#wine & bar tools

[newlyy]

Haul from two thrift stores. I’m pretty pleased I usually find maybe one thing I want.

[blondebehindthebucket]

Know Your Bar Tools: The Durand

end of the night, all guests gone The Durand is a nifty little tool that comes in handy when opening older bottles of wine, especially when the corks are dry and brittle and may break off. It protects the wine from being compromised by fragile corks when opening. Such was the case for me the other night with a 2006 vintage. The tool is named after sommelier Yves Durand and was invented by Mark…

[rheya28]

Cork & Canvas [Paint and Wine Studio] || The Sims 4 Build

➽ Speed Build Video

➽ Rheya's Notes:

● I saved this lot as Generic, but you can change the lot type to small business and add a kiosk! ● This lot has been play-tested and works! Make sure to adjust the small business setting. [ I made sure to include painting and drinking bar drinks in the activities menu and adjust the age restriction so kids do not spawn ]

➽ Important Notes:

● Please make sure to turn bb.moveobjects on! ● Please DO NOT reupload or claim as your own. ● Feel free to tag me if you are using it. I love seeing my build in other simmers save file ● Feel free to edit/tweak my builds, but please make sure to credit me as the original creator! ● Thank you to all CC Creators ● Please let me know if there's any problem with the build

➽ Lot Details

Lot Name: Cork & Canvas Lot type: Generic/Small Business/ Lot size: 30 x 30 Location: Del Sol Valley

➽ Mods:

TOOL MOD by TwistedMexi

● DOWNLOAD Tray File and CC list: Patreon Page ● Origin ID: anrheya [previous name: applez] ● Twitter: Rheya28__ ● Tiktok: Rheya28__ ● Youtube: Rheya28__

[home-stuck-in-desert-bluffs]

Galley - Home Bar Ideas for a large, classic galley remodel with a medium-toned wood floor and a brown floor, a wet bar, a glass-front sink, dark wood cabinets, quartzite countertops, a mirror backsplash, and white countertops.

[zeeicecold]

Home Bar Wet Bar An undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, marble countertops, a white backsplash, and stone tile backsplash are some ideas for a small timeless galley renovation.

[stradivariusscalpel]

Home Bar Detroit Inspiration for a mid-sized timeless single-wall dark wood floor and brown floor home bar remodel with shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets and wood countertops

[v6quewrlds]

after all of this love island talk we need a blurb about joe getting wifey invested into it (yes, him getting her invested into it cuz i know that hoe secretly watches love island. also taylor should have gone home sorry not sorry)

author's note⠀⁎⠀taylor needed to go home and i'll stand on that. no sympathy for charlie, but based on the info that the islanders know, it should've been taylor smh

read more⠀⁎⠀joe burrow masterlist / series masterlist.

Reality TV had been her thing. She loved the messy, the dramatic, and the unexpected. Joe, on the other hand, was more of a sports and sci-fi guy, begrudgingly indulging her housewives and bachelors in exchange for his space films and nature documentaries. The offseason always presented a lull when his teams weren't playing, so he'd reluctantly sit through an episode or two of her favorite shows, his body warm under the weight of their large throw blanket and her head on his chest. He'd pay more attention to her reactions, their bowl of pretzels, and his delivery of slow, soft kisses to the crown of her head than to the actual plot unfolding on their wide-screen TV mounted on the wall.

This season of Love Island USA, however, had captured his interest. Maybe it was the palm trees and ridiculous shenanigans of the fame-hungry islanders. Or perhaps it was the sheer absurdity of grown adults playing raunchy games to find 'love' in a villa with camera rolling 24/7 from all directions. Either way, he found himself leaning into the drama, his eyes following the screen with more interest than he was comfortable allowing anyone else but his girlfriend of four years to witness.

“You make zero sense,” she scoffed, her eyes trained on the screen, watching the scrub bar rewind under Joe’s control. The black remote in his hand had become a tool of power in their debates, allowing him to replay moments that he had become much too invested in deciphering. “Nic might be interested in Iris, but Olandria is a stretch. We’ve never seen them interact outside of challenges.”

“I swear it’s the editing. You can’t just dismiss it because you don’t see them together as much.” He clicked pause on the remote, freezing on a frame of Nic looking at Olandria. “Look at his face. He has no reason to be staring at her like that.”

Her face reflected just how deeply she was unconvinced by the frame Joe had frozen. She rolled her eyes and reached for a pretzel. “You’re reaching, babe. Reaching hard.” She crunched the pretzel, the sound echoing in the room, before continuing, “If he was interested in her, don’t you think they’d show more than just glances?”

Joe leaned back, his arms folding over his chest in a rare display of defensiveness. “You just don’t get it. It’s gonna be a slow burn, for sure. But it’s there. Trust me.” He reached for a pretzel, mirroring her earlier movement.

“Alright, Mr. TV Romance Expert. What’s your most concrete piece of evidence?” she smiled, popping another pretzel into her mouth.

Joe sat up a little, the challenge in her tone lighting a spark in his eyes. “Remember when Nic asked Olandria how she would feel if he was the one to kiss Iris outside of a challenge?”

She nodded, the crunch of pretzels pausing momentarily.

“I do remember that,” she conceded.

“Exactly. Why would Nic ask Olandria how she would feel about him kissing someone else, when he’s in a couple with Cierra? Unless he’s testing the waters, seeing if Olandria is into him, too.” Joe’s voice grew more confident as he spoke, gesturing as if punctuating his points.

She took a sip of her wine, considering his words. “Or he could’ve been testing to see if her position on Hannah not doing anything wrong by kissing Pepe would hold up if it was a guy stepping out on his couple. He was trying to be subversive, playing devil’s advocate.”

She leaned back into his body, her head resting against his shoulder. Subconsciously, Joe’s arms wrapped around her, his fingers playing with the ends of her hair. Her eyes fluttered shut, feeling him kiss her temple gently.

“You think these Love Island guys are trying to be subversive? Half of them couldn’t spell subversive, let alone understand it.” Joe laughed, his voice low and warm as it rumbled against her ear.

“Maybe not, but Nic’s an RN. He’s not as dumb as he might play,” she responded. “Besides, they’re bored as fuck in there. They have to find things to talk about to keep themselves entertained.”

“Maybe. But when shit pops off between them, you’re gonna have to admit that I was right,” Joe said with a smug smile, his thumb now stroking her arm.

She laughed, the sound low and sweet. “You’re cute when you’re delusional.” She turned her head to kiss the corner of his mouth. “But if you’re right, I’ll admit it. Maybe even throw in a little something extra for you.”

“Something extra? Like what?” Joe teased, his eyes flickering with curiosity.

She looked away. “You have to be right to find out.”

[goatskickin]

Themed & furnished CC free residential lot!

Tiny Lot - 🕺Groovy House ♨️

tiny 3x1 lot!

copacetic pad for a couple who likes to swing

record player, hot tub, grill, bar and a hammock

wine cabinet over the kitchen counters!

