#which is fine but she was used to being the hot thin girl I think & she’s having trouble accepting herself I think

[lesless]

Couldn’t place what bothered me about my coworker but as I was half asleep last night it clicked. She corrects people, a lot, & not in a helpful way most of the time. Today she asked me to make a transfer, I was trying to get that done while also attending a meeting & asked her for the number. She responded

Which as a standalone thing isn’t a big deal, my bad I missed it. Like I said I was multitasking. But it’s a pattern of behavior I can’t unsee now. She “corrected” me twice today in a 30 minute meeting. She was not actually correcting me, she was wrong about both things she said, but pipes up a lot to do this sort of thing.

Which is fine, I’ll just have to be more attentive to what I say around her. But it’s annoying. My brother in Christ it’s just emails.

[e-m-ma-lmfao]

Much Too Kind

pairing : astarion x (fem) reader

summary : astarion has found a soft spot for a girl who is much too kind for her own good, too trusting, in such a gruesome world.

warnings : astarion bites.

a/n : i haven't played baldurs gate (so i apologize for my lack of knowledge) but astarion is consuming my brain.

“Do you honestly feel safe sleeping with him sitting this close by?”

“He’s done nothing but help us this whole time, why would I not?”

“Because he’s a vampire?” Shadowhearts face is blank, speaking as though her words shouldn’t need to be spoken, an obvious thought. She stares into you, awaiting a proper answerings, and she almost scoffs when she doesn’t get what she wants. In return you roll your eyes, continue to ready yourself to sleep. 

When you feel that you're ready to go to bed, Shadowhearts voice is unheard. She is already situated inside of her bedroll, which she had set up farther away from the fire than you liked, in a way of protecting herself from a seemingly harmless Astarion. In all fairness, you have probably been too trusting in the man. But how could you not?

He had been such a tease since the moment you met him. Because he seemed to annoy you, he never left your side. But you quickly grew fond of the pale man, and it was suddenly you who couldn’t leave his side. Astarion had no problem with this, and a weird fondness began brewing in his chest whenever he was around you. He had a burdening soft spot for you unlike anyone else. He couldn’t even bring himself to feed around you in case he scared you off, feeling an unprecedented amount of fear of losing you. The relationship you shared was teetering on a very thin line of romance and teasing gone too far. 

The two of you were an unlikely pair. Astarion was manipulative, and you knew that from watching him work, but he never used it on you (as far as you knew). He viewed you as too sweet for your own good, taking it upon himself to keep you from danger. In all honesty, you probably didn’t need him for that. Sure he helped when you were obviously being lied to and couldn’t tell but you could hold your own in battle just fine. From your point of view he was nothing but trustworthy and helpful. Shadowheart, your ever protective friend, had a hard time seeing the same thing. 

But when you made a fuss about having to sleep in your armour, unlike Shadowheart who had no problem with the matter, he had offered up a spare shirt. You weren’t sure where it had been beforehand but it was comfy, with undone strings hanging from the neckline, and it was large enough to go down to your mid thigh which was perfect. And his scent covering it was an added bonus. You had never thought much about it, but you never wore your heavy pants to sleep, being too hot inside your stuffy bed roll. 

You were usually asleep before everyone else, and the first to wake in the morning, so this never proved to be a problem. And, if you had to think about it, you were usually in a tent by yourself. But with only Shadowheart and Astarion around you didn’t see a problem. 

But when you crawled into your bedroll, at a middle distance between Astarion propped up against a log by the fire and Shadowheart sleeping farther from him, you began to see the problem. Shadowhearts words from before were dug into your brain, what if Astarion was dangerous and he did end up hurting you in your sleep just like she had said. You had never felt any fear towards the man, but her words had planted an unfamiliar distrust in your head.

You were dangerously aware of every noise around you. Unable to sleep, because of your focus on everything around you. The soft snores from Shadowhearts bedroll, and the quiet hum from a bored  Astarion playing with the fire. As long as he was by the fire, seated much too close for comfort now, you thought you’d be able to hear him coming. You think everything is fine, but being so edge you catch the smallest sounds, and you shoot up at the sound of a twig snapping. 

“My, my. Such a light sleeper my dear.” You turn towards Astarion, breath heavy, and a guilty feeling festering in your lower stomach. He’s almost exactly where he was when you first laid down. There’s a smug grin written on his face and you’re not sure why, though you don’t have the energy to question it. With sleepy eyes, you look around once more searching for anything out of the ordinary in the darkness, but you turn back to Astarion in the end. 

“I can’t sleep.” He throws another piece of wood on the fire, the light dancing across his face in pretty patterns from the dispersed light, his white shirt untied just enough to see his collarbones and the beginning of his chest. The sight alone has thrown the tenseness away from your body, and your muscles soften up, posture loosening. 

“And is there any reason in particular?” You meet his eyes again, a flurry of heat covers your cheeks, the look in his eyes telling you that you had been caught ogling him. “You seem so on edge, darling.”

He’s seated, practically the same height as you while he lays against the log, but it feels like he’s staring down at you. His fangs show as he parts his lips in a small, condescending grin. 

“I’m just not used to sleeping out in the woods s’all.” He nods, he doesn’t believe you, and you can understand why because you’ve only been camping in the wild for weeks by now. 

“Are you sure that's all? Cause I believe I heard that vile woman over there talking about a ‘bigger threat’ than whatever’s out there.” He gestures to Shadowheart and the dark, full woods around you. 

You shake your head, pout on your face, nervous that he would think differently of you if he knew what was actually going through your head. He was perceptive enough and, unbeknownst to you, you were an easy read. Of course he had heard the two of you talking, and he knew that you had not spoken ill of him, but it was so fun to tease you. And he knew you had grown nervous in his presence. 

“You’re not worried because of me are you?” Your eyes widen and you shake your head once more. There was  concern written all over his features, the crinkle in between his brows and his parted lips. To anyone else his concern would look fake, you were certain it was real. And to him, it was somewhere in between. He did feel something for you that put him in an unfortunate position, but the idea that you were scared of him sent misery through his bones.

“No of course not!” The comfy bedroll you had been laying in, shimmies down your legs as your torso tightens up again and your posture becomes much too straight for your liking. 

A soft sigh leaves his mouth, “Would you come sit over by me? You feel so far away.” His lips curve at the corners when you seem to think for a moment, but ultimately stand up. You bunch your bedroll up in your arms, not wanting to sit on the rocks. And when your eyes meet his again, he's already eyeing up your legs, you feel suddenly much too exposed. The night air nips at your skin and you hurry over to the spot beside him, throwing the bed roll on the ground and sitting on top of it. 

“Didn’t need to bring that over, silly girl. There’s a perfectly fine seat right here.” His eyes look down to his lap then back up to you, your face flush again. 

“I’m okay here,” You regret looking at him when you see his eyes plead with you, “..For now.” 

He really was cunning. You figured he was scheming. But he truly had no intention of misleading you, just wanted you close. He couldn’t help that he found it so cute how nice you were. Too nice in his opinion. Dangerous world out there, he was just trying to teach you who you could and couldn’t trust. Maybe you would get into more trouble, if you always trusted men like him.  

But no danger if you never have to think about other men. 

“Do you believe the things she says?” His eyes stared into the fire, but you couldn’t take your eyes away from him, that guilty feeling was growing in your stomach. “I know you must not trust me, at least not fully.”

You stay silent, you’re almost scared to talk, in fear you offend him anymore then you already have. You pull your knees up to your chest, arms wrapping around your legs, guilt eating away at your insides. 

He looks at you now, with his eyes he traces your legs where your shirt no longer hangs enough to cover you, up to your face that wears a pout and tired eyes. “Do I scare you?” 

“No!” You sit up onto your knees, facing him fully. “No! I’m sorry Astarion, if i made you feel that way..”

He almost feels bad for a moment. You were too sweet, and while yes he had been worried for a moment, he was only teasing. 

In your moment of weakness, and putting yourself in an easy position, he grabs you to pull you onto his lap. Where he has wanted you all along. Both thighs on either side of his seated form, face much closer to his own than you ever planned on being. His shirt, adorning your body, hangs down your thighs and rustles against his legs. 

“Could you..promise?” His voice is so smooth, and his eyes look so alluring in this position, his hands planted on your hips. Your breath is caught in your throat when he asks, you aren't so sure that your answer before is entirely truthful now. He has too much control of this situation, and it is making you nervous, more nervous then before if that was even possible. 

“I..I promise. Of course, I promise!” You're in such a compromising position and you wish you had slept with pants on. It’s much too cold out on your bare skin, but being on Astarions lap is making your body much too hot.

“Very good.” His head moves closer to you, pulling your body into his and sending shivers down your spine. 

“Astarion!” Your hands find his shoulders, trying to put distance between you but his hold is strong. He has got you where he wants you and there is no way he will be letting you go. His face buries itself in your neck, breath tickling your skin and his nose leaving soft touches against you. 

“You smell..delicious.” His voice was sultry, and so suggestive. You knew what he wanted, had been waiting for the moment he would say something. He was a hungry man with an uncomfortable amount of power over you. And your neck was looking awfully inviting. You hated that he had you feeling so many things, for a man who was so obviously trying to take advantage of you. 

He may have thought you were naive but you were smart enough to know what this vampire wants from you. Even though you were debating allowing it just so he would be happy and full, it tugged at your mind that he might just be using you for this purpose.

Shadowheart may have been right about him being a threat while you slept, but right now he was just as threatening. Would it hurt when he sunk his teeth into your skin?

As if he suddenly became more conscious in his actions, he pulled away, breath heavy against you. “I’m sorry, you are just such an appetising little thing.” He places a soft kiss to your cheek, your silence beginning to fill him with the same guilt you were feeling. He wasn’t sure why. This is what he wanted, sure he had grown fond of you but this is what he needed from the beginning. But it didn’t feel right anymore, not with the way you were so pliable in his hands, allowing him to tease you just so you wouldn’t offend him. 

“Are you hungry?” Your voice, surprising him, sends his eyes straight to yours. You couldn’t possibly be considering what he thought you were. 

“Yes darling, but don’t you worry your pretty head about it.” He lets out a heavy sigh, planting more kisses on your cheek down to your jaw. His attempt to distract you almost works but you gently move your face away, pulling your hair away from your neck. 

“Could I help?” You looked at him with a warmth in your eyes, one he hadn’t seen from anyone but you for years. Your devotion to him pulled at his heart, you were so willing to help him without even knowing if it would hurt or not. 

“You would do that..for me?” His hand finds your cheek, voice sending gentle vibrations through you. You can only nod, scared that if you speak it’ll be nothing above a whisper. 

He takes your hair from your hand, holding it out of his way. A gentle kiss to your cheek. Another on your jaw. And he moves them all the way down to your neck where he intends to bite. 

‘Astarion?” 

“Yes, my dear?” He pulls away, and you can tell it pains him to by the look of disappointment on his face, lips too pouty for how tough he always tries to act.

“Is it going to hurt?”  His eyes are so soft when he looks at you, even though he wants nothing more than to sink his fangs into your flesh. 

“I’ll try to make it painless, but you can hold my hand, yeah?” You nod and intertwine your fingers with his, scared but determined to make him happy. 

He returns to his place in your neck, places a soft kiss before he sinks his teeth into you. Immediately, your fingers squeeze his own and he sends a squeeze back so you know he’s there. He almost feels bad, whimpers falling from your lips, but you taste so delectable that he can’t bring himself to. 

Astarion continues to drink, and you allow it. You only make an effort to stop him when you become dizzy, and your head becomes too heavy for you to hold on your own. Your grip on his hand loosens, and you use his other one to tap at his arm. It seems to snap him out of his trance cause he pulls away, licking his lips. 

“You taste as good as I had hoped you would.” A drowsy smile crashes against your face and your chest swells with pride, but you can’t bring yourself to say anything. The energy is gone from your body. You know he wouldn’t have killed you, but any longer and you wouldn’t be in any condition to fight the next day. You didn’t know if you would be as is. 

Astarion seems to notice, and he moves you to sit inside your bed roll. Your hand still holds his, and you lay on your side to face him. 

“Such a sweet thing,” he rubs your hair flat with his free hand, admiring your sleepy features in the fire light, “Sleep my dear. I’ll keep you safe.”

[wileys-russo]

hot and cold II a.russo

hot and cold || a.russo

it didn't take long after you woke up to see that alessia wasn’t herself.

for starters the girl wasn’t wrapped tightly around you as normal like a second skin, as she always was no matter the weather which caused much the broken sleep for you in summers when her taller form would insist she'd have to sleep practically on top of you.

the blonde instead today had chosen to sleep curled into herself on the very edge of the bed, seemingly as far away from you as she could get.

you'd reached out and absentmindedly began to trace shapes against the soft tanned skin of her back where her shirt had ridden up, but she mumbled something incoherent and shuffled further away from your touch.

assuming she’d just had a bad dream or wanted some space you’d not thought much of it at first still half asleep you'd drifted back off.

but awaking a couple of hours later you rolled over again and tugged softly on the back of your girlfriends top to let her know you were wanting her attention and affection.

but all alessia could do was murmur a quiet no and push your hands away, tucking her knees into her chest curling into a ball of sorts as your eyebrows knit into a concerned frown, pulling yourself to sit up.

alarm bells had gone off the moment you glanced down to see the sweat beading on her forehead and the obvious grimace of discomfort plastered across the blondes face, even whilst still half asleep.

you carefully leaned over and pressed the back of your hand to her forehead, gently knocking away her own as they tried to push you off with an annoyed grumble, frown deepening as you felt the obvious temperature she was running.

"baby you're burning up." you whispered softy, alessia staying quiet but pushing your hand away and shrugging it off as you tried to get her to roll onto her back and she refused.

instead your feet hit the carpet and you were out of the bedroom and downstairs in a flash, hastily darting around the kitchen and bathroom cabinet to grab what you needed.

in your brief absence the striker had now shuffled over into the middle of the bed, arms tightly hugging a pillow to her chest, duvet kicked off and precariously hanging off the edge of the mattress.

“less, baby.” you squatted down beside her, softly poking at her side as the older girl sighed deeply and turned over, cracking open one eye tiredly.

"what?" she muttered as you used a tissue to gently dab away the sweat on her forehead much to the noises of displeasure she let out at the gesture, but rapidly losing her energy to continue to push you off she let you do it.

“I think you’re sick, can I please take your temperature? your forehead is really warm.” you’d requested quietly with a small smile, moving to tenderly brush away the loose strands of blonde hair which were stuck stubbornly to her clammy sweat dampened skin.

