for you to reconnect with the people that helped you from day one.

it wasn't like you cut them off, or stopped talking to them. you tried. you really tried, but sometimes life goes on and people forgive and forget. your old life before you started your career was slowly being etched away and replaced with new pieces.

and maybe that was a bad thing.

"on stage in 2 minutes," a voice snapped you out of your trance, you looked up. you looked amazing in your sparkly dress, it was the last leg of your tour and you were touring in europe.

you had been offered to attend a formula one race this weekend after all of your shows had been concluded, you've been thinking about it, but you're not sure you want to go. one of the people from said past was in attendance and you're not sure if you wanted to immerse yourself in that again.

you didn't think about it for long though, you were due for a show and a show was what you're going to give.

it wasn't long until the weekend, friday to be exact and you had accepted the offer of being on the formula one paddock, you knew that a certain ex-boyfriend was going to be there, racing on the track and you were invited personally by him, which was why you were so skeptical to go.

POPSTAR Y/N BREAKS UP WITH F1 DRIVER MAX VERSTAPPEN.

you remembered the headlines, you remembered what you let go of but seeing someone you still loved after your break up almost four years ago stung a little bit.

you couldn't blame him though, you were the one to break things off all those years ago. it wasn't because you had a terrible relationship with him, but it was more because you both didn't have time for eachother and you could see it in his face everytime you came home to monaco after a long show.

"i miss you, when can you finally stay and actually stay awhile?" max's face looked pitiful and you could only look down at your feet, you felt guilty. you wanted this career, he pushed you for this career but sometimes you wished that you could split yourself in two to cater to both his needs and yours.

you look back up at him, locking eyes with his stormy blue eyes, "i don't know maxie, maybe next month? i don't really have a schedule for next month, i can stay in monaco with you for awhile—"

"you said that last month, when are you actually going to be free schatje?"

"max, i can't give you a definite timeline—"

"what's the point of me being in a relationship with you when i can barely see you?"

it hurt to hear those words come out of his mouth.

maybe that's when you finally realized that he deserved someone normal, someone who wasn't a famous singer and could actually spend time and be there for him.

but here you were, amidst the paddock with a singular security guard because you didn't think you needed more than one, considering security around the paddock was tight in of itself.

the red bull's garage had been nice to you, offering you anything you possibly could need while being on a grand prix, you had politely declined any type of special treatment though, wanting to feel like a person for once in your life.

you wouldn't say your job is the hardest in the world, never. doing what you loved while meeting all of your fans was going to be the highlight of your day, but sometimes the job came with crazy fans that would invade your privacy for selfish reasons, and it made you a tiny bit stressed.

you remember starting out from the netherlands, starring in small gigs before getting signed to a mega corporation in america, which was when you moved. you slowly lost contact with your friends, but you were sure they were proud of you although you weren't proud that you lost contact with them.

you knew that if you contacted them that it would be awkward, there was just no way they would even remember you, right?

you were walking about aimlessly around the paddock, it was free practice day which meant that after the allotted time of the free practice, drivers were free to roam around the paddock however they wanted. you were scared on what you had to face today.

you told yourself to just keep calm, take whatever you got this weekend and just react like a sane person.

saturday came and went, you attended the paddock to watch the qualifying session, of course, max came out on top. was it even a surprise to you? you knew he was the best of the best, you never expected less of him, even after all these years.

sunday was here and maybe it was the anxiety, but you felt like throwing up when you saw max approach you.

"y/n, it's good to see you."

god, those eye-smiles. you could never get tired of them.

"hi max, congrats on starting out pole for this weekend," you told him as you shook hands with him, he was all smiles.

it felt good to see him happy.

"how has the paddock been treating you?" max asked, gesturing all around him, "have you tried the food? it's really good."

you nod as you let go of his hand, clasping it with your other hand, a nervous habit, "yeah, the food's good. how have you been? i haven't talked to you in awhile," a nervous laugh bubbled up from your throat, you were nervous to see him, maybe it was those damn butterflies in your stomach that you couldn't get rid of when he looked at you with those blue eyes of his.

