#azure best practices

[rajaniesh]

Scaling Azure Container Apps for Peak Performance

In our last blog, we dove into optimizing deployments with Azure Pipelines, covering strategies for choosing the right agents and securing environment variables to ensure smooth, reliable updates. Now, let’s take things a step further. Once you’ve streamlined your deployment pipeline, the next challenge is making sure your Azure Container Apps can easily handle fluctuating demands. In this final…

[shonatanwer98]

How to Change Pipeline Name in Azure DevOps- OpsNexa!

Learn how to rename a pipeline in Azure DevOps with this step-by-step guide. Whether you're using Classic or YAML pipelines, this tutorial covers how to update pipeline names for better clarity and organization in your DevOps workflows. How to Change Pipeline Name in Azure DevOps Enhance your project management by keeping your CI/CD pipelines well-labeled and aligned with your team’s naming conventions.

[ttsukiimi]

*ੈ✩‧₊˚ MILLION DOLLR BABY!

★ 𝐬𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬 ⎯ for as long as you can remember, you’ve been friends with Satoru Gojo—just friends. Then why is now insisting that you’re the perfect woman to birth the Gojo clan heir?

★ 𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐬 ⎯ gojo x fem!reader, smut (mdni), implied experienced!gojo x virgin!reader, gojo clan au, breèding k⍣nk, best friends to lovers/f⍣ckers, implied s⍣xual tension, unprotected s⍣x, slight mention of size difference, mentions of passing out, slight cl⍣t play, slight t⍣t play, bigd⍣ck!satoru.

When Satoru had first proposed this..idea of his, you’d almost choked on the succulent dumpling you were chewing on. Your eyes widened and you looked over at the white haired, heaven sent man beside you, and while, yes, yes he was so fucking attractive, you just didn’t want to waste years of friendship for something you were both unsure of.

You knew that the Gojo clan was in dire need of an heir with Satoru’s ability, considering he himself was the clans one and only trump card. But, where you really the one that could carry out this oh, so important task? You simply couldn’t carry that burden on your shoulders.

“‘Toru,” you called out softly, swallowing the last remains of your food before you reached out and cupped his bigger hand in yours. The warmth of his hand alone had you ready to stutter out your whole sentence. “Look, I—“

But could you really continue speaking with the way his azure eyes bored into you as he stared, his free hand taking ahold of yours and holding it tight, practically engulfing your palm in his? You think not.

“Please. I’ve been being bugged all day, you don’t understand.” He pleaded, a pathetic whimper of your name leaving his lips as he pulled you closer to him by the arm. “You’re the only one I wanna do this with.”

“Please.”

And so was the escalation of how you ended up under your best friend of—how many years had you spent with him again? You couldn’t remember with how foggy your brain was as his lips slid across your neck while he peppered hickeys along your skin.

Your hands tangled in his soft hair, urging him to venture further down your neck to the valley of your breasts.

“‘Toru,” you mouthed, looking up to his lust-clouded eyes as you placed his hand on your tit, squirming as he immediately squeezed the flesh. His hands expertly groped at your mounds as his fingers moved around your already firm nipples, swiping at your sensitive nubs.

Satoru chuckled breathlessly, a smirk playing on his lips. “I’ll give it to you soon, needy girl.”

He then planted a deep, wanton kiss to your lips—a kiss that released all of his pent up feelings and sexual tension into one. Your body shivered as you felt his breath fan past your pulse point.

“Just know you’re leaving this room nice ‘n full, ‘Kay?” And with that he was latching his mouth to your breasts, making quick work of sliding his robe off with a swift pull of the bow holding it together. He sprang up, hard and excited to finally have the woman he’s been head over heels with for years.

Fuck. Your eyes widened at the sight—was he really hiding this from you all this time? Surely, concealing something this size would be a hassle, right?

Satoru’s grin only widened at the expression displayed on your face, feeling pride build up in his chest. He hurriedly grabbed at the base, pressing his tip right up to your aching and pulsing cunt.

“Y’ready?”

“Mhm hm!”

“‘M going in,” as he slowly wedged himself between your folds, watching as you stretched to accommodate his size and groaning at the view.

Was this what heaven felt like? Had Satoru Gojo finally tasted a slice of his own paradise?

He had, and there was no backing down now—no escaping from the seemingly endless ruts of cock into you, the hands harshly planted to your hips, and the feeling of being filled up repeatedly.

He watched you squirm under him, all the while burning with the desire to ruin you, but he knew with how tight you were clamped down around him—that this might’ve been your first time.

The thought made his ego skyrocket.

“You take it so well,” he praised, spreading your thighs further apart to gain a better glance of just how wet you were, gritting his teeth in resistance.

Satoru could, without doubt, have you pass out by the second round—if he wanted you to. But his goal now was simply to get you pregnant—to plant that million dollar baby into you.

However…a little sidetracking could do. It wouldn’t hurt to have a little fun with you.

“It’s so..deep inside me, ‘Toru. Are you sure it’s s’possed to be—“ your words came to a halt, a particularly hard rut of his hips shutting you up for good; only leaving room for cries of pleasure to leave your lips.

And, maybe, just maybe he should have proposed this idea earlier. Maybe he should have just made it known to you how good he could give dick.

With each movement into you, Satoru let himself go a little, let himself get a little rougher, let the head of his cock graze the just-right spots inside of you; spots you never knew existed.

He already knew your body so well.

His hand journeyed down to your thighs, letting go of its original place on your hips to your pussy, thumb drawing your clit in brain-fuzzying circles.

You mewled, back arching off the bed and your hips moving on their own to meet his thrusts, clawing at the bedsheets for anything that may keep you grounded—because everything your best friend did threatened to transport you to pleasure utopia.

“S’toru, feels like my—“ he cut you off once more, breathing hard against your lips after he finishes kissing you.

“You gonna cum for me?” he asked, smugly of course, knowing he’d be the first man to ever make you cum. You nod and Satoru took this as a queue to drive rougher thrusts into your cunt, reveling in the lewd squelches and the slap of your bodies resonating throughout the room.

You came to a crescendo, and your body fell limp. Your thighs shook around his waist as you climaxed, mouth falling open and face curling into a blissed-out look.

“Fucking pretty even when you cum,”

And while it would’ve taken him—normally—another round to finish, virgin pussy had him on a chokehold. Especially yours.

So, naturally, it wasn’t long—perhaps 3 or 4 more thrusts until Satoru Gojo—your former best friend—came inside you. Fully intent on knocking you up.

No, he didn’t have any intention of pulling out either, wanting to keep his seed deep inside you until he’s sure you’re pregnant.

He lay to your side, still inside you, not showing any signs of getting soft anytime soon. But, no matter what had happened, Satoru was still your best friend.

Just now a best friend that knew how your walls felt around him.

[nuvento-sys]

Explore the significance of Azure Security in this blog, designed to assist Microsoft Azure users in securing their cloud computing infrastructure. The blog provides a comprehensive checklist of recommended best practices for Azure Security, ensuring a safeguarded digital environment. Read more: https://nuvento.com/blog/top-100-azure-security-best-practices-checklist/

[artemisiasmuse]

always known | CH.1

PAIRING: rafe cameron x fem! kook reader

CW: 18+ mdni, smut eventually, angst, mean rafe, jealousy, possessive rafe, kook typical classism (not from y/n tho), abusive family dynamics, not really canon/au, swearing, drinking, no coke tho, ward cameron

SUMMARY: rafe’s childhood best friend y/n returns to figure eight by herself and finds rafe hates her for some reason, their friendship has gone down the drain and they can hardly remain cordial, and there’s one thing causing all of it: why can’t rafe just move on?

TROPE: childhood best friends to enemies to lovers

MASTERLIST

WORD COUNT: 1.8k

next >

“when the fuck did you get back?” those are the first words you hear from your childhood best friend after almost five years of silence. you hadn’t even seen him walk up to where you and sarah were standing on the country club patio. if you were a bit tipsier, you might have even fallen over. the air is thoroughly knocked out of you, not just from his words but also his appearance. he’s grown into his features a bit too well and puberty has made him heads taller than you and fill out his clothes, he looks as intimidating as his word should be. you have to strain your neck to meet his eyes and there isn’t a small smile or any baby fat to soften the blow, rafe is all hard edges and harsh lines with a frown to match. there’s a small part of you that’s grateful he’s even talking to you. as pathetic as it is, you haven’t heard his voice since he dropped off the face of the earth.

the last time you heard it was his stupid voicemail message when you accepted the fact that you had been blocked. you let the familiar azure calm your nerves. even if so much had changed, the color of his eyes, your favorite color remained the same.

“it’s nice to see you too rafe.” as much as you were affected by his words, you didn’t let it show. there was something almost eery how you refused to let him win even now, to let him even see weakness. your response came out smooth and practiced, rafe hated how even now your voice rang between his ears and made his heart skip a beat. he was glaring down at you but the way you said his name, still honeyed by years of friendship, chipped away at his anger. god he was pathetic. he looked away towards the water, trying to remember that you’re the one who left, he should be angry, before looking back at you, willing away any ounce of love left from his stare.

“didn’t mayhew move into your place?” you vaguely remember the family that had bought your old home. rafe knew better than you since he mentioned how he had gotten into a fight with the kid a week after you moved. he’d said he just didn’t get along with him, sarah told you that rafe had it out for the kid as soon as their moving van showed up.

“i’m back by myself, i transferred to OBU.” that was always your plan, do two years at your state school and then transfer to OBU to finish up and stay there. OBU’s marine biology program was nationally recognized and even if he didn’t remember it, you had promised rafe you’d be back.

you remember how you both cried into each other's necks when you told him the news, as soon as your parents told you the only thing you could think of was your best friend. the walk, or in that instance the run, between your houses wasn’t long and you took off immediately. rose had long gotten used to leaving the back door open for you and she didn’t even acknowledge you when you came barreling through it asking for rafe’s whereabouts. “out by the dock.” when you found him you were already in tears, his arms coming around you instantly and holding you tight before you had even said a word. he smelled like seaweed and leather, he smelled like home. as the words left your lips, rafe knew he would never recover from them. three simple words that had somehow destroyed the fragile casing around his heart, piercing through them and leaving him broken forever. “i’m moving.” you both cried for what felt like hours, until you couldn’t any more and all that was left was hiccups, you promised him you’d be back. he promised to visit. rafe always knew those were empty promises. he knew it was over, you would leave and never come back. you’d abandon him like everyone else, he was a lost cause, he never deserved you anyways. but now you were here. and all he felt was anger.

