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youthereader · 3 days ago

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Echoes in the Dark part 3.

PAIRING: joel miller (the last of us) x fem!reader

SUMMARY: 2.4k words. Every morning you wake up and remember two things. Firstly, that your son is dead, and secondly, that Joel Miller is your patient. || A fix-it fic. Reader is Joel’s carer as he recovers from Abby’s attempt on his life.

RATING: E. hand job, praise kink if you squint. age gap (reader is in their 30s, Joel is in his 60s). heavy angst, grief and loss of a child, graphic violence.

A/N: bon appétit, babes. I wrote this like a thirsty lady possessed.

PART 2.

From then on, you catch yourself hoping to be closer to Joel. You become more eager to see him, take pride in looking after him, and oftentimes you imagine him being restored of strength, throwing you down on his bed. In these fantasies, his huge hands are rough and demanding, and the fucking is downright filthy.

You bring yourself back to reality, usually watching him hold a book with his brows furrowed over the words, his grey curls inviting you to run your fingers through them. He doesn’t notice you zone out, you don’t think, he’s usually busy trying to get something done at his new desk he has installed over his bed like you suggested.

He’s gaining some of his strength back and his ribs are mostly healed. His leg is still the biggest issue, as well as his reluctance to nap. You can see him fighting his exhaustion so by the afternoon he has to rest whether he likes it or not, and you never say it out loud, but you know your face says ‘I told you so’. He narrows his heavy eyes even more at you and you crack a smile. If he were younger, maybe you’d consider it almost flirting, but you don’t know if he’s attracted to you. He mostly tip-toes around anything to do with your personal life, having understood you’re not opening up to him anytime soon.

One afternoon a couple weeks after you saw his naked chest for the first time, he asks you to take him to see Gail, a lady you don’t know very well. You only spoke to her a handful of times, giving your usual superficial routine. You know exactly who she is, but you didn’t realize Joel saw her until he handed you a plastic bag of weed. You open it and take a deep breath.

“Holy shit, this is a lot,” you murmur.

“It’s not, actually.”

You love the scent, remembering it from some distant piece of your past. You never smoked it much as an adult. It was hard to come by for years.

“It’s what I pay her,” he adds, wheeling himself out of his room.

You follow, pocketing the bag in your jacket. You offer you hand more often now, secretly hoping he takes it, and he’s never disappointed you. It’s like you reached a place where he doesn’t need to give you an arm to help him. Since no-one ever really touches you otherwise, the intimacy of this is staggering, further egging you on. Sometimes, you want to risk it all, say what you’ve been picturing over and over. You want to share the details of what he could do to you if he asked - and honestly, he could do anything.

You never get brave enough to follow through, though, always ending up feeling a little pathetic, because your crush is the best thing going on right now, and it’s not even that serious. Some days, he barely talks to you because he’s too fucking tired to move. His recovery has been brutal.

You wheel him to Gail’s house and knock on her front door.

“You can leave me to it,” he says, when you hand him back the weed.

You turn your heel, doing as your told, but Gail is faster than you expect and opens the door, greeting Joel. She calls out:

“So you’re his-?”

Joel interrupts. “Yeah, she’s my…”

“Oh,” she says, looking at you fully. She smiles.

She seems off, possibly stoned already. You don’t blame her. Finishing her silent assessment, she gives Joel a look.

“I’ll be back in an hour,” you say, before anyone else can talk. You look at Joel. “Do you need anything?”

He shakes his head, scratching the back of it. You almost run away, hands shoved into your pockets as you watch your feet the entire way, super aware of how awkward you were.

You return to Joel’s place and strip his bed, swapping the sheets for clean ones. You focus on your tasks, and try not to study his home, and learn more about him as you make your way through it, cleaning what you can as fast as possible.

You’re washing his dishes when there’s a knock and then a key in the front door. Tommy appears behind you, eyes falling to your arms deep in the sink, the suds up to your elbows.

“Hey, he’s not here?”

“No,” you say, not sure if Gail’s someone Joel talks to Tommy about. “But he’ll be back soon.”

“I can’t come by tonight, the foal’s coming now,” he says, thumb jutting behind him. “They need me down there-”

“Oh, for sure,” you say. “Is the mom okay?”

The whole town was voting on what to call the foal when it’s born. Your pick was ‘Maple’. Joel never told you his.

“It just means he’ll stink a little longer.”

Oh. Tommy bathes him, you forgot. It wasn’t something you ever did, you never thought about it much since Joel never smells bad to you, not that Tommy needs to know that.

“He won’t mind.”

“I’m sure he won’t,” Tommy mutters. He hurries off. “See ya…”

He disappears and you stop scrubbing, moving on to rinsing the final dishes. Your movements are slower.

You keep quiet when you retrieve Joel from Gail’s, warmth in your guts as your mind keeps turning, turning, turning…

“What?” you blurt, missing something he says.

“I said, ‘The snow’s finally melting.’”

He’s right. The trees drip occasionally. You see patches of green, you can smell the earth again. You take a deep breath now, nodding.

“Yeah.”

He takes your hand when you’re inside, his callouses scraping across your palm. He has a strong grip, made gentler. Your stomach flips - it fucking flips. You swallow, putting him back in his wheelchair in the hallway.

“Uh, Tommy came by,” you begin, and Joel’s briefly alarmed, you see it plain as day. “Everything’s fine, except he can’t shower you tonight, he’s gotta help out in the stables…”

You trail off, and feeling the heat rise in your cheeks. You want him to ask. It would be so much easier if he just…

“Oh, okay,” he says, hands going to his wheels. He doesn’t roll away. “Um. I could really use it, though. I’ve been sweatin’ a bit…”

“I can’t tell,” you blurt, and he smirks.

“Thanks. But you don’t know the half of it.”

“You really don’t stink, Joel,” you insist.

You know where this conversation is heading and you don’t know how to handle it, your heartbeat picking up. Your eagerness threatens to burst out of you.

His voice lowers and you think you can die:

“It’s not in your job description, but…”

“I can help you,” you say, your face on fire.

“I know it’s making you uncomfortable-”

“It’s not,” you go on. “It totally does not. Seriously.”

Why do you have to sound like a teenager, even younger than you already are? Shut up. Oh, my God. Shut the fuck up!

“Just keep your underwear on,” you babble.

“Sure,” Joel says.

There’s a brief silence you wish to fill, but you know you’ll only say something batshit and embarrassing, so you press your lips together.

“Let’s go, then,” Joel mutters, and he rolls off.

You press a hand to your face, wanting to hit yourself a few times behind his back.

“Uh-huh,” you reply.

You tell yourself to grow up. If you want to be a nurse, you’re going to deal with a lot of nudity. It’s really immature of you to think this is any different. And unprofessional. And weird. You berate yourself internally as you make your way into the bathroom, slipping past his wheelchair to open the shower door.

There’s a white plastic garden chair and a detachable shower head resting on it. You take a deep breath and turn back to Joel, who is already taking off his thick jacket. You hover, then finally help him when his chest is fully exposed. He has less issues with his upper body movements now. He gingerly stands up and you move forward for his hand to grab the space between your shoulder and neck like a vice.

Your stomach flips, warmth collecting in your belly.

“Wait,” you whisper, and move back, Joel going still. You flip on the water and quickly move back, his hand back on you. “Don’t want you shivering too much.”

“Thanks,” he mutters. “Dunno how long the hot water will last…”

He looks uncomfortable, and it’s like a reality check. He’s not enjoying this, so it’s best to be out of your own head right now. He’s the guy you’re helping, not a piece of meat. He uses his free hand to awkwardly pull down his sweatpants, shuffling toward the shower door.

He grabs it, and you crouch to tug his pants off the rest of the way. You can’t help staring at him, at the broad expanse of him, aware of how he towers over you. You lick your lips and grab the shower head, gesturing to the seat. You test the water against your palm.

“Damn, your shower pressure is way better than mine,” you mutter, and he clears his throat.

“I’ll, uh, look at that for you sometime,” he says.

You glance at him, letting him see you smile a little more, but he doesn’t return it.

“Thanks. Appreciate it.”

He says nothing, seeming tense. He sits down with your assistance, frowning. You hand him the showerhead and grab the bodywash on the floor. The label is faded and barely legible, something from decades ago that you can’t make out, but it smells sharp.

“‘Aquatic Splash’ or somethin’,” Joel mutters, taking it from you to squeeze in his hand. “I dunno.”

He’s grumpy. Embarrassed, you realize. He washes his upper half with his eyes elsewhere, brows knitted together. You wait, until he clears his throat again.

“I’m gonna need you to… uh,” he says, and you spring forward, probably too eager.

He doesn’t seem to notice. He hands you the showerhead, refusing to look your way as you lather his leg away from the bandage. You watch as he grits his teeth. He doesn’t take pain meds anymore, though he definitely should. His stitches won’t be out for a while, and rehab will still go on for months. You wash away the suds and stare at his face until he acknowledges you on the tiled floor.

“It’s okay, I’m supposed to be helping you,” you say. “And it’ll help you relax.”

“Help me relax,” he parrots, and then smirks, shaking his head.

“Why?”

“You’re…”

He trails off, sighing. You do your best to ignore his grumbling as you lean up, closer to him.

“Lemme do your back.”

He gives in, bending forward a bit. You move around to kneel behind his back, then reach up to lather soap on his shoulder blades. He grunts.

“Am I hurting you?”

“Nah,” he whispers. “Feels good.”

You know you’re wet when he says that, licking your lips again, staring at the back of his head. You take a deep breath, composing yourself.

“What if I…?”

Your hand follows the lather, thumb digging into his muscle. He gives a little groan. You do it again, his head falling forward. He lets out a huff.

“My back is killin’ me,” he admits.

“You should’ve said something.”

“Yeah, maybe,” he says, with a weak chuckle. “If it meant you doing this.”

You can’t see his face so you don’t know what he means, if he likes you in particular doing this. You do it harder and he groans, and you move onto his other shoulder blade. He makes a pained sort of sound and you smirk, digging into the muscle. It’s a little awkward with you left hand only and your right still holding the showerhead, but it’s working.

He lets out a low breath, and then you go completely still, his hand coming up to grip your wrist - and the showerhead falls to the tiles with an echoing clatter. You can’t form the words to apologize, when he turns back and locks eyes with you.

You think you’ve overstepped, your heart racing, until he places your right hand on his heaving chest. His gaze pulls you in, your chest meeting his back, your faces so close together now that you can feel his breath on your parted lips.

He watches you, waiting, eyes dipping to your mouth, and then he pulls your hand lower, lower down to his stomach. He is a little soft, like you predicted. He has a middle-aged belly but hidden beneath is a rock hard core. Your clit pulses, and you move the last couple inches down, slipping under the waistband of his soaked briefs to wrap your hand around his thick cock.

“Fuck,” he gasps, and you press your forehead to his wet shoulder, groaning. “F-fuck…”

You slide up and down, so slowly, and he falls forward again, like he means to bend himself in half.

“Fuck, you feel so good,” he whispers, and you smile against his skin, lips brushing him. “I knew you’d be good at this…Goddamn, sweetheart…”

Warmth blooms in your chest and your cunt gives a little squeeze. Joel’s hips fail to lift but he tries anyway, to fuck into your tight fist. He groans again and you nip at his flesh.

“Fuck, you're so fuckin’... soft,” he mumbles. He breathes your name and you sigh, giving him the briefest lick.

You jerk him nice and slow and he groans like a dream, your thumb dragging over his sensitive tip of him, your left hand sliding down to join your right. You take him out of his drenched underwear and cup his balls. He jumps in your hand, cursing your name. The action caught him off-guard and he gives a shaky laugh, moaning.

You pepper his skin with kisses, up to the back of his head. He turns, hand coming up to grab you by the jaw, his brute strength back tenfold. His thumb brushes your mouth, and you nip at him again, wrapping your lips around him. Knuckle deep, you give him a few sucks, and he's mesmerized. His eyes are nearly black, and he grunts, fingers scraping your scalp.

“Fuck–”

He gasps, balls drawing up. He comes hard. It's slow, long spurts over your knuckles, dripping onto the floor. His eyes squeeze shut and your foreheads press together, his thumb still in your mouth, your incisor piercing its pad.

The water still runs from the forgotten shower head, his come following it down the drain. You let go of his spent cock, lifting your hand to your mouth to suck and lap up the mess, eyes locked with his. Your face burns and you savor his taste. You swallow it all, sighing contentedly.

😈❤️

Oh, man. This was seriously fun to write. Let me know if you want to be added to my taglist.

#joel miller fanfiction #joel miller #fem reader #pedro pascal fanfiction #joel miller tlou #joel miller x reader #joel miller x you

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synthaphone · 2 days ago

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I love how Neopets draws water (ie. water PB pets) but when I try to copy them it always looks weird, do you have any advice on replicating it?

ooh, let me see- i've only ever tried to replicate it once, with the Water Centibyte:

my favorite water pets are the Kyrii and the Zafara, so those two were the ones I referenced most heavily when I was designing this!

I apologize in advance for not necessarily knowing how best to describe this, but in short, I think I'd recommend

laying down a base gradient for darker areas that you can then add hand-painted caustic detail over on a different layer

make extremities that you'd want to be clearly visible lighter/higher contrast (The Zafara and Kyrii both have lighter colored hands and feet, light colored tails and hair, and faces where you can make out the eyes and facial expression due to having contrasting areas of light and dark next to each other. I find it helpful sometimes to squint at what I'm working on to see if I can still roughly make out its shape, vs everything turning into a same colored blob)

consider keeping thinner pieces of a design like 'sheets' of hair lighter, and maybe visibly darker spots where you'd realistically 'see through' the sheet of water

Honestly I mostly was winging it + heavily referencing those two pets, but looking at irl photos of pools and ocean waves would probably be a good idea too- you can sort of build up a sense memory for how light interacts with water, that can make it easier to stylize or 'cheat' it.

If you want my long attempt to remember wtf my process was for the Centibyte in particular, i've put it under the cut :)

Water is a color that's pretty reliant on gradients, and where the shading and detail work on top of that base gradient really make it shine. Both of my reference pets have their darkest area around their neck and shoulders, and get lighter towards their extremities, so the first thing I did (after making my lineart edits to the hair to get the splashy effect, and recoloring the eyes to match the Kyrii and Zafara) was lay down some base gradients.

I believe i used the gradient tool first to establish main dark-to-light gradient from the head to the feet, and then later went in with a lasso tool to add smaller gradients to the ends of the arms, and probably used the soft brush to add that lighter marking to the face and to make the feet even lighter. (The belly marking I add later will cover up that jaggedy spot on the belly, so it didn't matter that it looks weird)

After that, I added simple gradients to the shell and belly markings too:

I have these on separate layers already, so it was relatively simple to lock the layers and throw more gradients over them.

After that I seem to have started to add stylized water caustic effects!