"i know, you've been quite busy right?" max laughed at you, he felt silly conversing with his ex-girlfriend like this, like they didn't have a past.

you could only nod and smile back at him, shoulders tense, "yeah, touring's been eventful. it's the last leg of the tour so i decided to come, thank you for the invite by the way, i really appreciate—"

"max, who's this?" a voice came from behind you, quite condescending if you did say so yourself, cutting you off, you turned your head around to see his girlfriend and his girlfriend's child coming into view, walking towards max and wrapping max with her arm as a possessive embrace.

max kissed her cheek, and that hurt. you didn't want to know why, but you knew. he spoke up afterwards, "this is y/n, she's a singer. i wanted her to come because she had a show here, thought the timing was quite convenient for her. y/n, this is my girlfriend, kelly piquet. she's a model."

you extended your hand as a form of hello before introducing yourself, "hello, i'm y/n—"

"yeah, i know who you are," kelly cut you off again, you were quite taken aback by the hostility, your hand left hanging but then again, max was talking to one of his ex-girlfriends. you thought you would react the same way, so you didn't take it too much to heart. her face was something you'd describe as an angry, possessive tiger, brows furrowed, frown on full display.

"i didn't mean to take time away from your boyfriend. i was just having a little chat pre-race," you tried to give her a smile while returning your hand back to your side, but kelly was adamant about standing her ground.

little penelope was looking at you like she had stars in her eyes, you smiled at her. as if it was a sign of whether she should speak up, she starting speaking to you directly, "hi, i really love your songs. do you think you can stay in the red bull garage and we can take pictures together?"

you giggle and bend down to her level and pat her head, "hi little p, of course we can take pictures together— that's if your mother lets me," you acknowledged that this little girl was no ordinary little girl and was your ex-boyfriend's girlfriend's child.

"can we all talk in private please?" kelly excused the three of them away before you could even give her a response but you understood her. standing back up before walking off deeper into the paddock.

MAX'S POV

"i don't understand why you would invite her!" kelly was pacing around the motorhome, here we were fifteen minutes before race start and here my girlfriend was still yelling over something that happened two hours ago.

"kelly, i just thought it was a good idea. i wanted to invite her because i know p was such a big fan of hers—"

"she's your ex for god's sake, max!" kelly yelled out yet again, "why would i ever approve of her coming to one of your races? let alone be near to p??" her pacing was more feverish now, like she was scared.

i could only sigh, honestly i wasn't too worried about this problem at the moment. the only thing on my mind was the race and only the race.

"look, can we talk about this when i've finished with my race? i really need to focus and you keeping me locked up in here isn't going to help with it," i stood up from my seat, i didn't want to hear anything else come out of her mouth other than a 'okay' and letting me walk out of here.

"don't you think our relationship is at stake here—?"

"if you don't let me go out into the garage, then we're nothing kelly," i say with finality, i wasn't going to let her ruin a race, "i told you, we will solve and talk about this issue later, but you chose to lock me up in here. there will be nothing to salvage if you don't let me do my job."

kelly wordlessly stepped out of the way of the door and let me go, thankfully just with enough time where i could run down and get into the garage, getting me in racing gear.

thankfully the red bull mechanics and officials were understanding enough to let me rush and get inside of my car, getting into the chasis just at the right moment where we would need to drive out.

it was going to be a fine race for me. i knew it. i had enough confidence in myself to know whether i could win a race, and this was one of them.

"and that's p1 max, great race," gp was in my ear, i was proud of myself for winning, but kelly was gnawing the back of my mind. although, the first face i saw when i got out of the car was y/n's.

it felt like my heart stopped beating, i thought i got rid of those stupid butterflies ages ago, but nothing ever beat seeing her smile after i finished a race. she looked so beautiful, so ethereal but i washed those thoughts out of my head.

i had a girlfriend.

i can't run up and hug her because she's my ex. i have a loving relationship in front of me. what was i thinking?

kelly was nowhere to be found in the celebratory pit, i thought that maybe she was still too angry to face me at the moment. it stung a little bit, but she'll get over it. i'm sure.

the night moves on fast, and somehow i found myself still in the garage fixing a few things with the sim, most of the mechanics and staff were long gone. with kelly nowhere to be found. sometimes i felt bad, for still harboring feelings for an ex that left me four years ago.

my relationship with her felt so different with kelly's...

she was like fresh air you would breathe after exiting a club in the middle of the night, the smoke that clouded the air dissipating almost instantly after that fresh air hit your lungs. somehow, even four years later i still find her in little things i do everyday.

against my better judgement, i picked up my phone and i gave her a call.