“great another fucking problem to deal with.” you blinked at his words, watching his back as he abruptly left. by comparison the rafe who walked away from you now could never be the rafe who you left on that dock. sarah did her best to remedy the situation, your return was supposed to be a happy affair after all. while she was younger than you and you rarely hung out before, being stuck by rafe’s side mostly, you had stayed friendly over the phone. she knew you were coming back but kept it a secret from everyone like you asked, now she wondered if this was why.

“ignore him, he’s been pissy for…well years!” you shake it off as best as you can, sarah manages to corral all your old friends, but one is clearly missing. there’s a six-foot-something hole in your heart that you desperately try to ignore. 

the next week passed with relative ease, you’re so busy adjusting to life in obx again that you hardly notice rafe’s absence. you’d signed on a place, with rose’s help, and your parents had shipped the remainder of your clothes. you met sarah’s new friends and while they don’t greet you with open arms they’re still good company. they’re younger than you and it’s hard to relate to high schoolers when you’re studying for your next exam but they’re less judgmental and superficial then your old friends. by the time the weekend rolls around you’ve moved into your new place and topper invites you to a party at the beach. the kids in figure eight were hardly similar to you but when you were younger you didn’t care where or who you were with, as long as rafe was there you would be okay. now you were standing in the same circle of friends, pretending that you didn’t know one another. you felt more out of place than ever, like the small child who waited for her best friend on the playground when no one else wanted to play with her. but your best friend wasn’t coming, he wasn’t even looking at you. the makeup on your face, the dress clinging to your body, all felt itchy and heavy on you. you wanted to go back to your new home and watch tv and pretend rafe still cared even a little about you even if he blocked your number.

kelce rattled on about some new girl he was talking to when topper started yelling. the “pogues” had crashed the party. you rolled your eyes as topper exclaimed that you should tell them to leave. he’d been on your ass about your new friends and you didn’t give him the satisfaction of a response.

“what?” he questioned, clearly taken back by how little you cared, rafe prepared himself for the inevitable argument to follow. even if he wasn’t looking at you he knew how you reacted. he’d told topper to back off when you went to get a drink, not that he’d ever admit it, but now the issue at hand was quite literally feet away.

“don’t you think it’s kinda corny, this whole ‘kooks’ versus ‘pogues’ thing? i mean we’re not in some shitty 80’s high school movie.” you swigged your beer and topper guffawed, incredulous and animated and you began to wonder maybe you were in a shitty movie. that would explain the nearly comical way rafe was turned away from you just a few feet away. on top of the shame and anger you were feeling from his cold shoulder, topper’s little outburst was solidifying how little you wanted to be here. 

“wowww you switched up.” kelce chimed in from the peanut gallery, everyone was enjoying the small drama you provided. you supposed the rich kids of figure eight had little other entertainment. 

“nah i always thought it was dumb, he knows.” you gestured towards rafe. it was a bit childish but you refused to acknowledge each other, until now. in hindsight you should have just continued ignoring him. rafe could feel his friend’s gazes turn toward him, rolling his tongue along the inside of his cheek as he turned slightly towards you, leveling you with a blank stare. focusing his full attention on you was a little jarring for both of you, he’d been trying to ignore the way your dress revealed curves he didn’t know existed and you’d been trying to ignore the urge to cry at the vacant look in his eyes.

“maybe you can just leave again since you hate it so much. ya know-go the fuck back to where you came from.” his voice was calm and gravelly, almost as if he didn’t care what you did or the fact that you were here at all. that stung more than his anger. you set down your beer and gained on him, almost chest to chest as your crossed arms lightly grazed his front. he seemed unaffected by your proximity, or the way you glared up at him but you knew him, you knew the twitch of his nose and brow meant he wasn’t. rafe would never concede that the sight of you small and angry, looking like a vision in your baby pink dress, had him thoroughly entranced. you were always beautiful but now that you’d grown up, into a woman, he could barely stand to look at you. his stomach coiled with that wretched feeling he’d spent years ignoring, the cause of it hadn’t been so obvious in a while but now it was glaring at him. the scent of your perfume and skin had put a spell on him, that must have been it.

“fuck you cameron.” he reveled in your anger, the way you practically growled at him. a sick and twisted thought consumed, at least you were looking him in the eye, looking at him at all. he was getting under your skin and he wanted to move in. at least then you couldn’t leave him.

“the door’s that way.” you shoved past him, your shoulder bumping against his chest, spilling a bit of his beer and convincing pope to drop you home in a matter of seconds. rafe’s thoughts spiraled, you could yell at him all night, but going home with pope may as well have been a stab in the back. not that you could have known that. he swallowed down the urge to drag you back by your waist and make you scream at him some more.

a/n: oh boy the angst :< rafe is so mean to reader! this one’s a short one but i wanted to ease everyone into the story, ch.2 will be out tmrw!

taglist: @clar2aa @ggraycelynn @rafestoothbrush @woweewoowa @mattyskies @always4tuesdayss @ashy-kit @chalahyung01 @rafeysslut

[mika-thexd]

A/n: so you guys might be asking "why did you go innactive in Tumblr?" Because my grandma died 😀 uhh so here's a little smth while I spiral again

Rhythm guitarist! Chance: how do I confess to the love of my life?

Singer! MC: just tell them you like them!

Rhythm guitarist! Chance: I love you so much

Singer! MC: yes! Like that! Just tell them that and they'll surely fall for you!

Rhythm guitarist! Chance: ...

Singer! MC: if they don't get it then they're too stupid for their own good

Rhythm guitarist! Chance: MC—

⭒🦭꩜.ᐟ

Singer! MC: this is too hot, I can't eat this

Lead singer! Shedletsky: you're too hot, but that doesn't stop me from eating you

Electric guitarist! Elliot: *chokes* EXCUSE ME??

Multi instrumentalist! Builderman: I JUST WANT ONE NORMAL DINNER FOR ONCE

⭒🦭꩜.ᐟ

Rhythm guitarist! 007n7: Quick you’re bleeding out! What’s your type??

Singer! MC: Chubby, has a burger hat, good with kids—

c00lkid: your type is my brother?

pr3typriincess: quick! Inject big brother's blood in them!

Singer! MC: you know what else should be inside me?—

Rhythm guitarist! 007n7: *slaps them in the back* THERE'S CHILDREN HERE

⭒🦭꩜.ᐟ

Singer! MC: Bro...rock paper scissors but if we do the same move we gotta kiss

Electric guitarist! Noli: WH4— WH4T CR4ZY ST4T3M3NT

Singer! MC: you in though?

Electric guitarist! Noli: H311 Y43H

⭒🦭꩜.ᐟ

Multi instrumentalist! Azure: *whispering* You know I love you, right?

Singer! MC: *whispering back* I love you too, but why are we whispering?

Multi instrumentalist! Azure: So that 1x4 thinks we’re plotting against him.

Lead singer! 1x4: what the fuck are they talking about?

Drummer! Mafioso: *heard the whole thing* planning on setting the kitchen on fire

⭒🦭꩜.ᐟ

Drummer! Noob: I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy

Singer! MC: I would

Singer! MC: *turns to itrapped*

Singer! MC: I hope your keyboard has a non working key that doesn't work no matter how much you fix it

Keyboardist! Itrapped: *already used to the death threats* I love you too hunny

⭒🦭꩜.ᐟ

Lead singer! 1x4: ARE YOU

Singer! MC: fucking

Lead singer! 1x4: KIDDING ME YOU

Singer! MC: fucking

Lead singer! 1x4: INSOLENT FOOL

Electric guitarist! Noli: WH4T TH4 FUCK D1D 1 JUST WH1TN3SS

Singer! MC: their PR manager banned her from swearing so they paid me to be his swearist

⭒🦭꩜.ᐟ

Singer! MC: *sighs dramatically* I feel so unloved

Electric guitarist! Elliot: *holding a pizza shaped like a heart with a card inside the box*

Lead singer! 1x4: *about to sing them a love song that they practiced for weeks*

Lead singer! Shedletsky: *wrote multiple love songs dedicated to them and is about to argue with 1x4 to whose the first one to sing*

Drummer! Mafioso: *holding a Boquet of roses and hiding a big ass plushie behind his back*

Keyboardist! Two time: now that is just unfortunate

⭒🦭꩜.ᐟ

Singer! MC: Comparing Chance and Itrapped is like comparing apples and oranges.

Rhythm guitarist! Chance: each of them are unique in their own ways?—

Singer! MC: apple is the original and therefore the most superior than orange

Keyboardist! Itrapped: who's orange?

⭒🦭꩜.ᐟ

Bass guitarist! Taph: sapnu puaS.

Singer! MC: what kind of language is that?

Bass guitarist! Taph: turn your phone 180 degrees—

*Taph got banned from chatting for 2 weeks*

⭒🦭꩜.ᐟ

Keyboardist! Two time: As your best friend—

Singer! MC: Chance is my best friend? What do you—

Keyboardist! Two time: *slams their dagger on the table* —so as you best friend

⭒🦭꩜.ᐟ

Electric guitarist! Dussekar: Why are my clothes fading away? Did someone steal them or do they stray?

Singer! MC: *wearing a suspiciously large coat* I don't know what you're saying but damn

⭒🦭꩜.ᐟ

Drummer! Noob: What’s your greatest fear?

Singer! MC: being forgotten

Drummer! Noob: ... Damn that's deep

Drummer! Noob: Mine is the Kool Aid man, but I feel kinda stupid about it now...

⭒🦭꩜.ᐟ

Singer! MC: *aggressively throwing water bottles* HYDRATE OR DIE-DRATE!

Lead singer! 1x4: what in fucks name are they doing?

Bass guitarist! John doe: they're trying to yell mental health and wellbeing into us.

Singer! MC: I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU!

Drummer! Mafioso: *crying* I FUCKING HATE HOW IT'S WORKING

⭒🦭꩜.ᐟ

Bass guitarist! Guest 1337: That's my girlfriend, suckers!

Singer! MC: I'm your wife, guest

Bass guitarist! Guest 1337: My wife?? Even better!!