“m’not sick, im fine.” alessia had grumbled sleepily, huffing again and rolling back over away from you and it was now your turn to sigh, having feared this would be her response.

there wasn’t anyone more stubborn or in denial when accused of being unwell than your blonde lovergirl, you were almost certain of it.

this behaviour though not new to you, never became any less worrying or frustrating when all your heart ached to do was take care of the girl who everyday would go above and beyond to do the same for you, but who you knew would fight you at nearly every turn convinced you were wrong.

you jumped suddenly and fell backwards, startled by the glaringly loud and shrill tone of your girlfriend’s 8am alarm, hurrying to your feet and the other side of the bed, tapping it off.

alessia groaned and pushed her head under the pillow at the noise, one final kick sending the duvet flying off the bed and hitting the floor with a thump.

a thin sheen of sweat covered her bare legs too, though the goosebumps on her arms as she hugged herself tightly with a slight shiver only further solidified your theory.

luckily for both you and her today was her rest day so she didn’t need to train, and the pair of you had no other commitments lined up.

but the paralysing fear of sleeping through or missing her alarms and being late for training meant alessia never ever turned them off, even on rest days.

“go away!” alessia pushed away your hands with a soft whine as you attempted to stick the thermometer in her mouth, your own frustration levels spiked a little but you were far from ill prepared for her response.

“lessi please just let me check your temperature and then you can go back to sleep. you’re burning up and i need to make sure it isn't too high or else we need to go see a doctor, aren’t you hot?” you asked, biting down on your bottom lip with concern as she shook her head stubbornly, half heartedly kicking your body away from hers as you tried to take a seat on the edge of the bed.

"no i'm cold." she mumbled as you stood and grabbed the duvet, shaking it out and placing it on top of her again, wincing as no sooner did you was it kicked back to the ground. "not that cold." your girlfriend huffed as you paused to take a breath.

“alessia. baby i love you very much and i know how you get when you’re sick better than anyone else. i know you don’t feel good and i know you’re grumpy and i know you're uncomfortable and you don't know why. but i just want to take care of you and try to make it better in anyway i can. please?” you tried again, squatting down to her eye level and pleading with her as unimpressed ocean blue eyes bore back into yours.

“for god sakes i am not sick im tired! we stayed up late watching that movie and i wanna sleep in. just get away from me then if you’re so fucking concerned that i'm sick, which i'm not!” the blonde growled, lashing out and moodily throwing her body to face the other way again, shoulders hunched and body language closed off as you dropped your head in defeat.

“fine, i’ll be downstairs if you need anything.” you pinched the bridge of your nose and took a deep breath knowing she didn’t mean to snap at you, but that didn’t make it hurt any less when she did.

knowing the more you pushed right now the more she would push back you left her on her own as you closed the bedroom door behind you with a soft thud, padding downstairs with a shake of your head at alessia's stubbornness.

despite her insistence that she was fine you knew that she wasn’t, and you were still determined to take care of her even if that had to be from a distance for now.

so leaving her upstairs to rest you called your mum, having her talk you through the soup she’d always made for you as a child when you were unwell, hastily scribbling down notes and rushing around to see what you were missing.

dismissing her offers to come over and help knowing that would only worsen your girlfriends mood with her smothering, you left a quick note for alessia explaining your absence and stuck it on the fridge before ducking out to the shops.

meanwhile back up in bed in the solitude of her own company, alessia was now near boiling.

she’d tried everything to cool herself down not long after you'd left her.

the fan made her nose run, the hum of the air con made her head thump for and forcing herself into a cold shower which only made her nose run even more and her ears feel blocked and sore which then sprinted on into an absolutely pounding migraine as she nearly fell to the tiled floor of the shower.

so tired, miserable, achey and at her limit, the blonde was craving nothing but the comfort of your arms wrapped around her, now feeling even worse for how she’d treated you this morning.

this was always the routine though, alessia hated being sick, hated doctors, hated medicines and hated when there was aspects of her bodys behavior out of her control. so when someone tried to tell her that was the case her instinct was always to lash out and argue the diagnoses.

stripping down into only a singlet she sought out your company with an apology on the tip of her tongue, almost falling downstairs as she did, tripping over her own feet and letting out a cry of surprise as she just caught herself on the railing, stopping from tumbling head first with a shaky exhale.

squeezing her eyes shut with a wince a searing strike of pain shot through her head and suddenly the striker could feel her heartbeat in her ears. though when there wasn't any sign of you, no forever loving girlfriend rushing to her side with a teasing smile and a mocking joke about her two left feet, alessia's heart rate accelerated.

a sudden wave of nausea rocked the strikers body as she sniffled, wiping away at her nose which was running like a tap with the collar of her top, gripping so tightly to the railing her knuckles had now turned white as the dizzy spell eventually faded.

she called out hopefully for you. once, twice, and then a third time, each more desperate than the next as her chest tightened and she stumbled downstairs. did she go too far? did she finally push you away? had you left her? she couldn't blame you for any of those much as she was praying she was wrong.

the blonde let out a sigh of relief as she pressed her blisteringly hot forehead to the cool marble of the kitchen bench, taking a moment to try and collect herself a little as her head continued to pound.

a coughing fit suddenly wracked her body as she doubled over and grabbed at her stomach, throat red raw and throbbing as she staggered her way to the fridge, throwing it open and grabbing a bottle of water.

taking a few cautious sips amongst attempted deep breathes her body seemed to settle, and it was then she noticed the note you’d left for her on the fridge and had you been there you’d have seen her practically deflate as her eyes scanned the page, though she was also grateful you hadn't left because of her behavior this morning.

though her anguish was short lived as she threw herself down on the sofa, arms draped across her face to block out the light as she busied herself counting to 100 and back down again, something she’d done with you countless amounts of time when you’d been anxious on long plane rides, never having been a confident flyer.

but the girl barely made it to thirty before she heard your car pull in with a crunch of gravel and then a door slam shut. but before she could even force herself to sit up your keys jingled in the lock and the front door popped open.

you were so much so in a rush to return and get things prepped that you didn’t even notice the messy blonde head of hair staring at you from the sofa.

though once you did you let out a loud yelp of surprise, dropping a carrot to the ground and clutching at your chest as your heart rate sky rocketed and alessia finally forced herself up and to her feet.

"alessia! jesus christ." you exhaled catching your breath as it was only your girlfriend and not an intruder, rosy red nose and lily white pale complexion frowning at you a few feet away.

“you left.” was all the striker could manage to get out before another coughing fit wracked her body and your eyes widened, hurrying over to her aid and helping her slowly sit back down.

“here baby, small sips.” you encouraged gently, tilting the bottle of water to her lips and crouching down in between her legs as her chest heaved but the coughing fit passed.

“better?” you asked worriedly and your girlfriend let out a deep exhale, nodding tiredly as your heart ached to see the deep bags under her eyes and the broken look of pain behind them.

your legs beginning to cramp you stood to your feet, unable to even fully stand before arms wrapped around your torso and the italian latched onto you, burying her face in your chest as she remained sat on the sofa.

“i’m so sorry.” the girl managed to mumble out as her hands clung desperately to the back of your top, yours rubbing soothing circles into her back and promising her it was okay before gently pulling her off.

though that was to no use as the striker once more grabbed onto you, arms wrapping around the back of your thighs now as she bent forward, the blonde looking uncomfortable as she did, easily the taller one of the two of you.

“don’t go. please i didn't mean what i said earlier i want you, i need you.” she croaked out, chin resting against your stomach as she looked up to you, tears beginning to well in the corner of her eyes as your face softened.

“hey hey hey, love i just need you lay down here for a few minutes, i'm not going anywhere but to the kitchen. i’m gonna make some of my mums soup so we can try to get something good into your stomach, and i know you hate it but i need you to take some medicine. then i’m all yours lessi, i promise.” you once again tenderly brushed away a few matted strands of hair which clung to her forehead, taking the opportunity to check her temperature with the back of your hand, sighing in relief that it seemed to have lessened slightly from before.

“i’m not hungry or sick. i don't need soup or medicine, i need you.” the girl managed to get out, her voice incredibly raspy and fading fast with the ongoing coughing fits as she stared up at you, absolutely exhausted.

“i know baby but you are sick. so i need you to eat something and take some medicine to try and fight this so you aren't sick for very long, i just want you to feel better. then like i said i promise i’m all yours, i won't leave your side.” you reassured, nails gently scratching at her scalp as her eyes fluttered close in pleasure and she nodded, unwinding from you and laying back down on the sofa.

"thank you lessi, i'll be right back." you promised as she nodded, eyes slowly closing as exhaustion took over.

you darted away for a moment to grab the cough medicine and cold and flu tablets from the shopping bags, eventually encouraging your girlfriend to begrudgingly take both much to her disagreement.

“i’ll be as quick as i can, do you need anything for now?” you knelt down to press a loving kiss to her forehead, lips lingering there for a moment as you felt her shake her head, feebly mumbling for you to hurry making you smile.

within twenty minutes you had the soup going and had been making frequented checks on the blonde sprawled out on the sofa, sleep seeming to have caught up with her as she dozed on the couch, once more curled into a ball and coughing every now and then.

“you’re taking too long.” but a few moments after checking her temperature again it would seem you spoke too soon.

you felt the taller girl hunch over and press her face into your back, arms tightly wound around your mid section and you felt her overwhelming body heat suffocate you.

“i’m almost done baby, just go lay back down and i’ll be with you soon.” you tried to unwrap her from around you but were only met with a quiet grunt no and her refusal to let you go.

"i told you to hurry. i'm not leaving, i need you." she croaked as you melted, feeling her straighten up a little as her chin hooked onto your shoulder. "okay. i love you." you whispered, kissing her cheek as the blonde nodded, eyes closed again making you smile and tuck her hair behind her ear.

at least grateful she was back to her normal clingy self you gave into her demand to stay latched firmly onto you, softly murmuring for her to move with you every now and then as she clung on from behind and you stepped around the kitchen, finally finishing the soup and dishing up a bowl for the blonde attached firmly to your back.

you had her sit down again on the sofa, taking a seat beside her as the italians head slumped tiredly to your shoulder and she instantly melted into your side when you declined sitting on her lap like she tiredly tried to pull you to.

you flicked on the tv and threw on something light and funny, knowing the girl curled into you had always appreciated background or white noise but lowering the volume as to not further aggravate the headache she'd been complaining about the last half an hour.

with soft encouragement and coo’s of praise you managed to feed the blonde at least half the bowl of soup before she pushed it away with a shake of her head, mumbling she was full as you nodded in understanding and set it aside on the coffee table.

“cuddles?” the older girl croaked out, tilting her head back from where it rested on your shoulder and opening her arms, and you swooned at the girls soft nature. "i told you i need you." she added on with a grumpy scowl when you didn't answer her fast enough

“yeah baby, cuddles.” you promised, assisting her to switch positions with you as the two of you now lay down on the couch, alessia sprawled out half on top of you as her head thumped down tiredly on your chest, her arms locked around around you.

switching the movie over to something you knew she was more likely to settle down and watch you threaded one hand through her hair and snaked the other up the back of the thin singlet covering her, rubbing soothing circles into the slightly damp skin of her back, her temperature lowering but still very much not back to normal yet.

“kiss.” the blonde moved her head to look up at you expectantly and you smiled, pressing one to her forehead as she frowned. “proper kiss.” your girlfriend croaked out, puckering her lips expectantly as you again smiled but softly shook your head.

“you’re sick baby, not today. i can't look after you if i get sick too.” you tried to explain gently as her frown only deepened and you felt her pinch at your sides, adjusting on top of you so she could somewhat push herself up a little more.

“if you get sick i’ll just take care of you. so give me a kiss!” the grumpy blonde ordered as you sighed, knowing there was no way you could possibly win this with how cute and how stubborn she was.

"better take good care of me, germy." you teased pressing a quick kiss to her awaiting lips, following up with several more pecks before she could protest as her face slowly melted into a satisfied smile and she settled herself back down on top of you.

“you’re such a big baby when you’re sick alessia, honestly.” you teased quietly, sighing as once more the striker moved herself to sit up slightly and glare down at you.

though before she could argue her body convulsed as she coughed and darted to be out of your way, you rubbing at her back and pressing gentle kisses to her exposed shoulder before helping her to take a few sips of water.

"don't call me alessia." she grumbled out once she'd calmed, sending you an unimpressed look and you lay back down. “sorry lessi baby, i love you.” you corrected softly as she nodded, grumbling that was better and settling herself on top of you again.

“do you want me to put your hair up?” you offered a few minutes later, feeling the back of her neck start to rise in temperature where you’d been massaging it gently at it as the taller girl nodded.

slipping the hair tie off of your wrist you scraped her hair up into a messy bun, the blonde pressing a grateful kiss to your jaw as she scooted up your body, settling down again.

"thank you babe, i love you." the blonde mumbled as you echoed the words back. pushing up the back of her singlet your nails scratched absent minded patterns into her bare back, feeling the blonde sigh contentedly and tighten her grip on your top, material balled in between her fists as she pressed herself impossibly close into you.

mumbling sweet nothings to the italian your lips lingered on the crown of her forehead, feeling her eventually doze back off, grip onto you never loosening even as she did.

throughout the afternoon anytime you tried to move she would awaken, grumpily ordering you to stay and shifting on top of you, pressing a kiss to any inch of your skin she could find in the moment as you promised you weren’t going anywhere and she would once more doze off.

and stubborn, grumpy and soft as she was when unwell, you wouldn’t change her for anything in the whole entire world.

[treedaddymcpuffpuff]

BENEATH MILES OF STONE. XXII ;

❛ chapter map. ❛ John Wick x Fat fem reader. ❛ TW: nsfw. ❛ divider by saradika.

Fear gets her between them faster than she usually can be; she wedges herself into the gap and pushes Michael back.

John barely flinches at the contact with a palm he wasn’t expecting. He reaches for Michael, but stops when she attempts to shove him away with her own weight. The apparent look of anger on his face, comically garnished with flour, not at her but behind, toward her friend, puts her pulse in her ears. The world sways a bit as Michael tries to get past her. She holds firm, using the width of her body to block him off.

“Why are you protecting him?!” Michael demands. “He fucking kidnapped you!”

She and John both grit their teeth at the same time. “I’m not protecting him,” she hisses, looking directly at John but addressing Michael when she says this, terrified for her valiant friend’s life.

John stares at her, eyes narrowed. She stares back defiantly, skin burning and heart rate fast with anticipation. It’s stupid to stand between him and something he wants to maim, but the fact that he doesn’t already have Michael’s neck in his hands is testament that he doesn’t actually want to hurt him… not badly, at least. This calms her down, but she stays firm, blocking Michael from getting at John and vice versa.