Kitchen 🪵Dining Area 2 🥃 Bar Area - From Patio 🪵Lounge Chair 🥃 Dining Area 🪵TV Area 🥃 View from the Patio 🪵Outdoor Fireplace 🥃Hot Tub 🪵Bedroom 🥃Bathroom - With a "View" 🪵Tropical Bathroom 🥃 Den 🪵Hammock 🥃Patio Thing 🪵

2 bathrooms: 1 tropical themed, 1 with a "view"

wood paneled + carpeted den for an architect

don’t include zz_HL_RugFixesBin_ALL when installing

no CC at all! Needs all Expansions and Stuff packs however*

*note: this lot does contain a number of extracted items (kitchen deco by mutske, the OFB daisy bouquet, buyable FT pottery and craft plaques, garden tools, buyable reagents, BV suitcases, NL date rewards) - but they aren't necessary for this lot to still be totally groovy. You can install the lot only with the Sims2Pack Clean installer.

Download - Tiny CC Free Lot - Groovy House

[axoluxy]

Hmmm.... How would Alastor realize he has begun to feel a sort of... affection for a reader? (Basically he's developing feelings and he realizes it).

hii this is my first work for alastor so forgive me if it's a little ooc and if you guys have any tips or requests, please let me know :))

Alastor Falling For the Reader

pairing; alastor x (gender not specified) reader warning; ooc alastor (probably), a little bit of angst if you squint, cannabalism (its alastor what do you expect), blood, no dialogue (is that a warning?) perspective; 2nd person, in the eyes of alastor though if that makes sense?

so you first joined the hotel because of charlie

you weren't a parent per se to charlie, but you stepped up after lilith left to god knows where

(literally, god knows.)

and when lucifer was quite neglectful

so after getting you settled into your own room charlie wanted to introduce you to everyone

she had called a meeting to everyone in the main parlour

the reason alastor was so interested at you at first wasn't your kindness, or charisma, or even your charming smile

as much as he thought it was nice

it was your colour pallet

yes, as weird as it was, you were the only one in the hotel with blues and purples in your hair, outfit and makeup.

since the vision spectrum of a deer was limited to cooler colours and hell was filled with reds, blacks, and pinks it was refreshing for him to see something other than black and white

after a deft introduction from himself and quite a sloppy one from the others should he add, you all were spread around the bar drinking your respected drinks

and after a solid and quite warm welcome, you headed to your room and off to bed

the reason you and alastor grew close was because of your shared love of jazz music

there was no one else in the hotel who enjoyed the genre so it made you a bit more tolerable to him

as the weeks turned into months, you had grown close with most of the original people in the hotel

though, you couldn't find yourself getting close with angel

nothing against him of course, it was just hard to find common interest with him

personally, i don't see alastor falling easily, so it would take a lot, and i mean A LOT so idk what you did but congratulations

as yours and alastors platonic relationship grew, so did the want to be even closer with you

he was very up in your personal space and you couldn't say that you didn't like it

when he realised he wanted a romantic relationship with you he short circuited

let me expand, you two were enjoying dinner in one of the dinning rooms that had come with building up the new hotel

alastor was enjoying his weekly venison heart and you were indulging in some red wine and VERY MUCH COOKED deer

you had told him something about texture issues but he wasn't really paying attention to the words that came out of your mouth

he was more so just watching the way you slightly smiled while talking to him

anyways, as you had finished your meals, you had realised alastor had some blood dribbling from his mouth

you had tried to get him to wipe it off but he couldn't quite get it

so you had walked up in front of him and wiped it off with your thumb

not just that you had licked your thumb clean

in a twisted way, that was just really attractive to him

as soon as he realised his attraction to you he had to quickly excuse himself

after these newfound emotions that he had registered as love he ignored you

yeah, probably not the best move on his end but to be fair, he had never fallen in love before so that was his immediate reaction

he saw his affection for you as a weakness

you tried to talk to him?

oh apologies he has that thing he has to do since he's an overlord

and it was frustrating you, a lot

after a full week of him ignoring you, he decided to get advice from the best person he knew

rosie

when rosie had told him off for ignoring you, he knew he fucked up

not sure why that's would it took

she had told him that love shouldn't be seen as a weakness but a tool that he could utilise to make himself stronger too

basically out for love but in rosie's style lol

so when he came back to the hotel, he went to your room and knocked on the door

you had reluctantly let him in to explain himself

and while he didn't outrightly admit his feelings for you, it was pretty obvious

after a kiss on your hand, and a very long spiel of how sorry he was, (bro is down BAD i swear) you had forgiven him

now the next hurdle was trying to bring himself to ask if he could court you.

AHH FIRST HAZBIN HOTEL POST!!! PLEASE LEAVE MORE REQUESTS I LOVE THEM <3333

[secondarysefikura]

A modern au where for his 21st birthday Cloud and a few of his friends head to a bar and while there Cloud catches the attention Sephiroth. The two start talking and immediately hit it off, and soon the pair start dating. A few months later Cloud ends up moving in with Sephiroth who lives miles from town, and for some reason tells Cloud that no matter what he can not enter the basement saying that the basement has things that are very important for a second job of his, and he doesn’t want them to be messed with. Eventually Sephiroth proposes which Cloud of course saids yes to. A few months later they get married and after they return home they have a nice dinner with Sephiroth getting some wine out of them and eventually they go to bed. But when Cloud wakes up he pretty much wakes up in a horror movie, instead waking up in their bed with Sephiroth’s arms around him like usual, he wakes up in a completely different bed and chained to it. The room he’s in is dark but Cloud can see some of things in there like the table with torture weapons on it, the table saw, the bathroom that has blood stains on the outside of it, and of course his loving husband Sephiroth sitting by the bed watching Cloud. Cloud freaks out and starts yelling at Sephiroth to unchain him and that this isn’t funny! But Sephiroth refuses, he tells Cloud that this isn’t a joke, that he’s a serial killer. He explains that the bar they met at is where he picks his victims and after dating them for a while he convinces them to move in with him, and after a few weeks he takes them to the basement and murders them. But Sephiroth tries to reassure Cloud that unlike his many other victims who he’s murdered over the years, he genuinely fell in love with Cloud and would never hurt him. However just because he loves Cloud that doesn’t mean he’s giving up killing, and he knows that if he tried to keep his secret Cloud would eventually find out. So Sephiroth figured out a compromise to his problem, Cloud will stay locked up in the basement for most of the time, and Sephiroth can continue with killing(although his method of getting a victim to their house might end up changing somewhat because he is a loyal husband). Cloud will have to see him murdering and disposing of his victims but Sephiroth is perfectly fine with that, especially since doing so could help Cloud understand why he enjoys killing, and maybe one day not only could he trust Cloud enough that he won’t go to the cops so that he no longer has to stay in the basement, but he could even become his partner in crime.

Me reading the middle of this ask: No, don't kill your husband Sephiroth!

Me by the end: Yes! Traumatize your husband Sephiroth!

I LOVE this idea. Especially Sephiroth being proactive and locking Cloud up before he can inevitably discover Sephiroth's "hobby." It's very in character for him. And, truthfully, I think he is happiest knowing that Cloud is nice and safe in the basement.

I mean, Cloud almost became the victim of a serial killer! He clearly can't be trusted to stay safe outside the basement!

While Sephiroth is enjoying himself knowing that Cloud is safe, Cloud is having a very horrible time. Although the bed he is chained to is quite comfortable and Sephiroth frequently unchains him to allow him to stretch his legs, Cloud cannot ignore the absolute nightmare of his surroundings. The basement always reeks of a mixture of blood and chemicals, meaning even when he closes his eyes he is still aware of the space's violence.