"hello?"

i breathed out a sigh of relief when i realized she hadn't changed her phone number yet.

"it's me," were the words that left my lips, "you wanna come celebrate with me tonight?" i was picking on my jeans, i didn't want her to say no. i just wanted to spend a little time with her.

"what about your girlfriend? isn't she going to be even more upset with you—"

"can we not talk about her right now?" i closed my eyes and leaned back against the chair i was sitting on, hearing her voice again after a long time just... it felt right.

"max..."

"don't... just don't. i know what you're gonna say and i know it's wrong but i just... i can't do this today. i just won today and the first face i saw was yours, she didn't bother to show up. you can't tell me how to feel, y/n," i rubbed my temples, "meet me in the lobby of my hotel tonight. i just wanna see you."

"if i say okay, will this be a one-time thing?" y/n asked, i could hear the soft rustles of her moving things around, she was probably already in her hotel, resting from her tour when i had called.

"better yet, just drop the address of where you're staying. i'll come to you."

the first thing max did when he saw you was crash his lips into yours, you wanted to push him away, be the better person and tell him that he has a girlfriend but your arms couldn't do it.

your lips disconnected after awhile, he was breathing heavy, face flushed, hands all over you, "i've missed you."

you hum a response, you could barely get out a response when you feel his lips on yours again, this was wrong. all the alarms in your body were telling you to push him off, to yell at him, to reprimand him for basically cheating on his girlfriend.

but you didn't.

and maybe that made you a bad person, but at the moment you didn't care. you just wanted to feel him once more.

you woke up the next morning, cuddled up against max, both of you bare and indecent. he hadn't left yet, maybe he didn't want to leave.

the reality of last night crashed down onto you as you realized what you've done.

"max?"

"yes, schatje?"

the little nickname he gave you never went away. he used to call you that all the time but the feelings that came with it was no longer endearment but horror.

"you need to get back to your girlfriend, i don't think i can do this," you unwrap yourself from his grasps and sit up, back facing him, tears filling your eyes.

"woah, woah. schatje—"

"please, max. i feel like shit. you have a girlfriend and i just slept with you. last night was a mistake," you breathed out and hugged your knees close to your chest. you felt his hand on your back.

"y/n, what are you saying—" you cut him off before he could say anything else.

"i can't give you what you want max. we can't be together anymore. our story ended four years ago, please don't make this mistake. you're going to regret it," you quickly got up and away from his close proximity and got dressed.

you didn't know how to face him anymore.

"can we please talk about it at least? you can't lie and say that you don't feel the same way i do," max's voice came from behind you, you were pacing around the room, you were stressed. he was sitting there, shirtless with his pants on now.

"i do max! and that's the worst part because i knew you're in a relationship but i still let this happen. i am a horrible person. i love you and it's slowly ruining my life. i should've known better!" you turn around to face him, your face red, tears streaming down your face.

max could only sigh and raked a hand through his hair, "schatje..."

"we can't be together max, you know it. i can never give you what she gives you. she can be with you almost all the time max, you threw that all away for me? for someone who can't give you time of day?!" you sob into your hands.

you felt arms wrapping around you as you sob into his embrace.

MAX VERSTAPPEN BREAKS UP WITH GIRLFRIEND KELLY PIQUET ONLY AFTER A FEW MONTHS OF BEING TOGETHER.

you scroll past that headline as you got ready for your appearance to promote your new album, it came out two days ago and you were to debut the new songs on jimmy kimmel.

the tortured poets department.

you hadn't talked to max ever since that night, ever since he tenderly kissed your forehead and told you it was going to be okay and that he would figure it out. he had been blowing up your phone, asking to meet but you didn't have it in your heart to meet him after destroying his relationship like that.

that was two months ago.

you were due on stage in around an hour and that's where you would sing your heart out, leaving whatever pieces of your old self behind when you slept with max for the final time.

"i love you, it's ruining my life. i touched you for only a fortnight."

hello! thank u for reading this fic hehe, hope u guys enjoyed it. thank you again for 100 followers!!!!