Note that I'm extremely inexperienced at painting or rendering water, so I was just sort of eyeballing how it looked on the two pets I was referencing, in addition to considering what looked good to me. I used a couple different low opacity multiply layers to do the darker markings on the body and the belly, and a 100% opaque normal layer to paint the lighter markings onto the feet (which also have a gradient on them, so that they'd match the gradient they were being drawn on top of)

After that I... seem to have just gone buckwild and started painting shit with the opaque hard brush.

I mimicked the hands on the Zafara being a less green shade of blue, and sort of gradiated that color out manually by painting on the lighter colors with a few blobby splashes and caustic patterns to make them feel blended. (I don't think anything I painted on these layers has an actual gradient, soft shading, or lowered opacity). I also added lighter outlines and a few bright white highlights to the arms, to give them that shiny jelly-like effect.

For the belly, I also just kind of went wild painting more caustic patterns- my main goal was feeling acceptably "watery" while also keeping the basic shape of the belly marking distinct from the background. The lighter blue marking in the middle of the belly (and at the bottom of it) is supposed to be underlighting that's reflecting back up.

For the lighter splashy 'hair' parts of the design, I tried to focus on getting the basic background colors in before worrying too much about where the highlights would go, knowing I could do those on a different layer afterwards. I tried to use the darkest blues at the spots where the curved hair shapes overlap each other, and also copied the head colors for the parts of the mohawk that would be thin and overlap the darker shell of the head.

I decided to sort of transition that darker shell part out 'early' instead of following it all the way through to that back antenna, so that the hair would stand out from the shell, and also because the antenna gets further away in perspective as it extends past the head.

Then I threw on a shadow layer for the shell, and then (confusingly) I made another layer on top where I added highlights AND obscured the last two segments of the tail and the knees with gradient layers. I think I felt that they didn't feel 'water' enough?

I added highlights and additional caustics for those elements on another layer afterward, with another opaque layer:

Then we have the spots and stripes markings + area specific colored lineart:

Aaaand some causticy-wavey lighting for the hair + blending of the head antennas into their hair, because it felt very abrupt for Water:

For the 'hair' highlights, I used a mix of pure white and very light blue- I probably could have made my life easier by doing a gradient on these areas, but for whatever reason I hand painted them. You'll notice in close ups that it can look a little sloppy, but if it looks decent at the size you intend the piece to be viewed at, this doesn't really matter.

And that's the finished piece! (identical to the one above, i just hid the refs)

No idea if this will be helpful, but I hope its at the very least interesting!! I viewed a lot of the more difficult Centibyte colors as challenges and puzzles to solve- its fun trying to reverse engineer very specific aesthetics I'd never tried to tackle before. I wish you luck and hope you have fun in the future with your watery neopets endeavors!!!

#neopets #centibyte #asks #water neopets #long post

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v6quewrlds · 9 hours ago

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&.⠀⠀OFF THE TABLE II⠀⋆⠀JUSTIN HERBERT.

pairing⠀⁎⠀justin herbert x single mother!oc. word count⠀⁎⠀10.7k.

series summary⠀⁎⠀in maya's eyes, love has been completely off the table since the birth of her son, miles, six years ago. fate disagrees with maya's point of view, bringing her justin in more ways than one.

author's note⠀⁎⠀updates might be a little slow after this one. listen y'all, if you're from socal don't pay too close attention to the geography. i'm taking reddit's word for a lot of things in addition to the fact that i have zero clue where justin lives and don't care to know. series warnings⠀⁎⠀18+ mdni, smut, oc warning [maya atkins], single motherhood, friends with benefits, discussions of guilt, mention of deadbeat dads.

read more⠀⁎⠀justin herbert masterlist⠀⁎⠀previous, next.

"From my point of view, I think there's no harm in fully going for the Latin-Asian fusion thing. That opens your options a bit more flavor-wise." Her client of the month was a struggling upscale sushi bar on Manhattan Beach, and Maya was adamant about bringing in a fresh perspective. She had spent the last week experimenting with recipes that would appeal to the area's diverse palate without alienating the restaurant's existing clientele.

"So with the ceviche dish, we could incorporate some sushi-grade fish and add a twist with some citrus-marinated jalapenos," Maya suggested, her mind fully engrossed in the culinary brainstorming session with her client. Her laptop was open between them, a picture of the dish she had in mind taken on her phone the night before after a late-night cooking session two days prior.

The restaurant owner nodded, his eyes lighting up at the idea. "I like it," he said, scribbling notes down on his own pad. "It's definitely something we could promote during happy hour."

"Exactly," she echoed. "I would even go as far as promoting it alongside one of the signature cocktails we talked about. Something with a bit of heat to match the jalapenos, like a spicy marg or a wasabi cucumber gimlet. Really round out the profile."

The restaurant owner nodded again, scribbling away. Maya felt a buzz of satisfaction at the thought of her idea coming to life. "On the idea of keep the menu fresh, what do you think about rolling out a weekly special?" she asked, her mind racing with possibilities. "You could use local, seasonal ingredients to keep it exciting for repeat customers. The local clientele here is on the wealthier side so most will be open to trying new things."

He nodded enthusiastically. "That's a fantastic idea. I've been looking for a way to keep the menu feeling exclusive without being too stuffy." He leaned back in his chair, tapping his chin thoughtfully. "I'll have to talk to our suppliers, but I think we could definitely make that work."

"Great," she said, her voice brimming with excitement. "I'll draft up a few options for you to consider and send them over tonight. When do you think I'll be able to touch base with your service staff to talk through their concerns and the new menu ideas?"

The owner checked his calendar before looking back up at her. "How does next Friday sound? We're closed between lunch and dinner from 2 to 5 for staff training. That's usually when we go over menu changes, important reservations, that sort of thing."

Maya nodded, scribbling the details in her planner. "I'll make sure to be here. I'll bring the samples for everyone to taste." She stood up, smoothing out her dress pants. "Thank you for your time today, Mr. Castillo. I'll have the menu draft in your inbox by tomorrow."

Mr. Castillo stood as well, extending his hand for a firm shake. "Thank you, Maya. I really can't thank you enough for this. I'm excited to see what the future holds for us here."

Maya walked out into the warm afternoon, heels clicking rhythmically against the pavement as she dug in her purse to locate her keys. The beach was a short walk away, and the salty breeze carried the faint sound of waves and distant laughter. Despite the allure of the ocean, her thoughts remained inland with Miles. She slid into her car and started the engine, the quiet purr echoing in the quiet oceanside streets.

Miles would be wrapping up a playdate at a former preschool classmate's house within the next thirty minutes, leaving her just enough time to set her route to the host home. She pulled up to the house, a tastefully decorated Craftsman-style home in a quiet neighborhood of Culver City. The yard was meticulously maintained, with a row of tulips lining the walkway.

The front door had been left unlocked, the message shared through the playgroup's group chat. She stepped into the living room, the smells of freshly baked cookies and playdough assaulting her nose, reminding her of those late afternoon preschool pickups. The sound of children's laughter grew louder as she approached the backyard. Miles' giggle was unmistakable, a sweet melody that brought a smile to Maya's face.

"Is that slide new?" she asked, sliding the glass door open and stepping onto the wooden deck. The laughter grew louder, and she spotted Miles at the top of the new play structure, his little legs dangling as he waited for his turn to zoom down the slide.

Danielle, the mother hosting the playdate, turned to wave Maya over. "Hey girl! Bryan installed it last week just for today, what do you think?" She asked, her eyes shining with pride.

Maya couldn't help but laugh. "It's amazing, I'm surprised you guys haven't had a line out the door for the neighborhood kids."

Danielle rolled her eyes. "Oh, trust me, we have. We had to set up a schedule so they don't all show up at once."

Maya chuckled, watching Miles slide down with a look of pure joy. "Well, it's definitely worth it," she said, her eyes focused squarely on her son.

"Anything new with you?" Danielle asked as Maya took a seat at the patio table, sipping from the iced tea she had been offered from a tray.

Maya took a moment before responding, contemplating how much to share about her recent romantic developments. She decided on a small nugget of truth. "Just had a good few weeks," she said with a nonchalant shrug. "Work's been busy, but I got out a little bit, flirted, nothing came of it but it was fun."

Danielle's eyes widened with interest. "Flirted? That's a first since, what, Miles' dad?" She leaned in closer, setting her own tea down. "Spill. Who's the lucky guy?"

Maya felt a warmth spread through her body and into her fingertips as they cupped the glass. "It's no one, really," she said, trying to downplay it. "Just a guy I met at a bar. We texted for a bit, but I think he got busy or something. It's whatever."

Danielle leaned back in her chair, studying Maya's expression. "You're holding out on me," she accused playfully. "You've got that look."

Maya couldn't help but laugh. "What look?"

"The look," Danielle insisted, her eyes twinkling. "Did you follow-up with him? Maybe he's just… busy."

Maya took a deep breath, feeling a mix of excitement and trepidation at the thought of seeing Justin again. "No, I didn't," she admitted, her voice dropping a notch. "I just… I don't know if I'm ready for all that yet, you know?" She looked at Danielle, her friend's expression one of understanding. "I just feel so out of my depth with all this. He was charming, sweet, but I guess I just wasn't special enough to keep his attention."

Danielle reached out and gave her hand a comforting squeeze. "You're more than special enough, Maya," she assured her. "And if he's not giving you the attention you deserve, then he's the one missing out."

Maya nodded, trying to convince herself of that fact. Her thoughts drifted to the previous week's encounter with Justin, his gentle touch, and the way his eyes lit up when they talked about food. She had hoped their casual flirtation could evolve into something more, but the silence following their meeting had been deafening and she couldn't help but feel a twinge of disappointment.

"Should I reach out? Maybe he is just busy and forgot," Maya wondered aloud, her eyes straying to her phone on the patio table.

Danielle gave her a knowing look. "If you want to see him again, just text him. Worst-case scenario, he's busy or not interested. But you'll never know unless you try."

Maya nodded, staring down her phone, chewing her lip, then turning to locate her son in the midst of his play. "Are you gonna do it?" Danielle deadpanned, breaking the silence.

With a deep breath, Maya picked up her phone, tapping her index finger against the back of her case. Then with a sigh, she set it aside. "Maybe later. I've got a shit ton of stuff to get done tonight." She turned her focus back to Miles, who was now engaged in a game of tag with his friends.

"Maya…" Danielle called, her voice cutting through the laughter of the children. "You're not seriously going to leave it like that, are you?"

Maya's eyes snapped back to her friend's, the warmth in them pushing aside the doubt. She took a deep breath, her hand hovering over her phone. Hovering, but not quite making the move to unlock it. "What do I even say?" she asked, the question a whisper.

"Just be you," Danielle said with a soft smile. "You managed to pull him in at the bar, didn't you? A simple 'hey', ask him about his week, maybe throw in a little self-deprecating humor about your crazy work schedule. Keep it light, easy."

"I'll think about it," she mumbled, watching as Miles dodged the grasp of one of his friends with the agility of a seasoned athlete. The way he laughed, carefree and uninhibited, was a stark contrast to the cautious tightening in her chest at the thought of reaching out to Justin.

As the playdate wound down, Maya helped gather the toys scattered around the yard and thanked Danielle for a great afternoon. With Miles in the backseat, she drove home, the quiet hum of the car's engine allowing her thoughts to drift back to the texts, or rather, the lack thereof.

It wasn't until Friday night rolled around that she reconsidered Danielle's advice.

She had decided to treat herself to a quiet solo dinner at a sushi grill, gathering some last minute inspiration to tie the bow on the Manhattan Beach fusion menu. Armed with her notebook and purse, the distant fire from the center grills heated her face from her spot at the hostess stand. The smell of ginger hung thick in the air, and Maya felt her stomach rumble with anticipation.

The walk to the bar was a long one due to the placement of the grills in the direct center. She had picked a spot that was a little less crowded, but still allowed her to observe the flow of the kitchen and the interaction between the staff and customers. As she approached the counter, she noticed one of the two bartenders was busy serving a large group of male patrons. Maya took a moment to appreciate the sleek black and chrome setup of the bar, the way the light reflected off the bottles behind it.

The men standing at the bar stood heads and shoulders above the average patron, their broad shoulders and muscular builds giving them away as being athletes beyond the shadow of a doubt. She shrugged the observation off; the grill was located in a neighborhood popular with pro athletes, so it wasn't unusual to spot a few lingering around the more exclusive spots.

The second bartender, a petite brunette with a bubbly smile, saw her approach and waved her over. "What can I get you started on tonight, love?" she asked.

Maya took a seat and perused the menu. "Just a ginger beer for now. I'm still deciding on food."

The bartender nodded and set to work, the sound of ice clinking against the glass a familiar and comforting melody in the background. As she waited, Maya couldn't help but overhear snippets of the conversation happening a few stools down. One of the men was talking about a game from college. She turned her head to take in the decor of the restaurant, taking in the modern chandeliers and the abstract art on the walls.

It was when she turned back that she saw him staring directly at her. Justin. Every unfathomable inch of him. His hair was shorter than it was when she had met him weeks ago, but that same quiet confidence was there, his eyes the same piercing shade that reflected the light gorgeously. His cheeks flushed a slight pink, and he looked surprised, yet delighted. She felt her eyes widen as they locked gazes.

He stepped away from his group of friends, drowning out their conversation as he approached. "Maya," he said, his voice a low rumble of surprise. "What are the odds?" There was that familiar lean against the bar top, his beer already forming a ring on the sleek surface.

Maya's heart skipped a beat, her hand frozen mid-air as she tried to process his sudden appearance. She gave him a nervous smile, her eyes darting to his friends before returning to him. "Hi, stranger," she said, her voice a little shakier than she had intended.

Justin grinned, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Small world, isn't it?" He leaned closer, eyes drifting over her notebook and beer as he took in the scene before him.

"Yeah," Maya replied, her heart thumping in her chest. "What are you up to?"

"Just having dinner with the guys," Justin said, gesturing to his teammates who had all turned to look at them now, an array of wide smiles and amused glances passing between them.

"Is that what's been keeping you busy? Dinner with the guys?" Maya asked, her voice filled with a teasing lilt. She couldn't help the little thrill that shot through her at the sight of him, the way his eyes held hers, the ease of their conversation.

"I deserve that," he flushed under her teasing. "Actually, I just was in Oregon for a few days handling some…" he paused, licking his lips hesitantly as if carefully choosing his words. "contractual obligations."

Maya raised an eyebrow. "Contractual obligations?" she echoed. "You're not going to tell me you're a CIA agent or something, are you?"

Justin chuckled, his gaze dropping to the floor briefly before returning to hers. "No, nothing that exciting." He didn't provide any additional details, which only served to pique Maya's curiosity further. The bartender returned to take Maya's order, and she requested the chef's special. The petite brunette nodded before heading back to the POS system.