⭒🦭꩜.ᐟ

Keyboardist! Two time: I would kill for you

Singer! MC: —I’m pretty sure you’d kill someone even if I didn’t ask you to...

Keyboardist! Two time: exactly, so now you must allow me to kill that one *points at azure minding his own business*

Singer! MC: *slowly puts down their dagger* honey please we talked about this—

⭒🦭꩜.ᐟ

Drummer! Mafioso: Hey, wanna help me commit arson?

Singer! MC: what?? Are you crazy??

Drummer! Mafioso: oh sorry

Drummer! Mafioso: *whispering* wanna help me commit arson?

Singer! MC: *whispering back* hell fucking yeah

⭒🦭꩜.ᐟ

Drummer! Daisy: we both agreed to a polygamous relationship

Singer! MC: oh that's great! Who's the lucky?—

Bass guitarist! Guest 1337: *aggressively slams down a piece of paper* —it's you, now sign this

⭒🦭꩜.ᐟ

Singer! MC: What are you in the mood for?

Multi instrumentalist! Builderman: world domination

Singer! MC: well that's a little bit—

Multi instrumentalist! Builderman: you're my world

Singer! MC: aww!

Multi instrumentalist! Builderman: ...

Singer! MC: *starting to realize* ...

Singer! MC: ...now wait a damn minute—

⭒🦭꩜.ᐟ

A/n: uhhh so I'm gonna write again after this because uhm *looks at my drafts* have a little bit of a problem here! 😀 also I fully believe that builderman is a switch but leans more in Dom *coughs* WHAT WHO SAID THAT????

[cannofsardines]

How would Azure react to twotime talking/helping or like idk just any interaction with Azure's lover? low-key I would tweak cuz why is my front stabbing ex even in the vicinity of my lover... but I wouldn't know how they'd react

Two time interacting with Azure's partner?

:that just sounds like trouble waiting to happen, well to begin.. Azure would most definitely not take kindly to seeing his former lover, the one who betrayed him, be even anywhere near his current partner as of now. It would likely trigger his rage that he has yet to sort out. Here's a short scenario below detailing it to help visualize even further

Azure relentlessly ran after the timid and meek survivor, noob was it? He couldn't be bothered to remember, not when he was only focused on one thing only and that was to feel them writhe beneath his hold

Well that was until he caught a glimpse of a familiar traitorous figure from the corner of his eye, he would get them next immediately he usually convinced himself but not this time around. Especially not when they were in the same radius as his only salvation in this hell. An uncomfortable feeling bubbled within him that yearned to be released desperately, and he needed it out now.

:The specter, seeing this would only use the sight to fuel the former's fears and wrath. It would say nasty stuff about the situation, planting a seed in Azure's mind that would push them to get you away from Two Time even further and only fuel their paranoia about Two Time potentially doing the same to you

"ThEY'LL Be a SaCRIfice foR tHeIr ThIRD LiFE"

It practically sang in Azure's mind, repeating it like a chorus. His focus was no longer on the almost dead survivor who ran out of stamina and quivered beneath him, no, he couldn't afford two time sacrificing you for the greedy bastard's third life. He shoved his way through the confused and conflicted survivors, the rage and specters word getting to him that he no longer cared to hide both of you and their relationship hidden. His appendages wrapped around you to reel you away from two time and have you close to him instead

:Safe to say— Two time was basically chased around the whole round with you protected and dragged. If you get motion sickness easily, then unfortunate for you but you're in for a whole ride with this situation.. Doesn't help that the Specter would also keep fueling the fire just for the sake of entertainment. Best to stay away from Two Time if you want to avoid triggering that

[cannibal-alien]

Azuretime x reader polygamous please! We need more of them frfr

I'm not sure about the specific plots, but maybe when Azure came out as a killer for the first time and they all reunited?

You can choose whether or not reader was also in the cult. But they prooooobably didn't know about the sacrifice? Maybe they might've also almost got sacrificed, but Two time failed and they got Forsaken™ first?

Yeah, that's about it. I think. I forgot to say when I said we need more Azuretime x reader, I meant angst 😈😈 /hj

The relationship is gonna so strained, but the dynamic would be kind of interesting?

Take your time with the requests! Your health and happiness is the first priority!

❤️❤️❤️❤️ /Platonic

HAAAIIII omgosh sorry this took so long!!! and sorry if it’s. not the best!!! i hardly write angsty so thank you for this practice!!! hope u enjoy regardless<3

azure x two time x reader - unspoken confessions

not much really concerns you these days. after numerous weeks(?) of being stuck in a eerily cold & horrific realm, as if you were a lab rat in a cage, putting on a show for some mysterious ‘spectre’, you’ve pretty much gotten used to it.

of course, you still prayed to the Spawn every day, clinging to your faith in rough times like these. and you prayed for your partners, too- wherever they were. if they were even safe. at least they didn’t have to suffer in this place, wherever you were… could be hell, could be purgatory. you weren’t all too sure.

but it didn’t take long for things to shift and you quickly regretted ever feeling hopeful. eventually, two time ended up in the same realm as you, though something about them was off. you noticed it right away, the air of tension, the defensive glint in their eyes. they felt distant, hesitant. when you reached out for a hug, relieved to see one of your partners after convincing yourself you never would again, they flinched.

that’s fine, though. that’s absolutely okay, you told yourself. two time must be incredibly overwhelmed. confused, maybe even scared. after all, there was only one way to end up here, and it wasn’t exactly by natural fate. you didn’t pry, they didn’t want to talk about it. but when you finally mentioned your attacker fleeing and leaving you to bleed out, a small frown flickered across their face. just for a moment, you thought you saw something, some hint of emotion. you couldn’t tell if it was concern… or maybe regret?

so you brought up your second biggest concern, a bit of anxiety settling in. azure. what about azure? was he okay? at the mention of his name, two time slightly stiffened, but their eyes continue to hold that same manic look, tense as if they were holding something back.

you barely got an answer. it hurt. you needed to know. but every time you tried to learn more, two time redirected the discussion back to the Spawn, always circling back to the one thing they were utterly obsessed with. and though you wouldn’t ever say it out loud, praise be to the Spawn, you were starting to grow agitated.

eventually you ended up in a match together, forming a tiny pact to watch each other’s backs. you noticed the spectre had let them keep their dagger, though you didn’t ask why. a weapon’s a weapon, and it’s pretty useful in this case. maybe it didn’t mean anything.

you’ve already repaired a few generators, but the lack of a killer was making you increasingly anxious. where the hell were they? did taph blow them up already? where was all the usual bloodshed? something was off.

“two time? two time?” you call out, presuming they had ditched you. so much for loyalty. you even made a mental note to give them absolute hell for it later, but the sight you walked into stopped you cold.

you initially didn’t want to believe it, but you couldn’t deny it for long. it was azure, but not the one you remembered. they were different- stronger, more intense. scarier. it didn’t take long for it to click. they were the killer.

azure’s eyes look almost regretful, maybe even sad, as their hands tighten around two time’s neck, choking the other cultist on the ground. the sight hit you like a truck and left your head reeling. instinct took over and you lunged forward, trying to pull them apart. everything went all blurry for a moment. azure’s eyes widened when he saw you, filled with a conflicted emotion that didn’t match his actions. it was almost like he wasn’t in control at all.

you did successfully manage to shove them apart. two time weakly crawled away, gasping for air. azure just stood still, shaking, hands twitching.

your eyes drift over to the small wound you left on azure’s cheek while trying to save two time. slowly, he reached up to graze it. every little move was tense.

without a word, azure turned sharply and forced himself to trudge away, footsteps unsteady. you didn’t try calling out to him. he didn’t bother looking back. all you could do was stare at the empty spot where he once stood, his silence louder than any words he could’ve left.

[kbwrites]

Up In The Clouds

synopsis: you are a first-year jujutsu high student, seemed only natural that satoru and suguru would want to protect you... right?

⚝ a/n: I'M ALIVEEE. my first fanfiction in over FIVE YEARS?!

⚝ tags: sfw/suggestive satoru x reader. suguru x reader. satosugu x reader (KINDA). marijuana use!

⚝ wc: 1412

“Do you ever think the wind is trying to tell us something?”

“Shut the hell up Satoru.”

“Please. What Suguru Said.”

You were given one condition by your parents when you got into Tokyo Metropolitan Curse Technical College, and that was to stay out of trouble. And yet there you were, with the school’s most infamous troublemakers - high as the clouds you were observing.

 Suguru approached you on your first day, his kind eyes and dulcet voice made you feel more than welcome. Him and Satoru were joined at the hip, as you soon found out. It only took a few days for you to be fully integrated into the group. So their duo (and occasionally Shoko, when she felt like dealing with their bullshit) grew to include you. They shouldered the burden of showing you around the school. Suguru educated you with the history of the school, while Satoru listed the best places to slack off. And slack off you did, the two boys were first-grade sorcerers, why the hell would they need to attend classes?

Yaga lectured you of course, “A bright girl like you has no business hanging around with those two”. And yet, they were the strongest. And you were their new obsession, fitting right into their antics.

The antics for today? Courtesy of Satoru, the lanky second year stood before Suguru and (Y/N) dangling a ziploc bag with a blunt inside.

“Are you trying to get us expelled?” Suguru sighed.

“Seriously. If Yaga catches us-”

The white haired teen sighed dramatically (you were confident that that was the only way he knew HOW to sigh)

“You guys are no fun.” A pout forms across his lips, crossing his arms.

“Who did you even get this from?”

“Does it matter? Let’s get high~” Satoru smirks, discarding the ziploc bag and holding the blunt up to his nose to take a deep inhale.

Suguru glances over at you.

“Satoru… do you really think you’re setting the best example for our underclassmen.”

You smile awkwardly, sure he was referring to you.

“She isn’t some baby doll Suguru. Right (Y/N)?” Satoru turned his attention to you. He knew that with that honeyed voice of his, he could get anything he wanted. Suguru glared back at his slightly taller friend, who grinned through his dark shades. You shift uncomfortably, the tension thickening by the second. It was pretty common that you ended up being the one breaking up fights between your two best friends. For some reason you were always caught in the middle. You sigh standing up.

“Fuck it”

And there you three were laying on the grass of the field.

You’ve gotta hand it to Satoru.

You feel pretty amazing right now.

“Do you ever think the wind is trying to tell us something?”