[trustmypoison]

First time with Wonwoo

Requested? Yes!

Request: ‘hey jj!! can i req for a drabble on wonwoo and reader’s first time in bed tgt? i feel like the way you write bed scenes is just so intimate and loving and i would love to see one for wonwoo!’

TW/CW: explicit smut with mentions of protection (stay safe). First time with each other (not virgins). MDNI. 

Word count: 2.8k

A/N: Thank you to the requester for the sweet compliment. I'm still trying to get comfortable writing this sort of content, so I hope you enjoy.

Wonwoo thinks your nervousness is rubbing off on him.

You two have been dating for a while - a few months to be exact. Life has gotten in the way and this is only the fifth date. But he’s talked to you every spare moment, texting you constantly even when he’s on the other side of the world. He’s very into you. He knew he would be from the moment you said hi. 

But he can kind of tell where the night is going. You’re not his first girlfriend and you’re also not his first time, and the tension simmering throughout the date is crystal clear to him. But so is your nervousness. It sort of cuts through the excitement of it all, serving as a warning to tread carefully. 

Admittedly, he’s a little nervous too. He can’t remember a time that he’s ever been all that anxious about this sort of thing, but this is a special moment. A tipping point that often makes or breaks a relationship and he’d really like this one with you to work out. So he resolves to just see where the night goes.

He talks to you through dinner like he normally would and guides you to the car with his hand on your back. He holds your hand in your lap on the way to your apartment as he drives. He likes the innocence of the affection you two share so far. His touch is gentle as usual, but tonight, your grip is a little tight on his hand. 

He insists on parking and walking you up to the door. There’s no motivation behind it beyond making sure you get inside safe. He expects to walk you to the door that he met you at earlier tonight and maybe give you a little kiss before being on his way. But you shove the key in the lock and pause in the doorway. “Do you want to come in for a bit?”

Of course, he does, and he says so. He expects you to offer coffee or tea, maybe a snack. Maybe a kiss or two good night when it’s time for him to go. You two have done all of that before once or twice.

He doesn’t expect you to corner him in your entry way and press your lips to his as soon as the door is closed. Wonwoo sighs into the kiss, one hand finding your face to cup it, the other wrapping around your lower back to pull you close. It’s not the first time you two have kissed, but it’s certainly the most intense one you’ve shared. The others have been sweet pecks at the door or in the car. 

The more you lean into him, pressing your body against his, he can’t help but gently spin you so that your back is against the wall instead. You sigh at the pressure as your hands roam - his shoulders, his chest, his waist. When they drift to his belt, he pulls away from your lips. 

He loves the duality you have. You look a little sheepish staring up at him, and he could feel the nervousness radiating off you all night. Yet, you’re still bold in the face of nervousness, not shying away. He still pumps the brakes, pulling back to put a few inches between the two of you. Your hands slide to curl around his shoulders again, like it’s a safe zone. 

You smile, that tinge of nervousness present again. “Sorry. Too forward?”

“No, it’s not that,” Wonwoo soothes immediately, hand combing back some hair from your face. “I just didn’t want you to be under the impression that that’s all I’m here for.” You stare up at him like you aren’t sure what to say. Wonwoo purses his lips. It occurs to him that you might feel some kind of invisible pressure to conform to a timeline, like five dates or less is the magic number for this sort of thing. “I’m not turning you down. I wouldn’t dream of it. But I have no expectations.” He punctuates this with a gentle squeeze of your waist. 

“I know,” you mumble. “You’ve give no indication that you do. But I definitely wouldn’t mind it.”

“Wouldn’t mind it? Or want it?” Wonwoo clarifies because the distinction is important to him. He won’t move a muscle if it’s not a want, not even when your expression shifts a little. You swipe your tongue across your lips and Wonwoo resists the urge to suck in a breath at the sight. 

“I want it. If you do, that is,” you finally say. 

Certain images flash through his mind, ones that make his head spin, and he resists the urge to make any of them a reality right now. You two have never discussed what you like in bed. This conversation is the closest you’ve ever come to addressing the topic of sex. So, he takes you by the hand, pulling you into your living room. He sits down, pulling you to stand between his legs, hands on your hips. He stares up at you for a few seconds. “I want it. But what we do is up to you.”