Michael rolls his eyes. “I’m so scared.” His tone is mocking.

“Michael, please stop,” she pleads, “I don’t want you to die today, okay?”

Michael snorts and glares at John above her head.

John eyes him for a moment, upper lip twitching from annoyance so subtly that anyone who didn’t really like to look at his face wouldn’t notice.

“What is he doing to you that you’re so afraid of him?” Michael is now suspicious.

She slaps her head into her palm, sighing, and decides to try and mediate with words rather than her body. “He was keeping me safe, Michael. Something happened and I was being stupid for trying to leave.”

Michael sizes him up, and John almost grins. “Uh-huh.”

She opens her mouth, but John answers for her. “Michael?” His voice is calm, which only serves to poke her adrenaline higher.

“John,” Michael replies, spitting the name out better than any high school mean girl ever could.

She interjects. “John,” voice trembling, “This is Michael, he’s my roommate.”

“Hello Michael.”

“Heyyy,” Michael’s voice is laced with disgust.

“Do not hurt him,” she tells John.

Michael rolls his eyes, John rolls his jaw.

Tension sizzles hot, beading sweat on her neck, and she attempts with her softest, pleading-ist voice: “Can we just…start over? Please? I didn’t want it to be like this.”

Michael sighs. “Oh, hun…fine. But he’s on thin fucking ice.”

John finally smiles, with teeth, and even if there is a white powder handprint on his cheek, it doesn’t lessen the intimidation of his features when he does.

“Johnny?” She implores, looking up into his blackened eyes.

“I’m good,” John says.

He sits at the tiny kitchen table with a cold Coke while she looks over the mess on her counters.

“What are you making?” She asks, peering into the bowl.

Michael picks up the stirring spoon and shoves it to her face. “Taste,” he says.

“Michael, this is delicious! John, do you like cinnamon apple bread? Michael makes the best. Fucking. Cinnamon apple bread.”

“Never had,” John replies, toying with the edges of the chipped table.

“You’ve never had cinnamon apple bread?” Michael asks, spinning around.

“Not until nowwww,” she sings, smiling bright at him. “If you’re okay with staying…? John?”

“He better be. There’s no way I’m letting you go that easy.”

He looks between them, shoulders tight, thinking of how he’d be better off in a standoff than here. “Okay.”

The forehead kiss from her is worth it, and Michael, surprisingly, is not insufferable. He’s content to sit on the couch and eat cinnamon bread, which is delicious, and listen to her and Michael catch up and be charmingly nonsensical. A few times, she attempts to include him, before understanding that he’s more comfortable in the role of observer in social interactions, and smiles apologetically before changing course.

He likes watching her. The way she moves and talks, the infinite compassion in that tiny soft body astounds him. The roommate has a little burn on his finger from the oven, and she fusses over it until he lets her patch it up with cream and gauze.

John gets jealous of the way she is with Michael, which doesn’t surprise but does irritate him. While they watch a movie, he pulls her possessively into his side and wraps his arms around her despite halfhearted protests. Maybe he can’t entertain her as well, and make her giggle as endlessly, but he can trap her and never let her go.

So there.

“I can’t believe you’ve never seen this. Popcorn?” She whispers.

He nibbles it off her fingers, unwilling to remove his hands from her waist.

When the movie is done, Michael find an excuse to drag her away for a minute. “It’ll just be a second, need you to tell me what looks best for my date before Johnny boy steals you away again.”

Upon a glance back at John, he is scowling menacingly at the prospect of her being away in another room, and even makes to pull her back from Michael’s clutches before he sees and concedes to the pleading look on her face, and sits back down with a grumble.

Michael is on her as soon as he shuts the bathroom door. “Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god. That. That out there. Jesus Christ, he is delicious.”

“Yeah,” she agrees, not really knowing what else to say, worried that her knight in shining Kevlar is going to get the wrong idea about her and Michael.

“Yeah?!” Michael demands, jumping up on the counter. “Yeah?!” He sighs. “You’re in so much trouble, you know that? That man is gonna eat you alive and pick the bones clean, baby girl.”

Her face screws up, and he holds his palms up to stop the avalanche of thoughts no doubt ready to cascade through her brain. “Now listen,” he says, and she doesn’t, “I am not saying he is in any way too good for you or some dumb shit like that that you’re mind is inevitably concluding. I’m saying that that is a fucking wolf, and you are a sheep, and he’s going to ruin your life and I’m worried.”

Michael might be too perceptive for his own good. “Ruin my life?”

“Ruin you for any other man,” Michael corrects.

Too late for that.

“Babe, I am really not trying to be funny. Blink twice if you need help.”

She tries to contort her face into something other than an amused smile and fails miserably. “I like him Michael. I really like him.”

The understatement of the fucking century.

John helps her pack a bag. He raises an eyebrow upon seeing the dress, a flouncy colorful thing that would pair lovely with braids and his face shoved between her thighs. He puts the bag down on her bed, grabs her while she’s rummaging in her closet, and sticks her up on her little dresser with his hips wedged between her legs.

“John, we—“

His mouth makes her stupid so easily, hands wrapping around her waist and clutching down, saying this is mine without words, and this too while he sucks her upper lip into his mouth.

His tongue seems to find new tender places every time it traverses the expanse of her neck and jaw and collar, the little crevices of honeyed sweat unexplored by any other before him, a treasure under her ear that makes her squeal.

“He’s right,” John says, pressing light kisses over her jaw.

“What?” She breathes, clutching onto his jacket so hard the leather creaks and dents.

“I am going to eat you alive.”

And then he licks the bite from her teeth off her lip, and kisses her so sweetly she wishes he would be meaner just to press some of the ache from her mouth…and heart…and hands and fingers and toes and right between her parting legs where his fingers sneak in and curl.

She’s slippery and soaked, and he raises an eyebrow in amusement at the contrary protest her mouth gives, kisses her again to swallow a low groan as he thumbs at her clit and tugs at her front walls.

She doesn’t want the roommate to hear, doesn’t want him to know she’s a wanton creature with desires and afflictions, and that’s understandable, but unneeded because, “I have you, dollbaby, I’m here. I’ve got you.”

And she’s his no matter what, because he says so. Everything else is trivial.

He makes her cum and lets her bite his flesh so she doesn’t make too much ruckus (a wasted effort, on her part) then pulls his fingers from her tight little cunt and sticks them on her tongue. “Suck,” he says, watching her obey, lick and slurp her own sweet pussy juice of his digits.

His cock flares against his thigh, and he gets jealous, so he has to have a bit of cream for himself before she gets its all.

“See how good you taste?” He asks, fingers leaving in a wet pop from his mouth. “See why I can’t get enough of you?”

She tries to answer, but he kisses her, takes her tongue’s attention from syllables and despite the swollen, sensitive apex of her thighs makes her buck against him for more.

He groans against her mouth, because the dresser puts her right in line with his angry cock, and she grinds up against it, looking up at him through half lidded eyes, shy and needy and completely, helplessly irresistible.

He settles his hand around her collar, and smiles. “Hurry up.”

“Sure you don’t want me to take my time?” She muses, giggling evilly at the prospect of his painfully turgid cock.

“Oh?” He asks, pressing a little harder at her throat and watching her eyes flutter in pleasure. Good to know. “Wanna get fucked like an animal on your dirty blood stained mattress? Let Michael hear me ruin you and that pretty little cunt?”

She squirms, bucks her hips, and he chuckles. Too fucking easy. He loves it. “You little harlot.”

She kisses him again, maybe to shut up him up so her pussy stops clutching violently in need, and he laughs into her mouth despite the ferocity of her tongue and teeth.

“I want you to make love to me,” she tells his lips.

He doesn’t let her turn away from him when she says it, and his heart might as well have been shot through. “Finish packing.”

She smiles one more kiss into his mouth, bumps foreheads, and then lets him take her down off the dresser.

“Do you think this dress is okay?” She pauses, with it bunched in her hands and ready to go into the bag. “Probably not.”

“We can find something else,” he assures, unconcerned but already scheming up a pretty outfit for her.

“Oooooookayyyyyy,” she sighs, pushing it into her bag, anyway. She looks down, into the confines of the dresser it came from, and recognizes the robins blue cover of a forgotten gift, and smiles wide.

“Here, I got this for you.”

The big novel looks so tiny in his hands—it reminds her of when she was a kid, and everything seemed bigger compared to now—as he flips it over and reads the spine. “Oh, have you read this?”

“Uh, no. I just thought you’d like it. It’s about assassins and love. Have you read it?”

“No.” Then, he notices or rather realizes something: She doesn’t own any books. None that he’s seen. No shelf or stash. Her little case of DVDs lying next to the TV is the only entertainment he’s spied, and he wants to know why. “You don’t have any books?”

She shrugs. “I don’t read much. I mean, I used to. When I was young. A lot. But I just have no time for it, with work, you know?”

He blinks at her, feeling suddenly very horrible. Feeling like buying a house and stocking it with every book and movie she wants and keeping her locked in there to read and watch and eat and relax and fuck.

“What?” She crosses her arms in front of her chest defensively.

“I love it,” he motions at the gift.

She gives him one of those smiles that threatens to turn his plasma into syrup and continues packing.

Michael wraps her into a big hug before she goes, glaring over her shoulder at John, who decides then that he likes him because of how much he seems to care about her wellbeing.

When she walks out, John lingers a moment to slip an unmarked envelope into Michael’s hands, and when he looks up to ask about it, John is gone, and the door is closed as if he hadn’t been there at all. Inside is a check to cover the rest of her rent for the next six months, along with a note explaining this.

Of course, Michael immediately texts her after she’s safely buckled into his passenger seat, and of course, she confronts him. There is nothing about her that would indicate she’s okay with someone doing that for her, and John doesn’t expect acceptance right away, although she’ll have to get used to it sooner rather than later. He explains, casually, “It’s not because I think you can’t pay it, or that I owe you something. I want to do this for you because that money is trivial to me compared to your security and happiness.”

“Twelve thousand dollars is trivial to you?” she asks through a mix of gratefulness and sheer outrage that he would even think of spending that much money on her.

He thinks about how to answer that, whether to tell her he can make that in three hours sitting at Viggo’s bar and ensuring no one decides to kill him, and decides that he wants to be as honest as he can. Gently honest. Ease in. “Twelve thousand means something else to people with my salary. It would be like ten dollars for someone middle class.”

She blinks, then, surprisingly, laughs at him. At the raised eyebrow and the quick glance to probably check and see if she’s gone completely wacko, she reassures him of her dwindling sanity. “You paid my rent with blood money.”

He cringes, but agrees.

“I can’t John. I know you do what you do, but I can’t. I’m telling him not to cash the check.”

The willpower it takes not to stop this car, spin and drift on the icy road, park at the corner and bend her to his will either by bending her over his knee or bending her in half while he fucks the fight out of her in the cold back seat is tangent. This reminds him that she is too ethical, too moral, and that he will need to ruin both of those illusions sooner rather than later.

A second later, all his anger fades when she speaks soft and timid, manipulating him with the big-eyed pout on her pretty face without knowing she’s doing it. “Are you mad?”

“I’m irritated,” he tells her, brushing his knuckles over her cold puffy cheeks to soothe the ache of truth. “But I understand. Although don’t think that will stop me from trying to convince you otherwise.”

He grins, and she shivers under his touch, because John can be very convincing. She supposes it’s not hard for him to be, especially looking like he does, carrying himself like he does.

——————————

She is trying on her flowery dress, and it’s tighter, spilling the fat of her tits over the top and framing the soft bulge of her tummy obscenely. She turns in the mirror, smooths down and sucks in and decides she hates it far too much to let anyone see her in it let alone John—except he’s already in the doorway, leaning casually and watching her, eyes downturned.

Out of all the things she can cover, her hands instinctually wrap around her stomach to hide it, and he smiles, deciding that is where he’s going to lick and kiss and suck first.

“It’s not—“ he’s on her, pressing her against the counter and bruising her already chafed mouth, uncurling her little fists and pinning them on the counter. She moans against his teeth, pressing her hips into his thighs, and he bites her bottom lip to distract her from where his hands cup and kneed. It doesn’t work very well, not for too long, and she’s torn between sensitivity and shyness, immediately covering his hands and giggling. She buries her head into his chest, holding onto him, not protesting just yet, and he inhales her.

“Johnnnnn, that tickles.”

“Oh, poor thing,” he tuts, not stopping.

His teeth nip the spillage of her tits while he hikes her dress up around her waist, and then remembers his sweet thing wants to make love, and grins and this little morsel of heaven before him. “Take your pretty dress off and get in bed.”

[czrpenters]

piercings | tara carpenter x reader

summary: you could be a little extra when it came to pleasing your girlfriend.

pairings: tara carpenter x fem!reader.

warnings: no scream vi spoilers, mention of needles and piercings. also, english is not my first language.

word count: 985 words.

masterlist. | request rules.

It wasn't fully your idea to get your nipples pierced after all. You saw Tara blushing while looking at some pretty suggestive pictures on her Tumblr the other day, and instead of being jealous like you usually would, you started wondering; is she really into that stuff at all?

The next day, you got an appointment at Woodsboro's local tattoo parlor. And oh god, it was more painful than to watch a dog die in an early 2000's movie. You literally felt your soul leave your body for some minutes, your skin had visible goosebumps all over it and the pain was bearing the unbearable. But damn, you looked hot. And you knew that Tara would love that.

She mentioned once or twice, as well. "Babe, would you think I'd look hot with my nipples pierced?". And you knew damn well that this was never going to happen due to her fear of needles, but a girl can dream, right? And Tara was about to have her dream come true that night.

--

"Baby, I'm home! Got us some chinese!" Tara shouted while entering your house, with some takeout in her hands. It was your usual friday night; your dad was a surgeon so he had to bear inhumane 48 hour-shifts on the weekends, which of course meant that you guys had the whole place to yourselves. You usually didn't do anything that crazy or teenage-like, you and Tara were really responsible for your age. The days were mostly spent by watching some movies, eating a bunch of junk food and a lot of sex. Nothing that a lesbian couple wouldn't do.

"I'm over here!" You shouted back in your bedroom, turning off your phone and waiting for your girl to come to you. Your chest was still a little bit sore, so laying on it was definetly not an option right now. Also, no bras for at least a whole week, but that was something you weren't really worried about. You wanted to show them off. You wanted her to see it.

