#Denial-of-Service attacks

[zentarablog]

10 Common Cyber Threats and How to Avoid Them

In our increasingly connected world, cybersecurity is no longer just a concern for large corporations; it’s a fundamental aspect of daily life for individuals, families, and small businesses alike. The convenience of online banking, shopping, and social networking comes with the inherent risk of cyber threats, which are constantly evolving in sophistication and frequency. Cybercriminals are…

[carlocarrasco]

Over 3 million cyber-attacks counted by COMELEC

In relation to the recently concluded National and Local Elections, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) confirmed that there were more than three million cyber-attacks on their official website and precinct finder apps, according to a news report by The Manila Times. To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of The Manila Times. Some parts in boldface… THE…

[digitalcreationsllc]

Novel zero-day exploits fuel Q3 surge in DDoS attacks

Dive Brief: Distributed denial of service attacks escalated during the third quarter, as a novel zero-day vulnerability led to a series of record-breaking attacks that continued into the month of October, according to a report released Thursday by Cloudflare.  Exploits of the HTTP/2 Rapid Reset vulnerability led to record breaking incidents, as Cloudflare reported 89 attacks that exceeded 100…

[ts19009]

Seventeen Fic Rec's Part 5

(CONTAINS SMUT AND MATURE SUBJECT MATTER)

(Bold title means favorite)

(UPDATED: June 2nd, 2025)

when their bb girl steals ur phone @mi9yuz

the small romantic gestures that seventeen would be @fairyhaos

Kim Mingyu

guilty as sin (the thought crosses your mind that this is something you definitely shouldn't be doing. that what you're just about to do will be a terribly wrong move for you and your freshly broken heart.) @toruro

clarity (bf's best friend mingyu, (awkward) acquaintances to lovers, the other side of the f2l trope, angst, smut, you could say there's a drizzle of fluff) @hannieoftheyear

pure coincidence (office worker!mingyu x officer worker!reader) @sluttyminghao

that’s so true ❤️‍🩹(exes!mingyu x reader.) @studioeisa

The Admirer Was Right in Front of You — Kim Mingyu (Non-idol au, college au, romance (?), comedy, modern au (no specific setting, but contemporary vibe), slice of life and light-hearted mystery ) @mylovesstuffs

STRAWBERRY SCENTED STRINGS (bassist! mingyu x cellist! f reader) @himewonu

SAVE THE DATE (5 weddings in one year. 5 dates you saved for you and your boyfriend to attend — before he cheated. and now, you had to force your best friend, vernon, to go with you. but after losing a bet, mingyu agrees to take vernon’s place and be your date. this wasn’t how any of this was supposed to go, but you guess you could settle going with your only one-night-stand from college.) @goldenhourology

Back To Me (Mingyu or Hansol? You finally decide who you want to be with.) @xomakara

still yours (exes to lovers, second chance romance, fluff, angst, smut MDNI!) @cherrynpink

Theories & Heartstrings (Neighbours AU! Fake Dating AU! (but only one is fake dating. It’ll make sense when you read it, lol). Non-Idol AU!.) @wongyuseokie

croissant cravings (A seating chart mix-up has you crossing paths with a very good-looking pastry chef. ) @facethesunflower

Let Me Hear You Say... (mut (minor dni), heavy angst, fluff, toxic, ranch au, brothers best friend au) @onlymingyus

KITTY'S GOT CLAWS (a svt spiderman x jujutsu kaisen au (what a mouthful >< ), spiderman!mingyu, blackcat!reader, lots of banter, mild fighting scenes = mentions of blood and injuries !!, fluff with angst if you squint) @yi2huo

might let you make me juno @straylightdream

good behavior (just smut tbh) @ddeonghwa-s

Jeon Wonwoo

My Ride or Die (Late one night, you're attacked outside the library—your bag stolen and safety shattered. But someone saw everything. A mysterious stranger steps in to recover what was lost. What begins as a random rescue soon hints at deeper intentions and unexpected connections.) @missgraylock

WHAT IF you were wonwoo’s gf and almost got caught during NANA TOUR surprises… @cherriicou

good sport | wicked games series (bartender wonwoo, bartender mingyu, messy love triangle, friends with benefits, right person wrong time) @hannieween

on call (you'd never sleep in an on-call room, but that doesn't mean you won't find other uses for it.) @kkaetnipjeon

first love/late spring (first love/s, feelings realization/denial, reincarnation.) @studioeisa

The Fine Print (Enemies to Lovers | Fake Dating | Revenge Pact | Forced Marriage Fallout) @kathaelipwse

Lip Tint Stains and Hair Ties (childhood friends to lovers, school, college, slow burn, fluff, one shot, peachesndreams) @shineesbackbitches

Yours to Keep (Before leaving for military service, Wonwoo hands you a disposable camera, saying, "Take a picture whenever you think of me." At first, you laugh it off, but as the days pass, you find yourself reaching for the camera more often than you expected) @nerdycheol

make 'em sweat (introducing you to his friends doesn't go quite the way wonwoo expected (title from water by seventeen ; technically a sequel to fuck the neighbors but can be read as a standalone) @sluttywonwoo

progress report: i am missing you to death - jww(Childhood friends to lovers, smut, fluff, angst, college au) @imnotshua

CHEMTRAILS (Wonwoo is the last person you expect to find at a grief support group, but he may just be the peace that you need to weather all of your storms.) @vampsol

Warning Signal (In a treacherous turn of events, your most recent mission gets tangled with Wonwoo's, the last person you'd want to partner up with. As the lives of your targets get more and more intertwined, and your plan gets more complicated, memories of the past and feelings you thought you could put aside threaten to ruin the mission.) @hannieoftheyear

A New Vendetta (Wonwoo x Mafia's daughter reader) @thedensworld

wish you were here (you don't do long-distance. you never have, and you never will. not unless it's jeon wonwoo - and those chances are slim, as it is.) @haologram

My Brother's Bestfriend (fluff, light angst, smut, established relationship, doting!boyfriend wonwoo, slightly possessive!wonwoo, light comedy, soft but intense makeout sessions, lap-sitting & straddling, emotional intimacy, domestic sweetness, wonwoo being obsessed with reader™, mild tension but nothing too serious, clingy!wonwoo (unintentionally), wonwoo official lipstick tester & lip plumper) @honeyhaeya

SLACKING OFF. ( being technologically averse, yet a complete control freak to your core, you tend to annoy senior IT specialist, jeon wonwoo, to no end. but after an apology brings you two closer together, wonwoo finds himself reaching out to you more often than not. on and off slack. despite what you two had originally perceived, you find yourself thrown into feelings that neither of you could've ever prepared for.) @goldenhourology

Hong Jisoo

tough love? (boy dad!joshua, parents au, teeth rotting fluff, domestic asf) @mvnscloud

heaven knows (non-idol au, seminary student joshua, hurt/comfort (??), secret relationship, mentions of church, joshua is the pastor's son, mutual pining, physical touching (ex: hugging, holding hands), pet names (joshua calls reader baby), they are not slick your honor everyone knows they're in love) @seokminfilm

When Tangerines Give You Lemons (joshua fluff, joshua angst, joshua both, joshua breathing, joshua existing, non-idol!au, lawyer!au, hurt & comfort, angst first fluff later kinda; a warm rain after a heavy storm) @moonstarsunflower

Break (h.js) (Witch!Joshua x Cursed!Reader) @sailorsoons

dude, nice try! masterlist (strangers to lovers, revenge fic, humor, smau bits) @joshujin

starting again (you're wallowing in self-pity at your friends' wedding after being cheated on. you think you're unworthy of love until you meet someone who changes your mind.) @wonwootattoo

i can still see it all. (best friends to strangers to friends to lovers, non au, set in svtverse, idol!joshua, hairstylist!reader, some angst, nsfw, smut, unprotected sex, biting, hair pulling, dacryphilia, teasing, fingering, multiple orgasms, drunk sex, mentions of alcohol.) @woncheolisms

we both 🐚 (romance, friendship, light angst. 🐚 includes. mentions of food, death; cussing/swearing. alternate universe: non-idol; joshua is a marine biologist. bad-at-being-exes/exes to ???) @studioeisa

blurring the lines (you think you know everything about your best friend, dashing bachelor joshua hong. when you stumble upon his suggestive literature from his recent travels, however, reading even an extract is enough to make you question everything. unsure of your newfound feelings, you turn to your confidante, unaware of just how much knowledge—and experience—he has to offer.) @amourcheol

begging for the next (no one needs to know what you and joshua get up to except the two of you.) @100vern

Yoon Jeonghan

dropout | part one (okay, so you dropped out of law school. and you need a job. and the only job your wildly specific resume can get you is… lifeguard at the local 3.2-star water park, and the person assigned to supervise you at your new post is the mysterious and gorgeous yoon jeonghan. what could possibly go wrong? ) @kkaetnipjeon

always the lover, never the loved (lovers to ??? ; angst, mentions of suggestive themes) @haologram

Undue Influence (lawyer fem!reader x lawyer!jeonghan) @starlightxsvt

the final defense of the dying (hunger games mentor!jeonghan x tribute!reader.) @studioeisa (IM OBSESSED WITH THIS ONE)

Even Dumbasses Deserve Love (Yoon Jeonghan, your beautiful, wonderful, amazing, dumb-ass of a best friend who somehow doesn't see how hopelessly in love with him you are. ) @cheers-to-you-th

like starglight (howl’s moving castle-inspired au, fluff, humour, romance, magic!) @gallivantingheart

𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙 (after an arranged marriage you come to realize that your new husband, the crown prince, and his kingdom are not like anything you expected) @yerimacoustic

Lee Seokmin

you deserve each other (co-workers seokmin x reader.) @studioeisa

Best Neighbor of All Time Award | Lee Seokmin (M) (Seokmin is the best neighbor you've ever had, making it impossible not to fall for his charms.) @drunk-on-dk

picture of a perfect rose (n total years of your whole life, you met Seokmin only twice. That will change drastically starting now. Because the young King is unfortunately a good person, loves his mother, and a true believer in good of people. No matter how hard it is to find and how cold he looks outside.) @youngwonhui

You Know What They Say About Men With Big Feet @hansols-yoda-boxers

Lee Chan

Cherry Sours (l.c) (Mafiaverse, Cyberpunk, Strangers to Lovers) @sailorsoons

CHWE HANSOL

Dark Gospel (c.hs) (After experiencing what you’re sure is a possession, you try to help Vernon get his old self back. Except - Vernon doesn’t want his old self back and you’re not sure you hate the new Vernon either. ) @sailorsoons

KISS 'ER UP (CHV) pt. 1 (baseball player!vernon x fashion designer/fan!reader) @shuastar

Kwan Soonyoung

in the zone | ksy (strangers to lovers, (accidental) roommates; smut, fluff, lite angst) @100vern

we can be all we need (best friends to lovers, idiots in love, a bit of miscommunication, angst for like one second, happy ending) @joshujin

the accidental kiss (fluff, comedy, strangers to lovers au, college au, idiots to idiots in love, profanity, alcohol consumption—please let me know if i’ve missed anything!) @fxstpace

busy woman @straylightdream

Echoes of Summer (Get ready for the most unforgettable summer yet at Camp Logan, where lifelong memories are made, friendships are strengthened, and old crushes make new appearances.) @mr-cha-n

red wine supernova (friends to lovers, childhood friend to lovers, romance, fluff, smut) @straylightdream

Xu Minghao

Rain Room (x.mh) (Waterpark Worker!Mingao x Waterpark Worker!Reader) @sailorsoons

the quiet world (minghao saves his words for you.) @studioeisa

[jeonsweetpea]

Desire Me, Damn Me (teaser) -> Born of Desire

KPOP Demon Hunters!AU | Jinu x Hunter!Reader

genre: smut, lil comedy, e2l

rating: explicit

description: You’d be damned if you owed that demon a favor. When he asks to meet, you make a salacious deal in exchange for his continued silence. You tell yourself it’s just business, but your denial gives way to a burning desire that makes you question your existence, your purpose, and worse… your heart.

word count: 5k currently, still writing! teaser is 700 words

warnings: cussing, kissing, oral sex (m & f receiving), virgin!OC, sneaky sex, stomach bulge (he’s hung in his demon form okay), balcony sex, it’s vanilla at first… → rough sex, claws, little blood, unprotected sex, creampie, lil comedy, probably more tags soon i dunno

a/n: Think of the reader as Rumi, who is half-human, half-demon! I also incorporated dialogue from the movie in this. PLEASE tell me what you think, enjoy the snippet below!

“Teddy bears and choo-choo trains? Really?”

Unbelievable. You’re on your knees on a rooftop of all places, trying to provide him a service, and all he can focus on are your pajama bottoms?

You look up at him with your mouth agape, stunned to silence. He closes his fist like he’ll pump it, but his voice suddenly drops to a whisper.

“Choo-choo…” he breathes, moving his fist slowly up and down.

Your confusion twists into a menacing scowl. As you extend your wrist, your hunter’s sword is summoned from an intricate swirl of neon blue and violet light beams. Once it materializes, you thrust it upwards with an aggressive grunt.

“Whoa!” the demon yelps as he dodges in the nick of time.

You stand up and lash out, swinging the blade in unpredictable arcs. Yet he evades each attack with infuriating precision, as if it were a dance.

“I could’ve told your friends what you are,” he reminds you as you slam your sword in a vertical slash. Unfortunately, he’s already vanished, disappearing into a swirl of magenta mist.

You turn around, scanning the rooftop in its entirety for him. Its four ridges form a square perimeter, rising sharply and dipping inward to a hollow courtyard. The ridge he stands on is directly opposite yours—a narrow spine of curved, blue tiles, providing just enough distance between you to make an attack impossible.

“But I didn’t, did I?” he continues, his voice cutting through the silence. “Because they don’t know.”

A low growl bubbles in your throat, but you swallow it, opting for revulsion.

“And I intend to keep it that way. Even if it means making a deal with someone like you.”

He paces along the ridge, arms loose by his sides. You match his steps, walking in tandem, balanced upon the narrow spine of the roofline.

“Someone like me?” he replies, a sharp edge in his words. “We’re the same. You’re a demon girl. A hunter. Hiding, walking around free in the human world.”

“Just hunter,” you correct, “not demon.”

He stops walking, looking back over the ridge. “Then how’d you get the patterns?”

Demons bear intricate marks across their skin—violet “patterns.” Did he expect you to dump your life story about how your mother was a hunter and your father was a demon?

You halt your steps, feeling your chest tighten. “That’s none of your business.”

His eyes soften, like he’s pitying you. It fuels your anger further. “I know what it feels like to have them.”

“Feel?” you spat. “You’re a demon. Demons don’t feel anything.”

He gives you an incredulous glare at the assumption. “Is that what you think? That’s all demons do. Feel our shame, our misery.” His wallowing in self-pity is brief, and a smirk soon breaks through, erasing his previous vulnerability. “Our… lust.” 

You tighten your grip on the blade. “Don’t misunderstand. This is simply a business meeting, not lust.”

“Oh? You could’ve offered me anything for keeping your secret,” he says with a teasing lilt. “Yet the first thing that you came up with was giving me a blowjob.”

You roll your eyes. “To get ahead is to give head, or whatever the saying is.”

He brings his hands together in a slow, deliberate applause. Though surprise glints in his eyes, he doesn’t flinch. “Wow… in all my 400 years of living, I’ve never heard such a saying. You’re horny.”

Words catch in your throat as you rack your brain to formulate a proper comeback. 

“No! I wasn’t thinking! Besides, you accepted the offer!”

He arches a brow. “Because you told me to shut up and take my pants off. Was I not supposed to obey?”

“You can forget about it now,” you huff. 

He shrugs, kicking at some loose debris on the shingles. “That’s fine with me. You’re not my type anyway.”

“What?! I’m everyone’s type!”

“So you offer this… salacious little deal to just anyone?” His low chuckle makes every nerve in your body ignite. You stiffen your stance, clutching the blade handle like your life depends on it, while he strolls across the ridge. The distance between your bodies closes until your sword rests against his chest, stopping him in his tracks.

He leans in just enough for the blade to kiss the fabric of his hoodie.

“Do it.”

Current Tag List:

@chocminteu | @akeaaan | @kitsune-05 | @lavnderluv | @l3laze | @mel3484 | @cloudy-lilly | @zhentheraven | @dynastyofyearning | @cybersinsposts | @kaybugga | @kpopmultistans | @inholover4l

[afloweroutofstone]

Part 3: How Trump 2.0 has harmed the economy and public services

Part three of my summary report of the second Trump administration's first 100 days is out now. You can follow along on Medium (where you can sign up for email updates) or on my website.