The men from Justin's group continued shooting them glances just behind his back, their whispers and laughs growing louder. "Am I interrupting time with your friends?" she joked, trying to ease the tension between the two of them.

Justin shook his head, his smile unwavering. "Nah, we're gonna be here for another 30 to 45, still waiting on a table." He cleared his throat, his Adam's apple bobbing before he slowly added, "We'll have plenty of time to bond before the season kicks in."

Maya took a sip of her ginger beer, the fizz tickling her nose as she pondered his words. "The season?" she questioned, her eyebrows furrowing slightly. She had no idea what he meant by that, but if the way he eased that detail in told her it was significant.

Justin looked a bit flustered, as if he'd said more than he meant to. "Yeah," he said, his voice a little less sure than before. "I'm an athlete. NFL."

Maya's eyes went wide, the ginger beer almost slipping from her grasp. "Oh," she managed, trying to keep her cool. "Which team?"

"The Chargers," Justin said, his voice a mix of pride and something else she couldn't quite place. He was watching her reaction closely, gauging her interest or perhaps waiting for recognition that didn't come.

She paused before shaking her head with a chuckle. "Can I be honest?"

"Always," Justin said, leaning closer.

Maya took a deep breath and put her ginger beer down. "I have no idea who you are," she admitted, a laugh tumbling from her lips. "I'm not a sports person. But if you say you play for the Chargers, I'll take your word for it."

Justin's expression brightened with a hint of relief, taking another step closer to her. "No big deal. It's just my job," he said with a shrug.

"So, that's why you're so busy…" she hummed with an upwards curl of her lips. "CIA agent moonlighting as a football player."

That drew a genuine laugh from him, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Something like that," he responded. She took note of the deep dimple that appeared in his right cheek. The sound of his laughter was infectious and she found herself joining in.

"Well, if it's any consolation, I'm pretty busy myself," Maya said, absentmindedly flipping her notebook shut. "One secret for another?" she asked, moving forward when Justin nodded. "I have a son. He keeps me just as busy as I'm sure you are."

Justin's smile faltered for a moment before regaining its former warmth. "That's a big deal," he said, his voice genuine and a little softer than before. "How old is he?"

"He's six," Maya said, her eyes shining with pride. "His name is Miles." She watched Justin's reaction carefully, expecting some sign of disinterest or discomfort, but his expression remained open, curious even.

"Six… first grade?" Justin asked, his gaze holding hers with a gentle curiosity that made her heart flutter. She didn't miss the way his eyes dipped to glance at her hands before releasing a shallow breath at the absence of a wedding ring or even a tan line on her left ring finger.

Maya nodded. "Yeah, he's a handful but worth every second," she said with a warm smile. She felt a sudden need to explain herself, to justify her presence in this bustling bar on a Friday night. "He's with my parents for the weekend, so I have a little free time."

Justin's gaze remained on her, his eyes filled with something she couldn't quite read. "Well, it's good that you get some time for yourself," he said, his hand briefly brushing against hers on the bar.

The urge to explain herself continue to ravage her senses, pushing her to provide another disclaimer. "I really don't want you to feel like I'd be offended if you didn't want to pursue things," Maya spoke quickly, her voice a little shaky. "I know having a kid can be a deal-breaker for some guys. No hard feelings at all. I'd probably feel the same way if our situations were reversed."

Justin's expression grew serious, his thumb tracing lazy circles on her forearm. "Maya, I'm interested. Really interested," he assured her, his voice deep and sincere. "As long as you're single, I'd like to get to know you better."

The tension between them grew thick with anticipation. Maya felt a rush of heat to her face and took a moment to compose herself. "Well, I am single," she murmured, looking away shyly before meeting his gaze again. "But I can't guarantee that I'll have much time to devote to… whatever this might be."

"I get it," Justin said, his voice understanding. "My schedule's pretty packed too. My trip to Oregon was a last-minute Nike thing, and I've got a lot riding on the upcoming season." He took a sip of his drink, looking at her intently over the rim. "I can't say it would be fair for me to start something serious either. Asking for your number at the bar was a bit out of character for me, honestly."

Maya sat up a bit straighter at that revelation. "What do you mean?"

Justin cleared his throat, his voice dropping to a murmur. "It's been a while since I've put myself out there like that." He paused, searching her eyes for understanding, continuing when she nodded. "But I liked talking to you, and I'd like to do it again. Maybe without the pressure of making it into something it's not ready to be? At the very least, I think you're worth sacrificing some sleep over."

Maya felt a stutter of her heart, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "So, you're proposing…?"

"We can keep it casual," Justin suggested, his thumb still tracing circles on her arm, sending warm shivers down her spine. "Keep seeing each other, no strings attached, no expectations."

Maya took a deep breath, her eyes searching his. It was a tempting offer, one that whispered sweet nothings into the part of her that had been starving for male companionship for so long. "So… friends with benefits?" she asked, her voice steady despite the racing of her thoughts.

Justin's cheeks flushed a deeper shade of pink, but he met her gaze without faltering. "If that's what you're comfortable with," he said, his voice earnest. "Emphasis on the friends part." A muscular arm bent behind his head to scratch nervously at the back of his head. "I just don't want to miss out on what this might be."

He tapped nervously against his glass bottle, the nervous tick defeating the auditory integrity of the confidence in his voice. Maya took another sip of her ginger beer, her mind racing with possibilities and potential consequences. Her eyes flicked over to the group of towering men who had been watching them, now engaged in their own conversations. She knew what he was asking wasn't typical, but something about the way he spoke, the sincerity in his voice, made her feel like it could work.

"Alright," she finally said, setting her drink down. "Friends with benefits it is. I'll go ahead and let you know that I'm free until Monday morning." There was a haze in Justin's eyes as he digested her words, his hand lingering on her forearm.

"Perfect," he murmured, his voice a low rumble. He pulled out his phone, scrolling through his calendar. "Promise I won't make the mistake of leaving this to chance again," he said, looking at her with a determined expression. "How about tomorrow night?"

Maya felt a thrill at his decisiveness, nodding eagerly. "That works for me," she said, watching him tap away at his phone.

Justin looked up, his gaze locking onto hers. "It's a date," he confirmed. "My place or yours?"

Maya's pulse quickened at the prospect of spending the night with him, but she remained cool. "Mine," she said with a nod. "I can send you the address."

Justin nodded, his eyes never leaving hers. "Text it to me. I'll come over around seven tomorrow night." His words held an air of promise. She nodded, her voice a whisper as she agreed to his plan.

"Justin!" a male voice called out from his group, breaking the intimate moment. He looked over his shoulder, offered a thumbs up, and mouthed "I'll be right there."

Maya felt a twinge of disappointment at the interruption, but she knew this was a public place and he couldn't ignore his friends. "Go ahead," she said, smiling. "Don't keep your team waiting."

"Thank you," he murmured, his hand briefly squeezing her forearm. "I'll text you around five to make sure it's still a good time to come over?"

Maya nodded, trying to keep her excitement in check. "Sounds like a plan," she said, her voice a little too high, a little too cheerful. She welcomed the embrace he offered, feeling the warmth of his body against hers, the strength in his arms, and the beat of his heart against her chest. It had been so long since she'd felt this kind of closeness with someone, and she had to admit, it was intoxicating.

"See you tomorrow?" she asked, her voice thin with a whisper.

"Count on it," he said, his eyes filled with promise. He gave her a final squeeze before letting go, and Maya felt the sudden chill of the cool air in the bar.

Maya watched as Justin walked back to his table, his teammates slapping him on the back as he approached. She couldn't help but feel a bit like she was floating as she finished her ginger beer.

"I might've fucked up," Maya announced the moment the call to her best friend, Brooklyn, connected. She could hear the TV playing in the background and the clatter of kitchenware, but she had to get it off her chest before the excitement overwhelmed her.

"What did you do?" Brooklyn's voice was a mix of amusement and concern.

"Are you alone?" Maya whispered into the phone, her heart racing as she put the phone on speaker and set it down on her bathroom counter.

"Yeah," Brooklyn replied, her voice dropping an octave as she muted the TV.

"Look up Justin Herbert," Maya said, her voice barely a whisper as she paced the bathroom floor. "Tell me if you recognize the face."

"I know what he looks like, quarterback for the Chargers, right?" Brooklyn's voice came back after a few seconds of silence. "What about him?"

Maya leaned against the cool marble countertop, taking a deep breath. "Remember how I said I met a guy at the bar but it didn't go anywhere? That guy is Justin Herbert."

Brooklyn gasped. "You fumbled a quarterback?" she exclaimed. "Maya! Are you just finding this out?"

"Kind of," Maya said, her voice tight. "I ran into him again tonight at this sushi grill. He's actually really sweet, and he seems to be into me…"

"Maya, spit it out!" Brooklyn's voice was a mix of disbelief and excitement. "What happened with him?"

Maya took a deep breath and recounted the evening's events, from the awkward run-in to their unexpected connection, and finally, to the arrangement they'd made. "So, we're doing this friends with benefits thing," she concluded, apprehension coating her words.

Brooklyn was silent for a moment before she burst into laughter. "Girl, you've got to be kidding me," she managed through her giggles. "But seriously, if he's cool with you being a mom and all, and you guys are on the same page, I say go for it. You deserve some fun, and if the sex is good, keep him around; if it sucks, don't."

Maya couldn't help but laugh too, feeling some of her anxiety dissipate. "Thanks, B," she said, rolling her eyes at her friend's blunt advice. "But it's not like it's going to be a regular thing. He's a professional athlete, and I have a kid. We're both busy."

Brooklyn's voice grew serious. "You know what, Maya? Sometimes you just need to let go and enjoy living in the moment. You're a great mom, and you work hard. If this is something that makes you happy without messing with Miles' life, then why not? You deserve a little treat every once in a while."

She felt dazed, her mind playing back the feeling of his eyes on her, his hand squeezing her forearm, the blush that spread across the bridge of his nose and spilled pink across his cheekbones. It was like she'd swallowed a handful of confetti; the colors of their encounter glittering through her thoughts.

"Did you set something up? When are you seeing him?" Brooklyn's question brought Maya back to reality. She checked the time on her phone, realizing that it was already late, nearly midnight. "We're supposed to meet tomorrow night," she replied, chewing her bottom lip.

Brooklyn's voice grew more solemn. "When was the last time you…?" She didn't need to finish the question. Maya knew what she was getting at. It had been a while since she'd been intimate with anyone. Too long, if she was being honest with herself.

She wasn't ready to unearth the various reasons why she hadn't been with anyone since Miles' father. It was a conversation for another time, if it was ever a conversation she was willing to have. "It's been a minute," she admitted, shaky words hinged on a shakier breath.

"I genuinely want you to enjoy yourself tomorrow, My," Brooklyn said, her voice a gentle reminder that she was still listening on the other end of the line. "Just take it slow and make sure you communicate what you want."

Maya nodded, though her friend couldn't see it. "Thanks, B. Love you." They talked a few more minutes before wishing each other off. By the time her head hit the satin pillow, every inch of her was buzzing with anticipation.

The next day at work was a whirlwind of client meetings and brainstorming, leaving little room for her thoughts to stray. Yet, every time she glanced at her phone, she could feel her eyes drifting up to the time, ticking down to their rendezvous.

The clock hit 5PM and just as he promised, a message from Justin popped up on her screen. "Still good for tonight?" he asked. Maya felt butterflies in her stomach, and she quickly typed back, "Still good," she confirmed. "I'll be home from work in a bit." He responded with a few logistics, letting her know he would be stopping by his home before heading over.

If this were a cartoon, Maya would have jumped out of her skin at the chime of the doorbell. Her breath caught in her throat, her heart knocked against her ribcage, and she felt the heat in her cheeks spread down her neck. Her reflection stared back at her, jittery and anxious, in the mirror near the entryway of her home. She took a deep breath, smoothed her hair, and checked her outfit one last time: white linen drawstring pants and a square neck top of the same tone that she had agonized over for much longer than she was ready to admit to anyone.

Time slowed as her eyes swept over her figure in the mirror, taking in her fresh matching manicure and pedicure, hastily done in her bathroom before leaving for her meetings that morning. The doorbell rang again, and she took one more deep breath before heading towards the sound. She opened the door to find Justin standing on her porch, lilies in hand and a boyish smile playing on his lips. His hair was impeccably tame, a touch more gelled than it had been the night before, and he looked fresh from the shower, the smell of soap and cologne wafting towards her.

"I hope you don't mind," he said, holding out the flowers. "Thought they'd be nice."

Maya's eyes widened as she reached a hand forward to accept the bouquet, feeling the soft petals against her fingertips. "They're beautiful, thank you," she murmured, her cheeks growing even warmer as she stepped aside to let him in. "Come in."

Justin walked in, his presence filling the room with a sense of excitement and nerves. He looked around, nodding in approval at the cozy yet elegant decor of her home. "Shoes off?" he questioned, quick to notice the wooden shoe rack by the door.

"Yes, please," Maya said, lifting the bouquet to her nose, inhaling deeply as her eyes fluttered shut. When brown eyes met pale green, she couldn't help mirroring the shy smile that grew on Justin's face. They both knew what tonight was about, but the gesture felt sweet, almost too tender for what they had agreed to. She led him into the living room, the soft glow of the pendant lights casting shadows across his broad shoulders.

"Lilies," she hummed out, searching for a vase in her kitchen as Justin followed her, his eyes taking in her home with curiosity. She filled a clear vase with water and placed the flowers in the center of her kitchen island.

"I wasn't sure if you had a preference," Justin said, leaning against the counter as he watched Maya arrange the lilies. His voice was smooth, like a high-grade dark liquor, resonating in her chest and running through her veins like warm honey. She swallowed, her throat dry, and turned to face him.

"Magnolias are my favorite," she responded, opening a drawer to find her kitchen scissors, a navy blue pair that perfectly matched the accents scattered around the room. "But lilies are a close second. Thank you. They're gorgeous."

Justin took a step closer, his gaze dropping to her mouth, then back up to meet her eyes. "You're welcome." His voice was low, movements slow as he moved to stand just behind her. As she set down each flower after trimming the stems, he placed them in the vase, his large hands gently peeling open the petals that had folded in on themselves.

Maya felt his body heat radiating against her back, and she could hear the soft thud of his heart in her own chest. She snipped the last stem at an angle, handing it to Justin, her fingertips brushing against his. He took the final lily and placed it in the vase, stepping back to admire their combined effort.

"Nice work," he spoke softly. "Fits with the vibe of your place."

Maya set the scissors down in the sink. "Thank you," she murmured, feeling the weight of the moment settle over them like a warm blanket.

"How long have you been out here?" he asked, stepping away to lean against the island. His arms crossed over his chest, accenting the muscles beneath his shirt. They strained against the plain black t-shirt, discipline from his training evident in every line of his body.