The worst part is when Sephiroth brings home a new victim. Cloud has to watch in horror as Sephiroth brings some poor unconscious man or woman down to the basement and chain them up. Even if he closes his eyes, he has to hear the sounds of Sephiroth happily humming while he picks out the tools he wants to use on his new victim.

Sometimes Sephiroth asks Cloud for advice, and Cloud better answer with something satisfactory if he doesn't want Sephiroth to use the slowest and most brutal methods on the poor person. Oh, and speaking of slow and brutal-

Even on a 'good' day, Sephiroth likes to drag out his murders. Hence Cloud has to spend several days with a roommate whenever Sephiroth brings someone new home. Although having a "roommate" changes very little in Cloud and Sephiroth's daily routine.

Sephiroth doesn't care if someone is watching; he's entitled to sleep with his husband. Oh, and just because Sephiroth isn't feeding his new friend anything doesn't mean that Cloud gets to skip meals. Not that Cloud manages to keep most of his meals down when he's forced to watch Sephiroth torture someone.

At least Sephiroth is nice about it. He never gets mad at Cloud when he throws up and instead always checks on him. He cleans up the sick from the floor, wipes Cloud's face down with a damp clothe, and ensures that Cloud is changed into clean clothes if he got any on himself. He even replaces Cloud's blankets with fresh ones if Cloud didn't manage to lean over the side of the bed intime to throw up on the floor.

Then he picks back up his torture instrument and makes his victim pay for disgusting his poor Cloud to the point of throwing up.

Cloud has learned not to apologize to the victim, since it only makes things worse for them.

[puppygirlgirldick]

hi. since i have something that could very generously be called a platform, your local dumb horny dog is here with another unfortunate public service announcement for people currently living under the legal jurisdiction of the united states of america:

this would be a good time to start investigating privacy and data security tools (and, as ever, to not panic and/or doompost because those are not useful things to do). such things include:

using (more) secure messaging apps over sms for private correspondence such signal.

using (more) private email services rather than gmail such as protonmail

password protect your shit. this is just basic data security but like. please. password protect your shit. use strong passwords and/or passphrases. don't reuse passwords. use a password manager (i recommend bitwarden).

building off the previous one, encrypt your shit if you're able to. for pc users there are plenty of open source options, such as veracrypt, and probably native os stuff too.

like. y'all are gonna roll your eyes, and i get it, but: stop using windows and try out linux. seriously. windows 11 is a fucking privacy nightmare and it's only getting worse as microsoft pushes their ai shit which is planned to have access to everything you do on it.

tumblr can't do nested lists, consider this a sub-point: mint linux is designed to be incredibly familiar to people coming from windows and is very user friendly. a huge amount of windows software can run on linux using stuff like wine. the linux version of steam comes pre-packaged with it. it's fine. please try linux it won't bite.

sadly i am, as mentioned, a dog on the internet and i cannot provide an actual comprehensive guide to keeping your privacy intact and yourself safe.

however, there are plenty of good guides for this sort of thing on the internet and despite how degraded modern search engines are they are not hard to find. i heartily suggest doing so and familiarizing yourself with them-- and not just because of the times we live in, because a lot of this shit is the same shit that will help keep you safe from a lot of forms of identity theft and the like. it's just good opsec.

[tomhollandnet]

Tee-total Spider-Man star Tom Holland launches no-alcohol beer

The actor has latched on to the low- and no-alcohol trend, launching Bero after feeling ‘self-conscious’ for drinking predominantly blue-labelled beer

The teetotal Spider-Man star Tom Holland is using his fame to launch a beer brand to help non-drinkers feel like they “fit in” in social situations.

Holland, 28, said that he first came up with the idea for Bero, which launches in the UK on Monday, when he gave up drinking in January 2022 and found that the alcohol-free options on offer made him feel self-conscious.

“A lot of the labels of non-alcoholic beers are blue. You’ve got Becks blue. Heineken is blue. Guinness is blue. Corona is blue. So I feel like I would be in the bar with this klaxon going off like, ‘I don’t drink and I have a problem’,” said Holland, who is engaged to Zendaya, the American actress and singer.

“I wanted to create something …. that meant you could go into a bar and ask for a household name that represented sobriety but was under the radar, so that people like me could go to the pub and just feel as if they belong as much as anyone.”

Low-alcohol and alcohol-free beer is now the fastest-growing beer category in the UK according to the British Beer and Pub Association, with year-on-year growth of 23 per cent. The association says it is appealing to a “whole new cohort of pub goers”.

The researcher Mintel estimates that about a third of people aged 18-24 do not drink alcohol at all, significantly higher than older generations.

Celebrities who have spotted the commercial opportunities from the generational shift to low or no alcohol options include the F1 driver Lewis Hamilton who launched Almave, an alcohol-free, agave-based “spirit” in partnership with the Mexican spirits group Casa Lumbre. The singer Kylie Minogue’s range of rosé premium wines include 0% Sparkling Rosé, which is alcohol free.

Holland was introduced to his New York-based co-founder, Josh Herman, through a mutual friend and they started working on the concept in January last year. The brand launched its three alcohol free beers — an IPA, a wheat and a pilsner — in the US in October, and last week launched into 1,400 Target stores nationwide.

Herman, 43, says that while Holland’s fame is a useful tool for promotion, it wasn’t the reason he chose to get involved. “He has tremendous reach but he was also committed to helping build the brand with me. It wasn’t, ‘Hey, build the product and then put ‘sponsored by Tom Holland’ on the can. He’s been in every meeting, every call with me.”

Holland, who has 65 million followers on Instagram, said that starting a business was an itch he had long yearned to scratch.

The actor, who grew up in Kingston, southwest London, said that he “used to love watching The Apprentice”, the long-running BBC show featuring Lord Sugar. “I love the idea of being set a challenge and setting something up from scratch,” he said.

Holland said that he was just waiting for the right opportunity to come along. “I’ve always wanted to do something like this, I just never came across anything that I felt particularly passionate about. I’ve had offers to start up sportswear brands and stuff like that. But the world doesn’t need … muscle T-shirts from me. I never felt like I would give it 100 per cent. But this felt like a really good thing to do. Promoting a healthier lifestyle is something that I really believe in.”

While Herman runs the business day-to-day, he says that Holland is “intimately” involved and attends board meetings with Bero’s sole investor, Imaginary Labs. The pair, who are both shareholders, declined to say how much they’ve raised so far. “I’m keeping the financial raise [information] a little bit more quiet. I’ve never fully understood the LinkedIn announcements,” Herman said.

Holland said that his strengths were around “building the brand and being creative”, but that he was baffled by some of the finer details. “I sit in some of our board meetings and have to hit pause and say, ‘What on earth is going on? What do all these numbers mean?’”

One of the key differences between being involved in a start-up and making films is that it’s a constant process of improvement and evolution, Holland said. “With films, once the film’s out there, there’s nothing you can do. But what we can do with Bero is adapt and change. We’re malleable. And it’s been a really fun process sifting through the feedback and changing where we can to constantly be growing and getting better.”