Tara left all the bags filled with food on the kitchen counter, discarding her jacket and shoes before coming up the stairs to your bedroom. She was exceptionally tired today, to say the very least. Playing soccer was definitely not the best career choice and yet she still played it. Not for the sport itself, but the thrill to win. She was exhausted, so it was no surprise that she decided to fall on your bed like a dead corpse, without even looking straight at you. "M' tired as fuck."

She mumbled, in the cutest fucking way possible, which made you laugh. "I know, baby. You didn't have to bring us food, y'know? We could just order Postmates or something." You kissed her forehead, laying down with her but without hugging, you couldn't even dream of having your chest touch something other than the thin layer of fabric of your tank top.

"But it's our tradition, babe... I don't wanna be the one to break it." You almost didn't hear her muffled sore voice, and it made your heart flutter. She couldn't be real. "Why you're not hugging me?"

You knew that it wouldn't take long for her to notice that something was missing. She wasn't sure what, but she knew you better than that; she knew that the first thing you'd do was hug and kiss her right after practice, like always. But you didn't. She finally looked up with a puzzled look on her face. "Is there something wrong?"

"No baby, nothing is wrong... " You kissed her lips briefly, trying to reassure her that everything was fine. More than fine, actually. "It's just... I got a little surprise for you, that's all."

"Baaaaabe! You know that I hate and love surprises." She whined, jumping on the spot and sitting down while looking at you. Thankfully you were wearing a thin sweatshirt over your tank top, so she couldn't see what it was just yet. "Come on, tell me what it is."

"I will, I promise! Just... Close your eyes first, okay?" Before she could even start her sentence, you shushed her. Reluctantly, she closed her eyes, but you were directly looking at them to make sure she wouldn't peek. Carefully, you took your sweatshirt off, alongside with your white tank top. Your nipples were a little puffy still, more red than the usual. It felt like if Tara sucked the life out of them for at least a couple of hours, but instead of her usual bite marks, there was a silver jewelry on them.

You were so fucking excited and it took every inch of your soul to not blurb and tell her what it was before she could even see them. "Okay baby, open them now."

She did as she was told, and you swear to god that you saw some sparkles emerge from her eyes. You could almost feel her happiness, as if her mouth was watering like a boy seeing a pair of boobs for the first time. "You've got to be fucking kidding me."

"Got them while you were at practice. Aren't they pretty?" They were two pieces of silver jewlery, the colour matching the necklace she got you with her initials on it. And oh boy, she was so turned on at that moment that she couldn't even form a sentence. "Didn't liked them?"

That was a rethorical question. You knew she loved them. And the fact that you had to wait at least 2 weeks for her to touch them was, to say the least, torturous. But before you could manage to think about anything else, you felt her lips against yours in a fervorous kiss. Her mouth tasted like cherry, and her kiss tasted like heaven. A piece of your own private paradise. "You really don't know the things I wanna do to you right now, (Y/N)."

"Show me then."

⠀

[deblklesb]

[Another Diamond Day — Ellabs x Reader Drabble]

[established relationship, farm!au, fluffy/soft, afab!reader]

・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

a/n: this is 100% self-indulgent, I'm not being able to finish the request as fast as i wanted but had this cute piece of fluff that had been engraved on my mind 🫂 it's just pure softness and a silly time. love ya!! despite it, i don't want minors interacting with my content so this is still MDNI

not proof read | reblogs are highly appreciated

・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

The sun was rising when Abby came back from the corral with a bucket full of fresh milk. A thin fog covered the pasture denouncing a hot day following that cold night, and she already knew you and Ellie would be looking forward to a dive into the lake later. Suzy, the cow from which she milked, was now resting peacefully next to her calf while Abby made her way into the kitchen.

You and Ellie were fast asleep still since that was Abby's day to take the milk. Your limbs entangled with Ellie's in a mess, but comfort reigned on that bed and enveloped you in calm dreams. Abby looked at you both after fixing the milk, the auburn hair of the Williams girl all messy and cute and your adorable pout. She smiled at herself unconsciously, thinking how tranquil your farm were in comparison with the buzzy mornings of Jackson. The community was fine, but nothing compared to that piece of heaven you three had. The days were calm and the chores were shared between you all.

"Morning, sunshine", Abby said when Ellie opened her eyes lazily. Her face was marked by the folds on the pillowcase, and she yawned while pulling you closer.

"Don't keep staring there like a creep, come here", the both of them smiled while the blonde approached the bed.

You squirmed in your, now, light sleep, and soon opened the eyes to see them both next to you. Ellie hid her face on your neck while Abby kissed you face fondly.

"Milk's in the kitchen", she said, a hand going to caress Ellie's arm around you.

"I'm starving", the brunette murmured.

"Let's get up then", you moved slightly, lounging the legs.

"Don't wanna"

"Then starve"

"Goddamn", Abby laughed, followed by you both.

The mood was so cozy and warm, the sun wasn't so bright yet, the chickens were making sounds afar and the air was chill. That was your piece pf heaven.

Sometimes you tried to think what would be of you three if the world wasn't ending. But then realized that the only reason why this was the piece of heaven was the almost-like hell you've been through before. Your parents used to tell you stories about the old world, about music and parties and the fears people had before. They told you about wars and christmas, about ice creams, mathematics and philosophy. It was such a big world and it was all to the ground before you were even born.

Maybe it was impossible to conceptualize that existence in a reality so distant. But, well, it was just the first moments of the morning. You were definitely far too deep into those books you've found.

"C'mon, I'll make us some hearth shaped waffles", you said out loud, getting Ellie's full attention.

"Will you let us eat the cutout edges?"

"What would I do with them, Els?" She kissed your face repeatedly, taking a easy smile from you. On the other side of your face, Abby did the same, finishing with a peck on your lips.

The moment made your heart flutter, and your body suddenly felt so small to contain all the love and excitement them two gave you.

Finally getting out of bed, you and Ellie went to the bathroom before meeting Abby in the kitchen picking up the stuff to make breakfast. She placed it all in the island carefully and all you could think about was how delicate she could be all the time.

Most people get intimidated by her size, but Abigail is one of the most careful woman on the planet most of the times - if she needs to beat you, that's another story. Her hands would travel along your skin lightly while you're laying on the couch listening to the radio, crickets and tree tops whispering from outside, enveloping you in a tranquil time. When she casually puts one of Ellie's hair strands behind her ear, it exhales delicacy and tenderness.

"Thank you, love", you say while pecking her biceps.

Ellie puts coffee on the stove for both you and Abby and then grabs juice from the refrigerator for herself.

"Who's shaving the sheeps today?" Williams ask, sitting on the kitchen isle.

"You", Abby is kick to answer.

"I'm getting the vegetables" you add. "And Abby is cutting wood"

"Oh man, I thought I would cut the wood today", her pout is adorable as she laments, earning a peck from the blonde.

"That's tomorrow, you dork"

You were prepping the waffles and fixing the strawberry syrup, satisfied with the sweet smell running around the kitchen, even with the small window open. You notice a wild cat running outside, trying to catch some insect in the field.

"Hey, isn't that the same cat from last time?"

"Really?!" Ellie almost jump, coming to look outside. "Should we keep it?"

"You don't even know if it wants to stay with us", Abby laughs.

"Who wouldn't want to stay with us?"

"Sometimes I reconsider my decisions", you chuckle with these words coming from the blonde.

As they eat the cutouts, you place the same amount of waffles to each one and then put the syrup on the table. Ellie takes the coffee and mugs, Abby gets the bread and what is left of the chicken.

The breakfast goes calming, comfortable after Ellie puts some disco to play from the living room. You and her mumble the song as Abby stays silent, enjoying the presence and the energy surrounding the place. It's a beautiful day to walk around and maybe go swimming on the lake nearby a little, as the area is always clear due to Jackson's patrols. You three also go out in some runs, just to make sure, and the last time you found an infected it was alone.

"Okay, I wanna finish it soon, so let's not waist any time, ladies", you announce as soon as you finish.

"Wanna go swimming later?"

"Only after the chores"

"I bet a boob I'll finish it first!" Ellie collects the plates, smirking even though she has the longest chore for the day.

"You bet. With these babies, the wood will be cut in no time", Anderson flexes her arms, making you roll your eyes. It would never be boring with them both around.

"I just wanna get the vegetables"

And so the day starts.

You change clothes to a more appropriate to the soil environment, putting a cloth on your head to hold the sweat you know will come drip down your face. The boots come later, dirty from all the external use. You put a sunglass you found on a old Jackson patrol and get the basket and the gloves from the back porch.

The garden looks beautiful. Vibrant green pops from the healthy soil, you recognize it after working so much on the thing back in Jackson. A smile takes place in your face as you go collect the vegetables, carefully walking through the plants to later kneel between them.

Ellie is good with the sheeps. She talks to them, calling by their names - you never knew how she could tell them one from another, and somehow Abby could do it too. Only some wildly different you could keep in mind. But Ellie was always making jokes and petting them, hugging the animals after shaving them and saying how much of a good work they did.

"That's it, Madam Olivia, you're so brave!", she murmurs, kissing the sheep on the forehead before letting it go. "Sir Callahan, you're next! No, you're not running away from me this time, I know you're all nice with Abigail, it's me you have for today, okay? Yeah, it'll be okay, it'll be fine. I'll bring a coat made of your fur, what you say?"

Despite the sun, she stays with the back to it and put all the fur on a sack. They'll take it to Jackson in the weekend, using the time to visit Joey, Tommy, Maria and your mom. The woman makes her best to clean them before cutting the fur, paying attention to sticks and bugs even though a cleaning work will happen in the city too.

Abby is nearby you, getting all the wood she'll have to cut today next to a large trunk. While you collect the vegetables, you can hear the axe going down again and again, the cracking of the wood and then it being thrown next to her. This goes on for over an hour.

It's almost relaxing, to be honest. She focuses on one task and try not to get hurt, mind empty. The pieces end up all pilled on the other side, waiting to be stocked away.

It's before midday when you three finish it all. You also clean the vegetables and cut some of them, making sure to treat the soil later.

"Run to the lake?" Ellie it's the one to suggest, gaining a smirk from Abby almost immediately.

"No", you cut, laughing. "Let's just get our stuff peacefully and go there in our sweet time, please"

They obligated for the most part. You actually got the stuff: towels, clothes and food. But later, when getting close from the lake, Abby started running and Ellie wasn't the one to deny it. And you came right after, making your away on the trail, still partially cautious about the sounds.

Apparently it was all clear, as usual. Taking off the clothes were secure. Abby puts it folded on a rock, Ellie just trows it there before jumping in the water.

You never like the contact of a body of water around you immediately, it takes a minute to get used to it. The way every movement reaches to your skin, and how completely different it is; like experiencing two different realities at once. You have patience to relax before going to the two women messing around and enjoying the fresh water under the sun.

Once you saw this old painting on a suburbian house, you mother told you what suburbs were. The painting had this beautiful lake on it, fast and raw brush strokes creating the image of a landscape. First you thought how cool it was to be able to create something like that. Then, you imagined what would it be to bathe on that place, with a little bit of tranquility and the company of whoever wanted you good.

It was good. It was sweet. And it was true. As you felt Abby's arms around you in the water, as you reached to put Ellie's hair away from her face, you realized once again that it was real, you were there. Touching them and living with them, breathing, feeling, and you couldn't think of anywhere else you'd rather be.

Birds sang sweetly around the pond, the sounds coming from everywhere sporadically as the time passed in front of your eyes. One of those rare moments when the good doesn't fly away, but walks with you, hand in hand, guiding your perception through the details. Their cool skin against yours, little drops on the limbs above water, wet hair slowing drying as breaths were so loud you thought it could be heard miles away.

"I love you. So much", you whisper under the natural track, sighing.

"We love you too", Abby said, face resting on your head as her arms enveloped you, and Ellie's hands rested on the blonde woman's biceps.

Ellie kisses your cheek as you smile.

The afternoon walks with you lovely for the next hours, and then it's time to go home again. You spent some time sitting on the border to better dry, putting back the clothes. Now, them both do not run around, just calmly wander next to you in silence for the most part.

"I'll go get the food, you to can shower first", Ellie said as soon as you reached the limits of the farm.

"Okay, thank you, sweety", you hold her hand.

When the night approaches, signing that a new day is closer than before, you three are with warm clothes on the living room. You and Abby read a book, Ellie reads a comic, and the limbs are tangled on the couch. As tempting as it was, the fireplace would never be lighted up in order to not attract unwanted people, so duvets and socks are essential for this moments.

And for the next hour you three just sit in silence and appreciate the comfort of each other's presences, before going to bed together to finish another day.