Today, we're looking at 25 ways that the second Trump administration has worsened US policies on workers rights, healthcare, education, consumer protections, the welfare state, housing, infrastructure, white collar crime, public investments, and more:

43. Eliminating Consumer Protections 44. Cutting Education Funding 45. Attacking Colleges 46. Blocking Infrastructure & Climate Funds 47. Undermining Infrastructure 48. Cutting Public Research 49. Cutting Social Security 50. Cutting Support for the Disabled 51. Increasing Poverty 52. Increasing Hunger 53. Weakening Workers' Rights 54. Privatizing Public Services 55. Helping Corporate Monopolies 56. Deregulating Everything 57. Deregulating Big Banks 58. Disrupting Public Health 59. Raising Drug Prcies 60. Embracing Anti-Vax Conspiracies 61. Embracing AIDS Denial Conspiracies 62. Helping Tax Dodgers 63. Making It Harder to File Your Taxes 64. Hurting Farmers 65. Cutting Veterans Services 66. Resegregating Housing 67. Boosting the Crypto Industry

[104cadetlauren]

The Tragedy of Levi and Hange

A Further Look into the Duty vs. Love Aspect of Their Relationship

Levi and Hange’s relationship was so subtle that if you weren't paying close attention, or if you’re someone who takes a scene at face value without digging deeper, you might miss it entirely.

Sometimes, people are so blind (or in denial) that even when there are romantic undertones, they dismiss them simply because the characters don’t blush, don’t openly express affection, or never say, "I love you."

I’m tired of hearing parts of the fandom invalidate or undermine Levi and Hange’s relationship—whether platonic or romantic—just because it lacks conventional displays of love. So please, let me explain why I believe Isayama designed their dynamic the way he did, especially through a military lens. (My father is a retired soldier, so I know a thing or two about this.)

When it comes to the Levi x Hange ship, we’ve often discussed how they always chose duty over personal desires. But when we say their relationship is about Duty vs. Love, what do we really mean?

One of the great tragedies of Levi and Hange’s bond is exactly that: they consistently chose duty over everything else, even their own feelings.

When analyzing ships in Attack on Titan, we often forget that these characters are, first and foremost, soldiers. Being a soldier is deeply ingrained in both Levi and Hange's identities (veterans). After serving in the military for over a decade (as of Season 4), it’s only natural that their personalities reflect military conduct and core values. It has been ingrained to them by Shadis and Erwin and their experiences.

This contrast becomes particularly evident in Season 4 of Attack on Titan, when Levi is a Captain and Hange is a Commander. As high-ranking officers of the Survey Corps, their dynamic shifts. The playful banter disappears. Levi stops calling Hange "Four Eyes." Hange becomes more serious, she even abandons her signature goggles for plain glasses.

So why all the subtlety?

In the military, there’s a term: Conflict of Interest. This arises when a service member’s personal relationships—family, friendships, romantic attachments—could compromise their professional judgment. In Season 4, Hange and Levi were exactly that: The Commander and Captain of the Survey Corps, which means, they are the highest ranking officers of the Survey Corps, the ones who provide decisions and leads the SC.

After Erwin’s death, they had no choice but to rely on each other more. They became each other’s confidants, both thrust into roles they weren’t fully prepared for. Becoming military leaders of a new Paradis.

It was no longer just about Titans; it was diplomacy, alliances, and surviving a world beyond the Walls. And amidst all this chaos, they were forced to confront not just their enemies, but their own feelings. A quiet, internal war: loyalty morphing into love, yet restrained by duty. Both felt it. Both buried it.

Before, they could hide behind their roles. But now the stakes were higher. The consequences greater. Giving in, even slightly, would risk scandal and speculation. As high-ranking officers, even a glance could be misread. Remember how Floch looked at Levi with disgust when he thought Levi chose Armin over Erwin due to personal bias? In truth, Levi denied his feelings. Had he followed his heart, he would have chosen Erwin, the easier choice emotionally. But he didn’t.

This is why, if Levi and Hange ever surrendered to their feelings, no matter how objective their decisions were, the shadow of personal bias would taint them. Their affection would be politicized. And they couldn’t risk that. Not with enemies outside the Walls. Not with their own people divided. Not when unity was fragile.

So, if you’re wondering why the romantic undertones of their relationship only surfaced when the story was nearing its end, it’s because by then, everything had already fallen apart. Their ranks meant nothing anymore. The Yeagerists labeled them as traitors. The Survey Corps was fractured. The world was literally ending.

Excuse my French, but shit had already hit the fan.

Hange killing her own comrades to protect a wounded (almost dying) Levi, the IFKK scene, Levi’s "unrequited love" line, the final salute—these moments came one after another because they could finally express themselves without the burden of conflict of interest.

But Levi and Hange’s relationship was always meant to end in tragedy.

They had suppressed their emotions for so long, they didn’t know how to express them anymore. Their gestures were always near-misses. They were running out of time.

Hange was the one who came closest to expressing affection toward Levi during the IFKK scene, but there was still unfinished business with Paradis and the Yeagerists. Then Eren declared the Rumbling, forcing them out of the forest faster than they expected. Once again, they had to bury their feelings and choose duty by forming the alliance.

A sliver of hope appeared. The alliance was formed. They had the flying boat. Levi was adamant, he was ready to address what happened back in the forest. He wanted Hange to know how he felt. Hence, the unrequited titan love line. But Hange already had a foreboding feeling. So, she pulled an Erwin. And guess what? Floch appeared and shot the gas tank of the flying boat, forcing Hange to stay behind and buy them time.

During their final conversation, just before Hange went on to fulfill her duty while the flying boat’s tank was being repaired, I believe Levi succeeded in telling her how he felt. Not in a romantic way, but in a way that a soldier like her would understand. (What do you want them to do? Kiss? In front of the kids and while Colossal Titans are literally marching toward them??? That’s so OOC for these two veterans—even I, a Levihan shipper, would cringe.)

Instead, Levi saluted her. A modified, deeply personal military salute—an unspoken confession of love and respect. And Hange understood.

And then, of course, she died after that.

Levi and Hange were always soldiers first. Isayama crafted their relationship to reflect that truth. And for me, it’s beautiful because it stayed so true to their characters. It ended in tragedy, but it was still beautiful. Like Akuma no Ko’s lyrics : The world is cruel, And yet I still love you.

Their story leaves us with an open end. Not because it’s incomplete, but because they never had the chance to complete it.

In the end, we’re left with the same uncertainty they lived with. A quiet space filled with unspoken feelings. Maybe we’re not meant to have clear answers about what they were, because they never got them either.

[chefkids]

Claire is the physical manifestation of Carmy’s avoidance.

Before he got locked in the fridge Carmy chose to prioritize Sydney over Claire. But at Friends & Family night he ended up picking Claire over Sydney because he was being pressured by Richie and his avoidance kicked in again. This resurfaced his NYC Chef trauma, because Claire was a distraction to getting Sydney her star and the general success of The Bear. Then he tried to over compensate by turning into NYC chef all of a sudden and freaking out at Sydney. Because he wants to get Sydney a star but he’s also terrified of failing and having the NYC Chef “win” and wants to succeed out of spite for how he made him feel.

He left Sydney at Kasama to be with Claire because it was the easier choice for him than to put himself out there and be vulnerable with Sydney. Then he left her to go to that party with Claire and ended up having the Fishes Christmas panic attack. He left Sydney to cook for Claire, then ended up with the alleyway panic attack about Claire and Fishes. He left Syd at service for Claire and ended up with the NYC Chef panic attack then locked himself in the fridge and he is mainly concerned with Sydney and the staff through flashbacks. Using Claire as a distraction from Sydney always comes with a cost. And it always brings up the root cause of his avoidance which is his mother and the NYC Chef.

Carmy promised Sydney that he would not leave her alone after the fridge. And while he physically has not left her alone to be with Claire. He never mentally left Claire. 

Sydney suggested he should make a call after he got out of the fridge, and he thought she was referring to Claire instead of Richie, who is his actual 'family' and who he really hurt with his words. He apologized but in the most generic way possible and Richie knew he was just doing it to get it out of the way, which is why they're still fighting. He's still using Claire to avoid confronting his emotions for people like Richie and Sydney, who he knows he has hurt but who he really cares about. Sydney didn't give Carmy "permission" to call Claire then. He needed Sydney's push in his relationship just to call Claire his girlfriend. He thinks not talking to Claire equals prioritizing Sydney, but in turn he is still prioritizing Claire only just in his head, not physically, because he is still using Claire as an avoidance tool for his feelings for Sydney, his lack of apology for Richie, and even his lack of confrontation with his mother. 

In Season 3 we see him happy and panic free in Claire flashbacks. Because she is in a romanticized version of his past. We know he can be an unreliable narrator and see things that aren't fully there or twist things, and his flashbacks to his relationship with Claire is not the full picture. He's not thinking about all the times that being with her led to a panic attack after. He is using her to be avoidant of Sydney and what she means to him and what doing all of this for Sydney means.

He can't really answer Nat or Sydney when they ask “Why are you doing this?” because he’s still in denial about what he is really feeling for Sydney. But he can answer that he feels guilt whenever someone brings up Claire because that is easier to address.

Carmy is an avoidant. In Season 1 he oscillated between avoiding dealing with his actual grief about Mikey by just focusing on the restaurant and avoiding dealing with what was growing between him and Sydney by using the restaurant and his grief for Mikey, until it blew up in his face. He physically avoided the restaurant itself Season 2 because he needed to avoid his feelings for Sydney, but still projected his feelings for her onto Claire by doing everything Sydney enjoys with Claire until it blew up in his face with a panic attack about the two of them.

Then in Season 3 he couldn't physically avoid Sydney, so he mentally avoided her by trying to reframe his relationship with Claire as something joyful and carefree and peaceful. When we all know that the reality of it was something else. He tells the Fak's he can't apologize because it's too hard. He's avoiding apologizing to Claire for many other reasons too. Cause if he does he'll have to address the fact that Claire said she loved him, which I really don't think he loves her back like that. He'll have to face the real version of Claire and his relationship with her; which was not all sunshine and butterflies. It was filled with panic attacks and anxiety. So he'd rather live in a romanticized version of her in his head, missing her and filling his thoughts with her instead of Sydney, than face what was actually going on.

Sydney is still his muse. He slipped into thinking about Sydney that night by making a dish about her and by inviting her to go to Ever with him. He made that dish that was blatantly inspired by her standing right in front of him. He has been avoiding talking to her, and he clearly wanted to say more, but didn't know how or what to say.

Once Sydney left he started hearing the music from his time in the fridge, he threw the dish out and immediately started to spiral. He stared at the bar cart with party items for Richie's Tuesday Surprise. aka the Amusement and Enjoyment. Which is what he was trying to find with Sydney that day he had planned an inspirational food tour with her, but ended up ditching her for Claire at Kasama. And what he told himself he no longer needed in order to focus on getting Sydney a star.

He stands outside the fridge then Strange Currencies starts playing very quietly under the fridge music, "I don't know why you're mean to me When I call on the telephone." He then goes inside the fridge and "I don't know what you mean to me. And I don't know what you mean to me But I want to turn you on, turn you up, figure you out I wanna take you on" plays a little bit louder, which is basically what his deal with Sydney is right now. He doesn't know what she really means to him. He knows she calms him down and inspires him, but he doesn't ever say what that means to him out loud. Then it grows louder with "These words, "You will be mine""

Then he reached for his phone to try and call Claire. Because he's trying to drown out the song with Claire. The first time we heard it was when he first saw Claire by the fridge and once he rejected her, aka when he chose Sydney, the song got louder. Then when he wanted to take Claire to the restaurant, aka where Sydney was, after the party it played again. He knew it was for sure about Sydney from the panic attack, because with Claire it was backwards, she was his past, but with Sydney it was moving forward.

When he's debating pressing call to Claire, the fridge music overpowers Strange Currencies, because Claire is what keeps him frozen in the past and "haunted" by it. He practices saying sorry as the songs grow louder trying to drown each other out, and we see a clip of present day Claire working and Strange Currencies stops playing.

Then a flash of her in The Bear sitting on the garde manger aka cold prep, which was the same clip we saw of her when he was thinking about her when he was locked in the fridge, Strange Currencies plays again over it. He is still stuck on it even though she's moving on and living her life. Strange Currencies grows louder because he keeps trying to convince himself the song is for Claire and reverts back to the past when he thought it was for her that night he took her to see the kitchen.

Claire's I really love you voicemail plays. Then it cuts to who else but Sydney. I really love you. aka I really love *you*. Sydney. What he is actually thinking but avoiding. What stops Carmy is fearful avoidance, because Claire Sydney is so great she scares the shit out of him.

[justarkive]

TABLE 3 | JJK ch6

“For good service, and cute waitresses.”

pairing: pre!military jk x waitress/secret fuckbuddy!oc

warnings: profanity, angst, humour, fluff, celebrity au, idol!jungkook , jungkook shows up unannounced, angst at the end :( oc finds something which makes her rlly upset, FLIRT. jungkook. they are quite literally so into eachother. he catches her stalking him (sorry guys, i had to.)

wc: short n sweet today guys </3

this fic is not meant to represent the real jungkook or any other characters mentioned!

taglist: @jenniebyrubies @dreamersparacosm @darklove2020

masterlist < prev | next >

The morning sun filters through the blinds, streaks of light painting lazy patterns across the walls. You blink against the brightness, groaning softly as the weight of last night lingers in your body—not in a bad way, but in that way where reality feels just a little softer, like a dream still clinging to the edges of your mind.

There’s a weight beside you, the warmth of another body tucked comfortably into your side, and when you finally force yourself to turn, you see Nari sprawled across your bed, mouth slightly open, one arm draped over her forehead dramatically. She’s still out cold.

You blink, piecing things together, and the memories from last night rush in—the way you and Jungkook had sat together outside, the way his voice had dipped when he asked if you’d ever listened to his music, the way his eyes lingered a second too long before Nari had pulled up.

And then the aftermath.

Nari had driven you home, but the second you’d stepped inside, it was like you’d both been hit with a second wind. She’d barely even gotten her shoes off before launching into questions, voice high and excited as she demanded every little detail.

“Oh my god. Oh my god. You guys were looking at each other like… like…” she’d flailed, eyes wide, “like you were the main characters in a romance drama. It was disgusting.”

You had only laughed, cheeks warm, shoving at her shoulder. “It was not that deep.”

“No, babe, it was,” she had insisted, leaning in, eyes twinkling. “So? How do you feel? What are you thinking? Are you like, head over heels already, or are we still in the honeymoon denial phase?”

And so it had gone. You’d ended up talking for hours, the energy of the night refusing to die down, until at some point, the exhaustion had hit all at once. One minute you’d been lying on your bed, still caught up in conversation, and the next, Nari had been out like a light, curled up next to you, and you hadn’t been far behind.

Now, as you blink against the morning, everything feels just a little surreal.

Nari shifts beside you, letting out a dramatic groan as she stretches. “Mmm, why is the sun attacking me?”

You laugh, reaching over to nudge her. “Because you insisted on sleeping with the blinds open. ‘Natural light is the best alarm clock,’ remember?”

She groans louder, rolling onto her stomach and burying her face in a pillow. “I was a fool.”

You sit up, stretching your arms above your head. “Come on, we need to get ready. We have work.”

At that, she lifts her head just enough to peek at you, a slow grin forming. “Ohhh, you mean you have another excuse to check your phone all shift?”

You roll your eyes, shoving her again, but she only laughs, sitting up and ruffling her hair. “I don’t blame you, though,” she says, hopping out of bed. “If Jungkook was texting me, I’d be obsessed too.”

“I’m not obsessed,” you mumble, but your cheeks betray you, warming at the thought.

Nari wiggles her brows as she makes her way to the bathroom. “Mhm. Keep telling yourself that.”

The morning goes by in a blur of getting dressed, brushing teeth, and trying to shake off the lingering sleepiness. By the time you’re both ready, it’s like clockwork—grabbing bags, slipping on shoes, and heading out together.

—

Work is… work. The usual rush of customers, the clatter of dishes, the low hum of conversation filling the air. But there’s something different about today.

Or rather, there’s something different about you.

Your phone buzzes in your apron pocket, and despite knowing you shouldn’t, you can’t help the way your fingers itch to check it.

[ iMessage ]

Jungkook: hows work? missing me much?

You bite back a smile, shaking your head.

Y/N: dont flatter yourself too much, and it’s boring, same old.

Jungkook: Too late. You thinking about me?

Y/N: I’m thinking about how I have actual work to do.

Jungkook: But still texting me. Interesting.

You scoff, but before you can type a reply, a voice snaps you out of your thoughts.

“Oh my god, you cannot be serious.”

You look up just in time to see Nari smirking at you from behind the counter, arms crossed.

“You have been glued to your phone all day,” she teases, leaning in. “Is it him? It’s him, isn’t it?”

You huff, slipping your phone back into your pocket. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

She gasps, placing a hand over her chest dramatically. “Wow. Lying to your best friend? This is serious.”