“Shut the hell up Satoru.”

“Please. What Suguru Said.”

“Guys… seriously-”

Bzzt bzzt.

You slowly sit up, reaching for your vibrating phone.

Shoko ^-^

Where r u guys?

(Y/N)

Practice Field.

Shoko ^-^

Huh? Those two idiots are actually doing work?

(Y/N)

Satoru brought weed~

Shoko ^-^

Ahh.

(Y/N)

You comin’?

Shoko ^-^

Doing work for Yaga :(

You close your phone, laying back down between the two teens.

Suguru takes the blunt from Satoru taking a drag before passing it to you again, your fingers grazing each other, the touch lingering. A familiar heat in your chest rising.

You’d be lying through your teeth if you said that you didn’t find your two friends attractive. Satoru was confident, he knew that when he walked into a room all eyes (girls and guys) were on him. His silken white hair, and eyelashes that when fluttered he got whatever he wanted. And of course his azure blue eyes, like pools of shimmering water too deep to ever reach the bottom of. In layman’s terms; he was hot.

And Suguru? Well, his beauty was more understated. That isn’t to say he wasn’t hot.

 He was.

With his raven-black hair that cascaded in sleek waves always neatly put up. His piercing coffee-colored eyes, the subtle curve of his lips. When he told you something was going to be okay. You could actually believe him. It was his overtly calm demeanor that probably made him seem more like Satoru’s shadow… But to you? That shadow lurked in the depths of your mind, suffocating your thoughts at the worst times. Times like this.

You take a long drag from the blunt, desperately trying to distract yourself from the thoughts that plagued your head. You hold the smoke in, before letting out an exasperated sigh. You cough quietly at the sensation in your lungs, sitting up. Suguru looks over at you in concern, sitting up with you to pat gently on your back.

“Don’t overdo it, yeah?” His voice, ever the gentle caress, only works to fluster you further. 

You turn away desperately trying to hide the blush creeping onto your face. Suguru continues patting your back, reaching for a bottle of water.

“(Y/N)? Here. drink.” Your heart flutters, you snatch the drink gulping it down.

“Thanks, Suguru..” 

Satoru turns his attention from the clouds to his two friends, his eyebrow quirking up in curiosity. But he doesn’t say a word, just snatches the blunt from you and continues the rotation.

Satoru drones on, informing you of any and every thought that comes into his head. You and Suguru stay silent, letting out a ‘hmmm’ in acknowledgment every now and then. His hand brushes against yours, his touch sending shocks of electricity through your skin as he points out funny-looking clouds. The sky turns from blue to red as the sun sets over the training grounds. The three of you wearily rise to your feet, heading back to the main dorm.

“(Y/N)! Suguru and I are g’nna play some melee. You wanna cheer me on while I kick his ass?” Satoru loops his arm around your neck smirking. You look over at Suguru, you can almost make out his body tensing ever so slightly.

“Sorry. I have to study, but I’ll see you tomorrow guys!” You wave apologetically, prying yourself from Satoru’s grasp. Suguru offers you his signature smile. Satoru offers his signature pout.

 You take your leave, strutting off to your dorm. The two boys’ eyes linger on your form as it disappears down the hall.

✧ ▬▭▬ ▬▭▬ ✦✧✦ ▬▭▬ ▬▭▬ ✧✧ ▬▭▬ ▬▭▬ ✦✧✦ ▬▭▬✧ ▬▭▬

Suguru focuses intensely on the tv, hitting Satoru with combos. Satoru lazily sits back effortlessly dodging and blocking, ‘those eyes of his are basically cheats’ he thinks. Satoru glances over at his dark-haired friend smirking.

“So… I’ve been thinking.”

“That’s usually how it starts” Suguru sighs, still maintaining his focus, he has 2 stocks left. His damage at 99%.

“(Y/N). She’s a cutie isn’t she~” Satoru muses before hitting him with a spin kick.

It’s just slight enough to make out, but Suguru’s body tenses, and his eye twitches. 

133% damage

“What are you getting at Satoru..” he warns

“She’s totally my type, think she’s interested?”

Suguru can’t see the mischievous look behind his friends' blacked-out shades.

“No.” 

“No you don’t think she’s interested?”

“Satoru-“

“I mean seriously? She puts on that shy act in front of us~ drives me crazy thinking about how’d easy it’d be to make her blush”

Satoru knocks him off the platform.

1 stock left.

Suguru’s teeth clench, blood coming to a boil as he mashes the buttons of the controller. Satoru is loving this. He continues

“You don’t mind if I make a move Hmm?”

That was it.

 Suguru pauses just long enough for Satoru to land a fury of kicks and punches, hitting him with a special.

WINNER JIGGLYPUFF

Satoru leans back, his arms behind his head. Relishing in his umpteenth victory against Suguru, Suguru on the other hand is seething with anger. The thought of Satoru flirting with you… touching you…

“Leave her alone Satoru.”

“Huh? What do you mean-“

“(Y/N). Is off limits.”

Satoru perks up at this, lowering his shades to look at Suguru with his piercing blue eyes.

“Off limits? Says who?”

“She’s our friend”

“Yeah? All the more reason she should date me and not some rando”

Suguru tensed again. But that didn’t stop the white-haired menace.

“She wouldn’t say yes to you anyway”

Uh oh. He’d done it now, Satoru never backs down from a challenge. Nothing is too impossible for him, and you? You’ve just become his new challenge.

“I guess we’ll just have to see about that”

And with that, the real game begun.

[rajaniesh]

Optimizing Azure Container App Deployments: Best Practices for Pipelines & Security

🚀 Just shared a new blog on boosting Azure Container App deployments! Dive into best practices for Continuous Deployment, choosing the right agents, and securely managing variables. Perfect for making updates smoother and safer!

In the fifth part of our series, we explored how Continuous Deployment (CD) pipelines and revisions bring efficiency to Azure Container Apps. From quicker feature rollouts to minimal downtime, CD ensures that you’re not just deploying updates but doing it confidently. Now, let’s take it a step further by optimizing deployments using Azure Pipelines. In this part, we’ll dive into the nuts and…

[lecsainz]

READY FOR IT

parings: luke castellan x ares!reader

summary: where you're the daughter of ares, and during a capture the flag game, you get angry with the son of hermes and the best swordsman at the camp, leading to a big fight with him.

an: I'm still trying to get used to the fact that the next time we see luke, he'll already be the villain 😭. and if you have any pjo requests, feel free to send them! yes, the title is from the taylor’s song, cause it was on repeat while I was writing.

( my last work || my last work for riodanverse || main masterlist )

You tightened every strap of your vest, ensuring it fit snugly against your body before the impending round of Capture the Flag.

The confidence in your team's prowess echoed within, just like the confidence in your own abilities. Your team's unbeaten streak reassured you, a source of collective pride among your half-siblings.

"Ready for another victory?" Clarisse's playful toss of her sword in your direction was met with your quick reflexes as you caught it, securing it to your waist, a reassuring weight that promised defense and offense in equal measure. "Of course! As always," you affirmed with a nod.

Walking in step with the other campers, you moved through the forest's lush foliage, Chiron's instructive words playing in your mind, an automatic script recited from countless past games.

Once Chiron signaled the start of the game, your gaze shifted to Clarisse, exchanging a playful yet determined glance. "See you on the other side," you quipped with a hint of competitive spirit.

"Better be!" She laughed back.

Parting ways from the group, you ventured alone into the forest you knew by heart. The plan was to grab the flag while the others distracted the blue team. It had always worked, so why change it?

The forest engulfed you as you traversed deeper, rustling leaves and the distant calls of woodland creatures accompanied the group, a symphony of nature lending an atmospheric backdrop to the impending contest.

The path you trod felt oddly tranquil, an eerie calmness in stark contrast to the usual pre-game adrenaline rush. It raised a flicker of unease within you, a foreboding sense of something amiss.

Eventually, the azure flag emerged, solitary and unguarded, a tantalizing prize nestled among the foliage. However, your intuition whispered a warning, urging caution amidst the apparent opportunity.

Your instinct proved right. A subtle shift in the surroundings alerted you, a subtle disturbance that stirred the air, prompting you to whirl around, unsheathing your sword with lightning reflexes.

"I knew it!" The accusation slipped from your lips as you swiftly aimed the weapon at the figure of the Hermes boy who had materialized behind you, an unexpected yet anticipated intrusion.

"The rules of the game don't include killing or maiming," Luke's voice echoed, his calm demeanor belying the tension.

"Since when do you follow rules, Castellan?" You retorted sharply.

Glancing around quickly, you realized it was just the two of you.

"Why are you alone?" You took a step forward, still pointing the sword.

"It's easier to catch you off guard," he shrugged.

Then you advanced towards him, but he held back the blow easily with his sword. But it seemed too effortless for the best swordsman in 300 years at the camp. You noticed he was going easy on you when he countered, and that made you angry.

"Stop," you demanded as you attempted a move you'd practiced with Clarisse earlier in the week, catching Luke off guard.

Luke used his shield to defend. "Stop what?" He asked, not understanding.

"Stop trying to be kind!" You spat. "I can fight with you without you going easy."

"I'm not being kind, I'm being fair," he replied, parrying your sword. "I don't want to hurt you, Y/N."

That made you furious with the boy. You lunged at him with the sword, showcasing an anger inherited from your father and proving you could match Luke's level. With every strike you made, Luke stepped back until he found himself cornered behind a tree.

And with a final clash of swords, you ended up throwing Luke's sword away and stood face to face with him.

You breathed heavily, examining Luke, noticing details you hadn't seen before. And then, as you realized, you took a step back.

"Tired of looking?" Luke asked, a smirk forming on his face.

Pretending not to hear, you bent down to pick up Luke's sword. But as you reached for it, he was quicker, throwing you to the ground and pinning you down.

"Let me go, Castellan!" You squirmed under him but to no avail.

"You told me not to go easy on you, Y/L/N," he pinned your wrist to the ground when you tried to reach for his dagger at his waist.

"I hate you," you said.

Luke's laughter echoed through the forest, his eyes locked on yours. "No, you don't."

Frustration bubbled within you as you squirmed, trying to free yourself from his hold. He was strong, but you were clever.

With a swift movement, you feigned surrender, allowing your body to go limp beneath his grasp. Luke relaxed his grip slightly, thinking he had you under control.