[saintsenara]

I need your thoughts on aunt petunia/rita skeeter

thank you very much for the ask, anon!

and i think... hot. entirely on "incredibly niche moments in british pop-culture" grounds...

by which i mean, when i try to imagine what rita looks like, she always takes a form vaguely similar to a journalist named samantha brick, who went viral in 2012 when she published an article in the daily mail entitled why do women hate me for being beautiful?

brick's article was typical, boring misogyny - and so was the response to it, which all centred on the idea that she didn't actually have any right to call herself attractive - but the relevant point here is that i can guarantee that petunia hate-read it literally a thousand times, that she told anyone who'd listen that she thought brick was a delusional tart who should stay away from other people's husbands [especially when they're fine british beef, like vernon], and that she was secretly quite jealous of brick for proclaiming loudly that she thinks herself beautiful.

the way that jkr uses physical appearance - and, especially, the way that women we aren't supposed to like are described either as fat or as unfemininely thin - has always annoyed me [even though i recognise it's a trope borrowed from many of the children's literature influences upon the series].

when it comes to petunia, so much of her physical description is intended to hint at her villainy. that she's unfemininely tall and thin, that she has a harsh, slightly equine appearance serves as a visual metaphor for her lack of the feminine characteristics the series considers admirable - she's cold, unnurturing, brittle, sterile, nosy, obsessed with how she's perceived, performative, cowardly, and so on. lily - with whom she's always contrasted - is a good woman - the ultimate mother - because she's real. and she's also - as the text tells us on several occasions - beautiful.

but if one wants to be more sympathetic, petunia's brittleness can be read instead as fragility. after all, she's a woman who - by the time she's twenty-four at most - is caring for two toddlers [one more than she was expecting], has lost her parents and sister, appears to be at home all day without much social support, is hyper-focused on not embarrassing a husband who appears to be quite a few years older than her by fucking up the class performance he expects but she's not completely familiar with... the list goes on.

what this must do to petunia's understanding of her own embodiment is really interesting to me. the entirety of the person she presents to the world is a fiction - she's a working-class girl with a sister who was a witch, who lives behind a thoroughly mundane and middle-class mask. this concealment will have an impact on how she understands herself as a physical creature - the petunia dursley she's created will not sweat or cry or shit or have body hair or devour or laugh until she can't stand or take or bleed or want or fuck.

and so, when she's alone and the mask comes off, can she think that the real woman who lurks underneath - whose body does all of these things she tries to hide - is beautiful?

i imagine petunia as being prone to a sort of obsessive, corrosive jealousy in her attitude towards women who are more defiant of social convention - especially women who reject the expectation that they will be meek, humble, self-deprecating, and demure.

which brings us onto...

rita skeeter is another character whose physical description in the text is something i think it's important to unpick. she's an example of the second technique which jkr uses when describing women the narrative doesn't wish us to be sympathetic to - that their gender expression has an exaggerated, hyper-feminine aesthetic.

jkr clearly thinks that this aesthetic is unnatural - in that it only belongs to women who have to play up a pantomime of femininity because they are improperly feminine in any "innate" way. dolores umbridge's girlish, pastel looks, for example, are horrifying because the person beneath them is sociopathic in her cruelty to children.

with rita, i am always struck - especially given the turn jkr has taken in recent years - that she is described in goblet of fire as someone with a hyper-feminine aesthetic which fails [in the text's eyes] to mask that she is physically unfeminine.

she is described as having "hair ... set in elaborate and curiously rigid curls that contrasted oddly with her heavy-jawed face", and "thick fingers [which] ended in two-inch nails, painted crimson", and "large, mannish hands", and she's caked in make-up, and she likes her accessories with a slightly tacky vibe.

she's described - in short - in ways which are intended to make her seem ridiculous [cheap, brassy, mutton-dressed-as-lamb] within the confines of how the text [and the world] thinks cisgender women should properly perform femininity.

but she's also described in ways which suggest that we're supposed to think that she looks like someone who is not a cisgender woman trying - and failing - to "pass". the text is of the tedious opinion that we should think less of her because of this.

but fuck that!

what i like about rita is the fact that she takes this treatment by the text and... doesn't give a shit about it. she's loud and eye-catching and caustic and rude and grasping and a complete hack. what you see with her is what you get - nobody thinks she's a good or impartial journalist, including her, and she simply doesn't care! and she thinks she looks hot as hell while doing it. after all, she has her quill describe her as an "attractive blonde". harry thinks that's an offensive suggestion - but she doesn't have to.

do i think rita is a straightforwardly admirable person? no. do i think that she doesn't mask and conceal her insecurities from the world? also no.

but i think she has that self-belief which petunia would pretend she thought was disgusting but which she secretly envied rita for. and i think this - someone like petunia, repressed and concealed, meeting someone who has no shame in immoderation and who gives them permission to exist greedily - is a trope which always hits.

do i think it would last? no. i think it's a wild fling and then they go their separate ways - and i also think, as i know i say ad nauseam, that this matters. the harry potter series thinks of love as something which endures for years in solemn silence, which sacrifices and which suffers.

but sometimes love is a week of getting your nails done, sunning yourself in a leopard-print thong bikini, being trashy and immodest and demanding, and eating ice-cream out of the navel of a blonde who doesn't give a fuck what people say about her. nothing more, nothing less.

good for them.

[hyperiondickrider]

Baby Bunny~

(Chapter 4)

Vox x Reader; Valentino x Reader; Alastor x Reader; maybe Lucifer x Reader

After your untimely death, Mr Vox was kind enough to take you in and give you a job as his assistant. However, it appears that you’ve caught the eyes of few other demons, who are certainly not afraid of a little competition…

“Hey, Val, can we talk real quick?”

“Hm? Voxy, baby, what’s the problem~?” Vox jogged up to Val, trying to catch him on the way to his studios, a long day of work ahead the two of them. He hands Valentino a coffee he got for him, from that nice place on brimstone avenue, and Valentino takes a long sip from it, releasing a pleased groan at the scalding fluid.

“It’s about my assistant, Y/N.”

“Your cute little conejita? Whatever is the matter, hm?”

Vox wasn’t quite sure how to phrase his question. “Well, it’s just that- Y’know, it’s almost spring and-“

“Voxy, baby, I love you, but get to the fucking point.” Valentino’s patience was thin, on a good day.

“Yeah, well, I need you to stop winding her up. The poor bunny can barely function with her, uhm, season, approaching, let alone with you feelin her up all the goddamn time.”

Valentino let a low chuckle at this, taking a long drag of his scarlet smoke, throwing his now empty coffee cup into the nearest bin, before gracefully draping his long arms onto his hips.

“But she’s so fucking fun to wind up, baby. Besides, it only January, i still got at least a month before it starts just being mean. I swear, one of these days, Voxy, if you’re not careful, I’m gonna snatch up that bebé bonita and make her mine~”

Vox let out a low growl at this, his screen glitching as his eye twitched with annoyance. If he knew Valentino well enough (which he probably did), it was unlikely he’d make such an obvious move. Key word - unlikely. Valentino was unpredictable; if he had a genuine interest, Satan knows the lengths he will go to.

“Fine. Just at least promise me, next time you make a mess of the poor girl, you’ll at least finish the fucking job so I don’t have to clean up your mess.”

“Oh, I think we both know I will~” Valentino’s grin sharpened, almost salivating at the thought of of having you sprawled out under him, face red and puffy, ears teary, your swollen lips covered in drool-

Well, that’s a thought for when he has the time to scheme.

~meanwhile~

It was 7:30 am when your alarm went off. You woke uo with a jolt, your body still exhausted despite your mind being wide awake, legs heavy like lead, thighs and pussy sore. With a groan, you dragged yoirself out of Vox’s comfy bed, the mattress almost willing you to stay in bed all day, despite the no doubt mountains of work you had to do.

Throwing on a blouse and a navy pencil skirt with matching heels, you gave your hair a quick brush, quickly looking yourself over in the mirror.

‘Looking good, bunny!’ You gave yourself a cheeky grin, being your own hype man in light if the empty apartment around you. Checking the time once again, you sighed lightly, grabbing your laptop and blazer, you set off towards work, thinking of treating yourself to a nice hot cocoa from the cute cafe on brimstone avenue on the way to work.

You really did like your job. Sure, it was exhausting, but the work was rewarding; you got help coordinate schedules, review scripts, fill out paperwork, and of course, you got to hang out with Vox! Your boss really was the best, he always made sure you were busy; he knew how much you loved feeling useful.

Entering the building, humming a merry tune you had heard on the radio earlier, you greeted the receptionist.

“Good morning, Annie! Have you had a good morning so far?”

“Why, good morning to you to, Y/N! You seem in an awful good mood today, my dear!”

You grinned at the woman, leaning against her desk with glittering eyes.

“I’m just happy to be at work today, Annie.”

“I truly don’t think i’ve ever met a young person who quite likes their job like you do, love.”

The two of you shared a giggle, as she showed you some pictures of her new grandchildren. Annie was such a sweet lady; one of your favourite coworkers, in fact. She always had somethjng nice to say, and a warm smile and anecdote to welcome you with.

A sharp, british accent cut through the usual bustle of the floor.

“God, where is that girl? I’m down a model and i need someone with some fucking class for lucifer’s sake!” The confident voice of Velvette rang through the floor, employees cowering at her commanding presence, hiding as she scoured the floor.

“Ah! There you are, my darlin’!”

Your back straightened significantly, tugging at your skirt as Velvette’s eyes lit up as she spotted and approached at a brisk pace.

“H-hello, Ms Velvette! C-can i help you in a-any way?”

She brushed off your now nervous demeanour, hastily looking you up and down before grabbing you by the wrist and tugging you towards the elevator.

“Yes, yes my darlin’, Vox told me you’d be here. Listen, babe, I’m down a model for a loungewear photoshoot i’ve planned to do today, and i need you in my department, okay love? You just gotta stand there and look pretty, which you are already doin’ a fantastic job at.”

Her flattery causes your cheeks to darken, as you limply allow her to drag you into the elevator, up a floor, and into one of her studios. Well, there goes all the work you had planned for the day.

Truth be told, you did quite like Velvette; she made easy conversation and could be quite the smooth talker despite her inclination towards bluntness. She also designed the cutest clothes, which was a bonus. Overall, she was fun to work for. Unless she deemed you incompetent. Then, life fucking sucked.

The first outfit she forced you into was a silky pajama set, relatively baggy on you, revealing your collar bones as she directed you into posing for, the photos capturing your timid aura. The second outfit were Vees branded tracksuits; each designed to mimic tbe style and colour scheme if each Vee. A black and read one with skulls and hearts; Velvette. A blue and red one with wiring details; Vox. Pink and lilac with feathers and hearts; Valentino. She once again had you pose for each one, captiring the details of the fashion whilst simultaneously capturing your contrasting delicate beauty. Finally, she gave you a second pajama set, this time shorts and a button up, completely complimenting your leporine appearence, producing absolutely adorable promotional material. Well, if Velvette was pleased, it was all worth it.

“Wonderful my darlin’, thank you so much for your cooperation, love.” She kissed both your cheeks affectionately, sending you off the change back into your work clothing.

However, on the way to the changing rooms, you were stopped by the familiar sound of a staticky voice.

“Velvette? Are you done with my assistant yet? I got a shit ton of work and all my other employees are apparently fuckin useless-”

Vox froze when he saw you; all vulnerable in a silky pajama set covered in strawberries. A smirk grew across his face, and you grimaced in embarassment.

“Velvette, my dear, great taste as always. Now, if you don’t mind, me and my assistant have some work to get back to.” Vox spoke, commanding the room, as his gaze never for a second left your own.

A/N: Sorry the update took so long I am very busy lol.

Btw the reason Y/N is so nervous around authority figures and strangers is to do w her backstory :) her sudden personality changes are intentional

Tags: @enby-rising @whocaresimnothere @christineblood @sirenetheblogger @vash-yuu

[iwanty0uu]

“𝐺𝑜𝑜𝑑 𝑃𝑢𝑚 𝑃𝑢𝑚 𝑁𝑒𝑒𝑑𝑠 𝐺𝑜𝑜𝑑 𝑆ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑡𝑒𝑟“~𝓁ℯ𝓁ℯ ✧˚ · . ✧˚ · . ✧˚ · .

pt4…

“BITCH STOP BEING PUSSY AND GET ON THE FUCKING ROLLER COASTER SASH.”

Your voice startled the ticket man at coney island who reluctantly pulled his hand back from the hole in the booth connecting him to the outside world. “FINE “ She said grabbing the man’s hand out of the small hole, ripping the tickets out of his hand, quickly shuffling in your purse for his cash you smiled apologetically and skipped over to Sasha. “Hoe you get so angry when you scared you can hold my hand baby” you teased as she tightened the laces on her shoes and purse. “ Nah i’m not scared. Momma ain’t raise no bitch” her voice cracked which had you in tears. Time flew by and it was already your turn on the amusement park’s ride. The air was hot and muggy, the thick summer heat hung over the whole park, you knew your edges would sweat out so you braided your hair into beaded cain rows the night before.

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

Your dark blue biker shorts reacher a little above you’re knee to prevent your thighs sticking to the chair of the rides, the simple white tank top you had on showed a small but modest amount of cleavage and your small juicy couture backpack rested in front of you. Couldn’t risk it getting snatched up, but other than that, your whole outfit was made for outdoor activities. It had been nine months since you had met Connie and it had been the most interesting nine months that you have had in a while. Connie was known by everyone, your parents loved him, since your aunts were younger and closer to you, they all told you to get with him before someone “thief your man”, which always made you laugh, but it was your intention. He was too hood to leave unsupervised

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

Of course you liked him but you wanted to make sure that you weren’t thinkin with your clit. And actually, it felt like meeting him was fate. Your parents met him accidentally, your Father was an occasional stoner, and his weed-guy’s nephew so happened to be Connie, and thats when you learned he was a hustler which didn’t bother you. Money is money and a job is a job.

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

The line to the ‘Slingshot’ ride was short, and you warned your homegirl Sasha that you would kill her if she ran off the ride and left you on there alone. The workers strapped you in securely while Sasha threatened them. “I swear if one of you fuckers forget a lock or some shit im suing you when i die.” Her pink acrylic waved in the faced of the workers as they laughed. “Sash stop talking to him like that before he kill us on purpose” You cackled next to her as the camera in-front of you both began to record.”

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

You heard laughter from the crew behind you, “Are you ready?” asked a man in a Luna Park uniform shirt, “Wait I didn’t clip one of yall in I think it’s the Brunette-“ He finished “ BITCH WH-“ Sasha couldn’t get her words out because the sling shot literally knocked the wind out of her,arms flailing in the air, her hair slipping out of its pony tail now becoming a thick brown mess. She suddenly awoke screaming and panicked, holding onto your brown arm, nails digging into your skin. If she couldn’t tell, you were having an episode of your own. “GET ME THE FUCK OFF THIS SHIT” you cried.. literally, tears streaming down your face, you felt the breath so suddenly leave your lungs causing you to gasp for air, which was infinite considering the height you two currently desperate to come down from.

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

The ball like ride began to bounce slowly, easing it’s way to the ground. Sasha regained her full consciousness and laughed uncontrollably, “ NAHH THAT WAS SO FUN “ looking over her shoulder, she heard sobbing “IwantMyMommaaa” you huffed pouting, slobber flying out of your mouth and snot out of your nostrils. You were quickly released off the ride as the line of people pointed and stared at your dramatics. “Now look who FUCKIN CRYING” Sasha giggled, retrieving the video from the front desk. You kneeled on the floor, squatting while holding your knees. “Bumper Carts” you said as you got yourself together, slowly standing. “but first i want to *sniffle* clean myself up”, trying to act casual was out of the question now, but it didn’t matter because you still enjoyed yourself. “Girl i don’t wanna hear shit you fainted as soon as we went up”

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

The night was young and lively, Jean, Eren, Armin ,Ony and Mikasa went home in Eren’s car since they all lived in the same dorm alliance. You went back with Connie who drove, hanging his hand out the window while his long tatted fingers loosely held a blunt. Serenity and Sasha were in the back seat sleeping, and you sat in the front seat like the passenger princess you were. You got chilly with the windows down so Connie offered you his hoodie. Feet resting on dash, converse on the floor, Connie broke the almost silent car ride,lowering Summer Walker’s ‘Body’ so you could hear him. “ Y/n ima drop the girls home, i got sum planned for us.. just you n me, so pack a spendin-da-night back for like two days or so. “Two days ? Boyyy you tryna get fucked? “ you joked “ I’ll pack for three”.