Before you can retaliate, a customer approaches, forcing Nari to straighten up and greet them with her usual bright smile. But as you go back to work, you catch her watching you out of the corner of your eye, that knowing smirk still playing at her lips.

And maybe, just maybe, she has a point.

By the time your shift ends, you’re exhausted, feet aching and mind still buzzing. You barely have time to get comfortable when your phone lights up again.

Jungkook: home yet?

Y/N: yeah, just arrived wbu?

Jungkook: Good. You left something with me, by the way.

You frown, sitting up a little.

Y/N: ??

Jungkook: Guess you’ll just have to see.

Your brows furrow, confusion settling in, but before you can ask what he means, there’s a knock at your door.

Your heart stops. No way.

Scrambling off the couch, you hurry to the door, barely remembering to check the peephole before swinging it open. And there he is.

Jungkook, standing in your doorway, looking way too pleased with himself.

In his hand, he holds something up—a tube of lip gloss.

“You left this,” he says, smirking.

You stare at him, processing. “You—”

“Figured you’d want it back,” he adds, voice light, teasing.

Your jaw drops. “You could have just told me! What if someone saw you? What if—”

He grins, stepping forward slightly. “Relax. No one saw me. I promise.”

You hesitate, searching his face for any sign of uncertainty, but he looks so… content. Like he knew exactly what he was doing.

Then, softer, “I’m sorry. Should I go?”

Something in you hesitates. You should probably be annoyed, but the truth is, you don’t want him to leave.

You sigh, stepping aside. “Just… come in.”

His smile widens as he steps past you.

“Ignore the mess,” you add quickly, feeling suddenly self-conscious.

He chuckles, looking around. “Looks fine to me.”

And just like that, he’s here, in your space, and your heart is racing for reasons you don’t entirely understand.

But one thing’s for sure.

You really, really don’t want him to leave.

“You want anything to eat?” you ask, already making your way toward the kitchen.

Jungkook follows lazily, hands tucked into the pockets of his hoodie as he leans against the doorway. “I’m not complaining if you’ve got something.”

You hum, opening the fridge, scanning its contents. “Uh, I don’t have much. Just… some leftovers, snacks, instant ramen.” You glance at him over your shoulder. “That work for you?”

He grins. “Instant ramen sounds perfect.”

Rolling your eyes, you grab two packets and start preparing them. You can feel Jungkook’s gaze on you as you move around the kitchen, filling the pot with water, waiting for it to boil. There’s something oddly comfortable about it—having him here, leaning against the counter like he belongs.

“Your place is nice,” he muses, eyes drifting around. “Very… you.”

You scoff. “What does that even mean?”

He smirks. “I don’t know. Cozy. Lived in.” His eyes flicker to the corner of the room, where a small collection of potted plants sits near the window. “You really like plants, huh?”

You glance at them, smiling softly. “Yeah. They give me something to look after.”

Jungkook nods, stepping closer to get a better look. “I get that. I have a dog—Bam. He’s basically my kid at this point.”

Your lips curl into a grin. “I think taking care of a whole dog is a lot harder than a few plants.”

“Maybe,” he admits, “but they both need love, right?”

Something about the way he says it makes your chest tighten just a little. You turn back to the ramen, stirring absentmindedly. “That’s sweet.”

A comfortable silence settles between you as you finish cooking. A few minutes later, you’re both curled up on the couch, bowls in hand, eating in companionable quiet.

Jungkook glances around again, his gaze landing on a small shelf filled with books and framed pictures. Setting his bowl down, he stands and makes his way over, examining them.

“You and Nari, huh?” he muses, picking up a photo of the two of you, arms thrown around each other, wide grins on your faces.

You swallow your mouthful of noodles, nodding. “Yeah. We’re really close, if you cant tell.”

“Oh i can, trust me.” He tilts his head slightly. “You’ve known each other long?”

You nod again, settling into the couch. “Since I started working at the restaurant. It’s been… what, five years now? She was one of the only people who talked to me when I first got there. I was kind of an outsider, didn’t really know how things worked. But Nari showed me the ropes. We’ve been inseparable ever since.”

Jungkook’s lips curve into a soft smile as he places the photo back. “That’s nice. It’s rare to find people like that.”

You glance up at him. “What about you? Do you have a best friend?”

There’s a slight hesitation before he answers, like he’s carefully choosing his words. “Yeah. I mean, I’m close with all my members—we’re like family at this point. No- we are family actually- and I have friends outside of work, too.” He looks at you, a small, knowing smirk tugging at his lips. “Why? You jealous?”

You roll your eyes, but your cheeks warm nonetheless. “Oh, totally. Just dying to be your best friend.”

He chuckles, plopping back down onto the couch beside you. “I mean, you’re already halfway there.”

You shoot him a look. “Oh, really?”

“Mhm,” he hums, nudging you playfully.

You shake your head, finishing the last of your ramen. The conversation slows, but it’s not awkward. If anything, there’s something… nice about the quiet, the way you’re just sitting there, existing in each other’s presence.

Jungkook leans back, exhaling softly. “I like this.”

You glance at him. “Like what?”

“This,” he gestures vaguely between you. “Just… hanging out. No cameras, no expectations.”

Your heart stirs at his words. You don’t say anything, but you don’t need to.

Instead, you just nod, letting the moment linger.

And for a while, neither of you move.

Jungkook watches as you disappear into the bathroom, the door clicking shut behind you. Left to his own devices, he leans back into your couch, stretching his arms before letting out a deep breath. His eyes wander around your apartment again, settling on your coffee table.

Your laptop sits open.

Curious, he nudges the touchpad, bringing the screen back to life. The last thing you had open was a YouTube tab, and without thinking, he clicks on it.

That’s when he sees it.

His name. In your search history.

His eyes widen slightly, scanning the list of videos you’d recently watched. There were quite a few. Some interviews, a couple of performance clips, even an edit—oh, this was good. A slow grin spreads across his lips as he scrolls further, and then—

Oh.

One title in particular catches his attention. BTS Jungkook - Permission to Dance in LA (Full Focus Cam! + Backstage)

Jungkook raises a brow, amusement sparking in his chest. Oh, this was too good. He glances toward the bathroom, making sure he still has time, before clicking on the video.

The music starts, and he watches himself take the stage, all confident and fluid, moving effortlessly across the screen. But then—then the camera zooms in on that part.

The part where he’s fully feeling himself, exuding every ounce of charisma he has. Where his movements are just a little too smooth, a little too suggestive. He smirks.

Just as the video reaches the peak of that moment, the bathroom door swings open.

You step out, stretching, but freeze the second your brain registers the music playing from your laptop. Your stomach drops.

“Oh my god.”

Jungkook looks up, beaming. “Oh, hey, you’re back.”

Your eyes snap to the screen, and you almost die on the spot.

The video is playing in full volume. Full volume.

“Oh my god, no—” You rush forward, but Jungkook is faster. He clicks pause, turning to you with the biggest shit-eating grin you’ve ever seen.

“So,” he drawls, leaning back and folding his arms behind his head. “You’ve been doing some research, huh?”

You slap the laptop shut so fast you swear you almost break it. “This isn’t what it looks like.”

“Oh, no, no, no,” he says, shaking his head, clearly thriving off this. “It’s exactly what it looks like.”

You groan, covering your face. “Oh my god, this is so embarrassing.”

Jungkook hums, pretending to think. “You know, I was wondering—if I looked at the watch time, would I see a certain part being, like, replayed a few times?” He quirks a brow, his smirk devastating.

Your jaw drops. “I—absolutely not—”

He chuckles, dragging his tongue along the inside of his cheek, eyes twinkling with mischief. “Nah, but for real,” he says, tapping the laptop. “I totally get it. If I were you, I’d watch me too. I look too good in this.”

You groan even louder, ready to just fling yourself off the couch and onto the floor. “Please stop talking.”

“Oh, I will not.”

Jungkook leans in slightly, lowering his voice in mock seriousness. “Be honest—was it this part?” He reaches for the laptop again, and you launch forward, grabbing his arm to stop him.

“I will kick you out.”

He just laughs, looking far too pleased with himself. “You’re so cute when you’re flustered.”

You glare at him, still gripping his arm. He just grins.

And you—well, you’re never opening YouTube around him again.

——

You glance at the clock, surprised by the time. It’s getting late, way later than you expected.

“You’re here pretty late,” you remark, your voice casual as you stand from the couch and stretch a little. “Don’t have anything to do tomorrow?”

Jungkook gives you that lazy smile of his, the one that you’re learning to recognize by now. “Nope. No work tomorrow,” he replies, his voice a little husky, like he’s savoring the moment. “I just wanted to chill for a bit, you know?”

You raise an eyebrow. “Just wanted to chill?”

He shrugs, a little shrug of the shoulders that makes him look even more relaxed than he already is. “Yeah. You’re good company, and it’s been…a long time since I’ve had a chance to just, you know, hang out.”

The words hit you in a way you weren’t quite prepared for. Something about them just settles in your chest—this quiet honesty, this rare openness that he’s letting slip.

“Alright,” you say, a little softer than before, before plopping back down on the couch. You hit play on the movie, the soft glow of the screen filling the room.

For a while, the two of you don’t say anything. The movie plays in the background, but it’s not really what you’re paying attention to. He’s sitting next to you, close enough that you can feel the warmth of his body, his presence beside you just…there.

And then, almost without noticing, he moves slightly.

You’re so wrapped up in the movie, in the strange sense of comfort that’s been building between you two, that when his arm moves over to your shoulder, you barely even flinch. It feels natural, effortless—like it’s something that’s always been meant to happen.

His arm settles around your shoulders, just resting there.

And, before you know it, your legs find themselves stretching out, and you casually drape them across his lap, feeling the soft, undeniable weight of his presence. Your heart beats a little faster, but you pretend like everything’s normal, like you’re just watching a movie like any other evening.

Except you’re not.

You don’t realize how close you’ve gotten until halfway through the movie, when you glance up at him. His face is lit by the glow of the TV, and you’re struck by how peaceful he looks, how relaxed, how…at ease.

You try to tear your eyes away. Focus on the movie.

But it’s impossible.

You end up staring at his side profile, unable to help it. The way his hair falls just a little in his face, the curve of his jaw, the way his lips move when he laughs quietly at something in the movie…

It’s too much.

You blink rapidly, your gaze flicking away, heart racing. You try to concentrate on the movie, on what’s happening on screen, but your brain’s too occupied with the fact that Jungkook’s right there, his arm around you, your legs on his lap, and the tension between you two building slowly, almost unnoticeably.

And you feel it.

You feel every beat of your pulse, every breath that’s just a little too shallow. You feel him. Every inch of him.

God, what is this?

You bite your lip, trying to distract yourself from your own thoughts, but the more you try to focus on the film, the more you find yourself distracted by his presence. It’s like he’s the only thing in the room, the only thing that matters right now.

And when you glance back at him again, his eyes flick to you, catching you in the act of looking at him.

His lips curve into a slow, teasing smile. “You good?”

You nod quickly, but the heat rising in your face betrays you. “Yeah, fine,” you mumble, shifting a little uncomfortably, trying to play it cool.

But your thoughts are anything but cool.

The rest of the movie seems to blur around you as you try—unsuccessfully—to ignore the way you can feel him so clearly, so undeniably, right there beside you. His warmth, his scent, the way his hand occasionally brushes against your arm.

You’re so distracted you don’t even hear what he’s saying until his voice breaks through your thoughts.

“Hey,” he says softly, voice laced with something you can’t quite place. “You okay?”

You nod again, but you can’t seem to get the words out. The space between you feels electric, and it’s like the air around you both has thickened, changed.

He doesn’t pull away. He doesn’t say anything else either.

But he doesn’t need to.

——

You’ve long forgotten about the movie. The credits are rolling on the screen, but you couldn’t tell if you’re even watching anymore. It’s just noise in the background now, filling the space between you two. You’re sitting on the couch, the last of the snacks between you, sharing what’s left of them. The atmosphere is easy—comfortable, almost.

Your fingers brush when you both reach for the last chip. Neither of you pulls back, and it feels like a long moment where you both just look at each other for a beat. He’s got this amused look in his eyes, like he’s caught you in some kind of subtle game. You’re not sure who’s winning, but for some reason, you don’t care.

You end up laughing a little too much over the fact that the bowl’s completely empty now, and somehow, your legs end up tangled together on the couch. It’s ridiculous. You both just keep laughing, but the longer you sit there, the quieter the atmosphere grows, and there’s something about the way he’s looking at you that makes you feel a little dizzy. You can’t really explain it, but the more you look at him, the more you can’t not look at him.

For a while, there’s a comfortable silence between you two. He’s stretched out on the couch, fiddling with the edge of the blanket, and you can’t help but notice how different the vibe feels. It’s not the usual playful teasing. There’s something a little more…real about tonight.

It’s him who breaks the silence first, his voice a little softer than before. “You ever think about what you want in life?” His words are a bit of a surprise, but the question’s casual, almost like it’s something he’s been thinking about.

You raise an eyebrow, unsure of where this is going, but you can tell he’s not just being playful. There’s something more to his tone. “What do you mean?” you ask, trying to keep things light, but your curiosity gets the better of you.

He hesitates for a second, glancing away, as if he’s considering his words carefully. “I mean… what do you really want? Like, when everything calms down? When you’ve done all the crazy stuff and finally just get to have the life you want?”

You blink, a little taken aback by the sudden shift. This isn’t the Jungkook you’re used to—this isn’t the playful, teasing guy who’d rather joke around. This feels different. You glance at him, and his face is unreadable, eyes staring into the distance, like he’s trying to figure it all out.

“I don’t know,” you admit, honestly. “I think I just want… peace. Like, the kind of life where things aren’t so… loud. You know? Maybe I want that simple, boring life, where everything just makes sense.”

You think that would be the end of it, but he nods slowly, like he gets it. Then, out of nowhere, he says, “I think I want that, too. I want something simple.” His words come out softer now, and there’s a vulnerability there you didn’t expect. “Something real. I want to settle down one day, but I don’t know if that’s even possible, with everything I do.”

You can’t help but feel a small rush of warmth at how genuine he sounds. The Jungkook you know is the center of attention, always surrounded by people, always in the spotlight. Hearing him talk like this, so open and honest, makes your heart skip a beat.

“I don’t think I could do it if I didn’t have something real to come home to,” he continues, almost to himself, his gaze fixed ahead. “Like, a love that isn’t… complicated. No drama. Just someone who’s there, you know? Someone who gets it.”

You swallow hard, realizing just how different he is from the persona he puts out there. Jungkook, the idol, the magnet for attention, is telling you he just wants simplicity. And for some reason, that makes him even more attractive.

You stare at him, your thoughts momentarily distracted. You didn’t expect him to be like this, didn’t expect to hear about what he really wants—what he really needs. And the more you think about it, the more you realize you want to kiss him right now. But you don’t say it. You don’t act on it. Instead, you find yourself just looking at him, caught in the moment.

It’s then that the sound of the movie’s credits fill the room, the music fading as the screen goes dark. The sudden shift makes you blink, pulled back into the reality of the situation. You look at the time—it’s 3 a.m. already.

Jungkook glances at his phone, a soft curse slipping past his lips. “Damn, time flies.” He gives a half-laugh, glancing at you. “I really don’t have anything to do tomorrow. I kind of want to stay… longer.”

For a second, you can tell he’s seriously considering it, and the idea of him staying makes your chest tighten. But you manage to pull yourself together enough to say, “About that… sorry, I have work tomorrow.” You let the teasing tone back in, trying to lighten the moment. “You can always just waltz up here again, if you feel like it.”

He raises an eyebrow, a mischievous grin crossing his face. “I might just do that.” He stretches, as though he’s ready to stay the night, and for a second, you think he might. But then, with a playful look, he stands up, running a hand through his hair. “Alright, I’ll let you get some sleep. But don’t think I won’t be back,” he teases, the air between you two charged with unspoken words.

You laugh, but inside, you feel like maybe, just maybe, you’re both on the verge of something new.

You walk Jungkook to the door, the quiet of the night around you both making everything feel oddly intimate. As he stands in the doorway, he looks at you, his expression softer than usual, like he’s trying to remember something. You both linger there, not saying much. It’s one of those moments where you’re not sure what to say, but you know neither of you is ready for this night to end.

“Guess I should get going,” he says, his voice quiet, almost reluctant.

“Yeah…” you trail off, not quite sure if you’re ready for him to leave, but you smile anyway. “Thanks for coming by.”

His eyes flicker, and without a word, he pulls you into a quick hug, one that��s warm and a little too long, just enough for you to catch a breath before you both pull away. It feels like something more, but neither of you acknowledges it.

“Take care, alright?” he says, still holding your gaze.

You nod, feeling a little out of breath. “You too.”