"In Culver?" she clarified, feeling her back straighten as she leaned against the sink. "Two years now. I've lived in LA County my whole life, can't imagine living anywhere else." She turned to face him, her eyes tracing over the lines of his jaw, his cheekbones, and the way his eyes seemed to darken under the dim light the longer they stood there.

"It's a good spot," Justin agreed, his voice still a soft rumble. "Quiet, but not too far from the action." His eyes searched hers, a silent question hanging in the air. Maya felt the tension build, a delicious cocktail of nerves and desire.

"I'm assuming you're out near the beaches somewhere?" Maya asked, her hands nervously rubbing her arms. The question was innocent, but she felt the urge to fill the silence that stretched out between them.

"Hidden Hills, actually," he spoke up, his eyes finally taking her full figure in. "It's quieter, more private, close to the mountains." Each word grew successively lower, dripping in a tone that suggested although he was more than happy to discuss his living situation, there was something else on his mind.

Maya felt the air thicken. "It sounds beautiful," she managed, the words clipped and breathy as his hands found her arms. He removed her hands from her skin, drawing her closer to his body. There was a gratifying magnetism to his touch, a force that made her knees weak.

A hand found her waist, the touch electric, sending a shockwave through Maya's core. She stepped closer to him, feeling the warmth of his breath against her cheek. "It is," he responded, the words falling from his lips nonchalantly.

Her head tilted back to take in the full view of him, the soft light from the pendant lights above highlighting his features. Justin's hand slid from her waist to the back of her neck, his thumb brushing against her pulse point as his eyes searched hers. "So beautiful," he whispered, his breath warm and sweet.

The moment was charged, the air around them crackling with the unspoken understanding of what was about to happen. Maya felt a flutter in her stomach, a mix of anticipation and nerves that she hadn't felt in a long time. She stepped closer to him, chest to chest. His hand tightened around her neck, angling her head just right as he leaned in. Just before their lips met, he asked a question, clementine sweet and a little shy, "Can I kiss you?"

Maya's breath caught in her throat. The brief handful of seconds between the question and her response seemed to stretch on for hours. Then, she nodded, her eyes fluttering shut as his lips met hers. The kiss was gentle, soft exploration that enveloped her lips in supple warmth. She leaned into him, her hands finding his biceps, feeling the power beneath her fingertips. He kissed her like he had all the time in the world, as if he had no where else to be. It was just them, in her kitchen, the scent of the fresh lilies mingling with the lingering aroma of his cologne filling her senses and making her head spin.

The hand cupping her face guided her into a more passionate kiss, his other arm wrapping around her waist to pull her closer. Maya melted into him, the heat of his body enveloping her, making her forget the exhaustion of the day. He kissed her as if her starving, as if he had been waiting for this moment since the moment they met. His kisses grew more urgent, his tongue slipping past her teeth to tango with hers. She whimpered softly, her hands roaming from his arms to his chest, feeling the contours of his muscles.

Breaking the kiss, there was a brief pause before she laughed. Slow and soft as her head bowed forward to hide the smile that was growing across her face.

"It's been a long time," she eventually confessed, meeting his gaze again.

"Would you believe me if I said the same?" Justin's voice was low, the question a gentle tease, as he brushed his thumb across her cheek, tracing the line of her jaw. The admission hung in the air, stretching the moment out into something more intimate than it had been before.

"No," she chuckled, her arms draping over his neck, releasing an involuntary sigh as both of his hands held her waist tightly, pressing her closer to him. "But I appreciate the attempt to make me feel better."

"Save your compliments until after," he responded with that bashful smile of is. His head dipped to kiss along her neck, hands hovering over the curve of her ass, not quite touching but the promise was there. He was giving her control, making her feel desired without overstepping, and Maya appreciated it more than he knew. "Might disappoint you."

Maya's laugh was light and airy, the sound of it filling the kitchen. "I doubt that." She leaned back into his touch, her eyes closing as his mouth worked its magic. His mouth rediscovered hers, the kiss deepening and growing more heated. Her head tilted back to give him better access, the feeling of his kisses setting her skin on fire.

Justin's hands moved from her waist to her hips, his thumbs gently digging into her skin as he lifted her onto the counter. The coolness of the marble sent a shiver down her spine, her legs wrapping around his waist as the kiss grew more intense. His kisses grew more demanding, his tongue caressing hers, tasting and exploring every part of her mouth. Maya's hands slid down to his chest, her nails lightly scoring the fabric of his shirt.

Maya felt her heart racing, her breath coming in shallow gasps as Justin's kisses grew more urgent. He paused, his eyes searching hers for consent. She nodded, unable to speak, her chest rising and falling rapidly. He took this as his cue and leaned back in, his teeth grazing her neck, slipping the strap of her top down her shoulder as his kisses trailed down to her collarbone. She let out a small moan, her hands fisting in his hair as she tried to hold onto something solid in the storm of sensations.

His hands roamed up her sides, feeling the softness of her skin, the heat of her body. He squeezed her hips, cursing under his breath before he leaned back into her, pulling the top over her head and capturing her mouth again. "Bedroom," she said between kisses before pulling back to catch her breath.

Their eyes locked for a moment, the air thick with desire. He nodded, lifting her off the counter with ease. She wrapped her legs around his waist, his strong arms supporting her as they stumbled through her house, her heart hammering in her chest.

"Where am I going?" he laughed upon the realization that he had no clue which way was which in her space. She reciprocated his amusement, pecking his lips one more time before tapping his hand, delighted as he took the nonverbal hint to set her down.

Maya led him through the dimly lit hallway, the sound of her pulse pounding in her ears. They reached her bedroom, a soft oasis of white and grey tones, the king-sized bed dressed in silk sheets that matched the curtains fluttering gently in the breeze from the open window.

"You're stunning," Justin murmured, his eyes drinking in the sight of Maya standing before him in her bra and linen pants. She took a seat at the edge of her bed, crossing her legs, watching him as he took off his shirt. His abdomen was a washboard of muscles, each one defined and rippling as he moved. She felt a surge of desire that was almost overwhelming.

His hands parted her legs, providing space to accommodate his larger frame as he knelt between them. Maya's eyes traveled down his body, her gaze lingering on the waistband of his pants. Justin caught her stare and chuckled, placing a warm kiss to her cheek. "Patience," he whispered, his hand finding the back of her neck to draw her back into a kiss. His thumb traced the line of her jaw, his eyes searching hers for any hint of doubt. Finding none, he kissed her again, pressing her back into the mattress.

"I wanna know what you like," Justin murmured against her ear, his breath warm and tickling her skin. His hands began to explore her body, his fingertips dancing along the edges of her bra and the waistband of her pants. Maya felt a shiver run down her spine, her body responding to his touch. "You'll tell me what's working and what's not, yeah?"

"Mmhmm," she mumbled, nodding as her eyes fluttering closed. She felt his hands move to her bra clasp, deftly unhooking it, allowing her breasts to spill out into his waiting hands. He took his time, teasing her sensitive nipples before his mouth followed, suckling and nipping, making her back arch off the bed.

Maya's breath grew ragged as she felt Justin's hand slide down the front of her pants, his thumb brushing against her clit over the fabric. She gripped the bedsheets tightly, trying to maintain some semblance of control, but it was a futile effort. His touch burned into her skin as he drew the pants down her legs, dropping them where he had disposed of her bra moments before.

"Justin," she whispered his name, a plea and a warning. He looked up at her, before leaning over her, trailing slow kisses from the top of her breasts down the center of her chest, over the small roll of her stomach, and down to her navel. He kissed her gently, a silent promise that he'd take care of her, that he'd make her feel good.

Maya's body responded to his touch, her legs instinctively spreading wider. He kissed along her inner thighs, the anticipation making her quiver. His hands creeped up her thighs, pulling her closer to the edge of the bed as his mouth hovered just above her panties. She felt him inhale deeply, a subtle groan escaping him as if her scent was intoxicating. The fabric was the only barrier between them now, and the heat of his breath made it clear that he was more than ready to take things further.

Maya felt exposed, vulnerable, but his gaze was nothing but adoration and hunger. Justin took his time, kissing along the soft skin leading to her core, making her squirm and whimper with need. His touch was light, feathering over her most sensitive spots, building the anticipation to a crescendo.

Her hand moved to cover her mouth as she sighed and squirmed underneath him. Justin took the cue and began to kiss her through her underwear, the touch of his lips brushing featherlight against her, making her toes curl. "Oh," she breathed out, the sound muffled by her hand. He looked up at her, a smug smile playing on his lips before he hooked his fingers into the fabric and slid it off her.

The coolness of the air hit her skin and she shivered, but it was quickly forgotten as Justin's warm mouth replaced it. His tongue found her folds, flattening and exploring, making her body tighten with pleasure. He was gentle but insistent, slow but deliberate as he indulged in his first tastes of her. Maya's hand fell away from her mouth, and she gripped the bedsheets tightly, her knuckles tight as she moaned his name.

His thumbs parted her folds, giving him better access to her clit, and he began to circle it with the tip of his tongue. Maya's hips rolled upward, urging him closer, her thighs tightening around his shoulders. Justin took his cue, increasing the pressure and speed, his tongue flicking and stroking her sensitive nub as Maya's breaths grew erratic.

"Shit," Maya hissed through gritted teeth, the sensation of his tongue on her clit was almost too intense. Her legs trembled, and she felt like she could come at any moment. Justin seemed to sense her urgency, his movements becoming more purposeful, his tongue pressing harder and faster against her swollen nub.

"Talk to me, Maya," Justin rasped, his voice thick with need as he continued to pleasure her. His arms wound around her thighs, keeping her in place as he feasted on her. She bit her bottom lip, trying to keep her moans to a whisper, not wanting to be too loud. Her hands found his hair, her fingers tangling in the soft strands as she directed him to the exact spot that sent shockwaves through her body.

"So good, Justin, so good," Maya breathed, her eyes squeezed shut as pleasure began to coil tightly within her. The warmth of his breath, the wetness of his tongue, it was all too much and yet not enough.

Justin took her words as encouragement, his tongue swirling and flicking over her clit with newfound vigor. He could feel her body tense, her legs shaking. His hands gripped her hips, holding her still as she began to buck against his mouth. Though he could sense she was close, he could tell she need a bit more to send her over the edge.

"What do you need, baby?" Justin murmured against her, his voice gruff with desire.

"Your hands," she whispered, her voice shaky. "Use your hands, please."

Justin's eyes gleamed with understanding as he slid one hand up her body, his thumb tracing circles around her clit as he inserted two fingers into her, stretching her and curling them in a way that had her hips jerking up to meet him. Maya's eyes rolled back in her head, a long, low moan escaping her as he found that magical spot deep within her. The hand she had embedded in his hair gripped the strands tighter, her other hand gripped the sheets next to her head as she arched her back, pushing herself closer to him.

"Mmm, sweetest thing," Justin murmured as he began to pump his fingers in and out of her, stroking her in time with his tongue. He could feel her getting wetter, her muscles tightening around his fingers as she grew closer to climax. Maya's moans grew louder, and she threw her head back, her body shaking as she lost control.

"There you go, so beautiful," Justin murmured, his voice a gentle rumble against her thighs as he watched Maya's orgasm crash over her. Her body tensed, then released, a gush of wetness coating his hand as she rode out her peak. Maya's mouth fell open, and she stared down at him with a mix of shock and pleasure. He took his time, his tongue and fingers moving in tandem, ensuring that she felt every ounce of her climax before finally pulling back after she had gone slack with satisfaction.

He kissed a path back up her stomach, her breasts, and her neck before finally claiming her lips in a deep, passionate kiss. "Thank you," she murmured against his mouth, her voice hoarse from her moans. "Fuck, thank you so much."

Justin chuckled, his eyes bright with amusement and arousal. "I should be the one thanking you," he said, his voice a low growl as he positioned himself at her entrance. "You taste incredible."

She breathed heavily, trying to catch her breath as she watched him fumble in his pockets for a condom. He pulled out a black foil packet and ripped it open with his teeth, rolling it on with a confidence that made her stomach flip. "You okay?" he asked, his voice gentle, and Maya nodded, still floating on the aftershocks of her climax.

"I'm glad you had one, I'm sure mine are expired," she laughed nervously as she watched him sheath himself, the mood lightening slightly. Justin leaned in to kiss her again, his hand resting on her cheek. The kiss was tender, contrasting with the passionate, desperate one from moments ago. He positioned himself at her entrance, his cock pressing against her wet folds.

"Stopped by CVS on my way over," he chuckled against her lips as the head of his cock swept through her folds, teasing her. "Think the guy at self checkout nearly recognized me," he whispered, the corner of his mouth twitching upward.

Maya couldn't help but giggle, the tension in the room dissipating slightly as she felt the warmth of his skin pressing against her own. "Well, I'm grateful for your preparedness," she murmured, her eyes fluttering closed as she felt him nudge against her entrance.

Justin took a moment to appreciate the feel of her, the slickness of her arousal coating his tip. He pushed in gently, watching her face for any signs of discomfort. Maya's eyes went wide, and she took a deep breath, but she nodded her consent. He pushed in further, inch by inch, until he was fully sheathed inside her. He stilled, giving her time to adjust to his size.

Mirrored sighs passed through parted lips as she adjusted to the fullness of him. Justin's gaze remained fixed on hers, a silent question in his eyes. Maya nodded again, and he began to move, his hips rocking in a steady rhythm that had her gasping. The initial stretch gave way to a warm, delicious friction that had her breathing out slow and deep. He was mindful of her comfort, his strokes deep and deliberate, each one hitting that spot she hadn't realized she'd been craving.

Her body began to respond, hips moving in sync with his, the quiet slap of skin on skin echoing in the room. "God, yes," she purred as she held his face in her hands, her lips brushing against his before taking his bottom lip in a gentle nip. Justin's eyes darkened, and he picked up the pace, his hips moving faster, his cock driving into her with purpose.

Their breathing grew ragged, their kisses sloppy with passion as they lost themselves in each other. Maya's legs wrapped around his waist, pulling him deeper, urging him on as the tension within her began to build once more. "Deeper, please," she whispered, her back arching as he hit her sweet spot.

Justin's muscles flexed as he complied, shifting his weight to press her further into the mattress. She released a strangled moan that sent a jolt of pleasure through him. He could feel the tightness of her pussy, her walls contracting around his cock as she grew closer to another orgasm. His own desire was mounting, his balls drawing up tight, but he was determined to make sure she came again before he allowed himself the release he desperately craved.

His nose nudged against hers, foreheads touching as their eyes locked, the air thick with desire. "You take me so well," he murmured, his voice strained with effort as he held back his own climax. She nodded, her hands roaming his back, her nails digging in as he pushed deeper into her gaining a steady rhythm that had her crying out.