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

An unseen smile grew on his face, and it was because Connie had only touched you one time. Ever. He never slept with you, never fingered you, only ever kissed you, and part of it was his fault. He did really want to be with you but often times his ex’s would come back in his life trying to compete with you, and it turned you off hella, but he did end up proving that he was serious about you ,and wanted a future with you.

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

About thirty minutes passed and you were now headed up to Connie’s apartment. It was always clean, so full but so empty, he spent most of his time in your dorm and only got the apartment to make his deals easier, and everyone would link up there for kickbacks. The keys jingled as they were disgarded on the counter, lights off, room dimly lit by Connie’s phone light. For some reason, he wouldn’t let you turn on the actual lights. “Boy you just dragged my ass into a wall both of us cant fit through your door frame” you said laughing at your own comment. You weren’t sure of the surprise but knowing Connie, you knew it was gonna be adorable.

+*:ꔫ:*﹤ ﹥*:ꔫ:*+ﾟ

[pretty-chips]

Howdy. I’ve started writing a thing and I want to share the beginnings of it, because I absolutely am too excited to keep it to myself. Here’s a lil’ snippet of the beginning of Electric Love, my Rocket x Brita work. let me know if you enjoy! Thanks to @raccoonfallsharder and my angel babies in the discord server for unearthing my desire to write.

I’ve never uploaded writing to tumblr, especially on mobile, so apologies if the format is weird! The spacing between paragraphs was a lot and that bugged me lol.

“You’re freaking joking. You haven’t seen Footloose yet??” Peter’s voice is kind of shrill, and it makes Rocket’s ears pin back. “DUDE, I’ve talked about it like a million times! You guys kidnapped Kevin freakin’ Bacon for me!”

Two hours of Peter Quill being back on Knowhere, and he’d already brought up stupid flarking Kevin Bacon twice. Sheesh. Rocket shrugs defensively, lifting his hands and gesturing wildly as they walk. “Dude, I don’t know! The only place I ever get earth movies is here in Knowhere and I’m, like…busy, I dunno.”

Peter stops in his tracks, his face screwed up in confusion and surprise. “Wait, there’s a place with earth movies here?”

“Yeah.” Rocket’s arms fold as he regards Quill with a raised eyebrow. “You didn’t know?”

Peter looks absolutely appalled. Offended, even. “NO, I did not know. What the heck, man! I thought you guys were just…getting them somehow with the satellite or something.” Peter holds his hand up to his eyes and scans around, a bit dramatically, and Rocket roll his eyes. “Where the crap is this store? We’re going. Right now.”

With an amused huff, Rocket starts walking and gestures over his shoulder for Quill to follow. “C’mon Pete. Let’s get your stupid movie.”

He catches Peter smiling. Good. That means he heard the ‘I missed you’ buried in those words.

~

“I think I’m going to go insane.”

Brita’s elbows slide across the counter as she holds her chin in her hands. “We’ve heard this song five times. Why can’t we play a radio station or something? We’ve got the satellites for it.” She glances out the big window by the front doors, her eyes flicking wistfully back and forth between every person walking past. They probably had more exciting lives than this.

Her coworker, currently alphabetizing a row of media disks, shrugs impatiently. She doesn’t even give Brita a side glance or anything.

Brita huffs and shuffles her feet back to lean down onto the counter even more, bent at quite the impressive 90 degree angle.

This coworker girl had proven to be quite a stick-in-the-mud, which made for a pretty lame conversation partner. And as awful as it made her feel, Brita still couldn’t remember her name. Calling her Krylorian Coworker has worked just fine in Brita’s brain, but that probably isn’t going to last very long without accidentally slipping out one day. Oh, well. Maybe soon she’ll pull a good old, ‘So how do you spell your name anyway?’

Brita had pretty much used every ice breaker she could think of today, which had very visibly worn Krylorian Coworker’s patience pretty thin. She had only really responded to like, three of them. Brita sighs, her gaze out the window again.

It wasn’t her fault that today had been so slow and sludgy. Like tromping through the sloppiest terrain of the swampiest planet. The ground would probably suck at her boots, making her legs magnet to the mushy ground and her whole body burn with exertion. It would probably be hot, too, the combination of muggy air and sweat plastering hair to her forehead. She’d push it out of her eyes, blinking away the blur, and she’d see a figure come into focus. A familiar figure also trekking through the muck in front of her, strong and stout legs visibly strained with effort. He’d be holding a big gun, of course, probably one with little red blinking lights that flash through the murky air. Air you could feel as you inhaled, such thick and humid air in this swampy environment. He’d turn his head back to look at her, pretty auburn eyes alight with mirth. That fluffy ringed tail would swish behind him, an ear flicking as he opens his mouth to say something clever…

“You’re daydreaming, Brita.”

Krylorian Coworker stares, a hand on one hip and her eyebrow raised. “I can literally see you disappearing.”

Brita blinks hard, the yellow lighting of the media store melting away the trees and mud from her imagination. She lets out a breath as she comes back to reality, straightening up and stretching her arms above her head. “And that’s why I wanted some new music. I’m getting bored out of this dimension.”

Coworker shakes her head, huffing in amusement as she goes back to her alphabetizing.

Brita gives her own huff, and walks around the counter. It’d be better to actually do something with herself. Maybe she should alphabetize like Boring Coworker.

She makes her way down a couple aisles of holo-vid disks, glancing at the labels. She smiles, her heart doing that skipping thing it always does when she thinks about her favorite things. She’d apparently subconsciously wandered to her favorite section, the Terran holo-vids. Movies, she knows they’re called, but that’s not universal enough according to boss man who was in charge of this d’ast store. And the tech is different, anyway, he’d said. Whatever, Brita knew better than that old fart.

Her fingers run along the labels, stopping to reminisce at a few favorites. One day she was going to consume every single piece of Terran media in the store, and even further one day, the whole Terran planet. Every movie, every song, every book…everything.

Ring-ding-ling.

The little bell on the door announces, after at least an hour of nothing, a living being. Brita leans back, angling her head to look at the front doors. A guy with somewhat curly hair and a red leather jacket is stepping through, looking…amazed, actually. As he makes his way towards the aisle she’s standing in, Brita studies him further and is pretty sure she recognizes the things on his t-shirt. Her eyes widen.

An earth dude!

Before she can even process her body moving, she’s in front of him, all smiles. “Hi, how are ya?”

The guy blinks at her, seemingly coming out of some kind of trance, and his face lights up. “How long has this place been here? I’ve never noticed a…what, record store-slash-bookstore-slash-Blockbuster?”

Brita figures that’s an earth thing, and her heart flutters in excitement.

“Yeah, maybe a few months? Short enough lots of people haven’t been in yet, long enough it feels like ages if you’re working here.” She grins, leaning against the shelf next to her casually.

The comment lands, and the guy laughs. “I get that. But, I feel like this is probably the coolest place to work in all of…anywhere. You’ve got something from every planet I know the name of in here, just from what I can tell right away. That’s freakin’…epic.”

His enthusiasm is intoxicating. Brita beams at him, anxious to make this interaction last as long as possible. “Oh, dude, believe me, it is epic. Working here has permanently changed my life. I get to hear earth music and talk about movies…that’s a dream.”

He lights up even more, which Brita didn’t even think was possible, and his big open-mouthed smile says, “You like earth movies?”

She feels a beautiful conversation brewing, the feeling punctuated with Coworker’s exasperated sigh from across the counter, and Brita nods with a grin.

“Hell yeah I like earth movies.”

She’s not even sure how many minutes pass, she’s so enveloped in her favorite conversation she’s ever had. They gush over their favorites, which somehow don’t overlap at all even though they’re both familiar with everything brought up. The difference in taste is almost comical to her. She feels like she could be here for days, the world could pass away and she’d be completely content just standing here, talking to this man in a red jacket. Brita doesn’t even process her surroundings until she hears someone clearing their throat behind her.

Snapped back to earth, she realizes Coworker is raising a brow. Right. Work. Job.

“Sorry,” she laughs lightly and folds her arms as she leans against the shelf again, “you were looking for which one?”

“Oh, yeah. Footloose, can you believe Drax and Rocket both haven’t seen it yet, even though it’s the greatest movie of all time…”

Every muscle in her body stiffens. Her folded arms tighten against her chest and she feels her fingers dig into her arms. He’s still talking, she can tell with his mouth still moving, but nothing he says is reaching her ears anymore.

Rocket. Rocket. All she can see now are those bourbon eyes. A voice rings back into her processing, but not the voice of the dude, it’s deep and rumbles through her core. This guy, this Terran guy, was friends with Rocket. An earth dude that’s friends with Rocket AND Drax, how did he get so lucky…

Suddenly, it clicks.

“Wait, wait, stop.” She knows she’s interrupting, and she doesn’t care. “You’re freaking Peter Quill.”

He mouth quirks into a bit of a confused grin, one eyebrow inching up. “Uh, yeah I am.”

She blinks at him. She knows she looks stupid. “Sorry, I didn’t, uh, I didn’t... Not to be, like, weird, y’know. I just. That’s so cool. I’ve always wanted to actually talk to the guardians, they seem like, such…incredible friends. I hear about you all the time.”

His smile is sly, but there’s a heartwarming expression in his eyes. “They talk about me, huh?” He nods and glances over behind her shoulder. “…They are the best friends I’ve ever had.”

Before she can respond, another voice materializes behind her. One she’s only heard once, months and months ago in real life, but countless times in her imagination. Gravelly yet liquid gold at the same time.

“Pete, holy crap, d’you get lost or what?”

Peter Quill smirks and lifts a hand in mild defense. “Just talkin’ to…” he glances at her name badge, “Brita here about stupid earth movies, man.”

Brita is frozen in place. She desperately begs her brain to send any kind of signal to her body, to make it move, but it’s complete radio silence up there.

The presence behind her moves past, then stands next to Peter Quill. That tail swishes casually and those ears flick, just like in her dreams.

Peter is saying something. She tries to tune in. “Brita, this is my buddy Rocket.”

The furry face tilts his chin up in a nod. The auburn eyes flit up and down her body, studying her.

“How ya doin’?” Says Rocket Raccoon, who is standing directly in front of her on purpose for the first time ever.

Brita can feel how huge her eyes are, the skin above her cheeks and under her eyebrows feels strained. She probably looks ridiculous. Why can’t she say anything? She glances at Coworker for a lifeline. A clue of what she should even do right now.

Krylorian Coworker’s eyes widen, and for the first time since Brita can remember, she looks genuinely interested in what’s happening in front of her. Coworker has been told possibly way too much about the hearty interest in this particular guardian of the galaxy. The subject of all of the daydreams Brita keeps getting caught in. The one that brought her here, to Knowhere, even though he definitely had no idea that was the case.

Brita can feel her mouth opening and closing, and she just knows she looks like a stupid fish. She smashes her mouth shut and conjures up a smile that is probably a little too big. She forces a word out of her mouth.

“Hi!”

[annemeh]

Forbidden Desires |Chapter 1| Part 2

There was going to be a party tonight, but because I didn't feel like going, I stayed in. PJ left like 5 minutes ago and I was already bored, so I had decided to see if Hazel also stayed at her dorm. So I put a tank top on, grabbed my keys and left. The walk wasn't long because her dorm was two doors down from mine. I knocked twice and waited, muffled shuffling being heard from behind the door, and the door opened. Hazel sitting right in front of me in a hoodie and some shorts. ,,Hey, what's up?'' she asked, sleepiness slipping into her voice, cute. ,,Did I wake you up?'' I asked ,,Nah, you're fine, i just woke up'' ,,Oh okay. Can I come in?'' ,,Make yourself at home'' she said, moving away so I can get in. "Thanks." I walked past her, heading for her bed. I took a seat on the edge, Hazel closing the door after me. ,,So why aren't you at the party?'' I asked curiously ,,I prefer my sleep. What about you?'' she asked, her blue eyes looking at me. ,,Nothing to do there.'' I responded simply ,,What about like a hook up or something?'' ,,I don't know if you noticed but not many girls are that much into me.'' I replied. ,,Why, your hot cupcake?'' she said, making me blush at the nickname. ,,I don't know, but anyway, how can a virgin that hasn't even kissed anyone do anything?'' ,,Wait,

you're a virgin? What about that girl that asked you out once in freshman year? She asked, confused. ,,I didn't really like her so we stopped talking.'' I said. ,,Don't worry, you'll find the right person,'' she said, comforting me. Then it clicked. ,,What if you taught me how to?'' I asked, looking at her. She sat there slowly, thinking about it, the silence filling the room. ,,I don't know if it's a good idea. I mean, you should be comfortable with the person touching you,'' she said, locking eyes with me. ,,I'm comfortable with you. We've been friends for a long time. Haven't we?'' I said, knowing this could end in two ways and let's I really didn't want it to end with the first one. ,,Are you sure?'' she asked. ,,Yes.'' I replied, not breaking the eye contact between us. ,,Okay, I'll help you,'' she said lowering her head. ,,Thank you so much, '' I said hugging her. The awkward tension between us disappearing into thin air. I pulled away from her, ready to do whatever she tells me to. ,,Okay let's do this,'' I said trying to be serious. ,,What would you like to start with?'' she asked, looking at me. ,,I mean, you're the experienced one here. I'm open to suggestions tho.'' I said, trying to break the ice. She chuckled. ,,Then kissing it is.'' She moved to rest her head on the bed's headboard, spreading her legs. ,,Would you be comfortable sitting on my lap during this?'' she asked. ,,Yeah, that's fine,'' I said sitting in her lap carefully, straddling her tights. She leaned her head closer, catching my lips with hers, slowly moving them while I tried to do the same, slowly catching up to her. Her lips were warm and soft, full of comfort that made me want her even more. Her hands resting on my waist. We pulled away to catch our breaths. ,,Would you be okay with trying it with tongue?'' she asked. ,,Yeah, sure tongue's fine,'' I said, ready to continue. Leaning down kissing her passionately, her tongue resting on the entrance of my mouth trying to gain access which i gladly accept, our tongues fighting for dominance. My hands running thru her hair deepening the kiss. Our bodies pressed together. I could feel her hot breath under my nose. When pulling away to catch our breaths a string of saliva hanged in between us. Before we could even say anything, there was a noise outside the door. I got off of her and we went to see what was happening. Hazel opened the door. Before she could even step out, someone fell on the floor. We both bobbed our heads thru the door looking to our left there laid Brittany. Drunk. Of course, the lightweight of the group would drink the most.