[zoesblogsposts]

o 625 words to know in your target language o

There is a really interesting blog called "Fluent Forever" that aids foreign language learners in tricks, tips and techniques to guide them to achieving fluency "quickly" and efficiently. One of the tricks is to learn these 625 vocab words in your target language, that way you have a basis to start delving into grammar with ease as you can understand a lot of vocab right off the bat. Plus this list of words are common across the world and will aid you in whatever language you are learning. Here is the list in thematic order

• Animal: dog, cat, fish, bird, cow, pig, mouse, horse, wing, animal

• Transportation: train, plane, car, truck, bicycle, bus, boat, ship, tire, gasoline, engine, (train) ticket, transportation

• Location: city, house, apartment, street/road, airport, train station, bridge hotel, restaurant, farm, court, school, office, room, town, university, club, bar, park, camp, store/shop, theater, library, hospital, church, market, country (USA,

France, etc.), building, ground, space (outer space), bank, location

• Clothing: hat, dress, suit, skirt, shirt, T-shirt, pants, shoes, pocket, coat, stain, clothing

• Color: red, green, blue (light/dark), yellow, brown, pink, orange, black, white, gray, color

• People: son, daughter, mother, father, parent (= mother/father), baby, man, woman, brother, sister, family, grandfather, grandmother, husband, wife, king, queen, president, neighbor, boy, girl, child (= boy/girl), adult (= man/woman), human (# animal), friend (Add a friend's name), victim, player, fan, crowd, person

• Job: Teacher, student, lawyer, doctor, patient, waiter, secretary, priest, police, army, soldier, artist, author, manager, reporter, actor, job

• Society: religion, heaven, hell, death, medicine, money, dollar, bill, marriage, wedding, team, race (ethnicity), sex (the act), sex (gender), murder, prison, technology, energy, war, peace, attack, election, magazine, newspaper, poison, gun, sport, race (sport), exercise, ball, game, price, contract, drug, sign, science, God

• Art. band, song, instrument (musical), music, movie, art

• Beverages: coffee, tea, wine, beer, juice, water, milk, beverage

• Food: egg, cheese, bread, soup, cake, chicken, pork, beef, apple, banana orange, lemon, corn, rice, oil, seed, knife, spoon, fork, plate, cup, breakfast, lunch, dinner, sugar, salt, bottle, food

• Home: table, chair, bed, dream, window, door, bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, pencil, pen, photograph, soap, book, page, key, paint, letter, note, wall, paper, floor, ceiling, roof, pool, lock, telephone, garden, yard, needle, bag, box, gift, card, ring, tool

• Electronics: clock, lamp, fan, cell phone, network, computer, program (computer), laptop, screen, camera, television, radio

• Body: head, neck, face, beard, hair, eye, mouth, lip, nose, tooth, ear, tear (drop), tongue, back, toe, finger, foot, hand, leg, arm, shoulder, heart, blood, brain, knee, sweat, disease, bone, voice, skin, body

• Nature: sea, ocean, river, mountain, rain, snow, tree, sun, moon, world, Earth, forest, sky, plant, wind, soil/earth, flower, valley, root, lake, star, grass, leaf, air, sand, beach, wave, fire, ice, island, hill, heat, nature

• Materials: glass, metal, plastic, wood, stone, diamond, clay, dust, gold, copper, silver, material

• Math/Measurements: meter, centimeter, kilogram, inch, foot, pound, half, circle, square, temperature, date, weight, edge, corner

• Misc Nouns: map, dot, consonant, vowel, light, sound, yes, no, piece, pain, injury, hole, image, pattern, noun, verb, adjective

• Directions: top, bottom, side, front, back, outside, inside, up, down, left, right, straight, north, south, east, west, direction

• Seasons: Summer, Spring, Winter, Fall, season

• Numbers: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 21, 22, 30, 31, 32, 40, 41, 42, 50, 51, 52, 60, 61, 62, 70, 71, 72, 80, 81, 82, 90, 91, 92, 100, 101, 102, 110, 111, 1000, 1001, 10000, 100000, million, billion, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, number

• Months: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December

• Days of the week: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday

• Time: year, month, week, day, hour, minute, second, morning, afternoon, evening, night, time

• Verbs: work, play, walk, run, drive, fly, swim, go, stop, follow, think, speak/say, eat, drink, kill, die, smile, laugh, cry, buy, pay, sell, shoot(a gun), learn, jump, smell, hear (a sound), listen (music), taste, touch, see (a bird), watch (TV), kiss, burn, melt, dig, explode, sit, stand, love, pass by, cut, fight, lie down, dance, sleep, wake up, sing, count, marry, pray, win, lose, mix/stir, bend, wash, cook, open, close, write, call, turn, build, teach, grow, draw, feed, catch, throw, clean, find, fall, push, pull, carry, break, wear, hang, shake, sign, beat, lift

• Adjectives: long, short (long), tall, short (vs tall), wide, narrow, big/large, small/little, slow, fast, hot, cold, warm, cool, new, old (new), young, old (young), weak, dead, alive, heavy, light (heavy), dark, light (dark), nuclear, famous

[iinafarawaygalaxii]

Star Wars | One Shot

Captain Rex x f!Reader

A Ghost For Prospect

Okay guys honestly, this just popped into my head while I was writing the fanfic and watching the newest episodes of bad batch (OMG! cries internally*) Soooo I thought Id share with the public, this will contain a couple small spoilers if you havent watched the bad batch yet and its a lil spicy so... read at your own discretion (:

MINORS DNI 18+

Summary: Captain Rex needs information for the sake of Omega and the remainder of the clones being tapped and tortured. He had no choice but to search for you, one of the most dangerous bounty hunters in the settled systems and best information brokers in the galaxy. Knowing he didnt have the money to pay you off, he offered other ways to get the information he needed to save his family...

Warnings: 18+ Minors you should've stopped reading at the red

Word Count: 5.3k

Notes: I totally didnt proof read, my apologies. I left it on a cliff hanger because Im still debating on a part 2. Let me know if thats something yall would want!

Enjoy :D

After Omegas escape from Tantiss, the situation to save the clones and the galaxy from the empire grew more desperate. With the Captains headquarters destroyed from the enemies pursuit and now has lost more of his brothers- even the ones he saved that were killed by the blast, EVERYTHING started to crumble. Though because of this deadly sacrifice he now had evidence of the tests being administered to the clones, along with the mention of project 'x' and the need for m-count individuals, but still... no dots were connecting. What he needed was information, which made the finest soldier from the clone wars feel uneasy. 

Ever since order 66 the universe didn't make sense anymore. The lines drawn between good and evil became blurred when he learned what it was like to live free from a shackled organization, making his job... just that much harder. There was too much of a grey area with who or what to save, when or where to be- for instance, what he's doing now, bargaining with one of the most dangerous bounty hunters and information brokers in the galaxy.

You

The Captain stood with two other troopers before you, each their own unique persona. The soldier in blue with golden hair aged like the finest wine in the Corellian systems nearly made your mouth drop. Even just a glance at his build meant he cared for his body as much as his mission, standing stoic and resolved.... The way he looked at you with those honey brown eyes in caution though his gaze  remained soft and calm left you curious for more than wear. His look was formatted by a subtly of fearlessness that almost felt intimidating, showing you he meant business. Though, you did have to admire the man... tracking you down was not an easy feat and the way he waltzed in without hesitation unafraid of the deadly figures around him, turned you on.