Then, he steps out, and just before he turns to leave, he looks back, grinning. “I’ll see you soon,” he teases, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

“Yeah, maybe,” you reply, trying to keep the smile on your face, even as your heart beats a little faster than normal.

The door clicks shut behind him, and you stand there for a moment, just listening to the sound of the night. Your mind is still reeling from everything that happened tonight, the closeness, the teasing, the moments that felt like they meant more than they probably did.

Shaking your head, you move to tidy up, putting away the empty snack bowls and the remnants of the movie you’ve long forgotten about. The house feels quiet now, almost too quiet, and you find yourself moving around automatically. You go into your room, taking off your shoes, tossing your jacket onto the bed, and sitting down at the edge.

You pull your phone from your pocket, deciding to unwind with a bit of scrolling through your timeline. The bright screen feels like a good distraction from the swirl of thoughts in your head. Sending Jungkook a quick ‘Hope you got home okay, goodnight :)’ text,

You’re mindlessly tapping through posts when something stops you cold—your heart drops into your stomach.

It’s a video. Of Jungkook.

You freeze, staring at the thumbnail. The video’s not recent—it’s been uploaded recently, but you have no idea when it was actually filmed. You press play anyway, your finger trembling just slightly.

It’s him, in what looks like his apartment, laughing and stumbling around with a girl in his arms. The two of them are playfully navigating their way around, and a dog is trailing behind them, wagging its tail. You don’t recognize the girl—her face is blurry from the angle of the shot, but you can tell she’s close to him, like the two of them are comfortable.

You’re not sure what his apartment looks like, but you know that dog. You’ve seen it on social media before. And you can’t miss the way his hair’s styled, that signature long, grown-out mullet he’s been sporting. All the details are accurate enough that it seems too real to be fake.

But the girl? You have no idea who she is.

Your stomach tightens, a pit forming inside you as your mind races to make sense of what you’re seeing. The casualness of it, the familiarity between them, makes your chest tighten in an unexpected rush of jealousy. You watch the video again, trying to figure out what exactly is making you feel so uneasy, but the more you see, the worse it gets. The image of them laughing together, the dog following them like it’s just another day, makes everything feel like it’s out of your reach.

You don’t even know how long you’ve been staring at the screen when you finally snap out of it, but the realization hits you hard—this could’ve been filmed weeks ago, or maybe it’s been recent, and you were none the wiser. You can’t tell.

The uncertainty of it all makes you feel like you’re drowning. You don’t know what this is. You don’t know what it means.

You pull the phone away from your face, staring at it as your heart continues to race, unsure of what to feel.

All you know is that seeing this video makes everything feel like it’s slipping through your fingers, and you’re not sure if you’ll ever get it back.

[burningcheese-merchant]

Psst, hear me out: The Beast being fucking yanderes with the ancients.

You Get It™️ I mean... Did you guys see episode 6? Burning Simp Cookie is already a yandere lol. He's been there and he refuses to leave. And Shadow Milk is honestly not that far behind, he feels some type of way towards Pure Vanilla and it would be cute if it wasn't so sad and creepy lol

Really though, I just love hero/villain ships in general (always have, since long before Cookie Run ever existed) and I get a kick out of villains acting stupid over crushes (read: obsessions), and acting stupid in general. There's just something about a villain being in love with the hero to a psychotic, comical degree, and the hero rebuffing them at every turn that's just really amusing to me lol. Like what Joker sort of has with Batman, you know?

Here are my Yandere Beasts in bare-bones terms:

Burning Spice: come on, if you've read my stuff, you know EXACTLY what Yandere Spice is like lol. If not, I'll refer you to this and this, as well as my fics on AO3. If those don't tell you what Yandere Spice is like then idk how else to help you lol

Shadow Milk: if the final boss of theater/drama kids had a crush but was also a malignant narcissist of some sort lol. Absolutely DESPERATE for Vanilla's attention at all times. If he's not actively trying to worm into Vanilla's brain and harass him in his thoughts and dreams, he's in the real world brainstorming better ways to do that lol. He does not grasp why the creepy puppet shows and gaslighting attempts aren't convincing Vanilla to fall in love with him. Will attack and torment and insult Vani in one breath and then praise and love and worship him in another, because he's a histrionic clown freak with whirlwind emotions. But above all else, he literally thinks he owns Vani and is meticulously plotting the horrible and hilarious demise of any and all he perceives as a threat to their union

Eternal Sugar: World's Laziest Stalker™️. Almost exclusively haunts Holly in her dreams (I have to assume that that's what her power will entail, as the Beast of Sloth); however, she's more "effective" in her wooing attempts due to her past experience as the Herald of Happiness. She actually goes out of her way to construct dreams and the like that have things in them that make Holly happy (or what she thinks makes Holly happy; she, as well as the others, has big tunnel vision and is very selfish and self-absorbed, and thus pays more lip service to her own wants than those of who she loves/obsesses over). Thankfully doesn't run into Holly in person often because that's work... but sometimes she DOES work up the nerve to go after her for real, and... well

Mystic Flour: Denial, denial, denial. Not just a river in Egypt the Golden Cheese Kingdom, but she'll say and act like otherwise. No, she does not like Dark Cacao. He robbed her of her volition and the chance to enact her will. He prevented her from freeing the world from pain and suffering. He is a stubborn fool who refuses to understand the truth. He... is very handsome. She does not like how handsome he is. It is distracting. She doesn't like dwelling on her memories of him and their encounters. She doesn't like how she came to harbor a single kernel of respect in her heart after he stood his ground against her; a kernel that she inadvertently nurtured and cultivated slowly but surely, until... no. No, she doesn't like Dark Cacao. She doesn't think about him all day. She doesn't want to try to lure him back to her land so she can trap him in the flour fog with her again. She doesn't miss feeling his dark eyes on her. She doesn't deeply resent his attachment to his people, and seek to transfer that attachment to her instead. No, she... damn it, he's ruined her. He's made her feel things again. He's made her succumb to selfishness and greed, to earthly desire and attachment - desire for HIM, attachment to HIM. All of her hard work and enlightenment gone to waste... She doesn't want to like Dark Cacao, she recognizes the folly in such a thing, but she's stuck - and so stuck is she that not only does she not really see a way out, she doesn't WANT one. She's become too content with her attachment to him too quickly. Now she has to agonize over her own foolishness, and try to keep denying that she doesn't care while also longing for his attention and wanting to do away with all that steals his attention away from her

Silent Salt: probably the least awful of the five, but he's still creepy and that's not a high bar to clear anyway lol. Has a better grasp on "normal" behavior than the others (like... he pays attention to what White Lily likes/wants and tries to adjust accordingly), but he's following her around everywhere and acting extremely violent and territorial over her towards anyone who he catches approaching her. He's legitimately, surprisingly sweet and gentle towards her; he brings her flowers, he listens to her when she asks/tells him something, he's more or less respectful of her personal space (he will try to be as physically close to her as possible, but actually backs off a little if she asks him to, only to try again, and so on and so forth)... but he's still a villain, he's still violent and creepy, he still gets angry when she pays attention to other people for too long and he has brought actual harm to others out of jealousy. He's the best of the worst but that really doesn't mean much of anything, he's still a psycho creep like the others

In short, they form a tight-knit coalition of absolutely fucking deranged freakazoids and they should all probably die :)

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

Matt Wuerker. Politico

* * * *

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

March 11, 2025

Heather Cox Richardson

Mar 12, 2025

The stock market continued to fall today. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell another 478 points, or 1.14%; the S&P 500 fell almost 0.8%; and the Nasdaq Composite fell almost 0.2%. The S&P 500 briefly held its own in trading today, but then Trump announced on his social media platform that he was going to double the tariffs on steel and aluminum from the new 25% rates to a 50% rate on Canada and might increase tariffs to “permanently shut down the automobile manufacturing business in Canada.”

Stocks fell again.

Unable to admit that he might be wrong, President Donald Trump is doubling down on the policies that are crashing the economy. In addition to his tariff threats, he also reiterated that “the only thing that makes sense is for Canada to become our cherished Fifty First State,” an outrageous position that he suddenly began to advance after the 2024 presidential election and which has Canadians so furious they are boycotting U.S. goods and booing the Star-Spangled Banner.

More than 100 top business leaders met with Trump today to urge him to stop destabilizing what had been a booming economy with his on-again-off-again tariffs. Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody’s Analytics, told Jeff Stein and Isaac Arnsdorf of the Washington Post that in private, “[b]usiness leaders, CEOs and COOs are nervous, bordering on unnerved, by the policies that are being implemented, how they’re being implemented and what the fallout is. There’s overwhelming uncertainty and increasing discomfort with how policy is being implemented.”

The extreme unpredictability means that no one knows where or how to invest. Market strategist Art Hogan told CNN’s Matt Egan, “This market is just blatantly sick and tired of the back and forth on trade policy.” Yesterday, Delta Air Lines cut its forecasts for its first-quarter revenue and profits by half, a sign of weakening corporate and consumer confidence and concerns about the safety of air travel. Today, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines cut their forecasts, and American Airlines forecast a first-quarter loss.

When he talked to reporters, Trump reasserted that he intends to do what he wants regardless of the business leaders’ input. “Markets are going to go up and they’re going to go down, but you know what, we have to rebuild our country. Long-term what I’m doing is making our country strong again.” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt advised, “If people are looking for certainty, they should look at the record of this president.”

Not everyone will find that suggestion comforting.

Trump backed off on his threat to raise the tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum to 50%, but went ahead with his threat to place 25% tariffs on all imported steel and aluminum products. Those tariffs took effect at midnight.

In the face of his own troubles, Trump’s sidekick billionaire Elon Musk is also escalating his destructive behavior. Yesterday Musk’s social media platform X underwent three separate outages that spanned more than six hours. Lily Jamali and Liv McMahon of the BBC reported that Oxford professor Ciaran Martin, former head of the United Kingdom’s National Cyber Security Center, said that the outages appear to have been an attack called a “distributed denial of service,” or DDoS, attack. This is an old technique in which hackers flood a server to prevent authentic users from reaching a website.

"I can't think of a company of the size and standing internationally of X that's fallen over to a DDoS attack for a very long time," Martin said. The outage "doesn't reflect well on their cyber security." Without any evidence, Musk blamed hackers in Ukraine for the outages, an accusation Martin called “pretty much garbage.”

Four days ago, another of Musk’s SpaceX rockets exploded after takeoff, and now SpaceX’s Starlink internet service is facing headwinds. In February, Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim canceled his collaborations with Starlink after growing tensions with Musk culminated with Musk alleging on X that Slim is tied to organized crime. The loss of that deal cost Musk about $7 billion in the short term, but more in the long term as Slim will work with European and Chinese companies in 25 Latin American countries rather than Starlink. Slim has said he would invest $22 billion in those projects over the next three years.

Also in February, after U.S. negotiators threatened to cut Ukraine’s access to the 42,000 Starlink terminals that supply information to the front lines, the European Commission began to look for either government or commercial alternatives. The European Commission is made up of a college of commissioners from each of the 27 European Union countries. It acts as the main executive branch of the European Union.

On Sunday, Musk posted: “[M]y Starlink system is the backbone of the Ukrainian army. Their entire front line would collapse if I turned it off.” Poland pays for about half the Starlink terminals in Ukraine, about $50 million a year. Poland’s minister of foreign affairs, Radosław Sikorski, responded that “if SpaceX proves to be an unreliable provider we will be forced to look for other suppliers.” “Be quiet, small man,” Musk replied. “You pay a tiny fraction of the cost. And there is no substitute for Starlink.”

After all the tariff drama with Canada, last week Ontario also cancelled a deal it had with Starlink.

But perhaps the biggest hit Musk has taken lately is over his Tesla car brand. On February 6, Musk’s younger brother Kimbal, who sits on Tesla’s board, sold more than $27 million worth of shares in the company. Tesla chair Robyn Denholm sold about $43 million worth of Tesla stock in February and recently sold another $33 million. Tesla CFO Vaibhav Taneja has sold $8 million worth over the past 90 days. Yesterday, board member James Murdoch sold just over $13 million worth of stock.

Fred Lambert of Electrek, which follows the news about electric vehicles and Tesla, noted that Tesla stock dropped 15% yesterday, “down more than 50% from its all-time high just a few months ago.” “Tesla insiders are unloading,” he concluded.

Tesla sales are dropping across the globe owing to the unpopularity of Musk’s antics, along with the cuts and data breaches from his “Department of Government Efficiency.” Protesters have been gathering at Tesla dealerships to express their dismay. While the protests have been peaceful, as Chris Isidore of CNN reports, there have also been reports of vandalism. Tesla owners are facing ridicule as protesters take out their anger toward Musk on his customers, and at least one competitor is working to lure consumers away from Musk’s brand by offering a discount to Tesla owners.

Trump has jumped to Musk’s defense, posting just after midnight this morning that “Elon Musk is ‘putting it on the line’ in order to help our Nation, and he is doing a FANTASTIC JOB! But the Radical Left Lunatics, as they often do, are trying to illegally and collusively boycott Tesla, one of the World’s great automakers, and Elon’s ‘baby,’ in order to attack and do harm to Elon, and everything he stands for. They tried to do it to me at the 2024 Presidential Ballot Box, but how did that work out? In any event, I’m going to buy a brand new Tesla tomorrow morning as a show of confidence and support for Elon Musk, a truly great American.”

Indeed, today Trump used the office of the presidency to bolster Musk’s business. Teslas were lined up at the White House, where Trump read from a Tesla sales pitch—photographer Andrew Harnik caught an image of his notes. And then the same man who gave a blanket pardon to those convicted of violent crimes related to the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol called those protesting at Tesla dealerships “domestic terrorists” and promised that the government would make sure they “go through hell.”

Trump and Musk appear to have taken the downturn in their fortunes by becoming more aggressive. Martin Pengelly of The Guardian noted that in the middle of Monday’s stock market plunge, Trump posted or reposted more than 100 messages on his social media channel. All of them showed him in a positive light, including reminders of the 2004 first season of the television show The Apprentice, in which Trump starred: a golden moment in Trump’s past when his ratings were high and the audience seemed to believe he was a brilliant and powerful businessman.

Today, egged on by Musk, Trump pushed again to take over other countries. He told reporters: "When you take away that artificial line that looks like it was done with a ruler…and you look at that beautiful formation of Canada and the United States, there is no place anywhere in the world that looks like that…. And then if you add Greenland…that's pretty good."

The Trump administration also announced today it was cutting about half the employees in the Department of Education. The Senate confirmed Linda McMahon, who has little experience with education, to head the department on March 3 by a party-line vote. Shutting down the department "was the president's mandate—his directive to me," McMahon told Fox News Channel host Laura Ingraham. McMahon assured Ingraham that existing grants and programs would not “fall through the cracks.”

But when Ingraham asked her what IDEA stood for—the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act—she wasn’t sure, although she knew it was “the programs for disabled and needs.” Ingraham knew what the acronym meant but assured McMahon that after 30 years on the job, she still didn’t know all the acronyms. McMahon replied: “This is my fifth day on the job and I’m really trying to learn them very quickly.”

Musk lashed out at Arizona senator Mark Kelly on social media yesterday, after Kelly posted pictures of his recent trip to Ukraine and discussed the history of Russia’s invasion, concluding “it’s important we stand with Ukraine.” Musk responded: “You are a traitor.”

Kelly, who was in the Navy for 25 years and flew 39 combat missions in the Gulf War before becoming an astronaut, responded: “Traitor? Elon, if you don’t understand that defending freedom is a basic tenet of what makes America great and keeps us safe, maybe you should leave it to those of us who do.”

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

[jazeswhbhaven]

My Very Own Demon Maid? | Being Threatened by an Exceptionally Skilled Maid Summary| React | Spoilers

Click the banner above to see my react to the prologue if you haven't seen it! The rest continues under the cut~

Leading in from the prologue let me just say....Levi fans are eating good if they ever wanted to see a whole different side of him. No lie if anyone has ever seen the movie "Secretary (2002)" Levi's Maid card gives the energy of the character "Lee" for his role here.

LETS GET IT..

Summary

💜When we left off for the prologue, Levi just had water thrown in his face, MC finally getting the idea of what he's looking for in a Master

💜Throughout the entirety of the roleplay session, Levi follows the maid's "guidebook" to a T. And he's loving every minute of it. Even gets a bit bold and starts feigning innocence or deliberately not listening in order to get a reaction from MC

💜MC is also doing amazing at their role, being the most dickish Master like in the book, asking Levi to do things over and over, yelling and getting onto him. Even showing a bit of envy that fuels Levi

💜As he dives even deeper to immersion, we realize that Levi is exploring this feeling that he craves, to serve, to endure, and most importantly, enjoy all of it. This was made for him

💜And then from here it builds up to MC instructing him to strip tease, and things get heated when they both get lost in the roles they've played, MC even had to rewind themselves for a minute

💜The sex built up so well, I'd swear we were watching a good erotica film

💜We get to play with the anal tail again, but before that? MC slipped in a finger and he was already ready for the plug, almost damn near swallowing up MC's finger

💜MC ofc, has to join in now, as if I were them this would be hard to ignore when he's acting like this???