[yurisorcerer]

I thought this was….fine, I suppose. I remain undecided on if the few things this show does well are worth putting up with the parts where it's obviously lacking.

In this episode Mikari, the obligate normie girl in the harem who we met last week, does a cospaly shoot with Masamune and Ririsa. There is a little kernel of real feeling in how Mikari relates to Miriella, the character she's cosplaying, because the character could never tell Ashford how she felt, and Mikari herself can't be straightforward with Masamune, so she relates to her in that way. That said, sitting with it for a minute made me just think about how the various in-universe anime in Dress-Up Darling aren't a contrived bespoke metaphor for part of the main plot in that series, and how they thus feel much more like real anime that could exist in some alternate timeline than the fairly thin picture of Ashword Wars that the show's given us so far. I can also imagine the target audience actually finding the stuff in Dress-Up Darling hot, which, just to be super blunt, is not the case here. The visual chops just aren't there.

A small point in the show's favor is that I think this whole mana infusion thing is a crack about Fate/stay Night, which, hey, that's something. Even then, that's also kind of a weirdly dated reference point for a show in 2024, even keeping in mind that the manga is from 5 years ago.

There remains something broadly structurally impressive about most of the show being set in a single room with only a few characters, but it also makes the series feel kind of claustrophobic. This is a cousin of the same problem the Giji Harem anime is having right now. It's not as severe here, but one does get the distinct sense that this probably works better in print where there's not as much of a sense of place as in an anime. It's also extremely languid in pace, and compared to how well-structured the other romcoms airing this season are that's a notable weakness. Although at the end of the episode, our leads stay overnight at school to get work on a cosrom done, which is a nice interruption from what has quickly become this series' norm.

All this said, I think I am fairly close to dropping this. It doesn't hold a candle to Makeine obviously, but it's also not nearly as good as Roshidere, an equally low-stakes romcom with a horny streak that, despite its vastly different premise, is just handling itself with much more confidence and style than this has so far.

[petewentzsextape]

girl mikey way hcs?

Hiiii I'm actually gonna use this as an excuse to post a list I wrote for @heartswrath while I was stoned asf

- she's pretty tall, 5'7 maybe, and thin with like zero curves and kinda flat chested (in a hot way i love her!)

- her hair is brown shoulder length and she abuses that flat iron to get the perfect side bangs. when she's playing it always gets in her face and she can barely see, but it's okay because she's not a fan of looking at the crowd and she's used to being blind anyway without her glasses

- she doesn't wear a lot of makeup, just eyeliner and mascara and drugstore lipstick

- dresses the exact same as irl mikey ( tight jeans and even tighter band shirts)

- she loses her virginity at 19 to gabe which she thinks is embarrassing but he thinks is cute & teases her for

- he takes her backstage after one of his humble beginnings shows and she sucks him off in the green room. he's a gentleman tho so once he finds out she's a virgin he won't have sex with her unless there's a bed and candles involved

- they're on and off for a good six years

- but they're both sluts and not good at monogamy so... it goes as well as you'd expect

- Gabe will always consider her his best friend :]

- After pete ofc

- Which causes... problems... after warped 05

- warped 05 she gets really close with pete over the summer and they have a disastrous long distance relationship until he finally leaves her for ashlee while she's on tour in Europe Wtf.

- because of this in 2006 she changes up her whole look, dying her hair black with box dye, and becomes a real certified it girl for a minute. she gets photographed at a club dancing a little too close with ashlee simpson of all people (to make pete mad) and ends up in the tabloids for the first time.

- the exposure has its perks, though, and the month of her 26th birthday she gets offered a spread in blender. she's not going to do it, but she needs pete to see how she's doing just fine without him. after a month of coffee for breakfast, cigarettes for lunch and coke for dinner she strips half naked for the shoot. the band jokes and says she's the whole reason the black parade got any sales. pete keeps a copy of her issue and uses it to jerk off. she still doesn't get him back though

Woah this got out of hand

[jedimordsith]

I don’t have a Filthy Friday today, but have whatever this is. It was inspired by one of those “the Force dumps Luke in the past” fics... only this time with bb!Mara. 

- -

There were scores of beautiful, peaceful places in the Temple to meditate. Luke liked to rotate between them, joining different groups of Jedi on different days and occasionally seeking out lesser-known rooms and corners just for the novelty.

Today, however, the Force would not let him rest until he followed its guiding to the network of catwalks suspended over the Room of a Thousand Fountains. Made of solid durasteel, the catwalks were intended for maintenance rather than casual use, but Luke found an intersection where four walkways met and settled in curiously. The Force hummed about him in an unusual way, and instead of turning inward when he closed his eyes he reached out. 

The Temple was vibrant with life, as if always was. Lush in a way he could never have imagined before being pulled into the past. Usually he found it soothing, but today he found his heartbeat would not slow. Responding to something he could not see, it raced, resetting to its rapid pace no matter how many times he tried to focus and calm himself. 

The durasteel beneath him vibrated. It was a tiny movement; almost imperceptible. But it rolled through Luke’s bones like the forerunner of a tidal wave. 

Opening his eyes, he stopped breathing. 

Down the catwalk to his right a child stood frozen. She was small, too small for the safety rails to offer her any protection. She hovered close to the edge of the floor-plates. Too close. She wavered on her feet, exhaustion and despair radiating off of her and making her sway perilously close toppling over the edge and into a dizzying free-fall into the waterfall below. 

Green eyes stared at him, sharp despite the crippling fatigue, and disheveled red-gold hair rippled in the artificial breeze. 

Behind its layers of walls and shields, a long-buried connection point deep in Luke’s chest began to burn. 

“Siah!” 

The little girl spun, stumbling, and Luke’s hand shot out, a pull on the Force thickening the air to brace her, keep her on the walkway. 

Three healers appeared at the other end of the walkway. Luke knew them all by sight, knew they were part of the creche ward. 

“Siah.” One of them stepped forward slowly. “Young one, you cannot be up here. It isn’t safe.” 

The child backed away. 

The healer’s expression turned pained. “We aren’t going to hurt you,” they cajoled. “There’s nothing to fear. You just need to rest, little one.”

A ridiculous smile split Luke’s lips as memories cracked open his heart and, with it, all the protective barriers he’d built. The bond reopened with the agony of a thick scab being ripped off a barely-healed wound.

Rising, he stepped forward. “Mara.” 

The child pivoted again, and this time she did fall, landing on her behind on the plating, her eyes enormous and fixed on him. 

The healers saw their chance and started to advance, but Luke held up one hand, halting them. Walking toward her, Luke slipped his cloak off and crouched, putting himself closer to her level. Only then did he catch the bruising that peeked out from beneath her thin traveling clothes, the fine shivers that racked her over-exerted little body. 

Anger and grief surged through him, bitter and hot. Was there no galaxy, no timeline in which Mara was spared suffering? 

“Who hurt you?” He asked softly. 

“She won’t answer you,” the healer called back, their voice low. “She doesn’t talk.” Their look conveyed their dismay. “We’re not sure she can. Her name is Marasiah. We think.”  

The girl’s face screwed up and, across the reignited bond, Luke could feel her hatred of the name. Of everything Siah meant — images of cold and pain and shame flickered across his mind too quickly to grasp. 

His expression contorted and the child went white. 

“You can feel it, can’t you?” He said quietly. “You can feel me.” 

She didn’t answer, but he’d seen the confused terror in her eyes before — in the same eyes, just as tired and wounded but twenty years older. 

Slowly, Luke extended his left hand. “May I show you something?”

She looked at his hand, wary. 

“I won’t get in your head,” he promised. “And I won’t make you sleep.” 

He was sure the healers had tried that. Doubtless it had been what sent her fleeing in the first place. This Mara was too little to explain to the innocent healers the horror of losing control of your own body or the torment of being trapped in sleep with the monsters that hunted you.

But Luke knew. 

She might have seen it in his eyes. Or perhaps she felt the same undeniable pull of the Force that he did. In any case, she cautiously got back to her feet and inched close enough to just barely brush her fingers across two of his. 

Smiling gently, Luke unearthed precious memories he’d never shared with anyone else. Mara during a sparring session, her amethyst blade flashing as she spun across the floor all scorching heat and breathtaking grace. Mara, poised and elegant, backlit by the sparkling lights of a New Republic event hall. A private moment, one that still made his heart ache — the captivating curve of Mara’s lips when she shot him a rare, true smile, her eyes gleaming with triumph as she showed off her new ship. 

The little girl made a broken sound and Luke blinked, coming out of his own head as her fingers curled tight around his. 

“Mara,” she whispered, her voice cracked and papery-thin. She reached hungrily across the bond, her fear and desire clashing stormily. 

“Yes.” Luke’s chest was so tight he could barely get the words out. “That’s you, isn’t it? You’re not Siah at all.” 

Tears welled up and spilled down her cheeks, her tiny chest heaving in silent sobs and her entire body shaking. A torrent of fears and pain and bone-deep fatigue poured over him and Luke let it abrade away what remained of the barriers around his long-dormant Mara-place. It hurt, but he leaned into the pain greedily. Because pain meant that she was there, she was alive and she’d found him. After so many years of not allowing himself to hope, of telling himself that she deserved a beautiful life with her family and that it would be unforgivably selfish to wish for anything else —

With the sweep of a hand and a thought in the Force, Luke had the girl swathed in his cloak and scooped into his arms. She buried her head in his shoulder and burrowed her sense into his as he crooned promises to her — that she was safe, that he wouldn’t let anyone hurt her ever again. 

At the other end of the walkway, the healers gaped. 

“Tell Master Che that I’ll be seeing to my new Padawan myself, please.” Luke pressed a hand to Mara’s back over the enveloping cloak, more for her comfort than out of any real concern they’d object. “I’ll bring her by for the usual assessment once she’s settled. Does she have any things?” 

The healers exchanged glances. “No,” the one in the lead said finally. “But we can send some clothes and bedding for her to your rooms, Master Skywalker.” 

“Thank you.” 

Another memory flickered through — Mara’s face, defensive and uncomfortable as she’d examined one of the twins’ stuffed animals and confessed she’d never had any such thing that she could remember. The Emperor didn’t believe in coddling. 

“Are there any toys?” He asked impulsively. “Something soft. Stuffed?” 

One of the other healers projected warmth at him. “I think the last batch we got in contained a bearsloth. Something fierce for your little wildling, hmm?” 

Luke smiled. “Yes, please.” His smile slipped. “I’ll need bacta gel for her injuries.” 

“Of course, Master Skywalker.” The lead healer drew themselves up. “We’d best see to that so you can get her back to your rooms. If you need anything —”

In his arms, Mara tensed.

“We’ll be fine,” Luke said firmly, pleased when Mara went boneless with relief in response. “Oh,” he added as the healers started to turn away. “And update her records, please. Her name is Mara Jade. I don’t want her referred to as anything else.”

They murmured assent and Luke gave them a few moments head start before he carried his new Padawan back out into the Temple and toward his quarters. She fought sleep the entire way, determined to be awake to explore her new home. 

Luke didn’t chide her. He knew that she wouldn’t have peace until he’d showed her everything and tucked her into his own bed, still wrapped in his robe, behind no less than two locked doors, his body between hers and the rest of the galaxy. Some things, it seemed, were constants in the galaxy. 

For the first time since arriving in the past, he let himself hope that the rare and precious friendship between them might be counted on that list of constants as well.  

[xalygatorx]

Powerless (2017) | Chapter 6, "Falling Down"

Years after Sarah’s wit and bravery saved her brother and brought the Labyrinth to its knees, her daughter Andie is transported to what remains of that same fantastical place, somewhere she thought only existed in her favorite childhood stories. To find her way back home, she must traverse what’s left of the crumbling kingdom, find a way to set both moments and magic in motion again, and even save the Goblin King, himself. But who will save her from him?

Powerless is a SFW slow-burn romance between Jareth and an original female character. The story overall contains descriptions of fantasy violence, mild suggestive content, and grief regarding family illness. Chapter-by-chapter warnings will be provided as well.

Summary: Andie, Jareth, and the others go in search of the Wiseman in hopes to find further answers for how Andie might return home. After staring at some knockers, they reach a new, perilous section of the Labyrinth that descends into another layer even Jareth doesn’t remember crafting.

Pairing: Jareth x Fem!OC

Warnings: None

Word Count: 2.8k

A hot burst of air on her face served as her morning wakeup call and Andie was a bit displeased to note that it reeked of beef jerky. Pulling a face and opening her eyes, she found Ludo looking at her with his face just inches away, first with concern and then with delight when he discovered she was awake. "Andie?"

"Yup, still Andie," she mumbled as she reached up and rubbed her eyes. "What's the matter?"

"Breakfast," Ludo said pleasantly in his loud, gravelly voice and she noticed he was holding a small plate of rations that looked dollhouse-sized in his enormous hands.

"Oh," Andie said, feeling a bit guilty about her slightly snarky awakening as she took the plate. "Thank you, Ludo."

He smiled in his peculiar way and nodded his head once before going back to where Hoggle sat, who grumped boisterously when Ludo accidentally knocked him over. Andie picked one of the small hanks of meat off the plate and bit into it, twisting it to tear it between her teeth and trying not to wince at the dry, gamy texture. "Where did you guys get this stuff?" she asked, leaving it open for anyone to answer.

Nyle, sitting near the fire pit, was the one to reply. "I got it from the castle after the collapse. Figured I should take something before I left. Most of the provisions in the cellar were left untouched."

"Have you guys been living on this?"

"Somewhat," he acknowledged. "On and off. There have been other finds along the way and, with time stopped the way it has, we may not even need to eat, but better safe than, well, dead. You stop tasting after a while, I promise."

"That's pretty dismal," Andie commented as she chewed another bite, glancing around the clearing. "Where's Sir Didymus? And Jareth?"

"Didymus is scouting the area for any sense of direction in this place so we can start looking for the Wiseman, I believe," Nyle said, a snarl curling his lip with his next words. "Jareth is who-knows-where."

"Lurking, apparently," Leona said quietly as Jareth stepped around the corner of a turn in the maze, re-entering the courtyard. "Do you enjoy that? Popping out all dramatically when you are being talked about?"

Jareth looked a bit bemused. "Yes," he replied obviously, "but I did not think that was dramatic… My name was spoken and I answered."

"My intention wasn't to summon you by using—," Nyle began and Andie noticed for the first time that his teeth were pointed, which made the fine hairs on the back of her neck stand on end.

"I was not talking about you," Jareth said dismissively, his eyes fixed on the girl across the way.

Andie met his gaze and arched a brow. "I wasn't, er, summoning you either."