The other troopers however, despite being clones, were extremely different. One in black armor had a socket arm in replacement of his own. The weird tubing and wiring attached to his head and neck meant he was either an experiment or a tool. His original color completely faded to a sickly white making you wonder if death itself stood at your door. Either way, he looked extremely sickly which was bad for business and the other well- he shared the captains same demeanor standing with the same amount of caution as they approach you, awaiting your recognition as you take a long gander at his slicked back hair and his muscles nearly protruding out of armor that seems like it lost its touch a while ago. He looked as standard as the clones come when first created nonetheless his sculpted brawny chest and shoulders meant he could probably lift you with ease, amongst other things.

Though you wouldn't doubt it, 

As you sat on the edge of the bar with a bottle of whiskey in hand basking in the warmth of the two suns that lit the planet dry. Your hideout or what the other women call the 'safe house' on Tatooine was directly built on an oasis. A towering open dome for natural lighting with the oasis itself directly in the middle that supplied not only water but bared fruit enough to feed the lot of them. Plants from all over the galaxy were found climbing the walls as if they'd been here for ages, thriving in an unfamiliar home just as much as the women you've brought and saved. It almost seemed like a vacation coming here after your missions and bounties. Surrounded by the finest women bounty hunters and the girls you've graciously saved across the galaxy. All in one spot enjoying the fruits of your labor. The women there looked up to you not only as a leader but as a dangerous figure not to be trifled with- filled with the upmost respect a single person can recieve. 

You were praised and well guarded. 

So when clones show up at your front door asking for something as trivial as information, it made you and the others laugh- hysterically. The eruption making the three soldiers look around in confusion, postering as if they missed something hearing the laughs grow into silence as you spoke up, "Do you know who I am trooper?”, You asked the man in blue hopping of the bar, regretfully, treading closer to him with the bottle of whiskey still in hand. "I do. If I'm not mistaken... They call you Ghost?"

You smiled

Taking a long swig of the bottle in hand before passing it off to one of the bartenders walking past. Your crew had their eyes glued on the men, ready to whip out their blasters on your command should anything or one cause trouble, leaving you worry free as you approach the soldier in your tipsy state. Most of the time, men crumble under the pressure each step you take towards them.... But not this man. Standing inches from him without a single reaction and although he had some height on you, 6 inches give or take, You favorite phrase came to mind...'The taller they are the harder they fall'. You leaned in with a flirty smile admiring his tenacity but with caution as you whispered, "Do you know why they call me that?", in his ear. You wanted to make him nervous as any man or creature who came in asking for the same things- to really test how badly they want that information and for a slight jest of play to assess them as a whole. You began to trace your fingers up his chest piece watching him, watch you. "No...", He uttered lowly and to your surprise he didn't react your touch at all. The gravity of his situation may be more intense than you thought, though it still didn't change anything. You were known as not only the most nefarious but the most devious of all hunters, next to Cad Bane. Using not only your charm and body to get answers but your mind and bronze to create beautiful plans to execute, to get the best rewards out of your missions and to be honest given his demeanor?

It made you want to break him 

In a blink of an eye you were gone, as if your presence there was just a illusion, tracing your finger alongside his back tck-ing from the disappointed response. "Its because the people I deal with seem to just.... disappear with me...". Though the words did not shock him. He knew what he was getting into the moment he ended up on your doorstep. Even with this in mind he still came which made you admire him more. You knew he was here to do business. You giggled trotting off to a large black velvet chair in the center of the room, a couple of twileks bringing you a martini made from one of the finest alcohols in the system. "Please... Help yourselves..." you waved your hand towards the soldiers, the twileks bringing them the same drinks who cautiously accepted them. The captain however… had little time for such niceties placing the glass on the table next to him as he made his way to the edge of the steps before you. "Thank you but ill decline. I came here seeking information. Can you help us or not?", He firmly asked. 

There was something about him- fearless, that turned you on. A malicious grin rose on your face as you tilted you head to announce that, "Everything comes with a price.", sipping the delicious drink that was made for the event, wondering what the man truly had to offer to be worth your time. "Im aware, name it." The troopers in the back finished theirs, bringing a suitcase full of credits up to the captain awaiting for their next order. You nodded for the twileks to check and count them ensuring their validity. After a moment of silence and a quick nod to you, you smiled asking what he needed “go on then…” you replied as you rested, listening to his request.

"The Empire is taking and torturing clones across the galaxy. They’re also after M-count individuals and my sources say youve hunted them and work closely with a man named Royce Hemlock. I need to know… where hemlock is stationed, what project X is, and the need for the m-count individuals”

Your face remained calm pausing between his request as you process whether it was worth* giving him that information. On top of that, what he requested could lead to dangers down the road which, in turn, would effect you and your... business as a whole. You didn’t want that type of attention.  "What you've given does not suffice for the information you requested”, You sipped your drink again twirling the orange liquid in your glass with a snide smile wondering how much you could squeeze out of him before you give anything as you watched his brows furrow with anger. In truth, he didnt need to know about project X, in fact no one does not even you because A: it doesnt concern you and B: no one knows about it....except maybe the man in front of you. But since you already knew his true goal from the spies you had under your thumb, it wasnt a sprise for him to ask such questions. However it wasnt worth the risk. Not to mention… information these days are just- expensive. It was wiser to get your moneys worth if you accept the risk. "Besides, thats not what youre really after…. You want to know the locations of the bases your brothers are free them and build an army large enough to ‘free the galaxy’, right?”, Your response sent a shock wave through the troopers. How did you know their plan?  Not to toot you’re own horn but- youre well… you

 "I imagine Omega is the prime target for the empire at the moment as well... considering how high her bounty is. My guess is... the m-count individual their after is her-" You paused tapping your cheek with curiosity grinning maliciously, "-Almost took it myself actually..." 

The captain placed a hand over his blaster forcing all the other bounty hunters to bring up theirs as everyone stood in a standstill waiting for blood to spill, "Calm down... Calm down-", You gestured your hands for everyone to sit and relax as you went to lean back in your chair with your legs crossed. "Theres no need for violence... Right, captain?", You raised your glass watching him slowly move away from his gun as you nodded finishing off your drink. "Right....", he uttered looking around to the other hunters who took their seats ready to pounce when the word is spoken. "Right. Anyways. I cannot give you what you offer.", You smiled, placing your glass on the stand next to you, getting up to take your leave before you heard footsteps behind and was captured by the wrist tightly, unable to move. 

The action pissed you off. 

You slowly turned back; the hunters who already captured the other two troopers are at gunpoint, had them on their knees behind making you glare up to the captain in pure rage. His grip grew tighter as the other hunters waited for your order for execution with over 30 blasters pointed your way. To kill or not to kill. "Please...", He begged and though you felt the sense of urgency you couldn't just let him go after that. It was time to make it very clear who you are. You quickly captured his arm bending it backwards. The action making him fall to one knee as you quickly grabbed his blaster at the same time, pinning it at his throat. You traced your lips across his neck hearing him groan from the pressure you were putting on his arm till you reached his ear growling to, "Never...touch me like that again….", and thus.... you had a choice, shoot the ignorant man or let him go. Though you didn’t want unnecessary death on your hands so the latter was chosen, flipping the blaster back into his holder and releasing your grip on his arm as he went to rub his shoulder. You nodded to the hunters to release the men having them thrown the heavy weights on the ground before you next to the captain. Their state? Pathetic. Their mission? Understandable. You weighed your options understanding that this war is what actually fuels you, enabling you to havee what you had today. If you stopped giving information now that would destroy your whole purpose. Plus...