💜So not only did MC start fucking Levi with the anal tail plug and their fingers at the same time at one point, they get creative, and give him a proper reach around at the same time too

💜Levi almost came a total of 3 times when MC was only just touching him or fussing at him. B e s t

💜A finish touch which had me losing my mind was when MC couldn't take it anymore, and climbed on top of Levi and he grabs their waist and starts pounding into them while reaching their head back to kiss them

💜All while promising to give all his services to MC.....PHEW

💜Even with the abrupt ending after sex, because MC once again got sleepy and Levi was out of the role he played...he still said something nice and tucked them in

💜This shot? Had me THROWN like??? -> His waist is so smol and slutty compared that ASS, damn

Screenshots!

Loving it, he's really getting the program!

You know, I really like that he's eating everything up like he is right now. We barely see him enjoy something so unapologetically without some kind of denial so when we get that piece of his personality? I forget where I'm at.

Yes. LET 'EM KNOWWWWW

Me thinking about how I would be delighted to see this animated as a show so I could see this scene play out

He's what now?? Oh damn Levi apologizing for something? Roleplay or not, this is golden.

*sorry censored heart just in case!* Anywaysss this is actually so hot that when MC asked for him to show them what he wanted to show...he does this

Same MC, same. Imagine, Levi is already 6 ft tall...standing on the Sofa probably makes him as big as Glas and well...👀

He moaned during that btw and what do you mean we "accidentally" fingered his gooch? For me that wouldn't be an accident.

I'm tellin' y'all he's going alll out on this and I'm enjoying this part of him. We don't really get many cards of MC being dominant like they are here where the character is desperately begging for this attention, and he just offered them to do anything with his body?? Yup.

OH!

DAMN MC OKAY!

real though

my reaction when I saw we get to play with the anal tail again

BITCH!!!???? ✨✨😩😩😩😭🥴

Oh this brings me back to his Attacker card....

Final verdict!!

Now I would talk about the date story but I don't have that. BUT I can only imagine it was similar to how he was with MC in the Butt Contest event when you pick him as the winner, which was cute ngl.

I give this card 9.8/10!

That nitpicky points is just because I wasn't feelin' the beginning due to that typical behavior we get from classic Levi...lol that's all.

As I said in the beginning of the react, Levi lovers will eat up this card. Curious and undecided about if you like submissive Levi? Check this out, it's a good look for him.

I liked this and his Torture Card a whole lot. As a person who has Levi on the lower end of the likeability scale, there's still events and cards where I do enjoy the dynamic between him and MC. I wonder what else the writers will have this devil get into...(lucifer too honestly like he's been having some banger cards lately)

As always thank y'all for all interactions on my reacts and the friends that still share with me so I can do these <3 Y'all are the bomb dot com. -Jaze🙏(✿◡‿◡)

[just-my-latest-hyperfixation]

Pretty like fine whisky

Written for the Get Lucky bonus card of the @steddiebingo (prompt: Bondage) and for day 23 of @stmarchmm (prompt: non-traditional alpha/omega dynamics)

Words: 1,201 [also on AO3]

Rated: E

Tags: Omegaverse; O!Steve; A!Eddie; Power bottom Steve; Service top Eddie; Sex worker Eddie; Bondage; Cock Rings; Orgasm denial; Mutual pining

Eddie is already there when Steve walks into the room. On the bed as usual, wrists cuffed to the sturdy steel bar mounted to the wall in place of a headboard, muted lights caressing his naked skin and bringing out the lines of his tattoos. 

“Hey, big boy,” he smiles, stretching as well as the restraints will allow. “You’re back early. Thought you weren’t due for another heat for at least- … ow, shit, rough month?” 

“You have no idea,” Steve mutters, pulling off his shirt and tossing it in the direction of the armchair in the corner, not bothering to check where it lands. His joggers and boxers go next, carelessly discarded on the carpet as he crosses the room and climbs into the bed. Eddie is hard and good to go already, a condom rolled over his flushed cock, a silicone ring nestled snugly just above his balls. Steve feels his own cock twitch in reply and the familiar, hot wetness of his slick leak from between his thighs.

Shit, he's been needing this.

“It’s okay,” Eddie says, and he realizes with a sharp jolt of humiliation that he must’ve made a sound. “Just go ahead.” 

Steve heaves a shuddering breath. His throat is dry and he can feel sweat beading at the base of his neck. The awful, hollow tightness that has been building at the base of his spine all day explodes, punching a wrecked moan from him. Eddie's eyes are soft as straddles his hips, gripping the steel bar for support, fingers brushing the cold metal of the shackles.

“That's it,” he rumbles as Steve sinks down on his cock, where he allows himself only a second to adjust before he starts bouncing up and down. “There you go, take what you need. That’s what I’m here for, right?” 

Something in the empty pit of Steve’s stomach stirs, and for a moment or two, he thinks that today’s the day he’s gonna spit out the question that has been burning at the back of his throat for months. 

Why?

He had heard stories about places like this, of course. Facilities that specialized in helping unbonded omegas through their heat when meds were not an option. Everyone knows of them, even though it isn’t a topic for polite conversation. 

That didn’t mean kids in the schoolyard didn’t talk, of course. Hushed whispers about family members twice removed that nobody mentioned. Omegas so fucked up they couldn’t find a mate if they tried. Alphas so ugly and old and desperate they’d do anything to stick their knot into something, even if it meant whoring themselves out in some dingy backroom brothel. 

Reality is nothing like that, of course. 

Sure, Steve is every bit as fucked up as those omegas in the stories, and then some. Hormones sent completely haywire by one too many hits to the head, the meds they gave him against the migraines sending his cycle into total disarray, rendering any blockers and suppressants he has tried utterly useless. He tried finding relief the usual way - going on dates, picking up alphas in bars and clubs. Except, ever since the Russians, the touch of unfamiliar hands on his skin sends him into a panicked frenzy, and the feeling of being held down, unable to move or get away, has him spiralling into anxiety attacks. 

When he first came here, he half expected to be laughed out of the building. After all, what kind of alpha would be willing to hand over control to an omega like this? Except the girl who did his consultation - a tiny, bubbly blonde who introduced herself as Chrissy - told him not to worry about it, that she knew just the alpha for his needs. 

And that’s how he ended up here, once a month when his heat is at its thickest. Riding Eddie’s cock, until his hair is soaked with sweat and his muscles are trembling with exertion, until that awful, empty feeling in the pit of his stomach mellows out into a low, exhausted simmer. 

Eddie has never once complained about being the one on the bottom - or about the shackles chaining his wrists to the wall. Or the fact that Steve hasn’t even told him his name yet. He seems content to call him big boy - or darling, sometimes, when Steve is too far gone in his own pleasure to mind. His voice is smooth as well-aged whisky when he says it, earthy and woodsy like his scent. It makes Steve wonder what he calls the other omegas he's with, and then it makes him loathe himself for wondering. 

And still, he can't help it. 

Eddie is kind and funny and beautiful. Dark, wild curls, large chocolate eyes, and the fullest, most kissable lips Steve has ever seen. He should have omegas queuing up left and right, begging for his bite, eager and willing to bear him pups. 

Instead, he's here, letting himself be used by Steve, who barely ever talks more than five words with him, who can't even stand to have his hands on him, who is so broken and damaged inside and out he'll probably never have a mate, or kids of his own. It makes no goddamn sense at all. 

“You're thinking too much, sweetheart,” Eddie says, and rolls his hips. Steve moans again, startled and punched-out, grinding himself down and clenching around him. He can't quite tell if it's because of the way Eddie’s cock catches inside of him or because of the nickname. “Just let go, c'mon. Let's see you come.” 

It's all the encouragement Steve needs. Gripping the steel bar so tight his knuckles go white, he picks up his speed, slamming himself down on Eddie’s cock again and again and again, chasing after his building pleasure. When he comes, it's with an intensity that sends tears to his eyes and makes his vision black out. Through the firework of red and white lights bursting in the darkness, he’s aware of the chains rattling as Eddie’s body trembles under his. With the cock ring on, he's unable to form a knot or come, but his scent still spikes all the same - sharp and heady and distinctly aroused. It makes him wonder what it would be like to feel Eddie's knot swell inside of him, to feel his relief fill him up. To feel his teeth on his neck.

When he returns back to himself, Eddie is smiling up at him, cheeks flushed, eyes glassy. 

“Good?” he asks. His chest is heaving, his lips lightly parted, and Steve has never found it harder to not lean in and kiss him. 

“Yeah,” he rasps. “Thank you.” 

The golden specks in Eddie’s eyes are bright in the dim light of the room - pretty like fine whiskey against the light like a fire, alluring as his scent. Steve can feel them on him as he climbs off the bed and shrugs back into his clothes.

“Anytime, big boy,” Eddie rumbles. “See you next month?” 

“Next month,” Steve nods, closing the door behind him as he steps out into the cold, bright corridor. 

Maybe his next heat will come early again. He's almost starting to hope it will.

More Steddie Bingo

[knightofburgers]

Yo this is legit

This month, Apple Security Engineering and Architecture (SEA) and The Citizen Lab at The University of Toronto's Munk School opened a pair of Critical vulnerabilities relating to maliciously formed WebP images which could be used to exploit the Chrome browser, as well as the webmproject/libwebp library from Google.

The vulnerability identified in the WebP library libwebp extends to more than just browsers, and Chrome-powered applications (e.g, 1Password for macOS). This is particularly significant because the libwebp library is used by many operating systems and popular application frameworks to render .webp images, including the popular Electron framework. As such, the libwebp vulnerability extends to software general-purpose software that includes Pillow and other applications such as ffmpeg, and Gimp. Note that some of these applications and software components are bundled into container images.

Versions of webmproject/libwebp from 0.5.0 up to and including 1.3.1 are affected. You must ensure your operating system and software projects require at least version 1.3.2 to remediate the vulnerability. However, note that libwebp is mostly used indirectly by other software that bundles it, which contributes to the wider software ecosystem impact of this vulnerability.

Attacks against this vulnerability can range from denial of service (DoS) to possible remote code execution (RCE). As an example, closely related attacks such as the 0-day BLASTPASS exploit (Apple CVE-2023-41064,CVE-2023-41061) showed that malicious .webp images sent through the iMessage system could compromise a victim’s iOS device without any interaction by its owner.

TL;DR — there's a new way for malware to exploit your devices. Do not open untrusted videos or images.

thought this is important

[jeonsweetpea]

Born of Desire [final]

KPOP Demon Hunters!AU | Jinu x Hunter!Reader

genre: smut, lil comedy, e2l

rating: explicit

description: You’d be damned if you owed that demon a favor. When he asks to meet, you make a salacious deal in exchange for his continued silence. You tell yourself it’s just business, but your denial gives way to a burning desire that makes you question your existence, your purpose, and worse… your heart.

word count: 9.8k

warnings: cussing, kissing, oral sex (m & f receiving), fingering, lots of orgasm edging, virgin!OC, sneaky sex, belly bulge (he’s hung in his demon form okay), it’s vanilla at first → rough sex, balcony sex, claws, long demon tongue, breast play, little blood, unprotected sex, creampies, overstimulation, sprinkles of comedy

a/n: Think of the reader as Rumi! I also incorporated dialogue from the movie into this, so *spoilers* if you haven’t seen it (the film is incredible, so please watch it). The Saja Boys refused to take my soul until I finished, whomp whomp. I struggled with the smut scenes, so please let me know if you enjoyed them! I love fangirling together. Hehe. I ADORE comments and read every single one, too. *edit: I changed the fic title!

“Teddy bears and choo-choo trains? Really?”

Unbelievable. You’re on your knees on a rooftop of all places, trying to provide him a service, and all he can focus on are your pajama bottoms?

You look up at him with your mouth agape, stunned to silence. He closes his fist like he’ll pump it, but his voice suddenly drops to a whisper.

“Choo-choo…” he breathes, moving his fist slowly up and down.

Your confusion twists into a menacing scowl. As you extend your wrist, your hunter’s sword is summoned from an intricate swirl of neon blue and violet light beams. Once it materializes, you thrust it upwards with an aggressive grunt.

“Whoa!” the demon yelps as he dodges in the nick of time.

You stand up and lash out, swinging the blade in unpredictable arcs. Yet he evades each attack with infuriating precision, as if it were a dance.

“I could’ve told your friends what you are,” he reminds you as you slam your sword in a vertical slash. Unfortunately, he’s already vanished, disappearing into a swirl of magenta mist.

You turn around, scanning the rooftop in its entirety for him. Its four ridges form a square perimeter, rising sharply and dipping inward to a hollow courtyard. The ridge he stands on is directly opposite yours—a narrow spine of curved, blue tiles, providing just enough distance between you to make an attack impossible.

“But I didn’t, did I?” he continues, his voice cutting through the silence. “Because they don’t know.”

A low growl bubbles in your throat, but you swallow it, opting for revulsion. “And I intend to keep it that way. Even if it means making a deal with someone like you.”

He paces along the ridge, arms loose by his sides. You match his steps, walking in tandem, balanced upon the narrow spine of the roofline.

“Someone like me?” he replies, a sharp edge in his words. “We’re the same. You’re a demon girl. A hunter. Hiding, walking around free in the human world.”

“Just hunter,” you correct, “not demon.”

He stops walking, looking back over the ridge. “Then how’d you get the patterns?”

Demons bear intricate marks across their skin—violet “patterns.” Did he expect you to dump your life story about how your mother was a hunter and your father was a demon?

You halt your steps, feeling your chest tighten. “That’s none of your business.”

His eyes soften, like he’s pitying you. It fuels your anger further. “I know what it feels like to have them.”

“Feel?” you spat. “You’re a demon. Demons don’t feel anything.”

He gives you an incredulous glare at the assumption. “Is that what you think? That’s all demons do. Feel our shame, our misery.” His wallowing in self-pity is brief, and a smirk soon breaks through, erasing his previous vulnerability. “Our… lust.” 

You tighten your grip on the blade. “Don’t misunderstand. This is simply a business meeting, not lust.”

“Oh? You could’ve offered me anything for keeping your secret,” he says with a teasing lilt. “Yet the first thing that you came up with was giving me a blowjob.”

You roll your eyes. “To get ahead is to give head, or whatever the saying is.”

He brings his hands together in a slow, deliberate applause. Though surprise glints in his eyes, he doesn’t flinch. “Wow… in all my 400 years of living, I’ve never heard such a saying. You’re horny.”

Words catch in your throat as you rack your brain to formulate a proper comeback. 

“No! I wasn’t thinking! Besides, you accepted the offer!”

He arches a brow. “Because you told me to shut up and take my pants off. Was I not supposed to obey?”

“You can forget about it now,” you huff. 

He shrugs, kicking at some loose debris on the shingles. “That’s fine with me. You’re not my type anyway.”

“What?! I’m everyone’s type!”

“So you offer this… salacious little deal to just anyone?” His low chuckle makes every nerve in your body ignite. You stiffen your stance, clutching the blade handle like your life depends on it, while he strolls across the ridge. The distance between your bodies closes until your sword rests against his chest, stopping him in his tracks.

He leans in just enough for the blade to kiss the fabric of his hoodie.

“Do it.”

He’s bluffing, right? Your brain screams to go through with it, but your heart falters like it knows you’d be making a mistake. 

“I came here to talk about your patterns,” he says, voice dropping an octave lower. “But maybe I had other reasons too.”

“Like what?”

He tilts his head slightly, and a wide grin forms. “Maybe I’m just as horny as you.”

You press harder until the blade punctures the fabric—a warning. “Shut up.”

“It’s okay, you know. If you desire me the same way I desire you.”

“Who says I do?” Jinu steps forward again, causing the sword to draw a faint line of crimson. The puncture is not deep enough to cripple—his reaction lacking—but enough to freak you out. “What are you doing?! Get back!”

He extends his hand toward you, brushing the tips of his fingers against your collarbone. Your demon patterns flare to life, the neon purple glow unmistakable beneath your skin. 

“Yours are a reminder too,” he murmurs. “A shame of your own. A shame you can never escape…”

Shame. Shame for not being fully human nor demon—a cursed feeling that’s burdened you your entire life. But the current shame you’re feeling is different. Invasive. Like a disease that’s been plaguing you since the day you crossed paths, and he had bumped into you. 

Back then, he hadn’t even offered a helping hand when you fell. Now that same hand is cradling your face like it’s fragile enough to shatter. He leans in closer, pupils dilating, and the sword draws more blood. It’s unsettling how he doesn’t flinch.