But it was a ruse.

In that split second, you used the distraction to your advantage. You swiftly twisted your body, catching him off guard, and managed to slip out from under him.

Luke's eyes widened in surprise as you sprang to your feet, picking up his discarded sword and pointing it towards him. "I told you not to underestimate me, Castellan."

He smirked, impressed by your maneuver. "I guess I owe you an apology for that." You couldn't help but notice the glint in Luke's eyes and the hint of a smile playing on his lips.

[francixoxoxo]

.𖥔˚ Lay Back, Relax ୨ৎ

𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐬 𝐒𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐗 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞, 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐭. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧’𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐮𝐬𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐠, 𝐬𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫 𝐚 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐦 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧.

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐦𝐮𝐭 𝐈’𝐯𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐳𝐲 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐜 𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐞𝐢𝐫𝐝 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐡𝐨𝐭 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐭𝐞!!

• 𝐓𝐖: 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐭/𝐬𝐦𝐮𝐭, 𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐱 (𝐦 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠) •

Coriolanus strived to be the best husband. He was expecting his marriage to be arranged, and not exactly a loving one at that. He resigned himself to that. There were more important things at hand.

Well, that’s what he thought until you practically fell in his lap. Intelligent, kind, thoughtful. Undeniably and classically beautiful. His true match. It wasn’t just that you were perfect for public image, that mattered less to him that he would have thought. But you were perfect for him, you two fit and complimented each other like dolls in a set.

Coriolanus was sitting at his desk, flipping through a few important political documents and letters. You didn’t mind that he was busy, you were content to lay across the chaise against the wall of his office. You were flipping through a fashion magazine a bit absentmindedly. Your heels were strewn across the floor, your feet up beside you on the red velvet chaise, fashionable dress-shirt unbuttoned and rolled over your forearms to try and get comfortable after a long day.

Your husband didn’t seem to have that privilege. He rubbed his deeply furrowed temple, nostrils flaring as he stuck his silver letter-opener into a new envelope to tear it open. He was in the beginnings of his presidential campaign, rapidly moving up the ranks and leaving only one seat in Panem’s government left to achieve. You knew how passionate he was about his work, and you had to admit you were thrilled by the idea of being the First Lady. But it was taking a toll on your poor Coryo.

You did what you could as his wife to soothe him. Even now, you could see the empty cup of chamomile you’d given him earlier— hidden behind the mountain of unread papers. You knew that this work would pay off in the long run.

Though it didn’t pull at your heart any less when Coriolanus slipped into bed sometimes hours after you retired, pulling you close only after he was sure you were already awake, murmuring weary apologizes and promises.

“I’m sorry, darling,” Coryo would groan into the crook of your neck, holding you loosely and sighing. He’d press a faint kiss to your collarbone, “I got caught up…”

You’d snake your hand around to thread your fingers through his mussed blonde curls, loose just how you liked them. You’d give his scalp a gently scratch, humming groggily, “You deserve some rest.”

He’d grumble affirmatively in reply, but every night became a late one regardless.

Your eyes flicker up to him now, taking a quick break from reading a document to scribble down notes for his reply, which he’d probably write tonight. Coryo could never put things off for the next day, that was his downfall. With a heavy heart, you resigned to the thought that he’d stay up until the latest hours of the night, only coming to lay beside you when his eyes were too bleary to read the print.

The clock was already at eleven, and you couldn’t stand by and Coriolanus stay in this office until it ticked to midnight. Perhaps he felt your concerned eyes peering at him over the magazine, because he lifted his own azure gaze. He let out a sigh through his nose, offering you a weary smile. You returned it silently, watching him look back to his work with a disapproving purse of his lips. You had no choice! You pushed yourself off the chaise, padding barefoot to his desk and standing behind his rolling chair. Coryo lifted his head to look at you, brows furrowed above sleepy eyes. “Darling?”

You draped yourself over the back of the red leather chair, your cheek to his temple and your arms wrapping around his chest. Coryo smiled softly, a large hand coming to rest over your forearm. “It’s late, Coryo.” You cooed, lips ghosting the shell of his ear.

He nodded reluctantly, that smile falling into a dark expression. He sighed through his nose. “I know.”

“Come to bed.” You murmured, nosing his temple and pressing a kiss to his cheekbone. You were grateful you hadn’t washed off your day’s makeup off yet, the red lipstick stain on his milky skin satisfying. Filling you with a kind of possessive pride. Not to mention that it was hot, having your shade of lip color on his face as proof that he’d let you stain it.

Coryo protested with a grunt, shaking his head a bit. “No, no… Darling, I have my work cut out for me.” But your lips peppering kisses across his face was breaking his resolve as you stepped beside him, grabbing the armrest of his chair and turning him to face you.

“It’ll still be on your desk tomorrow,” you reminded your husband as you slipped into his lap, legs straddling his hips. Your red acrylic nails (which he paid to have done, of course) threading through the back of his platinum blonde curls as you pressed lipstick stains over his cheeks and forehead, nose and chin. He was wonderfully oblivious.

“Just another hour, and I’ll be done.” Coriolanus protested, though his hands were resting over your hips. He tried to give passing kisses to you, but the task was a bit difficult with the way you kept shifting focus. He craned his neck to allow you access to his neck when you nosed his jawline.

You groaned in frustration, gently scratching his scalp with the hand behind his head. “Aren’t you tired?”

“Exhausted.” He admitted after a moments internal debate. His eyelids had long fluttered shut.

“Poor thing, you’ll stress yourself silver.” You cooed, finally pulling away from him. You examined a few strands of blonde hair for grays.

Coryo only snorted and opened his bright, icy eyes. He stared up at you fondly, a reverent smile on playing at his lips. “I doubt I could. Not a spot on me yet.”

You mirrored his smirk, but shook your head. “Point is, you’re overworked.” Coryo didn’t disagree nor agree, he just gently smoothed a palm over your thigh as you went on. “I think I have just the thing to help you unwind.”

Coriolanus’ eyebrows furrowed, he shook his head a bit. “I don’t think two cups of tea in an hour is very healthy, my darling.” You couldn’t help the giggle bubbling from your lips.

You pushed yourself off his lap, only causing his confused expression to deepen. His hands rested on your hips still. You press a sweet little kiss to his plush lips, though it was only chaste for a few moments before it deepened and his tongue slid past yours. All too soon, you broke the kiss. But only to replace it with something better.

“Darling..“ Coryo protested, his hand moving to your shoulder. “I know you’re tired, you don’t—“

“Let me.” You cut him off, turning your cheek to press a kiss to his wedding band. He was a thoughtful man. He knew that if you got him started, there wasn’t any stopping. But who was he to assume you didn’t want him?

Coriolanus’ eyes were hungry, fixed on you as you sunk to your knees between his lazily spread legs. Slowly, but not hesitantly, you reached for his zipper. “You don’t have to. Say the word, my love, and you can go on to bed.” He cooed, his tone agonizingly gentle, but you heard the strain. Looking up at his handsome features, eyes dark with lust, you knew he was desperate for this.

“I want to.” You replied, hooking your fingers under his waistband and pulling the quality fabric down, along with his suit pants, to his knees. His mouth-watering length sprang out as you did, catching your attention. He was easily seven or eight inches. You carefully but not hesitantly reached for him, wrapping a soft hand around the base of his cock.

Coriolanus inhaled sharply at that, his hips shifting ever so slightly. You couldn’t fight the smirk slipping over your face as you stroked your fist up and he exhaled harshly through his nose. Glancing up at your husband’s expression, his jaw was clenched and his blue eyes already so hazy. It had been too long (maybe a week, far too long for Coriolanus’ standards).

“How often have you thought of this?” You grinned, swiping your thumb over his flushed tip to spread the precum beading there. Coryo is white-knuckling the armrests of his chair, his fingernails divoting the red, upholstered leather. You can tell that he’s stifling any sound.

“You have no idea.” Coryo grunts, tipping his head back against his chair and staring down at you, lips parting. You feel satisfaction knowing these attempts at aloofness will be moot in a few moments.

You leaned forward to press a little kiss to his leaking head, batting those doe eyes up at him and making the heat rise up his neck, goosebumps erupting over his exposed forearms. A low groan escaped his lips, his muscles tense. “Lay back and relax.” You reminded.

Coryo’s hand slipped into your hair as you licked a long stripe up the underside of his shaft, he let out a soft sigh. His hips shifted a bit under your touch. You watched his face carefully, noting every little detail. His long lashes against his cheeks, the slight furrow of his brows, the set of his mouth. Everything you knew and loved.

When you closed your lips around him, lowering your head until your gag reflex protested, you were sure to catch Coriolanus’ moan as it left his lips. The weight of him on your tongue was familiar, warm. He was practically throbbing already— one week and he’s already so desperate for you. His eyes fluttered open, the icy blue of them focused on you. his nails gently scratched your scalp as an encouragement. “You’re so damn pretty.” He mumbled softly, relishing in the sight of you with his cock in your mouth. You hummed, gratified.

Coryo looked like he wanted to say more, but the way you began sucking shut him up. The warm wetness of your mouth and tongue on him was electrifying, it wasn’t long before he was clutching the armrest again. His hips bucked up to your mouth involuntarily and he was tempted to apologize, but the whimper that brought from your lips only made him harder. You were so beautiful from where he was sitting, doe-eyed and all for him.

You were taking it languid, using your hand to reach the inches your mouth couldn’t. It was too slow for his liking, it wasn’t very long until his hand tightened in your hair and he began thrusting his cock upward with purpose. “Fuck, your mouth.. Feel fuckin’ amazing.” Coryo grunted, his own mouth falling open in a gasp.

He wasn’t too rough with you, but enough to show you exactly who was in charge. Enough for you to enjoy it. Your throat burned, tears pricking your eyes and your whines filling his office, mixed with the obscene, wet sound of your saliva mixed with his precome. After hardly a minute of shoving his dick down your throat and grunting praise that didn’t match his actions in the least, Coryo lets out a guttural moan. “Shit, such a good fucking girl. Let me come in your mouth, baby, please— fuck,” You managed to hum affirmatively around his cock, your hand on his thigh squeezing.

With a low and masculine groan, his seed spurted down your throat, hips slowing their jerking into your mouth. His fingers tightened in your hair, though not too painfully. When he finally came down from the high, his head tipping back against the back of his chair and his hand smoothing down your hair he had mussed, your lips left him with a wet pop!