"Feel so good around me, squeeze me just right… fuck, you're so tight," Justin groaned into Maya's ear. Maya's eyes squeezed shut tighter, her orgasm building again. She hadn't realized how much she'd missed this, the feeling of being filled by someone who knew what they were doing. If she wasn't so caught up in the moment, she might've felt a twinge of embarrassment at how pathetic she sounded. But she didn't care; all she cared about was the delicious pressure building in her core, the way Justin's cock hit her in just the right spot, the way his muscles and warm skin felt under her fingertips as she clung to him for dear life.

"Don't stop, please don't stop." She whispered, voice trailing off with a moan. He watched her face, her eyes scrunched up in pleasure, her teeth digging into her bottom lip. He leaned in, taking her mouth in another bruising kiss, his hips snapping into her with a ferocity that had her gasping for air. Maya felt the second orgasm wash over her, her body tightening around him, her nails digging into his back.

Justin could feel her pussy pulsing around his cock, the sensation so intense that he had to bite back a groan. He waited for her to come down from her peak before he allowed himself to let go, his hips moving faster, harder, until he couldn't hold back anymore. He buried his face in her neck, biting down on his bottom lip as he came, his body shaking with the force of his release.

For a moment they sat in the stillness, panting and sticky with sweat, their hearts racing in sync. When he pulled out, Maya made a small sound of protest, the feeling of emptiness sudden and surprising. He kissed her neck gently, his breath warm against her skin. "You okay?" he asked, his voice low and concerned.

Maya nodded, savoring the feeling of his weight on her. "Perfect," she murmured, her voice hoarse from the moans and cries that had filled the room. She felt him shift, his body sliding off hers, and she reluctantly opened her eyes to find him standing beside the bed, disposing of the condom.

He turned back to her with a soft smile, "Bathroom?"

Maya nodded, "Through that door, to the left."

While Justin was in the bathroom, she couldn't help but replay the last few moments in her mind. The way his muscles had tensed with his release, the sound of his grunts of pleasure, the weight of him pressing her into the mattress—it was all so overwhelmingly perfect. She took a deep breath and decided to use the time to collect herself before he returned. She stood up from the bed, groaning at the ache between her legs, and walked to the bedside drawer to grab an old t-shirt, deciding to hold on pulling on a clean pair of underwear until her own trip to the bathroom.

When he came back out, Maya was lying on the bed, her legs drawn up to her chest, the shirt riding up to expose her smooth, brown skin. She felt a bit shy now that the haze of passion had lifted slightly. Justin leaned over the bed, planting a kiss on her forehead. "So, about those compliments…"

Maya couldn't help but laugh, full, bright, and warm, pulling him down towards her for a peck. "The compliments still stand. It was really good." Her giggles continued as he flushed under her gaze, bashful but pleased.

She stood from the bed, heading off to the bathroom to clean up. When she returned, Justin's back faced her, muscles beneath sun-tanned skin flexing with the effort of pulling his discarded shirt over his head. "What are you up to for the rest of the night?" Justin asked, glancing over his shoulder as he moved to zip and button his pants.

Maya shrugged. She felt a sudden shyness wash over her. It had been so long since she'd had a one-night stand, and she didn't quite know the protocol for what came next. Was she supposed to kick him out? Rush him toward the door and pretend it was nothing more than a good lay? Or was she allowed to enjoy his company a little longer? Offer him to stay the night?

If the way he seemed to move in slow motion as he zipped up his pants was any indication, Justin had noticed the hesitance in her tone and the indecision in her gait. He turned to face her fully, the question in his eyes mirroring the one in hers. "Tell what you're thinking," he spoke, the rumble of his voice cutting through the quiet of the room.

Maya took a deep breath. "I don't know if this is how these things usually go," she admitted, playing with the hem of her shirt as she leaned against the doorway of the bathroom. "But, I had a really great time tonight. And, like you said last night, I do think we could be really good friends. Even with the other stuff."

He stepped closer, reaching out to take her hand. "So tell me your plans for tonight. Friends hang out, right?" Justin's eyes searched hers, hopeful but not pushy.

"Well," she exhaled, trying to ignore the way her heart raced at the thought of spending more time with him. "I've had a recipe bouncing around in my head for a client I'm working with. I could use some fresh eyes, and a taste-tester." She bit her lip, watching his reaction closely.

Justin's smile grew wider. "I'd love to help," he said, genuine interest lighting up his eyes. "Did you think I'd turn down a meal?" He laced his fingers with hers and gave her hand a gentle tug. "Lead the way, chef."

If she were a few shades lighter, the warmth in Maya's cheeks would have been glaringly obvious as she led Justin to the kitchen. She hadn't had anyone in her kitchen, not like this, for what felt like an eternity. It was her sanctuary, where she poured her love and passion, and now, she was sharing it with someone who had the power to dismantle the walls she'd built around her heart. There was a strange comfort in the simplicity of it all, though—just two people sitting in the aftermath of the afterglow. It felt almost domestic.

Wide eyes watched as Justin lifted a bite of the upscale plate, Maya's twist on her grandmother's oxtail stew recipe, to his lips. She'd been nervous about serving something so personal to a man she'd only just met, but the way he savored each bite told her she'd hit the mark. She couldn't help the pride that swelled in her chest as he nodded in approval, swiping the corner of his mouth with a napkin. "This is incredible, Maya. Really good."

The smile that broke out on Maya's face was a mix of relief and satisfaction. She watched as Justin took another bite, his eyes closing in appreciation. "Thank you," she said, feeling a bit more at ease now. "It's based on my grandmother's recipe. I've been playing around with it for a new client."

Justin continued chewing, slightly amused by the way she retrieved a notebook from one of the island drawers. She flipped the small black cover open, sorted through the pages filled with neat rows of notes, and scribbled something down. "Ah, the notebook," he teased, taking a sip of the freshly made mango-passionfruit juice she'd blended together.

"The notebook," she echoed with a chuckle, "This is my bible. It's where I keep all my thoughts, notes, and inspirations for my work." Maya looked at the notebook with affection before setting it aside, focusing her gaze back on Justin. "So, tell me, what do you think needs to be tweaked?"

He pondered for a moment, swirling the juice in his glass before taking another sip. "I don't know," he said honestly with a laugh and a shrug. "It's perfect, really."

"Okay, I guess I could ask specifics," Maya said with a smile. "What do you think about the balance of flavors? When does the spice kick in for you?"

"The flavors are spot on," Justin replied, his eyes sparkling with delight. "The spice is a slow burn, which I like. It doesn't overpower the other seasoning." He took another bite, chewing thoughtfully. "But, if you're looking for something to tweak, maybe just a hint more of thyme."

"You don't even know what that means, do you?" Maya teased, raising an eyebrow.

Justin chuckled, setting his fork down. "No comment," he said, his cheeks tinged with a hint of pink. "But seriously, Maya, this is amazing."

Her laughter filled the kitchen, the sound bouncing off the gleaming countertops and stainless steel appliances. "Well, I'm happy to hear that," she said, her heart swelling with pride. "Maybe we can make this a regular thing. You can be my taste-tester."

"I'd be happy to help," Justin said with a grin. He casted a glance to his Apple Watch. "But, I gotta head out. Got some early morning training I can't miss." He stood up, stretching his tall frame, his muscles rippling under his shirt.

"It's getting late," she echoed. "How long's your drive?"

"Not too bad," he said, brushing a hand through his hair. "But I've got to get going if I want to get some decent rest."

She walked him to the door, feeling the cool night air sneak in as he stepped out onto the porch. He turned to her, his hand resting on the doorframe, and for a moment, Maya watch the conflict play out on his face—desire to stay, responsibility to go. "I had a great time tonight, Maya," he murmured, his eyes holding hers in a way that made her knees weak.

"Me too," she whispered, her voice barely a breath. The silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken words and the hope of future moments. Justin leaned in, capturing her in another kiss, tenderly giving into a brief second of abandon before pulling back. "I'll text you," he promised, the words lingering in the air as he took a hesitant step back.

"That sounds familiar," she mumbled, crossing her arms over her chest as a good-natured smile tugged at her lips.

Justin chuckled, that deep, round dimple in his cheek resurfacing. "Deserved again." He propped his forearm above her head, leaning against the doorframe, his eyes tracing the lines of her face as her head tilted back to properly take him in. "But I promise, I won't be the one to fuck this up again. I'll text you first. I swear."

Maya's smile grew into a grin, the warmth of his body radiating against her as they shared the small space. "I'm holding you to that," she murmured.

Then there was a lull. Justin made no effort to turn around, unlock his car, and leave. Instead, he remained where he was, his eyes locked onto Maya's. It stretched on forever; this silent conversation passing in between dilated pupils and shallow breaths. From this angle, where Justin towered over her, Maya could see the slight stubble on his chin, the way the moon cast shadows on his cheekbones, the softness of his lips that had just been on hers. There was a pull to him, a gravitational force that she hadn't felt in so long, and she found herself leaning in for just one more taste.

She swore it would be quick. Just one more kiss to hold her over until they saw each other again. But as soon as their lips met, she felt everything all over again. The heat of his skin, the softness of his mouth, the way he tasted like a drug. It was addictive, this rush of sensation, a hit to the system that made her heart knock against her ribs. Her hands curled into his hair, his touch pressed into her waist.

One more kiss was never going to be enough.

She was obsessed.

#&. cassie writes.#justin herbert #justin herbert imagine #justin herbert smut #justin herbert fanfic #justin herbert fluff #justin herbert angst #justin herbert x oc #justin herbert x black oc #justin herbert x black!oc

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alienstagess · 2 days ago

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This is interesting because Ivan made his death so memorable that it is engraved into anyone who witnessed its minds permanently. His death was one of the leading causes for Till’s it wormed its way into his mind and despite his act of nonchalance he did care to some degree about Ivan and his passing otherwise it wouldn’t have affected him so much. Ivan was always sort of an outcast we can kinda interpret that through nowhere which can be read as a double meaning as now here and no where. This aligns I believe with the interpretation of him being seen as some kind of bug. People hate bugs, avoid them, forget about them, and get rid of them with minimal remorse. Bugs have a tendency to sacrifice themself for the sake of the hive or colony. Interesting how it sounds like Ivan’s actions in cure. No matter what no matter how freakish people may view him he’s now permanently engraved into their skulls, a bug like existence that will refuse to go away after death. He is now here and nowhere simultaneously at the same time. If he is a bug you know seen as bothersome and annoying a presence no one would miss, could be more insight as to motivations as to why he sacrificed himself. These are not canon but just some thoughts! I mean Ivan knew what he was doing in the round with till he was going to self sacrifice but maybe it wasn’t fully there in selflessness- what if it was done with intention of making his bothersome presence worth it to leave a lasting memory. Or it could maybe be talking about how Ivan has worked his way into Till’s mind and the result of it being the fact till can’t forget about Ivan. It’s like a parasite to those around him. The cover also features centipede like creatures and often times in literature they generally have negative connotations such as repression, anger or even foolishness. (Could be referencing how his guardian viewed cure or maybe even Till’s thoughts on what Ivan did???) To continue on with that point they can also have another meaning of a secret or reprised desire or trait. Ivans repressed desire was Till (he held it back for so long and then in cure is when it came out) but maybe he had another intention of wanting to be unforgotten so that way at least in the eyes of his beloved he would be seen. He does also say thank you for being the victim of my shallow emotions- maybe it wasn’t all about love maybe it was also about the stuff I discussed earlier about him wanting to be remembered and memorable. I believe Ivan wanted to fit in and play with others but he was always an outcast the ones standing off in the back ground watching rather than being an active participant. Maybe his motivation was as I said to leave something worth behind. And maybe this could relate to Mizi finding out about the details of Ivans death and realizing the entire time hiw he was feeling about Till. I believe- don’t quote me on this could very well be incorrect that VIVINOS said at a fansign Till WASNT even aware of Ivan’s feelings until cure happened which if that is true could add a whole other meaning to this title and image.

Anyway these are just some theories and thoughts nothing is canon I just like to think about some of these ideas! Please don’t take this too serious just some speculation and thoughts :))!

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the-owl-tree · 2 days ago

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Who were your favorite hypokits to design?

ooohh this is the best kind of question, tysm <3 let's seee, starting from the og, poolmask and sunflare continue to make me happy in terms of their designs:

Sunflare's colors I especially like, I think I'd just touch up some of the transition colors nowadays. Poolmask is still my grumpy fave, his mask and colored toes are very fun.

Going even older, I don't like a lot of my older designs simply because I think they're Too Much now buuuuut the HollyMinnow trio are still one of my favorites and I'm really glad people also liked them. The fish tail is a design choice I neeeed to bring back, I love how it looks so much, I think I really nailed the vibe of "surfer bros and their menace little sister" that I really wanted to give off. Sandystrike's ponytail is fun, I need to bring back cats with hair.

I really like all my 2024 ones buuuuuuut Snowfoot and Blood Sausage are my faves, Snowfoot because I think I finally started using gradients in a way that I think looked visually nice aaannnd Blood Sausage because I haven't done a more literal, more cartoonish design in a bit and I think she turned out super fun with her uncanny look. She also helped me feel more comfortable in mixing up colors, you can tell a lot in my old designs I sort of stuck to one color and just dipped around with the contrast. The reddish tones on her add a nice break from the black and white.

Aaaaannnnd for my most modern ones, AKA the ones done this month, I loved my take on "the Beast". I didn't wanna rip off Dream Tiger too much so I feel like I struck an excellent balance with inspiration and taking it in my own direction. I think Shadepatch was also me becoming more comfortable with stylized torbie designs, striking that balance between a nice pattern that's still distinctly torbie but not messy (I like Chasmleap but I remember when I drew him, I was suuuuppeerr worried he was too messy. Looking at him now he's fine and i was overthinking it lol).

My other most recent favorites are Dawnflame which again was me getting more comfortable playing around with stylized cat patterns (going more squarish here), and I think the black chest contrasts really nicely with the rest of her body. I feel like I get stuck in one body type and it's good for me to break out of it.

Oh!!!! And this design I made as an apology for a mix-up on my ko-fi, I really liked playing around with the city/bloodclan aesthetic aaaannndd the leopard spots :) they wanted a similar uncanny vibe to Miss Sausage and it was fun leaning into that. You can also see some more effort in the scarring, with the bits of fur over the scarred flesh to give it more depth, a detail I need to incorporate more lol

aaannnnnndd those are my favorites!!! a very fun question to answer, tysm :)

#deer rambles

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kinardnatural · 11 hours ago

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I try to look ahead, sometimes I look back instead part 2

PART 1

READ ON AO3

He lasted for about thirty minutes before he decided to leave the group.

It had been going fine at first. Buck had even asked Cole some question and learned that he was working as a high-rise window cleaner. He also learned that he and Tommy had met through a mutual friend years ago and had reconnected, and before he got into details on how that had happened, Buck had asked him more about his job.

“Isn't it scary? Getting up there, knowing that you can fall any moment?”