Money

The devious smile returned to your face as you look down to the Captain whos eyes were set for murder, not making any action until you. Like a good boy. You kneeled down to him, cupping his cheek- inviting him to your office for being able to stand up to you which no ones ever dared to do.  simple reward really, gesturing for them to, "Follow me...” gesturing for them to trail behind as the twileks grabbed their helmets setting them at the entrance of your hideout, leading both you and the troopers to the upper floors. Upon entering the Captain was met with a sight to behold. The finest furniture some even lined with gold, in a giant open room. A wall area facing towards the sunset completely gone leading to an outside to a deck to overlook your resort. The beautiful trees sprouting from the crystal clear water in the center almost touched the deck itself allowing people to pick the natural fruits that grew. Your bedroom was attached to the office as well as the bathroom in an open concept layout with the ability to walk anywhere freely without a door. 

The twileks offered them seats though the captain preferred to stand watching you lean against the front desk as he waited for everyone to get comfortable. It was mentioned of your beauty across the star field but... not to this extent. The way your skin color highlighted the beauty in your eyes and how your hair waved from the light breeze coming in... it was hard for him not to be attracted to you. Considering you were in your leisure wear, a thin, airy dress that had no problem revealing your curves made the captain almost think it was a mistake coming here. Though you'd made sure he'd think otherwise before he left. After all amongst all the troopers you had seen and killed he was the finest of them all. 

You folded your arms learning against the front of the desk as you informed them that "What you paid.... is very little but because im feeling... generous-" You smirked answering his question sparingly as you walked slowly towards your desk tracing your fingers along the guest chairs that sat in front. The long pause leaving the captain in suspense as he follows captivated by your movement, “I will give you this... Yes Hemlock wants Omega but thats because his project cannot be completed without her or someone with a similar m count. Though Im not sure what the project is for, its practically...necromancy." 

"necromancy....what do you mean?"

"I dont know. Not my field of expertise but i will tell you that they will find omega with whatever or whomever it takes. Even me. Though my prices are high..." You checked your nails panning a malicious grin to the troopers who were all glaring from the comment ready to put the infamous ghost out on the spot, even if it meant risking their lives... "Don't worry boys, Just a joke. I don't hunt children...." One of the twileks handed you a pad gesturing them to bring 2 others from your safe. "This, however, Is what I can give you. Everything else....-“, you nodded over to the suitcase full of credits, “-You gotta pay." You winked as you handed the captain a slate with all the troopers under hemlocks experiments seeing not only the survivors but the ones who succumbed to the villainous torture. 

He closed his eyes and sighed, sad he couldn't free them from suffering before they passed making his mission much more critical. Even you could see that. He continued swiping through the data realizing that this only contained information about the troopers with non disclosed locations and nothing else. "Where were these troopers stationed..?" He asked you, raising an eyebrow. Though it was trivial to continue the conversation... a part of you genuinely wanted to help but you remained silent. "Ghost...-" he took a step forward, his troopers looking to each other as they watch the situation unfold with you perched up on your desk. Your hands bolstering you forward, presenting the strongest qualities of yourself. You tilted your head watching him inch closer to you, "Yes...?"

“Tell me…”

You saw a man solidified in his ideals, desperate for answers as anything beyond what he had would suffice at this point- and you knew that. As devious at it sounds, the real question was… payment. You opened your legs, scooting to the edge of the desk to get a closer look as you slide your hands up his chest piece to test his morals, wondering how you could slither past those values and take them apart...piece by piece. He watched your every move, wary but oddly turned on by the interaction waiting for you to make your next move as the troopers behind stood ready to shoot inching closer in fear for their leader- begging for a fight with one of their biggest enemies-

You. 

Bitting your lips, you gaze up to his eyes seeing them low and curious which was the perfect time to incite the siren in you. You slid your leg up the captains watching his walls break one by one as you felt his heart beat through the chest piece, “and… what will you give me?” 

���Anything”

He responded instantly bringing that same grin to your face recognizing that he was falling into your spell and like the vixen you are… it was very much obliged. “Anything?” You raised an eyebrow, reaching for the clip to his chest piece to pull yourself forward, whispering in his ear as you felt his hands creep up your thighs sending waves of electricity throughout your body with the hidden slit in your skimpy now revealing your soft skin below, his thoughts began to capsize making him get that much closer to falling into your trap. 

“Anything…” He uttered low and slow as he panned back to his troopers nodding towards the door to indicate that they leave with you ordering the twileks in their language to treat the clones with 'upmost hospitality'.... and a room for the night. The girls mischievous grin matched their leaders as they delivered the clones out of the room, flirting and offering drinks downstairs at the bar with the rest of the women fully igniting the sirens nest as it became fully active with new toys to play with. 

As the blaster door closed behind the captain redirected his attention to you as you patiently analyzed the man gripping your thighs. It had been long since youve been with someone and the moment you first laid eyes on him he had already been caught in your web of desires. There was something about him that seemed dominating.... like- every other man you came across who failed to live up to your expectations left you blue and disappointed but, this one? Seemed much different. 

"Take off your gear"

You ordered watching him finish unclipping his chest piece you so graciously started followed by his shoulder pads and gauntlets pausing before he set his twin blasters on the table next to you. Him purposefully reaching past you at close proximity to give you a good look of who you were messing with, making you smile with determination- admiring his tenacity to front you as if it were childs play. The man was experienced. Things just kept getting better and better, keeping you much incited watching him take the rest of his gear off down to his blacks. You crossed your legs bringing your hand to your jaw as you inspect the man before you. 

You pointed to him twirling your fingers in circles to indicate he take off the rest but was only met with half a response. He never left your eyes throwing his shit to the ground revealing his worked muscles and battle scars. This wasnt the body of just any man. It was a warriors. Chiseled down to the smallest fiber of muscle, he was extremely built for his size and you could tell from the scars and healing wounds that it wasnt for show. Compared to your body, each scar you carried had a story... making you wondering more and more what his were. 'Hes intriguing...-'

You scoffed

Amazed you could be so into someone within hours of meeting. Most men was out of lust, or a result of the drunk in you and never really meant anything nor have you ever cared. But this man...clone- he was the type of different you didnt know you liked and now? It was time to test how just how strong he is. You hopped off the desk, this time pacing to him as both your eyes locked in a dance, treading carefully around him. You first look at his chest, seeing 2 or 3 scars and a couple wounds, but the one that intrigued you the most was the one over his heart, raising your hand to touch the withered scar. "A near death experience I see?", You raised an eyebrow smiling but was not returned in kind. "It was a long time ago.." He stated averting his eyes forward as he delved into his memory of the blast that left him incapacitated for a few weeks. Not something he enjoyed reflecting on as you continued patrolling around him bringing yourself back to where you started. You had counted 10 scars in total, most of them new but the one that intrigued you the most was the one on his chest. Though, getting that story out of him would be complicated given his state. 