“Jinu…”

“If you want to repay me for keeping your secret,” he whispers, brushing a thumb across your cheek, “then give me your desire.”

You want to hit him. Hell, you’re already stabbing him. It’d be over in a second—the tension, the temptation, the madness. But when you glance down and see crimson drip along the steel, a silent alarm goes off in your head.

And against everything you believe in… you kiss him.

The intention is to save him. At least that’s what you tell yourself, but deep down you know better. Shame coils tighter around your ribs, yet you feel lighter. Freer. 

His eyes widen in surprise, then soften as his body relaxes, savoring the moment. Neither of you moves, not really. The kiss—if you can even call it that—feels too pure for what you are. What you both are.

That’s when you suddenly pull away. It’s like you’ve been plunged into ice-cold water, effectively shocking you awake to your treacherous actions. 

“No, this is wrong.” You don’t look at him directly, as if you’re trying to convince yourself more than him. 

“Why?”

Is this what your mother went through? Did she bury her desires for your father until it twisted into something unbearable?

“We can’t be together. It’s forbidden. I’ve sinned.”

His gaze never wavers; it’s warm and dangerously loving. “I love your sins.”

“You’d be the only one. You crazy—“

He inches forward again, chasing your lips, and you feel the sword impale him deeper in the chest. Your instinct is to yank it out, but he clutches your wrist to keep you still.

“J-Jinu!”

You freeze. His lips press against yours once more. Jinu’s eyes are closed; yours are open wide like you’re in a horror movie. Your hands tremble in his, but he moves his lips as a gentle reminder that this is real. That he’s not afraid. 

You give in. Just for a moment, you pretend like he’s not your enemy. Your eyes flutter shut, and he tilts his head to find the best angle. It feels more natural this time. 

A demon like him doesn’t deserve to live. It’s obvious. So why is it that, when he deepens the kiss, you’ve never felt more alive?

It’s your blade’s noisy hum that snaps you back to reality. All your ancestors who wielded it before you must be rolling over in their graves, sending you a distress call to wake up. 

You have to push him off. 

The blade tears away from his body with a sickening squelch. He stumbles back, clutching his chest with a wince. And like magic, you see his wounds seal themselves up gradually as if they were never there. He chuckles when your ogling eyes linger a second too long on his body. The torn fabric had revealed the sharp lines of his toned abdomen and his beautiful skin.

“Get away from me,” you say, voice shaking.

“There’s nothing to be ashamed of,” he says in a gentle tone, like you’re some kitten who will run away if spooked.

“I’m not ashamed.”

He holds his arms up in surrender and backs away a few steps when you raise your weapon once more. 

“Denial. I get it. I was once there too. I’ll be here when you’re done pretending.”

“There won’t be a next time!” you yell, slashing the blade in another vertical strike. 

But there’s no body to strike. The only thing left of him is magenta mist, and you shout in frustration to the cold night sky. 

Trying not to think about Jinu is impossible. It doesn’t matter if you drown yourself in long rehearsals or endless ramen/kimbap breaks. 

Zoey, your energetic and ever-passionate bandmate, keeps dragging you back into it with her endless pages of song lyrics dedicated to taking down the Saja Boys. However, something about them left you feeling icky inside. 

There was so much hate. Too much. The lyrics bleed with venom for all demons, saying all they deserve is an eternity of misery. You can’t ignore the sinking feeling in your chest that something was wrong.

Then came the joint fansigning. The Saja Boys’ popularity had skyrocketed, so instead of losing half your fanbase, you came up with the brilliant idea to have the boys sit with your group. 

Of course, he ends up next to you.

“Should I tell them?” he murmurs under his breath, the teasing lilt back in his voice.

“No,” you snap through clenched teeth. “I’m gonna tell them. Eventually.” 

Your forced proximity doesn’t go unnoticed. One fan gets excited and shows off her shirt, and you don’t know what’s worse: the bold letters declaring your unofficial ship name or the cartoonish drawing of you on Jinu’s back. 

To top it off, she gave him angel wings. 

Angel wings.

You put on your best camera-ready smile and autograph more posters like there isn’t bile bubbling in your throat.

“I’m not gonna talk to someone who’s helping Gwima,” you say in a hushed whisper. 

“I’m helping myself,” Jinu whispers back. “Look. If I help him, he’s promised to erase my memories. And those voices in my head will be gone.”

You’re unsure exactly what kind of voices Gwima’s been torturing him with, but you don’t care enough to inquire further. 

“Pathetic,” you sneer. 

“I’m pathetic?” 

He leans in too close for comfort, whispering a soft taunt, “You can’t even talk about your patterns.”

The way his voice gets underneath your skin makes you want to punch his face, but you stomp his foot under the signing table instead. Can’t let the fans see you lose your cool after all. 

“Ahh!” he moans, biting back the urge to scream.

“You want me to talk about my patterns? I hate them. Just like how I hate demons. How I hate Gwima,” you hiss. 

You don’t miss how his eyes grow dim. You meant every word, but didn’t consider them affecting him. 

“Do you hate me?”

His words hang in the air, but not a peep comes out of you. That question is charged, dangerous, and you know whatever answer you gave would damn you both.  

Fortunately, a little girl comes up to the table with a picture she drew for Jinu. You stand up and start applauding.

“Woo! Jinu, everybody!” you exclaim.

Saved.

You toss and turn for the sixth time tonight. Your body feels drained, but your brain is buzzing as if hooked on caffeine. With a frustrated sigh, you flop onto your back and stare at the ceiling.

“Do you hate me?”

That question loops in your head. Hate Jinu? That would be hypocritical. Biologically speaking, you shouldn’t even exist. From the very beginning, you were and still are a mistake. 

It isn’t Jinu you hate. It’s yourself. Having to hide your patterns, your identity—it was suffocating you. Even your voice, your greatest weapon, is failing you now. You can’t sing anymore. Every high note is strained, like your vocal cords are being sandpapered.  

And Jinu? He doesn’t hide anything. Not his nature. Not his hunger. Not even his desire. 

You envy that kind of freedom. Being wanted felt good. Addictive, even. You just wanted to be free of expectations, even for one night.

Rising from your bed, you peer down at your uninvited guests sprawled out on the floor. One perks up as soon as you stand, accidentally knocking your waste bin with a flick of its oversized paw. It tries to fix it, but its paws are far too clumsy to steady it properly. You giggle and kneel down, setting the bin upright.

“It’s okay, Derpy.”

That’s Jinu’s tiger—the one he sent to deliver his first letter leading to your first private encounter. Ever since then, the creature’s been attached to you. It’s always accompanied by its magpie buddy, an odd bird with six yellow eyes and a tiny black hat. You don’t know why he has the hat, but it brings a smile to your face anyway.

This time, it’s your turn, and you slip a letter into Derpy’s mouth. A bright blue portal blooms beneath its paws, and the animal duo sinks into the floor. They’re immediately teleported to the demon world, where human souls soar through the magenta sky like comets, leaving behind a trail of blue as they enter Gwima. 

Jinu watches them from below, his eyes crestfallen, but he perks up once he sees the invitation in Derpy’s mouth.

He doesn’t hesitate. The moment he reads your letter, he heads straight to the destination mentioned. Now he’s leaning against the stone wall, eyes scanning the horizon while he waits.

“She wants to meet, and she’s late?” he mutters, annoyed.

You land onto the wall’s upper ledge, landing in a low crouch like Spider-Man. A mischievous grin is plastered on your face. It doesn’t take long for him to notice your presence, and his reaction is pure gold.

“AHH!” He clutches his heart, chest heaving like he’s about to pass out. “You made me come all this way out here just to jumpscare me?”

You jump down beside him. “Follow me.”

He obliges and walks with you. “Well, I’m glad you’re finally ready to talk. Although you could’ve picked somewhere nicer for a date.”

“Ew!” You stop dead in your tracks. “What are you talking about?!”

Jinu casually holds up the card, pinched between his forefinger and middle finger. The bold white font clearly states: SAVE THE DATE.

“That doesn’t mean—ugh…” You sigh. Why did the last card from your stationery hoard have to say that? “You’re so old. This is strictly a business meeting.”

He holds both hands up in surrender. “Okay. Loud and clear.”

As you walk side by side, you explain to Jinu that there’s another way he can earn his freedom. If Huntrix wins the Idol Awards, then the Honmoon will be sealed. He won’t have to deal with hearing those voices anymore.

“What makes you think the Honmoon can save a guy like me?”

You glance up at him. “Because if there’s no hope for you, what hope is there for me? You tried to help your family and made a mistake… but I am a mistake.”

With that, you leap high into the air onto the familiar roof. It’s the same one where you were truly alone with Jinu. He follows suit, landing behind you with a grunt and a half-panicked yelp from almost slipping.

“Whoa—!”

You don’t have it in you to laugh. 

“I’ve been a mistake since the moment I was born.” You spin around slowly to face him, your eyes hollow. “So what’s one more mistake, hmm? Drop your pants.”

Jinu blinks. “What?” 

You’re already putting your hair up with the emergency scrunchie on your wrist like you’re about to go to war. He swallows hard, trying not to stare, trying even harder to ignore how tight his pants have suddenly gotten.

“Did you not hear what I said? Take your pants off.”

“Okay, I’m getting a sense of déjà vu here…” he says, backing away slowly. He stops just short of the slope’s edge. “I know I’m a demon, but don’t you think it’s cliche to assume all we care about is sex?”

“I told you this was a business meeting. You make sure the Saja Boys lose, and I’ll give you this in return.”

You get down on your knees, straddling one leg on each side of the curved spine of the roofline. It’s far from comfortable, but your muscles are strong enough to hold you up well. To your surprise, Jinu lowers himself too.

“Jinu, what are you—”

He grabs your chin and lifts it gently, his fingers warm to the touch. His gaze pierces you, like he sees something beneath your calm facade. It makes your face heat up. 

“Why must everything be a transaction with you? You don’t have to go through such means to get what you want.”

Behind his gaze, there’s a hint of melancholy. Beyond his voice is a quiet sadness.

“No… that’s not it.”

“Then explain so I can understand.” He releases you. “Are you… okay?”

Shit. You hate how he sees right through you. “I just feel like I’m spiraling out of control. I’m a mistake, chained by my past. And doing things like this gives me a sense of control back.”

He gives a thoughtful hum and says, “I would think it feels degrading.”

“No. It’s the opposite for me.”

“I see.” He slowly stands up, casting a shadow over your seated position. The moonlight hits him at the perfect angle, illuminating his sharp features. “Then I relinquish control over to you for the night.”

You look up at him through your lashes, the confusion in your slow blinks adorable. 

He smirks, arms crossed over his chest. “What? Aren’t you going to take control like you wanted?”

You give him a pointed look. 

“Take your pants off.” The navy blue joggers he has on are easy to slip off in one quick motion. “Boxers,” you add.

He slides them off rather quickly. You did little to hide your gasp when his cock springs out, an impressive size even when semi-erect. He chuckles, a proud Cheshire grin across his face. 

“You should see it when I’m in my true form,” he boasts, puffing his chest out slightly. “In my human form, it’s a more manageable size.”

“Manageable?!” you exclaim.

“What? The average human’s penis is—“

“Not what you’re packing…” You gulp. “But doable…”

When you wrap your hand around the base of his cock, his body tenses as shivers crawl up his spine. You stroke it from tip to base, and his breath hitches. A few pumps are all it takes for him to get fully hard. This pleases you.

His cock is hot against your skin, pulsating with need. Its velvet skin has a prominent vein running down the middle that makes you salivate. Its slight left curve leaves you fantasizing how it’d hit all your sweet spots if given the opportunity.

“That feels good…” he says, taking in a sharp breath. You stop your actions but grip him tighter, causing his body to jolt slightly. He spots the mischievous twinkle in your eyes. 

“Hands behind your back.”

Jinu cocks his head with a sly grin, lacing his hands behind his back like he’s done nothing wrong.

“Good boy,” you praise. Blood rushes to Jinu’s cheeks before he realizes how hot his body has become from the way the words roll off your tongue.

You trail soft, deliberate kisses up his thigh, each one slower than the last. When you reach the innermost part, the final kiss is a teasing bite. He bites his lips to refrain from groaning, and you resume stroking him to distract him from the lingering sting. 

It works like a charm because your hand is unbelievably soft, a stark contrast to his calloused ones. He feels spoiled, especially when you spit into your hand. The extra lubrication increases his pleasure tenfold, and your steady rhythm makes his knees buckle. 

“Look at me,” you demand. 

He does, and your glare is so sharp that it’s like you dare him to come. His body involuntarily shakes, his pants gradually growing louder, and he’s unable to control himself. So depraved. So desperate.

You stop again and he whines. It’s adorable, so you press a chaste kiss on his tip to placate him. 

“Keep going…” he says, voice raspy. 

“Careful now,” you warn. He watches as you lightly run your teeth across his tip. It’s a reminder that you’re in control of the situation. That his cock is at your mercy and he’s in a vulnerable position, not an enjoyable one. It’s incredibly arousing. 

“Please…”

You decide to reward him for his good manners. When your lips wrap around his cock, he can’t help but buck his hips. It makes you gag, but you recover quickly, shooting him a sharp glare that says: Don’t do that again.

He nods and watches you sink down halfway when your gag reflex betrays you again. Rather than pulling out, you stay there and control your breathing until you’ve adjusted to his size. Your eyebrows draw together, determined, like this is a challenge you refuse to lose just before you take him fully.

Once your nose lightly taps his pelvic area, your jaw relaxes and the two of you groan simultaneously. Your mouth is soft, warm, and everything is slick from your saliva. Jinu savors the feeling while throwing his head back. More saliva gathers in your mouth as you work him up and down, remembering to swirl your tongue around his thick cock every few seconds.

“Fuck…” he breathes.

You say the same thing in your head. His voice had always been hypnotic—that low ASMR kind that lingered in your bones. So his moans? Absolutely sinful. 

Your throat burns from the harsh pace, but you refuse to slow down. Killing a demon is easy. But pleasuring a demon? That’s what true power is. A sense of control that you desperately craved.

When he looks down, the sight that welcomes him is hot as fuck. You’re fluttering your eyelashes like you’re so innocent, as if there isn’t a massive cock shoved in your mouth. How can he not come?

“Ah, ah, ah,” you say, wagging your index finger side to side. “No touching.”

Jinu doesn’t even register that he broke your rule and had placed a hand on your head. He’s cursing himself for his greed, but he was so close to his high.

Though his tone is playful, his scowl says otherwise. “Is this amusing for you? Edging me?”

Your eyes crinkle from smiling too hard. “Could be worse. I could kill you instead.”

“Maybe I’d prefer that.” You clutch his balls in a tight hold, the pressure hard enough to rip a choked gasp from him. 

“Is that so?” you question, the glare in your eyes cold enough to freeze Hell over. Standing up, you extend your wrist and manifest your Hunter’s blade. Before he can figure out your intentions, you lunge at him, and he stumbles.

The two of you tumble down the roof’s slope, and at the last second, Jinu uses his claws to grip the tiles and successfully slows you down. The friction jolts through both your bodies, but it’s enough to prevent a disastrous fall.

His head hangs above the edge, and you straddle him, pressing the blade tight against his throat. He resists and pushes back. 

“Oh, you’re strong…” he coos, his smile wide enough to flash his sharp canines.

“Still think you’d prefer dying?”

“If you keep looking at me like that, I don’t care how I die. By coming, by your sword… as long as you’re the one touching me.”

You don’t know why those words sound sickenly sweet, but they make you falter. Before he can see cracks forming in your walls, you kiss him. The blade between your bodies dissipates, much like your resistance.

Jinu seizes that opportunity to flip you over, and you’re suddenly on your back, breathless with surprise. His hand glides slowly up your arm, fingers tracing the purple cracks etched in your skin. You feel him interweave his fingers with your own.

Then he leans in and kisses you.

It’s more tender, deeper than the last. As if time has stopped, and you two are the only ones left on Earth. Once he pulls away, your lips are swollen, and you’re both panting.

“For what it’s worth, I don’t think you’re a mistake,” he says.

You don’t know what to say. You can’t say anything. 

So you do what you do best and push him away. 

The Idol Awards are tomorrow.

Now wasn’t the time to freeze, but you couldn’t go through with it. Performing “Takedown” (quite on the nose) didn’t feel like your most authentic self. Each lyric poked your conscience, and you told your teammates about your doubts. The lyrics didn’t feel right.

Mira reminded you that it’s too late to change the song. Paired with her nasty side-eye, the frustration was loud.  Zoey tried to revise the lyrics, but to no avail. She was one second away from a total meltdown, chucking her songbook in a huff.