“You’re too good to me.” Coriolanus breathed, his eyes half-lidded and grin lazy when you rose to your feet. You leaned over him with a knee on the chair beside his thigh, kissing his cheek.

“You were supposed to relax and let me do the work.” You giggled, leaving him no choice but to turn his face and capture your lips. He could taste himself on your tongue, though he didn’t mind. He nose bumped yours as he pulled away.

“Mmm, you shouldn’t have to lift a finger, my love.” Coryo cooed, eyes sleepy and adoring. Certainly de-stressed. Whether he was ready for bed was another matter. His large hand moved to your hip, kneading the softness there.

“Let me return the favor.”

[deathbxnny]

hello, jing yuan, aventurine and sunday with a teen!assasin reader who was ordered by their master to kill them but couldnt and [character] took them in due to their young age and frankly them being pitiful

Another similar ask:

hiii, dr ratio aventurine and boothill with an IPC agent/assasin teen!reader?

Reader was practically forced onto assasination, is hardened and doesnt show much emotion due to their past kinda similar to bronya zaychik backstory in the azure waters manga

This post is made in combination with these two asks, so I hope you'll like this!! And thank you to the anons for their request!!<33

Content: Angst, assassination attempts, Reader is a teen assassin that has no direct origin, platonic relationships, father/older brother figures, fluff, some brainwashing on Sundays end, sfw

Characters: Sunday, Aventurine, Boothill

Reader has no set pronouns!!

((Not fully proofread))

》BOOTHILL

He finds your attempt at killing him rather amusing. Maybe a bit too amusing. He laughed hysterically when he finally pinned you down with ease, thinking this was all just a joke... until he realised that you were serious.

Now, Boothill was used to people trying to off him through various ways, his robotic body the perfect proof for that, but he never had a kid try him before. And he had to admit, that you would've gotten him, if he was still fully human! Truly impressive!

He won't bother asking you where you're from or what you lead him to you in the first place. Once he gets you to settle down and hears you telling him that you can't return to your master until you kill him, he just sighs and scratches his head. Well... he doesn't really want a kid to die at the hands of their abusive master... so he supposes that he'll just have to take you in until he finds a hime for you.

He isn't put off by your emotionless behavior and even understands it very well, if anything. He doubts anyone could be happy under the harsh conditions you grew up in, but that doesn't mean that he won't try and teach you how to loosen up a bit. It doesn't occur to him over time that he never really looked out for a home for you as promised. Perhaps you have found it with him already anyway.

》SUNDAY

Sunday found your attempt quite saddening, absolutely pitiful and near pathetic, if he felt cruel that day. He felt no worry or fear, knowing that whoever sent you must've been a fool to think that a child could end him of all people, and yet, he doesn't tease nor punish you for it. It wasn't your fault that you were born to be mistreated at such a young age, after all.

He takes you under his wing as a disciple or student in a way. He wants to teach you the "truth" about life and what it means to be alive in the dreamscape. Your dreams can become true here, so why not teach you how to live on after your palms have been stained red forever?

Your emotionless and apathetic behavior does little to deter or bother him. He sees you as a child he had to save before the shadows of this sinful took over you completely. His tuning ability is not spared on you either, if that's what it takes for you to get better. He eventually starts to view you as a little sibling and is delighted when you get along with Robin.

Deep down, he will, however, always feel a little... worried that you may turn around to betray him the way you betrayed your original master by leaving him, too. But he hopes that all his lessons and the home he gave you makes you stay and be grateful for all the love and mercy he had given you

》AVENTURINE

Similar to Boothill, he finds your attempt amusing at best. Pitiful at worst, as he sees a younger him in your cold gaze. He knows he shouldn't trust you after what you just tried... but he makes a deal with you anyways, after you were forced to take a seat infront of him by some IPC guards. If you beat him in a card game, he'll let you take his life and get away with it. If you lose, then you'll have to allow him to take you in as a little "assistant" of some sort. In reality, he just wants to save you from yourself, this determination even foreign to him yet welcomed bravely.

Unsurprisingly, you lose. He jokes that it must've been due to his unbeatable luck... but he really just rigged the game a little. There was no harm in it, and if anything, he just saved your life through it. Otherwise, the IPC would've just executed you for trying to attack one of their agents. Even if Aventurine doubted, they even cared that much for him... but he won't tell you that either.

He gave you a calming, stress-free life, one far away from all the hurt and death you've been surrounded with since birth. He hears your story and perhaps even shares a part of his own, as he shows you that you are the same in a way. You don't have to kill and hurt anymore under his care, he promises you that and to a younger self he was trying to heal through it.

[cryinggirlnamedhelen]

geese - itoshi rin

fem!reader

set in the same universe as the reincarnation for the hunger games rin fanfic linked HERE. can be seen as a part 2 for it, hence why this is a fem reader.

walking home with rin from school and taking a stop at the beach nearby has practically become routine for the two of you.

he was the captain of the school boys team, and you were the manager. you were both dating and also next door neighbors, which formed the convenient habit of you both always holding hands, whether it was being on cleaning duty at school or when you were both walking home in the sunset.

another long day of practice had just ended, and the soft glow of the setting sun illuminated both of your faces as you both leaned on the railings of the beach, listening to the ocean waves. suddenly, rin’s nose crinkled and his eye twitched. “it smells like shit here.”

you looked down on at the sand before laughing. “right on the money. there’s goose shit everywhere.” at rin’s stiffened body, you cackled, gripping onto the railings for dear life. “well, it’s spring after all. they’ve just come back from migration, and it’s mating season for them. you can’t really blame them.”

rin gripped the railings, his eyebrows knit together. “annoying lukewarm birds.” he muttered under his breath, making “birds” sound as if it were some derogatory, socially unacceptable slur. you snorted, slapping his arm playfully.

“i’ve always liked geese. did you know that geese mate for life?” you asked, elbows on the railings as you stared off into the glowing golden sunset. “i always found it cute, because they apparently form extremely deep bonds and stick to each other for life.”

rin glanced at you, and he could feel the familiar warmth creeping up at face when he saw your small smile. “you really believe that sort of stuff? they’re probably just lukewarm idiots who are too lazy to find someone else to mate with. just mating partners, nothing else.” rin replied, raising his eyebrows.

“rin! way to ruin the moment!” you exclaimed. “see, this is why animals don’t like you.” you muttered, yanking your hand away from his and stuffing it into your pocket. “i think it’s really cute that they’re loyal and stuff, since most animals are polygamous.”

“sure. absolutely romantic, how they don’t wanna cheat on their partner, as if that isn’t the bare minimum in a relationship.” rin snapped back sarcastically. “what, do you find it romantic that i don’t actively cheat on you with other people?”

“what? no!” you huffed. “you’re so annoying.” you turned your back on him, this time with your eyes lingering on the wide, azure ocean. after a few moments of nothing but the waves crashing against the shore, you spoke up once more. “i wonder if when geese die, they find each other in another life, and they also mate for life in the next life.”

rin’s lips pressed into a thin line, staying silent. “you know, i’ve known you for over a decade, and you’ve said some pretty stupid things before. but this might just be the most stupid thing i have ever heard from you.” rin said, pulling your hands out of your pocket and cupping them in his.

you pouted, furrowing your eyebrows. “wow, thanks. love you too.” but you then smirked, raising your eyebrows. “do you think we might’ve been geese in our previous—“

“don’t even go there.” rin interrupted. “let’s go home. your dad will kill me if you arrive home even a second after six-thirty.” he held your hand, and you both began walking in the directions of your houses.

although rin certainly didn’t like the idea of having been a geese in his previous life, he did like the thought of also having been with you in his previous life. that maybe you were both meant to find each other in this life too—

okay, now he was the one with stupid ideas. it was best to not let it distract him; he had practice tomorrow and needed to finish his homework quickly…like he understood his homework in the first place. maybe he should just crash at your place tonight.

whether it was as a geese, as a person in his previous life with who knows what, or as the star soccer player itoshi rin, he would always love being with you.

a/n: sunrise on the reaping absolutely killed me. this was inspired by the whole geese romantic subplot in the book (haymitch and lenore dove…oh how i love you both). @levihanmyotp you wanted the rin fluff fanfic, so you get it, hence why this is a part 2 to the hunger games fic😒

[wannabepoeticischiya]

if it can't be you, then let it be no one at all

ao3: if it can't be you, then let it be no one at all pairing: pro-mlb! miyuki kazuya x f! reader genre: romance wc: 3.7k status: one shot

As strange as it sounded, back then he couldn’t pray for love. It was kind of pathetic to hear, true. To dare to dream about it beyond the fields of baseball was ridiculous, and to want it with her? Even more so.

Miyuki couldn’t put it into words, because even if he tried to—the mirror of her smile showed up in his head, the sound of her laughter echoing in the once desolate meadow of his heart, the warmth of her gazes melting the frost he never noticed had encased his soul.

And when he conjures the image of the one who holds his heart—it was no longer the field domed by the azure skies, no longer the sweltering heat that came from the glaring sun… it was her, at the center of it all, holding it together, colored with all the shades of happiness the universe could offer.

There was something in summer that had Miyuki Kazuya feel iffy like there was an itch in the back of his head only the change of seasons could scratch. 

It's not like he totally detested summer (he did) or wished for it to go away faster (he does). He used to love summer—the heat, the burning sensation of the sun as he played in the field, the warm air as he ran from one base to another... he loved it, thrived in it even. Back then he was sure he could never hold even an atom of resentment for the season when baseball was played at its peak. 

Well, that was what he thought back in high school. 

Back when Miyuki was only chasing after the girl from band club, the girl he saw at orientation day, and unknowingly, all too suddenly—Miyuki found himself barreling through the atmosphere like an asteroid catching fire and fell in love… which was annoying for her, and very embarrassing for him. 

The girl he sat next to during tests and would discreetly stare at. When he would take the most ridiculous routes back to his dorm just so he could see her. The girl who led his batting song... the girl who said yes to going out with him after a year and a half of courting her along with the occasional begging. 

[Name], whom he is now married to. 

“Miyuki, how does it feel to once again step onto the world stage this coming tournament?” The interviewer’s question brought him back to where he was at the moment, sitting in this unnervingly comfortable chair, wearing clothes his publicity team had pressed into perfection, the glaring lights illuminating the stage. 