That little slice of boldness is back, because your hands are on his shoulders again, pushing him to lean back as you crawl into his lap, straddling him. His legs spread wide as he gets comfortable, and your dress bunches up your thighs as you move with him, tempting him, but he keeps his hands pinned to your waist as you lean into his lips again. His breath catches when you boldly swipe your tongue across his lips. He lets you in, hands gripping your waist tight. But as you both find a rhythm, his hands start to drift. He keeps going because you shiver and sigh into his mouth at every sweep of his hands. 

Wonwoo’s hands finally land on your thighs, just above your knees, squeezing gently. You settle even more into his lap and his hands inadvertently slide up your thigh a little more when you do. Your weight fully on him has him gripping your thighs a little tighter, thumb sweeping into your inner thigh. You let out another shiver, accompanied by a little sound at the back of your throat - not quite a moan or a whimper, but it’s encouraging. Encouraging enough that the tips of his fingers slide under the edge of your dress a bit, exploring the skin of your upper thighs. 

You’re starting to grind a bit, perhaps without even realizing it, and this paired with the creeping of his hand means that eventually his thumb brushes your core. You gasp softly and he’s elated by your responsiveness, letting his thumb sweep across the lace of your panties gently again. “Okay?” He asks. You nod and he likes how your eyes drift closed as he applies a little more pressure, your clit right under his thumb with every sweep. 

He peels away one side of your panties, fingers exploring. You both sigh against each other’s lips as he feels how wet you are. He circles your clit, helpless to press his lips into your neck when your head tilts back, sucking and nibbling lightly. Your fingers dig into his shoulders a little when he slides a finger into you, body jerking slightly at the sensation. He smoothes his other hand up and down your side. When you ask for a second finger, he sighs against your neck, giving it to you. The feeling of you like this has him throbbing in his pants and he begins to pump his fingers steadily. 

You start to make little noises that Wonwoo needs to taste, so he pulls you down to kiss him. He knows when you’re getting close. He can feel it in the way you wrap around his fingers a little tighter, particularly when he gives you third, and how your fingers dig into his hair. You stop kissing when you’re at the edge, a little pinch between your eyebrows. He kisses your slacked jaw. “It’s okay, let go for me.”

You do, and Wonwoo continues pumping his fingers gently as you shake. He wraps an arm around you as you sag a bit when you’re done riding it out. He pulls out his dripping fingers, righting your panties. You give him a bit of a hazy smile and he presses a kiss to your lips. “Feel good?” He asks with only the tiniest bit of ego, but you still chuckle. 

“You couldn’t tell?” That tinge of nervousness is back. “Sorry, it’s been a while for me.” 

Wonwoo shakes his head. He doesn’t want to hear you say sorry for anything that just happened. “Don’t apologize, you were perfect. We don’t have to continue though, if you don’t want to.”

“Oh no! I want to,” you say confidently, before biting your lip. Your duality drives him crazy. “Only if you want to continue.”

“Can I take you to your room?” Wonwoo asks. “It would be more comfortable.”

You beam, haziness gone. “First door on the left.” Wonwoo stands up, taking you with him. You wrap your legs around his waist, a little gasp leaving your mouth close to his ear. He follows your instructions, flipping on a lamp inside your room before plopping you down on the bed, landing on top of you. Your hands wind into his hair, pulling him down to you. He’s lost in how you feel underneath him, particularly when you don’t unwind your legs from his waist right away. He’s unsure of how much time passes on top of you, kissing you with increasing fervor. 

His hands roam from your hair, down to your neck and chest, down to your waist and hips, and then back up again. When his tongue dips into your mouth, your legs tighten around his waist, his hardness pressing right against your core. Your hands drift down, finding the hem of his shirt and he helps you yank it off. Your touch feels better on his bare skin. It’s soft, but your rings are cool against his skin and your nails prick a little every now and then. He wants them in his back at some point.

You reach for the zipper of your dress on your side and he helps you drag it down, sliding the material off. “So pretty,” he sighs against your heated skin, leaving little marks down your collar bone and breasts. He’s working his way down to be between your thighs when you pull him back up, hand landing on his belt. “Later. Can I have you now?”

Wonwoo catches his breath, mostly because your words do something crazy to him. “Condom?”