So to spice things up; Since Tattoine's suns were now at the horizon... leaving the planet in its evening golden state, it was the perfect time to return the favor. You faced towards the balcony, your back against him, feeling the warm breeze swoop in as you inhaled the gentle smell of fruits and fragrances that inundated the room. You slid the straps of your summer dress down making it drop to the floor with ease. Beneath revealed your secrets. Dark blue lingerie built into a harness carrying various versions of knives on your thighs, upper arms, and waist band. The rest? Open skin and to his shock? A multitude of deep, penetrating scars across your body some that looked extremely deadly and others... The burn on your thigh covered by a krayt dragon tattoo, revealed your finite curves and breasts. Though you were wearing a bra and panties that are see through (if you close enough) wondering which area he would choose to look, noticing his eyes carrying to the burn on your thigh and the tattoo that shields it. 

"Nal Hutta..." you uttered as you start to disarm yourself. The captain put his hands behind his back still holding composure as he listened-  watched as you place your weapons on the desk lined up neatly next to his blasters and when you turned around you could feel his eyes burning on you. No doubt on the thong that revealed your toned appendages to him. Large and jelly like- it was what most men went for making you wonder if he was an ass or tits type of guy. Nevertheless... you finally drop the harness on the dress below your feet leaving you only in your underwear and panties. "I was releasing some twileks who were illegally traded, actually those two girls who were here are from that raid. Tanker blew up during rescue, barbecued my thigh-", You paused briefly, slapping your thigh to make it jiggle. The action making the captain raise a brow as he continued to listen with anticipation as the blood started rushing through his body watching you jiggle before him. You folded your arms and continued,"-Lucky for me, I had hired a bounty hunter who knew how to tattoo. The Krayt Dragon here on tattooine-?" You paused again turning around to see his regain his composure, making you grin at the sight of him losing it. "They're ferocious creatures not to be trifled with but hunted for rare pearls inside them. Kinda like all of us here..." 

The malicious grin that sprawled on your face. Officially warning him of where he is though it didnt phase him at all. He remained still, listening...waiting. Now left in your undergarments you slowly walked up to the captain tracing your fingers along his chest while looking up with lewd eyes to get him to break. "So captain...whats your story?", your traced your finger along his chest scar only to be captured by the wrist yet again, as he grew tired of the stalling. 

"And whats your game?"

He asked, as you furrowed your eyebrows and was caught by surprise when he lifted you onto him slamming you onto the desk behind making some of your knives fall to the ground. You looked up to him, your arms around his neck as he growled in your ear, "If you want me to fuck you just say it" You were stunned seeing this type of impulse come so randomly and out of the blue. It was unexpected but to your surprise you liked it and it turned you on. "Say it...", the lust now oozing from him, seeing the bulge in his blacks grow larger and larger. But you were still caught up in the moment, wanting to be absolutely dominated by this man at all costs and to be honest....you think he already caught on as rash as he has been these last couple of minutes, he started by ripping your bra off to reveal your hardened nipples, his tell sign to continue. He looked down, cupping your breast in his burley, hands squeezing hard. A moan escaped your lips, "Say it...", he utters squeezing again.

His order turned into a demand 

Now controlling the mood and the situation as you throw your head back enjoying his touch. Feeling yourself pool below, begging to be ravaged. You shot your hand up to his. stopping him in place as you brought a vicarious look to shadow his own, "If you want all the information requested... You're going to have to do a lot better than this... Captain", and though they weren't the words he needed, you had spoken. Rex pushed you down and slid your panties off, throwing your legs over his shoulders. The hand holding your breast now sliding down to meet his other at your hips as he kneeled down in front of the desk and started to devour you. Swirling his tongue over your jewel suckling at the sensitive flesh. Each circle of his tongue sent waves of pleasure throughout your body. An ecstasy you hadnt felt in so so long. He spread your thighs with his finger tips for better access as he feasted on your juices known to be every gentleman’s favorite until you unraveled.

"C-captain!"

You gasped, now gripping his head while furrowing your brows trying to maintain whatever dignity you had left, feeling the walls inside you begin to tighten and pulse. When he shoved two fingers inside of you, pressing on your special spot over and over you began to coo his name over and over, now holding your breath- closer to climax, "Don't stop..." You ordered only for him to refuse it, stopping directly in his tracks as he hovered before you. "If were going to do this, we are doing it my way...", He flipped you around aggressively. The shock forced your hands to slam against the desk for stability, enjoying how rough he was getting with you as you panned back to see him pull his bottoms down revealing his throbbing shaft pulsing for release. "Whatever you say..." you groaned, the juices dripping down your thigh as he spent not a second to waste shoving himself inside. 

"Mmmm-ssss" It was slow at first, his brows furrowed in tune with the moans escaping his lips as he threw his head back starting the thrust little by little. He felt enormous, filling all of you inside not regretting a second as he continued thrusting against your tight walls pressing against your cervix. He lifted your hips now pile driving you into the desk. Each thrust sent never ending jolts through your body making even your cheeks jiggle. The wet sounds from both your skin and juices now filled the silence as the ecstasy starting to grow uncontrollably. Between his grip, feeling all the pent up anger that had built since the clone ways ended, and the way his hips rocked against yours the devilish scene carried into carnage. He started panhandling you, whipping you around and fucking you in the air with only the slaps of your skin and moans filling in the silence. 

-Sounds that can be heard from all over the dome 

hearing you call his name over and over again, fucking you as if you were the last peerson on earth available to him. You could tell its been a while for him too but seeing that face, the anger and the lust lost in translation of each other, blending into this perfect moment you were sharing until his beautiful brown eyes met yours. Just the way he looked at you, like a lion ready to feast on its pray made your walls tightened again, the climax almost at its peak as the captain started pulsing inside you. "Where...", he asked slamming you back down on the desk throwing one of your legs around him as he continues thrusting. "Anywhere....", you managed to slip out only for him to pump into you three more times before he shot his seed all over your body. Thread after thread of warm white liquid graced your skin, sending goosebumps in contrast of the cold air between. He collapsed above you, using a arm to hold himself up as you both took a moment to capture your breaths.

It had been a while, a very long while since Rex got to feel someone so amazing. It had even been so long since he touched himself, all that cum thats been building... He wanted to leave his mark somewhere elsee too. He reeinserted himself saving the last beads of white for you as he cuppeed your lower back bringing you in for a kiss "Yeah Captain?" still feeling him pulse while his eyes were closed, riding out his high as the pace slowed putting one last pump before pulling out watching the reeaminder drain out of you. 

"Yeah...", He said, now locked into your eyes seeing he wasn't quiet done. He looked over seeing the bed in the open concept room and panned back to you. The devious look in both your eyes led to a night full of ambition and lust. You tried to get up only for him to throw you over his shoulder and drop you in the bed. "Who said we were done?"

[timekeepers-memoir]

harpy hare (1)

forest walls and starry ceilings (barren curtains that you're weaving)

crossposted on my ao3

Home.

Home was what they called it.