It always made him think that he should feel comfortable, be more confident in his own skin, and not feel as if he was giving off this… ‘stiff as a board looking like he wanted to get out of this place and run back home vibe’—which he would’ve done if he wasn’t so shackled by his professionalism. 

He is reminded of the wires, of the cameras, and the dozens of eyes staring at him from the rows of people occupying the seats. The red sign that read ‘On Air’ glared right at him from the far end of the studio. 

“Pretty great,” Miyuki inwardly winced at his lackluster reply. Great? Really? Is that the best you got? 

Miyuki always told himself that he should be used to this. That he shouldn’t be so jittery and jumpy and lose all the words he knew whenever someone asked him a question. After being invited to countless talk shows, interviews, press conferences, and all the publicity needed to promote the team—he should be used to it. But when he’s shattered out of his daydreams, he finds it difficult to quickly gather the fragments of his thoughts. 

He cleared his throat, plastering the well-practiced professional smile he spent so long trying to perfect in front of the mirror (and with his wife—duct taped on the mouth because she was always laughing—who gave him an approving nod and thumbs up as her shoulders shook from her giggles).

“We have an amazing lineup of players, and we’ll definitely be reaching for the World Series title this year.” 

Even if the words were something his PR manager told him to say, Miyuki—for all his charm and ego—knew it was the truth, and he would have said it even if no one told him to.

The interviewer chuckled, liking the way Miyuki's energy took on a much lighter form. “Confidence! We love seeing that in promising young players. And when has Miyuki Kazuya ever turned down a challenge?”

Miyuki smirked, leaning back and crossing his legs, draping an arm over the couch—something less than a force of habit. “Wouldn’t be here if I did.”

The interviewer laughed, flipping through his cue cards. “Alright! Let’s switch things up a little. We have here some fan-submitted questions, and—” He glanced up from the cards, heaving a breath, and gave Miyuki a knowing look. “—well, they are very interested in your life outside the field.”

Miyuki sighed, the smile still very much present on his face—but if he could, he wouldn’t tell the world anything beyond what he shows in baseball. 

“Of course they are,” he laughs quietly, shaking his head like he expected this to happen—which he did considering [Name] showed him the form a few weeks earlier informing the fans that their questions had the chance to be answered by Pro Baseball Player Miyuki Kazuya.

“Okay let’s get right into it!” The interviewer cheered, shuffling the cards as the lights of the studio were set to scatter to increase the tension. 

“What is Miyuki Kazuya’s favorite season?” 

Miyuki tilted his head in thought. If he were to be asked that question ten years ago, he’d say summer right off the bat (pun intended). No one would ask him why—not when the answer was written all over him. 

Already painted on his sunfire-kissed skin, tan lines that never faded no matter the shift in seasons. It was printed on the school roster that bore his name year after year, in the tournament highlights played under the searing sun. Even stared right back at them through his sports glasses as he crouched behind the home plate. 

Summer was baseball. Summer was his season.

But here, underneath the artificial lights of the studio, wrapped in layers of designer-approved clothes, in the center of all these curious eyes, he couldn’t say the same. 

Not because he fell out of love for summer—heaven knew he still loved the feeling of warmth covering his skin, of the hot zephyrs hitting his face as he ran across the field, the way everything would settle into silence… he adored that, it was still living within him. 

But one day, somewhere along the way, Miyuki found something—someone—he loved more. 

And suddenly summer paled when put next to her. 

No summer sky could match the glow on her face when she smiled. No sun could rival the gleam of her eyes when she looked at him with all the gentleness in the universe. No warmth of the season could mirror the way her arms felt around him—when she actually let him hug her, or even get close enough to try to.

He remembers it clearly. The moment he had experienced the sheer cruelty that came with the season of summer. It wasn’t shrouded in daylight, not even on the field where he believed should’ve been the only answer, and—as horrible as it was to say it—he would’ve chosen losing a game underneath the sweltering heat than be subjected to this torture. It was in the dead of night, when silver light flooded the darkened room, and he was banished to the other side of the bed.

“Dude, get away from me.” 

A hand—her hand—was planted on the hill of his cheek, pushing him away. 

Miyuki groaned but did not budge, still trying to cling onto her despite her efforts to shove him away. “You’re so mean.”

“You're too hot,” she fans herself with her other hand, not giving him the chance to glomp her with his torrid temperature. “Why are you even here? There's literally so much space over there!”

He props himself up on an elbow, resting his head on his fist, staring at her unimpressed. “Well, I wouldn't be here if someone didn't spill chocolate over my side of the bed.” 

Miyuki was lucky enough to have that excuse because if he didn’t, he would still try to get into her personal space—only he would have less of a chance to actually succeed. 

She huffed, turning away from him. “I already said I was sorry!”

“Sorry isn't gonna magically get us clean sheets overnight.”

That was a lie of course, he did see some bed sheets in the cabinets earlier—choosing to hide them underneath a pile of hello kitty blankets so she wouldn’t think to look for it there. 

Realizing she wasn’t gonna win this one, not when she was close to passing out, most certainly not when the heat of the season was beginning to test how far her patience can reach, she relented—albeit reluctantly. 

“Fine, just—just stay away from me.” She sneaks a glance at him from over her shoulder, staring at him pointedly; a warning. Don’t you dare. 

Miyuki barely moved before she snapped again.

“Kazuya! Stop it!” She pushed him away, giving him one of the nastiest glares he had ever received in his life. “I told you, it's too hot so move away!”

He sighed dramatically, willing his body to move a fraction away from her. “I literally just tried to find a better position to sleep.”

“You can do that without inching close to me.”

Miyuki only agreed, finding that she wouldn’t relent no matter how he tried. It was summer vs him. It’s not like he could force his body temperature down in the snap of a finger. If she didn’t want him near, then it’s fine. He would behave. 

At least… until she falls asleep.

When the world was shrouded in stillness, the midnight sun crossing the center of the sky, and the only sound she could hear was the steady hum of the AC—which she had so stubbornly set to the lowest power setting—she woke up feeling the same problem she desperately tried to avoid earlier.

It was too hot. 

And this time, she couldn’t move.

Amidst the haze of slumber clouding her vision, it took her a solid ten seconds to figure out why. 

Kazuya had locked her into a bear hug, one arm draped over her waist, the other curling over the expanse of her collarbone. His breath was warm against her nape, legs tangled with hers like she was some human-sized plush toy.

The more she tried to pry his hold away from her, the tighter he held on. She knew he was completely knocked out, and she knew there was no changing anything about the situation when clearly Kazuya was unwilling to let go—even in his unconscious state.

She could only sigh, defeated—silently berating herself why she was stupid enough to sleep next to him on one of the hottest days of summer. Then again, if she were to sleep on the couch, Kazuya would still find his way next to her and she would still be faced with the same dilemma. 

Left with no other choice, she slept feeling like she was pressed up against a literal furnace.

Miyuki let out a breath, dragging himself back to the present. He smiled fondly at the memory, it felt like he was reliving the moment all over again but in reality, he knew he was up in la la land for no less than ten seconds. 

The interviewer raised a brow at Miyuki. “You’re really considering your answer carefully, huh?”

Miyuki let out a chuckle, shaking his head. “Yeah,” he playfully agrees. “Had to go through a whole mental debate for a while.”

“So?” The interviewer prompted, nodding encouragingly. “What’s the verdict?”

Miyuki tilted his head, the corner of his lips curling to a boyish smirk. “Winter.”

There was a beat of silence. Miyuki didn’t even have to look anywhere to know that everyone expected a different answer. He was Miyuki Kazuya, someone who lived for the season of summer, for the sun, the thrill of baseball underneath the sapphire skies.

The interviewer gathered his thoughts faster than anyone else, flashing a grin. “Yuletide! Well, it looks to me that the audience is just as shocked as I am! Any special reason why winter takes the crown?”

Miyuki smiled, if only they knew just how lucky he was during winter.  

When the cold made her clingy, lingering around him like a shadow because the warmth of the heater wasn’t enough. When she would abandon her side of the bed to come near him—because all too suddenly, no amount of blankets could replicate the feeling when it was his arms curled around her.

When she curled into him effortlessly, like winter sun: slowly, effortlessly… as though it was always meant to be; slotting herself to all the spaces between them, pressing her cold feet against his legs without warning. He would flinch, caught off guard, and she always laughed—always.

When she would rise first during the slow, snow-ridden mornings, tugging his sweatshirt over her head, sleeves reaching past the horizons of her fingertips, before walking the hallways in her fluffy wool socks to go and make warm drinks for the both of them. When she would find herself beside him, holding the cup between her hands, leaning against his side because he was abundant in warmth—because Kazuya ran hot and she liked it.

When she let him pull her close—without complaint, with no hesitation… nothing but the infinite vastness of adoration lingering in the spaces they couldn’t take for themselves. When she would bask in the feeling of his warmth, without shoving him away, without calling him a human furnace and declaring war on him at the ungodliest hours of the morning.

Winter meant the return of stolen hoodies, when his clothes weren’t enough for the two of them because she would refuse to use any of hers with the excuse of ‘they aren’t as warm as yours’. It meant waking up to find her draped over him like a cat. Winter meant pulling her in for a hug any time he wanted… it meant lazy mornings spent under thick blankets where it’s just the two of them—and nothing in the world could ever matter.

Winter meant her. 

Miyuki blinked, realizing he got lost in thought once more. He lets out a breath, half expecting a cloud of white to form where his lips meet the air—only to find it nowhere. Thinking about winter made him wish for it to arrive faster. 

He tilts his head with a knowing smile. “Well…” he began, “it’s closer to my birthday.”

The host couldn’t hide the chuckles that left his lips as he shook his head in amusement. “Ahh, we really cannot argue with that folks! No one can beat birthdays.”

Miyuki joined in on the laughter, shifting where he sat—inwardly grinning like a fool, if only they knew. “What can I say? I like the season that treats me well.”

The audience collectively laughed, though anyone with half a brain working could figure out that there was so much more to what the athlete was saying. But Miyuki wasn’t about to spell it out for the world to hear. 

The interviewer, ever the professional, let the moment simmer before he once again shuffled through the cards for the next question. “Alright, moving on—next question, and this one… oh, this one’s interesting.” He wiggled his eyebrows at Miyuki, as the latter just smiled the best he could.