“Top drawer,” you say, gesturing to the bedside table. He’s quick about fishing one out, but you’re quicker about sitting up with him, hand still on his belt. “May I?” Something about the way you say it makes Wonwoo pinch his eyes shut and nod. You seem to like the impact you’re having on him, biting your lip as you undo his belt, reaching for the button and zipper of his pants. He kicks the material down, along with his boxers. He feels exposed if only for a split second before you’re taking the condom from him, rolling it on for him. He shudders at your touch, desperately needing the distraction of pushing you back onto the bed, undressing you completely. If you kept touching him like that, he wouldn’t last long. 

Wonwoo falls in between your parted legs and you both sigh at the feeling of him against you with fewer layers between you both. “Are you sure?” 

You nod, and he squeezes your waist, asking for a verbal answer. “Yes, I want you.”

He loves the sound of that, but he still tacks on a genuine, “Stop me at any point.” 

You pull him into a lingering kiss as he rubs the head of his cock against you, gathering your wetness. The sensation makes your thigh twitch in his hand. But when he notches the head into your entrance, he feels you tense. He presses another soft kiss to your lips. “I’ll go slow, but tell me if it’s too much.” Only when you nod does he start to push in inch by inch. He bites back a groan at the back of his throat, both at the feeling of you engulfing him and the way your mouth drops open at the stretch. Once all the way in, he places soothing kisses along your cheeks and jaw, hands running across your body soothingly. “Okay?” 

You nod, though there’s still that little pinch between your eyebrows. Your nails are still biting into his shoulders. “You can move.” He sits back on his knees, pushing your legs up just a bit, but he can see that it changes the whole angle for you. He slides out and back in, and that pinch between your eyebrows is totally gone, replaced by a blissful look that makes him groan. You yourself pull up your legs even more and he slides in deeper with each pump. 

Once all signs of discomfort for you are gone, Wonwoo picks up the pace and the noises you make are heavenly. He cages you in below his body, hips moving faster with every minute that passes. He feels how you grip his hand, fingers intertwining with his. “I’m close,” you say, words a little lost between the sweet whimpers and moans. He’s pounding into you, rougher than he ever planned for this first time to be with you, but you seem to enjoy it as much as he does. 

Like earlier in the living room, your jaw goes slack as you fall off the edge, clamping down around him, back arching off the bed. One of his hands slides underneath your back, holding you like that to keep the deep stroke. It only takes a few pumps like this for him to fall off the edge too. 

Once he’s caught his breath and your body has relaxed, he gently pulls out of you with a little kiss, going to your ensuite bathroom to dispose of the condom. He comes back with a damp towel. You shiver when he cleans you carefully. You fold into his side when he’s back in bed and you both are out like a light. 

The next morning, you find Wonwoo in your kitchen, clad in boxers only while he makes some breakfast. He looks over his shoulder at you as you wrap your arms around him. “Aren’t you cold?” You ask.

“A little,” he shrugs, flipping off the heat for the burner and placing the skillet aside. He turns to you, arms folding around you. He’s felt a little anxiety about how the morning would go, and the way you fall into him inspires some hope. 

“You should bring a change of clothes next time,” you say casually into his chest. 

“You’d like there to be a next time?” Wonwoo asks cautiously. 

“As long as you do,” you say simply, pulling away to look up at him. “As long as you enjoyed it.”

Wonwoo presses a long kiss to your lips. “I did. As long as you did.”

You laugh at the way he throws your words back in your face. He picks you up, placing you on the counter so he can stand between your legs. “Are you free today?” You ask, fingers folding into his messy hair. He nods, humming against your lips. “Good, I have some ideas,” you say with a little bit of a mischievous look. 

Wonwoo chuckles, pinching your hips lightly. “Oh?”

“Mhm,” you nod, easy smile on your lips as your hands drift to his chest. He loves everything about this, but particularly that the nervousness from last night is almost totally absent. Your fingers drum against his collar bone lightly. “I was thinking of starting with a shower. Breakfast can wait.” 

He doesn’t think anything of snatching you off the counter and carrying you out of the kitchen as you giggle in his ear, clinging to his shoulders. He thinks he could do this for the rest of his life. Not just the sex, but really anything with you.