The place where vines tangled, curled around tree trunks and formed an egg, trapping her inside. Where the trees outgrew the rest of the forest, forming a fortress, blocking any semblance of light. Where he rested, the pulsing core of the forest, glowing green.

They all knew he was a necessary sacrifice. His eternal rest was what was needed for the trees to grow and bloom and wither and then perish. His millennia-long sleep was what was needed for the forests to withstand the test of time. The sleeping maiden forever asleep. Forever trapped.

Animals that wandered by the egg of his own making were ruthlessly killed by the vines, before being turned into nutrition for the egg itself. Humans that dared explore this forbidden, forgotten temple, will be murdered without mercy.

He had been asleep for who-knows-how-long, innocently unaware of his surroundings. Like the story of sleeping beauty, except he willingly locked herself away.

Followers of the god, visitors of pubs and bars and inns, muttered over cups of ale and beer, that this prison of a place was called the Eternal Home.

Eternal is quite a large claim, indeed.

Neo surely hoped it wasn't true.

He wasn't in a position any different from the god. He was a deity himself, after all.

He had a family before the curse. Maybe a mother, a father. Siblings even. He might've had brothers or sisters. But the curse erased it all, made him go mad with his vision red, raised her blade, and they were all gone.

The curse…A neat little word to call it.

In reality, it was more than just a mere curse. It was the thing that shaped his existence, his belonging. He was the tool that created the world and also the thing that will destroy it.

The curse…what was it again? Time made him forget. Ah yes. It is the feeling of fingers curling tightly around the hilt of a blade, swinging the heavy object without struggle. His hands knew no other shape. It is the bloodthirsty feeling to keep going, to keep massacreing lives upon lives upon lives in an attempt to appease the feeling.

Some tried to run. They jumped off cliffs and towers and fortresses of obsidian and cobblestone, thought to be indestructible, but now only ruins. They pierced daggers and swords through their chests. Some hid in the leftover walls and cracked fences, but they never escaped. Some greeted death with open arms, eyes as lifeless as his, weakly crawling towards him like they were alive no longer. He envied those the most.

His sword found its mark through skin and bone, serving for kingdoms wishing to extend its fate, fought for empires that thought they were eternal, for rebels and kings and armies of millions. For silver-tongued, diverse hybrids; for high elves of sharp ears and sharper arrows; for powerful and majestic dragons. For humans, also, like him.

Once, when he was first birthed into the world, his creator told him of his fate. A warrior of blood, sunlight and ichor, whose only goal is to travel to the east, to search. For a temple, far away, on a mountain deemed impossible to reach. When the skyline fades one last time, he will hold the sun in his mouth, swallowing the object, giving the world a new sunrise.

But until that day, he will eternally crawl through battlefields of corpses and ruin.

Sipping his glass of milk, ──he would not drink any beer or wine, after seeing what it did to one's body── he pondered over the people's words. Was the forest god's fate...really that grim? To be forever locked inside that cage, in the hopes of serving the people? He couldn't help but sigh. With his sword strapped around his belt, Neo set off to find this god.

[flowerbetweenfangs]

Caged

(This is a longer one and will be put under read more. CW: There is slavery, but the reader is looking to free/dismantle the system in their own way)

You came across the caged people in the middle of the day. There were no code words or secret passages to get to the displays. It was like any other booth at the bazaar.

Most of the cages were filled with beastmen. Unlike the creatures who roamed the forest, they would walk on two legs. Some could even speak.

Lionmen, Tigerladies, Avian Sapiens, "Not Deer", Chimera, and even a few Phoenixes all stared at you as you walked. Some grabbed the bars and strained their faces to look at you. A small flicker of danced across your eyes. Maybe a spark of hope that they would be freed.

"How long has this been going on?" You asked your companion.

"What do you mean?"

"The slaves?"

"Ah. Well, my dear blue blood..." Their voice trailed off as they stared at the cages. "Surely you heard about the market for this? They're not slaves..." They wiggled their fingers, brows furrowed as they attempted to come up with an explanation. "Merely.... Indentured servants."

"Why not put an offer up on the boards in town?" You raised a skeptical brow and ventured closer to the cages.

A walking stick slapped your chest. The impact smarted. Wincing, you stepped away to rub the sore spot.

"You shouldn't question this so much." Your companion hissed next to your ear.

"How much are the contracts?" You asked. There wasn't much left in your purse, but surely you could at least free one.

"Sorry?"

"We offer a wide variety of specimens and creatures." A well dressed figure stepped out from behind one of the cages. He ran a walking stick of his own across the bars, causing many who had come forward to retreat and whimper.

"We've broken them in ahead of time," His smile made the hair on the back of your neck stand up. "So they should already be obedient."

"Broken in?" Your brows raised more. So they had beaten or tortured these creatures into compliance?

"Don't worry, little Blue Blood." The man bowed. "We would not want a client to be harmed by the merchandise. If one does harm you or run away, we will send in our own parties to capture and return them, and give you a new one."

Your companion must have seen your scheming expression. The waling stick slammed down on the top of your foot and a quick throat clear was all the warning they could offer while being discreet.

Your eyes went to the Lionman again. They'd shorn his mane. Nicks and a few notches in his ear and surrounding fur showed how gentle they'd been. Dried blood and dirt clung to his body.

Your stomach churned at the fetid stench and sight. The sign declaring his price seemed insultingly low for another life. But considering how much the sellers had damaged the "merchandise", perhaps that was why.

You put down the coins.

The merchant slid over papers. The sloppily applied seal at the bottom hinted at their legitimacy, or lack thereof. Clenching your jaw, your eyes flicked to the top of the page. The spot next to "Name" was blank.

"He's your property, so you get to call him what you want."

"I'll... Think about it."

***

When you arrived home, the newcomer's nose wrinkled, sniffing his new environment.

Setting the papers down, you waved over one of the notaries, who came over with blank pieces of papers and writing tools. While you could read and write, the palace preferred the people they paid to be the ones who crossed the Ts and dotted the Is, along with minding the Ps and Qs.

"What is your name?" You asked the creature once your companion left to the servants' quarters. Laughter and cheers erupted shortly after.

The sudden noise had the Lionman's eyes wide, what little fur he had standing on end.

"They're always off by the seventeenth mark." You explained.

His eyes remained focused on the door. A chalice fell over as his thrashing tail struck it. As red wine sloshed across the table, the notary screeched, trying to save the paper.

Fabric tore and in a golden blur, the Lionman's fist slammed down on the table in front of you.

A filthy rag was clutched in his hand. And he was wearing less clothing than before.

"Forgive me." His hand trembled as he attempted to wipe up he rest of the wine.

"It's okay." You tried to keep your tone gentle as your heart became a battering ram against your chest. He'd moved so fast. Tore off his clothes, just to keep some wine off yours.

"And what is the name of my savior?" You tried again, now that you had his attention.

"I... Do not have one."

You inhaled sharply. Perhaps releasing him back into the wild wasn't the best option, just yet.

"Well... I paid a gold piece for you. You have golden fur. And you clearly are showing you will be worth every piece." You looked to the notary.

"What's another word for gold?"

"Well, an old word for gold piece was "Aureus."" The notary explained as they spread the papers across the tables.

You turned back to the Lionman.

"Is that acceptable?"

He dropped to one knee, arm across his abdomen.

"Of course, Master."