“Probably not as scary as firefighting. Or flying through a hurricane.”

Buck threw Tommy a quick glance and ducked his head. “He, uh… told you about that, huh?”

“More like prompted it out of him. I saw his medal-”

The medal Buck knew was hanging inside Tommy's bedroom. He started to feel nauseous.

“-and had to ask about it. That must have been something.”

“Yeah. It… was an unforgettable experience,” Buck agreed. “That's when I first met Tommy, actually,” he felt the need to add.

“Really? I thought you all worked at the same station?”

“That was before Buckaroo’s time,” Chimney mentioned.

“Evan was actually my replacement at the 118,” Tommy chimed in. “And it took us seven years to meet.”

“Evan? I thought your name was Buck.”

“Yeah, most people call me Buck.” He felt his face flush and took a huge gulp from his beer in hope to conceal it before anyone took notice.

They continued to chat, and as much as Buck wanted to hate on Cole, he quickly found that he couldn't. He was nice. Very easy to engage in conversations with and indulged in every topic with great interest.

Tommy had found a great guy, and it was killing him.

He had finally had enough and called it a night. He said his goodbyes, uttered them a lot more coldly to Chim than the others, and left.

—

“I'm really sorry, Buck.”

“I heard you the first few times, Chim.” There was only so many times Buck could ignore his pleading brother-in-law their following shift. “It still doesn't change anything.”

“I know you have every right to be mad at me–”

Buck scoffed.

“I may not have thought the whole thing through–”

“You deliberately withheld vital information, Chim,” Hen interjected with a glance up at the pair from her phone. “How did you think this was gonna go?”

“Look, I thought… I wasn't lying about Tommy asking about you. He does that a lot. I figured that if I can get you two together for a gathering that it might ignite some old sparks.”

“You wanted to turn me into a homewrecker in the process? That makes it so much better, Chim.”

“No! No, God no! That wasn't-”

“I don't care what you thought or what your intentions were. You knew I wasn’t over him and you knew he would bring his shiny new boyfriend. H-how would you have felt, if I did the same to you, with Maddie? How great would you feel?”

A pause.

“Not very great.”

Buck scoffed again and shook his head.

“Now, I'm gonna be mad at you for a while, so let me be that. Just… no more meddling. Please.”

“No more meddling! Crossing my heart.”

If only Buck could believe that.

—

“He seemed nice.”

Tommy looked up from his breakfast burrito and glanced at Cole, who seemed very interested in picking on his croissant. It was their typical brunch date, them sitting outside a cafeteria enjoying the lovely weather.

“The barista?”

“No, silly. Buck.”

He damn near choke on his burrito.

“Uh-huh,” he managed, all too casually.

“He is so into you.” The tone was teasing and Tommy shifted on his seat.

“What makes you say that?”

“The way he looked at you? The way he blushed when you called him Even.”

“Evan,” Tommy corrected.

“Evan. Why do you call him that?”

“It's his name.” He swallowed. “I call Chimney by his name too.”

Cole seemed to accept the answer. “Cool.” He leaned back and Tommy relaxed, thinking the conversation was over for a moment when silence hit. Unfortunately, that was not the case.

“So have you thought about it?”

“Thought about what?”

“Buck. And you. Hooking up?”

“Cole.”

“What? I'm curious. He's hot. Like. Really hot. I wouldn't mind being squeezed in between the two of yo–”

“All right, Cole.” That was an image Tommy definitely didn't want imprinted inside his head. The thought of someone else touching Evan was more unwelcoming than not.

“I'm just saying. It would be hot.”

Tommy raised an eyebrow at him.

“Am I not hot enough for you?” He smirked, switching gears.

That seemed to do the trick.

–

#bucktommy #bucktommy fic #my fics #ittlasilbi

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siberat · 1 day ago

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Bigger is Better

pt 2

Servo's flapped in excitement as Be.e gleefully chose the first dish. He liked to start things off on the lighter side—something liquidy. A Co.ntainer was selected, the lid twisted off, and a spoon was grabbed. Carefully, the smaller mech stepped forward, closing the distance between the pair. A happy little squeal erupted upon seeing the seated mech eagerly licking his lips.

“What you got zhere, hmmm?” Icy’s optics focused on the Co.ntainer as his servo idly rubbed his noisy belly.

“Oh, you are going to love this!” The Auto.bot chirped as he dunked the spoon in and scooped up a chunky Co.ncoction of large bites of cyberchicken, shards of purple amethyst, and mica chips that swam in a thick, creamy broth.

“It looks pretty, but I believe I asked vhat it vas.” The ‘Co.n’s lips pressed tightly shut.

“Is this how you gonna play?” BumbleBe.e gave the look. “Open up.” When those firm words barked out, the other’s mouth opened wide. And the yellow mech’s spark skipped a rotation. “There's a good mech.” The spoon flew inside only to be grasped between teeth, then slide out.

“Hmmmmmm...” Icy hummed as he chewed, then swallowed. “Zhis is rather tasty. Very creamy.” The mouth opened again, awaiting the seCo.nd offering.

“See? I told ya so.” A smile beamed as the other mouthful was given. “Chicken corn chowder. And I added extra cream to give it that rich thickness.” After each bite fed, that belly rumbled even more demanding. The sound was a welcomed chorus- music to his audials. Be.e simply adored the ‘Co.n’s ravenous appetite, loved how unashamed of the other’s desire to Co.nsume. While the paunch adorned now was empty and flabby, by the end of this picnic, those tanks will be ready to burst.

“I added some diced baCo.n bits and baCo.n grease to give it that zing of smokiness.” Be.e explained as excitement pinged through his frame. Now, cooking was a newly discovered hobby, and as much as Be.e loved to prepare meals, he loved discussing them. He could spend hours just going over ingredients and why they mixed well with anyone willing to listen.

Or not listen. Sadly, not everyone enjoyed his dedication to an in-depth explanation of every detail.

However, Blitz.wing nodded and hummed along, even asking questions that clearly showed he was paying attention. Plus, the talk of food made him hungrier. That servo never left his belly, be it rubbing or playfully pinching the flabby mesh that sausaged between his plating seams.

“Yes, baCo.n just makes every dish better!” Be.e rambled as he Co.ntinued to spoon-feed the other. “It’s because of the glutamate. Do you know what that is?”

Icy swallowed, then dabbed his lips politely with the cloth napkin. “Something zhat tastes good?”

“Oh, look who’s being a smart aft, huh?” The Auto.bot wagged the spoon before scooping more soup. “But it activates this sensory receptor on your glossa to add in that rich, savory flavor. Kinda like adding salt to a dish. But it’s also high in much-needed nutrients your frame needs, hence the cravings.”

“Makes sense.” Icy nodded as he chewed, listening to the little mech as he prattled on about the soup’s ingredients.

All too soon, the clinking of scraping the spoon against the bowl rang out, announcing the completion of this dish. An unhappy pout formed on Icy’s lips, but Be.e didn’t take the bait. Instead, yet another dish was selected.

Enough with the slow start- let’s get down to business!

A massive bowl of lithium noodles covered in richly seasoned red sauce with huge, round cyber meatballs plopped on top like landmines. This meal was claimed to feed a family unit of four, but it would easily count as one meal for the DeceptiCo.n. A side dish of garlic bread completed this meal.

But this dish was a tell-tale favorite, and Icy nearly salivated just looking at the heaping bowl. Yes, it was inexpensive, which was good for Be.e’s credits, but the dish was very homey and satisfying. Why? Its roots grew deep in Cyberton’s history, for one. But the dish was highly versatile. The sauces could be red, white, or oily, and the noodles could be long, penne, or bowties. Not to mention, the dish was very filling.

And pasta seemed to be the go-to meal when your lunch date seemed to be a never-ending garbage disposal.

“I see you went with the classics, nice.” Blitz.wing hummed, twiddling his fingers as he greedily eyed the plate. “And such a large serving!”

“I couldn’t have you go hungry,” Be.e puffed his chest out, proud at being able to provide such a large dish. “Close your legs.” Once those plump thighs slapped together, the bowl was set down upon them and a fork stabbed in, twirling around sauce-covered noodles. “You’re gonna have to open wide for this!”

Icy did as he was told, and the noodles entered his mouth, not without a flinging, dripping sauce over those lips and chin. The feedee didn’t seem to mind, instead focusing only on the perfectly seasoned sauce and melt-in-your-mouth noodles that now ran over his glossa. His optics shot wide open before he moaned in delight.

“You approve?” Be.e shimmied from one pede to another, grinning madly at the joyous sight before him.

“Very much so.” That deep red napkin dabbed at his lips and chin for any stray sauce. “Perfect mixture of oregano and basil.” His servo, with finger curled pressing his thumb, was brought to his mouth to give a ‘chef’s kiss’. “You are getting so good at cooking!”

“And you are getting so good at eating.” This time, a large meatball was offered, and to the Auto.bot’s surprise, the ‘Co.n took the entire sphere into his mouth. “We’ll get this belly filled up in no time, huh?”

The triplechanger happily nodded his helm as that devious hand returned to rubbing at that belly. Oh, how Be.e would love to reach out and grope at that chub that jiggled on the frame! But Blitz.wing never offered for him to touch. That belly looked so soft and plush, inviting one’s face to smoosh right into it.

“AH ah... little bug,” Icy called out. “I’m ready for more..... Feed me....”

“AH... sorry ‘bout that.” This time, a thick golden brown slice of bread was offered, and the crispy side crunched within the other’s bite.

“Vhat has distracted you, hmmm?”

The question snuck out before more saucy noodles were shoved in. As much as Be.e tended to blurt out the first thing on his processor, he held his tongue: he was in no mood to boldly announce he wanted more than just observing! Yes, Blitz.wing swelled with pride when Be.e admired his paunch, but looking no longer satisfied his desire.

“So, did you read those comics I gave you?” The perfect topic changer! The Auto.bot previously rambled about superheroes, and the ‘Co.n was clueless, but showed interest. So, digital copies of comic series were provided for the other to enjoy.

“Hmmmm Hmmmm...” Icy nodded.

“Yeah?” Be.e grinned- he actually read them! “So, what ya think?”

“Zhey were... entertaining...” Icy eyed the bowl, watching the fork twirl in the noodles. His belly was still grumbling. As well as being rubbed by large, dark servos. “Zhere vasn’t much gore, though.”

“Not everything is as violent as you.” Another large mouthful was fed. “Who do you think would win a fight. Spiderman or Superman?” The other’s helm tilted to the side as the large mouthful of food was chewed. “I think Superman would win- hands down!”

“Hmmmmm....” Blitz.wing swallowed, then took a deep breath of air. “I dunno, my little buggy. You only need a simple rock, and he is rendered useless.”

“It’s not just any rock.... you would need kryptonite!” Be.e nearly shouted as the next forkful of food zoomed everywhere as he talked with exaggerated hand movements. “And it’s not common.”

“Zhat’s a shame...” The tan and black flyer kept watching the moving food.

“Ah, sorry ‘bout that.” Be.e shyly smiled and fed the food. “But the chances of Spiderman having kryptonite? Slim to none.”

“Too bad.... it looked quite tasty.”

“Primus, Icy, you just wanna eat everything!”

The ‘Co.n grinned and slapped his belly. The belly flab that peaked out from the plating shook and jiggled. “Yes...I do...”

Be.e shook his head and smiled. Forkful after forkful of scrumptious meatballs and freshly made pasta were shoveled in. Each time, the greedy ‘Co.n devoured. Sauce soon lined his lips and dribbled down his chin and onto his chassis. By the time that large serving of noodles was gone, there were even splotches on that belly, resembling a Jackson Pollock painting.

“Just look at the mess I have made!” Icy announced with wide optics. His tongue licked at the slop on his lips while a digit scooped up the dripples on his belly only to be sucked off by his fingers with an audible pop. The Auto.bot stared at the chosen way to clean the mess.

“You... you got your napkin...” He stammered as he watched those digits swipe away the mess only to be licked clean.

“It’s all taken care of now.” Icy smiled. “Vhat’s next on the menu?”

“AH.... I have... this... you’re gonna love it!” Be.e brought out a large, wrapped item and set it on the other’s disappearing lap. “And it comes with a side.” Another large bowl was retrieved. Once Icy unwrapped the main course to reveal a huge, oversized burger, complete with crisp lettuce, crystal onions, and cyber pickles, his optics lit up.

“Zhis looks marvelous!” Chops were licked as the ‘Co.n happily squirmed in excitement. “How vill I fit this beast in my mouth?”

“How you gonna fit that beast in your belly is more like it!” The ‘B.ot grinned. This burger was special: everything was custom-made. The patty was just an enlarged patty of ground cybermeat, but the bun was kneaded and baked just for this feast. This burger was about four times bigger than the standard ener-burger and made with thrilled excitement.

“And I made you some loaded fries to go with it.” The container was held out to reveal waffle fries covered with gooey, melted petroleum cheese, more bacon bits, silica chips, and a side of ketchup and sour cream. “Did I do good?”

“You never disappoint, little bug.” Icy looked mesmerized, looking over the feast. “Zhere’s just one thing.” The burger was picked up and held out for the other.

“W..What?” A worried face washed over the yellow and black mech. “Is something wrong?”

“If I have any chance of getting zhat burger in my belly...” Said belly was slapped as it impatiently growled. “I’m going to have to remove my plating.” His fingers went for the underside of the abdominal plating, slipping into the accumulating flab. “You... you don’t mind, do you?”

Be.e shook his helm no.

A few tugs were given but were unsuccessful. “Ooff... zhis is so tight.” Blitz.wing sucked in, his chest puffing out as his belly slightly lessoned. He wiggled as he yanked, desperately trying to unclasp that stubborn armor.

Should he ask if he needed help? Be.e bit his lip as he gawked at the scene before him. Golly, he would love to slip his fingers into the soft squishiness of that flab! Feeling that sizeable bulge's pressure would be a dream come true! Just imagining that sensations made a shiver jolt through his frame... a tell-tale sign his body was heating up.

Perhaps offering a helping hand wasn’t the best idea... after all, he didn’t know if this attraction was returned. And the last thing he wanted to do was to overstep boundaries.

“Zhere we go.” Icy gasped for breath as the metal plating finally clicked, releasing its hold, and that fat belly bounced forward, slapping down on thickened thighs. Now free from its constraints, the tummy’s size was much bigger than anticipated! The abdominal plating was set aside, and hands returned to that massive beast that now took up a chunk of his lap and spilled ever so enticingly over his hips. “Zhat feels so much better!”

“That’s good!” Be.e was mesmerized by the servo’s rubbing all over the rounded surface. The indents from the armor were etched into its surface, resembling intricate patterns and announcing just how tight the fit was. “Free’s up some space, yeah?”

“Yes, yes...” Icy cooed with optics half-lidded. “Plenty of room for you to feed me that massive burger, hmmm?”