Jareth's barely concealed smirk chose that moment to curve his thin lips. "Pity." 

Andie heard Hoggle groan a little at the exchange, shaking his head in her peripheral. Her eyes moved back to Nyle as he stood, long thin limbs unfolding like a puzzle before he trudged away, a shadow making its way unaltered in the sunlight of the current sky. Jareth watched him go as well, lithely closing the distance across the courtyard before he was next to Andie, slowly lowering himself to sit next to her. "I like him even less than I used to."

"This might surprise you," Andie said as she swallowed her last bite of food and chased it with some of the awful leafy tea that they kept brewing, "but you're not his favorite person either."

Jareth sneered. "I'm truly shocked," he bantered back.

"I knew you would be." Andie finished her leaf water—to call it tea any longer was an insult to tea—and asked, "Any idea what you did to make him dislike you that much?"

"What makes you think I did anything?" After a heavy dose of side-eye, Jareth relented. "Perhaps."

"Care to share that information?"

"He was once to be my successor. Then my jester. And then a servant."

"Harsh," she murmured.

Jareth shrugged. "He was deemed no longer fit to ascend."

"By who?"

"Well, by me, of course."

"Hmph," she murmured as she stretched carefully and set her plate aside. "Is that why you steal babies?" At his inquisitive look, she added, "I've been told multiple times since coming here that a girl came through, looking for her brother."

He appeared amused by that. "Indeed."

"Was he one of the ones you stole?"

"Let's make one thing clear," he said, holding up a leather-gloved finger between them, "I do not steal children. Much like the brother of the girl you've heard of, they are wished away by careless siblings or they are left to dwell in orphanages or with unrelated families who treat them like garbage. They wish for escape and I have given it to them time and time again."

"But you didn't give the girl's brother back to her when she began her quest to get him back, so…"

"She wished him away," he argued, beginning to grow visibly annoyed.

"And then took it back," Andie persisted. "Where's the humanity in holding a girl to a wish that large?"

"You seem to be under the impression that I should have some form of humanity in me," he noted with a slightly calmer demeanor. "I am a goblin, little girl, a goblin king—the Goblin King—and am not held to your petty standards."

"There's nothing petty about being a fair leader," Andie countered. "Besides, you said yourself you were selecting human children as potential heirs. Weren't you chosen in the same way?"

His eyes narrowed and he admitted, "I cannot say I remember."

Andie's lips pursed a bit before forming the word, "Pity."

Just then, Didymus rode into the clearing atop Ambrosius—the sight of which still made Andie hard-pressed not to snort with laughter—and skidded to a halt that nearly threw the uniformed terrier from his steed. "There is no sure way to understand the direction of the Labyrinth any longer, but based on the areas nearby, I have an idea of where we must go in order to find the Wiseman and ask him what is needed," he reported before adding, "and, truly, simply sitting here will do us no good. 'Tis time to carry on!"

Andie nodded and stood. "Sounds good, any idea where we're headed first?"

"There is familiar ground down the right passageway after a few turns. I have marked the path we must take to get there again," he replied as the others packed up the campsite. Nyle had returned at some point within the last minute or so, slipping in like a puff of smoke. Sudden, yet soundless.

After what little they had was packed back into a knapsack Hoggle hauled along, the group followed Didymus down the right passageway, walking along behind him until he suddenly pulled Ambrosius to a stop, nearly causing Andie to trip over them both. "Why did you stop?"

"My…" He looked back at her with distress. "My markings are gone!"

"Gone?" she repeated, glancing around. "How can that be?"

"Likely the smaller goblins who do stone maintenance," Jareth admitted, looking disgruntled at the situation. "They rotate the stones whenever there is an impurity or repair to make."

" 'Tis no matter! I believe between the two of us, we will remember the way! Ambrosius, onward!" Didymus sent the sheepdog forward again and the group behind them followed, not quite knowing what else to do when no one had any better ideas. Didymus stopped at the end of a pathway, pausing heavily before noting, "This was not here before…"

Andie peered around the others to get a good look at the end of the path, at first wondering if they'd run back into the guards she'd faced earlier when she saw the doors. However, these were different; smaller and unguarded, with large detailed door knockers cast in bronze. When they all arrived, Andie continued studying the doors, at least until one of them yelled at her.

"It's rude to stare!" the pudgy one on the right shouted, making Andie jump.

"Excuse me?" she demanded.

"All you little girls that come through here are the same," it yammered on while the other one—whose mouth was occupied by the ring portion of the door knocker—mumbled unintelligibly. "Staring at us like we don't know you're there—oh, the mannerlessness of it all!—and then supposing that we are the rude ones?!"

"That's probably not a word. Could you maybe calm down, I was—"

"WHAT?"

The right door knocker was mumbling again, more voraciously than before, so Andie pulled the ring out of its mouth. "You were saying?"

"Thank you!" the door knocker said exuberantly before explaining most amiably now that she'd helped him, "He can't hear to save his life."

"What life? I'm a door knocker, you twit!" the left demanded irritably. "Not like you offer much in the realm of conversation!"

"It's by design, not choice, I'm a—"

"Could one of you tell me," Andie asserted loudly, causing them both to stop their bickering for the moment, "which way to go? We're trying to find the Wiseman." She glanced over at Didymus for confirmation that she'd said that correctly and, at his nod, she looked back at the door knockers. "Would anyone have come through here?"

"No one's come through," the left one grumped before adding, "though we don't know what's on the other side either. That's up to you."

Andie nodded. "That does make sense… Okay," she said before turning around to discuss the choice, though she only managed to turn right around into Jareth. "Could you stand any closer?" she grumbled as she stepped back.

"Is that a request or an admonishment?"

"I'm going to pretend you didn't say that," Andie informed him as he cackled quietly. "Anyway, which way? Has anyone been through here before?"

As there was a collective shaking of heads from everyone apart from Ludo, Andie focused on him. "Which way did you go before, Ludo?"

"OH, I remember you, you big slobbery bum!" the right door knocker crowed once he looked toward Ludo, who appeared to have hurt feelings now. "He came through this way before, but not before salivating all over that ring, which that girl then stuck back in my mouth after nearly suffocating me!"

Go, Mom, Andie thought with a small snicker, then more seriously asked, "Did you go that way before?" Ludo nodded timidly. "What was that way?"

"Forest," Ludo said simply. "Ludo fell doooown."

Andie pursed her lips. "Ah."

"The forest? That's where the Fireys are," Hoggle said with a grimace.

"Hm, then I doubt that's still what's behind the door. I already ran into them toward the beginning of the maze," Andie reasoned, tapping the knocking ring on her palm while she thought. "Any input, O Lord of the Labyrinth?"

"I could get used to that," Jareth remarked before becoming more serious. "I am at as much of a loss as you, with the Labyrinth in its disarray. You'll just have to guess."

It was her turn to grimace. "Why do I have to guess?"

"Because I should like it if our potential failure is your fault," he mocked unhelpfully.

"You know, for wanting my help, you sure—"

"Fine, fine," Jareth snapped, cutting her off so she didn't spoil his plans to keep his conundrum a secret. "You whine worse than Sarah, even."

"I don't whine," Andie growled, avoiding any comments that might divulge her relation. Hoggle had told her explicitly that revealing her lineage would jeopardize her safety here and—with the deal she'd struck with Jareth, at least that of his owing her a favor for all this—she didn't feel like bringing all that old drama to light. 

Andie took a deep breath and looked between the doors before deciding on the left. "Here," she said to the right, holding the ring back toward him. He pursed his bronze lips tightly and earned a glare from the girl before him. "Really? We can do this the hard way. History can repeat itself." The door knocker looked at Ludo before sighing and opening his mouth, letting Andie place the ring back inside.

Turning to the left door, she looked for a handle before deciding she had to use the knocker, taking the ring and tapping three times on the door, which swung open slowly to reveal a lush setting. "Look at this place," she murmured in wonder as she stepped through, finding herself surrounded by towering blooms, vines creeping up the walls on either side of them as the Labyrinth continued.

"Careful," Jareth said quickly, grabbing the back of her shirt and yanking her backward.

"What are you—?" she started to ask peevishly until he nodded toward the ground in front of them and she saw the unforgivingly dark void she'd nearly stepped into. "Oh…"

"Watch where you step," he said softly into her ear, making her squirm out of his grasp. This time she avoided the patch and paid more mind to the ground, hoping her face didn't look as hot as it felt. "Funny, I remember making sure there was something peculiar about every location…"

Andie started to turn around to hurl an insult, but she paused when she saw one plant rearing back, looking very much like a Venus flytrap. "Look out!" she shouted just as the thing uncoiled and struck, Jareth and Hoggle dodging away just in time as it collided with the ground behind them. Andie looked past her travel companions to find that the door had swung shut, so their only choice now was to keep running.

She stood her ground as Hoggle ran past her, followed by the others, making sure everyone was making it through okay and avoiding the apparently carnivorous plants now after them. When Nyle passed her, his shoulder accidentally caught hers and she toppled backward onto the ground, looking up to see one of the plants coiling back, its eyeless face aimed toward her. However, she felt hands wrap around her arms and suddenly she was dragged backward, the plant striking and missing her by inches.

"You fool, what are you thinking?!" Jareth demanded as he tugged her to her feet, giving up and scooping her off the ground before he ran through the passage to catch up with the others, dodging any plants that came their way, though now it seemed that the entire path was out to get them. The vines wrapping around the walls and over the floors were alive, spearing toward their ankles and lashing off the stone toward them as they passed. As a vine sliced open Jareth's cheek, he winced and muttered, "What was I thinking with this place…"

"What were you thinking with any of this?" Andie wondered aloud, shrieking as a vine hit her in the face and reopened her split lip. "Ow, dammit!"

When Jareth looked down at her to see what was wrong, the real commotion started up ahead and all they heard was Nyle shout, "No, you brute!" before the entire pathway slanted downward and they were caught off their feet, sliding down into the dark underground beyond. Jareth cursed and gripped Andie tightly as they all fell into the blackness, hitting more stone—icy compared to the rest—after they'd run out of pathway to fall on. Once they were off, the pathway replaced itself above them and they were sealed in tight.

Groans and swears echoed through the dank chamber, everyone blind for the lack of light. "Are you all right?" Andie heard Jareth ask near the top of her head.

She nodded, then remembering none of them could see, said, "Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks," acknowledging that he'd taken the brunt of the fall. "Are you?"

"I believe so," Jareth murmured, his grip on her still tight. Once he realized this, he loosened it, though they both stayed where they were for the moment. "Where are we?"

"You don't know?" Andie asked apprehensively. "That's not comforting."

"I…," she heard Nyle say hesitantly. "I think I do…"

"Hold on, let's shed some light on this! Hoggle, where's that firestarter…," Didymus said and there were some bustling sounds, then the clink of Hoggle's rucksack of supplies. "Ah! There it is!"

"Wait," Nyle said urgently, "don't!"

However, Didymus sparked the starter and lit up the space just long enough for Andie to make out a large reptilian eye, the pupil elongating from the flash. Her heart felt as if it would seize. "Oh, my god."

Next chapter: Chapter 7, "Through Dangers Untold"

[slowroadtosantiago]

Day 26 - Mansilla de las Mulas to Leon

It was another 12 miler and we carried our packs.

I don’t know how Jane did but it was another rubbish night’s sleep for me. My bunk companion was fine and I felt a bit sorry for her with my tossing and turning. The room was very hot and never truly dark as the blinds in the patio door wouldn’t come down and there was a bright orange street light outside. Never mind, we’re Airbnb’ing it tonight, own bedrooms and a quiet area, bliss.

We were up by half 6 and out by 7, we’re getting practiced at this. We knew there was a town about 3 miles up the road and hoped we would find breakfast. As we were leaving Mansilla we went over an old bridge and could see the ancient walls and a pretty river.

The path yet again followed the road but it wasn’t quite as desolate and boring as the last few days. We saw the moon setting too.

We almost missed the turning for the cafe as the path didn’t go through the village. It was an odd, scruffy cafe. I didn’t fancy the look of the croissants so asked for tostada which she griddled. We should have sent them back as they tasted of the oil that was last used on the griddle, even when slathered with jam. The coffee was ok though.

We then stopped at a little place that offered free rest for pilgrims, which had a vending machine. The biscuit thing I got to take the taste of the oil away didn’t really help either as it was pretty foul, so we just carried on.

The Welsh Cymru am Byth graffiti signs are still there, you would have thought their pen would have run out by now.

The path began to get a bit more urban running through scrubland between a motorway and a main road but some of the views were still pretty and rural.

We stopped for a coffee on the outskirts of Leon, then wandered in through the ‘out of town’ area passing a Spanish B&Q.

Then things took a turn for the worse. Jane put her foot in a hole, and took a tumble twisting her ankle badly. After a while she felt OK to continue but was in pain. We went slowly and had our first proper sight of Leon.

It was a straightforward walk in along the streets on the outskirts. We weren’t due to check in until 2 so made our way to the cathedral square. Jane was in quite a bit of discomfort so went to a nearby restaurant that I knew for some lunch. The wife of the man who owns it was an English teacher who was in a school with one of my friends in the cohort I was teaching in Leon with last year.

We enjoyed our burgers and made our way to the Airbnb. It’s very close to the centre but away from all the bars. Leon is a bit like Cardiff on a Saturday night and there were already young people roaming the streets in fancy dress!

We’ve got a two-bed place in an old courtyard with a full sized bath this time, a TV and a washing machine, don’t need much more!

Jane put her feet up properly and a wash on while I had a bath. We found a channel showing the rest of the coronation and watched the Buckingham Palace balcony scenes followed by something that is definitely set in Cornwall but overdubbed in Spanish.

At 5:30 I popped out to the shops to get Jane some food to eat and our breakfast for tomorrow.

I left Jane with her foot up then went up to the town to a place I knew which is like Boots as my soap bar is getting a bit thin now. After an abortive first attempt a very lovely girl helped me out. It was really strange being back and it felt odd without the familiar faces of those I was with a year ago.

There’s a rooftop bar we used to go to so I popped by but there was a sign on the door that it was full. I think you can still book a meal so I’ll see how Jane is feeling in the morning and maybe we can go for lunch.

The Camino family had been messaging so met Scott, a new friend of his Catherine from Belgium, Alex and Nicole outside the cathedral at 7. I then led them through the busy narrow streets to the Plaza Mayor which was noisy and chaotic. We sat for a drink and a chat being joined later by Ernest and Janet. I had a good chat with Ernest as he worked in IT for Bank of America.

We were very good and only had the one drink before I made my way back to the Airbnb for an early night.