Then everything fell apart when a sudden tear in the Honmoon formed. A surge of demons flooded the subway station, and you froze. Again. Mira and Zoey had to jump in to save you, but by then it didn’t matter. The passengers on the subway were gone. Every last one of them.

The silence afterward was deafening. You felt the distance growing between you and your team. 

“Trust me, I’m gonna make sure we win.”

And you meant it. You may have lost this battle, but you’ll win the war when you all perform at the Idol Awards. You have to. Because if this plan with Jinu didn’t work… then betraying everything you believed in would have been for nothing.

Later that night, you step out of the bathroom, pulling the scrunchie from your hair and letting it fall loose around your shoulders. Once you settle on your bed, a familiar, muffled voice captures your attention.

“Cherries. They’re cute.” 

Your head whips to your balcony. Behind the glass stands Jinu, pointing downward. You follow his gaze to your pajama pants, printed with little red cherries. You leap to your feet and rush to the sliding door, yanking it open.

“What are you doing here?!” You place both hands on your head, seconds from ripping your hair out. “If Zoey or Mira—or my god, Bobby—sees you, it’ll be catastrophic and—”

You stop mid-sentence.

The golden light from your lamp casts a soft glow over him, but Jinu looks anything but radiant. He stands there like a statue and something’s off. His eyes are distant. Hollow. Wrecked.

“Are you… okay?” you ask, voice soft. A small, bitter chuckle escapes him, but his smile doesn’t reach his eyes. When you caress his face, he finally lifts his gaze to meet yours. He leans into your palm like he’s starved for warmth, closing his eyes to savor the moment.

“I’m hopeless,” he whispers. His hand comes up, covering yours. “I want to believe in your crazy plan, but I don't think I'm the one to help you.”

“Jinu… you’ve already helped me so much.” He opens his eyes, the hopelessness in them replaced by genuine curiosity. “Since I've met you, and the more I talk to you, I don't understand it, but somehow, my voice has healed.”

He gently squeezes your hand. “And I don’t hear his voice when I’m with you.”

“His voice?” you ask, concern coating your words. “Did Gwima hurt you?”

He sees your other hand ball into a fist, your whole stance shifting slightly like you’re ready to fight. The anger in your eyes burns hotter than his ever did.

You wait for an answer, but his face is unreadable. He just watches you. 

No makeup. Comfy clothes. Hair down for the first time around him. 

You’ve never looked more radiant.

“You should let your hair down sometimes, [Y/N],” he finally says.

You pull your hand back and run your fingers through your hair, face flushed. 

“It gets hot,” you mumble. Your voice cracks slightly, and for some reason, that makes Jinu laugh. A real laugh.

“Well, you’re hot,” he says after his laughter subsides. Your eyes widen, and his face mirrors yours. He cringes at his own words. “Okay, that was worse than having Gwima’s voice in my ear.”

A beat of silence. He clears his throat.

“I should go… um… bye.”

He’s quick, but you’re faster as your hand latches onto his wrist. He glances back, startled, only to see you giggling. The sound is genuine, light. You even snort a little. He’s completely undone by it.

“Don’t leave yet,” you say. “Maybe for one night… we can be free.”

“Free of what?”

You shrug. “Expectations? Shame? Guilt? For four hundred years, you’ve been under Gwima’s thumb, yet you still hold onto hope for freedom. I… admire that about you.”

“Really?” he says, turning to face you fully. He lifts both hands and gently cups your face, looking at you like you’re the only thing that anchors him to this world. “Is this a compliment or… a negotiation. Another business meeting?”

You don’t know what to say. Yes, no, maybe so? The line between deal and desire has been blurred long ago. 

“I told you… You don’t have to go through such means to get what you want.” He’s closer now, where you can feel his hot breath on your face. 

“What about you? You’re the one who came here first.”

“Because I didn’t know where else to go.”

The silence hangs in the air, but it isn’t awkward. It’s charged, full of unspoken desires and tension that would drive one mad. He’s the first to break the silence, releasing you and stepping back to give you one last chance to deny him.

“I know I’m no good.” He’s not. Demons are never good, yet why do you want to tell him he’s good for you? Why is it so easy with him? “My soul is already damned, so if being with you is a sin, what’s one more?”

He swallows hard. “I can’t escape you.”

You say nothing.

He tightens his fists.

“Please say something.”

“I’m supposed to be your opposition, your obstacle. But the more I deny the truth, the worse it gets. And that involves you, Jinu…” He watches as you close the distance. “I can’t escape you either…”

“Does that mean…”

“If this is the sin that damns me, then let my soul belong to no one else… but you.”

He no longer hesitates. His lips crash into yours, both hands cradling your face like you’re precious. The kiss is a tad clumsy from his eagerness—your noses bumping—but endearing nonetheless. Once you both find your natural rhythm, he gently slides his tongue against yours. A low moan escapes him and fuck, it’s unbelievably sexy.

He pauses as he strips off his shirt, but the second his mouth is back in view, you pull him to you again. The urgency of your kiss knocks him off balance, and you both stumble back onto the bed. He laughs as his heart swells at how eager you were, too.

His shirt is still caught around his head, but he’s grinning as he finally tugs it free. 

“No need to rush,” he murmurs in a soothing tone. He tosses the shirt aside and quickly flips you over, so that he’s on top. “You have me. All of me.”

You hook a finger in his silver curb chain necklace, tugging him down. Your lips meet again, but you kiss him harder. You kiss him longer. As if this moment is your sanctuary where you can unleash your desires without judgment. 

Your hands roam his body with the same curiosity he shows yours. You grip his bicep first, squeezing it when he deepens the kiss. Then you ghost along his sides until your hands find his back, where you drag your nails lightly down his skin.

He starts at your face, cradling it, but his touch doesn’t stay there. His hands trail down until they eventually rest on your waist. The longer he kisses you, the more he lets go, breath hitching louder. He grips your waist it’s an anchor that tethers him, keeping him from losing himself in you entirely.

This time, you slide your tongue against his, and the sound you release is a cross between a moan and a sigh. The action is as lewd as it looks, messy and unrestrained. It’s like you’re a teenager again. 

After a couple minutes, Jinu pulls back and you’re both breathless.

He doesn’t say anything. He doesn’t need to. Your shared smiles are enough.

“Jinu…”

You take the initiative and lift your hand, tracing his abs with your index finger. He shudders upon contact, and your fingers trail down to his belt buckle. You fumble with it longer than intended, clumsy under the weight of your haze. It’s embarrassing, but Jinu simply smiles and rolls off you to make it easier. 

You settle onto your knees, fingers working at his belt as the buckle clinks. The rest comes easily as Jinu lifts his hips, allowing you to slide his jeans down. He slips his boxers just low enough to reveal the faint trail of hair and his sharp V-line that disappears beneath the fabric.

“Help me?” 

Amusement is laced in his words because he knows you’re ogling. He lifts his hips again and you slip the last material off fully. His cock stands tall, the tip leaking and your mouth waters at the sight.

He’s completely bare now. His eyes glow yellow, slitted like a serpent’s, giving him a haunting beauty. His skin has turned a cool shade of violet with darker purple patterns that snake across his body like a twisted map. They seem to be pulsating every so often, including the ones on his cock.

“Do you hate them?” He’s referring to his patterns, but you understand the real question: Do you hate me?

“No.”

“Then show me yours.”

You gulp, then slowly lift the hem of your T-shirt over your head. Your movements are hesitant, but he doesn’t say a word. Stepping off the bed, you slip your pajama bottoms off. They fall with a soft thud on the ground, so now you’re left in just your underwear.

Out of habit, you rub your arms and have your eyes fixed to the floor.

“Show me all your patterns,” he says. If looks could cut, his would be a blade. It’s not just your patterns he’s eager to see. It’s you. All of you. All you bear. 

With every layer you remove, he’s removing the walls you’ve built up beneath cloth and fear. You listen and remove the last piece of clothing. Hunger ignites in his gaze as his eyes rake over your body. Every curve, every pattern, every scar, every mole. 

“Lie down on the bed.” You obey and lay flat as Jinu gets on top, using his thighs to spread your legs open. He hovers over you, noticing how your arms are crossed over your chest. The subtle pout tugging at your lips is precious.

“I noticed you didn’t have a bra on,” he says, far too casually for the situation. You roll your eyes.

“It’s uncomfortable to sleep with it on…”

“Yet you won’t let me see you?” His voice grows softer when you don’t reply. “How do you feel?” 

“Exposed,” you say without thinking. “Vulnerable.” 

He lets out a low hum, like he already expected that. His fingers drift to your collarbone and the faintest touch causes your patterns to resonate, glowing a soft purple against your skin.

“And?” 

You swallow. “A little ashamed.”

“Don’t be. As far as I’m concerned, you’re just as beautiful with the cracks showing.”

He starts with a kiss to your forehead—soft, lingering, almost reverent. He stays there for a breath longer than expected before pulling away with an audible smooch. Then his lips travel lower, brushing along the line of your neck. He finds the curve and sucks the flesh, the sensation both ticklish and electrifying as the sensation goes straight to your core.

After he hears a soft whimper, he pecks your collarbone and then kisses your arms. Each touch weakens your defenses until you lower your guard on your own. His eyes glint with lust, and you don’t miss how he runs his tongue across his bottom lip at the sight of you. 

Your chest heaves, and he settles his face in the valley of your breasts. 

“You’re shaking,” he says, his hot breath hitting your skin. “I never thought the leader of Huntrix would be so nervous.”

You bury your face in the crook of your arm. “I’ve never done this before…”

You’re shaking harder now, unsure why this information makes you want to cry. He’s had tons of experience, hasn’t he? And here you are… fucking it up.

Jinu gently takes your hand and peels it off your face, pressing a soft kiss to your knuckles. You see he had reverted back to his human form.

“So am I your first?” There’s no mockery in his tone. Just genuine care.

You want to die, but all you can do is nod. “I haven’t done anything except give oral because I couldn’t let anyone see my patterns…”

“Oh. Oh,” His gaze softens. “So… I’ll be the first to pop your cherry?”

All your nerves settle except for the last one, which he is on. You flick him on the forehead. “Now’s not the time for jokes.”

“Ow… I thought it was funny,” he says with a pout.

You giggle, the tension in your shoulders faded. “Okay, yeah, it was kinda funny.”

He rolls his eyes, but his warm smile assures you he’s not bitter. “If you don’t want to continue—”

“I do,” you interject. “I’ll tell you if I want to stop.”

“Alright. But I need you to be sure. Watch.”

He brings your hands together, then uses one hand to pin both wrists above your head. No distractions. No hiding. Not anymore. 

His eyes shift back to that piercing yellow, pupils elongating into narrow red slits similar to a snake. A slow smile curls his lips, showcasing how his canines had lengthened into sharp fangs. The most unsettling part is when his tongue slithers out, abnormally long and sinuous. 

“Are you scared?” His voice hisses the words, each syllable dripping with venom.

You should be. But your thighs rub together instead. 

“Give me your desire, [Y/N]. I need you to want this,” he says.

“I want you.”

His cock twitches and he has to distract himself from taking you right then and there. He lowers himself to your chest and allows his tongue to roam. It leaves a trail of saliva as it coils itself around your breast. When the muscle contracts, you arch your back and moan as the tip plays with your nipple. Jinu’s free hand massages your other breast and he rubs your nipple in between his thumb and forefinger like a dial, sending jolts of pleasure through your body.

He fondles you like this for a couple minutes, loving the feel of your supple skin. His tongue soon releases you, replaced by his lips to suck on your tit harshly. You writhe underneath him, but it’s useless. He still has you pinned down as his tongue swirls around your areola before going over to your other breast and giving it the same treatment.

When he finally pulls away, his lips begin a slow descent. He presses kisses to your abdomen, then your outer thighs, and finally the sensitive skin of your inner thigh. Each kiss blooms more of your patterns, the violet veins growing more opaque with every touch.

He settles his head between your thighs—like a sniper. You glance down to see his eyes shift goldenrod as he opens his mouth, swiping his tongue across his lips like he’s about to devour his last meal on Earth. 

“You’re soaking wet and I haven’t even touched you down here yet…” 

He runs two fingers along your slit, coating the digits in your essence. He makes a point to show you how it glistens from the warm glow of your lamp. When he parts his fingers, it stretches in its viscous appearance before breaking.

Then he indulges. “Fuck… you taste like sin.”

He slides his arms beneath your thighs, pulling you closer to him near the edge of the bed. Your breath stills. One hand is on your lower abdomen and the grin he wears now is more sinister. You could swear his skin has deepened to a richer shade of violet.

“Watch me.”

Those are his final words before he licks a stripe across your slit, the wet muscle earning a sharp gasp from you. Your forearms help prop yourself up to watch him, but he sinks his head lower and presses his mouth against your folds. He’s relentless and starts making out with your cunt, causing your hips to buck. You no longer have the strength to stay up, so you’re flat on the bed again, but he squeezes your thighs like a reminder.

You peer down and see those piercing demon eyes again. He pulls his mouth back and allows his naughty tongue to stretch until it invades your walls. As it slips in and out of you at a steady rhythm, you’re struck with horror and immense lust. He finally looks the part—a demon who has truly taken your soul.

You’re fisting your pillow, panting hard, your moans broken. Then his mouth latches onto your pussy again, allowing his tongue to reach deeper than before. The muscle wiggles inside your walls, coaxing more essence to pool out as he laps up the never-ending flow.

Your patterns glow with a fiery intensity. Even more so when he inserts a finger into you. The combination of his thick tongue and finger stretches you out nicely as they work in tandem. He presses his lips against your clit and then sucks hard enough to have you screaming.

But then all feeling is lost. Jinu’s pulled away.

“No, no, please,” you beg before registering what’s happening. His cheeky grin comes into view when he uses his arms to hold himself up above you. 

“Not so fun when you’re the one being edged, huh?” How petty. He lets out a low laugh the moment the realization hits you. “I do like hearing you beg. Can you do it again?”

“Condom. Drawer. Now,” you say, enunciating each word with impatience. 

He tsks at you. “That’s not begging.”

Your skin feels like it’s on fire as your patterns radiate off your body. It’s as if something’s been unleashed. Jinu’s eyes lock onto your left one—now the same piercing yellow as his. You hiss at him, but the voice that escapes you isn’t yours. It’s deeper, darker, and dare he say… demonic.

It only excites him more.

“Fuck me now.”

You grip his throat, your claws pressing just deep enough to sting without drawing blood. 

“Damn,” he rasps, a crooked smile forming. “You have no idea how much you turn me on.”

You release him and he rubs the area where it was sore. Then he’s at your nightstand, quick to open the drawer and pull out a condom. He tears off the package with his teeth and tries to roll it onto his cock. 

“I was afraid this would happen…” he mumbles. You sit up and immediately see the problem. Jinu’s cock has… changed. Now that he’s unleashed his full demon form, his body adjusted, and he no longer fits the condom.

His cock is bigger than before, slightly more girthy and swollen. Jinu hangs his head low, cursing softly, as if disappointed in himself. You take the condom and toss it aside without a care. 

He looks up and sees you lie back down. You use your fingers to part your pussy lips open. He can’t believe his eyes.

“Are you sure?” he asks. You nod.

“Yes. Please fuck me. It’s okay.”

You don’t have to tell him twice. He lines himself up at your entrance, having one hand support his body from crushing yours. Inserting just the tip alone has you gasping and the further he sinks into you, the more your walls resist from the foreign feeling. 

He reminds you to relax. “Breathe. Remember… we’re the same. You’re meant for me.”

You feel your lungs betray you as every inch you take becomes more and more difficult. Despite him prepping you well, a demon’s cock far exceeded a human’s in anatomy and structure. 

“Fuck!” you whine. “J-Jinu…”

“I’m almost in.” He drags the last inch in and then lets out a sharp exhale as he bottoms out. “Fuck… you even feel like sin…”

You’re full. Too full. It’s not painful, fortunately. But the discomfort lingers. You lay a hand across your belly, feeling a slight bulge. You should be afraid—but a deeper part of you aches for more.

“Can we stay still for a moment?”

He squeezes his eyes shut, his face twisting like he’s in pain from his lack of self-control. But for you, he holds back.

“Anything for you.”

His words make your tight pussy involuntarily clench. His cock twitches and it coaxes out more lubrication, which you’re thankful for. 

“You’re so big… You can see how much you fill me up, Jinu,” you say, tilting his face down toward your belly.

Hearing you utter his name in this situation puts him in a daze. “Fuck, I could come right now. You’re so tight for me, god—fuck!”

He’s using both arms to balance himself now, his fists gripping your bedsheets hard enough that they tear from his sharp claws.

“Thank you for being patient with me,” you say. It takes everything in him not to plow you into oblivion. “Please go slow?”

He nods and pulls out slowly. It slides with ease, but putting it back in is a whole different story. When he drags his cock against your insides, it provides a slight burn. Seeing how the bulge in your stomach fades and reappears with each movement is… terrifying. Yet undeniably thrilling.