At that suggestion and another grumble from the belly, the Auto.bot eagerly pressed the huge burger to the other’s lips.

master post

#chubformers #siberat drabble #Bigger is better #chubfic

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hsrwife · 2 days ago

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here's my one piece self insert with some minor changes from before! info is pretty much the same - which ik i havent shared here before but ive had them since FOREVER so!!! all the details can be found under the cut!

BASICS

Name: Julian Jay Species: Skypedian (hides it pre-timeskip) -- Epithet: "Smiling Stowaway" -- Bounty: 56,000,000 (first), 700,000,000 (current) Age: 18 (pre-timeskip), 20 (post timeskip) Pronouns: it/any Gender: Unlabeled Orientation: Queer (technically abro but doesn't care to label it) Height: 5ft 6in

PERSONALITY

PRE-TIMESKIP Julian is a snarky and sarcastic individual. Though not outwardly hostile, it's not considered the nicest person either. It jokes about everything, it doesn't take anything seriously, and sometimes it's attitude can get on the nerves of other people. Deep down it really care about those it loves, though, it just has trouble showing it. But with it's enemies? It's vindictive, hateful and angry - ready to fight whenever the opportunity arises.

POST TIMESKIP Julian had time to grow from it's previous self. The two years away from it's only friends had shown it just how much of a huge jerk it was being, and slowly but surely, it began to see the kindness around them in the world too. Such a perspective change practically changed it as a whole. Now optimistic and cheerful, it is much more open about it's care for others and have an open heart for other's situations as well.

COMBAT

weapon of choice: fists strengths: hard hitter & very good defense w/ devil fruit weaknesses: slow and can't dodge very well. devil fruit - rock rock fruit (iwa iwa no mi) the rock rock fruit allows the user to harderntheir skin, creating rock-like layers that act as both an extra layer of damage and a protective shield. -- pros: the rock-like layers are hard to penetrate with blades or bullets, making the user a very good tank. -- cons: the rock-like layers add weight, making the user incredibly slow to move. it also makes them susceptible to heat exhaustion if they don't crack the shell off for too long. the layers when removed can leave the skin tender and red, and is often painful to the touch.

BACKSTORY

Julian grew up on the streets on an island where a clear hierarchy was established between the authorities, the rich, and the poor. It doesn't remember how it got there or why it was there, all it remembered was the cold winter nights alone, bundled in whatever it could find. That was until a homeless man who it affectionately called 'Pa' took it under his wing.

Pa taught it everything it had to know about surviving in a cold, cruel space. He basically raised it from a child to a teen - that was until the authorities tracked him down and arrested him. They claimed he stole an ancient artifact from them. A prize locket that was fabled to be a clue to the One Piece. Julian was furious, knowing that it's adoptive father was innocent. So it began their search.

Eventually, after many break-ins and robberies, it finally found the culprit. A fellow marine who'd been there at the arresting of Pa. Presenting the evidence to the authorities, they wished to take it back - but it only would give it back if Pa was released.

That's when the marines revealed that Pa had died in prison. Sick, frail, hungry. They laughed in their face about how it probably was better for him than being on the streets as a poor man. Infuriated beyond belief, Julian smashed the locket into the ground and stomped on it, shattering it completely. Now not only a pathetic peasant, but a criminal in the eyes of the law, it ran away and hid in an idle ship - it hid until it set sail, and since then, it jumped from ship to ship, hiding in their stock and stealing their supplies for itself until eventually meeting their forever home: the Going Merry.

TRIVIA

it joins the strawhats after robin and before franky

it perceives objects with names, personalities, etc, but still recognizes that they're objects with no sentience -- they perceive zoro's swords with different personalities and likes one of them, is neutral with one, and hates another

pre timeskip julian is a smoker and often steals sanji's cigarettes

it ate the rock rock fruit on a ship it was hiding on, not realizing it was a devil fruit. it's fate was sealed that day /j

paired romantically with luffy, zoro, nami, usopp, sanji, robin, franky, jinbe, yamato (yes, all at the same time) paired familially with chopper (little brother), pa (father)

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farkleysparkley · 3 days ago

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Yo amazing!! Glad i understood what you going for! And imma absolutely tell you about the AU, i got you homie. Put below the cut cause it gonna be long.

Here their ages in the AU so you got lil more context, sorted from young to old:

Mindy: 14

Lillian: 15

Mitchell: 16

Houston: 18

Aurora: 18

Zerk: 18/19

Sean: 19

Jet: 19

Sydney: 19

Stella: 22

Also yea, Houston and Aurora part of the gang too! They be stopping by occasionally.

They all best friends with each other! But there is some bickering, especially due to some their personalities being different than the others. They also all got wildly different taste in stuff, it add to the fun!

They go out and do stuff a lot, their favourite things to do are go to the arcade, fuck around at a playground, film silly videos and skits with each other and post them on YouTube, camp out, go to water and theme parks, mess around at supermarkets, and explore abandoned buildings. Got a fic in the works about them ghost hunting..

And speaking of YouTube, they got a channel called XxTeam_PropulsionxX with about a thousand subscribers where they post skits and stories, video game let's plays with them, memes, vlogs, and few other things!

Also you definitely right about Stella swearing. She be saying fuck every three seconds, and often told to tone it down lol. Zerk also swear a lot, but in a different, stranger, more meme-oriented way. Mitchell only swears when angry, Jet does not swear and gets sad when he says "frick", Lillian and Sean occasionally do it- usually under their breath, Mindy swears a normal amount fo a teenager, and Sydney don't swear but swears in her head sometimes.

Mindy love to jokingly annoy people, but never outta malice! They also all love to watch cartoons together in their lil pillow fort. Most the time they hang at Jet's house

Some them got jobs! Mitchell working his first job at a pizza place, Sean a janitor fo said pizza place. Zerk use to work at Subway but got fired fo chasing customers with mops, Stella currently work at that Subway as a cashier and watched the whole thing. Sydney is a freelance artist, and Jet is proudly unemployed.

Sadly, Cody ain't doing too well. He's old, and rarely goes outside no more. But on a better note, Sunspot and Moonbeam still kickin- headcanon Sunspots live fo a long time! Also completly random, but Sunspot knows how to use a gun. Don't ask why or how he learn this, he jus knows.

Jet got more advanced with his science and inventions, and even won an award at the local fair and got on the news! Sydney, as previously mentioned, now making money off her work!

Also, none of them doing well mentally, except fo Sydney. She kinda the therapist of the group, she love helping people, especially her friends! Could go into detail about what each of them got, but dunno if you down fo that type of discussion. Please let me kno if you are and i'll absolutely tell!

Got much much MUCH more but this what i able to come up with right now. Hope you enjoyed it yo!!

Ummm RJG HC bc I said so teehee

Most of my silly lil AUS take place when they're just a little bit older mb

Mitchell doesn't even know what his plan is gonna be once he finds out Jet is an alien tbh. Lil bro just wants to be right soooo damn bad.

Jet is very smart intellectually but street smart? Nah someone save him PLEASE.

Mitchell has canonically tried to "poison" (according to Jet and Mindy) Jet with ice cream at least ONCE. Stella did not take this well. (I like to think she does care about him and his friends and may even be a little protective of them)

Idk how I came up with this one but Zerk and Stella have MAJOR beef for some reason.

Carrot should just stick with baking bro's cooking is NOT it.

Ummm the Bortronians may or may not be immune to Earth weapons teehee.

If Stella loses her ship or her the thing she keeps it in the crash out will be BADDDDDDDD. She's turning the entire planet upside down looking for that sh (Either Mitchell or Lillian snatched it.)

"Isn't that Stella's….?" - Mindy as the entire planet is up in flames

"Whose?"

Jet would be the first one to die in a horror movie I'm sorry..

Zerk doesn't really get the earth hype and suggests that Jet visit him on Bortron instead.

Stella's hands MUST always be occupied. Whether it is with a fidget, hand gestures or something.

That's all for now teehee

#ready jet go #ready jet go future au #headcanons

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thanatos-zagreus-shagreus · 2 months ago

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had the idea of adding the glyphs from the owl house onto my denim jacket so I taught myself embroidery and did this as a first project!

here's hoping I'm not gonna randomly glow/freeze/burn alive/have a plant grow out of my shoulder I guess?

Close-ups, pic in sunlight (showing the proper colours), and fire glyph progress pics under the cut I swear I also took progress pics of the other glyphs but I can't find them rn

they're all about 5 cm in diameter and I personally think the ice glyph came out a little wobbly but it was my first embroidery ever and the fabric on that part of the jacket is also a little wobbly so I'm happy with the result

the lovely yellow lighting in my room is biting me in the ass rn bc the yellow and green are a lot lighter irl and the blue and red are a bit more vibrant

here's a photo I took in the sun that captures the colours better!

the fire glyph was the last one! I believe there were like two and a half months between finishing the third glyph and starting this one oops (but also yay bc the weather was amazing this weekend so I did a large chunk of the fire glyph while sitting in the sun!)

and a picture of the shoulder while I'm wearing the jacket! though normally the position of the fire glyph falls a little less front-facing (which is great irl bc that way it looks more interesting from the side and back instead of just from the front)

#so yeah a while ago i was lamenting to myself that i don't have art to share on tumblr bc i don't make art #upon realising that my fabric crafts also count i promised myself I'd make a tumblr post when this project was finished #bc hey this still counts as fanart right?#for my first ever embroidery project i'm genuinely so glad with how they came out #wdym if i want i can just learn to do a thing and then do the thing???#anyone got fun ideas for my second embroidery project?#currently considering making the 6 elemental symbols from aurora (red's webcomic) (it's a very fun comic)#those would be a lot smaller than these i think #more like little details #little flourishes that add some liveliness to the jacket but are only clear when you take a closer look #but also these glyphs are already very scarcely recognized (though two or three people have exclaimed 'is that owl house?!' already)#the aurora element symbols would be enormously more obscure #nobody is gonna recognize them #they do look fun though so that's enough reason to do it anyway i guess #but I'm also still open to other ideas to consider #embroidery #fabric crafts #the owl house #toh #owl house #toh fanart #the owl house fanart #fanart #also I'm queueing this one to post tomorrow morning bc i hope that way more mutuals will see it

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psilliguykai · 2 months ago

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Happy [depending on your timezone belated-] 2nd birthday CCCC!!

I gotta eep now, but I might add some more thoughts tomorrow ^^

For now, thank you CCCC for being my intro to Chonny Jash, and thank you cj for all the awesome community and inspiration and joy you’ve brought me and so many other people. Your music and characters will always hold a special place in my Heart [haha] <33

#chonny jash #cj mind #cj heart #cj soul #cj whole #cj harmonia #chonny’s charming chaos compendium #cccc #what who me? hide Pink Whole propaganda in my cccc anniversary artwork?? never ……#listened to the album in its entirety in order for the first time while making it and oooohhh the Thoughts about it #it was a great experience I feel bad I didn’t do it sooner lmao #anyways yayayayy !! happy birthday cccc <3333 #there’s some fun details I added but I’ll probably just elaborate tmrw :]#appalling mustelid tornado #edit: adding some extra little details/thoughts because I’m rested now yay :D #I was careful to make sure to include 2 qualities from each of hms !#heart: blindfold and wings mind: crown and mechanical hands soul: mask and trident :)))#i guess this could count as a Whole/Harmonia design ??? I would call this Harmonia and Not Whole . very much just HMS combined into #one Being but like . not the thing that sings banana man and haiku and hidden in the sand n stuff yknow?#I originally had the colors more organized like . the hands and crown/head area were blue and the masked half of the face was red n stuff #but it didn’t look as good so it’s all just super liquified and blurred together now lol #Im actually pretty fond of how this turned out ^^#all of hms’s colors are included in the background with Soul being the spotlight Mind being the bottom gradient and Heart being the overall #background color #I would give some fancy symbolic explanation for this but I won’t lie . there isn’t any lol it’s just what I thought would work well :’))#if you can find meaning in it that’s great though !!!#I realized earlier today [day after I posted this] I forgot to add line weight to the trident which makes me kinda sad but WE BALL !!!#I would’ve added more symbolism in the patterns but I was super tired and had a headache when I did them 😭#oh and the trident !! it’s totally split up for epic symbolic reasons about the ending of the violence and the relationship between hms #and not because I fucked up the post real bad and couldn’t make it work properly with the trident intact dw about it trust chat

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taiey · 3 days ago

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#just wanna add on as a derap regular#he doesn't end his stream for more than like 5 minutes no matter what he's doing#the only reason he ever stops is either because of a technical problem or for twitch to stop bitching LMFAO#so unless he scrolled through twitter while on a bathroom break there's gen no way#the chatters definitely helped him think about that conclusion like ooc-wise; he went through a few people saying why it can't be them#he focused on hannah but didnt reach a satisfying conclusion; then somone brought up zam and he decided to follow this thought through#and with that he remembered all the resources they've collected and that's how he came to that. the knowledge of the pink castle comes from#ooc - specifically when zam raided him after his own stream. i think. idk i was asleep im going off of derap's words :sob:#with the book he did go like 'you guys definitely know more about this then i do' so i really dont know man im a glazer unfortunately om

like he has twitter blocked with a sub goal to unblock it, he was going down the list of "what if there's a mole?" like poafa no hannah eh mapicc no when some people threw out "zam?" and then he started thinking that through with chat actively arguing uh "Zam and Woogie both just dont feel likely", "didnt zam recently kill him again with no regrets?", "but he killed him again", "does zam have a lot of hearts to give though??", "why would it be zam??, zam literally started the team with you so", like he was not pulling the vibe from chat, he stopped reading it when he got going

like he starts from the wild premise that bacon definitely has 10 hearts, and then pulls the concrete evidence that zam has way more netherite and trials keys than anyone else—and nautilus shells, which he was wrong about—then zeros in on zam not wanting bacon deathbanned, with the false memory that zam acted excited in front of woogie and mapicc and with zam the night before logging on—100% correct on 'when zam changes his shield it means something' and the yin-yang balance symbolism—

he's both genuinely observant and good at putting things together, and overconfident, misremembering interactions in ways that flatter him and jumping to conclusions without tracking that they're still just guesses—and if you let yourself get distracted by ~what if it's stream-sniping~ you lose all of that. it's a hypothesis and a meme that washes out every interesting detail into bland mush. it's an easy thought to think you've got him without actually analysing anything. i am really annoyed by people throwing it out everywhere.

going from "build that castle" to "zam told bacon what he was planning" (true!) to "this is proof that zam and bacon are secretly working together (the castle is helpful to bacon in some way)" is, yep, classic derap thought processes.

Can I just quickly appreciate Derapchu and his Lifesteal character? Because he just realised exactly what's happened between Zam and Bacon. He connected the dots so quickly, it's insane!