“Is Miyuki Kazuya single?” 

The question nearly had him choking on air… literally. 

Was that… a serious question?

Wasn’t it already obvious? Wait. Hold on. Did I never—? 

A mental recap of the past year rolled in his head at lightning speed. He remembers getting married, of course—highlight of his life. He remembers wanting to tell the world and he believes he was close to doing so before his name slips past the borders of his wife’s lips, beckoning him to come over. But even after that, he could’ve sworn he posted a picture of their anniversary earlier this year… or did he just think about posting it? Surely he mentioned it elsewhere, right?

Snapping out of his thoughts, he did the one thing he was good at even after all these years—he laughed it off. Miyuki quickly looked at the camera and smiled proudly. “Nope,” he chuckles, raising his left hand to show the silver band on his ring finger. “Haven’t been single since second-year high school.”

The audience reacted immediately. Some in laughter, a mix of impressed murmurs, the others in absolute shock. 

Miyuki let out an amused laugh, although he, himself, was also quite lost. “Really?” he blurted out before he could hold his tongue—he was so gonna get grilled for this. “Did I never explicitly say I was married?”

The interviewer whistled and leaned forward, seemingly intrigued. “Many fans speculated that you were off the market even before your teammates posted Instagram stories of a wedding where the groom looked quite similar to you.”

And it hit him. 

Miyuki had never actually announced it. 

Miyuki put a hand against his mouth, trying to fight off the laughter that wanted to break free from the back of his throat. 

“Oh,” he breathes out, voice dying in the tunnels of his throat at the realization. “Oh, that’s—wow. That’s on me. Sorry.”

Laughter filled the studio, and Miyuki could do nothing but card a hand through his hair. So… he never actually announced that he was married. Perhaps the excitement got to him too much that he only imagined telling the world all about it but in reality, he became far too preoccupied living the dream of a married life to even say a thing about it. 

“Now you heard it here first, folks. Pro Athlete Miyuki Kazuya is a happily married man! So happy he forgot to announce it.”

The interviewer relished in the audience’s amusement, giving Miyuki a grin of his own. “Well, now that we know you’re hitched this brings us back to the fact that you married a high school sweetheart. Now that’s rare! How did that happen?”

Miyuki found himself smiling softly at the reminder of her, rubbing the silver band on his finger—the only anchor he had left to this moment so he wouldn’t ascend to the clouds and drift in the ocean of every thought he harbored for her. “It wasn’t easy, I’ll tell you that.”

“You had to work for it?” The interviewer looked like his eyes were about to pop out of their sockets. Was it really that surprising? It wasn’t just the host who looked bewildered, from the corner of his eyes, he could see a few cameramen and staff and the audience staring at him eagerly waiting for him to continue. 

“The words of my wife were, ‘Work for it like a cow, Kazuya. Maybe, I’ll consider it after a year or so’ and she considered me after a year and a half.” He grins proudly.

“A year and a half?” Now the interviewer practically had his soul escaping from his open mouth. 

The memories made Miyuki smile. How his stare constantly gravitated towards her. The feeling of absolute euphoria when he stood in the batter’s box knowing she led the theme song to his play. When he would come in late to PE because he knew her name was last on the list and she would be left with no choice but to pair up with him. 

Miyuki chuckled, he found it peaceful to talk about her—that he could finally tell the world why he was so happy. “She didn’t like me at first. But I had the biggest crush on her—downright ridiculous. Took the longest, most unnecessary routes back to my dorm just so I could ‘casually’ run into her. I swung hard enough to make the ball go out of bounds so I’d have the excuse to go get it because she was there. This is kinda embarrassing to admit.”

The interviewer grinned. “That’s some strategic planning, Miyuki,” He playfully salutes the athlete. 

“What can I say? I have baseball to thank for that.”

Miyuki wouldn’t have it any other way. If she told him to work hard for her to agree for the next ten years he would do it in a heartbeat. 

He wouldn’t even hesitate. He wouldn’t falter. 

As strange as it sounded, back then he couldn’t pray for love. It was kind of pathetic to hear, true. To dare to dream about it beyond the fields of baseball was ridiculous, and to want it with her? Even more so. But there he was, choosing to look at her instead of the team practicing, his gaze drifting from Kuramochi ranting about the pitcher’s haste to watch as she led the band to the tune she wanted to play, his heart slowly but surely finding its way to orbit around her.

Miyuki couldn’t put it into words, because even if he tried to—the mirror of her smile showed up in his head, the sound of her laughter echoing in the once desolate meadow of his heart, the warmth of her gazes melting the frost he never noticed had encased his soul.

And when he conjures the image of the one who holds his heart—it was no longer the field domed by the azure skies, no longer the sweltering heat that came from the glaring sun… it was her, at the center of it all, holding it together, colored with all the shades of happiness the universe could offer. 

So how could he give that up so easily? How could he never find a reason to stay? When all that he has ever loved and more was her? 

And if it wasn’t her, then he would rather have no one at all.

There was something about it; knowing—learning all that she was passionate about. Carving into his very being the engraving decorating her soul just to feel a tad bit closer to her than he already was, delve a little deeper into her mind, to see for himself the meadows of her desires.

There was something about it… when he does that. As though there was no greater thing to exist other than to love her slowly… intimately. To catch her form as she joyfully hops the last step of the stairs, wait as she ties her shoelaces, hold his hand out for her to take when she's walking slow—ready to receive her once she catches up, wait for her to finish her meal—to be awarded the rarity of the moment of basking in the light of her vulnerability.

He found greatness in loving her softly… slowly. Like letting the stars simmer and cool before they're ready to burst forth and burn for all the eternities.

Miyuki would find himself telling her the words, if it can’t be you… then let it be no one at all.

It is so ridiculously hot where I live (around 42C here) and when I go out my sweat drips like a faucet that can’t be shut off (;´A｀) The original title for this was supposed to be written in Filipino ‘Kung hindi lang din ikaw, ‘di bale nalang’ which would literally mean: if it’s not you, then nevermind.  I have a serious issue with Miyuki because I burst into tears when I see him (ㅠᯅㅠ) I'm such a loser and I don't even know the reason why.

[soniclozdplove]

MK Something came up on the mountain. Will explain during training. DO NOT BRING OUR FRIENDS! Especially Jangles! Trust me, you'll understand why when you get here. Monkey King.

MK reread the message for the 100th time, worried over the implications. Not only does Wukong rarely use the phone Mei got him, preferring to simply Astral Project any messages they need to do, but he'd never forbid their friends from joining in on training. Not since they all started training together while fighting against Azure, and Wukong had promised to not keep secrets anymore, what with the Samhadi Fire debacle. So the fact he's asking to keep it a secret is a big deal. Although, as Mei had pointed out when he showed her the message, the other monkey had never explicitly said to keep it a secret, just that he didn't want anyone except MK on the mountain for some reason, likely related to whatever he was going to tell him during training.

"Weird that he pointed out Tang in particular. Like, what did Tang of all people do to make Wukong not want him near!?"

MK didn't know. But as he flew towards the mountain he resolved to find out. The last thing he expected was to be met by a very familiar face when he landed. Or rather, four familiar faces that looked far too similar yet still different from his family to be a coincidence.

"Eeek! Demon boy!!" The Great Monk Tripitaka shrieked as he cowards behind Zu Baijie, Ao Lie, and Sha Wujing. All of them with weapons pointed towards him.

"Aye! Knock it off!" Wukong's voice roared out as he appeared in a flash of gold and red, standing between MK and the others, guarding him. "It's just my c- It's just my successor!"

The weapons immediately drop as the Pilgrims, the ACTUAL PILGRIMS from the STORIES, looked at Wukong incredulously. Zu Baije was the one to voice it.

"You!? A TEACHER!?"

"Yeah, I know!" Wukong snorted, as if hardly believing it himself, "But a lot can change in 1300 years and MK is a good kid. He deserves only the best, Piglet!"

"And... that's you?"

"No, but I'm the one he's got." Wukong's voice was flat, prompting MK to turn his attention to him. He yelped as a well placed kick hit his shin. "MK! What the heck!?"

"What have we talking about regarding self deprivation, Monkey King."

"What... I- that was for you!"

"Still applies!" MK folded his arms triumphantly as the audience began snickering at Wukong's flustered expression as he tried to find a comeback. Eventually his master concedes defeat with a chuckle, throwing his arm around MK in a side hug with a wide grin.

"Alright... well let's do introductions! Master, Ao Lie, Sha Wujing... Piglet. This is Xiaotian, or MK as he prefers, my student and successor. MK, the Pilgrims of the Great Journey... who somehow ended up here!"

"Oh wow! This is like a total dream come true!" MK was practically vibrating as he grinned, only to pause and turn to Wukong as a thought of occurred to him, Wait. Is this why you said Mr. Tang and the others shouldn't come over!?"

"Ah... yeah. That." The Monkey King scratched at his facial fur a but, looking guilty, "I have a good reason for it, MK. Jangles and the rest of these guys' next life in the reincarnation cycle. In all my years of living, I've never experienced a situation where a reincarnation has met their predecessor face to face. I wanted to be cautious in case, like, Jangles meeting Master causes the world to implode or something... again."

"Again?" Tripitaka raised a brow, glancing at Wukong with a concerned look, "Monkey, just what sort of-"

"L-look! We've have some crazy stuff happen recently, okay!? A crazy ice witch turned the mortal realm into an icicle, someone overthrew the Jade Emperor..."

"Somone did WHAT!?"

"And all of reality very nearly kinda sorta shattered when a pillar broke. MK and I managed to fix all of it."

"Yeah, we kicked monkey butt!" MK cheered along, "And only kinda got... emotional, physically, and mentally scarred along the way."

"Only kinda!?" Ao Lie tilted his head, curious, "Would any scarring at all not be considered a big deal?"

Wukong let out a laugh, slinging an arm around MK and the dragon's shoulders.

"Look, it's done and... maybe not over yet, but the main threat is passed. Let's jsut all settle down, I'll put some tea on, and we'll go from there. And maybe make a few calls to Sandy..."

That last part was muttered to himself as he herded the two into his house alongside the rest of the Pilgrims, telling them.not to mind the mess. After all, he shares the place with a bunch of wild monkeys and was still in the middle of cleaning up after Azure.