Sweat beads on his temples. His resolve is slowly crumbling with each slow, agonizing thrust. You reach up and grab the back of his neck, pulling him down to kiss you. It distracts him from his greed and you from the intense stretch. Jinu kisses you rougher, like he’s gone mad. 

It makes you hornier. It makes you relax. It makes your walls tighten. And when you wrap your legs around his waist, he goes all in.

His thrusts are no longer languid motions. He’s rocking his hips at a steady rhythm now, slamming into your pussy like it’s his last day on Earth. Your pussy squelches, the obscene noise egging him on further. He’s hitting your sweet spot over and over, unrelenting, and you’re both a moaning mess. 

He gets off you for a second, the warmth now lost. You almost cry at the cruelty, but he moves into a kneeling position and wraps his hands under your thighs. After carefully lining himself up again, he hammers into you at full force, having you scream. 

The leverage of this position allows Jinu to see your breasts sway and bounce with each thrust. The sight is mesmerizing and his hips start to stutter when finally, he comes inside you. The creampie makes you feel like you got to rebel. It’s freeing and nasty, but you love it altogether. 

You enjoy his closeness when he lays on top of you.

“Fuck, I’m sorry,” he says, face flushed. “It’s been so long and—”

“Jinu, it’s okay,” you reassure, fingers combling gently through his soft, raven black hair. He lifts his head, ready to protest, when a knock on the door alerts you both.

“[Y/N]?”

Mira. Oh fuck, what do you do? 

“Shh…” Jinu says, putting a finger to your lips.

“I can hear you!” she shouts.

The doorknob jostles. This is it. This is how it all ends. 

You blink and suddenly, the city sprawls before you, its glistening lights flickering like stars. The cool night air brushes against your overheated body. Jinu had teleported you, but this time you’re on the balcony. Thankfully, you’re hidden from view, tucked behind the wall of potted plants just as Mira steps into your room.

You wait with bated breath, feeling his cum dripping down your thighs. That’s when Jinu covers your mouth from behind and you squeak in protest. He swipes two fingers across your labia, gathering as much of his seed as he can before pushing it back into your dripping pussy. Your moans are muffled, and he slowly fingers you as Mira rummages through your room.

“Rumi? Are you here? We need to talk!” 

Jinu litters kisses on your upper back, sending tingles down your spine as his fingers work you. He switches techniques and you feel him curl his fingers at different angles, different speeds, to see which one earns the most reaction. It’s deliciously evil, but you allow yourself to enjoy the building pleasure.

“Woo Jinu? What was that about, Rumi?!”

Jinu speeds up on purpose at the mention of his name. You’re seconds from reaching your high when Mira sighs and you hear your door shut. Jinu pulls his fingers out, much to your dismay. You want to cry.

He kisses the shell of your ear and whispers, “Don’t worry, I’ll let you come… after I watch you fall apart.”

Guiding you toward the balcony railing, he places a gentle hand on the small of your back, coaxing you to lean forward. You grip the rail with both hands, your body bent at a perfect angle.

Jinu presses soft kisses along the patterns etched into your back. “My good demon girl… You’ve damned me for all of eternity…”

You feel his tip prodding your entrance again. “J-Jinu, we’re outside. Someone could see!”

His deep chuckle makes your stomach flip. “And? I want them to see you. The real you. All your patterns… your soul… baring it all for me.” 

As if on command, your patterns begin to glow in the dark. You’re grateful to be on one of the top floors. Maybe no one will see. It’s late anyway…

“You’re all I need, [Y/N]... Let me devour you.”

His hypnotic, low voice entices you and keeps you obsessed. It compels you to want more. His cock is already rubbing against your pussy lips, coaxing more juices to flow. He’s ruined you, and he knows it. 

“I’m yours, Jinu.”

Something in him snaps. He thrusts into you in one quick motion, plunging into your tight walls. It’s not slow or tender. He’s carnal, consumed by lust as he grips your hips and rocks your body back and forth, chasing his high without any remorse. 

He’s fucking you so hard that one hand slips from the rail. He grabs it and pulls it back, so you can face him and more of your luscious body is visible for his feasting eyes. You can’t believe your eyes, as the Jinu you see now truly represents the embodiment of sin. 

His demon form consumed all his soft human features. His hands are now claws that dig into your flesh like hooks. You’re bleeding from his grip and crimson slowly drips trails that mimick the patterns down your ass and thighs. It stings, yet it edges you on further—pain and pleasure intertwining into a rush you can’t resist. Your whines grow sharper, and Jinu stops, seeing the pain he was inflicting.

“I-I’m sorry. I—”

“No,” you say, your voice dripping in venom. “Don’t stop.”

Your left hand morphs into a claw and you sneak it behind him, grabbing his ass and urging him to keep going. It pierces his flesh, and the stinging sensation shocks him into teleporting you both again.

You find yourself pressed against something flat and cold. You realize it’s the glass window to your balcony and Jinu is behind you, one hand pushing against your head to hold you in place while his free hand is pulling one of your arms back. 

“You teleported?!” you hiss. He doesn’t answer with anything but a twitch of his cock. Your eyes roll back when he shoves himself back into your sopping cunt. You bite your lip to force back a scream, but he tortures you with calculated thrusts, each one brushing against your sweet spot more and more. 

He then snakes his hand from your head to your belly, holding you up so your entire body is against the glass. Your breasts are smushed, and you’ve never felt so dirty. Jinu thrusts up into you with so much force that you can barely stand. 

When your head hangs down from exhaustion, his large hand grips your chin and forces you to look up. 

“Look at yourself in the reflection,” he demands. You’re lost in a daze, but you see what he means. Your patterns glow bright enough to light up the city, as well as your demon eye. “You’ve never looked more beautiful…”

He slips out of you for a second and you don’t have time to protest when he spins you around, forcing your back against the glass. One hand hooks under your thigh and lifts it up as he bends his knees to adjust for your height differences. 

“I want you to watch you come,” He lifts his hips up and enters you again. “Fuck… Gwima can destroy me if it means I can have you.”

He kisses you, shoving his tongue inside to quell your moans. His grunts grow louder, the sound of skin slapping against skin being so loud it’s obscene, and you’re thankful it’s nighttime. You can’t think straight as your mind melts from the overflowing pleasure. Your hands are wrapped around his neck and each thrust bounces you against the glass. It’s rough and primal, and you’re sure the glass can’t withhold the pressure. It might break the same way you’re about to.

But then he stops kissing you.

“You take me so well,” he praises and it makes your heart thrum like a hummingbird’s. “We’re—” he thrusts extra harsh—“one and the same… you were made for my cock.”

“J-Jinu, please… I need to come.” Tears prick the corner of your eyes. “I can’t take it anymore, please!”

He effortlessly lifts you off the ground, his hands holding you up by your ass. He rests your back against the cold glass to give himself a short break.

“You even cry pretty…”

“Shit! Please don’t stop now…” you say, trembling.

“Are you sure? This time will be different… it might even hurt.”

You shake your head, not a single braincell left except for the need to come. “I don’t care, I need you to fill me up, please—I’m tangled in your soul…”

How you always say the right words, he doesn’t know. But he rewards you by bouncing you up and down his cock at a brutal pace. It’s like he wants to break you, but you no longer care. It feels too good. The pleasure rises again and you’re shouting his name like a mantra. Your entire body clenches, zeroing in on your pleasure until something snaps and then crashes like a dam that burst open. 

But Jinu doesn’t stop there. He continues to use your body like a toy, and you let him. The enticement of another orgasm is impossible to resist, so you welcome the overstimulation. You chase it like it’s your last breath. Your eyes roll back, your body grows limp, and Jinu lets out the nastiest growl when he comes again.

You’re too far gone to notice how your belly swells up from his seed. It’s not until Jinu kisses your eye, the one on your demon side, that the pain hits you. You feel impossibly full, the ache stretching through you, but Jinu whispers soft praises into your ear to distract you.

“Your pussy is so greedy… milking me dry. You letting yourself go like this is the sexiest thing…”

Jinu basks in your shared warmth a couple minutes more. There was no movement. Just soft breaths and synchonized heartbeats.

Then he carries you back inside and heads to your shower. He lowers you down onto the included bench and pulls out, the amount of cum rushing out pornographic. You feel numb but ultimately relieved.

“I’ll help you clean up. Where are your towels?” he asks. You slump against the tile wall and point toward the closet across the room. He steps out, grabs two towels, and returns. As he passes the mirror, he catches sight of his reflection. 

“Really?” you ask, your voice hoarse.

“What?” he says, admiring his human form. “I need this face to steal your fans.”

You roll your eyes at his lame joke, but something catches your attention. “Wait, you have a tiger tattoo on your back?”

He glances over his shoulder with a sly grin. “There’s a lot of things you don’t know about me.”

He joins you in the shower and turns it on. The water turns hot quickly and he holds out a hand, waiting for you to take it. Once you’re on your feet, he wraps his arms around you from behind. He reaches for a bottle, but you catch his wrist.

“That’s my facial cleanser.”

“Oh.”

He reaches for another item, only for you to shoot him another look. “That’s shampoo.”

“Seriously?”

He tries again.

“That’s a body scrub.”

He groans. “How many bath products do you have?!” 

You both laugh, and finally, you point him to the right item. He lathers the soap in his palms, then traces your patterns with slow, gentle strokes. The way he touches you makes your chest ache with something soft and full.

“[Y/N]?” he murmurs against your ear.

“Yeah?”

“I… I can’t wait to see you on the stage tomorrow.”

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Dual Cultivation

~*~

in defense of lightning by fruitys (E, 15k, wangxian, Canon Divergence, Burial Mounds Settlement Days, Hurt/Comfort, Light Angst, Golden Core Reveal, Getting Together, First Time, Dual Cultivation, canon-typical lubrication)

💖 Magical Marriage Ribbons Series by starandrea (Varies, 1m, WangXian, Canon Divergence, Accidental Marriage, Fluff, Happy Ending, Telepathic bond, Kink Negotiation, Family Drama, Magical Pregnancy, Dual Cultivation, Shapeshifters, Modern with Magic, Immortality, Yilling Wei Sect)

Bind Me, Heal Me, Break Me by Gotcocomilk (E, 11k, wangxian, Time Travel, Angst and Hurt/Comfort, Angst and Fluff and Smut, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Hurt/Comfort, Canon Divergence, Fix-It, hi yes Lan Zhan is fixing all the deaths, with dual cultivation, Wall Sex, Bottom LWJ, Marathon Sex, Strength Kink, Cock Warming, Sex In A Cave, Dirty Talk, YLLZ WWX, Character Death Fix, Shijie and JZX do not die, featuring resentful energy as tentacles, Magical Healing Cock, Healing Sex, technically Magical Healing Ass, thank u for ur service LWJ)

🔒 of all the hands by typefortydeductions (E, 51k, wangxian, Arranged Marriage, Canon Divergence, Emperor Lan Xichen AU, PTSD, Nightmares, Dual Cultivation, Mental Health Issues, Fluff and Angst, Dom/sub Undertones, Consensual Non-Consent, Bonding, Mutual Pining, Orgasm Delay/Denial, Politics, Improper Use of the Lan Forehead Ribbon, the get WWX some sleep agenda, yunmeng trio reconciliation)

Overcome by thunderwear (E, 7k, wangxian, Canon Divergence, First Time, First Kiss, Feelings Realization, Love Confessions, Marriage Proposal, Idiots in Love, Fix-It, do i know anything about dual cultivation?, no, is that going to stop me?, also no)

intents and in tents by mexicantt (E, 12k, wangxian, Explicit sexual material, Canon Divergence - War Time, Dubious Consent, two fucking idiots fucking a fucking lot, fucking intents, fucking in tents, fucking in freezing fucking water how do their bits not shrivel up before they can get off idk idk, fucking in the Lan sect library because of COURSE they did, fucking outdoors, fucking on rooftops, Fucking in Caves, Rimming, Fingering, Oral Sex, Anal Sex, WWX's canonical self-lubing asshole, Dual Cultivation, fucking a new golden core into WWX As A Treat, Exhibitionism, quote married sex unquote, seKrEt MArRiAgE)

mercy, tear it down. by orange_crushed (E, 31k, wangxian, graphic depictions of violence, Canon Divergence, Post-Sunshot Campaign, Burial Mounds Settlement Days, Dual Cultivation, Submission, Dominance, Light BDSM, In Which Wangxian Fumble Towards An Understanding of D/S Dynamics, Porn with Feelings, Magical Healing Cock, Not Really The Cock Itself But You Get The Idea, Demonic Cultivation, Rough Sex, Bad BDSM Etiquette, One Scene of Bad Sex After Which A Discussion Is Had, discussion of consent, Self-Esteem Issues, Recovery, Healing, Canon-Typical Violence, Drinking to Cope, Angst with a Happy Ending, Consensual Non-Consent, Wangxian-Typical CNC Play, Oral Sex, Rough Oral Sex, Orgasm Delay/Denial, Praise Kink, Aftercare, Breeding Kink, roleplaying, Hair Pulling, Spit As Lube, Mildly Dubious Consent, Slight Feminization (ie Wei Ying Keeps Saying 'Wife'), True Love, Spanking, Past Lan Wangji/Other)

Always Light My Way by cqlorphan (E, 27k, wangxian, Post-Canon, Getting Together, Friends With Benefits, to lovers, wherein dual cultivation may be counted as a benefit, Jealous WWX, Misunderstandings, Mutual Pining, Pining while fucking, angsty sex, Versatile | Switch WangXian, Bottom LWJ, Service Top LWJ, Topping from the Bottom, Orgasm Delay/Denial, Coming Untouched, Dom/sub Undertones, the angsty sex happens in the beginning but they get past it dw, Oblivious LWJ, archer WWX, Smart WWX, Porn with Feelings, Panic Attacks, Angst with a Happy Ending, Dual Cultivation)

🔒 holding hands with you in this rain-flooded street by puddingcatbeans (M, 12k, wangxian, Canon Divergence, Arranged Marriage, husbands to lovers?, LWJ Stays at the Burial Mounds, Angst with a Happy Ending, Fix-It of Sorts, Mild Hurt/Comfort, falling in love with the husband you married as part of a peace treaty, Everybody Lives)

🧡🔒Truth Will Out (when caught on video) - End_OTW_Racism! by KizuKatana (E, 179k, wangxian, WN & WWX & WQ, graphic depictions of violence, modern cultivation, canon divergence, YZY abuses WWX , caught on camera, partial core removal, WWX kicked out of Jiang sect, livestreamer WWX, meet ugly, dual cultivation, smut, no war)

🧡 Discarded by teawater (E, 178k, WIP, WangXian, Lots of Angst, Hurt/Comfort, YLLZ WWX, Golden Core Reveal, Case Fic, Depression, Family Issues, Self-Esteem Issues, Self Confidence Issues, Self-Worth Issues, Angst with a Happy Ending, POV Multiple, BAMF WWX, dubious morals in the Lan sect, Feels, Pining, Grief, Fix-It, BAMF LWJ)

Impermanence, Transience, Permanence by Best Bepsy (BepsyGray) (E, 39k, wangxian, canon divergence, unplanned pregnancy, mpreg, gore, sunshot campaign, assumed miscarriage, medical procedures, childbirth, golden core reveal)

🔒 24 Hours by tailor31415 (E, 5k, WangXian, post-novel, PWP, But there’s a little plot, Bondage, Prostate Milking, Dual Cultivation)

Whispers in My Ears by tabulaxrasa (T, 3k, wangxian, implied LXC/JGY, Canon Divergence, LWJ stays at the Burial Mounds, Gossip, JGS is the worst, they have a son, Everyone lives, Podfic Available)

Dual Cultivation for a scholarship by Jotem27 (E, 56k, WangXian, Bottom LWJ, Canon Divergence, Dual Cultivation, Angst with a Happy Ending, Sex Worker, WWX has difficult feelings about sex work, rape /Non-con assumed, Bondage, Curses, No Sunshot Campaign, Spring books, Cloud Recesses Study Arc, No Yīn Iron, Powerful WWX, Dual cultivation for immortality, LWJ has his philosophy about bottoming, Minor Character Death)

for the science of it (for the heart of it) by Selenay (E, 27k, WangXian, Dual Cultivation, Post-Canon, Getting Together, Feelings Realization, WWX Has Sexuality Realizations, a whole lot of realizations going around, sometimes you have to make jokes just to avoid the huge truth crashing down on you, dual cultivation for purely scientific and platonic village-saving reasons - definitely no feelings)

the meaning of the ritual by newamsterdam (E, 8k, WangXian, Explicit Sexual Content, Blindfolds, Light Bondage, Ritual Sex, Canon Divergence, First Time Blow Jobs, Anal Sex, Porn with Feelings)

~*~