And yet he still trusts Zam. He still trusts his teammate, he believes that Zam is doing this for a good reason. Admittedly, he did check Zam's task from Bacon because of the inner turmoil he went through during this "Detective Derapchu" session, but he still doesn't plan on turning away from Zam (we were not shown the book by the way, that's for Zam to reveal). He plans on talking to Zam, and that sure is a conversation to listen to.

Apparently, the book consists for four words. Four words that were enough to fully confirm to Derap that Zam, indeed, helped Bacon with hearts. (Side note: Derap even clocked the whole thing with netherite and trial keys, as well as noticed Zam's changed shield, which he noted down as "When Zam changes his shield it always means something", and paid attention to the ying yang build.)

And he had this realisation while talking to Poafa, and the very real possibility of Zam double-crossing affected him heavily. After this conversation Derapchu actually felt at fault for Poafa feeling betrayed. "Is it my fault?", he asked once Poafa left, "Should i not have said that to poafa?" I just... oh, Derapchu, the character that you are. <3

#lifesteal spoilers #lifesteal #lifesteal smp #thinky thoughts #derapchu

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imerian · 6 months ago

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Vr46 academy keychains

Set of five charms that all match in different ways

˚　　　　✦　　　.　　. 　 ˚　.　　　　 . ✦　　˚　

Open for detailed pictures of each one

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ *ੈ✩‧₊˚

ִֶָ 𓂃˖˳·˖ ִֶָ ⋆★⋆ ִֶָ˖·˳˖𓂃 ִֶָ

:･ﾟ✧:･.☽˚｡･ﾟ✧:･.:

˖⁺‧₊˚⭒✮⭒˚₊‧⁺˖

. ݁₊ ✶. ݁ ˖ˎˊ˗

I ran out of tags so I'll say it here but i would greatly appreciate a reblog, especially if you share your thoughts on these pieces in tags (⁠｡⁠•̀⁠ᴗ⁠-⁠)⁠✧

(Also i forgot that bez have matching part with luca so I didn’t add that to tags sorry

#motogp #marco bezzecchi #pecco bagnaia #valentino rossi #celestino vietti #luca marini #mb72 #fb63 #vr46 #cv13 #lm10 #vr46 academy #okay so i fear tags won't be enough for me this time but I'll try tell everything anyway #firstly i used nicknames (should have used maro but didn't think at the time) for everyone because it brings more of a family feeling than #when i do initials and that's exactly what i wanted with them. on the same note the wolves #the wolves were tge first thing that started this idea because i wanted to make bez charm and picked one up and then it expanded very fast #because let's all face it - they are basically a wolf pack and it's extremely fitting. also after taking these pictures i found mettalic on #for cele. and it's a huge slay because i really don't like mismatching colours of metal #probably the only one that i did mismatch is vale but amazingly it looks pretty neat. i also put as many turtles as i physically could #also except for wolves he also has matching beads with cele and luca if you can spot them #while cele matches luca and bez #bez matches cele and pecco while pecco matches only bez. it was quite a challenge to find beads that would suit their different #colour schemes while looking organic in keychains #also for bez i used a wrench bc of his family and i think that's pretty neat detail #it was absolute mindfuck to find beads for five different keychains at the same time because of how different they all are but i tried #also put a lot of effort into not repeating myself as much as j could in structures so they all have their own personalities outside of set #also i love that “bez” part looks like fangs icl #if you see bead that stands out by colour from all others in keychain it's probably for their eye colour because i love to add that too #also used old bez livery because what we had this year was horrible #actually i made it some time ago just never had time to post

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maddymoreau · 24 days ago

Note

🌍 + Unknown ^_^

Send 🌍+ a series and I'll tell you a fact about my self insert!

Songs that make me thing of her:

Exist for Love - Aurora

Under Your Spell - Snow Strippers

Tw: Character threatening noncon (over the phone) and strangulation.

( ☞ ˙ワ˙)☞ As a heads up, all my Self Inserts are named Madison/Maddy, including my Unknown Self Insert. Also, in order to explain my Self Insert I have to talk about Grant, since the two are the opposite of each other when it comes to three things.

Grant is eight years older than the player. So for my Self Ship he's thirty-four years old. Grant has lived a very full life with multiple past relationships, friends, and a successful career.

He used to be in the Army until his Lieutenant made a bad call, resulting in all of Grant's Squad/Friends getting killed. The only survivors were Grant and his Lieutenant, who he drifted apart from after the Army.

Note: That's the Lieutenant's messed up photo from another game.

When Grant left the military, he moved into his parent's old log cabin. Later, he sees the player in town, starts stalking them, and eventually kidnaps them.

Meanwhile, my Unknown Self Insert is a twenty-six year old who has struggled with issues isolating herself (social recluse).

She recently moved to the city/town for a fresh start, sometime before Grant. Unfortunately, the quote, "Wherever you go, you take yourself" reflects her situation. As moving to a new place didn't change anything.

She isn't happy with where her life is at. She feels behind others her age, both career-wise and socially.

Madison works as cashier for a home improvement store (like Home Depot/Lowes/Ace Hardware). She's working at a dead-end retail job until she can figure out something else. Her dream job is being an artist, which feels unattainable since it won’t provide her with financial stability. This has caused her to suffer from art block.

She's unsure what to do to since her future feels bleak.

Before being kidnapped, Madison was an extremely lonely person. She doesn’t have any friends, isn’t close to any of her coworkers, and has felt disconnected from the rest of society for a very long time. She feels like there’s something wrong with her that she can't pinpoint but everyone else sees. That everyone got a manual on how to be human except her.

Madison is extremely insecure. Due to her lack of confidence, she tends to put walls up since she's afraid of rejection and failure. However, she desperately wants to break out of this self-destructive cycle she's in. She's TRYING to change, but is struggling.

Her insecurities about herself, her passions, and future are a HUGE contrast to Grant, who is EXTREMELY confident in himself.

For example, in the game, Grant calls the player under the ruse of receiving a fake number.

He'll call them again and ask, "Hi there. Yea, it's me again. I just had to ask. Why would someone who was hitting it off with someone else turn around and then give them a fake number afterwards?"

The player can later say, "Sometimes it's cause they just don't find the other person all that attractive."

To which Grant responds, "What? No. I'm plenty attractive. Lots of women find me attractive."

Also, insulting Grant doesn't really work as he tends to turn it back onto the player.

Player: "You're a fucking creep! YOU'RE SICK!"

Grant: "Mmmm . . . That I am dear. But only for you."

Player: "Getting off on just my breathing huh? You must be a two pump chump!"

Grant: "Whether I am or not, there's other ways to make you scream. And either way. I'll still be filling you with my hot cum. Wait. . . . right . . . I was suppose to be insulted, wasn't I? I'm sorry dear, let me try again. Oh . . . forsaken me . . . Woe is my manhood."

He chuckles to himself as if he was incredibly funny. I don't find myself laughing though.

Grant: "I do love talking to you sweetheart. But I think it's time now."

However, his confidence isn't like a stereotypical egotistical cocky character, but rather it's something he views as simply a fact. Like yes, he's objectively attractive and hasn't struggled to date.

His confidence is what makes him so terrifying. That he without a doubt believes the player will eventually submit to him.

Grant is so convinced the player will given in, that he can accidentally kill you. Since he believes you'll stop resisting and sleep, if you refuse and try to stay awake he'll accidentally strangle you to death.

It's one of the few endings where you're killed.

There's also two scenes where the player can threaten Grant with a knife. However, Grant doesn't take your threat seriously at all.

Player: "Stay the fuck back!"

He doesn't listen though, instead he starts to walk forward towards me.

Player: "I said-"

Grant: "Yea, I heard you sweetheart. But we both know you don't have what it takes to use that thing. So, why don't you just put it down."

Depending on the player's choice he CAN get stabbed:

The other scene where you threaten him with a knife:

Player: "STAY BACK!"

He lifts his hands slowly but without caution.

Grant: "Sweetheart . . . This is very disappointing of you. Why are you fighting me?"

Player: "Stay back or I'll stab you!"

He lets out a long sigh but continues to slowly walk towards me.

Grant: "You wouldn't stab me my beloved. Now put the knife down."

I find it interesting the way Grant is so confident that you won't stab him that he approaches you without any caution. Technically, Grant does have military experience, which could add to that. However, I'm pretty sure that lore wasn't added until after the game's release. So it's not that Grant believes he can handle you, but that he 100% believes you don't have what it takes to do it. Something he's so confident about that could end with him getting stabbed.

Grant feels very optimistic about the future and is convinced after kidnapping her, that, in his own words: "We're going to be the best couple there ever was."

While Madison felt very grim about her future. When Grant kidnaps her, he takes her away from all her problems and fears. While unintentionally giving her a new fear (him) and a new goal (escaping).

Since she's isolated (and possibly restrained):

She's now no longer dealing with the issues that plagued her for so long. The stress of paying bills and figuring out what career path she wants to follow. One that will both pay well, and she's happy with.

Art that was once the skillset she never felt good enough at now has turned into a creative outlet for the situation.

Also, since Grant kidnapped her, she's not able to interact with anyone outside him. Which also means she is no longer is at risk of facing rejection or judgement from others.

As horrible as the situation with Grant is, it's one of the first times she's ever felt fully accepted. Since she can’t turn to her coping skills by running away or isolating herself after being kidnapped. She’s forced to spend time with him and be vulnerable. It’s very jarring since she has so desperately craved to connect with another human being. Yet it’s happening with the worst person imaginable.

Due to her low self-esteem she has mixed feelings over Grant's obsession with her. She tries to rationalize it in her head, but it just feels so nice to be desired. To be complimented and praised.

Grant: "You're so beautiful. So precious. I knew you were the one for me the moment I saw you. You're perfect. In every way."

Due to not having very high hopes for her future overtime, she subconsciously develops a fear of returning to society. After all, if she escapes and Grant is arrested she'll truly be alone again.

There's this HUGE fear of restarting. Just because you've been kidnapped doesn't mean the world stopped moving. You still lose your apartment and job. Everyone else continued to live their lives and the world you already struggled to feel a part of functioned fine without you.

So, when you so desperately want to be loved and accepted, having someone say that they unconditionally accept you and all they want in return is for you to love them, sounds so enticing.

Grant: "I'm going to take real good care of you. You don't have to work anymore. Or do anything. All you have to do, is love me. There's nothing to be afraid of. I'm going to be real good to you."

It doesn't help her and Grant have this natural chemistry. That he also desperately wants the player to reciprocate even though it's super unrealistic they would. To the point you can use it to your advantage in the game.

In one of the routes after Grant breaks through your apartment window, you can scream for help and he'll grab your mouth. He'll then pull you over to the couch and telling you to not do that again. The player afterwards can try to stall for time with the hope that one of their neighbors has called the police after hearing you scream.

Grant: "I have to get you home."

Player: "Can't we just stay here?"

I pat the couch invitingly.

Grant: "Nice try. We both know you don't mean that."

He starts to dig for something out of his pocket.

Player: "But what if I did?"

He pauses before he pulls it out all the way.

Grant: "What if . . . you did?"

He thinks it over for a moment.

Player: "You could . . . come sit with me. Watch some tv . . . talk?"

He eyes dart around the room in contemplation.

(HE'S ACTUALLY CONTEMPLATING ADFN;LAKDJ. She was screaming for help two seconds ago there's no way she actually wants to- BUT WHAT IF?!!!!!!!)

Grant: "Why the change of heart?"

He's not foolish enough to fall for it that easily and the police arrive before you can answer but oH MY GOD.

In the beginning, Madison would occasionally fight against him. However, she quickly stops since she doesn't want to constantly be punished and is scared he's going to accidentally kill her. Instead, she plays the waiting game looking for an opportunity to attempt to escape. Until she just has one moment where a flip switches inside her, wondering what she's even fighting to return to.

A life with Grant she's guaranteed to know what she gets. Meanwhile, life outside is scary and filled with uncertainty. Even though Grant is the thing she should fear most overtime he becomes a source of comfort and the outside world is what scares her.

As long as she stops fighting then everything will be okay :)

Grant: "I know, it's really scary but I'm not going to hurt you unless I have to. Everything's going to be ok."

Grant: "I don't want to hurt you Maddy. That's not what I want."

Player: "Please don't hurt me. Please . . ."

Grant: "Shhh . . . I'm not here to hurt you. I could never hurt you."

He pulls my head backwards and places a kiss on the top of it.

Grant: "There's no need to be scared. See?"

Somehow I just can't agree.

Grant: "Let me make this simple for you Maddy. You don't want to get stabbed. I really don't want to have to stab you. So come quietly and neither one of us have to do something we don't want to. Just cause I don't want to, doesn't mean I won't. You're likely to be easier to handle if you're wounded."

I try to showcase her transition in some of my commissions:

Unaware of the stalking: Drawn by Saccharineheartx

The night of the kidnapping: Drawn by Toxictrashdump

Being held captive at Grant's log cabin: Drawn by Ohmenthamo

Confused about her feelings: Drawn by Eliotlime

I gave Eliotlime creative freedom with what the Mini Maddys would be doing, but asked if they could have mixed emotions. Like one angry, scared, shy/embarassed, and the other lovey/affectionate.

Madison initiating affection: Drawn by Bebbyb00

Acceptance: Drawn by UnusualMuffin-Art

Shown through them being silly and lovey-dovey together.

#(ᵕ—ᴗ—) THIS POST GOT SO LONG I'M A LITTLE BIT EMBARRASSED . . .#𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 for asking Toby!!! I lovelovelovelovelove any excuse to talk about them!!!!#One thing I find really sad and tragic about her is that:#She thinks by being with Grant she's escaping everything bad from the outside world.#When in reality she's missing out on all the potential good.#There's a lot more I could add to this post especially regarding the notsfw stuff Grant does and how it affects her.#I'm too shy to write about that in detail though akdfj;alkfna but here's some facts.#She was a virgin before Grant and has never had a real long term relationship before.#The last time she kissed someone she was eighteen.#She's been asked out (by coworkers) since then but always rejects and pushes others away.#She has a hard time believing anyone is actually interested in her or has good intentions.#So Grant being so upfront with his intentions and that he is sick and a creep she weirdly finds reassuring lmao.#SHE'S NOT THE MOST MENTALLY WELL IS THAT OBVIOUS LKFDJKL:SDS:D #Her fate is that she ends up growing old with Grant and they have one kid together.#Their child is 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 loved but has some issues but to be fair look who his parents are.#Basically he's like his Dad but doesn't want to be.#Also she technically has one half hearted escape attempt in the log cabin but I'm saving to reveal that in a future commission.#TakenForGranted #These are the exact choices in the game I imagine for my ship ->#No. + Comfort? + Decline? + Hang up? + Insist? + No . . . + Ignore it? + Look? + Slap his hand away? + Pretend to be asleep? +#Win Mini Game + Fail Mini Game = Ending Sushi Rolled.#Long Text #Long Post

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